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FRIDAY 18 |
Rafa believes
Reds are coming good
Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool are almost back to their
best even if Fernando Torres has not hit top gear.
The Liverpool manager takes his side to West Ham on Saturday
on the back of three successive victories, and with the
memory of those two defeats in the opening three league
games now a fading memory.
With the Manchester derby this weekend and an all-London
clash between Chelsea and Tottenham, Benitez hopes Liverpool
can take advantage of teams dropping points and put
themselves right back into the title race.
Benitez said: "Fernando is not at his best, although he is
trying very hard. But he can play better and he knows this.
That is positive because he realises and I am confident in
him.
"He is much more positive, he is working with the rest of
the players and creating space for them. We will soon see
the very best from him.
"Our players are starting to find their form, Dirk Kuyt is
scoring, Yossi Benayoun is scoring, and we have started well
in Europe."
(Football 365)
Rafa unlikely to ring the changes
Rafael Benitez could field the same starting XI for the
third game in succession when Liverpool visit West Ham on
Saturday evening
(5.30pm).
The Reds have won their last three games after a difficult
start to the campaign, and will want to extend their good
recent form at Upton Park where they have won four of their
last five matches and lost just
one in seven.
Benitez has plenty of options, with Fabio Aurelio back from
a knee injury and Javier Mascherano having recovered from a
pelvic problem.
Ryan Babel is pushing for another chance after not starting
a game since the first day of the season.
Defender Daniel Agger has returned to training after a back
operation, but will not be considered.
Reds (from): Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Kyrgiakos,
Insua, Aurelio, Dossena, Benayoun, Mascherano, Gerrard,
Lucas, Babel, Kuyt, Torres, Riera, Cavalieri, Voronin,
Spearing.
(TEAMtalk)
Torres: I dream of Spain-England final
Fernando Torres has declared that he wants to face Liverpool
club-mate Steven Gerrard in next summer's World Cup final.
Torres and Gerrard have struck up a special playing
partnership at Liverpool, and have become close friends.
Now the Spain international dreams of facing the England
midfielder in next summer's final in South Africa.
Torres said: "We have a fantastic relationship and it's
amazing to play alongside someone like Stevie.
"He has quality and pace and is the greatest player I've
ever played with. I hope to play with him for many years.
"From my first day he was asking if I needed anything and
he's been a great support to me.
"Now I want to play against Stevie in the World Cup final.
England against Spain in the final would be special.
"If I could play against a friend like him that would be
great, because whatever happens one of us will be a winner."
(TEAMtalk)
Agger injury latest
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has revealed that he will
take his time over bringing defender Daniel Agger back into
the first team.
The Danish defender has missed the start of the season with
a back problem and recently underwent surgery.
Benitez says that although Agger is fully training again, it
would be a risk to get him into action just yet.
He also gave updates on how fellow casualties Fabio Aurelio,
Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani are doing.
He said, “Aurelio is now ready for a comeback, Mascherano is
also over his problem while Danny Agger is very close to a
return and Aquilani is also getting close to being involved
in full training,” said Benitez.
“When the majority of our squad are fit, we can manage games
with
more confidence.
“Agger is a risk, he could play now, but he has been out for
a long time and we have to be careful with him. But I
believe that next week he could be available.”
(This is Anfield)
Torres: I don't need a rest
and I'll hit top form soon
Fernando Torres admits he has yet to hit top form this
season but the striker insists he doesn't need a rest.
The Liverpool frontman only had a short break this summer
due to his commitments with Spain in the Confederations Cup.
He returned late for pre-season and has shown only glimpses
of his sparkling talent with three goals in the Reds'
opening six games.
However, Torres believes he's back on track ahead of
tomorrow's Premier League clash at West Ham.
"It was a really long season for me with so many games for
Liverpool and then playing for Spain in the Confederations
Cup," he said.
"I played a lot of minutes and I was a little bit tired.
"I haven't been at my best so far this season but I feel
like I'm
getting better.
"I'm focused on trying to get back to 100% as soon as
possible and I'm ready to play in every game."
(Sky Sports)
McMahon hails impressive Ngog
Liverpool Reserves boss John McMahon has praised the
attitude and performance of young French striker David Ngog,
who scored the only goal of the game as the Reserves beat
Manchester Utd Reserves 1-0 at Prenton Park last night.
Ngog made his stake for a place in the first team with a
well timed header early in the game and McMahon was pleased
with the 20-year-old’s game.
He told the club’s official web site, “David took his goal
well and can be pleased with his performance.
“It’s not always easy for lads involved with the first team
to come and play for the reserves but David showed a great
attitude and worked
really hard.”
Ngog is now likely to be involved in first team action on
Saturday, as part of the subs bench, when the Reds take on
West Ham at Upton Park in
the Premier League.
McMahon went on to say that he felt Damien Plessis’ second
half sending off was harsh.
He added, “I didn’t think it was a sending-off. It was
possibly a booking but I think the incident leading up to it
might have influenced the referee.
“I’m happy with the victory but more pleased with the hard
work and spirit the lads showed. It’s always difficult when
you go down to 10 men but they worked hard for the win."
(This is Anfield)
Gerrard: African nations will have impact
Steven Gerrard predicts the Africa Cup of Nations will have
a big impact on this season's Barclays Premier League title
race.
The likes of Chelsea and Manchester City will lose key
players when the tournament takes place in Angola between
January 10-31.
Carlo Ancelotti will be without Didier Drogba, Michael
Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou, while Mark Hughes
will miss the services of summer signings Emmanuel Adebayor
and Kolo Toure.
Elsewhere, Arsenal could be without duo Alex Song and
Emmanuel Eboue for their showdown with Manchester United on
January 30.
Gerrard, who has helped Liverpool to three successive wins
after a mixed start to the campaign, told Liverpoolfc.tv:
"Everyone will have blips and some of the teams lose
important players with the African Nations. It's a long
season - there are a lot of games and a lot football to be
played yet.
"Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City have got off to good starts
but there is a long way to go before you start predicting
who will be up there
at the end."
(LFC Official Website) |
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THURSDAY 17 |
Gerrard: Reds back on track
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool have found their best form
after a slow start to the season and is targeting another
three points
against West Ham.
The Reds lost two of their opening three Premier League
matches but they have responded well with back-to-back wins
over Bolton and Burnley.
Gerrard is now looking forward to going back to West Ham on
Saturday after scoring twice in a 3-0 success at Upton Park
last season, while other teams in the top six are certain to
drop points over the weekend.
"We got a really good win at West Ham last season, we were
well organised and very dangerous on the counter-attack, and
I am sure that will be the plan again at the weekend," said
the Liverpool skipper.
(Sky Sports)
Hicks offering new Liverpool
stake to investors
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is offering a new minority
stake in the club to willing investors.
The Times says Merrill Lynch, the investment bank, has been
instructed by Hicks, who is recovering from a hip operation,
to open and conduct negotiations with interested parties
with a view to selling a 25 per cent share in the club at a
price of £100 million as Liverpool continue attempts to
reduce their levels of debt.
Although wealthy individuals and organisations in the Middle
East have been sounded out about the possibility of buying
into Liverpool, none have indicated that they would be
willing to enter into what would become a three-way shared
ownership venture featuring Hicks, George Gillett Jr, his
co-owner, and a third party.
(tribalfootball.com)
Carra to become our
new League #12
Jamie Carragher, the reds' current longest serving player,
is set to move up one place for the number of League games
played for the club to become our all-time #12, assuming he
turns out at West Ham United on Saturday evening.
This will be his 404th Premiership game for Liverpool - more
than sixty outings ahead of his nearest current challenger,
skipper Steven Gerrard. He has bagged just four goals in
these League matches.
(YNWA) |
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WEDNESDAY 16 |
Rafa defends misfiring Reds
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits his side should have
scored more goals during their 1-0 win over Debrecen, but is
happy to get off to a winning start in the UEFA Champions
League.
Dirk Kuyt's first-half strike was the difference between the
two sides after he slotted home a rebound from a Fernando
Torres strike.
Liverpool racked up 23 shots on goal with only seven of
those hitting the target on a night which saw the home side
dominate without playing particularly well.
"I think the main thing was to get three points," Benitez
told Sky Sports.
"OK, we could have done it a little better by scoring
another goal with the chances that we had, but because we
didn't score (a second), we were thinking that they could've
scored so it was more difficult until the end."
(Sky Sports)
Carragher admits
Reds weren't vintage
Jamie Carragher admitted Liverpool were a long way from
their best in beating Debrecen 1-0 at Anfield in their
Champions League opener.
Dirk Kuyt got the only goal of the game just before
half-time, taking advantage of a goalkeeping error to prod
home the ball after Vukasin Poleksic failed to hold Fernando
Torres' shot.
Liverpool struggled to create clear chances, but Carragher
was happy simply to take the three points.
"We didn't play well, we know that, just the 1-0 tonight,
but we wanted to get a win as quick as we could to qualify
from the group," he said on ITV.
"It's not our best performance but we got the result."
(ITV-Football)
Deadly Dirk downs
defiant Debrecen
Dirk Kuyt's strike on the stroke of half-time gave Liverpool
a 1-0 win over plucky Debrecen in their Champions League
Group E clash at Anfield.
Kuyt's 12th goal in 35 Champions League games for Liverpool
saw the Anfield men claim three points - but there was
nothing to suggest a Madrid final in May is on the cards.
The Dutchman is now Liverpool's third-highest scorer in this
competition and they were more than thankful for his
eventual winner in the final seconds of the first half.
The Hungarian champions did their best, while Liverpool were
some way short of their peak.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds unchanged v Debrecen
Rafa Benitez has selected an unchanged XI for this evening's
Champions League opener against Debrecen.
Steven Gerrard will once again partner Lucas in midfield,
while Javier Mascherano returns to the Liverpool bench after
missing Saturday's 4-0 victory over Burnley through injury.
Fabio Aurelio is also back in the matchday squad after
missing the early part of the season with a knee problem.
The Brazilian will hope to be involved in the second half.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Insua, Johnson, Carragher,
Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Benayoun, Riera, Kuyt, Torres.
Subs: Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Voronin, Babel, Cavalieri,
Spearing, Mascherano.
(LFC Official Website)
Torres hails Gerrard
as the world's greatest
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has played alongside some
great players for club and country – none greater than
Steven Gerrard.
That’s how highly the Spaniard rates the Reds’ inspirational
skipper, who has certainly played his part in making Torres
one of the most feared strikers around.
The understanding between Torres and Gerrard is almost
telepathic, and the Spanish international has nothing but
admiration for his partner
in goals.
Torres also admits he has the ambition to be a skipper
himself one day, and says he will follow the example of
Gerrard if and when that day comes.
“I would love to be a captain somewhere, some day because I
think I’ve had the best possible role model in Steven
Gerrard.”
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mirror ahead of the launch
of his new book, Torres added: “He is without doubt the
greatest player I have ever played with. He has everything.”
“At Liverpool he is irreplaceable. Every big club has a
standard bearer, a home-grown talent, someone with a
lifelong commitment to the cause. He’s everything to the
side. I can’t even begin to imagine the place without him.”
Gerrard is already guaranteed a place in the history of
Liverpool FC – and Torres reckons the England international
could even go down as the club’s greatest ever player.
“The only thing missing from his CV is the Premier League
title and an international award like the Ballon d’Or or the
FIFA World Player. Any coach would want him in their side.”
(GiveMeFootball)
Lucas expects tough game
Lucas Levia expects a difficult game tonight.
Liverpool don't know too much about their Champions League
opponents, Hungarian champions Debreceni, but Lucas believes
there very presence in the competition means they will be
tough opponents.
"If they are playing in the Champions League they will have
some quality," said the Brazilian midfielder.
"Maybe they will know more about us than we know about them
so that makes them dangerous.
"Our staff will have been working to get videos of them and
we will
be ready."
(LFC Online)
Hicks: No City-style
spree for Reds
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks insists the Reds will never
embark on an "unsustainable" spending spree such as that
conducted
by Manchester City.
Hicks has also revealed Liverpool expect to rake in
£26million plus on sponsorship revenue in a year, and that
will include a new deal
with Carlsberg.
Carlsberg's shirt sponsorship deal with Liverpool will end
next year after 17 years, and it has been taken over by
Standard Chartered - who have agreed a four-year contract
worth around £80million.
Carlsberg declined to match the offer, but it now seems they
will continue their involvement with the Anfield club on a
scaled-down format.
Hicks told The Times: "You have to look 'cash flow' rather
than accounting - and we intend to operate Liverpool where
it has a very strong positive cash flow, so we have the
resources to be as competitive as possible on the pitch.
"That's our commitment.
"We had strong, positive cash flows last year. Our debt
levels are at a very comfortable level, and we are going to
continue bringing it down."
(TEAMtalk)
Thor Zakariassen
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