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THURSDAY 27 |
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Rafa should table bid for AJ says midfielder
Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson believes team-mate Andy
Johnson is the man who could make all the difference at
Anfield.
With Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch unable to score in
a brothel, Liverpool could do with some extra options up
front and Watson thinks the former Reds target fits the
bill.
Watson said: "Scoring goals is a problem for Liverpool and
they need someone like our very own Andrew Johnson, they
need someone to play off Peter Crouch and AJ's got the pace
to get in behind.
"I'm not their manager and Benitez makes the decisions but I
can see a team like Liverpool coming in for AJ in January."
(Kop Talk)
Molby: Heskey better than Crouch
Former Liverpool ace and KopTalk contributor Jan Molby,
believes Peter Crouch is not good enough to wear the famous
Red jersey of the club.
Citing Emile Heskey as an example of how players are moved
on if they are not good enough, Molby even admits that
Heskey was a better player which is something I've been
saying for a long time.
Molby said: "We are still waiting to see anything from
Fernando Morientes, while it's about goals and Crouch isn't
providing them either. I think you can see for the first
time the fact that he's not scoring is playing on his mind.
"The last one at Anfield who couldn't score was Emile Heskey
and he was moved on. You can only look at the evidence and
Emile was a stronger player and scored more goals.
"Peter has got it all in front of him but I don't see him as
a Liverpool player."
(Kop Talk)
Pearson hopes to deny Reds
Hull chairman Adam Pearson is hoping Liverpool target Paul
Anderson will sign a two-year deal with the club.
The teenage winger has trained with the European champions
and was linked with a permanent move to Anfield as part of a
possible swap deal involving John Welsh.
However, talks between the two clubs broke down and Pearson
has now confirmed Liverpool failed to match Hull's valuation
of Anderson.
Pearson will now hold further talks with Anderson next week
and is hoping the player will agree to sign a two-year deal.
He said: "He definitely won't be going to Liverpool as we
couldn't come to any agreement and we're now hoping he will
sign a new deal with us.
"He's been promoted to the first-team squad and we're hoping
he can continue progressing to make an impact in the first
team."
(TEAMtalk)
Kirkland out four weeks
West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has been
sidelined for up to a month with a bruised kidney.
The on-loan Liverpool custodian sustained the injury in
Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers after a collision
with striker Kevin Davies.
Although the injury is not deemed to be serious, Baggies
boss Bryan Robson says he will need two to four weeks of
rest in order to recover.
"Chris suffered a really bad knock against Bolton on
Sunday," Robson told West Brom's official website.
"We thought he'd got away with it but the severity of the
knock has caused him to suffer bruising on one of his
kidneys.
"It's nothing serious but he's been advised by doctors to
rest for between two and
four weeks."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez: Defence is key
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits his philosophy is based
on having a strong defence rather than attacking intent.
The European champions have endured a barren run in front of
goal this season, with just five goals in eight Premiership
games cause for real concern.
''The first priority is to improve defensive tactical play
because it is less complicated than the attacking side and
is important for success,'' wrote Benitez in a Uefa
newsletter.
''The most important thing for me is to be organised. I work
on a lot of patterns of play and, of course, as the
statistics prove, counter-attacks and set-plays are very
important.''
Although Liverpool are struggling for form at present,
Benitez employed a similar style to great success in Spain
with Valencia - a side who he believes understood his
instructions implicitly.
''It was a team that worked very hard and had been together
three years,'' he reminisced.
''We were therefore able to talk about where and when to do
the pressing. They knew what to do, and we could change
tactics quickly.
''This was a team which understood our style and what we
were trying to do.''
(Sky Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 26 |
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Reserves lose to Blackburn
Jerzy Dudek played his second game since returning from
injury but he was powerless to prevent Liverpool Reserves
from losing 3-0 at home to a David Thompson inspired
Blackburn Rovers at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.
Former Liverpool favourite Thompson had a fine match and
dominated midfield and would have scored a couple of goals
but for some fine saves from Dudek.
Overall it was a disappointing performance from Liverpool
and but for Dudek it could have been more than 3-0.
Liverpool Reserves: Dudek, Antwi (Tunnicliffe 45), Smith,
Roque, O'Donnell, Hobbs, Barnett (Platt 71), Peltier,
Calliste, Mannix, Nardiello (Barratt 45).
Subs not used: Woods, Willis.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard: Blame us, not Rafa
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard insists the players and not
the manager have to take the blame after the Reds' dismal
Carling Cup exit.
He told the Liverpool Echo: "I don't see why anyone should
have a go at the boss. He's been saying the right things to
us and doing the right things.
"It's the players who have to accept responsibility in this
situation. We have to take
the blame."
(TEAMtalk)
Gonzalez passes Liverpool medical
Incoming Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez has passed a medical
ahead of his proposed transfer to Liverpool.
The 21-year-old Albacete player has agreed a four-year deal
with the Reds subject to all his paperwork receiving
approval from Governing bodies.
"I am delighted a deal has been agreed - I only have to wait
for the papers," said the player, who will begin training at
Melwood in the very near future.
He won“t though be able to play for the Reds until next
season, providing he does get the nod as expected.
(Kop Talk)
Dowie backs Reds to bounce back
Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie paid tribute to his side
for dumping Liverpool out of the Carling Cup - and then
backed the Reds to emerge from their disappointing run of
form.
"European football is more ponderous and slower and it gives
players more time, and that's why Liverpool have done better
in that.
"But I would be amazed if they are not in the top four come
the end of the season."
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez stands by strikers
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is refusing to panic, despite
his strikers again failing to score in the surprise Carling
Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.
The drought has left The Reds with the second worst attack
in The Premiership, with only Merseyside rivals Everton
scoring fewer goals.
But Reds boss Benitez is not unduly concerned and is
confident his forwards will eventually deliver goals.
"The strikers will score goals because they have quality and
they are working hard,"
said Benitez.
(Sky Sports)
Rafa 100/30 for exit
With Liverpool coming under severe criticism following their
Carling Cup exit at the hands of Crystal Palace and
disappointing league form, William Hill are offering 100/30
about Rafa Benitez being out of his job by the final day of
the Premiership season.
The Spaniard is also 33/1 with Hills to be the first
Premiership boss to leave his club this season.
Hills are also offering a host of other specials about the
Merseysiders.
They offer just 6/1 that Peter Crouch will fail to score for
Liverpool in any of the three major competitions
(Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League) in which the Reds
are still involved.
(Bettingzone) |
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TUESDAY 25 |
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Palace knock Liverpool out of cup
Crystal Palace claimed a memorable victory over European
champions Liverpool to reach the last 16 of the Carling Cup
in a riveting encounter.
Dougie Freedman gave Palace the lead after 37 minutes when
he headed Michael Hughes' cross against the run of play.
Returning Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard quickly equalised
with a goal from 20 yards - his 50th for the club.
But Hughes set up the second-half winner, feeding Marco
Reich who drilled the ball home to seal Liverpool's fate.
(BBC Sport Online)
Palace v Liverpool - confirmed team
LIVERPOOL: Carson, Raven, Whitbread, Hyypia, Warnock,
Potter, Gerrard, Hamann , Kewell, Morientes, Crouch.
SUBS: Reina, Luis Garcia, Josemi, Traore, Sinama Pongolle.
No Reds approach for Riki
Getafe insist they have yet to field any official contact
from Liverpool regarding their sought-after striker Riki.
The 25-year-old has bagged four goals in eight starts this
term as Getafe have taken the Spanish top flight by storm.
The Madrid-based minnows currently sit proudly atop La
Primera and the form of their powerful hit-man has been one
of the major factors in their superb start.
Riki's displays are understood to have caught the eye of
Reds boss Rafa Benitez who is keen to bolster his
strike-force when the transfer window reopens.
Reports have suggested that he will test Getafe's resolve
with a £2.5 million bid in January, but the Spaniards'
president, Angel Torres, claims he has heard nothing from
Anfield thus far.
"At the moment, Liverpool have not spoken to us to present
any offer for Riki," Torres told skysports.com.
(Sky Sports)
Three Reds shortlisted for Ballon d'Or
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could become only the fifth
English player ever to be named European Footballer of the
Year after he was nominated for the prestigious Ballon D'Or
award.
The boyhood Reds fan who turned his back on a move to
Chelsea and went on to inspire Liverpool to Champions League
glory in May has been shortlisted for the award alongside
fellow Reds Luis Garcia and Jamie Carragher.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool fail to agree Anderson deal
The Reds were keen to snap up the 17-year-old midfielder,
who is in the final year of his trainee scholarship with
Championship side Hull City.
However, the Tigers have revealed they have failed to come
to an agreement with the Merseyside men, and are now hoping
to persuade Anderson to sign a two-year contract.
(Fans FC)
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Thor Zakariassen
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