TUESDAY 18
	Fowler convinced Gerrard and Torres will stay at Liverpool Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler believes that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will stay at Anfield. Reports continue to link Torres with an exit to Manchester City, whilst rumours of discontent also surround Gerrard, with big clubs said to be hovering with intent. Fowler belives that the star duo are unlikely to leave though. "You always want the best players and as far as I'm concerned Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torrres are the best players," he told Sky Sports News. "I hope they stay and I can't see them leaving to be honest. I mean they've both come out on record saying how much they love the club and that's good enough for me." Meanwhile, Fowler has also expressed bemusement that there have not been more firm bids to buy his former club Liverpool. Current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are currently trying to find a buyer for the Reds in order to bring their somewhat unhappy tenure at Anfield to an end. Firm offers are yet to materialise though, much to Fowler's surprise. "I want Liverpool to be the number one club in the world," he added. "Obviously the current owners have put the club up for sale and for the life of me I can't think why there's no takers just yet." (Goal.com) Reports: Chelsea target Benayoun as possible Cole replacement ESPN soccernet understands that Chelsea are considering making a move for Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun, with the Israeli international touted as a possible replacement for the out of contract Joe Cole. Cole is apparently no nearer to resolving his contract dispute with owner Roman Abramovich, and the feelers are already out to find a suitable replacement, though Benayoun could even be recruited if Cole stays. A Stamford Bridge insider told Soccernet: "There is no doubt that Yossi Benayoun is highly thought of at the club, and it wouldn't surprise me if he came to Chelsea." (Soccernet)   Reports: Inter Milan target Benitez Inter Milan are in talks with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. Reports in Italy suggest Inter Milan are ready to swoop for Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez. (Daily Star)   Darby heading to Wembley Liverpool’s Stephen Darby scored the winning penalty to send his on-loan club, Swindon, in to the League One play off final. Swindon finished 5th in League One and faced Charlton. After winning 2-1 in the first leg, they were on the end of a 2-1 defeat, eventually taking the game in to penalties. Darby dispatched the last of the 5 Swindon penalties to spark jubilant scenes amongst the away supporters. Huddersfield take on Millwall in their second leg tonight, with a place at Wembley on the 29th May at stake. (Anfield Online) Reports: Barcelona to battle Chelsea for Torres Spanish champions Barcelona have been linked with a move for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and will go head to head with Chelsea this summer to sign the 26 year-old. It has been reported that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will sanction a £50 million move for Torres later this month. (Telegraph.co.uk)   Benitez aims to land ‘Best of British’ Rafa today promised Benitez Liverpool will continue to pursue a “Best of British” transfer policy whenever possible this summer as they begin the task of rebuilding. The Reds swooped to sign hot prospect Jonjo Shelvey – who has played for England at a number of youth levels – last month from Charlton Athletic in a £1.7m deal. They are also close to wrapping up an move for Glasgow Rangers defender Danny Wilson, a move that looks all the more shrewd after he was named Scotland’s Young Player of the Year. In the past, Benitez has been criticised for favouring the foreign transfer market and not giving home-grown players the opportunity to show they are good enough to play for Liverpool. Benitez, however, has defended his policy and has made it clear he would be happy to chase deals for English players – as long as the right option comes along. (Liverpool Echo)  Markus Babbel named new coach of Hertha Berlin Markus was yesterday tasked with reviving the fortunes of Hertha Berlin after being named the club’s new coach. The former Liverpool defender Babbel succeeds Friedhelm Funkel whose contract was not renewed following the club’s relegation from the top flight. The 37-year-old has agreed a 12-month deal which will automatically be extended by a further year should the club return to the Bundesliga at the first attempt. (Liverpool Echo)
	MONDAY 17
	Juve cool on Rafa Juventus are losing interest in Rafael Benitez. Benitez has been linked with a move to the Serie A side for a few months but Juventus have apparently now turned their attention to Sampdoria boss Luigi Del Neri. Although Juventus have cooled on Benitez, he could still end up in Italy next season. AC Milan are reportedly interested after parting ways with former boss Leonardo this week. Inter Milan are also said to be lining up Benitez should Jose Mourhino join Real Madrid. (LFC Online) Reports: Benitez ready to sell Benayoun Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is ready to sell Yossi Benayoun. But the News of the World says despite several clubs, including Sevilla and Spurs, hunting the £9million-rated midfielder, Liverpool will block his sale until the Anfield managerial crisis is resolved. Benayoun's fate is being seen as the acid test of whether Benitez will avoid the sack this summer. (tribalfootball.com)   Capello backs Carra Fabio Capello has backed Jamie Carragher. The England boss is delighted to have persuaded Carragher to come out of international retirement and has now called on England fans to give their backing to the Liverpool defender. "The spirit will not be damaged," said Capello. "We have time for players who have not been with us to understand what to do in every moment. What I will ask them in meetings is to understand this. "The fans also have to remember they must support England, not only one player. I hope they won't boo him. "During the World Cup I want the fans to help us. "Carragher had to think about it because when we started he said 'no'. We tried to convince him four or five times because he is a leader on the pitch." (LFC Online) Race on for Reds starlet Skysports.com understands a number of clubs are eyeing Liverpool defender Robbie Threlfall. Left-back Threlfall seems set to leave Liverpool this summer upon the expiration of his contract. The news has alerted a number of clubs to Threlfall's availability on a free transfer. Threlfall has just ended a productive loan spell at Bradford where he made 17 appearances, scoring two goals for the League Two outfit. A host of sides are believed to have kept tabs on Threlfall's progress during his time at Bradford and could now move for him this summer. (Sky Sports) Liverpool fans considering season ticket boycott Liverpool fans are considering a boycott of season tickets in the summer in protest at the club’s owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Thousands of supporters hope hitting the owners in the pocket will persuade them to reduce their sale price and leave after putting the club £237 million in debt. Although Liverpool supporters union Spirit of Shankly say an organised boycott is not yet on the cards, the anti-Hicks and Gillett campaign is gathering momentum. “Fans are considering giving up season tickets to the games next year if Hicks and Gillett are still in charge,” Spirit of Shankly spokesman James McKenna exclusively told Goal.com UK. “Fans are looking at what we can do to affect Hicks and Gillett’s ownership. “A mass boycott is not something that’s on the agenda at the moment. But if their regime continues, I know that a lot of fans will be asking serious questions whether they should go to the games.” A protest that denied Hicks and Gillett much-needed revenue could have a serious impact on the financial running of the club. (Goal.com)
	SUNDAY 16
	Lerner warns Liverpool off O'Neill Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has warned Liverpool off making a move for Villa Park boss Martin O'Neill. Reports have suggested Liverpool are weighing up a move for O'Neill if Rafa Benitez departs Anfield this season. Benitez's future at Liverpool looks uncertain after a disappointing campaign with Italian giants Juventus believed to be keen on luring the Spaniard to Turin. O'Neill's own position at Villa was speculated about earlier this season, but Lerner revealed earlier this week that the Northern Irishman was staying put after talks between the pair. Lerner, who took control of Villa in 2006, is keen to keep hold of O'Neill and has told Liverpool they would be wasting their time if they made an approach for the former Celtic and Leicester chief. "I don't want a manager who nobody else wants. But, as far as I'm concerned, Liverpool are not taking Martin O'Neill away from Aston Villa," Lerner told the Daily Star on Sunday. (TEAMtalk) Reports: Mega swap on for Reds duo Manchester City are ready to offer Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland to Liverpool in return for Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. The News of the World claim the duo will be used as bait to land the Reds star with an additional £40m also heading to Anfield. (Clubcall.com)  Mascherano still has sights on Barca Javier Mascherano has described his failure to secure a move to Barcelona last summer as "a shame" and cast further doubt on his long-term future at Liverpool by revealing his difficulties with life in England. Mascherano was a transfer target for the Spanish champions but a deal was not agreed between the two clubs. Speaking candidly about the transfer talks, the Argentina captain admits he was keen to leave Anfield. "The situation with Barcelona really affected me," Mascherano told the News of the World. "It was a shame it didn't happen as it was the city I wanted to live in. "There were many discussions and problems during that month and a half. They were difficult times for me. One day I was off to Barcelona, the next I wasn't. And Liverpool said I was non-transferable. "Psychologically, it affected me as I couldn't think in Liverpool and I was focused on other stuff and not on my work, my training and playing. Also we were having problems with Argentina as our qualification to the World Cup was in danger. There was a lot of complicated stuff at that time." (ESPN.co.uk) Thor Zakariassen ©