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TUESDAY 6 |
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Morientes injury worry
Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes could be absent for
several weeks with a thigh injury.
Morientes picked up a thigh strain in training ahead of
Spain's World Cup qualifier with Serbia & Montenegro on
Wednesday.
The experienced hit-man had been expected to start against
Serbia, after coming off the bench to score against Canada
on Saturday.
But he was immediately scratched from Luis Aragones' plans
when he picked up the injury in Tuesday's training session.
The early indications from the Spanish team's medical staff
are that Morientes will require several weeks on the
sidelines.
Morientes' injury will not only be a blow to Spain's World
Cup hopes but also to Liverpool, who are about to embark
upon the UEFA Champions League group phase.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez will be anxiously awaiting an update
on Morientes' fitness as he will not want his attack to be
depleted further, having missed out on re-signing
Michael Owen.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
A chance to remember legend of Crazy Horse
A host of Liverpool legends are to turn out in the city
later this month for a tribute dinner in memory of former
Liverpool and England skipper Emlyn Hughes.
The event at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel on Thursday,
September 22 has been organised by the Variety Club in
partner-ship with the Liverpool Former Players Association.
Kop hero Hughes died from cancer last year at the age of 57
and a host of ex-Anfield stars will be present to celebrate
his remarkable career.
Organiser Jim Donaldson, who is a member of the Variety
Club's North West branch, said: "I'm a Liverpool fan and as
I know some of the former players I thought the dinner would
be a good way of keeping Emlyn's memory alive.
"Both Emlyn's wife and daughter will be there and it
promises to be a great night.
"Some of the guests such as Ray Clemence, Alan Kennedy, Ian
Callaghan and Brian Hall will say a few words and it's a
chance to remember what he achieved."
Former Reds favourites Tommy Lawrence, Gerry Byrne, Ronnie
Moran, Geoff Strong, Tony Hateley, David Fairclough and
Peter Wall have also confirmed their attendance, along with
singer Gerry Marsden and actor and comedian Vince Earl.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds fury as Kewell agent row drags on
Liverpool are furious with the FA for dragging the Harry
Kewell transfer saga through FIFA's courts and are bracing
themselves to fight off fresh charges of using an unlicensed
agent.
The Reds successfully defeated a FIFA charge last month, but
now face the prospect of an FA hearing into the matter.
Liverpool will vigorously defend themselves, but remain
outraged that a 13-month investigation has led to such a
farcical situation. The matter is back at the FA back, where
it started.
The case surrounds the involvement of Kewell's Australian
advisors Bernie and Nikola Mandic.
Bernie Mandic, who works for Max Sport, is not a FIFA
licensed agent. Nikola, who works for parent company Sports
Corporation International, is. The FA want the duo's role in
the £ 5m transfer of 2003 investigated.
(Liverpool Echo)
Owens' pride at Warnock call
Liverpool academy coach John Owens has spoken of his pride
at seeing Stephen Warnock's rise to the full England squad.
Owens was also England Schools coach when Warnock was just
starting his career and has been involved in the full-back's
progress ever since.
Owens said: "When Stephen was sent out on loan to Coventry a
couple of years back I thought it would be very difficult
for him to make it here at Liverpool and that he'd never
play for this club again.
"That saddened us here at the Academy because we'd seen him
come through the ranks but the move turned out to be a
blessing in disguise because he came back a better player
for the experience and has not looked back since."
(TEAMtalk)
Barnes reveals most embarrassing moment
Liverpool legend John Barnes has revealed that his most
embarrassing moment was receiving abuse from England fans
while wearing the Three Lions shirt.
Barnes said: "The most embarrassing was also my worst:
against San Marino at Wembley when the England fans were
booing my every touch. It was awful. I wanted the ground to
swallow me up.
"I'd have preferred to have come off if I'm honest. I'm
grateful to Graham Taylor for not replacing me but at the
time I could have."
(Kop Talk)
Soccer star may still be charged over
crash
Prosecutors have been urged to complete a probe into a fatal
car accident which involved Premiership footballer Steve
Finnan.
An inquest into the death of 81-year-old Henry Nelson, of
Elm Park, was told the Crown Prosecution Service had yet to
decide whether to charge Mr Finnan, who plays for Liverpool
and Ireland, with causing death by dangerous driving.
The accident happened happened on January 27, and Mr Nelson
died six days later of pneumonia.
Prosecutors must decide if the pneumonia was the result of a
fracture suffered by Mr Nelson when he was struck by the
footballer's Range Rover on West Derby Road.
Mr Finnan, 29, was arrested on June 14 but Merseyside police
later voided his bail, after time ran out to decide whether
to charge him or not. The file remains with the CPS which
can charge him at any time.
(Daily Post) |
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MONDAY 5 |
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King ready to return for Spurs
Tottenham's England defender Ledley King has
returned to training. Martin Jol's men face Liverpool this
weekend and the Spurs boss is hoping King will be fit enough
to make a comeback against the Reds at White Hart Lane.
King has been sidelined since the beginning of the season
with a tear in his groin and that has kept him out of the
World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland.
But the Spurs captain is happy with the progress and has set
his sights on playing against Liverpool. He said; "In the
last couple of days I have got back into training and done
about 45 minutes each day.
(The Daily Mail)
Kewell case referred back to FA
Fifa have referred the investigation into Harry Kewell's
transfer from Leeds to Liverpool back to the Football
Association - more than a year after taking up the case.
The FA submitted documentation to the world governing body
in August 2004 following concerns as to the role played by
Bernie Mandic - long recognised as Kewell's representative -
in the £5m deal during July 2003, as he is not officially
licensed by Fifa.
Mandic's company, Max Sport, received a payment of around
£2m as part of the transfer. There is an Australian-based
subsidiary, entitled Sports Corporation International, for
whom Mandic's brother, Nikola, works and it is he who is
recognised by Fifa.
As there was an international dimension to the case, the FA
had agreed with Fifa they should take up the matter and
decide whether any disciplinary sanctions should
be imposed.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez makes Cisse plea
Rafael Benitez has told Djibril Cisse to knuckle down and
play a part in Liverpool's future despite several weeks of
transfer speculation.
The Liverpool boss dismissed suggestions he was trying to
sell Cisse to fund the Michael Owen bid, or that the
Frenchman has been upset by recent rumours.
Benitez said: "Cisse knows what he has to do for us; work
hard, try to score goals, stay fit all season and not let
other things distract him."
He added: "The rumours about Cisse were already going around
long before we beat CSKA Moscow in the Super Cup last week,
and he still managed to score two goals for us that night."
(Football 365)
Chile defeat hits plans to land Gonzalez
Mark Gonzalez's hopes of an early resolution to his
Liverpool work permit woe took another blow over the
weekend.
Brazil's 5-0 drubbing of Chile leaves the South American
winger sweating on the prospects of his country breaking
into the world's top 70.
Chile's FIFA ranking of 73 was cited among the reasons for
the Department for Education and Employment preventing
Gonzalez moving to Anfield.
Liverpool plan to re-apply in January, but unless their
argument is strengthened they may have to wait until next
summer before the transfer goes ahead.
Gonzalez, who is still recovering from a cruciate knee
injury, has now returned to his Spanish club, Albacete, to
continue his rehabilitation.
(Liverpool Echo)
Under-18's hammer Boro for six
Craig Lindfield scored a hat-trick as Liverpool Under-18s
produced a superb display to win 6-2 at Middlesbrough.
The young Reds led 2-1 at half-time and really turned on the
style in the second half.
Liverpool's other goals came from Charlie Barnett, Conal
Platt and Jay Spearing.
Liverpool team: David Roberts, Jay Spearing, Calum Woods,
Robbie Threlfall, Stephen Darby, Paul Barratt, Jimmy Ryan,
Adam Hammill (Michael Burns), Ryan Flynn (Stephen Behan),
Craig Lindfield, Conal Platt (James Frayne).
(LFC Official Website)
Senior Reds lose out
Liverpool were beaten in the semi-final of the British
Masters Tournament yesterday.
The Reds lost to Chelsea 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The defeat was hard on Liverpool who had been the better
side throughout.
John Durnin gave the Reds the lead but they were unable to
reward their dominance with a second goal as Paul Walsh, Ian
Rush, John Aldridge and Alan Kennedy were all thwarted by an
excellent display from Chelsea goalkeeper Kevin Hitchcock.
Chelsea were defeated in the final by Leicester City which
meant they were unable to equal Liverpool's record of
Masters titles.
(LFC Online)
Liverpool star Garcia chosen as role model
England goalkeeper David James has been dropped as the face
of retail giant H&M in favour of Liverpool footballer Luis
Garcia.
The Spanish midfielder will take James's place on billboards
to publicise their new men's range.
The high street store, which has a branch in Church Street
in Liverpool city centre, denied the switch was anything to
do with James's recent poor performance in a game England
lost 4-1 to Denmark.
A spokesman for H&M said: "We wanted a change of face. David
James's replacement has nothing to do with his performances
on the pitch."
Garcia, who signed for Liverpool from Barcelona in June
2003, will model the store's autumn range for businesswear.
(Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 4 |
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Cisse injury scare
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been handed an injury
scare ahead of next weeks Premiership clash against Spurs
with the news that striker Djibril Cisse has an ankle
injury.
Cisse was in outstanding form for France as they played
Faroe Islands on Saturday, scoring 2 goals and also seeing
his own cross deflected into the net.
The Liverpool striker completed a full 90 minutes in the
match but appears to have picked up an "ankle strain" which
also leaves France manager Raymond Domenech sweating on the
players fitness.
"As regards Cisse, it is only Sunday today, and we have
until Wednesday" said Domenech.
With Peter Crouch only just returning from injury and
Florent Sinama Pongolle still returning to full fitness the
European Champions will be hoping the knock is not serious.
(18-5.com)
Sissoko's Vieira target
Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko is aiming to become a
better player than Patrick Vieira.
The 20-year-old joined the European champions from Valencia
during the summer and has made an immediate impression at
Anfield.
Sissoko has made seven appearances for The Reds and has
started both the club's games in The Premiership.
Upon his signing from Valencia, the Mali international was
compared to French powerhouse Vieira by his manager Rafa
Benitez.
The Liverpool boss has tipped Sissoko to become a better
player than the Juventus ace once he matures.
Surpassing Vieira's achievements is a goal for Sissoko and
the youngster hopes he can enjoy as illustrious a career as
the ex-Arsenal captain.
"Patrick has achieved almost everything there is to do in
football and won lots of things," said Sissoko.
"But if I keep working hard maybe I can get to that level or
become even better and one day people will talk about
Sissoko rather than Vieira."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Cisse unhappy at Reds treatment
Djibril Cisse says he is hurt that Liverpool considered
selling him before the transfer window closed last month.
The £14m France striker claims Liverpool had talks with
Newcastle and Marseille about a possible move.
"I heard Liverpool were in talks with other clubs behind my
back - and that hurts," he told the News of the World.
Cisse, 24, also believes his World Cup chances could suffer
if manager Rafael Benitez continues to play him out of
position on the right.
"Everyone knows that being on the right is not where I want
to play," said Cisse, who scored twice in France's 3-0 World
Cup qualifying win over the Faroe Islands on Saturday.
"It's not my best position but the manager puts me there.
I'm prepared to do it for the good of the club but it's
difficult.
"I'm not like Michael Owen at Newcastle - I'm not guaranteed
my place. I've spoken to my international manager and he
told me I need to play as much as possible.
"He said I should go where I want as long as I am playing
regularly.
"I ask myself, can I be happy only playing every other game?
I can't help but wonder about the club's attitude towards
me, but I'm prepared to put my head down and
keep battling."
(BBC Sport Online)
Cisse double for France
Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse believes he turned in his
best performance yet for France in Saturday's 3-0 win over
the Faroe Isles.
Cisse scored twice as France, helped by an own goal, made
light work of the minnows in Lens and said he remained
confident of qualifying for Germany.
"This is certainly my best evening in blue," said the Reds
hitman.
"I am satisfied with our performance, we had a lot of
opportunities especially at the start of the match.
"We scored fast which boosted our confidence. For me, we are
getting better and better and we are improving.
"This match was certainly a good preparation ahead of
Ireland. I can't wait to be there. The atmosphere will be
like in English stadiums.
"It will be noisy and great but I am expecting a very tough
fight."
(TEAMtalk)
International Reds round-up
It was a successful day on the international scene for
several Liverpool players on Saturday, with three of them on
the scoresheet.
Momo Sissoko, Djibril Cisse and Fernando Morientes were all
on target as their respective countries recorded victories.
Sissoko netted in Mali's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over
Congo. In the same competition Cisse scored twice in
France's 3-0 defeat of the Faroe Island, while Morientes was
a marksman in Spain's 2-1 friendly triumph against Canada.
Elsewhere, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher helped England
to an important World Cup qualifying victory over Wales,
Sami Hyypia's Finland were held to a shock goalless draw in
Andorra and John Arne Riise was an unused substitute as
Norway beat
Slovenia 3-2.
(LFC Official Website)
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Thor Zakariassen
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