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TUESDAY 15 |
Kuyt tipped to reject Newcastle riches for
Liverpool move
Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt will turn down the opportunity
to earn twice as much money with Newcastle United than he
will at Liverpool, claims a source close to the player's
agent Rob Jansen.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is today trying to
conclude a deal for the Dutch international in the hope of
landing him before the weekend but with the player on
international duty, that may not be possible.
Ideally Rafa would like the £10million hitman at Melwood
before the weekend but he may have to wait until the
Sheffield United fixture is out of the way unless Feyenoord
agree to his early release.
A source close to agent Rob Jansen told us: "Newcastle
United have offered Kuyt around £90,000-a-week to join them.
That's how much he means to them. Liverpool have offered him
less than half of that."
(Kop Talk)
Gerrard handed right-sided role
New England manager Steve McClaren will play Steven Gerrard
on the right side of midfield against Greece.
"I spoke with Stevie and he is delighted with that - he will
play anywhere for England," said McClaren.
"It is an evolution. We are looking at one or two different
things and the shape of the team is one of them."
With strikers Wayne Rooney suspended and Michael Owen
injured, McClaren had called up Defoe and West Ham's Dean
Ashton.
It had appeared that Ashton would partner Peter Crouch up
front, but he has been ruled out after suffering an ankle
injury in training.
Gerrard will fill the role that has for so long been held by
David Beckham, who was left out of the squad.
That the former captain has been replaced by such a senior
England figure as Gerrard will further add to the feeling
that Beckham's England career is over.
England team to face Greece: Paul Robinson; Gary Neville,
Rio Ferdinand, John Terry (captain), Ashley Cole; Steven
Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves, Frank Lampard, Stewart Downing,
Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch.
(BBC Sport Online)
Agger aims to retain place
Daniel Agger hopes his confident return to senior action
will ignite a Liverpool career he believes has endured an
'unlucky' start.
The Danish international was a surprise inclusion for
Sunday's Community Shield victory, but he justified the
faith of the manager with an accomplished performance
against Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko.
It was only Agger's fifth first team appearance since his
£5.5m switch from Brondby last January.
But with competition for places at the heart of the
Liverpool defence stronger than it's been for years, the
21-year-old is sure of his ability to be at the forefront of
the manager's plans.
"It was a bit of a surprise to be selected, but that's what
I'm here for. To play, so although it was a surprise I was
ready," said Agger.
"I wasn't thinking about the fact I was playing against
Shevchenko, all I thought about was the game. To be playing
made me happy so I was determined to do my best.
"I think I've been unlucky since I moved to Liverpool
because of injuries, but you just have to get on with it.
Now I'm moving on and will keep working.
"I've always felt a lot of confidence in my ability. I
believe in myself and I know what I can and can't do.
"Now I hope this is a new start and the bad luck I've had is
in the past."
(Liverpool Echo)
Martins targeting Premiership move
Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins is ready to jump ship,
with England his favoured destination.
Martins' agent Patrick Bastianelli claims he has already
received offers from four Premiership clubs, with
Newcastle's rumoured to be the best offer on the table so
far.
Liverpool, Portsmouth and Tottenham are also reported to
have expressed an interest in the powerful forward while
Valencia, should they qualify for the Champions League and
lift their self-imposed transfer ban, are also preparing a
bid.
(Walk On LFC)
Carra hits back at Mourinho excuses
Jamie Carragher has had the final word over Jose Mourinho
following Liverpool's Community Shield victory over Chelsea.
Mourinho made great play before and after the game about his
squad's lack of preparation because of the World Cup,
claiming his players had returned late for training.
But Liverpool had a similar problem with half a dozen of
their own stars, and defender Carragher said: "There was a
lot said about how we were supposedly further down the road
in our preparation than them, but I don't buy into that.
"We just played better football and deserved our rewards."
(TEAMtalk) |
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MONDAY 14 |
Staunton threatened at gunpoint
Former Liverpool defender Steve Staunton has been threatened
at gunpoint following an incident at the hotel where the
Republic of Ireland squad are currently staying.
The Republic of Ireland boss is "unharmed" following a
"serious incident". A man in his 30's is said to have
approached Staunton outside the hotel waving a gun.
When Staunton alerted hotel security, the gunman ran away
from the hotel but he was arrested shortly afterwards by
police.
Staunton is said to be "absolutely fine" and "ready for
training tomorrow".
(Kop Talk)
Riise vows to keep hold of Reds shirt
Cardiff goal hero John Arne Riise has vowed to fight off
anyone who wants to take his Liverpool shirt.
The Norwegian international, who struck another thunderous
goal - his 27th for the club from left back - in the 2-1
Community Shield success over champions Chelsea, is
constantly aware that his place is under threat.
Now Djimi Traore has been sold there is Brazilian left-sided
defender Fabio Aurelio to worry about.
Aurelio insists he is happier at left-back than left
midfield, where the competition with Mark Gonzalez and Harry
Kewell gives boss Rafael Benitez better attacking options.
And then Riise has to contend with an even more surprising
sub-plot that Chelsea are being linked with him if they fail
to land Ashley Cole.
That may be just wild speculation, certainly at £15million,
with Riise making it plain he is only bothered about
retaining his left-back role at Anfield.
(TEAMtalk)
Carson joins Addicks on loan
Goalkeeper Scott Carson has joined Premiership rivals
Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the season.
The England Under-21 international spent the final three
months of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, and
was then called up into the England squad for the World Cup
Finals.
Carson has played nine first team games for Liverpool so far
since he arrived at Anfield from Luton Town in January 2005.
(LFC Official Website)
Garcia claims upper hand
Luis Garcia believes Liverpool's Community Shield victory
over champions Chelsea on Sunday will hand a psychological
advantage to the Premiership pretenders.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho conceded before and after
defeat that Rafa Benitez's side were one step ahead in their
pre-season preparations.
And Garcia claims a UEFA Champions League qualifier against
Maccabi Haifa four days previously helped to bolster the
squad's match sharpness.
"The victory over Chelsea is very important
psychologically," Garcia told skysports.com
"Liverpool have shown that we are ready for the start of the
Premiership season.
"The preparation for the match against Haifa means we are
ready."
"Liverpool have already been a serious rival to Chelsea and
next season will be no different," he added.
"Liverpool are a hungry, united team with ambitious people
who want to win.
"Big names do not always guarantee success. Chelsea are a
super team but the lesson from Sunday is clear - The Blues
are not invincible."
(Sky Sports)
Rock-solid Malian may prove to be Rafa's
superman
His legs stretch across the turf like a snooker cue rest
lying on the green baize. And they have a similar effect as
that piece of apparatus - reaching things that mere mortals
find physically impossible.
It's the incredible extending limbs of Momo Sissoko that
give him that bit extra.
And they could provide the added leg-up Liverpool need to
catch, and indeed overtake, Chelsea for real.
Yesterday proved once again that they can do it over one
game. But it's the 38 coming up that they need to be worried
about.
You need a squad to cope with such demands and, to that end,
players who will take responsibility when their mates aren't
around to do it for them.
Here's where Sissoko steps in. Analysing the individual
pieces of magic dust that he sprinkled throughout the game
gives encouragement enough.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds clash switched to Kiev
Liverpool will travel to Ukraine next week to defend their
2-1 lead against Maccabi Haifa after UEFA confirmed the
second leg of the Champions League qualifier will be held in
Kiev.
The match will be played at Dynamo Kiev's stadium, where
Liverpool won five years ago in a Champions League group
game courtesy of goals by Danny Murphy and Steven Murphy in
a 2-1 victory.
A statement on uefa.com read: "The second leg of Maccabi
Haifa's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie
against Liverpool FC will be played in the Ukrainian capital
Kiev on Tuesday, August 22, with no European competition
matches permitted to be staged in Israel in light of the
ongoing troubles in and around the country."
(Sporting Life)
Transfer saga sent Gerrard to brink
Steven Gerrard has revealed how the sudden realisation that
he was heading out of Liverpool 12 months ago pushed him to
the edge of despair and left him swallowing painkillers
'like they were Smarties'.
Writing in his autobiography*, to be published next month,
the Liverpool skipper describes the trauma of turning from
hero to villain in supporters' eyes and paints a stark
picture of the toll it took on his mental well-being.
Angry at perceived indifference by Liverpool over a new
contract, in the wake of their Champions League triumph over
AC Milan, Gerrard tried to force their hand by submitting a
transfer request.
What followed caused such distress, he ended up making panic
calls for help to his father and brother, his agent Struan
Marshall and even Liverpool's club doctor, Mark Waller.
(The Daily Mail)
Best team won says Carra
The best team won yesterday's Community Shield
match according to Jamie Carragher.
Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 yesterday and the Reds' skipper
for the day Jamie Carragher insists they were worthy
winners.
"There was a lot said before the game about how we were
supposedly further down the road in our preparations than
them, but I don’t buy into that. We just played the better
football and got our rewards," said the defender.
(LFC Online)
Reds in for Klose?
Liverpool are set to turn their attentions to Werder Bremen
striker Miroslav Klose - according to reports.
Klose has intimated he would like to try his luck in the
Premiership, and could be made available for around
£8million.
(Clubcall Sports) |
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SUNDAY 13 |
No handshake between Benitez and Mourinho
Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho failed to join in the mood
of goodwill and charity when they again refused to shake
hands after Liverpool had beaten Chelsea 2-1 to win the FA
Community Shield at the Millennium stadium.
The pair had stirred their feud by cold shouldering each
other after Chelsea's defeat by Liverpool in the FA Cup
semi-final last season.
This time Liverpool manager Benitez said: 'He decided not to
shake hands in the last game and this time he was behind me
and he did not say anything.
'I was focusing on my team and my supporters and maybe he
was thinking about his team and his supporters.
'For me it is not a problem. After the FA Cup he decided not
to shake hands. But I am not thinking about this. I am
thinking about my team and how to improve.'
Chelsea boss Mourinho also dismissed their refusal to
indulge in the normal post-match English courtesies, albeit
inferring that Benitez had plenty of opportunity to offer
his hand if he had so desired.
Mourinho said: 'Football is 90 minutes. If we shake hands,
if we kiss do you think that
is important?
(SoccerNet)
Jose accepts Cardiff defeat
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho accepts his side were second best
in falling to a Community Shield defeat to Liverpool at The
Millennium Stadium.
"If I look at the game as a pre-season game, I think it was
fantastic for us because we played against a team in much
better condition than us," Mourinho told Sky Sports.
"Because of that it was very very good. If I look at the
game as a minor trophy of course you don't like to lose but
if you don't think about the difference of condition of both
teams they deserved to win because they were better than
us."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa happy with win
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes his side's 2-1 win over
Chelsea in the Community Shield will give them confidence
for the new season.
"It is difficult to play against one of the best teams in
the world and we have done a good job today and for the rest
of the season we will have more confidence.
"The team worked really hard against a very good team with
lots of good players and in the last minutes we were
working, running and trying to defend and I am really
pleased with the team. "
(Sky Sports)
Crouch: Beating Blues can boost us
Liverpool striker Peter Crouch is hoping his goal in the 2-1
FA Community Shield win over Chelsea kick-starts a winning
season for the Reds.
Crouch scored the second goal to clinch victory at Cardiff's
Millennium Stadium and told Sky Sports: "The manager wants
his players to improve and I want to improve as a player.
"I want to win things and this is a good start to the
season. We hope it is going to be a good season."
(TEAMtalk)
Reds take season's first silverware
Liverpool have won the FA Community Shield for the 15th time
in their history after Peter Crouch's goal gave them a 2-1
victory over Chelsea.
It may be a meaningless friendly but Sunday's clash in
Cardiff gave the new season exactly what it needed - proof
that Chelsea are beatable.
(TEAMtalk)
Koeman dismisses Kuyt exit talk
Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman says his club have not received
a bid for striker Dirk Kuyt from Liverpool or Newcastle
United, and expects the player to stay.
Liverpool are rumoured to have launched a £10million bid for
the Dutch international, while Magpies boss Glenn Roeder has
revealed his interest in the player.
However, Koeman says he does not expect Kuyt to leave the De
Kuip Stadium this summer:
"I expect he will be staying with us for one more year and
then we will see. At this moment there is nothing
happening."
(Clubcall Sports)
Liverpool v Chelsea - CONFIRMED TEAMS
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant,
Sissoko, Zenden, Gonzalez, Luis Garcia, Crouch.
SUBS: Dudek, Sinama Pongolle, Gerrard, Aurelio, Alonso,
Bellamy, Hyypia.
CHELSEA: Cudicina, Geremi, Ricardo, Carvalho, Terry, Paulo
Ferreira, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Shevchenko, Drogba,
Robben.
SUBS: Hilario, Mikel, Bridge, Kalou, Wright-Phillips,
Mancienne, Diarra.
(Kop Talk)
Parry hints more signings to come
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry says that the club are
still looking into the possibility of making further
signings before the transfer window deadline of August 31st.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Parry revealed that despite
five signings this summer, the club has not finished in the
transfer market yet.
“There might be a little bit of business still to be done,
we are still looking,” he said.
“We might need to get one or two out, it depends exactly on
what is available, but we are open-minded.”
(This is Anfield)
Pennant ready to deliver
Jermaine Pennant says it still hasn't sunk in that he's
playing for Liverpool.
Lifelong Liverpool fan Jermaine Pennant admits it is a dream
to be playing for the Reds but is aware that he needs to do
the business if he is to keep his place in the team.
"If I am honest, the move to Liverpool really hasn't really
sunk in yet and I don't think it will until the Premiership
kicks off," he said.
"Being at a club like this, you have to respect the
manager's decisions. If he wants to rotate, that is no
problem for me. I am at Liverpool, so if I have to rotate,
that's fine by me.
"The strikers may change as well, but my role will be the
same whoever plays. I think the manager will still want me
to get the crosses in and try to give whoever is playing up
front good service.
"Delivering the crosses is what I did at Birmingham, so that
is what I am going to do here.
"We have great players who can attack the ball. If I can
keep on setting up goals I will
be pleased."
(LFC Online)
Rafa: Having local players is important
Rafael Benitez stressed the importance of having local
players in the side as the Reds prepare to mount another
challenge for the Premiership crown.
"When you talk about players like Robbie Fowler, Carragher,
Gerrard, Bellamy and Pennant then they have a lot of passion
and commitment for this club and that can only help us move
forward," said the Liverpool boss.
"Having local players and a lot of English and British
players is important because they are prepared to go the
extra yard to help the team.
"I don't think you can doubt the commitment of players like
Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia or Momo Sissoko, but having players
who know the history of the club and have that passion can
be good for us."
(Walk On LFC)
Chelsea turn to £15M Liverpool fullback
Riise
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is considering a bid for
Liverpool defender John Arne Riise.
The Daily Star Sunday says Chelsea are prepared to bid £15
million for the Norway international should Arsenal refuse
to accept their £20 million valuation for Ashley Cole.
(TribalFootball)
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Thor Zakariassen
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