MONDAY 27
	Reds slump to Chelsea loss Liverpool Reserves suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 3-1 at Chelsea on Monday afternoon. The Reds paid the price for a sluggish start as Nathaniel Chalobah and Fabio Borini put the Blues in the driving seat with two goals inside the opening half hour. Nathan Eccleston did give John McMahon's side hope with a deflected effort just before half-time but it wasn't enough to help rescue a point as substitute Adam Phillip steered in a third 12 minutes from time. Liverpool Reserves: Hansen, Darby, Robinson, Wisdom, Wilson, Shelvey, Pacheco, Amoo (Roberts 72), Ince, Suso, Eccleston (Palsson 85). Unused subs: Bouzanis, Flanagan, Mavinga. (LFC Official Website) Torres set for Euro start Fernando Torres could play against Utrecht. Torres has yet to play in a Europa League game this season but Roy Hodgson has revealed he is considering playing the striker on Thursday. "It's on my mind to play Torres, Raul Meireles and Dirk Kuyt on Thursday. I think they're knitting together well," said the boss. "I thought Torres was much, much different (against Sunderland) to the one in the first couple of games. "People wanted to see his best the moment he stepped back on to the field after the World Cup, but I said he needed games, he needed time. "He was unlucky not to score one of the goals of the month, with that magnificent control and volley that was inaccurately ruled out for offside. "It was only Meireles' second start and there was another start for Joe Cole. There are moments giving me satisfaction but I know it's a big job and I can't just wave a magic wand and Liverpool will suddenly dominate English football again. But there were a lot of pleasing factors." (LFC Online) Dominic King sees LFC's poor start continue with a draw against Sunderland If Roy Hodgson entered Anfield’s Press room on Wednesday night sodden and angry, he left it on Saturday calm and cautiously optimistic. While a 2-2 draw with Northampton Town was a precursor to one of the most wretched moments in Liverpool’s modern history, another 2-2 – this time with Sunderland – has given Hodgson hope that all might not be lost. Some supporters will be puzzled by Hodgson’s optimism. Having had chance to reflect on what can only be described as a lively 90 minutes, they will be concerned about a number of issues surrounding their team and what this performance means for the future. For starters: how could a side that burst out of the blocks with the impetus of a 100 metre sprinter lose its way so badly? Why have all Liverpool’s first half displays this season been so laboured? Is this a signal of the level that Hodgson’s men are really at? (Dominic King - Liverpool Echo)   Meireles: I did not think twice about Liverpool move Former Porto star Raul Meireles admits he's delighted with his move to Liverpool. It is little surprise that the 27-year-old was happy to hear that Roy Hodgson was planning a swoop for him. "When I heard Liverpool wanted to sign me, I was at home with my wife in Porto," he told LFC Weekly. "I was smiling a lot and she asked me what was going on. I told her that Liverpool wanted me. I was very happy. We discussed it briefly and we both said 'yes.' "Liverpool is a fantastic club and one of the most important in the world. There was no chance of me saying 'no.' "Knowing that Liverpool wanted me made me very proud - it is maybe my proudest moment so far." (tribalfootball.com)
	SUNDAY 26
	Turner lost for words Sunderland's Michael Turner admits he is lost for words after Liverpool's controversial opener on Saturday. The defender rolled a free-kick back towards keeper Simon Mignolet, only for Fernando Torres to seize possession before playing in Dirk Kuyt to slot home. Turner insists he was just touching the ball back for Mignolet to take the set-piece, but referee Stuart Attwell allowed the goal to stand after consulting with his assistant. The Black Cats defender told the club's official website: "I just rolled it back to Simon to come and take it. "The referee thought I had taken it - I don't know what to say really. "I'm sure everyone will watch it back on the TV and they can make their own minds up." (Sky Sports)  Referees' body backs Attwell after Liverpool goal Stuart Attwell has won the support of the body that governs referees following the awarding of a controversial goal in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday. Attwell allowed a goal from Dirk Kuyt to stand after five minutes after deciding that Michael Turner had taken a free kick when the defender appeared to merely knock the ball in the direction of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, in order that he would take the set piece. The statement read: "PGMO has reviewed the first goal scored between Liverpool and Sunderland and believe that the correct decisions were made. According to the Laws of the Game, having stopped the game for any infringement the referee is required to 'indicate the restart of the match'. (ESPN Soccernet) Kuyt dismisses talk of Torres exit Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has dismissed speculation about Fernando Torres' state of mind and insisted the striker has an important role to play even if he is not scoring. The Spain international has provided the assists for the Reds' last four goals; winning the penalty and free-kick against Manchester United which allowed Steven Gerrard to hit a double and then setting up Kuyt and the captain again in yesterday's 2-2 draw with Sunderland. However, he has scored only once for Liverpool so far this season - the winner against West Brom - and has started to show signs of frustration on the pitch. Reports regularly claim the 26-year-old is unhappy and is considering leaving Anfield, as happened in the summer, but Kuyt said Torres' quality would see him through. (Football 365)   Pique urges Torres to leave Gerard Pique claims Fernando Torres will be embarrassed having to play in the Europa League for Liverpool and has urged him to leave the club. The Barcelona defender, who won the World Cup with the Reds striker, believes he needs to be winning trophies rather than settling for second best. Pique told the Daily Star Sunday: "There is no way this can go on for Nando. It's just impossible. "I spoke with him before he committed to Liverpool and he told me he wanted to win things with Liverpool - but if the club didn't invest and show real intent, he would be forced to leave. "I am not just saying this because I want him to join Barcelona. "The truth is I don't know if he will. "It might be Chelsea, it might be Real Madrid, it might be Barcelona. "But I know he wants to join a club where he can win league titles and European Cups. I would love us to sign Nando in the summer." (Sky Sports) Dalglish: Ownership issues no excuse for Liverpool players Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish says the club's ownership issues are no excuse for the players' poor form so far this season. He said in his column for the Mail on Sunday: "Everyone knows the ownership situation but that should never affect how the players prepare or perform. There is no reason experienced internationals should be distracted from their jobs and they shouldn't need Roy Hodgson to remind them. "If the club is up for sale, the best way for players to deal with it is to get results on the pitch and make it a more attractive proposition to buy. "I never celebrated winning a trophy at Liverpool by thinking: 'It's all down to the owners - they are brilliant.' So if owners don't receive credit then, neither can players look to blame them or anyone else in defeat. "Maybe Roy will be able to improve the team if new owners come in by shopping at the more exclusive end of the transfer market. But that doesn't give the current players a get-out to avoid responsibility. "My message to them would be to leave the business side of things for managing director Christian Purslow to be concerned about. "While you find in any walk of life people who don't need much encouragement to find excuses, we don't want them at Liverpool right now." (tribalfootball.com)
	SATURDAY 25
	Konchesky injury latest Paul Konchesky is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring strain in our 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday. The left-back had to leave the field early in the first half against Steve Bruce's men - and Roy Hodgson now expects to be without him for the next two games at least. The manager said: "He's got a hamstring strain. I couldn't tell you exactly how bad it is yet. I don't think it's extremely bad but I certainly think it would rule him out for Thursday and next Sunday. "Hopefully it won't be much more problematic." (LFC Official Website) Hodgson: Reds must improve Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has admitted his misfiring side are not playing like UEFA Champions League contenders. The Reds dropped two more Premier League points on Saturday as they were forced to come from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against a determined Sunderland side at Anfield. "I don't think we're playing like a team from fourth or fifth place at the moment, but that is how close the league is. There is not an awful lot to put between players. "One of the things that is lacking is we need to play and work much more together. We've got a lot of new players coming into the team and we haven't had that much time." (Sky Sports) Bruce unhappy with referee display Sunderland manager Steve Bruce tempered his criticism of referee Stuart Attwell after he awarded a “crazy” goal to Liverpool in the 2-2 draw at Anfield. The Black Cats boss said he did not want to incur the wrath of the Football Association by giving his true thoughts but was deeply unhappy with the performance of the 27-year-old official. “I’ve been in enough trouble so I don’t want to talk about it but you all witnessed it and he got it wrong,” said Bruce. “The free-kick was 25 yards from where the incident was and I think everyone in the ground realised that too. The Sunderland manager also accused Attwell of showing favouritism to Gerrard, who caught Danny Welbeck in the face with an arm and was booked. “I know if it had been Lee Cattermole he would have been sent off,” he said. (Irish Examiner)   Gerrard rescues point for sorry Reds Steven Gerrard rescued a point for Liverpool in a 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Anfield but referee Stuart Attwell was the centre of attention. The official, who awarded the infamous "ghost goal" in the Championship two years ago, allowed Dirk Kuyt's opening strike to count after ruling Michael Turner had taken a free-kick when he appeared to roll it back to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Darren Bent hit back with a penalty and a header either side of half-time before Gerrard nodded in Fernando Torres' near-post cross to salvage a point. (TEAMtalk)  Kuyt returns v Sunderland Dirk Kuyt returns from injury to face Sunderland this afternoon as Roy Hodgson makes 11 changes from the side that lost to Northampton in midweek. Kuyt hasn't featured for Liverpool since our 1-0 victory over West Brom on August 29. The Liverpool XI in full is: Reina, Johnson, Konchesky, Carragher, Skrtel, Gerrard, Poulsen, Meireles, Cole, Kuyt, Torres. Subs: Jones, Kyrgiakos, Lucas, Ngog, Agger, Jovanovic, Maxi. (LFC Official Website) Thor Zakariassen ©