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SATURDAY 15 |
Liverpool set to triple
wages of Mascherano
Javier Mascherano will be handed a triple-your-money
contract as Liverpool look to keep the Argentina captain out
of the clutches
of Barcelona.
Anfield boss Rafa Benitez has revealed that he wants talks
about a new £90,000-a-week deal to begin immediately after
having a number of private meetings with Mascherano.
Mascherano wants a pay deal to reflect his value in the
transfer market – and Benitez has told Liverpool’s owners
that they must now bring him much closer to £120,000-a-week
top earners like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Benitez said: “I think now is the time to speak to Javier
about a new contract. He still has a lot of time on the
contract he signed, but I told him that once he came home
from the national team then we would talk again.
“Mascherano became unsettled and I had to sit him down to
explain that we didn’t want to sell him.
“I can understand why he wanted to listen to Barcelona
because they are a top side, a club who won three titles
last year. It was not an easy time for him.
“But he knew from the first day that we would not sell him.
He is an important player for us."
(Daily Mirror)
Rafa fluent in changing
face of Reds squad
When asked how he was coping with the prospect of heading
into his sixth season as Liverpool manager, a wry smile
spread across Rafael Benitez’s face.
“I’m really disappointed,” says the Spaniard. “Why? Because
I haven’t improved my English enough!”
If a grasp of the lingo hasn’t overly altered since Benitez
assumed charge back in the summer of 2004, then practically
everything else has
at Anfield.
The Liverpool manager returns to the scene of where his
Premier League career started tomorrow when he takes his
side to Tottenham.
And a glimpse of the starting line-up five years ago
highlights the huge change Benitez has overseen during his
tenure.
Only Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher remain from the 16
that were involved at White Hart Lane that afternoon and,
with both battling against injury, it is conceivable the
team tomorrow could include no players from that opening
fixture.
That rate of change, though, has slowed considerably this
summer, with the only significant incomings being Glen
Johnson and Alberto Aquilani, the latter of which is not
expected to be fit until October.
(Daily Post)
Aquilani keen for success with Liverpool
New Liverpool signing Alberto Aquilani knows all about the
club's proud history and wants to bring more riches to
Anfield.
The midfielder was born a few months after his hometown team
Roma lost a penalty shoot-out to Joe Fagan's side in the
1984 European Cup final.
Alan Kennedy scored the winner - on their opponents ground
as well - to bring the trophy back to Anfield.
While he was celebrating, Bruno Conti was inconsolable after
sending his spot-kick over the bar for the home side.
Aquilani, who is looking forward to playing in the Premier
League after arriving from Roma, said: "You cannot ignore
the huge past of this club.
"I grew up in Rome and knew about the final between Roma and
Liverpool. It was a game I became very much aware of.
"Bruno Conti talked to me a lot about it, especially his big
mistake.
"I knew I would only leave Roma for a club such as
Liverpool. I hope to do the shirt proud and help them win
more honours."
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa: Reds don't need big buys
Rafa Benitez insists his Liverpool squad does not need any
more big-money acquisitions ahead of the start of the
Premier League season.
The Reds boss has been relatively quiet in the transfer
market this summer, with Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani
the only notable arrivals.
With funds tight at Anfield, Benitez always knew he was
going to have to adopt a cautious approach in identifying
fresh faces.
He is, however, happy with the squad he has at his disposal
and claims high-profile singings are no guarantee of
success.
"To bring in a big, big name, you often have to change
everything. It was the same situation when we brought in
Robbie Keane," said the Spaniard.
"People were saying 'but Steven Gerrard and (Fernando)
Torres are doing really well,' even though in the end, we
needed to change things because they were injured.
"We have signed the players we needed and I don't think we
are short in attack. David Ngog is a player with quality,
hopefully he can bring something.
"On Wednesday Ryan Babel was doing really well for Holland
and don't forget he's a striker. Dirk Kuyt is another and so
is Andriy Voronin. We have to adapt to our situation and
needed to improve in other areas."
(TEAMtalk)
San Jose leaves
Mikel San Jose has joined Athletico Bilbao on loan.
The reserve team defender, who has made a few first team
appearances over pre-season, has signed a season long loan
deal with La Liga side Athletico Bilbao.
(LFC Online)
Rafa questions fixtures
Manager Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool have been offered
a raw deal when it comes to opening-day fixtures.
The Spaniard's side hit the road on Sunday and face
Tottenham at White Hart Lane after last year making a trip
to Sunderland in their first game.
Benitez said: "It would be interesting to see how the
fixtures are done because every year we seem to have a
difficult away game."
(Teletext) |
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FRIDAY 14 |
Benitez has Mascherano trust
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez remains confident midfielder
Javier Mascherano is completely committed ahead of a Premier
League
title challenge.
The Argentina international was a summer target of European
champions Barcelona and talks took place regarding a
possible move to
the Camp Nou.
Benitez resisted the urge to sell, especially in the wake of
Xabi Alonso's £30million switch to Real Madrid, and now
believes Mascherano is ready for battle with Liverpool.
The Reds boss also feels that the 25-year-old is over the
disappointment of being denied the opportunity to become a
club colleague of international team-mate and Barca star
Lionel Messi.
(Sky Sports)
Torres pens new Liverpool deal
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has signed a new contract,
agreed last season, which is understood to put him on
£110,000 a week.
Liverpool loudly trumpeted that agreement in May, and the
new deal includes a one-year extension option that could
keep Torres at Anfield until 2014.
The 25-year-old Spaniard, who is expected to recover from an
ankle injury to play at Spurs on Sunday, is understood to
have seen his wages rise from £70,000 a week to £110,000
under the new agreement.
Under the terms of his original deal, Torres had the option
of having his wages reviewed this summer and Liverpool have
been quick to make sure there is no hint of a problem, aware
that Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have
reportedly shown interest in the player.
Manager Rafael Benitez said: "Fernando is one of the best
strikers in the game and, at his age, can only get better.
"Every major side would want him in their team, but he has
shown how much he wants to achieve success at Liverpool by
committing his future to the club. He's a special talent,
but still has the hunger to improve
his game."
(Press Association Sport)
Aquilani given squad number
Alberto Aquilani will wear the number 4 shirt.
Liverpool's £20m Summer signing has been given Sami Hyypia's
old squad number after the Finn left for Bayer Leverkusen.
(LFC Online)
Reds sweat on skipper for Spurs trip
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will monitor Steven Gerrard's
fitness ahead of the Premier League opener at Tottenham on
Sunday (kick-off 4pm).
Gerrard sat out England's draw against Holland in midweek
after suffering a groin injury.
Central defenders Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel could
both be available at White Hart Lane after ankle and
hamstring problems respectively.
Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and new signing Alberto Aquilani
are sidelined through injury.
Reds (from): Reina, Johnson, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel,
Ayala, Benayoun, Lucas, Gerrard, Mascherano, Riera, Kuyt,
Torres, Babel, Cavalieri, Degen, Dossena, Ngog, Plessis,
Voronin, San Jose.
(TEAMtalk)
Hansen: I believe that this
will be Liverpool's year
Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has backed his old club to win
the Premier League this season. Hansen believes Liverpool
will pip Manchester United to the title, who he suggested
will struggle in the absence of Ronaldo.
Hansen told the BBC: “I actually do not see United winning
the title this year. Ronaldo just won too many games for
them.”
“I believe that this will be Liverpool's year.”
“Draws at home against lesser teams cost Liverpool last
season, but I think manager Rafael Benitez has learned how
to play against them.”
“Instead of waiting to see what they will do, he has gone
for what Liverpool fans expect which is to try to hem these
teams in and batter them.”
“It was a style of play that started when they thrashed Real
Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League and continued from
there.”
“It was great to see, and I can see it bringing the title
back to Anfield for the first time in 20 years this season.”
(sport.co.uk) |
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THURSDAY 13 |
Aquilani: I am not like Alonso
Liverpool new boy Alberto Aquilani insists he does not want
to be compared to Xabi Alonso at Anfield.
Aquilani has been brought in from Roma to help fill the void
left by Alonso's departure to Real Madrid.
The Italian international, who will miss the start of the
season as he recovers from ankle surgery, says he is not a
direct replacement for Alonso as he has a different style of
play than the Spaniard.
"He was a very important player at this club," said Aquilani
as he was unveiled at Anfield.
"But I am not his natural substitute as I do not have the
same characteristics as him.
"I have a different style in that I like to move around and
not stay in the same place."
Aquilani is not expected to make his debut for Liverpool
until October because of his injury, but the midfielder is
confident of making a speedy return as the Reds medical
staff have got to the root of the injury.
"At Roma my worries were linked with injury. But when I came
to Liverpool, the doctor highlighted exactly the problem I
have,"
added Aquilani.
"We now have a very good picture and I hope it will be
solved so that I will not be absent again.
"It is a shame I cannot play straight away but it is
important to get better, then play well. I am focusing on
that."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa: Gerrard could miss Lane clash
Steven Gerrard remains doubtful for Liverpool's Premier
League game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday
because of
a groin injury.
Manager Rafael Benitez is closely monitoring the
midfielder's progress after he was withdrawn from the
England squad because of the problem.
In his abscence England drew 2-2 with Holland on Wednesday
night
in a friendly.
Benitez said: "I am not sure about Steven. I was really
pleased he was pulled out of the squad as a precaution.
"You could see there were six substitutions in the game, so
Fabio Capello was doing great for the players.
"As our game is on the Sunday, then maybe Steven will have a
chance. If it was on Saturday it would be more difficult."
(TEAMtalk)
Riera dedicates goal to former team-mate
Albert Riera dedicated his goal last night to Daniel Jarque.
Riera scored the winner for Spain against Macedonia last
night and after the game dedicated his goal to his former
Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque, who died last week.
"My goal is for Dani, for his family, and for everyone
associated with Espanyol," said the Liverpool winger.
"It was a goal that meant a lot, over and above the result.
For me it was very important due to the desire that I had to
score in this game. I can assure that this goal came from
the soul.
"I wasn't only thinking [about scoring], but that's that I
was hoping for. I've thought a lot about Dani and about
scoring a goal for him."
(LFC Online)
Skrtel fit
Martin Skrtel has been declared fit.
The Slovakian defender has been out since picking up a
hamstring injury in last month's pre-season friendly against
Thailand. However, he has given Rafael Benitez a boost by
returning to fitness in time for the first league game of
the season on Sunday.
Skrtel played in a friendly against Oldham at the Academy
yesterday, which the Reds won 2-0 thanks to goals from Lucas
Levia and Daniel Ayala, and came through the game without
any problems.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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