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MONDAY 28 |
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Gerrard still has Anfield dream
Steven Gerrard called it the "worst day of his life" but is
now demanding Liverpool bounce back instantly to keep their
Champions League qualification hopes alive.
The Anfield skipper is looking to the future rather than
back to the own-goal nightmare that helped Liverpool lose
the Carling Cup Final in Cardiff.
He said: "We have to stay focused on qualifying for the
Champions League. If we come fourth it will feel like we
have won a cup final now because Everton have a big lead
over us.
"This has made me more determined than ever to help us get
into the top four. And I haven't given up my dream of
lifting a trophy as Liverpool captain."
(Sporting Life)
Sami sure of top-four finish
Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia insists the team can overcome
their Carling Cup final defeat to pip neighbours Everton to
fourth spot in the Premiership.
The Reds looked on as Everton extended their lead over their
Anfield counterparts to eight points just 24 hours before
suffering defeat in extra-time at the hands of Chelsea in
The Millennium Stadium.
Now two demanding away games in five days at Newcastle and
Bayer Leverkusen will decide whether Liverpool's season is
salvaged.
A defiant Hyypia said: "Of course I believe we can catch
Everton.
"If I did not think that, I would go back home to Finland
now and have a longer holiday and a rest for two months.
"Now we know what we have to do for the end of the season.
We must concentrate on the league and you must not forget
that we're still in the Champions League and still in the
race there.
(TEAMtalk)
Hamann wants quick Liverpool answer
Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann wants his future sorted
out as soon as possible.
The German international is out of contract at the end of
the season and is wanted by a few clubs back in his
homeland.
However, Reds manager Rafael Benitez has hinted a new deal
will be offered – either way, the 31-year-old just wants his
future resolved sooner rather than later.
"Nothing's been signed although there have been talks," said
Hamann. "The longer it goes on the worse it is."
(Fans FC)
Reds set date for Rovers fixture
Liverpool's FA Barclays Premiership fixture at home to
Blackburn Rovers will take place on Wednesday 16 March 2005,
kick-off 8pm.
The match was originally scheduled to take place last
Saturday but was postponed due to our involvement in the
Carling Cup Final.
(LFC Official Website)
Finnan: No one blames Stevie
Steve Finnan says no-one in the Liverpool team is blaming
Steven Gerrard for the own goal which gave Chelsea a
lifeline in yesterday's Carling Cup final.
Finnan told Liverpoolfc.tv: "No-one said anything to Stevie
about the own goal. It could have happened to anyone. He is
a quality player and this sort of thing won't affect him.
"Obviously we're all very disappointed with the result. It
was a case of so near and yet so far for us. Things were
looking good at half time but we knew they would put us
under a lot of pressure in the second period.
"They have a lot of quality players, especially up front,
and to be fair to them they probably deserved their goal. We
didn't play as well in the second half and didn't keep the
ball as we could have done.
"From our point of view we have conceded three goals from
set pieces and that is something we have to look at. It was
such a frustrating day in the end.
"It's disappointing for the manager as well with it being
his first Cup Final. But I'm sure we'll bounce back from
this and come again in the future."
(LFC Official Website) |
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SUNDAY 27 |
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Gerrard down after OG
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits that Sunday's
Carling Cup Final defeat to Chelsea was a bitter pill to
swallow.
The influential England midfielder scored an own goal with
just over ten minutes remaining, to take the game into extra
time.
"Losing cup finals and scoring an own goal is a bad day for
myself," Gerrard said.
"But I'll look forward to the next game now."
(Sky Sports)
No regrets for Jose
Jose Mourinho insists he has no regrets despite being sent
off in Chelsea's 3-2 success over Liverpool in the Carling
Cup Final.
Mourinho was forced to watch the rest of the game from a TV
room inside the stadium but despite the hindrance caused,
the Chelsea chief remains defiant in his attitude.
"I don't regret it (his actions)," Mourinho told Sky Sports.
"The only thing I have to understand is I'm in England, I
have to adapt, so maybe even when I think I am not wrong I
have to adapt to your country and I have to respect that."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa: We were unlucky
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes his side were
unfortunate to miss out on the Carling Cup after a pulsating
game in Cardiff.
The Spanish chief believes his side were not outplayed by
their West London counterparts and that on another day, they
would have finished off Chelsea at 1-0.
(Sky Sports)
Chelsea triumph in thriller
Chelsea's new era under the ownership of Roman Abramovich
and the management of Jose Mourinho has yielded its first
silverware after an engrossing 3-2 success over Liverpool in
the Carling Cup final.
Liverpool had looked to have earned Rafa Benitez his first
trophy in English football when John Arne Riise struck after
just 45 seconds but an own goal from Steven Gerrard took the
game into a pulsating period of extra time.
Goals from Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman put a tentative
blue hand on the trophy before Antonio Nunez caused
palpatations for those in West London with a late strike of
his own.
(Sky Sports)
Mourinho sent off in final
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was sent off in the Carling Cup
final against Liverpool for appearing to gesture towards
fans at the Millennium Stadium.
His side were trailing by a John Arne Riise volley in the
first minute but levelled through a Steven Gerrard own goal
11 minutes from full-time.
When the equaliser went in Mourinho was seen celebrate in
front of the Cardiff crowd.
It looked like Mourinho signalled for the Liverpool fans to
keep quiet, putting his finger to his mouth.
He was then seen being escorted down the tunnel by a match
official and Sky Sports claimed he went off to watch the
rest of the match on a TV screen.
(Ananova)
Chelsea v Liverpool - confirmed teams
CHELSEA: Cech, Terry, Ferreira, Gallas, Carvalho, Jarosik,
Makelele, Lampard, Cole, Duff, Drogba.
SUBS: Pidgeley, Tiago, Gudjohnsen, Kezman, Johnson.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Riise,
Gerrard, Hamann, Morientes, Garcia, Kewell.
SUBS: Carson, Baros, Pellegrino, Nunez, Biscan.
(Kop Talk)
Mourinho: Gerrard's one of the best
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has insisted Steven Gerrard is
worthy of all the praise and adulation which comes his way.
The Liverpool skipper will be looking to help the Reds beat
Mourinho's men in Cardiff this afternoon, and the Chelsea
boss admits Gerrard deserves to be labelled as one of the
game's great players.
He said: "I knew what he was about before I came here, and
having seen him regularly I haven't changed my mind.
"Now, after a year in England, I have to say I think the
same way about him as everyone else here thinks.
"When people understand a little bit about football it's not
difficult to know who the great players are. He's a great
player for Liverpool and a great player for England. He has
all the qualities a great midfielder needs."
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 26 |
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Benitez admits it will be hard to leave out
kids
Rafael Benitez says leaving the young players who started
the Carling Cup campaign out of the final sixteen is a
difficult thing to do.
The likes of Zak Whitbread, Darren Potter, David Raven, Jon
Welsh et al did very well earlier in the season in
overcoming Millwall, Spurs and holders Middlesbrough.
However, with a trophy in sight the first team regulars have
returned.
Despite the return of the big guns, Benitez has not
forgotten the contribution the kids have made to this
campaign.
He said: "The problem is we can only have 16 players in the
squad. In the Champions League you have 18, so with Gerrard,
Morientes and Pellegrino back it means I have to leave a lot
out.
"It is a great pity we cannot include all of the young
players who helped us get to the final.
"I have to tell some of them they are not involved. It is
difficult but it is my responsibility and we must be
professional and understand.
"I don't think we can get them medals but if we win I will
say thank you to them all personally because they are the
reason we have reached this final."
(LFC Online)
Benitez tells Hyypia to get stuck in
Sami Hyypia has been told to be more aggressive by Liverpool
manager Rafael Benitez.
The Finnish centre-back has been very much of the quiet,
gentle variety in his six years at Liverpool.
Now Benitez wants a meaner, more physical heart to his
Anfield defence and Hyypia will attempt to follow orders in
Sunday's Carling Cup final against Chelsea.
"The new manager has changed things and brought in new
ideas, and he says I should be more aggressive I have tried
but it is difficult to change something like that straight
away," Hyypia admitted.
(TEAMtalk)
Morientes warns Blues
Liverpool ace Fernando Morientes has warned Chelsea he is
looking forward to Sunday's Carling Cup final.
The Spanish international enjoyed success against Chelsea
last season when on loan at Monaco and he hopes to repeat
that with Liverpool.
"I have good memories of playing Chelsea," said Morientes.
"The goals I scored in both legs and the celebrations
afterwards will always stay with me."
(Sky Sports)
Owen tips Liverpool for cup glory
Michael Owen says former club Liverpool have every chance of
beating Chelsea in Sunday's Carling Cup final.
Chelsea go into the game as favourites, but Owen and
Liverpool lifted the 2001 FA Cup and 2003 League Cup in
similar circumstances.
"It looks like Chelsea are favourites, but so were
Manchester United and so were Arsenal," Owen told BBC One's
Football Focus.
"So obviously they still have a very good chance."
"It's certainly a big game in the calendar. There's no
better day out than going to a cup final.
"I'm sure all the lads are looking forward to it. But from
Liverpool's point of view, I don't think they could have
picked much harder opposition than Chelsea!"
(BBC Sport Online)
Lampard wary of Gerrard threat
Frank Lampard has set his sights on overcoming one of the
finest midfielders in Europe - Liverpool's Steven Gerrard -
to win the first major medal of his career in Sunday's
Carling Cup final.
Lampard and Gerrard could have been lining up together for
club and country this season if the Liverpool captain had
not completed a late U-turn on a proposed move to Chelsea.
Having played alongside Gerrard for England, Lampard knows
the task facing not only him but also Claude Makelele in
Cardiff.
"Steven is a fantastic player. I would always put him at the
top of the list of midfield players in this country and in
Europe," he said.
"It is an important battle for us to win. We will probably
have a few bodies in there, and it is important every one of
us performs."
(TEAMtalk)
Gallas gamble for Chelsea
William Gallas is Chelsea's main doubt for Sunday's Carling
Cup final against Liverpool, but Damien Duff and Didier
Drogba have been passed fit and will start up front
alongside either Joe Cole or Eidur Gudjohnsen.
If Gallas passes a late fitness test on a groin injury,
Mourinho will keep faith with the same defence but, if not,
Glen Johnson looks set to replace him, with Paulo Ferreira
shifting to left-back.
Tiago could be rested, with Jiri Jarosik among the
contenders to replace the midfielder, Petr Cech will start
in goal with Carlo Cudicini suspended, while Wayne Bridge,
Scott Parker, Robert Huth and Arjen Robben are out injured.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Pidgeley, Ferreira, Johnson, Gallas,
Terry, Carvalho, Nuno Morais, Lampard, Makelele, Tiago,
Smertin, Geremi, Cole, Jarosik, Duff, Gudjohnsen, Drogba,
Kezman.
(TEAMtalk) |
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FRIDAY 25 |
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Gerrard: Quotes were taken out of context
Skipper Steven Gerrard insists that quotes in an interview
in Barcelona last week were taken out of context.
Earlier he was quoted as saying in an interview: "Let's be
realistic, there are some fantastic teams left in the
Champions League. We are just going to try to stay in as
long as possible but we realise that maybe it is not our
year this year."
But now, after Benitez publicly warned Gerrard not to write
off chances of winning silverware so soon, Gerrard has
lashed out at those who misinterpreted what he said.
"I did an interview while I was in Barcelona last week, and
someone saved certain things I said until the day of the
Champions League, that I didn't think we could win the
Champions League," said Gerrard.
"That was not how it was meant and not how I wanted it to
come across. I was saying that the odds were against us
winning it this year, but that doesn't mean we will not give
it our best shot - but there are a lot of good teams left in
the competition."
(This is Anfield)
Mourinho keen on Cup
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is keen to add the Carling Cup to
the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet, but concedes that it is
not a top priority.
''It would be nice to win a trophy but with all respect, it
is not the most important competition for us,'' concluded
Mourinho.
(Sky Sports)
Stevie: We can win Cup
Steven Gerrard today insisted that Liverpool have the
self-belief to beat Chelsea in Sunday's Carling Cup final.
Gerrard said: "Chelsea are a very good team full of
world-class players so it will be a tough game, but we're
confident we can win. They were a bit lucky against us at
Anfield."
(Evening Standard)
Sami would gladly settle for a 1-0 win
Sami Hyypia does not care if Sunday's Carling Cup Final is
the most boring spectacle on earth, so long as Liverpool
win.
The big Finn is well aware of the task he and his fellow
defenders face against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium.
"The fans may not agree with me but from a defensive point
of view I hope it's a final with not many goals," says the
highly regarded central defender.
"For me, it is important that we stay tight as a defensive
unit and I'd much prefer us to win 1-0 than say 5-4, like we
did against Alaves in Dortmund."
(LFC Official Website)
Morientes to maul Chelsea again?
Fernando Morientes has been backed to destroy Chelsea once
again in Sunday's Carling Cup final.
The Spanish striker scored goals in both legs of Monaco's
Champions League semi-final victory last season and will
face Chelsea again in Liverpool colours at the Millenniun
Stadium.
"Big games bring out the best in big players and we've got
plenty of them, particularly with Fernando Morientes and
Steven Gerrard," said Carragher in the Liverpool Echo.
"Psychologically, I think Morientes will really be looking
forward to facing Chelsea again and they might be a bit
worried after what he did against them in the Champions
League last season."
(Football 365)
Ranieri sacked by Valencia
Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has been given his
marching orders by the La Liga side
Ranieri took over from Rafael Benitez in the summer after
leaving Stamford Bridge but despite a bright start to the
season has seen Valencia fall away in the league, be knocked
out of the Champions League and then last night exit the
UEFA Cup.
Ronald Koeman is tipped to take over after leaving Ajax.
(Fans FC)
Hamann: "Pressure is on Chelsea"
Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the pressure is
on Chelsea to live up to their billing as red-hot favourites
in Sunday's Carling Cup final.
The Germany midfielder, who is still in discussions to
extend his contract beyond the end of the season, is
relishing his side's chance to upset the form and cause a
shock at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
"It's probably not a bad thing to go in as underdogs with
everyone expecting Chelsea to win," he said.
(Sporting Life)
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Thor Zakariassen
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