English Premier League: Liverpool

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Founded: 1892 | Nickname: The Reds | Ground: Anfield | Capacity: 45,276



OVERVIEW
Liverpool have maintained their status as a domestic and European force since the Premier League began in 1992, rarely finishing outside the top positions. The club have won seven major trophies since then, including the Champions League, Uefa Cup, two FA Cups and three League Cups.

Indeed, 2001 saw the Reds claim an unprecedented League Cup, FA Cup and Uefa Cup treble. Having won more domestic and European trophies than any other English club, Liverpool's status as giants of the domestic game is undisputed.

Under Rafa Benitez, Liverpool have secured Champions League football in each of the last five seasons. The Spaniard won the competition in 2005 and guided the club to an appearance in the final two years later where they were beaten 2-1 by AC Milan. They lost to Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the competition last season and secured a second place finish in the league.

CLUB HERITAGE
In 1891, John Houlding purchased Anfield after Everton left the ground for Goodison Park following a seven-year tenancy. With an empty stadium and only three players remaining, Houlding formed Liverpool Football Club on 15th March 1892. Everton FC and Athletic Grounds, Ltd, or Everton Athletic was to be the name, but the Football Association refused to recognise the team as Everton. Liverpool's first-ever competitive match was in the Lancashire League, where a predominantly Scottish team defeated Higher Walton 8-0 on 23rd September 1892. Liverpool won their first title in 1901 after gaining promotion to the First Division in 1894.

The appointment of Bill Shankly in 1959 was the beginning of a golden era for Liverpool. He led the club to promotion to the First Division in 1962 and they have stayed there ever since. The title was secured in 1964 and 1966, with a first-ever FA Cup final victory sandwiched in between. A year after winning the Uefa Cup, Shankly retired and was replaced by his assistant Bob Paisley.

Within two seasons, the Reds had won the league, and the Uefa Cup for a second time. Paisley's nine-year reign saw Liverpool win 21 trophies, including three European Cups, six league titles, a Uefa Cup, and three League Cups. Joe Fagan took over in 1983 and inspired the club to the European Cup, League title, and League Cup in his first season.

PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY
1993/94 - Roy Evans replaces Graeme Souness
1994/95 - Win League Cup
1998/99 - Gerard Houllier joins Evans as joint-manager
1998/99 - Houllier takes sole charge in November 1998
2000/01 - Win FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup
2002/03 - Win League Cup
2003/04 - Houllier departs by mutual consent in May 2004
2004/05 - Rafa Benitez takes over
2004/05 - Djibril Cisse joins from Auxerre for a club record £14m
2004/05 - Win Champions League
2005/06 - Win FA Cup
2006/07 - American businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks become owners in a deal worth £470m.
2007/08 - Fernando Torres becomes Liverpool's record signing at an initial fee of around £20.2m from Atletico Madrid.
2008/09 - Benitez ends widespread specualtion about his future by signing a new five-year contract.



Liverpool Player Index, 2009/10 season

Name   Played   Goals   YC   RC
Agger, Daniel   3 (0)   0   0   0
Aquilani, Alberto   1 (1)   0   0   0
Aurelio, Fabio   4 (2)   0   0   0
Ayala, Daniel   3 (2)   0   0   0
Babel, Ryan   8 (6)   2   0   0
Benayoun, Yossi   12 (3)   3   0   0
Carragher, Jamie   11 (0)   0   3   1
Cavalieri, Diego   0 (0)   0   0   0
Darby, Stephen   0 (0)   0   0   0
Degen, Philipp   2 (1)   0   0   1
Dossena, Andrea   1 (1)   0   0   0
Eccleston, Nathan   1 (1)   0   0   0
El Zhar, Nabil   0 (0)   0   0   0
Flora, Vitor   0 (0)   0   0   0
Flynn, Ryan   0 (0)   0   0   0
Gerrard, Steven   9 (1)   4   2   0
Gulacsi, Peter   0 (0)   0   0   0
Hammill, Adam   0 (0)   0   0   0
Hansen, Martin   0 (0)   0   0   0
Insua, Emiliano   11 (0)   0   0   0
Irwin, Steven   0 (0)   0   0   0
Itandje, Charles   0 (0)   0   0   0
Johnson, Glen   11 (0)   2   0   0
Kelly, Martin   0 (0)   0   0   0
Kuyt, Dirk   12 (0)   3   1   0
Kyrgiakos, Sotirios   2 (0)   0   0   0
Lindfield, Craig   0 (0)   0   0   0
Lucas, Leiva   12 (0)   0   0   0
Martin, David   0 (0)   0   0   0
Mascherano, Javier   11 (2)   0   3   1
Mavinga, Chris   0 (0)   0   0   0
Nemeth, Krisztian   0 (0)   0   0   0
Ngog, David   5 (4)   3   1   0
Plessis, Damien   0 (0)   0   0   0
Reina, Jose   12 (0)   0   1   0
Riera, Albert   7 (2)   0   0   0
Skrtel, Martin   9 (1)   0   4   0
Spearing, Jay   1 (0)   0   0   0
Threlfall, Robbie   0 (0)   0   0   0
Torres, Fernando   10 (0)   10   1   0
Voronin, Andriy   8 (7)   0   0   0



Courtesy of:   http://www.premierleague.com/page/Home/0,,12306,00.html

 

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Benitez confidence in campaign
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes there are only minor issues to address with his faltering side

 





 And the Spanish supremo has urged his players to start their season afresh after the international break.

The Reds have already lost five Barclays Premier League matches - three more than during the whole of the previous campaign - and some critics have written off their title hopes.

Manchester City, one of the teams looking to take advantage of the Merseysiders' inconsistent form to snatch a Champions League place, are the visitors to Anfield a week on Sunday when Benitez believes a victory would re-ignite his squad.

"We have to change some small things that we need to improve on. We talk about the positives and analyse the negatives," said the Spaniard.

"We have to look at the big picture. We know we've had some problems and we've made some mistakes but still we are so close.

"Everything will be different if we win two or three in a row. The confidence will be high and everything will be easier.

"Maybe we can start the season right now. Winning against City will be a big boost for everyone and if that happens I'm sure we'll see the best of the team.

"I am 100 per cent sure everything will be totally different if we can win the game against City after this international break. The season can be good if we do well."

Benitez has been hamstrung by the worst injury crisis of his five-and-a-half-year reign at Anfield.

Striker Fernando Torres has a hernia problem which will keep him out for at least another three weeks while captain Steven Gerrard is nursing a groin problem.

England right-back Glen Johnson and wingers Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun all have hamstring injuries, with the latter pair sidelined until at least December.

Centre-back Daniel Agger's back continues to be a concern, while Fabio Aurelio pulled out of Brazil's squad to face England at the weekend with a calf injury.

Benitez admits the injuries are causing him difficulties but is confident when he gets everyone back Liverpool can return to top form.

"We have a better squad than people think," said Benitez.

"It's a question of getting some key players back. You could see the other day (in the 2-2 draw with Birmingham) that with Glen Johnson and Steven Gerrard we were creating so many chances. The quality is there."

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Carragher welcomes international break
Jamie Carragher says the international break is a chance to re-group after a disappointing start to the season.





Liverpool have come in for heavy criticism in recent weeks after a poor run of form that has left their bids for European and the Barclays Premier League floundering.

The Reds' plight has been further hampered by injuries to crucial players such as Steven Gerrard and Carragher is hoping the enforced break can help Rafael Benitez's men, who next face Manchester City, recapture their fitness and form.


"We haven't had that many players training due to the international break, plus the injuries at the club, but everyone's in good spirits," he told the club's official website.

"From a club point of view, if you're going to get injured the best time is maybe during an international break. At least it gives the medical staff time to work with the players and try and get them ready for the next match.

"Hopefully we can get everyone back and raring to go ahead of the Man City game."

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Insua wants to start winning run
Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua says the club must make a statement of intent against Manchester City.



It will be a crunch week for the Merseysiders who face ambitious City at Anfield on Saturday and then travel to Budapest for their Champions League night of destiny against Debrecen on Tuesday.

The following Sunday sees Liverpool make the short trip across Stanley Park to face neighbours Everton as they bid to re-ignite their stuttering season.


The Reds have already lost five league matches, including three of their last five fixtures. And they needed a controversial penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham City last time out.

And they will exit the Champions League at the group stages if Fiorentina win at home against Lyon next Tuesday.

Now, the Anfield aces must re-discover their strength to hold off the substantial challenge of Manchester City who have aspirations of Champions League football and have their sights set on snatching Liverpool's position in that elite group.

  teams fighting

Full-back Insua knows just how important it is for Rafael Benitez's men to show they are not prepared to give up that place without a fight.

He said: "We know we have to start winning games and this is a big game, but it's still too early to be looking at the league table.

"Maybe we can look at it again in February or March and then see where we are.

"We have to start showing what we are capable of. City have signed a lot of top players and they are a good team but we have a good squad as well.

"They want to be in the top four but there are a lot of teams fighting for this, so we have to push hard and start winning games.

"But there is long way to go in the season and a lot of games left in the Premier League for us to put things right, starting with Manchester City."

open game

Liverpool should have midfield dynamo Steven Gerrard fit, along with defenders Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson.

Ace striker Fernando Torres is almost certainly out, but French teenager David Ngog will play despite breaking his nose on Under-21 duty this week.

Insua added: "Maybe we are making some mistakes in defence and conceding goals from set pieces but we have worked hard on this in training and are confident we can put things right.

"City will come to Anfield to try and win and I think it will be a very open game. We have to be strong in defence and we have an advantage because we are playing at home with our fans behind us."


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Benitez praise for Reina
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hailed Jose Reina as "one of the best goalkeepers in the world".
 

Benitez was full of praise for his Spanish compatriot after a singular piece of brilliance helped the team to a 2-0 victory in the 212th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Leading through Joseph Yobo's 12th-minute own goal from a deflected Javier Mascherano shot, the Reds were coming under increasing pressure in the second half.
With 20 minutes remaining Reina pulled off one of the saves of the season when he dived low to his left to keep out Tim Cahill's header and then sprung to his feet to block Marouane Fellaini's follow-up.
Both Benitez and Everton boss David Moyes agreed it was a turning point as, with 10 minutes to go, Dirk Kuyt made the match safe by scoring from close range after substitute Albert Riera's shot was half-saved by Tim Howard.

GREAT SAVE
"When we signed him we knew he was a good keeper and he is improving here," said Benitez of Reina.

"Xavi Valero, our goalkeeping coach, is doing a really good job with him and you can see him improving every day.

"For me he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and (yesterday) he showed why.

"It was a great save. In this situation he was amazing."

Benitez was also pleased with the defensive performance after a second successive clean sheet made it five matches without defeat.

"The team defending was very good and that is another positive thing for the future," said the Spaniard, who felt vice-captain Jamie Carragher was returning to form after a shaky start to the season.

"Daniel Agger and Carragher were doing a good job but Mascherano and Lucas Leiva were working so hard in the midfield, helping the defence.

"Carra is the one who can organise them. He showed character again because, after the beginning of the season, he is doing well again."

ENJOY IT
The victory moved Liverpool up to fifth in the Barclays Premier League, just two points behind Arsenal, but Benitez issued a note of caution to his players.

"Always it is important to win and winning games in a row is the key if you want to stay high and in the top four," he said.

"We have to go one game at a time. We have done our job and we have some days to go before Blackburn (next Saturday) so we have to enjoy it and then prepare the team for the next week and hopefully a victory."

Benitez is hopeful of having Fernando Torres back for that fixture after the striker sat out his fourth successive match because of a groin problem.

"We were testing Fernando on Saturday. He told me he still had a little bit of pain, but he is improving," said the Liverpool manager.

"He is progressing and next week hopefully we can test him again."

 

Courtesy of:  premierleague.com

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Gerrard has top four aim
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard admits finishing in the top four is now a more realistic aim than winning the title.
 

The Reds, who take on Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, have slipped 13 points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea after an indifferent run of results over the past two months.

They are out of the Champions League and must end up in the first four places if they want to play in Europe's elite competition again.

Victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby at the weekend will have boosted morale and that has moved Rafael Benitez's outfit to just two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

TITLE RACE
Reds skipper Gerrard said: "I think we have to be realistic. At the moment we're out of the title race, but we will keep trying to get back in it.
"There is still a lot of football to be played and it is possible to turn it around, but I think Chelsea are looking really strong at the moment.

"But our main target is to get back into the top four. We're coming off the back of a fantastic win at Everton and we want to continue that against Blackburn and try and go on a run of games where we can get closer to the teams above us."

Courtesy of:   premierleague.com

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Benayoun: We need results fast
Liverpool winger Yossi Benayoun says Liverpool must quickly embark on a run of victories to boost confidence.

 

The Reds have won just three of their last 15 matches, and slipped further off the pace with a 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal.

Benayoun had little impact in that match, but says he and his team-mates need to improve quickly if they are to challenge for a place in the top four.

"We need to win three or four games in a row and try to get our confidence back up," Benayoun told his club's official website.

"We always seem to win one, but then we don't follow it up with a result in the next match. We need to keep working hard in training and try to start winning, beginning against Wigan Athletic. We know we need to be in the top four and that is our target.

"If we can do that and have a good run in both cups, our season will improve."

top four

Liverpool host Wigan at Anfield on Wednesday night. Benayoun cannot wait for the match as he is keen to end the poor sequence of results quickly.

"After you lose you want to play the next game as soon as possible," he added.

"We are lucky we have the game on Wednesday and we will try to play good football and win the game for our supporters. We owe them a lot because we haven't played well this season.

"There's never an easy game. We have already seen this season that anyone can beat anyone. The top four teams from last season have lost a lot of points. We know it will be difficult against Wigan at home, but we need all three points. Anything less would be a disappointment."

Courtesy of:  premierleague.com

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Ligament blow for Johnson
Liverpool have confirmed Glen Johnson suffered a medial ligament injury to his right knee during Tuesday night's match at Aston Villa.

 

The England right-back was assessed by the club's medical team at Melwood on Wednesday and underwent a scan which revealed the extent of the injury which forced him to limp off after 88 minutes of the 1-0 victory at Villa Park.

A club spokesman said: "A scan has revealed a tear in the medial ligament in Glen's right knee.

"The player will see a specialist on Thursday, after which we should be able to more accurately determine the length of his rehabilitation period."

key player

Johnson has been a key player for Liverpool since his summer transfer from Portsmouth, scoring twice in 16 Barclays Premier League matches.

He has also proved a useful source of assists, giving the Reds greater width and penetration with his surging direct runs down the right.

Johnson has also established himself as a regular in the England squad and coach Fabio Capello will be keeping an anxious eye on his progress.


Courtesy of:   premierleague.com

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Carragher hails Reds statement
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool's last gasp win over Aston Villa was a statement of intent to their rivals.

 

The Reds closed the gap on fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur to four points, and are now only two behind Villa, after Fernando Torres scored his 50th Barclays Premier League goal for the club in the third minute of injury-time.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez reiterated his "guarantee" of finishing in the top four in the aftermath of the Villa Park encounter.

And Carragher is confident they can now put together a decisive run of results in the New Year afer hammering out a warning that the Merseysiders are still a major force in the battle for a Champions League spot

fighting chance

He said: "It was a big result. That brings us a lot closer to Aston Villa. If they had beaten us, it would have been a big points difference so the one game can make a difference.

"We realise what would have happened if we had lost. People would have said we were miles away and 'that was it' for the top four so we have given ourselves a fighting chance.

"I haven't looked at the table for a while so I am not sure how far or how close we are. When it's not going well, there is no point.

"But if we can win the next game against Tottenham as well, that can put us right in the mix. We've had a lot of ups and downs this season and hopefully we can go on a good run now."

Carragher added: "We've been up there for a long time. There are always people wanting to shoot you down, other teams.

"Over the last few years Villa have been one of those teams around the top six alongside Everton.

"But this time around Manchester City have really come on and Tottenham have done really well and I think they are all looking at us as the team they can take the place of.

"So it was more than just the three points at Villa. It was a statement to everyone that we are still fighting for that place."


Courtesy of: premierleague.com

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Liverpool swoop for Rodriguez
Liverpool have snapped up Maxi Rodriguez on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.

 

The Argentine winger has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Reds after passing a medical with the move subject to international clearance.

He began his career with Argentinian outfit Newell's Old Boys, moving to Spain and Espanyol in 2002, then Atletico Madrid three years later where he made 120 appearances, scoring 31 goals.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes the 29-year-old - the Reds' first signing of the January transfer window - can become a big hit in the Barclays Premier League.

positive mentality

"We were looking for players with character and a good mentality," said Benitez. "He has played for Argentina and Atletico Madrid and is a player with personality.

"He can play in three positions - on the right, left or as a second striker - and is someone with a very positive mentality, which is what we are looking for.

"He is comfortable on the ball, can pass and keep possession. He is good at getting into the box and scoring goals and a good finisher. Every year he gets five to 15 goals from the right side of midfield.

"I know he was not doing as well as he did in the past at Atletico Madrid, but he is doing really well with Argentina and wants to impress for the World Cup."

Rodriguez got the winner in Diego Maradona's first match in charge of Argentina's national team when they beat Scotland 1-0 in a friendly in November 2008.


Courtesy of:    premierleague.com