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SATURDAY 9 |
Reds ask Addicks about Bent
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has reportedly firmed up his
interest in Charlton striker Darren Bent.
Reds manager Benitez is checking out the availability of the
other names on his shortlist after learning Samuel Eto'o has
decided to stay at Barcelona.
(Sporting Life)
Chief Constable defends Reds
The Chief Constable of Merseyside police has defended
Liverpool fans from
UEFA's slurs.
Bernard Hogan-Howe, Chief Constable of Merseyside police
force says Liverpool supporters are well behaved and the
problems in Athens were caused by 'a selfish few'.
"In my view, the behaviour of Liverpool fans over the last
six seasons has, on the whole, been good," said Hogan-Howe
on the Merseyside Police's website.
"However, as with any club, there are occasional incidents
leading to arrests for crime and disorder. But again, this
is the exception rather than the rule.
"In terms of the venue, we believe the stadium was not
suitable for a high profile
football match.
"What we then saw on the night was a minority of selfish
supporters who forced their way into the ground, denying
access to genuine fans with tickets.
"They put people's safety in jeopardy and tarnished the
reputation of genuine
football fans.
"Football governing bodies need to look closely at the
lessons learned from this game
in Athens, both in terms of ticket allocation and venue
suitability."
(LFC Online) |
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FRIDAY 8 |
Padelli leaves Liverpool
Daniele Padelli has returned to Sampdoria after his loan
spell at Liverpool came to an end.
The young goalkeeper had been hoping to earn a permanent
switch to the Premiership having arrived at Anfield in
January on a deal until the end of the season.
Padelli made just one start for Rafa Benitez's side during
his time in England, that outing coming against Charlton on
the final day of last term.
Benitez has already let youth team keeper David Roberts and
Champions League hero Jerzy Dudek depart this summer.
Only Jose Reina, Scott Carson and youngsters David Martin
and Martin Hansen remain on the books at Liverpool, with
Carson keen for another season out on loan.
The England shot-stopper spent last year with Charlton and
wants to gain further first-team experience rather than
become Reina's back-up.
Benitez may therefore be in the market for a new goalkeeper
over the summer to act as Liverpool's number two next term.
(Sky Sports)
Rafa expected Xabi signing
Rafael Benitez said he expected Xabi Alonso to sign a new
contract.
Alonso signed a new five year contract with Liverpool this
morning and Rafa Benitez revealed he always expected the
midfielder to commit his future to the Reds.
"We knew Xabi wanted to stay and he knew we wanted to keep
him," said the Spaniard.
"Some other top clubs were interested in doing something or
at least wanting to know what the situation was but we were
always clear that we wanted to build a strong team for the
future and Xabi is part of that future.
"He has had some fantastic years with us and he will be just
as good in the future. When you know you are settled and
that the team is ready for another challenge then you can
work with total focus.
"From my point of view I know I have a lot of options all
over the pitch now, and especially in the centre. Xabi is a
key player but he will need to fight to compete for his
position and that can only be good for the team."
(LFC Online)
Alonso signs 5-year deal with Liverpool
Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso has signed a new
five-year deal that keeps him at Anfield until 2012, the
Premier League club said on Friday.
He is the fourth Liverpool player to sign a long-term deal
this week after Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher agreed
four-year contracts and goalkeeper Pepe Reina signed
for five.
"I knew there was interest from other clubs but it was
always my idea to stay here," Alonso, 25, said on the club's
Web site (www.liverpoolfc.tv).
"I want to be part of what lies ahead because I know it is
going to be exciting."
The Spain international, who played in last month's
Champions League final which Liverpool lost 2-1 to AC Milan,
joined the club in 2004.
(Reuters) |
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THURSDAY 7 |
Reina pens new Reds deal
Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has pledged his long-term future to
Liverpool after signing a new five-year contract which will
keep him at Anfield until 2012.
The Spaniard has followed captain Steven Gerrard and
defensive lynchpin Jamie Carragher in putting pen to paper
on new deals as manager Rafael Benitez seeks to tie his key
players down to lengthy contracts.
"It was always my wish to sign a new deal because this is a
good club which is looking forward to a very ambitious and
attractive project," he told the club's official website.
"The details of the contract were very straightforward.
(Chief executive) Rick Parry and the American owners made
everything easy and in the end it was a good solution for
the club and a good solution for me.
"I spoke with Rafa and his thoughts for the future really
excited me. He has ambitions for the team which I want to be
part of and I'm sure the other players feel the same.
"Our fans deserve the league title and that's what we'll be
looking for.
"Seventeen years without winning it is far too long for this
club and that's why our biggest target next year has to be
the Premiership."
(Football UK)
Eto'o denies Rafa meeting
Samuel Eto'o has issued a strong denial that he has met with
Rafa Benitez and reiterated his desire to stay at Barcelona,
despite continuously being linked with Liverpool and Milan.
The Cameroonian striker is reported to be becoming
frustrated with the press in England and Italy repeatedly
running stories that he is preparing to move clubs in the
summer.
A report in England suggested that Eto'o met with Reds' boss
Benitez for dinner to discuss his future on Monday, but he
has stated that he was with his national team.
"It is just a huge lie," Eto'o's agent, Jose Maria Mesalles,
was quoted in Sport as saying when relaying a message from
the player himself.
"Eto'o was in Belgium with the Cameroon squad on Monday
night.
"We do not understand why these flase stories keep
appearing.
"The club knows all too well that he is very happy at
Barcelona and wants to stay.
"He has a very good contract and wants to comply with that."
(Sky Sports)
Pennant collapses while on break
Jermaine Pennant was said to be recovering last
night after collapsing during a flight to Stansted after a
break in Spain. The Liverpool winger reportedly passed out
half an hour after take-off from Málaga and was given oxygen
by flight attendants.
Pennant, who served a month in jail in 2005 for driving
while banned and being over the limit, had allegedly been
drinking heavily the night before and had had little sleep.
He was accompanied on the plane by Paolo Vernazza, of
Barnet, and Jonathan Fortune, the Charlton Athletic
defender.
Sky Andrew, Pennant’s agent, said: “He is fine now. He just
had a bit of dehydration.”
(The Times)
Juande on Liverpool's radar
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is reportedly lining up a
move for one of the brightest prospects in Spanish football
Juande.
The Real Betis midfielder broke into the first team towards
the end of last season and his performances have caught the
eye of Benitez.
The 20-year-old is a defensive midfielder and with the likes
of Javier Mascherano and Momo Sissoko already at the
Premiership giants, Benitez may opt to let Juande continue
his development in Spain next season.
(ITV Football)
Steven Gerrard becomes
Liverpool’s international number 4
Steven Gerrard yesterday rose to joint number
four in the list of reds who have won the most senior
international caps while on Liverpool's books, with 57.
Stevie is now level with his reds team-mate Sami Hyypiä.
Gerrard has struck twelve times in senior England outings,
the same number as both Peter Crouch and Wayne Rooney.
England have won 37 of the games in which he has taken part
and lost just five. His caps have been won in 22 friendlies,
thirteen European Championships qualifiers, twelve World Cup
qualifiers, five each in World Cup and European
Championships Finals.
He still has a very long way to go to catch Ian Rush, who
won 67 caps while a Liverpool player, and 73 in total. Next
in his sights, though, is Emlyn Hughes who claimed 59 of his
62 caps while at Anfield. John Arne Riise is also moving
rapidly up this illustrious list as he has played 54 times
for Norway since arriving from AS Monaco, to reach 61 in
total,
so far.
(YNWA)
Malouda admits Reds admiriation
France winger Florent Malouda has described Liverpool as a
“great club”, increasing speculation the Lyon player could
make the switch to Anfield.
The 27-year-old is one of a number of reported targets for
Reds boss Rafael Benitez in a summer overhaul, although he
has also been linked with Chelsea, Juventus and
AC Milan.
“There has been contact with Liverpool, although I don’t
know as yet if they have shown their interest directly to
Lyon,” reports The Sun.
“People make their decisions based on the different leagues
in different countries but I would rather decide based on
the club. And Liverpool, why not? It is a great club.”
(Ireland On-Line)
Thor Zakariassen
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