Liverpool defender pondering life away from Anfield

Teenager hungry for action after falling out of favour on Merseyside. Out-of-favour Liverpool youngster Danny Wilson is open to spending time out on loan if it means playing regular first-team football.

The 19-year-old defender notched up eight appearances for the Reds in all competitions after making his debut in the Carling Cup last September.

But action has been limited so far this term, with former Rangersman Wilsonhaving made just one outing back in August.

Lack of game time saw the youngster dropped from the senior Scotland squad for this month's crunch Euro 2012 qualifiers and he is determined to get things back on track.

"There's nothing worse than not being able to go out on the pitch on a Saturday and play," Wilson told Sky Sports News.

"But I need to just keep my head down and hopefully I'll either get some game time at Liverpool or get the chance to go somewhere else and try and prove myself."

Liverpool's fortunes have turned around drastically over the past 12 months and they currently sit fifth in the Premier League, marking them as possible contenders for a UEFA Champions League spot.

But Wilson insists they are not getting ahead of themselves, adding: "It just depends how the next couple of months go.

"You can be realistic, you can change your aims and where you want to be, but obviously the higher we finish the better.

"We want to get back in the Champions League, obviously, but first and foremost we need to make sure we're in a good position to do that."

While Wilson is not involved in Scotland's final qualifier in Spain on Tuesday night, he believes Craig Levein's men have every chance of causing an upset to clinch the final play-off spot in Group I.

"We beat France twice a couple of years ago and nobody gave us a chance of doing that," he said.

"Spain, being European and world champions, means it's a big, big ask of the players. But I feel if we go out and we can implement what we want to do on the park then I think Scotland have got a great chance."

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: Sky Sports

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Liverpool goalkeeper almost joins the Gunners

The Liverpool FC Spanish goalkeeper adores the city, he is proud that his children speak with a Scouse accent – and he believes that he represents one of the greatest clubs in world football.

But in his searingly honest autobiography, published this week, Reina also admits that three times he came close to leaving all that behind.

“I have been through three dark nights of the soul at Liverpool and on all three occasions I have questioned whether I should stay at the club that I have come to love,” he declares.

“On each occasion I could have walked away.

“I had opportunities to continue my career elsewhere, but I never took that final, decisive step that would have severed my ties with Liverpool forever. Thankfully.”

The first occasion, in 2006, came as a personal crisis of confidence.

Doubts that had festered after an unconvincing FA Cup final appearance, were magnified by an error in the Reds first home league game and reached crisis proportions in the Goodison derby match.

“Everyone – especially the Evertonians – remembers the day we lost the Merseyside derby 3-0 at Goodison Park on September 9, 2006,” he explains.

“The moment that stands out the most for me was when Andy Johnson scored Everton’s third. It all started when Lee Carsley had a shot from outside the area in the 94th minute. I parried it away, but as the ball went into the air, it headed back towards the goal. I turned to get it but in a split second opted to try and catch it, realising too late that I would carry it over the line. I tried to push it over the bar but could only direct it into the path of Johnson, who had an easy task to head it into the roof of the net.

“When things like that happen you feel like you have let everyone down, especially when it happens against your local rivals in a game that the supporters are desperate to win. But that wasn’t even the worst of it for me because that mistake wasn’t a one-off. If anything, it summed up my form as I struggled to get out of one of the most testing slumps of my career.”

It was manager Rafael Benitez who talked Reina round.

“Like every other player when things go wrong you need the help of the people around you and in this case it was the support of Rafa Benitez that made the biggest difference,” he said. “He gave me such strong backing at the time, and showed he believed in me.

“I knew that Valencia were there and their interest was in the back of my mind. Rafa changed everything and put all those fears to rest. He made me forget about the possibility of leaving Liverpool before I had even proved myself here. With the help of the boss and Jose Ochotorena, the goalkeeping coach, I came through it.

“From the middle of January to the beginning of May 2007, we conceded only 12 goals and managed 11 clean sheets – including one against Everton in the return league fixture at Anfield.

“I had been strong enough to cope with a difficult situation with their support, and I ended up having a good season.”

Read more: Liverpool Echo

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Rumour Mill: Liverpool tracking Dutch striker

Liverpool FC has earmarked a future move to sign Dutch international striker Luuk de Jong after a series of scouting missions. The 21-year-old has been a consistent performer for FC Twente and his displays have earned him a series of international call ups and a growing list of prospective suitors.

The powerfully built striker helped his side to a Dutch Eredivisie title in his first season at the club and this term he has matured into a more effective attacking weapon, notching up six goals in eight matches. The 6ft 2in Swiss born forward has been linked with interest from several clubs across Europe and is seen as a prospect with a bright future.

Though Liverpool have a formidable first choice strike pairing in Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll they do lack strength in depth in this department, especially after the sale of David N’Gog to Bolton. Kenny Dalglish brought in a short term solution to this problem by signing 32-year-old Craig Bellamy.

De Jong is valued at around £10million and clearly having spent upwards of £100million in 2011 on new additions, such a price tag will not cause any problems for the Merseyside outfit. The young FC Twente man will no doubt be tempted by a high profile move where he would link up with his international colleague Dirk Kuyt.

If Liverpool is to follows suit with a bid in January transfer window, we will not be surprised that Daniel Pacheco’s future at Anfield has been numbered. Pacheco currently on a season long loan to Atletico Madrid.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: CaughtOffside

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Liverpool takes on Glasgow Rangers on a friendly match

Liverpool will head to Glasgow in a midweek friendly later this month to take part in a friendly game against Rangers.

The game will take place on the 18th October at 7.30pm UK time. Charlie Adam and Danny Wilson are the two Reds who played for Rangers.

   “They are a fantastic club and their squad is packed with world class players so I have no doubt this game will capture the imagination of our supporters.

“We look forward to welcoming Charlie Adam and Danny Wilson back to Ibrox and I am sure the fans will turn out in huge numbers once again to watch us in action against such a high-profile English Premiership side.” - Rangers boss Ally McCoist

The two teams last met in a pre-season friendly in August 2008, with Liverpool running out 4-0 winners in Scotland. Liverpool have been allocated 3,500 tickets for this fixture.

Source: Liverpool FC Official

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Jamie Carragher career may ends soon

Liverpool's vice-captain Jamie Carragher has admitted his career could be over in a year's time.

Carragher has made 676 appearances for Liverpool since coming through the youth ranks and making his debut 14 years ago.

He has been a regular in the Reds defence since coming on as a substitute in Liverpool's League Cup game against Middlesbrough in 1997, but the 33-year-old concedes his long and glittering career may be nearing its end.

When asked how long he had left in the game, Carragher told the Leaders in Football conference in London: "Ask (Liverpool boss) Kenny (Dalglish). He picks the team. It will be up to the coaching staff I suppose.

"You want to try to get as much out of your career and play as long as possible.

"The time will come in the next 12, 18 months, maybe two years.

"That won't be down to myself. It will be down to the people around me, the staff, the manager. They will decide."

Carragher's full-blooded displays at the heart of the Liverpool defence have earned him many plaudits during his career and his leadership skills have seen him touted as a future Reds boss.

The defender admits he would love to go in to coaching after hanging up his boots.

"Do I want to go in to coaching or management? Yes, I think so," Carragher said.

"I've taken my first steps to coaching and the B licence.

"We all love the game, you want to stay involved in the game."

Carragher made morning headlines when he claimed that England are "cheating" by employing a foreign coach as their national manager.

The defender insisted this evening that his claim should not be viewed as an attack on England boss Fabio Capello, but more of a plea for placing trust in home-grown coaches, and he even claimed that every part of the national football set-up should be English.

"It's nothing against Capello or anybody who comes in in the future," Carragher added.

"It's nothing against foreign players or coaches. I just think that's what international football should be about.

"For me we shouldn't have a foreign member of staff. The best doctor in the country should be the England doctor or the bus driver. That's what international football is.

"If we're not up to it in certain areas we have to improve."

Carragher also thinks the presence of foreigners is impeding the development of young English players.

The defender has hit out at the Premier League for not protecting the home-grown youngsters coming through the ranks.

"Everyone wants to play in the Premier League now. Players at our academy don't get a chance," he said.

"Our academies are not just full of local players. They are full of foreign players too.

"That's a bit of a problem for me.

"I think no foreign players should leave their country until 18 or maybe 21 and I think I think the academies should be for local players.

Former England and Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes claimed recently that the England camp had been divided into Manchester United and Liverpool cliques during his time on the international scene.

Carragher, who was a member of the squad at the same time as the retired Red Devils player, agreed, saying: "I saw that.

"I don't think it was Man United and Liverpool. It was more Man United and the rest.

"They'd all grown up together those Man United players. They had been in youth teams together. They would always sit together at meal times.

"It was just like the five best mates together.

"They'd all come through together. It was a tight-knit thing. They were best mates. They had a great youth team. It was more of a case of that.

"There were that many of them. They had such a good team. They probably had seven or eight in the squad at the same time.

"It was probably difficult for anyone to break into that little group and get to know them."

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: ESPN Star

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Video Highlights: Everton 0-2 Liverpool

Source: FootyTube.com

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Premier League: Everton 0-2 Liverpool

Andy Carroll scored his first Barclays Premier League goal of the season as Liverpool recorded a 2-0 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Everton's cause wasn't helped by the controversial sending off of Jack Rodwell midway through the first half after a challenge on Luis Suarez, but Dirk Kuyt missed the opportunity to give the Reds a half-time lead when he later saw his penalty was saved by Tim Howard.

However, Carroll found the back of the net with a little under 20 minutes remaining, hooking in a cross from Jose Enrique from close-range.

Suarez then settled the contest with a neat finish after a mix-up between two Everton defenders inside the box to ensure Liverpool claimed local bragging rights in the 216^th meeting between the sides.

A little more than 20 years had elapsed since Kenny Dalglish last led a Reds team across Stanley Park into battle with the neighbours.

On that occasion, a pulsating FA Cup tie ended in a 4-4 draw and in the build up to the game the boss quipped another four for his side wouldn't go amiss this time around - minus a quartet of goals for the opposition, of course.

Kuyt, so often the talisman on these occasions, earned a recall to the starting XI, with the Dutchman replacing Jordan Henderson in the only change made to the side that began against Wolves last weekend meaning Liverpool fielded five derby debutants.

Read more: Liverpool FC Official

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Preview: Everton v Liverpool

Saturday October 1st

Everton v Liverpool
Goodison Park
Kick-off: 12.45 BST
TV: Sky Sport 2, Highlights BBC1 Match of the Day.

Probable line-ups:

Everton (Probable, 4-1-4-1): Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Neville; Coleman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Osman; Cahill.
Out: Anichebe (groin).

Liverpool (Probable, 4-4-2): Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrqiue; Henderson, Adam, Lucas, Downing; Suarez, Carroll.
Out: Agger (ribs), Johnson (hamstring).
Test: Gerrard (match fitness).

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may have to settle for a place on the bench again the 216th Merseyside derby.

The England midfielder has played just 25 minutes after a six-month lay-off from a groin operation.

Defenders Glen Johnson (hamstring) and Daniel Agger (rib) will not feature – although the latter has returned to training – while forward Dirk Kuyt is pushing for a recall at the expense of Jordan Henderson.

With Tim Cahill recovering from the bruised shin he suffered during last week's 2-0 defeat by Manchester City, Victor Anichebe is Everton's only long-term casualty with a groin injury.

Everton will be looking to repeat last season’s embarrassingly one-sided Goodison derby win, but must be wary of the Dalglish factor.

In 23 Mersey derbies as Liverpool manager, Dalglish has only ever lost three, winning an impressive 13.

Tim Cahill’s recovery from a shin injury will buoy the blue half of the city, but with Steven Gerrard itching to get off the bench, Dalglish will have the aces to call upon when required.

Chris Bascombe’s prediction: Everton 1 Liverpool 1

Red's Fury™ prediction: Everton 2 Liverpool 3

Yours’ prediction: Everton ? Liverpool ?

Leave your score prediction in the comment box below.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: Telegraph

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