LFC Daily Update News & Rumours

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Fernando Torres was on target during Spain's 2-0 Euro qualifying victory over Latvia on Wednesday. The striker was one of eight senior Reds involved in international action last night.

Over in Norway, John Arne Riise hit the back of the net during a 2-2 draw with Greece.

Ryan Babel played 90 minutes as Holland won 1-0 in Albania, while Dirk Kuyt was an unused sub.

Daniel Agger was withdrawn after 28 minutes of Denmark's 4-0 victory over Liechtenstein.

Finnish international Sami Hyypia had a full outing in a bore draw against Poland, while Andriy Voronin came on after 60 minutes of Ukraine's 2-1 defeat to Italy.

Steven Gerrard played 90 minutes for England against Russia but Peter Crouch had to settle for a late cameo after Steve McClaren's decision to stick with Emile Heskey.

Meanwhile, on Monday night Javier Mascherano started for Argentina in a 1-0 friendly victory Down Under.

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv: Official Web Site

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Ryan Babel played 90 minutes as Holland won 1-0 in Albania, while Dirk Kuyt was an unused sub.

I've read that Babel got subsitutes and replaced with Dirk Kuyt...

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Jamie Carragher has been passed fit to play Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon. The Liverpool centre-back has been in training this week following a broken rib and punctured lung he picked up at Sunderland three weeks ago.

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Man City & Juventus go for Liverpool's Crouch

Manchester City and Juventus are closing in on Liverpool striker Peter Crouch.

The Sunday Express says Crouch is considering his future and is stalling on signing a new three-year contract.

City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who gave Crouch his international debut, wants another striker to replace the injured Valeri Bojinov.

More surprisingly, Juventus, managed by former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, are also eyeing Crouch's situation.

But a move to Eastlands has obvious appeal to Macclesfield-born Crouch as he is a City fan.

He is currently valued in the £8 million bracket.

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Rafa Benitez has raided Spain again to lure Sevilla starlet Daniel Sanchez Ayala to Anfield. The Spanish club have confirmed Ayala has agreed a deal to move to Merseyside after rejecting a professional contract at Sevilla. Liverpool moved for the 17-year-old after learning he had not signed a professional contract with Sevilla and the Reds will have to pay Sevilla a compensation fee for his signature.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool's row with Manchester United over the Gabriel Heinze affair looks set to continue with United chief executive David Gill having written to the Premier League to accuse the Merseyside club of attempting to tap up the Argentinean. The News of the World claims that Premier League chiefs will meet this week to discuss the accusations that could lead to a formal complaint being made by United. If United were to make a formal complaint, Liverpool could face a Premier League charge if found guilty.

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Crouch happy at Liverpool

Peter Crouch has insisted he is ready to fight for his place at Liverpool.

The striker was included in the starting line-up for Liverpool's clash with Portsmouth on Saturday, but had few chances to make an impact and was withdrawn with 30 minutes to go.

He is aware there is fierce competition for places up front, with Fernando Torres and Andrei Voronin beginning their Anfield careers brightly and Dirk Kuyt also at the club.

But the England international is determined to show Rafa Benitez that he deserves to be a permanent fixture in the side.

"It has been frustrating," he said in The Sun. "Every footballer wants to play and the manager has told me it's not possible to be involved in every game.

"We have four strikers and the manager says if he feels one player will cause more problems than another in a specific game, he will pick him.

"But obviously Fernando Torres is more likely to play than the rest of us after the club paid so much money for him.

"Fernando has settled in straight away and proved what a top striker he is. Now it's up to me to do the same when I get my chance."

Ready for rotation

Crouch admits he has found Benitez's rotation policy difficult to adjust to, but maintains that he has no plans to leave Liverpool.

"I have had to change my way of thinking since I joined Liverpool," he explained.

"You have to expect rotation. It can be frustrating at times but I fully understand the manager's thinking and, if called upon, I must make sure I'm ready.

"I might not be playing every week but I'll still get a good amount of games, so I'm happy at Liverpool.

"We're going to be challenging for the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup and I want to be a part of that."

Skysports

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Amoo seals Under-18s win

Goals from Ryan Crowther and David Amoo gave earned Liverpool Under-18s a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the Reds latest Academy match.
An inspired second half performance saw Hughie McAuley's team take all three points.

"It could have been five or six in the end," McAuley told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"I wasn't happy with our first half performance and our passing was careless at times, but I told the players at half time to up the tempo and in the second half we did that.

"Unfortunately we lost Gary MacKay Steven in the second half due to a hamstring injury but Nathan Ecclestone came on and did very well.

"We scored two good goals as well. Ryan hit a great shot into the top corner and then David capped a good performance by scoring the second after a nice one-two with Michael Collins."

Liverpool Under-18 team: Dean Bouzanis, Mattone Awang, Shane O'Connor, Joe Kennedy, Martin Kelly, Steven Irwin, Ryan Crowther (Alex Kacaniklic 70), Sean Highdale, Marvin Pourie (Michael Collins 80), David Amoo, Gary MacKay Steven (Nathan Eccleston 55). Subs' not used: Ben Parsonage, Michael Scott.

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv: Official Web Site

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Rafa Warns Rivals Off Ayesteran

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has dismissed reports that assistant Pako Ayesteran will join a rival club, stating it would be impossible, with all the number two knows.

Ayesteran has worked closely with Benitez for a number of years, first at Valencia, then at Liverpool when the Spaniard took the reigns in 2004.

But on August 31 Ayesteran handed in his resignation, although the assistant manager has been kept on through ‘gardening leave’.

There were rumours that the fitness expert would join up with either Manchester United or Chelsea, but Benitez has categorically denied the speculation, saying that Ayesteran’s contract would not allow such a move.

"His contract is very clear. When you talk about this level (of football) you cannot move from one side to another with all the information you have," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"The contract is very clear about that.

"We don't need to worry about these issues because the contract is clear. I don't know the exact situation right now because the lawyers are working with it."

Source: Goal.comUK

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Agger buys Liverpool restaurant

Daniel Agger is putting down roots in Liverpool.

The Denmark international plans to stay on Merseyside beyond the end of his career and has already opened his own business.

"There was a bit of confusion with people saying I've bought two restaurants. Actually, it's just one - Que Pasa on Lark Lane," he told the Liverpool Echo.

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Public funding agreed for LFC's stadium move

The final slice of public funding for Liverpool Football Club’s proposed move to a new home in Stanley Park has been agreed.

Northwest Regional Development Agency last night voted on £9.3m to add to the £9m already given from the European Objective 1 fund.

It paves the way for LFC’s new owners to start work on a new home for the club once a new planning application is approved.

NWDA chief executive Steve Broomhead said: “The £18m will lever in a private investment of around £300m.

“The cash will go towards refurbishing the park and building a new community partnership centre alongside the new ground.”

Work on the new ground could start early next year, with opening planned for 2010.

The cash has been earmarked for an improvement scheme in Stanley Park which will see the historic park given its biggest-ever facelift.

It includes a plaza on the current site and restoration of historic structures in the park.

Liverpool Echo

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Robbie Fowler scored twice for Cardiff City yesterday. The Liverpool legend scored both of Cardiff's goals as they drew 2-2 with Preston North End at Ninian Park.

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Sami Hyypia could be offered a contract extension. The Finnish defender is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave the Reds on a Bosman but Rafael Benitez has hinted that Hyypia could be offered a new deal.

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Olympique Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri will miss his side's Champions League Group A match against Liverpool at Anfield on Oct. 3 because of a virus. The France playmaker was taken to hospital where he will stay for a few days and will only be able to resume training in 10 days, the club said on its Web site (www.om.net).