Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Liverpool 3-0 Bordeaux

Luis Garcia scored twice and Steven Gerrard netted his first goal of the season as Liverpool qualified for the Champions League knockout stages.

Bordeaux's Fernando Menegazzo was sent off for a savage headbutt on John Arne Riise.

The win guarantees that Liverpool will advance to the next round of the competition.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 8:46 PM 0 comments

Current Injury List

Liverpool have injury worries over five players, including skipper Steven Gerrard. He has a minor ankle injury, as has Mohamed Sissoko - both from Saturday's victory over Aston Villa.

Mark Gonzalez missed that game with a similar injury, while Craig Bellamy (calf) and Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) are also doubts. Harry Kewell is remains lame and in Australia.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 8:16 AM 0 comments

Ferguson jealous of Reds

The spectre of Liverpool's five European Cup triumphs will forever haunt Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, according to Old Trafford director Bobby Charlton.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 8:12 AM 0 comments

Monday, October 30, 2006

"Unstoppable" Gerrard

Rafa Benitez believes Steven Gerrard is approaching his 'unstoppable' best as he leads a much happier club into what could be a triumphant Champions League night at Anfield.

One more victory in Group C against Bordeaux would be a best-ever performance in the group stages by Liverpool, who qualified with one game to spare last season, and a memorable last-game assault on Olympiakos - thanks to a stunning Gerrard goal - the season before.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 5:29 PM 0 comments

Benitez: Bordeaux Stink
(OK, he didn't say that)

Rafa is refusing to accept Liverpool's passage into the Champions League knockout phase is a foregone conclusion and has warned his players against the threat Bordeaux will pose at Anfield on Tuesday.

The Reds will secure a top two finish in Group C if they defeat the French side and, having already beaten them 1-0 in France a fortnight ago, they are strong favourites achieve their goal with two games to spare.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 5:27 PM 0 comments

Friday, October 27, 2006

Kewell sidelined until early 2007

Midfielder Harry Kewell does not expect to play again for at least another four months after undergoing foot and groin surgery.

Kewell, 28, has not played since June during World Cup duty with Australia, where he his now recovering.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 1:36 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Gerrard out of Euro Match

Steven Gerrard has become the latest worrying addition to Liverpool's escalating injury list. The Reds' skipper is out of today's Champions League game in Bordeaux with a hamstring strain picked up during Saturday's draw with Blackburn.

And he joins Daniel Agger, Robbie Fowler and almost certainly Dirk Kuyt as non-starters in France, although Momo Sissoko has been given an 80% chance of shaking off an ankle injury.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 1:03 AM 0 comments

Monday, October 16, 2006

Bellamy Praised in Loss

Rafa praised Craig Bellamy after the striker grabbed his first goal in the Premiership for Liverpool against his former club Blackburn at the weekend.

The Reds were frustrated by Rovers until Bellamy earned Benitez's men a share of the spoils.

After another disjointed display Benitez paid tribute to the opposition and his striker.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 8:55 AM 0 comments

Friday, October 13, 2006

International |
Uefa fears for international game

International football will be destroyed if Belgian club Charleroi win a landmark court case, says European football's governing body Uefa.

Charleroi are suing world body Fifa after player Abdelmajid Oulmers was injured playing for Morocco in 2004.

Few countries could fund national teams if Charleroi won, Uefa told BBC Sport.

A spokesman said: 'It would be the end of the national team game. A World Cup would take place with only Spain, Germany, Italy, France and England.'

posted by LFC in Toronto at 10:47 AM 0 comments

International |
Uefa fears for international game

International football will be destroyed if Belgian club Charleroi win a landmark court case, says European football's governing body Uefa.

Charleroi are suing world body Fifa after player Abdelmajid Oulmers was injured playing for Morocco in 2004.

Few countries could fund national teams if Charleroi won, Uefa told BBC Sport.

A spokesman said: 'It would be the end of the national team game. A World Cup would take place with only Spain, Germany, Italy, France and England.'

posted by LFC in Toronto at 10:47 AM 0 comments

In Memoriam: Gerry Lewis Article from the Star

Here's the article about fellow Red Gerry Lewis.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 8:37 AM 0 comments

Benitez glad to be back

Rafa will put a fortnight of frustration behind him when Liverpool return to Barclays Premiership action against Blackburn tomorrow. The Reds boss is determined to see an improvement following the dismal performance and defeat at Bolton last time out.

The Liverpool manager has been able to work with only a handful of players at the Melwood training ground while the majority of their colleagues have been on international duty.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 8:20 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Dudek Red Carded

Jerzy Dudek's red card in Tuesday night's Merseyside reserve derby means that 20-year-old David Martin is the only back-up for Jose Reina.

The Polish goalkeeper reacted violently to an altercation with Toffees' striker Victor Anichebe and will now serve a three-match ban that will keep him off the first-team bench.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 9:51 AM 0 comments

England |
Carragher and Parker set to start

Jamie Carragher and Scott Parker are expected to start for England in an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation in the Euro 2008 qualifier in Croatia.

Defender Carragher replaces the injured Ledley King, while Parker comes in for suspended midfielder Steven Gerrard.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 9:50 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Internationals |
Croatia warned on fans' behaviour

Uefa has warned Croatia they could be kicked out of Euro 2008 if fans direct any racism towards England's players.

Fifa charged the Croatian Football Federation with bringing the game into disrepute after fans formed a human swastika during a friendly in Italy.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 1:43 PM 0 comments

Kuyt to miss Two Games

Dirk Kuyt will miss Liverpool's next two games with an ankle injury sustained playing for Holland at the weekend.

Although a scan has revealed the injury is not as serious as first thought, strained ankle ligaments will keep him out of the home game with Blackburn on Saturday and next Wednesday's Champions League trip to Bordeaux.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 8:57 AM 0 comments

Monday, October 09, 2006

Diao to Stoke?

Salif Diao has spoken of his desire to kick-start his career with a loan to Championship outfit Stoke City.

The Senegal midfielder, brought to the club by Gerard Houllier after the 2002 World Cup, has not played a first team game for Liverpool this campaign.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 3:15 PM 0 comments

Kuyt Injured playing for Holland

Rafa has demanded a radical overhaul of the relationship between clubs and national teams after striker Dirk Kuyt suffered an ankle injury on duty with Holland.

Benitez has slammed Dutch team bosses for not allowing Kuyt to return immediately to Anfield after he suffered the problem against Bulgaria on Saturday.

Instead Kuyt remained with his national team and was due to have a scan under the supervision of Dutch medics to see whether he may recover for Wednesday's match with Albania.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 3:11 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

England |
McClaren: Crouch becoming perfect fit

Steve McClaren believes Peter Crouch feels more comfortable in an England shirt because of his international goal blitz. Crouch, 25, has scored 11 goals in his last 10 games for his country, including the winner in Macedonia last month.

The Liverpool striker is back in the England camp this week, ahead of the return fixture with Macedonia, and is starting to feel at home with the more established players.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 10:19 AM 0 comments

Reds Ransacked

Four men are under arrest after a string of burglaries at the homes of Liverpool football players, police said.

Officers raided a house in Liverpool early on Wednesday after a series of burglaries on the homes of England star Peter Crouch, Danish defender Daniel Agger, Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 10:16 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Liverpool Echo: Rafa Furious

Rafa came out fighting in defence of his team today - but admitted he expects a similarly robust reaction from his players following their latest defeat.

The Liverpool boss is still seething following Saturday's 2-0 loss at Bolton, but admitted his side must start taking matters in to their own hands on the pitch when decisions go against them.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 9:02 AM 0 comments

International |
Bellamy to captain Wales

Craig Bellamy is the controversial choice to captain Wales in their Euro 2008 qualifiers against Slovakia and Cyprus.

The Liverpool striker faces a potential three-day court appearance in Cardiff between the two matches on a charge of assault, which he denies.

Wales boss John Toshack has opted to appoint the 27-year-old skipper in the absence due to injury of Ryan Giggs.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 9:00 AM 0 comments

Monday, October 02, 2006

England |
Pennant Call-up Soon?

Rafa believes Jermaine Pennant is close to receiving an England call-up.

The 23-year-old winger has been impressive since his move to Anfield from Birmingham and in the absence of Aaron Lennon he had been a contender for inclusion in the squad to face Macedonia and Croatia in the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers.

posted by LFC in Toronto at 8:16 AM 0 comments