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MONDAY 21 |
Rafa: We are here to win
Rafael Benitez is confident the Reds will shrug off the
losses of Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise and qualify
for group stages of the Champions League.
Speaking at the press conference, which was dominated by
Israeli journalists quizzing Benitez on why Liverpool didn't
want to travel to Israel for the game, he said: "We know how
important this game is financially, for our confidence, for
the club and for the fans."
(LFC Official Website)
Trio out for Reds
Liverpool arrived in Kiev for tomorrow’s Champions League
qualifier against Maccabi Haifa without Jamie Carragher,
John Arne Riise and Gabriel Paletta.
Carragher and Riise were left on Merseyside for treatment to
ankle injuries picked up in Saturday’s draw at Sheffield
United that are likely to keep the pair out for three weeks.
Paletta was also missing with a knee problem.
It means that young Danish defender Daniel Agger is likely
to play in the third qualifying round second leg while
Stephen Warnock, Fabio Aurelio and Mark Gonzalez will
contest the left side positions.
Steve Finnan returns after a muscle strain while new signing
Dirk Kuyt is ineligible for this round.
Provisional squad: Reina, Finnan, Agger, Hyypia, Aurelio,
Warnock, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Gerrard, Sissoko, Gonzalez,
Fowler, Crouch, Bellamy, Dudek, Kromkamp,
Zenden, Pennant.
(Evening Echo)
Carra: I could miss derby day
Jamie Carragher admits he's sweating on his fitness for the
Merseyside derby after being ruled out for a minimum of two
weeks.
The Liverpool defender was one of two notable absentees as
the Reds flew to Kiev for tomorrow's Champions League
qualifier.
Carragher and John Arne Riise damaged their ankles during
Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Sheffield United.
Both are devastated to be missing the £12m clash with
Maccabi Haifa, and now Carragher is anxious to en-sure he's
recovered in time to face Everton at Goodison on September
9, which is three weeks away.
"We'll have towait and see but I suppose at the moment you
would have to say it's touch and go for the derby," said the
centre-half.
"The scan showed no damage butthere'sa lot of swelling and
I'm on crutches. Hopefully it's not too bad though."
(Liverpool Echo)
Italian ace on Reds radar
Liverpool are monitoring the progress of Serie B hot shot
Daniele Cacia, according to reports in Italy.
Cacia currently plays for Piacenza and netted 19 times in 37
Serie B appearances last season.
Though Rafa Benitez has not followed up any tentative
interest, reports in Italy claim he is waiting to see if
Piacenza lower their asking price.
(Sky Sports)
French import gone
As reported earlier this month, the loan deal for Anthony Le
Tallec has finally been agreed.
The man Houllier christened as the 'new' Zinedine Zidane has
moved to French side Sochaux on loan for the season with an
option to purchase.
Le Tallec was pleased with his move:
"I have chosen Sochaux even through I had offers from
England, Garmany and Spain. But my main aim was to come back
in France."'
Le Tallec has played 17 times for Liverpool since his
transfer in 2001, scoring 0 goals.
He spent time on loan with Sunderland last year. His 3 goals
in 27 goals, surprisingly, failed to prevent the mackems
getting relegated.
(Anfield.online) |
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SUNDAY 20 |
Double injury blow rocks Liverpool
Liverpool have been dealt a blow with the news that Jamie
Carragher and John Arne Riise have been ruled out for two
weeks with ankle injuries.
The Reds defensive duo were substituted during their opening
day 1-1 draw at
Sheffield United.
Scans on Sunday have shown that England defender Carragher
has sprained a medial ligament while Norway international
Riise has torn lateral ligaments.
The news is a blow for Liverpool ahead of the second leg of
their Champions League qualifying tie against Maccabi Haifa
in Kiev on Tuesday.
A Liverpool spokesman said: "We expect both players to be
unable to train for the next two to three weeks."
The news means the duo will miss the Champions League
qualifier on Tuesday against Maccabi Haifa and Premiership
game against West Ham.
Their absence is likely to mean extended runs in the side
for Daniel Agger and
Fabio Aurelio.
(Sporting Life)
Morgan protests innocence
Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan is adamant he made no
contact with Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard as the new
Barclays Premiership season kicked off in controversial
fashion.
The curtain-raising 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane was marred when
Morgan was adjudged by referee Rob Styles to have clipped
Gerrard in the penalty area, resulting in Robbie Fowler
stroking home the 70th-minute equaliser from the spot.
Blades manager Neil Warnock later insisted there was no
contact, with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believing
Gerrard's word and asserting there was.
Hampshire official Styles obviously felt his assessment was
correct, but not according to Morgan, who perhaps should
have been sent off into the bargain as he was also last man.
"I didn't think it was a penalty, and it's proved on
television that it doesn't look like a penalty," said
28-year-old centre-back Morgan.
"I made no contact. I didn't think anybody appealed at the
time, and to my way of thinking if it was a penalty why
didn't he (Gerrard) go down straight away?"
(PA Sport)
Gerrard: ‘I rejected Manchester United’
Steven Gerrard claims to have rejected the chance to sign
for Manchester United Football Club.
In his autobiography, being serialized in the News of the
World, the Liverpool skipper reveals how he had the chance
to move to Old Trafford after impressing during two trials.
"I wore the red of United in two trial games," Gerrard said.
"After doing well in those games United offered me a
three-year pro contract.
"I even met their legendary manager. A group of trialists
had dinner with Mr Ferguson, as he was then. Michael Owen
was meant to be at the meal, but didn't turn up.
"We sat and listened in awe to one of the managerial greats.
He had heard about me and desperately wanted me to sign, but
I was never going to sign for United.
"I looked around other clubs partly to pressure Liverpool
into giving me a YTS contract."
(Fans FC)
Young Reds lose on opening day
Liverpool Under-18s suffered a disappointing start to the
season when they lost 1-0 at home to Chelsea in the opening
Academy fixture of the 2006/2007 season.
Chelsea were good value for their victory and Reds Under-18
boss John Owens had few complaints.
"We have to be disappointed losing our first game but
Chelsea are a very good strong side and they had a lot of
players with reserve team experience.
"We didn't get our passing game going in the first half but
we were much better in the second half. Jay Spearing had a
chance to equalise but it wasn't to be."
Team: David Roberts, Stephen Darby, Robbie Threlfall, Jay
Spearing, Laurence Gaughan, Charlie Barnett (Ryan Wignall
65), Paul Barratt, Ryan Flynn, Craig Lindfield, Ben
Parsonage (Lee Woodward 55), Michael Burns. Subs unused:
Josh Mimms, Stephen Behan, Shane O'Connor.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 19 |
Managers unhappy with Styles
Referee Rob Styles had rival managers Neil Warnock and
Rafael Benitez questioning his judgment as the new Premier
League season started in controversial fashion as Sheffield
United and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane.
After a 12-year absence from the top flight United were
denied what would have been a famous victory on their return
by Hampshire official Styles.
Rob Hulse, a £2.2million summer buy from Leeds, had sent
Blades fans into a frenzy by heading the opening goal of the
campaign 52 seconds into the second half.
The game's flashpoint arrived in the 69th minute, with
Robbie Fowler and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard
exchanging a one-two on the edge of the area.
There appeared to be no contact as Blades captain Chris
Morgan slid in to make a challenge, with Gerrard's momentum
as he clipped in a shot that was scooped up by Paddy Kenny
sending him tumbling.
But Styles immediately pointed to the spot, allowing Fowler
to send Kenny the wrong way after the United keeper had
committed himself.
(Sporting Life)
Traore sent off - Carson figures
Former Liverpool defender Djimi Traore has been sent off
during his first Premier League game for Charlton today.
Traore was booked for taking out West Ham's Lee Bowyer with
a two-footed lunge. Well played Djimi!
Three minutes later he was red-carded by referee Howard Webb
for preventing West Ham from taking a quick free-kick.
Liverpool's Scott Carson is in goal for Charlton.
(Kop Talk)
Carra out of Kiev trip but hope for Riise
Jamie Carragher has been ruled out of Liverpool's crucial
Champions League qualifier on Tuesday and John Arne Riise is
rated extremely doubtful.
Both were forced off during the first half of the 1-1 draw
at Sheffield United with ankle problems but x-rays later
confirmed that neither has suffered serious damage.
Riise was stretchered off following a challenge by Blades
defender Leigh Bromby, while Carragher was on the receiving
end of a tackle from behind by Rob Hulse.
Speaking after the game Reds boss Rafa Benitez immediately
ruled Carragher out of the third qualifying round second leg
tie against Maccabi Haifa in Kiev but added 'we will have to
see' with regards to Riise.
(LFC Official Website)
Styles explains penalty decision
Referee Rob Styles has spoken out about his decision to
award Liverpool a penalty, that earned them an equaliser at
Sheffield United.
"I saw the Sheffield United player to come in and make side
contact with Steven Gerrard," said Styles.
"Moving at that pace it's always going to put him off
balance and he subsequently lost the opportunity to score.
"There was no advantage so I gave the penalty. I certainly
thought there was contact. Tripping or attempting to trip is
a penal offense."
(LFC Online)
Sheffield United v Liverpool - CONFIRMED
TEAM
Liverpool take on Sheffield United at 12.45pm today and this
is the confirmed starting line-up.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Kromkamp, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise,
Gerrard, Sissoko, Zenden, Aurelio, Bellamy, Fowler.
SUBS: Dudek, Agger, Gonzalez, Crouch, Pennant.
(Kop Talk)
Agent heading to Merseyside to try and
broker deal
KOPTALK understands that Peter Harrison - the agent that
represents Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill - is
heading to Merseyside in the hope of securing his client a
move to Anfield.
The 28-year-old Australian international is out of contract
in the summer of 2007 and so far he's rejected the new
offers put to him by his present employers.
Neill's agent Peter Harrison is expected to attend the
Portsmouth-Rovers game today. Afterwards he will hold a
mini-conference with his client to discuss their options,
one of which could be a move to Anfield.
(Kop Talk)
Kuyt explains how Robben told him to sign
for Liverpool
Liverpool's ultimately successful pursuit of Dirk Kuyt was
smoothed by unlikely allies. The Holland international
yesterday revealed he had been urged to move to Anfield by
Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben, pantomime villains on
Merseyside given their connections with Manchester United
and Chelsea.
Kuyt was paraded as a £9m Liverpool signing yesterday having
signed a four-year contract worth £45,000 a week but Rafael
Benítez, it emerged, had first inquired about his
availability when still coach of Valencia more than two
years ago.
Yet, although the 26-year-old had always been keen to move
to a club of Liverpool's size, he sought advice from his
team-mates in the Dutch national team before completing the
transfer and Robben even suggested Kuyt could end up winning
the Premiership at Chelsea's expense.
"I spoke not only to Ruud but also the other players in the
Premier League who are in the Dutch team," said Kuyt, who
has received his international clearance but is unlikely to
start this afternoon's game at Sheffield United.
"They said this is a perfect competition and that I would
enjoy myself here. They didn't give specific advice but they
said I would love it and I'm ready to play in the Premier
League. They said Liverpool are a fantastic club with
fantastic support and that we are ideally suited for each
other."
(The Guardian)
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Thor Zakariassen
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