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THURSDAY 12 |
Liverpool seventh in world rich list
Liverpool are 7th in the list of the world's richest
football clubs.
With an estimated value of £167m they are behind Chelsea
(£213m) and Arsenal (£219m), but a long way off Manchester
United who remain top of the list with £257m.
(LFC Online)
Liverpool international
stars avoid night of pitfalls
Liverpool’s Spanish stars came safely through last night’s
international in Seville.
Fernando Torres negotiated 64 minutes against England before
he was replaced by Spain’s second goalscorer Fernando
Llorente, while Xabi Alonso played the full 90 minutes.
Goalkeeper Pepe Reina and defender Alvaro Arbeloa were both
introduced at half-time.
On a busy night of international football, Yossi Benayoun
was Israel’s match-winner, scoring from close range as his
country beat Hungary 1-0 in Tel Aviv.
Young striker David Ngog also got on the scoresheet with a
neat volley as France Under 21s drew 1-1 with Tunisia.
Javier Mascherano captained Argentina to a 2-0 win in
France, while Daniel Agger was booked as he lasted 90
minutes in Denmark’s 1-1 draw against Greece.
Ryan Babel came on for clubmate Dirk Kuyt at half-time in
Holland’s 1-1 draw with Tunisia, while Sami Hyypia played
the full 90 minutes as Finland lost 1-0 to Portugal thanks
to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.
On Tuesday night Martin Skrtel and Andrea Dossena both
tasted defeat in international friendlies.
Dossena earned his sixth cap after replacing Andrea Pirlo 75
minutes into Italy’s 2-0 defeat against Brazil at Arsenal’s
Emirates Stadium, while Skrtel played 90 minutes as Slovakia
were beaten 3-2 by Ukraine.
All of Liverpool’s international contingent were due to
report back to Melwood today – but there were no indications
of any problems.
(Liverpool Echo)
Agger issues ultimatum to Liverpool
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger could walk out on the club
if he remains on the fringes of the first team at Anfield.
Agger has found himself down the pecking order under Rafael
Benitez, with Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel the
manager's preferred partnership in the heart of defence.
The 24-year-old Denmark international, who has failed to
agree terms on a contract extension with the club, was
linked with a move to AC Milan during last month's transfer
window but that deal failed to materialise.
Hopes that Agger will commit his future to Liverpool are
fast fading, and it has been reported he will try to buy out
the rest of his contract in the summer.
"Let me be honest and admit that, if I don't play, then it's
untenable and it can't go on like that," Agger told
Sporten.dk.
"It's never nice for a footballer to not play regularly.
That is something I will not hide. But my situation at the
club is that he [Benitez] doesn't want to let me play.
"So far I have opted to stay and wait for my chance and to
fight for my place.
"I feel I am good enough. Therefore, it irritates me when I
don't play. I am waiting for the chance to play a number of
matches and to show that I am good enough."
(Soccernet)
Kelly makes England bow
Martin Kelly made his England under 19's debut on
Tuesday night.
The reserve team defender, who has made one subsitute
appearance for the first team, came on at half time for
England under 19's in their friendly with Spain. England
were 2-0 down when Kelly entered the fray and won the game
3-0.
(LFC Online) |
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WEDNESDAY 11 |
Salgado a doubt for Liverpool opener
Real Madrid CF's Míchel Salgado faces a race to be fit for
his side's UEFA Champions League first knockout round
first-leg encounter with Liverpool FC after the defender
picked up a thigh strain.
The 33-year-old right-back has been told he will spend
between two and three weeks on the sidelines after suffering
the injury during a practice match between Madrid's first
team and the youth side.
Salgado, who has made one UEFA Champions League appearance
this season in addition to his seven Liga outings, must
therefore be rated doubtful for the initial meeting with
Liverpool.
Juande Ramos's men will play the first leg at the Santiago
Bernabéu on 25 February before travelling to north-west
England for the return
on 10 March.
(uefa.com)
Rafael: Reds running scared
Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart believes that
Liverpool will be scared when the two sides meet each other
in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.
The Spanish giants face Liverpool in a clash between two of
the most successful club sides in football history.
However, the Holland international thinks that Madrid will
have a psychological advantage even before the first-leg
kicks-off.
"We're Real Madrid, which is why I think Liverpool are
frightened of us. We have great players. It's going to be a
great tie," he told Spanish newspaper Marca.
"The team is working hard to be in perfect shape. We're
anxious to do well in Europe, and if we end up as champions
I will be capable of anything. I will do anything to win the
Champions League."
The 26-year-old has recently been relegated to the Real
Madrid substitutes' bench, but he does not think his form
has deteriorated badly.
"Everything was going well at the beginning of the season. I
had a great feeling. I don't think I was playing poorly, but
I was benched for a few matches," he added.
(Sky Sports)
Rafa not ruling out Voronin
Rafa Benitez has ramped up the chances of Andriy Voronin
making a surprise return to Liverpool by revealing that he
has held dialogue with the player’s agent.
Voronin was farmed out on loan to Hertha Berlin over the
summer but the January departure of Robbie Keane has
seemingly left The Reds short on numbers in attack.
Benitez was far from fully committal on the issue but seems
to have left the door more than a little ajar for the
Ukranian to show his face back on Merseyside sooner rather
than later.
“In this moment we are thinking just about the Champions
League and The Premier League, not about the future,” he
told Liverpool TV.
“I was talking with his agent and the relationship is good.
He is playing very well, they say that he is a hero there so
we will analyse the situation but later on.”
(Setanta Sports)
Benitez: This is no two-horse race
Rafael Benitez has denied claims that this season's battle
for the Premiership is between his Liverpool side and
Manchester United.
The Reds' boss has refused to rule out manager-less Chelsea
who are currently five points behind the Anfield side and
seven behind league leaders United.
"Aston Villa are in a good position also," the manager told
Liverpoolfc.tv.
"I think it's too soon to say it's a two horse race. We have
to keep going and then maybe at the end it could be down to
two teams.
"I'm not surprised Villa are doing well because they have
good players. They are working really hard and are in a good
position, and that makes motivation for each game easier.
"The important thing is we are still in a fantastic
position. The character of the players at Portsmouth was
very good and the way we came back showed we have the right
mentality. We have done that so many times this season.
"We have more confidence now because we are winning. If we
keep winning it will be easier to keep our focus and keep
going to the end."
(Shanklygates) |
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TUESDAY 10 |
Rafa wary of Villa threat
Rafa Benitez is refusing to believe the Premier League title
battle is a two-horse race between Manchester United and
Liverpool.
United are leading the way two points ahead of Benitez's
Reds, but Aston Villa sit just five points behind the
leaders with managerless Chelsea a further two points
adrift.
Villa have been the surprise package so far this season and
Benitez admits Martin O'Neill's men could be involved in the
chase for the Premier League crown.
"Aston Villa are in a good position," said Benitez. "I think
it's too soon to say it's a two-horse race. We have to keep
going and then maybe at the end it could be down to two
teams.
"I'm not surprised Villa are doing well because they have
good players. They are working really hard and are in a good
position, and that makes motivation for each game easier.
"The important thing is we are still in a fantastic
position. The character of the players at Portsmouth was
very good and the way we came back showed we have the right
mentality. We have done that so many times this season.
"We have more confidence now because we are winning. If we
keep winning it will be easier to keep our focus and keep
going to the end."
(Sky Sports)
Torres planning long Reds stay
Fernando Torres has pledged his long-term future to
Liverpool despite reports in Spain that Barcelona are
weighing up a big-money move.
Speaking ahead of Spain's friendly with England on
Wednesday, Torres insists he is happy to stay at Anfield and
cannot imagine himself playing for "any other team".
He said: "I don't see myself playing for Real Madrid, or
Barcelona or Chelsea or any other team.
"I see myself playing for Liverpool. I have a long contract
and that's that."
Meanwhile, Torres is hopeful he is finally over the injury
problems that have blighted his season so far.
"This year what I am more worried about are injuries," added
Torres. "I have had many problems since last summer but I
hope I will be okay now until the end of the season."
The 24-year-old is also wishing Reds team-mate Steven
Gerrard a speedy recovery from his hamstring problem and
hopes he could return to action for the Champions League
clash with Real Madrid later this month.
"Hopefully Steven Gerrard will be okay too," said Torres.
"He's a special player and a vital part of our team and we
need him fit again soon.
"I don't know how long it will take for his leg to heal, but
we wish him the best and hope we can have him back as quick
as possible.
"If it is in time for the Champions League game with Real
Madrid even better."
(Sporting Life)
El Zhar out of Morocco squad
Nabil El Zhar has withdrawn from the Morocco squad.
The Liverpool winger was in the squad for his country's
friendly with the Czech Republic but has been forced to
withdraw through illness.
(LFC Online)
Dossena happy with Anfield life
Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena admits he is now feeling
more settled at Anfield after a difficult start to life in
England.
Dossena struggled to make an impact at Liverpool following
his arrival from Udinese last summer.
But the full-back believes he now understands more of what
is required of him from Reds boss Rafa Benitez.
"In the first six months, it was not easy for me because
Italian football is very different from here," Dossena told
Sky Sports News.
"Now I know what the boss Benitez wants from me."
Dossena insists Liverpool will fight until the end with
Manchester United for the Premier League title.
The Reds sit in second spot two points behind leaders
United, but Dossena says the squad will give their all to
try and win the championship crown.
"United are a strong team, a good team, but we are Liverpool
Football Club we want to win and we will try to win until
the finish of the season.
"If at the finish of the season you win OK, but we want to
stay there."
(TEAMtalk)
Del Bosque: No Rafa rift
Spain coach Vincente del Bosque has played down reports of a
rift with Rafael Benitez - and claimed Fernando Torres might
return to Liverpool in better shape than he arrived.
Torres' importance to the Anfield outfit was never shown to
greater effect than at Portsmouth on Saturday when Liverpool
appeared about to lose until their star striker was
introduced from the bench and scored a last-minute winner.
Yet Benitez knows he must manage the former Atletico Madrid
man with care and cannot afford to risk his fragile
hamstrings at such an important stage of the season.
Although he has not said so publicly, there is a feeling
Benitez would have preferred it if Torres had remained on
Merseyside this week rather than fly home for his country's
encounter with England in Seville.
However, Del Bosque has no intention of getting drawn into
any war of words with Benitez, the club coach who supplies
more of his players than anyone else.
"There has been no conflict with Rafa Benitez," he said.
"I have always had good contact with him and was in
Villarreal earlier this season when Liverpool played a
friendly there.
"There is a perfectly correct relationship with Liverpool. I
spoke to him last Friday and of course we spoke about the
players and their physical condition."
(PA Sport)
Benitez had perfect response
to silence Liverpool's critics
The vultures were circling the second Liverpool’s team-sheet
was announced on Saturday night.
But Rafa had the perfect response with a massively important
three points.
Like almost everybody else in the country, I was surprised
when I saw so many influential names left on the
substitutes’ bench.
I would be lying if I said otherwise.
But unlike perhaps plenty of pundits, I also had some
sympathy with Rafa’s team selection, because I’ve been in
exactly the same position as Fernando Torres.
I wasn’t sure about leaving Dirk Kuyt on the bench, because
he looks like he could play about five matches every week
and still not suffer.
But resting Torres was totally understandable.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Daily Post)
Ex-Valencia chief: Liverpool would
be mad to lose Rafa Benitez
Liverpool have been warned it would be a huge mistake to let
Rafael Benitez leave the club – by the man who allowed him
to walk away from Valencia.
Jesus Garcia Pitarch was Sporting Director of Valencia in
2004 when Benitez quit over the club’s transfer policy.
The Reds boss has been haggling over the terms of a new
Liverpool contract for months, with transfer policy once
again a burning issue.
But Pitarch said: “I think it would be a huge error if
Liverpool allowed Benitez to leave.
“Rafa is a great manager, which he demonstrated with
Valencia. I haven’t been surprised he has had success at
Liverpool.
“He is always ready for any challenge and I believe that
Liverpool can win the title this season.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool still needed replacement
for misfiring Robbie Keane
I wrote here several times that I thought that Liverpool
selling Robbie Keane in January would be the best thing.
But I meant for the player and the club.
And while Keane will no doubt be relieved to be back where
he is loved and where the pressure is off, I don’t really
see the benefit for Liverpool.
Because if you’re going to get rid of someone, you have to
replace him.
This might sound wise after the event but I looked at Jo
scoring two goals for Everton in their win over Bolton on
Saturday and thought ‘well, why couldn’t Liverpool have
taken a chance on him?’
Or at least a similar type of loan signing.
(Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool Daily Post)
Rafa warning over Torres
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has implored his Spain
counterpart Vicente Del Bosque to treat Fernando Torres with
kid gloves.
Torres is feeling his way back to fitness following a string
of hamstring injuries, but served notice of his quality with
winning goals against Chelsea and Portsmouth in the last
couple of weeks.
Benitez is aware of Torres’ value in the push for honours in
the final few months of the season and does not want to see
his star overworked during Spain’s friendly with England on
Wednesday.
“It is obvious he is not ready, that can be seen when he
plays,”
said Benitez.
“Every day I see him, sometimes he appears to be at his best
and at other times not.”
(Setanta Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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