VIEWS FROM A TRUE RED

Rafa's imminent departure looms

2010-06-03T03:08:00.000-07:00

Speculations surrounding Rafa's move from Liverpool may finally come to an end. The latest news suggest that Rafael Benitez's departure from Anfield is imminent as Liverpool plan to come to an agreement with the Spaniard on a severance deal, which if he accepts, will have immediate effect. Liverpool look to avoid the mega bucks on Benitez's contract by offering him a walkaway fee of around 3M pounds as per several sources. The large sum of money currently present on Rafa's contract may not have to be paid if the man takes a job somewhere else after he quits Merseyside. Rumors are that Rafa might succeed Jose Mourinho as the new Inter Milan boss. Well, let's hope these reports are genuine.

Benitez's head was under the knife since Liverpool finished 7th in the PL. There was just a delay releasing the rope. Benitez's tenure at Liverpool since 6 years has seen a relationship deterioration with players. This explains the poor season by Steven Gerrard. Whenever he would play, you could see on his face there was a sign of frustration and unhappiness. For me, the club has provided Rafa with an easy way out for the sake of preserving both Gerrard and Torres.

Fairclough told Sky Sports:

After a difficult season, in which Liverpool finished seventh, Fairclough believes Gerrard might be tempted to walk away from Anfield unless a new manager is put in place.

"There does need to be a change, there's no doubt about that," Fairclough added.

"You need to progress, you need to keep hold of your best players and clearly I think Steven Gerrard has a major part to play in the future of Liverpool Football Club.

"I think he is perhaps unhappy at the way things have been moving along and there are signs maybe that he wasn't entirely happy with Rafa himself.

"You have to have Steven here and I think their only hope probably was to try and restructure a change with a new name at the top to try and make Steven commit.

"I think he wants to be a Liverpool player for the future but I think he has to be clear in the ways Liverpool are moving forwards."

With Liverpool's current financial status, top managers like Guus Hiddink and Roy Hodgson may not be tempted to come and manage the team. Money restraints would mean hitting a compromise by not buying first choice players. The current Liverpool squad is only short of two quality players to start challenging for top honours. What's more interesting is to see how well a new manager manages the current Liverpool squad. Personally, I think Dalglish would be the ideal replacement for the short term. He is an absolute legend and is still at the club. So, Liverpool would be spared from shopping around. Kenny Dalglish under his first spell as manager for Liverpool FC brought three league titles from 1985-1991. Yes he's been out from the circuit for quite a while now. But he is certainly someone worth considering.

I wish to thank Rafa for his 6 years in charge of Liverpool FC. The memorable win in Istanbul;against Man Utd, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Besiktas among many others will always live in the memories of Liverpool supporters. I also thank Rafa for bringing Torres and transforming him into one of the world's finest strikers. Thank You Rafa for establishing Liverpool as one of Europe's elite clubs. Thank you for all the contribution you have made to better Liverpool Football Club. I wish you the best of luck and lots of success for the future.

Player's Profile - Nathan Eccleston

2010-06-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

Nathan Eccleston is yet another English player to feature in the Liverpool squad sheet. Eccleston was born in Manchester on December 30, 1990 and guess what, he wears the Liverpool red! He is 1.78m and plays as striker. He is fast and has bags of ability. I haven't seen much of him but from what I have heard he has tons of potential.

He scored on his second string debut against Bolton during the 2007/08 season. The same campaign was fruitful for him as he settled down to make a reputation for himself. That said, he found the net against Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Youth Cup and scored against Manchester Utd in the Lancashire FA Cup Final. Along with medals, he got pride and a reputation.

That reputation earned him a full time promotion to Melwood ahead of the 2009/10 campaign. His senior debut came against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2009 when he was deployed as a substitute during the Carling Cup Fourth Round tie. He looked lively on that occasion but time wasn't on his side because he was substituted around 10 minutes away from the final whistle.

His first ever PL appearance arrived 3 days afterwards when he was again sent as a substitute late into the game which saw Liverpool lose the match to Fulham at Craven Cottage. To further blood the youngster, Liverpool sent him on loan as from January 2010 to League One club, Huddersfield Town.

Latest news surrounding Liverpool FC

2010-05-26T00:25:00.000-07:00

Torres
When Torres signed for Liverpool, many people said he would be yet another Fernando to embrace the PL... Well, Fernando Torres proved everyone wrong. He scored a staggering 33 goals on his debut season for Liverpool and went on to become the fastest ever foreign player to score 50 goals for the club. The gone season has unfortunately been one where Torres has constantly been plagued by injuries. If it wasn't his ankle it was his knee. It was a pity because whenever he was present on the pitch he made no mistake to score. He scored around 21 goals in a season where he saw the hospital bed more than the pitch. He's brilliant, isn't he?

Everyone knows that the gone season has been disastrous for Liverpool FC. Financial issues and backroom unrest meant the club face a tough time. And prized assets such as Torres and Gerrard have constantly been linked with moves away from the club. While Gerrard has affirmed that he will be only concentrating on the World Cup and not his Liverpool career for now, Torres has re-iterated his desire to continue playing for the club. It's a definite boost for all Liverpool fans. Torres's agent, Jose Antonio Peton confirmed:

"For the moment, I can assure fans that Fernando will continue at Liverpool next season. Everything is down to Liverpool's attitude but, for the time being, Fernando is happy at the club and has a good contract.

"Liverpool have not spoken to us about his future, so he is just concentrating on playing at the World Cup."

Reina who is together with Torres at Spain's pre-World Cup training camp had to say: "I am calm about Fernando. I spoke to him about his future and he has told me that he intends to continue with us (Liverpool)."

"Fernando suffered so many blows last season, but he is a professional and has always wanted to do well for us. That is what he remains -- committed to this club."

Aurelio
Elsewhere, it is being reported that Liverpool's Brazilian defender, Fabio Aurelio, will leave the club this summer after having rejected a pay-as-you-play deal. Aurelio who is out of contract next month has been overwhelmed by injuries preventing him from being part of the line-up practically all season long.

Benitez said: "Fabio's contract is nearly finished and he is going to leave us. We had been trying to work something out with regards an extension but it was a pity that we couldn't."

Really, it would be a pity to see this man leave. In my opinion, he was way better than Insua, but let's not forget that the latter is still very young and can turn out to be the man for us.
Comments Source: http://www.independent.ie

The Club
The ex Liverpool owner, David Moores says he regrets having sold the club to Americans Hicks and Gillett. He has called for the American pair to assume their responsibilities in Liverpool's current financial breakdown and sell the club.

In a letter to The Times, Moores insists he sold Liverpool to the current American owners in good faith, after the men gave assurances that Liverpool will be able to cope better financially. Nonetheless, he accepts "honest mistakes" were made although acting "in the best interests of the club." David Moores, who is a lifelong Liverpool fan admits he "hugely regrets selling the club" to the pair.

The letter sent by Moores mentioned that the offer "was laid out in unambiguous terms ... the document pledged there would be no debt placed upon the club, and significant funds would be made available for investment in the squad and the new stadium".

He added: "I call upon them to stand back, accept their role in the club's current demise, and stand aside with dignity."

Quoted News Source: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_6172699,00.html

Player's Profile - David Amoo

2010-05-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

David Amoo is yet another eye-catching English player in Liverpool's reserves. Born in London on the 13th of April 1991, he plays in the striker role for the Liverpool reserves team. David Amoo is a powerful and versatile player, having the capability to deploy his skills from the right wing as well. His journey with Liverpool FC began in 2007.

Chased by a number of top flight clubs, the Milwall player decided to pursue his footballing education at the Liverpool Academy. His promotion to Melwood came in 2009 after his convincing performances meant he had 12 goals under his belt. He most notably drove Liverpool to the FA Youth Cup Finals after a Kop end winner against Chelsea Under-18s. He has also represented London in the English Schools National Track and Field Championships.

Now, I've seen this guy play. He's got bags of speed and skills. He's very powerful and really has an eye for goal. His deliveries from the right wing are great to watch. I can't wait to have him in the first team. I bet the coming season we would see these young lads have a go in the FA Cup and League Cup. So, let's just wait and see what the future has in hold for us.

Milan Jovanovic - Liverpool's new man

2010-05-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

Milan Jovanovic, Liverpool FC's latest recruit has spoken about how he feels to be joining the Anfield team despite the underachievements of the club during the recent campaign. Liverpool have signed the striker on a free from Standard Liege and the player seems to be very positive about Liverpool FC and believes that the club can indeed bounce back next season.

"Everything has been completely normal with Liverpool," said Jovanovic. "I have signed the contract but that was the easier part of the job. Now comes the hard part, which is winning a place in the team."

"There will be a lot of games and everyone will have the chance to play, and I really see this as the place where I want to be. The thought of playing at Anfield is an incredible inspiration for me."

Milan Jovanovic comes to Anfield to bolster Liverpool's attacking spearhead. He can play either as striker or as left-winger and will be a quality addition alongside Torres and Ngog.

The Serbia International further added: "The saga over my transfer has taken a long time and it has been spoken about in practically every transfer window."

"But in the end I wanted to stay until the end of my contract at Standard."

Jovanovic's comments taken from: Daily Post

Seen Liverpool's current financial situation, in my opinion, Liverpool have done good business by securing the services of Jovanovic on a free. That's exactly what the club needs to do in such circumstances. I think Shelvey as well could get straight in the first team. Danny Wilson, another promising youngster, already playing first team football at Rangers could well be on his way to Liverpool.

We'll need to sit back and relax because there isn't much we can do about the crazy transfer season. Add the imminent World Cup kick-off to that and you get an incredible amalgam of uncertainty as to whom is going where. At the end of the day, news are being twisted and turned and papers are being sold in mega quantities. What you get in that is the thrill of being a fan who's following his club every step until the threshold of yet another brand new PL campaign. Your love for the club will quickly make you forget the players that your team has failed to capture, because there's only one thing you want to do: see the lads play some ass-kicking stuff on the turf! So guys and girls, hold your Liverbird close to your heart because Liverpool FC will be back to prove to the world that the gone season was indeed a blip.

Player's Profile - Jonjo Shelvey

2010-05-24T02:42:00.000-07:00

Liverpool FC pursue their search for bright young English talents and this time round it's Jonjo Shelvey after the acquisition of Raheem Sterling, another one of England's most promising prospects. Liverpool signed Shelvey about a week ago from Charlton Athletic. It's sure fans are wondering, who's this unheard and unknown guy. I too didn't know the lad but after reading facts about this English wonderkid, you'll only want to see him play. Let's see:

Shelvey is 18 years of age and was born on 27th of February 1992 in Romford, Greater London. His childhood hero is Steven Gerrard. Though born in the South East, Shelvey grew up admiring Liverpool FC's inspirational captain. Shelvey was only six when Gerrard made his debut in November 1998.

Shelvey is a midfielder by nature, but finds the net quite a lot from this position. The lad didn't make any mistake to carve out a name for himself in the Charlton ranks. Aged 15, he was already remarkable during the 2007/08 season in Charlton's youth team. He scored 14 goals in 23 appearances. His performances in the FA Youth Cup undeniably put him under the radar of the scouting network. He scored in every round until Charlton's defeat against Sunderland in the quarter finals. He scored braces against Swindon and Sheffield United along the way.

The lad went on to become Charlton's youngest professional as he made his debut as substitute against Barnsley when he was only 16 years and 59 days old. His full debut was against Coventry City during the 2007/08 campaign as he played 84 minutes in a noticeable 4-1 Charlton win. He as well holds the record of Charlton's youngest ever goalscorer having scored in the FA Cup vs Norwich City on January 3rd 2009, just 55 days before hitting his 17th birthday.

In 2007, at the age of only 15, Shelvey was already wearing the captain armband for the England Under-16s squad. He captained England to the Victory Shield title in 2007 as he contributed by scoring three goals against Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. He also starred in the Montaigu Tournament in 2008, which England won for the very first time. Shelvey played in all three group games of the tournament including the finals against France where he scored in the breathtaking penalty shootout which went (6-4) in England's favour.

Shelvey's constant exploits made him a wanted man in the top-flight. He agreed a year extension with Charlton last year with view of helping out his club get a decent fee for him. Despite attracting interest from hosts of other top clubs in the PL, Shelvey decided to choose Liverpool FC, looking to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Steven Gerrard. Liverpool signed him for 1.7 million pounds as being reported.

Forget the past, Liverpool will be a success...

2010-05-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

It's my first post since I don't know when and I apologise for having been absent for so long. So here I am, ready to bounce back on what has been a disastrous season for Liverpool FC after a long long time. Things, as you all know, seem to deteriorate at Anfield as no real prospective buyers have shown up till date. The summer is on the threshold and the purchase of a couple of quality players is primordial to bolster the squad.

Both Gerrard and Torres had come forward stating that Liverpool need to buy quality to launch a genuine assault on the Premier League title. But the big question is, where is the money going to come from? The manager needs to sell to buy. I will not mention names but be assured that we are going to see some names disappear from the sheets this summer. The World Cup is approaching quickly and doing business will be tougher, of course, unless you have a bottomless pit of money.

Lots of rumours have put Gerrard's and Torres's futures in doubt. In my opinion, these players will not leave the club. Gerrard is Liverpool through and through and I am sure he won't give up the fight. As for Torres, I know he has Liverpool in his heart and the fans love him too much, so again, it will be difficult for him to move on. Let's remain positive. Ok we are out of the CL for a season, so what? We now have the opportunity to concentrate better on the PL. Hopefully, the FA Cup and League Cup will prove to be a golden opportunity to blood our promising youngsters. And if all goes well, we'll be back stronger in the CL the following season. It's not simple as that. All we need is consistency and positive thinking from the team. When you think positively, positive things happen, so it all makes sense to work hard and keep on believing.

We have so many promising youngsters and the numbers are increasing with the addition of Shelvey and also the imminent arrival of Wilson from Rangers. Add players like Pacheco, Ayala, Amoo, Eccleston, Darby, Spearing, Dalla Valle and Kacanicklic to the equation and we have a very bright prospect. We have to use these guys in the cups next season. All of them have immense potential and could prove to be golden for Liverpool FC. All I want is for Rafa to give them the room to demonstrate what they can do.

I think with this season, Rafa can learn from his mistakes and hopefully doesn't commit them again in the coming season. At times we played brilliant football but our inconsistency brought us to mid-table, thanks god above Everton! Anyway, hopefully next season Rafa will not play players out of position and let the whole squad fully express themselves on the pitch. We need to attack, attack and attack. As the saying goes, "attack is the best defense". It must surely have been a wise man who had thought enough to come up with this.

So, let's all get behind the team. I am sure most people working at Anfield have the best interests of the club at heart. People are working to get these problems sorted out. When you have an idea and know where to go, no matter what happens one day you'll end up being there. Move towards your goal and forget about the rest, because it will be taken care of. We accept it or not, there is a greater force than all of us out there which make things happen. I believe we have no other way but to be successful because we are the mighty Reds, we are Liverpool FC.

Things starting to look good for Liverpool FC...

2009-09-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

Hello dear reds from all around the world. I apologise for not having posted anything since quite some time. My time schedule wasn't permitting me to have a few minutes so I could share my views with you. Well, what do you all think about the Liverpool performance against Bolton? One more time we conceded a goal through a corner and that free kick could have gone in if it had not been for a bright Pepe Reina. No need to tell you who gave this free kick away....you've well guessed....it was Lucas! Frankly speaking, I find the man too weak to play in the Liverpool midfield. Actually, he's too weak to play anywhere on the pitch for Liverpool.

Thankfully, we did the most important thing vs Bolton. A thunderbolt from Steven Gerrard confirmed the win for Liverpool after a superb Johnson goal in the first half and a cool finish from Fernando Torres minutes after Bolton's man was red carded. Liverpool's duo again proved that they have what it takes to transform matches. I was really impressed by Glen Johnson who kept his stunning form. The ease with which he beats defenders and delivers those crosses are just what Liverpool have lacked since a long time. Johnson's ability to shoot as well makes him one of the best attacking RBs in the Premier League. It's no coincidence that he was named the best RB in the PL last season.

Moreover, Sotirios Kyrgiakos put in a fine performance. I was pretty impressed with the man since it was his debut in the Premier League. He seemed pretty cool on the ball. He's a bit slow but you need to have a look at his age. He looked good in the air and came close to scoring a goal against Bolton. So, for the price Liverpool have paid for him, I find the man a decent buy. More of his performances will surely let us have a clearer idea about the type of player he is.

Elsewhere, Gerrard scored twice yesterday for England as they cruised to a 5-1 win. This is a good sign, which means that the man is getting back to his top form. And it is always a pride to see a Liverpool player score when he is on International duty. Next match will see Liverpool welcome Burnley at Anfield on Saturday. The only setback is that Mascherano is still due to return to Melwood and he will be back only on Friday afternoon. Hence, he might not feature in the Burnley match. Good news is that Fabio Aurelio is back and fit for action. He can feature in Liverpool's midfield. I believe that he will be able to put a better performance than Lucas in this role. Aurelio is a key man for Liverpool, especially in free kicks and also with his experience and maturity.

Our man, Fernando Torres is featuring on the front cover of the PES 2010 game. He looks good alongside Messi on the cover. The Red shirt and the Liverpool badge makes me proud. He had to be there because at this moment in time, Torres is probably the best striker in the world. So, it makes sense to see him there. Well, let's sit back and wait for the Burnley match. I'm dying to see the redmen in action once again. I must say I don't feel good when Liverpool do not play on a particular week! Let's get behind the team for a great performance and await for a sensational Liverpool FC win.

Liverpool are still in the title race...

2009-08-27T23:45:00.000-07:00

Well, as days passed after our defeat, I started to believe once again. Liverpool are still in the title challenge. Last season Man U lost 5 matches and still managed to win the PL. We've lost 2 matches now. It's true we are still in the race for the holy grail but we've definitely closed down the rooms for mistake. From now on if we manage to win 30 matches, we could look forward to be the champions at the end of the season. I'm ready to bet that it's each and every Liverpool supporter's dream to see Liverpool lift the Premier League. I'm also sure that most of us started this new campaign with Liverpool with great hopes. Let's stick with the team through thick and thin.

I'm pretty confident we can win the match at Bolton. Yesterday the draws for the CL took place and we got a rather difficult group. On the other hand, Man U obtained an easier group. That said, their qualification for the later stages of the CL isn't assured because in football you never know what can happen. We play our first match at Anfield on September 16th against that Hungarian team (I don't quite remember the name!). Then we'll move to Italy to play Fiorentina. I believe that Rafa can draw out the exact starting line-up (excluding Lucas) for every matches we have to play in the CL. Hence, we have a good chance there, but again, who knows!

So, we have a problem in our defence at the moment. How do we address that? Rafa has secured the Greek giant Sotiris Kyrgiakos's services. He will undeniably be able to take out the high balls and defend dangerous set pieces. I just want to see him play at Bolton to have an idea about the type of player he is. Now, i wonder why do we rarely score on free kicks and corners? Scoring on these occasions can really win us some crucial matches. Let's assume we score on the breach of half-time on a corner. The opponent is devastated before going into the dressing room. Their morale isn't the same. Hence Rafa needs to start teaching and encouraging the team to score goals on set pieces.

Next match up for us in the PL is Bolton at the Reebok stadium. I am sure we will put up a great performance tomorrow and hopefully win by more than a couple of goals. Liverpool are still a top side, so let's believe we can make it...

The loss at Anfield after 2 years hasn't been an easy one to digest

2009-08-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hello guys. I've been busy so I couldn't update just after the happenings of this past week. Well, surely Liverpool's first loss at Anfield after 2 years vs Aston Villa must have overshadowed the 4-0 Stoke devastation. I've been analysing the goals we've conceded since the start of the season. Most of you must have done the same too. We've conceded goals from free-kicks, corners and a penalty. What does this mean? In my point of view other teams have found the way to break us up. They get this foul near the edge of the penalty area and then manage to score. Here we are, we've conceded 3 goals in such situations and we've lost two out of our three opening matches. Three matches gone and three points in the bag. For me it's really devastating for a Liverpool supporter and for the club as well.

I wonder why we have a player like Lucas in our ranks. I simply don't understand what the Liverpool scouts saw in the guy to decide to bring him at Liverpool FC. I bet that Jay Spearing can do a better job than him on the pitch. I also don't comprehend why Rafa always puts him on the starting line-up. My logic doesn't permit me to believe that Rafa cannot see his mistakes on the pitch. Against Villa his performance was dreadful. I saw how me miss Xabi and his long range passes. His presence in Liverpool's midfield was something crucial. His strength, shots and ability will always be missed in the Liverpool squad. Let's not forget about Aquilani. The lad is injured at the moment. We will need to see the change he brings to Liverpool's midfield when he kicks his first ball.

However, I got a real feel good factor whenever I saw Glen Johnson touch the ball, control it, dribble and cross it. In fact, for me he was Liverpool's best player vs Aston Villa. Rafa has indeed done a great job by seizing the man from Portsmouth. From what I've seen, we have a big problem in the midfield with Lucas and at the back. Hopefully our new signing, Kyrgiakos would help resolve the issue of defending high balls at the back. As for the midfield, I am unable to figure out what needs to be done to get it running smoothly. I trust Rafa and the solution he might find out to get things running once more.

As a Liverpool fan I am a bit disappointed by the current Liverpool display. Before the season started I had great hopes that this could be our year. We must not forget how we came close to the holy grail last season. We lost only two matches during the last campaign. This time round it has only taken 3 matches for us to lose 2. I remember this saying but I forgot who said it. Here goes: You cannot win the league in 2 or 3 matches but you can certainly lose it. I am sure we will miss these points we've lost after half of this league is played.

That said, I do not know if Liverpool have the chance to win the PL this season. We will need to see at least 5 more performances to get an idea if Liverpool are improving or not. We certainly cannot drop more points. So, let's sit back and see the events unfold...

Liverpool FC vs Tottenham and some thoughts about this wonderful club called Liverpool FC...

2009-08-18T05:47:00.000-07:00

Hello my dear readers! I was all beaten up on Saturday after having witnessed our first loss of the season. It's only the first match of the campaign and this loss is not too serious but i can't help but feel that this loss will affect our ranking though we might win loads of matches afterwards. Not to forget that other teams will lose or draw matches. This will eventually give Liverpool FC the room to approach its target if the team capitalises on others' mistakes. Last season Liverpool's first loss of the season came in November. Guess which team beat Liverpool....yes you are right it was Tottenham. Last time round Liverpool devastated Tottenham at White Hart Lane but succumbed to an unlucky loss. But this time round it was a different story.

Tottenham were playing good football and passing the ball around well. Keane tried to score but a fantastic Reina denied him almost every time until that unstoppable Ekotto shot flew past him. I don't understand why Liverpool always wait to be a goal down to start playing football. Can any of you enlighten me on this? Immediately after being a goal down Liverpool started to attack Tottenham. We even came close to scoring a goal. Let's note that both of the goals we've conceded have come from free kicks, an issue which has stayed unresolved since last season. Remember Arsenal and Chelsea last season? Now the bad news is that we lack defensive cover as Skrtl is reported to be out for at least 2 weeks with a cracked jaw. Agger is still out with his back injury. This leaves us with just Daniel Ayala to play in central midfield.

We all need to accept that the guy is still very young and will need lots of courage to be 100%. It's not too easy playing alongside Carragher. Any Liverpool defender will be able to tell you that. The man himself had once affirmed that at the back it's he who controls his defenders and always keeps talking and giving orders. Carra is a tough man and a really good professional and player as well. The way he gives everything for Liverpool speaks for itself. So, we'll see in the coming days who Rafa chooses to play at CB.

Moreover, reports are coming since this morning saying that the owners have told Rafa that only 1.5M pounds will be available to him. How come these Americans are called billionaires? They've undoubtedly thrown dust on everyone's eyes when they bought Liverpool. At that time I was so thrilled because I thought we would finally be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea and Man U in the transfer market. I thought we would get a brand new stadium in the coming years. I thought these Americans would exceed our expectations. HUH! Here we are, with nothing. Rafa needs to sell players to gather the fund to buy other players. It's a shame on these so called businessmen. They need to leave our prestigious Liverpool FC because they simply don't understand the value this club holds for many people around the globe. To understand a Red you need to be a Red, which they undoubtedly aren't. We really need to get another buyer.

So people, all of you might be having the same feeling as me as we've not kicked off our campaign well. Let's believe we can get onto a winning trend. I really hope we've not turned our draw habits into loss ones!! Don't get me wrong. I've been a die hard LFC fan for many many years and my only dream is to see Liverpool lift the Premier League title.

Gerrard's injury, concern over Torres' form and Daniel Pacheco- 3 more years signed for Liverpool FC

2009-08-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! How are you all doing, especially after Gerrard's and Torres' injury. Gerrard is currently suffering from a groin injury and is set to miss the friendly against the Dutch tonight. Torres, although his minor ankle injury has been called for International duty for Spain. Rafa is worried about his player's fitness and hopes the man comes back fit for duty.

Sunday sees the 2009/10 PL season kick off and Liverpool will once again play their first match away from home vs Tottenham Hotspurs. This promises to be an entertaining match and also a tough one for Liverpool due to the number of players currently injured. I say give Daniel Pacheco a chance and let the lad show his talent. I believe he has the potential to become a world class player.

I was watching a video of the man and I was like WOW! What a wonderful player we have in Daniel Pacheco. Check out his video here. Well, I hope the lad makes a name for himself in the Liverpool ranks and I sincerely believe he can do that. He has the qualities to be a world class player. In my opinion he just needs more strength. The best news is that the Pacheco has just signed for 3 more years at Liverpool FC, which brings us to think that Rafa believes in the boy.

Let's see what happens fellow reds. Let's relax and wait for the Spurs match on Sunday.

Liverpool FC- the powerhouse of unfolding events!

2009-08-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

My dear readers, here I am again. It's been quite some time since I've dropped a few words here. Let me begin with yet another Liverpool defeat. So, we've lost again. I was quite sure Torres' former team would beat us. Was there any positives to take out from this match? Probably Lucas's late goal. Is this a sign that the man is improving as a player? Remains to be seen when the PL kicks off on Sunday. Apart from that I do not see how Liverpool could have beaten Atletico Madrid especially after both Carra and El Nino limped of the field due to ankle injuries. Liverpool's injured list has now increased with El Zhar, Skrtl, Agger, Carra, Riera and Torres all found on that damn list.

Rafa was very positive when asked about the injury update concerning both players. He said the injuries were minor and both players could be fit for the Spurs match during the weekend. The decision to take out Torres had been taken with a view not to risk the player because he needs to be fit on Sunday. As for Carra, I am sure he'll make it to the starting line-up as he is 'Mr Liverpool' and a very tough man.

Liverpool's latest signing, Alberto Aquilani has been hailed by Capello as a great acquisition by Liverpool. Alberto is quicker on the ball than Alonso and if he remains fit, could quickly become a true fans favourite. Aquilani will be in playing form in about 4-8 weeks. Until then dear Reds, let's have some patience because I know we all want to see him in the Red shirt playing some world class football. Contrary to what I thought in the beginning, now I believe Rafa must have really analysed the player before buying him.

Due to the lack of defensive cover, Liverpool are reportedly on the chase of Hull defender, Turner. I for one, do not know this player well. Is he a bargain? Hull are said to be wanting around 12M pounds for him, a valuation which Rafa is, as per different sources, refusing to meet. Moreover, Liverpool are said to be on the chase of Japanese playmaker Honda. It's the first time I've heard about this player. Is this just speculation or does it hold some truth? Liverpool have also concluded the sale of another player. Liverpool have sold winger Hammill to Barnsley for a six figure fee. The player said he's learned a lot at Liverpool FC but knew he would face a tough fight breaking in the first team. Leeds were also said to have been chasing the player.

Elsewhere, young Liverpool defender, Martin Kelly has been given the call up to the U20's England squad as his performances have been impressive. Glen Johnson and Gerrard have also been called up to boost Fabio Capello's England squad for a friendly on Wednesday.

Looks like Rafa is trying to further bolster the squad before the PL begins. This time round everyone knows Liverpool don't have the room for any mistakes. So let's sit back and see what happens on Sunday.

Alonso's departure, Aquilani and another pre-season win for Liverpool FC

2009-08-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

Well my friends as you all must be aware, Liverpool agreed a fee with Real Madrid yesterday and Alonso flew to Spain for a medical. Terms were agreed and Alonso was finally sold to the Spanish giants after a hard fought battle. Even Madrid have to agree that it wasn't easy to capture Xabi Alonso from Liverpool. Any team would be reluctant to sell a player who is a member of the backbone of the team. Contracts have now become means for managers to increase their asking price for teams interested in their players. Liverpool were willing to sell Xabi at 18M pounds last season and have managed to sell him at 30M pounds this summer. Initially, Liverpool secured Alonso at 10.5M pounds on a 4 year deal from Real Sociedad.

Xabi quickly became a fan favourite thanks to his long range passes making him one of the very rare midfielders capable of doing that in modern football. He scored quite a number of goals for Liverpool including a couple of these goals from his own midfield. These have been moments of magic and amazement which every Liverpool fan would find hard to forget. For this reason, I am sad by his departure. But Liverpool could not have forbid the player to fulfill his own dreams. Alonso said he wanted new challenges, so, Rafa started to work hard to find the most suitable replacement as soon as he made his intent known.

And Rafa's effort brought him to Roma's 25 years ace, Alberto Aquilani. Liverpool FC lost no time in trying to conclude the deal. Yesterday Liverpool were given permission to speak to the player who has yet to undergo a medical at Melwood. If all goes well, Aquilani will then be a Liverpool player with a fee around 15M pounds reportedly having agreed by both parties. Here's what Rafa had to say about Alberto Aquilani:

"Roma have allowed us to talk with him, so that's good and positive. He is a player with the quality we are looking for," said Benitez.

"He can play a little bit higher than Javier Mascherano - maybe between him and Steven Gerrard.

"He has good passing - the final ball is good - and he also works. If he can settle down properly in England he can be a very good addition.

"I think the signing should excite the fans. He won the U19 European Championship with his country, and U21 too. He has some trophies - including the Italian Cup.

"I always remember one game - England versus Italy U21s at Wembley, and he was man of the match in a 3-0 win."

Souce: liverpoolfc.tv

Moreover, Liverpool played their final away pre-season friendly match against FC Lyn yesterday and it was positive to see the Reds cruise to a 2-0 victory. The only worry of the match yesterday was to see Riera limp off the field after having twisted his ankle. He was sent on the pitch as a second half substitute. Liverpool FC now have three injury worries, notably Martin Skrtl, Daniel Agger and Riera becomes the newest addition to the list. Let's just hope all three players don't take too much time to get back on the turf.

Point to be noted that Alberto Aquilani currently has an ankle injury and will still be an injured player when Liverpool conclude his signing. The man is a promising young player and can do our midfield lots of good, so let's wish him good luck in his recovery. Looking forward to see him soon on the pitch playing some world class football and blowing away our minds.

Your views are mostly appreciated. Thanks to leave a few comments.

Will the turmoil at Liverpool FC ever end?

2009-08-04T06:04:00.000-07:00

Hello dear readers. I have been absent for quite a while due to work restraints. Well, the departure of Alonso looks imminent and possible replacements for the man are cropping up like hell on the Internet. from all the possible players Liverpool are linked with, I find Alberto Acquilani the most probable signing. Liverpool are reported to have already approached Roma for the player and a fee of 15M pounds might have been agreed by both parties. But something is bothering me right now with the player: Acquilani is injured currently and if he signs he'll be an injured Liverpool player without even having touched the ball!

Now, the man might not regain his past form. I'm not being pessimistic. I'm just worried that the man reproduces another Degen. Degen has seen his days at Liverpool plagued by injuries. This pre-season he's been playing but from what i've heard, he's not been playing too well. Liverpool have also been linked with Standard Liege playmaker Defour. Real Madrid have as well expressed their interest in the player who's apparently keen to come Liverpool's way. Liege is reluctant to sell the player as he still has 1 year left on his contract. As far as I know, contracts have never stopped players from joining the clubs they want! If you have followed the Alonso saga you will agree with me.

Moreover, it's been discouraging to see a Liverpool loss vs Espanyol. Who would have thought we would lose 3-0. It might have been 3-0 or worse. The whole team didn't play well. I was so disgusted on that day. Even it's friendly, it shows the lack of form in the Liverpool squad. Rafa said the defeat didn't come down due to one or two players not playing well but the whole squad showing a lack of interest. It's always a mess when Liverpool lose although the match is friendly.

Well, let's hope for an improvement vs Atletico Madrid and hope for a win at White Hart Lane when the season kicks off. Your views are welcome.

Having a look at Arbeloa, Alonso and Mascherano...

2009-07-30T05:47:00.001-07:00

Hello guys! Arbeloa has been sold to Real Madrid for GBP 3.5M, which isn't bad because by selling him we've made a profit of GBP 1M. So lads, what are your feelings by the sale of Alvaro? I'm sure most of you must be sad because the man was playing really well for us. He was unknown in the football world before we signed him? It's Liverpool who have made of him the fine player that he actually is. After helping him to improve his skills, Arbeloa has been selected in the Spain squad quite a number of times. He participated in the Euros and also in the Confederations Cup which was held this past June in South Africa. For him it's surely a matter of pride if Real Madrid has come for him and finally brought him to the Barnabeu. So, I wish him good continuity in his footballing career.

The worst news for today is: Alonso hands in his transfer request. The player is actually on holiday in his hometown and is due to return for training in a few days. Benitez previously said that he wanted everything to be sorted out prior to that. So here we are. Alonso wants his way out of the club that has undoubtedly helped him become one of the finest long range passers in today's football. Real Madrid are set to pay around 28M pounds for Alonso. I for one am really sad that a player of such calibre is leaving us. The key isn't buying better than him but it is finding someone who can perfectly replace him. Can money buy that for Liverpool? We'll see in the coming days before the transfer window closes. Click here to read the full Alonso report.

I just wish that Mascherano too doesn't hands his transfer request. We'll be doomed if he also leaves our midfield. I know he has personal problems. I just hope that all his problems are sorted out so that he can concentrate on giving his best for Liverpool FC. We all need to accept that it's Liverpool who have shed the light on Mascherano's career. Liverpool have unearthed him from the West Ham reserve bench and given him the opportunity to demonstrate his talent. The result is there to be seen. There's a reason why he was selected by Maradona to become the captain of the Argentina national squad. So why leave such a club when other solutions to solve problems exist? Money might be the biggest influencing factor in that...

So fellow Liverpool supporters I need your views...Your comments will greatly help...See you soon. Take care.

Reserve to watch - Daniel Ayala

2009-07-29T04:42:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! As you all know we have promising youngsters in our reserves squad. One among the many kids is Daniel Ayala. I am pretty sure most of you have heard about him because his talents have not gone unseen in the reserves ranks. Let's know a bit more about him.

Daniel Sanchez Ayala, is a 6'3 Defender born on 07/11/1990 in Seville. Daniel Ayala was bought by Rafael Benitez at the start of the 2007/08 campaign from Seville. Liverpool scouts once again showed their worth as they scanned Spain for yet another promising young talent. Daniel Ayala played for Seville for seven years.

When Liverpool came for him the boy didn't hesitate a minute to say yes to the offer. Although he didn't know much about the city of Liverpool, he knew about Liverpool's past triumphs. The history of Liverpool FC speaks for itself and this explains why players want to join this great club.

During the 2007/08 campaign, Ayala helped the Liverpool Reserves to clinch the title. The lad has also trained with the Spanish U17 squad which re-affirms his talent.

So, what do you think fellow LFC fans? Could Ayala be the world class defender everyone will talk about? Let me know your views and thoughts.

See Krisztian Nemeth-The name of a rising star

Krisztian Nemeth, the name of a rising star

2009-07-27T04:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday saw Liverpool thrill with a 5-0 win over Singapore, a score largely due to our finest players. Among them there's a lad known as Krisztian Nemeth who made no mistake to make his presence felt as he scored a brace. He has undoubtedly won the heart of many reds and especially the boss, who keeps a close eye on everyone. He was qualified by Benitez afterwards as a 'great finisher'. Let's dig deeper and get to know Nemeth.

Well, Nemeth is a 5'10 striker born on 05/01/1989 in Gyor, Hungary. He formerly played for MTK Hungaria FC and Blackpool and is currently the most talked about player in the Liverpool FC Reserves squad. In the year 2007, Liverpool signed Nemeth on a three year deal as well as his compatriot Andras Simon from MTK Hungaria. Liverpool's scouts spotted Nemeth during the UEFA U17 championships where the boy impressed. The move was quick because it was clear that the guy would turn out to be a gem later on.

Liverpool were right to sign Nemeth - the Hungarian striker immediately started to build a reputation in the Liverpool ranks as his second match saw him score a brace against Man City. Again he would make no mistake showing his class a week later vs Everton as he finished the match with a couple of goals beside his name. All Liverpool supporters were starting to talk about him. In all, Nemeth hit the back of the net 9 times as he helped Liverpool Reserves clinch the national title at Anfield against Aston Villa in May 2008.

Afterwards in the same month Nemeth again proved his worth by scoring an important goal which helped Hungary beat Portugal to attain the European U19 Championships. His charm would even touch the coach of the national Hungary team as he handed him his first International cap. Injuries slowed him down a bit. He was loaned to Blackpool during the 2008/09 season and his very first appearance saw him with a broken cheekbone. He was forced to return to Melwood earlier than expected due to that.

To this date, Nemeth has never backed down and he proved it yesterday when he scored twice to help Liverpool lift that trophy. So, what do you think of the Hungarian hotshot? Do you see him capable of breaking into the first team and score plenty? Your views are welcome!

See: Reserve to watch-Daniel Ayala

This has been a tough week for Liverpool FC

2009-07-23T06:15:00.000-07:00

My dear readers here I am again. Yesterday i couldn't post because I was damn stuck with work. Even today I am in the same state but I needed to find a way to get freed because I thought you might be waiting for fresh news. By the way how can I forget about Liverpool FC? Here we are with the same old news growing day by day about the Alonso saga. Some speculate Real has made a fresh offer which Benitez might accept while fresh news just suggest that there would be no Real deal for Alonso. Check it out here: No Real Deal for Alonso

So, Liverpool have slumped to another draw. Sincerely after those 2 matches without positive results, I thought Liverpool are gonna win this one. Are we going to stick with our same old habits? Draw games wouldn't help us at all this coming season. As I've said so many times, we need to be almost perfect this season. Man City have strengthened their squad and Chelsea have done the same. On the other hand, Man U still have money from the Ronaldo sale which they can use to buy any top class player. I really expected Liverpool to win. Didn't you fellow reds? Would you be able to bear another trophyless season?

The positive to be taken from yesterday's match against Thailand was Babel's goal. In my previous post I outlined how Rafa said that the man has improved. His goal explains everything. I look forward to see Babel do a great season, score a lot of goals and play an important part in Liverpool's title challenge. Other positives concern our reserves, especially Jay Spearing who says he wants to give his all so that Rafa sees him worthy of first team selection. See the full article here

Elsewhere is Gerrard's bar row which is making most of the headlines. Our super captain says he hit the man to defend himself and also refuses to accept that he was out of control. Click here to read the full story. On the other hand, Rafa, as much as he likes Gerrard insists that the captain has the full support of the club. Yes, this is how we are at Liverpool FC, aren't we? Check out what Rafa said here. Moreover, Skrtl and El Zhar both have been injured and are due to fly back to the UK for treatment. This ain't good news guys.

Now guys, let's sit back and wait to see what happens next. Let's hope for at least a win or two in these pre-season friendlies. Share your views and leave some comments.

Thoughts about what's happening at Liverpool FC

2009-07-21T06:20:00.001-07:00

Everything seems pretty calm today in the transfer market as far as Liverpool FC are concerned. There are no emerging news regarding the Alonso saga. I found some news which said that Barcelona have renewed their interests in signing Mascherano. Well, both players are there in Bangkok training hard for the start of the season which will see Liverpool play away to a tough Spurs side. Remember, we lost there in the past season despite our dominating display. That was a really unlucky match for us, but this time we need to keep everything almost perfect if we want to land the PL title after 19 years.

Seen how close we came in the gone season, it's there in the heads of many that Liverpool have become the team to beat. Most of our displays were magnificent, especially the win at Old Trafford, which, has undoubtedly gone down in the history books.

Today I read about how Rafa has been impressed by Babel after his displays in the couple of friendly matches we've already played. Rafa says that Babel wants to fight for his place in the Liverpool FC squad and his form has been really good since the friendlies have begun. I for one am really happy that Rafa has given Babel the chance to improve, because he is a very talented player with lots of speed in the legs!

Gerrard attended a trial in court yesterday due to the bar row he was involved in. It is being said that Stevie hit the man with the speed of a boxer. Now that's unbelievable. Gerrard was caught on CCTV doing so. It's not a good projection of the Liverpool image. Click here to read in full about the bar row.

So, let's hope Gerrad is forgiven for his mistake as that can heavily affect his career. Moreover, I think one more signing will be good for us if those Americans still have spending power!!

It's mindblowing when you follow Liverpool FC- latest news and reviews...

2009-07-20T05:56:00.000-07:00

Hi fellow readers! I will start with the pre-season friendlies before talking about other issues. Well it's disappointing to see a Liverpool loss vs Rapid Vienna but there might be many positives to take out from this match. The young lads were thrown on the pitch and they made no mistake to show the crowd their skills. Daniel Ayala, Dani Pacheco, Nemeth and Spearing all impressed during the match. Here's what Rafa had to say:

"I don't like to talk too much about individuals but both players (Ayala and Pachecho) were doing well," said the boss.

"They're both young and when they come with the first team you always want to see something different. I am pleased for them and also with Jay Spearing because he played as a left full-back as we have some problems in this position at this moment."

Benitez added: "The other positives were to play a lot of players we wanted to play - it is all part of our preparations. We needed match fitness and we changed the majority of the players after 45 minutes - that was the idea.

"In terms of what we wanted from the game, only the result was wrong."

This could possibly mean that in a couple of years, if not this year, we can see these players transform into regular first teamers.

Now, another news which has crossed almost every sports website and news feed is the possible departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid. It is clear that the player is flattered because it's not everyday that Real Madrid come for you. Alonso is a really good professional. See what he had to say when questioned about the Real Madrid affair:

“It is always a great feeling when Madrid want you, especially considering the phase of the career I am in now,” Alonso told a Spanish news agency last night. “But at this point, whether or not that can happen is not up to me. It’s a matter that involves three parties, including myself. I do not like to force the issue. I prefer to talk.

“Madrid’s project is certainly impressive. But beyond that, I cannot tell you anything else.”

Alonso, who was with the Reds in Austria yesterday, added: “I will talk to him (Rafa Benitez), sure, but I imagine that in the next few days, there will be time for all that, even though in reality, there is nothing in particular to talk to Rafa about. It’s the clubs who have to negotiate to reach an agreement.

“The truth is that I cannot say much, because every little thing can be misinterpreted. And I do not know how things will turn out either because I am not a fortune teller.”

Furthermore Rafa and Liverpool crew have landed in Bangkok to continue their preparations for the first match of the PL. Liverpool play their first match away to Tottenham and it is therefore crucial to be well prepared to kick off the PL campaign in style. Liverpool cannot afford to lose or draw this match because it's important to remember that other teams such as Chelsea and Man City have further strengthened their squad.

Rafa, Babel and Carra sat for the first press conference and they were given a warm welcome. But it was not long before the Alonso saga was again slammed on the table. Read what Rafa had to say:

"He is here with us and he will be available for the games," said Benitez. "The Spanish players and Dossena and Mascherano arrived back late because of the Confederations Cup and internationals, so they will probably not play as much as the other players."

"But are you planning to talk to him about the transfer speculation?" quizzed one local journalist. Benitez, though, familiar with not answering questions he doesn't want to, replied: "He is here with us this week, he can enjoy the games, the weather and the journalists."

Well, let's first and foremost hope that Xabi stays. In case he wants to leave let's wish this could be sorted out quickly so that Rafa can use the money to buy a high calibre replacement. We'll have to wait an see what happens during this week or the other.

Stay tuned as I will be bringing further updates right at your fingertips. Until then have a nice time. Cheers!

Sources: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv (Rafa on young players and press conference in Bangkok) and http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk (Alonso response)

2009-07-20T00:32:00.000-07:00

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Now is really crazy season!

2009-07-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

I will begin with Liverpool's match in Switzerland against St Gallen. Well, that match ended in a 0-0 draw. It seems to me that there are still rusty legs in the squad. Moreover, our Spanish heroes are still enjoying their well deserved holidays, especially after a tiresome 2 weeks in South Africa. So, a draw seems a fair result! Yesterday saw Glen Johnson make his debut, which Rafa described as impressive. It really looks like the guy is worth the deal. I'm dying to see him make these long runs and ping the ball inside the penalty area for Torres!

Now, let's talk a bit about the Alonso saga. It has been reported by many sources that Real Madrid have postponed their final bid for 10 days. They must be hoping that Liverpool will decrease their asking price. Other news suggest that the Spanish side are ready to offload some of their players to Liverpool as part of the Alonso deal. Are they so desperate to acquire Alonso? It's Liverpool who have made him of what he is as the moment. I do not disregard all his personal efforts in becoming the actual world class midfielder. I for one am really starting to get really confused about this saga and all the stories that are cropping up in the media everyday.

Further news report that Liverpool have tabled a 15M pounds bid for AS Roma midfielder Aquilani. Only moments afterwards sources started to claim that the player's agent has declined this move stating that the player is happy with his club and would not consider any moves.

Well, well, well, this is just crazy season after the real season starts. No matter what football is the best entertainment ever and Liverpool for me are the biggest club ever. So, let's believe we can do it this year and we come back kicking the ball with a spine made of similar players as the past season.

Liverpool's best signing would be to keep both Alonso and Mascherano

2009-07-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

Before every brand new season kicks off, transfer season makes most of the headlines with players rumoured to move everywhere. Whilst I literally do not care about other football clubs apart from Liverpool FC, it makes me laugh when clubs such as Real Madrid inflate the transfer market on the go. 80M Pounds for Cristiano Ronaldo, 60M pounds for Kaka and 40M pounds for Karim Benzema.

This makes around 200M pounds spent just on buying 3 players. After this type of silly money expenditure other clubs suffer. Football, a lucrative business as it is, has become the dynasty of billionaires and other money making or born rich giants. So, the big question is: how will Liverpool match the increasing asking price for players in the future if the Americans do not provide the funds? One cannot expect player valuation to go down a couple of years afterwards, if not next year. We'll see...

Now, let's get back to the Alonso saga. It seems to me that this saga is nearing to an end with Real Madrid reportedly succumbing to Liverpool's asking price. Alonso however has to publicy admit that he wants to leave Liverpool for the Spanish team which will then convince Rafa to release him. Liverpool FC will bag over 30M pounds from the Alonso sale and fresh news suggest that Rafa might return to Valencia for another bid on David Silva. There are also so many players whom Rafa, as reported, could pinpoint as replacement for Alonso. Names such as Javi Martinez of Athletico Bilbao and Esteban Cambiasso of Inter Milan are cropping up.

On the other hand, Rafa has told Mascherano that he will have to commit himself to the club, especially after having been offered a pay rise. I for one am pretty sure that if Alonso goes, Masch will have to stay at Anfield. It would be a major blow if our club loses both of its high calibre midfielders. Interested buyers will, in this situation, have to match Liverpool's asking price which will be of course very high, as per the market evolution.

The best scenario, for me and surely for all Liverpool supporters would be the long term commitment of both Masch and Alonso to the club. Can this happen? I certainly do not rule out this possibility. Liverpool are one of the best football clubs in the world. Liverpool are not rich but they are more than just a football club....

Today our first pre-season friendly kick-off as we play St Gallen. Many of our young lads would play their trade today and try to impress the boss that they are worthy of first team action. I would really like to see more of Danny Pacheco, Jay Spearing and Krisztian Nemeth in the coming season. Hope they do well...

See: Glen Johnson, our latest addition

Good news and bad news, it's time to follow the headlines carefully

2009-07-13T07:02:00.001-07:00

This week once again carries some good news and some bad news as well. Bad news weigh more than good ones and it's time to worry. Alonso has finally came out and said aloud that he wants to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid. Madrid have as reported by many sources decreased their bidding price by 3M pounds. Rafa has been very clear when he has said that he doesn't want the player to go for silly money. That said Liverpool want in the region of 35M pounds for Alonso otherwise they are not going to sell. I don't know what rift there has been between the player and the manager. It's clear that if Alonso leaves, Liverpool are going to be affected by that.

The ex Real Zaragoza man was unknown by the football world before Rafa brought him into the light and allowed him to re-discover himself. I find it unfair that the man wants to repay the club and all those behind his success in this manner. Anyway we'll see what the next few weeks reveal about Alonso's future.

On the other hand, Liverpool have offered new contracts to duo Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby. The lads say they are delighted to stay. Both have impressed during their time in the reserves and now look forward to play a crucial part in Liverpool's success. Hopefully we'll see them grow into gems, and be proud of our homegrown players.

Another positive sign is Liverpool are willing to treble Mascherano's wages in an attempt to pursuade the player for a longer Anfield stay. It was reported that Mascherano's reason for wanting to leave LFC has been his wife who does not want to return from Argentina as she cannot adapt to the Liverpool lifestyle. She must however not forget that Liverpool have been strongly responsible for the riches she's nowadays enjoying. Most people earn in 10 years what Mascherano earns in a week!

Rafa has moreover declared that he will not make any big money signing, so, we might need to forget the likes of Ribery banging the ball in the opposing net next season! Let's have faith in Rafa. He's done what he has said when he joined Liverpool: Make the club challenge for the PL in 5 years' time. In my opinion he's done more than that. Who will ever forget Istanbul and the FA Cup final? This week pre-season friendlies kick off. So let's keep an eye on our promising youth as well as our regulars.