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WEDNESDAY 27 |
Babel to be sacrificed by Reds?
Ryan Babel could be the first high-profile departure from
Liverpool as manager Rafael Benitez plans his summer
restructuring.
It is understood that following talks with the Dutch
international’s agent, Benitez has told the winger he is
free to talk to other clubs about a possible £11m move.
Babel arrived at Anfield in July 2007 and has scored 14
goals in 91 matches for the club – although only 42 of those
were as a starter. But despite early promise, he has failed
to hold down a regular place in the side and has mainly been
used as an impact player from the bench.
He has reportedly asked for assurances that he will be given
more of an opportunity next season.
But following discussions with the player’s agent, Winnie
Haatrecht, Benitez has been unable to offer such guarantees
after starting with Babel only six times in the Barclays
Premier League this term.
(BreakingNews.ie)
Arshavin the reason
for Liverpool’s title failure
Football pundit and journeyman footballer and coach Chris
Kamara has selected his game of the Premier League season
and pinpointed Andrey Arshavin’s four goal haul in the draw
with Liverpool at Anfield as the defining moment in Rafael
Benitez’s failed title-bid.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Kamara revealed the reasons behind
selecting the April 4-4 epic:
“This was the game of the season for me.
“I remember Liverpool playing some absolutely outstanding
football throughout the match, but Arsenal's
counter-attacking play was devastating.
“Even top-class players like Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina
couldn't stop the sheer class of Andrey Arshavin on that
night. He showed everybody in England why Arsene Wenger
waited so long to get him.
“That was the game that finally upset Liverpool's title
challenge and it was memorable for so many reasons.”
(Sport.co.uk)
McAuley not downhearted by defeat
Liverpool Youth manager Hugh McAuley says his side can be
positive despite falling to a 6-2 aggregate defeat by
Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup final.
McAuley's side were beaten 2-1 in the second leg of the
final at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
"We played against the best team in the country at youth
level," McAuley told BBC Radio Merseyside.
"It's a fantastic learning experience for these players and
hopefully they can gain a lot of confidence."
But the Liverpool coach believes the Gunners are the
benchmark at youth level and his side now need to learn and
catch up if they are to be successful in the future.
(BBC Sport Online)
Keane: No chance of
celebrating Liverpool goal
Tottenham captain Robbie Keane says he was never going to
celebrate his goal against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
"Over the years you would have seen that I never celebrate
against my former clubs when I score against them, so this
was no different," he told the Spurs website.
"But as a striker its always nice to score, regardless of
who it's against, and despite the amount of hype around my
return before the game."
(tribalfootball.com) |
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TUESDAY 26 |
Rafa wants to deal quickly
Rafa Benitez has insisted he intends to conduct his transfer
business during the early weeks of the summer.
The dust has barely settled on the Premier League season,
but thoughts are already turning to next term.
Benitez is likely to be an active player in the transfer
market as he embarks on building a side capable of landing
the title.
The Spaniard feels the key to mounting a title challenge
will be to bed in any recruits as quickly as posslble.
“Clearly we want to sign players but we know that it will be
difficult to find players who are better than what we
already have,” Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.
(Setanta Sports)
Mascherano urges Alonso stay
Javier Mascherano has called on Liverpool to do all they can
to retain the services of Xabi Alonso.
The Spaniard's future remains a topic of much discussion on
Merseyside, with Real Madrid reportedly poised to take him
back to his homeland.
Liverpool have strenuously denied that they have any
intention of parting with the midfield schemer, but Rafa
Benitez is under pressure to sell in order to generate a
summer transfer budget.
The likes of Andriy Voronin and Sebastien Leto, both sent
out on loan this season, could be among those on their way
out of Anfield, but Mascherano is hoping Alonso will not be
deemed surplus to requirements.
"Xabi is so influential. Hopefully the great players at
Liverpool can stay and we can bring another player in to
improve the team," said the Argentina international.
"It is important when you have the team in good form you
keep the key players, and Xabi is one of them.
"For sure Rafa will work really hard to improve the squad
and maybe next season we will be stronger.
"If we can keep this squad and improve it, things will be
really good for the future. We will be fighting in all the
competitions, not just league."
(Sky Sports)
Lerner confident Barry will stay put
Randy Lerner is optimistic Gareth Barry will remain at Aston
Villa after revealing a new contract has been discussed with
the England man.
But Villa's American multi-millionaire owner is also
prepared to wind down Barry's current deal, which has
another 12 months to run, even though it would cost the club
between £10-£12million in transfer revenue.
Barry almost quit Villa last summer to join Liverpool before
the deal collapsed after the Reds failed to meet the
£18million asking price.
Lerner recognises the importance of Barry to Villa which is
why he would be prepared for him to stay for another season
and then walk away for nothing as a free agent.
Lerner said: "We have discussed a new contract with Gareth.
I would give Barry the highest ranking possible. He is the
best. He is a gentleman, a great player, a pleasure to be
around, a leader, a great captain.
"I don't think anyone could do better than Gareth on any
level. Am I optimistic Gareth will stay? Yes, I am
optimistic. It is my nature.
"He is currently really speaking to Martin O'Neill and that
is the natural process. They will get into it and it will
all get handled in the normal ways."
Lerner added: "Am I happy for him to wind down his current
contract? That's his decision. If it means he is staying
another year, I am absolutely happy.
"Even though Villa would lose £10-£12 million? Yes,
absolutely. You are talking about a player who is an
integral part of your potential success.
(TEAMtalk)
Reina: Barca must attack United
Jose Reina has warned Barcelona that Manchester United will
'kill' them if they show any fear in Wednesday's Champions
League final.
Reina's Liverpool were the only team to do the double over
United this season, brushing them aside 2-1 at Anfield
before demolishing them 4-1 at Old Trafford.
And Reina feels that Barca can do the same if they take
lessons from United's bitter rivals.
"It's not easy to beat United," he told Spanish newspaper
Sport. "The key is to approach them head on.
"You can't go out there with a heavy heart nor with fear,
because if you do they'll end up killing you. That's what we
did.
"United suffer when they don't have the ball, like Barca. To
beat them you have to dominate possession and play without
fear, with nerve.
"But I'm not the one to say it, (Barca coach Pep) Guardiola
knows better than anyone what to do and how."
"Barca have been spectacular this season," he continued.
"The numbers speak for themselves.
"To win the Copa del Rey and the Primera Division, and
moreover in the manner they did, shows how phenomenal
everyone has been.
"Let's hope they win the Champions League now, it will be an
historic treble."
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa hopes duo stay fit
Liverpool need Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to stay
fit next season says Rafael Benitez.
The pair only managed to start together 21 times in all
competitions this year and it was these prolonged absences
that cost the Reds. Keeping the pair fit will be key to
going one better in the title race next season.
"Fernando will be away with Spain and Steven also has
international duty. It is not something we can stop so
there's no point complaining,"
said Benitez.
"Top players are needed by their countries, but you don't
have to ask me what I would prefer.
"Let's hope the two of them can then have a relaxing summer
and be fully fit when we start again in August, and stay
that way through the season.
(LFC Online) |
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MONDAY 25 |
Hertha pass on Voronin
Andriy Voronin has confirmed that he will not be staying at
Hertha Berlin next season.
The Ukraine international joined the German outfit on a
season-long loan from Liverpool last summer.
Having struggled to adapt to life in England, the former
Bayer Leverkusen forward rediscovered his goalscoring touch
once back in the familiar surroundings of the Bundesliga.
He found the target on 11 occasions for Hertha as they
challenged for a UEFA Champions League spot.
Their efforts ultimately proved to be in vain, as they
finished fourth, and Voronin was informed that he would not
be required in the 2009/10 campaign.
"(The match against Karlsruhe on Saturday) was my last match
as a Hertha Berlin player," Voronin told Die Welt.
"I want to wish the club and their fans all the best in the
future."
(Sky Sports)
Mascherano eyes Tevez reunion
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has revealed he would
relish a reunion with Carlos Tevez at Anfield.
The Argentina captain and his international team-mate were
both at Corinthians in Brazil before moving to West Ham
together in August 2006.
Mascherano saw little action at Upton Park before joining
Liverpool in January 2007 while Tevez finished the 2006/07
season strongly to help the Hammers stave off relegation.
"It would be great to have Carlos here with me, I know how
good he is," said Mascherano.
"But I don't really know what the situation is, it is
certainly a difficult one.
"I don't know exactly what is happening. The only thing I
can say is that he is a great player and a great person."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez's five-year plan for Liverpool FC
is dependent on next five weeks
It's taken Rafael Benitez five years to close the gap at the
top of the Premier League. At the end of his first full
Anfield season the Reds were a cavernous 37 points behind
runaway champions Chelsea.
Now they’re the equivalent of turning a couple of home draws
into victories behind Manchester United.
Whether Benitez can close the most difficult gap of all,
however, could depend on the next five weeks.
After the competitive action came to a predictably
uncompetitive end at Anfield yesterday, attention instantly
switched to the identity of the men the Liverpool manager
seeks to bring in this summer.
And perhaps even more importantly, who he lets go.
(Liverpool Echo)
Thor Zakariassen
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