Rafael Benitez has today revealed that both Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso will be fit to face Chelsea on Sunday - but Robbie Keane remains a doubt for the clash at Stamford Bridge.
The midfield duo were both involved in training at Melwood this morning and now look set to retain their place in the side for the top-of-the-table match with Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men.
It was a major boost for Benitez, who will make a late decision on Keane, after the Ireland international missed training with the pelvis injury sustained against Atletico Madrid.
Benitez also revealed that Fernando Torres will definitely not feature against the Blues and remains on course to make his comeback from the hamstring injury he picked up on international duty, against Portsmouth on Wednesday.
“Xabi and Steven both trained today and should be okay,” confirmed the manager. “It wasn’t a hard session but I am confident they can play at Chelsea.
“We’re still not sure about Robbie. He didn’t train today and we will have to see how he is tomorrow. We will make a late decision.
“Fernando won’t be involved. He is recovering well and should be fit again soon, but we have to be careful with the player.”
XABI: WE CAN END CHELSEA RUN
Xabi Alonso believes Liverpool can be the team to finally end Chelsea’s unbeaten home record on Sunday.
The Blues have not lost a league match at Stamford Bridge since Arsenal took away a 2-1 victory in February 2004.
However, Liverpool are defending their own impressive stat - 16 games without defeat in all competitions.
That run includes Rafa Benitez’s first league victory over Manchester United, and Alonso is confident he and his teammates can now break a similar hoodoo in an arena where the Reds have not prevailed since January 2004.
“Beating United in our first big test of the season was very important for our confidence and this is another big test for us,” said the midfielder.
“We know Chelsea have a great record at home in the Premier League - they haven’t been beaten for four seasons. It is going to be really tough but we honestly feel we are ready to get a good result there.
“We won’t be going to Stamford Bridge with any fear. We respect them as a very good side but we are confident in our own ability and we believe we can win.
“They have shown great form in recent weeks and we expect a tough game, but we go into every game expecting to win now and Sunday will be no different.
“Hopefully we can be the team to end their unbeaten home record.”
If Liverpool do gain maximum points on Sunday, it would put them three points clear of Chelsea at the summit of the Barclays Premier League.
“Being the first team to beat Chelsea at home in the league after all this time would put us in a great position and it would send out an important statement,” added Alonso. “But we have to beat them first before we can think about things like this.
“Winning at Stamford Bridge could spur us on for the rest of the season but even if we win it would still be too early in the season to say too much about winning the title. There is still a long way to go.”
Alonso and co go into this weekend’s fixture having won from behind five times this season - Middlesbrough, Man Utd, Marseille, Man City and Wigan.
However, the Spanish ace knows Liverpool would have a tough task repeating the trick against Phil Scolari’s men.
“What we cannot afford to do against Chelsea is start as slowly as we have done in some games,” he said. “We need to concentrate fully for 90 minutes because the quality of their players means they can punish you at any time.
“Fernando Torres will be a big loss against Chelsea but we know we can manage the situation - we have to. We have more strength in depth and more confidence now than we have had before.
“After the results we have had this season we are right to be confident.”
Sunday’s trip to south-west London is the first since the Champions League semi-final defeat in April.
The memories may be relatively fresh, but Alonso insists this is no revenge mission.
“What happened against Chelsea last season won’t have an influence on this game, I am sure of that,” said the 26-year-old.
“This is a different season, there are different players on both sides, a different manager at Chelsea and we can only focus on what happens during this game.
“We won’t prepare for this game thinking about the Champions League semi-final or by using that for extra motivation.
“I don’t think you can compare this game with what happened at Stamford Bridge last season. This is a new season, both teams have new targets to concentrate on and, because of that, anything can happen on Sunday.”
RAFA: WE NEED PERFECT 90 MINUTES
Rafa Benitez today told his players that nothing less than a ‘perfect 90 minutes’ will suffice if Liverpool are to end Chelsea’s astonishing home record.
The Spaniard accepts that too often this season his side have failed to perform in the first half, meaning they’ve had to come from behind five times.
This was reversed against Atletico on Wednesday when the Reds led at the break only to leave Spain with a point.
Benitez knows this won’t be good enough on Sunday against a side unbeaten at home in the league for nearly five years.
“In Madrid we played well in the first half and then it was surprising to see us lose some control after the break,” said the boss.
“Every manager is looking for the perfect 90 minutes and so this weekend I want to see us start as we did in Spain but then keep the same level throughout the game.
“If they score first it will be really difficult for us so we have to do everything perfectly from the first whistle. When we get a chance we have to take it because we know they will have chances as well.
“They have a lot of good players playing good football. They’re passing the ball really well and scoring lots of goals. But we’re going there with confidence, looking to work hard, play well and produce some nice football.”
Liverpool go into the game without the hamstrung Fernando Torres, while Robbie Keane is a doubt with a pelvis injury.
Benitez insists his team is capable of winning without their Ballon D’Or contender.
Arsenal and United are very strong teams. When you talk about the favourites you have to talk about them, and hopefully you will also talk about us at the end of the season.
“I think we can beat Chelsea without Torres,” said the Spaniard. “I think we have enough quality. We have new players with a very good mentality and a lot of confidence, so I think we have enough to beat a very good team like Chelsea.
“We will go to Stamford Bridge to try to win and if we do, perfect. If not, we’ll try not to lose and that will still be positive because we’ll still be unbeaten.”
Benitez has faced Chelsea 20 times since arriving in England in 2004 - more than any other team.
Phil Scolari is the third Blues manager he has faced in this time, a man he believes has brought a more attacking impetus to SW6.
“He is improving the squad and the team. They have more or less the same ideas but they’re maybe more offensive now,” said Benitez.
“I think they are a good team. I will not say they are better now because I don’t want to start a war of words! But they are a good team and it’s clear they are more offensive.”
Both sides go into the game unbeaten on 20 points, four above Arsenal in fourth and six clear of champions Manchester United.
Not that Benitez is putting money on a two horse race.
“Clearly everyone is talking about us this year, and Chelsea too. But we know there’s a long way to go,” he said.
“Arsenal and United are very strong teams. When you talk about the favourites you have to talk about them, and hopefully you will also talk about us at the end of the season.
“Arsenal have quality and young players, and I think they can improve throughout the season. They will be there for sure.”
Meanwhile, Benitez has backed countryman Juande Ramos to steer Spurs out of the relegation zone despite the Londoners gaining just two points from a possible 24.
“They won the Carling Cup and the team was good, and the team is still good, so I am sure they’ll be higher in the league,” said the gaffer.
“People talk about relegation - I don’t think so. They have enough quality.”
Written by Jackson Ng Ghim Pheng True Blue Chelsea Fan on October 24th, 2008 with no comments.
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We talked a few days ago about how South Africa’s preparations for the 2010 World Cup were unaffected by the current world economic meltdown.
Today, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said FIFA’s finances are in a ‘privileged to comfortable’ situation and world soccer’s governing body had not yet suffered any impact from the global finance crisis.
Good to know the recession can’t touch football, eh?
“We received a detailed analysis of the potential impact and can say that we are now in a situation that could be described as between privileged and comfortable,†Blatter told a news conference following a two-day executive committee meeting.
“For the time being we have not lost money and are well equipped to face up to the current crisis thanks to our financial policy which involves a diversification of assets and very low exposure to currency or foreign exchange volatilities.
“We also have 95 percent of our budget already under contract and have managed our costs. The diversification of our portfolios and our television contract partners gives us cautious optimism for the future.â€
Blatter announced that FIFA had bought insurance cover providing protection for up to $650 million in the event that either of its next two World Cups in 2010 and 2014 had to be canceled, postponed or relocated.
“We also had insurance for the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups so this is not any kind of judgment on the organization of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,†FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke told the news conference.
“We are on time to deliver both the (2009) Confederations Cup and the World Cup in South Africa and this insurance is only to deal with the threat of attacks or natural catastrophes.â€
MY POV: Two things …
1.) Great to hear that football’s financially secure. But do you think people that are struggling to make ends meet really care at this moment?
2.) Once people’s priorities come together, do you think going to expensive football matches, etc. will be at the top of their list?
I’m happy FIFA’s diversified and kept their house in order. But should this economic situation continue into 2010, I think we could hear a different tune coming from Mr. Blatter’s mouth.
Football will suffer. Of that there’s no doubt.
Written by Darkvader on October 24th, 2008 with no comments.
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The news has filtered out today that Iain Dowie has been sacked as boss of Queen’s Park Rangers after barely five months on the job. It’s the third job Dowie has lost since lying his way out of a successful stint at Crystal Palace. Why is Dowie having such a hard time keeping a job lately?
Interestingly, his stint in charge of QPR lasted just as long as his time in charge of Charlton in 2006–15 games. However, where Dowie was pretty bad at Charlton–17 points in those 15 games–at QPR he totaled 28 points in his tenure. In between, Dowie toiled at Coventry City for just under a year. There he earned 68 points in 49 games. (All totals include cup ties which have been given the standard three points for a win and 1 point for a draw)
So, is he a toxic personality? His sacking at Charlton was pretty much a given. The team was struggling early to stay up in the Prem, a goal it eventually failed to reach. At Coventry City, he was able to light an early fire under a poorly-positioned squad, but was eventually released due to differences of opinion between the board and Dowie. Which, if I remember my Queen’s to American English translation correctly, means that he’s a dick.
As for the QPR job, well, Dowie did not have a playoff place (at the very least) standing. As Bigus pointed out in his season preview, this was a team that was looking to buy its way back into the Premiership. Being in ninth place at the quarter-season pole did not make the bosses happy. Bigus should also be congratulated for stating the obvious–that Dowie is overrated as a manager and has done nothing to keep getting hired.
So, to summarize for the tl;dr crowd: Dowie is shit as a manger, and possibly an ass to boot. Also, he will have a new job by Christmas. The man must give a great interview to overcome that CV.
Written by Darkvader on October 24th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Iain Dowie and QPR and Queen's Park Rangers and adventures in management and clueless managers and ü75.
England head coach Fabio Capello has insisted that being in charge of the national team is not the impossible job that some make it out to be.
A number of Capello’s predecessors have left the job in acrimonious circumstances, with a section of the Wembley crowd almost constantly booing the side if they fail to perform.
However, the Italian insists that he can handle the pressure and has urged the England fans to get behind their team.
He said: “It is not an impossible job. Being England manager is a fantastic experience.
“I agree, it is not easy. For me, it is different to being in charge of a club, when you work and train every day. Then you can change errors and rectify mistakes.
“For this reason alone you need a different mentality.
“But the pressure is the same in all countries. The only difference is somewhere like Milan you are talking about one city and one set of supporters.
“Here, the focus is different. It’s one nation. It is the England team.”
Of the World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Wembley this weekend, Capello added: “This will be a very important game and if we don’t score in the first 20 minutes, I hope the fans don’t boo.
“They have to help us, because we need the players to be able to play.”
Written by eugeniu on October 24th, 2008 with no comments.
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Arsene Wenger has spoken of a lack of noise at the Emirates and while I’ll admit that the match-day atmosphere could be improved greatly, I think he has a different motive behind his statement.
I don’t really think its the noise issue that bothers him, the atmosphere at Arsenal has been the same throughout his time at the club. I think that Wenger feels Gooners don’t have enough belief in the squad, he badly wants us to believe in this squad as much as he does.
Wenger has built a squad that is huge on talent and potential, but in my honest opinion I think we are still a little short. We are 90% there and deep down I’m sure Le Boss thinks so as well. Why else would he have tried to sign Alonso on dead-line day?
The lack of support comment from Arsene is harsh. We have supported everything that Arsene Wenger has done at the club and in recent years we have been very supportive despite a lack of silverware. We have been patient while Arsene rebuilds his latest side and I think he forgets that.
Of course you will get grumbling from the fans, I grumble about Arsenal but its only because I care about and love the club. I think Arsene Wenger needs to realise how lucky he is too have such support from fans because the situation can easily turn. Had Wenger been in charge of Chelsea, Manchester United or even Tottenham, I’m sure there would have been many calls for his head over the lack of silverware in recent years.
We are lucky too that we have such a great manager and thats why we are patient and understanding of what Wenger is trying to do at Arsenal. We realise that the squad is young and needs time, thats why we understand about a lack of trophies.
However, Wenger wants his side to deliver NOW so there are no excuses anymore about the side being young. It’s time for the side to win things again and all it needs is one trophy and the rest will follow.
I’m prepared to throw all my weight behind the side and support them (like I always have) to the best of my ability. The side needs our support but the side needs to deliver. It works both ways!
Keep it Goonerish…….
Written by Wrighty7 on October 24th, 2008 with no comments.
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Here are news stories from the two main Spanish Sports dailys
“As” & “Marca” at times contradictory. The first gives the scoop
on the REAL MADRID 2009 Signning Strategy & the second on the
new Real Madrid signning objective.
According to “As”, REAL MADRID will not make any signnings
in the January 2009 Winter market & will instead go all out for
CRISTIANO RONALDO. If the Manchester United star becomes
again a difficult affair, the substitute star will be 20 year old OLY.
DE LYON forward BENZEMA.
Real will also go all out for a class winger - area they are short at this
moment. The names on the list are both from BAYERN MUNICH:
RIBERY &/or SCHWEINSTEIGER.
Real Madrid are currently working right at this moment to secure things
as tight as possible. Obviously, learning from past experiences.
With all this “Marca” announce that REAL MADRID will sign in the
January 2009 Winter market & they coincide with “As” that it will
be a winger although differ in names. The name is Russian DZAGOER
(above) from CSKA MOSCOW who precisely scored 2 goals yesterday
to sink Deportivo in their Uefa Cup match. Here is a clip of the Russian
in action:
Which paper is right? How cares, all for the love of Real Madrid &
the selling of papers. Stay tuned!
Written by STRIKER on October 24th, 2008 with no comments.
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