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WEDNESDAY 18 |
Alonso: It's logical I miss Liverpool
Xabi Alonso has admitted he misses Liverpool but urged the
club to move on because he is happy with life at Real
Madrid.
The Spaniard’s departure has coincided with Liverpool’s
woeful form in the Premier League and Champions League and
although he was flattered by Steven Gerrard’s recent
comments that suggested he was devastated by Alonso leaving,
the former Real Sociedad star is happy at the Bernabeu.
Alonso is quoted by the Sun: “I want to thank Stevie for his
kind words but life goes on.”
“It's logical I miss Liverpool.”
“I lived there five years and saw what football means to the
supporters.”
“I've still got friends there. It was an unforgettable
experience and I'll always have the club in my heart.”
“But I'm so happy at Real Madrid and I hope to do some
important
things here.”
(Sport.co.uk)
Voronin out of Eintracht's reach
Eintracht Frankfurt manager Michael Skibbe admits the club
might be priced out of a move for Liverpool striker Andriy
Voronin.
The 30-year-old Ukraine forward has been linked with a move
away from Anfield after failing to establish himself in the
Reds first team, with manager Rafael Benitez preferring
David Ngog as back-up for star forward Fernando Torres.
Voronin spent a season on loan at Hertha Berlin last term,
scoring 11 times in 20 appearances, and has previously
played for Borussia Monchengladbach, Mainz 05, Koln and
Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.
However, a move to Eintracht looks unlikely as Skibbe
revealed the club would find it difficult to afford the
Ukrainian, despite a lack of options
up front.
"We have a shortage up front following the injuries to
Ioannis Amanatidis and Martin Fenin," he said.
"But I really do not think we are in a financial position to
be able to afford a player like Andriy Voronin. I really do
not think so."
(TEAMtalk)
Benayoun and Riera set
for return at Manchester City
Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera could be in line for a shock
return to action this weekend after responding to radical
treatment on their
torn hamstrings.
The Liverpool midfielders were flown to Belgrade earlier
this week to see Mariana Kovacevic, the physiotherapist who
has become famous for curing injured sportsmen with liquid
from horse placenta.
Both men were expected to be sidelined for between three to
five weeks after they sustained the injuries against
Birmingham last Monday.
But their condition has improved so much since seeing
Kovacevic there is an outside chance of them being available
for Saturday’s home clash with Manchester City.
(Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool FC should
get going again
After a meaningless international break – for England anyway
– you hope and sense Liverpool are raring to go again
against Manchester City
on Saturday.
After one win in nine games, this time out was welcome –
because it has it given us some breathing space and now a
chance to really kick start our season once again.
But it is going to be a tough test against a rebuilt City
side – a side which is under pressure to show it can make
the break into the top four after all the millions they’ve
spent.
Given our struggles this season, that means Liverpool will
be the side City will be looking to try and finish above
first. So it’s important we put them firmly in their place
at our place and leapfrog them, as we’ll do with
a victory.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Reds sign Luton youngster
Liverpool have paid an undisclosed fee for Luton youngster
Dave Moli.
Fourteen-year-old forward Moli had been part of the Hatters’
under-15 side but will now move with his family to
Merseyside, where he will continue his schooling and train
at the Reds’ academy.
Luton reported another Premier League club to the Football
Association for making an illegal approach for the player,
but Liverpool’s approach through the Blue Square Premier
club has been accepted.
Luton’s youth development officer Gregg Broughton said: “We
never like to lose talented players, but it is important
that we do not stand in the way of young players’
development.”
Liverpool have intensified their search for young players
following a restructuring of the reserve and academy set-up,
and manager Rafael Benitez is impressed by the changes that
have been made.
The Spaniard said: “It is much better now. The players can
see the difference and I am sure it will be easier for them
to progress.
“It is always important to develop your own players. Local
players have passion and desire and I think that is the key
if you want to be consistent and stay at the top – you have
to produce your own players."
(The Irish News)
Kelly injury blow
Martin Kelly is facing another week on the sidelines.
Kelly has been out since picking up an ankle injury on his
full debut last month. He was hoping to return this week but
a fresh scan on Sunday has revealed another strain in his
leg and he faces at least another week out.
"I came back but in my first training session I knocked it
again. I went for a scan on Sunday and it showed I have a
little strain on my ankle. It's another seven to 10 days,"
said the defender.
"It's a setback but I've just got to work hard with the
physios to try and get back as soon as possible.
"As a footballer you are going to get injuries. The thing
that matters is how you come back from them.
"Obviously I was gutted with the timing of it. There's been
a few injuries around the first team so I could have got
another chance but I'm still young and hopefully when I'm
back I'll have more chances to show what I can do."
(LFC Online)
Benitez blames Barry
for Liverpool failures
Rafael Benitez may have brought Champions League glory to
Anfield, but he won’t rest until he’s delivered the Premier
League trophy as
Liverpool boss.
Under fire after five league defeats already, the Spaniard
told The Times: "Anyone who knows me knows that I want to
win every trophy,
every game.
"But if you ask me what I prefer, I will say the Premier
League.
"If I do not win the title, I'm sure I'd be so disappointed
maybe I would have this feeling of failure."
Many saw last term as a great chance for Liverpool to
challenge for the Premier League title, but Benitez saw his
plans scuppered when he failed to bring Gareth Barry to
Liverpool.
And he believes the season would have turned out differently
- possibly even with his ultimate goal reached - had Garry
Barry moved to Anfield.
"You never know," he said. "Football is a funny game. The
plan was for Barry to play on the left and feed the ball to
Robbie Keane, who would play up front with Fernando Torres.
"This blueprint had to be scrapped. The collateral damage
was Keane, who signed from Tottenham Hotspur before the
Barry deal had been done.
"When we wanted to sign Barry, we were sure we were signing
a good player with a very good mentality and the quality to
play in the Premier League. The priority was Barry, then
Keane."
(GiveMeFootball)
Benitez no regrets
not signing Owen
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has no regrets not signing
Manchester United striker Michael Owen.
Benitez's attacking options have been hit hard by injury
this season.
But he told The Times on Owen: "I couldn’t change his mind
about going to Real. Two years later we had a conversation
about the possibility of returning but he decided to go to
Newcastle. He scores goals. This time round, I had a better
goalscorer. "
(tribalfootball.com)
Benitez under pressure to sell quartet
Rafael Benitez may be forced to sell as many as four senior
internationals in the January transfer window as he attempts
to trim Liverpool's
wage bill.
Ryan Babel, Andrea Dossena, Andriy Voronin and Philipp Degen
will all be sacrificed should good offers arrive, although
there are no guarantees Benitez can buy replacements.
The Spaniard has seen his team's Premier League and
Champions League challenges falter under the weight of an
extensive injury list, highlighting the paucity of resources
available to him after two summers of little net outlay on
the playing staff.
Napoli are interested in Dossena, while Voronin is
well-regarded in Germany. Degen could also return to the
Bundesliga. Babel has said in the past he would consider a
return to his old club, Ajax.
(Irish Independent)
Finnish superkid Dalla
Valle unsettled at Liverpool
Finnish superkid Lauri Dalla Valle is unsettled at
Liverpool.
The striker is regarded as a best talent to emerge from
Finland since Jari Litmanen and has Real Madrid, Barcelona
and Inter Milan all monitoring his progress.
The Telegraph says uncertainty clouds the future of Dalla
Valle, who is believed to be discontent with his lack of
progress through
the club’s ranks.
(tribalfootball.com) |
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TUESDAY 17 |
Torres set to miss City clash
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez expects Fernando Torres to miss
this weekend's clash with Manchester City, but Steven
Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger should all be fit to
play.
Torres has been plagued with a groin injury, which he has
aggravated in recent weeks and he is still struggling with
his fitness.
The Reds' top scorer missed Spain's win over Argentina and
he has been receiving round the clock treatment in a bid to
get fit as soon as possible.
However, the game with City has come too soon for Torres
with Liverpool hoping he will return in time for the
Merseyside derby with Everton later this month.
(Football 365)
Gerrard ready for City clash
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard expects to be fit to face
Manchester City this weekend after shaking off his groin
problem.
Gerrard missed England's friendly with Brazil as he
continued his recovery from the niggling injury.
The midfielder, who came off the bench last time out against
Birmingham, has used the international break to step up his
rehabilitation from the problem and believes he is over the
worst.
"I felt very tired after the (Birmingham) game as I wasn't
really ready to return," said Gerrard. "I'd done very little
training in the three weeks beforehand.
"It took me two or three days to recover from that game but
I have spent the past week doing strengthening work.
"I'm feeling a lot better now. I'm looking forward to the
weekend. There's no mental hurdle to cross."
(Sky Sports)
Totti: Aquilani will be
a hit at Liverpool
Roma captain Francesco Totti thinks that his former
team-mate Alberto Aquilani is destined for great things at
Liverpool.
The midfielder joined the Reds in a deal reportedly worth
around £20 million in the summer, but is only now reaching
match fitness after ankle surgery in the close season.
"Alberto is an incredibly talented player, with great
technique and an excellent understanding of the game," Totti
told Liverpool's
official website.
"He also has a powerful shot with both feet – he really is a
complete midfielder.
"We are really good friends. We keep in touch even now that
he has
left us.
"Alberto can play in any position in the middle of the park
really, either a bit forward or a few steps behind.
"The advantage he has is that he really understands the game
and has great vision - he is dynamic and can make the last
pass or try
to score himself."
"Here at Roma, with our 4-2-3-1 strategy, he was playing in
front of the defence next to Daniele De Rossi or David
Pizarro, but also as an attacking midfielder just off me. I
think he can do very well in a 4-4-2 too.
"He is elegant and smart - these are his main
characteristics. Potentially he is one of the best in the
world. He has been unlucky with injuries so far but I
believe he will do really well in England."
(Goal.com)
Reds face battle
to keep hold of Masch
Liverpool are facing a major battle to keep Javier
Mascherano at Anfield beyond the end of the season.
Mascherano is a long-term target of Barcelona, who enquired
about the Argentine midfielder’s availability during the
last transfer window but stopped short of making an formal
offer.
Reports over the weekend suggested the midfielder’s advisers
had already negotiated personal terms with the Catalans
ahead of the two clubs agreeing a fee.
Liverpool, though, have had no contact from Barcelona since
the summer and do not expect any fresh approach in January.
But the Spanish giants are almost certain to return with an
offer at the end of the campaign once their presidential
elections have been completed.
Current incumbent Joan Laporta’s term ends in June and coach
Pep Guardiola, a huge admirer of Mascherano, is refusing to
commit to a new contract until the next president is
determined.
A move for Mascherano could be further complicated by the
fact Barcelona do not at present possess the spending power
of rivals Real Madrid as they look to facilitate the £175m
redevelopment of Camp Nou into a 106,000-seater,
fully-covered stadium.
It has led sources in Spain to claim Ivory Coast
international midfielder Yaya Toure will be offered as a
makeweight should any deal for Mascherano be given the
go-ahead.
However, even that scenario could be compromised with
Manchester City believed to be close to agreeing a deal with
Barcelona for Toure, who is brother of Eastlands centre-back
Kolo.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Benitez: I'll quit
if Reds sell Torres
Rafael Benitez is "confident" Liverpool striker Fernando
Torres will never be sold against his will - but says he
would resign if he was.
But Benitez told The Times the 25-year-old would not be
sold.
"I'm confident it will never happen," he said. "If it did,
I'd resign."
(TEAMtalk) |
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MONDAY 16 |
Ngog fractures his nose
training with France U21s
Liverpool striker David Ngog is the latest injury worry for
Rafa Benitez whilst on international duty.
Ngog was involved in a clash in training yesterday with the
French Under-21s and reports this morning claim he has
broken his nose.
The 20-year-old striker is now a major doubt for the
Under-21 European Championship qualifying match with
Slovenia on Tuesday night.
Ngog has made seven appearances for Liverpool in the Premier
League and Champions League this season, scoring three
goals.
(IMScouting.com)
Agent: Reds keen on Elia swoop
Highly-rated Holland winger Eljero Elia's agent says "there
is big interest from Liverpool" in the Hamburg star.
The 22-year-old only moved to the Bundesliga outfit from FC
Twente in an £8.5million deal in the summer.
But the Dutchman has already been linked with a possible
switch to the Premier League following a series of
impressive displays for club
and country.
"There are a few English clubs sniffing around but he has
only recently moved to Germany and is happy at Hamburg and
playing very well," Elia's agent Klauss Vink told
Sport.co.uk.
"It is true when he does decide to move he would prefer his
next move to be to English football, to a top club.
"There is big interest from Liverpool but there are no
concrete offers,
just rumours."
(TEAMtalk)
International round up
There were a few Reds on international duty this weekend.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos played the full 90 minutes of Greece's
World Cup play-off against Ukraine. He helped his side keep
a clean sheet as the game finished 0-0 in Athens. Andriy
Voronin wasn't even in the squad
for Ukraine.
Javier Mascherano played the full 90 for Argentina as they
lost 2-0 to Spain. Pepe Reina was an 89th minute subsitute
for Spain while former Red Xabi Alonso scored both goals.
Dirk Kuyt played the full game for Holland as they drew 0-0
with Italy. Ryan Babel was a 72nd minute subsitute.
Philipp Degen earned an international recall but
unfortunately gave away the penalty that saw Switzerland
lose 1-0 to Norway.
Martin Skrtel played the full 90 minutes as Slovakia beat
USA 1-0
at home.
Lucas Levia was an unused subsitute as Brazil beat England
1-0 in Qatar.
(LFC Online)
Pellegrino backs Rafa
Mauricio Pellegrino has backed Rafael Benitez.
The first team coach has been impressed with the way Benitez
has stayed calm during the current crisis and has backed him
to turn things around and get Liverpool back on a winning
run.
"Rafa has gained a lot of experience from his last clubs.
Like everyone he encounters good moments and bad situations
but he's always really calm - he's really calm when things
are not the best," said Pellegrino.
"He keeps going and he convinces the rest of the people to
keep going in the same way as always.
"Last season we were really close to winning the league. We
got 86 points - and if you look at the last 20 years, this
points total would have been enough to win 15 of them.
"So, this team can improve a lot - there is a huge amount we
can still improve on, and we are in a difficult moment, but
this team is working very hard. We need to win a couple of
games and everything will change."
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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