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THURSDAY 24 |
Kuyt: Johnson one of the best
Striker Dirk Kuyt believes summer signing Glen Johnson has
provided Liverpool with a different emphasis this season.
The England defender, who moved from Portsmouth in the
summer, has probably been the Merseysiders' best player so
far, scoring twice and providing a much-needed cutting edge
from right-back.
Johnson, 25, may yet have to win over critics who are
sceptical about his defensive strengths but there are no
doubts over his ability as an attacking force.
"I think Glen has done really well," said Kuyt.
"He was a big signing for us but he has shown straight from
the start that he is very important - both defensively and
in attack.
"He has scored some very good goals and provided some
assists. He is probably one of the best players in the team
so far this season.
"He is still young and I think he will only get better and
better."
(PA Sport)
Lawrenson:
Marking needs to change
Former Liverpool defender and BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson says
the Reds need to choose a defensive system which suits their
players and the rigours of Premier League football.
Liverpool have often been criticised for employing a zonal
making system when defending set-pieces and Lawrenson
believes it is now time manager Rafa Benitez used a hybrid
way of defending.
The former Republic of Ireland international, who made 332
appearance in his time in Liverpool, says a hybrid system is
not too dissimilar to how the Reds defended when he graced
the Anfield turf.
"You need a system which is a hybrid and means you have
certain players in certain positions," Lawrenson told BBC
Radio Merseyside.
(BBC Sport Online)
Carra: Owen might
get a cool reception
Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher believes Manchester
United star Michael Owen may get a frosty reception from
Anfield when he returns to his former club in the Premier
League on October 25th.
The ex-Newcastle United and Real Madrid striker shocked the
footballing world when he made the move to Manchester
United, amid reputed interest from the likes of Hull City,
Aston Villa, Everton and Stoke City, and Carragher was
equally surprised.
Carragher told the Liverpool Daily Post: “Our fans are
usually brilliant with former players but he might get a
cool reception,”
“That won’t bother him though.
“I can understand the fans point of view.
“He used to play for us and now he is at our big rivals so
of course there will be some reaction. That’s football and
Michael will know that.”
(Sport.co.uk)
Spearing on his full debut
Local(ish) lad Jay Spearing was handed his first full
Liverpool start on Tuesday night, partnering Javier
Mascherano in arguably the smallest Liverpool central
midfield pairing in our clubs history.
Jay said of his full debut:
“I felt I did all right and hopefully I’ve proved to the
boss and the supporters that I can do it for the first team.
“It was a very special night for me to make my first start
for the club. And to play the full 90 minutes was
fantastic."
(Anfield Online)
Ngog will remain patient
Liverpool striker David Ngog accepts he will have to remain
patient if he is to become a regular in the side.
Ngog made a rare start in Tuesday's Carling Cup clash at
Leeds and he enhanced his first-team prospects with the only
goal of the game.
It was only the 20-year-old's sixth start for the club, but
the Frenchman hopes he has given Rafa Benitez much to ponder
with his display at Elland Road.
"It was a very important goal for me for my confidence and
because we won the game," said Ngog. "I think I played okay.
The intensity of the game made it difficult and I was very
happy to score.
(Football 365)
Mascherano escapes disciplinary action
Javier Mascherano, the Liverpool midfield player, will not
face disciplinary action from the FA over an incident during
Tuesday night’s Carling Cup third-round tie with Leeds
United in which he appeared to strike Jermaine Beckford with
his right arm.
Alan Wiley, the match referee, was asked to look at the
incident again by FA officials but, having reviewed a
recording of the clash, he is standing by his decision not
to send off the Argentina player. Mascherano could have been
suspended for up to three matches.
(The Times) |
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WEDNESDAY 23 |
Fiorentina striker to miss
Liverpool Champions League tie
Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino has been handed a
two-match Champions League ban for violent conduct.
The forward was sent-off as half-time approached when the
Viola met Olympique Lyonnais in Matchday 1. He appeared to
swing an elbow at home player Jeremy Toulalan, though
supporters have questioned the intent in his action.
The decision means he will miss crucial matches against
Liverpool at home next week and Hungarian side Debrecen two
weeks later, kicking a further dent in the Viola's Champions
League hopes after they lost
1-0 in France.
A statement on the club's official website reads, "UEFA's
disciplinary commission has given Alberto Gilardino a
two-match suspension after his sending off against Lyon. The
player will be able to play on November 4 at the Artemio
Franchi against Debrecen."
The decision will come as a major blow to coach Cesare
Prandelli, who loses his star striker.
(Goal.com)
Liverpool FC Leeds win could
have been easier and earlier
Apart from a couple of minor scares Liverpool were never in
any real trouble against Leeds last night.
And the result was never really in doubt.
But that didn’t stop me wishing Rafa Benitez had played just
a few more of the Reds’ senior stars to get the job done a
fair bit earlier.
I know most top clubs and managers rest players and put out
second string sides in the Carling Cup nowadays. Fair
enough.
But I still feel with a bit more clout out there from the
start we could have got the business sorted much sooner –
and then have taken off the familiar names to give others a
chance once the game was won.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Benitez: Ngog can be key player
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez claims French striker David
Ngog could have an important role to play this season.
Ngog ensured the Reds made progress in the Carling Cup with
the only goal of a difficult third-round tie at League One
leaders Leeds last night.
The 20-year-old has made a limited impact since moving to
Anfield from Paris St Germain prior to last season, but he
also netted as a substitute in the win over Stoke last
month.
With the likes of Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin and Dirk
Kuyt left out of the starting XI, Ngog was trusted as a lone
striker at Elland Road and Benitez considers he is making
good progress.
The Spaniard said: "He is a young player, but he has
quality. That is something we knew. He showed character.
"He was trying to keep the ball and get into positions. He
was really tired at the end but he did a fantastic job.
"He knows the Premier League is very difficult but here he
showed he can do it."
(PA Sport)
Masch in hot water
Javier Mascherano faces an FA charge over his elbowing of
Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford on Tuesday night.
The Argentinian convinced the referee of his innocence after
catching Beckford on the back of the head when spinning
around, but the FA could act having seen a replay of the
incident.
"Mascherano has turned and put his arm up andit went a bit
too high," said Leeds boss Simon Grayson.
"I've looked at replays. I'm not saying it's malicious and
I'm not saying it's not, you can't really tell. Some players
have been sent off for that,
some haven't."
(LFC Online) |
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TUESDAY 22 |
Benitez: Win illustrates squad strength
Rafa Benitez believes the 1-0 victory over Leeds United on
Tuesday was an illustration of the strength within the
current Liverpool squad.
David Ngog buried the only goal of the game on 65 minutes to
clinch a hard-fought win and guarantee a place in the
Carling Cup fourth round.
There were only two survivors from the starting line-up
against West Ham on Saturday - and the gaffer was delighted
with the way his fringe
players performed.
"It was a good game. They had some chances, we had some
chances. At the end we won with a lot of players who haven't
been playing,"
said Benitez.
"It is a difficult stadium to come to. They've won many
games in a row. In these types of games it is very important
to keep the mentality
and character.
"I am really pleased with my team, with my squad. We showed
we can manage with different players. For the rest of the
season it is important to know you have players who can come
in and perform."
(LFC Official Website)
Ngog breaks Leeds hearts
David Ngog's second half strike was enough to see Liverpool
through to the last 16 of the Carling Cup at the expense of
a determined
Leeds United.
Javier Mascherano and Jamie Caragher were the only
recognised names in an otherwise second string Liverpool
line-up.
In the early part the Whites dominated and had an early goal
disallowed as Luciano Becchio was deemed offside when paring
up with
Jermaine Beckford.
After that, Leeds continued to press and were unfortunate to
be on the losing end with players such as Robert Snodgrass
and Patrick Kisnorbo putting in outstanding performances in
front of a sell-out crowd.
Ngog, who played with credit on the night, broke Leeds'
hearts just after the hour mark when picking up on a timely
ball from Mascherano to turn and slot home from close range.
(Sky Sports)
Spearing starts at Leeds
Jay Spearing and Javier Mascherano start in the centre of
Liverpool's midfield in tonight's Carling Cup clash with
Leeds United.
Jamie Carragher captains the side in the absence of benched
skipper Steven Gerrard.
The Reds XI in full is: Cavalieri, Degen, Carragher,
Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Aurelio, Spearing, Mascherano, Riera,
Babel, Ngog.
Subs: Reina, Gerrard, Torres, Skrtel, Voronin, Plessis,
Johnson.
(LFC Official Website)
Ex-Liverpool captain Whelan
questions Benitez squad
Former Liverpool captain Ronnie Whelan has questioned the
make-up of manager Rafa Benitez's squad.
Whelan told the Mirror: "You look at some of the benches
Liverpool have had recently, and they don't have the
strength in depth at all. You look at some of the games this
season and you see a lot of things wrong.
"But you look at other matches this season and you see a lot
of things right. They have a lot of names, but maybe not
enough real players. And that means they could struggle
again to win the title.
"When I left in 1994, never would I have thought it would be
this long without winning the title. But maybe mistakes have
been made. There is hardly a striker on the bench, but the
manager has let three good squad strikers in Crouch, Bellamy
and Keane go. I hope they can finally do it this year, but
I'm not so sure."
(tribalfootball.com)
Grayson relishing Reds clash
Leeds manager Simon Grayson hopes Liverpool's visit to
Elland Road is the start of a long and positive road.
England's finest frequently visited Leeds not so long ago
when The Whites were consistently battling it out for a
place in the UEFA Champions League.
Failure to qualify for Europe's prestigious competition led
to player sales which in turn led to relegation to the
Championship.
Debts crippled the club and Leeds were ultimately relegated
to the third tier of English football for the first time in
their history in
the 2006/07 campaign.
However, Leeds are now seeing light at the end of the tunnel
as they currently top the League One ladder, while fans have
a glimpse of their past when Liverpool visit in the fourth
round of the Carling Cup
on Tuesday.
Grayson insists the club's ambitions have not dwindled along
with their stature and he hopes his side can enjoy taking on
Rafa Benitez's stars.
"This football club over the past three or four years has
been on that downward spiral," Grayson told Sky Sports News.
"On regular occurrences we were playing Liverpool and
Manchester United and it was always a sell-out.
"It's ultimately where we want to get back to eventually.
There's still a lot of work to be done.
"When we get the opportunity to play against a top team
let's enjoy it. Let's just see where it takes us. It's
reminiscent of things of the past."
(Sky Sports)
Aurelio hoping injury hell is over
The Carling Cup may lie a distant fourth in Liverpool’s list
of priorities but as far as Fabio Aurelio is concerned all
that glitters is gold.
The Brazilian is set to make his first start of the season
when the Reds face Leeds United in a mouth-watering
third-round clash
at Elland Road tonight.
Aurelio missed all of pre-season and the opening five
matches of the campaign after injuring his knee while back
home in South America this summer.
But the 29-year-old has battled his way back to fitness and
after brief substitute appearances against Debrecen and West
Ham he is relishing the chance to get 90 minutes under his
belt.
Aurelio knows the Carling Cup offers an opportunity for
those currently on the fringes to stake a claim for a place
in Rafa Benitez’s first choice
line up.
And the left-back is determined to ensure the Reds enjoy an
extended run in this season’s competition.
“I’m really happy to be back playing and to be part of the
squad for matches again is great,” he said.
“I hope to start at Leeds and I’m sure there will be
opportunities in this game for players who haven’t been used
in Premier League games
much recently.
“Every opportunity you get you need to show something to the
boss and I have to take this chance. Hopefully I can do my
job and help us
get through.
“We want to progress in every competition we’re involved in.
The Carling Cup offers a possibility for us to win a trophy
and we can’t allow that chance to pass easily."
(Liverpool Echo)
Thor Zakariassen
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