Liverpool 07/08

Post by **murf** » 24 May 2007, 11:59

The clearout continues (LFC website):

Mark Gonzalez is set to leave Liverpool for Real Betis after one season at the club.
Rafa Benitez today confirmed the two sides had "almost" reached an agreement over the Chilean winger.

Bolo Zenden, whose contract expires in the summer, has also been told he can talk to other clubs.

Benitez said: "I was talking with him before and I said he could talk with other teams. He knows the situation.

"It's clear some players will leave. We almost have an agreement with Real Betis for Mark Gonzalez."

Edit by Admin:

This thread is for specialist news on Liverpool FC of interest to the Fantasy Football fan. Please keep irrelevant comment and banter away from this thread.

Official website -
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/

NewsNow Liverpool -
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/newsfeed/?name=Liverpool

Soccernet -
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/squad?id=364

FISO thread to May 07:
viewtopic.php?t=14

Post by **murf** » 30 May 2007, 11:24

And those (probably) NOT leaving:

Hyypia: "Rafa said, 'We are happy with you and you are not for sale.' I will go back to Liverpool in July for pre-season training,” Link

Crouch: "He's (Benitez) told me I'm part of his plans and that's good enough for me" Link

More young CKs joining:

Liverpool have agreed deals to sign Hungarian pair Krisztian Nemeth (18) and Andras Simon (17) from MTK Hungaria. The duo are both strikers and appeared for Hungary in last year's UEFA Under-17 Championships. Nemeth also plays in midfield. Link

Post by **murf** » 30 May 2007, 15:18

Liverpool Football Club today officially confirmed that they will be entering the 2007 Port of Rotterdam Tournament in Holland this summer.

On Friday August 3, Liverpool will take on Shanghai Shenhua, one of the best teams from the emerging Chinese Super League. Two days later, on August 5, they play host club Feyenoord.

(Feyenoord's is Dirk Kuyt's last club)

Liverpool have already confirmed they will take part in the Asia Cup in Hong Kong, where they will play games on July 24 and 27.

Post by **murf** » 04 Jun 2007, 16:42

Carragher and Gerrard sign contract extensions (to 2011, 4 years)

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldow ... 4-1613.htm

(8/6 Edit/Update:)
Alonso and Reina sign contract extensions (to 2012, 5 years)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 733239.stm

Sissoko also close to signing an extension (Liverpool Echo had him in line with JR and XA before theirs were announced).

Post by **murf** » 08 Jun 2007, 13:29

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldow ... 8-1317.htm

Italian goalkeeper Daniele Padelli has returned to Sampdoria after his loan spell at Anfield came to an end.

Slightly suprising as I thought he was being groomed as the new reserve keeper with Dudek leaving. Maybe Scott Carson is staying after all?

Post by **Zimmerman** » 09 Jun 2007, 09:38

Thank god for that.

His one outing (against Charlton) was woeful. I wouldnt have been able to watch if he had played again. Thank god Raffa was sensible enough to show him the door before it was too late.

Post by **murf** » 14 Jun 2007, 12:01

Link to Liverpool's 2007-8 league fixtures.

Opening day is at Aston Villa. Liverpool haven't won an opening fixture since 2002... when they visited Villa Park.

Post by **zipnolan** » 21 Jun 2007, 03:48

.... and went on to finish 5th.

Post by **joffmeister** » 04 Jul 2007, 16:52

Any clue as to Liverpool's penalty taker next season? I know Torres took them for Atletico, but apparently he missed plenty too.

Come to think of it, who was the penalty taker last season? Alonso? Gerrard?

Post by **andye** » 04 Jul 2007, 17:14

joffmeister wrote:Any clue as to Liverpool's penalty taker next season? I know Torres took them for Atletico, but apparently he missed plenty too.

Come to think of it, who was the penalty taker last season? Alonso? Gerrard?

Fowler , if he was on the pitch
Otherwise , Gerrard

Post by **totempaul** » 10 Jul 2007, 20:20

According to TalkSPORT Yossi Benayoun has agreed terms with Liverpool in a deal around 4m.

Post by **The Woolster** » 11 Jul 2007, 14:49

totempaul wrote:According to TalkSPORT Yossi Benayoun has agreed terms with Liverpool in a deal around 4m.

Confirmed on Liverpool.tv, but fee not mentioned.

Also been given permission to speak to Babel

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldow ... 1-1214.htm

Post by **murf** » 13 Jul 2007, 10:49

HOW THE SQUAD IS SHAPING UP

For simplicity I've written this as a basic 442 squad with 2 players per position but there are likely to be various other combinations and certain players (e.g. Gerrard and Benayoun) will be flexible. Generally I've written the player most likely to have the first team spot first but some of these are more obvious than others (see Mascherano and Crouch)

I've ignored all players who have gone or been told they can go but may still be technically on the books (e.g. Gonzalez?).

G - Reina / Carson

LB - Riise / Aurelio
CB - Carra / Paletta
CB - Agger / Hyypia
RB - Finnan / Arbeloa

LM - Babel (TBC) / Kewell
DCM - Alonso / Mascherano
ACM - Gerrard / Momo
RM - Pennant / Yossi

CF - Kuyt /Crouch
CF - Torres / Voronin

Numerous youngsters in the wings including Leto and Leiva who I have ignored for now (note Hamill and Guthrie have gone off on season long loans).

Post by **murf** » 13 Jul 2007, 11:02

Friendlies update

The first friendly was last weekend v Wrexham.

The only big names on show for Liverpool were Paletta, Finnan, Pennant, Sissoko and Arbeloa. They all played the first half only.

Liverpool 'won' the first half 3-0. All goals by youngster Besian Idrizaj with Pennant supposedly 'assisting' on all 3 (I haven't seen it). Match ended 3-2.

Second friendly is v Crewe on Saturday (3pm live on club website if you have an e-season ticket). Most first team regulars should be back - they had an extra week off as they had an extended season (England games etc).

Note some players (e.g. Mascherano) are still away on international duty.

After this weekend there is a European training camp inc games v Werder Bremen & Auxerre then off to Asia (2 games) and back for a tournament in Rotterdam (2 games, Shanghai Shenua & Feyernoord). Full fixture list here

Post by **murf** » 13 Jul 2007, 14:22

Two bits of news to read between the lines of:

Babel - has signed. Interesting quote: "[Rafa] told me that I would be challenging with six other players for four positions." murf translation: he could play up front a fair bit

New squad numbers: now released. "Benayoun will wear the number 11 shirt vacated by Mark Gonzalez while former Ajax starlet Babel has been given the number 19 jersey. Alvaro Arbeloa will switch from number 2 to number 17 for the coming season while the returning Scott Carson will be number 26. " Firstly I'm suprised benayoun got a first 11 shirt over Babel but my ears mainly pricked up on the bit about Arbeloa vacating the number 2 slot, wondering who make take that shirt. Surely not another right back?? Daniel Alves????????

Post by **AKNel1** » 13 Jul 2007, 14:30

Voronin allocated #10

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/

Post by **murf** » 13 Jul 2007, 15:06

More from Rafa at the unveiling http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldow ... 3-1454.htm

on Babel :"He'll probably play more as a winger but the fact that he can play in both positions [i.e. also up front] means he's a very valuable asset to us. It's good because with a player like him we can always change our plan depending on how a game is going.

"The same goes for Benayoun. He can play as a winger and also as a second striker. He has a similar style to Luis Garcia and for opposition defences he will be difficult to control.

"Both will be important players for us. Ryan may need a little time to settle down in the Premiership but Yossi already has experience from his time at West Ham."

Post by **murf** » 14 Jul 2007, 16:48

Liverpool 3 v 0 Crewe, Sat 14th July Link

first half team:

Reina
Finnan
Hyypia
Roque
Riise
Spearing
Peltier
Gerrard
El Zhar
Crouch
Voronin

second half team:

Martin
Arbeloa
Carragher
Agger
Paletta
Putterill
Sissoko
Alonso
Pennant
Lindfield
Kuyt

Missing - Carson, Aurelio, Mascherano, Babel, Benayoun, Kewell, Torres

3-0 : Goals
21 - Peltier
24 - Crouch
58 - Putterill

The breakthrough came after 21 minutes when Voronin's powerful drive was well parried by Crewe goalkeeper Ben Williams, but youngster Lee Peltier was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Crouch doubled the lead just three minutes later when he expertly flicked the ball beyond Williams into the back of the net from John Arne Riise's cross.

Youth Cup hero Ray Putterill added the Reds' third of the afternoon after 58 minutes with a well placed shot from the edge of the area.

Post by **murf** » 20 Jul 2007, 13:42

Liverpool 3 v 2 Werder Bremen, Tues 17th JulyLink
Post reserved for when I find time to re-do the lost Werder Bremen post

Post by **murf** » 20 Jul 2007, 13:46

Liverpool 2 v 0 Auxerre Fri 20th July Link

Gerrard (44) slotted passed keeper after finnan through ball and Babeld dummy
Agger (69) firm header from el Zhar corner

The team:
Mihaylov,
Finnan, Riise(HT)
Paletta,
Carragher, Agger(HT)
Arbeloa, Darby(68)
Benayoun, el Zhar(60)
Gerrard, Alonso(HT)
Hobbs,
Babel, Pennant(HT)
Voronin, Crouch(HT)
Kuyt, Torres(HT)

subs not used: Reina Carson Hyypia

No Sissoko

Aurelio (inj), Kewell and Mascherano (both international duty)

Post by **The Jezster** » 20 Jul 2007, 16:43

Match report here:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/last_ma ... /index.htm

Post by **murf** » 20 Jul 2007, 16:45

The Jezster wrote:Match report here:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/last_ma ... /index.htm

Careful - that link changes when there is a new 'last match' (I've made this mistake before)

EDIT - it was when I did the Crewe game and I notice my edit of that got lost when the site had problems so its back to being wrong

EDIT 2 Fixed now and Werder Bremen one added

Post by **hancockjr** » 22 Jul 2007, 21:30

Going back to your predicted team, is there evidence that Benitez is likely to play Gerrard centrally? I would have thought the purchase of Mascherano confirms he sees Gerrard as RM, as he has always rated Alonso (not surprisingly) and seemed keen to have Sissoko re-sign.

Post by **murf** » 23 Jul 2007, 09:37

hancockjr wrote:Going back to your predicted team, is there evidence that Benitez is likely to play Gerrard centrally?

Not a lot but from the layout of my squad you can see Liverpool have as many wide men as central midfielders (incl. Gerrard). Purchase of 2 wide men also indicates Benitez fancies playing with width a lot. Furthermore Gerrard has played centrally in pre-season to date.

Talking of wide men....

Harry Kewell has joined up with the Liverpool squad in Hong Kong earlier than expected following his country's surprise elimination at the quarter-final stage of the Asian Cup. The Aussie winger immediately caught a flight out of Vietnam to join up with his club-mates in time for their first training session at a baking hot Mongkok Stadium on Sunday afternoon. LFC Website

In other news - Finnan agrees a 3 year deal. Rafa confirms interest in Heinze ongoing. Match against South China FC kicks off at 1.15pm tomorrow lunchtime (think it is on Sky - check)

Post by **murf** » 25 Jul 2007, 14:19

South China 1 v 3 Liverpool Tues 24th July temporary link

Goals:
9 Riise (direct free kick)
27 Alonso (pen)
73 Agger (Assist to Kuyt, old style KC Riise)

GK: Carson, (Martin 82)
LB: Riise,
CB: Agger,
CB: Carragher,
RB: Arbeloa,
LM: Kewell, (Pennant 54)
CM: Sissoko, (Hyypia 72)
CM: Alonso, (Threlfall 77)
RM: Benayoun, (Finnan 65)
ST: Crouch, (Kuyt 54)
ST: Voronin.

Subs not used - Reina, Darby,
injured - Gerrard, Aurelio
absent - Mascherano
inelligible - Torres, Babel
? - Paletta

Notes -
When Pennant (RM) came on, Benayoun switched to LM until Finnan came on for him at RB, Arbeloa switched to LB and Riise moved up to LM. Threlfall came on as LB moving Arbeloa into an interesting CM partnership with Hyypia

Post by **murf** » 26 Jul 2007, 10:05

Liverpool have been handed a triple boost ahead of the Barclay Asia Trophy final against Portsmouth after Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel were all declared available for selection.

Skipper Gerrard has recovered from the abdominal strain that kept him out of Tuesday's victory over South China, while Torres and Babel have both now received international clearance.

Lucas Leiva is still awaiting his international clearance and is unlikely to play.

Post by **dachshund** » 26 Jul 2007, 10:22

Bet Direct offering 6/1 on Kewell starting the opening game. Now, I'd have though Babel may be introduced from the bench. Much depends on whether Riise will still be first-choice left-back at that time.

Worth a punt?

Post by **murf** » 26 Jul 2007, 10:26

dachshund wrote:Bet Direct offering 6/1 on Kewell starting the opening game. Now, I'd have though Babel may be introduced from the bench. Much depends on whether Riise will still be first-choice left-back at that time.

Worth a punt?

Definitely at 6/1 (not that it should be on this thread!)

Post by **murf** » 27 Jul 2007, 09:35

Harry Kewell confirms he isn't having a holiday and is staying in pre-season training after going straight from Australia's tournament to Liverpool's Hong Kong tour. 6/1

LFC website story

Tournament final v Portsmouth is at 1:30pm this afternoon and is live on Sky Sports 2 (in UK)

Post by **murf** » 27 Jul 2007, 13:43

Liverpool 0 v 0 Portsmouth Friday 27 JulyLink
Portsmouth win 4-2 on penalties

Liverpool pens:
Gerrard and Kuyt score
Benayoun and Torres saved
Reina 4 conceded, 1 wide, 0 saves
Only 4 taken

Reina

Riise (Arbeloa 75)
Hyypia
Agger (Carragher 76)
Finnan

Kewell, (Torres 52)
Sissoko (Leiva 82)
Alonso
Pennant (Gerrard 85)

Kuyt
Babel (Benayoun 65)

Babel played up front until Torres came on.

Subs not used: Carson, Martin, Threlfall, Voronin, Crouch,

No sign - Paletta, Mascherano
inj - Aurelio

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Liverpool 07/08

Liverpool 07/08