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MONDAY 18 |
Mendy set for Reds debut
Summer signing Emmanuel Mendy is set to make his Liverpool
debut in tonight's friendly against Scottish side Inverness
Caledonian Thistle.
The 18-year-old, who was born in Senegal, was captured on a
free transfer by Rafael Benitez from Murcia Deportivo, and
he joins the likes of Jay Spearing and Daniel Pacheco in
Gary Ablett's squad. Krisztian Nemeth is unavailable as he
is on international duty with Hungary.
The second string are on a two game tour of Scotland and the
match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle was arranged for
Barry Wilson's testimonial. The game kicks-off at 7.45pm BST
at
the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
The reserves also play Hamilton Academical on Wednesday
night.
(LFC Official Website)
Fowler close to Rovers deal
Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince has admitted he is close to
securing
the services of Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler on a
permanent basis.
Since leaving Cardiff City in the summer Fowler has been on
trial at Blackburn Rovers and he has impressed his former
Anfield team-mate.
Ince told Blackburn's official website: "I think we are
close to doing something with Robbie. I've said all along
that he has to get his fitness and sharpness, and we are now
seeing good signs of that.
"In the last three or four days in training he's been
absolutely different class. He's a world class striker and
if he can get fit and sharp then he will always score goals
at any level.
"I'll sit down with the chairman now and discuss where we
are going to go from here."
(LFC Official Website)
Sami: We must get better
Sami Hyypia has warned Liverpool they must up their game if
they are to entertain any thoughts of challenging for the
Premier League.
The Reds again had Fernando Torres to thank for getting
their season off to a perfect start with a narrow 1-0 win
over Sunderland on Saturday, but Hyypia was far from
impressed with the team’s performance.
But he did single the Spanish striker out for special praise
for the 25-yard strike which proved the difference between
the two sides at
the Stadium of Light.
“The first half in particular was not good enough, we know
that,”
said the Finn.
“It was certainly not the best game we have played, but the
important thing was that we got better in the second half
and at the end Fernando popped up with a goal and that was
enough to win the game."
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds duo face head-to-head crunch
Liverpool midfielders Javier Mascherano and Lucas will go
head to head tomorrow in the semi-finals of the Olympics
football competition.
Everton striker Victor Anichebe is also still dreaming of
gold, but Liverpool’s Dutch international Ryan Babel will be
heading back to Anfield after the weekend’s quarter-finals.
Mascherano helped Argentina to a 2-1 extra time victory over
Holland with Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria on target.
Lucas was in Brazil’s midfield for their 2-0 win over
Cameroon as goals from Rafael Sobis and Marcelo secured
their place in the final four in
a game marred by 12 yellow cards and one sending-off.
Mascherano is eyeing revenge for Argentina’s Copa America
final heartache at the hands of Brazil last year.
“It will be a difficult match, but I think we’ll play much
better than them,”
he said.
“We will not make any mistakes against them or we may pay
for that.
“We lost 3-0 in the Copa America final. Now there are some
different players, but we still have four or five players
who played that match in
the team now.”
(LIverpool Echo)
Torres confident of title challenge
Fernando Torres believes Liverpool can challenge for the
Premiership.
Saturday's matchwinner believes the Reds are capable of
making
a genuine tilt at the title this season.
"Our focus is on The Premier League and we know how
important it is to win The Premier League for the fans,"
said Torres.
"It has been too many years and we are focusing on that. It
was important to start with a win after the not so very good
game in
the Champions League."
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 17 |
Barry bid leaves Alonso future in doubt
Liverpool's summer-long pursuit of Gareth Barry remains top
priority for manager Rafael Benitez, but Xabi Alonso's
standing in the Anfield pecking order looks less certain.
Alonso was originally tipped to make a £16million move to
Juventus in
the close season but when that fell through, Liverpool's
Premier League rivals Arsenal moved into pole position for
the Spain
international's signature.
But with Barry still very much an Aston Villa player - he
played and scored in their UEFA Cup qualifier in Iceland
last week to rule him out of
the Champions League group stages - Alonso remains on
Merseyside.
Indeed, despite falling somewhat out of favour with Benitez,
it was Alonso's second-half introduction in place of the
ineffective Damien Plessis at Sunderland yesterday that
roused a lethargic Liverpool to
a 1-0 victory in their league opener.
Compatriot Fernando Torres will rightly take the headlines
for his fierce, swerving drive in the 82nd minute, but it
was Alonso who fed him the ball to cap a galvanising cameo
which dragged the Reds back into the game.
Benitez insisted the midfielder started among the
substitutes because of
a niggling injury, but left the door firmly open for any
potential suitors.
(PA Sport)
O'Neill surprised by reaction
Martin O'Neill is unhappy Aston Villa were blasted for
holding onto Gareth Barry whereas Manchester United were
praised for retaining Cristiano Ronaldo's services.
Both players are on long-term deals with their respective
clubs, but were chased fiercely this summer with Liverpool
keen on Barry while Real Madrid attempted to secure Ronaldo
from Old Trafford.
While O'Neill has no qualms with Sir Alex Ferguson's
reluctance to lose Ronaldo, he is just surprised his club's
stance on Barry has received so much negative publicity.
Barry's chances of staying at Villa Park this season
increased on Thursday when he started the Uefa Cup second
round qualifier against FH Hafnarfjordur, ruling him out of
The Reds' UEFA Champions League campaign until February.
"We got lambasted by some for our stance of Gareth Barry and
sticking to what we thought was right," O'Neill told the
News of the World.
"Manchester United were lauded for their approach to
Ronaldo.
"Of course I admire their stand. I just believe we did a
similar thing."
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard gets England call
Steven Gerrard has been named in the England squad.
The Liverpool skipper is part of Fabio Capello's 23 man
squad for Wednesday's friendly against the Czech Republic.
Former Reds David James and Emile Heskey are also in the
squad but there is no place for Peter Crouch.
(LFC Online)
Dossena lands Italy call-up
Andrea Dossena has received a timely boost with the news
that Italy coach Marcello Lippi has named him in his squad
for Wednesday's friendly with Austria.
The Reds full-back completed his first 90 minutes of Premier
League action in Saturday's 1-0 win at Sunderland and will
now join up with
the Italians for what will be Lippi's first match in charge
since returning to the post in which he won the 2006 World
Cup.
Dossena will be hoping his impressive form at Liverpool will
see him add to his one Italy cap to-date after he made his
bow in a friendly match against South Africa in October
2007.
(LFC Official Website)
Babel back for Boro clash
Liverpool attacker Ryan Babel is set to return for the first
home game of the season against Middlesbrough next Saturday
after Holland were eliminated from the Olympics.
Argentina defeated Holland 2-1 in the quarter finals in
Shanghai, courtesy of goals from Messi and Di Maria. Babel’s
Liverpool team mate Javier Mascherano played the full match
for the victors, who will face arch rivals Brazil in the
semi final on Tuesday.
That means Mascherano will go head-to-head with Liverpool
team mate Lucas Leiva in midfield. Neither though will
return to Merseyside early as their is also the third place
play-off for the losing semi-finalist. The winners of the
semi final will face the winner of Nigeria vs Belgium in the
final
on Saturday.
Babel captained the Dutch team but was somewhat isolated
in their attack.
(This is Anfield) |
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SATURDAY 16 |
Rafa hails match-winner Torres
Rafael Benitez saluted the goalscoring prowess of Fernando
Torres after the Euro 2008 hero ensured Liverpool's 2008-09
Barclays Premier League campaign got off to a winning start
at Sunderland.
El Nino pounced in the 83rd minute of the game to seal the
three points for Liverpool against Roy Keane's resilient
Sunderland.
He said: "I think it was a difficult game first half. They
controlled the game in the opening 45 minutes but didn't
have clear chances other than one. We were a little under
pressure but the second half was different.
"The difference at the end of the game was Torres. We know
he can score these kind of goals but the team as a whole
needs to play well."
(LFC Official Website)
Alonso & Torres rescue Liverpool
A moment of Spanish magic from Xabi Alonso and Fernando
Torres saw Liverpool come away from the Stadium of Light
with a fortuitous 1-0 win against Sunderland.
Benitez, however will be delighted with the victory
especially when it had looked as though the afternoon would
end in frustration for Liverpool.
Last season, draws were the problem for the Anfield side, 13
in total which quickly put them out of the title race.
Whilst the performance was far below what Benitez will be
demanding from his team, today’s victory suggests they may
just be ready to move on.
(Goal.com)
Gerrard and Hyypia return in season opener
Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia return for Liverpool in our
Premier League opener at the Stadium of Light.
Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger are the two to make way after
our midweek draw in Liege.
The Reds XI is: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Hyypia,
Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard, Plessis, Torres, Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, El Zhar, Aurelio, Ngog, Skrtel, Agger,
Alonso.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: I am not thinking of leaving
Rafael Benitez has reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool
Football Club by declaring: "I am not thinking of leaving."
Press reports this morning suggested Benitez was considering
quitting
the Reds - but he insists the speculation is completely
untrue and that his desire to achieve more success with the
club is as strong as ever.
(LFC Official Website)
Alonso tells Liverpool
manager he wants to go
Xabi Alonso has told Liverpool he wants to leave Anfield –
but is likely to be priced out of a move to Arsenal.
The Spanish midfielder’s future has been the subject of
debate throughout the summer, particularly with Rafael
Benitez intent on signing
Gareth Barry.
Alonso, who was signed for £10.7m from Real Sociedad in
August 2004, was loudly cheered by home supporters during
the friendly against Lazio last week. However, the Spaniard
has now informed Benitez he wants
a fresh challenge.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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