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SATURDAY 9 |
Rafa: Reds learning lessons
Rafa Benitez says his Liverpool side are learning how to
break down stubborn opposition at Anfield after the beat
Fulham 4-0 on Saturday.
With many sides now looking to frustrate The Reds at home,
Benitez believes his men are learning the lessons of how to
get the breakthrough.
"We knew it could be like that but I said to the players at
half-time keep going, keep attacking, because we know our
last experiences here against Manchester City (1-0), Reading
(2-0) and Portsmouth (0-0) we controlled the game," he said.
"We had opportunities to score more goals. I think the team
was creating enough and we deserved to win."
(Sky Sports)
Coleman left frustrated
Chris Coleman was disappointed with Fulham's second-half
display that saw them beaten 4-0 at Anfield.
"I thought we were okay in the first 45 minutes," he said.
"Our concentration was poor, we lacked a bit of discipline
and belief we could get back into it. That is something for
us to go away and think about."
(Sky Sports)
Scoucers the heros for Liverpool
Liverpool's Scouse heart of Steven Gerrard and Jamie
Carragher scored two of the four goals which finally
accounted for a resilient Fulham at Anfield today.
After dominating a goalless first half Gerrard followed in
his saved 53rd-minute penalty for the first after Ian
Pearce's handball.
Carragher, whose last goal came on January 16 1999, then
dived in at the far post to stab in a second and Luis Garcia
headed in Agger's cross. Substitute Mark Gonzalez curled in
an injury time free-kick to cap the victory.
(Ireland On-Line)
Gerrard back for Reds
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be restored to the
starting line-up as manager Rafael Benitez makes five
expected changes for the visit of Fulham to Anfield today.
Having used a number of youngsters and fringe players for
the inconsequential 3-2 Champions League defeat to
Galatasaray in Istanbul in midweek, Benitez will revert to
his strongest line-up.
That means a recall for the skipper in central midfield,
with other returns for goalkeeper Jose Reina, Irish
right-back Steven Finnan, midfielder Luis Garcia and striker
Dirk Kuyt.
England forward Peter Crouch and winger Mark Gonzalez were
named on the bench after recovering from respective back and
hamstring injuries.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant,
Alonso, Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Bellamy, Kuyt.
Subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Fowler, Gonzalez, Crouch.
(Ireland On-Line)
Benitez backs Jose suggestion
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has endorsed Jose
Mourinho's comments that Premiership reserve teams should
play in the Football League.
The Spanish coach had first-hand experience of such a
scenario when he had a spell in charge of Real Madrid's
second team, who competed in Spain's domestic league.
Benitez said: "I think it would work in England and is a
good idea.
"English players like to compete, whether it is the
Championship, League One or League Two.
"This would be good experience for them and very interesting
from my point of view.
"The young players here need to compete on a higher level.
"Sometimes you are just playing against other lads when you
need to play against men."
(TEAMtalk) |
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FRIDAY 8 |
Queudrue fit for Anfield trip
Fulham left-back Franck Queudrue has recovered from a badly
gashed shin and returns to the squad for Saturday's
Premiership trip to Liverpool.
Central defender Phillippe Christanval, who was rested for
last week's 2-0 defeat at Blackburn, after playing a key
role in the 2-1 home win over Arsenal four days earlier
following a long injury absence, is also back in the squad.
Skipper Luis Boa Morte has recovered from a hamstring strain
which forced him to be substituted at Blackburn.
Fulham (from): Lastuvka, Volz, Knight, Christanval, Pearce,
Rosenior, Diop, Brown, Boa Morte, Radzinski, Jensen,
McBride, Helguson, John, Routledge, Batista.
(TEAMtalk)
Gonzalez back for Reds
Mark Gonzalez is back in the Liverpool squad for tomorrow's
clash with Fulham after recovering from injury.
The Chilean international has been sidelined since tearing
his hamstring against PSV Eindhoven last month.
Sami Hyypia is also available after recovering from a minor
knock.
The Reds are still without long term injury victims Momo
Sissoko, Harry Kewell and
Bolo Zenden.
(LFC Official Website)
We must not bank on Dubai millions
Robbie Fowler today became the latest Liverpool legend to
welcome the imminent Dubai investment, but warned: "Money is
no guarantee of success."
Fowler says he's been monitoring recent off-field
developments as a fan as much as a star striker, but insists
Liverpool won't be lulled into thinking they'll have an easy
ride once the £400m investment materialises.
And the forward is also anticipating the club maintains its
commitment to youth development to ensure the next
generation of Fowlers, Carraghers and Gerrards follow in the
current squad's bootprints.
Speaking exclusively in today's ECHO, Fowler said: "I hope
no-one starts thinking that just because someone may come in
with lots to spend it's going to be an easy ride.
"You only achieve success in this game by working hard.
"The investment is needed and is a big help to us, but
there's going to be far more to any success we have in
future than spending loads of money.
"I don't know if there will be more investment in The
Academy, but I would like to think there's still going to be
that base of local players coming through in future.
"It's all about getting the mix right."
(Liverpool Echo)
Garcia backs Pennant
Luis Garcia has backed Jermaine Pennant to come good at
Anfield.
Pennant has struggled to adapt to life at Anfield but fellow
wide man Luis Garcia is backing the £6m man to be a success
with Liverpool.
"Jermaine has had a tough start to life at Liverpool and
he's still trying to adapt to his new club," said the former
Barcelona midfielder.
"I understand the problems Jermaine has had because I know
the fans sometimes become frustrated with me.
"Playing on the wing is never easy and I know all about it.
For attackers it is more difficult to make an impact in the
Premiership.
"I've told him that football can change in a week, a minute
or even a second. It only takes an instant to score a goal
and then everything looks brighter.
"The key is always to keep going, no matter what happens. If
you are affected by the crowd or let your head go down, then
the situation will never improve."
(LFC Online) |
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THURSDAY 7 |
Cisse back at weekend
Djibril Cisse has recovered from a broken leg and could
resume playing for Olympique Marseille this weekend. Cisse
will be in the squad for the game against Monaco on
Saturday, although coach Albert Emon has not confirmed
whether the on-loan Liverpool forward would be in the
starting line-up.
Cisse broke his right shinbone and fibula in a friendly
international against China on June 7, ruling him out of the
World Cup finals in Germany.
Marseille president, Pape Diouf, says he is wary of rushing
Cisse's return to action.
"We will not hasten the comeback so we are sure he can
return at the highest level," he told l'Équipe TV.
"Djibril is ready, medically, but at this level of
competition it is right to take all the precautions.
"However, Djibril at 60% or 70% of his capabilities can
bring us something."
(Eurosport)
The teams the Reds could face in CL draw
With the final Champions League Group Stage matches
completed on Wednesday night, Liverpool now know the
identity of the seven teams who they could be drawn against
in the last 16 of the competition.
As winners of Group C, Liverpool could face Barcelona, Inter
Milan, Roma, Real Madrid, Celtic, Porto or Lille when the
draw is made on December 15.
AC Milan, the team Liverpool beat in the final in 2005, can
draw Barcelona, PSV, Real Madrid, Celtic or Porto.
Gerard Houllier's Lyon could draw Barcelona, Inter Milan,
PSV, Roma, Celtic or Porto.
Bayern Munich can draw Barcelona, PSV, Roma, Real Madrid,
Celtic, Porto or Lille.
Valencia can draw Inter Milan, PSV, Celtic, Porto or Lille.
Manchester United can face Barcelona, Inter Milan, PSV,
Roma, Real Madrid, Porto
or Lille.
Arsenal can draw Barcelona, Inter Milan, PSV, Roma, Real
Madrid, Celtic or Lille.
Chelsea can face Inter Milan, PSV, Roma, Real, Celtic, Porto
or Lille.
(LFC Official Website)
Trust Moores, urges Dalglish
Reds legend Kenny Dalglish today threw his weight behind the
proposed Anfield takeover by Dubai and urged supporters to
trust Liverpool chairman David Moores on the issue.
Dalglish conceded many fans would be seeking reassurances
with the Dubai government's investment company Dubai
Investment Capital behind a possible £400m plus investment
package which could soon end the tradition of local
ownership.
Said Dalglish, the last manager to bring the title to
Anfield in 1990: "Fans will be seeking a wee bit of comfort
at the moment.
"But I believe they can rest assured that David Moores would
not be selling it to anyone unless he was absolutely
convinced they were the right sort of people and it was the
right thing to do.
"He will be acting in the best interests of Liverpool
Football Club - not himself. You can be sure of that."
(Liverpool Echo)
Sheikh is not a Roman ruler
The comparisons this week between Roman Abramovich and
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum may have been
inevitable.
But in another sense they are also crude and misleading.
The two may have immense personal fortunes in common. But
that is about all.
Abramovich was a young opportunist in Russia, his personal
wealth largely accrued from the chance which the end of
Communism offered to someone sharp-eyed enough to see it in
an impoverished, iron curtain super power.
The wealth in Dubai, however,comes from what lies naturally
beneath its desertlands, oil wealth which is being invested
to build Dubai up into one of the modern wonders of the
economic and tourist world.
The business planning and visionary expertise thathas gone
into spending and investing Dubai's riches is a far cry from
anything Abramovichcan claim.
So any portrayal of Liverpool's hoped fordeal with Dubai as
a prize fight between two super rich men seeking a
playground for a battle of egos is wrong.
(John Thompson - Liverpool Echo)
Reds progress in Youth Cup
Liverpool are through to the fourth round of the FA Youth
Cup.
The Reds beat West Brom 2-1 after extra time at the
Hawthorns last night to reach the fourth round of the FA
Youth Cup.
Academy coach John Owens sent out a strong side last night
with last season's winners David Roberts, Stephen Darby,
Robbie Threlfall, Ryan Flynn, Jay Spearing and Craig
Lindfield all in the starting line up.
It was Robbie Threlfall, who gave the Reds the lead in last
season's final against Man City, who opened the scoring last
night when he put the Reds in front after only a minute.
It was 1-1 25 minutes later when West Brom's constant
pressure paid off and they were able to take advantage of a
poor clearance to slot home the equaliser.
A mere two minutes of extra time had been played when the
Reds got their deserved winner. Ray Putterill buried an
excellent strike from twenty yardsto restore Liverpool's
lead and after that they never looked like slipping up.
(LFC Online)
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Thor Zakariassen
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