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MONDAY 21 |
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Hamburg eye Hamann
Hamburg have revealed that they are interested in signing
Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann.
The German international is out of contract at the end of
the season, but The Reds have said that they are close to
handing him a fresh deal.
Rafa Benitez is keen to offer the 31-year-old a 12-month
extension to his contract, but that has not stopped interest
from his native country.
Hamburg have confirmed their interest, and coach Thomas Doll
says that they will watch Hamann in action in Tuesday's UEFA
Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen.
"Hamann is an established player in the Premier League and
is out of contract at the end of the season," said Doll in
Monday's Bild newspaper.
"We will take a look at him to get a better picture."
Liverpool have been in talks with Hamann and his agent, but
until he signs a new deal German sides will continue to
consider making a move for him.
(Sky Sports)
Benitez: My biggest week
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits he is facing his
biggest week since arriving at Anfield in the summer and he
expects his players to make it the best week.
The Reds host Bayer Leverkusen in the first knock-out round
of the Champions League on Tuesday before contesting the
Carling Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday.
"I know this is a big week in my time at Liverpool, I hope
next Monday I can say it has been my best week," he said.
"All I can say is that if you work hard then you will be
lucky."
(ITV Football)
Riise out for revenge
John Arne Riise wants to purge from his memory the worst day
of his football career when his dream of winning the
Champions League was destroyed.
Two years ago Liverpool lost a Champions League
quarter-final away to Bayer Leverkusen when they were just
minutes from a place in the last four - where Manchester
United would have been their next opponents.
A mistake by former boss Gerard Houllier when he substituted
Dietmar Hamann in the final moments in Germany - giving the
initiative to Leverkusen - has haunted Liverpool and their
players ever since.
Norwegian star Riise remembers, and wants to put things
right this time around.
(ITV Football)
Erik the Red backs Rafa's men to beat
Bayer
Former Kop favourite Erik Meijer is backing Liverpool to
emerge triumphant when two of his former club's clash in the
last 16 of the Champions League.
Meijer enjoyed a brief but enjoyable spell at Anfield after
joining the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer of
1999.
And, despite now plying his trade for German Second Division
outfit Alemannia Aachen, Liverpool is a club that remains
very close to his heart.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard backing for Euro stand-ins
Steven Gerrard has revealed his 'frustration' at missing out
as Liverpool renew Champions League rivalries with Bayer
Leverkusen tomorrow.
The Liverpool skipper is suspended for the second round
first leg clash with the German side at Anfield, and will be
joined on the sidelines by cup-tied duo Fernando Morientes
and Mauricio Pellegrino and long-term injury victims Xabi
Alonso, Djibril Cisse and Florent Sinama-Pongolle.
But Gerrard has backed whoever plays to ensure Liverpool
remain in the tie for when he returns in the second leg on
March 9.
"I'm suspended for the first leg which is a massive
frustration for me," he said. "Hopefully the lads can pull a
result out of the bag and keep me involved for the second
leg."
(Daily Post)
Roque ready for Reds
Bayer Leverkusen defender Roque Junior believes his side
will get a result at Liverpool on Tuesday evening.
"I know that Liverpool have a great European tradition, but
I don't fear playing at Anfield at all," Roque Junior said.
(Sky Sports)
Garcia's key role in defining week
One defining week of two crucial cup ties is upon us yet
noone, not even Rafael Benitez, can be sure which Liverpool
will show up for it.
Just when it was safe to suspect a Liverpool squad ravaged
by injury yet still containing enough expensive,
international talent to overcome most Premier-ship sides had
discovered its level then along comes Birmingham.
With a performance that made the previous low point at
Southampton appear impressive, Liverpool's abject loss at St
Andrew's added attitude to the list of problems facing
Benitez.
The Liverpool manager is still simmering over a display that
prompted him to publicly question his side's character and
commitment. If he cannot get a response against Bayer
Leverkusen in the last 16 of the Champions League and in a
Carling Cup Final against Chelsea then the ramifications are
obvious.
Luis Garcia is confident another round of blood-letting will
not be necessary. This is, he admits, a week that will have
major repercussions for Liverpool's season, perhaps even
their future, yet the Spanish forward sees no reason to fear
what they might be.
(Daily Post)
Vignal keen on Rangers extension
Gregory Vignal has invited Rangers to make his loan move
permanent after scoring in Sunday's win over Celtic.
The French defender confirmed he has been told by Liverpool
that he can leave for nothing in the summer.
"I am happy here and now I know I am a free agent," said
Vignal, who rejected an offer from Rangers last month.
"I would sign because this club is a very big club and next
season we have the chance of the Champions League so we will
see what happens."
(BBC Sport Online) |
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SUNDAY 20 |
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Nowotny blow for Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen captain Jens Nowotny has been ruled out of
Tuesday's Champions League game away to Liverpool because of
a potentially serious knee injury.
Nowotny, who has had to battle with ligament problems in his
left knee in the past, suffered the injury in his side's 4-2
win over FC Nuremberg on Saturday.
"It's not certain but it's possible that it's a cruciate
ligament injury," said Leverkusen sporting director Rudi
Voeller.
The defender is due to see a specialist in Munich on Monday
and will definitely not travel to England for the Champions
League first knockout round first leg match.
(Reuters)
Cudicini out of Final
Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is out of the Carling Cup
Final against Liverpool after he was sent-off in stoppage
time of their 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Newcastle United.
Cudicini, who was promised a starting place against
Liverpool by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will be suspended
so regular Number One Petr Cech will probably play against
Liverpool instead.
Chelsea are also likely to be without left back Wayne Bridge
for the final after he was stretchered off against Newcastle
and taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle. Winger
Damien Duff and centre half William Gallas both left the
field limping.
(LFC Official Website)
Fears for former Liverpool ace
Former Liverpool ace Stan Collymore is being urged to seek
immediate medical help amid fears that he's on the verge of
cracking up again.
Last week the former Liverpool striker sparked a nationwide
hunt after leaving a note and going AWOL from his home. He
was found the next day nearly 200 miles away from his house
in Cannock, Staffs and the incident was naturally a concern
for his mother Doreen who has been making daily visits ever
since.
Ex-wife Estelle (27) is also concerned about his welfare.
She said: "I don't know if he has some kind of mental
problem or what he wrote in the note but I do know that he
needs help. His behaviour just isn't normal."
Sources close to the former Red believe the breakdown of his
marriage have caused him to slump to an all-time low.
(Kop Talk)
Vignal scores in Old Firm match
On loan Gregory Vignal became a hero North of the Border
when he scored a priceless goal in Rangers 2-0 victory over
Celtic in the Old Firm derby in Glasgow.
Vignal, on a season's loan at Rangers from Liverpool, has
made a good impression during his time in Scotland and
scored the first goal with a shot from 25-yards out
Stephane Henchoz didn't start the match for Celtic.
(LFC Official Website)
Hamann: Time for Steve to go
Liverpool midfielder Didier Hamann concedes that he would
advise Steven Gerrard to leave if the right opportunity
arose.
The Anfield favourite has become very much the heartbeat of
Anfield but the Merseyside outfit's inability to compete for
major silverware has led to inevitable speculation over the
player's future.
''If a player one day has the chance to get some experience
in a foreign country and play for a big club, then I would
advise anyone to do it,'' Hamann told the Daily Star.
''Steven would be able to play anywhere is Europe. He has
the ability, power and strength to do well.
''It worked out well for me because I have learned a lot
more than I could have learned had I stayed in Germany.
''It's a big decision for Steve. He is 24. Does he want to
go into a foreign country?
''He is the captain and a very important part of the team
and the club.
''If somebody comes in and offers to pay whatever, you never
know what the club is going to decide.''
(Sky Sports)
Leverkusen warm up with win
Bayer Leverkusen warmed up for Tuesday's Champions League
clash at Anfield with an emphatic 4-2 win at Nurnberg
yesterday.
Dimitar Berbatov scored two of the goals, whilst Carsten
Ramelow and Jacek Krzynowek were the other two scorers.
Bayer are now fourth in the Bundesliga, six points behind
leaders Bayern Munich.
(Walk On LFC)
Foy makes debut
Liverpool's highly rated winger Robbie Foy made his league
debut for Ian Rush's Chester side yesterday.
Scottish under 21's international Foy is on a month's loan
at Chester and quickly impressed at his new club.
Foy played the full 90 minutes in Chester's 2-0 defeat to
league leaders Yeovil and had a decent game, coming close to
scoring on a few occasions.
Foy has yet to play for Liverpool but was an unused sub for
the Carling Cup game
with Spurs.
(LFC Online)
Under 18's beaten again
Liverpool's under 18's side remain bottom of the league
after their 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
It was another poor performance from John Owens' side and
were it not for some very good goalkeeping from Paul
Lancaster the result could have been much worse.
The match ended in some controversy when James Frayne was
sent off for punching a Blackburn defender who made a racist
remark to him.
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 19 |
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Real Madrid chiefs approve Gerrard bid
Newspaper reports today claim that the Real Madrid board
have approved a request by Vanderlei Luxemburgo to make a
formal £30million bid for the services of Liverpool skipper
Steven Gerrard in the summer.
(Kop Talk)
Kewell keen to prove worth
Harry Kewell is craving the chance to show his value to
Liverpool in the Carling Cup final.
The former Leeds winger is poised to emerge from the despair
in long-term injury to play in Liverpool's most important
sequence of matches this season.
Two months on the sidelines, with Achilles and groin
problems, have sharpened Kewell's desire to make an impact
on Liverpool's season.
(TEAMtalk)
Warnock hoping for more action
Stephen Warnock says he has enjoyed being a regular member
of the Liverpool first team squad this season but having
played a number of games he now wants more pieces of the
action.
Warnock came back from a season long loan spell with
Coventry last term to sign a new two-year contract with
Liverpool in the summer of 2004. This season he has made his
first team debut and made 22 appearances so far.
"I think what you've got to understand is Liverpool is a
massive club and I'm not at Coventry now where the squad is
very bare and if you got a couple of injuries you'd have to
throw the young lads in. Here there are so many squad
players so it's no shame you not getting into the squad.
You've just got to get your head down and work hard in
training and hopefully get back in the squad.
"I'd just love to get in the first team and hold a place
down on a regular basis and prove to everyone I can do it
and help the team get that fourth place. Once you get in to
the team you want to cement your place and be a regular in
the squad all the time. I would just love to get a run in
the team to show the manager what I could do.
"I don't mind playing left back or left midfield but the
manager has played me mostly at left back this season and I
like that."
(LFC Official Website)
Vladi takes inspiration from Paddy
Vladimir Smicer says he has had good support in his battle
to return to full fitness from good mate Patrik Berger who
came back from a similar serious knee injury.
Former Liverpool ace Berger recovered from a knee operation
after he went to the USA to see Dr Steadman and is now
playing regular Premiership football for Portsmouth.
Smicer says he takes inspiration from this seeing his good
friend fully fit after his operation and is hoping he can do
the same with Liverpool.
Smicer played his first 90 minutes of the season last Monday
for the reserves and says he is gradually getting his match
fitness back.
Smicer said: "Patrik has given me a great motivation and a
big boost. We speak a lot and he wished me all the best to
get back in the Liverpool team.
(LFC Official Website)
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Thor Zakariassen
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