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Filed under: Loan Watch | Tags: Adam Hammill, David Martin, Godwin Antwi, Jack Hobbs, Robbie Threlfall
The latest on the Reds on loan at other clubs.
Adam Hammill (Blackpool) – The youngster started in Blackpool’s 1-1 draw with Norwich at Carrow Road. The midfielder went close with an effort from outside the area before being fouled for the penalty that saw Blackpool take the lead. Norwich equalised late on through substitute Daryl Russell.
Jack Hobbs (Leicester City) – The central defender played the full game as Leicester drew 0-0 away at Stockport County.
David Martin (Leicester City) – Goalkeeper Martin was an unused substitute for Nigel Pearson’s side.
Robbie Threlfall (Herford United) – The young full-back was on the field for the full 90 minutes as Herford lost their League One game 2-1 at home against Yeovil Town.
Godwin Antwi (Tranmere Rovers) – The Ghanian played the entire match as Tranmere beat Hartlepool 1-0 at Prenton Park.
Filed under: News | Tags: David James, Emile Heskey, Michael Owen, Peter Crouch, Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard has been included in Fabio Capello’s England squad for Wednesday’s friendly with the Czech Republic.
Former Reds David James and Emile Heskey have also been rewarded with places, but Peter Crouch and Michael Owen miss out.
The squad in full: David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Blackburn), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), David Bentley (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Wigan).
Returning Italy coach Marcello Lippi has recalled Reds defender Andrea Dossena to the national squad for this week’s friendly against Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria.
The new signing will be looking to add to his solitary cap for his country. His only appearance came in another friendly against South Africa in 2007.
The left-back made his Premiership debut at Sunderland yesterday.
Dutch Olympian Ryan Babel will be back with the squad for the upcoming fixture against Middlesbrough. The young forward captained his nation in a 2-1 defeat against Javier Mascherano’s Argentina in the Quarter Finals of the Beijing games.
The Argentines will now face Lucas Leiva’s Brazil team in the Semi-Finals of the tournament and will be looking to successfully defend their gold medals of 2004. The losing Red will not return early, however, as they will face a 3rd/4th Place Play-off after the semi’s.
The Sunday Express are reporting that Tottenham are priming a £12m bid for former Red Michael Owen to replace Old Trafford bound Dimitar Berbatov.
The England striker has had an indifferent time since leaving Anfield. The Toon Army have been waiting for the diminutive striker to sign a new contract at St James Park for quite some time now, but it looks as though he could be set for a move to the capital if this story is correct.
Fernando Torres has told the official website that the Premiership title is the teams target for this new season. The Spaniard understands that the fans are desperate to end the near twenty year wait for a domestic crown and is equally hungry to put that statistic to bed.
“Our focus is on the Premier League and we know how important it is to win the Premier League for the fans.
“It has been too many years and we are focusing on that. It was important to start with a win after the not so very good game in the Champions League.”
The striker got his side off to a winning start with an 83rd minute strike against Sunderland on Saturday evening.
Ex-Red Steve McManaman has claimed that his former club have got the strongest squad in the top four of the Premiership. The European Cup winner has identified the Reds team as the strongest both individually and collectively in his Setanta Sports column.
“I think Liverpool have arguably got the best squad of players out of the top four.
“That’s why I think they’ll go very close this season. If they don’t go close, there will be a lot of rumour-mongering and talk about what happens next year.
“I think it’s the best squad out of everybody now. I think they’ve got the best squad over the last four years and the best squad arguably out of the top four teams.
“I think Liverpool are stronger than Chelsea now individually. It’s why I fancy Liverpool, although I do fancy Chelsea as well. Those two teams will be strongest this year.
“I’m never going to say Manchester United of course!
“I don’t think Rafa Benitez is particularly happy as the Gareth Barry transfer has gone on a long time. But he doesn’t want to leave, his commitment is 100 percent behind Liverpool.
“The newspapers at the start of the season always go for a big club. It’s a fact they’ve not bought Barry and it’s an excuse for the papers to say there’s been no money, there’s big problems and open up wounds about the ownership issue when it’s all gone quiet.
Filed under: News | Tags: Gareth Barry, George Gillett, Rafael Benitez, Rick Parry, Tom Hicks
RTE Sport are reporting that Rafael Benitez is disappointed with George Gillett’s refusal to give the go-ahead with a bid for Gareth Barry. The Spanish manager has identified the American as the problem after confirming the other majority shareholder, Tom Hicks, signalled that cash was ready and available for the move.
“I was in contact with Tom Hicks, and he told me we had the money. We have sold players for more than £20million in the summer, and he told me ‘if you sell players you can buy with that too.
“I have the support of at least one of the owners. I sent emails to all of them, but he [Hicks] was clear we had the money.
“It is not something that I can explain. You have to analyse it – but to me it is clear: they were supporting me if we had money, and we do have money.”
After Hicks demanded that Rick Parry resign from the club, it certainly appears that there are two rival factions at the helm of the club – Benitez & Hicks and Parry & Gillett.
Filed under: Transfer Gossip | Tags: Arsenal, Gareth Barry, Rafael Benitez, Xabi Alonso
Rafael Benitez has stated that it would take a large offer to prise Xabi Alonso away from Anfield, according to Sky Sports News. The Spaniard has been linked with the exit door at Liverpool all Summer long, mainly to enable Gareth Barry to take his place in the squad. But lately the Euro 2008 winner has been rumoured to want out of the club for a fresh challenge.
Benitez has said that money is no longer a concern in the chase for Barry and that Alonso understands his reasons for being open to selling the midfielder.
“I explained to him why I needed money for signing other players,” said Benitez.
“He can understand if you have (Javier) Mascherano, Lucas, Steven Gerrard and then Plessis, you have four other midfielders and maybe you can sell one player.
“When I was first talking with Xabi (about a transfer) we needed money. After these months it is not a question of money. We would have to have a massive offer because Alonso is a great player.
“But if we sell one or two players we have enough money to bring in one more good player.
“Don’t forget we will need eight British players – and the left-footer we were talking about can play in three positions too.”
Benitez fuelled the speculation fires by leaving Alonso on the substitutes bench against Sunderland on Saturday. The midfielder did appear at half-time however, replacing Damien Plessis.
He added: “Xabi has had a dead leg so we had to protect him.
“At the end of the game Plessis was injured too so we had to change. We knew Xabi was only maybe 80% of his ability so it was to protect him.
“Xabi is our player and he is playing well. If he continues to play well I will be really pleased. But it doesn’t matter if you have one good player and you need another one, you have to keep the balance of the team.”
Whether Alonso will remain at the club beyond this transfer window remains to be seen, but the speculation is likely to continue with Arsenal set to make a move for the classy playmaker.
