LFC Daily Update News & Rumours

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Rafa hopes for Cisse interest

Rafa Benitez hopes to find a club to take Djibril Cisse off Liverpool's hands on a permanent basis in the summer.

Cisse is currently on loan at Marseille, but reports suggest the French club are increasingly unlikely to take up the option of an £8million permanent deal.

The striker has scored just four goals in 15 appearances in Ligue 1 and has been booed by the Stade Velodrome fans.

Benitez, who does not count on Cisse for his future plans, feels there could be further interest should Marseille decline to push through a permanent transfer.

"Maybe we will have other clubs interested in him," said Benitez in The Times.

Meanwhile, Cisse has reiterated his plea for patience from the Marseille supporters, insisting he is not 'Superman'.

Cisse told L'Equipe: "I can understand it (the fans' frustration), but they can also understand that to find this level is not done by the waving of a magic wand and what is needed is patience.

"I am not Superman.

"But, whistled or not, I make fun about it. There remain seven matches here and then another season will start.

"You will be able to judge me on a whole season."

Source: Skysports

It will not be easy to get rid of him permantly.Maybe Rafa have to let him go on loan again.If it wasn't for Cisse broke his leg in France pre-match before the world cup, Marseille would have bought him last summer.Very unfortunate for Liverpool.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool Res 0-1 Man United Res

Liverpool Reserves recent good run was brought to an end as a young team were desperately unlucky to lose 1-0 to Manchester United at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on Thursday night.

A first half free-kick from Chris Eagles was enough to give United the points but on the balance of play and chances created Liverpool deserved at least a point.

Sometimes you just don't get what you deserve in football and Liverpool certainly had no luck in this match. That was summed up when Jack Hobbs, who had an excellent match, headed against the bar in the second half.

Reserve team manager Gary Ablett fielded five Academy starlets who played in the FA Youth Cup Final first leg on Monday night in Jay Spearing, Robbie Threlfall, Stephen Darby, Craig Lindfield and Ryan Flynn. Two more of that side, Ray Putterill and Charlie Barnett were on the bench. Jack Hobbs captained the team and was partnered Gabriel Paletta at centre half.

Prompted by Spearing's tenacity and energy in midfield Liverpool started brightly. Threlfall tested United keeper Tom Heaton with a stinging free-kick and Paul Anderson missed a good chance when he miscued after a good cross from Emiliano Insua.

Lindfield and Brouwer then had two decent openings from Insua crosses but both strikers missed the target as their headers cleared the bar.

United took the lead after 25 minutes when Eagles free-kick from a tight angle was missed by the Liverpool defence and crept beyond the reach of Daniele Padelli and into the net.

Ablett's side came out for the second half with a very detemined and positive attitude and played some excellent football and constantly tried to get the ball wide to the wingers. Within four minutes of the second half one of those wide players Anderson went so close to an equaliser with a rasping drive that just cleared the bar.

Two minutes later Brouwer had a great chance but sent a free header straight into the arms of Heaton.

Liverpool tried everything they could to get back into the game but they just couldn't find the net. Flynn had a great chance on the hour when he met Threlfall's excellent left wing cross but unfortunately the young Scot missed the target from a free header.

Threlfall then had an effort charged down before Anderson went close again with a fine strike that just cleared the bar. Hobbs was the next Liverpool player to be unlucky when he crashed a header against the bar from a corner.

Ablett made his first change of the night after 73 minutes when he brought on youth cup starlet Putterill in place of the hard working Threlfall. However the talented winger was unable to make an impact as United held on to take the three points.

Liverpool Reserves: Padelli, Darby, Insua, Paletta, Hobbs, Spearing, Anderson, Flynn, Lindfield, Brouwer, Threlfall (Putterill 73). Subs' unused: Huth, Roberts (GK), Burns, Barnett.

Manchester United Reserves: Heaton, Lee, Evans, Lea, Barnes, Ngalula, Mullan, Burns, Dong, Eagles, Marsh.

Referee: W Barratt.

Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Paul Anderson. Always looking to take on defenders and unlucky not to score.

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv: Official Web Site

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Mighty T.A.L.

*Liverpool want to extend Finnan's contract.

*Simao Sabrosa is once again linked to a possible move to Anfield.

Do you rate Simao ?

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I think he's a bit overrated (Simao) but I personally don't think Rafa will try to sign him this summer.But he's a good player.No doubt.

[Oliver_Kahn]

IMO he is underrated. He basically carries Benfica on his back. People tend to believe that Quaresma is way better than Simao, but it isn't true. Simao is had working and sacrifices a lot for the team, plus he is very consistent which is good.

I think he would adapt well in England

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I wouldn't cry if he had join Liverpool.You have seen him play a lot in the Portugise league.I study him against Liverpool in CL last season.Okey, he did score a fantastic goal but he was quite anonymous in both matches.Liverpool need offensive players who is active and want the ball all the time.Always on a run.Simao is a type of player who needs to be involved and be a great impact in every game.I think he will struggle to be that player for Liverpool in our defensive system.In Benfica he's known as the big star.He will never be the big star in Liverpool because he can never take Gerrard's place as the player who gets the most attention.Look what happen to Cisse.He become average in the shadow of better players on Anfield.He was expecting something else.He wanted to be the big star and he failed.

[Oliver_Kahn]

I don't think that the star mentality applies to Simao, yes he is Benfica's Gerrard, but if you see him play for Portugal, you would realise that he is a team player.

You made a good point about him not being as active as Liverpool may need, but he can do some great things with the ball, he runs a lot, atacks and defends. Plus, this season he is on the playmaker role, so he is more resourceful than you might think he is.

I can see him adapting to the Premiership and being an important player at Liverpool.

........Xabi.....Mascherano
Gerrard....................Simao
..........Crouch..Kuyt/Voronin

That looks great.



However, Benfica's president seems to be keen on keeping Simao.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool really need a new decent left winger.Simao is much better player than Gonzalez and Zenden.Kewell is injured all the time.But I prefer a left footed winger.But that isn't easy to find.

Yeah, the Portugise clubs don't give up their players that easy.They do all they can to keep them.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

New Anfield owner had talks with Villa

Former Aston Villa owner Doug Ellis has revealed he had takeover talks with George Gillett before the American sports mogul turned his attention to Liverpool.

Ellis, who eventually sold out to another American, Randy Lerner for £63million, claimed one of the reasons he decided not to sell to one of several other prospective buyers was because they "all" wanted to borrow money for the deal and would have taken a dividend to pay off the interest.

Ellis was speaking to BBC Radio Five Live about the possible American pursuit of Arsenal, and admitted: "I spoke to George Gillett and met him and his son Foster.

"I was very impressed with both, particularly Foster who is now moving here to run Liverpool."

He added: "Randy Lerner used his own money to buy Villa, but other predators wanted to borrow and take a dividend."

The 83-year-old Villa life president‘s comments come in the same week there have been fears that Gillett is considering selling the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team. This has been denied by Donald Beauchamp, the club vice-president (communications and community relations).

Gillett and fellow US sports tycoon Tom Hicks bought Liverpool for around £450million.

Source: The Birmingham Post Sport

[Mighty T.A.L.]

One more step on the comeback trail

The World Cup seems a long time ago for Harry Kewell, who has battled nagging injuries ever since and is about to make his much-awaited return to action, Matthew Hall writes.

AUSTRALIA'S Asian Cup campaign has received a boost with injured Socceroos stars Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill on track for full fitness in time for the tournament's kick-off.

Liverpool officials are coy about officially announcing a return date for Kewell but club manager Rafael Benitez is hoping to unleash the Australian as his secret weapon against Chelsea for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

Kewell's initial proposed comeback, a reserves game against Sheffield United early this month, was postponed until the Australian reached what Liverpool assistant coach Pako Ayestaran described as "Olympic" fitness levels.

A super-fit Kewell is now looking at being given a Premier League test run against Portsmouth next Saturday or a reserves outing against Everton two days later before the May 1 showdown with Chelsea at Anfield.

"Harry is progressing towards full fitness and continues to progress very well," a Liverpool spokesperson told The Sun-Herald.

"We won't put a time scale on this because the doctors and physios want him to be fully fit and happy in his own mind.

"We have two home games and two away games left in the Premiership and then Chelsea over two legs in the Champions League and the possibility of the final. There is also one reserve game, which is the last one of the season."

Despite Liverpool's official line, The Sun-Herald understands medical staff have given Kewell the green light and his comeback is now in the hands of Ayestaran, Rafael Benitez's Spanish assistant.

With Liverpool assured of finishing within the Premier League's top four positions - and automatically qualifying for the Champions League next year - the club is focusing on the semi-final with Chelsea.

With an eye on those two crucial games, to be played on Wednesday and the following Tuesday, Ayestaran is understood to have postponed Kewell's comeback until the Socceroo can reach top level in a series of scientifically analysed Olympic-style training drills.

Benitez rates Kewell highly and, although he has missed the entire campaign to date, now sees him as the equivalent of a late-season star signing. Kewell had several days off during the week to recover from tough workouts but reported no problems from his previously troublesome toe or major reactions after surgery in Australia last year.

Kewell, 28, credits Australian doctors for solving injury problems that have dogged him since an Achilles operation in the UK in 2001.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool have joined the race for Osasuna midfielder Raul Garcia.

Valencia and Atletico Madrid have been in talks with Osasuna for some weeks over Raul Garcia, who is rated at around £7 million.

Osasuna president Patxi Izco was prepared to sell to Valencia before rival clubs made their interest known - including Liverpool, says Marca.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Craig Bellamy is linked back to his former club Blackburn on a possible £8 million deal.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Real Betis have registered their interest with Liverpool for striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

The Frenchman is also wanted by Recreativo de Huelva, where he has starred on-loan this season.

Sinama-Pongolle has admitted he'd like to pursue his career in Spain after struggling to make an impact at Liverpool.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool still in for Simao

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has revealed that the club may rekindle their interest in Benfica ace Simao Sabrosa this summer.

The Reds have been chasing the Portuguese international for some time and actually came close to signing him in 2005, but Benfica pulled out of the deal.

The 27-year-old winger impressed during this season's Champions League even though the Portuguese giants failed to progress from the group stages.

Simao only just put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with Benfica in March, while the club confirmed his buy-out clause now stands at £13.5million.

But the Merseysiders - backed by their new American owners - would appear to be conside