Official Liverpool Thread

[pigeon]

Well if Kirkland is really as good as everyone has been saying he is, he'll get in their team. If not, he has no future at Liverpool anyway.

[Turbo Yannis]

Personally, I don't rate Kirkland that highly. I believe the exact way I would describe him would be "flapper". And with Celtic going for him now, he looks to be finished at Liverpool.

[botchedpiledriver]

I don't get the point of Kirkland going to West Brom.  Hoult is okay and that other goalie's good as well.

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[Turbo Yannis]

Ah, knowing that then it becomes mre logical

[therockbox]

Blatter: Liverpool must go to Japan

Monday June 13 2005

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has told Liverpool they must play in the Club World Championship.

Liverpool face an extended fixture list following UEFA's decision allow them into next season's Champions League first qualifying round. But any plans to lighten the load by withdrawing from December's Club World Championship in Japan will not be tolerated, according to Blatter.

"They must play the Toyota Cup because it is binding for them for 2005," Blatter told the Daily Mail.

"The cup is in Japan and they will have to travel. Do you think they won't play? They will play."

The tournament will incorporate the Toyota Cup, a play-off between the European and South American club champions.

Edited June 13, 2005 by The Rock Box

[public enemy]

I don't see why Liverpool couldn't field a weakened team actually.

There's no rules against it and already with the fixture pile-up, its obvious they're going to have to sacrifice a competition or two. They may be in an unenviable position in terms of fixtures but its easily resolved granted they have a big enough squad and have a little more luck with injuries than this season.

Besides, its not like the Club World Championship was ever that important.

[Malenko]

You guys are acting like if they were making stuff up just to lower the chances of Liverpool in any competition, but the rules clearly state that the team that wins the CL has to go to the World Club Championship/Intercontinental Cup, unless the team is banned from european football for some reason, in which case the loser in the CL final is the one who goes.

HOWEVER, if that's not an important competition for Liverpool, they can always field their reserve team.

[therockbox]

Which is exactly what I said.

[Malenko]

Which is exactly what I said.

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[therockbox]

I said he's a fat, meddling cunt - which he is.

[Guest The Real Deal]

Vladimir Smicer, as expected, has signed a two-year deal with Bordeaux.

The Czech international has left Liverpool after seeing out his contract at Anfield.

The former Lens man bowed out of Anfield in a blaze of glory, scoring the second goal and then a crucial penalty in the shoot-out victory over Milan in the UEFA Champions League final last month.

Smicer impressed Bordeaux with his showing against Milan and they have moved quickly to lure him back to France.

The talented midfielder enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Lens before joining Liverpool and he admitted he was delighted to be joining Bordeaux.

"Bordeaux is a beautiful seaside city and Les Girondins were always at the top of the French league," Smicer told Czech daily Sport.

"The last season was not ideal for them. They will want to get back to the top in the new one and I will be glad to be able to help them."

Smicer revealed he almost joined Bordeaux last year only for injury to scupper the move.

"Out of all the offers I had, I like this one the most," added Smicer.

"Bordeaux wanted me last year after the European Championships but I had to undergo knee surgery and was sidelined for half a season.

"Their interest remained and that is the most important thing for any player when seeking a transfer."

[therockbox]

I'm glad he hasn't gone to another English club, but on a shittier note;

Liverpool full-back Steve Finnan has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, it was revealed today.

The defender, who played in the heroic Champions League final victory against AC Milan last month, was involved in a collision in his black Range Rover which resulted in the death of a pensioner.

Henry Nelson, 81, from Liverpool, suffered serious head injuries and died five weeks later in hospital.

The accident happened in the Tuebrook area of the city on January 27 but Finnan, a Republic of Ireland international, was not arrested until more than three months later.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: ``A 29-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on April 11 on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

``He was bailed pending further inquiries to appear at a police station on Wednesday June 29.''

An inquest into Mr Nelson's death has been opened and adjourned until July 4.

Finnan, who originally comes from Limerick, started his career at non-league Welling before moving into league football with Birmingham and Notts County.

In November 1998 he was bought by Fulham for £600,000 before moving to Liverpool ahead of the 2003/04 season.

[TheArsenal]

THE SOURCE FOR HIS QUOTE

It's a shame to hear of this, that family of the deceased must be going through hell, and I bet Finnan doesn't feel much better about things. I'm sure he didn't mean to do it - after all there were no drinks or drugs mentioned in the news reports etc.

[therockbox]

Liverpool have cancelled their pre-season tour to Japan, so they can defend their Champions League crown.

The Reds did not qualify for the competition after finishing fifth in the Premiership but Uefa has allowed them in as the European Cup holders.

But Liverpool will have to start out at the first round qualifying stage which starts on 12/13 July.

Reds chief executive Rick Parry said: "We've explored ways to fulfil our commitment but had to cancel."

The Anfield club were due to play against the J-League's Shimizu S-Pulse on 27 July and Kashima on 30 July.

Parry added: "We would like to express our sincere regret to all Japanese fans who would have enjoyed seeing the matches. We look forward to being able to visit Japan as soon as possible."

[Guest Leeleemu]

Yeah, I agree, it is funny, just Harry Kewell being a lazy selfish tart that he is, hes just jealous hes not as good as Linekar

[Turbo Yannis]

Sky Sports are saying that Baros is staying. Unlucky.

Edited June 16, 2005 by Turbonegro

[therockbox]

Shit. We could've got some decent cash for him, or a decent swap deal.

[therockbox]

Liverpool's Premiership Fixtures 2005/06

August

Sat, Aug 13 Middlesbrough (A)

Sat, Aug 20 Sunderland

Tue, Aug 23 Charlton Athletic (A)

Friday, Aug 26 CSKA Moscow Super Cup, Monaco

Sat, Aug 27 Arsenal

September

Sat, Sep 10 Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Sat, Sep 17 Manchester United

Sat, Sep 24 Birmingham City (A)

October

Sat, Oct 1 Chelsea

Sat, Oct 15 Blackburn Rovers

Sat, Oct 22 Fulham (A)

Tue/Wed, Oct 25/26 Carling Cup 3rd round

Sat, Oct 29 West Ham United

November

Sat, Nov 5 Aston Villa (A)

Sat, Nov 19 Portsmouth

Sat, Nov 26 Manchester City (A)

Tue/Wed, Nov 29/30 Carling Cup 4th round

December

Sat, Dec 3 Wigan Athletic

Sat, Dec 10 Middlesbrough

Sat, Dec 17 Sunderland (A)

Tue/Wed, Dec 20/21 Carling Cup 5th round

Mon, Dec 26 Newcastle United

Wed, Dec 28 Everton (A)

Sat, Dec 31 West Bromwich Albion

January 2006

Mon, Jan 2 Bolton Wanderers (A)

Sat, Jan 7 FA Cup 3rd round

Tue/Wed, Jan 10/11 Carling Cup Semi-Final 1st leg

Sat, Jan 14 Tottenham Hotspur

Sat, Jan 21 Manchester United (A)

Tue/Wed, Jan 24/25 Carling Cup Semi-Final 2nd leg

Sat, Jan 28 FA Cup 4th round

Tue, Jan 31 Birmingham City

February

Sat, Feb 4 Chelsea (A)

Sat, Feb 11 Wigan Athletic (A)

Sat, Feb 18 FA Cup 5th round

Sat, Feb 25 Manchester City

Sun, Feb 26 Carling Cup Final in Cardiff

March

Sat, Mar 4 Charlton Athletic

Sat, Mar 11 Arsenal (A)

Sat, Mar 18 Newcastle United (A)

Wed, Mar 22 FA Cup quarter-finals

Sat, Mar 25 Everton

April

Sat, Apr 1 West Bromwich Albion (A)

Sat, Apr 8 Bolton Wanderers

Sat, Apr 15 Blackburn Rovers (A)

Mon, Apr 17 Fulham

Sat, Apr 22 West Ham United (A) Also FA Cup semi-final date

Sat, Apr 29 Aston Villa

Sun, May 7 Portsmouth (A)

Sat, May 13 FA Cup Final

Supporters should take into consideration that the above fixtures are only provisional and are subject to change because of live television coverage by Sky Sports and Pay-per-view. These changes will be announced shortly.

Edited June 23, 2005 by The Rock Box

[pigeon]

The Arsenal home one will deffo be moved because of the Super Cup.

[Grounded Wingman]

Apparently the Reina deal is close to being done.

1st and 2nd round draws for Champion's League qualifying is tomorrow (Friday 24th June) and players have to be signed by the 6th July to be eligible for the 1st qualifying round.