WEDNESDAY 21
	Remy desperate to join Reds Loic Remy is desperate to join Liverpool according to his agent who suggests he is just the type of player needed at Anfield. The Reds are reported to have made a bid to Nice and even said to have agreed a payment structure. Acceptable prices are rumoured to be anything between £8.4 million and £12.5 million West Ham United are said to have made an offer acceptable to the French club but have not been able to woo the player. "Liverpool are passing up a huge opportunity if they decide not to go with Remy," Fredric Guerra said. "Nothing has been settled yet but I know that Liverpool are having a meeting about transfers and we expect something this week. "The boy is pure gold and I am not saying that because I am his agent. He has great pace and that is something Liverpool need in attack. Their first Europa League game is on July 29 and you have to ask yourself that if Fernando Torres does not play, whom do they have in attack?" He added: "Remy will get goals in England, that is certain. Potentially, he is a better, stronger player than Nicolas Anelka or Thierry Henry. "He is ideally suited for the English game and while he is determined to go to the Premier League, his heart is set on playing for Liverpool." (Shankly Gates) Reds held in Roy's first game Roy Hodgson's career as Liverpool manager has kicked off with a goalless draw against Grasshoppers in Switzerland. The Reds' boss - who saw his side's first scheduled friendly washed out by the rain at the weekend - finally got the chance to see his players in action for the first time and will have been heartened by the displays of his youngsters as they strive to prove they have a future at the club. Ahead of the game Hodgson made no secret of his concern at throwing many of his youngsters into such a competitive match at this early stage of the pre-season - but as he makes his way back to the team hotel in Bad Ragaz this evening he has every reason to be proud of his next generation of Liverpool stars. (LFC Official Website) Giggs: Liverpool can challenge Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs insists Liverpool are still title contenders this season. The Reds are undergoing a period of transition following the appointment of Roy Hodgson as manager and all eyes will be on Anfield in the coming campaign. The Merseysiders missed out on Champions League football following a lacklustre seventh-placed finish last time out, but have recruited Joe Cole as they look to re-establish themselves as a 'top four' side. And Giggs says his team's fierce rivals should not be written off in the Premier League this season - admitting Liverpool could prove dangerous opposition. "Liverpool have a new manager and it's difficult to say what they are going to do," said Giggs, United's record appearance holder. "Two years ago they were close to winning the Premiership and you can never write them off. "It just depends on how it goes. It is dangerous to write off a team with Liverpool's history. They have won the same amount of leagues as us. You cannot just dismiss that. They are a huge club and a massive team." (Sky Sports) Amoo and Eccleston start David Amoo and Nathan Eccleston start on the wings as Roy Hodgson takes charge of his first Liverpool match against Grasshoppers this evening. With 13 senior stars still recovering from the World Cup, it is a young and inexperienced side that will take to the field at the Herti Stadium in Zug, Switzerland. The team in full is: Cavalieri, Degen, Darby, Kelly, Ayala, Amoo, Eccleston, Lucas, Spearing, Aquilani, Ngog. Subs: Gulacsi, Irwin, Palsson, Robinson, Shelvey, Ince, Dalla Valle, Riera. (LFC Official Website) Albert Riera ends Liverpool misery with £4.5million move to Olympiakos Liverpool's Spanish winger Albert Riera has agreed a four-year deal with Olympiakos, the Greek side's coach Ewald Lienen said, in a deal which would be Greece's most expensive transfer. Greek media reported that the deal will see the 28-year-old be paid £2.1 million-a-year, with Liverpool picking up £4.5million for the transfer. (Telegraph staff) Liverpool challenge excites Wilson Rangers teenager Danny Wilson has completed his transfer to Liverpool after signing a three-year contract with Roy Hodgson's side. The 18-year-old, who won the SFA and Football Writers' Young Player of the Year awards last season, passed his medical at Anfield on Wednesday afternoon. He said after sealing his switch to the Reds: "It's a great feeling to sign for Liverpool. Wherever you go everyone knows Liverpool FC and I'm just very happy to be here. "This is a massive challenge for me. This is one of the best leagues in the world and I'll be playing for one of the biggest teams in the world." (Sport.co.uk) Cole: Reds move for football reasons Joe Cole is looking forward to the challenge of playing for Liverpool, insisting his move to Merseyside was decided purely on football terms. Contrary to reports, the England international has been allocated the number 10 shirt. Cole said he remembered the atmosphere when he played at the ground for Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final of 2005, which Liverpool won on penalties before going on to lift the trophy in Istanbul, and was looking forward to experiencing that on a more regular basis. "This is a massive club. I tried to take everything out of the equation, take the financial and location side out and just thought in football terms," said the England international. (TEAMtalk)   Hodgson urges Liverpool caution Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has sounded a note of caution to the club's supporters following the arrival of Joe Cole. Levels of optimism around a side affected by a disappointing Premier League finish last season and off-the-field wrangles have since been raised, but Hodgson urged supporters to be realistic ahead of the new campaign. "It's not going to be an overnight thing," said the former Fulham boss of the prospect of turning the club's fortunes around. "Last season was a very disappointing season for the club in every respect, culminating in a popular manager (Rafa Benitez) leaving. "You don't change doom and gloom or disenchantment with a signing or two. I would never want to dupe the Liverpool public by telling them all is rosy now because Joe Cole has signed." (Sky Sports)  Dani at the double Dani Pacheco struck a brace as Spain beat Portugal 2-1 in the UEFA U19 European Championships group stage clash in France on Wednesday afternoon. Impressive throughout, the Liverpool starlet netted with low drive on 12 minutes after expertly fashioning himself half a yard inside the Portuguese box. Portugal thought they'd done enough to claim a draw when substitute Ruben Pinto scored with just a dozen minutes left on the clock. However, with seconds remaining, Pacheco dramatically drilled home from the edge of the box to secure the win. Spain are next in action on Saturday when they take on Italy. The tournament runs until July 30, and there are two groups of four teams. The group winners and runners-up will progress to the semi-final. (LFC Official Website) Liverpool slap £6m price-tag on Ngog Liverpool have slapped a £6 million price-tag on striker David Ngog. The Mirror says Ngog can go at the right price - quoted to several clubs in the Premier League and round Europe - although he may have to play in the Europa League qualifiers before going. (tribalfootball.com)  Liverpool refuse to meet Nice price for Remy Liverpool refuse to do business for Loic Remy at Nice's current asking price. Remy's hopes of joining Liverpool are in limbo as the Reds refuse to match West Ham's £12.5million bid for the France striker. (tribalfootball.com) Joe Cole passes medical and will wear No. 10 shirt Liverpool have confirmed Joe Cole has passed his medical, completing his four-year switch to the Merseyside club. Cole becomes the Reds' second signing of the summer, arriving on a free transfer following his departure from Chelsea. The England international took part in his first training session with the club at their pre-season camp in Austria on Wednesday morning. (ESPN Soccernet staff)  Hodgson shows Degen the Anfield exit Phillip Degen has been told his Anfield career is over. The Liverpool defender, who has underwhelmed during the two years he has been at the club, does not figure in Roy Hodgson’s plans for the new campaign. (Liverpool Echo) Prolific star lands in England amid United, City & Liverpool riddle According to talkSport radio, AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was last night spotted in Manchester airport ahead of talks with one of Manchester City, Manchester United or Liverpool. is summer business is concluded, talkSport have suggested to the contrary. (Sport.co.uk)  Liverpool willing to sell Mascherano to Inter Milan for right price Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano could still get his move to Inter Milan. If Benitez is prepared to match Liverpool's £20m valuation, that could be good business for Hodgson and the club. (tribalfootball.com) Hodgson: Gillett and Hicks must leave for Liverpool FC gloom to be lifted Roy Hodgson believes Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard have helped put the smile back on the faces of Liverpool supporters – but admits any gloom will only truly lift once the club’s American owners depart. But Hodgson accepts only the departure of co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who have appointed chairman Martin Broughton to sell the club, will dispel the scepticism of the Anfield faithful. “What will lift the supporters is if we get new investment,” said the Liverpool manager. “I know supporters are very anxious for that. We can’t ever deny it. “The owners are not popular with the fans; the fans want new owners, they want new investment. The gloom, if there is any, is never really going to lift until that day comes." (Liverpool Daily Post)
	TUESDAY 20
	Liverpool agree Wilson deal Rangers have agreed to sell defender Danny Wilson to Liverpool in a deal worth up to £5million. The 18-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Ibrox before penning his first professional contract there three years ago, has been a target of the Anfield club for several months. Sky Sports News revealed earlier on Tuesday that Liverpool were in advanced stages of discussions with Rangers, with only the transfer fee left to agree on. And the Ibrox club has now confirmed that Reds are set to complete the transfer after the youngster was pulled out of the Rangers squad that flew out to Australia for their pre-season tour on Tuesday. "We have agreed a deal in principle with Liverpool for the transfer of Danny Wilson," said Rangers chief executive Martin Bain on the club's official website. (Sky Sports)  Houllier hits out at Benitez tenure Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has criticised his successor at Anfield, claiming it was he and not Rafael Benitez who turned the club around and built the squad which memorably won the 2005 Champions League final. Speaking to the London Evening Standard, the 63-year old Frenchman has welcomed the appointment of his close friend Roy Hodgson, believing the former Fulham manager will restore the values and traditions of the Anfield club. Houllier said: “After Rafa Benitez left this summer, one of the players sent me a message. “He said, 'Boss, he hasn’t beaten you'.” Houllier goes on to say that Benitez was lucky to inherit a club that was in such good health when he was sacked in 2004. “One, the pattern of getting a foreign coach was already accepted. Two, he had a Champions League winning team. Three, the team were already in the Champions League. Four, we had built new facilities. And five, it was a different training routine, different attitude and mentality," he said. “I claim that we – Phil Thompson, Sammy Lee and the staff – definitely turned it round. The chairman, when I left, said 'You put the club into the 21st Century.”” Houllier also believes Liverpool’s Champions League success was due to a squad he constructed and that Benitez has failed to build on it. “Twelve out of 14 in Istanbul were players I had signed or developed. I left Liverpool with a team and in the Champions League. But when you finish seventh with Torres and Gerrard… “When I came into the changing room in Istanbul some of the players said: 'Boss, it’s your team'.” Despite a humiliating summer, which saw Houllier oversee France’s disastrous World Cup campaign as the French Federation’s Technical Director, he is keen to return to club management, with England his ideal destination. “I would love to manage the right club. There’s one I thought I would go to but Newcastle took Kevin Keegan.” (FourFourTwo.com) Liverpool seeking buyer for Kyrgiakos Liverpool are inviting offers for Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Greece centre-half Kyrgiakos was landed on a free transfer by Rafa Benitez last summer but he is now being hawked round Europe for around £2.5million. (tribalfootball.com)  Gerrard set to stay at Liverpool Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has given the strongest indication yet that he will remain at Anfield as he welcomed the signing of Joe Cole. There has been speculation over the Reds midfielder's future this summer but after meeting new boss Roy Hodgson, Gerrard now appears set to stay. "I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately," the 30-year-old told the club website. "Having done so I'm very impressed with his plans for the future of the team." He added: "I only returned to training on Monday at Melwood with some of the other World Cup players but I can't wait for the new season to start." (BBC Sport Online)  Hodgson big fan of rival Moyes Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is happy to see his former protege David Moyes doing so well with Everton. Moyes and Hodgson became close in 2001 when the Everton gaffer, who was in charge of Preston at the time, was studying for his UEFA Pro Licence. Every student is required to choose a club and coach to follow, and Moyes heeded advice to spend a week in Italy with Udinese, where Hodgson was then in charge. Now the pair are working closely again, with only Stanley Park separating them. Hodgson said: "You could tell David was going to be an excellent manager. "I am pleased for his success and remember very fondly the time we had together." (tribalfootball.com) Hodgson: Inter have not made Mascherano approach Roy Hodgson is adamant Liverpool have had no contact with Inter Milan regarding midfielder Javier Mascherano, and says suggestions he has been snubbed by the player are "exaggerated". Mascherano's future at Anfield is in some doubt after his agent claimed the Argentina captain would welcome the chance to reunite with former manager Rafa Benitez, who replaced Jose Mourinho as Inter coach. "The speculation about him leaving continues, but I must also put the record straight and say that as yet it is pure speculation because we have heard nothing from Inter and heard nothing other than he will come back and work with us," Hodgson told talkSPORT. (Soccernet) Hodgson: Gerrard key to Cole deal Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard played an integral role in persuading Joe Cole to sign for the Reds, according to manager Roy Hodgson. Gerrard and Reds vice-captain Jamie Carragher made the most of the time they had with Cole during England’s disappointing World Cup campaign in South Africa to convince their international team-mate that Anfield was the right place for him. “Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard did a good job in selling the club to Joe at the recent World Cup,” said the Liverpool manager. (Irish Examiner)  Harry rues Cole miss Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has wished Joe Cole well after he missed out to Liverpool for the player's signature. Redknapp was keen on luring free agent Cole to White Hart Lane after he left Chelsea earlier this summer. However, Liverpool won the race for the England star's signature with Cole set to sign a four-year deal at Anfield once he has completed a medical. Redknapp admits Spurs tried their hardest to sign Cole, but that the 28-year-old snubbed their overtures for football reasons rather than money. "We tried our very hardest to get him. The chairman made Joe a fantastic offer," Redknapp wrote in his column in The Sun. "But, in the end, we were competing with a club that has years and years of tradition and a reputation as one of the biggest clubs in the world." (Sky Sports) Carragher: Cole capture is Reds statement Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has warned their Barclays Premier League rivals they still mean business – and the signing of Joe Cole proves as much. “It’s great news and it is a message that Liverpool mean business,” said the 32-year-old, who returns to Melwood today with fellow England internationals Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson to begin pre-season training today after a three-week rest. “We have signed a top international player who has been really important for Chelsea. A lot of clubs wanted to sign him but it is a real coup that he has chosen to come here and you have got to give the manager and the board a pat on the back for convincing him to come here." (BreakingNews.ie) Joe Cole has right reasons to make move to Liverpool FC As far as I can see, Joe Cole has come to Anfield for all the right reasons. He’s fully over the knee injury that has blighted him in recent seasons and has a point to prove. He just wants to play football now and being Roy Hodgson’s first major signing since he took charge of Liverpool, he’s going to play him. (Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool Daily Post) All Joe needs is love -- and an adoring Kop can provide it in spades In the end, it was the football that swung it for Joe Cole. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were both waving tempting offers in his direction, but neither club could promise quite the security that Roy Hodgson was all but guaranteeing at Liverpool. Not financial security, for he could have earned similar amounts to the £90,000-a-week deal his agents have negotiated with Liverpool at either London club. But Cole wants footballing security, the comfort that comes from knowing the manager likes you and wants to put you in the team, the kind of security that Cole once enjoyed at West Ham seven years ago but he never really felt at Chelsea. (Mark Fleming - Irish Independent)
	MONDAY 19
	Pop star to join medical team Former Simply Red guitarist Sylvan Richardson has been named as Liverpool's new masseur. Though he was part of the Mancunian band when launched in the 1980s he left within two years and though he stayed connected with the music industry also studied a very different career. "They have been giving me a lot of stick," Richardson said of his Manchester roots identifying Sammy Lee as the main protagonist. "I am a professional producer and musician but I was always interested in medicine, and when I left the band in 1987, that's the path I went down. "To work for Liverpool is a great honour and when I got the call I was really excited. "My role is to prepare the players and deal with their recovery after training. I am used to working with top athletes and so am very much looking forward to this opportunity." (Shankly Gates) Cole meets Hodgson New Liverpool signing Joe Cole has arrived in Switzerland for a medical after agreeing terms on a four-year Anfield deal - and we've got an exclusive video and photo of the 28-year-old meeting Roy Hodgson. The England international touched down at 7.45pm local time before taking the 30-minute journey to Bad Ragaz to meet up with his new teammates for the first time. (LFC Official Website) Left-back-less Liverpool start search Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has admitted that finding a new left-back for the club is now one of his priorities. The Reds have lost both Fabio Aurelio and Emiliano Insua (who is set to complete a £5million move to Fiorentina this week), and now finds no left-back in the squad. He said, “We are short and that is going to be one of the priorities. We need to find a replacement for Emiliano and Fabio. That is one job we will have to do. “As far as we understand, the deal for Insua has been completed between the clubs and his agent is sorting out personal terms. Maybe it was the right time for him to move on.” Liverpool have been linked with a £6million move for Wigan left-back Maynor Figueroa. (This is Anfield) Liverpool battling Stoke for Wigan fullback Figueroa Liverpool and Stoke City are battling for Wigan Athletic fullback Maynor Figueroa. The Honduras international was a top target for Steve Bruce last season but relations with Sunderland grew strained when their former boss pressed for Figueroa's signature despite being issued with a 'hands-off' warning. (tribalfootball.com) Lucky number seven? Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Peter Beardsley or Harry Kewell and Robbie Keane. Who will Joe Cole follow? It is understood that Liverpool's most recent signing will be handed the club's famous No.7 shirt if he passes a medical in the next couple of days to rubberstamp his four-year deal. Wearing a jersey bearing such distinction is an honour based upon ability, but it also comes with a pressure and weight of expectation to meet a set of standards both on and off the pitch. Keegan and Dalglish made Liverpool's No.7 famous, while Beardsley followed in the mould. But others, Kewell and Keane, failed through a combination of factors. How will former Chelsea star Cole cope? Here skysports.com looks at the positive arguments of the England playmaker's arrival on Merseyside. (Skysports.com) Liverpool sign Joe Cole after release by Chelsea Liverpool have signed Joe Cole on a four-year deal - subject to a medical - following his release by Chelsea. The 28-year-old England midfielder left Stamford Bridge in June after failing to agree a new contract with the Premier League champions. He was linked to Arsenal and Tottenham but has opted for Liverpool, who failed to qualify for the Champions League. Cole's arrival follows winger Yossi Benayoun's move from Anfield to Chelsea for an undisclosed fee in July. (BBC Sport Online)  Shelvey sets sights high at Anfield Jonjo Shelvey has set a target of making at least 20 appearances for Liverpool next season - although joining the Reds still has not sunk in. Shelvey, who completed his move to Anfield from Charlton at the end of last season, has been training with his new team-mates in Switzerland and the 18-year-old is confident he can make a swift impact for the Merseysiders. "Being at Liverpool is what every kid dreams of," Shelvey told the club's official website. "When I was in school and in the playground I used to pretend to be players like Steven Gerrard, so it's unreal to think I'll be training with these players day in and day out." (TEAMtalk)  Thor Zakariassen ©