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TUESDAY 12 |
Balague tips Silva for Anfield
Respected Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague has
stressed that Valencia have little hope of holding onto
their best players this summer and believes that Liverpool
could be one of the chief beneficiaries by stealing David
Silva from the Mestalla.
The 22-year-old winger has already courted interest from
across Europe with Arsenal, Chelsea and Juventus also though
to have shown an interest in one of La Roja’s finest
players.
Writing in his column on Skysports.com, Balague revealed,
“Fernando Gomez, Valencia's Director of Football, has
basically said they will not be able to keep David Silva and
David Villa.
“They will try to keep one but the general idea is to find
finances from their sales. They are in a really bad way
financially.
“Villa has been linked with Barcelona - although some papers
claim Perez wants him at Real - while Silva is likely to go
to either Juventus or Liverpool."
(Sport.co.uk)
Amoo on target as U18s blunt Blades
Liverpool Under-18s moved a step closer to a third place
finish after a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United in the FA
Premier Academy League this afternoon.
A brace from David Amoo and other goals from Alex
Kacaniklic, Adam Dawson and substitute Tom Ince did the
damage as the youngsters produced an impressive display in
front of the watching Sammy Lee.
It means Hugh McAuley's men now need just a point from their
remaining clash away to Bolton on Saturday to clinch a top
three finish and send them into the FA Youth Cup final
against Arsenal in high spirits.
(LFC Official Website)
Kapo: Liverpool are
better than United
Liverpool are a better team than Manchester United,
according
to Olivier Kapo.
The Wigan attacker has hailed The Reds and stated that Rafa
Benitez’s side play better football than United a day before
The Latics’ home clash with Sir Alex Ferguson’s team.
Kapo has also declared that, in his opinion, Dimitar
Berbatov is a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo.
“They [Manchester United] are top of the league, but to me
the best team is Liverpool. They play the most beautiful
attacking football. After two touches, they are already in
front of the opposition goal,” Kapo told France-Football.
“I am never bored when I watch them in action.”
(Setanta Sports)
Marina: Memorial Game
is for the families
Marina Dalglish today dedicated the Hillsborough Memorial
Game to the families of those who lost their lives at the
disaster in 1989.
A team of Liverpool legends will take on an All Stars XI at
Anfield on Thursday evening in aid of the Marina Dalglish
Appeal, with the funds raised going towards the building of
a new Radiotherapy Unit at University Hospital in Aintree.
Mrs Dalglish believes the event will be a fitting show of
admiration for the families of the 96.
She told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We want to show how much we
appreciate the support of the families and how much we
admire them for what
they're doing.
"The 20th anniversary has just brought everything back. If
it was my child who had died in the disaster, I'd be doing
exactly the same as them and I'd fight until my last breath
to get the truth about what happened at Hillsborough."
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: Sammy key to title push
Rafa has highlighted Sammy Lee’s contribution in Liverpool’s
Premier League title charge.
The Assistant Manager who arrived at Anfield in the summer
has been a key element in Liverpool’s backroom staff which
has seen a number of changes in the last 18 months.
Speaking to the official site, Rafa said:
“Sammy is someone every player respects.
“He is very positive and is always pushing. He is a great
motivator, so it was a very good addition.
“He is a person who knows the club and he’s doing a really
good job.
“I don’t know any manager who is the perfect manager, so no
number two can be perfect. But if you ask me if he is close
to being the perfect number two then I think he is.
“The only thing he can improve a little bit is his English!”
Sammy Lee took most of Rafa’s workload on during the
manager’s illness around Christmas time. Rafa also gave
special praise to the other members of the bootroom.
“We are really pleased with Sammy, but also with other
members of the staff like Mauricio, Paco, Xavi and Dave -
they’re all working very hard,”
(Anfield Online)
Forest want Anderson
Nottingham Forest want to sign Paul Anderson.
The 2006 FA Youth Cup winner has spent all season on loan
with forest and boss Billy Davies now wants to sign the
winger on a permanent basis.
Swansea, with whom Anderson spent the 2007/8 season on loan,
helping them to the League One title, are also said to be
interested.
(LFC Online)
Hamberg to leave
Piet Hamberg will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
The Academy director will leave the club at the end of the
season after being replaced by Frank McParland. Hamberg was
Rick Parry's man and the Chief Executive's departure sees
Hamberg forced out as well and replaced by someone loyal to
Rafael Benitez.
(LFC Online)
Tevez wants
to join Liverpool
In a shock report this morning in the Sun, they reveal that
Liverpool have contacted the representatives of Carlos Tevez
regarding a summer move to Man Utds great rivals.
(footylatest.com)
Kuyt is Mr Duracell
Rafael Benitez has hailed Dirk Kuyt as Liverpool’s “Mr
Duracell” and believes the Dutchman is enjoying the finest
season of his Anfield career.
Kuyt has already equalled his best-ever tally of 14 goals
for a campaign despite having been transformed from a
striker into an attacking
right-winger.
The 28-year-old, who arrived from Feyenoord in August 2006,
has long been a favourite of both Benitez and supporters for
his tireless non-stop effort no matter where he is selected
to play.
And the Anfield manager believes that work ethic and
versatility have made Kuyt an integral part of Liverpool’s
prolonged championship challenge.
“Mr Duracell is a good description for him because of the
way he plays, he is always running and always on the go,”
said Benitez.
“But when we signed him we knew he was this type of player –
he had been doing that for years.
“This year maybe he is doing so much better because the team
has been doing well too.
“He’s done really well creating things, but also scoring a
lot of goals
as well.
“Over my career I have had some very good players in terms
of the running they do and the difference now is we have a
squad with lots of those types.
“But it’s always good when you have someone like Dirk, who
has the mentality to realise how important that is for the
team.”
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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MONDAY 11 |
Gerrard counts cost of injuries
Steven Gerrard says Liverpool's injury problems have cost
them
this season.
Gerrard and Fernando Torres have played together a mere 12
times out of 36 league games and it is these injury setbacks
that have been so costly.
"I've said many times that Fernando is a top player and he
is easy to play alongside," said the skipper.
"He doesn't just score top goals, he can set goals up as
well. The frustrating thing for both of us is that we
haven't been on the pitch together far more times this
season.
"It's important that going into next season we both try and
stay fit to give Liverpool the best chance of being
successful.
"The pair of us feel that if we are both fit and in top form
then we can cause defenders and teams problems. I'm sure you
would see a lot of goals from us.
"We enjoy playing with each other, we can both score goals
and we both enjoy setting each other up for goals.
"So the partnership is there, and for me it can get even
better. We have an understanding and work together a lot in
training.
"Without sounding big-headed, there's a confidence when we
are both out together on the football pitch that we can help
win matches.
"When Fernando is on top form, I don't think anybody could
argue that he is the best striker in the world. To not have
him fit is so frustrating."
(LFC Online)
Benitez: Tight budget
makes title difficult
Rafa Benitez says Liverpool have enough quality to win the
title – but feels they lack the financial power of
Manchester United, Chelsea
and Arsenal.
Despite Liverpool’s impressive recent form, they could be
out of the title race before facing West Brom on Sunday if
United take at least four points from their games against
Wigan and Arsenal.
And while Benitez feels his squad is now strong enough to
compete for The Premier League, he believes they struggle to
match their rivals’ spending power.
“We are getting closer and closer to winning the league
every year,”
he said.
“Everyone knows we are now genuine contenders.
“We’ve shown this year that we have enough quality in the
squad. Look at the squad we have now compared to when I
arrived here.
“We have better players with a winning mentality.
“But it is still very difficult when you analyse the
financial power of Chelsea, United and Arsenal with the
money they can spend.”
(Setanta Sports)
Mascherano committed
to life at Anfield
Javier Mascherano has moved to reassure Liverpool supporters
that he has no intention of leaving the club.
The Argentina midfielder stirred up a hornets’ nest last
week when he hinted that, although happy with life at
Anfield, he would not necessarily turn up his nose at
interest from elsewhere.
Rafa Benitez was swift to react to Mascherano’s comments,
defending the player for keeping his options open but
maintaining that he was
going nowhere.
Those sentiments have now been echoed by the former West Ham
midfielder.
"My future is here," said the 24-year-old on his club’s
official website. "I am here and I will continue to give 100
percent. It will always be like this.
"I think we have taken a big step this season, a really big
step.
"In the past three or four seasons Liverpool have lost the
league maybe in December or January but this time we are
there right at the very end of the season and we still have
a chance. This is very important.
"Our job now is to continue to work hard and to improve
because we have shown that we can win against the biggest
teams."
(Setanta Sports) |
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SUNDAY 10 |
Gerrard: Torres partnership is key
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard would welcome two suitable
signings this summer to strengthen a squad that he thinks
will challenge for next year's title based on his
partnership with Fernando Torres.
Gerrard has warned the Premier League that he expects to
push Manchester United even closer next season if he and
Spain striker
Torres stay fit.
"We've shown this year we've made massive strides and there
has been big progression," Gerrard said. "I think every
squad, no matter how successful you are, still needs
strengthening and changes.
"I don't think this team needs many changes because the
players in the squad are very good. If we can get a couple
in and get stronger, of course we want them."
(PA Sport)
Report: Liverpool on brink
of signing Danijel Pranjic
Liverpool are reportedly closing in on Heerenveen winger
Danijel Pranjic, in a deal believed to be worth around €9
million.
The Croatian international has long been linked with a move
away from the Dutch side and he admitted recently that he
would welcome a move
to Anfield.
That move is now looking a little more likely with the
Sunday Mirror reporting that he is set to become Rafael
Benitez’s first summer signing.
Heerenveen director Yme Kuiper has also admitted that the
Reds are Pranjic’s preferred destination, saying, “We
understand Liverpool is the club where Pranjic wants to go.”
(Goal.com)
Report: Benitez ready to sell
eleven Liverpool players
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is reportedly set for a
summer clear-out, with 11 players expected to leave Anfield.
The News of the World claims that the Spaniard is ready to
sell a whole host of players including Ryan Babel, Albert
Riera and Xabi Alonso, in order to raise funds.
The tabloid claims that Benitez needs the finances in order
to finally sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa and to compete
with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in the
transfer market.
(Goal.com)
Buchtmann on fire
in Germany rout
Christopher Buchtmann played a starring role as Germany
cruised into the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-17
Championship with a 4-0 hammering of England.
The 17-year-old continued his impressive start to the
tournament by setting up three of the host nation's four
goals in what proved to be a one-sided encounter.
It follows on from his goalscoring role in Germany's opening
day victory over Turkey, although he will now miss his
country's final group match against Holland after picking up
a yellow card late on.
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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