|
|
|
|
TUESDAY 21 |
|
|
Rafa: Luck has returned
Rafa Benitez was pleased to see the luck run for his
strikers after his Liverpool side blew Birmingham City away
in a 7-0 FA Cup quarter final victory.
Explaining why his front-men have now hit the goal trail
after a barren start to 2006, Benitez blamed bad luck in the
early part of the year.
"I'm delighted with the final result and also the
performance of the players," Benitez told Sky Sports.
"They worked really hard played well and scored goals.
"Sometimes you cannot score goals after 30 attempts, as
against Charlton for example, today every time we shoot, it
was a goal."
(Sky Sports)
Crouch happy with brace
Peter Crouch was delighted with his brace that helped
Liverpool to an emphatic seven-goal romp at Birmingham City.
"Once you get a couple they seem to go in a lot easier and
that proved the case today," he said after the game. "We've
scored a few in recent weeks and it is most enjoyable.
"I'd have liked to have got a hat-trick but we've had a lot
of games recently and maybe the manager is thinking about
the derby on Saturday."
(LFC Online)
Bruce vows to carry on as manager
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce believes he is the right manager
to revive the relegation-threatened club after their FA Cup
humiliation by Liverpool.
"I'll analyse myself but I want to turn it round," said a
shell-shocked Bruce, after Liverpool's 7-0 victory.
"I'm not going to take anything for granted and questions
will be asked.
"The board have always been good to me, but I still think
I'm the right person to see it through. The one thing I am
is resilient and I'll need to be."
Bruce added that the defeat was the worst he had suffered in
25 years as a player and a manager.
"Sometimes football kicks you in the teeth - and certainly
that is the biggest one I have taken," the Birmingham
manager added.
"You are just shell-shocked; in the end it was men against
boys.
"I accept responsibility; I am not a quitter by nature. I
will try and do my best to make sure we stay in the
division."
(BBC Sport Online)
Gerrard: Now bring on Everton
Steven Gerrard says Liverpool will go into Saturday's derby
full of confidence after their magnificent seven against
Birmingham in the FA Cup quarter finals.
The Reds recorded their best ever victory away from Anfield
in the competition as they comfortably saw off the challenge
of Steve Bruce's men to secure their place in the semi-final
draw.
He said: "I was listening to some of the Everton players
saying they were happy to be coming to Anfield full of
confidence, but I think it's the same for us now.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds run rampant at St Andrews
Birmingham City's terrible season plumbed new depths, as a
first-half capitulation resulted in a 7-0 destruction at the
hands of Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter finals.
The cup had provided the only respite for Blues in what has
been a shocking campaign for manager Steve Bruce, but their
run came brutally to an end at the hands of Rafa Benitez's
rampant Reds.
Two goals inside the first five minutes from Sami Hyypia and
Peter Crouch ended the tie as a contest, and Liverpool
powered their way to join West Ham United in the semi-finals
- thanks to further goals from Crouch, Fernando Morientes,
John Arne Riise, Djibril Cisse and an own goal from Olivier
Tebily.
For Liverpool, the St Andrews' massacre was a further
riposte to critics of the Reds' sharp shooters, but for
Bruce, the main concern will be avoiding the firing squad
after an embarrassing and morale-destroying defeat.
(Sky Sports)
Reds linked with Aurelio capture
Reports in Spain suggest that Liverpool have agreed a
three-year deal with Valencia defender Fabio Aurelio.
The Brazilian is available on a Bosman free transfer and has
also been pursued by Greek side Olympiakos, however reports
indicate that The Reds have won the race for his signature.
He has previously attracted admiring glances from Real
Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United, but could now be
poised to become the latest Primera Liga star to join the
Rafa Benitez revolution at Anfield.
(Sky Sports)
Birmingham City v Liverpool - CONFIRMED TEAM
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Traore, Hyypia, Carragher,
Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Riise, Garcia, Crouch.
SUBS: Dudek, Kromkamp, Kewell, Cisse, Morientes.
(Kop Talk)
Benitez praises Cisse
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has praised Djibril Cisse for
his recent performances for The Reds.
Cisse has been linked with a possible move to Tottenham in
some quarters, but Benitez insists he is an important part
of his plans.
"The season has been difficult for our forwards," Benitez
told France Football.
"Djibril went through some difficult moments, but he has
always showed exemplary behaviour.
"I can feel he is back to a good shape. I am satisfied with
him.
"People say I prefer strong forwards than forwards quick on
their feet. It is false. I am interested by Djibril because
he offers me speed and depth. A team needs that."
"The good players can adapt, and I believe Djibril can play
on the right without
any doubt."
(Sky Sports)
Reds so keen to ensure cup comes back admits
Benitez
Losing to Birmingham City after knocking Manchester United
out of the FA Cup would be like buying a winning 'Golden
Goal' ticket and ripping it up before you collected your
reward.
Liverpool excelled in the fifth round by defeating the
country's form side.
To throw away such an agreeable opportunity to progress into
the last four would be at best careless, and at worst
inexcusable.
Rafa Benitez will be urging his players to channel the good
memories and confidence of the United victory into tonight's
quarter-final.
Benitez says he can sense the hunger within his players to
lift more silverware.
And while the Spaniard will never break his vow to look no
further than the next game, the prospect of taking his side
to the brink of another final offers the healthiest source
of motivation.
"After beating Manchester United, we know the opportunity is
there for us. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves,"
said Benitez.
(Liverpool Echo)
Sissoko targets derby return
Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko is targeting
a return to action this weekend against Everton.
Sissoko has made a quicker than expected return to training
after suffering a serious eye injury last month.
The 21-year-old suffered the eye injury after being kicked
in the head by Benfica midfielder Beto during Liverpool's
defeat in Lisbon.
"Three weeks ago I had zero vision in my right eye, now it's
about eighty per cent so that is a quick recovery," Sissoko
told the club's official website.
"It's hard to say if it'll ever be perfect. There's a chance
it might but also a chance it might not. Only time will
tell.
"The big thing for me is I can play football again. That's
all I want to do.
"I'm training with my team-mates again and last week I
started playing football again. It's great to be back out
there with them. I missed it so much.
"Physically I feel very good but it's down to the manager
now when he feels I'm ready to play again. The derby this
weekend may be a bit early, but I'd love to return in time
for that match.
"What has happened has happened but that part of my life is
closed now.
"I've had a bad experience but everything is okay and I just
want to look to the future."
(Sky Sports)
Reds refuted Momo diagnosis
Club doctor Mark Waller has revealed Liverpool refused to
accept the initial diagnosis that Mohamed Sissoko would
never play again after his eye injury, despite the the
midfielder being "blind in his right eye for 36 hours."
Sissoko was kicked on the head during Liverpool's Champions
League game against Benfica last month, and one of the
original doctors who treated the Mali international in
Lisbon feared for the player's sight.
But in a Liverpoolfc.tv interview Dr Waller said: "In the
first 24 hours we had to listen to the opinion of one
eminent specialist, who knows far more about the condition
than I do, but we decided we weren't going to accept that a
21-year-old had an injury that was not going to allow him to
play football again.
"It's been well publicised one of the doctors in the unit
over in Lisbon stated the best case scenario was that Momo
could only get back 20% and there was no treatment for his
condition. We were not prepared to accept that."
(Sporting Life)
Bruce questions cup chaos
Steve Bruce has joined Rafael Benitez in questioning how
forcing a key England player like Steven Gerrard to play
twice in 48 hours will aid Sven-Goran Eriksson's bid for
World Cup glory this summer.
The Football Association moved the quarter-finals of the FA
Cup to midweek to help ensure Eriksson will have an extra
week's preparation for the finals in Germany.
But Liverpool boss Benitez has hit out at the fact the likes
of Gerrard and Jamie Carragher will have to play in
Tuesday's quarter-final with Bruce's Birmingham after being
in action at Newcastle on Sunday.
Benitez feels such a tight schedule will make players more
susceptible to injury and hamper rather than bolster
Eriksson's hopes and Bruce is of the same thinking.
The Blues chief said: "Of course, I understand the desire to
help Sven with his preparations for the World Cup by giving
him a little more time with the players at the end of the
season.
"But can you really tell me it is helping Sven by asking
someone like Steven Gerrard to play twice in 48 hours."
(TEAMtalk)
Spurs deny Cisse interest
Tottenham have rubbished claims by Djibril Cisse's agent
that they tried to sign the French striker during the
January transfer window.
Ranko Stojic has gone on record saying that they made a late
offer on January 31st, which Liverpool followed up with a
counter offer for Jermaine Defoe.
No deal could be agreed but Spurs are trying to say the
events never took place.
A Spurs spokesman said: "We have never made an approach for
Cisse and have not had any interest in the player."
(Kop Talk)
West Ham clash postponed
Liverpool's Premiership clash at West Ham in April has been
postponed following the Hammers' progression into the FA Cup
semi-finals.
Alan Pardew's men saw off the challenge of Manchester City
last night to book their place in the last four of the
competition.
The semi-finals will take place over the weekend of April 22
and April 23, meaning Liverpool's scheduled league game at
Upton Park will have to be moved to a new date.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez's concern for duo
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez fears a fixture schedule
that forces his team to play twice in three days could
threaten the fitness of England players Steven Gerrard and
Jamie Carragher.
Gerrard and Carragher are expected to head to Germany this
summer as members of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad for
the World Cup.
But a hectic club schedule means Liverpool face Birmingham
in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Tuesday after winning
at Newcastle in the Premiership on Sunday.
"If you lose two or three players during the season, how can
that help England?" asked Benitez. "We will see if it is
counter productive, but I know we will not see the best of
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher if they are forced to
play twice in three days.
"All the English players, if they played twice in three
days, will be more at risk. They will have more problems.
"It is impossible to play twice in three days with just a
day in between matches. A player is at his worst in terms of
his physical condition two days after a game.
"He can be 70 per cent three days after, but he certainly
cannot play at his level and the risk of injury is so much
more."
(TEAMtalk) |
|
|
MONDAY 20 |
|
|
Fowler on the mark as Reserves win
Robbie Fowler marked a return to his famous number nine
shirt by scoring in the reserves 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic
at Wrexham's Racecourse ground.
Fowler played for 45 minutes and looked really sharp, worked
hard and linked play superbly. His goal on the stroke of
half-time was a real poacher's effort, reacting quickly to
score from two yards out after Wigan's veteran keeper Gary
Walsh had dropped a Jack Hobbs header.
Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Barragan, Smith, Antwi,
O'Donnell, Roque (Flynn 80), Anderson, Hobbs, Fowler
(Calliste 45), Guthrie (Lindfield 84), Foy. Subs not used:
Woods, Lancaster (GK).
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: Cisse sorry for Toon gestures
Djibril Cisse has issued an apology through Liverpool
manager Rafael Benitez for his controversial behaviour after
scoring his side's third goal from the spot at Newcastle.
Benitez took time off from preparing for the FA Cup
quarter-final at Birmingham to defend his errant Frenchman,
insisting his reaction to crowd abuse at St James' Park was
not a "serious" incident.
"I told him during the game to calm down, and at the end we
also talked," said Benitez. "The message on his shirt was
for his young son and his family, and he has told me that he
wishes to say sorry to the Newcastle fans. He hopes it is
not a problem. I do not think there will be any further
action, it was not a serious incident."
(Football 365)
Fowler sits out Cup tie
Robbie Fowler is cup-tied and will have to sit out
Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final at Birmingham, with boss
Rafael Benitez revealing he is likely to make changes from
the side that won 3-1 in the Barclays Premiership at
Newcastle on Sunday.
Steve Finnan and Fernando Morientes, who failed to even make
the 16 at St James’ Park, were both rested with the St
Andrews clash in mind and are expected back into the
starting line-up.
Fowler, who scored a hat-trick for Manchester City earlier
in the competition, will sit this one out with Peter Crouch
likely to partner Morientes, with Djibril Cisse back on the
bench.
Full-back John Arne Riise is back in light training
following his thigh muscle injury but is unlikely to figure.
Provisional squad: Reina, Finnan, Kromkamp, Carragher,
Hyypia, Agger, Warnock, Traore, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Hamann,
Kewell, Morientes, Crouch, Cisse, Dudek.
(Ireland On-Line)
Blues have concerns over pair
Birmingham striker Emile Heskey and midfielder Nicky Butt
are major fitness doubts for Tuesday’s FA Cup tie with
Liverpool at Anfield.
Heskey and Butt will have late fitness tests on ankle and
hip injuries respectively suffered during Saturday’s 2-0
home reversal against Tottenham.
David Dunn and Jiri Jarosik are also doubtful while Julian
Gray, Matthew Upson, Muzzy Izzet, Chris Sutton and Mehdi
Nafti are all sidelined.
Striker DJ Campbell is cup-tied to leave Mikael Forssell as
possibly the only available striker if Heskey is ruled out.
Squad: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Martin Taylor,
Clapham, Pennant, Johnson, Butt, Lazaridis, Heskey,
Kilkenny, Forssell, Vaesen, Tebily, Clemence, Dunn, Jarosik,
Painter, Latka.
(Ireland On-Line)
Benitez strikes the right note
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has admitted his strikers have
given him a problem after discovering their goal touch.
The Reds had come under fire for struggling to score with
their expensively-assembled pool of frontmen enduring a
tough time.
However, after seeing Robbie Fowler, Fernando Morientes and
Peter Crouch all get their names on the scoresheet against
Fulham in midweek, the Spaniard was delighted as Crouch and
Djibril Cisse struck in Sunday's 3-1 win at Newcastle.
"It's really important for them and also for the team to see
all the strikers scoring goals," he said.
"Now the problem is for me. All of them are scoring goals,
but it's a good problem and we will have more confidence for
the forthcoming games."
(PA Sport)
|
|
|
SUNDAY 19 |
|
|
Crouch happy to hit form
Liverpool striker Peter Crouch is enjoying his side's
scoring spree after they took their tally to eight goals in
a week with a 3-1 win at Newcastle.
Crouch told Sky Sports: "It was good, we did most of the
work in the first half. It's pleasing, we scored five last
week and three today so it's good.
"We've always been playing well and getting results but it's
nice to kill teams off and the last couple of days we've
managed to do that.
"We could have gone on to score more."
(Football 365)
Parry: Reds must convince Rafa
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry says the lure of
silverware will be the key to ensuring Rafa Benitez remains
on Merseyside.
The Spanish boss is in high demand after winning the UEFA
Champions League in his debut season with The Reds, and both
Real Madrid and Internazionale are believed to be keen to
snare him from Anfield.
Although Benitez is close to agreeing a new deal with
Liverpool, Parry is well aware that the club must prove they
can match their manager's ambitions if they are to keep hold
of him in the long term.
"It's not about length of contracts because if managers are
unhappy they will go," said Parry.
"It's about Rafa being happy and doing what he enjoys doing.
"You have to be realistic.
"The price of success is that there are always other
temptations but it's about whether we can keep on delivering
and match Rafa's ambitions and give him the enjoyment and
excitement he craves.
"We believe we can but there are no guarantees in life."
(Sky Sports)
Diao heading for Pompey exit
Salif Diao looks to be on his way out of the Fratton Park
exit door once his loan spell from Liverpool expires in the
summer.
The Senegal international has spent much of his time on the
South Coast in the club's treatment room and it would now
seem any chance of securing a permanent stay has been
scuppered.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp admits he has been frustrated by
the player's persistent injury woes and admits he has no
idea when Diao will next be available for selection.
''It seems he just cannot get himself fit,'' Redknapp told
the Sunday Mirror.
''He has just come back from a hamstring problem and then he
pulled a muscle in a warm-up before training.
''I could have done with him in midfield, because he is a
big strong lad and we lack a bit of muscle in that
department.
''But he is always on the treatment table and I don't know
when he'll be back.''
(Sky Sports)
Rafa content with system
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez feels the system he employed
against Newcastle proved a success and conceded he may use
it again in midweek.
Benitez dispensed with Liverpool's normal 4-4-2 formation to
operate with three central defenders and wing backs, with
the switch having worked well in a comfortable 3-1 victory.
"We've not been doing anything different but today we
changed the system.
''It's a possibility (to keep the system for the Birmingham
match) because today it
was good."
(Sky Sports)
Roeder bemoans Boumsong
Glenn Roeder concedes Jean-Alain Boumsong's sending-off gave
his side a mountain they were never likely to climb against
Liverpool.
A routine ball from Liverpool's backline saw Boumsong
produce an air shot as he tried to repel it, then, with
Peter Crouch bearing down on goal the Frenchman dragged him
down for a penalty.
''He will be disappointed with that when he sees it again,''
Roeder told Sky Sports. ''The double whammy from that
incident is he gives a penalty away and gets sent off."
(Sky Sports)
Owen set to decide future at club
Newcastle United striker Michael Owen is set to decide his
future at the club if the club does not bring in world class
players in the summer. Owen has been linked with a move to
Liverpool with Steven Gerrard hoping the ex star returns to
the club.
"I would have thought, if Michael saw that the calibre of
player brought in when Alan (Shearer) retires is of the
right type, he would stay where he is," said Roeder.
"I can't speak for Michael, but I don't see any reason why
he would not want to stay next year and be part of the
Newcastle team that gets into the Champions League."
(TalkSoccer.net)
Liverpool cruise as Toon lose
Liverpool had too much for Newcastle at St James' Park as
they recorded a 3-1 win on their travels that puts them
within two points of Manchester United in second place.
Peter Crouch was the architect of much of their best work as
he scored the first, laid on the second for Steven Gerrard
and was hauled down for the third - a penalty from Djibril
Cisse - conceded by Jean-Alain Boumsong in an incident that
saw the Frenchman dismissed.
Newcastle looked to have fought their way back into the
contest when Shola Ameobi headed home with his side two
goals down just before half-time but Boumsong's defensive
howler and Liverpool's superior class came to the fore in
the second half.
(Sky Sports)
Newcastle v Liverpool - CONFIRMED TEAM
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Warnock,
Gerrard, Hamann, Kromkamp, Kewell, Cisse, Crouch.
SUBS: Dudek, Garcia, Traore, Fowler, Alonso.
(Kop Talk)
Liverpool to offer Spurs £17million
Newspaper reports today claim that Liverpool are prepared to
offer up to £9million in the summer for striker Jermaine
Defoe.
Meanwhile the same journalists behind the Defoe speculation
also state that Rafa will try and sign Spurs centre-back
Michael Dawson.
Reports claim that Rafa will offer £8million for Dawson in
the summer.
(Kop Talk)
Rafa eyes early Fowler decision
Robbie Fowler's Liverpool future could be decided sooner
rather than later according to Reds boss Rafa Benitez.
The once prolific striker shocked English football by
rejoining the Anfield outfit back in January, and scored his
first goal in his second stint at the club against Fulham on
Wednesday.
The 30-year-old is a firm favourite with Reds fans but his
ultimate success will be judged on whether he finds the net
on a regular basis until the end of the season when his
contract expires.
Benitez has concerns over the striker's fitness and the
Spaniard has admitted that the club are keen to decide
whether to retain Fowler beyond the current campaign as soon
as possible.
"Robbie is working every day with the physios and they are
trying to get him fit," said Benitez.
"He will be much better after a whole pre-season, but maybe
we can't wait until then to decide because he needs to know
and we need to know.
"It will be good for him and us if the decision is made
early."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool make fans apology
Liverpool have apologised to Manchester United for the
behaviour of their fans during last month's highly-charged
FA Cup tie at Anfield.
The club and Merseyside Police have carried out an
investigation after a number of incidents where United fans
at the Anfield Road end were attacked by home supporters.
There was one incident of human excrement being thrown
towards United supporters as well as coins and food being
aimed in their direction.
Liverpool stadium and operations manager Ged Poynton has
written to United admitting standards of behaviour had
"fallen short" of that expected.
Poynton added in the News of the World: "We hold our hands
up as a club. We deplore what certain fans have done.
"I use the word coward very reservedly but I class anyone
who wants to throw a coin or something else when they are
leaving as cowards.
"I am ashamed to admit in one case excrement was thrown. How
low can you get? We did what we could, we tried to brush
people down and compensate those involved."
(TEAMtalk)
|
|
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
