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MONDAY 6 |
Flora late show earns
Reserves a point
Substitute Vitor Flora struck a late equaliser as Liverpool
Reserves rescued a 1-1 draw against a strong Blackburn
Rovers side
on Monday night.
The Brazilian hitman pounced with just five minutes
remaining after Carlos Villanueva looked to have given the
hosts victory with a fierce
second-half opener.
It means the Reds' second-string remain bottom of the
Barclays Premier Reserve League North - one point adrift of
Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough - with just three games
remaining.
The standings may make bleak viewing for last season's
champions but there were moments of encouragements for
Ablett and his coaching staff who went into the clash
without the key duo of Stephen Darby and
Jay Spearing.
Liverpool Reserves: Dean Bouzanis, Emmanuel Mendy, Steven
Irwin, Mikel San Jose, Godwin Antwi, Victor Palsson, Ryan
Crowther, Daniel Ayala (Vitor Flora 80), Krisztian Nemeth
(Lauri Dalla Valle 75), Daniel Pacheco, Vincent Weijl (David
Amoo 64).
Unused subs: Martin Hansen, Nathan Eccleston.
(LFC Official Website)
Essien: Anfield goal is crucial
Michael Essien believes Chelsea need a goal at Anfield if
they are to end their long wait to win the Champions League.
Liverpool and Chelsea meet on Wednesday for the fifth
successive season in Europe and, with the second leg at
Stamford Bridge, Essien feels it is essential that they grab
an away goal in the first game.
"With The Premiership, we just have to win and see what
happens but, like every member of the squad, I want to win
the Champions League especially after how close we were last
season,” he told Kick Off Ghana.
"Some say the fixture is becoming boring because we have had
to play Liverpool every season for some time now, but that
is the way it goes and we must accept it.
"As the away team, if we score at Anfield, we give ourselves
a great chance of doing well."
(Setanta Sports)
Torres: We don't
need another striker
Fernando Torres has exclusively told Setanta he feels that
Liverpool do not need to sign another striker in the summer
- despite selling Robbie Keane back to Tottenham during the
last transfer window.
The Spain striker continues to impress alongside Steven
Gerrard, when the Reds skipper is played in a more advanced
role, and sees no reason to upset the partnership.
With Liverpool still chasing the title after Yossi
Benayoun's dramatic late winner at Fulham and the massive
Champions League tie with Chelsea coming up next, Torres is
thriving on the pressure.
"People are talking about maybe we need another striker - a
second striker, but Stevie can score more goals than any
other striker,"
Torres told Setanta.
"He's our most important player and our captain. If Stevie
can play behind the striker, we don't need another striker."
(Setanta Sports)
Torres targets
European glory
Liverpool may be embroiled in a race with Manchester United
for the domestic title but star striker Fernando Torres has
his eyes fixed on winning the Champions League.
The Reds take on Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions
League quarter-finals at Anfield on Wednesday and Torres
said his part in Spain’s victorious Euro 2008 campaign has
given him the taste of success.
Torres told the club’s official website: “Domestic titles
are very important but to win the Champions League you are
saying we are the best team
in Europe.
“This club has a great record in the European Cup but now I
want to be a part of that history."
(BreakingNews.ie)
Houllier hails
Liverpool starlet Ngog
Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier says his old club have
a potential worldbeater on their hands in David Ngog.
"He is so young, 20 years of age and plays for the
Under-21s. I think that we always tend to be impatient with
young players,” Houllier told setanta.com.
“We have to wait. Besides he is part of a great club where
he will learn a lot. When you train and play with
world-class players, obviously you naturally improve.”
The France Under-21 international shone in the 2-0 victory
over England at Nottingham’s City Ground, and Houllier has
rated his display
as ‘brilliant’.
“First of all I would use Bill Shankly’s words by saying: at
least, he put himself in the position to score goals,” he
added.
“As far as I am concerned I think that he played extremely
well for the team thanks to his movement, control, passes
and flicks.
“Two or three times he showed brilliant movement and it is a
shame that he did not score, he was unlucky.”
(tribalfootball.com)
David Silva not eyeing
Liverpool move
Reported Liverpool target David Silva has vowed to remain at
Valencia for ‘many years to come’.
The Spain international has been linked to a host of clubs
since winning the European Championship with La Roja, with
The Reds, as well as Juventus, believed to be massive
admirers of his game.
But the flying winger is apparently determined to continue
with Los Che and aid the Mestalla outfit in the Champions
League race.
Valencia have been mired in financial trouble for some time,
but the players have finally been paid after a long spell
without receiving
any salary.
“I am under contract with Valencia for many years to come,”
Silva told As.
“What I desire is complete my contract with the club.
“I am delighted to be a Valencia player.”
(Setanta Sports)
Yossi: Reds can
manage twin assault
Liverpool playmaker Yossi Benayoun believes the Reds can
juggle the demands of chasing Premier League and Champions
League glory.
The Reds face Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals
this week aiming to maintain their fine run of form as they
challenge for honours at home and abroad.
Benayoun, who scored the dramatic winner in the last-gasp
victory over Fulham on Saturday, feels Liverpool have proved
they can fight for both competitions.
"We're very confident but we have to think now only about
the next game. The main thing is to concentrate on Chelsea,
after that Blackburn and then game by game to the end of the
season."
(TEAMtalk)
Lucas confident
Lucas Levia is confident Liverpool can still win the league.
The Reds are the form team in the country at the moment and
Lucas believes their momentum can carry them to the title.
"I think we really do believe we can win the league now,"
said the midfielder.
"We deserved the win, especially the way we played in the
first half with four efforts hitting the woodwork but now we
must keep going.
"There are still seven more Premier League games so we must
keep working hard but I think we have enough quality to win
the title.
"Whatever Manchester United did against Villa this gave us
the belief - especially the fans.
"We are in a fantastic position now, we have confidence,
everybody is playing well so that's the most important
thing, especially at the end of the season, and everyone is
fit."
(LFC Online)
Rafa expects
Gerrard to be fit
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez expects Steven Gerrard to
be fit for the first leg of the Reds' Champions League clash
with Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Gerrard was replaced in injury-time during the Reds'
last-gasp win over Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.
The midfielder was suffering from a tight groin and his late
substitution placed a question mark over his availability
for the quarter-final, first leg.
However Benitez is optimistic the injury will not be serious
enough to keep his captain out of Chelsea's vist to Anfield.
"Steven had some problems, but I think he will be okay for
Wednesday," said Benitez.
"He was a little bit tired and he felt something a bit
tight. We will see."
(Football 365) |
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SUNDAY 5 |
Villa slip to allow Utd back top
Manchester Utd have returned to the top of the Premier
League this evening after beating Aston Villa 3-2 at Old
Trafford, teenager Federico Macheda scoring the 92nd minute
winner.
After going behind to a first half Christiano Ronaldo goal,
Villa actually turned the game around and were leading 2-1
with ten minutes to go.
However, a second from Ronaldo and Macheda’s first goal for
the club ensured victory for Alex Ferguson’s men.
The game did however expose frailties in Utd’s defence.
Remember, they were playing the same Aston Villa that
Liverpool comprehensively thrashed 5-0 just two weeks ago.
With 7 games of the season to go, United are now 1 point
clear at the top of the Premier League table, with a game in
hand.
Liverpool can regain topspot if they beat, or draw with,
Blackburn Rovers in the 12.45pm kick-off at Anfield next
Saturday (11 April).
United play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in a 3pm
kick-off.
(This is Anfield)
Barry eyes O'Neill talks
Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry will seek talks with
Martin O’Neill at the end of the season if they fail to
qualify for the Champions League.
The former Villa captain was heavily linked with a move to
Liverpool last summer, but the switch fell through when The
Reds failed to meet Villa’s £18 million valuation.
Barry was widely tipped to remain at Villa Park, if they
could secure Champions League football this season, but a
poor run of form has seen them slip out of the top four.
And the Villa midfielder has indicated he will now evaluate
his position at the end of the campaign.
The England international said: "We have got the players in
the dressing room. With the games we've got left, we have
got a more than good enough squad to take us up the league.
"My aim is for us to finish in the top four and play
Champions League football at Villa Park. It's a big ask but
it's more than achievable.
"If it doesn't happen, at the end of the season I'll speak
with the manager about my future."
(Setanta Sports)
Lampard: No Xabi friction
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has revealed he has
held clear-the-air talks with Liverpool's Xabi Alonso ahead
of next week's UEFA Champions League meeting.
Lampard and Alonso have clashed in the past, with the latter
suffering
a broken ankle under a challenge from England international
Lampard
in 2005.
And then in February this year, Lampard was sent off for a
tackle on the Spaniard, although the Football Association
later rescinded the dismissal.
The Blues and the Reds are set to clash on Wednesday in the
last eight of the Champions League, and Lampard insists
there are no hard feelings between him and Alonso.
He said: "It's a good battle between us. He is a fantastic
player. We've had our moments in the past but there's a lot
of respect.
"I spoke to him after the Spain game when we [England]
played out there, because of the red card I got before, and
cleared the air a bit."
(Sky Sports)
Yossi: That was for the fans
Yossi Benayoun reflected on his dramatic winning goal at
Fulham and dedicated the strike to the magnificent
travelling Kop.
With two minutes of stoppage time remaining, the Israeli
international smashed an unstoppable shot beyong the reach
of Mark Schwarzer to send the Reds on top of the Barclays
Premier League.
The Reds number 15 knows how important the goal could be
come the end of the season, and the celebrations from the
supporters, long after the final whistle at Craven Cottage
told its own story.
"We have the best fans in the world,"said Benayoun.
"You can see that every time we play, home and away they are
always supporting us.
"To see them celebrate like that at the end, it was nice to
score
just for them."
(LFC Official Website)
Kuwaitis up to buy Reds
Liverpool are edging closer to a £450 million Middle East
take-over which would give Kop boss Rafa Benitez more
transfer funds.
Talks between American co-owners Tom Hicks and George
Gillett to sell all or a majority of their Anfield
investment to a mega-rich Kuwait family are very advanced .
Despite denials, Nasser Al Kharafi – who is worth £9bilion –
is closing in on a deal to become the new owner of the club.
(Daily Star Sunday) |
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SATURDAY 4 |
Gerrard thrilled with 'massive' win
Steven Gerrard hailed Yossi Benayoun's "fantastic" late
winner after Liverpool went top of the Premier League by
beating Fulham.
And Reds captain Gerrard insists the goal could prove
crucial in the title race, with Liverpool, favourites
Manchester United and Chelsea still jostling for the league
trophy.
Benayoun struck in stoppage-time at Craven Cottage to give
Liverpool
a 1-0 win, after they had missed a stack of chances to claim
a comfortable victory.
Gerrard told Setanta Sports 1: "It's a massive three points.
We knew before the game that a defeat or a draw was no good
for us.
"It was important we put some pressure on United."
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa: We must keep calm
Rafa Benitez warned his players to remain calm after they
returned to top spot with a dramatic 1-0 win at Fulham.
Yossi Benayoun sent the Reds two points clear of Manchester
United with a goal deep into injury time.
The strike prompted rounds of 'We're gonna win the league'
from the travelling Kop, who had watched in frustration as
their side hit the woodwork four times.
Despite his own evident joy from the sidelines, Benitez
knows United can regain the lead if they win the first of
two games in hand at home to Aston Villa on Sunday.
He said: "Hopefully we can keep the fans happy until the
end.
"As a manager you have to be calm and leave the fans to
enjoy. There are still a lot of games left.
"I haven't seen (my reaction) back yet but I am calm. It was
a very important goal at a crucial time."
(Setanta Sports)
Benayoun keeps
Reds believing
Liverpool reclaimed leadership of The Premier League thanks
to a goal from substitute Yossi Benayoun two minutes into
time added on at the end for a 1-0 win at Fulham.
A 4-1 rout at Old Trafford and a 5-0 romp over Aston Villa
had re-engendered belief that a first title since 1990 was
possible, but after a first half where the visitors struck
the woodwork four times, their conviction appeared to waver.
That was until deep into stoppage-time and until Benayoun
had dispatched a shot high into the top corner past a
flailing Mark Schwarzer.
Liverpool’s coaching staff swarmed the pitch to celebrate
the goal that sees The Reds overhaul Manchester United ahead
of the champions' match against Aston Villa on Sunday.
(Setanta Sports)
Dossena on wing versus Fulham
Andrea Dossena will start on the wing when Liverpool take on
Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon. You can listen to
full commentary on our Match Day Live show from 5pm BST.
Lucas also starts in place of Javier Mascherano, who
travelled with Argentina in midweek.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Insua, Carragher,
Skrtel, Lucas, Alonso, Kuyt, Dossena, Torres, Gerrard.
Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Ngog, Riera, Benayoun, Babel,
Mascherano.
(LFC Official Website)
U18s return to form with Stoke triumph
Liverpool under-18s warmed up for their FA Youth Cup
semi-final in style as they cruised to a 2-1 win over Stoke
City on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Lauri Dalla Valle and Nathan Eccleston did the
damage as Hughie McAuley's men secured their first success
since February's 4-2 triumph against Bolton at Anfield.
Substitute Adam Vickers snatched a late consolation for the
visitors, but in truth, the scoreline flattered them as
Liverpool were guilty of wasting a whole host of
opportunities.
The victory means the Reds will now head into the semi-final
first-leg encounter away to Birmingham City in a fortnight's
time in high spirits as they bid to reach their third final
in four years.
Liverpool under-18s: Chris Oldfield, John Flannagan, Jack
Robinson, Andre Wisdom, Joe Kennedy, Chris Buchtmann (Karl
Clare 63), David Amoo, Adam Pepper, Lauri Dalla Valle, Tom
Ince, Nathan Eccleston (Alex Cooper 82).
Unused subs: Deale Chamberlain, Conner Roberts-Nurse.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds yet to open Carra talks
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has confirmed the club have yet
to open talks with Jamie Carragher over a new deal.
On Friday, the Reds announced that Dirk Kuyt and captain
Steven Gerrard had both agreed contract extensions.
Carragher's current terms, meanwhile, are to expire in 2011,
and Benitez is remaining coy over whether discussions with
the 31-year-old are in
the offing.
The Spanish coach said in the Daily Star: "They [Gerrard and
Carragher] have the same agent, but different age, different
players.
"We have a lot of conversations with different players but
one at a time. We're not talking at the moment with Carra.
Maybe we will.
"He is in the squad. We know each player is different and so
we have to think about them one at a time."
Benitez also insisted that defender Daniel Agger is happy at
Anfield, despite speculation surrounding his future.
He said: "Yesterday I was talking with him and it was okay,
not a problem. He wants to play and to play for us. He wants
to win trophies with us."
(Sky Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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