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SUNDAY 12 |
Liverpool eye Cavenaghi
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is reportedly set to test
Bordeaux’s resolve with a £13 million bid for Fernando
Cavenaghi, though the French club remain committed to
retaining the striker’s services.
The Argentina international has been a huge hit at the club
since his move in January 2007 following a disappointing
spell in Russia with Spartak Moscow, netting 22 goals in 35
matches last term and, famously,
10 times in 9 games during a purple patch.
(Goal.com)
International round up
There were twelve Reds involved in international duty this
weekend.
Steven Gerrard played the full 90 minutes as England beat
Kazakhstan
5-1. Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso played the full 90 in
Spain's 3-0 win in Estonia. Albert Riera played the final 12
minutes.
Dirk Kuyt played the 90 while Ryan Babel played 70 minutes
as Holland beat Iceland 2-0. Andrea Dossena and Sami Hyypia
both helped their countries keep clean sheets as Italy
disappointedly drew 0-0 with Bulgaria and Finland beat
Azerbaijan 1-0.
Nabil El Zhar lasted 80 minutes of Morocco's 4-1 hammering
of Mauritania while Javier Mascherano played the full game
as Argentina beat
Uruguay 2-1.
Daniel Agger and Yossi Benayoun both scored penalties for
their countries yesterday; Agger in Denmark's 3-0 win over
Malta and Benayoun in Israel's 3-1 win over Luxembourg.
(LFC Online)
Rafa praises Kuyt
Rafael Benitez has hailed the hard work done by Dirk Kuyt.
The Liverpool boss says all the 'ugly work' done by the
energetic Dutchman is just as important to the Reds as the
goals by Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
"His teamwork is amazing. When you talk about a team, that's
the most important thing," said Benitez.
"Players like Kuyt are key. You can use the quality of
people like Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard, but you
always need players working really hard.
"If you have players with offensive mentality, you need
players who can do the ugly jobs. You need to work hard in
defence. As a striker, Kuyt is doing his defensive work very
well and also scoring important goals."
(LFC Online)
Dubai retain Liverpool
interest despite Charlton talks
Liverpool could still end up in the hands of Dubai's ruling
family regardless of their proposed takeover of Charlton.
'Nothing has changed,' said a source. 'The Maktoums still
intend
to takeover Liverpool and the possible purchase of Charlton
certainly has no bearing on it."
(The Observer) |
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SATURDAY 11 |
Thommo praises Skrtel
Phil Thompson has praised Martin Skrtel.
The former Liverpool captain, reserve team boss and
assistant manager has been impressed with Skrtel since his
arrival at Anfield in January and has paid tribute to the
defender.
"I just love Skrtel. He has made a real impression at the
club. People talk about Fernando Torres, but this lad could
be a real gem," said Thompson.
"It's how he plays the game which impresses me. No matter if
we're playing Stoke City or Manchester United, he gives
everything he has in terms of commitment and passion.
"He's good in the air, quick, strong and he doesn't hold any
of his opponents in high esteem. He is there to win for the
club and I think our fans have tapped into that."
(LFC Online)
Capello warning for Gerrard
Fabio Capello has suggested Steven Gerrard will be deployed
in his most effective position for England against
Kazakhstan on Saturday, but has warned that no player is
indispensible.
Capello has forged a reputation for his no-nonsense approach
and
the Italian has warned Gerrard that he calls the shots.
“He will play where I think it’s better for him, always,”
said Capello.
“I try throughout my career to put the players in the best
position for them to play better and at 100 percent in the
team. For me, he can play in two or three positions, but it
depends on the game which one he plays in.
”I think I know the best position for Gerrard and you will
see. Tomorrow you will see the position Gerrard plays
because it’ll be a very important position on the field.
He’s only played four times with me. I hope that four of
these five games were with me.”
Capello has insisted he will not be swayed by reputation,
suggesting no player is indispensible.
“Gerrard has to play like when he plays with Liverpool. He’s
one of
the 11 players on the pitch. We win and we lose together.
He’s
an important player, but he’s only one of the 11.
“It’s not a problem for me to have lots of talented players.
I had it a lot of times before at Milan, Juventus and
sometimes in [Real] Madrid. I prefer to have players of this
quality.”
(Setanta Sports) |
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FRIDAY 10 |
City deny Torres approach
Manchester City have moved quickly to deny suggestions that
they have made clandestine contact with Fernando Torres and
offered the Liverpool star £200,000-per week to join the
club.
Reports in both Spain and England have claimed that Abu
Dhabi United Group official Sulaiman Al-Fahim approached the
prolific striker’s representatives recently in an attempt to
convince Torres to join
the ‘Middle Eastlands’ revolution.
City were also linked with a bid for Torres on transfer
deadline day when they broke the British transfer record to
sign Brazil international Robinho from Real Madrid.
Liverpool have constantly maintained that Torres is
indispensable though and now City have moved to head off a
potential conflict with their Premier League rivals by
insisting that no one representing the club has made contact
with the player.
“At no time has any Manchester City official, or anybody
representing
the club, contacted Fernando Torres, his representatives or
Liverpool Football Club,” a spokesperson told the Liverpool
Echo.
Torres finished last season as Liverpool's top scorer
following a high-profile move from Atletico Madrid and he
has started the new campaign in impressive fashion, scoring
five times in The Premier League.
(Setanta Sports)
Hicks and Gillett told:
Put real money into Liverpool FC
The fans group which wants to buy Liverpool today challenged
the club’s American owners to put ‘some real money’ into
Anfield and fend off potentially devastating debts over
coming years.
The ShareLiverpoolFC group, which has announced ambitious
plans for
a Barcelona-style buyout at Anfield with supporters – or
organised groups of them – each owning a stake in the club,
has conducted its own analysis of Anfield’s finances.
Share Liverpool’s founder Rogan Taylor, a lifelong Liverpool
fan, says
the probe has raised serious questions about the Reds
financial stability, given its dependency on borrowed cash –
and the need to find over £20m a year plus to service
interest payments on loans lumped onto the books by the
owners.
ShareLiverpoolFC is supported by Anfield legends including
Phil Thompson, John Barnes and John Aldridge and also has
established close working links with the fans union the
Spirit of Shankly.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Skrtel: I thought my career
at Liverpool FC was over
Injury stricken Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has spoken
of the moment he thought his football career had ended.
The popular Slovakian international received oxygen on the
pitch at Manchester City last Sunday before being
stretchered off with posterior cruciate ligament damage in
his knee.
The Reds hope he will back in action before Christmas, but
as he lay in agony on the Eastlands turf Skrtel admitted he
feared the worst.
“The pain was unbearable,” he said. “I can’t remember a lot
about
the moment – but it was terrible. I thought that was the end
for me.
“I have never suffered anything like that before but I
remained conscious and they gave me oxygen to help with the
pain.
“I was in shock for a while but now I am coming to terms
with what happened. It hurts still, but things are getting
better.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Torres dreaming of Ballon d'Or
Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres admits it would
be a dream come true for him to be awarded the Ballon d'Or
for 2008.
Torres is among the contenders to land the accolade, which
is presented in December, after enjoying an impressive last
12 months.
The former Atletico Madrid forward netted 33 goals in all
competitions during his debut campaign on Merseyside last
term.
He then played a key role in Spain's Euro 2008 glory,
scoring the decisive strike in their triumph over Germany in
the final.
Torres faces stiff competition from the likes of Cristiano
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the prize and concedes he never
previously thought it realistic that he would be in the
running to be named European Footballer of the Year.
He told L'Equipe: "When I have watched the Ballon d'Or
presentation on television I saw the likes of Zinedine
Zidane, Ronaldinho and Kaka.
"I told myself that trophy was for players from another
galaxy. Now I am among the candidates, and I cannot believe
it.
"Winning the award would be like climbing to the top of
Everest and touching the sky."
Torres also expressed his joy at playing for Liverpool,
adding: "I am at ease in England. I wanted to play there so
strongly, to discover
the Premier League.
"At Liverpool I have started a second life. It is great."
(TEAMtalk)
Lucas confident of title challenge
Lucas Levia believes Liverpool have what it takes to
challenge for the title.
The Brazilian believes Rafael Benitez has assembled a squad
good enough to make a serious tilt at the Premiership title
this season.
"We did not win any trophies last season and we were all
disappointed about that," said Lucas.
"That is something we want to change this season and the
squad is now stronger than it was so hopefully that will
help us.
"If you look at last season we drew some games that we would
have expected to win but we have started this season well
and are picking up wins so that is positive.
"The squad is now much better which is good for the club
because it means we all have to work really hard if we want
to be in the team.
"For me, it is tough because we have so many good players in
my position but hopefully I will get my chance and when I do
I have
to be ready."
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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