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MONDAY 15 |
Finnan completes Espanyol switch
Steve Finnan underwent a medical and completed his move from
Liverpool to Espanyol.
The switch had been agreed on deadline day two weeks ago and
the Irishman, 32, will greet the Catalonian media on Monday
evening.
A statement from Espanyol read: “Irish international Steve
Finnan, Espanyol’s last signing of the transfer window,
underwent a medical examination this morning before joining
up with the rest of [coach Tintin] Marquez’s squad.
“The player was subject to stringent checks at the Clinica
Creu Blanca, despite having checked over fully before
signing his contract on the 31st of August.
(Setanta Sports)
Niang eyes Reds revenge
Mamadou Niang is confident that Marseille can beat Liverpool
in their UEFA Champions League opener on Tuesday.
The French club defeated the Reds at Anfield 12 months ago
but were then hammered 4-0 at home in a decisive final group
game.
Liverpool have started the Premier League season strongly
and will hope to pick up three points at the Stade
Velodrome, but Niang has warned that Marseille are also in
fine form.
"We know we can beat them. The last time we met in the
Velodrome they taught us a lesson but this time we are on
song as well so it should be good entertainment."
(Sky Sports)
Babel: It was a fantastic moment
Ryan Babel today revealed how it felt to score the winner in
Saturday's breakthrough victory over Manchester United.
The Dutch winger was on the pitch for just seven minutes
before finding the net with an expert finish at the Kop end
after being set up by
the hard-working Dirk Kuyt.
The move ensured Liverpool ended a four-year wait to defeat
Alex Ferguson's men in the league, and Babel, who has now
scored 11 goals for the club, confirmed it was a great
personal moment for him.
"It was a fantastic moment for me and for the team," said
Babel. "Before I came onto the pitch the manager was telling
me to give the game
some energy."
(LFC Official Website)
DIC denies interest
in Newcastle or Liverpool
Dubai International Capital LLC said it is not involved in a
renewed bid for Liverpool, and denied talks with the team's
American owners are taking place. It also ruled out interest
in any other Premier League club. Reports had linked the
group with a bid for Newcastle United.
"DIC can confirm that it is not involved in any negotiations
to buy LFC and is not planning a fresh bid for LFC or any
other football club," the United Arab Emirates-based company
said in an e-mailed statement today.
(The Independent)
Win shows Reds
may have cracked it
As statements of intent go, it was akin to parking a
battalion of tanks on the Old Trafford forecourt.
Forget Manchester City's deadline-busting record signing of
Robinho, which even upstaged Manchester United's
£30.75million recruitment of Dimitar Berbatov.
Because as impressive as the goal the Brazilian scored on
his debut was, and as much as manager Mark Hughes insists
the 3-1 defeat by Chelsea was not a "reality check", the
euphoria that has surrounded the City of Manchester Stadium
was brought down a notch or two as they were clinically
swept aside in front of their own fans.
The real statement of intent came at Anfield, where Rafael
Benitez's Liverpool came from a goal behind to beat the
English and European champions 2-1.
(Reece Killworth - TEAMtalk)
Gerrard ready for Euro start
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has told manager Rafael
Benitez he is ready to start against Marseille in the
Champions League on Tuesday.
The England midfielder began Saturday's victory over
Manchester United on the Anfield bench as Benitez resisted
the urge to rush his star asset back from groin surgery.
(TEAMtalk)
Gillett in talks with
LFC fans’ union
Liverpool FC co-owner George Gillett met the leadership of
fans’ union Spirit of Shankly (SOS) minutes before they
joined a protest rally against him, it emerged last night.
In the meeting, Gillett insisted the club’s financial crisis
was being overplayed, but admitted a breakdown in
communication at the top
of the club.
Around 4,000 SOS members then marched from the Liver- pool
Supporters Club to the ground ahead of the Anfield clash
with rivals
Man United.
But, beforehand, four of their number met with Gillett after
the American sporting tycoon requested a get-together.
He quizzed them on their intentions and the reasons they
established SOS.
The SOS leadership told Gillett they wanted him and co-
owner Tom Hicks to sell up and leave Anfield.
In response, Gillett insisted the club was on a secure
financial footing and blamed the recently-announced delays
to building a new stadium on a funding crisis caused by his
banks and the credit crunch.
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 14 |
Liverpool unsure about
Gerrard, Torres for Marseille trip
Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of key players Steven
Gerrard and Fernando Torres ahead of Tuesday's Champions
League encounter away to Marseille.
Gerrard managed 22 minutes of Saturday's confidence boosting
2-1 win over Manchester United on his return from a groin
operation.
But Spanish international Torres remained on the bench after
suffering
a hamstring injury against Aston Villa on Aug. 31.
Javier Mascherano is also a doubt after pulling up with a
calf problem in Saturday's game.
(Goal.com)
Rafa still waiting for new deal
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has reportedly yet to
receive the new deal that was promised to him by the club’s
American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, reports the
Sunday Mirror.
The Spaniard has enjoyed a turbulent relationship with the
owners since their arrival at Anfield, yet recent reports
had suggested that some kind of peace had broken out between
the three on Merseyside.
However, according to the Sunday Mirror the owners and the
manager may be set for more difficulties after the paper
revealed that Benitez has yet to receive a new deal that he
had been promised by the owners.
(Goal.com)
Marseille draw at Bordeaux
Marseille warmed up for their Champions League clash with
Liverpool
on Tuesday night with a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux over the
weekend.
Striker Bakari Kone gave Marseille the lead after just three
minutes but Marouane Chamakh replied for the home side
before the break.
Marseille remain one of only two sides to remain unbeaten
over the first five matches of the new season and currently
lie in second place in
the table, two points behind leaders Lyon.
Liverpool travel to the south of France on Monday morning to
prepare for their opening Group D clash in this season's
Champions League competition at the Stade Velodrome.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 13 |
Carragher elated after vital win
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher believes the 2-1 win against
Manchester United at Anfield can give them hope to mount a
title challenge
this season.
He said: "It gives us belief and confidence because we've
beaten
the best team in Europe.
"It gives us the belief that we can beat anyone in the
league.
"We hope we can now push on for the rest of the season. It
should spur
us on, because we've not been playing too well. That is the
best
we've played."
The defender added: "It also gives us a bit of breathing
space between us and United, and top is where a club like
Liverpool should be."
(BBC Sport Online)
Rafa: I am so proud of my team
Rafael Benitez today declared Liverpool's momentous victory
over Manchester United as something the whole team can be
proud of.
The Reds went down to a Carlos Tevez goal early on in the
match but rallied to produce their best performance of the
season and record a first league win over Alex Ferguson's
side in over four years.
Benitez paid tribute to his players after the match and was
happy with
the amount of character his charges showed to come from
behind and take the points.
"I think today is a game we can be really satisfied with
because we were losing against a very good team," said
Benitez. "But we showed character and played very well in
the second half, so this was very positive."
(LFC Official Website)
Fergie: We should have coped better
Disappointed United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side
failed to handle Liverpool's combative approach in the 2-1
defeat at Anfield.
Carlos Tevez put the Reds ahead but a Wes Brown own goal and
Ryan Babel's second-half strike clinched the win for the
home side.
"You don't expect that from Manchester United," Ferguson
told
Sky Sports.
"When we have a bad day we usually still get something from
the game
"Overall, they were the better team today. Liverpool
produced
a performance of tackling, hassling and getting about us."
(Manchester Evening News)
Reds give Rafa
first win over United
Rafael Benitez saw Liverpool beat Manchester United for the
first time in his Anfield career thanks to Ryan Babel's late
goal in a 2-1 win.
The Reds boss had never beaten United in nine previous
league games, with the champions having won the last five
meetings between these
two giants.
But United wilted under a relentless second-half pressure,
had Nemanja Vidic sent off and saw substitute Babel secure
victory.
Carlos Tevez put United ahead early on. But after a torrid
opening period, Liverpool were level with a Wes Brown own
goal before Liverpool dominated the second half and grabbed
a priceless win with
13 minutes left.
Liverpool gave new signing Albert Riera his debut but Steven
Gerrard and Fernando Torres were not risked any closer to
the initial action than the bench.
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard and Torres on the bench
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have been named on the
Liverpool bench for the lunchtime clash with Manchester
United.
Albert Riera will make his debut on the wing, while Dirk
Kuyt and
Robbie Keane start up front.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Carragher,
Skrtel, Alonso, Mascherano, Riera, Benayoun, Keane, Kuyt.
Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Ngog, Torres, Gerrard,
Babel.
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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