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MONDAY 6 |
Liverpool midfielder in car crash
Kop Talk understands that Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez has
been involved in a car crash near the training ground.
We are informed that the Chilean international was leaving
Melwood when the accident happened at approximately 6pm on
Monday evening.
Our source informs us that another vehicle was involved
(Ford Fiesta).
The player is "shaken up" but the accident has been
described as "not serious". We're told that the player has
no serious injuries.
(Kop Talk)
Hyypia warns Reds over Blues
Sami Hyypia has warned his Liverpool colleagues that they
will be facing a fired-up Birmingham searching for revenge
when the sides clash in the Carling Cup this week.
Hyypia was part of a Liverpool team who cruelly humiliated
Birmingham in February, dishing out a 7-0 hammering at St
Andrews in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Hyypia has warned of what he expects this time around from
Birmingham on Wednesday.
He said: "The Birmingham lads who played in that cup tie
last season and had to suffer that 7-0 defeat will remember
the match and they will be really up for it this time
around.
"They'll be ready for the fight and Steve Bruce will tell
them to be more awake than they were last time, when we
scored two very quickly.
"I guess Steve Bruce will be trying everything he can to
make sure that doesn't
happen again."
(PA Sport)
Bellamy earns Toshack plaudits
John Toshack says Craig Bellamy must give up the Wales
captaincy even though he is the "nearest thing to Kevin
Keegan" he has seen in 20 years.
The Wales boss has named a 25-man squad for next Tuesday's
friendly against Liechtenstein at Wrexham.
Toshack has spoken to Bellamy and Manchester United star
Ryan Giggs about the fixture - and both have made it clear
they will be available.
Bellamy, who stepped in as captain for the injured Giggs
last month for two Euro 2008 qualifiers in Cardiff, knows
that the armband will now revert to the winger.
But Toshack made a point of praising Bellamy's short spell
leading his country.
"I was very pleased with Craig's contribution to the last
two games. He was like a breath of fresh air around the
place - particularly after the first game, that very
worrying 5-1 defeat by Slovakia which shocked us all."
Bellamy, who has missed the last three Liverpool games with
an ankle problem, is expected to return in the Carling Cup
tie at Birmingham on Wednesday or Sunday's Premiership trip
to Arsenal.
"I know he's missed a few Liverpool games. But he's back in
training, and I am looking forward to him playing at
Wrexham," said Toshack.
(TEAMtalk)
New double act hitting the mark
It is perhaps asign of the earnest desire to reclaim past
glories at Anfield that sees promising players instantly
compared to greats from yesteryear.
Hence Dirk Kuyt being likened, apparently, to a latter day
Kevin Keegan.
For me, the resemblance is still only physical - both
possess bandy legs and flowing hair - and the Dutchman still
has some way to go before he can become a European
Footballer of the Year.
But if Kuyt can be called a Mighty Mouse for the new
millennium, what about his lanky pal being labelled Tosh II?
He's tall and awkward looking, but with a defter touch than
he's given credit for - and on Saturday Peter Crouch played
the crucial role in both of Kuyt's poacher's finishes.
(David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)
LFC star accused of punching fan
Liverpool FC star Momo Sissoko was last night at
the centre of allegations that he was involved in a bust-up
at a takeaway in the early hours of yesterday morning.
It ended with one man being punched in the face following an
argument.
The incident occurred at the Hot 'n' Tender takeaway in
Smithdown Road at around 3am, several hours after Sissoko
played as a substitute in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over
Reading at Anfield.
It is believed a group of people became involved in an
argument with 21-year-old Sissoko and a group of his friends
after the midfielder was asked for his autograph.
Gareth Hughes, of Wavertree, claims Sissoko punched his
18-year-old brother Gavin in the face, leaving him with a
swollen cheekbone and black eye. The manager of the takeaway
confirmed an incident had taken place.
Liverpool FC spokesman Ian Cotton was unable to comment on
the incident.
(Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 5 |
Dowie fears Carson call
Charlton Athletic boss Iain Dowie is keeping his fingers
crossed that Liverpool do not recall the Addicks' on-loan
goalkeeper, Scott Carson.
The 21-year-old has been in sparkling form since moving to
The Valley in the summer, but Dowie fears that he may be
recalled to Anfield in January.
Dowie said after the 1-0 home win over Manchester City: "We
are just going to have to hope that a call from Rafa Benitez
doesn't come.
"Scott has been absolutely superb and we are delighted
Liverpool have given us the licence to take him, but it
benefits both parties in that Scott is developing all the
time, working and also learning from Premiership experience.
"Liverpool have Jose Reina as their number one and we hope
we don't get that call but, obviously, we can't affect
that."
Former Leeds United youngster Carson added: "It is all
credit to the manager here that he took the opportunity to
give an inexperienced goalkeeper like me an chance of
gaining experience.
"I am enjoying it and learning all the time, but if I am
told to go back to Liverpool then that is what I must do.
"At the same time, though, I want to help Charlton up the
table and I'm glad if my saves can do that."
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool ace dismisses Serie A exit talk
Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia has rubbished reports that
he is tempted by a switch to Italian side Fiorentina, and
insists he is very happy at Anfield.
The Spanish international has been on fine form of late, but
has been often been a victim of boss Rafa Benitez's
much-publicised rotation policy.
Reports in Italy have suggested Fiorentina are ready to make
a formal offer for the former Barcelona ace in January, but
Garcia says he has no intention of quitting Anfield:
"There is nothing wrong. I am really happy here.
"I want to impress the manager and prove myself again. He
has been doing the rotation and for us that's alright
because we have a lot of games in the season.
"It's difficult when you score goals and then you are out of
the teamin the next game.
"You know when you do your job properly you want to stay in
the side, but I am happy."
(Clubcall Sports)
Kuyt: I had to prove snipers wrong
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt is "vying to prove the snipers
wrong" after he was written off as 'not good enough for the
Premiership' in Holland.
Back home in Holland there were many who were quick to claim
the £10million striker did not have the class, technique and
quality to make the jump to the summit of the Premiership.
It was a slur that annoyed Kuyt at the time, but five goals
in his last six Premiership matches suggests he can make a
major impact for Liverpool.
Two against Reading - neither spectacular but the sort of
bread-and-butter finishing that marks out a true goalscorer
- gave Liverpool their fourth successive home victory in 11
days, and sent them up to seventh place.
Kuyt may not be the perfect technical player, but his
energy, running, belligerence and instinct for an opening
has already made him a Kop hero.
He said: "I know people in Holland were doubting I could
play here when I joined, but I just intend to give 100%
every time and I believe I can play at this level."
(TEAMtalk)
Momo in the clear
Momo Sissoko can play against Arsenal next Sunday.
Momo Sissoko has picked up four bookings so far this season
so another yellow card against Reading yesterday would have
ruled the Mali international out of next week's visit to the
Emirates Stadium.
Sissoko was understandably named as a subsitute yesterday as
it wasn't worth risking him against the Royals, especially
with the eratic Uriah Rennie as referee. However, Rafael
Benitez did bring Sissoko on for the final fifteen minutes
to close the game down but the midfielder avoided any
trouble and is clear for Sunday.
(LFC Online)
Aldo hails Carra
Former Liverpool player John Aldridge hailed Jamie Carragher
as his fellow Scouser played his 300th league game for the
Reds yesterday.
Carragher has been one of Liverpool's most consistent
performers since breaking into the first team and yesterday
he was taking the plaudits after reaching the 300 league
games landmark. Ex-Red John Aldridge was one of the first to
praise the popular defender.
"Jamie has matured into a world class central defender and
deserves every accolade thrown his way. When his chance
arrived nine years ago, he took it with both hands and has
never let go," said the former Kopite.
"Though he has has played in an era when the game has
dramatically changed, Jamie has been one of the game's old
hands, very much in the mould of players like Billy Liddell
and Tommy Smith. It's something, as well as his fantastic
ability, that has helped keep him at the top of his
profession.
"He may have enjoyed some fantastic successes on the pitch
but he has never forgotten where he has come from. And it is
so refreshing that people like him still exist."
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 4 |
Rafa: Kuyt is the complete player
Rafael Benitez labelled Dirk Kuyt as the complete player
after seeing the Dutch international score both goals in the
2-0 win over Reading at Anfield.
The Liverpool manager said he has been delighted with the
contribution of Kuyt since he arrived at Anfield from
Feyenoord and has backed him to score a lot of goals in a
red shirt this season.
"I have followed Dirk's career for a long time and he is a
very consistent player and you could say the complete
striker," enthused Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Coppell has no complaints
Reading boss Steve Coppell had no complaints with his side's
2-0 defeat at Liverpool.
The Royals fell to their fourth successive Premiership
defeat courtesy of Dirk Kuyt's double for the improving
Reds.
Coppell was happy with his side's spirit as they ended a
tough run of fixtures against the top four teams in the last
few weeks.
"Coming here it was always going to be difficult, but I was
quite pleased with the way my team played," said Coppell.
(Sky Sports)
Kuyt flies high as Reds keep up run
Liverpool's renaissance continued as Dirk Kuyt hit a double
to earn them a 2-0 win over Reading and their fourth victory
at Anfield in 11 days.
They went go-karting in midweek for a spot of team bonding
but they took a long time to get revved up as Reading set
out to spoil from the start.
But the win stretched their unbeaten home league record to
22 matches, dating back 13 months to the hammering by
Chelsea last October.
For Reading their early season promise is beginning to wane
as they fell to their fourth successive league defeat.
Liverpool relied on two more goals, one in each half, from
their Dutch summer signing as they toiled for victory.
(TEAMtalk)
U18s topple United
A superb strike from distance by Jay Spearing was enough for
the reds u18 side to beat Manchester United at the Academy
this morning. Spearing struck early in the second half to
give John Owens' side their first win of the season. After
an even first half, the reds stepped up their game after the
break and dominated the second period.
They couldn't get the second goal despite putting United
under intense pressure, but the result was never really in
doubt as the defence were superb. It was an excellent
display by the youngsters, and they really should have won
by a bigger margin.
Meanwhile, the u16 side made it a double over United, coming
from two goals down to win 3-2, with Nathan Eccleston
grabbing two goals. The forward has been in prolific form
recently and has scored in three of the last four games.
U18 Team: Roberts; Darby, Gaughan, Threlfall, Burns; Flynn,
Spearing, Barnett, Ryan (Scott); Wignall, Putterill
(Pringle):
(The Liverpool Way)
Liverpool v Reading - CONFIRMED TEAM
Liverpool are back in action this afternoon, this
time against visitors Reading in the Premier League.
The confirmed starting line-up is as follows:
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Riise, Hyypia, Carragher, Gerrard,
Alonso, Pennant, Zenden, Crouch, Kuyt.
SUBS: Martin, Agger, Fowler, Gonzalez, Sissoko.
(Kop Talk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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