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Two more ridiculous Liverpool rumours – Saha and Beattie!

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:46:37 +0000

I really don’t know where the Sunday papers get there information, but some of their Liverpool rumours look like the “journalists” are really scraping the bottom of the barrell!

I thought the “Steven Gerrard to Chelsea” was bad enough, but to suggest that Benitez would make an offer for the EVERTON and ex-MAN UTD striker Louis Saha is really going too far, even for the People!

It seems Saha’s pay-as-you-play deal is up this summer, so Benitez is going to try and get him for free in the summer.

Mind you he is only 31, so he is a couple of years younger than Van Nistelrooy, and probably a hell of a lot cheaper too!

The Daily Star puts forward yet another 31 year-old in Stoke’s James Beattie. This story is obviously inspired by the news that Beattie had a falling out with Stoke boss Tony Pulis last week, so it obviously follows that Beattie will be out the door at the earliest opportunity.

Beattie is also ex-Everton, and scored a massive TWELVE goals in THREE YEARS at Goodison Park.

The only theme running through the latest rumours is that the papers are looking for CHEAP players to link to Liverpool, as they know that Benitez hasn’t got any money!

But, to be honest, I think these two rumours are rubbish!

Aurelio – Stop celebrating Everton win, now we have to beat Blackburn and Arsenal!

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:19:30 +0000

The Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio says that it is time to stop thinking about the great win against Everton last weekend, as it will mean nothing if Liverpool don’t carry the momentum forward and carry on winning games.

“Our target is to get back into the top four as quickly as we can,” Aurelio said. “We’ve got to start moving up the table and to do that, we need to win every game we have got coming up; it was important to get a result at Everton but it is the same at Blackburn.

“It will be the same after that when we play Arsenal. We have to be ready for these games and fight in the same way we did at Goodison. But it was just three points and we have to make sure we follow up.

“We did a great job last Sunday and you could see how much we wanted it. But it won’t mean anything if we don’t make sure the next result is a positive one as well. It is a thin line of getting the results in our favour.”

“When the game started to open up in the second half, we were able to pass it a little bit easier and created some chances, but it was a very difficult game and it’s likely to be the same against Blackburn.

“We are starting to build momentum and the win feels so much better than Debrecen. It was difficult there because we knew it wasn’t just about us but against Everton, we did our job and showed we can start to move up the Premier League.

“We have got our targets. The most important thing was to take three points but now we can start to look ahead a bit more. We know from now until the end of the season, every game is going to be massive for us.”

Aurelio has his critics, but he certainly seems to be talking sense this time around.

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Glen Johnson – It was Reina wot won it!

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:32:21 +0000

The new Liverpool defender Glen Johnson reckons that it was Pepe Reina’s brilliant performance against Everton that won the game for the Reds, and he thinks that will inspire the team to carry on their winning run.

Johnson was particularly amazed by Reina’s fantastic double save from Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini, when the Reds were only 1-0 ahead.

“It was massive – that save was amazing. With it being 1-0 at the time, if either Cahill or Fellaini had scored, it could have been such a different story,” Johnson explained.

“It was a turning point in the game and it could be a turning point in the season, that is how important it was.

“I really don’t see why not. We’ve got two clean sheets in a row now, so hopefully we can push on now. We have a platform to build upon, and the victory has given us important belief.”

“The lads are working as hard as they can so maybe they deserve that luck. Now it’s up to us to make the most of it.

“We know we haven’t been picking up the results people club expect, but there is no better place to begin than Goodison. Now we want to get on a good run and hopefully this will be the start.”

Despite Liverpool’s awful run in the League, this win has left them in fifth place and only three points behind Tottenham in third. A couple more wins could see them back up in their rightful place in the four.

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Benitez – This is the start of our winning run

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:23:27 +0000

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is happy that his team picked up a hard-fought three points at Goodison Park yesterday, and i hopeful that this will be the start of the winning run they need to get back up into the top four in the Premiership.

“This was a really important victory for us,” Benitez told his post-match press conference.

“We won in Debrecen in midweek and we knew that we needed to keep winning. A derby is always a very difficult game and also very important, so to win today could be a boost for the rest of the season.
“We are higher in the table now and everybody is happy. We will see if we can now keep winning games.

“It was clearly a very difficult game. From the beginning they were playing a very direct game and also dangerous from set pieces. It was very difficult to control and stop them because they are big and good in the air, so I thought we showed character.

“We were trying to play counter-attack and sometimes our possession was good, and other times it wasn’t so good. They were on top of us but we showed character, we won and scored two goals, and at the end of the game we had better control.”

“I thought our defending as a team was very good and that is a positive thing for the future. Agger and Carra did a very good job and we had Mascherano and Lucas working so hard in the midfield helping the defence.

“Carra is the one who talks and can organise the team, and he showed great character again.

“Always it is important to win, and to win games in a row is key if you want to stay high up the table and be in the top four. At this moment we have to take one game at a time. We have done our job today and we have to enjoy it.

“We have a week now to prepare for our next game against Blackburn and hopefully we can get another victory.”

And another and another and another!

Benitez – I feel like a Scouser!

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:22:49 +0000

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has described today’s game against Everton as the biggest derby in England, and says it makes him feel like a real Scouser!

“I don’t think there is a bigger local derby in England. It’s a fantastic game for everyone involved and I haven’t seen anything like it at this level. You can see the passion in all the people and that’s good for the atmosphere and the football.

“You can see the people and talk with them, and you get the same feeling. It’s an important game for everyone. For me as a manager, and because I’ve been here a long time, I’ll always try to win every game – but especially the derby.

“I feel 100 per cent like a Scouser. It’s a special feeling around this game because for the weeks around the game you have a lot of people happy and a lot of people unhappy. You have to approach the game knowing it’s very important.

“We know some Evertonians – not too many but some. Everyone is waiting to see what will happen.”

Come on Rafa, a real Scouser wouldn’t say this game is important. It’s much more than that!

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Kuyt – Liverpool are confident of beating Everton and we WILL win trophies!

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:02:53 +0000

The Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt is happy that some of the team’s injured players are finding their way back into the team, and is feeling confident ahead of tomorrow’s massive Liverpool derby.

Liverpool have won on their last two visits to Goodison Park, last year thanks to a last minute winner from Kuyt, and he is keen to make it a hat-trick tomorrow.

“I have some good memories of playing at Goodison and hopefully we can continue this on Sunday,” Kuyt said yesterday.

“It was a strange game when I scored the two penalties, but it was a great day for us all.

“To score the winner in the last minute of a derby was a fantastic feeling and it was good to celebrate the goal with our supporters and my teammates. Hopefully there are more days like this to follow at Goodison.

“The derby matches are always very special and you never need to be motivated for these games.

“We want to win the game, everyone is looking forward to it and we can’t wait to play. We have confidence we can beat them.”

“We’ve had a lot of injuries, so we’re not the luckiest team at the moment but sometimes this happens in football,” he continued.

“The players who have been out injured are now starting to come back, and once we’ve got everybody fit, I think we can kick on and return to form.

“The form of the team is improving. I thought we were unfortunate not to win the game against Manchester City last weekend and we were disappointed to have drawn.

“But when things are not going so well you have to work really hard as a team, stick together and the luck will change.

“Everton are not playing at their best level at the moment either, but everything can change in one game, especially in a derby.

“They will be ready for us, we will be ready for them, and we have confidence we can beat them.”

It now looks like Torres will be playing as well, so things are definitely looking up. Let’s hope this is the start of another long winning run.

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Fellaini – Everton simply have to win (but Moyes sounds worried!)

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:05:34 +0000

The Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini returns to the Everton team after his midweek suspension, and says that his team “simply have to win” against Liverpool on Sunday, or he will have to shut his windows so that he can’t hear the liverpool fans celebrating!

“We simply have to win. If we lose I would hear the other fans celebrating and I don’t want to have to shut my window. I want to win,” he said. “You can’t predict these games and all you know is that it will be a great occasion.

“What makes it such an entertaining game is the absolute desire from both teams and it will be a brilliant atmosphere. I can’t wait. You can’t really say that both teams are going into it playing equally as badly.

“Everton’s run of results has been worse, so we cannot afford to be complacent in any way. I am ready to get going again after missing Hull. Sunday is the time to put it right.”

But David Moyes thinks his team desperately need to improve or they could end up in the relegation zone, and says that have to up their performance in the big derby on Sunday.

“We have to talk about it.” he said. “There is no point in hiding and burying our heads in the sand. If we don’t start to play better we will be [n relegation trouble. We are not playing well enough to be anywhere else.

“You can’t hide the fact if you keep losing games you will be relegated. You have to stop it and get in a position when that will happen.”

“It is the sort of game we are privileged to be involved in,” he added. “It is an opportunity to try to get a win against our local rivals but if you said to me would I take two defeats against Liverpool and finish in a European spot, of course I would. I’m trying to focus as much on Everton and not to look at Liverpool.”

Sunday is looking more and more interesting every minute!

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Benitez – We have to beat Everton and fight for top four place

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:15:41 +0000

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has said that his team’s main objective now must be the Premier League, and reaching the top four position to enable participation in next season’s Champions League.

The Spaniard thinks that this goal is far more important than winning a trophy in the Europa League or the FA Cup, and therefore this weekends big derby against Everton has become a vital game for success this season.

“The key now is to finish in the top four to make sure we are in the Champions League group stages for the next season.” Benitez said.

“We must concentrate on the next game, and that is the Premier League. Afterwards, if we progress in the Europa League, okay, we can still win a trophy.

“But we have to change our target. We have to think about the league and finishing in the top four. Only then can we also think about the Europa League and the FA Cup.”

He continued: “I have been talking with two or three senior players, they realise that to be in the final stages of the Champions League every season is not easy.

“However, I do believe that with Torres fit, we would have got through into the last 16. It is the same with Steven Gerrard, he has been injured, but when you see him back on the pitch you know that with him (fit) also we would not now be in this position.

“We want to be as high as possible in the league so we have to start by winning the next game. And that’s at Everton on Sunday.

“I can say to our fans that we will improve in the league. We can see Gerrard playing again, we have Benayoun also coming back from injury.

“We have Aquilani who is fit now. We can use him when before it was not easy because of his fitness and injury.

“We have had problems with injuries to our centre-backs, but we now have four who are fit for the first time for a long while.

“For me these are the positive things that we can look forward to for the rest of the season.”

He added: “If I could change anything, it would be to have our big players fit. For a change it would be good to have a problem of who to select, before this has not been the case.

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Gerrard and Wenger say "concentrate on winning the Europa League"

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:11:25 +0000

Arsene Wenger and Steven Gerrard have said that the best way to cope with losing out on the Champions League knockout stages musn’t be to drop your heads, but to stand up and decide to go on and win the Europa League.

Wenger said last night after hearing about Liverpool’s elimination: “Well I think when you depend on the results of another team you are in a bad position. They did the job tonight but you always favour Fiorentina at home against Lyon especially when they are on a good run and have an opportunity to qualify for the first time in the history of the club if they win at home. I thought it would be difficult for Liverpool to qualify unless Fiorentina did not beat Lyon.”

“It’s very difficult to say how much impact it has on the team. They can respond well and say ‘let’s do well in the Europa League’.”

Steven Gerrard also echoed Wenger’s statement, and issued the rallying call of “onwards and upwards!”

“The disappointing thing was having to rely on other teams going into tonight,” said Gerrard.

“We’ve played fantastically well tonight and deserved the three points, so it’s disappointing that we won’t progress in the Champions League.

“You get what you deserve in this competition and the two late goals we conceded against Lyon have been crucial. But it’s gone now – it’s in the past and we’ve got to move on.

“We’re in the Europa League and we’ll go and try to win it.

“Tonight’s performance was encouraging and we can build on that. We’ve got a lot of players coming back from injury so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.”

He continued: “Of course because the main prize has gone.

“When you start the season, you want to stay in the Champions League as long as possible, so to be playing in the Europa League is disappointing.

“But we have to accept that, move on and go and try and win it.

“The only consolation from losing out on the Champions League is to go and win the one that comes second.”

He then went to reiterate how important it was to win against Everton this weekend, and to start challenging for that all-important fourth place in the Premiership.

“It’s important we finish in the top four, that goes without saying,” he added.

“For financial reasons, but also from a personal point of view it is important for players to play in the Champions League because it’s the best level.

“It’s important we go to Everton on Sunday, try to get the three points and get ourselves back in the top four as soon as possible.

“Now that we’ve got the majority of the squad back fit, I’m very confident we can turn things around and go on a long run of winning games.

“Hopefully Torres is not too far away and then we’ll have everyone back fit and go from there.”

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Why so miserable – Liverpool actually won a game!

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:59:44 +0000

The doom and gloom merchants were out in force after Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Debrecen wasn’t enough to give them a chance of reaching the Champions League knockout stages, but it’s time to start looking on the positives!

David Ngog’s goal gave Liverpool their first win in 11 matches, and they are now qualified for the Europa League, which must surely be a brilliant chance to be the first winners of the new European competition.

With the massive derby against Everton coming up at the weekend, a win was important to give the team a confidence booster, especially with so many injuries to cope with.

Benitez also said it was a shame that they haven’t qualified for the knockout rounds, but he wants the team to be positive when they face Everton.

He said: “You have to be disappointed. We did our job here but we cannot change things. If you analyse the games, two late goals against Lyon were a massive difference.

“You have the first half against Fiorentina and the two late goals but that’s football and sometimes you can’t control things. We had chances in all of the games – we could have won all of them.

“We have been so good in the last few years that people think it’s easy to progress. You can see every year we’ve qualified and everyone expects us to be in the final.

“But the fans realise the team worked so hard and you can’t expect more. We made two mistakes late against Lyon but the fans have some experience in Europe.

“We have to be positive, we have a massive game on Sunday and we have to make sure we are ready.

“I like to win every game and be as high as possible in all the competitions but I think more about the players, the staff and the fans and I’m disappointed for everyone.

“To win is always the target but when you are doing as well as you can you just have to think about the next target. We cannot win the Champions League, we know that. A lot of teams don’t play in the Champions League. So we have to think about Everton and then the Europa League.

“The players know it’s been a bad run of games but to win here and to show we can create a lot of chances is positive.”

Another win on Sunday against Everton, and the return of a few players from injury, and Liverpool can put the bad run behind them and set off on a winning run again.

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