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TUESDAY 12 |
Borussia not ready to sell Reds target
Borussia Dortmund have reacted to reports that Liverpool are
lining up
an offer for their midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski by
stating the player is not for sale.
The Reds signed full back Philipp Degen from the Bundesliga
club earlier in the summer, but talk of a swoop for
22-year-old Blaszczykowski has been shot down by the German
outfit.
Liverpool are believed to be lining up an €8 million (£6.3m)
offer for Blaszczykowski, but Borussia managing director
Hans-Joachim Watzke says the club will not be accepting any
offers and has moved to put
an end to the speculation.
“We will not let him go. Not for €8m, not for €18m,” Watzke
was quoted
as saying by sport1.de.
Poland international Blaszczykowski joined Borussia from
Wisla Krakow last summer and has 13 international caps to
his name.
(Setanta Sports)
Benitez sets Standard for
Liverpool's Champions League trip
Rafa Benitez today called on his players to go for the win
at Standard Liege tomorrow night and edge themselves closer
to another crack at
the Champions League.
Liverpool flew out to Liege today with the Reds boss in
bullish mood as he looks to navigate a route through to the
lucrative group stages.
But Benitez knows Standard will provide tricky opposition as
Liverpool bid to make it out of the qualifying stages of
Europe's most prestigious knockout competition for the fifth
successive season and he is looking for an away goal as an
absolute minimum.
He said: "We will try to win if that is possible because a
good result for us is to win.
"But if that is not possible then the very least we will be
looking for is
an away goal."
(Liverpool Echo)
Astrit spot on as Reds denied
Liverpool Under-18s were left disappointed as they were held
to a 2-2 by Ajax in the Villarreal tournament with the Dutch
side equalising with
the last kick of the game.
It was a case of lightning strikes twice as on Sunday night
Real Madrid also scored with the final kick of their clash
with Liverpool to draw 2-2.
Nathan Eccleston and a penalty from Astrit Ajdarevic put
Hughie McAuley's side in command but Ajax capitalised on a
mistake to score right at the end of the game.
Liverpool Under-18s team: Chris Oldfield, Michael Roberts
(Jack Metcalf 45), Shane O'Connor, Conor Coady (Under-16),
Joe Kennedy, Astrit Ajdarevic, Lauri Dalla Valle (David Amoo
ht), Adam Pepper, Marvin Pourie (Thomas Ince 66), Nathan
Eccleston, Alex Kacaniklic.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool join Aston Villa
in Chelsea's Cole link-up
Liverpool have become the latest club to be linked to
Chelsea’s Joe Cole after Aston Villa were said to be
planning a £15m bid for the attacker by the English media
yesterday.
(Premiership Latest)
Silva wants to stay in Spain
Valencia star David Silva says he has 'no desire' to move to
the Premier League after being linked with Liverpool and
Manchester United.
Reports have claimed that the two fierce English rivals are
ready to make bids in the region of £20million for the Spain
international.
Silva has been tipped to leave Valencia due to the club's
financial problems, despite Los Che's determination to keep
the winger, and ace striker David Villa.
However, if Silva is sold to help out his current club, he
admits he would prefer to join Barcelona, rather than move
to England.
"I have no desire to play in England," Silva is quoted in
the Daily Star.
"My club know my decision and it will not change.
"If I leave Valencia, my dream will be to go to Barcelona.
"I know there is interest from some big clubs in England,
but I do not just want to move for the money.
"England is one of the best leagues in the world, but I
think that Spain is superior."
(Sky Sports) |
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MONDAY 11 |
O'Neill may call on Barry
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has not ruled out the
possibility of playing Liverpool target Gareth Barry in the
Uefa Cup.
Villa are set to take on Icelandic outfit FH Hafnarfjordur
in the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup on Thursday.
Barry has been strongly linked with a transfer to Liverpool
this summer, however, as yet, a move has failed to
materialise.
The England international featured for O'Neill's side during
their Intertoto Cup success over Danish club Odense BK last
month.
And if Barry were to play in the Uefa Cup for his current
club on Thursday then he would not be eligible to
potentially play for the Reds in the UEFA Champions League
for the first half of the season.
This scenario could jeopardise the midfielder's switch to
Anfield, but O'Neill has said that Barry has every chance of
being picked for the European fixture at Kaplakriki.
O'Neill told the club's official website: "He's our player
and though things could change, if Gareth is still our
player on Wednesday morning, he's as good a chance of
climbing on the bus as anybody."
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard to travel to Belgium
Steven Gerrard is still in contention for a place in
Liverpool's midfield against Standard Liege after Rafael
Benitez confirmed his skipper will be on the flight to
Belgium on Tuesday morning.
Gerrard faces a race against time to be fit for the Reds'
first competitive match of the new season after picking up a
thigh strain during last week's friendly in Valerenga.
"I was talking with him this morning and he will go with us
to Belgium," said Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Keane all geared up
Robbie Keane is looking forward to Wednesday’s Champions
League tie against Standard Liege. The Irishman was pleased
to make his long awaited Anfield debut and he’s already
looking forward to the challenge of the Champions League and
Premier League.
“Of course I’m looking forward to Champions League football.
Liverpool is a massive club and we’re expected to beat
teams, so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said to
the offish site.
“I’m looking forward to every game, whether we’re playing
Manchester United or Wycombe away in the cup, but obviously
I can’t wait for the Champions League.”
(Kop-TV)
Spanish defender goes on loan
Liverpool have confirmed that reserve team defender Miki
Roque has gone on loan to Spanish side Futbol Club Cartagena
until June 2009.
Roque, who made his solitary first-team appearance as a
substitute in
a Champions League group stage match against Galatasaray
on December 5, 2006, spent last season on loan at Spanish
second division side Xerez CD.
Meanwhile, Robbie Threlfall is back on loan at League One
side Hereford United until January 2009. The left back, who
spent the final part of last season on loan at Edgar Street,
played the full 90 minutes for Hereford as they lost 2-1 at
Leyton Orient in League One.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez won't change much for Liege
Rafa Benitez has revealed his starting XI against Standard
Liege on Wednesday is unlikely to differ too much from that
which took to the field against Lazio.
Most of the club's big guns were on display on Friday night,
aside from our three Olympians and Steven Gerrard, who faces
a race against time to be fit for the Belgium trip due to a
thigh strain.
If the skipper doesn't recover in time, it could be Damien
Plessis who again fills the midfield void.
(LFC Official Website)
DIC back in the frame
Reports from the Middle East indicate that Dubai
International Capital (DIC) are ready to re-launch their
Liverpool takeover bid, as tensions mount between manager
Rafael Benitez and the club's current owners.
It is not the first time during the Americans' short reign
at the club that Benitez has been told certain targets are
off-limits, and this latest case will only further infuriate
both he and the fans - who, despite their backing of Alonso,
have been equally supportive of Rafa's designs for
the team's progress.
Hence, a DIC takeover would be widely welcomed, and Dubai
newspaper The National claims that the firm are set to
refresh their bid.
A source close to the DIC directors said: "Just because it
is has been
a quiet summer does not mean DIC have lost interest. They
are happy that things have now become low key, and they are
awaiting developments."
(Goal.com)
Reds want defender
Liverpool are set to sign 17 year old defender Otikba
Kenneth.
Rafael Benitez will sign the Hungarian defender from
Bekescsaba this week. Kenneth will be part of the Academy or
reserve squad.
(LFC Online)
More Olympic success for Reds
Liverpool's Olympic trio were all in action yesterday.
Javier Mascherano played the full 90 minutes as Argentina
beat Australia 1-0 yesterday afternoon. Lucas Levia played
the full game as Brazil strolled to a 5-0 win over New
Zealand. Both Argentina and Brazil have now qualified for
the quarter finals.
Ryan Babel scored for Holland as they drew 2-2 with the USA
yesterday. The Dutch need to beat Japan on Wednesday if
they're to progress.
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 10 |
U-18s crash to opening defeat
There was disappointment for Liverpool Under-18s as they
lost 3-0 to Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol in their opening
game of
the Villarreal tournament.
Nathan Eccleston had a great chance in the opening minute of
the game when he found himself clean through but was denied
by a good save, and that was at good as it got for
Liverpool.
Hughie McAuley then suffered a blow when German Christopher
Buchtmann was forced to leave the field after 10 minutes
with
a knee injury.
Liverpool team: Chris Oldfield, Jack Metcalf, Christopher
Buchtmann (Michael Roberts 10), Andre Wisdom (Under-16), Joe
Kennedy, Astrit Ajdarevic, David Amoo (James Ellison 83),
Adam Pepper, Lauri Dalla Valle (Marvin Pourie 45), Nathan
Eccleston,
Alex Kacaniklic (Thomas Ince 65).
(LFC Official Website)
Barry overpriced as Reds eye Silva
The name of David Silva has aligned itself with Liverpool
after chief executive Rick Parry all-but-ruled-out the
signing of Gareth Barry.
Silva has snubbed a new Valencia contract, and the Liverpool
board are reportedly ready to give the green light to a £16
million player whom they feel is a more necessary purchase
than Barry.
(Setanta Sports)
Reds on loan watch
Jack Hobbs made his Leicester City debut as the Foxes
recorded an opening day 2-0 win over MK Dons in League One.
The former reserve team captain made a late appearance off
the bench while fellow Red David Martin was an unused
substitute.
There was disappointment for Godwin Antwi as he played the
full 90 minutes at right back as Tranmere Rovers lost 3-1 at
Swindon Town.
Adam Hammill made his Blackpool debut but despite a good
individual display, Bristol City spoilt his day by winning
1-0 in
the Championship clash.
Robbie Threlfall played the full 90 minutes for Hereford as
they lost 2-1 at Leyton Orient in League One.
(LFC Official Website)
Parry: Barry price 'too high'
Gareth Barry’s proposed move to Liverpool has been thrown
into further doubt after chief executive Rick Parry
admitted: “The price quoted is
too high.”
The Aston Villa midfielder has been poised for a switch to
Anfield all summer but the Reds have been unwilling to match
the asking price
of £18m.
Last month Villa set Liverpool a deadline to submit an
acceptable offer but none was forthcoming and the midlanders
then announced the deal
was off.
However, a few days later manager Martin O’Neill conceded
Barry’s heart was still set on the move, leaving the way
open for Liverpool.
But the expected transfer has still not happened amid
speculation Liverpool’s American owners are not willing to
fork out the money following Robbie Keane’s £20.3m move from
Tottenham.
(BreakingNews.ie)
Thor Zakariassen
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