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SUNDAY 9 |
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Morientes comes off the bench for Real
Madrid
Liverpool target Fernando Morientes came off the bench to make
a late substitute appearance for Real Madrid this evening. The
Spanish striker played the last five minutes of Real's 3-0 win
over Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.
Goalkeeper Cesar, another target of ours, was also on the
bench.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen was given a two minute
run out but only after an injury forced a change.
(Kop Talk)
Early exit for Cheyrou
Loaned out Liverpool midfielder Bruno Cheyrou saw his chances
of winning the Coupe de France dashed after his side Marseille
were dumped out of the competition by minnows Angers.
The French division 2 outfit - who are placed 17th - beat a
strong Marseille side 3-2 to cause a huge upset. Fabien
Barthez and Steve Marlet were also among the embarrassed.
Cheyrou joined Marseille on a season-long loan in the hope of
earning a permanent move in the summer.
(Kop Talk)
Owen tipped for Real Madrid exit
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen is to be axed by new
Real Madrid boss Wanderley Luxemburgo and Sporting Director
Arrigo Sacchi.
Owen, along with David Beckham and Jonathan Woodgate, will all
be shown the door according to numerous media sources today as
the new regime at Real plan a major overhaul of the squad.
(Kop Talk)
Cesar stalling on Reds move
Liverpool's £7 million double bid for Fernando Morientes and
Cesar has still to be pushed through, but negotiations are
continuing with Real Madrid.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez wants to raid his homeland for the Real
duo and is keen to thrash out a package that will include both
Spain striker Morientes and keeper Cesar.
However, things are not running smoothly as Cesar sought an
urgent meeting with Real official Emilio Butragueno to clarify
his future at El Santiago Bernabeu.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Mersey duo lead Pennant chase
Liverpool and Everton are leading the chase to sign Jermaine
Pennant from Arsenal.
The highly-rated 22-year-old winger is out of contract at
Highbury in the summer, and the Mersey giants are rumoured are
to be heading the queue for his signature.
According to The News Of The World both Rafael Benitez and
David Moyes are both keen to capture Pennant.
(Sporting Life)
Liverpool in shock Johnson swoop
Liverpool have made a shock move for Crystal Palace striker
Andy Johnson.
The Reds, hit by the loss of Djibril Cisse to a horrific
injury, are already trying to sign another striker in Real
Madrid's Fernando Morientes.
But according to the Sunday Express they're also real to swoop
for highly-rated Johnson.
(Sporting Life) |
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SATURDAY 8 |
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Benitez bemoans pile-up
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has voiced his concern at the
club's crowded fixture programme.
The postponement of the FA Cup tie at Burnley on Friday night
only added to the Spaniard's worries.
That game has been rearranged for a week on Tuesday at Turf
Moor - and in the middle of an already hectic schedule.
Liverpool are facing five games in the space of 14 days which
could make or break their season.
Benitez could not disguise his disappointment at the knock-on
effect the postponement of the Burnley game would have.
"Some good training sessions have been wasted and we are going
to have to fit this game into a very crowded fixture list," he
said.
TEAMtalk)
Morientes move closer
Fernando Morientes could finally be on the verge of joining
Liverpool with Real Madrid reportedly agreeing to a deal of
around £7 million for the striker, along with goalkeeper
Cesar.
Liverpool have reportedly upped their bid for Spanish
international striker Morientes to around £6.5 million, and
Real have finally agreed to allow him to leave.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez has now also turned his attention to
Real's reserve goalkeeper Cesar, and he will be involved in
the deal totalling around £7 million.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Burnley count the cost
Burnley are counting the cost of the glamour FA Cup tie
against Liverpool being postponed until a week on Tuesday at
Turf Moor.
Referee Mark Clattenburg called off the match 45 minutes
before kick-off following torrential rain and the threat of
more to come.
With the third-round tie due to go out live on Sky, the club
were left coming to terms with the financial implications -
they could miss out on £200,000.
Chief executive Dave Edmundson said: "It's the worst possible
situation as far as Burnley are concerned.
"It's difficult to put a figure on it but it could already be
£150,000 by the fact the game is not on TV.
"There will be various other costs and it could be up to
£200,000. It's a bitter blow. We can't afford it - literally."
(TEAMtalk)
Watford gearing for shift to cup form
There are only four clubs left in England who have two routes
to a Millennium Stadium cup final open to them this season:
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Watford.
Improbable as it sounds, Watford, sixteenth in the Coca-Cola
Championship and with only one league win in their past 13
matches, are still in both domestic cup competitions. They
travel to Anfield for the first leg of their Carling Cup
semi-final against Liverpool on Tuesday night and this
afternoon they host Fulham in the third round of the FA Cup.
(The Times) |
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FRIDAY 7 |
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Player safety forced call-off
Referee Mark Clattenberg called off Burnley's FA Cup third
round tie against Liverpool tonight because he was concerned
for the safety of the players.
The third-round game at Turf Moor was postponed 45 minutes
before kick-off following torrential rain.
Clattenburg said: "Burnley have done very well to get the
pitch in this state. When they removed the covers, the pitch
was 98% playable.
"They used the water machines but they reached saturation
point and a five-yard area on the touchline was waterlogged.
"They put a lot of sand on it which became like quicksand. It
would have been very difficult for the players to run or turn
on.
"I felt that if they turned on that surface there was a danger
of injury.
"I was looking at the safety aspect of the players, plus the
fact that more
rain was forecast."
(TEAMtalk)
Burnley v Liverpool - new date
Burnley have confirmed that the rearranged FA Cup third round
clash with Liverpool, postponed this evening due to a
waterlogged pitch, will take place on
Tuesday, January 18th at Turf Moor.
(Shankly Gates)
Turf Moor tie bites the dust
Liverpool's FA Cup third round tie at Burnley has fallen foul
of the weather as the state of the Turf Moor pitch has forced
the game to be postponed.
The two sides were due to do battle in front of the Sky Sports
cameras on Friday evening, but heavy rainfall prior to kick
off left referee Mark Clattenburg with no option but to call
off the fixture.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Liverpool midfielder to undergo the knife
Troubled Liverpool winger Richie Partridge underwent a scan
this week and an amount of residual cartlidge tissue and bone
around his knee was discovered. The Irishman will undergo a
minor operation within the next couple of days to repair the
problem.
(Kop Talk)
Liverpool defender linked with Marseille
Liverpool defender Gregory Vignal is attracting the interest
of Marseille, claim dubious sources this afternoon.
It is claimed that the French outfit are keen on signing the
left-back who is currently on loan north of the border at
Glasgow Rangers.
(Kop Talk)
Transfer looks unlikely now says Rafa
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has admitted for the first time
that he is interested in signing Leeds United goalkeeper Scott
Carson.
At the same time though he has admitted that a deal looks
unlikely this month due to the demands made by Leeds United.
Liverpool have offered £250,000 but the Elland Road outfit
want double that.
The player is available on a free in the summer but
compensation would have to be paid to Leeds if he was signed,
due to his age.
Rafa said: "We have had many offers from agents to sign young
goalkeepers but we are looking for an experienced goalkeeper.
"We have two good keepers here and Chris Kirkland will be back
in three months. We want to sign someone on loan instead.
"It's not likely that we will be signing Scott Carson now."
(Kop Talk)
Rafa sets one week deadline
Liverpool have set a one week deadline to complete the
transfer of Fernando Morientes.
Rafa Benitez will pull the plug on the £5m bid if a deal isn't
agreed by next weekend.
If Real Madrid continue to block the transfer, Benitez will
turn his attentions elsewhere, with Nicolas Anelka topping the
list of alternatives.
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa reassures Hyppia he has an Anfield
future
Rafael Benitez may have signed his favourite centre-half in
Mauricio Pellegrino - but he still has strong words of support
for Liverpool's current defensive lynchpin Sami Hyypia.
Anfield boss Benitez may rest Hyypia tonight in the live Sky
clash at Burnley, but he insists the big Finn has a crucial
part to play in his club's future.
Hyypia suffered criticism last season and lost the captaincy
as well as his form, and there were even suggestions that he
could leave Anfield.
But despite signing 33-year-old Valencia stopper Pellegrino on
a free transfer this week, Benitez has nothing but praise for
Hyypia.
He said: "Sami has been playing very well for us, along with
Jamie Carragher.
"Sami is good in the air, and that is important to us because
in England it is crucial to have that ability in your
defence."
(Evening Times)
Rafa confirms six kids to face Burnley
Rafael Benitez has confirmed he will be using Neil Mellor,
John Welsh, Darren Potter, Zak Whitbread, David Raven and Mark
Smyth against Burnley in the FA Cup 3rd round at Turf Moor on
Friday night.
Benitez has given a strong hint that the above six players
could well start the match and if that was to be the case then
it would be full debuts for England Under-21 international
Welsh and England Under-20 striker Smyth.
However Reds new signing Mauricio Pellegrino will not be
involved. Stephen Warnock will also not be involved as he is
suffering from the flu.
Benitez said: "I will be using David Raven, Zak Whitbread,
Darren Potter, Mark Smyth, John Welsh and Neil Mellor.
"Jamie Carragher will probably be in the side, but Steven
Gerrard will be rested. We are thinking the same way as we
were when we began the Carling Cup. Mauricio Pellegrino won't
be involved for this game because the papers didn't arrive in
time.
(LFC Official Website)
Turf Moor tie given to go ahead
Liverpool's FA Cup third round tie with Burnley at Turf Moor
on Friday evening is set to go ahead, contrary to reports that
it may fall foul of the wet weather that is currently lashing
the region.
Supporters who are attending the game are advised to arrive
earlier than normal, as there will be a near capacity crowd in
attendance.
The match is strictly all ticket and there will be no cash
turnstiles on the evening, so supporters who want to attend
are advised to get their tickets in advance.
The pitch is playable and the ground staff have been preparing
it all week ahead of the game.
Covers have been on the pitch overnight and will remain in
place until 6.00pm on Friday.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez glad to bring on Babes
First it was the Carling Cup. Now Benitez's Babes will be
elevated to FA Cup duty as the Spaniard gets his first taste
of the world's oldest knockout competition this evening.
While a lengthening injury list and a demanding Christmas
period of four Premiership games in nine days has tested the
resolve of the usually laidback Liverpool manager, the
repercussions continue to offer opportunities for the club's
youth.
"We will use the young players at Burnley and we have been
working with them all week and we are happy and confident
about them," says Benitez.
(Daily Post)
Big Sam wants cut-price Diouf
Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce thinks Liverpool will
have to cut their losses on El Hadji Diouf come the end of the
season.
The former Africa Player of the Year is currently on a
season-long loan deal at The Trotters and has no future under
Rafa Benitez at Anfield.
Allardyce has not been overly impressed with Diouf during his
time at The Reebok and believes The Reds should not request a
fee for the striker in the summer.
"Liverpool have not given any indication as to what he would
cost, but I would have to think they will have to let him go
for nothing.
"After all that has gone on with him, I think we're the only
club that would
consider taking him."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
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Thor Zakariassen
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