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SATURDAY 15 |
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Rafa happy for Cisse
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was delighted to see Djibril
Cisse score the winner against Blackburn.
Benitez again rejected rumours of a rift with Cisse with the
Frenchman celebrating his goal by shaking hands with the
Spaniard on the sidelines.
"If you have opportunities you must think you will score,"
said Benitez.
"It is good for him (Cisse) and for the team and I hope he
can score more goals in the future.
"We don't have any problems and we talked about the
situation at the end of the day.
"If the manager decides he understands."
(Sky Sports)
Hughes fumes at dismissal
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes was left fuming by Mark Halsey
after his side's defeat to Liverpool.
Hughes was incensed with the decision and believes the
sending off cost his side dear.
"The incident he initially thought was a penalty, but he was
buzzed by his linesman and he told him it was outside the
box.
"I just think too many decisions by the referee affected the
outcome of the game."
(Sky Sports)
Cisse sinks ten-man Rovers
Djibril Cisse's late goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over
ten-man Blackburn at Anfield.
The Frenchman finally found the net 15 minutes from time to
end Blackburn's resilience after Zurab Khizanishvili was
sent off in the first half for taking down Cisse.
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers - confirmed
team
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Warnock, Carragher, Traore,
Josemi, Sissoko, Alonso, Zenden, Cisse, Crouch.
SUBS: Carson, Riise, Garcia, Hamann, Morientes.
(Kop Talk) |
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FRIDAY 14 |
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Mori returns to Reds squad
Fernando Morientes is back in Liverpool's first-team squad
for their
Premiership encounter with Blackburn after missing the last
six matches with a hamstring problem.
Skipper Steven Gerrard is out following the shin muscle
injury he picked up on international duty with England.
Liverpool are aiming to end a run of four matches without a
victory and, more particularly, recover from the 4-1 mauling
they suffered at home to Chelsea a fortnight ago.
Boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that Harry Kewell and Jerzy
Dudek are close to fitness, and that Spanish pair Xabi
Alonso and Luis Garcia - who were not involved for their
country this week, the former through suspension - are also
fit.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia,
Warnock, Traore, Luis Garcia, Hamann, Xabi Alonso, Sissoko,
Riise, Zenden, Morientes, Cisse, Crouch, Sinama-Pongolle,
Carson.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez denies Cisse rift
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has rubbished suggestions that
he has a problem with striker Djibril Cisse.
Rumours of a 'heated meeting' between the two started
circulating Merseyside this morning but the manager claims
that everything is in order and that he isn't trying to
freeze him out.
Rafa said: "I don't want to have any problems with my
players. I want them to work hard in training and focus on
games and that's what Cisse is doing.
"I have been talking with him about the press rumours and
told him he just has to concentrate on the next game and
prepare well for it. I said that if he scores goals then
it's good for me and it's good for him.
"The most important thing is to win games and he understands
that. He's had two training sessions since he got back this
week and I know he's ready for tomorrow's game.
"All the players want to play in all the games, but Cisse is
the only one who I have named in every squad list this
season. He can play lots of games at Liverpool."
(Kop Talk)
Reds line up Riki move
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is being tipped to add to his
Spanish contingent by swooping for Getafe striker Riki when
the transfer window reopens.
The 25-year-old striker has been a key figure in his side's
fantastic start to the season which sees the Madrid-based
minnows currently topping La Primera.
He has bagged four goals in six starts this campaign, a
return that has caught the attention of Benitez.
The Reds boss was looking to bring in another striker before
the transfer window closed at the end of August but was
ultimately priced out of bringing Michael Owen back to
Anfield.
It appears certain he will look to strengthen in January and
the continuing speculation surrounding the future of Djibril
Cisse has only added to rumours a new striker will arrive.
(Sky Sports)
Rovers driven by Bentley
Blackburn travel to Liverpool on Saturday with midfielder
David Bentley confident Rovers can build on their impressive
recent form.
The win against West Bromwich last time out made it three
wins on the bounce, a sequence which also included a win at
Manchester United.
"It's going to be very difficult to break them down, they're
a strong team and well organised," he told Sky Sports News.
"Hopefully we won't leak any goals, we're quite strong at
the back and hopefully we can nick a few goals."
The former Norwich loanee admits he is enjoying life in East
Lancashire but believes Rovers' success should be founded on
a simple philosophy.
"Winning games and winning at such big places is always a
good feeling. Hopefully we can take that confidence into
Saturday," added Bentley.
(Sky Sports)
Zenden promises to improve
Bolo Zenden says Liverpool fans have not yet seen the best
of him.
Zenden hopes to return to the Liverpool first team tomorrow
after being rested for both Chelsea games before the
international break. Squad rotation is a new experience for
Zenden but the Dutch midfielder says he is ready to work
hard and make it difficult for Rafa Benitez to leave him out
in future.
Zenden said: "Over the last couple of years I've played in
nearly every game and so being in and out of the side is a
new experience.
"It can be hard for a player who hasn't been used to it to
come to terms with squad rotation but the manager has
explained himself and told us how he wants to deal with the
fact that we're competing in four competitions.
"I've been pleased with my performances when I have played
but I would say there is definitely a lot more to come from
me. The fans haven't seen the best of me in a Liverpool
shirt yet. I can give much more than I've done so far."
(LFC Online)
Crouch defended by fellow players
Peter Crouch's fellow England internationals have leapt to
the defence of the Liverpool striker after he was booed by
England fans on Wednesday.
Crouch was booed by England supporters when he replaced Sean
Wright-Phillips as a second half sub against Poland on
Wednesday night. However, his team mates have been quick to
defend him.
"It was ridiculous what happened. Peter is a great player.
He is an important member of the squad and is going to have
some great moments in an England shirt," said Joe Cole.
"The booing of Peter on Wednesday night was not good."
Frank Lampard agreed: "What happened was unfortunate.
'Crouchy' did very well for us the other day against
Austria. He was very effective and I think he has been very
effective for Liverpool.
"I hope what happened doesn't affect Crouchy's confidence.
He is a good player, he'll be in the squad and he'll be a
good player for England."
"Peter has proved over the last year or so that he is a good
player," added Wayne Rooney.
"He did a good job when he came on against Poland. He held
the ball up well and won a few headers."
(LFC Online)
Blues still in Rafa's sights
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has put into perspective the
severe problems created by trying to chase Premiership
champions Chelsea.
It is five months since the euphoria of Istanbul when
Benitez guided his side to Champions League glory, but their
domestic campaign has started with just seven points from
six games.
The European Cup sits, permanently now, in Liverpool's
trophy cabinet but the Premiership crown they want above all
others is still far away.
"The Chelsea game is gone now. When you can't change
anything, all you can do is forget about it, analyse why it
happened and make the necessary changes to ensure it doesn't
happen again in the future."
"It's true this year Chelsea have started well, but it's
dangerous to think too much about what they do. We must
concentrate on our own club, nothing else.
"I know we have a good team and a good squad, but I also
know that we must improve and that's what we're continuing
to work towards. I believe we should look to the future with
confidence."
(TEAMtalk) |
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THURSDAY 13 |
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In-form Rovers ready for Reds
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes is aware of the threat
Liverpool pose to his in-form side.
Rovers have recorded a victory in each of their last three
matches, the most significant of which saw his side leave
Manchester United's Old Trafford with maximum points for the
first time in 43 years.
However, Hughes believes the variety of attacking options
available to Rafael Benitez, including the omnipresent
aerial threat of the internationally-maligned Peter Crouch,
will present a stern examination of his side's credentials.
"They're a good side with great players in all positions.
They have the option this year of Crouch and his aerial
ability," Hughes told Sky Sports News.
"That is something we have to take into account but I still
feel we've got more than enough to cause them problems as we
proved at Old Trafford."
(Sky Sports)
Reds asked about Berbatov
Bayer Leverkusen have revealed that Liverpool made a summer
enquiry for Dimitar Berbatov.
The European champions spent much of pre-season scouring for
a new striker before eventually settling on England new boy
Peter Crouch.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez sifted through a lengthy list of
possible targets before signing Crouch from Southampton, and
Berbatov's name was under consideration.
The Bulgaria international is a regular scorer for the
Bundesliga side and Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi
Voller confirmed the interest from Anfield.
“There was an enquiry from Liverpool over the summer,
although we haven’t heard from them ever since," Voller told
Kicker.
Reports in the German media now suggest that Liverpool have
been joined by rivals Arsenal in the bid to lure Berbatov to
England.
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard on Fifa short-list
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is one of four England
players who have made it on to the shortlist for Fifa's
World Player of the Year award.
Gerrard, voted the most valuable player in Europe by Uefa in
August, has the best chance of an English player winning the
award after his role in leading the Reds to success in the
Champions League.
England captain David Beckham, Manchester United's Wayne
Rooney and Chelsea's Frank Lampard have also been nominated
on the preliminary list of 30 players drawn up by Fifa.
The shortlist is, as always, dominated by strikers and
attacking midfielders with just one goalkeeper in the 30.
(TEAMtalk)
Cisse confirms Reds plan
Djibril Cisse has set himself a two-month deadline to force
his way into the Liverpool team on a regular basis.
Cisse is currently unhappy with spending much of his time at
Anfield on the substitutes' bench or on the right wing.
"I'll have to make a career decision if matters haven't
changed by December," said Cisse.
He added: "Benitez makes his decisions. He hasn't explained
them to me but I don't think I'll seek talks with him.
"I'm not somebody who asks the manager for an explanation
when he is not in the team."
(Sky Sports)
Carra ready to get back to business
Jamie Carragher is ready to return to action for Liverpool,
after the international break.
"I'm looking forward to getting back to see the lads because
I have been away for a few weeks and we have got an
important game coming up," he said.
"It was great to get through but we wanted to top the group.
We did well.
"We are England and everybody expects us to play at that
tempo in every game but it is not possible.
"We know there have been some poor performances but
hopefully this win will give us confidence in the four games
that we have got leading up to the World Cup
(LFC Online)
Parry comments on Cisse fraud probe
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has spoken out for the
first time regarding the investigation into the transfer of
Djibril Cisse from Auxerre.
A number of transfers involving French clubs are to be
proped and that includes the £14million transfer of the
France international striker who was brought to Anfield by
former boss Gerard Houllier.
Parry told the Liverpool Echo: "We have been alerted to the
fact there is an investigation and we want to become a party
to it so we have access to whatever information is
available.
"We are not suggesting anything untoward has taken place,
but the fact there is an investigation means it is prudent
for us to know exactly what's happening.
"We want to ensure our position is protected and be kept
informed if we have been victims here. If there has been any
wrongdoing, we want to know about it."
Liverpool have been paying the £14m fee in instalments
direct to Auxerre with the next payment due in the summer of
2006. Liverpool chiefs are concerned that someone else could
be cashing in and have launched their own investigation.
(Kop Talk)
Real starlet reveals Reds snub
Real Madrid starlet Juanfran has revealed he snubbed an
offer to join Liverpool.
Juanfran is currently on a season-long loan at Espanyol
after Real decided to let him go out on loan so that he
could gain valuable first team experience.
The right-sided midfielder has been tracked by Liverpool for
some time and they initially tried to sign him as part of
the deal which took Michael Owen to Real Madrid two summers
ago.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is a big fan of the youngster and
tried to sign him again last summer, but Juanfran preferred
to stay in Spain with Espanyol.
"It is certain that I had offers to leave Madrid," Juanfran
told Sport. "Liverpool was one of them, but I preferred
Espanyol and the interest they showed because I could
adapt easier."
(Sky Sports)
Shields plea tipped to fail
The lawyer representing jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields
has revealed that he thinks his client will lose his appeal
to be freed from a Bulgarian jail.
Oleg Antanasov will represent Shields when his appeal is
heard tomorrow in Bulgaria but he believes the court will
only accept the original evidence on which the 19-year-old
was convicted and that new testimony will not be heard.
Antanasov said: "It would be logical to assume the court
will only confirm the verdict since it has already rejected
the main principles of our appeal."
Shields was jailed for 15-years and fined £700,000 for
slamming a paving stone down on a waiter's head (attempted
murder). He has always protested his innocence. Another
Liverpool fan, Graham Sankey (20), even confessed to the
crime but the Bulgarian courts refused to accept a signed
confession which appeared late in the day deeming it
inadmissable.
MP, Louise Ellman, said: "This is the next step in the
search for justice."
Shields will appeal firstly against his conviction, then his
sentence if that attempt fails. The appeal will be heard in
the resort of Varna but it could go to a higher court in
Sofia, the Bulgarian capital.
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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