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SATURDAY 30 |
Rafa rues linesman's blunder
Rafael Benitez was left to rue an awful decision from the
linesman as his side went down to a 2-0 defeat at Bolton
this afternoon.
The referee's assistant wrongly adjudged that Pepe Reina had
handled the ball outside his area and awarded a free kick on
the edge of the box which Gary Speed fired home after half
an hour.
Benitez said: "It's clear that a mistake has been made. Pepe
let go of the ball inside the area and then kicked it
outside. The linesman was in a bad position. I knew at the
time it was a mistake but what can you do?
"Every week we can talk about incidents but nothing changes.
It's annoying."
(LFC Official Website)
Big Sam beams after Reds win
Sam Allardyce hailed a job well done as his Bolton side
defeated Liverpool 2-0 at The Reebok Stadium.
"It's just as good [as Portsmouth] because this is one of
the big boys," Allardyce told Sky Sports 1. "It was a
performance of a team that's closed down, nullified and had
a game plan that's frustrated Liverpool for all of the game.
"We might have been a little bit fortunate with the free
kick but we've taken full advantage," added Allardyce.
(Sky Sports)
Evergreen Speed downs ragged Reds
Goals from Bolton's Gary Speed and Ivan Campo dispatched a
disjointed Liverpool side 2-0 at The Reebok Stadium.
With just one win in six visits to The Reebok prior to the
lunchtime kick off, Liverpool again found this part of
Lancashire an unhappy hunting ground as their bid to regain
ground lost in the title race stalled.
Rafa Benitez spoke pre-match of the need for strong
officiating, and though he would gripe with the award
leading to the first goal, his side's failure was down more
to his own team's lethargic performance coupled with the
doggedness of inhospitable hosts.
(Sky Sports)
Bellamy back to partner Kuyt
Craig Bellamy will return to the Liverpool side to partner
Dirk Kuyt up front at the Reebok Stadium this afternoon.
Bellamy's return is one of four changes made by Rafael
Benitez to the side which triumphed over Galatasaray in
midweek.
John Arne Riise, Momo Sissoko and Sami Hyypia also start in
the following team:
Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Pennant, Alonso,
Sissoko, Gerrard, Kuyt, Bellamy.
Subs: Dudek, Agger, Garcia, Crouch, Zenden.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: Robbie must keep working
Rafael Benitez has told Robbie Fowler to keep his head up as
he waits for another chance to impress in the first team.
Fowler hasn't made the Liverpool squad since the derby
defeat at Goodison but Benitez has insisted the 31 year old
striker's opportunity will come again.
He said: "It's always more difficult for strikers if the
others are scoring goals regularly.
"I've spoken to Robbie and told him to keep going, because
it's clear he will play games and he needs to be ready."
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 29 |
Three Reds in England squad
Three Liverpool players have been named in the England squad
for the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers with
Macedonia and Croatia.
Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch and Jamie Carragher are all in
Steve McClaren's party for the clash with Macedonia on
October 7 and the trip to Croatia four days later.
Chris Kirkland - who is currently on loan with Wigan
Athletic - is also in the 24 man squad.
England squad for European Championship qualifers against
Macedonia and Croatia:
Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Man Utd), Kirkland
(Liverpool); G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Everton), Brown
(Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Carragher
(Liverpool), King (Tottenham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge
(Chelsea); Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas
(Tottenham), Carrick (Man Utd), Richardson (Man Utd),
Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Parker
(Newcastle), Rooney (Man Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Johnson
(Everton), Defoe (Spurs).
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa hails Shankly's contribution
Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool legend Bill Shankly was a
man ahead of his time and would have been a big success in
the modern game.
The club commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Scot's
death on Friday and current boss Benitez has been quick to
praise the man recognised as the founder of the modern-day
Liverpool.
Benitez revealed he has been stunned to hear tapes of
Shankly interviews in which the great man talked about the
same sort of changes in player preparation that he uses now.
He said: "He was a fantastic manager and a leader.
"He changed this club, he changed everything and he had the
relationship with fans that has continued to this day.
"I have learned a lot about him. I have heard interviews and
been surprised that he was talking about the physical
condition of players and doing things that we are doing now.
"To hear that from a manager 25-30 years ago was a surprise.
His ideas have continued to this day.
"If you see how we work and train now, you can see things
that Shankly was talking about many years ago."
The Spaniard added: "The club changed when Shankly arrived,
he was a leader with a winning mentality and that has pushed
the club forward.
"I have heard him talking about the physical condition of
players, how to recuperate and rest players and that was 20
years ago. People were not even talking that way 10 years
ago.
"Shankly would have been a successful manager now. He had
the right character and knew how the game should be played."
(TEAMtalk)
Aurelio still learning as Reds set for rough
and tumble
Fabio Aurelio will realise this weekend there's a 'typical
English style' of football - and then there are visits to
Bolton Wanderers.
The Brazilian admits he is still coming to terms with the
peculiar demands of the Premiership, but a word with his
team-mates before kick-off should forewarn him the toughest
challenge of all is imminent.
It's unlikely the South American will have ever faced
anything like Sam Allardyce's side before.
The full-back accepts there were obvious problems in defence
on Wednesday.
"I had to concentrate a lot because there were a lot of
midfielders attacking us and getting into the box," he
explained.
"When I tried to cover players moving into the middle, it
was a problem because it left alot of space for their
wingers.
"I know we conceded two goals, but overall I think we do
have more solidity now than we had a few weeks ago. We're
doing everything we need to in order to win three points."
(Liverpool Echo)
Experience the key for Benitez
Rafael Benitez is likely to revert to his experienced, tried
and trusted starting line-up for the Barclays Premiership
trip to Bolton.
The Liverpool manager will be concerned enough about
Bolton’s aerial threat to recall Sami Hyypia, John Arne
Riise and Mohamed Sissoko to the side – all of whom were on
the bench for the Champions League victory over Galatasaray
on Tuesday.
Craig Bellamy was also a sub in the European clash and the
Welshman may have to stay on the bench a little longer, with
Peter Crouch’s height a key against Bolton in defence as
well as attack.
Provisional squad: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger,
Riise, Aurelio, Sissoko, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Luis
Garcia, Crouch, Kuyt, Dudek, Bellamy, Gonzalez, Zenden,
Warnock.
(Ireland On-Line)
Benitez: Bolton don't scare us
Liverpool head to the Reebok confident they have the
ammunition to deal with Bolton's hyper-physical tactics.
Controversial manager Sam Allardyce revels in getting under
the skin of the Reds, and today claimed it was because he's
a 'good tactician'.
The head-to-head between the teams shows Liverpool have won
eight and lost two of their last 14 meetings with the Reebok
side, which hardly qualifies Bolton as a bogey side.
But it's true their crude style of football has caused
friction between the clubs during recent meetings.
"Maybe this is one of the most physically demanding games of
a season, but we go there with a lot of experience of these
types of games," said Benitez today. "There are some clubs
who are particularly difficult to play against, and maybe
Bolton are one of them."
(Liverpool Echo)
Dare we believe we can start
Work should start on Liverpool FC's new stadium as soon as
next spring.
Teams of workmen are expected to move on to Stanley Park
within the next six months, with New Anfield ready to throw
open its doors at the start of the 2009 season.
Club officials can now start finalising timescales after
Liverpool council was given £9m of European cash for the
long-awaited project.
The grant will be topped up with £15.6m of club and
taxpayers' money to pay for regeneration of the Anfield
community.
Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool council, said: "It
is great news for the people of Anfield that this grant was
agreed. At long last, after 20 years of decline, we are sure
we can deliver a better life for people there.
"Improvements around the stadium must be completed by the
end of 2008 and it would be a fantastic legacy of Capital of
Culture year if a real future for the area is in place."
(Liverpool Echo)
Allardyce rues his failure to snap up
Crouch
Six years on, Sam Allardyce is still kicking himself for
failing to sign Peter Crouch.
The Bolton manager was first alerted to the tall striker
after he gave Colin Hendry a tough time during his early
days at QPR.
At the time, Allardyce could not persuade the Bolton board
Crouch would be a worthwhile investment.
And he fears the decision could return to haunt him when
Liverpool head to the Reebok Stadium tomorrow.
"I am still kicking myself at missing out on Crouch even
now, especially when you consider the goal he scored on
Wednesday," said Allardyce, who was at Anfield to see the
England striker's spectacular volley against Galatasaray."
(Liverpool Echo)
Crouch glad to give Rafa headache
Peter Crouch hopes his two goal display against Galatasary
has given Rafael Benitez a selection headache ahead of
tomorrow's game at Bolton.
Crouch was a subsitute for four Liverpool games in a row
before returning to the starting line up against Galatasary
on Wednesday. The England striker celebrated his recall with
two goals and he hopes his display will keep him in the team
to face Bolton.
"I'm still not sure I'll play on Saturday. Hopefully I've
done enough, but we've a lot of good players here."
(LFC Online)
Reds must learn to combat Bolton
The contrast will be obvious on Saturday lunchtime as
Liverpool go from Champions League finesse to Premiership
power and strength - with midfielder Luis Garcia admitting
some of his team-mates are more suited to Europe than
England.
Liverpool, having beaten Galatasaray on Wednesday in the
Champions League, must switch their focus and system to take
in the clash at Bolton.
Manager Rafael Benitez is preparing his team to handle the
contrast.
"I hope things are really coming together now," he said.
"We did not have the best start to the season and we lost
two away games early on. Now after that we have won two
league games and one in the Champions League - and that
shows the team is much better.
"But we now must keep that going, and we know that playing
against Bolton on Saturday will be very difficult - it
always is."
(PA Sport)
Gerrard wins again - at glittering city
awards ceremony
A glittering host of footballers and pop stars were out in
force last night for a prestigious awards ceremony.
Coleen McLoughlin, Steven Gerrard and Alex Curran joined the
Sugababes, Heather Small and boy band Upperstreet along with
Hollyoaks stars Ricky Whittle and Emma Rigby, to celebrate
the city's unsung heroes.
The event, hosted by Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre and
sponsored by Radio City and the Alliance and Leicester
Commercial Bank, was to award people who had gone out of
their way to help those in their communities.
Liverpool captain Gerrard collected the Sports Personality
award, while Coleen McLoughlin presented Claire House
Children's Hospice - where her younger sister is cared for -
with a Gold Award.
(Daily Post)
Pennant may get call from McClaren
Liverpool's Jermaine Pennant has the chance of his first
international call-up when manager Steve McClaren names his
England squad this afternoon.
McClaren will be without the injured Owen Hargreaves and
Aaron Lennon for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia
and Croatia, with the Tottenham winger's absence likely to
pave the way for Pennant to be called into the squad.
(LFC Online) |
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THURSDAY 28 |
No injury boosts for Big Sam
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed he is likely to
stick with the same side that beat Portsmouth against
Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime, a game you can see live on
Sky Sports 1.
The Trotters' depleted squad picked up maximum points from
their trip to Fratton Park with a battling display on the
South Coast on Monday night.
Allardyce concedes a number of his squad were severely
fatigued following the trip but all are expected to play
when they host The Reds.
The Bolton boss is yet to receive any good news on the
injury front prior to the game at The Reebok Stadium and
admits he is likely to stick with the same 16 that beat
Harry Redknapp's side.
(Sky Sports)
Plans for new stadium move closer
Plans for Liverpool's new stadium moved a step closer on
Thursday after £9million of European funding was confirmed
The Objective One money will be used to regenerate community
facilities in the Anfield area and is an integral part of
the scheme.
The decision to award the Reds the money was made at a
meeting at the Cunard building in Liverpool after the club
guaranteed £160 million funding for the entire project was
in place.
The European money will not be spent on the 60,000-seater
stadium but the regeneration of the surrounding area.
(PA)
Carling cup date set
Liverpool have announced the date of their Carling Cup third
round tie against Reading.
The game will be played at Anfield on Wednesday 25th October
2006 and will kick-off
at 8pm.
(LFC Official Website)
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Thor Zakariassen
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