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FRIDAY 6 |
Gerrard: Our season is still alive
Steven Gerrard has issued a rallying cry to Liverpool fans
and team-mates, insisting ‘our season is still alive’ both
domestically and in Europe.
The Reds’ early Premier League title charge this season
looked to be as credible as it has been throughout Rafa
Benitez’s reign but seems to have tailed off in recent
weeks.
"Our season is still very much alive. We're not giving up in
the title race and we're 1-0 up in the Champions League and
one win away from a place in the last eight.
"It's important people stay positive and upbeat and not be
down or worried about things."
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa hopeful of Reds duo's fitness
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that Fernando
Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa could be in contention for a
return against Real Madrid.
Both players are desperate to make the clash - Arbeloa to
face his former employers, and Torres to try and get one
over on his old rivals from his Atletico Madrid days.
(TEAMtalk)
Salgado predicts
Real win at Anfield
Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado has predicted the
Spaniards will beat Liverpool 2-1 when they arrive to play
their first ever game at Anfield next week.
But they are likely to be up against a fit again Fernando
Torres – as well as a one goal deficit – as they aim to do
so.
The Spanish giants will arrive on Merseyside in bullish mood
despite Liverpool's 1-0 win in the Bernabeu last Wednesday.
“Liverpool surprised us with their tactical approach, but we
will do whatever we can to level the tie up,” said Salgado.
“We are prepared to throw everything at them to overcome
this predicament.
“I think we will beat them 2-1 at Anfield. I don’t believe
it will be a whitewash.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Arbeloa reveals full-back inspiration
Alvaro Arbeloa admits full-backs like Daniel Alves and
Sergio Ramos provide inspiration in his quest to reach new
heights with Liverpool.
The 26-year-old has been an automatic choice at right-back
this season, and was also part of the Spain squad which
triumphed in Euro 2008.
Even so, Arbeloa believes he has yet to fulfil his full
potential.
The Spaniard claims the right-backs of Real Madrid and
Barcelona have set the benchmark to which he aspires.
"For me, they are the best in that role," Arbeloa told LFC
Magazine. "They are top class. Jose Bosingwa is another who
has impressed me. They are great players who can do
everything a full-back is supposed to.
"Nobody can be sure of anything at a big club like this and
I would never consider myself to be guaranteed a place in
the team.
"I still think I can improve and hopefully that will happen
if I continue to work hard every day.
(LFC Official Website) |
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THURSDAY 5 |
Kuwaitis baulk at asking price
Liverpool’s owners have suffered a blow in their efforts to
sell the club to a Kuwaiti investment consortium.
A spokesman for the consortium says the £500million value
put on the club by American businessmen Tom Hicks and George
Gillett is too high and that negotiations are "going really
badly".
The consortium are now likely to play a waiting game until
July when Hicks and Gillett have to see if they can
refinance Liverpool’s £300million debts.
(Daily Post)
Torres reveals fitness hope
Fernando Torres is 'quite optimistic' he will be fit for
Liverpool's forthcoming clashes against Real Madrid and
Manchester United.
The Spain striker is currently sidelined with an ankle
injury he sustained in the first leg of February's 1-0 UEFA
Champions League last-16 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Liverpool face a crucial 10 days as they tackle Real next
week before facing Premier League leaders United at Old
Trafford.
Speaking in a webchat on his personal site, Torres said: "I
hope to be available for both of the matches because they
will be two great games.
"The ankle injury has been giving me some trouble and the
recovery process is taking longer than I hoped.
"However, I am quite optimistic that I will be ready for the
match versus Real Madrid, and if the ankle holds out, I will
also be at Old Trafford."
(Sky Sports)
Cash-strapped Che may sell stars
Javier Gomez has admitted that Valencia could be forced to
sell star players David Villa and David Silva to resolve
their financial problems.
Valencia have previously declined to answer questions about
their finances but they have been forced to delay payments
to their players and construction work on the new stadium
has also stopped.
Gomez was appointed as Valencia's new chief executive
following a board meeting on Wednesday and he admits action
must be taken, with reports suggesting the club has a total
debt of around 450million euros (£400million).
"The club is in a very delicate situation. It has to control
spending, grow income and sell assets," Gomez told
reporters.
Valencia have fought hard to keep players such as Villa and
Silva in the past but they may now have to listen to offers.
Liverpool are also understood to be interested in defender
Raul Albiol and Gomez has refused to rule out player sales.
(TEAMtalk)
Torres wins PFA award
Fernando Torres has been voted PFA Fans' Player of the Month
for February.
The Spain forward scored a superb double to sink Chelsea on
the first day of the month, then followed it up with a late
winner at Fratton Park.
He was also part of Liverpool's famous win in the Bernabeu.
PFA deputy chief executive Mick McGuire said: "He had a
great season last year, culminating in him being a major
player in Spain's Euro success. A ratio of one goal per two
games this season illustrates what a fantastic acquisition
he has been for Liverpool."
(LFC Official Website)
Hyypia warns of Real complacency
Sami Hyypia has warned his Liverpool team-mates they cannot
afford to think the job is done when they take on Real
Madrid at Anfield next week.
The Reds have the advantage in the second leg of the
Champions League last-16 tie after snatching a late goal at
the Bernabeu to give them a 1-0 aggregate lead.
"We have got a lead to protect which is important and we
know that if we play as well at Anfield as we did over there
then we should be okay," the Finnish defender said in the
Liverpool Echo.
"It will still be difficult because it is just half-time in
the tie so there is still a lot of football to be played."
(TEAMtalk)
AC Milan end £10million
Liverpool interest
AC Milan have reportedly ended their interest in Daniel
Agger.
The Danish international is out of contract at the end of
next season, although Liverpool are eager to tie him to a
new deal at Anfield.
(Fans FC)
Yossi: No congrats
for Rafa from Real
Yossi Benayoun has revealed that Rafa Benitez did not
congratulate his players for beating Real Madrid in the
Bernabeu.
The Israeli scored the winner that gives Liverpool the
advantage going into the Champions League last-16 second leg
at Anfield.
But there were no celebrations or congratulations from
Benitez.
Benayoun said: "It was madness in our changing rooms and I
had to take my mobile phone into the toilets to call my
family. It was the only way I could make myself heard.
Everyone was screaming and shouting, except for the manager,
of course. He was his usual calm self.
"He didn't even congratulate us or shake hands, never mind
join in all the hugs and backslapping that was going on.
That's just how he is. He is very professional and he wants
us to be the same all the time.
"He won't stand for any of us getting carried away or
feeling we are superior to anyone else. My wife and young
children had been jumping up and down with excitement,
watching at home, but he didn't say a word to me about the
goal.
"He likes keeping you on your toes. But I have come to
appreciate that at a club like Liverpool you can't take
anything for granted. I am learning how things work here.
"You can score a very famous goal, an absolutely crucial
one, and it will all be forgotten the following day, as far
as the manager is concerned. He only thinks of the next
challenge, and that is how it should be."
(Football 365) |
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WEDNESDAY 4 |
Parry keen to remain in game
Outgoing Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry wants to stay
in football and maintain his involvement in the European
game.
The 54-year-old will leave Anfield at the end of the season
after 12 years at the club after a breakdown in his
relationship with co-owner Tom Hicks.
Now Parry is considering his future, and cannot imagine it
will not be involved in the sport in some way.
In an interview with Bloomberg, he said: "Do I think I
(still) have something to offer? Yes. I think it is
inconceivable I will not have something to do with the
game."
Parry had been linked with the position of Football
Association chief executive, although admits he has so far
had no offers.
He is also a board member of the European Club Association -
a lobby group that was started last year and represents more
than 130 teams.
The organisation will next meet on March 17, where Parry's
imminent departure will be discussed.
Parry would like to stay on until the end of his Liverpool
tenure and would be interested in remaining on the ECA board
"under the right circumstances". For that to happen, he
would need to be affiliated to another of the group's 137
member clubs.
He said: "The organisation has real potential. It is
fledgling but it is a kind of new beginning towards a better
relationship (with football's authorities)."
Parry confirmed that he has no plans to leave his Liverpool
post early.
He said: "I am staying as long as the owners want me and
that is until the end of this season. I have got no plans to
leave earlier than that."
(TEAMtalk)
New sponsorship plans for Reds
Ian Ayre, a candidate to be Liverpool's next chief
executive, has said new sponsorship plans to push the club
higher up the football rich list.
Ayre, 45, was appointed, primarily, by Liverpool co-owner
Tom Hicks as the club's new commercial director 18 months
ago.
And with Rick Parry announcing he will be quitting as the
Anfield club's chief executive this summer after 12 years in
the job, Ayre is already being touted for the job along with
former FA chief Brian Barwick.
Now Ayre has confirmed a new sponsorship with the Bank of
America, the prospect of three other sponsorships soon and a
summer tour to the Far East for Rafael Benitez's team.
Liverpool have extended their agreement with the BoA for a
further four years, a deal worth £5m to the Anfield club.
BoA is the parent company of Chester-based credit card firm
MBNA who supply Liverpool's credit card for fans, and they
announced major redundancies in December for their
world-wide operation.
Ayre, in an interview with Bloomberg, the financial news
agency, said: "Other transactions are under discussion."
They could involve the consumer electronics, gaming and
automotive sectors.
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool FC to tour
Far East in summer
Liverpool will tour the Far East this summer as part of
their preparations for the 2009/10 season.
The Reds have agreed a nine day trip which will include
matches in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore.
Tour dates will be July 17 to 26, but details of opposition
have not yet been finalised.
The Reds have a huge fan base in that part of the world.
In the summer of 2007 they undertook a highly successful
tour to China, which included games against South China and
Portsmouth.
(Liverpool Echo)
Mascherano praise for Ngog
Javier Mascherano believes David Ngog has a bright future
ahead of him at Anfield after the rookie striker netted his
first Premier League goal for Liverpool in Tuesday's 2-0
victory over Sunderland.
"It was very important for David to score because he is a
young player and this goal will give him more confidence,"
Mascherano told the Liverpool Echo.
"You can see in every training session that he is working
very hard and when he is given his chance in the team he has
to try and take it and by scoring a goal and doing a good
job for the team he can be happy with his performance.
"It is really good for him and I am very happy for him
because he deserved his goal."
(Shanklygates)
Yossi pleased with win
Yossi Benayoun was glad to get back to winning ways
yesterday.
Benayoun said yesterday's win was a vital one as Liverpool
had to quickly bounce back from their weekend defeat.
"I'm happy with the goal, but the most important thing is
the points," said the winger.
"After we lost against Middlesbrough, it was important to
come back to winning ways. Now we have time to think about
Real Madrid next week.
"We were very disappointed. We expected to beat
Middlesbrough - but we did a job tonight.
"It is important for everyone to show the supporters - even
if it is not to win the league but to finish second and do
our best."
(LFC Online)
A sense of relief - but
Liverpool FC must get ruthless
If anything there is a sense of some relief today after the
victory over Sunderland.
Getting three points was all that mattered after what has
happened to our league hopes since the turn of the year -
and the defeat to Middlesbrough.
Everyone has been feeling as flat as a pancake and it showed
last night. The atmosphere seemed very sombre and it was a
night when the players probably needed to give the fans a
lift.
But let’s hope the result has given our great club the lift
it has sorely needed - and that we can go on and start
becoming much more ruthless with opponents over the rest of
the season.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Torment of what
ifs even in routine win
So the torment goes on for Liverpool’s supporters. After the
weekend pain at the Riverside, Rafael Benitez’s side
delivered their fans a huge dollop of frustration last
night.
The Anfield outfit secured only their third league victory
in eight games with a deserved triumph against Sunderland.
This was that rare breed; a relatively comfortable home
league win. But the fact the final whistle was met with only
muted cheers demonstrated the overriding emotion from
Liverpool supporters that this was too little, too late.
The shameful surrender at Middlesbrough on Saturday had
realistically ended any hopes of the title and consigned
Benitez’s side to a three-way scrap for second place behind
Manchester United.
At least Liverpool’s players responded to the call from
their manager for a reaction to that Riverside debacle.
(Ian Doyle - Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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