Monday, April 13, 2009

ALONSO: WE HAVE TO FIND THE BALANCE

Steve Hunter 13 April 2009

Xabi Alonso insists Liverpool will need to find the right balance between attack and defence at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night and not leave gaps at the back for Chelsea to exploit.

Rafael Benitez's side must score three times against Guus Hiddink's outfit to stand any chance of progressing, but despite last season's runners-up being favourites, the Spanish playmaker remains confident that the tie is far from over.

"There is hope," Alonso told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"We know it is going to be a very difficult task to score three goals, but as long as we have a little chance then we are going to try and fight for it and go there and try to do our best.

"I think that it will be the closest to perfect if we can go there, score three goals and beat them.

"We will need to have a very attacking mentality because we need to score a lot of goals. By the same way we can't go desperate all-out attack because if you do that you will have more chances to concede.

"We will need to keep the balance but with an attacking mind of course."

The midfield will be boosted by the return of Javier Mascherano after suspension and Alonso said: "It is always good to have as many options as possible and good for the manager to have everyone available for this game."

Reflecting on the disappointing first leg, Alonso said every player is determined to put things right in the capital tomorrow night.

"Once we conceded the first goal we knew it was going to be hard and difficult because we had conceded an away goal," he said.

"I think maybe it affected us more than what it should have.

"The second half wasn't the best. The played well and controlled the game. We were not calm enough and they deserved to win. The result was very bad for us.

"You have to give credit to them. They have a great team and sometimes when they perform that well it is difficult to beat them.

"We made some very uncommon mistakes ourselves and that's something we will have to look at and try to improve for this game."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163987090413-0723.htm

TORRES: WIN WILL LIFT US

Paul Hassall 12 April 2009

Fernando Torres believes Liverpool's 4-0 demolition of Blackburn will give them a huge lift ahead of their Champions League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Spanish striker admits the Reds were hugely disappointed by the manner of their 3-1 first-leg defeat against the Blues at Anfield and feels their rout of Rovers will lift spirits as they bid to rescue the tie.

"It was a great result coming after the game against Chelsea," said Torres. "The last game wasn't good, but we've done our job.

"We have confidence after this result to go to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday."

Torres got Liverpool off to a flier against Rovers with a stunning fifth minute volley that set the tone for the remainder of the match.

Asked if he felt it was one of the best he's ever scored for the Reds, he said: "Sometimes you try to score like this, but normally the ball goes out," he added. "But this one went in. It was a good goal."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163984090412-0842.htm

YOSSI: TORRES IS WORLD'S BEST STRIKER

Paul Hassall 12 April 2009

Yossi Benayoun hailed Fernando Torres as the best striker in the world after the Spaniard hit a magnificent double in the 4-0 victory over Blackburn on Saturday.

The Israeli was left searching for superlatives after El Nino inspired the Reds to a morale-boosting triumph with a brace that included a stunning volley that could well be a goal of the season contender.

"That's what you get with Torres," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"He is always a threat. He is the best striker in the world. The goals that he scores are just unbelievable. Look at the first one today. It was incredible. He makes it look so simple too. It's always easier for us as a team when he is playing."

blackburn


The win saw Liverpool briefly return to the summit prior to Manchester United's narrow win at Sunderland and Benayoun admits it was important the Reds reacted positively after their shock Champions League defeat against Chelsea on Wednesday night

"It was important that we responded after the disappointment of the Chelsea defeat," he said.

"We have to give everything in the Premier League and keep fighting to the end. We must keep winning to put pressure on Man United. Hopefully it will be enough to see us win the title.

"The win has restored our confidence and that was important. We know it will be very difficult on Tuesday at Chelsea. We will look to give 100 per cent and try our best and then see what happens. You never know in football - anything can happen."

Prior to kick off Anfield fell silent to mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster and Benayoun was pleased the Reds were able to cap the afternoon with the three points.

"It is very sad and we will all attend the service on Wednesday and pay our respects," he said. "We have to make sure something like that never happens again.

"The crowd were amazing today and hopefully we gave them something to cheer at a difficult time."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163983090412-0830.htm

LIVERPOOL 4-0 BLACKBURN: IN PICTURES

Pictures by David Rawcliffe of Propaganda 13 April 2009

Liverpool kept up the pressure in the Barclays Premier League title race with a superb 4-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on an emotional day at Anfield. Here's the best of the action in pictures.



































LIVERPOOL 4 - 0 BLACKBURN

Premiership

LIVERPOOL 4 - 0 BLACKBURN
Torres

Torres

Agger

N'Gog


Torres



Torres



Agger



N'Gog

Thursday, April 9, 2009

SPANIARD SEEKS ISTANBUL INSPIRATION

Jimmy Rice 09 April 2009

Alvaro Arbeloa today had one word for anyone who believes Liverpool are out of the Champions League: Istanbul.

Rafa Benitez's side need to score at least three goals at Stamford Bridge next week after losing the home leg of their quarter-final 3-1.

Arbeloa knows it will be tough but hopes the Reds can recreate their heroics from the 2005 Champions League final, when they overturned a 3-0 half-time deficit to lift the trophy.

"We can do it - why not? We believe we can," the Spanish full-back told Liverpoolfc.tv. "We have to go there and fight, try to get one goal and then think about another.

"Liverpool won a Champions League final by scoring three goals in 45 minutes, so why can't we get three in 90?

"I think we have to remember Istanbul and believe. We know it's going to be difficult to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but it's not over."

Liverpool led 1-0 after six minutes thanks to a Fernando Torres strike, but two Branislav Ivanovic headers turned the tie on its head before Didier Drogba inflicted more pain on Anfield.

Arbeloa added: "Maybe we defended too deep after the first goal - we gave them too much of the ball. We conceded and that was painful - and then we conceded again."

Meanwhile, Lucas Leiva insists Liverpool have already proved they can score goals in the toughest stadiums this term.

The Brazilian played a starring role in the 4-1 win at Old Trafford last month and is in no doubt that he and his teammates can do the same in south west London.

"We know it will be really difficult but it's not impossible," Lucas told us. "Chelsea came here and scored three, and we have the quality to do the same there.

"We will have to try until the very last minute at Stamford Bridge. I think we need the perfect performance.

"It's a different game but we have shown already this season we can win 4-1 at places like Old Trafford."

Liverpool now have two days before resuming their title charge in Saturday's lunch-time kick-off against Blackburn.

A win would see the Reds leapfrog leaders Manchester United, who travel to Sunderland at 3pm.

Lucas added: "We are really disappointed but we have to forget about this now because we have a really important game on Saturday, then the second leg.

"We can't talk too much now about the Champions League because we have a massive game in two days' time against Blackburn.

"It is impossible not to think about this game afterwards when you go home, but at training the next day you have to focus on Blackburn. Hopefully we won't make the same mistakes because we still have chances in the title race."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163954090409-0851.htm

PEPE: DON'T BLAME ZONAL MARKING

Jimmy Rice 09 April 2009

Pepe Reina admits Liverpool must improve their defending from set-pieces after two headed goals from Branislav Ivanovic during the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.

The Spain international was disappointed at the manner of the goals in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg but insists it would be ridiculous to blame zonal marking.

"You are always disappointed when you concede, but especially from set-pieces," Reina told Liverpoolfc.tv. "It's something we'll have to work on.

"It's always the same when we concede goals from free-kicks - people start talking about man marking and zonal. But we've done it for five years and, although I don't have the statistics, I know we're one of the teams that concedes fewest from set pieces."

Didier Drogba added the third as Liverpool slumped to their first home loss in 14 months.

Reina accepts he and his teammates were second best on the night, but insists their dream of reaching the final in Rome is not over.

"They were the better team and they deserved the victory," he said. "We now have to improve on everything we did on the night and be ready for the second leg.

"It's going to be much tougher to win the trophy now - we have to go there and win 3-1 or 3-0. But we can go to any stadium and win.

"Of course the 4-1 at Old Trafford gives us hope - it shows us what we can do at any stadium. We won like that at Old Trafford, why not at Stamford Bridge?

"It has to be a perfect performance. We have to have a great day and they must have one of their worst."

The Reds now need to focus on Saturday's early kick-off against Blackburn, a chance to overtake leaders Manchester United.

Reina added: "It's another competition and we are very much alive in the title race. It's an important game, and early kick-offs are never easy against a rested team, so we have to be ready.

"It's our job to be ready. Whenever we lose games we have to come in the next day and forget about what happened so we can try to move forward and improve.

"We now have to prove to ourselves and our fans that we're still there in the league."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163955090409-0941.htm