Match Preview: Liverpool vs Stoke City

Liverpool will hope their mini-revival has not lost any momentum when they host Stoke City on Sunday afternoon.

The Anfield club hammered Norwich City 5-2 in the Premier League last weekend but then threw away the lead to lose at home to Udinese in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Manager Brendan Rodgers was very critical of his players after the midweek defeat, describing them as making 'lazy' errors, and he will be demanding improvements.

The win over Norwich was Liverpool's first of the season in the league and so they will be fully aware they cannot slip back to any more mistakes.

But they will be confident ahead of welcoming Stoke, having never lost at home to the Potters in the top flight in a record 49 previous meetings.

Last season's meeting was one of several forgettable 0-0 draws at Anfield which ultimately cost Kenny Dalglish his job, while Stoke also lost on Merseyside in the FA Cup.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will therefore be desperate to try and break his club's hoodoo in Liverpool and they could aim to utilize some momentum.

A 2-0 win over Swansea City last weekend gave the club their first three points of the Premier League season after four draws and a defeat.

And so Pulis will be aiming to build on the result, which was earned with the help of two goals from in-form ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch.

Joe Cole (hamstring) and Jose Enrique (knee) could return to Liverpool's squad following injuries.

Midfielder Cole has been back in training and scored for Liverpool's Under 21s, while Rodgers has said Enrique will be assessed before the weekend.

Jonjo Shelvey will serve the second match of his three-game domestic ban following his red card against Manchester United.

Glenn Whelan had to be substituted with what looked like a hamstring problem against Swansea but the midfielder has not yet been definitely ruled out of facing Liverpool.

Charlie Adam hurt his shoulder last weekend but has been training and should be available against his former club, while Michael Owen will also hope to feature at his old stomping ground.

One Potters player who will not feature is defender Andy Wilkinson, who serves the third match of a three-game suspension.

Liverpool Target PSV Winger Mertens

Liverpool are targeting PSV Eindhoven winger Dries Mertens as their first acquisition in the January transfer window.

The Belgian winger has been attracting a lot of interest around Europe and it is believed that long term admirers Liverpool will make the first move in trying to bring the PSV man to the Premier League.

The 25 year old is valued at around £10 million as he is tied down to a contract with the Dutch side until 2016, but it is thought this will not put of manager Brendan Rodgers who has also spend similar figures on Joe Allen and Fabio Borini in the summer.

A source close to Liverpool told Goal.com, “Liverpool first wanted Mertens when Kenny Dalglish was manager but they are still making their interest well known.

“He would obviously love to play for such a prestigious club in English football but right now he can only focus on producing strong performances for PSV.”

Mertens, who was in inspired form as PSV defeated Napoli 3-0, only moved to Eindhoven in June 2011 from Utrecht and a move maybe more feasible in the summer window rather than a January. It is believed by that time Mertens will be looking to make another step on the European football ladder.

Anzhi Ready To Outbid Liverpool For Nicolas Gaitan

Liverpool's hopes of landing Nicolas Gaitan look to be over, after Anzhi Makhachkala expressed an interest in signing the Benfica star in the January transfer window.

The Reds were reported to have made a £14million bid for the Argentina international during the summer, but no deal was forthcoming.

Gaitan, who was also linked with Manchester United, is now likely to be given the chance to join the big-spending Russian Premier League club early next year.

Anzhi failed with a bid for the 24-year-old attacking midfielder over the summer, but will return with a £20million offer in January, reports Lifesport.

Benfica are likely to accept the bid, as there is no chance of either of the English clubs trying to beat it.

Should the transfer go through, Gaitan will link up with manager Guus Hiddink at the Dagestan-based club, along with expensive signings Samuel Eto'o and Lassana Diarra.

Liverpool is believed to have turned their attention to Belgium international Dries Mertens and are rumoured to be planning a £10million January raid for the PSV Eindhoven winger.

Manchester United Plot Contentious Liverpool Playmaker Raid

Manchester United are being linked with a contentious transfer move for Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin.

The Turkish international is currently plying his trade on loan at Liverpool, scoring three goals in four matches in all competitions for the Reds.

Brendan Rodgers intimated that he’d be interested in bringing the player to Anfield on a permanent deal after the 5-2 win against Norwich last weekend, but had to admit that availability and price would be two factors which affect the potential length of his stay on Merseyside.

That could all change if Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson attempts to make in January though, with the Daily Stay claiming the player could be in the plans of the Red Devils as part of a swap-deal for Javier Hernandez.

The same report mentions a number of players from Madrid who could be on the Old Trafford radar, with Kaka, Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol and Raphael Varane all named as part of a potential deal.

It’s a move for Sahin that would cause most controversy though, with the 24-year-old appearing to be well settled at Liverpool under the style of Rodgers.

However, Manchester United are said to be ‘tempted’ by the possibility of getting one over on their great rivals, and his recent performances have done little to put last season’s Premier League runners-up off a move.

Agger Has Signed A New Contract With Liverpool

Defender Daniel Agger has pledged his future to Liverpool by signing a new long-term contract at Anfield.

The Denmark international says he is convinced that Brendan Rodgers is the right man to lead the club forward and is delighted to commit himself to the club.

"It means everything to me. This is where I want to be and I'm happy the club wants me. I am really happy right now. I've never wanted to go anywhere else," the 27-year-old told the official Liverpool website.

"I feel I am a part of this club - and I want to be a part of this club in the future. I like the way it is going right now with the style we're playing, and hopefully the results will come soon as well.

"The support from the fans has been unbelievable. The game when they were singing all the songs about me, it was difficult to focus on the game!

"It was such a good experience for me and I'd never experienced anything like it before.

"That is why I am so happy here. That for me is Liverpool Football Club. I feel I belong here and as long as the manager and the owners want me, I'll be here."

Agger joined the Reds in a £5.8m move from Brondby in January 2006 and quickly established himself in the first-team, racking up 176 appearances to date.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said: "Daniel's contribution since joining the club in 2006 has been absolutely fantastic and his loyalty to the team is recognized by the deal he has signed.

"Daniel always made it clear he wanted to stay at Liverpool and we're delighted that he's committed his future to the club.

"We brought in some very exciting players this summer - some of whom chose Liverpool over clubs in the Champions League.

"But it's equally important to retain your most important players and the fact that Daniel has now followed Luis Suarez, Martin Skrtel and Jonjo Shelvey in signing a new contract is testament to the fact that the players believe in what we're trying to achieve here under Brendan Rodgers."

Henderson To Fight For Liverpool Future

Jordan Henderson has set his stall out to turn his career round at Liverpool.

The midfielder was one of a glut of big-money signings for the Reds last year, but his first season at Anfield did not turn out as he had envisaged. His form was patchy and he struggled to win over the Liverpool faithful.

His future was cast into doubt, but the arrival of Brendan Rodgers as manager saw the deck swept clean. Rodgers has brought in Joe Allen, while Joe Cole has returned from a loan spell in France, which has increased competition - but Henderson feels he has already improved under the new Liverpool boss and is ready to take his chance.

"I love playing for Liverpool, it is a real passion of mine," Henderson told Sky Sports News.

"When I put the shirt on it is a real honour to go out and play for Liverpool so I want to do that for the rest of my career.

"I will keep fighting and I have belief in my own ability that I can be a success here."

Henderson is happy with the arrival of Rodgers and feels he is already reaping the benefit.

He said: "I have got a good relationship with the manager; I think everybody has, and I feel he has improved my game since he came to the club.

"I think I have got that bit more confidence in my ability and I think you can see that in my performances."

Gerrard Reveals Agger Almost Ended His Career

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed that a challenge from Daniel Agger last season almost ended his career.

The England international makes the claim in his new book, ‘My Liverpool Story’, with the ankle problem from a freak training ground tackle almost bringing the player’s distinguished career to an abrupt conclusion.

“I don’t think people realize how close I was to not playing,” writes the 31-year-old.

“If I hadn’t had the fluid out (of my ankle) within 24 hours I wouldn’t have had a cartilage. The bug would have eaten it. I’d probably have never played again, or even trained. In my mind, as the operation began, was, ‘This could be the end’.”

Gerrard has been a professional at Anfield for 14 years, making his Reds debut in 1998 before going on to become one of the greatest players in the club’s history.

Three League Cups, two FA Cups, one UEFA Cup and one famous Champions League have all been won during his time at Liverpool, with the later victory the greatest moment of the 98-cap international’s career. Gerrard inspired a comeback from 3-0 down against AC Milan to win on penalties.

A Premier League title has always eluded the Liverpool skipper however, and he’s grateful to still be on the pitch with a chance to lift the biggest prize in domestic football as Brendan Rodgers’ revolution begins to take shape.

Adams Explains Liverpool Exit

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam has revealed the reason he had to leave Liverpool ahead of his return to Anfield on Sunday - he just wants to play football.

Adam joined the Potters in the summer after just one season with the Reds and admits playing time was the biggest factor in his decision.

"I want to be a footballer - and that means playing on a Saturday afternoon," Adam told the Daily Mirror.

"I could have stayed at Liverpool and played maybe 15 to 20 times a season, but that isn't enough for me.

"I want to play 30 to 40 times a season.

"For me, playing on a Saturday is what being in his profession is all about and thankfully I'm at a club where the manager wants to use me.

"Obviously I know that I have to perform to stay in the team and I'm happy with that.

"We have good competition here and that is only a good thing for every member of the squad."

The Scotland international has no bad feelings on his return and claims he will always be grateful to former boss Kenny Dalglish for giving him the chance to play for Liverpool.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it," said the 26-year-old. "It will be nice to go back and see a few familiar faces again.

"I was there for a year and it was a special year for me. Playing for a club the size of Liverpool was a real experience for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

"I'm a Stoke player now, though, and I'm looking forward to going back to Anfield and hopefully getting the three points.

"If we can perform the way we know we can, then we can win the game for sure."

Stoke are notorious for their direct approach but Adam rejects the notion that he has joined a mere long-ball team.

"Everyone labels this club as [playing from] back to front but, believe me, we have players who can pass the ball," said the former Blackpool man.

"We have a lot of quality here and I'm very happy to be part of that.

"I don't think the gaffer is going to change the way he approaches games, and rightly so. What he has achieved in the game with this club is absolutely incredible.

"Tony's formula is obviously a successful one and he would be silly to try and change it too much.

"When you have a player like Peter Crouch up front, who is 6ft 7in, then why not use him?

"Yes, the new players who have arrived with me will hopefully add that little bit more quality to the team, but it's fundamental that we evolve as a team by playing the way the gaffer wants us to.

"If we do that, then we will enjoy even more success and, if we play to our capabilities, a top-10 finish is certainly a realistic aim for us."

Superb U18s Overrun Boro

Liverpool U18s were in superb form as they inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Middlesbrough at the Academy on Saturday afternoon.

Steve Cooper's side didn't have the best start to the season with two draws and two defeats, but they now have consecutive victories following last weekend's win against Fulham.

Their latest victory could have been even more emphatic but for the woodwork and some decent goalkeeping from away stopper James Montgomery.

It was Daniel Trickett-Smith who opened the scoring on 19 minutes when he turned a couple of men and fired left footed from inside the penalty area.

Jordan Lussey (pictured) made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark with a brilliant right-footed curler into the top corner after being set up by Kris Peterson.

Then on 39 minutes the club's youngest ever first-teamer, Jerome Sinclair, made it three with a solo effort in which he cut inside from the left, beat several Middlesbrough defenders and found his spot in the bottom corner.

Liverpool U18s team: Fulton, Quirk, Maguire, Jones, Heaton, Baio, Peterson (Brannagan), Lussey, Sinclair, Trickett-Smith (O'Hanlon), Gainford (Randall).

Match Report: Liverpool 2 - 3 Udinese

Three second-half goals sent Liverpool spinning to defeat in their Europa League Group A match at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers' team led when Jonjo Shelvey headed them into a first-half lead from Stewart Downing's cross.

However, Antonio Di Natale levelled the scores early in the second half and a Sebastian Coates own goal and Giovanni Pasquale effort made it 3-1 before substitute Luis Suarez concluded a burst of three goals in five minutes when he reduced the deficit.

Liverpool made a bright start to the contest, with Oussama Assaidi shooting wide, Shelvey seeing an effort deflect off-target and from the resulting corner, the unmarked Coates sending a header towards goal which Zeljko Brkic just managed to keep out.

Udinese fired a warning at the other end when Jose Reina punched the ball in the direction of Di Natale, who responded with a strike that the Spaniard pushed away.

Reina then pulled off a superb stop to keep the scores level, getting down to turn Medhi Benatia's header from a Di Natale free-kick around the post.

The hosts went back on the attack and after Fabio Borini had dragged a shot across the face of goal having squirmed past a clutch of players, Brendan Rodgers' men made the breakthrough.

Shelvey collected the ball in midfield, sent it out wide to Downing, charged into the box and met the return cross with a crashing header past Brkic.

It was a third goal of the season for Shelvey, who had come off the bench to score a brace which secured Liverpool a 5-3 victory in their opening group game against Young Boys.

The Reds looked to have things under control, but Di Natale went close again just before the half-hour mark with an effort that just cleared the bar.

Liverpool pressurized once more but to no avail, with Glen Johnson firing over after Downing's shot was blocked, Jordan Henderson unable to make the most of a header and a Shelvey strike deflecting wide.

Rodgers had spoken in the build-up to the game about the need to keep tabs on Di Natale and less than a minute into the second half the 34-year-old punished the hosts for giving possession away.

Johnson lost the ball and it came to Di Natale, whose one-two with substitute Andrea Lazzari ended with the 34-year-old skipper expertly guiding a shot past Reina.

Rodgers reacted by introducing Steven Gerrard and Suarez, and the latter was unlucky not to restore Liverpool's lead when his acrobatic volley was inadvertently prevented from going in by the legs of his team-mate Shelvey.

Moments later, though, Udinese were in front themselves as Coates nodded a free-kick into his own net with 20 minutes remaining.

Within two minutes the Italian side had scored again to leave Anfield stunned as Di Natale brought down a long ball and rolled it to Pasquale, who drilled in from outside the box.

The goal rush did not let up, with Suarez swiftly pulling one back direct from a free-kick with a delightful curling shot.

A further effort from the Uruguayan was then clawed away by Brkic, who also pushed a low strike by Suarez to safety.

Another substitute, Raheem Sterling, also showed plenty of endeavour with a couple of late attempts, but the equalizer would not come and Liverpool find themselves third in the group after this defeat and Anzhi Makhachkala's defeat of Young Boys in the night's other Group A contest.

Rodgers: Liverpool Were Lazy Against Udinese

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers challenged his players to improve their concentration after seeing Udinese come from behind to win 3-2 at Anfield.

The Italians scored three second-half goals to transform the Europa League tie after Liverpool dominated the opening 45 minutes to lead 1-0.

"We concede goals too easily," Rodgers said. "It's an area we have to work on.

"We were very good in the first half but we lost concentration and became lazy and found ourselves 3-1 down."

This was a third successive home defeat for Liverpool but Rodgers can see the areas his side must improve on ahead of the visit of Stoke in the Premier League on Sunday. "I thought the team worked very well but we can't have to score three, four or five goals to win games," Rodgers said.

Liverpool completed nearly four times as many passes at their Italian opponents at Anfield but having seen Antonio Di Natale equalize 32 seconds after the restart, they conceded two further goals in three second-half minutes as the match slipped away.

Rodgers introduced Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling as Liverpool attempted to rescue a point and although the Uruguayan striker pulled a goal back, it was too little too late.

"We injected some quality into the game in the last 15 minutes or so and got a goal back but we are just disappointed that after such a good first-half performance we have given away such poor goals," Rodgers added.

The result leaves the Premier League club third in Group A, a point behind Udinese and Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala after two games.

"It is still very tight and there are some excellent teams in our group," Rodgers said.

"For us it is important to qualify of course, but it is also an opportunity to give some of our younger players a chance."

Liverpool Set Sights On Basic Signing

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has set his sights on another young addition at Anfield, with Josip Basic reportedly on the Reds radar.

TalkSPORT claims the 16-year-old Hadjuk Split starlet – who remains on Scholarship terms with the Croatian club – could sign his first professional deal on Merseyside if the club are successful in their pursuit.

Jutarnji List, a national paper in the player’s homeland, claims Liverpool have been ‘observing’ the player, and have taken a shine to the captain of the nation’s U17 side.

Basic would join a long list of talented youngsters at Anfield if he made the move to England, with Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom all getting their chance in both the Premier League and Europe.

Indeed, all three players are set to be offered new contracts after impressing at the start of the season for the Liverpool first team, and their progress suggests that Basic might be able to earn a senior chance if he joined the Rodgers revolution.

Benfica Forward Nolito Is Wanted By Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool are planning an £18million move for Benfica forward Nolito, reports talkSPORT.

The 25-year-old Spaniard is widely regarded as one of the Portuguese Liga's most sought-after assets, scoring 15 goals in all competitions last season.

And, after the summer arrival of new Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers, the Reds' long-term interest in the former Barcelona B star is believed to have strengthened.

Nolito - who can hug the touchline or drift inside - would fit nicely into Liverpool's new dynamic 4-3-3 formation, and could provide some much needed support to Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Fabio Borini.

The impact of Borini on Merseyside in particular, has been disappointing so far, with a return of just one goal in the Italian's first ten games, since arriving from Roma in the summer.

Rodgers will be keen to add more quality to his ranks in the attacking department, as Liverpool continue their search for a long-term replacement for club-record signing Andy Carroll - whose future almost certainly lies away from Anfield, after the £35million man was sent out on loan to West Ham.

Nolito netted 29 goals in 106 games during his time with Barcelona B, but turned down a professional contract at Camp Nou in 2011, in favour of more first-team opportunities with Benfica.

The forward's desire, and love for the game is sure to be an attraction for Rodgers, but whether Liverpool will be able to generate enough money to make a move possible, only time will tell.

Manchester United Defender Reveals Liverpool Snub

Manchester United defender Scott Wootton has revealed how he almost signed for Premier League rivals Liverpool.

The 21-year-old had a rather unconventional route to the United first-team, in that he hails from Birkenhead, and was initially on the books of Tranmere Rovers.

However, it wasn't long before Liverpool was showing an interest, and so he moved to their academy. Sir Alex Ferguson always kept in touch though, and when Wootton hesitated over signing scholarship forms at Anfield, the Red Devils made their move.

"I wasn't too sure whether I was going to sign (for Liverpool)," he is quoted by the Daily Mail. "United invited me down for a week's trial and said they wanted to sign straight after that. It was really good."

Wootton has been catapulted into United's first-team squad thanks to the injury crisis that has already robbed Ferguson of three central defenders, and leaves him at risk of being without a fourth if Jonny Evans fails to shake off the effects of a dead leg, ahead of the Premier League trip to Newcastle on Sunday.

The talented youngster made his first senior start against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup, and came off the substitutes' bench in Tuesday's Champions League win over Cluj in Romania.

And, while United fans will be eager to see the club's injury problems eased, Wootton could be forgiven for wanting it to carry on a little bit longer.

"The last week or so has been amazing," he enthused. "To make my competitive debut in the League Cup and then to come on and play in the Champions League is a great feeling. It's something I'm made up with.

"It is always the way. As a young player, obviously you don't wish injuries on someone, but that's how you might get your chance. I got my chance against Newcastle through injuries. It's just the way it is."

Liverpool Secure Another Turkish Deal

Liverpool have followed the summer signing of Turkey international Nuri Sahin by securing a partnership with Turkish betting brand Misili.com.

The Reds already have a deal with bookmaker Paddy Power for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Italy, while 118BET are the club's international betting partner.

In Misli.com, Liverpool now have a partner with exclusive rights to the Turkish market only, and Anfield managing director Ian Ayre is delighted to see the club continue to expand its reach.

Ayre was also keen to outline Liverpool's eternal connection with Turkey, given their epic Champions League final defeat of AC Milan in Istanbul over seven years ago.

"Our partnership portfolio continues to expand globally through this new partnership in Turkey with Misli.com," Ayre told the official Liverpool website.

"All football fans know that Liverpool FC has a special connection with Turkey, especially since our Champions League win in Istanbul back in 2005.

"We recently completed a TV series in Turkey called Soccer Prince which has enhanced our profile in the country and our partnerships with Turkey Tourism and Ramsey demonstrate the value that we're delivering to organizations in Turkey.

"When you mix all of those ingredients together, alongside the exciting promotions we plan to run with Misli.com, the signs look good for a successful partnership."

Downing Disappointed By Rodgers

Liverpool’s Stewart Downing admitted he was “disappointed” by recent comments from Reds boss Brendan Rodgers regarding the winger’s future on Anfield.

Downing has been out of favour since Rodgers took the reins on the red side of Merseyside and the former Swansea boss last week questioned whether the £20million signing from Aston Villa had the “fight” to succeed at Liverpool.

While the 28-year-old revealed he was not happy about his manager's words, he insisted he was ready to work hard and show the kind of commitment that has been asked of him.

“I was disappointed by what was said but if that’s the way the manager sees it I have to take it,” Downing told the Liverpool Echo.

“That’s fine. I’ll fight, I’ll fight every day.

“I have done that since I was 10 years old when I was trying to get through at Middlesbrough.”

Downing started the season in Rodgers’ side, but was relegated to the bench after the disastrous opening day defeat to West Brom at The Hawthorns and has since found opportunities difficult to come by.

The England international was not even a substitute in the recent defeat to Manchester United and failed to get off of the bench in Liverpool’s first win of the season at Norwich City last weekend.

Despite the lack of playing time, Downing is determined to stay at Anfield and is hoping his fortunes change.

“I haven’t even considered the idea of leaving here. I’ve still got three years left on my contract and I intend to see that through. In fact I want to stay even longer than that,” he added.

“I love playing for Liverpool and it’s a great club with great fans. I don’t want to leave and I don’t want to play for anyone else.

“I’m enjoying it here. Yes, I’m disappointed that I’m not in the team at the moment but football is a funny game.

“Things can quickly change. This time next month I could be playing every week.”

Liverpool Defender To Be Rewarded With New Contract

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is set to sign a new contract at Liverpool that should ensure the Dane spends his prime years of his career at Anfield.

The centre back, who was closely linked with moves to Manchester City and Real Madrid during the summer transfer window is close to signing a new £75,000 per week deal at Liverpool on a reported four year contract the Mirror report, following lengthy negotiations between the club and Agger’s representatives.

The 27-year-old arrived from Danish side Bromby in 2006, and despite occasionally being plagued with injury, had developed into one of the club’s most stylish and solid defenders.

It appeared on a number of occasions during the summer that Agger was on the verge of leaving the club. Manchester City reportedly had two bids rejected for the defender, while interest emanating from Barcelona and Real Madrid refused to go away. A move failed to materialize however, and the defender chose to stick around to be part of Brendan Rodgers’s Anfield revolution.

The young trio of Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom and Suso are all reportedly to be offered long term deals at the club, following their impressive starts to the season. The Mirror reports that Suso is to be offered a five-year deal, amid suggestions that Real Madrid are monitoring the situation. The 18-year-old’s current deal expires next summer.

Liverpool Owners Endure Further Disappointment

Defeat to Manchester United almost two weeks ago was a bitter pill to swallow for the Liverpool faithful, but the club's owners have become reluctantly accustomed to losing out against their biggest rivals.

Fenway Sports Group's other team across the Atlantic, the Boston Red Sox, have just ended their worst season for 47 years - which included a staggering 13 losses against arch rivals the New York Yankees.

Liverpool fans would loath to contemplate losing just once to Manchester United in a single season, but can surely be thankful they do not have to face a pummelling similar to their American brothers.

John Henry, owner of Liverpool and the Red Sox, can hardly buy any luck at the moment - and he has certainly tried - with both his sides breaking records they would rather forget.

Liverpool recorded their first league win of the Premier League season last Saturday with a 5-2 defeat of Norwich after beginning the campaign in the worst fashion for over a century.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox's most disappointing season for almost 50 years included a run of 26 defeats in their final 33 contests, and 93 losses over the campaign as a whole.

And, as if to rub it in even further, their final outing ended in a humiliating 14-2 loss to - you guessed it - the Yankess, who progressed into the playoffs.

Europa League: Liverpool FC v Udinese

On Thursday night at Anfield Liverpool play their first Europa League group game against Italian side Udinese. ECHO Sport's Neil Jones runs the rule over a team punching well above their weight in recent seasons - and a club with ambitions beyond their own borders.

For a club with an average attendance of around 15,000, from a city of just 100,000 inhabitants, Udinese have been making quite a splash over the past few years. Tomorrow, they head to Anfield looking to strengthen their bid for a place in the Europa League knockout stages.

And despite an indifferent start to their league campaign, which has seen them take six points from their first six games, the Bianconeri will arrive on Merseyside confident they can spring a surprise. Brendan Rodgers and his side have been warned; the 'Little Zebras' should not be underestimated. It has been a transitional few months at Stadio Friuli, but then it often is.

Italian football is a place dominated by the traditional powerhouses – chiefly, the Milan giants and current champions Juventus. The likes of Udinese, ostensibly a small club with a modest following, are rarely expected to compete. And if they do, then they usually see their best players picked off by the big boys.

That was exactly what happened this summer. Having finished a barely-credible third in Serie A last season, ahead of the likes of Roma, Lazio and Inter, Udinese saw their immensely promising squad picked apart in the close-season.

Mauricio Isla and Kwadwo Asamoah were both pinched by Juventus, whilst highly-rated goalkeeper Samir Handanovic joined Inter. That trio were plucked from obscurity, at staggeringly low cost, yet earned the club well in excess of €25m.

It is not a new thing. Udinese's scouting network has tentacles across the world. It is both thorough and impressive. Their South American connections are especially strong - they found both Isla and Alexis Sanchez in Chile as teenagers - whilst the club itself has earned a reputation for providing one of the best shop windows in European football.

With the likes of Sanchez (Barcelona), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Cristian Zapata (Villarreal), Simone Pepe and Fabio Quagliarella (both Juventus) all having moved on in recent seasons, and players of the calibre Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan, Aleksandar Lukovic and David Pizarro all having passed through, the turnover of talent at the club has been huge.

Francesco Guidolin, a nomadic coach with a lengthy list of former clubs, lost his first four league games following his arrival at the club from Parma in 2010, but has qualified the club for the Champions League in each of his two full campaigns in charge. They were fourth in 2010, and went one better last season, despite a significant overhaul of the playing staff in the interim.

Regrettably, they have since been unable to take that next step by sealing a place in the Champions League group stages. They were beaten by Arsenal in the play-off round last season, and this year fell to a penalty shootout defeat to Braga of Portugal at the same stage.

And so they find themselves with 'only' the consolation of the Europa League. They needed a last-minute strike from Antonio Di Natale, their captain and talisman, to secure a 1-1 draw with Anzhi Makhachkala, the emerging Russian force, in their opening game last month, but they have the talent to challenge in what is perhaps the strongest group in the competition.

Di Natale, a European Championship finalist with Italy in the summer, is the heartbeat of the side. At 34, his career is in its twilight, but his record in North East Italy is phenomenal. He was Serie A leading goalscorer in both 2010 and 2011, and has scored at least 28 goals in each of his last three campaigns. His overall record at Udinese is 162 goals in 312 games.

Beyond him, the supporting cast is solid, rather than spectacular. The Colombian full-back Pablo Armero and the Moroccan Mehdi Benatia are expected to be the next to move on from the club for a big profit, while Roberto Pereyra is an Argentine midfielder of immense promise.

They may not have the quality of recent incarnations but, as a business model, Udinese provide the blueprint for a lot of clubs. It will be interesting to see how the latest crop cope in the Anfield spotlight.

Alberto Aquilani was a given and, though his was a rather forgettable spell on Merseyside, most would remember Andrea Dossena (a player who, coincidentally, was signed from Udinese). But the other? It had plenty scrambling for their history books. Yet on Thursday, the chances are the player will be staring them straight in the face. He is likely to line up in goal for the Italians.

Daniele Padelli is a name that slunk quietly into a forgotten corner of Liverpool's past. Signed on loan from Sampdoria in January 2007, he would make just a single appearance for the Reds; a 2-2 draw with Charlton on the final day of the 2006-07 league season, just ten days before Rafa Benitez's side faced AC Milan in the Champions League final in Athens.

It was a debut to forget. Padelli was at fault for both Charlton goals, and returned to Italy soon after. He joined Udinese on a permanent basis this summer, and will be hoping to create a better Anfield memory this time around.

Liverpool Want Permanent Madrid Star Deal

Liverpool will look to make Nuri Sahin’s loan deal at Anfield permanent in the summer, according to Marca.

The Turkish international has immediately impressed on Merseyside, and has scored three times since securing his season-long loan from Madrid over the summer.

Sahin scored twice in the Capital One Cup as Liverpool secured their place in the fourth round with a 2-1 win over West Brom during the week, while he also found the net in Liverpool’s first league win of the season, a 5-2 defeat of Norwich on Saturday.

Liverpool are not believed to have an option to make Sahin’s loan deal permanent at the end of the season, but remain confident of landing their man, who is contracted at the Bernabeu until 2017.

The Reds, who paid a £5 million fee in order to pip Arsenal to the signature of Sahin, will have to negotiate with Madrid over a potential transfer, while the player himself is said to be keen to return to Spain at the end of the season and prove his worth to Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.