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SATURDAY 3 |
Gerrard earns Lee praise
Sammy Lee hailed Steven Gerrard as a 'model professional'
following Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Preston.
Gerrard was charged with assault and affray earlier this
week following an alleged nightclub incident.
But he was named in the starting line-up at Anfield and
turned in an impressive display as Liverpool booked their
place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Assistant manager Lee said: "Steven is a top professional,
he has had the full support of this club, and you see what
he is after that performance."
(Sky Sports)
Carragher credits Preston
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admitted the Reds made
life difficult for themselves before sealing a 2-0 FA Cup
third-round triumph at Preston.
Albert Riera gave the visitors the lead in the first half
with a superb strike but the Coca-Cola Championship side
came back into it in the second half and it was not until
the last minute that Liverpool sealed victory through
Fernando Torres.
Carragher told ITV1: "It was a tough game. We always seem to
have problems against lower league opposition but thankfully
we've come through. There were a couple of scares near the
end and great credit
to Preston."
Carragher was at the centre of the most controversial moment
of the game when Sean St Ledger's header, which would have
made it 1-1, was disallowed for a foul by Jon Parkin on
Carragher. Preston were furious the defender had not been
penalised for an initial foul on Parkin in the area.
"I wasn't aware of the flag (to disallow the header) until
the lad headed it in," said Carragher.
"But he was trying to stop me getting up and I realised I
was playing everyone onside."
(ITV-Football)
Reds waiting on Alonso news
Liverpool are waiting to discover the extent of Xabi
Alonso's injury after the Spaniard limped out of the Reds'
2-0 FA Cup success at Preston.
Alonso failed to reappear for the second half after
colliding with a Preston defender in the closing seconds of
the opening period, and assistant boss Sammy Lee revealed
the club won't know the extent of any damage for at least 24
hours.
"Unfortunately Xabi has had seven stitches in his instep,"
he said after
the game.
"We do not know the full extent of the injury, apart from
the fact he will be very sore tonight.
"Hopefully there will be no damage but we won't know for the
next 24
or 48 hours."
(LFC Official Website)
Torres seals Reds return with goal
Robbie Keane missed a hatful of chances at Preston, but the
returning Fernando Torres netted in Liverpool's 2-0 FA Cup
win.
Albert Riera put Liverpool in front in the first half, a
period where Liverpool and returning captain Steven Gerrard
in particular, set Keane up with numerous clear-cut
opportunities that the £20 million man spurned.
After surviving some shaky moments, including a disallowed
Preston goal, Gerrard raced clear on the break in injury
time and instead of shooting himself squared the ball for
subsitute Torres to nudge home from close range in his first
game since November.
(Setanta Sports)
Torres on bench at Preston
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres could make his return to
first team action this afternoon as the Reds take on Preston
North End in the third round of the FA Cup.
Rafa Benitez names a strong line-up, although keeper Diego
Cavalieri is given a rare outing with Pepe Reina given a
rest.
Defender Martin Skrtel also features amongst Liverpool’s
substitutes. The Slovakian international has been injured
since October.
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger,
Babel, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard, Keane.
Subs: Reina, Torres, Aurelio, Lucas, Ngog, El Zhar, Skrtel.
(This is Anfield) |
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FRIDAY 2 |
Loan deal agreed for defender
Left-back Robbie Threlfall will spend a month on loan at
League One side Stockport County.
The emergency deal was completed on Friday just days after
the 20-year-old returned from a loan spell at Hereford.
Threlfall, who graduated to Melwood ahead of the 2006-07
season, has yet to make his senior competitive debut for the
Reds, though he did feature in the Asia Trophy in Hong Kong
in July 2007.
His young career has already been packed with drama having
taken part in Liverpool's successive FA Youth Cup triumphs.
The Scouser was at the centre of events when the Reds
retained the trophy following a memorable victory over Man
Utd in 2007.
After scoring an OG in the first leg, Threlfall bagged the
only goal in the return at Old Trafford - thus setting up a
dramatic penalty shoot-out.
He duly converted his own spot kick and was voted
Liverpoolfc.tv's man of the match.
The youngster spent part of 2007-08 on loan at Hereford
United. He has also represented England Under-19s.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: Gerrard will play
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed that Steven
Gerrard will play against Preston in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Earlier in the week the Reds skipper was charged with
assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray following
an alleged nightclub brawl.
But the Liverpool boss Benitez has made it clear that
Gerrard is going to be involved when the Reds travel to
Deepdale.
Benitez told Liverpool's official website: "Steven has been
okay, training normally.
"I said in the statement that I've talked to him. I am
supporting him 100 per cent. The best thing for us is that
he is focused on football, training well and he will play
tomorrow."
(Sky Sports)
Torres and Skrtel ready
to start for Reds
Fernndo Torres and Martin Skrtel have handed Liverpool a
major double boost by declaring themselves fit to start
tomorrow’s FA Cup clash with Preston.
The star duo have missed large chunks of the season so far
through injury but are now ready to return, and Reds boss
Rafa Benitez will see how they fare in today’s final
training session before deciding whether or not to pitch
them in from the start at Deepdale.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds to snap up
Icelandic starlet
Liverpool are set to conclude their first business of this
year’s transfer window by snapping up Icelandic starlet
Victor Palsson.
The midfielder, 18 yesterday, will celebrate his coming of
age by completing a move to Anfield from Danish club AFG
Arhus for a fee in the region of £300,000.
Palsson has made 10 appearances for Iceland’s under-17 and
18 national sides.
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez hails Reina as
best keeper in league
Rafael Benitez has hailed Pepe Reina as the best goalkeeper
in the Premier League as his fellow Spaniard closes in on
another Liverpool landmark.
Reina is only seven shy of recording a century of clean
sheets having already taken less time to reach 50 shut-outs
than any keeper in the Anfield outfit’s history.
The 26-year-old has won the Premier League Golden Gloves
award for the most clean sheets in all three previous
seasons since his £6million arrival from Villarreal in 2005.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Reds humiliation forces Given transfer
After conceding five goals against Liverpool last week,
Newcastle keeper Shay Given has decided he wants to leave
the club
"Shay is very despondent following the very poor performance
of the team against Liverpool last weekend," said Given's
lawyer Michael Kennedy, insisting that it was the 'lowest
point' of Given's career.
"Having served the club loyally for over 11 years, Shay
feels compelled to consider his position in the light of the
interest being expressed in him by Manchester City, Arsenal
and Tottenham."
(LFC Online) |
|
THURSDAY 1 |
North End stopper keeping cool
Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan is not feeling the pressure
despite facing the toughest challenge of his career when
Liverpool visit Deepdale.
The Championship side host Rafael Benitez's Premier League
leaders on Saturday in the FA Cup third round, and Lonergan
is ready to rise to the task of facing the likes of European
Championship winner Fernando Torres.
He told the club's official website: "I have played all of
my career in this league and we have had friendlies and cup
games against teams like Portsmouth and Manchester City.
Without a doubt this is the biggest team I have faced."
(TEAMtalk)
Reina dreaming of Wembley
Pepe Reina has admitted that he is excited by the prospect
of appearing at Wembley ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup clash
with Preston North End.
The Reds travel to Deepdale for Saturday's third round tie
and the Spanish stopper would love a run in the competition
to help him achieve that dream.
"I can't wait to play at the new Wembley," he told
Liverpoolfc.tv.
"It is a great stadium and I want to play a final there as
soon as possible. Let's hope we can do it in this season's
FA Cup."
(Shanklygates)
Mellor aiming to Kop a salute
Neil Mellor has admitted it will be a strange feeling to
line up for Preston against former club Liverpool on
Saturday.
The Preston striker spent seven years with Liverpool and
carved his name in club folklore thanks to a memorable and
crucial goal in the Reds’ famous 3-1 win over Olympiakos, en
route to winning the 2005 European Cup in Istanbul.
Mellor moved to Deepdale in 2006 after Rafa Benitez informed
him that first team opportunities would be limited at
Anfield and he is expected to be in their starting line-up
for Saturday evening’s third round FA Cup tie.
“It’s going to be a strange feeling for me to line up as an
opponent against Liverpool because I was at the club for
seven years,” he admitted.
“I came through the youth team, the reserves and even got
some first team action, so it will be strange for me to come
up against them.
And he went on: “I had some good times at Liverpool so I’ll
be hoping for a good reception from the Liverpool fans on
the Shankly Kop."
(Liverpool Echo)
Hull target Pennant
Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is a target for Premier
League surprise package Hull City.
Pennant has been heavily linked with a move to Spanish
champions Real Madrid in one of the most surprising
developments of the January transfer window.
Yet with that transfer still seeming unlikely, other clubs
have been alerted to the former Arsenal player’s potential
availability.
Wigan, Tottenham and Stoke have all been linked to the
25-year-old, who has failed to impress in two-and-a-half
years at Anfield, and now Hull have revealed their interest.
Manager Phil Brown said: "I would be very interested in
Jermaine Pennant if he was available at the right price. We
will be making enquiries."
A move for Pennant this month would come 10 years after
Arsenal made headlines by paying Notts County £2m for the
then 15-year-old.
He failed to fulfil his potential with the Gunners and later
joined Birmingham before his £6.7m switch to Liverpool.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Rafa says signings are unlikely
Rafael Benitez doesn’t think he will be signing anyone in
the mid season transfer window as it may be too expensive
and unnecessary.
The Liverpool manager who is recovering from two minor
operations reveals that there won’t be any new signing in
January.
“It will be difficult to bring anyone in January because we
have a good squad.
“To bring in anyone better than what we’ve got isn’t easy
and could be expensive,” Benitez as quoted on BBC Sport.
The Spaniard has said he wont be buying anyone but their are
still strong rumours of former Liverpool striker Emile
Heskey making a return to Anfield.
Another rumour surrounding Anfield is that out-of-favour
defender Andrea Dossena could be on his way back to Italy
after just half a season with the Merseyside club.
(Kop-TV)
Why goal hero Roger
was up for the cup
Roger Hunt believes the FA Cup has lost its sparkle.
The Anfield legend was part of the first Liverpool side to
win the trophy when they overcame Leeds United 2-1 after
extra time at Wembley
in May 1965.
The Reds take their bow in this season’s competition at
Preston on Saturday, but Hunt knows the FA Cup is low on
Rafa Benitez’s list of priorities.
“It’s a cracking tie and Preston are playing really well,
but I’m sure Liverpool will make a lot of changes,” he said.
“I’m disappointed with the attitude of the top clubs to the
FA Cup
these days.
“I think putting out weakened sides devalues it. They only
become interested when they get to the quarter-finals."
(Liverpool Echo)
City game moved
The home game against Manchester City has been put back 24
hours.
The game has been put back from Saturday, February 21st to
Sunday, February 22nd because of City's involvement in the
UEFA Cup that week. The game is still a 3pm kick off and is
not televised.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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