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SUNDAY 30 |
Mellor relishing Reds reunion
Neil Mellor is relishing the opportunity to face his former
club when Liverpool visit Preston North End in the FA Cup
third round.
Since leaving Anfield for Deepdale in 2006, Mellor is now
playing regular football for Alan Irvine's team and was
their leading scorer last season.
The former Academy striker is best remembered by the Kop for
memorable goals against Arsenal and Olympiacos, and this tie
will be very special for him.
Speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv, Mellor said: "I
watched the draw and when Liverpool's name came out to play
us I just couldn't believe it.
"It will also be a bizarre experience for me to play against
the likes of Stevie G and Carra. I always want Liverpool to
do well and it would be fantastic if Stevie could lift the
Premier League title at the end of the season.
"There will be a full house at Deepdale and there is a stand
called the Bill Shankly Kop so there will be a special
atmosphere.
"Hopefully I will be fit and the manager picks me. I won't
eat over Christmas so I can get in top shape for the game!"
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool land Preston in FA Cup
Liverpool are away at Preston North End in the 3rd round of
the FA Cup.
The reds last played Preston in the FA Cup in 1962 when a
0-0 draw at Anfield, was followed by a 0-0 replay, which was
followed by a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford in the second
replay!
The games will be played on the weekend of the 3rd and 4th
January 2009.
(Andfield Online)
Benitez wary of
Bellamy return
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned his side to keep
an eye out for Craig Bellamy as the former Reds striker
returns to Anfield on Monday night with West Ham United.
Bellamy joined Liverpool from Blackburn Rovers in 2006, but
failed to make enough of an impact on Merseyside and only
lasted one season before moving to Upton Park last summer.
The Welshman has struggled with injury during his time in
East London so far, although he has started the last seven
Premier League games for the Hammers and should again be fit
to face his former side on Monday night.
Speaking to the club's official website, Benitez revealed he
is expecting a tough game on Monday and acknowledged the
threat posted by Bellamy.
“We have experience of teams coming here very well prepared
and defending, and I think it will be the same situation
with West Ham - they will be organised and have some good
players with Bellamy up front, so they will be a threat,” he
said.
(Goal.com)
Gerrard: Golf keeps me sane
Steven Gerrard has revealed how he handles the obsession for
football he believes overwhelms boss Rafael Benitez and
team-mate
Jamie Carragher.
Gerrard prepares to celebrate 10 years in the Reds' first
team as he leads Liverpool into action against West Ham at
Anfield on Monday.
"I don't know how Rafa and Carra do it. You have to take
your hat off to them, they are obsessed 24/7.
"I have to get away from it to help my game, maybe Rafa and
Jamie need it all the time to help theirs.
"I find it helps me to get onto a golf course for four
hours, and don't talk or think about football. I spend half
my time looking in the trees for my ball, but at least I am
not thinking about football."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez wants to bring
Owen back to Liverpool
Liverpool are lining up a £2 million swoop for former Kop
idol Michael Owen in January, a move that the England
international is likely to favour ahead of offers from
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, according to the News
of the World.
(Goal.com) |
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SATURDAY 29 |
Torres concerned by injury
Fernando Torres has spoken of his disappointment after
suffering another hamstring injury.
The injury was discovered after Liverpool's Champions League
win over Marseille and Torres has admitted that he is
frustrated with the recurrence of the problem for the second
time this season.
"I am a little disappointed, but all I can do is move
forward," he said.
"It is worrying me because it has happened a few times.
"After this latest injury the important thing is to recover
without rushing
a comeback date and trying to make sure it does not happen
again."
(Shanklygates)
Benitez backs
Gerrard to improve
Steven Gerrard completes 10 years in Liverpool's first team
this weekend with manager Rafael Benitez insisting he can
still improve.
Gerrard made his debut as a substitute against Blackburn on
November 29, 1998, and will make his 459th appearance for
the club against
West Ham on Monday.
Benitez said of the 28-year-old: "It is difficult to find a
player who has spent 10 years at one club, especially now
with the way football
has gone."
He added: "And for him to do it in a top side is even more
difficult. But Steven has the right mentality.
"Steven has improved with every year. He is always trying to
learn, he has matured as a player and a person and
tactically he has become
more astute.
"He is trying to learn still, to do the right things on the
pitch, and I believe he will continue to improve.
"He is an example to everyone. He always trains hard and is
a good professional. He is always committed on the pitch, it
is a kind of leadership that all captains should aspire to.
"In 10 years he will be a manager - probably at Liverpool.
So if I stay for a lot longer, he can take over from me.
"Physically he is very strong, but he can play for five
years now at the maximum level and then three or so more
years helping the manager."
(Ananova)
Benitez backs
Dossena to shine
Rafael Benitez has backed under-fire Andrea Dossena to prove
himself at Liverpool.
The Italian, signed from Udinese in the summer, has
experienced an unsuccessful start to his Anfield career and
is currently Fabio Aurelio's understudy but Benitez is sure
that the £7 million defender's hard word will pay off.
"The main thing for me is that he is working very, very
hard," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"He is working very hard but maybe he needs to be a little
bit calmer and relaxed when he plays because he's a little
bit anxious now."
(Shanklygates)
Benitez to ’sign new
deal by Christmas’
Former Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Bascombe claims Reds
manager Rafa Benitez will sign a two-year extension to his
contract by Christmas.
The Spaniard’s current deal expires in summer 2010, having
signed a one-year extension on the deal he first signed when
he arrived at the club
in 2004.
It has been well documented that Benitez himself wants
stability at the club and is keen to sign a longer contract
to secure his future, and reportedly those of many players
whose futures are dependent on
the manager’s.
(This is Anfield) |
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FRIDAY 28 |
Zola: I'd prefer
Lampard to Gerrard
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola says he would prefer to have
Frank Lampard or John Terry in his team than Steven Gerrard.
The Hammers travel to Anfield on Monday night to face
Liverpool, live on Setanta Sports, and Gerrard will be
looking to inspire his team to victory after a disappointing
draw with Fulham.
But former Chelsea star Zola says Terry and Lampard would be
his first picks to add to his West Ham side.
"I'm very divided but I'd have to have John Terry and Frank
Lampard, no disrespect to anyone else," he said.
"I know them very well and they were fantastic players for
Chelsea."
(Setanta Sports)
Parker fit to tackle Liverpool
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has a fully-fit squad at
his disposal for Monday night's Premier League clash at
Liverpool (8pm).
Midfielder Scott Parker has missed training the last couple
of days because of illness but will be fit to start at
Anfield.
Craig Bellamy should lead the attack against his former club
and Valon Behrami, who scored last weekend's winner against
Sunderland, will retain his place in midfield.
West Ham (from): Green, Stech, Neill, Ilunga, Gabbidon,
Lopez, Dyer, Parker, Ashton, Bellamy, Etherington, Cole, Boa
Morte, Upson, Noble, Mullins, Spector, Collins, Faubert,
Stokes, Walker, Lastuvka, Diego Tristan, Davenport, Reid,
Bowyer, Sears, Di Michele, Collison, Tomkins.
(TEAMtalk)
New methods planned
for Torres' injury
Liverpool plan a total overhaul of Fernando Torres' medical
care to try to discover the reason for his fifth hamstring
injury in 16 months.
The Spanish striker broke down again during Wednesday's
Champions League victory over Marseille.
Scans have revealed a repetition of the injury that could
rule him out for three weeks, the December 21st trip to
Arsenal being the tentative target for his comeback.
Torres has had three similar injuries on international duty,
and two now with Liverpool, in the 16 months since his
arrival at Anfield from
Atletico Madrid.
Boss Rafael Benitez reveals Torres has no history of such an
injury in Spain, which further deepens the concerns over his
fitness.
(The Irish Times)
Masch feels nothing
for Hammers
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano says he feels nothing
for former club West Ham, as the two teams prepare to meet
at Anfield on Monday night.
Macherano was brought to the Premier League by the Hammers
in a controversial deal with fellow Argentina international
Carlos Tevez, now at Manchester United.
“I do not think about anything now at West Ham. West Ham is
nothing in my life now because I was not able to play there.
“It is just another team in the Premier League. I do not
feel anything else."
(This is Anfield)
Marseille charged over
Gerrard missile incident
UEFA have charged Marseille following the
missile-throwing incident at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The French club will answer the charge at a meeting of
UEFA's control and disciplinary panel on 11th December.
UEFA have also confirmed that Marseille have been fined
15,000 Euros following a near identical incident at the
Stade Velodrome in September.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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