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THURSDAY 6 |
Benitez eager to keep Mascherano
Rafael Benitez insists he will sign Javier Mascherano
permanently despite growing speculation linking the on-loan
midfielder with a move away from Liverpool.
The Reds boss is upbeat about the prospects of completing a
£17million deal for the midfielder but is fully aware he has
no control over a third-party's ownership of the Argentinian
and any desire they might have to tout the player around
Europe's richest clubs.
He said: "Clearly, I hope Mascherano stays here. We are
talking now about this but I have confidence because he
tells me he wants to stay.
"I am confident he can be persuaded to stay here. When I
spoke to Javier, he told me he wants that, so I have
confidence that we will sign him.
"He is playing well and everyone knows he is a good player
and there are not too many world-class holding midfielders
around."
(PA Sport)
LFC legend Rush sings Crouch's praises
Liverpool legend Ian Rush believes striker Peter Crouch
could have a vital role to play this season.
The England forward has found chances at Anfield limited
this season following, chiefly, the arrival of Fernando
Torres which has led to speculation - repeatedly played down
by player and manager Rafael Benitez - about the
26-year-old's future.
But Rush feels he is still one of the club's most potent
weapons, saying: "He has done nothing wrong. Every time he
has played for Liverpool he has been superb. He's a
fantastic different option for Liverpool and England and has
never let Liverpool down."
He added: "He [Benitez] can't ask Peter Crouch to do
anything else. He has done exactly what he's been asked to
do but he's got to be patient. He has become a better player
simply by being at Liverpool Football Club."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
McAllister backs Souness for Scotland manager
Gary McAllister is backing Graeme Souness to be the next
Scotland manager.
McAllister lost out to Alex McLeish when Walter Smith quit
last year but says he would now prefer a return to club
management, and former skipper McAllister, capped 57 times,
believes Souness would be the ideal replacement for McLeish.
"He just ticks all of the boxes for me," he told the
Scottish Sun. "I think it's very important for a manager to
be able to walk into the dressing room and have the presence
and stature to gain instant player respect."
He added: "Alex McLeish and Walter Smith had it and I feel
it's important Scotland pick someone with the same
qualities.
"Graeme certainly hasn`t ruled himself out. He's definitely
got the stature while he's also got the experience with
regards to dealing with the media.
"But the big thing for me is respect. Who can say Graeme
hasn't been there, seen it and done it? He has."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Rafa issues Reds challenge
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has challenged his side to
maintain their rich vein of form as they look to keep pace
with the leaders at the top of
the table.
The Reds have won their last five games, scoring 21 goals
and conceding just one in the process.
Liverpool travel to Reading this weekend before vital games
against Marseille and Manchester United and Benitez is
demanding more from
his players.
"I'm really pleased at the moment because we are creating
chances, scoring goals, not conceding and we're winning
games. There are lots of positives for me to look at right
now," Benitez told the club's official website.
(Sky Sports)
BBC in Hillsborough apology. . again
The BBC apologised today after one of its reporters implied
ticketless Liverpool supporters caused the deaths of 96 fans
during the Hillsborough disaster.
Journalist Patrick Burns made the controversial comment
during a feature on the Politics Show last Sunday about
football ground terracing.
It comes after the corporation was criticised last month
when a scene in EastEnders linked hooligans with
Hillsborough.
During the Politics Show, Mr Burns said that, “four years
after Heysel” ...“Caged in at Hillsborough, 96 Liverpool
fans were crushed to death after a late influx of ticketless
supporters behind them.”
Today, the BBC insisted that the remark was not intended to
cause offence or hurt.
A spokesman said: “The report did not mean to imply that the
cause of the disaster was fans arriving at the ground
without tickets.
“The BBC would like to apologise if the remark could have
been misconstrued or caused offence.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Hobbs set for first start
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is set to give Jack Hobbs his
first Premiership start against Reading if Jamie Carragher
fails to make it.
Centre-half Carragher appears to be losing his race to be
fit enough for the trip to the Madejski Stadium on Saturday
following his clash with Pepe Reina during the 4-0 win over
Bolton which left him with bruised ribs.
If there are any doubts over the defender's fitness then
Benitez will not risk him, with massive games coming up
against Marseilles in the Champions League and Manchester
United in the Premiership.
Hobbs looks set to start although Benitez may opt to push
Alvaro Arbeloa to centre-back should Steve Finnan recover
from a calf injury in time to face Steve Coppell's men.
(Clubcall Sports)
Babel sets goals target
Dutch forward Ryan Babel has set himself a double-figure
goals target in his first season in The Premier League.
The youngster was a big-money summer recruit from Ajax and
has shown flashes of real quality for Liverpool this term.
He has three Premier League goals to his name and is keen to
add at least seven more to his tally before the season draws
to a close.
"I've said before that goalscoring is a quality of my game
and I'm pleased I've been able to show that lately," Babel
told the club’s official website.
"I have three Premier League goals so far and I hope to
reach ten before the end of the season. Of course, if I can
score more then that would be even better but to get ten
would mean I'd had a good first season here.”
(Setanta Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 5 |
Gerrard focused on title tilt
Steven Gerrard has insisted it is more important for
Liverpool to win the Premier League than for him to become
the highest-scoring midfielder.
The Reds captain has netted eight times in his last nine
games but is not looking to get into a competition with
Arsenal schemer Cesc Fabregas or Chelsea's Frank Lampard.
Gerrard is fully focused on Liverpool's challenge for the
title, which was boosted by a 4-0 victory over Bolton at the
weekend.
"You don't compare yourself to other people," said Gerrard.
"What I do compare is Liverpool to Arsenal and Liverpool to
Chelsea.
"If Fabregas and Lampard score more goals than me but we
finish higher than them in the table I certainly will not be
complaining. Goals are important but not as important as
points."
The 27-year-old added on the club's official website: "But I
want to score as many goals as I can."
Gerrard claimed two assists against Bolton and he maintains
he takes just as much enjoyment from setting up his
team-mates.
"It gives me a real buzz. That is part of my job from
midfield," he said.
(Sky Sports)
Reds flatly reject Capello links
Liverpool have completely denied any suggestion that they
contacted Fabio Capello to replace Rafa Benitez as Anfield
boss.
Reports in Wednesday’s papers claim Capello, who has won a
league title with every club he has ever managed, was
contacted before and after Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over
Porto.
As Benitez heads for major talks with the Anfield owners in
mid-December, it was reported that Capello was being lined
up as the Spaniard’s replacement.
However, Reds chief executive Rick Parry whole-heartedly
denies such speculation, labelling the stories ‘absolutely,
completely and utterly untrue’.
He went on to say in The Liverpool Echo: “Capello has not
contacted us and we have not contacted him.”
(Setanta Sports)
Ablett praises Nemeth
Gary Ablett was full of praise for Krisztian Nemeth last
night.
The Hungarian striker scored twice against Everton last
night to make it four goals in two appearances for the
second string. His performance earned him the praise of Gary
Ablett.
"Krisztian is in a rich vein of form at the moment and he
took his goals very well," said the reserve team coach.
"He showed fantastic skill for his first goal and he does
that all the time in training. He is still very young and
that was only his second game for us but we are very pleased
with his performances so far.
"I thought we did well overall and we have to be pleased
with the win. The pitch made things difficult at times but
we made the most of it and tried to pass the ball.
"I thought Nabil El Zhar did well on the right side and he
has two quick feet and can take defenders on.
"Ronald is trying to claim the first goal but I'm not so
sure about that one! I have to say he and Mikel San Jose did
very well at the back against James Vaughan who has a lot of
talent."
(LFC Online)
Hobbs hopes for more
Jack Hobbs is hoping for more league appearances.
The reserve team captain made his league debut as a second
half subsitute for Jamie Carragher against Bolton on Sunday
and he hopes that was the first of many.
"Carra has a week to recover to the Reading game, but if I
can fill in and help out I will do. I'd look forward to it
and feel I am ready. I was a little bit nervous when the
manager told me to strip off on Sunday. When he called me
over I didn't know that Carra was injured, but when I got
told I was on I was excited and nervous. I just wanted to
get out there and do it,"
said Hobbs.
(LFC Online)
Molby praises Lucas
Jan Molby has been impressed by Lucas Leiva this season.
The former Liverpool midfielder says the Brazilian under
20's captain has impressed him since his arrival in the
Summer and he could have a bright future with the Reds.
"I've been very impressed with him. When we bought him we
knew he had ability but we thought he was going to be one
for the future," said Molby.
"We're very well off in centre midfield with Gerrard,
Alonso, Mascherano and Sissoko but he's obviously made an
impression on the training ground and earned his chance in
the first team.
"It's difficult to say what type of player he'll go on to be
but it seems he has a bit of everything. He's very calm on
the ball, he is a good passer and he can also get forward
and make chances.
"The good thing from my point of view is that he is one of a
number of young players who are already doing well. Rafa has
players like Reina, Arbeloa, Babel, Agger and Torres - all
of whom are young but all of whom are already good enough.
Lucas falls into that category as well."
(LFC Online)
UEFA not probing Liverpool's 8-0 win
UEFA are not investigating Liverpool’s 8-0 victory over
Besiktas in the Champions League for alleged suspicious
betting patterns during
the match.
German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung has claimed there was
unusually high levels of betting on a high-score victory
before the game.
However, UEFA say only one match, the InterToto Cup game
between Makedonija and Cherno More in July, is being
investigated by them.
The Liverpool v Besiktas is also not one of the matches that
UEFA have passed on to the police because of suspicious
betting patterns.
(Evening Echo)
City to swoop for Mascherano
Manchester City are being linked with a move for Javier
Mascherano, according to the rumour mill.
Apparently, a meeting took place in a London hotel last week
between one of the player's advisors and a close associate
of Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra.
(LFC Online)
Spurs and Reds lining up Silva
Adrien Silva could be the latest young talent to come off
the Sporting Lisbon production line and join the Premier
League.
Silva, who captains Portugal's Under-19 side, is thought to
be a £3million target for Tottenham boss Juande Ramos.
Liverpool and Sevilla have also been mooted as possible
rivals for his signature, with Silva aware that English
clubs have been monitoring his progress.
(TEAMtalk) |
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TUESDAY 4 |
Nemeth double earns derby delight
Krisztian Nemeth hit another superb double as Liverpool
Reserves ensured the Red half of Merseyside went home with
the bragging rights courtesy of a 3-0 triumph in the Mini
derby at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The Hungarian hot-shot followed up his brace at Manchester
City last week, with two second-half goals to wrap up a
comfortable victory after Blues defender Patrick Boyle put
through his own net to give Liverpool the perfect start on
12 minutes.
It gave Gary Ablett's side their fourth win of the Barclays
Premier Reserve League North campaign, a victory that will
give them great confidence ahead of next Monday's top of the
table clash against Middlesbrough.
Liverpool Reserves: Bouzanis, Kelly (Darby 61), Insua, San
Jose, Huth, Plessis, El Zhar, Spearing (Duran 76), Brouwer
(Pacheco 65), Nemeth, Leto. Subs not used: Gulacsi,
Putterill.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard proves the perfect all-rounder
Steven Gerrard has proved in recent games what a great
leader he is.
After a big disappointment on international duty a lot of
players would take three or four games to really get back
into it.
But the Reds skipper has shrugged off England’s defeat to
Croatia and shown everyone his quality.
People talk about the talents of Cristiano Ronaldo at
Manchester United, but I wouldn’t swop Steven for anyone.
Against Newcastle at St James’ Park he was incredible and he
produced another outstanding, all-round performance against
Bolton on Sunday.
He leads by example and has been the key to the Reds’ recent
winning run.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)
Lucas: It’s my dream to be like Gerrard
Lucas today revealed how much he is loving life at Anfield –
and how he dreams of being as good as Steven Gerrard.
The Brazilian playmaker is now featuring regularly in Rafa
Benitez’s side and has impressed in Liverpool’s last two
Premier League games against Newcastle and Bolton.
And having partnered Gerrard in both those matches, Lucas is
in no doubt that his captain is among the best players in
the world.
“It is fantastic to play alongside him because he is one of
the best players in the world.
“Hopefully, one day I will be as good as he is but that is a
long way away.”
(Liverpool Echo)
O'Neill: No Carson deal in place
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has insisted there is
no deal with Liverpool to turn keeper Scott Carson's loan
into a permanent move.
There has been speculation the two clubs have already agreed
a deal, which would be worth around £10million, to make
Carson's year-long loan a permanent transfer.
But Villa boss O'Neill insisted that was "mere hearsay"
although he is a big fan of Carson who hit the headlines for
the wrong reasons after his costly blunder as England lost
their Euro 2008 qualifier with Croatia.
O'Neill said: "Is the Scott Carson deal going through? He is
here for the season and we have heard nothing from Liverpool
at all.
"Of course, that doesn't mean that you couldn't start
talking about something beforehand (the end of the season)
and I'm aware Rafael Benitez mentioned something about it a
week or so ago.
"But Liverpool haven't spoken to us - and haven't spoken
since Scott was capped for England."
(TEAMtalk)
Thor Zakariassen
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