Kuyt positive for partnership
Dirk Kuyt is confident that a potential partnership with
Fernando Torres can yield goals should they be given more
chances.
The Dutch international was given a rare start alongside the
Spaniard in their goalless draw with Utrecht on Thursday in
the Europa League, but they struggled to create chances.
"It's just a matter of time for Fernando. I said that after
the Sunderland game when people were talking about him not
scoring, but he still provided two assists.
"Tonight he missed a chance, but he is human and can miss
chances like everyone else. I'm sure his goals will come." (Sky Sports)
Roy happy to take point
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson admitted he was happy to gain
a point
in their 1-1 draw with Utrecht on Thursday.
The Reds struggled throughout the game to build any pressure
and create chances against the Dutch side, with star striker
Fernando Torres cutting a frustrated figure up front.
"It was a good point. We knew it was going to be a tough
game. The occasions when they created some chances were
largely of our own making. They were the result of
unfortunate individual errors. I thought the shape of the
team and the way we approached the game - I can have nothing
but praise for my team,"
said Hodgson. (Sky Sports)
Reds play out bore draw
Liverpool failed to build any head of steam as they laboured
to a goalless draw with Utrecht in their Europa League group
game on Thursday.
Roy Hodgson fielded a strong side as he looked to gain some
form going into an important Premier League game against
Blackpool on Sunday, but he'll be disappointed with what he
saw.
The Reds were completely lacking in inspiration throughout,
with Fernando Torres cutting a forlorn figure up front on
his own and still lacking the sharpness that made him so
feared in the past.
Utrecht arguably had the better of the chances, with Alje
Schut and Jacob Mulenga going close for the home side in the
second half.
Although Liverpool stay top of the group going into their
third game of the competition, it was still a disappointing
showing by what Hodgson would consider his strongest
available side.
In the end it was a point gained for the Reds, but it was
not the performance many thought could kick-start what has
been a lacklustre opening to their season. (Sky Sports)
Big guns start
Dirk Kuyt makes an emotional return to his first club as
Liverpool look to get back to winning ways in tonight's
Europa League clash in Utrecht.
The Dutch star retains his place in Roy Hodgson's line-up
after making a goalscoring return from injury in Saturday's
2-2 draw with Sunderland.
The Reds have made just two changes for the trip to Holland
with Lucas Leiva coming in for the rested Steven Gerrard,
while Martin Kelly replaces the injured Paul Konchesky at
left-back.
Fernando Torres starts in attack.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Johnson, Kelly, Skrtel,
Carragher, Lucas, Poulsen, Kuyt, Cole, Meireles,Torres.
Subs: Jones, Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Spearing, Babel,
Ngog. (LFC Official Website)
Bolton kick-off change
Supporters should note our Barclays Premier League encounter
with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday,
October 31 will now kick-off
at 4pm.
The match will still be shown live on Sky Sports but this
replaces the original start time of 1.30pm. (LFC Official Website)
Fiorentina join hunt for
Liverpool midfielder Lucas
Fiorentina have joined the battle for Liverpool midfielder
Lucas Leiva.
Florence sources say Fiorentina sports chief Pantaleo
Corvino has been encouraged by intermediaries to move for
the Brazil midfielder in January. (tribalfootball.com)
Hodgson denies striker link
Roy Hodgson insists Liverpool were never in the market for
Utrecht striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel this summer.
The 21-year-old Holland international, who will line up
against the Reds in the Europa League on Thursday night, was
one of a plethora of players linked with a move to Anfield
in the transfer window.
But asked about the speculation by reporters in Holland last
night, Hodgson said: "There was no question of him coming
this summer. You've hit me with a name that I didn't know we
were linked with.
"He's doing very well now and having a wonderful time with
Utrecht. But I'd be lying to you if I said he was a player
we'd considered before this." (LFC Official Website)
Liverpool boss Hodgson:
Good for Gerrard to have rest
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has played down Steven Gerrard's
absence from their squad for the Europa League tie with
Utrecht.
Hodgson dismissed suggestions there were any injury concerns
about Gerrard, who has scored three of Liverpool's last four
goals in the Barclays
Premier League.
"We decided we would spare him because if he is playing
three games in a week we might lose him for a longer
period," he said.
"Luckily in central midfield I have plenty of options so it
was a possibility not to use him in this game, which we
think will serve us in good stead in the future.
"He suffers from back pain and we didn't want to exaggerate
that by playing him Thursday and Sunday.
"If this had been a decisive game in the group and we needed
a positive result to get us through he would have played.
"Gerrard's fitness is the least of my concerns." (tribalfootball.com)
Thanks for everything, Bill.
You made people happy...ynwa
29 years since Bill Shankly died. RIP
Liverpool chairman Broughton
turns down FA approach
Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton has turned down an
approach from the FA.
The British Airways and Liverpool chairman was among those
approached by Sir Dave Richards in an effort to discover
whether he would be interested in taking up the position.
Richards was doing so in his capacity as the chairman of the
FA's professional game board but to no avail.
Broughton told the Guardian: "I was asked if I would be
prepared to put my name forward as a candidate for the job
of FA chairman and I declined. When it comes to football my
priority remains finding a suitable new owner for
Liverpool." (tribalfootball.com)
Torres named in Euro squad
Fernando Torres is in line to make his first Europa League
appearance of the season after being named in Liverpool's
20-man squad for the clash with Utrecht.
Torres has only played 45 minutes of European football for
the Reds since scoring twice against Benfica in April, but
could be given the chance to further step up his match
fitness when Roy Hodgson's men take on their Dutch opponents
on Thursday night.
Hodgson has named a strong squad for the Reds' second group
game, with Steven Gerrard (rested) and Daniel Agger (groin
injury) the only notable absentees from the travelling
party.
The manager himself is travelling separately to the rest of
the squad and will join up with the party when they arrive
in Holland.
Liverpool squad: Reina, Jones, Johnson, Kelly, Kyrgiakos,
Skrtel, Carragher, Shelvey, Poulsen, Lucas, Rodriguez,
Spearing, Babel, Meireles, Jovanovic, Cole, Kuyt, Eccleston,
Ngog, Torres. (LFC Official Website)
Kuyt excited by Utrecht return
Dirk Kuyt is looking forward to returning to Utrecht, the
club he started his career, this Thursday night when
Liverpool go to Holland in the Europa League this Thursday
night.
Kuyt’s footballing career began with the Dutch outfit in
1998, where he played until 2003, when he joined Feyenoord.
“It means a lot to go back,” Kuyt told the club’s official
web site.
“They are the club that gave me the opportunity to play
professional football. I had five years there and really
enjoyed it. I was really happy for the opportunity they gave
me." (This is Anfield)
Liverpool FC's American owners
may have just 17 days left at Anfield
Liverpool FC’s American co-owners may have just 17 days left
in control
at Anfield.
The deadline for repaying their £237m debt, the majority of
which is held by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), expires next
month.
October 6 has long been the deadline day in many fans’
diaries for Tom Hicks and George Gillett to repay their
debts. But the ECHO understands that Friday, October 15 is
the earliest date the Americans debt will be called in
by chief creditor, RBS.
And even that provisional deadline is likely to slip a
further seven days as the bank seeks to facilitate an
orderly transition of power at the club.
It is understood that the bank would rather that the club is
sold to a new owner
by October 15. (Liverpool Echo)
Spearing impressed by new
Liverpool teammate Meireles
Jay Spearing says new Liverpool signing Raul Meireles has
made a big impact.
The local lad insists he's happy to compete with the
ex-Porto star for
a first team place.
"He's come in, staked his claim and looked very sharp. He's
done very well against Manchester United and Steaua
Bucharest, and he's going to want to kick on and play more
games like everyone else," Spearing told liverpoolfc.tv.
"It's competition for me but that's the club we're at.
Liverpool can go and buy players and no one's going to turn
down coming to Liverpool. I've just got to keep working hard
and hopefully break into the side." (tribalfootball.com)
Hodgson refusing to rush Aurelio
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will use "caution and prudence"
when it comes to bringing Fabio Aurelio back from his latest
injury.
Aurelio has been out of action since picking up an Achilles
injury in last month's win over Trabzonspor in the Europa
League.
The Brazilian, who rejoined the club in the summer after
initially being released, has struggled for fitness during
his time at Anfield.
With Paul Konchesky also facing a spell on the sidelines,
Hodgson finds himself short of options at left-back with
Daniel Agger being forced to fill in.
However, Hodgson does not want to take any risks with
Aurelio's fitness given his injury problems over the last
few seasons.
"Where Fabio Aurelio is concerned, caution and prudence have
to be the words that we use," said Hodgson.
"He is progressing all the time and his efforts are very
commendable but we can't bring him back too early.
"We took him off against Trabzonspor as a precautionary
measure, as we didn't want to run the risk of him sustaining
a serious problem." (TEAMtalk)
Reina pleads for patience
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina remains confident the side
will soon turn around their season after a tough start to
the campaign.
The Reds find themselves languishing in 16th spot with just
six points from their opening six games.
Reina believes their tough fixture schedule as well as
adapting to a new manager and new players still getting to
grips with the team have all contributed to Liverpool's slow
start.
"Six points from our first six games is not what we wanted,"
Reina told the club's official magazine.
"People who criticise us about it should look at the
fixtures we've had. It has been a difficult start. Arsenal
at home and then going to play Manchester City, Manchester
United and Birmingham away was never going to be easy.
"Not many teams will go to the City of Manchester Stadium,
Old Trafford or St Andrews and win. Those three teams have
very good records at home."
Reina has also pleaded for patience as the players look to
get used to Roy Hodgson's new methods at Anfield.
"When you have so many changes moving in a new direction
under a new boss, things don't happen instantly," added
Reina.
"It can take between three and six months before you see
improvements. Obviously the quicker we adapt and improve as
a team the better it will be
for everyone.
"That doesn't just happen overnight. Each of us has to
adjust to working
in a new way.
"With the passing of each day I get used to it and what the
manager wants. It's the same for all of us. We need to be
patient." (Sky Sports)
Skrtel remains confident
Martin Skrtel is confident of a top four finish.
The Slovakian defender believes the Reds are capable of a
return to the Champions League and will show exactly why he
believes that once the new look side is fully settled.
"A lot of people think that when a new manager comes in
everything should be perfect but we need time," said Skrtel.
"Our aim is to fight for a place in the top four. That won't
be easy as there are a lot of good teams also going for it,
but if we continue to improve as the season goes on, we can
get back into the Champions League - that's our aim.
"A lot of things have changed here. We have a new manager,
new players, new medical staff and some different people
around the team. It's always going to be difficult when you
change so much.
"People expect instant results but it doesn't work like
that. We all need time - the manager and the new players who
have come in - to work together.
"Every game is difficult in the Premier League, but we know
we have to win our home games. We were close to beating
Arsenal, we won against West Brom, and we are all working
hard to improve with each game." (LFC Online)
Lawrenson: Leave
Hodgson to do his job
Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson feels that the
pressure on Reds boss Roy Hodgson has been intensified to
ridiculous levels.
There have been reports that the new Liverpool boss might
already be vulnerable in his position after an uninspiring
start to his tenure at Anfield.
Bur Lawrenson finds such talk absurd, and insists that
Hodgson must be given time and space to get on with what is
clearly a very tough job.
"Apparently Roy Hodgson is under pressure – I’ve never heard
so much baloney in my life," the former centre-back told the
Liverpool Daily Post.
"The situation at Liverpool is pretty much what it is when
he took over and what many people thought it would be before
the season started.
"So let’s just let him deal with it.
"I’ve heard criticism of the players he has brought in but
how many games have they started? Four tops, some of them.
"It’s like one defeat for Arsenal and it’s Arsene Wenger
this and Wenger that.
"Just proof of how everything is magnified far too early
now." (Sport.co.uk)
Kuyt admits Torres is unhappy…but
only because Liverpool aren’t winning
Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt admits Fernando Torres is unhappy but
for reasons none other than the mediocre results the team is
producing.
Recent reports suggest that the Spain striker wants to leave
the club in January because he is not content but Kuyt
admits he still loves the club, it’s the simple fact the
Reds aren’t winning that has him down in the dumps.
“Everyone is expecting goals from Fernando, but he does a
lot more,” said Kuyt. “He was very quick with the ball
(against Sunderland) and gave great passes to me and Stevie
(Gerrard).
“Everyone could see how happy he was with the two assists he
made. But you know if you’re not winning games, then you’re
not happy.
“I’m not happy and the rest of the team aren’t happy. That’s
normal. If you are a striker and the type of striker he is,
you want to be involved in goals.
“Fernando is very important for the team, even if he is not
scoring. If he is making assists, that is just as good.
Fernando is OK. His mood has never changed.” (tribalfootball.com)
