Hiddink: We hit Liverpool in their weak spot

last SG · 2009-04-09T04:52:20+00:00

Forget the CL...get the BPL...I think that is Rafa's and the player's main objective at the moment...They did not press Chelsea at all the other day...gave t...

zocoss SG

Fernando Torres

In his sights: Fernando Torres is targeting glory in Europe

Wednesday, 8 April 2009

Ch 23 - 2:45am - (Live) (Thur Morning)

Fernando Torres has told arch rivals Manchester United that the Champions League means more to Liverpool than the bitter title race. The two giants are involved in a dramatic scrap as the battle at the top of the Barclays Premier League reaches boiling point.

United leapfrogged Liverpool to regain pole position after Federico Macheda's sensational last-gasp goal in the 3-2 victory over Aston Villa yesterday. Torres' side are chasing their first title since 1990 but the Spanish hitman insists their main aim is to grab European glory.

'Domestic titles are very important but to win the Champions League you are saying we are the best team in Europe,' he said. 'This club has a great record in the European Cup but now I want to be a part of that history.

'Winning the European Championship was a great thing for me and I understood what it was to win a major trophy and what I had been missing.

'On the way home from the European Championship I made a promise that I wanted more of this success with Liverpool and it does not come any bigger than the European Cup.'

Liverpool, who take on English rivals Chelsea in the quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, are desperate to reach their third final in five years.

And Torres reckons they are capable of glory with inspirationals skipper Steven Gerrard at the helm. 'Stevie has been getting a lot of praise from some of the best players in the world,' he said. 'That is quite right because I think he is the best in the world. He is a great team player but he can also win a game on his own when maybe we are not playing so well.

'I would love to see him have a lot more success. I cannot think of a player I would rather be playing with. 'We know it is not going to be easy against Chelsea on Wednesday but both Stevie and I are happy with our form.'

Torres has also revealed that he has no intention of quitting Liverpool. 'I have said many times the only club I would leave Atletico for was Liverpool, and nothing has changed there,' he said.

'They are the only two clubs that are in my heart. I have supported Liverpool since I was a boy and I intend on staying here a very long time.'

skythewood SG

rafa gets more money if he wins the premier league

zocoss SG

Drogba - injury doubt.

BLUES WAIT ON DROGBA

Guus Hiddink will continue to assess Didier Drogba's fitness ahead of Chelsea's Champions League trip to Liverpool.

Drogba sat out the Blues' 2-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday after picking up an injury in training last week.

The striker stubbed his toe during shooting practice, which caused a reaction in his ankle and makes him a doubt for Wednesday's game at Anfield.

Blues boss Hiddink is unsure if Drogba will be fit for the first leg of the quarter-final and may have a clearer idea on Monday.

"Drogba got injured in practice and his ankle gave a reaction on Friday," said Hiddink. "Let's see if he can practise on Monday and how he goes when he is with the medical staff."

Drogba's fellow striker Nicolas Anelka was withdrawn against Newcastle to ensure he is fit to face Liverpool, while Jose Bosingwa could be available after suffering a gashed leg on international duty with Portugal.

limpper SG

as a liverpool fan, i will rather we win the league

X-men SG

I want the league too... CL would be a nice addition though. Let's win whatever we can!!!

omgukilledkenny SG

Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka has opined that he enjoyed his best spell of football while on loan at Liverpool during the latter part of the 2001-02 campaign.

Ahead of the Blues' Champions League quarter-final clash with the Reds, the French international feels that it is assumed he is an out-and-out striker, but the Merseyside outfit did not make that mistake and duly profited.

"I played my best football at Liverpool because I played in my best position," Anelka is quoted as saying in The Sun.

"There was Michael Owen, who’s a natural goal scorer, and Emile Heskey, who sets lots of things up for you. The three of us complemented each other.

"I played as a centre-forward at Arsenal and scored lots of goals so everyone thinks that’s my best position but I don’t.

"My main aim is to play well and that’s where I differ from real strikers.”

The 30-year-old is well travelled having played for eight different football clubs in four countries, but he says that England is where he feels most at home.

"My relationship with English football is a love story,” he said. “England is a wonderful country.

"I’ve lived in France, Spain and Turkey, but England is the place where I’m happiest."

omgukilledkenny SG

Drogba - injury doubt.

BLUES WAIT ON DROGBA

Guus Hiddink will continue to assess Didier Drogba's fitness ahead of Chelsea's Champions League trip to Liverpool.

Drogba sat out the Blues' 2-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday after picking up an injury in training last week.

The striker stubbed his toe during shooting practice, which caused a reaction in his ankle and makes him a doubt for Wednesday's game at Anfield.

Blues boss Hiddink is unsure if Drogba will be fit for the first leg of the quarter-final and may have a clearer idea on Monday.

"Drogba got injured in practice and his ankle gave a reaction on Friday," said Hiddink. "Let's see if he can practise on Monday and how he goes when he is with the medical staff."

A statement on Chelsea’s official website read: "Didier Drogba has just completed a full training session and is looking good."

sg_forum SG

darn! who lets the dog out again?

omgukilledkenny SG

Didier Drogba has been labelled 'a pain in the ass' by Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina ahead of the two sides’ Champions League clash at Anfield.

However Reina’s comment is praise rather than an insult to the Ivorian striker, as he named him one of the deadliest strikers he has faced.

Chelsea travel to Anfield on Wednesday for their quarter final tie and Reina believes that Liverpool have a better chance of progressing if they keep the rejuvenated striker quiet.

He said: “To be honest he’s one of my favourite players and when people ask me about the most dangerous striker or a real pain in the ass, I always say Drogba.

“I think in a way he’s becoming stronger and stronger. He’s been having some injury problems in the last months but now he’s scoring goals again.

“He’s scored five in the last seven games and, whoever plays up front, him or Nicolas Anelka, it will be difficult to stop them.”

omgukilledkenny SG

Steven Gerrard IS fit for the first leg of Liverpool and Chelsea’s perennial Champions League encounter.

Fears were raised over whether the Liverpool skipper might struggle to make the quarter final, first leg at Anfield on Wednesday having been replaced late on in Saturday’s 1-0 over Fulham because of a twinge to his groin.

Rafa Benitez said on Monday that he expected his talisman to shake off the niggle in time, a prediction that now seems to have come to fruition after the England midfielder trained without hindrance on Tuesday.

Should the Champions League’s leading scorer be passed fit as expected he is likely to be partnered by Xabi Alonso and Lucas Leiva in midfield because of the suspension-enforced absence of Javier Mascherano.

It is the fifth successive season that the two particular Premier League counterparts have been pitted against each other in the competition, with the winners going on to face either Bayern Munich or Barcelona in the semi-finals.

Scania N113CRB l0v3r SG

lolx? Gerrard serious or not?

Y_Shun SG

lets see if alonso chut stunt get anyone sent off

zocoss SG

All along Gerrard nothing wrong lah... Just some stupid mind games that make no sense... He was playing like crazy at Fulham and only sub out in the last min to waste time after Pool had already scored...

Its Drogba that is more likely not to start cos he didn't play on Sat and now that there is news like "He is fit and ready" I have even more doubts...

zocoss SG

lets see if alonso chut stunt get anyone sent off

Oh yeah... I almost forgot that Alonso and Lampard thing... This has added another twist to this game... Will either one try to get the other send off? Or will one try to injure the other... Interesting... For this reason, i will watch this match tomorrow...

limpper SG

if drogba and essien both playing for this game, then liverpool will have a hard time

omgukilledkenny SG

Bosingwa still not available.

Jffdevil SG

final ??it will be man u vs bayern!!!!!!!!!11

omgukilledkenny SG

John Terry has insisted he will not alter his approach despite being one yellow card away from suspension in the UEFA Champions League.

Terry will lead his Chelsea side out at Anfield on Wednesday for the first leg of their quarter-final against Liverpool.

If he is booked he will miss the return match at Stamford Bridge next week but he maintains he will stick to his usual style of play.

"I know I am one yellow card away from a ban but I will handle that just the same as I did in the last game against Juventus when it was the same situation," he explained.

"If there's a ball to be won, I'll go and win it. You can't go into the game thinking any other way.

"But I'm hoping, obviously, not to make a bad tackle. I expect we will see an English-style match, with us trying our hardest hoping to score, while they will have their fans behind them.

"Hopefully the referee (Claus Bo Larsen) is very lenient both ways and we can get on with the match."

Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka are in the same situation as Terry and will miss the second leg if they are cautioned.

zocoss SG

How come ah ben never say beware of diving Drogba this time round? I recall last season he said it and it made Drogba angry enough that he bang in the goals... lol

omgukilledkenny SG

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Xabi Alonso, Lucas, Kuyt, Riera, Gerrard, Torres.

Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger, Benayoun, Babel, Ngog.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, A Cole, Terry, Alex, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Kalou, Malouda, Drogba.

Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Belletti, Mancienne, Mikel, Deco, Anelka.