Friday 1st July 2011: Liverpool Football Club have confirmed three of the club's young starlets have put pen to paper on new deals. Adam Morgan, Tyrell Belford and Stephen Sama have all committed their futures to the Reds by signing new contracts. - Kenny Dalglish today received an honorary degree from the University of Ulster for his services to football and charitable activity - making the King a Doctor of Science (DSc). Away from the field, Dalglish has worked tirelessly with wife Marina to raise money for local cancer charities. Via the Marina Dalglish Appeal, the pair helped to open chemotherapy and radiotherapy centres on Merseyside. Dalglish said: "It would need to be an honorary degree because I was never going to do it through written work!'
It's great to see the three lads signing long-term contracts. Let's hope they can keep progressing. And it's great to see Kenny getting more recognition for his charity work. Does that make him Dr Kenny Dalglish?
Saturday 2nd July 2011: Luis Suarez has dismissed fears of burnout ahead of the Copa America - and insisted he will be fit and ready for 2011-12 with Liverpool. "I don't think I'll have any problems at all," Suarez told Liverpoolfc.tv. "I think when you start to get to 28 or 29 as a player, tiredness creeps in, but at my age all you want to do is play football all the time. There will be no problems me coming back in good condition." - 66 players have been linked to Liverpool in the last month. -
Good to hear. Suarez seems to be a great athlete with a good attitude. Looking forward to him and Carroll next year - Gerrard just behind!
Sunday 3rd July 2011 Kenny Dalglish has hailed Steven Gerrard's 'fantastic' progress as he looks to return to competitive action in the Barclays Premier League curtain-raiser against Sunderland. Dalglish said: "We start back Monday so we'll see how everybody is then. Everything that has been done has been very positive for Steven so we are just hoping for the best for him. He deserves a bit of luck on the injury front. We won't put him under any undue pressure. All we'll say everything has been fantastic so far." -
Sunday 3rd July updated: Liverpool have named former West Ham caretaker manager Kevin Keen as their new first-team coach.
Monday 4th July 2011: The Liverpool squad will today return to Melwood to begin pre season training in preparation for the new season. - There will be a new face in the ground to as new first team coach Kevin Keen begins work today. - Lucas Leiva played the full 90 minutes as Brazil laboured to a goalless draw with Venezuela in their Copa America Group B opener on Sunday night. The Reds midfielder produced a tidy display at the heart of the midfield in what ultimately proved to be a hugely frustrating start to the campaign for Mano Menezes's men. Lucas Leiva admits Brazil need to improve if they are to become South American champions for the ninth time. - Tonight Luis Suarez's Uruguay will take on Peru in a group C opener.
Tuesday 5th July 2011: Darren Burgess admits he was thrilled with the condition of the Liverpool players who returned to Melwood following the summer break on Monday. Each member of the Reds' playing staff was issued a specially-prepared fitness programme to follow over their holidays to ensure they came back to the club's training base in good condition - and the players appeared to be in fine shape as they got their preparations for 2011-12 up and running. "It was a pretty hard session on Monday. We certainly put them through a tough session, especially early on - but the boys handled it pretty well. Better than I thought they would, actually, which is good.' - Luis Suarez wasted no time making an impact on the Copa America - scoring the equaliser as Uruguay opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Peru. Afterwards Suarez told reporters: "Being a forward, it's nice to score, but it's not satisfying to give everything and not win. "We don't look for excuses. We had some chances. Perhaps they were more clear in the second half, but we don't have to look for excuses." Next up for Uruguay is a Group C clash with Chile on Friday. -
Paul Scholes has said Arsenal "Flatter to deceive." Not withstanding that Utd players are usually the ones laying on the flattery with some bird in order to deceive their WAGs, didn't they flatter to deceive by winning the league, when they were clearly not up to being worthy opponents for Barca? Rhetorical question cos I know the answer is yes.
Tuesday 5th July 2011 Updated: Liverpool announced today that Steven Gerrard will not join the rest of the squad when they leave for their tour of Asia on Sunday, with the Club Captain staying at Melwood to continue his rehabilitation programme in time for the start of the new season. Manager Kenny Dalglish explained: "Steven and the medical team have done fantastically well so far and they are in the final stages of getting him back to full training. I'm sure there will be supporters disappointed that Steven is unable to be with us in Asia, but I'm sure the same people will appreciate the importance of Steven giving himself the best possible opportunity of being fit to play against Sunderland on the opening day of the new campaign. Steven continuing his rehabilitation programme at Melwood is in everybody's long term interests." Steven Gerrard added: "I'd really been looking forward to travelling out to China, Malaysia and Singapore and meeting first hand as many of our fans as possible, and I'm really sorry that I won't now be able to do that. All of us at the Club realise the incredible support we enjoy in these countries and how much it means to our supporters there. But after sitting down and talking with the medical experts and technical staff, it's been decided that the best course of action is for me to continue my rehabilitation programme at Melwood. It's disappointing I won't be with them, but I'm sure the lads who go out there will put a great show on for our fans." (A bit of dissapointment there, but its for the best)
Wednesday 6th July 2011: Martin Skrtel admits pre-season training has been tough so far - but he's relishing being put through his paces as Liverpool gear up for the new campaign. He told his official website: "I'm back in Liverpool now. I came back on Sunday and we had our first training session on Monday. "It was hard at times but I understand why we train this hard - a new challenge lies ahead and we want to be ready. - Liverpool have had an offer of £15mil for England winger Steward Downing turned down by Aston Villa. It is believe Aston Villa are holding out for a fee in the region of £20mill. (Could they be hoping a public offer could encourage Downing to hand in a transfer request?) -
It's rumoured Downing is to meet Villa officials and could be forced to hand in a request after this bid rejection.
Wednesday 6th July 2011 update: Liverpool Football Club today announced they have reached agreement with Blackpool for the transfer of Charlie Adam. The player will now travel to Merseyside for a medical and to discuss personal terms.
Wednesday 6th July 2011 continued.... Again: Busy busy day Glen Johnson has today put pen to paper on an extension to his Liverpool contract. The England international, who has made 70 appearances for the Reds, committed his future to the club by signing the deal at Melwood. Liverpool FC Director of Football Damien Comolli said: "We are absolutely delighted. We were in talks for a few weeks, but it was easy to find an agreement because he wanted to stay and we wanted him to stay. "We are very pleased he wants to commit long term, and I think he was pleased we went to him and asked him to commit long term.''
Thursday 7th July 2011: Glen Johnson revealed his delight at signing an extension to his Liverpool contract - and spoke of his belief that the club's future will be a bright one. - Liverpool have confirmed Andre Wisdom has put pen to paper on an extension to his contract.
One report suggests that Sam Allardyce is plotting a £7.5 million bid for Paul Konchesky and Joe Cole.Please Liverpool take it.Throw Nabil El Zhar in for 2 mars bars and a bottle of irn bru.
Wow, a messege from the future =D - Liverpool will follow up the signing of Charlie Adam with an improved offer for Stewart Downing - but they still face a fight to persuade Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish to sell the England winger.
