Red News                                            

 


FEBRUARY       2009
7 8 9

 

 
   

MONDAY 9
Chelsea sack Scolari
They were expected to be one of the title contenders but Chelsea now find themselves fourth in the league, seven points off the top and without a manager after sacking Luis Felipe Scolari.
The booing Stamford Bridge faithful will be happy after Chelsea sacked the World Cup winning manager.
Chelsea fans booed their team off after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Hull, after which assistant manager Ray Wilkins claimed it was okay for supporters to boo them as they work hard for their money. Shows the mentality of them doesn’t it?
(This is Anfield)

Torres raring to take on England
Spain striker Fernando Torres has revealed his frustration at any injury-hit season but declared himself ready to face England on Wednesday.
The Liverpool forward has seen his performances curtailed by hamstring injuries since scoring the winning goal for his country in the Euro 2008 final against Germany last summer.
But, after coming off the bench for the last 14 minutes of Liverpool's Premier League match at Portsmouth on Saturday to score a last-gasp winner, Torres has declared himself fit for the Seville friendly against Fabio Capello's side.
"I'm ready and available to play when (Spain coach) Vicente Del Bosque sees fit," he said.
"When the time comes for the team being named, everyone wants to play.
"It is clear that from the beginning of the season until January, I have not had the continuity that I would have liked because of injuries, which are what worries me most at the moment."
(TEAMtalk)

Agger wants fewer draws
Daniel Agger believes Liverpool have drawn too many games and has challenged his team-mates to stop dropping so many points.
The Reds have only lost once all season but they have slipped behind Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table following a disappointing run of seven draws in 12 games.
They have secured late victories in their last two matches against Chelsea and Portsmouth and Agger was especially buoyed by the performance at Fratton Park.
"You are not going to win a title if you are drawing every second game, we know that," Agger told the Liverpool Echo.
"So games like this one which we have won after going behind are a big bonus for us."
(Sky Sports)

Voronin open to Anfield return
Andriy Voronin has once again spoken of his desire to return to Liverpool despite enjoying a successful loan spell at Hertha Berlin.
The Ukrainian was given a year-long loan with the Bundesliga club after failing to make an impact since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in 2007 and although he hopes to remain at the Olympiastadion, he believes that he can make a successful return to Anfield after the departure of
Robbie Keane.
"There have been no talks between me, my agent and (Hertha general manager) Dieter Hoeness yet," he told German newspaper Bild.
"We want to have talks with Berlin quickly. I know my agent has been talking to Liverpool recently.
"I still have a contract at Anfield. They've just sold Robbie Keane. Up until he joined last summer, I was getting games for Liverpool.
"They have a shortage of strikers now. I would enjoy staying at Hertha. And even if I am not to stay on, I will give my very best until
the very end."
(Shanklygates)

Carra praises Torres
Jamie Carragher has praised matchwinner Fernando Torres.
Torres came off the bench on Saturday to score a 91st minute winner against Portsmouth at Fratton Park and earn the praise of Carragher.
"Fernando is massive to our title challenge. It's credit to the players and the staff that we are where we are considering he's been missing for a long time this season," said Saturday's captain.
"To get him back, the way he's been firing against Chelsea with a couple of great goals and then he's done the damage against Portsmouth has gained us an extra four points in two Premier League games.
"If he can keep doing that for the rest of the season then we'll run whoever it is close for the title.
"At the moment Fernando is just coming back to fitness and he played into extra-time on Wednesday and now he'll be going away with Spain so given the injuries he's had this season the manager is being very careful with him.
"He's doing okay with the goals he's scoring but he's not quite 100 per cent. Given that, if he keeps coming on and scoring then we've got something to look forward to in the coming months when he is fully fit."
(LFC Online)

New deal for defender
Liverpool have today confirmed Martin Kelly has signed a one year extension to his Anfield contract.
Kelly, who made his debut for the Reds in the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven back in December, is currently away with the England under-19 squad having been called up for the first time ahead of tomorrow night's friendly with Spain in Bournemouth.
His new deal with Liverpool now runs until June 2011.
(LFC Official Website)
SUNDAY 8
Agent: No new Agger deal yet
Daniel Agger's agent has denied reports that the Liverpool defender has signed a new contract with the Premier League club.
Reports on Saturday claimed that the Denmark international had committed his future to the Reds by agreeing a new £70,000-a-week deal.
Agger's current contract expires next year and he has been waiting for the title contenders to discuss an extension.
However, the 24-year-old's representative Per Steffensen insists the centre-half has yet to resolve his future on Merseyside.
"It is simply not correct," Steffensen told TV2 Sporten in reference to the latest rumours. "There has not been any deal signed with Liverpool.
"Apart from that, I have no comments regarding Daniel's situation."
Since joining the Reds from Brondby just over three years ago, Agger has made over 70 appearances for Rafa Benitez's side.
(TEAMtalk)

Kuyt: Rafa proved right
Dirk Kuyt admits Rafa Benitez was proved right to drop several first-team regulars for Liverpool's 3-2 win at Portsmouth.
Reds boss Benitez sprung a surprise with his team selection at Fratton Park after leaving Kuyt, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres on the bench, while also changing to a three-man central defence.
Benitez's substitutions worked perfectly as Kuyt brought the Reds level at 2-2 before Torres headed home a stoppage-time winner.
Dutch attacker Kuyt concedes he would prefer to be starting games, but he understands Benitez's decision to freshen up his team.
"It's the choice of the boss," said Kuyt. "Of course, as a player you always want to play, but it is the manager's choice - and he was right."
(Sky Sports)

Ngog: I'm learning from Fernando
French starlet David Ngog has revealed how much he is learning from watching Fernando Torres in action.
Ngog made his first Premier League start for the Reds in the 3-2 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday before making way for Dirk Kuyt on 55 minutes.
El Nino was introduced to the action in place of Ryan Babel shortly after that and went on to score a last-minute header for Liverpool to snatch the three points.
Ngog admitted that at 19 years old he still has much to learn, but the former Paris St Germain forward is in no doubt he can pick up invaluable pointers from Liverpool's number nine as he looks to forge his own formidable reputation at the club.
"I have spent a lot of time watching Fernando Torres in training and in the games he has played," Ngog told 'LFC Magazine'.
"He is a great striker - he moves well, he finds space where other players would struggle, and more than anything else, he works hard for the team. I am learning a lot from him."
(LFC Official Website)

Torres: I played too much
Fernando Torres believes his incredible debut season with Liverpool has taken its toll this time around.
The former Atletico Madrid ace helped himself to a superb haul of 24 Premier League goals from 33 appearances last season.
It proved to be a lengthy campaign as Liverpool progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League while Spain went all the way at Euro 2008.
Torres admits he was protected somewhat from burn-out at Atletico and that maybe playing too much has contributed to his numerous injury problems that have hampered his form this season.
"I hadn't played a season like that before and maybe it is one reason why I've had problems," he told the Daily Star Sunday.
(Sky Sports)  

Aurelio hails winning mentality
Fabio Aurelio hailed Liverpool's character and fighting spirit after the Reds returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 3-2 win at Portsmouth on Saturday.
Fernando Torres' injury time winner gave Rafael Benitez's side the vital three points, and the Brazilian admitted there was a great feeling in the dressing room after the game.
"It was really important to win and we kept going right until the end," Aurelio told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"The manager made a lot of changes to the team because we had a lot of players who were tired after the FA Cup game against Everton, so everybody tried to do their best.
"It was really important three points, because we have two weeks now before our next game. We have a winning mentality and it gives us a lot of confidence."
(LFC Official Website)

Babel eyes regular Reds role
Ryan Babel is hoping to become a mainstay in Rafa Benitez's first team plans at Liverpool.
The Dutchman has filled more of a squad role since arriving at Anfield from Ajax in 2007.
He is regularly deployed as an impact substitute by the Reds, with his lightening pace seen as an ideal weapon against tiring legs.
However, Babel is keen to be involved from the start on a more regular basis and hopes Robbie Keane's recent return to Tottenham will open an attacking avenue for him to exploit.
"I've had a really good talk with Rafa Benitez. I told him I am really happy at Liverpool," the 22-year-old said in the Sunday Mirror.
"This is the place where I want to become a top-class player. Robbie has gone to Tottenham and that increases my chances so much more.
"I'm ready for more playing time. Meeting the manager and having a talk about the future, was really important."
Babel has also made it clear that he sees his future down the centre, not out on the wing where he is often deployed by Benitez.
"That is where my ambition is and Benitez now knows that. I have told him that I have a real hunger for that position."
(Sky Sports)

Keane refuses to take Benitez bait
Robbie Keane says he has got more "pride and dignity" than to get into a slanging match regarding Rafa Benitez's treatment of him at Liverpool.
The Republic of Ireland striker admits he found being left out of the Liverpool squad "difficult to take" - but is refusing to respond to Benitez's claim that he was unable to cope with the pressure of being an Anfield player.
Keane - preparing for the first match of his second stint at Tottenham, against north London rivals Arsenal today - told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek: "I'm one of those respectful persons - and I'm not getting into a slagging match.
"I've got more pride and dignity. I'll let people say what they want. I don't have to prove myself to anyone."
(TEAMtalk)
SATURDAY 7
Kuyt hammers home
the importance of it all

Goal hero Dirk Kuyt was delighted with Liverpool's win at Portsmouth and believes the Liverpool side showed a lot of character.
"Today was a massive game for us," he said after the match. "It doesn't matter how we won today but we needed to win and we did. We showed a lot of character today and it was a great match."
(LFC Online)

Rafa delighted with his team
Rafael Benitez was happy with his inexperienced Liverpool side, after their 3-2 win over Portsmouth.
"Every victory is important but especially now when you are so close to the top of the table, in this case at the top of the table," said the Liverpool manager.
"I'm really pleased because we showed character and I think we played really well. We made some mistakes and needed to come back but it's very positive."
(LFC Online)  

Dramatic finale as
Reds pinch points

Fernando Torres came off the bench to score an injury-time winner as Liverpool won 3-2 at Portsmouth to send them top of the Premier League.
Torres only came on with 15 minutes to go and by that time his side were chasing victory after David Nugent's opener (62) had been cancelled out by Fabio Aurelio (69).
Hermann Hreidarsson then headed Pompey back into the lead with just 12 minutes remaining, after latching onto a dangerous free-kick into the box.
The Spain striker then set up Dirk Kuyt (85) before heading home in stoppage-time.
It proved to be a masterstroke for Rafael Benitez to leave Torres on the bench - but it was the closest of calls.
(TEAMtalk)

Rafa goes for broke with six defenders

Incredible, Rafa Benitez starts with SIX defenders in his team to face Portsmouth tonight. Alvaro Arbeloa, Andrea Dossena, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio all start the match - leaving Sami Hyypia feeling left out on the bench!
Aurelio is expected to line-up somewhere in midfield with Mascherano.
Alonso, Torres, Riera and Kuyt are all rested and start on the bench.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Agger, Carragher, Skrtel, Mascherano, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Ngog.
Subs: Cavalieri, Torres, Hyypia, Riera, Alonso, Kuyt, El Zhar.
(This is Anfield)

Family at war - Liverpool FC
deserves so much better

When Robbie Keane signed for Liverpool last summer one of the first things he told the ECHO was how delighted he was to be joining the club he supported as a boy.
He couldn't have been any more wrong.
The Liverpool Keane followed as a youngster growing up in Dublin was a club where unity was a watchword and where boardroom politics never had a negative effect on what was happening on the pitch.
The Anfield Keane walked into last July was – and still is – a place torn apart by civil war and internal strife where only the bravest souls dare
to tread.
The Liverpool family has become so dysfunctional that it should be the adoption agency not the Premier League which rules on whether or not they can add to their number. But Keane was blissfully ignorant of such issues when he completed his "dream move".
(Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo)

Rafa: Why i back lucas 100 per cent

Rafael Benitez today insisted Lucas has his "100 per cent support" as the young midfielder reflects on the most difficult week of his career.
After conceding the penalty which gifted Wigan a point at the JJB Stadium, the 22-year old was sent off for two bookable offences against Everton in midweek, ruling him out of today's trip to Portsmouth.
"We will miss him. We have some problems and he is a player who could have been really important for us," said Benitez.
"I can't speak for every single fan, but every member of staff knows he is a very good player and his teammates know he is a good player.
"I will support Lucas 100 per cent, always. He is a fantastic player, he is a nice boy and a very good professional. He has quality, he is learning and is improving all the time."
(LFC Official Website)

Keane would give medal away
Robbie Keane says he would give away his Premier League winners' medal if Liverpool go on to claim this year's title.
Keane rejoined Spurs in a £12million deal before the winter transfer window closed following an indifferent six-month spell at Anfield.
The former Leeds marksman qualifies for a winners' medal having played in 16 league matches for Liverpool.
The Reds remain in with a good chance of ending their title drought, but the 28-year-old has no thoughts of what silverware he could receive from the club - only how Spurs get on between now and the summer.
"My brother is a Liverpool fan so I'd probably give it to him," he said when asked what he would do with his winners' medal if the Reds claim the Premier League crown.
"The way I look at it is that a medal means something when you are a part of the squad and involved in winning a trophy.
"When you are in and out of the squad and not involved in games, there are times when you don't feel part of it.
"Next month's Carling Cup final means more to me because I'm a Tottenham player now, even though I can't play.
"Liverpool is gone. It's the past. What happens there now is not
my problem."
(Sky Sports)

Crouch not Keane
on Rafa's methods

Portsmouth's Peter Crouch has sympathy with Robbie Keane over his treatment at Liverpool, labelling Rafa Benitez's methods as "frustrating".
Keane was largely a bit-part player in his short stay at Anfield, scoring seven goals in 28 games before securing a move back to Tottenham.
And Crouch, who suffered similar treatment before joining Portsmouth last summer, said he felt for the Republic of Ireland striker.
"There are a few similarities between what has happened with Robbie and my own situation. I feel sorry for him," Crouch told the Sun.
"We all know what a great player Robbie is but he didn't get a fair crack of the whip at Liverpool.
"But that is the way Rafa operates and it can be very frustrating because, when I was there, he never really explained why I was not playing."
(TEAMtalk)

Duo suspended
Lucas Levia and Xabi Alonso are to miss one game each.
Lucas misses today's game at Portsmouth because of his red card against Everton, while Alonso misses the home game against Man City on February 22nd after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the win over Chelsea.
(LFC Online)

Hyypia glad of Euro role
Sami Hyypia is glad to be back in Liverpool's Champions League squad.
The Finn was left out of the Champions League squad for the group stage, but has been registered for the knockout phase. His euro return was pleasing for Hyypia.
"It's fantastic to be back in the Champions League squad," he said.
"The official squad list was sent to UEFA last Sunday and as normal the manager was considering the list until the last minute.
"On Sunday he told me that I was in the squad. It's fantastic and I believe Liverpool can do well in the Champions League."
(LFC Online)

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