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WEDNESDAY 6 |
Tommy Smith struck by heart attack
Liverpool FC legend Tommy Smith was recovering in hospital
today after suffering
a heart attack.
The man nicknamed the Anfield Iron collapsed at his Crosby
home yesterday afternoon while mowing the lawn.
The 62-year-old crawled into the house where wife Sue
dialled an ambulance, which took him to Fazakerley hospital.
He is expected to be back home by the weekend.
One of Liverpool’s greatest servants and an ECHO columnist
for more than 20 years, Smith had been complaining of
discomfort in his chest for several days.
But he dismissed the problems as indigestion.
(Liverpool Echo)
Three starlets promoted to Melwood
Three of Liverpool's Youth Cup winning squad from last
season will take the step-up to Melwood during the summer
with Jay Spearing, winger Ray Putterill and goalkeeper
Martin Hansen making the move from the Academy.
Wirral born Spearing, a utility player who has been used as
a holding midfield player for Gary Ablett's reserve team,
captained the Academy side to youth cup glory last season.
Left winger Putterill caught the eye with some outstanding
performances during the youth cup run while Danish
goalkeeper Hansen also impressed.
Fellow youth cup starlets Charlie Barnett, Jimmy Ryan,
Michael Burns and goalkeeper Josh Mimms will stay on at the
Academy next season as third years.
Meanwhile former Academy goalkeeper David Roberts will be
looking for a new club after his release from Melwood. The
Academy have also announced that Paul Barratt, Lee Woodward,
Ryan Wignall, Jon Pringle and Stephen Behan have been
released.
(LFC Official Website)
Carragher axed for England crunch showdown
Jamie Carragher has been dealt an amazing double snub ahead
of tonight’s crucial Euro qualifier in Estonia.
Manchester United reserve Wes Brown and Newcastle’s Kieron
Dyer are preferred by under-fire England coach Steve
McClaren.
Brown, who was a peripheral figure in Manchester United’s
title campaign, starting less than half their games, is
favourite to force his way into the starting line-up.
But even Dyer, who has hardly ever played in defence, is
ahead of Carragher in
the queue.
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard wins libel damages
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has accepted undisclosed
libel damages over a claim he had been in secret transfer
talks over a possible move to Real Madrid.
The England midfielder, who is in Estonia for the crucial
Euro 2008 qualifying match, brought proceedings in London's
High Court over a "world exclusive" in Sport Magazine in
February.
His solicitor, Gerard Tyrrell, told Mr Justice Eady that the
article was accompanied by a fax from the Park Lane Marriott
Hotel which it claimed was "confirmation of a hotel
reservation in London for the Liverpool captain".
The story stated that "Sport Magazine might not be the
sharpest tool in the box, but even we can join the dots on
this one".
The magazine had not made contact Gerrard or his agents
before publication of the story, which had caused the player
and his family considerable embarrassment and distress.
Publisher Sport Media & Strategy Ltd accepted that the
allegations were false and made apologises to Gerrard, and
agreed to pay him damages and his legal costs.
(ITV Football)
Milan and Reds to tussle for Eto'o
European champions AC Milan have confirmed they will lock
horns with Liverpool this summer in a bid to sign Barcelona
striker Samuel Eto'o.
The Italians are hoping to strengthen their ageing squad,
and have been linked for months with a move for Barca
playmaker Ronaldinho.
But Rossoneri chief Adriano Galliani confirmed on Tuesday
that it is Liverpool target Eto'o that they're hoping to
land.
He told Gazzetta Dello Sport: "We will ask Barca about Eto'o
but we don't know whether he's for sale. We'll look to open
negotiations once the Spanish season is over
on June 17.
"He's a player that appeals to both myself and our coach
Carlo Ancelotti."
Milan have already confirmed that Andriy Shevchenko won't be
returning to the San Siro this summer.
(TEAMtalk) |
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TUESDAY 5 |
Platini: Liverpool fans not the worst
Liverpool fans are not the worst behaved in Europe, Uefa
president Michel Platini said today.
Platini, contradicting statements attributed to Uefa
officials last week, said: "No they are not, it's official,
they are not the worst behaved in Europe."
Platini was speaking after a meeting with British sports
minister Richard Caborn during which he handed over a report
into security problems at last month's Champions League
final between Liverpool and AC Milan.
(Ireland.com)
Hicks hints at imminent transfer
Tom Hicks has suggested that Liverpool are about to make a
new signing.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the new Liverpool owner said: "Just
be patient because we are talking to Rafa often.
"Rick Parry is in charge of getting the contracts
negotiated.
"We have lawyers working on it and I think the fans are
going to like the outcome.
"Maybe we will hear something in the next week."
(LFC Online)
Rafa: Double deal sends right message
Rafa Benitez believes Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher
signing new Liverpool deals could help lure more top stars
to Anfield this summer.
He told the club's official website: "I think these deals
send out a key message as we enter a crucial period. Other
players will look at Stevie and Carra committing their
future to Liverpool and understand that this means we are
determined to progress on the pitch.
"When we talk to players we'd like to sign for this club, we
can point to the fact that they will be playing alongside
the likes of Stevie and Carra. Now these two deals are
complete, we need to continue working on bringing in new
players and keeping the ones we
already have."
(Sporting Life)
New stadium delayed a year?
Plans for Liverpool’s new stadium look to have been moved
back a year, rather than a few weeks as was first thought
when new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett took over and
announced a review of the current plans.
Work was initially scheduled to begin in March, and indeed
work began on testing of soil, but in late March it was
announced a review of the 60,00 seater stadium plans would
take place and that work would commence in May. Of course,
it is now June and no word on construction has been
officially announced.
(This is Anfield)
Zenden considers future
Liverpool's Boudewijn Zenden is currently considering his
options.
The Dutch midfielder started the UEFA Champions League final
defeat against Milan, but it seems he may now be surplus to
requirements at Anfield.
Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez is ready to overhaul his squad
and Zenden is one of those who looks set to leave.
Zenden's father and representative Pierre, admits there is
interest in his son but there is not a big hurry to finalise
details.
"There is not a rush, everyone is on vacation at the
moment," Zenden snr told skysports.com.
"There are a number of interested parties, but nothing in
detail at the moment."
It is believed that Everton and Newcastle are amongst the
clubs ready to offer Zenden a chance to stay in England,
whilst Roma could give the former Lazio man a route back to
the Eternal city.
(Sky Sports)
More new deals in Reds pipeline
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is expected to target the
names of Xabi Alonso and Jose Reina to the list of players
accepting new contracts.
Reina seems certain to extend his deal, as does full-back
Steve Finnan, but speculation from Spain suggests Alonso is
seriously considering a move to Barcelona.
(TEAMtalk)
Bolton prepare to take Cissé from
Liverpool
Bolton Wanderers hope to sign the unsettled Liverpool
striker Djibril Cissé on loan in a move that could pave the
way for Nicolas Anelka to leave the Reebok in search of
Champions League football.
Cissé, Liverpool's record signing when he was bought by
Gérard Houllier from Auxerre three years ago for £14.1m,
spent last season at Marseille where, after finally
recovering from a broken leg sustained on international duty
with France before last summer's World Cup, he scored eight
goals in 21 league appearances.
Despite that tally and the fact that Cissé has two years to
run on his contract on Merseyside, Rafael Benítez has made
it clear he sees no future for the striker at Anfield and
Liverpool are keen to recoup about £6m for the 25-year-old.
(The Guardian)
Hicks blasts Gaillard & Uefa
Liverpool's co-owner Tom Hicks has fired a broadside at Uefa
in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News.
Hicks claims Uefa's communications director William Gaillard
is a clown for piling blame on the Anfield club's fans for
the problems at the Champions League final.
Gaillard's comments have stirred the fire in Hicks, as he
has responded by hitting out at Uefa's handling of the
Athens showpiece.
"I thought the guy from Uefa was a clown for saying that,"
Hicks said. "Uefa did not handle this right at all.
"To give 17,00 tickets to the two teams, particularly
knowing Liverpool is going to bring 40,000 fans is insane.
"I think it is a classic case of a bureaucrat trying to take
pressure off himself.
"They didn't handle it right, they didn't have proper
ticketing procedures.
"Unfortunately there were counterfeit tickets and
unfortunately there were Liverpool fans who paid hard-earned
money and a lot of fans went to great sacrifice to get their
tickets and they got to the stadium and were told there was
no more room.
"Were they mad? Sure they were mad and I don't blame them."
(Sky Sports) |
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MONDAY 4 |
Gerrard and Carra sign new deals
Liverpool's England duo Steven Gerrard and Jamie
Carragher have signed new contracts with the club.
Club captain Gerrard and vice-skipper Carragher have signed
deals which extend their stay at Anfield until at least
2011.
(Sporting Life)
Liverpool response to UEFA claims
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has responded to UEFA's
attack on the club that branded Reds fans 'the worst behaved
in Europe'.
Parry says that UEFA should focus on their own shortcomings
rather than shift the blame onto supporters.
The statement released on Liverpoolfc.tv reads: "The
shortcomings in the management of the situation in Athens
were apparent to anyone who was there and these latest
comments from Uefa should not deflect attention from that
reality.
"What is most surprising about the latest comments from Mr
Gaillard is that on the eve of the final, he quite rightly
commented that Liverpool supporters 'have a tradition of
good behaviour'.
"Let's not forget that these same supporters who Mr Gaillard
is claiming are now the worst in Europe were praised by Uefa
President Michel Platini after our semi-final victory
against Chelsea only last month, commended for their
behaviour in Istanbul in 2005 and actually honoured by Uefa
at a gala dinner in Monte Carlo in 2001 as joint Supporters
of the Years with Alves after the UEFA Cup final.
(Shankly Gates)
Sports minster: Stop playing 'the blame
game'
British sports minister Richard Caborn, who is
set to meet with UEFA president Michel Platini tomorrow,
says that the UEFA should stop playing 'the blame game' and
take responsibility for the poor organisation of the final.
"This is not about UEFA versus Liverpool or UEFA versus
England fans but UEFA must stop playing the blame game and
stop pointing fingers at people," said Caborn.
"What we need to do is look at the evidence of the last
season and the evidence in the report which I'm due to get
tomorrow and move forward.
"This is about finding solutions, not looking back and
saying what has happened but more about how to stop this
happening in the future.
"I have given this message to Rick Parry this morning in a
phone call and I will be giving the very same message to
Michel Platini when I see him tomorrow."
(Shankly Gates)
Former Red released
Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison has been released
by Coventry City.
The former Scotland international is now 36 and only played
14 matches last season because of injury.
He was signed by Kenny Dalglish from Hartlepool United in
1991 and went on to play 59 games for Liverpool before he
was sold by Roy Evans to West Ham United in 1994.
(LFC Official Website)
Brazil ace full of praise for Gerrard
Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva has sprung to the defence
of the pairing of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in
midfield for England and insists they are a good
partnership.
The Arsenal star is a huge admirer of Gerrard and said he
and Lampard showed during Friday's 1-1 draw with Brazil that
they be effective together in central midfield.
"They are both great players - especially Steven Gerrard,"
enthused Gilberto.
"He is almost the complete player, he goes forward well,
defends well, passes the ball and makes it very difficult.
"It is down to both of them to adjust and when one goes
forward the other one stays back and that's what they did
against us.
"People need to believe in them rather than criticise and
say they cannot play together. They need to lift them and
boost their confidence. They showed they can play together.
They made it hard for us."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds not signing Alves
Liverpool will not be signing Daniel Alves this
Summer.
Alves was one of Rafael Benitez's top targets last season
but the Reds refused to meet Sevilla's £12m valuation of the
player. Although Liverpool have a bigger transfer budget
this Summer the signings of Jermaine Pennant and Alvaro
Arbeloa means Alves is no longer a priority.
"We've dropped our interest. Instead of him we signed
Jermaine Pennant and okay, so he's a winger, but Alves plays
very high up the pitch," said Liverpool's joint chief scout
Eduardo Macia.
"We've also got Alvaro Arbeloa who can play in that
position. In football you can never say never but at the
moment we're not interested."
(LFC Online)
McClaren hints Crouch will face Estonia
Peter Crouch is expected to start England's Euro 2008
qualifier as Steve McClaren has hinted at making changes.
Alan Smith played alongside Michael Owen in the 1-1 friendly
draw against Brazil on Friday, but Crouch is likely to
return for the crucial game in Tallinn, having scored five
goals for England since McClaren took charge.
When asked if Crouch will start against Estonia, McClaren
said: "We will have to see. As I said before the Brazil game
that wasn't necessarily the team for Estonia. We'll have to
look at certain things and digest it and it may be
different."
(Channel 4)
Big-spending Ferguson leaves
Benítez struggling to keep up
Rafael Benítez's family holiday only lasted a week, but as
he returns to his desk at Melwood this morning, he will
discover that the summer landscape in the Premiership has
already changed markedly.
The Liverpool manager had demanded urgency in the club's
transfer strategy in the immediate wake of the European Cup
final yet, come the first week in June, he finds himself
once again playing catch-up.
The impetus is with the champions.
(The Guardian)
Thor Zakariassen
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