SATURDAY 21
	Time for Broughton to break his silence Ever since it became obvious to supporters that Liverpool Football Club was “in the wrong hands” the arguments have raged about exactly whose fault it was. Today, the club is still in the wrong hands. Today, the arguments rage about what kind of owner Kenny Huang might have been. Today, we’re talking in the past tense when discussing the man said to be fronting a bid that had the backing of China’s sovereign wealth fund. Huang pulled out of the sales process last night, clearly frustrated at the way he’d been treated. This club has been at war with itself for three years. This war means all trust has gone. Not only will any potential bidder be instantly met with suspicion but also at times will anyone seen to have put their trust in that potential bidder. And so with Huang’s withdrawal we’re all arguing about whether he left the process because he was badly treated or if it was because he never had a serious hope of taking over to start with. We’re arguing about whether he was right to expect Broughton to hurry the process along or if his impatience suggests he was never going to be a good owner. (Jim Boardman - Anfield Road.com) Nemeth makes Greek move Subject to a medical Krisztián Németh will join Olympiakos on a three year deal. Liverpool will receive €1.5 million plus 25% of any sell on fee for the 21-year-old striker. There had been extensive interest in the Hungarian forward with teams from Portugal, Spain, Germany and Italy amongst others expressing an interest. However, Németh was happy to return to Greece having played for AEK Athens last term. AEK were one of at least three Greek clubs to have contacted the Reds about the his services. The basis of a deal with Olympiakos had been in the pipeline for some weeks. A statement on the Greek club's website reads: "Olympiakos announces a deal with Liverpool for the acquisition of Hungarian international player, Krisztián Németh, who will sign a three-year contact with the club." Németh has not featured in a first team game for Liverpool. Olympiakos signed Albert Riera last month. (Shankly Gates) Aquilani loan deal agreed Liverpool and Juventus have agreed a one-year loan deal for Alberto Aquilani. The midfielder will undergo a medical in Italy on Monday. (LFC Official Website) Roy: Star Reds pair not Inter bound Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson understands Inter Milan will not bid for Javier Mascherano or Dirk Kuyt before the transfer window closes. Unsettled midfielder Mascherano has been linked with a move to the San Siro since former Reds boss Rafael Benitez took charge of the European champions earlier this summer. The Argentina captain expressed a desire to leave Anfield for personal reasons when he reported back for pre-season training after the World Cup. Liverpool have said they will only sell if they receive an appropriate bid for the £25million-rated player and Hodgson has made clear his desire to keep the 26-year-old. Kuyt was also linked with Inter on Friday - by his own agent - but Hodgson has spoken to the Serie A club's president personally. Hodgson, a former Inter coach, said: "I spoke to Massimo Moratti about the fact they are not going to buy Liverpool players. "I believe they were only interested in two of our players and they are not going to buy them. Moratti said they are not going to do that." One Liverpool player who could be heading to Italy is midfielder Alberto Aquilani. Hodgson confirmed on Thursday that the injury-plagued 26-year-old, who has struggled to make an impact since his £20million move from Roma last year, could be sent out on loan. Reports from Italy on Friday suggested Juventus was his most likely destination. (TEAMtalk)
	FRIDAY 20
	Huang ends Reds interest The uncertainty surrounding the future ownership of Liverpool has continued after Hong Kong businessman Kenny Huang and QSL Sports pulled out of the race to buy the Premier League club. Huang was the first party to openly declare an interest in buying the Merseysiders from American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett, while Syrian Yahya Kirdi has also been in the running. But on Friday evening Huang, who earlier in the summer refused to comment when it was claimed that his bid was backed by the Chinese government, confirmed that he and his group of investors were no longer interested in a takeover at Anfield. (Sky Sports) Swede plays down Reds link PSV Eindhoven attacker Ola Toivonen has played down speculation linking him with a move to Liverpool. The 24-year-old Sweden international has caught the eye of Reds manager Roy Hodgson, as revealed by skysports.comearlier in the week. However, Toivonen, who played for PSV against Sibir Novosibirsk in the Europa League on Thursday, says he is focused on his future with the Dutch side. "That is not important for me now," Toivonen told De Telegraaf. "I am focusing on my own form to ensure that it doesn't get affected." Liverpool boss Hodgson admitted their interest would reduce if the striker played in the Europa League, and it remains to be seen if the Premier League giants drop their pursuit. (Sky Sports) Agent: Kuyt could move to Inter Dirk Kuyt’s agent claims his client is pondering a reunion with Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan. New Inter boss Benitez is an admirer of the hard-working Holland international and reports suggest he is lining up a bid to bring Kuyt to the San Siro. The player’s agent Rob Jansen told Voetbal International today: “Yes, there is real interest from Inter, but Dirk has not yet decided if he wants to leave Liverpool. “This is also a complicated transfer. Dirk Kuyt is a key player for Liverpool, he has an ongoing contract and was recently in the World Cup final. “He may move to Inter or just stay at Liverpool. There is also the possibility that a player from Inter could be included in the deal with Dirk Kuyt.” Kuyt was rested for Liverpool’s Europa League play-off clash with Trabzonspor last night. The 30-year-old was brought to Liverpool by Benitez in 2006 from Feyenoord after starting his career with FC Utrecht. (Irish Examiner) Poulsen pleased with debut Christian Poulsen was pleased to make his Liverpool debut last night. Poulsen made his first Reds appearance last night and admitted it was a special moment when he heard the fans signing 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' "It was something really special being out on the pitch hearing the Kop singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone," said our new number 28. "I was sat in the stand for the Arsenal game and it was great to see it, but to be out there on the pitch with them tonight was fantastic." (LFC Online) Aquilani set for Italy loan return Liverpool's £20million flop Alberto Aquilani is set to be loaned out to a club back in his native Italy after failing to settle at Anfield. Aquilani has struggled to make an impact at Anfield since his £big-money arrival from Roma last summer. The 26-year-old was signed by former Reds manager Rafael Benitez as a replacement for the influential Xabi Alonso but his first season on Merseyside was hampered by injuries. Aquilani was not included in Liverpool's squad for Thursday night's Europa League play-off against Trabzonspor and discussions are under way over a possible move. Current boss Roy Hodgson said: "At the moment we are considering possibly loaning him to an Italian club, but nothing is sure about that yet so I don't have anything definite to report. "I didn't want to use him (against Trabzonspor) just in case the loan goes through, because for Aquilani this year it's very important that he plays regular football, every week, as the number one man on the teamsheet. "I can't promise him that here so if a loan move to Italy could help him in that respect it might be good for all parties. "It would certainly be what he needs, it would certainly protect the value of the player and when he does return to Liverpool no doubt we will see the Aquilani that we signed before he came here injured last year." Aquilani had a history of injury problems when he joined Liverpool and it was more than two months into last season before he made his debut for the club. Hodgson has given no indication as to which Italian club he could join but he was linked with Juventus - from whom Liverpool have just signed midfielder Christian Poulsen - earlier in the year. (TEAMtalk)
	THURSDAY 19
	Roy rues missed opportunities Roy Hodgson hopes Liverpool will not pay the price for failing to kill Trabzonspor off on Thursday. The Reds hold a slender 1-0 lead following the first leg of their Europa League play-off, but know their advantage should be far more commanding. "I think we probably did (deserve another goal)," said Hodgson afterwards. "We missed a penalty and if you do that you can't blame anyone but yourself. We were unlucky with the disallowed goal - TV replays show no real contact between Joe Cole and their goalkeeper. I think we can count ourselves unlucky." (Sky Sports) Cole reflects on penalty woe Joe Cole has held his hands up and admitted that his penalty against Trabzonspor was not the best. The Liverpool midfielder was awarded a golden opportunity to open his account for the club in Thursday's Europa League play-off, first leg. "I hold my hands up, it was a bad penalty," said the England international. "We can't dwell on it though. It was a bad pen but we won 1-0 and we have to take the positives from the game." (Sky Sports) Babel edges Reds ahead Ryan Babel struck on the stroke of half-time to hand Liverpool a 1-0 lead in their Europa League play-off with Trabzonspor. Things could have been even better for the Reds had Joe Cole converted a second-half penalty, but he saw his effort palmed away to safety. Roy Hodgson, who took Fulham all the way to the final last season, chose to rest Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt from midweek action, meaning Babel was handed a lone frontman role and Cole, who was dismissed on his debut against Arsenal on Sunday, was given freedom to float. (Sky Sports) Poulsen starts Christian Poulsen makes his Liverpool debut against Trabzonspor tonight. Poulsen partners Lucas in the centre of midfield, with Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano making way. There are also starts for Martin Kelly, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Fabio Aurelio and Ryan Babel. The team in full is: Reina, Kelly, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Lucas, Poulsen, Cole, Maxi, Jovanovic, Babel. Subs: Cavalieri, Torres, Wilson, Ngog, Spearing, Skrtel, Pacheco. (LFC Official Website) Nemeth Greece move confirmed Olympiakos have confirmed the signing of Liverpool striker Krisztian Nemeth. The Hungarian was on loan at rivals AEK Athens last season scoring three goals in 17 games and has sufficiently impressed the Greek giants The 21-year-old, who was heavily linked with a move to the club throughout the summer, follows in the footsteps of Albert Riera, who moved to the Karaiskakis Stadium in July from Merseyside. Nemeth moves in a 1.3million euro deal, with the Reds set to take 25% of a sale should the striker move on and will undergo a medical on Saturday. "Olympiakos C.F.P announces a deal with Liverpool for the acquisition of Hungarian international player, Krisztian Nemeth, who will sign a three-year contact with the club," the Piraeus team announced. (Sky Sports) Hodgson tracking Toivonen Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed his interest in PSV Eindhoven star Ola Toivonen. As revealed by skysports.com earlier this week Liverpool were weighing up a move for the Swedish international as Hodgson looks to bring in a new forward. Toivonen is regarded as one of the best young prospects in Europe after impressing for club and country over the last year. Tottenham are also interested in the 24-year-old hot-shot, with PSV facing a fight to keep hold of the Scandinavian. Hodgson has confirmed he is keeping tabs on Toivonen and that he is a big admirer of the Swede. "We have discussed his name, that's true," said Hodgson. "Like all teams, we are looking at a lot of players. "I do know the player and think he is a good player, but can't give you any further indication. "That doesn't mean we are going to rush in and buy him tomorrow. But he is a player who has come up, we have watched him and we know about him." (Sky Sports) Hodgson: Reina gaffe is history now Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is backing goalkeeper Jose Reina to come back strongly after his weekend howler. The Spanish World Cup winner spilled the ball into his own net to hand Arsenal a draw in the final minute of the Reds' Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday. It was a rare error from the 27-year-old, who was the club's player of the year last season. "If you are a goalkeeper and you can't live with a mistake you make, then you'll never have a career at any level," said Hodgson. "There is only one certainty in football if you are a goalkeeper, and that is one day you are going to make a mistake which is going to let in a goal. It may cost your team some points. "When you put your gloves on, you know that. "If you are a good goalkeeper, it doesn't happen very often and more often than not you come off the field with people congratulating you on winning points for the team. "It was a mistake, he understands that. We feel sorry for him because he took it hard but he is a strong character. "Let's hope he's forgotten it as quickly as I have forgotten it." (TEAMtalk) Thor Zakariassen ©