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MONDAY 12 |
Benitez praise for Euro hero Arbeloa
Rafael Benitez has hailed Alvaro Arbeloa, who has twice
shackled Lionel Messi to send Liverpool into the Champions
league quarter-finals.
Boss Benitez spent £2.5million on Arbeloa in the January
transfer window, and two outstanding defensive performances
by the former Deportivo La Coruna defender against
Barcelona's wing sensation has surely repaid much of that
fee.
Now Benitez says of Arbeloa on the club's website: "It's
never easy for a new player to settle immediately and it's
even more difficult if someone comes from another country
and doesn't speak the language.
"It is always a sign of quality if someone can come into the
side and play well straight away. We saw this earlier in the
season with Kuyt, who did well as soon as he joined us.
"Now Arbeloa has joined the club and played at a good level
against Barcelona. That will help his confidence as he looks
to improve even more at Liverpool."
(TEAMtalk)
New Anfield: The first picture
This is the picture that proves that the new Anfield dream
is to become reality.
Parts of Stanley park have been fenced off for preparatory
work on Liverpool’s 60,000 seater stadium.
It includes digging boreholes to check ground conditions in
the park, a few hundred yards from the existing ground.
Compounds for the storage of equipment are also being set
up, according to community leaders.
The club and Liverpool council are keen to get off to the
best possible start with the £215m project because of the
funding situation.
(Liverpool Echo)
Hansen praises Carra
Alan Hansen says Jamie Carragher is a contender for Player
of the Year.
Footballers are currently voting for the PFA Player of the
Year award. Match of the Day pundit Alan Hanses believes
Jamie Carragher should be in the running for the award after
another impressive season.
"There was a time, earlier in the season, when Jamie
Carragher suffered a couple of poor games and began to doubt
his own form. It was the same player who dominated in their
most recent games against Manchester United and Barcelona, a
man who is at the pinnacle of his career," the Liverpool
legend told the Daily Telegraph.
"Carragher has flourished because he has worked on his own
best attributes; he is neither the quickest defender in the
Premiership and nor is he the best on the ball. But when it
comes to positional play, making a tackle or aerial prowess,
he has sometimes been in a class of his own."
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 11 |
Alex blow for PSV
Liverpool's UEFA Champions League quarter-final opponents
PSV Eindhoven have been dealt a huge blow with the news that
Alex could miss the remainder of the season.
The influential defender, who scored the goal that saw off
Arsenal in the competition's last-16, injured his hamstring
in PSV's draw with Excelsior on Sunday.
A disappointing stalemate was compounded by the sight of
Alex in obvious pain, with the player to undergo a scan on
Monday.
PSV boss Ronald Koeman admits the early diagnosis does not
look positive, willing to concede that it could be the end
of the season for a player who has done as much as any in
the club's promising campaign thus far.
"At the moment that he wanted to kick the ball, he felt
something tear," said Koeman.
"We have to wait, but we think that there is a crack.
"If that's the case, then we may be happy if he plays
another game this season."
(Sky Sports)
Carragher can't see Rafa leaving
Jamie Carragher expects manager Rafael Benitez to stay at
Liverpool despite him being linked with Real Madrid again.
Benitez won the Champions League and FA Cup in his first two
seasons at Anfield, and after leading the Reds into the last
eight in Europe once again this week, rumours persist of
interest from the Spanish giants.
However, Carragher told his club's website that he believes
that the boss is here to stay - and that he can build a
dynasty at Anfield.
"Rafa wouldn't get anything better than Liverpool, or I
wouldn't think so," Carragher said of the tabloid rumours
that Real may be interested.
"He can buy his own players here. He's one of the best
managers around. He proved that at Valencia, and he's
already proved it here. Hopefully we can go on again over
the next few years and win more things.
"All the players enjoy working with him. I'm sure you can
see the difference he's made over the last few years,
especially in Europe. Next season we want to push on and do
well in the Premiership as well."
(Sporting Life)
Reina wants Reds stay
Jose Reina is hoping to pledge his long-term future to
Liverpool.
The Spanish goalkeeper is set to hold talks with the club
over the summer about extending his deal at Anfield.
Reina has been linked with a move back to Spain, but the
24-year-old insists he is settled at Liverpool.
"I am happy here and want to stay," said Reina.
"We will talk about a new deal in the summer.
"I have two years left but I want to look beyond that. My
wife and I have just had our first child and she's a
Scouser.
"Maybe next time I'll have a son and he can play for Spain
or England!"
(Sky Sports)
Sinama's Spanish satisfaction
Sinama Pongolle has said he has no desire to return to
Anfield once his loan period at Recreativo de Huelva has run
its course.
The French striker had been a bit part player at Anfield
under Rafa Benitez's reign, despite scoring at several
timely moments and arguably influencing one of the great
comebacks witnessed at L4 against Olympiakos, during the
Reds' march to 2005 European glory in Istanbul.
But the player now says that he is happy with his life in
Spain where he has scored nine times, and does not want to
return to Merseyside.
"Today I don't have any desire to go back and sweat blood
and tears again in England. What I have out here in Spain
suits me very well and I'd like to stay whether it's at
Recreativo or somewhere else," he told a satellite TV
network.
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 10 |
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Aldridge: Carra is out of this world
Anfield legend John Aldridge today hailed Jamie
Carragher the best defender in England.
Carragher was immense against both Manchester United last
weekend and Barcelona in midweek and Aldridge, who
commentated on both games for local radio, believes it's
about time the Bootle-born defender got some more
recognition nationally.
"Along with John Terry, he is the best defender in the
country," claims Aldo. "His reading of the game is second to
none and he has got such a wonderful football mind. Quite
simply, Jamie epitomizes everything that is good about
Liverpool FC, past and present.
"I was fortunate enough to play with Alan Hansen and Gary
Gillespie and Carra is in a similar mould to them. If
'Jocky' is saying he was nowhere the footballer Jamie is,
that really is an outstanding compliment.
"At the moment, Liverpool have two central defenders in
prime form because Daniel Agger came of age against
Barcelona and it is a partnership that will be around for
many years to come."
(LFC Official Website)
Young Reds halfway to the final
Liverpool under-18s are halfway to the Youth Cup final after
an action-packed first-leg victory over Newcastle United at
St James's Park on Saturday.
The holders, who beat Man City in last year's dramatic
final, travel back to Merseyside with a 4-2 semi-final lead
thanks to goals from Ryan Flynn (2), Charlie Barnett and
Craig Lindfield.
Steve Heighway's side know from experience not to take
anything for granted, but they'll go into the second leg at
Anfield a week on Monday as favourites to face either
Manchester United or Arsenal in the final.
Liverpool under-18s: Martin Hansen, Stephen Darby, Michael
Burns, Jay Spearing (capt), Robbie Threlfall, Charlie
Barnett, Jimmy Ryan, Ryan Flynn, Craig Lindfield, Steve
Irwin (Sean Highdale 84), Astrit Ajdarevic.
(LFC Official Website)
Koné in doubt for Liverpool visit
PSV Eindhoven attacker Arouna Koné faces a race against time
to be fit for his side’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final
against Liverpool FC next month after sustaining knee
ligament damage.
The Ivory Coast striker had to be substituted five minutes
before half-time during PSV’s UEFA Champions League last-16
second leg draw against Arsenal FC last week after a
challenge with midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
An MRI scan has since confirmed that Koné will be sidelined
for between three and four weeks, putting him in doubt for
the home leg against Liverpool on 3 April.
(uefa.com)
Dates set for PSV
The dates have been confirmed for Liverpool's Champions
League quarter final with PSV Eindhoven.
The first leg takes place in Holland on Tuesday, April 3rd
while the return is at Anfield
on April 11th.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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