Stalemate in Berlin

Liverpool had to settle for a goalless draw against Hertha Berlin in their fourth pre-season friendly in Germany.

The excellent Andriy Voronin missed a penalty in what was a low key affair in the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Reds now head back to Melwood after 10 productive days on the continent to continue their preparations for 2008-09.

They had to wait 14 minutes for their first effort on goal in the German capital when Voronin, who turned 29 this week, pinged the ball wide to Jermaine Pennant. The winger cut back to Olympic-bound Javier Mascherano but his long-range effort blazed high and wide.

Sadly, that was pretty much it from the visitors in a fairly non-descript first half. Up front, Voronin and 17-year-old Daniel Pacheco were starved of the kind of service which has seen them impress in the three pre-season friendlies to date.

via Liverpoolfc.tv

Hertha Berlin: Drobny, Dardai, Chahed, von Bergen (c), Ebert, Kacar, Stein, Pantelic, Piszczek.

Subs - Arguez, Bigalke, Domovchiyski, Fieldler, Hartmann, Lustenberger, Radjabali-Fardi, Riedel

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Agger, Carragher (c), Darby, Leto, Mascherano, Plessis, Pennant, Pacheco, Voronin.

Subs - Benayoun, Degen, Dossena, Hobbs, Hyypia, Kuyt, Martin, Skrtel, Spearing

Referee: Christian Schossling

July 12: v Tranmere (Wirral) 1-0

July 16: v FC Lucerne (Grenchen) 2-1

July 19: v Wisla Krakow (Friborg) 1-1

July 22: v Hertha Berlin (Berlin) 0-0

July 30: v Villarreal (Villarreal)

August 2: v Rangers (Glasgow)

August 5: v Valerengen (Oslo)

August 8: v Lazio (Liverpool)

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Rafa makes Ngog his fourth signing

A deal of £1.5million for a French teenager, David Ngog, has been accepted by Paris Saint Germain. Should the proposed deal go through later this week as expected Ngog will join up with his new team-mates after they have returned to Melwood from their Swiss training camp on Wednesday.

Rafa Benitez is ready to make the 19-year-old his fourth signing of the summer, coming hot on the heels of the acquisitions of Philipp Degen, Andrea Dossena and Diego Cavalieri, as he re-shapes his squad for the coming season.

Ngog, the 19-year-old cousin of Jean Alain Boumsong, the former Rangers and Newcastle defender, has been told by PSG coach Paul Le Guen that he could leave the club after he refused to sign a new contract.

Born in the Parisian suburb of Gennevilliers, Ngog has come through the ranks at PSG and made his debut last season.

Ngog arrival has signalled the end of the road for Andriy Voronin, who has interested Borussia Dortmund. Although, the Ukrainian has shown a glimpse of form during the pre season friendlies with two goals so far but Rafa still need to raise fund to capture his transfer targets before the new season kick-off.

Rafa Benitez is looking for more pace, movement and variety from his side in attack in the forthcoming season and the impending capture of Ngog fits into that strategy.

The move for the striker has no bearing on Liverpool’s bid to sign Robbie Keane and though the move for the Irishman is taking longer to be completed than first expected, senior Anfield figures remain confident a deal will be struck this week.

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Baggies bags Carson for £3.25million

West Brom have completed the £3.25million signing of England international Scott Carson from Liverpool.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper, who played in 35 Premier League games for Aston Villa last season, has put pen to paper on a four-year-deal.

The club also have the option of adding another year to the deal.
West Brom's newly-promoted rivals Stoke yesterday ruled themselves out of the running for Carson - who could cost the club £3.75million depending on performance-related criteria.

His arrival takes the Baggies' summer spending on transfers to an initial £13.75million after the signings of Roman Bednar, Luke Moore, Do-heon Kim, Graham Dorrans, Gianni Zuiverloon and Marek Cech.

via ESPNsoccernet

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Reds held by Wisla Krakow

Liverpool saw their 100 per cent pre-season record come to an end after they were held to a hard-fought draw against Wisla Krakow in Fribourg.

The Reds went into the clash with the 11-times Polish champions hoping to stretch their winning streak to three matches, but despite taking the lead courtesy of Andriy Voronin's sixth minute strike they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Prior to the kick-off a Swiss army of fans welcomed the Reds on to the pitch and it wasn't long before they were cheering the opening goal of the game when the Ukrainian pounced to fire home at the second attempt.

A delightful move involving Lucas Leiva, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun ended with the Israeli picking out the unmarked striker, who saw his initial, tame effort well blocked by the keeper, but was on hand to steer the rebound into the roof of the net to collect his second goal of the pre-season.

via Liverpoolfc.tv

Wisla Krakow: Pawelek (c), Brozek, Glowacki, , Baszczynski, Zienczuk, Cantoro, Sobolewski, Boguski, Brozek, Jirsak.
Subs - Cebanu, Dawidowski, Diaz, Kowalski, Maczynski, Malecki, Niedzielan

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Carragher (c), Darby, Leto, Leiva, Plessis, Benayoun, Babel, Voronin.
Subs - Aurelio, Hobbs, Hyypia, Insua, Kuyt, Martin, Mascherano, Pacheco, Pennant, Skrtel, Spearing

July 12: v Tranmere (Wirral) 1-0
July 16: v FC Lucerne (Grenchen) 2-1
July 19: v Wisla Krakow (Friborg) 1-1
July 22: v Hertha Berlin (Berlin)
July 30: v Villarreal (Villarreal)
August 2: v Rangers (Glasgow)
August 5: v Valerengen (Oslo)
August 8: v Lazio (Liverpool)

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Ian Rush backs Keane to set Anfield on fire

Liverpool Kop legend, Ian Rush believes Robbie Keane would increase Rafa Benitez's options in attack.

If you're going to be successful you do have to have different options especially with Peter Crouch leaving.

I think we need two or three and maybe four different options if you want to be successful. - BBC Sports

The former Liverpool striker has told BBC Radio Merseyside yesterday. And I agreed with him that Robbie would boost Reds strikeforce next season. He doesn't need any introduction as he already proved that at White Hart Lane.

Will Rafa spend £20million on Keane?

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Stoke withdraw from Carson, Blackburn and West Brom interested

The path would appear to be clear for West Brom to press home their pursuit of Scott Carson after rivals Stoke pulled out of the running for the England keeper.

Both Stoke and West Brom were given permission to speak to Carson after tabling bids with Liverpool.

But West Brom will have to wrestle with Blackburn, who are believed to be on the verge of making an offer for Carson, with their first-choice keeper Brad Friedel a target for Aston Villa.

Read about other Reds transfer rumours.

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Liverpool still very Keane on Spurs' ace

The rumour mills are spinning again and thanked god, it's not Gareth Barry. Juande Ramos wants to cash-in on megabuck Robbie Keane and slapped a £20million price tag on him. Should Rafa ditched the Barry's deal and move quickly on Keane before more teams are joining the bidding war?

Having sold Peter Crouch to Portsmouth for £11m, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has sufficient funds to tempt Tottenham officials into selling one of the club's prized assets and an offer in excess of £20m for Keane, which would rocket the player's career transfer value to £60m. - Telegraph.co.uk

This news will definitely angered a whole lot of Spurs' fans but maybe the negotiation between Rafa and Ramos are better than Rafa and O'Neill, in fact that both are Spaniards. Do you think Robbie Keane will be a great acquisition for Reds?


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Classy Reds cruised to victory

Liverpool have continued their winning start to pre-season with a 2-1 victory over FC Lucerne in which Lucas and Andriy Voronin found the net.

The work being carried out during the Swiss training camp is clearly paying dividends, with the Reds producing some fine interplay in the opposition half.

Most notable among a makeshift side were Daniel Pacheco and Voronin, with the latter scoring a goal which will live long in the memory.

The first goal took 10 minutes to arrive - and the manner in which it came is sure to excite Kopites from Switzerland to Speke. It was little Pacheco, so impressive on his first-team bow against Tranmere at the weekend, who was the architect, weaving a bit of magic around the box before finding the run of Lucas with an exquisite pass. The Brazilian made no fuss about finishing the move with a cool sidefoot beyond David Zibung.

Read the rest here.

FC Lucerne: Zibung, Zverotic, Schwegler, Seoane, Lustenberger, Ferreira, Chiumiento, Mesbah, Ferreira, Gavranovic, Lambert.

Subs - Gajic, Karanovic, Konig, Luiz Pinheiro, Ravasi, Schirinzi,

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Agger, Carragher (c), Degen, Leto, Leiva, Plessis, Benayoun, Pacheco, Voronin.

Subs - Aurelio, Babel, Darby, Dossena, Gerrard, Hansen, Hyypia, Kuyt, Mascherano, Skrtel, Spearing

July 12: v Tranmere (Wirral) 1-0

July 16: v FC Lucerne (Grenchen) 2-1

July 19: v Wisla Krakow (Friborg)

July 22: v Hertha Berlin (Berlin)

July 30: v Villarreal (Villarreal)

August 2: v Rangers (Glasgow)

August 5: v Valerengen (Oslo)

August 8: v Lazio (Liverpool)

If last Saturday's goal from Benayoun was spectacular, yesterday, Voronin despatched a stunning lob over the FC Lucerne's goalkeeper to put Liverpool back in the lead. Next up, Wisla Krakow, a Polish club, and will be held at Friborg.

You can catch the game live at Live Football. Stay tune for more updates.

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