SEPTEMBER 24
Bellamy hits
back in Newcastle row
TEAMtalk
Craig Bellamy believes there are people at Newcastle who
do not want him to be successful - and has hit back at Toon
coach Terry McDermott.
The Liverpool striker was branded an "upstart" by McDermott
- himself a former Anfield favourite - after the midweek
clash between the clubs.
The pair were involved in a tunnel row after Liverpool's 2-0
victory on Wednesday.
And after Liverpool moved up to sixth place in the Premier
League on Saturday with another fine home win - this time
over struggling Tottenham - Bellamy revealed he feared
"something would happen" when he came up against Newcastle
again after his acrimonious departure from Tyneside a year
ago.
Bellamy has had support from Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez
over the showdown with McDermott, and again after the Spurs
game when he had failed to score for the eighth game in
succession.
Benitez said: "I have talked to Craig and as long as he is
running hard and moving, and doing his job well, it's fine
by me. He will have my backing."
Bellamy talked of his desire to do well for his new club,
but believes Newcastle are "hurt" by his arrival at Anfield.
Bellamy said: "The circus was in town on Wednesday. There
was always going to be something from them (Newcastle), but
it doesn't bother me. Not at all.
"I was half expecting something because I know they are
hurting, my being at Liverpool is hurting them.
"This is the club I have always wanted to play for and maybe
there are people who are not too happy about that.
"I'm sure there are people there (at Newcastle) who don't
want me to succeed here, because it reminds them every time.
"It was a ridiculously cheap fee I went to Blackburn for,
it's not nice for me to be remembered for that. What was it,
about £3.75million? That hurts. I know that, but that is the
game we play."
Bellamy had fallen out with former Newcastle boss Graeme
Souness and spent six months on loan to Celtic before what
he clearly believes was a cut-price move to Blackburn ahead
of his summer transfer to Liverpool.
Now he wants to repay Benitez and impress his new fans, even
if goals are eluding him.
He forced Paul Robinson into one excellent save and even hit
a post from a couple of yards before Mark Gonzalez rammed
home the rebound to put Liverpool on their way to an
emphatic win.
Bellamy's strike partner Dirk Kuyt grabbed his second of the
week before John Arne Riise's piledriver in the final
minute.
Bellamy underlined how anxious he is to get on the goal
trail, admitting: "That's the way it is at the moment, the
ball keeps going the other side of the post or hitting it.
It happens, but I have had times like this in my career
before.
"I am maybe too excited to score. You want to do so well and
you are snatching at chances, and when you do that as a
forward you find the chances slip away.
"In some ways it is different for me. It's the club I
supported and there is an extra determination to do well.
"I'm putting extra pressure on myself, but then I always do
that, it is how I play football. I demand high standards of
myself and I don't worry about missing chances.
"But the one thing I don't like is when anxiety creeps in
and it affects my game a bit. That's something I can't
handle.
"Probably that is how it is at the moment. Okay, the people
around me are scoring and I feel the rest of my game is
going all right, making runs, helping create chances for
others.
"But at a club like this you are judged on goals, and that
is one thing you want to achieve. But at that's life, I have
to keep going.
"The chances will come at a club like this because there are
such good players around who will create them. I am still
enjoying it all."
SEPTEMBER 21
McDermott confirms Bellamy row
Clubcall Sports
Newcastle coach Terry McDermott has confirmed he had a
tunnel bust-up with the club's former striker Craig Bellamy
after the 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
McDermott claims he was talking to the referee after the
game when the Welsh international insulted him.
"We felt that at the start of the second half we felt that
we should have two stonewall penalties something which was
backed up by the TV replays and in the first instance by
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez," McDermott told the
Newcastle Chronicle.
"I was talking to the referee at the edge of the tunnel when
Bellamy appeared on the scene and suddenly started calling
me names. I thought he was just joking and I put my arm
around him, but he kept on calling me names and that's when
it all kicked off.
"I had my say and when he got to the top of the stairs he
started shouting at me again, but of course he had security
guys around him.
"I was talking to the referee. It had nothing to do with
anyone else and I take exception to little upstarts like him
(Bellamy). I do not like it when people like to think they
are bigger than clubs.
"When he was at Newcastle he thought he was a big cheese.
When he went to Blackburn he caused trouble there and
everywhere he has been he has been in bother and it is all
starting again at Liverpool. There was no need for it at all
and he was 100percent out of order."
SEPTEMBER 21
Rafa plays down
Bellamy bust-up
Sporting Life
Rafael Benitez has played down a tunnel bust-up involving
Craig Bellamy after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Newcastle.
Reds striker Bellamy, a former Newcastle player, was
involved in a row with his former coach Terry McDermott.
The Welshman, who had a plastic bottle thrown at him by a
Magpies fan, clashed with McDermott as tempers flared after
the final whistle at Anfield in the Premiership clash.
There had been suggestions that punches had been thrown but
Benitez played down the row.
"I could hear something but I couldn't understand what
happened," said the Spaniard. "I really couldn't see. It was
over in maybe two seconds. I think it was shouting, nothing
else."
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder defended the role of McDermott.
He said: "I'd be the last person to disagree with Rafa
Benitez.
"Terry's a very experienced coach and I'm sure he'd be way
above getting involved in something like that representing a
club like ours."
SEPTEMBER 21
Xabi
hails repeat feat
Eurosport
Xabi Alonso has hailed another wonder goal as his strike
from inside his own half against Newcastle United emulated
his effort at Luton Town in last season's FA Cup.
The Spain international chanced his arm with a spectacular
long-range attempt and profited when Steve Harper, standing
in for Shay Given, slipped and failed to keep the shot out.
It added to Dirk Kuyt's opener and ensured Liverpool picked
up the three points from a 2-0 triumph.
"At the beginning, I was looking for the pass but the ref
was in the way of me getting it to Stevie [Gerrard]
properly," he told Sky Sports afterwards.
"So I looked up and saw the keeper off his line and so I
thought I'd have a go for it.
"I think that it was better because the Luton goal bounced a
few times and went straight.
"It was different but I was very happy to score this goal.
"I practice all the time in training and sometimes the
coaches shout at me for losing a lot of balls but it's
something I like doing and I'll always try to keep on doing
it.
"I've not professionally scored one like this in Spain and
I'm delighted to have done it twice in England."
SEPTEMBER 20
Benitez
never worried
By Paul Higham - Sky Sports
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was delighted to see his side
back in the winning groove against Newcastle, but insisted
he was never worried about their form.
The Reds had lost their last two Premiership games but
bounced back with a 2-0 success over Newcastle at Anfield on
Wednesday night.
Benitez says his side have been creating chances despite a
recent goal drought, which was broken by Dirk Kuyt's first
goal for the club followed by Xabi Alonso's audacious strike
from well inside his own half.
The Spanish coach was happy to be back winning and said he
is happy with his rotation system he has employed so far
this term.
"For me the good thing was not just the two goals, but the
chances we created, we had a lot of clear chances," said
Benitez.
"When a new striker starts it's always good for him and good
for the team to score and Kuyt will have a lot more
confidence now.
"We can change the players though, we can use Fowler, we can
use Crouch, it's not a problem because they all know what to
do when they play."
"I said before we were creating a lot of chances, even the
away games we were creating more than the local teams but
now at home we have scored twice and we could have had three
or four.
"We have always had confidence and I've always said that now
is not the time to be looking at the table and the important
thing is that you keep on improving and I think we are
definitely doing that."
Benitez praise Alonso for his wonderful strike, and said it
could the classy midfielder out of some criticism from the
bench.
"I was waiting to say something to him because Gerrard was
free on the right but when it went in I thought it was a
great goal.
"It was one of the best goals we have seen here."
Benitez admitted that Newcastle should have had a penatly
for handball, but also said that the home side should also
have been given a spot kick themselves.
"I have seen some replays and I think that the handball with
Carra was a penalty and also the other one with Babayaro was
also a penalty.
"So I think there was one at each end but it was difficult
for the referee."
SEPTEMBER 20
Roeder
slams referee
By Paul Higham - Sky Sports
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder says referee Mark Halsey cost
them the game at Liverpool for his failure to give them a
second half penalty.
The Magpies went down 2-0 at Anfield but Roeder was fuming
that, at 1-0 down, they were not given a penalty for
handball against Jamie Carragher.
Roeder's men also had a penalty shout turned down for a foul
on Shola Ameobi, while Liverpool also thought they should
have had a penalty when Celestine Babayaro handled.
"We do feel aggrieved by the result," said Roeder.
"Not many teams come here and attack as much as Liverpool
and have as much possession as them.
"We had a game plan to be solid and keep it tight.
"Yes, Liverpool had a fair amount of pressure but really
Stevie Harper didn't really have much to do in the first
half.
"For us tactically it was a bad first goal. Our strikers
know that a deep lying midfielder like Alonso should not
have that space - no-one got near him and it was a lovely
ball to set up the goal.
"The second was a lovely strike but a freak, if Harper
doesn't slip over he just catches it.
"I don't think people realise how hard it is to strike the
ball over such a long distance so accurately but there is no
doubt about it that if Steve didn't slip it would have been
a long pass into his hands."
Aside from his thoughts on the goals, Roeder's main gripe
was towards referee Halsey for not giving them a penalty.
"I've had a chat with Mark Halsey and I believe even Rafa
Benitez agrees that the first handball should have been a
penalty.
"It was the best save of the night from Shola's shot which I
thought was arrowing into the corner of the net.
"Goals change games and assuming we scored the penalty then
we are back in it at 1-1.
"Shola went down which I thought was another penalty but
mark says he was offside anyway so the handball one is the
one that has cost us.
"I feel let down by Mark Halsey because that decision has
cost us."
SEPTEMBER 20
Xabi
cracker seals Reds win
By Paul Higham - Sky Sports
Liverpool got back to winning ways with a 2-0 win against
Newcastle at Anfield, thanks to Dirk Kuyt's first goal for
the club and Xabi Alonso's spectacular effort from inside
his own half.
Rafa Benitez's men went into the game needing to avoid a
third straight Premiership defeat, and they did that with
two special goals against The Magpies.
A deserved opener came via Kuyt's first goal for his new
club in the first half, and the three points were sealed in
blockbuster fashion as Alonso scored from his own half for
the second time, embarrassing the stumbling Steve Harper
with a glorious strike from just outside the centre circle.
Harper was called into action quickly as he got a rare start
in place of the injured Shay Given when he had to race off
his line to clear the ball ahead of Craig Bellamy breaking
through.
Luis Garcia was providing some nice touches and he turned
well before slipping Bellamy in down the left, but the
Welshman always looked uncomfortable on that side and his
attempted curler with his right foot was easily saved by
Harper.
Fabio Aurelio's free kick hit the wall and fell for Garcia
who spun and shot quickly, but his toe-poke went straight at
Harper - who also saved the crafty Spaniard's effort a
minute later.
The Reds went ahead for the first time this season on 29
minutes when Xabi Alonso's slide-rule ball released Steve
Finnan down the right and he centred for the arriving Kuyt
to knock in a real finisher's goal to open his account for
Liverpool
Shola Ameobi went down looking for a penalty five minutes
after the interval under Daniel Agger's challenge but
referee Mark Halsey was not interested.
Alonso's free kick flew into the back of the net on 53
minutes but it went in off Garcia's hand, and he was booked
for his troubles.
Kuyt wasted a good chance to double the lead a couple of
minutes later when Garcia found him with a fine cut-back
from the left, but the Dutchman stabbed his effort poorly
wide.
Newcastle were furious two handball shouts for penalties
were turned down just seconds after each other, while Emre's
free kick from a dangerous position just outside the box
struck the wall.
Bellamy's p ace get him on to a charged-down clearance ahead
of Craig Moore but after racing in on Harper he dinked over
the keeper only to watch the ball float wide of the mark.
Harper had to scramble moments later to turn Aurelio's fine
free kick aside when it was heading to the bottom corner.
Garcia was only denied a second Liverpool goal by the
woodwork 15 minutes from time when he brought down a long
ball superbly before his instant hit rebounded off the post
with Harper helpless.
Liverpool had a handball shout of their own turned down when
Celestine Babayaro handled at the near post from Bellamy's
cross but again it was waved away.
Kuyt again wasted a good chance after a nice step and cross
from Aurelio on the left gave him a close range header which
he planted wide when he should really have scored.
Liverpool's second did come in the 79th minute, and in the
most spectacular fashion as Alonso embarrassed Harper with a
sublime goal from well inside his own half.
The Spaniard was already scored from his own half once, and
he repeated the trick when he spotted the keeper off his
line and fired forward from the edge of the centre circle in
his own half.
Harper was caught out and he stumbled as he tried to get
back to his line and could only dive despairingly from the
floor as he watched Alonso's effort find the back of the
net.
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