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FRIDAY 9 |
Barnett arrives after Threlfall snub
Darlington have signed Everton defender Moses Barnett on a
month's loan after Robbie Threlfall pulled out of his
proposed move to the club.
Barnett, who can play at centre-back or left-back, will go
straight into Steve Staunton's squad for Saturday's game
against Dagenham, but Threlfall has returned to parent club
Liverpool after snubbing a move to the Darlington Arena on
Tuesday.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez in Agger warning
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned Denmark coach
Morten Olsen to be "sensible" with defender Daniel Agger.
The centre-back, 24, has only just recovered from back
surgery but is in the Denmark squad for their World Cup
qualifiers with Sweden
and Hungary.
Benitez said: "I hope they will be careful with him. He
needs to play but he knows it will be tough for him to play
both games in a row."
(Teletext)
Barnes sacked by Tranmere
Tranmere have sacked manager John Barnes after a disastrous
start to the season which saw Rovers win only two of 11
league games.
Assistant Jason McAteer has alo been dismissed. The pair
were allegedly dubbed 'Dumb And Dumber' by Tranmere players
during their short
spell in charge.
Liverpool legend Barnes, who gave up his role as Jamaica
national coach to become boss at Prenton Park, now looks to
be finished as a gaffer. His eight-month stint in charge of
Celtic to early 2000 also ended in the axe after the Bhoys'
infamous loss to then-minnows
Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The former England star's dismissal comes alongside news
that Wycombe have parted company with ex-Three Lions
caretaker manager Peter Taylor.
(Daily Mirror)
Benitez to miss duo
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has admitted he tried to
persuade Holland to leave Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt out of
their trip to Australia.
Benitez will not be able to call on all his players until a
week on Friday just prior to the important clash with
Sunderland.
Babel and Kuyt are in the Dutch squad that travel to play a
friendly in Sydney against Australia and Benitez, who is
resigned to losing Argentine pair Javier Mascherano and
Emiliano Insua along with Brazilian Lucas, will not have
anyone of them back until Friday.
"We tried to talk with the Dutch Federation about Dirk and
Ryan having to travel so far but they have the right to call
the players up for these games," Benitez told the Post.
"We know Lucas, Mascherano and Insua will not be back until
Friday afternoon and we will have to manage them carefully.
"We tried to find some kind of solution but it was
impossible and it is not an ideal situation for them to
travel to Australia for a friendly."
(Clubcall.com)
Juventus want Liverpool's
Javier Mascherano for £23m
Javier Mascherano could quit Liverpool for Juventus with the
Italian giants readying a £23m bid.
Juventus are said to want to open talks within the next few
weeks ahead of a move in the January window.
(Daily Mirror)
Darlington move for
Liverpool's Threlfall
New Darlington boss Steve Staunton is eyeing Liverpool
fullback
Robbie Threlfall.
Staunton watched the left back in action for the Kop
reserves and hopes to take him for his League Two
strugglers.
The former Liverpool defender was appointed Darlo manager
this week.
(tribalfootball.com) |
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THURSDAY 8 |
Owen clarifies 'biggest club' remark
Manchester United striker Michael Owen has played down his
comments about being at the biggest club in the world before
his return to Anfield.
Earlier this week the former Liverpool player praised the
input of manager Sir Alex Ferguson, adding life at Old
Trafford was "everything you would expect of a top team,
probably the biggest club in the world".
The manner of Owen's departure from Anfield to Real Madrid
in 2004 is still a contentious one for fans, who have never
forgiven the former youth team star for threatening to run
down the final year of his contract and leave for nothing.
Owen has since been back to Anfield with Newcastle after a
one-year stay in Spain but the reaction to his visit with
Liverpool's arch-rivals on October 25 is likely to be the
most vitriolic yet - especially after his recent comments.
"I didn't set out to offend anyone," explained the
29-year-old. "What I said was, in terms of support, revenue
and stadium, Man United are probably the biggest in the
world but Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are up there with
them in other areas.
"In saying that, I'm sure things I've said at different
times over the last 20 years will be dredged up and turned
into back-page stories over the next two weeks."
(TEAMtalk)
Torres injury fears eased
Fernando Torres is expected to be fit for Spain's World Cup
qualifier in Armenia on Saturday – despite having to
withdraw from a training session on Wednesday evening.
The Reds striker had complained of discomfort in his groin,
but after consultation with the national team's medical
staff, his early departure was deemed merely a precautionary
measure.
Spain have already qualified for next summer's tournament
with eight wins from eight matches in Group Five, and should
have Torres available as they look to maintain their 100 per
cent record when they take on Armenia and second-placed
Bosnia in their remaining fixtures.
(LFC Official Website)
Agger injury scare
Daniel Agger has given Liverpool another injury scare.
The centre-back has only just returned after missing the
start of the season with a back injury and is now on
international duty with Denmark.
Liverpool will be concerned with the news that Agger was
told to sit out training yesterday by the Danes' medical
staff as a precaution.
(LFC Online)
Saudis consider Liverpool offer
Prince Faisal could bid for a major stake in Liverpool but
has concerns about the club's debt and relationship between
its owners,
a key aide says.
Co-owner George Gillett will travel to Saudi Arabia on
Tuesday to hold further talks with the Saudi Royal.
"His Highness's shareholding could go from anything from
nought
to 100%," Barry Didato told BBC Sport.
"But he cannot be seen as a solution to the debt or problems
in the existing relationship between the owners."
(BBC Sport Online)
Carragher vows
to tighten up for Cats
Jamie Carragher hopes that Liverpool's defence will click
after a difficult start to the season.
The Reds have conceded 12 goals in just eight Premier League
matches – with free-scoring Sunderland up next, at the
Stadium of Light
next Saturday.
Carragher admitted: "We aren't playing well as a back four
and I'm not playing well personally. I need to hit better
form and hopefully that will come in the next few games.
"Over the last five or six years we have been renowned as a
team who have kept a lot of clean sheets and for keeping it
tight. I think that's why we get a bit more criticism
because people don't expect it of Liverpool – and rightly
so.
"We take the plaudits when things are going well so you have
to take the criticism when it's not going well.
"I know I need to improve myself and we also need to improve
as a team."
Meanwhile, £20million summer signing Alberto Aquilani could
finally make his Liverpool debut this month, following ankle
surgery, but the
visit to Sunderland will come too soon for the ex-Roma star.
(Sunderland Exho)
Gerrard urges Reds to fight
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has called on the squad to
"dig deep" to stop their title challenge collapsing.
Sunday's 2-0 loss at Chelsea was the club's third defeat of
the campaign and questions are being asked about their
ability to be genuine contenders.
Gerrard told the Liverpool Daily Post: "It will come down to
who wants it the most. When the manager demands a reaction
from us, he gets it."
(Teletext)
Bent: Sunderland will
roll over Liverpool
Sunderland striker Darren Bent is convinced they can upset
Liverpool
next week.
After their draw at Manchester United, Bent told safc.com:
"Before United people looked at our next six games and
thought they were tricky. There is no reason why we can't
beat Liverpool.
"They are in a bit of a sticky patch at the moment and we're
in a Rolls Royce patch."
(tribalfootball.com) |
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WEDNESDAY 7 |
Torres withdraws early from
Spain training session
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres had to withdraw early from
Spain's training session this evening after complaining of
discomfort in his groin.
The national team's medical staff have said that the injury
is not serious and the decision for his early departure from
the session was purely precautionary, according to Spanish
publication AS.
Coach Vicente Del Bosque is already without the services of
Torres' strike partner David Villa, who withdrew from the
squad after suffering
a hamstring injury in Valencia's 1-0 win over Racing
Santander
at the weekend.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will be keen to have his
prized asset return safely to Merseyside after international
duty. Torres has been in electrifying form for the Reds so
far this season, scoring eight goals in just seven Premier
League games.
(Goal.com)
4 consecutive wins
for the reserves
An action packed game at Tranmere ended with Liverpool
reserves claiming their 4th consecutive win in the North
section of the league. In a first half in which Liverpool
dominated without creating an awful lot, Eccleston should
have done better with a couple of chances he had. Most of
the attacking intent ame from David Amoo down the right
flank.
Saric was replaced at half time by Poloskei, with Pacheco
pushing up front, and it took Liverpool a good 10 minutes to
reorganise. Burnley (with 43 year old manager Owen Coyle
leading the line), created a few half chances and Eckersley
should have done better from close range.
Just before the hour the ineffectual Veijl was replaced by
Brouwer. Liverpool started to impose themselves. Ecclestone
and Threlfall combined to create a great chance for Pacheco,
only for him
to blast wide.
As the game was nearing a draw Cudierski, who had already
been booked sythed down Ecclestone for a second time and was
sent from the field.
Liverpool gave it their all and in the 2nd minute of added
on time, a blatant handball on the edge of the area gave
Liverpool a chance to score a winner. Pacheco stepped up and
curled the ball over the wall and away from the keepers
reach to win the match.
(Vital Football)
Rush offers support to Stanley
Liverpool legend Ian Rush has thrown his support behind
cash-strapped Accrington Stanley in an attempt to save the
League Two club.
Rush will be the guest of honour at a sportsman's dinner at
the Dunkenhalge Hotel in Accrington on October 29 as the
club continues its fundraising attempts to pay a tax bill.
"For local supporters it would be terrible for them (if the
club went out of business) so I think anything we can do, we
want to try to help as much as we can," he told the
Lancashire Telegraph.
"The local community and the supporters have got to try to
get round it but they also need other help and if we can do
anything at Liverpool, hopefully it will go a long way to
try to retain Football League status."
The former Wales international, synonymous with Stanley
since the famous 1980s milk advert, added: "I was aware of
the milk advert before it was screened because I got asked
if they could use my name. Originally it wasn't going to be
Accrington Stanley, it was Arsenal!"
(TEAMtalk)
Reds deny striker link
Liverpool are apparently not interested in Aaron Hunt.
The Reds had been linked with a January move for the Werder
Bremnen striker who is out of contract at the end of the
season. However, today's Liverpool Echo says there is
nothing in the story and Rafael Benitez is not preparing a
swap deal involving Ryan Babel.
(LFC Online)
Report: January money
available for Benitez
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will reportedly be given £12m
to spend in January - but it won't be enough to sign reputed
target Goran Pandev.
Just a day after critical comments of Benitez's management
attributed to co-owner George Gillett were published on a
fans' site, reports have emerged detailing further
investment from Anfield's American owners.
According to The Daily Mail, Benitez 'will be handed a
£12million New Year transfer budget, but that is still well
short of what he would need to attract top players as he
bids to salvage the club's fading Premier League title
dream.'
The newspaper claims that the Spaniard is 'already scouring
the market for potential recruits' and 'several emerging
Spanish players are
under review'.
Lazio striker Pandev is touted as one target but it remains
unlikely that Benitez will be able to sign the Macedonian
even if he is available for transfer. 'Pandev was rated at
£17m when Arsenal and Tottenham were linked with him in the
summer. Inter Milan are favourites to sign him in January,'
says the Mail.
(Football 365)
Thor Zakariassen
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