|
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY 3 |
Jamie: We're still confident
Jamie Carragher remains confident Liverpool will progress
from Group A despite admitting he and his teammates deserved
to lose against Marseille.
"We've got to be confident," Carra told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"We've got a big, strong squad and the players have proved
over the last few years that we are very good in this
competition, so we will still have the confidence.
"We know it will be difficult but it's up to us now to show
the character and the quality to go through.
"We are making it tough for ourselves but there's still four
games in which we can get enough points."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds stunned as Marseille claim win
Liverpool lost their unbeaten record this season and saw
their Champions League dreams take a beating after a 1-0
home defeat by Marseille.
Marseille, despite terrible domestic form, have now won both
their opening Group A matches and appear likely to qualify
for the knockout stages.
The French club's winner came from the night's best player,
midfielder Mathieu Valbuena with 13 minutes left - but their
superiority should have been rewarded a lot earlier.
Porto's win in Turkey against Besiktas makes Liverpool's
quest for qualification that bit harder.
(TEAMtalk)
Leto, Crouch and Torres but no Cisse
Peter Crouch returns to the Liverpool side to partner
Fernando Torres up front against Marseille.
Sebastian Leto also makes Rafa Benitez's starting XI, while
for the visitors Djibril Cisse has to settle for a place on
the bench.
However, Bolo Zenden will line up against his former
teammates.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Finnan, Aurelio,
Carragher, Hyypia, Sissoko, Gerrard, Benayoun, Leto, Torres,
Crouch. Subs: Riise, Voronin, Arbeloa, Kuyt, Babel, Itandje,
Mascherano.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard explains Cisse exit
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has explained why former
team-mate Djibril Cisse left the club to join Marseille.
Both teams will meet on Wednesday in the Champions League
group stage at Anfield.
Gerrard has reflected on Cisse’s years as a Liverpool player
for French daily L’Equipe. The England international has
explained he and his team-mates were impressed by the
attacker when he arrived.
The eccentric Cisse played for The Reds between 2004 and
2006 but injury problems and a bad relationship with Rafa
Benitez forced him out
of Anfield.
“Things where not good between Rafa [Benitez] and him,” said
Gerrard.
“He needed to feel he was loved to get the best out of
himself.
“I can imagine what his feelings will be [on Wednesday]. He
will be eager to make people regret his departure.
“And I understand what he can do on a good day.
“I was surprised with his style as he always changed his
eccentric clothes, cars, tattoos, hair styles.”
(Setanta Sports)
Reds will pile on agony for French
A struggling French side visiting Anfield to play a
Liverpool team full of confidence has all the makings of a
mismatch.
And that should be the case as Rafa Benitez’s team look to
stamp their authority on their Champions League group.
French football may not be as strong at international level
these days, and club football does not come anywhere near
Premier League standards.
Marseille have had their problems, not least their form in
the French league, and I can’t see them causing an upset
tonight.
Djibril Cisse, of course, may have other ideas on his
return.
He failed to reach the expectation levels during his spell
with the Reds.
Yes, he was a speed merchant, but could never combine that
when he had possession, otherwise he would have been one of
the best players in the world.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Rafa issues Crouch warning
Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez has warned Peter Crouch that he
must fight for his place at Anfield.
Crouch has dropped down the pecking order at Liverpool this
season with Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Andrei Voronin
all ahead of him in Benitez's plans.
The England international has spoken of his frustration at
his lack of first-team opportunities, but Benitez has told
the giant forward to do his talking on the pitch.
"In a top side every player needs to prove his character,
quality and mentality.
"The strikers need to be ready and the responsibility is on
the player. When I talk about a good mentality I mean a
winning one, trying to fight for your position and show
you're good enough.
"We're hopefully going to play 60 games so that's enough for
all to have their opportunity.
"If they say they are not ready, in a top side we don't want
excuses. We want players who are ready to play every game
the best they can."
(Sky Sports)
We must do better demands Benitez
Rafa Benitez will send out Liverpool’s meanest defensive
side for 30 years against Marseille tonight demanding even
more improvement.
No Liverpool team since 1977/78 has let in fewer goals in
their opening seven games.
The Reds have conceded just three penalty kicks in seven
Premier League and three Champions League matches, but
Benitez insisted: "We can still improve."
Not happy with only restricting opponents to scoring from
the spot, he now wants to eliminate any chances created.
"I think we are defending well, but I also think we can
improve. I am sure we can improve," he declared.
"You can analyse some games and ask 'why did we make this
mistake or that mistake?' And I say we can improve.
"Consistency in defence and not conceding goals is so
important. I think that we can improve a little bit by
stopping teams from creating chances."
(Liverpool Echo) |
|
TUESDAY 2 |
Reserves slump to narrow defeat
The Reserves suffered their first league defeat of the
season despite matching an experienced Sunderland side in an
entertaining contest at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Gary Ablett's men dominated for long spells throughout the
match but were left to rue a series of missed opportunities
as a solitary first-half strike from Roy O'Donovan ensured
the visitors triumphed by a 1-0 scoreline.
Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth,
Spearing, Flynn (Threlfall 82), Plessis, Lindfield (Pourie
83), Brouwer, Putterill (Crowther 69)
(LFC Official Website)
Cisse's Anfield return in doubt
Djibril Cisse's dream of returning to haunt his old team at
Anfield could be ruined by injury.
The French striker was unable to train until Monday
afternoon and is a doubt to start against Liverpool on
Wednesday.
Marseille manager Eric Gerets said: "Unfortunately he has
had an injury so only practised yesterday. We will have to
see if that is enough to start the game or come in as a
substitute."
(LFC Official Website)
Three and it's history for the Reds
One of Rafa Benitez's squad could write his name in
Liverpool history against Marseille by bagging the club's
500th European goal.
The Reds are just three strikes away from the milestone,
having netted 497 times since first entering continental
competition in 1964.
(LFC Official Website)
Hyypia has revenge on his mind
Sami Hyypia has bitter memories of his last meeting with
Marseille, but does not have Didier Drogba to contend with
this time around.
Back in 2004, in the Gerard Houllier era, Liverpool were
dumped out of the UEFA Cup by the French giants, with Drogba
scoring in both legs for the French side.
Now Hyypia comes up against Marseille again in Wednesday's
Champions League Group A clash at Anfield, confident of
gaining revenge.
It helps that Drogba is now at Chelsea, and Hyypia said: "I
have bad memories of our UEFA Cup tie with Marseille back in
2004. We lost there and they had real quality players, in
particular Didier Drogba.
"He did very well against us, he decided the games for
Marseille and we didn't get through.
"They were tough games but there is nobody left at their
club from that team so hopefully the result will be
different this time.
"Hopefully I will have better memories than the last time we
played against Marseille."
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa backs skipper Gerrard
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is adamant that Steven Gerrard
will be able to put his recent car accident to the back of
his mind when he faces Marseille in the Champions League on
Wednesday.
The crash occurred in Birkdale on Monday and left a
schoolboy with a broken leg, but Benitez is confident his
captain will be in the right frame of mind to find his best
form against the French outfit.
The former Valencia boss told the Reds' official website "I
was talking with him on Tuesday morning and he's fine.
"He was disappointed but he's spoken to the boy and his
family and everything is okay.
"He was driving slowly so it isn't a problem. He is ready to
play. This morning he was training normally."
(Football UK)
Cisse: No problem with Rafa
Djibril Cisse has insisted he does not feel any resentment
towards Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.
Benitez gave Cisse few opportunities to impress at Anfield
before letting the Frenchman join Marseille on loan in July
2006.
He completed a permanent move to Marseille this summer and
is looking forward to lining up against his former club in
the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
Cisse maintains that he departed Liverpool on good terms
with Benitez, and can understand why he was not successful
on Merseyside.
"I have nothing against him. We had to clear the air a few
times, but we always had a courteous relationship," Cisse
told France Football.
"He told me I am not his style of player, that's all. He has
been very frank. I have no regrets, no hate towards him.
"Benitez is a great coach, and has proved it. Even if I
didn't enter his choices I will not denigrate him. The
results speak for him."
(Sky Sports)
Babel, Benayoun in contention
Team news: Wingers Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun are
competing for a place in Liverpool's Champions League side
against Marseille at Anfield tomorrow due to Jermaine
Pennant's suspension.
Pennant was sent off in the away draw with Porto last month
in Liverpool's opening Group A match and must sit out the
visit of the French league runners-up.
Benayoun, who has come off the bench to score in each of his
last two games, has the edge on Dutch youngster Babel.
Boss Rafael Benitez has long-term injury problems concerning
Harry Kewell, Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso but reports no
new injury worries.
(Ireland.com)
Marseille seeks first French win at
Liverpool
French teams have never won at Anfield, making Liverpool a
tough place for Erik Gerets to start his Marseille coaching
career on Wednesday.
Liverpool's only defeat in last year's Champions League
group stage was inflicted by Galatasaray - then coached by
none other than Gerets.
And Marseille secured a 1-1 draw on its last visit here in
the 2004 UEFA Cup, before winning the second leg 2-1 at
home.
Marseille tops Group A after beating Besiktas 2-1 but is
struggling domestically with just one win in nine games,
leading to Albert Emon being fired.
"We're obviously not taking it easy, but we're certainly not
overawed,'' Marseille president Pape Diouf said. "It's the
first match of a new era ... It's an important match for us,
for the coach, and we have to remain optimistic.''
(AP)
No charges made after crowd trouble
Greater Manchester Police have not yet charged anyone
following crowd trouble at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.
Eight Liverpool and two Wigan fans were arrested after
trouble flared in the home supporters' end following
Liverpool's goal.
Two Liverpool fans were injured in the exchange and a
spokesperson for Wigan Athletic said: "There were a number
of arrests made in the ground during the game and there were
a few minor incidents outside."
(LFC Online)
Cardiff game scheduled
Liverpool’s Carling Cup fourth round clash with Cardiff City
has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 30 – barely 48 hours
after their Premier League match with Arsenal has ended.
(Liverpool Echo)
Torres is fine with rotation
Fernando Torres is comfortable with boss Rafa Benitez’s
rotation policy, even if it means he sits out tomorrow’s
Anfield group stage curtain raiser in the Champions League.
Torres has started Liverpool’s last two away games, but with
a desperately out of form Marseille due at Anfield tomorrow,
the French side may adopt the blanket defence tactics which
Birmingham used to frustrate the Reds recently and saw
Torres left on the sidelines.
“We players have to adapt to systems, rather than systems
being adapted to suit the players,” said the Spanish
international striker.
(Liverpool Echo)
Riise urges smokers to quit
John Arne Riise has added his voice to a campaign aimed at
stopping young people from smoking.
The Liverpool defender went on a tour of the Roy Castle Lung
Cancer Foundation in the city yesterday and spoke of his
determination to persuade people to give up smoking.
"Smoking is a serious problem and young people often think
it is cool to smoke. As a professional footballer, it's
important to lead a healthy lifestyle," said Riise, whose
own father died from lung cancer.
"When I was growing up, some of my friends smoked but they
respected my career and I never felt any pressure from them.
"If there are any young smokers out there and would like
help and advice, I would urge them to contact ATYC (Anti
Tobacco Youth Campaign)."
Riise's visit was part of the Premier League's Places for
Players programme, which engages communities across the UK
via football clubs and their players.
(LFC Official Website)
Why Reina is key to Reds’ title bid
Pepe Reina may be too modest to claim much credit for
Liverpool’s best defensive start to a season in 30 years.
But there is no doubting he has been a pivotal figure in
keeping the opposition at bay time and again this season.
The Reds may have struggled for league goals in the last
three matches but it is so important that they haven’t
conceded any themselves.
A clean sheet undoubtedly gave them the platform to snatch
all three points at Wigan on Saturday and if there is going
to be a meaningful challenge for the title then first and
foremost they’ve got to be really difficult to break down.
(John Thompson - Liverpool Echo)
Besiktas warning for Reds fans
Liverpool have warned their fans about the standard of
Besiktas' BJK Inonu Stadium where they play on October 24.
The toilet and refreshment areas are described as 'extremely
basic' and the view of the pitch is described as 'extremely
poor'.
The visiting supporters area is accessed from the rear of
the stadium via a single file staircase to the turnstiles
and it is surrounded by eight foot high metal fences with
netting above.
The club have raised concerns with Europe's governing body,
UEFA, about the state of the stadium after a party from
Liverpool visited
it recently.
(Clubcall Sports)
Gerrard in car collision
Steven Gerrard was involved in a traffic collision yesterday
which left a 10-year-old boy with a suspected broken leg,
his spokesman said.
The car was travelling along Grantham Road in Birkdale,
Merseyside, when the incident happened at 3.15pm and the
Liverpool captain's spokesman said: "Steven was driving very
slowly through an area of Birkdale when a young boy ran out
and hit the side of his car. Steven comforted the boy until
the paramedics arrived.
"Steven later attended a police station where he produced
his driving documents as a matter of routine and made a
statement about the accident. He was distressed over the
accident and has been in contact with the boy's family to
check his progress and plans to visit him in the next couple
of days."
(The Guardian) |
|
MONDAY 1 |
Reina supreme as Reds equal record
Liverpool’s king of the clean sheets celebrated another
defensive landmark today.
Pepe Reina’s fifth shut-out of the season equalled the
club’s best defensive start to a season – set in 1977 – and
the Reds keeper admitted the defensive resilience is
sparking thoughts of a title challenge.
“To win away in these type of games permits you to fight for
the title and be real contenders,” he said after Saturday’s
1-0 win at Wigan.
Reina has still only been beaten from the penalty spot this
season – in the Premier League and in Europe – but he
insisted the credit should be shared around the team for
their impressive defensive performances.
“We are very proud of that record, but we all defend
together so it’s everyone’s record,” he explained.
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard craves title
Steven Gerrard has admitted he is “desperate” to win a
league title with Liverpool, and believes the celebrations
around Anfield would far surpass the scenes that engulfed
Merseyside following the club’s 2005 Champions League
triumph.
The Reds’ captain knows it has been a long time since
Liverpool last lifted a domestic title, but he now believes
the club has everything in place it needs to succeed.
“They call it [the Premier League title] the bread and
butter around here and we need to win it,” said the
27-year-old in The Times.
“I’m desperate for the league. I can’t describe to you how
much I want it. I think it will be bigger than the
celebrations after Istanbul [where Liverpool won the
Champions League in 2005]."
It has been 17 years since Liverpool were last crowned
champions under Kenny Dalglish’s guidance, and Gerrard knows
that a title is really what the fans crave so much.
“That’s far too long and we feel we have all the tools now
to pull it off,”
he said.
“We’ve got the manager, the team, the new owners putting
money in and a stadium to come. The manager has strengthened
in the right places, there’s no doubt about that.”
(Setanta Sports)
Cisse praises Gerrard
Djibril Cisse says Steven Gerrard is the best player he's
ever played with.
Cisse will return to Anfield as an opposition player when
Liverpool host Marseille in a Champions League group stage
game on Wednesday night. He was in touch with Gerrard as
soon as the draw was made and in a pre-match press
conference again sung the praises of the Liverpool skipper.
"In my opinion Steven Gerrard is the best player in his
position anywhere in the world. He is magnificent," said the
former Red.
"At times it seems like he can win a match all on his own.
He has such ability to dominate a game, to turn a game
around or run away with it.
"He scores goals, he makes goals and he stops goals. He is
the all round, all action midfielder. He is a great guy and
a good friend.
(LFC Online)
Eccleston at the double for Under-18s
Nathan Eccleston scored twice as Liverpool Under-18s
returned to winning ways with a 3-2 win at Stoke City in
their latest Academy outing.
Centre half Joe Kennedy scored the Reds other goal and
Hughie McAuley's side were full value for their win.
"We scored three good goals and it was good to get back to
winning ways," commented McAuley.
"We are a team that is always going to create chances and
score goals, and we just need to work on the defensive side
of our game and cut our the mistakes."
Liverpool Under-18s: Chris Oldfield, Mattone Awang, Shane
O'Connor, Joe Kennedy, Steven Irwin, Sean Highdale, David
Amoo, Astrit Ajdarevic, Marvin Pourie, Nathan Eccleston,
Gary MacKay Steven (Alex Kacaniklic 66). Subs' not used:
Michael Scott, Ben Parsonage.
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
