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WEDNESDAY 12 |
Kuyt on target for Dutch
Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt was on target for Holland as they drew
2-2 with England tonight.
Kuyt opened the scoring after a disastrous back pass attempt
by Rio Ferdinand, rounding Robert Green and applying a
composed finish.
The Dutch were two up before the break, Rafael Van der Vaart
capitalising on more poor England defending.
Jermaine Defoe came off the bench to score twice to rescue
England, with Glen Johnson the only Liverpool player on show
after Steven Gerrard withdrew from the squad on Monday.
(This is Anfield)
Gerrard expected to face Tottenham
Liverpool expect Steven Gerrard to be fit to captain them at
Tottenham on Sunday in their opening Premier League game.
Gerrard pulled out of the England squad this week with a
groin problem. He trained with his international colleagues
on Monday, but did not board the flight to Amsterdam.
Gerrard will now have treatment back at Liverpool and should
be ready for the season's opener. Liverpool also expect that
two of their three injured defenders will also be fit to
play.
Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel all have
problems, with the former two the likeliest to be fit. Boss
Rafael Benitez is also hoping that Fernando Torres, nursing
an ankle injury, returns from playing for Spain without any
further damage.
(TEAMtalk)
Striker leaves Reds
Craig Lindfield has been released by Liverpool.
The reserve team striker, who was a member of the 2006 and
2007 FA Youth Cup winning sides, has has his contract
terminated by mutual consent and is now a free agent.
(LFC Online)
Liverpool FC injuries give me a sense
of unease ahead of the new season
Inevitably this is the week when every football fan is
feeling a massive sense of anticipation ahead of the new
season.
But for me, and I guess for quite a few Liverpool fans, it’s
coupled with a slight sense of unease.
Before a ball is kicked, we’ve got an injury crisis in the
defence, with Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin
Skrtel all battling to recover from knocks.
With Sami Hyypia gone, and with Glen Johnson and Emiliano
Insua still settling in to full-back roles, I feel concerned
over the defensive side.
I was at the Atletico Madrid match and while I know it was
only a friendly, the young lads at centre-back did get
exposed once Jamie went off.
I’m sure Jamie will be out there at White Hart Lane, but it
would be good to see one other first choice centre-back
alongside him, because we need to get off to a good start
and keep a clean sheet.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Reina admits Liverpool will miss Xabi
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina concedes they will miss Xabi
Alonso, now of Real Madrid, this season.
Reina said in the Daily Star: "It is very difficult to find
a player like Xabi.
"He is like a fabulous orchestra conductor on the pitch.
"Of the central midfielders in the world it is very
difficult to find one as complete as Alonso.
"He can do everything. He can play short passes, long
passes, he heads it well and he is tactically very astute."
(tribalfootball.com) |
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TUESDAY 11 |
Eccleston on the mark in Thistle draw
Nathan Eccleston was on the mark as a Liverpool XI drew 1-1
with Partick Thistle in a testimonial for Alan Archibald at
Firhill Stadium on Tuesday night.
Fresh from signing a new contract Spanish starlet Daniel
Pacheco lined up for John McMahon's side alongside Eccleston
in attack, while Danish youngster Nicolaj Kohlert started in
midfield.
Liverpool have good relations with Partick Thistle because
they are the club who sold us Alan Hansen for the bargain
price of just £100,000 back in 1977.
It was Pacheco who created the opening goal when his
free-kick was met by the head of Eccleston who found the net
in the 42nd minute.
The pair were always a real threat and Eccleston had earlier
gone close before his opener.
The man who the night was all about Archibald left the field
to a standing ovation after 63 minutes when he was replaced
by Ian Maxwell.
The home side then equalised 18 minutes from time when Chris
Erskine fired beyond the reach of Dean Bouzanis.
Liverpool XI: Dean Bouzanis, Stephen Darby, Steven Irwin,
Robbie Threlfall (Jordy Brouwer 45), Chris Mavinga (Emmanuel
Mendy 45), Nicolaj Kohlert, Daniel Pacheco, Andras Simon
(Ryan Crowther 26), Nathan Eccleston, Vincent Weijl (Nikola
Saric 58), Gerardo Bruna (Vitor Flora 58).
(LFC Official Website)
Pacheco agrees new Liverpool deal
Liverpool's Spain youth international Daniel Pacheco has
agreed a new three-year deal at Anfield.
The striker, 18, follows academy graduates Jay Spearing and
Stephen Derby in penning renewed contracts.
Pacheco has yet to make his competitive debut for the Reds
but was involved in their pre-season tours to Switzerland
and the Far East.
Another Anfield youngster, striker Nathan Ecclestone, is
also on the brink of signing a new contract.
Craig Lindfield, 21, another product of the Liverpool youth
scheme, has been allowed to leave the club.
He spent last season on loan at Accrington Stanley.
(BBC Sport Online)
Crouch ready to take on Liverpool
Tottenham striker Peter Crouch says he feels sharp and ready
for the big Premier League kick-off against his former club
Liverpool.
The striker played the first-half of Tottenham's pre-season
friendly against Olympiacos at the weekend and now has the
Merseysiders in his sights on Sunday.
"It was one of those days in front of goal I suppose but I
was pleased with my performance," said Crouch.
"It was my first 45 minutes of pre-season and it was good to
get it out of the way. It's all about fitness and I feel
sharp and ready for the season."
Crouch began in attack with Robbie Keane in a goalless
first-half before Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko took
over in the second-half and bagged a goal each in the 3-0
win, Vedran Corluka the other scorer.
"I've played with Roman, Robbie and Jermain in training and
they are all fantastic players," added Crouch. "We've four
strikers battling it out for two spots, healthy competition
and that has to be good for the club."
(TEAMtalk)
Johnson ready to shine
Glen Johnson is ready to impress for Liverpool.
The England defender believes he has matured as a player and
is ready to prove it when the season starts on Sunday.
"I'd say I'm more mature. I've aged. I'm improving all the
time and that has been a key factor. Before I didn't play,
so it's impossible to put in performances if you don't
play," said Johnson.
"Liverpool are one of the big four so they will be in the
spotlight a lot more. It could be a big year. We have high
hopes within the Liverpool camp."
(LFC Online)
Gerrard out of Holland clash
Steven Gerrard has pulled out of the England squad for
Wednesday's friendly with Holland due to a groin injury.
The Liverpool midfielder reported a groin problem in
training and he has not travelled with the rest of the squad
to Amsterdam.
Gerrard has returned to Liverpool to receive treatment on
the injury and he joins Manchester United goalkeeper Ben
Foster in withdrawing from Fabio Capello's original squad.
Liverpool will be hoping the injury is not serious and that
Gerrard will be fit for Sunday's Premier League opener at
Tottenham, a game which you can watch live on Sky Sports 1 &
HD1.
(Sky Sports)
Benitez: Masch has Reds focus
Rafa Benitez says Javier Mascherano is now fully focused on
Liverpool after being wanted by Barcelona.
Mascherano had been linked with a move to the Spanish giants
earlier this summer after reportedly growing tired of life
in England.
However with Xabi Alonso finalising his move to Real Madrid,
Benitez says the Argentine has now purged all thoughts of
leaving Anfield
from his mind.
Benitez believes Mascherano, who has impressed in training
over the past 10 days, has accepted his long-term future is
as Liverpool.
"Javier knows he is staying," said Benitez. "He has accepted
his future is here and that he is going to be a key player
for us once more.
"Mascherano is now fully focused on us and what we might
achieve together this season, I can guarantee that 100 per
cent.
"We've spoken about his situation before and we spoke again.
Before, it was difficult and he could see Xabi Alonso was on
his way.
"There has been a significant improvement in his game over
the past 10 days. He has been a lot more focused, and we are
seeing the real Mascherano again."
(Sporting Life) |
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MONDAY 10 |
New Liverpool shirt
sponsor deal close
Liverpool look set to end their 17-year partnership with
Danish brewers Carlsberg at the end of the 2009/10 season,
according to reports.
Carlsberg and the club have not been able to reach an
agreement on a new shirt sponsorship deal, with the Reds
looking to double their price from the last time the deal
was extended.
Reports suggest that financial giants Standard Chartered
look set to sponsor the Reds for around £15million per year.
Standard Chartered recently narrowly lost out to Aon in
competing to sponsor Manchester United and have extensive
overseas interests particularly in the Far East, an area
Liverpool are seemingly keen to develop their ‘brand’.
Either way, Liverpool are due to have a change in home kit
by Adidas next season after 2 years with the current design.
(This is Anfield)
LFC confirm winger sale
Winger Adam Hammill today completed his move from Liverpool
to Championship side Barnsley.
The 21-year-old spent the second half of 2008-09 at Oakwell
and has now made the move permanent.
Hammill is a product of the Academy who has been cutting his
teeth on loan in Scotland and the Football League for the
past three years.
The Scouser was part of our 2006 FA Youth Cup winning side,
scoring a sensational goal from the half-way line in the
early rounds.
(LFC Official Website)
Brown: Turner on Rafa's radar
Phil Brown admits he has spoken to Rafael Benitez about
Michael Turner and knows it will be hard to stop the Hull
defender joining Liverpool.
Reds manager Benitez has been tracking the impressive
central defender since the opening weeks of last season.
Turner has impressed hugely since the Tigers' promotion to
the top-flight, and he played a huge part in their Premier
League survival last term.
Benitez, who has money available following the recent sale
of Xabi Alonso, is yet to replace Sami Hyypia, who departed
the club at the end of last season.
Now a move for Turner looks likely, although Brown is doing
everything he can to put the Spaniard off.
"I have spoken to Rafa Benitez about Michael, but his
assessment and valuation of the boy is well below ours," he
said.
"I would dearly love to keep Michael here with us, but I
know that is going to be difficult.
"When one of the top clubs in Europe come calling, a young
man's head can be turned."
(TEAMtalk)
Bassong free to take on Liverpool
Sebastien Bassong should make his Tottenham debut against
Liverpool on Saturday despite serving only one game of a
two-match ban
at Newcastle.
The 23-year-old Frenchman was suspended for two games when
he was sent off in Newcastle's penultimate game of last
season, meaning he would have had to sit out their
Championship opener.
He signed for Spurs before Newcastle's clash against West
Brom but Spurs have released a statement confirming he will
be available for the Premier League clash at White Hart
Lane.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds have title belief, says Kuyt
Dutch start Dirk Kuyt insists Liverpool have the belief they
can end their 20-year wait for the league title this time
around.
The Anfield outfit have not been crowned champions since
1990 and again finished second best to Manchester United
last term despite leading the way for long periods.
Dutch international Kuyt feels their results against the
other top teams will give them added confidence ahead of the
new campaign, which begins with a trip to Tottenham on
Sunday.
He told LFC magazine: "This team can be proud of itself and
the way we played last season. We can hold our heads high.
"Last season we beat the biggest teams, Manchester United
and Chelsea, twice each in the league.
"We can say that there were too many draws in the home
games, but you have to learn from it because we are a young
team.
"We have a sense now, a really strong belief, that we can go
on and achieve what we want because the quality is there and
the progress is there."
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool offer support
to Espanyol after Jarque passing
Liverpool have sent their condolences to Espanyol following
the passing of their young captain Dani Jarque.
Jarque was a teammate of Liverpool winger Albert Riera and
in a statement the Premiership club said: "Everyone at
Liverpool Football Club has been deeply saddened by the
sudden death of Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque following a
heart attack on Saturday.
"The 26-year-old, who played against the Reds a week ago,
died after a training session with his teammates in Italy.
"Rafa Benitez said: 'This is a very sad day and our thoughts
and prayers are with the family and friends of Daniel Jarque
and everyone at Espanyol.'"
(tribalfootball.com)
Rafa reveals money worries
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits he may have to speak to
the club's owners in order to secure more transfer funds to
improve his squad.
Benitez has more or less broken even in the transfer market
this summer after bringing in Glen Johnson and Alberto
Aquilani while selling Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and
Sebastien Leto.
He is hoping to sign a new centre-half after Sami Hyypia
left the club on a free transfer at the end of last season
and has targeted Hull City's
Michael Turner.
Hull value Turner at £12million, with reports suggesting
Liverpool have offered half that sum and have subsequently
been linked with Stoke City stopper Ryan Shawcross as a
cheaper alternative.
Benitez concedes he has not been given the money to compete
with other clubs, and may have to discuss the situation with
the club's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
(Sky Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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