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MONDAY 18 |
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Benitez lays down challenge to strikers
Rafa Benitez today laid down the gauntlet to his strikers
and demanded a higher goal ratio in the season ahead.
After watching Djibril Cisse fire a double against Bayer
Leverkusen in Saturday's 3-0 win in Austria, Benitez
admitted he was unhappy with the goalscoring contribution of
his forwards last season.
Milan Baros topped the charts with just 13 goals, only nine
of which came in the league.
Cisse, of course, saw his season wrecked with injury. But
Benitez, who hopes the signing of Peter Crouch will help
remedy the problem, anticipates a much higher return this
year.
"It's true we are looking for more goals from our strikers,"
said Benitez.
(Liverpool Echo)
Baros left out of 18 man squad
Rafael Benitez has named a strong 18-man squad for Tuesdays
1st Round, 2nd leg UEFA Champions League qualifer against
TNS - although Czech striker Milan Baros has been left out.
The Reds hold a 3-nil lead from the first leg at Anfield
after Steven Gerrards superb hat-trick. ITV2 will be
screeening the game live in the UK.
The squad is as follows:
Jose Reina
Scott Carson
Steve Finnan
Sami Hyypia
Jamie Carragher
Stephen Warnock
Zak Whitbread
Josemi
John Arne Riise
Steven Gerrard
Darren Potter
Bolo Zenden
Luis Garcia
Dietmar Hamann
Xabi Alonso
Djibril Cisse
Fernando Morientes
Anthony Le Tallec
(18-5.com)
Benitez won't take it easy on TNS
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says he is determined to
avoid any nasty surprises when the holders take on Welsh
outsiders Total Network Solutions in the second leg of their
Champions League qualifier.
Despite being 3-0 up after last week's first leg of the
first qualifying round tie, Benitez will field a near
full-strength side against the team from the Welsh village
of Llansantffraid.
"We must be careful in the game," Benitez told the Liverpool
website.
(Daily Mail)
Redknapp: Crouch must stay
Harry Redknapp has urged Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe to
"stay strong" as Liverpool prepare to step up their pursuit
of Peter Crouch.
Liverpool boss Rafel Benitez is expected to submit an
increased bid for the lanky hitman this week but Redknapp is
determined to keep all his best players at St Mary's as he
plots his team's assault on the Championship.
Redknapp said: "I hope the chairman stays strong. We must
keep as many of our best players as possible and if that
includes Peter I think we will be all right up front. If not
I may have to look to sign two more forwards."
(TEAMtalk)
Warnock's injury boost
Liverpool's Stephen Warnock is not as badly injured as was
initially feared.
The 24-year-old was involved in a horrific clash with Bayer
Leverkusen's Paul Freier in the opening stages of a
pre-season friendly in Austria.
Freier broke his nose in the seventh minute clash while
Warnock left the field clutching his elbow.
Warnock was taken to hospital where X-rays have revealed
that there is nothing broken, although there was bleeding on
the elbow.
However, Warnock is hoping to return to training immediately
and hopes to be able to figure in The Reds' UEFA Champions
League tie against TNS at Wrexham on Tuesday.
The injury scare was a big worry for Warnock who has had a
terrible time with injuries during his career.
Warnock has twice broken a leg but is just beginning to
nudge his way into Rafa Benitez's plans.
(Sky Sports)
Agency calls for shared stadium
The region's leading regeneration executive last night
called on Liverpool and Everton football clubs to build a
joint stadium.
Steve Broomhead, chief executive of the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA), believes the debate should be
re-kindled following a decision that public funds could not
be used on a new ground for Liverpool FC.
Following his comments, Everton FC's chief executive last
night said he would be prepared to take part in fresh talks
to explore the idea.
Liverpool have participated in previous talks, but the club
has always maintained a view that a joint ground would not
be supported.
However, the spiralling cost of a new home at Stanley Park
could force Liverpool to look again at its strategy.
(Daily Post)
Henchoz on his way out of Celtic
Stephane Henchoz's agent yesterday confirmed the Swiss
defender has joined the list of players leaving Celtic.
The 30-year-old attempted to resurrect his stalling career
in January when he joined the Hoops from Liverpool.
The arrival of new manager Gordon Strachan could have
brought him a fresh start but the Scot was unable to give
him any assurances of first-team football.
Agent Jorg Vonmattsaid: "Stephane has some offers from other
clubs but where they are I cannot reveal too much at this
moment."
(Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 17 |
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Liverpool closing in on Figo and Crouch
Liverpool hope to add the contrasting figures of Luís Figo
and Peter Crouch to their squad by the end of the week, but
they are encountering further frustrations in their pursuit
of Gabriel Milito.
Having had a £7.5 million bid for the Argentina defender
rejected by Real Zaragoza, Liverpool have been told that
Milito will cost at least £10 million — a sum beyond their
budget unless they sell players such as Jerzy Dudek, the
goalkeeper, and Milan Baros, the forward. They may revert to
less expensive targets, such as Matthew Upson, the
Birmingham City defender.
(The Times)
TNS await full-strength Liverpool
TNS midfielder Martyn Naylor says he expects Liverpool to
field all their stars in Tuesday's Champions League first
round, second leg, in Wrexham.
Liverpool hold a 3-0 advantage from the first leg at Anfield
but Naylor expects no let up from the European champions.
"If they had scored a few more they could have rested
players in the second leg," said 27-year-old Naylor.
"At 3-0 I don't think they can afford to put out a reserve
side, I'm looking for another crack at their big guns."
(BBC Sport Online)
West Ham linked with Baros swoop
Newspaper reports today claim that West Ham United are
lining up a £5.5million bid for Liverpool striker Milan
Baros.
(Kop Talk)
Carra's word of warning
Jamie Carragher has warned that Liverpool will find it
difficult to break into the top three in the Premiership
this season.
"I don't want to sound defeatist but it's going to be
difficult to break into the top three," he admitted. "It's
still only Rafa's second season here and we haven't got the
resources of Chelsea or Manchester United.
"We've got to look for the 70-point mark and that would get
us fourth. Obviously we want to win the league but it would
mean a big jump to go from 37 points behind Chelsea to above
them.
"Maybe the year after, we can add another 10 or 12 points
and keep pushing so in the next couple of years we can go
for the title."
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 16 |
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Rafa pleased with Reds friendly win
Rafael Benitez was quietly satisfied after seeing his side
secure an impressive 3-0 friendly win over Bayer Leverkusen
in Lustenau, Austria, on Saturday night.
"It was a good game for us," said the boss afterwards. "We
used a different team in each half and I am pleased with the
performance. My idea was to see all the players and I now
have to analyse the squad before selecting who will fly back
to face TNS on Tuesday. That is most important for us now."
(LFC Official Website)
Cisse buoyed by brace
Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse stepped up his claims for a
regular starting place by scoring twice in a 3-0 friendly
win against Bayer Leverkusen.
The 23-year-old spent much of last season recovering from a
broken leg, but returned to action towards the end of the
campaign.
With Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez understood to be
interested in Southampton's Peter Crouch, Cisse responded
during the friendly in Austria.
(Sporting Life)
Rafa wants Crouch, not Owen
Rafael Benitez is reportedly set to snub Michael Owen's
attempt to rejoin Liverpool because he wants to sign Peter
Crouch instead.
Saturday's papers are awash with stories claiming that Owen
has tired of playing second-fiddle at Real Madrid and wants
to return to Anfield.
The Daily Mail even claims the England striker is
'desperate' to rejoin the European Champions after a year of
frustration in the Spanish capital.
(ITV Football)
Baggies seal Kirkland deal
West Bromwich Albion have completed the signing
of Chris Kirkland.
The Liverpool goalkeeper has been training with The Baggies
for the last two weeks to prove his fitness.
Kirkland has displayed that he is fully fit and West Brom
have now finalised the deal.
"Chris is a very talented keeper but he's got stiff
competition here," said Albion assistant boss Nigel Pearson.
"I'm delighted for him because he's had a tough time with
injuries and I know what that can be like.
"He's desperate for a run of games but he'll have to fight
hard to get them."
(Sky Sports)
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Thor Zakariassen
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