Liverpool In Talks Over Shock Swoop For Chelsea Defender

Liverpool has targeted a shock swoop for Chelsea centre-back Alex as manager Kenny Dalglish looks to solve his side's defensive problems.

It had been thought that full-back Jose Enrique, brought in from Newcastle last week in a £6m deal, was to be the Merseyside club's final transfer of the summer but Dalglish is reportedly eager to recruit a centre-half before the window shuts.

It is claimed Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are prepared to find the money so the manager can bring in another defender, particularly after Daniel Agger picked up another injury and the side's shaky defensive problems in pre-season.

According to Fanatix.com, Liverpool have already held unofficial talks with Chelsea over a proposed £12m move for Alex and it is thought negotiations are going in the right direction.

The Reds had been linked with a move for Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross but the decided to drop their interest when the Potters refused to lower their £18m valuation.

They have now reportedly set their sights on Brazil international Alex, who was replaced in the first-team in January last season when David Luiz was signed from Benfica.

Liverpool have focused their transfer policy this summer on recruiting younger players who will have long-term futures at the club but Dalglish is prepared to abandon that position to bolster his defence with a proven centre-back.

Dalglish To Offer £10m Plus Poulsen For Stoke Centre-Back

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is keen to tie up a deal for a commanding centre-back before the end of the transfer window and is set to continue in his vein of signing young English players.

The latest player to be linked with a move to Anfield is Stoke's giant centre-back Ryan Shawcross, who has earned a reputation as one of the toughest defenders in the Premier League.

The former Manchester United youth player has been linked with a move to Liverpool on a number of occasions and Dalglish would like to find some cover with doubts over the fitness of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Jamie Carragher also coming towards the end of their careers and Dalglish knows that he will need to bring a young defender to the club.

Liverpool have already had an initial offer of £10million turned down by Stoke and with funds limited they will now try and offer a player-plus-cash deal.

According to caughtoffside.co.uk, Dalglish may now offer the services of central midfielder Christian Poulsen plus £10m for the 23-year-old defender.

The Denmark international has been told that he is surplus to requirements at Anfield and along with Alberto Aquilani, David Ngog and Joe Cole has been linked with a summer exit.

Stoke do not want to part with their talented young defender, but should Liverpool keep pursuing Shawcross then the player may find it hard to turn down a move to a club that hope to be pushing for a top four finish.

Arsenal In Sensational Move For Liverpool Midfielder

Arsenal has emerged as shock contenders for the signature of Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole as the Gunners search for replacements for Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Fabregas finally secured his return to Barcelona on Monday having left the Nou Camp when he was 16 while Nasri appears set to depart the Emirates for Manchester City later this week.

And according to Fanatix.com, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has targeted Cole as a possible replacement for the star midfielders.

The former Chelsea and West Ham player has endured a frustrating time at Anfield with a loss of form and persistent injuries limiting his opportunities.

The summer arrivals of midfielders Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing has pushed Cole further down the Liverpool pecking order and Wenger is ready to offer him an escape.

The French tactician is reportedly a fan of Cole and believes he still as the ability to compete at the highest level. He is also pleased with the 29-year-old's versatility and will be able to rely on him in a central role or wide on either flank.

Liverpool is eager to offload Cole and his £90,000 a week wages and it is thought they will not demand a transfer fee if an approach is made.

Wenger will reportedly ask the England international to take a pay cut if he is to complete a deal that will see him move back to London. Cole is thought to be keen to return to the capital where he spent his whole life prior to moving to Liverpool.

Speculation has linked Cole with a move away from Merseyside with Premier League new boys QPR and big-spending French club PSG both rumoured to be interested in his services.

Raul Meireles Considered By Chelsea

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is lining up a bid for Raul Meireles as an alternative to Tottenham's Luka Modric.

The Stamford Bridge club is considering making a third offer for the Croatian playmaker, after bids of £22 million and £27 million were turned down earlier in the summer.

Villas-Boas, who knows Meireles from his time at Porto, has not ruled out bringing both players to Chelsea as he regards the Portuguese international as a perfect foil for Modric's creativity.

Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in a deal of around £12 million to help offset their summer spending spree under their new ownership.

Kenny Dalglish has spent much of the summer strengthening his midfield by bringing in Sunderland's Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam from Blackpool and Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.

Competition at the club is fierce and both Meireles and Dirk Kuyt, mainstays last season, were relegated to the bench for Liverpool's opening game against Sunderland.

After initially struggling to get to grips with the Premier League, Meireles had a great end to the season under Dalglish and was voted the PFA Fans Player of the Year at the end of the season.

Chelsea is also reportedly considering adding Yossi Benayoun or Didier Drogba to the Modric deal in a bid to persuade Daniel Levy and Harry Redknapp to part with their influential playmaker.

Liverpool Reluctant On David N’Gog Exit As Park Chu-Young Holds Out Hope

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish remains reluctant to agree to the sale of David N’Gog to Bolton Wanderers.

The Liverpool boss wants a replacement identified and brought to Anfield before he will allow N’Gog to head to the Reebok Stadium and join Owen Coyle’s side.

But the Reds are not yet clear on who might land at Anfield, with South Korea striker Park Chu-Young, despite being desperate for a switch, not yet the source of agreement on Merseyside.

Park Chu-Young currently turns out for Monaco, although he is looking for an exit after the side dropped into Ligue 2.

The 26-year-old has already turned down a switch to Rennes and is holding out for his chance in the Premier League, preferably with Liverpool.

The South Korean’s agent is working overtime to find a destination as Liverpool dither over whether to make the striker an offer.

It is understood that the forward was recently offered to Newcastle United, but boss Alan Pardew opted not to make a move.

Steven Gerrard To Begin Light Training

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has confirmed that club captain Steven Gerrard is close to a return to training and will be stepping up his fitness regime over the next week.

The midfielder has been out of action since March with a groin injury and his proposed return in August was postponed due to an infection caused as a result of an operation, meaning Gerrard was left hospitalized until just two weeks ago.

Dalglish was quoted as saying by The Guardian: "Stevie will be stepping up his recovery this week."

Despite the news of a return to training for Gerrard, the club is yet to revise his scheduled return to first-team action, which is said to be mid-September, meaning that the England international would inevitably miss international fixtures against Bulgaria and Wales at the start of next month.

Liverpool Searching For Best Young Players In China

Liverpool has today confirmed a team of scouts have been sent to China in an effort to find the best young talent in Asia.

Academy director of recruitment Stuart Webber is leading the party on their six-day trip of the continent, with Liverpool taking a look at two new trialists during an Under 17 tournament on the trip.

The Merseysiders are also looking to enhance their links with the Chinese FA, and Webber believes it's a great opportunity for the club to search out players on a global scale.

"It's a fantastic opportunity both for myself and the club. The trip has come about on the back of the first team being out in that part of the world during the pre-season. We felt there was a need to go and have a look at a few players. There's a tournament out there and we will also want to spend some time with the Chinese FA,” he told the official Liverpool website.

"We'll basically continue to build the links between Liverpool and what is potentially a fantastic market for us. It would be great if we could bring through a player from that part of the world one day. We have millions of supporters over there and it's important we scout there as well as across the rest of the world.

"We are confident we will find a player somewhere like this one day and it is important we step up our efforts now."

The value of unearthing an Asian superstar would not just be felt on the pitch, with the lucrative financial aspect of a player from the continent making it big in the Barclays Premier League not lost on Liverpool main sponsor Standard Chartered.

Webber and his Liverpool team will be working hard to make such a possibility a reality, and it's an opportunity which is exciting the recruitment head.

"It's really exciting and hopefully I will get out there and decide that there are even more players that we will have to look to bring over. It really does have the potential to be an exciting project for the club," Webber concluded.

Comolli Relishing NextGen Start

Ahead of the start of the brand new NextGen Series tournament this week, Director of Football Damien Comolli explains to Liverpoolfc.tv why he can't wait to see the Reds taking part in it.

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.

Molde and Wolfsburg are also in our group, and the Reds will play all three teams home and away, with the top two sides progressing into the knockout stages.

Here, Comolli tells Liverpoolfc.tv why he believes the tournament will provide the club's youngsters with an ideal opportunity to gain big-game experience and therefore play a huge role in aiding their development.

Damien, the NextGen Series is set to start this week. How important is this competition to Liverpool's youngsters?

We think it's very important. I think we were the first club to sign up because we think it is important for the development of players. It's important for them to face a different type of football, to play in big stadiums and to take the players out of their comfort zone of always facing the same teams and type of football. I think it will stretch everybody - the players and coaching staff - and it will be good from a fitness point of view as well, so we are really looking forward to it.

This is certainly a new way for young players to gain experience.

It is. I think the main thing is that we know we can compete with the best in England because we've got a top academy, but now let's see how we compete with the best on the continent. We've got to look at it humbly and think, 'we do produce players, we do well in England, but how will we do when we play against a top academy like Sporting Lisbon?'

How important is this competition to Liverpool Football Club as a whole?

It is very important. As far as I'm concerned, it's a competition that European football was lacking. It is almost a dream come true for every director of football and academy director. I've been hearing about this project for the last 15 years and a lot of people have been trying to set it up. Finally we now have it. When I joined the club last November, Frank McParland was already holding talks with the organizers and when he told me about it, I said straight away, 'We've got to get in it' because it is very important for Liverpool and it is going to become an important competition in Europe.

Some of Europe's biggest clubs are involved along with ourselves. It's going to be an exciting tournament.

It's going to be very exciting and I'm really looking forward to seeing how the players cope with different styles of football. We've got Sporting on Wednesday and then Molde next, so that's two different types of football. We know Sporting always produce great players - Ronaldo and Nani to name just two - so it is going to be an interesting test, as it will be to see how we react going to Norway in different circumstances. Then we have Wolfsburg, who are very different to the other two teams. From a tactical point of view, it will give a lot to our players who will be facing different issues, different types of players - tricky, strong, quick players - as well as direct play, more elaborate play and a passing type of game. I think if I was a player at their age, I would be very, very excited about facing this challenge.

As you say, it's Sporting up first - what sort of game are you expecting?

I expect a game with a battle for possession. Traditionally, they like to keep possession, and so do we - Rodolfo, Pep and Marshy have developed this (in our players). We like to have possession and always have the ball, so it is going to be a very technical game. We will probably play with a high-tempo, whereas Sporting will try to slow us down a little bit, but it's going to be an interesting opposition of style. Anfield is obviously a big pitch and players could be intimidated by playing there, so it will also be interesting to see how they react.

Finally, this tournament presents a real opportunity for fans to see the stars of tomorrow, doesn't it?

I don't like to say 'the stars of tomorrow' because they're kids. But at the back end of last season, we were playing U18 games at the Academy and there were a lot of people there watching our team play because it was an exciting team with exciting players. Hopefully the fans will see that again. At the moment they are just youth players and young kids, not stars yet, but it's definitely a good way to see how well our academy is doing and to the potential we have in terms of players.

Despite Stadium Setback Liverpool Football Club Welcome New Season

Despite a disappointing draw on the first day of the season, Liverpool Football Club embarks upon a new Premier League campaign, revitalized both on and off the pitch. With the Hicks-Gillette era now firmly in the past, new owners, Fenway Sports Group appear to have dramatically altered the club’s fortunes.

Liverpool’s major commercial success during the off season was the announcement that the Premier League soccer club had signed a kit deal with Boston-based apparel company Warrior Sports worth a staggering US$41million annually. The agreement, due to take effect at the start of the 2012/2013 season, is worth more than double their previous deal with Adidas and is the biggest kit contract in Premier League history. It is surely no coincidence that Warrior Sports, owned by Boson-based New Balance, has chosen Liverpool as the destination for their first venture into the English soccer market. The city also plays host to Fenway Sports Group and it is more than likely that the two parties were able to build on their shared heritage and close proximity.

When one considers Liverpool’s market potential, the enormous sums due to be paid by Warrior Sports seem like excellent value for money. Despite a tempestuous few years on the pitch, the Anfield club has never lost their extensive global fan base. Liverpool sell the fourth highest number of replica shirts in the world behind Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona and, with the huge success of their tour of the Far-East, are likely to retain that position in the coming years.

The Asian tour saw the Reds entertain fans in China, Malaysia and Korea. Organized by Liverpool’s premium sponsor, Standard Life, who felt the club needed to focus more on its Asian fan base, the tour confirmed Liverpool’s status as a truly global sporting phenomenon. The Reds completed their trip with an open training session in Singapore which drew the last of an estimated 200,000 fans to watch the team in a single week.

Led by managing director Ian Ayre, the club’s commercial and retail offerings have been further expanded through the opening of a number of official merchandise stores around the world. The club recently announced plans to open their sixth and seventh stores in Southport and Dublin respectively.

A major issue that will need to be addressed by the Liverpool hierarchy however, is that of the stadium. The club have been based at the world famous, 45,000 capacity Anfield stadium for over a hundred years but a new stadium would vastly increase Liverpool’s matchday revenue. Fenway Sports Group are believed to be searching for a sponsor to help fund the construction of a new home for the club but will have to handle any potential move with extreme care. Liverpool fans have already voiced their disapproval at the proposed sale of naming rights and John W. Henry and co. would be wise to remember that a breakdown in relationship with the Anfield faithful could prove as traumatic for them as it was for their predecessors.

Despite rumors of financial problems at Liverpool, Forbes value the club at US$552million, and, on evidence of the huge sums spent on players during recent transfer windows, it seems that Liverpool fans have little to be worried about.

Kenny Dalglish Still Looking To Complete His Liverpool Jigsaw

It has not been a good start to the season for Steven Gerrard.

Already frustrated by a groin injury which has delayed his start to the campaign, the Liverpool captain's attempts to rally his team-mates ahead of the Sunderland match fell on deaf ears.

"Today the real action begins," wrote Gerrard in his column in the match program for the opening game. "We all look forward to a season starting, particularly when it's opening with a home game.

"That hasn't happened too often over the last decade, so when it does you have to take advantage of it by getting maximum points."

Given Arsenal and Chelsea also failed to secure maximum points on the opening weekend, Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Sunderland is no cause for alarm despite a sense of anti-climax hanging over Anfield on Saturday night.

And unlike Manchester United, they are not battling an early season injury crisis - despite Gerrard's continued absence.

But it will not have escaped Kenny Dalglish's attention that three of the next four league games - Arsenal, Stoke and Tottenham - are away from home.

They face a vulnerable Arsenal side, the team Liverpool must overtake if they are to re-establish themselves as a top four force again, reeling by Cesc Fabregas's departure yet Dalglish clearly has his own problems.

Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Jose Enrique need time to gel. But time is not on the Liverpool manager's side with expectations high after his £100 million-plus spending spree since January.

The new additions experienced varying degrees of success against Sunderland. While Adam marked his debut with an assist and Downing was denied a goal by the woodwork, Henderson struggled to make an impact.

Enrqiue, who only joined on the eve of the game, showed that he can be a long-term solution to the left-back problem.

Yet question marks remain about the defence and it may require one more signing before the transfer window closes.

With Martin Skrtel sidelined with a calf muscle problem and Jamie Carragher not getting any younger, Dalglish has been linked with Bolton's goalscoring centre back Gary Cahill.

Now Milan Jovanovic is finally off the payroll and Joe Cole, Alberto Aquilani and Christian Poulsen set to depart after failing to make the substitutes bench on Saturday, there is room for another face.

No doubt it will take time for the new man, whoever it is, to settle. Time that Liverpool do not really have.

But Dalglish needs to complete the final part of his jigsaw if Anfield is to have any chance of hosting Champions League football next season.

Liverpool Left Their Brains & Tactics In The Dressing Room

Liverpool endured a frustrating opening day setback as Sunderland show resilience and courage with a touch of class from their new signing.

Liverpool showed off all their new major signings in front of their home crowd. For the first half Liverpool looked dangerous and inventive with Suarez forcing Richardson into a bad back pass which the striker pounced on and rounded the keeper; only to be brought down by Richardson. The foul was worth a red card but the ref Phil Dowd preferred to give him a yellow to the crowds’ anger. Suarez blazed over the resulting spot kick.

However, Suarez atoned for his earlier miss by heading a Charlie Adam free kick soon after. Liverpool came close again with an intricate run by Downing who impressed with Enrique on the left and Downing struck the post with a low drive. Carroll mid-way into the half had a goal chalked off for an alleged push on Ferdinand.

It proved to be a game of two halves however and Sunderland came out hungry and more determined. Although Liverpool came out of the famous tunnel, they seem to have left their brains and tactics behind. Liverpool’s second half was full of lapse defending and error strewn play. Sunderland latched onto Liverpool’s failings and looked to take full advantage.

The first warning came when Gyan was helped from uninterested defending and headed straight into a thankful Reina’s hands. But Sunderland did not have to wait too long and Larsson smashed home a smart scissor volley. Cattermole could have secured three points for Sunderland late on but blasted over.

Liverpool’s lack lustre defence may force Daglish back into the market. This weekend Loris Nery became linked with Reds. Nery is versatile defender who can play across the back. He is contracted the Saint Etienne until 2013. However at only 20 years of age he would be a player for the future and would not make an impact this season. Liverpool are reported to be willing to loan him back to the French outfit on a season long loan.

Carroll - We Are Ready

Record signing Andy Carroll insists Liverpool are ready to kick-on despite a disappointing 1-1 draw in their Premier League opener against Sunderland.

The Reds looked on course for victory after an early Luis Suarez goal, but they were pegged back by Sebastian Larsson's volley.

Carroll admits not beating Sunderland was disappointing, but feels Liverpool is now ready to push on.

"We are disappointed with the draw but all the lads are happy to get the first game out of the way and with the way things are going," he said.

"We have played some good football, we played well (in the first half) and we will take some positives out of it.

"I think we all played well together, we have done well in training and we created enough chances (against Sunderland) to prove that we can all fit in the team together.

"It is going to take everyone a little while to get together; we want a little bit more and we want to get a few more goals but we all think that it is there

"Now we have got the next game (at Arsenal) to look forward to."

Carroll himself insists he is now fully fit and ready to start living up to his £35million price tag.

"I have had the pre-season which I needed and it has helped me get over all the niggles and injuries that I have had," said the 22-year-old.

"I was injured a long time, so it was nice to play a few games and get my fitness up, as well as getting a few goals.

"I'm just looking forward to the rest of the season and keeping myself fit.

"Now it is a case of pushing forward. I have got to show what I can do.

"It is a big stage and I love playing for this club.

"Now I have got to do what I did to get myself here (score goals) and I am out to prove that I can do it here."

Carroll said the influence of manager Kenny Dalglish, and the faith the Scot had shown in him, was a major help.

"Kenny is a great manager and it is great to know that he has given me all his backing," the England striker added.

"I have just got to give it all back to him, really.

"In training he is giving me little pointers here, there and everywhere. Obviously I need to listen to him and put them into my game.

"It is nice to know that he has got faith in him and it is a big help."

Kop Mobility

Andy Carroll needs to up his game if he is going to live up to his price tag and be a hit at Liverpool.

That was the frank view of The Observer's chief sports writer, Paul Hayward, after he watched Kenny Dalglish's new-look side being held to an opening-day draw by Sunderland.

With new boys Charlie Adam, Luis Enrique, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson all on show, it was a disappointing result for a packed Anfield anticipating a summer of spending to shoot the Reds straight back into Champions League contention.

While all eyes were on the debutants, as well as goalscorer Luis Suarez, £35million man Carroll was starting only his 10th competitive game since joining from Newcastle.

He had a goal disallowed by was kept largely quiet by Wes Brown and Hayward feels that proves he needs to add a new dimension to his game already.

"I'm a bit concerned for Andy Carroll. I think he needs to be sharper to contribute more round the pitch, he told the Sunday Supplement.

"The reason I mention Carroll is when Downing arrived everybody said that would be the making of Andy Carroll because he would just knock all these pin-point balls onto his head in the box, but it's not going to be as simple as that.

"A Liverpool striker cannot be a static player in the box waiting just to finish; he's got to do more off the ball.

"What worried me more is that he doesn't look particularly quick across the ground. He may still be carrying an injury and he's not perhaps razor-sharp yet, but I just wonder how he's going to develop as a player.

"He can't be a static number nine because that player's gone out of fashion now, so his general work in the forward areas has got to be good.

"Mind you Suarez is so good at that, maybe he'll do his work for him. It's an interesting stage in Carroll's development."

Enrique Content With Debut

New Liverpool left-back Jose Enrique was satisfied with his debut performance on Saturday and is not discouraged by the team's winless start.

The Spaniard was thrown in at the deep end, starting the Reds' 1-1 draw with Sunderland after taking part in just one training session with his new team-mates after completing his move on Friday.

Enrique, who was only informed of his inclusion hours before kick-off after Fabio Aurelio failed to overcome an injury, put in a solid shift at full-back and expects the new-look side to gel in time.

"I am very happy because I only arrived the day before and I played my first game," he said.

"I was surprised. I only found out a few hours before kick-off. I knew Fabio had not trained but it was only this morning they told me.

"I am very happy (with my debut) but I am not really happy with the result. I think in the next few games, if I continue to play, it will be easy to understand players of this quality.

"It was just about defending first, because that is my job. I have plenty more days to train with the team and understand."

The 25-year-old is refusing to dwell on the Sunderland draw, a game which Liverpool led 1-0 through Luis Suarez before Seb Larsson spectacularly equalized in the second half.

"We have to think about the next game," he said, with Liverpool to travel to Arsenal next Saturday.

"We need more fitness but that is normal, as it is only the first game. I am okay. I am not 100% because I have not trained with the team and I need to get to know everyone. That is normal."

Liverpool Keeping Tabs On £3m Rated Celtic Winger

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is set to continue his summer spending spree and is lining up a move for Celtic winger Paddy McCourt, according to reports in the Daily Star.

Dalglish has been one of the busiest Premiership managers in this summers transfer window with the likes of, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Doni, Jordan Henderson and Jose Enrique.

However it doesn't seem like the Kop boss has finished spending the cash is has set his sights on McCourt.

It is believed Dalglish and Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli are both admirers of the 27-year-old winger.

McCourt made headlines last week after scoring a stunning goal in Northern Irelands 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands.

The Northern Irish international signed for Celtic from Irish side Derry City in 2008, but has found it hard to cement a place in the first team at Celtic Park.

It is believed Liverpool could land the Celtic winger with a bid of around £3million.

Last season McCourt made 31 appearances for the Hoops in all competitions and scored seven goals.

Injury-hit Rangers To Step Up Bid For Danny Wilson

Rangers are expected to step up their efforts to take their former player Danny Wilson back on loan from Liverpool, to strengthen the defence of the Ibrox side.

Manager Ally McCoist has been keen to secure the return of another former Ibrox hero, Carlos Cuellar, but the club has admitted that there will be no move for the injured Aston Villa player in this transfer window.

Now McCoist is likely to turn to Wilson, who impressed for Scotland against Denmark last week and could slot in immediately if a short-term release can be agreed with Liverpool.

Rangers have David Weir injured, and he could be joined on the sidelines by fellow defender Kyle Bartley, who limped out of his team's match at Inverness on Saturday after half an hour.

Asked about Cuellar, the Rangers manager said: "It's done for this window and it's purely and simply down to getting somebody in to play.

"I don't need to tell you what I think of Carlos, I think he is a top-class defender. I would welcome him with open arms but we need somebody to play. I wouldn't say I wouldn't be interested in going back in for him."

Bartley was replaced by youngster Ross Perry, who was also struggling by the end of the game, with Rangers' defensive options already severely limited ahead of the Europa League play-off match away to Maribor on Thursday.

McCoist added: "I don't think David Weir will make it, Lee McCulloch will probably have a chance. Sasa Papac is suspended but I would hope Steven Whittaker won't be too far away."

New signing Dorin Goian, who will be at the heart of a potentially makeshift Rangers defence, warned: "We are going to play a good team and I know that from last year because I played against them with Palermo. We have to be careful."

Dalglish: LFC Can Carry On Buying Without Having To Sell

Kenny Dalglish has revealed he is under no pressure to sell players – and that Liverpool’s owners are instead urging him to continue his summer spending.

Bankrolled by Fenway Sports Group, the Anfield outfit has spent more than £50million to strengthen their squad during the transfer window.

In front of the biggest home attendance in more than 25 years, the new-look Liverpool, featuring four debutants, began the Premier League season in stuttering fashion on Saturday when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Sunderland.

Such is the bulging squad now at Dalglish’s disposal, the Anfield manager could have named an entire starting XI of senior professionals who weren’t even in the 18-man party.

But the Scot has suggested principal owner John Henry, who was in attendance at the weekend, is encouraging more signings before transfer deadline at the end of the month.

“I’m not under pressure to sell,” said Dalglish. “We are under more pressure to get somebody in. The owners have been fantastic and there is no pressure in any way, shape or form.”

Liverpool nevertheless are hoping to move on a number of fringe players in the coming weeks, although Dalglish was adamant his team’s tired second-half performance was a consequence of putting too many players in the shop window during pre-season games at the expense of regular first-teamers.

“We had to be fair to everybody we have on the books and we gave them all a reasonable opportunity to get themselves fit and to prove they were worthy of a game,” said the manager.

“I don’t see any reason why that is not the correct way to go about things.”

Former Sunderland man Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jose Enrique were all handed debuts at the weekend, the latter barely 24 hours following his arrival from Newcastle United after Fabio Aurelio suffered an Achilles injury in training on Friday.

And Dalglish said: “It will take time to get to know each other but the most important factor is they got through the game.

“Two of the players have just come back from the Copa America. It’s a big ask.

“But we knew what we were doing when we picked the side.

“How long will it take to gel? It might be next week, I don’t know. There is no timescale, that’s a certainty. Whatever time they need, they will have.”

Sunderland have bought a clutch of new players but manager Steve Bruce selected just two for his starting line-up, man-of-the-match Wes Brown and Sebastian Larsson, who scored the visitors’ equalizer.

And Bruce said: “The big thing when you make big changes is it’s very difficult to put them all in straight away and I’m sure Kenny will be thinking that too.

“It is going to take time isn’t it but if there’s one thing that they’ve all got in common it’s that they’re all good players.

“They need to make them gel, settle in the area and understand what Liverpool is all about.

“That’s the hard part for all of us. New players need time.”

Despite having only returned to training this week after helping Uruguay win the Copa America last month, Luis Suarez started the game at the weekend.

He won and missed a sixth-minute penalty before heading Liverpool’s opener, and Dalglish is wary of overburdening the striker.

“Luis was never going to finish the game,” said the Anfield manager. “He has got so much he can give and whatever he’s got he will give you. It’s not fair to push him past that limit. I don’t think he expects people to ask too much, he just does it anyway, willingly.

“For us, he has got to be managed and we will do our best to manage him.

“He came back on such a high that it would not have been right to leave him out of the starting XI.”

Saturday’s attendance of 45,018 was the highest at Anfield since Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by Everton on February 22 1986.

'They've Nurtured Some Greats'

In our latest column from Kirkby, reserve team head coach Rodolfo Borrell looks ahead to a European encounter against a side he regards as one of the finest in world football.

We kick off our first ever match in the NextGen Series against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night and I have to admit I can't wait for the new campaign to get underway.

We've had a long and tough pre-season but hopefully the physical demands we have placed upon our players will reap the results over the coming months.

This season the reserves set-up will be a little bit different. We will not only be looking to make an impact domestically but on the European scene too.

We are all very excited about the U19 Champions League-style tournament we have entered.

I think it is a positive step and a very good idea. I always promote our involvement in tournaments around the world as much as possible as it pits us against teams with other philosophies and styles of play. I think this is important for the improvement and development of the players.

The NextGen Series offers us this opportunity, playing home and away against some very big sides around Europe.

We will get to play at Anfield again as well as the main stadia of the other sides. You cannot overestimate how big it is for these youngsters to touch the 'This is Anfield' sign and run out in front of the Kop.

It is one of the most famous grounds in the world with a huge history. Then you have the support of our unique fans. It all helps these lads to understand more about the reality of playing for this club at the highest level.

Sporting Lisbon will be massive opponents. When I say they are a dangerous team it is not just because they are our next opponents and I am being respectful. These are not hollow words.

I remember when I had just arrived at Liverpool. There was real interest in some of the players we will face on Wednesday from my old club, Barcelona.

They were at U17 level at the time and I know for a fact that Barca was hoping to sign no fewer than three of their players. I then spoke to the people here and told them to have a look at the aforementioned players and to take note of how impressive Sporting's youth system is.

I know a lot of supporters and observers in England will be unaware of just how good the set-up is there. In Spain it is quite rightly regarded as one of the best in the world. They have very good squads running right through the age groups.

They have very quick, technically gifted players and they are really well organised too.

You only have to look at players that have come through their ranks in the past to see their pedigree. Luis Figo, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo - all players of fantastic technical ability who have consistently produced at the highest level.

We know it will be tough but we feel we can beat them on our home turf. It will be a hugely beneficial experience for our youngsters and at the end of it all, that is what matters most.

Of course we do not know the exact personnel we will have for the match. Jon Flanagan and Jack Robinson are eligible to play but they are with the first team, so it is up to the boss.

If he decides it is good for them to play these games with us then they will be welcome. If not, then it is no problem because the club knows what is best for these lads.

Some supporters may look at our group and expect us to progress comfortably but I am certain that will not be the case.

Wolfsburg was fantastic at U18 level in Germany last season. They won everything they were involved in so we know they will pose a threat.

As for Molde, I am expecting them to be a strong, physical side - a typical Scandinavian outfit.

I have always taken things one game at a time and it has served me well in my career as a coach. I see no reason to change that now. Our only aim is to beat Sporting Lisbon.

It promises to be a good game. Hopefully we will have a big crowd at Anfield to roar us on and give us the type of support that has won so many European encounters for the first-team over the years.

Match Report: Liverpool 1 - 1 Sunderland

Striker Luis Suarez gave Liverpool the perfect start to their season but they wasted the opportunity to press home their advantage as they were pegged back by Sunderland.

With £49million worth of new signings on the pitch there was a feeling of optimism around Anfield and it was therefore fitting Suarez, the January acquisition who ignited the second half of last season, should score the first goal of the new Barclays Premier League campaign.

Having missed a fifth-minute penalty the Uruguay striker made amends by heading in a free-kick from Charlie Adam - one of three summer signings in the starting line-up.

Suarez's fellow January arrival Andy Carroll had a goal disallowed and another July new boy Stewart Downing rattled the crossbar with a long-range shot as Sunderland struggled to keep themselves afloat in the opening half-hour.

But Liverpool's flowing, passing football evaporated well before the break and they failed to rediscover it as the Black Cats sensed their chance and seized it, securing a point thanks to Sebastian Larsson's brilliant equalizer 12 minutes into the second half.

It somewhat pricked the pre-season bubble which had begun to develop at the club after owners Fenway Sports Group spent more than £50million in bolstering the squad.

Of those acquisitions, Adam impressed, Jordan Henderson began brightly before fading, Jose Enrique was solid at left-back while Downing was quietly effective having been employed in a number of roles.

But it was former Ajax forward Suarez who had honour of scoring the first goal of the season in the Barclays Premier League.

The star of the Copa America, which his nation won, only returned to training on Monday but showed no ill-effects of having a short lay-off.

His only blemish was that missed spot-kick but after eventually opening his account his goal is likely to be the first of many.

Recent fixtures between these two teams have not been without controversy, with Darren Bent's beachball-assisted strike two years ago and last season a mistaken backpass which led to Dirk Kuyt scoring at Anfield and a dubious penalty for Liverpool's first at the Stadium of Light.

The 2012 edition was no different as after just five minutes the hosts were awarded a penalty when Suarez charged down Kieran Richardson's clearance, with a slight suspicion of an arm, on the halfway line only to go down in the area under the challenge of Richardson after rounding Simon Mignolet.

Referee Phil Dowd showed the left-back a yellow card but Suarez blazed the penalty over.

But the £22.8million striker was not to be denied and when Adam whipped in a low, inswinging free-kick from the right in the 12th minute he nipped in at the near post to head in off the legs of Mignolet.

Carroll thought he had opened his account for the season when he chested down Adam's left-wing cross before smashing home but the flag had already gone up for the slightest of touches on Anton Ferdinand.

Adam had Mignolet clutching his 35-yard shot at the second attempt while Downing was even closer, crashing a shot off the crossbar after a driving run down the inside-right channel from five yards inside his own half.

But somehow, from a position of dominance, Liverpool appeared to lose their way and the interval certainly put paid to their dwindling momentum.

Sunderland seized their opportunity to gain a foothold in the game and should have equalized in the 53rd minute when John Flanagan's mistake at right-back allowed Sebastian Larsson, one of Sunderland's new signings, to get forward and cross but Asamoah Gyan headed straight at Jose Reina from close range.

If that was a warning to Kenny Dalglish's side they did not heed it as just four minutes later they conceded an equalizer.

Ahmed Elmohamady hung up a deep cross to the far post and Larsson found himself in enough space to superbly volley back across goal and past Reina.

From that point it appeared Sunderland were the most likely winners.

Liverpool regained more control late on as they pushed for a winner but with Suarez having been replaced it was left to Carroll to lead the line.

The £35million club-record signing huffed and puffed a lot but could fashion only half-chances as his side laboured.

It is, of course, early days but these are the sort of matches Dalglish knows his side has to win this season if they are to haul themselves back into the top four.