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FRIDAY 24 |
Rafa: San Jose is one for the future
Rafael Benitez has spoken of his delight in capturing
Spanish starlet Mikel San Jose from Athletic Bilbao.
The centre-half will start life at Anfield in Gary Ablett's
reserve team squad - but Benitez thinks he has all the
potential to break into the first team over the coming
seasons.
San Jose was in impressive form during the summer as he
helped Spain win the UEFA European Under-19 championships.
Spain beat Greece 1-0 in the final last month.
"Mikel can play in central midfield or centre half. He won
the Under-19 tournament with Spain during the summer and is
a good prospect for the future," enthused Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Ferguson takes issue with Liverpool
Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United are
investigating Liverpool over the Anfield outfit's conduct in
the Gabriel Heinze affair.
Heinze has now left Old Trafford for Real Madrid - but only
after a protracted attempt to join Liverpool, which saw the
Argentina defender take his case to the Premier League this
week.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was flabbergasted at the
verdict, claiming he had been "100 per cent certain" Heinze
would end up at Anfield.
Ferguson labelled Benitez's remarks "churlish", then
confirmed Gill is leading an inquiry into the way Liverpool
have acted.
"We are looking at Liverpool's whole role in this," he said.
"We are not letting them off with it. That is what we are
investigating."
Asked whether he was alleging Liverpool had 'tapped up'
Heinze, Ferguson replied: "We will see how it comes out.
David Gill is working on that at the moment. We will get to
the bottom of it."
(Ireland.com)
Red hero praises Agger
On the eve of his 50th appearance for Liverpool, Daniel
Agger has received high praise from Reds hero Gary
Gillespie.
The former centre back who made over 200 appearances for The
Reds, believes Agger has the potential to be another Alan
Hansen.
"To have played 50 times for Liverpool by the age of 22
shows the quality he has," Gillespie told the club's
official site.
"He has the potential to be up there with the likes of
Hansen and Smith - and that's an accolade of the highest
order.
"The thing that impresses me most about him is his ability
on the ball. He has the composure to pick out a pass or
bring the ball forward. I don't see that in a lot of
centre-backs these days.
"When he first arrived he looked a bit lightweight - it
reminded me of when I first broke into the team. But he's
filled out and worked on his strength. He also reads the
game very well for his age and can cover ground quickly.
"The thing is, centre-back is a position where you only get
better with age, so there's a lot more to come from him
yet."
(Vital Football - Liverpool)
Keane: Liverpool can lift the title
Roy Keane has responded to praise from Rafa Benitez with a
prediction that Liverpool could win the Barclays Premier
League this season.
Benitez claimed at a press conference on Thursday that the
Sunderland boss could one day join the legion of great
managers.
As his side prepares to welcome the Reds to the Stadium of
Light, Keane replied: "I really rate Liverpool and I think
that with the signings they have made and the way the club
has developed, they are stronger this season than they were
last.
"Liverpool are a very good team and I watched them play
brilliant football last week. The fact is, they will believe
that with the squad they have they can win the title this
season.
"I don't think you can look further than the established top
four when you're looking at who will win the league. People
talk about Tottenham breaking into that group but I'm not so
sure."
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard impressed with squad
Steven Gerrard says this is the best Liverpool squad he's
been
involved in.
The Liverpool captain says he's never seen such competition
for places since he broke into the first team squad nine
years ago.
"This is the first time in my Anfield career that I see
genuine competition for every place in the team," said
Gerrard.
"There are at least two, even three, players battling for
every starting jersey and that can only be good for
everyone.
"You have to play well to keep a place and there are no
guarantees at all for the starting XI each week.
"That is the thing this season, no-one in the dressing room
can presume they are an automatic pick because there is so
much quality right through the team."
(LFC Online)
Rafa's respect for Keane
Rafael Benitez is full of respect for Sunderland boss Roy
Keane.
Benitez has been impressed with Keane since he took over at
the Stadium of Light a year ago and says he has the
potential to be one of the great managers.
"He is a good manager - what he did last season was amazing.
To be at the bottom of the table and then get promoted is
really good," said the Liverpool boss.
"He needs time to prove how good he is but I think he did
something really special.
"Hopefully they will still be in the league next season. I
think he is a good manager now but I think he could be great
in the future."
(LFC Online)
Reds heading for goals milestone
Liverpool could score their 7,000th league goal against
Sunderland on Saturday.
Just a single strike at the Stadium of Light would see
Rafa's men reach the milestone.
Great Dane Jan Molby scored the Reds' 6,000th goal during a
7-1 away win at Derby County in March 1991.
(LFC Official Website) |
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THURSDAY 23 |
Rafa: Heinze had to go abroad
Rafa Benitez says Gabriel Heinze had to move abroad after
his move to Liverpool was blocked.
The Premier League ruled that Manchester United were within
their rights to refuse Heinze's sale to The Reds and the
Argentine defender has now joined Real Madrid.
Real moved for Heinze as the stopper was considering an
appeal against the decision to block his switch to Anfield.
The saga was brought to an end on Thursday when Heinze
signed a four-year deal at The Bernabeu and Benitez is upset
to have missed out on the 29-year-old.
"I am really disappointed with the situation because we had
100 per cent confidence he would be arriving at Liverpool,"
Benitez said.
"But after the hearing it was impossible for him to remain
here. He was so disappointed he knew he would have to go to
another country."
Benitez has confirmed he will consider other options at
left-back, but admits time is running out with the transfer
window closing next week.
"We need to analyse the situation and look at the squad. It
is not easy to find a player of Heinze's quality," he added.
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool youngster goes Dutch
FC Twente have completed the loan signing of goalkeeper
Nikolay Mihaylov from Liverpool.
The Bulgarian youth international only arrived on Merseyside
this summer but will spend the 2007-08 season in Holland, FC
Twente announced on their official website,
The Reds signed Mihaylov from Levski Sofia on a five-year
deal, but the the 19-year-old son of goalkeeping legend
Borislav does not have a work permit to play in England.
Mihaylov is the third goalkeeper in coach Fred Rutten's
squad along with number one Sander Boschker and Cees Paauwe.
(Daily Mail)
Etuhu: We'll make Liverpool pay
Sunderland midfielder Dickson Etuhu cannot wait for the
chance to erase the memories of the Black Cats' nightmare at
Wigan last weekend.
The 25-year-old summer signing has played every minute of
the Black Cats' Premier League campaign to date.
But last Saturday's events at the JJB Stadium have gone a
long way towards dissipating the feelgood factor at the
Stadium of Light after an encouraging start.
Roy Keane's men simply crumbled as Emile Heskey's opener and
two second-half penalties - and it could have been more -
handed Chris Hutchings a second successive victory.
He said: "I can't get the Wigan result out of my head.
"I can't remember how good it felt to beat Spurs in our
first game because losing at Wigan makes it feel like the
good things have been wasted.
"It has ruined my week. I've not watched any other football
this week because I can only think of our result.
"I've found it hard to let it go. We have to learn from our
mistakes and put it all right on Saturday."
(TEAMtalk)
Anderson hopeful over Reds return
Paul Anderson is hoping his stint at the Liberty Stadium
will help him break into Liverpool's star-studded team upon
his return to Anfield.
Swansea loan star Paul Anderson is hoping his stint at the
Liberty Stadium will help him eventually break into
Liverpool's star-studded team upon his return to Anfield.
The 19-year-old winger has been tipped for great things at
Liverpool, with manager Rafa Benitez saying he is the most
likely of the club's youngsters to eventually break through
into the first team.
"If I can force my way into the Swans first team and do well
at this level, then perhaps Liverpool will think I'm good
enough to get my chance," said Anderson, who is hoping to
start for the Swans against Walsall on Saturday.
"I've got high hopes for myself - you've got to have
confidence in your own ability - but I'm not looking beyond
this season at the moment.
"I'd love to play in the Liverpool first team though, who
wouldn't? And I'd like to think that in a few years time
I'll be good enough. But I'm realistic enough to realise
that if Liverpool need a winger, then they've got big money
to go out and get one."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard faces 10 days on Anfield sideline
Liverpool are likely to face Sunderland without skipper
Steven Gerrard this weekend.
Gerrard missed last night’s international with a broken toe,
and despite playing through the pain barrier against
Chelsea, he’ll need rest to make a full recovery.
It’s expected the captain will be out for at least ten days,
ruling him out of the trip North East and making him a doubt
for the return Champions League tie with Toulouse on
Tuesday.
A reassessment of Gerrard’s injury will be made when club
doctor Mark Waller returns from his international duties.
Manager Rafa Benitez knew he couldn’t afford to be without
Gerrard against Chelsea and allowed the midfielder to have a
pain killing injection to play, but will be taking a
longer-term view over the next few days.
He’ll want Gerrard 100 per cent fit for the demanding months
to come.
(Liverpool Echo)
International round up
Liverpool's international players had a mixed set of results
last night.
John Arne Riise got the better of Javier Mascherano as
Norway beat Argentina 2-1. Riise was fouled by Mascherano to
win a penalty and also had an assist for the second goal.
Steve Finnan will have the bragging rights over Daniel Agger
as the Republic of Ireland hammered Denmark 4-0 last night.
Agger played the full 90 minutes while Finnan played an
hour.
Dirk Kuyt scored for Holland in their 2-1 defeat to
Switzerland. Both Kuyt and Ryan Babel were second half
subsitutes in that game.
Pepe Reina played the full 90 minutes for Spain while Torres
played the first 47 minutes and Xabi Alonso the last 35 as
Spain beat Greece 3-2 in Athens.
Sami Hyypia played the full 90 minutes for Finland as they
beat Kazakhstan 2-1 in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
Lucas Levia made his full Brazil debut as a second half
subsitute as the Brazilians beat Algeria 2-0. Andriy Voronin
played for the Ukraine as they beat Uzbekistan 2-1 last
night.
There was disappointment for Yossi Benayoun and Peter Crouch
as Israel and England both lost 2-1, to Belarus and Germany
respectively.
(LFC Online) |
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WEDNESDAY 22 |
Heinze making Madrid move
The messy Gabriel Heinze saga has finally reached its
conclusion after the Manchester United defender agreed a
four-year contract with
Real Madrid.
Heinze was still considering whether to launch an appeal
against the Barclays Premier League decision to block his
preferred to Liverpool when Real made their move.
United, aware the 29-year-old's Old Trafford future was
non-existent, were quick to agree a fee with the Spanish
champions, believed to be well in excess of £5million,
forcing the issue back into Heinze's court.
Although the Argentina World Cup star still wanted to
explore the Liverpool option, he knew that by dragging the
situation out even further, his chances of moving out of
England before the August 31 transfer deadline would
effectively disappear.
Having already had one lot of talks with Real earlier in the
summer, Heinze has now opted to join the Spanish champions
instead - a move which will no doubt disappoint Rafael
Benitez, who expressed his disgust for the verdict reached
by the Premier League 24 hours earlier.
(Football 365)
Reds confirm defender loan
Liverpool Football Club has today confirmed defender Miki
Roque will spend a season on loan at Spanish second division
side Xerez CD.
The 19-year-old has been on Merseyside since signing from
Lleida
in 2005.
He was part of the 2006 FA Youth Cup winning team, scoring
in the final against Manchester City.
Roque, who can play centre-half or right-back, made his
first-team debut as a substitute in a Champions League group
stage match against Galatasaray on December 5, 2006.
Later that season he spent two months on loan at League One
outfit Oldham Athletic, where he featured in nine games.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool confirm double swoop
Liverpool have confirmed the double captures of defender
Mikel San Jose and goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Hungarian stopper Gulacsi has arrived on a 12-month loan
from MTK Hungaria and joins countryman Andras Simon and
Krisztian Nemeth at Anfield.
San Jose is a Spanish centre-half who has joined the Reds
from Athletic Bilbao on a three-year contract.
Both players will train at Melwood and be a part of Gary
Ablett's reserve team squad.
(LFC Official Website)
Yossi unhappy at Rafa's rotation
Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is already unhappy at
his lack of first team opportunities on Merseyside and his
agent Ronen Katzav said: "He will think about moving to a
medium-sized team if his chances remain restricted."
The Israeli playmaker started in the Champions League tie
against Toulouse but didn't even make the the squad for the
Premier League games against Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Katzav went on: "When we first met with Rafa Benítez, he
asked for a lot of patience since there is a huge squad at
Liverpool.
"We don't analyse each match. Yossi has patience and
motivation and he will get his chance.
"When you are taking a decision to move to Liverpool, you
are prepared for all possibilities and Yossi decided to
follow his heart. The target was to try and integrate in the
team and I'm sure he will play a lot.
"Naturally, Yossi wants to be in the squad and knows he has
a lot of work to do but if he won't play for a long period
we will think again."
(Daily Mail)
Rafa angered by Heinze verdict
The simmering tension between Liverpool and Manchester
United over the Gabriel Heinze saga became verbal warfare on
Wednesday as Anfield boss Rafael Benitez launched a
staggering attack on the Premier League and the Old Trafford
club.
Heinze has had his attempts to join Liverpool blocked by a
Premier League hearing, that sided with United over who they
could sell the player to once their £6.8million valuation
had been met.
But not only has Benitez attacked the Premier League
decision, which could leave Heinze's career in limbo until
his contract ends, he has also directed his fury at the Old
Trafford hierarchy.
In a Liverpool Echo interview, Benitez claims decisions are
being taken which favour Liverpool's old rivals with
Tuesday's dismissal of Heinze's bid to move to Anfield the
latest setback."
(Sporting Life)
Thor Zakariassen
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