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THURSDAY 15 |
Michael Shields to take lie detector test
The Home Office has agreed to let jailed Liverpool FC fan
Michael Shields take a lie detector test in his Lancashire
prison.
The decision could be crucial in the engineering student’s
long battle to prove his innocence and win a pardon.
A deal was brokered behind the scenes by Riverside MP Louise
Ellman during discussions with ministers and the prison
service on behalf of
the Shields family.
She said today: “Michael has always wanted this chance to
show conclusively that he is innocent and the victim of a
grave miscarriage of justice.
“The campaign to secure a pardon from either Bulgaria or the
UK will continue and this could help although there are
complicated issues involved.”
Michael, now 21 and from Edge Hill, was convicted of the
attempted murder of a Bulgarian barman while on his way home
from Liverpool’s Champions League victory in Istanbul.
Despite alibi evidence he was found guilty and a signed
confession by fellow fan Graham Sankey was later retracted,
Earlier this year he returned to Britain to complete his
sentence and last month both he and his family asked for a
polygraph.
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa ready to sell Carson
Rafael Benitez is prepared to sell Scott Carson.
The Liverpool goalkeeper is currently on a season long loan
with Aston Villa and has made noises about wanting a
permanent switch to Villa Park. Rafa Benitez is considering
allowing him to do just that.
"You can understand that he wants to play. He knows Pepe
Reina is top class and that it will be difficult for him to
play here," said the Reds boss.
"Scott is a good professional and a nice boy. This is a
crucial time in his career and he needs to play. At the
moment we are concentrating on our own team and our own
competitions, but Villa can decide if they want to keep the
player.
"At the moment we have Pepe, Charles Itandje and David
Martin as goalkeepers so we can manage the situation okay."
(LFC Online)
Madrid fume at kid-napping Reds
Real Madrid have warned Europe’s brightest talents not to
waste their careers by joining Liverpool.
Madrid are furious that Rafa Benitez has exercised his
powers of persuasion to snatch 16-year-old wonderkid Gerardo
Bruna from El Santiago Bernabeu.
The capture is one of a growing trend of Spanish exports
heading to The Premier League, with Cesc Fabregas the most
successful transfer from Barcelona to Arsenal.
“I was very surprised when Bruna left because he had been
with us for three years and as soon as he was about to
mature, Liverpool took him from us,” Real’s youth team coach
Michel told The Sun.
“That is what happens all the time in England. When they see
someone they like, they just take him.
“How many young players taken by Liverpool, Chelsea and
Arsenal have actually played for their first team and how
many have returned?”
Bruna is said to be the latest addition to Benitez’s golden
generation, which also boasts highly-rated attacker Dani
Pacheco – signed from Barcelona.
Bruna made his debut for Liverpool’s reserves earlier this
week.
(Setanta Sports)
Agger could face Magpies
Daniel Agger is on course to make his long-awaited return
from injury when Liverpool resume league action against
Newcastle.
The Dane hasn't featured since the trip to Pompey on
September 15 because of a broken metatarsal.
With 10 days left until the Reds' next outing, Benitez is
confident of having his young defender available for
selection.
"Agger is improving a lot, and he has started running now,"
the boss told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"Yossi Benayoun is with the physios now. We will have to see
if he is fit for Newcastle, it's still too early to say. He
and Agger are maybes but perhaps it will be easier for Agger
than for Benayoun."
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso, also out with a metatarsal problem,
has already been ruled out of the visit to St James's Park.
Benitez added: "Xabi should start running in the next week
but he is a no for Newcastle, for sure."
(LFC Official Website) |
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WEDNESDAY 14 |
Swede on trial at Liverpool
Liverpool have handed a trial to IF Brommapojkarna starlet
Tim Bjorkstrom.
The 16-year-old central defender, who has represented Sweden
at Under 17s level, is unsure how long the trial will last,
but is excited about being at Anfield.
"It feels terrific," he told fotbolldirekt.com. "I don't
know how long I will stay in Liverpool.
"It is a big opportunity. I think it will be fun and a good
experience. I go there only to try to have fun and to try to
do as well as possible
for myself."
Brommapojkarna's club director Ola Danhard believes
Bjorkstrom is a talented player, but does not want to get
carried away at this stage.
"It is a little early," he said. "But he is a good player
and he has conditions to become a talented football player."
(Sky Sports)
Hooligans link angers Liverpool fans
The BBC faced criticism today after a scene in EastEnders
linked hooligans with Hillsborough.
Fans said they were shocked at the reference to the tragedy
which left 96 Liverpool supporters dead.
The row was sparked by a scene following a violent gang
attack on the soap’s Queen Vic pub where hoodlums were
searching for the character Jase, who is from Manchester.
Scriptwriters then introduced a storyline about the
character’s football hooligan past.
And EastEnders mechanic Minty rebuked him saying: “Five
years out of Europe because of Heysel, because they pinned
you lot in to stop you fighting on the pitch, and then what
did we end up with – Hillsborough.”
Phil Hammond, of the Hillsborough Family Support Group
(HFSG), said the scriptwriters had “got it wrong”.
He added: “They should apologise to the people of Liverpool.
It’s totally out of order.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Carra has no regrets
Jamie Carragher insists he has no regrets about retiring
from
international football.
The 29-year-old quit the national side in the summer, citing
a lack of opportunities as the primary reason.
While most of his teammates set off for international duty
earlier this week, the defender has been enjoying the more
relaxed atmosphere
at Melwood.
Injuries and suspensions to Steve McClaren's first-choice
centre-backs mean he may well have featured this week, but
Carra is not looking back.
"No, I've got no regrets," he told Liverpoolfc.tv. "I'm
enjoying it very much. Obviously there's just four or five
of us training and that's pretty enjoyable.
"I also get a lot more time at home with the kids and
Nicola,
so that's great.
"Hopefully I'll be fresher than most of the lads by the time
Newcastle comes around. The whole idea was to help my
Liverpool form. Hopefully it's doing that."
Carra amassed 34 England caps after making his debut under
Kevin Keegan in April 1999.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard: Quotas would help England
Steven Gerrard admits he fears for the long-term future of
the England side unless more homegrown talent is allowed to
develop and flourish in the Barclays Premier League.
The stand-in England captain is facing a massive week which
could end in Steve McClaren's side failing to qualify for
the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.
But the Liverpool star is also concerned about the bigger
picture given the dearth of English talent getting the
chance to make an impact in the top flight due to the
massive influx of foreign players.
Gerrard said: "I am sure the quotas idea won't do any harm.
I am sure it will help the national team if that is the
case. We want as many homegrown players playing in that
league as possible.
"As an England player, we want top players involved in the
squad and I am sure the quotas will help.
"I think there is a risk of too many foreign players coming
over which will affect our national team eventually - if it
is not doing it now.
"I am all for getting good young English players through. It
has happened to myself and all the other English players and
it is important we keep producing.
"It is pointless having the best league in the world if our
national team is going to suffer in the long run."
(Football 365)
Liverpool join race to sign Argentine defender
Liverpool have joined Manchester United and Real Madrid in
the race to sign Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay.
Coach Rafael Benitez will utilise his Spanish contacts to
land the Racing Santander centre-back for £10 million in the
January transfer window.
"I've no doubt next year he'll be playing for one of the big
clubs," Santander coach Marcelino Garcia Toral said in the
Mirror.
(The Daily Telegraph)
Stevie: I have a dream
Steven Gerrard insists he and his England teammates can win
a major trophy in the next three years – even if the current
qualifying campaign ends in heartache.
The 27-year-old, who once again stands in as skipper this
week in the absence of John Terry, knows his dream of Euro
2008 glory could slip away if Israel lose to Russia on
Saturday.
It would be the fifth international campaign which has ended
in disappointment during Gerrard's career, but the
Huyton-born midfielder still believes his dream could one
day become reality.
"I still believe and have a dream of winning something with
England,"
he said.
"If you look around the squad and see the players we've got,
they should be capable of winning something. If we have to
suffer this summer to have a successful World Cup in 2010,
then that really would be worth the aggravation, if you want
to call it that.
"Can you imagine this country if we have a successful
tournament? And that's what I want to be part of.
"I have the same dream I had when I was a kid. Any young
English player who doesn't have that dream shouldn't be
playing for England.
"I can assure everyone on the outside that the players are
frustrated and disappointed at the position we're in and are
desperate to put it right."
(LFC Official Website)
Given and Carr ready to face Pool
Shay Given and Stephen Carr are set to return to the
Newcastle squad for the game against Liverpool on Saturday
week.
And fellow Irishman Damien Duff may now be only two weeks
from his long-awaited comeback.
Magpies boss Sam Allardyce has already pencilled Given and
Carr into his party for the visit of Rafa Benitez’s Reds.
Allardyce will welcome the return of full-back Carr, who
will play in a behind-closed-doors game to gain match
fitness, following almost three months out with hamstring
trouble.
Abdoulaye Faye has been sidelined for around three weeks due
to the hamstring injury he picked up in Saturday’s 1-1 derby
draw against Roy Keane’s Sunderland at the Stadium of Light
— and Celestine Babayaro has broken down again with a back
problem.
Asked who would return against Liverpool, Big Sam said:
“Carr and Given, no problem by a week or so. Stephen Carr
will play in a training game to help us get him back.
(Irish Examiner) |
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TUESDAY 13 |
Reserves held by 10-man Rovers
Liverpool Reserves failed to break the deadlock despite
dominating a 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday
night.
The Reds had an extra man for much of the match following
the sending off of German midfielder Sergio Peter for a
disgraceful kick on
Sebastian Leto.
Promising displays from Leto, Daniel Pacheco and the
consistent Stephen Darby will at least give Gary Ablett
heart, as will the fact his side have lost just one of their
eight Northern Premier League fixtures this season.
Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Stephen Darby.
David Martin, Stephen Darby, Emiliano Insua, Jack Hobbs
(cap), Ronald Huth (Gerardo Bruna 79), Damien Plessis, Ray
Putterill (Daniel Pacheco 45), Mikel San Jose Dominguez,
Jordy Brouwer, Jay Spearing,
Sebastian Leto.
Subs not used: Peter Gulacsi, Martin Kelly, Daniel Ayala.
(LFC Official Website)
Parry: American duo are committed
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry insists that
suggestions claiming the club’s American co-owners Tom Hicks
and George Gillett are not fully committed to the long-term
future of The Reds is ‘absolute nonsense.’
Rafa Benitez has been allowed to invest heavily in his squad
since Hicks and Gillett arrived on Merseyside and is widely
expected to steer Liverpool towards a genuine Premier League
title challenge this season.
They currently sit fifth and are six points adrift of early
pacesetters Arsenal, but Parry is adamant that despite
suggestions to the contrary, there is no faction forming
between the American pair.
“I’ve just spent a couple of days with Tom and George and
both of them were in good spirits working hard together on
future plans for the club,” Parry told the club’s official
website.
“I wouldn’t normally comment on these things, but a story in
one of the Sunday papers claiming there was some sort of
problem between the two couldn’t be wider of the mark.
“In fact, it’s absolute nonsense.”
(Setanta Sports)
Riise wants Pool future
John Arne Riise wants to remain a Liverpool player for the
foreseeable future, but has admitted that he needs to
improve his displays in front of the Anfield faithful if he
is to secure a new deal at the club.
The Norway international, who has been at the club for over
six years, has conceded that Reds fans have reason to be
unhappy of late with his current form, and the 27-year-old
has promised to up his game so that he can extend his
present deal.
"I have 18 months left on my contract and I have no
intention of leaving,” said the former Monaco player.
"The fans haven't been too happy with my form and rightly
so.
“They pay to see good football and expect us to perform well
- I'm my own biggest critic and I know I haven't performed
well."
Riise joined from the French outfit in the summer of 2001
and quickly established himself as a favourite on
Merseyside.
A recent influx of new talent combined with a dip in form
saw Riise linked with a move to Aston Villa, but talk of any
transfer died down after the summer transfer window closed.
(Setanta Sports)
McAuley delight in five-star show
Liverpool under-18s were in fine scoring form on Saturday as
they crushed Bolton Wanderers 5-2 at the Kirkby Academy.
Hugh McAuley’s side claimed a superb win thanks to two goals
each from Nathan Eccleston and David Amoo and another from
Marvin Pourie.
Liverpool took the lead on nine minutes when Eccleston fired
in from Amoo’s cross before doubling their lead on 25
minutes as German forward Pourie beat his man and coolly
slotted home.
The visitors reduced the arrears almost immediately with
Topi Obadeyi firing in a 20-yard free-kick.
But seven minutes before the break Liverpool hit a third,
whe Pourie forced his way through and Amoo netted. Eccleston
scored his second on 65 minutes with a superb curled effort,
before Bolton’s Kevin Wolfe’s cross deceived Liverpool
goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis to fly into the net.
In injury-time McAuley’s side made it 5-2 when Amoo pounced
on a loose ball to score. Coach McAuley was delighted
saying: “We played some great attacking football, but were a
little bit careless on occasions.
Liverpool Under-18s: Hansen; Irwin, Kennedy, Ayala,
O’Connor; Amoo, Highdale, Ajdarevic, Bruna (Kacaniklic 65);
Pourie (Collins 70), Eccleston. Subs: Awang, McDonald.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Rafa: Arbeloa deserves Spanish call
Rafael Benitez believes Alvaro Arbeloa's impressive form
this season deserves recognition at international level.
Arbeloa has been one of the star performers for the Reds
this term, operating in a variety of positions across the
back line and helping Liverpool enjoy the best defensive
record in the Premier League.
Despite his consistent displays for the Reds, the 24 year
old is still waiting for his first taste of senior
international football with his country - but Benitez
believes the call won't be too much longer in coming if he
maintains his current form.
"If he continues playing well then I am sure he will go with
the national team and play games for Spain," said Benitez.
"He was really unlucky earlier in the season when he was
playing really well for us and then got injured because he
could have had a chance then.
"I don't know how close he is or if the manager is thinking
about him, but it's clear he is playing well for us."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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