Carragher says players have to deliver

Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher says the players have no excuses now that the club's ownership looks set to be settled.

Current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett's attempts to block the sale were rejected by a High Court judge today, paving the way for New England Sports Ventures' acquisition of the club.

Roy Hodgson's arrival in the summer to replace Rafael Benitez has so far failed to improve the club's fortunes on the field - they are currently in the Premier League's bottom three - and defender Carragher admits it is time for the players to do their bit.

He told talkSPORT: "We have changed the manager, we have changed the board and if things don't change now then the players will go, too. Everything else has changed - it is just the players who have stayed the same."

With the Merseyside derby against Everton to focus on this weekend, he added: "I hope we can look forward now. I don't think the protests have affected things too much, because the protests and marches were usually before or after games.

"The atmosphere has not been great at Anfield recently because the performances have not been that great, but a lot of supporters will be delighted with the outcome today. I am sure that will give us a feel-good factor and we hope that will help us."

Source: ESPN Soccernet, Oct 13, 2010

Reds complete Meireles deal

Raul Meireles has insisted he is not a Javier Mascherano clone after completing his move to Liverpool.

Meireles has joined Roy Hodgson's side for 14 million euros (£11.5 million), the Premier League club announced on their official website.

Portugal international Meireles has signed a four-year contract and will add weight to a Reds midfield which was looking short on numbers following the departures of Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani.

And, quoted in the Sunday Express, he said: ''Roy Hodgson was key to me coming here because he worked so hard to sign me. I am Meireles and not Mascherano and that will be clear to the fans. I hope one day the Liverpool fans will remember me for being successful.''

Meireles has won four titles with Porto and been capped 38 times by Portugal, playing in all four of his country's games at this summer's World Cup.

Liverpool on Friday agreed a deal to send Mascherano to Barcelona after the midfielder, whose family could not settle on Merseyside, was reportedly unprepared to play for the club.

Aquilani also departed for Juventus in a loan deal which brought to an end, at least temporarily, an underwhelming and injury-hit spell in the city in which he failed adequately to replace Xabi Alonso.

With Liverpool financially constrained as owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks attempt to sell the club, fans have had to make do with limited arrivals this summer - Christian Poulsen from Juventus and Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea being the headline names.

Source: ESPN Soccernet

Liverpool lead race to sign Cole

Liverpool and Sunderland have indicated that they are ready to launch bids for West Ham United striker Carlton Cole.

Soccernet has been informed that neither club have, as yet, made an official bid, but the Hammers are well aware of the interest mounting from the two clubs.

Soccernet first revealed that the Hammers were asking £15 million for Cole and that the player's preference was a move to Anfield. Now Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is ready to make the long awaited swoop after failing with a succession of moves for other strikers.

Sunderland are the latest club to be linked with the centre-forward this week, while Stoke and Birmingham have been in hot pursuit without success in turning Cole's head.

Cole made it clear he would only quit Upton Park for a big club and West Ham have been anticipating a move from Liverpool.

With the expected sale of Javier Mascherano to Barcelona for more than £20 million, Hodgson has lined up a move for Cole.

Once Liverpool have sold Mascherano, who was rescued from the Hammers bench by his £18 million move to Anfield, the Reds can offer West Ham the inducement of paying a large chunk of the fee up front, which in turn can aid the Hammers' transfer business in the final days of the window.

Co-owner David Sullivan has been busy lining up a replacement for Cole and, once the England international departs, two more strikers are earmarked for Upton Park.

Source: ESPN Soccernet

Result Monday, August 23, 2010

Status	Home	Score	Away	VENUE (ATT.)
FT	Manchester City	3 - 0	Liverpool	City of Manchester Stadium (47,087)

Liverpool announce signing of Juve's Poulsen

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen for a fee of €5.475 million.

Poulsen, 30, joined Juventus from Sevilla in 2008 and made 33 Serie A starts in two seasons in Turin. He also anchored the Denmark midfield in all three of the country's appearances at the World Cup finals.

A statement from Juventus read: "Juventus Football Club can announce that it has completed the agreement with Liverpool FC for the outright transfer of Christian Poulsen for a fee of €5.475 million (£4.5 million) payable in two instalments.

"The fee will further increase by up to €1.2 million depending on his achievements during the contract period.''
Liverpool also confirmed the deal on their official website and revealed that Poulsen has signed a three-year contract with the Reds.

Roy Hodgson has recruited the player as a like-for-like replacement for Javier Mascherano, who revealed on Thursday morning that while he enjoys playing for Liverpool, he is keen to leave England for a new challenge. Both Inter Milan and Barcelona are known to be interested in the Argentina captain.

"It's a very special club both in England and worldwide," Poulsen told sporten.dk. "I'm incredibly happy to have joined.

"We'll see in the coming days what kind of shape I'm in. I obviously trained at Juventus, but as the move to Liverpool drew closer, I wasn't involved in training, and I haven't played the Europa League matches so I would still be available [for Liverpool]."

Poulsen joins Joe Cole, Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey, Fabio Aurelio and Milan Jovanovic in joining Liverpool this summer, and his international colleague Daniel Agger expects him to be a success at Anfield.

"Christian would be a perfect addition to most of the big clubs in Europe, so he will certainly fit in here," Agger said recently. "He is a top player and will make us stronger. We need to have big signings so we can compete and he is one of those players.

"Christian will improve the team. But we need more improvements if we want to be at the top of the league this season."

Injury problems mount for troubled boss Benitez

Rafael Benitez will be a relieved man that the international break has finally arrived, hopeful that some of his injured players will return to fitness ahead of a crucial clash against Manchester City at Anfield on November 21.

Liverpool suffered more injury woe in the disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham City on Monday, with Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun both forced off.

Riera has suffered a stop-start season for the Reds, with his appearance against Blues being his first in a Liverpool shirt for over a month with a hamstring injury. The Spain international suffered a recurrance of the problem when stretching for a ball in the box and faces weeks on the sidelines.

More troublesome to Benitez is the injury suffered to Benayoun, one of the few bright spots this season and a player who has done much to try and fill the void left by Steven Gerrard. Benayoun also injured his hamstring late in the game and must be extremely doubtful to face City.

Fernando Torres, who declared himself unfit to face Birmingham, is also rated no better than doubtful to make a game which, if Liverpool were to lose, could have long-term implications on their ability to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Gerrard, although looking well short of match fitness, made a huge difference after being introduced for Riera just before half-time and, after a further two weeks of training and treatment, he should improve for the City game.

And Denmark defender Daniel Agger has withdrawn from November friendlies against South Korea and the United States with a back injury.

Liverpool face a hugely testing week once the international break is over.

Three days after facing City, Liverpool must travel to Hungary to play Debrecen in a must-win Champions League game which would be rendered meaningless by a Fiorentina win over Lyon in the other group game that night. Then, the following Sunday, comes the Merseyside derby at Everton's Goodison Park home.

Benitez hopes the international break has come at the right time, but is taking nothing for granted. He told the club's official website: "I will tell you after the break because every time we lose one or two players. I'm touching wood.

"Riera had the same problem as before. The players are sometimes available but not 100% ready. We thought he was okay but in the end you can see he wasn't.

"Yossi has the same problem as Riera. Some players are playing too many games in a row. They are working very hard and so you always have this risk. I think both will have tears.

"Agger also had a problem with his back. It's not serious but he felt it a little bit.

"Torres had no confidence and said he couldn't play, so we started the treatment yesterday [Monday]. He has to work with the physios and try to improve and be ready. We are not talking about an operation at this moment, we're talking about treating him properly.

"I don't know if he will be ready for Man City (in two weeks). The only thing I can say is we're talking about two or three weeks working with the physios. We haven't got a deadline, we just need to see how he is every day."

On Gerrard, Benitez added: "I think he will be okay. We have to check. There's small things but I think he'll be okay."

Benitez was frustrated with dominating possession against Birmingham but failing to get all three points. He said: "You have to be disappointed because it's a draw at home but the performance of the team was again pretty good, for me.

"We had plenty of possession and attempts, we showed character until the last minute. The fans were pushing. We couldn't get the third goal but we showed character. We had a lot of chances in the first half and it was unbelievable to see us losing 2-1 at half-time. We were attacking and attacking and I think we deserved to win.

"If you analyse the last games - against Lyon we conceded in the last minute twice, and then this game. You can't change the result but if you analyse you can see the team is doing well.

"The team is creating a lot of chances and sometimes you can't do any more. From the beginning we were on top of them. You didn't see a team that was thinking, 'Oh, we're playing badly.'

"For the last 15 minutes everyone in the stadium was thinking we'd score the third goal. Sometimes it's a question of accuracy and sometimes it's luck. We moved and passed the ball really well.

"Since three weeks or a month ago I've been saying the same - take one game at a time. I will not talk about the table or position. We won six games in a row before and then played really well against United under pressure. The reaction of the players has been fantastic - the only thing we couldn't do is get the three points."

Benitez admitted Lee Carsley's challenge on David Ngog probably should not have been a penalty.

"Maybe it wasn't a penalty but we deserved to score more goals," he said. "We have had a lot of situations against us this year - and now one for us in a game where we played well and deserved more. I was asking David afterwards and he said maybe it wasn't a penalty."


Source: ESPN Soccernet, November 10, 2009

Rooney a major doubt for Anfield trip

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney remains a major injury doubt for Sunday's trip to Anfield to face arch-rivals Liverpool.

The United striker has been sidelined with a calf injury since England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine a fortnight ago and is unlikely to recover in time.

Ferguson still harbours a slim hope that Rooney will feature but his star forward faces a fitness race along with Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher.

"On the injury front I can't give a clear picture, there are still some doubts about Rooney and Fletcher," Ferguson said.

Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs is poised to return after suffering a knock in last week's defeat of Bolton Wanderers and Patrice Evra has overcome a heel problem.

Liverpool go into Sunday's match having lost four games in a row - the clubs worst run of form in 22 years - but Ferguson said that will count for little when the two arch-rivals clash.

"Derby games are derby games and anyone can win it," Ferguson said. "It has happened so many times and strange things can happen.

"I am not interested in their league form, I am more pleased with the kind of form we are in. We are consistent and consistent is important."

With Liverpool's star duo of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard unlikely to be fit for the United match, a loss this weekend could prove terminal for manager Rafa Benitez's ambitions on Merseyside.

Source: ESPN Soccernet, October 23, 2009

Rafa rues costly errors following Anfield defeat

Rafa Benitez told ESPN that mistakes at 'crucial times' cost Liverpool following a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa at Anfield.

The Reds found themselves 2-0 down at half-time after an own goal from Lucas Leiva and a header from Curtis Davies, and while Fernando Torres scored after 72 minutes, Steven Gerrard quickly conceded a penalty to allow Ashley Young to score a third.

Liverpool have now lost two of their opening three Premier League games the same amount that they lost in the whole of last season and Benitez was clearly unhappy with a sloppy performance from his side.

"It was a frustrating night because we started well and had our chances,'' he told ESPN. "But we didn't take them, we made one mistake, then in the last minute of the first half another, and when we were on top of them and scored our first goal we made another mistake.

"Important mistakes at crucial times.

"When we scored everything could have been different but there was another mistake and again we needed two goals.''

Reflecting on a first victory of the season for his side, Villa manager Martin O'Neill told ESPN he was 'delighted' with their performance at Anfield.

Villa had started their campaign with defeats at the hands of Wigan and Rapid Vienna but, after securing three points, O'Neill praised his players for what was a resolute display in the face of some sustained second-half pressure from the home side.

"I'm delighted with the performance, I couldn't be more pleased," O'Neill said.

"We put absolutely everything into the game, not just effort but skill and ability.

"We had a sluggish start on the opening day and to come and win here against maybe one of the championship favourites was a terrific effort.

"At 2-0 we seemed in reasonable command of the game, it goes to 2-1 and so we had to react pretty quickly. We got a goal through the penalty - and it was a penalty - and got ourselves back in again. We deserved to win.''

Source: ESPN Soccernet, August 24, 2009

Benitez confirms Kyrgiakos deal

Rafael Benitez hailed the arrival of one new boy in £17m defender Glen Johnson and then confirmed another new signing was almost secured.

Johnson had a stunning home debut in Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Stoke at Anfield, scoring one goal and helping to create two more in a fine, attacking display down the right flank.

And Liverpool chief Benitez revealed afterwards his signing of £2m Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos is dependent now only on a medical.

The AEK Athens centre-back, and former Rangers player, will fly in to Merseyside on Thursday and is expected to complete his medical by the weekend and will go straight into the squad for Monday's home game against Aston Villa.

Benitez was delighted with Johnson, saying: "We wanted a player with quality who could score and create goals. He attacks very well and had a fine game. Against teams who defend deep against us, he can change games.

"I was also pleased with Lucas Leiva, he has taken a lot of unfair criticism from the pundits which is not fair. He is a fine professional and a very good player, our best in pre-season.''

Fernando Torres netted an early goal, with Johnson scoring just before the break. In the second period Dirk Kuyt and substitute David Ngog completed the victory.

Benitez added: "Last season against Stoke here, we just could not score an early goal to force them to come out.

"This time we got one very quickly and it gave us the space to attack. The second just before the break was very important, because it gave us the cushion we needed.''

Stoke boss Tony Pulis, who saw his side achieve a notable 0-0 draw in this corresponding fixture last season, said: "I hold my hands up, we were beaten by a better team and better players.

"Liverpool created more chances against us here last season, but just did not take them.

This time they were excellent. They do not only have Torres and Gerrard, who are world class. They have great players right through their team, and they showed that quality against us.

"My team never gave up, they are an honest crew who will work right to the end, but Liverpool were on a different level.

"To write them off after one defeat on the opening weekend is crazy. They will be up there fighting for the title again, I have no doubt about that. But I have no complaints about the result. Gerrard's piece of skill to create the third was world class.

"And Johnson and Kuyt down the right gave us loads of problems all night. They are both fine players and that partnership will give a lot of teams plenty of problems this season.''

Source: ESPN Soccernet, August 20, 2009

Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Liverpool

Title hopefuls Liverpool suffered defeat in their first game of the new Barclays Premier League campaign as Sebastien Bassong scored on his debut in a 2-1 victory for Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez had spent the summer plotting how to overhaul champions Manchester United, having fallen just short last season in the quest for a first title since 1990.

New arrival Glen Johnson, who cost £17million from Portsmouth, started at right-back, Dutchman Ryan Babel was chosen ahead of Yossi Benayoun with Spain forward Fernando Torres expected to again provide the goals along with captain Steven Gerrard, fit following a groin problem.

Given title rivals United had won earlier on Sunday afternoon, coupled with victories on Saturday for both Chelsea and, most impressively, Arsenal, there was little margin for error if Liverpool were to avoid playing catch up after just one match.

However, the Reds never really got going, with Torres particularly disappointing.

Indeed, Liverpool should have been more than 1-0 down at half-time had Anfield old boy Robbie Keane not missed a couple of clear chances before full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto smashed in a 25-yard effort past Pepe Reina.

Although the visitors were handed a lifeline back into the match when Johnson was upended by keeper Heurelho Gomes to give away a penalty, which Gerrard converted on 54 minutes, Spurs soon regained the lead as Bassong, an £8million signing from Newcastle, headed in a free-kick from Luka Modric.

While there is, of course, plenty of football left to be played between now and May, Benitez knows his men will have to do much, much better if they are to finish ahead of the rest.

After a slow start, there was a stoppage on 14 minutes when Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher collided heads after both jumping for a high ball.

The English defender had to go off for treatment on a bloody gash, before returning with some heavy bandages.

Gerrard let fly with a 25-yard effort, which was just wide of Gomes' right-hand post.

Spurs then really should have gone ahead on 30 minutes.

Wilson Palacios got away down the right, and looped the ball across to the far post.

Modric lofted it back into the six-yard box, where Keane arrived with a diving header - but one which was straight at Reina, who reacted brilliantly.

The Liverpool keeper then denied his former team-mate once again, this time standing up well as Keane tried a chip.

On 44 minutes, Skrtel gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position, some 25 yards out, when he fouled Palacios.

Tom Huddlestone drove his effort into the defenders - but the ball fell kindly for Assou-Ekotto, who promptly smashed it back into the top corner.

Liverpool regrouped at half-time and produced a flowing move when Dirk Kuyt touched the ball back to Torres, who laid it on for Gerrard, but the England midfielder struck his low shot just wide from 20 yards.

A fine fingertip save from Reina then denied Palacios a second goal for Spurs following a rasping 25-yard drive towards the top right corner.

Liverpool found a way back into the match when they were awarded a penalty on 54 minutes.

Johnson was upended by Spurs keeper Gomes as the full-back burst into the right side of the box, and Gerrard stepped up to fire the ball past the Spurs keeper.

Tottenham looked to respond straight away, with Defoe's shot on the turn blocked by Carragher.

The defender was then booked for a foul on the striker as the home side pressed again.

It proved a costly free-kick to concede, as from it, Spurs regained the lead on 59 minutes.

Modric, from the right, floated the ball over through a crowded penalty area, where Bassong got up to head into the corner and mark his debut in style.

On 67 minutes, Liverpool replaced Babel with Benayoun as Benitez opted for `Plan B', while Spurs sent on summer signing Peter Crouch for Keane.

Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty when substitute Andriy Voronin went down following a shoulder challenge by Assou-Ekotto - but this time, referee Phil Dowd was not interested.

Tempers frayed on the Liverpool bench, with assistant boss Sammy Lee sent to the stands for continued protests.

Benitez: Mascherano focused on Anfield future

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists Javier Mascherano is now fully focused on the Reds after having his head turned by Barcelona this summer.

The Spanish giants have been constantly linked with a swoop for the Argentina midfielder but Benitez has told Mascherano he is going nowhere.

Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid for £30m last week and Benitez is keen not to lose two star players in the same transfer window.

"Javier knows he is staying," the Liverpool boss said. "He has accepted his future is here and that he is going to be a key player for us once more.

"Mascherano is now fully focused on us and what we might achieve together this season, I can guarantee that 100%.

"We've spoken about his situation before and we spoke again. Before, it was difficult and he could see Xabi Alonso was on his way.

"There has been a significant improvement in his game over the past 10 days. He has been a lot more focused, and we are seeing the real Mascherano again."

Mascherano's performances since return from international duty have been below par, but Benitez is confident his performance in the 2-1 pre-season defeat to Atletico Madrid on Saturday shows he will once again be a key player this season.

"He played much better against Atletico than he has before," added Benitez. "I am confident he is more focused now. The last week has changed the situation a lot and he is playing much better."

Source: ESPN Soccernet, August 11, 2009

Aquilani agrees to contract with Liverpool

Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani has passed a medical and agreed a five-year contract with Liverpool.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez identified Italy international Aquilani as his preferred replacement for Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid for around £30million earlier this week.

Liverpool had a bid of around £20million for Aquilani accepted by Roma on Wednesday before the player headed to Merseyside for a medical and contract talks.

The now former Roma man is expected to be at Anfield tomorrow to witness his new team-mates take on Atletico Madrid in the club's final pre-season friendly before next weekend's big kick-off.

Aquilani dispelled fears over the ankle injury that needed surgery this summer and restricted his appearances for the Serie A club last season.

But considering he has only just returned to training, it seems unlikely he will be fit to face Tottenham next Sunday in the Barclays Premier League season opener at White Hart Lane.

Aquilani, 25, is believed to be earning around £80,000 a week.

Source: ESPN Soccernet, 7 August, 2009