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SATURDAY 15 |
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Reds can't afford Alves says Del Nido
Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido says he's forgotten
about Liverpool's interest in Daniel Alves.
Del Nido says the valuation of the player can't be met by
the Reds which he claims he's quite happy about.
He said: "I've already forgotten about it, because I don't
want to put him in the shop window.
"There was an offer but it in the end it didn't meet the
figure we wanted and there it stopped as it was out of their
reach.
"My personal view and hope is that it will end there but you
never know what can happen in the football world."
He added: "For me, Daniel as a person has been 10/10, better
still as a footballer and he is still as cheerful, polite
and friendly towards me as he always been."
(Kop Talk)
Bellamy: I hope that's the first of many
Craig Bellamy reflected on his first goal for the Reds
against Wrexham on Saturday and declared: "I hope that's the
first of many goals for me in a Liverpool shirt."
Bellamy netted early in the second half from Robbie Fowler's
pass as the Reds got their pre-season campaign off to a
winning start with a 2-0 victory at the Racecourse Ground.
Paul Anderson opened the scoring with a first half volley.
"It was nice to get a goal at the end of what has been an
amazing couple of weeks for me," said the Welsh striker.
(LFC Official Website)
Bellamy on target in debut
Craig Bellamy got the goal he desperately wanted on his
Liverpool debut.
The striker drove through on the left early in the second
half to send a left-footed effort wide of substitute
goalkeeper Michael Ingham.
It was a big day for Bellamy but also for Wrexham. Their
19-month battle to save the club is coming to a successful
end and they will pick up £100,000 from this match after
Liverpool waved their cut of the gate.
The game was delayed for 15 minutes to allow a near-capacity
11,335 crowd into the Racecourse Ground, and they saw
Liverpool cruise into the lead after six minutes.
Paul Anderson, star of the FA Youth Cup final victory, met a
John Arne Riise cross on the volley to crash the ball past
Michael Jones from 12 yards.
(Sporting Life)
Wrexham v Liverpool - CONFIRMED TEAM
Liverpool take on Wrexham in a pre-season friendly today
(3pm). The confirmed starting line-up is as follows:
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Finnan, Hobbs, Paletta, Roque, Anderson,
Guthrie, Zenden, Riise, Idrizaj, Bellamy.
SUBS: Threlfall, O'Donnell, Antwi, Martin, Diao, Hammill,
Smith, Fowler, Hyypia,
Pongolle, Peltier.
(Kop Talk)
Rafa wants 15 goals from Bellamy
Rafael Benitez expects Craig Bellamy to score at least 15
goals for the Reds this season.
Benitez is confident Bellamy will be a success at Liverpool
and so has set his new recruit a target of at least 15 goals
for the coming season.
"I'm going to put him under pressure and say that he can
score more than 15 goals for us," said the Liverpool
manager.
"I am convinced he can do that. When I say 'more' maybe I
mean 20, maybe 25, I don't know. But more than 15 because
he's a very good player and we can create a lot of chances.
He can score goals with the quality of our players.
"He can score goals himself but he can create opportunities
and assists so maybe he can be worth even more goals to us
in that way."
(LFC Online) |
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FRIDAY 14 |
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Gonzalez debut put back
Mark Gonzalez had to wait a year to become a Liverpool
player so it is no surprise his debut for the Anfield club
has been delayed.
The Chilean winger was finally awarded a work permit earlier
this month after 12 months of wrangling so he could complete
his £4million move from Albacete.
He was introduced to the media on Friday by boss Rafael
Benitez, who then revealed the 23 year-old had injured his
knee in training and would miss Sunday's friendly at
Wrexham.
Benitez was disappointed but the new boy will now have to
wait until next weekend's trip to Crewe for his first
appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
The Reds boss said: "Mark has been training really well and
I was really impressed. He's been scoring a lot of goals -
with his left foot, his right foot and his head, even I was
surprised. Then, unfortunately, at the end of the training
session today he felt something in his knee.
"It's not serious but he won't be playing at Wrexham. He
will play at Crewe
next Saturday."
(Sporting Life)
Bellamy: I have to work hard
Craig Bellamy accepts he will have to work hard
to make an impact at Liverpool, following his unveiling at
Anfield.
The Wales international has joined the FA Cup holders in a
£6 million deal from Blackburn Rovers and is delighted to
have signed for his boyhood heroes.
"The hard work starts now, we already have a strong squad
and to not only break in and be a hit here I have to work
extremely hard," Bellamy told Sky Sports News.
"I feel very fortunate playing for a club I supported as a
boy.
"It is a special honour and I hope I can make the most of
the opportunity.
"Rafael Benitez spoke to Mark Hughes and the fee was agreed.
We had a good chat, but he (Benitez) knew my feelings before
that anyway. He knew the inevitable was going to happen and
that was it."
(Sky Sports)
Bellamy so like Robbie
Craig Bellamy reminds his manager of an Anfield
legend - which is why Rafael Benitez believes the Welsh
striker can put his colourful reputation behind him and
prove a success at Liverpool.
Reds' fans will get their first sight of Bellamy in a
Liverpool shirt at Wrexham tomorrow - possibly alongside
Robbie Fowler.
And Benitez admits that he was reminded of Fowler when he
first sat with Bellamy.
"We spoke with him face to face and the response of the
player was fantastic. It was similar to when I was talking
to Robbie Fowler," he explained. "You could see he was a
Liverpool fan and you could see he was desperate to play for
us.
"I think this desire can be the difference between the
Bellamy that we knew in the past and the Bellamy that maybe
we will see in the future.
"When a player has some problems in his past it is a risk,
but from speaking to the player you can see he is more
mature now. I think he knows that this move is important for
him and he wants to be successful in a top side.
"This is the opportunity for him."
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa still searching for a right winger
Rafael Benitez says he is still hoping to sign a right
winger to improve the balance in his team but admits it
hasn't been an easy task finding the right player.
Without speculating on names, Benitez revealed he has been
in contact with one or two clubs regarding the availablity
of players but has so far been left frustrated in his
attempts to add a right winger to the squad.
"Everyone knows we are looking for a right winger and we are
talking with different players," confirmed the Reds manager.
"The problem is clubs know we need a right winger so they
put the price up on the player so maybe we will have to
wait. For sure I think we will have the player soon but it's
important to find the right player for us.
"Maybe we will also sign another striker if a good option
becomes available."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds to wear new Euro kit at Wrexham
The Reds will wear their new adidas European Away Kit when
they take on Wrexham tomorrow.
That particular kit will not be officially launched until
September 7th.
(Kop Talk)
No smoke call for football stadiums
A Campaign to make Goodison Park and Anfield smoke free has
been launched.
SmokeFree Liverpool's youth group D-MYST will campaign to
ask both stadia to ban smoking even in the outdoor sections.
They say a survey showed 70% of Liverpudlians would prefer
smoke-free football stadiums and have started a petition.
Gina McDaid from D-MYST said the campaign would also include
a roadshow on the subject.
She said: "It makes sense that a sporting stadium, in which
health and physical fitness are of extreme importance,
should be made 100% smoke free.
"It will ensure a healthy environment for employees,
spectators and sportsmen. It will make no sense for the rest
of the stadium to be smoke free - and then for people to
have to sit next to smokers in the stands.
"We hope that our campaign will show there is a public
demand for stubbing out smoking."
(Liverpool Echo)
City reject 'tapping-up' slur
Manchester City have defended themselves against allegations
from Bolton chairman Phil Gartside that they 'tapped up' new
signing Dietmar Hamann.
The German midfielder signed for City on Wednesday, ending a
bizarre 24 hours which saw him initially leave Liverpool for
Bolton before completing the Blues deal.
Having already informed Bolton he no longer wished to join
them, the Trotters felt they had little option other than to
let Hamann move - with City stumping up around £400,000
compensation - although Gartside was distinctly unimpressed
by the conduct of Hamann and City.
However, the Eastlands outfit have been quick to respond,
insisting their conduct was totally above board at all
times.
"It must have been a huge blow for Bolton to lose a player
of Dietmar Hamann's calibre," said City communications
director Paul Tyrrell.
"But we conducted ourselves in a proper manner."
(PA Sport)
Bolton chairman accuses City over Hamann
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside claims Dietmar Hamann was
"tapped up" by Manchester City before the former Germany
international changed his mind about a move to the Reebok
Stadium.
The 32-year-old Hamann completed a move to Eastlands this
week despite having signed a contract with Bolton following
his departure from Liverpool. City agreed to pay Bolton
£400,000 in compensation but Gartside remained angry.
"I feel very insulted and I think Bolton fans deserve better
that that," Gartside told Sky Sports News. "For someone like
Dietmar Hamann to have treated us the way he has, is
absolutely disgraceful."
Gartside believes City wrecked the deal - but admitted
neither he nor Bolton manager Sam Allardyce saw any point in
insisting Hamann stick to his contract.
"He must have been tapped up by Manchester City," Gartside
said. "There's something that's gone on - Dietmar and his
agent went into Liverpool and said the only club he wanted
to sign for was Bolton."
Asked if he would ask the Football Association to examine
the controversy, Gartside said: "There's no point."
(The Daily Mail)
Bolton ready to make bid for Traore
Bolton Wanderers are lining up a bid for Djimi Traore.
The out-of-favour left back has been told by manager Rafael
Benitez that he can leave for the right price in a bid to
generate more transfer funds.
(Daily Post)
Reds star set for France
Liverpool defender Carl Medjani is poised to complete a
switch to Ligue 2 side Lorient.
A statement from the Brittany club said the 21-year-old will
put pen-to-paper on a three-year contract on Friday.
The return to the player's native France would see Medjani
rejoin the side where he spent season 2004/05 on loan.
Medjani, who does not figure in Reds manager Rafa Benitez's
first team plans, spent the last campaign on loan at Metz.
(Sky Sports) |
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THURSDAY 13 |
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Liverpool call press conference
Liverpool Football Club will parade new signings Craig
Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez to the media tomorrow.
Most of the attention will be on the controversial Bellamy
who was snapped up this summer from Blackburn Rovers but
there will also be an opportunity for the media to rub
shoulders with Gonzalez who has finally been granted a work
permit.
(Kop Talk)
Public support swayed Cisse move
Marseille president Pape Diouf says a groundswell of public
support convinced him to sign Djibril Cisse on a season-long
loan from Liverpool.
The 24-year-old France international striker, currently
sidelined until October with a broken leg, formally
completed his move to the Ligue 1 side on Wednesday.
And Diouf is hoping the forward can make a rapid return to
action and secure a permanent deal with the Mediterranean
club.
"This is a one-year loan with view to a permanent move,"
said Diouf.
"We are very happy to have signed Cisse because we responded
to popular demand. People were asking me about him everyday.
"It was a tough challenge because it's never easy to get
French internationals who play abroad.
"We eventually sealed the deal and Cisse will be with us for
one season at least.
"He always wanted to join Marseille and I would also like to
thank the Liverpool manager (Rafael Benitez) who did not
make things complicated."
(TEAMtalk)
Bellamy eyes Wrexham Reds debut
Liverpool's new £6m striker Craig Bellamy could make his
debut in Saturday's friendly at Wrexham.
Reds manager Rafael Benitez suggested that the Welsh
international would play at the Racecourse, and said his
signing paved the way for Djibril Cisse's exit.
"We wanted more pace, a different sort of striker who would
score a different type of goal, Bellamy will give us that,"
said Benitez.
"His arrival made it hard for Cisse to get matches to regain
his fitness."
(BBC Sport Online)
Former Red joins Southport
Mike Marsh has joined the coaching staff at Conference club
Southport.
The former Liverpool midfielder scored six goals in 100
games for the Reds from 1989 to 1993. He then went on to
play for West Ham, Coventry City, Galatasaray and Southend
United.
He has since been a regular in Liverpool's successful
Masters 6-a-Side legends side.
(LFC Online)
Benitez happy with big season build up
Liverpool kick off their pre-season programme at Wrexham on
Saturday - 48 hours after they started their competitive
programme last summer.
And manager Rafa Benitez believes his side will be much
better prepared for the rigours of a long English season as
a result.
"It's much better for us this time," he said.
"We can prepare for the whole season now. Pre-season is
really important and in England it is maybe more important
when you play a lot of games throughout the season, often
twice a week."
(Liverpool Echo)
Hamann sad to leave
Didi Hamann has admitted it was tough to leave Liverpool.
Hamann has joined Man City on a two year contract but the
German midfielder has admitted it was a real wrench leaving
Liverpool after seven successful seasons with the club.
"I had one year left at Liverpool but it was the right time
to move. The manager told me I was not going to play as many
games as last season," said 'The Kaiser.'
"Given that I did not play as much as I would have liked
then, it was not an option to stay. But of course it is a
wrench to leave Liverpool. I had a great time there and some
successful years."
(LFC Online)
Aurelio keen on Alves arrival
Liverpool new-boy Fabio Aurelio says Daniel Alves would be a
'great addition' to the squad, if The Reds can broker a deal
for the Sevilla full back.
The Brazilian has been targeted by Rafa Benitez as the
Anfield chief looks to reinforce his right side, but the two
clubs are currently failing to come to a compromise over a
transfer fee.
However Aurelio, himself a new signing after arriving from
Valencia, believes it is imperative that Liverpool land his
compatriot from the Uefa Cup winners.
Speaking at a press conference where he was unveiled as a
Liverpool player along with fellow new signing Gabriel
Paletta, the 26-year-old spoke glowingly of Alves and the
impact he could have for the FA Cup winners.
"I've seen Daniel play in Spain and he's a fast,
attack-minded full back and he would be a great addition to
the Liverpool squad," said Aurelio in The Guardian.
"It would be a huge positive for Liverpool if he were to
come here too."
(Sky Sports)
Two weeks to save new LFC stadium
Liverpool FC plans to build a new stadium face collapse if
they do not come up with funding within two weeks.
Club executives must prove they have the financial backing
and a timetable for construction in place by a crucial
meeting on July 27 or £9m of European funding will be
withdrawn.
It would almost certainly spell the end of the Stanley Park
plans in the near future.
Contingency plans have been drawn up to make sure the cash
earmarked for the scheme will be used on other regeneration
projects if the club cannot find the finance.
(Daily Post)
Sami to help out Liverpool starlets
Liverpool fans will get their first chance to see Craig
Bellamy and Argentinian defender Gabriel Paletta in
Saturday's friendly at Wrexham.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez will be asking veteran centre-back
Sami Hyypia to help ease in the new wave of youngsters who
might eventually ease him out of the line-up.
Paletta, 20, and Danish defender Daniel Agger can both
expect spells alongside Hyypia at the Racecourse Ground,
where Bellamy will also make his bow, fittingly in the
country of his birth.
Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez should also get a run-out, but
Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio has a minor leg injury and
could be held back until the following weekend's trip
to Crewe.
(TEAMtalk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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