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MONDAY 18 |
New stadium - latest
Liverpool's plans to build a new stadium are in doubt after
the club failed to meet a deadline to prove funds are in
place.
Council officials approved plans last month for a new 60,000
all-seater stadium on a plot of land in Stanley Park, but
that was subject to £180million of investment being secured.
The Reds are relying on a £10million windfall from the
city's Objective 1 committee to start work, but risk losing
that funding having missed a deadline to prove the other
investment is in place.
Head of the committee Cllr Flo Clucas confirmed: "We have
been quite clear about the deadlines. The timetable comes as
no surprise to them. We are still awaiting information from
them.
"I would like to think that Liverpool FC has been doing its
work behind the scenes. This scheme is extremely important
to Anfield.
If they cannot put up the money, then they should just tell
everyone concerned."
The European Objective 1 programme will make a final
decision on the funding on September 28, with a shopping
plaza and restoration of the rest of Stanley Park
also options.
(EatSleepSport)
Given sidelined after stomach op
Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given will miss Wednesday's
Premiership clash against Liverpool at Anfield after
undergoing stomach surgery following the injury he picked up
against West Ham.
(The Daily Mail)
Kirkland grateful for reprieve
Wigan Athletic's Chris Kirkland has admitted he was lucky
not to be sent off against Everton and says he will learn
from his mistakes.
The Liverpool goalkeeper, currently on a six-month loan with
The Latics, was guilty of raising his hands to Toffees
midfielder Tim Cahill on the 20 minute mark.
But he went on to make a string of outstanding saves to earn
his side their first away point of the campaign, and the
25-year-old knows he it could have been a very different
outcome.
"I was pleased with some of my saves but more disappointed
with the way I reacted to the incident," Kirkland told the
Sun.
"I shouldn't have done it and I apologise for it. It isn't a
place to come and wind the crowd up. It put us on the back
foot for a while."
(Sky Sports)
Mourinho makes peace with Rafa
Jose Mourinho admits he will never be close friends with
Rafael Benitez but claims their feud is over.
Benitez and Mourinho shook hands before the kick-off as
Chelsea and Liverpool clashed in the Barclays Premiership at
Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Michael Ballack was sent off for stamping but Didier
Drogba's goal gave the Blues a 1-0 win and the managers
exchanged another handshake after the final whistle.
Mourinho said: "I would have preferred to do it in the
tunnel where we could also have shared a few words but we
didn't have the chance.
"He wasn't happy like I wasn't happy with the previous
period and now it's over.
"We don't have to be close friends. We don't have the time
to be close friends and we are two different sides fighting
for the same objective.
"But we have a relationship of respect. I admire his
qualities as a coach and I'm happy we shook hands.''
(Sporting Life) |
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SUNDAY 17 |
Ballack apologises for red card foul
Chelsea's Germany captain Michael Ballack apologised to
Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko on Sunday after he stamped on
the Mali midfielder's leg and was sent off during a fiery
Premier League match.
Ballack was shown the first straight red card of his career
by referee Mike Riley for violent conduct six minutes into
the second half.
He will miss the next three games.
The Chelsea midfielder waited outside the Liverpool dressing
room to offer his apologies after the game.
"It's a bad situation for me," a softly spoken Ballack said.
"It is the first straight red in my career.
"I didn't mean to injure him. I've just seen him now and
I've said sorry," he added.
(Reuters)
Benitez: We deserved something
Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool deserved something from
their trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
"I think we deserved more from the game," Benitez told the
club's official website.
"In the first half we created clear chances through (Dirk)
Kuyt and (Steven) Gerrard, but one player won the game for
Chelsea with a fantastic goal."
(Sky Sports)
Jose backs Riley red
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes referee Mike Riley was
right to dismiss Michael Ballack against Liverpool.
"It was a deserved red card," said the Portuguese tactician.
"He told me he did not go in to hurt the guy but the rules
are clear."
(Sky Sports)
Drogba downs Reds
Chelsea increased the gap over title rivals Liverpool to
eight points after a stunning Didier Drogba winner.
Drogba swivelled and powered in a shot from 18 yards to put
the Blues ahead before the home side's Michael Ballack was
sent off for an apparent stamp.
Steven Gerrard spurned the best chance for the visitors when
he shot straight at keeper Petr Cech from eight yards.
Liverpool were denied a penalty when Gerrard seemed to be
pushed before Peter Crouch missed with a late header.
(BBC Sport Online)
Gerrard returns against Chelsea
Captain Steven Gerrard returns to the Liverpool side for
today's Premiership clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as
Rafa Benitez sticks with Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy
up front.
Rafa has stuck with the Kuyt and Bellamy after they made a
promising start together in Eindhoven on Tuesday. Steven
Gerrard and Xabi Alonso return to the starting eleven at the
expense of Zenden and Aurelio.
Liverpool - Reina, Finnan, Warnock, Agger, Carragher,
Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Pennant, Kuyt, Bellamy. Subs -
Dudek, Aurelio, Crouch, Zenden, Hyypia.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard: I hate being a sub
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits he 'hates' being a
substitute, although recent signing Dirk Kuyt is happy to be
part of Rafa Benitez's squad rotation.
Of The Reds' seven games this season, Gerrard has started on
the bench three times, including the 0-0 draw with PSV
Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.
He is likely to be restored to the team for Grand Slam
Sunday's tussle with Premiership champions Chelsea, but it
is not a situation that the midfielder enjoys.
"I hate being a substitute," Gerrard told the Daily Star
Sunday. "I'm someone who wants to play every game.
"Rotation is a modern part of football, but I absolutely
hate it."
(Sky Sports) |
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SATURDAY 16 |
Sheva wants to make Reds suffer
Chelsea's Andriy Shevchenko's dreams have twice been
shattered by Liverpool and he is determined to get his own
back on Sunday.
Shevchenko suffered heartache in the epic 2005 Champions
League final, in Istanbul, missing the vital penalty when
the Reds came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan in
a shoot-out.
The Merseysiders then wrecked his Chelsea debut in last
month's FA Community Shield, when the Ukrainian scored but
ended up losing 2-1.
Shevchenko, 29, said: "In my first game for Chelsea, we lost
to them and now it's important to win.
"I scored but my team lost and it is important to win in
this game.
"It's a difficult game - Liverpool are a big club and a good
team."
Chelsea paid Milan £30million for the services of Shevchenko
and such a huge price tag demands close scrutiny.
The striker has scored twice in his first six games for the
Blues but has not arrived in England with a bang.
This week he conducted his first interview in English for
Chelsea TV, stayed behind for extra training and joined John
Terry for a game of golf but it is on the pitch where he is
desperate to impress.
Shevchenko said: "I feel okay. My performance is coming and
it's very important to work now for the future.
"My aim is to win the fans over with the quality of my game
and my goals."
(TEAMtalk)
Essien ready for Reds battle
Chelsea ace Michael Essien is ready for his side's battle
with Liverpool on Sunday.
The two old foes lock horns on Sunday live on Sky Sports 1
in what is a double header of title hopefuls meeting each
other with Arsenal also facing Manchester United.
Essien is wary of the threat posed by Liverpool and believes
the game will be decided by the battle in midfield.
"The biggest battle will be in the middle," Essien told The
Sun.
"With people like Gerrard, Alonso and Garcia you have to
kill yourself for every single ball. We cannot afford to
give away possession and give them a chance to use their
speed - they have great players.
"We know this will not be an easy game, even though
Liverpool are coming off a league defeat against Everton.
"I don't pay much attention to that result because The Reds
always improve against us and make things very difficult.
"But it is normal at this stage that teams are not well
organised. It happens to us and
to all clubs."
(Sky Sports)
Carragher issues Reds warning
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has conceded his side
cannot lose against Chelsea.
The Reds travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday aiming to get
their Premiership campaign back on track after last week's
disappointing Merseyside derby defeat to Everton.
"These games have a big bearing on what happens and we need
to improve our record against the top teams," said
Carragher.
"You are not just losing three points, really it is like
six."
(Sky Sports)
Riise ruled out
John Arne Riise is definitely out of tomorrow's game with
Chelsea.
Riise, who has scored past Chelsea for three seasons in a
row, has not been passed fit for the trip to London. Riise
injured his ankle in Liverpool's Premiership opener against
Everton and the injury flared up again when he made his
comeback against Everton.
(LFC Online)
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Thor Zakariassen
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