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SATURDAY 31 |
Babel ruled out of Euro 2008
Ryan Babel has been ruled out of Euro 2008 after he tore
ankle ligaments during a training session with Holland on
Saturday.
The Reds winger was expected to be a key figure for Marco
van Basten's side in the tournament and the injury is a
cruel blow for the 21-year-old. There is no further news as
to how long the injury will keep the player out on the
sidelines for.
The Dutch coach is believed to be already discussing plans
for
a replacement for Babel.
Dirk Kuyt is Liverpool's other representative in the Dutch
squad and he is expected to feature in Sunday's friendly
against Wales.
(LFC Official Website)
Real Madrid join
race to sign Alonso
Juventus’ hopes of capturing Xabi Alonso are
under threat with Real Madrid poised to enter the race to
sign the Liverpool midfielder.
With Ronaldo remaining at Old Trafford, Real are now looking
at alternative high-profile captures to satisfy their
supporters and Alonso, a regular Spanish international with
40 caps, fits the bill.
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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FRIDAY 30 |
Gerrard wants Barry at Liverpool
Steven Gerrard has said he is "desperate" for Aston Villa
midfielder Gareth Barry to join him at Liverpool.
Barry, who is expected to lead England against Trinidad &
Tobago on Sunday, will talk about his future after he
returns from international duty.
"I want Gareth Barry to become a Liverpool player. I am
desperate for us to sign him," said Gerrard.
"He's a good player. I want Liverpool to be as strong as
possible and Gareth Barry will certainly make us stronger."
(BBC Sport Online)
Liverpool tell Riise he will be sold
John Arne Riise has been told he will be sold this summer
should Liverpool receive a suitable offer for his services.
The out of favour left back claims he is in the dark about
what lies in store for him at Anfield, even though the ECHO
understands Riise has already been informed that he has no
future at the club.
In an interview with a Scandinavian newspaper Riise revealed
he has instructed his agent to speak to the club on his
behalf in a last ditch attempt to find out whether or not he
has any chance of extending his Liverpool career to an
eighth season.
“My agent is set to find out what is happening,” he said. “I
have to get things sorted out before pre-season starts.
“Those who have played internationals are due to meet up on
July 7. I can’t wait and wait for an answer. I have to get
an answer now.”
With Rafa Benitez already in the market for a new left back,
the promising Emiliano Insua emerging from the reserve ranks
and Brazilian Fabio Aurelio now back to full fitness, the
likelihood is that Riise has played his last game for
Liverpool and will be sold this summer.
Several clubs are interested in signing the Norwegian,
although the Reds are yet to receive a firm offer.
(Liverpool Echo)
Defoe keen on Crouch move
Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe has acknowledged that he is
keen for manager Harry Redknapp to sign Liverpool's Peter
Crouch.
Crouch has endured a difficult season at The Reds this term,
with manager Rafa Benitez opting to play a 4-5-1 system with
Fernando Torres as the lone striker.
The England striker admits that he therefore may need to
move to safeguard his international place. A move back to
Portsmouth and Fratton Park, where he scored scored 18
league goals in only 37 starts in 2001, could therefore
appeal.
Fellow England striker Defoe has said that he would welcome
a bid
for Crouch.
"It would be great if Crouchie came," said Defoe.
"He is still under contract at Liverpool but we will see.
"I think we can go far next season but we do need a bigger
squad."
(Setanta Sports) |
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THURSDAY 29 |
Olympics not ideal for Benitez
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to discuss with Javier
Mascherano the Argentinian's possible participation in this
summer's Olympic Games.
Mascherano, 23, looks likely to be named in Sergio Batista's
Argentina squad as an over-age player but the issue has
seemingly caused consternation at Anfield with Benitez
worried about his absence for
the start of the new Premier League campaign.
Brazilian Lucas is also likely to be in Beijing with his
country while Xabi Alonso seems set to leave the club for
Juventus, leaving Benitez short of midfielders for the early
stages of the campaign.
Benitez told the club's website: "This is a very difficult
situation for us because we have Lucas, who is eligible
through his age with Brazil, and Mascherano, who can play
for Argentina as an over-age player, so I need to discuss
his position with him.
"We will see what happens.
"We have some time so we need to wait and we will try to
find a solution with Mascherano that will be the best for
the club and the best for
the player.
"With Lucas and Sebastian Leto we will accept the
situation."
(TEAMtalk)
Agent silent on Kewell Celtic link
Harry Kewell’s representative has refused to comment on
claims that
the Australia winger is set to sign for Celtic.
Reports this morning claimed the Scottish champions were
prepared to offer the former Leeds player £40,000 a week to
join the club.
Bernie Mandic, Kewell’s personal manager, declined to
comment on
the player’s future.
Kewell will be released by Liverpool this summer after a
five-year spell at Anfield which has been largely ruined by
injury.
The 29-year-old has recently been linked with moves to teams
including Portsmouth and Juventus.
(Evening Echo)
Agent: Liverpool want Alonso sale
Xabi Alonso’s agent has revealed it is Liverpool, not the
midfielder, who are the driving force behind the Spaniard’s
potential move to Juventus.
Alonso’s name has become increasingly linked with a £16
million move to Turin and agent Inaki Ibanez met the club’s
officials on Wednesday.
It appears Liverpool are ready to part with the pass-master
in order to fund moves for Gareth Barry and Ruben de la Red.
If the move happens, it will do so against Alonso’s will
according to his agent, who insists it his understanding
that Liverpool want the deal
to go through.
“I have a clear idea, namely Liverpool would like to sell,”
Ibanez said
in The Liverpool Echo.
The former Real Sociedad starlet will now seek discussions
with Benitez over his future on Merseyside, and Ibanez
revealed he does not expect any transfer to be completed
until after Euro 2008.
“First we must speak with Rafa Benitez,” he said. Then we’ll
decide after the European Championships.”
(Setanta Sports)
Espanyol want £19m for Riera
Liverpool have had a £9.5m bid for Espanyol winger Albert
Riera turned down by the Spanish side, according to reports.
And Espanyol president Daniel Libre has told Liverpool they
must pay almost the same amount they paid for Fernando
Torres last summer.
(This is Anfield)
Riise scores
John Arne Riise scored for Norway last night.
The Liverpool defender was on target with an 85th minute
free kick to earn Norway a 2-2 draw with Uruguay in Oslo
last night. Riise also claimed an assist for Norway's first
with one of his trademark long throws.
(LFC Online)
Barry focused on England - for now
Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry is putting his own future
to one side until after England's friendly against Trinidad
and Tobago on Sunday.
Barry, a target for Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, has
already held one round of talks with Villa manager Martin
O'Neill and club owner Randy Lerner with more set to take
place in the near future.
The 27-year-old, who set up the second goal for possible
future club
team-mate Steven Gerrard in England's 2-0 win over the
United States, is flattered by the Reds' interest.
But Barry is content to focus on England for the next few
days - he is
a strong candidate to skipper the side in Trinidad - before
matters come
to a head.
Barry said: "Will I be at Villa next season? That is
something I've been speaking to the manager and chairman
about. We've already had
one meeting.
"My idea was to get these two games out of the way and I am
sure we will be speaking again soon.
"Any sort of interest by a big club is flattering but I am
still an Aston Villa player, I've got two years left of my
contract and until some sort of bid is accepted, or the
manager tells me otherwise, there is no decision
to make."
(TEAMtalk) |
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WEDNESDAY 28 |
Gerrard inspires England to USA victory
Steven Gerrard was on target during a man-of-the-match
display as England beat USA 2-0 on Wednesday night.
The Liverpool captain slotted home in the 59th minute after
being put through by Gareth Barry. Temporary skipper John
Terry had earlier headed Fabio Capello's side into the lead.
Gerrard, who has now scored 13 goals in 66 caps, played the
entire 90 minutes. Clubmate Peter Crouch joined him midway
through
the second half.
(LFC Offcial Website)
Juventus president Gigli
hopeful on Alonso deal
Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli is cautiously
optimistic of reaching an agreement with Liverpool to sign
Xabi Alonso.
The Basque-born midfielder was one of Rafael Benitez’s first
signings when he took over at Anfield four years ago,
arriving for £10.5million from Real Sociedad.
But Alonso, 26, has found his first-team opportunities
limited with the arrival of Javier Mascherano and with young
Brazilian midfielder Lucas also making an impact.
And with Benitez still trying to tie up the move of England
international midfielder Gareth Barry to Anfield, the
departure of Alonso would not be
a surprise.
"It looks like his representative will arrive today," Gigli
said.
"We can’t deny that we’re interested, but there’s always the
problem of getting value for money.
"(Managing director Jean-Claude) Blanc is working on this
and on other possibilities."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Reds winger set for new loan
Skysports.com understands Liverpool are exploring the option
of sending young winger Adam Hammill out on loan again next
season.
Hammill has returned to Anfield after a season-long loan
spell at Southampton and is waiting to find out what his
future holds.
The 20-year-old struggled to show his true form at
Southampton because of the upheaval at St Mary's including
George Burley's departure to manage Scotland.
Hammill enjoyed a superb spell on loan at Dunfermline in
2007, helping
the club reach the Scottish Cup final and his performances
in Scotland won him many admirers.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is now exploring the option of
loaning out
the talented winger for another season as he continues his
policy of farming out his best young players, so that they
can gain experience before making the step up to the first
team.
The news has alerted a number of clubs in England and
Scotland as they prepare a move for the former England Under
19 international.
Championship new boys Swansea are thought to be interested
in landing Hammill, having had Paul Anderson on loan from
Liverpool last season and a move to Roberto Martinez's men
could be an option.
Plymouth, Charlton, Preston, Wolves and QPR are all
monitoring developments, while Aberdeen and Hibernian are
ready to offer Hammill the chance to return to Scotland
after he impressed against them while playing for
Dunfermline.
Benitez is believed to be looking at the list of interested
clubs before making a decision on Hammill's future.
(Sky Sports)
Reds top European rankings chart
Liverpool will go into the forthcoming season as Europe's
number one ranked team.
The Reds top UEFA's official rankings thanks to their
Champions League performances over the past five seasons.
Having won the competition in 2005, been runners up to AC
Milan in 2007 and made it through to the semi-finals this
year, Rafa Benitez's team has accrued more ranking points
than any other club in Europe.
Liverpool top the rankings table with 104.284 points, giving
them a one point lead over Italian giants AC Milan.
Next on the list are Chelsea and Barcelona, with Arsenal in
sixth and current Champions League holders Man United in
seventh.
Other British teams on the list include Newcastle in 19th,
Rangers in 20th, Middlesbrough in 27th, Spurs in 31st,
Bolton in 41st, Everton in 44th and Celtic in 52nd.
Liverpool have moved up from third to first thanks to last
season's run to the semi-finals, meaning they top UEFA's
rankings for the first time since 1985.
Their recent form in the Champions League also means that
they will go into the qualifiers for next season's
competition as number one seeds and will thereby avoid the
other seeded teams when the draw for the qualifying rounds
is made in July.
(Liverpool Echo)
Masch receives Argentina call
Javier Mascherano has been called into the Argentina squad
for upcoming friendlies against Mexico and the United
States.
The games take place in North America in early June ahead of
World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Brazil.
Later in the summer, Argentina will compete in the Olympics,
though it is not yet clear whether Mascherano will be part
of a squad largely made up of under-23s.
Elsewhere, new signing Philipp Degen has made it into the
Swiss squad for Euro 2008, while Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel
will both feature for Holland this summer.
(LFC Official Website)
Dossena keen to join 'famous' Reds
Udinese full-back Andrea Dossena has suggested he would be
interested in joining Liverpool, who have been linked with
an £8million bid for him.
The Italian is thought to be a target for Reds boss Rafa
Benitez, with reports claiming a deal is in the pipeline.
Fiorentina and Juventus both want to keep Dossena in Serie
A, but Liverpool are favourites to capture the left-back.
And Dossena admits the Reds' European pedigree makes a move
to Anfield a tempting proposition as he considers his
future.
"Liverpool are a famous team and it's good to be mentioned
with them," said Dossena in The Sun. "I want to play in the
Champions League and Liverpool are a side who have won it
and reach the late stages often.
"They are one of the famous names in Europe - comparable
with
the biggest teams in Italy.
"In England I think Liverpool are Manchester United's equal
- they can
rival them."
(TEAMtalk)
Thor Zakariassen
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