|
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY 31 |
|
|
Le Tallec ruled out
Anthony Le Tallec will play no further part in the UEFA
European Under-21 Championship as a result of his groin
injury.
Le Tallec has only made one appearance at the tournament and
that was in Sunday's 2-0 victory against Serbia and
Montenegro when he played a part in both goals.
Coach Rene Girard said: "He will need to focus on recovering
fully from an injury which has caused him problems in recent
months.
(Kop Talk)
Aimar could set to leave Valencia
Valencia star Pablo Aimar may leave the club
according to Valencia sports director Amedao Carboni. This
may alert Liverpool who are interested in the player.
He said yesterday: "Those who are unhappy, can leave. In the
case of Aimar, it will depend on what the footballer wants
to do.
"The ones that remain here, must do so with commitment and
ambition, since this is an important club.
"We have no problems with Aimar and he played some of his
best football for Valencia last season. But what does count
is whether he still loves this club."
(Football Issue)
Monaco keen on Traore
Monaco are thought to be interested in bringing Liverpool
defender Djimi Traore to Stade Louis II.
Traore is keen to quit Anfield, with The Reds unlikely to
stand in the player's way, and is rumoured to be a target
for the Principality club.
Monaco have already met the 26-year-old and talks between
the two clubs are due to open in the coming days to discuss
the possibility of either a loan move or permanent transfer.
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool wait on Gonzalez permit
Liverpool hope to know within days whether their latest
application for a work permit for Chile winger Mark Gonzalez
has been successful.
They will formally submit their second application for the
21-year-old tomorrow, having had two similar bids rejected
during the past 12 months.
Gonzalez, who was recovering from a serious knee injury when
Liverpool first applied a year ago, has been on loan at Real
Sociedad since January and figured prominently in their
fight to avoid relegation from La Liga.
The fact he has shown he can play at the highest level in
Spain - he scored against Real Madrid recently - will also
help Liverpool make out a case for him meeting the required
criteria for a permit.
Liverpool have confirmed their latest plea to add Gonzalez
to their squad has been submitted by letter to the Home
Office, and if it is granted they should hear within the
next few days.
(TEAMtalk)
Bournemouth sign Liverpool striker
Bournemouth have completed the signing of Liverpool striker
Conal Platt.
The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international
impressed while on trial at Dean Court towards the end of
last season and was offered a one-year deal.
Manager Sean O'Driscoll said: "He came into training, looked
bright, scored two goals and thought he was somebody we
could work with and develop."
(Kop Talk)
Reds face Alves competition
Liverpool face competition from Spanish giants Barcelona and
Real Madrid for the signature of Seville winger Daniel
Alves.
Alves is believed to be Rafael Benitez's top transfer target
this summer and it's though that Liverpool have made a £7m
offer for the services of the 23-year-old.
However, Real Madrid are now thought to have registered an
interest although Barcelona's hopes of landing the Brazilian
were dealt a set back when Javier Saviola said he will not
be making his loan move to Seville from the Nou Camp a
permanent one.
(Shankly Gates)
Lyon chief eyes Cisse
Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas is delighted that Liverpool
striker Djibril Cisse is keen on a move to the French
champions.
Newspaper reports in France claim Lyon will open talks with
Liverpool in the near future about the possible transfer of
the striker, who has failed to win a regular starting place
under Rafa Benitez.
"When a player wants to come to Lyon, we love the fact that
he declares it," Aulas told Le Progres.
Cisse has again reiterated his desire to play his football
in France and would relish the opportunity to play under
Lyon coach Gerard Houllier.
"I have never had the chance to work with Mr Houllier, it
would be a pleasure, I respect him a lot you know," the
24-year-old added.
"He recruited me at Liverpool, not Benitez, but then he left
the club."
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard pleased with win
Steven Gerrard declared himself happy with England's 3-1 win
over Hungary at Old Trafford last night.
Steven Gerrard scored England's opening goal in their 3-1
win over Hungary on his 26th birthday last night and
afterwards said it was a good all round performance from the
England team.
"There was a lot of pressure on me tonight trying to play
where Wayne plays. I'm never going to be as good as Wayne
Rooney in there but I enjoyed it," said the Liverpool
captain.
"The formation suits us, Frank is superb breaking from
midfield and the manager has told us we can interchange. I
thought we created a lot of problems for Hungary.
"The most important thing was we won and won convincingly,
we could have been two or three up at half-time but we took
our chances in the second half.
"I enjoy playing anywhere, the manager asked me to play just
behind Michael, to try to get the ball and make things
happen."
(LFC Online) |
|
|
TUESDAY 30 |
|
|
Gerrard and Crouch on target for England
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has opened the scoring for
England against Hungary.
England's number 9 - who's celebrating his 26th birthday
today - was also celebrating shortly after the second half
got underway after scoring a lovely header.
Peter Crouch added another on 84 minutes after coming off
the bench for
Gerrard (65 mins).
Jamie Carragher played a full 90 minutes.
RESULT: Engand 3 (Gerrard 47, Terry 51, Crouch 84) - Hungary
1 (Dardai 55)
(Kop Talk)
Injury scare for Alonso
Spain's World Cup preparations have been hit by an injury
scare involving key midfielder Xabi Alonso.
The Liverpool star was forced to abandon training on Tuesday
with a leg strain and is awaiting news on the injury, which
forced him to miss a six-a-side game.
(Football 365)
Le Tallec eyes move to PSG
Anthony Le Tallec wants Paris St Germain to end his
Liverpool nightmare after admitting he is “fed up” of being
shipped out on loan by the Anfield club.
The 21-year-old French forward has failed to make an impact
at Anfield, starting just 13 games for the club since
joining from Le Havre four seasons ago.
He has found himself on loan at St Etienne and Sunderland
for the majority of the past two seasons and has become
increasingly frustrated.
“I want to be transferred, change air,” he told
www.lequipe.fr.
“When you’re loaned without a view for a permanent move you
know that you won’t be there anymore the following year.
“That’s a weird feeling. I want to commit myself to a club
which is ready to trust me for two or three years. I am fed
up going everywhere.
“PSG has always been the club of my heart. If they make a
good offer I will go. But for now they are not the hottest
opportunity.
“I want a good sporting challenge. If I don’t find it I can
stay with Liverpool where I have three years left to my
contract.”
(BreakingNews.ie)
Kirkland weighs up offers
Chris Kirkland is considering offers from a couple of
Premiership clubs.
The highly-rated goalkeeper is looking for a new club after
being told he could leave Liverpool this summer.
Kirkland joined Liverpool from Coventry in a £6 million
deal, but saw his stay at Anfield blighted by a series of
injuries.
Liverpool are willing to let Kirkland leave with Jose Reina,
Jerzy Dudek and Scott Carson all ahead of him in the pecking
order.
The 25-year-old is keen for a fresh start elsewhere and the
player's agent Colin Gordon revealed several sides have
shown an interest in the giant custodian.
"There are a couple of clubs interested in Chris," Gordon
told skysports.com.
"They are both Premier League clubs and Chris is weighing up
his options.
"He is training now and is flying right now after recovering
his fitness."
(Sky Sports)
Cheyrou set to return for final farewell
Bruno Cheyrou will head back to Anfield after Bordeaux
decided against signing the outcast midfielder.
The 28-year-old has spent the last season on loan at the
French club having been deemed surplus to requirements by
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
However, Bordeaux have chosen not to take up their agreed
option of buying the player on a permanent deal worth around
£2million.
Cheyrou, who still has a year left on his contract at
Anfield, has no future at Liverpool and must now find
another club.
He was bought for £4.5m from Lille by then manager Gerard
Houllier in the summer of 2002, but struggled to make an
impression and has not made a single competitive appearance
under Benitez, who shipped the Frenchman out on loan to
Marseille for the 2004-05 season.
(Daily Post)
Carra 'chosen' to control midfield
England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will reveal his World Cup
plans in Tuesday's friendly against Hungary - and he could
include Jamie Carragher.
Eriksson says he will start with the team he expects to play
against Paraguay, on June 10, although he will make a late
check on Michael Owen.
He will pack a five-man midfield but could spring a surprise
by including Liverpool defender Carragher as a midfield
anchorman rather than Michael Carrick.
Eriksson seems to have decided his defensive midfielder must
be a ball-winner and is not convinced Carrick can do that
job.
With Ledley King injured, he tried Carragher in the role in
the closing stages of last week's B international against
Belarus.
The England manager looks set to make a U-turn on his 4-4-2
system, less than a month after admitting he would pair
Crouch with Owen in attack against the Paraguayans.
(TEAMtalk) |
|
|
MONDAY 29 |
|
|
Gerrard tips Crouch to storm World Cup
Steven Gerrard believes club-mate Peter Crouch can make a
major impact in the World Cup for England as Wayne Rooney's
deputy.
Crouch is set to have an increasingly significant role to
play, given Rooney's likely absence until at least the
knockout stages because of his metatarsal injury. The
Liverpool striker was paired with Michael Owen in last
week's 'B' international with Belarus at Reading - a
combination Gerrard is confident can produce the goods in
Germany.
"Hopefully we'll get Wayne back as soon as possible," said
Gerrard. "Everyone knows the player he is and just how
important he is to us - but Peter is waiting in the wings
and he is desperate to get out there and play and do well."
He added: "I've played with him at Liverpool and he is a
good player and teams hate playing against him and he causes
a lot of problems.
"He sometimes gets a bit of criticism for his goalscoring
record but he is more than just a goalscorer. Peter has got
a bit of everything in his game.
"Can he work with Owen? It is an exciting partnership.
Personally, as a midfielder I like playing behind a small
striker and a big striker because it gives you different
options.
"You can use Crouchy as a targetman but you've also got
Michael as the little man running in behind defences and for
a midfield passer that's a dream situation
to work with."
(Ananova)
Liverpool told Simao price
Liverpool have been told they must fork out £13.7million if
they are to sign Simao Sabrosa.
The Reds were close to signing the Portugal international
last summer, only for Benfica to pull the plug on a
£10million transfer at the very last minute.
Rafael Benitez, though, remains keen on the 26-year-old
winger – although he has been told it will cost him the best
part of £14million to sign the player.
"Simao is a great player and we hope to keep him," Benfica
president Luis Filipe Vieira told Portuguese channel TVI. "I
know he is happy to continue his career with us.
"If there is a tempting offer we will have to analyse it.
But I can confirm that Simao will not leave Benfica for less
than €20 million euros (£13.7million)."
(Fans FC)
Rafa signs
Rafael Benitez has put pen to paper on a new four year
contract.
It was anounced that Rafael Benitez would be signing a new
contract with Liverpool before the Reds played Fulham at
Anfield back in March and last night the Liverpool boss
officially signed the new four year contract.
Benitez's new contract will end speculation linking the
Spaniard with Real Madrid.
(LFC Online) |
|
|
SUNDAY 28 |
|
|
Unsettled Cisse lays into Benitez
Striker Djibril Cisse says he feels unwanted by Liverpool
coach Rafa Benitez and wants to join former Anfield boss
Gerard Houllier at Lyon.
Cisse, training with the France World Cup squad at
Clairefontaine, said: "Mr. Houllier signed me for Liverpool
but I never had the chance to work with him.
"Now I have a coach who doesn't want me. Benitez doesn't use
me, so I've taken a step back.
"I don't have the confidence of the coach; he doesn't like
me."
Houllier helped bring Cisse to Liverpool from Auxerre but
left the club shortly before the 24-year-old signed in July
2004.
And Cisse said he was even willing to take a pay cut to join
Houllier at Lyon - either on loan or in a permanent move.
"Financially, you have to make some sacrifices and I'm ready
to make them," he said.
"My heart leans to Marseille, but Lyon play in the Champions
League and is a more
stable club."
(BBC Sport Online)
Gerrard is up for the Cup
Steven Gerrard has insisted he will be "fresh and raring
to go" during the World Cup as he dismissed fears of
suffering from footballing burn-out.
Gerrard's season began in mid-July with Liverpool in the
qualifying rounds of the Champions League and he looked
exhausted after helping the Reds lift the FA Cup in Cardiff
following an inspirational individual performance.
With Wayne Rooney's availability for the finals still giving
cause for concern, it is paramount for Sven-Goran Eriksson
that Gerrard is firing on all cylinders - possibly in the
second striker role.
But a week's rest while England trained in Portugal to be
with his girlfriend and new-born baby has helped recharge
Gerrard's batteries as he prepares for Tuesday's warm-up
international with Paraguay at Old Trafford.
Gerrard said: "I've played a lot of games and a lot of
football this season but I don't feel tired.
"I know a lot of people are saying 'he's played a lot of
football' and 'will he or won't he be tired?'
"I can promise everyone that I'm feeling fresh, fine and
raring to go."
(PA Sport)
Macia in the frame to replace Paco
Rafael Benitez has revealed that Valencia coach Eduardo
Macia is one of the candidates to replace the departing Paco
Herrera.
Reserve coach/chief scout Herrera will leave the club on
July 1 after deciding to return to Spain for family reasons
and Liverpool are looking to replace him with two new faces.
Benitez knows Macia well from his time in charge at the
Mestalla and admits he is in his thoughts with regards to
the soon-to-be vacant scouting position.
Macia last week rejected a new contract at Valencia.
"We have a number of options and he is one," confirmed the
Reds chief. "But Paco is working with us until July 1 and we
won't be making an appointment until after this. It's too
early to say who'll be replacing him."
Herrera, meanwhile, has been approached by Espanyol with a
view to him taking over as their Director of Football.
(LFC Official Website)
Kewell remains confident
Harry Kewell has handed Australia a boost by returning to
training, with the Liverpool ace confident of being fit in
time for The Socceroos' World Cup opener with Japan on June
12.
The winger damaged his groin during Liverpool's FA Cup final
win over West Ham and has struggled to shake off the
complaint.
Kewell remained in England for treatment on his groin and
missed linking up with his international team-mates at a
pre-World Cup training camp.
Australia coach Guus Hiddink does not expect Kewell to
feature in Australia's remaining friendlies against Holland
and Liechtenstein, but the former Leeds man has joined up
with the squad and is hopeful of lining up against Japan.
"The injury is not ideal but I am expecting to be back and
ready in time for the tournament," Kewell said.
"I'm so disappointed that I couldn't get back to Melbourne
for the game against Greece but it was out of my control.
"I now have to focus on what is within my control, and
that's working hard."
(Sky Sports)
|
|
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
