Carra Warning For Critics

Jamie Carragher has hit back at those who have written Liverpool out of the Premier League title race so early on in the season.

The Reds came in for heavy criticism after losing two of their opening three games of the new top flight campaign.

But Rafa Benitez's side showed character to bounce back at the weekend as they twice came from a losing position to beat Bolton Wanderers 3-2.

Defender Carragher concedes Liverpool have made a slow start but has reminded the doubters of his side's ability to mount a comeback time and time again.

He said: "We have taken a bit of criticism and rightly so because we haven't made the best of starts.

"But no one can ever write us off. Ourselves and Manchester United, not just in this league but probably anywhere in the world, are the best at coming back from deficits and winning games.

"At Bolton, the lads showed what great character we have.

"It was so important to get those three points, especially with the international break coming up."

The Merseyside club, who finished second last season, are eyeing a first league title since 1990.

Angry Ryan Babel Desperate To Quit Liverpool

Angry Liverpool winger Ryan Babel is desperate to go out on loan after claiming Rafa Benitez has broken promises made to him.

Babel, 22, has already targeted a move to his former club Ajax in January to salvage his World Cup dream.

The Dutch star has struggled to get any regular first-team football since moving to Anfield two years ago.

Back then Liverpool boss Benitez beat off interest from Arsenal and Spurs to land the highly-rated youngster.

But although the Dutch international started the first game of this season against Spurs, he has since made just one late appearance from the bench in the shock defeat at home to Aston Villa.

He said yesterday: "There have been a lot of things promised, but they haven't been followed up.

"I would get to play for more minutes and have more chances, but after the first defeat, I only lost my place.

Babel believes a loan deal in the January transfer window could be his best hope of making Bert van Marwijk's squad for next summer's World Cup in South Africa.

He added: "I think half a season at Ajax with a view to the World Cup wouldn't be a bad idea. I can add something to the Ajax squad.

"Loaning me out was not an option (in the summer). Now we have agreed to review the situation in January.

"I see the current situation as a signal that I really have to get playing."

Babel's remarks continue a troubled start to the season for Benitez, who has already lost two of opening four Premier League matches.

Following defeat to Aston Villa last Monday Benitez risked alienating senior players Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and it is understood both unhappy players made their feelings known in a team meeting a few days later.

Alonso Says He Decided To Leave Liverpool Last Summer

Xabi Alonso has revealed that he first came to the conclusion he was ready to leave Liverpool when the club tried to sell him last summer.

The Spaniard spent five successful seasons at Anfield before leaving for Real Madrid in a £30m move this summer. However the Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez tried to offload the 27-year-old 12 months ago to raise money for prospective signings, in particular Gareth Barry.

At the time the former Real Sociedad midfielder had struggled for form, making just 16 Premier League starts in 2007-08, but an outstanding campaign last season saw Real lodge their interest. Despite handing in a transfer request in July, Alonso admits that he had decided to leave the club after they had tried to sell him against his wishes a year earlier.

"It was a very difficult decision for me to make," he told Sky Sports News. "After five years I have experienced wonderful nights at Anfield, to have experienced the support of probably the best fans in the world.

"That's why I have always been very grateful and I will always have them in my mind and it has been a pleasure. Last summer the club [told] me that I might have to be sold to find funds for new players. It was a difficult decision or difficult moment to accept that. I accepted that as a professional and that moment probably changed my mind."

Alonso has since admitted that his relationship with Benítez deteriorated when he demanded to leave, but that it remained a professional one. "There have been a lot of rumours but I have always said that it has been simply a professional relationship," he added. "I have always tried to do what he asked [me] to do. What he asked of me on the pitch, to do the talking on the pitch, and that's that."

Lee Warned Over Discipline

Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee has been warned about his future conduct by the Football Association's Regulatory Commission.

Lee admitted improper conduct after being charged over his conduct towards fourth official Stuart Attwell during the club's defeat to Tottenham on the opening day of the season.

Lee protested with Atwell after two penalty appeals were rejected in a tense finale and was sent to the stands by referee Phil Dowd.

The commission opted against a stiffer penalty having taken into account the former Bolton boss' "exemplary" disciplinary record.

Alberto Aquilani Will Be Worth The Wait - Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez insists he is happy with the progress Alberto Aquilani is making as he plots his return to action.

The Italian midfielder made the switch to Anfield in a £20million deal from Roma last month.

Aquilani has spent the past three weeks continuing his rehabilitation at Melwood following the ankle surgery he underwent back in May.

The 25-year-old is unlikely to make his debut before the start of October but Benitez is confident he will be worth the wait.

“Alberto is improving,” Benitez revealed. “We were talking before about six to eight weeks and after a few weeks his ankle is much better but he will need time.

“He’s in the swimming pool and in the gym and working with the physios but he’s not jogging yet.

“We cannot put a date on things and it’s important to just see how he progresses.

“We are checking on him regularly and he had a scan in the past week which showed he is much better.

“It’s just a case of keeping an eye on him every day. When he does start to play everyone will see what a clever player he is.”

Aquilani was signed as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid in a £30m deal.

The departure of Alonso has been blamed for the Reds’ mixed start to the season but Benitez insists his side can cope without the Spaniard.

“We won a lot of games last season without Xabi,” Benitez said.

“Xabi is a good player but he decided to go. He’s not here so we have to concentrate on those players who are here.

“Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas and Plessis are our midfielders now and Aquilani when he’s fit.

“We have to support these players and not talk about one player who decided to go.”

The international break means Liverpool are without a game until they entertain Burnley on September 12.

By that time Benitez expects to have left-back Fabio Aurelio back in his squad following the knee problem which has forced him to miss the start of the campaign.

“Fabio is back training and playing football,” Benitez said.

“After the end of the international break I don’t think he will have any problems and he will be able to be involved in normal training sessions and be in the squad.

“Daniel Agger is walking again after his back operation and Nabil El Zhar’s knee injury is also improving so that is very positive.”

PSV Wanted To Sign Liverpool Goalie Mihaylov

Bulgarian shot stopper Nikolay Mihaylov almost joined Eredivisie giants PSV on deadline day. The Liverpool goalie, currently on loan at Twente, claims that the Eindhoven side made a last minute approach for him, but that the Tukkers refused to let go of him.

"Liverpool and PSV had already reached an agreement, but Twente coach Steve McClaren refused to let me leave," was Mihaylov quoted as saying by Bulgarian medium 24chasa.

"We will continue talks during the winter break and I'm full of confidence that I will sign for PSV in January. Unfortunately, we lacked the time to terminate my loan deal with Twente in a proper way."

PSV had reportedly convinced Liverpool to let go of Mihaylov for €1.5 million. The English powerhouse insisted on a €3 million buy-back clause, but the transfer eventually collapsed due to a lack of time.

The Eindhoven side are in the market for a new goalie due to the far from impressive performances of current first choice glovesman Andreas Isaksson. The Swede has showed shaky hands on more than one occasion since signing for PSV in the summer of 2008.

Liverpool FC Reserves Face Bolton In Premier Reserve League North

Liverpool Reserves begin life at Prenton Park on Wednesday night as they take on Bolton in the Premier Reserve League North.

It will be a special return for new Reds second string boss John McMahon who had two spells as caretaker manager of Tranmere.

“Prenton Park holds good memories for me and I learned my trade there when John Aldridge brought me in as a youth coach,” he said.

“I had some fantastic times at Tranmere and I learned a lot of things. The club was always good to me and it will be nice to play our home matches there.

“Hopefully we can be strong, get some good results and put in some good performances.”

Danish youth international striker Nikola Saric will be out to impress after missing most of last season through injury.

“Nikola has joined in all the training sessions and hopefully he will start to push on and show what he is capable of,” McMahon added.

“He shows good technique and good awareness and he is a good finisher.”

Liverpool Launches World Cup City Bid

Liverpool’s World Cup city bid was officially launched this morning, including ambitious plans to rename one of its historic parks as ‘The Magical Mystery Park’ in homage to the Beatles.

The move would see Wavertree’s Mystery park renamed to become the first ever Beatles-themed World Cup ‘Fan Fest’ site, with events and attractions throughout the tournament.

Continuing the musical theme and reinforcing the council’s commitment to the environment, car-free transport would be heavily promoted under the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” transport programme.

Newsham Park would become the other FIFA Fan Fest venue during the course of the 2018 tournament.

It would carry a Victorian theme to play on the grass roots and heritage of football, those behind the plans said.

The ECHO arena launch event received the support of Reds manager Rafael Benitez and Liverpool FC legend Jamie Carragher.

It came on the same day representatives from governing body FIFA were in town to inspect the city’s potential to host the event.

Those attending the launch heard how four other North West clubs, including Tranmere, Wigan, Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End would allow their grounds to be used as base camp training facilities for teams coming from around the world.

Details also emerged of how “Celebration Squares” would be created in the city centre at the Pier Head, Clayton Square, Williamson Square and William Brown Street.

The city council is 100% behind the plans and is leading the bid.

Council leader Cllr Warren Bradley said: “We’ve worked hard to develop what being a host city would mean for the fans, visitors and residents.

“The Fan Fest sites and celebration squares will draw on the very best of what people saw in the Capital of Culture year, with a green transport theme and health promotion programme, which will ensure the city experiences a meaningful and lasting legacy of being part of the World Cup.”

Tranmere Rovers chief executive Mick Horton said: “It would be fantastic for the whole of Merseyside if Liverpool was to be a host city of the 2018 World Cup.”

Liverpool must now submit its final written bid to England’s World Cup bid company by November this year.

The country’s list of host cities will then be announced in December and the complete bid will be put forward in May 2010. City leaders hope bringing the World Cup to Merseyside will boost the local economy.

Manchester United And Liverpool Receive Huge Cash Windfalls

English Premier League champions Manchester United received a huge windfall from last season's Premier League's broadcast rights, which saw the league pay out more than UK£1 billion for the first time.

United and Liverpool topped the list of earnings, with the Premier League champions collecting £51.5 million. Liverpool also broke the £50 million mark, albeit narrowly, collecting £50.1 million. The totals represented approximately 20 per cent of United's total annual revenues, and an even more significant proportion of Liverpool's.

The 20 Premier League clubs collected a total of £790 million, with £70 million of parachute payments made to clubs relegated into the Championship and a further £136 million distributed throughout the game.

Dirk Kuyt Savours ‘Special’ Talent Of Steven Gerrard

In the most prosaic terms, Steven Gerrard’s goal for Liverpool against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday was enough to win a football match and earn his team three much-needed points. But, as has so often been the case in the career of a genuine sporting tour de force, Gerrard’s strike meant so much more than that.

It rendered criticism of his early-season form if not futile, then certainly misplaced. Gerrard may not have hit the heights in Liverpool’s opening fixtures, but with one majestic swipe of his right foot the midfield player again underlined his importance to a team who are utterly reliant on him.

“That’s why he’s the captain and, for me, the best midfielder in the world,” Dirk Kuyt, the Liverpool forward, said of his team-mate’s latest rescue act.

“Everybody expects that from him. If the team is in a difficult position, we expect something from him. He brings something special. Once again he did it for us against Bolton and we’re all really happy to have him.”

Perhaps the criticism that hurt Gerrard most after Liverpool’s defeat by Aston Villa eight days ago was that of his own manager, Rafael Benítez, who ordered his captain and his senior players to take more responsibility. Tellingly, and perhaps disappointingly for Gerrard himself, the censure did not come in the confines of the dressing room, it came in a post-match press conference, an uncharacteristic departure by the Spaniard.

Kuyt, though, says that Gerrard did not allow the situation to get to him. “Stevie didn’t worry about Villa,” the Dutchman said. “That’s why he’s such a good player. He is always looking forward to the next game. No matter if he’s playing bad or good, he always wants to play better in the next game. That shows what a good professional he is.” Jamie Carragher is in full agreement. “He has taken a bit of criticism this week and it’s never a clever thing to write Stevie off because even when there are times when he doesn’t play well, he will produce a goal like that,” the defender said.

Rafael Benitez Charged With Improper Conduct After Tottenham Outburst

Rafael Benitez could face a touchline ban after the Football Association charged the Liverpool manager for improper conduct over his criticism of referee Phil Dowd following his side’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on the opening day of the season.

Benitez stated after the game that “with this referee, it is impossible” to be given two penalties in an away game, as well as indicating his belief Dowd needed glasses during his post-match press conference, after the official waved away a late appeal from Andriy Voronin for a spot-kick. Steven Gerrard had earlier drawn Liverpool level from 12 yards following Heurelho Gomes’s foul on Glen Johnson.

The FA revealed it was investigating the incident on Aug 21 having requested “all available materials” of Benitez’s comments, including television footage and newspaper reports, and later wrote to the Spaniard to ask him to explain his remarks.

A statement released by the FA on Tuesday confirmed that investigation has resulted in a charge after he was found to have transgressed new directives, established in a meeting held before the start of the season, banning managers from calling into question a referee’s neutrality and integrity.

The statement added: “The charge relates to comments made about the match official immediately following the match at White Hart Lane. Benitez has until Sept 15, 2009 to respond.”

While the Spaniard could face a touchline ban for his comments, it is believed he may be let off with a fine and a warning as to his future conduct, though the FA, keen to enforce its Respect campaign, may choose to make an example of the Liverpool manager.

Gerrard Backs Quick-Fire Fishy Business At Anfield

Steven Gerrard has led a host of Europe’s top players in contributing and promoting a new book produced by the World Heart Foundation and UEFA.

Labelled ‘Eat for Goals’ the book aims to promote quick and healthy eating options amongst children and lists players’ favourite recipes including the Liverpool captain’s crunchy sea bream with herbs, Barcelona defender Carles Puyol's pasta with pesto and grilled vegetables and a power omelette nominated by Bayern Munich’s Miroslav Klose.

Former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy and ex-Arsenal hero Thierry Henry also lend their culinary tips to the recipe collection.

A total of 13 recipes are presented with the aim of educating youth and their families on the interdependency between a balanced healthy diet and performance.

Talking about the importance of the project Steven Gerrard stressed:

"Eat for Goals! shows young players and lovers of football how to cook and eat like champions."

Dutch star Ruud van Nistelrooy, added: "It's vital that children have a healthy lifestyle based on healthy food and exercise. I'm looking forward to cooking the recipesin Eat for Goals! with my children when they're older."

Euro Cup Vital To Keep Liverpool On Track

Liverpool’s shaky start to the season poses a fresh threat to the American ownership of the club.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett Junior's business model depends on Champions League qualification.

Just three weeks into a campaign which began with grand hopes of securing the title, key Anfield figures are gravely concerned about fending off the top four bids of Manchester City and Spurs.

And if they do fail to make that Champions League slot, the owners would come under intense pressure to sell off valuable assets.

That would put the futures of key players such as Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano under the spotlight.

Liverpool have secured bank loans based on regular Champions League participation and the money raised from Euro campaigns is used to invest in the squad. That is worth up to £20million a season.

Hopes for a record £80m shirt sponsorship deal, which is due for renewal, will also be hit by Liverpool's poor start, as advertisers negotiate on the basis of elite Euro involvement for the next few years.

Most worrying for Kop fans is a deep split at the club about who is responsible for the lack of quality in the side.

The Americans' view is "don't blame us." Hicks and Gillett insist they have consistently provided millions to strengthen the squad - including £30m of their own money - and cannot be held responsible for imbalances within it.

They also argue the business model they have put in place is identical to Manchester United and Arsenal, where the budgets are based on regular Champions League involvement.

Manager Rafa Benitez has felt since the day he arrived at Anfield he has not had the same resources as United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

But Liverpool deny the fans' claims of 'missing millions' from summer transfer dealings. At least £7m of the budget was allocated to salary increases over the next year. And around £100m has been committed to new contracts over the next four years.

Twenty-seven backroom and coaching staff also left Anfield over the summer. Some were paid off but battles for unfair dismissal claims are ongoing.

Club sources also point to unpublicised but significant hidden costs such as agents and signing-on fees.

They also began last season 'in the red' to the tune of £9m in terms of transfer deals when they signed Albert Riera. That was balanced by the sale of Robbie Keane back to Spurs for an initial £12m.

But it underlines how the publicised 'ins and outs' column does not paint the full picture. Irate Liver-pool fans demand more funds for their manager, while paradoxically campaigning against the levels of debt.

Benitez did try to ship out more players to raise funds. But Ryan Babel, Riera, Andriy Voronin and Phillip Degen could not be shifted.

Ironically, Benitez's position is safest of all. The club can't afford to sack him as he would collect a £25m pay-off under his new five-year-deal. Also, no one on the board has the sole authority to take major decisions about the manager's position.

The whole scenario underlines Liverpool's tightrope walk since the Americans took over.

A season which started with dreams of securing the first title in 20 years is heading towards further confrontation between those who believe Benitez has been denied resources and owners who insist they have backed him as much as financially viable.

Caught in the middle are the fans, united in their desire to see an end to the American regime, but deeply divided on whether the manager should accept his share of the responsibility.

Liverpool: Just Another Day

Today, as we all know, is the final day of the summer transfer window as this closes at 5pm. Many clubs are a hive of activity as final reinforcements are added to squads, however Liverpool are not expected to be doing much on this day, if anything at all.

Most of the Premier League title rivals are all expected to be fairly quiet today as most of the business that they would've wanted to do has been done already.

I'm sure that Rafa would like to delve into the transfer market at least once more to strengthen the squad but it doesn't look like he'll have the finances to do this, as if he didn't have this over the past two months or so this isn't suddenly going to become available today is it?

In my honest opinion I'd have still liked another striker to arrive but on the whole, even if we might not have strengthened that much on last season we've not become that much weaker either, even if Xabi Alonso is proving a big miss at the moment. We have to wait for Alberto Aquilani to become fit to see just how much we're missing the Spaniard.

It would be a pleasant surprise if Rafa was able to conduct some business today but this isn't something that we're expecting really is it? You can also buy for the sake of buying and this isn't something we want.

Rafael Benitez Happy With Improvement In Injured Players

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is delighted with the progress that his injured players have made in order to regain full fitness.

The Reds boss began by explaining that Fabio Aurelio will be back by the time the club host Burnley at Anfield on September 12.

"Fabio is back training and playing football," Benitez is quoted by The Liverpool Daily Post as saying.

"After the end of the international break I don’t think he will have any problems and he will be able to be involved in normal training sessions and be in the squad."

The former Valencia manager also indicated that Daniel Agger and Nabil El Zhar are on the road to recovery following back and knee injuries respectively.

"Daniel Agger is walking again after his back operation and Nabil El Zhar’s knee injury is also improving so that is very positive," he remarked.

The gaffer finally touched on the subject of his biggest signing of the summer, Alberto Aquilani, who had an ankle surgery in May and has spent the last three weeks at Melwood continuing his rehabilitation programme.

"Alberto is improving," said the Spaniard.

"We were talking before about six to eight weeks [on the sidelines] and after a few weeks his ankle is much better but he will need time.

"He’s in the swimming pool and in the gym and working with the physios but he’s not jogging yet."

The tactician of the Merseyside club did not reveal how long it will take for Aquilani to make a full recovery, but maintained that the player has shown improvement in his rehabilitation programme.

"We cannot put a date on things and it’s important to just see how he progresses," said 'Rafa'.

"We are checking on him regularly and he had a scan in the past week which showed he is much better.

"It’s just a case of keeping an eye on him every day."

The manager signed off by hinting that he expects big things out of the former Roma player.

"When he does start to play everyone will see what a clever player he is," the Spaniard concluded.

Dirk Kuyt: Liverpool Can't Worry About Arsenal, Chelsea & Manchester United

Four games into the season, and some pundits are already musing that Liverpool's dreams of bagging a maiden Premier League crown are all but shattered.

Rafael Benitez's men have kicked off the 2009-10 campaign in see-sawing fashion, with two losses (against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa) and two wins (over Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers).

Meanwhile, their rivals are flourishing. Manchester United overcame their Burnley embarrassment to deal Arsenal their first setback of the season last weekend, whilst Chelsea are cruising at the summit.

But Dirk Kuyt isn't all that worried, and he believes the Reds must block out what's going on near the top of the table and concentrate on finding their rhythm.

"At this stage it is not important to look at where Chelsea, Man United or Arsenal are because we've got to think about our own game and the win at Bolton was very important after our bad start," he told The Guardian.

"We will be up there soon and we want to show that we belong at the top of the Premier League."

Furthermore, the Netherlands native is certain that all the big boys will suffer this season at the hands of the fast-improving - and hugely ambitious - mid-table teams.

"Chelsea are a top side, we knew that at the start of the season and we've seen that so far. But every team will struggle this season," Kuyt continued.

"Spurs have spent a lot of money and have had a really good start. Manchester City are up there as well and they will take points off teams.

"We just have to concentrate on ourselves, win our games and then see where we are in a couple of months."

Liverpool currently sit seventh in the standings, six points behind the leading pair of Chelsea and Tottenham.

Benitez Puts His Hopes In Lucky Break

International breaks are always an anxious time for Rafa Benitez. Three times in the past two seasons the Liverpool manager has waved off Fernando Torres only for the Spain striker to return to Anfield injured. Ryan Babel, Sami Hyypia, who has since left, and Yossi Benayoun have also been wounded in the heat of international battle in the past 12 months.

So Benitez can hardly be blamed for feeling some trepidation over the course of the next 10 days. Yet the Spaniard has reason to be feeling jitterier than ever as he monitors the progress of his players across the globe.

If the likes of Torres, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, one of the few consistent performers in an inconsistent start for Liverpool, and Javier Mascherano can return unscathed, then Benitez can look forward to the rest of the season with much more optimism than before his side's laboured victory over Bolton.

By the time the Premier League resumes, Fabio Aurelio, the Brazilian full-back who has yet to play this season because of a knee injury, is expected to be pushing for a return, along with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

The restoration of Agger and Skrtel, who was missing at the Reebok because of a jaw injury, to the heart of the defence will at least ensure Benitez a less stressful afternoon than the one he experienced on Saturday when Sotirios Kyrgiakos, the Greece international defender, had a debut to forget alongside Jamie Carragher.

While there has been frustration among the club's followers about their team's indifferent start, Liverpool's players now report for their countries frustrated that they will have to wait until Burnley's visit to Anfield on 12 September for the opportunity to record back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

"You could say the international break has come at a bad time, but it gives us time to get the likes of Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger fit," said Gerrard, scorer of Liverpool's late winner in a thrilling five-goal encounter.

It required the dismissal of Sean Davis for Liverpool to enforce their authority. Bolton were leading 2-1 thanks to goals by Kevin Davies and Tamir Cohen when Davis was dismissed in the 55th minute for his tackle from behind on Lucas.

Bolton believe the Liverpool midfielder made a meal of the challenge yet Davis needlessly picked up a first-half booking for kicking the ball away after the visitors had been awarded a free-kick.

The end of Davis spelt the end of Bolton's game plan. Gerrard, subdued after being man-marked by Fabrice Muamba, rattled the bar within seconds of Bolton having been reduced to 10 men before Torres equalised.

Liverpool, who had levelled first time round through Johnson, scored the winner seven minutes from the end, Gerrard's trademark finish from 16 yards going some way to erasing the pain of the 3-1 reversal to Aston Villa earlier in the week. "It was a difficult first 45 because Muamba was like my shadow," Gerrard added. "I'm sure if I'd have gone to the toilet he would have followed me, but he wasn't able to do that when they were down to 10 men.

"I've had a difficult start to the season. I held my hands up in the dressing room after the Aston Villa game and said I wasn't good enough."

The Bolton manager, Gary Megson, preferred to concentrate on Liverpool's tactics instead of reading Davis the riot act. "Did they take the rule out that if someone throws themselves over and they don't get booked that they can get punished for that?" he asked. "I think it is still in there but when did you last see that happen? Twice people chanced their arm on trying to get a penalty. I am not saying who they were. Tell me the last Bolton player you saw throwing themselves all over the place."

Agent Dismisses Dossena Exit

Andrea Dossena's agent claims his client is unlikely to leave Liverpool during the transfer window.

The Italy international has been the subject of much speculation this summer, with a return to Serie A widely touted.

The full-back only moved to Anfield from Udinese last year, but has struggled to make an impact in England.

That has helped to fuel exit rumours, with Juventus and Napoli both believed to be keen on offering him a route back to his homeland.

However, the Italian transfer window is set to close on Monday and Dossena's representative believes there is little chance of a deal being struck.

"I am about to arrive in Milan," said Roberto La Florio to calciomercato.it.

"I know nothing regarding those rumours (Juve and Napoli).

"I have read those stories myself, it's only rumours.

"I don't think he will return to Italy, it's difficult for an agreement to be reached today.

"I really think it's too late."

Meanwhile, Liverpool are hoping to welcome Daniel Agger back into their first-team fold in the not too distant future.

The Danish centre-half is currently recovering from a back injury, which required an operation, and has only recently resumed full training.

He is making positive progress in his rehabilitation, though, with countryman and Reds team-mate Nikola Saric delighted to see the commanding 24-year-old back in action.

"Agger played with a lot of pain, but now that has gone and that's the most important thing," Saric told TV2.

"He has been working with the physio and he says that things already feel a lot better."

Juventus, Napoli & Roma Tracking Liverpool's Andrea Dossena

Juventus' search for a left-back has apparently come to rest on Liverpool's Andrea Dossena, but Napoli and Roma are also competing with the Bianconeri to sign the 27-year-old.

"The situation is still in the balance - Napoli, Roma and Juventus are after him," Dossena's agent, Roberto La Florio, explained to Il Corriere dello Sport.

"There is still everything to decide on, the day is long. For now, he is still a Liverpool player."

Juventus have been well-documented in their chase for Olympique Lyonnais' Fabio Grosso, while the Giallorossi were thought to be interested in Dossena in order to replace John Arne Riise.

The Norwegian had been linked with Bayern Munich, but looks set to stay at the Stadio Olimpico.

Meanwhile, Napoli are believed to be preparing to make one further signing this summer, as there are strong suggestions that Manuele Blasi will leave for Palermo, and Dossena could be the player they are lining up.

Roma To Replace John Arne Riise With Liverpool’s Andrea Dossena

Reports emerging over the past 48 hours suggest that Roma’s John Arne Riise could be on his way to Germany, to join Bayern Munich.

With this in mind, the Giallorossi have been on the lookout for a direct replacement for the Norwegian, and they seem to have found one in the form of Andrea Dossena from Liverpool.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 27-year-old Reds defender is keen on a return to Serie A, as he feels it will enhance his chances of earning a place in Marcello Lippi’s Italy squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Napoli have also expressed interest in the former Udinese man over the course of the summer, but at this late stage of the transfer period Roma seem to be Dossena's sole suitors.