THE REDS 08/09 HOME KITS
Wednesday 30 April 2008
Monday 28 April 2008
RAFA WARY OF DROGBA THREATRICS
Written by: AFP
2008-04-27 14:11:34
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| Chelsea´s Ivorian forward Didier Drogba celebrates during the UEFA Champions League semi-final match against Liverpool at Anfield on April 22. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said he would be calling on officials to keep a close eye on Drogba´s theatrics in their midweek Champions League semi-final second leg at Chelsea. | |
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said Sunday he would be calling on officials to keep a close eye on Didier Drogba's theatrics in their midweek Champions League semi-final second leg at Chelsea.
Benitez believes Blues striker Drogba goes down far too easily.
"With Drogba, it's important to have a good referee," the Spaniard said.
"You can't do anything, but I will say it because it was so clear. He is amazing because he is massive.
"It's very impressive. I have a lot of clips of him from over the years and he surprises me. After four years, I expected it."
Benitez said he had compiled clips of Drogba during Liverpool's many matches against Chelsea since he became manager.
The Spaniard was unhappy at what he perceives as preferential treatment for the striker at Anfield in Tuesday night's first leg which ended 1-1.
"We've played against Chelsea 19 games and every time I have collected some clips of Drogba," Benitez explained.
"I have shown them to some of the players. I think that (Martin) Skrtel and Carra (Jamie Carragher) were really good against him the other day, the only problem was the referee was giving fouls. And it was not the same with (Fernando) Torres."
Benitez believes Blues striker Drogba goes down far too easily.
"With Drogba, it's important to have a good referee," the Spaniard said.
"You can't do anything, but I will say it because it was so clear. He is amazing because he is massive.
"It's very impressive. I have a lot of clips of him from over the years and he surprises me. After four years, I expected it."
Benitez said he had compiled clips of Drogba during Liverpool's many matches against Chelsea since he became manager.
The Spaniard was unhappy at what he perceives as preferential treatment for the striker at Anfield in Tuesday night's first leg which ended 1-1.
"We've played against Chelsea 19 games and every time I have collected some clips of Drogba," Benitez explained.
"I have shown them to some of the players. I think that (Martin) Skrtel and Carra (Jamie Carragher) were really good against him the other day, the only problem was the referee was giving fouls. And it was not the same with (Fernando) Torres."
Wednesday 23 April 2008
CHELSEA LUCK
Written by: AFP
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| Liverpool´s Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio(R) and Chelsea´s English midfielder Joe Cole compete for the ball during their UEFA Champions League semi-final football match at Anfield. The match ended on a 1-1 draw. | |
LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Chelsea snatched a Champions League lifeline as Liverpool defender John Arne Riise's last-gasp own goal allowed Avram Grant's side to escape with a 1-1 draw from Tuesday's semi-final first leg.
Liverpool had dominated after taking the lead through Dirk Kuyt just before half-time at Anfield but they failed to press home that advantage.
Petr Cech produced three superb saves to keep out Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard and Chelsea were able to make Rafa Benitez's team pay in the final minute of stoppage time when Riise headed into his own net.
After suffering semi-final exits at Anfield in two of the last three seasons, the Blues will have left Merseyside feeling luck was on their side at last.
They lost to Luis Garcia's 'phantom goal' in 2005 and were beaten on penalties last season.
Now, bolstered by a precious away goal their tepid display hardly deserved, Chelsea will believe they can avenge those bitter memories and finish the job at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.
It was fitting that a tie with so much emnity propelling the participants should take place to the backdrop of the power struggle between Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Hicks had been advised to stay away for his own safety but defiantly took his place in the Anfield directors box.
The Kop made their feelings known with a series of anti-Hicks chants but were soon creating a wall of sound to intimidate Chelsea rather than the American tycoon.
The crowd's frenzied passion didn't inspire many fireworks on the pitch early on though. Goals are at a premium whenever these obdurate sides meet in Europe and it was a typically tenative start.
Liverpool threatened to break the stalemate first. Kuyt raced onto Xabi Alonso's long pass, only for the Dutchman's poor chest control to let Ricardo Carvalho and Cech clear the danger.
Chelsea's Joe Cole had a sight of goal when Frank Lampard, back after spending time with his ill mother, picked out the England winger in the penalty area. Cole's tame volley didn't do justice to the sublime pass.
Didier Drogba appealed for a penalty when he tumbled under Jamie Carragher's tackle. Carragher missed the ball but the challenge was just outside the area and referee Konrad Plautz waved away Drogba's protests.
When Steven Gerrard's defence-splitting pass put Fernando Torres clean through, Anfield rose in expectation of yet another decisive contribution from the Spaniard. For once Torres was frustrated as Cech made a superb stop.
Gradually Liverpool began to turn the screw and their relentless pressing played a key role in Kuyt's 43rd minute opener after Chelsea were unhinged by Alonso's quick free-kick.
Kuyt robbed Lampard on the edge of the area and Javier Mascherano took a swipe at the loose ball. The Argentine's miscued effort should have been cleared but Claude Makelele rashly jumped in front of Ashley Cole and Kuyt was able to pounce, sliding his shot under Cech.
Liverpool were grateful for the gift but it was a shambolic goal to concede and summed up Chelsea's confused display.
Grant's inspirational qualities have been questioned constantly this season and now was the moment for the Israeli to lift his side. Yet they emerged after half-time just as flat as before.
Liverpool winger Ryan Babel caused chaos in the Chelsea defence as he surged past Paulo Ferreira and whipped in a low cross that led to a blocked Torres shot.
Babel was a constant danger and went close in the 60th minute with a dipping half-volley that flashed past Cech's far post.
Chelsea finally stirred when Michael Ballack met Lampard's free-kick with a glancing header which Jose Reina held well.
Florent Malouda had a much better chance moments later as he took Lampard's pass and cut inside Alvaro Arbeloa. Just as Malouda was about to pull the trigger, Mascherano slid in with a crucial block.
Gerrard forced a brilliant one-handed tip-over from Cech in the closing minutes as Liverpool strove to take total control of the tie.
Cech then denied Torres with another fine stop at his near post and Chelsea took full advantage.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Salomon Kalou swung in a cross from the left and Riise, diving to head clear, succeeded only in diverting the ball into his own net.
Anfield fell silent as Liverpool were left to wonder if they would rue those missed chances.
Liverpool had dominated after taking the lead through Dirk Kuyt just before half-time at Anfield but they failed to press home that advantage.
Petr Cech produced three superb saves to keep out Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard and Chelsea were able to make Rafa Benitez's team pay in the final minute of stoppage time when Riise headed into his own net.
After suffering semi-final exits at Anfield in two of the last three seasons, the Blues will have left Merseyside feeling luck was on their side at last.
They lost to Luis Garcia's 'phantom goal' in 2005 and were beaten on penalties last season.
Now, bolstered by a precious away goal their tepid display hardly deserved, Chelsea will believe they can avenge those bitter memories and finish the job at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.
It was fitting that a tie with so much emnity propelling the participants should take place to the backdrop of the power struggle between Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Hicks had been advised to stay away for his own safety but defiantly took his place in the Anfield directors box.
The Kop made their feelings known with a series of anti-Hicks chants but were soon creating a wall of sound to intimidate Chelsea rather than the American tycoon.
The crowd's frenzied passion didn't inspire many fireworks on the pitch early on though. Goals are at a premium whenever these obdurate sides meet in Europe and it was a typically tenative start.
Liverpool threatened to break the stalemate first. Kuyt raced onto Xabi Alonso's long pass, only for the Dutchman's poor chest control to let Ricardo Carvalho and Cech clear the danger.
Chelsea's Joe Cole had a sight of goal when Frank Lampard, back after spending time with his ill mother, picked out the England winger in the penalty area. Cole's tame volley didn't do justice to the sublime pass.
Didier Drogba appealed for a penalty when he tumbled under Jamie Carragher's tackle. Carragher missed the ball but the challenge was just outside the area and referee Konrad Plautz waved away Drogba's protests.
When Steven Gerrard's defence-splitting pass put Fernando Torres clean through, Anfield rose in expectation of yet another decisive contribution from the Spaniard. For once Torres was frustrated as Cech made a superb stop.
Gradually Liverpool began to turn the screw and their relentless pressing played a key role in Kuyt's 43rd minute opener after Chelsea were unhinged by Alonso's quick free-kick.
Kuyt robbed Lampard on the edge of the area and Javier Mascherano took a swipe at the loose ball. The Argentine's miscued effort should have been cleared but Claude Makelele rashly jumped in front of Ashley Cole and Kuyt was able to pounce, sliding his shot under Cech.
Liverpool were grateful for the gift but it was a shambolic goal to concede and summed up Chelsea's confused display.
Grant's inspirational qualities have been questioned constantly this season and now was the moment for the Israeli to lift his side. Yet they emerged after half-time just as flat as before.
Liverpool winger Ryan Babel caused chaos in the Chelsea defence as he surged past Paulo Ferreira and whipped in a low cross that led to a blocked Torres shot.
Babel was a constant danger and went close in the 60th minute with a dipping half-volley that flashed past Cech's far post.
Chelsea finally stirred when Michael Ballack met Lampard's free-kick with a glancing header which Jose Reina held well.
Florent Malouda had a much better chance moments later as he took Lampard's pass and cut inside Alvaro Arbeloa. Just as Malouda was about to pull the trigger, Mascherano slid in with a crucial block.
Gerrard forced a brilliant one-handed tip-over from Cech in the closing minutes as Liverpool strove to take total control of the tie.
Cech then denied Torres with another fine stop at his near post and Chelsea took full advantage.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Salomon Kalou swung in a cross from the left and Riise, diving to head clear, succeeded only in diverting the ball into his own net.
Anfield fell silent as Liverpool were left to wonder if they would rue those missed chances.
Wednesday 16 April 2008
Ex-Liverpool striker slams shambles at Anfield
Written by: AFP
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| Liverpool´s manager Rafael Benítez takes his seat before their UEFA Champions League quater final second leg football match against Arsenal last week. Liverpool great Ian St John has labelled the current boardroom stand-off at Anfield | |
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool great Ian St John has labelled the current boardroom stand-off at Anfield "a shambles".
Reds chief executive Rick Parry said Monday he intended to hold talks with manager Rafael Benitez after the latest twist in a series of off-field dramas.
That came after Benitez voiced his disappointment at co-chairman Tom Hicks's revelation Parry had been present at the club owners' infamous meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann last year.
It had been thought only Hicks, his fellow American co-owner George Gillett - with whom he has now fallen out - and their sons had been present as they sounded out former Germany striker Klinsmann as an "insurance policy" should Benitez leave.
"It is a real shambles," former Liverpool and Scotland striker St John told BBC Radio Five on Tuesday. "When you think about it, has it ever worked having two people running an organisation like a football club?
"One guy at the helm, fine - he carries the can. You can't have two people doing it because if they have a disagreement what is going to happen?
"And you have Rick Parry who is supposed to be the liaison between them and Rafa and then Rafa finds out, 'Hang on, he's hiding things from me'.
"I was amazed to tell the truth. I thought, like everyone else, the Americans had done it over there with Klinsmann and that was it.
"But when we heard that Rick Parry was over there. Rafa must feel right out on a limb here. Where is he going to get any support from?"
Last week Hicks called for Parry to resign. But both Hicks and Gillett each own 50 perecnt of the club and with Gillett in no mood to grant Hicks's request, Parry is set to stay in his job.
It has been reported that while Parry went to New York for an initial meeting with Klinsmann only at the request of Liverpool's co-owners and did not attend a subsequent meeting in California.
Despite all the wrangling, Liverpool have still reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Gillett and Hicks's dispute has led to the stalling of a takoever bid from Dubai Investment Capital, a group bankrolled by the ruling royal family of the United Arab Emirates.
Reds chief executive Rick Parry said Monday he intended to hold talks with manager Rafael Benitez after the latest twist in a series of off-field dramas.
That came after Benitez voiced his disappointment at co-chairman Tom Hicks's revelation Parry had been present at the club owners' infamous meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann last year.
It had been thought only Hicks, his fellow American co-owner George Gillett - with whom he has now fallen out - and their sons had been present as they sounded out former Germany striker Klinsmann as an "insurance policy" should Benitez leave.
"It is a real shambles," former Liverpool and Scotland striker St John told BBC Radio Five on Tuesday. "When you think about it, has it ever worked having two people running an organisation like a football club?
"One guy at the helm, fine - he carries the can. You can't have two people doing it because if they have a disagreement what is going to happen?
"And you have Rick Parry who is supposed to be the liaison between them and Rafa and then Rafa finds out, 'Hang on, he's hiding things from me'.
"I was amazed to tell the truth. I thought, like everyone else, the Americans had done it over there with Klinsmann and that was it.
"But when we heard that Rick Parry was over there. Rafa must feel right out on a limb here. Where is he going to get any support from?"
Last week Hicks called for Parry to resign. But both Hicks and Gillett each own 50 perecnt of the club and with Gillett in no mood to grant Hicks's request, Parry is set to stay in his job.
It has been reported that while Parry went to New York for an initial meeting with Klinsmann only at the request of Liverpool's co-owners and did not attend a subsequent meeting in California.
Despite all the wrangling, Liverpool have still reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Gillett and Hicks's dispute has led to the stalling of a takoever bid from Dubai Investment Capital, a group bankrolled by the ruling royal family of the United Arab Emirates.
Tuesday 15 April 2008
BENITEZ TARGETS FOURTH AHEAD OF CHELSEA TIE
Rafael Benitez wants Liverpool to have fourth place in the Barclays Premier League wrapped up before they take on Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The Reds boss is hopeful a Chelsea win at Everton on Thursday coupled with a Liverpool triumph at Fulham will give them an almost unassailable lead over the Toffees and provide his players with the perfect boost going into next week's first-leg clash with Avram Grant's men at Anfield.
"We need now to make sure of fourth spot before we play Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals," said Benitez.
"It needs to be out of the way so that everyone can concentrate on those two matches.
"We have no control over what Everton do in their game at the end of the week (at home to Chelsea) but we would hope that a win at Fulham would give us fourth spot."
If the above mentioned results were to go Liverpool's way it would see them move eight points ahead of Everton with just three games remaining.
That in itself would not guarantee the Reds of fourth spot but it would give them a huge advantage and allow them to turn their focus on the last four meeting with Chelsea and a potential Champions League final in Moscow on May 21.
"We have not quite secured fourth place yet," Benitez continued. "We need to keep going and win our next match at Fulham.
"I am not really worried about chasing third place now, let's just prepare the players for our next game.
"We must only think of finishing in the top four. That, and progress in the Champions League, is our priority."
The Reds are currently five points ahead of Everton courtesy of Sunday's 3-1 win over Blackburn - a result that, once again, saw both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard on the scoresheet.
The duo have now fired a combined total of 51 goals in all competitions this season and Benitez feels it shows his side have more of an attacking threat this year.
"I am pleased that Steven and Fernando have now scored 50 goals between them this season," Benitez added.
"We have now scored more goals in a league season than at any time since I have been manager, so that shows our improvement."
Paul Hassall 14 April 2008
The Reds boss is hopeful a Chelsea win at Everton on Thursday coupled with a Liverpool triumph at Fulham will give them an almost unassailable lead over the Toffees and provide his players with the perfect boost going into next week's first-leg clash with Avram Grant's men at Anfield.
"We need now to make sure of fourth spot before we play Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals," said Benitez.
"It needs to be out of the way so that everyone can concentrate on those two matches.
"We have no control over what Everton do in their game at the end of the week (at home to Chelsea) but we would hope that a win at Fulham would give us fourth spot."
If the above mentioned results were to go Liverpool's way it would see them move eight points ahead of Everton with just three games remaining.
That in itself would not guarantee the Reds of fourth spot but it would give them a huge advantage and allow them to turn their focus on the last four meeting with Chelsea and a potential Champions League final in Moscow on May 21.
"We have not quite secured fourth place yet," Benitez continued. "We need to keep going and win our next match at Fulham.
"I am not really worried about chasing third place now, let's just prepare the players for our next game.
"We must only think of finishing in the top four. That, and progress in the Champions League, is our priority."
The Reds are currently five points ahead of Everton courtesy of Sunday's 3-1 win over Blackburn - a result that, once again, saw both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard on the scoresheet.
The duo have now fired a combined total of 51 goals in all competitions this season and Benitez feels it shows his side have more of an attacking threat this year.
"I am pleased that Steven and Fernando have now scored 50 goals between them this season," Benitez added.
"We have now scored more goals in a league season than at any time since I have been manager, so that shows our improvement."
Paul Hassall 14 April 2008
Wednesday 9 April 2008
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