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SUNDAY 24 |
Bellamy hits back in Newcastle row
Craig Bellamy believes there are people at Newcastle who do
not want him to be successful - and has hit back at Toon
coach Terry McDermott.
The Liverpool striker was branded an "upstart" by McDermott
- himself a former Anfield favourite - after the midweek
clash between the clubs.
Bellamy said: "The circus was in town on Wednesday. There
was always going to be something from them (Newcastle), but
it doesn't bother me. Not at all.
"I was half expecting something because I know they are
hurting, my being at Liverpool is hurting them.
"This is the club I have always wanted to play for and maybe
there are people who are not too happy about that.
"I'm sure there are people there (at Newcastle) who don't
want me to succeed here, because it reminds them every time.
"It was a ridiculously cheap fee I went to Blackburn for,
it's not nice for me to be remembered for that. What was it,
about £3.75million? That hurts. I know that, but that is the
game we play."
(TEAMtalk)
Galatasaray beaten
Liverpool's Champions League opponents this week suffered
their first defeat in the Turkish league yesterday away at
Trabzonspor.
Liverpool's Turkish opponents lost 3-1 away with Hakan Suker
their only goal-scorer.
Galatasaray have had an indifferent start to the season as
they aim to defend the title they won last season - their
first in four seasons in Turkey.
Although fourth in the league, the club have registered just
10 points from 7 games, with only 2 victories amongst them.
They have drawn four times.
The reds omens against Galatasaray are not good.
We have met twice before, in the group stages of the
Champions League in 2002 - drawing 0-0 at Anfield and 1-1
away 6 days later. The reds lost 2-1 in the Amsterdam
Tournament a year later to the side.
Liverpool's only two goals against the Turkish side were
both scored by Emile Heskey.
(anfield-online)
Rafa: No concerns over Craig
Rafa Benitez insists he has no qualms about playing fiery
striker Craig Bellamy against Galatasaray in the UEFA
Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Welsh international was involved in a bust-up with
Newcastle assistant boss Terry McDermott in midweek in a
confrontation that led the Magpies coach to brand him a
'little upstart'.
With the Turkish outfit visiting Anfield on Wednesday in
what could be an explosive atmosphere on Merseyside, Benitez
claims he sees no difference between Bellamy's behaviour and
that of club stalwarts Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
"Craig is controlling his temper all the time and I don't
have any problem with him for Wednesday," said Benitez in
the Daily Star.
"He's doing a very good job for us and to me he's a normal
player.
"I can't see a big difference in terms of behaviour and
temper between Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Craig."
(Sky Sports)
Early kick offs annoy Rafa
All these early kick offs are hampering Liverpool's
pre-match preperations says Rafael Benitez.
Liverpool have kicked off at 1.30pm against Everton and
Chelsea and at 12.45pm against Sheff Utd, West Ham and Spurs
with next week's game at Bolton also kicking off at 12.45pm.
The Reds won't play at the traditional time of 3pm until
Blackburn come to Anfield on October 14th and Rafa Benitez
admits to being annoyed with all these early starts.
"It's too soon for us to be continuously given early times
to play in a row. This doesn't give you a lot of time to
prepare the players in the way you prefer," says the
Liverpool boss.
"I can't understand the fixtures in general. The person who
arranges them must be a genius. In Spain, you play every
team in the same order in the first half of the league and
the second part."
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 23 |
Rafa content with display
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has declared himself content
with his side after they claimed a 3-0 victory over
Tottenham.
"In the first half we were searching for space and the right
pass, but after the break we started with a much higher
tempo. That was the key.
"After they made that mistake with the missed chance, we hit
them on the counter attack and from then on we got better
and took control."
(Sky Sports)
Jol rues Jenas miss
Martin Jol was left to rue a horrendous miss by Jermaine
Jenas after watching his side go down to a 3-0 defeat at
Liverpool.
"It is the same story. We created a lot of chances, should
have been ahead before they scored, and then lost our
concentration and composure in defence," lamented Jol.
(Sky Sports)
Kuyt: Jenas miss was key to victory
Goalscorer Dirk Kuyt admits a glaring miss by Jermaine Jenas
was the turning point in Liverpool's 3-0 victory over Spurs
at Anfield.
"We had a difficult day, we had to work really hard for the
3-0," said Kuyt.
"Spurs are a very good team and they played well first half.
In the second we did well, created chances and got the
goals. That's the main thing.
"The game changed when they missed the open goal and we
scored straight after. It was not so funny for them."
(TEAMtalk)
Reds sweep aside Spurs at Anfield
Goals from Mark Gonzalez, Dirk Kuyt and John Arne Riise
ensured Tottenham's poor start to the season continued with
a 3-0 defeat at Liverpool.
Spurs spent heavily in the summer but have lost four of
their first six league games and must wonder just what has
gone wrong for a side who so nearly qualified for the
Champions League last season.
Liverpool will not be bothered by the Londoners' woe,
however. They go into their Champions League clash with
Galatasaray in fine form.
They toiled somewhat in the first period as Benitez
maintained his rotation policy - no doubt with Wednesday in
mind - by leaving out Jamie Carragher, Luis Garcia and Fabio
Aurelio from the side that beat Newcastle in midweek.
Riise returned after an ankle injury. Also recalled were
Sami Hyypia and Mark Gonzalez. The Liverpool manager has now
made 19 changes in six Premiership games this term.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds to face Reading in cup
Liverpool have been handed a home tie against Premiership
newcomers Reading in the third round of this season's
Carling Cup.
The tie will be played at Anfield in the week commencing
October 23.
(LFC Official Website)
The full draw is as follows:
Wycombe v Doncaster
Sheffield United v Birmingham
Leicester v Aston Villa
Watford v Hull
Leeds v Southend
Chesterfield v West Ham
Notts County v Southampton
Newcastle v Portsmouth
Charlton v Bolton
Liverpool v Reading
West Brom v Arsenal
Port Vale v Norwich
Everton v Luton
MK Dons v Tottenham
Crewe v Manchester United
Blackburn v Chelsea
Riise and Hyypia return against Spurs
John Arne Riise and Sami Hyypia will return to the Liverpool
side for today's Premiership clash with Tottenham Hotspur at
Anfield.
Hyypia will replace Jamie Carragher, while Riise comes in
for Fabio Aurelio. Rafa has opted to stick with Dirk Kuyt
and Craig Bellamy up front and Mark Gonzalez gets a start in
place of Luis Garcia.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Riise, Hyypia, Agger, Gerrard,
Sissoko, Gonzalez, Alonso, Kuyt, Bellamy. Subs - Dudek,
Aurelio, Crouch, Carragher, Garcia.
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 22 |
Danny on Anfield return
Danny Murphy is hoping he gets to make what would only be
his second return to his former Anfield stage when we take
on Liverpool in the early afternoon kick-off on Saturday.
The midfielder departed from Liverpool for Charlton Athletic
in the summer of 2004 after spending seven years at the club
he supported as a boy. His one return so far came just two
months after his leaving when John Arne Riise and Luis
Garcia sealed a 2-0 win for the home side.
"Anfield holds fantastic memories for me and it is somewhere
where I've had many good times. I always enjoy going back,
it is an excellent place to play, the pitch is always
wonderful and they have good fans. You also play against the
best players and that is always a challenge when you play
the top teams.
"It was unusual when I did go back before, but now more time
has lapsed I will be more relaxed as I remember feeling
quite uptight about it. I am really looking forward
to this one."
(Tottenham Hotspur - Official Website)
Babayaro charged over Kuyt clash
Newcastle defender Celestine Babayaro has been charged with
violent conduct for an incident involving Dirk Kuyt during
Liverpool's 2-0 win at Anfield on Wednesday.
The incident, when Babayaro appeared to catch the Dutchman
with his arm after a corner, was not seen by the match
officials but was caught on video.
A statement from the Football Association confirmed:
"According to fast track procedures for such cases, along
with the charge Babayaro has been offered the automatic
penalty of a three-match suspension. He has until 6pm on
Monday 25 September to respond to the charge."
An independent disciplinary commission will hear the charge
next Tuesday.
(The Daily Mail)
Jol wary of Kuyt threat
Martin Jol insists Dirk Kuyt is one of the best strikers in
Europe ahead of Tottenham's clash with Liverpool at Anfield.
Jol knows all about the talents of compatriot Dirk Kuyt and
the Spurs coach admits he tried to buy him last season.
The 26-year-old striker's reputation was hardly enhanced
during the World Cup finals in Germany but that did not stop
the former Feyenoord striker moving to Merseyside in a £10
million deal during last month.
Kuyt netted his first goal for his new club in Wednesday's
2-0 win over Newcastle and Jol is positively gushing in his
praise for the player he has to stop on Saturday.
Jol said: "I said last year, when nobody knew him, that he
was a '20-20' player - 20 goals and 20 assists a season. In
Europe there is maybe no-one else who is a '20-20' player.
"We came very close to signing him and everybody knows him
now. He is the best character you can have. He works, he can
head the ball, he can score goals - not like David Ginola or
even Robbie Keane - but he is so functional in his way."
(TEAMtalk)
Reds forced to wait on Pennant
Liverpool hope winger Jermaine Pennant will be fit to face
Tottenham in on Saturday after missing Wednesday's victory
over Newcastle.
The former Arsenal midfielder pulled out of the game after
suffering a twinge in the warm-up but boss Rafael Benitez
has said it is not too serious.
John Arne Riise, who suffered a recurrence of an ankle
injury at Everton a fortnight ago, is able to warm-up with
the team but the game may come too soon.
The Reds have no fresh injuries as a result of the Newcastle
game but Harry Kewell (groin) remains a long-term casualty.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Aurelio,
Pennant, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard, Kuyt,
Bellamy, Dudek, Warnock, Hyypia, Zenden, Gonzalez,
Crouch, Fowler.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez: We need to earn our Spurs
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez claims his side's
impressive record against Tottenham will have no bearing on
Saturday's Barclays Premiership clash at Anfield.
The London club have not won at Anfield in the league since
1993, losing eight and drawing four of their last 12 visits.
The Reds beat Spurs 1-0 with a Harry Kewell goal on their
last meeting in January but Benitez feels the change in
personnel at both clubs since will make for a different
game.
The Spaniard said: "If you change three, four, six players
each year it is another kind of game, another situation.
"Each year is different. It is a new team and a different
season. It will be a tough game but we need to keep the
momentum."
(PA Sport)
Cisse a month away from fitness
Cisse, who joined Marseille on a season-long loan from
Liverpool in July, has set his sights on returning in the
Ligue 1 match against champions Lyon on October 21.
"That is my challenge," Cisse told French newspaper L'Equipe
on Friday. "But we shall see as I have been injured for
three and a half months."
The 25-year-old Cisse broke his leg during France's last
warm-up game for the World Cup finals against China on June
7, but has started jogging and will begin light training
soon.
This is the second time in two years Cisse has been
sidelined with a broken leg following a horrific break
during a Premier League game against Blackburn in October
2004, although the France international remains positive.
"What happens makes you stronger. You have to put things in
perspective," he said.
(Eurosport)
Henry reveals Liverpool affection
Arsenal attacker Thierry Henry claims that he would have
liked to represent Liverpool, had he not become such a firm
favourite in North London.
Speaking at the launch of 'Impact Art', a charity which
looks after seriously ill young adults, the Frenchman
admitted he could never play for another Premiership side.
However, he does respect Liverpool and made the revelation
that, had things worked out differently, he could have been
an Anfield idol.
"I could never play for another English club after spending
so long at Arsenal but, maybe, if there could ever have been
another team, it would be Liverpool," he told The Mail.
"I say them because I would have loved to play with Steven
Gerrard and then also I love their fans.
"There is something special about Anfield which is amazing
and, when I see The Kop with their scarves in the air,
singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone', that is awesome."
(Eurosport)
Spurs striker ruled out of Anfield meeting
Tottenham have been dealt a further injury blow with coach
Martin Jol confirming that £10.8million striker Dimitar
Berbatov could be sidelined for a further fortnight.
Berbatov has not played since their 2-0 home defeat by
Everton at White Hart Lane because of a persistent groin
injury.
Spurs have not scored for 343 minutes now and have equalled
their worst start to a league campaign for 14 years.
There is growing speculation the striker will need to
undergo surgery to cure the injury but Jol insists they have
no plans at present.
Midfielder Danny Murphy returned to the side against Fulham
and impressed Jol with his tidy control and passing.
Murphy, who left Liverpool for Charlton Athletic before
moving across London to Spurs, has found it difficult to
settle but he will be relish the prospect of returning to
Anfield tomorrow.
(Daily Post)
Benitez: I'll make more changes
Rafael Benitez is again prepared to shake up his Liverpool
attack this weekend despite the impressive displays of Dirk
Kuyt and Craig Bellamy.
Kuyt grabbed his first goal for the club in Wednesday's 2-0
win over Newcastle while Bellamy also troubled the defence
of his former club.
Yet Benitez, who has attracted attention for his failure to
pick a consistent side, could again change things with
England forward Peter Crouch and Robbie Fowler waiting in
the wings. Liverpool face Tottenham in the Premiership at
Anfield on Saturday.
Benitez said: "It is important if you have two players like
this. The understanding between them is good and they are
creating chances.
"So maybe you have to give them more opportunities, but in
this case Robbie, Crouch and Luis (Garcia), playing as a
second striker, are good options."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez defends Bellamy after row
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has defended Craig Bellamy
after he was branded "a little upstart" by Newcastle
assistant manager Terry McDermott.
The pair were involved in an angry tunnel exchange after
Liverpool's 2-0 win against Newcastle at Anfield.
Benitez launched a passionate defence of the 27-year-old
striker he signed from Blackburn in a £6m summer deal.
He said: "You have to analyse what he does on the pitch, and
all I saw on Wednesday was a player closing down defenders
in the last minute to protect our lead.
"Off the pitch, I promise you he is really focused on doing
his best for us. I spoke to him about his background before
he signed for us, and I could tell he sensed this might be
his last opportunity at a big club.
"He wants to make the most of it and that shines through in
every training session.
"Craig has a good relationship with his team-mates too. He
has no problems with anyone and has settled in really well.
"He is desperate to do well for Liverpool and you cannot say
anything about him. Maybe there are issues with Newcastle
from his time there, but it was nothing serious."
(BBC Sport Online)
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Thor Zakariassen
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