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THURSDAY 27 |
Sagna out of European ties
Bacary Sagna is set to miss Arsenal’s Champions League
quarter-final with Liverpool after it was confirmed he is
expected to be out for three weeks.
Sagna twisted his ankle in the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, a
result that has given The Gunners a mountain to climb if
they are to win
The Premier League.
That throws much more importance on Arsenal’s European
double header with Liverpool, but Sagna will have to watch
from the sidelines.
"He has an ankle injury and the first news that we have is
that he could be out for quite a while," confirmed Wenger on
Arsenal TV.
"I don't know how long he will be out but I feel it will be
three weeks at least. Five is the [worst case scenario].
"I have seen the injury again on tape. He wanted to kick the
ball out and he twisted his ankle. That made it a bad
injury."
Sagna will also miss Arsenal’s must-win league trip to
Manchester United.
(Setanta Sports)
Gerrard wants time in new role
Steven Gerrard is confident his England partnership with
Wayne Rooney can work, providing the two of them adapt to
their roles.
During Wednesday's lacklustre 1-0 defeat in France, Gerrard
was deployed as the support to Rooney, who was playing as a
lone striker.
Gerrard has been operating in that role for Liverpool in
recent weeks, but was unable to replicate the success of his
tandem with Fernando Torres
at club level.
But the Liverpool skipper is enjoying his new position on
the pitch and feels he can 'make it happen' on the
international arena.
"I've been playing that role for Liverpool," said Gerrard.
"I've been enjoying it. To play with players like Torres and
Rooney is always a pleasure, and I'm involved and I can get
forward.
"I don't know if it's my best position. I'm a central
midfielder; I've played there all my life, but I do feel as
if I can cause problems in there and I can adapt to the role
- but I'll need more time.
"I am still learning that position. I think I've played it
10 to 15 times, but I am confident I can make it happen in
there."
However, Gerrard also feels that Manchester United forward
Rooney will have to tweak his approach for England in order
for the partnership
to work.
He added: "I think Wayne slightly has to adapt his game as
well - because, for me to get space in there and for it to
work, he has to play a lot higher and stretch the defence. "
(Sky Sports)
FA extend Mascherano appeal deadline
The Football Association have extended the deadline for
Javier Mascherano to respond to his improper conduct charge
until
6pm tomorrow.
The Liverpool midfielder has been on international duty with
Argentina, and the FA have agreed to a 24 hour extension.
However, the date for the case - scheduled to be heard by a
regulatory commission - has been brought forwards to
Thursday April 3.
The charge came after studying Mascherano’s reaction to his
dismissal from Sunday’s 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat
at Manchester United.
The 23-year-old is currently serving a one-match suspension
for the dismissal, ruling him out of Sunday’s Merseyside
derby against Everton
at Anfield.
But if the charge of improper conduct is upheld then he will
also miss Barclays Premier League games against Arsenal on
April 5 and Blackburn eight days later.
However, any ban would exclude the Champions League
quarter-final first and second legs against Arsenal on April
2 and 9.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Arbeloa delighted with Spain debut
Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa described his debut for
Spain as
"a dream come true" following their win against Italy on
Wednesday.
The right-back came on as a substitute with 15 minutes
remaining of the 1-0 friendly defeat of the world champions
and hopes it will lead to a place in the squad for Euro 2008
this summer.
"I will remember this day forever," said the 25-year-old.
"It is a dream come true and to win against world champions
Italy makes
it a perfect day."
Arbeloa was called up to the squad for the first time to
face France in a friendly in February but had to withdraw
because of injury, so he was relieved to finally win his
first cap.
"I am extremely happy because I wasn't sure if it was going
to happen,"
he said.
"There was one substitution left for us and I was really
pleased when
the coach told me to get ready.
"On top of that, we played a great game, we dominated and we
deserved the win."
(TEAMtalk)
Torres fit to play
Fernando Torres has shaken off any fears that he could be a
doubt for
the Merseyside derby by coming through a friendly run-out
for Spain.
Liverpool’s top scorer was taken off after 49 minutes of the
Spanish national team’s 1-0 win over Italy but, despite some
rough treatment from Marco Materazzi, he emerged unscathed
and was today returning to Merseyside to join up with the
Reds squad ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Everton.
Torres’ early substitution caused some fears that he might
have sustained an injury but we understand Rafa Benitez had
an agreement with Spain boss Luis Aragones that his star
striker would be taken off shortly after the start of the
second half.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Two Reds get international debuts
Alvaro Arbeloa made his debut for Spain when he came
on as a second half substitute during a 1-0 win over Italy,
while Nabil El Zhar scored on his international bow
for Morocco.
Arbeloa came on as a 73rd minute substitute for Sergio Ramos
in a match which also saw Fernando Torres come through 49
minutes unscathed.
Xabi Alonso also got a run out when he came on as a
58th minute replacement for Marcos Da Silva. Pepe Reina
was an unused sub.
El Zhar, meanwhile, played the second half of Morocco's 4-1
win over Belgium in Brussels, scoring in the 85th minute.
In France, Steven Gerrard played the first half of
England's 1-0 defeat before making way for his Anfield
teammate Peter Crouch.
Yossi Benayoun scored the winner for Israel in their
1-0 win over Chile in Tel Aviv when he hit a superb
free-kick.
Javier Mascherano played for Argentina in their 2-0
win over Egypt in Cairo and Andriy Voronin made his
return to action ater a long lay-off when he saw 77 minutes
worth of action for Ukraine in their 2-0 win over Serbia.
The Reds number 10 was also booked.
It was a disappointing night for John Arne Riise as
he played the full 90 minutes as Norway lost 3-1 in
Montenegro.
Ryan Babel came on as a 70th minute substitute for
Rafael Van der Vaart in Holland's 4-3 win in Austria, while
Lucas Leiva was an unused substitute as Brazil beat
Sweden 1-0 at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
Martin Skrtel was also in action as he played the
full 90 minutes for Slovakia in their 2-1 defeat to Iceland.
(LFC Official Website) |
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WEDNESDAY 26 |
Reds must consider response to Mascherano
charge
Liverpool were tonight left to consider their response after
midfielder
Javier Mascherano was charged with improper conduct.
The Football Association issued the charge this afternoon in
response to Mascherano’s reaction to his dismissal from
Sunday’s 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat by Manchester
United.
The Argentinian midfielder had to be dragged from the pitch
by coaching staff and colleagues, after being shown a red
card in the 45th minute by Steve Bennett.
The referee had awarded a second yellow following his
protests against
a caution issued to Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez admitted Mascherano made a mistake
in refusing to leave the pitch but felt his sending-off was
harsh.
The club has until 6pm tomorrow to respond, with the case
scheduled to be heard by a regulatory commission on Friday
April 4.
(Evening Echo)
Hyypia deal imminent
Sami Hyypia looks likely to end the speculation surrounding
his future by penning a new deal with Liverpool.
The Finnish defender's current contract is due to expire in
the summer and there had been uncertainty as to whether he
would be offered
an extension.
The veteran centre-back has been a revelation on Merseyside
since being snapped up from Dutch side Willem II nine years
ago and has made no secret of his desire to complete a
decade of service for the club.
Despite turning 34 in October, Hyypia has made 37
appearances for the Reds this season and shows no signs of
letting his immaculate
standards slip.
Rafa Benitez's confession that contract discussions will
begin at the end of the week will have come as a welcome
relief to all concerned, and Hyypia will be delighted to now
be able to focus his full attention on matters on the field.
"Rick Parry (chief executive) is due to talk to Sami's agent
this weekend and hopefully everything will then be
finished," Benitez told Liverpool's official website.
(Sky Sports)
Masch hit with FA charge
The Football Association have stepped into the Javier
Mascherano affair by charging the Argentina international
with improper conduct.
The Liverpool midfielder was sent off against Manchester
United at
the weekend, with his second booking coming on the back of a
constant stream of criticism towards referee Steve Bennett.
Mascherano was apoplectic with rage when shown a second
yellow card and had to be ushered down the tunnel by
team-mates and manager
Rafa Benitez.
Liverpool were unhappy with Bennett’s actions, a view not
shared by
the wider football community, but The FA have taken a dim
view of the player’s conduct.
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa soothes Torres injury fears
Rafa Benitez has played down suggestions that Fernando
Torres might be unavailable for the Merseyside derby on
Sunday.
Reports surfaced on Tuesday that Torres had been forced to
sit out training for Spain having picked up injuries to his
ribs and ankle in last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Manchester
United.
'El Nino' subsequently emerged as a major doubt for the game
with Italy
on Wednesday evening, as well as the match with Everton that
could determine who wins the race for the coveted fourth
place.
However, Benitez is optimistic that his fellow Spaniard is
on track for both club and country.
(Setanta Sports)
Derby victory is so vital for Liverpool
Derby games are something else. We all talk about form
counting for nothing, and it’s true.
But it’s also about the luck on the day, the referee’s
influence and who wants it more.
Usually, they’re scrappy affairs, but this Anfield encounter
has the added spice of a Champions League place at stake.
In the light of the Old Trafford experience, a Reds victory
is essential, simply because it gives them a five-point
cushion. With some tricky away games coming up – Arsenal,
Birmingham, Fulham and Spurs – those extra points could
prove vital.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Babel: I'm not tough enough yet
Liverpool's Ryan Babel has not complained about his bit-part
role this term as he feels he is not tough enough to last a
full game in England.
The Dutch winger has won 22 international caps but was
shocked by the "crazy" world of English football when he
joined Liverpool from Ajax in
the summer.
He has adapted quickly to his new way of life - including
"horrible ice baths" - but knows Liverpool expect much more
from him.
Babel told Liverpool's official website: "It's
understandable I'm not playing 90 minutes. Physically, I'm
not yet at the point that I'm able to play 90 minutes in the
crazy tempo of the Premier League.
"(Manager) Rafa Benitez said that he signed me because he
wanted more players in the squad who can get past opponents.
"Of course my status as a young talent carries certain
expectations but Liverpool see me as a rough diamond that
needs to be cut and polished."
(TEAMtalk)
Injury setback for Kewell
Harry Kewell’s injury curse has struck again, after the
Australian picked up a groin injury on international duty.
The Liverpool winger has been a frequent visitor to the
Anfield treatment room in the last couple of years and has
made just 10 Premier League appearances this term.
He had looked to have shaken off his recent problems and
linked up with the Australia squad for their World Cup
qualifier.
However, his hopes of facing China were dashed when he
suffered a groin complaint during a friendly with Singapore.
Kewell failed to prove his fitness in a training session
this week, but the Australian FA are hopeful his problem is
only minor.
"It is not a reoccurrence. It is a new injury on the right
side of his groin and we believe it is just a strain," a
spokesperson for the Australian FA said.
"The prognosis will determine the length of time he's here
(in Sydney). If it's nothing major, as we expect, he will go
straight back (to Liverpool)."
(Setanta Sports)
Riise ready to quit Liverpool
John Arne Riise has warned Liverpool he will have to
consider quitting Anfield this summer if is isn't picked
more often.
The Norwegian defender, 27, has been a regular at the club
since 2001 when he signed in a £4.6m deal from Monaco.
But recently he has struggled to force his way into Rafa
Benitez's starting eleven and is growing frustrated.
He said: "I am not happy with the situation. I am used to
playing in 80 per cent of all the games, but if I don't get
to play as much as I want to I have to make a choice this
summer as to whether I should stay or not."
Riise says Benitez has promissed him a meeting in the near
future.
"I just have to wait and see what will happen," he told
Norwegian media.
"Maybe he will offer me a new contract, maybe not. It's
frustrating not knowing if you are going to play the next
game or not."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Reports: Barca eye Benitez
Reports emanating from Spain claim Rafa Benitez is
Barcelona's first choice to replace Frank Rijkaard, should
the Dutchman leave Camp Nou in the summer.
The Blaugrana boss has come under increased pressure this
season as Barca trail arch rivals Real Madrid at the summit
of La Liga.
Barca president Joan Laporta is thought to be considering
Rijkaard's role, with Jose Mourinho strongly linked with a
return to the club where he worked at the formative stage of
his career, under both Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal.
However, according to Spanish dailies El Mundo Deportivo and
Marca, it is Liverpool boss Benitez that occupies Laporta's
thoughts.
(Sky Sports) |
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TUESDAY 25 |
FA to study Mascherano incident
The Football Association will tomorrow review television
footage of Javier Mascherano’s controversial red card at Old
Trafford and also study
the report of referee Steve Bennett before deciding whether
to charge
the Liverpool midfielder.
Argentina international Mascherano was sent off for picking
up two cautions during the Barclays Premier League game
against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday – the
second for dissent towards the match official.
Bennett’s report is understood to make a point of mentioning
the time it took an angry Mascherano to leave the pitch.
A decision from the FA is expected tomorrow afternoon, which
is likely
to result in a charge and could lead to an extended ban for
the player.
(Evening Echo)
Rush: Reds will bounce back in derby
Kop hero Ian Rush has backed Rafael Benitez's side to bounce
back from their Old Trafford disappointment and beat Everton
in the derby on Sunday.
Rush believes the players will be eager to get the United
defeat out of their minds as quickly as possible and said a
derby win would be the perfect tonic to make amends.
"If there is one good thing to come out of Sunday's defeat
to Manchester United it is that Liverpool only have to wait
until this weekend for another massive game to come along,"
said Rush.
"But with Everton coming to Anfield for the biggest derby
match in years on Sunday the Liverpool players have the
perfect opportunity to get themselves back on track."
(Liverpool Echo)
DIC now linked with total takeover at Liverpool FC
Liverpool's long-time suitors Dubai International Capital
are thought to be within three or four weeks of making a bid
for complete control of Anfield.
DIC is reported to have decided to offer £400million for
Liverpool FC, but would also bring in a minority investor to
back it up.
As the Daily Post revealed earlier this month, George
Gillett, one of the two Americans who currently run
Liverpool, had agreed to sell his half
to DIC.
But that move was blocked by co-owner Tom Hicks, who
apparently has final say on if Gillett can sell.
DIC, who lost out to Gillett and Hicks in the race for
Anfield last year, are now said to be confident that Hicks
will sell now, despite Hicks insisting just weeks ago he
didn't play to sell at all.
Although DIC, which is the private equity investment arm of
the Dubai government, realises it is paying a high price for
Liverpool – Gillett and Hicks bought the club for £219m 13
months ago – it believes it will be
a price worth paying.
A source is quoted as saying: "It's not a cheap deal and
Hicks is holding out but there is confidence that it will
now finally happen."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Benitez wants talks with
referees chief Keith Hackett
Rafa Benitez is to seek talks with referees chief Keith
Hackett over the sending off of Javier Mascherano against
Manchester United.
Mascherano was today expected to be slapped with a
three-match ban by the FA for his refusal to leave the pitch
after being dismissed by
Steve Bennett.
The Argentinian picked up an automatic one-game ban for the
two yellow cards he received on Sunday and he is now likely
to be hit with a further two game suspension which would
mean as well as missing this weekend’s derby, he would also
be ruled out of forthcoming fixtures against Arsenal and
Blackburn.
But should Mascherano request a personal hearing, there is a
possibility that any such ban would be delayed.
Benitez is now keen to enter into a dialogue with Hackett in
a bid to find
“a solution” to the problems which occurred at Old Trafford.
He said: “I would like to speak to Keith Hackett because it
is important that we find a solution.
“At Liverpool, we respect the game, we respect the rules and
we respect the referee, and it is important to remember that
Mascherano was the first Liverpool player to be sent off in
the league this season.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Respect agenda must start at top of the game
If Steve Bennett had been refereeing an amateur game at
Walton Hall Park on Sunday the chances are both managers
would have told their players beforehand not to bother
speaking to him.
It is a scene played out in Sunday League dressing rooms on
a weekly basis when matches are officiated by over-officious
referees.
It is no different in the Premier League and Bennett is one
referee who players and managers have long been wary of
getting on the wrong side of. Which makes Javier
Mascherano's attempt to question him time andagain all the
more difficult to comprehend, particularly as he already had
a yellow card to his name.
Throw in the fact Bennett had just sent out a clear message
that he would not tolerate any back chat by booking Fernando
Torres and Mascherano's decision to ask the referee "what's
happening" was always going to end
in dismissal.
Under the laws of the game – and no matter what anyone says
about the current climate, matches should only be governed
by the laws – Bennett was well within his rights to send him
off for a second bookable offence.
Law 12 stipulates a player can be booked if he shows dissent
by word or action.Mascherano was a repeat offender.
The problem is, like the off-side rule, dissent is another
grey area open to the interpretation of the referee on the
day and this can, and often does, result in inconsistency.
(Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo)
MARK LAWRENSON:
I’m amazed Benitez is defending stupidity
Sunday’s sending-off could set a benchmark that will be good
for the game in the long-term. If Javier Mascherano has to
be the fall guy that enables that to happen then so be it.
Tough luck.
But something needs to be done to stop all this business of
getting in referees’ faces and showing absolutely no respect
for authority. Fans have had a belly-full of it.
Benitez should be coming out after that game and slapping a
fine of two weeks’ wages on the player and making him
apologise to his team-mates and fans.
As good a player a Mascherano is, you can’t afford to lose
the plot in a game of that importance – it just lets
everyone down.
Including Benitez. Which is why I was surprised he came out
and defended the player because surely he would have been
more frustrated with him than anyone?
A few more looks at it, coupled with some time to think,
might make Rafa realise how foolish his midfielder was,
especially as he was treading such a thin line after his
initial booking.
(Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post)
Torres injury update
Liverpool's strike ace Fernando Torres sat out the first
training session with Spain and is a doubt for their
international.
Torres has had a scan on his rib problem which he picked up
in the defeat to Manchester United at the weekend and
although he has joined up with Spain for their friendly with
Italy he is still touch and go to play.
The striker sat out the early training session and remains a
doubt but there is an increased hope that he will be fit for
the Merseyside derby with Everton at the weekend.
Whilst the hope is that Torres will be fit for the Everton
clash Javier Masherano will be suspended as he awaits to see
the length of ban he is to receive. Normally two yellow
cards would mean a one-match ban but the fact he was slow
leaving the field could see the ban raised to three.
(Clubcall Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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