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SUNDAY 24 |
Boss: It's been
a bittersweet season
Rafa Benitez admits it has been a bittersweet season for
Liverpool despite a record points haul in the Barclays
Premier League.
The Reds lost just twice in accumulating 86 points but it
wasn't enough to overhaul champions Manchester United.
And after Sunday's 3-1 victory over Spurs, Benitez spoke of
the 'challenge' facing Liverpool in the transfer market this
summer as they seek to go one better in 2009-10.
"It's both pride and disappointment," the boss told
reporters. "We have to be proud because when you talk about
86 points, it's massive. But still it's not enough to win
the title. Clearly we have to improve and be almost perfect
if we want to win the title.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa's tribute
to 'idol' Sami
Rafa Benitez claimed Liverpool were losing an 'idol' after
Sami Hyypia's tearful goodbye in front of the Kop.
The 35-year-old came on wearing the captain's armband for
his final five minutes at Anfield as the Reds secured second
place with a 3-1 victory over Spurs.
Hyypia then broke down before being held aloft by his
teammates as the Kop sang his name.
"I am really pleased for him but a little bit sad because
we're losing a fantastic professional, a good player and a
good person too,"
said Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Sami signs off in style for Reds
Liverpool claimed runners-up spot in the Premier League and
denied Tottenham European football after a 3-1 victory at
Anfield on Sunday.
Their unbeaten home stretch was extended to 30 games as Sami
Hyypia bid a tearful farewell to Anfield after 10 years at
the club.
The ovations were for the veteran Finn and a Liverpool side
who had pushed Manchester United all the way in the title
race.
Their goals came from Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and an
own goal from Alan Hutton, with Robbie Keane scoring for
Spurs on his return to Anfield.
(TEAMtalk)
Hyypia on bench
for Kop farewell
Sami Hyypia is among the substitutes as the Kop prepares to
bid farewell to a legend this afternoon. You can listen to
Liverpool v Spurs in full on our Match Day Live show now.
The big Finn is likely to come off the bench at some stage
for what will be his last game for Liverpool before joining
Bayer Leverkusen.
Meanwhile, Alvaro Arbeloa misses this end of season finale
through injury.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Skrtel, Carragher, Agger,
Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Benayoun, Gerrard,
Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Degen, Ngog, Insua, Hyypia, Riera, Lucas.
(LFC Official Website)
Report: Alonso to hand in
transfer request at Liverpool
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is reportedly prepared to
shock the club by handing in a transfer request.
The News of the World claims that the Spanish international
will leave Anfield this summer and is ready to hand manager
Rafael Benitez a written request.
Alonso’s future has been the subject of much debate since
last summer, when Liverpool began a long and drawn-out chase
for Gareth Barry.
(Goal.com) |
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SATURDAY 23 |
Davies still in Anderson hunt
Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies has not given up hope of
landing Paul Anderson this summer.
The winger spent the 2008/09 campaign on loan at the City
Ground from Liverpool, and made 28 appearances for the club
are as they successfully avoided relegation from the
Championship.
Having impressed during his time on Trentside, Forest were
keen to make his move permanent during the off-season.
However, their plans were thrown into jeopardy when second
tier rivals Swansea saw an offer accepted last week.
"We are still interested in Paul and it is not out of our
hands (regarding Swansea's accepted bid)," he told the
Nottingham Evening Post.
"We will be seeing what we can do and will sit down and
discuss the situation with Paul and talk to him about it.
"We will see what happens. We plan to speak to him when he
returns from his holiday."
(Sky Sports)
Bruce targets
Pennant for Wigan
Steve Bruce has admitted he wants to offer Jermaine Pennant
a Premier League lifeline as Wigan prepare to say farewell
to Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia.
Bruce has checked on the out-of-favour Liverpool winger
three times during his loan stint with Portsmouth, who are
unlikely to offer him a full-time deal.
And the Latics boss is hoping to get a close-up of Pennant,
26, in action when Pompey visit the JJB Stadium tomorrow.
Bruce worked with Pennant at Birmingham and although the
player gained notoriety when he had to play wearing an
electronic tag following a drink-driving conviction in 2005,
Bruce has not forgotten his talent.
He said: “If the inevitable happens with Valencia then I
need to be looking in that area.
“Jermaine did particularly well for me and he is a player I
like.”
(Daily Star)
Rafa: we are
one of Europe's best
Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool have firmly established
themselves as one of the biggest forces in European
football.
Although the Reds will end the season without any
silverware, the Anfield boss feels Liverpool's strong title
challenge demonstrates the quality of his side and admits he
is pleased with the progress the team has made
in 08-09.
Benitez is now looking to sign off from the campaign in
style with a victory over Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday to
ensure the Reds end the season with a total of 86 points -
their best ever tally in the Barclays Premier League.
"I think that we are clearly one of the top sides in Europe
now," he said.
"We have shown this in the Champions League in recent years
and now we have shown it in the Premier League by staying so
close to Man United until the very end and this means that
we have really improved.
"We will not win any trophies but it has still been a very
good season and we have shown the progress that the team has
made."
(LFC Official Website)
Perez election
could unsettle Alonso
Unlike former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, Real Madrid
presidential candidate Florentino Perez knows what it takes
to win an election.
Nine years ago, the billionaire managed to oust serving Real
president Lorenzo Sanz despite the fact that Les Meringues
had added European Cups numbers seven and eight to their
honours board in the previous three seasons.
Perez’s pledge to sign Luis Figo from rivals Barcelona was
enough for him to win the day and unlike so many electoral
promises, the businessman was as good as his word.
Which is what makes his pursuit of Xabi Alonso so worrying.
What Perez wants he usually gets, even when it involves
paying world record fees, causing uproar in Spain or making
some of Europe’s biggest clubs appear powerless to stop his
quest for continental domination.
In previous years Juventus were unable to hold on to
Zinedine Zidane when Perez came calling, Inter Milan were
forced to concede defeat in their battle to hold on to
Ronaldo, Manchester United lost David Beckham and Michael
Owen’s head was turned so much by what the Real president
was offering him that he walked out on Liverpool and headed
for the Bernabeu just 24 hours before the Premier League
season began.
(Liverpool Echo) |
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FRIDAY 22 |
Youngsters crash to Gunners defeat
Liverpool's Youth Cup dream hangs by a thread after they
were beaten 4-1 by a stylish Arsenal side in the first-leg
of the final at the Emirates.
Hugh McAuley's men struggled to cope with the home side's
potent attacking play throughout and now have it all to do
in Tuesday's second-leg at Anfield after goals from Giles
Sunu, Jack Wilshere (pen), substitute Sanchez Watt and
Jay-Emmanuel Thomas put the Gunners in control.
Alex Kacaniklic did pull a goal back for the Reds with a
superb right foot volley but, in truth, the Gunners were
worthy winners on a night rich with flowing football.
Liverpool under 18s: Dean Bouzanis, Karl Clair, Daniel
Ayala, Joe Kennedy, Andre Wisdom, Chris Buchtmann, Steven
Irwin, Tom Ince, David Amoo, Alex Kacaniklic (Nathan
Eccleston 63), Lauri Dalla Valle (Jack Robinson 80).
Unused subs: Deale Chamberlain, Michael Roberts, Alex
Cooper.
(LFC Official Website)
Fergie 'surprised' by Benitez snub
Sir Alex Ferguson is surprised not to have received any
congratulations from Rafael Benitez over Manchester United's
Premier League title win.
After a prolonged battle for the championship, Benitez
pointedly refused to give Ferguson any personal praise,
preferring instead to acknowledge Manchester United as a
club.
The Liverpool boss is still aggrieved at some of the main
arguments in his infamous 'Rafa's rant', namely that
Ferguson is allowed to behave in a manner other managers
would not get away with.
Still, it seemed churlish in the extreme for Benitez not to
at least offer his rival a pat on the back for his 11th
league title.
Ferguson was certainly pretty taken aback by such conduct,
even if his feud seems to have superseded his long dispute
with Arsene Wenger.
However, with a Champions League final against Barcelona to
look forward to next Wednesday, the United chief was not in
the mood to extend the matter further.
"I was surprised," said Ferguson. "But really, it was a
great season for us and I am not that worried about anyone
else."
(TEAMtalk)
Ex-Red Keane
looks to Europe
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Keane will return to Anfield
this Sunday in the final game of the season with only one
thing on his mind – claiming three points for Tottenham and
helping them into a Europa League
(UEFA Cup) spot.
Spurs must get victory against the Reds this weekend and
hope that Fulham lose to Everton at Craven Cottidge to edge
into the Premier League’s qualification places for the
Europa League.
Keane left Liverpool in January after just six months on
Merseyside, returning to White Hart Lane.
“There is a chance and we’re more than capable of going
anywhere and getting three points,” he said.
“Fulham have had a tremendous season. It’s going to be
tough, we know that, but we’ll concentrate on what we have
to do and hopefully Fulham will slip up.
“It’s been an up and down season for everyone but we’re
still pushing for Europe so in the end it’s been okay but we
want to push on. Next season will be a massive season for
us.”
(This is Anfield)
Benitez cools Alonso speculation
Rafael Benitez has moved to cool speculation that Xabi
Alonso is
leaving Liverpool.
The Liverpool manager has reacted to suggestions that the
Spanish midfielder will play his last game for the club on
Sunday at home to Tottenham before moving on.
Claims that Real Madrid will bid for Alonso should
Florentino Perez win the club's presidential election next
month have prompted fears that Alonso will be sold for
£20million-plus to help fund Benitez's transfer targets.
This opinion was fuelled when Benitez pulled out of his
weekly media conference at short notice.
But Benitez has now said: "It's very clear, Xabi has three
years left and we do not want to sell him."
Benitez has also hit out at frenzied transfer speculation
around the club.
He said: "When you know your targets then you read things
you can say, 'they have no idea'.
"I don't waste too much time on this. We have already had
about 90 Spanish players linked with us. Today there were
three names we do not even know.
"We have some money, not big money. But for me now it is not
about how much, but how good they are for us."
(PA Sport)
Lennon missing for Anfield date
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon has a groin problem and will
miss Sunday's Premier League clash against Liverpool at
Anfield.
Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee)
will need a late check, while Darren Bent (knee) has only
just returned to training.
Michael Dawson (ankle), Tom Huddlestone (knee) and Jamie
O'Hara (knee) are out and Wilson Palacios is on
compassionate leave.
Tottenham (from): Gomes, Cudicini, Corluka, Hutton, Bale,
Chimbonda, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate, King, Zokora, Bentley,
Jenas, Modric, Keane, Campbell, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko,
Bostock, Gunter.
(TEAMtalk)
Thor Zakariassen
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