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WEDNESDAY 27 |
Gerrard angered by Liverpool form
Steven Gerrard has declared that even winning the Champions
League this term will not make up for the dismal performance
in
the Premier League.
The Liverpool skipper accepts that only fourth place now is
acceptable as they battle to secure entry into Europe's
elite competition next term.
But he said: "You don't get any prizes in football for
finishing in second place, never mind fourth.
"I don't think that the fans would accept fourth as an
accomplishment and for me it's not nearly good enough.
"We need to improve dramatically and even if we do finish
fourth, it doesn't mean we have had a good season."
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa drops Sami hint
Rafael Benitez has hinted that Sami Hyypia could get a new
contract.
Although Benitez won't discuss a new contract with Hyypia
until later in the season he says the Finn doesn't have to
prove to anyone what a good player he still is.
"I was talking with him but he knows we have to wait a
little bit. But I am really pleased with him. The question
now is to see how he progresses, but he knows my thoughts,"
said the Liverpool boss.
"He doesn't have to prove anything. We know him and he knows
why we have to analyse the situation.
"Every year he has been a key player for us. He's a
centre-back with experience who's good in the air and who
can play the ball.
"He is playing more games than we maybe expected this season
but every game his performance is good."
(LFC Online)
Benitez delighted with Agger return
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was pleased to see Daniel
Agger back in action for the reserves on Tuesday night.
The Danish centre-back has recovered from a metatarsel
injury in September and played 45 minutes of the game
against
Manchester United reserves.
"It was good for Agger to get some minutes on the pitch and
we decided before the game that he would play the first half
and Skrtel would play the second," said Benitez. "Agger did
well and now we will have to see how he is today.
"When you have been out for a long time you have to be
careful and you cannot rush back because if you come back
too early you can have some problems, but Agger did well and
it was good to see him back playing football again."
(LFC Online)
Benitez to rotate less
Rafael Benitez has revealed he expects to use his rotation
policy less in the coming months now Liverpool are fighting
on just two fronts.
The Reds boss made only one change in Saturday's win over
Middlesbrough from the victory over Inter Milan four days
earlier - and that was enforced due to Jamie Carragher's
ban.
When asked about his plans Benitez told the club's website:
"I think so. It will depend on the players in the end, but
we can keep some players playing more games now."
Saturday's 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough saw Liverpool
temporarily leapfrog Everton into fourth place until the
Toffees' win over Manchester City on Monday allowed them to
reclaim the final Champions League spot.
"Everton have a lot of confidence right now and it was a
good win for them (on Monday), but it's a long race," said
Benitez.
"Portsmouth, Villa, Everton, City and us will all be there.
I'm not sure if it will go to the final game but I think a
lot will depend on these three games we have in a row."
(Sporting Life) |
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TUESDAY 26 |
Alonso nets as Reserves clinch United win
Liverpool maintained their lead at the top of the Barclays
Premier Reserve League North with a hard-fought triumph over
Manchester United at
the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Goals from Xabi Alonso (penalty) and Harry Kewell secured a
2-0 win for Gary Ablett's men as they produced a disciplined
display to edge out their third placed rivals in front of a
bumper crowd in Warrington.
The Reds went into the match boasting, what was arguably
their strongest line-up of the season, with Alonso, Kewell
and the fit-again Daniel Agger - who was playing his first
match since September 15 - all involved in
the starting XI.
Liverpool Reserves: Bouzanis, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Agger
(Skrtel 46), Plessis, Flynn, Spearing, Nemeth (Brouwer 84),
Alonso, Kewell.
Unused subs: Gulacsi, Bruna, Kelly.
(LFC Official Website)
Hicks denies plan to sell Liverpool stake
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has insisted he is not planning
to sell his stake in the club.
The Texan billionaire claims he is completely committed to
Liverpool and has rejected reports that he has invited Dubai
International Capital (DIC)
to inspect the club’s accounts in preparation for a
takeover.
(Liverpool Echo)
Sandon invites Hicks family to meet the fans
The boss of The Sandon pub has invited Liverpool FC’s
American owners back to the pub.
It follows an incident there on Saturday evening after the
Reds beat Middlesborough.
Tom Hicks Jnr was confronted by fans and angry questioning
about the US takeover.
He had to swiftly leave with his bodyguards.
Today, the Sandon owners extended an invitation to Tom Hicks
and his family to visit the pub to discuss club issues with
supporters’ groups.
Gemma Hindley said: “ I would like to offer an invitation
for Mr. Hicks and his family to attend an organised meeting
between himself and the necessary supporters groups.
“There seems to be a lot of talk about what happened at The
Sandon on Saturday night after the game.
“I am sure both the Hicks family and the fans want to
resolve the issues surrounding the incident before the
rumours continue to escalate."
(Liverpool Echo)
Crewe dismiss Liverpool approach
Crewe first-team coach Steve Holland has denied reports that
Liverpool are about to pay more than £1m for one of the
club's academy players.
It is thought that 14-year-old Max Clayton could be the
target of the Premier League giants.
But Holland told BBC Radio Stoke: "There's been no official
contact, it is all just speculation.
"We've become used to this sort of thing. The time for us to
worry would be when big clubs aren't interested."
Players such as Dean Ashton, Danny Murphy and Rob Hulse are
all graduates of Crewe's famed academy.
(BBC Sport Online)
Iron reveal Hobbs illness concern
Scunthorpe have revealed that defender Jack Hobbs was
substituted at half-time in Saturday's 1-1 draw with
Southampton as he was suffering with a virus.
Having struggled through the first half, the on-loan
Liverpool man was sick during the interval - but is expected
to be fit for the weekend.
(BBC Sport Online)
Ibrahimovic a doubt for Roma and Liverpool
Leaders Inter Milan are likely to be without striker Zlatan
Ibrahimovic for the home clash with second-placed AS Roma on
Wednesday.
The Swede missed Sunday's 1-1 draw at Sampdoria with a knee
problem and is poised to skip the Roma game as a precaution
ahead of the Champions League last-16, second leg against
Liverpool on March 11, media reported.
Strike partner Julio Cruz is also a doubt with Javier
Zanetti and Dejan Stankovic set to play despite knocks.
Chilean midfielder Luis Jimenez returns to the squad after
injury.
(Reuters)
Agger back
Daniel Agger will play for the reserves tonight.
The Danish defender, out since September with a metatarsal
injury, will play for the reserves against Manchester United
at the Halliwell Jones Stadium tonight.
Harry Kewell and Xabi Alonso are also in the starting line
up tonight as they needs match fitness after sitting out the
Reds' last two games.
Tonight's match kicks off at 7.30pm.
(LFC Online)
Hyypia hoping to extend Reds stay
Veteran Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia says he is hoping to
win a new deal at Anfield - but will not demand assurances
of first-team football.
A number of clubs are thought to be monitoring Hyypia's
situation with his current contract due to expire in the
summer.
The 34-year-old admits clinching a new contract at Liverpool
is his priority as he would like to make it 10 years on
Merseyside.
"My priority would be to stay at Liverpool, but it's not
only up to me," Hyypia told The Mirror.
"I haven't got any offers yet from here or any other clubs,
so I'm just trying to focus on the matches.
"I'm enjoying playing. I've played more games than I maybe
thought I would this season because of all the injuries.
"The only thing I can do is try to play well, and when it's
time to sit down see what happens.
"It would be very nice to get to 10 years at the club but
I'm just concentrating on playing well."
(TEAMtalk)
DIC 'close in' on Gillett's 50% stake in Liverpool
Dubai International Capital may own at least half of
Liverpool Football Club within the next three weeks.
After months of negotiations George Gillett has reportedly
indicated
a willingness to sell his 50% stake in the club and a fee is
believed to have been agreed.
A specialist team of bankers and solicitors have been put in
place by the investment arm of the Dubai government as it
awaits permission to study the club's books.
That permission is expected to be granted in the next couple
of days and should everything be found to be in order, DIC
could complete the deal with Gillett, who is ready to
relinquish his stake having had a massive
fall-out with Reds co-owner Tom Hicks.
(Liverpool Echo) |
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MONDAY 25 |
Fernando Torres in a league of his own
When Fernando Torres arrived at Anfield last summer he was
hailed as the final piece in Liverpool’s jigsaw.
The Spaniard was the 25 goal a season striker who could
finally help the Reds make the step up from also-rans to
Premier League title contenders.
With the club shattering their transfer record and shelling
out £20million, the pressure on the quiet 23-year-old was
immense.
Many overseas players need time to adjust to the pace and
physical nature of the Premier League but Torres’ impact has
been remarkable.
Saturday’s clinical hat-trick secured a priceless three
points against Middlesbrough and took his haul to 21 goals
in just 31 appearances.
In doing so he became the first Liverpool striker since
Michael Owen five seasons ago to reach the coveted 20-goal
mark.
Combining stunning natural talent with powerful athleticism
and the heart of a lion, Torres has undoubtedly lived up his
pre-season billing. Sadly, the same can’t be said for the
rest of his team-mates.
(James Pearce - Liverpool Echo)
A victory, but the defensive
worries will remain for Liverpool
The individual brilliance brought by the presence of
Fernando Torres ensured that Liverpool defeated
Middlesbrough on Saturday but it was the absence of one of
his colleagues that almost cost them the game and a crucial
three points.
On the face of things it was well done, job done and a
second victory in five days to keep Liverpool’s twin
ambitions up and running.
Rafael Benitez’s side gave themselves a foot in the
quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday by rising
to the occasion and bringing another of the so-called
superstar teams of Europe down to earth as Italian champions
Inter were disposed of 2-0 in a similarly no-nonsense
fashion to the way Barcelona were humbled a year ago.
So to follow that up with a win in the Premier League
against an improving Middlesbrough outfit who were unbeaten
in their last five outings, results-wise at least – and it’s
a results-based business of course – ensured that it was a
fruitful week for Benitez’s troops who have recovered well
from their shock FA Cup exit at home to Barnsley.
However, while the first win against Roberto Mancini’s
legions proved that Liverpool’s players and supporters have
no problems getting themselves up for the big European
nights, total satisfaction from this encounter would only
paper over the cracks as to why Benitez’s side are actually
in a dogfight with the likes of Everton, Aston Villa and
Manchester City for fourth place rather than putting in a
serious challenge for the title alongside Arsenal,
Manchester United or even Chelsea.
(Chris Beesley - Liverpool Daily Post)
Carson wants his future settled
Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson had enough of being a loan
star and wants a bit of stability and permance in his
career.
England international goalkeeper is currently on loan at
Aston Villa and enjoying a fine season. Burt he remains
Liverpool's player, and with three loan spells to his name
already, the 22-year-old wants his long-term future to be
sorted out for the sake of his family.
But Carson doesn't know whether Villa manager Martin O'Neill
is interested in signing him on a permanent basis, and the
uncertainty is becoming a problem.
All three parties would need to reach an agreement -
Liverpool, Villa and Carson - but the player himself said:
"I'd like to know what is happening because I've got my
girlfriend and my son to think about.
"My son turned two last week and he's started going to
nursery school so we need to get settled.
"I've still got a contract with Liverpool and until someone
does a deal with them, I can't do anything.
"It's not a done deal [with the Reds]. Villa paid a loan fee
for me until the end of the season and any time from now
until then, they could make it permanent."
Carson added: "I can't really say where I'd like to be
because I'm still under contract at Liverpool and I don't
know what is going to happen there.
"I like it at Villa and I want to get settled for next
season."
(Goal.com)
Hyypia: Fourth is a must
Liverpool have to finish this season in fourth spot says
Sami Hyypia.
Saturday's win saw the Reds leapfrog Everton into fourth
place on goal difference. Staying in that final Champions
League qualifying position is
all important admits the Finn.
"Bolton's not an easy place to go to [next], but if we get
three points there we'll be on target for fourth place which
is the minimum requirement,"
said Hyypia.
"All the Bolton games have been bruising games in my
experience - after them you're bruised all over - but so
long as we get the three points it doesn't matter."
(LFC Online)
Inter held
Inter Milan drew 1-1 yesterday.
Liverpool's Champions League opponents drew 1-1 away at
Sampdoria yesterday. Hernan Crespo scored Inter's equaliser
with fourteen minutes
to go. The draw allowed second placed Roma to close the gap
to
nine points.
(LFC Online)
Tom Hicks's son forced to leave Sandon pub
The son of Liverpool FC co-owner Tom Hicks had to be
escorted out of
a city pub by bodyguards after he was confronted by angry
questions
from fans.
Tom Hicks Jnr made an unannounced visit to The Sandon pub
straight from the directors’ box at Anfield, where he
watched Liverpool’s 3-2 victory against Middlesbrough on
Saturday.
However, he was soon surrounded by supporters and was
advised to withdraw by his bodyguards when the exchanges
became
increasingly heated.
According to one witness, Hicks “ran out, with fans chanting
‘get out of our pub’.” However, suggestions that he was
physically manhandled or that punches were thrown were
denied.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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