NEW DATE SET FOR ARSENAL CLASH

Steve Hunter 20 December 2006

Liverpool’s Carling Cup quarter-final tie against Arsenal will now take place on Tuesday, January 9th 2007 at 7.45pm.

The re-arranged game comes just three days after the FA Cup 3rd round tie between the two sides at Anfield. Please note the following ticket arrangements for this fixture.

Ticket holders who did not enter the stadium should retain their ticket as it will be valid for the rearranged fixture. If the date for the new game is not suitable then return your ticket to the ticket office for a refund.

Ticket holders who entered the stadium should return their ticket stub to the ticket office as soon as possible either for a replacement ticket or a full refund. Please enclose full contact details along with the ticket stub.

Send to LFC Ticket Office, PO Box 204 Liverpool. L69 4PQ.

Arsenal fans who didn’t enter the stadium can use their ticket for the new date or contact Arsenal FC for a refund.

UCL : Liverpool VS Barcelona

Paul Eaton 15 December 2006

Liverpool will take on Barcelona in the last sixteen of this season’s Champions League.

The first leg will be played at the Nou Camp on February 20 or 21 next year with the return at Anfield two weeks later.

Full draw:

Porto v Chelsea

Celtic v AC Milan

PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal

Lille v Man United

Roma v Lyon

Barcelona v Liverpool

Real Madrid v Bayern Munich

Inter Milan v Valencia

REMEMBERING THE CLASS OF ’96

Ahead of tonight’s FA Youth Cup Final 2nd leg, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen, Roy Evans and Hughie McAuley recall Liverpool’s memorable 1996 triumph in this competition…
Roy Evans: “The nice thing about the youth team actually winning the trophy is that people do start to take notice and some of the people at that end of the coaching scale get some recognition. Steve Heighway and his team have done a great job down there for many years and we’ve had many youngsters come through. That season there were three or four who showed themselves in the first team. It was nice that they could get that recognition.” Hughie McAuley: “In that team there were a lot of players who have gone on to do very well at league level, some at our football club and others who have moved on and done very well at other football clubs, so that was quite a successful year and a very, very enjoyable one.” Jamie Carragher: “There was Roy Naylor in goal; Lee Prior was at right back, left-back Gareth Roberts who’s at Tranmere. Big Eddie Turk at the back with Phil Brazier. Me and ‘Little Thommo’ (David Thompson) were in central midfield. Stuart Quinn on the right and Michael (Owen) played up front with Parky (Andy Parkinson) and John Newby, who moved to Bury, and a good friend of mine Jamie Cassidy played on the left hand side. It was a good side; we were very tough to beat. I think we bullied our way to that!” Hughie McAuley: “Michael would be the one who stands out in that team and quite rightly so. As a young player, giving away two-and-a-half years in age at times, he showed very early on that he had the attributes and the class to be a fine player and he has done that. As I said before, there were other players who have gone on and done well. David Thompson, Jamie Carragher have done equally well for themselves and we’re very proud of that.” Michael Owen: “I remember being down at Lilleshall at the time and I think a couple of the strikers in the youth team might have got injured. I think I was 15 or 16 at the time and I couldn’t believe it when Steve Heighway gave me the call up. I came back and I joined the lads who I didn’t really know because they were two or three years older than me. I played in the first game against Sheffield United and I managed to keep my place after that. That got me pally with David Thompson and Jamie Carragher and people like that and it’s nice to see they’ve also progressed into the first team.” Jamie Carragher: “Michael was a latecomer to the team, but you’ve got to hold your hand up and say he virtually won us the Cup that year. The other lads did a lot of work in the early rounds. I think Michael came in for the Man United game and I think that was when the press started getting on to how well we were doing and he scored a hat-trick in that game.” Michael Owen: “I think the Man United game in that tournament was the memorable one. We won the final comfortably over two legs, but I think the Man United game where we beat them 3-2 was the game that everybody remembers from that year.” Jamie Carragher: “Michael never played in the first leg of the final, we won away at West Ham 2-0, but he came back for the return. West Ham were a good side, they had Frank Lampard playing and Rio Ferdinand.” Hughie McAuley: “In that West Ham side was Rio and Frank Lampard who are household names as well. So they were very competitive games those two, to look at what they had and West Ham had good youth teams as well. That was an exceptional final, both legs were really good games. Michael showed his class against Rio and the West Ham defence.” Jamie Carragher: “A couple of them were just on the verge of the reserves, substitute, that kind of thing. The whole thing about the youth cup is it’s a big thing playing at the ground and I think it was a big house for us. I think it was just after the 1996 FA Cup final so everybody was a bit down about what happened there, but I think we go about 20,000 to 25,000 thousand there, so it was superb from the supporters. I still see some of the lads out and about in town now, so it’s a nice thing to be remembered by.”

GERRARD RETURNS IN DEFIANT TITLE TALKING MOOD

Mark Platt 24 July 2006
Steven Gerrard marked his first day back in pre-season training by outlining his aspirations to end Liverpool’s long wait for the Premiership title.
Having enjoyed a prolonged summer break due to his involvement in the World Cup the Liverpool skipper returned to club duty in determined mood.
Speaking at the launch of the Reds’ new Adidas kit, Gerrard spoke of his burning desire to lift more trophies and warned rival clubs that Liverpool fear no-one.
He says: “It would be really nice to finish this season on another good note, just like have done in the previous seasons. Another trophy in the cabinet is a must, as is continued improvement in the league.
“We have to believe we can win the Premiership. It’s going to be difficult but we have to get ourselves involved in that title race. We have respect for the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United but we don’t fear them.
“We have the players to improve. The boss has strengthened the squad and I’m sure he’ll add to it again before the start of the season, so that bodes well. We’ve just got to have confidence in our own ability and belief that we can do it.
new kit
“There are a lot of players in the Liverpool dressing room, myself included, who are only missing a Premiership medal from their collection. We’d love to put that right and I’m sure everyone will be pulling in the same direction to achieve this. I’d just love to lift that Premiership trophy above my head.
“Winning the Champions League and FA Cup were both unforgettable experiences and it’s nice to see those trophies in the cabinet but you can’t speak about glory days at Liverpool until the title has been won again, again and again, plus more and more other trophies. You won’t get anyone here speaking about glory days until this is the case.”
Despite playing almost non-stop for 12 months Gerrard insists he’s raring to go ahead of the new campaign and dismissed thoughts he’d be suffering from tiredness.
“I’ve had a three week rest and that is enough for anyone. I enjoyed a couple of holidays, spent a lot of time with my family and I’m feeling good. I just can’t wait to get playing football again. I’m itching for it because that’s what I get paid to do.
“Obviously I have still got some painful memories from Germany but as a player you have to look forward and the idea now is to have a good season for Liverpool.”
new kit
While Gerrard has been away four new faces have been added to the Anfield ranks and the skipper admits he’s impressed with the quality that Rafael Benitez has brought in.
“I’m really excited by the signings we’ve made so far. Obviously, the one I know most about is Craig Bellamy because I’ve come up against him many times. He was a nightmare to play against so I’m glad to have him on side. He’s a really quick player with fantastic ability. He’ll now be playing in a better side than he has done in the past and I’m sure we’re going to see the best of him.
“He’s capable of scoring lots of goals and it’s my responsibility as a midfielder to provide him with chances. He’s also a great character and that is what we need here. I know there’s a lot said about Craig off the pitch but that doesn’t interest me. I’m only interested in how he does on the pitch and I’m sure he’s going to have a good Liverpool career.”
Gerrard also had some words of encouragement for two other Liverpool strikers at opposite ends of their career path.
“I was delighted to see Craig Lindfield get off the mark on Saturday. I was really impressed with him during last season’s Youth Cup run and I’m not surprised to see him being handed a first team opportunity. He’s a good player with a big future and it’s nice to see a local lad get a chance.
“Let’s also not forget about Robbie Fowler. I hear he’s been looking sharp since the start of pre-season and I’ve no doubt he will score a lot of goals in the coming season.”
On Liverpool’s new Adidas kit, the club captain added: “It’s really nice, very smart and feels good on. The three stripes on the arm remind me of the glory days of the eighties when the likes of John Barnes and Steve McMahon were in their prime. Hopefully it can inspire us to similar success.”
From official Liverpool site