Transfer Rumours: What the press have been up to?

It’s barely January 2012 yet. But it’s almost there, just about six weeks away until the transfer window reopens. Let’s us recapped this week news headlines on who’s in and who’ out of Anfield in January.

Liverpool wants Barcelona’s midfielder - Liverpool have made an enquiry about Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita. The Mali midfielder, 31, is out of contract in the summer and is also wanted by Anzhi Makhachkala. Liverpool have signed USA Under 17 captain Marc Pelosi from California-based side De Anza Force. (Mail Online)

Liverpool to wrestle with Juventus for Portugal defender - Liverpool are set to go up against Juventus in the battle to sign Portuguese international centre-back Bruno Alves, playing with Zenit Saint-Petersbourg. It has been reported that the 29 year old was Juventus bound, however it now appears, according to reports in Italy, that Juventus face strong opposition from Liverpool who are looking to add Alves experience to their defence. (FootyLatest.com)

Lucas invites his pal to join him at Anfield - Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has "invited" Polonia Warsaw playmaker Bruno Coutinho to join him at Anfield. (Crunch Sports)

Liverpool to swoop for Villa - Liverpool and Chelsea are both pursuing Barcelona striker David Villa, it has been sensationally claimed. The Spaniard has netted seven times in in 17 appearances for Barca this term and has frequently been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp. (Give Me Football)

Liverpool full-back on Real Madrid’s radar - Real Madrid are reportedly considering a shock loan offer for Liverpool defender Glen Johnson when the transfer window reopens in January. Real manager Jose Mourinho is thought to be in the market for a new full-back to provide competition for Alvaro Arbeloa and according to the People, has identified Johnson as a potential recruit. (Sportsvibe)

Liverpool making a shock move on City striker - Manchester City's controversial striker Carlos Tevez has emerged as a shock target for Liverpool who are hoping to land the player on a short term loan deal. (Caught Offside)

Bayern Munich monitoring Lucas Leiva - Bayern Munich are interested in Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva. TMW says Lucas’ form for Kenny Dalglish’s team hasn’t gone unnoticed by Bayern chiefs, who have been active in the English transfer market this year. (TotalFootballMadness)

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Stay tune for more news and follow me on Twitter. Get the LIVE match day PTT banter on Loudtalks.

Read More

WBA 0-2 Liverpool Match Report

Liverpool travelled to the Hawthorns on the back of a great midweek win at Stoke in the Carling Cup, but Liverpool were hoping to get back to winning ways in the League after two draws in their last two league matches. West Brom were going into the match with some decent form too and on the back of a great win over their local rivals last weekend. Liverpool lost at the Hawthorns in this fixture last season soon after former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson had taken charge, so Liverpool were hoping for a better result this time around as they try to keep in touch of a top four place.

THE TEAM

The big team news regarding Liverpool was the absence of Gerrard and Carragher who had injuries, but better news for the travelling support was the news that Suarez was starting after shaking off a knock from Wednesday night. Glen Johnson came back into the side at right back with Enrique coming back into the side at left back, Agger partnered Skrtel in the middle of defence. The midfield saw Downing start on the left with Henderson on the right and Lucas partner Charlie Adam in the middle. Andy Carroll got another start up front alongside the form man, Suarez.

THE MATCH

Liverpool went on the offensive from the first whistle with Enrique splitting the home defence with a raking pass, but for once Suarez failed to control the ball when clean through. Moments later Suarez teed up Adam but his effort went well over.

Liverpool were asking all the questions and they took the lead in the 9^th minute after Suarez was impeded in the box by Jerome Thomas, but the penalty was only given after referee Lee Mason noticed his assistant’s flag. The West Brom players protested the decision, but Charlie Adam kept his nerve to send Foster the wrong way from the spot and give the visitors a deserved lead.

Liverpool continued to press after taking the lead and were continuing to create chances and they thought they had won another penalty after a Carroll header struck the arm of a West Brom defender. Suarez seemed to be involved in everything and most of the chances were falling to the striker, but his luck in front of goal was deserting him, his best chance came when Skrtel teed up 6 yards out but his effort went high over the bar.

West Brom were not giving the Liverpool defence much trouble in the first half although Scharner saw his long-range effort well blocked by Skrtel. Liverpool scored a second on the stroke of half-time when a superb first time pass by Suarez sent Carroll clear, the big striker stabbed a low shot beyond the advancing Foster and into the net. The 2-0 score line was well deserved by the visitors.

West Brom almost pulled a goal back right at the start of the second half but Tchoyl saw his low shot just miss Reina’s far post. The home side were starting to have more possession as they tried to get back into the game but Liverpool were dangerous on the break and continued to create chances. Suarez had a few efforts on goal and he eventually saw an effort end up in the net only to be flagged offside.

Enrique saw a brilliant effort spectacularly saved by Foster as it looked like he would score his first goal for his new club. Andy Carroll had a stinging shot well saved by Foster as Carroll and Suarez showed glimpses of a blossoming partnership.

West Brom continued to press for a goal but they never really threatened Reina’s goal and Liverpool almost got the icing on the cake when Downing smashed a shot in injury time off Foster’s near post, but it was a very good performance from Liverpool and got them back to winning ways in the league.

SUMMARY

I thought this could be a tricky fixture for Liverpool especially with Carragher and Gerrard absent. But I do believe we have strength in depth now this season and Kenny still managed to field a very strong team. I have to say I expected more from West Brom but you can only beat the team you face and I thought Liverpool totally dominated the match. Reina was virtually redundant as Liverpool dictated the play away from home. This time last year we feared every away game but credit to Kenny and his coaching staff he has Liverpool taking the game to his opponents away from home, especially with sticking two up front. Stonewall penalty kick and the ref should have gave it himself with no need of help from his assistant. Great to see Carroll score and this could be the making of him, with glimpses of an understanding with Suarez in this match. Impressed with Lucas again in the middle of the park complimenting Adam and Enrique is superb at left back, but Suarez is unbelievable and is so important to Liverpool right now. Overall it was a great professional performance from Liverpool away from home.

Man Of The Match – Suarez- just for a change, well its getting so obvious now isn’t it, another superb game, amazing how he failed to score.

Written by Jamie McLaughlin, who writes for Anfield News

Read More

Europa League: Liverpool 4-1 Steaua Bucharest

Joe Cole scored his first goal for Liverpool and David Ngog notched a brace as the Reds beat Steaua Bucharest 4-1 in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The midfielder had the honour of firing home the club's fastest ever goal in European competition on 27 seconds before Ngog (penalty) and substitute Lucas Leiva put them back in the driving seat after Cristian Tanase had levelled with a sublime first-half finish.

Ngog then put the icing on the cake with a well taken fourth in injury-time to take his tally to six for the season so far.

It means Liverpool have opened their Group K account with an important victory and also sees Hodgson become the first Reds manager in history to win his first five European games.

Going into the clash the boss had opted to make eight changes to his line-up with both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard amongst a host of players rested for Sunday's league contest at Manchester United. [Read more…]

 

 

Stay tune for more news and follow me on Twitter.

Read More

Friendly: Liverpool 1-2 Atletico Madrid

Rafael Benitez is confident Jamie Carragher will be fit for next Sunday's Barclays Premier League opener with Spurs.

The Reds defender limped off after just 15 minutes of the pre-season clash with Atletico Madrid but the boss revealed his decision to replace his vice-captain was purely precautionary.

Stay tune for more transfer news and rumours. Follow me on Twitter.

 

YNWA,

Red's Fury™

Read More

Liverpool 0-0 Fulham

English Premier League

22nd November 2008

Anfield (H)

LIVERPOOL 0-0 FULHAM

A day of stalemates and misery for the Premier League’s Big Four. Liverpool throw away a good opportunity to lead the Premier League when the Reds drew nil-nil at Anfield.

Chelsea and Manchester United, another casualties of the mid-week international friendlies, also failed to score in their matches. Arsenal suffered a heavy defeat in the hand of Manchester City, crashing to a 3-nil humiliation.

The decision to play Lucas Levia clearly backfired as Liverpool failed to control the midfield area during the first half. Rafa benched Xabi Alonso after the Spaniard featured for the full 90-minute in Spain’s friendly match.

Fulham, with one of the best defensive records in the top flight, have never won at Anfield and rarely looked like doing so this time.

But their dogged performance claimed only their second away point of the season and also secured their third goalless draw in eight visits to Anfield.

At least they had worked out how to contain a Liverpool side who lacked ideas and inspiration. Not even the return of Fernando Torres to the starting line-up helped much.

Benitez insisted his players must take collective responsibility.

He said: "We will always miss a player of Stevie's ability, but we did not beat Fulham because five or so players were all off form together.

"You cannot win games when that happens. He would have made a difference, yes, but it should not be an excuse.

"He is training now and I would expect that he would be fit to play against Marseille on Wednesday."

Fulham’s goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer pulled off to fine saves to denied Liverpool. A half chance fell to Robbie Keane where he fails to convert and smashed a shot straight at Schwarzer from eight yards out.

The Reds were turning the screw and the Fulham stopper had to be at his instinctive best again on 70 minutes when he pushed Dirk Kuyt's effort away after a volleyed cross from Albert Riera.

Dropping points at home wasn't an excused for missing some key players and the mid-week international friendlies. Rafa should always select his strongest eleven, not relying on those fresh legs and haven't started regularly. Hopefully, Rafa pulls his head together and get us through to the next round of Champions League.


The team:
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher (c), Arbeloa, Riera, Leiva, Mascherano, Kuyt, Keane, Torres
Subs - Alonso, Babel, Benayoun, Cavalieri, Dossena, El Zhar, Hyypia

Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hangeland, Hughes, Pantsill, Dempsey, Bullard, Murphy (c), Davies, Johnson, Zamora
Subs - Baird, Gera, Gray, Kallio, Nevland, Stoor, Zuberbuhler

Referee: M Halsey

Join the live chat room, FORTRESS ANFIELD on Palringo during matchday. Don't have one? Get it here for FREE!

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

Posted using Windows Live Writer Beta

Read More

Carling Cup: Liverpool 2-1 Crewe

With no live telecast over here and the internet connection sucks. I had to relied on updates for the Carling Cup match between Liverpool and Crewe from Palringo's member. Liverpool won that match unconvincingly 2-1 at Anfield as usual Rafa handed the youngsters and reserves a run out.




The Reds needed a header from Lucas to seal the 3rd Round victory after The Railwaymen cancelled out Daniel Aggers's 15th minute strike.

The teams:
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Hyypia(captain), Agger, Degen, El Zhar, Plessis, Leiva, Pennant, Babel, Ngog.
Subs - Carragher, Gulacsi, Keane, Dossena, Torres, Skrtel, Alonso

Crewe Alexandra: Collis, Jones, Baudet (captain), O'Donnell, Woodards, Moore, O'Connor, Bailey, Carrington, Pope, Zola.
Subs - Elding, Grant, Rix, Schumacher, Tomlinson, Miller, Abbey

Referee: M Oliver

Conditions: Autumnal

Attendance: 28,391

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

Read More

Masch go for gold as Lucas sees red

It's a joy for Javier Mascherano but despair for Lucas Levia as the Brazilian was sent-off for a foul on his Liverpool teammate during Argentina's 3-0 win over Brazil in the semi-final of the Olympic Games.

Sergio Aguero's second-half double and a late penalty from Juan Roman Riquelme has sent Argentina on its trail for Olympic's gold against Nigeria in the final. Earlier, Nigeria thumped surprised package, Belgium 4-1 in another semi-final match.

Mascherano is dreaming of a second Olympic gold medal while Lucas' Brazil will have to console themselves with the prospect of playing for the bronze medal.

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

Read More