Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish not thinking about European football - ESPN Soccernet

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish not thinking about European football - ESPN Soccernet

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists he is not even thinking about the prospect of European football despite the fact they are closer to qualifying for it than they have been all season.

GettyImagesKenny Dalglish is keeping his focus on the game against Fulham

After last weekend's win over Newcastle lifted the Reds into fifth place, their highest position of the campaign, the debate began to intensify about whether the Europa League would be a good thing for a club trying to win back their place in the top four.

Sixth-placed Tottenham have a match in hand and, by the time Liverpool play Fulham on Monday, they could have been overtaken by Harry Redknapp's side.

Even with three games to play Dalglish knows there are still many variables which could affect the final outcome.

Liverpool's long-term planning will continue regardless but the Reds boss is confident the "problem" of Europa League football is something they will deal with if it becomes a reality.

"I find it very difficult to predict the future," he said. "We've always said we would get our reward at the end of the season - we never set ourselves any target.

"We don't have that [Europa League] problem yet and so until it arises we don't have to solve anything - the biggest problem I have is Fulham on Monday night.

"There will be problems to be solved at the end of the season and if we get the Europa League that will be one of the problems. Planning for next season started a good while ago - that [Europa League] is just one thing which has to be taken into consideration but you cannot predict what is going to happen so there is no point in worrying about that."

Although highly ambitious, even Dalglish could not have expected the turnaround in fortunes which has taken place under his guidance. The major concern when he replaced Roy Hodgson in early January appeared to be preventing a slide back into the lower reaches of the table.

From 12th place, though, they have steadily risen and, the odd result excepted, appear to have peaked at the right time.

It is a transformation which has ensured Dalglish and coach Steve Clarke, brought in at the same time to help out on the training ground, will see their temporary positions become permanent - although confirmation will probably not come until the end of the season now.

The players have responded to the return of the club icon for a second spell in charge and Dalglish has been fortunate at least one of his January signings - Luis Suarez, a £22.8 million buy from Ajax - has settled in well and provided much-needed impetus.

Fellow deadline day arrival, Andy Carroll's start has been less eye-catching but his progress has been curtailed by injury and it will be next season before he really finds his place in the team.

Dalglish once again played down his influence over proceedings, insisting he was not aware of a huge change in the way things worked.

"I have just noticed the players being really enthusiastic in training and in the way they've worked and they've had their reward for it on the pitch," he said.

"We've not been disappointed with any single player's attitude since we came in. On Thursday night a few of the lads [Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen, David Ngog and Jonjo Shelvey] played for the reserves and they had a great attitude towards the game, were fully committed and got a great deal out of it.

"That will do us no harm whatsoever, and neither will it do the players any harm either."

In regard to Suarez, the manager added: "With his personality and approach to the games you get a reward and for us it is a really exciting player who has made a contribution to our recent games.

"He enjoys playing football and being here. He has got himself really involved in the Liverpool way and he has got his reward for that. It's a help when he gets a goal but he makes a few as well and we have been delighted with what he has done so far."

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BBC Sport - Jay Spearing earns new Liverpool contract

BBC Sport - Jay Spearing earns new Liverpool contract

Jay Spearing earns new Liverpool contract

Spearing's dynamism has been a feature of his play for the Reds

Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing has extended his contract with the club.

The 22-year-old, who has started his side's last six games, has been

rewarded at the end of a season in which he has begun to establish
himself in the first team.

"It is great news for us, great for wee Jay and for everybody concerned," said Reds boss Kenny Dalglish. "It's just reward for the performances he's put in and he thoroughly deserves what he's got."

The tigerish Spearing has come through the ranks at Anfield since joining
the club as a seven-year-old but has had to be patient in his wait for
first-team action.

"He has started the last few games for us, so that is progress in itself as he was never one of the starting XI unless there were injuries or suspensions," added Dalglish.

"Now I'm getting that run [in the side] I've been able to show my desire and commitment to the club." Jay Spearing

"But he's in there now and he's in there on merit. I think that's progress. "He's certainly reached a higher level than he has done before. We're delighted with what he's done and he's a great asset for us to have." Spearing made his Liverpool debut as a substitute in a 3-1 win at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in December 2008 before his first Premier League start in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in October 2009.

He also spent a spell on loan at Championship club Leicester at the end of the 2009-10 campaign. "I am buzzing," he told the Liverpool website. "I'm pleased to have finally put pen to paper and got everything sorted.

"I've been here for a long time and playing for Liverpool is all I have ever wanted to do, so hopefully I can keep going now.

"It has been a long time coming. I've been in the background and in and around the first team and maybe not had a run in the team, but now I'm getting that run I've been able to show my desire and commitment to the club.

"I owe a lot to the boss and hopefully I am repaying him with the games I am playing. He put me into the derby [against Everton in January] straight away and that gave me a lot of confidence. "Any player who has the belief of the manager always wants to go on and show what he can do."With the new boss coming in and the way we have been playing and with me

getting some game time, it has been a good couple of months and this
has topped it off for me."

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Petikan Akhbar Harian Metro 04/05/2011: Kuyt langkah kanan

Kuyt langkah kanan

PENYERANG Li�ver�pool, Dirk Kuyt (gambar) percaya dia berada pada prestasi terbaik sejak berhijrah ke England hampir lima tahun lalu.
Pemain antarabangsa Belanda itu menjaringkan gol kelapannya dalam tujuh perlawanan terakhir ketika kemenangan 3-0 ke atas Newcastle United Ahad lalu, muncul pemain ketujuh Reds menjaringkan gol dalam empat perlawanan Liga Perdana berturut-turut.
Dua daripadanya adalah menerusi sepakan pe�nalti namun melihat kepada re�kodnya - dia menyumbat 12 gol dalam 13 perlawanan terakhir bagi se��mua pertandingan, termasuk dua perlawanan antarabang�sa - memberikan keyakinan kepada pemain itu sendiri bahawa dia sudah mengembalikan prestasi yang menyebabkan pengurus ketika itu, Rafael Benitez membayar Fe�yenoord �10 juta (RM49 juta) pada musim panas 2006.

“Kali terakhir saya bertindak sebegini semestinya di Belanda, di mana saya menjaringkan banyak gol,” kata pemain yang sering dilihat bekerja keras itu, yang sekalipun berusia 31 tahun Julai ini, menerima kontrak ba�ru di Anfield bulan lalu sebagai menghargai usahanya.

“Ketika ini semuanya berjalan dengan baik, saya menjaringkan gol dalam empat perlawanan terakhir, sesuatu yang bagus untuk dilakukan.

“Keyakinan saya tinggi, tapi ia ada kena mengena dengan pengurusan dan rakan sepasukan saya.

“Saya fikir keyakinan setiap pemain adalah tinggi ketika ini, kerana setiap orang bertindak dengan cemerlang.

“Ia sama dengan saya, saya berasa lebih bagus berban�ding apa yang saya lakukan pada awal musim dan saya kembali seronok bermain bola sepak.”

Sekalipun prolifik dalam bola sepak Belanda, Kuyt diberi peranan di bahagian sayap kanan oleh Benitez kerana etika kerjanya yang menakjubkan dan tidak banyak peluang beraksi sebagai penyerang tengah.

Perpindahan Fernando Torres pada Januari dan kecederaan pemain baru, Andy Carroll memberikannya lebih banyak peluang di depan dan dia mula membuka mata banyak pihak ketika gandingannya dengan seorang lagi pemain baru Liverpool, Luis Suarez dilihat semakin berbisa.

Suarez memenangi penalti babak kedua yang disempurnakan oleh Kuyt dan pemain Belanda itu membalas budi rakannya menerusi hantaran kepada pemain antarabangsa Uruguay itu untuk menja�ringkan gol ketiga menentang Magpies dan meraih kemenangan yang melonjakkan Liverpool ke tangga kelima.

“Adalah hebat untuk memilikinya di sini. Luis bertindak bagus setakat ini dan saya amat gembira bermain di sampingnya,” kata Kuyt.

“Memang hebat mempunyai pemain sepertinya dalam pasukan. Dia sering bergerak, sering cuba untuk mencipta sesuatu dan ketika dia melorongkan bola kepada anda, dia sudah bergerak kembali untuk menerima�nya.

“Ia membuatkannya lebih mudah bagi anda.

“Setiap orang boleh melihat kami berdepan masalah pada awal musim tapi kemudian semuanya berubah dan setiap orang boleh melihat apabila anda menambah dua pemain berkualiti ke dalam pasukan, maka semuanya boleh ber�ubah.”

My KOSMO!: Sengsara Liverpool bermula

 

PENYERANG Liverpool, Joe Cole tidak dapat menahan kesedihan selepas pasukannya tewas 0-2 kepada Everton dalam saingan Liga Perdana England semalam.

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LONDON — Zaman sengsara Liverpool bermula dan pasukan itu dilihat berpotensi untuk turun ke liga divisyen satu musim depan. Hajat kelab itu untuk memulakan era baru dalam Liga Perdana England terus terencat.

Semalam, skuad kendalian Roy Hodgson itu mengalami kekalahan 0-2 kepada Everton dalam pertemuan dua kelab jiran setempat Merseyside tersebut.

Dua gol daripada Tim Cahill dan Mikel Arteta menjamin tiga mata penuh buat Everton yang berjaya melonjak ke tangga ke-11, manakala Liverpool jatuh ke tangga kedua tercorot liga.

Dengan pemilik baru kelab itu dari Amerika Syarikat, John W. Henry hadir untuk menonton perlawanan di Goodison Park itu, Liverpool tetap gagal menghadiahkan kejayaan yang amat dinanti-nantikan peminat mereka selepas isu pengambilalihan kelab tersebut sudah diselesaikan.

Kekalahan semalam juga menyaksikan skuad kendalian Roy Hodgson itu hanya mengutip enam mata daripada lapan perlawanan musim ini.

Ia memberi gambaran mengenai tugas sukar yang menanti pemiliknya, Henry dan Kumpulan New England Sports Ventures (NESV) untuk membina semula reputasi The Reds selaku pasukan elit yang kini semakin tenggelam. Apa yang pasti, kekalahan demi kekalahan yang dialami skuad dari Anfield itu boleh dikatakan sebagai landasan untuk mereka turun ke liga bawahan. - Agensi

Komen aku: Secara peribadi, kemerosotan berpunca daripada pengaruh kuat Benitez. Kalau sebelum ini, Benitez menafikan untuk tinggalkan Anfield, tetapi akhirnya beliau meninggalkannya. Selain itu, ia juga berpunca daripada Owner (Hikcs and Gillert) Liverpool yang seolah-olah mahu menghancurkan kelab gergasi itu.

Dan salah satu lagi sebab, cara formasi Roy Hodgson juga menjadi salah satu punca utama kenapa prestasi Liverpool hambar. Dalam salah satu interview, Daniel Agger ada menyatakan mereka tidak selesa bermain dengan cara “short passed” kerana mereka lebih selesa dengan “long passed” yang mereka telah praktikan sebelum ini. Roy sepatutnya tidak perlu mengubah cara permainan yang sedia ada, tetapi memperkemaskan barisan pertahanan yang sanggat longgar.

Yang pasti, menjelang Januari, aku pasti ramai player Liverpool akan pergi meninggalkan kelab gergasi itu. Selain dari Glen Johnson yang telah menyatakan hasratnya untuk meninggalkan kelab itu. Beberapa tonggak utama yang telahpun meninggalkan Liverpool seperti Mascherano.

Usah pertikaikan keagungan Reds (Kosmo)

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ENGLAND - Andai ada yang menganggap kemenangan besar Liverpool ke atas Manchester United di Old Trafford minggu lalu sebagai nasib, ia adalah tanggapan yang silap.

Ia bukan nasib, sebaliknya ia dicapai berdasarkan prestasi cemerlang dan memang layak kelab dari Anfield itu membelasah musuh tradisi mereka dengan jaringan yang besar.

Begitu juga dengan kemenangan 4-0 ke atas Real Madrid dalam saingan Liga Juara-Juara, dan ia dicapai ekoran prestasi mereka yang sedang berada di puncak.

Jika ada di antara peminat bola sepak tempatan mahukan bukti kehebatan Liverpool, The Reds sudah menjelaskannya di gelanggang perlawanan.

Satu demi satu lawan dibelasah dan terbaru ialah Aston Villa.

Semalam, Liverpool terus tampil bergaya apabila memusnahkan Villa 5-0.

Kemenangan itu terus mengukuhkan kedudukan mereka dalam liga dan kini hanya dipisahkan dengan perbezaan satu mata daripada pendahulu, United yang sudah mengumpul 65 mata.

Begitupun, United masih ada kelebihan satu perlawanan berbanding Liverpool.

Apa yang dibuktikan Liverpool memang sungguh menakjubkan kerana telah menghasilkan 13 gol dalam tiga perlawanan.

Pada separuh masa pertama sahaja, skuad bimbingan Rafael Benitez itu sudah selesa mendahului 3-0.

Jaringan tersebut memang tidak diduga kerana perlawanan baru berlangsung separuh jalan.

Namun, apa yang dibuktikan oleh The Reds itu membuktikan banyak kebenaran daripada kenyataan Benitez bahawa mereka sudah bersedia memusnahkan sesiapa sahaja selepas ini.

Pada aksi semalam, Liverpool hanya mengambil masa lapan minit untuk mendahului Villa.

Jaringan pembukaan itu hadir menerusi rembatan Dirk Kuyt dari dalam kotak penalti hasil sepakan percuma daripada Steven Gerrard.

Selepas itu mereka terus garang seperti Harimau yang sedang lapar membaham mangsa.

KUYT (kanan) bersaing dengan penyerang Villa, John Carew (tengah) pada aksi Liga Perdana England di Anfield semalam.

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Larian Gerrard di kawasan tengah sudah cukup untuk mengkucar-kacirkan benteng lawan.

Hasilnya, mereka mudah mencari ruang untuk menambah jaringan.

Ketika perlawanan berusia 33 minit, Liverpool sudah memperoleh gol kedua menerusi percubaan Alberto Reira dan enam minit selepas itu, Gerrad pula mencatat nama sebagai penjaring untuk gol ketiga pasukannya hasil daripada sepakan penalti.

Pengadil menghadiahkan sepakan tersebut selepas pertahanan Villa menjatuhkan Reira dalam kotak penalti dan Gerrard yang mengambil tugas tersebut mudah menyempurnakannya.

Dalam keadaan tertekan, Villa turut mendapat beberapa peluang untuk mengurangkan jurang gol.

Peluang terbaik mereka hadir pada minit ke-31 menerusi percubaan Luke Young, tetapi rembatannya diselamatkan oleh penjaga gol tuan rumah, Pepe Reina.

Pada separuh masa kedua, rentak Liverpool semakin garang.

Serangan bertali arus dan pertahanan lawan terus dipaksa bekerja keras.

Selepas empat minit babak kedua bermula, The Reds sudah mendahului 4-0 menerusi sepakan percuma daripada Gerrard di luar kotak penalti.

Kegarangan mereka tidak terhenti setakat itu, sebaliknya terus melancarkan gerak berbahaya.

Sebaik perlawanan memasuki minit ke-65, Liverpool sekali lagi dihadiahkan sepakan penalti dan seperti diduga, Gerrard mudah menyempurnakannya untuk membolehkan mereka mendahului 5-0.

Ia juga merupakan jaringan hatrik daripada Gerrard pada perlawanan tersebut.

Untuk menambahkan lagi malam derita Villa itu, penjaga gol Villa, Brad Friedel pula dilayangkan kad merah oleh pengadil selepas mengasari Fernando Torres.

Menyedari kedudukan yang sudah begitu selesa itu, Benitez melakukan beberapa pertukaran untuk memberi ruang kepada pemain mudanya.

Namun, Liverpool tetap sukar untuk dijinakkan. - Agensi

Welcome! Selamat Datang!

Assalamualaikum, salam sejahtera.

First word, welcoming viewers, readers from all around the world who love Liverpool FC.

1. Why Liverpool? i'm growth when the Liverpool is on top. Started knowing Ian Rush, Kenny Daglish, Bruce Gobelar.
2. Why Liverpool? Very low profile team.
   
3. Why Liverpool? Don't know. But I Love Liverpool. Even tough when the team down or when on top. They still maintain with the reputation.

So, Liverpool fan. Enjoy the games. EPL just begun. Wins over Sunderland. And thanks to Torres. Great game, man.