The Carragher clone factory
Rafa Benitez is aiming to put the passion back into Anfield - by signing a team of Jamie Carraghers!
The Reds' boss has adopted the Kop chant as his policy in the transfer marker this summer.
Throughout last season's Champions League winning campaign, the Anfield faithful sang: "We all dream of a team of Carraghers!"
And Benitez has said: "I want to go to the market thinking about players with passion as well as ability, then I know that we will do better things in the future.
"My plan is to improve the reserve team for next season and to have some more players ready for the first team.
"You need players like Jamie Carragher, for example, with passion. We are trying to find, if possible, both.
"I have said many times Carragher has been the best defender in England this season - he is maybe more important than John Terry at Chelsea."
(Liverpool Echo)

Reds must go for the jugular
UEFA have handed Rafa Benitez a massive headache with their decision to dump Liverpool into the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
No sooner will the players be back from their summer holidays than they will be preparing not just to build their fitness back up again, but for competitive games in Europe from the middle of July.
It's a nonsensical decision by UEFA. If they had put Liverpool into the third qualifying round noone would have complained.
But they are effectively punishing them for winning the Champions League by treating them like this and massively disrupting the manager's entire pre-season plans.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)

Lens keen on Reds midfielder
French outfit Lens have been linked with a possible move for Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao.
According to newspaper reports today, if Lens fail to complete the permanent signing of Alou Diarra from Liverpool, they will instead turn their intentions to Diao.
(Kop Talk)

Owen 'wants Chelsea move'
Michael Owen has reportedly told Real Madrid that if he is forced to leave the Bernabeu, he wants to join Premiership champions Chelsea.
And the La Liga giants hope that Owen's preferrence to join the Blues may be able to tempt Chelsea to part with their talismanic midfielder Frank Lampard.
(TEAMtalk) 

Liverpool to steer clear of Real duo
Rafael Benitez has hinted that Liverpool were unlikely to move for Raul and Luis Figo when he claimed: "We know our limitations."
The Champions League winners have been touted as candidates to sign the pair, but Benitez played down the prospect of Real Madrid's superstar element making the switch to Anfield.
Qatar club Al Rayyan claim they are in a bidding war with Liverpool for Figo, who could become available on the cheap this summer, albeit on high wages.
His financial demands would probably put a strain on even Liverpool, and Benitez told the El Mundo Deportivo newspaper: "There are many people at Real Madrid that we are aware of, but we really know our limitations."
Raul was suggested as a Liverpool target last week, but he is considered by president Florentino Perez as the embodiment of the Spanish giants and seems destined to spend his entire career in Madrid.
"There are players that cannot leave and there are others we do not want,"
Benitez added.
(Sporting Life)

Reds 14/1 to defend title
Following official confirmation that Liverpool will be allowed to defend their Champions League title, Ladbrokes makes Rafa Benitez's Istanbul heroes 14/1 to win it again in 2006.
The Reds have been put into the first qualifying round of the competition, meaning they will have to play six matches in order to qualify for the group phase
The current favourites are Chelsea at 9/2, ahead of Barcelona and AC Milan at 5/1 and Real Madrid at 8s. Juventus are 10/1, with Manchester United 11/1 and Arsenal 12s.
"Having taken Valencia to two finals and Liverpool to the title this season, 14/1 may be popular," said Balthazar Fabricius of Ladbrokes.
"Chelsea however are sure to bring in some big transfers over the summer and Mourinho will be hungry to regain his special status in Europe."
(Bettingzone)

Reds' Reina race hots up
Liverpool's bid to sign Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina is under threat from a rival Premiership club, reported to be Arsenal.
Reina's agent Manuel Garcia Quilon told the Daily Star: "I have had an offer for Reina from another English Premiership team.
"At the moment I can't say where he will be playing next season. If Liverpool don't resolve the difficulties, the saga could take a surprising turn."
Villarreal goalkeeper Reina, 22, said: "Everything is in the hands of the clubs and my agent. I am excited about joining Liverpool but until the contract is signed I can't be sure what will happen."
(TEAMtalk)

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