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TUESDAY 27 |
Rafa refuses to discuss bust-up
Rafael Benitez refused to discuss his war with Liverpool's
owners as he concentrated on making sure the Reds stay in
the Champions League.
A week of astonishing acrimony between the Liverpool boss
and American club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will
be put aside when the Merseysiders fight for their European
lives against Porto on Wednesday.
And Benitez will go into the Anfield clash with the
Portuguese champions after clear-the-air talks with chief
executive Rick Parry.
Benitez said: "As manager of Liverpool I know that the match
against Porto is the most important thing, so I do not want
to talk about
anything else.
"I am sure we will win and play well, then I will be
thinking about the next game, beating Bolton on Sunday.
"You can ask about the meeting with Rick Parry, but I will
only talk about Porto, that is the only thing I am concerned
about."
(TEAMtalk)
No return for Agger and Alonso
Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger will not be fit to face Porto
in Wednesday's crucial Champions League clash.
Rafa Benitez confirmed the pair, along with long-term
absentee Jermaine Pennant, were his only injury worries
ahead of the Group A game.
This means Yossi Benayoun, who has been out for two weeks
with an adductor injury, could return to face the Portuguese
champions.
Steve Finnan has also recovered from a knock sustained
against Newcastle on Saturday.
Both Agger and Alonso have been out with metatarsal injuries
since Pompey on September 15, though Alonso returned briefly
against Arsenal at the end of October.
(LFC Official Website)
Rushie backs Reds to beat Porto
Ian Rush believes that Liverpool can win on Wednesday night
and maintian their hopes of qualification for the knock-out
phase of the Champions League.
"Porto are a very good side and they will be looking to hit
Liverpool on the break and they have a few players in attack
who can cause problems for Rafa Benitez's men," said the
former Liverpool striker.
"But Liverpool are more than capable of overcoming them and
if they do I fully expect them to go to Marseille in the
last game and get the result they need to go through to the
knockout stages.
"The Anfield crowd will be at its very best and I don't
think Porto will be able to cope with the wall of noise that
is going to hit them.
"So, if Liverpool can grab an early goal it could set the
tone for the night and a win would put them on course to
qualify."
(LFC Online)
Masch deal in doubt
Liverpool may miss out on signing Javier Mascherano.
Although the Argentinian midfielder has gone on record as
saying he would like to make his loan move permanent, he
will only sign for Liverpool if Rafael Benitez remains in
charge.
With the current uncertainty surrounding Benitez's future,
Mascherano is unlikely to sign a permanent deal in January.
(LFC Online)
Steven Gerrard's warning for Liverpool
Steven Gerrard today ordered his Liverpool team-mates not to
be distracted by the ongoing crisis at Anfield.
The Liverpool captain is acutely aware of the dangers of
players losing their focus – particularly with tomorrow
night’s crunch Champions League meeting with Porto coming at
a time when manager Rafa Benitez and the club’s American
owners are at loggerheads.
He said: “It’s important that the players keep their focus.
“We realise that there is stuff going on behind the scenes
but as a player you have just got to blank that out.
“As players we get judged on results so it's vital that we
don't get distracted from what is going on on the pitch and
keep on winning."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Reds must see sense over Rafa
TEAMtalk's James Marshment urges Liverpool to see sense over
Rafa Benitez and not join the masses who are too hasty in
axing their managers.
After players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba
dominated the 2006-07 football season, it seems the managers
are having their turn during the current campaign.
Jose Mourinho and Steve McClaren have created some of the
year's biggest headlines by leaving two of the
highest-profile and best-paid positions in English football
and reports suggest another big casualty may be on the way.
After leading Liverpool to two Champions League finals in
three years it seems ludicrous Rafael Benitez's Anfield
future should now be in doubt but, where managers are
concerned, nothing should be a surprise
this season.
(TEAMtalk)
Staggered Wenger backs Benitez
Arsene Wenger has publicly spoken out in defence of Rafa
Benitez as fears grow for the future of the Liverpool
manager.
Benitez is set for showdown December talks with co-owners
George Gillett and Tom Hicks after showing his dismay at
their reluctance to make early moves in the transfer market.
The Spaniard wants to tie up permanent deals for Javier
Mascherano and Milan’s Kakha Kaladze, the latter of whom is
a free agent in the summer.
Wenger admits he feels for Benitez, insisting Arsenal have
never hindered his attempts in the transfer market, and he
sent a scarcely-veiled dig at The Premier League's big-money
investors.
“Rafa Benitez has done remarkably well at Liverpool and what
is happening there is not down to sport or to results. It is
down to internal differences,” Wenger was quoted as saying
in The Sun.
“I am fortunate I have had the freedom and the support of my
board to work as I want ever since I arrived in England. My
directors understand you do not get success without that
backing.
“But you need experience to realise that and I am not sure
that everyone who has just bought their way into the game
can appreciate that.”
(Setanta Sports)
Kop will give its backing to Rafa Benitez
Liverpool FC fans are expected to make a mass show of
support for their beleaguered manager Rafael Benitez at
tomorrow’s crucial Champions League game at Anfield.
As the fate of the manager continues to hang in the balance
after a public falling-out with the club’s American owners,
Tom Hicks and George Gillett, supporters’ groups and fans’
websites have pledged to stand by
Mr Benitez.
This will take the form of pro-Benitez flags and banners
being waved at tomorrow’s game against Porto, which
Liverpool must win if they are to progress in the UEFA
competition.
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
|
MONDAY 26 |
Rafa cannot win war of words with owners
TEAMtalk explains the millions of reasons why Rafael Benitez
is on dodgy ground in his most recent spat with Liverpool's
American owners.
Actually, 122 million to be precise. That is the amount of
sterling Benitez has spent since joining Liverpool in the
summer of 2004.
By even money-mad football measures that is a vast sum.
Around £50million of that was made available to Benitez by
owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett after last May's
Champions League final defeat against AC Milan, half of
which was spent on bringing Fernando Torres
to Anfield.
The point is that Benitez can hardly complain that he has
not been supported. He can hardly claim he has not been
given the tools to do
the job.
He can hardly complain his authority has been usurped the
way Jose Mourinho felt his had at Chelsea.
(TEAMtalk)
Mark Lawrenson: Rafa Benitez
in precarious
position
Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson believes current
manager Rafael Benitez is in a “precarious position” at
Anfield.
The Spaniard has become embroiled in a face-off with club
owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over their unwillingness
to sanction transfer activity before they arrive on
Merseyside for the clash with bitter rivals Manchester
United on December 16.
While Lawrenson - who played more than 250 games for the
Reds in the 1980s - understands both sides of the debate, he
believes Benitez’s position could come under threat if
results over the next few weeks do not go his way.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Transfer row behind a crisis
When Kahka Kaladze helped AC Milan topple Liverpool in last
May's Champions League final, little did he know that six
months later he could end up playing an unwitting role in
Rafa Benitez's potential downfall.
The Georgian defender might have frustrated Benitez in
Athens but to nothing like the same extent as the failure to
sign him has infuriated the Liverpool boss in the last week.
Benitez wanted to snap Kaladze up to provide defensive cover
for Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia but when
Tom Hicks and George Gillett refused to even discuss
potential transfers before December 16, the chance to sign
him was lost and the Reds boss
reacted angrily.
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez ready to offer olive
branch to Liverpool FC owners
Rafa Benitez is ready to hold out an olive branch to
Liverpool’s owners – but his gesture of reconciliation may
have come too late to save his job.
Though sources close to Tom Hicks and George Gillett insist
no decision has been made to sack Benitez, the Americans
have refused to deny speculation it is only a matter of time
before the manager is forced out.
Despite the pressure , Benitez is still planning for the
future and remains hopeful of landing the league title he
knows Liverpool.
A source close to Benitez said: “Rafa loves it at Liverpool.
He loves the people of the city, he loves the fans and he
loves the club. All he wants is what’s best for the fans -
he gets frustrated when he feels he’s not able
to do that.
“But he is happy with Tom and George owning the club and he
has enjoyed working with them since he came and he has no
problem working with Rick (Parry) – all he wants is to be
able to continue the job that he’s started so he can
continue improving the squad in a bid to deliver the title
he knows Tom, George and Rick want just as badly as he
does."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Reina ready for Euro mission
Jose Reina has backed Liverpool to progress to the latter
stages of the UEFA Champions League.
While speculation on Merseyside continues to centre on Rafa
Benitez's future at Anfield following a widely reported spat
with the club's owners over transfer policy, the players are
focusing their thoughts on Europe.
Benitez's side need to beat Porto at home on Wednesday and
then do likewise on their travels to Marseille in a
fortnight, if they are to keep alive their Champions League
dream.
Reina is confident Liverpool have enough quality in their
ranks to chalk up a pair of wins from two tough-looking
games on paper.
"We are third in the group now and need to register two more
wins," Reina told the club's official website.
"That will not be easy but if we play our real game then we
know that will be enough."
(Sky Sports)
Kuyt's relief
Dirk Kuyt has spoken of his relief in scoring on Saturday.
Kuyt scored his first goal since the Merseyside derby during
Saturday's 3-0 win over Newcastle which was a relief to him
after his bad misses against Blackburn at the start of the
month.
"I know that I scored, but Sami Hyypia touched the ball and
the only thing I could touch it with was my knee so it was a
bit lucky," said the striker.
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 25 |
Liverpool FC owners react to
'Rafa to be sacked' claims
Liverpool owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have reacted
to reports suggesting manager Rafael Benitez is facing the
sack.
The Americans insist they expect to hold a scheduled meeting
in mid-December with the present manager to discuss
potential transfer deals for the January window.
However the statement stops short of categorically
dismissing the speculation, which has been prompoted by a
series of disagreements between the owners and Benitez over
future transfers.
The statement, released last night, reads:
"Despite speculation in today's newspapers, there is nothing
new to say.
"We had a good win yesterday and have got some very
important games coming up starting with Porto on Wednesday,
followed by Bolton and Reading, before Marseille and
Manchester United in a few weeks.
"Both of us, together with Chief Executive Rick Parry, plan
to meet with Rafa when we come over mid December to make
decisions on the team's requirements at that time."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
It's Stevie v Andriy in World Cup
Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch and Scott Carson will
face Anfield teammate Andriy Voronin as England meet
Ukraine in the World Cup qualifiers.
The draw for the South Africa 2010 qualifiers took place in
Durban on Sunday afternoon, and in a twist of fate England
will also play Croatia again. Belarus, Kazakhstan and
Andorra complete Group Six.
John Arne Riise and Norway will do battle with
Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel's Holland. Scotland, FYR
Macedonia and Iceland complete Group Nine.
In Group One, Daniel Agger's Denmark will face
Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Albania and Malta.
Meanwhile in Group Two, Yossi Benayoun's Israel will
play Greece, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg.
In Group Four, Sami Hyypia's Finland face matches
against Germany, Russia, Wales, Azerbaijan and
Liechtenstein.
Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso find
themselves in Group Five as Spain will take on Turkey,
Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia and Estonia.
Steve Finnan and the Republic of Ireland are in Group
Eight alongside Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia and
Montenegro.
The first matches for the European teams involved in the
World Cup qualifiers starts in September 2008.
Meanwhile in the Asia draw section, Harry Kewell's
Australia have been drawn in Group One along with Quatar,
Iraq and China.
The South American World Cup qualifiers are already in full
swing featuring Javier Mascherano's Argentina and
Lucas with Brazil.
Momo Sissoko's Mali are in the African section as
they bid to reach the 2010 World Cup finals.
(LFC Official Website)
Nolan to miss Reds game
Kevin Nolan will miss next week's Liverpool game.
Bolton will be without their captain when they visit Anfield
next week after Nolan picked up his fifth yellow card of the
season during their 1-0 win over Man Utd yesterday.
Danny Guthrie will also miss the game as loan players are
not allowed
to face their parent club under FA rules.
(LFC Online)
Alonso adds fuel to Spanish rumours
Xabi Alonso has refused to dismiss rumours linking him with
a return to Spain while Atlético de Madrid coach Javier
Aguirre admitted he was
a fan.
The Liverpool midfielder was asked about reports that los
Colchoneros had shown an interest in him and he admitted
that he had heard
the stories.
Without being prompted Alonso mentioned interest from Barça,
the club where his father Periko was a hero during his
playing days.
"I have heard about the rumours involving Atlético and maybe
Barcelona too but, formally, I know nothing," he said.
Despite the reports from Spain, Alonso did state that he was
only focussed on helping Liverpool to success in the
Premiership and Eurpe.
"My objective is to be 100 per cent fit for the decisive
moments to come in both the Premier League and Champions
League," he continued.
"I also want to play for Spain at Euro 2008 so want to get
the necessary minutes on the field."
(Goal.com)
Mourinho linked as Benitez faces Liverpool axe
Jose Mourinho is being sensationally linked with Liverpool
after Rafa Benitez's latest tirade against the club's
American owners.
The News of the World says Liverpool's owners were already
preparing
to ditch the Spanish boss after tiring of the constant
behind-the-scenes bickering but this week's developments
have sealed his fate.
It's now a matter of when not if the Spanish boss leaves
Anfield and that's expected to be sooner rather than later.
(TribalFootball.com)
Benitez could get extra £15m
to spend if Liverpool stay in Europe
More pressure has clearly been heaped on Liverpool as they
go into their make-or-break Champions League home clash with
Porto on Wednesday following the fall-out between manager
and owners.
Boss Rafael Benitez has clearly been told his transfer
budget for January depends very much on whether Liverpool
reach the knock-out stages.
Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have announced they will
be talking to Benitez about cash and transfers when they
next travel to the UK for the Manchester United home match
on December 16, five days after Liverpool’s final group
match in Marseille.
Liverpool have to beat Porto at Anfield and then triumph in
Marseille to have any chance of further progress.
If they do qualify then there is extra UEFA cash, anything
upwards of £15million that could become available.
And that is cash the Americans will let Benitez spend, just
like they did in the summer with the Sky money and proceeds
from last season’s run to the Champions League final in
Athens.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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