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THURSDAY 6 |
Riise: “Aquilani a bigger threat than
Alonso”
Former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise says Alberto
Aquilani will bring a greater goal threat for Liverpool than
Xabi Alonso ever offered.
Riise has played with the Reds’ imminent signing for the
last season at Roma and says he has been very impressed to
see what the 25-year-old Italian midfielder can do.
Riise said, “When I first came to Roma, I didn’t know a
thing
about Aquilani.
“I knew all about Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi and
Philippe Mexes, of course, but Aquilani was the player who
surprised me the most in my first months with what he could
do.
“He’s really good on the ball, with good passing, good
movement, he works hard and is a good professional.
“He likes to have the ball at his feet but not because he
likes to dribble, he just wants to keep the team moving. He
never stands still, he’s always on the run.
“He certainly runs more than Xabi and is probably more
dangerous in terms of getting in the box and trying to score
goals.
“When I came to Rome he was my neighbour and helped me out a
lot. He’s a good friend. Liverpool will be getting a very
good player.”
(This is Anfield)
Kuyt proud of captaincy
Dirk Kuyt is immensely proud to have captained Liverpool in
pre-season.
With Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher both subsitutes for
last night's friendly with FC Lyn Dirk Kuyt was again handed
the captain's armband. It was quite an honour says the
Dutchman.
"It means a lot to be captain of Liverpool," said Kuyt.
"Obviously I know that Stevie is number one and we have
Jamie as well. With so many changes in pre-season everyone
needs to play and I've had the armband a couple of times -
it's a great honour."
(LFC Online)
Alonso wanted to leave
Liverpool last season
Xabi Alonso has said he had been "determined" to leave
Liverpool for some time after completing his move to Real
Madrid.
"It's a very happy day for me," said Alonso. "It's an
important step in my career to come to a club like Real
Madrid.
"I'm very happy to be part of this club and I was very
excited for this day to arrive. It's the best opportunity
for me to develop as a footballer."
And, while he enjoyed his time on Merseyside, the former
Real Sociedad player admitted he decided before the end of
the season the time was right to move on.
"I am very grateful to Liverpool fans, they were very warm
during my five years," he said. "It will be really difficult
to match their appreciation.
"I really enjoyed those five years. But a few months ago I
took that decision as I thought it was the right moment to
find a fresh challenge, to look for a new club.
Reports suggest Alonso's relationship with Liverpool manager
Rafael Benitez disintegrated after he professed his desire
to leave.
However, Alonso insists he has nothing but respect for his
former manager.
"I have repeated over and over again that the relationship
was a professional one, of mutual respect, a normal one
between coach and player," he said.
"I respect him and thank him for the opportunity he gave me.
The goodbyes were quite brief, everything happened very
quickly and I didn't have time to say goodbye properly.
"I want to return to say goodbye to my team-mates and Rafa.
As everything was very quick I hardly had time so as soon as
I can I will say goodbye as I should have done."
(Telegraph.co.uk) |
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WEDNESDAY 5 |
Benitez hopeful on Riera injury
Rafa Benitez is confident the injury Albert Riera sustained
in the 2-0 victory over FC Lyn on Wednesday evening is not
serious.
The Spain winger was introduced as a half-time substitute in
Oslo, but was forced to leave the field towards the end of
the match after falling awkwardly.
"He twisted his ankle, but I don't think it is serious,"
Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv. "We had to take him off, but it
is always better to be careful with these things."
The Reds recorded their second victory of the pre-season
campaign courtesy of goals from strike duo Andriy Voronin
and David Ngog.
After Sunday's 3-0 reversal to Espanyol in Barcelona,
Benitez admitted he was delighted with the response from his
side.
"We had a lot of opportunities in attack. It was an open
game and they played well on the counter-attack, so I think
it was a good match for the fans," he said.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: Aquilani should excite fans
Rafa Benitez believes Alberto Aquilani would be an exciting
addition to his title-chasing squad.
Roma have given permission for Liverpool to discuss terms
with the 25-year-old, who has yet to take a medical at
Melwood.
In an exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv, the boss
revealed how Aquilani could fit into his side.
"Roma have allowed us to talk with him, so that's good and
positive. He is a player with the quality we are looking
for," said Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool too strong for FC Lyn
Liverpool defeated FC Lyn 2-0 in Oslo on Wednesday night
with Andriy Voronin and David Ngog on target.
(TEAMtalk)
Leeds line-up Hammill
Skysports.com understands Leeds are lining up a move for
Liverpool starlet Adam Hammill.
Highly-rated winger Hammill has been the subject of interest
from Barnsley this summer, but Leeds are hoping to beat
their Yorkshire rivals to the player's signature.
Hammill has come through the ranks at Anfield and was a
member of the 2006 FA Youth Cup winning side.
The 21-year-old has spent the last few seasons out on loan
at Dunfermline, Southampton, Blackpool and Barnsley after
finding his first-team chances at Liverpool limited.
(Sky Sports)
Line-up vs FC Lyn
Dirk Kuyt captains another experimental Liverpool side in
this evening’s penultamate pre-season friendly in Oslo,
Norway against FC Lyn.
Whilst Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Javier Mascherano
and Fernando Torres are on the bench, summer signing Glen
Johnson starts again for the Reds.
Rafa Benitez will be hoping his players can step up a gear
after only one victory in pre-season so far, two defeats and
two draws.
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Johnson, Dossena, Kelly, San Jose,
Babel, Kuyt, Spearing, Lucas, Ngog, Voronin.
Subs: Gulacsi, Plessis, Ayala, Degen, Gerrard, Torres,
Riera, Benayoun, Mascherano, Insua, Carragher.
(This is Anfield)
Liverpool agree fee for Aquilani
Liverpool have confirmed they have agreed a fee with Roma
for Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani.
The transfer is reported to be worth £20m and is subject to
a medical being completed later in the week.
"Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in
both Serie A and the Champions League," said Liverpool
manager Rafa Benitez.
The move comes just hours after the Reds sold Spanish
midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid for £30m.
(BBC Sport Online)
Threlfall set for loan move
Skysports.com understands Liverpool defender Robbie
Threlfall is poised for a loan move away from Anfield.
A number of clubs are thought to be keen on signing the
talented left-back, who is also equally adapt at
centre-half, after Liverpool made him available for a loan
switch.
The 20-year-old is highly regarded at Liverpool and the
Anfield coaching staff are willing to farm him out again so
that he can continue his development.
Threlfall, who had loan spells at Hereford and Stockport
last season, endured a frustrating campaign last term with a
metatarsal injury, but he is now back to full fitness and
has caught the eye in pre-season.
His performances have not gone unnoticed with the player
being subject to several enquiries about his availability
ahead of the new season.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is keen to send him out on loan as he
continues his policy of farming out his best young players
so that they can regular first-team action under their
belts.
(Sky Sports)
Alonso passes Real medical
Xabi Alonso has passed his medical as the Spanish midfielder
closes in on his move to Real Madrid from Liverpool.
A fee was agreed between the two clubs on Tuesday evening,
with Real expected to pay in the region of £30million for
the former
Real Sociedad man.
Real have spent much of the summer trying to conclude a deal
for Alonso, who outlined his desire to leave Anfield last
month by handing in a transfer request.
He is now close to finalising his move to the Santiago
Bernabeu after passing a medical and holding talks over
personal terms.
Madrid chief doctor Carlos Diez told the club's television
channel: "We carried out all the usual tests, concentrating
on the musculoskeletal system because he has already had an
ankle operation and we are satisfied because there are no
signs anything is wrong.
"He is fit to join the squad."
(Sky Sports)
Molby: “Reds will
miss Alonso”
Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby says he thinks
Liverpool will miss Xabi Alonso once his imminent transfer
to Real Madrid is finalized, but believes the Spanish
international is doing something good for his career.
Alonso looks set to join the La Liga giants in a deal
thought to be worth around £30million to the Reds.
And Molby told the BBC, he completely understands Alonso’s
reasons for leaving Anfield.
“He’s doing what he thinks is right for his career,” he
said. “When he retires he’ll look back and see Liverpool and
Real Madrid on his C.V. and that’s a big thing.
“If you look at what’s happening at Real right now, you can
sense that there could be something big in terms of what
they’re capable of winning over the next few years and
Alonso feels he wants to be part of that.
“In the end he was desperate to go and join them and I fully
understand his decision.
“But Liverpool will miss him a lot. Everyone talks about
Gerrard and Torres, but I think just behind them, Alonso was
a crucial part of the directional play of the team.”
(This is Anfield)
Sir Alex Ferguson writes off
Liverpool FC title hopes
Alex Ferguson has effectively written off Liverpool's title
chances and said he sees Chelsea as the main threat now.
The Manchester United manager does not believe the departure
of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid will affect Liverpool, saying
Rafa Benítez's team are far more reliant on the input of
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
But he taunted Liverpool - who lost just two league games
last term - claiming the Reds have little chance improving
on last season's
second place.
"Liverpool have just had probably their best season for 20
years, finished up with 86 points and still finished four
adrift," said the veteran Scot whose side were defeated by
Liverpool twice last season.
He added: "It will be hard for them to match that, let alone
improve. Other teams will read Liverpool better."
He says he is more concerned by Chelsea, who have a new
manager in Carlo Ancelotti, the winner of two European Cups
and a Serie A title with Milan. "It has to be Chelsea as the
main threat," he said.
(Liverpool Echo) |
|
TUESDAY 4 |
Real agree £30m
deal for Xabi Alonso
Liverpool FC’s Xabi Alonso is set to sign for Real Madrid
tomorrow after the clubs agreed a fee believed to be £30m
for the Spain midfielder.
The end of a summer-long saga over the 27-year-old’s future
ended on Tuesday when Liverpool FC issued a short statement
effectively bringing to a close his spell on Merseyside.
The statement read: "Liverpool Football Club this evening
confirmed they had reached agreement for the sale of Xabi
Alonso to Real Madrid, subject only to a medical. The terms
of the deal will remain confidential and undisclosed."
But although Liverpool FC will not reveal the details of the
deal, privately sources were maintaining that manager Rafael
Benitez had got his own way over the fee.
It is believed that Madrid made another attempt to end the
deadlock on Tuesday with an offer of £30m that will rise to
£34m depending on Alonso’s success over the first two years
of what is believed to be a five-year contract.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Liverpool close on Poulsen
Sky Sports News understands Liverpool are closing in on the
signing of Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen.
(Sky Sports)
Agent: Reds in for Defour
Steven Defour's agent has confirmed that Liverpool are keen
on the Belgian star.
Real Madrid have joined the hunt for the Standard Liege
playmaker, who has previously been the target of Everton and
Aston Villa.
Real were considering Defour should they not sign Xabi
Alonso from Liverpool, who are also viewing him a
replacement for the Spaniard.
Roma's Alberto Aquilani remains a target for Rafa Benitez,
but Defour is also very much on the radar for the Anfield
club, who are expected to sell Alonso to Real this week.
Standard have insisted that they will not be parting company
with their prized asset but, Defour feels that is not the
case.
"I have an agreement with Standard Liege that I could go to
a top club, and Liverpool fit the bill," the 21-year-old is
quoted by the English press.
And his agent, Paul Stefani, has confirmed that Liverpool
are keen
on Defour.
"Steven's name has been mentioned not only at Real Madrid,
but also at Liverpool - they are looking at him too," he
told the Daily Mail.
"Normally he would stay for another year, but nobody could
say no to clubs like those - and Liege would not stand in
his way."
(Sky Sports)
New deal for Eccleston
Nathan Eccleston has signed a new contract.
The reserve team striker, part of the FA Youth Cup runners
up side last season, has signed a three year deal according
to Sky Sports News.
(LFC Online)
Reserves beaten
Liverpool reserves were narrowly beaten last night.
The Reds lost a thriller 4-3 to Bristol Rovers at the
Memorial Ground in their latest pre-season friendly. Adam
Hammill, Vitor Flora and Andras Simon scored Liverpool's
goals.
"When you score three goals away from home you think you
should get something from the game, but we were just a bit
sloppy defensively," said reserve team boss John McMahon.
"Hammill scored an excellent goal and he was bright
throughout and worked hard.
"The pleasing thing is we managed to give everybody a game
and we didn't pick up any injuries.
"We played a few of the lads in different positions just to
give them some experience, and this game against a good
strong team will have done them a world of good."
(LFC Online)
Voronin expects regular role
Andriy Voronin is confident he will play a prominent role
for Liverpool in the 2009/10 campaign.
The Ukraine international spent last season on loan at
Hertha Berlin after being deemed surplus to requirements at
Anfield.
He is, however, back in England and has featured regularly
for the Reds during their pre-season preparations.
Having rebuilt his confidence in Germany last year,
following a difficult debut season in the Premier League
following his 2007 arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, Voronin
believes he is now better equipped to force his way into
Rafa Benitez's plans.
"I spoke to Rafa Benitez before my return and he said I need
to work hard to get a chance in the first team," Voronin
told Bild.
"So far I have featured in every pre-season friendly,
despite all the competition for places.
"I am not afraid of all the strikers we have here. I am
prepared to fight for a place in the side as I do not plan
on sitting around on the bench."
(Football 365)
Thor Zakariassen
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