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SUNDAY 9 |
Everton keep up the pressure
Everton have kept up pressure on city rivals Liverpool in
the race for Champions League football next season by
beating Sunderland at
the Stadium of Light.
A slice of luck for Andrew Johnson handed the Toffees all
three points in the Barclays Premier League clash and added
to Sunderland's
relegation worries.
(Channel 4)
Carragher wary of Inter
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has
admitted the success of the other Premier League sides in
the Champions League has put pressure on
the Reds to make the quarter-finals.
Carragher, who is in line to make his 100th European
appearance for Liverpool against Internazionale next week,
is determined to join Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea
in the last eight.
Liverpool are well-placed to qualify for the quarter-finals
after their first-leg 2-0 win over Inter, but Carragher
insists the tie is far from over ahead of the trip to the
San Siro on Tuesday.
"There is pressure on us with the other English teams
getting through and it's definitely not over," said
Carragher.
"I thought they played quite well at Anfield but I've heard
they thought they were poor, so God knows what they will be
like if that's the case.
"I think we have to be looking for an away goal to kill them
off. Obviously, we can't go all guns blazing but we have to
be positive."
(Sky Sports)
Bergomi: Inter lack confidence to beat Reds
Inter Milan legend Giuseppe Bergomi believes Liverpool can
take advantage of his old club's lack of confidence when
playing European football.
Though Inter currently dominate Serie A, they haven't won
the European Cup since successive triumphs in 1964 and 1965.
He said: "In Italy, everyone knows Inter are the best team
and they know it themselves. So when they play league
matches, they have it very much their own way and other
teams do not even attack them. Then, when they play in
Europe, all the top teams attack them, which presents
a tactical problem.
"But to me, the biggest factor of all is mentality. They
have the players to do it and the squad to do it but they do
not have the belief."
(LFC Official Website)
Bolton chase Liverpool defender
Bolton boss Gary Megson is hoping Liverpool defender Sami
Hyypia doesn't sign a new deal at Anfield.
The Bolton chief is keen on 34-year-old Liverpool
centre-back Hyypia, who is coming to the end of his
contract.
(Lancashire Evening Post) |
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SATURDAY 8 |
Hicks hits out at DIC
Whilst Liverpool enjoyed a fifth straight win on Saturday
afternoon,
the turmoil behind the scenes continues at Anfield with Tom
Hicks hitting out at potential partners DIC.
The Dubai-based consortium have been in talks over a deal
that will see them purchase 49 percent of the club, with
George Gillett’s remaining
1 percent going to Hicks to ensure he is the leading
shareholder.
It is believed that the deal is still on, but Hicks has
criticised DIC advisor Amanda Staveley for leaking personal
emails and has warned that there are a number of interested
parties for the Anfield club.
(Setanta Sports)
Inter stretch lead at top
Inter warmed up for their Champions League date with
Liverpool by moving nine points clear at the top of Serie A
courtesy of a 2-0 win over Reggina at the San Siro.
A 14th-minute penalty by Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Roberto
Mancini’s team a lead they were never likely to relinquish.
Argentine left back Nicolas Burdisso confirmed victory for
his team with
a rare goal in the 34th minute.
Second-placed Roma have the opportunity to eat into the
Nerazzurri’s lead with a game at Napoli on Sunday.
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa: It was a perfect day
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was happy after his side's
3-0 win over Newcastle at Anfield maintained their winning
run ahead of Tuesday's crucial Champions League second leg
with Inter Milan.
Goals from Jermaine Pennant, Fernando Torres and Steven
Gerrard helped make it five wins on the bounce for the Reds
and Rafa felt it was the ideal preparation before they set
off for Italy.
"You must be happy," said Rafa. "We needed to win and we
scored three goals and kept another clean sheet. We were
also able to rest some players as well so it was perfect."
(LFC Official Website)
Keegan wants a dose of Toon courage
Kevin Keegan pinned the blame on his players’ lack of
courage after
the latest defeat of his waning Newcastle tenure.
The fanfare that greeted Keegan’s return to St James’ Park
has now been replaced with a sense of trepidation after
Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Liverpool plunged the club further
into the relegation mire.
“When you come to Liverpool you also have to compete when
you don’t have the ball and earn their respect, but we
didn’t do that. We’ve got players who can compete but today
we didn’t.”
(Setanta Sports)
Rampant Reds pile pressure on Kev
Liverpool piled the pressure on both Everton and Kevin
Keegan as they powered to a comfortable 3-0 win over
Newcastle at Anfield on Saturday.
Keegan's Newcastle misery deepened on the ground where he is
rightly still remembered as a playing legend in the heady
days under Bill Shankly.
As a manager, Keegan has inherited a feeble, spineless
Newcastle outfit who have now gone 12 Premier League games
without a victory.
Liverpool cruised to their fourth successive league win, the
first time they have achieved that measure of consistency
for 13 months, and they will head off to their Champions
League night of destiny against Inter Milan next week high
on confidence.
This was Liverpool's 300th Premier League victory, and they
now have
a firm grip on that elusive fourth spot.
It was again their scoring double act of Steven Gerrard and
Fernando Torres who put victory beyond doubt before the
captain was withdrawn on the hour to protect him for
Tuesday's date in the San Siro.
Ten minutes later Torres was also withdrawn, the Spaniard -
now with
25 goals in 34 games, 13 in his last 12 - certainly could
not be risked any longer with Inter next up.
Jermaine Pennant, very fortunately, deflected in the first
goal while Torres and Gerrard created goals for each other.
(TEAMtalk)
Yossi and Pennant recalled for Newcastle
Jermaine Pennant, Yossi Benayoun and Lucas Leiva are the
three changes for Liverpool this afternoon against Kevin
Keegan's Newcastle.
Fernando Torres continues up front in what appears to be a
4-2-3-1 formation.
The Liverpool line-up in full is: Reina, Riise, Arbeloa,
Skrtel, Carragher, Benayoun, Pennant, Lucas, Alonso,
Gerrard, Torres.
Subs: Itandje, Hyypia, Crouch, Kuyt, Babel.
(LFC Official Website)
Dalglish: Torres is buy of season
Fernando Torres will lead Liverpool into their European
night of destiny at the San Siro with the ringing
endorsement of Kenny Dalglish.
The Spanish striker, with 24 goals in 33 matches since his
£20million-plus move from Atletico Madrid last summer, will
strike fear into the hearts of Inter Milan as Liverpool seek
to clinch a Champions League quarter final place.
Dalglish, voted recently as Liverpool's greatest-ever
player, said of Torres: "Torres just oozes class in attack.
For me the kid is the best buy anywhere in Europe this
season.
"The worrying thing for everyone else is the fact that I can
only see him getting better and better as the season
continues."
(TEAMtalk)
Gillett agrees to sell out of Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC co-owner George Gillett last night agreed to
sell his share in the club to Dubai International Capital.
The breakthrough came after DIC agreed to top up Gillett’s
profit on his LFC investment from an instant £40m to a
potential £80m, depending on future club success.
Last night’s agreement would value Liverpool FC at £430m,
rising to a maximum £510m if the future profit sharing
clauses were triggered.
Last night Amanda Staveley, of private equity group PCP who
is representing DIC, said the company was willing to accept
the minority holding at Anfield subject to certain
conditions.
(icLiverpool)
Rafa: I snubbed Owen move
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has revealed he snubbed
summer pleas from senior players to bring Michael Owen back
to Anfield.
Owen left Liverpool in 2004 to join Real Madrid and the
striker has since returned to the Premier League with
Newcastle, who travel to Merseyside to take on the Reds on
Saturday.
Having identified that Liverpool were in desperate need of a
clinical finisher ahead of the start of this season, Benitez
opted not to attempt to try and lure Owen from the grasp of
Newcastle and instead plumped for the £25million purchase of
Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid.
Benitez insists he decided not to move for Owen because he
believed Torres possessed more 'potential', but the
Liverpool boss has revealed he went against the wishes of a
number Anfield stars when pushing for
the latter.
"In the summer, Michael was one of the names on the list of
strikers we were pursuing," Benitez told the Daily Mirror.
"But Fernando was always top of that list, and the one we
wanted above all others.
"When you talk to Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher they
say what a great player Michael is, and they wanted him,
because he is a great finisher and a good striker.
"But Torres was our top choice because he was young, because
he is very quick and he has such potential. He had all the
conditions we wanted, and we are very, very happy with our
decision."
(Sky Sports)
Shankly Stadium plea
Kevin Keegan wants Liverpool to name their new stadium after
Bill Shankly.
The legendary Reds boss only has a set of gates named in his
honour at Anfield. And Keegan says Shanks should be given
the ultimate honour.
He said: "They should be playing in the Shankly Stadium.
They have that option when they move."
(Daily Mirror) |
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FRIDAY 7 |
Torres named player of the month
Merseyside claimed a trophy double today with Liverpool
striker Fernando Torres named Barclays player of the month
and Everton boss David Moyes picking up the manager’s
accolade.
Torres scored four goals in February, including his first
Premier League hat-trick against Middlesbrough, to move him
into third in the race for the Golden Boot.
The 23-year-old becomes the first Liverpool player – other
than Steven Gerrard - to win the award since Danny Murphy in
November 2001.
Moyes guided his side to two wins (over Reading and
Manchester City) and a goalless draw at Blackburn to pick up
his fourth manager of
the month award.
(Ireland On-Line)
Le Tallec reveals Reds regret
Anthony Le Tallec believes he made his 'biggest mistake' by
handing in
a loan request at Liverpool.
Le Tallec was brought to Anfield from Le Havre in 2002 by
former Reds manager Gerard Houllier.
The 23-year-old made a number of appearances under Houllier,
however he has barely featured since Rafa Benitez took over
as manager in 2004.
"I signed a five-year contract with an option to extend it
for a further year.
I am still under contract with Liverpool.
"My first season was very good, and I started to make a name
for myself when Houllier left.
"The only regret I have is when I met with Benitez and asked
to be
loaned out.
"In my mind, I thought he was going to bring in Spanish
players, and I was afraid I would not play anymore.
"It is my biggest mistake."
(Sky Sports)
Mascherano out of Newcastle clash
Javier Mascherano has been ruled out of Liverpool's Premier
League clash with Newcastle United tomorrow.
The Argentine star limped out of the 4-0 victory over West
Ham with a muscle problem and will be sidelined for the
visit of Kevin Keegan's Magpies this weekend.
He is also doubtful for the midweek trip to Milan when the
Reds will be looking to protect a 2-0 first leg lead and
book their place in the last eight of the Champions League.
"I will need to speak to the doctors before we decide about
Inter Milan but he will not be available this weekend
against Newcastle," said manager Rafael Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Keegan still searching for win
Manager Kevin Keegan is back at Liverpool tomorrow still
looking for his first win since his return to Newcastle.
Joey Barton is unavailable for the game and Keegan is also
without the injured trio of Mark Viduka, Emre and Stephen
Carr.
Shay Given is in Belgium seeing a groin specialist but Nicky
Butt, who limped off against Blackburn last weekend, has
been declared fit.
Provisional squad: Harper, Beye, Enrique, Taylor, Faye,
Cacapa, Butt, N’Zogbia, Milner, Duff, Owen, Smith, Martins,
Carroll, Edgar, Forster, Geremi.
(Ireland On-Line)
Keegan ready for Anfield return
Kevin Keegan believes he can end his winless run since
returning to
the Newcastle hotseat when The Toon travel to Liverpool on
Saturday.
The lack of points since Keegan replaced Sam Allardyce has
seen
The Magpies plummet towards the relegation drop zone and
despite an improved performance last time out against
Blackburn they still came away empty handied.
While Keegan has nothing but happy memories of his playing
days at Anfield his managerial experiences have been mixed.
"Of course it's always special to go back, especially when
we get a win like I have done on a couple of occasions,"
Keegan said on
the club's website.
"It would be nice to do the same again but we know that's
not going
to be easy.
"But if you go to Anfield expecting to get nothing that is
exactly what you will get."
(Setanta Sports)
Hyypia wary of Owen threat
Sami Hyypia is more than aware of the threat Michael Owen
poses tomorrow.
The former Liverpool player has yet to score against the
Reds for Newcastle but he is more than capable of giving our
defence the run around tomorrow says Sami Hyypia.
"Of course we will have to keep an eye on Michael, but they
also have many more players who can score goals and cause us
problems so it is not only Michael who we will need to
watch," said the Finn.
(LFC Online)
Hicks may win battle over Liverpool FC
Tom Hicks is edging closer to taking majority control of
Liverpool FC.
DIC has indicated it may now be willing to take a 49% stake
by buying
out all but 1% of George Gillett's shares.
The remaining 1% could then be bought by Hicks, leaving him
as the majority shareholder - a scenario one Anfield figure
has described as
"a potential nightmare".
It is believed DIC has not dropped its desire to buy the
club outright in
the future but for the time being may be ready to enter into
a deal which would see Hicks investment increase.
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa: Reds cannot afford to ease off
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has stressed to his players
the importance of maintaining their vastly-improved form
over
the coming weeks.
The Anfield boss is rightly happy with a dramatic change in
fortunes which has seen the team emerge from frustrating
inconsistency to win four of their five unbeaten league
matches since losing at West Ham in January.
Fernando Torres' third hat-trick of the season helped the
side to a 4-0 victory over the Hammers on Wednesday to put
Liverpool back into fourth spot in the Barclays Premier
League but with competition so tight Benitez knows the
club's revival must be maintained.
"We have been growing in confidence and the whole side
believes that Fernando Torres is in the sort of form that
will produce us goals,"
said the Spaniard.
"But now we must take this on. Winning three games on the
trot has helped our quest for fourth place, but we must now
beat Newcastle before we turn our attention to the Champions
League at Inter Milan next week."
(PA Sport)
Thor Zakariassen
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