Watch Liverpool

Posts Tagged ‘house’

• Liverpool manager confident supporters will focus on football
• ‘As long as it’s respectful then there won’t be a problem’

Kenny Dalglish has said Liverpool have their “house in order” ahead of the emotive FA Cup tie against Manchester United and that both clubs have done all they can to prevent further controversy arising at Anfield.

The Liverpool manager and his United counterpart, Sir Alex Ferguson, called for supporters to focus solely on football on the eve of the fourth-round match, which comes three months after the Premier League game at Anfield that led to Patrice Evra making a complaint of racist abuse against Luis Suárez and the Uruguay international receiving an eight-match ban as a result.

Suárez is expected to be at Anfield as he serves the penultimate game of his suspension but the United manager refused to discuss whether Evra will start the game, as Mike Phelan, Ferguson’s assistant, has indicated he would. Dalglish described the tension and controversy surrounding the game as “a sideshow”, and believes it will remain secondary to a Cup tie between England’s biggest clubs should Liverpool produce a repeat of their impressive performance against Manchester City in the Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday on and off the pitch.

The Liverpool manager said: “We want the fantastic support we had the other night and there’s no reason to think we’re not going to get that. Anything else is a sideshow for us. We don’t want anyone to lose sight of what it is and we don’t want our supporters to lose sight of how important they are vocally to us. We certainly don’t want the players to lose sight – and I don’t think they will – of the competitiveness in the game. We have to compete and do things properly and it’s the same for the supporters. They have been magnificent throughout our history and I am sure they will continue to do that.

“I’m sure there will be banter going back and forth between both sets of fans and as long as it’s respectful then there won’t be a problem. Not only the people who are involved directly the game, but those writing about the game have a responsibility not to run away from what has happened but to act responsibly and not be imagining things that haven’t happened.”

United have an increased ticket allocation of 5,319 for the Cup meeting and Ferguson is confident there will be no problems at Anfield. “As Steven Gerrard was saying, it’s the responsibility of players to behave properly. That’s what I expect my players to do and also the fans,” the United manager said. “Both sets of fans have got to make sure that we end up talking about the game and nothing else. I’m confident we can just concentrate on the football. We’ve been to Anfield already this season and our fans were terrific.”

Dalglish, Ferguson, Gerrard and Liverpool’s managing director, Ian Ayre, have all appealed for calm this week, while the Liverpool manager uses his notes in the match-day programme to ask that the “atmosphere isn’t tarnished in any way.” The two clubs have liaised closely with the Football Association and Merseyside police in recent weeks and Dalglish believes, that with a worldwide audience looking on, the right example will be set.

“We will. The supporters will,” he insisted. “We have got our house in order and I’m sure along the East Lancs Road they will be saying exactly the same thing. The best thing for everybody to be focused on is the football pitch, and that’s where we want people’s attention to be on.

“If something goes off, then it goes off. If it’s bad news, then there is not much anyone else could have done about it. I don’t think either of the two football clubs can be held responsible if it doesn’t go as well as everybody hopes it will do. On previous evidence, the two sets of fans are becoming more respectful for each other. They won’t be sending Christmas cards to each other, but they are becoming more respectful.”

Dalglish is unconcerned about Wednesday’s semi-final taking its toll on Liverpool three days later. “It is better to play than to train,” he said. Ferguson also believes Liverpool’s passage to Wembley could be a factor in the FA Cup. “They’ve got a great lift,” the United manager said. “They were far better than City on the night and but for Joe Hart it could have been quite a big scoreline. Winning is always important.”

United have not won at Anfield in their last four visits, losing three, but Ferguson admits he and his players should thrive on its intimidating atmosphere. He added: “I think the atmosphere for our games at Anfield is terrific. You work all your life to get to a point where you are challenged like that, or your team is challenged like that. We had a good record at Anfield until about two or three years ago. Since then the results have not been great for us, we have not done as well as we used to do, but you would expect that when you have a rivalry between two great clubs.”

LiverpoolKenny DalglishManchester UnitedFA Cup 2011-12FA CupSir Alex FergusonAndy Hunter
guardian.co.uk

• City manager says Liverpool’s players were ‘provocative’
• Kenny Dalglish defends his team and blames Balotelli

Roberto Mancini has accused Liverpool’s players of deliberately trying to “provoke” a red card from Mario Balotelli during the 1-1 draw at Anfield that ended with the home club checking reports of damage in the away dressing room and counter-allegations from Kenny Dalglish that the striker had only himself to blame.

Mancini’s annoyance with Balotelli was evident as they clashed on the touchline, leading to a heated exchange after the match, part of which was picked up by television microphones. But Mancini’s anger also extended to the Liverpool players, alleging they had pressurised the referee, Martin Atkinson, to show Balotelli a second yellow card for an aerial challenge on Martin Skrtel.

“I don’t think it was a yellow card and I don’t think the referee thought it was a yellow card,” he said. “My impression was the referee gave a free-kick but didn’t want to give a yellow. Then the Liverpool players went over saying: ‘Yellow card, yellow card.’ This is not correct.

“I’m disappointed with Mario because the first booking [a foul on Glen Johnson] was a yellow card but not the second. Mario has to pay attention because there are many players who will try to provoke him.” Asked if he meant that Skrtel had exaggerated the challenge, he replied: “I think so.”

Balotelli, a second-half substitute, had been on the pitch 18 minutes and there were reports afterwards that a door in the City dressing room had been damaged. “If he damaged the door, he will pay for it, just like his house,” Mancini said, referring to the recent fire at Balotelli’s country mansion, caused by a firework being let off in a bathroom. “He was disappointed with the red card and angry.” City, however, later reported there was no damage.

Informed of Mancini’s comments, Dalglish made little attempt to conceal his displeasure. “Sometimes if you look in the mirror you get the answer,” he said. “Balotelli got himself sent off. His own reaction spoke louder than anyone else’s. Sometimes he doesn’t help himself. Other times he maybe doesn’t get as much leeway as somebody else. But if you help yourself, you don’t get yourself in that position in the first place. I don’t think anyone was influencing the referee.”

The feeling at Liverpool was that Mancini was trying to protect Balotelli from further criticism by deflecting the blame for a red card that left the Premier League leaders facing a late onslaught to hold on to their unbeaten start to the season.

“It’s a good result for us because we played the last 10 minutes with 10 men,” Mancini said. “We don’t have a problem with Mario. He’s young. We can’t change Mario in one month, two months, three months. If he can [change], he can do everything. In the last three months he has been playing very well. He’s scored a lot of goals and been an important player for us.”

The draw leaves City five points clear of Manchester United but Balotelli will be suspended from the Carling Cup quarter-final at Arsenal on Tuesday, and it was an undignified end to a day that began with Dalglish paying an emotional tribute to Gary Speed and Craig Bellamy being given compassionate leave because he was so devastated about the death of the Wales manager. “Gary was like a mentor to Bellers,” Dalglish said. “I took the decision because there are more important things in life than playing a football match.”

Premier League 2011-12Mario BalotelliRoberto ManciniKenny DalglishLiverpoolManchester CityPremier LeagueDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk

• Hillsborough Family Support Group welcomes motion
• Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish praises MPs

Hillsborough campaigners believe they are edging towards discovering the truth of what happened in the tragedy more than 22 years ago after a momentous occasion in the House of Commons.

Last night a motion calling for all documents – including cabinet notes and briefings – to be handed to the independent panel set up to review the papers for public release was passed unopposed in the House of Commons.

“We are all very pleased with the outcome last night. I thought the MPs did a great job,” Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, told the Press Association.

“I thought Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham were fantastic. To mention the names of the 96 in the House of Commons makes sure it goes down in Hansard and was amazingly emotional.

“We have always had caution but after last night I am hoping it will help the families in some way. I feel so much better about it. We are getting nearer and nearer now – hopefully our day will come.

“To hear Theresa May’s speech was really pleasing, not just for us but for the whole of the city, the fans and the survivors. I think it sends out a message that a cover-up like that will never happen again.”

The debate was sparked after an online petition was signed by almost 140,000 people and the campaign gathered pace through social media with a number of high-profile footballers throwing their weight behind the cause.

“It has taken 22 years to get this far and it was said in the House of the Commons that it was down to the power of the people,” added Aspinall, who lost her 18-year-old son James at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. “It is never too late to get to the truth.

“There will be no end for the families because we have lost our children and loved ones and we lost them needlessly. Now the families may feel that, at last, everybody is listening.”

For Kenny Dalglish, who was in charge of the side at Hillsborough in his first spell as Liverpool manager, the disaster took a huge personal toll and contributed to his shock resignation in 1991. Now back at the Anfield helm for a second time he was full of praise for those who had maintained the fight for justice.

“Congratulations and thanks to Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham for bringing so much hope to many people who have suffered too long,” the Scot wrote on Twitter. “Steve and Andy have only one objective. Justice for the families. No political side. Only humanitarian issues. Thank you to everyone, whatever team you support, for helping the families move closer to getting justice.”

Hillsborough disasterLiverpoolAndy BurnhamKenny Dalglishguardian.co.uk