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SUNDAY 18 |
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Crouch caught up in drug-taking pictures
scandal
Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has found himself caught up
in the middle of a drugs scandal involving his girlfriend
Abigail Clancy.
Crouch has been tipped off about a number of photographs
circulating that allegedly show the 20-year-old snorting
cocaine when she was in a girl band called 'Genie Queen'.
It has already been reported that Crouch and his parents are
upset after seeing photos of her topless on a bed with one
of her friends and as he's only been dating her 5 minutes,
mum and dad are naturally concerned.
According to newspaper reports today, Crouch "quietly
suggested" that Abigail left the player's wives and
girlfriends hotel to return to England to deal with the
matter.
She is said to have flown back in midweek to meet her
management team in London to discuss the drugs controversy
although she's expected to return to Germany
next weekend.
(Kop Talk)
Garcia calls for Villa move
Liverpool playmaker Luis Garcia believes Spain team-mate
David Villa would be a great addition to the squad at
Anfield.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is on the look-out for striking
reinforcements after selling Fernando Morientes to Valencia,
while Djibril Cisse broke his leg before Liverpool could
sell him.
The likes of Jermain Defoe and Dirk Kuyt are two names being
linked with moves to Anfield, but Garcia has called for
Benitez to plump for Valencia marksman Villa.
After bagging 24 goals for Valencia in La Liga last season,
Villa impressed in Spain's 4-0 win over Ukraine in their
World Cup opener, scoring twice in a superb overall
performance.
His international team-mate Garcia says that Villa would fit
in well at Anfield and has called for Benitez to sign him in
the summer.
"Jermain Defoe, Dirk Kuyt and David Villa have all been
tipped as replacements for Fernando Morientes, but I would
most like to see Villa come to Anfield," said Garcia.
"He scored 24 goals last season for Valencia and he's
improving. But Villa is not just a goalscorer, he's also a
very good worker for the team.
"He's a fighter and that is an important quality we like to
have at Anfield."
(Sky Sports)
Hamann move on hold
Dietmar Hamann's expected move to Bolton may not now happen.
The Liverpool midfielder is believed to have changed his
mind about wanting the move, while Manchester City have also
expressed an interest.
(LFC Online)
Sven set to drop Liverpool duo
Striker Peter Crouch and midfielder Steven Gerrard could
both be rested for England’s final World Cup group game
against Sweden on Tuesday night, to ensure that they aren’t
suspended for the later stages of the competition.
Both Crouch and Gerrard picked up yellow cards during
England’s opening match against Paraguay last Saturday and
following the team’s victory over Trinidad & Tobago on
Thursday, thanks to goals from Crouch and Gerrard, England
have secured qualification to the 2nd round knock-out phase.
Along with the Liverpool team-mates, Chelsea’s Frank Lampard
is also on a yellow card and a second yellow card before the
knock-out stage begins will earn a one match suspension.
After the group stages end, players begin on a ‘clean slate’
again.
England coach Sven Goren Eriksson said, “There are three
players booked and maybe I will leave one out.
“I don’t want to leave all three out - maybe one or two. If
we had to win to go through I would probably risk all three,
but we don’t need to do that.”
(This is Anfield) |
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SATURDAY 17 |
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Gerrard issues rallying cry
Steven Gerrard has urged England to show some signs of
improvement in their final group game.
The Three Lions have been distinctly ordinary in their first
two games but head into the clash against Sweden already
assured of a place in the last 16.
England still need a positive result to claim top spot
though, and they will also be looking to end their appalling
record against the Scandinavians.
"I think it's about time we put a stop to this Sweden thing
and we're really confident that we can get three points,"
said the midfielder on Sky Sports News.
"They'll come at England so we should be able to create
more. The game will be a lot more open.
"We've got the talent and the players in our squad to
improve and we are desperate to improve."
If Gerrard is picked to play against Sweden he runs the risk
of picking up a yellow card and missing the second round
through suspension.
"I don't think I can go into an international game and try
and play differently, or stop going into tackles,'' he
concluded.
"But obviously I've got to be careful because I don't want
to miss the last 16 game."
(Sky Sports)
Carragher moves to back off-form Owen
Jamie Carragher has backed out-of-sorts England striker
Michael Owen to defy his critics and regain his sharpness in
front of goal.
There is speculation that Owen, who has scored 36 goals for
his country, could make way for fit-again Wayne Rooney in
Tuesday's World Cup clash with Sweden.
Newcastle striker Owen has looked off the pace against
Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago following his five-month
lay-off after breaking a metatarsal.
But Carragher knows all about 26-year-old Owen's qualities
from the striker's days at Liverpool and is adamant he will
show his true quality once he has more football under his
belt.
Carragher said: "You've got to remember these are virtually
Michael's first games for five to six months and it's in
international football, which is not as easy as people think
at times.
"I know we are supposed to go out and beat these teams but
it is difficult and Michael has been getting in there and
getting chances. That's the good thing that he'll be
positive about.
"When he gets a bit sharper, he'll put those chances away.
Michael Owen always seems to get knocked by people and he
comes back and proves them wrong."
(TEAMtalk)
Kuyt deal not done
Various reports today claim that Liverpool have agreed to
sign Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt for £10million.
These reports are based on the following line which first
appeared in Saturday's Mirror (British newspaper):
'Liverpool have all but finalised a move for Dutch
international striker Dirk Kuyt, and that should go ahead at
the end of the World Cup, with the Merseyside club paying
around £10m to Feyenoord.'
While it is true that Liverpool are keen on the Dutch
hitman, it is premature to suggest that the player has
actually signed.
The report clearly doesn't say he has signed but those who
are sourcing it are twisting what journo Dave Maddock
actually wrote.
Kuyt remains a target but as things currently stand he
remains a Feyenoord player.
(Kop Talk)
Gerrard ignored by the Queen again
Steven Gerrard has again been omitted from the Queen's
Birthday Honours list - but Dave Richards and Barry Ferguson
have been recognised.
It had been expected that England midfielder Gerrard would
be honoured for captaining Liverpool to Champions League
glory last year, but he will now have to wait at least until
the New Year.
Instead Richards, chairman of the Premier League and
Football Foundation since 1998, becomes Sir Dave, and
Rangers midfielder Ferguson is also honoured with an MBE.
(TEAMtalk)
Barnes in frame for Jamaica role
Former England and Liverpool winger John Barnes is being
considered for a coaching position with Jamaica.
The 43-year-old was born in Jamaica but moved to Britain as
a teenager and enjoyed a highly successful career with
Watford, Liverpool and Newcastle.
He had an eight-month stint as coach of Scottish giants
Celtic in 1999/2000.
Jamaica Federation president Crenston Boxhill said: "We are
talking with several people to upgrade the technical aspect
and John is one of them."
Barnes was capped 79 times for England, and played in the
1986 and 1990 World Cups.
Jamaica's most recent matches, against World Cup qualifiers
Ghana and England this month, ended in defeat.
(BBC Sport Online)
Dudek to leave
Jerzy Dudek will leave Liverpool this Summer and return to
Holland.
Dudek will return to the Dutch league for next season when
he joins AZ Alkmaar for £1m.
(LFC Online) |
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FRIDAY 16 |
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D-Day looms in Bellamy race
Liverpool target Craig Bellamy will discover if his dream
move to Anfield will go ahead within the next two weeks.
The Blackburn striker has a £6m get-out clause in his
contract, but that expires at the end of this month.
If Liverpool don't activate the clause within the next
fortnight, they'll be unable to secure the Welshman's
services for the same cut-price fee.
Bellamy has emerged as the most likely striking target for
manager Rafa Benitez due to the postponement of Djibril
Cisse's £8m transfer.
Had Cisse been sold, Benitez was ready to use the funds for
a swoop for Charlton's Darren Bent.
However, the Spanish boss recognises Bellamy would represent
top value for £6m, although there are still significant
discussions ongoing at Anfield to determine the pros and
cons of a Bellamy bid.
(Daily Post)
Crouch pulled up for goal
Peter Crouch's goal against Trinidad and Tobago was the
centre of controversy when television replays showed he
pulled Brent Sancho's dreadlocks as he won the header.
Crouch pounced in the 83rd minute after England had
struggled to find a breakthrough against the Caribbean
minnows.
At first glance it looked like a fair header from the 6ft
7ins Liverpool striker. But slow-motion replays clearly
showed Crouch grab a handful of Sancho's hair and leap above
him.
It stopped the Trinidad and Tobago defender from jumping to
challenge for the ball.
Referee Toru Kamikawa missed the incident at the time and
England went on to win 2-0 with a second goal from Steven
Gerrard in stoppage time.
Crouch received a yellow card in the first match of the
tournament against Paraguay and FIFA are expected to look
into the incident against Trinidad.
(Daily Post)
Cisse set for Marseille loan
Reports early this Friday morning in French sportspaper
L’Equipe claim Liverpool have agreed a one year loan deal
with Marseille for Djibril Cisse, with a permanent deal
lined up after that.
The French forward broke his leg for the second time in two
years in the World Cup warm up match with China, just as a
deal with Lyon or Marseille was about to be agreed. The
unfortunate injury looked to have scuppered any transfer but
now it seems a deal is
back on.
(This is Anfield)
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Thor Zakariassen
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