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FRIDAY 24 |
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Chelsea semi at Old Trafford
Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea will be staged
at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium.
The game will take place on Saturday April 22, kick-off
5.15pm and will be screened live by BBC television.
The other semi-final between West Ham and Middlesbrough or
Charlton will take place the following day at Villa Park.
(LFC Official Website)
Spurs deny trying to sell Defoe
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has denied Rafael Benitez's
claim that Spurs want to offload Jermain Defoe.
Liverpool boss Benitez said the London club were "desperate
to sell" the England striker.
But Levy responded: "There is absolutely no basis, let alone
any element of truth, in Benitez's claim that we are looking
to sell Jermain."
Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse's agent suggested the
Frenchman could move to Spurs, with Defoe going to Anfield.
However, Tottenham manager Martin Jol has said he is not
interested in signing Cisse.
Benitez said: "Spurs are desperate to sell Defoe, they're
trying to sell the player and Cisse is in the middle.
"But he is our player - and at the moment I am happy with my
strikers. Spurs talk about Cisse, they are desperate to
sell."
(BBC Sport Online)
Rafa: Spurs desperate to sell Defoe
The Liverpool boss, speaking on the eve of the 203rd
Merseyside derby at Anfield, made his revelation just 24
hours after Spurs boss Martin Jol denied any interest in
signing Reds striker Cisse.
Cisse's agent reported this week there was a failed
transfer-window deadline-day move from Spurs to sign the
Frenchman - adding negotiations may resume in the summer,
with the possibility of a swap deal with Defoe.
Benitez has shed a new light on the situation, though,
saying: "They [Spurs] are desperate to sell Jermain Defoe,
and Cisse is in the middle.
"But he is our player - and at the moment I am happy with my
strikers. They [Spurs] talk about Cisse, they are desperate
to sell."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez plays down Blues clash
Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez says he is not expecting
another war of words with Chelsea's Jose Mourinho after the
FA Cup draw pitted the giants against each other in the
semi-final.
The Liverpool boss was also not surprised to find his side
drawn against Chelsea, with the other tie seeing West Ham
take on the winners of Charlton and Middlesbrough.
"I don't think so, it depends if they talk about us or do
the same as us and respect the other teams," Benitez added.
"If you win trophies or win games you need to play the best
teams, Chelsea are one of the best teams in England, it's
normal in the semi-final or final you are against them.
"It's normal when you are winning games, at the end you need
to play against the best teams, I think it will be a
difficult game for us but also for them.
"At the end it is a cup tie and you can win but after you
need to play against another team that will be really
motivated.
"The first thing is to think about our game but you need to
play a final if you win.
"For our clubs it is more important to talk about the club
than managers.
"For us it is the possibility to win another trophy this
year and we will try to do it."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool face Chelsea in Cup
The FA Cup draw has pitted favourites Chelsea with Liverpool
as the top two in the hat came out together.
The winners of the Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic
replay will face West Ham.
Former Crystal Palace star Geoff Thomas conducted the draw
at The FA's Soho Square headquarters.
"It's unbelievable," Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson stated.
"It's going to be an absolutely top match.
"Liverpool have come back into goalscoring form and are
peaking at the right time. I predict Liverpool to win."
Thompson is convinced that the victors will deserve to lift
the trophy in May.
"Without a doubt Chelsea or Liverpool, when they get to the
final, they will be up for it. They won't be complacent at
The Millennium Stadium in the FA Cup final."
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino revealed he is keen
for the big game to played at Villa Park.
The ties will be played at neutral venues, which have still
to be confirmed.
(Sky Sports)
Benitez expects derby classic
Rafa Benitez today predicted a derby classic at Anfield, but
warned his Liverpool side were 'facing a different team to
the one we beat at Goodison'.
Liverpool comfortably beat their neighbours in the first
meeting in December, but both clubs are currently in buoyant
mood.
After seeing the Reds plunder 15 goals in their last three
games, Benitez knows hopes are high for another scoring
spree at Anfield.
But he recognises the task against David Moyes' side will be
vastly different to those faced in the last seven days.
"We know it's not going to be the same in the derby," said
Benitez.
"It should be a good derby with good football. We are
playing a team which, like us, is in form, is scoring goals
and has a lot of confidence."
Djimi Traore is the Reds' main injury concern ahead of
tomorrow's game with damaged knee ligaments.
(Liverpool Echo)
Kirkland out for the season
West Brom goalkeeper Chris Kirkland will miss the club's
run-in after suffering a broken finger in training.
Kirkland, who is on a season-long loan from Liverpool, has
fractured the tip of his index finger and is expected to be
sidelined for six weeks.
The 24-year-old has made 10 appearances for Bryan Robson
side's this season.
"I'm disappointed and upset," Kirkland said. "It's ruled me
out from the rest of the season and any chance I had for the
World Cup, which was already slim."
The broken finger is the latest in a long list of problems
for the former Coventry stopper that includes ankle, finger,
wrist, kidney and back injuries.
Although surgery is not required, he is unlikely to have the
chance to impress England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson before
the World Cup squad deadline on 15 May.
(BBC Sport Online)
Reina leads Liverpool close to record
Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina hopes to edge closer to the
club record for clean sheets in a season when he steps out
at Anfield on Saturday for the 203rd Merseyside derby.
The 7-0 thrashing of Birmingham in the FA Cup quarter-finals
on Tuesday was the club's 30th clean sheet of the season and
the first time such a total has been achieved in 22 years.
Three times in the past Liverpool have amassed their record
34 clean sheets in a season, the last being 1983-84 when
Bruce Grobbelaar was in goal.
Their latest clean sheet was also only the seventh time in
the club's history that 30 has been reached, and Spain
international Reina is clearly intent on adding another
against Everton.
(Daily Post)
Reds meet Man City in final
Liverpool will play Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup
final.
Liverpool booked their place in the final when they overcame
Southampton on penalties last week after a 4-4 aggregate
draw. Man City booked their place as the Reds' opponents
last night when they held Newcastle to a 1-1 draw to give
them a 4-3 aggregate win.
The final is a two legged affair but the dates of the game
and who will play the home leg first has yet to be decided.
(LFC Online) |
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THURSDAY 23 |
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Jol: No interest in Cisse
Tottenham manager Martin Jol has unequivocally denied any
interest in signing Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse.
The Frenchman's agent claimed this week that Spurs made a
bid to sign his client during January's transfer window.
However, Jol has stressed that he is not keen on landing the
former Auxerre attacker when the window reopens at the end
of the season.
"No," he told Sky Sports News, when asked if he was
interested in the player.
"Not at all."
However, Jol did intimate that Cisse's name may have cropped
up during January's discussions.
"I can be honest about it," he explained. "Everybody knows
we were looking to get someone in on loan last January.
"Of course, all the names were there - we have lists.
Somebody will have mentioned him. But nothing came of all
the other players on the list and I made a decision we would
be fine with Mido, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe."
(Sky Sports)
Sissoko wants derby role
Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko is targeting victory
against Everton to cap a remarkable week in which he
returned to action early from a career-threatening eye
injury.
After making his return in the 7-0 midweek FA Cup mauling of
Birmingham - where he had to wear Edgar Davids-style red
protective glasses - the 21-year-old now has the 203rd
Merseyside derby in his sights.
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa backs Sissoko to shine
Rafael Benitez believes that Mohammed Sissoko will become
one of the greatest midfielders in the game.
Sissoko returned to the Liverpool first team in Tuesday's FA
Cup tie at Birmingham, and insisted on playing on despite
having problems with the safety glasses he was advised to
wear.
"What pleased me most about Tuesday's game wasn't just the
victory or the goals, it was to see Momo Sissoko playing
again," said the Liverpool boss. "He was training all week
with the special glasses, but during the game they began
steaming up so he had more problems.
"He decided to take them off but wanted to continue playing.
This shows how much courage the boy has. There was an
element of risk in him playing without the glasses, but he
has a strong character and he is a winner.
"For sure he can become one of the best midfielders around
because he is so good mentally and in terms of ability. Look
at his performance on Tuesday. There were times when he was
determined to make key tackles and he's always working for
the whole game."
(LFC Online)
£100million boost for Morgan
Multi-millionaire Steve Morgan looks set to
become around £100million richer after whispers suggest he
has received an offer in excess of 800p per share for his
13.4pc stake in Warrington-based leisure and hotels group De
Vere.
(Kop Talk)
Spanish midfielder denies Liverpool
rumours
Everton's Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta says he isn't set
for a controversial switch to Anfield in the summer.
The 23-year-old (24 in a few days) has been linked with the
Reds so he was asked by Sky Sports if it was true a deal
could around the corner.
He said: "No way. No. There has been so much speculation as
well, people in the street have been asking me about it.
"I'm really honest in saying I'm not going there. Definitely
not."
(Kop Talk)
Fowler could be handed a derby return
Rafael Benitez is contemplating handing Robbie
Fowler an emotional recall against Everton this weekend.
The Liverpool striker was cup-tied for Tuesday's FA Cup
quarter-final at Birmingham City, in which his teammates
rattled in a record-breaking seven goals without reply.
Fowler saw Peter Crouch scored twice while Liverpool's other
senior strikers Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cisse also
found the target, with Benitez's side now having racked up
15 goals in their last three games.
Fowler was instead in action for the reserves against Wigan
Athletic on Monday night, and netted during a 45-minute
run-out.
The 30-year-old made only a fleeting appearance in the win
at Newcastle United on Sunday but has been regularly
involved in Liverpool's Premiership games since arriving
from Manchester City in January.
And Benitez could now be prepared to give Fowler a first
start in a Merseyside derby since the clash at Goodison in
April 2001.
(Daily Post) |
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WEDNESDAY 22 |
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Parry: No investment imminent
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry says that the club has
not agreed a deal that will see a new investor brought in
and sadly he claims nothing is lined up either.
The wallet insists the hunt will go on though as it remains
"a very high priority". The good news is that Rafa should be
around to see what transpires.
Parry said: "The decision by Rafa Benitez to commit his
future to Liverpool FC demonstrates clearly that club and
manager are bound together by the same vision."
(Kop Talk)
Ferguson ready, Weir warns derby rivals
David Weir has warned Liverpool that Duncan Ferguson is
straining at the leash to be released in Saturday's
Merseyside derby.
Ferguson is available for the weekend trip to Anfield having
completed a seven-match suspension following his sending off
at Wigan on January 31.
The 34-year-old has not scored this season but has proven a
problem for Liverpool in previous derbies ever since netting
against them on his Everton debut in 1994.
Ferguson, who is currently suffering from a bout of illness
that has affected a number of Everton players over the last
few days, is almost certain to be on the bench at best of
Saturday.
But club skipper Weir is convinced his fellow Scot can make
an impact should he be feature at Anfield.
"Duncan will be looking forward to being involved again,"
said Weir.
"He has not played for seven weeks, and everyone knows how
big the derbies are for Duncan and the club."
(Daily Post)
Agent confirms Liverpool transfer talks
The agent of Valencia defender Fabio Aurelio has confirmed
that he is talking to the Reds about a possible summer
transfer.
Reports yesterday claimed that a deal had been agreed but
that isn't the case although it looks likely that the
26-year-old will become a Red.
Agent Juan Rigger said: "Talks are underway with Liverpool
and things are going well, but still the deal is not
finalised."
Valencia's sporting director Javier Subirats added: "In this
moment, we have presented an offer to player and, until now,
we have not had a response."
Aurelio is available on a free transfer.
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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