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WEDNESDAY 21 |
Liverpool empire could be
one defeat from crumbling
Four consecutive losses have left Liverpool seemingly at the
risk of implosion. After defeat by Lyons in the Champions
League on Tuesday, their next opponents are Manchester
United and Rafael Benítez’s side will take to the pitch at
Anfield on Sunday in the knowledge that another loss would
all but end their Barclays Premier League title hopes with
seven months of the campaign remaining.
The Times considers what defeat would mean to the players,
supporters, owners — and Benítez.
(Tony Barrett - The Times)
Aquilani makes Reds
bow in Reserves win
Alberto Aquilani made his first appearance in a Liverpool
shirt as the Reserves defeated Sunderland’s second-string
2-0 at Prenton Par on Wednesday evening.
The Italian midfielder played the last 15 minutes after
recovering from an ankle injury he had when he signed for
the club in the summer.
Spanish forward Dani Pacheco put the Reds ahead with a
stunning free-kick just before half time, bending the ball
beautifully into the top corner.
And it was another set-piece which contrived the second goal
for John McMahon’s side, Pacheco with the cross this time
for left-back Robbie Threlfall to head in off the post.
(This is Anfield)
Evans and Hamann
show support for Rafa
Rafa Benitez has received the support of a former Liverpool
boss and one of the club's Istanbul heroes in the aftermath
of their Lyon defeat.
And he also received some better injury news ahead of
Sunday's vital home league clash against Manchester United
with England defender Glen Johnson confident he will be fit
to play.
(TEAMtalk)
Johnson expects Reds return
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has told skysports.com he is
confident he will be fit in time to face Manchester United
this weekend.
Johnson missed Tuesday night's UEFA Champions League defeat
to Lyon after picking up a groin problem in training.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez was unsure of the full extent of the
injury and whether or not the England international would be
available for Sunday's crunch clash with Premier League
leaders United at Anfield.
However, Johnson is hopeful he will recover in time to hand
Benitez a much-needed boost with Fernando Torres and Steven
Gerrard both struggling for fitness.
"It is a lot better today, I think I will be alright for
Sunday," Johnson told skysports.com.
"We haven't tested it today, just soft tissue work and
massage, but it seems a lot freer than it did yesterday."
The summer signing from Portsmouth is also hopeful Torres
will be fit to tackle United, but is unsure over the
availability of skipper Gerrard.
Torres has missed the last two games with an abductor
problem, while Gerrard was forced to limp off in the first
half of the defeat to Lyon with a recurrence of his groin
problem.
"I think Nando might be alright for Sunday, but I am not too
sure about Stevie," added Johnson
(Sky Sports)
Fans and players
must step up, says Rush
Ian Rush says it would be a mistake for Liverpool to get rid
of Rafael Benitez at this stage of the season.
The pressure is mounting on the Spaniard following a run of
four straight defeats, which has seen Liverpool struggling
to keep up with their rivals in the title race and at risk
of going out of the Champions League in the group stage.
Tuesday night's defeat at home to Lyon was hardly the ideal
preparation for Sunday's crunch showdown with Manchester
United at Anfield, but former Reds striker Rush says
Benitez's position should not be in question.
And he urged the supporters to get behind the manager - and
the team - on Sunday.
"The time is not right now," Rush told Sky Sports News.
"You need to get behind the manager - and the players as
well. I'm sure the supporters will do on Sunday."
(Sky Sports)
Masch backing for Benitez
Liverpool star Javier Mascherano insists under-fire Reds
boss Rafa Benitez has the backing of all the players at
Anfield.
Benitez's position at Liverpool has come under fresh
scrutiny after Tuesday's damaging home defeat to Lyon in the
UEFA Champions League.
Mascherano says the players must take responsibility for
Liverpool's poor form and he claims the whole squad remain
behind Benitez.
"The players play on the pitch, the manager can't talk to
us, can't say how to play," Mascherano told Sky Sports News.
(Sky Sports)
Quartet target Liverpool clash
Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping four star players will be fit to
face Liverpool on Sunday after being ruled out against CSKA
Moscow.
Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Patric Evra and Darren Fletcher
all failed to make the trip to the Russian capital for
tonight's Champions League Group B qualifier after being
sidelined by one problem or another.
But the United boss is optimistic that the quintet will have
recovered in time to declare themselves fit for the big
weekend clash at Anfield as the champions attempt to inflict
a fifth successive defeat on Liverpool.
Ferguson said: "We are hoping we get the main players fit
because it's a big game.
"Evra will be fit for Sunday. He's just had a little problem
with his heel. I'm hoping Giggs, Rooney and Fletcher will be
fit."
Rooney has missed the last two games with a calf injury,
Giggs has been suffering with a cold while Fletcher has had
a groin problem.
(Clubcall.com)
Benitez faces the biggest
test of his career
As Cesar Delgado delivered the cruel late twist in the tale,
Rafa Benitez cut a forlorn figure on the Anfield touchline.
This was the moment when an alarming slump descended into
a full-blown crisis.
The Spaniard has made a habit of making history since he
arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 2004 but this was one
he didn’t want
on his CV.
Not since April 1987 have Liverpool suffered four successive
defeats and this latest setback left their hopes of
Champions League progress on a knife edge.
Benitez has bounced back from the brink many times during
his
Anfield tenure.
When murmurs of discontent have started to grow, he’s always
delivered the goods and silenced his critics.
But now he faces the toughest test of his managerial career
as he attempts to breathe new life into a campaign which has
not only stalled but is threatening to implode.
(James Pearce - Liverpool Echo)
Barnes declared bankrupt
Sacked Tranmere Rovers boss John Barnes, the former
Liverpool and England winger, has been declared bankrupt by
a Liverpool
insolvency court.
The Guardian says Barnes, 45, gave his occupation as a
'provider of media services, lately a footballer'. He was
declared insolvent and will be discharged on 14 October,
2010.
The hearing took place five days after Barnes' dismissal
from Prenton Park, where his side lost eight of the 11 games
under his control. Barnes had quit as manager of Jamaica in
May to take over at the League One club, who are local to
him.
(tribalfootball.com)
Trouble brewing as fans get
booing after latest defeat
Now not even the usual solace of European competition can
offer Rafael Benitez refuge from his woes.
A miserable run of form continued with Liverpool’s Champions
League hopes taking another significant knock with a
dreadful defeat at home
to Lyon.
After the failure at Fiorentina, the collapse at Chelsea and
the surrender to Sunderland, this was a fourth successive
loss for Benitez’s confidence-shot side.
Not since April 1987 have Liverpool registered such a poor
run of form. But while the team that season reached a
domestic cup final and finished runners-up in the league,
such consolations at present seem beyond
this vintage.
The boos that thundered around a disbelieving Anfield at the
final whistle underlined the frustration that has been
growing among the home faithful for some time.
No wonder. Those supporters can see a season that began with
great expectations slowly slipping away, and with Manchester
United and Arsenal to play in the next week, there appears
no imminent respite.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Souness blasts Benitez
for poor signings
Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness has blasted current
manager Rafael Benitez for poor recruiting in recent years.
The Reds went down to French club Lyon 2-1 in the Champions
League on Tuesday night, their second straight loss in that
competition and Souness believes that the Spaniard has not
signed enough good players during his tenure at Anfield.
"It's no good turning round and saying there wasn't enough
money in the summer. What about the previous years?” Souness
said.
"If you have been there for five years you have had the
chance to build your own club. It's no good pointing to
being without your best two players,” referring to Steven
Gerrard (substituted due to injury) and Fernando Torres.
"There was no spark. It just wasn't there. It was plod,
plod, plod. Without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres there
was no imagination.
"You want your strongest team whenever you are playing a big
game but he 's not had his strongest team tonight.
"The criticism aimed at Rafa would be that he had signed 67
players and if you are missing two or three you don't look
anything like a team that can win big games in the Champions
League or the other Premier League contenders."
(tribalfootball.com) |
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TUESDAY 20 |
Liverpool facing Gerrard wait
Rafa Benitez admits Liverpool face a nervous wait to
discover the extent of Steven Gerrard's injury after the
captain limped out of Tuesday's Champions League defeat to
Lyon.
The midfielder lasted just 25 minutes of the contest at
Anfield due to a suspected reoccurrence of a groin injury,
and the boss will now await the results of further tests on
Wednesday.
"I think it is the same problem," Benitez told his
post-match press conference. "He felt something, so he knew
it was better to come off."
Asked if he felt it was a risk playing his skipper, Benitez
replied: "It wasn't a risk. He wanted to play, the doctor
said he was okay and he has been training for the last two
days. Sometimes it is bad luck."
(LFC Official Website)
Carra: We'll get through this
Jamie Carragher is in no doubt Liverpool will come through
their dip in form sooner rather than later - and the
defender believes they now have the perfect fixture to turn
their season around.
The Reds conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 to Lyon in the
Champions League - and now go into this weekend's clash with
Manchester United having lost four on the spin.
However, Carra thinks the visit of our north-west rivals on
Sunday could be the catalyst for a return to form.
"We're going through a tough patch but we've been through
them before and we'll bounce back, there's no doubt about
that," said the vice-captain.
"We always bounce back because we've got a lot of fight and
character."
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez's men hit new low
Liverpool's season slumped to a new low as they threw away
the lead to lose 2-1 against Lyon at Anfield in the UEFA
Champions League after a last-gasp goal from Cesar Delgado.
Yossi Benayoun had given Rafa Benitez's under-pressure side
a first-half lead, but Maxime Gonalons and Delgado earned
Group E leaders Lyon a victory to send tremors across
Merseyside.
The Reds knew they were facing the prospect of four
successive defeats for the first time since 1987 following
setbacks at Fiorentina and Chelsea, and Saturday's
loss-by-beachball at Sunderland, but they failed to produce
a performance which merited a win.
Liverpool were rocked midway through the first half as
captain Steven Gerrard was substituted as a precautionary
measure following tightness in his groin, an injury which
ruled him out at the Stadium of Light.
(Sky Sports)
Kelly starts against Lyon
Martin Kelly makes his Anfield bow in tonight's Champions
League clash with Lyon.
The youngster comes in for the injured Glen Johnson as
Rafael Benitez's makes five changes from the side that lost
to Sunderland at the weekend.
Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, David Ngog and Emiliano
Insua
all return.
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Insua, Agger, Carragher,
Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Benayoun, Ngog.
Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Aurelio, Babel, Skrtel, Spearing,
Plessis.
(LFC Official Website)
Delgado aiming for Reds shock
Lyon winger Cesar Delgado is aiming to pile more pressure on
stuttering Liverpool in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League
encounter.
Lyon suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat against Sochaux over the
weekend but otherwise they have been in excellent form this
season.
Liverpool, by contrast, have endured a difficult period both
domestically and in Europe and will be desperate to pick up
three points at Anfield to boost their chances of
progressing to the last 16.
Delgado hopes Lyon can take advantage of any nerves from the
Reds, telling skysports.com: "The loss to Sochaux will not
affect our performance in the Champions League.
"In theory it is difficult to play at Anfield but right now
the Reds are not in the best moment.
"It is true they will not want to fail at home but I
consider that we have a good chance for a positive result."
(Sky Sports)
Aquilani could play for Reds reserves
Liverpool are considering giving £20million summer signing
Alberto Aquilani a reserve team run-out against Sunderland
on Wednesday.
The Italy international is yet to figure for the Reds so far
this season as he has battled back from a summer knee
operation that preceded his move from Roma to Anfield.
But the attacking midfielder has been back in full training
for more than a week now, and is tentatively being
considered for a short spell of action during Wednesday's
home reserve match with Sunderland.
But even if the 25-year-old does make a cameo appearance at
Tranmere's Prenton Park, it is believed that he is not being
considered for a first-team debut against Manchester United
at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool will be without Spanish winger Albert Riera for
Tuesday night's Champions League home clash with Lyon.
Riera is due to have a scan on a hamstring problem picked up
in training last weekend.
He was an unused substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland
and is unlikely to be considered for the visit of Sir Alex
Ferguson's men at the weekend.
(TEAMtalk)
United fans face beach ball search
Manchester United fans will be searched for beach balls
before their clash with Liverpool on Sunday in a bid to stop
a Darren Bent goal 'tribute'.
Liverpool beach balls have sold out on the club's official
website, with Red Devils fans thought to be snapping up
copies of the now infamous red ball ahead of their trip to
Anfield.
And although Liverpool are not planning any specific
measures ahead of kick-off, fans will be searched before the
game and any offending items - including beach balls - will
be confiscated.
"It will be the normal search policy," said a Liverpool
spokesperson.
Reds supporters watched in disbelief as they lost 1-0 to
Sunderland on Saturday when a shot by Bent hit a beach ball
and swerved past Pepe Reina.
(Sporting Life)
Riera to undergo scan
to determing hamstring problem
Albert Riera has dealt Liverpool a fresh injury blow – as
Rafael Benitez revealed the Anfield outfit will not ask for
Saturday’s controversial defeat at Sunderland to be
replayed.
Riera will undergo a scan to determine the extent of a
hamstring problem suffered during training over the weekend.
The Spaniard was an unused substitute at the weekend and is
definitely out of tonight’s Champions League visit of Lyon.
Liverpool are hopeful the damage is just a pull and not a
tear, which could rule Riera out for a significant period.
But the winger is almost certain to be absent from Sunday’s
Premier League encounter against Manchester United.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Reds meet in play-off
Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Andriy Voronin will battle it out for
a place at
the World Cup.
Kyrgiakos's Greece and Voronin's Ukraine will play each
other in a World Cup play-off. The winner of the two-legged
tie will go to South Africa
next Summer.
(LFC Online) |
|
MONDAY 19 |
Lyon boss cautious despite Reds form
Boss Claude Puel fears Lyon's Champions League task at
Anfield has been made much tougher because Liverpool are in
such a poor
vein of form.
Liverpool have lost their last three matches, five in all
this season, and they are desperate to avoid the situation
becoming a full-blown crisis.
While Lyon, top of the French League as well as Group E in
the Champions League, know a win at Anfield will all but
secure their passage to the last 16.
Puel says: "I would rather be playing Liverpool when they
are on a good run, not as they are at the moment. Liverpool
know they must win.
"They have had some bad results and they are obliged to win
and to play well. That puts us under a lot more pressure,
but we have two wins already in this group and it is very
important to continue in this form."
Lyon have beaten Fiorentina and Debrecen so far in this
group, but slumped to their first defeat of the season on
Saturday when lowly Sochaux won 2-0 at the Stade de Gerland.
Puel added: "Liverpool will have the edge because they are
at home, there will be a great atmosphere and it will lift
them.
"But we must start the game well. We did not do that on
Saturday against Sochaux, we dare not do the same thing
here.
(TEAMtalk)
Agger confident of Reds recovery
Fit-again Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has vowed the Reds
will get things right and drag themselves out of their
current crisis.
Five defeats this season already in all competitions has
turned a harsh spotlight on Liverpool ahead of Tuesday's
Champions League Group E home clash with Lyon.
For Agger, 24, it will be his first game at Anfield this
season after a painful back injury that needed a summer
operation.
He has been able to play in two games for Denmark this
month, guiding them to the World Cup finals, and now he must
repeat his classy defending of last season to help solve
Liverpool's woes.
Agger claims "having Steven Gerrard back from injury will be
a real inspiration," but he also knows a team effort is
needed now.
Agger said: "The results have not been right, but we know
what we are capable of and we know that only hard work will
get us the results
we need.
"Confidence is still there, we know we are a good team and
we just need to show it on the pitch.
"I do not believe that four Premier League defeats means the
title race is over. There is a long way to go, a good result
in Europe this week will then set us up to play Manchester
United on Sunday."
(TEAMtalk)
'Beach ball goal' ref
coming to London Road
Referee Mike Jones – who has been demoted from the Premier
League following the 'beach ball goal' incident in
Sunderland's win over Liverpool at the weekend – will take
charge of Posh's home clash against Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Fifa's laws of the game state that the Premier League match
should have been stopped when Bent's shot struck a balloon
on its way past Reina in the Liverpool goal.
But referee Mike Jones let the goal stand, and Sunderland
won the match by that solitary goal.
(Peterborough Evening Telegraph)
Torres out of Lyon clash
Fernando Torres has been ruled out of Tuesday night's
Champions League clash with Lyon at Anfield.
The Spanish striker took no part in Monday's training
session after picking up an adductor injury while on
international duty with Spain last week.
"Still he is not ready so we'll have to wait a bit -
hopefully for the weekend, but not for this game," confirmed
manager Rafael Benitez.
(LFC Online)
Mixed news on Reds kingpins
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has returned to training
ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Lyon, but
Fernando Torres sat out once again.
Both players missed the defeat to Sunderland at the weekend
after suffering groin injuries while on international duty.
Gerrard is now back working with the rest of the squad and
Rafa Benitez will hope he comes through unscathed to take
his place in the side against Lyon.
However, Torres' absence from training on Monday morning
leaves him more doubtful for the encounter at Anfield.
The Reds desperately missed their star duo on Saturday as
Darren Bent's freak goal condemned them to a fourth league
defeat of the season.
Liverpool will now be desperate to bounce back from the
disappointment in a crucial week at both European and
domestic level.
They are currently third in Champions League Group E ahead
of home and away games against current leaders Lyon.
Benitez's men are also seven points off the pace in the
Premier League and face a key game at home to fierce rivals
Manchester United
this Sunday.
(Sporting Life)
Reds linked with Inter youngster
Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on Rene Krhin amid
speculation connecting the Inter Milan midfielder with a
move to Liverpool.
The Slovenian teenager is regarded as an exciting prospect
for the future and Liverpool are understood to be monitoring
his situation at Inter.
However, the Reds are likely to find it difficult to prise
him away from Inter as he still figures in the plans of
Mourinho.
Meanwhile, Liverpool and Inter are both reported to be
interested in highly-rated 21-year-old defender Ecuele
Manga.
He currently plies his trade with Ligue 2 club Angers in
France but admits it would be 'a dream' to play for either
Liverpool or Inter.
(Football 365)
Rafa backs Reds to recover
Rafa Benitez remains confident his Liverpool side can
overcome their current woes ahead of a pivotal week in their
season.
The Reds suffered their fourth defeat of a faltering Premier
League campaign on Saturday as their injury-hit side were
undone 1-0 at Sunderland with Darren Bent's beach ball-aided
winner proving
their downfall.
Next on the agenda for Anfield outfit is a home UEFA
Champions League meeting with Lyon on Tuesday evening,
before Sunday's clash of the titans against Manchester
United on Merseyside.
In an interview with L'Equipe prior to the recent
international break, Benitez said: "We have a lot of worries
at the start of this season, but we are improving and my
team will soon find again its best level.
"I am convinced of that.
"We were very close last season. Don't forget Liverpool has
less money than Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and now
Manchester City."
If Benitez's men are beaten on home turf by United on
Sunday, they would fall 10 points behind the league leaders
and would have lost half of their opening 10 fixtures,
leaving their already-fading title hopes in tatters.
(Sky Sports)
Benitez in crisis talks
with flagging Liverpool players
Rafa Benitez has held crisis talks with his Liverpool
players after Saturday's defeat at Sunderland.
The Mirror says the Anfield boss read the riot act to his
squad after the beach ball incident against Sunderland on
Saturday which drove another stake into his title hopes.
Liverpool now face a daunting week which could make or break
their season with home games against Lyon in the Champions
League on Tuesday followed by the crunch Premier League
showdown against arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
Benitez put his players through their paces yesterday after
refusing to blame the Kop fan who threw on the beach ball
which caused the freak deflected goal or the referee who
allowed it.
(tribalfootball.com)
Duo nominated for award
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are on the shortlist for
the Ballon D'Or.
The Liverpool duo are on the thirty man shortlist for the
European Footballer of the Year award. Barcelona's Lionel
Messi is the clear favourite for the award which will be
announced on December 1st.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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