FA’s Aliadiere ruling angers Boro

Middlesbrough have accused the Football Association of double standards after losing their appeal against Jeremie Aliadiere’s red card at Liverpool. The FA deemed Boro’s appeal “frivolous” and added an extra game’s suspension to the striker’s initial three-match ban.

The verdict infuriated Boro chief Keith Lamb, who said Chelsea’s appeal against Michael Essien’s three-match ban was rejected but not thought “frivolous”.

“There is one rule for the big boys and another for the rest of us,” said Lamb.

However, FA spokesman Mark Hooper told BBC Sport: “The FA refutes any suggestion that certain clubs are treated differently to others. All cases are treated on merit.

Mascherano set for permanent deal

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano says he expects to complete a permanent move to the Anfield club this week. The Argentine is registered as a Reds player on a long-term loan from Media Sports Investments (MSI), the consortium that ‘owns’ the player.

The 23-year-old said: “I have a lot of confidence that, after the next week, I can say ‘everything is right and I am staying here in Liverpool’.

“We now need to wait. We are very close but we need to talk again.”

He can sign for Liverpool outside the transfer window because he does not belong to another club.

Middlesbrough 1-1 Liverpool

Liverpool’s faint title ambitions suffered another setback when they were held to a draw at Middlesbrough. The lacklustre Reds went behind after failing to deal with a Stewart Downing cross and Jeremie Aliadiere nodded back for George Boateng to turn in.

Downing later had a shot tipped on to the post by Pepe Reina before Fernando Torres equalised with a rasping strike.

Liverpool duo Ryan Babel and Steven Gerrard went close with long-range efforts but Boro held firm for a point.

Middlesbrough had shown a steely resolve from the start when they comfortably repelled and broke up anything Liverpool could muster.

The home side hustled and harried the visitors and grew in confidence as the game progressed against a Reds side who were not allowed to settle.

Liverpool confirm Skrtel signing

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Slovakian international defender Martin Skrtel from Zenit St Petersburg on a four-and-a-half-year contract. The established centre-half has 15 caps for his country and Reds boss Rafael Benitez is predicting a bright future for the 23-year-old.

Skrtel becomes the most expensive defender in Liverpool’s history with the fee thought to be around £6m.

“He is aggressive, quick and good in the air,” said Rafael Benitez.

“I think he’s a very good player for the future and also for the present,” Benitez added on the Liverpool website.

“I think he is a player maybe not many people know about but he played against Everton for Zenit St Petersburg, and he is a centre-half that knows the English style.

Marseille 0-4 Liverpool

Liverpool overwhelmed Marseille to win a third successive Champions League Group A game and reach the last 16. Steven Gerrard won a penalty on four minutes and although his spot-kick was saved by Steve Mandanda, the Liverpool captain crashed home the rebound.

Fernando Torres then scored a superb solo goal, beating a posse of Marseille players before curling the ball in.

Early in the second half Dirk Kuyt swept home a third and in stoppage time Ryan Babel broke clear for the fourth.

The victory capped a remarkable recovery in Liverpool’s Champions League campaign, given that after three games Rafael Benitez’s side had found themselves bottom of the group with just one point.

Three years ago Liverpool’s final Champions League group game against Olympiakos at Anfield had required a spectacular late Gerrard goal to secure a dramatic passage to the knockout rounds.

Liverpool 8-0 Besiktas

Yossi Benayoun grabbed a hat-trick as a rampant Liverpool beat Besiktas to keep their Champions League campaign alive. Peter Crouch slotted in after his first shot was saved to open the scoring.

Benayoun took down a cross and lashed home before twice side-footing in after John Arne Riise and Steven Gerrard had strikes parried into his path.

Gerrard powered in a shot, Ryan Babel backheeled in a deft goal and then deflected in a Besiktas clearance before Crouch nodded in for an eighth.

Liverpool came into the game with their backs against the wall as they needed victory to keep alive any realistic hopes of progressing in the competition.

Liverpool FC stadium move granted

Liverpool Football Club’s plans for a new £400m stadium have been passed. The 60,000 capacity ground at Stanley Park has been unanimously approved by Liverpool City Council planning committee after a five-hour meeting.

The premiership club’s new stadium will hold 15,000 more fans than the existing site, but that could increase to 75,000 in the future.

The plan was resubmitted to planners after American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were unhappy with them.

The new stadium will hold 114 executive boxes, twice the number in the original design, and will regenerate public land which stands between Anfield and Everton’s ground, Goodison Park.

Paul Hyett, chairman of HKS Architects in charge of the stadium project, said: “You don’t often get one like this to deal with. Most people never get to work on one like this.

“It’s a fantastic job to be involved with, a fantastic city and fantastic club.”

A spokesman for Liverpool FC said work on the new stadium could begin almost immediately and was expected to be finished by August 2011.

source:bbcsports

Everton 1-2 Liverpool

Dirk Kuyt’s injury-time penalty gave Liverpool a crucial Merseyside derby win against nine-man Everton. Sami Hyypia sliced into his own goal after 37 minutes to give Everton the lead at the interval.

But Kuyt scored from the spot after 54 minutes when Tony Hibbert was sent off for hauling down Steven Gerrard as he raced clear on goal.

And Kuyt struck again in time added on, with Phil Neville also sent off for handling Lucas’ goal-bound shot.

Everton were then furious with referee Mark Clattenburg, who ignored strong claims for a spot-kick in the dying seconds when Jamie Carragher clearly dragged down Joleon Lescott.

Liverpool were without groin-injury victim Fernando Torres, while Everton resisted the temptation to recall long-term absentees Tim Cahill, Thomas Gravesen and James Vaughan.

Liverpool 0-0 Birmingham

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez left Fernando Torres out of his starting line-up and paid the price again as Birmingham earned a point at Anfield. Torres looked a cut above the rest of Liverpool’s strikers when he emerged on the hour, but Birmingham’s defence had established the platform for a point.

John Arne Riise was just off target and Steven Gerrard’s shot was kicked off the line in a lacklustre display.

Torres’ over-head kick was inches over, but Birmingham deservedly held on.

Benitez surprisingly preferred Ryan Babel to £26m Torres, and his side lacked punch in the opening 45 minutes.

Riise posed the main danger with a shot across the face of goal and a rising shot off target.

Porto 1-1 Liverpool

Liverpool escaped with a fortunate draw after a poor display against Porto in this Champions League Group A match. Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina gave away a penalty and was beaten by Lucho Gonzalez’s spot-kick on eight minutes.

Despite their error-strewn first-half performance, Dirk Kuyt pulled Liverpool level with a close-range header.

But Liverpool had to play with 10 men for over 30 minutes of the second half after Jermaine Pennant was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.