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SATURDAY 24 |
Pennant: Rafa confused me
On-loan Portsmouth winger Jermaine Pennant has revealed that
half the players at Liverpool do not understand boss Rafael
Benitez.
The 26-year-old has switched Anfield for Fratton Park for
the rest of the season after being frozen out of the Reds
side.
"I don't know what it is between him and me really, but I
have to say half the players at Liverpool can't seem to work
him out."
"Rafa didn't speak to me very much. I think the last time
was in 2006... only joking," Pennant said.
"Seriously, though, he hardly ever spoke to me apart from
saying, 'Good morning, how are you?' and I sensed I might
not have a future at the club.
"I was training on my own on a Saturday when the rest of the
boys were playing and you can only put up with that for a
certain amount of time before you have to decide what to do.
"Peter Crouch was moved on, and now I have. You can't really
knock Benitez because he has won the Champions League and a
load of other trophies, but I wasn't part of his plans and
it will be nice to be
appreciated again."
(Sky Sports)
Kuyt's agent rejects Juventus talk
The agent of Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has dismissed
speculation his client is on the way out of Anfield and
heading for Juventus.
Reports in Italy have claimed the Serie A side are lining up
the forward as a long-term replacement for 36-year-old Czech
star Pavel Nedved, who may retire from football when his
contract runs out in the summer.
Kuyt has been drafted out wide for the Reds this season,
scoring five goals in 22 Premier League appearances.
But the 28-year-old's agent Karel Jansen said Kuyt hopes to
extend his current contract, which runs out in 2010, and has
been quick to play down a possible transfer away from
Anfield.
"Kuyt is good at Liverpool and until he actually receives an
offer does not think of going elsewhere," Jansen told the
Italian press.
"If you receive a proposal from an important club then you
think of this, but for now there is nothing.
"I do not know anything of this story. At the moment I have
not received any phone call, not from Juventus or anybody.
"We are talking to Liverpool to try and renew his contract."
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool can’t afford
major derby team changes
Rafa Benitez has got to be very careful with his team
selection for tomorrow’s FA Cup derby at Anfield.
I know there’s an important Premier League game coming up at
Wigan on Wednesday but we just can’t afford to make
wholesale changes.
Rafa needs to keep the FA Cup as one of his irons in the
fire this season as we don’t want to end up empty handed.
After recent results our title hopes are looking precarious.
Manchester United have got the bit between their teeth and
it’s going to be very difficult for us to win it from here.
It’s also going to take a huge effort to win the Champions
League.
That makes the FA Cup important and with 6,000 Evertonians
in the Anfield Road End there’s going to be a cracking
atmosphere at Anfield tomorrow.
I just hope Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres
and Pepe Reina all play.
(John Aldridge - Liverpool Echo)
Fowler close to Aussie switch
Robbie Fowler is mulling over a decision to join A-League
side North Queensland Fury after meeting with club officials
in Australia.
The 33-year-old former England international is currently
without a club after his three-month deal with Blackburn was
not renewed last month.
Fowler has been in Townsville this past week to meet
officials of the Fury who are looking to finalise their
squad list ahead of their first ever season in the A-League.
Fury coach, the former Scotland and Rangers midfielder Ian
Ferguson, said Fowler had been impressed by the club's
facilities and that he would make a decision after speaking
to his family.
"He just came over for five days. He wanted to see lifestyle
and I think he liked it," Ferguson told Radio Five Live.
"It's down to if he wants to move and live this lifestyle.
On the football side of things he is reasonably happy, he
likes what we have to offer.
(TEAMtalk)
Insua helps sink Peru
Emiliano Insua helped Argentina to a 2-1 victory over Peru
in the South America U20 Championships on Friday night.
The left-back played 90 minutes as goals from Eduardo Salvio
and Jonathan Cristaldo took Argentina to second in Group A.
Fellow reserve Ronaldo Huth is also at the tournament in
Venezuela and he will line up for Paraguay against Uruguay
on Saturday night.
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 23 |
Kuwaiti group denies Reds reports
A Kuwaiti business group has denied reports it is in talks
with the owners of Liverpool over a possible takeover.
Reds co-owner Tom Hicks had reportedly been in talks with
Kuwait billionaire Nasser Al-Kharafi, who has an estimated
£9bn fortune.
But Kharafi Group vice-president Loay Al-Kharafi has
insisted no talks were held and the reports were incorrect.
(BBC Sport Online)
Rafa has no Gerrard concerns
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists he has no concerns over
Steven Gerrard's focus ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash with
Everton.
Gerrard was in court on Friday as he denied charges of
assault and affray over an alleged nightclub brawl.
The Reds skipper is in line to start Sunday's tie at Anfield
with Benitez insisting the off-field problems have not
affected the England international.
"I was watching him playing five-a-side and he scored two or
three very good goals, so that's very positive. I think he
is okay," said Benitez.
"When you have a responsibilty I think he showed the other
week he is a very good professional, scored a fantastic goal
and he was playing well and I think he will do the same."
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard poised for FA Cup action
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to make changes for
Sunday's FA Cup fourth round home tie with Everton, but
Steven Gerrard is set to play.
Gerrard trained on Friday after his court appearance and is
expected to lead the side at Anfield.
Benitez is likely to recall Javier Mascherano to midfield
after the Argentinian was consigned to the bench for
Monday's 1-1 home league draw between the sides.
Goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri and full-back Andrea Dossena
could be involved. Also in the frame are Ryan Babel, Yossi
Benayoun and Lucas while Daniel Agger (calf) and Alvaro
Arbeloa (hamstring) will have late fitness tests.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio,
Dossena, Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel,
Lucas, Torres, Keane, Riera, Cavalieri, Agger, Aurelio,
Plessis, Ngog.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez 'surprised' by takeover talk
Rafa Benitez admitted ahead of Liverpool’s Setanta Live
clash with Everton that he is totally in the dark about
Friday reports of a takeover.
The FA Cup fourth round tie between Merseyside rivals
Liverpool and Everton on Sunday is live and exclusive on
Setanta Sports. Click here for details on how to sign up to
Setanta Sports on Satellite, Freeview or Broadband.
He did however have one stern warning for Liverpool’s
Merseyside rivals, telling them Steven Gerrard is banging in
the goals for fun ahead of Sunday’s crunch FA Cup fourth
round encounter.
Reports in Friday’s papers had Liverpool discussing a £550
million takeover of the club, but Benitez revealed he was
baffled by suggestions that The Reds are set for Kuwaiti
ownership.
“I was surprised by what I saw in the press this morning,
but I’ve just been focusing on getting my team prepared,”
commented the Spaniard.
(Setanta Sports)
Yobo set for bench role at Anfield
Defender Joseph Yobo could return to Everton's squad for
Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against local rivals
Liverpool at Anfield.
The Nigerian centre-back has missed the last four matches
with a hamstring injury but may get a place on the bench for
the second Merseyside derby in six days.
However, manager David Moyes is likely to stick with the
same side which snatched a late 1-1 draw in the Premier
League encounter at Anfield on Monday.
Key midfielder Marouane Fellaini serves the second match of
a two-game ban.
Toffees (from): Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Lescott,
Neville, Arteta, Pienaar, Castillo, Cahill, Anichebe, Nash,
Van Der Meyde, Yobo, Rodwell, Gosling, Jutkiewicz, Kissock.
(TEAMtalk)
Why Liverpool FC
owners want a takeover
Moves to sell Liverpool to one of Kuwait’s richest families
have been prompted by the need of the club’s American owners
to find a buyer
by July.
That is when the £350m loans owners Tom Hicks and George
Gillett took on when they bought the club two years ago must
be refinanced.
The duo been actively searching for a new owner for months,
but it is understood they have been made aware that the
Royal Bank of Scotland will not refinance the original loan
in the summer.
That loan was extended for six months at the beginning of
the year, but a source close to the deal said: "Hicks has
been told time is running out,
the clock is ticking."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Aston Villa FC agree
fee for Emile Heskey
Aston Villa have confirmed they have agreed a £3.5m fee with
Wigan for former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey.
The England player is due to arrive at the club’s training
ground later today to discuss personal terms but Villa
envisage no problems subject to the 31-year-old passing a
medical.
The deal will see Heskey link up again with Villa boss
Martin O’Neill, under whom he made his name at Leicester.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Gerrard denies assault charges
Steven Gerrard has been bailed to re-appear at Court after
he denied charges of assault and affray at a Magistrates
Court hearing on Friday.
The Liverpool skipper appeared at North Sefton Magistrates
Court early on Friday morning, answering a case for an
alleged incident outside Lounge Bar nightclub in Southport.
Marcus McGee was left requiring hospital treatment following
the December 29 incident, which occurred just hours after
Liverpool’s 5-1 demolition of Newcastle.
Liverpool have not won a Premier League game since that
Newcastle victory, and now Gerrard’s case is set to rumble
on.
The England midfielder will now return to Magistrates Court
on March 20.
(Setanta Sports)
Sami hoping for Sunday best
Sami Hyypia is confident Liverpool will give a better
account of themselves second time around when they resume
derby battle with Everton this weekend.
Hyypia was frustrated with the Reds' inability to hold onto
their one goal lead against the Blues on Monday, as Tim
Cahill headed home a late equaliser to take two precious
points away from Rafael Benitez's men.
With a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup at stake on
Sunday afternoon, the Finnish defender is expecting a
much-improved performance against their city rivals.
"Hopefully we can play our game this weekend, pass the ball
better and create more chances," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds must stop blunders
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has told his players they
must cut out the sort of mistakes that cost the Reds two
valuable points in the Merseyside derby.
There will be a re-run for Liverpool against Everton on
Sunday, this time in the FA Cup fourth round, but the pain
of conceding a late goal in Monday's Barclays Premier League
draw is still felt at Anfield.
Benitez blamed two mistakes - first Yossi Benayoun conceding
a needless free-kick in a dangerous position, and then the
Liverpool defence giving Tim Cahill a free run to score with
a header.
The Liverpool manager told his club's official website: "We
have talked about both things. We had to be careful and not
commit silly fouls, and then after we had to defend the
set-piece.
"Okay, we made the mistake - and maybe we can learn from it
for
the future."
(PA Sport)
Pepe backs Cavalieri
Pepe Reina has backed Diego Cavalieri to impress on Sunday.
Cavalieri is expected to start against Everton in Sunday's
FA Cup fourth round clash and Reina is backing the Brazilian
to shine.
"I would like to play - I would be lying if I didn't say
that - but I think Diego deserves it. I have a lot of
respect for what he is doing," said the Reds' first choice
goalkeeper.
"Diego played a great game against Preston in the last round
of
the FA Cup.
"It is not easy when you are not playing regularly, but he
works really hard and is a great professional."
(LFC Online)
Kuwaiti billionaires line up
£500m bid for Liverpool
Liverpool are engaged in covert talks with one of the
wealthiest families in Kuwait, with a view to the sale of
the club.
The Al-Kharafi family has a collective wealth put at around
£8bn, with the most significant member involved in the
prospective purchase of Liverpool understood to be Rafed
Al-Kharafi, nephew of patriarch Nasser, who was linked with
the potential purchase of Newcastle United last year.
Though it had been thought that Liverpool's current American
owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who have been seeking
a new owner for months now, may have settled on a figure of
£350m – the total sum of the club's debt – it is understood
that they may secure £500m for a sale from
the Kuwaitis.
(The Independent) |
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THURSDAY 22 |
Fowler considers Aussie switch
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has admitted he is
considering a move to play in Australia – but only if his
wife agrees.
The Kop legend, who was released by Blackburn Rovers in
December, has just returned from down under after holding
talks with A League side North Queensland Fury.
The 33-year-old believes he still has a future within the
game, and admits to being impressed by the Queensland club.
Fowler told the official club website: "I have nothing but
good things to go home and speak to my wife about in terms
of the club and facilities.
"Obviously with it being a new club, the drive and the
vision of not only the manager but the chairman and everyone
that is employed with them is unbelievable.
"To say I am impressed is probably an understatement. I have
got a wife and four kids so obviously they are very
important in making the decision."
Fowler earned himself the nickname ‘God’ after two spells at
Anfield, in which he netted 183 goals in 369 games.
"You're not going to come over here for an easy life - the
football is going to be tough," he added.
"I'm fit and I still think I can play at a good level."
(Setanta Sports)
Torres must face Everton
A lot of people are suggesting Rafa Benitez will send out a
very different line up on Sunday for round two of the derby
double.
I expect he will make changes but I hope one of them does
not concern Fernando Torres.
It was very disappointing to see the Spaniard taken off
against Everton on Monday - as it was to see Robbie Keane
withdrawn.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Report: Juve want Kuyt for £28m
Juventus are ready to launch a £28m bid for Dirk Kuyt,
according to frankly unbelievable reports in Italy.
Il Corriere Dello Sport claims that negotiations will begin
next week as Juventus seek a replacement for Pavel Nedved.
(Football 365)
Striker heads back to Holland
Liverpool have agreed a deal for Jordy Brouwer to go on loan
to Dutch outfit RKC Waalwijk for the rest of the season.
The 19-year-old striker has been offered the chance of first
team football with the Jupiler League club, as they bid for
promotion to the top flight of Dutch football.
"I am happy RKC Waalwijk have given me the chance to play,"
Brouwer said.
"I hope I can play a role in a possible promotion to the
Eredivisie."
Brouwer was a regular member of Liverpool's all-conquering
reserve team last season, but he has been unable to break
through into Rafael Benitez's first team plans.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa issues Torres warning
Rafa Benitez today warned Everton that Fernando Torres
is ready to renew his record of scoring in Merseyside
derbies on Sunday.
The Spain international has bagged three in three against
our bitter rivals, though missed a golden opportunity to add
to that on Monday when he hit the post after going
one-on-one with Tim Howard.
It was Torres' first start since November, and Benitez
expects his hitman to be much sharper this weekend following
an intense 85-minute run-out.
"I was impressed with him on Monday. It is not easy to play
in a derby when it is so intense. He was exhausted at the
end but he did well," the boss told Liverpoolfc.tv ahead of
Sunday's FA Cup fourth round clash with David Moyes' men.
"He is very close to full fitness - now it's just about
getting match fitness. He needs to play games."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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