Saturday, September 30, 2006

Loss to Bolton 2-0

Bolton outmuscled Liverpool to inflict a third consecutive away league defeat on Rafael Benitez's side.

Sam Allardyce's team went ahead with a disputed goal after Jose Reina was wrongfully penalised for handball.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Crouch on Rotation Policy

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch insists he will not hammer down Rafa's door if the Spaniard swings the axe at his expense again.

Having been on the bench for the previous four games, Crouch came in from the cold to score a sensational brace in Liverpool's 3-2 Champions League win against Galatasaray. The crucial double cemented Crouch's cult status (?? did it?) at Anfield and gave Benitez another headache about which two forwards represent his best strike pairing.

Benitez on the CL Match

Rafa was full of praise for Peter Crouch after he scored an amazing goal in the 3-2 win over Galatasary and felt Liverpool just about deserved their victory. The Liverpool manager felt Crouch's overhead kick was a fitting way to seal the victory and added his team have now given themselves a very good chance of qualifying for the next phase of the Champions League.

'Crouch scored an amazing goal and he showed very good movement and how good a player he is,' reflected Benitez.

'It was the important goal for us but I have to say it was a strange game. We started off really well with a high tempo and got good crosses into the box and scored good goals. Then after 20 minutes we felt the job was done and that's when the problems began.

'I put Momo Sissoko on in the second half because we needed him to get us more control in the centre of midfield. At the end I was worried because we didn't have the control of the game that we wanted but the important thing was to win. It wasn't how we expected but we got the points.

'We are now in a very good position in the group and we have to keep on going and win our home games.'

European Funding Secured.

Plans for Liverpool's new stadium moved a step closer on Thursday after £9million of European funding was confirmed. The Objective One money will be used to regenerate community facilities in the Anfield area and is an integral part of the scheme.

The decision to award the Reds the money was made at a meeting at the Cunard building in Liverpool after the club guaranteed £160 million funding for the entire project was in place. How? Well that we don't know... yet.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Liverpool sweat through 2nd Half to Win

Liverpool survived a second-half fightback to beat visitors Galatasaray 3-2 in Champions League Group C, with Peter Crouch bagging a brace.

Anfield joy had turned to nervousness in the second half as Umit Karan first headed in a cross to reduce the deficit, then scored another on a right-wing cross from the dangerous Sabri Sarioglu six minutes later.

Coming into this game Galatasaray had won only two of their last 19 Champions League away matches, but there was little sign of that indifferent away form as they mounted a remarkable comeback having gone three goals behind.

With the win, Liverpool are now on top of the Group C table.

Today's Liverpool Pre-Match Teamsheet

Rafael Benitez has made five changes from the side which beat Tottenham at the weekend as Crouch, Jamie Carragher, Fabio Aurelio, Luis Garcia and Jermaine Pennant all return to the team.

[ Team Sheet ]

Benitez expecting goal today.

Rafa is confident Liverpool possess the attacking threat to end their Champions League goalscoring drought this evening. The Reds entertain Turkish champions Galatasaray in Group C having failed to score in their last five games in the competition proper.

The goalless draw in PSV Eindhoven a fortnight ago meant Djibril Cisse remains the last Liverpool player to score in the Champions League with his strike in the 3-0 win over Anderlecht last November. Liverpool didn't score in three successive games earlier this month but netted five in the past week in home victories over Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Benitez believes his new-look strikeforce can ensure the 451-minute wait for a goal in the Champions League isn't extended much further.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Benitez on Frequent Teamsheet Changes

Benitez doesn't understand why he has critics of his policy of team rotation.

"If you change players and the team wins then the fans say 'fantastic'. In Valencia we won two league titles and the UEFA Cup - and now here we have won the Champions League, the FA Cup, Super Cup and Community Shield. That is not bad with this policy of rotation."

Benitez added: "The most important thing for me is to use different players with similar ideas. If you do that then for me the team isn't changing.

"We have signed players to compete in the Premier League and we have players who play better in Europe and are more suited to that, so we have good enough players for both competitions. "

Liverpool v Galatasaray :
Line-Up Prediction

Jamie Carragher is likely to start after coming on as a substitute in the win over Tottenham on Saturday.

Daniel Agger or Sami Hyypia will have to make way at the back while Rafael Benitez also faces a decision about whether to recall Peter Crouch. Crouch could come in for Craig Bellamy or Dirk Kuyt as the trio battle it out for an attacking berth.

Boardoom Drama as Stadium Funding Deadline Nears

Steve Morgan is once again emerging as a major player in the club's financial future as Liverpool struggle to find the £180million it will cost to start work on the new stadium.

The Club is being asked by local councillors and officials who hold the purse strings to £20million of European and government grants, to prove they have the cash by the end of the week.

Whether they can do that depends on the outcome of more informal talks between Morgan - the club's third largest shareholder - and the board.

But sources close to Morgan insist that the building tycoon, who has moved back to the area from Jersey and now lives in a purpose-built mansion in Cheshire, has not made as yet his fifth bid to buy his way onto the board.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Kuyt Likes Us, He Really Does!

New Anfield sensation Dirk Kuyt says he can't get enough of playing in front of the Liverpool fans.

The £10million summer signing from Feyenoord netted both in the midweek win over Newcastle and Saturday's 3-0 defeat of Spurs. After both games the Dutch international hitman was last off the pitch after applauding the Anfield crowd, and later he explained why.

'I always go to the fans at the end of the game. At least I do when I score! I see it as respect for the supporters, as a way of thanking them for the incredible backing they give us.'

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham

Liverpool struck three times after the break to seal an impressive victory at Anfield today.

With Liverpool dominating position for most of the first half, after the break Spurs were left to regret an astonishing miss from Jermaine Jenas seconds before Mark Gonzalez gave Liverpool a 63rd-minute lead.

Jenas somehow missed from a matter of inches from Edgar Davids' cross, and Spurs were punished when Gonzalez scored after Craig Bellamy hit a post. Dirk Kuyt slammed home the second after 73 minutes and John Arne Riise hit a spectacular third in the dying seconds.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Martin Jol:
Kuyt only 20-20 Player

Martin Jol insists he will make no special arrangements to cope with the striker he considers to be among the best in the business when Tottenham face Liverpool at Anfield.

Jol knows all about the talents of compatriot Dirk Kuyt and the Spurs coach admits he tried to buy him last season.

The 26-year-old striker's reputation was hardly enhanced during the World Cup finals in Germany but that did not stop the former Feyenoord striker moving to Merseyside in a £10 million deal during last month.

Kuyt netted his first goal for his new club in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Newcastle and Jol is positively gushing in his praise for the player he has to stop on Saturday.

Jol said: "I said last year, when nobody knew him, that he was a '20-20' player - 20 goals and 20 assists a season. In Europe there is maybe no-one else who is a '20-20' player.

"We came very close to signing him and everybody knows him now. He is the best character you can have. He works, he can head the ball, he can score goals - not like David Ginola or even Robbie Keane - but he is so functional in his way.

"He never loses a ball and is a 100% team player. He is different. He has got strength as well. He is not only a gifted forward - he's an all-rounder.

"He moves well and his fitness levels are unbelievable. He makes things look simple but that is his strength."

See it here: Alonso's Goal

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Another Great Alonso Goal
Reds 2 - 0 Newcastle

Kuyt ended Liverpool's five-hour goal drought when he slid in to convert Steve Finnan's cross after Alonso's exquisite pass had created the chance.

And after the break, Alonso produced another moment of brilliance when he shot from inside his own half to leave the slipping Steve Harper groping air.

Luis Garcia had earlier hit the post as Liverpool dominated poor opposition.

However, had Newcastle carried any threat at all, Liverpool may have been punished for their profligate finishing.

LFC Tribute Video

Where to play Gerrard?

Rafael Benitez has warned Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard he cannot expect to get his own way by claiming a central midfield berth for the Reds.

Although Gerrard has made it clear he would prefer to be in the heart of the Liverpool midfield, so far this season Benitez has played him on the right, and then on the left, where he appeared against Chelsea on Sunday.

With Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Sissoko forging an impressive partnership in the Liverpool engine room and Jermaine Pennant supplying pace down the right, Gerrard may be stuck out wide again when Newcastle visit Anfield in the Barclays Premiership on Wednesday night.

But Benitez has pointed to the examples of Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho as evidence Gerrard is not the only talented player to be asked to sacrifice himself for the good of the team.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Rafa Unconcerned

Rafa says he is not interested in the Premiership table at this stage of the season.

The Spaniard does not care that the Reds are currently languishing in 15th place ahead of tomorrow's Premiership clash with Newcastle after defeat at Chelsea on Sunday.

Instead the Reds boss is concentrating on the improved performance of Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in a game they really should have won.

"It's a long race. All we can do is think of Newcastle and the next three points. We will see how close we are later on.

"This is not the time to be thinking about the league table. As a manager, I need to see if the team is improving and it's clear to me it is.

"The key for us is to start scoring goals. After three games away from home, in which we created a lot of chances, I'm sure we're going to start scoring soon.

"The disappointing thing is that we are losing but I have confidence in the team if we keep playing like this. It's clear we need more points but there's a long way to go. It is the beginning of the season."

Monday, September 18, 2006

Liverpool Echo:
Commentary on the Season so far

Confirmation of Liverpool's participation in this year's title race has been delayed. Hopefully, not indefinitely.

No-one left Stamford Bridge presuming they'd just seen the performances of potential champions.

That this conclusion could be applied as much to Chelsea as Rafa Benitez's deeply frustrated side, confirms how well Liverpool played despite losing in London.

But devoid of the clinical edge which has now cost six precious points against their bitterest rivals, encouraging displays offer scant consolation. [More]

Ballack apologies

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has said 'sorry' for the stamp on Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko which earned the German skipper a red card on Sunday. Ballack was sent off for the first time in his career after the incident in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Reds.

"It was a bad situation for me. I went in late for the ball but there was no way I tried to hurt him," he said.

"It is is the first red card of my career and when I saw the incident on television I knew I had to say sorry."

Sunday, September 17, 2006

1-0 Defeat to Chelski

A stunning strike from Didier Drogba condemned Liverpool to an unfortunate 1-0 defeat against 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Drogba netted with an impressive turn and shot from the edge of the box three minutes before half-time but the hosts were seething when Michael Ballack was dismissed for a stamp of Momo Sissoko early in the second half.

The decisive goal came against the run of play in what was another keenly fought contest between these two fierce rivals.

Liverpool started brightly and hit the bar through Dirk Kuyt in the 16th minute, while Craig Bellamy will be disappointed not to have done better with a good scoring opportunity just moments later.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Agger in for Hyppia?

Sami Hyypia must be the best £3million Liverpool have spent, judging from his contribution to the club's success in his seven years at Anfield.

To suggest his time at the club is up with Danish youngster Daniel Agger snapping at his heels is premature.

However the Finnish defender is facing his toughest challenge yet.

Outpaced in the Mersey derby last weekend, he found himself suffering the rare ignominy of a place on the bench in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven in midweek, while 21-year-old Agger eagerly grabbed his chance.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Benitez on League Competition

Benitez predicts the final points tally this year could be much lower than the 91 Chelsea accumulated in winning their second consecutive title.

'I'm surprised so many people are saying if we lose, the title will be impossible,' said Benitez. 'Last year we won one of the first six league games but finished the season with 82 points and came third. This time,Iwouldn't besurprised if a team with 75 points finished first.

'I think the Premiership is much stronger this year and a lot of clubs have improved. More teams will beat each other.'

Concern over Diao's lack of playing time

Rafa has expressed his concern that Salif Diao will be difficult to sell when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Diao is facing more than three months out of action following his failure to secure a move to a new club in the summer - something which could drastically reduce his market value.

The Senegal midfielder is not in Benitez's first team plans, and the Liverpool manager would rather see a reserve team centred on young players trying to make the grade.

Rafa is Ready

Rafa Benitez is in an upbeat mood ahead of Liverpool's trip to Chelski this Sunday, claiming his side is "ready" and "we are planning to go there and win."

This match will go a long way to determine if the summer spending spree has begun to bridge the gap with the league champions.

The Reds may well have won their last two games against Jose Mourinho's men, in the Community Shield and last season's FA Cup semi-final, but the Blues boss would dismiss those defeats as merely cup action.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Molby pulls for Agger

Jan Molby believes fellow Dane Daniel Agger is ready to cement his place in Liverpool's back four, breaking up the traditional pairing of Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.

Molby says the 21-year-old's performances this season prove why he's got the potential to become one of Europe's hottest defensive talents. And Anfield's first Great Dane believes manager Rafa Benitez will keep faith in the youngster for this weekend's trip to Stamford Bridge.

'He is definitely threatening to break up the partnership of Carra and Sami now,' said Molby.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Rafa lays down the law:
Players must be 100%

Rafael Benitez made it clear after Liverpool's 0-0 draw away to PSV Eindhoven in their opening Champions League Group C match that not even Steven Gerrard can be certain of a place in the side.

The Liverpool boss is imposing a rigid equality over his expensively assembled squad, and what happened to Craig Bellamy at the weekend - left at home watching the Merseyside derby on television - could just as easily happen to Gerrard.

The Anfield skipper was one of six players axed from the side that lost the Mersey derby to Everton on Saturday, and Benitez explained: 'Steven was on the bench as were several other senior players, Xabi Alonso, Peter Crouch, Sami Hyypia, but people only mention Gerrard.

'We must accept that nobody can play at 100% for every match, it was a very difficult game against Everton and you can see that the players who were involved for all that game were on the bench.

'If you are not 100% fit and ready then you will be rested like that. It will happen to different players.' "

England |
England fourth in Fifa rankings

England have equalled their all-time high of fourth place in the Fifa rankings, underlining Steve McClaren's successful start as England boss.

Post-World Cup victories over Greece, Andorra and Macedonia have led to England leapfrogging world champions Italy, who have slipped to fifth.

McClaren said: 'There is still a long way to go. You have done nothing until you win something.'

England were last ranked fourth under Glenn Hoddle in December 1997.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

PSV Eindhoven 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool and PSV ended even in their Champions League Group C opener.

Liverpool had plenty of the ball early on but PSV had the better chances with Arouna Kone hitting the bar and Ibrahim Afellay testing keeper Jose Reina.

Kone missed a good chance in the second half with only Reina to beat, while Edison Mendez twice went close.

But in the closing stages Liverpool twice hit the woodwork through Dirk Kuyt's shot and Gerrard's half-volley.

Gerrard eventually came on to replace Craig Bellamy and he came desperately close to snatching the win for Liverpool with a wonderfully inventive effort.

The Liverpool midfielder turned quickly to hit a shot that beat PSV goalkeeper Gomes only for his effort to cannon off the bar.

Let slip the Dogs of War?

Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy will be given the opportunity to unleash their derby frustration on PSV Eindhoven tonight.

Neither player started at Goodison on Saturday, and Rafa Benitez was forced to shrug off ridiculous rumours of a bust-up with Bellamy following the Welshman's absence from the squad.

Now the pair, who many presume will be established as the preferred choice as the season progresses, will start together for the first time.

Kuyt is hoping to reap the rewards from appearing on familiar territory.

He's scored three in his last two appearances against PSV, and also scored at the Philips Stadion for Holland last week.

'Dirk is ready to play, and maybe he and Craig will start,' Benitez said. 'But we will decide the team later today.'

Rafa is hoping Ronald Koeman fails to do the double over him as Liverpool prepare for tonight's match.

Big Wheel keep on Turnin'

Rafa is blaming the international break for Liverpool's derby-day shocker.

The Reds to play PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night in their opening Champions League group match knowing they must find their best form, and quickly, or their carefully laid plans for this campaign will go up in smoke.

Benitez aims to bank on most of his fallen heroes, but will almost certainly bring back Craig Bellamy into his starting line-up.

Bellamy was not even on the bench at Goodison Park and watched the derby at home on television.

It was Bellamy's first experience of what skipper Steven Gerrard highlighted in his recent autobiography: Benitez's treatment of players like cogs in a wheel.

But it is something the Welshman accepts as part of being at a big club. "

Monday, September 11, 2006

England |
Eriksson 'fed up' with criticism

Ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has had enough of being labelled a failure, according to Uefa president and fellow Swede Lennart Johansson.

Johansson says Eriksson pulled out of being a guest speaker at the Fifa international football symposium in Berlin because of severe criticism.

'He has had enough,' said Johansson. 'He thinks that people have been saying how incompetent he is.

'Just because England have now won a match, people say how bad he was.'

Uh, it's not that Lennart - I was frustrating with him as he was experimenting with the player sheet long into the tournament... and he never sorted out a coherent striker mix.

Koeman relishing Liverpool test

PSV Eindhoven manager Ronald Koeman is hopeful of continuing his superb record against Liverpool when they meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Koeman was in charge of Benfica last season as they beat Liverpool 1-0 in Lisbon and 2-0 at Anfield.

'Liverpool are a strong side and they must be favourites to win the group,' said Koeman.

'But when I was at Benfica we beat them so they will probably respect myself and PSV Eindhoven.'

Reds "too nice"?
That doesn't do me any good...

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says his players are being "too nice" after a 3-0 derby drubbing at Goodison Park.

The Reds defence was certainly generous against Everton at the weekend, with Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina culpable for goals.

Sami Hyypia looked slow against the pace of Andrew Johnson while Fabio Aurelio made Liverpool vulnerable on the left.

"We will have to improve in defence," Benitez said. "We made a lot of mistakes, too many mistakes and in football, you pay for them.

"Our defending was really poor. It was not just one player to blame in the defence.

"Last season we had a lot of clean sheets so we need to analyse why we are conceding goals so easily.

"I thought we were too nice at times and put ourselves under pressure. Someone said to me we had 21 shots at goal but that counts for nothing if you don't take your chances.

"In the second half, we went forward and created chances but couldn't score, so in the end, we paid for that."

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Riise out for PSV

John Arne Riise has been ruled out of Liverpool's next two matches against PSV Eindhoven and Chelsea after suffering a reoccurrence of his ankle injury.

The Norwegian international was carried off the field during the 3-0 Merseyside derby defeat by Everton, and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez confirmed it was the same injury that he got on the opening day of the season at Sheffield United.

I'm pretending it didn't happen.

Rafael Benitez felt basic mistakes was the reason why Liverpool lost the derby 3-0 and described his team's defending as "very poor."

The Reds manager also felt his team could have got back into the game as Liverpool did create some decent openings but was disappointed with the chances that weren't taken on the day.

"We made a lot of mistakes, too many mistakes and our defending was really poor," explained Benitez.

Friday, September 08, 2006

More Derby Match Starter Speculation

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 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.

But it would be a surprise if Bellamy did not start the derby. He played well in both Wales games over the international break, while Kuyt scored for Holland in their win on Wednesday over Belarus and has staked his claim for a derby place.

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.

Liverpool have until the end of September to convince the council it can come up with money to fund the project.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Fowler to start in Derby?

The Euro 2008 qualifiers have wreaked havoc with Rafa Benitez's plans, as just two of the players who started the victory over West Ham have remained at Melwood for the last fortnight.

In recent years, Benitez has tended to play as few of the players who've been involved in internationals as possible the following weekend.

And while the peculiarities of a derby will influence such a decision, the fact Robbie Fowler is the only one of the four strikers who's been able to work with the coaches in the last two weeks will help his cause.

Naturally, the 31-year-old will be desperate to feature in his first derby since making an emotional return to Anfield last January.

England |
Crouch hero once more

Steve McClaren insists the world of football will be sitting up to take notice of Peter Crouch's England goal exploits.

Crouch's match-winner in Macedonia means he has smashed in 11 goals in 14 appearances for his country.

It is a ratio to stand comparison with top international hitmen - including Wayne Rooney.

England boss McClaren said: 'Those stats will not have gone unnoticed around the world.

'They knew it before and they know it even more now.

'He's become a big, big player for us since his emergence and since he's come into the team.

'He's a good impact player and he's proving that he can start a game and contribute as well.'

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

On the downside of having World-Class talent...

Liverpool will be anxiously watching tonight's international programme in the hope that their preparations for the Merseyside derby won't be further disrupted by injury.

There have been as few as six senior players in training at Melwood during the break for Euro 2008 qualifiers, which will keep the majority of Rafael Benitez's first team away from the club until tomorrow afternoon.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Liverpool most popular team among rival fans

Liverpool were today unveiled as England's most popular team amongst rival fans in a poll conducted by weekly magazine Nuts.

The magazine commissioned the poll to try and find out who the country's football fans considered their second favourite club behind their own team. The results made interesting reading with 15% of all those asked revealing Liverpool would be their 'second' team or the club they'd most like to achieve success after their own side.

Stadium Announcement set for Friday

Liverpool expect a major step forward on Friday in their dreams to build a new stadium near to Anfield in Stanley Park.

The city council's executive board will recommend leasing a section of the park for the stadium, and if the decision is rubber-stamped, the club could start building work early next year with the first game possible at the beginning of the 2009-10 season.

The club will have to come up with their own part of the deal, a privately-funded bid to build the stadium, and they have until the end of the month to satisfy the council that is possible.

Monday, September 04, 2006

New View on Player Stats

The club website has launched brand new console allowing you to search for not only Liverpool's Premiership statistics but also the facts and figures of every player in our first team squad.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Deal De-Brief

Rafael Benitez today admitted he wasn't prepared to lose Stephen Warnock in his bid to bring Lucas Neill to Anfield.

The Reds' boss was hoping to agree a deal with Blackburn Rovers to bring Neill to Liverpool before the transfer window closed last night.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes was keen to sign Warnock as part of the deal but Benitez wasn't happy to sacrifice his defender, even though he knew he was short for cover at right back with Jan Kromkamp having left for PSV Eindhoven earlier in the day.

'It was disappointing. We tried but in the end the situation was impossible,' explained Benitez.

'Blackburn wanted to sign Warnock, but we made it clear we wanted to keep the player.'