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WEDNESDAY 30 |
Gillett rubbishes F6 takeover talk
Liverpool co-owner George Gillett insists the club have not
spoken to Saudi sports investment company F6 about a
takeover - and do
not plan to.
Widespread reports suggested Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin
Abdullah al-Saud's F6 investment vehicle had been given the
go-ahead to carry out exclusive due diligence with a view to
buying into the clb.
However, Gillett insisted the future ownership of the club
was not on the agenda at his meeting with the Price, while
F6 director Barry Didato confirmed the due diligence process
taking place relates to other commercial opportunities and
"does not involve the possibility of an immediate investment
in Liverpool", with any possible transaction being "several
months away".
Gillett said: "We had a marvellous meeting with them on
Saturday and they were impressed with the club, but the
academies in Saudi Arabia and North Africa and their
possible involvement in NASCAR-type racing in the Middle
East were the only items on the agenda."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez wants more from star pair
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed his
disappointment over the Champions League displays of Steven
Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
The partnership had been given the big build-up ahead of
Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Fiorentina in Group E.
But both were well marshalled by an organised Fiorentina
side, in which defenders Alessandro Gamberini and Dario
Dainelli had outstanding games, along with former Juventus
midfielder Cristiano Zanetti.
Benitez admitted: "Fiorentina did a good job (against
Gerrard and Torres).
"It was disappointing to see them both kept out of the game
as they were. The Fiorentina defenders handled them very
well, they worked really hard against them.
"But it is not just about two players, nobody in the team
was producing anything."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard: We got what we deserved
Steven Gerrard has revealed his dismay after Liverpool's
Champions League horror show in Florence which has thrown
their quest to reach the knock-out stages into disarray.
Liverpool were soundly beaten 2-0 by Fiorentina in the
Stadio Artemio Franchi, and now face tricky back-to-back
clashes with Group E leaders Lyon, who have won each of
their two matches so far.
Captain Gerrard accepted the criticism of Liverpool's abject
performance, saying: "We just didn't turn up."
But he also remained optimistic, claiming: "We will be fine
if we win our home games."
(TEAMtalk)
Fiorentina bring Liverpool FC
back down to earth
So it’s back down to earth with a very big bump for
Liverpool. We were well beaten by Fiorentina and can have no
complaints. They were better than us in every department in
that first half.
We struggled to put any sort of possession together or mount
a meaningful attack, while Forentina looked hungrier and
sharper in the tackle and with their movement. It was hugely
disappointing.
For me, we lost the battle in central midfield from first
whistle. By the time we regained some control, they were 2-0
up, and doing what all Italian sides do when in front.
Defending.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Aurelio: We can bounce back at Chelsea
Fabio Aurelio is confident Liverpool can bounce back from
their Fiorentina defeat when they take on Chelsea in a top
of the table clash on Sunday.
The Brazilian defender admits the 2-0 loss in Florence was
difficult to take but feels they cannot dwell on the past
and is eager to make amends
at Stamford Bridge.
"We would have hoped for a better result here, but we can't
think about that now and must think about the future," he
told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"We have an important game in the Barclays Premier League
against Chelsea on Sunday and we must try to make things
right.
"Football is like this. You cannot think in the past, you
must always look to the future. Hopefully it will be a
different game and we can go there and get a result."
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool FC must remember
and rectify failings in Florence
Florence is considered the home of the Italian Renaissance.
Now Rafael Benitez will hope it does not prove the end of
Liverpool’s recent revival.
The man dubbed the ‘Montenegrin Messi’ condemned the
Spaniard’s side to a first Champions League group defeat in
almost two years and exposed the frailties that threaten
their hopes of silverware this campaign.
Stevan Jovetic struck twice inside 11 first-half minutes as
a run of six straight victories for Liverpool ended with a
dismal 2-0 loss to Fiorentina.
Jovetic, a 19-year-old Montenegro international, has already
been courted by Real Madrid and Manchester United during his
brief career. No wonder.
But there was no defence for this Liverpool performance. And
that will be the problem Benitez must hope to address before
Sunday’s crunch Premier League trip to Chelsea.
(Ian Doyle - Liverpool Daily Post) |
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TUESDAY 29 |
Viola expose Liverpool's deficiencies
Fernando Torres' baby faced smile was replaced with a scowl
as Liverpool failed to score for the first time in two and
half years in
the Champions League.
Rafa Benitez looked suitably furious with the performance
against Fiorentina as a Reds team that has looked so full of
goals came to a grinding halt. Sorry to say this. But I did
see it coming. Nevertheless, it's time for a deeper
analytical assessment of Liverpool as their season is
already reaching a critical point.
Despite Torres' failure to score, following his impressive
hat-trick against Hull, the Spaniard remains the best
centre-forward in Europe at the moment, but Liverpool's
problem is that they might not be able to cope without him.
(Harry Harris - ESPN Soccernet)
Benitez blasts below-par Reds
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez blasted his side's
performance following the 2-0 defeat at Fiorentina in the
UEFA Champions League.
The Reds were soundly beaten at Artemio Franchi as teenager
Stevan Jovetic scored both goals in the first half of the
Group E encounter.
Benitez's team, who won the competition in 2005, improved
after half-time, with Lucas Leiva wasting a glorious headed
opportunity, but there was no way back.
The former Valencia boss confessed that his team were
second-best in every area of the pitch in Florence.
Benitez told Sky Sports: "We were giving the ball away, they
were regaining and playing counter-attacks.
"We were not winning any second ball or challenges.
"In the second half we had chances at the start. You can see
the difference in football if you take your chances, like
they did in
the first half."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool pay heavy price
for bad start against Fiorentina
“Welcome Reds — your story for us is a legend”, read the
banner unfurled by the Fiorentina Ultras housed in the Curva
Fiesole at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. If that message was
one of respect for Liverpool’s past European triumphs, the
one delivered by their victorious team was designed to
damage the English club’s hopes of adding to their
considerable achievements.
(Tony Barrett - The Times)
Agger returns as Reserves beat City
Daniel Agger made a successful comeback as he helped
Liverpool Reserves beat Manchester City 2-0 at the City of
Manchester Stadium
on Tuesday night.
The Reds No.5 enjoyed a 68 minute run-out and put in an
impressive performance at the back for John McMahon's team.
David Ngog played the full 90 minutes and netted the opening
goal with a fine finish. Steven Irwin celebrated his 20th
birthday with a brilliant second goal as the Reds second
string deserved the win.
It was an eventful night as Victor Palsson was sent-off for
two bookable offences.
Swiss international Philipp Degen also played 45 minutes but
had to leave the field at half-time after feeling unwell.
Liverpool team: David Martin, Philipp Degen (Chris Mavinga
45), Stephen Darby (Capt), Daniel Ayala, Daniel Agger
(Emmanuel Mendy 68), Nathan Eccleston, David Amoo (Zsolt
Poloskei 78), David Ngog, Victor Palsson, Alex Kacaniklic.
Unused subs: Nikola Saric, Martin Hansen.
(LFC Official Website)
Aurelio in as Reds face Fiorentina
Fabio Aurelio replaces Albert Riera in a reshuffled
Liverpool midfield.
Liverpool’s team in full for tonights game:
Reina, Johnson, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard,
Benayoun, Aurelio, Kuyt, Torres.
Bench: Cavalieri, Voronin, Riera, Kyrgiakos, Babel,
Spearing, Plessis.
(Anfield Online)
Hicks and Gillett looking
for outside investors
Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have confirmed
they are looking for investment in the club.
Following the appearance of Saudi Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin
Abdullah al-Saud in the stands with the Americans at the
weekend, the pair released a statement confirming they had
retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to
evaluate the possibility of an outside injection of equity
into the club.
It added: "However the process is at an early stage, there
is no agreement with any party."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Benitez hits back at pathetic Pennant
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has hit back at criticism from
former Reds midfielder Jermaine Pennant after comments made
by the 26-year-old winger at the weekend.
Now playing his football at La Liga side Real Zaragoza,
bitter Pennant hit out at Liverpool and Benitez’s
credentials as a manger, also accusing Dirk Kuyt of being a
failed striker.
But Benitez says he has little time for Pennant, who made
just 55 appearances for the Reds and was finally released
this summer after a failed loan spell at Portsmouth.
“I saw what he had to say, but I don’t intend saying too
much about him,” said Rafa. “Kuyt’s record is there for
everyone to see and he doesn’t need me to defend him.
“You only need to look at the impact he has made to see he
is picked on merit and has become an extremely important
member of our squad.
“He speaks out on the pitch and doesn’t have to say a single
word to justify his place.”
Maybe Pennant should take a look at why he is a failure,
rather than worrying about Liverpool.
(This is Anfield)
Vargas wary of Reds duo
Fiorentina defender Juan Manuel Vargas admits it is vital
they stop Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in their
Champions League clash.
Vargas has described the Liverpool duo as world class and he
knows keeping them quiet on Tuesday night will go a long way
to gaining a positive result for the Viola.
"Fernando Torres is one of the best strikers in the world.
The Spaniard is in great form, but we must not focus just on
the attack, it is vital we stop the midfield with people
like Steven Gerrard who is world class."
(Sky Sports)
Mutu: Reds win would be no big deal
Fiorentina's Adrian Mutu does not believe anyone at the club
will kick up a fuss if they beat Liverpool in the Champions
League on Tuesday.
Mutu believes that not so long ago teams would get excited
about seeing off Rafa Benitez's side, however, the Romanian
thinks it would not be a big deal for them.
"Once upon a time, beating Liverpool would be a famous win
and you could make a fuss, but no more," he told The Sun.
"Since I have been in Florence, the team, the club and the
whole environment have grown to the point where we can now
beat anyone in our stadium."
(TEAMtalk)
Skrtel targets early qualification
Martin Skrtel believes Liverpool can take a huge step
towards the Champions League knockout stage by maintaining
their 100 per cent Group E record against Fiorentina
tonight.
The Slovakian defender feels the Reds are beginning to find
their best form and is confident they can secure another
famous victory on Italian soil at the expense of Cesare
Prandelli's men.
"We are looking forward to this game because playing in the
Champions League is always something special for everyone,"
he told the pre-match press conference.
"We have done well in our last few games and we are really
confident. We will do our best to try and get a victory
here.
"We want to qualify for the next stage of the Champions
League as soon as possible and this game is very important
for us. We want to show our quality and that we are a better
team than them. We'll do everything we can to get a win."
(LFC Official Website)
Cup date set
The date for Liverpool's Carling Cup fourth round game has
been set.
The Reds will play Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday,
October 28th, kick off 7.45pm. The match will be shown live
on Sky Sports and must be decided on the night.
(LFC Online)
The day Bill Shankly died
Liverpool FC's legendary manager Bill Shankly died on this
day in 1981, aged 68, following a heart attack.
He was the manager at Anfield from 1959 until 1974, in that
time utterly transforming every aspect of the club - even
introducing the all red kit - as they rose from the depths
of the second division to the heights of Europe.
Along the way his teams won the second division
championship, the first division championship three times,
the FA Cup twice and the UEFA Cup, before he was succeeded
by Bob Paisley.
(Liverpool Echo)
Click here to see a
photo gallery of the legend
And here is my own Shankly page |
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MONDAY 28 |
Rafa aims for goals not cleansheets
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has shrugged off criticism of
his side's defensive lapses ahead of Tuesday's Champions
League date
with Fiorentina.
Benitez, frequently blasted for being overly cautious, finds
himself defending a club who have started a season with 24
goals - their best goals record for more than 100 years.
Benitez said: "Our form has a lot to do with Torres,
obviously. In the last three games he has been outstanding.
Benitez added: "We are scoring more goals and not really
worried that we have conceded a few more."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez explains Mascherano absence
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has explained how Javier
Mascherano picked up a hamstring injury, which has forced
him out of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Fiorentina.
The Argentine international didn’t travel with the squad to
Italy, but Benitez is hopeful he will have the midfielder
available for Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge.
He said, “He was shooting in training and felt something in
his hamstring. He went to see the doctor straight away and
we found he had a small problem in his hamstring.
“It could be two or three days, but we are not sure.
“It is not a problem because I think we can manage with
Stevie or another player. To lose a player like Javier is
not good. But we will find solutions, whether it is with
Gerrard or someone else.”
(This is Anfield)
Prandelli admits Reds worry
Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli admits he is nervous about
facing Liverpool.
The Viola host Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on
Tuesday.
But Prandelli knows Liverpool are heading to the Artemio
Franchi in fine form, in particularly Fernando Torres.
"How do you stop him? You must concentrate all the time, and
be very lucky because he is so good," said Prandelli.
"We have watched the last three Liverpool games on DVD and
we know what a difficult task we face.
"Liverpool are very strong, very talented, but sometimes
they are unpredictable. They are a great side, but even
great sides give you opportunities."
Prandelli admits that Liverpool's win over Hull sent
shockwaves
through Florence.
"Liverpool scored six on Saturday and are in very good form,
I must admit that when I heard that result it did make me a
little more nervous than I was before," he said.
"We have always said that we want to experience the
Champions League with enthusiasm, even if that means running
a few risks."
(Sky Sports)
Saudi group confirm Liverpool link
Saudi Arabian sports investment company F6 have confirmed
they have reached an agreement with Liverpool to establish a
number of football academies in the region, while chairman
Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdulla Al Saud also reiterated
his desire to buy a 50 per cent stake in the club.
The deal signed with Reds co-owner George Gillett will seek
to set up two exclusive academies in Saudi Arabia and two in
North Africa while also extending the interests of the
American's NASCAR franchise Richard Petty Motorsports.
"The memorandum of understanding with George Gillett group
will establish an exclusive partnership between F6 group,
Liverpool FC and Richard Petty Motorsports team," a
statement released by the
company read.
(The Irish Times)
Rumour Mill: Liverpool
prepare £45m Villa bid
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will launch a staggering
£45million bid for Valencia striker David Villa in the
January transfer window, according to reports today.
Reports in newspapers in both Spain and England suggest
Benitez is now desperate to unite international teammates
Villa with Fernando Torres at Anfield to become the most
dangerous strike force in English football.
(This is Anfield)
Mascherano out of Fiorentina clash
Javier Mascherano is out of Tuesday's Champions League match
against Fiorentina with a tight hamstring.
The Reds midfielder was not among the 18-man party that
arrived in Tuscany earlier this afternoon and will not be
risked in tomorrow's Group E encounter at the Stadio Artemio
Franchi.
The Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Johnson, Skrtel,
Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Insua, Lucas, Spearing,
Plessis, Kuyt, Gerrard, Voronin, Torres, Babel, Riera,
Benayoun.
(LFC Official Website)
Dossena warns Fiorentina
As Liverpool prepare to take on Fiorentina in the second
game of Group E in the Champions League, Liverpool’s
(occasional) left back Andrea Dossena has warned his
countrymen that they should be very worried about facing an
on form Liverpool.
Speaking to Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport
Doss said:
“You should be frightened by the 6-1 win over Hull, because
our team concede very little.
“Our coach Benitez is primarily focused on this concept. But
this does not mean Liverpool only defend. On the contrary,
we are lethal on the counter. And I doubt Fiorentina will
manage to complete a counterattack – we rarely allow it.
“I don’t know what system Benitez will employ, but he often
uses
the 4-3-3. Every game has its own course, but if it’s at a
standstill, it’s usually those two phenomenons, Gerrard and
Torres, who take care of it.”
Mighty strong words from Andy!
Ironically as Liverpool head to Italy, the only players on
the Anfield treatment table are both of our clubs Italians.
Alberto Aquilani is definitely out and Dossena is rated
50/50 to be involved in the squad.
(Anfield Online)
Liverpool buy-out reports dismissed
by sources close to Hicks
Sources close to Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks have played
down reports that Saudi prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdullah
al-Saud is close to securing a 50 per cent stake in the
club.
The prince watched Liverpool's 6-1 win over Hull as a guest
of Hicks's partner, George Gillett, and met the
Colorado-based businessman and the club's managing director,
Christian Purslow, after the game.
While sources close to Gillett insisted the prince's visit
was linked to a scheme to set up club-branded academies in
the Middle East, the prince himself told Saudi television he
was "close" to buying a stake worth "between 25 and 50 per
cent" of the club.
It was suggested that Gillett was courting the prince in an
attempt to convince him to buy out Hicks's stake, but such a
suggestion has been dismissed by several sources close to
Hicks.
(Telegraph.co.uk/Irish Independent)
Could Saudi prince be answer to
Liverpool FC's investment problems?
Liverpool FC co-owner George Gillett faced protests from
angry fans as he made a rare trip to the city over the
weekend.
Supporters from Reds’ union Spirit of Shankly (SOS) gave the
US businessman a hostile reception as he visited training
ground Melwood, the LFC academy and Anfield.
Gillett was at Anfield to watch the Reds 6-1 drubbing of
Hull on Saturday.
And he was accompanied by a Saudi billionaire.
Prince Faisal bin Fahad Bin Abdullah al Saud, who owns
Sports Investment company F6, was pictured sitting alongside
Gillett in
the directors’ box.
Their appearance sparked reports the Prince and Liverpool
were on the verge of a massive deal that could see the Saudi
take control of up to 50% of club shares in return for
investment ranging from
£200m to £350m.
But sources claimed talk of the wealthy Saudi ploughing cash
into the Reds was not on the agenda.
Instead it was suggested Gillett invited Faisal in a bid to
rubberstamp plans to set up Liverpool FC academies in the
Middle East.
(Luke Traynor - Liverpool Echo)
Agger to make City return
Daniel Agger will make his comeback from injury for the
reserves at Manchester City on Tuesday night.
The Reds No.5 has been sidelined since pre-season with a
back problem, but his return to fitness has given Rafa
Benitez a major boost.
Swiss international Philipp Degen and David Ngog are also
expected to feature for John McMahon's side at the City of
Manchester Stadium
(kick-off 7pm).
"It is fantastic to see Daniel back and it's a great boost
for everyone at the club," McMahon told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"It's always great to see quality players come back from
injury and this will be a perfect game for him to make his
comeback.
"It's a fantastic stadium with a great pitch and it is
always a fantastic boost for the young lads when they have a
top professional like Daniel playing alongside them.
"The young lads look up to him and they can learn from him
as well."
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: Torres is priceless
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed that some English
clubs tried to buy Fernando Torres in the summer.
Torres terrorised the Hull City defence during Liverpool's
thumping 6-1 win at Anfield, helping himself to a clinical
hat-trick.
It brought Torres' tally to eight goals in seven Premier
League games this season, and it was fourth treble in his
Reds career since his arrival from Atletico Madrid.
Benitez revealed a couple of English clubs, believed to be
Manchester City and Chelsea, sounded out Liverpool about the
Spanish hit-man in the summer, but Benitez has warned any
potential suitors they would be wasting their time in trying
to prise Torres away from Anfield.
"How much is he worth?" said Benitez. "Well at least
£70million, you would say.
"I'm not saying he's the best in the world because he is
young and can get better, but of course he is one of the
best, and he can still improve if he wants to.
"This year we had some agents acting for other English clubs
who were coming to us asking about the price of Torres, with
big, big figures, but we said that he's not for sale.
"I would say at this moment in time he is not for sale at
any price."
(Football 365)
Saudi Prince already
building academy for Liverpool
Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah is already planning to
develop links with Liverpool.
The Saudi Prince has hinted over the weekend he is ready to
buy into
the Premiership giants.
A spokesman for the Prince's holding company, Fama, told the
Daily Mail: "What I know is that the Prince attended the
game and signed an agreement with Liverpool yesterday to
build a sports academy
in Saudi Arabia."
(tribalfootball.com)
Thor Zakariassen
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