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SUNDAY 15 |
Hansen: How reds can push for glory
Alan Hansen has urged Liverpool to turn up the pressure on
leaders Man United by putting together a winning streak.
The Anfield legend believes the last-gasp win over
Portsmouth was a welcome boost for the Reds' title challenge
and insists they must keep picking up three points if they
are to take advantage of any slip-up.
"It's all about putting pressure on Manchester United now,"
he told
LFC Magazine.
"They responded to Liverpool's win over Portsmouth by
winning at West Ham the following day, but it was a very
tight game and could have ended in a draw.
"Liverpool have just got to keep winning and winning because
that will keep the pressure right on them.
"We've seen time and time again that things can change
dramatically on one bad result, so Liverpool have got to
keep putting the pressure on."
(LFC Official Website)
Torres named in Reds top 50 list
Fernando Torres has fired his way into the Times newspaper's
list of the 50 greatest Liverpool players.
The Spanish hot-shot comes in at 50th on the back of a
sensational first campaign with the club in which he
overtook Ruud van Nistelrooy to become the most prolific
foreigner ever in a debut season in England.
Other current first-team players in the countdown of what
the newspaper perceives to be our top 50 include Sami Hyypia
(46th), Jamie Carragher (9th) and Steven Gerrard (2nd),
while King Kenny Dalglish takes home the honours as the
number one red of all-time.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 14 |
Youngsters crash to heavy defeat
Liverpool's youngsters were on the wrong end of a 4-0
thumping by West Bromwich Albion in the Midlands on Saturday
afternoon.
Hughie McAuley's men were second best throughout the 90
minutes and conceded two goals in each half to crash to a
heavy defeat.
"It's unlike us to be as poor as we were today, but we paid
the price for making too many mistakes," McAuley told
Liverpoolfc.tv.
"Defensively we gave silly goals away and never really
looked a threat at the other end. West Brom were brighter
and more up for the game than we were, so full credit to
them. It was a bit of a hiding for our lads and we can't say
it wasn't deserved.
"There wasn't too much to shout about for us really. Joe
Kennedy and Thomas Ince did okay, but really we struggled
for any spark."
Liverpool: Hansen, Metcalfe, Kennedy, Wisdom, Buchtmann,
Kacaniklic, Cooper (Scott), Pepper, Roberts, Ince, Amoo.
(LFC Official Website)
Mascherano coy on future
When asked about his future, Liverpool midfielder Javier
Mascherano has refused to commit himself to The Reds.
Argentina captain Mascherano insists he is not aware of any
possible offer for him from Spanish clubs.
The untiring midfielder says he is focused on playing well
for Rafa Benitez's side, and he has set sights on upsetting
Premier League champions Manchester United.
But the former Corinthians star has stated he will see what
his options are open to him when the season is over.
“I have no idea if a Spanish team want me,” Mascherano told
As.
“I’m just focused on having a good season with Liverpool and
then we
will see.”
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa happy to have Insua back
Rafael Benitez is looking forward to welcoming Emiliano
Insua back into his first team plans after the Argentine
defender returned from international duty at the U20 South
American Championships.
Insua's Argentina finished at the foot of the final group
stage of the competition, missing out on a place at the FIFA
U20 World Cup for the first time in sixteen years.
Having established himself in the Reds first team before
heading off to Venezuela, Benitez is now keen for Insua to
pick up where he left off and stake a claim for the left
back slot in his starting eleven.
"He was playing really well before he went away," said
Benitez. "He played a few games for us and did a good job.
"He has played a lot of football with his country, but some
games were at left back and others at centre back. Defenders
don't run as far when they play in the middle, so we'll have
to have a look at him when he gets back to see if he needs a
little break.
"It's good to have him back, though. At this stage of the
season the more players you have competing for positions in
the team the better the situation is."
(LFC Official Website)
On this day: RIP Bob Paisley
Liverpool Football Club was left to mourn the passing of the
most successful football manager in its history on this day
in 1996.
The late, great Bob Paisley, a man who inherited Bill
Shankly's legacy and took it to new, unparalleled levels of
success, died at the age of 77 after a four-year battle with
Alzheimer's disease.
He led the club to six League titles, three European Cups,
one UEFA Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, three League Cups and five
Charity Shields in just nine years in charge.
His association with Liverpool began in 1939 when he joined
the club as a young wing-half, and stretched through to a
role as physio, coach, manager and eventually a director.
He retired from the board in 1992 due to ill health but will
go down in history as one of the club's most loyal servants
and was rightly immortalised in Reds folklore with the
creation of the Paisley Gateway on April 8, 1999.
A true Reds legend.
R.I.P. Bob
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 13 |
Molby: Agger is
eager to stay
Liverpool’s original Danish legend, Jan Molby, believes
countryman Daniel Agger can join him on the Reds roster of
greatness.
Agger spoke yesterday of his frustration at being overlooked
for the starting line-up this season.
But Molby, who knows the Danish star, declared: “I know
Daniel wants to stay in Liverpool and to become a real
Liverpool legend.
“He feels he’s at the best possible place to achieve his
footballing dreams.”
Molby made almost 300 appearances in an 11-year career at
Anfield, winning three league titles and two FA Cups.
Agger has made 71 appearances since arriving from Brondby in
January 2006, and Molby added: “Prior to his metatarsal
injury he was very, very good in terms of his defending and
forward play.
“He probably hasn’t reached that level again since his
return – maybe because he hasn’t been playing every week –
but potentially he is one of the best ball playing central
defenders in the world.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Critics of Liverpool boss
Benitez are missing the target
“The smug look on Rafa Benitez’s face said it all.
“No sign of relief that he had just dodged an embarrassing
defeat.
“No hint of contrition that he might have got it wrong ...
No glimmer of sympathy for Portsmouth ... Benitez gambled...
Benitez got away with it ... etc etc etc.”
I reckon you’ve got the idea. That was just one Monday
morning report of Liverpool’s last gasp win at Pompey. But
it was a common theme.
In case you’re unsure, Liverpool did actually win at
Portsmouth. They did go back to the top of the table.
But you’d never have guessed from the way Rafa Benitez was
mauled by the media afterwards.
The manner in which the Reds’ title prospects were dismissed
by TV pundit Tim Sherwood was bordering on the contemptuous.
Actually, forget the bordering on, it was contemptuous
bordering on insulting.
(David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)
Aurelio: Benitez only does
what is best for Liverpool
Fabio Aurelio and Rafa Benitez go back a long way.
So when the Reds boss is criticised for sending out
unfamiliar starting line-ups, the Brazilian smiles and
shrugs . . . because he’s seen it all before.
The intensity of the outcry at Benitez’s decision to leave
Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso on the subs bench
at Portsmouth last weekend was strange, especially as
Liverpool actually won the match.
The decision to use Aurelio in central midfield also raised
eyebrows – but a polished performance, capped by a crucial
goal, suggested the Reds boss got it right.
“The boss had problems in Spain, too, with people saying he
makes too many changes,” smiled Aurelio.
“But he is just the same now. I have been with him a long
time so I know his methods are like that. He always does
what is best for the team.
“He has a personality which doesn’t mind what people think,
which is good for the team.
(Liverpool Echo)
Dalglish dismisses 'nonsense' critics
Kenny Dalglish believes critics of Rafa Benitez's team
selection at Portsmouth are talking 'nonsense'.
The gaffer raised a few eyebrows with a 5-3-2 formation
without Xabi Alonso, Dirk Kuyt, Albert Riera and Fernando
Torres.
Despite the fact it took a late goal from Torres to wrap up
the points, Dalglish believes victory was fully deserved.
The Kop icon told LFC Magazine: "To be fair to Rafa Benitez,
in the face of yet more ridiculous nonsense, I think the
formation he chose to play at Fratton Park was excellent.
"Everyone looked happy with their role in the team and when
that happens you've always got a chance.
"The one thing people seem to be missing with Rafa's
selection is the effect it had on Portsmouth."
(LFC Official Website)
Reina wants more clean sheets
Pepe Reina says Liverpool need to match Man Utd's defensive
record.
The Mancs have now kept eleven clean sheets in a row in the
league and Reina says the Reds need to aim for something
similar if they're to maintain their title challenge.
"If you put a run together like United have then it will
give you a real chance of success - it is difficult, but we
know we can do that," said the keeper and three times golden
gloves winner.
"We went from the end of October to the middle of December
without conceding any goals. I think we will have to defend
like that again in the remainder of this season if we want
to compete for honours."
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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