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MONDAY 21 |
DIC representatives to visit Anfield
Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has invited senior
officials from Dubai International Capital to be his guests
at Anfield on Tuesday for the Champions League semi-final
showdown with Chelsea.
Although Gillett himself will not be able to attend the
match because of illness, his party - including son Foster,
a fellow director - will be there in force to welcome DIC's
representatives.
It is a remarkable move by Gillett - who has wanted to sell
his 50% stake in the club to DIC for several months - and
comes just five days after his estranged partner Tom Hicks
staged an extravagant PR exercise with a TV interview
defiantly outlining his own plans for the future of the
club.
But significantly, after Hicks had made it clear he still
intended to buy out Gillett, Colorado-based Gillett
announced that he had no intention of ever selling his stake
to Hicks.
It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley
will be among Gillett's party, along with Liverpool fan and
DIC chief executive
Samir Al-Ansari.
(PA Sport)
Reserves edge to Wigan win
Liverpool Reserves brought their Barclays Premier Reserve
League North campaign to an end with a hard-fought victory
after they came from behind to beat Wigan Athletic by a 3-1
scoreline at the Racecourse Ground.
Gary Ablett's men had gone in at the interval trailing to an
opportunist goal from Tomasz Kupisz but hit back in the
second half with goals from Jay Spearing, Andras Simon and
Jordy Brouwer to secure a 13th straight win and ensured they
will go into Thursday's Senior Cup final against Marine in
good spirits.
Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Kelly, Insua, San Jose, Huth
(Mackay-Steven 60), Plessis, Ayala, Spearing, Simon (Brouwer
60), Nemeth (Lindfield 75) Flynn. Unused subs: Duyan, Irwin.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa confirms Gerrard return
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed Steven Gerrard
is fit to face Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League.
The Reds welcome Chelsea to Anfield on Tuesday for the first
leg of their semi-final meeting as the two domestic rivals
prepare to cross swords in the final four in Europe for the
third time.
It had been feared Liverpool skipper Gerrard could miss the
encounter on Merseyside after sitting out his side's weekend
victory away at Fulham in the Premier League with a neck
injury.
However, Benitez has given Gerrard the all-clear to play and
the midfielder will lead Liverpool out against Chelsea.
"He is fit," Benitez said. "He was training this morning and
so he is okay."
(Football 365)
Zenden tips Reds for Euro hat-trick
Bolo Zenden believes Liverpool's European pedigree could be
the difference when the Reds take on familiar foes Chelsea
in the last four of the Champions League.
He is confident Liverpool have the European know-how to
reach a third final in just four seasons and is hopeful they
can make up for the disappointment he suffered as a Reds
player in Athens last year.
(LFC Official Website)
Lampard available for Liverpool clash
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has made himself available
for Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final against
Liverpool after spending the last week at his sick mother’s
bedside.
Lampard has spent the last seven days with his mother, who
is still described as “very ill”.
However, a statement released by his agent Steve Kutner on
Monday morning announced the England international is ready
to play at Anfield.
“Frank Lampard has made himself available for tomorrow
night’s Champions League match at Liverpool after spending
the last seven days at the bedside of his sick mother,” said
the statement.
(Evening Echo)
Crouch targets Euro glory
Peter Crouch today spoke of his determination to help heap
more semi-final heartache on Chelsea and fire the Reds
towards yet another Champions League final.
The England international, who fired his 10th goal of the
season in the 2-0 win at Fulham on Saturday, knows that
there is still a long way to go before his dream can become
a reality, with old foes Chelsea once again standing in the
way of a third European Cup final in four years.
But Crouch insists everyone involved with squad is confident
and have
an added determination to reach Moscow and make up for last
season's Athens disappointment against AC Milan.
"For me to win the Champions League this season would be the
pinnacle of my career," Crouch told Liverpoolfc.tv.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa has the same old Blues
Rafa Benitez has started the mind games ahead of his
Liverpool side’s Champions League semi-final, first leg with
Chelsea on Tuesday by taunting The Blues.
The sides face off at Anfield in the opening game of their
last-four tie and Benitez has lit the blue touchpaper by
suggesting that the West Londoners play exactly the same
football under current boss Avram Grant as they did under
former chief Jose Mourinho.
And in a further jibe at his opponents the Spaniard has
hinted that it does not matter whether it is Grant, Mourinho
or anyone else in charge of the team, because Roman
Abramovich is the man who pulls the strings.
“The key to them is Abramovich,” said Benitez. “The only
difference I see between Mourinho and Grant is in their
press conferences!
“I watched the game at Everton and they were playing the
same as they always did.
““They have been in the final of the Carling Cup, they face
us in the semi-finals of the Champions League and they are
still in the race for the title.
“They have enough good players to win. So we must be really
careful and have a lot of respect for them.
(Setanta Sports) |
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SUNDAY 20 |
DIC look at Roma bid
Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed that his family are keen on
buying Roma which may alter any plans they have for
Liverpool.
DIC - the investment arm of Dubai Holdings which belongs to
the Government of Dubai - have been trying to invest in the
English giants for two years.
But they have never been able to agree terms with firstly
David Moores and subsequently either of the club's American
owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
The huge rift between Hicks and Gillett which is currently
engulfing the Anfield club had seemingly opened the way for
DIC to come back in - but as yet that has not materialised.
Now Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed his family are interested
in the Eternal City outfit.
"I don't follow a lot football, but I know my family want to
negotiate for Roma and that there have been contacts,"
Sheikh Mohammed is quoted as saying by the Gazzetta dello
Sport.
(Sky Sports)
Laursen wants Crouch at Villa
Aston Villa’s defender, Martin Laursen revealed that he
would like to see Peter Crouch at Villa Park next season. He
believed that the lanky striker would be a perfect
acquisition for the club.
Laursen said: "This is a club who are going places. We have
a lot of good young players here so an England striker like
Peter Crouch should be interested in coming to Aston Villa."
The giant striker has found himself to be a bit-part player
in this year’s Liverpool team as record signing Fernando
Torres has scored 25 goals since arriving on Merseyside,
moreover, Benitez’s preference to play with one forward has
further hampered Crouch’s role at the club.
(Kop -TV)
Torres ready for biggest test yet
Fernando Torres has admitted that reaching the semi-finals
of the Champions League with Liverpool represents the
pinnacle of his career.
The Reds are due to take on Chelsea in the first leg of
their last four contest on Tuesday, and Torres feels that
the games against the Blues are the biggest he has ever been
involved in.
"The emotion I felt after the Arsenal game (in the
quarter-finals) was very, very strong. I have never felt
like that before," Torres told
the News of the World.
"I was almost in tears at the end of the match when they
crowd were singing.
"If that was a quarter-final, I can't imagine what it will
be like playing Chelsea.
"Without doubt, these are the biggest matches of my career."
(TEAMtalk)
Grant reveals dream signing
Avram Grant has admitted that Steven Gerrard is the player
he admires most in the Premier League.
The Chelsea boss believes that the Liverpool skipper should
walk away with the PFA and European Player of the Year
awards this season, and has revealed that he would love to
take the England international to Stamford Bridge.
"Gerrard is a great player and a great person," the Blues
manager told the News of the World.
"For me he is the player of the year in England and maybe in
Europe because of the influence he has on the team.
"Unfortunately he plays against me, not with me, but he is
still my favourite player."
(Sky Sports)
Hodgson: We'll keep believing
Roy Hodgson refused to criticise Fulham and said they would
fight to
the death to stay in the Premier League after the 2-0 defeat
to Liverpool.
Hodgson said: "I thought we matched Liverpool - one of the
best sides in the country - most of the way.
"Of course I'm disappointed and I won't make a fool of
myself by making outrageous claims - but until it is
mathematically impossible for us to stay up we will fight
on."
(TEAMtalk) |
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SATURDAY 19 |
Rafa talking to his lawyers
Rafa Benitez will consult his lawyers after claims made by
Neil Warnock over his team selection.
Benitez was speaking after his much-changed Liverpool side
beat relegation strugglers Fulham 2-0, almost exactly a year
after he fielded
a weakened team against the same side.
On that occasion Fulham won, leaving Warnock furious that
Benitez had disrespected his Sheffield United side, who were
eventually relegated.
Warnock brought up last year's game again in Saturday's
Daily Mail, saying he hoped Liverpool would never win
another trophy under Benitez.
When asked about Warnock's rant after the game, Benitez
said:
"Somebody told me about these comments. We knew he was bad
as
a manager, pre-historic, but we didn't know he was a person
like this.
"I will talk with my lawyers but we don't need to waste time
with him."
The Spaniard continued: "Every manager has a responsibility
for his team selections in every game and I also have a
responsibility to use
my squad.
"I picked a team I believed could win the match. We now
need, after this win, just one more point to ensure fourth
place in the league, even if Everton win all their remaining
games."
(Football 365)
Liverpool suffer Gerrard setback
Manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that Steven Gerrard is a
doubt for Liverpool's Champions League semi-final first leg
tie with Chelsea on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old sat out his side's 2-0 win away at Fulham
with a neck injury and Benitez is unsure if he will be fit
in time to face the Blues
at Anfield.
"We don't know at the moment," he said. "Steven is working
with the physios.
"He is improving but it is still too soon. You always have
to be careful with the neck."
(BBC Sport Online)
Benitez praises squad effort
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes his squad proved a
point to the rest of the Premier League in their 2-0 victory
over Fulham.
"The team is playing well and we are winning games," Benitez
added.
"Today we were using players that needed to prove their
qualities so that is why I am really pleased with the
performance of the team.
"This year we have a better squad and you saw today we have
enough quality. If you want to fight for trophies you have
to use the squad."
(Sky Sports)
Second-string Reds punish Fulham
Liverpool claimed a 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven
Cottage to inflict further misery upon the
relegation-threatened side.
Jermaine Pennant opened the scoring with an angled shot that
Fulham keeper Kasey Keller could do nothing about, and Peter
Crouch wrapped up the win with a shot that went through the
shot-stopper's legs.
Liverpool, who had one eye on Tuesday's Champions League
semi-final with Chelsea, were professional in this win to
aid their pursuit of cementing fourth place in the league.
Relegation is looking like a real possibilty for Fulham now
as they sit second from bottom with just 27 points taken
thus far this campaign, and this performance will not have
done much to fuel their confidence.
(Setanta Sports)
Voronin and Crouch start at Fulham
Peter Crouch and Andriy Voronin will lead the line for
Liverpool at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Sami Hyypia has been named captain on his 300th
league appearance for the club.
The Liverpool team in full is: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia,
Skrtel, Riise, Benayoun, Pennant, Mascherano, Lucas,
Voronin, Crouch.
Subs: Itandje, Torres, Aurelio, Alonso, Carragher.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: New signings in place
Rafael Benitez today revealed he has already made plans to
strengthen his squad for next season.
"We were this morning progressing in some issues and we will
do the same. We have some signings for the next season done.
They are senior players for the first team and young players
for the first team and reserve team. Two of them are really
close, young players, and one senior player is done. He
talks good English, but is not English."
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool ownership battle
won't finish soon - sources
The battle between the U.S. owners of Liverpool FC and
potential buyer Dubai International Capital (DIC) will go on
for a few weeks as DIC isn't prepared to raise its offer,
said sources familiar with the matter.
The situation is deadlocked as Tom Hicks and George Gillett
don't want to sell their 50 percent stakes to each other,
while the agreement under which they bought the club last
year doesn't say what to do in such situation, the sources
said on Friday.
This leaves a legal void though the parties want to avoid
litigation,
the sources said.
While Gillett has said he would sell his stake to DIC, which
has made a 500 million pound ($998 million) bid for the
English soccer club, Hicks may be waiting for a better
offer.
But this may not arrive as the two Americans would already
make a considerable profit at the present offer price as
they bought the British soccer club for 219 million pounds
last year.
DIC's offer includes 350 million pounds of debt, one of the
sources said.
DIC is awaiting the outcome of Hicks' negotiations with U.S.
investment bank JPMorgan over a loan to his sports group, as
failure to repay may force him to sell some of his assets if
there is a buyer,
one of the sources said.
(Reuters)
Klinsmann claims denied by Hicks
Tom Hicks has flatly denied speculation that he has been
using Jurgen Klinsmann to scrutinise Rafa Benitez's transfer
targets.
The Texan was incensed by reports in the national media that
he asked Klinsmann to run the rule over players Benitez
wanted to bring to Anfield and today insisted anyone making
such claims is "wrong".
A statement released on Hicks behalf by London-based PR firm
Financial Dynamics attempted to draw a line under the
ongoing speculation.
It said: "Tom has not had any contact with Klinsmann on this
matter. He has not seen him since the meeting in November.
So the story is just plain wrong."
(Liverpool Echo)
Jose hopes for Chelsea win
Former boss Jose Mourinho hopes Chelsea can get the better
of Liverpool in their forthcoming Champions League
semi-final showdown.
Mourinho was at the helm of the Blues when they lost two
semi-finals - in 2005 and 2007 - to the Merseyside club
before leaving Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
In the first meeting his side lost to a controversial goal
that he claimed hasn't crossed the line, while two years
later the Reds progressed to the final after a dramatic
penalty shoot-out.
But speaking ahead of Tuesday's first leg meeting at
Stamford Bridge, Mourinho is hoping his former employers can
exact their revenge
"I don't know who will win," he told The Times. "I think
always between big teams the result is a question mark. I
want Chelsea.
"Mathematically it's possible. I want them to win. Yes, for
the fans, for the players, yes, for the friends I have in
the club.
"And when I say friends I include the board. I have no
problems with Peter (Kenyon, chief executive) or Roman
(Abramovich, owner). I always support my friends."
(Football UK)
Thor Zakariassen
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