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SUNDAY 18 |
Rafa unruffled by United resurgence
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists he is unfazed by
Manchester United’s rise to the top of The Premier League.
United beat Bolton 1-0 on Saturday to move a point clear of
Liverpool who entertain Everton in the Merseyside derby on
Monday.
Monday's Merseyside derby and the FA Cup tie between
Liverpool and Everton on January 25 are both exclusively
live on Setanta Sports. Click here for details on how to
sign up to Setanta Sports on Satellite, Freeview or
Broadband.
Benitez had been accused who crumbling under the pressure of
a title tilt when he ranted at Sir Alex Ferguson prior to
Liverpool’s goalless draw
with Stoke.
But he now maintains he is firmly focussed on The Reds and
will not be distracted from their title charge.
"The situation does not change, no matter what they do,"
said Benitez.
"We have to get three points in every single game and
especially
in the derby."
(Setanta Sports)
Torres: It is time to step up
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has demanded his
team-mates 'step up a gear' in the Premier League title
race.
The Reds were overtaken by Manchester United at the table's
summit on Saturday as Dimitar Berbatov struck late on to
sink Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
Chelsea's last-gasp victory over Stoke also piled the
pressure on Rafa Benitez's side - who drew with the Potters
in their last outing - ahead of Monday's crunch Merseyside
derby.
And Torres, who is expected to start his first game for the
Reds since returning from a hamstring injury when Everton
arrive at Anfield, has urged his colleagues to improve their
performances.
"This year there is a clear sense that the league is our
target," Torres said in the Sunday Mirror.
"The only way is to have confidence in yourselves - maybe by
stringing three or four wins together.
"You also have to remember the next few weeks will go a long
way to deciding how the season pans out. Now is really the
time to step up
a gear."
(Sporting Life)
No Kop out for Reds boss
Rafa Benitez has reiterated his wish to remain at Liverpool
for the long-term, despite the Spaniard appearing unwilling
to back down in his contract demands.
Benitez, who this week rejected The Reds' offer of an
extension, has intimated that he will reopen discussions
with the club's American co-owners Tom Hicks and George
Gillett Jr. next month, however the increasingly belligerent
boss insists that his demands remain the same.
The sticking point, as far as Benitez is concerned, revolves
around transfer policy, with the former Valencia manager not
inclined to answer to the club's chief executive Rick Parry
on the issue of player recruitment.
(Setanta Sports)
Aussies turn to God
Robbie Fowler could be set for a move down under after
agreeing to hold talks with A-League side North Queensland.
The former Liverpool hit-man is currently without a club
after his short-term deal with Blackburn Rovers came to an
end in December.
North Queensland coach, Ian Ferguson, is on the look-out for
a high-profile player to join the club and claims Fowler
will now head to Australia to discuss a possible move.
"He has agreed to catch up in Townsville for a few days and
obviously we will be talking about football," said Ferguson.
"We're looking for a marquee player and Robbie easily fits
that position in any A-League football club.
"His record speaks for itself. He's a pure goal scorer who
would lift the profile of football in this country to a new
level if he decided to play in the A-League."
Fowler, who earned the nickname 'God' in two separate spells
at Liverpool, netted an impressive 183 goals in 369 games
for The Reds.
(Setanta Sports)
Euro recall for Sami
Sami Hyypia will be recalled to Liverpool's Champions League
squad.
The Finn was not named as part of the Reds' 25 man Champions
League squad last August but will be recalled when Rafael
Benitez submits a new squad list ahead of the knockout
stages.
Either Philipp Degen or Andrea Dossena are expected to make
way. Liverpool will also want to name another home produced
player if Jermaine Pennant agrees terms with Portsmouth.
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 17 |
Benitez noncommittal on Reds future
Manager Rafael Benitez has refused to commit his
long-term future to Liverpool and has expressed his
unhappiness with contract negotiations.
The Spaniard, who has 18 months left on his contract, has
turned down a new deal after co-owners Tom Hicks and George
Gillett rejected his demands for complete control of
transfers.
"I can say that I already have an agreement with one club
and it is with Liverpool Football Club for one and a half
years," he said when asked about his contract.
"I will be here against Everton (on Monday) and hopefully
for a lot
of years."
Hicks expects to meet Benitez at the end of this month to
discuss any outstanding issues but when asked on Saturday
the manager declined to say whether contract negotiations
were still ongoing.
The row threatens to overshadow Monday's
increasingly-important Merseyside derby but Benitez said it
was business as usual for him and the players.
(TEAMtalk)
Boos are a boost for Neville
Phil Neville will relish the reception he knows will be
reserved for him by Liverpool fans when he leads Everton out
at Anfield on Monday night.
The first Merseyside derby of the week – Everton are back at
Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round next Sunday – will give
the Toffees the chance to keep the pressure on the likes of
Arsenal and Aston Villa in the chase for European places.
And former Manchester United star Neville won't be fazed by
the taunting from the Reds fans.
He said: "It's something I really enjoy – if they didn't do
that I'd be worried. I love the atmosphere of
Liverpool-Everton games. It's one of the things that drew me
to the club."
(The Scotsman)
Pompey hopeful of Pennant purchase
Portsmouth have not given up hope of signing Jermaine
Pennant - even though the winger has pleaded with Liverpool
not to sell him.
The two clubs have agreed a fee for the 26-year-old, who has
only started two Premier League games this season and has
not featured for Liverpool since October 28.
Pennant said on Friday his preference would be to stay at
Anfield and compete for his place in the team.
"I have always maintained my position of wanting to stay at
the club. I am happy to compete for my place here and hope I
am given the chance to do so," he said.
Portsmouth manager Tony Adams is keen to make Pennant, who
played for Liverpool in the 2007 Champions League final, his
first signing since taking over at Fratton Park.
And Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie said on Friday
night: "We spoke at length with his agent (on Thursday) and
hopefully some time over the weekend we can move things
forward."
(TEAMtalk)
Torres warning for Kaka
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has advised Kaka to reject
overtures from Manchester City and remain at Milan.
The Brazilian superstar is the talk of the January transfer
window, with City looking to push through a deal believed to
be worth over £100 million.
Liverpool star Torres feels it would be a huge mistake for
the 26-year-old to join City, as he believes the former
world footballer of the years needs to be battling for
trophies as opposed to scrapping against relegation.
"Manchester City is not the right team for Kaka," Torres
told the Daily Mail. "Seriously, how can they pay £100
million for Kaka?
"Big players want to win trophies and Manchester City is not
even in the race for trophies in England. They are fighting
to stay in The Premier League, or to get to the middle of
the table.
"They have to build from there and then go against the
biggest clubs and after that, maybe, a top player will join
them."
(Setanta Sports) |
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FRIDAY 16 |
Liverpool legend:
Give Rafa what he wants
Liverpool legend Alan Kennedy sent out a clear message to
the club’s owners on Setanta Sports News, saying “Give Rafa
what he wants”.
Benitez revealed on Friday that he has come to an agreement
on the length of a new contract at Anfield, but has rejected
the offer due to a dispute over his role as manager.
The Liverpool boss has been unhappy with the club’s player
recruitment policy, a situation that has already spelt the
end for former Youth Team coach Steve Heighway.
Benitez wants a more hands-on role in both the Academy and
the transfer market, and Kennedy insists the owners would be
foolish to say no.
“It’s sad news for the football club, Rafa’s taken Liverpool
great strides in recent years and we’re disappointed to hear
he’s not signing a new contract,” the two-time European
Cup-winner told Setanta Sports News.
(Setanta Sports)
Hicks confident Benitez will sign up
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks predicts Rafael Benitez will
remain manager for the next five years - and insists he has
no concerns at all about the Spaniard's decision to reject
the terms of a new contract.
Benitez on Friday chose to decline the deal because of an
apparent disagreement with Hicks and his fellow owner George
Gillett over his level of control.
Benitez explained: "The owners feel that the manager's
decisions need to be subject to the chief executive."
But Hicks has subsequently told Sky Sports News he has no
worries about the situation, and sent a message to Liverpool
fans that he expects Benitez to remain at Anfield for years
to come.
"I will be working with Rafa to get this resolved - and I am
just not worried about it at all," he said.
"Rafa is going to be coach of Liverpool for the next five
years, and we will work through all this."
(ITV - Football)
Pennant set for Pompey switch
Liverpool and Portsmouth have agreed an undisclosed fee for
Jermaine Pennant.
The winger has been amazingly linked with AC Milan and Real
Madrid in recent weeks, but a move to Fratton Park now looks
very likely, assuming he can agree terms.
(LFC Online)
Tigers' Finnan move off
Hull City's swoop for experienced right-back Steve Finnan is
reportedly off after he failed a medical.
The former Liverpool defender, who has spent the first half
of the season with Spanish outfit Espanyol, underwent a
routine medical on Thursday.
However, Sky Sports News now understands that The Tigers
will not be completing his transfer after the 32-year-old
Republic of Ireland international failed the medical.
It had been reportedly elsewhere that City had already
signed Finnan, but speaking earlier on Friday, Tigers boss
Phil Brown stated the deal had not been finalised and was
still some way from completion.
"One or two press lads have jumped the gun with regard to
Steve Finnan," he told Sky Sports News. "That's a long way
from being completed.
"He underwent a medical and had two or three scans yesterday
on areas of his body. That is normal, he is 32.
"We'd agreed a deal with Espanyol. Personal terms had yet to
be agreed. So there's still a bit to go on Steve."
(Sky Sports)
Banned Fellaini misses Anfield trip
Everton will be without Marouane Fellaini for Monday night's
Premier League derby at Liverpool - because he is suspended
for two matches.
Midfield star Fellaini, a towering presence and goalscoring
option from set-pieces as the Toffees continue to make up
for the absence through injury of most of their strikeforce,
will miss Monday's match and next weekend's FA Cup
fourth-round tie at Anfield
Up front, Everton are without long-term injury victims James
Vaughan (knee), Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Achilles) and Louis Saha
(hamstring), while defenders Nuno Valente (knee) and Joseph
Yobo (hamstring) are
missing too.
Toffees (from): Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Lescott,
Neville, Arteta, Pienaar, Castillo, Cahill, Anichebe, Nash,
Van Der Meyde, Rodwell, Gosling, Jutkiewicz, Kissock.
(TEAMtalk)
At the end of the day,
we must close cliché window
On Monday night, for the 209th time, the formbook will
either fly or be tossed out of the window, depending on your
preference for derby day’s most enduring cliche.
Well it’s time that awful phrase followed it through
Everest’s finest.
Because the formbook doesn’t go out of the window.
Well very rarely, anyway.
I’ve worked out that Monday night will be the 33rd
successive derby match I’ve attended as a journalist. There
have been at least another 30 witnessed from outside the
comfort of the press box – and the times I’ve been genuinely
surprised can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
There was the occasion Everton produced a performance so
abject in a League Cup tie at Coventry that Howard Kendall
tried to do a Phil Brown and send his team back out at the
end. Three days later they beat Liverpool in an upset so
great that the Goodison tannoy announcer played the
signature tune to Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected at
the final whistle.
(David Prentice -Liverpool Echo)
Stunner as Rafa Benitez
rejects Anfield contract offer
Rafa Benitez has rejected Liverpool’s contract offer.
The Reds boss today told the ECHO it was “with great regret”
that he has declined the proposal but feels he has no other
option.
Benitez says he has no complaints with the financial terms
of the deal on the table, nor the length of the proposed
contract with these elements having been agreed by all
parties last month.
The Spaniard is adamant he has no quarrel with Liverpool
owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, insisting recent talks
have never been anything but amicable. But he feels the
conditions of the contract would not allow him to manage
football matters at the club to the best of his abilities.
“The talks between my agent and the advisers of the owners
have been very positive and friendly and our differences are
about my responsibilities.
“The only person who can decide the value of a player to his
squad is the manager because he knows what elements are
needed to improve the squad.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool FC seek
to clarify future of Agger
Rafael Benitez is to seek further talks with Daniel Agger to
clarify the Denmark international’s future intentions.
Liverpool are unhappy the centre-back’s agent was spotted in
conversation with AC Milan officials this week without the
Serie A side having been given consent to hold any talks.
The Anfield outfit acknowledge that Agger’s agent, Per
Steffersen, could have visited Milan without the player’s
permission.
Agger has yet to completely overcome the calf injury that
ruled him out of the disappointing goalless draw at Stoke
City last weekend.
But should he recover, Benitez would have a fully-fit squad
to choose from for Monday’s Premier League derby at home to
Everton after Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa returned to
full training.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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