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SATURDAY 24 |
Gerrard: We lacked spark
Steven Gerrard has echoed Steve McClaren's sentiments that
England were not clinical enough in front of goal against
Israel.
England fashioned a number of openings, but failed to find
the net and had to settle for
a point.
Gerrard has admitted that the draw feels like a defeat and
conceded that England's lack of quality in front of goal was
to blame.
"The manager wanted three points and we delivered the clean
sheet but we haven't been clinical enough in front of goal,"
said Gerrard.
"If you don't take your half chances at this level, you
don't deserve to win.
"It feels like a defeat. It's hard to put your finger on why
we are not scoring. You see our players, not just the
strikers but the midfielders, banging in goals week in and
week out at club level.
England fans made their feelings known during and after the
game and Gerrard has conceded the players deserved to be
criticised.
"The fans are disappointed," he added. "We can't get away
from that. We've got to take that on the chin and use it to
try and drive us on in the next game against Andorra.
"It is frustrating to hear it. It is not helping us - but it
is understandable."
(Sky Sports)
Peltier enjoying life with Tigers
Hull City's on-loan Liverpool midfielder Lee Peltier admits
he feels at home at the KC Stadium already.
The 20-year-old has joined Phil Brown's side on a loan deal
until the end of the season.
Peltier could make his debut against fellow strugglers
Southend next weekend and insists he will be using tips
given to him by the likes of Steven Gerrard to help the
Tigers' relegation fight.
He told the club's official website: "Everybody has been
really helpful - the manager, the coaches, the rest of the
players - and because of that I've found it quite easy to
settle in.
"I've learned from some of the best players in the
Premiership in the shape of Steve Finnan and Steven Gerrard.
"Hopefully I'll get the chance to be in the squad soon and
show the fans what I can do."
(TEAMtalk)
Calderon hints at Capello exit
Ramon Calderon has hinted Fabio Capello will leave Real
Madrid in the summer, but refused to confirm Bernd Schuster
would be the replacement.
Capello has endured a fraught tenure since returning to the
Bernabeu last year and is being tipped to move on after just
one season.
Former Real midfielder Schuster, currently in charge of
Getafe, has been strongly tipped to take over, while
Premiership duo Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho have also
been linked with the post.
Real president Calderon admits Capello's stint at the helm
has not gone as planned and commented on the potential
replacements.
"It is true that we have coaches on the list because I
already spoke about Schuster when I was (a presidential)
candidate, but also Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho,"
Calderon told Mexican newspaper Reforma.
(Sky Sports)
England snub frustrates Pennant
Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant finds an ongoing lack of
recognition by England boss Steve McClaren "frustrating".
The former Birmingham and Arsenal player has endured a mixed
start to life at Anfield since being signed from the
midlands club last summer.
However, he believes he has done enough to merit a place
alongside Steven Gerrard, Aaron Lennon and Shaun
Wright-Phillips in the England squad, who face Israel and
Andorra in Euro 2008 qualifiers this week.
"I'm very keen for an England call-up. It's frustrating when
you play for a big club and you're doing well not to get a
chance," he told the club's website.
"I feel as though I have played well for Liverpool this
season and have been involved in all of the games. It was
always going to be hard to settle quickly into a big club
but I am happy with the way things have gone for me. That's
why it's frustrating not to have had a chance yet with
England.
"Some players aren't playing week in and week out and yet
they've been called into the squads. No disrespect to them
at all, but I think I deserve a chance.
"All I can do is keep playing my football and hope for the
call. There's still a lot more to come from me yet and I'll
be a better player again next year."
(TEAMtalk) |
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FRIDAY 23 |
Hicks' vow on ticket prices
Liverpool's new co-owner Tom Hicks has promised he will not
price supporters out of the club's planned new stadium, and
believes the increased capacity will enable the Reds to
offer a "broader menu" of ticket prices.
Hicks' family and that of co-owner George Gillett plan to
hold talks with Reds boss Rafael Benitez after the club's
next match against Arsenal and have promised to help make
them a "dominant" force in the domestic game again.
Increased revenue from the new ground would contribute to
the Reds' spending power in the transfer market but Hicks
insists supporters will not be priced out at the turnstiles.
"As you get into the technology of building a stadium, one
of the things you do is have a broader menu of pricing,"
Hicks said. "You have cheaper seats for people that would be
attracted to that and so there's a way that they can afford
to go.
"And you have special seats and special amenities for people
who are able to pay for that. But there won't be a bad seat
in the house."
(Liverpool Echo)
Praise for Fowler
Gary Ablett praised the performance of Robbie Fowler in the
reserves' 4-1 win over Blackburn last night.
Fowler scored one and set up another for Craig Lindfield
last night and after the match Gary Ablett praised the
striker's performance and attitude.
"I thought the attitude and the commitment was top class but
with this group you don't expect anything less," the reserve
team coach told liverpoolfc.tv.
"Well, what can you say about Robbie. You can't buy the
experience and craft he has and it was just an unbelievably
well taken goal. Even the first goal was absolutely top
class with the way he spotted Craig.
"With Robbie you are talking about one of the best strikers
the game has ever seen and he is great to have around the
dressing room with the way he always lifts everyone.
(LFC Online)
Kewell close to return
Harry Kewell is nearing full fitness again.
The Austrailian international hasn't played for Liverpool
since the FA Cup final last May after picking up an injury
playing for his country in the World Cup. However, the
winger should be ready to return in the next couple of
weeks.
"Harry is getting closer all the time. He's had a long
injury so we have to manage the situation properly, but he
is almost ready," said Rafael Benitez.
"At the moment he can take part in parts of the training
sessions, such as the warm-ups or when we work on passages
of play, and he's probably ten days or so away from being
able to take a full part.
"I would think he will be ready to play football for us
within the next two to three weeks. If he is fit then of
course we can use him. It will be good for us and for him."
(LFC Online)
Fears still haunt Sissoko
Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko has revealed that he is
still having problems with his eye more than a year after
suffering damage to his retina during the Champions League
encounter with Benfica.
The 22-year-old returned to action only one month after
suffering the injury in February 2006 even though at one
time it was feared that he would never be able to play
again.
"My eye is okay, but it's not like before," said the Mali
international. "I still have a problem, particularly when
there's a lot of sunshine.
"Sometimes I get pain and I can't see properly so I have to
make sure I wear sunglasses when it's sunny.
"There was a moment against Manchester United when I was
stood outside their penalty area waiting for the ball. It
had been kicked high up in the air and, as it came down, the
sun caught my eye and I couldn't see the ball properly.
"I lost sight of it for a second and ended up hitting it
straight back up in the air when I had time to control it.
That was a problem, but it doesn't happen too often.
"On the whole, I have to be happy simply because I can play
football again.
(Football UK)
Reds owners plan star talks
Liverpool's new owners are reportedly keen to ensure that
star players such as Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard are
tied to new deals as the historic club enters a new era.
Tom Hicks and George Gillett want to see The Reds compete
with Chelsea and Manchester United, and their plans for the
club include moving out of Anfield and into a larger stadium
to increase revenue.
However, the American duo also want Liverpool to retain the
core of their team and are seemingly planning to tie both
Carragher and Gerrard to long-term contracts under manager
Rafa Benitez.
"That is certainly my goal and Rafa's goal and I think we
will hear that when we meet up shortly," said Hicks in the
Daily Star.
Hicks and Gillett will sit down with Benitez following the
Premiership clash with Arsenal where they will discuss
long-term plans for the Merseyside giants.
Hicks admits he wants The Reds to be challenging for major
honours under their Spanish boss every season.
"The key is to have a smart manager like Rafa who will take
a long-term view of how the club can get better," Hicks
added.
"Liverpool should be a dominant team every year with the
history and fanbase we have and the long-term revenue we
will have."
(Sky Sports) |
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THURSDAY 22 |
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Fowler and pennant shine for Reserves
Fantastic goals from Robbie Fowler and Jermaine Pennant were
the highlights of Liverpool Reserves' 4-1 win over Blackburn
Rovers at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on Thursday night.
Besides Fowler and Pennant, Gary Ablett fielded a very
strong line-up featuring the likes of Jerzy Dudek, Alvaro
Arbeloa, Javier Mascherano, Fabio Aurelio and Bolo Zenden.
Jack Hobbs captained the team partnering Gabriel Paletta at
the heart of the Reds defence.
The attitude of the Liverpool team was superb and Pennant
and Bolo Zenden in particular were in great form, while
Fowler's link-play and movement was quite outstanding.
Zenden and Craig Lindfield scored Liverpool's other goals.
Liverpool Reserves: Dudek (Padelli 60), Arbeloa, Insua,
Hobbs, Paletta, Mascherano, Pennant, Zenden, Fowler,
Lindfield (Anderson 75), Aurelio (Huth 60).
Subs unused: Darby, Threlfall.
(LFC Official Website)
Finnan defends team following Keane comments
Steve Finnan has defended the Republic of Ireland
players and manager Steve Staunton in the wake of Roy
Keane's sweeping criticisms of the current regime.
Keane pulled no punches yesterday in his comments against
the Football Association of Ireland, manager Steve Staunton
and his players.
The Sunderland manager and former Republic captain accused
the FAI and Staunton of settling for mediocrity, while
claiming members of the squad were being selected on past
reputations.
"He is entitled to his opinion," remarked Finnan when asked
about Keane's comments.
"To be honest, I don't think there were too many
celebrations over in San Marino.
"It obviously wasn't a good result, not the one we were
looking for. We just got the job done.
"But we didn't celebrate as if we had qualified or anything
like that. We were just grateful to win the game."
Despite Ireland's turbulent start to the campaign, Finnan
insists everyone within the Ireland camp is pulling in the
same direction.
(Ireland On-Line)
I'm not leaving
Rafa Benitez today underlined his long-term commitment to
Liverpool by stating: “I’m going nowhere - I'm determined to
stay.”
In what will come as a huge relief to the Reds following
more worrying speculation concerning Real Madrid, Benitez
says he has no intention of walking away from the club.
His vow comes after a long chat with owner George Gillett
and Tom Hicks over the weekend, when the manager was further
reassured of the direction of the club.
“It’s clear I have always wanted to stay and now I’m even
more determined to stay,”
said Benitez.
(Liverpool Echo)
Sir Bobby reveals his love for Bellamy
Republic of Ireland's international consultant Sir Bobby
Robson believes Craig Bellamy's fiery temperament is what
makes him the special player that he is.
The pair will come face-to-face in Dublin on Saturday when
Ireland take on Wales in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
It will be the first time their paths have crossed since
Robson was Bellamy's manager at Newcastle and the 74-year
old admits he's always been a big fan of the Liverpool
striker.
"I got on with him. He was a fiery character, and I had my
little spats with him, but nothing too serious," he says
ahead of the Croke Park showdown.
"I dealt with him - manager to player - and he didn't get
under my skin at all. But because he is fiery, that sparks
his ability into life.
"But because he is fiery, that sparks his ability into life.
"I loved him at three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, as
did Alan Shearer and everybody else. He was a great player
for us, and he was very popular. But then he was popular at
Celtic and at Blackburn, and I think he has done okay at
Liverpool.
"With Wales, he is a danger to Ireland."
(LFC Official Website)
Grobbelaar criticises Rafa
Bruce Grobbelaar has criticised Rafael Benitez's rotation
policy.
The former Liverpool goalkeeper has criticised Benitez for
fielding weakened teams in the League Cup and FA Cup.
"The new board and the fans must remind him that the FA Cup
is one of the biggest cups - that was a disgrace the way the
team was changed around," said Grobbelaar.
"With a rotation system you have to win all the time. You
can't just go out there and lose, then play the next team
and win and then rotate back to a losing side. That is what
was happening at the start of the season."
(LFC Online)
Gonzalez thanks Kewell
Mark Gonzalez has thanked Harry Kewell for helping him cope
with injury.
Gonzalez's first season as a Liverpool player has been
disrupted by frequent injury. It's been a frustrating time
for the Chilean winger but he has revealed how Harry Kewell
has helped him through it.
""Harry has talked to me about it because he has suffered in
the same way since he came here," said Gonzalez.
"He knows just what I am going through. Harry has helped me
a lot."
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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