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SUNDAY 31 |
Benitez demands improvements
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits his side need to
improve if they are to develop into genuine Premier League
title contenders.
The Reds were held to an uninspiring 0-0 draw away to Aston
Villa on Sunday as Benitez's side lost their 100 per cent
start to the season.
And having received their perennial tip to end an 18-year
wait for a league title, Benitez confesses his team need to
up their game after failing
to produce a shot on target at Villa Park.
"We were controlling and creating the opportunity for the
final pass," Benitez told Sky Sports 1. "We have to improve
the final pass and that could be the difference."
(Sky Sports)
Villa end Reds' record
Liverpool lost their 100 per cent start to the season and
missed out on the opportunity to move to the top of the
Premier League following a goalless draw at Aston Villa.
The Midlands encounter produced further disappointment for
Reds manager Rafa Benitez, who was already without sidelined
captain Steven Gerrard, as star striker Fernando Torres
sustained what appeared to be
a hamstring injury in the first half.
Three points would have seen Liverpool move to the top of
the table following Chelsea's draw with Tottenham, but
Benitez's side never truly looked capable of finding a
winner.
(Sky Sports)
Injured Torres to undergo scan
Fernando Torres will have a scan on Monday to determine the
extent of the hamstring injury he sustained at Villa Park.
The Spanish striker was forced to limp out of Sunday's
goalless stalemate and is now waiting to discover how long
he will be on the sidelines for.
"We don't know how long Torres will be out for yet," said
manager Rafael Benitez. "We'll have to wait for the results
of the scan on Monday.
"It could be he is out for seven to ten days, but until he
has the scan we won't know."
(LFC Official Website)
Masch back to face Villa
Javier Mascherano makes his first start of the season as
Liverpool look to maintain their perfect start in the
Barclays Premier League at Villa
this afternoon.
The Argentina international comes into the line-up in place
of the injured Steven Gerrard as Rafael Benitez makes three
changes from the side that needed extra-time to see off
Standard Liege.
Brazilian Lucas Leiva also features in place of Yossi
Benayoun while Andrea Dossena is preferred to Fabio Aurelio
at left-back.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena,
Carragher, Skrtel, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres,
Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, Aurelio, Agger, Benayoun, Babel, Ngog, El
Zhar.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: Forget Barry, we have Riera
Rafa Benitez insists Liverpool did nothing wrong in the
Gareth Barry row – but believes the ‘improved’ Albert Riera
will give the club the chance
to forget the saga.
The clubs were unable to agree a fee for Barry and, as a
result, Liverpool turned their attention to Espanyol winger
Albert Riera, who is set to join the club before the
transfer deadline closes on Monday night.
And while Riera failed to convince during his spell at
Manchester City two years ago, Benitez believes the
26-year-old is now a better player.
“He is a player who knows the Premier League, so that’s
important," Benitez added.
“He has ability, quality, is good in the air and can cross
and shoot.
“He’s improved since being at City – he has more experience
and is more mature.
“We will now concentrate on Riera instead of Barry.”
(Setanta Sports)
Gerrard's injury frustration
Liverpool ace Steven Gerrard says he had no choice but to go
under
the knife to resolve his groin problem.
Gerrard underwent the groin operation earlier this week
after the club decided the time was right to get the injury
cleared up.
"It's a very tough time as a player when you're injured.
I've got some very big games coming up for club and country,
so it's a massive frustration
for me.
"But the fact is I couldn't reach the level I need at the
moment because my groin was too sore.
"It was clear I needed to get the problem sorted.
"The doctor told me I needed to see a specialist. And he
felt an operation was needed."
(Sky Sports)
Parry: Reds rows are behind us
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry says the infighting
that threatened to derail the club is over and that everyone
is all pulling together.
Parry has also found himself at loggerheads with Reds boss
Rafa Benitez over transfer targets, but Parry insists
everyone is working together to bring success to the club.
"Everyone is working together," said Parry.
"Everything was relatively calm during the close season
compared
to the publicity at other clubs and now we just want to
focus
on winning games."
(TEAMtalk) |
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SATURDAY 30 |
U18s lose at Coventry
It was a frustrating outing for Liverpool Under-18s as they
lost 2-0
at Coventry City on Saturday morning.
The home side took the lead after just five minutes when
Reds goalkeeper Chris Oldfield fumbled a cross. To make
matters worse Oldfield had to leave the pitch injured 10
minutes later and was replaced by
Hakan Duyan.
Nathan Eccleston was back to lead the attack but Hughie
McAuley's side badly missed the quality of the injured Adam
Pepper and Alex Kacaniklic who is away on international duty
with Sweden.
Liverpool Under-18s are back in action next Saturday when
they entertain Nottingham Forest at the Kirkby Academy
(kick-off 12 noon).
Liverpool Under-18s: Chris Oldfield (Hakan Duyan 15),
Michael Scott, Jack Metcalf, Conor Coady (U-16), Joe
Kennedy, Michael Roberts, David Amoo, Alex Cooper (James
Ellison 60), Marvin Pourie, Nathan Eccleston, Thomas Ince
(Lauri Dalla Valle 60). Unused sub: Andre Wisdom (U-16).
(LFC Official Website)
Villa boss: No Raf and tumble
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill insists he will have no
problem shaking hands with Liverpool counterpart Rafael
Benitez on Sunday.
The two clubs will meet at Villa Park in the Premier League
on Sunday with Barry set to line up for the home side after
Liverpool failed to match O'Neill's £18million valuation of
the 27-year-old midfielder.
Benitez and O'Neill clashed verbally on more than one
occasion during the early stages of the saga but the latter
is not claiming any sort of victory over Barry remaining
with the midlands club.
O'Neill said: "What is my relationship with Benitez? I don't
think in the scheme of things that is wildly important.
"He has got his own things to concern himself with. He has
got his own team and I've got my side here.
"I'm not every single day phoning up managers to ask how
they are nor do I expect them to call me. I don't get
general chats with managers. Will I shake hands with
Benitez? I am sure that will not be a problem."
(TEAMtalk)
Reds paired with Crewe in Cup
Liverpool will entertain Crewe Alexandra at Anfield in the
third round of this season's Carling Cup.
The game will take place on either September 23 or 24.
Full draw for Carling Cup 3rd round:
Arsenal v Sheff Utd
Brighton or Man City v Derby
Burnley v Fulham
Portsmouth v Chelsea
Blackburn v Everton
Rotherham v Southampton
Swansea v Cardiff
Ipswich v Wigan
Stoke v Reading
Leeds v Hartlepool
Watford v West Ham
Man Utd v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Crewe
Aston Villa v QPR
Sunderland v Northampton
Newcastle v Tottenham
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard back in time
for Liverpool v Man Utd
Rafael Benitez is confident Steven Gerrard will be available
for Liverpool’s crunch Premier League clash with Manchester
United next month.
After consultation with a specialist, the Liverpool skipper
went under the knife yesterday and will have a further
operation today to remedy the groin problem that has
troubled him for the past six weeks.
Benitez initially declared that Gerrard would be sidelined
for “10 to 15 days”, ruling him out of tomorrow’s trip to
Aston Villa and the forthcoming England World Cup qualifiers
away to Andorra and Croatia.
It also cast casting huge doubt over the midfielder’s
availability for the home game against champions United on
September 14.
But the Anfield manager, who is poised to add Espanyol’s
Albert Riera to his squad, believes the prompt decision for
Gerrard to have surgery means the captain could return
sooner than anticipated.
“Stevie couldn’t play at the same level as normal,” said
Benitez. “We needed to be quick and do the operation as soon
as possible. The operations are small and simple, they’re
not serious.
“It will be more or less 15 days out, but maybe as we’ve
done the operations quickly it could be less."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Lindfield’s loan lengthened
Craig Lindfield is currently on loan with Bournemouth and
was initially scheduled to return to Liverpool September 20
but the deal has been extended to the end of 2008.
The Cherries are languishing at the bottom of League Two and
are in dire need of goals.
(Kop-TV)
Rafa: “We have the toughest group”
Liverpool were drawn with PSV, Marseille and Atletico
Madrid, in what has been dubbed by several bookies as “The
Group of Death”, Rafa Benitez agrees, but he thinks that we
can hurdle the obstacles and progress to
the next stage.
“It will be really difficult,” Benitez told the Offish
website.
“A year ago people were thinking it was an easy group but we
ended up having to win our last three games to progress.
“Now we know PSV, we know Marseille and we also know
Atletico Madrid really well and that is the reason we are
well aware of how difficult
it will be.
“Atletico Madrid are the kind of team that are most similar
to Liverpool because of the fans.
“The fans are really good, always backing the team and
offering support. So it will be a tough game when we go to
play in the Vicente Calderon.
“For me it is the most difficult group.” added the Spaniard.
(Kop-TV) |
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FRIDAY 29 |
Fans vent fury over stadium plans
Liverpool fans' groups have launched a savage attack on the
club's US owners after yet another delay to the building of
their new stadium.
Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have announced that
the £400million arena will be delayed because of the global
cash crisis.
Now it has emerged the delay could be for up to a year,
while there is even more worrying suggestions that the Dubai
investors who want to buy the club may be losing interest in
the whole saga.
(TEAMtalk)
Nantes eyeing Voronin swoop
Reports are claiming FC Nantes could be ready to mount a
last minute swoop for Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin.
(Kop-TV)
Benitez plans O'neill handshake
Rafael Benitez has smoothed over any conflict with England
boss Fabio Capello - but he concedes Martin O'Neill may be
more difficult.
The Liverpool boss can expect a vitriolic reception from
Aston Villa fans in the wake of the Gareth Barry saga when
the Anfield men face O'Neill's side on Sunday in a Premier
League showdown.
And Benitez will come face to face with Villa boss O'Neill
for the first time following a summer of acrimony between
the pair over the abortive Barry transfer to Liverpool.
"Do I have a good relationship with Martin O'Neill?... I
don't think so. But of course I will shake his hand, I am a
calm man and I do not have any problems with him about
that."
He added: "I had a good relationship with Martin O'Neill
before this summer, and I was surprised at what has been
said but I insist that I have not spoken to him since April.
"But I do not believe there will be any problem shaking
hands, we can
do it."
(PA Sport)
Benitez: No fallout with Capello
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says there is no rift between
himself and England head coach Fabio Capello over Steven
Gerrard’s groin operation.
The Spaniard has re-affirmed that Gerrard will miss
England’s two forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, but the
England midfielder is likely to play for Liverpool in their
crunch encounter against Manchester United on September 13.
Capello is reportedly annoyed that he did not know that
Gerrard was to undergo an operation following the midweek
Champions League win over Standard Liege.
"Steven Gerrard has had the operation, it was not serious
but he will not be available until after the international
break,” Benitez said.
"I have spoken today [Friday] to Fabio Capello about the
situation, he asked me how Steven was and it was a good
conversation. Everything was positive between us and I have
explained to him the timing and when he will be fit.
"We had no option but to have the operation done now, there
will be another international break soon anyway, and we
could not wait any longer.
"The player had problems and we needed to do it straight
away, we had no choice. Fabio Capello understands this.”
(Setanta Sports)
Babel back in Oranje squad
Liverpool winger Ryan Babel is the only change in Bert van
Marwijk's Holland squad for next month's World Cup qualifier
against Macedonia.
The 21-year-old was not selected in Van Marwijk's first
squad for the friendly against Russia because he was with
the Olympic team at the Beijing Games.
Orlando Engelaar has been left out but may still join up
with the 20-man squad next week if he shakes off a knee
injury.
Squad: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord);
Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Giovanni van Bronckhorst
(Feyenoord), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), John Heitinga
(Atletico Madrid), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer
(Blackburn); Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Nigel de Jong
(Hamburg), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar), Orlando Engelaar
(Schalke), Ibrahim Afellay, Rafael van der Vaart (Real
Madrid); Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
(Ajax), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Jan Vennegoor of
Hesselink (Celtic), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Ryan Babel
(Liverpool).
(TEAMtalk)
Rafa: Riera deal close
Rafael Benitez has today revealed that Liverpool are on the
verge of signing Espanyol winger Albert Riera.
The Reds boss admitted the Spain international was close to
sealing a dream move to Anfield after his club issued a
statement on their website claiming he was on his way to
England for a medical.
"We are very,very close," Rafa told journalists at this
afternoon's press conference.
"The player is coming here. Everybody knows because Espanyol
have put on their website that he is coming for a medical.
We are very,very close but he has not signed yet.
"He has experience in the Premier League and that is really
important. If everything is okay we can talk about his
qualities, but for now we will just say he is the option we
are looking for."
(LFC Official Website)
Barry gunning to down Liverpool
Gareth Barry has finally broken his silence by insisting
Villa will go all out to prove they can reach the top four
this season – starting against the club he almost joined.
The summer-long speculation surrounding his move to
Liverpool was finally brought to a halt on Wednesday, when
his agent confirmed the midfielder would remain at Villa
Park – until January at least.
The midfielder believes it can be achieved by Martin
O’Neill’s side – but only if they take points off the likes
of the Reds, who visit Villa Park on Sunday.
“You always need to set your targets high and that means
taking points off the top four. Liverpool are the first ones
we are up against and if we can take something off them it
will be a good start."
(Express & Star)
Mascherano key
to Anfield ambitions
Despite their unbeaten start to the new season, Liverpool's
lacklustre early form has left many fans trying to work out
exactly why their team is not firing on all cylinders.
Early season rust is the most common explanation being put
forward, although a chronic lack of width is another popular
rationalization.
But if there is one thing that no-one connected with
Liverpool is not in any doubt about it is how badly Javier
Mascherano has been missed.
In his absence, the Reds have fallen a long way short of
expectations – in terms of aesthetics, if not points – as
they have struggled from one game to the next without
showing any signs of producing the kind of quality expected
of them.
In many ways, the way Liverpool have toiled is reminiscent
of the way in which they used to suffer when Ronnie Whelan,
a holding midfielder in the Mascherano mould, was missing
from the team in the 1980s.
Back then, no-one knew just how important the Irishman was
until he was unavailable. In Mascherano's case, it is
slightly different in that everyone at Anfield knows how
vital a cog he is in the Liverpool machine, but that doesn't
make his absence any easier to cope with.
(Liverpool Echo)
Special draw for El Nino
Fernando Torres has backed old and current club - Atletico
Madrid and Liverpool - to qualify for the Champions League’s
last 16.
The Reds have been drawn in Group D and will face Marseille,
PSV Eindhoven and Torres’ boyhood club Atletico.
“El Nino” understands his team will have to battle hard if
they want to experience a positive campaign this season,
particularly after Liverpool picked up just one point from
their first three group matches last year.
Both games against Atleti will be highly emotional for
Torres, who only left the club of his heart a summer ago.
“It’s a difficult group in which every game will be like a
final,” Torres told El Mundo. “Marseille were a tough rival
last year, as they won at Anfield and we had to qualify in
their stadium.
“PSV Eindhoven are competitive as well, while Atletico will
try and show the best image possible. No doubt my wish is
seeing Liverpool and Atletico make the last 16, in this
order.
“I’m delighted to play against them and for sure it’s going
to be special. I’m hopeful the fans will welcome me well
because Atletico gave me so much, but I did the same.
“I understand they will see me as an adversary as soon as
the game will start, but nobody can forget the years I spent
there.
“To me walking onto El Vicente Calderon’s pitch is going to
be wonderful and I will meet old partners and friends.”
(Setanta Sports)
Olympics duo return for Villa trip
Javier Mascherano and Lucas are back in Liverpool's squad
for Sunday's trip to Aston Villa following their return from
the Olympics.
Liverpool will be without skipper Steven Gerrard, who is
recovering from a groin operation, and Mascherano seems a
likely replacement at Villa Park.
Liverpool still have a doubt over defender Sami Hyypia, who
is recovering from a hamstring problem.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel,
Aurelio, Dossena, Benayoun, Babel, Mascherano, Lucas,
Plessis, Alonso, Kuyt, Torres, Keane, El Zhar, Cavalieri,
Ngog, Agger, Spearing.
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool FC announce
new stadium delays
Liverpool FC have announced plans for a new stadium have
been
delayed again.
The club made a statement on their website this morning.
The new ground in Stanley Park is expected to coast around
£400m.
Today's news comes as little surprise to some as their has
been talk the club is struggling to raise cash.
The credit crunch is being blamed for the delay even though
work has started.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
ECHO comment:
Liverpool fans deserve truth
Today’s news that plans for the new Liverpool FC stadium are
to go on hold is just the latest in a series of hammer blows
for Reds fans.
Unsurprisingly, it is claimed it is just a ‘short-term’
delay.
But many supporters, and even experienced analysts, will
suspect it is, in truth, a clear indication that
controversial American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett
simply don’t have the financial clout to build it at all.
They have already piled their own personal debts – including
a crushing £30m annual interest bill – onto the club and, in
turn, its supporters.
Today’s news is bound to lead to renewed calls for them to
go.
If today’s news really does mean the owners can’t give
Kopites the stadium they deserve and dream of, then why not
just admit it?
Then the club – and all concerned with it – can move on.
(Liverpool Echo) |
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THURSDAY 28 |
Reds look forward to Spanish ties
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry looked forward to the
ties with Atletico Madrid following the Champions League
group stage draw
in Monaco.
The games with the Spanish club will be special for Fernando
Torres and Liverpool's other Spanish players, as well as
manager Rafael Benitez.
Torres joined the Anfield club from Atletico and Parry
expects
a special atmosphere.
"With our Spanish contingent that will be a couple of very
big games,"
said Parry.
"They are all fairly close by so there are no challenging
trips,"
Parry told Sky Sports News.
Liverpool were also drawn with PSV Eindhoven and Marseille
in Group D.
(TEAMtalk)
Reds to start at Marseille
Liverpool will kick-off their Champions League Group D
campaign at
the scene of one of their most impressive European
performances of recent years.
The Reds will travel to the south of France to take on
Marseille at
the Stade Velodrome on September 16 - the scene of their 4-0
victory last December when they sealed their place in the
last sixteen of the competition.
That fixture is followed by a home game with PSV Eindhoven
before
a double header with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid.
An Anfield clash with Marseille follows with the group
campaign ending with a trip to Holland to face PSV.
Liverpool's Group D fixtures are as follows:
September 16 v Marseille (a)
October 1 v PSV Eindhoven (h)
October 22 v Atletico Madrid (a)
November 4 v Atletico Madrid (h)
November 26 v Marseille (h)
December 9 v PSV Eindhoven (a)
(LFC Official Website)
Surgeon issues Gerrard warning
Steven Gerrard could miss Liverpool’s crucial Premier League
matches against Manchester United and Everton, according to
a top surgeon.
The Reds captain will undergo a groin operation on Thursday
that will keep him out of England’s upcoming World Cup
qualifiers against Andorra
and Croatia.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says Gerrard will be out for
between
10-15 days.
But Nicola Maffulli of the British Orthopaedic Association
has told Setanta Sports News that Gerrard could be out for
up to six weeks - ruling him out of the United’s vist to
Anfield on September 13 and the Merseyside derby two weeks
later.
Maffulli told Setanta Sports News: “It all depends on what
the diagnosis is.
“If he needs a tendon or a groin operation then 10-15 days
off is a little optimistic and one would look for three to
six weeks off.
"On the other hand, he is a very fit young man and he will
recover quickly.
“His surgeon will have had many investigations and will have
ascertained what needs to be done and it will be done there
and then.
“The least possible time is 15 days, but a more realistic
time is at least three to six weeks.”
(Setanta Sports)
The mystery of
the Torres substitution
Hands up, how many of us have ever taken one look at Cheryl
Cole and then asked the question: “How the hell did Ashley
do it?”
How did Ashley Cole manage to get a girl like that? It’s one
of those things that will always remain a mystery.
Now here’s another one. One that has gone on for at least
nine years and most probably beyond that.
Why do managers, when defending a lead with only minutes to
go, take off their best players?
It happened in Wednesday’s Champions League clash between
Liverpool and Standard Liege. Dirk Kuyt grabbed the late
goal, and immediately Fernando Torres was pulled off for
Damien Plessis.
(Ben Blackmore - Setanta Sports)
Benitez hails his
'lucky charm' Kuyt
Rafael Benitez hailed his European lucky charm Dirk Kuyt as
Liverpool scrambled their way into the Champions League
group stages.
They eventually beat an excellent Standard Liege side 1-0 on
the night, and on aggregate, with Kuyt scoring the winner
two minutes from the end of extra-time.
Of Kuyt’s match-winning contribution, Benitez added: "I was
delighted with Dirk Kuyt, his goal was a reward for all the
effort he puts in for us. He is amazing.
"His work is tremendous, he keeps going right to the end and
makes
a tremendous contribution to our side."
(Liverpool Echo)
Gerrard: Liverpool's spirit saved
Champions League blushes
Steven Gerrard today admitted Liverpool’s last gasp extra
time win over Standard Liege was too close for comfort – as
the Reds skipper prepares to go under the knife to cure a
troublesome groin injury.
He said: “I think you have to give them credit. They’ve come
to Anfield and were very organised and they’ve stopped us
playing.
“They are a big, physical side and they were difficult to
break down.
“But as the game went on we started to move the ball quicker
and there was a lot more tempo to our play.
“It was a bit too close for comfort but we’re just pleased
that we’re through.
“I think there was a slight improvement on our previous
games. Like I’ve said, the tempo was a bit better and we’ll
certainly take that positive.
“I think we showed good character. We know there will be
times during
the season when things aren’t going to be rosy and we’re not
going to play great all the time.
“When this does happen it’s all about sticking in there,
working hard for each other and getting the result, and
thankfully we’ve managed to do that tonight."
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa’s men labour
to Euro elite entry
So the march towards the Eternal City can now begin in
earnest.
But it was an unimpressive Liverpool that stumbled into the
group stages of the Champions League on a night of high
tension at Anfield.
The cheers at the final whistle were joined by an almost
audible sigh of relief as Rafael Benitez’s side scraped past
Standard Liege in their third qualifying round tie.
Concerns over early-season form were fully justified as
Liverpool laboured to overcome the Belgians.
Less than four months after coming within an own goal of an
eighth European Cup final, there was a genuine danger
Benitez’s men would be forced to contemplate rubbing
shoulders with Europe’s lesser lights in
the Uefa Cup.
Instead, Liverpool go into the hat for today’s draw in the
knowledge they are unlikely to be given a bigger fright in
the competition all season.
(Ian Doyle - Daily Post)
Lessons must be learned
from Liverpool's narrow victory
Even just a handful of games into the season, a few lessons
have already been learned. Mainly, that playing badly is
okay if you get the result.
And apparently, if you’re getting really carried away with
Liverpool’s 100% start to the Premier League campaign, it’s
the mark of champions.
But it’s not the mark of European champions. In fact, at the
moment it’s the mark of nothing more than a confused bunch
of under-achievers desperately wondering where their next
coherent passing move is coming from and tiding themselves
over with face-saving interventions at opportune times.
And when all else failed, that was what they fell back on
once again last night, only this time with the added
indignity of needing the best part of two hours to do it.
The hope was that Liverpool would up their game
considerably, not just from that dreadful first leg in
Belgium, but the subsequent underwhelming league games.
But the only standard they raised last night was the one
from Liege – giving them a belief that they could inflict
one of the home side’s biggest European upsets.
For most of this second leg, the home threat was minimal and
that is worrying.
(Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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