THURSDAY 31
	Report: Fiorentina interested in Babel Liverpool forward Ryan Babel is attracting the attention of Italian outfit Fiorentina. The 23-year-old is being lined up as a possible replacement for Adrian Mutu, who is said to want a move away from Florence. Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claims Liverpool are set to offload Babel in the new year and they report that Fiorentina are preparing to table a bid for the Holland international. (Goal.com) Johnson ruled out for at least a month Liverpool full back Glen Johnson has been ruled out for “at least a month” with a medial ligament tear in his right knee, the club have announced. The former Portsmouth defender picked up the injury during Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at Aston Villa. No definitive timescale will be put on his recovery until Johnson visits another specialist to assess the extent of the damage. “Johnson has a problem, so he’ll see a specialist and then we’ll talk but we know he’ll be out for at least one month,” said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez. “We are waiting for another opinion and then we’ll know how long.” (The Irish Times) Expert: Benitez must take gamble Liverpool may have to spend heavily in the January transfer window if they are to protect their future income. That is the view of Simon Chadwick, professor of sport business at Coventry University, who believes the financial implications of the club's failure to reach the knockout stage of this season's Champions League could minor compared to those of finishing the current Premier League campaign outside the top four. (TEAMtalk)
	WEDNESDAY 30
	Reds confirm Johnson knee damage Liverpool have confirmed that Glen Johnson suffered a medial ligament injury to his right knee during Tuesday night's match at Aston Villa. The England right-back was assessed by the club's medical team at Melwood earlier on Wednesday and underwent a scan which revealed the extent of the injury which forced him to limp off after 88 minutes of the 1-0 victory at Villa Park. (TEAMtalk)   'April start' for new Liverpool stadium, says council Work on Liverpool's new stadium in Stanley Park could begin as early as April 2010, the leader of Liverpool City Council has told the BBC. Warren Bradley said Liverpool have told the council they are "very close now to securing the finances". He added it would be "in April that hopefully, fingers crossed, we'll see some activity on Stanley Park". Bradley also revealed the council would hold talks with Everton about their plans for a new stadium on 11 January. (BBC Sport Online)  Church praying for strong Reds Reading striker Simon Church is hoping Liverpool play their strongest team in this weekend's FA Cup tie at the Madejski Stadium. Reds boss Rafa Benitez may use the Saturday evening clash to rest some of his star names, but Church is desperate to take on the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. "This type of game is what you want as a player," he told the Royals' official website. "Hopefully they will have a strong team and personally I would love to play on the same pitch as Torres. "He is one of the best in the world and it would be an amazing experience to be on the same pitch as him." (TEAMtalk) Carragher pays tribute to Torres Jamie Carragher today paid a glowing tribute to Fernando Torres after the record breaking striker helped Liverpool make a Champions League statement. Torres, as he has done so often during his Anfield career, came up trumps just when it was needed, on this occasion his injury time goal gave the Reds a precious 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park. “There is nothing better than getting a last minute winner,” said Carragher. “You could see how much it meant to everyone but we have just got to move on now. “Fernando is a great player, a world class striker. To beat people like Ian Rush, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Roger Hunt to the record says everything. That’s why you pay the kind of money we did to sign him, to score last-minute goals like that.” (Liverpool Echo)   Agent slams tabloid ‘lies’ about Aquilani The representative of Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has rushed to stop the rumour mill after English tabloids alleged the 25-year-old had flown to Belgrade to receive treatment from ‘placenta doctor’ Marijana Kovacevic in a bid to put an end to his seemingly endless series of injury setbacks. “So many lies have been told of late and the last one was the story about the sorceress…” agent Franco Zavaglia told Calciomercato.it. “I stayed in England for ten days and travelled between Liverpool and Manchester. Alberto is on the right path to a full recovery. “He endured eight troubled months because of his ankle injury. But we are not discovering Aquilani’s value today. He is a quality player with great potential. “He just wants to play regularly now so that he will realize his dream, which is to go to the World Cup. “If Alberto will be fit, it’s unlikely the Nazionale boss will do without him.” Aquilani underwent ankle surgery last May before joining Liverpool from Roma and was only handed his first Premier League start last week as the Reds defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 at Anfield. Last night he featured in the Reds' 1-0 win at Aston Villa. (Goal.com) Ruud van Nistelrooy linked to Liverpool loan Liverpool could be Ruud Van Nistelrooy's next destination if the negotations between the English giants and Real Madrid come to fruition, according to the British Daily Mail newspaper. As also reported by Marca, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is hoping to employ the Dutchman's services as a substitute for Fernando Torres, citing his experience and goalscoring ability as qualities needed in the side. (Goal.com)
	TUESDAY 29
	O'Neill: We should have won Martin O'Neill lamented Aston Villa's injury-time defeat to Liverpool, claiming his side would have won but for the goalkeeping heroics of Jose Reina. Reina made a stupendous reaction stop to deny Stewart Downing in the first half before also saving a close-range effort from Gabriel Agbonlahor, and O'Neill was quick to point out the Reds shot-stopper as the stand-out performer on the night. "We definitely didn't deserve that," the Villa boss, who saw his side lose at home for the first time since the opening game of the season, told Sky Sports 1. "At the end we should have had the game out of sight. "Their goalkeeper has pulled off some unbelievable saves tonight and kept them in it. We should have won and we lost." (Sky Sports)   Gerrard rallying call to Liverpool Steven Gerrard called on Liverpool to go on to bigger and better things after they snatched an injury-time 1-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Aston Villa. "That's what football's about," Gerrard told Sky Sports 1 after Tuesday night's defeat. "You've got to keep going until the end and when you've got guys like (Torres) there's always a chance." (ITV Football)   Benitez shock at reaction Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez angrily explained his surprise at the reaction to his guarantee of a place in the top four of the Premier League this season. The Reds boss saw his side grab a dramatically late victory at Aston Villa on Tuesday as Fernando Torres added another twist to the race for UEFA Champions League football with his 50th English league goal coming deep into stoppage time. His reaction was not on a par to last season's infamous 'Rafa rant', but it was almost as cold as a snowy night in the Midlands, as he told Sky Sports 1: "The manager has to have confidence in his team so he has to say that we will finish in the top four. "I have to be the first one to believe so they (the players) will believe." (Sky Sports)   Ice-cool Torres fires Reds revival Fernando Torres scored his 50th Premier League goal in injury time as Liverpool beat Aston Villa 1-0 in Tuesday's clash at a snowy Villa Park. The result gave Rafael Benitez's side a Champions League lifeline as they began the second half of their season by snatching a valuable three points in Birmingham. Spain international striker Torres drilled a low shot across Villa keeper Brad Friedel in the 93rd minute to become the fastest player in Reds history to score a half century of league goals. It means Benitez's side are only two points behind Villa and four adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham in the race for European places. (Football 365)   Line-up vs Aston Villa: Kuyt back and Aquilani starts again Dirk Kuyt returns to the Liverpool starting line-up for tonight’s crunch Premier League clash away to Aston Villa in Rafa Benitez’s only change from the side that beat Wolves 2-0 on Boxingg Day. The Dutch international was rested against Wolves and replaces Fabio Aurelio, with Yossi Benayoun expected to switch to the left of midfield. There’s a second consecutive start for Alberto Aquilani, who keeps his place in midfield, with Javier Mascherano out suspended. Ryan Babel is recalled to the bench. Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Aquilani, Benayoun, Gerrard, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Ngog, Spearing. (This is Anfield) Dossena agent: Italian return unlikely Andrea Dossena’s agent has ruled out a return to Italy for the Liverpool defender, claiming that Spain is a likelier destination. The Italy international has been strongly linked with a move away from Anfield in the winter transfer window, having failed to live up to his £7m price tag since moving to Liverpool from Udinese in 2008. A return to Italy was seemingly on the cards with Napoli favourites to sign the 28-year-old after narrowly missing out last summer. Roma were also among the interested parties but Dossena now looks set for a move to Spain, according to representative Federico Pastorello. “A move to Napoli is impossible,” he told TuttoNapoli.net. “The negotiations for a possible move for Dossena to Napoli are over. “I heard of an agreement between the parties but since Christmas I have not heard from any Napoli director so the news is without foundation. “If I was to make a prediction I would say that Andrea will not return to Italy. “We are in negotiations with several foreign clubs, with a very important Spanish club who are not in European competition – the deal is even at an advanced stage. “Roma? Difficult. Napoli impossible.” (breakingnews.ie) Babel agent: Liverpool will not consider loan Blackburn keeper extends Sheff Utd loan period The agent of Ryan Babel has hinted Liverpool are only interested in an outright sale for the Dutchman. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to cash in on Babel to raise his own transfer funds in January. And agent Winnie Haatrecht confirmed to Sportsweek: "It will be difficult for him to focus and remain focused. He will not be loaned. "I don't know if he will be sold, I have had no contact about that. The only thing I know - no loan. There has been no talk about a sale." (tribalfootball.com)
	MONDAY 28
	Benitez: Reds must build on Wolves win Rafael Benitez admits Liverpool's brittle confidence will be on the line in Tuesday's crunch Barclays Premier League showdown at fourth-placed Aston Villa. The Spaniard is clinging to the hope that two wins in the last three matches has gone some way to rebuilding the fragile mental strength of a Reds side that has an overall record of just five wins in their last 18 matches. And for Benitez, the added pressure is that their trip to Villa Park sees them up against one of their main rivals for a place in the top four and next season's Champions League. Benitez believes the second half of the season will be a battle with Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham for their entry back into Europe's elite competition. (Football 365) O'Neill: Reds can stage major revival Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill believes Liverpool are capable of rescuing a Champions League spot via a long unbeaten Premier League run. O'Neill recalls how his side were in pole position to claim a top-four place last season before Arsenal hit top form in the final third of the campaign to overhaul them. Now a similar challenge is confronting the Reds, who visit fourth-placed Villa on Tuesday night, after a below-par opening half of the season and O'Neill believes they are capable of the same sort of feat. O'Neill, whose side won 3-1 at Anfield in August, said: "Liverpool have lost a few games more than they would have thought. Last season they were terrific. "They went through the whole season and lost two games. After three games of this season, they had lost two games, but they are getting a bit of momentum again." (TEAMtalk)  Kuyt set for return against Villa Dirk Kuyt can expect a return to Liverpool's starting line-up for Tuesday night's tough Premier League clash away to Aston Villa. The Dutchman was rested by boss Rafael Benitez for the Boxing Day home win over Wolves at Anfield, having figured in more matches this season than any of his colleagues apart from Yossi Benayoun who has also now played in 26 Liverpool games this term. But for a difficult game at Villa Park, where Liverpool dare not lose if they want to stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot, Kuyt's running and effort will be vital. Liverpool will be without the suspended Javier Mascherano. Benitez must also decide whether to continue with Alberto Aquilani in midfield. The Italian made his first Premier League start on Saturday but came off late in the game with a minor hamstring problem. Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Insua, Benayoun, Gerrard, Lucas, Babel, Torres, Kuyt, Aquilani, Cavalieri, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Pacheco, Dossena. (TEAMtalk) Thor Zakariassen ©