|
|
|
TUESDAY 3 |
Aurelio and Johnson confirmed
as out of Lyon clash
Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson have failed to recover from
calf injuries and will miss Wednesday’s Champions League
encounter with Lyon, it was confirmed today.
The full-backs were rated as doubtful after being forced to
miss Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Fulham, but now add to Rafa
Benitez’s growing injury list.
Also confirmed as out of tomorrow’s clash are Steven Gerrard
(groin), Albert Riera (hamstring), Martin Skrtel (muscle)
and Martin Kelly (ankle).
(This is Anfield)
Torres unlikely to need surgery
The press have been filled with speculation this morning
concerning potential hernia surgery for Fernando Torres.
Such surgery would require between 6 and 8 weeks out of
action.
However such stories are seemingly unfounded and we’ve been
told that Torres is indeed suffering from muscular injury in
his groin which will hopefully be allowed to settle with
rest over the forthcoming
international break.
Liverpool’s medical team decided that he could be used
sparingly a week apart – in the games against Man United and
Fulham – but that the player could not play both games in
their entirety.
Torres has traveled with the club to France this morning.
The reds would much prefer to start Torres on the bench –
the risk is of bringing him on and then requiring another
substitute to bring him off.
Liverpool’s following fixture will be on the Monday night
against Birmingham in the Premier League. The medical team
will be hoping to nurse Torres through the next two games
before a 12 day lay off.
(Anfield Online)
Arrivederci Dossena as Napoli
prepare January swoop
Seria A side Napoli could be set to swoop for out of favour
Liverpool left-back Andrea Dossena in the January transfer
window, according to the player’s agent.
Dossena, 28, has failed to make a consistent breakthrough to
the first team since arriving at Anfield from Udinese for
£7million, making just 17 appearances for the club.
Now Roberto La Floria, Dossena’s agent, says Napoli are
looking to fill their left-back position and Dossena has
attracted attention from them.
He says, “It is clear that in January Napoli will sign new
players, especially in the role of Dossena.
“We’ll see in January if there are opportunities to return
to Italy and play – we are interested because Dossena wants
to go to the World Cup.
“Napoli is the Italian team that has pushed most for Dossena
and according to me it would be the perfect solution for
him.”
(This is Anfield)
Delgado keen to knock out Reds
Cesar Delgado is confident Lyon can beat Liverpool again to
leave their UEFA Champions League dreams in tatters.
Lyon look set to qualify from Group E after winning their
opening three games but Delgado is also keen to knock
Liverpool out of the competition.
Having already overcome Rafa Benitez's men at Anfield,
Delgado is determined to pick up another three points at
Stade Gerland.
"It won't surprise me if we beat them again," the winger
told The Sun.
"People thought Liverpool would be a fixture in the
quarter-finals but now we make sure they are left out."
(Sky Sports)
Torres to have surgery now too?
Fernando Torres could need a hernia operation.
The Liverpool striker has travelled with the squad to France
for Wednesday night's Champions League game with Lyon, but
may undergo a hernia operation on his return.
If this is the case, he is likley to be out of action for up
to eight weeks.
(LFC Online)
Carragher: Liverpool wrong
to let Anelka leave
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admits they've suffered
since allowing Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka to slip
through their hands.
Anelka played for Liverpool on a six-month loan from Paris
St Germain under previous boss Gerard Houllier during the
2001-02 season.
But Houllier opted not to buy him for £12million and instead
splashed the cash on Kop flop El-Hadji Diouf.
Centre-half Carragher said: "I think it's a bit strong to
say it was one of the worst decisions ever, but it's fair to
say it was a mistake.
"You look at Anelka now - he was top scorer in the Premier
League last season. It's in the past now, but it was
probably something that never went our way."
(tribalfootball.com)
No Liverpool appeal
on Carragher red card
Rafa Benitez will not appeal against Jamie Carragher’s red
card
at Fulham.
Benitez had been keen to try and get Carragher’s dismissal
at Craven Cottage overturned but he has decided against it
after consulting footage of the incident.
The former England defender got his marching orders after
hauling down Bobby Zamora from behind and will now be hit
with a one match ban that will see him miss Monday’s home
game with Birmingham.
But Benitez has decided to appeal against the sending off of
Philipp Degen in the same game.
The Swiss international was shown a straight red card for
his second half challenge on Clint Dempsey but Anfield
officials will write to the FA to ask them to review the
decision.
(Daily Mirror)
Liverpool FC require strong
minds and big men
The feelgood factor after a great win over United has gone;
the crisis headlines are back and the daggers are out for
Rafa Benitez.
Now Liverpool face a crucial game which should they lose it,
will mean the end of the road in the Champions League.
I’m sorry if it sounds familiar but there just is no other
option but for people to keep sticking together - and for
players to show they’re big enough to get us out of here.
Tomorrow in France the Reds will need all that fighting
spirit that was on display against United. Everybody is
hurting again but the players have simply got to pick
themselves up and find the mental strength you need as a
Liverpool player to get through this.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)
Why Fernando Torres is being
frozen out at Liverpool FC
I appreciate that Liverpool are keen to shake off the image
that they rely too heavily on Fernando Torres – but that
doesn’t mean he should be frozen out completely.
The Spanish striker has scored 10 in 10 in the Premier
League and has to be the most devastating finisher in the
world at the moment.
So when you have someone like that in your side you play to
his strengths and give him as many opportunities as possible
– chances are he will take them, as he proved against
Manchester United and Fulham in the last two games.
And that is why I was amazed to see Andriy Voronin paired
with him at Craven Cottage.
(Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool Daily Post)
Ex-Liverpool captain Hansen accuses
Benitez players of lacking fight
Former Liverpool captain Alan Hansen has accused Rafa
Benitez's players of "lacking fight" in their defeat to
Fulham.
Yesterday, Hansen yesterday called on the team to show more
fighting spirit.
"The best Liverpool sides I played in had rotten days, even
when we were winning silverware with regularity at home and
abroad," he said.
"But then it was a case of thinking, 'We’re all in this
together', rallying around and coming out fighting. That was
not the case at Fulham. There was a lack of fight - and that
can’t happen at Liverpool Football Club."
(tribalfootball.com) |
|
MONDAY 2 |
Hamann urges
Reds to back Benitez
Former Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann says Reds boss Rafael
Benitez is the right man to turn their fortunes around
despite six defeats
in seven games.
Hamman, who played under Benitez at Anfield, has dismissed
suggestions that the Spaniard should be sacked.
"People calling for Rafa's head are being very premature,"
Hamann told BBC Sport. "He has been there five years and has
improved them
every season.
"Rafa has got everything a top-class manager needs, he will
turn
it around."
(BBC Sporrt Online)
Gerrard out but Torres travels
Latest injury news as Liverpool prepare for their Champions
League clash at Lyon.
Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Wednesday night's game
with his groin injury. It will be decided later this week
whether he will need surgery, which could rule him out until
December.
The good news is that Fernando Torres has travelled to
France and could be fit to play some part in the game.
(LFC Online)
Rafa's update on 10 injured players
Rafa Benitez is hopeful of having summer signing Alberto
Aquilani available for selection in Wednesday's crunch
Champions League clash with Lyon.
The Italy international is recovering well from a virus
which kept him out of Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Fulham.
His return to the squad would be a boost for Benitez, who
will definitely be without Steven Gerrard (groin), Albert
Riera (hamstring), Martin Kelly (ankle) and Martin Skrtel
(muscle) for the Group E encounter.
"Aquilani had a virus. He trained today but was a little bit
weak. Hopefully in two days' time he will be better," said
Benitez.
"Gerrard won't travel to Lyon. He has no chance. He is
improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but
we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts.
"Skrtel has no chance. He has a small muscle problem. It's
not too big but he is feeling something."
Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager will make late fitness
calls on the recovering Daniel Agger (back), Glen Johnson
(calf), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and David Ngog (ankle), none of
whom travelled to Craven Cottage.
(LFC Official Website)
Carragher: Tough times for Reds
Jamie Carragher admits he is 'hurt' by Liverpool's plight,
but has called on his team-mates to stay positive ahead of
the crunch trip to Lyon.
Defender Carragher was sent off on Saturday as a 3-1 defeat
at Fulham condemned the Reds to a sixth loss in seven games
in all competitions.
The setback at Craven Cottage has left Liverpool nine points
behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and unlikely to mount
a serious
title challenge.
Carragher, who is captaining the team in the absence of the
injured Steven Gerrard, admits Liverpool are currently
enduring a troubled period.
"These are tough times and it hurts a lot," said Carragher.
"This is un-Liverpool like. But it is not just the fans who
are disappointed, it is the players, the staff and the
manager.
"We have got to get back on track with Lyon, which is
another
massive game."
(TEAMtalk)
Riise refutes rumours
of Liverpool return
Roma left-back John Arne Riise has reacted angrily to claims
by the News of the World that he has explicitly requested to
re-join former
club Liverpool.
“I never said I wanted to return to Liverpool and I never
made those statements,” Riise said via the Giallorossi press
office.
“I am settled here in Rome and I want to stay.”
Riise left Liverpool for Roma in the summer of 2008 after
spending seven seasons with the Reds.
Riise has failed to establish himself as a regular starter
at the Olimpico and the News of the World had alleged the
29-year-old had expressed a desire to go back to Anfield.
(Goal.com)
Reina keen on new Reds deal
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has indicated he would be
happy to sign a new deal at Anfield.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez revealed last week that he planned to
offer the Spain international a new long-term contract.
Reina has established himself as a key member of the
Liverpool side since his arrival from Villarreal in the
summer of 2005 and the 27-year-old insists he is happy to
stay on Merseyside.
"My aim is to get a new contract in the future and I want to
be here for many years. Apparently the club wants the same,"
Reina told the club's official website.
"It's already my fifth season here and that says it all,
really. One of my daughters is a Scouser. I have some
friends here and my wife and kids are happy. I have every
reason to stay longer and of course I will.
"Titles are what we are all here for. As a Liverpool player,
you have to have these ambitions. Trophies are the most
important thing, and the most important one is probably the
Premier League."
(Sporting Life) |
|
SUNDAY 1 |
|
Whelan: Benitez has
given up title race
Ronnie Whelan launched a sensational attack on Rafael
Benitez on RTÉ television last night, suggesting that the
Liverpool manager has already given up on the Premier League
title and that his days are numbered
at Anfield.
Speaking on RTÉ's Premier Soccer Saturday, Whelan was
reacting to his former club Liverpool's 3-1 defeat to
Fulham.
Asked by presenter Darragh Maloney what had gone wrong at
Craven Cottage, Whelan replied: 'It's all gone wrong with
the manager. He's shown exactly today where his priorities
lie.'
The former Ireland midfielder went on to suggest that
Benitez is already thinking of his next job.
'He wants to win the European Cup. He wants to be the man
who wins the European Cup so he can get a job anywhere in
Europe. I think after winning the European Cup with
Liverpool he will get a job in Europe anyway but, for me,
now, his days have got to be numbered at Liverpool.'
(RTÉ - Soccer)
Johnson: Reds face disaster
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has admitted an early exit
from the Champions League would be a "disaster" for the
Anfield outfit.
Rafa Benitez's side are floundering in the Premier League
title race after suffering their fifth defeat of the season
away to Fulham on Saturday, a match which full-back Johnson
missed through injury.
And their European ambitions are also hanging in the balance
after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Fiorentina and
Lyon ahead of Wednesday's crucial return fixture away to the
French side.
England international Johnson knows the implications of the
Merseyside giants failing to progress to the knockout stages
and does not want to even consider the prospect of slipping
into the Europa League.
"It would be a disaster for this club not qualifying for the
knockout stages - but it's not something we are thinking
about," he told
the Daily Star Sunday.
"We have still got to believe we can do it. We don't even
want to start thinking about the Europa League."
(Sporting Life)
Benitez accepts transfer budget
will be cut after Euro failure
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez accepts his transfer budget will
be cut if they fail to get out of their Champions League
group.
After defeat to Fulham yesterday, Liverpool face a must-win
game at Lyon this week to keep their European chances alive.
"It will not make a massive difference when you look at the
long term. We are looking beyond just the next transfer
window," said Benitez.
(tribalfootball.com)
Lyon win
Lyon warmed up for Wednesday's Champions League game with
Liverpool by beating St Ettiene 1-0 yesterday. Bafetimbi
Gomis scored the winner.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
|
|
