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SATURDAY 24 |
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Agent waiting to get transfer rolling
The agent of Liverpool defender Josemi has revealed he is
waiting for Sevilla to make their next move in relation to
signing his client.
Agent Fernando Redondo has been told by representatives of
the Spanish outfit that they will not pay more than
£1.5million for the player but Liverpool chief executive
Rick Parry is asking for £2million.
Redondo said: "We're waiting for Sevilla to take the step
forward that so far they have not taken."
Josemi signed for Liverpool in July 2004, on a four-year
deal.
(Kop Talk)
Hansen expects warm welcome for Michael
Alan Hansen believes that Michael Owen will be welcomed back
by the Kop when he returns to Anfield with Newcastle on
Monday.
"Owen was a great player for Liverpool, a man who
single-handedly won the 2001 FA Cup Final against Arsenal
with two late goals after Gerard Houllier's side had been
second best all day," said the former Liverpool legend.
"Owen was a great player for Liverpool and he is assured of
an unbelieveable Anfield reception. Liverpool fans know what
a class act Owen is - they will just be hoping he doesn't
show them exactly how good he is on Boxing Day."
(LFC Online)
Shearer: Owen deserves a warm reception
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer says Michael Owen deserves a
warm reception from both sets of fans when he returns to
Anfield on Boxing Day.
"It will be a big day for him and I know he's looking
forward to it. It will be an enjoyable one for him and I'm
sure he'll get a great reception from both sets of
supporters. Rightly so after everything he's done,
particularly for Liverpool."
(Kop Talk) |
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FRIDAY 23 |
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Rafa slams officials
Rafa Benitez has expressed his disappointment at the
refereeing decisions that scuppered Liverpool's attempts to
land the Club World Championship.
The Reds saw three goals disallowed in the final of the
tournament against Sao Paulo, and had a late penalty appeal
waved away, as they finished runners up in Japan.
The Spaniard believes that the World Club Championship was
devalued by the officials' decisions against Sao Paulo and
that European clubs will be put off appearing in the
competition in future.
"It's a pity for a big competition to lose its value like
that. It will have a negative effect because European clubs
will say 'Why do we need to play in something like this?'"
(Sky Sports)
Inter consider Cissé swoop
Inter have been linked with a move for Liverpool striker
Djibril Cissé, according to reports in Italy.
Coach Roberto Mancini confirmed yesterday that the San Siro
side were looking for attacking reinforcements in order to
cater for the departure of Obafemi Martins, who leaves for
African Nations Cup duty next month.
It is thought that Inter President Massimo Moratti has
identified the Frenchman, who has fallen out on numerous
occasions with Rafa Benitez after failing to hold down a
regular first-team place, as the ideal candidate.
(Channel 4 Sport)
Benitez: Owen deal was impossible
Rafael Benitez maintains it was "impossible" for Liverpool
to have re-signed Michael Owen in the summer.
Owen returns to Anfield for the first time as a player since
his sale to Real Madrid 18 months ago when Newcastle visit
on Boxing Day.
The England striker was keen to return to his former club
earlier this year but a deal could not be agreed with Real
and he ended up moving to Newcastle, his second choice.
Benitez has been accused of not trying hard enough to
recapture the Chester-born forward, but insists he tried
until the last minute to bring him back to Merseyside.
In the end, Liverpool decided they could not compete with
the £16million Newcastle were offering.
Benitez said: "I have seen what Michael has said. But what
is clear is that we tried to sign him and he knows we tried
to sign him.
"It is impossible if another club makes a bid of such big
money. It is difficult to say we must spend that money on a
player that one year before we sold for much less."
(Sporting Life)
Owen: I thought I'd rejoin Reds
Michael Owen insists he will "celebrate joyfully" without
feeling guilty should he score for Newcastle against his
former club Liverpool on Boxing Day, despite admitting he
thought he would rejoin the Reds when he returned to
England.
Owen left Anfield in 2004 to join Real Madrid but after one
season in Spain, decided to return to England. A move back
to Merseyside was favoured by the player but it was
ultimately Newcastle who paid Madrid's asking price.
The England striker made it clear he did not "snub"
Liverpool to choose Newcastle instead.
"I don't have a short fuse but one thing guaranteed to make
my blood boil is when Liverpool fans ask me why I snubbed
them when I returned to England. There were no snubs on
either side. The deal did not happen and both sides have got
on with things."
(Sporting Life)
Vidic won't name mystery bidder
Spartak Moscow defender Nemanja Vidic has revealed that
there is a third club - believed to be Liverpool - who are
trying to sign him.
(Kop Talk)
Reds working on Hamann fitness
Liverpool are still hoping Dietmar Hamann will be fit for
their Boxing Day clash with his former club Newcastle.
The German midfielder suffered further complications from
the knee injury sustained in that infamous tackle by Michael
Essien, while Liverpool were in Japan for last weekend's
World Club Championship.
Liverpool sent Hamann for another scan this week which only
confirmed their original diagnosis that the 32-year-old was
suffering from severe bruising.
Now Liverpool will give the midfielder extensive treatment
in the hope that he can play against Newcastle on Monday
which is a priority with Mohamed Sissoko suspended for the
match.
(Sporting Life)
Christmas spell may give fringe benefits
Stephen Warnock believes the festive period can prove the
ideal opportunity for Liverpool's fringe players to impress.
The European Champions entertain Newcastle United on Boxing
Day for the first of four games in eight hectic days that
could shape the remainder of their Premiership campaign.
"There's no doubt we have a difficult period of games coming
up over Christmas and we're going to need to be at our best
to take maximum points and keep our winning run going," said
Warnock..
"We have such a big squad at Liverpool and I'm sure the
manager will be looking to change his team around from game
to game to try and keep things fresh."
(Daily Post)
Benitez pondering Galletti loan swoop
Liverpool will only consider a loan move for Luciano
Galletti - despite reports suggesting they are close to a
deal for the Atletico Madrid winger.
The European Champions have renewed their interest in the
Argentina international having initially tracked the player
earlier this year while he was still at Real Zaragoza.
Reports in Spain yesterday stated preliminary discussions
had already taken place, but suggestions Liverpool are
preparing to lodge a bid for the 25-year-old right-winger
are wide of the mark.
(Daily Post) |
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THURSDAY 22 |
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Kewell blasts Reds critics
Harry Kewell has hit back at criticism of his commitment and
angrily denied he feigned injury during the Champions League
final in May.
The 27-year-old has suffered a series of injuries since his
transfer from Leeds two and a half years ago and has found
his application questioned by some Reds fans.
However, he angrily refuted suggestions he faked injury
against AC Milan in Istanbul because he wanted to leave the
field with Liverpool losing at the time.
He told the Daily Mirror: "Everybody thought I had thrown it
in and I could not believe the reaction from some people.
"Even before the story was out properly, they had diagnosed
me and decided I had quit.
"Do people know I was the number one penalty taker on the
pitch that night in Istanbul? So why would I want to walk
off in a game when I had a real chance of getting on the
scoresheet?
"My groin just snapped and I loved it how people were
criticising me in commentaries straight away, saying my
heart wasn't in it or I just wanted to go off."
(TEAMtalk)
Carra bullish on title hopes
Jamie Carragher is positive Liverpool can challenge Chelsea
for this year's Premiership crown, despite being 15 points
adrift of the leaders.
The Reds have slipped to third in The Premiership during
their participation in the World Club Championship in Japan
and the England international is looking to make the most of
their two games in hand.
Securing the league title was Liverpool's aim at the start
of the campaign and Carragher sees nothing stopping them
from challenging for the coveted trophy, despite Chelsea's
impressive first half of the season.
"We want to challenge Chelsea," explained Carragher.
"Manchester United have won a couple of games while we've
been away and moved second.
"The aim at the start of the season was to try to push as
close for the title as possible.
"There's still a long way to go and hopefully, we can do
that."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez targets Argentinian
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is plotting another raid on
La Liga, according to sources in Spain.
Atletico Madrid's Luciano Galletti has caught the European
champions' attention and preliminary discussions have
already taken place ahead of a possible January move.
The Anfield club reportedly tabled an offer for the right
winger in September and, even though he only joined Atletico
in the summer, the capital club may look to cash in to
finance their own spending plans in the New Year.
(Sky Sports)
Everton waiting for Liverpool decision
Everton have put on hold their plans regarding the
possibility of building a new stadium as they are hoping
that Liverpool could be talked into sharing a new stadium
with them.
Liverpool claim that they are not interested in a shared
stadium but the North West Regional Development Agency says
public money will only be forthcoming for a joint stadium.
This is why it is essential Liverpool chief executive Rick
Parry finds private funding, possibly through naming rights.
We understand that privately Liverpool have not ruled out
the option of a groundshare but we think it's fair to say
that the club would prefer it's own identity.
There are rumours that Liverpool's proposed new stadium will
now cost as much as £200million and KopTalk sources continue
to claim that the club are keeping the fans in the dark
regarding several issues that could prevent such a
construction from ever getting underway.
Personally we'd rather stay where we are and extend the
existing stadium where possible.
(Kop Talk)
Hamann poised to win new contract
Dietmar Hamann is closing in on a contract extension with
Liverpool.
The Germany international signed a one-year deal at Anfield
in the wake of their European Cup final win over AC Milan in
May, having been on the brink of a move to Bolton Wanderers.
It came with an option of another year, a clause that would
be triggered if the 32-year-old made 22 appearances for
Rafael Benitez's side this season.
And having already played 17 times for Liverpool this
campaign, Hamann is on the brink of extending his Anfield
stay for another 12 months.
The midfielder, who has not given up hope of being selected
for Germany when they host the World Cup next summer, is
keen to remain on Merseyside having been signed by Gerard
Houllier from Newcastle United in an £8million deal in July
1999.
(Daily Post)
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Thor Zakariassen
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