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SUNDAY 6 |
Agger named best in Denmark
Liverpool FC centre-back Daniel Agger received some cheer as
he continues his recovery from a metatarsal injury as he was
named Denmark's Footballer of the Year for 2007.
The 23-year-old prevented Christian Poulsen of Sevilla FC
from collecting a hat-trick of titles after claiming the
most votes by players and coaches of clubs in the top two
divisions in the country and Danish players who ply their
trade abroad.
"I am extremely proud and honoured to receive this award -
not least because it is based on votes from my colleagues,"
said the former Brøndby IF defender.
Agger, who has not played since 15 September after
sustaining a foot injury on international duty, follows in
the footsteps of the likes of Michael and Brian Laudrup,
Peter Schmeichel and Preben Elkjær.
The prestigious Danish Players' Association award was first
handed out
in 1961.
(UEFA.com)
Rafa frustrated by Luton draw
Rafa Benitez reflected on his side's 1-1 draw with Luton
Town and admitted he was disappointed that the Reds had
failed to book their place in the fourth round of the
competition at the first time of asking.
"We knew it could be a tough game and it was a tough game,"
said Benitez.
"They (Luton) worked really hard. We also worked hard but
the only thing is when you score a goal you need to use your
experience and control the game. But we conceded within
three minutes and that was really disappointing."
(LFC Official Website)
Blackwell proud of his players
Luton boss Kevin Blackwell was proud of his players after
they earned a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in their FA Cup third
round encounter.
"I do think we could have won," Blackwell told Sky Sports 1.
"I think we could rue the chances we missed, but what a
fantastic performance from the players."
(Sky Sports)
Own goal piles pressure on Benitez
An own goal by Liverpool’s John Arne Riise piled on the
problems for manager Rafael Benitez and earned Luton a
deserved replay in a thrilling third round FA Cup clash at
Kenilworth Road.
Liverpool looked to have won the tie when Peter Crouch made
the most of two defensive blunders to put the Reds in front
in the 72nd minute.
But Luton were level inside three minutes when Riise turned
a cross from Drew Talbot past his own goalkeeper.
(Evening Echo)
Benitez rubbishes rumours
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has rejected suggestions that he
fears being sacked at the end of the season.
Widespread reports on Sunday claimed Benitez was resigned to
the fact that he would lose his job in the summer after his
row with club owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks .
Asked if he was sure he would be in charge at Anfield next
season, he added: "I think so."
(Sky Sports)
Crouch and Kuyt face Luton
Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt will lead the line as Liverpool
boss Rafael Benitez rings the changes for this afternoon's
clash at Luton Town.
Sami Hyypia returns from injury and will partner Jamie
Carragher at the heart of the Reds' defence, who skippers
the side in the absence of Steven Gerrard, while there also
starts for Charles Itandje, Lucas Leiva, Ryan Babel and Xabi
Alonso.
Youngster Jack Hobbs is on the bench alongside Nabil El Zhar
and David Martin as Liverpool look for a repeat of the third
round triumph they secured over the Hatters back in 2006.
The Liverpool team in full: Itandje, Finnan, Riise,
Carragher, Hyypia, Lucas, Alonso, Benayoun, Babel, Crouch,
Kuyt.
Subs: Martin, Hobbs, Mascherano, El Zhar, Voronin.
(LFC Official Website)
Inter join Sissoko race
After Juventus lined up a bid for the unsettled Liverpool
star, now Inter plan to intercept with their own offer for
Mohamed Sissoko.
The midfielder has hinted he would favour a January move
away from the Premier League club after a falling out with
Rafa Benitez and had already been in talks with Juve over
the summer.
It is widely reported that Claudio Ranieri would like
Sissoko to reinforce his squad as soon as possible and could
include Jonathan Zebina as part of an exchange deal.
However, this morning the ‘Corriere dello Sport’ suggests
that Inter are joining the race to sign the 22-year-old.
(Channel 4)
Reds linked with Opare move
Ghanaian starlet Daniel Opare has admitted it would be a
dream come true to play in the Premier League, amid
speculation linking him with a switch to Liverpool.
Opare was rated the best defender at last summer's Under-17
World Cup.
Still only 17, he has already been called up to Ghana's
senior team and has been likened in style to Brazilian great
Cafu.
Opare's enthusiasm for the English game will have been noted
by Liverpool, who have reportedly been tracking his progress
for some time.
The Reds could now decide to make an offer, although Ashanti
have inserted a clause in his contract that will not allow
him to move for less than £1.5million.
(Sky Sports)
U18s held at Bolton
A header from Martin Kelly was not enough to secure victory
as the Under-18s were held to a 1-1 draw at Bolton
Wanderers.
Reds goalkeeper Chris Oldfield also saved a second half
penalty in Hughie McAuley's side first encounter of 2008.
Liverpool Under-18s team: Chris Oldfield, Steven Irwin,
Shane O'Connor, Martin Kelly, Joe Kennedy, Sean Highdale,
David Amoo, Astrit Ajdarevic, Marvin Pourie (Michael Scott
80), Nathan Eccleston (Michael Collins 60), Gary Mackay
Steven (Alex Kacaniklic 45).
Unused subs: Martin Hansen (GK), Mattone Awang.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa exit talk intensifies
Rafa Benitez has admitted there is a gap between Liverpool
and the top three in the Premier League, amid growing
speculation about his future
at Anfield.
Widespread reports suggest that Benitez could be set to move
on in the summer after four years with the club.
The Spaniard's relationship with Liverpool owners Tom Hicks
and George Gillett has become strained this season and he is
now understood to be preparing to leave England.
According to reports, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich,
Internazionale and Milan are all tracking Benitez's
situation with interest.
(TEAMtalk) |
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SATURDAY 5 |
Hobbs relishing cup chance
Liverpool's teenager Jack Hobbs is relishing the prospect of
facing Luton in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The last time teenager Hobbs got the chance of a cup run-out
for Liverpool Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink broke his nose.
The 19-year-old has been eased gently into senior action by
manager Rafael Benitez these past few months but the former
Lincoln City centre-back is likely to find himself involved
in Sunday's third round tie at Luton.
Hobbs originally made his Liverpool debut as a late
substitute in the Carling Cup victory at Reading in
September and his next outing came in the same competition
when Cardiff arrived at Anfield with Hasselbaink and Kop
legend Robbie Fowler up front.
"It was great to start that match and I learned a lot from
facing Fowler and Hasselbaink," said Hobbs.
Hobbs said: "It gives me a lot of confidence that the
manager has been willing to put me in the team.
"Now that I have played a few games it means he believes in
me. I have got to pay back that trust by putting in good
performances.
"Hopefully I will get the chance to do that in the second
half of
the season."
(TEAMtalk)
Dimitar Berbatov so near to signing in
Should Dimitar Berbatov leave Spurs for an enormous fee
during the January transfer window it will leave many at
Anfield regretting what might have been.
In the autumn and winter of 2004, Liverpool were scouring
Europe for a top class centre forward and Berbatov, then of
Bayer Leverkusen, was high on their wanted list.
Leverkusen were willing to do business at the right price
and the player himself was believed to have been keen on a
move to Anfield.
That was until fate intervened and Liverpool were drawn
against Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Any hopes of a deal being done were dashed as the German
outfit decided they could not sell one of their main assets
to a team they would be facing the following month and
Liverpool ended up signing Fernando Morientes.
Talk about the luck of the draw.
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez faith in fringe players for FA Cup test
Under-fire Rafael Benitez will place his faith in his fringe
players tomorrow in the confidence that whichever team he
selects should be good enough to beat Luton Town.
Liverpool travel to Kenilworth Road to face the Coca-Cola
League One strugglers in an FA Cup third round tie for the
second time in three seasons.
The Anfield manager will be without the services of skipper
Steven Gerrard, one of several injury concerns as the
effects of the hectic festive programme bite into his squad.
“All the players in our squad are good enough to play
against Luton in the FA Cup. If we decide to use Crouch,
Voronin, Torres or Crouch, for me it’s more or less the
same.
“I need to look at players that have not been playing. For
example, Lucas Leiva was playing a few weeks ago and doing
well, so he is capable of playing in these games.
“If you can’t change players for an FA Cup tie at Luton,
then you can’t compete to win the three competitions we’re
left in.”
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Luton request Reds' aid
Luton Town have made an appeal to Liverpool to donate their
share of the gate receipts from their FA Cup third round
fixture.
The League One side are in administration with losses
running at £400,000 a month and are in desperate need for
investment.
Furthermore, The Hatters might be forced to sell their
better players if a buyer cannot be found by Monday's 5pm
deadline.
And in a bid to boost the club's financial troubles, manager
Kevin Blackwell has revealed that administrators have
requested that Liverpool donate their share of the gate
receipts from Sunday's encounter at Kenilworth Road.
"The administrator asked Liverpool about donating their
share of the gate money," Blackwell explained.
"They probably said: 'We have to pay players £100,000 a
week. You must be joking! Otherwise we will be like you!'
"You just have to accept it. There are people in life who
have got a Rolls Royce while some people have a Mini.
"We are Mini drivers. We tried to live like a Rolls Royce
but that's why we are where we are."
(Sky Sports) |
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FRIDAY 4 |
Gerrard to miss Luton trip
Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Sunday's FA Cup tie at
Luton with a calf injury. The Liverpool captain sustained
the injury in the midweek home draw with Wigan and will not
be in the party that travels to Kenilworth Road for the
third round tie.
Boss Rafael Benitez has also been hit by injuries to
defenders Alvaro Arbeloa (calf) and Fabio Aurelio
(hamstring). It means that youngsters Jack Hobbs and Lucas
are expected to be involved, while Benitez will wait for
medical reports on injured defenders Sami Hyypia and Daniel
Agger before finalising his squad.
(Ireland.com)
Rafa still trying to keep Masch
Rafa Benitez has again stressed his intention to keep hold
of Javier Mascherano and says he is not looking to bring
Wayne Bridge
to Liverpool.
Mascherano is on loan at Anfield until the end of the season
and has expressed his desire to secure a permanent move.
However, the likes of Juventus are circling if Liverpool are
unable to finalise the deal for the Argentina midfielder.
Benitez is aware of interest from other clubs and remains
determined to extend Mascherano's stay on Merseyside.
"We know Juventus and other top sides are interested in him,
but we have the option," Benitez said.
"Javier is happy here and wants to stay. We will do our best
to keep him here."
The Reds boss is also aiming to add new faces to his squad
in January, with a centre-half his top target, rather than a
left-back.
Seemingly dismissing a bid for Chelsea full-back Bridge,
Benitez also refuted suggestions that Sami Hyypia could be
on his way to Fulham.
Benitez added: "We are looking for a new centre-back, but we
are not looking for a new left-back.
"And we are not looking to sell Sami Hyypia either."
(Sky Sports)
Wenger refusing to write off Reds
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he is not ready to
write off Liverpool's title challenge just yet.
The Reds' 1-1 draw with Wigan last weekend left them 12
points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and outside of
the Champions League places.
To make matters worse for under-pressure Anfield boss Rafael
Benitez, his side still have to travel to Arsenal,
Manchester United and Chelsea.
But Wenger knows from personal experience that Liverpool
cannot be discounted with half the season remaining. In
1997-98, Arsenal came from 13 points off the pace to win the
title.
And Wenger said: "I wouldn't say it is completely (a three
horse race). I still feel Liverpool are in the race but they
cannot have any blips anymore.
"They are still a dangerous team. The disadvantage for them
is that there are three teams in front of them (Arsenal,
Manchester United and Chelsea) who might not drop many
points.
"I still don't dismiss them at this stage. It happened to us
in 1997-98 and we made the ground up."
(TEAMtalk)
Xabi's memories of Cup wonder strike
Xabi Alonso accepts Liverpool's trip to Luton Town in the FA
Cup will evoke fond memories of THAT goal, but insists his
sole focus will be to ensure the Reds progress in what
promises to be a tricky third round tie.
The Spanish midfielder sealed Liverpool's passage into round
four of the competition two years ago with an outrageous
last minute strike from within his own half, and while he
admits the mention of that goal brings a smile to his face,
he does not expect to repeat the trick this time around -
nor does he anticipate another berating from skipper Steven
Gerrard!
"Of course I remember that one," said Alonso. "I don't score
so many goals so I remember all of them.
"But I would think it's not likely to be repeated anyway. It
brings back good memories for me though. It was a very
exciting game and we managed to win it after being 3-1 down
and we ended up going to the cup final that year so, yes,
that game does bring back good memories."
(LFC Official Website)
Hutch relishing Reds reunion
There are some people who say the FA Cup has lost its magic
these days but for former Red turned Hatter Don Hutchison
the competition's traditions are still very much alive.
The former Scotland international is in the Luton Town squad
that will take on Liverpool in Sunday's glamour FA Cup third
round tie
at Kenilworth Road.
"It's always nice to play against your former clubs and
Liverpool will always be in my heart. I had five good years
at Anfield and I'd like to think whatever I learned in
football it came from Liverpool.
"I was lucky enough to play for that great club and it will
be magical if I could play some part against them on
Sunday."
(LFC Official Website)
Agent coy over Liverpool interest
The agent of FC Copenhagen defender Brede Hangeland has
refused to comment on the possibility of a move to
Liverpool.
Hangeland has long been the subject of interest from Premier
League clubs, with Newcastle and Liverpool scouting the
centre defender over recent years.
The 26-year-old Hangeland has Champions League experience
from his time with current club Copenhagen, and he is a
close friend of Reds defender John Arne Riise.
Hangeland’s towering presence draws comparisons with that of
ageing stopper Sami Hyypia, and his agent Rune Hauge
remained cautious when asked about reports of a move to
Anfield.
“I have no comment to make on this matter,” he told NRK.
(Setanta Sports)
Evans hopes for cup win
Roy Evans would like to see Liverpool lift the FA Cup in
May.
The former Liverpool manager believes the romance of the cup
is still alive and hopes the Reds can overcome Luton in the
third round on Sunday before going all the way and winning
the competition in May.
"All of our supporters want to win the Premier League
because we haven't done it yet and we would love to win the
Champions League again because that's seen as the ultimate
accolade, but the FA Cup is a great trophy and it's still a
very special competition," said Evans.
(LFC Online)
Puzzled Rafa can't work it out
Rafael Benitez can't work out why Liverpool's home form is
hurting their faltering title bid.
The Reds slipped up again at Anfield on Wednesday night,
allowing Wigan to leave with a point courtesy of a late
equaliser from Titus Bramble.
And the frustrated Spaniard is at a loss when it comes to
finding
the solution.
"It is difficult to explain why our home form is not good,"
he told the club's official website.
"We are controlling all the games, we are passing the ball
well, controlling almost everything. But we pay for one
mistake."
(Sky Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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