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TUESDAY 18 |
Reds in shock Greek link
Skysports.com understands Liverpool are closing in on a
shock move for former Rangers defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos.
Liverpool are in the market for defensive reinforcements and
it is believed they have lined up a move for AEK stopper
Kyrgiakos.
The Reds have been linked with the likes of Stoke's Ryan
Shawcross and Hull's Michael Turner, but Kyrgiakos appears
to be a cheaper option for Rafa Benitez.
(Sky Sports)
FA seek Benitez explanation
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could be in trouble with the
Football Association for his outburst against referee Phil
Dowd following the Anfield club's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on
Sunday.
The FA's compliance department will write to the Spaniard
for an explanation following his comment about Dowd when
asked after the game whether he would expect to get two
penalties as an away team.
Benitez is reported as saying: "No, with this referee I knew
that
was impossible."
The FA are also concerned with Benitez's attempts at humour
when asked about two penalty decisions that went against
Liverpool in
the final minutes.
It is believed that the FA are not prepared to quiz Benitez
further on his suggestions that 26-year-old Stuart Attwell
was too young to officiate at Premier League level.
The FA have introduced a new code of conduct this season
that is specifically aimed at stopping managers commenting
on referees
before matches.
But it is also in place to stop attacks on referees'
integrity and honesty while stopping managers from making
personal slurs about officials.
However it is understood that the FA do not intend to issue
Benitez with a severe punishment if they feel he has
over-stepped the mark.
But they also feel that such a high-profile manager
criticising an official so soon after the new directive
needs addressing.
(Football 365)
Reds refuse to show Rafa the money
Liverpool's owners are believed to be refusing to release
funds for Rafael Benitez to buy a centre-back to ease the
club's injury problems.
And the situation could well escalate into yet another
financial crisis at Anfield, as the club bid to recover from
the damaging first-day loss at Tottenham on Sunday.
Benitez's diminishing transfer budget is overshadowing
Anfield's opening league game of the season against Stoke,
who achieved a goalless draw on Merseyside last season.
Benitez was asked several times at his pre-match media
conference to explain his cash-flow problems, but on each
occasion he said: "I do not want to discuss money."
(TEAMtalk)
Agger sidelined for Potters battle
Liverpool will be without defender Daniel Agger for three
more weeks ahead of the home clash with Stoke on Wednesday
night (8pm).
The Danish centre-back is struggling with a back injury,
while fellow defender Martin Skrtel is still doubtful
following the damaged jaw he sustained in the defeat at
Tottenham on Sunday.
Skrtel trained on Tuesday, but boss Rafael Benitez will make
a late decision on whether the 24-year-old can be risked.
Youngster Daniel Ayala could play alongside Jamie Carragher,
who has recovered from the head injury he suffered at Spurs.
Reds (from): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Ayala,
Dossena, Insua, Kuyt, Voronin, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas,
Babel, Benayoun, Torres, Cavalieri, Spearing, Kelly, Ngog,
Plessis, Degen, Riera.
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa: Skrtel could play
Rafa Benitez says that Martin Skrtel could face Stoke
despite suffering a cracked jaw in Sunday's defeat to Spurs.
The centre-half suffered the injury in a clash of heads with
teammate Jamie Carragher, who is currently the club's only
fit senior centre-half.
Skrtel's agent has revealed that his client has a badly
cracked jaw and suggested that he could be out of action for
two weeks, but Benitez said: "We have to wait.
"Daniel Agger will be out for at least two or three more
weeks. Skrtel was training this morning and we will decide
tomorrow. Carra is okay."
Benitez also denied that Fernando Torres is tired after his
lacklustre performance against Tottenham.
"Torres is not tired but match fitness is something you can
only get during the season," said the Spaniard.
"The summer has been difficult for some players. The Spanish
players and Dossena have been training for maybe 15 days, no
more. They want to be fit but it's not easy. Maybe
physically they can be more or less ready but then you need
match fitness and you need to play games."
(Football 365)
Pulis planning Anfield shake-up
Stoke manager Tony Pulis could freshen up his side for the
Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield on
Wednesday night
(kick-off 8pm).
Dave Kitson, Glenn Whelan, Danny Pugh and Carl Dickinson are
all pushing for places in the starting line-up following the
club's victory
over Burnley.
Pulis has no fresh injury worries to contend with from the
Burnley clash.
Stoke (from): Sorensen, Shotton, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye,
Higginbotham, Lawrence, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington,
Beattie, Fuller, Simonsen, Whelan, Wilkinson, Cort, Kitson,
Cresswell, Dickinson, Pugh, Diao, Amdy Faye, Tonge, Griffin.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds announce winger departure
Liverpool today confirmed that Ryan Crowther has left the
club
by mutual consent.
The former Stockport County winger arrived at Anfield in
August 2007 but has now agreed the termination of his
contract after failing to break into Rafael Benitez's first
team plans.
He is free to sign for another club of his choice.
(LFC Official Website)
Skrtel out for two weeks
Skrtel could miss start of season Liverpool have been dealt
a major blow with the news that defender Martin Skrtel will
miss two weeks of action with a cracked jaw.
Skrtel collided with Jamie Carragher during the first half
of the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon and
was later substituted
in agony.
The Slovaian international’s agent, Karol Csonto confirmed
to SITA, “His jaw is not broken, just heavily cracked.
“According to the doctors, Martin should be back in action
within two weeks and he should be wearing a special mask.
“I hope that they will find or create a new one for him.”
This latest setback could prove to be a defensive headache
for Rafa Benitez, who has Daniel Agger sidelined with a back
injury and Jamie Carragher also wounded from Sunday’s game.
Liverpool next face Stoke City in the Premier League at
Anfield on Wednesday night.
(This is Anfield)
Bilbao reject Amorebieta rumours
Athletic Bilbao insist reported Liverpool target Fernando
Amorebieta is not for sale.
The Venezuelan-born defender has been strongly linked with a
move to Anfield of late, with Rafa Benitez keen to
strengthen his squad before the transfer window slams shut.
The 24-year-old does have a clause in his contract which
would allow him to leave his Basque employers for €30million
(£26m), but Bilbao president Fernando Macua claims the
Primera Liga outfit have no intention of discussing a deal.
"This player is not for sale and we have received no contact
from Liverpool," he said.
"At this moment he is a key member of our squad and we have
no interest in letting him go."
Reports had suggested that Liverpool sounded out Amorebieta
during talks regarding Mikel San Jose's recent loan move to
Bilbao
from Merseyside.
However, those suggestions have also been strenuously
denied.
The player's agent claims there has been no contact from
Liverpool in regards to a possible deal and has branded the
recent rumours
as paper talk.
"Nobody from Liverpool has been in touch with me," he said.
"Because of that I believe this story is just a rumour made
up
in the papers."
(Sky Sports)
Dossena aims to stay at Anfield
Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena says he was never
interested in joining Napoli as he is happy with his
team-mates and manager at Anfield.
The Italy international has struggled since arriving on
Merseyside in the summer of 2008 after Rafael Benitez paid
£7million to Udinese for him.
Napoli were interested in taking Dossena back to his
homeland and the left-back's agent announced Liverpool had
accepted a bid from
the Serie A club.
But the move stalled due to personal terms, according to
Napoli, and the 27-year-old now insists he does not want to
end his Reds career.
"I've heard a lot of rumours about my future this summer but
the truth is I want to remain at Liverpool," he told the
Liverpool Echo.
"I'm happy with my team-mates, with my coach and with the
club. I have never wanted to leave."
(TEAMtalk)
Torres vows to improve
Fernando Torres says he can get even better as a player.
The Reds' number 9 is probably the best striker in the world
right now. However, Torres himself says he still has lots of
work to do before he truly realises his potential.
"I'm very proud because when I came from Atletico I just
wanted to play some games and see if I could play in a top
team like Liverpool," he said.
"Now two years later I think I am improving a lot, and I
think I can improve a lot yet. I am still young, just 25."
(LFC Online)
Gerrard nominated for award
Steven Gerrard has been nominated for a UEFA award.
The Liverpool captain is on the shortlist for UEFA's Club
Footballer of the Year award. Barcelona's Lionel Messi is
the clear favourite for the gong.
(LFC Online)
Hertha keen on Voronin return
Hertha Berlin coach Lucien Favre is keen to take Liverpool
striker Andriy Voronin back to the German capital.
The Ukrainian enjoyed a successful loan spell with Hertha
last season, his goals helping them secure a fourth-placed
finish in the Bundesliga.
He has since returned to Anfield, but his chances of regular
first-team football under Rafael Benitez look bleak.
"Yes, I have contact with Andriy, just spoken to him on the
telephone," Favre said in the Bild newspaper. "The contact
was never broken off. He played excellently for us."
A transfer fee could prove a stumbling block, though.
Hertha general manager Michael Preetz added: "We would like
to have Voronin - if it was financially doable."
(Football 365)
Gerrard: Dalglish return great touch
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says the return of Kenny
Dalglish to the club is just what they needed.
"Bringing Kenny back to the club as an ambassador was also a
fantastic move which I know gave the players a big lift," he
said.
"I honestly don't see a lot more changes being needed to the
side, but we do have to find consistency from the first
game. That showed last year when it was draws, not defeats
which cost us. We are good enough
to win it.
"Our 'keeper is the best in the world, defensively we're
very solid and we've got matchwinners such as Fernando.
"The Premier League gets harder to win every year. The form
we showed last season would have been enough to win it in a
lot of years, and yet we finished second. It shows there's
no room for error."
(tribalfootball.com) |
|
MONDAY 17 |
Shawcross: I'm staying put at Stoke
Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross has dismissed speculation
linking him to Liverpool and Manchester United after
revealing no club has bid for him.
Shawcross has been linked with a move to Anfield for a
number of weeks now, with Rafa Benitez in the market for a
new central defender to offset the loss of Sami Hyypia.
Reports on Sunday then suggested Manchester United were keen
on taking the 21-year-old back to Old Trafford - he joined
Stoke from the Red Devils two years ago - after Sir Alex
Ferguson was spotted at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
However, Potters chairman Peter Coates insists United have
not made an approach for Shawcross and the player himself
has now dismissed the reports linking him with Liverpool as
pure speculation.
He told the Stoke Sentinel: "It doesn't bother me. If you
look in the papers, every day there's a different player
linked to every club.
"No one has made a bid and nothing has happened, so as far
as I am concerned, I am a Stoke player and no one has told
me differently.
"There's nothing going on. Someone has written something in
the paper and then everyone has jumped on the bandwagon.
"It happens to a lot of players, but I am a Stoke player."
(TEAMtalk)
Hansen: Spurs looked more like
title contenders than Liverpool
Anfield legend Alan Hansen has slammed Liverpool’s
performance against Tottenham, claiming it was the North
London club who looked more like title contenders then their
Merseyside opposition.
The former Liverpool stalwart admitted the club’s next few
games took on added significance now, but he still backed
Rafa Benitez’s side to pip Manchester United and Chelsea to
the title.
Hansen told the Daily Telegraph: “Spurs looked more like
title contenders than Liverpool.”
“I cannot believe how bad Liverpool were, particularly in
the first half.”
“There were no positives whatsoever from a Liverpool
perspective.”
“They were poor defensively, the passing in midfield wasn't
up to scratch and Fernando Torres looked tired up front. He
looked out of sorts and as though he has had too much
football, which doesn't augur well.”
“You can't win the title in the first six weeks of the
season, but you can certainly lose it in the first six
weeks.”
(Sport.co.uk)
Lucas looking to get
back on track
Lucas Levia is aming to get back to winning ways on
Wednesday.
The Brazilian midfielder admits yesterday's defeat at Spurs
was disappointing and has vowed to put it behind him by
helping the Reds to a home win over Stoke on Wednesday.
"We are very disappointed. We came here looking for a good
result, but Tottenham played really well," said Lucas.
"The first half wasn't good for us and they pressed us
really hard. I think if we had kept better possession of the
ball it could have been key for us."
(LFC Online)
Reds linked with
defensive improvements
After Liverpool’s lethargic display yesterday against
Tottenham, the reds are continually being linked with
defenders.
Liverpool have so far banked £17M in transfer profits in
2009 and after yesterday’s performance Liverpool will be
wise to not only use that profit but also receive some form
of summer transfer kitty from
the club’s owners.
Fernando Amorebieta is the 24 year old centre-back for
Athletic Bilbao who is believed to have been watched in last
night’s Spanish ‘Charity Shield’ game against Barcelona
according to the Daily Mail.
The reds are also still linked with Michael Turner of Hull,
and Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City.
(Anfield Online) |
|
SUNDAY 16 |
Rafa: Shoddy work from everyone
Rafa Benitez conceded Liverpool were disappointing at
Tottenham - but he felt officials Phil Dowd and Stuart
Attwell could also do much better.
"We did not play well in the first half, but were much
better in the second, when we pushed harder and had more
options in the final third," he said.
"Clearly we have to improve if we want to win these types of
games.
"We have to improve in the middle, keeping the ball. The
understanding has to be better.
"But it is too early, and we have another game on Wednesday
when clearly we have to improve in the possession."
(TEAMtalk)
Spurs cause Rafa's Reds to stall
Title hopefuls Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat away to
Tottenham in their first game of the new Premier League
campaign on Sunday.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez had spent the summer plotting how
to overhaul champions Manchester United, having fallen just
short last season in the quest for a first title since 1990.
New arrival Glen Johnson, who cost £17million from
Portsmouth, started at right-back, Dutchman Ryan Babel was
chosen ahead of Yossi Benayoun with Spain forward Fernando
Torres expected to again provide the goals along with
captain Steven Gerrard, fit following a groin problem.
Given title rivals United had won earlier in the afternoon,
coupled with victories on Saturday for both Chelsea and,
most impressively, Arsenal, there was little margin for
error if Liverpool were to avoid playing catch up after just
one match.
However, the Reds never really got going, with Torres
particularly disappointing.
(TEAMtalk)
Line-up vs Tottenham
Steven Gerrard has passed a late fitness test and starts
today’s first game of the new Premier League season at White
Hart Lane.
Liverpool take on Tottenham in the weekend’s final league
fixture, with title rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester
Utd all opening their campaigns with victories.
Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel have also recovered from
injuries to start today and Glen Johnson will make his full
debut for the Reds
at right-back.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Kuyt,
Mascherano, Lucas, Babel, Gerrard, Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Benayoun, Spearing, Kelly,
Dossena, Ayala.
(This is Anfield)
Fairclough: Yossi and Dirk are key
Former Reds striker David Fairclough is confident Liverpool
can build on the experience of last season's title race and
go one step better
this time round.
Fairclough believes two particular players have matured and
can now make crucial contributions to a championship
challenge.
"One or two players have grown into their positions and also
they've come on a ton because of their good form last season
- particularly Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun," he said.
"They've got big parts to play I think."
Fairclough says the Reds now have a winning mentality and
can achieve anything when their fans are in full voice.
"There'd be no point in starting if we didn't think we could
win the league," the St Etienne hero said.
"With the support Liverpool have anything's possible.
"Liverpool have shown down the years when they've been
written off that they're the side that can come back better
than anybody else."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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