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SUNDAY 18 |
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Rafa: We deserved to win
Rafael Benitez has spoken of his pride for his players and
felt Liverpool deserved to win the FIFA Club World
Championship in the aftermath of the 1-0 defeat to Sao
Paulo.
"The first thing I can say is congratulations to my players
and we deserved to win," Benitez commented.
"We had 21 shots and 17 corners and we hit the bar twice, we
scored three goals but what can you do? We couldn't have
done anymore to win."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds thwarted by Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo produced a fantastic rearguard action to beat
Liverpool 1-0 in the final of the Club World Championship.
Liverpool huffed and puffed but failed to blow the house
down as a Carlos Mineiro effort proved the difference
between the two sides.
The Reds forced 17 corners and were the only team on the
attack in the second half, but they found keeper Rogerio
Ceni in commanding form and an assistant's flag going
against them as they failed to add the world title to their
European crown.
(Sky Sports)
Reds investor search goes on
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry maintains the search
for new investors continues in earnest - but they must be
the right type of partner for the long-term good of the
club.
The European champions have built on last season's glory
night in Istanbul to make a solid start to the new Barclays
Premiership campaign, climbing to third in the table with
seven straight wins and have this week been in Japan for the
FIFA Club World Championship.
Off the pitch, the Reds have proposals for a new 60,000
capacity stadium on Stanley Park - near their current
Anfield ground - and were reported to have held talks with
the American-based Kraft family to secure the extra
financial resources needed for the project.
Parry, though, insists any company or individual who shows a
firm interest in the club must also buy into their whole
ethos.
"There is a lot of work still going on," he said.
"It is crucially important to have someone who shares our
passion for success - there has to be an underlying belief
and acceptance the only thing at Liverpool which matters is
winning trophies."
(Sporting Life)
Sao Paulo v Liverpool - confirmed team
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Warnock,
Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Kewell, Garcia, Morientes.
SUBS: Dudek, Carson, Riise, Cisse, Pongolle, Crouch, Josemi,
Traore, Hamann.
(Kop Talk)
Scott Parker out of Boxing Day Anfield
trip
Scott Parker will miss Newcastle's Boxing Day trip to
Anfield after picking up his 5th yellow card of the season
at Upton Park in United's 4-2 win over West Ham.
(Newcastle-Online) |
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SATURDAY 17 |
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Gerrard: We can prove class
Steven Gerrard wants the best Liverpool side he has ever
played in to prove their class by taking the Club World
Championship back to Merseyside.
The club captain considers the current line-up the finest
since he became a first-teamer in 1999, better than the
treble winners who picked up the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA
Cup four years ago.
Gerrard, 25, nearly walked out on his boyhood club in the
summer to join Chelsea but he is convinced good times are
ahead at Anfield, starting with Sunday's final versus Sao
Paulo.
He said: "I'd go as far as to say it's the best Liverpool
side I've played in the six years I've been in the first
team.
"It's littered with exciting young players and a good a mix
of homegrown and foreign players, and it's a really exciting
time for the club.
"We've got some really big challenges ahead of us and I
think the next couple of years can turn out to be successful
for us.
"Playing for Liverpool Football Club is all about winning
trophies and playing in finals. We all look forward to the
big games. We don't want to get on that plane home
empty-handed."
(Sporting Life)
Koeman ready for Reds
Dutch legend Ronald Koeman believes his Benfica
side can end Liverpool's defence of their Champions League
trophy.
The two teams will meet over two legs next year for a place
in the quarter final of the competition and, having already
knocked Manchester United out, the Benfica boss is confident
his men can cause an upset and beat Rafael Benitez's men.
"Liverpool have a very strong side," he said. "They have a
powerful defence and they don't concede many.
"Liverpool are favourites, but we eliminated Manchester
United so we can dream of getting through to the
quarter-finals."
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 16 |
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Benfica closes door on Sabrosa transfer to
Liverpool
Benfica international striker Simao Sabrosa, seen here in
September 2005, linked to a move to Champions League
opponents Liverpool in the January transfer period, will be
staying put at the Lisbon club
Benfica international striker Simao Sabrosa, linked to a
move to Champions League opponents Liverpool in the January
transfer period, will be staying put at the Lisbon club, the
head of Benfica's football division said.
"Simao is at Benfica, he has a contract with Benfica, we
don't plan on selling any player," Jose Veiga told
Lisbon-based news radio TSF.
"There was interest in him as in various other players but
we are interested in strengthening our squad, not in selling
players."
Liverpool tried to land Sabrosa over the summer and appeared
to have struck an agreement with Benfica but the Lisbon club
pulled the plug on the deal just before the end of the
transfer period reportedly over fears of a fan backlash.
Ironically, earlier on Friday, Benfica, who knocked
Manchester United out of the Champions League last week,
were drawn to face defending champions Liverpool in the last
16 of the European competition.
(World Soccer News)
Rafa happy to battle Benfica
Rafael Benitez admits the Champions League draw that has
paired Liverpool with Benfica will be difficult - but could
have been far worse.
Speaking in Tokyo while out with his players for a meal,
Benitez told Liverpool's website: "It's not an easy draw but
it's not the worst draw that it could have been either.
"There are only good teams left in the competition at this
stage and we could have been paired with Bayern Munich, for
example.
"There are some very interesting matches coming up in this
round - just look at Chelsea v Barcelona, Real Madrid v
Arsenal and Bayern v AC Milan.
"I'm pleased to have avoided certain teams but we will face
a very tough match against Benfica. They are a very good
team and they proved just what they can do by knocking
Manchester United out of the competition.
"They are strong at home and they will have a good
atmosphere behind them in the first leg but we know they
will be coming back to Anfield for the return leg and
everyone in Europe knows what our fans are like on a
European night at home.
"They are one of the most famous sides in Europe and they've
won the European Cup twice so we will treat them with the
respect they deserve but we will approach the game with
confidence in our own ability."
(TEAMtalk)
Minute silence expected for Sunday
FIFA are expected to announce they will be holding a
minute's silence before the World Club Championship final
between Liverpool and Sao Paulo as a mark of respect to the
passing away of Rafael Benitez's father earlier this week.
Although it has yet to be confirmed publically, sources at
FIFA in Tokyo believe it is 99.9% certain to go ahead
although there will be no wearing of black armbands by
either sets of players.
(LFC Official Website)
Benfica Champions League dates set
Liverpool will play Benfica away on Tuesday 21st February
with the return leg at Anfield on Wednesday 8th March.
(Kop Talk)
Liverpool to face Benfica
Liverpool will play Benfica in the quarter-final of the
Champions League.
The first leg will be played in Lisbon on Tuesday 21st Feb
and the home leg on Wednesday 1st March.
Full draw:
Chelsea v Barcelona
Real Madrid v Arsenal
Werder Bremen v Juventus
Bayern Munich v AC Milan
PSV Eindhoven v Lyon
Ajax v Inter Milan
Benfica v Liverpool
Rangers v Villareal
(LFC Online)
Disputed goal given to Crouch
Premier League officials have awarded Peter Crouch with
Liverpool's opening goal against Wigan earlier this month,
doubling the striker's league tally for the season.
Crouch, 24, had not opened his account for Liverpool
following a £7million summer move from Southampton before
Latics goalkeeper Mike Pollitt palmed his shot into the net
at Anfield.
"It took a big slice of luck but that is what I have been
missing recently - I'm claiming it," Crouch said after
Liverpool completed the 3-0 win against Paul Jewell's men.
Despite Crouch wheeling away in celebration, the 19th-minute
strike was initially credited as a Pollitt own goal. The
Premier League's Dubious Goals Panel have now given Crouch
the goal.
(Daily Post)
Crouch: I can't believe how far I have come
Peter Crouch admitted he is still coming to terms with his
meteoric rise after claiming two goals as Liverpool secured
their place in the Club World Championship final.
Two excellent strikes from the striker either side of a
stunning Steven Gerrard volley completed a convincing win
over Deportivo Saprissa for the European Champions, who now
go on to face Brazilians Sao Paolo on Sunday.
"Just coming to a country like Japan and playing in the
stadium that hosted the World Cup Final a few years ago is a
new experience for me.
"When I look back to what I was doing a year ago, this is a
world of difference. We were fighting for our lives at the
bottom of the table with Southampton back then. This is a
totally different prospect."
(Liverpool Echo)
Grieving Benitez stays with Reds
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will stay in Japan for
Sunday's World Club Championship final despite the death of
his father earlier this week.
"They couldn't delay the funeral and I can't go," said the
Spaniard.
"I will see my mother next week and for me it's better to
continue working. The only thing I can do now is try to do
the best for my team."
(BBC Sport Online)
Cisse: Why would I want to leave?
Djibril Cisse has once again expressed his desire to prolong
his Liverpool career despite tabloid speculation linking him
with a possible exit from the club during the January
transfer window.
Only Steven Gerrard has scored more goals than the French
international at Liverpool this season but despite his goal
tally, rumours persist that he has no future at the club.
If Thursday's performance against Deportivo Saprissa was
anything to go by - creating Peter Crouch's first goal and
proving a constant thorn in the side of the Coasta Ricans -
he's certainly not letting the speculation affect his game.
"I love Liverpool," he stressed after the match. "The
mentality in the dressing room is different to France. It's
just friendly and happy. They all make jokes and make each
other laugh. I have great friends and great team-mates and
I've bought a great house. I just got married, so why would
I want to leave?"
(LFC Official Website)
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Thor Zakariassen
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