Pacheco Yearns For Torres Union

Liverpool starlet Daniel Pacheco is relishing the prospect of lining up alongside compatriot Fernando Torres when The Reds take on Villarreal next week.

The 17-year old has impressed during his appearances for Rafa Benitez’s men in pre-season, adding credence to the growing reputation he has enjoyed in recent months.

Nothing, however, can match Torres’ meteoric rise up through world football, with El Nino scoring 33 goals in his debut season at Anfield before notching the winner for Spain in the Euro 2008 final.

Pacheco admits he one day hopes to emulate his fellow native, though the striker is prepared to exercise patience as he looks to break into Benitez’s first-team plans.

"I would love to play with Torres because he is such a great striker and it would be very special for me to be in the team with him," said Pacheco.

"He is Spanish also and he is a big hero for everyone in my country after he scored the winning goal in the Euro 2008 final.

"He is one of the best strikers around so I think I would learn a lot from him if I played in the team with him.

"I would have loved to have played in the team with Stevie as well but he had to go back to Liverpool because he had an injury.

"But I have really enjoyed playing alongside the other first team players and they have really helped me.

"I'm really happy to be playing with these players and to be involved during pre-season and until the boss tells me otherwise I will keep on playing and enjoying myself."

The youngster admitted that the transition from reserve football to first-team action caught him by surprise, but stated that he is prepared to train with vigour to continue his development.

"Everything is different to the football I have been playing in the reserve team," the Malaga-born player added.

"It is more competitive, faster, more difficult and you have to work harder but I am trying my best and now I just have to keep going.

"I don't know if I will still be in the team when the season starts though because that would be very difficult for me.

"The Spanish players have come back now and we will maybe have some new players as well so it would be tough for me to stay in the team.

"But I will continue to work hard every day and keep on going.

"I feel that I am playing quite well and that things are going well for me but, as I say, I cannot afford to stop working because that is the most important thing."

Alan Hansen: Liverpool Must Look To Their Wings To Have A Prayer

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has warned Rafael Benitez that signing wide players is more important than bringing Gareth Barry or Robbie Keane to Anfield.

Benitez has made no secret of his attempts to sign midfielder Barry and striker Keane - but neither would add much of the width Hansen feels Liverpool need if they are to challenge Manchester United or Chelsea for the Barclays Premier League title.

Hansen, speaking at the launch of The New Football Pools, said: "They are getting closer but still need three or four players. Gareth Barry would be a great acquisition but really they need wide players, a couple of full-backs and wingers.

"The movement of United’s frontline is phenomenal and they look like they can score goals from anywhere.

"Liverpool rely too heavily on the goals of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. Take them out of the equation and I don’t see too many goals coming from any other areas.

"If they go with the squad they already have, their 11 best players can compete. It’s when you go deeper. Modern-day Premier League football is not about one team, it’s about two. United and Chelsea can replace quality with quality but Liverpool can’t.

"We won the championship in the 70s and 80s sometimes with great teams, sometimes with average teams. You can no longer do it with an average team, you have to be great to win the championship."

Hansen believes United and Chelsea will be the Premier League’s top two next season, although he feels Cristiano Ronaldo could decide where the title goes depending on whether he stays at Old Trafford or not.

He added: "If Frank Lampard went from Chelsea they would get by. If Ronaldo went from United it might make the difference between winning the championship or not."

However, Hansen also insists Lampard would be irreplaceable if he were to leave Chelsea for Inter Milan.

"If he does go the money is irrelevant because Chelsea will be looking at the wider picture of how they are going to be successful," he said. "They have a much better chance of being successful with Lampard in there.

"He’s a great player, playing all the time and he’s English so he has that heart and team spirit that can set teams and players apart.

"How do you replace him and with whom? They would be struggling because they wouldn’t be able to get Gerrard."

Hansen believes Sir Alex Ferguson was testing Luiz Felipe Scolari’s reaction with his comments regarding the age of the new Chelsea manager’s squad.

He added: "You’ll never win anything with kids, now you’ll never win anything with the older generation, according to Sir Alex. It’s just mind games, he’s the master of mind games and he always has been.

"He’s probably just testing Scolari out. Chelsea will be his biggest rivals, there’s no doubt about that, and he’s just trying to get set for the start of the season."

Xabi Alonso Set For Talks On Anfield Future As Alvaro Arbeloa Edges To Exit Door

Xabi Alonso will hold talks with Rafael Benitez today to clarify his future at Liverpool – as Alvaro Arbeloa edged towards the exit door.

Alonso and Arbeloa return to training at Melwood today along with fellow Euro 2008 winners Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina.

And Alonso is expected to waste no time in asking Benitez whether he remains part of the manager’s long-term plans.

Liverpool were willing to sell the midfielder for £16million to Juventus earlier this month before the Italians pulled the plug on the deal and signed Sevilla’s Christian Poulsen instead.

The Anfield outfit had planned to then use the transfer fee to finance their move for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

But if Benitez decides Alonso remains an integral part of the squad, it could severely test his intent on pursuing Barry, with Liverpool refusing to raise their most recent offer for the England international.

Alonso has previously intimated he would have “no problem” staying at Liverpool.

One player likely to leave Anfield in the near future, however, is Arbeloa, who is understood to want a return to his homeland for personal reasons.

Liverpool should have no problems in cashing in on the defender, whose stock is at an all-time high following his part in helping Spain win the European Championships last month.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old French striker David Ngog – the cousin of former Newcastle United defender Jean-Alain Boumsong – has penned a four-year contract after yesterday completing his £1.5m move from Paris Saint-Germain.

Ngog, who is expected to challenge for a first-team place, has scored goals at every youth level for France including two against England under-19s last season.

A young forward to have already caught the eye for Liverpool during pre-season is Dani Pacheco.

The 17-year-old, prised from Barcelona last summer, has appeared in every one of Liverpool’s friendlies so far and is hopeful of playing alongside fellow Spaniard Torres.

“I would love to play with Torres because he is such a great striker and it would be very special for me to be in the team with him,” said Pacheco.

“He is Spanish also and he is a big hero for everyone in my country after he scored the winning goal in the Euro 2008 final.

“He is one of the best strikers around so I think I would learn a lot from him if I played in the team with him.

“But I have really enjoyed playing alongside the other first team players and they have really helped me.”

Meanwhile, Sebastian Leto has revealed he is close to agreeing a loan move to Olympiakos.

Leto hasn’t played a competitive game for the first team since the League Cup game against Cardiff City last October after problems concerning eligibility.

The Argentine currently holds an Italian passport to enable him to win a work permit, but Italian authorities are carrying out an investigation on the validity of a number of citizenship decisions.

Although Liverpool are confident the issues will be resolved next week, Benitez is allowing the 21-year-old to leave on a season-long loan.

“I spoke with Liverpool and our decision is to leave the club and to play somewhere else on loan for one season,” said Leto.

“I have to play football next season. My agents are in Athens.

“They speak with Olympiakos for my loan.

“I have some offers from Italy and Spain but Olympiacos is the best club for me at the moment.”

Leto, who has appeared in all four of Liverpool’s pre-season friendlies, added: “I am still waiting for the community passport. Liverpool will wait for it until July 31.

“Of course, my dream is to play football in Liverpool.

“I spoke with Rafa Benitez and he told me that he wants me but I can’t stay without the passport.

“He advised me to go somewhere else to play for one season and to return next summer.

Martin O’Neill Warns Liverpool FC To Hurry Or Lose Gareth Barry

Martin O’Neill has warned Liverpool he is ready to set a deadline for them to meet his valuation of want-away Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry.

O’Neill insists Villa cannot continue to be at the "behest" of the Merseysiders who have failed to offer the £18million he is seeking for the England midfielder.

The former Celtic boss is aware he has to make his own plans for the new campaign and needs to know whether he will have the services of Barry.

Already O’Neill is considering using the 27-year-old in Saturday’s home Intertoto Cup clash with Odense BK.

But that would not make Barry ineligible to play Champions League football if he eventually moved to Anfield.

O’Neill, who has rejected four bids for Barry from Reds counterpart Rafael Benitez, said: "It’s been unfortunate. We don’t know where we stand at this minute.

"Liverpool have not officially come back to us in any form of writing. It is a really awkward position here at this minute.

"At some stage or other there will have to be a timescale on it because we cannot just keep going on like this.

"We have got our own plans to make - and we shouldn’t be at the behest of Liverpool Football Club.

"We have to pick up the pieces and I could go on for forever and a day talking about it. It doesn’t really matter. We have to see what develops.

"As I say, we have not heard back from them in an official capacity."

O’Neill is ready to consider Barry on Saturday even though he was the target of abuse from Villa fans during Tuesday’s friendly at Walsall.

He said: "If Gareth is in the right frame of mind then we will explore everything. He will be in contention for Saturday.

"I have never not been impressed with him in two years as to his attitude on the football pitch.

"In fairness the Intertoto gives us that chance to get into the UEFA Cup, which we set out to get into by one way or another, and Gareth was a major part of that last year."

O’Neill, who is hoping to complete the signing of Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel, is aware of the need to bring in new blood with the start of the Barclays Premier League campaign only three weeks away."

Spurs' Robbie Keane On The Verge Of Sealing Liverpool Transfer

Tottenham Hotspur forward Robbie Keane is set to complete a transfer to Liverpool within the next 48 hours after it emerged that the Republic of Ireland captain had been left out of the north Londoners' 19-man squad that played a friendly at Hercules in Alicante last night.

Keane is expected to put pen to paper on a £18 million deal over the weekend, despite his employers at White Hart Lane having lodged a formal complaint with the Premier League over Liverpool's conduct in this whole affair, although Spurs themselves made no comment before the fixture kicked off regarding their captain's subsequent absence from the team line-up.

It is believed that Keane, 28, has already informed Tottenham coach Juande Ramos of his desire to join Liverpool, the club he supported as a boy and the fact that the player was removed from the Spurs squad in Spain without suffering any apparent injury, unlike his strike partner Dimitar Berbatov, who played the whole 90 minutes, only heightens the sense that the transfer is a fait accompli.

However, that is not the case concerning Gareth Barry's on-off move to Anfield. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may now have £20m at his disposal following the close-season sales of Scott Carson, John Arne Riise, Danny Guthrie and Peter Crouch, but that has since been earmarked for Keane's transfer, a situation that threatens to leave both Barry himself, as well as his club Aston Villa, in limbo for the foreseeable future at least.

Benitez welcomes Xabi Alonso, Jose Manuel Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa all back to pre-season training today after the Spaniards were given more time off in which to recuperate following their country's triumph at Euro 2008, but unless he can find a club willing to part with £16m for Alonso, then it looks as though Barry may have to remain at Villa Park, at least until the next transfer window reopens in January.

It does appear though that one Spain international, full-back Arbeloa, will be departing the club, with the 25 year old said to be leaving Merseyside due to unspecified personal reasons.

Gerrard: Barry Would Be Perfect For Liverpool

Gareth Barry is a “class act” and would enjoy the perfect partnership with Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard if his transfer to Anfeld is ever finally secured.

That is the view of the Liverpool captain’s cousin, Walsall defender Anthony Gerrard, who lined up opposite Barry on a night of a tense drama at the Banks’s Stadium on Tuesday night.

Villa fans booed and jeered their want-away former skipper for almost all of his hour-long appearance in the friendly following a turbulent summer of transfer rows and wrangles between Villa and Liverpool over the midfielder.

Liverpool-born Anthony is the younger cousin of Reds’ skipper Steve and himself a huge Liverpool fan and described Barry as a “quality player” after seeing him turn in an assured performance to help Villa secure a 3-2 victory over their League One neighbours.

The central defender - Walsall’s Player of the Season last year - believes Barry would be a huge asset to his home town club and said his man-of-the-match winning performance underlined just what a true professional Barry was when put under immense pressure by a crowd of some 2,200 travelling Villa fans.

Villa supporters are angry that their former skipper - who wants to leave to pursue his Champions League dream after ten years at Villa Park - publicly criticised manager Martin O’Neill in a newspaper article. Barry took a swipe at O’Neill because he felt his boss was too busy away commentating on the European Championships to deal with the transfer issue.

Anthony Gerrard said: “After seeing that performance it would seem that whatever is going on in Gareth Barry’s football life has not affected him on the pitch and that was evident in his performance against us.

"He showed he was a class act and a class above any of the other players. He is an absolute quality player and as a Liverpool fan, I believe he would be a great addition to the team.

“Gareth Barry is a credit to himself. He was as professional as always. He wants to better himself and play in the Champions League and fair play to him for that. Everyone wants to excel in their career and hopefully, if he moves to Liverpool, he can do that.

“I know Steve would like Gareth Barry to join him. They are good friends and they got on whenever they join up together with the England squad. I have no doubt at all that they would make a good partnership on the field.”

Barry’s run-out at the Banks’s Stadium ended when he was subsituted and disappeared in a waiting car without joining his Villa team-mates and manager Martin O’Neill who was watching the proceedings from the stands.

Villa won the game thanks to a brace from Shaun Maloney and a third from Wayne Routledge - cancelling out goals from Saddlers’ Alex Nicholls and triallist Patrick Suffo.

Maloney admitted afterwards that he hoped those goals would stake his claim for a place in O’Neill’s starting line-up for the visit of Odense BK to Villa Park in the second leg of the Intertoto Cup this weekend.

He said: “Hopefully I have shown the manager I am ready if the call comes against Odense on Saturday. Fingers crossed I can play a part.The boys played pretty well in patches against Odense last weekend so I think it will be difficult breaking into the starting line-up for the second leg.

“But I have done all I can now so hopefully I will be ready if the manager calls.”

Liverpool Sign Spanish Teenager

Liverpool have signed 18-year-old right-back Emmanuel Mendy on a free transfer from Spanish third division side Murcia Deportivo.

The Spanish teenager, who can also play at left-back, is expected to compete for a place in the reserve set-up overseen by Gary Ablett.

The Reds have made several youth signings over the summer.

Mendy joins Christopher Buchtmann, Nikola Saric, Zsolt Poloskei and Vincent Lucas Weijl at Anfield.

Manager Rafael Benitez has added Philipp Degen, Andrea Dossena and Diego Cavalieri to his senior squad.

Fernando Torres Will Have Prem Defences Quaking Says Dirk Kuyt

Fernando Torres will terrify Premier League defences again next season, claims his Liverpool team-mate Dirk Kuyt.

Torres bagged 33 goals in his debut campaign for the Reds before crowning his season by scoring the winning goal in the Euro 2008 Final for Spain.

And Kuyt claims no one in the Premier League will relish playing against the hitman when he is unleashed next month.

Torres returns to pre-season training tomorrow - along with his victorious Spanish team-mates - and Kuyt is backing him to score even more goals.

"He's only 24 and at that age he can only get better and better," said the Dutchman. "He showed that last season and he can only improve again.

"He knows that and the defenders know that as well. They will be afraid of him because of that. If he stays fit he can do even better than last season."

Kuyt has warned Torres he will be a marked man because of his stunning success last season, but he doesn't believe anyone will be able to contain him.

"I think Fernando already knows how difficult the Premier League can be, but he still did really well last year," he said.

"The only thing he has to be careful about is that people are starting to know him now. However, for a player like him, with his qualities, it's always going to be difficult for anybody to play against him.

"The most important thing is you always have to keep focused. There can always be a bad tackle coming in, but as long as you are focused and quick on your feet, you shouldn't get a bad injury."

Kuyt also praised Robbie Keane, who is set to join Liverpool in a £20million deal from Tottenham, and feels the Irishman will bring goals to the team.

Keane's arrival will push Kuyt further down the strikers' pecking order, but he insists his signing would greatly bolster Liverpool's attack.

Now Even Steven Gerrard's Cousin Is Telling Gareth Barry To Join Liverpool

Steven Gerrard's cousin has waded into the Gareth Barry row by advising the star not to go back on his plans to quit Aston Villa for Liverpool.

Walsall defender Anthony Gerrard faced Barry in Villa's 3-2 preseason friendly win at the Banks's Stadium on Tuesday where the midfielder was jeered by Villa fans.

But Gerrard reckons the flak Barry is getting will be worth it when he finally links up with England team-mate Steven at Anfield.

"I am a Liverpool fan and he would be a great addition," said ex-Everton trainee Gerrard, 22. "Gareth Barry was a class above against us.

"Whatever goes on in his football life, he does his talking on the pitch.

"Decisions on his future are down to him because he has aspirations of playing in the Champions League and Liverpool are there already. Everyone wants to excel in their career and hopefully he can do that.

"He would make a good partnership with Steven as they are friends from the England squad.

"And I have no doubts at all they would complement each other well in the centre of midfield."

Red Ajdarevic On Trial At NEC

Astrit Ajdarevic is likely to leave Anfield this summer, and as he begins a trial at NEC Nijmegen the Netherlands seem to be his most likely destination.

The Kosovo-born Swedish youth international arrived at Anfield in 2007 from Falkenbergs, but has yet to make a first team appearance for the Reds.

It seems likely that he will move on, having already completed a trial with Leeds United before heading to Nijmegen.

NEC technical director Carlos Aalbers seems pleased with what he's seen so far, describing Asrtit as an "inventive midfield player, who is both technically able and physically strong. Our priority may be a forward, but some opportunities can't be missed."
NEC coach Mario Been also welcomes AZ forward Gregory Nelson to the fold.

The 20-year-old arrives on trial from Alkmaar tomorrow in order to train ahead of friendlies against Hollandia, a Helderse selection, and Sparta Rotterdam.

Hertha Berlin 0 - 0 LiverpooL

Andriy Voronin had a second-half penalty saved but Liverpool maintained their unbeaten record so far in pre-season with a draw against Hertha Berlin.

In front of 51,641 fans in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, Liverpool's starting line-up included just three players who could consider themselves first choice come the start of the season.

But they showed enough effort, fitness and strength - particularly at the back - to encourage boss Rafael Benitez.

This was very much the final dress rehearsal as far as Benitez was concerned.

The Anfield chief has been denied his big-hitters so far this pre-season and that has given the support cast their chance to shine.

He has discovered that in youngsters Stephen Darby, David Martin and Jay Spearing there is plenty of potential for the future, and all three would benefit from a spell now out on loan.

But Benitez will bring his squad back to Melwood on Tuesday and has a week of intense work before they fly to Spain for a friendly with Villarreal next Wednesday, followed by a demanding trip to face Rangers at Ibrox four days later.

Benitez will hope by then to have made headway on the possible deals involving Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane while welcoming back to training Liverpool's Spanish heroes Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Jose Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa - all return to training at the end of the week.

By then decisions may well have been made over the futures of Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin and Sebastian Leto.

They have all had plenty of chances over four friendlies so far, but the pace of preparation will hot up now with a Champions League qualifier three weeks away.

Liverpool will face that without Javier Mascherano, who is bound for the Olympics and played his last game for the club for a month in Berlin.

Along with Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger he showed how strong this central axis will be next term.

Elsewhere Spanish teenager Daniel Pacheco again showed clever flashes of talent and almost got on the end of an Emiliano Insua cross.

Hertha came closest in the first period with two efforts from full-back Sofian Chahed.

Liverpool changed their complete back-line at the break, Martin Skrtel, Sami Hyypia, Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena taking over.

And the visitors should have scored after 49 minutes after Voronin was pulled down in the box by Kaka, who was tugging his shirt, but the Ukrainian striker saw his spot-kick saved by Christian Fiedler.

Cicero saw a downward header saved well by Diego Cavalieri, who was then replaced by Martin, with Jack Hobbs, Dirk Kuyt, Spearing and Yossi Benayoun all getting second-half run-outs.

Liverpool FC To Complete David N’Gog Deal

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez expects to seal a deal for teenage French forward David N’Gog today.

The club return to Melwood today after a three-match tour of Switzerland and Germany which concluded last night with a 0-0 draw against Hertha Berlin.

Although Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in pre-season to four games, a third victory could have been recorded had Andriy Voronin not seen his 50th-minute penalty saved by Christian Fiedler.

After the game, Benitez said: “We’re working hard. We have a young player and hopefully it will be done tomorrow, I think it will be positive.”

The manager was pleased with his team’s performance last night, saying: “We were well-organised and had an offensive mentality.

“We’ve got the Spanish players to come back and Fernando Torres will be one of them.

“We’ll see the difference once we’ve got these players and they show their quality.”

N’Gog is expected to cost £1.5m from Paris St Germain.

Rafa Benitez: Keane To Boost Liverpool's Strike Force

Rafa Benitez insisted he was working "very hard" to bring in a new striker after watching Liverpool fire blanks in Berlin's Olympic Stadium last night.

Andriy Voronin missed a second-half penalty as the Reds produced a limp performance which only served to highlight why Benitez must break the bank to bring in Spurs hot-shot Robbie Keane.

Without star players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, they rarely threatened Hertha Berlin and were fortunate to escape defeat against their Bundesliga hosts. Benitez, who has yet to secure Gareth Barry's signature from Aston Villa, said: "We are working hard to bring in new players.

"We will see what happens over the course of the next few days.

"There were several positives to take from the performance.

"Javier Mascherano played a full 90 minutes for the first time this summer while the work rate of the team was very good."

Liverpool were fortunate not to be trailing at the interval, German defender Sofian Chahed narrowly failing to beat Brazilian keeper Diego Cavalieri from 20 yards in the fifth minute.

Despite the absence of Gerrard and Torres, the impressive 74,500-capacity Olympic Stadium was still well populated. There was little to shout about, however, for the healthy sprinkling of Liverpool fans present among the 51,641 paying customers.

Liverpool Turn Their Attention To Olympic Row

Liverpool have turned their attention to a feud emerging between the Bundesliga and Fifa regarding their guidelines on releasing well known players for next month's Olympic Games.

The Bundesliga yesterday made it clear that they were prepared to test Fifa's resolve on the topic after a dispute over German side, Werder Bremen's midfielder Diego broke out, threatening to damage the 'goodwill' pact which would give famous players the opportunity to play in Beijing.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will start the new season without the services of Javier Mascherano as the Argentine will travel to Beijing. Liverpool will also be without Lucas Leiva and Ryan Babel playing for Brazil and the Netherlands, respectively.

Mascherano travels to the Olympics as one of Argentina's three players aged over 23 - he is there on the recommendation of Fifa who has encouraged all clubs to show goodwill towards the Olympic Games - there is no rule in place obligating Liverpool to release Mascherano.

Only players such as Babel and Leiza - both under 23 - can be compelled to join their national sides. With this rule in mind, Bremen have blocked Diego's request to compete in Beijing. On hearing of his club's decision, Diego is reported to have walked out of the training ground, and, without permission has flown to Paris to join the Brazil squad.

Bremen's sporting director has said that the matter will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Should Diego be prevented from playing in Beijing, he has said he will abide by any decision taken by the CAS.

Brazilian players are said to be under more pressure than most to join up with their national sides as their head coach Dunga is under such scrutiny that poor results in China could see him sacked.

The football event in Beijing begins on August 6.

Yossi Eager To Prove His Worth

Yossi Benayoun believes he can improve upon an impressive first season with the Reds by becoming even more ruthless in front of goal during the 2008-09 campaign.

The Israel international is confident he has what it takes to prove his worth to boss Rafael Benitez and admits he is happy to play in any role for the team if it means he can help them go on to secures more silverware.

"I believe in myself and know what I can do," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"I think I had a good season last year, but I want to improve and score more goals. It's up to the manager - my job is to do what I can for the best of the team."

Benayoun, who appeared as a second-half substitute in the 0-0 draw with Hertha Berlin in the Olympiastadion last night, feels the stalemate with the German outfit was the Reds' most difficult pre-season clash so far and likened it more to a European night at Anfield than a friendly fixture.

"We've played against a good team who play good football and it's a good test for us," he said. "I'm sure we will improve and I'm sure we will be ready for the new season.

"It was similar to a European night because we saw a lot of supporters come out and we wanted to win. There weren't as many substitutions as you would expect because it was important to both teams. We had some good chances including the penalty but what can you say, it's only pre-season.

"I've felt good in the past few games. I didn't play too much against Hertha because I picked up a little bit of an injury in training but I still came on, and I think it did some good.

"Hopefully I will improve along with the rest of the team."

Reds' Spanish Armada Set To Return

Liverpool's Spanish contingent will be back in training at Melwood on Friday after their successful Euro 2008 campaign.

Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa helped their country claim European Championship glory this summer, and were granted extended leave in order to recover from the tournament.

However, they are now set to join up with their domestic team-mates as the pre-season preparations hot up ahead of the new season.

Rafael Benitez is delighted to welcome the quartet back in to the fold, especially as he saw his side struggle for long periods during a 0-0 draw with Hertha Berlin on Tuesday.

"All the Spanish players will be back in training with us on Friday," he told the club's official website.

"Torres will be one of them and hopefully we will see the difference in our play because of the quality these players showed last season."

Benitez, who saw an Andriy Voronin penalty saved during the game against Hertha, still believes that there are plenty of positives which can be taken from their latest friendly encounter.

"Diego (Cavalieri) showed the quality he has with some good saves," said the Reds boss.

"I thought the game was played at a high tempo and both teams were working hard. We had chances and they did too, so a draw was probably a fair result.

"We made some mistakes but that is normal for pre-season. We also did some really good things.

"When you have four or five players who normally play not available it's not always easy to play at you highest level, but the young players have done well.

"The players have worked hard in the training camp and that is a positive for us."

Carra Hails Scouse Prospects

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has praised the efforts fellow scousers Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby on their pre-season tour of Europe.

Precious few local lads have successfully negotiated the step from the Liverpool reserves to the first-team in recent years – virtually none since Steven Gerrard, in fact.

Ormskirk-born Stephen Warnock threatened to break the mould but never managed to displace John Arne Riise – now of Roma – before being sold to Blackburn Rovers last year.

Carragher and Gerrard have thus been flying the banner for born and bred Liverpudlians at Anfield ever since Michael Owen’s departure for Real Madrid in 2004, but the Kop may have a few more scousers to cheer on before long.

Spearing and Darby were instrumental elements of the title-winning reserves team last season and have featured prominently during the Reds’ summer hit-outs in Switzerland and Germany.

And Carragher, who is known to take a great interest in the club’s youth prospects, believes both boys are capable of making the grade.

"All the young lads have done very well on this trip, especially Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby," he told Liverpool’s official website.

"Hopefully that will continue. They don't need any advice from me; they are doing very well at the moment."

Another impressive performer during the pre-season so far is Spanish youngster Daniel Pacheco, who has earned mass plaudits since arriving on Merseyside from Barcelona last summer.

"Daniel Pacheco has looked very sharp - he is a class player and we are delighted to have him," Carragher continued.

"Hopefully he can go on and do it this season but, as I say, he is still a young player - you shouldn't forget that. Hopefully he will be a Liverpool boy for years to come."

Gold Medal Then Premiership Crown - Mascherano

Javier Mascherano has confirmed that he'll go to the Olympics and, brimming with confidence, is targeting another gold medal and the Premier League title.

Midfield battler Javier Mascherano has come under fire over his imminent stint as a Beijing olympian, which will involve him missing the start of the season.

However, the 24-year-old - one of the over-age players in Argentina's squad for the Games - has now hit back.

He feels everything he'll touch this season will turn to gold and that his adventure in China will be long forgotten by the time the Reds hoist the Premier League trophy aloft.

Gunning for his second-straight Olympic triumph, Mascherano confirmed to the Liverpool Echo: "I will go to the Olympics - I'm leaving the team for a month.

"Hopefully, I will go to Beijing and win the gold medal for my country and come back and win the title with Liverpool."

Still, the midfielder, capped 36 times for the senior international side, is happy to have shaken off the inevitable summer sluggishness and seen some new faces by enjoying pre-season with Rafa Benitez's side.

He continued: "It was important for me to do the pre-season with the team so I can get to know my new team-mates before I go to the Olympics.

"We are all working hard and hopefully the work we are doing now will help us to have a good season and we will try to win some trophies.

"We are having more and more contact with the ball and, when the new season arrives, I think we will be ready for the Premier League."

Rush: Barry & Keane Can Help Reds To Glory

Liverpool legend Ian Rush believes the potential signings of Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane could see the club finally challenge for their first Premier League crown.

Despite being the most successful club in English football, the Reds have yet to open their account in the Premier League era. Their last title came in 1990, under the guidance of Rush’s former strike partner, Kenny Dalglish.

It has been a trying 18 years since, during which Manchester United have supplanted their North West rivals as England’s biggest and best, while London duo Chelsea and Arsenal have also leaped ahead when it comes to domestic affairs.

The catch-cry from Anfield in recent years has been that they are one or two great signings away from reclaiming the trophy they seemed to own during the 1970s and ‘80s. The arrival of Spanish superstar Fernando Torres has taken them one step closer, but gaps remain in certain departments.

Now Rafael Benitez is chasing Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, although the players’ respective price tags have prevented the deals from being completed as yet.

Rush is adamant that those two players could complete Liverpool’s puzzle, and has called on the club’s owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, to stump up the ₤40million or so required to secure the pair’s services.

“When you look at what’s happening at other clubs, why shouldn’t Liverpool go close?” Rush said in The Sun. “I just hope Rafa gets the money to sign Barry and Keane – then I could see them giving it a real go.

“The spine of the team is in place with Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Stevie Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

“If they get support, I can see them mounting a genuine push – and not before time.”

After a season that was riddled with boardroom controversy, it has been a relatively peaceful summer so far on Merseyside – certainly compared to the goings on at Old Trafford, the Emirates and Stamford Bridge, anyway.

And Rush believes the Reds should capitalise on their rivals’ unrest as they seek to add to their 18 titles – a record that is being threatened by the Red Devils, who clinched their 17th last term.

“It’s no good setting your sights on fourth at a club like this, where expectations are so high,” the Welshman continued.

“And maybe this is the right time. United have lost No 2 Carlos Queiroz and no-one knows what will happen with Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Chelsea have a new boss and new players but even great ones need time to gel.

“And Arsenal are losing players too, while nothing has happened at Liverpool, apart from selling Peter Crouch.”

Keane's arrival would effectively nullify Crouch's departure, at any rate, while Barry would replace Xabi Alonso, should the Basque playmaker also leave. But whether that will be enough for Liverpool to clinch their first Premier League crown remains to be seen.

Reina Rules Out Spain Return

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose ‘Pepe’ Reina has dismissed the possibility of returning to his native country, insisting he is completely satisfied on Merseyside.

Reina arrived at Anfield in 2005 and has since established himself among Europe’s elite ‘keepers, snaring three consecutive Golden Glove awards for most clean sheets in a Premier League season.

However, the 25-year-old has had to settle for a spot on the bench when it comes to international duty, as Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas – who was outstanding in Spain’s EURO 2008 triumph – effectively owns la Furia Roja’s No. 1 jersey.

Some have speculated that the former Barcelona shot-stopper could return to La Liga in the hope of increasing his chances of supplanting Casillas, as it is a widely held belief that la Seleccion’s coaches prefer home-based players.

But Reina – one of four Spanish scousers in Austria and Switzerland last month – insisted he will not be leaving Liverpool any time soon, and is focused solely on helping the Reds claim silverware this season.

"I won't consider returning to Spain," said Reina. "I like Liverpool and it doesn't even enter my head to return already to Spanish football - and that goes for my family as well.

"I want to celebrate winning a big trophy with Liverpool this season and if we do I promise my team-mates I will cook them some excellent seafood in return!"