Transfer news: Babel and Diego latest

Roy Hodgson confirmed that Diego Cavalieri looks set to leave Liverpool - but the boss dismissed speculation that Ryan Babel could move.

Goalkeeper Cavalieri will hold talks with Italian side Cesena after our Europa League play-off first leg with Trabzonspor.

His likely departure follows the arrival at Anfield this week of stopper Brad Jones, who was not signed in time to be eligible for today's Europa League clash.

   "Diego has done a marvellous job for the last three years.

"He's a very good goalkeeper and a very good person, but he made it clear to me at the start of the season that after three years of watching Pepe play every week he might, if he's not careful, lose his goalkeeping ability or his status as a first-team goalkeeper.

"He made it clear he'd like to leave and find a club where he'll be able to play on a regular basis, so we set about the task of finding someone we thought would be as good a complement to Pepe Reina as Cavalieri has been.

"That's why Brad Jones has come in. He's the man we've chosen to back up Reina, put him under pressure and, most importantly, be ready to play.

"Diego will travel to Cesena after the game tomorrow night for a medical." Hodgson told LiverpoolFC.tv

The Brazilian's departure would make Jones the recognised number two to Reina, and he is likely to feature regularly if we reach the Europa League proper.

Meanwhile, quizzed on whether rumours linking Babel with a move to Wolfsburg was accurate yesterday.

   "No, there's none there. I'm afraid we're in the realm of speculation. You know better than I how many stories you're getting every day, and many of them are unfounded and many are attempts from people to get their players in the spotlight.

"We've had no written or formal offers for Ryan Babel and he's a player who I'm expecting to play for us." Hodgson said.

With two weeks of the transfer window remaining, the gaffer is not ruling out more activity - and backed up Christian Purslow's suggestion that there could be 'one or two' new faces on top of Jones.

Elsewhere, Hodgson was delighted with news that Martin Skrtel has signed a new contract at Anfield.

Source: LiverpoolFC.tv

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Skrtel signs new contract at Liverpool

Defender Martin Skrtel has signed a two-year contract extension at Liverpool and is now targeting Premier League success this season.

Liverpool paid a club record £6million fee for a defender when signing Skrtel from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008 and he has played 82 games during his time with the Merseyside outfit and was a first-team regular as Liverpool finished seventh in the Premier League last season.

Skrtel had two years remaining on his existing contract but has decided to firm up his commitment to the club by agreeing terms on a new deal that ties him to Liverpool until 2014.

He has since established himself as one of the club's first-choice central defenders alongside Jamie Carragher.

Skrtel missed the end of last season with a broken foot but recovered in time to feature in Slovakia's impressive World Cup campaign.

The mood at Liverpool has been transformed since the arrival of Hodgson in July, with the signings of Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic also lifting spirits after last season's disappointing seventh-place Premier League finish.

   "I'm very pleased. I have been at Liverpool for nearly three years and I really like it here. I like the city, I like the club and I like the fans so I'm happy I am able to sign a new contract.

"Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world so I am proud I can play here for four more years."

"Before I came here a lot of people thought I wasn''t good enough to play for Liverpool, but I think I have shown I am,"

"I'm happy to try and carry on giving good performances and doing my best for the club. Signing a new contract gives me confidence and I will work hard in training every day to play as many games as possible. You can always improve. I know the good and bad parts of my game and I will keep working.

"Lots of things have changed at the club this year with new players, a new manager and new medical staff. The spirit is very good and we showed that against Arsenal with a great performance. We can build on that and carry it on.

"We have quality in the dressing room and I know we will do better this year. A club like Liverpool deserves to win trophies and I will help them do that, hopefully this season.

"Everyone plays football to win trophies. Playing for Liverpool is a big motivation for everyone and we will do everything we can to win the Premier League. We have the highest targets - to win everything." he told LiverpoolFC.tv

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Rumours: Strikers linked to Liverpool

Waking up to the news or gossips from the press linking a hosts of players to Liverpool Football Club.

Liverpool prepare bid for £8m Dutch international - Roy Hodgson is set to make a bid for Dutch international striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel as he looks to beef up his Anfield attacking options.

The 21 year old Utrecht goalscorer is highly thought of in Holland and has been linked with moves to both Ajax and PSV over the summer and the Liverpool boss is looking to snap up the youngster before the transfer window closes. Read more…

Toulouse striker in contact with Liverpool - Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac is keen on a move to Liverpool.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson admitted yesterday that he wanted to add a new striker to his squad before the summer transfer deadline falls. Read more…

PSV willing to sell Ola Toivonen to Liverpool - for right price - Liverpool must cough up big to sign PSV Eindhoven striker Ola Toivonen.

The Daily Mail says PSV Eindhoven's Sweden striker Toivonen will cost Liverpool at least £8million after being watched by them three times in the space of a week. Read more…

Liverpool interested in £13m-rated striker - Liverpool are considering a move for Dynamo Kiev forward Artem Milevskiy as manager Roy Hodgson looks to bolster his strikeforce.

The Ukrainian international is seeking a move abroad after eight years at Kiev and is a target for Hodgson. Read more…

Liverpool enquiry confirmed by agent - Liverpool are amongst a handful of clubs who have made an enquiry over Romelu Lukaku, according to the player's agent.

The 17-year-old striker has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in European football after a breakout year at Anderlecht, and new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is thought to be one of the bosses after the player's services. Read more…

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

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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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Premier League Highlights

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.

Watch the games highlights, goal by goal here.

Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal – Match report

N’Gog (46 minute) Reina (OG 90 minute)

 

Tottenham 0-0 Manchester City – Match report

Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham – Match report

Blackburn 1-0 Everton – Match report

Bolton 0-0 Fulham – Match report

Sunderland 2-2 Birmingham – Match report

Wigan 0-4 Blackpool – Match report / Highlights

Wolves 2-1 Stoke – Match report

Chelsea 6-0 West Bromwich Albion – Match report / Highlights

Manchester United 3-0 Newcastle – Match report

Sources: Premier League website and RUTube

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Argentina midfielder wants a change of lifestyle

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.

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Poulsen signs three-year deal at Anfield

Liverpool have completed the signing of Danish international midfielder Christian Poulsen from Juventus for £4.5million.

The defensive midfielder, has been earmarked by manager Roy Hodgson as a potential replacement for Javier Mascherano, who wants to leave Anfield.

Poulsen becomes Liverpool’s fifth signing of the summer after the arrivals of Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Danny Wilson and Jonjo Shelvey.

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.

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Europa League: Liverpool 2-0 FK Rabotnicki Highlights

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.

                                V

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.

David Ngog - 21st

 

Steven Gerrard (pen) - 40th

 

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Match report courtesy from LiverpoolFC.tv

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