|
|
|
FRIDAY 18 |
|
Didi looks to put 2002 nightmare behind him
On the eve of Liverpool's last Anfield meeting with Bayer
Leverkusen, it was famously announced the Reds were 'ten
games from greatness'.
Two weeks later, an irreversible slide began which
ultimately cost Gerard Houllier his job, undoing all the
good work which led to that notorious Champions League
quarter-final in 2002.
Memories of the 4-3 aggregate defeat to the Germans are
vivid, not least the moment many believe cost Liverpool the
tie.
With his side protecting a 2-1 overall lead early in the
second half, Houllier substituted anchorman Didi Hamann. The
Michael Ballack inspired fightback went into overdrive
afterwards.
Hamann is diplomatic when pressed on the controversial
decision which must still haunt the former manager.
(Liverpool Echo)
Babic blow for Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will be without midfielder Marko Babic
for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League tie against
Liverpool FC next Tuesday after the Croatian international
picked up an ankle injury in training.
The 24-year-old has been an integral part of Leverkusen's
progress in the competition, playing in five of their six
group games and scoring in the 3-0 win against FC Dynamo
Kyiv on Matchday 6. He has since experienced a dip in form,
however, and has yet to start a match in 2005, with coach
Klaus Augenthaler giving Paul Freier a run in the side.
(uefa.com)
Gerrard confident of success under Rafa
Steven Gerrard believes Rafael Benitez is the best man to
bring success back to Anfield.
Although the injury crisis has caused the Reds a few
problems, Gerrard says he has seen enough from the boss to
know he is the man to lead Liverpool to future success.
"I come from a family of Liverpool fans and I know what this
club means and I am very happy," said the captain.
"I am enjoying everything although of course I am desperate
for things to get better, but I know this will happen under
Benitez. He is a very good coach.
"This campaign has been up and down but we are in a cup
final and we have a good challenge ahead in order to finish
in the top four. It would be nice to be involved in the
title race but we will give it our best shot in the other
competitions.
"Obviously there have been a lot of changes and it is going
to be a question of time until everything is rosy again. The
manager has introduced good players but they have taken time
to settle which is normal.
"I am certain that with time the manager will improve
things. With a complete change in coaching staff and seven
players in and seven out it is going to be difficult but the
boys are enjoying training."
(LFC Online)
Gerrard: Owen loving Real life
Michael Owen's Real ambition is undimmed - and he is
determined to remain in Spain to fight for a starting role
at the Bernabeu.
As the England forward continues to battle for cameo
appearances off the substitutes' bench for Real Madrid
despite an encouraging strike rate in front of goal in his
debut La Liga season, reports have linked him with a move
back to Liverpool.
But Reds captain Steven Gerrard is convinced his England
colleague is committed to making a name for himself in Spain
rather than returning to Anfield.
"He loves the club and he is doing really well," said Owen's
international team-mate, who still regularly speaks to his
old Liverpool colleague by telephone.
"He wants to stay; he has settled really well and likes the
city.
"He is scoring goals - and if he plays more, which is what
he wants, then things would be even better," he told the
Daily Express
(Soccer Weekend) |
|
THURSDAY 17 |
|
Gregg reveals ground woe
Everton director Paul Gregg has revealed his disappointment
at his club's failure to secure a ground-sharing deal with
Liverpool.
Plans for the Merseyside rivals to share a new stadium at
Stanley Park collapsed last month, with both sets of
supporters against the proposals.
Gregg believes the move would have suited both clubs, with
the capacity at Anfield and Goodison Park both under 50,000.
Gregg said: "With both clubs at fourth and fifth in the
Premiership, what better opportunity to try to put them
together in an independent stadium?
"What Liverpool desperately need is another 15,000 seats,
what Everton need is another 15,000.
"The financial demands of doing it individually are
enormous."
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool star's father banned from
Anfield
The father of Jamie Carragher has been banned from every
football ground in the country and won't even be able to
attend Anfield to watch his son in action.
50-year-old Gary Carragher was ejected from Villa Park last
week while watching Jamie in action for England against
Holland. He was later arrested for allegedly being drunk and
for trying to get back into his VIP seats. He was later
released on bail after a night in the jug.
Carragher snr. appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court
yesterday to answer a charge of trying to enter a sports
arena while drunk, a charge which he denies. Magistrates
adjourned the case until a formal hearing could be arranged
and as part of his bail conditions, a ban on attending all
football stadiums was imposed.
It is reported that on leaving the court Carragher snr.
"turned on a photographer and clenched his fist as he
launched a foul-mouthed tirade"
(Kop Talk)
Bolton want to keep Diouf
Bolton chairmain Phil Gartside says they want to keep
controversial striker El Hadji Diouf beyond his loan spell
from Liverpool. Gartside said "We are certainly going to try
to keep him here next season.
"I think he wants to stay and we want him. It's a question
of trying to get the right financial deal with Liverpool.
"It's not so much a matter of reaching agreement with Diouf
as Liverpool. We know what his aspirations are. He might not
get exactly what he wants but we know where we are going.
"But we need to do a deal which will suit both clubs and we
will try to do that this summer. When we took him on loan we
talked about the possibility of keeping him."
Diouf has been 're-born' under Sam Allardyce in recent
months, going from serial spitter to more like the player
which earnt him the nickname of serial killer earlier in his
career.
(This is Anfield)
PSG plan more Houllier talks
Paris Saint GermainParis Saint Germain will resume
discussions with former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier
next week.
The French giants want Houllier to be the club's technical
consultant for the rest of the season.
With Laurent Fournier recently replacing Vahid Halilhodzic
as coach, PSG want Houllier to lend his experience to the
young manager.
Houllier has not been involved with a club since leaving
Liverpool at the end of last season and he has been working
as a commentator on English football for French television.
He has already held two rounds of talks with PSG chairman
Francis Graille regarding the possibility of accepting the
club's offer.
Reports in France claim a third meeting is due next week,
with PSG desperate to recruit Houllier's footballing nous.
But it is unclear whether Houllier is tempted by the
prospect of heading to Parc des Princes for the rest of the
campaign.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Reds 10th richest
Liverpool are 10th in the latest Deloitte Football Money
League - the fourth highest Premiership team in the report.
There were a total of eight English clubs in the worldwide
top 20, with Manchester United top, Chelsea in fourth and
Arsenal in sixth.
Newcastle are in 11th and Tottenham in 14th place, while
Manchester City were debutants on the list in 16th place and
Aston Villa returned after a five-year absence in 20th spot.
Liverpool's annual income of £92.3m in season 2003-04 saw
them drop two places
from eighth.
(TEAMtalk)
Kewell ready to face Germans
Harry Kewell was today declared available for the Champions
League clash with Bayer Leverkusen next Tuesday.
And Rafa Benitez has opened the door for a possible return
to the first team squad for Anfield's prodigal son Anthony
Le Tallec.
"I think Harry will be able to play next week. There was no
problem and he's been able to train okay," said Benitez.
(Liverpool Echo)
Rush lands duo
Chester manager Ian Rush has strengthened his squad with the
signings of former Sheffield United defender Ashley
Sestanovich and Liverpool winger Robbie Foy.
The pair have signed on a month's contract with a view to a
permanent deal and will go straight into Rush's squad for
the visit of high-flying Yeovil this weekend.
Sestanovich, 23, was recently sent back to the Blades by
Grimsby and subsequently released while Foy, a 19-year-old
Scotland Under-21 international, has yet to make an
appearance for the Liverpool first team.
Rush said: "I have been working hard for the last two or
three weeks to bring the pair in.
"They will go into the squad for Saturday's game but I have
to decide whether or not they will play any part."
(Sporting Life)
New pitch for Cup final
The pitch at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium is to be relayed
ahead of the Carling Cup final next week.
Groundstaff at the stadium have faced an ongoing battle to
keep the surface in prime condition, but after the recent
six nations Rugby clash between Wales and England officials
have decided action is needed.
General Manager Paul Sergeant said: "Having assessed our
existing pitch, and examined all the options, we have
decided to completely re-turf the pitch ahead of next week's
Carling Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea.
"We sent our pitch consultant to examine pitches in the
north of England and Holland and we will be laying a
completely new surface made of Dutch grass this week.
"The old pitch will be out by Wednesday and the new surface
will be laid by the end of play on Friday.
"We have a big job to do in a short space of time, but we
will have a pristine surface for the Carling Cup final."
(LFC Official Website)
Alonso eyes Reds return
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso "hasn't given up hope" of
playing again this season as he steps up his comeback from a
broken ankle.
The inspirational Spaniard was injured in a late challenge
by Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard on New Year's Day and
was initially ruled out for the remainder of Liverpool's
injury-hit campaign.
Alonso, however, is well on the road to recovery and is
determined he will feature for the Reds before the season is
over.
He told the club's website: "The ankle is getting better
every day. I'm maybe ahead of schedule in my rehab programme
and I'm working as hard as I can to get fit as soon as
possible.
"This is a difficult injury to recover from quickly so I
just need to take things slowly and not rush myself too
much.
"Will I play again this season? I really hope so. I would
like that a lot and I haven't given up hope of that
happening. We'll just have to see. In football you never
know
what can happen."
(TEAMtalk) |
|
WEDNESDAY 16 |
|
Benitez rounds on Liverpool flops
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has launched a stinging
public attack on his players in the aftermath of the
disappointing defeat at Birmingham.
He told the Liverpool Echo: "I have come here to work hard
and I expect everyone else to do the same.
"We must accept the Birmingham game was bad and not the kind
of performance we want in future."
Benitez added: "I don't want to spend time here without
trophies. It's not enough for me to see my side play well in
one or two games. I want consistency and that means everyone
working harder.
"I told the players this week that when I decided to join
this club I took it on as a challenge. I have not come to
Liverpool to earn money."
(BBC Sport Online)
Baros: We can beat Leverkusen
Milan Baros says Liverpool can beat Bayer Leverkusen in the
last 16 of the Champions League - despite the absence of
Fernando Morientes from the Reds' attack.
With Morientes cup-tied, Florent Sinama-Pongolle also out
and Neil Mellor a major doubt that leaves Baros as the only
fit recognised striker at Rafael Benitez's disposal for the
game.
Baros says he thrives on the responsibility and is looking
forward to the game as he tells us in this exclusive video
interview you can watch online.
Baros told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I know Fernando can't play and
Sinama-Pongolle and Mellor are injured so it will probably
be me playing up front on my own, but I am confident we can
do it. I think the boss will have something planned and
maybe someone else will play with me.
"It's the last 16 and it is a massive game. I think we can
beat them and go through but it's going to be difficult as
they have played well in the Champions League this season
and in the qualifier they beat my former club Banik Ostrava.
It would be nice to score the goals to take Liverpool
through as I always want to score goals."
(LFC Official Website)
Carragher 'to get new Reds deal'
Liverpool are set to offer defender Jamie Carragher a
contract extension, according to newspaper reports.
The 27-year-old, who has two years left on his current deal,
has impressed Reds boss Rafael Benitez with his consistent
form this season.
His contract is now likely to be extended by up to three
years in a new deal reportedly worth £40,000 a week.
Liverpool have already indicated they are willing to enter
negotiations with Carragher's representatives, SFX.
Benitez said on Friday that Carragher "is the best central
defender in England at the moment.
"Jamie is playing very well and has been all season. He is a
very important player for us.
"He is a very good player with the strength and character
every manager would want."
(BBC Sport Online)
|
|
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
