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SATURDAY 27 |
Rafa hails derby victory
Rafael Benitez saluted the performance of his players after
a Fernando Torres brace inspired Liverpool to a 2-0 win over
Everton in the 208th Merseyside derby.
The Reds number nine scored on his derby debut at Anfield
last season and he was the hero again on his first
appearance at Goodison Park - but the Reds boss was keen to
stress the whole team deserved credit.
"It was a good performance by the team and Fernando was
really good," said Rafa. "We had a lot of players like
Keane, Gerrard and Kuyt who were doing a good job for the
team and the defenders, but I prefer to talk about the team
and how well we did today.
"With these type of games you have to play with passion and
also with game intelligence, so you need to use your brain
and also your muscles. We did both things really well.
(LFC Official Website)
Terrific Torres terrorizes Toffees
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was on target twice as the
Reds beat
10-man Everton 2-0 in the 208th Merseyside derby at Goodison
Park.
The Spain international had managed just one goal all season
before Saturday's match.
He got himself booked at Goodison Park, argued with referee
Mike Riley about the heavy-handed treatment he was getting
from Everton's defenders and then hit back where it hurts.
Torres volleyed home his first after 59 minutes and cracked
in the second three minutes later.
Everton have still to win at home this season and had Tim
Cahill sent-off with 10 minutes to go to cap a miserable day
for David Moyes' side.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds to face Spurs in Carling Cup
Liverpool have been drawn to face holders Tottenham Hotspur
in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
The tie will take place at White Hart Lane in the week
commencing
10 November.
The Reds last met Spurs in this competition at the
quarter-final stage in 2004 when a young Liverpool side
triumphed on penalties in London.
(Shanklygates)
Pourie sinks railwaymen
Marvin Pourie scored twice as Liverpool Under-18s continued
their good form with a 3-1 win at Crewe Alexandra.
It's now five wins out of six for Hughie McAuley's side and
the Reds have scored 15 goals in the process.
Thomas Ince was also in good form on the left wing and was
an inspiration on the day for Liverpool.
"We were poor in the first half and Crewe went 1-0 up,"
McAuley told Liverpoolfc.tv. "We didn't pass the ball well
and lost too much possession. We created some good chances
through Pourie, David Amoo and Adam Pepper but didn't score.
"We sorted one or two things out at the break and we were a
lot better in the second half. We had a better tempo to our
game and Ince in particular did well.
"Ince got our equaliser from a James Ellison cross and
Marvin then scored two goals. He scored a penalty after he
was brought down and then added another one with a good
finish into the top corner of the net."
Liverpool Under-18s team: Dean Bouzanis, Jack Metcalf,
Christopher Buchtmann (Michael Scott 70), Andre Wisdom, Joe
Kennedy, Michael Roberts (Astrit Adjarevic 60), Adam Pepper,
Marvin Pourie (Alex Cooper 80), James Ellison, Thomas Ince.
Sub unused: Hakan Duyan.
(LFC Official Website)
Same as Stoke for Merseyside derby
Rafael Benitez has named the same side that drew with Stoke
City for
the 208th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park this afternoon.
The Reds boss stands by the starting XI who were frustrated
by the Barclays Premier League newcomers last weekend after
Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun were both ruled out
through injury.
It means Xabi Alonso will partner skipper Steven Gerrard at
the heart of the midfield with Robbie Keane and Fernando
Torres again paired up front.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena,
Carragher, Skrtel, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Riera, Keane,
Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Hyypia, Aurelio, Pennant, Babel,
Lucas.
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 26 |
Mascherano and Benayoun derby doubts
Liverpool will give late fitness tests to midfield duo
Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun ahead of this weekend's
Merseyside derby at Goodison.
Mascherano is trying to shake off a calf injury while
Benayoun has
an ankle knock.
Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio is back to full fitness and
is available
for selection.
"We have a couple of knocks for Javier and Yossi but we need
to speak to the doctor and see how they are in training
today," said Benitez.
"Clearly it will be a late decision on whether they can be
involved
this weekend."
(LFC Official Website)
Keane's aim to go head over
heels in Liverpool-Everton derby
Robbie Keane may not have had the chance to do his trademark
somersault routine since joining Liverpool but he insists he
will be jumping for joy if the Reds triumph in tomorrow's
Merseyside derby - no matter who gets the goals.
Inevitably, pressure is mounting on the former Spurs man who
has yet to hit the back of the net since signing for
Liverpool in a £20m deal in July.
But rather than being weighed down by expectation, Keane is
taking it in his stride and remains adamant that it is team
rather than personal glory which drives him on – especially
when local rivals Everton are Liverpool’s next opponents.
“Obviously, I’m looking to get my first goal because as a
striker you are judged on goals and it will be nice to get
up and running in this respect,” he said.
“But I keep pointing out that it’s not about individuals,
the team is the most important thing and that is certainly
the case this weekend.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez: Kuyt can be
my Goodison talisman
Rafa Benitez believes Dirk Kuyt can again be Liverpool's
Goodison derby hero - and bring an end to a barren spell of
10 months without a Premier League goal.
In last season's show- down at Everton, the Dutch forward
struck twice from the spot as Liverpool recorded a
controversial 2-1 win.
Kuyt has only scored one Premier League goal since then,
though, and that came against Newcastle last November.
But Benitez believes he has the character and the ability to
strike when it matters most and believes Kuyt could produce
more heroics tomorrow.
"With Kuyt, you know he can always score goals," insisted
the Reds boss.
"He proved when we played Everton at Goodison last season
that he can handle the pressure that comes when you have big
moments in big games and I am sure he can do that again."
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard: Rafa has raised my game
Steven Gerrard has hailed Rafael Benitez for helping him
improve his game as he prepares to return to Liverpool's
side against Everton.
The 28-year-old midfielder was rested for Reds' 2-1 win over
Crewe in
the third round of the Carling Cup but is set to lead the
side against Everton at Goodison Park.
And Gerrard, who was won every major European and domestic
honour apart from the Premier League title, revealed Benitez
has been a hugely influential figure in his development as a
player.
"Since Rafa came in, my game has come on leaps and bounds,"
Gerrard said.
"Okay, he has played me in a number of different positions,
but I feel a lot more comfortable now in that I can play
almost anywhere on the pitch.
"I'd prefer to have a manager like Rafa, who tells me where
I'm going wrong and where I need to readjust slightly.
"He's the kind of manager who doesn't let anything go. I've
played for managers who perhaps won't pull you on the things
you're doing wrong.
"That's not going to get you anywhere, is it? Rafa has taken
my game to the next level."
(TEAMtalk) |
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THURSDAY 25 |
Molby: Stevie gives
Reds the derby edge
Great Dane Jan Molby believes Liverpool will have the edge
over Everton on Saturday and is predicting Steven Gerrard to
lead the Reds
to derby glory.
The skipper goes into Saturday's 208th Merseyside derby
needing just one more goal to register 100 in a Liverpool
shirt, and Molby said he wouldn't be surprised to see
Gerrard achieve that coveted figure at Goodison Park.
"Every derby game is always tricky but if you look at the
form of the two sides so far this season Liverpool will
start the game as favourites and rightly so," the Great Dane
told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"Everton will lift their game in front of their own
supporters but I just feel Liverpool will have too much
quality for them.
"Steven is always our key man. Last season Steven got
substituted at Goodison which surprised many people so maybe
for this game he will want to do something special. It would
be nice for him to get his 100th goal for Liverpool in the
derby."
(LFC Official Website)
Reina: Derby win will erase failure
Pepe Reina knows Liverpool cannot afford many more league
"failures" like Saturday's draw with Stoke if they are to
challenge for the title.
The Reds were being touted as real contenders for glory
after their 2-1 home victory over Manchester United, but
they followed that with a 0-0 home draw against
newly-promoted Stoke.
Next up for Rafa Benitez's men is the Merseyside derby
against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
And Spanish goalkeeper Reina knows they must bounce back
from
the disappointment of their stalemate with the Potters,
where Steven Gerrard had an early free-kick ruled out.
He told the Daily Star: "The Stoke game was a mistake. The
0-0 was unjust but now our heads are with the Everton game.
In the dressing room we are calm. We can't afford to play
with nerves.
"The Premier League still has a long way to go but our
mission is to avoid too many failures in the beginning. If
we want the title it is impossible to miss points at
Anfield."
(TEAMtalk)
Dutch duo called-up
Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel have been named in the Holland
squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Iceland and
Norway.
The Dutch will host Iceland in Rotterdam on Saturday,
October 11, and then take on Norway in Oslo four days later.
(LFC Official Website)
Fowler beats the Blues
Robbie Fowler helped Blackburn Rovers knock Everton out of
the Carling Cup last night.
The Liverpool legend was making his first start for his new
club and had an immediate impact, with an assist for Martin
Olsson's winner as Rovers knocked out the Bitters at Ewood
Park.
"Robbie was outstanding. He hasn't played since December.
Robbie has been chomping at the bit and maybe felt as though
he had a point
to prove," said Blackburn boss Paul Ince.
"He made a difference with the goal and had some lovely
touches."
(LFC Online)
Liverpool appoints new backroom staff
Liverpool have bolstered their backroom staff by recruiting
Steve Cooper.
Cooper, who was part of the Wrexham youth development, has
been offered a role in the Liverpool’s schoolboy development
set up.
“It’s not every day that a club likes Liverpool comes
knocking on your door. But I have got a lot of very mixed
emotions at the moment.” he told the Liverpool Daily Post.
“I am delighted, these things don’t come along all too
often, and when they do it’s almost impossible to turn them
down.
“But I’ve got a lot of mixed emotions. I’m delighted to be
joining Liverpool, but on the other hand I’m very sad to be
leaving Wrexham.
“I’ve been at Wrexham for 12 years and I’ve seen a lot of
very good players come. The hardest part of leaving was
telling the young players we have at the club.
“I have grown up with them and you develop a bond with them,
which is very hard to break.
“I used to follow Liverpool as a kid and I remember going to
a few of their games, but I would say I am now a huge
Wrexham fan, and I honestly always will be.”
(Kop-TV)
Spurs duo wanted by Rafa
Rafa Benitez is lining up a double swoop on Spurs to try and
prise both Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon away from White Hart
Lane.
Reports suggest that Bale is top of his wanted list and will
come in as
a replacement for Fabio Aurelio and he also wants Lennon to
balance out the summer signing of Albert Riera.
(Clubcall Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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