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WEDNESDAY 3 |
Benitez happy with Reds
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is hoping for a successful
year with the Reds after they got the New Year off to a
winning start against Bolton.
The Reds made it six wins from seven Premiership matches
since the start of December with the 3-0 win over the
Wanderers on New Year's Day at Anfield.
In that period, Liverpool have vastly improved from a side
who couldn't find the net earlier in the season, notching 17
goals and conceding just one.
Benitez hopes his side's current vein of form remains,
saying: "As a manager of a team that has a good balance
between attack and defence, I am very happy."
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard targets FA Cup double
Steven Gerrard has set his sights on becoming the first
Liverpool captain to lift the FA Cup twice.
The 26-year-old skipper, who was awarded an MBE in the New
Year's Honours List, got his hands on the famous trophy last
May after a remarkable penalty shoot-out victory over West
Ham.
His side begin their defence with one of the toughest
possible tests this weekend when Arsenal visit Anfield in
the third round.
However, the England midfielder is determined to help his
home-town club retain the trophy for the first time in their
history and set his own personal record.
He said: "I know Liverpool have never won the FA Cup two
years in a row, but this team likes breaking records and
rewriting history, and this is another statistic we want
to put right.
"We all remember how we won the competition last season and
we are keen
to do it again."
(TEAMtalk)
Xabi excited by Reds challenges
Xabi Alonso has dismissed rumours linking him with a return
to Spain and insists he is focused on maintaining
Liverpool's Premiership assault.
The 25-year-old, who arrived from Real Sociedad during the
summer of 2004, has vowed to play his part in reeling in
second-placed Chelsea in the top-flight.
Alonso told the club's official website: "I do not speak
about the rumours of my return to Spain. I have a contract
signed with the Reds and I am happy at this club.
"Now Liverpool are playing to our best level of the season.
This is perfect for the beginning of the year with the next
big challenges.
"To get to third place is very important for morale for us
after the problems in the first months of the league. Now
our objective is to consolidate the effort."
(TEAMtalk)
Anelka wishes he was still a Red
Nicholas Anelka admits he wishes he was still a Liverpool
player.
Anelka had an impressive loan spell with Liverpool during
the second half of the 2001/2 season but suprisingly was not
offered a contract by then boss Gerard Houllier. This was a
disappointment to Anelka who claimed he'd still be a
Liverpool player now if he had got the contract his displays
deserved.
"I think if I had signed a three or four-year contract with
Liverpool I would still be there now because I would have
renewed it. It was the club I really got a kick out of,"
said the Frenchman.
"It was a very important stage of my career because when I
left Arsenal I didn't really manage to find a club which
suited me. I didn't really like the year I spent at Real
Madrid.
"But with the Reds, the players and supporters made me feel
very welcome. It was a very good team which finished second
in the Premiership. Even if I didn't stay on, we managed to
qualify for the Champions League. It was a club which really
suited me.
"Why didn't I stay? I don't know. You would have to ask
Gerard Houllier."
(LFC Online) |
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TUESDAY 2 |
Jussi hits back at Benitez
Jussi Jaaskelainen has hit back at Liverpool manager Rafa
Benitez following his criticism of Bolton prior to the New
Year's Day game.
Benitez suggested Bolton's tactics would not work in Spain
and also branded El Hadji Diouf a diver.
It is not the first time Benitez has criticised Sam
Allardyce's side and Jaaskelainen has called for the
Spaniard to show some more respect.
"It's not nice the things that their manager has said,"
Jaaskelainen told the Bolton News.
"I think he should give us more respect because we have
earned it with what we have done.
"It's easy for them because they can go out and spend
millions and millions and millions.
"We don't, we're trying to work hard and work for each other
and we have earned a little more respect than they give us."
(Sky Sports)
Defender leaves on loan
Liverpool defender James Smith has joined Scottish First
Division side Ross County on loan until the end of the
season.
The Liverpool born full back made his first team debut in
the 4-3 Carling Cup win over Reading at Anfield in October
when he came on as a 74th minute substitute for Lee Peltier.
A product of the club's Academy Smith was given a new
two-year contract in the summer.
Ross County are third from bottom in the Scottish First
Division and the arrival of the tough defender will give
Scott Leitch's side a boost.
(LFC Official Website)
Don't ask me to leave
Peter Crouch celebrated his return to goalscoring form by
insisting he has no intention of quitting Anfield this
month, nor for the foreseeable future.
The striker continues to be linked with a £12m exit, even
though manager Rafa Benitez has repeated Crouch is not
available for transfer.
Benitez believes Crouch's advisors are responsible for the
recent speculation, which intensified when the forward was
left out of recent fixtures.
Crouch responded in the right way with the stunning opener
in yesterday's 3-0 victory over Bolton. The 25-year-old now
says he hopes to remain at Anfield.
"I've heard all the speculation and all I can say is I'm
happy here and love playing for the club," said Crouch.
(Liverpool Echo)
Recalled Crouch sticks it to the critics
When an ecstatic Peter Crouch wheeled away with
atwo-fingered salute to the Kop yesterday, the temptation
must have been to slowly turn his hand around and direct it
towards his critics.
The Liverpool striker has endured a festive period of
speculation and recrimination following a performance during
the Boxing Day defeat at Blackburn Rovers that prompted
Rafael Benitez to issue a warning to the underachieving
forward.
Crouch then had to watch from the bench as Liverpool bounced
back with victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and
suffered the indignity of again being linked with a move to
Newcastle United.
So it was with understandable delight that the striker
celebrated the magnificent scissor-kick that flashed beyond
Juusi Jaaskelainen and sent Liverpool on their way to a
deserved victory over Bolton Wanderers yesterday.
(Daily Post) |
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MONDAY 1 |
Rafa flies flag for Pennant and Gonzalez
Rafael Benitez hailed the impact of wingers Jermaine Pennant
and Mark Gonzalez after Liverpool's 3-0 victory over Bolton
on New Year's Day.
Right winger Pennant had a hand in the first two goals,
crossing for Crouch and then playing in Kuyt who centred for
his captain to score from 12 yards.
Chile international Gonzalez also posed a threat on the
other flank and Benitez was quick to recognise the
contribution of his wingers.
"We knew it could be a difficult game. In the first half we
had chances but in the second half it was clear both teams
were tired," said the Spaniard.
(TEAMtalk)
Big Sam blames fatigue
Bolton chief Sam Allardyce felt his side ran out of steam
following the busy festive period against Liverpool.
Allardyce admitted his side were not at the races and he
felt fatigue played a major part in their defeat.
"I could smell it coming to be honest. It was a game too
many from our point of view," said Allardyce.
"I don't think we've got anything like the sort of energy
that was needed to continue to keep Liverpool out and
finally we cracked in the end."
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard happy with start to new year
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitted a goal and a 3-0
victory at home to Bolton was "the perfect start" to 2007.
Gerrard, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours
List, told Sky Sports 1: "It was the perfect start: a home
win, three points and a clean sheet and we played some
really good football against a decent side.
"It's been a great week for me personally but personal
things are put to one side when you go onto the pitch.
"It was a great team performance and there should be a
special mention for Jermaine Pennant. He's been criticised
this season but today he was fantastic, his crossing from
the right was superb."
(TEAMtalk)
Rampant Reds rock Bolton
Liverpool got the New Year off to a flying start with an
impressive 3-0 win over Bolton at Anfield.
Two superb second half goals from Peter Crouch and Steven
Gerrard, and Dirk Kuyt's late strike, gave Rafa Benitez's
men all three points against a disappointing Bolton side.
The win helps Liverpool leapfrog Bolton into third spot in
the table and ends Bolton's good run of form.
(Sky Sports)
Crouch replaces Bellamy for Bolton clash
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez made four changes for the
New Year's Day Premiership visit of Bolton with striker
Craig Bellamy the most notable absentee.
The Wales striker was taken off during the 1-0 victory over
Tottenham on Saturday complaining of a tight hamstring and
had obviously not recovered sufficiently.
That meant Peter Crouch, whose future at Anfield has been
subject to speculation in the last week, was brought in to
partner Dirk Kuyt up front.
Sami Hyypia replaced Daniel Agger in central defence with
Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez starting on either flank
in place of Luis Garcia and Fabio Aurelio.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce made just one change, Abdoulaye
Meite dropping to the bench at the expense of Ricardo
Gardner.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise,
Pennant, Alonso, Gerrard, Gonzalez, Crouch, Kuyt.
Subs: Dudek, Agger, Fowler, Garcia, Aurelio.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Faye, Haim, Gardner,
Campo, Nolan, Speed, Diouf,
Anelka, Davies.
Subs: Habsi, Meite, Teimourian, Vaz Te, Tal.
(Ireland On-Line)
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Thor Zakariassen
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