18 December 1999

LIVERPOOL BEAT COVENTRY
Michael Owen scored his first goal at Anfield this season with a characteristic brilliant shot while Titi Camara grabbed his seventh goal of the season as the Reds saw off Coventry season. Liverpool kept another clean sheet in the 2-0 victory, securing its status as the Premiership's best defence.

full report here

HOULLIER DELIGHTED WITH RESULT
Gerard Houllier was delighted with his side's sixth successive home league win. Houllier said: "The best way for my players to pay their tribute to Bill Shankly was to go out and win the game.

"With all the celebrations beforehand it would have been easy for them to be distracted, but they kept focused. Coventry were a hard side to beat, and I warned my players beforehand about their excellent away record.

"They worked hard, shut us down and did their best to stop us playing.

"It was a very difficult match but Michael's goal gave us a lead we deserved, and Titi's cracker was the clincher." -Sporting Life

KEEGAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO SHANKS
England boss Kevin Keegan paid a moving tribute to his mentor Bill Shankly at Anfield on Saturday.

Keegan was at the match against Coventry, where Liverpool marked the 40th anniversary of Shankly's arrival at the club.

Keegan was part of the great Shankly side of the 1970s and he received a repturous reception from the Kop, which was bedecked with many of the old banners from Liverpool's glory years.

The England chief said: "It's good to be back home and to have the chance to pay tribute to Bill. He changed my life and I miss him.

"Liverpool's rise was down to Bill. People shouldn't forget that when he arrived here the club was in the Second Division.

"You only have to look around the stadium and see all the changes, and you know that it was all initially down to Bill. A lot of people were involved in building this club, but everyone would agree that it was down to him." -Sporting Life

HOULLIER REFUSES TO BLAME REF
Gerard Houllier refused to blame Coventry's Gary Breen for the elbow incident that left Michael Owen on the Anfield turf clutching his face. Breen was only booked by referee Andy D'Urso after the Billericay official had taken several minutes to consult both linesmen.

Houllier said: "Michael got an elbow in the face but I don't really know what happened.

"I don't think it was deliberate - I certainly hope not - but I felt the referee handled it brilliantly. He gave the player the benefit of the doubt." -Sporting Life

GERRARD RECEIVES DRIVING BAN
Young Steven Gerrard has been banned from driving (ala David Beckham) for a year, following a drink-driving incident. The promising midfielder, 19, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Southport magistrates after being arrested in October. -Teamtalk

17 December 1999

KILBANE JOINS SUNDERLAND
Liverpool "target" Kevin Kilbane has joined Premier league high flier Sunderland. The 25 year old was linked with Liverpool earlier. Rubbish apparently. -Teamtalk

HOULLIER THROWS HIS WEIGHT BEHIND HAMANN
Gerard Houllier backed summer signing Dietmar Hamann, although the German has only figured in recent fixtures. Hamann picked up an injury in the season opener but has since gone on to play an influential role in Liverpool's good run.

Houllier is convinced that the midfielder's best form is just around the corner as he gains fitness. "I think he's starting to correspond to the player I was expecting. I thought he was outstanding at Huddersfield, and that could have been his best game for us," Houllier said.

"He was unlucky and we were unlucky that we missed him at the start of the season. He had no pre-season because his transfer from Newcastle was delayed, and then after starting a few friendlies he was injured against Sheffield Wednesday which kept him out.

"Then he had another setback with his national team. But since he came back he has been able to play five or six games and start to show us his best. It is always frustrating when you get messed around with injuries and I always said he needed some games to reach the level we know he can produce. He is also very professional and has a good attitude.

"He is now coming to terms with the games. I still don't think he is 100 per cent at his best because it will still take time for him to gel with all his team mates, which always happens when someone joins a new club. You have to get to know the game of your partners." -Sky Sports

LATEST IN BEN THATCHER SAGA
Koptalk reports that ben Thatcher could just be moving to Liverpool. The Wimbledon left-back has been quoted on Norwegian television as saying that he would "..jump at the opportunity to play for a club like Liverpool..".

Thatcher could be on his way out of Wimbledon because the club's Norwegian owners have admitted they have been forced to search for £3 million to cover the second instalment of the £7.5 million transfer of John Hartson from West Ham United.

What the heck. This thing has been going on for so long anyway.... -Koptalk

40 YEARS SINCE SHANKS...
Liverpool will celebrate 40 years of Shankly before the game against Coventry. Liverpool legends will be paraded in front of 40,000 fans while Gerard Houllier and his team are in the dressing room before the match. -Teamtalk ; Red Net

16 December 1999

BERGER GETS CZECH AWARD
Patrik Berger's consistent performances for club and country have earned him another award. The winger was named Czech Player of the Year, in spite of some stiff competition. Berger earned the nod ahead of Pavel Kuka, Pavel Nedved and fellow Red and best friend, Vladimir Smicer. -Red Net

FOWLER'S NOT COMING BACK YET
Robbie Fowler's comeback has been delayed yet again and he has no chance of featuring against Coventry on Saturday. The 24 year old, who had an ankle operation on October 2, came on as a late substitute during the win over Sheffield Wednesday two weeks ago, but is still suffering problems with the ankle.

Manager Gerard Houllier had reassured us - earlier in the week - that Fowler would feature this weekend. The striker, however, didn't train at all yesterday due to some swelling around the ankle joint and now Houllier said, "He has not trained yet. He won't be ready for the weekend."

The manager has been playing it very cautiously with Fowler. Even when he was named as a substitute against Wednesday, Houllier also had Eric Meijer on the bench just in case. It will be Meijer who will be the back up striker on Saturday. Liverpool do have a reserve game next week so Fowler, who has scored five times in his three second string outings in the last three weeks, is likely to step up his match fitness then. -Red Net

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