LFC Daily Update News & Rumours

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I think you know more about Voronin than me.I will not judge him because I really haven't seen him play.Many thinks his not good enough if Liverpool will be a challenger for the Premiership title.Rafa speaks highly about him.He runs a lot and works very hard.Is that correct?I think you can tell me more about this player than me.I have a huge doubt he will reinforce us.Maybe he only will figure as a squad player.Most likely...He don't score a lot but maybe he's a player like Kuyt...Like to get much involved.Don't score a lot of goals but works hard for the team.

[Oliver_Kahn]

I don't rate Voronin very highly. He has been Leverkusen's best striker for years, but mainly because the other strikers didn't settle or were constantly injured. This season Leverkusen signed the veteran Barbarez and the promising youngster Kiessling.

Barbarez has 6 goals in 26 games, Voronin has 8 goals in 25 games and Kiessling has 5 goals in 26 games. Voronin has more goals scored than the other 2, but Barbarez leads the atack, having 9 assists, while Kiessling has been playing great football, even though he hasn't scored that much. Half of Voronin's goals, were the ones we consider the 'easy goals'.

With that being said, I don't know how Voronin will perform at Liverpool, since he is considered one of Leverkusen's star players for years and years. He isn't as hard working as Kuyt, but his finishing is probably better. He isn't very good in the air, so crossing balls isn't the way to serve him.

I think he'll be a squad player, but I rate him higher than Bellamy.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Good answer.

Striker who scores easy goals have something called goal instinct.That's a good thing.Bellamy is not professional enough to play for a top club and he don't have goal instinct at all.But he's a striker who can assist goals.He will leave to summer for a more average team.Voronin is a replacement for either Fowler or Bellamy.Both will leave Liverpool to summer.I will be real surprised if one of those two will play for Liverpool next season.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Benitez eager to secure Champions League place as soon as possible

Rafael Benitez has urged his Liverpool team to secure a top-four finish as soon as possible – so they can then focus their attentions on the Champions League.

Benitez’s side now stand five points ahead of Arsenal and a further two clear of fifth-placed Bolton Wanderers, with six games remaining.

Liverpool could conceivably have ensured qualification for next season’s Champions League by the time the semi-finals of the current competition take place at the end of the month.

And Benitez said: “It’s clear that if we win more games as quickly as possible, we can get that top four finish and then focus on the Champions League.

“In the first half we had a plan and it was clear we needed to play on the counter attack. Reading were going forward and pushing high, and that gave us the chance to play on the break.

“We maybe should have been 2-0 up at the break, we had some breaks and the final pass was very close to coming off.

“But then we conceded the goal and we needed to change our style of football, and we then had more control, more possession and more chances.”

Arbeloa’s opener came when the full-back embarked on a 70-yard run, played a one-two with Peter Crouch and clipped the ball beyond Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

And Benitez said: “The way Arbeloa put the ball away, I thought he was a striker. We knew that he was a player that could go forward with the ball.

“The first pass he made was a bad one as Bellamy was free at he ended up giving it to Crouch, but at the end of the day it was important goal, and it was also good for him and his confidence.”

Liverpool are expected to secure their place in the last four of the Champions League on Wednesday at home to PSV Eindhoven, having won 3-0 in Holland in the first leg.

But Benitez said: “We must approach the game with caution. If they score an early goal they will continue going forward and maybe your players will get nervous. We must approach it like we’re playing Barcelona – trying to win.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure on us because we are winning. Over-confidence can be a problem, though. If we aim to win, it’ll be easier for us.

“We played against PSV with Kone and Alex playing for them in the group stage, and we beat them 2-0.

“If we can keep the momentum then we will be fine. The team is physically in good shape now. People talk about the rotation policy, but now you can see the difference in the players.”

Source: icLiverpool

[Trim]

PSV will win at Anfield, but, it will not be enough, cuz Liverpool will go through in the end.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I will be real surprised if PSV wins on Anfield.PSV is so out of form and Liverpool will start with a strong team although they have 3-0 to go on.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool are being linked with a summer move for Rovers striker Benni McCarthy.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

The Liverpool board have given Benitez the go ahead to outbid big spending Chelsea to snap up the Brazilian, for a fee believed to be in the region of £12 million.

Alves has made 35 appearances for the Spanish title chasers this season, scoring 5 goals.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Reserve outing for Kewell as he steps up recovery

Harry Kewell is poised to take a step nearer his long-awaited first-team comeback this evening.

The Australian has been pencilled in for an appearance for Liverpool’s reserves when they take on Sheffield United at Chesterfield’s Saltergate stadium.

Kewell hasn’t kicked a ball in anger for the Anfield side since hobbling off shortly after half-time during the FA Cup final victory over West Ham United last May.

The 28-year-old last played in his country’s World Cup group game against Croatia in June, scoring the equaliser that sent the Socceroos into the knockout stages.

Since then, the winger has since undergone a series of operations in Sydney to save his career, having surgery on both feet and also his groin before returning to England in November to continue his rehabilitation.

Kewell had originally earmarked the Champions League visit to Barcelona in February as a comeback date, only for his recovery from a series of injuries to take longer than expected.

Now the injury-jinxed Australian is hopeful of taking a major step on the road to recovery this evening, with the Premiership visit of Wigan Athletic on Saturday week a possible date for a senior outing.

Source: icLiverpool

[Oliver_Kahn]

£12 million for Dani Alves is way too little. Sevilla want more than 40m €.

As for McCarthy, he would be a better signing than Voronin

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Raul closer to sealing free switch to Liverpool

Real Madrid captain Raul wants a move to Liverpool at the end of this season.

DiarioSport says talks are already at an advanced stage between Raul and Real about securing a release from his contract, which expires in 2010. Raul, who is on ?8 million-a-year, will have to take a pay-cut to move to Anfield, but he wants to join Rafa Benitez's Liverpool in the summer.

Liverpool boss Benitez will welcome Raul with open arms, particularly on a free transfer. The Spaniard would be the perfect replacement for Robbie Fowler, who is unlikely to be offered a new deal at the end of this season.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Harry Kewell will NOT do a comeback for the reserves tonight as Liverpool Daily Post have announce.

Squad:
Daniele Padelli, Stephen Darby, Emiliano Insua, Ronald Huth, Jack Hobbs (Captain), Jay Spearing, Paul Anderson, Ryan Flynn, Craig Lindfield, Nabil El Zhar, Robbie Threlfall. Subs: Jordy Brouwer, Josh Mimms, Reneil Sappleton, Ray Putterill, Charlie Barnett

[Mighty T.A.L.]

The Guardian says George Gillett's son Foster, previously managing partner of the family ice hockey franchise the Montreal Canadiens, is to oversee the day-to-day running of the club alongside Parry. Sources close to the takeover have speculated that if the two do not thrive together, Foster is the favourite to be retained.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Bolton are being linked with a move for Liverpool striker Djbril Cisse who looks set to leave Anfield in the summer.

The French international has failed to impress during a season-long loan spell with Marseille and is set to return to Anfield at the end of the season.