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THURSDAY 3 |
Finnan: We’re blowing title dreams
Steve Finnan today admitted Liverpool’s title challenge is
being undermined by a failure to turn their dominance into
victories.
The Reds endured another frustrating game at Anfield last
night as they wasted a number of opportunities in a 1-1 draw
with lowly Wigan.
“No disrespect to Wigan but if you want to challenge for the
title then you need to be winning games like this,” he said.
(Liverpool Echo)
Dalglish favourite for Ireland job
Former Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish has been installed as
the new favourite for the vacant Republic of Ireland
manager's role, despite the fact that he has not applied for
the job yet.
A flood of money was put on Dalglish on Wednesday and some
bookmakers in Dublin even suspended betting on the Scotsman
taking over from Stephen Staunton after his odds were
slashed from 14-1 to 4-1.
However, Dalglish is still considered an outsider for the
job by many and has not been interviewed for the position by
the FAI's three-man committee.
The committee is not due to meet Dalglish in the future, but
still has four more scheduled interviews before they are
required to pass on their recommendation to the FAI.
(Setanta Sports)
Mascherano in Juve link
Juventus are tracking Javier Mascherano's situation at
Liverpool with interest, according to reports in the Italian
press.
The Argentine has been on loan at Liverpool since last
January but Reds bosses have yet to decide on his future.
Juventus have also been linked with Mascherano's Liverpool
team-mate Mohamed Sissoko.
(Sky Sports)
Rafa defends team selection
Rafael Benitez has defended his decision to play one up
front last night.
Benitez played Fernando Torres as a lone striker in last
night's home game against lowly Wigan. The Reds were then
held to a feeble 1-1 draw. After the game the Liverpool boss
defended his team selection.
"If you analyse the game, they were playing long balls and
trying to win the second ball, whereas we were moving the
ball and you could see Pennant, Kewell, Torres and Gerrard
involved in all the attacks,"
said Benitez.
(LFC Online)
Wayne Bridge offered escape
route to Anfield in £6m switch
Wayne Bridge’s unhappy 3½year spell at Chelsea could end
with a £6 million move to Liverpool, one of their main
rivals for the Barclays
Premier League title.
The left back, 27, whose appearances at Stamford Bridge have
been limited since the arrival of Ashley Cole from Arsenal,
has already turned down the chance to switch to three
top-flight rivals, but he may view the chance of
resurrecting his career at Anfield more positively.
(The Times) |
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WEDNESDAY 2 |
Bruce: We deserved it
Steve Bruce believes Wigan's 1-1 result against Liverpool
will give everyone at the club a huge lift in their battle
to avoid the drop.
"It gives everybody a huge lift," he told Sky Sports. "If
everybody stays fit then we have got an outstanding chance
(of staying up).
"I believed we deserved something on Saturday against Aston
Villa and tonight I think we deserved what we got out of
it."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa rues missed chances
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was a frustrated man after
seeing his side held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by struggling
Wigan.
"It was frustrating," the Spaniard told Sky Sports after
seeing his side held to a draw for the second successive
match.
"When you have chances you need to take them and finish
these types of games. They had just one chance in the second
half and get a draw."
(Sky Sports)
Lacklustre Liverpool lose ground on top three
Liverpool’s slim title hopes were all-but extinguished after
they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Wigan at Anfield.
The draw, coupled with Manchester City’s win at Newcastle,
dropped Rafael Benitez’s side to fifth in the Barclays
Premier League and left them trailing leaders Arsenal by 12
points with a match in hand.
Striker Fernando Torres had put the home side ahead in the
49th minute but they could not find the important second
goal and Titus Bramble smashed in an 80th-minute equaliser.
(Evening Echo)
Pennant returns against Wigan
Jermaine Pennant makes a welcome return to the starting
line-up as Liverpool host Wigan in their first match of
2008.
The right-sided midfielder has been out since October with a
stress fracture of his right tibia, but will make his 12th
appearance of the season against Steve Bruce's Lactics, as
Rafa Benitez shuffles his pack.
Alvaro Arbeloa retains his place alongside Jamie Carragher
at the heart of the Liverpool defence while Xabi Alonso also
starts.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Finnan, Aurelio, Arbeloa,
Carragher, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Pennant, Kewell,
Torres.
Subs: Itandje, Riise, Benayoun, Crouch, Kuyt.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: I wouldn't swap pair for anyone
Rafa Benitez claims he wouldn't swap either Fernando Torres
or Steven Gerrard for anyone in world football.
The pair have bagged an incredible 27 goals between them
this season, and both are likely to be in the running when
the Premier League's end of season gongs are handed out.
Sunday's stalemate at the City of Manchester Stadium was
just the third time in 15 games neither has scored.
Asked by Liverpoolfc.tv if there was anyone in world
football he'd swap the influential pair for, Benitez replied
with an emphatic 'No'.
He said: "Both players are playing well, both are top class
players and both have a commitment to this club – that is
the key.
"For the rest of the team to see them scoring goals, that is
a boost."
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa backs Bruce to keep Latics up
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has told Wigan they have
appointed the right man in Steve Bruce to help them avoid
Premier League relegation.
The pair clash at Anfield on Wednesday night in a Premier
League showdown crucial to the top and bottom of the table.
Benitez believe Bruce has a fighting chance of leading Wigan
to safety.
"He has seen such situations before at Birmingham and I
believe he will be really good for Wigan," said the
Spaniard.
"We have played against Birmingham a few times when Steve
has been manager and my experience of those matches -
particularly at Anfield - is not the best, he has done well
here."
(TEAMtalk) |
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TUESDAY 1 |
Mascherano: Anfield is home,
allow me to stay at Liverpool
Javier Mascherano has told Liverpool's owners to decide
whether or not they want to keep him at Anfield.
In an emotional plea, the Argentinian told of his
desperation to become
a Liverpool player on a permanent basis but admitted time is
now
against him.
"It's simple," said Mascherano. "With the time that has
passed it will now be more difficult for me to stay here
because I need to do something about my future.
"It is a really difficult situation because I have been
talking a lot about how I want to stay here but, now, it
doesn't depend on me."
(Liverpool Echo)
Kirkland: No hard feelings over exit
Wigan stopper Chris Kirkland insists he is not bitter at
being shown the exit door by Liverpool ahead of his return
to Anfield on Wednesday.
Kirkland spent five years on the Reds' books following a
£6million move from Coventry in August 2001, but managed a
total of just 45 appearances, primarily due to a string of
injuries.
The 26-year-old did play 14 times under Rafa Benitez shortly
after the Spaniard's arrival at the club prior to suffering
a back injury which led to him dropping out of the picture
completely.
Despite being dumped by Benitez, Wednesday's Premier League
match will still be a special one for Kirkland.
"I've nothing to prove in going back to Anfield," he said.
"I enjoyed my time there, but had to move on. That's
football, although I don't think the Liverpool fans will
remember me too well as I was injured quite a lot."
(TEAMtalk)
Kewell not thinking of contract
Harry Kewell is not even thinking about a new contract as he
tries to once again become an integral part of the Liverpool
side.
The Aussie winger's current deal runs out in the summer but
he insists he is simply focusing on regaining top form.
Kewell told LFC Magazine: "I can't even think about a new
contract. That is what people have been talking about and
saying about me, but I will tell the truth so the fans know
the truth."
(LFC Official Website)
Kuyt: Blame me for misses
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt expects criticism when chances
go begging
in front of goal.
The Dutchman is the Reds' third top scorer this season with
seven goals, but has still come in for some stick.
He missed crucial opportunities in the stalemate at
Blackburn in November, and saw his late close-range header
saved by Joe Hart in Sunday's draw at Manchester City.
Kuyt, a £10million capture from Feyenoord in the summer of
2006, says the criticism is only to be expected at a big
club.
He told LFC Magazine: "When you are a player at a club like
Liverpool you have to realise that people expect a lot of
you."
(Sky Sports)
Yeovil bid to bring back Peltier
Young midfielder Lee Peltier has returned to Liverpool after
his loan spell at Yeovil expired.
But Glovers manager Russell Slade has confirmed to the
club's website that Yeovil are already in talks to bring
Peltier back to Somerset.
The 21-year-old, who can also play in defence, joined the
Glovers on loan in the summer and started 21 games for the
club, including 19 league matches.
Peltier made four starts for Liverpool last season, but none
in the league.
(BBC Sport Online)
Crouch back for Reds
Liverpool will have Peter Crouch available again for
tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match with Wigan.
Crouch is back after serving a three-match ban for his
sending-off at Chelsea, but veteran defender Sami Hyypia is
still out, while young protege Daniel Agger is also unlikely
to be fit.
That means full-back Alvaro Arbeloa is expected to be used
as a stop-gap centre half again alongside Jamie Carragher,
with teenager Jack Hobbs unlikely to be risked because of
his lack of experience.
Provisional squad: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hobbs,
Riise, Aurelio, Kewell, Babel, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso,
Benayoun, Crouch, Kuyt, Voronin, Torres, Itandje.
(Evening Echo)
Ex-Anfield youngster John Welsh joins Chester
Chester City last night signed former Liverpool midfield
player John Welsh on a month’s loan from Hull City.
The player will go straight into the squad who face Grimsby
Town at the Deva Stadium this afternoon.
The 23-year-old former Youth and Under-21 International made
four first team appearances for the first team in his
six-year spell at Anfield.
Welsh, who has made more than 50 games for the Tigers, has
just returned to action following a broken leg, which have
restricted his appearances this season to just five reserve
team outings.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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