SUNDAY 27
	Report: Liverpool considering swoop for former Lazio striker Goran Pandev Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of swooping for ex-Lazio striker Goran Pandev, after the player rescinded his contract with the club recently, according to the Daily Star Sunday. Although it has been reported that the Macedonian will undergo a medical with Milanese giants Inter on Monday, it is believed that Reds' boss Rafael Benitez is looking to hijack the deal and bring in the player to boost the club's strike force. (Goal.com) Report: Stoke City eyeing Babel British tabloid News Of The World has reported that Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has set his sights on an ambitious raid for Liverpool striker Ryan Babel. (Goal.com) Panathinaikos move for Liverpool striker Voronin Panathinaikos are chasing Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin. (tribalfootball.com)
	SATURDAY 26
	Morgan blames Moores for Anfield chaos David Moores has been accused of triggering the Anfield chaos by 'putting his own interests before the club'. Wolves owner Steve Morgan, whose side faced the Merseysiders yesterday, laid the blame for the current turmoil on Liverpool's Life President for selling to the American owners. Morgan's efforts to buy Liverpool for £100million were rebuffed in 2004 before then-chairman Moores sold to Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. And the resentment between the former rivals is still simmering. Morgan blasted: "I've no wish to get involved in a slanging match with David Moores, but the fact is he wanted the best for David Moores and not for the club." (News of the World)   McCarthy grumbles at dismissal Wolves boss Mick McCarthy did not agree with Rafa Benitez that Stephen Ward deserved to be given his marching orders in the Boxing Day 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. McCarthy did not echo the views of his Spanish counterpart as Ward saw red for a tug on Lucas Leiva in the second half which saw him given a second yellow card amidst plenty of controversy. Originally referee Andre Marriner gave Christoph Berra the yellow card, but after appeals - including a 90-yard dash from Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina - Marriner consulted his assistant and sent the Wolves left-back on his way. Although McCarthy confessed the West Midlanders were "masters of their own downfall" the he still lamented the decision. "I've just had a look at our replay and I don't think it's a sending-off," he said. "I don't think he caught him. I think he's running out of space and he's fallen over." (Sky Sports) Rafa: Record breaker can turn season Rafa Benitez claimed an in-form Steven Gerrard can transform Liverpool's season after the skipper fired himself into the history books with a goal in the 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day. It was Gerrard's 75th league goal of the decade - lifting him above Michael Owen on 74 to become Liverpool's top scorer in the Noughties. Benitez is hopeful his No.8 will now embark on a purple patch to get his tally for the next decade up and running. He said: "It was very important for us and for him. If he can score goals again he will have more confidence and that will be really good for the team." (LFC Official Website)  Gerrard relieved after win Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitted his relief after his fine opening goal set up a 2-0 Barclays Premier League win over Wolves. Second-half goals from Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun gave nervy Liverpool a victory that was only secured once Wolves had been reduced to 10 men. Gerrard told ESPN: “Wolves come here organised, they were always going to be difficult to beat. “It was just all about waiting for that breakthrough. We were nervous at times, the crowd were getting on our backs at times. But we knew if we had the belief it would come, and it did. “When you’re not getting the results you expect it’s always going to affect confidence. “But we want to put it right. The players are hurting at the moment. If we keep showing the attitude we did today we’ll move up to where we want to be.” (Irish Examiner)   Win over Wolves gives Reds relief Liverpool scrambled their way to a much-needed 2-0 home win over Wolves on Boxing Day as the pressure lifted slightly from the Anfield club. It was never going to be simple against an organised Wolves side, with the three Premier League points only being secured after the Midlanders were reduced to 10 men when defender Stephen Ward was sent-off. Even that was a bizarre decision, with referee Andre Marriner at first getting the wrong man, booking Christophe Berra before his error was pointed out by a pack of Liverpool players who made sure that Ward was punished for a second bookable offence. From that point Liverpool took over, and goals from Steven Gerrard - only his fifth of the season - and a deflected Yossi Benayoun effort gave them victory. (TEAMtalk) Benitez gives Aquilani first start Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani was finally handed a place in Liverpool’s starting line-up for this evening’s Barclays Premier League visit of Wolves. The £20m summer signing from Roma, who has so far only managed substitute appearances in the league for the Reds, was included by Rafael Benitez after recovering from a calf injury. Liverpool also recalled Fabio Aurelio and Yossi Benayoun, with Dirk Kuyt rested to the bench. Javier Mascherano missed out through suspension, while Andrea Dossena was dropped from the matchday squad. Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Benayoun, Gerrard, Aurelio, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Kuyt, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Skrtel, Pacheco. (Irish Examiner) Rush: Transfer cash will decide Torres future Liverpool legend Ian Rush says the club must keep matching Fernando Torres' ambition for him to stay. Rush believes Torres will not skip out on Anfield for another club, unless finance and a lack of say in the top end of the transfer market takes it's toll. He told the Daily Mail: "He'll keep getting better and grow in confidence. When I was 21 in the first team, I wasn't as good a player as I was at 25. Experience helps. He's only 23 years old and I reckon playing in the World Cup this summer will make him even better. "When he comes back, we might see the best of him then. I don't think he'll leave if Liverpool don't make the Champions League. I think he wants to be a red through and through, like Gerrard. He likes the atmosphere at Liverpool and the fans are giving him that. The only possible reason for him leaving would be the finances. "The games over Christmas are massive. If you don't win games like the Wolves one, it's not good enough. It makes all the other games even harder. You've got to be looking at three points." (tribalfootball.com)
	FRIDAY 25
	Reds keep close eye on Gerrard and Torres Rafael Benitez admits the fitness of key men Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres is having to be carefully managed as Liverpool desperately seek an improvement in their form. The Merseysiders have won just four of their last 17 games, and have fallen so far that Birmingham are ahead of them as the halfway point of the Barclays Premier League season looms. Both Torres and Gerrard have had groin injuries which have restricted their involvement this season, and although they are presently available to boss Benitez, the Liverpool staff are closely monitoring their fitness. Benitez said: “They still have some problems, so we must manage them carefully over a period of so many games in such a short space of time. We virtually have to decide on them before every game. “And after each game we have to check them, to see how they are coping with their recoveries from injury.” (Irish Examiner) Thor Zakariassen ©