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MONDAY 6 |
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Everton worried over Champions League cash
With UEFA on the brink of making a decision on Liverpool’s
chances of defending the European Cup, cross-city rivals
Everton have made it clear they would object to missing out
financially from whatever decision is made.
Everton – who support Liverpool’s right to defend the trophy
they won last month in Istanbul – fear that if Liverpool are
added to the competition as a fifth English club, then the
Barclays Premiership’s other entrants could suffer by a
diluting of TV revenue.
UEFA are believed to be about to make a decision on
Liverpool’s defence of their crown, possibly within a couple
of days as executive committee delegates are consulted ahead
of their scheduled meeting in Manchester next week.
But Everton are concerned about the financial implications
of such a move.
(BreakingNews.ie)
Liverpool linked with Parker
Liverpool are the latest club to be linked with a move for
unsettled Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker.
(LFC Online)
Stevie talks face delay
Talks to resolve the future of Steven Gerrard are unlikely
to start before Liverpool return to pre-season training on
June 27.
Gerrard declared his intention to stay at Anfield in the
aftermath of the Champions League triumph, but so far
there's no meeting scheduled to discuss next year's plans.
A variety of circumstances have contributed to the delay.
(Liverpool Echo)
Midweek decision for Reds
Uefa's executive committee members are hoping to reach a
decision by Wednesday on Liverpool's bid to defend their
Champions League title.
Uefa director of communications William Gaillard, who
confirmed a decision is expected within two days, said: "It
will depend on many telephone calls and the issue being
discussed thoroughly with the executive committee members."
(TEAMtalk)
Lyon eye Baros swoop
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that the
French champions are interested in signing Liverpool striker
Milan Baros this summer.
Czech Republic frontman Baros, 23, scored nine times in 26
Premiership appearances this season and knows new Lyon boss
Gerard Houllier well after he played under his command at
Liverpool.
"Even if we want to remain as discreet as possible on our
recruitment, I can confirm that Baros is definitely one of
our objectives," said Aulas.
"(Sporting director) Bernard (Lacombe) and Gerard (Houllier)
will attend the Czech Republic's next match."
The Czech Republic, who are second in Group One in the 2006
World Cup qualifiers, play Macedonia on Wednesday.
(Sporting Life)
Raul rejects Reds rumours
Raul has rejected reports that he could leave Real Madrid
for Liverpool this summer.
Reports over the weekend suggested that Raul could become
the latest Spanish star to make his way to Anfield to join
Rafa Benitez's European champions.
The Spanish international has previously claimed he would
quit Real if the club made it clear he was surplus to
requirements.
However, Raul has moved to quash the speculation linking him
with a move to Liverpool suggesting it would be complicated
for him to move on.
“I’m not thinking about playing in England," said Raul.
"My future is in the Spanish league. It would be very
complicated for me to go there.”
(Sky Sports) |
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SUNDAY 5 |
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Knighthood call for Liverpool manager
Benitez
A knighthood is being called for Liverpool manager Rafa
Benitez.
Labour MP Rosie Cooper, a lifelong Reds fans, wants to see
the Spaniard knighted after leading Liverpool to Champions
League success last season.
Cooper said: "The scale of his achievement in English club
football cannot be underestimated and it is completely
appropriate that it should be recognised with
a knighthood."
(LFC-Forum)
UEFA will find Liverpool Euro solution
UEFA will endeavour to find a "positive" solution to
Liverpool's quest to defend thier Champions League crown
next season, according to a member of their executive
committee.
UEFA president Lennart Johansson is understood to be broadly
supportive, and his influence is extremely important though
not necessarily decisive, with many executive committee
members insisting the competition's rules must be adhered
too.
"I feel the situation is very difficult," reflected Eggert
Magnusson, who is also president of the Football Association
of Iceland.
"It is a difficult matter to solve and we are trying our
best, so let's see what happens."
(Sky Sports)
Mellor linked with WBA
Neil Mellor has been linked with a summer move to West
Bromwich Albion.
(LFC Online)
Saachi denies Raul approach
Real Madrid director of football Arrigo Saachi
has told skysports.com that Liverpool have not made a move
for Raul.
Speculation at the weekend had suggested Liverpool have
approached Real with regards to their talismanic captain.
With the future of Milan Baros shrouded in uncertainty, a
striker remains a top priority - with Benitez reportedly
considering rekindling the relationship shared by Fernando
Morientes and Raul in Spain.
However, Raul - despite having not produced his best form
this season and having been usurped by Michael Owen in the
striking pecking order - remains a firm favourite with the
Madrid faithful.
The sale of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu's favourite son
would be a risky move and Saachi insists that whilst the
player remains under contract he will remain in the capital.
''Raul has a contract at Real Madrid and we have not
received a proposition from them,'' Saachi told
skysports.com.
(Sky Sports)
Man Utd stars back Reds CL bid
Manchester United stars Alan Smith and Wes Brown have joined
David Beckham in insisting the Reds must be allowed to
defend their Champions League title next season.
With UEFA still to make a formal ruling on whether or not
Liverpool will be entered into the competition next season,
the two Manchester United players have spoken out in support
of their bitter rivals.
Last week, Beckham told reporters in the United States:
"They way they've played, they've won the Champions League
so of course they should be in it next year."
And today, Smith and Brown echoed those views.
"I think Liverpool should be able to play in the Champions
League next season," England striker Smith told a news
conference in Malta on Saturday with Brown adding: "As
winners of the Champions League, Liverpool should have the
chance to defend
the trophy."
(LFC Official Website)
Portugal spoiled proud night for Welsh
Liverpool youngster John Welsh's hopes of inspiring the
England U-21 side he was captaining to a win over Portugal
in Toulon on Saturday was dashed when a second-half goal
condemned England to defeat.
Before the game, both teams knew that a win would be enough
to qualify from Group B, while the losers would need victory
in the final game on Monday.
Peter Taylor must now rally his troops for the final group
game on Monday. Victory over South Korea, who are yet to
pick up a point in Toulon this year, would see them join
Portugal in the semi finals.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 4 |
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Success for Reds players on international
duty tonight
A narrow win for the Czech Republic in their Group 1
qualifier against Andorra. That's a narrow 8-1 victory. One
of the heroes of Istanbul, Vladimir Smicer, scored the Czech
Republic's third on 38 minutes before being substituted at
half-time. Another Red, Milan Baros, scored their fifth
after 80 minutes.
In the same group Holland beat Romania 2-0, with reported
Liverpool target Dirk Kuyt getting the second for the Dutch.
In Group Five John Arne Riise picked up a yellow card in
Norway's goalless draw against Italy.
Jerzy Dudek had a quiet night between the sticks for Poland
as they went to the top of Group Six in Azerbaijan. Poland
won 3-0 against the team they beat 8-0 at home in March.
A lot of interest from a Liverpool perspective in the Group
Seven game between Spain and Lithuania. Current Reds Luis
Garcia and Xabi Alonso were substitutes for Spain. Alonso
stayed on the bench but Garcia came on after 61 minutes in
place of Del Horno. Also on the bench was the Villareal
keeper Jose Reina, who has been strongly linked with a move
to Anfield later this month. The latest player linked with
the Reds, Raul, played for 79 minutes for the Spaniards.
(Anfield Road.com)
Vladimír Šmicer becomes the Czech’s number
eight
Vladimír Šmicer today climbed to joint number eight in the
Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia’s all-time appearances ranking
as he won his 73rd cap in their 8-1 thrashing of Andorra in
a World Cup qualifier in Liberec. He scored before being
replaced at half-time, his 26th goal for the Czech Republic,
leaving him just two goals short of a place in his country’s
all-time top five goalscorers, and two ahead of clubmate
Milan Baroš who was also on target.
Today's appearance draws him level with Frantisek Plánicka,
a Czech goalkeeping legend.
Vladi’s next target is to draw level in sixth with 1970’s
star Marián Masný and Ladislav Novák, who featured between
1952 and 1966, which he will achieve if he can make two more
appearances for his country.
(YNWA)
Premier trio on Upson alert
Birmingham City defender Matthew Upson could be leaving
after rejecting a new contract offer from the club and
breaking off negotiations.
Manager Steve Bruce is anxious to secure the 26-year-old
England international on a five-year contract and the club
initiated talks with Upson and his agent Barry Nevill
earlier this year.
But Nevill has revealed that Upson has ended discussions
with Blues and wants to assess his options this summer after
two-and-a-half seasons at St Andrews.
Nevill said: "We did speak to the club about a new contract
but Matt decided he didn't want to accept it.
Upson, who is valued at about £5m, still has another year
left on his contract and there is the option of a further 12
months should the club wish. Hence his services are fixed
for the forseeable future.
But with Premiership rivals such as Newcastle, Liverpool and
Middlesbrough reportedly expressing an interest in Upson, he
may view leaving St Andrews as a chance to enhance his
prospects of being selected to the England squad for next
year's World Cup.
(TEAMtalk)
Raul quit hint alerts Liverpool
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Raul after the
Spain striker hinted he may be ready to leave Real Madrid
after a glittering 11-year career.
The 27-year-old may favour joining Liverpool's Spanish
contingent under Rafael Benitez, which includes former Real
team-mate Fernando Morientes.
He said: "If I listen to polls in papers it looks as though
I should leave. I want what is best for Real.
"If at some time I have to sacrifice myself for Real to
progress I will."
(BBC Sport Online)
Capello eyes Liverpool's crown
Fabio Capello's Juve continue their tour of the Far East and
Fabio Capello announces his intention for next season is to
conquer the Champions' League.
“The key to success is to quickly forget what you have
achieved and focus on your next objective,” said the Coach.
“For instance, we are already looking ahead to next season.
We want to be competitive and to follow Liverpool as winners
of the Champions’ League.”
“My rapport with Capello is perfect,” said the Italian
international. “This is my first time in Hong Kong and I
don’t want to disappoint the fans. I scored a decisive goal
in our last friendly in Tokyo, but I won’t rest on my
laurels and wish to score here as well.”
(Channel 4 Sport)
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Thor Zakariassen
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