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SATURDAY 9 |
Fuming Benitez slams Reds defence
Rafael Benitez believes his side were made to pay for making
mistakes in their defence as they slipped to a 3-1 derby
defeat at Everton.
He said: "We will have to improve in defence.
"We made a lot of mistakes, too many mistakes and in
football you pay for them.
"In the second half we went forward and created chances but
couldn't score so in the end we paid for that."
(TEAMtalk)
Moyes in derby delight
Everton boss David Moyes was delighted with his side's
effort in their 3-0 Merseyside derby win over Liverpool.
"We have not won many in the past against Liverpool, who
have a terrific team, but give credit to the players," Moyes
told PremPlus.
"They have done this in pre-season and we wanted to make
that happen.
"In the end, though, it's only three points. We've had some
bad games against Liverpool but hopefully, we have made
improvements."
(Sky Sports)
Toffees triumph over Reds
Everton claimed the 204th Merseyside derby with a well
deserved 3-0 home victory over arch-rivals Liverpool.
A first-half strike from Tim Cahill and a brace from Andy
Johnson meant Everton remained undefeated after their
opening four games and handed out a first Premiership defeat
of the season to The Reds.
(Sky Sports)
Everton vs Liverpool - CONFIRMED TEAM
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Aurelio,
Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Garcia, Fowler, Crouch.
SUBS: Dudek, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Kuyt.
(Kop Talk) |
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FRIDAY 8 |
Rafa delight at stadium go-ahead
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has hailed the latest step
towards the Anfield club being able to build their new
stadium after the city council confirmed the leasing of land
for the scheme.
Liverpool City Council's executive board today
rubber-stamped an early committee decision to allow
Liverpool a 999-year lease on an area of the nearby Stanley
Park to start work on the ground, now considered to be
costing the Anfield club £180million.
Benitez said: "It is very important that we have this new
stadium to have more room for our fans.
"It will help us provide very important extra funds for our
future, and it will help us to compete with clubs like
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, the latter who have
just opened their new stadium.
"We have fantastic support at Liverpool and the Kop is a
very special place, but our capacity is just 45,000. It
would be even better for everyone if we had 60,000 fans in
the ground."
(Sporting Life)
Henchoz moves back to Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers have completed the signing of
defender Stephane Henchoz.
The 32-year-old Swiss centre-back rejoins the Ewood Park
club on a deal until the end of the season.
Henchoz, who first signed for Blackburn from German side
Hamburg for £3m in 1997, was without a club having been
released by Wigan after last season.
He spent two years with Blackburn before moving to Liverpool
for £3.5m and spent six years at Anfield before a short
spell at Celtic in 2005.
(BBC Sport Online)
Liverpool get go-ahead on stadium
Liverpool have received the go-ahead from the city council
to build a new 60,000 all-seater stadium.
Council leaders approved a 999-year lease on Friday for a
piece of land in the city's Stanley Park, just 300 yards
away from their Anfield home.
"It's all systems go. All we need now is the club to confirm
the funding," said council leader Warren Bradley.
(BBC Sport Online)
Alonso the missing link for starters
It's a little premature to be handing out 'Missing In
Action' posters just yet, but Xabi Alonso's less than
sparkling form is cause for minor concern around Anfield.
When Steven Gerrard's derby day desire got the better of him
at Anfield in March, Alonso stepped in with a dictatorial
display that did much to keep 10-men Liverpool in the
driving seat until the numbers were evened up.
But, on the eve of the Goodison rematch, Alonso's form has
faltered and flickered, and is showing definite signs of
suffering from a World Cup too far.
Left on the bench for the Community Shield, left out
entirely at Sheffield United, he was anonymous in Kiev and
poor against West Ham.
Then, against Northern Ireland, he committed a howler which
sowed the seeds of Spain's shock defeat.
It may just be coincidence that Real Madrid came calling in
the summer - Alonso has insisted their interest did not
unsettle him - but Reds fans are still waiting for him to
catch fire.
Tomorrow would be an opportune time to start.
(Daily Post)
Aurelio: Bellamy a samba star
Fabio Aurelio has likened Liverpool team-mate Craig Bellamy
to a Brazilian superstar.
Aurelio says a number of Anfield aces have made a big
impression since his summer arrival from Spanish giants
Valencia.
But Bellamy - another summer signing from Blackburn - gets
special praise from the left-back.
"Bellamy has really impressed me. He reminds me of a
Brazilian striker by the way he runs and hits the ball,"
Aurelio told Liverpool's official website.
The Brazilian defender also says he's seen nothing yet to
merit Bellamy's bad-boy tag.
"I have heard of his reputation, but so far he's been a
terrific team-mate. People like saying stuff but I prefer to
talk about what I've seen."
(Sporting Life)
Benitez could start Bellamy and Kuyt
Liverpool could go into Saturday's Merseyside derby with a
new-look strikeforce of Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy, both of
whom seem to relish such white-hot occasions.
Dutch striker Kuyt had an impressive scoring record for
Feyenoord against Ajax, Holland's big derby.
And Bellamy seems to relish derby games and has scored in
Glasgow, midlands, north east and East Anglian showdowns,
and also seems to like Goodison Park having scored there
three times in the past five years.
But the Merseyside clash will be something new to both
players, boss Rafael Benitez's new £15million front duo. The
Anfield boss also has the option of in-form England man
Peter Crouch or even Robbie Fowler, whose six goals against
Everton underlines how much he enjoys clashes with the old
enemy.
(PA Sport) |
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THURSDAY 7 |
Reds boss facing derby poser
Rafa Benitez admits he'll be inflicting derby heartbreak on
many of his biggest stars this weekend as he'll be forced to
ignore several pleas for selection.
The Liverpool boss says his players have been reminding the
him how anxious they are to play at Goodison Park.
But as Benitez prepared to welcome back the international
contingent to Melwood this afternoon, he says it's
inevitable some of those who returnhoping to feature against
the Blues will be disappointed.
The most difficult dilemma, Benitez says, is in attack where
even the in-form Peter Crouch can't be guaranteed a starting
place as Robbie Fowler, Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy also
have strong claims.
(Liverpool Echo)
Carragher admits place fear
Jamie Carragher has conceded he is not guaranteed a starting
spot at Liverpool such has been the form of Daniel Agger in
his absence.
The Liverpool centre back has been forced to the sidelines
since the opening day clash with Sheffield United, after
hobbling out of Bramall Lane with an ankle injury.
"I've always been concerned about my place and have learnt
never to take anything for granted," he told the Daily
Express.
"Gerard Houllier would always bring players in for my
position so I've always been prepared for a fight.
"I'll battle with anyone. This is one of the reasons I don't
like getting injured because it gives someone else a chance
to do well.
"Daniel has done very well alongside Sami (Hyypia),
particularly if you consider he is still finding his feet.
"People might assume me and Sami will play because we're the
experienced ones, but I have to be honest and say that if
Daniel or Gabriel Paletta come in and do well, then they
should play."
(Sky Sports)
McFadden out of Derby after hamstring woe
David Moyes was handed an derby injury headache last night
when James McFadden suffered a pulled hamstring while
playing for Scotland.
McFadden was forced off after just 22 minutes of his
country's Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania in Kaunas.
Scotland went on to win the game 2-1, but McFadden will now
be missing for Saturday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool
at Goodison.
(Daily Post)
Neville hails prolific Crouch
Phil Neville believes that Peter Crouch is "one of the most
in-form strikers in world football" after his hot streak in
front of goal continued in the 1-0 win over Macedonia.
The Liverpool striker's acrobatic finish early in the second
half, his 11th goal in 14 internationals, was enough for The
Three Lions to maintain their 100 percent record in Group E.
Crouch was had a prolific 2006 for the national side, and
Neville believes he must be considered as one of the globe's
most in-form hit-men at present.
"I think in terms of international football, Crouchy is one
of the most in-form strikers in world football at the
moment," said Neville.
"His goalscoring record is phenomenal. People go on about
his height but his technical ability is second to none of
any striker I know.
"He is a real threat when these games come along.
"Hopefully he keeps scoring. He has been superb."
(Sky Sports)
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Thor Zakariassen
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