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SUNDAY 9 |
Atletico linked with Reina
Atletico Madrid are reported to have set their sights on
luring Jose Reina away from Liverpool and back to La Liga.
Spanish daily AS claims Atletico have made the former
Villarreal goalkeeper one of their top transfer targets.
The capital club are believed to have sounded out Reina's
representatives to find out if the keeper would be
interested in a move back to Spain.
(Sky Sports)
Pourie at the double for Under-18s
German ace Marvin Pourie scored twice as Liverpool Under-18s
recorded their first victory of the season with a 3-0 win at
Nottingham Forest.
Reds Under-18 manager Hughie McAuley got the response from
the players he wanted after the team lost their opening game
5-0 at
Aston Villa.
Young Scot Gary MacKay Steven had a fine match on the left
wing and scored Liverpool's other goal. Martin Kelly was a
rock solid figure at the back while David Amoo worked his
socks off in attack alongside Pourie.
"We played some very good football and the lads showed a
really good attitude," McAuley told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"We passed the ball very well and it was very encouraging.
It was much improved from our performance against Aston
Villa and this was the level of performance we want from the
lads week in, week out."
Liverpool Under-18 team: Dean Bouzanis, Mattone Awang, Shane
O'Connor, Joe Kennedy, Martin Kelly, Steve Irwin, Sean
Highdale, Astrit Ajdarevic (Michael Scott 80), Marvin Pourie
(Michael Collins 80), David Amoo, Gary MacKay Steven (Nathan
Eccleston 80). Subs' not used: Chris Oldfield (GK), Scott
Wooton (Under-16).
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 8 |
Gerrard ready for Russia
Steven Gerrard insists he will be fully fit
for Wednesday's crucial Euro 2008 qualifying clash with
Russia.
Despite playing with a broken toe, Gerrard managed 70
minutes of England's 3-0 win over Israel and only came off
because of cramp.
"The toe is fine. All I had was a bit of cramp. I haven't
trained much for the last two or three weeks," said Gerrard.
"I will be a lot stronger on Wednesday for getting that 70
minutes in.
"The toe is healing well and that is behind me now. I didn't
need a painkiller.
"I've got a few knocks and bumps but nothing that won't be
sorted by Wednesday."
Gerrard insists England are in confident mood ahead of the
game with Russia.
"We had to get this job done but now we have to forget about
it and get the mindset on Wednesday because it will be
slightly tougher," he said.
"It will be hard but we are confident we can improve on our
performance and may well have to."
(Sky Sports)
Spain draw in Iceland despite Alonso red card
Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta scored four minutes from
time to scramble a 1-1 draw with Iceland in their Euro 2008
qualifier on Saturday.
The visitors had midfielder Xabi Alonso sent off after 19
minutes and fell behind to a header by Emil Hallfredsson 20
minutes later.
Spain poured forward in search of an equaliser and were
rewarded when substitute Iniesta poked the ball past keeper
Arni Arason.
The result left Spain third in Group F with 16 points from
eight games, level with second-placed Northern Ireland and
three behind leaders Sweden.
(Reuters)
Voronin happy to play waiting game
Andriy Voronin insists he is happy to fit into Rafael
Benitez's rotation system and said he is always available to
do a job for the team when the manager needs him.
The former Bayer Leverkusen striker knows Liverpool have an
abundance of talent in their squad and accepts competition
for places will always be part and parcel of football.
"When I signed, Rafa told me that I should be prepared to be
rotated," commented the Reds number 10. "Liverpool have a
23-player squad, and 20 of them are national-team players.
"Everyone wants to play and everyone knows how to play. But
the coach is doing the right thing by giving us rests. He
wants us to play 50 or 60 games at the highest level per
season, not 20. This is why over the last five games our
squad has been changed four times. The results show that
Benitez is right."
(LFC Official Website) |
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FRIDAY 7 |
Gary Mac: Voronin could be best signing
Former Red Gary McAllister believes Rafael Benitez could
have secured one of the signings of the season in Ukrainian
striker Andriy Voronin.
Voronin has made an immediate impression at Anfield since
his free transfer switch in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen
and already has three goals to his name from four games
played.
"Sometimes when you bring in a player on a Bosman they turn
out to be worth their weight in gold," said McAllister, who
also excelled at Liverpool after signing on a free.
"To get a player like Andriy Voronin for free, we could be
looking at one of the best signings of the season.
"Rafa won't need to spend a lot of time telling someone like
Voronin what to do. A player of his experience and ability
knows instinctively when to move and where to run to.
"You can tell just from a few performances already that he
is very assured and knows exactly what he is doing. He
reminds me a bit of Teddy Sheringham with his eye for a pass
and the positions he takes up."
(LFC Official Website)
Welsh FA gives top new job to Red legend Ian
Liverpool striking legend Ian Rush was today appointed to a
top new job with the Welsh FA.
Rush, capped 73 times by Wales, has been appointed Elite
Performance Director with the Welsh FA, a part time role
which will see him in charge of developing the country’s
emerging young talent up to the age of 17.
It is a role similar to that previously carried out for
England by Sir Trevor Brooking.
Rush, Liverpool’s record goalscorer with 346 strikes to his
name, has previously worked for his country as coach to the
under 17s team, having spent a spell under Gerard Houllier
at Anfield as a part-time striker coach.
He also managed Chester City during the 2004/5 season.
Said Rush: “The role will essentially mean me taking care of
grass roots football in Wales, working with the technical
director on the development of young players.
“There are a lot of smaller nations catching up with Wales
now and we have to try and get ahead of them again.
“I’m grateful to Gerard Houllier who I worked for at
Liverpool and who advised me about taking this job.
“He has been a big help.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard declares himself fit
Steven Gerrard says he is fit to face Israel tomorrow.
The Liverpool captain has told Steve McClaren he is fit and
able to face Israel at Wembley tomorrow evening. Gerrard is
also hopeful that he won't need an injection to get him
through the match.
Gerrard may sit out Wednesday's game against Russia if he
plays tomorrow as his injury may still prevent him playing
two games in a week.
McClaren is hopeful of having Frank Lampard and Owen
Hargreaves back for Wednesday however.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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