Recreativo land Sinama-Pongolle
Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle's loan spell at Recreativo Huelva has become a £2.7m permanent move.
Sinama-Pongolle, 22, has signed a contract until June 2011 with the Primera Liga club.
The France Under-21 international's loan, which began at the end of the season, contained an option to buy him.
He told Recreativo's website: "I'd like to thank the club and the fans for the affection they have shown me."
Sinama-Pongolle was bought by Liverpool from Le Havre in 2001 along with distant cousin Anthony Le Tallec, but both remained with the French club until 2003.
(BBC Sport Online) 
 
Gerrard, Finnan start contract talks
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is one of five players to begin talks over new contracts, manager Rafael Benitez said today.
Midfielder Xabi Alonso, defenders Jamie Carragher and Steve Finnan and goalkeeper Jose Reina are also being offered new deals.
Gerrard, who led Liverpool to a second Champions League final in three seasons this week, could agree a new four-year deal before this year's final against AC Milan in Athens on May 23rd.
"We have had some conversations with four or five players," Benitez said.
"We decided to stop talks briefly because we were playing in the semi-final of the Champions League. But we are talking again and hopefully can agree something before the final happens.
"The players already have contracts but we told them we want to do the deal and we are really close (to agreeing terms)."
(Ireland.com) 
 
Gerrard set for weekend off
Steven Gerrard is almost certain to be left out of Liverpool's match at Fulham on Saturday, having also been rested at Portsmouth last weekend.
The Anfield skipper could join a host of absentees at Craven Cottage, with John Arne Riise, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher and Jose Reina expected to be rested again with the Champions League Final later this month.
Italian Under-21 goalkeeper Daniele Padelli could make his debut, with teenage Argentinian full-back Emiliano Insua - who made his debut at Fratton Park - getting another outing.
Liverpool (from): Padelli, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Paletta, Insua, Gonzalez, Alonso, Sissoko, Zenden, Fowler, Bellamy, Reina, Crouch, Pennant, El Zhar, Hobbs, Anderson, Finnan.
(TEAMtalk)

Rafa: Why I sat during penalties
Rafa Benitez has explained his reasons for sitting cross-legged during Tuesday's penalty shoot-out.
The Spaniard's unusual pose caused quite a stir after the semi-final victory against Chelsea. However, the Reds boss today told liverpoolfc.tv that he decided to sit simply so the supporters could see.
"The Chelsea players were standing up in front of the bench, but the supporters were then asking them to sit," said Benitez.
"We went to one side, but again the supporters couldn't see, so we sat down and watched. We were thinking about our people.
"It's true I was really calm because I had a lot of confidence in Pepe. He is very good at penalties. Also, the players I selected had been practising. They'd played against Pepe and Jerzy in almost every training session. I had a lot of confidence."
(LFC Official Website)

Reds in red for final date
Liverpool will wear their red home kit for the Champions League final against AC Milan on May 23.
Rafael Benitez's side had been named as the away team for the match in Athens but Milan have chosen to wear their all white strip.
That means the teams will be wearing the same colours as when they met in the 2005 final in Istanbul, when Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at half-time to win on penalties.
(Sporting Life)

Gerrard confirms deal talks
England midfielder Steven Gerrard has confirmed that he is in talks about signing a new contract at Liverpool.
It has been reported the new four-year deal will be worth £120,000 a week to the 26-year-old who has spent his entire career at Anfield.
Gerrard told the club's official website: "I'm in talks to extend my contract at Liverpool and I've never been happier with my football.
"I'd love nothing better than to get this contract sorted and signed, so I can understand where he (co-owner Tom Hicks) is coming from.
"We need to keep all of our big players here so it's very important we get the contracts sorted out so they can be here for a long time."
(Football UK)

Bread and butter for Benitez
Rafael Benitez will have to force his mind away from AC Milan and Athens on Saturday and back to completing Liverpool's league programme.
Once again he will find himself in a position to inadvertently influence the futures of other clubs with his team selections.
Liverpool, fresh from the momentous Champions League triumph over Chelsea, are back in west London to face relegation-haunted Fulham.
Craven Cottage is not one of Benitez's favourite grounds, and he will face a Fulham side under new coach Lawrie Sanchez desperate for a win.
That will make this a fierce, confrontational game, and one that Benitez will not want to risk too many of his potential first-choice side for the Champions League final on May 23 in Athens.
(PA Sport)

Gattuso: Liverpool a long ball side
The Champions League final may still be three weeks away, and the finalists only just decided, but Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has already kicked off the pre-match jibing.
The snarling Italian branded Liverpool a long ball side, in contrast to their arch-rivals, whom he claimed are technically superior.
"I feel there is a difference between United and Liverpool and we beat the best side of the two," he said.
"United, at this moment, have far more technical players, players who are quick and able to do things on the ball. Liverpool do not have those individuals at all. They do not have that. What they have is a way of playing together, playing as a team.
"But they are more like an Italian team of 10 years ago. That is the way they play. All they try to do is defend together, with everybody behind the ball and just one striker. With Liverpool all they can do is play long ball, every ball is a long ball. It is very different to Manchester, who are a footballing team."
(Eurosport)

Heighway fumes at 'crazy' Benitez
Former Liverpool academy coach Steve Heighway says manager Rafael Benitez's decision to assume control of the club's youth policy is "crazy".
Heighway left his job last week after 18 years in charge, following their FA Youth Cup win over Manchester United.
He told The Times: "Rafa is a terrific manager, but I think I'm the best coach of 17 and 18-year-olds in this club.
"But I no longer get the chance to do that. It's crazy, mad and it's to the detriment of the young players here."
Heighway, who oversaw the development of Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, added: "If they are not working with the best coach of young players, then what is this football club doing?
"It's not an ego thing, but one thing I am absolutely sure about is that the best thing for the players is to be with me."
(BBC Sport Online)

Bolo jinx ended
Bolo Zenden has finally been part of a semi-final winning team.
Zenden has a record in semi-finals comparative to Chelsea. He lost in five of them before finally being part of a winning team on Tuesday night.
"It feels fantastic to be in the final. At the same time, you can't really believe it because you work so hard and have game after game after game - then suddenly you're in the final. The whole night went so quickly," said the midfielder.
"I have played in a few semi-finals in my career. I've been beaten in semi-finals in the World Cup, the European Championships, the UEFA Cup and the Champions League, but now I'm going to be in the final.
"I don't think it's been a matter of a ghost for me, but afterwards people only talk about trophies and you do wonder about how close you have been when you add up the semi-final defeats. Nobody was saying I was a jinx though!"
(LFC Online)

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