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SUNDAY 6 |
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Crouch: It was a definitive penalty
Peter Crouch insists referee Steve Bennett was right to
award the penalty that set Liverpool up for victory at Villa
Park on Saturday afternoon after he was fouled in the box by
Liam Ridgewell.
Villa boss David O'Leary was furious with the decision in
his post-match press conference but Crouch believes
Ridgewell deserved to be punished for denying him a
goalscoring opportunity.
"It was a definite penalty," says Crouch. "I was attempting
to go for the header, he pulled my shirt and I was impeded.
Justice was done, I've no doubt about that, and it was great
to get the win our performance deserved."
(LFC Official Website)
Robbo keen to keep Kirkland
West Brom boss Bryan Robson is keen to turn Chris Kirkland's
loan move into a permanent arrangement.
Kirkland joined The Baggies on a season-long loan from
Liverpool in the summer after dropping down the pecking
order at Anfield following the arrival of Jose Reina.
The 24-year-old has seized his chance at The Hawthorns and
has impressed Robson.
"Obviously we'll have to see how things stand at the end of
the season, but we'd certainly like to keep him," said
Robson.
"I don't see it as a problem for a goalkeeper to be with a
club that's not playing in the Champions League.
"I think outfield players who want to play international
football probably do want to be at that level, but for
goalkeepers it's different.
"Chris has been very committed to the club since he came
here - he's even bought a house in the area and moved his
family down which is a terrific sign."
(Sky Sports) |
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SATURDAY 5 |
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Medjani sees red
Loaned out Liverpool defender Carl Medjani was sent off
while playing for Metz today.
Medjani was shown a yellow card following a tackle but
because he protested too much to the match referee, he was
instead given his marching orders.
Metz climbed off the bottom with their first win of the
season which came at the expense of fellow strugglers
Ajaccio.
(Kop Talk)
Rafa has no grouch with Crouch
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez praised the contribution of
goal-shy striker Peter Crouch after he won a controversial
penalty in his side's 2-0 win at Aston Villa.
Before the penalty incident Crouch had missed a gilt-edged
opportunity and he has still to find the net in 14
appearances since his £7million summer move from
Southampton.
But Benitez remains positive about the England player, who
caused Villa problems in the air after his introduction as a
second-half substitute.
Benitez said: "People keep asking me about Peter's failure
to score but I say many times that if he plays well and we
win, it is enough.
"He has done a very good job for us and definitely gives us
more options and alternatives in attack."
(Sporting Life)
O'Leary blasts the ref
Villa manager David O'Leary was incensed by the penalty
award and initially claimed on television: "The referee
couldn't wait to give certain decisions in favour of
Liverpool's big players."
O'Leary was not as scathing when pushed on his remarks in
the press conference with the written media but he was still
far from happy with Bennett.
He said: "I am not happy with the penalty. It was a bad
decision. End of story."
(Sporting Life)
Carra thrilled with victory at Villa
Jamie Carragher is hoping this afternoon's deserved victory
at Aston Villa will be the start of an improved run of
results on the road for the Reds.
"We know it's important to start doing better away," said
Carragher, who was named man of the match.
"We've been a bit frustrated away from home this season.
Today we scored two goals and didn't concede so that's an
improvement. In other games this season we either haven't
scored or, when we have, we've only come away with a point."
(LFC Official Website)
Late goals gave Reds the victory
Late goals from Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso gave Rafael
Benitez's side their first back-to-back Premiership
victories of the season.
Gerrard calmly slotted home a penalty on 85 minutes after
substitute Peter Crouch was fouled by Liam Ridgewell.
Four minutes later, Xabi Alonso cracked in a shot that Villa
keeper Thomas Sorensen probably should have kept out.
(BBC Sport Online)
Cisse in for Crouch
Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez made only one change from the
side which beat Anderlecht in the Champions League for the
Barclays Premiership clash at Aston Villa.
Djibril Cisse, who scored the third goal in the 3-0 triumph
against the Belgians, came into the side in place of former
Villa striker Peter Crouch.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard,
Alonso, Sissoko, Luis Garcia, Morientes, Cisse. Subs: Dudek,
Kewell, Crouch, Warnock, Zenden.
(Ireland On-Line)
Nando gets Spain chance
Spain coach Luis Aragones has praised Fernando Morientes
after naming the Reds ace in his squad for the World Cup
play-off against Slovakia.
Morientes, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia and Pepe Reina are all
in the squad for the 12 November fixture and Aragones said:
"Morientes is a goalscorer and he has always performed well
for Spain."
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa: Harry has a future
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has stated that midfielder Harry
Kewell still has a future at the club.
The Australian international has failed to make much of an
impression since his £5 million move from Leeds United in
the summer of 2003.
Despite reports that Aston Villa boss David O'Leary may be
interested in bringing the winger to the Midlands, Benitez
insists Kewell has time to have an impact at Anfield.
"Harry is trying to play as well as possible," Benitez said.
"That's his priority.
"Players who have been out injured for a long time need time
and support, especially when they are as good as Harry.
"Which team would not want someone who can play as a winger
or a second striker and has the quality of Harry Kewell? "In
my opinion, he has all the potential and the talent and the
quality.
"We need to see over the next month how he is, but I have
confidence in him because he has the sort of quality that we
need."
(Sky Sports) |
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FRIDAY 4 |
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Wolves sign goalkeeper Harrison
Wolves have signed former Liverpool trainee goalkeeper Paul
Harrison on a two-month contract.
The 20-year-old keeper, who was released by the Reds in the
summer, impressed when playing for Wolves' reserves against
Blackburn.
Wolves goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms said: "Paul played at
short notice, and couldn't be faulted against Blackburn.
"He's got his chance to have a couple of months with us and
try and impress the manager," he told Wolves' website.
(BBC Sport Online)
Benitez: We must beware Baros
Rafa Benitez has demanded his side take their impressive
Anfield form onto the road, as Liverpool bid to avoid being
haunted by a former player at Aston Villa tomorrow.
"I think Baros will get a good reception from the Liverpool
supporters. It's a pity we had to sell him, but we know he's
a good player who can score goals," said Benitez today.
"I'm not sure if he'll be fit for the game, but when he is
he will be a good player for Aston Villa, we know that. But
now we are thinking about our own team and how well we
can play."
(Liverpool Echo)
Bulgaria prison privileges shock for
Michael
Prison bosses in Bulgaria have revoked privileges from
Liverpool fan Michael Shields.
The teenager who insists he is innocent, has had visiting
times cut from an hour to 20 minutes after complaints from
other inmates.
His family have been barred from bringing in food to him,
and other luxuries like his Playstation are due to be
confiscated.
His uncle Joey Grainey, who helps run the Justice for
Michael campaign, said: "This is totally out of order.
Michael is innocent and with everything he has gone through
this just makes things worse.
The clampdown started yesterday when Michael's sisters,
Laura and Melissa, visited.
They were forbidden to hand over the meal they had taken in.
Louise Ellman MP has pledged to contact the Bulgarian
authorities to try and get the privileges reinstated.
(Liverpool Echo)
Dudek's Kop warning
Liverpool's Champions League Cup Final hero Jerzy Dudek
insists he doesn't want to quit the club and instead wants
to fight for his place in the side.
With the boss splashing £6million on Jose Reina in the
summer, Dudek's future looks uncertain but he's remaining
upbeat and while he's at the club, he says he'll knuckle
down and fight for his chance.
Dudek said: "If I get the chance I know I'm going to take it
and do what Pepe is doing just now.
"He has done very well because I know myself how hard it is
to come to a new country and establish yourself.
"He's a very good keeper but I want my place back."
(Kop Talk)
Reds to check on Nando fitness
Rafael Benitez will make a fitness check on Fernando
Morientes today before deciding if the striker will play a
part in this weekend's clash at Aston Villa.
Morientes netted for the Reds during the midweek victory
over Anderlecht but had to be substituted after feeling some
pain in his knee.
"We will see how he is during the training session and then
we will make a decision," said Benitez today.
If Morientes is passed fit to play at Villa Park, his boss
is backing him to build on his midweek strike and become a
regular scorer for the Reds.
Benitez added: "He is a player with the right mentality and
who does the right things. He is a winner, he trains with a
smile on his face and I'm sure he'll score more goals."
(LFC Official Website)
Baros: I have nothing to prove
Aston Villa striker Milan Baros insists he will feel no
added pressure to prove himself as he prepares to face
former club Liverpool.
The Czech Republic international has not played for Villa
since the 8-3 Carling Cup triumph over Wycombe due to an
Achilles injury but could be fit to face the Reds this
weekend.
The 24-year-old said: “I can’t wait to face Liverpool. I
have nothing to prove. What happened is that I moved and you
have to move in football if you want to play first-team
football.
“Of course there will be a special motivation because it’s
my former club and I’ve still got a lot of friends there.”
(Ireland On-Line)
Liverpool still keen on swoop for Agger
Liverpool are set to reopen their interest in Brondby's
Daniel Agger as Rafael Benitez seeks a swift resolution to
his search for a new central defender in January.
The club were interested in bringing the 20-year-old to
Anfield this summer but despite Benitez desperately seeking
cover for Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia at the back, no
deal materialised.
But with Benitez eager to atone for what he has admitted
were the "mistakes" in not ensuring a centre-back and a
right-sided player signed before the transfer deadline in
August, moves are already underway to ensure there is no
repeat of that frustration when the window opens again in
the New Year.
(Daily Post)
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Thor Zakariassen
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