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MONDAY 24 |
Rafa: We must step up at Bolton
Rafa Benitez admits Liverpool have to improve following the
3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa - but the boss is refusing to
panic amid a mixed start to the campaign.
The result means the Reds have now picked up just three
points from their opening three games.
Benitez said: "The first 20 minutes we had our chances, we
didn't take them. Then we made a mistake, scored an own
goal, then conceded in injury time. Afterwards we were
pushing but gave away a penalty - there were too many
mistakes in crucial moments.
"Clearly we did not play well. We gave the ball away against
a team that's good on the counter. We have lost and we have
to improve."
Benitez now wants his senior players to step up when
Liverpool visit Bolton at the weekend.
He added: "Our target is to win against Bolton in the next
game and that's it. We're not thinking about anything else."
(LFC Official Website)
Friedel pleased to make amends
Brad Friedel felt Aston Villa's 3-1 win at Liverpool on
Monday tasted particularly sweet after they were hammered
5-0 at Anfield last season.
Following an opening-day home defeat by Wigan, Friedel said
on ESPN: "It was the right time for us, we'd been getting a
few bullets in the press lately and didn't have a good
start. But to come here and win, no matter how we did it,
was fantastic.
"Liverpool are a great side, we knew we'd be under the cosh.
In the first half we played a bit more, in the second we
were under siege and the penalty came at the perfect time.
"It has got us off the mark and to win at Anfield is
fantastic. With the result last year it does leave a bad
taste in the mouth."
(TEAMtalk)
Villa rock Reds at Anfield
Aston Villa put another dent in Liverpool's title dreams
with a hard-fought 3-1 victory at Anfield.
Lucas Leiva suffered the indignity of putting through his
own net to open the scoring, before Curtis Davies doubled
Villa's lead moments
before the break.
Fernando Torres did pull one back for the hosts, but Ashley
Young rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot.
(Sky Sports)
Skrtel returns versus Villa
Martin Skrtel returns to the heart of Liverpool's defence
for tonight's Anfield encounter with Aston Villa.
The Slovakia international hasn't featured since a clash of
heads with Jamie Carragher on the opening day of the season.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Insua, Johnson, Skrtel,
Carragher, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Benayoun, Gerrard,
Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Riera, Ayala, Dossena, Kelly,
Babel.
(LFC Official Website)
Sidwell: Gerrard in league of his own
Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell is relishing the
prospect of coming up against Steven Gerrard in the centre
of the park when the Midlanders take on Liverpool at Anfield
tonight.
Sidwell believes Gerrard is in a 'league of his own' - but
the Villa No.4 can't wait to pit his wits against the Reds'
skipper.
"Liverpool have got Stevie G, who is one of the biggest
match winning players that there are in the Premier League
at the moment" said Sidwell.
"He is a match winner, he is in a league of his own, he's a
fantastic talent and to have him as an English player as
well for the country is fantastic.
"To play against these players in the Premier League week
in, week out is hard but you've just got to do your best.
You've just got to try to match him in everything."
(LFC Official Website)
Hertha forced to give up on Voronin
Hertha Berlin have given up their pursuit of Andriy Voronin
after being told by Liverpool he is not available
permanently or even on loan.
Hertha had Voronin on a season-long loan last term and he
impressed with 11 goals in the German capital.
The Bundesliga club were hoping to bring him back, either on
loan or on a permanent basis, but it seems Voronin is back
in the plans of Reds boss Rafa Benitez.
"We have been talking to Liverpool and Rafael Benitez, but
we have to stay realistic," general manager Michael Preetz
told Spox.
"At this moment they do not only refuse to give Andriy
(Voronin) another loan spell away from the club, they do not
even want to sell him as well.
"The fact is that he is getting match practice at Liverpool
and it looks as if we have to forget this possibility."
Reports in Germany claim Hertha are now turning their
attentions to Gremio forward Fernandinho.
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard faces fresh legal battle
The man punched in a Southport nightclub by England and
Liverpool football star Steven Gerrard is launching a civil
action against the player and six of his friends.
Mr Gerrard was cleared of affray last month following the
attack on businessman Marcus McGee, but six of the Liverpool
midfielder's friends received suspended jail terms and
community service.
Mr McGee, 34, who lost a front tooth and suffered facial
cuts in the fight last December, said he has told lawyers to
begin civil action for compensation for the injuries he
received.
The father of two from Southport told the Mail on Sunday:
"I've got dental bills and legal fees arising from what
happened. But, more importantly, I don't think that justice
was properly served.
"I still can't believe that they all walked free - that they
effectively got away with beating me up."
He added: "Surely, if another group of lads were captured on
camera doing what this lot did, then they would be facing
jail, or at least one of them would as a warning to others
that it is not acceptable to embark on mindless violence."
A jury at Liverpool Crown Court acquitted Gerrard of
unjustly attacking Mr McGee in the Lounge Inn in Southport,
Merseyside, on December 29 to celebrate Liverpool's 5-1
demolition of Newcastle United hours earlier.
The player, of Formby, Merseyside, admitted hitting him but
denied affray, saying it was in self-defence.
(Lancashire Evening Post)
Benayoun wants to keep Reds spot
Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is determined to hold on
to his place at Anfield after returning to Rafa Benitez's
first XI in midweek.
The Israel star struggled to get regular starts last term
until the back end of the season, when his form played a
major part in Liverpool's unbeaten 11-match run to the end
of the campaign that almost took the title.
Benitez opted to start this term with Ryan Babel on the left
instead of Benayoun, and that decision has clearly inspired
the 29-year-old.
He came on as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 defeat at
Tottenham last weekend, and was on from the start for a fine
display on Wednesday in the 4-0 victory over Stoke.
Benayoun intends to keep that form going on Monday night
when Aston Villa are the visitors to Anfield.
Benayoun says: "I like to play from the left. A few years
ago for the national team in Israel I always played on the
left and I enjoy it.
"I am able to cut inside to the middle and get plenty of the
ball, which makes it a bit easier. But I will be happy to
play anywhere.
"Every player wants to start every game but it is the
manager's decision to decide who is to start and who will
not, so every time that I get my chance I just try to do my
best.
"Even if I only get to come on for 10 or 20 minutes or, like
on Wednesday night, when I get to start I always give my
all. I always try my best
to impress.
"Of course I want to start more and more games but my job is
to work hard and try to prove myself and this is what I try
to do."
(TEAMtalk) |
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SUNDAY 23 |
Benitez expects tight race
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes the Premier League
title race will be more competitive than ever this season.
The Reds suffered an opening day defeat at Tottenham while
champions Manchester United slipped up in midweek against
newly-promoted Burnley.
Arsenal and Chelsea remain as recognised title contenders
and Benitez expects the improvements of Manchester City,
Tottenham and Aston Villa to make the top of the table more
congested than ever.
The Midlands side travel to Anfield on Monday eager to
recover from the shock of suffering a 2-0 home defeat to
Wigan last time out.
Benitez said: "This will be a different sort of title race.
Already we have lost, and so have Manchester United.
"There are other teams who can make an impact - Spurs,
Manchester City, Villa - and I believe it will be a lot
harder this season for the top four teams to win every
game."
(Sky Sports)
Milner: Villa must rise to occasion
James Milner believes Aston Villa should take encouragement
from their away performances last season when they tackle
Liverpool at Anfield.
The England winger admits Martin O'Neill's side have to put
on a better showing on Monday night than in their home
league defeat to Wigan and the loss away to Rapid Vienna in
the Europa League play-off.
But Milner takes heart from Villa's record of 10 league
victories on the road during the 2008-09 campaign, including
a win at Arsenal - although they were hammered 5-0 at
Liverpool during a dismal end to the season.
Milner said: "I don't think it's a good or a bad thing that
we've got Liverpool next. It doesn't really matter. You've
got to play everyone at some point in the season.
"Obviously they had a bad result at the start of the season
(at Tottenham) but they've come back strongly with a win
against Stoke so we've got to bounce back quickly as well.
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa reiterates commitment
Rafa Benitez has promised Liverpool fans he is fully
committed to the club despite speculation of an exit.
Rumours were rife that Benitez was set to quit the club in
the build up to Wednesday's 4-0 win over Stoke City after a
reported argument with club owners Tom Hicks and George
Gillett.
However, Benitez laughed off the reports and his side
responded in style with a ruthless display against the
Potters to get their season up and running after an opening
weekend defeat to Tottenham.
The Spaniard has now assured fans there was no truth in the
gossip and has promised to honour the five-year contract he
signed earlier this year.
He said: "I can tell everyone that my commitment to the club
is still there.
"When I signed the new contract it was because of the fans,
because of the staff and because of the players.
"I told everyone I will stay - it was my decision. I'm
really pleased here and I'd like to stay for the length of
my contract. The fans know this so that's the most important
thing for me."
(Sky Sports) |
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SATURDAY 22 |
Kyrgiakos given squad number
Sotirios Kyrgiakos has been given the number 16 shirt.
The Greek defender, who could make his debut against Aston
Villa on Monday night, has been given Didi Hamann's old
squad number.
(LFC Online)
Aurelio back in training
Rafa Benitez today confirmed Brazilian full-back Fabio
Aurelio has resumed training at Melwood.
The 29-year-old has missed the start of the 2009-10 season
with a knee injury sustained over the summer, but Benitez
revealed the defender is edging nearer to a comeback.
The Reds boss said: "Aurelio was training yesterday. I was
watching him and he did well.
"He is not training with the team, but he is working with
the fitness coach and is very close. We will have to see if
he has any other problems, but he is very close."
(LFC Official Website)
Yossi hoping for more games
Yossi Benayoun is hoping for more games this season.
The midfielder was practically an ever-present during the
tail-end of last season as he put in one excellent
performance after another. He carried that form over to the
new season and is hoping it earns him more starts, whether
on the right or on the left as against Stoke.
"I like to play from the left. A few years ago for the
national team in Israel I always played on the left and I
enjoy it," said Benayoun.
"I am able to cut inside to the middle and get plenty of the
ball, which makes it a bit easier. But I will be happy to
play anywhere.
"Every player wants to start every game but it is the
manager's decision to decide who is to start and who will
not, so every time that I get my chance I just try to do my
best.
"Even if I only get to come on for 10 or 20 minutes or, like
on Wednesday night, when I get to start I always give my
all. I always try my best to impress.
"Of course I want to start more and more games but my job is
to work hard and try to prove myself and this is what I try
to do."
(LFC Online)
Benitez gives last chance to Babel
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hinted that Dutch
winger has just one more season to prove himself to the club
after a dissapointing start to his career in English
football.
Babel, 22, signed from Ajax in 2007, but has failed to make
an impact on the club and reach a consistant first team
place.
Benitez appeared frustrated last night when he declared,
“Ryan has to give something to us this time and he knows it.
He will have opportunities to prove himself with so many
games coming up, but it is important he has the right
mentality.
“Maybe there were some problems adapting to a new style when
he arrived as a young player.
“He knows what is going on here now and hopefully can
perform better. He accepts he has to perform at a different
level this year.”
(This is Anfield)
Thor Zakariassen
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