Liverpool and Barcelona agree fee for Mascherano
Aug.27, 2010, under La Liga, Premier League
The Reds website said: “The Spanish club have now been given permission to speak to the Argentina midfielder.”
Liverpool were keen to recoup the £18m they paid three-and-a-half years ago, after Mascherano joined from West Ham.
And the Catalan giants confirmed: “The clubs have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of Mascherano for the next four seasons.”
The statement on Barcelona’s website continued: “The deal was closed after intensive efforts made by the club in the final hours and through the player himself in the negotiations.
“Barcelona will report the details of the operation once the player passes the medical and the transfer is concluded.
“It is hoped Javier Mascherano will arrive in Barcelona this weekend.”
Liverpool had rejected an initial bid of £16m from Barcelona seven days ago but reports suggest the new offer is closer to the club’s £25m valuation of Mascherano. (continue reading…)
Former Spain and Barca keeper Zubizarreta analyses Champions League draw
Aug.27, 2010, under Champions League
Speaking immediately after the draw for the Champions League group stage in Monaco, Andoni Zubizarreta called for “the maximum respect” for Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan.
Zubizarreta attended today’s draw in Monaco to hand over the award for best goalkeeper. Afterwards he spoke to Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat to analyse the three teams Barça will now face in Group D.
“We can’t take anything for granted”
The former Barça and Spain goalkeeper, now head of professional football at the Club, warned: We can’t take anything for granted. Barça will have the maximum respect for our opponents. If they’re in the draw it’s because they’re earned the right to be there. I’m sure we’ll find they have their strong points”.
Turning to an assessment of each team individually, he described Panathinaikos as a “difficult team” while he highlighted that Copenhagen was a team not often seen in the Champions League. As for Russian champions, Rubin Kazan, who FC Barcelona also met last year in the group stage, Zubizarreta stressed the difficulties posed by the long trip to Russia. (continue reading…)
Owen to Anfield
Aug.27, 2010, under Premier League
Owen to play in Carragher’s testimonial
Michael Owen is to pull on the colours of Liverpool for the first time since leaving the club six years ago after agreeing to brave a potential backlash from Manchester United’s supporters by playing for his old team in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial match. Owen, reviled by some Liverpool fans after crossing one of the game’s oldest divides, is said to be uncertain of the reaction he will get from the Anfield crowd but does not have great expectations considering the abuse when he returned last season for the first time since joining their rivals at Old Trafford.
The former England striker has given his word to Carragher, however, that he will play in the match at Anfield on Saturday week, swapping the red of United for that of the team where he began his career. Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, has given him permission to play for 45 minutes and Owen will be in attack for a Liverpool XI taking on an Everton XI.
Kuyt : I’m a Reds Star
Aug.27, 2010, under Premier League, UEFA
Dirk Kuyt finally ended uncertainty over his Anfield future after firing Liverpool into the Europa League group stage here last night.
Liverpool were trailing to a fourth-minute strike until an own goal in the 84th minute and a close range finish by Kuyt four minutes later secured a 2-1 win on the night, 3-1 on aggregate.
Kuyt’s agent had claimed he was keen on a move to Inter Milan, but the Holland forward set the record straight by insisting after the match: ‘A lot of people have said a lot of things about my future.
‘For me, it is at Liverpool. I like it here and want to stay and win things.’
It was something Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson welcomed but did not think was necessary.
‘Dirk Kuyt is not for sale so excuse me for not understanding the speculation of being happy now he has said he is staying because I never doubted he was staying,” added the Englishman. (continue reading…)
Liverpool secure their place in Europa league
Aug.27, 2010, under UEFA
Liverpool secured a safe passage into the group stage of the Europa League after grinding out a 2-1 win over Trabzonspor in Turkey as Roy Hodgson became the first Reds boss since Bill Shankly to win his first four European games in charge of the club.
The Turkish side drew level 1-1 on aggregate when Teofilo Gutierrez slotted in from a Gustavo Colman shot.
David Ngog headed wide from six yards for the Reds but they got a crucial away goal when Giray Kacar put a Glen Johnson cross into his own net.
Dirk Kuyt completed the win when he slotted in after Daniel Pacheco’s shot had been parried into his path.
Liverpool’s goals came late on in the match as they eventually showed the character to negotiate their way past some awkward opponents.
Trabzonspor had beaten the Reds 1-0 the the first leg of a European Cup tie in the 1976/77 season before the Anfield side overturned the deficit to win the second round tie.
And Liverpool knew it would be a tough task to dispose of the Turkish side who were last beaten at home in December 2009 and had since won eight out of nine at their Huseyin Avni Aker stadium. (continue reading…)
Ibra : I have problem with Guardiola
Aug.26, 2010, under La Liga, Serie A
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has closed in on a move to Milan after comments about his difficult position at Barcelona. The Swedish striker declared he has problems with Barca coach Josep Guardiola. He also mentioned he would like to play with Ronaldinho at Milan.
The former Internazionale star, who arrived at the Camp Nou last summer, revealed he hasn’t heard from Guardiola for six months.
“Guardiola has not spoken to me for six months,” he told Sky Italia television.
“He only did so twice. I would like to understand why, but he won’t tell me. I need to be happy. I’m fine in Barcelona, but I have problems with the coach.
“The directors tell me they don’t want me to go, but at the same time how can I continue here when the manager doesn’t speak to me?
“Milan? I don’t know at what stage the negotiations are, but I would like to play with Ronaldinho.”
The 29-year-old played for Barca in a friendly against Milan in Spain on Wednesday night, after which he told reporters that he had no relationship with his club coach, although he claimed he knew nothing about Milan’s reported interest. (continue reading…)
Kuyt : No City fear!!
Aug.22, 2010, under Others
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. (continue reading…)
Walcott’s hat-trick bring Arsenal 6-0 Blackpool
Aug.22, 2010, under Premier League
After the dream, inevitably, comes the awakening. The tangerine hordes of Blackpool gathered at the Emirates Stadium with a sense of trepidation but sung and celebrated throughout, never allowing the details of the scoreline and an early sending-off to spoil their day out.
Yet this was the reality check they feared. When Arsenal were 5-0 up with 30 minutes to play, they brought on Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, which is as dispiriting as it must get for any opposition team. While not every club will be able to boast such reserves, Arsenal provided a more authentic welcome to the Premier League than Wigan last week.
‘They were absolute class,’ acknowledged Blackpool boss Ian Holloway. ‘If my team play like that one day I’d be delighted. The ball hardly left the grass, the pace and movement were terrific and it’s a joy to watch. It shook us that we couldn’t play our natural game and it was an absolute education. We have to learn quickly.
(continue reading…)
Wigan demolished by Chelsea
Aug.22, 2010, under Others
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. (continue reading…)
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