JULY 28
Cisse: We can be serious challengers

By Paul Eaton - LFC Official Website

Djibril Cisse says Liverpool will go into the new Premiership season next month expecting to be title challengers.

Cisse is on a high following his two goal display against Celtic on Monday night and he says he's looking forward to helping fire the Reds to glory over the coming months.

The £14 million man is making no promises, but he sees no reason why the Reds can't at least challenge for top spot in English football.

"You never know what will happen but maybe this season we can be serious challengers," he added. "We will certainly be doing our best to make sure we do that and you never know what might happen because we have some very good players at this club.

"The title is certainly possible. I think we will be one of the major teams this year and you never know what you can end up with when you play like we did against Celtic.

"We are certainly going all out to win something. With players like Danny Murphy and Steven Gerrard you know there are always going to be lots of chances in a game so it is down to me and the other forwards to take them.

"I know there will be plenty of chances for me this season with these players round me and hopefully I will take the majority of them."

Cisse impressed with a second half double against Martin O'Neill's men in Connecticut and he admits it's a weight off his shoulders now he's struck his first goals for the Reds.

"For me it was so important to score my first goal for my new club and I'm absolutely delighted that I managed to do that," said Cisse.

"I never set myself any targets and say I'll score a certain number of goals, it is just a case of going out and scoring as many as I can during the season, but this one was very, very important because it gets me off the mark with Liverpool and it takes some of the pressure off.

"I've not been here long but I'm really enjoying playing for this club already. When I arrived here it was a great feeling and scoring two for the club is an even better one.

"If I want to play regularly and stay in this team I'll have to continue doing my best not just in one game but every game we play.

"I know I scored two here but it's not certain I'll be in the side with the players we've got here. You have to be at your best all the time to do that.

"This is the most exciting period of my career. I've wanted to come here for a long time and I'm delighted to be here now, it feels even better when you score as I did against Celtic."

JULY 2
I like cut of your Djib!

By David Prentice - Liverpool Echo

Djibril Cisse has already talked his way into Steven Gerrard's good books.
Liverpool's record signing has impressed the Reds skipper with his thoughts on his move to Anfield, and Gerrard is already looking forward to playing with him.

"What I look for is players who want to come and play at Liverpool," said Gerrard. "Listening to his comments in interviews it seems he's desperate to come here and do well for Liverpool and that is good enough for me.

"Obviously he has come here to prove himself and that is never easy. But I've seen him in action on Eurosport and playing for the French national team and there's no doubt that he has quality.

"It is difficult to guarantee someone will be a success, but if we can manage to spend £12m on a player who turns into something like Thierry Henry or David Trezeguet then that will do for me."

Cisse officially completed his switch from Auxerre yesterday, but has visited the city on a few occasions previously.

"I already love Liverpool," he declared. "This is the club where I want to play. A few clubs were interested, but I always wanted to play in England, particularly for Liverpool because I heard of their interest two years ago.

"They were the only ones at the time. I gave my word to Liverpool and I am a man of my word.

"Two years ago I was at Anfield with Auxerre in the UEFA Cup and I was very impressed with the English fans.

"I want to sample the English atmosphere, to see full stadia. That's why I wanted to join a big club like Liverpool.

"I have seen Liverpool's facilities and they are of a very high level. I am impressed. It is really another world and is the best for a player of my age."

Cisse also vowed to help Liverpool interrupt Arsenal's progress at the top of the Premiership.

"I will do everything to help Liverpool. I will give the maximum to take the club as high as possible," he added. "It won't depend on me, but you can be sure that I will do my best."

  DJIBRIL CISSE FACTFILE 

1981: Born August 12, 1981 in Arles, France.

1996: Signs for Auxerre from local side Nimes.

March 1999: Debut against Paris St Germain - Auxerre lose 1-0.

May 1999: Helps Auxerre's youth team win Coupe Gambardella.

June 2000: Star of France's Under-18 side as they win European Championship, scoring six goals.

2001-2: Top scorer in French League with 22 goals.

May 2002: International debut against Belgium. Selected for World Cup squad ahead of Nicolas Anelka.

May 2003: Scores stunning goal to help Auxerre beat Lens in French Cup final.

June 2003: Helps France win Confederations Cup.

February 2004: Sent off for France Under-21s and given five-game ban, ruling him out of Euro 2004.

2003-4: Top scores again in the French League, this time with 26 goals.

July 1, 2004: Signs for Liverpool.

JULY 2
Cisse: Reds bigger than Arsenal and Chelsea

By Paul Eaton - LFC Official Website

Djibril Cisse began his Liverpool career yesterday and immediately insisted he has joined the biggest club in English football.

The French ace finally completed his transfer from Auxerre to Anfield and then revealed it was Liverpool's standing in European football which persuaded him to move to Merseyside.

"For me, Liverpool are one of the best names in football," he said. "Everyone has heard of them, everyone talks about them as being the biggest.

"Their name is known everywhere, not just France. If you ask someone in another country to say an English club, then it will be Liverpool or Manchester.

"I know of them from when I was a little boy, and I know that they have won many trophies. I know that they are a club with history, and I am proud to be joining them.

"I don't think that people elsewhere will know Arsenal so well. Or Chelsea? No I don't think so. They will know of Liverpool far more.

"The red shirt of Liverpool is famous, people know it. Do they know Chelsea's shirt? I know that Arsenal win in England, but I do not understand why people talk about them more than Liverpool.

"They have won prizes, but they are not as big a club. I am sure people must agree that Liverpool are the big English club, and the name is partly what attracted me."

JULY 1
Cisse targets Premiership goals

By David Prentice - Liverpool Echo

Djibril Cisse officially became Liverpool's record signing today.

But he will not be unveiled to the fans until Rafael Benitez returns from a short holiday.

Last season's top scorer in Le Championnat completed his £14.5m switch to Anfield today.

And legendary French coach Guy Roux, who sold Cisse to Liverpool, reckons the striker is now equipped to make his move to England a success.

"He is now ready as a footballer for his move to the Premiership," he said. "Last summer he was not, but now he is.

"He is a very good player. He is very quick and his shooting is very accurate. He is also a good man. He has been a good friend to players at Auxerre."

Liverpool report back to Melwood for pre-season training on July 12.

And Cisse is already looking forward to developing a partnership with Michael Owen.

"It would be great to play alongside him," he said. "If we manage to form an understanding, we could do well together."

Cisse scored 26 goals in French football last season, and admitted: "It's not bad and yes, I am proud. That's the most goals I have scored in a season but I could have done even better than that.

"People are going to say because I was the top scorer in France last season I'll have a similar season next time.

"I know people will be expecting things of me but I know how to cope with that kind of pressure. It won't be a problem for me at all.

"I have had lots of chances. I'm aware of my qualities, but there's still a long way to go and a lot of work still to do.

"I'm not yet at Thierry Henry's level. I don't think you can compare us as players at the moment because it's an insult to Thierry Henry.

"People often try to compare me to him when he was starting off, but there are still light years between us.

"Maybe we've got speed in common, but he's more subtle. I'm a real brute compared to him. But I try and draw inspiration from him."

Thor Zakariassen ©