A lack of depth at the full-back position apparently forced Roy Hodgson’s hand today, as the manager agreed to a £2.5m with Aston Villa for full-back Luke Young. Whilst Young isn’t the most...
On the day Rafa signed a new contract at Anfield, here are some quality videos of a few of Rafa’s best moments as manager!
Rafa slips over at West Ham:
Rafa the Magician
Rafa brings the ball down against Wigan
Rafa after beating Chelsea in 2005
Rafa’s facts about Alex Ferguson
Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have confirmed their delight at the news Rafa Benitez has signed a new 5 year deal at Anfield.
Hicks and Gillett came close to getting rid of Rafa when they confirmed talks with Jurgen Klinsmann to take over from Rafa, but tonight they have both given their thoughts on the news all fans wanted to hear: “It is wonderful news that Rafa has made a long-term commitment to the football club. Since he became Manager in 2004, he has been responsible for the great progress we have made. I know he will continue to build on his achievements as he has a tremendous hunger and desire to bring more success to the club – success our fans and everyone connected with the club deserves.” Said Hicks.
Gillett echoed Hicks’ sentiments by saying : “With Rafa continuing to manage the team, we can look forward to more great football and success on the pitch. He has special abilities and qualities which are admired here at the club and around the world. Coming after our excellent wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United, this gives us great momentum going into the final stages of the season.”
Rafael Benitez has signed a new 5 year contract at Anfield, keeping him at the club until 2014.
Rumours have been rife about Rafa getting sacked/quitting in recent weeks, but all that can be put to bed now the man himself has confirmed the 5 year deal:
“My heart is with Liverpool Football Club, so I’m delighted to sign this new deal,” said Rafa. “I love the club, the fans and the city and with a club like this and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying. I always made clear I wanted to be here for a long time and when I complete my new contract it will mean I have spent over a decade in Liverpool.
“The club is greatly respected around the world due to its incredible history and tremendous heritage. It is my aim to uphold those values and help create a new chapter in our history.
“Throughout this process, I would like to thank the owners for their hard work in finalising the deal. All of us at the club want the same thing, which is to be successful by winning major trophies.”
Rafael Benitez has been given a timely boost ahead of the Premier League & European run-in with the news that Daniel Agger has resumed full training following a back injury. The Dane has missed almost six weeks with the injury, but Benitez revealead he is in contention for a place in the squad to face Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday.
“Daniel is back in training,” Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv. “Hopefully he will be available for the weekend but it depends on the doctor and whether he thinks it’s a risk or not. Having Agger available again will be a big boost. When we play at home especially he is a player who can play good passes and is a threat in front of goal. We have missed him but hopefully he will now be available for the rest of the season.”
Benitez also suggested that Spanish defender Alvaro Arbeloa may shake off the hamstring strain picked up in the warm-up at Old Trafford in time to face Martin O’Neill’s side at the weekend. “Arbeloa trained today,” he said. “It was a light training session but I think he’ll be okay for Villa.”
However, this good news was tempered by Xabi Alonso’s inability to fully shrug off the calf strain he sustained against Real Madrid at Anfield, with Benitez suggesting Sunday’s clash may come too soon for the Spaniard. “It will be more difficult for Xabi Alonso. He was training but only with the physios. At the moment we are only definitely without Yossi Benayoun and Philipp Degen so it’s very good for us that most of the players are fit because it means we can change them when we need to.”
Benitez will no doubt be heartened by the return to fitness of Arbeloa & Agger, with the former enabling the manager to avoid playing Jamie Carragher (or Javier Mascherano) in a less familiar right back slot, and the latter offering an alternative to the bulldozing Martin Skrtel- particularly at Anfield against lesser sides. Agger’s rapier-like shot from distance and increasing set-piece threat adds an extra threat which could be vital in tight contests.
Johan Cruyff believes Liverpool have replaced Manchester United as the team everyone wants to avoid in the Champions League. The Dutch master is no stranger to magnificent football sides, having instrumented the “Total Football” movement with Ajax & Holland in the 1970s, and then coached Barcelona’s famous “Dream Team” to European Cup success in 1992, but he believes that Rafa Benitez’s current crop are the team to beat in this season’s competition.
He is keen for former club Barcelona to avoid the Reds in Friday’s Champions League quarter-final draw – and thinks teams around Europe will feel the same.
“Against Madrid, Liverpool became a steamroller, and for sure, many of those who feared playing against Manchester United don’t want to face Liverpool now,” said Cruyff. “Because of the manner in which they demolished Madrid and then thrashed United they are clearly the side everyone will want to avoid.
“Barcelona can defeat any team, but I’m sure they have noticed Liverpool now. They were two convincing and prestigious victories.”
Of course Cruyff is not the Football Oracle he believes himself to be, many a Barcelona coach/player/president has found themselves tearing their hair out at his idealistic, and often egotistical, viewpoints. But in this case it is hard to argue with the Dutchman, Manchester United fans have been flooding the blogs and message boards with warnings about gaining revenge for Saturday’s defeat with a Champions League triumph, but one suspects that a Liverpool/United clash would have both sets of supporters weak with fear. Chelsea & Barcelona are still mighty strong opposition of course, but Rafa Benitez and his tactics board has proven capable of nullifying both these sides in recent seasons (as well as Arsenal), whilst the dark horses- Villarreal, FC Porto & Bayern Munich- should, on paper at least, find a two-legged tie with Liverpool a scary prospect.
One thing’s for sure, come Friday, when the name “Liverpool FC” comes out of the pot, there will be bated breath from at least seven other teams. Bring it on.
Every Liverpool fan woke up this morning celebrating the fantastic win over Man Utd , however one Newspaper (who shall remain nameless) with a Liverpool ‘fan’ writing the article tried to unsettle two of our best players by claiming Real Madrid are to offer £100million for Alonso and Gerrard in the summer. Dirk Kuyt has more chance of winning Miss Universe than this transfer happening; let’s take a look why.
Firstly, it’s a lie. Plain and simple; It would be far too easy for me to stop here. Secondly; look how many Midfielders Real already have as of this season:
Also add in players who are normally defenders or strikers who have played in a midfield role:
So there’s an abundance of midfielders already, the majority of which are young players but have already made an impression to warrant a place in the first team, such as Gago, L.Diarra, De La Red, plus the experienced players such as Guti, Robben, M.Diarra, Sneijder, Van Der Vaart; how many of these are likely to be heading out the exit door this summer? I think we can safely say that Gago, Lassana Diarra, Mahamadou Diarra, Robben, Sneijder and De La Red won’t be going anywhere.
De La Red is out for the remainder of the season having passed out during a match and as a safety precaution was told to take a prolonged period of rest, however Real have high hopes for the Spanish International, having brought him back from Getafe after a string of great performances there.
Now, the reasons why Gerrard and Alonso would not leave
At the start of the season, it was well documented that Alonso could have been leaving, however he has been one of Liverpool’s best players this season, Rafa would be stupid to let such an influential player leave; and he knows that himself. Alonso said in an interview with AS in February:”I’m sure that when I return to Spain after some years, I will always feel that intimate feeling of the “Reds.” I will be here at least three more years.”
Alonso came close to signing for Real before joining Liverpool, but after seeing what Liverpool did to Real in europe just last week why would he want to go there? He has won Europe’s greatest prize with Liverpool, something Real have not looked like doing in the time he has been at Anfield.
Let’s go onto our captain, Steven Gerrard. Time and time again, Gerrard states he wants to lift the Premiership trophy with Liverpool. It is the only medal missing from his great collection, so why would he suddenly jump ship to a side who’s reputation proceeds them? Barcelona are the more dangerous side in Spanish football, and are on course to snatch Real’s crown from them.
Gerrard has two years left on his current deal, and knows that Liverpool want him there for the rest of his career, something Rafa Benitez has backed up recently when asked if he would swap Torres & Gerrard for any other player:” Both players are playing well, both are top class players and both have a commitment to this club – that is the key.”
Some more Gerrard quotes about wanting to win the Premiership and playing for Liverpool that lean the argument in favour of Liverpool AGAIN: “I know I have had a decent career, and done well so far, but I still have so many ambitions. When I see Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and John Terry lifting the Premier League trophy over their head, and I haven’t got it, I want it bad. And when I get the title, I know what my reaction will be. Simple. I will want another title.”
“I love being a Liverpool player, being captain, living the dream, I wouldn’t change it for the world. But sometimes there’s that much at stake.”
Going back to Real Madrid, where would Gerrard and Alonso fit? Real Madrid have spent years chasing Cristiano Ronaldo, and will be pursuing a move for him ahead of anyone else for marketing purposes alone – they know they can make the majority of transfer money back on him purely through merchandise sales. Are Madrid going to drop Diarra and Gago? Let Robben leave? Highly doubtful.
The second target they are likely to be going in for is a striker, mainlyDavid Villa who is not even getting paid to play at Valencia at the minute due to the financial crisis at the Mestalla, a striker who has said recently he wants to play in Spain if he were to move from Valencia. Also, they have been making moves to take Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Madrid, with his agent saying : “If Zlatan decides to move, then he’ll move. We keep receiving new bids. Real Madrid and Barcelona would do everything they could to get him. Ibra would score 40 goals a season in Spain.”
I am going to stop going on about this now as we all know its a non-starter, and that Real haven’t got a pot to piss in considering they nearly got Jermaine Pennant from us , and had to resort to getting Faubert on loan from West Ham!
After Liverpool destroyed Man Utd 4-1 at Old Trafford, everyone wants to see the goals again and again, so here are some links to the goals!
Goals from Torres, Gerrard, Aurelio and Dossena battered Utd, enjoy the goals here:
Gerrard’s pen gives Liverpool the lead
Alvaro Arbeloa was injured in the pre match warm up, meaning a change of plans for Rafa, having to shift Carragher to right back and bringing in Hyypia alongside Skrtel against United.
Arbeloa was due to start at right back, but just before kick off the team was changed as he injured his hamstring, meaning Carra moved to right back and Sami comes in next to Skrtel.
Liverpool are winning 2-1 at half time at Old Trafford after going a goal down.
Ronaldo scored a penalty for Utd as Park was tripped by Reina, then Fernando Torres tackled Vidic about 25 yards from goal, raced into the box and side footed past Van De Sar.
Liverpool were then given a penalty as Evra dropped Gerrard in the box, who converted his pen to give Liverpool the lead at half time.
Team : Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Riera, Gerrard, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Arbeloa, Babel, El Zhar, Dossena, Insua, Ngog.
“All hail the return of the King” was the shout at this particular clash. Eric Cantona was given a hero’s reception as he returned to Old Trafford following his nine month ban for a kung-fu attack on a mouthy spectator at Selhurst Park. And that was just from Richard Keys and Andy Gray. The United fans really loved him, despite the fact that his avoidable absence had probably played a huge part in their side finishing the 1994/95 season empty handed.
And when, within a minute of kick off, Cantona had seen his measured pass collected on the burst by Nicky Butt for the opener, the stage was set for an Eric-inspired stroll in the autumn sun. Especially considering Liverpool were wearing a horrific green & white quartered rugby-style shirt, and had Neil Ruddock & John Scales in their back four.
But beneath the aesthetic monstrosity, Liverpool also housed their own “King”. Well, “God” to be more precise. Robbie Fowler may have acted the goat and bleached his hair in the summer, but he was still the best young player around, bar none.
Unperturbed by the Cantona-fuelled love in, he proceeded to run United ragged, latching onto a Michael Thomas ball down the inside left channel, he gave Peter Schmeichel “the eyes”, shaping the go across goal he simply hammered an exocet of a strike inside the Dane’s near post from the corner of the box. Schmeichel never saw it, and he was even more bemused after the break when Fowler shrugged off Gary Neville with consummate ease and steered home a perfect chip with his right foot (it didn’t matter with Fowler).
It should have been Fowler’s day, it deserved to be. But of course with David Elleray refereeing it was always gonna be tough, and the Harrow Headmaster came up trumps for United, awarding a questionable penalty for a shoulder-to-shoulder clash between Jamie Redknapp & Ryan Giggs, which Cantona rolled home, meaning the enduring image was of Eric the King jumping on the stanchion, rather than Robbie the God actually playing well.
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