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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) |
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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) |
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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)
Thor Zakariassen
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