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SUNDAY 15 |
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Agger will shine, says former coach
The former coach of Daniel Agger insists Liverpool have
snapped up a real bargain with the signing of the talented
defender.
The Reds completed the £5.8million transfer of the Danish
ace from Brondby last week and he enjoyed his first taste of
Anfield when he watched the victory over Tottenham from the
director's box.
But Brondby's head of player development Tom Koehlert has no
doubts he will impress Liverpool fans - and has even
compared him to the great Franz Beckenbauer
"Daniel has a unique ability to remain cool under pressure.
He is ice-cold and exceptionally good at reading the game,"
he told Liverpool's official website.
"I haven't seen anyone play the ball so precisely with their
left foot since Franz Beckenbauer.
"Liverpool resembles Brondby in a number of ways and I'm
sure he'll have no problem in settling in."
(TEAMtalk)
Carragher praises revitalised Kewell
Jamie Carragher is delighted to see a fully-fit Harry Kewell
finally show what he can do in a Liverpool shirt.
"He'd had a lot of stick. But he shouldn't take any
criticism for the stuff in Istanbul for coming off in the
Champions League final," said the Liverpool defender.
"He can add a lot to us. You only have to look at the
England team to know it is difficult to find good quality
left-sided players.
"The way he has been playing for us recently and the way he
played at Leeds scoring and creating, shows he can be one of
the best in Europe on the left.
"Harry believes that when he is fit - and that hasn't
happened for a lot of the time he has been here - he can do
some damage.
"At the moment he is not quite 100 percent and he's playing
this well. With more games and more fitness he will be even
better."
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 14 |
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Jol praises Spurs display
Tottenham boss Martin Jol praised his side's display against
Liverpool - but admitted they could not have stopped Harry
Kewell's wondrous winner.
Jol said his side had played well against The Reds and had
fancied their chances of a rare win at Anfield going into
the game.
"It is hard to stop a goal like that," admitted Jol.
"We worked hard and played well and apart from one chance
that Peter Crouch had in the first half, we were not really
in much trouble."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa full of praise for goal hero Kewell
Rafael Benitez was full of praise for Harry Kewell as his
stunning winner gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Tottenham
Hotspur and said he deserved it for his hard work returning
to fitness.
Benitez said: "If you want to win a game 1-0 then that is
the kind of goal you want to score. For Harry it was
important to score in front of the Kop after his problems
last season and it was the perfect finish. He deserved it
and it was amazing to see Harry score the goal he is capable
of at the Kop."
(LFC Official Website)
Kewell stunner sinks Spurs
Harry Kewell signalled his continuing resurgence with an
imperious volley proving enough to give Liverpool a 1-0 win
over Tottenham at Anfield.
A high quality match was aptly settled with a moment of
sublime individual brilliance from the Australian, who
continues to suggest he can finally produce the goods for
The Reds after his lengthy injury problems.
Kewell's first goal in 13 months was well worth the wait as
his second half screamer was good enough to win any match,
and it gave Liverpool their eighth straight win at home to
move them to within a point of second-placed Manchester
United with two games in hand.(Sky Sports)
Fowler scores against sorry United
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler scored Manchester City's
third goal against Manchester United who were turned over
3-1 this afternoon in the Premiership.
The results means that United are 2nd on 45 points having
played 22 games. Liverpool have played 19 (before the Spurs
game) and are on 41 points.
(Kop Talk)
Liverpool v Spurs - confirmed teams
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Riise, Carragher, Hyypia, Alonso,
Gerrard, Sissoko, Kewell, Crouch, Morientes.
SUBS: Carson, Kromkamp, Pongolle, Cisse, Warnock.
SPURS: Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, King, Lee, Tainio, Jenas,
Carrick, Davids, Mido, Keane.
SUBS: Cerny (GK), Defoe, Lennon, Brown, Gardner.
(Kop Talk)
Thommo: We should have signed Spurs ace
Former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson
has revealed that Spurs defender Michael Dawson was a player
that Gerard Houllier was looking at signing.
The highly-rated Dawson was at Nottingham Forest at the time
and was keen on a move to Liverpool but he ended up at White
Hart Lane instead when the money wasn't forthcoming.
Speaking today, Thommo said: "Dawson was probably one of the
last things. He was a player we fancied.
"I think we'd have got him at the time for about £4million.
He's a good English player.
"People were watching him. He is a good defender and he
enjoys defending.
"He's going to be a big talent and he's one who really
should have been looked at (signed)."
(Kop Talk) |
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FRIDAY 13 |
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Jol writes off Reds' hopes
Tottenham Hotspur boss Martin Jol has played down
Liverpool's chances of landing the Premiership title this
season.
The Reds are currently in a purple patch of form, but Spurs'
Dutch tactician does not believe they will trouble Chelsea.
The Blues are 17 points clear of Rafa Benitez's charges,
although the Merseysiders have two games in hand over the
league leaders.
While Jol acknowledges Liverpool are having an excellent
campaign, Chelsea will not drop enough points for them to
close the gap.
"Liverpool can't win the title," explained Jol.
"They will do well this season but Chelsea will drop fewer
points than Liverpool and the gap is already so big that I
don't see Chelsea losing three or four games.
"If they do lose four games, Liverpool have got to win
everything and that is impossible."
(Sky Sports)
Hansen set for Anfield
Liverpool have beaten off Arsenal and Tottenham to Danish
youngster Martin Hansen.
All three Premiership clubs had been tracking the Brondby
teenager after hearing rave reviews on the youngster.
Hansen is highly rated at Brondby and he is Denmark's
Under-16 goalkeeper.
The talented goalkeeper revealed Liverpool's behaviour
towards him made him choose Anfield ahead of Arsenal and
Spurs.
"I chose Liverpool because the people at the club were the
most human and most caring towards me," Hansen told DR
Sport.
Hansen is due to make the move to Merseyside at the end of
the season and he is Liverpool's second signing of the week
from Brondby following the arrival of Daniel Agger.(Sky
Sports)
Benitez is top boss again
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has won his second
successive Barclays Premiership Manager of the Month award
after a successful December.
Benitez's Reds side maintained a 100% record throughout the
last month of 2005 to extend their winning Premiership run
to 10 matches.
Benitez is the second successive back-to-back winner after
Wigan's Paul Jewell scooped the prize in September and
October.
(TEAMtalk)
Dudek: I have nothing but respect for Rafa
Jerzy Dudek has reacted angrily to morning newspaper claims
that he has criticised manager Rafael Benitez by declaring:
"I have nothing but respect for the boss."
The Liverpool goalkeeper is unhappy with claims that he has
launched a scathing attack on the Reds' boss and, although
he admits he is frustrated not to be playing at the moment,
he is furious with suggestions that he never wants to play
for the club again.
"I was very unhappy to read the stories about me in today's
newspapers," said Dudek. "I did not say those things and
have sat down with the manager and told him that.
"I have a great deal of respect for Rafa Benitez and have
learnt more from him in the past 18 months than from any
other manager in my career. You do not insult somebody you
respect.
"It's crazy when people claim I don't want to play for
Liverpool anymore. This is a great club with fantastic
supporters, so why would I not want to be involved?
"Like any other footballer I want to play regularly. I have
become frustrated at my current situation, but I am a
professional and will continue to work as hard as I can in
training and do my best for Liverpool Football club."
(LFC Official Website)
Morientes ready to return
Fernando Morientes is expected to be back in the Liverpool
squad for the Premiership visit of Tottenham after
recovering from a knee injury which has kept him out of the
last three matches.
Boss Rafael Benitez now only has winger Bolo Zenden as a
long-term injury problem as the Dutchman recovers from knee
surgery.
Goalkeeper Jose Reina, rested for the FA Cup win at Luton,
is expected to return in place of Scott Carson, Jan Kromkamp
should figure in a home squad for the first time but new-boy
Daniel Agger is not expected to feature as he is lacking
match fitness.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise,
Warnock, Traore, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Alonso,
Sissoko, Kewell, Cisse, Morientes, Sinama Pongolle, Crouch,
Kromkamp, Agger, Carson.
(TEAMtalk)
Sissoko told to calm down
Rafa Benitezhas spoke of his determination to cure Momo
Sissoko's 'yellow fever' following the midfielder's
Premiership booking spree.
Sissoko picked up his seventh caution of the campaign
against Luton last week. The Mali international has also
been red-carded during a debut season which has included two
suspensions already.
Benitez has defended his young midfielder from accusations
he's over-aggressive, but admits there are adjustments he
must make to his game to avoid further bans.
"He will learn. The problem for him at the moment is
everything's new," said Benitez.
"It's a new club, a new style of football and a new
language. He just needs to analyse the situation a bit more.
I'm very happy with him since he joined because he has
contributed a lot. The positives are greater than the
negatives."
Privately, Benitez has spent time with Sissoko this week,
advising him against too many reckless challenges.
"I prefer to have a player with high energy rather than
someone who is calm. He is the kind of player we've been
missing.
"We are working with him and we are always talking to him
about things he can learn."
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa to go with Defoe flow
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will launch a
summer bid for striker Jermain Defoe - but has warned
Tottenham he will not pay "crazy money".
Doubts over Djibril Cisse's long-term future at Anfield
refuse to go away, and Benitez is believed to have targeted
a summer swoop for Defoe, who he believes can fill the
vacuum not plugged since Michael Owen's exit to Real Madrid.
The Spaniard will not make a bid in January's transfer
window as he feels clubs demand "very big money" - but he is
prepared to get his man on board for next season's glory
charge.
Defoe - rated in the £10million bracket - is currently third
choice in the striker pecking order at White Hart Lane, with
Robbie Keane and Egyptian hitman Mido ahead of him.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez seeks vital victories
Liverpool face Tottenham at Anfield on Saturday for the
start of a series of fixtures which could determine where
they finish this season.
Rafael Benitez's side are 10 points and three places better
off this term than they were at the same stage last season,
and a win against fourth-placed Spurs will open up a
four-point gap on Martin Jol's men.
In effect, Liverpool can move a step closer to the major
objective for the season of securing Champions League
football without the need of qualifying rounds and the
extremes of winning the tournament.
Benitez knows good results now against Liverpool's main
rivals for a Champions League spot will stand them in good
stead for a strong end-of-season challenge.
He said: "The games we have coming up are all going to be
really important for us. We're towards the top of the table
at the moment and we want to stay there."
(Sporting Life)
Dudek set to pay price for attack
Jerzy Dudek is facing a club fine following an astonishing
attack on Rafa Benitez today.
Dudek has slammed the Reds for slapping a £3m price tag on
him. In fact, Benitez wants £4m for the keeper.
The Polish keeper is extensively quoted attacking the
Liverpool boss, but Benitez will hold firm in his
determination to attract the right price for the stopper.
It's clear Dudek's latest quotes - engineered by his
representatives - are designed to make his position at the
club untenable. Interviews of this kind usually incur a fine
of two weeks' wages.
Benitez won't be fooled into allowing the Pole to leave on
the cheap. Although Pepe Reina is the new number one, the
Spanish boss feels Dudek's reputation in Europe is
justifiably high and interested clubs should get real about
his value.
(Liverpool Echo)
Dudek vows never to play for Benitez again
Jerzy Dudek last night talked of his "frustration" with the
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez after the club placed a £3m
transfer price on the goalkeeper.
Dudek, 33, believes that such a high price will rule out a
quick exit from Anfield, where his current third-choice
status threatens his goalkeeping place in the Poland World
Cup team. Dudek said that the high price was "the latest lot
of rubbish from Benitez" and he vowed never to play for the
club again.
"Even if he [Benitez] wants me to play me in a Liverpool
match, I don't want to play for this club any more," Dudek
said. "I can't see any point talking further with Benitez.
It's a waste of time. I have decided to leave Liverpool at
whatever cost and I won't change my mind. Benitez just makes
the frustration deeper."
He said that he did not travel to the FA Cup match against
Luton Town last Saturday "to make it clear to Benitez I'm
not interested in being the club's second-choice keeper".
(The Independent)
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Thor Zakariassen
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