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FRIDAY 9 |
Ramos expects Rafa to revive Reds
Tottenham coach Juande Ramos believes Rafael Benitez
will be in a position at Liverpool to lead a Premier League
title challenge next season.
The two Spaniards, friends from their time in La Liga, face
each other on Sunday but there is little at stake at White
Hart Lane, with both teams now looking towards August.
Spurs want to eventually play in the Champions League -
Ramos' confidence in qualifying will depend on their success
in the summer transfer market - and they would replace
Liverpool or Arsenal.
It is a task made harder as Ramos expects Benitez to fight
to keep Liverpool in the hunt for the title, unlike this
season when they have been derailed by uncertainty over the
club's ownership.
"I'm sure Liverpool, with its philosophy, will be able to
come out of this," Ramos said.
"There are always things that crop up that get in the way of
the normal running of a club but I think Rafa is very happy
there."
(TEAMtalk)
Axe hangs over more
Liverpool FC players
Liverpool end a turbulent campaign at Tottenham on Sunday
with little sign that a season of constant turmoil will be
followed by a peaceful summer.
The Anfield men are assured of fourth spot and Champions
League football next term before they trot out at White Hart
Lane but the club’s long-term future is little more than a
ticking time bomb.
Funding for the new stadium, plus the futures of manager
Rafael Benitez, co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett plus
chief executive Rick Parry are anything but assured.
And half-a-dozen players also have uncertain futures. Peter
Crouch, John Arne Riise, Jermaine Pennant and Xabi Alonso
could all follow axed Harry Kewell out of the Anfield door.
Benitez’s patience could well depend on how quickly
Liverpool’s hierarchy act in the transfer market.
He admitted yesterday that he was delaying his holiday to
see through
the deals he wants.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
O'Neill furious at Benitez claims
Furious Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has hit back at
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as the row over Gareth
Barry threatens to turn ugly.
On Thursday, Benitez said he was surprised O'Neill was angry
that news of Liverpool's £10m bid for Villa captain Barry,
27, had leaked out.
Benitez also said they had discussed the "idea" of a
transfer
"20 days ago".
Villa boss O'Neill said: "Rafa said he was going to respect
my wishes. I am not sure he respects anything."
O'Neill insisted that suggestions they were having an
on-going conversation about a Barry deal were "absolutely
crazy".
He said: "He said he knew my idea and I knew his idea. What
idea did I have other than getting off the phone after
telling him the player
wasn't available?"
(BBC Sport Online)
Liverpool players help
raise £30,000 for charity
Rafa Benitez and his Liverpool stars teamed up to raise more
than £30,000 for a Wirral care home.
The champagne reception and dinner fund-raiser at Anfield
was held for Hoylake Cottage in Birkenhead Road, a former
hospital which now offers residential and day care for the
elderly.
Rafa’s wife Montse Benitez is on the fund-raising committee.
Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso, Yoss
Benayoun and Fernando Torres were among the guests.
The auction included the tie Benitez wore in Istanbul when
Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, which raised
£5,100, a pair of boots from Torres and Gerrard, and a pair
of Reina's gloves.
Hoylake Cottage fund-raisers are revamping the current
building which is nearly 100 years old and was no longer fit
for purpose.
Staff want to offer a garden and bathing service, chiropody
and hairdressing for elderly residents.
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez wants Lee as
Liverpool assistant manager
Rafa Benitez wants to make Sammy Lee his new assistant
manager.
The Reds boss is looking to move quickly to add to his
backroom staff after first team coach Alex Miller quit the
club to take the manager’s job at Japanese side JEF United
Chiba.
Lee, who served Liverpool with distinction as a player and a
coach, is at the top of Benitez’s wish list and an approach
could be imminent if approved by both Tom Hicks and George
Gillett.
Publicly, Benitez says there are several names under
consideration for the role but privately he has already
decided Lee is his best man.
And having not had an assistant since Pako Ayesteran left
Anfield under
a cloud earlier this season, he will take the opportunity to
fill that position rather than making a direct replacement
for Miller.
Should Lee be appointed it will go down well with senior
members of the Liverpool playing staff who are known to have
enjoyed working with him in his spell as a coach during
Gerard Houllier’s tenure.
In an eight-year playing career at Anfield Lee amassed a
glittering array of honours that included three League
titles, two European Cups and four League Cups.
(Liverpool Echo)
Agger back in Liverpool training
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has returned to training
this week after being out of action since September with a
broken metatarsal.
But the Danish youngster is not being considered for
Sunday's final Barclays Premier League game of the season at
Tottenham, although Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio is
also in full training after a groin injury and could return.
Boss Rafael Benitez could call on young reserves Damien
Plessis and Emiliano Insua, while Peter Crouch, John Arne
Riise and Jermaine Pennant all come into the reckoning for
what could be their last games for the club before the
summer transfer season starts.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia,
Skrtel, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Gerrard, Alonso,
Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Crouch, Pennant, Plessis,
Insua, Itandje.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez rubbishes Alonso exit talk
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is adamant that he will not
be looking
to sell Xabi Alonso if Gareth Barry arrives at Anfield this
summer.
The future of the midfielder has been thrown into doubt
after Benitez recently revealed he was keen to secure the
signature of Aston Villa captain Barry.
Juventus have become the latest club to be linked with a
move for Alonso, who joined Liverpool from Real Sociedad for
£10.5million in 2004, while Real Madrid and Barcelona are
also thought to be interested.
However, Benitez has rubbished speculation that he is
looking to offload the Spanish international.
"(Alonso) is our player, he has a contract," Benitez said
in The Independent.
"Barry can play in three different positions, so I don't
think we need
to worry about this."
(TEAMtalk)
Insua wants first team games
Emiliano Insua hopes for more first team games next
season.
The reserve team left-back has had a fine season for Gary
Ablett's side and made a first team appearance against Man
City last week. Insua hopes there will be more first team
appearances to come.
"It was really good to be part of a young team which won
something at Anfield because we all know what a special
place this is," said the Argentinian after the reserve
national play-off.
"I was lucky enough to play there for the first team against
Manchester City and that has made me hungry for more.
"There are a lot of good young players at Liverpool and we
all want
the same thing - to play for the first team.
"I have done that but I want to do it more and more. The
challenge for me now is to become a regular in the first
team squad."
(LFC Online) |
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THURSDAY 8 |
Benitez confirms Kewell exit
Rafael Benitez has confirmed that Harry Kewell will be
released from Liverpool when his contract expires in the
summer.
The Aussie winger, who arrived at Anfield in a £5m deal from
Leeds United in 2003, has endured another injury disrupted
campaign.
"We have tried to come to an agreement with the player and
his agent,
but that has not been possible and Kewell will leave the
club at the end
of his contract," confirmed Benitez.
29-year-old Kewell has not played for Liverpool since the FA
Cup defeat
to Barnsley in February.
(Shanklygates)
Benitez drops hint on boardroom battle
Rafael Benitez has made it clear that he wants Liverpool's
owners to "work quickly" in the transfer market as he plans
for a summer of upheaval
at Anfield.
And the Liverpool boss also claimed that a "final solution"
was close in the battle for boardroom control.
Benitez also revealed he had held "private" talks with Aston
Villa boss Martin O'Neill over Gareth Barry's future -
Liverpool had a £10million bid rejected last week - while
confirming that he would discuss John Arne Riise's future if
a good enough offer was received.
But it is Benitez's proactive stance on the club's future
that will
raise eyebrows.
He said: "All I can add about the boardroom situation is
that I am in contact with both of them (co-owners Tom Hicks
and George Gillett) and we are trying to progress with
different issues that we have.
"I do not know exactly everything about shares, but in terms
of what is my responsibility, we are progressing and I am
doing my job."
(PA Sport)
Rafa wants £15m for Crouch
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has slapped a £15million price
tag on England striker Peter Crouch.
And the Anfield chief also revealed that he had held talks
with Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill over the potential
transfer of midfielder Gareth Barry
to Liverpool.
Crouch hinted earlier this week he could be forced to leave
Anfield this summer after growing increasingly frustrated
with his lack
of first-team action.
Benitez accepts that the England international could look to
leave in search of regular action but the Spaniard insists
he will not be going
on the cheap.
Portsmouth have been strongly linked with a move to bring
Crouch back
to Fratton Park, but Benitez claims he has had no offers for
the unsettled forward.
"Crouch wants to play every week but knows he must fight it
out with Fernando Torres," Benitez said.
"We keep seeing Portsmouth linked with the player but we
have had
no offer as yet.
"A £15m price tag would not be unreasonable."
Benitez also explained further the pending saga over Barry,
and revealed that nothing more will happen until after this
weekend's closing round of league matches.
"I have spoken to Martin O'Neill, he knows my ideas," added
Benitez.
"But we agreed to wait until the end of the season for any
more discussions."
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard: Now owners must back Rafa
Steven Gerrard has called on Liverpool’s owners to cut out
the off-field unrest, because he senses Rafa Benitez is
closing in on
The Premier League title.
Liverpool’s exit to Chelsea in the Champions League
semi-final means Gerrard has now gone two seasons without
lifting silverware, but he is adamant The Reds are on the
verge of something big.
“I can see that the team is getting stronger and stronger
and I can see that we are going forward. I feel that we are
getting closer and I really believe that,” Gerrard told the
club’s official website.
“I don’t want to get into the politics of it all, but the
manager knows what he needs, and we all know that we do have
the chance this summer to go to that next level."
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa open to Riise offers
John Arne Riise may have played his last game in the
Liverpool jersey after Rafa Benitez confirmed he will listen
to offers for the Norwegian
this summer.
Benitez revealed both Riise and Peter Crouch could leave,
while long-term injury victim Harry Kewell has been told he
can find a new club during
the close season.
"Riise, like the rest of the players, has one year left on
his contract but he's our player at the moment," said the
Liverpool boss.
"He knows that if we receive a good offer, good for him and
good for
the club, ok could be. But at this moment he is our player
and he is
a fantastic professional."
Riise’s departure would mark the end of one of The Reds’
greatest servants of the past decade, a career that should
not be remembered for the own goal that effectively knocked
Liverpool out of this year’s Champions League semi-finals.
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa confirms Miller departure
Rafa Benitez has confirmed first-team coach Alex Miller will
leave Anfield to become manager of J League side JEF United
Chiba.
The Scot leaves for Japan after nearly a decade at Liverpool
both as chief scout and, since 2004, as part of the coaching
staff.
Benitez confirmed Miller would be replaced over the summer.
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It is very positive news for Alex.
This is a very good opportunity for him to coach in Japan.
"It means we will be promoting some of the existing coaching
staff and also over the summer we will be looking to bring
in a replacement.
"We have some names and options but need more discussion
first.
"I want to wish Alex all the best in his new job."
(LFC Official Website)
O'Neill: Barry undervalued by Reds
Martin O’Neill insists Liverpool have undervalued Aston
Villa skipper Gareth Barry at £10m as he reiterated his
determination to try to keep
the England midfielder.
O’Neill is determined Villa can be on the same level as
Rafael Benitez’s outfit in the not too distant future
despite Kevin Keegan’s fears about
the difficulty of breaking into the ’big four’.
“Liverpool talked about a £10m bid, which was some cash and
some unnamed players,” O’Neill said.
“That is very presumptuous of them, that the players they
might be talking about, are the ones you would want – that
is why I dismissed t
he whole thing.
“The whole story seems to have grown arms and legs and seems
to be saying ’whatever Liverpool are asking for, they will
get’ but I don’t see
that as being the case.
“Is Barry undervalued at £10m? Absolutely, without question.
This lad is playing for England.
“That is not to say we want to give a certain valuation and
then, if Liverpool come up with it, we will do business.
That is not what we want
to do at all."
(Evening Echo) |
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WEDNESDAY 7 |
Reserves crowned national champions
Liverpool Reserves have been crowned National Champions
after powering to a resounding victory over Aston Villa in
an entertaining play-off final
at Anfield.
Gary Ablett's men produced the type of performance typical
of their all-conquering campaign, combining attractive,
flowing football with some gutsy, determined defending to
clinch a 3-0 win courtesy of goals from Krisztian Nemeth,
Jordy Brouwer and Lucas Leiva.
It caps a remarkable season for the Reds' second string, who
can now add the national title to both the Dallas Cup and
the Northern Division championship, to complete what is a
superb cup treble.
Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth,
Plessis, El Zhar (Simon 86), Lucas, Brouwer (Pacheco 73),
Nemeth (Lindfield 80), Flynn. Unused subs: Bouzanis, Kelly,
Simon.
(LFC Official Website)
Dalglish calls for swift resolution
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has called on the
boardroom's warring factions to sort out their differences
quickly for the good of the club.
Dalglish, regarded as Liverpool's finest-ever player and who
also managed the club between 1985 and 1991, has spoken out
as the current crisis over control of the club threatens to
rumble on into the summer.
Talking in his weekly column for the club's LFC magazine,
Dalglish said: "The current impasse cannot continue much
longer.
"If you are looking for a positive to extract from the
negatives [of the semi-final defeat at Chelsea] then maybe
the absence of a final appearance in Moscow will allow all
sides in the current boardroom battle to sit down and work
out a solution that is best for this football club.
"Players around Europe are starting to look at where they
want to play next season, and it is not fair for Rafa
Benitez to try to enter negotiations with an arm behind his
back."
(PA Sport)
Taylor ignores Reds rumours
Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor is ignoring rumours
linking him with
a surprise move to Liverpool.
Reports have suggested Liverpool are considering a move for
the Northern Ireland international in the summer.
Taylor is a free agent in the close-season and is an
attractive proposition for a number of clubs.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is thought to be in the market for a
new goalkeeper as back-up to Jose Reina as he has not been
impressed by Charles Itandje.
Birmingham have put off all contract talks with Taylor until
the end of
the season and it remains to be seen if he will be offered
an extension.
The 36-year-old says he is in the dark regarding interest
from Liverpool and says he is only focusing on this
weekend's crucial clash with Blackburn, as Birmingham look
to secure their Premier League survival.
"I don't know anything about it [Liverpool] but obviously
I'm out of contract and would like my future sorted," Taylor
told the Birmingham Mail.
"But we have a big game on Sunday and that is the only thing
on my mind right now."
(Sky Sports)
Wide men are needed
to fire Liverpool title challenge
The ownership battle, the need to improve the squad, the
importance of
a trophy next season - it's going to be a more interesting
summer than normal at Anfield.
But, inevitably, the strengthening of the team in a bid to
match the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea and mount a
serious title challenge will be Rafa Benitez’s number one
priority.
The spine of the team has quality – Pepe Reina, Jamie
Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Sami Hyypia, Steven
Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres.
But we still lack the necessary class at full-back, wide
players with the ability to run defences ragged and produce
telling crosses, and a world class partner for Torres.
In effect, between three and five new players with the
pedigree to be able to go straight into the team.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Kuyt eyes Euro spot
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt is aiming to continue his recent
good run of form to cement a place in Holland coach Marco
van Basten's
Euro 2008 squad.
Kuyt has been included in Van Basten's provisional 30-man
group, which will be trimmed down to 26 players on 16th May
and then cut
to 23 by 28th May.
Kuyt is determined to make the final squad for the
tournament in Austria and Swizterland.
"I first hoped to be part of the first 30 players. Now I of
course want to go to Euro 2008 too," Kuyt told Radio 538
show Evers Staat Op.
"I hope Marco van Basten will keep on thinking about me now.
I must show it on the field and I think I did that in the
last games.
"But it is of course not easy for the coach. We have many
good strikers, but I think I am a fine addition to the
squad.
"It happens only once every four years. It was no fun to me
to not be selected for some games after three years. But I
still hope to be there."
(Sky Sports)
Crouch seeks Benitez talks
Peter Crouch is seeking talks with Rafael Benitez before
deciding on his Liverpool future.
The England international striker has endured a season
mainly on the substitutes bench at Anfield, largely due to
the superlative form of Fernando Torres, but Crouch was left
out of Liverpool's squad altogether against Manchester City
on Sunday and subsequently missed the traditional post-match
lap of honour.
"What I must do is speak to the manager," Crouch said. "When
all is said and done, I don't think I can have another
season like this year where I've started nine Premier League
games.
"Out of a 38-game league season, nine games is not the
amount you want to be playing.
"I'll have to speak to the manager and see what his plans
are. I need
to see him and sort things out.
"I have to find out what he wants from me for next season
and whether or not I can continue with that.
"In some ways I want to feel wanted. I've got a few
questions I want to ask him, and I'm sure he has with me,
too."
(Shanklygates)
Kewell on his way
Harry Kewell will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
The winger is out of contract at the end of the season and
will not be offered a new deal. Rafael Benitez has been a
constant admirer of Kewell but the Australian's continous
injury problems means Benitez will cut his losses and
release the player. Juventus have expressed an interest.
(LFC Online)
Reina's hat-trick
Pepe Reina is set to win the golden gloves award for
the third season running.
The Barclays Golden Glove award is given to the goalkeeper
who keeps the most clean sheets in the league. Reina has won
this for the last two seasons and will at worst share it
this season.
The Liverpool goalkeeper has kept 17 clean sheets so far
this season while nearest challenger David James has kept
16. A clean sheet against Spurs or a goal by Fulham against
Pompey will see Reina win the award outright else he will
share it with the former Red.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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