[lfc-news] Leverkusen report - Official Site

Official LFC Website, 16 July 2005
CISSE AND BAROS GIVE REDS DESERVED WIN
Paul Eaton in Lustenau

Liverpool stepped up their pre-season preparations as two goals from
Djibril Cisse and a second half strike from Milan Baros secured an
impressive 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Austria this evening.

The Reds were fully deserving of their win as they again coasted to
victory over one of the sides they so memorably defeated on their way to
Champions League glory last season.

Rafael Benitez used the match to give as many of his players a run-out
as possible, and he'll be pleased with the contribution of them all as
they dominated their German opponents from first whistle to last and
could have won by even more goals.

French striker Djibril Cisse will be more than pleased with his night's
work as he scored a first half double - his opening goals of pre-season
- to set the Reds up for a well earned win.

Cisse was the star of the first half as he grabbed the two goals which
gave the Reds a comfortable interval lead.

If the Frenchman feels he has something to prove as speculation
increases that manager Rafael Benitez wants to bring in another striker
then he successfully began his bid to impress with two quality strikes
in the space of 60 seconds.

If Cisse gets the credit for two clinical finishes, then French
team-mate Anthony Le Tallec should also receive a mention for two
sublime passes which set up the chances for the Liverpool striker.

The first goal arrived after 25 minutes when Le Tallec played Cisse into
space down the right hand side and he made no mistake with a thumping
finish into the back of the net.

Less than a minute later the Reds were celebrating a second goal when Le
Tallec again opened up the Leverkusen defence and Cisse again latched
onto the opportunity and made no mistake with a neat finish.

The only black spot in an otherwise excellent first half for the Reds
arrived in the early stages when left back Stephen Warnock was forced to
leave the field following a collision with Paul Freier.

Rafa Benitez made a number of changes at half time, one of which gave
Momo Sissoko his first appearance in a Liverpool shirt as he lined up
alongside Steven Gerrard in the Reds' midfield.

Liverpool added a third goal after 56 minutes when Milan Baros netted
his third goal of the pre-season campaign so far.

Captain Steven Gerrard was inspirational in the goal as he launched a
brilliant pass forward into Baros' path, and the Czech ace used his pace
to beat the goalkeeper to the ball before cleverly lifting his shot over
Starke and into the back of the net.

Liverpool will stay in their Swiss training base for the next week ahead
of the friendly clash with Olympiacos in seven days time, although a
squad will fly back to Merseyside on Monday night to contest the second
leg of the Champions League qualifier with TNS at Wrexham.

Rafael Benitez was quietly satisfied with his side's performance.

"It was a good game for us," said the boss afterwards. "We used a
different team in each half and I am pleased with the performance. My
idea was to see all the players and I now have to analyse the squad
before selecting who will fly back to face TNS on Tuesday. That is most
important for us now."

The only black spot on a pleasing night was the first half injury to
Stephen Warnock and Benitez added: "He suffered a problem with his elbow
and we need to wait for the x-ray results before knowing the full extent
of the damage. Hopefully it's nothing too serious."

Liverpool (First half): Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Whitbread, Warnock
(Traore 12), Potter, Hamann, Alonso, Riise, Le Tallec, Cisse
(Second half): Carson, Medjani, Josemi, Whitbread (Hyypia 63), Traore,
Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Sissoko, Zenden, Le Tallec (Morientes 63), Baros.
Goals: Cisse 25, 26, Baros 56

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[lfc-news] Igor moves to Greece - Official Site

Official LFC Website, 15 July 2005
IGOR MOVES TO GREECE
By Steve Hunter

Former Liverpool midfielder Igor Biscan has moved to Greece and signed a
three-year contract with Panathinaikos.
Spartak Moscow were also interested in Biscan but the player chose the
Greek side who will be playing in the Champions League for the 2005/06
season.

Biscan was an unused substitute in the Champions League win over AC
Milan and was released by Liverpool after his contract expired at the
end of the 2004/05 season.

Something of a cult figure at Anfield last season Biscan in all made 118
appearances for Liverpool scoring three goals.

Liverpoolfc.tv would like to wish Igor all the very best at his new club.

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[lfc-news] Owen in bid for Anfield return - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 15 July 2005
Owen in bid for Anfield return
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

MICHAEL OWEN is desperate to make a sensational return to Liverpool.

The former Reds striker wants to end his Real Madrid exile and Anfield
officials have been alerted to Owen's fervent desire to rejoin the club
he left last summer.

A dramatic swoop hasn't been ruled out.

However, Rafa Benitez has already made other arrangements in the
transfer market and would need convincing to move for the 25-year-old
striker.

The European Champions have not budgeted for a bid for Owen, who joined
the club as a schoolboy but decided to leave for Spain in an £8m deal
last year.

Although Benitez could be in the hunt for a proven goalscorer before the
transfer window closes, that would depend on how much he could raise in
player sales.

His first priority is a target man, with Southampton's Peter Crouch
still top of his wish list.

Liverpool are interested in the possibility of arranging a year loan
deal with Real Madrid for Owen, but that would require some skilful
negotiation and appears to be an extremely optimistic option at this stage.

Owen left with the Real Madrid squad for a summer tour of America
yesterday, but he's anxious to return to England before the start of the
season - and Liverpool are currently the only club which interests him.

Model professional Owen has never publicly expressed any discontent
about life in Madrid, but privately he's become increasingly
disillusioned since leaving England.

On the pitch, Owen's goal record defies the accepted view he's failed to
make an impact in Spain.

He scored 14 goals in 22 starts, but he's never completely settled and
has found himself regularly on the bench, despite his impressive goal ratio.

Owen scored 158 goals in 298 appearances of an Anfield career which
began in 1997 and is seventh on the list of the club's all time goalscorers.

Meanwhile, the Luis Figo saga should be resolved this weekend.

The only issue now is Figo's pay-off from Real Madrid.

The Spanish club are no longer demanding a fee for the Portuguese star.

The 32-year-old midfielder is in the United States but will leave the
Madrid tour when he's decided between Liverpool and Inter Milan.

The Reds are now in Switzerland preparing for the clash with Bayer
Leverkusen in Austria tomorrow night.

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[lfc-news] Gerrard rested for Liverpool's benefit not England - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 15 July 2005
Gerrard rested for Liverpool's benefit not England
By David Prior, Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ has denied suggestions he will hold Steven Gerrard back
this season so as to keep the Liverpool captain fresh for next summer's
World Cup.

Having fired his first hat-trick for the club in Wednesday night's
Champions League win over TNS, Gerrard claimed he had brokered a special
agree-ment with Benitez that would ensure he was ready for England's
participation in the Germany-based tournament.

"I have already spoke to the manager and the coaching staff and they
have told me they are not going to use me all the time," Gerrard said.

"I will be playing the same amount as the other internationals, so I'll
be really fresh by the time the World Cup comes round."

But Benitez yesterday moved to clarify the arrangement, affirming that
his skipper was simply referring to the rotation system he intended to
use to cope with Liverpool's demanding fixture list.

"If we want to fight for titles we need to use the squad and not always
the same players," he said..

"Carra and Sami played 50 games last season - they cannot play 50 games
again. In my last season at Valencia I had the same situation. The
problem is to decide which players play which games.

"People maybe say before the game 'why are you playing those players?'
But if we win, they would say 'oh, fantastic system'. But if we lose,
it's seen as a big mistake. We need to know how fit the players are, and
whether they've played well or badly, and you have to manage them.

"But if you have Steven Gerrard playing well, and Xabi the same, and
maybe Didi and Momo, then why not use Didi and Gerrard, Momo and Xabi or
Momo and Gerrard? It depends on the moment."

Benitez added: "It is not easy, and sometimes I know we'll make some big
mistakes. But at the end of the season I hope we'll have made a lot more
good decisions than mistakes."

Gerrard and his colleagues have now embarked on their training camp in
Switzerland.

They will be away for 10 days - but a squad will make a flying visit
home for Tuesday's away leg against TNS, to be played at Wrexham's
Racecourse Ground, before making a return to Switzerland.

Their second qualifying round opponents are likely to be Lithuanian side
Kaunas, who won their first leg 4-2 at Faroe Islanders Torshavn.

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[lfc-news] Reina looks ready to make his mark - Echo

Liverpool Echo,15 July 2005
Reina looks ready to make his mark
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

HAVING spent around £20m on goalkeepers in the last six years, Liverpool
will hope their latest investment between the posts offers some elusive
stability.

Not since Bruce Grobbelaar's ten-year reign has an Anfield number one
made the role his own.

David James, Sander Westerveld and Jerzy Dudek all squandered promising
openings before losing the faith of their manager. Chris Kirkland's bid
to claim the position was lost on the treatment table.

At 22, Pepe Reina has the potential to offer a long-term solution to an
enigmatic problem.

His Anfield debut against TNS was too one-sided for any judgement to be
made on his abilities, but the Spanish keeper clearly has too much
respect for the man he's replaced to suggest he's been bought to end a
keeper crisis.

"I don't want to be considered some kind of salvation who's coming here
to provide solutions to a goalkeeping problem," said Reina.

"I don't believe Liverpool have a big problem in this position. It's
just in football, perhaps there are certain occasions when a player in
any position doesn't play to the best of his ability and the manager
tries to strengthen his options.

"It's my job to do my best, work hard and perform to a top level every week.

"I don't believe in focusing on one position when there are difficulties
because I believe it's the job of the whole group and whole team to make
sure the side is successful.

"If we're not, there is collective responsibility."

After his heroics in Istanbul, there will be sympathy for Dudek,
especially as he wasn't even risked as a substitute in midweek. Rafa
Benitez clearly didn't want to risk leaving the Pole cup-tied.

That said, there were few protests when it emerged Benitez was signing a
new number one.

There was always a sense Dudek's European triumph signalled a fond
farewell rather than a fresh start.

Reina knows Dudek, like Grobbelaar, has assured his place in Anfield
folklore because of his penalty shootout antics.

And he's hoping the strength of his performances over the coming months
will help him form an equally good relationship with supporters.

"I'm very grateful to have been given an opportunity to play in front of
the Kop. This is the kind of opportunity few goalkeepers have within
their grasp," said Reina.

"I feel it is an honour for me. Liverpool has a great history and
reputation. Now I have to produce on the field.

"Yes, it's difficult to take the place of Jerzy Dudek. I know what
happened in Istanbul, but this is why I've joined Liverpool."

It remains to be seen if the latest Spanish import copes with the
physical demands and exocets of the Premiership.

Reina will be well briefed before August of the peculiarities of the
English league which prompted Benitez to claim 'some clubs play by
different rules' not so long ago.

Reina, it seems, is already well researched.

"The Spanish community here is good for me," he said. "I know Xabi
Alonso very well and asked him a lot of questions . Everything he told
me was positive and now I've experienced first hand what he was talking
about."

Reds' keeper dilemma

David James (1992-99)
Cost £1m from Watford. Played 278 games, but soon earned the nickname
'Calamity' due to his erratic form. Was sold when Gerard Houllier
brought out his guillotine in 1999.

Sander Westerveld (1999-2001)
Signed for £4.5m from Vitesse Arnhem and was dubbed 'Mr Reliable' after
an impressive start. A series of mistakes, the most high profile against
Bolton in 2001, brought his career to a swift end just short of his
100th appearance for the club.

Jerzy Dudek (2001-)
Liverpool beat Arsenal to Dudek's signature in a £5m deal from Feyenoord
and he was a triumphant purchase until the 2002
World Cup. He returned lacking confidence, since when he's been prone to
errors. Made amends in Istanbul, but too late to prevent Benitez looking
elsewhere.

Chris Kirkland (2001-)
Tipped to be the next England number one after a transfer from Coventry
which could have risen to £7m. Kirkland's ambitions have been thwarted
by injuries and he's played less than 50 games in four years.

Now on loan at West Brom, he faces a long road back if he's ever to
feature for Liverpool again.

Scott Carson (2005-)
Replaced Kirkland as Dudek's deputy last season in a £750,000 deal from
Leeds. Already called up to Sven Goran Eriksson's international squad,
he's the most likely threat to Reina in the seasons to come.

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[lfc-news] Milito targeted as cup heroes rewarded for efforts - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 14 July 2005
Milito targeted as cup heroes rewarded for efforts
By Paul Walker, Daily Post

SAMI HYYPIA will be granted a new contract and fellow defender John Arne
Riise a wage rise as Liverpool continue to reward their European Cup
heroes while searching for reinforcements.

Central defender Hyypia is the latest to be offered a new deal, a
one-year extension to his current agreement which has 12 months to run.

This comes as Liverpool continue what has become a protracted chase for
Real Zaragoza's Argentinian centre-back Gabriel Milito, which despite a
new £7.5million offer is believed to be a long way from completion.

While manager Rafael Benitez insists he wants more players for what will
now be a lengthy season, last term's stars of Istanbul have not been
forgotten.

Riise, who has two years of his deal to go, is believed to be about to
receive a significant wage rise.

Milito, 24, is currently on holiday in Argentina and not due back in
Spain until pre-season training starts, and Zaragoza have already
offered him a three-year extension to his current package which has two
years to run.

Zaragoza sporting director Miguel Pardeza said: "There have been
contacts with Liverpool and they have made an offer for Milito. But the
player is not for sale, he is fundamental for us and we want to keep him."

Zaragoza will make Liverpool's quest as hard as they can, even though
the player said: "If Liverpool make a concrete offer then it would be
very difficult to say no. I am happy at Zaragoza but it is not every day
the champions of Europe are interested in you."

Liverpool are also busy on two other fronts, with Southampton boss Harry
Redknapp insisting the Anfield club "put up or shut up" over their
desire to sign Peter Crouch.

The striker played for the Saints in a friendly at Motherwell on
Tuesday, and it is believed Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is
still trying to negotiate a deal. But Saints want £8m, and Redknapp
claims West Ham's cash offer of £6m is more than Liverpool have already
offered.

And while Benitez waits on transfer targets on several fronts, the move
for Luis Figo might yet be resurrected, despite the Spanish manager's
pessimism earlier this week.

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[lfc-news] Sissoko: It had to be Reds - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 14 July 2005
Sissoko: It had to be Reds
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL'S new £5.6 million capture Momo Sissoko today admitted that he
came within a whisker of signing for rivals Everton - and paid tribute
to Rafael Benitez for changing his mind.

The Mali international, who was unveiled at Melwood today, said: "It was
close, but I opted to sign for Liverpool.

"It was a decision I made on my own and I believe it was the right decision.

"The motivation for me was the manager. He was the manager who got me
into the first division in Spain and I have great respect for him.

"The motivation to join Liverpool came from him. I appreciate the way he
works, the motivation he has and the ambition he has."

Sissoko, 20, admitted he expects an uncomfortable reception from
disappointed Everton supporters in the city.

"I am sure it's going to be tricky," he said. "But for me that's not
really a problem. I am a Red man and I am happy.

"I am here to learn from the players who are already here, like Steven
Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.

"I was at the match last night and I was pleased with what I saw. The
team played well, passed the ball well - and as for Steven Gerrard, he's
a great player."

Meanwhile, Liverpool were expecting to discover today if their quest to
sign Luis Figo has been successful.

Real Madrid have now indicated they will allow the Portuguese
international to leave the Bernabeu on a free transfer.

However, Inter Milan have emerged as strong rivals for his signature as
they seek to replace Newcastle-bound Emre.

A decision on the 32-year-old's future was expected before he departs on
Real Madrid's pre-season tour.

* Steven Gerrard today revealed his hat-trick against TNS last night was
the first since he was a young boy.

He told the ECHO: "It's probably my first and last hat-trick for Liverpool.

"I should have scored a hat-trick against Graz last year. I think I was
seven or eight the last time I got one.

"It was special for me after everything which has gone on. It was great
to get the reaction I did from the fans. That made it even more special."

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[lfc-news] TNS report - PA

PA Sport, 13 July 2005
Liverpool 3 TNS 0

Just 49 days after Steven Gerrard drove Liverpool to Champions League
glory, the inspirational Anfield captain struck his first hat-trick for
the club to make sure their defence of their crown did not end in
embarrassment against a bunch of unknowns from mid-Wales.

The minnows from Llansantffraid feared they would be battered, but they
did their league and their country proud with a fine display of
organisation and defensive determination to make this anything but a
stroll for the European champions in the first leg of this first
qualifying round match.

And it had to be Gerrard who stole the show at Anfield.

All summer he has been on the back pages for all the wrong reasons as
his future has been the subject of a soap opera.

But his future is now decided and his first chance to prove his
commitment produced two fine first-half goals and a late third.

The Reds started the defence of their European crown by fielding six of
the heroes of Istanbul from the start against a side packed full of
Scousers and Liverpool fans.

Jose 'Pepe' Reina made his debut in goal with Jerzy Dudek - the man
whose penalty save won the trophy at the expense of AC Milan in Turkey -
not even on the bench.

TNS boss Ken McKenna, an Evertonian, set out to deny Liverpool time and
space with a packed midfield and a team designed to contain, frustrate
and avoid severe embarrassment.

He left out skipper John Leah, record scorer Marc Lloyd Williams and
Liverpool fans John Lawless and Steve Beck.

Gerrard's name was greeted with a roar when the teams were announced -
and inside eight minutes he had responded with the first goal of the game.

John Arne Riise got down the left and crossed for Fernando Morientes to
lay the ball neatly into the path of his captain, Gerrard sidefooting
the ball crisply past Gerard Doherty.

Doherty - captain for the night - performed heroics to keep out efforts
from Gerrard, Morientes, Steve Finnan and Anthony Le Tallec.

But the England midfielder Gerrard struck again in the 21st minute when
Le Tallec flicked the ball on and Steve Evans hesitated long enough to
allow the Liverpool skipper to breeze past him before chipping the
exposed Doherty.

TNS, to the credit, came forward, kept their shape and even won a couple
of set pieces and a corner - the sort of opportunities they must have
hoped and planned for.

And the visitors to Anfield were even better for long spells in the
second half against a side whose lack of training was becoming obvious.

Riise fired badly over from Le Tallec's pass after the restart before
Xabi Alonso fed Gerrard - the England man's instant 20-yard chip
flashing inches over with Doherty a spectator.

TNS stuck to their task. Phil Baker hampering Riise at every turn while
Steve Evans was calm under the quality and pressure that was coming from
Morientes.

TNS actually started to look comfortable and had plenty of possession
before Michael Wilde was taken off just before the hour and Beck took
over up front.

Bolo Zenden came on for his debut for Warnock, with Riise dropping to
left-back and the Dutch signing playing down the left.

Gerrard let fly from a Zenden corner, but the avalanche of goals was not
coming and TNS opted to take off their defensive midfielder Tommy Holmes
and send on John Lawless as an extra option up front.

With 15 minutes left Djibril Cisse came on for Darren Potter and looked
like he had created the third for Morientes with a fierce cross, but the
ball had gone fractionally behind before Morientes slammed the cross home.

Nicky Ward was replaced by Leah on 81 minutes, TNS by now winning
applause from the Kop for their defiance.

Cisse's fine run set up Morientes again but Evans stopped the effort -
and seconds later Morientes hooked over from 10 yards.

The Kop's chant of "Champions of Europe" was sounding a bit flat until
Gerrard completed his hat-trick a minute from time when he struck an
angled 20-yard effort wide of Doherty and inside the far post following
Riise's crossfield ball.

A three-goal margin will be enough to make next week's second leg a
virtual formality, with Benitez likely to use the contest as an
opportunity to experiment.

Teams:

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock (Zenden 64), Potter
(Cisse 76), Alonso, Gerrard, Riise, Morientes, Le Tallec.
Subs Not Used: Carson, Baros, Hamann, Josemi, Whitbread.
Booked: none
Goals: Gerrard 8, 21, 89.

T.N.S.: Doherty, Baker, Jackson, Evans, King, Wood, Ruscoe, Holmes
(Lawless 72), Naylor, Ward (Leah 82), Wilde (Beck 59).
Subs Not Used: Acton, Lloyd-Williams, Toner, Hogan.
Booked: Baker.

Att: 44,760
Ref: Joeri Van Der Velde (Belgium).

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[lfc-news] Liverpool start on long road with cautious step - Telegraph

Daily Telegraph, 13 July 2005
Liverpool start on long road with cautious step
By John Ley

Just 49 days after claiming the Champions League trophy as their own,
Liverpool begin their defence against Llansantffraid's villagers at
Anfield tonight. It will be a surreal affair, attracting a capacity
crowd, as Total Network Solutions attempt to succeed where Juventus,
Chelsea and AC Milan failed last season.

Liverpool earned £21.85 million from match bonuses and their share of
UEFA's market pool in winning the trophy; TNS's average crowd is less
than 300 but a village of fewer than 1,000 inhabitants will be bolstered
by 3,000 followers tonight.

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, was careful in his appraisal of
this game, brought about after the holders were given a back-door entry
into a competition they did not officially qualify for after finishing
fifth in the Premiership.

Those searching for information on TNS via internet search engines are
directed to The Naturist Society, but the bare fact is that the Welsh
club have more players with links to Merseyside than the champions.

Included in their squad is midfielder and lifelong Liverpool fan Steven
Beck, who played alongside Wayne Rooney in the Everton side who lost the
2002 FA Youth Cup final. In addition, Tommy Rooney, Wayne's cousin, is
in the squad.

"I don't like to use the phrase 'David and Goliath' - because David
won," Benitez said. "These kind of games are always difficult. We have
been in training for two weeks, but some players were playing
internationals in the summer and they have been back one week.

"We know we are favourites," Benitez added. "We don't have the pace yet,
but we have the quality. I have lots of memories of Istanbul, but we
cannot think about the past. You have to work for the future and we must
prepare properly for every game - like this one - because if we are
caught sleeping and dreaming about the past we will be punished.

"For TNS this will be a final, it will be their most important game of
the season, that is why we cannot think about anything else but this game."

Preparations against a team from just 62 miles away have not been easy.
"We have been talking with the scouts since we knew the draw," Benitez
said. "I have four videos of their matches in my office and we have seen
two games and we have enough information.

"It is not easy to find the videos and they are not the same quality as
say the videos we had for AC Milan. It depends on how we manage the
squad as to whether this game causes us problems later in the season.
You need to use different players in different games. If you play games
then you cannot train and the physical condition of the player decreases."

Teams have suffered from playing early competitive games, such as Fulham
and West Ham, who ended up fatigued after beginning InterToto Cup
campaigns in early July. Benitez is aware of the potential of a knock-on
problem from such early participation.

This double header may not cause too many problems, but if Liverpool
overcome TNS, their next task is more difficult, with two second
qualifying round ties against either HB Torshavn, of the Faroe Islands,
or Lithuania's FBK Kaunas, followed by a third qualifying round tie
before the group stages begin in mid-September. And if they are to
retain the trophy, their journey will take in 19 games over a period of
more than nine months, concluding in Paris.

"Their manager has said it is the biggest mismatch in history," said
Benitez. "After the game I would like to say the same - but not now. In
football you don't know. We will be playing against 11 players who are
really motivated and they will have been preparing for the last two weeks."

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[lfc-news] Reds reserves set a tough start - Official Site

Official LFC Website, 12 July 2005
REDS RESERVES SET A TOUGH START
By Mark Platt

Liverpool reserves team will open their season with a daunting trip to
reigning champions Manchester United.
Hughie McAuley's side kick-off their campaign at Hyde United's ground on
Thursday August 11.

The first home fixture will take place against Mersey neighbours Everton
at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground the following Tuesday.

The season ends with an away match against Blackburn Rovers on Monday
April 10.

Liverpool Reserve Team fixtures 2005/06

BARCLAYS RESERVE LEAGUE NORTH

Thu Aug 11: Manchester United (A)
Tue Aug 16: Everton (H)
Mon Aug 22: Newcastle United (H)
Tue Aug 30: West Bromwich Albion (A)
Wed Sep 14: Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
Mon Sep 19: Bolton Wanderers (A)
Tue Sep 27: Leeds United (H)
Wed Oct 19: Wigan Athletic (A)
Tue Oct 25: Blackburn Rovers (H)
Tue Nov 1: Manchester City (H)
Tue Nov 8: Aston Villa (A)
Wed Nov 23: Birmingham City (A)
Tue Nov 29: Sunderland (H)
Tue Dec 13: Everton (A)
Tue Dec 20: Manchester United (H)
Mon Jan 9: Newcastle United (A)
Tue Jan 17: West Bromwich Albion (H)
Tue Jan 24: Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
Thur Feb 2: Middlesbrough (H)
Thur Feb 9: Bolton Wanderers (H)
Wed Feb 22: Leeds United (A)
Wed Mar 1: Sunderland (A)
Tue Mar 7: Wigan Athletic (H)
Tue Mar 14: Manchester City (A)
Thur Mar 23: Aston Villa (H)
Tue Mar 28: Middlesbrough (A)
Tue Apr 4: Birmingham City (H)
Mon Apr 10: Blackburn Rovers (A)
Wed May 3: Play off

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[lfc-news] Reina: Dudek rivalry will be good for club - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 12 July 2005
Dudek rivalry will be good for club - Reina
By David Prior, Daily Post Staff

JOSE REINA insisted his new rivalry with Jerzy Dudek would only benefit
Liverpool as manager Rafael Benitez hinted he would start the season
with the Spanish international.

The 22-year-old, who wants to be known as Pepe, was officially unveiled
yesterday to finally complete his £6million transfer from La Liga side
Villareal.

His arrival casts further doubt over the future of Dudek, however, whose
heroics helped to win the Champions League final in Istanbul but who may
now feel his future is best served elsewhere.

Benitez appeared to suggest yesterday that Reina would be handed the
gloves first - starting with tomorrow's Champions League opener against
TNS - with Polish international Dudek in reserve.

He said: "Jerzy is a good professional and he knows that he needs to
work harder to keep his place.

"He is a nice person and a good goalkeeper and now he knows that he
needs to work harder because the manager has signed a new goalkeeper.

"You never know in football - if you have a problem you need to be fit
and if you decide to use Jerzy he needs to be fit."

Reina is described by Benitez as "the best goalkeeper in Spain, and now
England", but dismissed claims his arrival had sounded the death knell
for Dudek's four-year stint at Anfield.

"I don't think for one minute that it'll be his last game for the club,"
said the former Barcelona number one.

"The important thing is there's a rivalry between myself, Jerzy and
Scott (Carson) as well. We all want to play, there's nothing strange
there, and it benefits the whole squad.

"It's normal in any side - if you ask any member of the squad they all
want to play, and it's no different here. All we've got to do as
individuals is try and make it very very difficult for the manager to
leave us out."

He added: "I hope that the fans here accept me. It has taken a long
time, it seems, for me to complete the move, maybe three months of talking.

"And all the while I knew how well Jerzy Dudek had done in the Champions
League.

"But my main concern now is to settle here quickly and to learn.

"For me it was the history of the club and the fact that very few
players get the chance to join the European champions, that made up my
mind to move to Anfield."

Liverpool expect to field a strong side against TNS and only Harry
Kewell, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor - all recovering from
operations - are not available, although Antonio Nunez won't be
considered as he attempts to engineer a move back to Spain.

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[lfc-news] Baros faces Euro snub - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 12 July 2005
Baros faces Euro snub
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

MILAN BAROS will not figure in Liverpool's plans tomorrow.

The striker's omission from the Liverpool team for the Champions League
qualifier with TNS will underline his uncertain future at Anfield.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez doesn't want the Czech star cup-tied
because it may scupper the player's chances of securing a transfer
before the start of the season.

Baros finds himself in a similar position to Michael Owen last year.

The club don't want to make him an unattractive target for potential
admirers so Baros will have to be content with a place on the bench.

The 24-year-old was destined for Valencia after reaching an agreement
with the Spanish team in May.

However, that switch broke down in June, leaving Baros in limbo.

His two goals against Wrexham on Saturday suggested the forward is happy
to try to regain the favour of Benitez, but it's a long road back.

Benitez certainly won't be rushing to cup-tie the striker against the
Welsh side.

The Anfield boss won't be confirming his line-up until tomorrow, but he
suggested Baros could be struggling to force his way into the team.

"With Morientes now fully fit and available in Europe, there are more
options for us. We need to work out how many players we have and which
are the right players for this game," he said.

Meanwhile, Antonio Nunez has been told he will leave Anfield if the Reds
receive an acceptable bid.

"I've spoken to Nunez and explained we've tried to find a club for him,
but at the moment we haven't had the right offer," said Benitez.

"Celta Vigo are interested but there are other options."

Meanwhile Mohamed Sissoko today revealed the prospect of teaming up once
again with Rafael Benitez helped persuade him to turn down Everton.

The Mali midfielder is expected to finalise his move to Anfield in the
next few days after completing his medical.

Everton thought they had secured a deal to take the 20-year-old to
Goodison but Sissoko, who played under Benitez at Valencia, says that
once Liverpool entered the race it was an easy decision to make.

He said: "I understand that the Everton fans are angry but I am going to
be happier at Liverpool. I'm sure they will give me a hard time in the
derby match.

"I appreciated the Everton offer but I was not convinced about everything.

"And when Rafa Benitez appeared, it made my mind up. I could never turn
this offer down. If Rafa was not Liverpool boss it might have been
different."

Benitez remains hopeful of adding Southmapton's Peter Crouch to his
squad this week, though his hopes of landing Luis Figo he says are
fading after Real Madrid suddenly reneged on their promise to give the
Portuguese international a free transfer.

They are now demanding a £2m fee which Liverpool will not pay. Benitez
is now looking for other options.

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[lfc-news] Sissoko snub to Mourinho - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 11 July 2005
Sissoko snub to Mourinho
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL fought off a late bid by Chelsea to secure a £5m deal for
Mohamed Sissoko, it emerged today.

The Mali international arrived at Melwood for his medical this morning
as Reds boss Rafael Benitez enjoyed his second transfer coup within a
week over the Premiership champions following their failure to sign
Steven Gerrard.

Everton's delay securing 20-year-old Sissoko seven days ago opened the
door for Benitez, who has tracked the youngster since he left Valencia.

Chelsea tried to hijack the deal at the eleventh hour only for Sissoko,
who was expected to be paraded with goalkeeper Jose Reina later today,
to pledge his future to Anfield.

"We hope to finalise all the details today and present Sissoko and Reina
at a press conference," confirmed Benitez..

"We have been talking with the player since we knew he was available and
once we made our move for him we knew how much he wanted to play for us.
We also knew it would be difficult to sign him because Everton and
another club wanted him.

"I'm delighted he chose Liverpool because he is a good player for the
present and the future of the club. He has played right-back but that is
not his best position. I see him as a strong central midfielder.

"He plays a high energy game with a high tempo.

"He's young, he's not bad on the ball and he will improve the balance of
our team.

"He's had two good years with Valencia where he has won trophies. I know
him well and he's a very good player."

Meanwhile Benitez has warned Real Madrid he is now exploring new options
on the right of midfield as the Luis Figo deadlock continues.

"That deal is becoming more difficult every day so I'm now looking at
other possibilities in that position," said the manager.

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[lfc-news] Benitez is quick to rule out talk of rift - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 11 July 2005
Benitez is quick to rule out talk of rift
By David Prior, Daily Post Staff

RAFAEL BENITEZ has sought to draw a line under the Steven Gerrard
transfer saga by dismissing talk of a rift with his captain.

Gerrard ended a turbulent week on Merseyside in triumphant style,
hoisting the European Cup once again prior to Liverpool's 4-3 friendly
win over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground.

In the wake of his extraordinary U-turn last week, the 25-year-old had
admitted his relationship with Benitez "could be better" and there was
also talk of training ground bust-ups and heated discussions between the
pair.

Benitez has now rubbished those claims, however, although he has
admitted he will be looking to improve relations with Gerrard now the
midfielder's long-term future is finally resolved.

"They were lying," the manager said of the bust-up speculation. "They
were trying to find a problem between him, me and the club.

"When the newspapers claimed we were fighting on the training pitch, I
was actually in my office.

"The relationship between us is good and if it is possible now we will
try to make it better. When the captain says he wants to go, then as a
manager you try and resolve the situation.

"As a manager you try to work with your players, so if you have a player
as good as Gerrard why would I want to fight with him?

Benitez firmly believes the uncertainty surrounding Gerrard is now over.

He added: "Now my relationship with Steven is good - with my wife it is
better!

"We have always talked together, but when people are talking about his
future, it is difficult to talk with him about that. Now we only need to
talk about football.

"After talking with him and analysing the situation, I think the
uncertainty is now over. He is happy."

Antonio Nunez's short career at Merseyside looks to be at an end,
meanwhile, after he was left out of Saturday's opening match of the
pre-season.

The 26-year-old has been linked with La Liga side Celta Vigo and Benitez
confirmed on Saturday he was willing to let the midfielder go at the
right price.

"It depends on the offer," said Benitez. "Vigo are one of the clubs that
have been mentioned and we are trying to find a solution because he is a
top-class player."

Benitez hopes to bring in three or four new players before the transfer
window closes next month, but whether Luis Figo will be one of them is
still unclear.

Speaking about the former world player of the year, Benitez said: "We
have some possibilities and Figo is one of them. We'll have to wait and see.

"We have possibilities and Figo and Peter Crouch are two of them. I'm
happy with the squad but we're trying to bring in some more players."

New Anfield midfielder Mark Gonzalez is hoping to impress, saying:
"People call me the South American Beckham because of the way I cross
the ball."

Both Real Zaragoza's Gabriel Milito and Chelsea's William Gallas remain
targets for Benitez, who is keen to provide more depth in central defence.

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