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SATURDAY 21 |
Rafa happy with character
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez praised his side's character
after they fought back for a 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Yossi Benayoun's goal earned Liverpool a draw after goals
from Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland cancelled out
Martin Skrtel's opener for the home side.
"We're a little bit disappointed, we had chances at the end.
But with the problems we had, making two substitutions in
the first 18 minutes, to still come back we showed very good
character. Until the last minute we were still pushing,"
Benitez told Sky Sports 1.
(Sky Sports)
Ireland: City feel robbed by Reds
Manchester City goalscorer Stephen Ireland admitted his side
felt they had been "robbed" after Liverpool snatched a 2-2
draw at Anfield.
"Looking back at the end of the season we'll probably see it
as a good point but we feel a bit robbed," Ireland told Sky
Sports 1.
"We played well, we went ahead but conceded too early. It
was very unfortunate but it could have been worse."
(TEAMtalk)
Benayoun rescues Reds
Liverpool dropped two more points and fell further behind in
the title race after being held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester
City at Anfield.
After a dour first half the game burst into life five
minutes into the second half when Martin Skrtel broke the
deadlock with his first goal for the club.
Emmanuel Adebayor headed Manchester City level on 69 minutes
when he was left unmarked inside the box to head home Craig
Bellamy's corner.
City turned the game on its head on 76 minutes when Stephen
Ireland converted Shaun-Wright Phillips' cross to silence
the home fans.
However, Liverpool struck back a minute later when Yossi
Benayoun scored from close-range after David Ngog's shot was
deflected across the face of goal.
The draw means Liverpool have only won one of their last ten
games in all competitions, while for City it was their sixth
successive stalemate in the Premier League.
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard in, Johnson out v City
Liverpool are without Glen Johnson for their lunchtime
kick-off against Man City, though Steven Gerrard starts.
Johnson is not fit enough to be in the squad but Fabio
Aurelio, Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun all make the bench.
Gerrard returns for his first start since mid-October.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Skrtel, Carragher, Agger,
Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Ngog.
Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, El Zhar, Aurelio, Riera,
Benayoun, Kyrgiakos.
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 20 |
Benitez backs placenta treatment
Boss Rafael Benitez has defended Liverpool's decision to
send players to a Serbian clinic for treatment.
Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera
have visited Belgrade for an unusual procedure that involves
massage with horse placenta.
Arsenal's Robin van Persie is also set to receive the
controversial treatment after rupturing ankle ligaments.
(BBC Sport Online)
Rafa gears up for pivotal encounter
Rafa Benitez knows Liverpool's clash with Manchester City is
"make or break" to their hopes of ensuring Champions League
football next term.
City, now the world's richest club, have made no secret of
their desire to gate-crash the top four and gain a place
among the Champions
League elite.
At the moment the most vulnerable member of the established
'big four' are Liverpool, who are floundering outside the
top six and are also at risk of missing out on the last 16
of this year's Champions League.
The stakes are very high for boss Benitez, who has sent four
players - Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera, Glen Johnson and
Fabio Aurelio - to Belgrade this week for controversial
placenta cell treatment
on their injuries.
Now all four, plus injured duo Daniel Agger and Steven
Gerrard, should be available to face Mark Hughes' side on
Saturday.
Benitez said: "This is a big game, an important game. But
then all Liverpool games are important. But this could be
described as a make-or-break game for our season."
(TEAMtalk)
Carragher ready
for 'massive game'
Jamie Carragher is prepared for Saturday's clash with
Manchester City.
The Liverpool defender has emphasised the importance of
getting a result against a team that could oust the Reds
from a Champions League place next season if we don't
improve over the next few months.
"I'm sure the City game will be built up with everyone
talking about it," said Carragher.
"It's another game where people will be looking at us again.
We've got to try and do what we did against Man United. We
need to get together as a team, with the crowd right behind
us and give it a really good go."
(LFC Online)
Robinho makes Liverpool trip
Record signing Robinho will travel to Liverpool with
Manchester City, even if the £32.5m striker is unlikely to
play.
Robinho has been out with an ankle injury since September
but should at least be fit in time to face Hull.
City boss Mark Hughes said: "He is back training with the
group, which is pleasing from everyone's point of view. He
is travelling with us and we will make a decision on
Saturday."
(Teletext)
Quartet fit after 'special treatment'
Rafa Benitez today revealed how four of his injured stars
could be fit for Man City after flying to Serbia for
'special treatment'.
Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun were due to be out for
another two weeks with hamstring problems but could now
feature on Saturday after the much-publicised journey to
eastern Europe.
Benitez was so pleased with the treatment they received that
he sent Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson to Serbia for work on
their
muscle injuries.
All four players are now back in Merseyside and have taken
part in full training sessions for the past two days.
(LFC Official Website)
Barry relishing Liverpool test
Saturday's visit to Anfield is the ideal way to return to
domestic duty after the international break, in Gareth
Barry's opinion.
Red versus Blue in L4 will be the first game in the Barclays
Premier League since Liverpool's draw with Birmingham City,
and there's much at stake with the hosts a place below their
visitors.
City go into the game having drawn their last five games, a
fact that Gareth says the squad having been itching to
address since reconvening this week.
"This run certainly has been frustrating," he asserts, "in
at least two of the games we felt that we should have come
away with all three points. To concede late goals after
you've been leading at home was incredibly disappointing,
but hopefully Liverpool can be the perfect game for us to
vent our frustrations and kick our season on again."
(Manchester City Official Website)
Insua wants Reds to signal intent
Emiliano Insua believes Liverpool must make a statement of
intent against Manchester City as they start a week that
could define
their season.
Rafael Benitez's men host City on Saturday and then travel
to Budapest for their Champions League night of destiny
against Debrecen
on Tuesday.
Insua knows just how important it is for Liverpool to show
they are not prepared to give up that place without a fight.
He said: "We know we have to start winning games and this is
a big game, but it's still too early to be looking at the
league table.
"Maybe we can look at it again in February or March and then
see where we are."
(TEAMtalk)
Santa Cruz ready for Anfield test
Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has ramped up the
heat ahead of Saturday's trip to Anfield by saying it is
Liverpool who should be feeling the pressure.
Mark Hughes' draw specialists head to Merseyside, for a game
that can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1, determined to
put an end to a run of five successive stalemates in the
league.
While City have set their sights on a UEFA Champions League
spot, Liverpool's title tilt looks to have stalled already
as Rafa Benitez's side find themselves a point behind City,
while trailing league leaders Chelsea by a full 11.
And it is a point not lost on Santa Cruz as he urges his
City team-mates to prove their credentials on Saturday.
(Sky Sports) |
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THURSDAY 19 |
Giovinco agent rules out Liverpool
Sebastian Giovinco’s agent has slammed reports that
Liverpool are staging a swoop for the ‘Atomic Ant.’
The young Juventus prodigy has been linked with a January
move to Anfield, where he would join fellow Italian Alberto
Aquilani.
“I don’t think we can say there is anything true in these
rumours,” agent Luca Pasqualin told Goal.com.
“Giovinco will remain at Juventus. I don’t know who spread
this story around, but I can confirm Giovinco is staying in
Turin. That is the reality.”
There were theories as to the Under-21 international’s
future, as he is considered a reserve for Diego and
Alessandro Del Piero.
“Giovinco is a Juventus player and must have faith in the
Coach and his club. As for a hypothetical transfer to
Liverpool, there is nothing to say other than he will stay
at Juventus.”
(Football Italia)
Youth Cup date set
Liverpool have confirmed the date for their FA Youth Cup
third round tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The fixture will be played on Monday November 30, 2009,
with a 7pm kick-off.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: Aquilani needs to keep calm
Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani may have to be patient
for a little longer before getting his first start for
Liverpool since his £20million summer move from Roma.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has played down claims the
Italy international - reassured by national boss Marcello
Lippi over his World Cup final chances this week following
six months of injury problems - will start Saturday's home
match with Manchester City.
(Press Association Sport)
Barry expected to face Reds
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes does not believe Gareth
Barry will have any problem shaking off a groin injury in
time for Saturday lunchtime's trip to Liverpool.
The midfielder sustained the problem in England's friendly
defeat to Brazil last weekend and was a doubt for the match
at Anfield.
But Hughes expects Barry, who came close to joining
Liverpool before moving to City in May, will be available.
(Sky Sports)
Aquilani handed World Cup hope
Italy manager Marcello Lippi has opened the door for
Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani to earn a place in his
2010 World Cup squad.
The injury-prone former Roma player has yet to start a match
since a £20million summer move to Anfield after undergoing
ankle surgery
in the summer.
A virus has also restricted Aquilani to just two appearances
for Liverpool, but he now looks set to be named in Rafa
Benitez's first XI against Manchester City on Saturday.
All eyes will be on the 25-year-old if he does start against
City, including those of international boss Lippi who has
offered the added incentive of a World Cup place.
"I have a varied group and it needs to be complete," said
Lippi
in The Times.
"If I haven't considered a certain player, then why should I
not consider him if the conditions are right?
"Look at Aquilani for example. If he plays with consistency
for Liverpool, then why shouldn't I consider him?"
(Football 365)
Benitez eyeing unsettled
Juventus ace Giovinco
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is eyeing Juventus attacking
midfielder Sebastian Giovinco.
Corriere dello Sport says Benitez is convinced he can lure
Giovinco to Anfield after seeing the youngster lose his
first team place at Juve to summer arrival Diego.
(tribalfootball.com)
Ngog gets Cameroon invite
Liverpool striker David Ngog has been approached by Cameroon
to play for the African country.
Ngog, who has played for France from Under 16 level through
to Under 21, qualifies for Cameroon through his father.
Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen is keen for Ngog to change his
allegiance ahead of the African Cup of Nations and World
Cup.
If Ngog decides to play for Cameroon it could leave
Liverpool with problems in attack for January as Cameroon
are involved in the African Cup of Nations in Angola at the
turn of the year.
Ngog admits he is flattered by the approach and he is now
considering his international future.
"I have had contact with the Cameroonian federation. Now I
need some time to think about things. I'm very flattered,"
Ngog told The Sun.
(Sky Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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