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MONDAY 27 |
Hansen: Liverpool have a great chance
Alan Hansen believes Rafael Benitez's Liverpool side now
have their "best chance" of winning the league title for the
first time since 1990.
The Reds ended Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten home record with
a 1-0 success at Stamford Bridge yesterday to put them clear
at the top of the Premier League and further boost belief
they can finally mount a sustained title challenge.
And Hansen believes they have shown they are equipped to
push favourites Manchester United and Chelsea all the way.
"I would like to congratulate Rafa Benitez and his team for
pulling off an incredible result at Stamford Bridge," said
Hansen.
"To beat a Chelsea side on their own patch where they've not
lost in
86 League games is fantastic.
"It wasn't just the result but also the manner of the win
which was
so impressive.
Hansen added: "After this great start to the season, this is
the best chance Liverpool have had to win the title since
they last won the trophy back in 1990 as they're looking
very much a team."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard: We've won nothing yet
Steven Gerrard has sought to curtail any culture of
complacency at Anfield by warning his Liverpool team-mates
they must prove capable of holding onto their Premier League
lead in the face of strong challenges from Chelsea and
Manchester United.
"It's important not to get carried away," Gerrard told the
club's official website. "We're still only in October. We're
in a nice position in the league but Chelsea are a fantastic
side who will come back and Manchester United will be there
or thereabouts.
"We've won nothing yet. It was a massive win and three big
points but if we slip up against Portsmouth then those
points will be irrelevant."
(Setanta Sports)
No Reds clan for Riera
Albert Riera has insisted there are no clans within the
Liverpool squad despite the large number of Spanish players
at Anfield.
The left winger, impressive during the 1-0 win over Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge, has explained why he left Espanyol last
summer.
Riera revealed he jumped at the chance of playing for The
Reds, as he was desperate to make the step to a bigger club
in order to win medals.
Riera claims The Reds’ Spanish players are not a clan and
make massive efforts in order to adapt to their squad.
“And now I am the latest Spanish to have joined Liverpool.
Being together there is a boost but we have to adapt and
speak English and the manager is very keen on it.
“The Spanish players seeing each other at home after the
games is something normal, but the coach insists a lot in
order not to see smalls groups within his squad, in order to
be a real team.”
(Setanta Sports)
Alonso: Chelsea
goal was mine
Xabi Alonso today claimed the goal that brought Chelsea’s
unbeaten home run to an end and took Liverpool to the top of
the Premier League.
Alonso’s ninth minute strike took a wicked deflection off
Jose Bosingwa to leave Petr Cech helpless but the Spaniard
is in no doubt that the goal belongs to him.
Alonso came within inches of doubling his tally when he hit
the post with a superb free kick, but the main thing for him
was Liverpool collecting all three points at a venue where
they hadn’t previously won in the league since January 2004.
“It was my goal,” he insisted.
“The shot was on its way towards the goal when it was
deflected but that happens, that’s part of football and you
have to cope with these things when they go for you and when
they go against you."
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez the terminator
It has happened before and it will no doubt happen again.
There Chelsea are, tootling along without a care in the
world, bowling over all and sundry with their lovely,
winning football. And then along comes Rafa Benitez.
He did it to Jose Mourinho, to the Special One’s fury, he
did it to Claudio Ranieri, he very nearly did it to poor old
Avram Grant and now he has done it to Luiz Felipe Scolari
…stopped their teams in their tracks and completely upset
the seemingly unstoppable applecart.
No one has the measure of Chelsea quite like Benitez. The
Spaniard’s tactical wizardry all too often explodes in his
face, especially in domestic games, but not against the men
from Stamford Bridge.
Twice he has ended their hopes at the semi-final stage of
the Champions League, once turfed them out of the FA Cup,
several times frustrated them in the Premier League.
(Tony Banks - Daily and Sunday Express) |
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SUNDAY 26 |
Scolari praise for cute Benitez
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari said Chelsea played in to
Liverpool’s hands by launching too many aeriel salvos during
the 1-0 Premier League defeat which ended Chelsea's proud
unbeaten home record.
“[Liverpool manager Rafa] Benitez is intelligent and he
knows we do not have a centre-forward two metres tall,”
Scolari said on the club’s
official website.
“The only chances were for us to cross the ball, and when we
do he has very good players at the back to jump. I don’t
want this.
“Maybe in the future I have one, two, three more players
[back] from injury and I have more opportunity to change the
system and the players. We lost today [Sunday] because
Liverpool were better than us in the game. This is life.”
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa calls for calm
Rafa Benitez is refusing to get carried away despite seeing
Liverpool go top of the Premier League table on Sunday.
The Reds secured an impressive 1-0 win away at Chelsea,
ending the Blues' 86-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.
"I think it was really good. We knew it was going to be
tough, so thanks to the players, thanks to the fans," the
Spaniard told Sky Sports.
"We have shown character to come from behind in some games
and now we have shown character against a very good team. We
were trying to do everything perfectly.
"But I will keep saying the same thing - one game at a time.
We are in
a good position and we have to try and keep going and keep
calm."
(Sky Sports)
Carra: Still a long way to go
Jamie Carragher has refused to get carried away after
helping Liverpool break Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten record
at Stamford Bridge.
"Before today Chelsea were playing as well as anyone in
Europe. To come here and win should give our confidence a
boost but we realise there's
a long way to go yet," said the Reds defender.
(LFC Official Website)
Alonso goal shatters
Chelsea's home record
A deflected goal from Xabi Alonso was enough to give
Liverpool a 1-0 win against Chelsea which ends The Blues
unbeaten 86-game home record stretching back to February
2004.
Liverpool move three points clear at the top of The Premier
League with Alonso’s deflected goal in the first-half
dividing these two sides. The Spaniard was close to a brace
when his curling free-kick hit the post in
the 61st minute.
It is all clicking into place for manager Rafa Benitez who
has now beaten fellow title rivals Chelsea and Manchester
United this season, as Liverpool look for a first league
title since 1989.
(Setanta Sports)
Keane fit to face Chelsea
Robbie Keane has been passed fit to lead the line for
Liverpool in this afternoon's top of the table clash with
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Ireland international has shrugged off the pelvis injury
he sustained in midweek and retains his place in the team as
Rafael Benitez makes two changes to the side that drew with
Atletico Madrid.
Fabio Aurelio comes in at left-back in place of Andrea
Dossena while Dirk Kuyt also returns at the expense of Yossi
Benayoun.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio,
Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Keane, Riera,
Kuyt.
Subs: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Babel, Lucas, Pennant, Benayoun,
Dossena.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 25 |
Keane confident of facing Blues
Robbie Keane expects to be fit when Liverpool aim to end
Chelsea’s lengthy unbeaten home run in The Premier League on
Sunday.
"I tweaked my groin a bit in the first 20 minutes against
Atletico, but my substitution was more of a precaution than
anything else," Keane told
the club's official website. "Hopefully I will be okay."
(Setanta Sports)
Scolari errs on
Mersey-side of caution
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari believes Sunday's
top-of-the-table clash against Liverpool is too close to
call.
Surely it is too early to be talking about title deciders,
but with both teams three points clear on 20 points, this
game could either produce fireworks
or stalemate.
Scolari believes it will be a tight encounter between the
two teams, who have similar philosophies.
"These two clubs have the same spirit," said the former
Portugal coach. "They fight until the last minute to win.
"They've won more games in the last minute than us. They
have a very good team and it'll be a fantastic game on
Sunday. We'll try to win
for sure."
Scolari hailed the strength of Rafa Benitez's team, and
the professionalism and hard work of the players.
He said: "They are dangerous because they have a good team
with good players. They are very organised. They haven't
lost a game this season when, sometimes, they were losing in
the last five or ten minutes, they still managed to change
those results."
(Setanta Sports)
Gillett promises
Benitez new contract
Benitez remains confident his contract situation will be
resolved after receiving backing from George Gillett this
week.
The American attended the midweek Champions League game at
Atletico Madrid and, although Benitez did not meet the
co-owner, he revealed contact was indirectly made.
“I have had some contact and some messages, saying
congratulations, you are doing a fantastic job,” said the
Spaniard.
“I am thinking about games and do my job as well as I can.
But I think
the contract will get sorted, yes."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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