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TUESDAY 30 |
Javier eyes King Carlos' crown
Liverpool's Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano aims to
emulate his friend Carlos Tevez and lift the Champions
League trophy.
Mascherano, 24, admits that he was delighted for his fellow
Argentina international when he claimed a winner's medal in
last season's final for Manchester United.
Mascherano has recovered from a calf injury to be in
Liverpool's squad to face PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday in
their second Champions League Group D match, having won
their first at Marseille.
Mascherano said: "I am fit, I can play if the manager wants.
I have had
a short rest with the injury, which coming after the
Olympics and my busy schedule was good. Now I feel ready to
play."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez calls for calm
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned of the danger of
getting carried away with his team's impressive start to the
season ahead of his 250th game in charge against PSV
Eindhoven in the Champions League.
The Reds are unbeaten in the Premier League and are only
behind leaders Chelsea on goal difference having followed up
a notable victory over Manchester United at Anfield with a
2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison
Park on Saturday.
"When you are playing well and winning games, with everyone
talking about how good you are, it is important to calm down
and get people talking only about the next game," he said.
"It is a dangerous when you hear people talking well about
your team, then we have to make sure we do not listen to
what is being said but just concentrate on the future."
(Football 365)
Duo return for PSV clash
Liverpool will have Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun
available for the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven
at Anfield
tomorrow evening.
The duo were ruled out of Saturday's Merseyside derby
victory over Everton with Mascherano suffering from a calf
injury and Benayoun recovering from an ankle knock.
However, manager Rafael Benitez confirmed that both have
returned to training and are in contention for the clash
with the Dutch champions.
"Both players trained this morning and are fit," Benitez
told Liverpoolfc.tv. "We will have another training session
in the morning but at the moment we have a fully fit squad."
(Shanklygates)
Liverpool FC and Everton won't
share a stadium, warns Rick Parry
Rick Parry today rejected claims from council leader Warren
Bradley that Liverpool's attitude towards a shared stadium
is "softening".
In an interview with a Sunday newspaper at the weekend, Cllr
Bradley spoke of his hope that the two clubs will eventually
come together and build "a Wembley of the North".
But Reds chief executive Parry insists there has been no
softening of Liverpool's official stance and remains adamant
that only if the fans want it would a shared stadium even be
considered.
He said: "There has been no change in attitude in any way,
shape or form because there has been no change in our
supporters' attitude.
"This is the nub of the argument – that this is not what the
fans want."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
No Reds regret for Sinama-Pongolle
Atletico Madrid forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle insists it
was not
a mistake to join Liverpool as a youngster as it made him
the player he is.
Sinama-Pongolle arrived on Merseyside from Le Havre at the
age of 17 billed as one of the hottest young prospects in
French football.
The move was criticised by many in France who felt he was
too young to move abroad - a view which appeared to be valid
after he found playing time hard to come by.
After the departure of French coach Gerard Houllier in 2004
Sinama-Pongolle was pushed even further out of the frame,
leading to his move to Recreativo Huelva in 2006.
"When I left Liverpool to sign for Huelva I took a risk,"
Sinama-Pongolle told France Football.
"Nobody came to me, looked me in the eye and said they
believed in me. Anyone who had would have been the king of
hypocrites.
"I even get the impression people think I'm still that
17-year-old kid, educated at Le Havre, who made a mistake by
joining Liverpool. That was seven years ago and wasn't a
mistake.
"When I arrived at Liverpool, Michael Owen was there, the
biggest player at the club back then, and so was Milan
Baros.
"I landed there and I also had to fight for a spot, but
that's something that doesn't scare me, as we footballers
are very privileged.
"Everything that I experienced back then made me grow both
as
a footballer and as a person."
(TEAMtalk)
Agger denies Benitez row
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has denied arguing with
manager
Rafael Benitez.
The Denmark international has only played in two games this
season and Benitez made it clear he was unhappy with the
team's performance in one of those matches, the Champions
League qualifier against Standard Liege in Belgium.
"It is a big lie to say we had an argument" - Daniel
AggerAgger missed
the second leg of the tie but insists he has not fallen out
with the boss.
Agger said: "Of course there are things that Benitez was not
satisfied with after Liege.
"We didn't play a good match, but it is a big lie to say we
had an argument. I certainly hope it is only football
reasons why I am not playing.
"I have no problem in this club. He has just said that the
team is playing very well, and that is why I am not
playing."
Agger's chances of playing in the Champions League are
greatly improved because Sami Hyypia is not in the Liverpool
squad for the competition.
Benitez has made it clear he wants Agger to stay by offering
a new contract.
Agger added: "I want to stay here and fight for my place in
the squad.
"I'm not satisfied with the fact that I'm not playing but I
have to cope and accept it. I'm happy at Liverpool."
(ITN Sport News)
Signs that this
could be Benitez’s year
Whisper it softly, but Liverpool are showing signs of
putting together
a genuine title challenge.
And it may be that manager Rafael Benitez is prepared to
gamble more on Premier League success this year than in the
past.
He is putting out his most attacking teams since arriving
perhaps in
the realisation that it is no use drawing games if you want
to finish
as champions.
Last season Liverpool drew 13 matches compared with just
seven by table-topping Manchester United, who lost one game
more. But turning
a couple of those draws into wins – even at the risk of
losing the odd game more – would make all the difference.
(Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool Daily Post)
Finnish ace signs contract
Finnish striker Lauri Dalla Valle has signed his first
professional contract with Liverpool until June 2011.
The 17-year-old has been in good form this season for Hughie
McAuley's under-18 team, netting three goals.
He will continue to train at the Academy and McAuley
believes he is
a real talent.
"Dalla Valle comes alive in the penalty area," McAuley told
Liverpoolfc.tv. "He is good at getting in the right places
at the right time to score goals and is very clinical with
his finishing.
"He is going to be a real asset for us."
(LFC Official Website)
Dirk issues Eindhoven warning
Dirk Kuyt has warned his teammates they are facing a vastly
different PSV side than the one dispatched with ease in
2006-07.
The Reds met their Dutch opponents four times en route to
Athens, recording three victories and one draw – all without
conceding
a single goal.
However, as the teams prepare to reacquaint themselves with
one another at Anfield on Wednesday, Kuyt insists Liverpool
can't take anything
for granted.
(LFC Official Website) |
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MONDAY 29 |
Carling Cup date set
Liverpool have confirmed the date of their Carling Cup
fourth round clash at Tottenham.
The game will take place at White Hart Lane on Wednesday
November 12, 2008, and will be televised live on SKY TV.
(LFC Official Website)
Pacheco inspires Reserves to Vale win
Daniel Pacheco hit a superb double as Liverpool Reserves
powered to
a resounding 4-1 win over Port Vale in a one-sided friendly
at
the Academy this afternoon.
The little Spaniard was a constant menace throughout and
added to earlier strikes from Ryan Flynn and Jay Spearing to
ensure Gary Ablett's men followed up Friday's impressive 2-0
success against Chelsea's second-string with another
eye-catching performance.
Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi (Bouzanis), Darby (Irwin),
Insua, Kelly (Huth), San Jose (Ayala), Plessis, Spearing
(Duran), Bruna, Flynn (Weijl), Ngog (Simon), Pacheco.
(LFC Official Website)
The Anti-Aguero plan explained
Sevilla centre back Sebastien Squillaci has revealed his
side’s secret to shutting down Ateltico Madrid and their
outstanding forward Sergio
“Kun” Aguero.
The Andalucian team defeated Atletico 1-0 thanks to Luis
Fabiano’s free kick, while France international Squillaci
managed to prevent Aguero from adding another goal to his
collection on Sunday.
Squillaci reckons the Argentina international has
exceptional qualities, but believes that a compact defence
can be the key against him.
Liverpool will face Atletico in the Champions League and
Rafa Benitez may be interested in the Frenchman’s views.
“We limited the spaces to the maximum,” Squillaci told
L’Equipe. “I think it’s the key to stopping them.
“They never managed to find the solution as soon as we
prevented them from playing together.
“In fact I didn’t know Aguero that much before the game and
discovered him. But I can tell you he is technically very
strong.
“Even if he struggled against us we felt his huge potential.
He is
an amazing player.”
(Setanta Sports)
Real Madrid eye
January move for Agger
La Liga Champions Real Madrid are reportedly interested in
signing Danish International Daniel Agger from Liverpool in
the January transfer window, according to Spanish paper
Sport.
23-year-old Agger joined the Reds in 2006 from Brondby and
his present deal with Rafa Benitez’s side runs out in 2010,
with it understood that
the defender is growing frustrated at the lack of first-team
opportunities at the Premiership club.
(Premiership Latest)
Torres: My derby debt to Dirk and Robbie
Fernando Torres today hailed unsung derby heroes Robbie
Keane and Dirk Kuyt for providing him with the chances to
bury Everton at Goodison Park.
"It is very simple – without Robbie and Dirk, the goals I
scored would not have been created," he said.
"They were involved in both goals and it is because they
give everything for the team that I was able to score them.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds win was on the cards
from instant teams lined up
Derbies were always different. Unpredictably different.
Because the potency of the adrenalin fuelled mixture which
drove
the participants in these very singular fixtures meant that
superior technique and ability was usually worthless.
“It was like 90 minutes of frenetic lunacy at times,” Joe
Royle once observed. “We always said we could go out and
play for 20 minutes, settle down and then someone could
throw the ball on.”
Nowadays the team with the better players can flourish, and
Liverpool boast the better players.
The Reds have now emerged triumphant on seven of their last
nine visits to Goodison Park – a sobering statistic if your
affections lie with the Royal Blue half of the city.
Saturday’s seventh was a victory in the making from the
second
the teams lined up.
(David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)
PSV win
PSV Eindhoven beat FC Volendam on Saturday.
Wednesday's Champions League opponents warmed up for their
visit to Anfield with a 1-0 home win over FC Volendam.
Wuytens scored
the winner after 73 minutes.
(LFC Online)
Gerrard full of praise for Keane
Steven Gerrard has lavished praise on Robbie Keane following
Liverpool’s weekend win over Merseyside rivals Everton.
Keane has cut a frustrated figure since his move to Anfield,
as he has so far failed to break his duck for his new club.
The Irishman’s workrate has been as impressive as ever and
he showed flashes of quality against Everton, although he
was guilty of over-elaborating on occasions.
Fernando Torres took the plaudits with a brace of goals, but
skipper Gerrard made a beeline for Keane following the 2-0
win.
“I know Nando was class but Robbie was an equally genuine
contender for the man-of-the-match award,” stated Gerrard.
“We got in the dressing room and I sat by him, and I just
said: ‘you were magnificent’, because he deserves that
praise for a great,
unselfish performance.
“It was terrific and showed why the manager invested so much
money in him.”
(Setanta Sports) |
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SUNDAY 28 |
Afellay to be unleashed onto Liverpool
One of the hottest European prospects is to be unleashed
onto Liverpool when they play PSV Eindhoven in their
Champions League clash
on Wednesday.
The player in question is Ibrahim Afellay, a Dutchman of
Moroccan descent who has been with the Dutch champions for
the past
five seasons.
The young attacking midfielder is considered to be one of
the finest of his generation and has already received praise
from some of the most well respected people in the game.
Liverpool will face a tough test when they come up against
him on Wednesday, and it will be up to the player to see if
he can triumph over the likes of Jamie Carragher and Martin
Skrtel.
(Goal.com)
Gerrard wants repeat performance
Steven Gerrard has warned his Liverpool team-mates not to
get carried away with their strong start to the season.
They are second in the Premier League after beating Everton
2-0, their best start in 12 years, but Gerrard is keeping
his feet on the ground.
Wednesday's Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven is
next and he said: "It's important to be humble and not get
carried away by
the performance."
"But we set a standard (at Everton) we need to match week in
week out."
(BBC Sport Online)
Torres: Title is in our sights
Liverpool have managed their best start to a league campaign
for 11 years - and Fernando Torres has only just got his act
together.
Captain Steven Gerrard believes the Spaniard is back to his
"deadly" best after Liverpool "made a statement of intent"
in the title race with their Merseyside derby victory.
Torres said: "It has been a difficult start for me this
season after a busy summer. But now I have got myself back
into form with these two, I hope to go on a run like last
season and maybe get more than the 33
I managed then.
"We know if we can stay near the top of the table in January
or February we can win the title."
(TEAMtalk)
Thor Zakariassen
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