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SUNDAY 3 |
Rafa waits for United errors
Rafael Benitez still expects Manchester United to slip up
after Liverpool's gap-closing 3-0 win over Newcastle.
"Manchester United are a good team with good players, and
they will need to make two big mistakes to let us in. But I
still believe they can be caught and they will make
mistakes.
"All we can do is to continue to win our matches and see how
they handle pressure. We must win all our games to see how
that effects them
at the top."
(Sky Sports)
Shearer: Time's running out for us
Alan Shearer admitted "time is running out" for Newcastle's
survival bid after their 3-0 drubbing by Liverpool at
Anfield on Sunday.
Shearer told Setanta Sports News: "Did anyone really expect
us to come here and get anything? I did. We did in the
dressing room. Maybe our fans didn't but they came out again
in their thousands.
"Whether we had enough to come here and win is a doubt but
we felt we could come here and get something out of the
game.
"Time is running out but we've still got two very important
home games which will decide our fate, no doubt about that."
(TEAMtalk)
Reds give Newcastle
a 3-0 mauling
Alan Shearer’s Newcastle are staring relegation in the face
after a 3-0 mauling against Liverpool at Anfield.
And for the former England captain, in temporary charge of
the Geordies, there was even the humiliation of hearing the
Kop chant: "You should have stayed on the telly" and "Alan
Shearer, football genius."
To his credit, Shearer saw the funny side, and strolled to
the touchline from the bench to applause from his
tormentors.
But there was no funny side for his team, who were tormented
by a Liverpool side that kept their own title dreams alive
and maintained pressure on leaders Manchester United.
Liverpool scored in the first-half through Yossi Benayoun
and Dirk Kuyt, with substitute Lucas heading the third in
the final minutes.
Newcastle’s misery was compounded by having Joey Barton sent
off in the second-half for a crude foul on Xabi Alonso.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds face Wolves and
Birmingham next season
Liverpool will face away trips to Molineux and St Andrews
next season after Birmingham City today joined Wolves in
clinching automatic promotion back to the Barclays Premier
League.
Alex McLeish's Birmingham beat Reading 2-1 while Mick
McCarthy's champions beat Doncaster 1-0.
Joining Reading, Sheffield United and Burnley in the
play-offs are Neil Mellor's Preston North End as a last day
2-1 win over QPR sealed their place at the expense of
Cardiff City on goal difference.
Sheffield United will now play Preston in their Championship
semi-final play-off tie, with the first leg at Deepdale.
Reading will play Burnley.
Meanwhile, Adam Hammill was on the mark as he helped
Barnsley maintain their Championship status after they came
from behind to beat Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard returns but
no Torres v Magpies
Steven Gerrard returns to the starting line-up as Liverpool
bid to close the gap at the top with victory over Newcastle
this afternoon.
The Reds skipper has missed the last four matches through
injury but has been passed fit for the visit of the Magpies
and replaces Lucas Leiva as Rafael Benitez makes four
changes from the side that beat Hull City.
Fabio Aurelio also returns in place of Emiliano Insua with
Daniel Agger, who last night agreed a contract extension,
coming in for Martin Skrtel.
Albert Riera is the other change, replacing Fernando Torres
who does not make the bench.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio,
Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Benayoun,
Gerrard, Riera.
Subs: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Ngog, Dossena, Babel, Lucas, El
Zhar.
(LFC Official Website)
Fresh hamstring
worries for Torres
Liverpool ace Fernando Torres has suffered another hamstring
scare.
The Mail on Sunday says Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will
give Newcastle United's Alan Shearer a huge boost in his
battle against relegation by leaving out Torres for today's
critical game between the teams at Anfield.
The £25 million Spaniard suffered a recurrence of a
hamstring problem in training this week. Benitez is
reluctant to risk him for a match he believes Liverpool can
win anyway and is hoping that Torres will recover to play in
Liverpool's final three games of the season.
(tribalfootball.com)
Rafa rules out
Anfield return for Owen
Rafa Benitez has told Michael Owen that no amount of goals
at Anfield on Sunday will convince him to re-sign the
Newcastle man.
Liverpool are widely recognised as needing backup for
Fernando Torres but, unlike when Benitez signed Robbie
Fowler, the Spaniard insists Owen is not set for an
emotional reunion.
“I think it’s a different situation to the Robbie Fowler
one. Robbie knew it was a fantastic opportunity for him to
come back,” Benitez was quoted as saying in The Sunday Star.
“He had been injured and had not played games in a row. And
we were looking for a striker of his quality. We were
looking for this kind of player.
“He understood clearly what his role was. Michael is younger
and still has a lot of years to play, so it is a different
situation.
“Clearly he’s a top class striker so he will want to play
every game. But as this moment we are really pleased with
Fernando Torres.”
(Setanta Sports) |
|
SATURDAY 2 |
Agger agrees new Reds deal
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has agreed a four-year
extension to his current contract, which will see him remain
at Anfield until at least 2014.
The 24-year old, who joined the Reds from Brondby in 2006,
has played 76 times and scored 6 goals, including his recent
spectacular long range effort against Blackburn Rovers.
Agger joins teammates Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt who have
recently committed their long term future to the club.
Manager Rafael Benitez said: "This is extremely good news
for Liverpool moving forward and demonstrates our intention
to build on the progress we have already made this season.
"Daniel is still young, but with great quality and will be a
very important player for us in the years ahead.
"I'm sure there were many other clubs monitoring the
situation closely, but throughout our discussions, Daniel
made it clear that he wanted to stay at Liverpool and
achieve success here.
"I'm delighted we've secured his future at Anfield."
(LFC Official Website)
Amoo sinks Tykes
Promising winger David Amoo netted the winner for Liverpool
Under-18s as the FA Youth Cup finalists won 1-0 at Barnsley
on Saturday morning.
Hughie McAuley's side were full value for their win and they
played some superb attacking football.
"I was really pleased with the tremendous attitude of our
boys," McAuley told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"It was a hard and physical game and we played some good
football. It was a first class team performance and it was
very pleasing.
"We scored a good goal just before half-time when Amoo got
what turned out to be the winner.
"We had other chances to increase the lead through Lauri
Dalle Valle and Thomas Ince and those two were sharp
throughout the game."
Liverpool team: Deale Chamberlain, Karl Clair, John
Flanagan, Andre Wisdom, Joe Kennedy, Michael Roberts, David
Amoo, Alex Cooper, Lauri Dalle Valle, Thomas Ince, Adam
Dawson (Conor Coady 65).
Subs unused: Hakan Duyan, Peter Aylmer, Ahmed Ally.
(LFC Official Website)
Benfica eye Cavalieri swoop
Benfica manager Quique Sanchez Flores has admitted that he
would be interested in bringing Liverpool reserve goalkeeper
Diego Cavalieri to the Portuguese capital.
The Brazilan stopper arrived at Anfield last summer from
Palmieras for £3million but has failed to displace the Reds'
first-choice keeper
Pepe Reina.
Today Flores revealed that he is eyeing the 26-year-old
goalie as well as FC Cluj's midfield dynamo Alvaro Pereira.
"Alvaro Pereira and Diego Cavalieri are players we are
looking at to see whether they are right for Benfica," he
said.
"Benfica will not be signing everyone you speak of. We are
taking a slow and cautious approach."
Trofense defender Valdomiro, who played with Cavalieri at
Palmeiras, believes he would be a good signing for the
Portuguese giants.
"He is better than the average goalkeeper," he told Antena
1.
"He comes out of his goal very well, he is tall and is
comfortable with the ball at his feet.
"He is a good player. He is used to playing under pressure.
Palmeiras are like Benfica - they don't lose consecutive
games.
"He would do a good job for Benfica."
(Shanklygates)
Gerrard glad he
snubbed Chelsea
Steven Gerrard has confidently stated that Liverpool are
‘very close to having a top team’, fully justifying his
decision to turn his back on a possible move to Chelsea in
the summer of 2005.
Gerrard asked to leave Anfield just weeks after the club’s
Champions League victory in Istanbul but, after coming so
close to severing all ties with his boyhood club, eventually
decided to stay with Rafa Benitez’s side and help end their
lengthy wait for a league title.
"The reason the whole Chelsea thing came up was down to
frustration that we were so far away from the title race,"
Gerrard told The Daily Telegraph.
"That's why their interest maybe turned my head slightly.
But I look back now and I'm really pleased I decided to stay
because I am part of a top team here that can be
successful."
(Setanta Sports)
Shearer: Rafa is amazing
Alan Shearer believes he will have to outwit one of the
world's best managers if his Newcastle side are to get
anything from their trip
to Anfield.
The Magpies boss admits Liverpool will be overwhelming
favourites to win Sunday's showdown and feels the task is
made all the more difficult because of the tactical genius
of Rafael Benitez.
"Not many people will give us a chance at Liverpool but that
does not affect me," he said.
"Upsets have been caused and I will be telling the players
that.
"They have a very good side with world-class players and an
amazing manager, but I want to go to Anfield and get
something.
"We go there in good spirits after a good week of training.
There is belief among the players and we will be going there
to give it a good go."
He added: "When I was a player, the advice was always to
keep the crowd quiet for the first 20 minutes.
"That's the first part of the job. It's a tough game. Can we
keep them quiet? I certainly hope so."
(LFC Official Website)
Hansen: We have to believe
Alan Hansen believes Liverpool's players must retain the
belief they can win the Barclays Premier League title.
The Reds are currently three points behind table toppers
Manchester United, with just four fixtures remaining for
Rafa Benitez's side.
The Old Trafford club also have a game in hand, but Hansen
says Liverpool should not give up hope of lifting the league
crown.
"Liverpool have simply got to keep hoping and believe that
things could change," the Kop legend told LFC Magazine.
"We've got to win every game before the end of the season
and see where that gets us."
(LFC Official Website) |
|
FRIDAY 1 |
Rafa: Alonso and Mascherano
are going nowhere
Rafa Benitez has categorically stated his intention to keep
Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano at Liverpool next season.
The midfield duo have both found themselves linked away from
Anfield this week, with news of Juventus interest once again
emerging
around Alonso.
Last summer Benitez seemed willing to sell the sublime
Spaniard in order to fund a move for Gareth Barry, only to
then see Alonso play a starring role this season.
Both Alonso and Mascherano are the key anchor men in the
Liverpool midfield, and Benitez insisted he intends to keep
both of them for another title tilt next year.
"I was talking with Javier this morning for 15 minutes about
the comments in the press," revealed Benitez.
"He said 'I cannot stop top sides asking about me, or
talking with my agent.' He is really pleased and happy to be
here. He knows he is at a massive club.
"He is an idol for the fans and a key player for me so I
think everything
is okay.
"It is the same situation with Xabi - we want to keep the
key players. That is something we are very clear on."
(Setanta Sports)
Benitez: Agger deal close
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is 'very close' to signing a
new deal with the club, according to his manager Rafa
Benitez.
Doubts have surrounded the future of the Danish
international for several months as talks over a new deal
dragged on with no apparent progress being made.
Indeed, Agger has voiced his discontent at previous
negotiations with the club, sparking speculation of a
potential move to Italian giants AC Milan
or Juventus.
However, Benitez has revealed that Liverpool are finally
nearing an agreement with the 24-year-old centre-back to
keep him at Anfield for the foreseeable future.
"These conversations have gone really well and we are very
close. Maybe we will soon have a solution," the Spaniard
said of recent talks with Agger's agent Per Steffensen.
The news comes in the wake of recent contract renewals by
Liverpool stars Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, as well as
verbal agreements with youngsters Nathan Ecclestone, Peter
Gulacsi, Krisztian Nemeth and Nabil El Zhar.
(Sky Sports)
Dalglish: No progress
on Anfield return
Kenny Dalglish’s proposed return to Liverpool is no nearer
to coming to fruition after the former Anfield great
admitted there had been no further talks about bringing him
back to the club.
The former Liverpool manager has reportedly been lined up to
fill an advisory role at Anfield, with boss Rafa Benitez
supposedly keen to see him involved in the youth development
structure.
Benitez and Dalglish have discussed the position, while
further talks are said to be planned for the near future.
The former Reds forward candidly admitted he would love to
return to the club in some capacity, but confessed the story
had been made public
too soon.
“It would be perfect if it happened but everything that can
be said (at this time) has already been said,” Dalglish told
The Telegraph.
“I don’t know how or when it came out but it came out too
early.”
(Setanta Sports)
Shearer plots
Liverpool upset
Alan Shearer says the Newcastle players believe they can
cause an upset at Liverpool – but he feels they will need to
silence the Anfield crowd first.
Newcastle travel to Liverpool on Sunday for what has become
a potentially vital game as they look to escape relegation
and, while many give them little hope, Shearer feels they
are capable of an upset.
(Setanta Sports)
Mascherano looks to future
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has admitted he is
unsure whether his long-term future lies at Anfield.
As the Reds continue their pursuit of Premier League leaders
Manchester United, the Argentina skipper thinks it is
possible he could have to move.
"I can't say anything bad about Liverpool as a city or as a
club because they were great with me but obviously you never
know what is going to happen because if some club can come
here with a good offer and the club say 'ok you have to go'
then I will leave - you don't know."
(Sky Sports)
Injury-cursed Newcastle limit
Alan Shearer's options at Liverpool
Alan Shearer is wrestling with an injury crisis in key
positions as he prepares his relegation-threatened Newcastle
United side for Sunday's trip to Liverpool.
Scans have confirmed that José Enrique, Newcastle's sole
specialist left-back, will definitely miss the visit to
Anfield and could be out for the rest of the season.
There are also problems in attack – where Obafemi Martins'
groin trouble and Mark Viduka's achilles tendon problems
dictate those two strikers have to be "managed" in training
and remain liable to break down – and on the right wing,
where Jonás Gutiérrez is struggling to be fit for Sunday.
(guardian.co.uk)
Thor Zakariassen
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