Premier League 2010/2011 Thread

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Kuyt ready to sign Reds deal

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt hopes to pen a new contract "very soon" as he is convinced the Reds will be challenging for silverware next season.

Kuyt still has 2 years to run on his current contract, but he is poised to sign an extension.

The Holland international believes the future is bright for Liverpool and he wants to be a part of it.

"Liverpool is a club that should be playing for trophies and I guarantee that will happen soon", said Kuyt.

"With Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll arriving, we have become stronger and I have a strong suspicion that the club will reinforce again in the summer."

"This helps my belief that we will be playing for trophies again next season."

"I want to stay because the club is showing ambition, the team is getting stronger and my family and I absolutely love it here. I hope I will sign my contract very soon."

Mensah red card overturned

Sunderland defender John Mensah had his red card against Liverpool on Sunday rescinded on appeal, the club have confirmed.

The Ghana international was dismissed by referee Kevin Friend for an 81st minute foul on Luis Suarez.

However, manager Steve Bruce later admitted he had been surprised to see a straight red card and the club has now successfully appealed.

Mensah, who was due to miss the Barclays Premier League trip to Manchester City on 3 April, will now be available after all.

Bruce said: "We thank the Football Association for considering our appeal and naturally we are delighted he will be available for the game against City".

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Redknapp i-a fixat pretul lui Gareth Bale: 80 de milioane de lire sterline
Harry Redknapp spune ca Tottenham se va desparti de Gareth Bale in viitorul apropiat doar in cazul unei oferte colosale, in genul celei pentru Ronaldo

Gareth Bale si-a exprimat disponibilitatea pentru un transfer in aceasta vara la unul din cluburile de top ale Europei iar presa a speculat momentul si deja interpreteaza in fel si chip declaratia jucatorului.

...Continuare...

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Carragher nu si-a pierdut speranta: “Putem prinde un loc de Europa”

“Nu cred ca din cauza faptului ca am pierdut niste puncte din cauza unor goluri venite pe final [la West Bromich Albion] ne va influenta modul in care vom termina sezonul. Trebuie sa ne mai chinuim putin pana ii prindem pe cei de la Tottenham – ei au facut doar egal cu Wigan. Au fost destule momente in acest sezon cand am crezut ca s-au spulberat sansele de calificare in Europa.”

...Continuare...

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Primul transfer pentru sezonul viitor: Thomas Vermaelen

Fostul jucator al lui Ajax a mai dezvaluit faptul ca este nerabdator sa revina pe teren: “Dupa operatie, devii nerabdator sa joci. Dupa accidentare am simtit dureri, dar mi-am spus ca nu este nimic grav, si am jucat in continuare. Acest lucru s-a dovedit a fi o greseala foarte mare. Se pare ca nu tot timpul poti invinge natura. Mi s-a spus ca voi absenta 6 saptamani (dupa operatie). Nu puteam anticipa aceasta absenta. Preferam sa stiu lucrul acesta din start”.

...Continuare...

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Gerrard out for rest of the season

Liverpool have suffered a second injury blow in 3 days after captain Steven Gerrard was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The England midfielder returned to training a week ago after a groin operation in early March but sustained a similar but not identical injury last Friday.

He has spent the week undergoing assessment and manager Kenny Dalglish confirmed the worst on Friday, saying: "We still don't know definitively what the problem is. We will wait to get a precise answer from the people that he has to see but he won't be involved again this season".

On Wednesday defender Daniel Agger had his campaign ended prematurely when it was confirmed he would be sidelined for at least 2 months with a knee tendon injury sustained in Saturday's defeat at West Bromwich.

Dalglish is also without right-backs Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly (both hamstring injuries) for the next month.

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Bale and Nasri eye PFA double

Gareth Bale and Samir Nasri have been nominated for both the Professional Footballers' Association Player and Young Player of the Year awards.

The PFA have announced that Tottenham Hotspur winger and Arsenal playmaker were among 7 nominees from the Premier League for each of their of their top prizes.

The pair are likely to face stiff competition in both categories, however, as the contest is generally perceived to be wide open.

Bale's Spurs team-mate Rafael Van der Vaart is also in contention for the main prize along with Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, West Ham midfielder Scott Parker and Blackpool talisman Charlie Adam.

England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere, Everton's Seamus Coleman and Manchester United pair Nani and Javier Hernandez are the other contenders for the young player gong.

Bale and Nasri are bidding to emulate Andy Gray (1977) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2007) as the only players to previously win both awards in the same year.

Wayne Rooney was last year nominated in both categories but took the chief prize while James Milner was the Young Player of the Year.

Players' union chief Gordon Taylor is pleased to see a number of British players in contention for Player of the Year prizes.

The Professional Footballers' Association today announced the nominees for their prestigious Players' Player and Young Player of the Year awards.

Of the homegrown players, Bale is nominated in both categories while Parker and Adam compete with him for the main prize.

Hart and Jack Wilshere are nominated for the young player gong.

Unlike last year, when Rooney was a clear winner, the competition for the top award, which will be announced on 17 April, is believed to be wide open.

Neville to join Sky Sports team

Gary Neville insists he will not be scared to criticise Manchester United when he begins his new role as a Sky Sports pundit next season.

Neville announced his retirement earlier this year after deciding his body could no longer cope with the demands of top-flight action.

The 36-year-old has plenty to occupy him at present as he continues working for his coaching badges and sorts arrangements for his testimonial against Juventus on Tuesday, 24 May, just 4 days before a potential United appearance in the Champions League Final.

However, from next season, Neville will be on the other side of the camera as Sky fill a position created following the axing of Andy Gray in January.

And that raises the potential for Neville having to criticise the club he has supported all his life and made over 600 appearances for during a stellar playing career.

The prospect of a conflict of views with Sir Alex Ferguson is clear.

But Neville is adamant he will speak his mind the same way he has always done.

Neville's recent appearance in the studio alongside Ryan Giggs for England's EURO 2012 qualifying victory over Wales in Cardiff suggested the former defender would be a very effective addition to the Sky team.

He has always been one of the more forthright members of the United dressing room and that attitude is unlikely to change, even though Neville admits to being more relaxed since he quit football after a particularly dismal performance at West Bromwich on New Years' Day.

However, he will not be abandoning his links to United, having agreed to join Sir Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson as club ambassadors.

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Kuszczak to leave Old Trafford

Goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak has confirmed that he will leave Manchester United at the end of the season.

The Poland international has been unable to dislodge Edwin van der Sar from the Old Trafford starting XI and has decided to call time on his Old Trafford career.

Despite the fact that Dutch veteran is hanging up his gloves when the current campaign concludes, Kuszczak is not sticking around to fight for the number 1 spot.

Sir Alex Ferguson is widely expected to dip into the transfer market to find a replacement and the former Hertha Berlin and West Bromwich shot-stopper accepts he does not fit the bill for the Scottish tactician.

He said: "I'm definitely leaving the club. My time in Manchester is coming to an end".

"I've worked hard for 5 years but I never played as much as I wanted. It's a shame the manager didn't really give me a chance."

"I always believed I can be Edwin van der Sar's successor. Unfortunately, Sir Alex has decided differently."

"Even though I played many games, I spent most of my time on the bench."

Kuszczak, who has made just 30 Premier League appearances since arriving at Old Trafford in August 2006, claims he would not have been as patient at any other club.

But fears over his international future with the European Championship in his homeland looming next summer have left him with little option.

He added: "I accepted that as I had a great rival, one of the world's best keepers and Manchester was the only club where I could accept that role for so long".

"But I've had enough of waiting. I want to play in EURO 2012. Staying here I could be left out by Poland's coach."

"I spoke to Alex Ferguson about my role on many occasions."

"The manager was in a difficult position. But he also knew Edwin is retiring after this season so he could give me a few more chances to play."

"We didn't speak that much to convince me next year I can be number 1."

Rafael fit to face Chelsea



Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Rafael da Silva should be fit to face Chelsea on Tuesday.

The Manchester United defender was stretchered off with a knee injury in the Reds’ Champions League first leg victory at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday, immediately casting doubt on his involvement in the return leg at Old Trafford.

The young Brazilian did manage to limp unassisted onto the United team bus that evening, but the Reds still sent the 20-year-old for a precautionary scan the following day.

At his press conference on Friday morning, Sir Alex revealed there had been "no bruising or ligament damage to his knee" and was confident the right-back would be fit to line up against Chelsea on Tuesday.

There was a similar diagnosis after the Reds' 2-0 win against Fulham on Saturday.

"Rafael should be ok for Tuesday", he revealed, while also acknowledging the return of a number of other players.

"Wes Brown's back, Antonio Valencia's back... John O'Shea's been out with a hamstring injury and he's come through the Fulham game well. Players are coming back and that gives us a heck of a boost."

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The new kit will be worn for the first time at the final home game of the season when Chelsea play Newcastle on 14 May.

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Cech: “Trebuie sa invatam din greselile acestui sezon”



Petr Cech comenteaza finalul de sezon al lui Chelsea, in care formatia lui Carlo Ancelotti nu mai are sanse la niciun trofeu

Portarul lui Chelsea, Petr Cech, se asteapta ca formatia lui sa treaca printr-o serie de schimbari importante in cursul verii, intr-o incercare de a uita actualul sezon, mai degraba modest. Odata cu eliminarea din Champions League in fata celor de la Manchester United, din sferturile de finala ale competitiei, Chelsea a pierdut orice sansa de a castiga un trofeu in acest an si ramane acum cu unicul si minimul obiectiv de a asigura un loc in editia viitoare de Champions League, prin clasarea pe unul dintre primele patru locuri din campionat. Transferul lui Fernando Torres din ianuarie nu a avut impactul asteptat asupra formatiei lui Carlo Ancelotti, al carui viitor la Chelsea devine acum incert:

“Suntem toti dezamagiti, in ceea ce ma priveste este primul sezon de cand am venit la club in care nu vom castiga nimic – a declarat Cech - Cred ca este un an la finalul caruia trebuie sa invatam din greselile noastre, sa ne ridicam pentru a incheia sezonul cat mai bine, deoarece mai avem pentru ce juca, ne dorim sa ne clasam pe un loc cat mai bun in campionat, apoi desigur trebuie sa ne pregatim pentru stagiunea viitoare.”

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Who's the bigger loss: Tevez or Rooney ?

Manchester United take on Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday with both teams missing their star strikers.

Wayne Rooney misses out for Manchester United as he serves out a suspension, while Carlos Tevez has a hamstring injury for City ruling him out of the clash at Wembley.

How much each player is missed will come down as much to the how the men who replace them do.

Dimitar Berbatov will likely come in for United. The Bulgarian is the Premier League's top scorer this season but his goals have come in bursts and his inconsistent performances has seen him slip below Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney in the pecking order.

City meanwhile, will be crying out for a big performance from Edin Dzeko who has disappointed since his £27 million move from VfL Wolfsburg in January.

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Arsenal vs Liverpool preview

Arsenal could be boosted by the return of up to 4 players when they host Liverpool in a Premier League blockbuster on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger is hopeful that young goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Johan Djourou will make a return to first team action from finger and shoulder problems respectively, while midfield pair Denilson and Alex Song could also feature at Emirates Stadium.

Szczesny made a bright start to his Arsenal career with a string of impressive performances and could end Jens Lehmann's brief return to the Gunners' starting side if selected.

"Djourou and Wojciech are question marks", Wenger told Arsenal TV online.

"It could be a possibility that they could be available. It's difficult to say what their chances are. Denilson and Song have a chance to be available as well."

Bacary Sagna is unlikely to play due to a knee problem while long-term absentee Thomas Vermaelen will not be risked despite returning to training after an Achilles injury saw him spend 7 months on the sidelines.

Arsenal's last fixture saw them post a 3-1 win at relegation-threatened Blackpool on Sunday, a victory that was much-needed and broke a string of 5 matches without a win in all competitions.

The Gunners will need to make the most of their chances against a Liverpool outfit who impressively disposed of Manchester City 3-0 at Anfield which has improved the club's chances of qualifying for European competition.

While a Manchester United or a Manchester City FA Cup victory would allow Liverpool to qualify for Europa League if they finish 6th, they want to make sure of that spot and not leave it up to chance by finishing fifth.

Liverpool also have a lengthy injury list, with defenders Daniel Agger, Martin Kelly, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Glen Johnson all sidelined while inspirational captain Steven Gerrard has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a groin problem.

The last time these two sides met, a Pepe Reina own goal in injury time gave Arsenal a point in a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the season.

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PFA Team of the Year 2011


Van Der Sar (Man Uuited)



Sagna (Arsenal) - Kompany (Man City) - Vidic (Man United) - A. Cole (Chelsea)



Luis Nani (Man Uuited) - Samir Nasri (Arsenal) - Wilshere (Arsenal) - Bale (Tottenham)



Carlos Tevez (Man City) - Berbatov (Man United)

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Bale named PFA Player of the Year

Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale has been named as PFA Player of the Year, with Arsenal's Jack Wilshere winning the Young Player award.

Arsenal's Samir Nasri was second in the voting with Manchester City's Carlos Tevez third.

Blackpool's Charlie Adam, Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, West Ham midfielder Scott Parker and Bale's team-mate Rafael van der Vaart were also nominated.

Bale is the 4th Welshman to win the award with Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes (twice) and Ian Rush previous winners.

He is the first Tottenham player to win the award since David Ginola in 1999.

"I am more than delighted really. It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other fellow professionals", said Bale.

"It is a honour really when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go 'wow' really."

"There haven't been too many Welshman to have won the trophy but it is great and it is great for me personally."

Scholes set to miss Gunners clash

Paul Scholes is set to miss Manchester United's top-of-the-table tussle with Arsenal on 1 May following his sending off in Saturday's FA Cup semi-finals.

Scholes was dismissed for a studs-first, thigh-high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta during the second half of Saturday evening's derby clash with Manchester City at Wembley as his side lost 1-0. If violent conduct is confirmed as the reason for his sending off when referee Mike Dean's report is received by the Football Association on Monday, it will condemn Scholes to a 3-match suspension.

That would rule the 36-year-old out of Tuesday's trip to Newcastle, the Easter Saturday encounter with Everton at Old Trafford and that crucial trip to Emirates Stadium to face United's closest title challengers.

Scholes' latest disciplinary transgression is a blow to United given the veteran midfielder had only just returned from a 2-match ban for amassing 10 yellow cards.

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Premier League - Team of the Week 33


Ben Foster (Birmingham)



Ivanovic (Chelsea) - Collins (Aston Villa) - Johnson (Birmingham) - Baines (Everton)



Young (Aston Villa) - Osman (Everton) - Spearing (Liverpool) - N'Zogbia (Wigan)



Drogba (Chelsea) - Bent (Aston Villa)

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Tottenham fear fixture change may benefit City

Tottenham Hotspur will lobby the Premier League over the rescheduling of the Manchester City vs Stoke City league fixture, amid fears of a potential carve-up of the result to influence European qualification.

The two clubs were due to met at Eastlands on FA Cup Final weekend but their participation in the showpiece has forced a rethink and the game is now set for Tuesday 17 May, in the final week of the domestic season.

Yet Tottenham are concerned that this could hand City an advantage in the fight for a 4th place finish.

If Stoke were to lose the FA Cup Final at Wembley on 14 May, they could still qualify for next season's Europa League if City were to finish 4th in Premier League.

That would see City make the Champions League and mean that they would not need the FA Cup's Europa League place, which would go to Stoke.

However, if City were to win the FA Cup but finish fifth in the league, they would take the Cup's Europa League place, ahead of Stoke and England's third Europa League berth would go to the 6th place league finisher.

Tottenham worry that if City won the Cup, it might be in Stoke's interests to lose at Eastlands, as it could improve their own chances of making Europe, and they would like to see the fixture rearranged before the FA Cup Final to remove any element of suspicion.

The Premier League, though, feels that would cast unfair aspersions on Stoke, whose integrity it does not doubt.

The Premier League have rules in place that deal with the selection of weakened teams and they would bring them into force if that became an issue.

City's victory over their neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals and the potential for a Europa League spot to go to 6th place in Premier League has rekindled the European hopes of Liverpool, Everton and Bolton Wanderers.

The situation adds a layer of intrigue to more than just the City vs Stoke end-of-season fixture.

Liverpool face Tottenham at Anfield on 15 May, a match where, paradoxically, defeat could potentially improve their chances of earning a European place by helping Spurs into 4th, while City's trip to Everton on 7 May could carry an extra edge.

City's final day visit to Bolton Wanderers could also prove pivotal for both teams.

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Liverpool sign biggest kit deal in English football history

Liverpool have secured the biggest kit deal in English football history, the £25 million-per-year contract with Boston-based Warrior Sports more than doubling the Anfield club's present agreement with Adidas.

The Times understands that Warrior, a subsidiary of New Balance, will take over production of Liverpool kits in time for the 2012/2013 season.

Adidas, which launched a new away kit last week as part of its £12 million-per-year contract with the club, had the chance to match the offer but was not prepared to meet the American company's price.

The link between Liverpool and Warrior is believed to be a long-term relationship and outstrips the £23 million-per-year that Nike pays Manchester United, the previous British record.

John Henry, the Liverpool owner, has insisted since taking over at Anfield in October that the club would only spend money that it generates.

With Liverpool unlikely to qualify for the Champions League this season, some had questioned their ability to compete in the transfer market.

However, the agreement with a brand better known in the lacrosse world would appear to have solved the short-term cashflow problems caused by failure to qualify for Europe's premier club tournament.

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Premier League - Team of the Week 34


Tim Krul (Newcastle)



Flanagan (Liverpool) - David Luiz (Chelsea) - Jagielka (Everton) - Salcido (Fulham)



Kuyt (Liverpool) - Henderson (Sunderland) - Vaughan (Blackpool) - Rodriguez (Liverpool)



Hernandez (Man United) - Fletcher (Wolverhampton)

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Who has been the signing of the season ?

Javier Hernandez's 12 Premier League goals have helped take Manchester United to the brink of a record-breaking 19th title.

The young Mexican, nicknamed Chicharito (Little Pea), has been a revelation at Old Trafford and looks like he might just be the bargain signing of the season.

Hernandez signed last summer from Guadalajara for an undisclosed fee believed to be just £7 million.

The most remarkable thing about Hernandez is not just that he scores goals, but that he scores IMPORTANT goals.

He has netted 7 late winners for United during the campaign, including one against Everton last weekend.



Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid => Tottenham Hotspur, £8 million)

The Dutchman has been in sparkling form for Tottenham this campaign, especially during the first half of the season. He's scored 14 goals in total, including 12 in the league.



Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow => West Bromwich, £1 million)

The goals of the Russian-born Nigerian are arguably what have kept the Baggies up. Odemwingie has bagged 13 this season - all in Premier League - which is all the more impressive when you consider he has done it for a struggling side.



Raul Meireles (FC Porto => Liverpool, £11.5 million)

Roy Hodgson's campaign at Anfield was a disaster, but the signing of the Portuguese midfielder could be his most important legacy. Tireless and classy, Meireles won the PFA Fans' Player of the Year.



David Luiz (Benfica => Chelsea, £22.5 million)

Fernando Torres hasn't exactly set the world on fire at Stamford Bridge, but the same cannot be said of Luiz. Signed on the same day as Torres, the Brazil international has been a revelation at the back.



Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea => Bolton, loan)

Another January signing, Sturridge has been on fire since moving to Reebok Stadium on loan. He has scored 7 goals in just 8 starts for Bolton and also scored 4 goals for Chelsea in limited action this campaign.



Cheik Tiote (FC Twente => Newcastle, £3.5 million)

The tough-tackling Ivorian is the type of player that every manager dreams about. His work-rate in the middle of the park is exceptional but he is also comfortable and composed on the ball. Such has been the quality of the 24-year-old's performances that Newcastle rewarded him with a new 6-and-a-half-year contract in February.



DJ Campbell (Leicester => Blackpool, £1.2 million)

As a loan signing, Campbell helped Blackpool win promotion; now, as a permanent signing, his goals might keep them in Premier League. Scoring goals in this division is never easy, but bargain buy Campbell has netted 11 this campaign.



Darren Bent (Sunderland => Aston Villa, £24 million)

People said Aston Villa were mad when they splashed out such a large sum on the England striker in January but, if anything, it looks a bargain now. Bent has scored 7 goals in 12 appearances (after having scored 11 for Sunderland) and without his goals Villa might now be on the brink of relegation.

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Arsenal vs Manchester United preview

Manchester United visit Arsenal on Sunday with Sir Alex Ferguson's men closing in on what would be a record 19th championship.

Until recently, this match was considered a pivotal one in deciding the eventual destination of the English Premier League title, but the form of Arsene Wenger's side has dipped so markedly that they have slipped to third place behind Chelsea, 9 points off the pace.

Interestingly, it has been Arsenal's form at home that has let them down this season.

Since the New Year they have been held by Blackburn Rovers (0-0), Sunderland (0-0), Newcastle (4-4), Manchester City (0-0) and Liverpool (1-1) - with all but the Newcastle game at Emirates Stadium.

In their most recent match, a 90th minute header from Tamir Cohen lifted Bolton to a 2-1 win at Reebok Stadium, prompting Wenger to all but concede his side's title challenge was over.

For Ferguson's men, the march towards a 12th Premier League title continues relentlessly - and they could also be heading towards a third Champions League crown under the Scotsman's watch, after taking a 2-0 lead over Schalke in the first leg of their semi-finals on Tuesday.

In their most recent league match, a late goal from Javier Hernandez handed United a 1-0 win over Everton at Old Trafford.

Both squads are in excellent shape for this time of the season, with Arsenal's only casualties being goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, whose season is over with a shoulder injury and midfielder Abou Diaby who is nursing a calf problem.

In better news for Wenger, Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen made it through 90 minutes of Arsenal's reserves clash with United on Thursday unscathed, after missing most of the season with an Achilles tendon problem.

For United, striker Dimitar Berbatov did not feature against Schalke but will return to the squad for Sunday's trip to London and midfielder Darren Fletcher is still battling back to full fitness after a virus.

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Carragher earns legend status at Liverpool

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher reaches another milestone in his Anfield career on Sunday.

Carragher will make his 665th appearance for Liverpool against Newcastle, moving equal second with Ray Clemence and Emlyn Hughes in the list of all-time appearances.

Only Ian Callaghan, with 857, will be ahead of the 33-year-old, who made his Liverpool debut in 1997.

The upcoming honour has earned special praise from his manager Kenny Dalglish.

"Carra has been a fantastic servant to this football club", Dalglish said.

"He's filled in loyally and comfortably in many positions and he's someone who has been very pleased to be associated with Liverpool and we're pleased to be associated with him."

Carragher has already passed Ian Rush, Phil Neal, Tommy Smith and Bruce Grobbelaar after making 34 appearances this campaign, and Dalglish believes he deserves to be mentioned among such legendary Anfield names.

"Talent is a good starting point", Dalglish said.

"Starting in the first team at 18 is another good starting point and not picking up too many injuries helps, but the most important thing is his ability and his desire and commitment to this football club."

Carragher has captained the side recently in Steven Gerrard's absence and his form has helped in Liverpool's upsurge, which has seen them take 27 points from their last 14 games.