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SUNDAY 12 |
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Rafa slams Alonso red
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was hugely disappointed with
Xabi Alonso's controversial dismissal in the 2-1 defeat at
Arsenal on Sunday.
The Reds appeared to be on top when Alonso was sent from the
field of play for a 'foul' on Mathieu Flamini.
Replays appeared to suggest that referee Steve Bennett had
not witnessed the incident and it was this which upset
Benitez the most.
"It is a big mistake from the referee," Benitez told Sky
Sports News.
"He was not watching the play and he decided too quick to
show the yellow card - it's a big mistake."
(Sky Sports)
Wenger: 'Arsenal can catch Liverpool'
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his improving young side
can catch Liverpool in the Premier League after they
recorded a 2-1 win over the third-placed Merseysiders on
Sunday.
"I think we can catch Liverpool," Wenger told reporters. "I
thought if we could win the game today, we could do it."
(Reuters)
Gerrard accepts blame for defeat
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard confessed "it's my fault"
after his calamitous backpass presented Thierry Henry with
the winner against Arsenal.
The game was poised at 1-1 before the late error and Gerrard
said: "We could have gone away and nicked a draw but I've
made a stupid mistake.
"I thought I'd knock it back to the keeper, waste a bit of
time, but Henry was hiding behind the centre-backs.
"If there's only one player you don't want to it fall to
it's Henry."
(BBC Sport Online)
Henry double sinks Liverpool
Thierry Henry scored twice as Arsenal claimed victory over
Liverpool in the most fortunate of circumstances.
Henry's first was high class, but his late winner after Luis
Garcia had drawn Liverpool level came as a result of a
misplaced pass from Steven Gerrard.
Arsenal's skipper did produce a display of the highest
order, but the controversial dismissal of Xabi Alonso which
undoubtedly unsettled Liverpool shortly before Henry's
winner took some of the gloss off the performance.
The result does show that Arsenal can grind out results and
fires out a warning to Tottenham, while Liverpool's hopes of
pipping Manchester United to second place
took a jolt.
(Sky Sports)
Arsenal v Liverpool - CONFIRMED TEAM
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock,
Kromkamp, Gerrard, Alonso, Hamann, Garcia, Crouch.
SUBS: Dudek, Traore, Kewell, Fowler, Morientes.
(Kop Talk)
Gerrard: I'd love Owen back
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard wants Michael Owen to
return to Anfield.
"I know Michael Owen wanted to come here," Gerrard told the
Sunday Times. "I have got a good enough relationship with
him to know that.
"That he didn't was down to Liverpool not making it happen,
rather than Michael not wanting to come."
"It's difficult for me to say what difference he might have
made the other night, but Michael Owen scores goals," said
Gerrard. "Domestically, in Europe and at international level
he has proved that.
"Someone asked me after Wednesday's game if I would like him
back, and it's a silly question ... of course I would love
to have him back."
Gerrard believes the return of Owen, who scored 158 goals in
seven years with Liverpool, could help get the best out of
Peter Crouch.
"Statistics don't lie," said Gerrard. "I'm not going to
disguise the fact that we need a poacher. The problem we
have got is obvious.
"Peter has never been prolific, and I don't think he is ever
going to be. He's a target man, you will only get the
maximum out of him if you play him alongside a prolific
striker, and we have not got one at the moment."
(Sporting Life)
Gerrard: Rafa going nowhere
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed manager Rafael
Benitez plans to stay at Anfield for 10 years.
Benitez has been linked with Real Madrid and Inter Milan,
but the Spaniard told Gerrard his long-term plans when the
England midfielder was considering a move to Chelsea.
"When all the speculation was happening about me, Rafa told
me he wanted to be here at Liverpool for 10 years," Gerrard
told the Sunday Express.
"So if that's the case he should not be going anywhere."
(TEAMtalk) |
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SATURDAY 11 |
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Carragher hails "powerful" Reds
Liverpool visit Highbury for final time on Sunday with Jamie
Carragher insisting his team-mates have the defensive
qualities to handle an Arsenal attack led by Thierry Henry.
The 28-year-old England defender believes his side have
developed into a powerful outfit similar to the Arsenal team
which went through the campaign unbeaten two seasons ago.
Arsenal appear to be brimming with confidence after their
victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League -
holders Liverpool were knocked out by Benfica - but
Carragher is still optimistic.
"Listening to people talking about us now they always seem
to mention what a big, powerful and strong team we are
becoming," Carragher said.
(PA Sport)
Youth team take first leg lead
Liverpool's Youth team will take a narrow lead to
Southampton for the second leg of the FA Youth Cup semi
final.
Liverpool beat Southampton 2-1 in the first leg of the semi
final of the FA Youth Cup at Anfield last night. It was a
tough game but the Reds can go to St Marys with confidence
after last night's performance.
Southampton had the game's first chance when they shot
narrowly over the bar, but Liverpool soon began to take
charge of the tie. Paul Anderson, who named among the
subsitutes for the first team against Benfica, played in
Craig Lindfield but his shot was blocked.
This was a momentary respite for the Saints before the Reds
took the lead in the sixth minute. Adam Hammill won a free
kick on the left which he took himself. His cross found
reserve captain Jack Hobbs who cooly flicked the ball into
the top corner to put Liverpool 1-0 up.
Liverpool doubled their lead seven minutes later when Craig
Lindfield slid in on to a Charlie Barnett cross to convert
what would be the game's winner.
Liverpool were on top throughout but in the second half
Southampton began to show the form that has got them this
far in the competition. They pulled one back on 54 minutes
and almost got an equaliser on the hour mark but were denied
by some good goalkeeping from David Roberts.
Both sides continued to have chances but there were no more
goals, leaving things finely poised when the Reds travel to
Southampton for the second leg in a week's time.
(LFC Online) |
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FRIDAY 10 |
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Wenger: We can overtake Liverpool
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger maintains he has not given up
hope of overhauling Liverpool to secure their place in the
Champions League next season.
The Gunners head into Sunday's clash at Highbury currently
in fifth place, some 11 points adrift of the Reds.
However, Wenger feels his side are coming of age following
an impressive, all-round battling display over two legs
against Real Madrid which secured their passage into the
last eight of Europe's elite club competition.
"We want to finish in the top four and we have a good
opportunity to show that," the Arsenal manager declared.
"We have just won at Fulham and we want to come back into a
position where we can go in front of Tottenham and we want
to take that opportunity on Sunday against Liverpool, who
are in the same position as us because they played on
Wednesday night.
"They had a disappointment, so we have a little advantage on
the psychological side."
Wenger insisted: "I am convinced it can only give strength
to believe a little bit now.
"We believe we will come back in the top four - and I
believe we can even
catch Liverpool."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard: "Give Rafa cash"
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is confident Rafael Benitez
will stay at Anfield - but he is keen for the manager to be
given the financial support to improve the squad.
"We want him to stay because he is a fantastic coach and
I've full confidence he will stay and continue to do a good
job," insisted Gerrard.
"He is progressing the team really well and if the people
upstairs back him with that little bit of money he is after
then I'm sure he can take us even higher and make us even
better.
"The manager is asking for more money to strengthen the team
and the squad because we are not that many players away from
being a really good side.
"I'm sure we'll make a few good signings in the summer and
next year we will be even stronger.
"We have to keep building because with the standard of the
teams in Europe you can't afford to stand still.
"You have to make sure you keep strengthening the squad and
keep moving forward otherwise you will get left behind."
(Football 365)
Carson joins Owls on loan
Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson has joined Championship
side Sheffield Wednesday on loan for a month. The deal is
effective from today.
The 20-year-old travelled to Hillsborough today and final
clearance should now come from the Premier League this
afternoon.
The former Leeds keeper will reinforce an Owls back line
that has had only one senior goalkeeper since David Lucas
injured his knee ligaments at Millwall last month.
Carson has made nine appearances for the Reds, including two
Champions League outings this season, and will wear number
22.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: You can trust me
Rafa Benitez has appealed for Liverpool fans to trust his
integrity as the club prepares for further speculation
surrounding their manager's future.
Inter Milan will make an official approach for Benitez this
summer, while Real Madrid are also hopeful of luring their
former player to the Bernabeu.
Although the Anfield boss has made clear his intention to
remain on Merseyside, he's stopped short of making any
guarantees until the direction of the club becomes clearer.
The next two months will be crucial, but Benitez believes
the supporters understand the situation.
"As a manager, you have a responsibility and you can't say a
lot of things because you need to think about the interests
of the club, the supporters and the players," said Benitez..
"At the same time, you can never lie. I will never lie to
the supporters or my players. If I can't say the truth, my
idea is always it's better to not say anything at all.
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard: We can revive season now
Steven Gerrard has set a double target in the wake of
Liverpool's Champions League exit - to make sure the club
are back in Europe's elite competition next season and that
they win the race for runners-up spot in the Premiership.
Liverpool play their 50th game of a tiring season at
Highbury on Sunday against Arsenal, a game that will also be
Gerrard's 50th of the campaign - 44 for Liverpool and six
for England.
No top-flight player in Europe has had to shoulder such a
workload this term, but Gerrard is already planning for a
final big push in Liverpool's quest to be runners-up behind
Chelsea.
That target may be a tall order, with second-placed
Manchester United still having seven home league games to
play while Liverpool in third have just four games left at
Anfield, but Gerrard is turning his attention to Sunday's
trip to north London as the start of the Reds' bid to revive
their season.
He said: "We need to pick ourselves up. The FA Cup becomes
even more important now, we need a trophy.
"And of course we want to finish the league season strongly
because we want to be back in Europe again next year. That's
the aim.
"We have to aim for second spot and catch Manchester United,
and keep ourselves ahead of all the sides below us trying to
catch us."
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez: Arsenal can rule Europe
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes Arsenal can repeat
the Anfield club's Champions League success of last season.
The Spaniard, whose own side had a poor Premier League run
last term but still lifted their European crown, sees
comparisons now with Arsenal - Sunday's Barclays Premiership
opponents at Highbury.
Benitez said: "Arsenal can win the Champions League, they
certainly have enough quality."
The Liverpool boss maybe could have faced easier opposition
after watching his European Cup holders dumped out of the
competition by Benfica on Wednesday.
At the same time, Arsenal were beating Real Madrid to become
England's last representatives in this season's tournament,
so a trip to Highbury will really rub salt in the still open
wounds.
But Benitez understands the parallel, with Arsenal now
genuine candidates for May's final in Paris while struggling
to qualify for next season's Champions League by virtue of
their league position - like Liverpool last term.
He explained: "Arsenal are now looking at winning the
Champions League as a real target, they can do what we did
last season.
"Our league season was not too good and they are the same
this season. But we won the trophy and they certainly can do
the same."
(PA Sport)
Gerrard sets sight on new targets
Steven Gerrard has set a double target in the wake of
Liverpool's Champions League exit - to make sure the club
are back in Europe's elite competition next season and that
they win the race for runners-up spot in the Barclays
Premiership.
Liverpool play their 50th game of a tiring season at
Highbury on Sunday against Arsenal, a game that will also be
Gerrard's 50th of the campaign - 44 for Liverpool and six
for England.
No top-flight player in Europe has had to shoulder such a
workload this term, but Gerrard is already planning for a
final big push in Liverpool's quest to be runners-up behind
Chelsea.
Gerrard makes it clear that getting to the FA Cup final and
finishing second are priorities now.
He said: "We need to pick ourselves up. The FA Cup becomes
even more important now, we need a trophy.
"And of course we want to finish the league season strongly
because we want to be back in Europe again next year. That's
the aim."
(PA Sport)
Sissoko surprise return to training
Momo Sissoko has made a remarkable recovery from a career
threatening injury - and could be back in the Reds' midfield
inside three weeks.
Rafa Benitez revealed today the Malian midfielder had
surprised everybody at Anfield with the speed of his
comeback.
And after originally ruling him out for the rest of the
season, Benitez now hopes to include him in a first team
squad before the end of the month.
"Momo's injury was a problem for us because he is a player
with a lot of energy and he can give freedom to the other
players," explained the Reds manager. "But he is improving
and maybe in a few weeks we will see him back.
"He was running today and we were surprised because he was
touching the ball and I think in three weeks maybe he will
be fit. I hope so."
Sissoko sustained a serious eye injury in the away leg of
the last 16 Champions League knockout in Lisbon.
But after fears the player may lose the sight in one eye, he
is now set to make a full and speedy recovery.
(Liverpool Echo)
Hyypia faces fitness test
Liverpool will give a late fitness test to defender Sami
Hyypia ahead of Sunday's trip to Arsenal, with Daniel Agger
on standby.
The Finnish centre-back was only on the bench for the
Champions League defeat by Benfica in midweek because boss
Rafael Benitez would not risk the player's hamstring problem
- he has trained since but there is still a doubt over
whether he could start at Highbury.
New signing Agger is a potential replacement for Hyypia
following Djimi Traore's poor display alongside Jamie
Carragher against Benfica, while full-back John Arne Riise
is out for two weeks with a thigh muscle injury, so
youngster Stephen Warnock could continue at left-back.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia,
Kromkamp, Traore, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann,
Xabi Alonso, Kewell, Fowler, Crouch, Cisse,
Morientes, Dudek.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds ponder Luisao move
Liverpool could make a move for Benfica defender Luisao
after the Brazilian helped knock them out of this season's
UEFA Champions League.
The Reds have held a long-term interest in the giant
defender and even tried to sign him last summer.
Luisao impressed in the two recent meetings against
Liverpool, even scoring the winning goal in the first leg
encounter in Lisbon last month.
His performances have not gone unnoticed and Liverpool chief
executive Rick Parry has hinted they could rekindle their
interest in the South American.
"He [Luisao] is an excellent and interesting player, but now
there are no problems in the central defence after the
signings of [Gabriel] Paletta and [Daniel] Agger," Parry
told
O Jogo.
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool linked with Premier League
striker
Liverpool have today been linked with a possible move for
Blackburn Rovers striker Craig Bellamy (12 goals this
season).
With Rafaeal Benitez set to offload both Fernando Morientes
(6 goals) and Djibril Cisse (12 goals) in the summer,
speculation is obviously rife as to who he'll try to bring
in.
(Kop Talk)
Look to the future says Garcia
Luis Garcia says Liverpool must put the Benfica
disappointment behind them and look to the future.
The holders crashed out of the European Cup on Wednesday but
Luis Garcia says the Reds must quickly put that
disappointment behind them and concentrate on improving
their league position.
"We're very disappointed and I'm sure the supporters are
disappointed too. We tried to score against Benfica but it
was difficult and we had some bad luck," said the popular
midfielder.
"We had four clear chances and yet finished the first half
conceding a goal. We knew we could comeback but we couldn't
score the goal to get us back in the game.
"The most important thing now is to forget about the Benfica
game and think about the future. Everyone is down now, but
we have to be in the top four for next season. We want to
finish second or as high as we can."
(LFC Online)
Alonso confident of further success
Xabi Alonso is confident Liverpool have a bright future
despite their European Cup exit on Wednesday.
Although disappointed at the Reds' poor performances against
Benfica, Alonso believes the good times will come around
again soon for Liverpool and their 'superb' fans
"We have to look forward. We want to finish second and win
the FA Cup. The first 20 minutes we had a lot of good
chances to score. When they scored they put themselves in a
really good situation," he said.
"By the end it was impossible for us and we're really
disappointed. We wanted to repeat our triumph of last
season.
"We feel we have a better team than last season and could
have won it again, but in the knockout anything can happen.
"It's like Charlton in that we created a lot of
opportunities but couldn't score the goal. We have to be
worried about this. To win games, obviously, you must score
goals. This is something we'll have to analyse and work on.
"Scoring is not just the exclusive job of the strikers. The
midfielders have
responsibility, too."
(LFC Online)
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Thor Zakariassen
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