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SATURDAY 18 |
U18s draw with United
Adam Pepper scored a second half equaliser as Liverpool
Under-18s produced a spirited comeback to draw 2-2 with
Manchester United.
Hughie McAuley's side responded well to last weekend's
disappointing 4-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers and David Amoo
had a fine game on
the right wing.
James Ellison put the Reds 1-0 up but United came back to
lead 2-1, before Pepper scored from the penalty spot to earn
the draw.
Liverpool Under-18s team: Dean Bouzanis, Michael Scott,
Shane O'Connor, Andre Wisdom, Daniel Ayala, Steven Irwin,
David Amoo, Adam Pepper, Marvin Pourie (Astrit Ajdarevic
75), James Ellison, Alex Kacaniklic (Thomas Ince 79). Subs
unused: Jack Metcalf, Michael Roberts, Hakan Duyan.
(LFC Official Website)
Dirk: We always believed
Dirk Kuyt today heaped praise on the character his Liverpool
teammates showed after snatching three points from the jaws
of defeat in the last
10 minutes against Wigan Athletic.
The flying Dutchman scored a brace as the Reds came from 2-1
down for the second Premier League game in a row to record a
3-2 victory
at Anfield.
Kuyt revealed the Liverpool players always thought they
could turn
the game around.
"It was unbelievable," Kuyt told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"I think we showed a lot of character today and it helped us
come back from behind to win the game."
"We knew that if we kept trying and showed some of that
character then we would be able to score goals, and that
proved to be the case today. We always believed we could
win.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool edge out
Wigan in thriller
Liverpool twice came from behind at Anfield to beat Wigan
3-2 in
an engrossing encounter that delivered excitement, thrills,
spills and
a brace of goals from both Amr Zaki for The Latics and Dirk
Kuyt
for The Reds.
Zaki’s already considerable stock continued to rise as he
struck the pick of the goals on the stroke of half time to
send Steve Bruce’s side in 2-1 up at the break, but Kuyt hit
his second of the game after Albert Riera had equalised to
deliver victory to Rafa Benitez’s title-hunting outfit.
(Setanta Sports)
Agger back for Reds versus Wigan
Daniel Agger replaces the injured Martin Skrtel in the heart
of Liverpool's defence for this afternoon's clash with
Wigan.
The Dane makes his first Premier League start of the season,
as does Jermaine Pennant, while Rafa Benitez has selected
Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt up front in the absence of the
hamstrung Fernando Torres.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Agger,
Carragher, Riera, Pennant, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Insua, Benayoun, Ngog, Lucas, El
Zhar.
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 17 |
Reds sweat on Mascherano and Leiva
Rafa Benitez's post international hangover worsened today
with both Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva struggling to be
ready for tomorrow's visit of Wigan.
Mascherano and Lucas have been on international duty in
South America with Argentina and Brazil and are not due to
get back to Merseyside until tonight after gruelling
trans-Atlantic flights.
(Liverpool Echo)
Babel on course for Chelsea
Rafa Benitez has confirmed he expects Ryan Babel to be fit
for Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea next week, but he is already
planning for life without Fernando Torres at Stamford
Bridge.
Both lightening-paced forwards will miss Saturday’s visit of
Wigan, after picking up hamstring and ankle injuries
respectively on international duty.
Scans have revealed Torres could miss four games, against
Wigan, Atletico Madrid (a), Chelsea (a) and Portsmouth (h),
although Benitez hopes his compatriot can close that absence
down to just three games.
"The Portsmouth game could be a realistic target but it
always depends
on the player with injuries. It's now a question of time,"
the Liverpool manager told the club’s official website.
Babel’s injury seems less serious, with Benitez hinting the
Dutchman could feature in Wednesday’s Champions League trip
to Madrid.
"I think he will be out this weekend, but hopefully he'll be
training with
the team next week.”
(Setanta Sports)
Zaki and Heskey
ready for Anfield trip
Wigan manager Steve Bruce is hopeful star strikers Emile
Heskey and Amr Zaki will be fit for the trip to Liverpool.
The Latics' in-form strike pair returned from international
duty with knocks and are major doubts for the visit to
Anfield, where Wigan claimed
a 1-1 draw last season.
Maynor Figueroa and Wilson Palacios arrived back in
Manchester on Friday morning after overnight flights from
Honduras, while Bruce must also assess the fitness of Jason
Koumas and Paul Scharner before naming his starting line-up.
Squad: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa,
Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki, Boyce,
Brown, Camara, De Ridder, Kilbane, Koumas, Kupisz, Taylor,
Pollitt, Kingson.
(Daily Mail)
Gerrard earns Capello praise
England boss Fabio Capello has praised Steven Gerrard for
the respect
he showed towards his teammates and manager.
The Liverpool skipper has failed to replicate his fine club
form on
the international stage. Instead of blaming his fellow
teammates or
the manager, Gerrard took all the blame and has promised to
give his best for England.
“I like what Steven said this week,” Capello as quoted on
liverpoolfc.tv.
“I like a player who is willing to be critical of himself. A
lot of players criticise the manager, the coaches; but he
has shown respect for other players, for the manager, and he
has shown humility.”
(Kop-TV)
Atletico offer torres VIP seat
Fernando Torres will be offered a VIP seat at the
Vicente Calderon when Liverpool take on Atletico Madrid next
Wednesday.
A hamstring tear means the striker won't play against his
boyhood club, but the Spanish side's president is setting
aside one of the best seats in the house for their former
golden boy.
Enrique Cerezo said: "Torres is a player who was born and
bred at Atletico Madrid and everyone here still admires him
and we still follow his career.
"The injury is very unfortunate and I would have liked to
see him play.
"But we will invite him to the VIP box seat to watch the
game because Atletico is his home."
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool FC target Heskey return
Liverpool are considering a surprise move to bring Emile
Heskey
back to Anfield.
Rafael Benitez has been impressed with the renaissance of
the 30-year-old at Wigan Athletic during the past 18 months.
Despite shelling out almost £20m to bring Robbie Keane from
Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, Benitez is contemplating
further strengthening his forward options.
And with Heskey out of contract at the end of the season, he
would most likely only cost a nominal fee should he leave
the JJB Stadium during
the January transfer window.
(Daily Post)
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THURSDAY 16 |
Torres out for up to 15 days
Liverpool have revealed that striker Fernando Torres will be
sidelined for 'between 10 to 15 days'.
Torres limped off with a hamstring injury in Spain's World
Cup qualifier win over Belgium on Wednesday.
It was expected that the problem would keep Torres out for
three games, but scans have discovered a tear that could see
him miss four encounters.
Reds spokesman Ian Cotton told the club's official website:
"A scan on Fernando Torres has shown a tear in his right
hamstring which will sideline the player for between 10 and
15 days."
Torres is set to be absent from the Premier League matches
against Wigan, Portsmouth and, crucially, Chelsea, and also
the UEFA Champions League clash at Atletico Madrid.
It was also confirmed that Holland attacker Ryan Babel faces
a race against time to be fit for Saturday's match versus
Wigan.
Cotton added: "Ryan Babel has sprained his left ankle and is
a major doubt for Wigan on Saturday."
(Sky Sports)
Atletico clash to go ahead in Madrid
Liverpool's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid next
week will take place at the Vicente Calderon.
UEFA have announced that they have temporarily lifted their
two-match European home ban on the La Liga side and will
allow next Wednesday's fixture to take place in the Spanish
capital.
Earlier this week, UEFA fined Atletico £120,000 and ordered
that their Champions League home matches with Liverpool and
PSV Eindhoven be played at least 300km outside of Madrid
after crowd trouble and racist chanting marred their recent
fixture with Marseille.
However, following heavy opposition, particularly from
Liverpool who were unhappy with the short notice of the
decision that would have left the plans of an estimated
4,000 travelling supporters in chaos, UEFA have decided to
suspend all sanctions against Atletico until October 31.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said: "We're delighted
at the decision because it means our fans can travel to the
game as previously planned without additional expense or
inconvenience.
"Liverpool are grateful for the help the FA have provided
and pleased UEFA have listened to and acted on the arguments
we put forward
this week."
(Shanklygates)
Rafa unhappy with Torres injury blow
Rafa Benitez has revealed his disappointment after Fernando
Torres was injured playing for Spain and is now set for a
spell on the sidelines.
Torres limped off for Spain on Wednesday night after just 16
minutes of their win over Belgium.
Liverpool have also confirmed that it is again the
Spaniard's hamstring, which was the same one he damaged at
Aston Villa earlier this season.
He was out for three weeks previously, but the Reds have
indicated that the new injury will only sideline him for
around 10 days - although that will mean he misses the
league games with Wigan and crucially Chelsea, and the UEFA
Champions League clash at Atletico Madrid.
"I am very disappointed about this because it now looks like
we will lose Fernando for three very important games,"
Benitez told the club's
official website.
"We have Wigan at home and Chelsea away in the league and
Atletico Madrid away in the Champions League, so to lose any
players is a big blow."
(TEAMtalk)
Degen winning fitness battle
Philipp Degen hopes to have laid his injury woes to rest and
is ready to battle for a starting role at Liverpool.
The Switzerland international has been restricted to a
single competitive start since arriving at Anfield as a free
agent over the summer.
A series of knocks, the latest being broken ribs sustained
during a Carling Cup clash with Crewe in September, have
hindered his progress.
He is, however, now on the road to recovery and has set his
sights on
the right-back spot currently occupied by Alvaro Arbeloa.
"I hope I can soon be 100 per cent. I want to get on the
pitch as quickly as possible - maybe it will be in the next
one or two weeks," the 25-year-old told Liverpool's official
website.
"Last week it was not so good. I was in a lot of pain but at
the moment I'm training very well. I had two fractured ribs
and a punctured lung.
"I hope the injuries are over now."
Degen added: "I have to work hard every day and show the
boss (Rafa Benitez) what I can do. We have a lot of games so
I can play my part.
"I am different to Alvaro. I am maybe more offensive and so
it's not
a direct comparison. But first I have to get fit and do well
in training - then we will see."
(Sky Sports)
Double injury blow on international night
Liverpool have been handed a double injury blow after
Wednesday’s international fixtures, with Fernando Torres and
Ryan Babel suffering injuries.
Torres limped out of Spain’s 2-1 win in Belgium after just
16 minutes with a thigh injury which is likely to keep him
out for a week, making him
a doubt for Saturday’s home match with Wigan and Wednesday’s
Champions League match with his former club, Atletico
Madrid.
Anything more serious than a strain, such as a tear, would
also make him a debut for the following weekend’s match with
Chelsea. Setanta Sports tonight report: “Worryingly for
Liverpool, Spanish media are reporting
a tweak to a muscle in the back of his leg – prompting fears
of
a recurrence of his hamstring injury.”
Babel limped out of Holland’s 1-0 win in Norway in the first
half hour, news of the injury is yet to arrive.
Meanwhile, three Reds were on target for their countries.
Yossi Benayoun scored again for Israel, Steven Gerrard hit a
30 yard strike for England - and set one up - and Robbie
Keane scored a tap-in for Republic of Ireland as they beat
Cyprus 1-0.
Dirk Kuyt played the full match for Holland, Andrea Dossena
played 59 minutes for Italy and Sami Hyypia played the full
match as Finland
lost to Russia.
With Javier Mascherano and Lucas on duty for Argentina and
Brazil respectively, Rafa Benitez will be hoping neither
pick an injury to add
to his woes, although neither is likely to take part in the
Wigan match due to travel from South America.
(Anfield Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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