lfctalk
edward224
redroman77
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Yossi Benayoun has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Anfield until 2013.
The 29 year old has been given a two year extension to the deal that was set to expire in the Summer of 2011. The Israel international scored nine goals in forty-two outings last season.
“I am very happy that we have reached an agreement. Of course, to be at a club like this is a dream come true and I want to keep playing here.” he told Liverpoolfc.tv
“Hopefully now I can concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play better and better and win some silverware.”
Benayoun becomes the latest in a line of key squad members committing to the club following Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt.
“You know that our idea was to extend the contracts of some players and Yossi was one of these players.” said Benitez.
“He has been really good for us over the last year, scoring crucial goals and getting assists, so we wanted to keep him and I’m really pleased with the extension.”
Filed under: Opinion
LFC Talk is looking to find out who the fans favourite ever Liverpool striker is.
We want you to vote for your number one Reds frontman of all time…SO CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW!!!
Filed under: News
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Tom Hicks financial position appears to be worsening as he looks set to be forced out of one of his American sports franchises.
Reports in the US are claiming that he has had to borrow millions of dollars from Major League Baseball’s money men.
“He won’t be running the team much longer,” said a source at Major League Baseball.
“Major League Baseball is helping him through this until someone else can be put in place to run the club.”
Hicks’s financial problems are unlikely to affect the refinancing of his and George Gillett’s £350m loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Former Anfield hero Michael Owen has said that he “always clung to that hope” that he would one day play for rivals Manchester United.
“Manchester United, you automatically think winners, you think trophies, you think the stadium, the massive fan base, but until you sign you don’t really let yourself get carried away,” said Owen.
“There’s so many top players here, obviously it’s a very exciting time for me.”
“Right throughout the squad they are obviously a fantastic team with fantastic players, that’s why they’ve all won so much throughout their careers, and hopefully I can jump on the bandwagon, score a few goals, and help us to further success.”
Having played for Liverpool, where he won European Footballer of the Year in 2001, and Real Madrid, for one brief season, Owen is used to being surrounded by top talent – despite playing for a mediocre, and relegated, Newcastle United.
Owen, who had been linked with modest clubs such as Hull, Stoke and Burnley, admits that he did not expect United to come knocking.
“A few days ago I never really had it in my wildest dreams,” said Owen.
“I probably won’t sleep at night thinking about all the top players I’m going to be playing alongside, so there’s a lot to think about and a lot to get excited about.”
Owen will also benefit from the full backing of Ferguson, having known for some time his new manager was an admirer of his talents.
“In the last few years I had an idea that the manager obviously thought I had something, so I always clung to that hope that he would ask me to come and play for him one day,” he added.
“I’m not silly, I know there will be some people saying maybe the manager shouldn’t have signed me.”
“That gradually goes in time and as soon as the first game kicks off, I can do my talking on the pitch.”
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Reserve duo Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby have signed new contracts with the club.
They have been in talks with the Reds money men for the last couple of months and terms have been agreed on long-term contracts for the pair.
This was the last season on their previous agreements, but the pair will now remain at Anfield for the foreseeable future.
Diminutive midfielder Spearing made his first appearance in the first-team as a substitute against Real Madrid at Anfield last season, impressing against the Spanish giants.
Versatile defender Darby made three outings for the first-team, mainly in the Carling Cup side.
The duo are expected to put pen-to-paper on the contracts next week when the playing squad return for pre-season training.
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Kenny Dalglish will take a senior role at the Liverpool academy and will act as a club ambassador, the club have confirmed.
Recently appointed Managing Director Christian Purslow said: “In our very first meeting Rafa and I agreed that we wanted to try and bring Kenny back to the club to help Rafa really drive forward our Academy which is at the heart of our plans for the future. We are delighted he has agreed to join us and I am sure he will be very successful in his new role back at the club.”
Click here to discuss this in our forum
It is being reported that former Liverpool striker Michael Owen is set to undergo a medical today ahead of a move to Manchester United.
Once an Anfield hero, Owen has seen his career nosedive since leaving the club in 2004 for Real Madrid and, subsequently, Newcastle United – where his contract expired on Wednesday.
Hull, Stoke and Burnley had all been credited with an interest in Owen and it seemed his options may be restricted to the lower half of the Premiership table, but Alex Ferguson has sensationally stepped in to swoop for the frontman’s signature.
Owen has suffered injury after injury in his time at St James’s Park, but still managed a very respectable goalscoring record of 30 from 79 appearances.
The 29 year old is reported to have had an intensive medical on his troublesome knee yesterday, before today’s full medical in Manchester.
There has been no official comment from Old Trafford, but it is expected that he will become a United player before the end of the weekend.
After losing both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez already this Summer, Alex Ferguson has been on the look out for new attackers. He has already signed Antonio Valencia from Wigan and now looks set to secure a replacement for Tevez.
Frenchman Karim Benzema was reported to be Ferguson’s first-choice striker, but Real Madrid offered a deal Lyon nor the player himself could refuse.
The switch to Old Trafford is unlikely to go down well with the Anfield crowd, especially as Owen had previously rejected a return to Liverpool in favour of a move to Newcastle after Real Madrid decided to offload him.
The Englishman has always divided opinion since leaving Anfield among the Reds faithful, but this is likely to swing all Reds against him.
Filed under: News
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Liverpool have today announced two new additions to their backroom team at Melwood.
Eduardo Parra Garcia will join as Fitness Coach, with rehabilitation work his main attribute, after deciding to leave his position with Celta Vigo to take up the offer of a new challenge at Melwood.
“It’s a dream come true for me to come and work with Rafa Benitez and the backroom staff at Liverpool FC,” he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
“I know all about Liverpool, the history, the passion of its amazing fans and of course the quality of its great players. I am really excited about working here.”
Ivan Ortega is also moving to Melwood from Spain and will take up a position within the medical team as a Sports Therapist. He was previously physio at Celta Vigo.
“I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to work in such a fantastic Club. Everyone knows Liverpool in Spain and around the world,” he said.
“Although it’s a new country and a new environment for me, I can’t wait to get started.”
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Barcelona are reported to be preparing a £25m bid for Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano.
The European champions have made it very clear that they see the diminutive midfielder as the perfect partner for Xavi and Andres Iniesta in their side.
The Mirror are claiming that Barcelona will offer Mascherano £80,000 a week, and the player’s agent, Walter Tamer, has previously claimed he would be interested in a move to the Nou Camp.
Losing Mascherano would be major headache for Rafael Benitez, especially as Xabi Alonso looks increasingly likely to return to Spain with Real Madrid sooner rather than later.
The financial situation at Anfield could see Benitez forced into selling not one but both of his midfield duo – which would leave him desperately searching the market for replacements having already missed out on Gareth Barry.
Click here to discuss this on our forum
Liverpool have lined up Udinese playmaker Gaetano D’Agostino as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, according to The Daily Mail.
Spanish reports are claiming that Real Madrid are moving very close to completing a double deal for Alonso and fellow Spaniard Alvaro Arbeloa.
Udinese are prepared to sell either D’Agostino or reported Manchester United target Alexis Sanchez if bidding tops the £17million mark.
27 year old Alonso is said to have his heart set on a move back to Spain with Real Madrid – and Rafael Benitez also faces an uphill battle to keep hold of Javier Mascherano, with Barcelona readying a bid.
Benitez is happy to cash in on Arbeloa, who only has a year left on his contract with Glen Johnson already signed to replace the right-back.
Juventus also want D’Agostino, who made his Italy debut against Northern Ireland last month, but have not been able to meet the asking price.
The 27-year-old is keen to move to Juve, but Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo has is becoming increasingly frustrated by negotiations.
“The deal must be resolved one way or another. If it isn’t completed by July 6 then it is destined to collapse.” he told Sky Italia.
“In my opinion, Juve have underestimated the value of the player. They don’t think he is the champion he actually is, and we’ll prove them wrong next season. He is worth all the money we are demanding.”
Sportsmail claim Udinese are seeking a similar figure for 20-year-old Chile forward Sanchez, whose agent has been in informal talks with Manchester United over a move to the Premiership champions.
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Xabi Alonso has dropped a major hint that he wants to join Real Madrid.
The midfielder was in Madrid on Monday night having dinner with his agent, Inaki Ibanez, and was approached by Spanish daily AS, who asked him about his future.
“I don’t know what is going to happen,” said Alonso. “It is up to the clubs to negotiate now.”
AS report that Liverpool have set a deadline of July 19 for the transfer to be completed, with right-back Alvaro Arbeloa also expected to complete a £5m switch to the Bernabeu.
The Spanish paper is notorious for propaganda in favour of Real Madrid, however.
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Andrea Dossena’a agent has revealed that the Italian is happy at Anfield and is no longer seeking a move back to Serie A.
The former Udinese left-back previously stated his satisfaction with life on Merseyside, but then he reversed that call by declaring himself ready to move to Juventus.
“Juve are on standby at the moment. They are making their mind up,” said agent Roberto La Florio.
“It seems like their first target is a midfielder and all their budget will be going towards that signing.”
“We are happy to stay at Anfield. There is no problem at all. I believe the Bianconeri won’t be buying either Andrea or Fabio Grosso. They will probably bank on Paolo De Ceglie and Cristian Molinaro.”
While Dossena is reported to be happy at Anfield, Rafael Benitez is said to be very keen to offload the flop.
Benitez is said to have touted the Italian to several clubs and only Juventus have shown mild interest in the defender at the price suggested. The Spaniard may consider cutting his losses and selling the full-back on the cheap, but even that may prove tricky.
Dossena was part of the Italy squad at the Confederations Cup. He scored an own goal against Brazil and reports suggest that could have been his last outing for his country while Marcello Lippi is in charge.
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders is in talks with Ryan Flynn about a possible return to Wrexham on loan next season.
The youngster spent the back end of last season on loan with the Welsh side and his agent has confirmed that Rafael Benitez wants to farm him out once again this season.
Saunders faces tough competition to sign the youngster, but hopes his previous time at the Racecourse will help persuade him to continue there.
However, Saunders is hopeful he can persuade Flynn to return to the Racecourse after a spell in North Wales gave the Scottish youngster’s career the perfect boost last season.
“I’m hopeful he’ll come to us, although I know he’s probably got options.” he said.
“I’m hoping he’ll come back to us, and I’m hoping he’ll come back training stronger and fitter as he’ll be a year older. Hopefully he’ll have learned from last year and the time he spent with us will have done him good.”
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes another temporary switch will continue Flynn’s development, and a number of clubs are interested in him.
“Liverpool are prepared to loan out Ryan during this summer’s transfer window.” said his agent, David Threlfall.
“This is a big year for Ryan and he wants to be playing regular first-team football to continue his development. I have had a few enquiries for Ryan and we will sit down and decide what is the best option for him before deciding where to go.”
Flynn is an academy graduate at Anfield, he made the step up in 2006 after being signed from Scottish outfit Falkirk.
He was a key part of the club’s successive FA Youth Cup wins, scoring in the final against Manchester City in 2006 and also hitting three goals during the 2007 season.
He is yet to make his senior debut for Liverpool but has featured in a number of pre-season friendlies.
Click here to discuss this in our forum
Winger Paul Anderson has made his loan move to Nottingham Forest a permanent one after signing a three year deal for £250,000.
The youngster never made the step up to the first-team at Anfield, but he believes he could be in line for top-flight football with his new club.
“Everyone’s ambition is to play in the Premiership and play at the highest level possible and I think we’re going to do that at this club.” he said.
“The ambition I’ve seen and the players I’ve seen at the club, there’s no reason why in the next couple of years we can’t be up in the Premiership.”
“I’d love to go back to Anfield one day and show them what they have missed out on really.”
Anderson, who scored two goals in 28 appearances for Forest last season, turned down the chance to sign for Swansea City.
He arrived at Anfield from Hull City in January 2006 but failed to live up to expectations and never made a competitive first team appearance.
