• Home
• News
• Archives
• Subscribe
• Contact

Subscribe

Champions League Draw Today

5pm today is when we’ll be finding out who Liverpool are matching up against in the Champions League proper.

Valencia managed to make it through the third qualifying round with some help from ex-Red Fernando Morientes beating Salzburg 3-1 on aggregate. Arsenal too made it through in comfort with a 5-1 win over Dynamo Zagreb across the two legs.

The plus side for us is that we’re among the top seeds which means we avoid some of the bigger European heavyweights but 5pm shall reveal all. The draw will be live on UEFA.com as well.

Also stepping out of the third round of qualifying and into the pot for this evening’s draw are Benfica, Milan, Hamburg, Spartak Moscow, AEK Athens, FC Copenhagen, Lille, Levski Sofia, Galatasaray, Dynamo Kiev, Shaktar, CSKA Moscow and Steaua Bucharest.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Medial Ligament Damage For Sissoko

A statement on the club’s website this afternoon has revealed that Momo Sissoko has made a tear to the medial ligament in his left knee after falling in last nights game against Maccabi Haifia. He’s not expected to play any part against West Ham (obviously enough) and is out for a few weeks. While there is a hope that he will play against Everton, with Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia all looking well I don’t think we’ll see him in action until Chelsea at the earliest.

“Momo had a scan today which showed a tear of the medial ligament in his left knee. We do not expect him to be able to play or train for the next two weeks”, said Ian Cotton earlier.

Sissoko left Kiev yesterday on crutches to get a scan after the game. While we have definite news on Momo, there’s no word to the extent of the injury to Stephen Warnock though he is likely to be out for at least two weeks as well.

Popularity: 1% [?]

More Injuries For Liverpool

More injuries for Liverpool after last night with Stephen Warnock looking at two weeks out through an ankle injury (with Fabio Aurélio replacing him in the first half) while Momo Sissoko was taken out midway through the second half with a knee injury (with Steven Gerrard replacing him).

Speaking after the game, Rafa Benitez said

…it was very disappointing to lose another two players through injury. Stephen’s is hopefully not too serious but Momo could be out for two or three weeks. We will have to see.

The worry now is that Sissoko may well miss the first derby game of the season (as might Jamie Carragher) but he could also miss out against Chelsea eight days later with no official confirmation yet on the extent of his injury, or Stephen Warnock’s. More on them when word is release.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Result: Maccabi Haifa 1 - 1 Liverpool

To be fair, I expected an awful lot more from Liverpool last night. Sure enought, there’s the Champions League qualification in the bag, a possible £10m in prize money and other revenue but again we’re left counting the cost of the encounter - this time looking at the loss of Momo Sissoko for a few weeks (possibly missing the Everton and Chelsea league games) along with Stephen Warnock.

After last night’s performance I think Liverpool can be highly thankful of Mark Gonzalez’ game winner at Anfield two weeks ago, his goal proving the vital difference after the draw last night. Even in a tense game, and having gone through a similar tense buildup over the past few days I have to admit that I thought Liverpool would have delivered with a bang last night, and they didn’t really do it.

Following a goalless first half, Peter Crouch put the side ahead with some good team work between himself and Jermaine Pennant. Pennant managed to flit past Magralishvili before picking out Crouch with a pinpoint cross on the near post to give Liverpool a 3-1 aggregate lead on 54 minutes, Crouch nearly boring a hole in the net with the header. Great strength in the buildup from Pennant though and nice to see the English connection starting to click.

It took only ten minutes though for Haifa to find an equaliser, Reina unable to hold onto Andersons’s allowed Colautti to tidy the ball into the back of the net. The goal gave Haifa the incentive to pick up their attacking game though neither they or Liverpool could find another goal in the game.

Steven Gerrard made an appearance during the second half, coming on to replace Momo Sissoko who had fallen quite awkwardly and is now looking at a few weeks out with a knee injury. Fabio Aurélio too made an appearance, coming on for the injured Stephen Warnock who is also looking at time out with an ankle injury, joining Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise on the sidelines with the same.

The bonus side of things of course is that we’re in the draw on Thursday morning, we’ll see Dirk Kuyt in the Group Stage and we’ve got a European campaign to start building on.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Preview: Maccabi Haifa vs Liverpool

Return leg tonight as Liverpool travel to Kiev (having arrived yesterday) to take on Maccabi Haifa in the second leg of this Champions League Third Round Qualifier.

Been a rough time of late surrounding this match with the Israeli FA and press not in the slightest bit happy or content that the match was moved to Kiev and they’ve let Liverpool know that quite matter-of-factly. Liverpool themselves were subjected to an “extremely tense” press conference yesterday with Israeli journalists seemingly accusing Benitez of forcing UEFA into moving the match to Ukraine.

Tensions will certainly be high tonight, as will security, as The Reds bid to seal their place in the Champions League proper having taken a slender 2-1 lead into tonight’s game. While John Arne Riise, Jamie Carragher and now Gabriel Paletta won’t be taking any part it is suggested that Steven Gerrard might not make the game having been forced to sit out yesterday’s training station with a stomach bug. If anything though, I don’t think I’d be believing the press on this one with Liverpool in much need of their midfield general on the pitch tonight.

We’ve got a good side going out, shame that Dirk Kuyt didn’t arrive before the first leg as the extra firepower on foreign soil would have been handy but Benitez is likely to start Crouch and Bellamy up front. Fabio Aurélio will likely fill in at left-back for Riise with Mark Gonzalez starting on the left following his game-winner in the last leg at Anfield. Danny Agger should also fill Jamie Carragher’s shoes after a good run out against Chelsea while Steve Finnan will likely return to right-back for the big occasion.

We can also look forward to Xabi Alonso’s return who was left out at the weekend, as was Luis Garcia who may well return to the right of midfield.

No doubt at all that Roni Levy will be out to upset Liverpool, he’ll be kicking himself after watching his defence allow Mark Gonzalez through to score before the final whistle, a goal which thankfully lends a lot of weight to Liverpool tonight. But it is most certainly no time to rest knowing full well what is at stake in Kiev.

The game kicks off a little earlier, just after 7:30pm Irish time and if you’ve got an e-Season ticket with LiverpoolFC.tv you’ll get live audio and video feeds from the game.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Le Tallec Leaves For Sochaux

Anthony Le Tallec has finally sealed his move to Sochaux, leaving on a season-long loan with Sochaux having the option to purchase when the loan expires next summer. Something tells me however that we won’t be seeing Le Tallec make a return to Anfield as the French exodus is almost complete.

“Sochaux is an ideal club for me, it will allow me to grow and develop as a football player. I am eager to grow with Sochaux. I have experienced a lot of things for a guy of my age and I believe I have gained mental strength from that.”

True to form, Le Tallec certainly has youth on his side as he hopes to break back in to the French U21 side but is concentrating on the national team now that he is back in France.

Le Tallec spent last year on loan at Sunderland and managed to find the net on occasion while spending the previous season away at St. Etienne.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Injury Update: Carragher & Riise

Word from LiverpoolFC.tv this afternoon points that Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise suffered a bit more than the suspected twisted ankles yesterday and both look set to spend at least two weeks on the sidelines.

Jamie Carragher has suffered sprained medial ligaments in his left ankle. Riise, who went down under a heavy challenge from Rob Hulse, has torn lateral ligaments in his left ankle.

Both will most certainly play no part in this week’s Champions League qualifier.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Carragher Out Of Haifa Game

Jamie Carragher is set to miss this week’s vital away qualifier against Maccabi Haifa after twisting his ankle in yesterday’s game against Sheffield United.

Carragher was taken out on 33 minutes with a twisted ankle, as was John Arne Riise only minutes previous and though x-rays show that there is no serious damage done, Rafa Benitez later announced that Jamie wouldn’t be travelling this week, with either Danny Agger or Gabriel Paletta expected to start in his place.

Almost sure Carragher won’t play, while with Riise we will have to wait and see, but he is in pain

John Arne Riise is also highly doubtful for the game and if so, we can expect to see Fabio Aurélio starting at left back with Mark Gonzalez starting on the wing. Nice to have all of this left sided cover!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Carson & Traoré Start, Traoré Sees Red

Scott Carson started in goal today for Charlton with Djimi Traoré starting at left back for Iain Dowie’s side.

Bad start for Djimi Traoré however, wearing number 22 for Charlton, as he was sent off in the first half. He picked up his first yellow for a rough challenge on Lee Bowyer and his second yellow only three minutes later after preventing West Ham from taking a free kick.

Charlton went on to lose the game 3-1 after giving up a 1-0 lead in the first half.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Result: Sheffield Utd 1 - 1 Liverpool

No live blogging for the second half here on LiverpoolAccess.com but the game has finished 1-1 with Robbie Fowler securing a point for the Reds from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaing. The result leaves Liverpool still failing to win their opening season game under Rafa Benitez and provides a frustrating start to the campaign, the side having been expected to take all three points.

The first half of play was ok from Liverpool, limited in attacking chances though John Arne Riise and Craig Bellamy both went close in the opening half of the game. Riise was removed from play through injury (twisted ankle) as was Jamie Carragher (twisted ankle) both just after the half hour mark with Danny Agger and Mark Gonzalez coming into the fold but neither introduction could spur anything productive as the clock edged towards half time with the scores level at 0-0 on the break.

Rob Hulse broke the deadlock for Sheffield United with under two minutes gone in the second half, Hulse finding himself with a free header in the six yard box to nod home and put The Blades into the lead. The goal pretty much shocked Liverpool into action as the attacking play built up serious momentum, culminating in a penalty on the 70th minute as Steven Gerrard broke free into the box and was clipped by United skipper Chris Morgan. Robbie Fowler stepped up to spot and converted with his left foot, sending Paddy Kenny the wrong way.

The Reds pressed hard for the second goal but could muster the opportunites to finish against a solid Sheffield side. All not lost on the day as a point was secured but from second half action alone it should have easily been all three points for Liverpool, something compounded by the loss of Riise and Jamie Carragher who is likely to miss this week’s Champions League game.

Popularity: 3% [?]

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Copyright © 2007 - 2008 Football Access Blog Network | RSS