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SUNDAY 6 |
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Gerrard agreement will allow him to make
£28m switch to Real
Newspaper reports today claim that Steven Gerrard will snub
Chelsea in the summer and instead sign for Spanish giants
Real Madrid for £28million.
(Kop Talk)
Everton's lead cut to five points
Everton's seven point lead over Liverpool has been cut to
just five points after Everton could only draw with
Southampton on Sunday following's the Reds victory over
Fulham.
The Blues started the day just four points ahead of
Liverpool but despite taking an early lead against
Southampton at the St Mary's Stadium, they had to settle for
a point in the end.
James Beattie scored after just four minutes but the Saints
hit back through Peter Crouch and Henri Camara before Marcus
Bent grabbed a late, late equaliser in the 92nd minute to
rescue a point.
(LFC Official Website)
Four month trial for Smicer
Vladimir Smicer has four months to prove himself, according
to Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
The Czech forward made his first appearance of the season
this week after recovering from a knee injury picked up
during Liverpool's pre-season tour of America.
"If Smicer plays well he will have a chance, but it depends
on the player," said Benitez.
(LFC Online)
Boss' praise for Finnan
Rafael Benitez praised Steve Finnan as the former Fulham man
impressed against his old club yesterday.
Finnan struggled in his first season at Anfield and he came
close to leaving the club at the start of the season.
However, the Irishman opted to stay and fight for his place
and has had an outstanding season, showing the form that got
him voted the best right-back in the league by his fellow
professionals while at Fulham.
"I have not seen all the videos of the games from last
season but I've spoken to a lot of people who have told me
Steve is better player now," said Benitez.
"At the beginning of the season he wanted to know if his
future was here because he had some offers. In the end we
decided we wanted him here. That's been a good decision for
him and for us. "Now I think he has more confidence and is
improving and learning all the time. I can see he is a good
player and I'm very happy with him. He's playing at a high
level all the time and getting better every week."
(LFC Online)
Carra and Gerrard get England call
Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have both been named in
the England squad for wednesday's friendly with the Dutch.
Former Red Michael Owen is also in the squad but Emile
Heskey did not get his
predicted recall.
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 5 |
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Gerrard and Riise injury update
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says Steven Gerrard and John
Arne Riise are both ok despite taking knocks during today's
3-1 win over Fulham.
Gerrard left the pitch with a bandage around his head while
Riise went down heavily towards the end of the match.
"There's no problem with Steven," said the boss. "It's just
small damage, it's not important. I will tell Mr Eriksson
that he's ok.
"Riise is ok. We decided to change for tactical reasons. He
wasn't injured."
(Kop Talk)
Rafa happy with form
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was happy with his side as they
picked up their third win on the trot after a 3-1 success
over Fulham.
"We have been looking for a better level of performance and
thankfully we seemed to have achieved that with three wins
in succession," said Benitez.
"It certainly does a lot to replace the feelings we had
after losing those three games in a week."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Coleman unhappy with Styles
Fulham boss Chris Coleman was unhappy with referee Rob
Styles after his side's defeat to Liverpool.
Coleman was fuming that Styles did not stop play in the
build-up to Liverpool's third goal with Papa Bouba Diop
suffering from a head injury.
"My players could see there was some blood and felt the
referee should have stopped the game," said Coleman.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Reds too strong for Fulham
Liverpool closed the gap on Everton with a 3-1 win over
Fulham at Anfield.
Second half goals from Sami Hyypia and Milan Baros gave The
Reds all three points after Andy Cole had cancelled out
Fernando Morientes' opener in the first half
The win leaves Liverpool four points behind Everton in the
race for fourth place and that final coveted UEFA Champions
League place.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Hamann set to pledge future
Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann is close to putting pen
to paper on a 12-month extension to his contract at Anfield.
The German international is out of contract at the end of
the season but after talks between the player, Rafael
Benitez and Rick Parry, Hamann is expected to sign a new
one-year deal with the option of a further year.
"We have been speaking and Didi will be here next season,"
Benitez told the club's website.
"Rick Parry has been speaking to his agent and it could be
done any time now. In my opinion he will be here for at
least next season. I spoke to the player on Friday morning
and he was going to see Rick so we should have news on his
contract soon.
"He has had a very good first half of the season and with
his experience and quality, I expect him to have a good
second half too. We want him to stay for at least next
season and in my opinion, he will."
(TEAMtalk)
Kewell suffers injury setback
Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell has suffered a fresh
injury setback after breaking down during training at
Melwood.
The Australian international is desperate to recover from
his groin problems but he's been hit by a bout of achilles
tendinitis. The news comes as a real blow as he was expected
to be on the bench for the game against Fulham despite not
completing a single training session all week.
Agent Bernie Mandic said: "Harry's struggling a bit but the
club are doing everything they can to get him right.
"He's had scans which don't show anything substantial but
despite his best efforts at the moment he simply can't shake
off the discomfort and get back on the park.
"Harry was desperate to be fit for the Fulham game as part
of his plan to play himself in for the Levurkusen match."
London-based Socceroos physios Les Gelis and Anthony Crea
are to attend a meeting with Liverpool's medical staff to
try and get to the root of the player's problems.
(Kop Talk) |
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FRIDAY 4 |
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Benitez turns up the heat on Everton
Rafael Benitez tonight claimed Liverpool are a better team
than Everton and insisted they can catch their Mersey rivals
in the race for Champions League qualification.
Everton are fourth, seven points ahead of Liverpool who can
close the gap if they beat Fulham at Anfield on Saturday.
Benitez said: "Sure, I think we are better than Everton. In
my opinion we have a better team and better players.
"But they are having a very good season and they are working
very hard and winning lots of games because they have a
great team spirit. But I still think we are a better team."
He added: "If we win before Everton play, then it is an
advantage, if not then it becomes a problem. But it is not
important for us to worry about when they play or what they
do. If we can win our games then we can reduce the gap."
(Sporting Life)
Boss: Fulham win has served us well
As Liverpool prepare to entertain Fulham this weekend
manager Rafael Benitez has admitted memories of the
corresponding fixture earlier in the campaign has served his
team well this season.
The Reds trailed by two goals at the break at Craven Cottage
before a stirring second half fightback which saw four goals
netted without reply as Liverpool secured their first away
victory of the season.
Benitez is hoping no such heroics are required at Anfield
this weekend, but that comeback in west London back in
October told him a lot about the fighting qualities in his
new side.
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I remember that game well. I don't
think we played badly in the first half but we were losing
by two goals at the break.
"The way we came back in the second half showed the
character in our side. We were determined to turn it around
because we knew it was a very important game for us.
"We have talked about that game many times this season. When
we have been having problems during games we have often said
to the players at the break 'remember what you did at
Fulham'. When a team has come back like that it makes them
believe they can do it again."
(LFC Official Website)
No more updates until Monday 7.
Due to a special training session in the
Norwegian mountains there'll be no more updates on this page
until Monday 7.
(Webmaster)
Hamman returns for Reds
Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann returns from a one-match
suspension for his side's home clash with Fulham on
Saturday.
Igor Biscan deputised for the German international in the
midweek 2-1 win at Charlton and is expected to return to the
bench, with boss Rafael Benitez unlikely to make further
changes.
Vladimir Smicer, who made his comeback at The Valley after
six months out recovering from a knee injury, will be on the
bench again which could also include Harry Kewell, who is
making good progress after his long term injury. Antonio
Nunez is also back after a three-match ban.
Liverpool (from): Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia,
Pellegrino, Traore, Luis Garcia, Potter, Gerrard, Hamman,
Biscan, Riise, Warnock, Morientes, Smicer, Baros, Nunez,
Kewell, Carson.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds duo in Under-21 squad
Liverpool youngsters John Welsh and Scott Carson have been
named in the England Under-21 squad for next week's friendly
with Holland.
Welsh and Carson have both figured in the Liverpool first
team squad over recent weeks and will be looking to pick up
another international cap in the clash at Derby's Pride Park
on Tuesday night.
(LFC Official Website)
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Thor Zakariassen
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