|
|
|
|
MONDAY 12 |
Hicks not planning Roma bid
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has denied holding an interest
in buying Italian club Roma.
Widespread reports in Italy had claimed that Hicks met Roma
president Franco Sensi to discuss taking a majority
shareholding at
the Stadio Olimpico.
The rumours led to the club's share price leaping eight per
cent in value, but Hicks' spokesman Roy Winnick insists the
speculation is wide of
the mark.
"There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in the rumour that
Mr Hicks is even considering investing in Roma Football
Club," said Winnick.
(Sky Sports)
Rafa relieved as Spain leave out Torres
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits he is grateful
Fernando Torres has not been called up by Spain.
Instead the club's record buy will work on his fitness
during the international break.
Torres marked his return to action after a groin injury by
scoring in the victory against Fulham at the weekend.
However the striker is not required by Spain for the Euro
2008 qualifiers against Sweden and Northern Ireland.
"I'm not surprised he isn't in the squad because he has been
injured," Benitez told the club's website, liverpoolfc.tv.
"I'm pleased with the decision because it means he can stay
with us and train and be ready for the next game. After a
month without playing it's important he can work with us."
(Daily Mail)
Rafa hails Reina role
Substitute Fernando Torres was widely recognised as the man
who changed the game during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Fulham
on Saturday, but manager Rafa Benitez feels the contribution
of keeper Jose Reina should not go unheralded.
“Reina is a goalkeeper with real game intelligence,” said
Benitez. “He can read the game and play the kind of balls he
delivered to Torres.
“He can play these passes to strikers if the strikers move
for the ball.
A modern goalkeeper needs to be able to read the game like
this. That is the difference."
(Setanta Sports)
Shaggy impressed by Reina
Pepe Reina's performances this season have impressed
Steve McManaman.
The clean sheet against Fulham on Saturday was Reina's tenth
of the season and his goalkeeping displays have impressed
McManaman who was at Anfield on Saturday as a summariser for
Setanta.
"He's been excellent. He's kept 10 clean sheets this year,"
said
the former Red.
"Look at how many keepers Liverpool have let go in the last
few years who are still playing in the Premier League, but
this man has managed to make the position his own and is one
of Rafa's great buys.
"I knew about Pepe from my time in Spain, where he had a
very good reputation because he was excellent over there.
Now he's fantastic for Liverpool."
(LFC Online)
Yossi: My fitness is only concern
Yossi Benayoun claims he is more interested in getting fit
than helping England qualify for Euro 2008.
Injury means the Liverpool midfielder will stand down as
Israel captain on Sunday when they host Russia in a
qualifying match where an away win would all but end
England's hopes of reaching the finals.
Benayoun suffered a groin injury in the victory against
Fulham on Saturday and is expected to be out for three
weeks.
England are looking for Israel to claim a win and keep their
hopes alive.
Benayoun was expected to play a key role and according to
the player his Liverpool team-mates, England duo Steven
Gerrard and Peter Crouch, are disappointed he is ruled out.
"Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch have been driving me crazy
in the last few weeks," Benayoun told Israel's Sport 5.
"But my health is more important than England's needs and I
must rest and take care of myself."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez may at last have found his finest XI
Like anyone who kicks a habit, the lesson of ‘all things in
moderation’ is a valuable one to learn. And so it could now
prove for Rafael Benitez, who fell off the rotation wagon on
Saturday but dusted himself off to make the subtle changes
that brought a first home Premier League win for more than
two months.
The Liverpool manager has spent the best part of three years
altering his line-ups from game to game. In that time he has
only named consecutive starting XIs once and even that
seemed to only be to deny his harshest critics the
satisfaction of pointing out that he had reached a century
of successive bouts of team-tweaking.
But on Saturday he stuck to the side that destroyed Besiktas
and tinkering with it during the game instead of before
ultimately paid rich dividends.
Admittedly that’s not difficult when you have Fernando
Torres to bring on – but keeping it simple is something
Benitez hasn’t always been able to grasp when judging how
best to shuffle his pack.
(Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post)
Sven won't make Masch move
Sven Goran Eriksson has played down reports linking
Manchester City with a string of high profile signings, even
if the Swede admits he could be plotting a big coup in
January.
City have enjoyed their finest ever start to a Premier
League season under the former England boss and there have
been suggestions that club owner Thaksin Shinawatra could be
ready to continue his lavish spending in a bid to ensure
their upwards curve is maintained.
Recent reports have linked the club with Liverpool
midfielder Javier Mascherano, Tottenham star Dimitar
Berbatov and Adriano of Italian champions Inter, but
Eriksson has ruled out moves for the trio.
The talk surrounding Mascherano has been given extra
credibility by the fact that Liverpool are yet to tie up a
long term deal for his services with Media Sports
Investment, having currently brought him to Anfield on
an 18-month loan.
"There are no plans about any of those things,” said
Eriksson in relation to stories surrounding Mascherano,
Berbatov and Adriano.
(Setanta Sports) |
|
SUNDAY 11 |
Benayoun out for three weeks
Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun has been ruled out of
action for three weeks after a scan today revealed an
adductor tear.
Benayoun suffered the injury during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over
Fulham at Anfield and is now set to miss Israel’s Euro 2008
qualifier against Russia on Saturday.
Liverpool team-mates Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch had
been hoping Benayoun would inspire Israel to get a win or
draw against Russia to boost England’s hopes of qualifying
for Euro 2008.
(Evening Echo)
Hicks, Gillett split concerns Liverpool chiefs
A split has occurred between Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks
and George Gillett which is threatening the club's future
plans.
The News of the World says the argument has come over
Liverpool's new stadium plans, with Hicks wanting to go for
a grander and bigger new stadium at Stanley Park, ignoring
the existing plan which has already been approved.
Hicks' plans would saddle Liverpool with a debt in excess of
£500m, which concerns Gillett.
Insiders at Liverpool are uncertain over how this will be
resolved and wary that a power struggle could cast a huge
shadow over the club's development.
(tribalfooball.com)
Mascherano issues Reds ultimatum
Javier Mascherano has set Liverpool a deadline of one
month to secure his future with a new contract.
Mascherano is halfway through an 18-month agreement with the
club but talks over a new three-year deal have stalled.
The Reds are believed to be unwilling so far to meet the
asking price of Media Sports Investment, the Kia
Joorabchian-fronted group who own the economic rights to the
player.
“My owners are talking with Liverpool,” said Mascherano. “I
hope this situation will be finalised in the next month.
“I know my salary will not be a problem. But they have to
talk it through.
“I only want to play for Liverpool. I’m really happy here.
“I don’t want to move next summer. And if I can’t play for
Liverpool I won’t play for another club in England.
“Not Chelsea. Not Arsenal. I will move to another country
because it would be impossible to play against Liverpool.”
(Setanta Sports)
Torres makes the difference
Fernando Torres was the expensive difference for Liverpool
as they claimed a critical victory over Fulham and
maintained their unbeaten league record.
Anfield chief Rafael Benitez purred over the influence of
his big-money signing saying: "That's what you get for the
fee."
For Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez similar sentiments came
through gritted teeth as he saw the second chance in his
career to cut Liverpool down to size swept from his grasp.
Back in 1988, it was Sanchez's header that gave little
Wimbledon the FA Cup at Liverpool's expense, arguably the
greatest cup final shock of modern times.
How the Dons gloated over that. The long-ball boys, then
from south London, had destroyed England's most successful
club.
This time around Sanchez's systems and style have barely
changed, and Fulham sweated and toiled at Anfield to bring
Liverpool within minutes of another setback.
(PA Sport) |
|
SATURDAY 10 |
Rafa hails Torres strike
Rafa Benitez praised the impact of Fernando Torres after the
striker came off the bench to fire Liverpool to a late
victory over Fulham.
"It was good to see Fernando come back and score a really
good goal," said Benitez.
"It was good for him and good for us. But the other strikers
did a good job too. Okay in this case it was Fernando who
scored but Voronin had three or four good chances and I was
pleased with them."
(LFC Official Website)
Crouch praises Cottagers defence
Peter Crouch was thankful Liverpool finally got the
breakthrough they deserved on the way to a 2-0 Premier
League win over Fulham at Anfield.
The Reds' England forward Crouch was through on goal when he
was brought down for a penalty converted by Steven Gerrard
for the second goal - and he later reflected on a
hard-earned three points.
"We were always on top. But they defended really well, and
it was hard to break them down - so credit to them," said
Crouch.
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool late show downs Fulham
Fernando Torres' superb individual goal and a Steven Gerrard
penalty pushed Liverpool up to fourth as Fulham again
imploded in
the last 10 minutes.
Torres twisted and turned to get the better of Aaron Hughes,
before beating goalkeeper Antti Niemi with a low shot.
Peter Crouch, who hit the bar with a first-half header, won
the penalty when he was fouled by Carlos Bocanegra and
Gerrard's spot-kick
was unstoppable.
(BBC Sport Online)
No changes against Fulham
Rafa Benitez has named an unchanged Liverpool side for
today's Premier League late kick off against Fulham at
Anfield.
That means the eleven that trounced Besiktas 8-0 here on
Tuesday will start today. Andriy Voronin and Peter Crouch
will continue in attack and hat-trick hero Yossi Benayoun
starts on the right of midfield.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Carragher, Hyypia,
Gerrard, Benayoun, Riise, Mascherano, Voronin, Crouch.
Subs: Martin, Finnan, Torres, Babel, Lucas.
(LFC Official Website)
Carson ready for permanent move
Scott Carson is close to completing a permanent move from
Liverpool to Aston Villa after a successful loan period with
the midlands club.
The England number three confirmed a deal has been agreed
which could allow him to make the full-time switch to Villa
Park.
Carson has spent much of the last three years away from
Anfield in loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton
and Villa and is keen to find a long-term home.
The former Leeds player said: “What I want now is to be
settled for the next five to 10 years. I’ve been out on loan
a lot over the last couple of seasons.
“It is not easy when you keep moving up and down the
country. It would be nice to settle at a club that I like
and where the fans like me.
“I’ve settled in well at Aston Villa over the past few
months. Everyone at the club has welcomed me and that has
been a big help. I think the clubs have agreed something
where, if everyone is happy, my move could be made permanent
and it is something I would welcome. I would prefer to
establish myself as a number one at Villa."
(Evening Echo)
Torres out of crunch clash
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will be missing from the
Spain line-up when they take on Northern Ireland in the
closing game of the Euro 2008 qualifiers on November 21.
Torres was an unused substitute in Liverpool's record 8-0
Champions League victory over Besiktas on Tuesday night.
He made the bench after appearing to overcome the ankle
injury he picked up in the recent Premier League game
against Arsenal, but he hasn't made Luis Aragones' selection
for the Las Palmas clash.
Xabi Alonso is also missing having broken a metatarsal,
meaning that goalkeeper Jose Reina is the only member of
Liverpool's Spanish contingent to make the squad.
(Belfast Telegraph)
ITV pundit Xabi Kops some flak
Xabi Alonso was the butt of plenty of jokes at Melwood this
week following his debut as a summariser during ITV’s
coverage of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with
Besiktas.
The Spaniard had to put up with plenty of good natured
stick, although there was almost one saving grace for the
stylish midfielder.
“At least he spoke better English than Andy Townsend,” said
one character at Melwood.
“Manuel out of Fawlty Towers speaks better English than Andy
Townsend,” replied another.
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa milestone
Today is Rafael Benitez's 200th game in charge of the Reds.
This afternoon's match with Fulham at Anfield will see Rafa
Benitez wrack up his 200th game in charge since taking over
at Liverpool in August 2004. Benitez has a record of 114
wins, 37 draws and 48 defeats. The greatest of the 199 games
to date is easily the European Cup success
in Istanbul.
(LFC Online)
Agger nears Liverpool return
Daniel Agger is back in training with Liverpool and could
make his long awaited return to the first team squad for the
trip to Newcastle United in a fortnight's time.
The Danish international has been out of action for seven
weeks since suffering a broken metatarsal but the injury has
now healed and he is now building up his fitness at Melwood.
Agger's return to training is a huge boost for Rafa Benitez
who has had only two centre backs with Premiership
experience to call on since mid-September in the form of
Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.
Rookie defender Jack Hobbs has made one appearance in the
Carling Cup clash with Cardiff City during this period but
at just 19 is still to make his Premiership debut.
So Agger's comeback has been given a cautious welcome by the
Reds boss, who hopes he will shortly have three senior
central defenders to pick from.
He said: “We don’t have a definite date in mind for Daniel
just yet but it is looking very positive for him at the
moment.
“If he continues to progress the way he has been then maybe
he will be back in one or two weeks."
(Liverpool Echo)
United land 14-year-old wonderkid
The Premier League champions have beaten off Liverpool and
Chelsea to sign the Burnley star for an undisclosed fee.
Burnley rejected a reported £250,000 bid from Liverpool for
Cofie
this week.
(Lancashire Evening Post)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
