[lfc-news] Kewell out of Bayer clash - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 8 Mar 2005
Kewell out of Bayer clash
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL jetted off to Germany today without winger Harry Kewell -
leaving manager Rafael Benitez frustrated and baffled at his ongoing
injury saga.

Benitez hoped Kewell would join the party but today he said the Aussie
had declared himself unavailable.

Benitez also declared that he has no idea what is wrong with Kewell -
revealing he has complained about a number of different injuries recently.

Kewell's absence for a pivotal fixture is sure to raise further question
marks about his long term future.

There are many within Anfield who feel the midfielder could have played
through the pain barrier given the importance of the fixture.

Benitez said: "One day Harry is okay and the next he says he is unfit.

"We will talk with the doctor and try and look at his situation.

"We don't know exactly what the problem is. It changes each day.

"One day he says it's the groin, then it's the ankle. Another day he
says he can play.

"We need to find the solution to this."

In contrast, both Jerzy Dudek and Didi Hamann, who were flying out
today, are desperate to figure despite knocks on the shin and ankle,
respectively.

Benitez says Dudek will take his place ahead of rookie keeper Scott Carson.

Said the manager: "Jerzy and Didi will be fit. Only Kewell will not play.

"Didi is an imprtant player for us and we will need his experience.
Tomorrow we need to mix both our offensive and defensive qualities.

"We will try to score and not just concentrate on defending. Bayer will
start at a high tempo and I have read they want to score a goal in each
half. We know they will start with intensity because they want to score
early.

"They are strong and we know it will be difficult because at home they
always score goals. But we are good enough to win the game."

Liverpool wil be boosted by the availability of skipper Steven Gerrard,
who missed the 3-1 first leg victory.

Benitez will keep faith in Milan Baros, who is the only fit, recognised
goalscorer.

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[lfc-news] Ground share row as£11m held back - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 8 Mar 2005
Ground share row as £11m held back
By Ian Hernon, Liverpool Echo

ANFIELD'S regeneration is being held back as government representatives
try to resurrect a shared football stadium, an MP claimed today.

The Northwest Development Agency has earmarked £11m for north Liverpool,
but has told Walton Labour MP Peter Kilfoyle it will not be released
until the shared ground for Liverpool and Everton is back on the agenda.

The NWDA is keen to invest money in a ground development if it is a home
to both clubs and told sports minister Richard Caborn last October it
wanted discussions on a joint stadium before releasing the cash.

The plan has widespread opposition in the city, and after a summit
between the clubs and sports minister last November, it was revealed
that any move towards a shared stadium was off.

Yet an NWDA spokesman today confirmed discussions were ongoing, even
though the minister has said the plan was "dead in the water".

If the ground share scheme were dropped it would allow Liverpool to
press ahead with its £120m Stanley Park redevelopment, and leave Everton
free to explore redeveloping Goodison or find a new home.

Mr Kilfoyle said: "They can support want they want. But I object to them
using it to hold back regeneration where it is most needed."

Some of the disputed cash has also been earmarked for other projects in
Anfield, including landscaping.

NWDA chairman Bryan Gray wrote to Liverpool FC chief executive Rick
Parry last month. A copy was leaked to Mr Kilfoyle.

It reads: "There is strong support for the concept of a shared stadium
and a real desire for Liverpool FC and Everton FC to work together with
the city council and the (NWDA) to find a solution.

"It is always easy to find reasons not to do something, but I remain
convinced that if there is a real desire to find a solution, then a
solution will be found."

Mr Kilfoyle said: "Such behaviour on behalf of a government agency is
indefensible.

"I intend to do all in my power to remedy the illadvised strategy for
holding up progress in north Liverpool."

Mr Gray told the MP his desire to see a shared stadium revolved around
the regeneration, tourism and economy of north Liverpool.

A spokesman for the NWDA said: "We are currently in discussions with the
Liverpool FC board and until those discussions are completed we cannot
say anything more."

Liverpool FC refused to comment on the letters.

A spokesman for Everton FC said: "Both clubs recently vetoed the plans
in their current form, but from Everton's perspective, we have said we
will keep all our options open.

"Bearing in mind the last shared stadium proposal was unacceptable to
us, there would have to be fundamental changes and everyone involved in
the process under-stands that.

"If the plan was reassessed, there is no reason why we would not be
happy to talk about it again."

* LIVERPOOL chief executive Rick Parry insisted the club would secure
the investment to make their new Stanley Park stadium a reality.

Parry dismissed doubts over the scheme, which is now believed to be
costing more than £130m.

He said: "We can't start talking about a start date. The rest of the
funding is to be put in place. It is more than we first thought, costs
are increasing and the nature of the project has changed but we are
confident we can fund it."

Parry was with Chancellor Gordon Brown and Richard Caborn at the
announcement of a £600,000 funding package for Anfield youth club yesterday.

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BBC SPORT - Uefa clarifies warning to Everton

BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Uefa clarifies warning to Everton: "Uefa has told Everton again they could miss out on a Champions League spot if Liverpool win this season's trophy.

Winning this season's competition would not automatically qualify the Reds for next term, if they finish outside the Premiership's top four.

Instead the Football Association could nominate them - and that would leave the fourth-placed side in the Uefa Cup.

It was reported on Friday that England could have five Champions League places, but Uefa has now denied this.

A Uefa spokesman told BBC Sport: 'One country cannot have more than four places - it would be up to the FA to make the request for Liverpool.'

Uefa's website includes the Champions League regulations, and rule 1.3 states: 'At the request of the national association concerned, the Uefa Champions League title-holders may be entered for this competition ... if they have not qualified via the top domestic league championship.

'If, in such a case, the title-holders come from an association entitled to enter four teams for the Uefa Champions League, the fourth-placed club in the top domestic league championship has to be entered for the Uefa Cup.'

That would mean heartache for Everton, who are currently in fourth place, eight points ahead of their Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

The Reds eased into the quarter-finals on Wednesday and manager Rafael Benitez believes his side could go all the way.

The quarter-final draw for the Champions League will take place on Friday 18 March.

Any team can be drawn against another and the two legs will be played on 5/6 and 12/13 April. "

Guardian - Garcia grabs goals and glory for Liverpool

From the Guardian online

Dominic Fifield at BayArena
Thursday March 10, 2005
The Guardian

The enigma that is Liverpool continues to confound, though last night theirs was a glorious contribution to the Premiership's assault on Europe. Horrendously inconsistent they may be domestically, but they have now seared into the quarter-finals of this elite competition for only the second time in 20 years. Talk of a Spanish-inspired renaissance is sweeping the continent.

Few who have endured the flipside to the Merseysiders' season will be concurring just yet, but the significance of Rafael Benítez's achievement should not be underestimated. Three years ago Bayer Leverkusen humbled Liverpool in the Rhineland and, while the Germans boasted a far better side back then, this was still an annihilation few could have envisaged. The visiting fans crowed "We've only won it four times"; slowly but surely, belief is swelling that they could pluck an improbable fifth European Cup from a bizarre mishmash of a season.

Article continues
Leverkusen's previously imposing form in this arena had suggested this would prove an awkward evening, though the reality was anything but daunting. By the interval Liverpool's progress already appeared assured, with their aggregate advantage stretched to four goals and the Germans' most prolific scorer, Dimitar Berbatov, injured and replaced. The hosts' makeshift defence was shambolic, the visitors duly revelling in their discomfort.

The stroll might have been anticipated. The visitors had done all they could to remain impervious to the pressure in the build-up with Rafael Benítez even spending Tuesday night mixing with his people, the Spaniard coaxed to Jameson's Irish bar in Cologne by a group of Liverpool supporters to watch Manchester United slip out of this competition on the big screen.

The manager entered the pub to a stunned chorus of "Rafa get the ales in" though, having failed to beat a passage to the bar through the delighted throng, he retired parched to the team hotel after 25 rather frantic and fruitless minutes. After his side's display here, he may never have to buy a drink again.

That was a timely reminder of the affection in which he is still held given that Liverpool's recent form has lurched from the downright dismal to the vaguely encouraging - six of their previous 10 games had been lost - though, in an arena where they have suffered before, they purred. Luís Garcia's brace midway through the first period effectively propelled the Merseysiders through, but it was Steven Gerrard's presence which inspired.

The captain missed the first leg of this tie through suspension and spent the opening exchanges here misplacing passes at an alarming rate, his form apparently still anchored by the haunting memories of the Carling Cup final. But once he shrugged himself from his malaise, Liverpool were simply untouchable.

It was the England midfielder's exchange of passes with Milan Baros which forced Bayer back as the half-hour approached, Diego Placente blocking the Czech's charge for Gerrard to batter at goal. Jorg Butt did well to turn that shot aside but the home side were pinned back from the resultant corner, Gerrard given time to skim a cross from the right which Garcia, eluding the dawdling Placente, flicked eagerly home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Leverkusen were grounded, their misery compounded within five minutes as Gerrard's corner was nodded down by Igor Biscan for Garcia, from point-blank range, to prod his eighth goal of the season into the empty net. The Spaniard might have plundered a first-half hat-trick had Butt not tipped aside another belted attempt leaving Placente to take out his frustrations on Baros off the ball, the elbow flung at the Czech going unnoticed by the officials.

The Argentinian's anguish - if not his conduct - was understandable. Bayer had revelled in swashbuckling victories over Real Madrid, Roma and Dynamo Kiev in this competition's group stage before Christmas and even dispatched Bayern Munich 4-1 in a Bundesliga game here this season. Yet the storm they had hoped to whip up had fizzled disastrously, checked by air-kicks from Landon Donovan and Franca in presentable positions before the break.

Thereafter, with Berbatov absent, their game of catch-up was never likely to prompt reward. Horrible misses from Franca and the substitute Andrej Voronin from Daniel Bierofka's centres rather summed up their night, for all that Franca did force Dudek to palm away a more accurate attempt. The sight of the Pole denying a comeback was too much for many to take, the ease at which Baros sauntered into space to spear beyond Butt to add a third leaving the locals spitting in furious disgust with elimination looming large.

Their mood was not to be lifted as Bayer slumped out of the competition even if Jacek Krzynowek did manage to conjure a consolation with two minutes remaining.

AnfieldRoad.com - Liverpool through to the quarter finals of the Champions League

AnfieldRoad.com - Liverpool through to the quarter finals of the Champions League: "Liverpool through to the quarter finals of the Champions League
Written by Jim Boardman
Wednesday, 09 March 2005
Liverpool went into tonight's game with a 3-1 lead from the first leg at Anfield. The emphasis before the game was on that one Leverkusen away goal, which came from a fluffed Jerzy Dudek save right at the end of that first leg.

The first goal was always going to be important. An early goal for Leverkusen would have ensured a difficult night for Liverpool - the scored would then have been 3-2 on aggregate, but thanks to that infamous away goal, only one more would be needed by Leverkusen.

For twenty-five minutes Liverpool played comfortably. The main chance in that first part of the game came when Milan Baros was brought down in the area, right in front of the linesman. Replays clearly showed it should have been a penalty. It wasn't though, and Leverkusen did look like they had the potential to keep Liverpool at bay and to get that first goal themselves.

Then along came Luis Garcia. The Spaniard has shown a lot of promise for Liverpool this season, but has often seemed to be struggling with life in the Premiership. He's more comfortable on the European stage though, and scored two goals in 4 minutes, leaving Leverkusen with an unsurmountable task to get back into the tie.

Both the Garcia goals came from pressure Liverpool put on from set-pieces. For the first goal on 27 minutes, Steven Gerrard collected a ball that had been cleared from a corner to put Garcia through. For the second a Gerrard corner after 31 minutes was headed down by Biscan and Garcia's simple touch wrong-footed the goalkeeper and in it went. Garcia almost got his hat-trick towards the end of the first half but was denied by an excellent save.

Overall Liverpool took more and more control as the game went on, with Dudek rarely troubled. The second half goal from Milan Baros was as much as he deserved for tireless work as a lone-striker. Baros has been complaining in the press recently, saying he'll leave if he doesn't get more games. The previous Liverpool manager might have taken that as a cue never to play him again, but Benitez stuck with him, partly due to Morientes being both cup-tied and injured, and tonight Benitez was paid back. Excellent, confident passing from Liverpool, and once again Mr Gerrard was involved.

Liverpool felt sufficiently confident in the game to bring off Didi Hamman and Jamie Carragher with still a fair amount of time remaining, and in the end it would have taken six goals for Leverkusen to save their place. As it was Liverpool did concede, but by then they'd pretty much taken their foot off the pedal.

The sound system at the German stadium rang out to the sound of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at the end of the game. An excellent gesture by the Germans, and recognition of an excellent performance.

Benitez was 'very proud' of his team tonight, and had every right to be so. He'd joined the Liverpool fans in Germany last night for a couple of drinks. He's returning to England tonight, but he'll probably be having a small tipple on the plane.

Steven Gerrard told Sky Sports that tonight's performance was the best away from home by Liverpool for some time.

The draw for the next round takes place on the 18th of March, and we now know that Michael Owen won't be making a playing return to Anfield this season. Real Madrid, 1-0 up from the first leg, were beaten 1-0 over the 90 minutes, leading to extra time, where Juventus scored again, leaving Real to join Barcelona in exiting the competition before the quarter finals. Also leaving the competition tonight were Arsenal, who won 1-0 but were beaten 3-2 on aggregate. In tonight's other match PSV knocked Monaco out.

Liverpool proved tonight just how good they can be. The key now is to continue this form in the league to close the gap on Everton for that final Champions League place. Or can they win the Champions League this season? Jamie Carragher thinks they can."

BBC SPORT - Benitez hails Liverpool display

BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Benitez hails Liverpool display: "Benitez hails Liverpool display

B Leverkusen 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hailed a job well done as his side eased into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

'It was a good first half and after Luis Garcia scored we played comfortably,' he said.

Benitez was cagey about his side's chances of lifting the trophy.

'We are not thinking about winning the Champions League, only waiting for the draw to see who we have next. But just maybe we can go all the way,' he said.

Captain Steven Gerrard, who was inspirational throughout the match for the Reds, said the team had their tactics spot on.

'We knew we could punish them on the counter. That is what we planned to do - we had seen the videos,' he said.

'We played well, the best we have played for a while.

'That was the gameplan - we never came here for a draw or a 1-0 defeat.'"

AnfieldRoad.com - Final score - Leverkusen 1 Liverpool 3 (Agg: 2-6)

AnfieldRoad.com - Final score - Leverkusen 1 Liverpool 3 (Agg: 2-6)

AnfieldRoad.com - Latest score - Leverkusen 1 Liverpool 3 (Agg: 2-6)

AnfieldRoad.com - Latest score - Leverkusen 1 Liverpool 3 (Agg: 2-6)

AnfieldRoad.com - Latest score - Leverkusen 0 Liverpool 3 (Agg: 1-6)

AnfieldRoad.com - Latest score - Leverkusen 0 Liverpool 3 (Agg: 1-6)

AnfieldRoad.com - Latest score - Leverkusen 0 Liverpool 2 (Agg: 1-5)

AnfieldRoad.com - Latest score - Leverkusen 0 Liverpool 2 (Agg: 1-5)

Garcia gets a second. Assist by Biscan. (!)

AnfieldRoad.com - Latest score - Leverkusen 0 Liverpool 1

AnfieldRoad.com - Latest score - Leverkusen 0 Liverpool 1

4-1 Aggregate to Liverpool.

[lfc-news] Reserves v Bolton report - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 8 Mar 2005
LATE MISTAKE DENIES RESERVES
Steve Hunter at Leyland

A mistake four minutes from time allowed a strong Bolton Wanderers
outfit to edge out Liverpool Reserves 2-1 at the Lancashire County FA
Ground in Leyland.

Captain for the night Jon Otsemobor switched off and allowed Bolton to
capitalise and Ricardo Vaz Te finished clinically.

The Reds had a scare in the first half when Republic of Ireland Under-21
international Richie Partridge left the field after 27 minutes but
fortunately it wasn't his troublesome knee this time but a hamstring strain.

Liverpool Reserve manager Hughie McAuley was without regulars John
Welsh, Darren Potter and David Raven who are with the first team in
Germany, but was able to include the likes of Zak Whitbread and Jon
Otsemobor in the team. Strikers Neil Mellor and Mark Smyth are injured
so McAuley fielded Under-18 players Karl Noon and Phil Townley in attack.

Bolton fielded eight players with first team experience including Ivan
Campo, Radhi Jaidi, Henrik Pedersen, Khalilou Fadiga and former Real
Madrid defender Julio Cesar.

Despite the Trotters having such a strong team Liverpool were really
unlucky not to get at least a point and gave it everything. Their
attitude was spot on and youngsters David Mannix and Danny Guthrie more
than matched the experienced Campo and Fadiga.

Ryan Wilkie enjoyed a fine game on the right wing and constantly looked
to take on defenders and cause problems, Phil Townley did well up front
and James Smith had another fine game in defence showing his versatility
at left back.

Straight from the kick-off Liverpool took the game to Bolton and had a
chance in the first minute when Townley glanced a header wide from
Wilkie's right wing cross.

Senegal ace Fadiga went close for Bolton after five minutes with a
curled free-kick that was superbly pushed away by Paul Harrison. Then
two minutes later confusion in the Reds defence let in Bedi Buval who
hit the post.

They went close again after 15 minutes when Fadiga's superb defence
splitting pass picked out Vaz Te who glanced a first time header just wide.

Bolton were creating chances a plenty in the first half but Harrison and
the defence were doing exceptionally well to keep them out. Otsemobor
produced a fantastic clearance to deny Vaz Te and Harrison made another
smart save to deny Joey O'Brien.

David Mannix was so unfortunate not to give the Reds the lead after 36
minutes with a brilliantly curled free-kick that was somehow kept out by
Bolton keeper Kevin Poole.

Bolton took the lead five minutes into the second half when Fadiga's
shot took two wicked deflections on its way into the net leaving
Harrison wrong-footed and with no chance.

Liverpool battled back well and still kept going. Danny Guthrie saw an
effort kept out by Poole while Phil Townley was so unlucky to see his
shot go inches wide.

Deservedly the Reds equalised after 57 minutes and the goal came from
substitute Paul Barratt. Wilkie's shot was well saved by Poole but the
former Manchester City youngster Barratt was on hand to follow up the
rebound and score.

You then felt Liverpool could go on and win this match. Townley had a
great chance when clean through but unfortunately his effort was wide.

Bolton then stepped up their game and Harrison made a fantastic save to
keep out an effort from O'Brien and he also denied Vaz Te.

Then with just four minutes to go a defensive slip from Otsemobor let in
Bolton and Vaz Te pounced to make it 2-1.

Bolton Wanderers Reserves: Poole, Barness, Cesar (Powell 77), Jaidi
(Talbot 60), Laville, Campo (Whitehead 60), O'Brien, Fadiga, Buval,
VazTe, Pedersen.

Liverpool Reserves: Harrison, Otsemobor, J Smith, O'Donnell, Whitbread,
Mannix, Wilkie, Guthrie, Townley, Noon (Hammill 77), Partridge (Barratt
27). Subs unused: Luzi, D Smith, Hitchen.

Referee: J Moss.

Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: David Mannix. There was some very good
performances from Liverpool but Mannix just edged out Under-18
midfielder Danny Guthrie for me.

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[lfc-news] Ian Rush column - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 8 Mar 2005
Reds stars fighting for future
By Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo

IF A PLACE in the quarter-finals of the European Cup and qualification
for the Champions League isn't enough motivation for Liverpool's players
between now and May, perhaps they should consider another factor.

I believe many of them are playing to secure their Anfield futures. If
that doesn't drive them on, nothing will.

Rafa Benitez will have spent most of the season weighing up the
qualities of the squad he inherited. He may not have known a lot about
some of the players, but he'll have discovered more with every week.

As the season reaches its climax, the performances of many of his stars
will be even more revealing.

Tomorrow's clash in Bayer Leverkusen is a pivotal match in Liverpool's
season.

There's no magic formula for approaching such a fixture. The typical
European performance is needed, with Liverpool trying to silence the
crowd for the first 20 minutes.

With Liverpool 3-1 up, naturally the first goal is crucial.

I felt before the first leg a 0-0 draw would have been a good result for
Benitez's side because one goal in Germany would make life extremely
difficult for the hosts.

Even though Liverpool have a two goal lead, I think the best approach is
to think of the game as still at 0-0.

Relying completely on defence is too dangerous. Liverpool have got to
think about scoring a goal because that will make an already tough task
for the Germans even harder.

Benitez's main problem is his lack of attacking options, so the onus is
very much on Milan Baros to show his best form.

Baros is taking a bit of stick at the moment, but his European pedigree
is beyond dispute. He's done it at the highest level for his country in
Europe, so he should be full of confidence he can cause problems for
what I feel is a vulnerable German defence.

He's not the only one who needs to raise his game, however.

There can be no passengers tomorrow.

For many members of the squad, the prize may not just be a place in the
last eight of Europe, but possibly the faith of the manager as he
considers who he can trust to remain at the club next season.

Lots of support in tough week

LAST week was one of the hardest I've ever endured.

You come to expect ups and downs in football, and I certainly went
through all the emotions within the space of a few days.

Now all of us at Chester want to put everything behind us and look
forward. It's the future which matters most.

It's well documented my chairman and I have had some disagreements, but
that's natural in football. The most important thing now, as far as I'm
concerned, is I hope to remain Chester manager for the foreseeable future.

I've never shirked a challenge in my life and I don't intend to now.

It's the difficult periods which teach you most about your profession,
and I was particularly touched by the messages of goodwill I received
last week.

Rafa Benitez, Rick Parry and Steve Morgan all contacted me to offer
their support. I really appreciated their gesture.

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AnfieldRoad.com - Chancellor: You'll win brilliantly

AnfieldRoad.com - Chancellor: You'll win brilliantly

"You are going to win brilliantly on Wednesday."

These were the words of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, to Liverpool Football Club earlier today.

If encouragement breeds confidence, and confidence breeds success, then Liverpool can consider this a boost in their quest for some success from the current season.

The Chancellor was in Liverpool today, meeting manager Rafa Benitez, captain Steven Gerrard, and defender Jamie Carragher at the launch of a new sports development project. The photocall was at a youth club in Liverpool - Anfield Youth Club - which will benefit from the new project to the tune of £600,000 thanks to the Barclays Spaces for Sport programme.

According to reports, Mr Benitez had trouble understanding the thick Scottish accent of Mr Brown, saying, “be careful you talk very quickly”.

If Mr Benitez is still unsure, here's a translation of Gordon Brown's comments: “Some of the Barcelona players are saying that no English club will get through but you are going to prove them wrong. We are wishing you all the best. You are going to win brilliantly on Wednesday.”

Liverpool are ahead 3-1 going into Wednesday's second-leg match against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. Victory would see them into the quarter-finals.

BBC SPORT : Liverpool legends in tsunami game

Although headlined as if it were a brand-new story, the following report from the BBC contains the latest info on who's going to playing in the Easter Tsunami benefit game at Anfield.

BBC SPORT | Football | Liverpool legends in tsunami game: "Liverpool legends in tsunami game

A team of Liverpool legends will play a tsunami fundraiser against a celebrity side at Anfield.

Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, Alan Hansen, John Barnes and Ian Rush are just a few of the names to have been confirmed for the match.

Roy Evans will take charge of the Liverpool team, while Harry Redknapp will manage the celebrities, who include Bryan McFadden and Kasabian.

The match takes place on 27 March 2005 and tickets are on sale now.

In addition to the match, there are numerous activities planned for the day and the organisers are hopeful of a large turn out.

Liverpool (confirmed so far): Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, John Barnes, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Jason McAteer, David Johnson, Ian Rush, John Aldridge, Phil Thompson, Neil Ruddock, Bruce Grobbelaar.

Celebrities (confirmed so far): Bryan McFadden, Nicky Byrne, (Westlife), Kasabian, Shane Ritchie, Ralph Little, Harvey (So Solid Crew), John Regis, Niall Quinn. "

[lfc-news] Dr Waller on injuries, Cisse, Xabi and more - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 7 Mar 2005
DR WALLER ON INJURIES, CISSE, XABI AND MORE
Paul Eaton 07 March 2005

We speak exclusively to Liverpool's club doctor Mark Waller about a
freak season of injuries at Anfield.
Nobody at Anfield can remember a campaign as bad as this in terms of
injury problems, with nine players having undergone operations and
several more having spent weeks on the sidelines with a variety of problems.

Dr Mark Waller has been with the Reds since 1993 and so is well
qualified to label this season as being the busiest he has known since
he arrived at the club.

In this exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv, Dr Waller talks about a
season decimated by injuries and speaks in detail about some of the
problems the medical team have had to deal with this year.

~ Liverpoolfc.tv: Have you ever known a season like this one in terms of
injuries at the club?

Dr Mark Waller: The simple answer is no. We've collected statistics from
over the last eight years and this has undoubtedly been our worst season
in terms of injuries.

~ Is there any reason why we've had so many injuries or has it just been
really bad luck?

We obviously look at trends of injuries so that if something is going
wrong in the club then we can pick it up fairly early and make
alterations in either training or in how we are dealing with the general
well-being of the players. This season we've had a lot of injuries which
you wouldn't ordinarily expect to see in the club.
This time we've had four times our normal meniscal tear incidents and
we've had three times our normal fracture incidents. Also, we normally
get two chondral lesions (the lining at the back of the cartilage) every
three years and yet we've had three this season alone.
We've had particularly nasty injuries this season and certainly far more
than you would expect at a football club like this.

~ Have you been busier than usual then this season?

One of the differences this year is we haven't been dealing with only
muscle strains or sprains, injuries which are relatively
straightforward. We've had nasty fractures to deal with this season and
injuries which don't just require physiotherapy. That has been
particularly unusual.

~ How closely do the medical team need to work together to discuss
injuries and plan rehab programmes?

We have to speak regularly about what's going on. In the medical team
there's myself, two chartered physiotherapists and two full time
masseurs and we speak every day about individual players' injuries and
we speak with the manager and coaching staff as well. It's important
that everyone knows each situation because if an injured player can do a
small amount but not full training then the coaching staff need to know
what we think the particular player should be doing. Communication is
extremely important.

~ As the club doctor, are you involved with the injured players from the
moment they get injured to the moment they are back playing again?

I wouldn't say so. The actual hands-on rehab work is best done by those
who have the experience and in our case that's our physiotherapists. I'm
someone who is there as a resource and who will co-ordinate everything
but the physios are the ones who will do the running outside.

~ Let's talk about some specific incidents from the season then. What
were your immediate thoughts when you saw Djibril Cisse lying on the
pitch at Blackburn?

It was a strange one because when a player suffers a nasty fracture like
Djibril did they usually lie still on the pitch. Djibril rolled over,
then got up onto his knees as though he was going to try and stand up,
then he sat up and then started rolling around again. From the position
we had, although we saw the incident, it looked fairly innocuous and not
too bad.

Then some of the players started to summon us over and that's when we
realised something was wrong. When we got there he was obviously in some
distress and it was clear very quickly that he had done something serious.

From our point of view there were then two things to do. Firstly we had
to alleviate the pain which we managed to do with entinox and the other
was to try and immobilise the fracture so that we could then transport
him properly to an area where we could examine the injury properly. We
took him to the treatment room where it was clean, warm and with good
lighting so we could cut off his boot and sock to get to the leg and
make a formal assessment

~ Djibril has said that your actions saved his leg. What did you do?

One of the things you look for when you see an injury as bad as
Djibril's is whether he has suffered either any nerve injury or any
vascular injury. I found that he had lost the blood supply to his foot.
He had a shortened, slightly angulated lower leg with no pulses in his
foot. There are a couple of reasons why that could have happened, he
could either have severed the artery or the broken bone could have been
pressing against the artery.

We were left with two options in the treatment room. We could spend an
hour or two getting to the hospital and have the leg x-rayed or we could
grab the leg and manipulate it. We took the second option and if we'd
taken the first and gone to hospital then he wouldn't have done as well
as he has since because in the time spent getting to the hospital he
would have suffered even more damage.

In order to manipulate the leg we had to give him a good analgaesic
which almost put him to sleep and he honestly has no recollection
whatsoever of what we did to him in that room. Fortunately, with one
pull of the leg we managed to get it in a good position and at the same
time return the blood flow to his foot. It meant he only had a lack of
blood going to his foot for three or four minutes, which is not a big
problem.

Everything was done very quickly. The doctor at Blackburn and Dave
Galley our physiotherapist were excellent and we worked as a team with
one doing one thing and one doing another.

~ What happened in the hours immediately after the injury?

From the treatment room we made sure he was stable and then took him to
hospital for x-rays. We then found that the position we'd got his leg
into was acceptable overnight and we then transferred him to a private
hospital.

~ Did you think it could be a career ending injury?

When any player has what's called a commimuted fracture of their tibia
and fibula then it's a potentially hazardous injury for them. I don't
want to be dramatic about it but a number of players haven't been able
to continue their football careers after this injury.

~ How is he coming along in his rehab work?

He started running last Thursday which is great news. He's doing really
well and he should be fit and ready for the start of the new season.

~ Another player to suffer a bad injury this season is Xabi Alonso. What
happened when he came off the field against Chelsea?

Xabi played on for a couple of minutes before leaving the field. Often
brave players, like Xabi, want to try and run off injuries if they can
and play on but obviously that wasn't possible in this case. When a
player insists he wants to continue playing we owe it to him to give him
the chance.

We're very fortunate at Anfield because we have a set-up whereby a
player can be x-rayed immediately if necessary. After I examined Xabi it
was obvious he had a problem and so we took him to the treatment room
where the x-ray confirmed he'd picked up a bad injury.

~ Did you suspect a break before the x-ray?

I did. Xabi had sustained a very unusual fracture. It's unusual for
anyone with a broken ankle to walk or run around a football field for
more than maybe one or two paces. For him to have done what he did is
unusual.

~ He says he hopes to play again this season, is that realistic?

I hope so too.

~ Vladimir Smicer was operated on by Dr Steadmanin America during the
summer. How important is it to have a network of specialists all over
the world who you can refer players to if necessary?

We're very lucky because of the name of this football club and the fact
we've built up relationships with a lot of specialists over the years
means a lot of very eminent people will fit our lads in the next day if
we can get them there.

We have a very good relationship with Dr Steadman and if we wanted him
to see one of our players then he would always fit them in and then do
whatever is necessary. He has an area of expertise which concentrates
only on knee injuries. In England we do have some very reputable
surgeons who we use for the majority of our players. We will only send
players to America if we feel the particular injury they've got warrants
that specialist intervention. If we feel that someone in England can do
it just as well then we'll keep them in this country.

~ It looked fairly innocuous when Florent Sinama-Pongolle fell against
Watford. How did he do himself so much damage?

It looked very innocuous in that he was just running and then fell over.
But as soon as we got him off the pitch it was very evident what he'd
done. Sometimes with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries it can be
a small thing which sets it off. If a player has had a problem before
then a slight wrong movement can snap it again. Flo's injury came about
in much as the same way as Robert Pires' did a number of years ago.
There didn't seem to be any danger and then the player goes down and has
done himself a lot of damage.

~ Do you expect Flo to be fit for the start of the new season?

He's walking. He's in a clinic in France for the rest of this week and
is coming back to us next week. Usually this injury takes five or six
months to recover from so he should be fit for the start of the season,
but whether he'll be fit to take part in the pre-season I don't know.

~ Chris Kirkland has had a number of injury setbacks during his
Liverpool career, are you confident the operation he had recently will
see an end to his problems?

We certainly hope so. This was a problem he had earlier in the season
but he hadn't had it previously. He's a very focused and hard working
young man and I hope he'll soon be able to enjoy an injury free run. He
deserves it.

~ Finally, last week we heard Neil Mellor underwent a double knee
operation. Tell us more about that.

Neil had his patella tendons operated on in both knees after suffering
with tendonitis. It's usually a four month rehab after this sort of
operation and so he is out for the rest of the season. The operation
went well and, although he'll be a bit sore for the first two or three
days after the operation, he'll make a good recovery.

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[lfc-news] Benitez: Away form keeps letting us down - Official Site

Official LFC Website, 5 Mar 2005
BENITEZ - AWAY FORM KEEPS LETTING US DOWN
By Steve Hunter

Rafael Benitez has told his players they must start winning away from
home if they are to achieve a fourth placed finish at the end of the
season after admitting to being very disappointed with the 1-0 defeat at
Newcastle.
The manager's cause wasn't helped before the game with Fernando
Morientes, Dietmar Hamann, Harry Kewell, Jerzy Dudek and Djimi Traore
all ruled out injured.

Benitez said he felt Liverpool should have got something out of
Newcastle even with a reshaped team but insisted the decision that led
to the free-kick goal was a harsh one.

Benitez said: "We know we have a lot of injury problems and I tried to
reorganise the team with the best players we had available. I thought we
had a good first half and we controlled the game but we didn't get into
the box enough to create scoring opportunities.

"In the second half Newcastle passed it better and controlled the game
but there weren't many chances. They scored from a free-kick but in my
opinion it wasn't a free-kick but there's nothing you can do about that.

"I am disappointed as we keep losing games by the odd goal and we don't
play well away from home. It will be difficult for us to reduce the gap
if we don't start winning away from home.

"There is still a lot of points to play for and we still have to keep
fighting for that fourth place. We have an important Champions League
game on Wednesday and we have to look to get a good result against
Leverkusen."

Benitez also said he hopes Jerzy Dudek will be able to play against
Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

Benitez said: "Jerzy wanted to play against Newcastle but he felt pain
in training so I played Scott Carson. In two to three days I hope Jerzy
will be able to play but we will have to see."

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[lfc-news] Liverpool won't waver over£5m Diouf demand - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 4 Mar 2005
Liverpool won't waver over £5m Diouf demand
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post

LIVERPOOL have told Bolton Wanderers they will not sanction a cut-price
deal for controversial striker El Hadji Diouf.

Trotters manager Sam Allardyce is keen to make permanent a move for
Diouf, who has impressed during his season-long loan spell at The Reebok.

But Bolton have been informed Liverpool are unlikely to waver from their
£5million asking price for a player they paid twice that to bring to
Anfield from French club Lens in June 2002.

Allardyce had initially been hoping to talk the price down, believing
Diouf's controversial antics during his time in England would deter
potential buyers.

Now Liverpool's hardline stance will test Bolton's desire to sign the
Senegalese international.

Diouf was shipped out to Bolton last August after having been informed
he had no future at Anfield following the arrival of Rafael Benitez.

And the striker has impressed during his time at The Reebok - scoring
six goals and helping the club progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals -
but has also attracted more negative publicity following spitting and
diving incidents.

One Liverpool striker whose future is looking a little brighter is
Djibril Cisse.

The Frenchman stepped up his rehabilitation from injury yesterday when
he began running at Melwood and remains on course for a first-team
return at the beginning of next season.

Cisse was ruled out for the remainder of the current campaign after his
horror injury at Blackburn Rovers in October, where he fell awkwardly
and fractured the tibia and fibia in his left leg.

And club doctor Mark Waller said yesterday: "Dji-bril started running
today which is great news. He is doing really well and we're all
delighted. He's on schedule to be fit for the start of next season."

Meanwhile, Jerzy Dudek is almost certain to be available for tomorrow's
crucial Premiership clash at Newcastle United.

The goalkeeper is hampered by 10 stitches in a gashed shin sustained in
the Carling Cup final defeat against Chelsea on Sunday.

But with Benitez reluctant to hand the inexperienced Scott Carson his
Premiership debut so early into his Anfield career, Dudek will be
expected to play through the pain barrier at St James' Park.

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