Thursday 11th August 2011: It could we be left back day!! Liverpool FC confirmed today that they had agreed a fee with Newcastle United for the transfer of Jose Enrique. The club have now been given permission to discuss personal terms with the player, who will travel to Liverpool to undergo a medical. (But what will this mean for Aurelio and Insua? Do you keep the old and experienced or the young potential?)
I'd keep Insua - Aurelio's injuries are too much of a risk for a bloke who's 32 this year - but I think Insua will be the one sold. He's been in the reserves keeping his fitness up.
I got this via twitter. The source is This is Anfield, and they aren't usually wrong. Liverpool are thought to be ready to up their game in order to sign Bolton defender Gary Cahill as quickly as possible. The Reds are set to complete the signing of Newcastle left-back Jose Enrique, but are still on the look-out for a new centre-back as the team continues to shape for the future. 25-year-old Cahill has long been a target of Liverpool and with reports that the Reds are set to miss out on Birmingham City defender Scott Dann to Arsenal, Damien Comolli and Kenny Dalglish are thought to be stepping in for Cahill. Cahill has just one year left to run on his current deal with Bolton, so could be available at a cut price, although The Trotters will be keen to hold onto their number 5 with the season kicking off on Saturday. I just hope this is true,because if we nail him,we will be a striker short of our 2008/2009 squad strength.
Possibly. Ngog in part exchange for Cahill. Supposing it was £9 million and Ngog, we would have solved our defensive problems for £15 million. We would also have rebuilt our squad this summer for just under £60 million.
Liverpool have been drawn away to Exceter in the Carling Cup (League Cup as I always call it, confusing my friends).
Friday 12th August 2011: Liverpool today completed the signing of Spanish left back Jose Enrique from Newcastle United for a fee believed to be around £6million. - Kenny Dalglish has said Suarez is in contention to play Sunderland tomorrow. - Glen Johnson will face a late fitness test to see if he can play a part in the game. - Adam, Downing, Henderson and Doni are all in the squad for the big opener. - Dalglish told his pre-match press conference: "He's trained and has no problem. We'll wait and see how he is tomorrow. We'll also see how Glen Johnson is in the morning. "Obviously Steven (Gerrard) and Martin Skrtel aren't there and they are the only two. Everyone has come back from the international matches fine."
Saturday 13th August 2011: Liverpool today kick off their Premier League campaign with a game at home to Sunderland, kicking off at 3 o'clock. - Many papers and websites have listen Luis Suarez as the man to watch this season. - Downing and Adam are the two new signings most expected to start.
Continued: LFC team is anounced and its not quite what I expected. Suarez and Enrique both start. Reina, Flanagan, Enrique, Agger, Carragher, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Suarez, Carroll. Subs: Doni, Meireles, Kuyt, Spearing, Ngog, Kelly, Robinson. Biggest surprise is John Flanagan starting ahead of Kelly. Aquilani is not even on the bench. - Sunderland Team Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Richardson, Brown, Ferdinand, Larsson, Elmohamady, Cattermole (C), Colback, Sessegnon, Gyan. Subs: Gardner, Wickham, Vaughan, Dong-won, Bramble, Westwood, Laing. i WILL NOT BE POSTING DURING THE GAME AS THIS IS NOT THIS THREADS JOB.
Liverpool started the season with a disappointing score draw at home to Sunderland. Suarez put an early penalty over the bar, but redeemed himself shortly after by heading in Charlie Adams free kick. Liverpool controlled most of the first half, but failed to increase their lead. In the second half Sunderland came out a much better team, and Larsson grabbed an impressive equaliser for the away team. Final score: Liverpool - 1 Sunderland - 1 LFC Goals: Suarez 12 Yellow Cards: Carragher, Henderson, Adam, Kuyt SAFC Goals: Larsson 57 Yellow Cards: Beardsley, Richardson, Cattermole, Larsson.
Kenny Dalglish admits he was disappointed not to see Liverpool collect three points as they drew 1-1 with Sunderland at Anfield, but acknowledged a draw was a fair reflection of the contest. "We might have had a few more chances and were a wee bit unlucky in getting Andy Carroll's goal knocked off, which would have put us 2-0 up, but Sunderland made it difficult for us, they worked really hard and I think they deserved a point." Dalglish reflected: "You don't want to see people sent off. I don't know what the rule book says (about players being sent off), but if it's a clear goalscoring opportunity then you don't see any clearer than Luis Suarez one-on-one with the goalkeeper. "If they say you're taking the ball away from the goal and so it's a yellow card (offence), well if you're in the middle of the goal and want to go around the goalkeeper, it's very difficult not to go away from goal, isn't it?
Sunday 14th August 2011: Charlie Adam believes Luis Suarez gave a cameo of why he is the talk of the Liverpool dressing room after producing an impressive showing in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland. "Everybody has been talking about how good he is. I think you could see why he is at this club. Like I say, he's a top player and he took his goal well. "It was nice to get the assist but the important thing is the team winning. We are disappointed with a draw. It's not the best start but there are plenty of games to go." - Daniel Ayala has finalised his move to Norwich City, subject to the relevant paperwork being completed. The defender leaves Liverpool after four years at Anfield, during which time he made five first-team appearances.
Monday 15th August 2011: There was disappointment for Daniel Pacheco as Spain crashed out of the U20 World Cup at the hands of Brazil. After a 2-2 draw following extra-time, Brazil won 4-2 on penalties to clinch a semi-final spot. The Liverpool forward came on as a substitute at the start of extra-time, but didn't take a penalty in the shootout. Twice Spain came back from a goal down to force penalties but Brazil stopper Gabriel was the hero as he saved two spot kicks. - Andy Carroll believes it is only a matter of time before supporters witness what both he and Kenny Dalglish's remodelled team are capable of. "We are disappointed with the draw but all the lads are happy to get the first game out of the way," he said. "We played some good football and created some good chances in the first half. But we sat off them a bit in the second half and let them get into the game. "We created enough chances to prove that we can all fit in the team together. "It is going to take everyone a little while to gel together but we showed with our passing and movement and in terms of chances that it is all there'.
Tuesday 16th August 2011: Jose Enrique is hoping to add his name to the legion of Spanish greats who have graced Anfield over the years. "It's amazing that a lot of Spanish players have played here and I am very proud to be the latest one," Enrique told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Pepe was already here of course and there are about six or seven players who also speak Spanish so that is great for me. "I just want to do my best and give 100 per cent for this club to try and help us win something." Enrique added: "It would be fantastic to get into the Spain squad because for every player it's a dream to play for your country, but my first priority is Liverpool and helping us get back into the top four this year." - Jon Flanagan admits he is far from a complete full-back at this stage of his burgeoning career - and has targeted two areas in particular he would like to improve. "I just want to continue improving," Flanagan told this week's LFC Magazine. "There are areas where I need to get better such as going forward and crossing. I need to work on everything. "With lads like Glen and Martin there is plenty of competition in the squad. That's always good to have. It means if you do get in the team you have to take the chance. Martin is only a few years older than me. He came in last season and did brilliantly. He showed exactly how to grab an opportunity." - Liverpool will compete in the inaugural U19 Champions League-style competition along with some of Europe's other elite clubs - and Rodolfo Borrell's side kick-off against Sporting Lisbon at Anfield on Wednesday night. Good interview: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/comolli-relishing-nextgen-start
Wednesday 17th August 2011: Liverpool endured a difficult start to life in the NextGen Series as they went down to a 3-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon at Anfield on Wednesday night. Rodolfo Borrell's youngsters faced one of the finest youth sides in Europe and found themselves trailing to two magnificent first-half goals from Joao Teixeira and Alberto Coelho. The Reds stepped up a level following the interval but could not mount a fightback despite hitting the post through substitute Krisztian Adorjan. Substitute Farley Rosa then sealed the triumph with a magnificent third four minutes from time. The result means Liverpool are pointless following their first match in Group Two and will now look to bounce back in time for their Barclays Premier Reserve League opener against Norwich City next week. - Luis Suarez was Liverpool's star man during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland, according to fans who voted in our online poll.
Thursday 18th August 2011: Maxi Rodriguez believes Liverpool's transfer business can steer the club towards a bright future - and revealed he's prepared for the fight of trying to hold down a regular starting berth. "Healthy competition is always good," said the Argentina forward. "Competition for places is always a positive thing for the club and I think it's great that the signings who have arrived are of such high quality with a great level of skills and technique. "It means the manager has to decide what he thinks is his best 11 but that is something he will decide and we will all be hoping we are in it. "It's always nice to welcome new faces to the club and you always go out of your way to make them feel as comfortable as possible. They are settling in well."
Kenny Dalglish has revealed Glen Johnson is Liverpool's only injury doubt for Saturday's trip to Arsenal along with the recuperating Steven Gerrard. Dalglish told his pre-match press conference: "I think there is only Glen Johnson who might be a doubt, but other than that everybody's relatively fit." Asked about the progress Gerrard is making in his rehabilitation from a groin problem, the manager simply stated: "Brilliant." - Asked whether Enrique could be Liverpool's final signing of the summer, Dalglish replied: "I don't know - it's the same as I don't know if that's your last question! "I cannot answer it honestly. I suppose it's a little bit like last year when I was asked, 'When are you signing the contract?' or 'Have you been asked to sign?' - until the transfer window shuts, the most honest answer I can give is 'I don't know.'"
