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THURSDAY 21 |
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Pompey agree deal with Westerveld
Portsmouth have agreed terms with Dutch goalkeeper Sander
Westerveld.
The former Liverpool star, 30, passed a medical on Friday
and joins as a free agent after spending the past season
with Spanish side Real Mallorca.
Westerveld has spent four years in Spain, having left
Anfield after the double signing of Jerzy Dudek and Chris
Kirkland in 2001.
(BBC Sport Online)
Crouch to miss start of season
Peter Crouch will miss the start of Liverpool's
Premiership campaign through suspension after being sent-off
for Southampton at the end of last season.
Crouch was red carded in the Saints' penultimate game of the
season at Crystal Palace and collected a three match ban.
He missed the final game of the last campaign against
Manchester United but must serve the final two matches of
his ban at the start of the coming season.
It means Crouch won't be available for the opening day
fixture against Middlesbrough or our first home game of the
season against Sunderland.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds bid for Alves
Reports from Spain claim that Liverpool have made
a £7million bid for Seville's Daniel Alves.
The 22-year-old Brazilian full back has also attracted the
interest of Real Madrid and Juventus.
Apparently the initial bid has been refused, but Seville
expect an improved offer shortly.
(LFC Online)
Redknapp still an LFC ambassador
New signing Peter Crouch has revealed that former
Liverpool skipper Jamie Redknapp advised him to make the
switch to Anfield; not that he needed much persuasion!
Crouch said: "I speak to Jamie Redknapp quite regularly and
I know him well. He had great things to say about the club
and he told me I am joining the best club in the world.
"I have spoken to him a lot as I knew Jamie from our time
with Southampton. He is great and I know his dad is manager
at Southampton but he knew what was best for me. I had a
long chat with Jamie and he told me what a great club it
was, not that I didn't know that anyway.
"He said the Liverpool fans are the best in the country. He
told me that when they are on your side you can't fail to
hear them. Obviously I know that from the games I watched
last year in the Champions League.
"Jamie just sold the club full stop really for me."
(Kop Talk)
Case backing Crouch to be a big hit
Former Liverpool star Jimmy Case is hoping new Anfield
target man Peter Crouch can prove as big a success on
Merseyside as 70s giant John Toshack.
Toshack led the Reds to a number of trophies both at home
and abroad after teaming up with Kevin Keegan in a dynamic
‘Little and Large’ partnership.
Case told www.liverpoolfc.tv: “I am an admirer of Peter
Crouch and think he is a good signing for Liverpool.
“He played ever so well for Southampton last season and he
is very good on the ball for such a big guy.
“A lot of people might be surprised that Rafael Benitez
wanted him so much but it’s all about fitting in with the
manager’s thoughts and I think he will be a good signing for
my old club.
“We had Toshack who was a big lad and Kevin Keegan up front
and they did pretty well didn’t they! I’m not saying Crouch
is the new John Toshack or anything like that but he is a
good player and I think will be a success for Liverpool.”
(Ireland On-Line)
Real stand firm over Milito
Liverpool's bid to land Real Zaragoza defender Gabriel
Milito looks ever more complicated with the Spanish outfit
adamant he will be staying put.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is keen to bring the 24-year-old
centre back to Anfield to add extra competition to his
rearguard.
Zaragoza are, though, determined to hold on to Milito, and
his Argentina international team-mate Luciano Galletti who
has been linked with both Liverpool and Atletico Madrid,
having already sold one of their top players, striker David
Villa, to Valencia earlier in the summer.
Zaragoza chief executive Jeronimo Suarez believes the
stopper is almost certain to stay despite the persistent
interest from Anfield.
"It's practically impossible that Milito will go," he
stated.
"Our interest is to keep him and for that reason he has a
very good offer from the club to extend and improve his
contract."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 20 |
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Baros plays down transfer rumours
Milan Baros insists he does not believe that his career at
Liverpool is in jeopardy after he was omitted from the team
that beat Welsh minnows TNS on Tuesday in a Champions League
qualifier.
Baros is expected to meet with his agent and Liverpool chief
executive Rick Parry at the Swiss resort of Bad Ragaz next
week.
“We will sit together with the coach (Rafael Benitez) and
talk about his intentions with me,” Baros added. “Until then
nothing is worth saying.”
“If he (Benitez) says he does not need me, then we will
start solving the problem but nothing is happening now and I
am not letting it play on my mind.”
Quizzed further about transfer speculation he said: “Well,
they (the press) have to write something, it is a part of
the transfer window.
“I am not going to comment on this, there is nothing topical
and there is no need to hurry anyway – the transfer window
is open during the whole of September.”
(Ireland On-Line)
Phillips backs Crouch move
Peter Crouch's former striker partner Kevin Phillips has
backed the lanky marksman to be a success at Liverpool.
Phillips and Crouch formed a little and large partnership at
St Mary's, but both have now left Southampton following the
club's relegation.
"I'm delighted for him," Phillips told Sky Sports News.
"He's come on leaps and bounds the last year, it's only come
from Christmas onwards really.
"He's done exceptionally well to join a club of the stature
of Liverpool and it's great for him.
"I've been told it's his seventh club and he's only 24, so
hopefully he stays there a long time and is successful."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Crouch seals Liverpool switch
Liverpool completed the signing of Peter Crouch from
Southampton on Wednesday after the striker passed a medical.
The 24-year-old, capped once by England, joins the European
champions on a four-year deal for a fee of around seven
million pounds ($12.18 million).
"I am thrilled to be joining a club as prestigious and
successful as Liverpool," Crouch told the Merseyside club's
website.
"Once I heard of their interest in me it was hard not to
think about what it would be like to pull on the famous red
shirt and play in front of the Kop."
Crouch is the sixth player to move to Anfield in the close
season and manager Rafael Benitez said he expected the six
feet, seven inches striker to make a big impact.
"I'm delighted we have signed Crouch," said the Spaniard.
"He is a good player with a lot of good qualities and his
arrival will give me more options up front.
"Now we have Le Tallec, Garcia, Baros, Cisse, Morientes and
Crouch, so we have
more options."
(Reuters)
Wigan weigh up move for Henchoz
Wigan manager Paul Jewell may sign Stephane Henchoz on a
free transfer after inviting the former Celtic and Liverpool
defender for a trial.
"Stephane brings a wealth of experience and would be a great
signing for us," he said of the 30-year-old Swiss.
"He doesn't have to prove anything in terms of quality - all
he has to prove is his fitness.
"He's been training on his own all summer, but from what
I've seen he's kept himself in pretty good shape."
Henchoz has flown to Denmark to join up with the Latics on
their pre-season tour.
"He's training with us for the rest of this week and then
hopefully something will happen when we get back home to
England," Jewell added.
Henchoz, who first moved to the Premiership in 1997 when he
joined Blackburn in a £3m deal from Hamburg, has 68 caps for
Switzerland.
(BBC Sport Online)
Gonzalez concern at Reds
Mark Gonzalez is still awaiting confirmation that he will
join Liverpool on a season's loan, as he recuperates from a
knee injury.
Gonzalez has been told that his loan switch from Albacete
has been sealed despite a knee injury.
Although he is now off crutches, it will be some time before
the 20-year-old Chile international is at full fitness, and
he is growing a little concerned that he has not yet been
drafted in at Anfield.
"It does worry me a little," confirmed Gonzalez.
"I suppose in the next week they will notify me.
"Little by little my rehabilitation is becoming less
tedious.
"Already I can work without canes, and everything appears to
be progressing according to the proper schedule."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Kaunas ease into clash with champions
Liverpool will face FBK Kaunas in the second qualifying
round of the Champions next week.
The Lithuanian champions completed a comfortable 8-2
aggregate victory over Faroe Islanders Torshaven. Kaunas
were 4-2 up from the first leg and a 4-0 victory last night
secured their comfortable passage into the next round and
clash with the European champions.
Rafael Benitez's side will travel to Kaunas for the first
leg next Tuesday, with the return at Anfield a week later.
(Daily Post)
Irons in for Baros
Alan Pardew has confirmed that West Ham will be bidding for
Liverpool's Milan Baros.
Baros' future at Anfield looks to be short, with the player
being left out of Liverpool's European ties so far, amidst
suggestions that the club do not want to cup tie him and
reduce his value.
The Czech Republic international has never replicated his
international form at Liverpool, and Rafa Benitez is
believed to be open to his sale.
Although there are likely to be a whole host of clubs in for
the young marksman, Pardew has confirmed that West Ham will
make a move.
"I'm not going to talk directly about Milan because he's
still under contract," Pardew told Sky Sports News.
"But we are after a striker and if someone of his quality is
available I am going to go for him."
When asked if Baros could be sold, Benitez told Sky Sports
News:
"Yes, it is a possibility."
(Sky Sports) |
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TUESDAY 19 |
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Benitez hails TNS goalkeeper
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was full of praise for TNS
goalkeeper Ged Doherty after his side were restricted to a
3-0 victory in their Champions League first qualifier second
leg.
"We tried and at the end it was a better tempo, the
goalkeeper saved a lot and for us to score at the end was
good," Benitez told ITV2.
(ITV Football)
Liverpool stroll past minnows TNS
Steven Gerrard scored twice inside a minute late on as
Liverpool cruised comfortably into the Champions League
second qualifying round.
Djibril Cisse gave Liverpool a first-half lead, and Didi
Hamann had a penalty saved by Ged Doherty.
Gerrard then emerged as a substitute to deliver a double
strike in the last six minutes to rubber-stamp a tie against
FC Kaunas of Lithuania.
TNS' best chance came when Steven Beck saw a powerful drive
strike a post.
(BBC Sport Online)
Crouch to seal Reds move
Peter Crouch is travelling to Liverpool with a view to
sealing a move to Anfield.
The Southampton striker, capped by England during the
end-of-season tour of the United States, is to undergo a
medical with the UEFA Champions League winners after being
allowed to complete a dream switch.
"What's special about him is he's 6ft 8ins," Saints boss
Harry Redknapp told Sky Sports News. "That's probably the
most special thing."
(Sky Sports)
Houllier ready for new challenge
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is ready to start a
new adventure with Lyon.
The 57-year-old former France coach was in charge of
Liverpool between 1998 and 2004, before parting company with
the club with one year remaining on his contract, after a
fourth-placed finish in the Premiership.
But having taken a sabbatical year, Houllier is delighted to
be back in France.
"I am very happy to be back to training, there is a sign of
passion," he said.
"I know that I am taking risks but I took risks all my life.
"What's weird also is that I feel I am in a foreign country.
I sometimes have to stop myself from speaking in English.
(Sporting Life)
Kewell to miss Premiership start
Liverpool have announced that winger Harry Kewell will
undergo a hernia operation that will rule him out the start
of the Premiership season.
The Australian, 26, was expected to be ready for the 13
August kick-off.
But a club statement said: "Harry is expected to be playing
again in five to six weeks.
Kewell has struggled with injury and form during his two
seasons at Anfield, following his high-profile move from
Leeds in 2003.
He has suffered from groin, ankle and Achilles problems and
had a public bust-up with manager Rafael Benitez, who
suggested he was feigning injury.
Kewell was forced off after 20 minutes of the Champions
League victory over AC Milan in Istanbul.
And he missed Australia's Confederations Cup campaign in
Germany after undergoing surgery on a torn groin muscle.
(BBC Sport Online)
Govou in Liverpool link
Reports emanating from the French press continue to link
Liverpool with a move for Sidney Govou.
The pacey Lyon striker was reportedly on Rafa Benitez's wish
list during his time at Valencia and it has now been
suggested that he is keen to take the player to Anfield.
(Trio enter race for Liverpool target ) READ MORE
English clubs could move for Guti
Real Madrid director of football Arrigo Sacchi says they are
trying to help unsettled midfielder Guti find a way out of
the club.
Guti, 28, has been linked with Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool
and Everton as well as Juventus and AC Milan.
"The president wants to help him and he wants to leave but
the third ingredient is missing - a club that wants to buy
him," Sacchi said.
"If one comes forward then we will talk," he said in Spanish
paper Marca.
(BBC Sport Online)
Sami: I'll fight to keep shirt
Sami Hyypia today issued a defiant message to any
centre-halves seeking to take his Liverpool place: "Bring it
on."
Hyypia is still in talks on extending his Anfield contract
amid reports Newcastle are sniffing around the Finn.
However, the defender made it clear he sees his future at
Liverpool and is relishing the chance to fight for his
position.
Rafa Benitez has made it known he's seeking defensive
reinforcements having bid for Real Zaragoza's Gabriel
Milito, but Hyypia said: "On the first day back in training
the gaffer told me a new centre-half would be coming. I just
said 'bring it on'.
"Whoever joins this club has to earn his place in the team
as much as everyone else.
"The competition keeps everyone on their toes. I feel fine
and I think it will make me play even better.
"With regards the new deal, nothing is done yet but we're in
talks.
"It's good for me the manager has shown his faith in me.
I've always said I'd like to stay so we'll see what happens
over the next few weeks."
(Liverpool Echo)
'Baros told he can leave'
Liverpool have reportedly told Milan Baros he is on his way
out of the club to fund a move for Peter Crouch.
The Daily Mirror claims that the Czech striker has been left
out of the squad to face TNS in the Champions League
qualifier to avoid a move being scuppered because he is
cup-tied in Europe.
(Soccer 365)
Turner rejects Reds' request
Stockport boss Chris Turner has rejected a request from
Liverpool to take in-demand teenager Michael Raynes on
trial.
The European champions wanted to take the defender to
Merseyside to take a closer look at him with a view to a
permanent deal but Turner was not happy with the proposed
arrangement.
He told the club's website, www.stockportcounty.com:
"Although he's still only 17, Michael played 20 senior games
for us last season and is very much part of our first-team
squad. I don't think it's right to let first-team players go
on trial.
"I've seen instances in the past when young players have
returned from trials at big clubs with a big dent in
confidence because a dream move didn't materialise."
(Sporting Life)
Trio enter race for Liverpool target
Charlton Athletic, Manchester City and Middlesbrough have
all reportedly entered the race to sign Southampton striker
Peter Crouch.
Saints chairman Rupert Lowe will be pleased with the fresh
interest in Crouch who cost him just £2million a year ago
when he rescued the England international from Aston Villa.
(Kop Talk)
Owen scoffs at exit rumours
Striker Michael Owen has attempted to quash speculation
about his Real Madrid future, claiming he has no intention
of leaving the Bernabeu this summer.
The 25-year-old England hitman has brushed aside recent
rumours linking him with a move back to the Premiership,
with Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly
interested in acquiring the striker.
Owen has failed to hold down a first team place in Wanderley
Luxemburgo's side despite scoring 13 league goals in his
debut campaign in the Primera Liga.
"I have never said that I want to leave," Owen told the
club's official website.
"It's the English press that are placing me away from
Madrid."
(TEAMtalk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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