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FRIDAY 12 |
Rafa spells out Reds' priorities
Rafael Benitez has come out fighting after the worst week of
his Liverpool career by insisting domestic cups are not his
priority.
The Liverpool chief will have all his big guns back for the
Premiership game at bottom club Watford, and makes it clear
his team selection against Arsenal in the Carling Cup was
deliberate to underline his true priorities.
Benitez said: "You always need to know what is more
important for your club. If you want to sign top players you
need the money from Europe and the Premier League, not from
the Carling Cup.
"You only get this money by finishing in the top four, we
can only be focused on the really important competitions.
"I must take the responsibility and make the decisions. How
many players can we risk being injured like Momo Sissoko and
Luis Garcia have been?
"I have to decide. My priority is not to win the Carling
Cup, I will not put the Premier League and Champions League
second to that competition."
(TEAMtalk)
Change of date for Villa game
Liverpool's Premiership clash at Aston Villa in March has
been put back by 24 hours for live coverage on SKY TV.
The game at Villa Park will now take place on Sunday March
18, 2007, and will kick off
at 1.35pm.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds sign Italian goalkeeper
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Italian
under-21 goalkeeper Daniele Padelli from Sampdoria, subject
to international clearance.
Padelli, who was on loan with second division Crotone in the
first half of the season, has signed until the end of the
season when the Reds will have the option to agree a
permanent deal.
"He's a good young goalkeeper who has been selected for his
national side," said manager Rafael Benitez.
"Padelli will give us a good option for the future. The fact
he is once again with the under-21s for his national side
tells you that we are signing a very good player.
"Our scouting department are working really hard to bring
good young players to the club and I'm delighted we have
been able to sign Padelli."
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: There is no split
Rafa Benitez has insisted he and his board are at one on how
to take Liverpool forward, angrily refuting suggestions of a
split in the aftermath of Tuesday's midweek cup exit.
The Anfield boss has launched another ferocious defence of
his reign, while praising the club's hierarchy for their
ambitious plans to ensure he has the resources required to
bring more honours to Merseyside.
Benitez said today: "I'm really disappointed in the way
things have been presented and misinterpreted since
yesterday morning.
"I have no problem with my board. This club is going in the
right direction, and I was brought here to improve our
situation."
(Liverpool Echo)
Big names return for Liverpool
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will recall his big names
for tomorrow‘s Premiership clash at bottom club Watford.
The Anfield boss has Luis Garcia out for the season with a
knee injury, Mark Gonzalez sidelined for three weeks with
shin damage and Steven Warnock unlikely to be involved with
damaged ribs. Mohamed Sissoko, Bolo Zenden and Harry Kewell
are also out.
But Benitez, whose side have lost just one of their last 10
league games, will recall Jose Reina, Steve Finnan, Daniel
Agger, John Arne Riise, Dirk Kuyt and Jermaine Pennant.
Provisional squad: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia,
Riise, Aurelio, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Bellamy, Crouch,
Kuyt, Fowler, Dudek, Guthrie, Paletta.
(Ireland On-Line)
Boss: Hornets are no one-trick ponies
Adrian Boothroyd insists his team can be more flexible than
their direct style of play suggests.
The Hornets, who take on Liverpool at Vicarage Road tomorrow
(12.45pm kick-off) have had scant success with their
long-ball tactics this season, with only one win from 20
Premiership matches leaving them bottom of the table, 10
points adrift of safety.
But the Hornets boss insisted his side are slowly beginning
to adapt to top-flight football.
(Liverpool Echo)
Pennant: Let's put cup woes behind us
Jermaine Pennant has urged his team-mates to shake off their
Carling Cup hangover as he joined manager Rafael Benitez in
insisting Liverpool still have plenty to play for
this season.
"There's no point in us crying over what's lost," said the
winger. "We have to forget about it and look forward to the
Watford game now.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Ex-Red on the move
Former Liverpool defender Djimi Traore has joined
Portsmouth.
European Cup winner Traore left Liverpool for Charlton in
the Summer after being told he was no longer part of Rafael
Benitez's plans. However, Traore has left the struggling
Premiership side and has signed a two and a half year deal
with high flying Portsmouth.
(LFC Online) |
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THURSDAY 11 |
Reds snap up Asdarevic
Liverpool have sealed a deal to bring 16-year-old Swedish
striker Astrit Ajdarevic
to Anfield.
The highly-rated youngster, who represented Sweden at the
European under-17 Championships, recently completed a trial
period at Liverpool, and the North-West club have now agreed
to pay his club Falkenburg an initial transfer fee of
between £1
and 2.5 million.
"It's the biggest deal I have ever made," Falkenburg
chairman Lars-Eric Nilsson told Hallands Nyheter.
"It's rare for a player of his age, it's impressive. We went
back and forth for a while but I liked doing business with
Liverpool and I had a feeling we could make a good deal in
the end.
A large part of the deal is dependent on Ajdarevic's future
performances for the club, with the fee said to rise to a
maximum of 10 million euros.
(Eurosport)
'Our season is not over'
Rafa Benitez today insisted Liverpool's season is alive and
well, despite the record midweek Carling Cup defeat.
Pundits have suggested the cup loss all but ends the club's
hopes of silverware for another year.
Benitez is well used to shrugging off criticism, having
faced similarly testing weeks in each of his first two
trophy laden campaigns in charge.
"Last season I remember Manchester United losing early in
the Champions League and losing to us in the FA Cup. People
were saying things about them, but now they are at the top
of the table. We are sure we can progress from here in a
similar way, and remember we are still fighting in two
competitions."
(Liverpool Echo)
Young defender signs on loan
Liverpool have today confirmed the signing of Argentinian
defender Emiliano Insua on
an 18 month loan deal.
The teenage left back - who has represented his country at
under 20 level - has arrived from Boca Juniors and signed a
deal to keep him at Anfield until June 2008.
"He is a good, young player with a lot of potential," said
manager Rafael Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Praise for Antwi
Reserve team coach Gary Ablett has praised Godwin Antwi.
Ablett made the 18 year old centre half captain for last
night's game at home to Sheff Utd. After the Reds' victory
(1-0) the reserve team coach explained his decision.
"I just felt Godwin deserved it as he leads by example,"
said Ablett.
"He always gives his all and I thought that would rub off on
the rest of the players and tonight it did. I also thought
Jay Spearing was outstanding in his first start for us and
he certainly created a good impression. Jay is a good little
player."
(LFC Online)
Rafa demands more money
Rafa Benitez has called on the Anfield board to back him
with more money and to move quicker in the transfer market.
The Liverpool boss has taken the unusual move to condemn his
club's own actions in the transfer market as he feels The
Reds are missing out on some top talent.
Benitez was speaking after seeing Arsenal's second string
tear his own reserves apart on Tuesday as they cruised to a
6-3 victory.
"If Arsenal can play nine reserves and score six at Anfield,
people should be asking why," said Benitez.
"It's not because of one game, it's because of many reasons.
"There is a lesson for the whole of our club. That lesson is
that if you want to compete at the top level you must be
able to spend a lot of money - not only on your first team
but on the young players and the reserves."
(Sky Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 10 |
Garcia out for season
Liverpool forward Luis Garcia has been ruled out for the
rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury
against Arsenal in Wednesday night's Carling Cup
quarter-final
at Anfield.
The Spaniard, 28, ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in
his right knee in the 6-3 defeat to the Gunners.
Liverpool head of press Ian Cotton said: "Unfortunately we
expect to be without Luis for six months."
Chilean midfielder Mark Gonzalez, meanwhile, is facing up to
three weeks on the sidelines with the shin injury he
suffered last night.
An x-ray confirmed there was no fracture, but a scan today
has revealed severe soft tissue bruising and bruising to the
bone of his right shin.
(Sporting Life)
Dudek saddened by cup disgrace
Jerzy Dudek admits he is devastated to have let in six goals
against Arsenal in the Carling Cup.
A youthful Gunners side ran out 6-3 winners at Anfield on
Tuesday, four days after firing three past Dudek in the FA
Cup.
Nine goals conceded is not what Dudek wanted from his two
cup outings, with his chances of further first-team
opportunities at Liverpool likely to be at a minimum.
"I am devastated and disappointed. The last time I let in
six goals I was very young," Dudek said.
(Sky Sports)
It's time for us to get real
Rafa Benitez says Liverpool must learn the lessons of last
night's Carling Cup humiliation, as he urged the club to
match Arsenal's ambition in the recruitment of young talent.
"The first thing we must do is say sorry to our supporters.
They were magnificent and deserved better," said Benitez.
"Secondly, although we made mistakes in the game my players
worked hard and I must recognise this.
"But when you analyse the situation, the conclusion which
worries me is Arsenal could pick nine reserves and score six
goals at Anfield. We had seven players of the first team and
could not win.
"There is a lesson in this for the whole of our club. If you
want to compete at the top level, you must be able to spend
a lot of money not only on your first team, but on the young
players and reserves."
(Liverpool Echo)
Neill keen to leave Ewood
Blackburn defender Lucas Neill remains intent on leaving
Ewood Park.
The Australian's contract is up in the summer and he is keen
for a new challenge.
Neill has been linked with a move to Liverpool but his agent
Peter Harrison has claimed a number of clubs have made
inquiries.
Harrison said: "There has been four of five teams in touch
with Blackburn about Lucas.
"He had a great World Cup and that alerted a few foreign
sides. People in England know all about him.
"Lucas is in the last year of contract and wants to leave.
He made his mind up over a year ago.
"He would like a change of club, but he has been very
professional about it.
"There is a possibility he could leave during this window
but that of course would depend on any offers being accepted
by Blackburn.
"It is down to (manager) Mark Hughes."
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez must take blame for Anfield
shambles
Humiliation. Shambles. Embarrassment. Just three words that
spring to mind after the debacle at Anfield last night.
It was a result against a bunch of Arsenal youngsters that
underlined three major points:
1. Liverpool's squad still lacks the quality and strength in
depth that has been lacking over the years.
2. The gulf between the Reds and their major rivals remains
as wide as ever.
3. Rafa Benitez got his team selection hopelessly wrong in
the light of their FA Cup exit.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Reds recruiting Padelli on loan
Sampdoria goalkeeper Daniele Padelli will join Liverpool on
a six-month loan deal, his agent has confirmed.
The Italy Under-21 goalkeeper will undergo a medical on
Wednesday afternoon with the Reds before starting training
under Rafael Benitez.
Agent Silvano Martina said: "Padelli will travel to
Liverpool this afternoon.
"The clubs have agreed on a six-month loan deal and the
player is excited at the prospect of playing for Liverpool."
Padelli, one of Italy's most promising goalkeepers, joined
Serie B side Crotone on loan from Sampdoria in the summer
with the aim of getting some first-team football under his
belt.
However, the 21-year-old has merely served as an understudy
to Salvatore Soviero, playing in just one league game.
Samp have cancelled the loan deal with Crotone which was set
to run until June, and have accepted the offer made by the
Premiership club.
(PA Sport)
Rafa: I'm very sorry, Anfield
Rafael Benitez could only hold his hands up and apologise to
fans after Arsenal demolished Liverpool 6-3 at Anfield.
"We used senior players and young players, I do not point
the finger at anyone. We tried to do our best, but we
conceded goals and you cannot change the result now. All I
can say is 'sorry' to our supporters."
(ITV Football)
Leto relishing Reds chance
Lanus' Argentine starlet Sebastian Leto is relishing the
chance to play for Liverpool.
The Reds are believed to have struck a $3.6million
(£1.85million) deal with Lanus after River Plate pulled out
of the running for his signature.
However, Leto will not arrive in England until the end of
the season after Liverpool allowed him to remain with Lanus
on loan.
The youngster is staying level-headed after securing his
Reds switch and is looking forward to the challenge of
playing in the Premiership.
"I am calm. Liverpool is a club with a lot of history. I do
not fear the challenge," said Leto.
"I've not spoken with (Rafa) Benitez, although I've seen a
lot of Premiership matches
on television.
"I'm a winger who likes to counter-attack. I don't
anticipate struggling to adapt to life
in England."
(Sky Sports)
Wenger: Reds 'gambled' on team
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted he was surprised by the
line-up Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez fielded in
Wednesday's Carling Cup tie.
An amazing clash at Anfield saw the Gunners reach the
semi-finals with an emphatic 6-3 victory.
Wenger said: "At the start, I was surprised by Liverpool's
team. When we were here for the game that was fogged off,
Liverpool named their normal side.
"But maybe because of the postponement and the heavy
schedule after Christmas, they decided to rest some players.
"But they used senior men like Luis Garcia (who came off the
bench) and (Mark) Gonzalez and they were both injured, so it
is a real gamble."
(TEAMtalk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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