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FRIDAY 24 |
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Rafa wanted Diarra to remain a Red
Lens chairman Gervais Martel has revealed that Liverpool
fought hard to try and persuade Alou Diarra to return to
Anfield even though the player never figured for the Reds.
Diarra had a superb season on loan at Lens last season
prompting them to make a £2million offer for his services.
That was was eventually accepted and the rest is now
history.
However we were surprised to see Diarra leave after
monitoring his progress but at least now we know Rafa was
prepared to give him a chance. With the player not wanting
to give it a go, there was little Rafa could do.
Martel said: "The process lasted longer than was first
expected. We seized the option, but everyone had to agree to
it.
"Liverpool chased after the player and Alou thought about
other propositions he had received. But I was confident as
he gave me his word."
(Kop Talk)
Parry confident of Gerrard solution
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is confident Steven
Gerrard will lead the side out when they begin the defence
of their Champions League title at Welsh side TNS.
UEFA's decision to allow the holders into the competition
despite finishing fifth in the Barclays Premiership was
tempered by the fact they had to begin in the first
qualifying round.
That is just over a fortnight away but with speculation
still circulating about Gerrard's future Parry was keen to
stress he believed the England midfielder would commit
himself to the club by signing a new contract.
(Daily Mail)
Reds close in on Dutch striker Kuyt
Liverpool's hopes of landing top striking target Dirk Kuyt
have increased significantly.
Sources in Holland claimed the Feyenord striker had
travelled to Liverpool to progress negotiations over his
dream move to Anfield.
Feyenoord rate Kuyt in the £10m bracket, but the Reds are
hoping to persuade the Dutch to accept a player-plus-cash
deal.
(Liverpool Echo)
Diarra is happy at Lens
Former Liverpool midfielder Alou Diarra is convinced staying
with Lens is the best way for him to secure a place with
France at the World Cup.
The 24-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Lens, put
pen-to-paper on a four-year contract with the northern
France side on Thursday.
Diarra earned his first three caps with Les Bleus between
October and March while playing at Lens and he believes that
staying in France was the best choice for him.
"Staying at Lens was a great way for me to keep playing for
Les Bleus," said Diarra in L'Equipe.
"The French team is my objective."
Diarra, who was given the captain's role once this season,
feels at home with Lens.
"I feel so happy with this team," he added.
"The public and the players like me, I made my international
debut while playing here and the coach was kept on (for next
season), all these factors played an important role.
"We have a great potential which should allow us to compete
at the top next season."
(TEAMtalk)
TNS thrilled with Liverpool tie
TNS have hailed their money-spinning Champions League first
qualifying round draw against holders Liverpool.
"You couldn't write a story like this - a village team from
Wales playing the European champions," said TNS boss Ken
McKenna, a lifelong Everton fan.
"I would have preferred to get someone a lit bit easier so
we could still be in when the big clubs like Everton come in
in the third round!"
(BBC Sport Online)
Parry pleased with TNS draw
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said it was pleasing to
be drawn against Welsh side TNS in the first qualifying
round of the UEFA Champions League.
Chief executive Parry said that the draw for both the
opening qualifying rounds had been kind to the club,
especially in terms of travelling.
"We are pleased I think," Parry told Sky Sports News.
"Mainly because it's not too far to travel, and it couldn't
be better in that respect. It's also a tie with a bit of
romance that will capture the imagination."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Reds in for Sevilla youngster
Young Sevilla right-back Antonio Barragan is on the verge of
a move to Liverpool, according to the Spanish club's
director of sport Ramon Rodriguez.
Barragan, who has just turned 18, has not made an appearance
for the Primera Liga club's first team, but he caught the
attention of Anfield boss Rafael Benitez with a series of
superb displays for the Sevilla youth side.
It seems that former Valencia coach Benitez is now poised to
complete the deal, after Barragan rejected the chance to
sign a professional contract in Seville.
"He has been negotiating with Liverpool for the past six
months," Rodriguez told reporters on Friday.
"The FIFA rules regarding young players who do not have
professional contracts have favoured us on many occasions
and this time it is Liverpool who have taken advantage of
them to take the player.
"We tried to keep him, but the player has freely chosen
another route. We have looked after him, but he has decided
to leave Sevilla."
(Sporting Life)
Reds handed Welsh tie
Liverpool will start the defence of their UEFA Champions
League crown against Total Network Solutions.
Just a month after lifting the trophy in a memorable night
in Istanbul, Liverpool were in the pot for the first
qualifying round being drawn in Nyon.
Rafa Benitez's side were fearing a massive trek to the far
flung outposts of Europe, but their first qualifying game
will be against the Welsh minnows.
The holders will start their defence on July 12 or 13 with
the first leg played at Anfield, with the return - which
could be staged at The Millennium Stadium - to be played a
week later.
The Welsh champions had offered to face the European
champions for their place in the competition, when it was
unclear whether The Reds would be allowed to defend
their trophy.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
United rule out Owen swoop
Manchester United have no plans to make a move
for Real Madrid duo Michael Owen and Iker Casillas,
according to assistant coach Carlos Queiroz.
The 25-year-old England forward has been linked with a
return to the Premiership after failing to command a regular
first-team place with the Spanish giants last season.
United's official website even conducted a poll to see
whether former Liverpool star Owen would be welcome at Old
Trafford, with almost two thirds of those responding saying
yes.
Just under 2,500 fans voted, the site declaring "63% of
readers feel the England striker is just the man to give
United the cutting edge in front of goal that was so
conspicuously lacking last season".
However, Queiroz has poured cold water on speculation that
Sir Alex Ferguson is eyeing a transfer swoop for Owen.
When asked by Radio Marca in Spain whether United were
interested in Real keeper Casillas or Owen, Queiroz replied:
"I admire Casillas but he is not in the plans of Manchester
United. Owen does not interest us either."
(TEAMtalk)
Diarra ties up Lens switch
Lens have completed the signing of Alou Diarra on a
four-year contract from Liverpool, according to club website
www.rclens.fr.
Midfielder Diarra spent last season on loan with Lens and
earned his first cap for France in what was a successful
campaign on a personal level.
The 24-year-old never played a first-team match for
Liverpool and also had loan spells with Le Havre and Bastia.
(Sporting Life) |
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THURSDAY 23 |
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Rafa: Keeper deal close
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has said a deal to sign a
new goalkeeper is near to completion and is believed to be
Jose Reina from Villarreal, according to Spanish news agency
Efe.
Reina has been heavily linked with a summer move to Anfield
and has been quoted as saying it would be a dream move.
Arsenal have also been linked with Reina.
Liverpool have yet to confirm anything about a move for the
player but Benitez is quoted as saying: "There are various
keepers we have been following. Reina is one of them. We are
near but it's still to be confirmed."
The Liverpool manager has until July 6 to sign players who
are eligible to take part in the first qualifying round of
the Champions League. The draw for the first and second
qualifying rounds take place on Friday morning.
(LFC Official Website)
Dudek keen to stay with Liverpool
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has no plans to quit the
club - even if boss Rafael Benitez signs a new goalkeeper.
Dudek's heroics helped Liverpool beat AC Milan in the
Champions League final but Benitez is reportedly keen to
sign Villarreal keeper Jose Reina.
Dudek said: "I have got a contract with Liverpool for
another two years.
"I accept there is competiton for my place but I want to
stay at Anfield. I want to wear the number one shirt and
help Liverpool win the Premiership."
(BBC Sport Online)
Freedom honour for Jamie
Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher is to be granted the
freedom of Sefton.
Councillors are expected to formally agree to the honour at
a meeting next Thursday, although the award is understood to
have already won support of party leaders.
The borough's highest honour is being given in recognition
not only of Carragher's sporting achievements, but also for
his continued involvement with local charities and junior
footballers.
The rare award will be bestowed by the new Mayor of Sefton,
Cllr John Walker, a keen Liverpool fan.
The 27-year-old was a key part of Liverpool's Champions
League winning team.
Carragher, who lives in Blundellsands, is a former pupil of
St Joan of Arc primary and Savio High, Bootle.
He is expected to be in England's team in next year's World
Cup in Germany and is regarded as one of Europe's best
defenders.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds close to Kuijt move
The Dutch Telegraph, "De Telegraaf" have reported that
Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuijt is on his way to Liverpool.
Feyenoord have apparently resigned themselves to losing 29
goal man Kuijt, who is top of Rafa Benitez wanted list.
(18-5.com)
Reds start at Riverside
Liverpool will start the 2005/06 F.A. Barclays Premiership
season at the Riverside stadium away to Steve McLaren’s
Middlesbrough on Saturday, August 13th.
This morning the Football Association released the full
provisional Premiership fixture list for next season. Dates
and kick-off times are subject to change due to television
rights, police issues and match clashes.
Other exciting fixtures from the opening day of the season
include Arsenal at home to Newcastle, Everton against
Manchester United and Premiership newcomers Wigan at home to
champions Chelsea.
Liverpool’s first home game of the Premiership season will
be against Sunderland on August 20th.
It will be Christmas Merseyside Derby with the Reds
travelling to Goodison Park
on 28th December.
(This is Anfield) |
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WEDNESDAY 22 |
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UEFA respond to Czech complaint
After receiving a complaint from the Czech FA regarding
Salvia Prague's loss of seeding due to Liverpool's
inclusion, UEFA have stated that they will not reverse their
decision to let the title holders defend their trophy.
The compaint was made because Czech side Slavia Prague will
not be seeded in the third qualifying round should Liverpool
make it that far.
Before UEFA allowed Liverpool into the competition, Slavia
Prague would have been seeded and therefore receive a
potentially much easier tie.
UEFA communications director William Gaillard said on the
subject:
"This was never going to be a win-win situation for
everybody. We have tried to find a solution that is the best
but it's obvious there will have to be some sacrifices.
"We are sorry about that but it is only for this year, the
executive committee have made their decision and that's
final."
(Shankly Gates)
Shabby way to treat Reds
I cannot believe the way Liverpool are being treated by the
powers that be in the north west.
The news this week that a £23m grant won't be given to the
club seems, at first glance, baffling.
If the Northwest Development Association are going to help
Liverpool in other ways which are still as valuable to the
club, then maybe all will still be okay.
The club has not yet commented and it will be interesting to
hear what they think about the stadium situation now.
But, to me, it seems the NWDA are suggesting there is no
public benefit in Liverpool FC building a new stadium in
Anfield and therefore they don't feel it's right to cough up
a penny.
What planet are these people living on?
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
New Anfield faces second cash blow
Liverpool's ambition to build a new football stadium faced
another funding setback today.
Days after the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) refused
to hand over £23m of a government grant for the stadium
project, it emerged that Merseyside's Objective 1 programme
may withdraw its financial offer.
It had already agreed to give Liverpool its own £9m grant
towards the cost of the stadium and associated developments
around Stanley Park in Anfield.
But it will now reconsider that decision at a monitoring
meeting scheduled for next month.
Objective 1 programme director John Flamson said the crunch
time would be the meeting scheduled for July 20.
Liverpool FC Chief executive Rick Parry has not commented on
the funding issue since the ECHO first broke the NWDA story
on Monday.
(Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool seeding angers Slavia
Slavia Prague have protested to UEFA about Liverpool's
admission to next season's Champions League which looks
certain to deprive the Czech side of a seeding in the third
qualifying round.
"We have lost our seeding now for the third preliminary
round and could face Manchester United, for example," Slavia
spokesman Alexander Kliment told Sky Sports News on
Wednesday.
UEFA director of communications William Gaillard confirmed
that the Czech Football Association had contacted the ruling
body.
"We have had very preliminary discussions over this and we
are seeking a solution," Gaillard told Reuters.
"At this stage we don't know exactly what they want, they
have only mentioned the seeding issue and not spoken about
our decision allowing Liverpool back in to the competition."
He said a Slovakian team would also lose their seeding
because of Liverpool's return, though it is not yet known
which side will be affected as their season has not
finished.
(Soccernet)
Reds would avoid Euro big guns
UEFA have confirmed that Liverpool will be among the eight
top seeds if they qualify for the group stages of the
Champions League.
Rafael Benitez's men first have to overcome three qualifying
rounds before they reach the lucrative group stages, but if
they do get there then they will avoid Europe's big guns in
the draw.
Arsenal and Manchester United will also figure among the top
eight seeds, but Chelsea face the prospect of drawing a top
European side as their UEFA coefficient is only high enough
to place them in the second group of seeds.
Liverpool have no 'country protection' in this season's
competition and so could be drawn into Chelsea's group. The
Reds could even face Everton in the third qualifying round
of the competition.
Everton are ranked 42nd in UEFA's club coefficient list and
so would be in the fourth and lowest group if they were to
qualify.
Top group of seeds assuming Liverpool, Man United and Inter
Milan qualify for group stages (UEFA coefficient in
brackets):
1 Real Madrid (Spa) 131.326, 2 Barcelona (Spa) 117.326, 3 AC
Milan (Ita) 121.191, 4 Liverpool (Eng, title-holders)
115.864, 5 Manchester United (Eng) 110.864, 6 Inter Milan
(Ita) 101.191, 7 Bayern Munich (Ger) 97.166, 8 Arsenal (Eng)
93.864.
(LFC Official Website)
Why Gerrard gossip is all hot air... or is
it?
These are desperate times for soccer writers in urgent need
of a page lead. Sitting before a gaudy computer screen
contemplating plenty of nothing is hardly conducive to good
digestion, or staying in the sports editor's good books.
Which is probably why so many stories about Steven Gerrard
continue to flow, all of them linked in one way or another
by a glaring lack of credible facts.
One, this week, under the heading 'Gerrard the bait as Rafa
tempts Real', was a classic of its kind.
Appearing in the Daily Mail, it offered a whole gravyboat of
sources but hardly anything approaching real meat.
One source said this. Another said that.
A third said something else. But like the ubiquitous Beirut
taxi driver, beloved of frantic foreign correspondents, not
one of the deep throats possessed a name.
(Len Capeling - Daily Post)
Gerrard's ready to sit down and talk
Steven Gerrard will sit down with Liverpool officials next
week to discuss a new contract.
The Anfield skipper's future has been the subject of
constant speculation since lifting the European Cup last
month, despite his declaration in the Istanbul aftermath
that he wanted to stay at the club.
But Gerrard - who returns with his team-mates for pre-season
training on Monday - is now ready to set in motion
negotations over an improvement on his current deal, which
has two years left to run.
Chelsea have been long-time suitors of the 25-year-old while
reports from Spain suggest Real Madrid are preparing a
mammoth £35million deal to tempt Liverpool into parting with
their most prized asset.
Anfield manager Rafael Benitez has constantly said he wants
Gerrard to remain at Liverpool, saying at the weekend that
he wants to build a team around the midfielder who he backed
to become the most successful captain in the club's history.
And Gerrard's move to start talks will be a hugely
encouraging sign to Benitez as he attempts to build a squad
capable of challenging for the Premiership title in the
coming season.
(Daily Post)
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Thor Zakariassen
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