|
|
|
|
MONDAY 24 |
Kuyt targets festive cheer
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has insisted only maximum points
from their festive fixtures will be good enough as the
Anfield club look to maintain
a title challenge.
The Reds currently sit ten points behind leaders Arsenal
with a game in hand, but Kuyt knows the club cannot afford
any more slip-ups if they are to remain in touch.
And the Holland international has targeted a nine-point haul
from their forthcoming games with Derby, Manchester City and
Wigan.
Kuyt told the club’s official website: “We have to win our
next three now and if we can get nine points from those
games I think we will get closer to the other teams.
“We want to go on a run and win a lot of games.
“Every defeat in the league is a big one for us because you
just want to win and compete with Arsenal, Manchester United
and Chelsea so we can’t afford to lose many more.”
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa to shuffle his Reds pack again
Rafa Benitez is likely to shuffle his side for the trip to
Derby on Boxing Day with an away trip to Manchester City on
the horizon next Sunday.
Benitez has already made 223 alterations to his sides this
season, on a match-to-match basis, and used 77
substitutions, making it a remarkable 300 changes in player
personal in 28 matches so far.
And there will be more of the same at Pride Park, with Ryan
Babel, Andriy Voronin, Fabio Aurelio and Lucas all in the
running for a starting berth. Youngster Jack Hobbs could
also get another run-out in defence while Xabi Alonso could
also continue his comeback from injury.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hobbs, Hyypia,
Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano,
Kewell, Babel, Lucas, Sissoko, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres,
Voronin, Itandje.
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa confident on Masch
Rafa Benitez is confident Liverpool will be able to secure
Javier Mascherano's services on a permanent deal.
The Argentina international is currently at Anfield on an
18-month loan from West Ham, although that deal expires next
summer.
While Benitez has confirmed talks are on-going, he also
hinted things may take some time to be completed due to the
complexity of the deal, although he would like things
resolved sooner rather than later.
Benitez stated on Mascherano's future. "I really don't know.
"The situation is we are working together on a lot of issues
and we just have to wait.
"It's always better to get it done as soon as possible. I
have confidence
he will stay with us."
(Sky Sports)
Sound of silence as the Reds go it alone
While Sylvain Distin was still wrestling with his demons
after calamitously handing Liverpool maximum points on
Saturday the goading cheers of
the fans raised the roof.
However, despite going 2-0 up inside the first 15 minutes
against one of the best away sides in the Premiership, it
wasn’t the home fans who turned up the volume inside
Anfield.
“Can you hear the Scousers Sing?” bellowed the Pompey
faithful, before they burst into a rendition of: “Two nil
and you still don’t sing!”
And they were embarrassingly spot on.
Anfield on Saturday was as solemn as a morgue.
When the small pocket of visiting fans on the Anfield Road
stopped to catch their breath, you could hear a pin drop –
and every word out of Jamie Carragher’s mouth!
(Nick Peet - Liverpool Echo)
Fernando Torres so special -
a talent poised to be legend
It's been written before and will be again, but when
watching Fernando Torres run at defenders in his red number
nine shirt you know you are seeing something special.
‘El Nino’ is truly world class and if Liverpool are to get
anywhere near the title this season it’s the young Spaniard
and not just the club skipper who will orchestrate the
symphony.
He’s got everything; pace, skill, strength, guile, tenacity
and, perhaps above all else, that uncanny ability to be in
the right place at the right time when it matters most.
(Nick Peet - Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard fancies Liverpool manager's job
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits he has management
ambitions with the Reds.
"If I was qualified to do it, there's no way I could turn it
down because of my bond with the club and the supporters, "
said the Anfield skipper.
"But I think Jamie Carragher's got more chance than me, he
maybe loves the game more than me, he studies the game more
than me. So maybe he might be a bit more prepared than me."
(tribalfootball.com) |
|
SUNDAY 23 |
Gerrard made Henry attempts
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed that he made
repeated attempts to persuade Thierry Henry to switch
Emirates Stadium for Anfield instead of Camp Nou.
The France international, who left London for Barcelona in
the summer, had previously stated his admiration for the
Merseyside club, but claimed on leaving Arsenal that if he
ever did leave The Gunners it would only be to play for the
Catalan club.
Now Gerrard has explained that he contacted the 30-year-old
with a view to trying to talk him round to a move north.
"I sent him a few text messages seeing if he fancied it,"
said Gerrard.
"I would have loved to have seen him in a Liverpool shirt,
just like the supporters would have.
"But he wanted to play in Spain and for Barcelona, so you
had to respect that decision.
"However he's got a lot of respect for Liverpool. He speaks
really well about us."
(Setanta Sports)
Silva hints at Liverpool move
Valencia star David Silva has spoken of his unrest at the
Spanish side which will alert those looking to recruit his
services with Liverpool topping the list.
Silva made his breakthrough at the Mestalla last season with
some stunning performances.
Things have since turned sour for the 21-year-old, who has
fallen out with coach Ronald Koeman as Valencia slip to
seventh in La Liga.
Rafael Benitez, the former manager of Valencia, made an
unsuccessful inquiry about Silva last summer, but will be
heartened by the latest comments from the striker.
“Everything has changed here and the whole atmosphere within
the team is different,” Silva said in The Sun. “England is a
sensational country for football and Liverpool is a big
team.”
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa: Kaladze chance gone
Rafael Benitez feels Liverpool have missed out on the chance
to sign Milan defender Kakha Kaladze.
The Reds boss is expected to strengthen his defence in the
New Year and Kaladze had been a top target.
But Benitez has suggested that he will no longer be able to
bring the Georgian to Anfield when the transfer window
reopens.
"I don't think we will be able to sign Kaladze now," said
Benitez in the News of the World. "That opportunity has
passed."
Instead, reports claim Benitez will look to push through the
signing of Czech Republic international Tomas Ujfalusi from
Fiorentina.
Ujfalusi is out of contract at the end of the season and his
agent has admitted it is '50-50' regarding his chances of
staying in Serie A.
Liverpool's interest in the centre-half has been confirmed
and he could head to the Premier League in a cut-price deal
in the New Year.
(Sky Sports)
Yossi nets a bonus
Yossi Benayoun is confident Liverpool can sustain a serious
challenge for the Premier League title after they got back
to winning ways with an emphatic victory over Portsmouth on
Saturday.
The Israeli, who opened the scoring with a crisp volley from
the edge of the penalty area, feels the 4-1 success over
Harry Redknapp's side is the perfect boost ahead of a busy
period of fixtures and admits it was vital for the Reds to
bounce back following defeats against Manchester United
and Chelsea.
"We played a great game against a strong rival in Portsmouth
and it was an important win for us after we lost to Man
United," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"It was nice to score and the goal was a bonus," he said.
"But it's not the main thing for me. The main thing is to
keep playing and try to do my best for the team so that we
keep winning."
(LFC Official Website) |
|
SATURDAY 22 |
Benitez salutes Torres
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was full of praise for
Fernando Torres after the striker played a key role in the
team’s impressive 4-1 rout of Portsmouth on Saturday.
Morale in the Liverpool camp was low after successive
defeats in the league but it did not show at Anfield, where
the home side ran out easy winners after an inspired
performance from Torres, who scored twice and also had a
hand in Yossi Benayoun’s opener and the own goal from
Sylvain Distin.
"It was a great performance from the team, especially in the
first half,” Benitez enthused afterwards.
”We looked good and created a lot of chances. But then we
got a little bit nervous against a team with a very good
away record.
"Torres, though, is always a threat. Not only that he makes
room for our other players.
"He has a good mentality and experience. He uses his ability
and pace to hurt defenders."
(Setanta Sports)
Harry: That's the way it goes
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp admits he suspected his
side's Premier League winning away run could come to an end
against Liverpool.
Redknapp saw his side, who had recorded six consecutive away
league victories prior to kick-off, slump to a 4-1 defeat at
Anfield as an early Yossi Benayoun strike and a Sylvain
Distin own goal were followed by a second half brace from
Fernando Torres.
Benjani Mwaruwari pulled one back for Pompey at 2-1, but
Liverpool cruised to victory and Redknapp accepts that his
side's run had to eventually come to an end.
"If it was going to end anywhere there is always a
possibility it could have ended at Liverpool that's for
sure," Redknapp told Sky Sports News.
"They are a terrific side, but we didn't start well and got
sloppy and were punished."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool overpower Pompey
Fernando Torres helped himself to a brace of goals as
Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premiership by
defeating Portsmouth 4-1
at Anfield.
The Reds raced into a two-goal lead after just 16 minutes,
with Yossi Benayoun volleying home the first and the unlucky
Sylvain Distin deflecting an attempted clearance from Sol
Campbell into his own goal.
Portsmouth got themselves right back into the game when
Benjani Mwaruwari drilled home his ninth league goal of the
season shortly after half time, but Torres replied for the
home side when he slotted home in characteristically
confident fashion in the 67th minute.
Torres struck again with five minutes to go to put the seal
on a badly-needed win for Liverpool after tucking away
Steven Gerrard’s knockdown.
(Setanta Sports)
More twists to Crouch row
Liverpool striker Peter Crouch looks set to avoid
disciplinary action over his comments which have been dubbed
“potentially racist” by Mikel John Obi’s representatives.
Crouch was dismissed in the midweek Carling Cup tie for a
lunge on the Nigerian and questioned whether the likes of
Chelsea team-mates Frank Lampard and John Terry would have
reacted in the same way.
“We would certainly not see Peter Crouch’s comments as being
racist. He is unlikely to face any sort of disciplinary
action because of them," an FA spokesman said.
Liverpool are understood to be unhappy with Chelsea’s
demands for action against Crouch, who is not the first
player to suggest foreign players were more prone to diving.
The Sport Entertainment Group [SEM] who represent Mikel want
to see action taken against the England striker.
“SEM feel the comments were potentially racist to all
foreign players, not just black or African ones,” they told
The Sun.
(Setanta Sports)
Torres and Gerrard face Pompey
Rafael Benitez recalls fit again Fernando Torres and Steven
Gerrard to the starting line-up for this afternoon's visit
of Portsmouth.
The Reds boss names the same side that started against
Manchester United last Sunday which means the likes of Pepe
Reina, Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt all return following
the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Chelsea.
Ryan Babel will again start from the bench while there is no
place for the fit-again Xabi Alonso.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Riise, Hyypia,
Carragher, Mascherano, Gerrard, Benayoun, Kewell, Torres,
Kuyt. Subs: Itandje, Aurelio, Babel, Voronin, Lucas.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez laughs off transfer reports
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has dismissed reports that
restrictions have been placed on him in regard to
strengthening his squad in January.
The Spaniard had a much-publicised disagreement over
transfer-window plans with American owners George Gillett
and Tom Hicks last month, but that was all cleared up at a
meeting last weekend following the defeat against Manchester
United.
"In our meeting we talked about how to go forward, but we
did not talk about the need to sell before we could buy,"
said the Liverpool boss.
"We don't know exactly (what money will be spent). We need
to find the players who can be good for us - I think we will
be okay."
On his own future, Benitez admits he would like to extend
his stay beyond the end of his current contract - which is
due to expire in 2010 - but he has not raised the issue with
the Americans.
"I have two-and-a-half years left on my contract, and I will
be really pleased if they offered me another. I would say
'yes' - but I'm not expecting one."
(TEAMtalk)
Inter will be worried says Rafa
Rafael Benitez has claimed Inter Milan will be worried by
the prospect of facing Liverpool in the last 16 of the
Champions League.
The Reds manager says that although it is a tough draw for
his side it is an equally daunting prospect for the Italians
to travel to Liverpool.
He said: "They will be worried for sure. They know we are a
good team."
Liverpool finished second in their qualifying group thanks
to a 4-0 win over Marseille in their final fixture, but knew
they would face a table-topping side in the last 16.
The same situation occurred last season when they were drawn
against Barcelona and Benitez feels his side can take
positives from that experience.
His side beat Barcelona over two legs and went on to qualify
for the final of the competition and Benitez is confident of
repeating the trick.
"Everyone was expecting a difficult draw and Inter Milan are
top of the table in Italy, so it will be very, very
difficult," said the Spaniard.
"In two months time you don't know what could happen so we
will see if we can go into the match playing a little bit
better."
(Viewlondon.co.uk)
Villa game moved
Liverpool's home game against Aston Villa has been moved
because of television coverage.
The Reds were supposed to host Aston Villa at Anfield on
Saturday, January 19th but the game will now be played on
Monday, January 21st, kick off 8pm and will be shown live on
Setanta Sports.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
