Steven Gerrard to play on for five more years and wants Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool's permanent manager

The Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, has set himself the target of playing for another five years.

The England midfielder, 31 in May, admits he has been lifted by Kenny Dalglish's return as manager and he wants to carry on playing for as long as possible, although he has considered taking his coaching badges.

"It's not my main priority or focus at the moment, I still think that's a long way off," he told LFC Weekly. "I believe I can play football for another four or five years but I do sometimes think about what I'm going to do when I finish playing.

"I would like to stay involved in some capacity, whether that's on the media side or in the dug-out we'll have to wait and see. I will certainly try to get my coaching qualifications at some point."

Steven Gerrard has also told Liverpool's owners to look no further than Kenny Dalglish for the club's next permanent manager as they commenced their squad overhaul by agreeing to sell Ryan Babel to Hoffenheim.

Now Gerrard, who was consulted by the then managing director, Christian Purslow, regarding Hodgson's arrival last summer, has lent his influential voice to the Dalglish campaign. "I want to do everything in my power to ensure that he stays here for a long time, beyond the initial six months," the Liverpool captain said.

"I'd love nothing better when the end of the season comes than for us to be on the back of a good run of results that ensures he gets the job full-time. That's my short-term plan, to give everything I've got and all my energy to try to make that happen. I won't lie. When Kenny rang to say he was coming back it was a big lift. I love Kenny as a person and I've certainly enjoyed the first few days we've had working with him. I can see a positive future for Kenny at the club."

Dalglish is without a win in his first three matches back at Liverpool but has vanquished the disharmony that surrounded Hodgson's reign and, certainly against Everton on Sunday, has overseen an improved performance level. The 59-year-old has also been without Gerrard since the 32nd minute of his comeback game, the FA Cup defeat at Manchester United, but the midfielder insists Dalglish has the backing of the entire squad.

Gerrard added: "I think Kenny is the perfect person to get everyone moving in the right direction again. He's the talisman at this club. His nickname, the King, says it all really. He's the perfect manager and also the person to bring it all together. It's time to regroup and for us all to be pulling in the right direction because this season certainly hasn't been good enough."

Source: Guardian UK

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Rumour Mills: Players linked to Liverpool FC

There are just two weeks left for Liverpool to make their move on target players and sew up deals to bring fresh blood to the squad and save a dwindling season.

Let’s take a look at the potential targets as reported by the press.

Transfer in:

Liverpool interested in Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel

The agent of Bayern Munich captain Mark van Bommel claims Liverpool have made an enquiry about the player but better offers have also come in from elsewhere.

 

Liverpool eye loan move for Aston Villa left-back

Former Red Stephen Warnock could be set for a return to Anfield to solve Liverpool’s full-back problem.

 

Liverpool target Aston Villa winger

Liverpool have made Ashley Young their top target for the January transfer window and are confident they can land the Aston Villa winger.

 

Liverpool back in on Ajax striker

The controversial Uruguayan international is reported in this morning’s papers to have told Ajax he wants to leave the club for Anfield if a fee can be agreed this month.

Report from De Telegraaf newspaper has mentioned,

   "The transfer of Suarez to Liverpool opens the door for me to go to Ajax.

"If Liverpool and Ajax - whether in combination with Luis - can reach an agreement over me I will surely come to the club. For the chance to play I am willing to settle for far less pay." said Ryan Babel. (credits to Liverpool Echo)

But this move seems to be not on the table anymore as Liverpool FC sending Babel to Germany instead.

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Liverpool accept Hoffenheim bid for Ryan Babel

Ryan Babel is set to leave Liverpool after the club announced they had accepted a bid from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for the Dutch striker.

Babel has been given permission to travel to Germany and discuss personal terms with his prospective new employers.

He has struggled to nail down a first-team place at Anfield and was again on the bench on Sunday during the derby draw with Everton.

According to Germany's Bild newspaper, the two clubs have agreed on a fee in the region of £5.8million and Babel is set to fill a void which has emerged in the German side's attack this winter.

''Following the departure of (Demba) Ba and the injury to (Chinedu) Obasi, we were in an emergency situation,'' said Hoffenheim's owner Dietmar Hopp.

''Babel was one of the prime candidates who our general manager Ernst Tanner was most convinced about.''

Hoffenheim slipped to ninth in the Bundesliga table after going down 2-1 to Werder Bremen last weekend and they are currently five points adrift of Bayern Munich. The Bavarians occupy fifth place, which would be good enough for a place in the Europa League next season.

The 24 year-old could make his debut against St Pauli on Sunday, should the deal be completed in the next few days.

However, the player himself had earlier spoken of his hope for a loan move back to Ajax, as part of Luis Suarez's potential transfer to Liverpool.

Let us know what do you think of the winger’s imminent departure on the comment box below.

Source: Telegraph UK

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Match Highlights: Liverpool 2-2 Everton

Dirk Kuyt rescued a point from the penalty spot as Kenny Dalglish's return to the Anfield dugout ended with a 2-2 draw in the 215th Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday afternoon.

The Scot had looked on course to secure his first success at the third time of asking at the expense of the Blues after Raul Meireles's first goal for the club gave them a deserved interval lead.

However, two goals in seven second-half minutes from Sylvain Distin and Jermaine Beckford turned the game on its head and put David Moyes's men in sight of their first derby double since their 1984-85 title-winning campaign.

The Reds needed to respond and with just over 20 minutes to play they grabbed a share of the spoils when Kuyt converted from the spot.

There were many positives to be taken from the display but the result means Liverpool drop to 13^th place in the Barclays Premier League standings, just four points above the drop zone.

The afternoon began with a dizzy sense of optimism as the spotlight was firmly centred upon Dalglish. [Read more…]

Sources: LiverpoolFC.tv, RuTube

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Ryan Babel accept FA Twitter charge

The Holland international has requested a personal hearing and that will take place next Monday, January 17.

After Sunday's FA Cup exit at Manchester United, where Liverpool conceded a controversial first-minute penalty and had captain Steven Gerrard sent off, Babel posed a mocked-up picture of Webb wearing a United shirt.

He also wrote: "And they call him one of the best referees? That's a joke."

The 24-year-old quickly posted an apology but it could not prevent him becoming the first person to be charged by the Football Association for an indiscretion on the social networking site.

In the wake of the charge Babel was backed by both manager Kenny Dalglish and Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association.

"I think it is only a bit of fun, a joke. Maybe I've been out of the game too long," said Dalglish.

Taylor felt the FA over-reacted to what he thought was not a serious issue. "I thought a warning letter would suffice," he said on Tuesday.

"But it may be they need to put a marker down for the future because these sites are being accessed by the media so it can be the equivalent of being on the television or being in the national press.

"But I felt the fact that an apology had been made [would mean] we could move on."

Source: Telegraph UK

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