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MONDAY 15 |
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Liverpool agree transfer fee for striker
Liverpool and Aston Villa have finally agreed a transfer fee
for striker Milan Baros.
The Czech international has been given permission to open
talks with the Premiership outfit and if all goes to plan,
Baros will become a Villa player within the next 7 to 10
days.
Other clubs are still showing an interest so if anyone else
matches the asking price, Baros will be given further
options.
(Kop Talk)
Youngsters poised for reds debut
Liverpool have confirmed the signings of defensive starlets
Godwin Antwi and Miquel Roque, both of whom are set for
debuts for the reserves against Everton at Wrexham on
Tuesday night.
Roque is a 17-year-old centre half from Spain and has been
signed from Spanish second division side Lleida.
Godwin Antwi, also 17, was born in Ghana and has been signed
from Real Zaragoza. He is a strong and powerful centre half
who can also play in midfield.
Both players will be based at Melwood, alongside fellow
youngsters Antonio Barragan and Jack Hobbs. All four of the
new young acquisitions are expected to be in the Reds'
reserve team for the mini derby.
The game against Everton's second string, is our first of
the season at this level and kicks-off at 7pm on Tuesday at
the Racecourse Ground.
(LFC Official Website)
Missing Owen would be a nightmare
Steven Gerrard today admitted it would be a 'nightmare' if
Michael Owen joins any Premiership club but Liverpool before
the transfer deadline.
The Anfield skipper is making no secret of his desire to be
reunited with the striker as speculation surrounding the
Real Madrid star reaches fever pitch.
Gerrard is hoping Owen's preference to rejoin his old club
will prove decisive.
"It goes without saying I would love Michael Owen back here
and think everyone at the club would love him back," Gerrard
told the ECHO.
"I'm waking up every morning, looking in the papers and
hoping to read he's on his way here. Could you imagine him
coming back to Anfield and scoring against us for another
club? It would be a nightmare."
(Liverpool Echo)
Overseas targets for Rafa
Sylvain Wiltord and Hasan Salihamidzic are potential
solutions to Liverpool's wing dilemma.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is anxious to bring in a new right
winger before the close of the transfer window after missing
out on Portuguese ace Luis Figo.
Benitez is scouring Europe for the missing piece in his
jigsaw and has been linked with Bolton's Stelios
Giannakopoulos and Fulham's Steed Malbranque.
The Spanish coach is also looking outside of The Premiership
and has been mentioned in connection with Lyon attacker
Wiltord and Bayern Munich man Salihamidzic.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Garcia backing for Barragan
Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia believes countryman Antonio
Barragan will be a big hit at Anfield.
The Spanish teenager, signed from Sevilla in the summer,
made a surprise debut in the Champions League qualifier
against CSKA Sofia last week.
Garcia said: "Antonio did well. He was probably a little
nervous inside because of his age but it didn't show when he
was called upon by the boss.
"In training he has looked very impressive and he doesn't
seem too overwhelmed about moving to such a big club in a
new country at such an early age. He has a bright future."
Barragan, 18, said: "It was a dream to be involved in a big
game so soon after arriving at the club."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard wins high praise from Zenden
Boudewinj Zenden led the praise for Steven Gerrard after the
Liverpool midfielder's performance at the Riverside on
Saturday.
Gerrard could have had a hat-trick after carving out a
series of chances in the goalless draw with Middlesbrough.
And Zenden said: "Steven Gerrard is up there with Davids and
Seedorf; he is the engine of the team. He gets into
positions to score and then he has the attitude to get the
rest of us going."
(Daily Post)
Zenden hits out at Boro chief exec
Liverpool midfielder Boudewijn Zenden has blamed
Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb for his decision to
leave Teesside.
Zenden, who turns 29 today, was roundly booed as he returned
to the Riverside Stadium with Liverpool on Saturday after
rejecting the chance to extend his two-year stay.
“You have to be realistic – people forget quickly,” he said.
“I had two fantastic years here and last year I was the
player of the year as chosen by the fans. It is down to
Keith Lamb trying to save his own face by blaming everything
on me. He is the one that made the decision last year and
made it very difficult for me to stay.
“Liverpool came in but that was only at the end when things
were obviously not going to work out with Keith Lamb.
“I don’t want to get into details, but it is clear that I
had had a fantastic season, I had enjoyed it at the club and
I did not see anything that should have stood in my way to
stay.
“But Keith Lamb made it difficult and then Liverpool came in
and the choice was two clubs, one in the Champions League
and the other in the UEFA Cup. I made my choice.”
(Ireland On-Line) |
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SUNDAY 14 |
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Liverpool linked with former Arsenal striker
According to one very brief newspaper report today,
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is considering making a
£1.5million offer to Lyon for former Arsenal striker Sylvain
Wiltord.
(Kop Talk)
Liverpool table £12million bid for striker
Liverpool have reportedly tabled a cash offer of £12million
for former Reds striker Michael Owen.
If you believe the reports, Liverpool chief Rick Parry has
offered a £6million up front payment with a further
£6million to be paid over the next three years.
(Kop Talk) |
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SATURDAY 13 |
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Carragher and Gerrard selected by England
Liverpool duo Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have been
named in England's 23-man squad for Wednesday's friendly
international in Denmark.
Loaned out goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has been left out in
favour of Norwich's
Robert Green.
(Kop Talk)
Gerrard unhappy with draw
Captain Steven Gerrard admitted Liverpool were far from
satisfied with a solitary point after the goalless draw at
Middlesbrough.
The home side had defender Ugo Ehiogu sent off for bringing
down Gerrard as he surged through on goal but the European
champions failed to convert their dominance into goals.
"The idea was to go for goals if I got past Ugo," said
Gerrard. "They defended very well and it was unfortunate he
had to be sent off.
"Last year they dominated us here. It was a good point but
three would have been better. On another day I could have
got a couple of goals.
"Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United don't drop many
points but this was a tough opening game for us."
(TEAMtalk)
McClaren: We were lucky
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren admitted his side rode
their luck as they drew 0-0 with Liverpool.
Steven Gerrard missed several clear openings and McClaren
admitted his team was lucky that the Liverpool skipper did
not take his chances.
"I think we were lucky," said McClaren.
"He has been scoring goals quite regularly in pre-season and
when he got a couple of chances, we rode our luck on those
occasions."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez mulls over Boro draw
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was in philosophical mood
after seeing skipper Steven Gerrard miss a hat-trick of
glorious chances to get his side's Barclays Premiership
campaign off to the perfect start at Middlesbrough.
"He scored seven goals in pre-season," he said. "Maybe today
he had four possibilities but two or three clear.
"Now we need to think about the next game away and do
similar things as today."
(ITV Football)
Ten-man Boro thwart Reds
Steven Gerrard waged a one-man war on 10-man Middlesbrough
but Liverpool left Teesside with only a 0-0 draw to show for
his efforts.
On another day, the England midfielder might have claimed a
hat-trick, but a combination of poor finishing, solid
goalkeeping and bad luck denied him the decisive goal his
individual display deserved.
Gerrard could have won it as early as the 22nd minute, but
fired over the bar from from close range, and he then saw a
looping header drop onto the roof of the net with keeper
Mark Schwarzer stranded after Ugo Ehiogu had been dismissed.
And with only seconds of the 90 minutes remaining, he
powered a header across the face of goal with Steve
McClaren's men wilting under the strain.
The Merseysiders always looked the more likely winners
despite under-achieving before the break, but with Gerrard
upping the tempo and substitute Djibril Cisse adding fresh
impetus, just how Boro survived was a mystery.
(TEAMtalk)
Middlesbrough v Liverpool - confirmed team
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Warnock,
Garcia, Sissoko, Alonso, Zenden, Gerrard, Morientes.
SUBS: Carson, Baros, Riise, Cisse, Whitbread.
(Kop Talk)
Sven tips Reds for title challenge
England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has tipped Liverpool to
close the gap on Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United this
season as the Reds go in search of their first title in 15
years.
The England coach believes the feel-good factor of winning
the Champions League in such dramatic fashion back in May
will send confidence through the roof in Rafael Benitez's
squad.
"I think it's going to be a race between four clubs this
season because I think Liverpool will close the gap on the
other three," claimed Sven. "I am absolutely sure Liverpool
will benefit from the psychological effect of having won the
Champions League. That victory was incredible, I can't
imagine seeing another game like that.
"And of course coming back from 3-0 down in a game of that
magnitude must give you confidence. That must break new
barriers for the team mentally. Of course, you have to do it
regularly, and against the smaller teams, and when it's
windy and rainy,
but that's football."
(LFC Official Website)
AC Milan linked with possible Anfield
swoop
Italian giants AC Milan have been linked with a possible
move for Liverpool striker Milan Baros.
It is claimed that the Czech international has been
short-listed by Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti who wants to
strengthen his squad.
(Kop Talk)
Benitez confirms interest in Owen
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has finally admitted that he
would like to sign Real Madrid striker Michael Owen.
"I am aware that Michael would like to come back. I don't
know if we can do something because we are waiting for a
good offer for Milan Baros," said the boss.
"But he is a good player and I like him. I never had any
problems with him. He is a nice boy, a good professional and
a very good player.
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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