GOAL – Agger: Eriksen the kind of player Liverpool need

The Danish centre-back would like to see his compatriot join the Reds from Ajax this summer, saying that he would fit perfectly into Brendan Rodgers’s style of passing play

A news article on 2013-05-15 19:07:00 from: Goal

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GUARDIAN – Luis Suárez given 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic

• Liverpool striker to miss start of next season
• Club and player ‘shocked and disappointed’ at ban

Luis Suárez has been handed a 10-game ban for his shocking bite on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic at Anfield on Sunday.

A three-man independent regulatory commission, impartial to both Liverpool and Chelsea, opted for the lengthy suspension after considering the Football Association’s charge of violent conduct against a written submission from the Anfield club on Wednesday morning.

An FA statement said: “A three-person independent regulatory commission today upheld the FA’s claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient and the player will serve a further seven first-team matches in addition to the standard three. The suspension begins with immediate effect.”

The 26-year-old will now miss the remainder of the season and the start of the next campaign, although he has until midday on Friday to appeal the additional suspension.

The Liverpool managing director, Ian Ayre, said: “Both the club and player are shocked and disappointed at the severity of today’s Independent Regulatory Commission decision. We await the written reasons [on Thursday] before making any further comment.”

Suárez had accepted the violent conduct charge but, in a stance that undermined his shows of contrition and Liverpool’s swift reaction to his latest indiscretion, claimed the offence did not warrant more than an automatic three-match ban for violent conduct.

Suárez received an eight-match ban plus a £40,000 fine for using racially abusive language towards Manchester United’s Patrice Evra last season and Wednesday’s commission could take that into account if they wished. He was also banned for seven matches by the Dutch FA in November 2010 for sinking his teeth into Otman Bakkal of PSV Eindhoven.

Liverpool were concerned that Suárez’s chequered past and pressure from prime minister David Cameron’s office would increase the severity of his punishment for biting the Chelsea defender. The club and Suárez acted swiftly with their apologies and condemnation on Sunday, and publicised his donation of a club fine to the Hillsborough Family Support Group, only to invite fresh criticism for contesting the FA’s stance that a three-match ban would be “clearly insufficient”.


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A news article on 2013-04-24 14:02:00 from: The Guardian

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TALKSPORT – Van der Kraan: Ajax sold Suarez becasue of his bite on Otman Bakkal

talkSPORT's Dutch football expert, Marcel van der Kraan, claims Ajax sold Luis Suarez because of his bite on PSV star Otman Bakkal in 2010. The Uruguayan moved to Anfield in January 2011, just months after the incident with the Dutch international during an Eredivison match. Suarez is embroiled with another controversial incident after he was caught biting the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during Liverpool's 2-2 Premier League draw with the Blues on Sunday afternoon.

A news article on 2013-04-22 13:17:00 from: Talksport

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METRO – Luis Suarez: The Liverpool striker’s biggest controversies

Five other controversies surrounding Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez.

A news article on 2013-04-22 10:38:00 from: The Metro

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TI – James Lawton: Save great club’s reputation by getting rid

What are Liverpool going to do about Luis Suarez? Is one of the great football clubs going to live on in the extreme and desperate belief that they need his talent much more than the cleansing effect of saying, “Adios hombre, thanks but in the end no thanks”.

A news article on 2013-04-21 21:47:00 from: The Independent

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ECHO – Liverpool FC News: COMMENT: Liverpool FC must take action against Luis Suarez after bite incident

THERE is a fine line between genius and madness.

A news article on 2013-04-21 19:16:00 from: Liverpool Echo

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GUARDIAN – Luis Suárez: 10 previous controversies involving the Uruguayan striker

In the wake of Luis Suárez’s ‘biting’ incident, we look at past controversies involving the talented, if troubled forward

Liverpool forward Luis Suárez is back in the spotlight after appearing to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm during the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield, before then going on to score a late equaliser.

Here we look back at ten previous controversies surrounding the Uruguayan forward.

February 2007

Suárez made his international debut for Uruguay against Colombia but was sent off in the final minutes after being shown a second yellow card for dissent.

November 2007

Joined Ajax from Groningen but he was later suspended by the Amsterdam club after a half-time dressing-room altercation with team-mate Albert Luque.

July 2010

During the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, Suárez prevented Ghana’s Dominic Adiyiah from scoring in the final minute with a deliberate handball on the line and was subsequently sent off. A penalty was awarded but missed by Asamoah Gyan and footage showed Suárez celebrating on the sidelines. Uruguay eventually went through to the last four on penalties.

November 2010

Suárez was handed a seven-match ban by the Dutch FA and fined by his club for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match.

October 2011

Following his move to Liverpool in January 2011, he was involved in a tackle with Everton’s Jack Rodwell and goes down with apparent minimal contact. Rodwell was then sent off.

October 2011

Suárez was alleged to have racially abused Manchester United’s Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Suárez was later found guilty by an independent regulatory commission and banned for eight matches and fined £40,000.

December 2011

Was seen making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. At this time he had already been charged by the Football Association over the racism incident, although not yet punished, but was handed a further one-match ban for the gesture.

February 2012

United and Liverpool met again at Old Trafford, but more controversy ensued as Suárez refused to shake Evra’s hand before kick-off.

October 2012

Celebrated a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes who had earlier claimed that “divers such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game.”

January 2013

Handles the ball prior to scoring Liverpool’s winner in the FA Cup third round tie at Mansfield.


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A news article on 2013-04-21 17:51:00 from: The Guardian

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GUARDIAN – Luis Suárez is both villain and hero as Liverpool draw with Chelsea

Luis Suárez salvaged a point for Liverpool in the 97th minute of Rafael Benitez’s return to Anfield to leave Chelsea seething and fourth in the Premier League table. It may well prove Suárez’s final act of the season after he again showed his appetite for controversy by sinking his teeth into Branislav Ivanovic.

The Liverpool striker, supposedly a favourite for the PFA Player of the Year award according to his manager, Brendan Rodgers, bit the Chelsea defender on the bicep as the pair challenged for the ball in front of the Kop on 66 minutes. Suárez left Dutch football in disgrace after receiving a seven-match ban for biting Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax against PSV Eindhoven in November 2010.

Another lengthy suspension surely awaits the Uruguay international who, almost inevitably when he should have been off the pitch, headed Daniel Sturridge’s cross beyond Petr Cech with the final touch of a fractious game to dent Chelsea’s hopes of reclaiming third spot.

Benítez was not the only subject of an Anfield tribute. Anne Williams, the inspirational Hillsborough campaigner who died on Thursday, three days after defying doctor’s orders to attend the 24th memorial service, and the victims of the Boston marathon bombing were honoured with a minute’s ovation before kick off. ‘RIP Anne You’ll Never Walk Alone’ read the banner along the front of the Kop.

Amid the shows of respect were predictable Kop jeers for Fernando Torres whenever the former Liverpool striker touched the ball or left his mark on their central defence. Daniel Agger landed awkwardly after a nudge from the Chelsea forward in the second minute, and was fortunate his left knee did not buckle, while Jamie Carragher received a flailing arm in the face when challenging for a high ball. Torres received a yellow card and, later on, a little retribution on the back of his calf.

Liverpool, despite a promising start, appeared preoccupied with the Benítez sideshow in the first half and their distribution, movement and solidity paled in comparison with that from Chelsea. The midfield contest was not worthy of the name as Ramires and Mikel John Obi intercepted and protected relentlessly while Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard bypassed Liverpool with ease. Carelessness in possession, with Jordan Henderson a frequent culprit, increased Anfield’s irritation.

It was a surprise Chelsea led by only one set-piece goal by the interval. Oscar sent a glancing header beyond Pepe Reina’s left hand from Mata’s corner having escaped the attentions of both Agger, his initial marker, and Carragher, the defender covering the edge of the six-yard box. Reina almost compounded Liverpool’s defensive brittleness when he dropped a David Luiz free-kick behind him, only to gather in front of the line.

Liverpool threatened only sporadically, Suárez forcing a routine save from Cech at the near post, and it was only after Sturridge replaced the anonymous Philippe Coutinho at the interval that Rodgers’ team hauled themselves back into contention.

Sturridge was a man on a mission, creating a glorious chance for Steven Gerrard seconds after his introduction that Cech saved with his leg and then hitting the post with a venomous drive moments later. His inevitable goal arrived seven minutes after his introduction when he volleyed home from close range following a flowing Liverpool move involving Carragher, Stewart Downing and finally a wonderful chip over the Chelsea defence from Suárez.

The Uruguay international’s afternoon, however, soon nose-dived. Three minutes later Suárez handled Mata’s corner and denied Torres a header at the back post. The referee, Kevin Friend, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Hazard sent Reina the wrong way following a lengthy delay due to the usual arguments.

For reasons known only to himself Suárez then sank his teeth into Ivanovic as the pair tussled in front of the Kop. He may have then scored the last-gasp equaliser, but another stain on the Liverpool striker’s character and a lengthy ban will surely follow.


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A news article on 2013-04-21 17:12:00 from: The Guardian

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TTT: Transfer Talk Tracker – March 2013

TTT: Transfer Talk Tracker – March 2013

By Chris Rowland. Here we go then – our first monthly spin on the insane transfer gossip merry-go-round we could call The Tomkins Times Transfer Talk Tracker (or T6!). The plan is to make it a regular monthly event, if my sanity holds up. Some conclusions sprang to mind in the process of compiling it; that most of the usual sources swap stories and report today what someone else reported a few days ago; new rumour and old rumour merge; and if this is what it’s like now when the transfer window is closed and boarded up …. I will provide the sources of the stories that I came across them from, though that’s not to say they didn’t appear somewhere else before or afterwards, such is the nature of the transfer gossip machine. I make no attempt to sift rumours in terms of credibility – I’ll leave that to you – I’m merely reporting their existence. Besides, they can only be proved if the transfers happen or the player involved signs for someone else. Spurs probably. Anyway, enough preamble, let’s get March got off to a distinctly underwhelming start (it gets better, much much better). Under the headline Defender on Liverpool’s radar, was … Reading’s Alex Pearce (Clubcall March 4): Liverpool are said to be closing in on a summer swoop for Reading defender Alex Pearce as he stalls on signing a new deal. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is known to be keen on Pearce and will need to land at least one more centre half as Jamie Carragher will retire at the end of the season. (media logic – a central defender is known to be leaving, therefore any available central defender can feasibly be linked. That’s how it works.). Pearce has been in fine form for the Royals this season but there were signs his mind could be elsewhere when he had a poor game in the recent 2-1 defeat to Stoke City, when boss Brian McDermott (oh how quickly these things date – Ed!) said he could have done better for both goals. The defender was then left out of the side but returned at the weekend as Reading slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Everton to leave them deep in relegation trouble Well we all agree we want central defenders don’t we? But maybe not this one? From the ridiculous to the … well, probably equally ridiculous: Alexis Sanchez of Barcelona. According to TalkSport on March 5: “Napoli have joined Liverpool among the growing pack of clubs chasing Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez.” The 24-year-old Chilean international has struggled to nail down a first-team place. However, he is still highly rated in Italy, with Juventus and Napoli both keen to rival Liverpool in order to bring him back to Serie A. Despite being contracted to Barcelona until 2016, he has been tipped to seek pastures new at the end of the season, although the Spanish giants will be looking to reclaim a large portion of their initial £23m outlay.” Next, a goalkeeper - Simon Mignolet of Sunderland, if Clubcall on March 5 is to be believed: Liverpool have joined the race to land goalkeeper Simon Mignolet but Sunderland want to keep him at the Stadium of Light. Both Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with the Black Cats number one and Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill (oops out of date again) is desperate to get him tied down to a new deal as quickly as possible. Clubs have noticed they could land Mignolet on the cheap as he is still on the same contract that he signed back in 2010 and interested parties are aware they can offer him a massive pay hike. His agents claimed at the weekend that he would look to move to a bigger club to increase his international chances, a claim denied by the player himself, but with Liverpool now joining the race Sunderland are in a rush to get him tied down to a new deal. And if you want to know why we’d want a new keeper, the Daily Mail was there to retread this old story on March 28th; that’s how Transfer ‘What if?’ gossip works; if rumour A turned out to be true then there’d be substance in Rumour B. And so if feeds itself, gorging relentlessly: Arsenal are planning a summer of changes which will be helped if Galatasaray make a £12million bid for striker Gervinho.  The Turkish side are keen after seeing the 25-year-old impress during the African Nations Cup with Ivory Coast. Arsenal have shown interest in Galatasaray’s highly-rated goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, 26, but Liverpool’s Pepe Reina remains their preferred choice. Apologies for that sudden deviance from chronology, it won’t happen again. Probably. Next, the Ashley Williams saga – and I don’t use that Norse term for epic tales of oral history lightly. There’s been a lot on this one, you might say. Even Aldo thinks it’s a good idea. But we face competition from Arsenal, said The Guardian on March 5: Arsene Wenger wants to sign Ashley Williams from Swansea City at the end of the season having lost faith in his central defensive partnership of Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker. Wenger has identified the Wales captain as someone with the leadership qualities to control and organise Arsenal’s defence in a way more reminiscent of when the club built a large part of their success on having a dominant figure such as Tony Adams, Martin Keown or Steve Bould in the heart of their back four. Arsenal face competition for the 28-year-old Williams from Liverpool, with Brendan Rodgers also prioritising the signing of at least one established centre-half in the summer and keen to recruit a player he previously managed at Swansea. Williams, contracted to 2015, would cost in the region of £8m. Williams has been an integral part of Swansea’s success since joining the club from Stockport County, in the Roberto Martinez era, establishing himself over the last five years as a key figure in defence with his reading of the game and ability to organise and take responsibility. The Daily Mail resurrected this as a new rumour 23 days later, on Mar 28: Arsenal are pressing ahead with their interest in Swansea defender Ashley Williams. The centre back has had an impressive season for Michael Laudrup’s side, and his performances have alerted Wenger and his influential chief scout Steve Rowley. They will follow up their interest with a bid this summer, but will face stiff competition from Liverpool, where former Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to be reunited with Williams. Sources close to Swansea’s skipper claim the Wales international will find it difficult to turn down the chance of a move to a more high-profile club this summer. One of oldest retreads of them all came fromTalksport on that very productive March 5: Liverpool could already be making moves to strengthen their squad ahead of next season, with stories emerging that the Reds are weighing up a move for CSKA Moscow attacker Keisuke Honda. Juventus are said to be just as keen as Liverpool, however, so a move isn’t likely to be straightforward. Honda was the flavour of the week back in the 2009-10 season, when his brilliant free kick sent CSKA through to the Champions League quarter finals at the expense of Sevilla, and he had been linked with Arsenal in particular prior to his move to Russia. These days, the Japanese star is said to be unhappy with his current situation in Moscow, and is unlikely to sign a contract extension before his deal runs out in the summer. Reports claim that Liverpool are keen to tie him down to a pre-contractual agreement as a result, but Antonio Conte’s high-flying Juventus may have enough to out-muscle the Reds. A day later and The Mirror and TalkSport were linking us with Valencia left back Aly Cissokho. The Mirror’s flippant headline ‘Love me do! Valencia full-back Aly Cissokho delighted with talk of Liverpool link’ and the first line below set their tone : The France defender has always wanted to play in England, Liverpool are very special, his favourite food is a steaming pot of Mum’s scouse etc. Valencia full-back Aly Cissokho has issued a demure ‘come and get me!’ notice to Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers after being linked with a possible move to Liverpool, according to reports. “I’ve never hidden the fact that the English league is the one that attracts me the most. It’s pleasing to see my name linked to Liverpool,” Cissokho told Le Parisien newspaper, according to an ESPN report.  “They’re a great club, and not just anyone can wear that shirt. But it’s still just an article in a newspaper.” And looking ahead to tonight’s Champions League showdown against PSG, Cissokho added: “When I was little, I was a Manchester United fan [yup, that's how to win over the fans of the club you’re eyeing!].” That rumour resurfaced in the Daily Express on March 28, only this time Liverpool face competition fromTottenham and Everton. According to Portuguese sports paper A Bola, Spurs and the Toffees are ‘at the forefront’ of the clubs interested in the French international. Which just goes to prove Leighton Baines is going to Utd of course. Next, a big one which keeps coming back; first spotted in the London Evening Standard on March 7 (first in March, that is, it’s been around for ages before that). It’s Christian Eriksen of Ajax. The Standard reported that Spurs hope Jan Vertonghen’s the man to convince Ajax ace Christian Eriksen to join them over Liverpool  Tottenham and Liverpool are set to fight it out for Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen after it emerged the club are ready to sell their prize asset this summer. Standard Sport can reveal that the Dutch club expect Eriksen to join an English team at the end of the season, following their decision to cash in on the 21-year-old Dane, who has refused to sign a new contract. It is understood Liverpool and Spurs have sent scouts to watch Eriksen “almost every week”, according to a senior source at Ajax, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona no longer interested. The Gunners are thought to view Eriksen as a similar player to Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere, both of whom prefer to play in the same advanced role behind the strikers. Similarly, United’s purchase of Shinji Kagawa is thought to have ended their advances for Eriksen, who is the same type of player albeit younger. That leaves the way clear for Spurs and Liverpool to act. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is thought to be confident of driving down Ajax’s £14million asking price to somewhere closer to £8m given Eriksen has just one year left on his current deal. However, negotiations are yet to begin, with all parties happy to wait until the rest of the season safe in the knowledge Eriksen has now privately confirmed his intention to play in England. A senior Ajax source said: “Christian wants to play in the Premier League and we think he will do well there. The club had discussed the option of keeping him until the end of his contract but it makes sense now to sell. “Liverpool and Spurs are scouting him almost every week. Arsenal are no longer interested and Man United are not on the scene. The club will not let him go cheaply so there is a long way to go but it seems likely he will move to Tottenham or Liverpool.” Spurs are hopeful that Jan Vertonghen’s relationship with Eriksen could prove influential. The Belgian played alongside Eriksen last season and last December he claimed his former team-mate would be well suited to English football. Vertonghen said: “Technically, he’s one of the best players I’ve played with. He can use his right foot and his left foot equally well.” The Mirror and Sky Sports confirmed the rumour on Mar 29, with The People and Sporting Life joining in on March 31 for good measure. Sky Sports said that “Marc Overmars has confirmed Liverpool have been ‘frequent visitors’ to Ajax this season amid reports Christian Eriksen is Brendan Rodgers’ top summer transfer target.Reports in the Dutch and English media have subsequently claimed that Liverpool are favourites to snap up Eriksen in a transfer worth around €20million (£16.9m). Ajax technical director Overmars would not comment on the transfer rumours, but acknowledged that Liverpool have regularly had scouts watching their games. ”We have a list of scouts from foreign clubs who have visited us and Liverpool have been a frequent visitor,” Overmars told De Telegraaf. Then the Sky Sports piece segued into another pair of rumours (if ‘pair’ is indeed the appropriate collective noun for rumours – ‘an invention of rumours’, perhaps?) “Meanwhile, speculation has also suggested that Shakhtar Donetsk’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa are alternatives for Rodgers if the Liverpool manager fails to land Eriksen.” More on Henrikh Mkhitaryan later. The rest of this article is for Subscribers only. Member-only content – you need to subscribe to read it ! A subscription costs only £3.50 per month. Find out what you get with your subscription, or Subscribe now.

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A news article on 2013-04-05 11:24:00 from: The Tomkins Times

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GOAL – Rodgers refuses to confirm Eriksen interest

Ajax director Marc Overmars says that Liverpool are scouting the Danish star but the Reds boss suggests that he may not be correct, though he is keen on quality recruits

A news article on 2013-03-29 16:36:00 from: Goal

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