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TUESDAY 24 |
Rafa coy on Torres talk
Rafa Benitez remained typically coy when quizzed about
Fernando Torres' reported desire to move to Liverpool in the
summer.
The Atletico Madrid favourite is widely regarded to be one
of Europe's best strikers and has reportedly been high on
the wish-list of Benitez, and several other Premiership
bosses.
It is thought Torres has a clause in his contract which
would allow his departure for a figure in the region of
£27million but while Benitez will be armed with a healthy
transfer kitty in the summer, he is nevertheless loath to
disclose any specific targets.
"It means our team is very famous all around the world,"
Benitez told Sky Sports News, when quizzed on the
significance of the inscription.
"We have about twenty names of players now, every one is
thinking about one or a different one each week."
When asked if Torres would be on his list of targets in the
summer, again, Benitez was somewhat evasive.
"One of 125 players in the world."
(Sky Sports)
Carragher to equal record
Jamie Carragher will equal Ian Callaghan’s club record of 89
European games for Liverpool when he faces Chelsea in
tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final first leg.
Manager Rafael Benitez has a virtually clean bill of health
for the Stamford Bridge clash, with full-back Steve Finnan
now recovered from a neck problem that has kept him out for
the last two matches.
Liverpool provisional squad: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa,
Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso,
Sissoko, Mascherano, Fowler, Kuyt, Bellamy, Crouch, Dudek,
Zenden.
(Ireland On-Line)
Chelsea have doubts over duo
Jose Mourinho could be without injured defender Ricardo
Carvalho and midfielder Michael Ballack for the Champions
League semi-final first leg tie against Liverpool at
Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Carvalho missed the draw at Newcastle with a leg injury
while Ballack was forced out of the action in the same
Barclays Premiership game with an ankle problem.
Midfielder Michael Essien is suspended and winger Arjen
Robben is also out with
a knee injury.
(Sporting Life)
Rafa ignores Jose's mind games
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is refusing to get involved in
Jose Mourinho's mind games ahead of their UEFA Champions
League clash with Chelsea.
Mourinho has started the mind games with Benitez by claiming
Liverpool are favourites in the last four meeting.
The Portuguese coach says Chelsea's heavy schedule in going
for the quadruple and with the Champions League being
Liverpool's only chance of winning silverware stacks the
odds in favour of the Anfield outfit.
Benitez has brushed off the claims and says that winning the
Champions League is Chelsea's top priority this season.
"I think their priority is the Champions League," Benitez
told Sky Sports News. "They can talk about trophies right
now and have a big squad to cope with problems at this stage
of the season.
"The priority will be the Champions League."
(Sky Sports)
Sami set to hit 400 games
Sami Hyypiä will make his 400th Liverpool appearance the
next time he appears on the pitch in a Liverpool shirt.
The Finnish international signed for Liverpool back in May
1999 for the princely sum of £2.5m from Dutch side Willem
II.
(YNWA)
Reds must adopt a positive approach
Liverpool face a typical European dilemma tomorrow night.
Do you stick with a cautious approach and try to come away
with another 0-0 draw, or should Rafa Benitez be more
adventurous and go for the crucial away goals.
You won’t be surprised to learn that I hope Liverpool adopt
the more positive approach at Stamford Bridge.
I won’t be too disheartened if it ends in stalemate, but
it’s always a lot better if you can get that crucial goal
away from home.
It’s been said before how a 1-1 draw is a lot better in
European football than 0-0, if you’re on the road.
After Liverpool’s performance in Barcelona earlier in the
season, there’s no reason to believe Benitez won’t take a
bold route.
He surprised many people by playing a 4-4-2 in Spain, and
although Chelsea obviously play a lot less open than the
Spanish champions, it was a tactic which paid dividends.
One of the outstanding performers that night, of course, was
Craig Bellamy and I hope he gets the nod tomorrow.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)
Rafa’s focus is on Athens
Rafa Benitez is preparing for his biggest game of the season
by studiously avoiding becoming embroiled in another of more
trivial proportions.
While Jose Mourinho indulged in his latest self-pitying
rant, decrying the refereeing conspiracy which has denied
him top spot in the Premiership, Benitez was assessing how
to ensure his lip remains bitten when asked to comment on
the Portuguese manager’s erratic views.
Whether Benitez can emerge unscathed from today’s UEFA press
conferences as he seeks to avoid the verbal mud-slinging
remains to be seen, but in the comfort of his own office
it’s much easier.
“I just want to focus on a good game of football, nothing
else,” insists the manager.
“Always in football when you win important trophies, the key
is to keep doing it.
“This is the same for the manager and the players. We want
to keep bringing success to the club.
“We know it’s going to be really difficult against Chelsea,
but we have a lot of confidence now and for the years to
come.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Dudek ready to quit Liverpool
Jerzy Dudek will quit Liverpool this summer after claiming
he is fed up of being treated like "a slave".
The club's 2005 Champions League hero has played only a
handful of games since rival goalkeeper Jose Reina arrived
at Anfield two summers ago and is out of contract at the end
of the season.
The 34-year-old Poland international, a target for Wolfsburg
and former club Feyenoord, said: "I have to finally tell
Rafa I'm leaving because maybe he's not aware of it.
"I will remember Liverpool fondly as a success but not the
situation I've found myself in. When a player knows he is a
slave, he'll never give his employer his heart."
Dudek has warned his fellow goalkeepers off signing for
Liverpool, saying manager Rafael Benitez will treat them in
exactly the same way.
"To get a good keeper, they'd have to spend £3 million to £4
million and then Rafa would have to tell that keeper:
'You're going to sit on the bench'.
"But no respected keeper would come under those terms and
that's why they prefer to keep me," he told reporters.
(Ireland.com)
History is on our side, says Alonso
Xabi Alonso is determined to try and ensure history repeats
itself – starting tomorrow night at Stamford Bridge.
The Reds midfielder, who scored Liverpool’s equaliser in the
famous 2005 European Cup final in Istanbul, said: “Let’s
hope that history will repeat itself and we will claim
another semi-final win over Chelsea.
“We believe we can do it over two legs. Chelsea will be very
difficult opponents in the two games, but facing them gives
us a special kind of motivation.
“Our maximum priority this year is to win the Champions
League. Our objective is to try to win one competition, at
least, every season and this is our last chance."
(Liverpool Echo)
We want revenge
Didier Drogba says Chelsea are not dwelling on the Champions
League semi - final defeat by Liverpool two years ago -
because they are too busy thinking about revenge this time
round.
The Blues were put out of Europe by a dubious Luis Garcia
goal as Liverpool went on to lift the trophy in Istanbul.
But Drogba is looking forward to erasing the bitter memory
tomorrow.
He said: "We try not to think too much about that match when
we lost to a goal that should never have been given.
"We're thinking more about this chance of revenge because
Chelsea are still looking for a first big victory on the
European stage.
The Chelsea striker added: "We know it will be a heated
match because they have been ever since. Liverpool is
something special.
"For the last two or three years the media have taken a
crafty pleasure in raising the temperature between us. I
don't know how it started.
"At this stage of the competition the fact we're playing the
first leg at home doesn't matter. The best team will win."
(Daily Mirror) |
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MONDAY 23 |
Merk set for Stamford Bridge
UEFA have appointed one of their top referees to take charge
of the first leg of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final
against Liverpool.
Markus Merk will be the man in the middle at Stamford Bridge
on Wednesday in a repeat of the controversial last-four
clash in 2005.
(PA Sport)
Benitez in a position of strength
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned rivals Chelsea
that his side are in a stronger position than when they beat
the London side on the way to European glory
in 2005.
He said: “It is a better situation than two years ago,
because we’re in a better position and have secured our
place in the top four (ahead of the Chelsea semi-final) so
we can be more focused."
Since Benitez and Mourinho both came to England in 2004,
their sides have clashed in a Carling Cup final, an FA Cup
semi-final, a Community Shield and now a second Champions
League semi-final in addition to their Premiership
encounters and the Spaniard feels the respective teams are
well aware of what each can do.
He said: “We know them, they know us. There are not a lot of
secrets. Maybe there will be one thing that might be
different but at the end of the day I think it is a game
that the players will win, not the managers."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Liverpool still in for Simao
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has revealed that the
club may rekindle their interest in Benfica ace Simao
Sabrosa this summer.
The Reds have been chasing the Portuguese international for
some time and actually came close to signing him in 2005,
but Benfica pulled out of the deal.
But the Merseysiders - backed by their new American owners -
would appear to be considering an offer for the highly-rated
player, with Parry suggesting a deal could be done in the
off-season.
"Simao is certainly not forgotten," Parry told Portuguese
daily O Jogo.
"We have not yet put any real thought into this, we have
taken no decision, but we have not moved away from the
hypothesis to come back and negotiate when the transfer
window opens.
"Since our official bid for the player (August 2005), we
have not had any more conversations with the club but, in
the summer, we don't know if we will come back again."
(ITV Football)
Gerrard in team of the year
Steven Gerrard has been named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Gerrard was named in the team of the year at the PFA Awards
yesterday. Jamie Carragher and Steve Finnan both missed out
despite being the best defenders in the country, proving all
footballers are thick.
(LFC Online)
PS: Webmaster is totally agree !!!
New record for Reina
Pepe Reina has kept more clean sheets in his first 100
Liverpool games than any of our previous goalkeepers.
Reina already has the record for most clean sheets kept in
the first 50 Liverpool games and now he's got the record for
most clean sheets kept in the first 100 games of his
Liverpool career.
Saturday's game against Wigan was Reina's 100th for
Liverpool and the 2-0 win meant Reina has kept 55 clean
sheets in his first 100 Liverpool games. Ray Clemence kept
51 clean sheets in his first 100 games for the Reds while
Bruce Grobbelaar kept 50 and Jerzy Dudek 45.
(LFC Online)
Shields petition on No. 10 website
Tony Blair has allowed an online petition on the No. 10
website for a fresh inquiry into Michael Shields’s
conviction for attempted murder.
The petition was approved by the Prime Minister and has been
included for supporters
to back.
Next May sees the second anniversary of Mr Shields’s
imprisonment, initially in Bulgaria.
The petition urges No. 10 to persuade the Bulgarian
government to reopen Shields’s case and asks for further
investigations by Merseyside Police into new witnesses.
Cllr Joe Anderson, who is leading the fight for Shields, 20,
to be freed, said: “I hope it reflects that the Government
understands the depth of feeling of the Liverpool people,
that an innocent lad is coming up to his second year in jail
while the guilty man walks free.”
Shields was finally allowed home in November. He is
currently at Hindley jail, Wigan.
The petition is at
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/MichaelCShields/
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Liverpool in hunt for Spanish wonder kid
Liverpool and Manchester United are battling it out to sign
Spanish wonder kid Juan Manuel Mata Garcia Mata according to
reports over the weekend.
The Daily Star claims both clubs are interested in signing
the 18 year striker who is considered to be one of the
hottest young properties in Spanish football.
Mata was recently promoted to Real Madrid's first team squad
but has become frustrated at the lack of first team
opportunities causing speculation that he is set to move
away from the Spanish giants this summer.
(all3points-Liverpool)
Benitez hopes to give chance to youngsters
While most of the talk at Anfield on Saturday surrounded
Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final showdown with
Chelsea, Rafael Benitez looked even further into the future
by revealing his hopes that the Premier League implement new
rules to help with the development of young homegrown
players.
The senior squad’s trip to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday is
not the only big match for Liverpool this week as their
youngsters travel to Old Trafford the following evening
hoping to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Manchester United
in the second leg of
the FA Youth Cup final.
He said: “I would like to see a rule brought in where at
least two of each matchday squad of 16 are homegrown players
aged under 23. If you were winning in a game and things were
looking easy then you could say to the young player, ‘come
on and play and get some experience in the Premier League.”
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 22 |
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Gerrard tells Jose: Stop carping
Steven Gerrard has told Jose Mourinho to stop harping on
about the goal which settled the teams' last semi-final
meeting in the UEFA Champions League two years ago.
Liverpool won the match at Anfield 1-0 courtesy of an
infamous goal from Luis Garcia, with replays suggesting the
ball had not crossed the line.
"Chelsea moaned about it at the time. Mourinho still does. I
laugh," Gerrard told
the News of the World.
(Sky Sports)
Zenden: We are ready for Chelsea
Bolo Zenden has said the tactical battle between Rafael
Benitez and Jose Mourinho will play a major part in the
Champions League semi-final and revealed Liverpool can't
wait to face Chelsea.
The former Chelsea midfielder believes Liverpool can get a
good result at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to take back to
Anfield for the second leg.
"It will be a heated meeting at the Bridge, and I am sure at
Anfield. I think it will be better for us if we play in the
European way because we have shown how much that style suits
us - and I believe we can get a result down there."
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa respect for Jose record
Rafa Benitez insists he has 'a lot of respect' for Jose
Mourinho ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League
semi-final with Chelsea.
The Premiership bosses have a lukewarm relationship
following incidents in games between the two clubs in recent
seasons.
But, prior to Wednesday's first leg at Stamford Bridge,
Benitez confirmed he has respect for what Mourinho has
achieved at Chelsea.
"As a manager, he is a good manager," Benitez told The
People. "He is positive for the game because he is a good
worker and knows what he is doing.
"Okay, he has a different style and approach to games, but,
as a manager, he is good."
(Sky Sports)
Jewell praises Reds
Paul Jewell said Liverpool fully deserved their win
yesterday.
The Wigan manager admitted his side were second best
throughout the game and that Liverpool were worthy winners.
"Liverpool controlled the game from start to finish let's
not kid ourselves and they strolled through the game," said
former Red Jewell.
(LFC Online)
Young Reds in seven goal thriller
Liverpool under-18s were involved in a seven goal thriller
in their latest Academy match when they beat Newcastle
United 4-3.
Charlie Barnett scored the winning goal for Liverpool after
Newcastle had come back from 3-0 down to make it 3-3.
Reds under-18 manager John Owens rested 10 players from the
team that played in Monday's FA Youth Cup Final first leg
against Manchester United. From that team only Lee Woodward
was retained while Owens welcomed back Swedish starlet
Astrit Ajdarevic from suspension.
"It was a fantastic game of football and we are pleased to
have won when it looked like we had thrown it away,"
reflected Owens.
Liverpool under: 18s team: David Roberts, John Routledge,
Shane O'Connor, Laurence Gaughan, Stephen Behan, Astrit
Ajdarevic (Michael Burns 65), Paul Barratt, Ben Parsonage,
Michael Collins (Ray Putterill 65), Lee Woodward (Charlie
Barnett 65), Michael Scott.
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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