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SUNDAY 9 |
Aquilani is just fab, says Capello
England boss Fabio Capello last night hailed Alberto
Aquilani as the perfect replacement at Liverpool for Xabi
Alonso.
And Capello should know, having given midfielder Aquilani
his debut when he was in charge at Roma.
The England manager said: “I know Aquilani very well as I
gave him his first game at Roma.
“He’s a really interesting player and, at 25, this is a good
moment for him to move from Italy to England. His style of
play is the same as Alonso’s.”
(Daily Star)
Lucas focused on Liverpool future
Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is focused on earning a
first-team place at Anfield, despite previously admitting
considering his future.
The Brazilian confessed on Friday that he could be
interested in a return to his homeland after receiving
interest from Corinthians.
Former Gremio ace Lucas has started only 25 Premier League
games since his £6million move to Merseyside in 2007.
But the 22-year-old scored in Saturday's 2-1 pre-season
defeat to Atletico Madrid at Anfield and he now says that,
in the wake of Xabi Alonso's move to Real Madrid, he is
determined to help Liverpool achieve success.
"Of course I was happy to score against Atletico, although I
would rather the team have won the game instead of me
getting the goal," he told the club's official website.
"But it was good for me to start and end the pre-season
well.
"Sometimes I hear things said about me, but to be honest I
don't care too much. I only care about the team and the
squad.
"Now I have to focus on the forthcoming season and continue
to work hard and improve.
"I will try to prove I have the quality to be in the team
and hopefully help Liverpool win the title."
(TEAMtalk)
Charles Itandje is leaving Liverpool.
Goalkeeper Itandje is leaving Anfield to join Greek side
Panionios on a free transfer.
Liverpool have been looking to move Itandje on since he
angered fans by laughing and behaving in an inappropriate
way during the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough
disaster.
(tribalfootball.com)
Kelly lands England call
Martin Kelly has been called up for England's under-20 clash
with Montenegro on Tuesday night.
The defender has made a good impression with Liverpool's
first-team during pre-season and will now join up with Brian
Eastick's 18-man squad for the friendly at the Hawthorns.
The match will provide England with their final test ahead
of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Egypt next month.
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 8 |
Benitez reveals Turner interest
Rafael Benitez has held talks with Hull boss Phil Brown over
the possible transfer of defender Michael Turner to
Liverpool.
The Anfield chief has a number of injury worries in defence,
which were compounded on Saturday when Jamie Carragher
limped off early in the first half of the friendly with
Atletico Madrid nursing an ankle problem.
Benitez is increasingly short of defenders, having seen Sami
Hyypia and Alvaro Arbeloa leave the club this summer.
The problem has been made even more pressing with both
Daniel Agger (back) and Martin Skrtel (hamstring) doubtful
for the season's opening league game at Spurs next weekend.
Benitez has been linked with a bid for Turner, as well as
Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin.
And the Spaniard said after the 2-1 defeat by Atletico
Madrid at Anfield: "I was talking with (Hull manager) Phil
Brown, but I will not talk about figures. But maybe I was
just talking to Phil about the weather."
(Press Association Sport)
Benitez praise for in-form Lucas
Rafael Benitez hailed Lucas Leiva as Liverpool's star of
pre-season after the Brazilian scored in Saturday's 2-1
friendly defeat at home
to Atletico Madrid.
The Reds midfielder capped another fine display with a late
strike in front of the Kop and, although it wasn't enough to
earn a share of the spoils, the boss was keen to praise the
22-year-old.
"I said in my pre-match notes that Lucas has been best
player in pre-season," he said. "He showed why again today.
He is really focused, working hard and is showing quality.
"He knows Aquilani will need time. When we decided to bring
in Aquilani we knew he would be out for one month or so, so
we analysed the squad and we think that with Mascherano,
Lucas, Gerrard and Plessis we have enough."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds go down to Atletico defeat
Liverpool's patchy pre-season form continued with a 2-1
defeat at home to Atletico Madrid, despite a late flurry and
a rare Lucas Leiva strike.
Atletico Madrid were two ahead at the break and deserved
their win, as Liverpool's injury worries worsened.
Their preparations for the new season were not helped by the
sight of Jamie Carragher limping out of this sell-out
friendly.
Anfield's most experienced defender lasted just 12 minutes
against the Spanish club as he suffered an ankle injury. A
touchline conversation with club doctor Mark Waller was
followed by the 31 year-old disappearing down the tunnel for
treatment.
Considering boss Rafael Benitez's injury crisis in defence,
losing the vice-captain and defensive leader was the last
thing he wanted.
(TEAMtalk)
Brown warns Reds over Turner chase
Hull boss Phil Brown is determined to get the best possible
price for Michael Turner after receiving a verbal offer from
a Premier League club.
Turner has attracted attention from Liverpool after an
impressive first season in the Premier League but Brown
maintains there have been no official bids and insists the
only club to have made contact is a long way from reaching
their valuation.
"We've had a verbal offer from a club in the Premier League
but there's been no firm offer through communications at
boardroom level. That was nowhere near our expectations,"
Brown said in the Daily Mail.
Liverpool are reported to have made an enquiry that amounted
to £6million, while Brown is holding out for about
£12million.
"I'm still adamant that it would take a big offer to prise
Michael away, no matter who the club is," added Brown.
"We've got a prized asset there and I will guarantee that no
player will leave the club on the cheap."
(TEAMtalk)
Lucas out to replace Alonso
The departure of Xabi Alonso may be tough to take but for
one man the Spaniard’s exit represents the ideal opportunity
to finally prove he’s good enough to make the grade at
Anfield.
Lucas has struggled to endear himself to supporters since he
arrived from Gremio two years ago.
Limited first-team chances and indifferent form meant many
wrote him off as a £6m mistake.
He was booed by his own fans at Anfield last season and a
dismissal in the FA Cup defeat at Goodison left him at rock
bottom.
But Rafa Benitez never lost faith in the 22-year-old and
after finishing last season strongly, Lucas has carried on
where he left off.
The manager need someone to star alongside Javier Mascherano
when the Premier League campaign starts at Spurs next Sunday
and Lucas is up for the challenge.
“I am always ready and now Xabi is gone I hope there will be
more opportunities for me,” he said.
“I am just working hard in training to try to earn a
position in the team.
“I’ve played a lot of minutes in pre-season and that has
given me more confidence.
“I’m feeling better and hopefully it will be a good season
for me.
“I want to play every week but I know Liverpool have a
strong squad.
“I just have to wait and respect whatever decisions Rafa
makes.”
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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FRIDAY 7 |
Aquilani signs Reds deal
Alberto Aquilani has successfully passed his medical with
Liverpool and has agreed a five-year contract at Anfield.
The former Roma midfielder has been captured by Reds boss
Rafa Benitez as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who has been
sold to Real Madrid for £30million.
Aquilani arrives for a fee of £20m and he is expected to
watch his new team-mates take on Atletico Madrid in the
club's final pre-season friendly on Saturday.
But Liverpool do not expect the 25-year-old, who is believed
to be set to earn £80,000 a week, to be fit for between four
and eight weeks.
Aquilani had surgery on an ankle injury this summer and he
will now complete his rehabilitation under the guidance of
the Anfield medical staff.
(Sky Sports)
Duo in Dutch squad
Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel have been called up to the Holland
squad for next week's international friendly with England.
The Liverpool duo have been included in coach Bert van
Marwijk's 22-man squad for the clash in Amsterdam on August
12.
(LFC Official Website)
Aquilani excited by Reds move
Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani is eagerly anticipating
completing his move to Liverpool.
The Italy international is expected to seal his switch to
Anfield on Friday after a deal in the region of £20million
was agreed between the two sides.
Aquilani is set to replace Xabi Alonso, who has left for
Real Madrid, as manager Rafa Benitez plots his side's
challenge for
the Premier League title.
The 25-year-old has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Roma but
is looking forward to the next chapter of his career.
"Obviously I feel very sorry to leave my city and Roma,"
said Aquilani.
"But should the deal be completed with Liverpool it would be
fantastic to play with players like (Steven) Gerrard and
(Fernando) Torres
and the others.
"Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"I am moving on. I want to cordially thank all the Roma
fans, who were like neighbours to me and me to them. I was
always a fan of Rome and still am."
(Sky Sports)
Masch: I'll be ready for Spurs
Javier Mascherano is adamant he will be fully fit and raring
to go when Liverpool kick off their league campaign against
Spurs on August 16.
The Argentine midfielder was granted an extended summer
break following the birth of his second daughter.
But with a fifth pre-season game under his belt after coming
on for the second half of Wednesday's 2-0 victory over FC
Lyn in Oslo, Mascherano insists he can catch up with the
rest of the squad.
"Maybe I need a little bit more work because I arrived back
when my teammates had already been back 10 days, but I will
be in a good position by the start of the new season," he
told Liverpoolfc.tv.
Mascherano was encouraged by Liverpool's display in Norway
and is sure the Reds will be firing on all cylinders for the
trip to White Hart Lane.
"We didn't do well against Espanyol so it was important to
win. It's pre-season but we knew we had to improve because
in 10 days we start the Premier League," he continued.
"There are a lot of positive things to take from this game,
like a clean sheet. We know we still have to improve but we
are happy and now we have one more game to improve even
more.
"After Saturday's game against Atletico we'll have seven
days to get in top condition for the Premier League."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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