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MONDAY 6 |
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Reds striker still hurt by death of fellow
pro
Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle says the death of
his friend David Di Tommaso has made him realise how life
can be cut short at anytime.
When the Utrecht defender died suddenly in November,
Pongolle admits it changed his way of thinking.
Flo said: "When David died in his sleep in November at the
age of 26, it showed that you don't decide your own future.
That's why I try to be positive.
"We had the same agent and I knew him very well. I felt very
upset for his wife and family.
"When I'm not playing I try to remain positive and work
hard. That's how I am now."
(Kop Talk)
Rested Garcia back for Benfica
Luis Garcia will return to the squad for the visit of
Benfica on Wednesday.
The Spaniard was left ouf of the squad that took on Charlton
at the weekend but will return for the crunch Champions
League clash.
Rafa said: "Luis Garcia was not injured, I decided to give
him a rest. He will be back in the squad on Wednesday.
"After international breaks you always have players who are
tired after travelling and playing.
"I decided to play in a different way against Charlton, but
he will be back against Benfica."
(Kop Talk)
Fowler hoping for a change of fortune
Robbie Fowler hopes his goalscoring luck changes in time to
inspire Liverpool into the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Anfield hitman was denied a legitimate winner for the
Reds against Charlton.
It's the second time in a matter of weeks a linesman's flag
has come between Fowler and an emotional goal in front of
The Kop.
With Benfica arriving on Merseyside ahead of Wednesday's
crucial second leg, Fowler believes it's only a matter of
time before Liverpool's fortune in front of goal takes a
turn for the better.
"I've been here for five or six games and I don't think I or
any of the strikers are getting much luck," said Fowler.
"To be fair, in the games we've played at Anfield it seems
the opposition keeper has a blinder every match."
(Liverpool Echo)
Goals will come says Gerrard
Steven Gerrard says it is only a matter of time before
Liverpool start scoring plenty of goals.
The Reds drew a blank against Charlton on Saturday despite
having all of the posession. Peter Crouch is the only
striker to have scored this year and Liverpool have not
scored two goals in a league game since January 2nd.
However, Steven Gerrard says the Reds have been unlucky and
the goals will soon start flying in.
"I don't think because we haven't scored against Charlton
will have an effect on what happens on Wednesday," he said.
"We've definitely got goalscorers in the squad. I'm sure it
is only a matter of time before the goals start going in."
(LFC Online)
Benitez will talk to board about future
Rafael Benitez will seek reassurances from the Liverpool
board that they will provide the financial backing to help
realise his aim of bringing the Premiership title to
Anfield.
It emerged over the weekend both Real Madrid and Inter Milan
have set their sights on attempting to lure the sought-after
Spaniard away from the European Champions.
Benitez has made no secret of his desire to manage at the
Bernabeu at some point in his managerial career, while Inter
are prepared to double his salary as they strive to end
their own championship drought having not won Serie A since
1989.
Benitez isn't interested in improving his own contract and
insists he is happy at Anfield. Instead, he wants his own
commitment to Liverpool to be matched by that of the club's
board.
Having ended a 21-year wait for European Cup success,
Benitez stated at last month's AGM that his target now is
for Liverpool to win the championship for the first time
since 1990.
(Daily Post)
Benfica warm up with a win
Benfica warmed up for Wednesday's big Champions League clash
at Anfield with a 2-1 weekend victory over Estrela Amadora.
Italian striker Fabrizio Miccoli, returning after seven
weeks out through injury, was the hero – netting the winning
three minutes into stoppage time.
Laurent Robert had earlier levelled for the Portuguese
champions, who are now third in their domestic league table.
Ronald Koeman's men are due to arrive on Merseyside tomorrow
ahead of the last sixteen 2nd leg tie.
Benfica lead 1-0 from the first leg but have failed to win
on their previous three visits
to Anfield.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SUNDAY 5 |
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Hyypia ok - scan results in
The results of the scan on Sami Hyypia's hamstring show that
the player is not seriously injured.
This means that the centre-back should be able to train with
the rest of the lads this week ahead of the Benfica clash on
Wednesday.
A spokesman for Liverpool FC said: "The scan did not show up
anything serious and Sami will be fit to train with the rest
of the squad on Tuesday."
Sami was taken off at half-time yesterday because of the
problem but thankfully he should be back in action very
soon.
(Kop Talk)
Sissoko eyes Reds return
Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has vowed to play again
this season but admits his eye injury was 'the scariest
moment' of his life.
Mali star Sissoko saw his excellent first season in English
football cut short after the freak injury in the Reds'
Champions League defeat to Benfica.
There were initial fears that the 21-year-old could have
lost the sight in his eye but the outlook is now more
favourable - and Sissoko has not given up hope of making an
emotional comeback before the end of Liverpool's marathon
campaign.
He told the club's website: "This has all come at such a bad
time for me.
Reflecting on the injury, Sissoko added: "It was the
scariest moment of my life. The doctor in Lisbon told me
there was a serious risk I would lose the vision in my right
eye. Suddenly I had all these thoughts swimming around my
mind and I asked myself: 'Is this the end of my career?'
"As soon as we got back, the club organised a visit to a
specialist. He told me the injury wasn't as bad as I had
dreaded and that was like a massive weight being lifted from
me.
"I saw the surgeon again this week and he's optimistic I
will recover normal eyesight but he also says it may never
get back up to 100 per cent. Of course, that is not so good
but the outlook is better than I first thought."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez linked with Inter and Real
Sunday's newspapers claim Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has
overtaken Sven Goran Eriksson as the number one target for
Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
According to The News of the World the Liverpool boss, who
has won admirers since their sensational Champions League
triumph last season, is frustrated with his board's lack of
spending power and wants around £30 million to recruit
world-class players.
(Sporting Life) |
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SATURDAY 4 |
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Myhre: I was lucky
Charlton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre admitted he had been lucky
after his clean sheet at Anfield was preserved thanks to an
offside flag.
Robbie Fowler looked to have snatched a late winner for
Liverpool when he controlled Steven Gerrard’s miscued shot
and drove the ball through Myhre’s legs in the 90th minute.
But the goal was ruled out for a debatable offside against
Fowler’s team-mate Djibril Cisse.
“I was quite relieved. Robbie’s very good in those
situations and it went through my legs. I think we probably
had a little bit of luck,” Myhre said on Sky Prem Plus.
(Evening Echo)
Rafa: I have to be positive
Liverpool endured the frustration of failing to break down
Charlton and then discovered they could be without defender
Sami Hyypia for Wednesday's Champions League match against
Benfica.
The Finn limped out of this evening's goalless Anfield match
at half-time with a hamstring injury which boss Rafael
Benitez confirmed will need a scan.
Benitez said: "It is very close now to the Benfica game, but
we will wait to see the result of the scan."
Liverpool's collection of strikers once again fail to
produce the killer blows from a constant string of chances
to claim victory.
"But I do have faith in my strikers, if we create as many
chances as that against Benfica, we will go through in the
tie."
(Sporting Life)
Hyypia scare for frustrated Reds
Liverpool endured the frustration of failing to break down
Charlton and then discovered they could be without defender
Sami Hyypia for Wednesday’s Champions League match against
Benfica.
The Finn limped out of this evening’s goalless Anfield match
at half-time with a hamstring injury which boss Rafael
Benitez confirmed will need a scan.
Benitez said: “It is very close now to the Benfica game, but
we will wait to see the result of the scan.”
(BreakingNews.ie)
Liverpool held by Charlton
Liverpool's weakness of lacking a cutting edge was again
exposed as they were held to a draw by Charlton.
The Reds dominated but were frustrated through a combination
of poor finishing and inspired keeper Thomas Myhre.
Myhre was at his acrobatic best as he saved an attempted
clearance from team-mate Hermann Hreidarsson before a
sprawling save to deny Djibril Cisse.
Liverpool also saw Peter Crouch head tamely at Myhre before
Robbie Fowler was ruled offside after scoring.
The point lifted Liverpool to second in the Premiership but
they have played two games more than third-placed Manchester
United, who have two games in hand.
(BBC Sport Online)
Carragher: We need to make amends
Jamie Carragher has warned his Liverpool team-mates they
must repair the damage caused by a shocking lapse in
concentration which threatens their prospects of retaining
the Champions League.
The England defender is still smarting over the defensive
error which allowed Benfica to claim a 1-0 first leg
advantage in the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon almost a fortnight
ago.
Despite watching videos of free-kicks Brazilian defender
Luisao was still allowed time and space to score six minutes
from time, leaving manager Rafael Benitez furious.
They must now recover that position in the second leg on
Wednesday in what could be another famous European night at
Anfield.
"We can pull this around at Anfield, it's up to us to break
them down," said Carragher.
(PA Sport)
Liverpool v Charlton - CONFIRMED TEAM
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Kromkamp, Traore, Hyypia, Carragher,
Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Cisse, Fowler, Crouch.
SUBS: Dudek, Finnan, Alonso, Riise, Morientes.
(Kop Talk)
No action to be taken against Finnan
Greater Manchester Police have today confirmed that no
action will be taken against Steve Finnan in relation to the
unsubstantiated allegations that he racially abused
Manchester United's Patrice Evra during the recent FA Cup
tie at Anfield.
Two fans claimed they lip-read Finnan using a racist taunt
while watching the game on television, prompting the police
to launch an investigation.
The Liverpool defender vehemently denied the accusations and
video evidence proved conclusive in his favour.
A Liverpool spokesman commented: "Obviously we welcome the
news. Our own analysis of the television footage proved
there was no evidence to back up these claims. It's very
unfortunate that Steve's good name has been dragged through
the mud in the meantime and we are glad this matter has now
been resolved."
(LFC Official Website)
Mourinho: Benitez got it wrong
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Rafael Benitez got his
tactics against Benfica wrong and that's why we ended up as
1-0 losers.
"The surprise was Peter Crouch," said Mourinho. "A giant who
would give even Benfica’s big defenders problems, did not
play.
"Neither did Djibril Cisse, the fastest of them all and,
therefore, the most dangerous attacking from deep.
“There must have been physical reasons, unknown to us, that
might have affected
the options."
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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