Liverpool

Kirkland warned over Reds future
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has told goalkeeper Chris Kirkland he will have to leave the club if he wants regular first-team football. Kirkland, 24, who is on loan at West Brom, is out of action for the rest of the season with a broken finger. Benitez said: "It is difficult because he is a good keeper, but with Jose Reina, Jerzy Dudek and Scott Carson here, playing will not be easy for him. "We will talk with him and his agent to find a solution. He needs games." Kirkland joined Liverpool for £6m in 2001 and has been tipped as a potential future England international. He has featured in England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's squads but is yet to make his debut and has been held back by a succession of injuries.

West Brom 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool eased to victory over a relegation-threatened West Brom side. A defensive error allowed Reds striker Robbie Fowler to tap-in at the far post from Djibril Cisse's cross after just six minutes. The lacklustre home side were further punished when Cisse slotted in after Xabi Alonso's 60-yard pass. Zolten Gera inspired a Baggies revival but he saw two strikes saved while Jonathan Greening blazed over to sum up the home side's frustration. West Brom went into the game knowing that relegation-battling rivals Portsmouth had beaten Fulham while Birmingham had earned a point again Chelsea. But the home side got off to a nightmare start as their cheap concession of possession and poor defending was severely punished. Baggies left-back Paul Robinson mistimed a sliding interception of Xabi Alonso's through ball and Djibril Cisse, who was not penalised for an apparent handball, was left to cross for Fowler to tap-in at the far post. The goal moved Fowler ahead of Kenny Dalglish in the Anfield club's scoring charts. Diomansy Kamara sent a well-struck 20-yard strike into the arms of keeper Jose Reina but that was as good as it got for Bryan Robson's side. Instead, they were fortunate not to be further behind with the visitors looking dangerous with every attack and the Baggies defence becoming more and more vulnerable. Alonso was proving to be the architect behind Liverpool's forward foray while Cisse's pace and industry constantly troubled West Brom. And the pair combined to extend the Reds' lead when Cisse latched onto the Spaniard's driven ball from defence and rounded keeper Tomasz Kuszczak before slotting into an empty net. West Brom introduced Gera after the break and he immediately had an impact by sending a shot just wide of the post. He then produced a powerful angled drive which Reina will be glad was straight at him after he gathered at the second attempt. Kuszczak quickly came off his line to smother a Cisse shot when the Frenchman again broke clear before Gera went close with another finely struck effort at the other end. Liverpool were happy to hold on to their lead and they gave West Brom a sniff of a goal in a rare moment of panic but Greening shot high from 15 yards. The defeat leaves the Baggies level on points with third-from-bottom Portsmouth, who have played a game less. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom assistant manager Nigel Pearson: "The way that we performed in the first half was very disappointing. "We knew what we had to do before the game after the other results but we just didn't turn up. That's unacceptable and the players know that. "We find ourselves in a difficult position but we are still confident we have got enough here and the spirit in the camp to get out of it." Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez: "We need to keep going until the end of the season. "You cannot think it will be impossible and you just have to think about winning the next game. "We know it will be really difficult as Man Utd keep winning but our idea it to carry on winning as well so we are sure to finish third and maybe second." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom: Kuszczak, Albrechtsen, Watson (Clement 62), Curtis Davies, Robinson, Kamara (Gera 45), Johnson, Wallwork, Greening, Kanu (Campbell 62), Ellington. Subs Not Used: Hoult, Kozak. Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Alonso, Sissoko, Kewell, Cisse (Kromkamp 78), Crouch (Morientes 71), Fowler (Luis Garcia 65). Subs Not Used: Dudek, Warnock. Goals: Fowler 7, Cisse 38. Att: 27,576 Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).

Rushden teenager in Anfield trial
Rushden and Diamonds striker Lee Tomlin is to join Liverpool on trial. The 17-year-old made his League debut in October when only 16, has started only four games for Rushden and is still awaiting his first senior goal. "We wouldn't send him to Liverpool if there wasn't a deal on the table," Diamonds assistant manager Geoff Harrop told his club's website. "All I would say to their manager Mr Benitez is 'get your cheque book out'. We need the money at this club." He added: "Lee has been unlucky over the past few games but he will come good, rest assured. He'll have a lovely week at Liverpool. "I'm sure he'll come back with loads of ideas of how to be the next Robbie Fowler. "I don't see any mileage in them having a look at him for the fun of it." Midfielder Neil McCafferty, 21, has left Rushden by mutual consent, having made 39 league appearances since joining from Charlton in January 2005, initially on loan.

Stadium plan gets fresh scrutiny
Plans for a new Liverpool FC stadium are to be looked at again by the city council's planning committee. The new stadium, in Stanley Park next to its current Anfield ground, was given the go-ahead by Liverpool City Council's Executive in February 2005. But a council spokesman said the plans have to be re-submitted to see if they comply with new planning regulations and rules. The Premiership club wants to build a 60,000-seater stadium.

Liverpool v Bolton
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard returns from suspension, while Dietmar Hamann could also return after he shook off the effects of a back injury. But defender Daniel Agger is definitely out with a shin injury. Bolton can select from strength, as they welcome midfielder Ivan Campo and striker Matt Jansen back after they had run-outs for the reserves in midweek. Defender Ricardo Gardner and midfielder Gary Speed have also managed to shake off their viruses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Kromkamp, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Kewell, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Hamann, Morientes, Cisse, Fowler, Crouch, Dudek. Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Hunt, Jaidi, Ben Haim, N'Gotty, Gardner, Giannakopoulos, Faye, Okocha, Speed, Nolan, Davies, Vaz Te, Diouf, Pedersen, Walker, Nakata, Borgetti, Campo, Jansen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Liverpool striker Peter Crouch: "We all knew there was never a problem with us scoring, but you have to show it on the pitch and in the last couple of weeks we've been showing it. "The win against Everton in the derby recently gave everyone confidence, and we have continued that form. "We now need to win as many games as we can now in the league and finish as high as we can." Bolton manager Sam Allardyce: "We've players back in the squad eager to play, such as Ivan Campo, El-Hadji Diouf and Matt Jansen. "Campo and Jansen could be very valuable for the run-in. "There's a good chance Campo might play at Liverpool. We saw his flair, and that he was back to his old self just before he broke a foot again."

Liverpool 1-0 Bolton
Robbie Fowler's goal proved enough for Liverpool to rack up a fifth successive Premiership win as Bolton suffered a fourth straight loss. The main talking point of a tepid first half looked like being Steven Gerrard's rejected penalty claim until Fowler found the net in stoppage time. After half-time, Xavi Alonso hit the post before Pepe Reina raced to the edge of his box to deny Kevin Davis. As the game wore on, there was little danger of Bolton staging a comeback. Reina was the first goalkeeper called into serious action when Stelios broke through on goal with only the keeper to beat but the Spaniard did well to get down to his right and block the shot. Bolton just about had the better of the early exchanges, without posing too much of a threat in front of goal, as Liverpool were restricted to speculative, long-range efforts as the game failed to spark to life. Gary Speed's challenge on Gerrard on the edge of the penalty box looked destined to be the most noteworthy event of a fairly lacklustre first half. But in stoppage time Fowler combined well with Peter Crouch and marked his 31st birthday with a snap-shot from the edge of the box through a crowd of players, his second goal in consecutive games as he aims to earn a long-term contract at Anfield. Liverpool scarcely deserved their half-time lead, and sent on Luis Garcia for Djibril Cisse at the interval to try and pep things up. It seemed to have the desired effect as the home side upped their game following the restart. Bolton defender Bruno N'Gotty was twice called upon to make vital interventions to keep the scoreline at 1-0 - Gerrard set up Crouch to put the ball in the net but the flag was already up. Bolton rarely threatened and, although Liverpool looked comfortably in control, they did not seem unduly worried about adding to their one-goal advantage. The visitors upped the pressure as the game moved into stoppage time but Liverpool looked assured as they moved up to the 70-point mark for the season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez on Robbie Fowler's goal: "I know that it means I will be answering questions about his contract situation. "I want to see him scoring and playing well; if he does that it's good for everybody." Bolton manager Sam Allardyce: "We dominated the first half, and the last thing I expected was to go in at the break one down. That killed us off. "It certainly knocked the lads back - and although they tried hard, they did not have the belief after the break to get back into it. "We paid the price for creating chances and not taking them."

Benitez faces dilemma over Fowler
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hinted that he may not renew the contract of striker Robbie Fowler. Fowler, who marked his 31st birthday with Sunday's winner against Bolton, is contracted until the end of the season. The forward has been linked to Bolton and Benitez said: "There is no doubting his quality but we have to look at what his performances will be next season. "Maybe you can find fantastic players of, say, 23 years old who also have fantastic pace and quality." Fowler, who is in his second spell with the club, has scored in his last three starts for the Reds but has only once managed to play for a full 90 minutes for the first team since returning to Anfield. However, Benitez added: "Robbie is top class, no doubt about it, but you also need pace and stamina levels if you want to win trophies. "We are really happy with him because he is working so hard. But we have to know exactly how many top-class players we need and if he could be the top-class one we are looking for. "It's not that we don't believe in him but this is a big club and we need to look at different players as well. "It's really important to have players of the passion he has so it is all in the balance. "We need to put all those things together and weigh them up before we decide. "Robbie knows he needs to improve some things because he wasn't playing for some time and this is another level again." Benitez is hopeful that his squad will be boosted by the arrival of Chile winger Mark Gonzalez in the summer. The 21-year-old was prevented from completing a £4.5m move from Albacete to Liverpool when the club failed to receive a work permit. Instead he was loaned to Real Sociedad and capped off an eye-catching performance against Real Madrid at the weekend with a goal in their 1-1 draw. Gonzalez may be granted Spanish citizenship this summer but Benitez feels the club already has a good case for a work permit now that he has fully recovered from his cruciate knee injury. Benitez said: "He was the best player on the pitch against Madrid. I said at the time I was surprised by the decision not to allow him to join us. "We are hopeful he can come in the summer because he can be an important player for us. He can make an impact in the Premiership."

Blackburn v Liverpool
Blackburn's on-loan striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle is ineligible to play against Liverpool and midfielder Tugay is also doubtful with a calf injury. Rovers boss Mark Hughes is expected to keep much the same side but Shefki Kuqi may come in for Paul Dickov up front. The Reds will welcome Mohamed Sissoko back into their midfield. Manager Rafael Benitez's only injury problems involve defender Daniel Agger with a muscle strain, while Bolo Zenden remains sidelined after knee surgery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blackburn (from): Friedel, Enckelman, Neill, Nelsen, Pedersen, Reid, Gray, Savage, Todd, Khizanishvili, Bentley, Kuqi, Emerton, Dickov, Bellamy, Mokoena, Matteo, Peter. Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Traore, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Sissoko, Hamann, Alonso, Kewell, Crouch, Fowler, Cisse, Morientes, Kromkamp, Dudek. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blackburn boss Mark Hughes: "Liverpool will feel they need one more win to confirm third spot. "We are striving hard to get into the top four and so there will be an edge going into the game. "Matches against the top sides take care of themselves, the players know what they need to do and that they have believe in themselves." Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso: "As long as we have the possibility then we still have to fight for second place. "We are winning a lot of games, scoring a lot of goals and we have plenty of self belief. "We have to carry on fighting but we are realistic and we know it is not going to be easy."

Blackburn 0-1 Liverpool
Robbie Fowler scored his fourth goal in five games to extend Liverpool's winning run to seven matches. Fowler slotted into an open net from Fernando Morientes' pass after the offside Djibril Cisse was adjudged not to have interfered with play. Cisse could have doubled the Reds' lead on the stroke of half time but Brad Friedel turned his strike onto the bar. Blackburn piled on the pressure in the second half as Liverpool retreated but failed to seriously trouble Jose Reina. The win means that Liverpool now only need one point from their remaining three fixtures. Liverpool were without their influential captain Steven Gerrard who pulled out of the squad with a tight hamstring before kick-off and Peter Crouch and Harry Kewell were surprisingly left out of the line-up. And their absence made for a toothless Liverpool attack for much of the first half. Blackburn looked the most threatening and Rovers' energy and hustling in midfield forced Liverpool onto the back foot. But for all Blackburn's industry, the home side were lacking the killer pass that Craig Bellamy was constantly searching for. And it was the visitors who seized the initiative after 29 minutes. Their opener was clouded in controversy as the referee's assistant allowed play to continue as Fowler controlled for Cisse who was standing in an offside position. The France international striker let the ball run for the overlapping Morientes who coolly and unselfishly squared for Fowler to side-foot into an open net. On the stroke of half time former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel kept out Cisse's strike by turning it onto the bar when the forward was clean through. It would have been harsh on the home side to go into the break two goals down and as the half-time whistle blew Rovers' tempers began to fray with Lucas Neill booked for a horrific challenge on Cisse. Ryan Nelson saw a flicked header drift narrowly past the post and Robbie Savage slashed a volley wide as the home side probed for an equaliser. Blackburn boss Mark Hughes introduced Shefki Kuqi to intimidate the resolute Liverpool defence but Morientes almost put the result beyond doubt with a close-range header that just went wide. Cisse had a better chance to seal it at the end but he could only hit the post after being put clean through. Rovers pushed for an equaliser but failed to break down the solid Liverpool resistance as boss Rafael Benitez celebrated his 46th birthday with a victory. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez: "I was most pleased with the team spirit and our plan worked very well for us. "We knew they had very quick players up front so we sat back and tried to hit them on the counter attack. "You need to create the majority of chances in games like this and that is exactly what we managed to do." Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Gray, Bentley, Savage, Reid, Pedersen, Dickov (Kuqi 67), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Emerton, Mokoena, Peter. Booked: Savage, Bentley, Neill. Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock (Kewell 69), Cisse, Sissoko, Alonso, Riise, Morientes (Kromkamp 81), Fowler (Luis Garcia 63). Subs Not Used: Dudek, Traore. Booked: Sissoko, Alonso. Goals: Fowler 29. Att: 29,142 Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Blackburn 0-1 Liverpool
Robbie Fowler scored his fourth goal in five games to extend Liverpool's winning run to seven matches. Fowler slotted into an open net from Fernando Morientes' pass after the offside Djibril Cisse was adjudged not to have interfered with play. Cisse could have doubled the Reds' lead on the stroke of half time but Brad Friedel turned his strike onto the bar. Blackburn piled on the pressure in the second half as Liverpool retreated but failed to seriously trouble Jose Reina. The win means that Liverpool now only need one point from their remaining three fixtures to secure Champions League qualification. Liverpool were without their influential captain Steven Gerrard who pulled out of the squad with a tight hamstring before kick-off and Peter Crouch and Harry Kewell were surprisingly left out of the line-up. And their absence made for a toothless Liverpool attack for much of the first half. Blackburn looked the most threatening and Rovers' energy and hustling in midfield forced Liverpool onto the back foot. But for all Blackburn's industry, the home side were lacking the killer pass that Craig Bellamy was constantly searching for. And it was the visitors who seized the initiative after 29 minutes. Their opener was clouded in controversy as the referee's assistant allowed play to continue as Fowler controlled for Cisse who was standing in an offside position. The France international striker let the ball run for the overlapping Morientes who coolly and unselfishly squared for Fowler to side-foot into an open net. On the stroke of half time former Liverpool goalkeeper Friedel kept out Cisse's strike by turning it onto the bar when the forward was clean through. It would have been harsh on the home side to go into the break two goals down and as the half-time whistle blew Rovers' tempers began to fray with Lucas Neill booked for a horrific challenge on Cisse. Ryan Nelson saw a flicked header drift narrowly past the post and Robbie Savage slashed a volley wide as the home side probed for an equaliser. Blackburn boss Mark Hughes introduced Shefki Kuqi to intimidate the resolute Liverpool defence but Morientes almost put the result beyond doubt with a close-range header that just went wide. Cisse had a better chance to seal it at the end but he could only hit the post after being put clean through. Rovers pushed for an equaliser but failed to break down the solid Liverpool resistance as boss Rafael Benitez celebrated his 46th birthday with a victory. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez: "I was most pleased with the team spirit and our plan worked very well for us. "We knew they had very quick players up front so we sat back and tried to hit them on the counter attack. "You need to create the majority of chances in games like this and that is exactly what we managed to do." Blackburn boss Mark Hughes: "In my view the decision was incorrect. Cisse was interfering with play as he made a move towards the ball. "The decision changed the shape of the game and the rule is very unclear. "We stuck at it and tried to draw Liverpool out but they protected their lead and just went deeper and deeper." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Gray, Bentley, Savage, Reid, Pedersen, Dickov (Kuqi 67), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Emerton, Mokoena, Peter. Booked: Savage, Bentley, Neill. Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock (Kewell 69), Cisse, Sissoko, Alonso, Riise, Morientes (Kromkamp 81), Fowler (Luis Garcia 63). Subs Not Used: Dudek, Traore. Booked: Sissoko, Alonso. Goals: Fowler 29. Att: 29,142 Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Chelsea v Liverpool
Eidur Gudjohnsen has been ruled out of Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool because of illness. Michael Essien is a doubt with a knee injury while fellow midfielder Maniche is suspended following his recent red card against West Ham. Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard returns having been rested with a hamstring strain at Blackburn. Robbie Fowler is cup tied but Peter Crouch should return. Harry Kewell is poised to start on the left wing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: "When we meet them it's normally on big occasions. We met them in the Champions League semi-final, the Carling Cup final and now in the FA Cup semi-final. In the league, we always met at crucial moments. "It's not normal to play 10 times in two years. I look at them the same as I look at another team. I have no special feeling. "Every game we play, the game is close but when you look at the Premiership, the distance is very big. Last season we had 30 points more. "This season we have 15 but history will not interfere with this game. It's just a game we feel we can win. I also feel they can win it." Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia: "Chelsea must be favourites, we know that. It just makes us more determined to beat them. The fans demand trophies and that is what keeps the club going and the players too. "If you want to win anything you must beat the best. And that is Chelsea, they are champions and will be again, so the pressure is much more on them. "We are underdogs, they are first, we are third, they must be the favourites. They have the best individuals and a very good manager who can bring good individuals together with his tactics to produce an excellent job. "They have got their form back but they have shown that they can be beaten. And we have done it."

Gerrard rules out switch to Real
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has rejected speculation linking him with a summer move to Real Madrid and insists he is staying at Anfield. Madrid's football director Benito Floro claimed he has put Gerrard on a priority list of transfer targets. But Gerrard, who has twice almost joined Chelsea, is not interested. Gerrard said: "I am settled and happy at Liverpool. I will be staying here until the day someone tells me they don't want me." He added: "I am not going to get involved in all that kind of speculation again. I am not going to go through another summer like the last two." Gerrard, 25, signed a new four-year contract at Anfield during the summer after strong interest from Chelsea. And manager Rafael Benitez is also adamant his skipper will stay at the club and said: "The situation is very clear. Steven Gerrard is not for sale." Meanwhile, chief executive Rick Parry has praised Benitez for qualifying for next season's Champions League, with three games to spare of the current campaign. Sunday's 1-0 win at Blackburn assured the Reds of at least third place in the Premiership and a spot in Europe's elite tournament. The club finished fifth last term and only qualified for this season's Champions League after winning the competition in dramatic style. And Parry told the club website: "Clearly there has been a huge improvement on last year in achieving qualification so early but also, more importantly, by narrowing the gap on Chelsea. "We have been 30 points adrift for the last two seasons and, although there are still three games to play, it's clear for everyone we are a lot closer now. "Our league performance has been a mark of real progress. We will only be happy when we start winning league titles - and there is still some way to go. But when we appointed Rafa we knew it would take time." Liverpool face Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Reds cling on to win FA Youth Cup
Liverpool held off Manchester City to claim the FA Youth Cup trophy for the first time in 10 years. The Reds headed into the second leg at Eastlands with a 3-0 lead but that was reduced when Daniel Sturridge powered in a 25-yard shot. Sturridge grabbed a second when he lashed in an angled low shot. Liverpool's Adam Hammill showed his disgust when substituted and, while the City onslaught continued, their efforts proved in vain. Liverpool academy director Heighway said: "Let's face it, City absolutely battered us. "It was like the Alamo at times. Nothing went for us. It feels like we have lost but the final is over two legs and we have to be delighted with the overall scoreline." Liverpool first-team captain Steven Gerrard and central defender Jamie carragher were quickly in touch after the win and Heighway added: "They have followed us all the way through. "They texted us before every game and they have texted us again after the win. "They are steeped in the history of this club and know what it means to win this tournament." City's academy chief Jim Cassells said: "That was one of the best performances I've been involved in throughout my team in youth football. "Both individually and as a team we were absolutely outstanding. "I really did think we were going to win. It wasn't to be for us but at least we have proved we can play and I would imagine there will be a few others knocking on the first team door as well as Micah Richards in the years ahead."

Benitez praise for stubborn Reds
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes his side's lack of mistakes was crucial in their 2-1 FA Cup semi-final victory over rivals Chelsea. "They like to play with the mistakes of the other team and normally punish them," said the Spaniard. "In this case, we made one, then they scored and we were under pressure. "At the end we worked really hard, created our chances and, with a little bit more luck, maybe we could have got another goal." The Reds contained Chelsea's threat for the first hour of the game as John Arne Riise and Luis Garcia put the ahead. But Arjen Robben was shortly followed on by Joe Cole and Damien Duff for the Blues who desperately tried to equalise after Didier Drogba had pulled a goal back for them. "Chelsea are one of the most expensive teams in the world and they have a lot of good players," added Benitez. "They played well and we were trying to control them but it is really difficult to control Duff, Cole, Lampard and Drogba and all the players that they have." The Reds boss is now looking forward to savouring the victory over Chelsea and then trying to win his first FA Cup final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 13 May. "I am really happy and delighted for the players, the club and the supporters. It was an amazing game for us," he said. "The big clubs are always thinking about winning the big trophies and we are in the most famous Cup in the world. It is really important for us to win." Benitez and Chelsea counterpart Mourinho did not shake hands after the game but the Anfield manager played down the incident. He explained: "I haven't seen him because I was saying thank you to our supporters. I have no problems."

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