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TUESDAY 15 |
Former players read lessons
at emotional Hillsborough service
Former footballers Brian Hall and Gary Ablett led
commemorations at today’s 19th anniversary of the
Hillsborough disaster service.
Brian Hall gave a reading from St Paul's letter to the
Romans and Gary Ablett read 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses
51-57.
It was also announced that the Liverpool FC and Celtic FC
teams that played days after the Hillsborough tragedy will
play a benefit match at Anfield on the 20th anniversary of
the disaster.
Phil Hammond, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support
Group, announced the decision during today’s memorial
service held in The Kop.
He said: "The money raised will be split between HFSG and
Marina Dalglish Cancer Unit Appeal and will be played on, or
about,
April 19 next year."
He said the fixture would feature as many of the 1989 first
teams of both clubs as possible.
About 6,000 fans applauded the announcement which came at
the end of an emotional service.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
O'Neill wants Barry talks
Martin O'Neill is eager to discuss a new contract with
Gareth Barry after the Aston Villa captain was linked with a
move to Liverpool.
Chelsea have previously been mooted as admirers of the
long-serving midfielder, while the latest reports claim Rafa
Benitez is ready to spend £12million on Barry in the summer.
Benitez reportedly wants to pair Barry with his England
team-mate Steven Gerrard, but O'Neill is unaware of any
interest from Merseyside.
"I have absolutely no comment to make," O'Neill told the
Birmingham Mail regarding the speculation concerning a bid
from Liverpool.
However, O'Neill is not surprised that his players are
attracting admiring glances from elsewhere, although he is
determined to hold on to
his skipper.
He added: "Gareth Barry has played brilliantly this season.
There has been talk about Chelsea coming in, but who knows?
A manager is usually the last one to find out about events."
(Sky Sports)
Ian St John:
Liverpool FC situation
is a "shambles"
Liverpool legend Ian St John has described the current
off-field situation at the club as “a shambles”.
Chief executive Rick Parry yesterday said he intended to
hold clear-the-air-talks with manager Rafael Benitez after
the latest twist in the Anfield boardroom saga.
That came after Benitez expressed his disappointment at
co-chairman Tom Hicks’ revelation Parry had been present at
the club owners’ infamous meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann last
year.
“It is a real shambles,” former Reds striker St John told
BBC Radio 5 Live. “When you think about it, has it ever
worked having two people running an organisation like a
football club?"
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Kewell Juve talk denied
Harry Kewell's personal manager has rejected reports linking
the Liverpool man with a move to Juventus.
Reports emanating from Italy have suggested that Juventus
are lining up a move for the Australian international.
Kewell's future at Liverpool remains in doubt as his current
contract expires in the summer and as yet no new deal has
been agreed.
Juventus, Celtic, Bolton and Sunderland have all been
credited with an interest in Kewell, but the player's
representative Bernie Mandic says he has had no talks with
any clubs and that the attacker will make a decision on his
future at the end of the season.
"I have not spoken to anyone yet regarding a possible Bosman
move for Harry," Mandic told skysports.com.
"Harry has not spoken to anyone and there have been no
discussions with anyone from Juventus.
"We are basically waiting and seeing how things go for the
rest of
the season.
"There is no need to rush into anything for Harry and we
will see what Liverpool say."
(Sky Sports)
Fowler could be fit for cup final
Former Liverpool hero Robbie Fowler could be in line for a
dramatic return for Cardiff City in the FA Cup final.
The Liverpool legend has been sidelined since the turn of
the year after undergoing hip surgery, but he is now back in
training, and targeting the final Coca Cola Football League
Championship game of Cardiff’s season - against beaten FA
Cup semi-finalists Barnsley - for a dramatic return to the
Bluebirds' first-team.
Playing in that match without a problem would confirm his
fitness and availability for a third FA Cup final appearance
of his career. Fowler previously lost to Manchester United
for Liverpool in the 1996 final, but was part of the
Liverpool side that beat Arsenal in 2001.
Cardiff manager Dave Jones confirmed: “Robbie has been given
the all-clear – and he's hopeful of being fit [before the
end of] this season.”
Fowler's scoring record in the FA Cup is one goal every two
games, although he didn't score in either of his previous
two finals.
Cardiff have confirmed that he is now travelling with the
squad to each game as he works on his fitness ahead of the
final.
(Goal.com)
Rafa's tribute to Hillsborough families
Rafael Benitez has paid tribute to the families of the
ninety-six.
The Liverpool manager has offered his condolences ahead of
this afternoon's memorial service at Anfield.
"This is obviously an important day of the year for
everybody connected with our club," said Benitez.
"We must take time to remember those who lost their lives at
Hillsborough and to be with their families and friends
today. We must give them our support and show that we are
thinking of them.
"It's important we pay our respects and that is why we will
all be at the memorial service later today."
(LFC Online) |
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MONDAY 14 |
Pacheco puts Reds in final
Liverpool Reserves are through to the final of the Liverpool
Senior Cup after a 1-0 win over Prescot Cables thanks to a
brilliant extra-time winner from Spanish ace Daniel Pacheco.
Gary Ablett's side made it tough for themselves against
resilient opponents but Pacheco's goal sets up a final with
Marine at College Road next Thursday night (April 24).
The Spanish striker cut in from the right hand side and let
fly with a superb strike into the top corner of the net.
Liverpool team: Martin, Kelly, Insua, San Jose, Ayala (Darby
100), Plessis, Flynn (Pacheco 45), Spearing, Brouwer,
Lindfield,
Bruna (Huth 45).
(LFC Official Website)
Torres backing for Benitez
Liverpool forward Fernando Torres has backed coach Rafael
Benitez to remain at the club "for a long time".
Benitez will decide on his Liverpool future once the
Champions League campaign is over as club chief executive
Rick Parry signalled he wants to clear the air with the Reds
manager.
"Rafa has coached in Spain and England and his ideas are the
same," he told Spanish radio station Marca FM.
"I think that Benitez is going to be at Liverpool for a long
time."
(PA Sport)
Rafa eyes end to Euro race
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has set his sights on winning
the battle for fourth place in the Premier League before his
side face Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
The Reds have spent the majority of the season in a race
with Merseyside rivals Everton for a spot in the top four in
the league, which would secure the last qualification berth
for next season's Champions League.
Benitez is preparing his team for a meeting with Chelsea in
the final four of Europe's premier club competition, but the
Spaniard is keen to have guaranteed a place in next season's
tournament prior to the Blues' first leg trip to Anfield on
22nd April.
"We need now to make sure of fourth spot before we play
Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals," said Benitez.
"It needs to be out of the way so that everyone can
concentrate on those two matches.
"We have no control over what Everton do in their game at
the end of the week (at home to Chelsea) but we would hope
that a win at Fulham would give us fourth spot."
(Sky Sports)
Phenomenal Torres tells it all
Liverpool star Fernando Torres has declared how happy he is
at Anfield and revealed he is determined to keep breaking
records in England.
Torres is surprised by his own statistics, but says the warm
welcome he has received in the city has helped his
transition.
“You have to enjoy it when everything is fine,” he said
during an interview with Radio Marca from Liverpool on
Monday. “I want people to always remember me here.
“It is what I was dreaming for. I expected it to take more
time. Achieving all that in the first season is amazing.
“The team have been working very well and helped me a lot.
“Settling has been very easy and you can see it on the
pitch. I have been helped with everything."
(Setanta Sports)
Anderson helps Swans clinch promotion
Loan star Paul Anderson was celebrating at the weekend after
helping Swansea City clinch promotion to the Championship
after Saturday's 2-1 win at Gillingham.
The right winger, who is on a season long loan from
Liverpool, has scored nine goals this season and has played
a big part in the Welsh club's promotion season.
It is the first time in 24 years that Swansea will be
playing in the second tier of English football.
Anderson and Swansea now hope to go on and clinch the League
One title and they have a seven point lead at the top with
just three games remaining.
(LFC Official Website)
Torres makes Atleti a rich club
Fernando Torres has earned Atletico Madrid a €250,000
(£200,000) bonus thanks to the goal he scored against
Blackburn.
The Spanish press have revealed that an option included in
the striker’s contract demands The Reds pay £200,000 to
Atletico every time he scores a series of 15 goals.
That is the second time Rafa Benitez’s club have had to pay
the bonus to the Spanish club this season, as El Nino has
scored 30 goals in all competitions in the famous red shirt.
It has also been claimed Atleti have earned another £200,000
from The Reds, as he has appeared more than 25 times in The
Premier League.
(Setanta Sports)
Jurgen Klinsmann:
Liverpool FC officials
met him TWICE
The Echo today learned that Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks
held two meetings with Jurgen Klinsmann with a view to the
German replacing Rafael Benitez as manager.
The first meeting was held in New York at which he was
joined by co-owner George Gillett, chief executive Rick
Parry and other members of the Liverpool board.
The second was held at Hicks’ holiday home in California
during Thanksgiving weekend when Parry was not present.
Parry today said he was prepared to meet Benitez to discuss
his involvement in talks with Klinsmann.
(Liverpool Echo)
Fulham boss praises Reds
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has praised Liverpool ahead of
this weekend's Premier League clash at Craven Cottage.
Saturday's game will come three days before the first leg of
Liverpool's Champions League semi-final with Chelsea and it
is likely that one or two key players may be rested.
"We don't know what kind of team Liverpool will put out but
even their reserve team isn't bad," he said.
"They have a few players that managers would love to work
with and we might come down to earth with a bump. Liverpool
are a very good team."
(LFC Online)
Torres set a club record yesterday
Torres' goal against Blackburn Rovers yesterday meant he
became
the first player in Liverpool's history to score in seven
successive
home games.
Yesterday's goal also meant Torres became the first player
since Robbie Fowler in 1996 to score thirty goals for the
Reds in a single season.
(LFC Online)
Gerrard pleads: Keep
the ownership spat private
Steven Gerrard was thrilled to mark his 300th Premier League
game for Liverpool with a goal in the 3-1 victory over
Blackburn yesterday.
But the Anfield skipper insisted the club should be rising
above a public brawl between the owners and management.
“We’re Liverpool FC, we’re better than that,” he said. “But
the players have got more important things to worry about.”
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Trio linked with move to Anfield
Valon Behrami is being linked with a move to the Premier
League.
Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric has made a ‘come and
get me’ plea to Liverpool.
And finally, Lee Cattermole of Middlesborough is again being
linked with a move to Anfield in the summer.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Silent tribute to the 96 who died at Hillsborough
Fans held a respectful minute’s silence before Liverpool’s
3-1 Premiership victory over Blackburn Rovers yesterday to
mark the 19th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster.
Silence fell across Anfield at just before 1.30pm, as
supporters paid their respects to the 96 people who died on
April 15, 1989, in Sheffield, and unfurled banners
commemorating their “96 Brothers”.
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 13 |
Rafa demands Klinsmann answers
Rafael Benitez is to demand "some answers" from the
Liverpool board over their pre-Christmas plans to appoint
Jurgen Klinsmann as his replacement.
The Anfield chief's future at the club appears far from
secure - and speaking after Sunday's 3-1 Barclays Premier
League win at home to Blackburn had cemented Liverpool in
fourth place, Benitez openly addressed the issue.
Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett held talks with
Klinsmann, claiming soon afterwards they did so because they
were unsure of Benitez's "commitment to the club".
Hicks' remarks in Sunday's press have outlined his reasons
for wanting Rick Parry's resignation, and it has emerged
that Parry was "instructed"
to attend the talks with Klinsmann.
Benitez, however, seems unlikely to be appeased by that
account of events, given his existing rift with Parry.
"I will talk with the board about this (the Klinsmann issue)
- as soon as possible, today or tomorrow.
"I need to resolve questions and I want some answers. I want
to clarify things."
(Football 365)
Hughes bemoans errors
Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes believes individual
errors cost his side as Liverpool claimed a 'deserved'
victory at Anfield on Sunday.
Second-half goals from Steve Gerrard, Fernando Torres and
Andriy Voronin effectively ended Rovers' faint hopes of
claiming European qualification.
And Hughes, whose side netted a late consolation through
Roque Santa Cruz, has bemoaned the individual mistakes
leading up to the opener.
"In fairness to Liverpool today I thought they worked
extremely hard and closed down spaces and as a consequence
they force errors and they are able to convert the chances
as the consequence of those errors, and that is what
happened with the last two goals, which I didn't think gave
a true reflection on the game."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa: We are nearly there
Rafa Benitez believes his side are 'nearly there' in the
race for Champions League qualification after a 3-1 victory
over Blackburn on Sunday.
The Anfield boss was delighted with his side's second-half
performance when goals from Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres
and substitute Andriy Voronin sunk the Lancashire outfit.
"We now need to go to Fulham to try to win. If we win we'll
be nearly there. The Champions League is always a
distraction, so it's important we get qualification sorted
as quickly as possible."
(LFC Official Website)
Deadly Reds duo defeat Rovers
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were both on target as
Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over Blackburn Rovers at
Anfield.
The Reds dominated the first half, but much of the attention
surrounded referee Alan Wiley as he waved away appeals for a
penalty when Gerrard went down after knocking the ball past
goalkeeper Brad Friedel, before Christopher Samba was
fortunate not to be penalised for a clumsy foul on the
England midfielder.
But it mattered little, with Gerrard breaking the deadlock
on the hour mark as he played a clever one-two with Lucas
before squeezing through the Rovers defence to slot home
coolly.
(Sky Sports)
Three changes for Reds versus Rovers
Steven Gerrard will make his 300th league appearance for the
club as Liverpool look to consolidate fourth spot against
Blackburn.
Rafa Benitez makes three changes from the Arsenal victory in
midweek, with Lucas, Alvaro Arbeloa and Ryan Babel coming in
for the suspended Javier Mascherano, Sami Hyypia and the
injured Peter Crouch.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Skrtel,
Carragher, Lucas, Alonso, Gerrard, Babel, Kuyt, Torres.
Subs: Itandje, Riise, Hyypia, Voronin, Benayoun.
(LFC Official Website)
Hicks slams 'arrogant' Parry
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has explained his decision to
call for chief executive Rick Parry's resignation, slamming
his 'arrogance' and 'inability to manage an organisation'.
Hicks said: "Rick Parry has been Liverpool's CEO for 10
years and we haven't won a league championship under his
leadership.
"Our commercial revenues have not kept up with other top
clubs during that time, which has made it very difficult to
compete for
the Premier League.
"After watching him operate, I came to the conclusion it was
time to ask him to resign, due to his inability to manage an
organisation, his seemingly arrogant attitude to our
supporters and his lack of communication with [manager] Rafa
(Benitez)."
(Sky Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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