Thursday, November 04, 2010

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Napoli

Napoli are the next arrivals at Anfield as the Europa League beckons once more, Liverpool will be looking to make it a third win in a row as Roy Hodgson samples an upturn in form, if not an upturn in popularity.

With one eye on the visit of Chelsea at the weekend, the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres could well be rested once more although Hodgson remained tight lipped on the subject, preferring to “add a little excitement” as to who would take the field with the side already informed.

The medical room at Melwood will retain the injured Joe Cole (hamstring), Daniel Agger (calf) and Dirk Kuyt (ankle) with the in form Soto Kyrgiakos nursing a minor knock, he faces a race to be deemed fit along with Ryan Babel and Glen Johnson, who has missed the last four games.

Liverpool currently top Group K in the Europa League with five points gained from three games played and manager Roy Hodgson believes that four points from their remaining three fixtures will be enough to advance to the knockout stages of the competition. With the fixture at Anfield and the travel element ruled out which can often have an impact, Hodgson looks set to field a stronger side than in previous European outings.

Former Red, Andrea Dossena will make a return to Anfield for the visitors as he looks set to start to try and make an impact on the left flank.

“I think if we can get four more points we’ll be pretty much secure for a place in the next round as I can see the other games being tight,” he commented.

“We got one of the tougher groups with Napoli, Steaua and Utrecht and on paper it looked even, but we’ve done what we’ve needed to do.

“We’ll have a strong team out on Thursday, we won’t rest too many.”

On the current injuries that the team is carrying, Hodgson provided a little further insight:

“The injury situation is gradually improving. Glen Johnson has been training since the start of the week, which is very positive. Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio are still training separately, or in Daniel Agger’s case not at all.

“He has a fairly serious calf problem and will travel to London today to see another specialist for a second opinion.

“But when it comes to Aurelio and Kuyt, they are both out on the training field, training individually trying to get over their injuries.

“Ryan Babel has actually trained with us as well since the start of the week, despite the severe bruising on his ribs.

“He has done well to get back as quickly as he has done because bruised ribs are a tricky injury because if you take another bang on them it can be very, very painful.

“I’m not certain about his participation on Thursday night, but at least he’s back in training and could certainly be ready for the weekend.”

“Brad Jones is another slight injury worry we have, but again I think a lot of these players will be fit for the weekend game against Chelsea and that means we’ve got a pretty large squad to choose from Thursday night.

“I think the team we put out on Thursday will be regarded on paper as a stronger team, I just hope it’s a stronger team on the field of play because the team that played in Napoli did very well.”

With new owners NESV in town and attending the game, hopefully it will be another European night to remember for the Reds. John Henry’s wife Linda Pizzuti was making some preparations of her own this evening as she again took time out on Twitter to catch up with Liverpool fans ahead of seeing her first game, making sure she was up to speed on the Anfield songbook. A lady is who becoming a breath of fresh air and applauded in her own right.

Liverpool Prepare Move For Italian Jewel'

Liverpool is being linked with a January move for Italian international striker Antonio Cassano.

Nicknamed 'the jewel of Old Bari', Cassano appears certain to make a Sampdoria exit in January after a major bust-up with president Ricardo Garrone.

The Italian international is reported to have verbally abused Garrone, and after looking into the possibility of terminating his contract the club is thought to be set to sell him immediately when the transfer window re-opens.

Liverpool have emerged as the favourites for the player's signature in the Italian press, with Roy Hodgson searching for a foil to Fernando Torres as the Reds look to strengthen their striking options.

The Anfield club has struggled at the start of the current season with a lack of firepower behind 'El Nino', and Liverpool appears certain to delve into their transfer pot in the New Year.

Owners NESV have reportedly given Hodgson £35 million to spend when the transfer window re-opens, and the Liverpool boss has highlighted an attacking player as his priority.

Peter Crouch, Mario Gomez and Carlton Cole are three other strikers linked with the Merseyside club, but Cassano's availability makes him a great option for Liverpool.

The former Fulham boss could face competition for the signature though, with the Metro reporting that Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is also keen on the Maverick striker.

An Italian international with five goals in 19 caps, Cassano has top level experience with Roma and Sampdoria in Serie 'A', as well as Real Madrid in La Liga.

Liverpool 'Plot Sensational Double Swoop' After Hodgson Scouting Trip

Liverpool are allegedly preparing bids for PSV Eindhoven pair Ola Toivonen and Ibrahim Afellay.

According to The Mirror, Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson flew to Holland at the weekend to watch the duo in action against FC Twente and will meet with Liverpool owner John W. Henry to discuss signing the exciting talents.

Dutch midfielder Afellay is thought to be at the centre of a bidding war between several clubs - including Barcelona and Liverpool - while Sweden striker Toivonen was reportedly close to moving to Anfield during the summer.

Both players are only 24-years-old and £20 million is thought to be enough to land the pair, who will both fit with Liverpool's new ethos of investing in young talent.

Liverpool And Aston Villa Chase Ireland Centre-Back Sean St Ledger

Aston Villa will reportedly rival Liverpool to sign Preston North End centre-back Sean St Ledger during the January transfer window.

The 25-year-old has been an extremely solid presence for Preston over the last four years and has been rewarded with sixteen caps for the Republic of Ireland. St Ledger has been linked with a move away from Deepdale before, but moves to Middlesbrough and Celtic never materialized in the end.

The Daily Mail reports that both Liverpool and Aston Villa are looking to sign St Ledger. Preston may be forced to cash in on the centre-back and Liverpool assistant Sammy Lee has apparently been to watch him. Aston Villa scouts have also been monitoring St Ledger's progress with his international defensive partner Richard Dunne able to vouch for his ability.

St Ledger reads the game extremely well and is an extremely competitive player. Although not as big as some centre-backs, he is nonetheless strong, quick and a danger from set-pieces. Comfortable on the ball, St Ledger is also capable of playing at full-back. Intriguingly, the Daily Mail reports that St Ledger is a Liverpool supporter.

Agger To See Specialist

Roy Hodgson has revealed Daniel Agger will see a specialist in London today in a bid to cure a calf injury as the boss confirmed he will field a strong line-up against Napoli on Thursday night.

The Danish centre-back has not figured for Liverpool since the Anfield draw with Sunderland on September 25.

The boss does expect to have Glen Johnson in contention for the clash with Napoli, however, but Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio are likely to miss out as they continue to recover from injuries.

Nonetheless, Hodgson is vowing to select a strong XI as Liverpool attempt to take a big step towards qualification from Europa League Group K.

He told journalists at Anfield: "The injury situation is gradually improving. Glen Johnson has been training since the start of the week, which is very positive. Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio are still training separately, or in Daniel Agger's case not at all.

"He has a fairly serious calf problem and will travel to London today to see another specialist for a second opinion.

"But when it comes to Aurelio and Kuyt, they are both out on the training field, training individually trying to get over their injuries.

"Ryan Babel has actually trained with us as well since the start of the week, despite the severe bruising on his ribs.

"He has done well to get back as quickly as he has done because bruised ribs are a tricky injury because if you take another bang on them it can be very, very painful

"I'm not certain about his participation on Thursday night, but at least he's back in training and could certainly be ready for the weekend.

"Brad Jones is another slight injury worry we have, but again I think a lot of these players will be fit for the weekend game against Chelsea and that means we've got a pretty large squad to choose from on Thursday night.

"I think the team we put out on Thursday will be regarded on paper as a stronger team, I just hope it's a stronger team on the field of play because the team that played in Napoli did very well."

Hodgson revealed he has already named his team for the encounter with Napoli, but was not prepared to give any clues to the journalists gathered at Anfield.

Asked whether Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres would face the Italian side having sat out the goalless draw in Naples a fortnight ago, the boss replied: "Wait and see on Thursday night for that one. I am not prepared to give any indication of what the team will be. I think it is too early to do that.

"I have named the team for players but I prefer to let other people wait and see - it adds a little bit to the excitement.

"But I am prepared to say that I think it is a strong team and I am hoping tomorrow night we will play well enough to get the victory to take a big step towards the knockout stages, which is our ambition in this competition."

The 0-0 draw in Italy two weeks ago kick-started an unbeaten three-match run for Liverpool, which was followed by victories over Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.

However, the boss again refused to be drawn on any talk of the Reds having 'turned a corner'.

Hodgson said: "I think there have been signs that we are beginning to find our feet and the team is beginning to gel together.

"The last two games have brought victories and when you get a victory it is much easier to say 'We gelled together and did the right thing.'

"I am fairly confident that with the way the players work and apply themselves and the way everyone is trying to work hard to make us into a better team, we will see evidence of that in the games we play.

"Whether or not that means we'll win them all I can't say, but I don't have so many fears I am going to put a team on the field and they're going to be playing in a way I can't identify with or that I can't take responsibility for.

"That hasn't been the case so far and if we take the last two games I've got to say I am very pleased and satisfied with the performances.

"But of course, a manager is always a lot more satisfied when his team wins. When you lose you see a multitude of sins and when you win you see a multitude of positives. Probably in every performance there are positives and negatives.

"I am not prepared to talk about turning corners or about results being catalysts for the future. What we've got to do is keep working, keep our feet on the ground and make up ground because we lost a lot of ground at the beginning because of a very poor start to the season.

"We have got ourselves at a stage now where we've got a platform on which we can build, but we're going to need a lot more good results before we can get that platform as high as we'd like it to be."

Damien Comolli Joins LFC

New England Sports Ventures (NESV) and Liverpool FC are pleased to announce the appointment of Damien Comolli as Director of Football Strategy for Liverpool FC.

NESV Principal Owner John Henry said today: "Damien has a proven track-record of identifying exciting young footballing talent and we are delighted that he has agreed to join Liverpool. Working closely with Roy Hodgson and the coaching staff, I know he will make a valuable contribution to strengthening the Club and the squad as we move forward.

"Today's announcement is just the first step in creating a leadership group and structure designed to develop, enhance and implement our long-term philosophy of scouting, recruitment, player development and all of the other aspects necessary to build and sustain a club able to consistently compete at the highest level in European football.

"We intend to be bold and innovative. We will not rest until we have restored Liverpool Football Club to the greatness Liverpool fans expect."

Roy Hodgson added: "I am looking forward to working with Damien whom I have known for many years. We are engaged in an exciting project here and he will bring a lot to the table. We all want to see moves to strengthen the squad and support player development over the next few years. John Henry and I are totally united in delivering on that ambition."

Damien Comolli said: “I am delighted to be joining Liverpool and look forward to working with John and Roy. I think we all realize there is a big job ahead, but we all share the vision that John has for rebuilding the club and bringing back the success that the supporters deserve."

Liverpool Takeover Cleared Without Debt Guarantee

Liverpool’s new owner, John W Henry, was not asked for a written guarantee from chairman Martin Broughton and former managing director Christian Purslow that he would not land the club with his takeover costs.

Previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett said in their offer document, when they bought the club in 2007, which the interest payments on the £200 million they borrowed for the purchase did not “to any significant extent” depend on the business of Liverpool. But they went on to pay the massive interest costs from money the club earned.

This prompted a backlash from Liverpool supporters, who complained that the development of the team was suffering and that much-vaunted plans to relocate the club to a new stadium were being jeopardized.

Henry’s promise to free Liverpool of debt proved persuasive in winning over Broughton and Purslow as well as the fans. However, Henry was not pressed for a written guarantee on this because, according to sources close to the pair, they felt it was not legally enforceable.

Henry has subsequently paid off the previous owners’ acquisition debt, although Liverpool still owe £37 million to Royal Bank of Scotland for development work on the proposed new stadium. Henry’s company, New England Sports Ventures, has said it will review this.

The new owner paid another visit to Merseyside yesterday to meet manager Roy Hodgson as well as the players and staff. He did not elaborate on how NESV had acquired the finances to buy Liverpool, saying such disclosure would go against the company’s confidentiality policy.