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TUESDAY 3 |
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Sissoko/Gerrard escape FA action
The Football Association says it will take no action against
Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko or Steven Gerrard over incidents
during the game with Bolton.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was unhappy over a Sissoko
challenge on El Hadji Diouf in the 2-2 draw on Monday.
Allardcye also suggested Gerrard deliberately stamped on
Kevin Nolan.
But referee Mark Clattenburg's match report confirmed he had
seen both incidents and under Fifa rules the FA is not
allowed to act retrospectively.
Nolan has also backed Gerrard's claim that the stamp on the
Bolton midfielder
was unintentional.
(BBC Sport Online)
Reds plan Dane move
Liverpool are believed to have stepped up their interest in
Brondby defender
Daniel Agger.
The Reds have been tracking the Danish international for
some time as they search for a new defender.
Agger came to Benitez's attention after his impressive
performance for Denmark in
the 4-1 win over England last August.
Reports emanating from Denmark and England suggest Liverpool
are ready to make a major offer for Agger.
(Sky Sports)
Diouf adds to Gerrard controversy
El-Hadji Diouf has taunted Jamie Carragher as the war of
words between Bolton and Liverpool continued.
The former Anfield misfit accused Carragher of trying to
wind him up and said his goal was the perfect response.
Diouf's comments come in the wake of team-mate Kevin Nolan
absolving Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard of blame for
stamping on his chest during a fiery 2-2 draw at the Reebok
Stadium.
"Sometimes people don't like me on the pitch but I am a bad
loser and I want to win every time," the Bolton striker told
the Trotters' official website.
"I told Carragher to wait because I'm going to score and
that's what I did."
(Sporting Life)
Benitez: There's more to come from Kewell
Rafael Benitez has under-lined the importance of Harry
Kewell to Liverpool as he challenged the Australian to
continue his improvement in form.
"For us it is really important to have Harry," said the
Anfield manager. "We were talking about the need for quality
in the wider areas and Harry brings that. He can shoot and
score goals.
"He has had injuries and problems and we were disappointed.
But we supported him and give him confidence and he has
given to us crosses, dribbles and a lot of things.
"It is good now to see him working hard. The supporters are
clever. They recognise that he is working hard and trying to
do his best. That is important. We need to see him playing
at this level all the time now."
(Daily Post)
Benitez: Tired legs finally cost us
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admitted the demanding
festive programme may have finally caught up with his
players after seeing his side's 10-game winning run come to
an end in a 2-2 draw at Bolton.
He said: "We had some players tired and we tried some fresh
legs. We tried to change the position of players, we tried
to play long, short and wide but it was difficult because a
team like Bolton like to stop the game. This kind of game is
very difficult."
(Daily Post)
Garcia happy with point
Luis Garcia says the Liverpool squad were disappointed not
to record an 11th Premiership win on the bounce at Bolton,
but welcomed a hard-fought point after twice going behind.
Garcia grabbed a late leveller for The Reds as they twice
came from behind to earn a point from a tough game at The
Reebok, but it meant the end of their long winning streak.
"We knew Bolton would be a tough opponent. They try to play
long balls and win the second ball to keep us back in our
half of the pitch, and it's very difficult to play against
that.
"I think we are happy because we know it's very difficult to
win here, the pitch is hard to play on and we knew it would
be tough."
(Sky Sports)
Nolan backs Gerrard over claims
Kevin Nolan has backed Steven Gerrard's claim that a stamp
on the Bolton midfielder was unintentional.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce suggested that Liverpool's Gerrard
deliberately stamped on Nolan in the 2-2 draw at the Reebok
Stadium on Monday.
However, Nolan said: "I do not think it was intentional."
Gerrard insisted: "It was a complete accident. I am mates
with Kevin Nolan so why would I ever try to deliberately
hurt him?"
(BBC Sport Online)
Reds linked with Portuguese defender
Liverpool are being linked with a possible move for
22-year-old Portuguese centre-back Ze Castro.
(LFC Online) |
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MONDAY 2 |
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Big Sam blasts Reds
Sam Allardyce says that both Steven Gerrard and Mohamed
Sissoko were guilty of stamping on Bolton players during
Liverpool's 2-2 draw at The Reebok.
The Reds had to twice come from behind to claim a point at
Bolton in a tough encounter that saw their winning streak
finally come to an end.
Rafa Benitez was not happy with Bolton's strong-arm tactics,
nor the diving of El Hadji Diouf, but Allardyce believes it
was The Reds who overstepped the mark.
Allardyce said Sissoko stamped on Diouf, while insisting
that Gerrard's studs landing on Kevin Nolan's chest was a
deliberate move by the Liverpool skipper.
"I'm very disappointed because there were three major
incidents that have been missed in our opinion," said
Allardyce, who also believes that Bolton should have had a
penalty.
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool defender completes Villarreal move
Liverpool right-back Josemi has completed his move back to
Spain with Villarreal. The 26-year-old has signed a deal
with the Primera Liga club until 2010.
Josemi said: "Myself and my family are really happy to be
returning to Spain.
"I'm thankful to Villarreal for giving me this chance. The
club is showing that it is growing all the time and the
results prove that it is now one of the biggest clubs in
Europe."
He added: "I wasn't given all the chances I had hoped I
would get at Liverpool. Now I want to recover the sort of
form I showed when I played at Malaga."
(Football Rumours)
Benitez disappointed with draw
Rafael Benitez admitted he was very disappointed with the
2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers and felt Liverpool deserved to
win the game.
Benitez said it was difficult at times to play against
Bolton but felt his team played very well in the second half
and showed great character to twice come back from a goal
down.
"I am very disappointed because we did a lot of things to
win the match and we deserved to win," said Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds' run ends with draw
Liverpool's long winning run came to an end as they were
held to a hard-fought 2-2 draw by Bolton at The Reebok
Stadium.
Rafa Benitez has built his side's recent success on a
rock-solid defence but they gave away a comical opening goal
to Radhi Jaidi after just ten minutes.
An out-of-sorts Liverpool battled back to draw level on 67
minutes with Steven Gerrard's penalty, but were soon behind
again when old boy El-Hadji Diouf bundled in a second for
Bolton just four minutes later.
Substitute Luis Garcia popped up to earn a point for the
visitors eight minutes from time but they could not force a
winner and had to settle for a point after a tough
encounter.
(Sky Sports)
Bolton v Liverpool - confirmed teams
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Jaidi, N'Gotty,
Gardner, Faye, Speed, Nolan, Stelios, Davies, Diouf.
SUBS: Walker, Ben Haim, Borgetti, Fadiga, Vaz Te.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore,
Gerrard, Kewell, Hamann, Sissoko, Pongolle, Crouch.
SUBS: Carson, Riise, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Cisse.
(Kop Talk)
Reds snap up Anderson
Liverpool have completed their first signing of
2006 with the capture of Hull City teenager Paul Anderson in
a deal that sees John Welsh move in the opposite direction.
Anderson impressed sufficiently during a recent trial at
Anfield, playing for the reserves and particularly catching
the eye in the FA Youth Cup win over Cardiff.
The highly-rated 17-year-old winger was born in Leicester
and was spotted by Liverpool scouts while playing for Hull's
academy side.
(TEAMtalk)
Marseille still chasing Cisse
Marseille have not given up hope of signing
Djibril Cisse despite the Liverpool striker's insistence
that he is happy at Anfield.
Cisse angrily denied claims made by his brother and one-time
agent Hamed that a deal with Marseille was "90% done" at the
weekend and insisted: "I'm in Liverpool for three more
seasons and I'm not going to leave.
"The stuff is rubbish, I'm here to stay. It hurt me because
it's my own family who talk rubbish."
Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo is adamant, however,
that the Mediterranean giants will continue their pursuit of
the 22-year-old.
"Of course I have read and heard what was said about it and
I believe Djibril has clearly given his opinion on that but
we have not abandoned our hopes," said Anigo.
"I am not disappointed by what he said, he was clear enough
but he is still in our minds.
(Sporting Life) |
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SUNDAY 1 |
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Carson wants out
Newspaper reports today claim that Liverpool
goalkeeper Scott Carson wants to leave Anfield in January
and spend the rest of the season out on loan.
If Liverpool 'keeper Jerzy Dudek leaves this month, Carson
will not be allowed to follow him as he'll obviously be
required to provide cover to Spanish ace Jose Reina.
(Kop Talk)
Cisse doubtful for Reds
Liverpool have a slight doubt over striker Djibril Cisse's
fitness for the trip to face Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on
Bank Holiday Monday.
The Frenchman limped out of Saturday's 1-0 win over West
Brom with a muscle injury but boss Rafael Benitez expects
the 10-goal man to be ready for the Lancashire derby.
Fernando Morientes and Boudewijn Zenden are both still out
with knee injuries.
If Liverpool win at Bolton, it will be their 11th successive
league victory, equalling the club record set in 1982.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock,
Traore, Riise, Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard, Hamann,
Kewell, Cisse, Crouch, Sinama-Pongolle, Sissoko, Carson,
Dudek.
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa closes in on Agger deal
Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Danish
international defender Daniel Agger.
The European champions have already moved to bolster their
rearguard in the January transfer window by agreeing a deal
for Villarreal's Dutch full-back Jan Kromkamp.
And manager Rafael Benitez sees £5million Agger as the man
to give him depth at centre-back.
A recent ankle injury has hampered his domestic season, but
according to the Sunday Express Benitez is now close to
winning the race to sign him.
(Sporting Life)
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Thor Zakariassen
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