That was a proper Derby yesterday. Some vicious tackles and serious passion. A much more entertaining spectacle than some idiots giving each other the finger or playing up to the crowd with their attention seeking celebrations
Don’t know what game you were watching yesterday Francis but I thought it was pretty shite to be honest. Loads of bad challenges but the game itself was a poor fare. Too many ordinary players on show.
Ah farmer, could not just have run with me on this one. It was a shit game but the battle was fought on the pitch not in the press
Worth bringing this up again tonight. Both Lee Dixon and Alan Hansen on MOTD said that Nani’s challenge tonight would have been deemed a great tackle in their respective careers…
As I told you at the start of the season. Liverpool hadn’t got the calibre of player to challange realistically for the Title. I also predicted Alberto Aquillani was flakey and wouldn’t adapt to the pace of the Premiership. Its good to see you have finally faced up to the reality of it.
Anyone have a link for the Europa League match?
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Rafa Bentitez wants to sign Raul on a free transfer this summer to spearhead their charge towards top six mediocrity.
Oh Dear Oh Dear.
Some of the stuff in here that Benitez is saying is incredible. He is asking for money to be able to compete, this is despite him spending 200 million odd during his time and with the ludicrous situation where he clearly doesn’t rate Aquilani anymore despite shelling out 20 million on him.
I always felt that despite everything Rafa is an alright sort but this shit don’t fly.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez agrees with star striker Fernando Torres’ frank assessment of his team’s failings.
Torres has claimed that a spate of summer departures meant ‘everything got messed up’ for the Reds this season.
Having begun the campaign among the favourites for the Barclays Premier League title, Liverpool are looking increasingly unlikely to even finish fourth.
A draw at Birmingham on Sunday has left them sixth, four points adrift of that all-important Champions League-qualifying position, having played a game more than both Manchester City in fourth and Tottenham in fifth.
Benitez concedes his squad need major investment this summer to force its way back among the title contenders.
The Spaniard said: 'I agree with Fernando about a lot of things. He talks about it being a pity we finished with 86 points last year and we couldn’t progress.
'We need to sign some players, we need to bring some money. We need an investor and then we can challenge in a better way.
'The players are working so hard and they feel they can do more.
‘Fernando the other day (at Birmingham), he was feeling really tired. He was trying and the other players were trying but while we don’t have the investor it will be difficult to go one step forward.’
Benitez was speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Benfica at Anfield.
Liverpool trail 2-1 from the first meeting in Lisbon but the competition looks like their best hope of salvaging something from the season.
Benitez said: 'We will try to do our best tomorrow to win.
'Hopefully we can balance the books this year.
‘We need now to perform on the pitch and create a better situation for the new investors.’
When asked whether he could elaborate on whether owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have offered any indication that new investment might be imminent, Benitez avoided the question in familiar style.
He said: ‘I understand the players, we have to stick together and prepare for a Europa League game.’
did you not see what torres was saying farmer ?
Fernando Torres has offered a frank assessment of Liverpool’s failings this season, admitting a spate of summer departures ‘messed everything up’.
The sale of midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid for a reported £30million has been widely criticised as the Reds’ difficult campaign has unfolded, with his £20million replacement Alberto Aquilani struggling for fitness all season to the frustration of manager Rafael Benitez.
Versatile Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa joined Alonso in moving to the Bernabeu, while the experienced Sami Hyypia was allowed to join German side Bayer Leverkusen.
The Reds were eliminated in the Champions League group stages for the first time in Benitez’s tenure and face an uphill task to return to the competition at all next season, lying as they do four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City having played a game more.
And a shock 2-1 FA Cup third-round replay defeat to Reading at Anfield left the Europa League - a consolation after their Champions League exit, but one in which they must overturn a 2-1 deficit to Benfica in Thursday’s quarter-final second leg to progress further - as their only remaining chance of a trophy.
Torres, quoted in various newspapers today, said: 'There have been various important factors, like being so far behind the top teams so quickly. That killed us psychologically.
'After that, injuries hit us hard and we have suffered a lot because of them. But after a good season last year, we needed certain reinforcements and we needed to keep the squad we had together. But circumstances dictated that we had to sell players and so everything got messed up.
'The sales of Arbeloa, Hyypia and Alonso were important losses. Alvaro always did a vital job for us, always played to a high level, and his flexibility was a huge bonus.
‘Sami did not play every week but he was a 10 out of 10 on and off the pitch.’
I agreed with what Torres was saying when I saw it, and I don’t see how Benitez could have disagreed if asked about it.
Hard to know if either of them will be around next year though
Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has signed a new six-year contract at Anfield.
The 27-year-old has been in outstanding form this season and one of the club’s most consistent performers since his arrival from Villarreal in 2005.
The new agreement, which replaces Reina’s previous contract, commits the Spaniard to the club until 2016 and could extend his spell on Merseyside to 11 years.
Reina told the club’s website: 'I’m delighted to sign a new contract.
'It’s probably the best news of my life that I’ll be here for the next six years. Me and my family are really happy here.
'To play for Liverpool is very special. I’ve been here for five years and now I will be here for six more and it’s very exciting.
'It’s very important that my family love it here as well, as family life is just as important as my career.
‘My wife told me from the beginning she was more than happy here. My kids enjoy it and they have picked up the Scouse accent already. I am really proud of that. In the years ahead they will speak much more Scouse too.’
Reina’s deal is further good news for the club after last night’s Europa League quarter-final victory over Benfica at Anfield.
It also follows new long-term contracts for Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Daniel Agger and Yossi Benayoun in the past 12 months.
Reina arrived at Anfield in a £6million deal just weeks after Jerzy Dudek had earned a place in club folklore with his heroics in 2005 Champions League final penalty shoot-out victory.
He took over from Dudek and made his own name with penalty saves in shoot-outs in the 2006 FA Cup final and 2007 Champions League semi-finals.
He has since established himself as one of the leading goalkeepers in the world although he remains second choice in his national side behind Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas.
Reina came through the youth ranks at Barcelona and goalkeeping is in his blood. His father Miguel played in the position for both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Did anyone see how cool Lucas’ finish was last night? What’s that about?
Reina is a superb goalkeeper - I think he’s better than Casillas these days but he’s not going to get in the Spain team any time soon.
He got lucky, the keepers touch slowed it down for him, otherwise it was going way out left. The right left drag did surprise me though.
Pool got 2 excellent goals last night.
The news on Reina is tremendous and was an excellent signing by Benitez. Credit where credit is due.
The thing about Pepe is that he is a huge Rafa supporter so probably looked for assurances that he will still be boss next season before he signed on the dotted line, I would imagine.
Are you excited about Lucas’ new attacking midfield role next year?
agreed, far more comfortable coming for crosses and sweeping…spare a thought for Diego Lopez who can’t get a run for spain…
Juventus tell Rafael Benítez to decide over manager’s job in 10 days
Italian club keen to add Spaniard to summer short-list
Juventus have asked Rafael Benítez for a decision on his career plans within the next 10 days as they attempt to finalise their shortlist to succeed Alberto Zaccheroni at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Liverpool manager remains the Italian club’s preferred choice to lead them from this summer, as has been the case since they sacked Ciro Ferrara and installed Zaccheroni as a stop-gap appointment in January, when Benítez was reluctant to walk away from his lucrative Anfield contract mid-season. Juventus still believe they can entice the Spaniard to Turin, however, but want assurances of his interest as they plan for a new era that will include increased transfer spending this summer and, in the 2011-12 season, a new 41,000-capacity stadium.
Reports in Italy have claimed Benítez’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, met the Juventus president, Jean-Claude Blanc, in Milan this week to discuss the compensation owing to his client should he quit Anfield. While this is incorrect, Juventus do want an answer from Benítez on whether he wishes to feature on their managerial shortlist for this summer. Other candidates are believed to include the current Brazil coach, Dunga, and the Cagliari coach, Massimiliano Allegri.
Benítez is also under consideration by Real Madrid, as the club he served as player, youth-team coach, reserve-team coach and assistant manager discuss the options to replace the current coach, Manuel Pellegrini, should he fail to win La Liga this season. In a poll conducted by the Spanish newspaper Marca yesterday, Benítez finished above José Mourinho, Fabio Capello, Carlo Ancelotti and Luiz Felipe Scolari on the list of readers’ ideal choice to succeed Pellegrini. The Liverpool manager polled 40% of a 100,000-strong vote.
Despite firm interest from Real and Juventus, a poor season with Liverpool and his public frustrations with the financial constraints at Anfield, Benítez would prefer to remain on Merseyside providing serious investment materialises in the coming months. Liverpool’s managing director, Christian Purslow, has been conducting a global search for new investors since last year but theco-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, in the absence of an offer that meets their asking price, have sought an extension to their refinancing deal with the Royal Bank of Scotland.
An announcement on the Americans’ plans for Liverpool, to include confirmation of their intention to sell and the appointment of the British Airways chairman, Martin Broughton, as the club’s new independent chairman, is expected today, the eve of the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
Fernando Torres, meanwhile, could be fit to face his former club Atlético Madrid in the Europa League semi-final next week, according to the specialist treating the striker’s latest knee injury in Spain.
Torres is currently in Barcelona for treatment on the knee that required surgery and forced him to miss five weeks of the season earlier this year. Initial scans on a problem that caused Torres to miss Sunday’s damaging draw against Fulham proved inconclusive and he is scheduled to undergo further tests tomorrow.
The delay in diagnosing the extent of the striker’s injury has raised concerns over a prolonged absence and a possible threat to his participation at the World Cup. Dr Ramon Cugat, the specialist who has treated Torres throughout his career, however, believes Liverpool’s leading goalscorer should be available for next week’s reunion with Atlético.
“The problem is not serious but he needs to rest to avoid more risk because it’s the same knee on which he had surgery in January,” said Cugat. “But in normal circumstances, he could be ready to play next week, depending on how it settles down. The decision is now up to Liverpool’s medical staff and the manager.”
Liverpool play West Ham at Anfield on Monday and face Atlético in the first leg of their semi-final in Madrid three days later.
Ridiculous levels of uncertainty at Anfield for such a big club. At this stage it’s unknown if the present manager, owners, or key players will be around next season. The reality is that the financial mess the club finds itself in raises real doubts about the p[otential to attract a manager of the calibre of Hiddink or Mourihno. If a top class manager can’t be brought to the club and there is no real investment in the squad over the summer, then what are the chances of keeping someone like Torres should he shine at the world cup?
On the flip side is the reality that things have been much worse in previous years in many regards and the club has bounced back. It’s unlikely that Liverpool will ever be outside the premiership elite for too long regardless of what happens and as Torres said last week, fallen giants in club football always rise again. It’d be nice to get some good news from somewhere though.