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MONDAY 12 |
Del Bosque won't risk Torres
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque insists he will not play
Fernando Torres against Bosnia-Herzegovina if he is injured.
The Liverpool striker has been suffering from problems in
his adductor muscle over the past week, although he did play
53 minutes in the victory over Armenia on Saturday.
With Spain having already qualified for the World Cup in
South Africa next year, del Bosque has assured Reds boss
Rafa Benitez that he will not risk Torres if there are any
doubts over his fitness.
"Torres is in very good hands here," Del Bosque told AS.
"Yesterday (Sunday) he stayed at the hotel and did not train
because we went to a pitch in which there was no stretcher.
He stayed at the hotel with the physios.
"Rafael Benitez has called me and I reassured him. We will
care very much for Torres, like the rest.
"I told him (Benitez) that we will treat Torres as if he was
at Liverpool. If the boy is well and wants to play, he will
play against Bosnia. And if he has any problem, he will not
play. It's that simple."
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard hands Liverpool and England boost
after scans reveal no serious injury
Steven Gerrard has shrugged off the groin injury that had
led to him being substituted in England's 1-0 World Cup
qualifying defeat to Ukraine on Saturday night.
It was thought that the combative Anfield midfielder would
be facing a frustrating time on the sidelines when he was
replaced at half-time in Ukraine by James Milner.
Indeed, the Liverpool captain had been expected to be out
for 10 days, but his injury fears have now been allayed
after the results of a groin scan he underwent on Sunday
showed no major damage.
The 29 year-old could even be fit in time for England's
final World Cup qualifier against Belarus at Wembley on
Wednesday.
However, although Gerrard is set to undergo treatment over
the next 24 hours, it is unlikely that Fabio Capello, the
England manager, will want to risk Liverpool's wrath by
playing him in what will be a meaningless international
match given that England have already qualified for the
World Cup finals in South Africa.
Milner could start against Belarus at Wembley on Wednesday
if Capello does decide to leave Gerrard on the sidelines.
The positive news for Liverpool is that Gerrard is now
almost certain to play against Sunderland in their Premier
League clash this weekend and in their Champions League game
against Lyon.
(The Daily Telegraph)
Nemeth sinks eight-man Italy
Krisztian Nemeth fired Hungary to the FIFA U20 World Cup
semi-finals with a brace against eight-man Italy over the
weekend.
The 20-year-old, who is on a season's loan at AEK Athens,
scored the second and third in a 3-2 win.
Peter Gulacsi also started the game, which ended with just
18 players on the pitch after three Italians and one
Hungarian were sent off.
Nemeth and co now face Ghana in Tuesday's semi-finals.
(LFC Official Website)
Heskey linked with Liverpool return
Liverpool are being linked with unsettled Aston Villa
striker Emile Heskey.
(tribalfootball.com)
McManaman tells fans
to go easy on Aquilani
As Albert Aquilani finally returns to full fitness after his
£20million move from Roma in the summer, former Red Steve
McManaman says he
needs time.
The Italian international could make his debut in
Liverpool's game at Sunderland this weekend, but there is
already pressure on him to justify his hefty price tag.
"Every single Liverpool fan hopes Aquilani will be the
answer and he's got a good reputation. But he's been injured
a long time," McManaman told the official site.
"Everybody wants him to hit the ground running and be
fantastic from day one, which is going to be very difficult
for the lad.
"He's only young. Let's hope he is the wonderful player we
all want him to be. But I don't think we should put undue
pressure on him."
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 11 |
Agent denies Yossi interest
Yossi Benayoun's agent, Ronen Katsav, insists his client is
happy at Liverpool despite reported interest from Manchester
City.
The Israel international has been linked with a move to
Eastlands this weekend in a number of British newspapers but
Katsav has denied that there is any truth behind the
speculation.
The 29-year-old has impressed this term, scoring three goals
in 10 games in all competitions - with all of them coming
against Burnley.
However, Reds manager Rafa Benitez left the former West Ham
favourite on the bench for the biggest clash of the season
against Chelsea last week, giving the impression that
Benayoun still has a way to go before he is classed as one
of Liverpool's main men.
"Naturally a player playing well at Liverpool will always
have other teams interested in him," Katsav told the Israeli
press.
"It is a great compliment that there is interest from high
level teams across Europe but Yossi is very happy at
Liverpool and only in the summer agreed a new four-year
contract for four more seasons."
(Sky Sports)
Plessis hopes for
Cup action with Liverpool
Damien Plessis is hoping for Carling Cup action with
Liverpool.
The French midfielder told LFC Weekly Magazine: "The Carling
Cup is perhaps my best chance to get a game in the first
team at the moment. Young players may be on the bench for
Champions League or Premier League games. You wait and wait
but don't always play. The Carling Cup is different though.
"Maybe I will play against Arsenal, maybe I won't. I don't
know yet, but I hope I do. Arsenal is a very big game
whatever competition you play them in so, if you do play,
you knw you have to play well."
(tribalfootball.com)
Dalglish buoyed by defender return
Kop legend Kenny Dalglish believes Daniel Agger's return to
fitness presents Rafael Benitez with a variety of different
defensive options.
The Danish centre-back has yet to figure for the first-team
this season after being sidelined with a back problem.
However, having made his return to the fold in a reserve
team encounter with Manchester City recently, Agger played
the entire game as Denmark booked their place at next year's
World Cup finals in South Africa with
a 1-0 win over Sweden on Saturday.
"While the first-team squad were in Italy recently, Daniel
Agger was making his return from injury in the less romantic
surroundings of the reserve league, but he will be
delighted, as will the manager and the punters, to get back
into action," Dalglish told LFC Weekly.
"It's a shame that he's missed so much football over the
last couple of years because he's a top class defender, and
with him nearing a return to the first-team reckoning then
the manager has got good options and permutations in the
centre of his defence with Carra, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos and
Agger back to health.
"They've all got their particular strengths and they're all
internationals with a wealth of experience. Agger's a lovely
silky footballer, in the way he brings the ball out of
defence and commits teams who like to sit deep.
"Being able to call on him in the future will be important
for the team."
(LFC Official Website)
Rare start for Reina
Pepe Reina made a rare start for Spain last night.
The Liverpool goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes as
already qualified Spain made it nine wins out of nine with a
2-1 away win over Armenia. Fernando Torres played 54 minutes
while Albert Riera was an unused subsitute.
(LFC Online)
Agger going to SA
Daniel Agger is going to South Africa next Summer.
Agger's Denmark booked their place at the World Cup with a
1-0 home win over Sweden yesterday. It was good news for
Liverpool too as Agger played the full 90 minutes without
any problems.
With Denmark now assured of their place in South Africa,
Rafael Benitez will be hoping the Danes rest the recently
returned Agger on Wednesday.
(LFC Online)
Disappointment for Skrtel
Martin Skrtel suffered a disappointing defeat yesterday.
A draw at home to Slovenia would have seen Slovakia qualify
for their first ever World Cup but Skrtel's side were beaten
2-0. Slovakia are still top of Group 3 and can qualify on
Wednesday by avoiding defeat
against Poland.
(LFC Online)
Report: Man City
to pounce for Benayoun
Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is in the sights of
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes.
The News of the World says Benayoun has hopped on to City's
radar after the midfielder was named on the bench for last
Sunday's title-jolting 2-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford
Bridge.
(tribalfootball.com)
Double injury on international duty
Rafa isn't likely to be a happy man after news that two
Liverpool stars, and important players, picked up injuries
on international duty. Stevie Gerrard had to come off at
half time as England lost to Ukraine and Dirk Kuyt had to do
the same for the Dutch against Australia.
Fabio Capello said that Stevie had a little muscle problem
in the groin so that's why the Reds captain was taken off
during the defeat in Ukraine, which leaves the midfielder as
a doubt for England's final World Cup qualifier against
Belarus on Wednesday.
More importantly, with big matches coming up for the Reds,
he might be a doubt for us? This depends on how serious this
injury is.
Rafa will be more angered by the injury to Dirk though. The
Spaniard was already unhappy that he and Ryan Babel had to
fly to Sydney for this match, seen as money making deal by
the Dutch FA (England and other nations also do this
though), but would be angrier still as Dirk had missed
training all week with an ankle problem.
Despite this Bert van Marwijk started him and this made the
injury worse, with him last only 45 minutes. Now faced with
a long haul flight back to Merseyside this will only
increase the pressure on the Dutchman's ankle and
potentially make it worse.
Both seem doubts for the match against Sunderland on
Saturday,
at least.
(Vital Football) |
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SATURDAY 10 |
Gillett and Hicks agree to split up
- "for the good of the club"
Liverpool's warring co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett
have agreed to split up for the good of the club.
In a significant change of policy, Hicks has decided to no
longer stand in the way of Gillett if he wants to sell his
50 per cent stake to Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia or
another investor.
The shift in attitude from Hicks — who can veto any plans
Gillett has to sell up — will be welcomed by Liverpool fans,
who have seen the club placed in gridlock because of
conflict between the owners.
(The Daily Mail)
Gerrard a doubt with groin problem
Steven Gerrard is a doubt for England's final World Cup
qualifying game against Belarus with a groin problem.
Gerrard was withdrawn at half-time by Fabio Capello, who
revealed after the game that the Liverpool midfielder was
suffering with a slightly injury.
"It is a little muscle problem in the groin," said Capello.
(Football 365)
Insua's Argentina call cheers Rafa
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has expressed his delight
at Emiliano Insua's club form resulting in a first call-up
for Argentina.
The Spaniard is delighted young left-back Insua's form for
the club this season has been recognised by Diego Maradona.
"It is very good news for him and for us," said Benitez on
Insua's selection for crucial World Cup qualifiers against
Uruguay and Peru. "He is a young player who is doing well
for us. When you talk about young players, the idea is to
try to promote them.
"Emiliano was a very good signing by our scouting department
- a young player with potential and quality - and it was
very good business because the price was good."
(TEAMtalk)
Youngsters suffer Bolton woe
Liverpool under-18s experienced a frustrating 90 minutes
after suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Bolton on Saturday
afternoon.
Rodolfo Borrell's side enjoyed the majority of possession
but struggled to create openings as they went down to a
fifth minute penalty from
Chris Stokes.
Liverpool under-18s: Deale Chamberlain, John Flanagan, Jack
Robinson, Andre Wisdom, Matty McGiveron, Nicolaj Kohlert,
Karl Clair (Toni Brito E Silva 46), Conor Coady, James
Ellison (Michael Ngoo 61), Krisztian Adorjan, Tom Ince.
Unused subs: Stephen Sama, Chris Oldfield, Michael Ihiekwe.
(LFC Official Website)
Hamann returns to Liverpool
Didi Hamann has returned to Liverpool.
Hamann, released by Manchester City at the end of last
season, has joined Liverpool’s Academy Director Frank
McParland in
a coaching capacity.
“It’s nice to have this involvement,” he told the Liverpool
Echo. “They are a good set of lads and there are some very
good players. I’m enjoying it. I always said that I wanted
to go into coaching at some stage, so with nothing having
come up in terms of playing, this has been ideal."
(tribalfootball.com)
Defender a worry for Liverpool clash
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce faces an anxious wait to see if
George McCartney recovers from a foot injury in time for
next Saturday's
visit of Liverpool.
Bruce's worst fears were realised yesterday when McCartney
had to withdraw from Northern Ireland's final World Cup
qualifier against the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
With Kieran Richardson suspended next Saturday following his
red card at Manchester United, McCartney looked set for a
return to the starting
line-up.
But Bruce will now be forced to plan for the Ulsterman
missing out.
Summer signings John Mensah and Paulo Da Silva are both
capable of filling in at full-back and may be required.
(The Shields Gazette)
Skrtel looking to make history
Martin Skrtel is looking for a historic result later today.
If Slovakia can avoid defeat in their World Cup qualifier
against Slovenia in Bratislava this evening they will
qualify for their first ever World Cup.
"We are very positive ahead of this match. Everyone is very
calm and focused - we know how close we are to our dream,"
said Skrtel.
"Everyone can see the chance we have and we'll try to do our
best.
"We have some players who are injured, but we are ready to
win
this match.
"I know it will be a magnificent night and I hope there are
a lot of celebrations after the game."
(LFC Online)
Benitez defends
his transfer policy
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has defended his transfer
policy.
In a meeting with fans last week, Gillett questioned the
£128million Benitez has spent without winning the title.
But the Kop chief, who still has the backing of co-owner Tom
Hicks, said: "I will not talk about figures - it's not my
role.
"The most important thing was to totally change this team
which takes part now every year in the Champions League.
"The knockout stages of the Champions League, for example,
bring in a lot of money.
"We sell players when it's necessary to reinvest and we have
bought several top-level players and that means today the
value of the club
is higher.
"The title of champion of England is not my obsession,
although it is my priority and we're doing everything we can
in that sense.
"But I am convinced that to win the Premier League we must
be close to first place during several seasons.
"It was the case for us last season. We're very close on
condition that we are tranquil and confident."
(tribalfootball.com)
Thor Zakariassen
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