Red News                                            

 


AUGUST          2009
13 14 15

 

        
 

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)
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)
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)

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