The Barclays Premier League are back over the weekend. Tottenham kick-off the season against Manchester City, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Blackpool back in the top division with an impressive victory away at Wigan. Liverpool home clash with Arsenal on Sunday marred by Joe Cole’s dismissal.
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano insists he has no problem with the club but just fancies a change of lifestyle. The 26-year-old has made no secret of his wish to leave Anfield, with Internazionale and Barcelona reportedly interested in acquiring his services.
"The only thing I want to say is I don't have nothing against the Liverpool supporters, the Liverpool people. My problem is not to play for Liverpool. I'm very proud to play for Liverpool. It's another thing.
"I said to him [Roy Hodgson] that maybe for my life I prefer to change the country, not to change the club – that is the fact.
"Sometimes you can see all the things that the papers or the press say, but at the end the only thing I can say is thank you to everyone in Liverpool because they supported me all the time, from the beginning until now.” Mascherano told Sky Sports
The arrival of Christian Poulsen from Juventus, Mascherano departure is imminent but Liverpool won’t be letting him go on a cheap. Inter Milan seems to have backed down and claimed they are unable to meet the fee. Liverpool won’t be pressured to sell one of their prized asset any lesser than £25million.
According to Juventus website, “Juventus Football Club announces that an agreement has been finalized with Liverpool for the disposal of the registration rights of the player Christian Poulsen for a consideration of € 5.475 million to be paid in two instalments: € 2.725 million immediately upon the execution of the contract and € 2.75 million on 1 July 2011. Deferred payment is covered by a bank guarantee.
The consideration for the disposal may increase by a further maximum of € 1.2 million on achieving given sports performances in the course of the duration of the contract.”
The 30-year-old, who has been capped 77 times by Denmark, arrives from Italian giants Juventus and will wear the No.28 shirt.
Poulsen has previously worked with Roy Hodgson at FC Copenhagen, where he was given his first big break by the current Reds boss.
Roy Hodgson celebrated his first home game as Liverpool manager by watching his side cruise into the play-offs of the Europa League with a 2-0 victory over FK Rabotnicki.
First half goals from David Ngog and Steven Gerrard secured a 4-0 aggregate victory over their Macedonian opponents as the Reds booked their place in Friday's draw for the next play-off round of the competition.
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With Liverpool's four English World Cup players named in the starting line-up - including a home debut for Joe Cole - there was a buzz around the stadium before kick-off, while the inclusion of Spanish starlet Dani Pacheco added further to the feel-good factor which has been enveloping the club over recent weeks.
Liverpool - backed by an enthusiastic home crowd who had turned out in their thousands despite the first leg cushion - started on the front foot and had the ball in the net after just seven minutes, but David Ngog was flagged offside as he bundled the ball home following a rampaging run by Glen Johnson.
The French striker should have opened the scoring four minutes later when set through on goal by Steven Gerrard, but visiting goalkeeper Bogatinov made a smart stop as Ngog delayed his shot.
With Hodgson's men enjoying total control and playing some eye-catching football, Pacheco and Gerrard both tried long range efforts before the opening goal finally arrived after 21 minutes.
Ngog - whose two goals last week put the Reds firmly in control of the tie - broke the deadlock on the night with a fine header from Cole's deep left wing cross.
Cole the provider almost turned into Cole the goalscorer minutes later, but his curling effort from the edge of the area curled just the wrong side of the woodwork.
It was only ever going to be a matter of time before the second goal came long, and it duly arrived six minutes before the break when the lively Ngog was fouled in the area and Gerrard stepped up to confidently stroke the penalty into the corner of the net.
Milan Jovanovic, another player in red making a home debut, stung the fingertips of the Rabotnicki goalkeeper with a well struck drive early in the second period as Liverpool picked up where they left off at the end of the first period with wave after wave of attacks.
Cole twice went close to opening his Liverpool account in the early stages of the second half, while Johnson drilled a long range drive over and Ngog headed tamely at Bogatinov when well positioned.
Pacheco, fresh from starring for Spain's Under-19s over the past few weeks, almost added the third of the night when he steered Jovanovic's pass wide of the upright and Martin Kelly, who was also celebrating today after being named in the England Under-21 squad for the first time, also went close with a well struck drive as the home side continued to completely dominate.
Steven Gerrard and Milan Jovanovic were replaced soon after by Alberto Aquilani and Maxi Rodriguez, but the procession towards the Macedonian goal continued as Cole again tested the goalkeeper with a low shot after clever movement inside the box.
Shots continued to rain down on the visitors goal, with Rabotnicki content for the most part to abandon any sense of attacking adventure and instead concentrate on damage limitation and ensuring they didn't suffer a heavy defeat.
In their only attack of note in the second period, the Macedonians almost snatched a late consolation when Kelly conceded a corner with a brilliant goalline clearance and then from the resulting kick Wandeir struck the base of the post.
In the end Liverpool's complete dominance wasn't reflected in the final scoreline, but doubtless Roy Hodgson will have been more than satisfied with the performance of his men on his first Anfield outing - and now all thoughts can focus on the big kick-off next weekend when Arsenal arrive on Merseyside.
The news on the sale of Liverpool Football Club was spreading like wildfire. The press has came out with a least six possible bidders. But so far, only two genuine bidders has logged in a bid.
Kenny Huang has spent the past fortnight raising precisely the amount of cash required to finance a bid for Liverpool. Sources have confirmed that the China Investment Corporation, the sovereign-wealth fund to the world’s most populous nation, is the organisation being fronted by Huang, who yesterday admitted interest in bidding for Liverpool.
A surprise Syrian bidder claims to have re-entered the race to buy Liverpool Football Club. Yahya Kirdi, a businessman and former Syrian international footballer, says his group are in "advanced negotiations" with the owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Yesterday’s news has suggested that the Syrian businessman had reached an agreement and confirmed today that his group is in advanced negotiations with Thomas Hicks and George Gillett, co-owners of Liverpool football club, to purchase 100% of the club.
Will China Investment Corporation upped their bids?
It also indicates that despite the ambitions of the Anfield club’s chairman, Martin Broughton, to generate a return for Tom Hicks and George Gillett, China is refusing to reward them for their three-and-a half-year ownership of the club. The Americans’ capacity to dictate terms is further reduced by the fact that there are few other credible bidders preparing to compete with Huang and CIC besides the Syrian’s consortium.
Both bidders has promised to wiped the current debt of over £325million, funding a new stadium at Stanley Park and bolster the current playing squad.
What do you think of those two bidders? Will their promises ends up like the Americans or will they bring back the stability of Liverpool Football Club and compete with the wealthy clubs in the Premier League?
This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
Though the Reds are awaiting the next move from Inter Milan in their pursuit of Javier Mascherano, they pressing on with plans for life without the Argentinean.
Once Inter strike a deal with Manchester City for the sale of Mario Balotelli, they will be better placed to push through their bid to take Mascherano to the San Siro.
The Reds are looking at a number of options to replace Mascherano and Poulsen, the Denmark international, and Standard Liege's Steven Defour head Roy Hodgson's list.
Although, Defour may be looks more ideal for Liverpool switch, with Manchester United high on his heels. The Reds boss, Roy Hodgson may not want to waste his time in a bidding war with a rival club.
Liverpool should complete a £4million deal for Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen soon. Hodgson has confirmed his interest in the player and an Liverpool representative was in Turin on Tuesday to discuss the move.
Juventus technical director Giuseppe Marotta confirmed Liverpool’s interest in the Danish midfielder last week. Poulsen is an experienced player with over 70 caps for his country.
This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
Last week, Liverpool have confirmed they have re-signed Fabio Aurelio after the defender put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the club.
The Brazilian appeared to have brought his Reds career to an end after leaving Anfield following the expiry of his contract in May. Due to Emiliano Insua set to sign for Fiorentina after both clubs has agreed on the £5million transfer fee. Liverpool are without a proper left-backs before re-signing Aurelio.
Now the press has been circulating the news regarding Insua’s move to Fiorentina has collapsed. The Italian outfit have failed to agree personal terms with Insua, with the 21-year-old’s pay demands believed to be too high for the Gigliati. If the press reports happened to be true, the Reds fullbacks issue has been solved by itself.
The Argentine defender has not left Anfield and the re-signing of the Brazilian has filled back the voids.
"When we ascertained that he hadn't, we invited him back to Melwood so both myself and my staff, and the medical team could properly assess the player.
"We were both very impressed and I am delighted we were able to re-sign Fabio." Hodgson told liverpoolfc.tv after Fabio Aurelio re-signed for the Reds
However, Hodgson will continue to search for a new left-back, in case the Argentine defender is adamant to leave this summer.
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A surprise Syrian bidder claims to have re-entered the race to buy Liverpool Football Club. Yahya Kirdi, a businessman and former Syrian international footballer, says his group are in "advanced negotiations" with the owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
The Reds are looking at a number of options to replace Mascherano and 
