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THURSDAY 21 |
Liverpool to turn to Porto's
Quaresma as Riera alternative?
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is ready to turn his attention
to Portuguese International Quaresma at FC Porto after
failing to land Gareth Barry from Aston Villa and being
priced out of a move for Albert Riera At Espanyol, according
to Portuguese Daily Abola.
(Premiership Latest)
Benitez makes peace with Parry
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and chief executive Rick
Parry have vowed to "move forward together" after holding
clear the air talks
at Anfield.
The working relationship between the two had come under
pressure over Liverpool’s activity in the transfer market -
particularly over the Gareth Barry transfer saga.
Benitez is thought to be frustrated over the club’s
inability to secure one of his main targets for the summer.
But with the talks being described as "positive", Parry and
Benitez are continuing to work on strengthening the squad
before the window closes at the end of the month.
Benitez said: "Clear the air talks have taken place. It was
a positive discussion and we will now move forward
together."
Liverpool are currently focusing their attentions on
bringing in a left-sided midfielder with both Albert Riera
and Stewart Downing having been linked with the Reds.
Parry told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "I can confirm that we had a
friendly and positive meeting and we’re moving forward."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Future of Liverpool FC
target Barry 'not resolved'
Martin O’Neill believes Gareth Barry’s future is “not
completely resolved”.
The Anfield hierarchy’s refusal to meet Villa’s £18m asking
price has forced Benitez to look elsewhere.
But Villa manager O’Neill said: “We want him to stay I think
that’s obvious. I think the fans want him to stay and for
the length of time it has gone on it is hard to pre-empt
anything. At this minute it’s not completely resolved.”
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Alonso enjoys Spain victory
Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso insists he will remember his
two-goal salvo in Wednesday's friendly victory over Denmark
for the rest of his life.
The Liverpool man struck twice in the second half of the 3-0
win in Copenhagen after appearing as a half-time substitute,
netting in the 50th minute and then again in injury-time.
For someone who had only previously scored one goal in 47
appearances for his country, Alonso was understandably
delighted with his contribution to what was a debut victory
for new Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.
"It was a special game, with a new coach, for which it was
important to win and to have good feelings. It's clear that
I will never forget these two goals with the national team,"
said Alonso.
(Sporting Life)
Reserves win
Liverpool reserves beat Hamilton Accademicals 2-1 last
night.
Gary Ablett's side beat the SPL's league leaders 2-1 thanks
to goals from Ronald Huth and Daniel Pacheco in a much
improved performance on Monday's game.
(LFC Online)
International Reds on form
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano helped Argentina
reach their second consecutive Olympic Games final on
Tuesday night, beating Brazil 3-0 in Beijing.
Goals from Sergio Aguero (2) and Juan Riquelme sealed the
victory for
the impressive Argentines, who will play Nigeria in the
Men’s Football final on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Xabi Alonso was on target twice for Spain as they
swept aside Daniel Agger’s Denmark 3-0.
Alonso’s first, shortly into the second half, was set up by
Reds striker Fernando Torres whilst goalkeeper Pepe Reina
also made a brief appearance towards the end of the game.
Robbie Keane and Steve Finnan played in the Republic of
Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Norway, with Keane netting Ireland’s
goal - the 34th of his international career.
(This is Anfield) |
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WEDNESDAY 20 |
Reds set to renew Downing interest
Liverpool look set to renew their interest in Middlesbrough
winger Stewart Downing after Espanyol demanded £16million
for Albert Riera.
Having failed to raise the funds to buy Gareth Barry from
Aston Villa,
the Reds were hoping to buy Riera for around £9m, but the
Spanish club have reportedly invoked a £16m release clause
for the winger.
That means that Liverpool are instead likely to turn back to
Downing, who could be available for a more realistic
£12million.
(TEAMtalk)
Babel back for Benitez
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is hopeful of having Ryan Babel
at his disposal for Saturday's Premier League clash against
Middlesbrough.
Babel is set to be available to feature versus Boro
following Holland's elimination from the Olympic Games in
Beijing at the quarter-final stage.
The 21-year-old forward signed for the Anfield club from
Ajax last summer, and has been tipped for a more prominent
role in the Liverpool starting XI this season after making
15 league starts in the 2007/08 term.
"It's bad news for Holland that they went out but it means
we get a player back," Benitez told the club's official
website.
"Hopefully he can be here either today or tomorrow to train
with the rest of his team-mates.
"He has been playing important games so I don't think there
will be any problems with his fitness, but our doctor and
fitness coaches will check with him and then we will see
about the weekend.
"I am sure he will be okay. If he trains normally then he
can be available for Middlesbrough."
The Spaniard added: "He's one year older and more
experienced now. He knows the club, he knows his team-mates
and so I'm sure this could be
a big season for him."
(Sky Sports)
Finnan back for Ireland
Earlier this year, Liverpool vetran defender Steve Finnan
retired from international football to concentrate on
staying healthy for his club side.
With the appointment of Giovanni Trappatoni, however, has
lured
the defender back into the fold.
“There’s no doubt I would like to go to a major tournament -
I haven’t been for a few years and that appeals to anyone,”
he said to Liverpoolfc.tv.
“The disappointments of the last few tournaments, that’s in
the back of your head, and you would love to go to another
World Cup.
“I was fortunate enough to go in 2002, so that enticed me to
come back.
“The chance of playing in another World Cup took me back and
when I met the manager, I felt it was right.”
(Kop-TV)
Riise couldn’t play against Liverpool
John Arne Riise has declared that he left the country so as
to avoid playing Liverpool in domestic competition. The
Norwegian found himself out of favor last season as Fabio
Aurelio took his left back spot, and
the purchase of Andrea Dossena only further pushed him down
the pecking order.
“There was no way I was going to be comfortable playing for
another English club and I had plenty of offers from other
clubs in the Premier League,” he said according to
Liverpoolfc.tv.
“I didn’t have to leave, I didn’t want to at the start
because I had another year left, but I did want to be
playing regularly and I didn’t feel that would happen this
season if I had stayed.”
“I just wish I had the chance to say goodbye to the
Liverpool supporters because I wanted to show what they
meant to me. They were fantastic throughout my time at the
club. Hopefully I will go back one day and do it.
“Liverpool is in my heart because I enjoyed the best moment
of my career there, winning the Champions League, but when
you are at a club like that you know something is always
going to happen."
(Kop-TV) |
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TUESDAY 19 |
Grayson keen to keep Hammill
Blackpool boss Simon Grayson is hoping to extend Adam
Hammill's loan move from Liverpool until the end of the
season.
Hammill joined Blackpool on an initial six-month loan deal
earlier this summer as Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez looks for
the highly-rated winger to get some first-team action under
his belt.
The 20-year-old has made an impressive start to life at
Bloomfield Road and Grayson admits he would love to keep
Hammill on an extended basis.
"We've spoken about trying to keep him here for the full
season," Grayson told the Blackpool Gazette.
"Liverpool and Adam want to see how things develop. It's
only two weeks into the season and it's still another six
months before his loan runs out. So we'll wait and see.
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool trailing Jorgensen
Liverpool are looking to Denmark again for fresh talent with
Mathias Jorgensen on Rafa Benitez's radar.
Jakob Friis-Hansen, who is set to be appointed as The Reds'
scout in
the area, has revealed that Benitez is keeping tabs on the
progress of
the FC Copenhagen midfielder.
"I have previously advised Liverpool over two Danes, with
Daniel Agger and Nicola Savic, both of whom they purchased
and are almost too happy with," said Friis-Hansen to
Sporten.dk.
"I gave them Mathias Jorgensen's name a long time ago and
Liverpool are wild about him. They are keeping very good
track of him.
"Liverpool see him as a very promising youngster, like I do,
and clearly just like a player who will play for the Danish
national team for many years to come."
Meanwhile 14-year-old Dane Marcus Sondergaard is training
with
the Anfield club's academy.
"It is a great dream that is coming true," the teenager told
Ekstra Bladet, but he will not be allowed to move until his
16th birthday.
(Setanta Sports)
Joy for Masch as Lucas sees red
It was joy for Javier Mascherano but despair for Lucas Leiva
as
the Brazilian was sent-off during Argentina's 3-0 win over
their South American rivals in the semi-final of the Olympic
Games.
Brazil's number eight was shown a straight red card for a
foul on his Liverpool teammate on 80 minutes before
substitute Thiago Neves also received his marching orders
for another late tackle on Mascherano.
It capped a sad night for the Brazilians who had already
seen their hopes destroyed courtesy of Sergio Aguero's
second-half double and a late penalty from Juan Roman
Riquelme.
It means Mascherano will now head into Saturday's final
against Nigeria with his dream of a second Olympic gold
medal very much alive, while Lucas' Brazil will have to
console themselves with the prospect of playing for bronze.
(LFC Official Website)
High price of ignoring Rafa
It's an old football saying – back him or sack him – and
it’s one Liverpool should be adopting with Rafa Benitez
right now.
I share Rafa’s belief that Gareth Barry would be an
excellent addition to Liverpool’s present squad. Equally I
accept that he’s not worth £18m.
But if the money is available in the club coffers and the
manager wants
to spend it, he should be given those resources.
That’s how successful football clubs work.
Except it doesn’t seem to be working that way at Anfield
right now.
If the manager is allowed to buy the players he wants, you
can then judge the manager on how those signings perform.
If Rafa signs Gareth Barry, and Liverpool don’t progress
into at least
the top two, then the manager wouldn’t have any excuses for
a lack of progress. At the moment the Reds boss would be
justified in saying he is not being allowed to do the job to
the best of his ability.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)
Riera back on Reds radar
Albert Riera could be on his way back to the Premier League,
skysports.com understands, and Liverpool remain favourites
to claim
his signature.
His possible arrival at Anfield would solve Rafa Benitez's
left-sided midfield problem, although they are not the only
English side interested.
However, Riera has made no secret of his desire to link up
with Benitez and should they make a renewed bid - as
expected - then they would be firm favourites to tie up the
deal.
A move for Riera could also finally see Benitez call-off his
long-winded pursuit of Aston Villa's Gareth Barry.
(Sky Sports)
Finnan: I’m still in limbo
over my Liverpool future
Liverpool defender Steve Finnan admits he is in limbo as the
closure of the summer transfer window approaches.
The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland full-back, who is
expected to resume his international career in Norway on
tomorrow evening, linked up with Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad
with his future at Anfield seemingly undecided.
Finnan, a £3.5million signing from Fulham five summers ago,
has found himself out of the picture so far this season
after undergoing hernia surgery.
Finnan said: "Limbo sounds about right, yes.
"I haven’t got a clue, to be honest with you. I haven’t
played many games recently, so I honestly can’t say.
"There is a big squad there and everyone is fighting for
their place, and
I just have to train well and take the chance if I get it."
Asked further if he is having to contemplate a move, he
replied: "You would have to ask the club. I have been trying
to get into the team.
"I haven’t played, but I will just wait and see and when the
transfer window closes, we will know then.
Finnan revealed he has spoken to manager Rafael Benitez
about his situation, but was not elaborating.
He said: "We have spoken about it, but at this time, I don’t
think I will say too much more."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Reserves hammered
Liverpool reserves were stuffed by Inverness Caledonian
Thistle last night.
Gary Ablett's side were hammered 5-0 by the SPL side in a
testimonial for Cally hero Barry Wilson. Ablett was
disappointed with his team's defensive peformance yesterday.
"We were very poor defensively and we gave some bad goals
away,"
the reserve team boss told the club's official website after
the match.
"We actually started quite well in the first 20 minutes but
we then stopped playing and made the wrong decisions and it
was a very disappointing night."
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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