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MONDAY 31 |
Parry pledges 'Pool will back Benitez
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has assured Rafa
Benitez he will be backed financially by the club’s owners
when the January transfer
window opens.
A well-publicised dispute between Benitez and co-owners Tom
Hicks and George Gillett over the club’s transfer policy has
been smoothed over at Anfield and the Spaniard is known to
be keen to strengthen his squad.
A centre back remains a priority, with Benitez’s paucity of
options demonstrated by the need to field Alvaro Arbeloa in
a central role on Sunday as The Reds drew 0-0 at Manchester
City.
Now Parry has underlined that Liverpool will be shunning a
frugal approach as they look to keep their title challenge
alive over the coming months.
"Money is always available if we need it,” Parry told the
club’s official website.
"We're not going to give our plans away, but if we need to
do something, we'll do it.
"We spent more money this summer than ever before. The whole
business model for the Americans is based on success.
"There is no point investing in a new stadium and having a
team that isn't successful – clearly I'm not going to quote
figures but there hasn't been any change of budget."
(Setanta Sports)
Aurelio: We should have scored
Fabio Aurelio admits he'll spend New Year's Eve disappointed
that the Reds failed to beat City despite creating enough
chances to win.
Aurelio was one of a host of Liverpool stars to come close
at the City of Manchester Stadium as he and his teammates
carved out 17 chances without hitting the net.
Despite the outcome, however, the Brazilian believes there
are many positives to take into 2008 regardless of the
10-point gap to Arsenal.
"If you look at the work we did, especially in the second
half, I think it's clear that we deserved the three points
and it is really disappointing that we only got a draw," he
said.
(LFC Official Website)
Heskey set for Anfield return
Wigan striker Emile Heskey could make his comeback against
Liverpool on Wednesday
The England striker has missed all of the Latics' festive
programme so far with a sprained ankle, but manager Steve
Bruce has confirmed that Heskey will be back in training on
Monday and will be ready for
the Anfield visit.
(Goal.com) |
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SUNDAY 30 |
Eriksson happy with draw
Sven-Goran Eriksson said he was happy after watching
Manchester City hold Liverpool to a goal-less draw to go
into the New Year still unbeaten
at home.
Praising his players, Eriksson said: "I think we defended
very well. (It was) a good game, not a lot of chances for
neither team.
"We were tired at the end. I think it means a lot -
Liverpool had one more day, we had one day less between this
game and the last game we played.
"But I am happy - one point, which is good. A clean sheet,
which is good against a team like Liverpool."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa 'close' to adding new recruits
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he may look to bring in
"one or two" players in January to try to rekindle his
side's title challenge.
Benitez saw his side fail to break down a resilient
Manchester City side in Sunday's 0-0 draw at Eastlands.
"We have some players, have some targets and we will try to
sign the players we need.
"Maybe one, maybe two, if everyone is fit you never know. We
are working hard and are very close."
(TEAMtalk)
Reds can't break down City defence
Manchester City thwarted Liverpool's attempts to make up
ground in the Premier League title race as the hosts held on
for a 0-0 draw on Sunday.
Richard Dunne stood like an unshakeable tower as Rafael
Benitez's men controlled a one-sided north-west derby
without getting the breakthrough they deserved at the City
of Manchester Stadium.
Fernando Torres was barely in the game such was Dunne's
dominance of the Spaniard, with Harry Kewell, Steven Gerrard
and Yossi Benayoun wasting the Reds' best opportunities
before Joe Hart denied
Dirk Kuyt late on.
Even then, the young City keeper needed Dunne to come to his
aid with a goalline clearance from the rebound, ensuring a
result which leaves Liverpool 10 points adrift of new
leaders Arsenal.
(TEAMtalk)
Arbeloa partners Carra at City
Alvaro Arbeloa will partner Jamie Carragher at the heart of
Liverpool's defence at City in the absence of the injured
Sami Hyypia.
The match kicks off at 4pm GMT – and you can listen live
online.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Aurelio, Finnan, Carragher,
Arbeloa, Benayoun, Kewell, Mascherano, Gerrard, Kuyt,
Torres.
Subs: Itandje, Riise, Alonso, Voronin, Babel.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 29 |
Ujfalusi rejects Anfield offer
The agent of Tomas Ujfalusi has confirmed the Fiorentina
defender has rejected the chance to move to Liverpool next
month.
The Czech Republic international's contract with the Italian
side comes to an end in the summer and a host of Europe's
big names are poised
to make him an offer.
Among those interested are Tottenham, Atletico Madrid,
Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg, who are all keen to take
Ujfalusi on a free transfer.
The Florence outfit wants the 29-year-old to remain and have
offered him a new three-year deal, whilst the Reds, who have
both Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia sidelined, wanted to take
him to Anfield early.
However, with a £500,000 deal believed to be in place with
Fiorentina, Ujfalusi has informed all parties he will make a
decision on his future when he is ready, but that is
unlikely to be in January.
"I have to respect his decision, nevertheless it has
surprised me a lot. Liverpool rarely give this offer twice
to one player," Ujfalusi's agent Pavel Paska told CTK.
(ITV Football)
Hamann: Liverpool don't scare us
Dietmar Hamann is optimistic his side can get a result when
Liverpool travel to Eastlands on Sunday.
Manchester City remain unbeaten at home and the former
Germany international believes his side have every chance to
cause Rafa Benitez’s men an upset but has warned that his
former club will not be easy pushovers.
“It will be tough, everyone knows what Liverpool are capable
of but we must remember that we are still unbeaten at home
and I think we will give them a game.”
(Setanta Sports)
Smith joins Stockport
James Smith has secured a permanent move to Stockport from
Liverpool after enjoying a loan spell at Edgeley Park.
The 22-year-old defender has now moved on a six-month deal
from Anfield after making 12 appearances during his loan
stint.
Smith told the club's official website: "I was made up with
everything at County when I was here and I didn't want to
leave at the time.
"I'm made up to be back."
Smith made just one senior appearance in Liverpool colours -
a substitute's role in a Carling Cup clash against Reading
back
in October 2006.
He has previously been loaned out to Ross County.
(Sky Sports)
When history collides in a battle for supremacy
The last time Liverpool and Manchester City shared similar
targets for the season Kevin Keegan was sporting a bubble
perm and Rodney Marsh was an irritant on the pitch rather
than television.
While City have started off almost every campaign for the
past 30 years hoping to avoid relegation or to get back into
the top division, Liverpool have invariably set out with
dreams of winning the title.
Their different aims have been reflected in their respective
trophy hauls since the mid-1970s, with City winning just a
single League Cup and Liverpool scooping numerous domestic
and continental prizes.
But tomorrow, the two sides go head to head at Eastlands
with their eyes on the very same lucrative prize – a place
in the top four which will bring Champions League
qualification.
(Liverpool Echo)
Hicks questions Benitez approach
Liverpool owner Tom Hicks has accused Anfield manager Rafael
Benitez of behaving petulantly in the recent dispute over
transfer policy.
The American also fears the players were suffering from an
inferiority complex in the recent defeat to Manchester
United.
The comments, in an interview with American magazine Sports
Illustrated, risk reviving the tension between Benitez and
Hicks and his co-owner George Gillett.
(Football 365)
Crouch keen to stay on at Anfield
Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has expressed his
determination to stay at Anfield as he reckons "the only way
is down" if he quits the Reds.
Crouch has struggled to establish himself in the Reds
line-up in recent months, leading to speculation he will
move clubs in the January transfer window.
But Crouch insists he has no desire to leave and is instead
concentrating on helping Rafa Benitez's men to a successful
end to the season.
"I know that if I move on from here the only way to go is
down," he told the Liverpool FC magazine.
"You want to play for a club like this for as long as you
can.
"I've not played as much as I would have liked but that
comes with competition for places at a club like Liverpool.
"We've got many exciting times ahead this season and I've
got every intention of being around to enjoy them."
Rafa Benitez is eager to keep his squad together in the New
Year and has warned interested parties he is not looking to
offload Crouch or any of his other players.
"We are not thinking about selling any player because we
will play in the FA Cup, Champions league and Premier League
and we want to be close to the top of the table," Benitez
said in The Sun.
(TEAMtalk)
Report: English trio eye Asenjo
Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton are vying to sign
Real Valladolid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, according to
reports in Spain.
The Barclays Premier League clubs are understood to have
sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old in action, and could
now decide to match his buy-out clause of 4.5million euros
(£3.3million) to try and sign him in
the summer
Valladolid supremo Carlos Suarez is aware that he would be
powerless to prevent Asenjo from leaving if an offer of that
value comes in.
"We are prepared for any situation and it is not impossible
to see that a club may think about paying his buy-out
clause," Suarez told AS.
(Sporting Life) |
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FRIDAY 28 |
Eriksson: Gerrard is unstoppable
Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Steven
Gerrard is the perfect player and is unsure how to stop him
on Sunday.
Eriksson has spent time with the Liverpool skipper during
his tenure as England manager but the pair find themselves
in opposition for the first time this weekend.
"Steven is one of the best players you can find. He has
everything," said Eriksson.
"He can defend. He can tackle incredibly well. He has
vision, he is an extremely good passer. He can shoot, score
goals and has the energy to get up and down the pitch.
"It is very difficult to say who is the best player in the
country but Steven is certainly one of them - and has been
for a long time now."
(ITV Football)
Benitez: The best is yet to come
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes the "best is yet to
come" from the Reds and in particular from goal machine
Fernando Torres.
With Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all dropping
points this week, and with Liverpool appearing to be back at
their best, Benitez is confident his side can mount a
realistic challenge on the title.
Goalscoring sensation Torres will be key to Liverpool's
success this season as he has been since joining the Reds in
the summer transfer window.
With 15 goals in 18 starts, he has been a massive asset to
Liverpool who looked to have let the title slip away from
them with a string of drawn results earlier in the season
whilst their main rivals were notching wins.
"My team can do better, and so can Fernando," said Benitez,
whose side are nine points behind league leaders Manchester
United with one game in hand.
"Fernando has settled well in England - but he can still
learn more," he added.
"Our season has not been bad, but it could be better. We are
in a good position. It could be better but the best of us is
still to come."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool sign County teenager
Liverpool have signed the 16-year-old son of former Aberdeen
star
Neale Cooper.
Alex Cooper, who plays for Ross County, will move to Anfield
after the clubs agreed a £100,000 fee.
Cooper, capped by Scotland Under-16s, is a winger and has
been chased by a string of English clubs, including Chelsea
when Jose Mourinho was still manager.
But Liverpool have beaten all the rivals and have given the
teenager a three-and-a-half-year contract.
His father Neale, said: "All his family are delighted Alex
has been given the opportunity to sign for Liverpool.
"He could have gone to one or two other clubs but he just
loved the way he was treated by Liverpool when he was
there."
(Ananova)
Reminder of Villa date change
Liverpool would like to remind all supporters of a change of
date to our Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Anfield
next month.
The game was scheduled to take place on Saturday January 19,
2008, but has been selected for live TV coverage by Setanta
Sports and will now go ahead on Monday January 21.
Kick-off will be 8pm.
(LFC Official Website)
Agger to aid Reds injury crisis
Rafa Benitez has revealed he may be forced to throw injury
victim Daniel Agger in at the deep end against Manchester
City as Liverpool contend with an injury crisis.
Sami Hyypia is a major doubt after picking up an ankle
problem in the 2-1 win at Derby, while Alvaro Arbeloa has
been struck down by flu.
The Spaniard could yet recover, but Benitez is likely to
want a more reliable option as The Reds attempt to break
City’s 10-match unbeaten home record in the league this
season.
That option would be Agger, who Benitez had hoped to ease
back into action after a three-month absence with a broken
foot.
"Sami has an ankle problem, it is a difficult situation,"
Benitez told the club’s official website. "Arbeloa has flu
so this could now be a real problem.
"Daniel Agger is closer, he has been training this week. We
will wait to see how Sami is but we can use Jack (Hobbs) or
we could push Agger to play, we will wait and see."
(Setanta Sports)
City midfield duo set for starts
Midfield duo Elano and Dietmar Hamann are set to earn
immediate recalls as Manchester City look to regain a top
four place by beating Liverpool
at Eastlands.
City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson left the pair out of last
night's 2-2 draw with Blackburn as he attempts to keep his
squad fresh over
the festive period.
With Michael Johnson (groin) again set to miss out, Eriksson
will turn to Elano to provide the inspiration for victory
and former Reds star Hamann to subdue his old team-mate
Steven Gerrard.
Team (from): Hart, Isaksson, Onuoha, Corluka, Sun, Dunne,
Richards, Garrido, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Elano, Fernandes,
Geovanni, Petrov, Mpenza, Vassell, Bianchi, Samaras.
(Evening Echo)
Finnan: We must improve for Manchester City trip
Steve Finnan believes Liverpool are going to have to up
their game if they are to stand any chance of bringing Man
City's unbeaten home record to an end on Sunday.
Though delighted with the three points Liverpool picked up
at Derby County on Boxing Day, Finnan was less impressed
with the manner of the victory.
And the Irish international says the Reds will have to
produce a vastly improved performance when they take on Sven
Goran Eriksson's high flying City at Eastlands.
He said: "City have a great home record at the moment and
we'll definitely have to up our game when we go there.
"If we play like we did at Derby at City then we'll probably
get beat.
"No disrespect to Derby but we've got to up our game,
especially with such a tough match coming up."
(Liverpool Echo)
Thor Zakariassen
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