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SUNDAY 24 |
Gerrard still some way off full fitness
Fresh from his 'Captain Fantastic' winning goal against
Middlesbrough on Saturday, Steven Gerrard insisted that he
is still three weeks short of reaching full fitness.
Gerrard wrote the latest line of his very own script with a
piledriver of
a shot at Anfield that completed a late turnaround to give
his side what looked to be an unlikely three points.
The Liverpool skipper was also one of the few England
players to give
a good account of themselves against Czech Republic in the
week, but it seems there is plenty more left in the tank.
"I have missed a lot of training and I am a couple of weeks
behind
the other lads when it comes to match fitness,” he said.
"The only way I am going to get that edge again is to get
out on the pitch and play.
"I am not at my best at the moment, but I hope the fans will
be patient because I am only three weeks away from my best
form and fitness."
(Setanta Sports)
Pennant begs Rafa to keep him on
The winger's future at Anfield looks uncertain after not
being involved in the Reds' opening two Premier League
games.
Blackburn have been strongly linked with a move for the
former Birmingham star, but Pennant hopes to remain at
Anfield.
"I want to stay at Liverpool," Pennant told The People.
"I have been given a fantastic opportunity to play for the
team I supported as a kid and all I want to do is work hard
and fight for my place
in the team."
(TEAMtalk)
Keane hails winning mentality
Robbie Keane believes Liverpool have shown a winning
mentality by getting results despite not performing to their
maximum.
The Reds left to late to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 on Saturday
on Keane's home debut as they made it two wins out of two.
Keane accepts Liverpool are not firing on all cylinders, but
he insists it is all about winning as they look to mount a
serious bid for the title.
"Football is about winning, it doesn't matter how well you
play so long as you come off the pitch having picked up the
points," Keane told the club's official website.
"When you don't play as well as you know you can but you are
still getting results then that is a sign of a good team.
When we do start playing well we're confident we'll keep
getting the points on the board to make sure we are in the
mix at the top of the table."
Keane added: "It was nice to play my first competitive game
at Anfield but at the end of the day the most important
thing was to win," he said.
"It doesn't matter whether it's my first game here or not,
it's about winning and I've settled in well now so the match
was all about getting three points on the board and we
managed to do that."
(TEAMtalk)
Fabregas fancies move for Alonso
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas admits he would love to
lure Liverpool's Xabi Alonso to the club he wants to captain
one day.
The Spain star is currently ruled out with injury and while
he has been on the sidelines the Gunners have been linked
with Aston Villa's Gareth Barry as well as Alonso.
The 21-year-old said of a move for the Liverpool man: "I'd
love it!
"What can I say? He is my friend and apart from that he is a
great professional, a great passer of the ball, he works
hard defensively, he's scoring goals now, he's experienced
and he is only 26.
"For me he would be perfect."
(TEAMtalk)
Downing in £14m Liverpool link
Stewart Downing will plead with Middlesbrough to listen to
any £14million bid from Liverpool.
The winger, a sub in England's midweek draw with the Czechs,
believes his ambitions will be aided by a move to a
Champions League club,
the News of the World claims.
(Lancashire Evening Post)
Pennant in £6m Rovers link
Blackburn plan to bid for Jermaine Pennant this week — but
have been told they must pay at least £6million.
Rovers are in informal talks with Liverpool over the
25-year-old winger.
(Lancashire Evening Post) |
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SATURDAY 23 |
Rafa: Comeback shows home progress
Rafa Benitez praised the spirit of his players following
their remarkable comeback against Middlesbrough – claiming
Liverpool would not have taken all three points in similar
circumstances last term.
Benitez said: "Carragher was amazing, because normally he
isn't a great finisher. After that Gerrard showed his
quality too even though he isn't 100 per cent fit – he can
change games.
"The team showed its winning mentality. This is the kind of
determination we want to see for the rest of the season."
(LFC Official Website)
Southgate proud of players
Gareth Southgate could only praise his Middlesbrough players
after they came so close to causing a shock against
Liverpool at Anfield.
"I am immensely proud, it would be easy to pick holes in the
mistakes which led to the second goal but they have given
absolutely everything," he told Sky Sports.
(Sky Sports)
Reds stage remarkable recovery
Liverpool cruelly snatched all three points from this
pulsating match through a stunning injury-time strike by
Steven Gerrard, to leave a dejected Gareth Southgate and
Middlesbrough team reflecting on what could so easily have
been a monumental win at Anfield.
Jamie Carragher and Gerrard turned the match on its head in
the closing stages after Mido handed Boro an unlikely lead.
(Setanta Sports)
Skrtel and Alonso return versus 'Boro
Martin Skrtel returns to partner Jamie Carragher at the
heart of Liverpool's defence against Middlesbrough this
afternoon – a game you can listen to live here on .tv from
3pm BST.
Xabi Alonso is also back in the starting XI to partner
Steven Gerrard in
the middle of the park.
The Reds line-up in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena,
Carragher, Skrtel, Gerrard, Alonso, Kuyt, Benayoun, Torres,
Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, Aurelio, Agger, Babel, Ngog, El Zhar,
Plessis.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: No progress on Barry deal
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has admitted there had been
no further developments on a deal with Aston Villa for
Gareth Barry.
The Reds have been tracking the Villa star all summer but
have so far been unable to seal a deal for the England star,
amid reports that Arsenal have stepped up their interest in
him.
Benitez said: "I have had no word about Arsenal wanting
Gareth Barry, and that is all I want to say on the subject.
Other than that we are working towards improving our squad.
"Likewise there has been nothing more on Xabi Alonso. At the
beginning of the summer we were looking at ways of raising
money, but now we are happy with Xabi, he is a very good
player.
"The offer we had was not good enough, so why would we want
to sell him?"
(TEAMtalk)
Pourie treble fires U18s to victory
Marvin Pourie bagged a first-half hat-trick as Liverpool
Under-18s edged to a 4-3 opening day win at home to Crystal
Palace in the FA Premier Academy league.
The German striker netted three times in the opening half
hour with
a stunning goal from David Amoo capping a superb first-half
display as Hugh McAuley's men went in at the interval
leading by a 4-1 scoreline.
However, Palace fought back in the second period and made a
real game of it in a contest that provided a great advert
for Academy football.
Liverpool U18s: Oldfield, Scott, O'Connor (Adjarevic 53),
Metcalf, Kennedy, Roberts, Amoo (Ince 74), Pepper, Dalla
Valle, Pourie (Ellison 65), Kacaniklic. Unused subs: Duyan,
Cooper.
(LFC Official Website)
Toffees chasing Reds target Riera
Everton have made a move to beat Merseyside rivals Liverpool
to the signing of Spanish international midfielder Albert
Riera.
Reports across England and Spain revealed Everton's interest
in the winger and it is now understood that talks are at an
advanced stage.
David Moyes' men are ready to agree terms with Espanyol -
something their city rivals Liverpool have been unable to
do.
(TEAMtalk) |
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FRIDAY 22 |
Rafa keeping quiet over transfer plans
Rafa Benitez has confirmed he is still in the market for new
signings before the close of the transfer window, but the
Liverpool boss is refusing to give any hints whatsoever over
who he has his eye on.
“We cannot talk about names of players.
And when asked if he envisaged selling any players to make
way for prospective incoming stars, Benitez was coy.
“Again it is too early, but clearly we are working trying to
improve, so we will see,” he added, before broaching the
subject of Xabi Alonso, who came close to leaving for
Juventus.
“I was clear from the start that Xabi is a good player and
we like Xabi,” added Benitez. “The price had to be good
because we needed to bring money in but if it is not enough,
then why would you sell a player
this good?”
(Setanta Sports)
Benitez expects Gerrard response
Rafael Benitez believes Fernando Torres can seal his place
in Liverpool's record books and has backed Steven Gerrard to
rediscover his form.
Torres will be aiming to score in his ninth successive home
league match for the club when the Reds face Middlesbrough
in the Premier League side at Anfield.
If the Spain international is able to find the net against
Gareth Southgate's side he will break a record set by Roger
Hunt back in the 1961/62 season.
Gerrard meanwhile was criticised by England boss Fabio
Capello - who used the midfielder in a controversial
left-sided role in the disappointing draw with the Czech
Republic - for not being fit enough, but Benitez expects him
to return to his best in the near future.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez: Stoke made Hyypia bid
Rafa Benitez has revealed that Stoke made an approach for
veteran defender Sami Hyypia in the summer, but claims the
club has no interest in selling the player.
The former Finland international is no longer first-choice
at Anfield, but Benitez insists he is still an important
player for the club.
“We have had an approach from Stoke about Sami, but we want
to keep him," he said.
"When we talked about a new contract in the summer, it was
clear that Sami wanted to stay at the club.
"He is a fantastic professional, a very nice person and a
great player. He is not a player we want to sell."
Meanwhile, Bournemouth have signed Liverpool striker Craig
Lindfield on loan until December.
The 19-year-old spent time on loan at Notts County and
Chester last season.
(Setanta Sports)
Sami out of Middlesbrough clash
Sami Hyypia will miss the first home game of the season this
weekend with a hamstring injury.
The centre-back is Rafa Benitez's only fitness worry for the
visit of Middlesbrough on Saturday, with the likes of Martin
Skrtel and Philipp Degen now back in contention after
injury.
(LFC Official Website)
Hoyte set for Boro debut at Anfield
Recent signing Justin Hoyte could make his debut for
Middlesbrough in Saturday's Premier League match against
Liverpool at Anfield.
The former Arsenal defender was signed too late to join the
squad for last week's game against Tottenham.
Manager Gareth Southgate will check on the fitness of
Egyptian duo Mido and Mohamed Shawky, but of whom were on
international duty against Sudan on Wednesday. Midfielder
Julio Arca is sidelined for another three weeks with an
ankle injury.
Boro (from): Jones, Turnbull, Wheater, Hoyte, Huth,
Pogatetz, Williams, Taylor, Grounds, Aliadiere, Emnes,
O'Neil, Shawky, Digard, Downing, Johnson, Tuncay, Alves,
Mido.
(TEAMtalk)
Got to believe to beat
Reds, says Boro boss
Gareth Southgate will send his players out at Anfield
tomorrow with
a simple message: “Keep believing in yourselves.”
The Boro boss wants his team to keep the faith - and
hopefully pull off
the shock result of the day.
Southgate said: “The spirit was terrific during and after
the Spurs game because the players realised they could
achieve everything we had been telling them all summer.
“Now we can go to Liverpool and play with a similar belief
and without
any fear.
“We know exactly what to expect from Liverpool. They have
got a lot of quality in their squad, and they have special
players like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres we know we
must keep under control. If we can do that, and defend as we
as we know we can, then we will give ourselves
a chance."
(Evening Gazette)
Capello admits to Barry concerns
England coach Fabio Capello claims the saga of Gareth
Barry's stalled move to Liverpool was to blame for his poor
display against
the Czech Republic.
Aston Villa's Barry, 27, was below par in Wednesday's 2-2
draw
at Wembley.
And Capello said: "At the moment, the Liverpool situation
means Barry is not at his best. That is my opinion."
Midfielder Barry has failed to have his wish for a move to
Liverpool granted because the Anfield club have so far
refused to meet Villa's £18m price tag.
He is now back in the Villa side and starred in their
opening Premier League win last Sunday, when they beat
Manchester City 4-2.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, had conceded the
Gunners are continuing to monitor Barry's situation at Villa
Park.
"There is always interest," said Wenger. "I cannot tell you
much more. He's one of the players we follow.
"I find Barry a good player. The problems with players who
are 27, 28 is that you pay big money but you get nothing
back, no resale."
(BBC Sport Online)
Mascherano: I'll win gold for Rafa
Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano has revealed his
gratitude toward Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez for
allowing him to defend his
Olympic title.
Mascherano has been instrumental in los Albicelestes'
passage to the final in Beijing, where they will face
Nigeria this weekend in the gold-medal match.
If the South American giants conquer their African
counterparts, it will be El Jefecito's second Olympic
triumph, having helped his country to the title in Athens
four years ago.
The 24-year-old could have been denied the opportunity to
defend his medal, thanks to the Court of Arbitration for
Sport's ruling that allowed clubs to withhold their players
from Olympic duty.
But Benitez, while loath to start the season without his
midfield bulldog, opted not to recall the former Corinthians
man from China.
Mascherano is eternally grateful for his manager's support,
and he told
the press: “If I win, I’ll especially dedicate my success to
Rafa. He’s
a very important person in my life. I hope to God I can take
another
gold to Liverpool.”
(Goal.com)
Thor Zakariassen
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