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JANUARY       2009
19 20 21

 

 
    

WEDNESDAY 21
Mascherano relishing
Merseyside derby test

Javier Mascherano cannot wait to face Everton in Sunday’s FA Cup derby, insisting that he just loves playing against Liverpool’s
cross-city rivals.
The Argentinian midfielder was left on the bench on Monday when Liverpool at times found themselves out-muscled by Everton in the 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Anfield.
Now battle lines are being drawn again for this weekend’s fourth-round clash, with Mascherano likely to be recalled by manager Rafael Benitez.
He said: "I like playing against Everton. Every tackle matters and you have to be brave in every tackle and every situation.
"I love this kind of game where first you have to win the physical battle before you can think about winning the match."
(Liverpool Daily Post)

Rafa on Agger and Alonso injuries
Daniel Agger is facing a fitness battle ahead of this weekend's FA Cup clash with Everton - though Rafa Benitez expects Xabi Alonso to be ready despite an injury scare on Monday night.
A calf injury meant Agger was not in the squad to face the Toffees earlier this week and it is still unclear whether the Dane will be fit for Sunday.
Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "He was injured. He couldn't train normally.
"He is progressing now by working with the physios. He'll still need one or two days, so we'll see.
"It depends more on the physios than on me - we just have to wait."
Meanwhile, Alonso suffered discomfort after what was his first start since requiring seven stitches on his instep on Monday.
However, the 27-year-old is now back in training.
The boss added: "Xabi had a problem on Monday but he was training again today so I don't think he'll have any trouble for the weekend."
(LFC Official Website)

Liverpool paid price
for holding back

The single most important reason why Liverpool failed to win Monday night’s derby was that they failed to take the game to Everton as much as they should have.
When I saw the team sheet I really fancied Liverpool’s chances because Rafa Benitez had selected an attacking looking line-up with two up front and Steven Gerrard reverting to central midfield.
In theory it was a positive set-up that should have suited Liverpool well, but in practice it just didn’t work out that way.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)   

Benitez: Toon performance
is our benchmark

Rafa Benitez has called on Liverpool to get back to their very best – by hitting the heights they reached at Newcastle last month.
Since putting the Geordies to the sword in a 5-1 thrashing at St James’ Park, Liverpool have drawn their last two league games allowing Manchester United to take their place at the top of the Premier League.
Stoke and Everton have both denied the Reds maximum points and now Benitez wants a return to the form they showed at Newcastle which saw them marked down as genuine title challengers.
“On that day we scored a lot of goals, created a lot of chances and played some good football so clearly we are looking for this kind of performance in every kind of game,” he said.
“If we can play as well as we did against Newcastle then I am sure that we can win a lot of games."
(Liverpool Echo)   

Kuyt: Reds ready to prove a point
Dirk Kuyt has vowed that Liverpool will "put things right" when they next face Everton in Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round clash at Anfield.
A disappointing Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton on Monday in the Premier League, the first of two Merseyside derbies in a week.
"We wanted to beat them and thought we could win - but now we want put things right on Sunday," said Kuyt.
"We will learn from the mistakes we made against them, and we will be ready for them in the cup game."
(TEAMtalk)   
TUESDAY 20
Ngog at the double as Reserves triumph
A David Ngog double inspired Liverpool Reserves to their first win of 2009 as they eased to a 2-0 success against Middlesbrough in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North.
The Frenchman scored twice within five second-half minutes to lead the Reds to only their third league triumph of the season and end a run of four matches without a victory.
Gary Ablett's men had not played a competitive game since the goalless draw with Hull City on December 16th, and there was a slight lack of cohesion in their play in the opening exchanges.
Liverpool Reserves: Peter Gulacsi, Emmanuel Gomis Mendy, Stephen Darby, Mikel San Jose Dominguez, Jay Spearing, Damien Plessis, Nabil El Zhar, Daniel Pacheco (Vitor Flora 77), Krisztian Nemeth (Andras Simon 69), David Ngog, Vincent Weijl (Steven Irwin 46).
Unused subs: Martin Hansen, Victor Palsson.
(LFC Official Website)

Pennant seals Pompey switch
Portsmouth have completed the signing of Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant on loan for the remainder of the season.
The 26-year-old former Birmingham City man had previously rejected the chance to join the South Coast outfit permanently after a fee was agreed for his services.
However, Pompey made a second approach suggesting a loan deal, which was also accepted by the Reds as Pennant is well down manager Rafa Benitez's pecking order.
Pennant, who is out of contract this summer, will now spend the rest of the season at Fratton Park in a bid to put himself in the shop window before deciding his long-term future.
(Sky Sports)

Moyes: We know how to stop Reds
David Moyes believes his Everton side have worked out how to stop Liverpool, and he plans to do it again in The FA Cup this weekend.
"We achieved things we wanted to achieve,” explained Moyes. “We disrupted Liverpool's rhythm, they have a lot of mechanical, organised, moves and set-ups in their play."
(Setanta Sports)  

Scratchy home form worrying Rafa
Rafael Benitez admits the priceless points his Liverpool troops are losing at home are starting to worry him - but is trying to stay positive.
The Reds boss has tried to find the positives from what, as far as Anfield fans were concerned, was a bitterly disappointing 1-1 draw with Merseyside rivals Everton on Monday.
Benitez said: "We are disappointed and frustrated at the amount of points we have dropped at home this season.
"Generally this season we are much better in terms of points won, and especially away from home we are very strong. But at home we are facing games that will eventually be a massive difference for us.
"I have tried to be positive with the players. I told them that back in August when we started, everyone was asking where we would be come January.
"And now we find ourselves level on points with Manchester United at the top of the table now that January is here."
(TEAMtalk)  

Riera rues Liverpool's 'bad luck'
Liverpool winger Albert Riera feels the Reds are simply suffering a run of 'bad luck' at the wrong time in the Premier League title race.
But he maintains their quest to claim the crown from champions Manchester United is not over just yet.
The £8.5million signing from Espanyol is confident Liverpool will get it right in the end as they chase their first league title since 1990.
"I do not like to talk about luck in football, but Manchester United seem to score so often around 90 minutes, and then it happens against us."
He added: "But we are on the same points as United, and we will be fighting for every point, we can promise that."
(TEAMtalk)  

No excuse as Keane
goes missing in action

Derby day on Merseyside is an unforgiving arena – an occasion when a reputation can be made, or broken.
Just ask Glenn Keeley, Bjorn Tore Kvarme and Sandy Brown – the victims of this historic event – or David Fairclough, Graeme Sharp and Ian Rush – heroes who still dine out today on their derby exploits.
Last night added a couple more names to its roster of villains and victors.
Leighton Baines produced his most accomplished display in a Royal Blue jersey to date, while to say Robbie Keane went missing in action would be to suggest that he was actually involved in some form of meaningful activity during the 66 minutes he toiled.
The £20m man is fast running out of excuses for his below par performances. Last night he was given the perfect platform – Torres ahead of him, Gerrard behind, the 4-4-2 formation he craves.
He flopped. Again.
(David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)   

Aurelio: We must learn
from our mistakes

Fabio Aurelio has admitted Liverpool must learn from the mistakes which cost them victory against Everton if they are to win the second instalment of the derby double header.
"There is nothing we can do to change it now so all we can do is focus on our next game which is again against Everton.
"That will give us the opportunity to show more than we did last night and hopefully we will go through to the next round of the cup.
"But we have to learn from our mistakes – that is always important, especially when you have conceded a late goal."
(Liverpool Echo)  

Kuyt disappointed with draw
Dirk Kuyt admitted everyone was disappointed with yesterday's draw.
An 86th minute equaliser from Tim Cahill gave the Bitters a draw at Anfield last night. Dirk Kuyt admitted the result was a blow but insists the Reds still have it all to play for this season.
"We are very disappointed at the moment. We controlled the game, had some good chances and scored a great goal through Stevie, so it's difficult to accept this kind of result when you concede so late in the game," said the Dutchman.
(LFC Online)  

Liverpool losing focus when
it comes to bigger picture

The good news for Liverpool – they’re still level on points with the Premier League leaders.
The bad news? In terms of the title race that’s about the only similarity between those two teams at the moment.
Manchester United lead the way on goal difference, not due to the awesome attacking power that has underpinned most of their surges to the top of the table, but thanks to a non-negotiable refusal to concede goals.
They’re on a run of 10 clean sheets in the Premier League. Over at Anfield, Liverpool are leaving Tim Cahill unmarked three yards from goal on a free-kick.
But it’s not just about the small moments that change the course of a game or perhaps a season in the blink of an eye. Anyone can be caught out on a set-piece and there isn’t a manager in the world who has devised the masterplan that can prevent Cahill causing catastrophe in his six-yard box.
It’s not about the snapshots, it’s about the bigger picture when titles are there to be won. And Liverpool are in real danger of being blurred out of it.
(Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post)

Award for Hillsborough families
The families of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster are set to be honoured by the city of Liverpool.
Lord mayor Steve Rotheram revealed a list of people and organisations being considered for the city's honours list.
The relatives of the 96 Liverpool fans killed at Hillsborough are shortlisted, along with singer Gerry Marsden and charity campaigner Marina Dalglish.
Those shortlisted will receive one of three different honours which will be decided be at a meeting on 28 January.
(BBC Sport Online)

Rafa dismisses Torres question
Rafael Benitez has dismissed suggestions subsituting Fernando Torres cost Liverpool a win yesterday.
After yesterday's draw with Everton the Reds boss was asked by reporters if, in hindsight, subsituting Torres with ten minutes to go was a mistake.
"I do not know what difference it would have made to have a very tired Torres on the pitch defending this free-kick," retorted Benitez.
(LFC Online)
MONDAY 19
Benitez staying positive
Rafa Benitez maintained a positive outlook following Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Everton at Anfield.
"It is disappointing for today, but we are in a good position," he added.
"We are in a good situation so we have to be positive."
(Sky Sports)

Reds denied by late Cahill header
Everton stopped Liverpool in their tracks at Anfield as Tim Cahill's late equaliser earned a 1-1 draw and prevented the Reds going back top.
When Steven Gerrard, captaining Liverpool for the 250th time, smashed home his 14th goal of the season midway through the second period, it looked as if the Reds were going to knock Manchester United off the top of the table.
But Everton have become a mean outfit this season, and they desperately wanted to put their local rivals in their place.
And when Cahill's late header flashed past Jose Reina, the Toffees secured a deserved point.
(TEAMtalk)

Keane in Liverpool side for derby

Fernando Torres was back in Liverpool’s starting line-up for the first time since November following his hamstring problems. Robbie Keane was also included for the 209th Merseyside derby while Xabi Alonso returned to the side after missing the previous game against Stoke.
Liverpool : Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kuyt, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera, Keane, Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Benayoun, Arbeloa, Babel, Mascherano, Lucas.
(The Irish Times)

Carra on tonight's crucial derby

Jamie Carragher believes tonight's clash with in-form Everton is one of the most important Merseyside derbies in recent memory.
The Reds defender has featured in a number of top four encounters with David Moyes' side, and while Liverpool's sights are set a little higher this season, he insists the 209th derby could prove just as crucial in shaping both sides' destiny.
"It's just as important as ever," he said.
(LFC Official Website) 

Alonso eyes Arteta clash
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso will put his friendship with Everton's Mikel Arteta to one side when the pair meet in the Merseyside derby on Monday.
Both players began their careers with Basque side Real Sociedad in La Liga and have retained their bond to this day.
But Alonso, who will play directly opposite Arteta after declaring himself fit after missing the Stoke draw through injury, knows it will be his job to stop the in-form Everton playmaker.
The 26-year-old has scored three goals in his last two Premier League games going into the derby and Alonso knows how tough a challenge the match promises to be.
"For me to play against Mikel Arteta is special," Alonso told skysports.com.
"We were in the same Spanish club and we were always friends, but this Monday we are rivals. My mission is to make him feel uncomfortable on the pitch."
(Sky Sports) 

Reds superior to Everton says Mascherano
Speaking to Setanta.com, Javier Mascherano has expressed his massive confidence ahead of the Merseyside derby with Everton.
Mascherano aims to regain top spot, reclaimed by Manchester United on Saturday, in order to put the pressure on their title rivals.
Mascherano told Setanta.com: “That kind of derby is tough and you cannot allow any space to your rival during such games. What we must do is win, possibly scoring many goals.
“Winning that game is always a massive boost. Everton have been playing well recently, but we are a superior team and this game must be ours."
(Setanta Sports) 

Moyes hopes to end
poor record at Anfield

Everton manager David Moyes seeks a first win at Anfield in a Merseyside derby when he takes his team across Stanley Park.
The Scot has poor record against his team's local rivals having not achieved a victory at Anfield since taking charge in March 2002.
He makes the short trip with plenty of confidence, given that his side are in a rich vein of form and have chalked up six successive clean sheets.
He said: "I was involved in derbies with Rangers when I was a player at Celtic, so I know exactly what they mean.
"The Merseyside derbies are very similar to the ones in Glasgow with the tension around the games. You can never tell sometimes how they
will go."
(Soccernet)

Rafa: Reds too slow in Agger talks
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has called on the club's hierarchy to end the furore surrounding AC Milan target Daniel Agger's Anfield future.
The Danish defender is attracting interest from Italian giants Milan, with a January switch to Serie A widely touted.
The Reds are understandably reluctant to part with the talented centre-half, but may see the issue taken out of their hands should they fail to convince Agger of his value to the club.
Talks over a new contract have stalled, much to the annoyance of Benitez who has now called on the Anfield hierarchy to resolve the distracting issue.
"The club have been too slow dealing with this and the player does not know where he stands," said the Spaniard.
"His situation is in the papers all the time now because we are not quick enough. I was talking with him and his agent, and it is clear that is the case.
"Daniel told me he wants to stay, and there is no doubt he is 100 per cent committed to the club. But they are waiting and waiting and do not know what is going on."
(TEAMtalk)

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