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THURSDAY 21 |
O'Neill open to
Barry going for free
Martin O'Neill has admitted he would be prepared to let
Liverpool and Tottenham target Gareth Barry see out his
contract at Villa Park.
Aston Villa star Barry's future is again the subject of
speculation, with his current deal having just a year to run
on it.
The Reds and Spurs are thought to be keen on luring the
England international away from the Midlands, with the Reds
holding a long-term interest in the player having failed to
sign him last summer.
O'Neill is keen to keep hold of Barry and he revealed
initial talks have taken place over a possible new deal, but
he is also willing to keep him for the final 12 months of
his contract and risk losing him for nothing.
"We are in the middle of amicable discussions with Gareth
Barry and his representatives and, although I'm unaware of
any figures being mentioned yet, we are obviously keen to
offer Gareth every incentive to remain at Villa Park for a
longer period," said O'Neill.
"At the same time, we would accept it if he wanted to stay
here for the final 12 months of his current contract."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard urges Reds
to sign off in style
Steven Gerrard wants Liverpool to sign the season off in
style on Sunday to show their appreciation for the backing
they have received from the club’s fans.
The Reds head into their final game of the campaign against
Spurs in the knowledge that they need just a single point to
guarantee second place.
Their captain is not willing to settle for a draw though and
has challenged his team mates to finish with a flourish in
front of their own supporters.
“I think the supporters deserve it,” he said. “They have
given us terrific support once again over the course of the
season."
(Liverpool Echo)
Real Madrid step
up bid for Alonso
According to the Sun, Florentino Perez has made Alonso one
of his primary targets should he win the Real presidential
elections on June 17.
(The Daily Telegraph)
Hyypia eager for Reds return
Liverpool's departing defender Sami Hyypia has already set
his sights on returning to Anfield when he hangs up his
playing boots.
The club's long-serving Finnish defender is swapping
Merseyside for the Bundesliga next season after agreeing a
two-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen.
The 35-year-old has amassed 463 club appearances in 10 years
of football for the illustrious club after joining for
£2.5million back in the summer of 1999.
Manager Rafa Benitez has offered Hyypia, who is set to make
one final appearance for the Reds against Spurs this
weekend, a coaching role at the club, an offer the defender
is eager to accept.
"I'd like to come back to Liverpool one day as a coach, and
it was great to hear the manager would like me to return,"
Hyypia told the Daily Mirror.
"Coaching has always been in my mind, but I have to take my
badges first. I haven't done that yet because I want to keep
playing, and I thought at this stage it would be a burden.
"But at the end of my playing career I'll look to take the
badges and then see. I've so many memories of Liverpool, and
really would love to return one day.
"I think it will only be after I've finally left that I'll
be able to sit back and realise what we've done in my 10
years. It's hard to take in now. It is nice to be remembered
here."
(Sky Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 20 |
Atletico friendly announced
Liverpool will play a pre-season friendly against Atletico
Madrid.
The Reds will host Atletico at Anfield on Saturday, August
8th, their final pre-season game of the campaign. The game
will be a 3pm kick off.
(LFC Online)
Downing's hopes of a transfer dashed
Any hope that Stewart Downing had of playing for Liverpool
next season have now ended, after it was confirmed that the
Middlesbrough winger had broke his foot in last weekend's
game against Aston Villa..
Downing was being linked with a possible £12m move to
Liverpool or Spurs, but it now looks like he will remain at
Teeside and probably in
the Championship.
The England winger will have an operation on Friday and is
not expected to regain fitness until August, giving him very
little time to pass a medical for a new club.
(LFC Online)
Rafa: We are
losing a legend
Rafa Benitez admits Liverpool will be losing a legend when
Anfield bids farewell to Sami Hyypia on Sunday.
The 35-year-old Finn will leave on a free this summer after
agreeing a two-year deal with German outfit Bayer
Leverkusen.
Benitez is yet to decide his starting XI for the season
finale against Tottenham but, whether or not he starts,
Hyypia can expect an emotional reception following a decade
of faultless service.
"Yes, I think Liverpool are losing a legend," said the Kop
boss. "For years he has been so good. He has scored
important goals and has been very, very good in defence.
Clearly we are losing an important player.
(LFC Official Website)
Insua looking for three more points
Emiliano Insua wants Liverpool to finish the season with
a victory over Tottenham which would give them the most
points since the start of the Premier League.
"Everybody wants to win the title, but it wasn't to be for
us this year because Man United have won it and this is
football," said the Argentinian left-back, who has
successfully broke into the first team this season.
"This means that we have to look at ways that we can improve
and hopefully next season will be even better than this one.
"We cannot be feeling sorry for ourselves because we still
have one more game to go and if we win it we will have 86
points, which will be a record for us in the Premier League.
"The fans will also be wanting us to win and we have to try
to do that."
(LFC Online) |
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TUESDAY 19 |
Reds to decide Alonso's future
Xabi Alonso's agent admits Liverpool will decide the
midfielder's future at the end of the season.
The Spanish international's future has been the subject of
speculation in recent weeks with a number of clubs thought
to be lining up summer moves for the player.
Real Madrid are thought to be leading the chase for Alonso
with the 27-year-old thought to be one of presidental
candidate Florentino Perez's top transfer targets if he
gains control at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Alonso's agent Ignacio Ibanez has refused to confirm the
player will remain at Anfield next season, admitting
Liverpool will have the final say on any possible transfer.
"Many things could happen in the summer," Ibanez told the
Daily Star.
"The first is to finish the season and after that to attend
to other matters.
"Xabi has signed for three more years and his future depends
on Liverpool."
(Sky Sports)
Club record inspires Kuyt
Equalling a 104 year old record will inspire Liverpool for
next season says Dirk Kuyt.
The Reds may end this season as runners up but they did
manage to equal a 104 year old club record for most away
wins in a league season with 13. That sort of form will
inspire them for next season's title challenge promises
Kuyt.
"I think that shows the strength of the team and we have
played really well this season away from home," he said.
"We haven't lost a game at home but unfortunately we drew
too many at Anfield. We can be happy with our performances
but we want to win trophies, and hopefully we can do that
next season and finally win
the title.
"Our performances over the last couple of months have been
really good, and now we have to take our good form into next
season.
"We tried, we did everything we could and I think we showed
the supporters we can do something good next year.
"If we could have made the gap closer it would have been
interesting going into the final game, but they won all of
their games as well.
"We tried to put them under pressure, which I think we did,
but at the end of the day they won their games, so to be
fair they have played consistently and they deserve it."
(LFC Online)
Kelly called up by England
Liverpool defender Martin Kelly is today celebrating after
being called into the England Under-19 squad for their
forthcoming European Championship qualifiers.
Brian Eastick's side take on Bosnia and Herzegovina at
Doncaster Rovers FC's Keepmoat Stadium, on Wednesday, May
27. They then take on Slovakia at Bradford City FC's Valley
Parade on Friday, May 29, followed by a clash with Scotland
at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on Monday, June 1.
Yorkshire is the location for all of the games, with the
four teams battling it out to finish in top spot and thereby
seal a place in the last eight for July's final stage in
Ukraine.
The U19s will now be looking to reach the final stage for a
second successive season after last year travelling to Czech
Republic.
Kelly is a highly rated defender who can play at centre half
or right back. He earned great reviews for his performances
during a loan spell with Huddersfield Town this season.
(LFC Official Website)
Lucas Leiva had
to turn off TV
Lucas Leiva admits he couldn’t bear to watch Manchester
United lift the Premier League crown.
But the Brazilian is confident Liverpool have shown they
have the quality to wrest the championship away from Old
Trafford.
Lucas watched at home as United earned the point they
required at home to Arsenal on Saturday to end the title
dreams of Rafael Benitez’s side.
And the 22-year-old revealed he had to switch off his
television as their bitter North West rivals prepared to be
handed the Premier League trophy for the 11th time.
“I watched the game but when they were about to receive the
trophy I switched off my TV,” said Lucas.
“United deserve the title because they have been consistent
but we know we can do it next season.
“Last year in the January we were out of the fight for the
title but this time we were right up there challenging, so
that shows we are a good team.
“We have to believe in ourselves next season and we have the
quality to win the title.”
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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