Red News                                            

      


MARCH 2008
7 8 9

 

 
 

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)  
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)
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)  

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