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SATURDAY 18 |
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Reds know the value of top-two finish
Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock insists Manchester United
can be caught in the race for second place in the Barclays
Premiership.
He stressed that the chance to go automatically into the
Champions League group stages with a top-two finish is one
Liverpool are desperate to seize.
United have the points and games advantage over Liverpool,
who mauled Fulham 5-1 on Wednesday when Warnock scored his
first senior goal.
Going into Sunday's difficult away game at Newcastle,
24-year-old Warnock underlined the importance of going
straight into the Champions League group stages, rather than
facing a third qualifying round tie.
The top two in the Premiership go straight into the elite
group stages, while teams finishing third and fourth must
play in the final qualifying round, the first leg of which
comes before the start of the domestic season.
The memory of Liverpool's exhausting haul through all three
European qualifying rounds last summer in defence of their
European title is still fresh in his mind.
And an unhindered pre-season build-up following the World
Cup would be a novelty for Liverpool's players.
"We must now push on for second spot," said Warnock.
(PA Sport)
Winger: Why I turned down Liverpool
transfer
Newcastle United winger Nolberto Solano has admitted that
Liverpool did make a move for him in the summer as reported
on KOPTALK at the time.
But because the Reds left it too late as they were reluctant
to pay an extra £500,000 on their valuation of the player,
he instead concentrated on a return to the North East.
When Liverpool returned with a fresh offer, the player had
already agreed a deal with Newcastle.
Solano said: "There was a chance I could have gone to
Liverpool in the summer, but it happened too late.
"Their interest came on the last day when I had already
agreed to go to Newcastle. I had made a decision to come
back here. They had a chance to get me earlier in the
summer, but they did not take it.
"I have no regrets about coming back here. I'm now a
Newcastle player, and I'll be trying to win the game in a
black and white shirt."
(Kop Talk)
Reds reach cup final
Liverpool are through to the FA Youth Cup final after
beating Southampton on penalties last night. Leading 2-1
from the first leg, the Reds lost 3-2 last night but
overcame the Saints in a penalty shoot out to reach their
first Youth Cup final since the Michael Owen and Jamie
Carragher inspired side of 1996.
(LFC Online) |
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FRIDAY 17 |
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Rafa's Reds playing for their futures
Rafael Benitez's decision to commit his future to Liverpool
has thrown down the gauntlet to his current playing staff to
prove they can be part of his vision for Anfield.
Weeks of fears over whether the Spaniard was willing to
devote the best years of his management career to the
Merseysiders have been swept aside with an improved contract
and major new finances for team building now promised.
And the events of this week will not have been lost on a
Liverpool dressing room facing eight vital Premiership games
- starting at Newcastle on Sunday - and an FA Cup
quarter-final at Birmingham two days later.
Benitez insists "things will be completely different next
season" and with the board assuring him of major rebuilding
funds, that dressing room will look a very different place
come August.
Just who survives the changes depends very much on how
Liverpool finish their current league campaign and whether
they can progress to the FA Cup final.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez joins in criticism of FA Cup
schedule
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is angry that his team must
play an FA Cup quarter-final match against Birmingham City,
just two days after Sunday's Premier League clash with
Newcastle United.
The FA Cup is now Liverpool's last hope for silverware this
season after they were knocked out of the Champions League
by Benfica and falling too far behind Chelsea in the league.
"In this case you have to think about both games. It is only
two days and you do not have time to recuperate the
players," Benitez told reporters.
"At Christmas time we had similar problems. We played four
games in eight days. I don't understand these things because
if you want to see the best of your players and the best
football you must give the players a rest.
"You cannot give the players just one day to recover. If you
know football, you know the second day after a game is the
worst day for players."
(Reuters)
Key duo back for Toon test
Xabi Alonso and Sami Hyypia should both start as Liverpool
look to build on their thrashing of Fulham at Newcastle on
Sunday.
Alonso returns after being suspended for the 5-1 win over
the Cottagers, while Hyypia will come in for Daniel Agger
after resting a hamstring strain on Wednesday.
John Arne Riise is still out with a hip injury, which means
Stephen Warnock - fresh from his first-ever Liverpool goal -
could come in at left-back in place of Djimi Traore, who
started against Fulham.
And with Robbie Fowler, Peter Crouch and Fernando Morientes
all back in scoring form, Rafael Benietz faces a welcome
dilemma over who to select up front.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger,
Warnock, Traore, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Alonso,
Kewell, Crouch, Cisse, Morientes, Fowler,
Kromkamp, Dudek.
(TEAMtalk)
Fowler: We can catch United
Relieved Robbie Fowler followed up his first goal for
Liverpool in over four years by predicting that they can
snatch second place from Manchester United.
Liverpool now must face Newcastle on Sunday at St James'
Park before next Tuesday's FA Cup quarter-final at
Birmingham, two games in three days which may shape their
season.
He says: "We had been getting some bad results, now it is up
to us to make up the ground and catch Manchester United.
"We are confident we can catch them, we are not shouting
about it but we believe we can do it.
"The goals we all got against Fulham will just boost that
confidence higher.
"Now we must push on at Newcastle and then Birmingham and
build on this in the final games of the season."
(PA Sport) |
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THURSDAY 16 |
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New date for Blackburn clash
Liverpool FC have confirmed that their Premiership game at
Blackburn Rovers has now been moved to Sunday 16th April,
kicking off at 2.30 pm.
Chief Executive Rick Parry commented: "As soon as we were
knocked out of Europe and other fixture dates became
available, we contacted both Blackburn Rovers and the FA
Premier League and we're delighted it has been possible to
reschedule the game.
"With the match being moved for a second time, there is
obviously a degree of inconvenience for Blackburn Rovers and
their supporters and we are very grateful for their
co-operation and understanding of the issues involved.
"We were always aware of the feelings expressed by many of
our supporters on the original date and are glad we have
been able to address these concerns."
(LFC Official Website)
Happy Rafa commits to Reds
Rafael Benitez says he has not yet signed a new Liverpool
contract but has confirmed his commitment by insisiting:
"It's clear that I'm staying."
The Spaniard has been linked with moves to both Inter Milan
and Real Madrid in recent weeks but speculation mounted on
Wednesday that he had in fact put pen to paper on a new
long-term Anfield contract.
Benitez, revelling in Liverpool's 5-1 destruction of Fulham,
was initially cagey on the rumours but on Thursday, he left
Reds fans in no doubt as to where his loyalties lie.
He told the club's website: "It's clear that I'm staying at
Liverpool
"I want to thank the fans, the chief executive and the board
for their support. I'm happy here and I'm staying."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez joy at cash vow
Rafa Benitez has commited his future to Liverpool after
being guaranteed significant funds to rebuild his squad this
summer.
Benitez held crunch talks with the Anfield board earlier
this week, when he was convinced he would be provided with
the resources he needs to challenge Chelsea for the
Premiership in the seasons ahead.
A one-year-extension to his current deal has been widely
reported but not yet signed. But it would be a symbolic
gesture which eradicates Liverpool's genuine fears of losing
their manager.
Benitez and his coaching team have now been reassured about
the future of the club and a summer of turmoil has been
avoided.
Liverpool are not in a position to announce full details of
their financial plans yet, but they confirmed at last
month's AGM progress was being made in their pursuit of
investment.
(Liverpool Echo)
Alonso talks down Real rumour
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso insists that Real Madrid
have made no new approaches to sign him, and is happy with
his decision to move to Anfield.
The classy Spaniard was close to joining Real nearly two
years ago, but the deal never came off as Rafa Benitez
stepped in to sign him from Real Sociedad.
Rumours have surfaced that Real are still keen on the
24-year-old and may try and resurrect their interest in him
in the summer with a bold bid to take him away from Anfield.
However, Alonso insists he has not heard anything of
Madrid's interest, and is happy with life at Anfield.
"To me they have not officially said anything, I have not
heard anything," Alonso told Marca.
"I am calm because I know how soccer works, whenever a team
does not fulfil their expectations they are linked with new
players.
"I do not want to give too much importance to this because
everything is unofficial.
"I already have experience of this from Real Madrid.
"I believe that in the end the possibility arose of playing
in Liverpool and I took it. I am content with my decision to
come here.
"People appreciate me, at the club they are happy with me
and I was right to make
this decision."
(Sky Sports)
Fowler delights at goal return
Robbie Fowler last night celebrated his first goal since his
return to Liverpool and admitted: "It's been a long time
coming."
The striker was on the mark as Rafael Benitez's side
discovered their shooting boots in emphatic fashion to thump
Fulham 5-1 at Anfield.
And the forward said: "It doesn't matter that it wasn't at
the Kop. A goal is a goal no matter which end it goes in.
I'm pleased to get off the mark again.
"It's been a long time and people have pointed out that
fact, but I'm on my way again."
(Daily Post)
Parry: Morgan 'technically' right about
club debt
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry says Steve Morgan is
"technically" correct when he says the club's actual debt is
closer to £70million.
Speaking in an interview with the official site, the wallet
said: "Yes, he is technically correct, but what was
overlooked was that we have a corresponding asset on the
balance sheet as well.
"When you use credit to buy players you're obviously
offsetting the debt with the value of the players you're
putting on the balance sheet.
"If we're spreading payments over a number of years then we
still owe the money but it only gives part of the story."
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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