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FRIDAY 30 |
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Jose piles pressure on Reds
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has increased the pressure on
Liverpool by insisting anything other than a win would be a
bad result for Rafael Benitez's side when the two clubs meet
again on Sunday.
Mourinho said: "In the Champions League we started the game
with the same number of points and we had the same objective
to go into the next round. So it was not a bad result for us
and it was not a bad result for them.
"In the Premiership the points difference is a minimum eight
points (the total assuming Liverpool win their two games in
hand). So I think a draw for them on Sunday is a very bad
result."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard looks for adventure
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool have proved Chelsea are
not "invincible" - but accepts they must be more adventurous
to inflict the champions' first defeat of the season.
The 25-year-old Reds skipper, who could have signed at
Stamford Bridge last summer, meets Chelsea again just four
days after the Champions League stalemate between the pair.
Gerrard is now determined to end the 100% start to the
league campaign Jose Mourinho's men have achieved.
Gerrard told official website liverpoolfc.tv: "I think we
could do with being a little more adventurous in certain
areas and push on that little bit more, while a bit of luck
also wouldn't go amiss.
Gerrard added: "I know what Jose Mourinho has been saying
about this being a 'must-win' game for us and that we'll be
out of the title race if we don't.
"A defeat would certainly make life more difficult for us
but it's too early in the season for that kind of talk."
(Sporting Life)
Fowler escapes knife
Robbie Fowler is facing an extended lay-off as he recovers
from a back problem but the former Liverpool and England
striker has been told he will not need surgery, as had been
feared.
Fowler, 30, had a scan this week and Manchester City have
been advised that the problem can be addressed without an
operation.
City manager Stuart Pearce said: "Robbie has seen a
specialist and he is of the opinion that he won't need
surgery.
"It is a case of building him up and making sure he is
pain-free when he does come back. The physios will look
after him and bring him back hopefully fully fit."
(AFP)
Liverpool duo selected for international
duty
Liverpool duo Scott Carson and John Welsh have been named in
the England Under-21 squad for next month's European
Championship qualifiers against Austria and Poland.
England play Austria at Elland Road on 7th October and
Poland at Hillsbrough on 11th October. Both players will
naturally be hoping to figure to boost their chances
at club level.
(Kop Talk)
Cech sick of Liverpool
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is getting fed up with playing
Liverpool.
The two sides prepare to meet each other for the second time
in a week on Sunday, following Wednesday's stalemate in the
UEFA Champions League, and it is something that has not
happened to Cech before in his career.
"I have never experienced something like this, playing the
same opponent twice in a few days," the Czech international
told his official website.
Chelsea and Liverpool also met five times last season, with
The Blues coming out on top in the Carling Cup final, but
Liverpool progressing from the Champions League semi-final,
and Cech admitted he would rather not be playing against
their fierce rivals so often.
"It is not pleasing but we have to play the matches," Cech
said.
(Sky Sports)
Reds to return for Simao
Rick Parry has confirmed that Liverpool are likely to launch
another offensive for Benfica winger Simao Sabrosa in the
January transfer window.
The Reds came close to landing the Portugal international on
transfer deadline day and had agreed a fee in the region of
£10 million for the former Barcelona star.
"He is a great player and we need more like him," Parry told
O Jogo.
When quizzed whether Liverpool would be moving for him in
January, he continued: "We have still not definitively
decided, but it is an interesting option for us."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez: Crouch needs better service
Rafael Benitez said he has been happy with the performances
of striker Peter Crouch so far and feels he needs better
service into the penalty area.
The Liverpool manager says he is well aware of the need to
give the likes of Crouch and Fernando Morientes better
service and is working hard on this during training at
Melwood.
Benitez said: "When we decided to sign Crouch we knew we
needed to give him service and we need more time to work on
that. He is a very good player and he is playing well for
us. He can hold the ball up for us, he is good in the air
and good on the ground.
"We must support him better as soon as possible. It's
difficult at the moment and we have tried using Cisse,
Sinama-Pongolle and Luis Garcia on the right to try and get
him crosses. People say we need to cross a lot of balls for
him and I know that."
(LFC Official Website)
Crouch in Blues warning
Peter Crouch insists there is no reason for Liverpool to
fear Chelsea and has warned the Premiership champions not to
resort to any bully-boy tactics.
The two clubs meet for the second time in a matter of days
on Sunday when they lock horns in The Premiership, live on
Sky Sports 1.
Matches between the two sides are becoming increasingly hard
to call and, despite Chelsea's perfect start to the defence
of the title, Crouch is adamant Liverpool are not afraid of
the champions.
"The manager has told us not to be scared by them and we
won't be bullied by them," said Crouch.
"I think, when the game goes against them, you can cause
them problems."
Angular striker Crouch also suggested that it is Chelsea who
are the team running scared ahead of the weekend's showdown.
He added: "They keep talking and talking and talking.
"Maybe they are worried and afraid. I know we can beat
them."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez out to make up ground
Rafael Benitez turns his attention from Champions League to
domestic action insisting he is not concerned about the gap
between Liverpool and the top of the Barclays Premiership.
Following the goalless draw on Wednesday, Chelsea again
stand in Benitez's path as he tries to re-shape Liverpool's
campaign.
Liverpool's league form has produced just three goals in
five matches and they sit 13th in the table, with two
matches in hand over leaders Chelsea.
But Benitez prefers not to concern himself with the gap
opening up at the top, instead underlining the steady
improvements his side are making.
He said: "I don't think about gaps, I just want to win the
next game. If that is possible then we will move closer.
"But if you start thinking about gaps in September, it is
wrong. There are a lot of points to play for and we do not
need to think about Chelsea or other teams, only how to
improve ourselves in each game."
(Sporting Life) |
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THURSDAY 29 |
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Double boost for Reds
Rafael Benitez today revealed that both Fernando Morientes
and Momo Sissoko could return to the squad for Sunday's
Premiership clash with Chelsea.
Both players resumed full training at Melwood today after
shaking off minor injury problems.
Morientes has been battling to overcome the hamstring injury
sustained while on international duty with Spain earlier
this month while Sissoko has been sidelined with a thigh
problem.
"We are hopeful they will be available for Sunday's game,"
said Benitez today.
(LFC Official Website)
Lampard: Crouch deserves England chance
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believes that Peter Crouch
deserves an England call-up from Sven-Goran Eriksson because
he will bring something 'fresh and different' to the
national side.
Liverpool's giant striker was a handful for Chelsea's
defence all night as both sides cancelled each other out in
a pulsating Champions League draw at Anfield on Wednesday
night.
"I could have told you before that Crouch is one of the best
at what he does. He poses a different kind of threat to what
you encounter elsewhere and does it very well. You know when
he is playing he is going to get hit with a lot of long
balls and you have to deal
with it."
(Sporting Life) |
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WEDNESDAY 28 |
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Rafa: We were better than Chelsea
Rafael Benitez felt Liverpool were the better team in the
goalless draw against Chelsea and said his team should have
had at least one penalty.
"We played a good game and for me we were better than
Chelsea on the night. We know the difference between us and
them is not that big. We showed people that we can beat
them. We beat them last season and we can beat them again."
(LFC Official Website)
Jose settles for point
Jose Mourinho was satisfied with the UEFA Champions League
point Chelsea earned at Anfield by holding Liverpool to a
0-0 draw.
"I'm not 100 percent (satisfied) but it's a point, so I'm
not crazy with happiness but I'm not very sad," said
Mourinho.
"A point in the Champions League away from home is a
positive result."
(Sky Sports)
Carragher claims a pen
Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool should have had a penalty
against Chelsea.
Carragher was joined by his team-mates in calling for a
penalty when his header from a second half corner clearly
came off William Gallas' arm, but referee Massimo de Santis
turned down calls for a penalty.
"It was a definite penalty - every time we play them we
should get a penalty but they are never given," said
Carragher, who still remembers a similar incident involving
Tiago in last year's home league game."
(Sky Sports)
Reds frustrated by dogged Chelsea
Liverpool and Chelsea fought out a goalless draw at Anfield
in a largely scrappy game where chances were few and far
between.
But the home side will feel frustrated that they had three
worthy claims for penalties turned down.
The match was played at a frantic pace throughout but there
was little in the way of real goal scoring opportunity as
both English sides were equal to each other's threat.
Overall the draw was a fair result but on another day
Liverpool may have had the luck of the decisions to win the
tie.
(Sporting Life)
Liverpool v Chelsea - confirmed teams
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Hamann,
Alonso, Gerrard, Garcia, Cisse, Crouch.
CHELSEA: Cech, P. Ferreira, Terry, R. Carvalho, Gallas,
Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Robben, Drogba, Duff.
(Kop Talk)
Garcia backs Crouch to star
Luis Garcia says Peter Crouch will cause the Chelsea defence
all sorts of problems tonight.
Crouch has had a good start to his Liverpool career despite
not yet scoring for the Reds and Garcia has backed the
former Southampton striker to give Chelsea a torrid time
this evening.
"The battle between Peter Crouch and John Terry will be an
interesting one because Crouch is a very good striker and
Terry is a top-class defender. If I had to bet who comes out
on top though, it will be Crouch," he said.
"I like the way Crouch plays because he has a very clear
mind, but he is also a fighter who wins a lot of balls for
us in attack. Not only is he strong in the air, but he also
has fantastic control and a powerful shot.
"He hasn't surprised me with his skills though. We knew all
about his qualities when he played for Southampton last
season. I believe that Peter Crouch can cause a lot of
damage to the Chelsea defence in this match."
(LFC Online)
Let's make them hurt again
Steven Gerrard today urged his team mates to banish memories
of last season's heroic Champions League victory over
Chelsea - and focus on creating more epic Anfield nights.
The Reds skipper believes dwelling on the club's success
last May would be a sign of weakness.
He famously rejected the chance to sign for tonight's
opponents last summer because of his belief Liverpool will
rival the Londoners for the top honours.
He feels another significant victory tonight will show the
world Liverpool are capable of building on their European
Cup win and repeating it.
"As far as I'm concerned, what happened in the competition
last season is history. It's gone," said Gerrard.
"You have to look to the future in this game and not live
off what you've just done before. We all want to win more
trophies.
"We know if can get a good result tonight it puts a marker
down for the rest of the season. We want to show we mean
business in Europe and the Premiership."
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard calls on fans for help
Steven Gerrard has called on Liverpool fans to produce
another fantastic Anfield atmosphere tonight.
In last season's European Cup semi-final the atmosphere
produced at Anfield clearly rattled Chelsea and played a
part in Liverpool's historic victory. As the Reds prepare to
face the Londoners again tonight captain Steven Gerrard has
asked supporters to once again create a famous Anfield
night.
"The atmosphere will be special, as it always is when we
play a Champions League game at Anfield. We know the fans
will be behind us and everyone knows what a massive
difference they made last season, not just against Chelsea,
but in all the rounds," said Gerrard.
"The fans love the Champions League as much as the players
and they'll want to play their part again.
(LFC Online)
Hyypia: Chelsea are not invincible
Sami Hyypia looked ahead to this evening's eagerly awaited
showdown with Chelsea and declared: "They're not
invincible."
Despite winning all of their games this season ahead of
tonight's trip to Anfield, the Finnish defender believes the
Reds are more than capable of taking three points off last
season's beaten semi-finalists.
He said: "Chelsea are a good team but with some weaknesses
and we have to take advantage of them.
"Last May, no-one expected us to win the final but no team
is invincible. Chelsea will have eleven on the pitch, the
same as us.
"I know they are a very good team but you always have to
have confidence you can win - and beating them last season
gives us plenty of confidence for this game.
"They're not from another planet. If you have a good team
it's not always enough."
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez ends Garcia goal debate
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is unconcerned by claims Luis
Garcia's goal in their Champions League meeting last season
did not cross the line.
"Luis said to me that as he turned away he was right on the
line, and he said the ball was over the line," he said.
"And after the game my secretary Sheila, who was sitting
right in line in the main stand, said to me that the ball
had crossed the line.
"She is a very honest person and that was good enough for
me."
(BBC Sport Online)
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Thor Zakariassen
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