WEDNESDAY 3
	Rafa wants Reds to be attacking force Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has called on his team to improve their attacking form having tightened things up at the back. The Reds have kept three clean sheets in their last three Premier League games but have been far from free-scoring in front of goal. Liverpool have only netted 42 goals in 24 games so far this season - the fewest of any side in the top six - with Fernando Torres sidelined with injury. Benitez insists there has been an upturn in his side's performances of late and hopes the increased confidence at Anfield will produce a glut of goals. (Sporting Life)  Aurelio fitness latest Sammy Lee has revealed that Fabio Aurelio could be in contention for Saturday's Merseyside derby.The Brazilian has been out since suffering a calf injury in the clash at Stoke City just over a fortnight ago but has now returned to training and could yet be involved against the Blues. "Fabio is back in training which is good news," Lee told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Whether he will be ready for Saturday, well we will have to assess that in the next few days. "But the positive thing is that we have Nabil, Martin Kelly and Fabio back in training." (LFC Official Website) Milan Jovanovic agrees pre-contract deal with Liverpool Liverpool have agreed a pre-contract deal with Milan Jovanovic after convincing the Standard Liège striker he will be given the opportunity to impress at Anfield next season. (guardian.co.uk)  Liverpool icon Rush sings praises of Kyrgiakos Liverpool icon Ian Rush has praised the impact of summer arrival Sotirios Kyrgiakos. The Greece defender has added to the atmosphere at Melwood and impressed in recent games. Rush told liverpoolfc.tv: "Sotirios Kyrgiakos was Liverpool's best player again in the win over Bolton. "Kevin Davies can be a real handful but the Greek refused to be bullied and won every header. "He has come into the side and done a great job. With Daniel Agger now fit, Rafa Benitez has a big decision to make ahead of the derby. Kyrgiakos is solid defensively but Agger is comfortable on the ball and offers you more going forward." (tribalfootball.com)
	TUESDAY 2
	Riera: Torres and Reina wouldn’t leave if Rafa did Liverpool winger Albert Riera says he and his fellow Spanish team mates at the club, Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina, are determined to be successful at Anfield and will remain here for a long time no matter what happens. With Rafa Benitez’s future having been questioned this season, many have speculated that should the Spaniard leave the club he would be followed by the likes of Torres and Reina. But Riera explained “It is clear how happy Pepe and Fernando are at the club and I have no doubt they will both be here for a very long time no matter what happens.” “They have both said to me that they want to make history with Liverpool and I share that ambition. I understand I haven’t enjoyed quite as big an impact on the club as them (Torres and Reina) so far but I intend to. “For me, if the club offered a five, six or seven year contract right now, I’d sign it with my eyes closed. Where else is there to go? Being anywhere else would be a step down. I have everything I need in Liverpool.” He added “It isn’t in the character of any of us to turn our backs and run somewhere else when times are tough. All of us would like to look back on our Liverpool career and say it was a success.” (This is Anfield) Reds close on Jovanovic deal Sky Sports News understands Liverpool are close to agreeing a pre-contract deal with Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic. (Sky Sports)   MD: Reds in world top four Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow insists the Reds are 'one of the big four clubs in the world' as he targets a top four finish in the Premier League this term. The Reds have endured a difficult first half of the season, although Rafa Benitez's side still sit in fifth in the top flight. Purslow is targeting a top four finish for the club after pledging the Reds will not sell any of their star players. But he has acknowledged that the club do not have the 'financial capacity' to match the depth of quality in other squads. He said: "Liverpool is one of the big four clubs in the world. "We pay salaries and transfers at the level of the top four in this league and that is the sporting level I hope to maintain. "Our problem is that we do not have two first XIs, as other clubs do. We do not have that financial capacity." (Sky Sports) Reds in the hunt for new investors Liverpool hope to give new life to their plans to build a 60,000-seat stadium by bringing in new investors before the end of the season. With plans to move to a new stadium in Stanley Park currently on hold, the Reds have begun the search for new funding to bring them back on track. Managing director Christian Purslow told Spanish sports daily newspaper AS: "When I arrived we agreed with the owners that we had to look for new investors. "There are interested parties and I would like to get it sorted out before the end of this season. Without investment there won't be a new stadium." (TEAMtalk)   Rafa inquiring about Kewell treatment, claims agent Former Liverpool winger Harry Kewell’s agent Bernie Mandic says that Rafa Benitez has recently been in touch with Kewell to inquire about his medical treatment. Kewell, so long on the sidelines during his career at Anfield, has rejuvinated his career with Galatasaray in Turkey after receiving specialist treatment in Australia. Mandic believes Benitez is eager to learn who the medical team are behind Kewell’s recovery, so he can work with them on Fernando Torres, who is becoming increasingly prone to injury. Mandic believes Liverpool’s medical team are to blame for Kewell’s lack of form when on Merseyside, resulting in him being let go by the club in 2008. He said, “We had Rafa Benítez call him the other night inquiring who these guys were because Fernando Torres has got such major problems now. We have also had Jonathan Woodgate’s physio inquiring about him, because he is apparently almost unfixable.” “But look at Liverpool. Why is it that, over so many recent years, usually around November, lots of their key players are injured? It is always soft-tissue injuries. How come other clubs do not have that sort of dilemma? And why do their players recover quicker? There are logical reasons.” (This is Anfield) Carra ignores Rafa rumours Liverpool star Jamie Carragher insists speculation linking Rafa Benitez with a move away from Anfield is not unsettling the players. Benitez's long-term future at Anfield has been the subject of conjecture in recent weeks with Juventus strongly linked with a move for the Spaniard. Carragher insists the players do not pay much attention to all the rumours and claims it is part and parcel of playing for a big club. "Liverpool has always had speculation about managers, players, players coming, players going and it's the same as managers," Carragher told Sky Sports News. "That's part of being part of a big club, you always have that type of thing. "People always want to talk about the club whether it is positively or negatively and if you play for Liverpool you have got to get used to that as part of the job." Carragher insists Benitez has the backing of the whole squad and he has called on his team-mates to stick together as they look to secure a top-four finish. Asked if Benitez had the support of the dressing room, Carragher said: "Of course. It has been a difficult season for everyone really on and off the pitch. "The only way we can change that between now and the end of the season is by rallying together, getting together and focusing on what's important - which is the club - and on the pitch getting the results we need to try and get in the top four and also having a good run in the Europa League. "So at the moment now I think it is about everyone sticking together." (Sky Sports) Why Rafa Benitez won’t leave Liverpool FC for Juventus There has been so much speculation over the past week, but I can’t see Rafa Benitez quitting Liverpool to take over at Juventus. To be honest, it just wouldn’t make any sense. Juventus is a club close to my heart and as far as I’m concerned they are the best club in Italy. But if Benitez left to go there he wouldn’t be going to a better club or one with more money to spend on signings. In fact Juventus are in a worse financial situation than Liverpool. They are only fifth in Serie A and aren’t challenging for trophies. I’d be very disappointed if he went there and I just can’t see it happening. (Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo)  Rafael Benitez owes the Liverpool FC fans The supporters at Liverpool have been great with Rafael Benitez – at a lot of other clubs he would no longer have a job. They are a patient bunch at Anfield and in times of trouble they go to the manager and say ‘how can we help?’ So in light of some of his comments which emerged at the weekend about the interest from Juventus, Benitez has got to be careful. If he decides to go to Italy then he must realise he will be managing a game of chess; the game is played at walking pace at times over there. Although he says it was flattering to have Juve interested in him, would he rather manage there after being in charge of Liverpool in the Premier League? I would have thought not. (Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool Daily Post)
	MONDAY 1
	Duo return as Reds triumph Martin Kelly and Nabil El Zhar both made successful comebacks from injury as Liverpool Reserves booked their place in the semi-final of the Lancashire Senior Cup following a 2-0 win at Bolton on Monday night. The duo enjoyed 45 minutes apiece as goals from David Amoo and Damien Plessis saw John McMahon's men bolster their bid for a clean sweep of trophies with another assured display. It was Kelly's first appearance since recovering from the injury he sustained in the first-team's 2-1 defeat against Lyon back in October, and he gave an accomplished showing before being replaced by El Zhar at the interval. Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Kelly (El Zhar 46), Mavinga (Threlfall 87), Ayala, Darby, Spearing, Plessis, Irwin, Kacaniklic (Brouwer 74), Pacheco, Amoo. Subs: Oldfield, Mendy. (LFC Official Website) Striker extends loan Nathan Eccleston has had his loan spell with Huddersfield Town extended until the end of the season. The striker, who scored on his debut for the Terriers during Saturday's 1-0 win at Yeovil Town, will stay with Lee Clark's side until May 8, 2010. The former Academy starlet, who recently put pen to paper on a new deal with the Reds, made the move to Melwood full-time during the summer and made his first team debut for the club this season. He made his bow against Arsenal in the Carling Cup before he appeared against Fulham in the Barclays Premier League. (LFC Official Website) Cottagers bag Reds starlet Fulham have completed the signing of Liverpool youngster Christopher Buchtmann on an 18-month contract. As revealed earlier on transfer deadline day by skysports.com the Cottagers struck a cut-price deal for the former Borussia Dortmund defender. The left-back has now signed a contract that will keep him with the Craven Cottage outfit until the end of the 2010/11 season. The teenager, who can operate anywhere on the left-hand side of the field, was named as one of Uefa's top 10 stars of the future in May 2009. Fulham have confirmed that Buchtmann, who helped Germany win the Uefa Under-17 European Championship last year, is the club's final piece of business on transfer deadline day. (Sky Sports) Duo extend loan deals Two of Liverpool's promising young goalkeepers have extended existing loan deals. Dean Bouzanis will now remain at League Two side Accrington Stanley up to and including May 30. Meanwhile, David Martin is staying at League One high-flyers Leeds United until February 10. (LFC Official Website) Reina: Reds gaining confidence Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina admits the Reds players have been hurt by the club's poor performances so far this season. But the Spain international said a sense of pride had forced the squad to face up to their problems and he believed their recent good run showed what could be done when they worked hard together. The Reds, who suffered early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup, are currently 13 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea. However, a six-match unbeaten run in which they have conceded just one goal has lifted Liverpool to within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham and rekindled hopes of Champions League qualification next season. It has also eased some of the pressure on the under-achieving players and manager Rafael Benitez. "It is about pride. We knew we were not in the right situation," said Reina, who is currently in negotiations over a new long-term contract at Anfield. (TEAMtalk)  Cahill stokes derby fires Tim Cahill believes Liverpool could be feeling threatened by Everton after next weekend's Merseyside derby. The Toffees' victory at Wigan on Saturday stretched an unbeaten run to nine games and continued their ascent of the Premier League. Ninth-placed Everton endured a torrid start to the season but are now only nine points behind Liverpool, who sit fifth, with a game in hand. Cahill therefore thinks Rafa Benitez's side could become increasingly nervous in their fight for European football with the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa if Everton leave Anfield with three points. (Sky Sports) Thor Zakariassen ©