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WEDNESDAY 21 |
Rijkaard issues rallying cry
Frank Rijkaard called on his under-fire Barcelona side to
pull together after their 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat
to Liverpool.
Having lost to rivals Valencia in La Liga at the weekend,
the Catalans suffered a substantial blow in their bid to
retain the European Cup by going down to goals from Craig
Bellamy and John Arne Riise at Camp Nou.
Morale in the Barca camp was already low after reports of a
dressing room rift, and Rijkaard insists his squad must help
each other through a difficult period in the season if they
are to rescue the tie at Anfield.
"It wasn't our night," Rijkaard said. "The rhythm of the
game slowed down after we conceded the goal.
"After that moment, Liverpool had more strength and we
couldn't find a way
to change this.
"It's a complicated situation and it will be difficult to
make the comeback but that's what (the situation) is."
(Sky Sports)
Bellamy: My best moment in football
Craig Bellamy declared Wednesday night's victory in the Nou
Camp his greatest moment in football.
The Reds achieved an historic win over Barca with strikes
from Bellamy and John Arne Riise – an irony not lost on the
Welshman.
"You couldn't make up what has happened tonight," he said.
"I've not been reading
the papers so I've not been too bothered what people say.
"All I wanted to do was make the most of the special
atmosphere and the build up to the game. I've been
reasonably lucky in football, playing for my country and
other big clubs, but this is my best moment in the game."
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa hails Reds response
Rafa Benitez was delighted with his players' response to a
controversial week as they secured only the second victory
by an English team at Camp Nou.
Goals from Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise - reportedly
the chief protagonists in the club's ill-fated training camp
in Portgual - saw The Reds claim a superb 2-1 victory over
Barcelona in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League
last 16 tie.
"I said before in the press conference that the atmosphere
between the players was really good and you could see today
them all working very hard for the team, for the club and
for the supporters," Benitez told Sky Sports.
"For me I am really pleased with Bellamy and John scoring
these goals and also pleased for the team too."
(Sky Sports)
Bell and Riise put Reds in the swing
Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise both scored as Liverpool
claimed a stunning 2-1 Champions League victory over
Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Bellamy and Riise were allegedly the two players involved in
last week's training ground fracas in Portugal - and the
response from the pair will have delighted coach Rafael
Benitez and the mass of travelling Liverpool fans.
In the battle between the last two winners of the
competition, 2005 champions Liverpool tonight became only
the second English team to beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
The only previous side to win here was the 1975-76 Liverpool
team, which downed Barca 1-0 in the UEFA Cup semi-finals
before going on to win the final.
Liverpool, who had not lost in three previous visits to the
Nou Camp, made a confident start, and they should possibly
have taken the lead after creating the first incisive move
of the match in the fourth minute.
(TEAMtalk)
Arbeloa handed full Reds debut at The Nou
Camp
Alvaro Arbeloa will make his first start for Liverpool
against Barcelona in tonight's Champions League last sixteen
first leg tie.
The recent signing from Deportivo La Coruna has been named
in Rafa Benitez's starting eleven for big clash in the Nou
Camp.
Team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Riise, Agger, Carragher,
Finnan, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Kuyt, Bellamy.
Subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Pennant, Crouch, Gonzalez, Mascherano,
Zenden.
(LFC Official Website)
Bid to knight Bob Paisley nears magic 2,000
votes
The campaign to win a posthumous knighthood for Reds legend
Bob Paisley has stepped up a gear.
The Downing Street website has been swamped by Reds fans
demanding recognition for the manager who steered Liverpool
to 18 League, Uefa, European Cup and Charity Shield titles
during his nine-year reign.
The e-petition, launched by fan Ian Little, got 270 votes
within 30 hours.
But within hours of the ECHO highlighting the petition
yesterday, it had risen to 1,075, and this morning stood at
1,954.
The rule since Tony Blair launched his e-petition plan is
that once 2,000 people log on, MPs must take the bid
seriously.
Bob’s supporters have logged on from all across Merseyside,
Bob’s home town of Hetton-le-Hole, Canada, Australia – and
even Manchester.
Paisley replaced Bill Shankly as Reds manager in 1974. He is
the only man to coach three European Cup winning sides.
To vote for a posthumous knighthood log on to
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SirBobPaisley/
(Liverpool Echo)
New stadium plans go on display
Plans for Liverpool Football Club's new stadium and the
regeneration of Stanley Park are to go on show.
Residents are being asked for their views on the proposals
for the park, which houses the Isla Gladstone Conservatory.
The exhibition will be open on 26 and 27 February.
(BBC Sport Online)
No Eto'o for Barca
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o will definitely not figure in
tonight's huge showdown
with Liverpool.
The Cameroon superstar is still battling to regain full
fitness after a serious knee injury.
And he's not even in the Barca squad for the Champions
League second-round first-leg clash at the Nou Camp.
Also left out of Rijkaard's squad are midfielder Emilson,
defender Sylvinho and forward Santi Ezquerro.
Better news for the reigning champions is that French
defender Lilian Thuram is fit to play and returns. He could
start tonight.
Barcelona: Valdés, Jorquera, Belletti, Oleguer, Puyol,
Thuram, Márquez, Gio, Zambrotta, Motta, Xavi, Deco, Iniesta,
Gudjohnsen, Saviola, Ronaldinho, Messi, Giuly.
(Sporting Life)
Carragher: Positive result will help
silence critics
It's perhaps in keeping with their recent travails that
Liverpool’s arrival into Barcelona yesterday was delayed
when they were mistaken by local airport attendants for a
group of holidaying skiers.
A genuine error or the traditional warm welcome on a
European away trip, Rafael Benitez will hope his team aren’t
similarly heading towards a downhill slope when they renew
Champions League combat tonight at Barcelona.
Obtaining a positive result this evening at a venue
Liverpool have yet to even concede in three previous visits
will go a long way to moving a step closer that goal and
silence the criticism after the Portuguese embarrassment.
But Jamie Carragher, while insisting the squad retain a
united front, admits defeat would give the detractors the
perfect opportunity to sharpen their knives.
“There have been no splits in the camp,” he says. “We just
have to prepare for the game. If we get a good result
everyone will say it’s fantastic, but they might go the
other way if we get beaten."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Deco wary of 'insider' Benitez
Deco fears Rafael Benitez's "inside knowledge" could count
against Barcelona when Liverpool travel to the Nou Camp for
tonight's Champions League last-16 first-leg clash.
Benitez, a former Real Madrid youth coach and trophy-winning
Valencia boss, has an intrinsic knowledge of Spanish
football and will be relishing the chance to face Madrid's
fierce rivals in such a high-profile clash.
And Brazilian-born playmaker Deco is well aware of the face.
"Liverpool will be a tough game and we are looking forward
to it. Their coach and players know all about Spanish
football and in Benitez they have a fine manager," he said.
"I believe this is an advantage for Liverpool and a
disadvantage for Barcelona. That is not to say we know
nothing about Liverpool. I watch them on television a lot
and they are strong, but Benitez has inside knowledge of all
of our players."
(PA Sport) |
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TUESDAY 20 |
Mascherano granted Reds clearance
Javier Mascherano has been cleared to play for Liverpool
this season after the Premier League accepted the club's
request to register him at Anfield.
The Argentine midfielder, 22, agreed to join the Reds before
the close of the transfer window last month.
The deal was held up as the Premier League wanted to assess
whether the relationship between club and player was
"subject to third-party influence".
But the Premier League is now satisfied the move does not
breach its rules.
A statement on the Premier League's website read: "The
Premier League has confirmed that the application by
Liverpool FC to register Javier Mascherano as a player has
been accepted.
"The Premier League is satisfied that the contractual
arrangements proposed by Liverpool FC are consistent with
its rules; particularly that the relationship between club
and player is not subject to third-party influence.
(BBC Sport Online)
Bellamy in line to face Barcelona
Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise are both part of the
Liverpool squad which has jetted out to Barcelona for
Wednesday's Champions League tie.
The pair were reportedly involved in a training-camp fracas
and could face punishment once Reds boss Rafael Benitez has
got to the bottom of the incident.
Welsh star Bellamy is set to start the last-16, first-leg
clash against the reigning European champions at the Nou
Camp, while Xabi Alonso should also be available again after
missing the Premiership defeat at Newcastle on February 10
through suspension.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Agger, Hyypia, Carragher,
Riise, Aurelio, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Zenden,
Bellamy, Crouch, Kuyt, Fowler, Gonzalez,
Arbeloa, Dudek.
(TEAMtalk)
Fracas can lift Reds!
A fracas before a major European game is nothing new at
Liverpool. In fact, I was involved in a bust-up before one
of the biggest matches I ever played - the 1984 European Cup
final.
Joe Fagan took us to Israel to prepare for the match with
Roma. There was an incident where I was walking along with a
few of the lads and I tripped over.
My mate, David Hodgson, claimed he’d seen someone push me
and it all kicked off with the two of us accusing one of the
lads of doing it.
The pair of us were brought before the manager and told we
were out of order. At the time it seemed a big deal, but it
was a bit of bother over nothing.
Over the next few days, the training seemed to be even
better because we were all worked up. If anything, letting
off a bit of steam did us the world of good.
I don’t know what’s gone on in Portugal in midweek, but if
there were bust-ups it’s not unique or surprising.
If you’ve a squad of 16 or so young lads together, you can’t
expect them all to get on. When I was playing there were
lads I didn’t like and who didn’t like me.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)
Reds have to keep tie alive
Liverpool’s last two visits to the Nou Camp saw them jeered
off with the help of a montage of white handkerchiefs.
Rather than signal the home side’s surrender, the gesture
was seen as a protest against negative tactics employed by
Gerard Houllier’s side after dull 0-0 draws.
Back in 2001, there were few complaints on Merseyside as the
first of these stalemates helped Liverpool to the UEFA Cup
final, dumping out Barcelona’s heavily laden Dutch side with
a 1-0 win at Anfield.
The winning goal was gloriously struck by Gary McAllister,
who believes the current Liverpool team is well equipped to
inflict similar torment on Frank Rijkaard’s superstars.
McAllister doesn’t expect tomorrow’s first leg to be as
forgettable as the Nou Camp tie six years ago, but he’s
hoping the scenes when the sides meet at Anfield in a
fortnight echo those when he inspired Houllier’s side to
Dortmund.
“I think it’s important for Liverpool to sneak a goal, and
I’m sure they can."
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa reveals Italian targets
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed he is plotting
raids for a number of players
in Italy.
Benitez is busy planning for next season and has already
identified several targets to bolster his squad.
The Spaniard is set to be handed a substantial transfer
kitty in the summer following the arrival of new American
owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and it appears Benitez
has made striking reinforcements his top priority.
Juventus ace David Trezeguet has been strongly linked with
Liverpool in the past and Benitez has confirmed his interest
in the Frenchman along with three other strikers in Serie A.
Trezeguet's Juventus team-mate Valeri Bojinov, Udinese's
Vincenzo Iaquinta and Palermo's Amauri have all come under
Benitez's gaze as he looks to build a side capable of
challenging for the title next season.
"We are following many players with several of those in
Italy and Trezeguet is one of them, it's true, but I like
also Iaquinta, Amauri, Bojinov," Benitez told Corriere dello
Sport.
(Sky Sports)
Dudek plays down Reds row
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has admitted he was
reprimanded over his behaviour during the club's training
camp in Portugal.
"Most of the press printed strange, unreal stories
concerning our going out for supper to the nearest
restaurant, while we were in Portugal," Dudek told his
official website.
"I admit that we behaved inappropriately for the situation.
We have betrayed our coach's trust, because we returned to
the hotel around several dozen minutes after the 'zero
hour', as well as other hotel guests, because we disturbed
their peace and night time."
(Sky Sports)
Report: Benitez fines 15 players
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is reported to have fined 15
players who broke a midnight curfew during the squad's
five-day trip to Portugal last week.
The Spaniard is said to be incensed that preparations for
the Champions League tie with Barcelona have been
overshadowed by reports of drunken brawls and had already
rapped up Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise.
But the Daily Mirror understands that 15 players will now be
hit in the pocket, although Benitez won't identify them as
he does not want to comment any more on the trip.
Although Bellamy is expected to start against the Spanish
champions on Tuesday night, his days at Anfield appear to be
numbered.
(Sporting Life)
Carey brings in ex-Liverpool manager
Former Liverpool manager Roy Evans has joined the battle to
keep Wrexham in the Football League.
Racecourse manager Brian Carey yesterday confirmed the
58-year-old assistant to Wales manager John Toshack has
agreed 'an informal arrangement' to provide advice.
Evans, a personal friend of Wrexham co-owner Geoff Moss, was
in the Racecourse dressing room for Sunday's derby clash
with rivals Chester City, which ended in a 0-0 stalemate,
and is also travelling to tonight's match at Grimsby Town.
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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MONDAY 19 |
Robson warns Barca of red peril
Sir Bobby Robson has warned former club Barcelona of the
threat posed by Liverpool, who the Champions League holders
host on Wednesday in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Robson, who was manager at Barca back in 1996-97, believes
it would be a mistake for the European champions to
highlight any single Liverpool player to keep a close eye
on, insisting the Barclays Premiership side are strong all
over the pitch.
"To be a good team, you have to be good in all parts of the
team," Robson said in an interview with Barca TV.
"They are not one player, they are a team."
(Sporting Life)
Voronin ready to commit
Liverpool today confirmed 27-year-old Ukrainian striker
Andriy Voronin is on the verge of signing a pre-contract
agreement and moving to Anfield in the summer.
“We are close to a deal,” said Reds boss Rafa Benitez. “The
scouting department has been working on this possibility.
“He is an experienced striker who played in the World Cup
and has scored goals for Ukraine, playing with Andriy
Shevchenko, as well Bayer Leverkusen. He finishes his
contract in the summer.”
Voronin’s imminent arrival clearly raises the stakes in the
battle for striking roles at Anfield next season.
(Liverpool Echo)
Agent: Liverpool sign Ukraine striker
Voronin
Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin, who is leaving Bayer
Leverkusen when his contract expires at the end of the
season, has signed a four-year contract with Liverpool
according to his agent.
"It's a four-year deal," Voronin's agent Andriy Golovash was
quoted as saying
by local media.
"We had some other options but Liverpool have always
remained our priority. We agreed everything long before but
only now decided to announce the signing."
Voronin, 27, moved to Leverkusen in 2004 after spells at
Cologne, Mainz and Borussia Moenchengladbach and has made 40
appearances for Ukraine, scoring five goals.
(Reuters)
Home is where the heart is...
Work is set to start on Liverpool’s new stadium in Stanley
Park in the coming weeks.
The state-of-the-art £200 million project should be finished
in time for the Reds to kick-off the 2009/2010 season in
their new home.
But will the move from the current 44,500 capacity Anfield
to a 60,000 seater stadium really satisfy the demand for
tickets? It would seem not.
There are currently a staggering 56,000 supporters on the
season ticket waiting list.
But with so many fans desperate to get a slice of the
action, why didn’t the Reds set their sights even higher?
The answer lies in the club’s commitment to stay close to
its roots.
Stadium manager Ged Poynton said: “We could have possibly
gone elsewhere, where there is more space, and built a
70,000 or 80,000 stadium, but the overwhelming desire was to
stay in the Anfield area.
“If we wanted to build a ground in Stanley Park then 60,000
was the biggest it could be."
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez won’t hang Bellamy out to dry
Craig Bellamy has found himself back in the place which has
consistently undermined his career – the front page.
The Welshman has already felt the force of a club fine, and
now faces an anxious wait until the end of the season to see
if he will be evicted from the ‘last chance saloon’ into
which he was granted entry when moving to Anfield last
summer.
However, although the 27-year-old felt the wrath of manager
Rafa Benitez on Friday, there is also a feeling within
Anfield a picture of events has been painted with the
primary intention of presenting Bellamy as the bad guy.
Benitez’s despair at the events in the Algarve on Thursday
was only marginally greater than his anger at the leaking of
the details to the newspapers.
It is clear information was provided which, to quote an
Anfield source, ‘was designed to kill Bellamy’s Liverpool
career’ when he wasn’t the only one at fault.
Ironic as it is, yesterday’s front pages may have won
Bellamy more sympathy from the manager than seemed possible
on Friday.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds fracas: Bellamy a 'scapegoat'
Liverpool's under-fire striker Craig Bellamy may
have been made a scapegoat for the Reds stars' Algarve
rumpus.
Sources within the club suggest the 27-year-old Welsh
international was exploited as an easy target to deflect
blame from a large number of players involved in breaches of
discipline.
Other players said to have been involved include Robbie
Fowler, Jermaine Pennant and Jerzy Dudek.
Today the club was continuing an investigation into how
details of the incident were leaked to the media amid
concern Bellamy may be the victim of deliberate attempts to
further damage his name.
(Liverpool Echo)
Laporta: I love Stevie G
Barcelona chief Joan Laporta has revealed his
love for Steven Gerrard ahead of the big Champions League
showdown with Liverpool.
He's quoted on Liverpool's official website, saying: "I love
Steven Gerrard. He is an emblem of Liverpool. I was watching
TV last weekend and saw a replay of the Champions League
final between Liverpool and AC Milan.
"It was so emotional to watch Gerrard in that game. Xabi
Alonso and the goalkeeper were important but Gerrard was the
heart of the team. "
(Sporting Life)
Rijkaard: Defeat will wake us up
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard believes his side's Primera
Liga defeat to Valencia will serve as a wake-up call for
Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Liverpool.
Barca's indifferent form this year continued as they fell to
a 2-1 defeat at Valencia on Sunday, with Ronaldinho's
injury-time strike proving nothing more that a consolation
for the reigning European and Spanish champions.
Losing to one of their title rivals was a blow to Barca, but
Rijkaard believes the defeat will help focus his team for
this week's Champions League first knockout round opening
leg with Liverpool at the Nou Camp.
"It is good for the game on Wednesday. It is a reminder that
we must not relax against Liverpool," Rijkaard said.
"If you have not won the last game, you must win the next."
(Sporting Life)
Huelva want to snap up Pongolle
Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle, could be on his
way back to the club this summer after Recreativo de Huelva
admitted they are struggling to raise funds to sign
the striker.
The Frenchman is currently on a season-long loan from
Anfield at the La Liga club, who have an option to sign the
21-year-old at the end of the season for a fee of around
£2.5million.
“He is a player that we are interested in keeping,” said
Recreativo director Michael Dumois. “But we need £2.5million
to make it happen and that’s money we do not have.”
Benitez believes Sinama-Pongolle has prospered in the less
physical La Liga and maintains regular contact with the
player.
“We are watching him every week, as well as the rest of the
players on loan. We have people watching him and I have a
good relationship with the manager there.
“It depends on Recreativo what happens. They have an option,
and if he keeps on playing well maybe they will find the
money and want to keep him.”
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Benitez wants youngsters to be his
Liverpool legacy
When George Gillett and Tom Hicks breezed into Anfield
earlier this month, the prospect of leaving a “legacy” was
central to the charm offensive of Liverpool’s new American
owners.
For Rafael Benitez, however, ensuring a prosperous future at
the club has been
a significant focus of his tenure since arriving on
Merseyside in the summer of 2004.
It didn’t take long for the Spaniard to determine there was
a worrying shortfall in youthful talent capable of breaking
into the first-team ranks.
With Liverpool having this week won through to the
semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in defence of the trophy
they won last year, it would appear that, at under-18 level
at least, there are now reasons for encouragement.
But the performance of Arsenal’s reserves in the infamous
Carling Cup defeat last month, even if four goals of the
Gunners’ six goals that night were netted by a Brazilian
international valued at £20million, demonstrated the gap
Liverpool have yet to bridge.
That there is such a difference comes down to one thing –
money.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Bellamy facing fine for fracas
Craig Bellamy is set to be fined two weeks’ wages for his
part in the training camp flare-up that has overshadowed
Liverpool’s preparations for their Champions League clash
with Barcelona.
The Wales international is alleged to have threatened to
attack team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club after a
drinking session on the final night of the squad’s five-day
stay in Portugal.
Reports from local newspapers also allege the behaviour of
Jermaine Pennant, Robbie Fowler and Jerzy Dudek in the early
hours of Friday morning led to police being called to the
Barringtons Centro Deportivo hotel in the Algarve Vale de
Lobo resort, with the Polish goalkeeper briefly restrained
by the authorities.
While Liverpool believe the reports have been blown out of
all proportion, manager Rafael Benitez has taken a dim view
of the situation and yesterday moved to publicly remind his
players of their responsibilities.
And Bellamy will be hit with a two-week fine – thought to be
in the region of £80,000 – with Benitez also considering
disciplinary action against Dudek and those players heavily
involved in the trouble.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Valencia show the way to beat
faltering European champions
Liverpool may have their own troubles, but Rafael Benitez’s
side were given plenty of encouragement ahead of their trip
to the Nou Camp on Wednesday after Barcelona’s problems
deepened last night.
The Catalans, who went into the weekend with a three-point
lead at the top of Spain’s La Liga, were a shadow of their
rampaging best as they were beaten 2-1 at Benitez’s former
club Valencia.
It continued a miserable time for Barcelona, who have been
rocked by a boardroom split and frictions within the squad
exposed when Cameroonian international striker Samuel Eto’o
refused to appear as a late substitute in last week’s win
over Racing Santander.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
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Thor Zakariassen
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