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TUESDAY 18 |
Ballack back for Reds clash
Chelsea boss Avram Grant has confirmed that Michael Ballack
is 'available' for Wednesday's Carling Cup quarter-final
clash with Liverpool.
The Germany international has not played since last April
after undergoing two operations on a damaged ankle.
However, Ballack is fit enough to be welcomed back into
Grant's squad for the tie at Stamford Bridge.
Grant said: "Ballack is available. He's a good player and we
miss him. He's available and has a lot of qualities. He'll
be in the squad tomorrow."
Chelsea also have Michael Essien available after the
midfielder completed his three-match suspension, while
Ricardo Carvalho has been named in the squad.
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard out of cup clash as Alonso returns
Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Liverpool's trip tp
Chelsea after going down with a stomach bug.
The Reds skipper will now not be part of the Reds party
which travels to London tomorrow morning ahead of the
Carling Cup quarter final clash.
With Gerrard out of contention, Rafa Benitez is likely to
give the fit again Xabi Alonso his first start since picking
up a metatarsal injury against Arsenal in October.
(Liverpool Echo)
Parry: There's no transfer embargo
Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry has categorically
denied speculation suggesting co-owners George Gillett and
Tom Hicks have placed a January transfer embargo on boss
Rafa Benitez.
It was reported in The Independent this morning that the
Reds boss would not be able to move players in and out of
Anfield during the transfer window, but Parry has responded
by dismissing these rumours.
"I can say that this is absolute rubbish," said Parry.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa happy with Reds talks
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has declared that his talks with
owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks were 'very positive'.
Benitez held a summit with the American duo after Sunday's
defeat to Manchester United to discuss the club's transfer
plans.
The Spaniard's relationship with the club's owners had been
under the microscope after a row over their understanding of
the transfer window.
The club issued a statement on Sunday saying talks went well
and Gillett gave his backing to Benitez.
Benitez insists everything has been cleared up and that the
club can now move forward.
"We needed to clarify the situation and it was a very
positive meeting," Benitez told the club's official website.
(Sky Sports)
Xabi fit for Chelsea return
Xabi Alonso has given boss Rafael Benitez a timely boost
ahead of Wednesday night's Carling Cup quarter-final tie at
Chelsea with the news he is fit and ready for action.
The Spanish midfielder has been out since suffering a
metatarsal injury in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal back in
October, but after missing the last 10 matches, boss Rafa
Benitez revealed he is now back in time for what promises to
be a busy festive schedule.
"Xabi is training normally and should be available for the
game at Chelsea," said Benitez.
"We are going into a busy period with lots of games so it is
important
to have out best players available.
"So Xabi's return is a big boost."
The return of Alonso adds further strength to Liverpool's
midfield options ahead of the clash at Stamford Bridge, but
they will have to continue to cope without defender Daniel
Agger, who is still not ready for a return
to action.
The Reds will check today on the fitness of Steve Finnan to
see if
the defender is ready to return.
(LFC Official Website)
Stadium u-turn vital to benefit team
In July this year a beaming Tom Hicks told a packed Anfield
press conference that he had given the go-ahead to a world
class stadium which would allow Liverpool to “compete with
the Manchester Uniteds, Real Madrids and Barcelonas of the
football world”.
The Texan millionaire was justifiably proud of the design by
his favourite architects, Dallas-based HKS, which dazzled
everyone present and caused huge excitement amongst the
Liverpool fans.
Not only would the new stadium be unique, it would also
service the financial requirements of a major European club
for years to come.
Everything seemed perfect – a 76,000 capacity to allow more
Liverpool fans than ever before to see the team play on a
regular basis; vastly increased match day revenue to put the
club on a more even footing with the likes of United; and a
stunning architectural design the likes of which has never
been seen before in this country.
But there was one big, insurmountable problem – it was
simply too expensive for Liverpool to pay for it.
(Liverpool Echo)
International u-turn unlikely for Carragher
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is unlikely to return to
the England team despite new coach Fabio Capello’s hopes to
coax him out of international retirement.
Capello hopes to persuade the likes of Carragher and
Manchester United’s Paul Scholes to come back into the
national team fold and said: “There’s one or two who retired
who I hope to bring back.”
However, unless the Italian can guarantee Carragher a
regular starting role in his side, which seems highly
improbable, Carragher is not expected to make a U-turn on
his decision to call time on his England career.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Riise high up on Valencia wishlist
Valencia coach Ronald Koeman has expressed an interest in
signing Liverpool's Norway international full-back John Arne
Riise.
Koeman is determined to add to his squad in the New Year
following Valencia's exit from the Champions League.
Los Che are also toiling in seventh place in the Primera
Liga and Koeman admits 27-year-old Riise is a player of
interest.
"He is a player with experience and would offer some options
for our game," said Koeman in the Daily Mirror.
(TEAMtalk) |
|
MONDAY 17 |
Liverpool downgrade stadium plan
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry says spiralling costs
have forced the club to scale back plans for a futuristic
new stadium.
The Reds are still committed to building a new
70,000-capacity ground.
But Parry said the design would be "slightly downgraded"
from plans released earlier this year.
"It will be a massive improvement on where we were 12 months
ago, if not quite as dramatic as the plans unveiled in the
summer," said Parry.
(BBC Sport Online)
Gillett: Rafa's the best a man can get
Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has thrown his backing
behind Rafa Benitez after clear-the-air talks between
manager and club on Sunday.
The Spaniard met with Gillett, fellow owner Tom Hicks,
Foster Gillett and Rick Parry after Sunday’s defeat to
Manchester United to address the recent public fall-out that
had seen speculation surround Benitez’s position.
The manager had questioned the American owners’ approach to
transfer policy but the row now appears to have been dealt
with and forgotten by Gillett, who has full confidence in
the job Benitez is doing.
"This wasn't supposed to happen, but it has happened, and
now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to
continue our co-operation,” said Gillett in the Liverpool
Echo.
"Rafa is the one we want as manager further on, and we have
faith
in him."
(Setanta Sports)
Hyypia refuses to throw towel in
Veteran Sami Hyypia has denied Liverpool are now facing
mission impossible in the title race following Sunday's
defeat by
Manchester United.
The Finland star is convinced Liverpool proved they were
United's equals.
And, while he accepts his team-mates have a lot to do in
order to haul themselves back into contention, Hyypia
believes they are up to the task.
"It is not the end of the world," he said. "Of course, if
you think about 10 points it is quite a lot but I don't
believe it is a major obstacle to clear and it is certainly
not impossible.
"It would have been an important game to win but we didn't
manage it, so we have to remained focused on each individual
game and see where we are in May."
(TEAMtalk)
Report: Liverpool eyeing Muntari
Liverpool are reported to be weighing up a January move for
Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari if they are priced out of a move
for Javier Mascherano.
Muntari has impressed at Fratton Park since his summer
arrival from Udinese and his performances are thought to
have alerted Reds boss Rafa Benitez.
Benitez is drawing up his list of targets in the January
transfer window and could make a move for Muntari if he is
priced out of a deal for Mascherano.
(TEAMtalk)
Final ingredient in title recipe is still missing
At least this one can’t be blamed on rotation. Rafael
Benitez stuck with the same 11, the side that rose to the
occasion so gloriously in Marseille five days earlier and
pretty much the strongest line-up he has available at the
moment.
So Anfield yesterday – at least before the manager met with
the owners – wasn’t a place for ‘what ifs’ or ‘why didn’t he
do this or that?’. No blame culture in the impending capital
of culture.
Instead, harsh realities came to the fore, most notably the
one that Liverpool still aren’t ready to genuinely challenge
for the Premier League.
Okay, they are adhering to Benitez’s wishes to get closer –
yesterday’s defeat left them nine points adrift of their
opponents with a game in hand, while this time last year
they were 13 in arrears from the same
number played.
But Manchester United are also following their manager’s
instructions to the letter, menacingly stalking Liverpool’s
record haul of 18 titles and becoming increasingly difficult
to shake off.
And once again yesterday, they showed what it takes to be
champions.
(Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 16 |
Reds report 'positive' talks
Liverpool have issued a statement decribing Sunday night's
clear-the-air talks between manager Rafael Benitez and the
club's American owners
as "positive".
The meeting was arranged following a dispute between the
Spaniard and Tom Hicks and George Gillett over the club's
approach to the January transfer window. Benitez was
frustrated at what he saw as an unnecessary delay over the
pursuit of new players and claimed the American duo did not
understand the European transfer market.
But a statement on the Liverpool website said: "A meeting
was held this evening involving Tom Hicks, George Gillett,
Foster Gillett, Rick Parry and Rafa Benitez which was
wide-ranging and positive."
The statement continued: "The discussions were amicable and
constructive. All those present are united in their desire
to bring further success to the club."
(Ananova)
Another false dawn for Rafa's Reds
Want to know why Liverpool haven't won the title in 17
years? Sunday afternoon had the answer in a nutshell.
Once again any dreams of finally ending that long wait were
put into stark focus as they failed miserably on the big
occasion.
Senor Rafa Benitez now has one solitary point from 21
against his team's most bitter rivals - reigning champions
Manchester United. He also has just four wins from 21
against United, Arsenal and Chelsea. The games that really
matter.
So any delusions of being ready to take what they perceive
to be their rightful place on the throne can only be seen as
flattery of the most deceptive kind.
(Graham Shaw - TEAMtalk)
Fergie: We deserved it
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his
side have taken a massive step towards retaining their
Premier League title following a 1-0 win over Liverpool at
Anfield.
And Ferguson has acknowledged the importance of the win,
which takes United nine points clear of Liverpool, and
insists his side deserved
the victory.
"It's a good result that's for sure," Ferguson told Sky
Sports 1. "It's a marvellous day for us. A good result and a
good team performance."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa: We are not out of the title race
Rafa Benitez refused to write off Liverpool's title chances
after the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.
"It's too soon to say we are out of the title race because
there is still a long way to go," claimed Benitez.
"It will be harder after this game but we have to keep going
and think about our next game."
(LFC Official Website)
United hold Liverpool at bay
For the second season running, a close-range goal in front
of the Kop proved enough to give Manchester United victory
over Liverpool
at Anfield.
Whereas John O'Shea's goal in the corresponding fixture came
in stoppage time and spurred United on to the title, this
time the first half was nearing its end when Carlos Tevez
struck
And while the Argentina forward's effort will not prove
decisive in the championship race at this early stage, it
has left United nine points in front of their fierce
north-west rivals, who, after suffering their first defeat
at Reading last week, have now lost their unbeaten home
record too.
It is not the ideal backdrop to Rafael Benitez's crunch
meeting with co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks,
although United, unbeaten in Premier League combat on this
ground for six years now, will not care much about that.
(Ireland.com/PA)
Benitez names unchanged team
Rafael Benitez selects an unchanged side for only the third
time during his reign as Liverpool manager ahead of
Liverpool's 1.30pm kick-off with champions Manchester United
at Anfield.
With a post-match meeting planned with co-owners George
Gillett and Tom Hicks, Benitez knows a first Liverpool win
in three years over their Premier League rivals will be a
useful negotiating tool as he bids to generate some funds to
use in the January transfer window.
As expected, only Wayne Rooney remains in the United side
from the team that started the midweek draw in Rome. Owen
Hargreaves is back after a calf strain to partner Anderson
in midfield.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise,
Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell, Torres, Kuyt. Subs:
Itandje, Aurelio, Crouch, Babel, Lucas.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra,
Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez. Subs:
Kuszczak, Saha, Carrick, O'Shea, Fletcher.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
(Ireland.com)
Thor Zakariassen
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