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FRIDAY 12 |
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Alonso fit for final
Liverpool have been handed a boost on the eve of the FA Cup
final with Xabi Alonso being included in the squad to face
West Ham.
Alonso has been named in Rafa Benitez's squad for the final
at the Millennium Stadium after recovering from an ankle
injury.
The Spaniard had been sweating over his fitness after being
stretchered off against Portsmouth last weekend.
Alonso collapsed in agony in The Reds' 3-1 win over
Portsmouth at Fratton just before half-time after appearing
to land awkwardly on his ankle.
The former Real Sociedad man has been undergoing intensive
treatment in a bid to be fit after missing last season's
Carling Cup final through injury.
The classy midfielder is expected to be in Benitez's
starting line-up as Liverpool look to end the season on a
high by winning the FA Cup for a seventh time.
(Sky Sports)
Hyypia longs for more cup glory
Sami Hyypia admits he has longed for another experience of
the winning feeling in an FA Cup final since Liverpool
triumphed in 2001.
The Finn has won eight winners' medals in his seven and a
half seasons at Anfield, including the Champions League and
UEFA Cup.
But the 32-year-old looks back particularly fondly on the FA
Cup final five years ago, when Liverpool came back from the
dead to beat Arsenal 2-1.
Of all the 371 games he has played for the Reds since a
£2.6million move from Willem II in January 1999, Hyypia
points to that Millennium Stadium match as one which takes
some beating.
"When we won the Cup in 2001 in Cardiff it was one of the
best days of my life," he said. "To be 1-0 down with Arsenal
dominating the game and then to come back with two goals
from Michael Owen, the second out of nowhere, was something
very special.
"I would love to experience that again, it is certainly
important for this club to win trophies every year, the fans
expect that and we expect that of ourselves."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard aims to live dream
Steven Gerrard couldn't sit still the first time he tried to
watch an FA Cup final.
"It was in 1986 and to be honest I was out in the street
kicking a ball after every goal," he smiled. "At that age I
couldn't sit down. I had too much energy to sit down and
watch a full 90 minutes."
Fast forward 20 years and not much has changed.
Gerrard is relaxed, assured and confident-looking as he
talks about his team's prospects in tomorrow's cup final.
But once the game kicks off, he will be perpetual motion
once again.
"If you look at my career and the injuries I have had it has
surprised me a little that I've played so many games this
season," he said, "but I always knew I could get my body
right.
"I feel as fit as I've ever felt. I look after myself really
well, on and off the pitch, so I feel as fresh as I did at
the start of the season and I can't wait for Saturday."
"It would be a special moment to lift the FA Cup. Obviously
I've seen all the other successful captains of the club lift
the Cup. It's always been a dream of mine just to play in an
FA Cup final, never mind lift the trophy, so we need to go
there and do the job, then it will be a special day."
(Liverpool Echo)
Carra: Stevie second to king Kenny
Jamie Carragher believes that Steven Gerrard is second only
to King Kenny when it comes to being one of the all time
Anfield greats.
Carra respects Stevie as a player and a friend and believes
he is the second best player to ever represent the club.
Carra says:
"I saw on Liverpoolfc.tv they were doing a poll on the 100
greatest Liverpool players," Carragher said. "In my opinion,
Steven Gerrard is second only to Kenny Dalglish as the
greatest to ever play for Liverpool.
"There have been many world class players like Graeme
Souness in his position, and the list is a long one at
Liverpool, but for what Stevie's achieved at such a young
age, I can't believe too many others were better.
"If he can win a few league titles, he may even go beyond
Kenny. I don't think there's any better compliment I can pay
to him than that, but he's still younger now than Kenny was
when he signed for Liverpool, so who knows what he can
become?"
(Mighty Reds)
Final chance for Morientes to shine
Fernando Morientes believes tomorrow's FA Cup final can
kick-start his spluttering Liverpool career.
The Spaniard has underwhelmed since his £6. 3million move
from Real Madrid last January, scoring just 12 goals in 59
games.
Morientes will be the subject of transfer speculation over
the summer but has always maintained he has no intention of
leaving Liverpool.
With Luis Garcia suspended and Robbie Fowler cup-tied, the
30-year-old is hopeful of lining up alongside Peter Crouch
in attack against West Ham United at the Millennium Stadium.
And Morientes is confident a positive contribution can help
win over those doubting whether he will ever be a success in
English football.
"It's fair to say people have not seen the real Fernando
Morientes since I arrived here in England," said the
striker. "Saturday provides the stage for me to announce
myself and I have got a real desire to take that chance.
What better time than Saturday to go
and do it?"
(Daily Post)
Reina cool with penalty pressure
Penalty king Jose Reina has promised Liverpool fans he will
be "ready and able" if Saturday's FA Cup final against West
Ham goes the distance.
Goalkeeper Reina has a huge reputation in Spain as a
spot-kick stopper with his previous clubs Villarreal and
Barcelona.
He is more than aware that if Saturday's Millennium Stadium
clash with West Ham gets as far as extra-time and then a
penalty shoot-out all eyes will be on him.
The last time Liverpool needed penalties to win a cup was
almost exactly a year ago in the Champions League final in
Istanbul when Jerzy Dudek wrote himself into Anfield history
with the saves that beat AC Milan.
Reina said: "I know I have a reputation in Spain for saving
penalties - but I hope it does not come to that. I know the
fans will be saying, 'We are okay now, 'Pepe' will save the
penalties'.
"I want to win in the 90 minutes. We practise penalties
every day with little competitions, and I do okay. But I
would rather it did not come down to everyone thinking I can
save the penalties, no problem."
(TEAMtalk)
Parry: We had to help locked out fans
Reds chief executive Rick Parry says he is gutted that fans
hoping to secure a ticket for the final from the planned
ballot will be left disappointed but he has rightly stressed
that those fans who had their tickets stolen, had to come
first.
The Millennium Stadium refused to issue replacement tickets
meaning more than a thousand Reds would miss the Cup Final
but Liverpool have been using tickets saved for the ballot
to re-issue to those supporters who were due to be locked
out.
Parry said: "We have been caught between the devil and the
deep blue sea here.
"But on balance we thought it best to make sure our
supporters who have not only paid for their tickets but who
have also made their arrangements to be helped.
"We are very sorry for those supporters who will now be
disappointed. Time is now so tight that we have decided to
announce this contingency plan so fans who have had their
tickets stolen can now be inside the stadium."
(Kop Talk) |
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THURSDAY 11 |
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Man arrested in FA tickets probe
A 36-year-old man is today being questioned by police in
connection with devastating FA Cup Final theft swoop.
Officers from Merseyside Police's Matrix team arrested the
man following raids in the Anfield area on Thursday morning.
The suspect will be questioned by detectives at a police
station in Merseyside later today.
Police executed two search warrants at addresses in Anfield
and discovered a postal uniform, a CS gas cannister and a
machete.
The 1,600 tickets destined for Cardiff-bounds Reds fans were
stolen from a Royal Mail van outside the Everton Megastore
in Walton Lane last Friday.
(Liverpool Echo)
Kewell looks for final redemption
Harry Kewell is looking forward to playing in
what he considers to be his first final for Liverpool - with
the Champions League glory of last season almost a thing of
the past.
Kewell was a forlorn figure when he trudged off Istanbul's
Ataturk Stadium through injury after just 23 minutes of the
Reds' showdown with AC Milan nearly a year ago.
Even though Liverpool went on to win the final in the most
dramatic of circumstances, coming from 3-0 down to lift the
trophy following a penalty shoot-out, Kewell's memories of
that night are tainted.
And even though he also played for 56 minutes of the Carling
Cup final defeat to Chelsea in February last year, that too
has been put to the back of his mind.
Now, after a season in which Kewell has been virtually back
to his best, Saturday's FA Cup final against West Ham in
Cardiff would appear to represent a game of salvation and
redemption.
"When you look at it and considering what happened in
Istanbul, this is really going to be my first final and I
just hope that everything goes well. I just want to be a big
part of it," said Kewell.
(PA Sport)
Pardew could make last-minute decision
West Ham manager Alan Pardew is prepared to wait until an
hour before kick-off to decide whether £7.25million striker
Dean Ashton and winger Matthew Etherington will play in the
FA Cup final against Liverpool.
Fears grew for the injured pair's participation in the
Millennium Stadium showpiece on Saturday when neither were
involved in preparation at the club's Chadwell Heath base on
Thursday but Pardew refused to rule them out.
It seems unlikely Pardew will risk both players at Cardiff
but he said: "If it is only pain they are suffering I would
ask them to play. Everything is on hold until two o'clock on
Saturday."
With Hayden Mullins suspended - Liverpool's Luis Garcia is
also banned after both were sent off in a league clash last
month - Carl Fletcher, who started the season on loan to
Watford, looks favourite for a vacant midfield place
following his goal against Tottenham last Sunday.
Bobby Zamora stands by to deputise for Ashton, with veteran
Teddy Sheringham
on the bench.
(Football 365)
Stadium chief welcomes ticket news
Millennium Stadium chief executive Paul Sergeant has
welcomed the news that Liverpool have decided to replace
stolen FA Cup final tickets.
Millennium Stadium chief executive Paul Sergeant today
welcomed the news that Liverpool have decided to replace
stolen FA Cup final tickets.
But he maintained the club only had themselves to blame for
the theft of around 1,000 tickets last week.
With stadium officials refusing to issue duplicate tickets,
Liverpool have opted to use tickets held back for a ballot
of fan card members to replace those stolen.
"This is great news and the most sensible conclusion to this
unfortunate set of circumstances," Sergeant said.
"This seems to be the best solution for everyone involved
and there is no-one more pleased than us that those fans who
were due to miss out will now be coming to the Millennium
Stadium after all."
(TEAMtalk)
Real Sociedad star claims Liverpool
approach
Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto claims Liverpool have
made an approach for his services.
Rafa was linked with Prieto back in January and if you
believe the player, he's sniffing around him again.
Prieto said: "It is rewarding that a club like Liverpool
follows you.
"It means I am doing well. I have not thought about England,
I am in Donosti - my city, where I have my friends and
fiancee.
"It would be complicated to leave here but you never know."
(Kop Talk)
Pongolle back with Le Havre
Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle has returned to
former club Le Havre following his loan spell with Blackburn
Rovers.
Flo is current training with his former employers ahead of
the Uefa European Under-21 championships which take place in
Portugal later this month.
The French striker has often commented that he's sick of the
lack of first team opportunities at Anfield and it looks
inevitable that Rafa will rightly get shot of him.
(Kop Talk)
Crouch intending to make old friend Zamora
miserable
Peter Crouch believes Liverpool dare not make the mistake of
taking underdogs West Ham lightly in Saturday's FA Cup
final.
Crouch and West Ham striker Bobby Zamora are old England
Under-21 room-mates, and the Liverpool striker is well aware
that his friend could force his way into West Ham's final
side if Dean Ashton fails a fitness test on his hamstring
problem.
And although Crouch wishes Zamora well in the final, he
insists Liverpool will do a professional job to ensure his
own first cup winner's medal.
Crouch said: "I know Bobby Zamora well, we were room-mates
when we were with England Under-21s, and he's a great lad
and a good player and I'm pleased he has
done so well."
(Daily Post)
Westerveld and Diao released
Portsmouth have told former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander
Westerveld that they no longer require his services.
Meanwhile loaned out Reds midfielder Salif Diao has also
been told by Pompey that they don't wish to make his deal
permanent.
(Kop Talk)
Ticket theft fans will see final
Most Liverpool supporters whose FA Cup final tickets were
stolen from a delivery van will get a chance to watch the
match, the club has said.
Chief executive Rick Parry said tickets originally earmarked
for a ballot of members of its Fan Card scheme will now be
given to fans affected by the theft.
Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and the Football Association
have refused to print duplicate tickets.
Mr Parry said the club believed 1,000 tickets rather than
1,600 were stolen.
"We still can't identify a precise figure, as tickets which
should have been delivered on Monday at the latest, are for
some reason, still being introduced into the Royal Mail
system," said Mr Parry.
"We were disappointed with our initial allocation and the
bottom line now is that 1,000 fewer Liverpool fans will be
able to watch their team in the FA Cup Final."
Mr Parry said ticket office staff will be contacting the
fans affected and the club was confident the "vast majority"
of supporters will get a ticket for the match.
(BBC Sport Online)
Rafa won't take a risk with Alonso
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he won't take any risks
with Xabi Alonso's fitness in Saturday's FA Cup final.
The Reds face West Ham at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff,
but the Spanish midfielder is a major doubt after spraining
his right ankle in Sunday's Premiership win at Portsmouth.
The former Real Sociedad star underwent a scan earlier this
week, and still thinks he'll be able to face the Hammers on
Saturday.
But while Benitez is hopeful Alonso will make it, he won't
be taking any chances with a major trophy at stake.
He told the club's official website: "We need to see
tomorrow. He was working with the physios and maybe tomorrow
he can do some exercises and we can see what shape he is in.
"At this moment I do not know if he will be fit, but I will
have a much clearer idea tomorrow. It depends what the
doctors say whether we leave a decision on Xabi until the
last minute.
"But I also have confident in Momo, Stevie and Didi, and if
it would be a risk with Xabi then maybe we would go with the
other players."
(Sporting Life)
Kewell rejects Reds rumours
Harry Kewell has dismissed talk linking him with
a move away from Liverpool.
Reports have suggested Kewell may be on his way out of
Anfield this summer with Valencia thought to be chasing his
signature.
Kewell has rejected the reports and insists he is happy to
stay at Liverpool.
"I think if you read over the last months half the things I
have been linked with and doing then I don't think I would
be here at all," said Kewell.
"So you cannot believe everything you see in the papers. If
they come to see me and speak to me or speak to the boss
hopefully it's all rubbish.
"From my side it is and hopefully from Liverpool's it is as
well."
(Sky Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 10 |
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Reds pocket £43.2m
Liverpool received £43.2million from television deals and
prize money during the 2005/06 season, according to figures
published today.
The figures include all television and prize money from the
Reds’ Champions League campaign, the World Club
Championship, as well as domestic competitions. Rafael
Benitez’s team could earn an extra £1m this weekend if they
beat West Ham in the FA Cup Final.
Only two teams earned more than Liverpool this season –
Arsenal and Chelsea. Arsenal, thanks to their great
Champions League run that sees them meet Barcelona in the
final in Paris next week, earned £52.7 m, whilst Premiership
Champions Chelsea took £47.5m.
Arch rivals Manchester United took £39.9m and local rivals
Everton got themselves just £22.4m due to their poor
Champions League and UEFA Cup campaigns.
(This is Anfield)
Sheringham to savour final
Teddy Sheringham will savour every second of this weekend's
clash with Liverpool after thinking he had already played in
his last FA Cup final.
The West Ham striker appeared in the showpiece event for
Manchester United back in 1999, a game in which he emerged
off the bench to score.
Liverpool are Sheringham's opponents this time around and
the veteran is looking to make the most of what could be his
last chance to scoop silverware.
"You are in football to enjoy things and I will certainly
enjoy this week," said Sheringham.
"Back then, I thought that it might have been my last chance
of winning something and I cherished the moment.
"After all, the FA Cup is steeped in tradition and it is a
competition in which you want
to be involved."
(Sky Sports)
Reds duo collect Barclays awards
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has been named Barclays
Player of the Month for April, while Jose Reina has won the
Golden Gloves award.
The awards double caps a fantastic April for the Reds, with
the Anfield outfit collecting away wins at West Brom and
Blackburn together with home successes against Bolton and
Aston Villa, with Gerrard scoring twice against David
O'Leary's men and leading from the front throughout the
month.
Goalkeeper Reina kept an impressive 20 clean sheets, more
than Edwin van der Sar (18) and last year's Golden Glove
winner Petr Cech (17). Brad Friedel of Blackburn and Jens
Lehman of Arsenal (both 16) completed the top five.
(TEAMtalk)
Molby expects Liverpool victory
Former Liverpool star Jan Molby expects them to round off a
season of real progress with an FA Cup win - but warns West
Ham must not be taken lightly.
Molby, a two-time FA Cup winner with Liverpool, told BBC
Sport: "I think Liverpool's extra quality will he crucial,
but it won't be easy.
"This will be a tight game because West Ham have been
excellent this season, but Liverpool have really improved.
"Liverpool have finished the season fantastically well, and
I go for them."
(BBC Sport Online)
Xabi fears final repeat
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso says he is desperate to
avoid missing a second cup final in successive seasons as he
battles against an ankle ligament sprain.
The Reds play West Ham in the FA Cup final on Saturday but
their preparations suffered a blow when Alonso was
stretchered off on the last day of the Premiership season
against Portsmouth.
A subsequent scan revealed the damage to his ankle is not
severe, and Alonso insists he is confident of proving his
fitness for Rafa Benitez's side despite not returning to
training.
With three days to go before the showpiece event, the
24-year-old has also revealed he is determined to avoid the
pain of last season when he missed the Carling Cup final
against Chelsea - a game that ultimately ended in defeat for
The Reds.
"The ankle is getting better, although I'm not involved in
training at the moment with the rest of the team," confirmed
Alonso.
"I've a few days to see if it improves. As for my chances, I
don't know, but I feel confident that I will be fit."
(Sky Sports)
Gonzalez committed to Reds
Mark Gonzalez has stated he is committed to joining
Liverpool, despite a number of Liga clubs being interested
in securing his services.
The Chilean winger has impressed in Spain this term having
joined Real Sociedad on loan in January after seeing a work
permit application to play in England rejected.
Gonzalez is now waiting for the green light from the Home
Office before embarking on his new career with Liverpool in
The Premiership.
The 21-year-old is flattered Sociedad and others are keen on
signing him permanently, but has his heart set on moving the
European champions.
"I am very thankful to Real Sociedad and their coach Jose
Mari Bakero, but while they'd like me to stay I'm going to
England to join Liverpool," said Gonzalez.
"I'm waiting until June 30 when I'll receive my papers
authorising me to play and work in England. Obviously, the
next step in my career is then to play for Liverpool.
"I have been in touch with Rafa Benitez (manager) and Paco
Herrera (coach). They have been always up to date with my
personal and professional situation."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool and Spurs chase defender
Newspaper reports today claim that Liverpool along with
Spurs, are "chasing" Southampton starlet Gareth Bale.
(Kop Talk)
Benitez demands Cup ticket action
Rafael Benitez has urged the Football Association to do
something for the 1,600 Liverpool fans who had their FA Cup
final tickets stolen.
The tickets for the match in Cardiff against West Ham were
taken from a postal delivery van on Friday 5 May.
The FA has cancelled the tickets and refused to re-issue new
ones.
"This is not fair," boss Benitez told BBC Sport. "They need
to find a solution because we cannot afford to lose those
supporters."
Benitez added: "If you have been watching the team for the
whole season and have tickets you must be there."
(BBC Sport Online)
Duo released
Wigan Athletic have released former Liverpool duo
Stephane Henchoz and David Thompson.
Boss Paul Jewell said: "Stephane has played a major part in
our season, in particular at the start of the season when
his experience was crucial.
"He has been an absolute model professional.
"'Thommo is a good little player, but he has found it
difficult, in particular as he has had a couple of niggly
injuries.
"But he is very unlucky because you could see what he's
capable of at Arsenal.
"So it was a tough decision, but I've just thought for next
season we will try
something different."
(Kop Talk)
Gerrard is fully focused
Skipper Steven Gerrard insists the pre-FA Cup
final spotlight will not distract his players from
Saturday's showdown in Cardiff with West Ham.
The Anfield club's stars have also been measured for new
suits and Gerrard said: "Sorting everyone out with tickets
is an impossible job so I've just changed my mobile phone
number!
"As for the suits I'm not really bothered what they look
like as long as they're not cream!"
Liverpool have long been ridiculed for the cream suits their
squad wore ahead of the cup final defeat by Manchester
United at Wembley in 1996.
(TEAMtalk)
No duplicate tickets for Reds fans
Liverpool fans whose FA Cup final tickets were stolen will
not receive duplicate versions, despite the Football
Association consulting Millennium Stadium officials in an
attempt to resolve the problem.
Around 1,600 tickets were stolen following a raid on a Royal
Mail van last week in Liverpool, with Reds chief executive
Rick Parry looking to work with the FA to find a solution.
However, fans who had paid for the tickets for the clash
against West Ham will not get replacements and police have
warned against buying from touts as anyone with a stolen
ticket is liable to arrest.
FA officials liaised with officials but the stadium's Safety
Advisory Group - comprising members of the police and fire
services and Cardiff County Council - would not re-issue the
tickets.
"The FA has looked at every way of helping the fans
affected," read a statement from the FA.
"The Safety Advisory Group, which has the final say on all
safety and security matters for matches at the stadium, has
maintained a no-duplicates policy. The police have also
stressed that anyone found in possession of a stolen ticket
will be arrested.
(PA Sport)
Two new arrivals as Reds do the double
Congratulations to Robbie Fowler and Steven Gerrard, as both
Liverpool players' partners gave birth on Tuesday.
Gerrard's fiancee Alex Curran gave birth to their daughter
Lexie, weighing 7lb 6oz, then a few hours later Robbie's
wife Kerry gave birth to a 7lbs 8oz baby boy.
(LFC Online)
Prince to present trophy in Cup Final
debut
Prince William will present the FA Cup to the winning team
on his first day as the new president of the Football
Association, it was disclosed yesterday.
The prince will attend the FA Cup Final between Liverpool
and West Ham United at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on
Saturday, the first FA Cup Final he has been to.
William, an Aston Villa fan, will perform several tasks in
his capacity as the new president.
On arrival he will present the FA Cup Player of the Round
Awards to players from teams from every round of the
competition.
He will also meet senior FA officials and have lunch with
them and VIPs in the FA's suite at the Millennium Stadium.
The prince will be presented before kick-off to match-day
officials, and the managers and players from both teams.
And after the final whistle he will present the medals to
match officials and teams and the FA Cup to the winning
team.
(Daily Post)
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Thor Zakariassen
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