Liverpool fans renewed their protest against the club’s American owners as they beat Bolton.
An angry mob of more than 200 gathered outside the main entrance for 90 minutes after the game chanting “Yank The Liars Out” after one of the owners, Tom Hicks, watched the win.
Hicks was effectively trapped inside the stadium after club officials advised him to stay put rather than risk a explosive confrontation.
An insider said: “He has been told to stay in the directors’ lounge for his own good. The protesters have all the exits covered.”
Manager Rafael Benitez exerted his own pressure by confirming on the eve of the match that Juventus were interested in him.
The Spaniard clearly feels he needs transfer funds to strengthen the club’s challenge at home and abroad next season.
Juventus have agreed terms with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez for him to manage the Serie A club next season, according to authoritative reports from Italy last night.
La Repubblica newspaper reported that the club’s lawyers will arrive in England today for talks tomorrow about the release of the manager this summer. Benitez’s current contract at Anfield runs until 2014.
Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc is reported to have “already fixed everything with Benitez and has in his drawer a detailed agreement of his terms and length of contract”. Juve are keen to reach an agreement and begin making plans for next season.
The Turin club are also keen to minimise any payment they will have to make to Liverpool, and will be aware of the Premier League club’s poor form and rumours that the Spaniard’s deal makes him “too expensive to sack”.
Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport last night confirmed the arrival of Juve’s representatives but insisted that it remains uncertain whether Benitez actually wants to leave Anfield.
Former Liverpool captain Alan Hansen believes Dirk Kuyt deserves praise for his attitude and endeavour in recent weeks.
In the absence of Fernando Torres the task of leading the line has been passed to Kuyt and the Dutchman recently found his goal scoring touch against Tottenham, before netting the opener in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Bolton.
Hansen told LFC Weekly: “Dirk Kuyt scored both our goals against Spurs and that will do his confidence the power of good following his late miss against Stoke a few weeks earlier.
“He might not have played as well as he can this season, but he never lies down and dies, something which supporters appreciate.”
The former Scotland international has also been impressed with Kuyt’s willingness to play in any position for the benefit of the team.
“Dirk was signed as a centre-forward, but has adapted to Liverpool’s system by playing wide on the right,” he said.
“Learning to play in a different position isn’t easy and to Kuyt’s credit, every time he pulls on a red jersey he gives it his best shot.”
Hansen added: “When you are playing out of position, it is a lot easier to do that in a side that is doing well, compared to playing in a less familiar role in a side that is struggling.
“Again, to his credit, he has never moaned about not playing up front every week, as some players would, and has simply got his head down and got on with things.”
Source: Liverpoolfc.tv
Rafa Benitez admits Liverpool’s performance in the 2-0 win over Bolton was far from perfect – but he believes his side now have momentum heading into three massive encounters.
A second-half OG from Kevin Davies secured the three points after Dirk Kuyt’s opener.
It means Liverpool are now six league games unbeaten as they prepare for fixtures against Everton, Arsenal and City.
Benitez said: “I’m pleased with the result, pleased with the second half – but not too happy with the first. At the end of the day we needed to win and we won.
“The first half Bolton had some chances and we were a little bit lucky. Pepe (Reina) and Soto (Kyrgiakos) were doing well but the second half was totally different. We were more controlled and had more opportunities. We could have scored more goals.
“I am really happy because we’re six games unbeaten and have more clean sheets. Very good.
“We are improving. You can see the team is working very hard, and hopefully we can keep the momentum.”
Asked how he assessed Steven Gerrard’s performance, Benitez replied: “Stevie was a little bit better. He was trying very hard, that’s the main thing. When we scored the second goal the team played with more confidence and he was one of the players who could make a difference.” Read more »
Kristjan Gauti Emilsson struck a late winner on his debut as Liverpool under-18s secured an impressive 1-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday.
The Icelandic starlet came off the bench to head home Tom Ince’s 80th minute cross and claim all three points for Rodolfo Borrell’s men after a keenly contested encounter in Lancashire.It capped a fantastic day for the Academy, with the under-16s running riot against the Red Devils with a comprehensive 6-0 triumph.
Liverpool: Oldfield, Flanagan, Wisdom, Sama, Robinson, Roberts, Coady, Ince, Ngoo, Adorjan ( Emilsson 60), Dalla Valle. Unused subs: Chamberlain, Ellison, Roddan, Ihiekwe.
Source: Liverpoolfc.tv
Pre-match
Both teams went into this match in pretty average form. Bolton were sitting in 15th at kick off – only a point above the drop zone, even after the win over Burnley last time out.
Liverpool have had a poor season so far and good performances have been swiftly followed by a bad ones – win against Man U then lose to Fulham; outplay Spurs then fail to turn up against Wolves. The only time we have strung consecutive wins in the league this year was four games in August and September. Although we never played any top teams in that time, the first victory was against Bolton and the Reds will be hopeful that today’s win will be the start of another run; one that will lead us to that all-important 4th place.
Liverpool picked an attacking line up with only Mascherano sat in front of the back 4, as Aquilani came in for Lucas. Kuyt moved to the right wing as Maxi made way for Ngog – presumably Rafa thought his pace would be an asset. Bolton made one change – Mark Davies, the victim of the infamous Gallas tackle, came in for Klasnic as Owen Coyle looked to add a bit of security for his back line and played with Kevin Davies as a lone striker; a strategy many teams use at Anfield, to some effect.
Ryan Babel has been included in the Liverpool squad which faces Bolton Wanderers at Anfield today having been informed by Rafael Benitez that he will not be sold before the January transfer window closes on Monday.
The Holland forward had seemed set to leave the club but Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has challenged him to prove himself worthy of a place in the team by fulfilling the potential that earned him an £11 million move to Merseyside in 2007.
Benitez also revealed he may not be able to add to his squad before the window closes on Monday, although he is still endeavouring to do so with a right back to fill in for the injured Glen Johnson and allow Jamie Carragher to revert to central defence being high on his list of priorities.
“Ryan will be in the squad,” Benitez said. “I think he will stay. I was talking with him and I told him that I know there are clubs asking about his future but I think he is a good player and he has to show his quality on the pitch. He can do it. It’s just a question of starting again and maybe having more confidence.
“We were looking for players for different positions. Right back was one of them as soon as we knew about Glen Johnson’s injury. But it isn’t easy because you cannot find players at the level that we have now and there aren’t too many better right backs than Carra.”
Source: TimesOnline
Rafa Benitez is confident a fully fit Steven Gerrard can be the catalyst for Liverpool securing Champions League qualification.
The skipper’s season has been punctuated by injury but he returned to play 90 minutes in Tuesday’s goalless draw with Wolves.
Benitez believes his presence will make a huge difference as the Reds get set for a pivotal February with games against Everton, Arsenal and Man City.
“Steven has worked very hard,” said Benitez.
“He did well on Tuesday but you could see in two or three of the runs that he made that he didn’t quite have the match fitness that you need.
“But he was trying all the time and he kept taking good positions. Clearly he will bring a lot to the team when he is fully fit. Read more »
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt knows nothing about a possible move to Juventus, his agent Robert Jansen has claimed.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez has recently been tipped to take over at Juve with current boss Ciro Ferrera severely under pressure after a number of lacklustre displays.
The reports have sparked rumours over which players could join the Spaniard if he moves to Italy and Kuyt has seen his name linked with the Serie A club.
However the forward, who Benitez bought for £9million from Feyenoord in summer 2006, is happy at Anfield, according to Jansen.
“I know nothing of Juventus’ interest,” he told Calciomercato.it. “No-one has contacted us at the moment. He is now happy at Liverpool where he has two more years of his contract left.” Read more »
A post-match chat between Rafa Benitez and Owen Coyle would prove interesting listening after Liverpool host Bolton on Saturday. A sympathetic ear all round.
Reds manager Benitez has been heavily criticised when enduring a season to forget and is now grabbing the headlines as speculation suggests that Juventus want him to replace their own under-fire boss Ciro Ferrara.
Coyle, meanwhile, has seen his loyalty battered from pillar to post in the wake of Tuesday’s Reebok Stadium win over Burnley, the club he quit to take over the Trotters, where he was labelled ‘Judas’ by fans who used to sing his name.
The thought of Benitez and Coyle acting as agony aunts to one another if they meet inside Anfield to observe the tradition in English football for managers to share a drink after battle has subsided warms the cockles but there are more important issues. Read more »
