|
|
|
|
SUNDAY 12 |
|
|
Rafa: We need to change pre-season plans
Rafael Benitez has admitted UEFA's decision to force
Liverpool into the first qualifying round of the Champions
League has "messed up" their pre-season preparations.
The Reds are currently considering the implications of
UEFA's decision, with the scheduled tour of Japan clashing
with the second round qualifier in the Champions League.
It also means planned pre-season friendlies may need to be
scrapped as the Reds are forced into competitive action from
the second week of July onwards.
"It is common sense, the UEFA decision," Benitez said of his
side's return to the competition.
"But it does mess nearly everything up because we have given
our players holidays and now we have to play the qualifying
rounds on the 12th or 13th, so we have to change nearly
everything."
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez admits interest in Reina
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has confirmed that Villarreal
keeper Jose Reina is one of his transfer targets.
Benitez has been linked with an £8m move for the
22-year-old, who helped Villarreal to third place in La
Liga.
"There are various keepers we have been following. Reina is
one of them. We're near but it's still to be confirmed,"
Benitez told Spanish news agency Efe.
Benitez has until 6 July to sign players to play in the
first qualifying round of the Champions League.
Reina would be the sixth Spaniard to join Liverpool since
fellow countryman Benitez took over at Anfield last summer.
His father was an international keeper with Spain and Reina
signed for Villarreal in July 2002 from Barcelona.
Reina told Liverpool's official website: "To transfer to the
champions of Europe, and furthermore to a team with
Liverpool's history, isn't something in everybody's reach.
"My answer was clear and it could only be a positive one."
(BBC Sport Online)
Spain targets lined up for Liverpool move
Two or maybe even three defenders from La Liga are being
lined up for summer moves to Anfield ahead of Liverpool's
Champions League qualifying matches.
Malaga's Alexis Ruano Delgado, Zaragoza's Gabriel Milito and
Pablo Ibanez of Atletico Madrid could all make the move from
the continent. Alexis is currently playing for the Spain
U-20's in the FIFA world cup in Holland and is likely to be
loaned out back to Malaga rightaway.
(talklfc.com)
Diarra Lens deal almost final
Liverpool midfielder Alou Diarra is almost certainly heading
to Lens on a permanent basis in the summer. This is reported
by French magazine Equippe.
Lens are willing to pay the 2 million pound asking price for
the player and have offered him a four year deal. However,
Lens are offering lower wages than the player is currently
on at Anfield which may cause problems.
(talklfc.com)
Glentoran hoping to draw Reds
Northern Ireland outfit Glentoran are dreaming of a bumper
pay day after being given a chance of drawing Liverpool in
the first round qualifying stages of the Champions League.
Roy Coyle's men will be in the pot with the Reds for the
June 24 draw when they could be handed the most lucrative
tie of them all.
The club's chief executive, Stafford Reynolds, said: "Having
Liverpool in our draw will generate attention towards some
of the smaller clubs and nations that don't benefit like
they once did in the European Cup.
"Good luck to Liverpool, I'm glad to see them get the chance
to defend the cup.
"It would be something special if we were drawn to play
them. It would be a great boost for the club and for Irish
League football."
(LFC Official Website) |
|
|
SATURDAY 11 |
|
|
Kirkland deal close
Liverpool stopper Chris Kirkland looks all set to prove his
fitness in the Premiership by signing for West Brom on a
season-long loan
Kirkland's representative has revealed talks were due to
take place with a view to a short-term move to The
Hawthorns.
"Chris is 100 per cent fit after his back operation and
wants to be playing," said Colin Gordon.
"We need to sit down and discuss things and when everyone is
back from their holidays we will talk and see what happens.
He wants to prove his operation was a success and play in
the Premiership whether that be with Liverpool or West Brom.
"Chris wants to get a good pre-season under his belt and has
set his sights on winning a place in the England team for
the World Cup," added Gordon.
(TEAMtalk)
Parry says Reds must strengthen
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry admits the Champions
League winners must strengthen their squad.
Parry said: "Wherever the best players are, we will be
going. We will be looking for players of quality and players
who have heart.
"We need lads who are going to battle for 38 matches a
season."
He added: "Our first 11 is fine, but it's when you get below
that and you have to battle for points. That's where we have
fallen short."
Liverpool's transfer plans will have to be brought forward
after they were allowed back into the Champions League at
the first qualifying round, which means their season will
start on either the 12 or 13 July.
They finished fifth last season and Parry said: "At the end
of the season the league table doesn't lie. We need a better
squad, we need more strength and depth.
"How do you improve a team? You get better players of
course."
(BBC Sport Online)
Pizarro wants Premiership move
Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been connected with a
possible move for Udinese’s David Pizarro after the star
midfielder handed in a shock transfer request.
His agent Fernando Hidalgo told Italian radio:
"Pizarro has told the club that he wants to be sold,"
"He has no preferable destination, he just wants to play for
a big club. Although David would like to try the
Premiership, that is not set in stone, we will wait and see
where the best offer is for us.”
"They value him between £8m and £10m."
"Hopefully Udinese won't decline a concrete offer,
especially as Pizarro turned down a move last summer in
order to stay."
Milan and Juventus were interested in signing him last year
when he unrepentantly decided to stay at Udinese, time will
tell if they re-awaken their interest, but most Italian
press seem to agree that he is England bound.
(SportnetworkItalia.tk)
Smicer set to return to France
Vladimir Smicer looks set to return to France with Bordeaux.
Smicer joined Liverpool from French club Lens six years ago
and now seems set to return across the Channel by signing a
two year deal with Bordeaux.
Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Charlton Athletic had all
expressed an interest in Smicer but it now appears the Czech
international will not be staying in Premiership next
season.
(LFC Online)
Torshavn boss says Liverpool decision is
crazy
The manager of Faroe Islands champions HB Torshavn says it
is ridiculous to have Liverpool entering the Champions
League so early.
HB Torshavn are one of the teams who could meet Liverpool in
the first qualifyinf round but manager Heine Fernandez says
it is a crazy decision to put the Reds in so early as any
team who faces them will be beaten out of sight.
He said: "My big problem is that almost all my players are
Liverpool fans and most of them will want them to win.
"They will be saying they cannot play in case they get a
result against them - they'd have no-one to cheer later in
the tournament.
"It is a ridiculous decision. How UEFA could let a situation
like this arise is amazing, stupid. They shouldn't have to
come into the competition as early as this."
(LFC Online)
Cahill wants Kewell for Everton
Everton's Tim Cahill has urged boss David Moyes to move for
Australia team-mate Harry Kewell if he leaves Liverpool in
the close season.
Kewell, 26, came under fire last season and limped off
injured in the Carling Cup and the Champions League finals.
But Cahill said: "I want to make it quite clear that Harry
has nothing to prove to anyone and if Liverpool don't want
him then we'll have him.
"If Liverpool don't want him, there will be clubs lining up
for him."
"The kid is a great footballer and everyone knows that.
"What he has done in the game speaks for itself. But
sometimes things don't happen for you and I think Harry just
needs a bit of a break and he'll definitely come back with
flying colours."
(BBC Sport Online) |
|
|
FRIDAY 10 |
|
|
Strachan linked to Kirkland
Celtic have been linked with Liverpool keeper Chris
Kirkland.
The 24-year-old worked with Gordon Strachan at Coventry, and
it's believed that he is on the wanted list of the new Hoops
boss.
(Evening Times)
Reds tracking Ibanez
Liverpool have reportedly rekindled their interest in
Atletico Madrid defender Pablo Ibanez, as manager Rafa
Benitez sets about an overhaul of his Anfield squad.
Benitez had been linked with a move for the talented
defender when taking charge last year, but failed to push
through with a bid during January's transfer window.
Atletico cannot offer the defender European football next
term and this could be a major plus point for The Reds,
although Benitez may keep a watching brief until the
transfer merry-go-round kicks into full swing.
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard deal urgent after UEFA verdict
Liverpool will look to hurry through negotiations on captain
Steven Gerrard's future before their next Champions League
campaign begins in mid July.
If Gerrard has not signed the £100,000-a-week two-year
contract extension by the time Liverpool play their European
opener on July 12 or 13, they could face a re-run on the
embarrassing Michael Owen saga from last season.
Gerrard has told Liverpool he will sign a new deal after
captaining them to Champions League final glory in Istanbul
last month.
But negotiations are unlikely to be concluded for a few
weeks yet and that will put pressure on everybody concerned.
Former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson said: "I
would like to think he has already made up his mind, he said
as much after Istanbul.
"I spoke to him the day after and he was in 'la-la land'.
"To be able to lift the trophy as a Liverpool fan was beyond
his wildest dreams and I believe he has already made his
decision to stay."
(Sporting Life)
Parry welcomes UEFA decision
Rick Parry today welcomed UEFA's decision to change their
rules and allow Liverpool into next season's Champions
League.
The Reds' chief executive was reacting to today's news that
Liverpool will be able to defend the title they won so
dramatically last season by starting off in the first
qualifying round of the competition next month.
Liverpool now have to play six games in order to qualify for
the group stages of the tournament. With four of those
taking place in July it means the club will have to
reconsider their pre-season plans.
"We welcome the decision to allow us in the competition next
season," Parry told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"We wish to express our thanks to all those who supported us
and campaigned on our behalf.
"We will now consider the implications this will have on the
pre-season training camp and Japanese tour."
(LFC Official Website)
Hamann leads reaction to Reds inclusion
Dietmar Hamann, fresh from signing a new contract at
Anfield, says Liverpool are "delighted" to be in next
season's Champions League.
Uefa's 14-man executive committee on Friday decided to make
a special case to allow the Reds into the first qualifying
round of the competition next season.
It means the European champions will have to play six
matches in order to qualify for the group phase.
But Hamann said: "It's tremendous news for the club and
we're delighted to be in there.
"We start pre-season on 27 June and we've got two or three
weeks to get us into physical shape for the first round.
"We'll do our best. We've got to go through the qualifying
rounds and we'll do our best to defend the trophy."
(TEAMtalk)
Chaos
UEFA have plunged Liverpool's pre-season plans into chaos by
handing them a place in the first qualifying round of the
Champions League.
The Reds will now consider whether to pull out of the UEFA
Super Cup final and World Club Championships to ease the
fixture congestion.
The extraordinary decision presents the Reds with a
nightmare run of games but the club has no avenue of appeal.
Club officials are already reassessing pre-season plans.
Trips to Switzerland and Japan are virtually certain to be
cancelled.
Chief executive Rick Parry is flying back from a club visit
to Barbados tonight and a club statement is expected later.
(Liverpool Echo)
Kirkland has Ogrizovic's backing
Chris Kirkland is being backed to rebuild his career at West
Brom and force his way back into the England picture by his
former Coventry team-mate Steve Ogrizovic.
Twenty-four-year-old Kirkland is a target for Baggies boss
Bryan Robson who is keen to prise the player away from
Liverpool.
Ogrizovic is convinced a move to The Hawthorns could provide
the catalyst for an upturn in Kirkland's fortunes.
He said: "Chris would be a major asset to West Brom next
season and I know he would become a real favourite with the
fans.
"The last few years have hardly been ideal for Chris but he
has stayed strong. He has had to ensure the label 'injury
prone' but all he needs is a season of first team football
to prove to everyone once more just what he is capable of.
"I've no doubt that he can get right back to the top. I have
no doubt that Chris will play for England again and he would
be great for West Brom."
(ITV Football)
Champs' qualifying ties shock Fairclough
Anfield legend David Fairclough, a member of Liverpool's
1978 European Cupwinning side, believes UEFA's shock
decision devalues their own tournament.
The Reds' hero said today: "I'm disappointed by the
decision. To me it sounds like UEFA are giving more prestige
to finishing third in La Liga or Serie A than actually
winning their own competition.
"That's the only analogy I can draw.
Les Lawson, head of Liverpool Supporters' Club, was equally
stunned.
"Nothing shocks me where UEFA are concerned," he said.
Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson said the verdict was
a "great decision for football".
"We've had the right things in our hearts and they've had
the right things in their minds," he said.
"This is a great decision for football. I'm glad they've
made the decision quickly and
to our benefit."
(Liverpool Echo)
Man City blow despite Reds U-turn
Manchester City will not be given a place in the Uefa Cup
despite Liverpool being allowed into the Champions League,
Uefa has confirmed.
City, who finished eighth in the Premiership, had been
lobbying to take the place vacated by Liverpool.
But there will just be one less English team in the Uefa Cup
as a result.
City missed out to Middlesbrough when Robbie Fowler missed a
last-minute penalty on the season's final day and Boro took
the crucial seventh spot.
(BBC Sport Online)
Liverpool will defend trophy
European Champions Liverpool have been awarded a
place in next season's Champions League - but must start in
the very first qualifying round.
UEFA's Executive Committee took the decision in a telephone
conference held this morning (Friday) but, contrary to the
expectation they would join local rivals Everton and
Manchester United at the third qualifying stage, have been
told they must negotiate six matches just to reach the group
stages of the competition they won so heroically in
Istanbul.
The first qualifying round matches are scheduled to take
place on 12/13 and 19/20 July, only two weeks after the Reds
are due back for pre-season training, with the draw
scheduled to take place on 24 June.
(icLiverpool)
Liverpool fan dies during Champions League
penalty shoot-out
A 20-year-old Liverpool fan by the name of
Patrick Robinson collapsed and died during our penalty
shoot-out against AC Milan in the Champions League Final.
Patrick was watching the game in the Scragg's Alley pub in
Carlow, Ireland on the night of May 25th when he was
suddenly struck down by a heart-attack. While supporters all
around the world celebrated Liverpool's victory, Pat's
family was left mourning the loss of their loved one.
Patrick's uncle Michael Owens said: "He didn't get to see
his favourite player Steven Gerrard lift the European Cup,
because he was sadly no longer of this world. But he saw the
penalty shoot-out and I know he died a happy and proud young
man."
Patrick would have been 21 this month. He was an only child
and he leaves behind not only his family but girlfriend
Lisa.
(Kop Talk)
|
|
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
