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SUNDAY 21 |
Liverpool to hijack Madrid target
Liverpool have emerged as front runners to sign Simon Kjaer,
one of the most highly-rated teenage talents in Europe.
The 18-year-old defender has been courting interest from
Europe's top clubs with some fine performances for Danish
club FC Midtyjlland.
Real Madrid are among the clubs tracking the defender’s
progress, but it is believed Liverpool have jumped to the
head of the queue after sending scouts to watch the player.
(Setanta Sports)
Mascherano working towards new contract
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano acknowledges that he
must continue to impress in order to win a new contract at
Anfield.
The Argentinian was rescued from an unhappy loan spell at
West Ham by Reds manager Rafa Benitez, but the Merseysiders
have only signed him on a short-term contract until May.
Mascherano is keen to stay at the club, and has impressed in
the Premier League, but refuses to be drawn on his future
despite the interest
of Barcelona.
“Right now, I am only thinking about playing football well
with Liverpool,” he said.
“I feel good here. My objective is to improve my contract
and that is what I am working for.
“Benitez got me out of West Ham and trusted in me.”
(Setanta Sports)
Kuyt admits Mersey luck
Dirk Kuyt has admitted he was 'a bit lucky' to not have been
sent off in an incident-packed 206th Merseyside derby on
Saturday.
Liverpool won a pulsating match 2-1, with Kuyt scoring the
winning penalty in the second minute of added time to add to
his earlier strike from
the spot.
But the Liverpool striker was lucky to still be on the pitch
after receiving only a yellow card for his lunge at Phil
Neville, despite protests from the Everton players and
manager David Moyes.
The Dutchman said: "People saw the TV and said my booking
looks bad. But I was just trying to make a tackle and I did
not want to touch the player, and I didn't.
"Maybe I was a bit lucky, but I never had any intention of
trying to hit the player, it was a yellow card and I accept
that."
(Sky Sports) |
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SATURDAY 20 |
Young Reds held to a draw
Liverpool Under-18s let a two goal lead slip as they allowed
Crewe Alexandra to come back and gain a 2-2 draw at the
Academy
on Saturday morning.
Nathan Eccleston scored again to take his tally to five
goals in three Academy games and Michael Collins got his
first strike of the season. However, Crewe scored twice from
set pieces to get back into the game and earn themselves a
share of the spoils.
Liverpool Under-18s: Dean Bouzanis, Mattone Awang, Shane
O'Connor, Joe Kennedy, Steven Irwin, Sean Highdale, David
Amoo, Astrit Astrit Ajdarevic, Michael Collins, Nathan
Eccleston, Ben Parsonage. Subs' unused: Michael Flanagan
(Under-15), Craig Rudden (Under-15), Matt McGiveron
(Under-15).
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez expects duo to be fit
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is confident Xabi Alonso and
Fernando Torres will be ready for this week's Champions
League showdown with Besiktas in Turkey.
The pair were left out of Saturday's derby victory at
Everton.
But Benitez said afterwards: "They were both very, very
close to playing. It would have been a risk I was not
prepared to take to play them against Everton.
"I would now expect them to be in serious contention against
Besiktas when we go to Istanbul (on Wednesday). I will watch
them in training and make my decision after that."
(PA Sport)
Moyes fumes at referee
Everton boss David Moyes was left fuming following his
side's controversial 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.
Hibbert was sent off after being adjudged to have brought
down Steven Gerrard inside the box, while Neville was given
his marching orders for handling Lucas Levia's shot on the
line.
Moyes felt Hibbert's sending off was debatable and also
despaired at his side's failure to win a penalty of their
own late on when Joleon Lescott went down in the box under
pressure from Jamie Carragher.
Moyes was not happy with the performance of referee Mark
Clattenburg feeling his side had been hard done by.
(Sky Sports)
Reds boss ignore Everton's penalty claims
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez felt his side deserved their
dramatic 2-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
Dirk Kuyt's last-gasp penalty earned Liverpool the derby
spoils against nine-man Everton to get Benitez's men back to
winning ways after a poor run of form.
Benitez shrugged off Everton's late penalty claim when
Joleon Lescott appeared to be wrestled to the ground by
Jamie Carragher in the dying seconds.
"In England you don't like to see players diving so it was a
surprise to me," continued Benitez.
(Sky Sports)
Benitez: This one's for you
Rafa Benitez dedicated the dramatic derby win over Everton
to the supporters by declaring: "This was for you."
The Spaniard believes the victory – clinched with a stoppage
time penalty from Dirk Kuyt – was thoroughly deserved.
"That was for all our fans," said Benitez. "Our supporters
are always fantastic and I dedicate this win to them.
"We thought we deserved to win the game. Our two penalties
were both very clear.
"We had a lot of chances during the game but didn't take
them. We kept going and got the win."
(LFC Official Website)
Kuyt double wins dramatic Mersey derby
Dirk Kuyt struck twice form the penalty spot as Liverpool
came from behind to defeat Everton 2-1 in Saturday’s
Merseyside derby at Goodison Park as the hosts ended the
game with nine men.
An own goal from Sami Hyypia had given The Toffees a
half-time lead, but Kuyt twice profitted as referee Mark
Clattenburg sent both Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville off and
the Dutchman found the net from both spot-kicks, the second
in stoppage-time.
Everton were then incensed as Jamie Carragher looked to have
hauled Joleon Lescott to the six-yard box floor in the dying
seconds. But, not for the first time, Clattenburg waved
their penalty appeal away as The Reds held on for a
fortunate victory in what had been an open and ultimately
dramatic game.
(Setanta Sports)
Torres out of Merseyside derby
Fernando Torres misses out on this afternoon's Merseyside
derby at Goodison, with Andriy Voronin partnering Dirk Kuyt
up front for Liverpool.
Neither Torres or Xabi Alonso are in the squad to face
Everton at 12.45pm despite hopes earlier in the week they
might be fit.
The team in full is: Reina, Riise, Finnan, Hyypia,
Carragher, Benayoun, Mascherano, Gerrard, Sissoko, Voronin,
Kuyt. Subs: Itandje, Crouch, Pennant, Babel, Lucas.
(LFC Official Website)
Riise: Don't question Rafa
John Arne Riise has admitted that whilst it can be
‘difficult’ to be a part of Rafa Benitez’s rotation policy,
the Spaniard’s methods should not be doubted or questioned.
Revealing that Liverpool’s line-up is shrouded in mystery
for as little as 60 minutes before kick-off, Riise does feel
though that Benitez’s successes since arriving in England
mean his approach should not be criticised.
"He won't change," Riise told The Guardian. "He generally
gets results, he's won trophies and I don't think anyone
should question his methods, especially when we are still
unbeaten in the league.
“Yes, it can be difficult sometimes because none of the
players know who is in the team until an hour before
kick-off and sometimes you find yourself not even on the
bench.
“But he wants to use his full squad and he wants everyone to
be fresh, not just now but at the end of the season too. I
know it is a big thing outside the club but, inside, we
respect the manager and we support his choices."
(Setanta Sports) |
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FRIDAY 19 |
Blow for Besiktas ahead of Reds clash
Liverpool's next Champions League opponents Besiktas have
been dealt a blow with the news that head coach Ertugrul
Saglam will not be allowed into the dressing room before the
match because he has to serve a one match ban.
Saglam has been suspended by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary
Body after he was sent-off during their last Champions
League clash against Porto.
The suspension means that the 37-year-old will not be
allowed on the bench for Wednesday's match. In addition, the
Besiktas coach will not be permitted to enter the technical
area, tunnel or dressing rooms for
the game.
(LFC Official Website)
Little Sam set for Liverpool return
Axed Bolton boss Sammy Lee is believed to on course for
talks over a return to former club Liverpool within the next
seven days.
Lee, who used to coach under Gerard Houllier at Anfield,
looks set for a similar role after departing The Reebok
Stadium.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez recently loss fitness guru
and assistant Pako Ayestaran, but it appears he may have
identified a replacement.
Benitez has already stated he will not be appointing another
number two, instead relying on the current coaching staff to
share responsibilities.
It is unclear which role The Reds have lined up for Lee,
although his appointment as fitness coach would make a good
fit.
Lee made 197 league appearances during a trophy-laden career
at Anfield, where he won three league titles and three
European Cups.
(Setanta Sports)
Carragher: "This is still the biggest of them all"
Jamie Carragher has a mental checklist to work through
whenever the new season's fixtures are announced every
summer.
The first match, obviously. Then the first home game,
followed by the clashes with Manchester United. But most of
all, the date and venue of the first Merseyside derby.
"I've always said that for me, as soon as the fixtures come
out, I look forward to see when the Everton game is," he
declared.
"For local lads like myself and Stevie, it's probably the
most important game of the season."
(Liverpool Echo)
Cahill hoping to return
Australian midfielder Tim Cahill is hoping to be fit for the
206th Merseyside derby when Everton face Liverpool at
Goodison Park tomorrow.
Cahill has been training all week after a lengthy spell out
with a broken metatarsal suffered in the friendly against
Werder Bremen in July.
Thomas Gravesen (knee) and James Vaughan (shoulder) are also
back in training but will not be involved. Andrew Johnson
will be out for three more weeks after an ankle operation.
Provisional squad: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs,
Baines, Valente, Pienaar, Arteta, Carsley, Cahill, Osman,
Neville, McFadden, Yakubu, Anichebe, McFadden, Jagielka,
Wessels.
(Ireland On-Line)
Beardo: I like Rafa's style
Peter Beardsley has spoken of his respect for the way
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez goes about his business.
The former Kop idol, who scored 60 goals in 177 appearances
between 1987 and 1991, believes the Spaniard's style is
becoming all too rare in modern football.
"Rafael Benitez is doing a good job," said Beardsley.
"People are always asking him about his changes even though
he's proved he's a winner.
"I love his style, he never makes excuses and he'll say if
he gets something wrong."
(LFC Official Website)
Shaggy backs Reds
Steve McManaman has backed Liverpool to win the Merseyside
derby.
The former Red is confident Liverpool can emerge from their
recent run of poor form with victory at Goodison Park.
"I think Liverpool will win. They have got a decent record
at Goodison and if everybody comes home from the
international matches fit and well I'd expect Liverpool to
go and beat Everton," said McManaman.
"They have to get out of this little rut. They are drawing
games and not playing well at the moment. They are still
well in contention though and ahead of Chelsea in the table.
I think Arsenal will come into more difficult times than
they've had recently, because they will be playing against
better teams than the ones they've played against so far.
"Liverpool are going through a bit of a blip right now but
are still up there and in with a real chance of challenging.
It just depends how quickly they can get their form back and
start winning games again."
(LFC Online)
Benitez: Forget Moscow misery
Rafael Benitez believes misfiring Steven Gerrard has the
mental strength to banish his Moscow misery against Everton
tomorrow.
The Liverpool skipper was part of the England team that saw
Euro 2008 qualification slip out of their own hands with a
2-1 defeat in Russia on Wednesday.
Benitez admits he will take time before tomorrow’s Goodison
derby to speak to Gerrard, who has suffered indifferent form
since rushing back to action following his broken toe last
month. But the Liverpool manager is confident the midfielder
will make no mistake should a similar chance fall his way at
Goodison tomorrow.
“Steven has experience and character,” said the Spaniard.
“If he has another chance like that, I am sure he will score
from it. All the players need help at times but I think that
Steven has enough character."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Rafa admits to mistakes
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has admitted that his team's
recent struggles have been caused by his tactical and
selection decisions.
The Spaniard has seen his side record just one win in their
last four Premier League games, as well as making a poor
start to their Champions League campaign with a draw away to
FC Porto and a loss at home to Marseille.
Benitez said: "The problem is a tactical problem and it is
my problem.
"Confidence in the squad is also an issue, but not the
physical condition of the players. We are running more and
faster than before."
(Football UK)
Thor Zakariassen
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