MONDAY 12
	Reds optimistic over Torres injury Liverpool are hopeful that World Cup-winning Spain striker Fernando Torres' groin injury is not as bad as first feared. Torres came off the bench in extra-time as Spain beat Holland 1-0 in Sunday's Soccer City showdown but pulled up sharply as he chased a ball forward Torres suffered with injuries during the 2009/10 season but Dr Peter Brukner, Liverpool's new Head of Medicine and Sports Science, is optimistic there is not too much for the 26-year-old to worry about. "We've been in touch with the Spanish medical team and they don't think it's too serious. It's an adductor muscle injury but they've not had a chance to assess it today," he told Liverpool's official website. "Fernando will have a proper assessment and probably a scan tomorrow and some of the Liverpool medical staff will go to Madrid later in the week to fully assess the injury and organise his rehab. At this stage we don't think it's too serious. "We can't say too much more at the moment until it is properly assessed." (TEAMtalk) Gerrard price too high for Real Steven Gerrard is set to remain at Anfield after Real Madrid suggested the sum Liverpool want for their skipper was too much. Ernesto Bronzetti who acts in transfers at the Bernabeu said the Reds' valuation was too high based on age. When coverted from Euros to sterling Liverpool are said to have slapped a £58million valuation on the England international. Talking about the club's options in midfield Bronzetti said: "Kaka will stay at Real, but the president does not agree with Gerrard because he is 30 and Perez doesn't want to know. "Plus Liverpool asked for €70 million." (Shanklygates) Palermo play down size of Lucas bid Palermo have confirmed that an offer has been made for Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, but insist it is not as high as the £5million quoted. The Serie A club have been linked with the Brazilian for several months and the speculation has increased following the arrival of Roy Hodgson at Anfield. Liverpool's new manager is expected to make changes to his squad and, with Emiliano Insua already the subject of talks with Fiorentina, Lucas could be one of the players who is sold to raise funds for reshaping. Lucas was a regular in former boss Rafa Benitez's first XI last season after Xabi Alonso was sold to Real Madrid, but the 23-year-old still struggled to win over his critics. Palermo, though, are admirers and sporting director Walter Sabatini has confirmed that they would like to sign the ex Gremio player, telling TGS: "We made a first offer to Liverpool for Lucas Pezzini (Leiva). "But I deny that we have offered €6m. That is too much." (TEAMtalk) Benitez cools talk of Mascherano to Inter Milan Inter Milan boss Rafa Benitez has distanced himself from a move for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. The Argentina skipper has been linked with a reunion with his former boss and had looked likely to complete a move to Italy in the near future. "Mascherano to Inter? All top level players are those that Inter have had their eyes on for some time. We know Mascherano well, but that responsibility is down to the president and Branca. I want to work with players we have here already, like Balotelli, who is important," he told the press. "I want to get to know Balotelli and evaluate him, just like all the players. "The team has people who have responsibilities. My job is to know players, then we will see what happens. "Balotelli is a top level player who wants to play and win. This is important. The situation has not changed. "If ideas change then we will see." (tribalfootball) Five new arrivals at Melwood Liverpool's Sports Science and Sports Medicine department has been strengthened with the arrival of new backroom staff. Two physiotherapists from the Australian 'Socceroo' national team, Darren Burgess and Phil Coles, have joined newly appointed Head of Sports Medicine and Science Dr Peter Brukner at Melwood. Tottenham Hotspur's club doctor, Zaf Iqubal, has also been recruited along with Jordan Milsom, who joins the backroom team as Sports Scientist. The club will also be working with John Moores University through Sports Science Consultant Barry Drust, who will spend a couple of days at Melwood each week. (LFC Official Website) Jovanovic gets iconic number New signing Milan Jovanovic has been handed the famous No.10 shirt after completing his transfer from Standard Liege. The number has previously been worn by Anfield legends like John Barnes, Terry McDermott, Jan Molby, Luis Garcia and John Toshack. It was last donned by another free transfer, Andriy Voronin. (LFC Official Website) Villa warns Reds over Torres’ trophy hunger Spain and Barcelona striker David Villa has warned Liverpool that Fernando Torres could soon become frustrated by a lack of silverwear at Anfield and look elsewhere to play his club football. Torres has been linked with a variety of clubs this summer, including Chelsea and moves back to Spain. The Reds striker is due to hold talks with new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson shortly to discuss his future. Villa told press, “I am not sure where his future lies, but he knows like me he must win trophies at club level. He isn’t money-focused so he would never join Manchester City. “But sure, Barcelona and Chelsea would be real options for him. He has proven he can score goals in England and Chelsea are the number one team there at the moment, so I suppose it’s the option that makes the most sense. “He has been fully focused on the World Cup but in the back of his mind he knows he needs to be competing for the very highest honours and if Liverpool can’t do it he will have to move.” Torres’ current contract at Liverpool expires in 2013, with the option of a one year extension at the end. He signed an improved deal one year ago, thought to now be earning £110,000 a week. (This is Anfield) El Zhar set to leave Liverpool Nabil El Zhar has revealed he wants to leave Liverpool this summer. The 23-year old Morocco international has spent four years at Anfield for a limited amount of game time and told Moroccan media that he wanted to find a new home. “I want to leave Liverpool," El Zhar said. “I do not play often enough. "I'm 23 and I cannot afford to only play a few bits of games. "There are several European clubs interested and I will not close any doors." (tribalfootball) Torres' injury puts £50m Chelsea move in doubt An injury to Fernando Torres late into last night’s World Cup Final between Spain and Holland may further confuse the striker’s future, with Chelsea hoping he will ask Liverpool to consider offers for him when he returns from holiday. Chelsea are leading the chase for the 27-year-old and are set to open the bidding, hoping that Torres will ask for a move although he may fall short of handing in a transfer request. They remain confident that Torres wants to join them and may, eventually, offer up to £50 million for him. However this would fall short of Liverpool’s valuation for Torres which is believed to be closer to £70 million. At the same time it’s understood that, significantly, Liverpool are already actively looking at alternatives should Torres eventually be sold. (Telegraph.co.uk)
	SUNDAY 11
	World Cup joy for Torres and Pepe Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina will return to Anfield next month as World Cup winners after Spain's extra time victory over Holland in Johannesburg, But Liverpool will be keeping their fingers crossed that the injury which forced Torres to leave the field before the final whistle isn't as bad as first feared. (LFC Official Website) Scharner poised for Anfield talks Paul Scharner is set for talks with Liverpool next week over a free transfer to Merseyside, with his agent saying it would be a 'dream move'. New Reds boss Roy Hodgson is thought to be an admirer of the versatile 30-year-old, who left Wigan after his contract expired at the end of last season. "Roy Hodgson and Paul Scharner - this is a special relationship," said Scharner's agent, Valentin Hobel. (TEAMtalk) Real Madrid eyeing Liverpool fullback Johnson Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is interested in Liverpool fullback Gen Johnson. (tribalfootball.com) Inter Milan include Muntari in bid for Mascherano Inter Milan boss Rafa Benitez will include Sulley Muntari in his offer for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. The Mirror says Mascherano is reportedly desperate to leave Liverpool and link up with former boss Benitez at Inter Milan. (tribalfootball.com) Thompson send message to Gerrard to stay at liverpool Kop legend Phil Thompson has belted out a heartfelt message to Steven Gerrard: Winning a title away from Liverpool means nothing. Gerrard has gone on holiday without officially committing his future to his one and only club with new boss Roy Hodgson hopeful he will stay. Thompson, 56, said: “Stevie has held this team together with Jamie Carragher for the last six years. “People say he deserves the chance to go elsewhere for what he’s done for Liverpool. “But I hope he now says, ‘Do I need to move on?’ He will be thinking long and hard while he’s on holiday and wonder if he needs what’s happening to him at the moment." (Daily Star) Benayoun hammers 'disrespectful' Benitez Yossi Benayoun has launched a sensational scathing attack on Rafael Benitez, saying the manager was the reason he left Liverpool and that the club is better off for his departure. Benayoun, who joined Chelsea for an undisclosed fee on July 2, accused Benitez for destroying his confidence and showing him a lack of respect. He told the News of The World: "I made up my mind to leave a long time ago because of Benitez. He never treated me with the respect I deserved. If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit. When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game. And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why." "I don't want to speak on behalf of other players at Liverpool, but people know what happened to Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso. It was the same for me. Benitez tried to break me like he broke Riera. I was sure he wanted me to attack him in the press during the season so he could turn the fans against me, so I kept quiet. I felt he was waiting for me to make a mistake so he could use it against me." (Soccernet)
	SATURDAY 10
	Hodgson: 'Insua in Viola talks' Roy Hodgson is impressed with Emiliano Insua, but the Liverpool manager admits “talks with Fiorentina have already started.” The Viola have been linked with the 21-year-old wing-back for several weeks and it seems negotiations are reaching a key stage. “I saw him play in the last three days and I like him both as a player and on a personal level,” Hodgson told Radio Blu in Florence. “However, talks with Fiorentina started before I got here, so I don’t know how advanced they are. “I cannot say if Insua will stay at Liverpool or not. I’ll have to discuss that with the club.” The Italian media is confident that Argentine international Insua will join Fiorentina over the summer. (Football Italia) Smells like team spirit to Hodgson Roy Hodgson has stressed the importance of team unity to his Liverpool squad as he hopes to restore the Reds back among England's top four. The new Liverpool manager, speaking to LFC Weekly, claims he wants to instil the same mentality into his Liverpool side that was present when Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley were at the helm. He said: "It would be foolish of anyone to dismiss the importance of team spirit. The Liverpool sides of the 70s, and particularly the 80s, achieved greatness because all of the players had similar values to one another both on and off the pitch. "That has been a strength of the club for so many years and it has been the mantra that has taken the club so far and made it one of the most important football institutions in the world." (TEAMtalk) Torres second 'most beautiful' Fernando Torres is the second most beautiful footballer at the World Cup, according to a dating website. The 'experts' at www.BeautifulPeople.com - which has a strict ban on ugly people - has ranked each player competing in South Africa. The Liverpool superstar was runner-up behind Italy's Fabio Cannavaro, who looks far better than Italy played in the group stages. David Villa came third followed by Landon Donovan and Thierry Henry. Meanwhile, Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney topped the list of ugly players. Most beautiful World Cup players of 2010 (in order of attractiveness): 1) Fabio Cannavaro, Italy 2) Fernando Torres, Spain 3) David Villa, Spain 4) Landon Donovan, USA 5) Thierry Henry, France 6) Edinson Cavani, Uruguay 7) Kaka, Brazil 8) Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal 9) Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast 10) Keisuke Honda, Japan. The ugliest World Cup players: 1) Wayne Rooney, England 2) Franck Ribery, France 3) Carlos Tevez, Argentina 4) Vladimir Stojkovic, Serbia 5) Benjamin Huggel, Switzerland 6) Zdenko Strba, Slovakia 7) Rafik Saifi, Algeria 8) Scott Chipperfield, Australia 9) John Terry, England 10) Ryan Nelson, New Zealand. (LFC Official Website) Scharner linked Paul Scharner may become one of Roy Hodgson's first signings as Liverpool manager. Although Milan Jovanovic signed a three year deal on Thursday those terms were arranged prior to the new man taking charge. Like the Serbian Scharner is a free agent having left Wigan Athletic in the summer. Fulham tried to sign the player during Hodgson's tenure at Craven Cottage. However, Newcastle United amongst others are also thought to be interested. Some in the North East have the St James Park outfit down as favourites to land the 30-year-old. (Shanklygates) Thor Zakariassen ©