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WEDNESDAY 9 |
Agger closing in on comeback
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger will make his long-awaited
return from injury in tomorrow's reserve match at Blackburn.
The 23-year-old Denmark centre-half has been out of action
since September after breaking his metatarsal, leaving
manager Rafael Benitez perilously short of cover at the
heart of his defence.
And the Reds boss is thrilled to welcome him back, telling
www.liverpoolfc.tv: "For us it's like signing a new player.
"He is very close to starting a game for the first team.
Benitez believes captain Steven Gerrard will be fit to
return for Saturday's trip to Middlesbrough after missing
last weekend's FA Cup clash at Luton.
"He could be available for Saturday," he said.
"He is improving a lot with the physios so he could be an
option for
the next game."
The Spaniard also confirmed that full-backs Alvaro Arbeloa
(calf) and Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) are making good
progress, with the former a possibility for the clash at the
Riverside.
(Sporting Life)
Advocaat sad to see Skrtel go
Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat has bemoaned the
loss of Martin Skrtel to Liverpool but accepts there was
little he could do to deny the Slovakian a dream move to
Anfield.
Skrtel has already passed a routine medical on Merseyside
and the 23-year-old is waiting to seal a £6.5 million
transfer to Rafa Benitez's side.
Former Rangers boss Advocaat is disappointed to be losing
the influential centre back, who is eligible to compete in
the Champions League for his new club.
"Skrtel's departure is a great loss for our club since
Martin is a young and talented player who is capable of
growing professionally," Advocaat told Sport Express.
"Speaking about his move to one of the strongest
championships in
the world, there is no sense in trying to keep Skrtel in St
Petersburg."
The player himself is expecting to join his new team-mates
before
the weekend clash at Middlesbrough.
"I can't say anything definitely now since everything could
be decided today or tomorrow," stated Skrtel.
(Setanta Sports)
Skrtel hoping for dream move
Liverpool target Martin Skrtel is hoping that his dream move
from Zenit St Petersburg is completed as soon as possible.
Rafael Benitez is believed to have agreed a fee for the
Slovakian and is set to make him the most expensive defender
in the club's history.
"The last two weeks I have been in constant contact with my
agent Karol Csonto," he told Plus.
"I hope everything will turn out well in the end, the dream
will come true, and I will become a player for a famous
club.
"It is most important that everything works out well, and I
cannot wait to put pen-to-paper.
"I have realised that in all likelihood a new era of my life
is beginning.
"I struggled to get any sleep on Saturday night, and I
normally have no problems sleeping.
"I have been pondering what will be waiting for me there and
how I will get used to the conditions."
(Sky Sports)
Sissoko claims Juve deal is close
Mohamed Sissoko is waiting for confirmation of his move from
Liverpool to Juventus
“For the moment I am under contract with Liverpool, but I am
expecting news in the next few days,” the Mali international
told RMC.
“My agent is talking with Liverpool and Juventus to work out
terms for
my sale.
“All the journalists have been asking me if I have signed
for Juventus – the truth is that nothing is complete yet,
but negotiations are very close to a conclusion.
“From my point of view, I am very enthusiastic at the idea
of playing for such a prestigious club and to have a fresh
challenge to show my value.”
(Fans FC)
Parry pleased with stadium talks
Rick Parry has revealed that the club's plans for a new
stadium have taken a 'big step forward' following a meeting
with Tom Hicks and George Gillett in New York.
The Reds' chief executive met with the club's co-owners to
witness different presentations from Dallas-based HKS and
Manchester's AFL.
While Parry refused to put a timescale upon when a final
decision will be made, he is convinced it will provide the
Reds with the best possible result.
"It was a very full day," said Parry.
"We had two very detailed and very informative presentations
which were very thorough and extremely professional. It has
been another big step forward to finding the best possible
solution and the whole meeting was very constructive.
"Everyone is reflecting on what they have heard and a clear
decision will be taken soon.
"They were both very good in terms of coming closer to the
right solution. As ever, when you have a competition you
hope it produces outstanding results and I think that is
what we have seen today.
"Whichever we do go with it will be an excellent result."
(LFC Official Website) |
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TUESDAY 8 |
Aurelio hit by injury blow
Liverpool fullback Fabio Aurelio has been hit with another
injury setback just when he was coming into a purple patch
of form for the Reds.
The Brazilian was ruled out of the weekend's FA Cup draw
with Luton and has admitted he will not be available for the
next league match away
to Middlesbrough.
"It's a pity I've had to stop again because I was feeling
good," he told the club's website.
"It's normal after a long injury to pick up little problems
when you come back but hopefully I will only miss the one
league game and be back for the Aston Villa match next
week."
(Goal.com)
Carragher confronted abusing yobs
Jamie Carragher was abused and showered with beer and spit
as he went to sign autographs following the FA Cup tie with
Luton Town on Sunday, Liverpool claimed today.
The Reds' vice-captain was photographed standing on a
barrier confronting the supporters in the home section of
Kenilworth Road.
A club spokesperson said today: "Jamie went to sign
autographs for youngsters in the executive boxes.
"Unfortunately, he was subjected to a tirade of foul-mouthed
abuse and also had beer thrown at him."
Carragher was chatting to 8-year-old Hamzah Ahmed when the
incident occurred.
The matter is unlikely to be investigated by the Football
Association.
(Shankly Gates)
No inquiry for Reds' new stadium
Liverpool Football Club's proposed new stadium has moved a
step closer with a government announcement that there will
not be an inquiry into
the plans.
The secretary of state Hazel Blears has decided after
considering the £400m plans and objections to Stanley Park
stadium, there is no need
to intervene.
She said she was satisfied that the final decision should be
made on
a local basis.
This means that the club will wait for permission from city
council planners.
(BBC Sport Online)
Skrtel passes Reds medical
Liverpool are on the verge of signing their most expensive
ever defender after Martin Skrtel passed a medical.
The Slovakian international will complete his £6.5m move
from Zenit St Petersburg as soon as Liverpool's owners
rubber-stamp the deal.
He has already agreed personal terms with the club.
Skrtel, who was last in Liverpool in early December to play
for Zenit against Everton in the UEFA Cup, is rated as one
of the most promising young defenders in Europe.
The deal will mark the end of Rafa Benitez's search for a
new centre-half that began with the unsuccessful pursuit of
Gabriel Heinze and which became increasingly urgent in
recent weeks following injuries to both Daniel Agger and
Sami Hyypia.
Skrtel, 23, has 15 caps and joined Zenit in 2004 and has
gone on to make more than 100 appearances in the Russian
league.
(Football 365)
Liverpool can’t afford to sit back and relax
Liverpool might have breathed a sigh of relief at scrambling
a fortunate replay at Luton on Sunday, but I hope that
doesn’t mean the players now think that the hard work has
been done.
Luton will be just as fired up, just as enthusiastic and
just as energetic next Tuesday – and if Liverpool approach
the replay as sloppily as they did the first game they might
suffer an even bigger shock than the one they experienced at
Kenilworth Road.
There’s no getting away from the fact that we were lucky to
be in yesterday’s FA Cup draw.
But that’s the one quality you can always guarantee you will
need if you’re going to have a good cup run.
Lower division teams always raise their game against top
flight opposition. Just look at Huddersfield, Oldham,
Sheffield United and Coventry at the weekend, while even
Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal were lucky
at Burnley.
(Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool average without dynamic duo
Same old story for Liverpool I’m afraid.
Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher remain
their only three top class players and without two of them
on Sunday? Average.
They lacked direction, leadership, urgency. And while Luton
played well above themselves as you’d expect, Liverpool
didn't have anyone who seemed capable of changing the game.
I thought Xabi Alonso was outstanding in his first season
but he just doesn’t look the same player now and doesn’t
seem able to influence a game in the way he once did.
I don’t think the other forwards have enough about them when
Torres is out and I don’t think they are players who any of
the other top four would take in a hurry.
(Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool Daily Post) |
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MONDAY 7 |
Skrtel on verge of Liverpool move
Liverpool are on the brink of breaking their transfer record
for a defender while insisting that boss Rafael Benitez's
job is not up for discussion when chief executive Rick Parry
holds talks with the club's American owners later this week.
Benitez is about to spend £6.5million on Zenit St Petersburg
centre-back Martin Skrtel, the Slovakia international.
The player was due to have a medical today having arrived on
Merseyside on Sunday evening, hours after Liverpool had been
embarrassingly held
1-1 at Luton in the FA Cup third round.
Benitez will be keen to see the deal for 6ft 4in tall Skrtel
tied up as quick as possible so he can be added to the
Liverpool squad, possibly even in time for the trip to
Middlesbrough on Saturday.
(Ireland.com)
Parry denies Rafa summit meeting
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has denied suggestions
he is flying to America to hold urgent talks with the club's
owners over Rafa Benitez's future.
Widespread reports over the weekend claimed Benitez expected
to lose his job in the summer after his much-publicised row
with George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
Benitez rejected the reports on Sunday saying he was happy
at Anfield, but reports emerged on Monday claiming Parry was
travelling to America later this week to discuss the
Spaniard's position.
Parry has moved quickly to reject the rumours and insists
the meeting was scheduled for some time to discuss the plans
for the new stadium at Stanley Park.
"It's been in the diary for a long time, to discuss the
stadium," Parry told the Liverpool Echo.
(Sky Sports)
Odds against Rafa
Former Liverpool favourite John Aldridge has told Sky Sports
News he would not bet on Rafa Benitez being at Anfield next
season.
The Merseysider, whose goals fired the Reds to the league
title in 1988 and the FA Cup 12 months later, does not want
to see Benitez leave.
But the Spaniard's relationship with the club's American
owners has been strained this season and, with Liverpool 12
points off the Premier League pace, there have been fresh
reports linking the manager with a summer switch to Real
Madrid or Bayern Munich.
Aldridge said: "Rafa's done a really good job. I'd like him
to get the funds he needs to take us to the next level.
"I think we're one, perhaps two world-class players away
from really catching Manchester United in certain areas -
hopefully he'll be able to bring them in in the next six
months.
"I'd like to think he is (staying), but I don't know if I'd
put any money on it."
(Sky Sports)
Havant and Waterlooville at Anfield?
Liverpool could face either Swansea City or non-league side
Havant and Waterlooville in the FA Cup fourth round at
Anfield, if the Reds can overcome Luton Town in the reply on
Tuesday week.
If the Reds can dispatch Luton at Anfield then it will set
up a tie against either League One table toppers Swansea or
the competitions only remaining non-league side, Havant and
Waterlooville of the Blue Square South division.
The two teams ground out a 1-1 draw on Saturday and their
reply is scheduled for Wednesday 16 January at Havant's
Westleigh Park.
"It's a fantastic draw - it couldn't have gone much better,"
Havant player-manager Charlie Oatway told the BBC.
"I think we'll have the old tin hats on if we get that far.
But it's great to see that light at the end of the tunnel in
the shape of a big club like Liverpool."
If Liverpool overcome Luton, the tie will take place at
Anfield on
January 26/27.
(Shankly Gates)
Reds set for German visit
There will be a distinctly German flavour to the Anfield
atmosphere next week when supporters of Borussia
Moenchengladbach make their annual pilgrimage to Merseyside.
The Reds will welcome up to 90 supporters of the Bundesliga
Two side, who will arrive in Liverpool on Monday, January
21, to celebrate the 31-year friendship between the two
teams.
The visit will see them pay their respects to the victims of
the Hillsborough disaster at the Hillsborough memorial while
some of the party will also attend Liverpool's clash with
Martin O'Neill's Villains in
the evening.
Every year since 1992, our German couterparts have made the
journey to England during the Bundesliga winter break, after
donating 21000 Deutsch Marks (approximately £8000) to the
Hillsborough family's fund in 1991 - a tremendous gesture
that should NEVER be forgotten.
In response, 30 Liverpool supporters made the trip to
Moenchengladbach in May last year, a visit which was
organised by Liverpool FC supporter Graham Agg to celebrate
the 30th anniversary since the 1977 European cup final
between the two club's in the eternal city of Rome.
(LFC Official Website)
Carragher: Hatters deserved win
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has conceded the Reds did
not deserve to get past Luton at the first attempt in their
FA Cup clash.
"Before the game, we wanted to come here and beat Luton and
we should be beating them," Carragher said on the Reds'
official website.
"But, after the 90 minutes, we're delighted to still be in
the cup. We didn't play too well and if anyone deserved to
win, it was Luton. We
accept that."
(TEAMtalk)
Duo to miss Liverpool match
Julio Arca and Lee Cattermole will both miss Boro's home
game against Liverpool next weekend through suspension.
Both players picked up their fifth yellow card of the season
in the FA Cup 3rd Round tie against Bristol City on Saturday
and will therefore have to serve automatic one game bans.
(mfc1986.co.uk)
Juve close on Sissoko
Juventus are stepping up their attempts to sign
Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.
The Turin giants are exploring all possible avenues in a bid
to get the Mali international into Claudio Ranieri's
midfield.
Italian sources claim a delegation from Juve will fly to
England this week in a bid to discuss a possible move for
Sissoko, who complained when being left out of the final
game of the Champions League group stages
at Marseille.
(Setanta Sports)
Replay details confirmed
The replay details for the FA Cup third round game with
Luton have
been confirmed.
Liverpool will host Luton Town at Anfield on Tuesday, 15th
January. The game will kick off at 8pm and tickets are £24,
£18 concessions.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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