UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

La primera jornada será los días 16 y 17 de septiembre.
Liverpool's Group D fixtures are as follows:

September 16 v Marseille (a)
October 1 v PSV Eindhoven (h)
October 22 v Atletico Madrid (a)
November 4 v Atletico Madrid (h)
November 26 v Marseille (h)
December 9 v PSV Eindhoven (a)

Steven Gerrard will be out for next two weeks

The Liverpool skipper needs an operation on the groin injury that bothered him during pre-season and will be out for a fortnight.

I'm disappointed because Gerrard will have an operation tomorrow," said Rafael Benitez.

"He has a groin problem. We knew it could be like this and I was surprised when I was reading some of the newspapers saying he has to play and has to start. Now he will have an operation and will be out for 10-15 days.

"It isn't too long but he needs to have it because he has been having pain with it. When he went with the national team we knew he had a problem and in the first-leg too.

"I was talking with the doctor yesterday and today we talked with him [Gerrard]. He said he would play with pain and after it he would have an operation.

"He knew he had to keep going tonight and did so because he knew he was having it tomorrow."

Liverpool 1 - S. Lieja 0

Liverpool seemed destined for a penalty shoot out last night before Dirk Kuyt scored the winner in the 118th minute to knock out Standard Liege and book the Reds' place in the group stages of the Champions League.

"We wanted to play in the Champions League because we know how good it can be. We've been in a final and a semi-final over recent years and we want more," said the Dutch international.

"First we have to win the qualifier and this was a tough game. We believed in ourselves and even though it wasn't our best performance, we always know we have the quality to score.

"Standard Liege were really tough opposition, they were really fighting for the 90 minutes in both matches and in extra time and maybe they deserved more, but that's football. We are just relieved to be through."

Interview after Liverpool vs Middlesbrough

Steven Gerrard

Late goals from Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher claimed a dramatic victory for Liverpool after Middlesbrough had threatened to pull off a shock win at Anfield. Steven Gerrard smashed in a 90th-minute drive as Liverpool came from behind to beat Middlesbrough at Anfield. Striker Mido came off the bench to put the visitors ahead with a low, 30-yard drive on 70 minutes and it seemed his side were heading for victory. But Jamie Carragher's drive from the edge of the box flew in off Boro's Emmanuel Pogatetz to give Liverpool an equaliser 16 minutes later. And in stoppage time, Gerrard lashed in an angled shot to snatch the points. It was a game 'Boro will feel desperately disappointed to have lost. A combination of dogged defending and discipline had kept the home side at bay and when Mido put them in front they looked on their way to their first victory at Anfield for 23 years. But a slice of bad luck and a lapse in concentration enabled Liverpool managed to make it back-to-back wins in their opening two Premier League games for the first time under manager Rafael Benitez. Few would have predicted it after a first half which saw Liverpool struggle to break down their opponents and barely threaten young keeper Ross Turnbull, who was drafted in after Brad Jones was injured in the warm-up. Turnbull comfortably beat away an early Dirk Kuyt drive, but was then helped out by a number of last-ditch tackles and blocks that frustrated Liverpool. Robbie Keane mis-kicked from the edge of the box when should have done much better, while at the other end Boro's Andrew Taylor fizzed in a volley which was heading for the top corner until Pepe Reina tipped it over the bar. After the break, the pattern was much the same, with Boro keeping their shape and trying to hit Liverpool on the counter-attack. It looked like their their tactics were spot-on when Mido scored with a peach of a shot to put them in front. Unsurprisingly, Boro then looked to sit back on their advantage and though Liverpool had more space in which to come forward, they did not look dangerous. But then it all changed, and from an unexpected source, as Carragher tried his luck from the edge of the box and while his luck was good, Pogatez's was not and the ball flew in off the unfortunate defender. With the scores level, it was inevitable that Boro were going to have to withstand a Liverpool assault in the final minutes to go home with anything from the game. As time ran out, it seemed they had done enough but a long ball clipped over the top by Xabi Alonso broke to Gerrard and he arrowed a fierce shot into the top corner to snatch the win for his side.

Benitez Backing Torres & Gerrard To Excel

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is backing striker Fernando Torres to break a club scoring record, and captain Steven Gerrard to recapture his best form…

Fernando Torres can break the legendary Roger Hunt’s record if he finds the Liverpool net against Middlesbrough in today’s Premier League clash at Anfield.
The Spaniard will secure a place in the club’s record books by scoring against Boro - it will be the ninth consecutive home league match for the Reds in which he’s found the back of the net.
And that will break the club record set by England World Cup winner Roger Hunt in the 1961/62 season.
Benitez said: ‘‘We hope Fernando can create his piece of club history, and then maybe more in the future.”
As for Gerrard, his fitness was criticised in midweek by England manager Fabio Capello, who deployed the Liverpool midfielder wide on the left in the disappointing 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic.
But Benitez expects him to be back to his best in the near future: ‘‘Steven has had two injuries, he was 10-15 days without training, and then it happened again. That is why he did not start the match two weeks ago against Standard Liege.
‘‘Clearly in a couple of weeks he will be back to his best. He has needed time to get fit after his injuries and it has been important to protect him.
‘‘Steven can play anywhere. Gerrard played with intelligence and England drew, that is all I want to say about it.
‘‘We know what is the best position for Gerrard, but he is capable of playing in other positions.”
Mark Hinton, Goal.com

Hyypia out for "Los Rojiblancos"

Liverpool will be without defender Sami Hyypia for the home Premier League game with Middlesbrough after the veteran picked up a hamstring injury playing for Finland in midweek.

But boss Rafael Benitez will have Dutch winger Ryan Babel back in the squad now he has returned from the Olympics.

Both Argentina captain Javier Mascherano and Brazilian midfielder Lucas will also return to Merseyside next week.

Lucas was part of the Brazil side which won the bronze medal in Beijing after defeating Belgium on Friday while Mascherano figures in the Olympic final against Nigeria on Saturday.

Justin Hoyte could make his debut for Middlesbrough after he was signed too late to join the squad for last week's game against Tottenham.

Manager Gareth Southgate will check on the fitness of Egyptian duo Mido and Mohamed Shawky, but of whom were on international duty against Sudan on Wednesday.

Midfielder Julio Arca is sidelined for another three weeks with an ankle injury.

Teams:

Liverpool (from): Will Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Plessis, Kuyt, Aurelio, Keane, El Zhar, Torres, Cavalieri, Ngog, Skrtel, Babel.

Middlesbrough (from): Jones, Turnbull, Wheater, Hoyte, Huth, Pogatetz, Williams, Taylor, Grounds, Aliadiere, Emnes, O'Neil, Shawky, Digard, Downing, Johnson, Tuncay, Alves, Mido.

Robbie: Torres Will Only Get Better

New Livepool signing, Robbie Keane, has moved to praise strike partner, Fernando Torres, after the Spaniard mentioned he was relishing working with the former Hotspur...

Irish international, Keane, hopes to strike a formidable partnership with Spaniard Torres. Speaking to Liverpool's official magazine, the Kop's new number 7 said:

"I think he’ll get better this year, which is great news for Liverpool and will to be a worry for the rest of the league. Torres has to be the best striker in the world. You saw how good he was at the European Championships, and I’m sure scoring the winning goal in the final will have done his confidence the world of good."

Liverpool will get to see their new strike partnership in competitive action on Wednesday the 13th of August as they visit Standard Liege in the final qualifying round of the Champions League.

Alan Dawson

Fernando Torres speaks about Del Bosque

Dinamarca 0 vs España 3

VS

Spain coach Del Bosque has first game vs. Denmark

Spain's new coach Vicente Del Bosque seeks to ensure a smooth transition from his predecessor Luis Aragones when the European champions face Denmark on Wednesday in a friendly.

Aragones will be a hard act for Del Bosque to follow after leading Spain to a Euro 2008 triumph for its first major success for 44 years, before taking charge of Fenerbahce nearly seven weeks ago, .

The 57-year-old Del Bosque said he will make changes "although probably not substantial ones."

"My footballing principles don't vary much from the previous coach. There are things which have been done well. The less we touch the better and if we can strengthen the potential of the team so much the better," Del Bosque said.

Boasting the strike pair of David Villa and Fernando Torres, goalkeeper Iker Casillas and several talented midfielders, including FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez, there seems little cause for Del Bosque to modify the Spanish lineup.
However, the coach called up four uncapped players for Spain's first match since a goal from Torres gave it a 1-0 win over Germany in the final in Vienna on June 29 — Athletic Bilbao defenders Fernando Amorebieta and Andoni Iraola, Sevilla winger Diego Capel and Barcelona's precocious forward Bojan Krkic, who turns 18 later this month.

"Bojan and Capel are two boys from the under-21 team who we now think should be with us in a new process. They bring the quality and new blood which is a necessity for all teams," Del Bosque said.

Del Bosque has dropped three members of the Euro 2008 squad — Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa, Zaragoza striker Sergio Garcia and Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop.

Del Bosque, who became one of Real Madrid's most successful coaches ever by leading the powerhouse to two Champions League titles and two Spanish leagues from 1999-2003, has also resisted the temptation to recall Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez.

Spain's all-time top scorer with 44 goals in 102 games, the 31-year-old Raul was dropped nearly two years ago by Aragones, who resisted a fierce media campaign for his recall.

Euro 2008 team members Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Valencia defender Carlos Marchena miss Wednesday's game through injury, while the Valencia duo of Villa and David Silva are doubtful.

Denmark will not be hopeful of beating Spain, which is riding on the back of a 22-game unbeaten run.

Spain has won 11 of the teams' 16 previous meetings — including the 5-1 victory in Denmark's first World Cup in 1986 in Mexico — and lost just twice.

Denmark striker Jon Dahl Tomasson is expected to win his 100th cap on Wednesday, while Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is set to make his first international appearance for a year after recovering from a foot injury.

"I have missed the Danish side. It's good to be back in this environment. That injury didn't go by the book and took longer than expected. But now I feel I am up again," Agger said.

Aalborg defender Kasper Bogelund has pulled out, joining absentees Thomas Kahlenberg, Martin Jorgensen and Jesper Gronkjaer.

The friendly will serve to prepare the two teams for upcoming World Cup qualifiers next month. Denmark kicks off its group with visits to Hungary and Portugal, while Spain hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia and also has an eye on its appearance in the Confederations Cup in South Africa next June.

Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Rafael Benitez interview after the match

Reds defender hails Torres start

Sami Hyypia is not surprised that Fernando Torres has started the Premier League season in the same scoring vein he finished the last campaign.
Torres hit a late cracker to give Liverpool a 1-0 victory at Sunderland at the weekend.

Defender Hyypia said: "It was a good finish from Fernando. I was just behind the shot and I could see exactly where it was going. It was a great strike and it gave the 'keeper no chance.

"None of us were surprised that Fernando scored in that way because we have seen him do it before in games and he also does it in training.

"It is great for us that we have that kind of player in our team, and he is right back in the groove."

Fernando Torres: "Quiero ganar la Premier o la Liga de Campeones"

Tras un verano de éxito con la selección española, el goleador del Liverpool Fernando Torres asegura ahora que quiere "ganar la Premier o la Liga de Campeones" esta nueva temporada, en la que cuenta con nuevo compañero en el ataque: Robbie Keane, un hombre al que "the kid" regala piropos y con el que espera jugar "en muchas ocasiones".

En declaraciones hechas al portal oficial de internet del club inglés, el Niño Torres, el jugador que revolucionó la "Premier" la pasada temporada con su increíble olfato goleador en su debut de oro en el fútbol británico, se deshace, ahora, en halagos hacia Keane y desvela sus deseos para el nuevo curso.

El irlandés se unió por primera vez a Torres en el frente de ataque del Liverpool que dirige Rafael Benítez durante la amplia victoria por 4-0 que lograron los "reds" ante el Rangers el pasado fin de semana.

De Keane, Torres subrayó que se trata de "un jugador fantástico e importante" para la plantilla.

"Espero que (Keane) pueda marcar muchísimos goles para el Liverpool y poder jugar junto a él en muchas ocasiones", señaló el delantero de la nueva incorporación "red".

Aunque el ex del Atlético de Madrid recordó que, por el momento, Keane y él tan sólo llevaban "unos días" entrenado juntos -"no es mucho tiempo"-, quiso subrayar que, para él, lo importante es que su nuevo compañero "siempre habla durante los partidos".

"El entendimiento entre nosotros y Steven Gerrard también es importante. Él es el centrocampista que nos hace los pases tanto a mí como a Robbie, con lo que cuanto más podamos entrenar juntos, más cosas buenas lograremos para el Liverpool", observó el internacional.

Aunque Torres firmó el primer gol ante el club escocés en Ibrox, una circunstancia que el español calificó de "perfecta", el español admitió que todavía se siente "cansado" aunque "la idea es llegar en forma al comienzo de la temporada".

Hizo un breve balance del verano y recordó, cómo no, la histórica victoria del combinado español en la Eurocopa 2008: "Ha sido un verano fantástico para España pero ahora estoy centrado en el Liverpool".

Sus deseos para la nueva campaña también los tiene claros: "Ojalá podamos ganar algún trofeo. Quiero ganar la Premier League o la Liga de Campeones".

Liverpool vs Sunderland, best moments

Fernando Torres named in Spain squad for Denmark friendly

The striker is included in new manager Vicente Del Bosque’s first national squad list for clash versus Danes in Copenhagen

Fernando Torres will join the rest of Spain’s squad at the Las Rozas football complex on Monday 18 August as Vicente Del Bosque’s men prepare for the friendly meeting with Denmark at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Wednesday August 20, kick-off at 19:15 hours (BST).

The squad will train at the Spanish Federation’s training complex on the outskirts of Madrid before traveling to Denmark on Tuesday, where they will face the Danes one day later.

The international friendly will be an important warm-up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers versus Bosnia and Armenia on September 6 and 9 respectively. Spain are placed in Group 5, and will also have to face Belgium, Turkey and Estonia for a place at the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

Torres, who hit Spain’s winner at the 2008 European Championships to help his country to their first major international trophy in 44 years, will meet up with his team-mates following Liverpool’s opening Premier League game away to Sunderland on Saturday.

In a recent interview, Fernando Torres gave the national team manager his full backing. “We know him from his time as manager at Real Madrid. We know what he is like and how he likes to work. We all hope to help him to get to grips with the position, and that the national team continues on from where we left off in Austria. Del Bosque arrives at a great time. The style of play and players are all there, but we have to keep working hard so that the manager continues to call on us. We hope that everything runs smoothly from the start. Taking over a group can be complicated, but we are all going to try to make sure that this will not be the case.”

Following the recent Euro 2008 triumph in Austria & Switzerland, Spain now top the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for the first time. The Spanish national team have 1557 points, and lie ahead of second-placed Germany, who have 1343 points, and third-placed Italy, who have 1320 points. Spain’s midweek opponents Denmark are placed 36 with 722 points.

The full list of 22 names for the Spain squad versus Denmark are: Casillas, Reina, Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Juanito, Albiol, Amorebieta, Iraola, Fernando Navarro, Capdevila, Xabi Alonso, De la Red, Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, Cazorla, Senna, Diego Capel, Fernando Torres, Villa, Güiza and Bojan.

Hoy he vuelto de mi viaje!! Era tan corto =) Alli no tenia la posibilidad de ver todos los partidos de Liverpool. Pero ahora la tengo de nuevo!! Y es tan bueno!! Soy tan aficionada!! Quiero ver mi equipo preferido =)) Va a ser champion!!

Y este video sobre la Seleccion

A POR ELLOS OE!!!!

K buena canción!! A por ellos oe!! Q viva España!! :))

Hace tiempo que la Eurocopa se terminó....Los premios, la alegría.... Yo estoy tan feliz de que La seleccion española se ganó! Creo que ha sido una victoria justa. Mereciamos este triumfo, tanta alegría!! :) Ni podia imaginar que ganariamos.
Fernando Torres: "Gracias a la afición. El Rey me ha dicho lo fuerte que estaba"

FC Lucerne vs Liverpool

Somos ganadores!!
Ayer venció el Liverpool por 1-2 al FC Lucerne en su segundo partido de pre-seasons frendlies. Daniel Pacheco volvió a ser determinante en la victoria de los "reds".
Los marcadores de Liverpool ayer fueron Lucas Leiva(10 min) y Andriy Voronin(36 min).

Liverpool vs Wisla Cracow

El Sabado, 19 de Julio....Ay, la espero a esta partida con gran paciencia! Pero no tengo mucha paciencia!! Kiero verla ya! :))

Hola, hola! Esto es mi primero mensaje aqui

Aprendo espanol bastante mucho tiempo, pero sabeis que siempre hacemos fallas) Entonces necesitamos practicarnos de manera permanente., y poco a poco mi espanol va a mejorar jeje
bueno lo espero....Primero estoy totalmente loca por el futbol!!!! Si, de verdad!! Me enamore de este deporte hace mucho tiempo. Mi equipo preferido es Liverpool! Es el mejor equipo¡¡ Yo veo todas las partidas que puedo. Y creo q los del Liverpool van a ganar Premier League! Por que tiene Fernando Torres, el gran protagonista y el mejor delantero.... Liverpool, podemos!!