Red News                                            

 


JUNE                2009
7 8 9

 

        
 

TUESDAY 9
Reds duo fire in Spain romp
Albert Riera and Fernando Torres fired as Spain warmed up for the Confederations Cup with a 6-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan.
Riera bagged his third international goal on 67 minutes following a first-half hat-trick from David Villa.
Torres then hit his 19th Spain strike in the dying moments.
The pair played all 90 minutes alongside clubmates Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, while Pepe Reina replaced Iker Casillas for the second period.
Spain now travel to South Africa where they will kick off against New Zealand on June 14. Also in Group A are Iraq and the hosts.
The five Liverpool stars will be out there until June 28 should Spain reach the final.
(LFC Official Website)

Benitez insists he is
happy with his transfer budget

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed he was fully aware of the club’s financial problems before he signed his new five-year contract
in March.
And a defiant Benitez insists he is happy with his transfer budget and still aims to bring in "one or two" top signings ahead of next season.
The Liverpool boss was speaking in the wake of the release of the club’s worrying financial figures last week, underlining the need for prudence in the transfer market.
(Liverpool Daily Post)

Agent: Masch would join Barca
Javier Mascherano's agent says the Argentine midfielder would love to join Barcelona if the European champions come calling.
The Reds midfielder has become a vital part of Rafa Benitez's plans since signing a five-year contract back in 2007.
While the 24-year-old has recently said he is happy at Anfield, his agent Walter Tamer claims Mascherano would gladly jump ship.
Tamer told Catalan radio station RAC-1: "If a club like Barcelona want to bring you into their ranks after having completed such a brilliant season and having won everything, obviously as a player you are going to say 'Yes, I want to play there'.
"It is an honour for Javier that a club like Barca pay such close attention to him, especially after the incredible season they had. I believe that a transfer would be feasible. If Barca really want him, he will sign for them.
"He would have a very easy job at Barca. Sometimes we talk and joke that the only thing he has to do is run, rob the ball, and pass it on to all the superstars in front of him."
But Tamer does admit the move would be made more difficult if Liverpool agree to sell Real Madrid-linked Xabi Alonso first.
"What if Xabi Alonso also leaves? Surely, Rafa Benitez would not want to have both his central midfielders go. It will be difficult, although Xabi's future does not depend on Mascherano and vice-versa," he said.
"The transaction would certainly happen, but the first to leave will have more options."
(Sky Sports)
MONDAY 8
Benitez: Liverpool are not
interested in Lavezzi

Liverpool have reportedly been chasing the signature of Napoli star Ezequiel Lavezzi, but Rafa Benitez has quashed the speculation, stating that the Premier League side do not want to add the ex-San Lorenzo star to their squad.
"We never contacted Lavezzi and we have no intention of doing so. We want to put a stop to these rumours," the Spanish tactician claimed to the English press, according to tuttomercatoweb.
One of Lavezzi's representatives, Eduardo Rossetto, had recently made statements to the contrary, indicating the the Reds were extremely interested in signing the Partenopei forward.
The Argentine international has been an influential figure and fan favourite at the Stadio San Paolo for the last two seasons, but has become unsettled after what he claims is "a lack of respect" from
the Serie A outfit.
Press reports from the peninsula suggest that AC Milan, Juventus, and Manchester City are also in the running for the 24-year-old.
(Goal.com)

McMahon named
new Reserve boss

Liverpool have announced the appointment of John McMahon to their backroom staff as reserve team head coach.
Having spent almost four years at Shrewsbury Town, McMahon is delighted to make the move back to Merseyside.
"If any Premier League club comes knocking at your door it is something that you have to consider and with it being Liverpool it was a job that I couldn't refuse," he said.
"To work with a manager of the quality of Rafa Benitez and an assistant manager like Sammy Lee is brilliant."
Younger brother of former Kop favourite Steve McMahon, John spent eight years at Tranmere Rovers before making the move to Shrewsbury as number two to Gary Peters and then progressing to become assistant manager to Paul Simpson.
(LFC Official Website)

Lavezzi makes Reds claim
The agent of Napoli's Ezequiel Lavezzi has claimed Liverpool have made a concrete bid for the Argentine striker.
Lavezzi, who has made no secret of his desire to quit the Serie A outfit, has also courted attention from Manchester City.
He wrote an open letter to fans last week complaining that the club had shown him a lack of respect.
Now agent Eduardo Rossetto has claimed that a move to Anfield is a real possibility, telling Gazzetta dello Sport: "There is a definite proposal
from Liverpool.
"The one thing I can say, that so far I have kept confidential, is that (Napoli general manager Pierpaolo) Marino met twice with the Fifa agent Pablo Cosentino, who invited him to set a meeting in either Liverpool or Naples with the British club."
Asked if the meeting had taken place, Rossetto said: "No. And we do not want to compel Napoli to sell the player.
"But I think it is appropriate that the club consider the offer: to judge that it is either sufficient or insufficient."
(Sky Sports)

Reds duo linked with Rovers
John Barnes and Jason McAteer have been linked with the Tranmere job.
(LFC Online)

Bruna helps Argentina through
Gerado Bruna helped Argentina reach the semi-finals of
the Toulon Tournament.
The reserve team midfielder made his first start of the under 20's tournament and helped Argentina book their place in the semi-final with a 1-1 draw with the United Arab Emirates.
(LFC Online)
SUNDAY 7
Crouch linked
with Reds return

The Sunday papers always bring a few new rumours to the table and with the transfer window open in less than a month you can expect many more in the weeks to come.
A new name has entered the discussion today though, with former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch the subject of a report in The Mirror.
“Despite severe financial restrictions in place at Anfield, manager Rafa Benitez will attempt to try to land Crouch for as little as £4million” claims Paul Smith.
(This is Anfield)

International round up
Plenty of Reds were in international action yesterday.
Steven Gerrard had two assists for England in their 4-0 win over Kazakhstan.
Dirk Kuyt played 66 minutes of Holland's 2-1 win over Iceland while Ryan Babel came on as a 75th minute subsitute.
Daniel Agger recovered from a back injury in time to play for Denmark as they beat Sweden 1-0 to go three points clear at the top of Group 1.
Javier Mascherano picked up a slight knock in Argentina's 1-0 win over Colombia but had to stay on the pitch as Diego Maradona had already used his three subsitutes.
Andrea Dossena came on as a subsitute for Italy in their 3-0 friendly win over Northern Ireland.
Peter Gulacsi and Krisztian Nemeth both played for Hungary under 21's as they beat Luxembourg 3-0 in a European Championships qualifier.
David N'Gog helped France under 20's beat Portugal 1-0 to qualify for the knockout stages of the Toulon Tournament.
(LFC Online)

Rafa: Spine is there,
we'll find rest

Rafa Benitez believes he has assembled the spine of a title-winning side - and claims the club is working tirelessly behind the scenes to find any missing links this summer.
Benitez has made retaining current stars a priority over the last two months, with new deals agreed for Daniel Agger, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt.
The Anfield boss now hopes to add to his talented squad over
the coming months.
"We are working very hard to keep the spine of the team - that was always the idea," Benitez told LFC Magazine.
(LFC Official Website)

Gerrard eyes one more win
Steven Gerrard believes a win against Andorra on Wednesday would all but see England qualify for the World Cup in South Africa next summer.
The Liverpool midfielder was instrumental in the first two goals against Kazakhstan on Saturday as Fabio Capello's men ran out comfortable 4-0 winners to make it six wins out of six in Group Six.
Despite taking time to adapt to their surroundings on what was an extremely bobbly pitch the Three Lions took command when Gerrard crossed for Gareth Barry to nod home before playing a part in the second for Emile Heskey.
Further goals from Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard mean England need six points from their final four games to seal a place in South Africa but Gerrard believes qualification can be ensured as soon as Wednesday.
"I think if we win against Andorra we are in the box seat to qualify," he told the Sunday Mirror. "I think we are one win away from virtually sealing it.
"But it is important for us not to get carried away, be professional and get the job done and then we can go into the more difficult games with greater confidence."
(TEAMtalk)

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