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FRIDAY 27 |
Benitez's backroom agree stays
Five members of Liverpool's backroom staff have followed
Rafa Benitez's lead and have signed long-term deals at
Anfield.
Benitez ended months of controversy by recently penning a
five-year deal on Merseyside, concluding speculation he was
set to quit the Reds in the summer.
And now assistant boss Sammy Lee, first-team coach Mauricio
Pellegrino, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero, fitness coach
Paco de Miguel and chief scout Eduardo Macia have agreed
contract extensions which will keep them with Liverpool for
at least an additional two years.
When holding negotiations regarding his own future, Benitez
stated that he was eager for his colleagues to also be
offered assurances and the Spaniard is delighted with the
outcome.
"I said when I signed my own deal recently that it was a
priority to sort out the future of the technical staff,"
said the former Valencia boss.
"We work extremely well as a team, and continuity is
essential if we are to build on the progress we have made
this season and move the club further forward.
"I'm delighted we have been able to sort out the contracts."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa: We will not be signing Silva
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has today ruled out a
summer swoop for Valencia midfielder David Silva.
Speculation has been growing that the 23-year-old Spaniard
is Benitez's top target at the end of the season, but the
manager today insisted Silva will not be Anfield bound.
Asked whether there was any truth in the newspaper reports,
Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We will not be signing him."
Despite ruling an approach for Silva out of his summer
plans, the boss insisted work is gathering pace behind the
scenes to identify targets ahead of next season.
"We are working hard, talking with the scouting department
and looking at names and options for next season," he added.
"It's still too soon, but we are working hard."
(LFC Official Website)
Keirrison staying at Palmeiras
Palmeiras striker Keirrison has not agreed a move to
Barcelona and is not for sale, according to the company that
owns his rights.
The Brazilian striker has been linked with Liverpool,
Valencia, Real Madrid and a number of other top clubs in
Europe, while Milan have already expressed a firm interest,
but he said recently that he was dreaming of a move to
Barcelona.
And reports in Spain have claimed that the 20-year-old, who
has continued his phenomenal goalscoring form since leaving
Coritiba for Palmeiras in January, has agreed to move to
Camp Nou in the summer.
Spanish daily Sport, under the headline ‘Keirrison tied to
Barca’, claimed on Friday: “Barcelona have reached an
agreement in principle with the new star of Brazilian
football.”
However, 80 percent of Keirrison’s rights are owned by third
party Traffic Sports Marketing, and the company’s president,
J. Hawilla, insists the player is staying in Brazil.
“Keirrison has not been offered to anyone and he is
intending to stay,” he told Radio Record.
“He is not for sale."
(Setanta Sports)
Kelly joins Huddersfield
Martin Kelly has joined Huddersfield on loan for the rest of
the season.
The reserve team defender, who made his first team debut in
the Champions League away win over PSV Eindhoven, has joined
the League One side on loan for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, Academy midfielder Astrit Ajdarevic has joined
fellow Reds David Martin and Jack Hobbs on loan at Leicester
for the remainder
of the season.
(LFC Online)
Skrtel: United have hit breaking point
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel reckons Manchester United's
breaking point came in the 4-1 home defeat to their
arch-rivals.
Speaking ahead of the live Setanta international between
England and Slovakia, when he will lock horns with Wayne
Rooney again, the imposing centre back is in no doubt that
United will be overtaken in the title challenge.
After following up the Old Trafford hammering with a shock
2-0 defeat to Fulham, Sir Alex Ferguson's champions' lead is
down to a single point and the Merseysiders can go top with
a win, or even a draw, at Craven Cottage in another live
Setanta game.
"It's just a pity that we have had the interruption [of an
international break] at this time," he said in The Guardian.
"Ideally, we would have liked to carry on with the league
because we are in such great form whereas Manchester United
have been going through their weakest period of the season.
"We just have to hope that everyone stays healthy and, when
we get back together, we can carry on where we left off,
winning matches and putting pressure on United.
"Because we do think that 4-1 win might have been their
breaking point. Their lead was seven points at the time but
now it is only one point so, psychologically, we are in a
much better position than before.
"We feel very strongly that we have a good chance to win the
title now."
(Setanta Sports)
Alonso: We're better than United
Xabi Alonso believes Liverpool have shown they are superior
to Manchester United in this season's matches between the
title rivals.
The Spain midfielder admits United are still favourites to
retain their Premier League crown but the events of the past
few weeks have certainly opened up the race.
United still have a game in hand on their North West rivals,
but Alonso sees no reason why a 19-year wait for the title
could not be sated this season.
"We can win the Premier League. It is far more likely than a
month ago when we were a lot of points behind," he told the
Daily Star.
"Liverpool have demonstrated this season that they are
superior to United in the two matches between the teams.
"Nobody could dispute that, but now it is a real race for
the title.
"It is not impossible to imagine that we could win all of
our next eight matches while United lose two.
"But we know that we need to remain calm and to play without
any real pressure or fear.
"United know what it is like to play under pressure, but
they have shown there are some cracks in the last two games,
and we will be ready to pounce.
"Every game is going to be vital from now on."
(Sporting Life) |
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THURSDAY 26 |
Silva denies Juve approach
Valencia star David Silva has denied having been
approached by Juventus.
The Old Lady are believed to be after the Euro 2008 winner,
and their managing director, Jean-Claude Blanc, has stated
that Juve will sign
a ‘great champion’ in the summer.
But Silva, who recently denied making comments suggesting he
was flattered to be linked to Juve, has denied having been
contacted
by the Bianconeri.
“I don’t know anything about Juventus,” Silva told Marca.
“I have just heard about it in the press."
He added: “I am training well and every time I feel better.
I will be ready to play both [Spain] games.
“At the present time, I am focused on the selection and on
my team.”
Liverpool have also been linked with the 23-year-old winger.
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa: We will never forget
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hugged the relatives of
Hillsborough disaster victims on Thursday and promised his
club would "never forget" the loss of 96 fans.
Benitez was attending the launch of a song commemorating
next month's 20th anniversary of the disaster.
Some of the city's best-known musicians have recorded a
version of the Kop anthem, The Fields Of Anfield Road, with
former Liverpool players and members of the Hillsborough
Families Support Group.
Benitez said: "I think it's important to show support for
the fans and the families."
Recalling his first season at Anfield when he first attended
a Hillsborough memorial service, he added: "It was very
emotional for me, for all the players, it was something we
will never forget.
"I think you can feel it (the loss) in every single game,
what it means for the fans."
The disaster, on April 15 1989, happened at Liverpool's FA
Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest when Liverpool fans
at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday's
Hillsborough stadium were crushed to death.
(PA Sport)
No Real link for Alonso
Xabi Alonso has denied having been approached by Real
Madrid’s presidential candidate Florentino Perez.
Reports emanating from Spain have claimed that Liverpool
star Alonso is at the top of Real’s shopping list, alongside
Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Lyon’s Karim
Benzema.
Perez is the favourite to be elected president of the
Santiago Bernabeu outfit for the second time, and it has
been said that the businessman has already been in touch
with some of his transfer targets.
But Kop favourite Alonso has declared that he was never
called by Perez, with the Spain international focused on his
international duty and not willing to add fuel to the fire.
Alonso was strongly linked to Juventus last summer, but he
stayed at Anfield, with The Reds unable to lure Gareth Barry
out of Aston Villa.
“I have not been contacted by Florentino Perez,” Alonso told
a press conference.
“I am not into commenting on hypothesis.
“I don’t have anything to say.”
He added: “The truth is that I am pretty much relaxed,
focused on what I have to do.
“At the present time I am only focused on Spain and on the
game with Turkey.”
(Setanta Sports)
Voronin issues rallying call
Andriy Voronin insists Ukraine will enter their 2010 World
Cup qualifier against England with no fear.
The two nations are set to go head-to-head at Wembley on
Wednesday in a crunch Group 6 clash.
Fabio Capello's men currently lead the way on the road to
South Africa, taking maximum points from their four games so
far, but the battle for second place remains keenly
contested.
Ukraine will be hoping to pip Croatia to a runners-up spot
and Voronin insists they can take a positive step towards
achieving that goal against England.
"I consider England to be the strongest team in our group
but we also have very good players," said the Liverpool
striker, who is currently on a season-long loan at German
outfit Hertha Berlin.
"We need not to be afraid of the names on the back of the
English team jerseys.
"The biggest mistake would be to play defensive football. We
won't have any chances even for a draw should we make that
mistake.
"The English do not like opponents who use short passing
against them and make them run around without getting
possession of the ball."
(Sky Sports)
David Silva is
Liverpool FC transfer target
Rafa Benitez is weighing up a summer swoop for Spanish star
David Silva.
The Reds boss has identified the Valencia man as one of his
top transfer targets – but will only do business if the
price is right.
Valencia have hit massive financial difficulties in recent
months and are set to sell crown jewels Silva, David Villa
and Raul Albiol in an effort to bring their debt of 450m
euros under control.
Reports in Spain suggest the La Liga outfit are holding out
for a fee in the region of Ł25m for Silva and with Barcelona
and Juventus also both believed to be interested in snapping
him up the battle for his services could be hard fought.
(Liverpool Echo)
Benayoun risks Rafa's wrath
Yossi Benayoun will defy Liverpool's wishes by turning out
for Israel in their 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
The midfielder has been out of action for the last two weeks
with a hamstring injury, ruling him out of domestic duties.
However, the 28-year-old is desperate to skipper his country
in their crucial clash with Greece on Saturday.
He admits that he is running the risk of further inflaming
his current problem, but insists the opportunity to help
Israel take another step on the road to South Africa
justifies his decisions.
"I had a little problem with Liverpool," said Benayoun.
"They didn't really want me to come to Israel.
"But as long as I know I will be able to give 100 per cent I
will play, even if it means risking my health.
"I've been going through intensive treatment in the last
couple of weeks and I'm almost fully fit, but sometimes it's
still painful.
"Missing out on Saturday's match would be the biggest
disappointment of my career.
"I'm feeling much better now and I hope that in a day or two
I will be able to train with the team.
"If that happens, I will be able to play. Two weeks' absence
isn't that significant."
(Sky Sports)
Reserves win
Liverpool reserves beat Southport after extra time on
Tuesday night.
Gary Ablett's side booked a Liverpool Senior Cup final date
with Waterloo Dock after beating Southport 3-0 after extra
time on Tuesday night.
An own goal, a fine individual goal from Daniel Pacheco and
a clever finish from Jay Spearing gave the Reds the win in
the extra 30 minutes.
(LFC Online) |
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WEDNESDAY 25 |
Arbeloa up for Barca clash
Alvaro Arbeloa is relishing the prospect of a possible UEFA
Champions League semi-final with Spanish giants Barcelona.
The Catalans have lit up the Spanish league this season and
are on course for a historic treble with the Copa del Rey
also in their sights.
But Liverpool are in impressive form themselves having
emphatically knocked out Barca's rivals Real Madrid in the
last-16 of the competition at the start of the month.
The Merseysiders have also closed the gap on Manchester
United at the top of the Premier League, thanks in no small
part to the 4-1 hammering they dished out at Old Trafford
three days after the Madrid mauling.
But the Reds will first have to overcome Chelsea in what we
will be a close encounter in their quarter-final tie, while
Barcelona face German champions Bayern Munich.
"We're not doing badly in the Premier League, we're there
waiting to see if Manchester fall," the former Real Madrid
youngster said.
"And in the Champions League we're waiting to see if we meet
Barca, to see if we take them down a peg or two.
"Barca are favourites in the competition as they are playing
a marvellous game.
"It's not going to be easy. First we have to beat Chelsea.
Barca are a strong rival, but Chelsea will be a difficult
obstacle and we have to be prepared."
(Sky Sports)
Riera: Torres can still improve
Fernando Torres is yet to reach peak form according to his
Liverpool team-mate Albert Riera.
The Reds' goal-machine has had a tough time with injuries
this term but Riera feels he is posied to have a fine end to
the season and will progress as his career develops.
The 25-year-old striker quickly established himself in
England and he has bagged 33 Premier League goals since his
move from Atletico Madrid - with his form coming as a
surprise to Riera.
“Fernando has surprised me. Besides he still has a margin
for progress and you can’t imagine how important it is to
have him within my team,” Riera told a Spain press
conference.
“He is a player that brings you so much and who is still
capable of improving more.”
Riera is apparently a massive fan of the striking duo
composed of Torres and David Villa, and he said about the
European champions: “Villa and Torres are amongts the best
partnerships in the world.
“If they are not the best, they are part of the best and
their figures speak for themselves.”
(Setanta Sports)
Gerrard eyes new
Liverpool FC deal
Steven Gerrard has repeated his desire to sign a contract
extension at Liverpool, revealing that is happier now than
at any other stage of his career.
The Reds skipper is looking to cap an amazing fortnight by
helping England overcome Slovakia in a friendly at Wembley
on Saturday before the crucial World Cup qualifier against
the Ukraine on April 1 as Fabio Capello’s team look to
maintain their 100% start to Group Six.
“I have never been happier throughout my whole career than I
am at the moment,” Gerrard said.
“I have two years left on my contract and if there was a
chance to extend it, I am sure I would.
“I am playing in a top team, with world-class players and I
believe in
the manager."
(Liverpool Echo)
Thor Zakariassen
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