|
|
|
TUESDAY 15 |
Lucas: I'm no Alonso
Liverpool midfielder Lucas does not think he should be
compared to former Anfield ace Xabi Alonso.
The 22-year-old was recruited by Rafa Benitez from Brazilian
side Gremio in 2007 but was not employed as a regular
starter in his first two seasons with the club.
However, after Alonso left for Real Madrid over the summer,
Lucas has been given the responsibility of filling the hole
in central midfield left by the Spaniard.
Despite being viewed as a direct replacement for Alonso, he
has stated that his game is very different from his
predecessor's.
"I knew when Xabi left that people would compare (us) but
anyone who knows football knows I am not the same player as
Xabi," Lucas said.
Lucas believes he has a more attacking mentality than the
influential Alonso, who would often anchor the midfield and
use an array of passes to create attacks.
He added: "I try to play more forward and Xabi is a good
passer.
"Of course, we miss him (Alonso) but now he is at Real
Madrid and we hope he will do well there. We have to now
think about our squad."
(Sky Sports)
Mascherano back to face Magyars
Liverpool will have Javier Mascherano back in their squad
for Wednesday's opening Champions League group E clash with
Debrecen
at Anfield.
Mascherano missed Saturday's 4-0 win over Burnley after
picking up a pelvic injury while on World Cup duty with
Argentina, and he did not return from South America until
Sunday following tests on the problem.
But the midfielder has been declared fit, and is expected to
figure in a side that, says manager Rafael Benitez, does not
have any other injury problems, apart from long term
absentees Daniel Agger and
Alberto Aquilani.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel,
Aurelio, Dossena, Insua, Kyrgiakos, Derby, Gerrard, Riera,
Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Spearing, Torres, Voronin,
Kuyt, Babel, Ngog, Kelly, Cavalieri.
(TEAMtalk)
Babel insists he's happy at Liverpool
Ryan Babel says he's happy at Liverpool.
Babel has spoken about a loan move in January to Ajax, but
told TalkSport: “I don’t want to say too much about this but
I just want to say what’s been written recently, not all is
true.
"I’m happy at Liverpool, I’m going to work hard to earn a
position in the starting eleven and we’ll see what is going
to happen and it’s the choice of the manager but I’m very
happy at Liverpool.”
The Holland international added: “The World Cup is still far
ahead so I’m not really busy with the World Cup at the
moment so we will see in time how it will be.”
(tribalfootball.com)
Rafa reveals quota concern
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is concerned at the speed
with which the Premier League have introduced a quota system
for
home-grown players.
The new rule means there will have to be eight home-grown
players in every 25-man league squad from next season.
Benitez said: "There is a big gap between academies and the
first team, the reserves are not filling this. It may be
difficult to maintain quality."
(Teletext)
Midfielder confirms Anfield exit
Liverpool today confirmed the sale of midfielder Ryan Flynn
to Scottish Premier League side Falkirk.
The 20-year-old Scot was on a season-long loan with The
Bairns but the deal has now been made permanent.
Flynn, who originally joined the Academy from Falkirk in
2006, was a key part of our successive FA Youth Cup wins,
scoring in the final against Man City in 2006 and bagging
three goals during the 2007 campaign.
He also helped the second string to league glory in 2007-08.
The youngster had yet to make his senior competitive debut
for Liverpool, though featured in several pre-season
friendlies.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa handed funding boost
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has been promised a bigger
transfer kitty next year as a result of the club's new
sponsorship deal.
The Reds have announced an £80million four-year sponsorship
deal with Standard Chartered Bank which will come into place
next season.
And Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow has
confirmed the deal will enable the club to offer Benitez
more transfer funds next summer.
"The fans will ask, of course, whether the money will stay
within the club and they'll be pleased to know the revenue,
profits and income is the club's," said Purslow.
"It stays in the club, and our job is to support the team so
we'll invest
a sensible amount in our wage bill and a sensible level of
profits in
our transfers.
"As you drive your revenues forward, you try to generate
profits and those profits will be used to invest in the
future of the club, which, in football speak, often means
buying players.
"From next summer, one of our key [income] lines, the
revenue line, will be substantially increased as a function
of this commercial agreement, so a normal ratio of that will
go to the wage bill and my ability to support Rafa in the
transfer market will be hugely enhanced.
"We want to be the best football team in the world and there
is a pretty clear link between that and having the best
performance off the field."
(Sporting Life) |
|
MONDAY 14 |
Dalglish continues
praise for Purslow
Liverpool legend and now club ambassador Kenny Dalglish says
the club’s Managing Director Christian Purslow “deserves a
pat on the back” after the Reds clinched an £80million shirt
sponsorship deal with banking giants Standard Chartered.
In the light of the news, Reds boss Rafa Benitez revealed
this morning how he has a very good and productive working
relationship with Purslow, who joined the club earlier this
year following Rick Parry’s resignation as Chief Executive.
And now Dalglish has continued the praise for Purslow,
adding, “I know as a managing director you are judged on
many things.
“Christian Purslow and the club’s commercial director Ian
Ayre have to take a huge pat on the back for getting this
record shirt sponsorship deal into the football club.
“It shows we have men determined to push the club forward in
the right direction.
“And it illustrates the standing of Liverpool Football Club
that a company the size of Standard Chartered Bank have come
to put their name on our shirts. It’s fantastic news.”
(This is Anfield)
Purslow: New deal
boosts stadium plans
Managing director Christian Purslow believes the biggest
sponsorship deal in Liverpool's history can get their new
stadium plans back on track.
Liverpool have struck a four-year sponsorship with Standard
Chartered Bank, who will become the club's main sponsor from
July next year until the end of the 2013-14 season,
replacing Carlsberg as the Reds'
shirt sponsor.
The deal is reportedly worth £80million to Liverpool.
Liverpool City Council last year granted planning permission
to allow the club to build a 60,000-seat stadium in Stanley
Park, however progress has been delayed, with Anfield
officials citing "global market conditions" as the cause.
Purslow said: "The overall financial health of our football
club is a key ingredient of being able to get the stadium
project back up and running.
"This is a huge step forward for the club financially and
that can only be helpful to create the conditions in which
we can restart the stadium project."
(TEAMtalk)
Bank happy with Reds association
Standard Charter Bank chairman John Peace is delighted to be
associated with Liverpool FC.
Standard Charter will be the Reds' new shirt sponsors from
next season and their chairman is happy with the link-up.
"I am absolutely delighted. I am delighted for Liverpool
Football Club and its fans, and particularly delighted for
Standard Chartered and its stakeholders," said Peace.
"It will be a great four years and we're looking forward to
seeing some exciting football and working closely together
with the team.
"Liverpool has a great heritage and has had some fabulous
football teams over the years, with great managers. With the
heritage of Standard Chartered Bank, we have a lot in
common. We are both going places and that is important going
forward.
"I think Liverpool will have a fabulous season and a lot of
success in the coming years. Our bank is in a very similar
position. I am delighted we are able to enter into this
agreement today."
(LFC Online)
Steven Gerrard midfield move
may unlock Premiership for Liverpool FC
While Javier Mascherano’s failure to board a plane back from
international duty with Argentina may have forced Rafa
Benitez’s hand in reverting Steven Gerrard back to his more
traditional central midfield role, it may also have
inadvertently unlocked the key to Liverpool’s title push.
The Reds dropped far too many points at home against teams
from the bottom half of the table last season and ultimately
this proved to be the club’s stumbling block in their fight
for the title.
Home draws against Stoke City, Fulham, West Ham and Hull
cost the Reds eight points as they failed to conquer sides
content with putting 11 men behind the ball on trips to
Anfield.
However, Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Premier League new
boys Burnley was orchestrated by Gerrard who was given the
freedom of the park playing in the spaces in front of
anchorman Lucas.
Had Mascherano, who was unable to fly back as scheduled due
to a problem with his pelvis, been available it’s likely
Benitez would of stayed loyal to his preferred system of
playing the two South Americans in the centre of midfield
and Gerrard up top alongside Fernando Torres.
But while that system has proven profitable against clubs
fighting for Europe and also in the Champions League, when
teams come simply to defend the Reds require a little more
invention in the middle of the park.
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez responds to
pessimistic Reina comments
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says goalkeeper Pepe Reina’s
comments regarding his feelings that the Reds don’t have the
individuals to target the Premier League title have been
taken out of context.
On the morning of the Reds’ 4-0 victory over Burnley this
weekend, Reina told The Guardian, “There isn’t frustration,
there is resignation.
“Maybe it’s time to get realistic and not think about the
title but just about winning the next game.”
But Benitez has attempted to defend the comments, claiming,
“I think Pepe was trying to say something that we have
spoken about before.
“We should not think about silverware or titles – just to
get three points in the next game and see what happens.”
(This is Anfield) |
|
SUNDAY 13 |
Barnes under pressure
at Tranmere Rovers
Liverpool icon John Barnes is under pressure to keep his job
at Tranmere Rovers.
Tranmere fans called for Barnes to be sacked following their
3-2 home defeat against Walsall that left them near the
bottom of
the League One table.
Barnes said: "We've got to stop conceding goals and at the
moment we don't look like doing so.
"I can understand the fans' frustrations. I'm frustrated and
so are the players. But I'm not taking responsibility for
everything. The players must stand up and be counted. We
made some bad decisions and experienced players should have
done better.
"We didn't show much quality, although we showed plenty of
fighting spirit. I still believe in the players but they
don't seem to believe in themselves. We started well and
scored a good goal but really it was slack play by us all
afternoon. We seemed to give goals away when we are in
possession and I just can't understand how."
(tribalfootball.com)
Benitez hits back
at Carra critics
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has hit back at critics who
have targeted Jamie Carragher.
The Reds have made a stuttering start to the new Premier
League season, losing 2-1 to Tottenham on the opening
weekend and slipping up at home to Aston Villa.
They have conceded seven goals in five games but Benitez
believes it is unfair for the defenders to be blamed for
poor performances.
Carragher has been singled out by some pundits who have
suggested the 31-year-old no longer has the pace and fitness
to perform as consistently as he has in the past.
However, Benitez has no such doubts and maintains that
Carragher will continue to play a key role this term.
(Sporting Life)
Benayoun: It was a perfect day
Yossi Benayoun believes his match-winning display in
Saturday's 4-0 rout of Burnley was his best in a red shirt.
The Israeli star netted a superb hat-trick to lead Rafael
Benitez's men to their third win of the new campaign and
later admitted it was the highlight of his Reds career so
far.
"It was a good day for me and it was great to score three
goals," he said. "But the most important thing is the three
points. We played a lot of good football at times and won
the match - that is more important to me than scoring
goals."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
|
|
