Rush tells Liverpool fans to back Benitez

October 22, 2009

Liverpool great Ian Rush has urged supporters to row in behind under-fire boss Rafael Benitez as the Spaniard prepares his struggling side for Sunday’s home clash with bitter rivals Manchester United.

Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat by Lyon here at Anfield meant Liverpool had lost four games in a row for the first time since 1987 and left the five-times European champions struggling to qualify for the knockout phase.

The fact that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard suffered a recurrence of his groin injury 24 minutes into the Lyon match, while injured Spain striker Fernando Torres didn’t play at all because of a groin problem, also led to fresh criticism of Benitez for allowing the club to become over-reliant on their two star players.

It is 19 years since Liverpool last won the English title and pressure is building on Benitez, in charge at Anfield since 2004.

He guided the Reds to their fifth European Cup crown in 2005 but that success is receding into the memory of fans who’ve seen their side lose four of their nine league matches so far this season, including last weekend’s 1-0 beach ball assisted defeat by Sunderland, to lie seven points behind leaders and reigning champions United.

But former Wales striker Rush, a key member of the Liverpool side that dominated English football during the 1980s, told Sky Sports here on Wednesday: “Right now is the time when you need to get behind the manager, and the players as well.

“I’m sure the supporters will do on Sunday but then it’s up to the players to respond. The manager can only pick a team. It’s up to the players to respond on the pitch.

“Okay, we lost against Lyon but we can still qualify for the second phase of the Champions League. It’s when you can’t do that, then you maybe start looking (at the manager),” Rush added.

A boost for Benitez was that England defender Glen Johnson, who missed the Lyon match, is set to return against United, who lost 2-1 at Anfield last season in a match where neither Gerrard nor Torres started.

Despite Liverpool’s recent run of results, Benitez’s position does not appear under immediate threat if only because of the boardroom spat between the club’s feuding American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Hicks has been a strong supporter of Benitez, who signed a new four-year contract in March, while Gillett has criticised the former Valencia manager’s spending this season.

Both men would have to agree to the sacking of Benitez and, given their frosty relationship, that seems unlikely.

Meanwhile former Liverpool manager Roy Evans said the players, rather than Benitez, “had to look at themselves”.

Evans, whose four-year spell in charge ended in 1998, admitted: “The results have put a lot of pressure on.

“But they are still in the Champions League and can still get second place (in the group), but there has to be an improvement, that’s for sure.

“Rafa has always been tactically very strong in Europe, but when you lose your best players, like Gerrard, Torres and Johnson, that is a real problem.

“Without them Liverpool struggle to compete, with them they are a good bet to recover their position in the group.

“You cannot always blame the manager, players have to improve,” added Evans.

“A good result will change everything. A win against Manchester United could be the victory that gives Liverpool their confidence back.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: 19 years, bitter rivals, captain Steven Gerrard, english football, Europe, european champions, Fernando Torres, fire boss, four games, glen johnson, groin injury, groin problem, Ian Rush, Liverpool, Lyon, manchester united, rafael benitez, recurrence, Roy Evans, second phase, seven points, Sky Sports, Spain, star players, Steven Gerrard, Sunderland, tom hicks, Valencia, Wales

Liverpool must be ruthless at Anfield: Kuyt

September 26, 2009

Dirk Kuyt believes Liverpool have finally found a cure for the shortcomings at home which cost Rafael Benitez’s side the title last season.

Hull, Saturday’s visitors, were one of the teams who helped topple Benitez’s side from the Premier League summit last term with Phil Brown’s outfit matching Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Manchester City in securing a draw at the once feared Anfield bastion.

Had Liverpool been able to turn three of those five draws into wins they would have been crowned champions for the first time in 19 years.

This season did not get off to the best of starts with an early home defeat to Aston Villa. But since then Liverpool have recorded 4-0 wins over Stoke and Burnley at Anfield and Kuyt is confident Benitez’s side have regained a ruthless streak in front of their own fans.

“Apart from the Villa match, I think we have shown that we can beat any side at Anfield this season,” said the Dutch forward.

“We had difficulties last season with all the draws but now we are able to score goals in the first-half.

“It’s really important to score as early as possible because then it will be more difficult for them and easier for us.

“We know the Premier League is one of the hardest leagues in the world and every team is good with some fine players.

“I believe Hull are a good team as well, but we have to look at our own strengths and we must believe we can beat them. We must focus on ourselves and respect the opponent.

“We didn’t start that well and have already lost twice. But we have now started to win a couple of games in a row and we want to keep that going, beginning with Hull on Saturday.”

Liverpool have scored nine times in three league games at home. Kuyt, who has notched two of them, believes Glen Johnson could be key to a more free-scoring season at Anfield.

England full-back Johnson played starring roles against Burnley and Stoke, and Kuyt believes his marauding runs down the right have made him one of the team’s stand-out performers.

Johnson, 25, has scored two in his opening six league games since completing a 17-million-pound move from Portsmouth in July.

“He was a big signing for us but he has shown straight from the start that he is very important – both defensively and in attack,” added Kuyt.

“He has scored some very good goals and provided some assists. He is probably one of the best players in the team so far this season. He is still young and I think he will only get better and better.”

Having fielded a team consisting mainly of fringe players for the midweek League Cup tie at Leeds, which Liverpool won 1-0, Benitez will recall his big names to the line up against Hull.

Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard will both start while Javier Mascherano, one of the few regulars to feature in Yorkshire, is free to play after escaping disciplinary action following a clash with Jermain Beckford.

Hull are a shadow of the team which raced into a 2-0 lead at Anfield last season before settling for a 2-2 draw.

Brown’s side suffered six straight league defeats after that game last December and only narrowly avoided relegation in their first season in the Premier League.

They have won just one of their opening six games this season and arrive at Anfield on the back of a thumping 4-0 home defeat to Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton in the League Cup.

Now Brown is asking his players to come out fighting after their midweek hammering.

“That is all we can do,” said the Hull manager, who is under mounting pressure to save his job. “When the going gets tough, you’ve got to roll your sleeves up a little bit further and dig a little deeper. That’s what I’m asking my players to do.”

LIVERPOOL (AFP)

Tags: 19 years, bastion, dirk kuyt, England, five draws, fulham, glen johnson, league games, Liverpool, manchester city, match, nine times, opponent, phil brown, premier league, rafael benitez, ruthless streak, shortcomings, summit, west ham

Ancelotti unflustered by changing times at Chelsea

September 20, 2009

If Carlo Ancelotti has been left shaken by the upheavals at Chelsea during his few ten weeks in charge, he is doing a very good job of disguising the fact.

The Blues coach has given the impression it is business as usual as he prepares his side for a meeting with London rivals Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday that could extend Chelsea’s perfect start to the Premier League campaign.

Five successive wins have already positioned the Italian’s side at the head of the table and laid down an early marker in their title battle with Manchester United.

And he has remained unruffled by FIFA’s impostion of a 16-month transfer ban on the club and the sudden departure of chief executive Peter Kenyon.

Ancelotti insists his focus remains solely on team affairs even though he could never have imagined he would find himself fending off questions about the club’s internal affairs when he moved to England from AC Milan in July.

And his main concern is negotiating his first major London derby against Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham, who impressively won their first four league games before suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of United in their last outing.

“I know the rivalry between the two teams and how important this match is for the fans,” Ancelotti said. “We have to pay attention to this and we want to win.

“I saw Tottenham’s last games and they have started very well. For me it was a surprise, they played very well against Liverpool and Manchester United.

“They lost that game but they have good style and quality players. In attack, Jermain Defoe is a very dangerous striker and Aaron Lennon is a very quick player.

And he added: “I have never seen an unbeatable team, and Chelsea are not unbeatable. But we are doing very well at the moment.”

Spurs can draw strength from the fact they beat Chelsea last February at White Hart Lane, although it is 19 years since they last won at Stamford Bridge.

“We haven’t taken too many points off them at Stamford Bridge in my memory, so for that reason alone, this is going to be another tough game,” said Tottenham captain Ledley King.

“We know Chelsea’s players well enough and we’ve all seen their quality. It’s always a tough game against them,” he said.

“But we have done well against them in recent games and they will be aware of our qualities as well.

“However, we take one season and one game at a time. This is no doubt one they will want to win, being at home.

And he added: “Four wins from five games is a good start for us. We’re disappointed with the last result, but Sunday is a chance for us to strike back in the best possible way against another top team.”

Ancelotti will resist the temptation to bring back England international Joe Cole for a game that would pit the midfielder against the manager who gave him his first break at West Ham.

Cole has been a long-term casualty with a knee problem but, like Portugal defender Paulo Ferreira and midfielder Yuri Zhirkhov, he will be eased back into action against QPR in next week’s League Cup tie.

But Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa, both suspended from the mid-week Champions League victory over Porto, will return for the Blues.

Redknapp faces a decision over whether to recall keeper Heurelho Gomes in place of former Chelsea shot-stopper Carlo Cudicini, while captain Robbie Keane will either fill the left flank position or partner Defoe up front.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: 19 years, Aaron Lennon, ac milan, captain Ledley, captain Robbie Keane, carlo ancelotti, carlo cudicini, defoe, England, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, internal affairs, Joe Cole, last games, league campaign, league games, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester united, Milan, Paulo, peter kenyon, PORTO, premier league, quality players, quick player, stamford bridge, transfer ban, unbeatable team, upheavals, white hart lane, Yuri Zhirkhov

Hassan keeps Egypt´s World Cup hopes

September 5, 2009

Ahmed Hassan kept African champions Egypt in the hunt for a 2010 World Cup place by scoring the goal that defeated Rwanda 1-0 in Kigali Saturday.

The 34-year-old midfielder from Cairo giants Al-Ahly hammered an Ahmed Fathi pass into the net on 68 minutes before a near-capacity crowd at the 35,000-seat Amahoro Stadium in the Rwandan capital.

Victory lifted the ‘Pharaohs’ to seven points from four Group C qualifiers, level with fierce rivals Algeria, who host Zambia Sunday and are expected to triumph in Blida.

It was a must-win game for Egypt, who have lifted the African Nations Cup a record six times but qualified for the World Cup only twice with their last appearance 19 years ago in Italy.

The North Africans came close to scoring a few times in the opening half and then withstood an early second-half Rwandan attacking flurry before Hassan gave Egypt a double over Rwanda having won 3-0 in Cairo two months ago.

Goalkeeper Jean-Claude Ndori deprived Egypt of a second goal in stoppage time with a brave advance to block a Sayed Moawad shot at the expense of a corner.

Substitute Chiukepo Msowoya scored twice after coming on at half-time as Malawi came from behind to defeat Guinea 2-1 in a Group E game between World Cup also-rans.

Oumar Kalabane put the West Africans ahead seven minutes before half-time at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Msowoya levelled a minute after half-time and snatched the 58th-minute winner.

Ivory Coast (nine points) and Burkina Faso (six), who clash later Saturday in Abidjan, have dominated the section while Guinea and Malawi have three each as they contest third place.

The five group winners join hosts South Africa at the first World Cup to be staged in Africa while the top three finishers in each mini-league go to the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: 19 years, Abidjan, Africa, african champions, african nations cup, Ahmed Fathi, ahmed hassan, al ahly, algeria, Amahoro Stadium, Angola, blantyre, Blida, burkina faso, Cairo, capacity crowd, Egypt, group winners, Guinea, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jean-Claude Ndori, johannesburg, Kamuzu Stadium, kigali, minute winner, north africans, pharaohs, Rwanda, rwandan capital, seven points, South Africa, stoppage time, west africans, Zambia

Carragher targets Premier League title

July 20, 2009

Former England international and Liverpool FC stand-in captain Jamie Carragher has stressed the importance of League title number 19 for the Merseyside club, and is determined to help the Reds end their title drought since 1989.

The Reds came agonisingly close in landing the top flight title for the first time in 19 years last term, only to be pipped by old foes Manchester United.

However, with the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez from United, there is an air of expectation around Anfield that the Holy Grail is now within sight.

With Arsenal still in a transition period, and with Chelsea yet to spend big in the transfer market, Liverpool are widely expected to be among the frontrunners once again this season.

The 30-year-old believes Rafa Benitez’s men are capable of challenging for the ultimate England top flight trophy and admits everyone connected with the club will be doing their utmost to bring the Premier League crown to Merseyside.

“We had a very good season in the league last year but we realise that if we can improve that by one or two per cent that may be enough and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“We took Manchester United very close last year and we realise them and also Chelsea will come back and maybe Manchester City as well so there’s a lot of competition

“Hopefully the pre-season games we can improve and get better and make sure we’re ready for Tottenham (the first game of the new season) and go one step further than we did last year.”

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: 19 years, anfield, captain Jamie Carragher, Carlos, carlos tevez, CHELSEA, cristiano ronaldo, England, england international, first game, frontrunners, holy grail, jamie carragher, league crown, Liverpool, liverpool fc, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Merseyside, number 19, old foes, pre season games, premier league, rafa benitez, ronaldo, title drought, top flight, transition period, United

Schwarzer wins Australian Footballer of the Year award

June 12, 2009

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has been named Australian Footballer of the Year for the 2008-09 season.

The award was presented to the 36-year-old at the Australian Football Awards in Sydney.

Schwarzer’s career began no less than 19 years ago and led him to top flight clubs in Germany and England. In 2008, the keeper left Middlesbrough to join London outfit Fulham.

At the international level, Schwarzer’s career goes back 16 years. Since his debut in 1993, he earned 66 caps with a total of 27 clean sheets.

Another player to receive an award in Sydney was Tim Cahill, who was named Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: 19 years, Australian, australian football, caps, clean sheets, debut, England, football awards, footballer of the year, fulham, Germany, Goalkeeper, london, mark schwarzer, middlesbrough, professional footballers association, roorda, SYDNEY, tim cahill, WC Qualifying Europe

Benitez refuses to surrender Liverpool title hopes

May 10, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Rafael Benitez has vowed that Liverpool will not give up hope of prising the Premier League trophy out of the grasp of reigning champions Manchester United as the season draws to a close.

The Spaniard watched his side cruise to a comfortable 3-0 win at West Ham on Saturday and he saw enough in the performance to convince himself that Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are not beyond reach.

“We are doing our job – we needed to get three points and keep them under pressure,” said Benitez.

“We have to keep winning. If we can get three points in every single game then you never know.”

Steven Gerrard struck after only 77 seconds at Upton Park and doubled his tally before half-time by tapping home after seeing his penalty saved by Robert Green.

Netherlands winger Ryan Babel rounded off the victory by prodding home from close range after 84 minutes.

Benitez acknowledged the influential role that Gerrard and returning Spain striker Fernando Torres – who were making only their 12th league appearance of the season together – had on the team.

“We have scored goals from all over the pitch which is really positive but if you have Gerrard and Torres in the side it makes a massive difference,” said the former Valencia boss.

Benitez admitted that, should Liverpool miss out what would be a first league title in 19 years, it would be hard not to cast some rueful glances back to games that they dominated but failed to win.

The Reds’ goalless draw at home to West Ham in early December was an obvious example, particularly as Benitez had just been reviewing footage of the game before Saturday’s clash.

“We can talk about some draws but especially this one,” said Benitez.

“We were watching some clips and we had a lot of chances — it’s a pity because we didn’t take them and this could be the difference.”

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was sceptical about the Merseysiders’ chances of pipping United to the title.

“I don’t think Manchester will let the title slip away from them, considering the experience they have,” said Zola.

“But this championship has been so unpredictable so don’t be surprised if something happens.”

The defeat for West Ham leaves them three points off the pace in the race for a coveted seventh place finish and qualification for the Europa League — the revamped UEFA Cup — next season.

Even if they do manage to finish that high, the club still must be granted a UEFA licence for next season.

The licence, which is a requirement for clubs playing in European competition, can only be granted when specific financial documents are submitted by the club.

West Ham’s financial problems, and the potential for a change of ownership, mean these have not yet been handed over, though the club said they are confident of doing so by May 26, the day of the hearing.

On the pitch, Zola is still hopeful of his side’s chances of qualifying for the new tournament.

The Hammers face a testing trip to Everton on Saturday before entertaining Middlesbrough on the final day of the season.

“Our team is alive and above all whenever we have a bad game we always come back very strong,” said the 42-year-old.

“The way the team played in the first half today is encouraging. I’m confident that in the next two games my team will give everything. Don’t be surprised if they surprise you.”

Tags: 19 years, close range, English Premier League, Fernando Torres, gianfranco zola, league trophy, Liverpool, london, Manchester, manchester united, massive difference, netherlands, pipping, rafael benitez, robert green, ryan babel, scored goals, sir alex ferguson, Spain, Spaniard, Steven Gerrard, striker, upton park, Valencia, west ham, winger, Zola

Benitez refuses to surrender Liverpool title hopes

May 10, 2009