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Aston Villa manager and former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier believes that he took Liverpool “into the 21st century”.

The Frenchman spent six-years in charge at Anfield between 1998 and 2004, during which time he guided the Reds to a famous League Cup, FA Cup Uefa Cup (now called the Europa League) treble in 2001.

But towards the end of his reign on Merseyside, Houllier came under much criticism as he eventually parted ways with the club.

However, he believes that he had a significant part to play in the club winning the Champions League a year after he left, since he built the team that beat AC Milan in the final of the tournament.

“I always think that the mission of a manager is three-fold,” Houllier said, according to The Mirror, ahead of his return to Anfield – albeit as a manager of another club. Read the rest of this entry »

Jose Mourinho refused to criticise Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos after the duo picked up controversial red cards in Real Madrid’s 4-0 demolition of Ajax in the Champions League.

Referee Craig Thomson sent both Ramos and Alonso off in the dying minutes – both for time wasting – meaning the players will miss the final group game but have their records wiped clean before the knockout stages.

But the ‘Special One’ has no regrets over the Spanish interntaionals shown their marching orders.

“I liked the cards that were shown. The last two were awarded because we wanted to save time,” the Portuguese tactician expressed to Marca post-match.

“The British referee showed [yellow cards] one here and one there. Now, we are top of our group, and have a match against Auxerre, and it does not faze me.”
Read the rest of this entry »

Dirk Kuyt has insisted that Liverpool never lost faith in Fernando Torres, despite his stuttering start to the campaign.

Torres scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday, in a performance that showed signs of a return to top form for the Spanish international.

Kuyt feels that the club’s improved form has provided a catalyst for their star striker.

He told the club’s official website: “We always had the confidence in Fernando, no doubt about that.

“You can see the team playing better now every week and in every game, and Fernando is also getting better and better. Read the rest of this entry »

Inter  president Massimo Moratti has likened Rafael Benitez to former boss Jose Mourinho.

Plenty is expected from Benitez after Mourinho turned the Italian giants into treble winners in just two years at the club.

“Benitez is a serious coach. I am getting to know him day after day and I admire him plenty,” Moratti told the press.

“He is a great professional and has important qualities. He is a hard worker. It was the characterisitic I like most in Mourinho. Benitez has it too.

“He also has a manager spirit. He thinks about today, but also tomorrow.

“He is a little different to Mourinho, but I had always said I did not want an imitation.”?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised the improvement Theo Walcott has made since the start of the season.
A comedy goal and a controversial effort helped Arsenal into the Carling Cup last eight at Newcastle’s expense.

An attempted nodded clearance from Ryan Taylor hit his own keeper Tim Krul before going into the Magpies net to give Arsenal the lead.

Theo Walcott raced through and dinked in a second after Nicklas Bendtner appeared to block a Magpies defender as he came back from an offside position.

Bendtner then curled in a shot and Walcott slotted in Arsenal’s fourth.

A weakened Newcastle showed plenty of commitment and valiantly tried to get back into the game at 2-0 down but the visitors punished them with some ruthless counter-attacking play.
Ultimately, it was a convincing win for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s side, which had an unusually strong look to it compared to the line-ups the Frenchman has chosen to field in previous Carling Cup campaigns. Read the rest of this entry »

Javier Hernandez came off the bench to score a last-minute winner as holders Manchester United earned a Carling Cup quarter-final place at Wolves’ expense.

Hernandez had only been on for eight minutes when he settled a thrilling tie by firing in off Wayne Hennessey.

Bebe had put United ahead on his first start with a deflected strike before George Elokobi headed in to equalise.

Park Ji-Sung lashed home to make it 2-1 but Kevin Foley’s turn and low finish levelled again before Hernandez won it.

It was an exciting climax to the game but perhaps harsh on the visitors, who more than played their part in a second half of wonderful end-to-end football.
Yet it had all started so differently, with a first 45 minutes none of the 46,083 present will be in a hurry to remember. Read the rest of this entry »

Arsene Wenger has insisted Arsenal’s achievements should never be directly compared to Chelsea’s because of the Roman Abramovich factor.

Wenger celebrated 14 years at the Gunners on Friday as details of Manchester City’s £121million losses stirred up old feelings of resentment ahead of Sunday’s derby at Stamford Bridge.

The Frenchman has been among the fiercest critics of the way Abramovich has bankrolled Chelsea’s rise by lending millions and then cancelling the debt.

Arsenal have won seven major trophies under Wenger, while Chelsea have lifted 12 in that period (including one European Cup-Winners’ Cup), eight since the Russian billionaire bought the club in 2003.

‘The biggest pride of a club is to achieve the maximum with the resources available,’ said Wenger. ‘That is what we try to achieve and the situation is not really comparable to what Chelsea has done. The resources are different.

‘We do the best we can. We have our own way to run our club. Every time we don’t win a game, everyone tells me I have to buy a player. Read the rest of this entry »

Dirk Kuyt believes Liverpool will hold no fear when they travel to Manchester City on Monday evening as they attempt to deliver an early-season blow to the aspirations of one of their top-of-the-table rivals.
City’s ranks have been swelled by the acquisition of several big-money signings this summer, with many tipping Roberto Mancini’s men to establish themselves as one of the Barclays Premier League’s strongest outfits over the coming months.

However, Kuyt insists confidence is high amongst the Reds contingent following their encouraging start to life under Roy Hodgson’s tenure, meaning they’ll make the short journey to Manchester optimistic of obtaining a positive outcome.

“I think we can look positively towards the game,” he told Liverpoolfc.tv. “After the way we performed against Arsenal, we just have to be positive and go into the game trying to win it.

“Of course, Mancini’s team have bought a lot of new players and it’s a very strong team – but so are we.

“You never have to fear any opponent. Manchester City have bought really good players over the past couple of years and have started to play better and better.

“But the Premier League is one of the toughest leagues in the world and every game, week in, week out, is difficult and you have to make sure you’re ready. Read the rest of this entry »

Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou both scored twice as Chelsea thrashed Wigan.

Florent Malouda gave Chelsea the lead when he tapped in after Frank Lampard’s deft flick was saved by Chris Kirkland.

Anelka added a second shortly after the break when he fired in from inside the area and then nodded in his second before Kalou slotted in his first goal.

Didier Drogba then crossed for Kalou to head in his second and Yossi Benayoun rounded off the scoring as Wigan conceded their 10th goal in two games.

Although the scoreline was emphatic, for the first half-an-hour Wigan’s simple gameplan of beating Chelsea to the first ball had frustrated the visitors who had won their opening league game 6-0 against West Brom.
Had Wigan possessed Chelsea’s confidence in attack then nobody would have begrudged them taking an early lead.

Unfortunately, Roberto Martinez’s side lacked invention in and around the area, and their best efforts on goal during that early period came from distance and Hugo Rodallega’s traction engine of a foot. Read the rest of this entry »