Gerrard sees confidence returning to Reds
January 30, 2010
Steven Gerrard has urged Liverpool to take advantage of some home comforts and strengthen their chances of securing a top- four finish this season, starting with Saturday’s visit of struggling Bolton.
The encounter with Owen Coyle’s side is followed by the visit of Merseyside rivals Everton and Gerrard believes the brace of games at Anfield represent a wonderful chance for his team to turn up the pressure on Tottenham, who currently occupy the place above them that Rafa Benitez’s men covet so badly.
The mood around Benitez’s squad has been sombre in the wake of their disappointing goalless draw at Wolves in mid-week, when Liverpool dropped two more points and, more worryingly, hardly gave home goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann a save to make.
The point nevertheless enabled them to climb above Manchester City into fifth place and extended their unbeaten run to five league games.
Gerrard is convinced confidence is growing in the camp and that Liverpool have turned the corner following the damaging slump earlier in the season.
The England midfielder believes Liverpool would have buckled and been beaten in a similar sort of game earlier in the season to the one they experienced at Molinuex.
Now he has set his sights on re-igniting Liverpool’s chances of Champions League qualification, despite the fact leading scorer Fernando Torres remains sidelined.
Gerrard said: “We will keep fighting for that fourth spot. We’ve got a couple of home games coming up and, if we take maximum points, I’m sure we’ll edge into that top four.
“The important thing is that we are now playing better. We’ve turned the orner and we are a much more difficult team to beat now.
“We would probably have lost that (Wolves) game 1-0 a couple of months back. Confidence was certainly low a few weeks ago.
“The squad was suffering a lot of injuries and, when you are not getting the results you expect, it affects people’s confidence individually and as a group.
“But we’ve had a couple of encouraging results. Stoke away was a tough game and we got a point and the lads performed fantastically well against Tottenham.
“Confidence is slowly coming back and, once that confidence is back, results will follow. We are very confident we can eventually edge into that top four.”
Gerrard insists the pain of past failings this season is now driving his side towards success and he added: “There were a lot of people in the dressing room hurt at seeing us lying in seventh and eighth position in the Premier League and you learn a lot from these situations when times are hard.
“We have looked at each other and we wanted to put it right. The most important thing for me over the last four or five games has been the character and the desire the players have shown. Nobody is hiding and that’s a big positive.
“Everyone knows this team has been through a difficult period. But we have shown we can dig in and battle. We know results will improve.”
Bolton will arrive at Anfield in confident mood following their crucial mid-week win over fellow strugglers Burnley and Coyle, who is hoping to sign Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere on-loan in time for this game, said: “We are still very much a work in progress so no-one is getting carried away.
“We know this will be hugely difficult for us. When Liverpool are in full throttle Anfield can be a daunting arena.
“They’ve had a stop-start season but we have to recognise that when they are on top of their game Liverpool are a very good team.
“They have top quality players and are desperate to get back into that top four, so we are going to have to be very respectful. But we have to go there and be brave and take the game to them whenever we can.”
LIVERPOOL (AFP)
Tags: champions league, England, everton, Fernando Torres, home games, leading scorer, league games, Liverpool, manchester city, Marcus Hahnemann, maximum points, Merseyside, midfielder, orner, Owen Coyle, premier league, rafa benitez, rivals, slump, Steven Gerrard, tottenham, wolvesRelated posts
Suarez keen on Ajax stay
December 15, 2009
AFC Ajax have been reassured by their Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez that he will not be leaving the Amsterdam ArenA tenants before the World Cup finals.
The 22-year-old, who is the leading scorer in the Eredivisie with 18 goals to his name this term, has been linked to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United linked, with Chelsea believed to be leading the chase for his services.
But despite interest from Carlo Ancelotti, Suarez does not want to think about moving ahead of the World Cup finals.
“I am not going to move anywhere for the moment. I thank any team that is interested but my idea is to stay at Ajax at least until the end of the current season,” said Suarez to Radio Carve.
“Maybe when this season ends I will accept a move somewhere.
“Chelsea? There is nothing at all.
“I don’t know from where the press gets some information.
“If it’s true, I thank them that they are interested.
“I have said to everyone at Ajax that I want to stay here because I nearly always play and I want to be in good shape for next year to play for Uruguay in South Africa. I am going to stay at Ajax at least until June.”
Tags: afc ajax, Amsterdam, amsterdam arena, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Eredivisie, good shape, keen, leading scorer, Liverpool, luis suarez, Manchester, manchester united, radio, South Africa, uruguay, uruguayan, world cup finalsRelated posts
Berg set for Premiership, says Groningen manager
July 5, 2009
Groningen manager Hans Nijland has conceded he expects highly-rated striker Marcus Berg to leave for the Premier League this summer.
The 22-year-old is wanted by two Premier League clubs, believed to be Tottenham and Aston Villa, after impressing for Sweden in the European Under-21 Championship in his homeland.
The promising striker won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading scorer with seven goals, after netting a hat-trick in Sweden’s opening match against Belarus and scoring twice against England.
“Soren Lerby, the agent of Marcus Berg, has informed us there is a really serious interest from two clubs in the Premier League,” explained Nijland.
“We have his replacement already lined up.”
Villa and Spurs are reportedly leading the chase for the striker’s services, although Everton have also been credited with an interest.
By:
Tags: abhimanyu, aston villa, belarus, chase, England, English Premier League, european under 21 championship, golden boot, groningen, Hans Nijland, hat trick, leading scorer, marcus berg, match, premier league clubs, rajput, soren, spurs, SwedenRelated posts
Swedish champs to face US women´s league stars
July 1, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Swedish women’s football champions Umea IK will play America’s top club stars in the first Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) All-Star Game on August 30 in St. Louis, the US league announced on Tuesday.
The game will be staged eight days after the inaugural WPS championship game with the all-star starters selected by vote and reserves decided by the coach and WPS commissioner Tonya Antonucci.
“Our league is part of the bigger growth of the women?s game at the global level and we wanted to acknowledge that by bringing in a club from outside the league,” Antonucci said.
Three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta, a Los Angeles Sol forward who is joint leading scorer in the league, will likely be playing against her former teammates at Umea, which has won seven of the past nine Swedish crowns.
“It is going to be very exciting to play against the best players of WPS,” Umea striker Hanna Ljungberg said. “Naturally we look forward to playing against Marta.”
Tags: all star starters, America, championship game, champs, club stars, eight days, FIFA, first women, global level, Hanna Ljungberg, leading scorer, league stars, ljungberg, Marta, MLS, professional soccer, San Francisco, Sol, ST. LOUIS, star game, swedish crowns, swedish women, teammates, tonya antonucci, U.S., umea, world player of the year, wpsRelated posts
Kaka voted star of Confed Cup
June 29, 2009
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Spanish giants Real Madrid’s recent signing Brazil midfielder Kaka was awarded the Golden Ball on Sunday after being voted best footballer at the Confederations Cup.
Striker Luis Fabiano, a teammate in the side that came from two goals behind to defeat the United States 3-2 in the final, finished second and American midfielder Clint Dempsey third.
Fabiano collected the Golden Boot for being leading scorer with five goals and USA goalkeeper Tim Howard received the Golden Glove as the best in his position at the dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Kaka paid tribute to his teammates for taking Brazil to the title and allowing him to win the player of the tournament.
“I’m very happy to be player of the final and championship,” said the former AC Milan man whose transfer to Madrid becomes official on Tuesday.
“Most important, as I’ve said before, I can only be player of the tournament because Brazil are the champions and if they weren’t then I wouldn’t get this award, so I would like to thank my teammates.”
Asked about his new start at Real Madrid, Kaka said: “With respect to my new life at Madrid, I will talk about it on Tuesday when I’m officially their player.
“I’ve managed to get my first cup and I hope the winning ways will continue in future in this new phase of my life.”
Tags: ac milan, best footballer, brazil, Clint Dempsey, confederations cup, dress rehearsal, Goalkeeper, golden boot, golden glove, johannesburg, kaka, leading scorer, luis fabiano, MADRID, midfielder, Milan, real madrid, South Africa, striker, teammate, teammates, tim howard, United States, USA, winning ways, World CupRelated posts
Juninho in Qatar for transfer talks
June 17, 2009
DOHA (AFP) – Lyon’s long-serving Brazilian playmaker Juninho arrived in Qatar for talks about a transfer to Al-Garrafa, the Doha club said on their website Tuesday.
Recruiting the Brazilian to play in Qatar will cost the club about 2.5 million euros, a record in the Gulf state’s championship, sources at the club said, but no details were available about the length of Juninho’s contract.
The 34-year-old scored 100 goals for the French club and was the inspiration behind Lyon’s seven titles, including last year’s domestic double, since joining from Vasco da Gama in 2001.
When he announced he was leaving Lyon at the end of last season, the club described it as the end of an era.
The 44-times capped Brazilian reached three Champions League quarter-finals with Lyon and was their leading scorer in the competition with 18 goals.
Historically the Qatar championship has been a retirement location for a number of high-profile footballers, including Brazilian Romario, the Argentine Gabriel Batistuta and Frenchmen Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf.
On Monday, Juninho’s agent Jose Fuentes suggested his client was also considering playing in Italy, following reported interest expressed by Lazio and Genoa.
Tags: 5 million, Al-Garrafa, Argentine, Doha, Frank Leboeuf, french club, Gabriel Batistuta, garrafa, genoa, high profile, Italy, jose fuentes, lazio, leading scorer, Ligue 1, Lyon, marcel desailly, playmaker, Qatar, quarter finals, retirement location, The Gulf, Vasco da, vasco da gamaRelated posts
Lyon lament as Toulouse tease tetchy Marseille
May 3, 2009
PARIS (AFP) – Marseille’s hopes of a first French league title since 1992 suffered a setback Saturday when they had to settle for a share of the points in a tense and sometimes thrilling 2-2 home draw with Toulouse.
Leaders Marseille began the match with a two-point lead over Bordeaux and a six-point cushion on Lyon, but instead of capitalising on Lyon’s shock 2-0 defeat to Valenciennes earlier Eric Gerets side dropped two precious points.
It means Bordeaux, themselves bidding for a first league crown since 1999, can draw level on points with Marseille on Sunday, albeit with an inferior goals difference, if they beat visitors Sochaux.
Gerets dropped a bombshell on the club in midweek when he announced his departure at the end of this season due to “unjustified” criticism from club owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus at the start of the year.
But that did not stop the Belgian from getting emotional on the sidelines about a match in which both sides had victory within their grasp.
Andre-Pierre Gignac, who recently made his debut for France, opened the scoring for Toulouse in the 48th minute, only for Mahamadou Niang to pull Marseille level 15 minutes later.
Gignac then took advantage of some slack Marseille defending to grab his second, only for Niang, a minute later, to be credited with a second goal which took a freakish deflection.
Gignac is now the league’s leading scorer with 21 goals, but it is a place in Europe next season which Toulouse, in fifth place two points behind Paris Saint Germain, covet most.
“To get a draw at Marseille, who are playing well right now, can’t be sniffed at,” said Toulouse coach Alain Casanova.
“After the season we’ve had, we have to aim for a place in Europe.”
Reigning champions Lyon’s hopes of an eighth consecutive crown were seriously dashed after a shock 2-0 defeat away to northern side Valenciennes.
Valenciennes’ Johan Audel scored a first-half brace in a match in which Lyon failed to put their title credentials on display, leaving them at the mercy of results elsewhere.
Even before Marseille hosted Toulouse later Saturday, Lyon midfielder Cris all but sounded the death knell for his side.
“As far as the title goes, it’s over for us tonight,” the Brazilian told Canal Plus television.
“All we can do now is concentrate on our last four matches to make sure of our place in the Champions League.”
He added: “We can’t take anything away from Valenciennes. We were pitiful. In the first half we barely got out of second gear, and it was hardly better in the second half.”
Tags: Alain Casanova, Andre-Pierre Gignac, bombshell, Bordeaux, casanova, club owner, deflection, eric gerets, Europe, France, french league title, Germain, johan audel, leading scorer, league crown, Ligue 1, Lyon, Marseille, midweek, niang, PARIS, paris saint germain, point cushion, precious points, robert louis dreyfus, sidelines, sochaux, ToulouseRelated posts
Barcelona keen to sign Athletico Madrid´s Forlan
May 2, 2009
MADRID (AFP) – Spanish title race leaders Barcelona are interested in signing Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan international striker Diego Forlan as a replacement for the possible departures of Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o and Frenchman Thierry Henry according to Saturday’s edition of Marca.
Forlan, 29 and contracted to Atletico till 2011, would cost Real 36million euros according to a clause in his contract.
The former Manchester United striker, scorer of 23 goals this season and the leading scorer in the 2005 season, joined Atletico for 21million euros from Villarreal in 2007.
Forlan let it be known at the end of January he was keen to leave and join a club with whom he could win titles.
However, striking a different pose on Saturday Forlan told the other sports daily AS that he was happy at the club.
Tags: athletico madrid, atletico madrid, Barcelona, cameroon, club barcelona, departures, diego forlan, frenchman, LA Liga, leading scorer, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, other sports, pose, samuel eto, samuel eto o, spanish title, striker, thierry henry, uruguayan, VillarrealRelated posts
Everton weigh Saha risk
April 18, 2009
LONDON (AFP) – Everton are weighing up the risk of throwing striker Louis Saha into the fray against his former side Manchester United in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Saha has been suffering all week from a stomach virus and other injury problems have limited his appearances.
Coach Moyes already has Brazilian loan striker Jo cup-tied and may push Aussie midfielder Tim Cahill into attack and also push up Marouane Fellaini, meaning he could draft teenager Jack Rodwell into the side if he decides not to risk Saha.
Cahill has played a more attacking role in recent games which have seen him become Everton’s leading scorer with nine goals while his change of role has coincided with a hot streak of form which has seen Moyes’ men lose just one of their last 11 matches.
Defender Joseph Yobo and striker James Vaughan are both back from injury.
Tags: coach, English Premier League, everton, FA Cup, hot streak, Jack Rodwell, james vaughan, joseph yobo, leading scorer, london, louis saha, Manchester, manchester united, Moyes, recent games, risk, rodwell, stomach virus, teenager, tim cahill, WembleyRelated posts
Beattie takes Stoke out of the relegation zone
February 1, 2009
STOKE (AFP) – James Beattie lifted 10-man Stoke out of the relegation zone as his first-half header clinched a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday.
Tony Pulis’s side looked up against it when Rory Delap was sent off following a clash with Shaun Wright-Phillips at the Britannia Stadium.
But Beattie struck soon after Delap’s departure to end Stoke’s miserable run of 11 games without a win stretching back to November and provide a timely boost in their battle for Premier League survival.
It was a familiar story for City, who once again failed to turn their possession into goals and remain without an away win since August.
The vistors were on top for long periods and Robinho, who scored a hat-trick against Stoke earlier this season, was quickly into his stride with a delicate angled chip that almost deceived Thomas Sorensen.
Mark Hughes’ team should have taken the lead when Stephen Ireland, unmarked in yards of space, volleyed wide from the edge of the box.
A flowing move from the visitors cut through Stoke’s defence with ease midway through the half, but Robinho belied his status as City’s leading scorer with a woeful scuffed shot that trickled straight to Sorensen.
Stoke worked hard to get the visitors onto the back foot and a long throw from allowed Ryan Shawcross to get in a header that just cleared the bar.
Another trademark rocket throw from Delap brought Joe Hart into action as he rose to pluck a Shawcross back-flick from under the bar.
The match seemed to have swung in City’s favour in the 38th minute when referee Martin Atkinson sent off Delap following an ugly clash.
Wright-Phillips started the melee when he lunged in on Etherington. As Wright-Phillips moved away with the ball, Delap chased him and tripped the winger from behind, compounding the offence by appearing to kick the ball at the England winger.
Furious City players rushed to remonstrate with Delap, while Wright-Phillips appeared to kick out at Delap. Atkinson finally brought an end to the chaos by dismissing Delap, but Stoke made light of their numerical disadvantage to snatch the lead in first half stoppage time.
Matty Etherington looped a cross over from the left wing and Beattie was able to pull clear of Wayne Bridge and bury a header past Hart.
It was the first time Stoke had scored at home since late November and they were determined not to surrender the advantage.
Hughes sent on Brazilian midfielder Elano early in the second half but Stoke managed to frustrate the visitors with some resolute defending.
With Robinho an increasingly subdued figure, Craig Bellamy tried to lift City but his shot on the turn drifted wide.
City appealed for a penalty when Micah Richards fell under Andy Griffin’s challenge but Atkinson said no and Stoke survived.
Written by: AFP
Tags: britannia stadium, compounding the offence, English Premier League, etherington, hat trick, James Beattie, Joe Hart, leading scorer, league survival, long periods, manchester city, Mark Hughes, martin atkinson, relegation zone, Robinho, rory delap, Shaun Wright-Phillips, shawcross, thomas sorensen, tony pulis, wingerRelated posts
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