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MONDAY 21 |
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Gerrard issues Blues warning
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard expects his side to
challenge Chelsea for the Premiership title this season.
Jose Mourinho's hitherto imperious champions have suffered a
recent blip in form with defeat at Manchester United giving
hope to the chasing pack.
"All we've got to do is concentrate on what we're doing,
keep on winning, keep moving up the table and we're all
confident this season can be a success - hopefully we'll be
delivering a trophy and getting involved in the title race."
(Sky Sports)
Under 18's lose again
Liverpool's under 18's side suffered their third defeat in a
row.
The under 18's were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City despite
bringing in reserve regular Jack Hobbs to play his first
game for Liverpool in his favoured position of centre-half.
(LFC Online)
Rush advises Crouch to be selfish
Liverpool legend Ian Rush has urged current Anfield striker
Peter Crouch to be more ruthless and believe in himself in
order to score goals.
Crouch has yet to open his account for Liverpool, and missed
a penalty on Saturday, but Rush insists the 6'7" forward
will make his mark soon.
"He's just lacking confidence, he needs a goal and he's got
to be greedy and he's got to be selfish," said Rush.
"You have to tell yourself 'I'm a good player, and I'm going
to score'."
Crouch has gone 19 matches without a goal for club or
country and has yet to register for Liverpool following his
£7m move from Southampton.
Rush added: "It's all about mental toughness. Once he gets
that first goal, he'll be up and running. He's no different
to last year when he scored a lot of goals."
(BBC Sport Online)
Anxious wait on Alonso fitness
Liverpool face an anxious wait to discover if Xabi Alonso
will be available for Champions League duty on Wednesday.
The Spanish midfielder was helped from the field five
minutes before time of Saturday's
3-0 win over Portsmouth after suffering a knee injury.
Alonso's damage is not serious, but Rafael Benitez is
hopeful he will have recovered sufficiently to play in
Wednesday's Champions League Group G clash with Real Betis
at Anfield.
(Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 20 |
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Dani out against Pool
Real Betis striker Dani will miss Wednesday's Champions
League Group H duel with Liverpool after injuring his ankle
during Betis' defeat to Sevilla on Saturday night. After
limping off the field in the Liga matchup tests showed that
Dani will have to miss up to a month thanks to the injury.
(Eurosport)
Liverpool linked with French striker
Newspaper reports today claim that Liverpool are "heading
the chase" for young French striker Razak Buokari.
It is claimed that the 18-year-old Chateauroux player will
be a £1.4million target when the transfer window opens in
January.
(Kop Talk)
Reina: I hope Dudek stays at Anfield
Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina says he hopes Jerzy Dudek
doesn't quit the club and remains at Anfield to fight for
his place.
The Spanish 'keeper admits he will suffer some dips in form
and needs quality competition to keep him on his toes. Dudek
is attracting interest from several European clubs including
Feyenoord and Benfica and has indicated that he could leave
in January.
"I'd glove Jerzy to stay put," said Reina. "Dudek, is a good
keeper and Liverpool need him because it is such a long
season, with so many games, and keeping cover is so
important.
"I've read about the possibility of him going but I
sincerely want him to stay. No one is always on form all of
the time. I know that my place in the team is in no way
gauranteed.
"I said when I arrived that I would have to fight to earn my
place and to hang on to it and nothing has changed. Jerzy is
tough competition for me.
"I feel for him but if the situation was the other way
around I would not be complaining - it is similar to what
happened to me at Barcelona."
(Kop Talk)
Rafa keen to learn from legends
Unlike his predecessor, Rafael Benitez has no problem with
former Liverpool players making comments about the current
side in the media.
Gerard Houllier was constantly complaining about legends
such as Alan Kennedy and John Aldridge for their criticisms
on radio phone-ins, but Benitez wants to hear what they have
to say.
"Many of the players who comment on Liverpool are legends
and they deserve to be listened to," said the Liverpool
boss. "You can't always be thinking about their reaction,
because you can't change things. But it is better to hear
things from them and maybe to learn things from them too.
"I like to talk with them. Sometimes my English is not the
best but I like to speak to them. After the Crystal Palace
game, for instance, I spoke to John Aldridge and we talked
about the game and the future.
"Players like him, or Ian Rush, they have experience of this
club, of the Premiership, or playing in other countries. Ian
can talk about the differences when he was playing for
Juventus and John can talk about Real Sociedad. This helps
you learn about how different things can be in other
countries.
"People like that are really positive and they try to
support me. If it was someone else they would try to do the
same for him because they are legends and want the best for
the club.
"They like Liverpool, but sometimes they say things because
they think they need to be said and I am fine with that."
(LFC Online)
Liverpool to switch to Adidas?
The word on the street is that Liverpool will drop Reebok in
favour of Adidas at the end of the season.
Adidas' buy-out of Reebok leaves the door open for a switch
that many fans have been crying out for.
Many of Reebok's designs have been criticised, while the
quality of the shirts has deteriorated in recent years, with
iron-on crests the final straw for many.
Whether or not the lastest rumours have any credence is yet
to be seen, but such a move would be welcomed by the
majority.
(LFC Online)
Reds to loan-out young defender
Zak Whitbread has been told he can join another club on
loan.
The young defender played a part in Liverpool's pre-season
preparations, but has since only appeared in one game for
the first team - the League Cup defeat at Crystal Palace.
With little chance of first team football in the near future
Whitbread has been told he can join another club for the
remainder of the season.
"It's frustrating but I can't sit on the bench and expect
them to be dropped for me, I've got to earn it," he
admitted.
"I've got two years left on my contract. I would never rule
a move out. If it's a choice between regular first-team
football or staying in Liverpool's reserves, then I'll
definitely go out on loan.
"But my main concern is making Liverpool's first team."
(LFC Online)
Sir Bobby: Anfield best for Euro nights
Former Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson has praised
the special Liverpool fans and says nothing in the world
beats a European night at Anfield for atmosphere.
Robson has sampled some fantastic footballing arenas during
his time in football with teams like Barcelona, Newcastle
and England manager, but he says Anfield is just the best.
Robson said: "I've witnessed some incredible European nights
in Barcelona, Porto and Newcastle, but nowhere beats Anfield
for spine-tingling atmosphere.
"Liverpool are steeped in European success, it's what the
dynasty of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley was built on.
"That history and passion of the fans helped Rafa Benitez's
team overcome the odds to win the Champions League last
season, particularly in that epic semi-final against
Chelsea. And barring a disaster against Real Betis, they
will qualify for the knock-out stages again on Wednesday.
"Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus are the
fancied teams to win the Champions League, but big European
nights at Anfield can make your hair stand on end. Write off
Liverpool at your peril."
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 19 |
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Fitness boost for Spanish duo
Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia should both be fit for
Wednesday's Champions League clash with Real Betis at
Anfield.
Both players limped out of the 3-0 victory over Portsmouth
with minor injuries but manager Rafa Benitez is confident
they'll be available for selection in midweek.
Benitez said: "The doctor doesn't think either injury is
serious and so they should be okay for Wednesday's game.
"Luis took a kick on the hip and Xabi had a kick on his
knee. They couldn't continue today but they should be fine."
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa hails improving Reds
Rafa Benitez hailed his ever-improving Liverpool side after
they ran riot over Portsmouth in a 3-0 victory at Anfield.
The Reds were in imperious form as they recorded their
fourth win in a row in all competitions, and Boudewijn
Zenden, Djibril Cisse and Fernando Morientes supplied the
firepower in the convincing victory.
"I think the team is improving, I always say the same, but
you need to win for people to believe you and this is the
situation now, we are playing well, scoring goals, and
winning," said Benitez.
(Sky Sports)
Crouch staying positive
Peter Crouch is determined to stay positive in his quest for
a first Liverpool goal.
The giant striker missed a golden opportunity to open his
account for the season when he saw his penalty saved against
Portsmouth on Saturday, but insists that the way he stepped
up to take the spot kick illustrates his strength of
character.
"I pretty much made the decision about who was going to take
the penalty. I wasn't going to hide when it was given.
That's something I will never do," said Crouch.
"I'll do anything I can to score and if we get another
penalty, I'll step up again," he said defiantly.
(Sky Sports)
Reds heap pressure on Perrin
Liverpool recorded their third Premiership victory in a row
as they heaped the pressure on Portsmouth boss Alain Perrin
with a 3-0 win at Anfield.
The Reds dominated from start to finish and Perrin's side
were desperately lacking in invention and enterprise
throughout the encounter, and on this evidence they may need
more than the ambitious transfer target of Roy Keane if they
are to avoid a prolonged relegation struggle.
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool v Portsmouth - confirmed team
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Warnock,
Zenden, Gerrard, Hamann, Garcia, Crouch, Cisse.
SUBS: Dudek, Alonso, Josemi, Morientes, Traore.
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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