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TUESDAY 12 |
Reserves extend lead at the top
Liverpool moved five points clear at the top of the Barclays
Premier Reserve League North after a superb win over title
rivals Sunderland at
the Eppleton CW Ground in Hetton.
A well executed first-half goal from Hungarian hot-shot
Krisztian Nemeth was enough to secure a 1-0 success for Gary
Ablett's side as they extended their winning run to five
league matches with a mature performance in the North East.
Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Darby, Insua, Ayala, Huth,
Plessis, Flynn, Spearing (Crowther 22), Brouwer (Bruna 80),
Nemeth, Putterill.
Unused subs: Pacheco, Gulacsi, Simon.
(LFC Official Website)
Odemwingie linked with Liverpool
Nigerian international forward Osaze Odemwingie may be on
his way into the Premiership after dishing out an impressive
performance
at the recently concluded African Cup of Nations in Ghana.
According to reports on Brilafm.net, the Locomotiv Moscow
striker could be making an 8 million pound move from his
Russian club side
to Premiership giants Liverpool during the summer transfer
window.
(Goal.com)
read
more
Reds ace rejected Inter move
Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is ready to prove he made
the right decision in turning down Inter to move to Anfield.
The Brazil Under-20 captain can count Inter amongst a number
of big clubs he rejected in order to join Rafa Benitez at
Liverpool.
But while the Italian giants are strolling to Serie A glory,
The Reds know next week’s Champions League encounter with
the Nerazzurri is their last chance to save their season.
Inter have not lost all season in the league, but Lucas is
confident.
"I was in a fortunate position at Gremio because I had
achieved some success and I was made a lot of very
interesting offers - offers which would have made a lot of
money,” he told Liverpool’s official magazine.
"Some of them were in Spain and it's true I had an enquiry
from
Inter Milan too.
"I could have gone to Spain or Italy and it would have been
more like I am used to. But I want to make the most of my
career and I want to challenge myself.
"They were all famous clubs but the Liverpool option stood
out from the first moment I heard of their interest."
(Setanta Sports)
Dirk Kuyt's commitment cannot be doubted
I was really impressed with Liverpool's performance against
Chelsea at the weekend and the challenge for them now is to
repeat it week in, week out.
The work every player put in was fantastic to see and I’m
sure the Liverpool fans who made the trip to London for the
game, and those who were watching at home on TV, really
appreciated it.
Dirk Kuyt’s work rate was absolutely incredible. He never
stopped running from the first minute to the last and when
you play alongside someone who is like that their commitment
is infectious.
I know that Dirk has come in for a bit of criticism this
season because he has not scored the goals he would have
liked, but you could never have a go at him for the effort
he puts in.
That says a lot about him as a person because it can be easy
to go and hide when things aren’t going too well for you.
But Dirk never does that. He keeps showing for the ball and
fighting for the team.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard's warning
Steven Gerrard has warned his team mates they face a fight
for fourth.
Liverpool have a real battle on their hands for fourth place
with Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City all serious
contenders for the final Champions League spot.
"We've now got to focus on fighting for this fourth place
and we realise it's going to be difficult. There are a lot
of teams around us in good form and playing well, so it's
important we don't let our standards drop - otherwise we
won't get fourth," said Gerrard.
(LFC Online)
Mark Lawrenson: Draw is
a step in the right direction
Liverpool were decent value for their point at Stamford
Bridge.
As always when the two sides meet, there was little in it
but Rafael Benitez’s side created their share of chances to
have taken more than a point off Chelsea.
Although Liverpool’s season has been undermined by a number
of draws this year, the point picked up against a fellow top
four side represents a step in the right direction.
However the fact that Liverpool are still so far off the
pace when it comes to winning the Premier League side
illustrates how much work remains to be done at Anfield.
On the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over Sunderland, not
losing to Chelsea is a good result and the fate of the race
for a place in next year’s Champions League remains in their
own hands.
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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MONDAY 11 |
Inter focused on Anfield clash
Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has already begun
preparations for next Tuesday’s Champions League clash with
Liverpool after resting several first-team players at the
weekend.
The Serie A pacesetters maintained their eight point lead at
the top with
a comfortable 2-0 win over Catania and look set to be
fighting fit for their trip to Anfield after leaving out key
personnel in Dejan Stankovic, Maicon, Hernan Crespo and
Santiago Solari.
Mancini explained: "I left out three or four important
players.
"I hope to recover those players that are injured although
I'm not sure
Luis Figo will be able to play against Liverpool."
While Inter remain on course for a third straight Scudetto
Liverpool's hopes of a first league title in 18 years have
faded after falling off the pace
in England.
But Mancini does not feel that it will give his side the
edge ahead of the last 16 tie with Rafael Benitez's men and
recognises the danger in playing a team who have reached the
Champions League final in two out of the past three seasons.
"Liverpool is a very tough team to play against," he said.
"They are difficult opponents, that don't give you many
spaces.
"Liverpool have proved to be in good form."
(LFC Official Website)
Reina hails Reds display
Jose Reina believes Liverpool found the right balance
between attack and defence in the goalless draw with
Chelsea.
Reina insists he was not disappointed with the result but
rather buoyed by the performance of his team-mates.
"We played really well and created some chances, and a draw
is always a good result at Stamford Bridge," he told the
club's official website.
"No we have to get victories and results as good as this at
Anfield."
(Sky Sports)
read more
Gerrard: We rocked Bridge
Steven Gerrard today hailed his Liverpool team-mates for
producing a performance which could have seen them become
the first away side to win at Stamford Bridge in the league
for four years.
The Reds had to settle for a point against Chelsea after a
0-0 draw despite being the better side for long spells.
He said: "It was definitely a big improvement on how we've
played of late.
"We looked more solid defensively and I thought we were the
better side over the 90 minutes and if anyone was going to
win it was us."
(Liverpool Echo)
Barnsley win
Barnsley warmed up for their Anfield visit with a win.
Saturday's FA Cup opponents beat Championship high flyers
West Brom 2-1 this weekend. Danny Nardiello and Jon Macken
put the Tykes 2-0 up before the Baggies pulled a goal back.
(LFC Online)
Torres may be fit for FA Cup tie
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is optimistic injured
striker Fernando Torres will be fit to face Barnsley in
Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round match.
Torres, 23, missed the goalless draw at Chelsea at the
weekend because of a hamstring strain he suffered while
playing for Spain against France.
But Benitez said: "Maybe he can be available for the weekend
against Barnsley. We have time.
"The physios are working with him really hard. He could be
OK."
Should Torres return it would be a huge boost for Liverpool,
who face Italian champions Inter Milan in the Champions
League on Tuesday
19 February.
(BBC Sport Online) |
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SUNDAY 10 |
Rafa: We could have won
Rafael Benitez praised his team for their performance in the
goalless draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but
admitted the Reds could perhaps have won the game.
Taking into account his side's recent away record at
Chelsea, Benitez felt there was a lot of encouragement for
the Reds to gain from this display.
"Normally to get a point away at Chelsea is a good situation
but in the first half we had some good chances to win the
game," said Benitez.
"In the second half we had to defend more but we did that
well and also had some half chances close to their box. We
could have taken three points but it's not easy when you
play against a good team."
(LFC Official Website)
Grant: We're still in title hunt
Avram Grant insisted Chelsea are still in the race for the
Premier League title after their 0-0 draw with Liverpool at
Stamford Bridge.
The Blues missed the chance to close the gap on
second-placed Manchester United, who slipped up against
Manchester City earlier in the day, while Arsenal could
extend their lead at the top of table when they face
Blackburn at home on Monday.
"We can still win the title, it will not be easy, but we can
do it and we will challenge to the end," Grant told Sky
Sports One.
"We created some chances against Liverpool but it was not a
game that was high on quality and was very tactical."
(TEAMtalk)
Stalemate at the Bridge
Chelsea failed to capitalise on Manchester United's slip up
as an uninspiring encounter against Liverpool at Stamford
Bridge ended 0-0.
United's shock 2-1 defeat to Manchester City earlier on
Sunday presented Avram Grant's side with an opportunity of
move within one point of
the Premier League champions.
But in a game of few chances, neither side managed to break
down their opponent's disciplined defence.
Peter Crouch was guilty of missing the fixture's best chance
when he smashed just wide after Ryan Babel had teed him up
12 yards out
from goal.
The game's main talking point came on 25 minutes, with Mike
Riley waving away penalty appeals after Javier Mascherano
clumsily collided with Joe Cole in the box.
(Sky Sports)
Rafa: Rob Beasley is a liar
Rafa Benitez has slammed the News of the World reporter who
tried to stir up trouble for him this morning, and has put
the sensationalist paper into the same hole as its sister
paper The Sun.
Speaking ahead of today’s clash with Chelsea, Rafa said of
the article, written by Rob Beasley: “It’s no surprise.
Everybody in Liverpool knows there that are two newspapers
you that cannot trust, this is one of them.
“He talks of it being an exclusive; but the journalist is
lying. I was talking with the Spanish press - he was
manipulating everything. So he’s lying.”
Rafa said everything was okay with the owners: “I have
contact with them, especially with Mr Hicks, because he was
talking about Mr Hicks and I think he is lying - well
clearly he is lying, because I did not talk with him.”
(Anfield Road.com)
Crouch and Kuyt face Chelsea
Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt will lead the line for Liverpool
at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Martin Skrtel retains his place at centre-back
alongside
Jamie Carragher.
Ryan Babel, Lucas and Javier Mascherano all start, the
latter having only returned to Melwood on Friday after an
international friendly
in Los Angeles.
There's also a place on the bench for Spanish youngster
Mikel San Jose.
The Liverpool line-up in full is: Reina, Finnan, Riise,
Skrtel, Carragher, Mascherano, Lucas, Babel, Gerrard, Kuyt,
Crouch.
Subs: Itandje, San Jose, Benayoun, Pennant, Kewell.
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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