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MONDAY 9 |
McLeish fumes at Ngog
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was left furious after
Liverpool grabbed a point at Anfield.
David Ngog had given the home side an early lead, but
Christian Benitez and then Cameron Jerome put Birmingham
ahead at the break.
Then with 20 minutes left, Ngog went down under a Lee
Carsley challenge - but replays confirmed that the
Birmingham midfielder did not touch
the French forward.
And McLeish was left fuming with Ngog's simulation.
"It is a shame for the game, he has conned the referee,"
McLeish said.
(Sky Sports)
Rafa: We should have won
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists his side should have
beaten Birmingham.
The Reds grabbed a 2-2 draw with Birmingham, courtesy of a
highly controversial penalty as David Ngog appeared to dive
under
Lee Carsley's challenge.
Earlier Ngog had volleyed Liverpool ahead, only for
Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome to put Birmingham ahead
at the break.
Benitez did concede that the late penalty maybe should not
have been given - but he insisted a point was the least that
Liverpool deserved.
"I think it is difficult to explain [why we didn't win], we
had some many chances, plenty of possession," he told ESPN.
"But in the end we are talking about the penalty - whether
it was or not, maybe it wasn't, but we deserved to win as we
had some many opportunities.
(Football 365)
Blues hold Reds at Anfield
Liverpool dropped yet more Premier League points as they
were held to a 2-2 draw by Birmingham City at Anfield.
And it could have been so much worse for Rafa Benitez, whose
side trailed 2-1 before captain Steven Gerrard - who started
the match on the substitutes' bench - slotted home a penalty
which was highly controversial.
David Ngog, who had given Liverpool an early lead, looked to
have dived with Lee Carsley sliding in and making no contact
- but referee Peter Walton awarded the spot-kick which
allowed Gerrard to slot home.
Earlier Christian Benitez had headed The Blues level, before
Cameron Jerome's stunning strike just before half-time gave
Alex McLeish's side the lead.
Gerrard, though, stepped up to slot home - but a draw will
still be of huge frustration to Benitez - who is still yet
to beat Birmingham in
the Premier League.
The point means Liverpool remain in seventh, but some 11
points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
(Sky Sports)
Ngog replaces injured Torres
David Ngog starts up front against Birmingham in the absence
of the injured Fernando Torres, while Steven Gerrard returns
to the bench after a groin problem.
Meanwhile, Albert Riera, Martin Skrtel, and Glen Johnson all
make Rafa Benitez's starting XI after injuries.
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Johnson, Insua, Skrtel,
Agger, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Benayoun, Riera, Ngog.
Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Gerrard, Kyrgiakos, Babel,
Spearing, Darby.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard back
but Torres is out
Fernando Torres is set to miss out for Liverpool this
evening as Rafael Benitez refuses to risk the long-term
fitness of the Spanish striker.
But Steven Gerrard could make his comeback from injury
against Birmingham City despite being left out of England’s
squad for the friendly with Brazil in Qatar this Saturday.
Torres will also not be considered by Spain for their
forthcoming clash against Argentina with Benitez winning the
battle to protect the duo from further injury while on
international duty.
(Daily Post)
Liverpool linked with
'unsettled' Real Madrid star
Liverpool are reportedly considering a bid for Real
Madrid star
Lassana Diarra.
The Sunday People claim the former Portsmouth midfielder,
who also had brief spells in the Premier League with Chelsea
and Arsenal, is unsettle in Spain despite being a first team
regularly at the Bernabeu, and as a result is keen to return
to England.
(sport.co.uk)
Yossi key player says Rafa
Yossi Benayoun will be a key player for the Reds this
evening says Rafael Benitez.
Liverpool will look to Benayoun to open up a no-doubt packed
Birmingham City defence at Anfield tonight as the Israeli
international has been one of the Reds' most creative
players this season.
"Yossi is a key player for us. We've always knew he had
quality,"
said Benitez.
"We knew he could have an influence and change a game. He is
intelligent and players don't know what he is going to do
the next time he gets the ball.
"That's a big difference and when you don't have Steven
[Gerrard] on the pitch, it's important we have Yossi and we
hope he will keep doing that in this game."
(LFC Online)
Johnson gets England call
Glen Johnson is in the England squad.
The defender is the only Liverpool player in the squad for
this Saturday's friendly with Brazil in Qatar. Steven
Gerrard has been left out as he continues to recover from
the injury picked up the last time he was on international
duty.
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 8 |
Capello avoids Benitez
row by resting Gerrard
England coach Fabio Capello avoided a row with Liverpool
boss Rafael Benitez as he left Steven Gerrard out of his
squad for Saturday's friendly against Brazil in Doha.
Benitez had made it clear on Sunday that he didn't think
Gerrard should be selected as the Liverpool captain has
missed several matches with a groin injury suffered during
England's defeat in Ukraine last month.
Gerrard could play some part of Liverpool's Premier League
match against Birmingham on Monday, but Capello has placated
Benitez by leaving the star out of the trip to Qatar.
(AFP)
Aquilani poised for Anfield bow
Liverpool's fans will finally get the chance to welcome
£20million Alberto Aquilani to Anfield on Monday night.
The Italy international, signed in August, has been
recovering from a knee operation since.
Now, having also overcome a recent virus problem, the
25-year-old seems certain to make his Barclays Premier
League debut for the club against Birmingham at Anfield.
The fans have waited so long to see the man bought to
replace Xabi Alonso, so he can expect a hero's reception.
Certainly his appearance in the squad will give Liverpool's
worried support something to cheer with fitness doubts
surrounding Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Manager Rafael Benitez looks likely to name Aquilani on the
bench, and give him the opportunity of a cameo appearance in
the second half.
Benitez said: "It could be the time to let the Anfield fans
see Aquilani
at last."
(Football 365)
Dossena desperate for Anfield exit
Liverpool's £7million flop Andrea Dossena is looking to
leave Anfield in January - and claims Napoli, Juventus and
AC Milan are chasing him.
The Italian full-back has only made two appearances for
Liverpool so far this season against Bolton in the Premier
League and Leeds in the Carling Cup, despite moving for a
hefty £7million in July last year.
Dossena is worried that being frozen out by Rafa Benitez
will severely harm his chances of going to next year's World
Cup with Italy, and admits he would like to return to his
homeland.
"I know that three big Serie A clubs - Napoli, Juventus and
Milan - are looking at me," he said in the News of the
World.
Dossena became the first ever Italian player to sign for
Liverpool last year, but has found first-team chances hard
to come by this term.
However, the left-sided player insists that he has not
fallen out with manager Benitez, and is just disappointed
with his performances since his arrival on Merseyside.
"I'm not disappointed with the treatment I've had," he
added. "I know how things work and I've always behaved
correctly. Benitez chooses the line-up, and I'm paid to
respect his choices.
"In truth I am a little bit unhappy with my performances.
They have not seen the 'real' Dossena at Anfield."
(TEAMtalk)
Birmingham boss McLeish has
sympathy for Liverpool's Benitez
Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish knows there's pressure on
Monday's opponents Liverpool.
McLeish has sympathy for the current plight of his Liverpool
counterpart Rafael Benitez who is under the microscope after
his side have won only one of their last eight games.
But the former Scotland boss is more concerned about making
sure Blues remain on the right lines after collecting four
points from their last
two games.
He said: "I know what people go through when things aren't
going well for you. I know the personal turmoil, the pride,
and the type of characters I've met in football.
"I know how much pressure they put on themselves, never mind
the outside pressure from the media, the fans etc.
"But I've got enough on my plate to be thinking and worrying
about anyone else. We are only a bad result or two away from
derision and people going against you."
(tribalfootball.com)
Hicks convinced Liverpool can
land world record stadium deal
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks says naming rights are on the
agenda for their new stadium move.
Hicks revealed that Liverpool believe a world-record stadium
naming rights deal will help them raise the £250m required.
Hicks said: “Naming rights are a global market. The naming
rights for the new stadium will be the most attractive in
the world due to television coverage and the millions of
Liverpool supporters around the world.
“We will likely partner with someone wanting global
branding, unlike USA stadiums, which only worry about
television appeal in the States.”
Current sponsors Carlsberg have declared an interest – but
they will have to be prepared to eclipse the world-record
£240m that Citigroup Inc are paying New York Mets over the
next 20 years for the naming rights on the baseball club’s
new stadium.
(tribalfootball.com)
Hicks insists Liverpool
will not sell best players
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks insists they will not sell
their best players, despite their Champions League dilemma.
The Merseysiders are on the verge of a Champions League
exit, while five defeats in the Premier League have raised
doubts about a top-four finish – which could have serious
repercussions on Liverpool’s finances.
But Hicks says: “None of our star players will be sold,
regardless of results.
“The club is doing very well due to rapidly growing
commercial revenues.
“We have significant investor interest and want to make sure
that we pick high-quality partners. We are happy with the
way things are going financially, but we hoped things would
be better on the pitch.”
(tribalfootball.com) |
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SATURDAY 7 |
Benitez holds Champions
League crisis talks
Rafael Benitez has held talks with his Liverpool bosses over
the implications if the club fail to reach the last 16 of
this season’s Champions League.
Discussions were also held on if the club fail to qualify
for next season’s lucrative European competition.
The Liverpool manager revealed today that the club did not
budget this term for anything beyond the group stages.
And Benitez insisted he was confident that financial
problems next season will be avoided “because we will
achieve a top four finish”.
(BreakingNews.ie)
Benitez hopeful over Torres fitness
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes Fernando Torres will
be fit to lead the line against Birmingham, but rates Steven
Gerrard as doubtful.
Both players are likely to be given until the last minute
before a final decision is made on their respective groin
injuries, but Benitez does not expect either to be selected
for their national squads next weekend.
Benitez has held discussions with Spanish FA officials and
believes he has a gentlemen's agreement that Torres will not
be called up for Spain's home friendly with Argentina next
Saturday.
Although Benitez has not held similar conversations with
England over Gerrard's fitness, his attitude is that the
Liverpool skipper has been sidelined for too long to be a
serious option for Fabio Capello.
England play Brazil in Doha next weekend, and Benitez would
be furious
if Gerrard was selected.
For Monday's match with Birmingham, Liverpool have Fabio
Aurelio, Albert Riera and Martin Skrtel back in training,
although there are still doubts over Glen Johnson and Martin
Kelly.
(TEAMtalk)
Aurelio winning injury battle
Fabio Aurelio is winning his battle to be fit to return to
action on Monday – and to take his place in the Brazil squad
for the first time.
Aurelio, who is in the last year of his current contract,
has missed Liverpool’s last two games against Fulham and
Lyon with a calf problem.
His form before that, though, had been good enough to catch
the eye of Brazil coach Dunga, who will take Aurelio and
Reds midfielder Lucas to Qatar for next Saturday’s friendly
with England.
Benitez is thrilled Aurelio’s consistency has been
recognised and has confirmed talks are planned with the
30-year-old about extending his stay at Anfield.
First, however, the Liverpool boss wants to see Aurelio up
and running again and hopes the Anfield clash against
Birmingham will provide an ideal opportunity.
(Liverpool Echo)
Cisse big fan of
Liverpool striker Ngog
Panathinaikos striker Djibril Cisse is backing youngster
David Ngog to develop under the wing of Fernando Torres.
Former Reds ace Cisse is a big fan of Ngog and is backing
him for success on Merseyside.
He told liverpoolfc.tv: "Ngog scored against Manchester
United recently and it is great for his confidence to find
the net in such a huge game
like that.
"He's still very young and it will give him the belief that
he can go on and make a big impact this season.
"He's a talented player with really good technique and pace.
He trains every day alongside a player like Torres so he can
learn a massive amount from him.
"Fernando's movement and all-round ability can rub off on
David and if he can pick up any tips from him, then it can
only serve to improve him
as a player."
(tribalfootball.com)
Thor Zakariassen
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