WEDNESDAY 30
	Deschamps considered Reds Marseille boss Didier Deschamps has confirmed he considered Liverpool's approach before agreeing a contract extension with the French champions. The Reds contacted the French champions over their interest in appointing the former France World Cup-winning captain as a successor to Rafa Benitez. But Deschamps swiftly ended speculation over his future by signing a contract extension which keeps him at Stade Velodrome until June 2012. Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is now the hot favourite for the Anfield post with an annoucement expected in the next 24 hours. Deschamps said: "I have been contacted by a great club, and of course it leads you to think. "It was not a money matter. I have always favoured the sporting aspect. "I have extended, and I am pleased with it. The chairman wanted it. I am always asking for respect from the players, I had to fulfil my commitment." (Sky Sports) Torres: I'm not worried Fernando Torres today acknowledged he has so far failed to hit top gear in the World Cup - but the striker is confident the goals will soon begin to flow in South Africa. He said: "I am the first person to hold his hand up and say that 'I have to give much more', but I'm sure that the performances will arrive soon. "I always think to myself that I could have played better. I'm still not yet playing at the standard expected of me from fans, and at the very least I should be offering the supporters that level. "I've always been very demanding when it comes to how I play and I know I'm not at the standard that everyone expects from me. But with every game I feel much better and I've still got a lot more to offer." (LFC Official Website)  Milan Jovanovic confirms three-year Liverpool FC deal Milan Jovanovic has ended speculation that his move to Liverpool is on the rocks by revealing that he has agreed a three-year deal with the club. Reports had claimed that departed Reds manager Rafael Benitez was planning to tempt the Standard Liege attacker, 29, to Inter Milan and after he had hinted that his Bosman transfer to Anfield could be reneged upon either by himself or the club. But Serbia international Jovanovic, who scored the winning goal for his country in their historic World Cup win over Germany earlier this month, insists that he fully expects to report for pre-season training next month as a Liverpool player. "I am going to Liverpool," he told Nieuwsblad. "I have signed there for three years. I repeat: no pre-agreement - a real contract. "And the departure of Benítez changes nothing. I have maintained contact with the executive board of Liverpool and everything is good. "Everything is in order since in the last two years I have played 75 per cent of the matches for my national side.Next I am looking for a house. "On the 14th or 15th July I will join the squad for a training camp in Switzerland. But, as from Thursday, I want start my individual training programme so I can show them immediately that I am worth a place in the side." (Click Liverpool) Goal-hero Villa rallies behind Torres Spanish goal hero David Villa has rallied behind Fernando Torres after his strike partner turned in another disappointing World Cup performance in the European champions' 1-0 win over Portugal. "We know what state his knee was in a month ago and I don't agree with those who say that Fernando Torres's performances have been below par," Villa told reporters at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium. (ITN)  Hodgson is the new Liverpool FC manager Roy Hodgson will be officially named Liverpool FC’s new manager today (Wednesday). The 62-year-old is due on Merseyside to complete the formalities of signing a contract after the Reds agreed a compensation package in the region of £2million with Fulham for his release. Cordial negotiations have been ongoing in the past 72 hours between Liverpool’s Managing Director Christian Purslow and Fulham Chief Executive Alastair Mackintosh and they have now reached a successful conclusion. (Liverpool Echo)
	TUESDAY 29
	Report: Real Madrid ready £20m bid for Gerrard Real Madrid are set to test Liverpool's resolve to keep hold of skipper Steven Gerrard by slapping in a £20 million bid, according to The Times. (Goal.com)   Roy Hodgson poised to become new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is set to be appointed Liverpool's new manager by Thursday, BBC Sport understands. The Reds were granted permission to speak to the 62-year-old two weeks ago by his current club Fulham. Hodgson has also been linked with the England manager's job following the team's humiliating exit from the World Cup but Liverpool have acted quickly. "Hodgson has always been the number one target of the board at Anfield to replace Benitez," said Ian Dennis, Radio 5 live's senior football reporter. (BBC Sport Online)  Benitez exit was ‘best for everyone’ says Fernando Torres Fernando Torres has admitted Liverpool’s decision to part company with Rafa Benitez was “best for everyone,” writes Dominic King. The Spanish striker, who is preparing for tonight’s World Cup last 16 clash with Portugal, was bitterly disappointed to see Benitez leave earlier this month. He was brought to Anfield by Benitez in the summer of 2007 and has often credited the now Inter Milan manager as being responsible for making him a better player. However, Torres feels that, after a season of unrelenting pressure and disappointment, a fresh start was needed for the good of all concerned. “At this time I believe it was best for everyone,” Torres said. “He won everything and last year they demanded too much from him.” (Liverpool Echo)
	MONDAY 28
	Kuyt joy, Skrtel pain Dirk Kuyt helped bring Martin Skrtel's World Cup dream to an end as Holland beat Slovakia 2-1 in the last 16 of the tournament on Monday afternoon. Goals in each half from Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder secured victory for Oranje, who now face a mouth-watering quarter-final clash against either Brazil or Chile on Friday, while Robert Vittek netted a consolation from the penalty spot deep into injury-time. Kuyt and Skrtel both figured for 90 minutes in Durban, while Ryan Babel was again named amongst the Dutch substitutes. (LFC Official Website)  Jeremy Hunt 'sorry' over Hillsborough hooligans claim Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has apologised after suggesting that hooliganism played a part in the Hillsborough football disaster. Ninety-six Liverpool fans were crushed to death on 15 April 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium. He praised the England fans at the 2010 World Cup saying the "terrible problems" of "Heysel and Hillsborough in the 1980s seem now to be behind us". Investigations have found that violence played no part in the tragedy. Mr Hunt was giving an interview following England's exit from the World Cup, where he applauded the behaviour of fans. Apologising, he said: "I know that fan unrest played no part in the terrible events of April 1989 and I apologise to Liverpool fans and the families of those killed and injured in the Hillsborough disaster if my comments caused any offence." Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "I am absolutely fed up of people saying things like that, for 21 years we have been fighting for justice, we have been fighting to get the message out that it was not down to drink, it was not down to hooliganism. "He is the culture secretary - he is well informed he should know better. It's not like it happened two weeks ago, this was decades ago. "He can apologise but it has still really upset me. I only found out because someone rang me on my mobile, I have not spoken to the rest of the Hillsborough families yet because I am only just about coping with my own anger. "I will be writing to him on behalf of all the survivors of the disaster and asking to have a meeting with him." (BBC Sport Online) Report: Liverpool priced out of deal for Galatasaray coach Rijkaard Liverpool have been priced out of a move for Galatasaray coach Frank Rijkaard. (tribalfootball.com)  Report: Hodgson wants transfer cash guarantees before taking Liverpool job Fulham boss Roy Hodgson wants guarantees over transfer spending money before committing to the Liverpool job. The Mirror says Hodgson will be appointed Liverpool boss this week once he has finalised a guaranteed transfer kitty. (tribalfootball.com)    Thor Zakariassen ©