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THURSDAY 6 |
Hicks to meet DIC next week
Tom Hicks is expected in London early next week to discuss
the future of Liverpool with Dubai International Capital.
The club's co-owner has been in a stand-off with DIC all
week over their attempts to buy Liverpool for £400m
(€522.6m).
He is believed to have assured Amanda Staveley, DIC's chief
negotiator in the UK, that he will be prepared to talk
business at the same time as Liverpool will be in Italy
preparing for their Champions League showdown with Inter
Milan.
By the time Liverpool return from the San Siro, the future
ownership of the club could be known - and a DIC source
said: "We are in the end zone."
(Ireland On-Line)
Owen: I’ll be proud to lead Toon out at
Anfield
Michael Owen today revealed that he isn’t daunted by
Newcastle United’s crunch trip to his former club Liverpool
this weekend.
The England striker and United captain will lead out the
Magpies at Anfield where he endured a tough time from the
Kop on his only appearance against his former club.
Owen was taunted by the Kop on Boxing Day 2005 after his
move from Real Madrid upset Liverpool fans, who had expected
him to return to Merseyside following his year-long stay in
La Liga.
But rather than take an apprehensive approach to the
fixture, Owen told the Chronicle: “It will be a proud moment
at Liverpool. I’ve only played Liverpool once since I came
here."
(Evening Chronicle)
Anfield protest urges Hicks and Gillett to sell up
Thousands of Liverpool fans staged a half-time demonstration
against club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett at Anfield
last night.
Supporters on the Kop and in other areas of the ground began
chanting against the Americans as soon as the half-time
whistle went and only stopped 15 minutes later when the
Liverpool and West Ham teams emerged for the second half.
The dignified protest was organised by the recently formed
Spirit of Shankly group and a spokesman for them told the
ECHO he was delighted with last night's response.
He said: "It is really important to us that our protests do
not affect the team because they have to be able to
concentrate on what is going on on the pitch.
"That is why we held the protest at half-time and it went
really well.
"Our message is simple – Hicks and Gillett have outstayed
their welcome and we want them out of our club."
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard dazzled by Torres' class
Steven Gerrard described free-scoring Fernando Torres as
"frightening" after Liverpool finally started to live up to
their captain's demands.
The 4-0 win over West Ham sent Liverpool back into the
Premier League top four and saw Torres score his second
hat-trick in successive home games, with his overall total
for the season now 24 goals in 33 matches.
Consecutive home hat-tricks have not been achieved by a
Liverpool player since 1946, and only four players in their
history have managed such
a feat.
"Fernando is frightening. From the opening home game of the
season to Chelsea when he scored a cracker, he has been
consistent all the way," said Gerrard.
"He got off to a good start then and now he has hit 18
Premier League goals, the first person to do that here since
Michael Owen. So far so good and hopefully he can continue
like this right to the end of the season."
(TEAMtalk)
Torres delighted after breaking 60-year record
Fernando Torres today told of his pride at becoming the
first Liverpool player in more than 60 years to score
hat-tricks in successive matches
at Anfield.
The Reds top scorer was again in magnificent form as he
followed up his recent treble against Middlesbrough with
another three-goal salvo in Liverpool's 4-0 win over West
Ham.
Jackie Balmer was the last Liverpool player to score
hat-tricks in consecutive home games, way back in November
1946.
And Torres was thrilled to have matched his feat.
He said: "I only learned of the record after the game and it
is a big honour for me.
“This club has a wonderful history so to be a part of that
is very special and it is something I am very proud of."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Hicks 'set to move on Dubai'
A deal for Dubai International Capital to buy George
Gillett's Liverpool stake is imminent, it has been claimed.
Sources close to DIC today revealed Tom Hicks is ready to
drop his resistance to George Gillett selling his stake in
Liverpool Football Club
to DIC.
An offer from DIC for Gillett’s shares remains on the table
and should the American accept he would walk away from
Anfield with a profit of
around £40m.
Gillett is believed to want more and DIC remain insistent
they will not be raising their offer but with talks still
going on between the two parties it is thought a deal could
be reached within days.
(Liverpool Echo)
Rush backs Reds
Ian Rush has backed Liverpool to finish ahead of Everton.
The Reds moved ahead of the small club from Kirkby with last
night's 4-0 win over West Ham and Ian Rush is backing his
old club to finish the season ahead of their rivals.
"The big talking point on Merseyside at the moment is the
battle for fourth place and I'm backing Liverpool to hold
off the challenge from Everton and take the honours," said
the Reds legend who was famous for breaking Blues' hearts.
"There is obviously a lot at stake because not only will the
winners get to have a crack at qualifying for next season's
Champions League, they will also have the local bragging
rights which is very important in this part of the world."
(LFC Online) |
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WEDNESDAY 5 |
Rafa: It's in our hands now
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was delighted after Fernando
Torres' second hat-trick in consecutive home games helped
his side seize the upperhand in the race for fourth place
with an emphatic 4-0 win over West Ham
at Anfield.
"We are playing with a lot of confidence now," said Rafa.
"We started the season well, but at this crucial stage of
the season we are playing really well and you can see the
team operating as a team, that is really important.
"It was important to win tonight because we have been
talking about this game in hand for a long time, but now
when you see the points on the table it is much easier and
better for the confidence.
"We have three more points and we are closer now, it depends
on us. If we can beat Newcastle we will approach the Inter
game with a lot of confidence."
(LFC Official Website)
Torres treble nails Hammers
Liverpool moved up to fourth spot above Everton with a 4-0
thumping of West Ham at Anfield.
Fernando Torres was the star of the show with a superb
hat-trick to take his tally to the season to 24 goals with
Steven Gerrard grabbing the other goal with a stunning
strike from the edge of the box.
Torres broke the deadlock after just eight minutes when he
swept home Dirk Kuyt's cross with a brilliant finish.
The Spaniard doubled the lead just past the hour mark when
he headed home Kuyt's cross and he completed his hat-trick
with a cool finish
nine minutes from time.
Gerrard put the seal on a fine night for Rafa Benitez's men
with
a trademark shot into the top corner from the edge of the
box
on 83 minutes.
The win lifts Liverpool above Everton on goal difference in
the race to finish fourth, while the defeat was West Ham's
second 4-0 loss
in four days.
(Sky Sports)
Torres starts versus West Ham
Fernando Torres starts for Liverpool against West Ham
tonight despite media reports of a stomach bug.
Meanwhile, Martin Skrtel partners Jamie Carragher at
centre-back as Sami Hyypia drops to the bench.
The Liverpool team in full is: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel,
Arbeloa, Riise, Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel,
Torres. Subs: Itandje, Pennant, Crouch, Benayoun, Hyypia.
(LFC Official Website)
Double boost for Inter
Internazionale have received good news ahead of next week's
Champions League clash against Liverpool with attacking duo
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz having returned to
training.
Both players joined their team-mates in practice on
Wednesday and are set to return to action in this weekend's
league clash against Reggina.
Ibrahimovic, who is Inter's top scorer in both domestic and
European competition, was sidelined for two weeks with a
problematic knee while Cruz has shaken off a muscular
injury.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini will need both players at their
best as they aim to reach the Champions League
quarter-finals.
The Serie A leaders must overturn a 2-0 deficit from the
opening leg
at Anfield.
Full-back Cristian Chivu remains doubtful for the encounter
against the Reds with the Romanian international having
sustained a shoulder injury in last weekend's 1-0 loss at
Napoli.
(Sporting Life)
Masch: I have no Hammers regrets
Javier Mascherano lines-up for Liverpool against his former
club West Ham United at Anfield on Wednesday night insisting
he has no regrets over his disappointing spell at Upton
Park.
The Argentine international hardly featured for Alan
Curbishley's side during his short spell in London and the
Hammers loss was undoubtedly Liverpool's gain as Rafael
Benitez pounced to bring him to Anfield.
Since then the Reds number 20 has gone from strength to
strength and has become one of the first names on Benitez's
teamsheet. He signed a permanent deal to remain at Anfield
for the next four years on Friday and life couldn't be
happier for Mascherano at Anfield.
Despite not playing many games during his time with the
Hammers, the Reds ace said he has no bitterness towards the
London club.
"I don't have any problem with West Ham," said Mascherano.
"The players there were good teammates for me and always
supported me."
(LFC Official Website)
Now take the money and run
The future of one of the world’s greatest football clubs
hangs in the balance today.
Liverpool FC is at the centre of a wicked tug-of-war with
American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, in the eyes of
fans, wanting a huge fortune to release it from their grasp.
Yesterday the two Americans, who are at loggerheads with
each other, were offered a generous profit of £25m each on
their year-old investment by Dubai Investment Capital.
With the pair so divided, there is surely no way now they
can ever repair the damage between themselves, and at
Anfield, and continue at
the helm.
(John Thompson - Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool FC boss Gillett
ponders massive DIC pay-off
George Gillett is pondering a vastly improved offer for
Liverpool Football Club from Dubai International Capital.
Sources close to DIC suggest the bid would allow Gillett to
walk away from the club with an £80m profit.
But sources in the Gillett camp argue the figure is £40m.
The revised offer was put to Gillett late last night.
DIC indicated they would not raise their offer again even
though their interest in buying Liverpool remains as strong
as ever.
Gillett instructed his lawyers to attend the meeting at a
top London hotel on his behalf, and DIC was represented by
top businesswoman
Amanda Staveley.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry was also there having
been invited by DIC and Gillett to represent the best
interests of the club.
Gillett was unable to attend in person as he is recovering
from illness at his home in Vail, Colorado, but he was in
constant phone contact with all parties.
Sources close to Gillett dispute the £80m figure, insisting
the offer would have given the American a profit closer to
£40m.
With Tom Hicks still sticking to his guns and insisting he
is not looking to sell his stake, the future of the club
remains delicately poised.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds must keep eyes on the ball
Rafael Benitez has stressed Liverpool's players must lift
themselves above the club's current off-the-pitch turmoil to
secure success on it.
The current intrigue over the future ownership of the club
could easily distract the team for Wednesday night's
Barclays Premier League home match against West Ham.
If Liverpool win they will reclaim fourth place in the
table, and be in pole position to ensure qualification for
the Champions League next term.
"This is now a really important for us," their manager said.
"That fourth spot is always important; if we win this game
we are there, and from then on everything will depend on us
and what we do."
(PA Sports)
Fans group still plan Reds takeover
Share Liverpool FC insists DIC's offer to buy out the
Anfield club will not prevent them pushing forward with
their own takeover bid.
The fans' organisation hope to attract 100,000 people
willing to invest £5,000 each to run Liverpool along similar
lines to other member-run sides such as Barcelona.
The initiative's founder, Dr Rogan Taylor said: "We will
continue to monitor this situation but it won't lessen the
effort and commitment we are putting into our serious and
robust proposal.
"We would like to see the fans have a full and proper say in
the running of their club. We are ready to talk to the
owners about making that a reality.
"I strongly believe that Share Liverpool FC will have a
significant role to play - we have strong momentum and fans
are joining by the hundreds on a daily basis."
(TEAMtalk)
Curbishley backs Hammers
to bounce back from trouncing
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley yesterday admitted his
players still bear the scars of their 4-0 thrashing by
Chelsea ahead of tonight's match at Liverpool.
The Hammers travel to Anfield for the Barclays Premier
League fixture still in a state of shock after being humbled
on home soil by Avram Grant's team at the weekend.
And while Curbishley is confident his side have the mettle
to bounce back, the 50-year-old knows that a vast
improvement is required against Rafael Benitez's side.
He said: "We're still a bit embarrassed and stunned about
losing 4-0 at home to Chelsea at the weekend. We've spoken
to the players about it, and we'll never forget it."
(The Scotsman) |
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TUESDAY 4 |
Nemeth puts Reserves eight points clear
A Krisztian Nemeth strike helped the reserves extend their
lead at the top to eight points after a 1-0 win over Bolton
on Tuesday night.
The Hungarian's seventh goal in as many games came during a
first-half in which Liverpool battered the visitors' goal.
Gary Ablett's side had to hold tight in the second-half,
however, to ensure a seventh consecutive clean sheet in the
league.
The game also saw Daniel Agger take a step closer to
first-team action, the 23-year-old looking bright during a
60-minute run out.
It was very much a game of two halves from a Liverpool point
of view: excellent in the opening 45 but sloppy thereafter.
Next up for the reserves is a crunch clash against
second-placed Man City next Wednesday – a game which, as
always, you can watch on
LFC TV.
Liverpool team: Gulacsi, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Agger (Huth
60), Plessis, Flynn (Crowther, 72), Spearing, Brouwer (Bruna
78), Nemeth, Putterill.
Subs not used: Bouzanis, Kelly.
(LFC Official Website)
Hicks plots total control of Reds
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is unwilling to sell his share
in the club to Dubai International Capital and aims to buy
out partner George Gillett.
DIC has tabled a formal £400m bid to take control from the
American duo.
BBC sports editor Mihir Bose told BBC 5 Live: "Hicks has
been willing to have DIC as a minority stakeholder. He's not
willing to sell a controlling interest.
"Tom Hicks is working on a plan where he would buy out his
partner George Gillett, who is minded to sell to DIC."
Hicks has not formally rejected the offer from DIC, the
Government-run Dubai investment fund, but is still unwilling
to sell out.
DIC has insisted there is no deadline on its bid to buy out
the Americans, who took control of the club in a deal worth
£218.9m in February 2007.
Bose explained: "Gillett and Hicks have an informal
understanding that one won't sell without the other and DIC
has never been interested in being a minority stakeholder,
and would not be interested in getting into bed with Hicks
with a 50-50 partnership."
He added: "There is a bit more to go but some conclusion
will be reached - either Hicks will raise the money to buy
out Gillett and take total control, or there will be a sale
of the club. I suspect it will be another couple of months
at least before it is resolved."
(BBC Sport Online)
Benitez believes duo will commit
Rafael Benitez is confident Peter Crouch will soon pen a
long-term contract at Liverpool, with Sami Hyypia set to
agree a one-year extension.
There has been speculation that both could leave in the
summer, but Hyypia wants to complete 10 years at Anfield and
Crouch - according to Benitez - has told the club he wants
to stay.
The Spaniard said: "I have talked to both at different
times. You never know, but I think they could be done soon."
(TEAMtalk)
Hicks stands firm over Anfield stake
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has not formally rejected DIC's
reported offer for the club - but remains unwilling to sell
his stake.
It is understood that Dubai International Capital made an
offer for fellow owner George Gillett's 50% share in the
club earlier on Tuesday, which was extended to Hicks.
But associates of Hicks have reiterated the stance made
public at the end of last month when he vehemently denied
that his stake was up for sale.
Despite reports that DIC are willing to pay £400million for
the Merseysiders, handing Hicks and Gillett a profit of
£25million each, and take on all of the club's debt, Hicks'
position appears as entrenched
as ever.
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard wary of wounded Hammers
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is wary of facing a wounded
animal when West Ham, beaten 4-0 at the weekend, come to
Anfield on Wednesday.
The Hammers, who have not won a league game at Anfield for
44 years, are coming off the back of a demoralising
thrashing by 10-man Chelsea, while Liverpool know a win will
take them back to fourth.
However, Gerrard is taking nothing for granted.
He explained: "As footballers, when you are on the end of a
battering you hurt and you want to put it right straight
away.
"They will come to Anfield hoping to get a good result, and
a good result for them would be a draw.
"That is what they will come here to get, but a draw is no
good for us."
(TEAMtalk)
DIC: No midnight deadline for Liverpool bid
Dubai International Capital today denied a “timeline” has
been put on any offer for Liverpool.
The company’s spokesperson Jehad Saleh refused to comment on
reports DIC this morning tabled a £400m bid for the club.
However, Saleh insisted reports DIC had given Liverpool
co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks a deadline of
midnight tonight to accept an offer were not correct.
She said: “No figures have been (publicly) mentioned, and
talks are ongoing. No timeline has been set on the talks.”
DIC chief executive Sameer al-Ansari, a lifelong Liverpool
fan, this morning confirmed he is in talks with Gillett and
Tom Hicks.
Saleh refused to confirm that Al-Ansari is currently
speaking to both Gillett and Hicks, but revealed he was in
Dubai.
Reports on Merseyside claimed the deadline had been imposed
on Hicks and Gillett to accept the bid.
The offer would give the American businessmen a profit of
£25m each on their investment in the club.
(Ireland On-Line)
Rafa tips Nemeth to shine
Rafael Benitez believes Krisztian Nemeth has a bright future
ahead
of him.
The reserve team striker, who has scored six goals in six
appearances has been tipped to make the breakthrough by Rafa
Benitez.
"He is playing well. He is a player with game intelligence,
with ability and someone who can score goals. He is a player
we are keeping an eye on for the future," said the first
team boss.
"It is not easy with the strikers we have and the situation
at the moment, but we know he is a good player who has the
quality and talent we need.
"He must keep working. His is learning and working with the
staff. I think he will be much better in time because he
wants to learn."
(LFC Online)
Bayern keen on Kuyt
Reports in Holland claim that Bayern Munich will consider
launching a bid in the summer for Liverpool striker Dirk
Kuyt.
The Dutch forward has only three Premier League goals to his
name this term and has struggled to find his best form,
although he has often been deployed out of position by Rafa
Benitez.
Nevertheless, Dutch magazine Sportweek claims Bayern are
monitoring his situation on Merseyside closely with a view
to considering an approach during the close season.
(Setanta Sports)
Thor Zakariassen
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