|
|
|
|
FRIDAY 15 |
Gerrard sustains foot injury in Toulouse
game
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard sustained a foot injury
during his team's 1-0 victory at Toulouse in their Champions
League qualifying third round match on Wednesday.
Gerrard was replaced by Momo Sissoko after Toulouse
midfielder Achille Emana stepped on the England midfielder's
right foot 20 minutes into the second half.
A Liverpool official said that Gerrard had received a kick
on his toe and could not say whether he would be doubtful
for this weekend's Premier League game against Chelsea.
"I was already thinking of replacing him," said Liverpool
coach
Rafael Benitez.
(Reuters)
Benitez stays calm after victory
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez warned against complacency
after the win over Toulouse in the first leg of their third
round Champions League qualifier.
Andriy Voronin scored a spectacular winner in a 1-0 victory
for the Reds but Benitez said: "We must not think we are
already through.
"This tie is not yet over, it is just one goal.
"We know they are a very good side who like to
counter-attack, which is what they will try to do at
Anfield."
(BBC Sport Online)
Carra not complacent after Reds win
Jamie Carragher claimed Liverpool still had much work to do
to reach the Champions League group stage despite their 1-0
win in Toulouse.
Carragher told Setanta Sports: "Over the last few years we
have had good results away and then lost at home.
"It was far from great but the away goal makes it a lot
easier."
(TEAMtalk)
Voronin seals Reds win
Andrei Voronin's strike earned Liverpool a 1-0 first-leg
advantage in their UEFA Champions League qualifier in
Toulouse.
The Reds edged closer to reaching the group stages of the
tournament as Voronin netted the winner in the 43rd minute
when he calmly powered the ball past Toulouse keeper Nicolas
Douchez following a through ball from Peter Crouch.
The game was not highly entertaining as Liverpool enjoyed
the upper hand of play with Toulouse's best chance coming
from an overhead kick from Achille Emana just before
half-time but his effort fell wide.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard tried his hand at getting
on the score sheet as he saw two of his strikes soar over
the crossbar either side of the break.
Gerrard hit a 20-yard free-kick inches wide in the third
minute, but Liverpool were having to do a lot of running to
keep the hosts - who finished third in their domestic league
last season - at bay.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds land Hungarian keeper
Skysports.com can reveal that Liverpool have snapped up
Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
The 17-year-old has arrived on an initial one-year loan with
an option for a two-year contract, and joins fellow
countryman Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon at Anfield.
Gulacsi is a product of the Sandor Karoly Academy, which is
associated with MTK Budapest - Liverpool's Hungarian feeder
club, who they signed a co-operation deal with earlier this
year.
Gulacsi has been training with Liverpool for the last ten
days and has done enough to secure his move.
"I woke up and went to bed day by day with the thought that
I have the chance to became a Liverpool player," Gulacsi
told skysports.com.
"My agents informed me that other clubs from Europe and from
the Premiership had been watching me but my desire was to
come to Liverpool.
"In March, Pepe Reina sent me a pair of his signed keeper
gloves and I admit, that time it was only a very secret
dream of mine that one day I would train with him.
(Sky Sports)
Crouch and Voronin lead line for Reds
Peter Crouch and Andriy Voronin are both recalled to the
Liverpool side to start up front for the Reds in Toulouse
this afternoon.
Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt both begin on the bench as
Rafael Benitez rings the changes from the side which won at
Aston Villa on Saturday.
Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel both make their first
competitive starts for the club while Sami Hyypia is back in
the centre of defence alongside Jamie Carragher.
The Liverpool team for this afternoon's game, which kicks
off at 3.30pm, is:
(LFC Official Website)
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Benayoun
Gerrard
Mascherano
Babel
Voronin
Crouch
Subs:
Itandje
Agger
Riise
Torres
Alonso
Kuyt
Sissoko
Carragher rules out England comeback
Steve McClaren admitted today that he has failed to persuade
Jamie Carragher to return to international football.
The 29-year-old Liverpool defender had made 34 appearances
for his country but recently announced he no longer wished
to be considered for selection, reasoning that McClaren,
like Sven-Goran Eriksson before him, clearly ranks him below
John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King
and Wes Brown in the centre-back pecking order.
McClaren initially gave no public reaction to Carragher's
decision, but last week, when it became clear that injuries
will likely to prevent at least two of his preferred quintet
from taking part in the forthcoming matches against Germany,
Israel and Russia, the manager suddenly announced he would
attempt to coax Carragher back.
He travelled to Liverpool's training ground yesterday to
talk with the player in person, but announced today the
situation remains the same.
"I met Jamie on Monday and had a very good conversation but
unfortunately he's stayed with the decision to not be
involved with us," said McClaren. "We respect that, Jamie
has been a fantastic servant for England. I won't close the
door, who knows in the future."
(Guardian Unlimited
Terry could play against Pool
John Terry is in contention to make a first-team comeback
for Chelski at Liverpool on Sunday.
The England captain returned to full training on Tuesday
and, barring any setback in his recuperation from a knee
injury over the next four days, could make a surprise
appearance at Anfield this weekend.
With Didier Drogba set to start in tonight's match at
Reading, Chelski are nearing full strength. Michael Ballack
and Wayne Bridge are the only long-term absentees, while
Claude Makelele and Andriy Shevchenko have also returned to
training and are pushing for a recall.
(Football 365)
Mixed fortunes for young Reds
Liverpool's Under-18s endured mixed fortunes during the
Villareal youth tournament in Spain, but despite not winning
a match the Academy players can take a lot of heart from
their overall performances.
The Reds faced Real Madrid, Sevilla and host team Villarreal
in the four team competition and, despite losing three out
of four games, the team showed plenty of promise for the
season ahead and gave good accounts of themselves against
more experienced opposition.
Indeed, Liverpool had the youngest team on view in matches
that were played on a 30 minutes each way basis.
The young Reds were unlucky to lose their first match as
they were edged out 3-2 by Madrid. German starlet Marvin
Pourie and Steve Irwin were on target for Liverpool.
The Reds then lost their next match 1-0 to hosts Villareal
and also suffered defeat in their third match to Japanese
team Urawa Reds. However, they dominated their final game
against Sevilla but just couldn't find the net and had to
settle for a goalless draw.
(LFC Official Website) |
|
TUESDAY 14 |
Toulouse ready to face Liverpool
Toulouse defender Mauro Cetto believes his side's victory
over French champions Lyon at the weekend is the perfect
tonic ahead of their Champions League qualifying clash with
Liverpool.
Les Violets, who are playing in the Champions League for the
first time, were given little chance of making it into the
tournament's group stages when they were paired with the
Reds, one of Europe's heavyweight teams.
A 3-1 defeat to lowly Valenciennes on the opening day of the
Ligue 1 season appeared to give further momentum to the
notion that Liverpool would walk the third-round qualifying
double-header.
But confidence has returned to the Toulouse camp following
Saturday's
1-0 win over Lyon, the reigning six-time French
title-holders.
And centre-back Cetto is bullish ahead of the arrival of
Liverpool to the Stade Municipal tomorrow.
"We have prepared well for the match with the victory
against Lyon," said the defender, a summer recruit from
Nantes. "Now we are already looking forward to getting on
the pitch. We are all confident — the win has reassured us
after the match against Valenciennes."
(Ireland.com)
Benitez wants more Euro glory
When Liverpool resume Champions League combat again in
Toulouse on Wednesday, 85 days after the shattering blow of
losing last season's final in Athens, boss Rafael Benitez
will still be angry.
Benitez is still smarting over the 2-1 defeat by AC Milan,
and this time around he will have £40million plus of new
players to help him ease the pain of that defeat in Greece.
Benitez will shuffle his pack again in south-west France -
he has two men for every position and enough riches, he
claims, to go for everything
this term.
However, he still cannot get Athens out of his mind, so
Toulouse can expect a very demanding night in their own
Municipal stadium.
The Spaniard explained: "I am still not over that game in
Athens. Especially because we came so close to winning.
"I think about it all the time, how we could have won. Two
finals in three years was a fantastic achievement, but now I
want three finals in four years."
(PA Sport)
Gerrard the main man for Rush
Ian Rush says Steven Gerrard is still Liverpool's main man.
Despite Rafael Benitez splashing the cash during the
transfer window, Rush believes Steven Gerrard is still the
Reds' most important player.
"Liverpool could have spent hundreds of millions on new
signings during the summer, but it still wouldn't have
changed the identity of their most important player," said
the Liverpool legend.
"Steven Gerrard is the main reason why I believe Rafa
Benitez's side can compete for the title this season, and he
proved it against Aston Villa.
"He's a special talent, and I truly believe there isn't a
better central midfielder in the world.
"I'm sure Liverpool will have a better season because
Benitez has brought in players who can ensure Gerrard plays
in the middle far more.
"He's a great player on the right, a good player on the
left, and an effective player everywhere else he's used. But
in the centre, he's the best. That's the difference."
(LFC Online)
Shrews sign Reds starlet
Shrewsbury Town boss Gary Peters has added Liverpool
teenager Jimmy Ryan to his squad.
The 18-year-old midfielder joins the Shrews on a one-month
loan deal.
Ryan impressed Peters during pre-season training and has
been included in the squad for Tuesday's Carling Cup first
round clash with Colchester United.
The teenager has been signed because the Shrews have a
lengthy injury list that currently includes Colin Murdock,
Danny Hall and Darren Moss.
(Football UK)
Essien to miss Liverpool showdown
Jose Mourinho has lost Michael Essien from his Chelsea
midfield again because of a knee injury which will sideline
him for up to 10 days.
The Ghana international will miss Wednesday's trip to
Reading and Sunday's game at Liverpool after damaging
ligaments in the win against Birmingham.
He scored final goal of the 3-2 win against Steve Bruce's
side two days ago and looked a real force after being
restored to the Chelsea midfield.
Essien was one of Mourinho's key players last term but spent
much of it filling in at the back and the pace and power he
offers further forward
was missed.
(Daily Mail)
Rafa to continue rotating
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists he will continue to
rotate his squad this season.
The Anfield boss has received criticism from some quarters
for his policy of shuffling his Liverpool squad, but Benitez
is undeterred.
The Reds face Toulouse in the third qualifying round of the
UEFA Champions League on Wednesday and Peter Crouch, Yossi
Benayoun and Javier Mascherano are expected to play.
"In modern football you have to change players," Benitez
told the Daily Star. "It's not easy to keep the same team."
(Sky Sports)
Lyon express interest in Heinze
Lyon may join Liverpool in the race to sign Manchester
United defender Gabriel Heinze as they try to come to terms
with the loss of captain Cris for six months.
The Brazilian centre-back was carried off on a stretcher
during Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Toulouse after a clash with
Les Violets striker Johan Elmander.
The likes of Paris St Germain's Mario Yepes and Jean-Alain
Boumsong of Juventus have been linked with the French
champions as a replacement for Cris.
But Manchester United defender Heinze looks to be Lyon coach
Alain Perrin's ideal choice.
"He has the profile," the former Sochaux boss said of the
Argentina international, who can play at left-back or
centre-half.
"It is necessary to know if the player, who has spent a
large part of his career at left-back, really wants to play
regularly at centre-back."
(Ireland.com)
Rafa calls on rested Reds stars
Three of the four big names left out of Liverpool's
squad at Aston Villa were on the trip to Toulouse for the
Champions League third qualifier.
Peter Crouch, Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun were
included in the 18-man squad but Harry Kewell is still
carrying a slight groin injury.
Jermaine Pennant was the unlucky player left behind this
time, with French goalkeeper Charles Itandje included.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise,
Arbeloa, Babel, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Torres,
Voronin, Kuyt, Sissoko, Crouch, Benayoun, Hyypia, Itandje.
(TEAMtalk) |
|
MONDAY 13 |
Gerrard: My goal could be season’s best
Steven Gerrard today acclaimed his first goal of the season
as potentially the most important.
Gerrard’s match-winning free-kick handed Liverpool the win
they craved as they seek early momentum for an improved
Premiership campaign.
And the skipper says the celebrations which followed the 2-1
victory at Villa Park underlined how much it meant to all
the players to claim an elusive first day success – a feat
Rafa Benitez hadn’t enjoyed since arriving at Anfield.
“I was getting flashbacks to the Middlesbrough game two
years ago both from a personal and team point of view,” said
Gerrard.
“I had a load of chances to score, just like in that game,
and the one worry when all the celebrations died down is we
know we should have had the game won earlier.
“But the main thing is we did win and deserved it. The
performance was, at times, very good."
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez brushing off early title talk
Rafael Benitez has admitted that it’s too early to judge
if his team has transformed into genuine title contenders.
Liverpool secured their first opening-day three points since
winning at Villa Park five years ago, with victory on the
same ground on Saturday.
After waiting until December for his first Premier League
away win last season, Benitez was delighted to get off the
mark at the first time of asking on Saturday evening.
But he reckons whether this season follows a different
pattern to the previous campaign will be clearer after their
home game with Chelsea next Sunday.
“I have to see the difference when we play Chelsea or when
we play other top teams,” said Benitez. “Judging on one game
is not enough but it was important to see that I could
change players and improve.
“We showed we could play but you really need to see the team
after two or three months. For me, one game winning or
losing doesn't make that much difference."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Riise: Villa win shows we're a better team
John Arne Riise believes Steven Gerrard's dramatic late
winner at Villa Park on Saturday is a sign the Reds are
better equipped than ever to challenge for the Premier
League title.
"It was important to start the season well," Riise told
liverpoolfc.tv. "When they got the penalty and then scored
it I thought 'here we go again' as there were only six
minutes left.
"For us to come back and win the game shows that we are a
different team and better prepared this year. Hopefully we
can keep going from here now."
(LFC Official Website)
Torres impresses Kuyt
Fernando Torres impressed Dirk Kuyt on his Liverpool debut.
Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt led the line for Liverpool in
their first Premiership game of the new season on Saturday
and the Spaniard's performance impressed his strike partner.
"I don't think Fernando needs too many games. He is top
quality and with a bit more luck at Villa he would have
scored his first goal," said the Dutch international.
"I think myself and Fernando had a few chances and I thought
we looked good together.
"The team-work for that first goal was really good and we
just tried
to keep going."
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
