Europa League: Liverpool 3-0 FC Gomel

Fabio Borini netted his first Liverpool goal as the Reds clinched a place in the Europa League play-offs with a 3-0 win against FC Gomel.

Brendan Rodgers partnered the Italian with Luis Suarez for his first Anfield game as Reds manager and the pair combined for Liverpool's opener on 21 minutes.

The Reds won 4-0 on aggregate. Steven Gerrard tapped into an empty net minutes before half-time to add to Borini's opener before Glen Johnson fired a stunning volley past Vladimir Bushma to grab Liverpool's third on the night.

The home side started brightly and Anfield rose to its feet in anticipation every time Suarez jinked, whenever Lucas seized possession and when Borini shaped to shoot from the edge of the box on three minutes, only to see his effort blocked by a green and white shirt.

Gerrard demanded the ball constantly and stormed into an advanced role in behind the Gomel midfield. On nine minutes, Stewart Downing cut inside and slipped a pass into the skipper, who wrapped his right boot around the travelling ball and drilled it low into the arms of Bushma.

A sublime Liverpool move was to follow. Gerrard dummied a diagonal pass and sprinted onto the return ball from Suarez. Head raised, the captain surged towards goal before sliding a cutting pass through the Gomel defence to where the Uruguayan was poised to smash over the bar.

Full report: Liverpool FC Official

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Rumour Mill: Liverpool set to beef-up the defence

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is ready to return to former club Swansea City to sign Wales defender Ashley Williams as Daniel Agger is being targeted by Manchester City.

Rodgers' insistence that Daniel Agger's omission from Liverpool's recent Europa League match against Gomel was purely for fitness reasons. But the tabloids has other idea on that piece of news.

Sources from Manchester report that Roberto Mancini has had two bids for Agger rejected by the Liverpool board, but is ready to return with a £20 million pound offer, an amount that Reds owner John W. Henry is expected to give in to. La Liga side Barcelona are also believed to be keeping tabs on Agger, but the Catalans are focused on obtaining Arsenal's Alex Song for now.

Rodgers promised not to upset Swansea when he left them for Anfield at the end of last season, but that has not stopped his interest in a £10 million deal for Allen, which he hopes to complete once the Olympic Games are over.

The former Chelsea coach is also a big fan of 28-year-old Williams, who has won 33 Wales caps and been a commanding presence in Swansea's rise from the Championship to Premier League mid-table.

Liverpool are under no pressure to sell Agger but will not stand in his way if City make a third, big bid.

Source: ESPN

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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Europa League: FC Gomel 0-1 Liverpool FC

Brendan Rodgers got off to a winning start as Liverpool manager as his side recorded a 1-0 victory over FC Gomel in Belarus on a landmark night for Jamie Carragher.

Though the Reds were under pressure for much of the contest, Stewart Downing grabbed the game's only goal when he found the bottom corner with a powerful shot from the edge of the box on 67 minutes.

Liverpool were able to see the remainder of the first leg of the Europa League third-round qualifier out and ensure the new manager marked his first competitive game in charge with a win.

There were plenty of other plus points for the Reds, as Jamie Carragher chalked up his 700th appearance for the club while Lucas Leiva was introduced into the action as a second-half substitute as he continues on the road to full fitness.

Rodgers named a strong line-up for the clash in Belarus - though it was the selection of Carragher that grabbed the headlines as he notched up his 700th run-out for the Reds.

In recognition of the feat, the No.23 was named as the team's captain for the night, despite the inclusion of Steven Gerrard on the team sheet.

Meanwhile, Fabio Borini was handed his competitive debut for the club as he led the attack, while Glen Johnson reached the 100-game mark for Liverpool.

Gomel created the first chance of the evening with two minutes on the clock as Igor Voronkov strode forward from deep and let fly with a dipping effort that grazed the roof of Brad Jones' net.

Full match report: Liverpool FC Official

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Liverpool ready to offload Italian to Fiorentina

Liverpool have accepted an undisclosed offer from Fiorentina for Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani.

The 28-year-old has flown to Italy from the Reds' pre-season tour of the United States to complete his move.

Liverpool are likely to step up their attempts to sign Swansea's Joe Allen if the deal proceeds as expected.

Aquilani has failed to settle at Anfield since signing in 2009 for £20million from Roma and has been on loan for the last two seasons.

The Italian’s lucrative contract equates to around £6.5 million a year, an expense which has only been reduced in recent years thanks to loan deals.

To put it into perspective, the £125,000 a week he is currently costing the Anfield club double what Anfield stalwart Jamie Carragher earns.

His stints at AC Milan last term and Juventus in the 2010-11 season mean he did not play for former Reds' managers Kenny Dalglish and only made two appearances for Roy Hodgson.

And despite having two years left on his contract and completing pre-season under new boss Brendan Rodgers, it appears that his time at Liverpool is coming to a conclusion.

Rafael Benitez brought Aquilani to Anfield as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, but he struggled with injury and made 26 appearances in his first season.

Source: BBC Sport

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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Video Highlights: Tottenham 0-0 Liverpool

Fabio Borini made his debut and Steven Gerrard returned as Liverpool brought their tour of North America and Canada to a close with a 0-0 draw against Barclays Premier League rivals Tottenham at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

The new signing from Roma and the captain both played half an hour against Spurs as Brendan Rodgers introduced several players who had been handed extended leave following Euro 2012.
Spurs winger Gareth Bale had an instant chance to break the deadlock, running clear on goal straight from kick-off but his effort at Brad Jones was deflected out for a corner, which the Reds subsequently cleared.
Also making his first appearance in pre-season, Stewart Downing had the first sight of goal for the Reds, sending a cross-shot into the box from the right hand side which curled dangerously but not enough to trouble former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
Jonjo Shelvey, who impressed from midfield during the 2-1 defeat by Roma on Wednesday, showed positivity again from the centre, driving forward and planting a shot from distance into Friedel's hands on 13 minutes.
Tottenham tried to respond three minutes later, when young striker Harry Kane received a through ball inside the Reds' penalty area and guided a shot around Martin Skrtel which rolled narrowly wide.

Downing drifted in from his position on the right again in the 23^rd minute and when his shot was blocked, the ball arrived at Adam Morgan, via Joe Cole, in a promising position but the striker dragged his attempt off target.

Full report: Liverpool FC Tour

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Video Highlights: Liverpool FC 1-2 AS Roma

Liverpool continued their pre-season preparations with a 2-1 defeat against Italian side Roma in front of a packed crowd at the historic Fenway Park in Boston.

Roma responded quickly and should have taken the lead when Pablo Osvaldo dribbled past Jamie Carragher and found himself one-on-one with Gulacsi, but again the Hungarian stood tall and pushed the shot around the post for a corner.

As both teams increased their tempo, Jonjo Shelvey almost helped the Reds break the deadlock twice in quick succession. First, the 20-year-old drove from midfield before sending a shot at goal which Lobont had to parry, then the midfielder played in Nathan Eccleston, whose rising shot went wide.

Two of the Reds' returning stars combined on 32 minutes but were denied by the woodwork. Alberto Aquilani's precise dink forward found Cole, who, spotting Lobont off his line, lobbed the 'keeper but saw his attempt bounce clear off the top of the crossbar.

Shelvey brought another save out of Lobont five minutes before half-time after creating a chance for himself out of nothing. The Reds No.33 carried the ball past two Roma defenders and hit a left-footed strike towards goal but the goalkeeper was down quickly to save, and Lobont was called into action again a minute before the break, stopping a Cole shot to ensure the half ended goalless.

Full report: Liverpool FC Official

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Video Highlights: Toronto FC 1-1 Liverpool FC

Brendan Rodgers began his reign as Liverpool manager with a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC in their friendly at the Rogers Centre in Canada.

The Reds recovered from a goal behind to claim a draw with the Major League Soccer side, who took the lead through Quincy Amarikwa but were pegged back by Adam Morgan.

Rodgers took the opportunity to give 23 players a taste of the action during his first match as Liverpool boss, which also served as the opening fixture of the team's tour of North America and Canada.

There was an early chance for the Reds when Dani Pacheco was found free on the left edge of the area by Nathan Eccleston after 2 minutes, but the Spanish forward's cross was cleared.

The hosts, who are midway through their MLS season, had seen little of the ball during the opening seven minutes but created the first genuine opportunity of the match with their maiden attack.

Full report: Liverpool FC Official

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