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MONDAY 30 |
Rafa hails Torres achievement
Rafa Benitez has spoken of his pride at Fernando Torres'
performances at Euro 2008.
The Liverpool boss was speaking in the wake of the Reds
striker's match-winning performance for Spain in the final
of the European Championship.
The Spanish star scored the only goal of the game against
Germany
on Sunday, securing his country's first major title in 44
years.
Torres had come under fire from certain sections of the
media in his homeland for his failure to replicate his club
form on
the international stage.
However, having silenced those doubters his club manager was
delighted with the manner in which the 24-year-old conducted
himself throughout
the summer.
As a Spaniard himself, Benitez was also thrilled that one of
his players had been able to bring glory back to a nation
starved of success for
so long.
"I am very proud of Fernando, especially after he has been
criticised from some journalists in Spain," he said.
"Everyone remembers the Marcelino goal from 44 years ago,
and the last final Spain were in was 24 years ago.
"Now people will talk about Torres in the same way, I am
very proud of him and what he has achieved."
(Sky Sports)
Pompey still keen on Crouch
Portsmouth are still hopeful of signing Liverpool striker
Peter Crouch despite having an offer - believed to be
£9million - turned down.
The England international, who scored 19 goals in a previous
spell at Fratton Park, found himself behind Fernando Torres
in the Reds' pecking order last season and looks likely to
leave the club this summer with Spurs and Manchester City
also said to be interested.
Pompey have already had an offer for the former Southampton
man turned down by Liverpool, but chief executive Peter
Storrie revealed boss Harry Redknapp is still keen to land
his top target.
He told The News: "Harry has made it clear he wants Peter
Crouch. He's the sort of quality we want to add to the team.
"We have made a fair bid for him and that was turned down
but we are
still interested.
"It's now the case that we have made known our position and
Liverpool have made know theirs - we will see what happens
after that.
"This is not the end of it. As in normal transfer
negotiations there is still more talking to be done. That's
how it works.
(Sporting Life)
Thank you - Torres pays
tribute to Reds fans
Fernando Torres paid a stirring tribute today to Liverpool
FC and its fans – for helping turn him into a European
champion.
The Reds striker scored a stunning winner to sink Germany
last night and end Spain’s 44-year wait for a major trophy.
Torres told the ECHO: “It is a dream come true and now we
have a place in European history so it is very special.
“It is my first major title but I hope it will be the first
of many because I want to win many more titles with
Liverpool and Spain.
“I would like to thank the staff and players at Liverpool
for their support during Euro 2008 because it makes a real
difference when you know you have the backing of the people
of your club and because of this they share in our success.
“I have had a wonderful first season at Anfield and the
goals I scored for Liverpool gave me the confidence and
belief I needed for the Euros and, again, I would like to
thank Rafa and his staff because I have improved as a player
thanks to them.
“It is incredible because the Liverpool fans have given me
so much support and I know that they have even been
supporting Spain and this is something I will never forget
and I thank everyone for that.
“Now I am looking forward to competing for trophies with the
Reds because I know that means so much to the club and the
fans.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Pellegrino handed Reds role
Liverpool have appointed former defender Mauricio Pellegrino
as
first-team coach.
The Argentine has been working as a youth team coach at
Valencia but will now return to Merseyside to join the
backroom team that also has Sammy Lee recently installed as
assistant manager.
Pellegrino played 12 matches for Liverpool under Benitez in
2005, having previously shared the title triumphs at
Valencia with the Anfield boss.
Last season Benitez lost coach Alex Miller, who took up a
management job with JEF United in Japan, while Pako
Ayesteran departed after
a fall-out with the Spaniard.
Benitez told the club's official website: "His role will be
first-team coach, and he will also carry out specialist
training sessions.
"He can also work specifically with the defence, and also
the reserves.
"Pellegrino has a winning mentality. He won the
Inter-continental Cup before going to Spain with Barcelona
and Valencia.
"He has a lot of passion. When I asked him to come he was
very pleased, but first he wanted to find out if there was a
school where his three children could play good football.
"He is a football man."
(Sky Sports)
Players return to Melwood
Eighteen members of Rafa Benitez's squad are back at Melwood
today after their summer break.
Non-internationals such as Jamie Carragher, Steve Finnan and
Sami Hyypia return today, though those who played for their
country earlier in the summer will be given an extra week.
Spain heroes Fernando Torres, Alvaro Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso
and Pepe Reina will not return to training for another three
weeks after leading their country to a first major honour
since 1964.
Benitez said: "We have about 18 back today, then some of the
internationals will be back in the next week. The four
Spanish players should be back in three weeks."
(LFC Official Website)
Aragones praises Torres
Luis Aragones has praised matchwinner Fernando Torres.
The Spain coach was quick to praise the Liverpool striker as
he scored the only goal of the game as Spain beat Germany
1-0 in the final
of Euro 2008.
"Fernando is a great player for Liverpool and for our team
and he can go anywhere because he has really extraordinary
speed and he knows how
to dribble," said Aragones.
"We always tell him he's a player who is so young that he
can learn to do everything and there is no doubt he can be
one of the best players in
the world."
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 29 |
Villa tell Liverpool: Give us £18m
for Barry or you can forget him
Liverpool have been told to find an extra £5million or else
forget about signing Aston Villa's England midfielder Gareth
Barry.
Martin O'Neill has finally put a valuation on his skipper
after the midfielder launched a sustained personal attack on
his manager.
O'Neill valued the player at £18m after speaking to Villa
owner Randy Lerner at length yesterday following Barry
stepping up his bid to leave Villa Park. Barry hit out at
the lack of urgency at his club, demanding a move to Anfield
as he laid into O'Neill for taking on a role as a BBC pundit
at
the European Championship.
Last night O'Neill said he would not stand in Barry's way as
long as Liverpool upped the £13m offer received three weeks
ago.
O'Neill said: 'The chairman and myself are surprised at what
Gareth has said. Contrary to what he alleges, we desperately
want to keep him
at Villa Park - and he knows that.
(Daily Mail)
Torres salutes 'dream' victory
(Photo: AP)
Spain matchwinner Fernando Torres has described his side's
1-0 Euro 2008 victory over Germany in Vienna as a "dream
come true".
Torres struck the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute
at Ernst Happel stadium on Sunday night as Spain defeated
three-time winners Germany.
The victory allowed Spain to lift their first piece of
international silverware since the 1964 European
Championship and Torres has admitted
his delight.
Spain recorded victories in all of their games in Austria
and Switzerland and Liverpool forward Torres believes the
correct team won this
summer's finals.
"It's a dream come true," said Torres.
"At last justice has been done because the team that played
the best football won the tournament.
"I feel a tremendous joy. It still hasn't sunk in what we've
achieved.
"This is my first title and I hope it's the first of many.
We are used
to watching finals on television, but today we were here and
we won.
"The team that has played the best football in the
tournament has won the title and now we have a place in
European football history."
And Torres believes Spain must now look to add the 2010
World Cup to their trophy cabinet as preparations begin for
the tournament in South Africa in two years' time.
"It's our first title (together) and we hope it will be the
first of many," added Torres. "We've still got the World Cup
to come, we have to be ambitious."
(TEAMtalk)
Bell confirms interest in Antwi
Accrington assistant boss Jimmy Bell has confirmed the
club would like to bring Liverpool's Godwin Antwi back to
the Fraser Eagle Stadium.
The Ghana-born centre-back - who spent last season on loan
at League One side Hartlepool - helped guide Stanley to
League Two safety in the 2006/07 season after several
impressive performances during
a two-month loan spell.
Recent reports have linked the 20-year-old with a move to
fellow League Two side Chester but Bell revealed he is again
on Stanley's radar.
He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "Myself and John have
spoken about him and it hasn't really gone any further than
that at the moment. But he's certainly a player that we will
be pursuing."
(TEAMtalk)
Le Mans sign Liverpool striker
French side Le Mans have completed the permanent signing of
Liverpool striker Anthony Le Tallec on a four year contract,
after spending last season there on loan.
He was originally bought by Gerard Houllier from Le Havre at
the same time as his cousin Sinama-Pongolle and the two
"starlets" were supposed to go on to great things, but it
never really happened for Le Tallec.
He never really settled away from his homeland and spent
loan periods at Sunderland, St Etienne and Sochaux before
going to Le Mans
last season.
He only made 32 appearances in his time in Merseyside, but
one was in the Champions League quarter-final against
Juventus in 2005.
(FootyLatest.com)
Barry: It's time for me to move on
Gareth Barry remains desperate to join Liverpool and has
blasted Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill for making no effort
to persuade him to stay.
The England midfielder has made no secret of his desire for
the regular Champions League football on offer at Anfield.
Barry told the News of the World: "My mind's made up, I want
to join Liverpool.
"There's no going back, it's time for me to move on. I'm
desperate to play Champions League football and that's why I
have to leave Villa."
O'Neill has been openly critical of Liverpool boss Rafael
Benitez over his pursuit of the Villa skipper.
But despite O'Neill's public posturing, a scornful Barry
insists nothing has been done to get him to remain at Villa
Park.
"Villa kept saying they wanted me to stay but I have not
heard from
the manager for weeks," he claimed.
"It's seven weeks now since the season finished but while
the gaffer's found time to be a pundit for the BBC at Euro
2008, he hasn't found
the time to speak to me.
"Have Villa offered me anything to try to persuade me my
future is at Villa Park, not Anfield? Not a thing."
(TEAMtalk)
Rumours: Liverpool keen on Robbie
Liverpool are hoping to sign Robbie Keane from Tottenham
Hotspur, if reports are to be believed.
Rafa Benitez is understood to be readying a player-plus-cash
deal involving Peter Crouch to seal the Irish striker's
signature.
(4thegame.com)
Reds to play Lazio
Liverpool are to play Lazio in a pre-season friendly.
The Reds are set to play the Italians at Anfield on Friday,
August 8th as
a warm up for their Champions League qualifier.
Liverpool were trying to set up a friendly against Athletico
Madrid on this date but the two sides couldn't come to an
agreement and Lazio are now likely to be the opponents in
the Reds' first home pre-season friendly for five years.
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 28 |
Benitez eyeing title bid
Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can win the Barclays
Premier League next season and admits that ending an 18-year
wait for the title would be 'the biggest achievement of his
career.'
The Reds boss is confident his side can push Arsenal,
Manchester United and Chelsea all the way in the race to be
crowned champions of England in 2009 and insists that such
an achievment would surpass any of the previous honours he
has won in both England and Spain.
"Winning the title would be the biggest achievement of my
career,"
said Benitez.
"It's more difficult than in Spain because teams here spend
big money.
"But we will do our best. The key for me is not to talk
about winning
the title but to talk about doing a good job so we can be
close, so we can be contenders.
"If we are close I think that we can win the title."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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