Big Finn retires from football

Bayer Leverkusen defender Sami Hyypia has revealed that he will retire from playing football at the end of the season, bringing to an end a 19-year career.

Hyypia, 37, has been a regular for Leverkusen for the past two seasons since joining the club from Liverpool in 2009, where he spent ten successful years.

The Finland centre-back won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, League Cup and FA Cup (twice) in his time on Merseyside and in 2006 was recognised by the club's fans as the 38th best Reds player of all time.

Hyypia announced that he intends to hang up his boots at a press conference on Monday, though he will continue to work at Leverkusen as an assistant coach and will also become No. 2 to Finland boss Mixu Paatelainen.

Hyypia has been crowned Finnish Player of the Year nine times in his career, including the past three years in a row and only Jari Litmanen can boast more than the defender's 103 caps for the national team.

Source: ESPN Soccernet

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Video: Sami last game for Liverpool FC

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Video Highlights: Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle

Liverpool are up to fifth after goals from Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez completed a 3-0 victory over Newcastle.

The Reds have leapfrogged Tottenham on goal difference to occupy a Europa League place - though Spurs have a game in hand.

Kenny Dalglish's side have now scored 11 and conceded none in their last three home games - and the momentum is theirs as the race for Europe draws to a conclusion.

Liverpool were buoyed by the return of full-back Glen Johnson after a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Andy Carroll, however, was deemed fit enough only for a place on the bench against a club where he scored 33 goals in 91 games.

That meant Maxi retained his place on the back of a hat-trick against Birmingham City last week.

And it wasn't long before the Argentine reacquainted himself with Anfield's netting. There were just 10 minutes on the clock when a lovely sequence of Liverpool passing ended with Maxi half-volleying past Tim Krul via the leg of Danny Simpson.

A period of relative calm followed before Jay Spearing eyed a shooting opportunity from 25 yards. Krul could only parry his whack but recovered before either Kuyt or Raul Meireles could conclude their attempted ambush.

Shola Ameobi connected with a Joey Barton header as Newcastle threatened for the first time after half-an-hour, and there followed an uncomfortable interlude where the visitors cannonball dead balls into Liverpool's box. [Read more…]

  

Sources: Video courtesy of FootyTube.com and match report from LiverpoolFC.tv

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Rumour Mill: Gunners left-back on Liverpool radar

Liverpool are reportedly planning an ambitious move to sign Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy. Contract talks between the French international and the North London club have broken down and with one year left year on his Gunners deal Anfield director of football Damien Comolli is hoping to lure the 25-year-old to Merseyside.

The left-back area has been something of a problem this season with Paul Konchesky starting the season as first choice before being loaned out to Nottingham Forest after failing to impress. Emiliano Insua is also out on loan and injury to Fabio Aurelio has led to the emergence of teenager Jack Robinson as a player with a great deal of potential, however Kenny Dalglish is still looking for a player to fill the hole.

After eight years at Arsenal Clichy is reportedly considering his future and given that Arsene Wenger has ready made replacements in England international Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore the French boss may be willing to allow the former Cannes man to leave.

Liverpool may find it hard to convince Clichy to move to a club who is unlikely to offer Champions League football for next term but having seen the sharp upturn in fortunes under Dalglish and the fact that the club is under new ownership, seemingly eager to bring in big names, a move to Anfield may tempt the Toulouse born full-back.

Liverpool will be looking to strengthen their squad following the big money signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll in January and a fee for Clichy would be significantly decreased by the fact that in one year he could leave for nothing.

Source: LFC_Stats

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Video Highlights: Liverpool 5-0 Birmingham

Maxi Rodriguez scored a hat-trick as Liverpool kept their European qualification hopes alive with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Birmingham City at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

The Argentinean put the Reds into a seventh-minute lead, capitalising on Ben Foster's fumble from Jay Spearing's drive to tap in.

Dirk Kuyt then continued his fine goal scoring run with Liverpool's second soon after, netting at the second attempt after his initial effort had been blocked.

Maxi furthered the home side's lead midway through the second period by steering Luis Suarez's cross into the goal at close quarters before wrapping up his treble with a composed finish.

Substitute Joe Cole completed the rout late on when his mazy run and shot deflected into the back of the net.

The result is the Reds' biggest home victory of 2010-11 so far and moves them to within three points of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, though the Londoners have a game in hand.

Liverpool went into the game aiming to end a seven-year itch against Birmingham having not mustered a league win over the second city side since May 2004. [Read more…]

 

Sources: Video courtesy of FootyTube.com and match report from LiverpoolFC.tv

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Liverpool forward admits mistake for swapping Serie A or Bundesliga for England

According to OnTheMinute.com, Serbian forward Milan Jovanovic admits he regrets joining Premier League side Liverpool last summer.

Jovanovic joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Belgian side Standard Liege but has failed to make an impact at Anfield.

Jovanovic told Sportske: "If I'm completely honest, I must say that I regularly think about this. If I would move to Italy or Germany I would be happier than in England - my life would be nicer.

   "And also for my career it would be better to play in Serie A or the Bundesliga.
"In Belgium I was living in an area where there were so many people from Serbia and my life was different, more dynamic.
"Liverpool is such a different place. I'm here alone, without anybody. I'm just a very lonely stranger.

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Video Highlights: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

Dirk Kuyt secured a point for Liverpool with the last kick of the game following a dramatic encounter at the Emirates.

The contest was set to end 0-0 until Robin van Persie fired an injury-time penalty. Minutes later referee Andre Marriner again pointed to the spot, with Kuyt converting to give the visitors a share of the spoils against the odds.

Earlier in the game Jamie Carragher (concussion) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) had to leave the field - making Liverpool's comeback all the more remarkable.

The result leaves them four points off European qualification, though rivals Tottenham have two games in hand. Arsenal, meanwhile, trail Manchester United by six points as Alex Ferguson's men chase a record 19^th title.

Kenny Dalglish named an unchanged side following the 3-0 win over FA Cup finalists Manchester City on Monday.

That meant another start for 18-year-old John Flanagan, though Samir Nasri would hope to pose the right-back more questions than either James Milner or Mario Balotelli managed to do.

Straight away Arsenal probed down Liverpool's right and earned a free-kick following a foul from Luis Suarez. Cesc Fabregas whipped into the box, with Abou Diaby heading narrowly wide.

Liverpool countered with a cross from Suarez which was met by Andy Carroll before Jay Spearing tumbled under a goalmouth challenge from Johan Djourou. Andre Marriner had a good view and decided not to blow his whistle.

A speculative effort from Theo Walcott almost gave Arsenal a lead on 12 minutes when it was spilt by Pepe Reina. van Persie looked to capitalise, flashing the ball back across goal only for Flanagan to intervene with a fine clearing header. [Read more…]

 

Sources: Video courtesy of FootyTube.com and match report from LiverpoolFC.tv

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Video Highlights: Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City

Andy Carroll struck his first Liverpool goals as big-spending Manchester City were dispatched 3-0 at Anfield.

The 22-year-old scored twice with Dirk Kuyt getting the other as the Reds treated their fans to a fine exhibition of football.

It is a result that leaves Kenny Dalglish and co. five points off European qualification, though fifth-placed Tottenham have seven matches remaining compared to Liverpool's six.

The game was preceded by a minute's silence ahead of the 22^nd anniversary of Hillsborough this week. The impeccable manner in which it was observed and the performance that followed from Liverpool was a fitting tribute to the 96 supporters who lost their lives.

The Reds went into the fixture with a makeshift defence including fit again Fabio Aurelio and 18-year-old Scouser John Flanagan, who was handed a debut due to a clutch of injuries in full-back positions.

We will never know how vulnerable this back four were - because Liverpool dominated from start to finish. [Read more…]

 

Sources: Video courtesy of FootyTube.com and match report from LiverpoolFC.tv

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LeBron James joins Liverpool FC

United States basketball star LeBron James has become a minority stakeholder in Liverpool after signing a representation deal with club owners Fenway Sports Group.

The Wall Street Journal claims that FSG has struck a deal to partner the Miami Heat player's sports-marketing firm, LRMR Branding & Marketing, to become his exclusive worldwide representative.

The newspaper said Maverick Carter, chief executive of LRMR, had expressed his desire to build James' portfolio internationally and find opportunities for him to gain equity in companies throughout the world as his commercial interests have largely been limited to sponsorship and endorsement deals.

The report also said James received an undisclosed minority stake in Liverpool as part of the deal.

Source: ESPNSoccernet

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