WEDNESDAY 15
	Hodgson set to tinker Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson plans to make changes for the opening Europa League group match at home to Steaua Bucharest tomorrow. The Reds boss will have one eye on Sunday's Premier League trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford and, as a result, may opt to rest captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres. Should that happen their likely replacements are new signing Raul Meireles and David Ngog. Midfielder Joe Cole, who has been serving a three-match domestic suspension, returns to the squad but Dirk Kuyt (shoulder) and Fabio Aurelio (Achilles) are definitely out. Provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Konchesky, Meireles, Lucas, Poulsen, Gerrard, Rodriguez, Cole, Jovanovic, Torres, Ngog, Babel, Jones, Spearing, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Pacheco, Spearing. (Irish Independent) Agger relishing life in happy camp Liverpool defender Daniel Agger believes the training ground is a happy place again under new manager Roy Hodgson. The Reds finished seventh last season, their worst Premier League placing for more than a decade, and the club and Rafael Benitez soon parted. At the time there were suggestions the Spaniard had managed to alienate a number of his players - having had public fall-outs with Ryan Babel and Albert Riera - but Agger today said they were all together again under the Englishman's stewardship. "It is a new team, new players, young players, new staff and I think the mentality you can see on people's faces - they are a lot more happy in training sessions," said the Denmark international. (TEAMtalk) Hodgson: Torres is not fed up Roy Hodgson has dismissed speculation about Fernando Torres' state of mind after the striker was criticised on his last outing for Liverpool. The Spain international had very few chances in Sunday's goalless draw at Birmingham. And despite scoring three times in his previous two matches for club and country, that did not stop wild theories being spouted about the 26-year-old being unhappy and regretting his decision to remain at Anfield this summer. Former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp labelled Torres' performance at Birmingham "diabolical" and claimed the player looked frustrated, but Hodgson was quick to reject that assessment out of hand. "He certainly isn't fed up. Criticism is something we have to live with," said Hodgson. (TEAMtalk) Meireles aware of Hyypia legacy New Liverpool signing Raul Meireles intends to follow in the footsteps of Anfield legend Sami Hyypia by wearing the number four jersey with distinction. The Portuguese playmaker has inherited the towering former Liverpool defender’s shirt number at Anfield, following his £11.5 million arrival from FC Porto, and the 27-year-old is fully aware of the illustrious footsteps he is following in. Meireles made his first appearance for Liverpool at Birmingham City on Sunday and is in line to make his full debut at Anfield in tonight’s Europa League game against Steaua Bucharest, and the Portuguese international is desperate to impress for his new club. Meireles told the Liverpool Echo: “I knew the number four (shirt) once belonged to Sami Hyypia and the supporters liked him as he was a great player for Liverpool, “So I have to be great with this number – and I will try to do what I have to do to be great. I want to win (trophies) because in Porto I won a lot and I have many titles. “But I want to win titles at Liverpool and we have a chance because we have the players." (Sport.co.uk)  Dalglish wanted Reds job Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish has admitted he wanted to replace Rafa Benitez at Anfield before the appointment of Roy Hodgson. Dalglish was player-manager at Anfield between 1985 and 1991 and he was the last man to bring the championship to the club. The 59-year-old felt the time was right for Benitez to leave and he revealed he put himself forward to replace the Spaniard at the helm. However, Liverpool rejected Dalglish's overtures and moved instead for former Fulham chief Hodgson to take charge at Anfield and the Scot admits he was disappointed to be overlooked for the job. Dalglish writing in his new book - 'Dalglish in his own words' - said: "It was right for everybody that Rafa Benitez left - for him and for Liverpool Football Club. "There just comes a stage in every manager's career when the board says, 'You've been good for the club but we feel it would be best if you go'. "Sometimes it works the same way for a manager - 'I've done my time. There's no animosity but it's time to have a go somewhere else'. "When it was clear Rafa was going, Christian Purslow asked me to get involved in the selection process for the next manager. "I had to let them (the board) know my real views. I wanted the job. I couldn't miss the opportunity. "One day, I was in a meeting with Christian and the chairman, Martin Broughton, and I formally put my name forward. "'We don't want you, Kenny', came the reply from Christian and the chairman. Fine. That's their ­prerogative. They explained they had different plans for me, a position with greater longevity." (Sky Sports)
	TUESDAY 14
	Amoo brace tames Wolves David Amoo struck a clinical double as Liverpool Reserves claimed their first win of the season with a 2-0 success over Wolves on Tuesday night. The 19-year-old was on hand to finish off two incisive first-half counter attacks and ensure John McMahon's men capped an impressive showing with three richly deserved points. The Reds had gone into the clash having drawn their opening two encounters of the new Barclays Premier Reserve League Northern Group B campaign but always looked in control against what was a relatively experienced Wolves outfit. Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Darby, Robinson, Irwin (c), Wilson, Wisdom, Amoo, Shelvey, Eccleston, Suso, Ince (Bruna 81). Unused Subs: Flanagan, Bouzanis, Roberts, Palsson. (LFC Official Website) Torres ready for Old Trafford Despite a mixed summer in which he won a winners' medal but hardly made an impact on the World Cup finals, and, a slow start to the current campaign Fernando Torres is keen to get a victory against Manchester United for the Liverpool supporters. The 26-year-old would no doubt welcome a goal when the two Premier League giants clash on Sunday at Old Trafford. He has been a regular scorer in the fixture but is putting what he sees as fans' needs above his own. Asked about the meaning of the fixture Torres said: "It means everything to them [Liverpool fans]. We are the two most successful teams in England but it has not be nice for the Liverpool fans to watch Manchester United have so much success over the recent years. "We have a great squad and a great manager, and we really hope to give the fans a trophy this season, as well as beating Manchester United for them. "The Liverpool fans are great, when you play well they are behind you and when you are not playing the best they are still behind you. I walk my dogs round the city, and before matches like Manchester United the fans will tell you good luck and things like that. "It's clear how much the Manchester United games means to them, we have been rivals a lot of years." (Shankly Gates) Jovanovic: My best is still to come Liverpool new boy Milan Jovanovic insists he has far more to offer the Anfield outfit than he has shown so far. The Reds are still finding their feet under Roy Hodgson and following Sunday's goalless draw at Birmingham, currently find themselves in the wrong half of the Premier League table. Star man Fernando Torres is coming under scrutiny for his lacklustre displays but Jovanovic accepts others must make a bigger contribution too. The 29-year-old Serbian international is yet to score since his summer move from Standard Liege. But he insists it is a situation he does not expect to continue for much longer. "I was happy with how I played against Birmingham but I know I can do better," the striker told the Liverpool Echo. (TEAMtalk) Babel enjoying new Liverpool role under Hodgson Ryan Babel feels Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has given him a new lease of life. The Dutch star was shifted between playing on the wings and up front while old boss Rafa Benitez was in charge. But new manager Hodgson wants Babel to concentrate on being a frontman — a role he prefers. Babel said: "I aim to be a striker. The manager has told me that up front is where he wants to use me. That's positive. Now I have to show him in training sessions that I can do the job. "If I do that I will get chances to play in that position. "A lot of people still doubt my quality or whether I'm good enough to play for Liverpool. I hope, finally, with a little bit of help from everyone here, that I can give something back to the fans and to the club. "For me, consistency is the key. I need to start regularly and then play well on a consistent basis. "When the boss trusts me by playing me I aim to reward that trust." (tribalfootball.com)
	MONDAY 13
	Liverpool plotting four new signings Only four games into the new season, Roy Hodgson has felt obliged to assure Liverpool fans that everything will be fine and that he is not concerned about the form of striker Fernando Torres. But depending which newspapers and websites you read this morning, the Reds are already being linked with four players ahead of the January transfer window. (SportingPreview.com) Reina pleads for patience Jose Reina has called for patience over Liverpool's prospects of challenging for honours this season. And the Reds keeper believes matters may not alter until the club's ownership situation is resolved. Roy Hodgson's side failed to impress in their goalless draw at Birmingham yesterday when only a fine display by Reina denied the home side victory. They are already seven points adrift of leaders Chelsea after just four matches and face an uphill battle to reclaim a Champions League spot. Reina said: "We have to make sure that people don't think of winning the league or being in the top four already at this moment. "It is going to take a while. We have got to get used to the new players and then the system. "There are many good teams and our target is to be up there but we have to be realistic." (TEAMtalk) Konchesky injury latest Paul Konchesky should be in contention to face Steaua Bucharest on Thursday night despite leaving the field injured during our 0-0 draw with Birmingham. The left-back enjoyed a decent debut on Sunday before being substituted on 78 minutes. But Hodgson confirmed afterwards that the change was precautionary. "He hasn't played for a couple of weeks and he started to feel his hamstring a little bit so we took him off as a precaution and put Daniel Agger on," said the boss. "I thought he did well in his first game for us. He was very competent and it bodes well for the future." (ESPN Soccernet) Jamie Redknapp blasts 'diabolical' Torres Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has been branded "diabolical" and accused of lacking the desire to perform at the top level by former Anfield hero Jamie Redknapp. Torres, who has struggled for form since suffering an adductor injury last season, looked off the pace during Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Birmingham at St Andrews and struggled to make an impact against centre-backs Roger Johnson and Scott Dann. The Spain international has been widely criticised since the World Cup and Redknapp is the latest expert to lay into Torres. "Fans will suffer to a certain extent when you give the ball away, but they won't suffer a lack of effort," Redknapp said. "Out there for 45 minutes today he (Torres) has been terrible. He hasn't got hold of the ball, he hasn't chased, he's got frustrated, he could have been booked, he's been diabolical. "I'm his biggest fan, and of course you have to give Johnson and Dann credit, but he's shown no appetite for the game. He's looked frustrated, sloppy, lethargic. I know people talk about his rustiness, but he looked fed-up." (ESPN Soccernet) Thor Zakariassen ©