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TUESDAY 27 |
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Kewell returns but Reserves lose
Harry Kewell made a successful return from injury as he came
on after 62 minutes for Liverpool Reserves in their 1-0
defeat to his former club Leeds United at Wrexham's
Racecourse Ground.
Kewell made his first appearance in a red shirt since the
Champions League final in Istanbul on May 25th. He played
just off the lone striker in a central role and came through
without any problems.
The match itself was a disappointing affair as a spectacle
but Liverpool certainly created enough chances to force a
draw with Godwin Antwi and David Raven coming closest to
finding an equaliser.
Liverpool started the game brightly and in the opening
minute had a chance from a David Mannix searching through
ball but Leeds keeper Mark Wilberforce was alert and came
out to kick the ball clear just before Ramon Calliste could
get there.
Besian Idrizaj then came close to his first goal in a red
shirt after 10 minutes. A sweet turn gave the 17-year-old a
great chance but Wilberforce made an excellent save to keep
out his stinging drive.
Leeds then took the lead after 18 minutes. Paul Willis made
a great save from a free-kick but was let down by his
defenders and after a poor clearance, Simon Walton fired the
loose ball into the net.
Liverpool Reserves: Willis, Raven, Whitbread (Smith 45),
Roque, O'Donnell, Hobbs, Guthrie, Mannix, Calliste, Idrizaj
(Antwi 45), Hammill (Kewell 62). Unused subs: Lancaster,
Peltier.
(LFC Official Website)
Mourinho questions Liverpool
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho wasted no time in raising the
temperature ahead of the Champions League re-match with
Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night by claiming the
Merseysiders were not the best team in Europe last season.
Rafael Benitez's side beat Chelsea in the semi-final last
season with a disputed winner from Luis Garcia but the
Portuguese coach continues to taunt his opponents by
insisting he will never accept the ball crossed the line for
their goal.
Indeed, Mourinho went as far as to remind Liverpool's fans
that the current score between the two clubs since he took
charge at Stamford Bridge stands at 3-1
in his favour.
(Sporting Life)
Nando out of Chelsea clash
Liverpool will be without Fernando Morientes for tomorrow
night's Champions League showdown with Chelsea at Anfield.
Manager Rafael Benitez had hoped his Spanish striker would
be fit to face Jose Mourinho's men, but Morientes needs more
time to recover from his hamstring problem.
"Morientes felt something in his hamstring yesterday so he
won't be fit," said Benitez.
"It's a precaution, but it's a pity because we were thinking
about him for this game."
(LFC Official Website)
Kewell back for Liverpool
Aussie winger Harry Kewell returns to action with the
reserves this evening when they take on his former employers
Leeds United.
Kewell has suffered a miserable spell at Anfield suffering
with groin and hernia problems and hasn't played since he
hobbled off in the Champions League final last May. He was
expected to play tonight so it'll be interesting to see how
he does and how long he gets.
The game kicks off at 7pm at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.
LIVERPOOL RES: Paul Willis, David Raven, Zak Whitbread,
Miquel Roque, Daniel O'Donnell, Jack Hobbs, Danny Guthrie,
David Mannix, Ramon Calliste, Besian Idrizaj, Adam Hammill.
SUBS: Harry Kewell, Paul Lancaster, James Smith, Lee
Peltier, Godwin Antwi.
(Kop Talk)
Benitez wants Chelsea double
Rafa Benitez today insisted the gap between Euro rivals
Liverpool and Chelsea isn't as wide as the Premiership table
suggests.
"We beat them last season and we're confident we can do so
again. I'm preparing this game in the knowledge they're a
better side than last year, but we are better, too."
(Liverpool Echo)
Joaquin's agent heading for Anfield
Liverpool have invited Gonzalo Arguiñano, the agent of Real
Betis ace Joaquin, to Anfield for Wednesday's high profile
clash with Chelsea.
Reports originating from Spain claim that Joaquin is a
target of Rafael Benitez, that much we know for sure is true
and that's enough to excite many Liverpool fans. The hurdles
to overcome though are persuading the player that Anfield is
the right move for him, the transfer fee and the confirmed
interest from other clubs including, ironically, Chelsea.
Speaking earlier this month, Joaquin said: "I know Liverpool
are looking for a right winger and I'd love to play there if
they want me. Liverpool are a massive club and Benitez knows
what he wants. But if he comes in for me he's got to agree a
deal with the Betis president."
The following day he played down the comments, no doubt
after his current employers quizzed him.
(Kop Talk)
Crespo: I want revenge for my final agony
Hernan Crespo last night insisted Chelsea are out for
revenge on Liverpool for last season's Champions League
heartbreak - and his own disappointment makes him determined
to have the last laugh.
Crespo believes the Blues are better equipped this season to
win the Champions League after being losing semi-finalists
in the last two years.
Argentine World Cup star Crespo, who scored against
Liverpool for AC Milan in the final last season, said: "I
want to forget the final against Liverpool. But it's
impossible. I have tried so much to wipe it out of my memory
but nothing works. After the game I could not sleep well
because always there were moments from the game playing in
my head again and again.
"My wife kept telling me to forget about it but when you
score two goals in such a game and the team is leading by
three you have a right to think that you will lift the
trophy.
"I think the only way to forget the final is to win it with
Chelsea."
(Daily Mirror)
Carling Cup date set
Liverpool have announced the date of their Carling Cup third
round clash at Crystal Palace.
The game will take place at Selhurst Park on Tuesday October
25, 2005, kick-off 7.45pm.
The match will be televised live on SKY.
(LFC Official Website)
Morientes fires Chelsea jibe
Liverpool's Fernando Morientes has cheekily suggested that
Chelsea will not qualify from the group stages of the UEFA
Champions League.
Morientes was cup tied as Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of
the competition last season, but he believes that Real Betis
will join The Reds in the knock out stages of the
competition.
"We've got them sussed,'' insisted Morientes.
"If I was a betting man I'd tip us and Real Betis to go
through - and not Chelsea.
"We have a great chance of beating them again - not because
we are European champions but because we know how to play
Chelsea.
"Perhaps it is better for us to face Chelsea because we know
them so well.
"We have confidence knowing we knocked them out last season.
But for the sake of English football, it would be best if we
both go through."
(Sky Sports) |
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MONDAY 26 |
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Dudek back in Poland squad for England
qualifier
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek will return for Poland for
their October 12 World Cup qualifier against England, the
Polish Football Association's website said on Monday.
Liverpool had said Dudek would be out of action for up to
three months from early August after suffering a
fracture-dislocation of his elbow during training.
Poland are top of qualifying Group Six with 24 points from
nine games, ahead of England with 19 points from eight, and
can win the group with a draw in Manchester.
(Reuters)
Hammill wins it for Under-18's
Promising winger Adam Hammill scored the only
goal of the game as Liverpool Under-18s won 1-0 at Stoke
City continuing their good start to the season.
Hammill's goal was timely to say the least as it came in the
44th minute of the game.
Liverpool Under-18s have made a good start to their Academy
season winning five out of their six games so far.
Liverpool team: Paul Lancaster, Stephen Behan, Stephen
Darby, Calum Woods, Robbie Threlfall, Jimmy Ryan, Paul
Barratt, Francis Smith, Conal Platt (Michael Nardiello 70),
James Frayne (Craig Lindfield 75), Adam Hammill.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard: Pressure is on
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits the pressure is on
The Reds ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash with
Chelsea.
The two Premiership giants lock horns at Anfield on
Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports, in what is a repeat of
last season's semi-final.
It is the first of two meetings between the sides with
Chelsea also making the trip to Anfield four days later in
The Premiership.
Gerrard is relishing the prospect of tackling Chelsea and he
knows his side must get a positive result at Anfield.
"I will relish the challenge," said Gerrard. "Big games like
this are what you want
to play in.
"The pressure is on us to get a result.
"It's a home game and you've got to take the points.
"If we can get a good result it will put us in the driving
seat."
(Sky Sports)
Kewell returns for Australia
Liverpool's Harry Kewell has been recalled to the Australia
squad for next month's friendly against Jamaica.
Australia coach Guus Hiddink named Kewell in a 25-strong
squad, along with returning captain Craig Moore of Newcastle
United.
Both men missed the final Oceania qualifying matches against
the Solomon Islands, but are brought back as Hiddink looks
ahead to November's vital World Cup play-off.
(Sky Sports)
Xabi not worrying about Chelsea
Xabi Alonso is confident Liverpool can beat Chelsea this
week.
He said: "It will be a massive step for us and a great boost
if we can beat Chelsea. There will still be another four
games to play before the end of the group stages, but I
think it'll be easier for us if we've got six points."
(LFC Online)
Jose ready for Reds rematch
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is not giving too much
credence to last season's UEFA Champions League visit to
Anfield as he prepares his side to face Liverpool in Europe
once again.
"In April we lost but in January we won," the Portuguese
tactician said.
"So we know that we can win there, although we also know we
can lose there."
(Sky Sports) |
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SUNDAY 25 |
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Cisse to repay fans support with goals
Djibril Cisse says he is now fully fit again after his
injury nightmare last season and is determined to repay the
fantastic support of the fans with goalsDjibril Cisse says
he is now fully fit again after his injury nightmare last
season and is determined to repay the fantastic support of
the fans with goals.
Cisse said: "Me leg's okay, now it's about trying to score
goals and finding the level I had before my injury.
Physically I'm 100 per cent, but what I need is confidence.
"I love this club and I want to be at Liverpool for a very
long time. I like the fans and I don't want to go anywhere
and I don't think I will.
Cisse has been a substitute in recent weeks but he says he
accepts the decision as the manager has a big squad at his
disposal.
Cisse said: "I love to play. But the boss can't put 20
players on the pitch so someone has to be on the bench and
at the moment it's me. I accept it. I'm not frustrated.
Cisse says he loves scoring goals and nothing beats it for
him.
"From when I started playing aged six I counted all my
goals, even the ones I scored in the street," said Cisse. "I
had a little book at home and I'd write down every time I
scored. Sometimes it was 100 per week or more, goals became
a drug.
"I get the same feeling now. When you score at Anfield it's
hard to explain, but it's like 'Wooah! Wow! nothing else in
life. I'm not going to say scoring's like making love, but
it's almost the same."
(This is Anfield)
Reina concerned about Chelsea threat
Liverpool 'keeper Jose Reina has revealed that he's worried
about the possible threat of Chelsea's strikeforce.
While Liverpool would struggle to score in a brothel based
on this season's stats, Chelsea are banging in goals for fun
and the man hopefully responsible for denying them when the
come to Anfield on Wednesday hopes we are strong enough to
contain them.
"Everything about Chelsea's attack worries me," said Reina.
"You have to concentrate twice as hard from the moment you
leave the dressing room until the moment you get back.
"They play well along the flanks and have Frank Lampard's
shots from distance as a goal option or two excellent
headers of the ball in Drogba and Crespo. We must be on our
toes constantly.
"We're doing okay but it's true we need more goals. We have
to start finding the net more often to start dreaming about
the big things.
"Thankfully Morientes is well on the road to recovery and
given our goal-scoring issue that could be very important."
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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