History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

Daily Mirror work - I started on April 14

Javi Martinez profile: 10 things you need to know about the Liverpool target

Labels: Athletic Bilbao, Javi Martinez, Liverpool, Premier League, Spain

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:58 pm | Permalink | Comments

REINA DENIES ATLETICO MOVE

Jose Reina has dismissed rumours that he will be moving to Atletico Madrid at any time soon - but he did concede that were he to move back to Spain, Atletico would be his first choice.

The Liverpool goalkeeper, who has won 13 caps for Spain and is in his fourth season at Anfield, is known to be a lifelong fan of the Rojiblancos.

And his father was recently quoted in the Spanish press saying that the 26-year-old was desperate to secure a move to the club.

But former Barcelona stopper Reina said: "It's my father who made this declaration because he wants me to play for Atletico, but as far as I'm concerned, I don't.

"If one day I was to think of moving back to Spanish football, Atletico would be my first option because it's a club I love.

"Nevertheless, saying that I want to move to Atletico right now is wrong because I'm happy at Liverpool."

Labels: Jose Reina, Liverpool, Premier League

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:25 pm | Permalink | Comments

TORRES: I WILL FIRE LIVERPOOL TO DERBY DELIGHT

Fernando Torres has urged his Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to play him for a full 90 minutes against Everton - as he believes he can fire the Reds to victory in the Merseyside derby on Monday.

Spain's Euro 2008 final match-winner has been struggling to shake off a hamstring injury and last played a whole game in November.

But the former Atletico Madrid hotshot wants to help Liverpool to prove that they are the best side in the city, in a game that is "more than a football match".

"I am well up for playing from the first minute after recovering from the hamstring injury," said the 24-year-old, who scored the winner in the same fixture last year and netted 33 in his first season in England. "But it is the manager who decides who plays.

"I already know what the atmosphere will be like having played in the Anfield game last year and it has the same feel of the Atletico-Real derby in Madrid.

"It is lived in the streets throughout the week and for us it is more than a football match. It is important for us to win for the fans and so we continue leading the Premier League."

While Benitez's team are second / first in the table after Manchester United won / drew / lost at Bolton, David Moyes' Everton are also riding high in sixth. Midfielder Mikel Arteta has been in sparkling form for the Toffees - but Torres thinks it would be wrong to just focus on his countryman.

"Both teams are doing well at the moment, so that will add extra excitement and emotion to the game," Torros continued. "It is necessary to demonstrate that we are the rightful leaders and win every match.

"But to win against Everton, our eternal rivals, would give us a great morale boost. We must play with our heads because this type of match can be complicated from the first moment to the last.

"It would be an error to think that the Everton's only threat is Mikel Arteta. The truth is that the Spaniard is playing very well at the moment, but the Toffees have many other attacking options that we will have to be careful about."

Labels: David Moyes, Everton, Fernando Torres, Liverpool, Mikel Arteta, Rafael Benitez

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:42 pm | Permalink | Comments

AT LIVERPOOL I WILL GROW AS A PLAYER

Liverpool's new signing Albert Riera believes Rafael Benitez will help him "grow as a player" after his move from Espanyol.

The Spanish international left winger, who transferred from the Barcelona club for a reported £8m on deadline day, thinks he will adapt to the quicker pace and physicality of the Premier League without a problem.

The 26-year-old spent a period on loan at Manchester City two seasons ago but failed to hold down a first-team place. However, he thinks he is now much better suited to the English game.

"I am eager to start at Liverpool," said Riera, who flies in from Spain today and will begin training with his new team-mates tomorrow.

"I want to grow as a player and think I can at Liverpool - a club with a lot of history that always plays to win.

"They have great players and a coach of which everyone speaks wonders. It is a big and important step, which is an extra motivation.

"There will be no excuse for me not to adapt to the Premier League, after my experience with Manchester City."

Labels: Albert Riera, Liverpool, Premier League

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:05 pm | Permalink | Comments

BENITEZ WAS UPSET - ARBELOA

Álvaro Arbeloa has revealed that his Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was livid with both the team and referee Konrad Plautz after the Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea at Anfield.

John Arne Riise's 95th minute own goal gifted Chelsea a vital away goal to take to Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

Arbeloa insisted that had Petr Cech not saved a shot from Fernando Torres, Liverpool would be on the way to the final in Moscow.

The 25-year-old said: "It was a key moment. We would have gone 2-0 up and that blow to Chelsea would have meant that they had it all to do.

"It was disappointing to concede right at the last moment. Up until then the game had gone pretty much to plan. We had attacked and scored.

"Rafa was very upset with us and the referee in the dressing room after the match. I thought the referee did not give us much.

"But we must forget that now. We must think about the week ahead and work very hard."

Labels: Alvaro Arbeloa, Champions League, Chelsea, Liverpool

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:50 pm | Permalink | Comments

ALONSO RAGE AT CHELSEA DRAW

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was enraged by Chelsea's equaliser in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield.

He believes the game should have been over and decided well before John Arne Riise's 95th minute own goal.

Alonso said: "The draw is not a good result, nor just. I'm angry because we should have gone up 2-0 before their late goal.

"It is a pain not to have taken away a better result at home and it will be necessary for us to improve for the return match".

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Liverpool, Xabi Alonso

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:49 pm | Permalink | Comments

NOBLE DEEDS DEFEAT LIVERPOOL

It took an injury time penalty from local-boy Mark Noble to break the deadlock for West Ham against Liverpool in a game of woeful profligacy. The 20-year-old midfielder, the heartbeat of the side, cooly placed the last kick of the game beyond Pepe Reina after Jamie Carragher had upended Freddie Ljungberg in the area.

Until then that moment - which took the home side to within four points of Liverpool, who cannot be considered a ‘big four’ club on this evidence - it had looked as though the game would meander towards a goalless draw. Rafa Benitez’s side have now gained only four points from their last five league games.

Either side had chances aplenty to score, but the lack of finishing finesse was indicative of the position of mid-table mediocrity that both teams find themselves in.

As the strings of destiny would orchestrate, these two teams last met at the same venue on January 30 last year. On that occasion Liverpool’s 2-1 victory propelled the Reds to just two points behind second-placed Chelsea and sunk West Ham deeper in the relegation mire.

This time round there was less to separate the teams in the league and it showed in a cagy, blunt game.

Benitez brought back eight recognised first-teamers to his starting eleven, but retained West Ham old boy Yossi Benayoun, who at the weekend netted a 15 minute hat-trick to see off Blue Square Premier South's Havant and Waterlooville in the FA Cup Fourth Round.

Alan Curbishley sprung off his bench in the sixth minute to berate his slovenly defence who had let in old boy Benayoun far too easily. Luckily for the home side he could only chip over from 12 yards out on the right.

To their credit West Ham’s defence battened down the hatches, and after 22 minutes almost opened the scoring themselves. But Luis Boa Morte could only blaze wastefully over when the ball fell to him eight yards out in a crowed box.

West Ham came even closer five minutes later when Noble’s free-kick clipped Benayoun’s head in the defensive wall and crashed against stranded Pepe Reina’s crossbar.

After the interval Curbishley brought on the double attacking threat of Matty Etherington and Dean Ashton. Etheington came close with a drive on his weaker right foot late on, and Liverpool’s replacement Lucas had two half-chances that both screwed wide.

But Carragher’s foul on Ljungberg in the third minute of extra-time gave the home side the opportunity they needed. From 12 yards Noble made no mistake and sent the Upton Park faithful into rapturous delight.

Labels: football, Liverpool, Premier League, West Ham United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:42 pm | Permalink | Comments

ROCKY READY TO KNOCK-OUT LIVERPOOL

Havant and Waterlooville, the only non-League club remaining in the FA Cup, will play on the hallowed turf of Anfield on Saturday against the might of seven-time winners Liverpool in the Fourth Round.

The south coast team, who currently compete in the Blue Square Conference South division - five rungs lower than Rafael Benitez's side, defeated League One table-toppers Swansea City in the Third Round.

Swansea had lost only once in 23 games until they visited Havant's Westleigh Park last week. And the thought of Liverpool in the next round proved incentive enough for Shaun Gale's team.

Star striker Rocky Baptiste had forced a replay by scoring a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium. And he netted in the 4-2 victory replay too, inspired by the prospect of playing against the team he supported as a lad.

"This has got to be the best moment of my career," the 35-year-old beamed. "We went through all the emotions against Swansea. But now we have beaten them and are on our way to Anfield.

"Swansea had called us a pub team before the match so I think we were up for it a bit more.

"We had champagne brought into the changing room after the match, and most people didn't leave the ground until half eleven - I didn't get home until 1.30am!"

Former Chelsea junior Rocky, christened Jairzinho by his uncle ("My uncle was a big fan of the Brazilians of the 70s"), has never visited Anfield, despite the fact that he has always supported the Reds.

He continued: "Liverpool are my dream team - the team that I support. I've never been to Anfield though - this will be my first time. It's a dream come true really.

"I have supported Liverpool from a young age. Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan and John Barnes were my heroes - I used to pretend to be those guys when I was in my back yard, or in the school playground.

"I'm looking forward to playing against Jamie Carragher and Stevie Gerrard. All my family are coming up to Liverpool - I am getting pestered for tickets all the time at the moment! It is going to be an amazing weekend."

Labels: FA Cup, Havant and Waterlooville, Liverpool, Rocky Baptiste

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:10 pm | Permalink | Comments

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PROFILES

CELTIC v BARCELONA

CELTIC STAR MAN: Scott McDonald
The 26-year-old Australian striker is in superb form, and has netted 16 goals in 25 games since joining his Celtic - his childhood team - for £700k in the summer from Motherwell.

MANAGER: Gordon Strachan
The Scottish legend won the Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen in 1983, but Europe's top prize has always eluded him. In his second season at Celtic Park the 50-year-old took the team to the last 16 last year where they were knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan in extra time.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Celtic have faced Barca six times in Europe, and won once - though that 1-0 victory three seasons ago in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup. The two most recent meetings, in 2004/5, saw the Hoops lose 3-1 at home and draw 1-1 at the Nou Camp.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
In the 1-0 win at Celtic Park, Alan Thompson's close range goal, coupled by the heroics of rookie goalkeeper David Marshall in the return leg, saw the Hoops advance.

LEAGUE FORM:
Celtic are top of the table with 36 points. They have only lost three games and are the league's top scorers with 45 goals. They have leaked only 16.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
The Glaswegian club's proudest moment came in 1967 when they won the European Cup with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan in Lisbon. They have qualified for the quarter-finals or better seven times in 10 years. But it has been 28 years since Celtic last managed that feat.

BARCELONA STAR MAN: Lionel Messi
The talented 20-year-old Argentinean has dragged Barca through the league so far this season, and was rightly named runner-up to Brazilian Kaka in the recent World Player of the Year award. Currently injured, the Catalans will want him back before their trip to Celtic Park.

MANAGER: Frank Rijkaard
Despite winning the Champions League in 2006 the former Dutch midfielder failed to defend the trophy last year. He also missed out on La Liga to rivals Real Madrid, and after talk of dressing room unrest the pressure is on.

LEAGUE FORM: Barcelona are second in La Liga, but that is mostly down to the form of Messi. They have a 100 per cent record at home but have lost four on the road.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: They may have won the Spanish championship 18 times but they have only been victorious in Europe's top competition twice: in 1992 and against Arsenal at the Stade de France in 2006.

VERDICT:
Strachan's team face an uphill battle, but if history is anything to go by they will score goals. And with Frank Rijkaard under increasing pressure due Barca's poor league form, anything is possible. The fitness of Leo Messi and Samuel Eto'o will be crucial to the Catalans' cause.


OLYMPIQUE LYON v MANCHESTER UNITED

LYON STAR MAN: Karim Benzema
The 20-year-old Frenchman has wowed Europe with his performances this term and United's defence will have to watch the pacy striker. In the league he has impressed, having netted 12 goals in only 18 games. He has also scored three times in eight games for Les Bleus.

MANAGER: Alain Perrin
The 51-year-old former Portsmouth manager is having much more success in Ligue 1 than he ever did on the south coast. He took over from Gerard Houllier in May and Lyon keep on winning, such is the strength of their squad.

LEAGUE FORM: Lyon have won Ligue 1 for the past six years and are on course for a seventh straight title. They are topping the table with 38 point from 18 games, four points ahead of Nancy.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: This is the French club's ninth appearance in the Champions League, though they have never gone further than the quarter-final. Between 2003/4 and 2005/6 they reached that stage on three consecutive occasions.

MANCHESTER UNITED STAR MAN: Cristiano Ronaldo
The 22-year-old Portuguese wizard will have another chance to prove he can be a match-winner at the top level. Last year he was outclassed by Milan's Kaka in the semi-finals, and the Brazilian edged him as FIFA European Footballer of the Year.

MANAGER: Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson, 61, knows what it takes to win the European Cup, having guided United to the title in 1999. The Scot thinks this current squad is his strongest to date, with the attacking talents of Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Nani balanced by the graft of Anderson, Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The only times United have met the French champions - who are on course for their seventh successive French title - was three seasons ago in the group stages and the Reds beat them 2-1 at home and drew 2-2 in Lyon.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
The 2-1 victory was Ferguson's 1,000th game in charge of United. But it was Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy who was the star - his header was his 36th Champions League goal in only 37 games.

LEAGUE FORM:
The reigning Premier League champions are only one point behind leaders Arsenal after beating Liverpool last Sunday. They have scored 30 times in 17 games and have the Premier League's best goal difference with +22.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
In the past 12 seasons United have reached at least the last 16 on 10 occasions. The 1968 winners pulled off a superb Treble in 1999, defeating Bayern Munich in injury time in the Euro final. They have qualified for the semi-finals twice since then.

VERDICT:
Barring injuries Ferguson's team should edge out the French hot shots, though a good result in the first leg in Lyon is essential. United's young guns will have to be fully firing if they are to mix it with Europe's big boys.


LIVERPOOL v INTERNAZIONALE

LIVERPOOL STAR MAN: Fernando Torres
The £26.5m record summer-signing has hit 12 goals in his first 20 games at Liverpool, and as 'El Nino' has never played in the Champions League before, he is raring to make up for lost time.

MANAGER: Rafa Benitez
The Spaniard, 47, is a genus in Europe and has masterminded Liverpool's success in the past three seasons - they beat Milan in the 2005 final, reached the last 16 then lost against AC last season in another final.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Liverpool's tie against Inter is a repeat of a classic 1965 semi-final encounter when the Merseysiders won the first leg 3-1 at Anfield, only to lose 3-0 in Milan amid claims of dodgy refereeing.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
After winning the "greatest match I have ever seen", then-manager Bill Shankly was appalled by the performance of referee in the second leg, after a number of dubious decisions saw the Italians through. They scored directly from an indirect free-kick, and the goalkeeper also had the ball kicked into the net from his hands.

LEAGUE FORM:
After losing to rivals Manchester United last weekend Liverpool have moved out of the top four and are 10 points off the pace. In their 16 games they have scored 27 and conceded only 10.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
Liverpool have won the European Cup five times - the most any British club has managed - and were the last English team to lift the trophy with their famous victory over AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.

INTER STAR MAN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Swede is one of the most naturally talented players in Europe, with his transfers totalling nearly £40m over a career spanning Malmo, Ajax, Juventus and Inter. His unpredictability and superb technique will trouble Jamie Carragher and co.

MANAGER: Roberto Mancini
Former Leicester City striker had a superb playing career with Sampdoria and Lazio before moving into management, where he has won Inter the last two Scudetti (Italian league titles).

LEAGUE FORM: Unbeaten Inter have dropped only two points at home and six away. They are already seven points ahead of second-placed Roma, and have a goal difference of +27 - easily the best in the league.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: Inter won the European Cup twice in the mid-60s and - apart from reaching the semi-final in 2002/3 and the quarter-finals in 2004/5 and 2005/6 - Mancini's club have failed to impress.

VERDICT:
If Torres and captain Steven Gerrard are on song anything is possible, though the Italian champions are top of Serie A again, and will be confident they can pile further pressure on Benitez.


ARSENAL v AC MILAN

ARSENAL STAR MAN: Cesc Fabregas
The 20-year-old midfield dynamo has added goals to his repertoire this year. Thierry Henry has not been missed this season thanks to the form of the diminutive Spaniard.

MANAGER: Arsene Wenger
The Frenchman is in his 11th season in charge of Arsenal and is hopeful that his young side can win the trophy that eluded him two years ago when Barcelona defeated them in the final at the Stade de France.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The north Londoners have never met the reigning European and World champions in the Champions League, though they did play twice in the 1995 Super Cup when they lost 2-0 on aggregate.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
Fabio Capello managed Milan to victory over two legs in the first Super Cup. Zvonomir Boban and Daniele Massaro scored the crucial goals in the second leg at the San Siro.

LEAGUE FORM:
The Gunners have only lost once in the league and remain top of the table having scored 34 times - the best in the division - and have conceded 14 times.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
Arsenal have never been crowned European champions though they have reached the last 16 in each of the past eight seasons, and came close in the final against Barca in 2006.

MILAN STAR MAN: Kaka

The 25-year-old Brazilain has been on superb form this year. Recently named European and World player of the Year, Kaka scored against Liverpool in the final earlier this year. He also netted against Boca Juniors earlier in the month as Milan were crowned World Club champions.

MANAGER: Carlo Ancelotti
The former Milan midfielder has won the European Cup both as a player and a manager. The 48-year old is also the longest-serving coach in Serie A - he has been with the Rossoneri since 2001 - and one of the most successful in their history.

LEAGUE FORM: Despite being champions of Europe and the World, Milan are struggling domestically. They are yet to win at home in Serie A and sit 11th in the table, 22 points behind their city rivals Inter.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: Milan have won the European Cup seven times: twice in the 60s, twice in the 80s, once in the 90s and in 2002/3 and last year. Since their victory over Juventus on penalties in the 2003 Final, Milan have reached the quarter-finals or better.

VERDICT:
It's a tough one to call. Wenger has moulded his team into a dynamic force and his youngsters could show the age of the AC Milan team. Milan are current World and European champions, however, and - despite their poor Serie A form - will be hard to beat in knockout format as Manchester United found last season.


OLYMPIAKOS v CHELSEA

OLYMPIAKOS STAR MAN: Luciano Galletti
The Argentinean winger scored three goals in Olympiakos' six Champions League group stage ties, and poses a real threat to Ashley Cole with his pace and trickery on the Greek's right-hand side.

MANAGER: Takis Lemonis
The Greek is in his second spell in charge of the charge of the club. He was sacked in 2002 after a poor European campaign despite winning two consecutive Greek titles and, after periods in charge of four other Greek sides, he returned to the club in December last year.

LEAGUE FORM: Olympiakos are second to AEK Athens only on goal difference after 12 rounds of the 16-team Greek Super League. They have won all seven of their home games but have struggled away, picking up only six points from five games.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: The Greek club have taken part in the last 11 Champions League competitions, though they have only advanced from the group stages on two occasions: they reached the quarter-final in 1998/9 and are in the last 16 this year.

CHELSEA STAR MAN: Didier Drogba
Without the Ivorian the Londoners struggle to score, though a high-profile striker is expected to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window.

MANAGER: Avram Grant
Jose Mourinho's replacement has begun impressively, but whether we will see the histrionics from the Israeli manager in the Champions League that the Portuguese regularly displayed remains to be seen. This campaign will prove whether or not he is up to the job long-term.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: These two have never met in European competition.

LEAGUE FORM:
Chelsea have recovered after the departure of Mourinho and sit in third - six points off Arsenal - having netted 34 goals and leaked 10 - the fewest in the league.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
The Blues reached three semi-finals between 2003 and 2007 - but lost on each occasion including two painful defeats to Liverpool over two legs.

VERDICT:
Grant's charges should have enough firepower to shoot down the Greek champions. Though whether they advance further will be down to Grant's management and tactics.

Labels: AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Celtic, Champions League, Chelsea, Internationalize Milan, Liverpool, Lyon, Manchester United, Olympiakos

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:59 pm | Permalink | Comments

Eurosport

Liverpool v Maccabi Haifa match report for Eurosport 22/8/2006. Check HERE to view.


And AEK Athens v Heart, again for Eurosport 23/8/2006. Click HERE to see the report.

Labels: AEK Athens, Champions League, football, Hearts, Liverpool, Maccabi Haifa

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:57 pm | Permalink | Comments