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TUESDAY 24 |
Benitez won't gamble with Gerrard
Rafael Benitez played an elaborate game of cloak and danger
over the fitness of his captain Steven Gerrard here ahead of
tomorrow’s Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
Gerrard travelled to the Spanish capital in manager
Benitez’s 20-man squad with a huge question mark hanging
over his damaged hamstring, and whether he could be risked
in the first leg of this last-16 clash at the magnificent
Santiago Bernabeu.
The Spaniard said today: "Steven was not fit to face
Manchester City on Sunday, but we will now wait to see how
he does in two training sessions before making a decision
about this game.
"It will not be a gamble. If the doctor says he is okay,
then it is not a risk. Steven is more mature now, he would
not make a decision that would be considered a risk.
"He will be involved in light training sessions, we will not
try to hide anything. We will make a decision when we are
sure."
(BreakingNews.ie)
Van der Vaart: Reds fear us
Rafael van der Vaart believes Liverpool are 'scared' of Real
Madrid ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash.
The Reds have lost ground on Manchester United in the
Premier League title race in recent weeks but they have
still enjoyed a fine campaign and Van der Vaart has been
impressed by what he has seen.
The Dutchman, who joined Real from Hamburg last summer, is
expecting a good game against Rafa Benitez's men at the
Bernabeu.
However, he is in confident mood and feels Real could have a
psychological advantage.
Speaking about Liverpool, Van der Vaart said: "It's a strong
team. I saw them play against Everton in the FA Cup. They
were really strong, playing fast and I think when you play
against an English team you always have a chance to play
good football.
"I think we have a good chance but we also know that they
have players like (Steven) Gerrard, Fernando Torres, (Dirk)
Kuyt, (Ryan) Babel.
"They are really good players. We really respect Liverpool,
but we also know we can win against them.
"We have a good opportunity. We are still Real Madrid and I
think they are also a little bit scared.
"I think it will be a great match and I hope everybody will
watch that match and at the end, we are going to win."
(Sky Sports)
SPL deal thrills Liverpool youth
Liverpool teenager John Marsden says he is delighted to have
signed a professional contract with Scottish Premier League
side Celtic.
The 16-year-old has penned a three-year deal with the
Glasgow giants.
He told BBC Radio Merseyside: "The deal Celtic offered me
was better than any English club could have done.
"You can turn professional at 16 up in Scotland, which is
not the case in England as you have to wait until you are
17."
And Marsden, who broke a number of junior goalscoring
records on Merseyside, believes moving to Scotland can help
his development as a player.
"Because of a lack of money at most Scottish clubs they
purchase young lads and bring them through.
"They can't just go and buy a Fernando Torres for £25m."
(BBC Sport Online)
Ramos in optimistic mood
Real Madrid boss Juande Ramos is refusing to read too much
into the hype currently surrounding the club.
Not so long ago the Primera Liga giants were a team in
crisis, with a disappointing start to the season putting pay
to Bernd Schuster's tenure at Santiago Bernabeu.
However, since Ramos took the reins shortly before
Christmas, Los Blancos have enjoyed a remarkable reversal in
fortune.
New life has been breathed back into the club's title
challenge, while there is a tangible air of expectation
sweeping the Spanish capital as they prepare to face
Liverpool in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on
Wednesday.
"I think it's more an atmosphere of optimism than euphoria.
We are calm and happy at how things are developing in the
league because it gives us security and confidence going
into games," Ramos said, whose side thrashed Real Betis 6-1
on Saturday.
(Sky Sports)
Laudrup urges Agger to quit Reds
Michael Laudrup has urged Daniel Agger to quit Liverpool in
the summer in order to obtain regular first-team football.
The Denmark defender played under Laudrup at Brondby and his
former boss thinks an Anfield exit is the best option for
the classy centre back.
Agger has been unable to earn a regular spot this term under
Rafa Benitez and is being strongly tipped to move to Italy
at the end of the campaign.
Spartak Moscow coach Laudrup, who handed the 24-year-old his
debut at Brondby, has been happy to make his advice public.
"I hope Daniel can come to a club where he can play
regularly," he informed BT.
"First and foremost, for himself, but also for the national
team, which very much needs Daniel to play.
"Daniel has ended up an in annoying situation. But the
competition in clubs of that level is fierce."
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa hails Raul
Rafael Benitez has praised Real Madrid legend Raul.
The bos has hailed the Spanish striker and says he will be
the dangerman Liverpool will have to be wary of tomorrow.
"He could be more or less the same to Real Madrid as Gerrard
is to us," said Benitez.
"Raul is in form and scoring goals. People also talk about
Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuain because they're also
scoring goals.
"But Raul is a player with a very good mentality. He's a
winner and that's the key to having success over many
years."
(LFC Online)
Alonso returns for Real showdown
Liverpool will have Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso back in
their side for Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first
leg away to Real Madrid.
Alonso missed Sunday's Premier League draw with Manchester
City due to a one-match suspension.
His midfield colleague Steven Gerrard travelled with the
squad to the Spanish capital on Tuesday, after being given
the all-clear following a hamstring injury.
Liverpool are without Danish defender Daniel Agger, who has
a back injury, so Martin Skrtel should partner Jamie
Carragher with Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio starting as
full-backs at the Bernabeu.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Hyypia, Carragher,
Aurelio, Dossena, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Babel,
Benayoun, Torres, Kuyt, Riera, Ngog, Cavalieri, Darby,
Spearing.
(TEAMtalk)
Home fire keeps
burning for Benitez
Just when Rafael Benitez will be able to switch from the
visitors' to the home dug-out at the Santiago Bernabeu is
anyone's guess.
But few inside Real Madrid's magnificent home for
Liverpool's Champions League last-16 clash on Wednesday
would bet against it happening one day - sooner or later.
With Benitez's contract negotiations at Liverpool having hit
another brick wall, the prospect that he could be installed
before next season at the club he has loved all his life
cannot be dismissed.
There will surely come a point when the feuding, bickering
and complex contract wrangling will come to a head.
Benitez's brinkmanship could win the day, or he could walk
away from Anfield.
The Champions League first leg is certainly a homecoming
Benitez will relish.
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool FC's title dreams
are hanging by a thread
Liverpool’s title hopes may not be over but they are
undoubtedly hanging by a thread.
Sunday’s home draw with Manchester City is a major setback
and it is also a massive disappointment because it means
Manchester United’s lead at the top of the table has
extended to seven points.
That is a big gap at this stage of the season and even
though it is not an insurmountable one you would have to say
that the odds are now stacked massively in United’s favour.
I still believe that United will drop points between now and
the end of the campaign but the question is will Liverpool
be able to capitalise even if they do?
The way they played against City suggests that would be a
really tall order because Liverpool were a long way from
their best.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)
Robben ready for Reds revenge
Arjen Robben is gunning for revenge against Liverpool in the
UEFA Champions League and believes Real Madrid need to
secure at least a two-goal head start.
Robben was a member of the Chelsea side which lost a
semi-final against Rafa Benitez's men in 2005 before also
crashing out on penalties at Anfield in 2007.
And the Dutchman has added incentive to sink the Reds after
seeing his spot-kick, Chelsea's opener, saved by Jose Reina
in the shoot-out setback two years ago.
"I want to beat them because I have lost against them in two
semi-finals and Reina saved my penalty," the winger said in
the Daily Mail. "I want a chance to take another against him
and score."
However, after witnessing Liverpool's strength on home soil
in the past, Robben - who left Chelsea for Real in 2007 -
has warned his current club they will need a first-leg
advantage.
Robben feels that Real will need a safety net at the
Bernabeu on Wednesday ahead of their trip to Merseyside on
10th March.
"They are very strong," he added. "The coach is tactically
excellent. The most important thing is to score at the
Bernabeu.
"We have to beat them by more than two goals at home because
the second leg at Anfield is going to be very tough."
(Sky Sports) |
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MONDAY 23 |
Agger misses Madrid trip
Daniel Agger will not travel to Madrid this week due to a
back injury which kept him out of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Man
City.
Agger and fellow defender Philipp Degen are Rafa Benitez's
only injury concerns for the Bernabeu after Steven Gerrard
was deemed fit enough to make the squad.
The boss told Liverpoolfc.tv: "Gerrard will travel, Degen is
still out and Agger has a problem - everyone else is fit.
"Agger will not travel because of an injury to his back."
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard in squad for Madrid clash
Steven Gerrard has been named in the Liverpool squad to
travel to Spain on Tuesday morning for the Champions League
first leg clash with Real Madrid.
The Liverpool skipper, who has been sidelined for three
weeks with hamstring trouble, came through a training
session at Melwood this morning and will be on the flight
with the rest of the squad tomorrow.
Manager Rafael Benitez confirmed: "Steven will be in the
squad. He was okay in training this morning.
"It was a special training session so we were not testing
him one hundred per cent, but he trained okay so we will
see."
(LFC Official Website)
Heinze hopes
to shut Mascherano up
Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze has hit out at his
Argentine team-mate Javier Mascherano and says Liverpool
will crash to defeat at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Heinze is desperate to gain the bragging rights over
Mascherano who has been phoning the former Manchester United
defender to warn him about Liverpool's quality.
Heinze said: "I spoke with Mascherano the other day and he
is optimistic about the game. He says that we should be
preparing ourselves, but I believe that is wrong. We are
going to win at the Bernabeu.
"I think we are playing Liverpool at just the right time,
but we know it is not going to be easy. We have got to try
and make our home advantage count and have to mount pressure
on the Liverpool goal from the first minute."
(Sport.co.uk)
Cannavaro: Madrid must get smart
Fabio Cannavaro has called on Real Madrid to "play smart" in
their Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool on
Wednesday.
The Spanish giants meet the Merseysiders in the first leg at
the Bernabeu on the back of a 6-1 thrashing of Real Betis -
their ninth successive Primera Liga win under new coach
Juande Ramos.
The deficit to leaders Barcelona has been trimmed to seven
points, breathing new life into the title race and boosting
morale further ahead of the visit of Rafael Benitez's men.
Italy defender Cannavaro told the club's website: "We're in
good form.
"The team is doing well and it has the fans' support. We're
up against a historic team that is used to winning the
Champions League. We must play smart, score and not concede
any goals."
(TEAMtalk)
A case for cavaliers
instead of caution
Craig Bellamy never served many useful purposes during his
solitary season in red – one goal in the Nou Camp apart.
But yesterday's deflected strike in Sky Blue at least gave
Rafael Benitez a true sense of where his season's priorities
now lie.
The forlorn bid to catch hold of Manchester United's
shirt-tails can now be conceded for another season.
The Champions League has become the be all and end all of
Liverpool's season.
That's not knee jerk fatalism at another home draw – just a
realistic assessment of the Reds' current standing in the
grand scheme of things.
And that's also not a cause for a wailing and gnashing of
teeth and Rafa must go debates..
Liverpool aren't good enough to match Manchester's top side
just yet. Heck, they were only just good enough to match
that city's mediocre team yesterday.
(David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)
A superfluous illustration
of Liverpool’s weaknesses
At the back end of 2008, only a month and a half ago, we
were sat proudly at the top of the Premier League and a full
ten points ahead of Manchester United. Fast forward to today
and we wake up this Monday morning seven points behind
United; our title dreams all but over.
Perhaps we had false hopes. Building up such a fantastic
lead in the first half of the season, winning games we
shouldn’t have, looking like a Championship winning team
again. But we haven’t truly played out of our skins all
season. And now we’re not winning those games that we
shouldn’t be allowed to. Now we’re not looking like a team
worthy of competing for the title. Yesterday’s 1-1 draw at
home to Manchester City showed we have weakness in
abundance.
(Max Munton - This is Anfield) |
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SUNDAY 22 |
Carragher not giving up
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is refusing to concede
defeat in the race for the Premier League title.
The Reds saw their championship dreams suffer another dent
on Sunday after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to
Manchester City.
Carragher admits Liverpool are going to have go on a winning
run to have any chance of catching United and believes they
need to beat the reigning champions at Old Trafford next
month to get their title bid back on track.
"I think we are going to have to go on a great run to catch
Man Utd but I think we are capable of that," he said.
(Sky Sports)
Benitez: Title will be difficult now
Rafa Benitez has admitted it will now be difficult for
Liverpool to win the title after dropping two points at home
to Manchester City - but revealed Steven Gerrard is close to
a return.
"We have to win against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and
then we have to start thinking about winning at Old
Trafford.
"I have confidence we can beat Middlesbrough and Sunderland
and then it might be a different situation.
"It's not easy because United can win games even without
playing well, but there are still 12 games. You cannot say
everything is finished."
(Setanta Sports)
Hughes happy with City efforts
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes was pleased with his
side's showing at Anfield after City battled to a 1-1 draw
against Liverpool.
He said: "I thought we were excellent today. There was drive
and purpose in our game.
"We are disappointed that we did not get all three points
but to come to Anfield and play against a team going for the
Premier League title and get a point was great."
(Sport.co.uk)
Kuyt goal fails
to keep Pool on track
Dirk Kuyt’s equaliser gave Liverpool a point but failed to
keep their title bid on track as a 1-1 draw with Manchester
City at Anfield left The Reds seven points behind the
leaders.
After Liverpool dominated the first half, Craig Bellamy
turned the game on its head against his former side as his
deflected effort put City ahead just after half time.
But while Kuyt popped up in the 78th minute to salvage a
draw for his side, they were unable to find a winner.
(Setanta Sports)
Torres and Kuyt return versus City
Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt lead Liverpool's attack
against Manchester City this afternoon.
The pair scored all three goals as the Reds beat City 3-2 at
Eastlands earlier in the season - and similar heroics may
just be needed today as Rafa and co look to close the
eight-point gap to leaders Man Utd.
The Liverpool XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena,
Carragher Skrtel, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Riera, Kuyt,
Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Aurelio, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, El
Zhar.
(LFC Official Website)
Torres sets sights
on Real success
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has vowed to gun down Real
Madrid in the Champions League and avoid suffering the pain
of 'big game' defeat.
The Reds travel to the Bernabeu in the last 16 on Wednesday
to take on an in-form Real side and Torres is desperate for
victory in the tie.
"If you ever need any incentive on the pitch to give all you
have it is to remember how bad it feels to lose the big
games and the feeling of emptiness in the dressing room
afterwards," the former Atletico Madrid star told the News
of the World.
"That's not something I want to be experiencing again and
that is going to show on the pitch against Madrid."
(TEAMtalk)
Higuain sets sights
on sinking Reds
Gonzalo Higuain is confident in-form Real Madrid can build a
first-leg advantage when they host Liverpool in the
Champions League on Wednesday.
Madrid have been eliminated at the last-16 stage of the
Champions League in each of the last four years but the
team's impressive recent run of success has given hope to
the Whites that they can end that sequence against
Liverpool.
Saturday night's 6-1 home win over Real Betis was Madrid's
ninth consecutive victory and also allowed them to cut the
lead to Primera Liga pacesetters Barcelona to seven points,
with Pep Guardiola's side surprisingly losing at home to
Espanyol.
Higuain, who opened the floodgates against Betis with his
14th goal of the season, was keen not to dwell on that win
though and quickly set his sights on Wednesday's visit of
Liverpool - a game he is convinced Madrid will win.
"Now, after this win, we have to focus on the next game. Now
it's the Champions League and we have to continue like
this," he said.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez ready to walk
out on Liverpool
Rafa Benitez is threatening to quit Liverpool at the end of
the season - after a stunning decision to reject a fourth
contract offer.
Anfield co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett expected
Benitez to sign a new deal on Friday that would keep him at
the club until 2013 - as revealed by Sunday Mirror Sport.
Talks were concluded on Thursday with both Americans
convinced the concessions they had granted over transfer
policy, player and staff contracts and the club's academy
had finally gained Benitez's approval after almost a year of
wrangling.
But less than 24 hours later the two owners were left
"shocked and confused" by the Spaniard's latest refusal to
put pen to paper.
(sundaymirror.co.uk)
Thor Zakariassen
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