Liverpool pushing for a new goalkeeper

Liverpool are believed to be closing in of the signing of Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, plunging the future of Pepe Reina at Anfield into serious doubt.

A deal for the Belgian international could go through as early as this week, with a fee believed to be in the £10 million region. Should he make the trip south to Liverpool, the likelihood that either Mignolet or Reina would be comfortable sitting on the bench is hugely unlikely, with recent reports linking Reina with a move back to Spain.

Barcelona were considered to be interested in his services with the seemingly impending departure of current goalkeeper Victor Valdes, but Valdes has recent announced that he will complete his final year on his contract with the La Liga champions before leaving after next season.

Sunderland, though, will not be keen to sell Mignolet, who was their Player of the Year in the 2012/13 season.

But the 25-year-old, who has also been linked with Arsenal, has only two years remaining on his contract and Sunderland will know his value will decrease as time drags on.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Liverpool goalkeeper almost joins the Gunners

The Liverpool FC Spanish goalkeeper adores the city, he is proud that his children speak with a Scouse accent – and he believes that he represents one of the greatest clubs in world football.

But in his searingly honest autobiography, published this week, Reina also admits that three times he came close to leaving all that behind.

“I have been through three dark nights of the soul at Liverpool and on all three occasions I have questioned whether I should stay at the club that I have come to love,” he declares.

“On each occasion I could have walked away.

“I had opportunities to continue my career elsewhere, but I never took that final, decisive step that would have severed my ties with Liverpool forever. Thankfully.”

The first occasion, in 2006, came as a personal crisis of confidence.

Doubts that had festered after an unconvincing FA Cup final appearance, were magnified by an error in the Reds first home league game and reached crisis proportions in the Goodison derby match.

“Everyone – especially the Evertonians – remembers the day we lost the Merseyside derby 3-0 at Goodison Park on September 9, 2006,” he explains.

“The moment that stands out the most for me was when Andy Johnson scored Everton’s third. It all started when Lee Carsley had a shot from outside the area in the 94th minute. I parried it away, but as the ball went into the air, it headed back towards the goal. I turned to get it but in a split second opted to try and catch it, realising too late that I would carry it over the line. I tried to push it over the bar but could only direct it into the path of Johnson, who had an easy task to head it into the roof of the net.

“When things like that happen you feel like you have let everyone down, especially when it happens against your local rivals in a game that the supporters are desperate to win. But that wasn’t even the worst of it for me because that mistake wasn’t a one-off. If anything, it summed up my form as I struggled to get out of one of the most testing slumps of my career.”

It was manager Rafael Benitez who talked Reina round.

“Like every other player when things go wrong you need the help of the people around you and in this case it was the support of Rafa Benitez that made the biggest difference,” he said. “He gave me such strong backing at the time, and showed he believed in me.

“I knew that Valencia were there and their interest was in the back of my mind. Rafa changed everything and put all those fears to rest. He made me forget about the possibility of leaving Liverpool before I had even proved myself here. With the help of the boss and Jose Ochotorena, the goalkeeping coach, I came through it.

“From the middle of January to the beginning of May 2007, we conceded only 12 goals and managed 11 clean sheets – including one against Everton in the return league fixture at Anfield.

“I had been strong enough to cope with a difficult situation with their support, and I ended up having a good season.”

Read more: Liverpool Echo

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

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Liverpool FC set to completes third signing of the summer today

Goalkeeper on the verge of completing move to Anfield. Sky Sports sources understand Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni will undergo a medical at Liverpool on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old's agent said last week that a deal was imminent following several weeks of negotiations.

An initial move broke down earlier in the summer after Doni failed to agree personal terms with Liverpool.

But the Brazilian could complete his move to Anfield this week after an agreement was reached with Roma.

Doni would only provide back-up to Kenny Dalglish's first choice, Jose Reina, but would offer an experienced deputy.

Liverpool on Sunday departed for a pre-season tour of the Far East, but members of the medical staff will still be available to oversee Doni's medical.

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

Source: Sky Sports

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Pepe Reina howler almost cost Liverpool qualification in Europa League

Pepe Reina held his hands up after his mistake prevented Liverpool celebrating progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League with a victory.

An uncharacteristic 61st-minute blunder from Reina – who claimed to have been bothered by a laser pen in the crowd during the first half – saw the goalkeeper allow a tame Eder Bonfim header to squirm through his grasp and over the goalline to earn Steaua Bucharest a 1-1 draw in Romania.

However, the 3-3 draw between FC Utrecht and Napoli meant Liverpool did enough to win through as Group K leaders with a game to spare.

But Reina, who was captain for the evening in the absence of injured duo Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, accepted the result could have been better but for his mistake.

An experimental Liverpool team packed with fringe players and youngsters had taken the lead through Milan Jovanovic's 19th-minute header.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson chose not to dwell on Reina's error, and instead pointed to an encouraging performance from his much-changed team.

Cole made his comeback after more than a month out through injury, while Ryan Babel, Milan Jovanovic and Fabio Aurelio were all handed rare starts in a team that also included youngsters Martin Kelly, Dani Pacheco and Danny Wilson.

And Hodgson believes his policy of giving the whole squad an opportunity in the Europa League is paying dividends.

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Europa League: Steaua Bucharest 1-1 Liverpool

Liverpool sealed a place in the last 32 of the Europa League after a 1-1 draw with Steaua Bucharest in Romania on Thursday night.

Milan Jovanovic headed the Reds into a 19^th minute lead when he converted Ryan Babel's cross, somewhat against the run of the early play.

Steaua drew level on the hour when a rare mistake from Pepe Reina allowed a tame header from Eder Bonfim to roll over the line.

Both sides had chances to win the game, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos coming closest when he cannoned a header against the crossbar.

However, the result was enough to secure a safe passage into the next stage of the competition for Liverpool with a game to spare.

The Reds touched down in the Romanian capital on Wednesday afternoon minus the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres, Raul Meireles, Glen Johnson and Dirk Kuyt.

Instead, Roy Hodgson decided to utilise the depth of his squad ahead of Monday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Aston Villa by naming a youthful travelling party that included teenage defenders Jack Robinson and John Flanagan. [Read more…]

Watch the goal highlights here

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Pepe for Manchester United? Not in a gazillion chances

In a recent report by the Guardian UK, the rumour mills are spinning off its wheel. Reds boss, Roy Hodgson quickly squashed the rumour by releasing this at Liverpool FC website.

   "It (Reina to United) was just one of those stories that seems to occur - it's just disappointing and annoying,"

"Pepe is fantastic here, he is a lifeblood of this team.

"Everything he does around the club is excellent - he is always lively in the dressing room, he is always first class in training and he always wants to do more to improve.

"He demands better from those around him, he is always pushing people on. He is a player who we hold in the highest esteem.

"We have heard nothing from Manchester United and, more to the point, we don't want to hear anything from Manchester United.

"If (Alex) Ferguson is looking around at the end of the season and he has got lots of money to replace van der Sar, he might very well want Pepe Reina because he is the best around.

"But we do not want to sell him. I would like to think that we are going to become a successful club once again and Pepe is crucial to that."

Hodgson admits players like Reina, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are imperative to his rebuilding job in making Liverpool a real force to be reckoned with once again.

"We want to promise the players we have got here that we are going to be up there fighting once again and we are absolutely not looking to sell any of our better players," he added.

"But, equally, I would also be disappointed if teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and all the teams with money were not looking at our players.

"If I was Fernando Torres, I would expect every top club in Europe to be chasing me. That's good as it means he's doing his job. But we don't need the money and we don't want to sell." – Roy Hodgson on speculation of Reina to Manchester United

Even though, Hodgson trying his best to keep all the best players in the team but I still have my doubts on how far will he lead Liverpool Football Club into?

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Pepe Reina saves Liverpool a point

Paul Konchesky and Raul Meireles made their Liverpool debuts as the Reds played out a 0-0 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrews on Sunday afternoon.

Roy Hodgson's side had Pepe Reina to thank for securing a share of the spoils as the Spaniard delivered a goalkeeping master class in a first half in which the hosts enjoyed the better of the action.

Liverpool were improved in the second period, although Blues' stopper Ben Foster remained largely untroubled with neither side able to break the deadlock in a tight encounter.

The Reds went into the contest seeking their first Barclays Premier League away victory of the new season, and Hodgson's first points on the road at the helm.

But they journeyed to the Midlands knowing in order to do so, they'd have to overcome a side who had not tasted defeat on home soil in the league for 16 matches.

Furthermore, Liverpool were without a top-flight victory at St Andrews since 2004 - which was also their last Premier League win over the Blues - though the last six meetings had ended in stalemate. [Read more…]

 

 

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Hodgson backs Reina after blooper and signs Jones for £2.3million

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson refused to blame Pepe Reina after the keeper's blunder gifted Arsenal a 90th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Reina spilled the ball into his own net after Gunners striker Marouane Chamakh had bundled a Tomas Rosicky cross against the post.

   "Pepe Reina is very disappointed. I thought he did very well as he's struggled with a shoulder injury.

"We're disappointed the game ended that way but very proud of the performance." Hodgson told BBC Sport

Yesterday, Liverpool have confirmed a £2.3m fee has been agreed with Middlesbrough for the transfer of Australian international goalkeeper Brad Jones.

The 28-year-old stopper passed a medical on Monday afternoon and has agreed personal terms. He is expected to complete the paperwork on a three-year contract on Tuesday.

The Australia international spent the early part of his career as understudy to Mark Schwarzer, before battling it out with Ross Turnbull to become first-choice at the Riverside at the start of the 2008-09 season.

During his time in the North-East he picked up a League Cup winner's medal and was between the sticks for the club's famous UEFA Cup semi-final  victory over Steaua Bucharest back in 2006.

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