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THURSDAY 31 |
Chiellini calls for Alonso signing
Giorgio Chiellini believes Juventus still need to sign one
top class player before the end of the transfer window, and
has called for the purchase of Liverpool midfielder Xabi
Alonso.
The Bianconeri’s transfer campaign has not impressed the
majority of supporters, with Amauri, Christian Poulsen, Olof
Mellberg, Dario Knezevic and Albin Ekdal failing to set
pulses racing.
The club’s management have announced that it is unlikely
that they will be buying anymore outfield players this
summer, but Chiellini believes they should reconsider this
plan, and has called for the arrival of Xabi Alonso, a
player Juve were in negotiations with a few weeks ago.
“There are no doubts over Alonso,” Chiellini told Sky Sport
Italia
“He is a great player who could help us."
(Goal.com)
New numbers for new signings
Liverpool have today confirmed squad numbers for new
signings Diego Cavalieri and David Ngog ahead of the start
of the new season.
Cavalieri will take over the number 1 shirt which has been
vacant since Jerzy Dudek's departure, while French striker
Ngog will wear number 24.
(LFC Official Website)
Babel's fitness boost
Liverpool ace Ryan Babel is confident he is close to full
fitness after inspiring Holland to a 2-0 victory over
Cameroon in a pre-Olympic tournament in Hong Kong.
The 21-year-old tore ankle ligaments while in training with
the Dutch senior team in May and was ruled out of Euro 2008.
He was also expected to be sidelined for the start of the
Premier League season.
However, Babel recovered sooner than anticipated but upset
Reds boss Rafa Benitez when he decided to represent his
country at the Olympics.
The former Ajax player looked in fine form as he came off
the bench to score one and set up another for strike partner
Roy Makaay
at Hong Kong stadium.
"It is doing okay," Babel said of his ankle. "I didn't have
any moments throughout the game when it felt bad. It is
definitely getting better.
"Last week I would say I was at about 85% fitness and it has
been difficult but it feels better.
"I think one more match and I will be ready for the
Olympics."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool FC in fresh
talks over Barry
Fresh talks are under way between Liverpool and Aston
Villa to thrash out Gareth Barry’s proposed move to Anfield,
the Echo understands.
The Echo also understands, however, that reports that a deal
has been completed are premature.
(Liverpool Echo)
Barry demands
to be sold to Liverpool
Furious Gareth Barry will this morning demand he be sold to
Liverpool after a day of high drama and sheer farce in his
ongoing transfer saga.
Aston Villa issued a statement last night insisting the
Merseyside club had missed a deadline to sign him, despite
the two clubs AGREEING
an £18million fee.
That left the England midfielder fuming because he believed
he had finally been offered a solution to the ongoing drama.
(Daily Mirror)
No NEC deal for Liverpool's Ajdarevic
Liverpool midfielder Astrit Ajdarevic has missed out on a
deal with
NEC Nijmegen.
Despite impressing in trials, NEC chose not to offer terms
to the young Swede due to a tight budget.
(tribalfooball.com)
Barry's Liverpool move still on
Gareth Barry's proposed move to Liverpool could yet go ahead
despite Aston Villa stating he will be staying with them,
BBC Sport understands.
Liverpool failed to meet Villa's deadline of Wednesday to
sign the 27-year-old England midfielder.
That led Villa to announce the deal was off, yet Liverpool
remain eager to sign Barry and he wants to move to Anfield.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill and chairman Randy Lerner are due
to meet Barry and his agent for talks later this week.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has said he needs to sell
players before he can meet Villa's valuation for Barry,
which is believed to be £18m.
Villa manager O'Neill said on Wednesday that he was
"absolutely delighted" Barry would be staying at Villa Park
and "relieved there is resolution and closure to the
transfer saga".
He added: "Now we can all look forward to the season ahead
with relief, anticipation and ambition."
Villa have already rejected a number of bids from Liverpool
that fell short of their valuation for the player.
O'Neill has made no secret of his displeasure at Liverpool's
conduct in trying to sign Barry and the player himself was
ordered not to report for pre-season training after
criticising his manager in a newspaper interview.
But the England international played for Villa in a friendly
against Walsall and came on as a substitute in their
Intertoto Cup win over Odense.
Villa's ire will have been increased by the fact that
Liverpool splashed out £19m for Tottenham striker Robbie
Keane - with the fee possibly reaching £20.3m with add-ons -
yet have been unwilling to match an £18m valuation for
Barry.
(BBC Sport Online)
Keane excited by partnership
Liverpool new boy Robbie Keane admits he cannot wait to get
the chance to play alongside Fernando Torres.
The pair that Reds fans hope will prove their dream
strikeforce managed
to avoid each other in the 0-0 pre-season friendly draw at
Villarreal on Wednesday night.
Keane played only in the first half, and missed the best
chance of the match, while Torres came on for the last 20
minutes, his first action since scoring the winner in the
Euro 2008 final for Spain.
Keane , who completed his £20million move from Tottenham
just 24 hours before the Villarreal game, feels he is
settling in quite well at his new club.
"I didn't get the chance to partner Fernando this time, but
I am looking forward to it when it does happen," Keane told
Sky Sports News.
"I'm settling in just fine and it was good to get 45 minutes
under my belt with my new team-mates.
"It has been a busy few days but I feel I am settling in
well. I have trained a little with the lads, got in some
match action and it is going fine.
"I know I did not get to play alongside Fernando but I am
sure any partnership will work well, but only time will
tell.
(Sky Sports)
Ince eyes £6m
Liverpool winger Pennant
Paul Ince will dip into the £15million that Blackburn
receive from Tottenham for David Bentley to try to complete
a deal for
Jermaine Pennant.
The Rovers boss faces late competition for the £6m-rated
Liverpool winger from Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp,
whose chances of landing Shaun Wright-Phillips from Chelsea
look slim.
(Daily Mail) |
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WEDNESDAY 30 |
Rafa: Keane showed his quality
Rafa Benitez declared himself pleased with the debut of
Robbie Keane after the Republic of Ireland star enjoyed a 45
minute run-out during the goalless draw with La Liga
runners-up Villarreal
at the El Madrigal Stadium.
The new Kop number seven was paired alongside fellow signing
David Ngog for the first half, and Keane was unfortunate not
to make it a scoring debut when he came close with an effort
on 27 minutes.
"To see Robbie with the new lads out there was positive,"
said Benitez. "Robbie worked hard and he wanted to impress.
He played his part in some good movements in attack and
showed his quality."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds held in Spain
An experimental Liverpool side were held to a goalless
draw by La Liga side Villarreal this evening at the El
Madrigal Stadium.
Robbie Keane made his Liverpool debut alongside fellow new
signing David Ngog in an attacking three alongside Andriy
Voronin. They played the first 45 minutes before seven
changes at half-time saw another forward grab his debut,
youngster Krisztian Nemeth joining Kuyt and Dani Pacheco up
front.
(This Is Anfield)
Cup final heartache for Reserves
Liverpool Reserves saw their hopes of picking up where they
left off last season end in disappointment as they slumped
to a last-gasp defeat against Manchester United in the
Lancashire FA Canterbury
Senior Cup final.
Gary Ablett's side, which comprised a number of youngsters
fresh from the club's Academy, battled throughout a
pulsating encounter but eventually went down to a 3-2 loss
after goals from Nathan Eccleston and Jordy Brouwer had
twice drawn them level.
Ahead of the match hopes had been high that they could go on
to secure what would have effectively been a quadruple
triumph as the match was a delayed final carried over from
the 2007-08 campaign.
Liverpool Reserves: Bouzanis, Scott, Irwin, San Jose, Huth,
Kelly, Lindfield, Eccleston (Amoo 83), Brouwer, Simon, Bruna
(Kacaniklic 70).
Unused subs: Hansen, Metcalf, Pepper.
(LFC Official Website)
Villareal team news: Keane starts
Robbie Keane makes his Liverpool debut alongside fellow new
signing David Ngog in what looks like an attacking three
alongside Andriy Voronin against Villareal this evening.
Liverpool are sporting their new grey away kit in the heat
of the El Madigral Stadium. Prior to kick off Liverpool’s
Spanish quarter of Reina, Alonso, Arbeloa and Torres showed
off the Euro 2008 trophy and received a heroes welcome,
along with Villareal’s three Spanish internationals.
The match against last season’s La Liga runners-up is part
of the deal which saw Reina join Liverpool from Villareal
three years ago. Reina is on the bench, along with his
fellow Spaniards who are expected to play the second half
and therefore receive a heroes welcome in the Castellón
region of Spain.
Liverpool Team: Cavalieri, Darby, Skrtel, Hyypia, Dossena,
Plessis, Gerrard, Benayoun, Voronin, Keane, Ngog.
Subs: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Arbeloa,
Alonso, Pennant, Spearing, Nemeth, Torres, Kuyt, Pacheco.
(This Is Anfield)
Villa call off Barry move to Reds
Aston Villa say that Gareth Barry will be staying at the
club and not moving to Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Villa claim the Reds failed to meet a deadline to sign the
midfielder, who stated he wanted to move to Anfield, and now
any switch is off.
"During talks in the past few days, a final deadline to
conclude this episode was set that all parties were aware of
and agreed to,"
said a Villa statement.
"This deadline has now passed and so Gareth will remain with
Villa."
(BBC Sport Online)
Nemeth, Keane and
N'Gog set for debuts
Rafael Benitez is set to hand Krisztian Nemeth his Liverpool
debut tonight as the Reds take on Villarreal in a pre-season
friendly at El Madrigal, with Robbie Keane also expected to
figure.
The 19-year-old striker has been included in the travelling
party having made a huge impact in Liverpool's reserve team
last season.
Liverpool are also set to hand debuts to new signings Keane
and David N'Gog in a fixture that was arranged as part of
the transfer that brought Pepe Reina to Anfield in 2005.
Ironically, Reina may not be involved having left the squad
to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.
Reina's fellow Spaniards, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and
Alvaro Arbeloa, are expected to be involved.
(Shanklygates)
Rafa backs old club to shine
Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez has backed old club Valencia to
bounce back following a disastrous season.
The Spanish tactician, currently in his homeland to play a
prestigious friendly game against Villarreal at El Madrigal,
has expressed his views
on Los Ches.
Madrid-born Benitez managed Valencia from 2001 to 2004 and
understands the appointment of new chairman Vicente Soriano
will allow them to reach the top of the tree in the future.
“I must be respectful to the club and the only thing I can
say is that they are going on the right track,” Benitez told
Las Provincias.
“I wish them to do the best possible in order to help
Valencia go to the top once again.”
(Setanta Sports)
Yossi rumours rejected
Yossi Benayoun's agent has played down talk linking the
midfielder with
a move away from Liverpool.
Reports have suggested Liverpool may be prepared to
sacrifice Benayoun after Rafa Benitez admitted he will have
to sell before he can buy again.
Manchester City and Benayoun's former club West Ham have
been linked with a move for the Israeli international if
Liverpool do decide to offload
the player.
However, Benayoun's agent, Ronen Katzav says he has had no
contact with any interested clubs and that the player is
concentrating on the new season ahead at Liverpool.
"There has been no contact or talks with any club about
Yossi," Katzav told skysports.com.
"All summer there has been speculation about Yossi, but he
has
a contract with Liverpool.
"I don't believe Liverpool want to sell Yossi and he is just
concentrating on life at Liverpool.
"It is nice that everybody is interested in Yossi, but from
our point of view he is only thinking about Liverpool."
(Sky Sports)
Callaghan: Keane can help
push Liverpool FC to title
Liverpool legend Ian Callaghan insists new signing Robbie
Keane has got what it takes to join the list of great number
sevens in the club's history.
The Reds' record appearance holder was delighted by the
capture of
the striker in a £20million deal from Tottenham.
"Robbie Keane has been a great player at the top level for
many years," he said.
"He's proven and you know what you are going to get with
him.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how he plays with Torres but
I think they will complement each other very well.
"You can't always be building for the future and Liverpool
needed someone for next season, not a youngster who would
need a few years to bed in.
"With Keane on board you would like to think they will have
a great chance of winning the Premier League next season.
"That's what we all want and signing someone like Keane
certainly makes that more likely."
(Liverpool Echo)
Keane: Robbie to thrive at Kop
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has backed former international
team-mate Robbie Keane to become one of the world's elite
strikers following his £20.3 million move to Liverpool.
The Sunderland manager, who played with his namesake for
Ireland on many occasions between 1998 and 2005, believes
that the move to Merseyside will be the making of the
Dublin-born striker.
"Hopefully Robbie will go onto the next level because he has
probably been behind the real top, top players," said the
Black Cats supremo.
"Tottenham are not a bad team but when you go to Liverpool
you are expected to win titles and cups, whereas at
Tottenham maybe that was not the case," he added.
Roy and Robbie will come face-to-face on the opening weekend
of the 2008/2009 Premier League season when the Anfield side
travel up north
to face Keane's Black Cats on August 16.
On that fixture, the Sunderland boss said: ''When you come
up against teams in the Premiership, the players they have
in attack are very good.
I am sure they will cause us problems just like they did
last year.''
(Setanta Sports) |
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TUESDAY 29 |
Reina doubtful for Villarreal friendly
Liverpool have confirmed that goalkeeper Pepe Reina has left
the team hotel in Villarreal to be with his wife ahead of
the birth of their
second child.
Reina flew out to Spain with the Reds squad on Tuesday
morning but soon after reaching the hotel he travelled to be
with his wife.
Depending on the events of the coming hours the Liverpool
goalkeeper may still rejoin his teammates and take part in
Wednesday night's friendly, which has been organised as part
of the deal which saw Reina leave Villarreal for Liverpool
two years ago.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool FC still want Barry
Rafael Benitez has confirmed he must sell again to bring
Gareth Barry to Liverpool after completing the £20.3million
signing of Robbie Keane.
The Reds manager insists that is what he aims to do, but he
has no intention of selling Spain international Alvaro
Arbeloa.
Liverpool are believed to have had a £7million bid from
Sevilla for the 25-year-old, but Benitez has made it clear
the player is going nowhere, despite speculation defender
Arbeloa wants to return to Spain for
personal reasons.
Benitez maintains there is no truth in the assumption
Arbeloa is eager to leave and the former Deportivo La Coruna
player will be part of his plans in the coming season.
But there is no question that Benitez still wants to sign
former Aston Villa skipper Barry, the subject of a
summer-long saga which has frayed tempers at Villa Park and
Anfield.
Benitez could sell Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin or Steve
Finnan, but it is still more likely that he will persuade
Xabi Alonso to leave if he can get a £15million-plus bid for
the Spanish midfielder.
After completing the Keane deal, Benitez talked in terms of
one more major departure rather than a string of smaller
deals, to finance an £18million move for Barry.
Benitez said: "We knew that we could only spend money by
selling players and we have been doing this (for Keane).
"We are still trying to sign the players that we need, and
if we need to sell someone now, okay, we will do so.
"If we can do it (the Barry deal) before the end of the
transfer window, we will continue to try. We will always
continue to improve our squad."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Keane: Joining Liverpool FC
feels like Christmas
Merseyside may currently be enjoying its first taste of
summer as the sun beats down and temperatures soar but, as
far as Robbie Keane is concerned, it feels like Christmas
Eve.
Liverpool's new £20m signing from Spurs cannot hide his
delight or his excitement at joining the club he supported
as a boy. And the thought of running out in front of a
packed Anfield wearing the red jersey he always dreamed of
donning as a child growing up in Dublin is the greatest gift
he could ever imagine.
"It's absolutely fantastic, a real dream come true for me,"
he said.
"I've been a Liverpool fan all my life, going back to when I
was a kid growing up in Dublin, and I always had a Liverpool
shirt on my back. So, to be here now as a Liverpool player
is incredible and I couldn't be happier.
"It's hard to describe how I'm feeling. The only way I could
try to describe it is to compare it to when you're a little
kid on Christmas Eve and you know you're about to get your
presents."
(Liverpool Echo)
Lucas helps Brazil to friendly win
Lucas Leiva was in action as he helped Brazil to a 3-0 win
over a Singapore Select XI in a warm-up match ahead of the
Olympic Games.
The Reds midfielder started the game which was the last
match to be played at Singapore's National Stadium before it
gets demolished later
this year.
Lucas played alongside Ronaldinho with the now AC Milan star
amongst the scorers.
(LFC Official Website)
Coach: Ngog left for money
David Ngog’s former coach Luc Rabat believes the French
striker decided to join Liverpool for economic reasons.
Rabat, who has been managing the attacker with France’s
youth teams for the last four years, has expressed his views
on his protege’s move
to Anfield.
He reckons there was a niche for the youngster at PSG, as
legendary striker Pauleta was released at the end of last
season, but explained that Ngog did not feel backed by his
employers and opted to move on.
“David’s choice is a more economic one than a sport one,”
Rabat told France-Football.
“He won’t be given a lot of time to play. He will have to
fight to impose himself. Him leaving PSG so young is a
shame.
“He has been lacking self-confidence for a year now and he
didn’t score
a lot. Pauleta’s departure offered him a chance to play his
part, but he had some bad experiences.
“For example he was not part of the squad for the Coupe de
France final,
I think this hurt him.
“He was ahead compared to the other players when he was 16,
17 years of age, but now…
“He grew up a lot in a short space of time and has had lots
of physical and muscular problems that slowed him down.
“And don’t forget that a certain Fernando Torres will be
above him.”
The 19-year-old’s career resembles Nicolas Anelka’s so far,
as Ngog opted to leave Paris Saint Germain after scoring a
single goal in the top flight to make the step to The
Premier League.
(Setanta Sports)
Benitez plots potent partnership
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes new signing Robbie
Keane will prove the perfect partner for Fernando Torres.
Benitez is attempting to build a squad capable of ending the
Reds' 18-year wait for a league title and on Monday he
captured Keane from Tottenham for a fee which could rise to
£20.3million.
"We were looking for a player who can be clever and can be
prudent and could play alongside Torres," Benitez told Sky
Sports News.
"He (Keane) can play with Torres or (Dirk) Kuyt or the other
strikers, and also on the right.
"We knew that he was a very good signing in terms of the
commitment, the quality and the intelligence of the player."
(Sky Sports)
Keane to wear number 7
Robbie Keane will follow in the line of Anfield greats such
as Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan and wear the famous
number seven shirt.
Our new striker takes over the jersey from the departed
Harry Kewell, and he told Liverpoolfc.tv it will be an
honour to have the number seven on
his back.
"As a Liverpool fan the number seven jersey is massive,"
said Keane. "It is a fantastic opportunity for me that
obviously I'm relishing. The people who have worn the number
seven here, like Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish - if I do
half the job they did at Liverpool I will be happy."
(LFC Official Website)
Arbeloa 'definitely, definitely' staying at Liverpool
Alvaro Arbeloa is 'definitely, definitely' staying at
Anfield despite rumours that he is unsettled on Merseyside.
Media reports have linked the Spanish right-back with a move
back to
La Liga after just one season in a Liverpool shirt.
Yet a senior club source said all speculation was unfounded
and that
the 25-year-old defender will still be with the Reds next
season.
Arbeloa’s £2.5million purchase from Deportivo La Coruna last
year was one of Benitez's shrewdest signings and the club
official insisted he is happy and that Liverpool fans has
nothing to worry about.
The source said: 'I don't know where that came from about
Arbeloa, but it is nothing.
'He is definitely, definitely staying here. He is happy and
will be staying.'
(Daily Mail) |
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MONDAY 28 |
Aggrieved Spurs drop Keane case
Tottenham have agreed to drop their appeal over Liverpool’s
alleged wrongdoing in the pursuit of Robbie Keane,
nevertheless chairman Daniel Levy made little attempt to
hide his disgruntlement upon the confirmation of the
striker’s transfer.
Levy, who revealed that the Republic of Ireland
international submitted a formal transfer request, confirmed
receiving an initial £19 million fee which the Spurs
chairman described as ‘compensation.’
Levy said: "I was incredibly disappointed when I first
heard, not only that Liverpool had been working behind the
scenes to bring Robbie to Anfield, but that Robbie himself
wanted to go and he submitted a transfer request to this
effect.
"I have already made my opinion clear on the nature of this
transaction.
I don't regard it as a transfer deal - that is something
which happens between two clubs when they both agree to
trade - this is very much
an enforced sale, for which we have agreed a sum of £19m as
compensation plus a potential further £1.3m in additional
compensation."
(Setanta Sports)
Keane makes Reds move
Liverpool have announced the signing of Robbie Keane from
Tottenham.
The 28-year-old was on Merseyside on Monday for a medical
and to discuss personal terms after Liverpool agreed a fee
which could rise
to £20.3million for the Irishman.
Liverpool have quickly concluded the deal and Keane has
signed a four-year deal at Anfield to end his six years at
White Hart Lane.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez has been chasing Keane all summer as
he sees him as the ideal partner for Fernando Torres in
attack and the Republic of Ireland international will fill
the void created by Peter Crouch's departure
to Portsmouth.
Keane is Liverpool's fifth signing of the summer following
the arrivals of Philipp Degen, Andrea Dossena, Diego
Cavalieri and David Ngog.
Former Leeds and Coventry ace Keane could make his debut for
his boyhood heroes in their pre-season friendly with
Villarreal on Wednesday, a game that can be seen live on Sky
Sports 1.
(Sky Sports)
Keane completes medical
Robbie Keane has completed a medical ahead of his £20m move
to Anfield.
The Irish international is expected to seal the transfer in
the next 24 hours after he agreed personal terms on what is
thought to be a five-year deal over the weekend as Liverpool
agreed a fee of £18m, rising to £20m, with Tottenham Hotspur
for the 28-year-old.
Keane had previously informed Spurs of his desire to join
the club he supported as a boy and was left out of a
friendly match in Spain on Thursday evening to ensure he did
not pick up any injuries.
Once the formalities of the medical are completed, Keane
will become
the Reds' second most expensive signing in club's history,
behind Fernando Torres.
Keane could make his debut in the friendly with Villarreal
on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, the Liverpool Echo reports that Reds' boss Rafa
Benitez is still as determined as ever to land Aston Villa
captain Gareth Barry, despite suggestions from Martin
O'Neill that Liverpool's interest has lessened.
However, with Xabi Alonso unlikely to be leaving Anfield in
the near future and Liverpool's American owners not prepared
to loosen the purse strings, Benitez must continue to prune
his squad in order to raise the funds for Barry, who Villa
value at around £20m.
(Shanklygates)
Dutch play down Babel fears
Holland Olympic team coach Foppe de Haan has dismissed
concerns that winger Ryan Babel is at risk of further injury
by playing in Beijing.
The 21-year-old was called into the Olympic squad having
recovered quicker than anticipated from an ankle injury
which denied him the chance to play for his country at Euro
2008.
However, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted he is
disappointed to be denied the services of the former Ajax
player for the start of the season, as well as expressing
concern that such a quick return to competitive football
could have a damaging effect on his recuperation.
But De Haan has moved to allay any fears that Babel is
taking an unnecessary risk by playing in the Olympics.
"I am very happy with Ryan Babel," said the 65-year-old.
"He is a very good player and is important for us at the
Olympics.
"His recovery is going well, sometimes he still feels a
little bit of pain but it isn't much and it is getting
better.
"Looking to the future for Babel, playing in this tournament
should be very good for him as he will go back to his club
in good shape.
(TEAMtalk)
Degen in op blow
New Liverpool signing Philipp Degen is facing the prospect
of missing
the start of the season with a groin strain.
Degen could require surgery on the injury, which was
sustained during
the team’s pre-season training camp in Switzerland last
week.
The right-back, who arrived on a free transfer from Borussia
Dortmund in the summer, missed much of last season with a
groin problem.
Degen required an operation to repair the damage but,
despite his efforts to regain his full fitness, he failed to
get off the bench for Switzerland during last month’s
European Championships.
The 25-year-old’s absence would be another setback to Rafael
Benitez, who is already without Beijing-bound trio Lucas
Leiva, Ryan Babel and Javier Mascherano for the opening
weeks of the campaign.
And with Alvaro Arbeloa’s Anfield future uncertain, it could
persuade Benitez into keeping hold of Steve Finnan.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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