Liverpool FC

[MaschPotato]

FOOTBALL NEWS Gillett (left) - with partner Hicks.
GILLETT HINTS AT REDS UNREST E-mail Article Print-Friendly Subscribe to RSS Feed
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By Paul Walker, PA Sport
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Click here for football Text Alerts! liverpool - complete Internet resource dedicated to liv co-owner George Gillett has finally broken his silence on his strained relationship with Tom Hicks.
Gillett has not made a public statement on the current takeover turmoil at the club since the controversial financial repackaging of the loans Hicks and Gillett took out to buy the club last year.
Gillett's son Foster - a board member - was withdrawn from the day-to-day operations at Anfield as Gillett prepared to sell his 50% stake to Dubai International Capital.
Gillett, who also owns the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club, was speaking at a sports conference in California when - answering a question on whether he would remain a co-owner of Liverpool - he said: "I would say, choose your partners wisely."
That remark, in answer to a question from Abraham Madkour, editor of a sports business journal in the US, explained much about the differences between Hicks and Gillett.
Gillett was appearing at the IMG world sports conference in California.
He also said: "He (Tom Hicks) is a great guy - but he has just got a different perspective on the media."
Hicks has this week been critical of DIC's use of the media to support their plans to buy out Gillett.
Dallas-based Hicks has criticised DIC's tactics and terminated talks with the Dubai-based sports empire on Monday.
This followed his complaints about leaked documents and comments from DIC that implied they would want management control despite only buying a 49% stake.
He was also upset with what was considered triumphant comments that suggested DIC would soon buy his stake.
For Gillett to suggest he did not choose his partner wisely when he bought the club from former chairman David Moores says much about the current situation.
Gillett initially wanted to buy the club on his own, but brought in Hicks' financial muscle when he could not do the deal himself.

[MaschPotato]

sorry for posting twice there

[RevolutionMikE5]

hi, when do liverpool play Man u? I havent checked.

[AnfieldG8]

2 or 3 weeks time i think

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo22000

hi, when do liverpool play Man u? I havent checked.

23 march

[Scouser_Dave]

STEVIE: MOSCOW MOMENTUM BUILDING
Jimmy Rice 13 March 2008 Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool are gaining the kind of momentum which could carry them to yet another Champions League final. The Reds skipper is no stranger to that winning feeling on the continent having appeared in two of the last three showpiece finals.

After a disappointing start to this year's Euro odyssey, Liverpool have won five successive games in the Champions League, scoring 19 goals and conceding just one in the process.

Now, after he and his teammates sent Serie A leaders Inter Milan packing on Tuesday, Gerrard senses it could once again be their year.

He said: "We have got momentum, we have, there is no doubt about that, and it could be important.

"We are playing very, very well now. We cannot get carried away, because there are some monster teams left in it, but we are playing a lot better now.

"In Europe we are a force, we do not fear anyone. We have got great experience in Europe, we have been there and we know what it is all about.

"I don't want to say who we want to play and who we don't but I think we can let the rest worry about us, because we have got the pedigree in this competition.

"Our record in the Champions League speaks for itself, we don't have to go in the media to defend ourselves or say how good we are. I honestly believe our record says we are a great team in Europe."

The Benitez era has seen Liverpool beat the likes of Inter, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Chelsea in the Champions League, a impressive roll call that includes victories at the Nou Camp and now the San Siro.

Despite this, one of the club's rivals recently took a swipe by suggesting some of the teams to lift ol' big ears of late have not been 'great'.

Gerrard said: "People have said that teams that are not great have won the Champions League, but I think we can let our record answer that. We have been to final twice in three years and we have won some big games in some important stadiums across Europe, and we have produced the performances of a great European side."

Liverpool's European adventures have taken Gerrard, who is still just 27, to some of the world's most awe-inspiring arenas – but never, until Tuesday, the San Siro.

He added: "It is a proud moment, these are the stadiums you want to play in as a player and honestly, you dream about winning in places like this. And I think we deserved it.

"We were always a threat on the counter and we had chances, probably more than they did.

"With a player like Torres you are always going to have a threat and have a chance against anyone. What was pleasing is that we were pretty comfortable all night. That was the plan to be solid defensively, and overall we handled it really well."

Next up for Rafa Benitez's side in the quarter-finals is either Fenerbache, Barcelona, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Shalke or Roma.

[AnfieldG8]

VIEIRA TIPS REDS FOR EURO GLORY
Jimmy Rice 13 March 2008

Patrick Vieira is tipping old rivals Liverpool to win the Champions League this season.


The Inter Milan midfielder, who spent nine years with Arsenal from 1996 to 2005, witnessed first hand the expertise of Rafa Benitez's side in Europe on Tuesday.

The Nerazzurri star admits his heart now wants his former club to triumph in Moscow – but his head says Liverpool.

Vieira said: "Liverpool were tough opponents and they can go on and win it now. They have done it before and they know exactly what it is about at this stage.

"They are in the last eight, so of course they have a great chance now but you also have to say they are the most experienced of all the sides left in the competition.

"They know how to get through these ties, as they showed against us, and they know how to win the cup. They are the side the others will want to avoid now."

[Kaka11|LFC]

KUYT: TORRES CAN SCORE EVERY GAME

Jimmy Rice 13 March 2008
Dirk Kuyt has revealed how he senses fear in opposition defences when Fernando Torres is on the pitch.
The generous Dutchman looks certain to lose the title he gained last term of Liverpool's top scorer – but he's not complaining.

Torres has so far notched up 26 goals from 35 games, eight of which have come in the last five matches to help inject new life into the campaign.

Kuyt said: "Fernando is just special. It is amazing to score this many goals in his first season in England. He is getting them in the league and in Europe, he is doing a great job for the team.

"He will only get better and better. Other teams now are very worried by him, but you could see with the way he put away his one chance of the night just how dangerous he is.

"The rest of the players seem to think he will score in every game, and the way it is going, that is starting to happen."

Torres scored the winner as Liverpool beat Inter Milan to move into the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night.

Left-back Fabio Aurelio added: "It is unbelievable how things have gone for us. We believe in ourselves, and all of us are very happy. We should be congratulating ourselves.

"Now it will be more difficult in the next round. There are three other English sides, but Barcelona and Roma too. We know we will have to prepare very well, but we are confident."

[BodirogaJ]

Kuyt: Can i score every game?

[smeltzerinho]

Kuyt: Can I score?

[AnfieldG8]

hahahahaha sooooo true...he scored against inter milan though...he deserves a pat on the back for trying

[Scouser_Dave]

He is playing some great football on the RW

[Scouser_Dave]

Speculation surrounding Real Mallorca star Juan Arango has surfaced once again with the Venezuelan eager for a lucrative move abroad, with Liverpool high on his list.

“Liverpool are a team of champions and I ask myself what footballer wouldn’t be pleased to play for that club?” he said at a press conference back in January when speculation was widespread.

However with Peter Crouch seemingly on his way out of Anfield, possibly to Sven’s Manchester City outfit, it appears that a deal might not be that far away as Rafa look’s to bolster his highly-scrutinised front-line consisting of Fernando Torres, Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin.

Arango, a long-term target for Benitez, can double-up as a left-sided attacker and is currently on-form striking a hat-trick in Mallorca’s 7-1 destruction of Recreativo Huelva recently (see video below).

Many see Arango as the ideal partner for strike-sensation Fernando Torres.

[Scouser_Dave]

by Laurent Picard, 13 March 2008

Liverpool full back Alvaro Arbeloa has distanced himself from a return to Real Madrid.

The 25-year-old was a surprising signing from Deportivo La Coruna the January before last but his displays have earned him a place at Anfield under fellow countryman Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard was educated at Real Madrid but was never offered the chance to impose himself with Los Merengues, as he only appeared twice in the 2004/2005 season.

Arbeloa has revealed how happy he is on Merseyside and that he does not plan to return to El Santiago Bernabeu in the future.

The defender has commented on his first year in the Reds shirt and declared himself happy with his displays.

“Real Madrid aren’t in my thoughts,” he told Marca. “Their doors are closed for me. I think that for the club as well as for me it’s good not to return to the white squad.

“They wouldn’t have allowed me to leave if they had been interested in me.

“Now I’m enjoying myself at Liverpool. Nobody never knows where he’s going to end up as a player, but at the moment I’m very happy in my team and I want to continue here for a long time.

“My balance is quite good. I have just achieved one year at Liverpool and the truth is that I’m very happy. They have given me the chance to fight for everything in top level competitions.”

[Scouser_Dave]

Harry Kewell heading for the exit at Liverpool FC

Mar 13 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

HARRY KEWELL'S Liverpool career appears to be drawing to a close after he told Rafa Benitez he wants to be allowed to travel to a training camp with a young Australia side rather than work on his fitness at Melwood.
Kewell is keen to join up with an Australia squad featuring just four senior players next week while his Liverpool team-mates are preparing for the visit of Manchester United in the Premier League.
Should Benitez relieve Kewell of his Melwood duties it will be the clearest indication yet that the injury-plagued winger has no future at the club.
Kewell was not in the Liverpool squad which travelled to Milan for Tuesday’s Champions League tie and he has not played for the first team since a fleeting substitute appearance against Barnsley last month.
With his current contract due to expire this summer and with no suggestions that he will be offered a new deal, all indications are that he is now heading towards the Anfield exit door.
The Aussie training camp takes place in Singapore and national team coach Pim Verbeek had resigned himself to working with just a group of young players while the majority of his senior stars remained with their respective clubs.
But with a World Cup qualifier against China in Kunming looming on March 26 – just days before the crucial Merseyside derby – Kewell has told Verbeek he wants to take part in the training camp in a bid to build up his fitness and to be ready for international duty.
The decision about whether he is allowed to travel to the Far East now rests with Benitez and should he give Kewell the go-ahead, it will be the clearest signal yet that his five-year stint with the Reds will not be extended.
Meanwhile, George Gillett has spoken publicly for the first time about his well documented fall-out with co-owner Tom Hicks.
During an address to a sports conference in California, Gillett was asked whether he would remain a co-owner of Liverpool.
He responded: “I would say, choose your partners wisely,” before adding, “he (Hicks) is a great guy – but he has just got a different perspective on the media.”

[Scouser_Dave]

[TR1M8L3]

wish kewell could have not had all his injury worries but i do think he will leave. Must say good luck to him if he goes he deserves some good luck.

Can i ask where that info on arango maybe coming to us is from? i think hes a good player, we are interested in their young argentine striker aswell, Oscar Trejo.

[Kaka11|LFC]

most likely the official liverpool site Liverpoolfc.tv: Official Web Site

[TR1M8L3]

Na thanks anyway but i know it isnt from there

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by TR1M8L3

Na thanks anyway but i know it isnt from there

Think its translated from Marca mate

[barajma92]

Originally Posted by smeltzerinho27

Kuyt: Can I score?

[TR1M8L3]

Originally Posted by Danger Dave

Think its translated from Marca mate

Ok cheers mate

[AnfieldG8]

If Rafa isnt going to play Kewell anymore than he should let him go to this training camp so he actually has some football under his belt before the China game.

[Gerrard4eva]

CONGRATULATIONS XABI ALONSO!!

NEWS STORYNEW DAD ALONSO SPEAKS OF DELIGHT
Jimmy Rice 13 March 2008 Xabi Alonso has spoken of his delight at becoming a dad for the first time – and reiterated his intention for his baby boy to spend his early years right here in Liverpool. Watch our full interview with Xabi now>>
The 26-year-old's girlfriend Nagore gave birth to little Jon Alonso on Tuesday morning – though it didn't stop 'dad' catching the Reds' San Siro triumph on TV.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It was a great experience. All the family is really happy and now we have to look forward. Mother and baby are both very well. The labour was quite long but it went well, so we are delighted.

"Of course I watched the game in the evening with my brother. It was great to watch. We controlled the game very well and the goal from Fernando finished it off.

"It was a little frustrating (the timing) because I was excited at the thought of playing in the San Siro in what was a big challenge for the team, but of course I had to be with my family at that moment. Hopefully I will get the chance to play in that stadium in the future."

The new arrival comes just as Alonso Sr is finding full fitness following a lengthy lay off with a metatarsal injury.

The road to recovery hasn't always been smooth, with the form of Lucas meaning opportunities have been limited, but the Spanish ace accepts competition is a fact of life at Anfield.

He said: "Of course you always want to play but also you know that, when you are playing, some of your teammates are maybe on the bench or the stands. You have to accept that it's part of your job and be professional. You have to work hard to get an opportunity and play well when you do.

"I am really happy here and relaxed. I am focused on Liverpool."

Alonso and his teammates now await Friday's Champions League draw knowing there's a good chance of being paired with another English team in the last eight.

He said: "The team is really happy. We expected to go through and now we are looking forward to the draw on Friday. We feel really comfortable in this competition, so hopefully we can carry on.

"Any team will be difficult. We have seen and we have enough experience to know that, but over two legs we can beat anyone. We are not afraid of anyone and have a lot of confidence in ourselves.

"There is a big probability of playing against another English team. We would prefer to avoid that for now and maybe face them in the semi-finals, but whoever we play we will not be scared or afraid."

With Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool all making it through to the quarter-finals, Alonso believes English sides are now becoming the dominant force on the continent.

"It says a lot about the Premier League," said the playmaker. "From Italy there is only Roma, from Spain only Barcelona – from England there are four teams. It says we're performing very well in Europe and the level here is very, very high – probably the highest in Europe and maybe the world.

"The Premier League is doing things properly: looking after their clubs, their fans and their football. These are the things all the other leagues should look at."

Alonso is one of seven Anfield stars with a Champions League winner's medal already in the cabinet – not that he's resting on his laurels.

"At the end of your career it is quite different to have two or three Champions Leagues compared to one, so of course we want another night like Istanbul.

"We know how to do it but we need to go step by step.

"We know we're not unstoppable but we are doing things very well at the moment. We know if we work hard and are committed and we play as a team, we have a good chance of winning a lot of tough games.

"The sharpness and fitness of the team is good, we're scoring a lot of goals and keeping a lot of clean sheets. Maybe we are reaching the peak of our season."

Meanwhile, many fans will be hoping Everton's UEFA Cup heartache will knock the Toffees off stride in the race for fourth. Alonso, however, isn't convinced.

The 40-times Spanish international said: "Of course they had a lot of hopes in the UEFA Cup but I don't think it will affect them.

"It's a set back but they are doing very well in the league and are showing a lot of consistency home and away. It's going to be tough to get the fourth place but of course we have the derby in two weeks and we are confident of getting a good result."

[AnfieldG8]

Xabi and..Jon. I think the english culture is taking an effect on him