|
|
|
TUESDAY 18 |
Keane injury not serious
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez expects Robbie Keane to be fit
for this weekend's clash with Fulham, but says it is too
early to know if Steven Gerrard will be available.
Keane was forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland
squad to face Poland after sustaining a shoulder injury in
last weekend's win over Bolton.
Benitez insists the injury is not serious and admits his
withdrawal from international duty was more of a precaution.
"Robbie Keane's injury is not serious," Benitez told the
club's official website. "He had a problem but [withdrawing
from the international duty] was just a case of prevention.
I think he will be okay."
Gerrard is expected to be sidelined for between seven to ten
days with
a groin problem, which forced him to pull out of the England
squad to tackle Germany.
Benitez is unsure when Gerrard will be available for action,
but it is expected he will miss the Fulham clash and return
for next week's UEFA Champions League tie with Marseille.
"He could be back for the Marseille game but each player is
different. We have to start working with him and see how he
does."
(Sky Sports)
Wark: Carragher key to title bid
Former Liverpool midfielder John Wark believes keeping Jamie
Carragher fit will be key to the Reds maintaining their
Premier League title challenge.
Carragher, 30, along with keeper Pepe Reina, has played
every minute of the Anfield club's league campaign so far.
Wark told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Jamie Carragher has been so
consistent it's unreal, for me he deserves all the accolades
he gets.
"He's our main defender and when he is not playing we will
struggle."
"He's a great organiser, he gives his all and the fans love
him," said Wark.
Due to fellow centre-half Martin Skrtel's knee injury and
Alvaro Arbeloas' suspension last weekend Carragher filled in
at right-back for the 2-0 win at Bolton on Saturday.
Carraghers' commitment to the cause pleases Wark.
"He throws his body into some tackles, I just love the way
he plays football and the spirit he plays it with."
(BBC Sport Online)
O'Neill reveals Barry uncertainty
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill admits he has 'absolutely no
idea' what the future holds for Gareth Barry come the
January transfer window.
Barry was strongly linked with a switch to Liverpool in the
summer but a move failed to materialise as Villa held out
for a reported asking fee of £18million.
However, with the turn of the year forthcoming, there is
expected to be renewed interest in the England international
with Arsenal and Tottenham also mooted as potential suitors.
Barry has 18 months to run on his current contract but
O'Neill has no plans to force discussions over a new deal.
"When I'm asked about Barry's future I'm not hiding
anything. It's just I have absolutely no idea what might
happen in January," he said in the Birmingham Mail.
"The fact I have not spoken to Gareth is not brushing it
under the carpet, or leaving heads in the sand. Not at all.
"I am not a soothsayer. I don't know what is going to happen
in the future. But I am certainly not going to start putting
pressure on someone who may not even want to do these
things."
(TEAMtalk)
Kop hero Torres wants title
Fernando Torres will have done little to dent his popularity
amongst Liverpool fans by committing himself to The Reds,
hailing his priceless experience abroad and vowing to fight
for The Premier League title this season.
Spanish hit-man Torres has set his sights on delivering the
title that Anfield's support have been waiting for for
almost two decades.
Torres, 24, plans to stay a Liverpool player for a long
time, even if he has admitted to missing his country.
“I want to try and win The Premier League title that
Liverpool have not won in 19 years,” Torres told a
promotional event.
“It would be another way to be part of Liverpool’s history.
“I am very happy in the city of Liverpool and to me this
experience is a very positive one, as I have been given the
chance to know a different culture and to learn a new
language.
“That is why I wish I stay for a long time here. I am just
missing Spain’s heat and the people I left.
“I only won an important title, the European championship,
and many more are missing. So I believe I have enough time
to achieve all my dreams.
“The fact my name is part of Spain’s history is a pride that
I would not swap for anything,” he added.
(Setanta Sports)
LFC anger over Gerrard call up
Liverpool FC are angry with the FA after they ordered Steven
Gerrard to report for international duty.
Gerrard withdrew from the England squad with a groin injury
after Saturday's win over Bolton. However, the FA ordered
Gerrard to meet up with the England doctor for an assessment
of his injury before he confirmed the groin tear and
authorised Gerrard's withdrawal.
The decision to make Gerrard meet the England doctor has
angered Liverpool as it implies the FA believed the club
were lying over the extent of his injury.
(LFC Online) |
|
MONDAY 17 |
Capello sends injured
Gerrard back to Liverpool
England sent Steven Gerrard back to Liverpool for treatment
Monday after being satisfied he isn't fit to play in a
friendly with Germany due to a leg muscle injury.
Even though Liverpool announced on Sunday that Gerrard's
injury would keep him out of action for up to 10 days, the
Football Association ordered the Reds captain to report to
England training headquarters north of London on Monday so
that coach Fabio Capello and his medical team could assess
the injury.
Wednesday's games have reopened the club vs. country debate,
with national team coaches skeptical when club managers pull
their star players out of matches.
Club managers are unhappy that their players often return
from international games with injuries, while the national
coaches are frustrated that they can't field their strongest
lineups in friendlies.
(AP)
Parry favours Reds over FA post
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is staying at Anfield -
after being linked with a similar post with the Football
Association's 2018
World Cup bid.
BBC Sport understands Parry has decided to remain at
Anfield, despite being the top contender from a five-man
shortlist for the job.
Parry's future at Liverpool has been in question after
co-owner Tom Hicks called for his resignation in April.
But Parry insisted then his main focus was on remaining
loyal
to Liverpool.
And it appears that remains the case, despite the FA's hopes
of persuading him to leave Anfield and play a major role in
the 2018 World Cup bid.
(BBC Sport Online)
Rafa offers no guarantees
Rafa Benitez has warned his Liverpool squad that no-one is
assured of a place in his side.
The Spaniard is renowned for his rotation policy, but
appears to have curbed that habit of late.
With that in mind, he insists that he will resist the
temptation to make sweeping changes to a successful side.
That means no place at present for talismanic striker
Fernando Torres, who has only recently returned from injury.
Last season's top scorer was left on the bench for the Reds'
2-0 win at Bolton on Saturday, only joining the action as a
59th minute substitute.
Benitez believes no player should ever take their place for
granted, and insists he will not be altering his stance in
the future.
(Sky Sports)
Keane out for Ireland
Robbie Keane has been forced to withdraw from the Republic
of Ireland squad for Wednesday's friendly against Poland.
The Liverpool striker, who played in his side's 2-0 win over
Bolton on Saturday, has sustained a shoulder injury and will
be unavailable for selection.
The former Tottenham man, who made the £20million move to
Anfield last summer, has started to find his range in front
of goal and was on target twice in the 2-0 win over West
Brom last week.
(Sport.co.uk)
Reds heroes honoured by Scotland
Two legends from Liverpool's illustrious past Billy Liddell
and Ian St John were honoured by their homeland when they
were inducted into Scotland's Hall of Fame at a special
ceremony on Sunday.
Football fans from all over the world nominated players whom
they thought should be recognised for their contribution to
Scottish football.
A panel of experts from football and the media then met to
consider the nominees who would make the Hall of Fame.
The two Reds heroes now join six other greats who have been
unveiled as inductees to the Hall, situated in the Scottish
Football Museum at Hampden Park.
Former Reds already inducted in the Hall of Fame include
Bill Shankly, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Sir Matt Busby,
Graeme Souness.
(LFC Official Website)
Sami keen for more action
Sami Hyypia admitted he thoroughly enjoyed playing the full
90 minutes against Bolton on Saturday and insists he will
give his all for the team in their quest for major honours
this season.
The Finland international made only his third Barclays
Premier League start of the season at the Reebok Stadium as
the Reds enjoyed a 2-0 win.
"It was nice to play and when we win it's a double
satisfaction for me," said Hyypia.
"That's what I'm here for to help the team. Every time the
manager puts me on the pitch I always try to do my best."
(LFC Official Website) |
|
SUNDAY 16 |
Gerrard ruled out of Germany game
Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of England's friendly with
Germany on Wednesday because of a torn leg muscle.
The Liverpool midfielder picked up the injury in Saturday's
2-0 win at Bolton and will be out for seven to 10 days.
The England vice-captain played the full 90 minutes at the
Reebok Stadium, but Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton confirmed
the extent of his injury: "Steven picked up an injury in
yesterday's game at Bolton.
"A scan this morning has confirmed a tear in the adductor
magnus muscle in his right leg, and he is expected to be out
between seven to 10 days."
(BBC Sport Online)
Trotters fume over ref display
Referee Rob Styles was at the centre of more controversy as
Liverpool maintained their place as title contenders with a
2-0 win at Bolton.
Styles, who was involved in a debatable penalty decision
against Wanderers at Manchester United earlier in the
season, this time upset them by disallowing what would have
been a crucial equaliser in the final seconds of the first
half.
Styles penalised Kevin Nolan for a goalmouth incident
involving Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina before Gary Cahill
headed home a Gavin McCann corner.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez praised Styles for protecting
his goalkeeper and insisted that goalkeepers have "priority"
in the six-yard box.
Megson was nonplussed, saying: "We saw the TV pictures
within a minute of it being disallowed and again at
half-time. But our thoughts are that we did not see a huge
amount wrong."
(TEAMtalk)
Arbeloa unsure over Atletico link
Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa insists he is in the dark
over supposed interest from Atletico Madrid.
Atletico are reportedly monitoring the former Real Madrid
and Deportivo La Coruna full-back with a view to bringing
the Spain international back to his homeland.
However, when asked if he knew anything about that
speculation, the 25-year-old Arbeloa said: "No. I have a
contract with Liverpool for one more year. We've not spoken
about renewing it, not knowing if (Liverpool manager Rafa)
Benitez will continue...It seems to me a little soon to talk
about this."
Arbeloa, who moved to Anfield in January 2007, may be a
little unsure about his own long-term future at Liverpool,
but he has no doubts about that of captain Steven Gerrard.
"A while ago there was some talk of Madrid wanting Gerrard;
they can forget that, he will never move from here in his
life," Arbeloa added in Spanish newspaper AS.
"He and (Jamie) Carragher are the ones here who the fans
love a huge amount, and they love the club a huge amount.
"Now the dream of everyone is to win the league, as it is 18
years since Liverpool last achieved it and it hurts, but it
will not be easy."
(Sporting Life)
Stoke boss Pulis
eyes Pennant
Tony Pulis has lined up a cut-price £4million move for
Liverpool outcast Jermaine Pennant.
Stoke boss Pulis is ready to rival Blackburn in a scrap to
sign Pennant in the New Year, with Rafa Benitez finally
ready to cut his losses
on the winger.
(Daily Mirror)
Kuyt: It was an important win
Dirk Kuyt admitted it was important Liverpool kept up
their winning momentum in the Barclays Premier League after
their 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
The Holland international scored a brilliant header at the
Reebok to make him Liverpool's joint leading scorer in the
Premier League this season alongside Fernando Torres. The
pair have five league goals apiece.
"It was really important to win today and we are really
happy with the result," said Kuyt.
"It's always tough to come to Bolton and beat them but we
did well. They worked really hard but I think we deserved to
win.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: Liverpool Everton
shared stadium would be wrong
Rafa Benitez has dismissed claims that a shared stadium
could work.
Deal maker Keith Harris has backed calls for Liverpool and
Everton to share a ground this week but the Reds boss
believes it would not be right for either club or their
fans.
“If you think of the pitch, you could not have three or four
games on the same pitch in a little over one week."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
|
|
