SUNDAY 9
	'I want to stay as manager' Rafael Benitez has today spoken of his desire to remain as Liverpool manager and insisted that "no-one" at the club wants to sell Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard. The boss revealed he has held positive talks with Chairman Martin Broughton and will hold another meeting with the Reds chief next week. "I had a meeting with the chairman and it was positive," Benitez told his post match press conference at Hull City. "We will have another one this week and we will talk about the future again. "I have shown my commitment for years, and if I stay I am not thinking about selling Gerrard or Torres. I do not want to sell them." (LFC Official Website)     Who is Jack Robinson? Jack Robinson became Liverpool's youngest ever player when he came on against Hull City on Sunday aged 16 years and 250 days. The Warrington-born defender broke a record set by Max Thompson, who made his debut at the age of 17 years and 129 days in 1974. (LFC Official Website)   Reds held by Tigers Hull City have bowed out of the Premier League with a credible goalless draw with Liverpool at the KC Stadium. Despite Aston Villa's shock home defeat by Blackburn, Liverpool have missed out on sixth place after being held in East Yorkshire. City have dropped a place to 19th in the final standings after Burnley came from two down to claim a surprise 4-2 win over Spurs. (Sky Sports)     El Zhar faces Hull Nabil El Zhar makes his first start of the season in this afternoon's clash at Hull City. The Moroccan international is one of two changes to the side that lost to Chelsea, with Ryan Babel coming in for the injured Maxi Rodriguez. There is also a place on the bench for Martin Skrtel and Academy starlet Jack Robinson, who could become the youngest ever Reds player if he makes it onto the field. Liverpool: Reina, Mascherano, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel, Aquilani, El Zhar. Subs: Cavalieri, Ngog, Degen, Skrtel, Ayala, Robinson, Pacheco. (LFC Official Website) Carlo: We don't need Torres Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed claims he is set to make a summer bid for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. Rumours have circulated that the Italian tactician has approached the Spaniard after the Reds failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this term. However Ancelotti, who is hoping to wrap-up the Premier League title on Sunday afternoon, believes Torres is no better than the strikers he currently has at his disposal. When asked whether an approach had been made, Ancelotti told Independent Sport: "No, I don't think so, because with (Didier) Drogba and (Nicolas) Anelka it's too similar. "Torres is a fantastic player but it's better to grow players with this ability in the academy. We have a very good squad for next season. "It's not an old team, we have players with experience, ability and skills. After the FA Cup final we will have a meeting with Roman (Abramovich) and take a decision about next season." (Sky Sports) Benitez set to reject Juventus Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is set to reject a move to Juventus. After giving Benitez until tomorrow to make a decision, Juventus are ready to look to bring back former player and coach Didier Deschamps from Marseille after being hit by a compensation demand from Liverpool believed to be £10m. (tribalfootball.com)   Wilson poised to make Liverpool move Rangers defender Danny Wilson is set to seal a move to English giants Liverpool in the next seven days. The Scottish PFA young player of the year will be transferred after the conclusion of the season. Wilson has one year on his contract, and if he had stayed until next year Rangers would have picked up £500,000 compensation. It would now appear that his move next week will be worth around £2 million plus add ons for Rangers. (Vital Football)
	SATURDAY 8
	Maxi out of Hull trip Rafael Benitez has confirmed Liverpool will be without the services of Maxi Rodriguez for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at Hull City - but Jamie Carragher is fit to face the Tigers. The duo both sustained knocks during last weekend's Anfield encounter against Chelsea, with Carragher twisting his ankle and Maxi picking up an adductor injury. Both players were rated as doubtful for the trip to the KC Stadium, but Benitez has revealed Carragher will be able to take on Iain Dowie's side. "Carra is okay, he is fine. I think he can play - we will see today in the last training session," the boss told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Maxi cannot play because he has a problem in his adductor." (LFC Official Website) Owen backs Carragher for England Michael Owen would not have a worry about old friend Jamie Carragher being drafted into England's World Cup squad for South Africa. Capello is due to name his 30-man provisional party on Tuesday and with doubts over so many key defenders has apparently had one last go at persuading Carragher to make himself available again. The Liverpool stalwart retired from international duty three years ago and has repeatedly stressed since he has no regrets about the decision. Yet it seems the 32-year-old is having a change of heart and could be in the expanded squad Capello takes to Austria for the first of two training camps later this month. As a former team-mate for both club and country, Owen knows Carragher better than most. And, speaking in Manchester at the launch of the new Kitbag World Cup store, a special 7,000sq ft department dedicated to the greatest show on earth, which begins in Johannesburg on June 11, the striker has given the prospect of Carragher playing for his country again his unqualified support. "Jamie has been there and done it for club and country," he said. "Whether he goes or not, he would be one of the last people you would worry about depending on." (TEAMtalk) Ince at the double for Reds Liverpool U18s wrapped up their Barclays Premier Academy League season with a comprehensive 4-0 victory at Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon. Rodolfo Borrell's men turned in a sensational performance on a difficult surface to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches. Michael Ngoo opened the scoring for the Reds before captain Conor Coady added a second, just days after making his Reserves debut. Tom Ince sealed the three points with a well-taken brace to ensure the Liverpool youngsters ended the season in style. Liverpool U18s: Oldfield, Poor (Ihiekwe), Wisdom, Sama, McGiveron, Roddan, Coady, Sterling, Ince, Adjoran (Roberts), Ngoo (Emilsson). Subs: Chamberlain, Silva. (LFC Official Website) Carragher set for England return? Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is reportedly set to end his three-year international exile and answer Fabio Capello's World Cup SOS. Carragher quit the England scene three years ago after becoming frustrated at his lack of appearances. He won the last of his 34 caps against Brazil in May 2007 but was already harbouring serious doubts over his future having been consistently overlooked, first by Sven-Goran Eriksson and then Steve McClaren. Although Carragher has repeatedly claimed he has no regrets about the decision, Capello never gave up hope the 32-year-old would change his mind in an emergency. And, with Joleon Lescott and Wes Brown major doubts after missing the back end of the season through injury, Rio Ferdinand only just recovered from a groin problem and Ledley King unable to train due to chronic knee trouble, that emergency has arrived. A number of national newspapers claimed on Saturday that Capello, who is due to name his 30-man provisional squad on Tuesday, is set to include Carragher. King could be named in the squad. Two training camps in Austria and friendlies against Mexico and Japan offer the perfect chance to see how both men fit in to the Italian's planning. The final 23-man squad is announced on June 1, although, crucially, replacements required due to injury would not have to come from the seven men culled from the original party. (TEAMtalk) Broughton: Gerrard and Torres will not be sold Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton has promised supporters that neither Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres will be sold to service the club’s debt. There have been fears for many months that Liverpool’s financial plight under the current ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett would mean a top name would have to be sacrificed to meet loan repayments. With Christian Purslow having failed to find investment since he was made managing director, Hicks and Gillett appointed Broughton and Barclays Capital to unearth an investor who would be willing to buy Liverpool in its entirety. Still, however, there are worries that Torres and/or Gerrard could go after what has been a hugely disappointing season. “There’s absolutely no reason to sell either Torres or Gerrard,” said Broughton. (Liverpool Echo)
	FRIDAY 7
	Reds reveal losses Liverpool's parent company have announced losses of £54.9million for the last year. Overall, the club's finances have taken a hit as, in accounts to 31st July 2009, they made an operating loss before tax of £16million - down from a £10.2million profit the previous year. Kop Holdings, the company set up by Tom Hicks and George Gillett to buy the club, continues to run up more debt as annual interest repayments on loans taken out to finance the purchase rose by £3.6million to £40.1million. (Sky Sports) Reds reveal £4m Parry pay-off Former Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry received a £4.295million pay-off when he left last summer, according to club's accounts. The sum was apparently negotiated with former chairman David Moores around the time current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett entered the bidding to buy Liverpool back in 2007. Under the terms of the deal, Parry received £4.238million in emoluments - the total remuneration for salary and bonuses - and a further £57,000 in company pension contributions. It is understood to be one of the biggest pay-offs ever to a sports administrator, dwarfing the £1.2million Brian Barwick received when he left his post as Football Association chief executive in December 2008 and Keith Edelman's £1.5million deal from Arsenal in the same year. Parry, who became Liverpool's chief executive in July 1998, announced he was quitting Liverpool in February last year after enduring difficulties in his relationships with both manager Rafael Benitez and Hicks, and eventually departed in the summer. (TEAMtalk) Roma coach Ranieri targets Liverpool midfielder Roma are chasing Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun. The Israel international was linked with Roma in January and he is now a top summer target for coach Claudio Ranieri. (tribalfootball.com)  Time for Rafa Benitez to tell us the facts over his future at Liverpool FC This newspaper had its issues with Gerard Houllier. A control freak, supremely sensitive to even the mildest of criticism – and a man who refused to countenance any suggestion that he might have got anything wrong . . . ever. Yet when it came to the crunch, Gerard Houllier accepted that no individual was bigger than Liverpool Football Club. He relinquished his management of the club graciously, with enormous dignity and in a manner which reflected well on all parties. He even posed for pictures on the Anfield pitch. It’s a lesson in humility the current Liverpool manager would do well to heed. I’m a supporter of Benitez. I believe his departure would harm Liverpool Football Club. I certainly want him to stay. But at the moment he’s playing Liverpool Football Club – and its fans – like a harp. If Rafael Benitez wants to stay at Liverpool Football Club, why not tell us forcefully, unequivocally and clearly? (David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)   Real Madrid set to swoop for ‘uncertain’ Gerrard Real Madrid are believed to be ready to swoop for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. The 29-year old midfielder is reportedly uncertain about his future at Anfield and the Spanish giants want to exploit that by offering an improved £30million. (tribalfootball.com)  Mascherano leaves Liverpool anxious over new contract signing Javier Mascherano is still to sign a new contract with Liverpool. Two months ago manager Rafa Benitez confidently predicted the Argentina captain and goalkeeper Jose Reina would commit their long-term futures to the club. Reina has already done so, signing a six-year deal, but Mascherano's contract is yet to be finalised. Benitez's departure appears to be becoming increasingly unlikely with his agent Manuel Garcia Quilon providing almost daily updates on the situation. "At the moment it is more likely that Rafa will remain in England," he told calciomercato.it. However, he stressed Benitez needed some positive news on the financial front. "The aspect of investment on the team is important because Liverpool need reinforcements," he added. (tribalfootball.com) Thor Zakariassen ©