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TUESDAY 6 |
Aquilani closing in on Reds debut
Liverpool ace Alberto Aquilani could make his long-awaited
debut later this month after stepping his training schedule
following ankle surgery.
The 25-year-old former Roma midfielder arrived at Anfield in
August having undergone surgery on an ankle injury and has
yet to make
an appearance.
However, Benitez, whose side have lost successive games to
Fiorentina and Premier League title rivals Chelsea, is
optimistic the Italy international will soon be match fit
after stepping up his rehabilitation.
"I have been speaking to the doctors and things are going
well with him," the manager told the Liverpool Echo.
"Alberto is progressing all the time. It could be two to
three weeks before he is back.
"But we need to use caution. We will take it one step at a
time and we have the international break to look forward to
now.
"That will be good for him, as he will have some more time.
"He is running and swimming - I think he will have the
record in the swimming pool by the end of his programme -
and he is working in the gym," said Benitez.
"He is doing almost everything and he is doing some things
with the team.
"The only thing he is not doing is kick a ball - not yet any
way."
(TEAMtalk)
Gillett blames Rafa
The uneasy peace at Anfield appears to have been shattered
as George Gillett has blamed Rafa Benitez for their poor
start.
The co-owner claims the side are in good financial shape
compared to other rivals at the top of the table like
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea and therefore any
failings on the pitch are down to Rafa Benitez.
Gillett, who made the comments in an interview with the
fans' union Spirit of Shankly at Liverpool's Kirkby academy
prior to the Premier League match with Hull last week, said:
"In the last 18 months, we have invested £128 million on top
of what has come in. That means it should be
getting better.
"Now if it's not getting better, it's not Gillett and Hicks,
it's the manager, it's the scouting. You have to make sure
you balance out your analysis. There was plenty of money, so
if you have any complaints, take a look at the ins and
outs."
(Clubcall.com)
Their back four is the worst
Liverpool have had for years
Football pundit Tony Cascarino believes Liverpool’s back
four is the worst the club have had in years. Sunday’s
Premier League defeat against Chelsea, coupled with early
loses at home to Aston Villa and away to Tottenham, sees
Liverpool outside the top four and seemingly a club in
crisis. The former Aston Villa and Chelsea striker Cascarino
claims there are so many problems at Anfield, it is
difficult to know where to begin.
The Republic of Ireland legend told the Times: “There are so
many problems it is difficult to know where to begin.”
“Their back four is the worst Liverpool have had for years
and it’s no surprise that they are conceding so many goals,
and bad goals at that.”
“On the wings they lack penetration, while in attack they
lack imagination.”
“One thing that can be said without too much fear of
contradiction is that there is something badly wrong at the
top of the club.”
“In their glory years, Liverpool always had a clear sense of
direction. but no one could say the same now.”
“They used to plan for longevity, not the flash-in-the-pan
success that some of their rivals had.”
“Houllier never built on the treble Liverpool won under his
guidance
in 2001.”
“Now the concern must be that the Champions League won by
Benítez’s team in 2005 will be the high watermark of his
term instead of the catalyst for future success that it
should have been.”
(Sport.co.uk) |
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MONDAY 5 |
Agger: I could have quit
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has revealed that he
considered retiring during his injury nightmare.
The Denmark international underwent an operation on a back
problem during pre-season and only returned to the Reds'
bench for Sunday's defeat at Chelsea.
Agger's career has been disrupted by a number of fitness
setbacks and the 24-year-old has revealed that he considered
quitting during his most recent injury.
"My back was hurting so badly that I considered stopping
playing,"
he told Jyllandsposten.
"I asked myself if it was worth continuing playing. When you
can't even lift your own child out of bed, then something is
terribly wrong."
Agger has been named in Denmark's squad for the friendly
with Sweden on Saturday, a selection which has earned
criticism from Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
(Sky Sports)
Skrtel frustrated over penalty appeal
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel says he feels frustrated at
not being awarded a penalty during the second half of the
Reds’ 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Skrtel was held back by Blues striker Didier Drogba when
challenging for a header from a Steven Gerrard corner.
The Slovakian international believes referee Martin Atkinson
made the wrong decision in not giving Liverpool a penalty.
“A cross was flying to the near post where I was and I was
jumping to make a header,” he told SITA.
“At that moment Drogba clearly pulled me down with his
hands. I think it should have been a penalty kick for us.”
Skrtel added that there wasn’t much between the two sides,
and welcomed the international break.
He continued, “Naturally, we all feel very sorry about the
result. Chelsea scored two goals while we scored none
despite creating some good opportunities. That’s why they
won.
“At the moment I’m feeling the disappointment from the
Chelsea game but I’m looking forward to the international
meet-up.”
(This is Anfield)
Chelsea boss refuses to rule out Liverpool
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has refused to rule Liverpool
out of the Premier League title race despite beating them at
Stamford Bridge yesterday. The former AC Milan coach
suggested the season has plenty of life left in it for Rafa
Benitez’s side even though they have now lost three of their
opening eight games.
Ancelotti told The Liverpool Daily Post: “I think it’s a
long way to the end of the season and Liverpool has the
quality to do a very good season,”
“We played against a strong team and it was a difficult game
until the very end. We got a very good three points against
a very good team.
“It was an important win and it was difficult.
“In the first half it was a balanced game, both teams kept
good control of the defensive positions.
“It was different in the second half after we scored. We had
an opportunity to play on the counterattack as Liverpool
were pressing forward.”
(Sport.co.uk)
Stan takes over at Darlington
Darlington Town have appointed Steve Staunton as manager
until the end of the season.
The Quakers are currently bottom of League Two with only two
draws from their first 11 games this season.
(LFC Online)
Duo named in England squad
Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson have been named in the
England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers with
Ukraine and Belarus.
Fabio Capello's side have already qualified for South Africa
2010 and travel to Andriy Voronin's Ukraine on Saturday,
October 10, followed by the Wembley meeting with Belarus on
Wednesday, October 14.
(LFC Official Website)
Carragher promises Reds response
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has vowed the Reds will
be ready for the 'massive week' which could reignite their
season.
The Reds suffered another dent in their quest for the title
as Sunday's 2-0 defeat to rivals Chelsea saw Rafael
Benitez's side collect their third loss in eight matches
this term, one more than the entire 2008/2009 campaign.
(TEAMtalk)
Hansen: If that goes on,
how long will Benítez stick with him?
Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes his former club are
far too reliant on Fernando Torres and Steve Gerrard. The
former Anfield stalwart is also alarmed at the form of Jamie
Carragher. Hansen suggests Benitez will stick with the long
serving centreback, but admitted his dismal form, which
contributed to Chelsea’s second goal during their Premier
League defeat on Sunday, is major concern for Liverpool.
Hansen told the Telegraph: “No matter how much criticism is
directed at Rafael Benítez at the end of a bad week for
Liverpool, it is ultimately the players who must stand up
and take responsibility.”
“Jamie Carragher is a legend at Liverpool, but he has made a
bad start to the season and is making too many individual
errors. Two errors led to two goals against Chelsea.”
“If that goes on, how long will Benítez stick with him?”
(Sport.co.uk)
Still time for
a Reds title charge
He asked his players to give him a headache, to provide him
with a set of problems with which he would have to juggle
for the remainder
of the campaign.
Rafa Benitez used his pre-match press conference as a
vehicle to motivate his players into getting a victory that
would send
expectations soaring.
Unfortunately for the Liverpool manager, the headache he is
now trying to soothe is the one that he wanted the least.
Irked by a chastening Champions League experience in
Florence five days earlier, Benitez had challenged his
players to get the kind of victory against Chelsea that
would put the momentum back in their campaign and leave him
‘trying to manage’ expectations.
Today, however, he is faced with the task of raising morale;
while there was nothing wrong with Liverpool’s effort or
application at Stamford Bridge, they find themselves being
written of as title challengers once again after slipping to
a 2-0 defeat.
(Dominic King - Liverpool Echo)
Defeat leaves Reds
title challenge faltering
Before yesterday’s game, Rafael Benitez declared he was
hopeful of soon locking horns with Carlo Ancelotti in a
third Champions League final.
But the growing fear is that the managerial foes will not be
competing for honours at the top of the Premier League this
season.
While the championship is not won by October, it can be
lost. And the evidence suggests Liverpool will struggle to
replicate their enthralling title challenge of the previous
campaign.
What else to believe after a disappointing defeat at
Chelsea, a third loss in their first eight Premier League
games?
The last time a team won the title from that position was
Manchester United in 1966-67.
Yet it isn’t just history – and the six-point gap to
Ancelotti’s leaders – that is pointing to Liverpool facing
an enormous task in ending a championship drought that
stretches back to 1990.
Yes, Benitez’s side have acquired the knack of seeing off
the lesser lights, a shortcoming that ultimately undermined
their title challenge
last season.
But against any opposition that could be described as being
half-decent, they have come unstuck. First Tottenham
Hotspur. Then Aston Villa. Now both Fiorentina and Chelsea
in the space of five days.
(Ian Doyle - Liverpool Daily Post) |
|
SUNDAY 4 |
Benitez stays defiant after loss
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insisted his team remain
strong title contenders despite their 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.
Now six points behind leaders Chelsea, Liverpool have
already lost more games - three - than they did last season.
But Benitez told BBC Sport: "It is too early. It is a long
race and we must keep going. We are playing good football
and creating chances.
"We are doing the things that you need to do. But when you
have chances, you must score with them."
(BBC Sport Online)
Reds in battle for fourth
Liverpool will need to make history to land the Premier
League title this season after three defeats in the first
eight games, but a more sobering thought is that they have a
battle to maintain a top-four place to qualify for the
Champions League.
With Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham making a
concerted effort to break into the top four, "The
Establishment", the usually-guaranteed Big Four are being
put under severe pressure. The competitive edge of the
Premier League has been questioned with too much
predictability over the years, but is this the season to
re-write the accepted order?
(Harry Harris - ESPN Soccernet)
Hot Drog 'delighted' with vital win
Didier Drogba revealed his "delight" after Chelsea's 2-0 win
over Liverpool, while Rafa Benitez admitted his men were
beaten by a "good team".
Powerhouse striker Drogba set up goals for Nicolas Anelka
and Florent Malouda to send Chelsea to the top of the
Premier League table.
It was just the boost Chelsea were looking for after the
defeat by Wigan on their last league outing.
Drogba told Sky Sports: "It was important for us to beat
Liverpool as they are a direct opponent for the title.
"It was a difficult game as always but a good one for us.
You have to win at home and it is great to get the three
points. We are really delighted."
Goalkeeper Hilario kept a clean sheet after standing in for
Petr Cech.
On going two points clear of second-placed Manchester
United, Hilario said: "It is important because we are at
home. Of course there was pressure on me but I was not
afraid."
Hilario made a stunning save from Steven Gerrard late on and
added: "I was happy to see the ball when he hit it and happy
we got all
three points."
(TEAMtalk)
French polish puts
Blues in top spot
Second-half goals from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda
gave Chelsea a 2-0 victory over Liverpool and sent them top
of the Premier League.
France international Anelka struck first in the 60th minute
when he finished off a sublime low cross from Didier Drogba
as Chelsea defied their critics with a performance of grit
and quality.
Substitute Malouda sealed the win in injury-time when he
slid home another low cross from Drogba.
(TEAMtalk)
Mascherano starts versus Chelsea
Javier Mascherano returns to the Liverpool starting XI
against Chelsea this afternoon.
Daniel Agger is also back in the squad after a lengthy lay
off with
a back injury.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel,
Insua, Riera, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Benayoun, Babel,
Ngog.
(LFC Official Website)
Lamps: Gerrard the best
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has admitted playing
against Steven Gerrard is the toughest test in football.
The duo line up against each other on Sunday as Liverpool
travel to Stamford Bridge to take on the Blues in the
Premier League, and Lampard said games against the Reds
always provide a difficult challenge
Chelsea and Liverpool have had a number of memorable matches
in recent seasons and Lampard is looking forward to testing
himself against his England team-mate in the latest clash
between the two clubs.
"I would say he is the hardest player to play against in
midfield because he's got everything," said Lampard.
"He is a very complete midfield player. He's the stand-out
one in England. Maybe when we play Arsenal and they are
sometimes on top form, you could pick one of their players
but Gerrard is the main one for me.
"It's a good rivalry because we get on well and I enjoy
playing on the same side for England.
"A lot gets made of us playing together because we are quite
similar, but in the past year or two I've felt a lot better
about it.
"Stevie is one of the best players in the England team and
probably in the world to be honest, so it's always nice to
play with great players and against them as well."
(Sky Sports)
Ancelotti: Liverpool are
weaker without Alonso
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes the Liverpool side his
troops will be facing this afternoon are significantly
weaker following playmaker Xabi Alonso's summer departure to
Real Madrid.
Ancelotti is adamant the current Reds outfit are weakened by
Alonso's loss, and although he rates Brazilian Lucas Leiva,
Ancelotti still thinks the youngster needs further
experience and time until he can perform the defensive
midfield role at Alonso's level.
“They have lost a lot of strength since Alonso went. There’s
a lot of pressure on the others now. Lucas has come into the
side and done well but he still lacks experience. He is one
for the future,” he said to
the Daily Star.
“Liverpool’s midfield puts a lot of pressure on teams but,
without Alonso, something is missing.”
(Goal.com)
Lucas: Team effort key at Chelsea
Lucas Leiva believes Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres
could fire Liverpool to victory at Chelsea – but only if the
team produce one of their best displays of the season.
The Brazilian midfielder is well aware of the brilliance the
duo are capable of, but feels any success the Reds enjoy
this season will be down to a collective effort rather than
the form of individuals.
"If we win it is because we are a team. If we lose it is
exactly the same," he said.
"My belief is that individuals can only play well if the
whole team is playing well and that includes Stevie and
Nando.
"If we are going to beat Chelsea it is because the whole
team
is playing well.
"Hopefully we can do that at Stamford Bridge and that will
allow our big players to show their quality."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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