RED TO THE BONE

Stoke vs Liverpool Highlight

2011-09-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

NEXT SUAREZ

2011-09-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

Next Suarez in Reds' sights
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/next-suarez-in-reds-sights
Author: Paul Hassall

Damien Comolli has revealed that Liverpool are in talks to develop a partnership that could see them recruit the next Luis Suarez.

The Reds secured the signature of their second Uruguayan last week when Sebastian Coates put pen to paper on a long-term deal.

The negotiations further strengthened the club's links with Nacional and our Director of Football admits we are now close to establishing a formal relationship.

Comolli told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I've got to thank the people from Nacional, the directors and their chairman, because they have been very helpful. They tried to help the player (Coates) complete his will, which was to come here.

"They tried to find a solution for us to make it happen. We now have strong links with them because both Luis Suarez and Sebastian Coates have come from this club and been developed by their academy.
"We are talking about a partnership with them that we would like to create over the next three, four or five years, to see if there is more talent coming through. Maybe we can help them to develop their standards and in turn have the ability to bring those young players here.
"
During the Copa America they had 14 players out of the 23 who had at some point played at Nacional or were developed by Nacional. That is a fantastic record for their academy.
"So it is very interesting for us. We already have a strong link with South America through Lucas, Maxi and Luis.

"Since it's been such a success with Luis - and I'm sure it will be for Sebastian - why don't we try to make it an even bigger success by bringing in other players from Nacional?"

LIVERPOOL SKILLS VIDEO

2011-09-01T22:16:00.000-07:00

Stumble upon this old but nice Liverpool skills video comp.

Liverpool FC - Skillzone 1 from Kristian Klev on Vimeo.

LIVERPOOL FC TRANSFER NEWS

2011-08-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

Liverpool complete their clear-out on hectic transfer deadline day

Andy Hunter
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 31 August 2011 20.30 BST

Liverpool concluded a productive transfer window with a late surprise when they accepted Chelsea's £12m offer for the Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles.

The Anfield club delivered on all of their targets for deadline day, shifting Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen, David Ngog and Philipp Degen and re-signing Craig Bellamy after the Wales international was granted a free transfer by Manchester City. While Meireles never fell into the unwanted category under Kenny Dalglish, and Liverpool had been reluctant to trade with Chelsea, they were open to offers that would allow them to recoup the £11.8m paid to Porto for the 28-year-old.

Ultimately, the only bid that came close to Liverpool's valuation was Chelsea's second offer for Meireles. Liverpool had rejected a deal of £7m plus Yossi Benayoun last week and made it clear to the midfielder that he would have to submit a transfer request if he wished to be reunited with André Villas-Boas, who managed him for three weeks at Porto last summer.

Meireles submitted a request as the 11pm deadline approached after Chelsea, thwarted in their pursuits of Luka Modric and Alvaro Pereira, agreed to meet Liverpool's valuation. He has signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge, having been due an improved contract at Liverpool.

Liverpool's business also involved looking ahead to next summer. They agreed to pay 60% of Cole's wages during his season at Lille in an attempt to obtain first refusal on the Belgium international, Eden Hazard, should the French club elect to sell their coveted midfielder. That request was rejected by Lille, although Liverpool retain hope that their £3m costs for Cole over the next 12 months will deliver an advantage in any future talks for Hazard.

Cole agreed to join the French club despite late interest from Aston Villa, having made only nine starts in the Premier League last season. Fenway Sports Group, which inherited the 29-year-old's £100,000-a-week contract, was keen to offload the midfielder but struggled to find a suitor. Through the director of football Damien Comolli, Liverpool had used Lille's interest in Cole as a means to try to steal a march on their rivals for Hazard.

Liverpool inquired about Lille's attacking midfielder earlier in the summer and, along with Arsenal and several European clubs, were informed that the 20-year-old was not for sale. But Lille's stance on Hazard may change at the end of this season, prompting Liverpool to offer generous loan terms on Cole.

Lille can offer Cole Champions League football this season and are believed to be relaxed about the England international commuting to and from London. His exit was part of a successful clear-out of expensive transfer mistakes by Liverpool, who have also offloaded Milan Jovanovic to Anderlecht, Alberto Aquilani, on loan to Milan, and Poulsen to Evian. The Denmark international, who cost an initial £4.5m from Juventus last summer, made only 21 appearances for Liverpool and has joined the French club on a permanent transfer.

Bellamy has signed a two-year contract with Liverpool, having negotiated his release from City. The 32-year-old, who played for Liverpool for one season under Rafael Benítez in 2006-07, had two years left on a £95,000-a-week contract and his refusal to accept reduced terms had deterred several Premier League clubs this summer, plus Celtic, another of his former employers.

Liverpool, however, have offered similar personal terms after he successfully completed a medical on Merseyside last night.

The Anfield club also completed the signing of the United States under-18 striker Villyan Bijev from California Odyssey after the teenager impressed on trial at the academy. Bijev does not have a work permit and so has joined the German side Fortuna Dusseldorf on loan with immediate effect. They also cancelled Degen's contract by mutual consent and sold Ngog to Bolton for a fee of around £4m.

COATES SIGN

2011-08-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

Coates: Suarez key to deal
31st Aug 2011

Sebastian Coates today revealed how Luis Suarez's love for Liverpool fans helped convince him to sign for the Reds.

The 20-year old Uruguay international put pen to paper on a long-term deal at Melwood on Tuesday evening after finalising his transfer from Nacional - and immediately hailed Suarez's contribution in securing his Anfield arrival.

"Luis told me a lot about Liverpool - but about the fans more than anything else," said Coates, in an exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv. "He told me how passionate they are about the club and how supportive they are.

"I saw that myself on Saturday when the fans really got behind their side against Bolton and that was great to see.

"Luis also told me about the history and the tradition of the club and now I feel very happy and excited to be here because I have left one great club in Nacional and signed for another great club with a fantastic history.

"To come to such a big club alongside a fellow countryman is very important for me. I know Luis will help me settle in, we have the same cultures and customs so having him around will help me a lot."

Coates and Suarez celebrated success on the international stage in the summer as Uruguay landed the Copa America - with our latest signing being named the Young Player of the tournament in Argentina.

Having tasted success with his country, he's now setting his sights on helping Liverpool land silverware over the coming years.
"You always want to win everything as a player but in my case I know I have to take things step by step," he added. "I have to train hard ad be ready to get out onto the field and play.

"I want to win as much as I can in a Liverpool shirt and that means the league title and any cup competitions we take part in. We have to set our sights high."

Coates has already experienced the Anfield atmosphere after watching the weekend victory over Bolton from the Director's Box - but he's hoping to spend more time on the pitch than in the stands in the future.

"Even though I hadn't signed I still wanted to get out there and play," he said. "From the moment I sat in the stand I wanted to be out on the pitch.

"I know that when I do get the chance to play I have to perform to the best of my ability. I'm really happy to be here. When I arrived at the stadium on Saturday I was treated very well by everybody and I hope to repay all those good wishes in the future."

Sebastian Coates today revealed how Luis Suarez's love for Liverpool fans helped convince him to sign for the Reds.

The 20-year old Uruguay international put pen to paper on a long-term deal at Melwood on Tuesday evening after finalising his transfer from Nacional - and immediately hailed Suarez's contribution in securing his Anfield arrival.

"Luis told me a lot about Liverpool - but about the fans more than anything else," said Coates, in an exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv. "He told me how passionate they are about the club and how supportive they are.

"I saw that myself on Saturday when the fans really got behind their side against Bolton and that was great to see.

"Luis also told me about the history and the tradition of the club and now I feel very happy and excited to be here because I have left one great club in Nacional and signed for another great club with a fantastic history.

"To come to such a big club alongside a fellow countryman is very important for me. I know Luis will help me settle in, we have the same cultures and customs so having him around will help me a lot."

Coates and Suarez celebrated success on the international stage in the summer as Uruguay landed the Copa America - with our latest signing being named the Young Player of the tournament in Argentina.

Having tasted success with his country, he's now setting his sights on helping Liverpool land silverware over the coming years.
"You always want to win everything as a player but in my case I know I have to take things step by step," he added. "I have to train hard ad be ready to get out onto the field and play.

"I want to win as much as I can in a Liverpool shirt and that means the league title and any cup competitions we take part in. We have to set our sights high."

Coates has already experienced the Anfield atmosphere after watching the weekend victory over Bolton from the Director's Box - but he's hoping to spend more time on the pitch than in the stands in the future.

"Even though I hadn't signed I still wanted to get out there and play," he said. "From the moment I sat in the stand I wanted to be out on the pitch.

"I know that when I do get the chance to play I have to perform to the best of my ability. I'm really happy to be here. When I arrived at the stadium on Saturday I was treated very well by everybody and I hope to repay all those good wishes in the future."

Author: Paul Eaton

XAVI ALONSO IS BACK TO LIVERPOOL

2011-08-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

There's no way he'll be back, but truthfully, he is missed and will always be remembered. Here is a video by milankakabaros. ENJOY

Thank you for the days

Milan | Myspace Video

LIVERPOOL VS BOLTON HIGHLIGHTS

2011-08-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

EPL match Liverpool vs Bolton highlight
08-27-2011

LIVERPOOL vs BOLTON VIDEOS

2011-08-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

Liverpool vs Bolton 08-27-2011

Superb Suarez inspires Liverpool's flying start

Liverpool 3 Bolton Wanderers 1: Uruguayan's trickery helps lift resurgent Reds to best start in 17 years

By Simon Hart at Anfield

Sunday, 28 August 2011

On the day that Liverpool's owner, John W Henry, defended his club's expensive summer outlay on British talent in a newspaper interview, Kenny Dalglish's team added their own eloquent argument.

This 3-1 success featured first Anfield goals for two of those newcomers, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam, sandwiching a Martin Skrtel header, and moreover, ensured that the Merseyside club ended the day on top of the table, ahead of Chelsea and Wolves on goal difference.

When Liverpool beat Bolton on New Year's Day there were only 35,400 fans at Anfield for a 2-1 win secured by an injury-time Joe Cole goal in the last home game of Roy Hodgson's unhappy reign. This was another victory but the manner and the mood could not have been more different as Liverpool's passing and movement left Bolton chasing shadows for much of the 90 minutes. With it Liverpool – with seven points from a possible nine – have achieved their best start since winning three in a row in 1994-95. That year they ended up fourth; a repeat would be welcome after two seasons without Champions' League football, though this flying start will have some Anfield optimists dreaming of more. Dalglish, though, merely observed: "It's better than being bottom."

Liverpool had not lost a home League game to Bolton since 1954 and that record never looked under threat. Even the visitors' first corner almost produced a Liverpool goal as Stewart Downing raced clear on a counter only to be foiled by Paul Robinson's block.

It was Luis Suarez who proved the biggest thorn in Bolton's side. Writing in yesterday's Liverpool Echo, former Anfield favourite Tommy Smith likened him to Kevin Keegan for his exceptional movement though it was a more recent Kop hero, Robbie Fowler, whom the Uruguayan was looking to emulate by becoming the first Liverpool player since the Toxteth tearaway in 1994 to score in his opening three League games.

He did not manage that but from the start Suarez asked questions with that movement – not to mention his eye for a pass and trickery in tight spaces – and it was after drifting out wide that he helped create the opening goal. From the left flank Suarez played a lovely ball with the outside of his right boot into the path of Downing in the Bolton box and although Jussi Jaaskelainen was equal to his volley, Bolton's reprieve was brief. Dirk Kuyt turned the loose ball back to Henderson and after his first shot was blocked, he duly arced a left-foot shot into the far corner.

Suarez missed a golden chance to double the lead after 24 minutes when lobbing on to the roof of the net after being put clear by Henderson. Then another move begun on the left by the South American ended with Kuyt firing over. Both managers were forced into early substitutions but it had no effect on the flow of traffic.

Suarez was unfortunate not to earn a penalty at the start of the second half as he tumbled in the box under a Zat Knight challenge – the defender using a hand to stop him as he threatened to wriggle clear – but as it was, Liverpool secured the points with two goals in a minute soon after.

"We shot ourselves in the foot," was Owen Coyle's verdict on Bolton's defending for both. Skrtel got ahead of Knight to power in a header from Adam's corner, then the Scottish midfielder got the third himself after holding off a Nigel Reo-Coker challenge before drilling a low shot through the legs of Knight and beyond Jaaskelainen from the edge of the box. Adam, like Henderson, is now up and running in a red shirt.

Yet Dalglish was quick to praise two players not on the scoresheet. "It is always nice to score your first goal but Stewart Downing never scored and was brilliant and Luis Suarez was man of the match."

Pepe Reina had made only one first-half save from a Martin Petrov volley when he was beaten by Ivan Klasnic's consolation strike in the last minute, a close-range finish after Jamie Carragher had inadvertently teed him up when halting Petrov's advance. The Croatian, not Suarez, has a goal from each of his three League outings but it is the Uruguayan's Liverpool sitting pretty this morning.

Liverpool (4-4-2): Reina; Kelly (Skrtel, 30), Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Henderson (Rodriguez, 76), Lucas, Adam, Downing; Kuyt, Suarez (Carroll, 76).

Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Eagles (Tuncay, 56), Muamba (M Davies, 26), Reo-Coker, Petrov; Klasnic, K Davies (Pratley, 71).

Referee Lee Probert

Man of the match Suarez (Liverpool)

Match rating 8/10

LIVERPOOL VS BOLTON PREVIEW

2011-08-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

Liverpool will expect to make it a perfect 10 wins on the trot over Saturday's opponents Bolton at Anfield.

Not since September 2006 have the Reds dropped points against the Trotters, when Sam Allardyce inflicted a 2-0 defeat upon his then counterpart Rafa Benitez.

Much has changed at both clubs since then, with Liverpool scoring 23 goals to Bolton's four in reply, taking in an impressive sequence of nine victories both home and away.

However, only Manchester City have scored more goals than Bolton in their opening two Premier League games this season, following a 4-0 opening win at Queens Park Rangers and a 3-2 home defeat to Roberto Mancini's side last time out.

Kenny Dalglish's side are unbeaten, though, with four points on the board following an opening-day Anfield draw with Sunderland, followed by a comfortable 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates.

Both sides were successful against lower league opposition in the Carling Cup in midweek, but changes are expected to be made upon the return of top flight football.

Liverpool team news

Dalglish is yet to name the same side in Liverpool's opening three fixtures and has a fresh injury concern adding to the absence of club captain Steven Gerrard and full-back Glen Johnson.

Raul Meireles, who earned his first start in the midweek win at Exeter, was forced off in the 3-1 win at St James Park after a nasty fall on his collarbone. The extent of the midfielder's injury is yet to be revealed, but he can expect to play no part against Bolton.

Dalglish is likely to name the same back five, including goalkeeper Pepe Reina, which kept Arsenal at bay last Saturday, with full-backs Jose Enrique and Martin Kelly earning the right to support stand-in captain Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger at centre-half.

Lucas Leiva and Charlie Adam appear to be Dalglish's preferred central midfield pairing at present, and Stewart Downing can expect to start on the left flank, while Dirk Kuyt may return to the right.

With Andy Carroll, who replaced Meireles against the Grecians and scored Liverpool's third, is off the mark for the season and is likely to start alongside Luis Suarez, who has netted three goals in three games.

Bolton team news

Tuncay Sanli has given Bolton boss Owen Coyle a selection headache, having come off the bench to single-handedly rescue the Trotters from defeat to Macclesfield Town on Wednesday.

The Turkish playmaker came off the bench to make his debut and spectacularly equalised with an aerial volley before setting up Martin Petrov for the winner.

Coyle has named an unchanged side in his two league encounters so far, though, so Tuncay may be forced to settle as a useful option from the bench.

Gretar Steinsson is struggling to keep his place after picking up a foot injury, and he will face a late fitness test.

And the game may come too soon for Ricardo Gardner to make the match squad as he continues to shrug off a groin strain, while Marcos Alonso, Sam Ricketts and Stuart Holden are all sidelined.

Chung-Yong Lee and Tyrone Mears are long-term absentees having each suffered a broken leg in pre-season.

Possible starting XI

Liverpool: Reina, Enrique, Carragher, Agger, Kelly, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Kuyt, Suarez, Carroll.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Knight, Cahill, Steinsson, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Eagles, Klasnic, K Davies.

NEWS FROM h ttp://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,19764,11065_3407350,00.html

7 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT SEBASTIAN COATES

2011-08-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

According to BBC Sport, Liverpool will sign Nacional centre-back Sebastián Coates for £12 million.

The 6'6" 20-year-old Uruguyan is set to fill the void left by Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who moved to Wolfsburg on a free transfer.

For the Liverpool fans who didn't watch the Copa América or don't follow Nacional, here are the seven things you must know about your new defensive acquisition.

1. When A.C. Milan bought Kaká, his younger, and less talented, brother Digão came as part of the package. With Liverpool, not only have they bought one of the best forwards in the world, Luis Suárez's influence in bringing along compatriot and talented youngster Sebastián Coates should be thanked.
Rather then sit idly and watch as the saga unfolded, Suárez rung Coates up and told him to come to Liverpool.
Coates said, "He [Suárez] got in touch with me and we had a chat. It is good there is another Uruguayan already in the team - it is easier if there is someone I know well."

2. Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was hopeful of signing Sebastián Coates (though apparently management said no more spending).
Not that it would have mattered given that Coates told Ovacion,
"I'd prefer Liverpool to Manchester City [...] The Liverpool offer ticks all boxes, so fair to say it's a done deal. Luis's success is important for me as another Uruguayan joining."

3. For someone as imposing as Sebastián Coates is, he's not particuarly physical—certainly nowhere near as psycho as partner Diego Lugano.
The more games you watch of Coates, the more you find yourself uttering good positional sense.
Certainly from a defensive perspective, his football IQ is very high in predicting or having a good idea of where the opposing player will go.
Lugano is kneejerk, body on the line, overaggressive and safety first; Coates is the opposite in being calm, cool and, when in possession, looks up and surveys which option is best.
However, this could also be a bad thing as there were certain instances where he was very close to losing possession because he dibble dabbled.
The 2009 Copa Libertadores semifinal springs to mind, where it was Coates being too slow to release the ball which led to Mauro Boselli, the Wigan Athletic flop, scoring for Estudiantes.

4. Sebastián Coates wasn't supposed to start for Uruguay in the Copa América, nor was he even in the picture to be a legitimate partner to Diego Lugano.
If not for an untimely injury to first choice centre-back Diego Godín, and then an injury to backup Mauricio Victorino, Coates would have warmed the benches.
Credit to him who took the opportunity and ran with it.

5. Sebastián Coates was an excellent foil to Diego Lugano, who was winning challenges left, right and centre.
I ranked Coates as the sixth best player in the Copa América, with his partner Lugano ranking in at third.
Coates was easily the standout young player in the tournament and was awarded the Trophy Claro (though I do wonder if Coates would have played so well if he wasn't partnered up with Lugano).
For Coates to succeed, he needs to play with a more dominant, a more aggressive, a more fearless centre-back.

6. Back in June, a month before the Copa América, Ovacion reportedthat São Paulo was close to signing Sebastián Coates.
Obviously after Coates' breakout performances, European clubs like Porto, Manchester City and Liverpool became very interested.
Porto would have been a good stepping stone, but it seems Coates is confident he can break into the Liverpool first 11 and cement a position. I was wikiing Sami Hyypiä to see how old he was when he signed for Liverpool, but lo and behold, he shares the same birthday as Sebastián Coates.

7. I was wondering if anyone has noticed it, but I found out it was already a widespread reported little fact; which just goes to show how many people notice odd quirky things like me.
Oh and if you were wondering, Hyypiä was 25 years old when he signed for Liverpool.

GOODBYE AQUILANI

2011-08-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

By ESPNsoccernet staff

Liverpool have confirmed a deal is in place for Alberto Aquilani to join AC Milan on loan.

PA PhotosRafael Benitez brought Alberto Aquilani to Anfield in 2009

The deal will see Aquilani spend the season at the San Siro with an option to make the signing permanent. It has been reported that Milan will be obliged to sign the Italy midfielder if he makes 25 appearances.
Liverpool said on their website that the deal would be subject to a medical, but a Milan statement read: "After undergoing his medical this morning, Alberto Aquilani arrived at the training centre at 13.20."
Aquilani, 27, joined Liverpool from Roma in 2009 as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, but he struggled with injuries during his debut season and was then allowed to spend the 2010-11 campaign on loan at Juventus.
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish had earlier suggested that he would be happy to include Aquilani in his plans but, with a high number of midfielders at his disposal, the Italian has been allowed to depart.
Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli told the club's official website: "I want to pay tribute to the way Alberto has conducted himself during these discussions. Throughout the entire process, his only desire has been to play football and he has put this ahead of any other considerations and at personal cost to himself. We wish him well for the season ahead."

EXETER VS LIVERPOOL HIGHLIGHT

2011-08-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

Exeter vs Liverpool FC

Scoring Summary

Exeter City	Liverpool
Daniel Nardiello (pen 80')	Luis Suárez (23')
	Maximiliano Rodriguez (55')
	Andrew Carroll (58')

9(4)	Shots (on Goal)	15(9)
8	Fouls	7
3	Corner Kicks	11
2	Offsides	2
41%	Time of Possession	59%
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
6	Saves	5

Exeter City
No.	NAME	POS
1	Artur Krysiak	G
18	Danny Coles	D
29	Tom Nicholls	F
3	Billy Jones	D
6	Richard Duffy	D
11	Scott Golbourne	D
5	Troy Archibald-Henville	D
8	David Noble	M
14	Chris Shephard	M
31	Callum McNish	M
4	James Dunne	M
10	Daniel Nardiello	F
21	Guillem Bauza	F
22	Jimmy Keohane	M

Substitutes
No.	NAME	POS
40	Lenny Pidgeley	G
26	Scott Bennett	D
31	Callum McNish	M
24	Elliott Frear	M
22	Jimmy Keohane	M
20	Richard Logan	F
29	Tom Nicholls	F

Substitutions
MIN.	SUBSTITUTION
26'	Jimmy Keohane for Guillem Bauza
65'	Callum McNish for Chris Shephard
76'	Tom Nicholls for Danny Coles

Yellow Cards
MIN.	NAME
No Yellow Cards

Red Cards
MIN.	NAME
No Red Cards

Liverpool
No.	NAME	POS
25	Pepe Reina	G
38	John Flanagan	D
37	Martin Skrtel	D
22	Danny Wilson	D
49	Jack Robinson	D
4	Raul Meireles	M
9	Andrew Carroll	F
26	Charlie Adam	M
33	Jonjo Shelvey	M
11	Maximiliano Rodriguez	M
20	Jay Spearing	M
14	Jordan Henderson	M
7	Luis Suárez	F
19	Stewart Downing	M

Substitutes
No.	NAME	POS
32	Doni	G
23	Jamie Carragher	D
3	José Enrique	D
19	Stewart Downing	M
33	Jonjo Shelvey	M
18	Dirk Kuyt	F
9	Andrew Carroll	F

Substitutions
MIN.	SUBSTITUTION
20'	Andrew Carroll for Raul Meireles
59'	Stewart Downing for Luis Suárez
77'	Jonjo Shelvey for Charlie Adam

Yellow Cards
MIN.	NAME
No Yellow Cards

Red Cards
MIN.	NAME
No Red Cards

EXETER VS LIVERPOOL MATCH COMMENTARY

2011-08-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Scott Murray
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 24 August 2011 18.59 BST

80 min: GOAL!!! Exeter City 1-3 Liverpool. Nardiello, a former Manchester United player, gets up and hammers the ball straight down the middle and into the net. St James Park erupts in joy.

79 min: PENALTY TO EXETER!!! The sprightly Nichols is in the middle of a quick break upfield. He slides the ball to Nardiello, who enters the area and falls over the leg of the galoot Skrtel. That's a no brainer for the referee, who points to the spot.

77 min: A couple of changes: Adam departs for Shelvey, while Coles is replaced by the 17-year-old Nichols. Meantime, here's relationship counsellor Anthony Clifford: "Following on from Joshua's analogy though, that rich southern bloke now has to put up with your moody ex while you're with the hottest bird in town. Again. So that's obviously a win, right?"

74 min: A real lull at the moment. You get the sense that if everyone could agree to pack up and go home now, they would. "Aaaargh! I typoed Dalglish," cries Phil Sawyer, of his 63rd-minute entry. "Now I'm going to be exiled from supporting Liverpool. At least I'll now be able to fulfil my father's lifelong dream and become a Southport supporter instead."

71 min: Downing twists and turns down the right and does what he should have done minutes earlier: has a dig at goal. It's a great effort too, arrowing in at the near post before Krysiak parries brilliantly out for a corner. The set piece, this being Liverpool 1980-2011, is wasted.

69 min: Downing is in acres down the right. Instead of stepping into the box and taking a whack at goal, which he surely must, he opts to Gerrard a pass to the other wing for Carroll, who is miles offside. As the ball flies 20 feet over his head, Carroll can be clearly spotted mouthing "That is fucking shit". Overpriced at £35m, perhaps, but what a critic.

66 min: McNish is straight into the action, sending a low shot goalwards from 20 yards. Reina is down well to claim, because that was heading into the bottom-left corner. The effort momentarily wakes the crowd, who are otherwise in a minor funk.

65 min: Shepherd is replaced by McNish.

63 min: Henderson tries to Le Tissier a volley into the top right corner, flicking the ball up on the edge of the D and taking a lazy slash at the ball. But the effort flies miles over the bar. "That Henderson incident was indeed peculiar," writes Phil Sawyer. "I've also noticed that the only Liverpool player to roll around in agony after a challenge was Meireles, who was genuinely injured. If Daglish has adopted a no diving, no whinging policy, Gerrard's going to find it awfully difficult to get a game."

62 min: That two-goal burst has taken the sting out of this game. Exeter look visibly deflated. Downing and Henderson combine down the right, but they can't find Carroll in the middle. "Parents claimed the naïve innocence, didn't-realise-till-it-was-too-late excuse," begins Michael Hunt's lament. "Forgiveness is still pending."

60 min: Suarez, with a goal and two assists to his name, is done for the day. He trots off to be replaced by Downing. "You're right about Suarez, of course, he is tough," admits Joshua Collis. "But I'm still haunted by Torres, who was like a beautiful girlfriend who during the course of your relationship develops crippling migraines. When she first came along, she was lovely, everything was great. Filled you with joy and optimism. But then before you know it, the migraines kicked in, and she never came out any more, wasn't much fun, and eventually she dumped you for some rich southern chap. And although you've got over her now, the same irrational fear holds for your new girlfriend." An honest and emotionally brave account of a failed romance, Joshua. There are some Liverpool fans who still can't bring themselves to whisper his name.

58 min: GOAL!!! Exeter City 0-3 Liverpool. A twist in the centre circle from Suarez, who rushes away from Archibald-Henville and lays the ball off to Carroll, on the edge of the D. The ball breaks kindly to him after an Exeter challenge, and he immediately lashes an unstoppable skelp into the right-hand side of the net. Krysiak had no chance

55 min: GOAL!!! Exeter City 0-2 Liverpool. Suarez is set clear down the right and into the area. Instead of shooting, he unselfishly looks for Carroll in the middle. His low pass is cut out, but it pings back to Suarez, who immediately rolls another ball into the middle for Maxi, the Argentinian rushing in and sidefooting calmly home.

51 min: A beautiful turn by Henderson down the right, and the Liverpool man bursts into the area. He goes over the leg of Coles. He's gone looking for it, over a leg that's been foolishly left hanging out, and the referee decides it's a dive and books him. No complaints whatsoever from Henderson. All very strange, really, because you'll have seen plenty of penalties given for less than that, and it wasn't a particularly shameless dive. But everyone's happy enough, and we move on.

49 min: Suarez catches Shepherd late, the Exeter man requiring a couple of minutes worth of treatment as a result. There was no malice; Suarez looks genuinely apologetic and concerned. Happily, Shepherd can continue. "With the tenuous exception of Terry Henry, has there ever been an exciting foreign player with a less exciting-foreign-player name than current Liverpool target Seb Coates?" wonders nomenclature expert Michael Hunt. Seeing we're on the subject, you've a fairly interesting monicker of your own, there, Mike.

And we're off again! Liverpool set the ball rolling for the second period. And what a start to the half by Exeter! Dunne sends a pinpoint long ball down the inside-right channel for Nardiello, who scoots clear of Skrtel and chips the ball over the advancing Reina! Unfortunately for Exeter, the effort bounces wide left of the open goal, and would have been caught by both Skrtel and Wilson were it on target anyway. But still. That's got the crowd going right at the start of the second period

HALF TIME: Exeter City 0-1 Liverpool. And that's that for the half. Liverpool deserve their lead, but only just: the home team have been sprightly and determined, and clever enough to carve out a couple of half-chances. Not quite half-chances, maybe. Quarter chances? I don't know. Anyway, we're set up for a good second half. Raul Meireles, incidentally, dislocated his shoulder, but it popped back into the socket on the pitch. They're debating whether to take him to the hospital, or simply not bother until they get back home.

Added time at the end of the first half: Suarez attempts to chip the ball over Krysiak from ten yards out, just to the right of goal. Very ambitious, and slightly cheeky, bordering on rude. Up the other end, Shepherd welts one miles over the bar from 30-plus yards.

45 min: Dunne so nearly breaks free into the box as Shepherd rolls a ball into space between the dozy Skrtel and Wilson, who have left a huge gap between them. Luckily for Liverpool, Reina is out quick to claim.

44 min: A poor show by Dunne, who is robbed by a determined Suarez. Dunne bundles his man over then picks up the ball and pushes it lightly into Suarez's face. There's no anger in it, just petulance.

43 min: Exeter boss Paul Tisdale is wearing the sort of flat cap that would see him followed around Shoreditch by a gang of admirers. "When you said my set-up line was the most convoluted in the history of All Amusement, you neglected to point out that it was for the weakest pay-off line in All Amusement," blasts Phil Sawyer. "Come on, Scott, credit where credit's due, eh?"

42 min: It is now tipping down at Exeter.

40 min: Carroll forces a corner down the left. It's nothing to write home about, so I won't. "Is there a curse at Liverpool when it comes to corners?" asks Bryan Tisinger. "Adam was supposed to be the answer to Liverpool's dreadful corner kick-takers (and free kicks) of the past few years, but he was awful against Arsenal this past weekend (he wasn't taking them by the second half when Meireles came on). From your reporting, it sounds like he isn't doing much better. So it must be the curse of Liverpool, eh?" Put it this way: there was a Liverpool fanzine back in the day called Another Wasted Corner. This is when Liverpool were still regularly winning everything. This has been going on for at least 30 years.

36 min: Carroll often gets pelters for being a Big Man Without A Good Touch, but here he shows glimpses of his twinkle toes. First he heads a long ball down into space for Suarez, then exchanges a couple of one-twos with him, eventually switching play on the edge of the penalty area for the onrushing Adam, who screws a hopeless shot well wide right.

34 min: This should have been the second goal for Liverpool. Suarez irritates Jones into giving him the ball down the right. He scoots into space, then whips a delicious low cross straight through the six-yard area. It only needs a nudge to be deflected into the goal, but Maxi can't extend his leg to toe it in. Fantastic play from Suarez.

33 min: A couple of fine efforts by Goldbourne, who first wins a corner off Robinson with a mazy run - the set piece is wasted - and then soon after cuts inside from the right and looks for the top-left corner from 25 yards. It's an ambitious effort, but not a bad one by any means, flying only just wide left and high.

30 min: Maxi stands under a dropping ball, just on the edge of the area. For a second, there are memories of that goal against Mexico at the 2006 World Cup, but instead of welting the ball first time, he waits, lets it drop, and sees his simple hoof fly straight into Coles. "It's a shame that Archibald-Henville's mother didn't marry a fictional glasses leaving cliff disappearing swept out to sea Neighbours character," is Phil Sawyer's set-up line, perhaps the most convoluted in the history of All Amusement. "Then you could have shortened his name to Arch-Bishop. I'll get my coat."

28 min: A beautiful sunset over St James Park. The ball arcs across it, Adam hoicking a hopeless corner over everyone's head from the right.

25 min: Bauza looks to have jiggered his own knee. There was no challenge. He limps off and plonks himself on the bench, to be replaced by Keohane. That's a dreadful stroke of luck for the home side.

23 min: GOAL!!! Exeter City 0-1 Liverpool. Dunne breaks down the right and sends a dangerous cross into the Liverpool box. Reina claims and sends Liverpool upfield on a quick break. Henderson takes the ball wide right, then hangs a dangerous high cross into the area. Krysiak comes out and palms, but can't keep hold of the ball. It falls to Suarez to the left of goal, eight yards out, and the Uruguayan belts it low and hard through a thicket of players and into the net.

22 min: ... and he's not coming back, sent down the tunnel by a stern LFC quack, who is taking no chances. Meireles doesn't look too happy about his match coming to an early end, as he was playing well. Andy Carroll replaces him.

19 min: Meireles goes off for treatment after landing on his left shoulder, the result of a fair 50-50 challenge with Coles ...

16 min: A free kick for Exeter down the left as Flanagan over-enthusiastically bundles Noble to the ground. Shepherd whips it into the area, where Nardiello sends a glancing header straight at Reina. Either side of the keeper and that might easily have gone in, because it was flying at a rare old lick, and Reina would have had little time to react.

15 min: Another corner for Liverpool, another ball by Adam sent fizzing through the area. Archibald-Henville hacks clear.

14 min: Liverpool begin to turn the screw. Henderson and Suarez combine down the right to win a corner. Three in a row follow, each sent into the six-yard box at pace by Adam. Duffy and Coles hold firm in front of Krysiak.

11 min: Liverpool don't need Andy Carroll on the pitch to play it long: twice in less than a minute they nearly release Suarez with raking passes down the channels, but both times the balls are mopped up by a composed Exeter defence. "With LFC starting Suarez, Carragher, Reina, Adam and Henderson it could be argued they have a stronger side appearing at this tricky away trip to Exeter City than Arsenal do at their ho hum trip to Udinese," suggests Stephen Alexander. That reminds me:make sure you keep an eye on events in Italy with Bobbie Smyth's MBM.

8 min: Archibald-Henville looks to release Nardiello down the left, but Skrtel is over quickly to cover. Exeter look lively. Liverpool are beginning to ping it around nicely too, with Adam and especially Meireles showcasing some silky touches.

6 min: That little spurt from Suarez apart, Liverpool haven't put much together yet. They're happy enough to let Exeter get a feel of the ball, passing it around the back but getting no further than the halfway line before launching it into space. "I suspect I'll be the 978th Liverpool fan to bleat this," neighs Joshua Collis, "but why risk Suarez? Surely we should be beating Exeter with the visibly less fragile Andy or Dirk. I don't like to think of the outcome if Luis gets on the wrong end of an agricultural tackle. Imagine the bite he might take out of one their poor lads?" Suarez is many things, but visibly fragile is surely not one of them. The man's a ball of energy. He never stops. I suspect they had to convince him to sit quietly on the team bus on the way down to the game, as opposed to running all the way behind it. I'm guessing he might be quite hard to break.

3 min: Suarez, deemed surplus to requirements for over three quarters of the game against Arsenal, but picked from the start for this test, wins a corner down the right. Adam hits the set piece deep, Skrtel sidefooting clumsily into the side netting from close range. It was a fairly tight angle, but he should have hit the target. Sami Hyypia would have buried that.

And we're off! Exeter get the ball rolling. Jones launches a long one towards Bauza. The ball skims off the striker's head and through to Reina in goal. "Ooh aaar, we are Exeter," chant the crowd, doing the self-deprecating ironic thing.

The teams are out. A fantastic atmosphere at the no-apostrophe St James Park. Exeter in their red and white, Liverpool in their Spinal Tapesque none more black.

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire)

Liverpool, starring Mr Luis Suarez! Reina, Flanagan, Robinson, Wilson, Skrtel, Adam, Meireles, Spearing, Maxi, Henderson, Suarez.
Subs: Doni, Jose Enrique, Carroll, Kuyt, Downing, Carragher, Shelvey.

Exeter City, in Danny Coles for the suspended Steve Tully, who saw red in their weekend loss to Preston: Krysiak, Jones, Duffy, Archibald-Henville, Coles,
Golbourne, Dunne, Noble, Shephard, Bauza, Nardiello.
Subs: Pidgeley, Logan, Keohane, Frear, Bennett, Nichols, McNish.

Kick off: 7.45pm.

STRONG TEAM VS EXETER

2011-08-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

LIVERPOOL:
25. Reina
49. Robinson
37. Skyrtel
22. Wilson
38. Flanagan
11. Maxi
26. Adam
20. Spearing
14. Henderson
4. Meireles
7. Suarez

Subs:
32. Doni
3. Enrique
9. Carroll
18. Kuyt
19. Downing
23. Carragher
33. Shelvey

LFC FAVORITES TO LURE COATES

2011-08-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Liverpool are expected to complete a deal for the Uruguayan international defender Sebastian Coates by the end of the week as long as Manchester City do not gazump the Merseyside club's offer for the 20-year-old defender.

Liverpool made their opening bid, of £7 million, in writing to the Uruguayan side on Monday as Kenny Dalglish seeks to complete a sixth signing of the summer.
Though that bid has not yet been accepted, Nacional are believed to be prepared to sell the player for that price should no other suitors crystallise their interest.
Coates's father, Peter, and his agent Matias Pittini have been granted permission to discuss personal terms with Liverpool and initial reports of those talks are extremely positive.
Nacional, though, are adamant they will not make a final decision on whether to accept Liverpool's offer until they have established whether the player - who trained in Montevideo yesterday - is happy to move to Merseyside and whether a more lucrative bid may be submitted.
As well as City, a Ukrainian side - believed to be Shakhtar Donetsk - have also registered an interest in the player, who impressed in Uruguay's victorious Copa America campaign last month, but Coates is thought to favour a move to the Premier League. He is believed to be keen to join international teammate Luis Suárez at Anfield.
Dalglish is keen to strengthen his defensive resources after Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos left for Wolfsburg on a free transfer and 6ft 6in Coates, 20, is seen not only as another quality addition but also a sound investment for the future.
Though Roberto Mancini has tracked the 6ft 6in centre-back for several weeks and though City have held preliminary discussions with the Uruguayan side, they have not made a formal bid.
Sources at the Etihad Stadium have confirmed, though, that the Italian will be given no more funds once the deal to sign Samir Nasri from Arsenal is complete.
That would appear to place Mancini on a collision course with the club's Football Administrator Brian Marwood.
The Italian has made it clear he would like at least one more signing, though with the capture of Stefan Savic earlier this summer, a centre back would not appear to be a priority.
That would leave Liverpool as Coates's most realistic destination, as confirmed by Nacional's vice-president Hector Olmes.
"The offer is very good," he told the radio station Sport 890. "Coates will surely go to Liverpool."
The midfielder Dani Pacheco on Tuesday underwent a medical ahead of a season-long loan move to the Spanish side Rayo Vallecano.

AQUILANI IS LEAVING?

2011-08-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Liverpool are set to finally sell midfielder Alberto Aquilani, with AC Milan seemingly his destination.

Rumours have been swirling for some time in Italy over the identity of a ‘Mr X’ whom AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri had identified as a replacement to Andrea Pirlo. Aquilani was pointed out in the Italian media as the likeliest player to be ‘Mr X’, ironic given that Pirlo’s arrival at Juventus scuppered Aquilani’s chances of a permanent move there after spending last season on loan at the Turin side.

Reports from Italy suggest that Liverpool are willing to let Aquilani go to Milan for as little as 6 million euro (£5 million) – a huge loss on the £17 million that the Reds paid Roma for him in 2009.

Aquilani told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport yesterday that he was close to joining Milan while press reports in Italy suggest that the deal could either take the form of a season-long loan with the prospect of a permanent move next summer, or the payment of three tranches of 2 million euro to wrap up the deal. However, Aquilani’s proposed move to Fiorentina last month collapsed because the Italian side wanted a loan move first ahead of a permanent deal, something the player was not interested in.

LIVERPOOL IN NEGOTIATION TO SIGN SEBASTIAN COATES

2011-08-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

Liverpool are currently in advanced negotiations with the 20-year-old Uruguyan's club Nacional over the deal.
The £12m-rated centre-back impressed in Uruguay's Copa America triumph in July and is keen to join international team-mate Luis Suarez at Anfield.
He would be Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's sixth signing of the summer.
Dalglish is keen to strengthen his defensive resources after Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos left for Wolfsburg on a free transfer and 6ft 6in Coates, 20, is seen not only as another quality addition but also a sound investment for the future.
Manchester City have been strongly linked with Coates but Liverpool are now firm favourites to add Coates to Dalglish's other summer signings Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Dowing and Jose Enrique.
Adding another central defender became Dalglish's top priority after completing deal with Newcastle United for left-back Enrique - and talks are progressing to conclude a move for Coates.

Arsenal vs Liverpool

2011-08-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

Arsenal finished Saturday's game with 10 men after Frimpong went off. He was booked in the eighth minute for inexplicably getting in Jordan Henderson's face as the Liverpool midfielder went to take a throw-in.
Frimpong's ugly tacke at Lucas Leiva on 70 minutes earned him second yellow.
On came Luis Suárez and Raul Meireles, below, who would be involved in both goals.

Liverpool vs Arsenal

2011-08-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

MATCH FACT

Premier League 2011-12

Saturday 20 August 2011 12.45

Score	Arsenal	0 – 2(HT 0 – 0)	Liverpool
Score			Ramsey (og) 78 Suárez 90
Bookings	Frimpong 8 Lansbury 88		Carroll 28 Lucas Leiva 44
Sent off	Frimpong 70

Possession	50% 50.0	50%50.0
Corners	964.0	536.0
Goal attempts	1246.0	1454.0
On target	333.0	667.0
Fouls	1055.0	845.0
Offside	00.0	6100.0

Arsenal	Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny (Ignasi Miquel, 16), Carl Jenkinson, Emmanuel Frimpong, Samir Nasri, Andrey Arshavin (Henri Lansbury, 72), Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott (Nicklas Bendtner, 80), Robin van Persie
Liverpool	José Reina, José Enrique, Daniel Agger, Martin Kelly, Jamie Carragher, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Dirk Kuyt (Raul Meireles, 71), Lucas Leiva, Andy Carroll (Luis Suárez, 71)

Referee	Martin Atkinson
Venue	Emirates Stadium
Attendance	60,090

Get Well Soon Video for Steven Gerrard

2011-08-19T00:19:00.000-07:00

Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview

2011-08-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview
Almost every football site predicting Arsenal will win this one. All the bookies' odd stacks against Liverpool. I can't complain, looking back at previous meeting at The Emirates, Liverpool had tough time facing The Gunners. But one thing in mind, this is different Liverpool team, under the King guidance, the chance is visible, more fire power in Liverpool line up, especially in the midfield. Liverpool, IMO, has slight advantage, eventho playing without Steven Gerrard, they are going to face stretched Arsenal squad which has been hit by injuries and suspensions and let's not forget about the departure of their captain to Barcelona (thank Goodness). Arsenal have to play without some of their key players; Abou Diaby, Alex Song, Gervinho, Johan Djorou, Jack Wilshere, Armand Traore and Kieran Gibbs (Damn that's a long list). Liverpool have to seize this opportunity.
If I was KD, I'd field this line up:

What do you think???

1989 Hillsborough Disaster e-Petitions

2011-08-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Full disclosure of all government documents relating to 1989 Hillsborough disaster - e-petitions

Please sign this petition so the truth behind 1989 Hillsborough disaster will come out. Everybody deserve to know. JUSTICE... YNWA.

Hillsborough disaster information can be found HERE

Gunners' trio of teenagers face baptism of fire against Liverpool

2011-08-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

Trying to second-guess the Arsenal team that will play on Saturday against Liverpool, once you take injuries and suspensions into account – not to mention recent and impending departures – is no simple task. When Arsène Wenger sits down to discuss his options at his press conference tomorrow lunchtime he will hope for some good news on those recovering from injury because otherwise he is down to the bare bones.

His goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is in form and one of the few elements of the team he does not have to worry about. After that Wenger can juggle the back four to move Bacary Sagna to left-back which allows Carl Jenkinson to make his first senior start in his preferred right-back position. Between them, Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny are fit at centre-back even if there is precious little cover after them.

In midfield it gets trickier. Emmanuel Frimpong can step in for his first Premier League start in place of the suspended Alex Song. Aaron Ramsey has been in good form and is fit. But there is now little chance of Jack Wilshere playing again until Arsenal's home game against Swansea City on 10 September. His ankle problem means he will miss the return leg against Udinese next week and is certainly out of England's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales.

The most likely solution is to bring Andrei Arshavin back into that first bank of three midfielders. It is risky given his typically patchy record in tracking back, but needs must. The front three? Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are obvious starters but who occupies the third spot? Marouane Chamakh was woeful against Udinese, Gervinho is suspended and Tomas Rosicky was injured again on Tuesday.

There is more than a strong suggestion that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the 18-year-old bought for £12m from Southampton this month, who has never played above League One level, might get his debut at the Emirates on Saturday. If he did, that would mean an Arsenal starting XI with three teenagers making their first Premier League starts, with just 60 minutes' experience in the senior team between them.

The injuries have hit Arsenal hard and they have hit them early in the season. Wilshere, Abou Diaby, Rosicky and Kieran Gibbs are out. Combined with the suspensions for Song and Gervinho it would be enough to affect any team. But add in the departure of Cesc Fabregas and the hopelessness of the Samir Nasri situation ahead of his move to Manchester City and it looks much worse than it should have been at this early stage of the season.

To give Wenger his due, Jenkinson did not look out of place as a substitute in the Champions League qualifier on Tuesday and Frimpong would probably have played many more games last season had it not been for a cruciate knee ligament injury one year ago. It is asking a lot of Oxlade-Chamberlain to throw him in at such an early stage – if that is what Wenger chooses to do. Should he play on Saturday it would be enough for him simply to hold his own at this level.

It is a tough time for Wenger. The first home league game of the season should be an occasion for optimism rather than mustering a team from the far corners of his squad to take on one of the summer's biggest spenders in front of a restless home crowd. Whoever Wenger may have his eye on as a potential signing this month – Lucho Gonzalez, Marseilles' Argentinian midfielder was mentioned yesterday – will not be able to help him on Saturday.

The Arsenal manager had a rough ride on Tuesday night with an official from Uefa calling at half-time from their headquarters in Switzerland to warn Arsenal that they did not want Wenger to pass messages to the bench via his assistant Boro Primorac, who was on the phone alongside him in the club level seats.

Club sources have indicated that Arsenal club secretary David Miles expressly sought clarification from Uefa officials on Monday that Wenger would be permitted to communicate indirectly with his bench and was told that was not against the rules. The club do not expect a Uefa charge for Wenger, who has now served his touchline ban, but he will in all likelihood get a warning for failing to speak to the media after the game.

After Tuesday's match, Walcott observed that looking around his table during the pre-match meal in Newcastle on Saturday he had realised that, at 22, he was the youngest player there. Nevertheless he said that he believed Wenger had a plan. "I'm smiling right now, so I'm very positive," Walcott said. "I'm sure the boss has got players coming in, I don't know, but if you sell one of your best players I'm sure he's got some options coming in.

Signing players will be the least of Wenger's short-term worries as he surveys his options in training this morning. For all the encouragement – friendly and otherwise – he has had this summer to spend money on players, Saturday will come down to how well he manages his existing, dwindling resources.

Call the doctor: Injury bug strikes early at Emirates

Jack Wilshere injured an ankle in pre-season on 31 July. He was ruled out for three weeks but is a major doubt for Saturday's Premier League game with Liverpool.

Kieran Gibbs injured his hamstring in the 1-0 defeat of Udinese at the Emirates on Tuesday. He was replaced by Johan Djourou, who was taken off with the same injury. Neither Gibbs nor Djourou will play on Saturday.

Tomas Rosicky played with a groin strain against Udinese but is a doubt for Saturday's match. Armand Traoré injured his groin in a reserve game this week, and Abou Diaby is a long-term absentee after ankle surgery.

New signing Gervinho is suspended for three domestic matches after his red card against Newcastle United last Saturday: he will miss games against Liverpool, Manchester United and Swansea. Alex Song wll miss the same three games after a retrospective violent conduct charge for stamping on Joey Barton in the same match.

Story reproduced from
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/gunners-trio-of-teenagers-face-baptism-of-fire-against-liverpool-2339481.html

Reds crash to Sporting loss - Liverpool FC

2011-08-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

Reds crash to Sporting loss - Liverpool FC

Reds crash to Sporting loss

17th Aug 2011 - Liverpool endured a difficult start to life in the NextGen Series as they went down to a 3-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Rodolfo Borrell's youngsters faced one of the finest youth sides in Europe and found themselves trailing to two magnificent first-half goals from Joao Teixeira and Alberto Coelho.

The Reds stepped up a level following the interval but could not mount a fightback despite hitting the post through substitute Krisztian Adorjan.

Farley Rosa then sealed the triumph with a magnificent third four minutes from time.

The result means Liverpool are pointless following their first match in Group Two and will now look to bounce back in time for their Barclays Premier Reserve League opener against Norwich City next week.

Ahead of the contest Borrell had warned of the threat the Portuguese outfit would pose and the size of the task was perhaps magnified by the Spaniard's team selection with both Jonjo Shelvey and Jack Robinson amongst the starting XI.

Indeed, the Leoes arrived on Merseyside boasting an Academy set-up that has nurtured the likes of Paulo Futre, Luis Figo, Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo to name but a few.

Five consecutive league titles at U18 level provided further proof of the challenge that lay ahead and much of the pre-match observations centred upon how many of the away team's players had been linked with moves to the continent's big guns.

It set it up for a mouthwatering night of football which was somewhat fitting on a day that marked the 47^th anniversary of the Reds' first ever foray into Europe.

The hosts made a positive start too and Raheem Sterling was first to show on four minutes when he produced some neat skills on the left before delivering a cross that fell too close to Rafael Veloso in the Sporting goal.

The visitors responded and Teixeira was unlucky when he cut in from the left and curled a delightful effort just over the top.

Ricardo Sa Pinto's side looked calm and composed in possession, assuming a control of the proceedings that lived up to their pre-match hype. However, Liverpool's pace on the break was a clear threat and on 15 minutes Shelvey almost released Toni Silva with a well weighted pass that was brilliantly gathered by Veloso.

The Portuguese stopper had been a virtual spectator up until that point but was forced into action just seconds later when he fisted away Sterling's low drive.

The away team may have looked strong in open play but from set pieces it was a different story and twice Liverpool's delivery from corner kicks caused mayhem in the Sporting box before Shelvey arced a free-kick inches over the crossbar.

There had been little between the two sides as the half hour approached but on 26 minutes the visitors produced a moment of magic to snare the lead.

Teixera had been a constant menace to the Reds defence and it was his neat exchange with Coelho that saw the No.9 flick the ball back into his path for him to clinically finish with the minimum of fuss.

The goal stung Liverpool into life and Silva showed Michael Pinto a clean pair of heels before fizzing an effort just wide.

Next, Sterling cut the ball back for Adam Morgan from the left but the striker could only stab an effort wide at the near post.

A leveller prior to the interval would have been the perfect tonic for Borrell and co but it was the visitors who put together another sublime move to double their advantage on 38 minutes.

A flowing piece of play opened the Reds up down the right and when the ball was cut across goal Coelho arrived to strike a sweet shot beyond Belford and into the far corner of the Kop end net.

There was little Liverpool could do in the face of such quality but they did have a chance to reduce the arrears just seconds later when Suso blazed over with the goal gaping after Morgan's perseverance down the left.

It would have been a tough half-time team talk for Borrell but he resisted the temptation to make changes and instead asked the 11 who had started the encounter to show what they are made of.

To their credit they responded and Morgan was unfortunate not to turn home after Veloso had flapped at a corner.

Next, Sterling showed just why he is regarded as such a promising talent with a superb run and cross before Silva dragged a shot wide from 25 yards.

It had been much better form the Liverpool point of view and on the hour mark the Reds coach made a triple change with a last throw of the dice.

On came Tom King, Adorjan and Michael Ngoo who answered the call despite having only just returned to Kirkby following his participation at the U20 World Cup.

It gave the home team a completely different threat and after Ngoo fired over following a neat one-two with Suso, he teed up Adorjan for the Reds' best chance of the match.

The towering striker surged down the left and crossed low for the Hungarian who saw his shot crash back off the near post.

It was all Liverpool but on 65 minutes it should have been over as a contest when Bruma played in Carlos Chaby who cut inside and fired over when he had looked odds on to score.

Sporting had appeared rattled but they slowly began to weather the storm and they sealed the victory four minutes from the end when Rosa curled home a sensational third.

Liverpool: Belford, McGiveron, Sama, Wisdom, Robinson (King 60), Coady, Shelvey (Adorjan 60), Silva, Sterling, Suso, Morgan (Ngoo 60). Unused Subs: Stephens, Rafferty, Roddan, Hajdu.

Author: Paul Hassall at Anfield

Liverpool Vs Sunderland Player Statistic

2011-08-16T15:26:00.000-07:00

1. PASSING

2. POSSESSION DUEL

3.AERIAL DUEL

4. SHOOTING

Stats from Anfieldindex.com

RED TO THE BONE

Stoke vs Liverpool Highlight

NEXT SUAREZ

LIVERPOOL SKILLS VIDEO

LIVERPOOL FC TRANSFER NEWS

Liverpool complete their clear-out on hectic transfer deadline day

COATES SIGN

XAVI ALONSO IS BACK TO LIVERPOOL

LIVERPOOL VS BOLTON HIGHLIGHTS

LIVERPOOL vs BOLTON VIDEOS

Superb Suarez inspires Liverpool's flying start

LIVERPOOL VS BOLTON PREVIEW

Liverpool team news

Bolton team news

Possible starting XI

7 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT SEBASTIAN COATES

GOODBYE AQUILANI

EXETER VS LIVERPOOL HIGHLIGHT

Scoring Summary

Match Stats

EXETER VS LIVERPOOL MATCH COMMENTARY

STRONG TEAM VS EXETER

LFC FAVORITES TO LURE COATES

AQUILANI IS LEAVING?

LIVERPOOL IN NEGOTIATION TO SIGN SEBASTIAN COATES

Arsenal vs Liverpool

Liverpool vs Arsenal

Get Well Soon Video for Steven Gerrard

Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview

1989 Hillsborough Disaster e-Petitions

Gunners' trio of teenagers face baptism of fire against Liverpool

By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

Reds crash to Sporting loss - Liverpool FC

Reds crash to Sporting loss

Liverpool Vs Sunderland Player Statistic