|
|
|
|
SATURDAY 3 |
Dalglish: Reds not on title form
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish was disappointed to see The
Reds fail to underline their title credentials against
another of his former clubs, Blackburn Rovers, in front of
the Setanta Sports cameras on
Saturday evening.
At the beginning of the season many pundits had predicted
that this could be the campaign that would see Liverpool end
their 18-year wait for another league title, but although
they remain unbeaten under Rafa Benitez, a run of five draws
in seven games has left the Merseysiders six points off the
pace of joint leaders Arsenal and Manchester United.
“He [Benitez] doesn’t want to admit it but they were poor,”
Dalglish said on Setanta Sports 1. “It was not a performance
that is going to win
the league.
“Certainly, the last 20-25 minutes gives you a better chance
but you’re not always going to come to the last 20-25
minutes at 0-0. [They are] Seventh in the table so it’s a
lot to ask."
(Setanta Sports)
Hughes accepts draw
Blackburn Rovers chief Mark Hughes felt a draw was a fair
result after the goalless draw with Liverpool.
"I thought we did fine. I thought it was a very good Premier
League game," said Hughes.
"Both sides had opportunities to win. Obviously Liverpool
came strong at the end.
"All in all, I think a draw was probably a fair result."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez: We deserved more
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez felt his side deserved all
three points after being held to a goalless draw at
Blackburn.
"We deserved more because we created a lot, especially in
the second-half," said Benitez.
"We had clear chances and their keeper made some excellent
saves."
(Sky Sports)
Misfiring Liverpool play out scoreless draw
Liverpool's Premier League ambitions suffered another
significant dent at Ewood Park where their shortcomings in
front of goal were exposed by Blackburn in the goalless draw
at Ewood Park.
Dirk Kuyt had three decent chances in the second half,
Steven Gerrard had two and substitute Peter Crouch had a
header cleared off the line as the lacklustre Reds were
fortunate to escape with a point.
Before the break David Bentley hit the post and David Dunn
smashed a shot against the crossbar as Rovers dominated.
Part of the problem for the visitors was the lack of
presence on the forward line.
Manager Rafael Benitez left England striker Crouch on the
bench which meant skipper Gerrard played in an advanced role
behind Kuyt but it was an experiment which failed
spectacularly.
Only when Crouch was introduced in the 72nd minute - with
his international colleague dropping back to right midfield
- did Liverpool look more threatening.
But title-winning campaigns are not built on strong
performances in the last 18 minutes at places like Ewood
Park and Benitez's side missed the chance to make up ground
on top two Arsenal and Manchester United after they drew
earlier in the day.
(Evening Echo)
Rafa keeps Crouch on the bench for trip to Blackburn
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez resisted the opportunity to
name Peter Crouch in his starting line-up against Blackburn
with the England striker left on the bench at Ewood Park
today.
Despite struggling up front in recent weeks because of
injury to record signing Fernando Torres, Benitez opted for
Dirk Kuyt as a lone front man with Steven Gerrard playing a
supporting role.
With Xabi Alonso suffering a recurrence of his fractured
metatarsal in the 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal last week
Mohamed Sissoko came into central midfield.
Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel started in place of Andriy
Voronin and Torres as Benitez made three changes from the
team which faced the Gunners, with Harry Kewell on the bench
for the first time this season after a long-term groin
injury.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise,
Benayoun, Sissoko, Mascherano, Babel, Gerrard, Kuyt.
Subs: Martin, Kewell, Crouch, Arbeloa, Lucas.
(Evening Echo)
Gerrard: Liverpool can qualify
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is convinced that the club
can rescue their Champions League dreams.
After a dreadful start to their Group A campaign, which
includes defeats by Besiktas and Marseille while they only
managed a draw with Porto, Gerrard knows that there is now
no room for any more slip-ups.
Gerrard says: "Giving up or feeling sorry for ourselves is
not something we have even thought about.
"After the defeat by Besiktas we could not really believe
that we had not taken anything from the game. We dominated
possession, territory and chances but they hit us with a
sucker punch on the break."
But Gerrard concedes that Liverpool are left with a
nightmare scenario of failing to reach the big money of the
last 16.
He said: "What we have now is an absolute mountain to climb.
But there is a real belief in the group that we can make it
happen."
(PA Sport)
Craig Lindfield scores in debut for Notts County
It took Craig Lindfield all of 23 minutes to assure the
Magpies fans that he's well worth the starting spot he was
given at Accrington Stanley today. According to the official
Notts County website:
"What a debut for Craig Lindfield. A mess-up at the back by
Accrington presents a chance to the debut boy just outside
the box, and with a rasping right-foot volley on his League
debut the ball flew past Dunbavin and into the roof of the
net. What a way to mark your debut."
Paul Anderson scored for Swansea as well. The 19-year-old
on-loan winger saved the Swans from a potentially
devastating loss to Gillingham Friday evening. His 79th
minute equalizer was eventually the deciding factor in
giving his club a point and momentarily putting them atop
the League One table.
(Liverpool Banter)
U18s draw with Everton
A magnificent strike from Astrit Ajdarevic was not enough to
secure victory as Liverpool Under-18s were held to a 1-1
draw in the 'mini derby' at the Academy.
The Swedish midfielder broke the deadlock with a 25-yard
drive on 60 minutes but the Reds could not hold the lead and
five minutes later Blues defender Jack Rodwell rose highest
to head home and earn a share of the spoils for the
visitors.
Coach Hughie McAuley was pleased with his side's endeavour
but felt they could and should have claimed maximum points.
"I thought we certainly had enough chances to win the game,"
he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
Liverpool team: Hansen, Awang, O'Connor, Irwin, Kennedy
(McGiveron), Highdale, Amoo, Ajdarevic, Pourie, Eccleston,
Parsonage (Collins)
(LFC Official Website)
Reds draw Chelsea
Liverpool will play Chelsea in the Carling Cup quarter
final.
The Reds face a tricky away game at Stamford Bridge in the
fifth round of the Carling Cup.
The game will take place on December 18th or 19th and will
be settled on the night.
(LFC Online) |
|
FRIDAY 2 |
Lucas impresses Gerrard
Lucas Levia has impressed Steven Gerrard over the past few
weeks.
The Brazilian under 20's captain seems to have quickly
adapted to the pace of the English game and has been tipped
to have a bright future by Steven Gerrard.
"He could have had the winner in the derby on his league
debut and there aren't many players who can say that," said
the Reds skipper.
"It is always difficult for new players to come on in the
derby, especially when they're used to playing a different
style of football in a different country. But Lucas came on
and acquitted himself well.
"I've seen enough of him in training and in games to know
that he has got a great future.
"He is only a young lad but once he picks up more experience
and if he keeps on doing the right things in training and
listening to the right people, then I'm sure he will go on
to be a great player."
(LFC Online)
Bentley returns for Rovers
David Bentley and Aaron Mokoena are both expected to be
included in the Blackburn squad tomorrow when Liverpool
visit Ewood Park.
England winger Bentley suffered a recurrrence of a shin
problem in the Carling Cup victory against Portsmouth in
midweek while Mokoena took a knock on his leg.
Blackburn are aiming for a eighth successive victory but
will be without Robbie Savage, Steven Reid and Jason
Roberts.
Provisional squad: Friedel, Brown, Emerton, Nelsen, Samba,
Ooijer, Warnock, Berner, Bentley, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa
Cruz, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Tugay, Mokoena, Rigters,
Khizanishvili, Treacy.
(Ireland On-Line)
Rafa issues Kewell ultimatum
Rafa Benitez has laid down the gauntlet to Harry Kewell by
telling him a new contract is waiting if he can stay fit
until the end of the season.
Kewell made his first appearance of the season in the 2-1
Carling Cup victory over Cardiff on Wednesday, arriving as a
71st-minute substitute.
Asked if Kewell can still earn a new contract, Benitez told
The Liverpool Post: “Yes, by working hard and playing well,
playing games in a row and playing at his level.
“Now he must try to be as fit as possible for the next
games. We must see what we can do with him because it is not
easy when you can only have 16 players on the list. You need
to decide each time."
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa impressed by rampant Rovers
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes Blackburn are much
more difficult opponents now they have begun to mix style
with substance.
Benitez takes his side, unbeaten in the Premier League this
term, to Ewood Park on Saturday to face a Rovers squad full
of confidence after seven successive victories in all
competitions.
That form has taken Blackburn above Liverpool in table and
Benitez admits he has been impressed with Mark Hughes' side.
Benitez said: "Blackburn are playing well and have great
confidence, particularly after their Carling Cup win at
Portsmouth this week.
"They are playing at a very high level with Benni McCarthy
and Roque Santa Cruz doing well up front for them.
"They have players with quality and now their confidence is
improving. They play at a high tempo and that makes them
very dangerous."
(TEAMtalk)
Bruce: We can do it this year
Bruce Grobbelaar believes Liverpool finally have a squad
capable of winning the club's first league crown since 1990.
The charismatic keeper was a mainstay of the Reds' last
title-winning side 17 years ago. That was one of six
championship medals collected in his 13 years at Anfield,
meaning there's few better qualified to assess our
credentials this time round.
"All we need to do is tread carefully because we are a side
who can win the championship," Grobbelaar told
Liverpoolfc.tv.
"Arsenal came here on a high after beating a European team
by seven goals. They thought they were going to open up the
Liverpool defence any time they wanted, but they didn't win.
"We shouldn't worry about what the press say. If you're
unbeaten in the league you are on a roll.
"You know at the end of the season that if you lose more
than five games you're not going to win the league. We
haven't lost one yet."
Grobbelaar made 627 appearances for the Reds after Bob
Paisley signed him from Vancouver Whitecaps for £250,000 in
March 1981.
(LFC Official Website)
Hobbs is happy to take the earache at Liverpool FC
With a broken nose and a touch of earache, you might expect
Jack Hobbs to be feeling a little disgruntled with life just
now.
But the Liverpool youngster can barely contain his
excitement after making his full debut in the 2-1 win over
Cardiff City in their Carling Cup fourth round tie on
Wednesday night.
The 19-year-old, whose only previous senior experience was
as an injury-time substitute in the previous round at
Reading, was paired alongside Jamie Carragher at the heart
of defence as replacement for the rested Sami Hyypia.
And Hobbs’s performance up against strikers Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler earned a ringing endorsement
from the veteran Finn – and ringing ears from his central
defensive colleague on the night.
“Jamie kept on at me all night, which is really good,” says
Hobbs. “He dragged me into positions and guided me, which
obviously makes life a lot easier on your debut.
“I might have a little bit of earache but it’s all good.”
(LFC Official Website)
Torres: I hate this
Fernando Torres has spoken of his deep frustration at having
to watch from the sidelines as his teammates continue their
quest for glory.
The Spanish marksman claims he is struggling to get to grips
with watching from the sidelines because he's not the type
of player who normally suffers injuries.
"It's terrible. I'm the sort of player who misses two games
a season at most through injury, so it's a very strange
situation for me. I hate it when I'm not playing games," he
told Liverpoolfc.tv.
Despite his frustration, Torres – who returned from a
different adductor injury to face Arsenal last weekend but
lasted only until half-time - insists he won't rush back
until he is 100 per cent.
He added: "I'm getting better and am working really hard
with the physios. Let's just hope I'll be in perfect
condition to play soon and that will be an end to the
injuries this season.
"That's why I've got to make sure I'm absolutely right so it
doesn't return.
"People were talking about three to four weeks but it just
depends on how the adductor evolves, so I've just got to
hope it will be sooner than that."
(LFC Official Website) |
|
THURSDAY 1 |
Lindfield joins Magpies on loan
Notts County have signed striker Craig Lindfield on a
month's loan
from Liverpool.
The England under-19 international, who was part of the
Reds' FA Youth Cup winning side of the last two years,
signed his first professional contract at Anfield in the
summer but he has yet to make his debut for Rafael Benitez's
team.
County boss Ian McParland told the club's official website:
"It is no secret that we have not been scoring enough goals
this season so hopefully Craig can help us do something
about that.
"Liverpool rate him very highly and he also comes very
highly recommended by a number of other football people I
have spoken to.
"Liverpool have agreed to let him join us because they see
it as a key part of his development that he gets a taste of
first-team football."
(Sporting Life)
Starlet sent out on loan
Liverpool starlet Robbie Threlfall will spend the next three
months on loan at League Two side Hereford United.
The 18-year-old has yet to play a senior competitive game
for the Reds, but has been capped at England Under-19 level
and was part of the FA Youth Cup winning sides of 2006 and
2007.
He is predominantly a left-back, but can also be deployed in
central defence or on the left-wing.
Threlfall is likely to make his debut in the Bulls' FA Cup
first-round tie against Leeds on November 9.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool kids show promise
Liverpool's progress to the Carling Cup last eight came with
the added pleasure for boss Rafael Benitez of seeing that
his kids are alright.
Defender Jack Hobbs and midfielder Nabil El Zhar were hugely
instrumental in the 2-1 defeat of brave Cardiff.
Hobbs, 19, made his full debut alongside the experienced
Jamie Carragher, and coped well with Cardiff's veteran front
pairing of Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
While El Zhar, French-born but of Moroccan background,
struck a stunning 25-yarder to help send Liverpool on their
way into the last eight.
(TEAMtalk)
Alonso boost for Benitez
Rafa Benitez is hoping Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso can
return to action within two weeks.
Alonso made his comeback from six weeks out with a broken
metatarsal against Arsenal on Sunday, only to suffer a new
foot injury.
Liverpool confirmed earlier in the week that X-rays had
shown a fracture to the Spaniard's fourth metatarsal and
were unsure how long the player would be sidelined.
But, speaking after The Reds' 2-1 win over Cardiff City in
the Carling Cup, Benitez revealed his expectation that
Alonso would be available again in a fortnight.
"That's the idea we have," Benitez told Sky Sports News.
"So (Fernando) Torres and him, maybe (Daniel) Agger, can be
fit
in two weeks."
(Sporting Life)
New Liverpool FC stadium: Police demand right to tow cars
Illegally parked cars should be towed away from streets
around Liverpool FC’s new £400m stadium to prevent the
Anfield area being gridlocked on match days.
That is the new demand from Merseyside Police in response to
the club’s revised plans for a new ground that could
eventually hold 76,000 fans.
Liverpool City Council is currently expanding parking
control zones around both Liverpool and Everton football
grounds.
But Merseyside Police want a stringent enforcement policy to
deter fans from leaving their vehicles close to the ground.
A number of fans currently take the risk of abandoning their
vehicles, sharing the £30 penalty if they are given a
ticket.
Towing cars away to a special compound, with much higher
retrieval costs, would act as a strong deterrent.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
