Monthly Archives: December 2012

Holtby to leave Schalke on free transfer

EXCLUSIVE
By Hassan Talib Haji

Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby has decided against renewing his contract with the Bundesliga club, paving the way for a potential move to Liverpool in the summer.

The former Alemannia Aachen star’s camp have been in negotiations with Schalke for several months but Goal.com can reveal that the two parties have failed to reach an agreement, with a switch away from the Veltins Arena now looking a certainty.

Goal.com exclusively revealed back in October that Liverpool had identified the 22-year-old Germany international as one of their primary transfer targets and Brendan Rodgers’ side could now look to step up their interest in the player in the January transfer window.

Under the Bosman ruling, Holtby, whose current deal with the Gelsenkirchen outfit expires in the summer of 2013, would be free to negotiate a contract with potential suitors in the new year and Liverpool could look to pounce.

The Reds, who were soundly beaten by Stoke City in the Premier League on Wednesday, have been lacking in depth in attacking areas, with Luis Suarez carrying the goalscoring burden alongside fleeting contributions from the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jonjo Shelvey.

Reports had suggested that Everton fan Holtby had demanded almost €6.1 million a year to commit his future to Schalke although the player’s agent Markus Noack rubbished those rumours, telling Goal.com that such a figure had been “plucked from the air”.

Schalke, who currently lie in seventh place in the Bundesliga table and face Galatasaray in the last 16 of the Champions League in February, tied down influential striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to a new contract on Sunday although appear to have lost the battle to keep another of their prized assets.

Jens Keller’s side are expected to make an announcement on Holtby’s future later on Thursday with the midfielder seemingly now set for the Premier League having made no secret of his desire to make the move to England in the past.

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Rodgers: We deserved nothing

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that his side “deserved nothing” after losing 3-1 to an impressive Stoke side at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Reds went a goal up in the early stages of the match through a Steven Gerrard penalty after Luis Suarez was brought down in the box by Ryan Shawcross. But the Potters soon equalised, and went on to take a two-goal lead, thanks to a Jonathan Walters double and a fine header from Kenwyne Jones.

And Rodgers has expressed his disappointment at the nature of the goals his team conceded, explaining that his side must defend better if they are to take points away from such matches.

“It was a great start for us, getting our first penalty, but we just gave away poor goals tonight,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think all three goals were actually quite straightforward to defend. A direct ball, and obviously Martin Skrtel slips, which was unfortunate.

“The other two goals, we’ve got to be much better than that. That was a disappointment really. We got into some good areas but ultimately, when you come to places like this, it’s a difficult place to come and you’ve got to defend better or else you’ll get nothing.

“We deserved nothing because of that.”

However, the former Swansea manager also moved to praise Tony Pulis and his Stoke side, who are now unbeaten in their last nine matches.

“They [Stoke] probably don’t quite get the credit they deserve and Tony’s done a brilliant job here in keeping them in this division and progressing,” he added.

“They’ve got some terrific players and they do what they do very well. But from our perspective it was poor defending.”

Stoke 3-1 Liverpool: Walters double inspires comeback win

Stoke came from behind to beat a disappointing Liverpoolside 3-1 in an enthralling Premier League encounter at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The game got off to a flying start when Ryan Shawcross brought down Luis Suarez in the penalty area inside the first minute allowing Steven Gerrard to step up and slot the ball home calmly from 12 yards. But the response from the hosts was instant, as John Walters equalised just minutes later.

The home side then went on to take the lead, as Kenwyne Jones met a Matthew Etherington corner with a powerful header, before the Potters soon went two up, as Jones flicked a long throw on to Walters, who scored his second of the match.

Tony Pulis made one change to the side that drew with Tottenham last time out, with Michael Kightly given the nod at the expense of Ryan Shotton on the right flank. Brendan Rodgers stuck with the same starting XI that thrashed Fulham 4-0, leaving Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen on the substitutes’ bench.

The visitors found themselves with a chance to take the lead inside the first minute, as Suarez cut into the penalty area from the right wing and was brought down by Shawcross. Gerrard stepped up and drove the ball low and hard into the bottom left-hand corner of the net past a helpless Asmir Begovic.

But Stoke were instant in their reply, gaining an equaliser just minutes later. A long ball from the hosts’ defence found Kenwyne Jones, who towered above Daniel Agger to flick the ball into the Liverpool 18-yard box leaving Walters to latch onto the ball and slot smartly past Pepe Reina.

Pulis’ men then took the lead, after a Matthew Etherington corner was met by a towering Jones, who evaded the attentions of Agger and Gerrard with ease. Glen Johnson was the man on the line, but pressure from Shawcross prevented the right-back from making the clearance.

The visitors came close to equalising at the beginning of the second period, as substitute Raheem Sterling raced passed Shawcross and crossed towards Suarez. The Uruguayan did well to escape Robert Huth at the near post, but could only divert the ball onto the outside of the post.

The Potters then added to their lead, after a long throw from Geoff Cameron was flicked on to Walters by the impressive Jones. The Ireland international finished emphatically, taking the chance quickly by volleying the ball into the top corner.

Shawcross nearly conceded a second penalty, as Downing tumbled under a challenge from the centre-back just outside the penalty area. The former Aston Villa winger took the free kick himself, but failed to test Asmir Begovic after blasting straight into a crowd of players.

Liverpool never really looked like getting back into the game, however, as a combination of determination and a fantastic work-rate ensured the Stoke side kept possession and continued to threaten the visitors’ goal until the final whistle.