Liverpool 0-0 Fulham

English Premier League

22nd November 2008

Anfield (H)

LIVERPOOL 0-0 FULHAM

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™

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Reds on target for international friendlies

A mid-week World Cup qualifier warm up matches been held last night. Two of the Liverpool players were on the scoresheet for thier respective countries. Xabi Alonso scored twice for Spain to beat Daniel Agger's Denmark 3-0.

While, Rafa trying to offload Alonso, he's getting better and better each game for Spain and Liverpool. In return, it may forced Rafa to reconsider his decision to sell Xabi.

Meanwhile, Robbie Keane bagged his 34th international goal as the Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 with Norway. The game also saw Steve Finnan make his international return.

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

Elsewhere, Andrea Dossena earned his second international cap when he came on in the second half during Italy's 2-2 draw with Austria.

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

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Robbie Keane unveiled at Melwood

Liverpool today parades Robbie Keane at the club's training ground, Melwood. Keane is to wear the number seven shirt, famously worn by Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan.

The number seven shirt was left vacant by Harry Kewell when he departed Anfield for Galatasaray.

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

Here's the photo session at Melwood;

via Liverpoolfc.tv

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

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Robbie Keane arrived for medical

According to today's Echo, Robbie Keane completed his medical and are edging closer of sealing a £20million move to Anfield.

The Irish international was booked in for a series of tests at a Merseyside hospital. A fee of £18million with add-ons of up to £2million has been agreed with Spurs and terms have been agreed with the player.

Keane's arrival would make him the second most expensive player ever signed by Liverpool, only Torres has cost more.

If there are no problem with the tests, he should be able to complete all the formalities and is expected to sign a five-year deal worth around £80,000 per week to join the club he has supported since boyhood.

Stay tune for more updates.

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

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Robbie set for Anfield

Which Robbie? Of course not Robbie Fowler, it's Robbie Keane who is set to sign for Liverpool. Rafa Benitez hopes to hand Keane his Liverpool debut at Rangers next Saturday.

The striker’s dream transfer moved a step closer on Thursday night when he was left out of the Tottenham side for the friendly in Alicante.

Keane is expected to complete a £20million switch to Merseyside early next week. It seems unlikely the deal will be done in time for him to line up in the Reds’ next warm-up fixture at Villarreal on Wednesday.

The trip to Scotland to play against Rangers at Ibrox three days later is the more likely option, assuming there are no problems with his medical.

Rafa Benitez is refusing to panic in his efforts to land Gareth Barry despite Martin O’Neill’s attempts to place a deadline on the transfer.

Rafa Benitez has refused to budge from his stance that Barry is overpriced at £18million while a growing cash crisis at Valencia is raising the possibility of the Kop manager moving for David Silva instead.

Liverpool’s Spanish stars Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa returned to training following their Euro 2008 heroics.

Benitez believes their success can inspire everyone at Anfield. But one of his Spanish stars will be wanting for an exit. Arbeloa leaving could left Liverpool short of cover at the right-side of defence as Steve Finnan was wanted in the deal for Barry.

Could it be all over for Barry? Rafa is set for a crunch talks with Alonso over the midfielder future at Anfield soon after he returned from his holidays.

Valencia have debts of £400million and the Spaniards are looking to fund a new £250million stadium.

And owner Juan Solares is desperately trying to sell the club.

But until he does, the need to raise cash has become desperate and some of Europe’s big guns are circling Silva, David Villa and Joaquin.

Solares was furious with figurehead president Juan Villalonga for rejecting Atletico Madrid’s £17million bid for Silva which is an obvious sign he was ready to do business at that price.

The figure is lower than Rafa has expected them to demand and, with no immediate end in sight to the war which is tearing Valencia apart, Liverpool could get the Spain winger for a cut price.

David Villa is Valencia’s jewel in the crown and Real Madrid will swoop if they are forced to concede defeat in their bid to sign Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

One good news for Liverpool is that Tottenham are going after David Villa as a replacement while having conceded that they'll lose both Berbatov and Keane.

Well Keane is only worth £20million, captain of his country and Barry just capped a few games for England, Aston Villa wants £18million.

That's ridiculous, don't you think?

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

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Olympiacos in for Voronin

Olympiacos have made contact with Liverpool for striker Andriy Voronin. The Ukrainian has been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer is also interesting, Bundesliga outfits, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg.

Rafa is keen to recover as much as possible from player sales to help fund the move for Robbie Keane and Gareth Barry. Voronin is reportedly made available for £3million. He may be the fourth player from first team roster after Crouch, Riise and Kewell to leave Anfield before the season start.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have confirmed the signing of teenage Spanish right-back Emmanuel Mendy on a three-year deal.

The Reds today said on their official website that the 18-year-old arrives on a free from Murcia Deportivo and will compete for a place in Gary Ablett's reserves. He is also known to play at left-back.

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

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