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THURSDAY 27 |
Alonso: Fighting spirit saw us through
Xabi Alonso today insisted Liverpool's never say die
attitude was behind their last-gasp win at Derby.
After going a goal up in the first half, Liverpool were
pegged back by rock bottom Derby and looked set to drop two
vital points.
But Steven Gerrard popped up in the 90th minute to give them
a hard earned victory which keeps them in touch with the
Premiership leaders.
And though disappointed with Liverpool's second half
performance, Alonso was delighted with their fighting spirit
and their refusal to accept a draw which would have left
their title hopes hanging by a thread.
"We never gave up hope," he said. "Whether it was Stevie or
whoever we knew that we could win the game."
(Liverpool Echo)
Hyypia worry
Reds boss Rafa Benitez now faces a worrying wait to see if
Sami Hyypia recovers from a twisted ankle in time to return
for the trip to Man City
on Sunday.
Hyypia limped off in the second half and should he be ruled
out Benitez will only have two centre backs, Jamie Carragher
and teenager Jack Hobbs, at his disposal.
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez plays down rift
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has played down talk of a
rift with
Derby boss Paul Jewell.
The pair clashed on the sidelines at Pride Park on Boxing
Day after Benitez was incensed by Jay McEveley's tackle on
striker Andrei Voronin.
Although Jewell felt it was a harmless tackle Benitez
disagrees, however, he will not be holding a grudge with the
former Wigan boss.
"It was a bad tackle, but the other manager said he didn't
touch him,"
said Benitez.
"We had our different point of view, but I didn't receive a
tackle from him, so there's no problem."
(Sky Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 26 |
Rafa hails Gerrard influence
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez praised the 'inspiration' of
Steven Gerrard in keeping his side's Premier League title
challenge alive.
"We conceded in the second half from a mistake and from then
on it was really difficult," said Benitez.
"At the end, Gerrard's inspiration was the key."
(Sky Sports)
Jewell: We showed some guts
Derby boss Paul Jewell still had something to cheer about at
Christmas despite seeing his side go down 2-1 to a late
Steven Gerrard winner
at Pride Park.
"I was disappointed at half time because I felt we were
scared of Liverpool," the former Wigan manager said.
"But in the second half we showed some fight and some guts.
In the second half we got amongst them, you're never going
to 'out football' Liverpool but we can make it difficult for
them. The crowd really appreciated that."
(Sky Sports)
Atletico happy with Torres sale
Atletico Madrid director Gil Marin has declared that
Fernando Torres’ transfer to Liverpool has been positive for
both parties.
El Nino left Estadio Vicente Calderon and the club he has
always supported to join The Reds in the summer, where he is
impressing every time he wears the famous shirt.
Los Colchoneros are fifth in La Liga, just three points off
second-placed Barcelona, and are hoping to qualify for next
season's Champions League.
Torres’ record transfer allowed the Madrid side to sign
several players, including Jose Antonio Reyes and Simao
Sabrosa.
“It has been positive for both parts,” Marin told Marca. “I
think that Fernando is very happy at such a big club and he
is a reference for us.
“He doesn’t feel the pressure he felt here as a captain,
idol and reference for us, the commercial brands and for
everybody because it was too much for just one person.
“And it permitted us to invest the money of his transfer in
decisive players who bring variety to our game and who share
the responsibilities.”
(Setanta Sports)
Rams raided by last-gasp Gerrard
Steven Gerrard rammed home a late winner for Liverpool as
Rafa Benitez's charges edged out battling Derby 2-1 at Pride
Park.
Liverpool had been comfortably the better side in the first
half and Fernando Torres scored his 15th goal in 18 games.
But following on from their outstanding efforts to force a
draw at Newcastle at the weekend, injury-ravaged Derby
showed magnificent spirit to force their way back into the
game with a second-half equaliser from Jay McEveley.
They battered away at Liverpool for much of the second
period, with rookie goalkeeper Lewis Price outstanding even
if his side finished with 10 fit men - Robert Earnshaw was
by then a limping passenger.
Liverpool at times were dreadful, but captain Gerrard showed
how to fight by instigating an 80-yard move, finishing it
off by bundling the ball past Price in the dying minutes.
(TEAMtalk)
Torres and Alonso get Boxing Day start
Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin lead the line for the
Reds at Derby, while Xabi Alonso makes his first league
start since Arsenal in October.
The line up in full is: Reina, Finnan, Aurelio, Carragher,
Hyypia, Gerrard, Alonso, Babel, Riise, Voronin, Torres.
Subs: Itandje, Benayoun, Lucas, Kuyt, Mascherano.
(LFC Official Website)
Fiorentina ponder Liverpool bid
Fiorentina have been advised to make a move for Liverpool
midfielder Mohammed Sissoko in the January transfer window.
Fiorentina's Director of Sports Pantaleo Corvino has been
reviewing scouting reports on fresh talent like Rio Mavuba
and experienced playmakers like Atletico Madrid's Maniche,
but has been told to get Sissoko by top agent Franco
Granello.
(Clubcall Sports)
Liverpool-owned Guthrie set for summer talks
Midfielder Danny Guthrie has revealed he is open to stay
with Bolton Wanderers permanently if Liverpool decide so.
The 20-year-old is on a season’s loan at the Reebok Stadium
and his energetic display has impressed Trotters boss Gary
Megson as well as parent club, Liverpool manager Rafa
Benitez, who hailed
the youngster’s quality.
Megson has suggested he would want to keep the former
Manchester United youth player but Benitez is yet to make a
decision on Guthrie.
"I'm enjoying myself and long may that continue," Guthrie
said.
"In the summer we'll sit down and see where we are. If
Liverpool said they wanted me to go back and play then
obviously I would do it.
"If that can't happen, then the first place I'd want to come
to is Bolton."
(Premiership Latest)
Benitez: Cut number of festive fixtures in half
Rafa Benitez wants the Premier League to halve the number of
games teams have to play during the festive period.
The Liverpool boss insists it is simply not possible for
players to maintain total fitness and be at their best when
faced with such a hectic schedule.
But Benitez stops short of agreeing with Man United manager
Sir Alex Ferguson that the way forward is a winter break,
instead preferring to keep with English football tradition
but with fewer games.
He said: "You have to bear in mind that the pitches are not
the best at this time but I won't go against the tradition
except to say that instead of playing three or four games
perhaps it would be better if we played two.
"It is difficult for the players because they cannot be 100%
fit if they are playing a game every two or three days.
"It will be impossible for all the players to be fit for
every game we play."
(Liverpool Echo)
Agger closing in on return
Daniel Agger could hand Rafael Benitez a new year boost by
returning to first team action over the festive programme.
The Danish defender hasn't played since breaking a
metatarsal in mid-September, but with the aid of new boots
Benitez is hoping Agger can play some part in the club's
hectic holiday fixture list.
"He is very close but I can't say which game it will be,"
said Benitez. "With Xabi Alonso, he was ready for playing
against Arsenal but then we needed to start again.
"So with Agger we want to go slowly and be sure that he'll
be okay. He changed the boots the last time, and I was
talking with the doctor and they told me he's okay.
"He's kicking the ball much better than before because he
had some problems. With training it was okay, but with boots
he had some problems.
"It depends on where you put your weight in the foot so the
sole of the boots needs to change. It depends if he is
comfortable.
"Now with the new boots he's been using the ball and maybe
in the next days we should see a very good situation with
him."
(LFC Official Website) |
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TUESDAY 25 |
Benitez: Merry Christmas to you all
On behalf of everybody at Liverpool Football Club I'd like
to wish all our supporters a very happy christmas.
Wherever you're enjoying today's festivities, I hope you
have a great time with your friends, family and loved ones.
Hopefully we can give you all a belated present tomorrow
with three points at Derby County.
This is always a very busy and important period of the
Premier League season with lots of games in a short space of
time, but I am confident we have the players and the quality
within the squad to cope with the challenges which lie ahead
and keep our title dreams alive going into
the new year.
When I wrote this time last year I said I was sure we had
made progress - and the same applies this time around.
In my mind there is no doubt we have a better squad now than
twelve months ago, we have more quality all over the pitch
and I am convinced we are continuing to take the club in the
right direction.
(Rafael Benitez - LFC Official Website)
Benitez warns against complacency against Derby
Rafael Benitez has warned his Liverpool stars they dare
not take bottom club Derby lightly on Boxing Day - unless
they want to suffer another shock defeat like they did at
Reading earlier in the month.
"Everyone is expecting us to beat Derby but we have had
experience of Reading (where they lost 3-1) so we will have
a lot of respect for Derby and will try to win this game,"
he said.
"When you play away against a team which is battling
relegation it is always very difficult."
(Evening Echo)
Carragher demands show of character
With Liverpool facing the damaging prospect of being cut
adrift from the 'big three' in the title race, key defender
Jamie Carragher has called for the side to keep their nerve.
The Merseysiders travel to bottom club Derby on St Stephen's
Day knowing they dare not make any slip-ups against a side
who seem to have found their fighting spirit following a
brave 2-2 draw at Newcastle
on Sunday.
"At the moment it is Arsenal up there, so we just need to
make sure that we keep hold of them for now. I am sure a
time will come this season when they start to find it
difficult, especially with all the young players they have
in their side.
"There is no secret they are a great side, but I am sure
they will be tested at some point. We just have to make sure
we are there to capitalise when it happens."
(Ireland.com)
Thor Zakariassen
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