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SUNDAY 27 |
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Legends claim Anfield honours
Liverpool Legends beat their celebrity opponents 6-2 in
Sunday's Tsunami appeal match at Anfield.
Reds players spanning four decades thrilled a crowd just shy
of 39,000 with their trademark slick, one-touch passing to
defeat a collection of stars managed by Harry Redknapp.
Jason McAteer, one of the main organisers of the event to
raise money for charities Save The Children and Merlin,
scored twice in a brief cameo as the former players opened
up an early 3-0 lead.
Tranmere's former Anfield favourite played a one-two with
Robbie Fowler before sidefooting the opener past Eric Nixon.
He walked in a second after bursting through from midfield
and rounding Nixon, who was beaten again seconds later when
Patrick McGuinness poked in an own goal.
But the goal of the game came on the quarter-hour when
Harvey, of So Solid Crew, set off on a run from his own half
which culminated in him curling a left-footed shot past
Bruce Grobbelaar at the Kop end.
Ian Rush, Fowler and John Aldridge formed a three-pronged
attack for a brief period and the former lashed in a
left-foot drive nine minutes before the break.
The showbiz side closed within two goals when soap actor
Steve Fletcher chipped substitute goalkeeper Sander
Westerveld.
But David Johnson nodded in a fifth moments before
player-manager Kenny Dalglish made a 63rd-minute entrance to
a standing ovation.
Aldridge completed the scoring with nine minutes left to
begin a rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.
(TEAMtalk)
Probably the end of Liverpool shirt deal
Carlsberg's 12-year sponsorship deal with Liverpool Football
Club is on the verge of collapse.
The deal, the longest-running in the Premiership, comes to
an end this season. The two parties had been locked in
exclusive negotiations to renew the contract, which is
thought to be worth around £6m a year.
But sources say the talks have stalled and Liverpool is
thought to be close to securing a replacement sponsor.
LG is rumoured to be a possible replacement. The South
Korean electronics giant is keen to move into football, and
has even been considered as a possible sponsor for the new
stadium that the club is about to build.
A spokeswoman for Liverpool refused to comment, although she
did confirm the club was in talks with "a number of
interested parties" about shirt sponsorship. A spokesman for
Carlsberg, which has sponsored various European competitions
over the last decade, as well as Liverpool, said he could
not comment.
An announcement is expected in the next few weeks. Clubs
need to secure deals now if they are to produce replica kits
in time for the following season.
(The Independent)
Sami Hyypiä becomes Liverpool’s
international number 10
Sami Hyypiä yesterday rose to joint number ten in the list
of reds who have won the most senior international caps
while on Liverpool’s books, with 42. Sami is now level with
Phil Thompson.
Sami has won 58 caps in total, with his first seven coming
while he was with Myllykosken Pallo-47, and the next nine
while he was a Willem II player. His first appearance after
signing for the reds was a 4-2 home defeat by Turkey in a
Euro200 qualifier in June 1999, and he scored his first ever
senior goal for his country four months later in another
qualifier, as Northern Ireland left Helsinki on the wrong
end of a 4-1 scoreline.
Sami still has a very long way to go to catch Ian Rush, who
won 67 caps while a Liverpool player, and 73 in total. Next
in his sights, though, is John Barnes who claimed 48 of his
79 caps while at Anfield. Dietmar Hamann is also very close
to joining this illustrious list as he has played 41 times
for Germany since arriving from Newcastle United, to reach
58 in total, so far.
(YNWA)
Top Ten Cap Holders while at Liverpool:
1. Ian Rush (67)
2. Michael Owen (60)
3. Emlyn Hughes (59)
4. Ray Clemence (56)
5. Kenny Dalglish (55)
6. Ronnie Whelan (51)
7. Stig Inge Bjørnebye (50)
7. Phil Neal (50)
9. John Barnes (48)
10.Sami Hyypiä (42)
10.Phil Thompson (42)
Johnson: It will be emotional
Former Liverpool striker David Johnson says it will be an
emotional day when he steps out at Anfield again on Sunday
for the Tsunami Soccer Aid match after his heart surgery
last year.
Johnson had a heart attack and open heart surgery but he is
in great shape now and thoroughly looking forward to putting
his boots on again on the hallowed Anfield turf.
Johnson told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It will be a last opportunity
if you like to experience what it was like when I used to
play for Liverpool. To go out in front of what's hopefully
going to be a full house is just going to be fantastic.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 26 |
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Sami Hyypiä becomes Finland’s number seven
Sami Hyypiä today rose to joint number seven in the list of
Finland’s record appearance holders as he won his 68th cap
in their 4-3 defeat by the Czech Republic in a World Cup
qualifier in Teplice.
Sami is now level with Juhani Peltonen, who played for
Finland between 1955 and 1970. However, he will have to wait
until at least June to move further up the table, as the
Finns do not have another match this week.
(YNWA)
Milan Baroš becomes the Czech’s number
eight
Milan Baroš today climbed to number eight in the Czech
Republic/Czechoslovakia’s all-time Top Goalscorers list as
he netted his 22nd goal for the Czech Republic as they beat
Finland 4-3 in a World Cup qualifier in Teplice.
(YNWA)
Former Liverpool hero is England’s new
number seven
Ex-red Michael Owen has now risen to stand at equal seventh
in the all-time ranking of England goalscorers, having
netted his 29th full international goal in a World Cup
qualifier against Northern Ireland at Old Trafford on
Saturday afternoon.
All but the final three of these came while he was a reds
player.
One more goal will see Owen move into the all-time top four,
level with England legends Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse and
Alan Shearer. However, Real Madrid’s latest ‘galactico’
still has a long way to go to match the greatest England
scorers of all time, with the top three some distance ahead
of anyone else. The legendary Jimmy Greaves scored 44 times
for his country, with only Gary Lineker (48) and Sir Bobby
Charlton (49)
ahead of him.
(YNWA)
Nolan fired up for Anfield challenge
It says everything about Kevin Nolan's sporting allegiances
that he treasures the goal he scored in a 1-1 draw at
Liverpool more than the two he scored in successive
Premiership triumphs at Old Trafford.
Born and raised on Merseyside, the former England U21
international was on Liverpool's books as a schoolboy and
many of his friends and family are dyed-in-the-wool Reds.
But old loyalties will count for nothing next Saturday when
he returns to Anfield, determined to take a step nearer
realising his European dream.
(Bolton Evening News)
Gerrard: I am fully commited to LFC
Steven Gerrard has underlined his 100 per cent commitment to
Liverpool and says rumours about a supposedly done deal with
Chelsea is just absolute rubbish.
In a passionate interview the Liverpool captain wants to
reassure fans that despite what has been written and said
elsewhere he wants to help Rafael Benitez build a successful
team.
Gerrard said: "I held a press conference last summer to say
I was staying and the situation hasn't changed since then. I
can tell you for a fact the suggestion I've already made up
my mind to leave Liverpool and I've done a deal to join
another club is absolute rubbish. There's no deal for me to
go anywhere and I've not even been thinking
about that.
(LFC Officia Website)
Hunt is hit by new injury scare
Wanderers defender Nicky Hunt is hoping to be fit for both
England U21s qualifier against Azerbaijan on Tuesday and his
club's vital Premiership game at Liverpool on Saturday.
Hunt collapsed in agony clutching his knee in stoppage time
during Friday nights draw with Germany at Hull.
But the injury is not as bad as first feared, being
diagnosed as a dead leg, and the defender is expected to be
fit for the two games next week.
Three weeks ago Hunt escaped an expected long lay-off when
he recovered quickly from a dislocated shoulder received
against Newcastle.
(Bolton Evening News) |
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FRIDAY 25 |
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Carson blunder costs Lions
A blunder from Liverpool keeper Scott Carson cost England's
Under-21s a win against Germany as his poor clearance led to
a late equaliser and unlikely 2-2 draw.
After an even first period the visitors took the lead
through Stefan Kiessling only for quick-fire goals from
Darren Bent and Dean Ashton to hand Peter Taylor's side the
lead.
The home side seemed certain to collect the three points
before Carson's low clearance was deflected to Roberto
Hilbert who superbly side-footed the ball into the empty
net.
The result was harsh on England who deserved the points
based on their second half play. The draw keeps the sides
level at the top of Group Six on 11 points apiece.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Le Tallec's Red worry
Anthony Le Tallec says he is facing an uncertain future at
Liverpool.
The young Frenchman made his breakthrough into the Liverpool
first team under Gerard Houllier, but has found harder times
under Rafa Benitez.
The French Under-21 star returned to Anfield during the
January transfer window due to Liverpool's horrendous injury
problems, and he could see more action between now and the
end of the season.
However, Le Tallec says that his long-term future on
Merseyside is less clear, with an uneasy relationship with
Benitez following his decision to leave on loan.
"I have a four-year contract and before anything that is
security," Le Tallec told L'Equipe.
"That can also allow you to be transferred.
"Frankly, I absolutely can't tell you how I see my future
today. My only wish is to play."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Vignal future uncertain
Liverpool full back Gregory Vignal faces an uncertain future
after failing to thrash out a deal at Rangers.
The French defender was expected to seal a permanent switch
to Ibrox earlier this week but talks stalled after
negotiations between the Glasgow giants and the player's
agent.
Vignal, who has enjoyed a productive loan-spell at Rangers
this term, is out of contract in the summer and looking to
leave Anfield but his next destination is uncertain.
''Our meeting was a failure,'' Vignal told But!
''We could not find an agreement. The officials proposed a
contract and good wages but they did not let me talk.
''But the Rangers boss wants to keep me. I would love to
stay here but remaining at Rangers is not my priority
anymore.
''Rangers have missed their chance. I was waiting for
Rangers' proposition before contacting other clubs.
''Now, my agent will start working next week.
''It seems that a big German club has their eye on me.''
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard plots revenge on Sanchez
Steve Gerrard is looking to take revenge on the man who made
him cry when England take on Northern Ireland in Saturday's
World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford.
Lawrie Sanchez broke Gerrard's heart 17 years ago when he
scored the winner for underdogs Wimbledon in their FA Cup
final triumph over Liverpool.
And as a manager he gave Gerrard and the Reds a fright when
leading Second Division Wycombe to the 2001 FA Cup
semi-finals before losing 2-1 at Villa Park.
Gerrard said: "The players are aware of Lawrie Sanchez. He
obviously had a good career as a player. I can remember when
he ruined one of my days by scoring the winner in the FA Cup
final against Liverpool. I remember crying after that game.
"Lawrie has also done really well since taking charge of the
Northern Ireland national team. I believe that he is a very
a good coach. But hopefully tomorrow we will be able to turn
it into a sad day for him."
(ITV Football)
Carson and Welsh do it for the English
Red duo Scott Carson and John Welsh are both set to feature
in England Under 21's match against Germany later tonight,
where both teams are fighting for a place in the Under 21
European Championships.
Both have played for their country's under 21 set up
previously, with Carson attaining nine caps and Welsh with
two.
The match is to be played at the home of Hull City, the KC
Stadium.
(LFC Online)
Liverpool hand trial to former Manchester
United kid
Liverpool have handed a trial to former Manchester United
player Stephen Hogg. The 19-year-old played for the reserves
in the 1-1 draw with Everton this evening.
Hogg, from Bury, in Lancashire, is a versatile player but
his preferred position is in defence. He was recently made
available by United.
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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