Liverpool Live

YOSSI FEE AGREED, BABEL TALKS BEGIN

Admin — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:57:48 +0000

Paul Eaton 11 July 2007

Liverpool have agreed a fee with West Ham for the transfer of Yossi Benayoun as the Reds also look to secure a deal to bring Dutch youngster Ryan Babel to Anfield.

Benayoun has agreed to join the Reds after rejecting an offer of a new contract at West Ham United while Babel, the star of Holland’s success in the recent European Under-21 Championships, has been given permission to talk to Liverpool.

Chief Executive Rick Parry said today: “We’ve agreed the fee with West Ham for Yossi Benayoun.

“We’re not quite there with Ryan Babel yet, but we’ve now been given permission by Ajax to talk to the player. We hope to reach an agreement with Ajax very shortly.”

REDS WELCOME JOHNSON TO THE ACADEMY

Admin — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:10:50 +0000

Mark Platt 09 July 2007

Liverpool Football Club have added the highly-regarded Paul Johnson to their new-look backroom team at the Academy.

Johnson has taken over the role of Recruitment Manager at the Kirkby-based complex, succeeding the recently departed Barry Whitbread.

He joins the club from Blackburn, where he held a similar post and arrives with an impressive track record.

Previous to working for Rovers he’d spent 15 years at Crewe as part of their renowned youth set-up.

Academy Head of Recruitment Malcolm Elias told Liverpoolfc.tv today: “We are delighted to have Paul on-board. He’s an excellent addition to our team.

“His record at Crewe needs no introduction and his reputation was such that he was head hunted by Blackburn just six months ago.

“He’ll be given a specific responsibility for recruiting local players in the six to 14 age bracket and starts work today.”

New Academy Technical Manager Piet Hamberg also starts his employment with the Reds today as the new era gets underway in earnest.

JAVIER BAGS ANOTHER IN ARGENTINA ROUT

Admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:07:37 +0000

Jimmy Rice 09 July 2007

Javier Mascherano bagged himself another Copa America goal during Argentina’s 4-0 quarter-final thrashing of Peru on Sunday night.

The 23-year-old added to his first-round goal against Paraguay with a poacher’s effort on 74 minutes.

Mascherano has yet to break his duck in 11 games for the Reds, but now has two goals in 28 appearances for Argentina.

He’ll be looking to add to that tally in his country’s semi-final clash with Mexico on Wednesday.

Watch Mascherano Goals Clip Videos :Here

WATCH HAT-TRICK HERO BES SINK WREXHAM

Admin — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 15:02:56 +0000

Steve Hunter 08 July 2007

Austrian striker Besian Idrizaj scored a 22-minute first half hat-trick as Liverpool won their first pre-season friendly 3-2 at Wrexham, and we invite you to watch the highlights online.

Besides watching the highlights and goals you can also view the entire 90 minutes from an entertaining afternoon at the Racecourse Ground.

Rafael Benitez fielded two teams in the match with a selection of senior and young players. Jermaine Pennant had a superb match for Liverpool and the winger set up all of Idrizaj’s hat-trick.

To watch the highlights and Goals click here>> Video Clips

RAFA’S CHALLENGE TO HAT-TRICK HERO BES

Admin — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 19:15:49 +0000

Paul Eaton 07 July 2007

Rafael Benitez has challenged Besian Idrizaj to build on his hat-trick against Wrexham and fight for a place in his first team squad this season.

The Austrian under-21 international was the star of the show at the Racecourse Ground, netting three goals inside the first 26 minutes to set the Reds on their way to a 3-2 victory.

“It was a good work out for the boys and they will feel the benefit of playing 45 minutes of competitive football.

“We wanted to use some of the younger players with some of the senior players and I thought it was a good game for the supporters.

“Of course we are pleased with Besian. We know he is a talent and that he has ability but he needs to mature now as a striker. Can he fight for a first team place this season? It depends on him and how he improves over the year. We have a lot of competition for places in attack but you never know.”

Benitez will spend the coming week stepping up pre-season training at Melwood and indicated many of his missing stars at Wrexham will play their first football of the summer on Saturday at Crewe.

“I think most of them will play,” he said. “Some of them came back later than the others because of the international games but they’re in training now and should be involved at Crewe.”

ANDRIY VORONIN: THE FIRST INTERVIEW

Admin — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:49:54 +0000

Jimmy Rice 06 July 2007

The Reds’ new number 10 speaks to Liverpoolfc.tv about his decision to leave Germany after 12 years, his role at Anfield and his first impressions of the club.

We first heard of your move to Liverpool at the start of this year – how does it feel to finally be here?

It feels very good, of course. I am pleased to be here finally. I am very excited to be at a new club, and especially one where all the players and staff are so friendly. I’ve noticed how the atmosphere here is really good. The club is helping me and my girlfriend find somewhere to live. I’m currently living in a hotel but hopefully that’ll change in the next few days.

You’ve played in Germany since you were a teenager, why was now the right time to move to England?

After being in Germany for 12 years I felt it was time for a change, and then even more so when the offer came in from Liverpool. It’s such a famous and big club – one of the most famous in the world. You can’t resist an offer like that. The task in front of Liverpool at the start of every season is to win trophies and I want to be part of that. I want to help Liverpool achieve things.

How much do you know about the club and its history?

Some, but I don’t know all of it yet. I’m learning all the time though and I will soon be up to speed.

You played at Anfield for Leverkusen back in 2005. What was your impression of the club back then?

I will never forget that night, even though my team didn’t perform as well as we could. Even for an opposition player, the supporters and the atmosphere in that stadium were unforgettable, and definitely the thing I remember most from that match. The Liverpool fans are world famous, and though this was not the only reason I decided to join this club, it was certainly one of the main reasons. I can’t wait to play at Anfield in a red shirt.

What has Rafa told you about your role here?

As a striker, of course the main task for me is to score goals. That is my role.

How confident are you about forcing your way into the first team and becoming a success in English football?

I am confident. If I wasn’t confident, I would not have made the decision to come here. I feel I can adapt and be a success in the English game.

You’ve had your first training session at Melwood – how did you find that?

It was only a light training session yesterday, but I’m looking forward to getting started properly. The past two days I have been busy undergoing various tests here at Melwood.

How much are you looking forward to playing with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso?

It is a pleasure to play with such world-class players, but they are only two of the players at the club. Obviously they are two of the best players in Europe, and it’s very important for a striker to play with such great players. It makes it easy for strikers if there are top players playing behind them in midfield.

Have you been told when you are going to make your debut?

No, but I hope it will be against Crewe on July 14. That’s when it will probably be.

ANDRIY VORONIN Video Clips : Here

Rafa On Torres

Admin — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:00:53 +0000

Jimmy Rice 05 July 2007

Reds boss Rafa Benitez speaks to Liverpoolfc.tv about the club’s new record signing.

How do you feel having just signed Fernando Torres for a club record fee?

I am really happy. We had some targets, he was one. To bring a player like him here is important for us. I hope he can score a lot of goals and play well. Then everyone will say it was a fantastic signing.

What have Liverpool got in Fernando – what can the fans expect?
I think he’ll be a very good player for the supporters. He’s a player they will like because he has passion, he is a hard worker, he can score goals and fight for every ball. For defenders, he’ll be a big problem. Our supporters will enjoy him.

He’s just 23-years-old – is he the finished article?

It’s clear you can work with him and you need to work with him, because he needs to improve some things. But his strengths are the key. With the power and the strength he has, he can give us a new dimension.

La Liga is very different from the Premiership – do you think it will be easy for him to adapt?

I think so. Dirk Kuyt was similar. He was a player we knew could work hard over 90 minutes, and Fernando is the same. He is really strong and he can fight with defenders, that’s not a problem for him.

Will his presence turn Liverpool into genuine title contenders?

You know my idea, we are improving, but the other teams will improve I’m sure. We’ll have to wait to see how the season starts but we have another option now, another player. The key for me is that he wanted to come. If he had to leave Atletico Madrid, it had to be to come here.

Is it right he has taken a pay cut to come here?

Yes, it’s true. He had a good contract at Atletico Madrid because he was the icon of the team, the captain, and he’d been there for many years. He was the top scorer. It’s difficult to move a player like him, but he decided to come and he reduced his wages. When you talk about him, everything is positive in terms of his commitment for us.

Is this the kind of signing you were talking about after Athens when you said the club needed to improve and act quickly?

Yes, we needed to go one or two steps forward and with the signing of Fernando we know we are progressing. We are working hard and we will continue trying to find players who are right for us. Fernando will be an important player for us.

The new owners really seem to have put their money where their mouths are. Do you see this signing as a signal of intent on their part?

Yes, I think so. I’ve been talking about targets with Rick Parry and the new owners. At the same time people were saying things but we couldn’t come out and say anything because we were working on getting things done. Now, we have signed this player and it shows people that the new owners want to win trophies at Liverpool.

Does the price tag put a lot of pressure on Fernando and do you think he has the character to cope with it?

I think so. He was playing for Atletico Madrid where the supporters were very good. But in the last year they have not done so well and the pressure has been really high. He was the captain and he was managing with this pressure. I think he can do this with us.

He’s been handed the number nine shirt vacated by Robbie Fowler. Those are pretty big boots to fill, aren’t they?

Number nine is always the number of the striker and top scorer for the team. At the end of the day a shirt is not a big difference, but maybe it can help. Because it was Robbie who had that shirt, maybe this will mean something to him.

Have you got a goals target in mind for Fernando?

I think we will have good enough players to score a lot of goals. I am not the kind of manager who wants to have a player who’ll score 20, but the team finishes fifth. I prefer three or four players with 15 goals, then we’ll finish a little bit higher.

When can we expect him to make his Reds debut?

He will need to rest a little bit because in Spain the season finishes later than here in England. On July 11 he will come back, start training, and for sure he will play in Switzerland.

Can we expect more new signings?

Yes, we will continue to work, but you know my idea, I don’t like to talk a lot about possible names

FERNANDO SET FOR SWISS DEBUT

Admin — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:36:53 +0000

Jimmy Rice 04 July 2007 Fernando Torres is likely to make his Liverpool debut against either Werder Bremen or Auxerre when the Reds travel to Switzerland later this month.

The Spaniard will now head back to his homeland after completing his move to Anfield and will not return until July 11.He is unlikely to feature against either Wrexham on July 7 or Crewe on July 14, but will travel to central Europe with his new teammates on July 17.”For sure he will play in Switzerland,” Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv.

Stay logged on to the club’s official website for exclusive interviews with both Fernando Torres and the boss.

10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT TORRES

REDS CONFIRM GARCIA EXIT

Admin — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:32:23 +0000

Jimmy Rice 03 July 2007

Liverpool Football Club has today confirmed the sale of Luis Garcia to Atletico Madrid.

The 29-year-old Spaniard leaves Anfield after three seasons in which he made 121 appearances and scored 30 goals.

Garcia was paraded to the Spanish press this afternoon before starting his second spell at the Vicente Calderón Stadium.

HUNGARIAN DUO COMPLETE ANFIELD SWITCH

Admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:52:35 +0000

Mark Platt 02 July 2007

Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon have officially completed their transfers from MTK Hungaria to Liverpool.

The pair starred for Hungary in last year’s UEFA under-17 Championships and then impressed during a trial spell at Melwood.

Nemeth, 18, is a striker who can also operate in midfield, while Simon, 17, is solely a forward.

Both have agreed three-year contracts and will start life at Liverpool as part of Gary Ablett’s reserve team squad.