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Happy New Year 2009!
YNWA,
Red's Fury™
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The Reds will return to Champions League action on Wednesday when they face Sevilla at Anfield.
Liverpool began their Champions League group stage campaign with a 2-2 draw with Sevilla at Anfield on Wednesday.
Liverpool endured a frustrating afternoon at Anfield as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley on Saturday.
Liverpool is keen to make up for the frustration of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley.
A day of stalemates and misery for the Premier League’s Big Four. Liverpool throw away a good opportunity to lead the Premier League when the Reds drew nil-nil at Anfield.
Chelsea and Manchester United, another casualties of the mid-week international friendlies, also failed to score in their matches. Arsenal suffered a heavy defeat in the hand of Manchester City, crashing to a 3-nil humiliation.
The decision to play Lucas Levia clearly backfired as Liverpool failed to control the midfield area during the first half. Rafa benched Xabi Alonso after the Spaniard featured for the full 90-minute in Spain’s friendly match.
Fulham, with one of the best defensive records in the top flight, have never won at Anfield and rarely looked like doing so this time.
But their dogged performance claimed only their second away point of the season and also secured their third goalless draw in eight visits to Anfield.
At least they had worked out how to contain a Liverpool side who lacked ideas and inspiration. Not even the return of Fernando Torres to the starting line-up helped much.
Benitez insisted his players must take collective responsibility.
He said: "We will always miss a player of Stevie's ability, but we did not beat Fulham because five or so players were all off form together.
"You cannot win games when that happens. He would have made a difference, yes, but it should not be an excuse.
"He is training now and I would expect that he would be fit to play against Marseille on Wednesday."
Fulham’s goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer pulled off to fine saves to denied Liverpool. A half chance fell to Robbie Keane where he fails to convert and smashed a shot straight at Schwarzer from eight yards out.
The Reds were turning the screw and the Fulham stopper had to be at his instinctive best again on 70 minutes when he pushed Dirk Kuyt's effort away after a volleyed cross from Albert Riera.
Dropping points at home wasn't an excused for missing some key players and the mid-week international friendlies. Rafa should always select his strongest eleven, not relying on those fresh legs and haven't started regularly. Hopefully, Rafa pulls his head together and get us through to the next round of Champions League.
The team:
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher (c), Arbeloa, Riera, Leiva, Mascherano, Kuyt, Keane, Torres
Subs - Alonso, Babel, Benayoun, Cavalieri, Dossena, El Zhar, Hyypia
Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hangeland, Hughes, Pantsill, Dempsey, Bullard, Murphy (c), Davies, Johnson, Zamora
Subs - Baird, Gera, Gray, Kallio, Nevland, Stoor, Zuberbuhler
Referee: M Halsey
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YNWA,
Red's Fury™
Posted using Windows Live Writer Beta
"Even if it’s Liverpool, if I don’t get to play in the next few months I will not want to be here.
“I enjoy my time in England but maybe it is time to learn a new language - maybe Italian, French or Russian.
“When I came here it wasn’t so I could tell everyone ‘Hey, I play for Liverpool’.
“My purpose was to prove myself and, in the first year, I think I did with 11 goals and 10 assists.
“I understand that I am at one of the biggest clubs in the world and that this year there are better players.
“After our win over Manchester United I lost my place. Everyone wants to play and it is no fun sitting on the bench or playing just a few minutes.
“I’m part of the rotation but I hope in the next few months it will change.” – Benayoun, Setanta Sports
“I have a contract with Liverpool for another year," Arbeloa told AS. "We haven’t spoken about an extension. It is necessary to know first if Benitez will stay…"It seems to be a little too soon to speak about that.” - Alvaro Arbeloa, Setanta Sports.
“We went to visit Lee’s grave and I was kneeling down laying some flowers when Jermaine bent down next to me and asked, ‘Do you want to get married to me?’.“It’s been a tough year for the family. Getting engaged to Jermaine is probably a bit of good news that we needed. Lee would have been so happy for us. I never stopped thinking about Jermaine after we split up - and he feels the same way.”
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Babel, Alonso, Leiva, Pennant, Gerrard (c), Kuyt.
Subs - Agger, Benayoun, Cavalieri, Dossena, Keane, Mascherano, Riera
Portsmouth: James, Traore, Distin (c), Kaboul, Pamarot, Belhadj, Davis, Diop, Diarra, Crouch, Utaka.
Subs - Ashdown, Defoe, Hreidarsson, Hughes, Kranjcar, Mvuemba
Referee: S Tanner
YNWA,
Red's Fury™
Posted using Windows Live Writer Beta
You would have to ask the club. I have been trying to get into the team.
I haven't played, but I will just wait and see and when the transfer window closes, we will know then.
I will wait and see if I can get into the team; if not, then obviously I want to play, so we will just have to take it from there.
We (he and Rafa Benitez) have spoken about it, but at this time, I don't think I will say too much more. - Steve Finnan, Setanta Sport
It’s always nice to score as a striker. But it’s important to score for the team and that is the most important thing. It would have been nice to have held out for the win but it wasn’t to be. - Robbie Keane, Setanta Sport
As a Liverpool fan the number seven jersey is massive. It is a fantastic opportunity for me that obviously I'm relishing. The people who have worn the number seven here, like Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish - if I do half the job they did at Liverpool I will be happy. - Robbie Keane, Liverpoolfc.tv
Godwin is a very talented young defender who we've been watching for some time. When I heard he had become available on loan I jumped at the chance of bringing him in to play right back.
He is comfortable on the ball, already has Football League experience from his time at Hartlepool and he will add quality, strength and pace to our defence. - Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore, Liverpoolfc.tv
Leicester showed their interest and I had no hesitation in coming here. This is a massive club with a good manager and top class Premier League facilities.
I want to help this club get back to the Championship at the first time of asking. - Jack Hobbs, Liverpoolfc.tv
I spoke with the people of the club [Liverpool] and our decision is to leave the club and to play somewhere else on loan for one season. I have to play football next season.
My agents are in Athens. They speak with Olympiacos for my loan.
Their manager, Ernesto Valverde called me. He told me that he is really interested in having me at his team. He told me about his thoughts and everything. For me it’s really important to have a manager who speaks my language. - Setanta Sports
If you're going to be successful you do have to have different options especially with Peter Crouch leaving.
I think we need two or three and maybe four different options if you want to be successful. - BBC Sports
Having sold Peter Crouch to Portsmouth for £11m, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has sufficient funds to tempt Tottenham officials into selling one of the club's prized assets and an offer in excess of £20m for Keane, which would rocket the player's career transfer value to £60m. - Telegraph.co.uk
LEICESTER CITY
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