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SATURDAY 9 |
Rafa: Alonso may still leave
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has refused to rule out the
possibility of selling Xabi Alonso.
The Spain international appears to have become the victim of
the Reds' continued pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth
Barry.
He has the full support of the Anfield faithful, though, who
backed him throughout Friday's friendly against Lazio, while
also displaying their opposition towards any move for Barry.
However, Benitez appears to have turned a deaf ear to the
views from
the terraces, admitting that a suitable offer could yet see
him part with
a popular member of his squad.
"We knew Alonso was a very good player and as a result he
had a good price (on his head). We had offers, but they were
not enough so we decided he needed to stay with us," said
the Spanish coach.
(Sky Sports)
Benitez refusing
to give up on Barry
Rafael Benitez last night refused to concede defeat in his
attempts to sign Gareth Barry – despite the deal being
thrown into serious doubt.
Liverpool manager outlined his dire need to bolster his left
side, even hinting he may have to look elsewhere and at a
cheaper option than
the Aston Villa captain.
But he also suggested that the Barry chase was not dead,
declaring
to “try my best to improve the squad” ahead of the new
season.
“We don’t know who but clearly we have problems on the left.
We’ve lost Riise and Kewell, Aurelio is injured, Leto has no
work permit and Babel is at the Olympics and could come back
injured. So we need to improve in this area.
“(Barry) can play in three different positions and that’s a
positive thing
but I am talking about one player. And I will try to improve
the team and the squad if I can.
“I will try to do my best.”
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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FRIDAY 8 |
Late drama at Anfield
The Kop came to see their new number seven net his first
Liverpool goal on his Anfield debut, but they were left to
settle for a 90th-minute winner from Andriy Voronin that
flattened Lazio.
Robbie Keane worked tirelessly to impress his new admirers,
but clear chances would not fall his way despite a dominant
first half showing by The Reds.
As Rafa Benitez rested his top stars during the second half,
it appeared Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly would
prove a damp squib, but Voronin arrived in the nick of time
to smash home a 16-yard volley.
(Setanta Sports)
Keane to make Kop bow
Robbie Keane and Andrea Dossena are set for their Anfield
debuts against Lazio tonight – a game you can watch
exclusively live online or on LFC TV from 8.15pm BST
(delayed kick off due to ticket problems).
Meanwhile, Pepe Reina and Damien Plessis return to the
Liverpool XI to replace Diego Cavalieri and injured skipper
Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool team in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena,
Carragher, Agger, Alonso, Plessis, Kuyt, Benayoun, Torres,
Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Finnan, Voronin, Pennant, Insua,
Ngog, Spearing, Nemeth, El Zhar.
(LFC Official Website)
Barry swoop on the rocks
Liverpool's move for Gareth Barry was today in major doubt
with Tom Hicks and George Gillett still to give the proposed
deal the go-ahead.
Rafa Benitez had hoped Barry would already be a Liverpool
player by now after Aston Villa gave the Reds the nod to
bring the long running saga to an end last Saturday, when
Martin O'Neill said he would no longer stand in the way of a
deal.
But six days later the transfer is still to be done, leaving
Barry in limbo and Benitez furious at the lack of progress.
It now seems increasingly likely that Hicks and Gillett will
refuse to back their manager's judgement on this occasion,
and the chances of the proposed £18m transfer taking place
are receding by the hour.
(Liverpool Echo)
Trio handed first-team squad numbers
Three of Rafa Benitez's young pretenders have been given
first-team squad numbers for 2008-09.
Damien Plessis, Krisztian Nemeth and Martin Kelly have all
been allocated numbers for the first time.
Central midfielder Plessis, who borrowed the number 47 for
his debut at the Emirates last term, will wear 28 on a
permanent basis.
Nemeth, who top-scored for Gary Ablett's title-winning
reserves in 2007-08, has been handed the number 29.
Defender Kelly will have 34 on his back should he make his
first-team debut in the forthcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, three youngsters have swapped shirts: Emiliano
Insua has moved from 48 to 22; Jay Spearing from 34 to 26;
and Nabil El Zhar from 42 to 31.
(LFC Offical Website)
Benitez: I'm a victim of my own success
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he is a victim of his
Champions League success in 2005.
According to the Spaniard, the unexpected 'Miracle of
Istanbul', coupled with a penalty shoot-out defeat of West
Ham in the FA Cup final the following year, raised
expectations to an unattainable level.
Looking back on that defeat of AC Milan, Benitez told The
Times: "In some ways made things more difficult because the
expectations became so high. Then we won the European Super
Cup and FA Cup the following season and so suddenly everyone
was saying, 'OK, the next step will be the Premier League
title.'
(Sporting Life)
Trio to remain in Beijing
Liverpool will not be recalling Javier Mascherano, Lucas
Levia and Ryan Babel from Beijing.
Barcelona, Werder Bremnen and Schalke took their case to the
Court of Arberation for Sport (CAS) after their players were
named in various Olympic squads. The CAS ruled that the
Olympics are not part of the FIFA calendar and clubs are
under no obligation to release their players for the
tournament.
The decision by the CAS applies to all players so Liverpool
are now legally entitled to recall Mascherano, Lucas and
Babel from Beijing. However, the trio have all stated their
desire to play in the Olympics so the Reds will allow them
to compete.
(LFC Online) |
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THURSDAY 7 |
Rafa: Yossi and Dirk are staying
Rafael Benitez today responded to speculation linking Yossi
Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt with moves away from Anfield and
insisted: "Neither player will be leaving."
Benayoun is reportedly attracting interest from Italian
giants Roma while Kuyt has this morning been linked with a
switch to Hamburg in Germany.
The Liverpool boss has spoken with both players over the
past 24 hours and is adamant each has a big part to play in
the club's quest for honours this season.
He said: "It is true that Roma are interested in Yossi. I
was talking with him yesterday and told him I want to keep
him. He is a player with quality and has shown that during
pre-season. I have no more news about Yossi - he will be
staying with us.
"I also talked with Dirk Kuyt this morning. I am really
pleased with him and he will be staying with us."
(LFC Official Website)
Red Olympians get going in China
Liverpool’s representatives were all in action for their
countries today as the Men’s Football kicked off at the 2008
Olympic Games
in Beijing, China.
This morning (UK) Lucas Leiva played the full game as Brazil
edged out Belgium 1-0 thanks to a late strike from Anderson
Hernanes.
The Brazilians next face New Zealand on Sunday.
Javier Mascherano commanded Argentina’s midfield as they
beat the Ivory Coast 2-1 with Lionel Messi and Lautaro
Acosta getting on the score sheet for the reigning Olympic
Champions. Mascherano was booked in
the second half. The Argentines now face Australia.
And Ryan Babel played all 90 minutes for Holland as they
were held to
a frustrating goalless draw with Nigeria. The Dutch will be
looking to do better on Sunday when they meet the USA.
The final of the Men’s Football will be played in Beijing on
August 23rd
at 5am (UK).
(This is Anfield)
Liverpool loanee ruled out for 8 weeks
Nottingham Forest has confirmed that Liverpool loan signing
Paul Anderson will be out for 4 to 8 weeks for tearing a
muscle in his thigh during training.
Anderson said: “It is very frustrating. I thought I was over
that injury, but it came back and now I could be out for
anything between four and eight weeks.
“I am enjoying my time at Forest, but I’m not doing what I
want to be doing.
“I had a scan two weeks ago and wasn’t too bad and I felt
really good, but
I started doing runs again and tore it again.
“I have got to take my time with it and strengthen it as
much as possible – there’s nothing much else I can do."
(Kop-TV)
Liddell petition sent to Parliament
A petition with more than 1,700 names calling for a lasting
memorial to Anfield icon Billy Liddell has been sent to the
Scottish Parliament.
Campaigners want to honour one of our greatest ever players
in his hometown of Townhill, near Dunfermline.
The most likely tribute is a cairn with a plaque, though
council officials are also considering renaming a leisure
site as the Billy Liddell sports complex.
Cllr Bill McCulloch, ward member for Townhill, said: "I've
spoken to Billy's widow Phyllis and she told me she wasn't
keen on a statue as her husband was a modest man.
"We feel a traditional cairn would be very appropriate.
"Billy was an old-fashioned gent who was a role model in the
way he lived his life.
"He was a magistrate, did a lot for the community and did a
lot while he was playing part-time."
Campaigners have also submitted Liddell's name to the
Scottish FA to get him inducted into their Hall Of Fame.
A decision is expected to made in September.
Liddell signed for Liverpool as a teenager in 1938, spending
his entire career on Merseyside before retiring aged 39 in
1961. In that time he recorded more than 500 appearances and
scored 229 goals.
The great man died in 2001 of Alzheimer's disease. A plaque
already exists outside Anfield.
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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