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SUNDAY 12 |
Dalglish sees away improvement
Kop legend Kenny Dalglish believes Rafa Benitez is finding
the right formula to turn Liverpool into a formidable force
away from home.
The Reds, who had to wait until December for their first
away win last season, brought all three points back from
Villa Park on the opening day of this campaign.
Dalglish claims he's seen signs over the past few weeks to
suggest Saturday's result won't be a one off.
"I think already you can see that Rafa is trying to put
pressure on teams higher up the pitch," The King told LFC
Magazine.
"We're closing down much higher up the pitch than we have in
the past, and the result is that if you then force the
opposition to give away possession, you do so in an area
where you're much more likely to hurt them."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds break 1,000 point barrier
Liverpool earned their 1,000th Premier League point with
victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
The win means the club has now amassed 1,002 points since
the league was established in August 1992.
Just three teams have reached the milestone already:
Manchester United (1,232), Arsenal (1,081) and Chelsea
(1,013).
(LFC Official Website)
Toulouse beat French champions
Toulouse warmed up for their Champions League showdown
with Liverpool with a 1-0 win at home to Lyon.
Swedish striker Johan Elmander got the only goal of the game
in the final minute to see off the French champions.
Lyon played nearly an hour with 10 men following the
dismissal of Kim Kallstrom.
The victory helped make up for an opening day defeat to
Valenciennes.
(LFC Official Website)
Heinze hits out at United
Gabriel Heinze has hit out at Manchester United for
blocking his move
to Liverpool.
The Argentine defender is fighting to secure an exit away
from Old Trafford and win a move to United's bitter rivals
Liverpool.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is adamant that Heinze will
not be allowed to join Liverpool and he insists the player
is still part of his plans at Old Trafford despite the
dispute.
"I want a quick solution. My lawyers have told me a meeting
with the Premier League is possible to advance the matter
next week," Heinze told The People.
"The club had guaranteed my transfer if a good offer came in
and nobody specified anything about the club whether it be a
foreign team or Liverpool.
"I am a total professional and I have always behaved as
such. Now I just ask that they respect me and accept what I
was promised."
Heinze claims United's stance is damaging his career and he
wants them to respect his wishes to leave.
"It is incomprehensible and, that aside, they are affecting
me as a professional not being able to go to another club,"
added Heinze.
"I have respected Ferguson since I arrived at Manchester. I
don't want any conflict with United and neither do I have
anything against the fans. They have always treated me
perfectly and I have given everything for
the club."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa praises Torres
Rafael Benitez praised Fernando Torres' debut performance.
Torres impressed on his competitive debut for the Reds and
was only denied a goal by some good goalkeeping from Stuart
Taylor. Torres' performance earned him the praise of his
manager.
"I was happy with what Fernando did. He worked very hard.
Him and Kuyt were a problem for their defenders. That was
the idea," said Benitez.
"The movement and understanding was good and he showed the
touches and class that I would expect from him.
"Normally players when they arrive need a little time to
settle in but the understanding with Kuyt was good from the
start.
"I took him off with 20 minutes to go and it was difficult
for me to decide which player to change. I just felt it was
going to give us some fresh legs at the end of the game."
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 11 |
O'Neill rues free-kick
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was unhappy with referee
Mike Riley at the conclusion of his side's opening day
defeat to Liverpool.
O'Neill feels the award of the free-kick which Steven
Gerrard dispatched with just minutes remaining, to secure a
2-1 victory, was given somewhat cheaply.
"I just think (Gerrard) has overrun the ball and he has
played for the free-kick. I don't think it was a foul,"
O'Neill told Setanta.
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard delighted with good start
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard welcomed a winning start to
the Premier League season after his free-kick sealed a 2-1
win at Aston Villa.
Gerrard admitted the focus in pre-season has been on making
a strong start in order to keep up with expected early
pace-setters Manchester United and Chelsea, who both play on
Sunday.
He told Setanta Sports: "Over the last few seasons we have
been frustrated with the start we've made, we've lost silly
points and been playing catch-up, the idea this time is to
come out of the blocks quickly and stay in the title race.
"We were pleased with the first 60 minutes, I thought we
controlled the game. Villa came back into the game but we
managed to pull it out of the bag late doors."
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa: We showed great character
Rafael Benitez was full of praise for the resilience and
character of his Liverpool team after the Reds won their
opening Barclays Premier League match 2-1 against Aston
Villa at Villa Park.
Captain Steven Gerrard was the hero when he netted the late
winner from a stunning free-kick to give the Reds all three
points.
"We deserved to win the game and it was a special goal from
Gerrard," enthused Benitez.
"We showed great character after Villa were given a penalty
and we kept going forward and got the goal. It was important
for us to win
the first game."
(LFC Official Website)
Super Stevie puts Villa to sword
Steven Gerrard's superb free-kick and Martin Laursen's own
goal ensured a 2-1 victory for Liverpool on the opening day
at Aston Villa.
Villa looked to have rescued a point when skipper Gareth
Barry cancelled out Laursen's first-half own goal with an
85th-minute penalty.
But then Gerrard curled a 20-yard shot past the dive of
Stuart Taylor barely 60 seconds later, after the referee
harshly ruled he had been brought down by Stiliyan Petrov.
Overall Liverpool were worthy winners with record signing
Fernando Torres making a satisfactory debut despite spurning
a golden first-half opportunity.
The £20.2million capture from Atletico Madrid linked up
effectively with Dirk Kuyt before being taken off with 11
minutes remaining.
But man of the match for the umpteenth time was England
midfielder Gerrard who exerted so much influence over
proceedings even before his goal while Jamie Carragher
excelled at the heart of the Liverpool defence.
(TEAMtalk)
Torres and Kuyt lead line at Villa
Fernando Torres will make his competitive debut for
Liverpool alongside Dirk Kuyt in the forward line at Aston
Villa this afternoon.
Rafael Benitez's first team selection of the season is as
follows:
(LFC Official Website)
Pepe Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Jamie Carragher
Daniel Agger
Steve Finnan
John Arne Riise
Steven Gerrard
Xabi Alonso
Jermaine Pennant
Dirk Kuyt
Fernando Torres
Subs:
Charles Itandje
Sami Hyypia
Andriy Voronin
Ryan Babel
Momo Sissoko
Hansen optimistic about new season
Kop legend Alan Hansen believes it is imperative Liverpool
get as many points on the board as possible in the opening
weeks of the season if they are to close the gap on Man Utd
and Chelsea.
The centre-back turned pundit insists the Reds now have what
it takes to be serious title challengers – but only if they
have learned from mistakes made at the start of last season.
"It really is imperative to get off to a good start. A
couple of good performances and results against Villa and
Chelsea will send confidence soaring through the club," the
Scot told LFC Magazine.
"You then take that momentum to Sunderland, which again is
not a place you want to be going early in the season.
"We have to avoid last year's situation. Losing five of our
first six away games meant the championship was effectively
over for Liverpool. What we all want is for us to be still
in with a chance around Christmas and then as we get into
March."
(LFC Officia Website)
Crouch: We must be more clinical
Peter Crouch believes Liverpool can win the league this
season – but only if he and his fellow forwards are more
clinical in front of goal.
The big man admits more goals could and should have been
scored last term. However, he believes Rafa Benitez's summer
acquisitions will ensure the Reds are far more potent in the
box this time around.
"We have to think we can win the league," Crouch told Four
Four Two magazine. "In the Champions League we played
superbly and if we play like that in the league, we'll
certainly be closer to Man Utd and Chelsea.
"We need to turn the draws we got against teams we should be
beating into wins. We need to be more clinical.
"When we get one chance, we need to take it, then defend
well. You also need a bit of luck; Man Utd and Chelsea have
both had that in recent years."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds boss wants return on signings
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez wants goals, goals, goals
and an immediate return for his £40million summer spending
spree.
Benitez is well aware he is under intense pressure to
produce a genuine title challenge and that, as Jose Mourinho
points out, he cannot play the pauper any longer.
But he goes into the new campaign at Aston Villa on Saturday
brimming with confidence and positively gloating over the
quality and options he now has.
Benitez said: "If you want to be contenders then you have to
score a lot more goals than we did."
To that end Benitez has challenged his four-pronged strike
force to hit 60 goals between them.
He sees no problem in accommodating Fernando Torres, Andriy
Voronin, Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch and is relishing the
chance to see them produce a feast of goals.
He said: "I am not thinking about Torres scoring 20 or more
goals. What I would like would be to see is Voronin scoring
10 to 15 goals, Crouch, Kuyt and Torres all the same.
"If we can score goals too from midfield to add to that,
that is my aim and that would make me happy.
"I am not sure you need one player who can score 20 goals,
you need more options and goals from everywhere in the
team."
(TEAMtalk)
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FRIDAY 10 |
Toulouse must focus on Champs
Toulouse may have one eye on their Champions League
qualifier against Liverpool next Wednesday, but first they
will have to negotiate a tough Ligue 1 examination against
Lyon this weekend.
The champions ride into town on the back of a comfortable
2-0 win over Auxerre last Sunday, whereas Les Violets were
downed 3-1 by Valenciennes 24 hours earlier.
It was hardly the best start to the season for Toulouse, who
are heading into arguably the biggest week of their history.
A match against European heavyweights Liverpool will put
Elie Baup's side in the spotlight as they look to make it
into the Champions League proper for the first time.
(Sporting Life)
Gerrard impressed by Rafa signings
Steven Gerrard is "very confident" after Liverpool's summer
buying spree as he prepares for a campaign at last playing
in his favoured central role.
The Liverpool skipper has been impressed with boss Rafael
Benitez's £40million of new signings, more so because it is
likely to see him leading the side from central midfield
rather than the right-sided role he has frequently occupied
under the Spanish coach.
Gerrard, speaking to liverpoolTV, said: "I like to play in
the middle, everyone knows that, but it is a team game and
points are more important, so I can't be selfish and say I
want this and that.
"But we have bought wingers, so the middle is where I want
to play and I am looking forward to that now.
"Rafa has brought in quality players and we are stronger.
But I won't make any judgements now, I've done that before
and things have not always worked out.
"But the new boys will make an impact, they all have
individual qualities to bring to the squad, and we are all
very confident."
(PA Sport)
Liverpool's Ryan has Shrews trial
Shrewsbury manager Gary Peters has taken Liverpool
midfielder Jimmy Ryan on trial.
Peters has been hit by a number of injury problems ahead of
the League Two opener at Lincoln, with 18-year-old Ryan
among several potential signings.
"We've got Jimmy Ryan here who is a central midfield player
who is very keen to come and join us," said Peters.
"He is a Liverpool player at the moment but he is another
option that is available to us."
(BBC Sport Online)
O'Neill: Reds are title contenders
Martin O'Neill is convinced Villa will be squaring up to a
Liverpool side who believe they will have the Premier League
within their grasp this season.
The Villa boss believes that Rafa Benitez has assembled a
squad capable of beating the big two and bringing the title
back to Anfield for the first time since 1991.
But at the same time he warns the European Cup runners-up
that Villa will be competitive.
Benitez went spend-crazy in the summer, bringing in
£50million of talent in Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Lucas
Leiva, Yossi Benayoun and half-a-dozen others.
"Is is a good time to be playing Liverpool? I don't really
know. They have gone out and strengthened again to a very,
very large extent," O'Neill said. "I think their squad is as
strong as the other two (Man United and
Chelsea).
"They are really strong and I think they could easily bridge
the gap this season between Man United and Chelsea."
(Birmingham Mail)
Leto completes Anfield switch
Liverpool have today completed the signing of Argentinian
youngster Sebastian Leto.
Leto, who received permission to make his debut during last
weekend's Port of Rotterdam tournament, will offer manager
Rafael Benitez more options on the left side of midfield
after the Reds beat off competition from Real Betis and
River Plate for his signature.
Liverpool are now awaiting international clearance for the
player before he can make his official debut.
He will wear squad number 33.
(LFC Official Website)
Fergie: Heinze has united future
Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Gabriel Heinze can still have
a future at Manchester United even if the Premier League
reject his proposed move to Liverpool.
Heinze has a letter he believes entitles him to join the
Anfield club, who have matched United's stipulated desire
for a £6.8million transfer fee.
United officials contend the letter, signed by chief
executive David Gill, does not over-ride the Argentina
defender's contract, which still has two years to run.
Currently sidelined with a minor knock sustained during the
Copa America, Heinze will have his future determined by the
Premier League, who are due to assess the situation on
August 20.
Yet, despite his stated desire to join the Red Devils'
fierce north-west rivals, Ferguson does not believe there
will be a problem with Heinze turning out for United again.
"Nothing has moved as far as Gaby is concerned," said the
United boss.
"We have a meeting on August 20 which will settle the issue
once and for all.
"We think our case is strong and we are depending on that.
"And, if it goes our way, Gaby definitely has a future here.
He still has another two years left on his contract."
(PA Sport)
Rafa expects Heinze deal
Rafa Benitez remains convinced Liverpool will be able to
sign Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United.
The Premier League champions are refusing to sell the
left-back to their fierce rivals, despite Liverpool meeting
the Argentine's valuation.
Heinze is understood to want to move to Anfield, but Sir
Alex Ferguson is adamant the defender will not join a fellow
title contender.
The situation is due to be looked into by the Premier
League, with a decision expected before the close of the
transfer window.
And such is Benitez's confidence that Heinze will become a
Liverpool player that the Reds manager has not lined up an
alternative.
"We are waiting for a decision, but I have confidence," said
Benitez at a press conference.
"The situation is very clear and I'm confident in the
outcome.
"I'm not looking for any other left-back."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa pleased with squad
Rafael Benitez believes he has built a title challenging
team for many seasons to come.
The Liverpool boss is happy with his Summer signings and
believes he now has a core group of players who can
challenge for the Premiership title for the next few
seasons.
"What we have achieved this summer is to ensure we won't
need to buy many players every year," said Benitez.
"We've bought young players with quality who will improve
us. We will add to this every summer, but we are happy at
this moment and believe we can try to win every trophy, even
though we recognise others can do the same.
"We are a good team, but the league will be as difficult as
normal.
"I read one article where a journalist said because we have
spent big money we must now win the title.
"On the same page, the same person said Manchester United
have spent more money than any side and were still the
favourites, and Chelsea were behind them as second
favourites.
"We know people will put us under more pressure now, but we
also know that the other teams have been better than us for
a lot of years. We want to try harder to make this
different, but we know how difficult it will be."
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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