SATURDAY 6
	Gerrard: 'We're in perfect form going into Chelsea showdown' Steven Gerrard has called on Liverpool to continue their winning run ahead of the game against league leaders Chelsea on Sunday. Liverpool are unbeaten in three games in all competitions and have climbed away from the bottom of the table following league wins against Blackburn, Bolton and a midweek victory against Napoli in the Europa League. Speaking to Call Collymore, Gerrard said: “We’re on the back of three straight wins now and I think it’s ideal going in against Chelsea to have the confidence up rather than down." (talkSPORT) Young Reds hit Bolton for six Liverpool U18s returned to winning ways in sensational style on Saturday morning as they recorded a stunning 6-0 victory at Bolton Wanderers. The young Reds bounced back from their disappointing defeats to Blackburn and West Brom by romping to a comprehensive triumph over a side who had only previously conceded seven goals in their first 10 matches. Full-back Brad Smith fired Rodolfo Borrell's side into a first-half lead before Toni Silva added a quick-fire brace shortly after the break. Goals from Michael Ngoo, Adam Morgan and Krisztian Adorjan completed the rout. Afterwards, Borrell told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We bounced back after two bad results with a great team performance. "We need to keep working hard to improve day-by-day and not become overconfident after this massive result." Liverpool U18s: Belford, Smith, Coady, Adorjan, Aylmer (Sumner), Flanagan, Sterling (Walsh), Sama, Regan, Silva, Ngoo (Morgan). (LFC Official Website) John Obi Mikel relishes chance to pit his wits against Steven Gerrard Ever present in the Premier League, ever present in the Champions League – no one has played more games for Chelsea this season than John Obi Mikel. Liverpool have relied on two players too long and Fernando Torres is now going backwardsAt Anfield on Sunday afternoon, though, he faces his most imposing task: subduing a Steven Gerrard whose confidence is surging after his Europa League hat-trick against Napoli in midweek. “I think Gerrard is a great player,” Mikel said. “He will always be, no matter how the team plays. I think he’s a very good player and on Sunday he’s got to show what he’s capable of." (Telegraph.co.uk)   Carra: Chelsea cream of crop Jamie Carragher admits Chelsea are the Premier League's finest ahead of Sunday's Anfield encounter. Carragher accepts Liverpool will come up against the best team in England, but insists the Reds are more than ready for the challenge. "It'll be the biggest test. I think they're the best team in the country and have been for the last few years," the vice-captain told the club's official website. (Sky Sports)  Hodgson hopes Gerrard has more to give Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson hopes Steven Gerrard has something left in reserve after his second-half hat-trick heroics in the Europa League. Hodgson admitted he would have preferred to have kept his captain on the bench but hopes the 45-minute run-out will have been just enough to keep the 30-year-old ticking over ahead of the visit of the Premier League leaders. "I'm hoping he hasn't taken too much out of himself before Sunday, because we are going to need him to do that for the whole of the game against Chelsea," said the Reds boss, who had the luxury of leaving striker Fernando Torres out of his European squad on Thursday. (TEAMtalk)  PL reject Reds' globe-trotting plan Liverpool have been told that they would not be allowed to organise a money-spinning Premier League fixture overseas. New Reds co-owner Tom Werner revealed on Friday that he would be keen for the club to play a regular-season match abroad. The American's comments raised the spectre of 'the 39th game', the concept of an additional international round of matches floated by the Premier League two and a half years ago. That idea was shelved indefinitely after meeting massive opposition from clubs, fans and FIFA. And a Premier League spokesman said on Saturday that Liverpool and another top-flight club could not unilaterally stage a match outside of England. Werner had told BBC Sport: "Pre-season matches are great but why not have an actual match in season? "I think first of all the Premier League is the strongest league in the world and its reach is global. "It's been very impressive to me, the number of people globally who watch, and we hope to expand that imprint. "I think the more important the game, the more excitement." (TEAMtalk)
	FRIDAY 5
	Liverpool appoint new chairman Tom Werner (NESV Chairman) has been appointed the new chairman of Liverpool F.C. it has been announced today. Mr. Werner takes over for Martin Broughton who had served as Chairman of the club since last April when he was appointed by RBS to oversee the sale of the club. The new chairman believes in extending the EPL schedule to play a 39th game outside the U.K., he stated “pre season friendlies are great but why not have an actual match in season”. As far as investment in the club he assured the fans, “we’re men of our word. Any profits will be invested in the club”. (Empire Of The Kop) Carlo would love to boss Gerrard Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti admits he would love to manage Liverpool's Steven Gerrard in the future as he prepares to face the Reds at Anfield on Sunday. Gerrard smashed a hat-trick against Napoli in the Europa Cup on Thursday night and was also the catalyst for Liverpool's sensational comeback against Ancelotti's AC Milan side in the final of the 2005 Champions League. When asked if he would ever like to manage the England midfielder, Ancelotti replied: "Yes, obviously he's one of the best players in the world and I'd like to manage him one time in the future. In the future, eh?" (Press Association Sport)   Shelvey inspired by 'phenomenal' Gerrard Two of Liverpool's up-and-coming youngsters, Jonjo Shelvey and Nathan Eccleston, aim to draw inspiration from captain Steven Gerrard. The England midfielder's hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Napoli last night capped an impressive 45-minute performance after coming off the bench at half-time. "It was great to be a part of that and Stevie is just phenomenal," said the 18-year-old Shelvey, whose run set up the equalising goal." (TEAMtalk) Hodgson wary of one-man team Roy Hodgson does not want to become the next Liverpool manager who is dependent on the heroics of Steven Gerrard. But while the current Liverpool boss has already admitted that he owes the England international a debt of gratitude, he also wants his entire squad to prove their worth. "I want every player to step up to the plate and do not want us to be totally dependent on Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres," said Hodgson ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea. "I want us to be dependent on the players who have been given the Liverpool shirt and given contracts at this big club." (Sky Sports)  Carra: Gerrard's simply the best Jamie Carragher believes captain Steven Gerrard is the best player in Liverpool's history and the most influential of the Premier League era. Gerrard came off the bench with his team trailing 1-0 to Napoli in the Europa League at half-time last night and produced a 45-minute performance which was head and shoulders above anything else on display. "Stevie is just an unbelievable talent, we all know that," said Carragher. "We have seen him do things like he did last night time and again during his career." (TEAMtalk)   Linda: Anfield really is special Linda Pizzuti, the wife of NESV's principal owner John W Henry, has enthused on Twitter about her very first visit to Anfield to see a match after watching Steven Gerrard spark a stunning second-half comeback against Napoli at Anfield last night. (LFC Official Website)  Cech: Pressure on Reds Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech admits the pressure is on Liverpool ahead of their big showdown on Sunday. Cech feels Liverpool need to beat the league leaders if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four this season. "If they really want to show that they want to compete for finishing in the top four then they need to start winning games and winning games against the strong teams," Cech told the Daily Telegraph. (Sky Sports)  New owner, but same old Steven Gerrard to the rescue It may have been a first time for John W Henry, but it was something Liverpool supporters have witnessed again and again. On his debut at Anfield, the club's new American owner saw Steven Gerrard ride to the rescue and transform an imminent Europa League defeat into glorious victory while sparing Roy Hodgson another inquest. With a lacklustre Liverpool trailing to Napoli at the interval, the call came. And how Gerrard responded, stepping off the bench to score a remarkable hat-trick inside the final 15 minutes and move the Anfield outfit to the brink of qualification. Even by his own lofty standards, this was a special achievement, the fourth and undoubtedly finest treble of a glittering career. (Liverpool Daily Post)
	THURSDAY 4
	Hodgson hails Gerrard impact Roy Hodgson saluted the 'outstanding' impact of Steven Gerrard after the skipper came off the bench to fire home a second-half hat-trick in the 3-1 Europa League win over Napoli on Thursday night. He told his post-match press conference: "He was outstanding. I think that in the first half we hadn't played that badly. I thought we were a bit unlucky to be a goal down at half-time to an error that was punished. "But certainly in the second half his entry onto the field was a catalyst. It galvanised the crowd and the team. The way he scored the first goal epitomises the energy and spirit the team showed in the second half. "I'm delighted we got a reward for it but we do owe a big debt of gratitude to him. But I'm sure he'd be the first to join me in saying that it was a good team performance in the second half as well. (LFC Official Website) Gerrard shares the credit Liverpool match-winner Steven Gerrard shared the credit with his team-mates despite single-handedly earning them a 3-1 win over Napoli. Gerrard told five: "We went a goal down and the manager asked me to come on and see if I could help get the lads back in it. Every one of the lads in the second half was just fantastic." (TEAMtalk)  Mazzarri: 'We handed it to Gerrard' Walter Mazzarri felt the referee was “influenced by the atmosphere” at Anfield, but also confessed Napoli helped Steven Gerrard to a hat-trick. The Partenopei were leading 1-0 through Ezequiel Lavezzi and largely dominated the first half, but ran out of steam and succumbed to a Gerrard hat-trick in the final 15 minutes. “I did not like the way the referee dealt with the game in the second half, but we were also naive, such as in the incident for the equaliser,” the Coach told Mediaset Premium after this 3-1 loss. “Gerrard is a great player, no doubt, but if we hadn’t been so naive as to put that backpass in there...” (Football Italia)   Gerrard shows the way Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard came to his side’s aid once again as his late hat-trick inspired the side to a Europa League victory against Napoli which highlighted the gulf in class within the squad. The Reds were deservedly behind to Ezequiel Lavezzi’s goal after a dire first-half performance but the England midfielder’s introduction at the interval changed the dynamic. Gerrard, as he always has, led from the front and scored three goals in the final 15 minutes to extend Liverpool’s lead at the top of Group K. It also made it two wins and two draws in the last four matches and ensured the side’s mini-revival did not come crashing to an end before it had chance to gather momentum. That Gerrard made such a difference highlighted the deficiencies on the playing staff at Anfield, with the side operating the vast majority of the second half with five central midfielders in a variety of other positions. The captain put the rest of his team-mates to shame. (Evening Echo)   Kuyt hopes for Chelsea return Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt is hoping to return to action for the crunch clash with Chelsea at the weekend. Roy Hodgson's Reds take on the Premier League champions at Anfield on Sunday with Kuyt having not played since suffering ankle ligament damage whilst on international duty with Holland last month. The 30-year-old tireless worker has made a quicker recovery than expected and will resume full training on Friday. On his chances of facing the Blues, he said: "It depends on how the next couple of days go. "Hopefully the team training will be okay and at the end of the day it will be up to the manager." (Sky Sports)  Johnson returns Glen Johnson returns to the Liverpool side for tonight's Europa League showdown with Napoli. The full-back has shrugged off a muscle injury in time to make his first appearance since October 3 and is one of six changes to the side that won at Bolton. Christian Poulsen, Jay Spearing, Jonjo Shelvey, Milan Jovanovic and David Ngog also start. Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Poulsen, Spearing, Meireles, Shelvey, Jovanovic, Ngog. Subs: Hansen, Gerrard, Lucas, Wilson, Kelly, Skrtel, Eccleston (LFC Official Website) Drogba wary of Liverpool threat Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is aware of the threat posed by Liverpool's mini-revival ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash. "There is never a good time to go to Anfield because they are a very strong team," said Drogba. "They will try to use this game to start their season, so we have to be ready." (Sky Sports)  Dagenham snap up Liverpool star on loan Liverpool's rising star Victor Palsson has joined League One side Dagenham And Redbridge on loan. The 19-year-old has been captaining the reserve side at Anfield but has now made the move south to get competitive experience. The versatile Icelander can play at the centre of either defence or midfield and will offer much needed quality to a Dagenham side that finds itself second from bottom of League One. The teenager joined Liverpool on a two-and-a-half-year deal in 2009 from Danish side AGF Aarhus and has represented his country at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 levels. Palsson arrives on a youth loan deal that is scheduled to end on January 4. Liverpool have also granted the player permission to play in the FA Cup for The Daggers. (talkSPORT) Malouda out of Liverpool clash Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed in-form forward Florent Malouda will miss Chelsea's Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday. Malouda sat out the club's victory over Spartak Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday after picking up an ankle injury against Blackburn the previous weekend. It had been suggested that the France international would be fit for the trip to Anfield, but Ancelotti has revealed Malouda will not be in squad. Malouda is Chelsea's top scorer this season with seven goals in the Premier League, one more than Didier Drogba. Frank Lampard is in contention after overcoming a setback following groin surgery. "We hope Frank can play," Ancelotti said. Michael Essien and John Terry were also absent for the win over Spartak but will in all probability return to face Roy Hodgson's Liverpool. "John Terry I rested because he played a lot of games and I want to maintain the players' fitness," Ancelotti confirmed. "Essien had a little problem on his toe but will be fit for the game against Liverpool." (ESPN staff) Hodgson ‘more than impressed’ by NESV Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson says he has been “more than impressed” by initial meetings with the club’s new owners, New England Sports Ventures. Hodgson said, “The owners are very interesting people and every discussion you have with them is a pleasurable one because they have good questions and clear ideas and they listen to what you have to say,” Hodgson said. “I have been more than impressed. Sometimes people buy clubs and you don’t see or hear them but it has been quite the opposite." (This is Anfield) Thor Zakariassen ©