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MONDAY 27 |
Gerrard ruled out for Reds
Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Liverpool's UEFA
Champions League qualifier against Toulouse.
The midfield dynamo is still recovering from the toe injury
which forced him out of England's defeat to Germany last
week and Liverpool's win at Sunderland on Saturday.
Gerrard joins Jamie Carragher on the sidelines for the
qualifying round second leg tie at home to Toulouse after
Carragher broke his rib against Sunderland.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez confirmed his key duo would not be
involved against Toulouse at Anfield, with Liverpool holding
a 1-0 lead from
the first match.
"Both players will not be available for this game," said
Benitez.
"It's a shame because they are both important players for
us, but we have enough players and enough competition within
the squad to cope. "
(Sky Sports)
Baup: Toulouse are back on track
Toulouse coach Elie Baup believes confidence has returned to
his squad ahead of Tuesday's daunting Champions League clash
against Liverpool.
Toulouse travel to Anfield attempting to overturn a 1-0
first-leg deficit in the third-round qualifier.
After their defeat to the Reds at the Stade Municipal a
fortnight ago, Toulouse then slipped to a disappointing 3-1
home reverse to Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
But Baup saw his side battle back for a point in the 1-1
draw against Nice on Saturday, thanks to a late equaliser
from Andre-Pierre Gignac.
And the former Bordeaux coach believes his players can take
heart from that result going into the Liverpool game.
"We are going to have to relax," said Baup, whose team were
well beaten by the more experienced Reds two weeks ago.
"But it is true that mentally, we are there after coming
back to draw against Nice. That is going to help improve our
state of mind.
"We must retain our organisation because we are in a
difficult series of matches.
"But we are going to go to Liverpool to do something.
Otherwise there is hardly any point in going over there."
(Sporting Life)
Rafa hints at defender move
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has admitted he could be forced
into the transfer market to bolster his defensive options.
Reds stalwart Jamie Carragher faces a spell on the sidelines
after breaking a rib in Saturday's 2-0 win at Sunderland.
Carragher has been ruled out Tuesday's UEFA Champions League
qualifier with Toulouse and it is not known how long the
former England international will be sidelined for.
Sami Hyypia is expected to play against Toulouse despite
suffering a broken nose on Wearside.
With Gabriel Paletta having left Anfield to join Boca
Juniors, Benitez is short of options at the back and he
could make a late foray into the transfer market to bring in
a new defender as cover.
"We are thinking about finding more players and maybe we
will have to look at this situation again," admitted
Benitez.
(Sky Sports)
Injuries hit Toulouse hopes
Toulouse are missing key men as they look to overturn a
1-0 first-leg deficit against Liverpool in Tuesday's
Champions League tie at Anfield.
Dominique Arribage (knee), Daniel Congre (shoulder) and
Albin Ebondo (thigh) all missed Saturday's French Ligue 1
draw at Nice.
And the trio were not in the 18-man squad named by coach
Elie Baup for the third qualifying round return leg against
the Reds.
Defender Jon Jonsson has been struggling with a calf problem
of late but he makes the squad.
Toulouse warmed up for their clash with Liverpool by
grabbing a 1-1 draw with the southerners on Saturday,
Andre-Pierre Gignac scoring the equaliser for Les Violets in
the 86th minute.
Toulouse (from): Douchez, Riou; Ilunga, Jonsson, Cetto,
Mathieu, Fofana; Sissoko, Dieuze, Fabinho, Batlles, Emana,
Cesar, Sirieix; Mansare, Elmander, Gignac, Bergougnoux.
(TEAMtalk)
Reina pleased for Momo
Pepe Reina was pleased to see Momo Sissoko open the
scoring on Saturday.
Sissoko scored his first ever Liverpool goal during
Saturday's 2-0 win at Sunderland. The players were all
delighted to see the midfielder off
the mark.
"Momo deserved his goal, we were happy for him and really
excited. It was funny for him. I could hardly believe it, it
was a great goal,"
said Reina.
(LFC Online)
Rafa tips Pennant for England
Rafael Benitez is confident Jermaine Pennant will force his
way into the England squad this season.
Pennant has yet to play for his country but Rafa Benitez the
Liverpool winger's form will see him make the breakthrough
sooner rather than later.
"He will have an opportunity to play for England this year
if he keeps progressing as he has been doing - I'm sure of
that," said the Reds boss.
"He is gaining more experience at a high level all the time.
Now I think he has shown he is good enough to be considered
for the national team.
"The only concern I have is, from the club's point of view,
it's always better to keep as many players as possible to
work with them during the week, but I know and understand
how important it is for players to play for their country."
(LFC Online)
Broken rib rules out Carragher
Liverpool have been rocked by scan results that have
confirmed that defensive lynchpin Jamie Carragher has
suffered a collapsed lung as well as a broken rib.
It remains unclear how long the player will be out for but
fellow central defender Sami Hyypia, who was also withdrawn
from Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sunderland due to a broken
nose, is fit to play tomorrow against Toulouse.
Club spokesman Ian Cotton said: “Jamie underwent a series of
investigations on Sunday morning which confirmed he has a
broken rib and has also developed a pneumothorax (collapsed
lung).
“He will continue to be monitored but at this stage no
further treatment will be required.
“Sami has a broken nose but will be available for the second
leg of our Champions League qualifier.”
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
|
SUNDAY 26 |
Liverpool confirm Carragher injury
Liverpool have confirmed that Jamie Carragher broke a rib
during yesterday’s win at Sunderland.
The stand-in captain was taken off with 15 minutes remaining
at the Stadium of Light, and tests today have confirmed the
break, along with a pneumothorax, or collapsed lung.
Carragher’s injuries will not require further treatment, but
the diagnosis would appear to rule him out of Tuesday’s
Champions League third qualifying round second leg against
Toulouse.
There is better news over fellow centre-back Sami Hyypia,
who was also forced off yesterday with what has been
confirmed as a broken nose.
He is expected to be able to play against the French club,
however, after coming through a training session at Melwood
today.
A Liverpool spokesman said: “Sami has a broken nose but will
be available for the second leg of our Champions League
qualifier.
“Jamie underwent a series of investigations on Sunday
morning which confirmed he has a broken rib and has also
developed a pneumothorax.
“He will continue to be monitored on Sunday but at this
stage no further treatment will be required.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Toulouse continue to stutter
Toulouse needed a late goal from substitute Andre-Pierre
Gignac to salvage a point against Nice on Saturday.
Liverpool's rivals for a Champions League spot have managed
just four points from four games since the start of the
French season.
They travel to Anfield on Tuesday for the second leg of the
Champions League third qualifying round needing to overturn
a 1-0 deficit.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds heading for Euro milestone
Liverpool could reach another milestone if they beat
Toulouse
on Tuesday.
The Reds could record their 50th European Cup win at Anfield
against the French outfit.
Victory would also ensure Liverpool's place in Thursday's
draw for the Champions League group stages.
The draw is due to start at 5pm in Monaco.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool sell Paletta to Boca Juniors
Liverpool have sold defender Gabriel Paletta to Argentina's
Boca Juniors.
The Argentina U20 international returns home for an
undisclosed fee.
(TribalFootball)
Injury setback for Liverpool pair
Carragher went off after 75 minutes against Sunderland
Defenders Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia look set to miss
the second leg of Liverpool's Champions League qualifier
with Toulouse on Tuesday.
Hyypia suffered a suspected broken nose against Sunderland,
and Carragher a possible broken rib in the 2-0 win.
(BBC Sport Online) |
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SATURDAY 25 |
Keane accepts defeat
Sunderland boss Roy Keane accepted his side were beaten by
the better team as they lost 2-0 to Liverpool at the Stadium
of Light.
Keane, who was left furious following last Saturday's 3-0
defeat at Wigan, conceded that his players tried hard
against tough opposition as goals either side of half time
from Mohamed Sissoko and Andrei Voronin handed the Reds
three points to take home.
"I've not got too many complaints today," Keane told Sky
Sports 1."We showed some good bits of quality, it just
wasn't our day."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez banishes away blues
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes his side have finally
overcome their troubles away from home after their second
successive away win.
The Reds ran out 2-0 winners at Sunderland thanks to goals
either side of half time from Mohamed Sissoko and Andrei
Voronin.
"It was really good, really important for us," Benitez told
Sky Sports 1.
"The players showed character and played well and we had a
lot of chances."
(Sky Sports)
Momo: I hope it's the first of many
Momo Sissoko has spoken of his desire to start climbing the
Anfield scoring charts after breaking his Liverpool duck on
his 75th appearance for the club.
The Malian scored the Reds' 7,000th league goal in
Saturday's 2-0 win over Sunderland.
"I am very happy, not only because I've got my first goal
for the club, but also because the team won. This was a very
good result,"
said the midfielder.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool snuff out Sunderland
Andriy Voronin scores Liverpool's second goal at the Stadium
of Light.Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2: Andriy Voronin struck
late to end Roy Keane's hopes of another dramatic Sunderland
escape after Mohamed Sissoko grabbed Liverpool's 7,000th
goal in league football at the Stadium of Light this
afternoon.
Manager Rafael Benitez had railed against what he perceived
to be a catalogue of injustices against his side this week
but his mood will have lifted after Liverpool's solid
display.
Sissoko grabbed his first goal for the club in the 37th
minute to put the visitors in control and Ukrainian Voronin
sealed victory with four minutes to go after a sweeping move
on the break.
In truth Benitez's men were in control throughout and only
some superb saves from Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon and
the application of the home defence kept them at bay for so
long.
(Ireland.com)
Ryan and Andriy get first Prem starts
Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin will be handed their first
Barclays Premier League starts at the Stadium of Light this
afternoon.
Voronin will partner Fernando Torres up front, while at the
back Sami Hyypia steps in to deny Daniel Agger his 50th
Liverpool appearance.
Jamie Carragher will wear the captain's armband in the
absence of injured skipper Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool team in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan,
Hyypia, Carragher, Pennant, Babel, Alonso, Sissoko, Voronin,
Torres.
Subs: Itandje, Agger, Riise, Kuyt, Mascherano.
(LFC Official Website)
Aurelio return boost for Benitez
Left-back Fabio Aurelio is ready to help Liverpool overcome
the setback of missing out on Gabriel Heinze after returning
to training.
Aurelio has been missing for six months since rupturing his
Achilles tendon.
But the Brazilian returned to full training this week, and
is now a matter of weeks from being available for selection.
The timing of his return is good news for Benitez, who
admits he'll struggle to find a new left-back before August
31.
(Liverpool Echo)
Thor Zakariassen
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