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SATURDAY 27 |
Torres could be back while Mascherano
is set to start at St James' Park
Javier Mascherano is expected to return to the starting
line-up for Liverpool at Newcastle on Sunday, having been an
unused substitute for the Boxing Day win over Bolton.
Liverpool played 4-4-2 with Steven Gerrard in a central
midfield role for that game, but it is likely their captain
will revert to the support striker role at St.James' Park.
They will still be without full-back Alvaro Arbeloa, who has
a hamstring injury while Fernando Torres could return as a
substitute.
Liverpool provisional squad: Reina, Carragher, Agger,
Hyypia, Insua, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Keane,
Cavalieri, Darby, Babel, Benayoun, Lucas, Ngog, El Zhar,
Torres.
(The Daily Mail)
Carroll set for Liverpool chance
Andrew Carroll is likely to partner Michael Owen up front
against Liverpool with Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear reeling
from a string of injuries.
Jose Enrique is out after damaging a calf in the warm-up
against Wigan as is Mark Viduka who has a torn groin muscle.
Habib Beye was also
a casualty at the JJB Stadium while defender Sebastien
Bassong is suspended.
David Edgar and Charles N'Zogbia are likely to be used in a
makeshift defence and striker Shola Ameobi could return
after a groin injury
on Sunday.
Newcastle (from): Given, Coloccini, Gutierrez, Butt,
Guthrie, N'Zogbia, Duff, Owen, Harper, Taylor, Geremi,
Edgar, Xisco, Carroll, Ameobi, LuaLua, Gonzalez.
(TEAMtalk)
I’d love to see Michael
Owen returning to Anfield
There’s been a lot of speculation about Michael Owen’s
future recently and I must admit I would love to see him
back at Anfield.
There’s no doubt we need another striker and I think he
would be ideal
for us.
He’s had a frustrating few years with injury setbacks but
we’ve seen recently that he is getting back to his old self.
Owen has been around for years but he’s only just turned 29
and still has a great deal more to offer.
The Reds have done remarkably well to cope without Fernando
Torres for so long this season but we are lacking goals.
We’ve missed Peter Crouch and if we had kept hold of him I
believe our points tally at this stage of the season would
have been better.
When you look at Manchester United’s trio of Tevez, Rooney
and Berbatov, they’ve got better striking options than us.
(John Aldridge - Liverpool Echo)
Sammy Lee has been Liverpool's
best summer signing of all
Who was Rafa Benitez's best signing during the summer?
Even Andrea Dossena's mum would be hard pressed for making a
convincing case for it being the Italian left back who has
endured a torrid time since arriving on Merseyside.
When Benitez was on the lookout for an assistant manager
Sammy Lee seemed like the obvious choice for the job.
Proven top class coaches with Premier League management
experience and the universal respect of his peers don't come
on the market too often, especially not ones who are steeped
in the tradition of Liverpool
Football Club.
Having been discarded by Bolton Lee was on the market at a
time when the club he supported as a boy was on the lookout
for a new addition to its backroom team.
As several of the players have since admitted it was as if
Lee had never been away as he set up training drills for the
squad to take part in and equally importantly added a Scouse
accent to the mix of Benitez's staff and a knowledge of what
makes Liverpool tick which was gained during his previous
spells at the club as both coach and player.
You can't put a price on such experience and Lee's input
since returning to Anfield has been invaluable.
(Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo)
Keane: Reds sent out warning
Robbie Keane feels Liverpool sent out a statement to their
title rivals with a 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.
Keane grabbed two of the goals in the success over Bolton
and believes the performance issued a warning to the other
title challengers.
"We can't be too worried about others, we have to
concentrate on ourselves, but it was a statement from us,"
said Keane.
"The lads were superb. I can't remember Bolton getting a
shot on goal."
(Sky Sports) |
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FRIDAY 26 |
Lee hails two-goal Keane
Sammy Lee praised the quality of Robbie Keane after the
striker's brace kept Liverpool top of the Barclays Premier
League with an emphatic 3-0 win over Bolton at Anfield.
The Reds assistant manager was delighted with the home
side's overall display and was quick to hail the number
seven's contribution.
"It's always nice to see Liverpool players score goals,
whether it's Robbie Keane, Dirk Kuyt or Sami Hyypia," he
said.
"Robbie's been working tirelessly and he's kept on going. We
know the quality of the lad, that's why we brought him here.
"If you speak to him he may give you a better answer, but
for me, he's never been lacking in confidence."
(LFC Official Website)
Keane double downs Trotters
Robbie Keane went some way towards silencing his doubters
with a well-taken double as Liverpool strolled to a 3-0 win
over Bolton.
The Republic of Ireland striker continued where he left off
against Arsenal on Sunday with two sharp finishes to put The
Reds back on top of The Premier League.
Rafa Benitez’s side had taken a first-half lead when Albert
Riera stabbed them ahead after 26 minutes and went on to
dominate throughout in a one-sided clash at Anfield.
Keane doubled the lead eight minutes after the restart with
a sharp left-footed finish before adding a third five
minutes later, tapping in from close range after an incisive
Liverpool passing move.
Bolton rarely threatened and, in truth, once, they had
fallen behind, had no back-up plan to counter Liverpool's
total domination.
(Setanta Sports)
Sami and Yossi in as Rafa returns
There are two changes to the Liverpool side for the visit of
Bolton this afternoon as Rafa Benitez makes his dressing
room return.
Sami Hyypia and Yossi Benayoun come in for Lucas and the
injured Alvaro Arbeloa.
Though Benitez is back at Anfield after his kidney stone
troubles, assistant Sammy Lee is still likely to take a
leading role on
the Reds bench.
The Liverpool XI in full is: Reina, Carragher, Insua,
Hyypia, Agger, Riera, Benayoun, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt,
Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, Ngog, El Zhar, Mascherano, Babel, Lucas,
Darby.
(LFC Official Website)
Mascherano demands home fortress
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano insists it is
imperative the Reds turn Anfield into a fortress if they are
to maintain their title bid.
The Premier League leaders have drawn their last three games
at home ahead of the visit of Bolton on Boxing Day.
If Liverpool do not lose to Bolton they will become the only
English team to have avoided defeat on home soil in the
calendar year.
"I think we have to win at home because we need to get back
the confidence of the team," said Mascherano. "We played at
Bolton a few weeks ago and played well.
"We have had many good performances away from home -
Chelsea, Bolton and Blackburn was not bad - we need to try
and reproduce that now at Anfield.
"We can't use how teams play at Anfield as an excuse. We
know a lot of sides come to defend but we need to find
spaces and a way that we can beat them.
"It is not their fault that they play like that so I don't
like to talk about excuses. If a team defends a little bit
more when they play against us then we need to find a way
around that."
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool target
Heskey in £4m deal
Liverpool are to make a £4 million bid to bring Wigan
striker Emile Heskey back to the club.
Heskey has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs
in the January transfer window, with Tottenham also known to
be keen admirers of the 30-year-old England international.
However, should Heskey press for a move from the JJB,
Liverpool is thought to be his prefered destination.
(Daily Telegraph) |
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THURSDAY 25 |
Arsenal plans
January Alonso bid
Arsenal is ready to test Liverpool’s resolve with another
serious offer for Liverpool playmaker Xabi Alonso in
January.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Arsene Wenger is ready to
splash the cash to sign a replacement for injured midfielder
Cesc Fabregas.
(Kop-TV)
Lee: Torres to boost title bid
Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee believes the imminent
return of star striker Fernando Torres will add fresh
impetus to the Reds' Barclays Premier League title bid.
Torres has not featured since the end of November due to a
hamstring problem which has dogged him for months, but is an
outside bet for a place on the bench for the Boxing Day
clash with Bolton at Anfield.
It is testament to Liverpool's all-round improvement this
season that they have managed to remain top of the league
despite Torres' injuries, which have limited him to just
five goals so far this term.
But with the Spaniard now approaching a comeback, Lee is
confident Rafael Benitez's table-toppers can only improve.
"When you have a world-class performer ready to come in,
then of course it makes you better, and gives everyone a
lift," Lee said.
(Sporting Life)
Thor Zakariassen
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