American billionaire Kraft rules out buying Gillett's Liverpool share

American billionaire Robert Kraft has ruled out bidding for Liverpool.

The Daily Mail says the paper and packaging tycoon was prepared to lend his expertise to Liverpool's new stadium plans, prior to George Gillett and Tom Hicks assuming control, but has never expressed a wish to buy into the club.

Though linked yesterday with a move for Gillett's holding, he has always maintained he has enough to contend with, as owner of American football team New England Patriots and Major League Soccer's New England Revolution.

PREMIER LEAGUE - LIVERPOOL - TORRES KEANE ON PARTNERSHIP

Fernando Torres has disputed claims that he and Robbie Keane struggle to form an effective partnership for Liverpool.

The Spanish striker, who has pronounced himself ready for the fray again after a season troubled by no less than three hamstring injuries, insisted there was no reason why he and Keane could not be Liverpool's main strike-force.

Torres, speaking after he finished third in FIFA's world player of the year awards behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, said: "Yes, sure we can play together - but the boss decides, he's the manager and he's a fantastic manager.
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Why Rafa Benitez should be admired for standing up to Alex Ferguson, by Oliver Holt

Rafa Benitez looked pretty much the same as he leaned against a wall in a corridor after the game at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday night.

Nice suit, blue shirt, small silver Liver Bird pinned to his buttonhole, neatly trimmed goatee, smile almost always on his lips.

But he didn't sound the same. Something's happened to the guy. Not something bad, necessarily. But something's changed nonetheless.

It's like he's auditioning for a re-run of that silly John Travolta movie, Face Off, where two guys swap face transplants.

It was still Rafa's face talking in Stoke but it was Jose Mourinho's voice saying it was time Sir Alex Ferguson shut his big mouth.

That's the real reason why what Benitez first said on Friday has caused such a stir: because it was so out of character.

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Torres challenges Ronaldo for top world award

Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo go head-to-head for the FIFA World Player of the Year award tomorrow.

Torres, who helped Spain to Euro 2008 glory last summer, and Ronaldo, who has already picked up the FIFPro and Ballon d'Or awards this season, are among five candidates along with Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and current holder Kaka.

After scoring 42 goals en route to Champions League and Premier League titles last season, Ronaldo is favourite.

The award will be made at FIFA's world player gala in Zurich, the first time the award has been held in January.

It is the first time five finalists have been chosen as opposed to three.

Each national team manager and player is given a vote for their player of the year from a shortlist released by FIFA.

Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo made up last year's top three.

No player from Spain or Argentina has ever won the award, while French midfielder Zinedine Zidane and Brazilian striker Ronaldo both won it three times and Ronaldinho has won twice.

Liverpool will sell Pennant

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is inviting offers for winger Jermaine Pennant.

AC Milan and Real Madrid are among clubs being linked with Pennant, who is off contract in June.

"I had a conversation with him and if we have a good offer we will sell him," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv.

Gerrard pays tribute to Liverpool coaching staff

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has paid tribute to the club's coaching staff as they sit top of the Premiership table.

"You've got to give credit to the manager," Gerrard told liverpoolfc.tv. "He has built a very strong squad and we've got two or three people fighting for each position.

"No one wants to lose their place in the team and I think you can see that in the performances because everyone is working hard to stay in the side.

"Everyone knows Rafa is the top man and how much he is involved, but when he has been missing through illness over the last couple of weeks Sammy (Lee) has come in alongside Mauricio (Pellegrino) and they have done a fantastic job.

"People are saying that Sammy was one of the most important signings we made in the summer and I certainly agree with that.

"He's very enthusiastic, he loves the football club. You can see day in day out how much he wants success for this club.

"He plays a really important role for us and I'm really pleased at how well things have gone for him over the last couple of weeks.

"I think when the main man is missing everyone has to stick together.

"The likes of Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, the experienced players around the dressing room, have needed to roll their sleeves up and fill the void with the manager being missing and they've all done that."

Liverpool blow chance to go 6 clear

Liverpool missed out on an opportunity to fully capitalise on whichever of their title rivals will drop points tomorrow by only managing to draw with Stoke for the second time this season.

Fresh from a turbulent first few days of the new year, Liverpool fans could be forgiven for forgetting that this was only the Reds' first league match of 2009, and their last Premiership performance seemed like even longer ago than it was when compared to this. Thrashing Newcastle 5-1 is all well and good, but what Liverpool fan wouldn't have traded just one of those goals at St James' Park for a breakthrough here.

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Torres wants Liverpool to end drought

Fernando Torres has admitted a burning desire to become part of a legendary generation at Liverpool by helping the club win its first English league title for 19 years this season.

The Spain forward, who returned from a six-week hamstring injury lay-off by scoring in the 2-0 FA Cup third round victory at Preston last weekend, is eyeing a return to the starting line-up for the Premiership leaders at Stoke tpdau/

Torres played a key role as Spain ended a 44-year wait for major silverware at Euro 2008 and the former Atletico Madrid striker admits he wants to enjoy that feeling of ecstasy all over again at Anfield this year.

He said: "Having won the European Championships with Spain, I have experienced what it is like to be part of a generation of players that will never be forgotten.

"And I think that the same could be said of this Liverpool team if we can win the league. If we can do it, we will be remembered for many years in the hearts of Liverpool fans.

"We have a solid unit that knows how to win games playing our way and we have beaten the big teams without me and, on occasions, without Steven Gerrard, like the game against Manchester United.

Liverpool at Stoke

Fernando Torres is expected to return to Premier League action for the first time since November when Liverpool travel to Stoke.
Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa is unlikely to be involved as he recovers from a hamstring problem, but Javier Mascherano has overcome an ankle knock sustained at Preston in the FA Cup last weekend.
Fabio Aurelio is expected to return at left-back, with teenager Emiliano Insua on international duty with Argentina Under-20s.
Midfielder Xabi Alonso has been ruled out with a foot injury, while veteran defender Sami Hyypia will make the 700th appearance of his club career if he figures at the Britannia Stadium.

Liverpool swoop for Anderson

Rafa Benitez looks set to strengthen his defensive options by swooping for highly-rated Brazilian centre-back Anderson.

Reports in Brazil claim that the Liverpool manager sent club scouts to watch the 21-year-old in Fluminense’s final fixture against Cruzeiro before the Campeonato Brasiliero wound down for their annual Christmas break.

The 6ft 1” tall defender is thought to be versatile and quick enough to function across the backline and already has experience of winning silverware having taken part in his side’s Brazilian Cup victory in 2007. With doubts surrounding the future of Daniel Agger and Sami Hyppia's long-term sustainability in doubt, Benitez appears to have acted early to ensure his side have enough cover at the back.

Reports in Germany and the British media have also suggested that the Anfield outfit could move for another samba star by sealing a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Renato Augusto. The right midfielder is valued between £10-15m and if joined by Anderson could bring the Brazilian contingent at Liverpool to five alongside Lucas, Fabio Aurelio and Diego Cavalleri.

Saudi and Indian join Americans and Russians at British football's beanfeast

The recent rush toward foreign ownership is reflected in the overseas countries which provide members of the Football Rich List.

Although British and Irish nationals still make up almost three-quarters of the list, the 23 foreign entrants reflect the wide spread of overseas investment in this country.

The two countries with the most vested interests are the USA and Russia. There are five Americans, all involved at Premier League clubs: Manchester United’s Malcolm Glazer, Liverpool’s George Gillett and Tom Hicks, Aston Villa’s Randy Lerner and Arsenal’s Stan Kroenke.

Arsenal also have one of the three Russians, Alisher Usmanov, who has joined his compatriots Sacha Gaydamak (Portsmouth) and of course Roman Abramovich (Chelsea) in the top flight.

But while Russia and the US have the most members of the list, they don’t have the most money, and the two new entries who top the pile both break new ground.

£12.5bn-rated QPR investor Lakshmi Mittal is the first Indian in the list, while the £15bn fortune of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan has put the UAE firmly on the map of British football.

One foreigner very much in charge of English destiny is national team manager Fabio Capello, who joins fellow Italian and QPR chairman Flavio Briatore on the list. There are also two Frenchmen, Arsene Wenger and Nicolas Anelka.

Among the other nationalities on the list are a Dutchman, a German, a Spaniard, a Portuguese, an Ivorian, a Bulgarian, a Latvian, a Serbian, an Egyptian and an Ivorian. But to find out who they are, you’ll have to buy the magazine. As the Rich Listers know, you can’t expect everything for free…

source:fourfourtwo.magazine

Liverpool face waiting game for Deportivo La Coruna attacker Lafita

Liverpool face a waiting game over their interest in Deportivo La Coruna attacking midfielder Angel Lafita.

Lafita has been revelation for Depor this season and has played his way into the plans of Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants to add Lafita to his Spanish contingent at the end of this season, but must wait for the player's registration to be cleared up.

Former club Real Zaragoza have first option on Lafita for £3 million and could re-sign the attacker before selling him onto Liverpool. If he was to remain with Depor, Liverpool would be able to buy him outright for his buyout clause - £5 million.

Gerrard Wins PFA Award

Steven Gerrard has rounded off an impressive festive period by being named PFA Fan's Player of the Month for December.

The Reds skipper found the net five times throughout the month, including two braces against Hull City and Newcastle United. He also picked up a host of man of the match awards.

Benitez warns Liverpool's best yet to come

RAFAEL BENITEZ has warned Manchester United and Chelsea that Liverpool will improve in the second half of the season, although he admits that even one mistake "can be massive" in his club's quest for a first league title in 19 years.

The Premier League leaders' nerve and inexperience at the summit were questioned by United's manager, Alex Ferguson, this week and the Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said both Liverpool and United had failed to capitalise on the Blues' run of two wins from seven league games.

Benitez, however, believes that his team, who have lost only one game this season, are yet to realise their full potential. "I believe we can still improve," said the Liverpool manager, who is expected to return to the dugout at Stoke on Saturday after a recent kidney-stones operation.

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Torres: Barcelona are Liverpool FC's biggest Euro rivals

FERNANDO TORRES believes Barcelona and not Real Madrid pose the biggest threat to Liverpool’s Champions League dream.

And the striker admits that Rafael Benitez’s current squad will “never be forgotten” if they manage to end the club’s 19-year wait for the championship this season.

The Anfield outfit have been drawn to face Spanish giants Real in the Champions League first knockout round next month.

Between them, the two clubs have won the European Cup 14 times, Real with a record nine triumphs and Liverpool with five.

It gives Torres another chance to return to his home city after injury ruled him out of both Champions League group games against former club Atletico Madrid earlier in the campaign.

And while the 24-year-old expects a tough encounter against the Bernabeu outfit, Torres has pinpointed Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona as favourites to lift the trophy in Rome in May.

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Rafa looks to stick rather than twist

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez believes he can win the Barclays Premier League title with the players he has got. It has become clear that the Anfield chief is highly unlikely to delve into the transfer market this month, with very little prospect of any of his first-team squad leaving the club.

The only departure is likely to be out-of-favour Jermaine Pennant, whose contract expires at the end of the season. And if a deal cannot be secured, Benitez will send the winger out on loan.

Benitez will rebuff any attempts by AC Milan to sign defender Daniel Agger, while Andreas Dossena, who would have been a possible departure, is now needed as back-up for Aurelio at left-back.

That is because Liverpool will lose impressive Argentinian youngster Emiliano Insua until February 8 due to the South American Under-20 Championships.

Insua has made a big impact in recent weeks, and the international call-up could not have come at a worse time for him.

He has recently broken into Benitez's first team and done well in four successive matches. But his enforced international departure has been offset by the return from injury of Aurelio.

One player, 17-year-old striker Marvin Pourie, is leaving the club in a £50,000 switch to Schalke. Pourie joined Liverpool's academy 18 months ago from Borussia Dortmund but has not made the breakthrough expected.

With things going well on the pitch, the club's controversial American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have opted for a low profile to maintain the club's concentration on their title bid.

source: Fox Sports

Liverpool v Everton FA Cup date confirmed

THE date of Liverpool's FA Cup fourth round tie against neighbours Everton has been confirmed as Sunday January 25.

The game will kick off at 4.00pm UK time.

Liverpool's Premier League clash at Wigan has been put back 24 hours and will now be played on Wednesday January 28

Fernando Torres dedicates comeback strike to Steven Gerrard - Liverpool FC latest

FERNANDO TORRES has dedicated his first ever FA Cup goal to Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

The Spanish striker made his long-awaited comeback following hamstring problems as a second half substitute in Saturday's 2-0 win at Preston and marked his return with an injury time strike after being set up by the Reds skipper.

Torres was quick to pay tribute to his team-mate following one of the most difficult weeks of Gerrard's career and thanked him for unselfishly setting up his late goal.

Read more at Liverpool echo

Liverpool are serious about title contenders

Jamie Carragher has revealed the secret of Liverpool's new-found title potential.

After years of failing to get serious about the Premier League, manager Rafael Benitez has finally decided to stop tinkering.

Schalke chase Liverpool forward

Liverpool youngster Marvin Pourie is wanted by Bundesliga giants Schalke. Pourie, who is 18 on Thursday, arrived from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2007.

The bleached blond striker notched 12 goals during his first year in the Academy, but he never displayed the necessary qualities to truly stand out at Anfield.

Reports across Germany say Schalke are ready to bring him back and, with the likes of Dani Pacheco and Kriztian Nemeth ahead of him in Liverpool’s youth ranks, a deal for Pourie looks likely.

Meanwhile, former Rangers wideman Peter Lovenkrands admits his future lies away from Gelkenkirschen.

Lovenkrands is desperate to get away from Schalke and he admitted: “I'd rather try something in England right now.”

source: setanta