Reports late this evening claim that George Gillett and Tom Hicks are about to postpone construction of the club's new stadium because they can't raise the funds.
The controversial duo had hoped to send the builders in within the next fortnight but it's looking highly unlikely that the project is going to get off the ground, if you believe the latest claims.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remains confident of eventually taking over the club so this news will certainly be welcomed by him and his team of advisors.
Friday 29 August 2008
PARRY IN BARCELONA....
Rick Parry is back in Barcelona again.
We have spent most of the summer informing you of the chief executive's frequent visits to the city. It would appear that this time he's there to conclude the deal for Espanyol's Albert Riera.
Despite working on that bit of business, we think that Parry's other visits there were for someone else, possibly at Barcelona, as we see no reason why he would have to make so many trips to conclude what appears to be a simple deal for Riera.
Will we ever know? Probably not...
We have spent most of the summer informing you of the chief executive's frequent visits to the city. It would appear that this time he's there to conclude the deal for Espanyol's Albert Riera.
Despite working on that bit of business, we think that Parry's other visits there were for someone else, possibly at Barcelona, as we see no reason why he would have to make so many trips to conclude what appears to be a simple deal for Riera.
Will we ever know? Probably not...
Sunday 24 August 2008
TRANSFER'S EXPECTED SOON
Liverpool have told Arsenal that they will not sell Xabi Alonso for £10million.
It is claimed that the Gunners have approached the Reds to see if we would be prepared to do a deal at that price but Rafa Benitez isn't prepared to let him go so cheap.
Meanwhile the boss has revealed that following talks with Rick Parry, there could be some transfer activity within the next few days.
Rafa said: "We are working really hard, we are moving in the right direction and hopefully we can do something positive in the next few days.
"The talks were positive, we cannot discuss names but we are now both working to improve our squad.
"There was no friction, but some personal problems. Now things are more clear and that is positive. It was a private conversation."
On Gareth Barry, he added: "I have had no word about Arsenal wanting Gareth Barry, and that is all I want to say on the subject. Other than that we are working towards improving our squad.
"Likewise there has been nothing more on Xabi Alonso. At the beginning of the summer we were looking at ways of raising money, but now we are happy with Xabi, he is a very good player.
"The offer we had was not good enough, so why would we want to sell him?"
It is claimed that the Gunners have approached the Reds to see if we would be prepared to do a deal at that price but Rafa Benitez isn't prepared to let him go so cheap.
Meanwhile the boss has revealed that following talks with Rick Parry, there could be some transfer activity within the next few days.
Rafa said: "We are working really hard, we are moving in the right direction and hopefully we can do something positive in the next few days.
"The talks were positive, we cannot discuss names but we are now both working to improve our squad.
"There was no friction, but some personal problems. Now things are more clear and that is positive. It was a private conversation."
On Gareth Barry, he added: "I have had no word about Arsenal wanting Gareth Barry, and that is all I want to say on the subject. Other than that we are working towards improving our squad.
"Likewise there has been nothing more on Xabi Alonso. At the beginning of the summer we were looking at ways of raising money, but now we are happy with Xabi, he is a very good player.
"The offer we had was not good enough, so why would we want to sell him?"
STEVE GERRARD GERRARD
Late goals from Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher claimed a dramatic victory for Liverpool after Middlesbrough had threatened to pull off a shock win at Anfield. 
The Reds had looked on the verge of a frustrating defeat with five minutes remaining but the home-grown duo had other ideas.
Gerrard's superb curler from the edge of the area won it after Carragher's deflected strike had cancelled out Mido's opener.
It was a positive end to a frustrating afternoon for the Reds who dominated for the majority of the clash but struggled to find a way past rookie stopper Ross Turnbull. But they will now head into the second-leg of their vital Champions League qualifier on Wednesday in buoyant mood after snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
The visit of 'Boro marked the first match of the new season at Anfield and as supporters settled into their seats they were not just treated to their first glimpse of the likes of Robbie Keane and Andrea Dossena in competitive action, but they will also have noticed the new electronic advertising boards lining the perimeter of the pitch.
The game itself began at a frenetic pace and although the visitors looked lively in the early exchanges it was Liverpool who had the first real sight of goal when Dirk Kuyt brought a great save out of Ross Turnbull from 25 yards.
It was the ideal start for the keeper who had only been called into the starting XI at the last moment after Brad Jones injured his hand in the warm up.
The Reds were eager to test him at every opportunity but both Robbie Keane and Yossi Benayoun shot well wide of goal when provided with opportunities while Pepe Reina had to be alert to tip Andrew Taylor's 15th minute blockbuster over the crossbar.
The visitors were far from overawed by their visit to Merseyside and, buoyed by their opening day win over Spurs, they more than matched Liverpool with Stewart Downing in particular looking dangerous on the left.
It just wasn't happening for the hosts and after Torres saw his penalty appeals turned down by referee Mike Riley Steven Gerrard was next to hang his head in frustration after his arcing effort flew just wide of the near post.
As the half came to a disappointing end, fans will have been cheered by the sight of Keane combining brilliantly with Torres to set the Spaniard clear but Robert Huth did just enough to deny him a clear strike at goal.
It was something they hoped to see more of in the second period but as the clock ticked down the visitors' rearguard remained stubbornly resistant.
In fact, it was 'Boro' who manufactured the best opening of the game on the hour mark when substitute Mido broke down the left and fed the ball into Tuncay who produced an unorthodox turn to completely bamboozle Martin Skrtel before lashing his shot straight at Reina.
For Liverpool it was Torres who continued to look the more likely and he smashed a 25-yard thunderbolt just wide of the far post as he continued his bid to become the first player in Liverpool's history to score in nine successive home league games and break the previous record of eight set by Roger Hunt in 1961-62.
However, it was not to be El Nino's day and Rafael Benitez's men were stunned 20 minutes from time when Mido received a pass from Jeremie Aliadiere and fired a sweet 25 yard strike into the bottom right-hand corner to leave Reina with no chance.
It looked like Middlesbrough were on the verge of their first win at Anfield in 21 attempts but with time running out Carragher pulled them level with a speculative 25-yard effort that took a huge deflection off Emanuel Pogatetz.
And it got better for the Reds in injury-time when Gerrard seized on a loose ball on the edge of the area to curl home a magnificent winner and send the home support into ecstasy.
Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Taylor, Pogatetz (captain), Huth, Wheater, Downing, O'Neil, Shawky, Aliadiere, Sanli, Alves. Subs - Johnson, , Hoyte, Williams, Digard, Emnes
The Reds had looked on the verge of a frustrating defeat with five minutes remaining but the home-grown duo had other ideas.
Gerrard's superb curler from the edge of the area won it after Carragher's deflected strike had cancelled out Mido's opener.
It was a positive end to a frustrating afternoon for the Reds who dominated for the majority of the clash but struggled to find a way past rookie stopper Ross Turnbull. But they will now head into the second-leg of their vital Champions League qualifier on Wednesday in buoyant mood after snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
The visit of 'Boro marked the first match of the new season at Anfield and as supporters settled into their seats they were not just treated to their first glimpse of the likes of Robbie Keane and Andrea Dossena in competitive action, but they will also have noticed the new electronic advertising boards lining the perimeter of the pitch.
The game itself began at a frenetic pace and although the visitors looked lively in the early exchanges it was Liverpool who had the first real sight of goal when Dirk Kuyt brought a great save out of Ross Turnbull from 25 yards.
It was the ideal start for the keeper who had only been called into the starting XI at the last moment after Brad Jones injured his hand in the warm up.
The Reds were eager to test him at every opportunity but both Robbie Keane and Yossi Benayoun shot well wide of goal when provided with opportunities while Pepe Reina had to be alert to tip Andrew Taylor's 15th minute blockbuster over the crossbar.
The visitors were far from overawed by their visit to Merseyside and, buoyed by their opening day win over Spurs, they more than matched Liverpool with Stewart Downing in particular looking dangerous on the left.
It just wasn't happening for the hosts and after Torres saw his penalty appeals turned down by referee Mike Riley Steven Gerrard was next to hang his head in frustration after his arcing effort flew just wide of the near post.
As the half came to a disappointing end, fans will have been cheered by the sight of Keane combining brilliantly with Torres to set the Spaniard clear but Robert Huth did just enough to deny him a clear strike at goal.
It was something they hoped to see more of in the second period but as the clock ticked down the visitors' rearguard remained stubbornly resistant.
In fact, it was 'Boro' who manufactured the best opening of the game on the hour mark when substitute Mido broke down the left and fed the ball into Tuncay who produced an unorthodox turn to completely bamboozle Martin Skrtel before lashing his shot straight at Reina.
For Liverpool it was Torres who continued to look the more likely and he smashed a 25-yard thunderbolt just wide of the far post as he continued his bid to become the first player in Liverpool's history to score in nine successive home league games and break the previous record of eight set by Roger Hunt in 1961-62.
However, it was not to be El Nino's day and Rafael Benitez's men were stunned 20 minutes from time when Mido received a pass from Jeremie Aliadiere and fired a sweet 25 yard strike into the bottom right-hand corner to leave Reina with no chance.
It looked like Middlesbrough were on the verge of their first win at Anfield in 21 attempts but with time running out Carragher pulled them level with a speculative 25-yard effort that took a huge deflection off Emanuel Pogatetz.
And it got better for the Reds in injury-time when Gerrard seized on a loose ball on the edge of the area to curl home a magnificent winner and send the home support into ecstasy.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Gerrard (captain), Alonso, Kuyt, Torres, Keane. Subs - Agger, Plessis, Aurelio, Ngog, El Zhar, Babel, CavalieriMiddlesbrough: Turnbull, Taylor, Pogatetz (captain), Huth, Wheater, Downing, O'Neil, Shawky, Aliadiere, Sanli, Alves. Subs - Johnson, , Hoyte, Williams, Digard, Emnes
Saturday 16 August 2008
LIVERPOOL WIN
Liverpool won 1-0 against Sunderland this evening with a goal a brilliant individual goal from Torres.
RAFA CONSIDERS HIS FUTURE WITH LFC...(AMERICANS OUT!)
EXCLUSIVE: Rafa Benitez thought of resigning from Liverpool last week and even discussed leaving the club with his closest allies, according to sources close to the Spanish manager. The only thing that stopped him from leaving Anfield was his respect for the Liverpool fans and for the people that work with him on a daily basis.
This is the first time since his arrival that Benitez has come this close to resigning, although on two other occasions offers from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and a couple of other major European clubs led him to reassess his future at Anfield. On both occasions he decided to stay put and the club improved his contractual situation.
According to sources this time around, it is his desperation with the Barry transfer deal, the lack of a satisfactory conclusion to the Alonso transfer and the gaping hole on the left hand side of midfield - yet to be filled - that are the major causes of his dissatisfaction and frustration. This has nothing to do with his contract. “Rafa doesn’t care about what he is getting paid, he thought he was being undermined this summer and was close to giving up”, says a friend of the manager.
The situation at Anfield has been so confusing over the last few weeks - with the Gareth Barry saga and Xabi Alonso's failed move to either Juventus or Arsenal - that Benitez felt the need to explain, at his Friday press conference, that he was not involved in the Barry transfer: another way of saying that if it did not take place, then it was not his fault.
“Since I started talking with Martin O'Neill in April, I didn't talk with Aston Villa. All of the talks have been between Rick Parry and the owner and chief executive of As ton Villa and they have been pretty good... I was not doing the talks about Barry, I was not doing the talks about Alonso, so if someone wants to talk about these players, then they have to talk with the chief executive of our club. If you want to talk about football, talk with me," said Rafa.
According to different sources, Benitez would have liked Gareth Barry to have been his first signing of the summer, ahead of even Robbie Keane, and by now the squad would have been closed. Instead, there is at least one new player to come in, although Liverpool have not yet given up hope in signing the Villa midfielder. The club, according to sources close to Tom Hicks, can afford Gareth Barry or a new left winger without the need to sell anybody.
One final factor, that influenced Benitez' decision to stay, was his belief that the team is set for a very good season and that they are in a position to improve on last year.
This is the first time since his arrival that Benitez has come this close to resigning, although on two other occasions offers from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and a couple of other major European clubs led him to reassess his future at Anfield. On both occasions he decided to stay put and the club improved his contractual situation.
According to sources this time around, it is his desperation with the Barry transfer deal, the lack of a satisfactory conclusion to the Alonso transfer and the gaping hole on the left hand side of midfield - yet to be filled - that are the major causes of his dissatisfaction and frustration. This has nothing to do with his contract. “Rafa doesn’t care about what he is getting paid, he thought he was being undermined this summer and was close to giving up”, says a friend of the manager.
The situation at Anfield has been so confusing over the last few weeks - with the Gareth Barry saga and Xabi Alonso's failed move to either Juventus or Arsenal - that Benitez felt the need to explain, at his Friday press conference, that he was not involved in the Barry transfer: another way of saying that if it did not take place, then it was not his fault.
“Since I started talking with Martin O'Neill in April, I didn't talk with Aston Villa. All of the talks have been between Rick Parry and the owner and chief executive of As ton Villa and they have been pretty good... I was not doing the talks about Barry, I was not doing the talks about Alonso, so if someone wants to talk about these players, then they have to talk with the chief executive of our club. If you want to talk about football, talk with me," said Rafa.
According to different sources, Benitez would have liked Gareth Barry to have been his first signing of the summer, ahead of even Robbie Keane, and by now the squad would have been closed. Instead, there is at least one new player to come in, although Liverpool have not yet given up hope in signing the Villa midfielder. The club, according to sources close to Tom Hicks, can afford Gareth Barry or a new left winger without the need to sell anybody.
One final factor, that influenced Benitez' decision to stay, was his belief that the team is set for a very good season and that they are in a position to improve on last year.
Thursday 14 August 2008
WE WERE LUCKY SAYS RAFA
| Rafael Benitez admitted his side were lucky to escape with a draw after they produced a below-par display in the first-leg of the Champions League qualifier with Standard Liege. | |
| The Reds boss was frustrated that his side could not reproduce their good pre-season form against the Belgian champions but feels the Anfield factor will play a vital role when the two sides meet at Anfield in a fortnight's time. "I think we were lucky not to concede," said Benitez. "You never know what is going to happen when a game gets underway but clearly we didn't play well. "The performance was poor but the result was good. We didn't concede away from home which is always important and to play the second-leg at Anfield could make a massive difference. "The positive thing was the result and we didn't have to say too much about the display in the dressing room because everybody already knew it wasn't good." The Reds struggled to come to terms with Liege's fast start to the contest and Benitez felt his side were their own worst enemy and was grateful to keeper Pepe Reina for securing a 0-0 draw with a first-half spot-kick save. "They were very aggressive and we could not keep the ball," he said. "Our passes were bad and we always lost the first and second ball. "In the first 20 minutes they were on top of us and after that we controlled it a bit more. "In the second-half they started the same way and played more long balls and continued to win the first and second balls and if you don't win them you will continue to be under pressure. "I was a little bit surprised because we were playing well in pre-season with a lot of confidence. "I told the players before, after watching their Super Cup game against Anderlecht, that it could be like this. "We knew they could be very aggressive. They were organised and pressed well and it was difficult for us to keep the ball. "I think the entire team didn't play well; so the strikers, midfielders and defenders didn't play well and Pepe Reina was man of the match." With Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva and Ryan Babel all on Olympic duty and the likes of Fabio Aurelio and Martin Skrtel out injured, Benitez felt his side lacked options on the bench and admitted he had been forced to bring skipper Steven Gerrard into the frame to try and inspire a late rally. "We have a lot of players away or injured and the competition for the places needs to improve," he continued. "Gerrard couldn't start and he is a player who can change a game and if you have two or three players of this level on the pitch it is different. "We were talking with the doctor before the match and we knew he couldn't start and we were thinking maybe we could use him and in the end we did need him. "I have been really pleased with the commitment of the players in the pre-season but this game was different, it was difficult and we didn't play well. "Fabio Aurelio and Skrtel have been training and when they are available we will have more options. "Argentina play Holland in the Olympics too, so one player will return earlier. If you have more players competing for places it is better for the team." | |
GARETH BARRY...*yawn*
Reds target Gareth Barry will become cup-tied this evening if Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill deploys him against FH Hafnarfjordur in the UEFA Cup second round qualifier.
If Liverpool come up with the £18million before the 7pm kick-off then the midfielder obviously won't be involved. If he does play he'll be ineligible to play in the Champions League before the knock-out stages in February.
Because of the on-going saga that has dragged on all summer, all eyes will be on the starting line-up (and the bench) this evening.
If Liverpool come up with the £18million before the 7pm kick-off then the midfielder obviously won't be involved. If he does play he'll be ineligible to play in the Champions League before the knock-out stages in February.
Because of the on-going saga that has dragged on all summer, all eyes will be on the starting line-up (and the bench) this evening.
Sunday 10 August 2008
SIGN THE PETITION TO GET TOM HICKS AND GEORGE GILLETE OUT!
Today i am embarassed to be a Liverpool fan. These owners of ours are ruining our club, the traditions and principals that have stood firm are being torn down by 2 ignorant people who are simply in this for personal gain, and donot give a damn about the fans and actually winning... is that not what it is all about?
Sign this petition, its time to take action!YANKS OUT!
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ggthout/
Sign this petition, its time to take action!YANKS OUT!
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ggthout/
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