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TUESDAY 24 |
Benitez delighted by Voronin impact
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was full of praise for Andriy
Voronin after he starred in the 3-1 Asia Trophy win over
South China in Hong Kong.
The Ukraine international, a free transfer from Bayer
Leverkusen this summer, completed his first full 90 minutes
for his new club in front of 36,000 fans.
He won a penalty, put away by Xabi Alonso, and produced a
work rate in intense heat that impressed Benitez, who
witnessed further goals from Daniel Agger and John Arne
Riise.
Benitez said on Sky Sports 1: "Voronin has started well for
us. He has 'game', intelligence and he has fitted well into
the side.
"It is early for him, but we knew he was a very good player
and, when you have better players around, normally you play
better."
(TEAMtalk)
Victory and Final in Asia
Liverpool maintained their one hundred per cent pre-season
record with a hard-working 3-1 victory over South China in
Hong Kong today.
Goals from John Arne Riise, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger
secured Rafa Benitez’s side a place in Friday’s Asia Trophy
final against Portsmouth.
(Liverpool Echo)
Kewell returns, Torres out
Harry Kewell has been handed his first start of pre-season
in this afternoon's Barclays Asia Trophy match against South
China.
The winger joined up with his teammates following
Australia's Asia Cup defeat to Japan on Saturday.
Fernando Torres, who has been struggling with an ankle
injury, will play no part. Ryan Babel and Steven Gerrard are
also missing, meaning Jamie Carragher will wear the
captain's armband.
The team in full is: Carson, Arbeloa, Riise, Carragher,
Agger, Alonso, Sissoko, Kewell, Benayoun, Crouch, Voronin.
Subs: Reina, Martin, Finnan, Hyypia, Pennant, Kuyt,
Threlfall.
(LFC Official Website)
Kewell joins squad
Harry Kewell has linked up with the Liverpool squad in Hong
Kong.
Kewell is in Hong Kong with the first team squad following
Australia's exit from the Asia Cup at the hands of Japan at
the weekend. The Liverpool winger has trained with the squad
and may get a run out against South China this afternoon.
(LFC Online)
Steve Finnan: I can’t wait to sign new Anfield deal
Liverpool defender Steve Finnan has welcomed extra
competition for places at Anfield after committing himself
to the club for the rest of
his career.
Rafa Benitez has spent heavily this summer, shelling out a
club-record fee for striker Fernando Torres and also
bringing in Ajax’s Ryan Babel and West Ham’s Yossi Benayoun.
That has given the squad a fresh impetus and Finnan, who is
likely to compete with Alvaro Arbeloa for the right-back
slot now the Spaniard has settled in properly having joined
from Deportivo in the January transfer window, believes that
can only be good for the club.
“I have been here four years now and during that time a lot
of players have come and gone,” he said.
“It is a squad game now and competition for places is never
a problem but I am confident I can continue to hold down a
regular place in the side.”
The 31-year-old, currently with the Reds in Hong Kong to
compete in the Barclays Asia Trophy, yesterday agreed a new
three-year deal which he hopes will see him end his career
on Merseyside.
“I cannot wait to sign the contract once we are back home,”
said the Republic of Ireland international.
“I am in my thirties now and there’s no doubt in my mind
whatsoever that this is where I want to play for the rest of
my career."
(Liverpool Echo)
Fear of title failure drives Carragher
Jamie Carragher admits the fear of missing out on an elusive
title triumph will be driving him on for the remainder of
his Anfield career.
The Liverpool defender believes the next four years of the
contract he signed over the summer will probably determine
if he ever claims a Premier League winner’s medal.
Like Steven Gerrard, it’s the one major honour which he
hasn’t won, and that’s a reality which continues to haunt
him.
Carragher, who will skipper the side against South China in
Hong Kong tonight, is confident of a stronger challenge this
season, but has warned against the perils of
over-expectation.
“I think about missing out on winning the title all the
time,” he said.
“I know I’ve got plenty of years left in me at Liverpool,
but even when you’re at your peak, you start thinking about
the time it may start going the other way.
“When I get to the end of this contract, if we still haven’t
won the title, it’s natural I’ll be starting to worry about
how many chances I’ll have left.
“I’m desperate to realise that ambition of winning a
Premiership medal during the course of this contract."
(Liverpool Echo) |
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MONDAY 23 |
Ferguson furious over Heinze situation
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has spoken of his
anger at the situation with Gabriel Heinze and Liverpool.
The Reds saw a bid rejected for the Argentinean
international last week, despite meeting the valuation that
United said would secure his release in a letter to Heinze's
agent, but Ferguson does not want to sell to Liverpool.
He said today: "We are examining some of the statements
coming from his agent and when contact was first made with
Liverpool. We are not happy with the agent's conduct in the
matter.
"We're are examining that as well, but it will take a couple
of days before we have anything more to say."
"Gabriel Heinze will not be joining Liverpool," he added.
(Shankly Gates)
Gerrard confident over Benitez signings
Skipper Steven Gerrard is confident Rafael Benitez's summer
spending spree will see Liverpool mount a concerted title
challenge this season.
Backed by the funds of new owners Tom Hicks and George
Gillett, Benitez has spent a considerable amount of money in
bringing Spain striker Fernando Torres, Dutch starlet Ryan
Babel and West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun to Anfield over
the summer in a bid to bridge the gap to Manchester United
and Chelsea.
"I'm really pleased with the standard of players the manager
has brought in," said Gerrard.
"I think he has brought in quality players, big name players
who can help."
(PA Sport)
Reds in hunt for Real starlet
Reports in Spain suggest Liverpool are pushing hard to
secure the services of another Spanish youngster, Real
Madrid's Javi Garcia.
The 20-year-old defensive midfielder, part of the Spain side
that won the Under 19 European Championship in 2006, has
spent the last five seasons at Real having joined from a
regional side in his hometown
of Murcia.
Highly rated within the corridors of the Santiago Bernabeu,
he was expected to graduate to Real's first team last
season, but found his progress blocked by the summer
signings of Emerson and Mahamadou Diarra.
As a result he spent the campaign with Real's B side,
Castilla, and is now reported to be anxious for a chance to
prove himself at first-team level.
(Sky Sports)
Torres refuses to set goal target
Fernando Torres has refused to set himself a goal target and
says it's more important for Liverpool to work together to
create openings.
Torres, who was reputed to have cost around £20million to
prise from Atletico Madrid, insisted it was not just down to
him to fire Rafa Benitez's men to the Premier League title.
"The more goals I get the better but it's not just about me
scoring goals," he said.
"I don't have a number in mind.
"It's about the team working together to score more goals
and the more we work the better we will be.
"But it's a great opportunity for me."
(TEAMtalk)
Parry seeks to expand Red army
Lucrative pre-season tours may help but only winning
trophies will truly boost a club's worldwide appeal,
according to Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry.
The Reds arrived in Hong Kong over the weekend ahead of the
Premier League Asia Cup, which also features Portsmouth,
Fulham and
South China.
"Nothing boosts your fan-base like success," Parry told the
club's official website.
"Had we been successful in Athens (in last season's final)
then no doubt our fan-base would have been swelled even
further."
(Sporting Life)
Insua lifts World Cup
Emiliano Insua has helped Argentina win the under 20's World
Cup.
The Liverpool left-back, who has been a regular in the
Argentinian side throughout the tournament, played the full
90 minutes as Argentina came from 1-0 down to beat the Czech
Republic 2-1 and lift a record breaking sixth under 20's
World Cup.
(LFC Online)
Rafa confirms Heinze interest
Rafael Benitez has publicly confirmed his interest in
Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze.
Speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong, ahead of
Liverpool's first game in the 2007 Barclays Asia Trophy,
Benitez revealed the Reds have made an offer for the
Argentine international.
This offer was rejected by United but the Anfield boss is
not giving up on the deal.
He said: "We made an offer which they rejected. The lawyers
are now working on it and so we have to wait. He's a good
player."
(LFC Official Website)
Finnan agrees new Reds deal
Liverpoolfc.tv can reveal that Steve Finnan has agreed a new
three-year deal with the club.
The Republic of Ireland international will complete the
formalities of the contract when he returns from Liverpool's
two-game tour of Hong Kong.
Right-back Finnan has been a Reds player for four years now,
during which time he has made 182 first team appearances.
He follows in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard, Jamie
Carragher, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina and Momo Sissoko in
pledging his future to the club this summer.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SUNDAY 22 |
Babel puts club before country
Liverpool new-boy Ryan Babel claims he has risked his
chances of playing for Holland at Euro 2008 by joining the
Reds this summer.
The 20-year-old winger was part of the Dutch squad at the
recent UEFA Under-21 Championships in his homeland but his
international career could now stall after he moved to
Anfield for £11.5million.
Holland coach Marco van Basten wants his young players to
remain in the Eredivisie but Babel admits the offer from
Liverpool was too good to turn down.
"Van Basten spoke to the squad before the Under-21
Championships and said it would be best for players to stay
in Holland if they wanted to go to Euro 2008," revealed
Babel.
"But, if I'm honest, his words did not even enter my mind
when Liverpool said they wanted to sign me.
(Clubcall Sports)
Mass hysteria greets Reds in Asia
Liverpool Football Club have arrived safely in Hong Kong for
the 2007 Barclays Asia Trophy amid scenes reminscent of
Beatlemania.
Their British Airways flight from Heathrow touched down
around 1.30pm local time and waiting for them at the airport
were hundreds of Liverpool-crazy Asian supporters.
Mass hysteria greeted the players as they made their way
through security and posed for photographs.
Banners in honour of Momo Sissoko and Fernando Torres were
prominent while the highest-pitched screams were reserved
for Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Rafa Benitez.
A coach was then waiting to whisk the team off to the hotel
which will be their base for the next six days.
The Reds will train at the Mongkok Stadium later this
afternoon, before attending a Barclays Reception this
evening.
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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