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THURSDAY 24 |
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Garcia boost for Reds
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's worries over his
injury-hit squad have been eased with the news Luis Garcia
came through a training session with Spain ahead of this
weekend's international against China.
The winger, who struggled through the second half of
Sunday's Merseyside derby victory with an ankle injury,
could be the Reds' only available forward when the league
programme resumes against Bolton on 2 April .
Fernando Morientes was also injured in that match while
Milan Baros is set to serve a three-match suspension after
being sent off against Everton.
(TEAMtalk)
Biscan preparing for Anfield exit
Igor Biscan today admitted he's unsure what his future holds
- but he's vowed to end the season on a high and help
Liverpool qualify for next season's Champions League.
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "The way things are looking now I
think I'll be leaving at the end of the season. I want to do
well for myself over the rest of the season and in doing so
I'll do well for the team. If I'm going to leave the club
then it's important I play games to show the other teams
what I am capable of.
"I am happy with the way this season has gone for me. I had
a chat with the manager before Christmas and he told me I
wasn't in his plans. In that situation you need to think
about your future but I never thought about leaving. Even
though I wasn't guaranteed first team chances, I didn't want
to go. I wanted to stay until the end of the season to do my
best if games did come along for me."
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: Why I want to stay at Liverpool
Rafael Benitez last night revealed how the support of the
Anfield boardroom has convinced him to stay at Liverpool for
the next five years.
The Liverpool manager distanced himself from a return to
Real Madrid last week amid reports he is the Spanish club's
second choice to replace Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
Speculation surrounding an early Anfield exit has not halted
in Spain, however, with former club Valencia, who recently
sacked Claudio Ranieri, and Deportivo La Coruna both
reported to be Benitez admirers.
But the Liverpool manager has reiterated his desire to
remain on Merseyside - and insists support for his long-term
vision makes Anfield a more attractive proposition than any
Spanish club.
"It is very nice that every so often my name is being
mentioned with several different clubs in Spain," said
Benitez..
"But I can tell the Liverpool fans I have no intention of
leaving - I have a five-year contract and intend to stay for
it."
(Daily Post)
Pellegrino: I still need to improve
Mauricio Pellegrino has insisted he has still to recapture
top form since joining Liverpool from Valencia in January.
The Argentinian defender was impressive alongside Jamie
Carragher in the derby win, when Benitez elected to leave
Sami Hyypia on the bench.
But Pellegrino said: "I know what my best is, and it's not
here yet. Yes, I've been happier with how I've played in the
last three games, but I need to still improve.
"I feel I still need to know a lot more about my opponents
and my teammates. You never stop learning, no matter how
long you've been in the game. You can improve every time you
play."
"I'm not thinking about what will happen with me ahead of
next season," he said. "All that's important is Liverpool
win, catch Everton and finish in the top four.
"We're all very happy to have performed so well in such an
important and difficult match on Sunday. This should give us
confidence for the rest of the Premiership campaign."
(Daily Post)
Hamann to miss Juve match
German team doctors have confirmed Dietmar Hamann
will be out for three weeks with the knee injury sustained
against Everton, ruling him out of the Champions League
quarter-final first leg against Juventus.
Luis Garcia, however, may be fit to face Bolton. The
midfielder was expected to be out for a fortnight with an
ankle problem but has not given up hope of making his
international debut for Spain against China or Serbia in the
next week.
(Daily Post) |
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WEDNESDAY 23 |
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Carragher's England dream still alive
Jamie Carragher is hoping to prove to Sven-Goran Eriksson
that he merits a place in England's World Cup squad.
Carragher is keen to impress in training and on the rare
occasions he features in Eriksson's side, as in last month's
friendly against Holland when his performance received
widespread praise.
"I just hope I can keep playing well, keep scratching into
the squads, and who knows what happens?" the Liverpool
defender told the club's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.
"We really believe we will qualify for the finals in Germany
and I think we have got a terrific chance when we get there.
"Centre-half is such an important position in any side and
to be blessed there like we are is a real bonus to be taking
into any tournament.
"My ambition is to be part of that. I missed out on Japan
because of injury and I'd really like to make up for that.
"I've just got to keep playing and hope I can be part of the
squad, and then who knows? I've got England caps, so I can
dream a bit more, can't I?"
(Football 365)
Cisse could return early
Reports in France suggest that Djibril Cisse may make a
brief return to first team football before the end of the
season.
The Liverpool striker was immediately ruled out for the year
after sustaining a horrific injury against Blackburn Rovers
in October.
In the aftermath of the serious blow it was revealed that
the tibia and fibula break could have ended his career,
although the French international could now be in line for
an emotional return to action this season.
The former Auxerre man, who moved to Anfield in the summer,
started jogging in March and now reports suggest that he
could appear for a few minutes in the closing days of the
Premiership season.
Cisse will be keen not to rush back to action too early, and
should really hit the comeback trail in time for next
season.
(Sky Sports)
Stars to back Emlyn cause
The name of football legend Emlyn Hughes will live on after
former colleagues launched an appeal in his memory.
A charity tribute night will be held to commemorate the
former Formby resident who died last November from a brain
tumour at the age of 57.
Money raised will fund a Sunshine coach to enable
disadvantaged children in the region go on school trips.
Liverpool Former Players' Association will join forces with
the city's Variety Club to throw a fundraiser in Emlyn's
name.
Together, the fundraisers hope to raise more than £20,000
for the project.
His widow, Barbara, has backed the idea for a coach bearing
her late husband's name.
(icLiverpool)
Forgotten Diarra hoping to cut Anfield
ties
Liverpool's forgotten midfielder Alou Diarra has announced
he has no plans to return to Anfield this summer.
French international Diarra was signed on a free transfer
from Bayern Munich in July 2002 but incredibly has never
been involved in an Anfield fixture since.
He was immediately loaned out to La Havre by Gerard Houllier
in 2002, then Bastia for the 2003-04 season and last summer
signed a 12-month loan agreement with Lens.
The midfielder has flourished at Lens and earned
international recognition for France in World Cup qualifiers
against Ireland and Cyprus last October.
That raised the possibility of actually playing for his
employers next season under Rafael Benitez. But last night
Diarra admitted he wants to secure a permanent move to Lens
when his loan deal expires at the end of this campaign.
"I have found a well-balanced life here," said the
23-year-old. "Lens are ambitious and it is due to this club
that I have become an international player.
"Perhaps an agreement can be found between Liverpool and
Racing. I hope so because it would be sad not to be a part
of this adventure."
(Daily Post) |
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TUESDAY 22 |
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Reds confirm triple blow
Liverpool have confirmed that injured trio Fernando
Morientes, Dietmar Hamann and Stephen Warnock will be out of
action for up to three weeks.
The three key players picked up knocks in the first half of
the bruising 2-1 win over Everton on Sunday and have now
been ruled out of the crucial Premiership showdown with
Champions League-chasing Bolton on 2 April.
Morientes has a thigh tear, Hamann has a medial ligament
injury in his knee and Warnock sprained his ankle. Hamann
and Warnock are now also major doubts for the Champions
League clash with Juventus on 5 April - a game for which
Morientes is cup-tied.
And with Milan Baros serving a three-match ban, Rafael
Benitez has no fit frontline strikers for the Trotters game.
In-form Luis Garcia is a likely candidate to play up front -
although he also picked up an injury against Everton - while
Vladimir Smicer and Anthony Le Tallec will also come into
the equation.
(TEAMtalk)
Baros sorry for tackle on Stubbs
Liverpool striker Milan Baros has apologised for the tackle
on Alan Stubbs that led to his sending off in Sunday's 2-1
win over Everton.
Baros' knee-high challenge earned him a straight red card,
but the 23-year-old insisted it had been unintentional.
"I wanted to kick the ball away - I closed my eyes and ran
for it and unluckily I hit his knee," said Baros.
"I am sorry. I appreciate it looked furious on television
but I didn't want to knowingly foul him."
"My challenge was a red card. If we hadn't won, I would have
felt guilty for that, but my style of playing is based on
aggression."
(BBC Sport Online)
Hamann praises Carragher
Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes team-mate Jamie
Carragher would a great club captain.
The former Bayern Munich and Newcastle United player was
full of praise for the centre back's performance in their
crucial 2-1 victory over Merseyside rivals Everton.
"Carra is the sort of player who always leads by example and
he turned in another top performance against Everton,"
Hamann said.
"No one should be surprised by that. He does it all the
time.
"He may be a bit of an unsung hero to some, but no one in
the dressing room underestimates his value to the team.
"You always know what you are going to get from him. You can
depend on him
in any situation."
(Sky Sports)
Defender unlikely to sign for Rangers
Gregory Vignal is unlikely to sign a permanent deal with
Rangers when his loan deal ends after talks over a contract
broke down.
Vignal is out of contract with Liverpool in the Summer and
was expected to remain with the Scottish giants after his
loan deal ended. However, a transfer is now unlikely after
contract talks broke down over personal terms.
Vignal was offered a three year deal but his agent, Philippe
Flavier, says the French defender was not impressed by the
terms on offer.
"There has been no progress at all. I think the talks have
come to a full stop," said Flavier.
"We met with Rangers for the second time and there was no
movement.
We are both very disappointed because he loves playing for
Rangers and is very happy with the coach but we have no
choice.
"Now I will work with other interests because we have time
before May.
(LFC Online)
Chester targets Reds' goalkeeper
Chester City have revealed they are hoping to sign young
Liverpool goalkeeper Paul Harrison before Thursday's
transfer deadline.
Harrison recently returned from a loan spell with Leeds
United and could now be heading to the Deva Stadium if both
clubs can agree a deal this week.
"I have spoken to Paul's agent and hopefully we can conclude
a mutually beneficial deal prior to Thursday's deadline,"
said City chairman Stephen Vaughan.
"Paul has been a regular with Liverpool's reserve side, and
he is a player whom we would like to be a part of our
future."
(LFC Official Website)
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Thor Zakariassen
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