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WEDNESDAY 12 |
Rafa: Mistakes cost us
Rafael Benitez has blamed defensive errors for his side's
Carling Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
Three goals in eight first-half minutes contributed to the
4-2 defeat when two goals from Fraizer Campbell and an
effort from Roman Pavlyuchenko saw Spurs lead 3-0 at the
interval.
"We didn't play well, that is clear," said Benitez.
"We made too many mistakes in defence and gave the ball away
too easily. To concede three goals in the way we did at the
end of the first half we must be disappointed."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds routed as
Spurs cruise through
Harry Redknapp's magic touch continued with a 4-2 home
victory over Liverpool to secure Tottenham's place in the
Carling Cup quarter-finals.
As if to illustrate the manager's impact since taking charge
18 days ago, it was two players on the fringes during
Redknapp's revolution who turned the tie with three goals in
six minutes just before the break against Rafael Benitez's
reserves.
Roman Pavlyuchenko, who netted the late winner when
Liverpool were beaten by Spurs in the Premier League, opened
the scoring with a crisp finish before Fraizer Campbell
added his first two for the club since his loan from
Manchester United.
Damien Plessis and Sami Hyypia pulled goals back between
Pavlyuchenko's second, stirring memories of their
second-half Istanbul comeback in the 2005 Champions League
final - but Spurs held on to stay in the competition they
won in February under Juande Ramos.
(TEAMtalk)
Torres starts at Spurs
Fernando Torres returns to the Liverpool team to face
Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup this evening as Rafael
Benitez makes a host of changes from the side that faced
West Brom.
Andrea Dossena comes into the side in place of Fabio Aurelio
at left-back, while Philip Degen replaces Alvaro Arbeloa on
the opposite side of defence and Damien Plessis gets a start
in the centre of the park.
The Liverpool team in full: Cavalieri, Degen, Agger, Hyypia,
Dossena,
El Zhar, Lucas, Plessis, Babel, Ngog, Torres.
Subs: Gulacsi, Riera, Darby, Insua, Benayoun, Carragher,
Alonso.
(LFC Official Website)
Simao dreaming of England
Atletico Madrid attacker Simao has reiterated his deep
desire to move to The Premier League at some point in his
career.
The Portugal international insists he is happy in the
Primera Liga with the ambitious Atleti, but starting an
English adventure remains in his thoughts.
Simao has set sights on crossing The Channel in the future
after having been linked to Liverpool in the past.
“I signed a four-year deal (last season),” Simao told Sic
Noticias.
“Two are remaining and completing them would be a pleasure,
but playing in England remains my dream.
“The way they play and their stadiums attract me.”
(Setanta Sports)
Liverpool on the brink
Tom Hicks and George Gillett may have to swallow their pride
and accept a take-it-or-leave-it £500million buy-out offer
from Sheikh Mohammed in the wake of grim forecasts about
their prospects of steering Liverpool through a worsening
financial crisis.
With the deadline looming for repayment of a £350million
loan to Royal Bank of Scotland, Liverpool's co-owners face a
dilemma over their next move, following claims from
financial expert Keith Harris that the Anfield club are 'the
ones who worry me most.'
Sportsmail understands a £500million bid from Sheikh
Mohammed is still on the table, after being lodged last
February, but that it may be withdrawn, if the Americans are
forced into a corner by their bank.
Hicks and Gillett are considering asking RBS for a six-month
extension on their debt but are acutely aware of the
implications, should their plea fail.
(Daily Mail)
Cavalieri loving Reds life
Diego Cavalieri remains undeterred by his lack of action at
Liverpool and claims to be happy in England.
The Brazilian keeper has been restricted to just one Carling
Cup appearance, against Crewe, for the Reds following a
summer move
from Palmeiras.
However, the 25-year-old insists he is willing to bide his
time under Rafa Benitez and wait for his opportunity to come
along.
"It was a very good feeling for me to play in that game,"
Cavalieri told the club's official website on his run-out
against the Railwaymen.
"Although I had played some matches in pre-season this was
my debut and to play in front of our supporters at Anfield
was very special.
"It was my first match for a top European club and I will
keep that memory in my heart for the rest of my life.
Hopefully I will have some more in the future.
"I am enjoying life at Liverpool and the season has gone
very well so far. We are doing well in the Premier League
and the Champions League and hopefully this will continue
for the rest of the season.
"There is a feeling in the dressing room that if we continue
to work as hard as we are doing then we can achieve our aim
at the end of the season, which is to win trophies."
(Sky Sports) |
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TUESDAY 11 |
Crisis threat for Merseyside duo
Keith Harris, chairman of investment bank Seymour Pierce,
believes Liverpool and Everton face an uncertain future in
the current global financial crisis.
Harris believes Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George
Gillett will face serious problems if they cannot pay back
their £350m debt by January 2009.
And he has revealed Everton are no closer to being bought
out, despite a lengthy search for new investors.
"It has never been more difficult to find buyers," he said.
(BBC Sport Online)
Trio ruled out of Liverpool clash
Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is suspended for
Wednesday's Carling Cup fourth-round clash against Liverpool
at White Hart Lane.
Skipper Ledley King is set to be rested, while Giovani dos
Santos is out with an ankle injury.
Boss Harry Redknapp has the option of looking at players
such as Paul Stalteri, Ricardo Rocha, Adel Taarabt,
Kevin-Prince Boateng and Hossam Ghaly, who all struggled
under former head coach Juande Ramos.
Spurs (from): Gomes, Cesar, Hutton, Bale, Gunter, Dawson,
Woodgate, Corluka, O'Hara, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone,
Jenas, Gilberto, Modric, Bostock, Dervite, Lennon, Bent,
Campbell, Pavlyuchenko, Stalteri, Rocha, Taarabt, Boateng,
Ghaly.
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa: Reds second
string are ready
Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool can move past Tottenham in
the Carling Cup on Wednesday because his players are
desperate to prove themselves.
Benitez will make wholesale changes for the fourth-round tie
at White Hart Lane, scene of the Reds' only defeat this
season when Spurs fought back to claim a late 2-1 victory.
The likes of Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt, Javier
Mascherano, Daniel Agger and Albert Riera are not expected
to figure but Benitez insists Liverpool can force their way
into the last eight.
He said: "We have enough players in the squad waiting for
their chance to impress, it will be important for them to
grab this opportunity.
"And when the team is playing well it is easier to change
players and retain the system.
"I believe we can still continue to play well and to keep
winning regardless of the players we use."
(TEAMtalk)
Rush: Fringe benefits
Liverpool legend Ian Rush feels the performances of Rafael
Benitez's fringe players will decide their future in the
Carling Cup as they prepare to face holders Tottenham at
White Hart Lane on Wednesday, a game that can be seen live
on Sky Sports 2.
Rush explained: "I think Harry (Redknapp) will play his
strongest side - he will be looking at it as a chance to
that Tottenham can get into Europe. They are the defending
champions so I think Tottenham will take it very seriously.
"I think what Rafa will do is give these fringe players a
chance to show what they can do. I think to win the league
it's not 11 players that win it, it's 19-20, and what Rafa
will be doing now is to say to these players here's your
chance to prove you are good enough to play against Premier
League opposition."
(Sky Sports)
Aurelio We coped without Torres
Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio believes the Reds have
surprised people with how well they coped with Fernando
Torres' recent hamstring injury.
Torres played for 18 minutes in Saturday's 3-0 win over West
Brom after missing the previous six games - of which the
Reds lost just one.
Aurelio told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I think it's amazing,
most people thought when we lost him we would step back.
"We kept winning and scoring goals so I think now they will
have more worries."
"It's great news for us that he is back and we hope to see
him scoring goals."
"Thank God I haven't been involved in any kind of problems
or injuries that made me stay away from most of the games
during my first seasons here in Liverpool.
"I hope to keep my fitness, I will gain confidence with the
games and I think I will show more of what I can do on the
pitch."
(BBC Sport Online)
Gerrard rested for cup clash
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will make a late decision on
whether striker Fernando Torres starts against Tottenham
tomorrow in the Carling Cup fourth round.
Torres is in need of match fitness after missing six games
with a hamstring injury and is expected to feature at White
Hart Lane while Benitez rests several of his other stars,
including Steven Gerrard.
Second-choice goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, Sami Hyypia, Yossi
Benayoun and Jermaine Pennant are expected to play.
Provisional squad: Cavalieri, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia,
Dossena, Benayoun, Lucas, Alonso, Babel, Torres, Keane,
Ngog, Pennant, Insua, Spearing, El Zhar, Plessis, Reina,
Degen.
(BreakingNews.ie)
Mascherano accepts captaincy
Newly-appointed Argentina head coach Diego Maradona believes
he has convinced midfielder Javier Mascherano to become the
Albiceleste captain.
Footballing legend Maradona has just returned from a six-day
trip to Europe, during which he went to Manchester and
Liverpool to meet eligible players for his national team.
And the former forward has stated his favourite to become
Argentina’s captain, Mascherano, has accepted the
responsibility to lead the troops on the pitch.
“I have convinced him,” Maradona told the Argentinian media.
“I told him what I think about him and what he could bring
to the team.”
(Setanta Sports)
Lucas aiming for Wembley
Lucas Levia would love to play at Wembley for Liverpool.
The midfielder is likely to start for the Reds in tomorrow's
Carling Cup fourth round game against Spurs and says the
opportunity to play at Wembley will inspire him.
"I have never played at Wembley and hopefully I will get the
opportunity, but we are only at the start of the Carling
Cup," said the Brazilian.
"I know it's a very famous stadium. Some of the Brazil
internationals are played there but I have never had the
opportunity to play in one of them, so hopefully I can play
in the final!"
(LFC Online)
Keane praises midfield
Robbie Keane has praised the quality of service he receives
from the Reds' midfield.
Keane says playing in front of the likes of Steven Gerrard
and Xabi Alonso means he's never short of chances to score.
"I am getting great service. I have Stevie, Xabi Alonso and
Javier Mascherano behind me - and they can all see a pass
for me," said the striker.
"Stevie's pass was excellent. But he has always been
fantastic, and it is something I have seen over the years.
Now I am on the end of those passes, which is fantastic for
me.
"His passes to put people through are unbelievable - he is
top class. My aim is to keep doing my job, and I know the
goals will happen."
(LFC Online)
Gerrard awarded freedom of the Borough
Steven Gerrard was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of
Knowsley at a prestigious council ceremony on Monday night.
It is only the fourth time Knowsley has bestowed this honour
in its history and is the first time in 20 years. It is also
a fitting time for Gerrard who celebrates 10 years as a
Liverpool player this month.
The Reds captain was guided into the ceremony at the Huyton
Suite by a guard of honour, made up of local school children
and welcomed by a fanfare of trumpeters.
A proud Gerrard said: "This is a special honour for me and
even more so as it is awarded so rarely, so I'd like to
thank Knowsley Council."
(LFC Official Website) |
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MONDAY 10 |
Benitez: Gerrard needs a rest
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has revealed he is looking
for an opportunity to rest star midfielder and captain
Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard has already played 19 games for club and country
this season, helping the former to second place in the
Premier League.
And Benitez admits he is eager to allow his inspirational
skipper - who was sidelined with a groin injury earlier in
the campaign - the chance
to recuperate.
"Stevie needs a bit of rest," the Anfield boss told
Liverpool's
official website.
"He was injured during the international break and it is
important to try and keep players fit all the time.
"It is clear that Stevie is a bit tired at the moment."
Meanwhile, Benitez believes Gerrard will benefit from the
return to fitness of Fernando Torres, who has been out of
action with a hamstring problem.
The Spanish striker made a substitute appearance in
Saturday's 3-0 victory over West Brom and Benitez has
welcomed the recovery of his record signing.
"I think Gerrard's level will improve with Torres
available," added Benitez.
"With Torres he will have another player who can benefit
from
the accuracy of his passing."
(TEAMtalk)
Late kick off, but job
done early for Liverpool
Television demands ensured Liverpool fans had to endure
another late kick-off on Saturday – but for once they were
left relieved that their team had got the job done early at
Anfield.
So far this season, none of Rafael Benitez’s side’s winning
goals in the Premier League on home turf had been scored
before the final 15 minutes of a game.
In the domestic opener at Anfield, Liverpool trailed 1-0
with just four minutes to go before Emanuel Pogatetez’s own
goal drew them level and Steven Gerrard netted a second on
90 minutes.
A first league win under Benitez against Manchester United
was achieved thanks to a Ryan Babel strike with 13 minutes
left on the clock.
Last season, Liverpool failed to sustain a credible title
challenge because too many home points were dropped in draws
against teams who came to Anfield and shut up shop – playing
‘compact’ as Benitez likes (or dislikes) to refer to it.
In this respect, Tony Mowbray’s team were, while
refreshingly positive, also naïve, in adopting a bold 4-4-2
formation.
(Chris Beesley - Liverpool Daily Post)
Rafa still sees improvement
Rafael Benitez has warned Liverpool's Premier League title
rivals that his star players will only improve as the season
gathers pace.
The Reds are only separated from first-placed Chelsea by
goal difference after a 3-0 victory over West Brom on
Saturday.
Robbie Keane netted a brace in the Anfield win, his first
league goals of the campaign, while star striker Fernando
Torres made his return
from injury.
And Benitez believes that the best is yet to come from his
attacking duo, while the Spaniard also insists captain
Steven Gerrard has more to offer.
"Gerrard can improve, Torres will improve with fitness,
Daniel Agger and Javier Mascherano can all improve," Benitez
said in the Daily Express.
"Keane's goals were important and you will see him score a
lot more now."
(Sporting Life)
Thor Zakariassen
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