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FRIDAY 9 |
Rafa scoops top boss prize for January
Rafael Benitez has won the Barclays Manager of the Month
award for January.
He has been rewarded for steering Liverpool to four straight
league wins during the past month.
In this time the Reds defeated Bolton (3-0), Watford (3-0),
Chelsea (2-0) and
West Ham (2-1).
"It's been a very happy new year for the red half of
Merseyside," said Jim Hytner of the Barclays Awards Panel.
"Undefeated and just one goal conceded in the Premiership
this year, Benitez has revitalised Liverpool's campaign."
The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which
includes representatives from football's governing bodies,
the media and fans.
This is the third time Benitez has scooped the award, the
other previous occasions being in November and December
2005.
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa: Mascherano decision is imminent
Rafa Benitez is hoping to hear by Monday whether Javier
Mascherano can play for Liverpool.
The Argentine is training at Melwood but cannot don a red
shirt until the Premier League approves the move.
"Mascherano is training with us because he needs to be fit.
We are waiting for an answer, maybe it will come today,
maybe Monday," said Benitez.
"I think this will be positive. Mascherano is a very good
player, he's professional and he needs to play football.
"This is not easy for him but he is happy when he is
training. He's waiting for some news and it's not easy.
"He was not playing every week so he'll need time. You can
be fit but you must be fit for the tempo."
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa has no Bellamy worries
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists he has no
qualms about Craig Bellamy facing Newcastle.
Former Newcastle ace Bellamy is sure of a hot reception when
he returns to St James' Park this weekend with Liverpool.
Bellamy left Newcastle in acrimonious circumstances after
falling out with former Magpies boss Graeme Souness.
The Welshman was also involved in a tunnel row with
Newcastle coach Terry McDermott during Liverpool's win at
Anfield earlier in the season.
Benitez has no worries over Bellamy's temperament if he does
start him on Tyneside.
"I will decide what is my best team. And Craig Bellamy is
ready, fit and mentally not a problem over this match," said
Benitez.
(Sky Sports)
Game not all about Craig
Terry McDermott today insisted that Newcastle United's match
with Liverpool tomorrow is not just about Craig Bellamy's
return to St James' Park.
The Toon coach clashed with Bellamy in the tunnel at Anfield
in the reverse fixture back in September and branded the
diminutive striker a "little upstart" after the Welshman
launched an attack on the former Liverpool and Magpies
favourite.
The pair had to be pulled apart by Anfield security staff -
but McDermott is focused only on victory for Newcastle
tomorrow.
He told the Chronicle today: "I am sure Craig will have a
bit of apprehension about how he will be treated by the fans
here. But that is no concern to us from a Newcastle United
point of view whatsoever.
"It is about what we do tomorrow. We are gunning for three
points and we don't care how we get them."
(The Evening Chronicle)
Reds must focus on league campaign
Liverpool must put away their stars and stripes on Saturday
and get back to the basics of ensuring they qualify for the
Champions League next season.
The recent whirlwind of takeover activity, with new owners
George Gillett and Tom Hicks unveiled at Anfield earlier
this week, has all but obscured the fact that the club's
chances of finishing any higher than third were virtually
ended by the 0-0 Merseyside derby draw with Everton last
weekend.
But their new American owners will not think much of their
newly-acquired franchise if Liverpool are not competing
against Europe's elite next season.
The Reds have a tough assignment against Newcastle - a club
still searching for takeover salvation of their own - and
Glenn Roeder's men will be going all out to go one better
than Everton at St James' Park.
But retaining a six-point lead over fifth-placed Bolton will
be Rafael Benitez's goal.
(PA Sport)
Benitez bites back at Gibson jibe
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has defended the Anfield club
after their contribution to England was questioned by Steve
Gibson.
In defending national boss Steve McClaren, Middlesbrough
chairman Gibson claimed English football is suffering the
side-effects of having arguably the most successful league
in the world, where club agendas often conflict with
national concerns.
He said:"The Liverpools and the Arsenals, what do they
contribute at national level?"
Benitez responded: "It is very easy to answer this, I just
say Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Peter Crouch, and
Jermaine Pennant. They were all in the England squad this
week.
"We also have Scott Carson with the England Under-21s. We
have more English players than many clubs, and we are
working to develop English talent through our Academy and
the reserves.
"We have many young English players we are trying to develop
and hope that they come through.
"I am trying for a mix of good English and Spanish players,
but everybody understands the English transfer market.
(TEAMtalk)
£21m sponsors deal for Reds
LIverpool are on the verge of sealing their first
multi-million pound sponsorship deal of the new American era
with a £21.6m agreement with Carlsberg.
The Reds had already decided to renew their arrangement with
the brewing giants prior to the takeover of George Gillett
and Tom Hicks.
However, the terms are a massive improvement on the
disappointing £5m over two years which was agreed in 2004,
just before Liverpool won the Champions League final.
The new deal represents £7.2m a year for the next three
seasons - virtually trebling Liverpool’s income from this
source per annum.
Carlsberg have been Liverpool’s sponsors since 1992, but
although the latest deal is the most lucrative between the
pair yet, it still doesn’t compare favourably with those of
Manchester United and Chelsea.
United are currently in a £56.5m deal with AIG over four
years, while Chelsea struck a deal with Samsung worth £50m a
year over five years. Spurs’ shirt deal with Mansion House
is worth £34m over four years.
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard in squad for Toon tussle
Liverpool will have captain Steven Gerrard in the squad
against Newcastle after he played just 45 minutes for
England in midweek
Gerrard picked up a "niggling" injury last weekend in the
Merseyside derby against Everton - but should be fine to
start.
Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso misses the match at St James
Park due to a one-match suspension.
Boss Rafael Benitez could also call in Mohamed Sissoko, who
has been back in full training following a dislocated
shoulder sustained at Birmingham in November.
Reds (from): Reina, Finnan, Agger, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise,
Aurelio, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Zenden, Bellamy, Crouch,
Kuyt, Fowler, Gonzalez, Arbeloa, Dudek.
(TEAMtalk)
Babayaro back to face Liverpool
Newcastle full-back Celestine Babayaro could return to the
starting line-up for Saturday's Premiership clash with
Liverpool.
The 28-year-old Nigeria international has missed the last 11
games with a hamstring injury, but is back in the squad
after returning to training.
Kieron Dyer is fit despite suffering from the after-effects
of his exertions for England in midweek, but full-back
Stephen Carr could be sidelined for a month with the thigh
injury which forced him to withdraw from the Republic of
Ireland squad.
Emre (calf), Shay Given (groin), Peter Ramage and Craig
Moore (both hamstring), Michael Owen and Charles N'Zogbia
(both knee) and Shola Ameobi are still out.
Newcastle (from): Harper, Srnicek, Solano, Babayaro, Edgar,
Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Huntington, Butt, Parker, Milner,
Duff, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Martins, Dyer, Sibierski,
Luque, Carroll, LuaLua.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds fined
Liverpool have been fined £14,000 by the FA.
The Reds received a £10,000 fine for failing to control
their players in a reserve game against that small team from
across Stanley Park on October 10th and another £4,000 for
failing to prevent their players using violent and
threatening behaviour.
Jerzy Dudek, who was sent off in that match has escaped an
improper conduct charge however.
The small team were also fined £10,000 for failing to
control their players.
(LFC Online)
Benitez to sign Tenerife teen Gonzalez
Rafael Benitez is ready to dip into the coffers of
Liverpool’s new American owners by adding to his Spanish
contingent.
The Anfield manager has earmarked a £1.5million move for
Tenerife midfielder Iriome Gonzalez at the end of the
season.
The 19-year-old right-sided midfielder has this year broken
into the first team of the Canary Island outfit, who play in
the second division in Spain.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Benitez in £4m swoop
Rafael Benitez splashed out big money in January - but it
wasn't in the transfer window, as Liam Murphy exclusively
reveals
If Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez wants to invite his two
new American multi-millionaire bosses back for dinner, he
now has the ideal home to host them.
For the Daily Post can today reveal the Anfield supremo has
just bought the most expensive house ever sold in Wirral.
The exclusive five-bedroom mansion overlooking the Dee
Estuary has views over to the Welsh hills.
It was originally marketed for £7m but it is understood that
the canny Liverpool manager - known for not paying over the
odds in the transfer market - paid just over half that sum.
LFC fans will be delighted with the news as it appears to
suggest the popular Spaniard intends to stay at Anfield for
the foreseeable future at least, despite rumoured approaches
from the likes of Real Madrid.
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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THURSDAY 8 |
You'll never meet alone
Liverpool FC’s new owners want to meet Reds fans face to
face.
George Gillett Jr said he wanted to reassure supporters
personally that their club was in safe hands.
He announced his plans after reading about several
protesters objecting to the American takeover of Anfield.
In a briefing for journalists, Mr Gillett said he was
willing to answer questions one by one.
A spokesman for the multi-millionaire businessman said:
“This is not hot air, it’s the way George Gillett Jr goes
about these things.
“When he took over the Montreal Canadiens there was a lot of
concern because the club is a national institution in
Canada.
“Mr Gillett knows a club like Liverpool or the Canadiens is
nothing without the fans and he wants to show them his
respect.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds can muscle in on the big deals
Jamie Carragher is hoping Manchester United and Chelsea’s
dominance in the transfer market will now be seriously
threatened by Liverpool’s American takeover.
The Anfield defender and captain Steven Gerrard were the
first players to be informed of George Gillett and Tom
Hicks’ plans.
Carragher summed up the mood of the players and fans when he
said success on the pitch will define the new era.
But he says it’s an exciting time for the club and his brief
meeting with the new owners went some way to reassuring him
about the future.
“All the players have been talking to each other for the
last few days and we’re all excited this is going to move
the club forward,” said Carragher.
“We’re hoping it’s going to help us get to the level of
Manchester United. It would be nice to think we’ll have as
much money as Chelsea, but I think that’s unrealistic. Being
able to compete in the transfer market with United would be
good enough, and being able to sign players of the calibre
they’ve managed in the last ten years would make a big
difference."
(Liverpool Echo)
Six reds in action
Six of Rafa Benitez's first-team squad were involved in
international action on
Wednesday night.
Steve Finnan played 90 minutes in the Republic of Ireland's
2-1 victory over San Marino, a result which lifts them to
third in Euro Qualifying Group D.
Meanwhile, Peter Crouch got a full run out for England in
the 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Steven Gerrard was rested from half-time while Jamie
Carragher was brought on for the closing 25 minutes. Xabi
Alonso and Pepe Reina had to be content with warming the
bench.
In other friendly internationals, John Arne Riise played 90
minutes in Norway's 2-1 defeat to Croatia, while Dirk Kuyt
was brought off at half-time as Holland beat Russia 4-1.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard unhappy at Spain defeat
Steven Gerrard admitted the England team were not satisfied
with either the result or display as they lost 1-0 to Spain
in last night's friendly international at Old Trafford.
A second-half goal from Barcelona's Andres Iniesta consigned
England to a 1-0 loss against Spain as they where booed off
the pitch.
The Liverpool midfielder said: "It was not the performance
or result we were looking for.
"We were looking to win tonight and were looking for a
decent performance looking to the qualifiers."
"We didn't get the test we wanted tonight, we wanted
confidence. We got some good individual performances -
Woodgate and Dyer.
The England fans made their feelings clear at the final
whistle by booing the players off the pitch.
And Gerrard added: "It's not nice to hear but the fans have
paid money to come here and see goals."
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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WEDNESDAY 7 |
Benitez impressed by new owners
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes the
club's new American owners have "a clear idea" of how to
make the Reds bigger and better.
The Spaniard met with George Gillett and Tom Hicks yesterday
and, following their £470million buy-out of the club, he has
backed them to help Liverpool challenge Manchester United
and Chelsea for the Barclays Premiership title.
"We spoke a lot about the future of the club, and by the end
I was very happy with what the people said. I was convinced
they want the best for the club," Benitez said.
(PA Sport)
Rafa: Thank you David Moores
Rafael Benitez has paid tribute to David Moores
after the departing chairman's decision to sell his majority
shareholding in the club.
The Liverpool boss, who met Americans George Gillett and Tom
Hicks before training yesterday, is full of admiration for
the job Moores has done at Anfield and is pleased he will
now become the club's life president.
"I want to say thank you to David Moores," said Benitez.
"Thank you for the support you have given me since I came to
Liverpool. Thank you for bringing me to Liverpool, and thank
you for everything you have done for the club.
"It was not an easy decision for him to sell Liverpool, but
he has shown he is a good person and a nice person.
"I'm happy he still has a role to play in the future and
hope we can share more success together in the future."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds fans can live the American dream
TEAMtalk's Mike Barton gives a Liverpool fan's perspective
on the club's American takeover.
A new chapter in the glorious 115-year history of Liverpool
Football Club has begun.
And when David Moores sold his majority shareholding in the
Reds to George Gillett and Tom Hicks, he left the American
tycoons free to write it.
Moores deserves thanks for carrying on the family legacy and
generally being a chairman who proved himself very capable
of running the club.
Indeed I couldn't help feel a tinge of sadness at events on
Tuesday, as I started supporting the club when Moores was in
the early years of his reign and it seems like we are saying
goodbye to that era.
There is no question people had their issues with his
stubborn attitude towards other buyers and his complete lack
of interaction with the press.
But he can never be criticised for doing a bad job.
Not delivering a title was not his fault, that fell down to
the managers.
’It’s all about the fans and Anfield’s
winning tradition'
Bill Shankly once famously stood on the Kop.
It was in the mid 1970s, after the Anfield Messiah had
retired, and it caused a minor sensation.
Modern inhabitants of the Kop should perhaps brace
themselves for a similar visit from their new owners.
George Gillett likes to get behind the scenes at sports
clubs, to go walkabout and see what makes the fans tick, and
he intends to maintain that approach at Anfield.
“It’s all about the fans and the winning tradition,” he
explained.
“Liverpool have 28 million registered fans around the world.
They have the largest fanbase in the world of any football
club. That by itself is pretty amazing."
(Liverpool Echo)
Parry: Shanks would hail takeover
Rick Parry is adamant the great Bill Shankly would have
approved of the takeover of Liverpool by two American
tycoons.
George Gillett and Tom Hicks' £470million takeover means
work is now expected to start on the new 60,000-seater
Stanley Park stadium within the next two months, with the
new owners also considering selling the naming rights on the
ground.
"Bill Shankly was one of the great innovators of all time,"
he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"It was a masterstroke by George to bring in Tom Hicks as
his partner. It made it (the bid) much stronger, much more
compelling."
(Liverpool Echo)
Gillett son takes on director’s job at LFC
George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks will keep a presence in
Liverpool through one of Gillett’s four sons, Foster, 31.
At yesterday’s press conference, George Gillett Jr said:
“When you meet Foster (pictured above), he is an extremely
impressive man, he is a great communicator and he is a sweet
man – he has our confidence.”
The new LFC board will be chaired by George Gillett Jr and
Tom Hicks with David Moores, Rick Parry, Foster Gillett and
Tommy Hicks Jr as directors.
A spokesman for Gillett and Hicks said today: “Mr Gillett Jr
has made it clear that Mr Parry will remain CEO and his role
will not be affected by the new board structure.
“But Foster will take a hands-on role and he is certainly
planning to move to the UK in the near future.”
Foster last night returned to his office at the Montreal
Canadiens where he expected to tie up a few loose ends
before planning his move to the UK.
A former employee today told the ECHO: “Foster is a quietly
spoken guy, very polite and professional.
“He’s not got a giant ego as some people might expect –
quite the opposite in fact.”
“He’s sports mad and he will love being at Anfield on a
Saturday afternoon.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds in international action
Daniel Agger and Craig Bellamy each played 90 minutes for
their respective countries in friendly internationals on
Tuesday night.
Agger helped lead Demark to a 3-1 victory over Australia at
Loftus Road, while Bellamy was involved in Wales's stalemate
in Northern Ireland.
Scott Carson, who is currently on-loan at Charlton, played
90 minutes as England U21s drew 2-2 with Spain.
Meanwhile, Liverpool youngster Adam Hammill scored in
England U19s' 4-1 victory over Poland.
Robbie Threlfall also took part at Bournemouth's Fitness
First Stadium.
(LFC Official Website)
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Thor Zakariassen
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