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MONDAY 30 |
Report: Diego Forlan linked
with Liverpool move
Uruguayan hot-shot Diego Forlan has been linked with a
surprise return to the Premier League.
The Atletico Madrid forward, a consistent threat in front of
goal in La Liga, had an arduous time convincing Manchester
United fans that he was the ideal partner for box-playing
striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
However, that has not deterred Liverpool manager Rafael
Benitez who, according to a report in The People, is eager
to bolster his firepower by bringing the two-time Pichichi
winner to Anfield.
(Goal.com)
Bayern deny Babel interest
Bayern Munich have played down reports suggesting they are
lining up a bid for Ryan Babel.
The Liverpool forward is far from happy with life at Anfield
and has made his feelings known to boss Rafa Benitez.
Babel's time on Merseyside looks to be coming to end and a
number of clubs have been linked with a move for him in
January.
Bayern were one of the clubs said to be keen on the
Dutchman, but their director of sport Christian Nerlinger
has denied any interest.
"I do know anything about it," he told Liga Total.
"If I do not know anything, you can easily assume there is
no truth
in this link."
(Sky Sports)
Mascherano claims goal
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano believes he should be
credited with the opening strike in Sunday's 212th
Merseyside derby despite it going down as a Joseph Yobo own
goal.
"I think it's my goal because I tried to score with the
shot," said the 25-year-old, whose celebration in front of
the visiting fans at Goodison Park showed just what the
strike meant to him.
(Press Association Sport)
Benitez: Reina improving every day
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hailed Jose Reina as "one
of the best goalkeepers in the world" after a singular piece
of brilliance helped the side to a 2-0 victory in the 212th
Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Leading through Joseph Yobo's 12th-minute own goal from a
deflected Javier Mascherano shot, the Reds were coming under
increasing pressure in the second half.
With 20 minutes remaining Reina pulled off one of the saves
of the season when he dived low to his left to keep out Tim
Cahill's header and then sprung to his feet to block
Marouane Fellaini's follow-up.
"When we signed him we knew he was a good keeper and he is
improving here," said Benitez of Reina.
"Xavi Valero, our goalkeeping coach, is doing a really good
job with him and you can see him improving every day.
"For me he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and
(yesterday) he showed why.
"It was a great save. In this situation he was amazing."
(Press Association Sport)
Liverpool got lucky, Everton didn’t
Given the afternoon he’d endured, David Moyes’ reaction was
understand- able. “Do you want this leaving on?” enquired an
eager to please press officer, as the Blues boss trudged
into the press room while Sir Steven Redgrave and Kelly
Smith were still plucking balls from the FA’s drum.
“No,” he rapped, probably fearing a third round trip to
Melchester Rovers with Roy Race on a hot scoring streak.
He needn’t have worried. Carlisle at home was a good draw.
But it was the only thing which went right for him all day.
David Moyes got all the running he demanded from his
players, and a little bit more.
He got commitment and character. And he got the best
performance his side has produced in a derby match under his
tenure.
But he didn’t get that other quality which wins football
matches. Luck.
That was the bottom line at Goodison Park yesterday.
Liverpool got lucky, Everton didn’t.
(David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)
Nemeth considers permanent AEK move
Liverpool striker Krisztian Nemeth has admitted that he
would seriously think about making his loan to AEK Athens
permanent.
The Hungarian forward is on a season-long loan and after two
seasons at Anfield without any first-team opportunities is
considering his options.
Despite injury disrupting his time on Merseyside the
20-year-old is seemingly enjoying a change of fortune in
Greece having scored three goals in seven league games.
AEK have endured an inconsistent start to the season and
currently sit sixth in the Greek Super League, 14 points off
leaders Panathinaikos.
"The fans keep telling me that AEK is a great club," he
said.
"They're really impressive and certainly more enthusiastic
than Liverpool's. What I experienced at the derby with
Olympiakos (in which Nemeth scored) was something that I've
never felt before.
"I really wondered what the fans would be able to do if we
performed better in the league. I think that if Liverpool
and AEK work something out, I'd be extremely thoughtful
about staying in Athens permanently."
Nemeth added that just because AEK were struggling in the
league would not put him off signing permanently.
"It never crossed my mind to ask terminating my loan deal
due to AEK's bad performance," he stated.
"Certainly, we should be better. I'm sure that we'll get
better and along with the team, I'll improve myself too.
I've fallen in love with Greece and
AEK's fans."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard on Ballon D'Or shortlist
Steven Gerrard is on the shortlist for the European
Footballer of
the Year award.
The Liverpool captain is on the ten man shortlist for the
prestigious Ballon D'Or. The winner will be announced on
Tuesday with Barcelona's Lionel Messi the bookmakers'
favourite.
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 29 |
Moyes: Toffees deserved more
Everton manager David Moyes was left struggling to
understand how his side lost Sunday's Merseyside derby to
Liverpool.
A deflected Joseph Yobo own goal in the 12th minute and a
Dirk Kuyt tap-in close to the final whistle handed the Reds
the points at Goodison Park.
The Everton boss said: "I don't feel we came off the pitch
losers. The players worked extremely hard and I felt they
deserved more than what they got in the end.
"The deflected goal took the sting out of us. I don't know
how many times Liverpool had been in our half up to that
point but it wasn't many.
"But I thought the players reacted great. They kept going
and I thought in the main we kept Liverpool quiet."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez on the up
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes his side are edging
back towards their peak form and fitness after Sunday's
smash-and-grab Merseyside derby win at Everton.
Benitez told Sky Sports News: "After the time with a lot of
injuries, some players are coming back and then we will see
the difference hopefully in the next weeks."
He added on his side's display: "It was very difficult. We
knew that it could be physical given the position of both
teams and that they needed to win.
"We were working hard and had one or two chances and were
maybe lucky with the deflection."
(Sky Sports)
Carragher hoping
Liverpool can kick on
Jamie Carragher admits the 212th Merseyside derby was not a
spectacle - but hopes Liverpool's 2-0 win can signal the
start of a renaissance.
"I think we just shaded it to be honest, but it was not a
great game," he told Sky Sports 1. "It was a typical derby
game, a lot of long balls, second balls and a lot of
fighting but not a lot of quality."
(TEAMtalk)
Reds restore Merseyside pride
Liverpool restored a morsel of pride in a disappointing
season to date with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over fierce
Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
A match usually associated with passion and pride took on a
new edge given the struggles of both sides, but it was Rafa
Benitez's men who recorded what will be a massive win after
a Joseph Yobo own goal and a second half tap-in from Dirk
Kuyt.
(Sky Sports)
Reds to face Reading in FA Cup
Liverpool have been drawn to face Reading in the third round
of this season's FA Cup.
The tie will take place at the Madjeski Stadium over the
first weekend
of January, 2010.
(LFC Official Website)
The full FA Cup third round draw is:
Tottenham v Peterborough United
Brentford v Doncaster Rovers
Middlesbrough v Manchester City
Stoke City v York City
Notts County v Forest Green Rovers
Huddersfield Town v West Bromwich Albion
Sheffield United v QPR
MK Dons v Burnley
Chelsea v Watford
Nottingham Forest v Birmingham City
Preston North End v Colchester United
West Ham United v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers
Portsmouth v Coventry City
Sunderland v Oxford United or Barrow
Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Everton v Carlisle United
Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace
Tranmere Rovers or Aldershot Town v Wolves
Blackpool v Ipswich Town
Fulham v Swindon Town
Stockport County or Torquay v Brighton
Scunthorpe United v Barnsley
Southampton v Rotherham United or Luton Town
Bristol City v Cardiff City
Reading v Liverpool
Staines Town or Millwall v Derby County
Plymouth Argyle v Newcastle United
Leicester City v Swansea City
Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City
Accrington Stanley or Barnet v Gillingham
Manchester United v Kettering Town or Leeds United
Aurelio rejects new Reds contract
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has revealed that versatile
defender Fabio Aurelio has rejected a contract extension
offer at Anfield.
The Brazilian has suffered with injuries during his time at
Anfield but is still highly rated by Benitez, who was his
boss at former club Valencia.
However, Aurelio's deal expires at the end of the season and
it would appear he will have to accept terms based on
appearances if he wants
to stay.
Benitez said in the Sunday Mirror: "Fabio has been really
unlucky. When we spoke to him about a contract extension he
had an injury and he has had lots of injuries in the past.
"We made him an offer and his agent rejected it. Then he
suffered another injury and we have had to analyse the
situation again.
"We will talk again in the future because he is a good
person, a great professional and a great player.
"Maybe his situation needs to be looked at in a different
way and he needs to be realistic."
(TEAMtalk)
Torres fails fitness test
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres failed a fitness test on
his persistent groin injury ahead of the 212th Merseyside
derby at Goodison Park.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez therefore named the same side which
beat Debrecen in the Champions League in midweek.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua,
Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Aurelio, Ngog.
Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Riera, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, El
Zhar, Skrtel.
(Teletext) |
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SATURDAY 28 |
Liverpool go for Inter
Milan veteran Vieira
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is chasing Inter Milan
midfielder
Patrick Vieira.
The Independent says Benitez will attempt to breathe life
into Liverpool’s crumbling season by making a move for
Vieira.
(tribalfootball.com)
Benitez turns on Redknapp Jr:
Trying to help Dad at Spurs!
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has turned on former Reds
star Jamie Redknapp.
Benítez has accused Redknapp, the Sky pundit and former
Liverpool captain, of using his position in the media to try
to benefit Tottenham Hotspur, the club managed by his
father, Harry.
Last weekend, Redknapp suggested that the Liverpool manager
was presiding over a team “going nowhere”.
“I’m surprised that people who were close to Liverpool
before are working so hard to try to help Tottenham stay in
the top four,” Benítez said.
(tribalfootball.com)
Lucas faces up to detractors
Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva believes he will never win
over all of his detractors as he prepares himself for
another daunting challenge
in the 212th Merseyside derby.
Last season the Brazilian was sent off at Everton in an FA
Cup replay defeat, a run of three league and cup games in 17
days between the two clubs in which Liverpool failed to
achieve a victory.
It was not the best of times for the 22-year-old as he
suffered abuse and criticism from all quarters.
But manager Rafael Benitez has stood by him, and in a season
that has seen Liverpool lurch from one crisis to another,
Lucas has established himself in the side and started to win
grudging praise from his critics.
Lucas says: "I am trying to improve all the time and I am
feeling good on the pitch. I have improved a lot since last
season and hopefully
I will keep going.
"But things might always be more difficult for me at
Liverpool, to be honest, but I am trying to prove I can do
well for myself and my team-mates. The real supporters of
Liverpool know this and support me a lot."
(Press Association Sport)
Kuyt targets Goodison treble
Dirk Kuyt admits he is relishing Sunday's Merseyside derby
against Everton and the opportunity to complete a hat-trick
of successive Barclays Premier League victories at Goodison
Park.
While Fernando Torres stole the headlines with a stunning
brace in front of the Gwladys Street end last season, Kuyt
was the toast of the Red half of the city in 2007-08 when he
struck two second half penalties, including one in
stoppage-time, to secure a dramatic win.
And as Liverpool prepare to cross Stanley Park once more
this weekend, the 29-year-old is hoping for more of the same
against David Moyes's troops and a third league triumph at
Goodison in a row.
"I have some good memories of playing at Goodison and
hopefully we can continue this on Sunday," Kuyt told
Liverpoolfc.tv.
"It was a strange game when I scored the two penalties, but
it was a great day for us all."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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