Padang Anfield: Julai 2010

Adakah terlalu yakin atau sengaja menempah jalan sukar? Itulah persoalan yang timbul apabila melihat barisan yang diterbangkan Roy Hodgson ke Macedonia untuk perlawanan rasmi pertama musim ini menentang FK Rabotnicki dalam pusingan ketiga Europa League. Ini kerana barisan ini masih belum membuktikan keampuhan dalam 2 perlawanan persahabatan sebelum ini.

Mungkin Hodgson yang lebih senang mengendalikan pemain bukan bintang lebih senang untuk memberi arahan kepada mereka atau masih mahu memberi peluang kepada pemain berstatus bintang untuk berehat lebih lama sebelum menggempur pemain Macedonia untuk mengenali European Night di Anfield.

Cavalieri, Aquilani, Agger, Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Lucas, Wilson, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Shelvey, Kelly, Skrtel, Eccleston, Ayala, Hansen, Gulacsi, Amoo, Dalla Valle, Ince.

Barisan Roy Hodgson masih kebuntuan gol

Kaiserslauten: 1

Liverpool Muda: 0

Masih belum cukup mantap dan matang skuad muda bimbingan Roy Hodgson yang diketuai oleh Lucas Leiva setelah gagal mencecah jaring untuk dua perlawanan berturut-turut. Walaupun pada minit-minit awal Ngog mendapat peluang tetapi gagal disempurnakan. Perlawanan ini merupakan yang pertama buat Milan Jovanovic yang telah beraksi 45 minit di sepanjang separuh masa pertama.

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Kelly (Ince 68), Ayala, Kyrgiakos (Irwin 77), Darby, Jovanovic (Degen 46), Spearing (Palsson 76), Lucas (Shelvey 74), Amoo, Ngog (Dalla Valle 73), Eccleston (Robinson 82). Subs not used: Gulacsi, Irwin, Hansen.

Kaiserslautern: Sippel, Bugera (Stulin 83), Amedick, Francisco, Dick (Hornig 88), Amri (Fuchs 75), Bilek (Kirch 57), Tiffer (Rivic 56), Ilicevic, Micanski, Nemec. Subs not used: Trapp, Schluz, Abel, Moravek, Hoffer.

Apa? Ingat aku tak hebat ke?

Mungkin berkat menjadi kapten siri perlawanan persahabatan Liverpool di pra musim ini, Lucas Leiva telah mendapat panggilan untuk mewakili Brazil ke perlawanan persahabatan menentang Amerika Syarikat pada 10 Ogos ini. Apakah mungkin ada unsur pilih kasih seperti mana Rafael Benitez yang sangat menggunakan Lucas sejak dua musim yang lepas kerana pengurus Brazil yang baru, Mano Menezes merupakan bekas pengurus Lucas sewaktu beraksi di Gremio.

Sinopsis perpindahan - (Empire of The Kop)

Weekly Transfer Rumour Round up – July 25th, 2010

By Antoine Zammit (Other posts by Antoine Zammit)

Here is my update for this week’s transfer activity, the percentage is strictly my prediction based on the different sources the stories are coming from.

Confirmed So Far:

In:
Jonjo Shelvey - The youngster has signed from Charlton Athletic for £1.7 million.
Milan Jovanovic – The Serbian has penned a 3 year contract.
Joe Cole – Joe has signed a four year contract is now our new No 10.
Danny Wilson – Finally happened, the youngster joined us from Rangers.

Out:
Mikel San Jose – The Spaniard who was on loan at Athletic Bilbao has now made the move permanent.
Fabio Aurelio -The Brazilian’s contract was not extended.
Yossi Benayoun - The Israeli has joined Chelsea.
Francisco Duran - The youngster has been released.
Emiliano Insua – The Argentinian is joining Fiorentina.
Albert Riera – The Spaniard moved to Olympiakos.

Not Confirmed & Rumours:

In:
Reto Ziegler – More talk about him filling the Left Back position, raising from 20% – 40%
Loic Remy - Nice are asking too much money, Lyon join the race, dropping from 50% – 25%
Taye Taiwo - Marseille President rules out move, however if Marseille sign a new left back then it might happen, dropping from 30% - 25%
Marcell Jansen – The German International is being linked – 25%
Maynor Figueroa – Nothing new here, dropping him from 30% – 20%
Klass-Jan Huntelaar – Was linked as a potential trade for Babel, raising from 15% – 18%
Tiago - The Portuguese has been linked as a possible replacement for Masch – 15%
Marcus Pedersen – The young Norwegian is being scouted – 15%
Sulley Muntari – Italian press is linking him as a potential trade for Mascherano – 15%
Bryan Ruiz – Nothing new but keeping him at 15% – 15%
Paul Scharner – Nothing new but keeping him at 15% - 15%
Edin Dzeko - Nothing new but keeping him at 15% - 15%
Victor Caceres -Nothing on this week, dropping from 15% – 12%
Ever Banega -Nothing new, dropping from 15% – 12%
Steven Defour – Nothing new, dropping from 15% – 12%
Wayne Bridge – The former Chelsea man is being linked but Manchester City don’t want to sell him – 10%
Park Chu-Young – Rumour is fading, dropping from 15% – 10%
Arda Turan - Rumour fading away, dropping from 15% - 10%
Paul Konchesky – Doesn’t look like it will happen, dropping from 10% – 7%
Christian Poulsen – No news this week, dropping from 10% – 6%
Rene Krhin – No news this week, dropping from 10% – 6%
Alou Diarra – No news this week, dropping from 10% – 10%
Stefan Kiessling - No news this week, dropping from 10% - 10%
Peter Crouch – No news this week, dropping from 10% - 10%
Keisuke Honda - No news this week, dropping from 10%- 10%
Diego Forlan – The People linked us with him today so we raise him - 9%
Asamoah Gyan – No news this week, dropping from 8% – 8%
Ashley Young – No news this week, dropping from 8% – 8%
Steve Taylor – No news this week, dropping from 8% – 8%
Gervinho - No news this week, dropping from 5% – 4%
Wayne Hennessey - dropping from 5% – 4%
Madjid Bougherra - dropping from 5% - 4%
Djibiril Cisse – Story dying dropping from 15% – 4%
Esteban Cabiasso - Story dying dropping from 4% – 2%
Yasuhito Endo – Story dying dropping from 4% – 1%
Stefano Okaka – Story dying dropping from 3% – 1%
Royston Drenthe – Story dying dropping from 3% – 1%
David Trezeguet - Story is dying, dropping from 5% – 1%
Fernando Gago – Story died - 0%
Diego Tardelli - Story died – 0%
Brede Hangeland – Roy can’t take any Fulham players - 0%
Rafael van der Vaart - Story died – 0%
Gilberto Silva – Story died – 0%
Daniel Opare – Story died – 0%
Stephen Ireland - Another story that died after Rafa left – 0%
Guiseppe Rossi – Can’t see this happening - 0%
David Bentley - Don’t see this happening – 0%
Giampaolo Pazzini - Does not look likely – 0%
Simon Kjaer - Nothing – 0%
Marijan Antolovic – Nothing – 0%
Micah Richards – No news – 0%
Roque Santa Cruz – Not happening – 0%
Simao – Nothing here - 0%
Oscar Cardozo – Not happening – 0%
Adam Federici - Nothing on this – 0%
Mesut Özil – Nothing on this - 0%
Yaya Toure – Signed with City – 0%
Gary Cahill - Was originally linked, faded - 0%
Juan Mata – Was originally linked, faded – 0%
Jesus Navas – Was originally linked, faded - 0%
Javi Martinez – Was originally linked, faded – 0%
Raul – Rumour – 0%
Adriano – Signed by Roma – 0%
Edin Dzeko – Rumour – 0%
Gareth Barry – Rumour - 0%
Nikola Zigic – Signed with Brum – 0%
Nedum Onuoha – Rumour - 0%
Michael Johnson – Rumour - 0%

Out:
Javier Mascherano - Looking more and more likely he will leave, increasing from 85% – 89%
Philipp Degen -Was told he can leave, he needs to find a club that takes him however – 85%
Ryan Babel – Was linked with AC Milan this week, raising from 45% - 49%
Nabil El-Zhar - Nothing new on him, dropping him from 40% – 30%
David N’Gog - Club wants to sell, but he wants to stay, raising from 10% - 25%
Diego Cavalieri - Looks like he is set to stay, dropping from 35% – 25%
Dani Ayala – Good performance against Grasshoppers, dropping him from 35% – 25%
Fernando Torres - Returning to Anfield on August 2nd but Hodgson admits that Nando is upset over broken promises by the club - 25%
Dirk Kuyt - Nothing new on this, dropping him from 30% - 15%
Krisztian Nemeth – No more on this, dropping from 15% – 10%
Daniel Pacheco – Don’t think Roy will let him go following his performance in the U19 European Championship, dropping from 10% – 5%
Lucas Leiva - Looks like he is staying, dropping from 10% - 5%
Glen Johnson - Staying at LFC – 0%
Alberto Aquilani – Staying – 0%
Steven Gerrard - Committed to Liverpool - 0%

Albert Riera pergi ke Greece?

Beberapa laman web telah menyatakan bahawa Olympiakos telah membeli pemain sayap buangan Rafalution, Albert Reira dengan harga £4.5 juta setelah disahkan oleh jurulatih mereka, Ewald Lienen. Harga tersebut merupakan rekod untuk kelab Greece tersebut. Roy Hodgson sebelum ini ada mengesahkan Liverpool sedang berurusan dengan Olympiakos selepas tidak menurunkan Riera sewaktu bertemu Grasshoppers di Switzerland semalam. Namun kenyataan rasmi masih belum diumumkan di lawan web rasmi LiverpoolFC.tv.

Gambar Burung lawan Belalang di Switzerland

(Gambar rembatan dari LiverpoolFC.tv seperti biasa)

Danny Wilson telah bersetuju dengan kontrak selama 3 tahun untuk bersama The Reds.

Kerja dalam cuti di Macedonia

Pasukan dari Macedonia, FK Rabotnicki akan menjadi lawan Liverpool di pusingan ke-3 Europa League selepas mengalahkan FC Mika dengan aggregat 1-0. Liverpool akan bertandang ke gelanggang lawan pada 29 Julai ini sebelum bermain di Anfield pada 5 Ogos. Walaupun pada asalnya perlawanan pertama sepatutnya dimainkan di Anfield, namun satu lagi pasukan Macedonia yang agak lucah namanya - FK Teteks juga melangkah ke pusingan ke-3 dan UEFA telah menetapkan untuk FK Teteks untuk bermain di Macedonia pada 5 Ogos. Dengan ini, perlawanan ini akan berselang dengan perlawanan persahabatan menentang Borussia Monchengladbach.

Burung tidak mampu makan Belalang

Grasshoppers: 0
Liverpool Muda: 0

Perlawanan pertama Roy Hodgson untuk Liverpool yang bertemu Grasshoppers di Switzerland berakhir dengan tanpa jaringan dari kedua-dua pasukan. Barisan Liverpool yang agak kurang berpengalaman diketuai oleh Lucas Leiva dan juga beberapa beberapa pemain utama seperti Alberto Aquilani dan David Ngog. Philipp Degen yang telah dihalau Hodgson juga diberi peluang untuk bermain manakala Albert Reira yang pernah dihalau Rafael Benitez hanya berada di bangku simpanan.

Perlawanan The Reds seterusnya adalah di Jerman menghadapi Kaiserslauten Sabtu ini.

Liverpool: Cavalieri (Gulasci 47); Darby, Kelly (Palsson 71), Ayala, Degen, Eccleston, Lucas (Ince 61), Spearing, Amoo (Robinson 81); Aquilani (Shelvey 61), Ngog (Dalla Valle 62).

Dengan lengkapnya kemasukan Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard pula menyertai Dirk Kuyt dan Fernando Torres dengan menyatakan taat setianya kepada The Reds. Jika Torres melalui gambarnya bersama trofi Piala Dunia, Gerrard melalui kata-katanya kepada laman web rasmi, Liverpoolfc.tv. Gerrard juga dikatakan sebagai tangan dibelakang tabir yang meyakinkan Cole untuk menyertai Liverpool dan bukannya Arsenal atau pun Tottenham Hotspur.

"I made it clear that I simply needed to concentrate on the World Cup and then have a decent holiday with my family,"

"I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately and, having done so, I'm very impressed with his plans for the future. I can't wait for the new season to start."

"I've told him what a great club this is and I'm sure Joe's the sort of exciting talent our fans will love to see. It is a great signing for us. I know Joe well through the England setup and have seen firsthand just how good a player he is.

"He has proved his ability over many years in the Premier League - sometimes against us - so it will be fantastic to play alongside him in a red shirt for Liverpool."

Joe Cole kini telah menyelesaikan semua pendaftaran, pemeriksaan perubatan dan juga telah pun mula berlatih di Bad Ragaz bersama pemain Liverpool yang lain. Ikuti temu bual pertamanya bersama LiverpoolFC.tv di bawah yang menyatakan kegembiraannya menyertai lebih-lebih lagi pernah berdepan Liverpool sewaktu European Night di Anfield. Cole juga amat berbangga apabila dianugerahkan nombor 10 yang pernah dipakai oleh lagenda Liverpool. Walaupun pada awalnya diberitakan Milan Jovanovic yang akan memakai nombor 10 namun gambar-gambar di bawah membuktikan sebaliknya.

First of all Joe, on behalf of our fans all over the world welcome to Liverpool Football Club...

Thank you very much. I'm glad to be here.

What have the past 48 hours been like?

They have been crazy. I set myself a deadline to make a decision and when I made it I sent a text to Christian Purslow and Steven Gerrard and then turned my phone off. I know I have made the right decision and I am looking forward to the challenge. This is a challenge for me. I have played in London all my life. I could have stayed at Chelsea because the fans loved me and I won things, but I wanted to challenge myself and when I knew Liverpool were interested it was a no-brainer because they are the biggest club in the country.

This is a massive club. I tried to take everything out of the equation, take the financial and location side out and just thought in football terms. I thought about the semi-final of the Champions League in 2005 when I ran onto the field and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I was thinking about playing in that atmosphere every week and that swung it for me.

How will you feel to have the fans who made so much noise in that semi-final on your side now?

That's the thing I am looking forward to. You talk to Liverpool players and talk about the European nights. I experienced it as an opponent and it was immense. To go out there and play in that atmosphere every week will be phenomenal.

Did Roy Hodgson have to sell the club to you - or does the club sell itself?

I had a chat with the gaffer about football and was impressed with him. The club has had Spanish and French managers over the years and I think it's a breath of fresh air to get an Englishman in. The club finished seventh last year, which wasn't good enough, and he explained where the club wants to go. I jumped on board because with the players we have here and the players we are looking to bring in, it's definitely going in the right direction.

With the amount of experience Roy has as a manager, how do you think he can help you move on to another level?

We have talked about positions in the team and types of formations he wants to play and I just want to be part of the team. I want to go out there and to run and fight for the lads and the fans. That's what I'll always do and Roy is the man who can make sure we are a nice unit as a team. It's all about us and being together as a team and having the spirit which can take you a long way. If you add that to the quality players we've got here we can go a long way.

Does it excite you when you look through the names in the Liverpool squad?

Yes, definitely. I am used to playing with world class players. I am excited about playing with Fernando and obviously I know Stevie, Carra and Jonno from the England set-up. Pepe Reina, Aquilani - there are a lot of big name players here but I will need time to settle down and relax into the club. I can guarantee the fans I will be giving 100 per cent every game. I am proud to be playing for this club and will give my all in every training session and every game to help the club be successful and put some pots in the trophy cabinet.

The day after you signed, Steven Gerrard committed his future to Liverpool - how much did that mean to you?

That was the best bit of news I could have had. I know Stevie, he is Liverpool through and through and I know from playing with and against him for the last 10 years what a quality player he is. I know how much this club means to him. I think players can play for other clubs but with Liverpool you have to live and breathe it. It's that kind of a place. I am excited by the challenge. I am moving my family and everyone is excited and booking their weekends up here. I am going to make it work.

How big a move is it for you to move up north?

It's a massive deal. We've just had a young baby girl, but I'm 28 now and I have a good family around me. I know people will make me feel welcome and the response I have had has been amazing. I just want to get involved. When you move to a new club it's important to immerse yourself into everything about it and that's what I'll be looking to do. I know the fans are great with the players and I will fight to try and win trophies for this club.

You have been in Switzerland for a couple of days - how impressed have you been with your new manager in just a short space of time?

Obviously I'm not playing tonight but I have sat in on the first-team meeting and he is very thorough. He's very much about a team effort and he told the lads it's about effort and desire. We have to put that in to get results and we have to be together as a team. I think Roy is the man to bring us together tactically. It's going to be a very long season and there will be spells when things go wrong, but it's about how quickly you get out of them. If you start separating or relying too much on Stevie or Fernando then we can be in trouble, so we have to stay together, fight for each other and we can have a good season.

You have been given the No.10 shirt - what does that mean to you?

I'm proud to wear the No.10 shirt. I'd have been proud to wear any Liverpool shirt, to be honest. When I was growing up we were just coming out of the era when Liverpool were winning titles on a regular basis, so I know all about it and I'll be proud to wear the shirt. It'll be strange to pull on the red shirt for a change but I'm looking forward to it and looking forward to being given time to settle in. I just want to help the team to do things.

What do you think you can bring to the team and how much can you improve here?

I'd like to make a lot of chances for Fernando and the front boys. I don't want to say I'll do this and that, I'll just say the fans will have a player who is going to give his all. From what I hear, that's all the people want. I want to be a success here and I'll do everything I can for the team to make it work.

Do you think you are entering the peak stages of your career?

Yes, definitely. I've had a tough two seasons with injury and one of the factors in my decision was coming to a club where I'd be able to string 90 minutes together. Your body needs to get used to the sharpness of doing it week in, week out. I've had a difficult couple of years but I'm coming here as an experienced player who is still fresh and excited about it.

Do you set yourself targets?

I do but I'll keep them to myself. In football you can have a bad game or a great game, but for myself I want to be part of a team that's going to win things. It's important this team is challenging and that we're right there at the end. That's my target - to play as many games as I can in this team and achieve something great.

Jamie Carragher was saying yesterday that you're alright for a Cockney...

That's as good as it gets, isn't it? I've always got on well with Scousers. I actually roomed with a Scouser for a year at Lilleshall - Ian Armstrong who went on to move to Liverpool. I know I'll have to take a few weeks to understand the accents. I don't know how the Spaniards have coped with it. I have always enjoyed good banter with them. I remember on an England trip when I walked into the players' bar after a game and Carra's family were there singing the Minder song because my dad's name is George Cole. I do like the Scouse wit.

Have you always enjoyed the banter with the fans at Anfield?

You do get some stick. Over the last couple of years I've been warming up a lot down the touchline and the stick does make me chuckle. I love it and hopefully they will be saying nice things about me now.

Are you prepared to become an honorary Scouser now?

Yeah. I'll be there eating a bit of Scouse. I like the Beatles as well, so I can't go too far wrong.

How excited are you as you prepare to start your Liverpool career?

It's a dream come true. I've only been here for 48 hours and my head is still in the clouds. It has all happened so quickly. I always knew this was a massive club but until you sign you don't realise. I have people on my phone who I didn't even know were Liverpool fans. It seems everyone I bump into is a Liverpool fan - it's a huge club.

What's your message to Liverpool supporters?

I know what they want and know they want a team to be proud of. I'll go out there every day and live and breathe the club and give my all. I just want to get myself fit. I'm a bit behind in my training work but I want to get fit and help the team to achieve something. I want to be part of a team that's capable of doing great things.

Thanks Joe - we wish you the very best in your Liverpool career...

Thanks very much.

Rangers telah bersetuju dengan bidaan Liverpool FC yang mahukan pemain muda yang sedang meningkat naik Danny Wilson yang baru berumur 18 tahun. Wilson yang beraksi 24 kali untuk Rangers sekaligus membantu kelab Ibrox itu memenangi Scottish Premier League musim lepas yang menobatkannya sebagai Scottish Football Association Young Player of the Year.

Walaupun pembelian Wilson sewaktu zaman Rafalution kelihatan seakan gagal namun kali ini ia berjaya dengan harga yang dijangka £2 juta dan mungkin meningkat sehingga £5 juta. Wilson akan menjalani pemeriksaan perubatan di Melwood sebelum berangkat ke Switzerland untuk menyertai kem latihan The Reds.

Lain pula nasib pertahanan Swiss, Philipp Degen yang telah diberitahu oleh Roy Hodgson untuk mencari pasukan lain sekiranya masih ingin bermain bola sepak. Degen yang dibawa masuk dari Borussia Dortmund masih gagal memasuki kesebelasan utama sejak tiba pada Julai 2008.

"We have had an amicable conversation with Philipp and he wants to play football," Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"We won't stand in his way and he is free to look for another club."

Jambu jugak budak nih masa muda-muda dulu

Liverpool FC dengan rasminya telah mengumumkan kejayaan mengalahkan beberapa kelab Inggeris yang bermain di Champions League musim hadapan (Arsenal & Tottenham Hotspur) secara psikologi apabila mendapatkan tanda tangan pemain sayap kiri England secara percuma - Joe Cole. Cole telah bersetuju dengan terma dan syarat yang mengikatnya empat tahun bersama The Reds.

Dijangka pemain berusia 28 tahun ini mendapat bayaran sehingga £90k seminggu. Ini merupakan pemain masuk yang kedua pada musim panas ini dan percuma. Dengan adanya Cole di dalam pasukan, maka pemain bintang lain akan lebih rasa stabil untuk terus berada di Anfield kecuali Javier Mascherano yang masih membisu.

Perlawanan pertama tanpa bintang Piala Dunia

Hampir semua pemain yang beraksi di Piala Dunia tiada di dalam kem latihan di Switzerland kecuali pemain Serbia, Milan Jovanovic (mungkin?). Pemain yang tersingkir di pusingan kedua masih berada di Melwood untuk menjalani latihan individu. Pemain Argentina pula masih belum pulang dan ada kemungkinan terus tidak pulang sebaliknya pergi ke Inter Milan. Manakala pemain yang terlibat dalam perlawanan akhir pula hanya akan pulang selepas perlawanan Europa League pada 29 Julai ini berlangsung.

Selepas mendapatkan nasihat staff perubatan, Roy Hodgson memutuskan untuk tidak menggunakan khidmat pemain yang terlibat dalam Piala Dunia untuk perlawanan pertama yang akan bermain sama ada di Armenia atau Macedonia. Liverpool sebelum ini tidak pernah bermain di negara tersebut. Adakah terlalu yakin untuk menang menentang pasukan bawahan atau pun Hodgson ingin menumpukan pada Liga Perdana Inggeris namun yang pasti merehatkan pemain tersebut dapat mengelakkan keletihan, ketegangan dan stress yang boleh membawa kepada kecederaan yang berpanjangan.

Insua sah dijual ke Fiorentina

Pemain muda Argentina, Emiliano Insua diberitakan telah meninggalkan kem latihan Liverpool untuk persiapannya berpindah ke Fiorentina. Ini setelah kelab Itali tersebut bersetuju dengan harga yang diminta oleh The Reds. Berikut kenyataan Roy Hodgson terhadap perkara ini yang juga mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Insua.

"Emiliano has left to go back to Liverpool,"

"A deal has been struck with Fiorentina. We wish him well for the rest of his career and thank him for his time spent at Liverpool.

"I am expecting him to join Fiorentina next week."

Dengan ini sudah tiga pemain pertahanan kiri meninggalkan Liverpool dan selepas ini sudah pasti Liverpool akan dikaitkan dengan seberapa banyak pertahanan kiri yang ada.

Perlawanan persahabatan menentang Al Hilal di Austria telah dibatalkan akibat hujan lebat telah menyebabkan padang digenangi air yang tidak sesuai untuk bermain bola sepak mahupun polo air. Oleh yang demikian Roy Hodgson terpaksa menunggu sehingga Rabu untuk perlawanan 'debut' sebagai pengurus Liverpool dengan bertemu pasukan Grasshoppers.

Lucas Leiva menyatakan kesetiaannya kepada The Reds walaupun beberapa kali diberitakan akan meninggalkan Anfield untuk bersatu dengan Rafael Benitez di San Siro. Pun begitu perbualannya dengan LiverpoolFC.tv telah membuktikan Lucas masih mahu berjaya bersama Liverpool sambil memuji pengurus baru, Roy Hodgson sebagai seorang yang mempunyai pengetahuan taktikal yang bagus.

Dipetik dari LiverpoolFC.tv

With the friendly action kicking off tonight in Austria, we spoke to Lucas Leiva - one of the most experienced players in the travelling party - about pre-season, his new boss and his future.

How are you finding the early days in our pre-season training camp?

It's a lovely place, we were here last season and it's a nice place to work and rest. It's a nice place to relax when we have time, but the important thing is having a good pre-season and making sure we have a better season than last year.

How was your summer?

It was really good. Of course I would have liked to be at the World Cup but it wasn't possible. Unfortunately, Brazil went out in the quarter-final, but I was happy for my teammates - Dirk and Ryan - after that game. I spent time in Brazil with family and friends and now I am back looking forward to having a good season and to helping Liverpool.

Are you happy to be back?

Yes, of course. A lot of changes have taken place over the last few weeks. I wish Rafa all the best because he was really important for me here, but now we're with Roy and I hope everybody can be happy and have a better season.

What are your early impressions of our new manager?

Really good. He seems to be very good as a coach, good with the tactical side of the game. We just want to make sure we have a better season. If everyone gets their fitness as soon as possible and the players on holiday come back and get themselves ready, then I think we will have a big chance.

Roy is obviously very experienced in the game, how much do you feel he can help a youngster like yourself to develop?

He will help everyone but for me he has a lot of experience, he has worked with big players at big clubs so his experience will help in giving me advice to help improve my game. I am feeling better every season and I hope that this season will be better again.

How different is he compared to other managers you have worked for?

I have only had three managers as a professional but I think he is similar to my first manager in Brazil. He likes to work on the shape of the team a lot, he is aware of all the small details, so we have to listen to the information he gives us and do what he wants us to do. Hopefully it will be successful.

As we know, it's a very young squad here in Switzerland - so you are one of the most experienced players. Do you help the younger lads and give them advice?

I feel old here because most of the senior lads are away. We have a lot of youngsters with us so I try to help them with the experience I have picked up from working with senior players. If I can help then it will be really good for them in the future.

What sort of advice do you give?

In training sessions I talk to them about positions and things like that. I like to talk to everyone so if someone wants to ask me a question I try to help and give him the information I have learnt. It's good to have different players here, young players who will be important in the future.

Like many players at this stage of the summer, there has been some speculation about your future. What can you tell us?

At the moment we don't know what is going to happen. I'm happy in Liverpool and looking forward to my fourth season. I hope I stay. I'm happy to play for Liverpool and to improve my performances, as I did last season. We don't know too much. There is a lot of speculation but we will see when the players all come back what will happen.

You proved a lot of people wrong with your performances last season - how confident are you that you can take another step forward this year?

My target at Liverpool always is to be positive with myself. I'm not here to try to prove critics wrong. I'm here to prove myself to the manager and my teammates. That's the most important thing. I don't know why people criticise me so much, but I just try to be positive and be strong. I know I had a good season last season and hope it will be even better this season. I have to keep going.

Are you strong-minded and take much notice of any criticism which may come your way?

I try not to read the papers because I don't see too many good things about me. I have to be strong in my mind. My only target is to be strong for myself, to feel good, feel that my performances are getting better and show the manager that I can play and have the quality that he expects. I think the fans have changed towards me.

What is your personal target for this season?

I'd like to play every game. We don't know the team Roy is thinking about starting with, but we have to show him we have the quality to be in his side.

I am confident we will have a better season. When there are lots of changes new motivation comes through and I think we can do better. We will do better.

Do you have a message for Liverpool fans?

Keep supporting us as you have always done. Believe in us and try to give us the confidence to go and win games. We will try one hundred per cent all the time in a Liverpool shirt.

Penyerang Nice, Loic Remy yang dikatakan bakal menyertai Liverpool telah dinafikan oleh Roy Hodgson dalam satu temu bual di kem latihan The Reds di Switzerland. Walau pun laporan Sky Sports yang juga memetik kenyataan Hodgson yang sama sebagai Hodgson berminat untuk mendapatkan Remy, namun kenyataan LiverpoolFC.tv telah menyangkal laporan tersebut.

Boss cool on Remy link

Roy Hodgson today played down reports that Liverpool are on the verge of signing Nice striker Loic Remy. The France international has been linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League throughout the summer, but Hodgson has reacted coolly to suggestions he is poised to arrive at Anfield.

"He's a player who was mentioned to me by the scouting department and a player the club were following before I came," Hodgson told his press conference in Switzerland.

"He's a player I know very little about. If I am going to be interested in a player I am going to have to watch him playing, study him and make judgments which I have not been able to."

Untuk tengok lebih banyak gambar, sila ke http://lfcglobe.com/pictures-liverpool-squad-train-in-switzerland/

Jika kekal di Anfield atau berpindah ke Stamford Bridge, Fernando Torres tetap akan dilihat dalam jersi hitam. Liverpool FC telah melancarkan jersi ketiga The Reds yang berwarna hitam.

Berita Daily Mail (dailymail.co.uk) dipetik berkata Emiliano Insua bakal berpindah ke Fiorentina dalam tempoh 48 jam setelah kelab Itali tersebut bersetuju dengan bayaran sebanyak £5 juta. Dengan ini The Reds akan kehilangan pemain pertahanan kiri yang ke-3 setelah Andrea Dossena dan Fabio Aurelio juga telah meninggalkan Liverpool sebelum ini.

Insua telah bermain sebagai pilihan utama berikutan kecederaan Aurelio tetapi terpaksa bercuti awal setelah beliau sendiri mengalami kecederaan sehingga menyaksikan rakan senegara, Javier Mascherano terpaksa bermain di posisi pertahanan kiri.

Terdapat dua berita kecederaan yang melegakan penyokong The Reds. Fernando Torres yang menjalani MRI di Sepanyol dan mendapati ada koyak kecil di bahagian 'adductor' dan tidak begitu serius. Begitulah yang diberitahu oleh Ketua Bahagian Sains Sukan dan Perubatan yang baru, Peter Brukner. Walau bagaimana pun, Torres perlu berehat dalam tempoh tiga minggu.

Berita seterusnya adalah tentang kecederaan buku lali Alberto Aquilani yang menyekat peluangnya beraksi dengan baik musim lalu. Brukner telah mengesahkan Aquilani telah bebas 100% dari masalah buku lali tersebut dan boleh beraksi dengan baik pada musim mendatang. Aquilani ketika ini sedang bersama skuad The Reds menjalani latihan di Switzerland.

Jose Reina yang bertindak sebagai pengerusi majlis kelihatan beramai-ramai membuli Cecs Fabregas dengan menyarung jersi Barcelona sewaktu berpesta meraikan kemenangan Sepanyol dalam Piala Dunia. Ini boleh mencetuskan kemarahan penyokong Arsenal yang nyata sedang berusaha untuk mengekalkan Fabregas di Emirates.

Perpindahan dua pemain

Liverpool FC telah mengeluarkan kenyataan rasmi berkenaan pemergian dua pemain iaitu Francisco Duran dan Nikolay Mihaylov yang telah bersama The Reds sejak tahun 2007. Walaupun Duran agak menyinar dalam pasukan Simpanan namun agak mudah mendapat kecederaan dan kini dilepaskan secara percuma. Mihaylov yang sebelum ini dipinjamkan ke FC Twente semasa musim 2009/10 dan kini akan berpindah secara kekal di sana.

"Gerrard, kau ni dah terlalu tua" kata Jose

Setelah berita pengekalan Fernando Torres di Liverpool kini lagi satu berita melegakan buat The Kopites apabila Real Madrid membatalkan hasrat untuk mendapatkan khidmat ketua pasukan, Steven Gerrard. Walaupun Jose Mourinho adalah peminat dan berminat untuk menyerapkan Gerrard ke dalam The Galacticos, namun harga yang dikatakan mencecah £58 juta adalah terlalu mahal untuk pemain yang sudah pun mencecah umur 30 tahun.

8 great World 'Kop' moments

Dipetik dari laman web rasmi, LiverpoolFC.tv

1) GERRARD V USA

It all started so well for England didn't it?

With just four minutes on the clock of their first group match against the USA, Steven Gerrard got Fabio Capello's men off to a flyer when he stabbed home the opener following a typical forward burst from central midfield.

However, an error from goalkeeper Robert Green would deny Stevie the joy of being England's matchwinner and there would be few highlights from there on in, as the Three Lions bowed out with a crushing defeat to Germany in the last 16.

2) DIRK DOWNS AGGER'S DANES

In a match that saw Dirk Kuyt go head-to-head with club-mate Daniel Agger, it was the flying Dutchman who came out on top.

The striker turned wideman sealed a 2-0 victory with a close range finish after Agger had inadvertently deflected Simon Poulsen's poor defensive header into his own net to give Holland the lead within seconds of the restart.

3) SKRTEL'S BLOCK

Martin Skrtel's Slovakia produced one of the upsets of the tournament as they booked their place in the knockout stage at the expense of holders Italy at Ellis Park.

The Reds defender played a vital role in his country's 3-2 victory, completing a sensational goal-line clearance to deny the Azzurri with Slovakia just the one goal ahead.

4) JOVA STUNS GERMANY

Milan Jovanovic gave Liverpool fans a taste of what is hopefully set to come, when he fired home a close range volley to give Serbia a shock 1-0 win over 10-man Germany in the group stage.

The man nicknamed 'le serpent' slammed home a 35th minute effort after Nikola Zigic had nodded Milan Krasic's fine cross into his path.

However, it would prove to be the only highlight for our new No. 10 as the Serbs bowed out of the competition after losing their final group match with Australia.

5) DIRK ASSIST SENDS SKRTEL HOME

Dirk Kuyt notched an assist as Holland booked a quarter-final place at the expense of Skrtel's Slovakia.

The unsung hero of Oranje broke clear six minutes from time and unselfishly laid the ball into the path of Wesley Sneijder to coolly slot into an empty net.

It put the Dutch two goals to the good and proved to be the defining moment of the match as Slovakia grabbed a consolation deep into injury-time.

6) DIRK DOES IT AGAIN

Having already made a huge impact on Holland's march to the last eight, Kuyt further endeared himself to his country's army of supporters when he once again came up with the crucial assist to see off much-fancied Brazil.

The Reds No.18 provided the flick on from Arjen Robben's corner for Sneijder to nod home the winner after the Inter Milan man had cancelled out Robinho's superb first-half opener.

7) KUYT FLYING HIGH AS DUTCH BOOK FINAL BERTH

Kuyt completed a remarkable hat-trick of key assists when he provided the cross for Robben to nod home Holland's third goal in their 3-2 semi-final win over Uruguay.

It meant the 29-year-old had laid on the winning goal in all three of his country's knockout matches en route to the final, a contribution that saw him finish joint top of the assists leaderboard.

8) SPANISH DUO REJOICE

Fernando Torres played the final 15 minutes of extra-time as a substitute as Spain beat Holland 1-0 to secure the 2010 World Cup.

The Reds striker endured a bittersweet moment as the ecstasy of playing a small part in Andres Iniesta's winner was juxtaposed by the frustration of pulling up with an adductor injury just seconds before the full-time whistle.

Liverpool stopper Pepe Reina - who remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament - was heavily involved in the celebrations, while Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel could only look on in despair.

Torres akan kekal di Anfield?

Walaupun khabar angin yang bertiup kencang berkenaan perebutan di antara Chelsea dan Manchester City dalam mendapatkan khidmat Fernando Torres pada musim hadapan namun kini mungkin tidak lagi. Juga ada terdapat berita yang menyatakan Torres telah memberi 'hint' untuk pergi dari Anfield apabila tidak mahu menetapkan pendiriannya sehingga tamat Piala Dunia tidak seperti Dirk Kuyt yang telah menyatakan kesetiaannya sebelum perlawanan akhir berlangsung namun Torres telah menunjukkan kesetiaannya dalam foto berikut.

Dah lama tak de player Liverpool menang World Cup kan? Sebab tu la aku ni legend!

Apa yang lebih pasti, kecederaan Torres pada minit akhir separuh masa kedua masa tambahan membuatkan pasukan lain terpaksa berfikir lapan belas kali sebelum melamarnya. Ini kerana rekod kecederaan Torres sejak bermain di Liga Perdana Inggeris agak tragis juga. Kenyataan awal menyatakan Torres mengalami kecederaan 'hamstring' atau 'groin' tetapi ada juga kata-kata nakal berkata yang Torres hanya berlakon cedera untuk melambatkan masa dan mempercepatkan kemenangan Sepanyol. Tambahan pula Torres kelihatan melompat-lompat kegembiraan sewaktu meraikan kejayaan menjadi Juara Dunia.

Sakit kerana kecederaan ke sakit hati kerana digelar Heskey Sepanyol tu?

Liverpool dengan rasminya menyerahkan tugas serangan kepada Milan Jovanovic apabila meletakkan jersi No. 10 kepadanya. Diharapkan pemain bernombor 10 ini akan memberikan erti kehebatan yang sebenar yang sebelum ini agak dipersia-siakan dalam beberapa musim yang lalu.

Aksi Liverpudlian di Final World Cup 2010 - Spain vs Holland

Walaupun berlawan namun tidak bertemu di padang kerana Dirk Kuyt telah dikeluarkan pada minit ke-71 dan Fernando Torres hanya masuk ketika bermain di masa tambahan. Sepanyol telah memenangi Piala Dunia setelah Andres Iniesta menjaringkan gol tunggal perlawanan pada minit ke-116. Apa yang menakutkan penyokong The Reds adalah Torres telah mengalami kecederaan hamstring pada minit akhir perlawanan.