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LIVERPOOL LOSE THEIR CUTTING EDGE
2007-09-25 10:32:00
The Times 23 September 2007The most lethal attack in the Premier League, responsible for 11 goals in the opening four games, was frustrated for the second successive game and suddenly some familiar anxieties are beginning to afflict Liver pool .Vastly superior to their brave opponents for almost the entire game, Rafa Benitez's team failed to secure the win their control merited through their failure to manufacture more clear-cut opportunities and flagrant profligacy when they did.Johan Djourou, the 19-year-old on loan from Arsenal, was the epitome of Birmingham's splendid defiance but Benitez could have expected a more emphatic response to the questions raised during a chastening week.His decision to leave Fernando Torres on the bench yesterday will add to the questions over Liverpool's ability to end their 18-year wait for another league title.With Peter Crouch also a substitute, the partnership of Andriy Voronin and Dirk Kuyt lacked the necessary cutting edge, for the truth is th...
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AURELIO BACK BUT RIISE RULED OUT
2007-09-17 11:36:00
Fabio Aurel io will make a return to the Liverpool squad for tomorrow night's clash against Porto, but John Arne Riise has been ruled out with a groin injury.
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A LETTER FROM LUIS GARCIA
2007-08-22 12:29:00
Dear Reds,First of all I'd like to apologise for not having been back in touch sooner, but I needed to take some time to take on board all the recent changes and then to put down these words for you.I'm sure you will understand.I would rather this be a letter of thanks and gratitude, not simply a goodbye.Yes, that's right, gratitude, because that is the word that best sums up my feelings for you all.Taking the decision to change clubs hasn't been easy. Not easy at all.I've experienced three fantastic years at the club and in the city. Three years in which together, the fans and the team, we have accomplished some fantastic achievements, and I'm sure that these successes will continue to be repeated in the near future.You know that I like a challenge and that I don't just settle for second best.Back then Liverpool Football Club gave me the opportunity to be part of an ambitious plan to put the Reds back at the summit of the game.I think that together we managed to achieve that...
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STYLES APOLOGISES BUT IS SENT ON LEAVE
2007-08-22 12:24:00
The Independent 21 August ????Referee Rob Styles has apologised for denying Liverpool a valuable victory over Chelsea and been placed on temporary gardening leave for his mishandling of Sunday's fractious affair at Anfield? The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for the country's leading referees, reacted to a weekend of controversy yesterday when it announced that Styles and Ian Gosling had been punished for their performances at Anfield and Craven Cottage respectively.Styles fell victim to the PGMOL's strict self-regulation policy for the penalty award that enabled Frank Lampard to equalise Fernando Torres' opener for Liverpool on Sunday. The referee penalised Steve Finnan for a foul on Florent Malouda when the French international had clearly leapt into the Republic of Ireland defender but, refreshingly, he last night admitted his mistake and offered a public apology to the Anfield club. It is believed he also offered a personal apology to Rafael ...
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BRITISH CLUBS GET TOUGH EURO DRAW
2007-08-03 15:49:00
BBC 03 August 2007Liverpool face a tough tie in the third qualifying round of the Champions League as they have to overcome Toulouse to book a group stage spot. Arsenal have been drawn against Sparta Prague over the two legs. Scottish champions Celtic have a tricky match against Spartak Moscow.Rangers hold a 2-0 first-leg lead over FK Zeta in their second qualifying round tie and, if they win, will play Crvena Zvezda or Levadia Tallinn.The winners will go through to the group stages, when English duo Manchester United and Chelsea will enter the tournament.Crvena Zvezda, formerly known as Red Star Belgrade, hold a 1-0 lead over Estonian side Levadia Tallinn after the first leg in Serbia.If Rangers come through their second leg game against Zeta next Tuesday they will travel away from home for the first leg.Celtic's opponents Spartak Moscow play on an artificial pitch and are midway through their domestic season.Arsenal were one of the last teams out of the draw and will face a team ...
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Toulouse test
2007-08-03 15:42:00
Liverpool club secretary Bryce Morrison admits the Reds are pleased after drawing Toulouse in the Champions League third qualifying round.
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18:17 GMT : Match Starts 1 min : Werder get the...
2007-07-18 12:28:00
18:17 GMT : Match Starts1 min : Werder get the game under way2 mins : Pennant wins free kick after run down right2 mins : Gerrard free kick nodded back by Crouch to Hobbs who skies from close range3 mins : GOAL! Andriy Voronin: Voronin uses pace to punish slapdash defending before rounding keeper and tucking the ball away5 mins : El Zhar loses possession on edge of Werder box after good work from Crouch and Voronin6 mins : GOAL! Kevin Schindler: Schindler tucks home after Paletta loses his man7 mins : Crouch fires wide from 20 yards9 mins : Pennant gives away free-kick midway in Reds half9 mins : Gerrard charges down free kick11 mins : Hobbs scuffs shot from 20 yards after El Zhar knock down12 mins : Lively Pennant wins free kick in promising position13 mins : GOAL! John Arne Riise: Riise rockets ball into roof of the net from 30 yards after Pennant lay off from free kick20 mins : Voronin, Gerrard, El Zhar and Pennant combine well but move breaks down on edge of the box21 mins : Car...

TORRES IN LINE FOR DEBUT
2007-07-17 16:52:00
Fernando Torres is expected to make his Liverpool debut tonight when Rafael Benítez's side face the German club Werder Bremen in Switzerland. The club-record £26m signing has been receiving treatment for a slight ankle problem but Benítez is set to include him in the first of two friendly matches during Liverpool's week-long training camp. "He had a problem with his ankle in the last two weeks he was playing with Atlético Madrid," said the manager. "But he's been training with the physio over the last two weeks and I think will be available to play in Switzerland." Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun, who cost a combined fee of £16.5m from Ajax and West Ham United respectively, are also likely to make their first appearances during the trip, which concludes on Friday with a game against Auxerre. Liverpool have announced a shake-up of their backroom staff, with Xavi Valero succeeding José Ochotorena as goalkeeping coach. Ochotorena has returned to Spain to work at Valencia. Vale...
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BABEL PASSES MEDICAL AND SIGNS TODAY
2007-07-17 16:48:00
RYAN BABEL will today become the third most expensive player in Liverpool?s history by completing an £11.5million move from Ajax. And Rafael Benitez?s summer rebuilding plans took another step forward last night when Yossi Benayoun signed from West Ham United on a four-year deal. Babel has passed a medical and will put pen to paper on a five-year deal after the two sides finally reached an agree-ment over a fee for the 20-year-old. A Liverpool spokesperson said: ?Liverpool have agreed terms with Ajax and Ryan Babel himself and the player will sign a five-year-deal on Friday.? Highly-rated Babel, who can play on the wing and up front, has scored four goals in 14 appearances for the full Holland national team and starred for his country in their recent European Under-21 Championship success on home soil. Babel said of joining Liverpool: ?I listened to what they had to say and I got a great feeling about the club. I have made a choice with my heart. The coach has big plans fo...
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LIVERPOOL CLOSE ON HEINZE
2007-07-03 10:44:00
Gabriel Heinz e could become the first player to move between Manchester United and Liver pool in over 40 years.Heinze is available for around £5million, although United are keen to offload the Argentine to Real Madrid rather than a domestic rival.But Heinze is keen to remain in the Premier League and is keen on a switch to Anfield, according to the Daily Mail.And the left-back could even scupper any resistance from United by buying out the last two years of his United contract for £4.5million, a fee he would recoup in a signing-on fee from Liverpool.If Heinze does make the move, he'll become the first player since Phil Chisnall in 1964 to swap Old Trafford for Anfield.
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Torres Expected In Liverpool Today
2007-07-03 10:30:00
Fernando Torres has already cut short his vacation and returned to Madrid, and is expected in Liver pool today... After a ?32m plus Luis Garcia deal was sealed between the to clubs, the Spanish international needs only to complete a medical at Anfield before penning what will be a rather lucrative ?135,000 a week deal.While it is possible that the medical actually takes place tomorrow morning before the official presentation, the deal will be confirmed today itself.That will bring to an end a saga that has run for around ten days, ever since Goal.com had exclusively confirmed that Liverpool officials had travelled to Madrid to discuss a move for Fernando Torres.It has taken a while for the financial details to be sorted out, but all parties seem to be happy now.Torres will take the number of strikers at Rafa Benitez's disposal up to five, with Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Andriy Voronin already on the Reds' books. That, assuming they offload Djibril Cisse, who is also...
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ENGLAND
2007-06-07 14:45:00
Liverpool, Man Utd urged to bid for TrezeguetChelsea, Barcelona sound out Del PieroChelsea's Obi Mikel courts more Nigeria controversyBosingwa unsure of Spurs interestPortsmouth turn to Bolton striker AnelkaAgent insists Benayoun wants West Ham stayFour Premiership clubs battle for DiarraLiverpool, AC Milan move for MudingayiPortsmouth, Newcastle eyeing Bordeaux's FaubertDerby keeper Grant on way to Sheffield WednesdayJuventus target Lampard rejects £140,000-a-week Chelsea dealJuventus move for Man Utd striker RossiChelsea to bid for Brazilian whizkid PatoChelsea, Spurs keep tabs on Newcastle's DyerWest Ham boss Curbishley determined to land BentBenitez wants new Liverpool deal for Valencia target MaciaSheffield Wednesday waiting for Fulham, Wigan offers for BruntMiddlesbrough eyeing CSKA striker Vagner LovePortsmouth to offer £3M for Wigan's CamaraPortsmouth rival Fulham for Villa's DavisMiddlesbrough must beat Spurs, Sevilla for BosingwaShepherd can stay as chairman at Ashley...
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RAFA AND RICK DELIGHTED BY DOUBLE DEAL
2007-06-05 14:30:00
Rafael Benitez and Rick Parry today spoke of their delight after seeing Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher commit their long-term futures to Liverpool Football Club. The club captain and vice-captain returned from England duty on Monday afternoon to sign new contracts that will keep them at Anfield until 2011. For Benitez, working tirelessly to bring new players into the club, it sends out a clear message about where Liverpool Football Club are heading. "These are two very important deals," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv, "because they are about safeguarding the future of this football club. Stevie and Jamie both wanted to stay at the club. They have a passion for this club and you can see that in the way they play. They are 100% committed to Liverpool and now they can be 100% focussed on their futures at Anfield. "I think these deals send out a key message as we enter a crucial period. Other players will look at Stevie and Carra committing their future to Liverpool and understa...
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GERRARD DEFENDS REDS FANS
2007-06-05 12:49:00
Steven Gerrard has sprung to the defence of Liverpool supporters after Uefa spokesman William Gaillard labelled them the worst in Europe after problems marred the Champions League final. The Reds captain, speaking while on duty with England, claimed he couldn't understand how the Liverpool fans ? his friends and family included - could be blamed for the chaos in Athens. "What Uefa have said really upsets me," revealed the midfielder. "We've travelled everywhere together for the six or seven years I've been in the first team and from what I've seen, their behaviour has been fantastic. "I had friends and family at the final. Their opinion was that the organisation wasn't good enough. I'm sure when it all gets broken down, they will conclude the organisation wasn't good enough and maybe a minority of Liverpool fans let themselves down but as far as I'm concerned the European Cup Final has to be in a bigger stadium with better organisation."
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Probable teams
2007-05-23 16:22:00
Milan: Dida? Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini; Kaká, Clarence Seedorf? Filippo Inzaghi.Liverpool: Pepe Reina; Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, John Arne Riise; Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Boudewijn Zenden/Harry Kewell; Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt.
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PRESS conference - LIVERPOOL
2007-05-23 16:12:00
Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez wants his side calm and confident for tomorrow. Jermaine Pennant sees Athens as a great honour and John Riise is optimistic Rafael Benitez had this to say from the pre-match press conference in Athens: ?We are here because we have been doing the right things and we deserve to be here. Zenden has some problems, while Kewell is ready to play the entire 90 minutes. Our players are focused and motivated. It?s not easy to play two finals in three years and we should be proud. The secret of my great success in European competitions? My staff are the key. We have good people, good workers. When you have a good staff then you can be successful. Of course we have good players as well. Everything is good. Our motivations are the same as Milan. I don?t know if Bellamy will play or if Crouch will play. I still have to think about it. We have two or three different options, I will decide later on after training. It?s going to be a tough match. The final two years ...
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PRESS conference - MILAN
2007-05-23 16:07:00
Speaking at the pre-game press conference, Carlo Ancelotti has put Istanbul behind him. Paolo Maldini is proud to be captain for such a side and Ricky Kakà hope to write another page in the history books ATHENS - CARLO ANCELOTTI - It will not be easy, but I have no doubts we will give everything. All my decisions have been made. On a purely technical level perhaps Mila n were stronger two years ago and for that side it was almost ?normal? to reach the Final. For today?s team it is extraordinary and we want to end this year on a high. We deserved this final more than any other side because we suffered like nobody else. We had points penalties and had to rush our pre-season training to prepare for the preliminary round. If we have the fortune to lift the trophy, then it will be absolutely and totally deserved. This has been the most difficult season in my time at Milan. We ran into problems we had never encountered before, but the great unity between myself, the team and club proved d...
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KUYT: I'LL ACCEPT RAF JUSTICE
2007-05-14 16:15:00
Dirk Kuyt knows Rafa Benitez will break a few hearts in Athens next week - and one of them could be his. But even if he finds himself left out of the starting line-up for the Champions League Final, the Dutchman insists his trust in the Liverpool manager will remain intact. He believes he won't be alone in accepting without complaint Benitez's selection for the rematch with AC Milan, because the Spaniard has created the collective will for success that is more important than any individual. Benitez, of course, is famous for his rotation philosophy - having once changed his team 99 times in a row before sticking with the same side. But Kuyt, who scored the decisive penalty in the semi-final shoot-out with Chelsea, declares that his manager's record is now so impressive that it cannot be questioned. He said: "So far, I've played in most of the big games and I am very happy about that. But that doesn't mean anything. We are in the Final and the manager will have his idea...
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DUDEK: RAFA WILL WIN TITLE
2007-05-11 11:53:00
Departing Liverpool hero Jerzy Dudek is confident Rafael Benitez will one day win the Premiership title with the Reds.With Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina nursing a shoulder injury and unlikely to be risked ahead of the Champions League final this month, Dudek could well deputise against relegated Charlton on Sunday.Whether this will also be Robbie Fowler's final goodbye to the club - his contract is unlikely to be renewed - is still not clear, but the final Premier League game of the season could well be an emotional affair.Dudek has already decided to leave when his contract runs out in the summer, and the man who became a hero in Istanbul with his penalty shoot-out performance will probably now play the last of 187 appearances for the club he joined in 2002.And the 34 year-old said: "We are all happy with the way we have played in the Premiership in the second-half of the season and I feel we are not too far away from winning it."Rafa knows what he has to do to take the club acros...
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Riise: Agger Our Best Player This Year
2007-05-10 16:03:00
John Arne Riise believes that Daniel Agger has been Liverpool's stand-out player this season. zoom - galleria The young Danish international has come on in leaps and bounds this season, forming one of Europe's meanest centre-half partnerships with Jamie Carragher.The latter has been voted as the Reds' best player by fans on the club's official site, but Riise has lavished praise on the young Scandinavian instead."I think Dan has been brilliant for us this year," he said on the club's website. "He's come in, found a place for himself in the team and played well enough to stay there. "Pepe Reina has also had a great season and been absolutely brilliant for us but if I had to pick our Player of the Year then it would be Daniel. "I can't believe he got some stick after the first Chelsea match, because I thought he had a good game, but then he proved at Anfield what a quality player he is. "He's still young and he's going to be a big player for us for many years to come."Hi...
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Reds complain over ticket share
2007-05-10 16:02:00
Liverpool have complained to UEFA over their ticket allocation for the Champions League final but have been told they will not receive an increase.The Premiership club have been awarded 17,000 seats for the clash with AC Milan at the 63,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Athens on May 23 - a figure that nowhere near appeases enormous demand - and a huge black market for tickets has already developed.Liverpool have been criticised by their own fans for their methods of distribution, with some having made arrangements to travel only to be told they will not qualify for a ticket, but a statement from Liverpool given to to BBC Radio Five Live read: "The bottom line is UEFA have not supplied anywhere near enough tickets for the Champions League Final."It continued: "Liverpool have expressed their disappointment and frustration to UEFA - but have been told categorically no more tickets will be allocated to the club, not even the returned tickets from Milan - they will go into a UEFA ballot."...
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GONZALEZ ON CLOUD NINE
2007-05-08 12:14:00
Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez insists he is the happiest he has ever been in his career.
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FINNAN: KEWELL COULD STAR IN ATHENS
2007-05-08 12:09:00
Steve Finnan believes Harry Kewell could play "a big part" for Liverpool in the Champions League final.
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I WANT REVENGE FOR 2005 - KAKA
2007-05-04 12:25:00
AC MILAN midfielder Kaka is relishing the opportunity to avenge the 2005 Champions League final defeat against Liverpool after progressing to the final at the expense of Manchester United.Milan's 3-0 second leg victory in the semi-final at the San Siro set up a rematch with the Reds, their conquerors two years ago.United came to Milan with a 3-2 lead from the first leg but were quickly put on the backfoot by the Rossoneri, who scored through Kaka and Clarence Seedorf.An out-of-sorts United were unable to turn things around and Alberto Gilardino killed the tie in the second half."We have played a perfect game," admitted Kaka, who scored three of Milan's five goals in the tie."We knew against a team like Manchester United that we needed to do something special and we have achieved it with the help of our fans."I am extremely happy with the way the team has played, we were the best side on the pitch and we deserved to go through."The final against Liverpool will be a unique game. I s...
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GERRARD: I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER
2007-05-04 12:09:00
Paul Eaton 04 May 2007Steven Gerrard speaks exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv about our brilliant victory over Chelsea, the Athens showdown with AC Milan and about the glorious prospect of lifting European football's most glittering trophy for the second time in three seasons.Liverpoolfc.tv: So, Steven, it's AC Milan yet again in a European final.....Obviously I'm really looking forward to it and I'm confident we can go there and bring the Cup back home. They're a fantastic team and we know it's going to be really difficult so we need to be right at the top of our game.What did you make of Milan's display against Manchester United?I was really surprised actually because I had confidence that United would go there and get the result they required. I thought it was going to be a Liverpool-Man United final but credit to Milan because they were excellent on the night and deserved to win the game.Did you get the feeling the way they went about the game that they're desperate to win t...
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LIVERPOOL V MILAN AGAIN IN FINAL
2007-05-03 09:48:00
Liverpool and AC Milan will meet in the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons after the Italians knocked Manchester United out of the competition at the San Siro.
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MOURINHO FALLS TO NEMESIS AGAIN
2007-05-02 15:02:00
Another special night at Anfield; another European Cup final. Two in three years under Rafael Benitez and the manager had the extra, rich satisfaction of a victory scored, both on the field and the tactics board, over Jose Mourinho .
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LIVERPOOL 1-0 CHELSEA
2007-05-02 14:50:00
Daily Post 02 May 2007NOW that's what people call history. Another memorable Anfield night, another semi-final win over Chelsea , and another Champions League final for Liver pool .Like in 2005, the Stamford Bridge outfit felt the power of the famous old stadium as Rafael Benitez continued to cast his spell over Jose Mourinho in Europe. The Portuguese had belittled Liverpool during the build-up to the tie. Bad move. Fired up by those comments, the Liverpool players ? backed by a raucous Anfield crowd ? made Mourinho regret his outburst with a courageous performance to secure a seventh European Cup final appearance. But while the magnificent support from the stands played its part, this was a victory earned on the pitch. Liverpool levelled the tie through Daniel Agger's well-worked 22nd-minute strike before defending resolutely to keep Chelsea scoreless for 120 minutes to force a penalty shoot-out. Indeed, they had the chances to win the game before the penalties with an err...
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REINA PUTS REDS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
2007-05-02 11:51:00
The Guardian 02 May 2007Penalties are supposed to be fickle but they have turned into Liverpool's steadfast ally.Liverpool won the 2005 Champions League in that fashion and go to Athens on May 23 by the same method. The sturdy victors will not go to Greece bearing gifts in their seventh final. Manchester United or Milan beware. It would be misleading to refer to the luck of a shoot-out.Only four were needed by Rafael Beni­tez's men here, with Dirk Kuyt converting the decisive kick after Arjen Robben and Geremi had been thwarted by Pepe Reina as Chelsea nerves succumbed to the animosity of Anfield in this second leg. With the Premiership slipping from them, Jose Mourinho's players have only an FA Cup final to raise their spirits.Such an occasion, with a Carling Cup already in the trophy room, would once have made for a heady campaign at Chelsea. That is no longer the case and as the dejection lingers there will be renewed questions about Roman Abramovich's commitment to retai...
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BENITEZ: ONE MORE WIN NEEDED
2007-04-19 12:24:00
Paul Eaton 19 April 2007Rafael Beni tez is hoping Liverpool will be able to focus on Champions League football next week with qualification for next season's tournament already secured.Victory over Middlesbrough last night means a win over Wigan on Saturday will guarantee a top four finish and ensure the Reds can look forward to the semi-final games with Chelsea free of pressure in the Premiership."We need to play the game and if we can win we will be in the top four and we can then think about the semi-final of the Champions League," he said."It's important to get that sorted as soon as possible. Bolton and Everton now need to win four games and that's not easy, but if we concentrate on ourselves and beat Wigan then it won't matter what the others do."Benitez was pleased with his side's performance against 'Boro, as second half strikes from Steven Gerrard secured three well deserved points."I had confidence we would win because in these kind of games you need to do the job," a...
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