liverpool fc thread

[Lucky*7*]

He went over on his ankle. But i heard him say earlier that hes hopeful he'll be ready for the cup final but he'll have a scan later today

[~CaRoLyN~]

ALONSO EASES INJURY CONCERNS
Mark Platt 08 May 2006 
  Xabi Alonso today eased fears that he could miss Saturday's FA Cup Final by revealing he's optimistic about his chances of lining up against West Ham in the Millennium Stadium. 
Alonso was stretchered off during the first half of Liverpool's 3-1 win at Portsmouth yesterday after falling awkwardly and left Fratton Park sporting a protective ankle cast.
 
The prospect of him playing in his first FA Cup Final were immediately shrouded in doubt and a scan this morning showed he has suffered an ankle ligament sprain.
 
But the Spanish midfielder has reassured worried Liverpool fans that he's confident of recovering in time for the final.
 
"When it happened I was very worried but now I feel more optimistic. I'm feeling very positive about my chances of being fit for Saturday," says Alonso.
 
The obvious disappointment of missing out on runners-up spot in the Premiership and the injury he sustained aside, Alonso admits it's been a good second season at Anfield and is confident it can get even better.
 
"We can be happy because we've improved a lot and we're a much more solid team. But we don't want to stop now, we want to keep progressing," he adds.
 
"Whatever happens next week it's been a good season, but it could still have been even better. We wanted to win the World Club Champion-ship and go further in the Champions League. But we still have the FA Cup final to look forward to, and obviously we're all determined to win it." 

[*Limbo*]

He went over on his ankle. But i heard him say earlier that hes hopeful he'll be ready for the cup final but he'll have a scan later today

poor guy
atleast he'll be able to play hopefully

[stevies*sweetie]

He went over on his ankle. But i heard him say earlier that hes hopeful he'll be ready for the cup final but he'll have a scan later today

poor guy
atleast he'll be able to play hopefully

he is playing apparently.. he thinks he will so 

[*Limbo*]

i wish it was that easy for rooney 

[~CaRoLyN~]

ALONSO HOPEFUL OF WINNING FITNESS RACE
Paul Eaton 10 May 2006 
  Xabi Alonso is remaining hopeful he will be fit in time to play in Saturday's FA Cup final. 
The Liverpool midfielder picked up an ankle sprain during the Reds' victory at Portsmouth last weekend, sparking fears he could be ruled out of the Cardiff showpiece.
 
After missing the Carling Cup final at the Millennium Stadium against Chelsea last season with a broken ankle, Alonso is desperate not to suffer the same fate this time around in the Welsh capital.
 
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "My injury is getting better. I'll have to wait a little bit longer to see how it continues to improve. I'm not involved with the team in training at the moment but I still hope to be fit for Saturday.
 
"It will be a nightmare for me if I can't be there. I was in the stands with an injury for the Carling Cup final as well and I don't want to go through that experience again.
 
"I am improving but I'll have to wait a couple more days before we can make a final decision." 

[~CaRoLyN~]

RAFA: WE'LL TAKE NO RISKS WITH XABI
Paul Eaton 11 May 2006 
  Rafael Benitez today insisted he won't take any risks with Xabi Alonso's fitness when he finalises his team plans for Saturday's FA Cup final. 
Alonso is battling to be fit for the clash with West Ham after spraining his right ankle against Portsmouth last weekend.
 
Benitez is hopeful his inspirational midfielder will recover in time to start in midfield, but he won't be taking any chances with a major trophy at stake.
 
He said: "We need to see tomorrow. He was working with the physios and maybe tomorrow he can do some exercises and we can see what shape he is in.
 
"At this moment I do not know if he will be fit, but I will have a much clearer idea tomorrow. It depends what the doctors say whether we leave a decision on Xabi until the last minute.
 
"But I also have confidence in Momo, Stevie and Didi, and if it would be a risk with Xabi then maybe we would go with the other players." 

[~CaRoLyN~]

KEWELL: I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE
Paul Eaton 11 May 2006 
  Harry Kewell today reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool as he quashed speculation he is set for a summer move to Spain. 
La Liga outfit Valencia have been linked with a bid for the Reds' Australian international before the start of next season but Kewell insists he has no intention of leaving Anfield after an impressive second half to the season.
 
"I think if you read over the last months half the things I have been linked with and doing, then I don't think I would be here at all," he said.
 
"So you cannot believe everything you see in the papers. If they come to see me and speak to me or speak to the boss hopefully it's all rubbish. From my side it is and, hopefully, from Liverpool's it is as well."
 
Kewell, meanwhile, is looking forward to this weekend's FA Cup final against West Ham as he aims to make up for the disappointment of limping out of the Champions League final in Istanbul.
 
"When you look at it, this is really going to be my first final," said Kewell.
 
"It's been an alright season for me. If I'd scored a few more goals I'd be happier. Hopefully everything is going to go well over the weekend and I'm going to feel a really big part of it.
 
"I still get reminded about what happened in the Champions League final. But I've turned the corner, which you have to. You have to forget about the past. Even though it was a lovely past, to be part of that victory, from a personal point of view it wasn't. Now I've a great game coming up at the weekend which will make some personal history.
 
"I believed I would get the chance again. If you want to play at this level for a big club like Liverpool you've got to keep working hard and training well to reach finals.
 
"I was a little disappointed with myself in the semi-final because I had to come off with a knock. I was really enjoying myself out there, the atmosphere was fantastic." 

[Amy]

come on liverpooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

[Amy]

Ahead of the FA Cup Final Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard speaks about his dream to lift another trophy for the club and why he won't be letting other distractions get in his way. 
Liverpoolfc.tv: You have some distractions before the cup final being a dad once again and the World Cup squad just announced as well?
 
Steven Gerrard: I think they are nice distractions though. I obviously managed to get into the squad and everything went smoothly with the delivery so my form's good and I'm looking forward to the cup final.
 
How difficult is it to stay focused on the cup final when you've got so much happening around you Steve?
 
It is difficult but it's such a big game and there's a lot at stake and I've got to make sure that I respect my team-mates and stay focused for this game, and make sure whatever else is going on around me I just try and forget about it.
 
How difficult is it to stop thoughts drifting to the World Cup, it's such a big tournament and everyone is tipping England to win it, but first of all you have the FA Cup Final to worry about?
 
Yeah it's nice that the squad has been announced and obviously it's out in the open now. I just need to get this game out of the way before I can to show all my attention to England. It's a massive game at the weekend and I'm just staying focused on that. I don't really want to talk about England until after the weekend. I've got a responsibility to perform well at the weekend and make sure that we deliver a trophy for the supporters.
 
As captain how important is it for you to do that?
 
It's a massive game. I think our league form has been a massive improvement on last season. I think when you play for a club this size there is a responsibility that you always put trophies in the cabinet at the end of the season, and the FA Cup is a massive competition. It's been a great ride this season and we want to go there and enjoy the occasion on Saturday. We all know it won't be as enjoyable if we don't win it.
 
Having spoken to both Jamie Carragher and Peter Crouch in the build up to this they see two trophies in two season's shows the progression that you are making, but then they are hoping it's a stepping stone to a title challenge next season. Is that how you see it as well?
 
Yeah I think that's the idea. At the beginning of the season we wanted to win a trophy but also get a lot closer to the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea this year in the league. I think we have managed to do that and we are improving all of the time. The team is getting stronger and the manager has gone on record as saying we are making more signings so we feel as if we win the FA Cup this year that will be a big boost for the start of next season. Then we can give everything we have got for a title challenge.
 
Would it be fair to say if you didn't win the FA Cup the season wouldn't be as much a success as it could have been?
 
Of course. We'll still be happy with our improvement in the league but we'll be really disappointed if we don't win the FA Cup.
 
To what extent do you see that the rest of the Liverpool squad are really aware of the importance of FA Cup and it's history?
 
All the players realise how important the game is on Saturday. I'd like to think we've got a gang of winners here at Liverpool and everyone wants their winners medals. It would be a nightmare going home from Cardiff if we haven't got that winners medal but I think we are in for a different game on Saturday than the two league games against West Ham. I think they were both comfortable victories but I think the game on Saturday will be a lot more difficult than that. For the West Ham players it's the biggest game of their lives so they are going to be up for that and give us a real good test.
 
What would you say are the real strengths of the West Ham team?
 
I think pace springs to mind straight away. If you look at Harewood, Etherington down the left and Benayoun is really clever and Dean Ashton is a finisher, so I think they've got a lot of strengths in their squad. They've got a good manager who will motivate them so we know West Ham are going to be really up for this game and it's going to be the game of their lives. So we've got to be ready and we've got to perform to our level or we could be in for a really tough game.
 
Have you any FA Cup memories as a supporter of the club?
 
I watched the one against Wimbledon on TV in 1988 when we lost 1-0 but I managed to go to one in 1989 when we beat Everton 3-2 at Wembley.
 
The fact that you've won trophies before how good an extent will that stand you in given the fact the relevant inexperience of the West Ham boys in comparison?
 
We hope that helps. There's a lot of experience in the squad and guys have played in World Cup finals and Champions League finals and have also been to Cardiff quite a few times, but I think that all goes out of the window once the whistle blows. We will be playing a West Ham team who are going to give it everything they have got and we've got to make sure we do exactly the same. Match them for effort and hopefully with the ability we've got we can win the cup.
 

[~CaRoLyN~]

CUM ON U REDS!!! YNWA

[~CaRoLyN~]

CISSE HOPING FOR A TREBLE
Steve Hunter 13 May 2006 
  Djibril Cisse heads into the FA Cup Final hoping to make it a treble of goals for the Reds in major finals having found the net for Liverpool in the Champions League Final and the Super Cup Final. 
The French striker scored a penalty in the dramatic-shoot out win over AC Milan in Istanbul then came off the bench to win Liverpool the Super Cup in Monaco with two goals against CSKA Moscow.
 
Cisse says he is very excited at the prospect of playing in the FA Cup Final and help Liverpool achieve more glory.
 
"I scored a penalty in the Champions League final and two goals in the Super Cup, so why can't Saturday be my hat-trick?" reasoned the Reds number nine.
 
"In France, we say never three without two, so why not? The FA Cup Final is a massive occasion for me. I missed the Carling Cup final because of my broken leg, so I am looking forward to the chance to play in this game. I was sat in the stands with Xabi Alonso and it was frustrating. I was there supporting my team-mates, but it wasn't easy.
 
"If I start I will be more than happy, but if not I just have to do my best to be ready when the chance comes.
 
"Playing on the wings is different. It can be good, especially if I am on the left when I can cut in and shoot with my right foot.
 
"But I am a striker and I am known to be a striker. The manager has different ideas and if he wants to play me on the right or the left, I have nothing to say. I just do what he wants.
 
"I guess it's good for me to play in different positions. It's a big game for me and I think it can be something good for me. I just want to win the FA Cup and be in the squad." 

[wonder babe]

i know this is a liverpool thread for liverpool fans but there isnt an fa cup final thread and i wouldnt know where to start one

but owwnn goaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!
aww carra!
1-0 to west ham!!!!!!
21 mins

[wonder babe]

dean ashton makes it 2-0! at 28mins

the goals that liverpool are conceding today are so unbelievably sloppy!

[wonder babe]

crouch scored a goal but it was offside before he shot it