liverpool fc new stadium

BOSS PLEDGES COMPLETE COMMITMENT TO LFC

Mark Platt 22 March 2007

Rafael Benitez today dismissed rumours linking him to Real Madrid and re-affirmed his commitment to Liverpool.

The Reds boss said: "I think it's important the fans know I am completely committed to Liverpool Football Club and I'm going nowhere.
"I know there's been a lot of speculation in the Spanish media linking me with Real Madrid.
"Any manager would be honoured to be associated with such a famous club, especially as Madrid is my home city and also my former club. However, I want to make it clear I am very happy at Anfield and very happy in England and I'm genuinely excited by what the future holds for Liverpool.
"I've had some extremely positive discussions with the new owners and share their enthusiasm and determination to take this club back to the very top.
"I will be sitting down shortly with both Mr Gillett and Mr Hicks to discuss things face to face, but an enormous amount of work is already underway in preparation for the way forward."

WE WANT TO WIN RACE FOR THIRD

Paul Eaton 19 March 2007


Jamie Carragher has insisted Liverpool are determined to win the race for third place in the Premiership this season.
Champions League glory may be at the top of the Reds' agenda over the remaining weeks of the season, but Carragher has revealed there's also a burning desire within the squad to beat Arsenal to third place in the table. "We want to go as far as we can in this season's Champions League but we also still have to ensure we're in it next season," he said. "I'm sure the battle for third will go right down to the wire and we want to claim that third place. "We didn't make a great start to the season and we know we're a bit behind Chelsea and Man United over a nine-month campaign. The league is a long hard slog and we need to improve. "We are a level behind the top two and there's a gap that we need to bridge. "How we go about that is up to the coaching staff and the manager as to which direction they want to go in. "As players we have got to do as much as we can between now and the end of the season to prove we deserve to still be here next season. "Whether the squad needs strengthening is nothing to do with me. It's for the manager to decide what happens and, as a player, all you can do is just look at yourself." Carragher, meanwhile, was frustrated with Liverpool's performance at Villa Park yesterday but pleased they at least came away with something to show for their efforts. "We didn't play as well as we can and I don't think they did, either. It wasn't a great game," he added. "They had a game against Arsenal in midweek which probably took a bit out of them and we hadn't played for 10 days, so we possibly lacked a bit of sharpness. "I can't remember a decent chance in the whole game and it was one of those games where neither side deserved to win. "It's disappointing but if you can't win it, you have to make sure you don't lose and that's what we did."

Reds owners suspend stadium work

By Phil McNulty

Liverpool's new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have suspended work on their proposed new stadium and ordered a review of the plans.

BBC Sport understands the pair want to examine ways of increasing the 60,000 capacity of the arena in Stanley Park.
Liverpool have targeted 2009 as an opening date for the stadium, but if major changes are made, there would need to be a new planning application.
This could result in a delay, although the original date may yet be met.
Liverpool have yet to confirm the decision to suspend preparatory work on the £215m project, but have revealed a review will be undertaken.
A Liverpool spokesman said: "There is a total commitment to a new stadium but the new owners are conducting a thorough review of the current proposals, to see if there is any way they can be improved."
BBC Sport believes the club's hierarchy regards the move to commission a review of the plans as a sign of the huge ambition of Gillett and Hicks rather than any move to back away from the original scheme.
Gillett and Hicks are fully behind the project as part of their takeover plan, and it is understood the review will take ''weeks rather than months'', allowing work on any alterations to the original design to get under way as soon as possible.
An increased capacity will be one of the plans under discussion during the review, but this is not a guarantee that this will happen.
Work on the new ground needs to start in the spring because public money has been allocated to the regeneration element of the plan, and it has to be spent by the end of 2008.
Gillett said in early February: "The shovel needs to be in the ground in the next 60 days.
"We are fully supportive of the Stanley Park development and of building a facility that we hope will be the greatest facility in this sport.
"We do work hard on design and development and making sure the quality of the fan experience is unparalleled.
"We want to make sure the newest technology is incorporated in it. It is about the comfort of fans."
And Hicks added: "We have our own people lined up to see if, within the confines of the plans, there are any other ideas that would be good for the fans."

BENITEZ: WE WON'T UNDERESTIMATE PSV

Mark Platt 09 March 2007

Rafael Benitez has warned Liverpool's players and supporters not to underestimate PSV Eindhoven when the two clubs clash in the Champions League quarter-final next month.
Having already beaten the reigning Dutch Champions in the group phase of this season's competition the Reds will no doubt be installed as favourites to progress to the semi-final. But Benitez was quick to play down such talk and insisted they won't be taking Ronald Koeman's men lightly. "At this stage of the competition every team is going to be difficult. We know all about PSV, having already played them twice this season, but that doesn't mean it will be easy," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Sometimes knowing your opponents well can be an advantage but sometimes it can be a disadvantage because they'll also know all about us. We must be cautious. "I'm sure the supporters will be happy with the draw but we don't want to make the same mistake as last year when went out against Benfica. Then, everyone was saying we'd go through but, of course, Benfica beat us home and away. "PSV are a very good team. We may have beaten them at home but they held us to a goalless draw at their ground. They have improved since we last met and showed their quality by beating Arsenal in the last round. There are no favourites in this tie. "Playing away from home first can be good as it means there'll be another special atmosphere at Anfield for the second leg. We are really close to the semi-final and need the support of everyone to help us make this next step. This is the most important game we'll play in the next month and I'm looking forward to it."

RAFA: I'M VERY PROUD OF MY PLAYERS

Steve Hunter 06 March 2007

Rafael Benitez couldn't hide his delight at seeing Liverpool go through to the last eight of the Champions League and said he was immensely proud of his team.
The Liverpool manager felt his side deserved to go through despite the 1-0 second leg defeat and also praised the supporters for being the twelfth man. "I am very proud of my players and our supporters," enthused Benitez. The atmosphere was amazing and that's why I always say we have the best supporters in the world. "I am disappointed we conceded a goal and lost the match on the night but we deserved to go through. "We deserved to score a lot of goals in the first half and even in the second when Barcelona had more possession we had chances on the break. "We weren't finishing the opportunities we were creating but we worked so hard. We managed to hang on and and made sure we qualified."

Liverpool 0 - barcelona 1 06-03-2007
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STEVIE: LET'S HAVE A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Jimmy Rice 05 March 2007

Steven Gerrard has challenged the Liverpool players and fans alike to make the Champions League clash against Barcelona one of the most memorable European nights Anfield has ever witnessed.
The skipper believes Barca will be dreading the prospect of playing in front of a rammed Kop on Tuesday night. "Liverpool versus Barcelona in front of a packed Anfield – it doesn't get much bigger than that. I've experienced many special nights here and I'm hoping there is another one just around the corner," Gerrard told a press conference on Monday. "Teams in the past have come here and not enjoyed playing in this stadium – when it's full there is a lot of noise. The fans make it really difficult for the opposition. "It gives us a real boost knowing they're behind us trying to push a goal in for us. I'm sure they'll be there well before kick-off making the atmosphere really intense for Barcelona. That's what we want from them." Gerrard admits he is already getting butterflies in his stomach at the prospect of facing the holders on home turf. He said: "I'm excited personally and I know all the boys are as well. Preparations have gone really well and the boys are just looking forward to kick-off now. "Being round the city and seeing how many people have turned up today, it proves how big a game this is. These are the games we want to play in. The whole world will be watching – we can't wait. "You have all your butterflies, your nerves and your excitement, but now we just want to go out there and get the job done." Meanwhile, the Liverpool number eight believes the possibility of a trophyless season will help spur on his teammates. "Ideally we'd love to be involved in the other cups and the title race, but that's not to be. Now us players have got to give everything we've got to make sure we keep this season going. "At Liverpool Football Club every season we try to put another trophy in the cabinet – this is the only one left. We have to make sure we give that extra 10 to 15 per cent to ensure we're in the last eight."

RAFA: WE WANT TO WIN BOTH GAMES

Paul Eaton 02 March 2007

Rafael Benitez has insisted his team selection for tomorrow's clash against Manchester United won't be influenced by his plans for next week's Champions League showdown with Barcelona.
Liverpool play two of the biggest games of their season over the next five days, but the manager insists he will maintain his usual policy of taking one game at a time. "This could be the biggest week of our season," he said. "We are playing against two of the best sides in Manchester United and Barcelona. "If we can beat United it will be good for our confidence for the Barcelona game. We will try to win the first game and then think about the next one. "Sometimes you want to use the same players for two games but it's not always possible. After the United game we will see if we have any injuries or other problems for the next match. "As far as I'm concerned both games are important. They are in different competitions but we still want to win them both - and I'm sure our fans feel the same. "We know it will be difficult against United because they are a very good team who are winning a lot of games. They know if they can beat us then it will take them closer to the title. I still don't think it would be over because there are games left, but they would be closer. "They know this will be a difficult game for them because we are playing well, especially at home. We haven't beaten them in the league since I've been here but I'm confident that will change tomorrow."