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FRIDAY 27 |
Crewe in talks with Reds
Crewe are hoping to agree a deal to see Liverpool youngster
Danny O'Donnell return to the club next season.
O'Donnell has spent the whole season on loan at Crewe after
being allowed to leave Anfield in a bid to gain some
valuable first-team experience.
The 21-year-old has impressed at Gresty Road and Crewe chief
Dario Gradi would like to see the defender return to the
club next season.
"I am trying to speak to Liverpool as I'm not sure what the
situation is with him, but we would feel happy to have Danny
back here," Gradi told the Sentinel.
It remains to be seen if Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez would
be willing to let O'Donnell return to Crewe next season on a
loan or permanent basis.
(Sky Sports)
Contracts for Youth Cup heroes
Four of Liverpool’s double Youth Cup winning side will be
rewarded with new contracts following last night’s victory
at Old Trafford.
Academy director Steve Heighway bowed out in style, seeing
his Under-18s overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit to beat
Manchester United on penalties.
Robbie Threlfall’s winner on the night set up the deserved
win.
Now Threlfall, striker Craig Lindfield, midfielder Ryan
Flynn and full-back Stephen Darby will all pen new deals at
the club.
Manager Rafa Benitez today congratulated the Academy staff
and players on their achievement and vowed to give youth a
chance in the remaining Premiership games – possibly
starting against Portsmouth at Fratton Park tomorrow.
“I want to say congratulations to all the lads and staff,”
said Benitez.
“They’ve all worked really hard done a really good job to
win the FA Youth Cup for a second time and it’s good news
for the club.
“It’s very positive to see the side winning trophies and, as
I’ve said before, if we can win more trophies on the way to
bringing players of quality through to the senior side it’s
even better."
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez ready to rest stars
Rafael Benitez seems certain to field a shadow side at
Portsmouth on Saturday in anticipation of Tuesday's
Champions League semi-final crunch match against Chelsea
at Anfield.
The Liverpool boss could easily have upset managers from
relegation-threatened sides last weekend when he rested
Steven Gerrard and half-a-dozen other senior men against
struggling Wigan.
Had Wigan achieved anything at Anfield, the outcry from
managers at the bottom of the division would have been
instant. Liverpool winning 2-0 successfully halted any
uproar.
But now, with next week's semi-final second leg on the
horizon, Benitez could well field another weakened side at
Portsmouth, a side who are battling to qualify for
the UEFA Cup.
He will want to keep the big-name stars fresh for the
conclusion of their battle with Chelsea, meaning Gerrard
could be rested again after spending all but the last 20
minutes on the bench against the Latics.
And there is even the prospect that Benitez could give
goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek a run-out in goal, which could well
be his last appearance for the club before his contract ends
in the summer.
(PA Sport)
Threlfall: This is for Stevie
Youth Cup hero Robbie Threlfall has dedicated the triumph to
departing Academy director Steve Heighway.
Heighway announced his retirement during a dramatic night at
Old Trafford in which the Reds beat Manchester United on
penalties to retain the trophy.
"We dedicated this game to Steve because he's going," said
Threlfall. "He was a special player and a special servant to
the club, so he deserves this and deserves to go out on
a high."
"It was unbelievable. I told my mum and dad to put some
money on me to score, because I really fancied it.
"We've got a great team spirit here because we've been
together since we were eight. That's pulled us through here
and we've got the trophy back again.
"It was amazing to lift the trophy here. I'll always
remember it and it'll always be in
my mind.
"We want to thank the fans. They were singing for us and
their support was magnificent."
(LFC Official Website) |
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THURSDAY 26 |
Heighway quits at the top
Steve Heighway's time as Academy Director will end on a
positive note after Liverpool retained the FA Youth Cup.
Heighway confirmed he will leave his role as Academy
Director at the end of the season when interviewed by Sky
Sports following the Reds' successful defence of the FA
Youth Cup this evening.
Liverpool have only ever won the FA Youth Cup three times,
in 1996, 2006 and now 2007. All three successes have come
under Steve Heighway's time in charge of youth development
and following the back to back wins, the former Reds' winger
can retire on the highest note.
(LFC Online)
Liverpool clinch FA Youth Cup
Liverpool deservedly clinched the FA Youth Cup for the third
time but eventually required spot-kicks to beat Manchester
United at Old Trafford.
Trailing 2-1 from the home leg, Steve Heighway's men were
the better side throughout and hauled themselves level on
aggregate thanks to Robbie Threlfall's 55th-minute strike.
Despite hitting the post twice, the Merseysiders were unable
to force a winner but still emerged triumphant in front of
new co-owner George Gillett, netting all four of their
penalties, while Magnus Eikrem and skipper Sam Hewson missed
for United.
It was only the second time in the prestigious tournament's
55-year history the outcome was decided by penalties.
Both sides were tiring badly at the end, so it was little
surprise the outcome was decided on spot-kicks, where
Liverpool's nerve held.
(TEAMtalk)
Cech: We are in control
Petr Cech believes Chelsea are in a commanding position at
the halfway stage of their UEFA Champions League semi-final
with Liverpool.
"Although we are only halfway, the situation is very good
for us," Cech said on his personal website.
"In the first half we mainly played great football, we
controlled the game.
"It was a pity that we did not add another goal, because 2-0
would have been an ideal result, but 1-0 is a very good
result for the second leg."
(Sky Sports)
Lamps: We relish Anfield test
Frank Lampard says Chelsea will not be
intimidated when they visit Anfield in the second leg of the
UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Chelsea lead 1-0 from the first leg but Lampard knows The
Blues must survive another night of passion next Tuesday to
keep their final dream alive.
"We have to go to Anfield again. It was a great atmosphere
last time, but we were not intimidated, despite what people
have said, you should be able to enjoy atmospheres like
that," said the England midfielder.
"And we won't be intimidated by it now, we weren't last time
and we won't be this time either. If you are a top player
you should relish something like that.
"What's the problem? Liverpool's fans will be behind them,
we expect that. But all of our lads will be ready and up for
it. We should think we are going to go there and play
our football."
(Sky Sports)
Time for Benitez to trust his wide boys
Rafael Benitez is one of European football’s cagiest
thinkers.
Often cautious, sometimes circumspect and always pragmatic,
on Tuesday he must break with the habits of a lifetime – and
trust a couple of wide boys.
Liverpool emerged from a more open Champions League
semi-final first leg than had been anticipated with their
European dream still intact.
But despite recovering from a wretched first half to control
the second period, they struggled to eke out anything
resembling a clear goalscoring opportunity.
And they must do that at least twice next week if they are
to overcome a first leg deficit, at least without having to
resort to the nerve-shredding lottery of a penalty
shoot-out.
The last time Chelsea lost a match was three months ago at
Anfield, when Benitez employed Jermaine Pennant and John
Arne Riise as wingers.
Both were hugely effective.
(David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)
Reina believes Chelsea are tiring
Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina believes Chelsea are feeling the
effects of their gruelling season as they challenge for a
historic Quadruple.
Chelsea beat the Reds 1-0 in their Champions League
semi-final, but Reina told BBC Sport: "In the second half, I
tell you they were tired.
"We couldn't move the ball as quick as we normally do, but
they were tired.
"They have a tough game on Saturday and maybe for the second
leg on Tuesday the legs will not be the freshest."
(BBC Sport Online)
Frustration as plan not followed fully
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho did his best in the build-up –
but it was Liverpool’s players who really wound up Rafael
Benitez last night.
The Chelsea manager still has the L-plates on when it comes
to driving his opposite number round the bend because no
amount of pre-match teasing is ever going to truly bother
his Liverpool counterpart.
Especially not when his own players do such a good job of it
as they did in the first half last night.
It was a performance which got to Benitez in a way Mourinho
never could.
The two European experts always have their differences but
none were more painfully obvious than when they found
themselves separated by barely the (albeit considerable)
width of a UEFA jobsworth’s head on the touchline.
Who needs a war of words when body language says so much
about the destiny of Champions League semi-finals?
(Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post)
Mourinho expects Essien impact
Jose Mourinho is backing Michael Essien to play a key role
in the second leg of Chelsea's UEFA Champions League meeting
with Liverpool.
The Ghanaian has been a source of inspiration for many at
Stamford Bridge this term, but he was forced to sit out
Wednesday's first leg win due to suspension.
"I hope Essien is back and plays," said Mourinho. "He will
play against Bolton on Saturday because I can then rest some
players."
(Sky Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 25 |
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Mourinho in new penalty moan
Jose Mourinho was left fuming about the failure to award a
penalty for the second time in four days after Chelsea
secured a priceless 1-0 win in the home leg of their UEFA
Champions League semi-final against Liverpool.
Joe Cole's first-half goal gave The Blues the edge ahead of
the second encounter at Anfield, but Mourinho emerged after
the victory to bemoan Markus Merk's decision not to give a
spot-kick for a handball by Alvaro Arbeloa.
"I just go for facts, and again it is a fact. I don't think
anybody can say it was not a penalty. It was a clear
penalty, and I don't know why. It's happening, it's
happening, it's happening.
"To be fair, this season in the Champions League we have had
good referees and no problems, and to be fair to Mr Merk he
had no problems, a top class referee.
"But it is a penalty, and a penalty is a big chance for 2-0,
and 2-0 is a completely different game and a different
story, so I feel it is not fair."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez: We didn't control tie
Rafa Benitez felt Liverpool were too open to the
counter-attack in losing 1-0 to Chelsea.
"I think it was two different parts today - the first half
we were not controlling, the second half a little bit
better," Benitez told Sky Sports 1.
"When you play against Chelsea you know they like to play
counter-attack and we had problems in the counter-attack,
and now we will see.
"I think you need to score just one goal and see what
happens. If we score two, as in the league, we will be
there."
(Sky Sports)
Kuyt: It will be totally different at
Anfield
Dirk Kuyt believes the Anfield crowd can inspire Liverpool's
players to overcome a first-leg 1-0 defecit when Chelsea
come to Merseyside on Tuesday night to determine which club
travels to Athens to contest the Champions League final.
"The supporters at Anfield are very special and they won't
need any encouraging to make the atmosphere incredible on
Tuesday night. European nights at Anfield are like nothing
else and we have to make sure we produce a special result.
With the supporters behind us, we have a chance to change
this result."
(LFC Official Website)
Cole goal puts Blues in control
Chelsea took the upper hand against Liverpool in the UEFA
Champions League semi-final as Joe Cole's first-half finish
won the day at Stamford Bridge.
In a match which lacked the excitement and pizzazz of the
previous evening's semi-final, Cole's first goal since his
return from injury was enough to defeat a disjointed
Liverpool, who had never before conceded against their
opponents in the Champions League.
Steven Gerrard came closest to snatching an away goal for
the 2005 winners, who will now look to replicate their 2-0
Premiership triumph at Anfield next week.
(Sky Sports)
Bellamy and Kuyt lead attack at Bridge
Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt will lead Liverpool's attack
against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight with the Reds
starting the game without the injured Steve Finnan.
While Steven Gerrard returns, as expected, to the midfield
after being rested for the victory over Wigan last weekend,
the big talking point in London is the pairing of the same
front two players who linked up so well when Liverpool won
away against Barcelona earlier in the competition.
With Finnan failing to recover from a neck injury, his place
in the back four has been passed to Spaniard Alvaro Arbeloa,
another of liverpool's star performers at the Nou Camp.
Liverpool line-up as follows:
Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Gerrard,
Mascherano, Alonso, Zenden, Bellamy, Kuyt.
Subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Crouch, Pennant, Sissoko,
Paletta.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard: We'll win to shut Jose up
Steven Gerrard has told Jose Mourinho he would
make him eat his words about Liverpool.
The midfielder is angry at the taunts fired at his club by
Chelsea's head coach in the build-up to tonight's Champions
League semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are in a different league to you lot, says Jose
Mourinho claimed Liverpool are not a big club under Rafael
Benitez and that he would have been sacked if he had not won
a Premiership title in his three-year reign.
He has also consistently denied the validity the Luis Garcia
goal which knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League in
the semi-finals two years ago, when the Anfield club went on
to win the competition.
(The Daily Mail)
Mourinho frets over yellow cards
Jose Mourinho is worried by the number of yellow cards his
players are carrying into their Champions League semi-final
with Liverpool.
Four Chelsea players, including top scorer Didier Drogba,
are one yellow card away from suspension for the second leg
at Anfield.
"We've a lot of players with two yellow cards," said Chelsea
manager Mourinho.
"It wouldn't surprise me if they chased Drogba for 90
minutes to see if he can get a yellow card," added Mourinho.
(BBC Sport Online)
Man Utd favourites for youth cup
Manchester United will start as favourites to lift the FA
Youth Cup as they take a 2-1 lead into the second leg at Old
Trafford on Thursday.
But coach Paul McGuinness warned: "It is only half-time.
"One goal is not a winning lead as far as I am concerned and
it would be dangerous to think any other way."
Liverpool are boosted by the return of star midfielder
Astrit Ajdarevic, who was suspended for the first leg, while
United are without Craig Cathcart.
(BBC Sport Online)
Instanbul still sore for Sheva
Andriy Shevchenko admits the pain of losing in
Istanbul still hurts.
Shevchenko was denied in the final minutes of extra time by
an amazing double save by Jerzy Dudek and then saw his
penalty saved to hand Liverpool the European Cup in 2005.
It's a memory that still pains the Chelsea striker.
"It was incredibly painful at the time, but I will play
against Liverpool without thinking about what happened in
that cursed final. Why does everyone talk about the past?"
asked the former AC Milan striker.
"What happened in 2005 is gone - I cannot go back and score
the penalty, I cannot stop Dudek from making that incredible
save.
"It's going to be very difficult for us this time because
Liverpool are strong, especially in the Champions League."
(LFC Online)
Crouch: Chelsea are favourites
Peter Crouch has joined his manager in dismissing Jose
Mourinho's claim that Liverpool are the favourites to taste
victory in their UEFA Champions League semi-final with
Chelsea.
"We may have beaten them a few times recently as well as the
semi-final before I joined the club," said Crouch.
"But Chelsea are a great side, particularly on their own
ground, and they must be favourites."
"They have some injuries and suspensions, but they are still
a fine side," he added.
"But we have done well in Europe this season and won some
important away matches. And we know we have the ability to
beat them, we just have to do it now on the pitch.
"We are certainly up for it, and this seems to be our
competition these days.
"What we must do is to score an away goal, we believe we can
do that and it will make a big difference to the second leg
in front of our fans at Anfield."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez dismisses Mourinho claims
Rafa Benitez has dismissed Jose Mourinho's claims Liverpool
will target Chelsea players with two yellow cards in their
Champions League semi-final.
Four Chelsea players, including Didier Drogba, are a booking
away from a ban from the return leg next week.
"It hadn't crossed my mind, but maybe it has Mourinho's
because that is what Chelsea did two seasons ago to Xabi
Alonso," said Liverpool boss Benitez.
"I have confidence in Markus Merk, he's a very good
referee," added Benitez.
(BBC Sport Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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