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TUESDAY 15 |
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Kirkland return put off
Loaned out Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland won't return
to action at the weekend.
West Brom assistant manager Nigel Pearson said the
injury-prone 'keeper won't be rushed back against Everton
which means his deputy Tomasz Kuszczak will continue to
cover.
Kirkland has missed the last three games after suffering a
bruised kidney in last month's defeat at Bolton.
(Kop Talk)
Benfica bust-up for Reds target
Liverpool target Simao Sabrosa has angered his Benfica
bosses by saying he wants a move to a more competitive
league.
And Anfield is still believed to be the Portuguese winger's
preferred destination.
Sabrosa came within hours of a £10m move to Liverpool last
summer. Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira blocked the
transfer as the player prepared to board a flight to
England, after Benfica fans had reacted angrily to the
proposed deal.
But Sabrosa has broken club rules by giving an interview to
a cable TV network in Portugal and this may accelerate his
departure.
He has been fined for his comments, just days after club
president Vieira said: "Some day, Benfica will have to say
farewell to Simao. We have a gentleman's agreement."
(Liverpool Echo)
Kraft ready to splash the cash
American 'big cheese' Robert Kraft is ready to invest £100m
in Liverpool, according to press reports.
According to today's Mirror...
Kraft was linked with Liverpool a year ago after the club's
pursuit of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra collapsed.
The sticking point was that Moores was only interested in
selling a stake and retaining control.
Kraft dismissed that idea insisting that he would only
invest if he had a major say in the running of the club.
Now though, Liverpool are looking for serious investment
after plans to build a new 60,000 all-seater stadium in
Anfield faltered because of lack of funds.
(LFC Online) |
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MONDAY 14 |
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Young Reds suffer heavy defeat
Liverpool under-18s suffered their second successive defeat
on Saturday when they crashed to an 4-0 loss at the hands of
Manchester United.
The young Reds found themselves three down after just 24
minutes at Carrington and failed to recover.
United netted their fourth and final goal on the hour mark
and have now moved within a point of second-placed Liverpool
in the Academy Group C League table.
(LFC Official Website)
Kewell keen to reward Rafa's faith
Harry Kewell is determined to repay the faith shown in him
by Rafael Benitez.
Kewell played the full 90 minutes for Australia in their 1-0
defeat to Uruguay and Saturday and the Liverpool midfielder
is hoping his run of injuries is now over and he can repay
Rafa Benitez for the faith he has shown in him.
"The lowest point was definitely May 25th. The Champions
League final. Walking off the pitch. I was feeling good. I
thought I was fighting fit but as soon as I stuck my leg out
my whole adductor snapped. I felt it go and I looked down
and I saw a big lump down there. I couldn't move," says
Kewell.
"To be on the biggest stage for club football and to have to
come off after 20 minutes was horrible. I couldn't really
hear the booing but if people were doing that, then each to
their own. If they knew the truth about the injury maybe
they would think twice about it. People can say what they
like about me.
"My family and friends were brilliant while I was injured.
My wife has been fantastic because she has been the one who
has had to deal with me for the last year and a bit.
"The manager Rafael Benitez has been brilliant too. To show
confidence in me, by starting me in the Champions League
final, when everyone was turning around and saying, 'What
are you doing?', showed great confidence. I really respect
that and I need to repay him."
(LFC Online)
Liverpool on Berbatov alert
Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly ready to offload star
striker Dimitar Berbatov, which could have alerted European
champions Liverpool.
The Bulgarian is one of Bayer's biggest assets, but the club
could be looking to sell in order to escape a looming
financial crisis.
The news will alert several European clubs, including
Liverpool, who made enquiries about the striker during the
summer when they were desperately searching for a
goalscorer.
The Bulgarian has previously expressed an interest in
playing in The Premiership, and with Liverpool's forward
line misfiring, a move to Anfield could be on the cards.
(Sky Sports)
Spain hero hails Benitez
Spain winger Luis Garcia believes Liverpool coach
Rafael Benitez and the toughness of the Premier League are
the reasons for his heroic World Cup play-off performance on
Saturday night.
He told AS: "The coach knows perfectly how I can play and he
said 'go out and do what you do with Liverpool every
weekend.'
"Thank God it all worked out well, because if it hadn't we
would be seeing problems everywhere."
Luis Garcia explained that playing on the wing was not his
favourite role, insisting his new position was down to
Rafael Benitez's decision to play him in there in the
Premier League.
"For my characteristics as a player, I prefer to play as a
second forward so I can be close to the penalty area and
find space to run into."
"However, Benitez puts me on the right, so that I can take
advantage of cutting inside: I am more left than
right-footed," he said.
(Sporting Life)
Kraft "interested" in Reds investment
American tycoon Robert Kraft has admitted investing in
Liverpool is a possibility.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry travelled to the United
States last week as a guest of the Kraft family, who own NFL
team New England Patriots. Parry“s visit was to observe the
match-day operation of the Gillette stadium, although the
Kraft family have also been linked with buying a stake in
Liverpool.
"All I can say about Liverpool is it“s a great brand and
it“s something our family respects a lot," Kraft told BBC
Radio Five Live. "We“re happy to have them come visit us."
(The Professional Footballers' Association)
Dudek considers leaving Liverpool
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek says he will look for a new
club in the transfer window if he does not regain his place
from Jose Reina at Anfield.
The Polish international, 32, said: "I need to play ahead of
the World Cup as to miss out would be disastrous.
"I need to speak to Rafa Benitez about my future and maybe
look for something in the January window.
"It all depends on him. If he gives me a chance I will take
it. I have a lot of desire to fight for my place."
Dudek performed heroics in the 2005 Champions League final
penalty shoot-out to help Liverpool beat AC Milan, but has
had to make do with being second choice since.
Reds boss Benitez signed Reina from Villarreal for £6m in
July, and he has been an ever-present in the Premiership
this season.
(BBC Sport Online) |
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SUNDAY 13 |
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Garcia: It was a dream come true
Liverpool's Spanish hat-trick hero Luis Garcia has described
his hat-trick on Saturday night as a dream come true on his
first start for the national side.
Garcia struck three times against Slovakia on Saturday night
in the first leg of his country's World Cup Play Off and the
Reds midfielder couldn't contain his delight after the
match.
"Without a doubt it was the sort of night that every
footballer dreams about," enthused Garcia. "As well as being
a very important game in which a lot was at stake it was my
first start for the national team and it worked out
perfectly. Luis Aragones showed he had confidence in me and
I'm really happy to have responded with goals. We've shown
that we deserve to be in the World Cup and after what we've
done I think we can be a bit more confident for the next
match."
(LFC Official Website)
Koroman linked with Liverpool again
Serbia and Montenegro international midfielder Ognjen
Koroman has again been linked with Liverpool.
The Terek Grozny (Russia) ace claims he has received offers
from England and Liverpool continue to be mentioned in
speculative transfer reports.
Koroman said: "I am financially secure so I just want to
prove myself. So far there are two good offers from England
and Russia."
(Kop Talk)
Morientes staying with Reds
Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes insists he has no plans
to quit Anfield to return to Spain.
Reports emanating from England and Spain have suggested that
Morientes could leave Liverpool to return to his homeland in
January or next summer.
"The truth of the matter is that I'm not thinking about
leaving Liverpool," said Morientes.
"I'm delighted to be here and I am not planning on going
anywhere.
"My long-term plan is to stay in England another three
years.
"That was my intention when I came and I don't tend to quit
places without completing
the task."
(Sky Sports)
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Thor Zakariassen
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