Hernanes: Liverpool & Man United Chase Dazzling £8.4M Brazilian Playmaker

Interest is mounting for Brazilian hot property Hernanes who is strongly linked with a move to Italy but has also attracted the interest of a number of Premier League sides. Liverpool are the latest club to be linked with the playmaker in the Brazilian press with claims that Roy Hodgson will step up his chase for the talented South American by financing the move with the sale of a number of fringe players and Javier Mascherano. However, despite having his fingers burnt by Brazilian midfield flops Anderson and Kleberson, Sir Alex Ferguson is also a keen admirer and for £8.4m should not be too costly for Manchester United.

The 25-year-old’s full name is Anderson Hernanes de Carvalho Andrade Lima and he currently plies his trade for Sao Paulo in his homeland. The club currently sit 12th in the Brazilian top flight, 9 points behind leaders Corinthians which is very disappointing following last season’s 3rd place finish and winning the title in 2008.

Hernanes has been linked to the likes of AC Milan, Lazio and Palermo but the Italian clubs have struggled to raise the fee Sao Paulo are demanding. His agent Joseph Lee told La Repubblica: “There is an offer from Lazio and it is serious and I know that Sao Paolo is considering in the coming days and will decide what to do.”

Palermo’s director of sport Walter Sabatini has also declared his club’s interest. He told Mediagol.it: “Hernanes is very expensive but very good. If he doesn’t arrive, it will not be a cost issue because (chairman, Maurizio) Zamparini has no type of embarrassment in spending money, he could do that easily and has no problems doing so.

“We’ll see. For now we have not made any offer for the Brazilian.”

The player himself has spoken of his love for Serie A but the financial lure of the Premier League and the status of Manchester United and Liverpool could sway the Brazilian to our shores. Hernanes revealed to the Gazzetta dello Sport, “I’m a player who loves to think on the pitch.”

“I understood that in every player there’s the time to evaluate and do the best things. My best qualities are probably dribbling with the ball and my hard shot.

“The comparison with Pirlo is very good, it definitely pleases me. He’s a complete player, probably the best midfielder in the world.”

Both Liverpool and Manchester United are looking for a midfield schemer to dictate their team’s tempo with the Red Devils main man Paul Scholes not getting any younger. Michael Carrick has also fallen down the pecking order at the club after a disappointing time last season so the need for fresh quality is paramount. Roy Hodgson is facing the same situation as Rafa Benitez did last season in so much as there is no-one at the club able to link defence to attack after the sale of Xabi Alonso. Alberto Aquilani prefers to play in an advanced position as does Steven Gerrard, so Hernanes could be ideal as a deep lying playmaker able to pick up the ball from the back four and recycle the ball around midfield and launch attacks.

Hernanes has been touted as a readymade replacement for Real Madrid star Kaka at the San Siro after impressing in Brazil. He is far from a carbon copy of Kaka but has his own attributes; technically he is regarded as one of the best in his homeland especially as he is equally adept with both feet. He is an excellent passer both short and long plus is very difficult to shake off the ball which is integral to any success he’d have with either Manchester United or Liverpool in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old is also extremely versatile and has played on both flanks as well as centrally as either and attacking or defensive midfielder. Unlike some Brazilians Hernanes is very much a team player and not one to over elaborate when a simple pass is available. His work rate is another plus point which explains why he is so highly regarded. He would be able to adapt comfortably to either the slow pace of Serie A or the quicker pace of the Premier League. Hernanes is one of those players like his idol Pirlo who seems to have time on the ball whatever his position and that will appeal to both Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Hodgson who feel his quality would be ideal for the 2010/11 campaign.

The Times report of the Top 50 rising stars of world football rated Hernanes the best prospect back last January and it’s easy to see why. The attacking midfielder came through the Sao Paulo youth academy breaking into the first team in 2005 when he made 16 league appearances (6 starts) and scored 3 goals. The following season he was loaned out to Santo Andre where he made a further 22 league appearances (7 starts) and scored 6 goals. However, it was in 2007 when Hernanes came to the fore for Sao Paulo making 31 league appearances (29 starts) as his club won the Brazilian title before retaining the trophy in 2008. The 2nd title win resulted in Hernanes winning the Brazilian footballer of the year title and led to his first and only cap for his country in a 1-0 friendly win v Sweden in March 2008.

Hernanes also played for Brazil at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he won a bronze medal. Despite only playing 112 league matches for his club (94 starts) and scoring 18 goals, Hernanes has attracted the interest from the likes of Barcelona but where he’d fit into a side brimming with playmakers is debatable. He would however, have a great chance of becoming a regular at either Anfield or Old Trafford but Liverpool and Manchester United face huge competition from Serie A.

This season Hernanes has made 8 league appearances (7 starts) while scoring once. He has been in a rich vein of form in the Copa Libertadores where he scored in both legs of the quarter-final win over Cruzeiro. The Brazilian has shown he is the man for the big occasion and with Manchester United facing another exciting Champions League campaign Hernanes has shown he can excel in the South American equivalent.

Hernanes would be a great acquisition for Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool as he could fill a number of roles within the squad. Joe Cole may have arrived but he is more of an attacking player while signing arguably the best player playing in Brazil could prove to be a masterstroke. The likes of Cole, Hernanes and Steven Gerrard would surely provide Fernando Torres with the ammunition to surge up the table.

Alternatively, with Manchester United’s Paul Scholes coming towards the end of his career, Sir Alex could integrate Hernanes slowly into the Manchester United team allowing the Brazilian to adapt to the demands of the Premier League. At £8.4m he would not prove too costly for either Liverpool or the Red Devils although they may struggle to see off the Serie A competition. One thing’s for certain Brazil’s next big export will be a global name once he moves to Europe.

Liverpool Will Only Make Loan Offer For AC Milan Striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson does want to add Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to his squad at Anfield, but is only prepared to take the striker on loan from AC Milan, according to a report from The Sun.

The Serie A side has apparently put a £14 million price tag on the Dutchman as far as the Reds are concerned, but Hodgson is much more interested in a temporary deal.

Transfer cash is limited at Anfield this summer, but a loan could still cost the Merseysiders £2m in fees.

Should the player do well in England, a permanent deal could then be on the cards, particularly if Liverpool's financial worries ease.

The 26-year-old has apparently been told that he has no future at the San Siro, with Rossoneri president Adriano Galliani last week stating that Huntelaar was about to join a Premier League side.

Danny Wilson Can Join Ranks Of Liverpool FC's Scottish Legends

Alex Raisbeck, Billy Liddell, Matt Busby, Bill Shankly, Tommy Lawrence, Ian St John, Ron Yeats, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Alan Hansen, Steve Nicol.

When trawling through the annals of Liverpool Football Club and its unique history, it is hard to avoid the incredible influence Scotsmen have had on the club.

From the club’s first ever game, played by a team of Scotsmen which would eventually be labelled “The Team of the Macs”, through the great sides of Tom Watson, Shankly and Dalglish, the Scottish touch has been an almost permanent feature.

Danny Wilson will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious countrymen.

The 18-year-old put the finishing touches to his protracted switch from Rangers this week, with Liverpool paying an initial £2 million (rising to £5m depending on appearances and achievements) for the youngster’s services.

And no sooner had he put pen to paper on a three-year contract at Anfield, than the Livingston-born central defender was setting his sights on emulating perhaps the greatest Scot ever to pull on a Red shirt – Kenny Dalglish.

“I was aware of the Scottish link before I signed,” said Wilson, “Kenny Dalglish is one of the best players Scotland have ever produced and, as a Scotsman, to come to a club where he played and did so well is a great thing.

“I spoke to him after I signed and he wished me the best of luck. He is a legend in Scotland and I hope to follow in his footsteps and have some success like he had here.”

Of course, if Wilson was to achieve even half of what ‘King Kenny’ did during his 14 trophy-laden years on Merseyside, then Liverpool fans would be laughing.

But, having only turned 18 in December, and despite boasting just a handful of senior appearances for Rangers, the early signs are promising. Wilson, it seems, is the real deal.

Indeed, his cool, composed and calculated approach has already drawn tentative comparisons with another great Anfield Scot, Alan Hansen.

“Danny is left-footed and has great vision, capable of playing long, accurate passes out of defence.” says Graeme MacPherson, who covers Rangers for the Glasgow Herald.

“He is always comfortable with the ball at his feet and is pretty quick too. He certainly reminds me of Alan Hansen, given that he rarely looks flustered, and likes having the ball at his feet.

“A few people have already made that comparison.”

No pressure then!

But though Wilson boasts little more than a handful of senior appearances, he also possesses a confidence and mental toughness which is rare for a lad of his age.

MacPherson says: “Off the field, he is very articulate and seems to have his head screwed on for such a young guy.”

He’d have to really; his rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

Having been given his senior Rangers debut in a League Cup tie with Dundee back in October, Wilson – who only turned 18 in December – soon found himself thrown in at the deep end by Gers boss Walter Smith, as injuries to Madjid Bougherra left a hole in the centre of his defence.

His first start came in a testing Champions League tie in Romania against Unirea Urziceni – who would, later in the season give Liverpool a decent game in the Europa League – and, in a rain-swept Bucharest, the rookie was arguably Rangers’ stand-out performer.

His appearance made him the youngest ever to appear in the Champions League for the club.

He would go on to make 24 appearances (scoring once, with a towering header against Hearts) as Rangers cruised to the domestic 'treble', forming a strong partnership with former Everton man David Weir, and in May he was named Scotland’s PFA Young Player of the Year.

His move to Liverpool, just ten months after making his senior debut, represents the next step in what has been a whirlwind rise to prominence.

“I’m very proud,” says Wilson, “At the start of last season, I would have settled for just making my debut.

“At the end of the season when the awards came around and people were nice enough to give me their votes, it gave me a massive confidence boost.

“I think it gave me a good introduction to football and I hope to carry that through the rest of my career and be successful whenever I can.”

Roy Hodgson will be hoping so too. It has been a while since Liverpool have had a Scotsman over whom they can get genuinely excited, but if Wilson is as good as his word, that may just be about to change.

Jay Spearing Out To Catch Liverpool FC Boss Roy Hodgson’s Eye

Jay Spearing insists the prospect of catching Roy Hodgson's eye was a driving factor behind the impressive performance of Liverpool's starlets in the friendly draw with Grasshoppers.

A youthful Reds side, with an average age of just 20, played out a goalless encounter with the Swiss outfit in the new manager's first game on Wednesday following a week of intense training in Bad Ragaz.

Spearing feels the benefits of daily double sessions were evident against Grasshoppers as the young Reds tried to make an early impression.

“When a new manager comes in, every single one of us have got to try and impress and listen to what he's got to say,” he said. “That's what we tried to do and hopefully it worked.

“Right from the goalkeepers to the forwards, everybody worked very hard and it showed in the things we did. The lads put in a great effort and I am looking forward to Saturday now.”

Spearing skippered the team for the final 30 minutes against Grasshoppers and added: “As a Liverpool lad, it was a dream for me to captain the side and I have to say thanks to Lucas for passing the armband on. Hopefully it won't be the last time.”

Dr Brukner Aims To Make A Big Difference At Liverpool FC

Versatility is often said to be a key attribute in the modern game and when Liverpool appointed Peter Brukner they gained more than just a top doctor.

Best-selling author, respected media pundit, manager of the Australia's Athletics team for the Sydney Olympics, pioneer in his field and internet sensation, there is much more to the affable Brukner than meets the eye.

He has crammed an awful lot into – and made a huge success of – his 58 years but now, after initially hesitating about leaving his life Down Under, he cannot wait to get started on revolutionising Liverpool's approach to sports science and sports medicine.

“It's not something I had planned and it came completely out of the blue,” said Brukner, who was appointed to his all-encompassing role in March. “I was contacted by Liverpool and initially I said come back in 18 months time.

“I've got four kids (Julia, Charlie, Joe and Bill) and my youngest still has 18 months left in school. My wife, Diana, and I vaguely thought about coming over here after that but never did anything specific about it as we had a very good life in Australia.

“But Liverpool were persistent and I guess what attracted me was the challenge, the opportunity to oversee the full medical outfit rather than just being the team doctor. I've always felt that the English Premier League was just a little bit behind in its approach.

“By that I mean injury management and injury prevention. It's something I had picked up from the guys at the Socceroos; the reason they always enjoyed coming back was because they knew they were going to get some good treatment.”

Before accepting Liverpool's offer, Brukner had been the Australian football team's doctor, a role he started in 2006 and ended after the recent World Cup; former Reds winger Harry Kewell is one of many who sing his praises.

“I always felt that I would love to get my hands on a Premier League club and I thought I would be able to make a difference,” Brukner continued. “If I didn't think I could make a difference, I wouldn't be here. It's all about the challenge.

“The other thing was the faith that the club had in me. Christian Purslow and, at the time, Rafa (Benitez) were very keen. I think it was quite a radical step to get someone in to completely overhaul the department.

“They had put a lot more financial resources into the sports medicine and sports science department.

“They have supported me in increasing the staff and improving the equipment. They were very supportive so, with that, I thought I've got the challenge, let's have a crack at it.”

Had he so desired, Brukner could have continued enjoying his life in Melbourne; that is where his Sports Medicine Clinic, the biggest of its kind in the world, is based – 60 people currently work there – and he also had an interesting side line in the media.

Aside from penning a weekly column about injuries in Australian Rules Football for the Melbourne Age, he was also a pundit at one time for the radio station ABC (the equivalent of the BBC) and had co-written a hugely successful book on sports medicine.

He has always had passion for, though, and was club doctor at the AFL sides Melbourne and Collingwood but his biggest and most demanding challenge, without doubt, was when he was placed in in charge of Australia's athletes at the millennium Olympics.

“It was good fun,” he recalls with a smile. “I actually had Cathy (Freeman's) gold medal in my pocket for about three hours after she had won the 400 metres. I've been lucky to enjoy a fantastic career and had some fantastic opportunities.”

This, clearly, is another. Liverpool endured a terrible time with fitness issues last season and, at one point, it seemed as if a week never went by without someone tweaking a hamstring, pulling a calf or stretching a groin.

Turning that trend is not going to happen overnight but Brukner, who has made a number of appointments to his department including the former Simply Red guitarist turned masseur Sylvan Richardson, is confident that this new campaign will see a fitter Liverpool squad.

“There are two aspects to it,” he explained. “We will be judged by the success of the team as well. But specifically our performance indicators are the number of what we regard as preventable injuries, soft tissue ones like hamstrings and groins.

“If someone comes along, kicks a player in the shin and breaks their leg, there's nothing we can do about that! But we believe that with proper conditioning we can reduce the number of muscle injuries and other such problems.

“Maybe it is going to take a year or two to get everything in place that we really want to but ultimately that is the aim. Everything has been great so far and everyone has been incredibly welcoming. We have changed a lot of things and people have been very accepting of that change.

“I've brought a lot of new staff in like the head of fitness Darren Burgess, who was with me at the Socceroos, and head physiotherapist Phil Coles. A lot of people had left with Rafa so that gave us an opportunity to bring in some high quality staff.

“We've got a fantastic group of people here and one of the big qualities is that they all work well together. The medical and fitness department have got to be a team within a team – all you need is one person who is doing it for other reasons and it can go wrong.

“We've all got to communicate really well, so we meet every morning and then I will go and tell the manager what is going on. It's going to be good.”

Coalition Government Says Hillsborough Panel Future Is Secure

The future of the Hillsborough panel was today confirmed by the government.

Home secretary Theresa May ended weeks of speculation that the committee formed to probe the hidden files on the tragedy could be under threat.

She revealed the work of the panel would continue and not be scaled down in a statement in the House of Commons today.

It ended fears the project was among the schemes being considered for the axe by the new coalition government to save money.

Walton MP Steve Rotheram and Garston MP Maria Eagle both previously expressed doubts to the ECHO the new Tory/Lib Dem alliance were as committed to the hidden files project as the previous Labour government.

But, in a statement to Westminster, Mrs May said: “The panel has the government’s full support in achieving maximum possible disclosure of the records, initially to the Hillsborough families and then publicly.

“No changes are to be made either to the panel’s terms of reference or to its membership, which both remain as previously published.

“My meetings with the Bishop of Liverpool have confirmed to me both the importance of the panel’s work and the diligence and professionalism with which is it carrying out its duty, and I am happy to confirm it will continue with our full support.”

The bishop, the Right Reverend James Jones, called the announcement “crucial” in the step towards publication of hundreds of thousands of papers.

He said the promise showed the government viewed the panel’s work as “more important to party politics”.

He told the ECHO: “This is a statement of backing from a new government, a pledge we will be given the funding to deliver what the panel set out to do when it was formed five months ago.

“When I took the job of chairing the panel, I was never in doubt it would continue its work, no matter who won the upcoming election.

“In fact, I would never have taken on such a responsibility if I thought I would not be able to complete it.”

Eight experts are now sifting through documents relating to the tragedy, in which 96 Liverpool FC fans lost their lives in Sheffield.

It is expected to be another 18 months until the first documents are made public, probably in 2012.

The papers being studied include those from South Yorkshire police, the regional fire and ambulance services, Sheffield Wednesday FC and Sheffield council.

Also being scrutinised are files from West Midlands police, Lord Justice Taylor’s public inquiry papers and Lord Justice Stuart Smith’s inquiry research.

Some of the panel’s work could take place in Liverpool and Sheffield.

Official: Liverpool Sign Rangers Defender Danny Wilson On Three-Year Deal

Rangers defender Danny Wilson has passed a medical and completed his move to Liverpool on a three-year contract.

A deal to bring the 18-year to Anfield was announced on Wednesday, with an initial £2 million fee to be paid. Instead of travelling to Australia with his Rangers team-mate, Wilson had flown to Merseyside to rubber stamp the transfer.

Speaking to LFC TV, he was delighted to have finalized the switch to "one of the biggest teams in the world."

He said: "It's a great feeling to sign for Liverpool. Wherever you go everyone knows Liverpool FC and I am just very happy to be here.

"This is a massive challenge for me. This is one of the best leagues in the world and I will be playing for one of the biggest teams in the world.

"Coming here from Scotland, people may say I might not be ready for this, but that is a challenge I want to put on myself and that's the reason I came here.

"Everyone knows about the history of this football club with 18 league titles.

"It wasn't a difficult decision to come here as Liverpool is not a team who come in for you every day, so I can't wait to get started.

"There were other clubs interested in me who are in the Champions League, but once Liverpool came in for me there was only one team I wanted to go to."

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar To Sign For Liverpool, Ryan Babel Joining Milan

Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will join Liverpool, with Ryan Babel heading the other way as part of the deal, claims Il Corriere dello Sport.

On Tuesday, Huntelaar was reportedly in Manchester, leading to speculation talks with either Manchester City or Manchester United are impending.

However, the latest reports from Italy suggest he could join Liverpool if Fernando Torres leaves. Huntelaar was not at Milanello on Wednesday, leading to further belief his future is away from Milan.

And should the deal with Liverpool take off, Milan will press for Ryan Babel as part of negotiations.

Everton are also said to be tracking the Rossoneri striker, but the lure of Anfield is likely to prove pivotal in his decision.

There has been little official confirmation in relation to Huntelaar's future, but Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri didn't appear too convincing when he was probed for a diagnosis.

"Huntelaar, for now, is a Milan player," he told the press. The Dutchman has also been linked with Tottenham and Aston Villa previously.

Liverpool Defender Philipp Degen On Stuttgart Radar

Ambitious Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart are considering making a move for Switzerland defender Philipp Degen, currently under contract with Premier League outfit Liverpool, according to a report in Blick.

Stuttgart coach Christian Gross is eager to add some more depth to his squad in the summer transfer window and the former Basel gaffer supposedly sees the 27-year-old Degen as the perfect addition to his roster.

The highly rated defender previously enjoyed a successful Bundesliga spell with Borussia Dortmund from 2005-2008 before leaving Germany for the Premier League. However, he never really managed to secure regular first team action at Liverpool.

New manager Roy Hodgson told Degen earlier this week that he's no longer needed by the Reds and the full-back could therefore be on his way back to the Bundesliga.

Stuttgart is supposedly preparing a €1.5 million offer for the defender and Liverpool is widely expected to accept the Schwaben's bid for Degen.

Liverpool Offer Swap Deal For French Prodigy

Liverpool has offered two players to Nice in an attempt to bring Loic Remy to Anfield.

The French starlet has been at the centre of a bidding war between the Reds and West Ham - with the Londoners currently believed to be in pole position for his signature - but the Daily Mirror reports that Roy Hodgson is willing to offer two of his fringe players as part of the deal in a last ditch attempt to sign the striker.

Moroccan winger Nabil El Zhar and Frenchman Damien Plessis are understood to be the men in question but, with each player valued at around £700,000, Liverpool will still have to go some way to match West Ham's bid of £13.5 million for the 23-year-old.

Hodgson has already increased his transfer kitty with the sale of full-back Emiliano Insua but, with reports suggesting that the Merseysiders are unable to afford to buy Remy outright, they may have to cash-in on Argentina captain Javier Mascherano before approaching Nice with a realistic offer.

However, this could all be in vain after Les Aigons general manager Patrick Governatori said that he was happy with the Hammers' latest bid.

"We received a new offer from West Ham which seems good and suits us," Governatori told French newspaper L'Equipe.

"If Liverpool wants him, we need clear arrangements and commitments. West Ham is very keen. And we want to sort out that case before the end of the month."

Liverpool FC Confirm Albert Riera Sale Talks With Olympiacos

Liverpool have confirmed they are now deep in talks over the expected imminent sale of Albert Riera to Olympiacos.

Riera was not part of the young Liverpool squad involved in the recent goalless draw with Grasshopper as negotiations over a potential transfer to the Greek club continued.

Anfield boss Roy Hodgson said today: "Albert Riera did not play as a precaution because negotiations are ongoing with Olympiacos."

Riera was signed by previous Reds manager Rafa Benitez from Spanish side Espanyol two years ago.

But he fell out of favour after a series of controversies, including one infamous training ground incident in which a young member of the club's reserve squad was injured after an ugly confrontation.

Riera, who scored five goals in 56 appearances, also caused furore and insult within the Reds camp more recently when he described Anfield as 'a sinking ship' in an interview with foreign journalists.

Liverpool Talk With Internazionale Over £25m Sale Of Javier Mascherano

Liverpool is in talks with Internazionale over the possible sale of Javier Mascherano after the Italian club made an approach for the midfielder. Roy Hodgson is believed to be ready to sell the Argentina captain at the right price to raise funds, after warning Liverpool supporters that several more signings are needed to lift the "doom and gloom" that enveloped the club last season.

Liverpool want at least £25m for Mascherano, who has made no secret of his desire to move to Inter and link up again with Rafael Benítez, Hodgson's predecessor as manager at Anfield. Mascherano's agent, Walter Tamer, recently said it was his client's "dream" to join the Serie A club and the approach had been anticipated.

Mascherano has been disillusioned at Liverpool for some time, having seen Benítez block a proposed move to Barcelona last summer. Hodgson reported last week that the 26-year-old had not responded to his telephone or text messages while on holiday following the World Cup. He had been keen to discuss the player's future.

The manager will have only a modest amount to spend on transfers unless he increases that budget through sales, meaning Mascherano's departure could suit both parties.

Liverpool Set To Swoop For Manchester City Defender Wayne Bridge

Liverpool are targeting Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge as the solution to their acute left-back problem, Goal.com UK understands.

Manager Roy Hodgson, having sold Emiliano Insua to Fiorentina and allowed Fabio Aurelio to leave, is ready to pay around £6 million for the former England international.

Bridge has three years remaining on the contract with Manchester City that he signed in January 2009 after a £10m move from Chelsea. However, with the imminent arrival of Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio for a fee of £17m and the fact that another of Manchester City’s summer signings, Jerome Boateng, played left-back for Germany in this summer’s World Cup, he is unlikely to be given many first-team opportunities at Eastlands - and according to sources close to the player would see Liverpool as a practical alternative.

Since his arrival in Switzerland to take charge of the club’s pre-season preparations, Hodgson has maintained that left-back is a priority position to fill, and he has been linked with Sampdoria’s Reto Ziegler.

“We are short in that area and we do need to find a replacement for Emiliano and Fabio as quickly as possible,” he said before last night’s goalless draw with Grasshoppers Zurich, when he also confirmed that Albert Riera would be allowed to leave for Olympiakos with Philipp Degen likely to go to Stuttgart for a fee of £1.5m.

Last season, Bridge was dogged by a knee injury and poor form that saw him feature in just over half of City’s Premier League games, although he was given strong support from manager Roberto Mancini during the John Terry affair that prompted his international retirement.

This is not the first time that Bridge has contemplated a move to Anfield – he was the subject of a £6m offer from Rafael Benitez in 2008.

Cole: Liverpool Is A Bigger Club Than Chelsea Or Man United

Joe Cole has insisted he has joined Liverpool to win honours at “the biggest club in England”.

The former Chelsea midfielder claimed the history, tradition and fanatical supporters of his new team made his switch a “no brainer”.

He said: “I think players can play for other clubs but with Liverpool you have to live and breathe it. It’s that kind of a place - and I am excited by the challenge.

“I made my decision purely on football terms and I came here because this is a massive club. When I knew Liverpool were interested it was a no-brainer because they are the biggest club in the country.

“Everyone knows it’s a massive club but until you sign you don’t realize quite how big. I have people on my phone who I didn’t even know were Liverpool fans. It seems everyone I bump into is a Liverpool fan - it’s a huge, huge club and it’s a dream come true.”

Cole is convinced that his new team has the quality to surprise the cynics who expect Roy Hodgson’s side to struggle in the new season.

“I have come here to be a success, and my target is to play as many games as I can in this team and achieve something great for the club,” he added.

“I believe I can be part of a team that is capable of doing great things. I will fight to try and win trophies for this club.

“There are world class players here and I am excited about the chance to play alongside them.

“I am proud to be playing for this club and will give my all in every training session and every game to help the club be successful and put some pots in the trophy cabinet.”

Hodgson admits a lot of hard work is required to turn Liverpool’s fortunes around and said: “You don’t change doom and gloom or disenchantment with a signing or two.

“Liverpool Football Club has always been famous for the passion and knowledge of its supporters and they know I can’t put right the disenchantment with a couple of words.

“What we can do is hopefully persuade them we are on the right track, that we’re trying to get things right again and that we’re looking for new investment.

“We know the situation with the owners, the club is for sale and we are trying desperately for the right people to come in and buy the club. In the meantime we are trying our level best to do what we can out here on the training field and on the field of play to get results.

“I can only hope that the people who watch us are aware of the situation, that they have their feet on the ground like we’ve got our feet on the ground and they give us credit if we deserve any for the efforts we make on the field.

“I can assure them we will give everything on the field and I will hope to dispel the gloom and the disenchantment in that way.”

There was more good news from the Liverpool camp yesterday though, as another new signing arrived, with £2m capture from Rangers Danny Wilson insisting he turned down the chance to play in the Champions’ League to go to Anfield.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision to come here as Liverpool are not a team who come in for you every day, so I can’t wait to get started,” the 18 year old explained.

“There were other clubs interested in me who are in the Champions League, but once Liverpool came in for me there was only one team I wanted to go to - coming from Scotland, people may say I might not be ready for this, but that is a challenge I want to put on myself and that’s the reason I came here.”

Pre-Season 2010: Grasshoppers 0 - 0 Liverpool

New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson kicked off his tenure at the helm of Anfield with a tough draw in Switzerland against Grasshoppers.

After what should have been his first game in charge against Al Hilal in mid-week was called off, Hodgson took his place on the sidelines and saw his side battle for a well earned draw.

New signings Joe Cole and Danny Wilson were not included in the squad, but Spanish star Albert Riera, who has reportedly agreed a deal with Olympiakos, found a place on the bench.

The home side started brightly and pushed forward in the opening stages but were unable to create any clear cut chances as Liverpool began to find their stride and hit back with some creativity through the impressive David Amoo.

David Ngog looked set to break the deadlock on 21 minutes, as the Frenchman found himself one-on-one with the 'keeper following a long ball through the middle, but a late flag ruled him offside before he was able to convert.

Alberto Aquilani then had a great chance to get his pre-season up-and-running but the Italian sent his free kick sailing over the bar from a dangerous position and was none too impressed with himself as his reaction showed.

The former Roma man found himself with another set-piece opportunity moments later, but despite getting his shot on target it was a comfortable save for Benito in the Grasshoppers' goal.

Ngog then had another great chance to open the scoring on 27 minutes, but could only send his shot crashing into the side netting after beating the offside trap and finding himself with only Benito to beat.

Grasshoppers began to test Cavalieri as the half time whistle beckoned, but the Argentine was in good form and denied the lively Steven Zubar before seeing Steven Lang send a powerful volley over the bar.

The Swiss side should have taken the lead on 38 minutes, as Cavalieri could only parry a Salatic shot; Rennella raced in to tap home from three yards out but was prevented by a desperate block from Cavalieri who flung himself in the way.

The second half saw chances limited with defences on top, both sides were restricted to counter-attacking football in an attempt to find the first goal of the game as substitutions began to break up the flow of the match.

As the game entered its closing stages, Ecclestone attempted to liven up proceedings as he broke deep in his own half through the Grasshoppers' defence before unleashing a drive from 25-yards but was unfortunate to see his effort flash just wide.

The Merseysiders struggled to pick up the pace of the game as the clock ticked down, with substitutions taking their toll, however Roy Hodgson will be pleased with his side following an industrious performance.

The hosts should have secured the win in the last minute, as Ayala missed his attempted clearing header, but defender Brindeiro couldn't make the most of his chance and despite being five yards out and unmarked, the ball bounced beneath his swinging leg and out for a goal kick.

That proved to be the last chance of the game, and Hodgson will hope to build on this solid performance as the Reds' continue their preparation for the new season.

Roy Hodgson Wants 'Doom & Gloom' Dispelled From Liverpool

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson wants to change the negative mindset currently at Anfield, but has warned that it will take much more than one or two new faces in the squad to alter the atmosphere at the club.

Joe Cole inked a four-year deal with the Reds this week but Hodgson, currently preparing his squad at their pre-season training camp in Switzerland, feels that hard work is more important than new players at this stage.

"You don't change doom and gloom or disenchantment with a signing or two," the Reds boss told his club's official website.

"Liverpool Football Club has always been famous for the passion of its supporters and the knowledge of its supporters and they know I can't put right the disenchantment with a couple of words or by signing a football player.

"What we can do is hopefully persuade them we are on the right track, that we're trying to get things right again and that we're looking for new investment.

"We know the situation with the owners, the club is for sale and we are trying desperately for the right people to come in and buy the club. In the meantime we are trying our level best to do what we can out here on the training field and on the field of play to get results.

"I can only hope that the people who watch us are aware of the situation, that they have their feet on the ground like we've got our feet on the ground and they give us credit if we deserve any for the efforts we make on the field. I can assure them we will give everything on the field and I will hope to dispel the gloom and the disenchantment in that way."

Hodgson is also cautious when it comes to how long it will take to turn things round at the club after a campaign last season that looked pretty ragged by the end.

"It's not going to be an overnight thing. Last season was a very disappointing season for the club in every respect, culminating in a popular manager leaving," he added.

"You don't dispel that with a couple of signings and I would never want to dupe the Liverpool public by telling them all is rosy now because Joe Cole has signed.

"There's a lot more work to do, a lot more players needed and we as a football team have got to make certain that when we take the field the supporters see there is something different and that we are making the biggest effort we can make. Then we can only hope they back us like they have always backed the club in the past."

Hodgson confirmed that work is ongoing to bring more players to the club, though he admitted that he is working within tight budgetary constraints.

"We don't have the unlimited funds that teams like Manchester City and even Tottenham, to some extent these days, seem to have," he said.

"In this current situation we don't have that. On the other hand some money is being made available and we are doing everything to use that money as sensibly and as intelligently as we can.

"We had quite a good squad of players last season. We've talked about Gerrard, Torres, Reina - these players means there is a certain strength to the team whatever we do. We would like to make some changes. Every manager who comes to a new club would like to make changes, to bring in some fresh players.

"The big thing for me is going to be the atmosphere. We have to get a good atmosphere back into the club. That will come from the training field and from the matches at Anfield.

"We've got to get back the Liverpool atmosphere that I've known and seen and experienced - often to my cost - over the years. We have to get away from the feeling that everything's not right and the club is going downhill because that isn't the case at all."

The Reds face Swiss club Grasshoppers tonight in a friendly which will be Hodgson's first match in charge of the club.

With the majority of his senior players still at home recovering from the World Cup, Hodgson knows that his young team will be tested in Switzerland.

"Realistically, a lot of these players won't take part when we come to the league games because they are players who have come from the reserves and the academy," he explained.

"They are working extremely well and I couldn't be happier with what we're doing, but we're about to play two really tough games with a team which, in my opinion, isn't ready to play against that level of opponent.

"It's a great opportunity for them but my real work in preparing Liverpool Football Club to play next season will begin when I get back to Melwood and find the 13 players who went to the World Cup.

"If you're a young player you're waiting for that chance to get into the first team and show what you can do. These lads are being given a chance earlier than expected and unfortunately they are being given a chance all together.

"What you hope for when you get your chance is that all the big-hitters are around you and they make it a bit easier for you. Here we are throwing them all in together."

Steven Gerrard Delighted To Be Staying With Liverpool FC

Steven Gerrard is itching to lead Liverpool into the new Premier League campaign after reaffirming his commitment to the club.

Liverpool's captain effectively ended all talk about his future yesterday morning when he declared that he was very impressed by Roy Hodgson's plans for the club.

The story, which attracted a huge amount of hits on the ECHO'S website when it was published, increased the feelgood factor among fans, who have been buoyed by the arrival of Joe Cole.

Gerrard can't wait to link-up with his England teammate and believes Cole will give Liverpool's attack an extra dimension.

“It's a great signing for us,” Gerrard enthused.

“I know Joe well through the England set-up and have seen first hand just how good a player he is. He's proved his ability over many years in the Premier League, sometimes against us – so it will be fantastic to play alongside him in a red shirt for Liverpool.”

Fears had been mounting that Gerrard would seek pastures new this summer and Real Madrid were strongly linked with a £30m move for him.

Worries were increased when the respected Spanish newspaper Marca published a three-page feature on Gerrard on June 2 and used mocked up images on him in Real's famous all white kit.

When Marca run a story like that – the translated headline was ‘Gerrard: Hot! Hot!’ – it is usually a sign that Real expect to land their man but, following the signing of Germany international Sami Khedira, the trail went cold.

For his part, it is important to stress that never at any stage did Gerrard insist he was actively seeking a move away from Anfield – he simply stated before going to South Africa with England that he might have to consider his options. But once the World Cup finals were out of the way, Gerrard took the opportunity to clear his mind and enjoy a break with his wife, Alex, and their children in the Mediterranean.

Prior to that, he had a long and frank discussion with Roy Hodgson on the day he was unveiled as Liverpool's new manager and his plans for the future and those talks tipped the balance.

“I made it clear that I simply needed to concentrate on the World Cup and then have a decent holiday with my family,” said Gerrard, who has made 532 appearances for Liverpool.

“I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately and having done so I'm very impressed with his plans for the future of the team. I've only returned to training today at Melwood with some of the other World Cup players, but I can't wait for the new season to start.”

Liverpool Manager Roy Hodgson Delighted By Skipper Steven Gerrard's Commitment To The Club

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is delighted captain Steven Gerrard has ended speculation about a move to Real Madrid and committed his future to the club.

Gerrard, 30, had been linked with a switch to the Spanish capital after the Reds missed out on Champions League football for next season. After the announcement that former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has agreed a switch to Anfield, Gerrard's decision to stay on has given the ex-Fulham boss another boost.

Speaking to the club's official website while on tour in Switzerland, Hodgson was convinced every Liverpool fan will be rightly delighted with the news from the skipper.

"It's a great piece of news. There won't be anyone in Liverpool today who isn't delighted to hear that," Hodgson said.

"I'm really pleased about it because I've got great respect for Steven Gerrard.

"He's a player who I was really looking forward to working with when I came to Liverpool. It seems now with that commitment that this will happen.

"It gives everyone a boost without question.

"It will be a tough season, with a lot of matches and the disappointment of last season is going to take a while to dissipate, but it is very good that our best player is still going to be playing at this club.

"Hopefully with the signing of Joe Cole - and if we are lucky one or two others, to boost the squad - we will be going into this season's competition, maybe stronger on paper than we were last season."

Reds Close In On Wilson

Sky Sports News understands that Liverpool is on the brink of signing defender Danny Wilson from Rangers.

Ibrox manager Walter Smith revealed to Sky Sports News reporter David Tanner that the two clubs are in advanced stages of discussions and have only the transfer fee left to agree on.

Smith also said the move could be sealed as soon as Tuesday evening, which would leave 18-year-old Wilson free to link up with the Reds at their Switzerland training camp.

Centre-back Wilson came through the youth ranks at the Ibrox club before penning his first professional contract there three years ago.

He will not join the Rangers squad that will fly out to Australia for their pre-season tour on Tuesday night due to a slight hamstring injury.

Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist is unsurprised by the interest Liverpool have shown in Wilson following the stopper's impressive campaign last season.

"I think the first thing they (Liverpool) would have to accept is that they're signing potential," McCoist told Sky Sports News.

"But it's a whole load of potential because he came in last season for us and played an awful lot of games, certainly a lot more games than, to be fair, we probably thought he would.

"A lot of that was probably down to him not being one hundred per cent fit a lot of the time.

"But he came in and he handled himself really superbly well. We obviously had very high hopes for Danny and Danny has high hopes for Danny and obviously Liverpool can see the potential there.

"If the deal is a done deal then certainly we would wish Danny all the best. I think there is a little bit of work to be done before it's a done deal, but they'll certainly be signing a player with outstanding potential."

Liverpool Demand £6m For N'Gog

Liverpool want £6 million for French fringe striker David N'Gog as they try to raise funds for new players.

N'Gog can go at the right price - quoted to several clubs in the Premier League and round Europe - although he may have to play in the Europa League qualifiers before going.

The Kop squad man is wanted by West Brom on loan, while Newcastle and Bolton have made inquiries about his availability - but the valuation is way too high.

Liverpool are still hopeful of a big pay day on N'Gog, with Nice's Loic Remy on their hit list but valued at around £14.3 million.

Liverpool Leave Loic In Limbo As Roy Hodgson Refuses To Meet £12.5m Asking Price

Loic Remy's hopes of joining Liverpool are in limbo as the Reds refuse to match West Ham's £12.5million bid for the France striker.

The Hammers own bid has been knocked back unless they stump up £7.5m up front rather than splitting payments over four years.

The 23-year-old would prefer to be part of Roy Hodgson's new-look Liverpool side, but respected French newspaper L'Equipe reports that an expected meeting between the Merseysiders and Nice has failed to materialise amid the Reds' reluctance to offer much more than £10m.

Nice have already been rebuffed interest at that level from Lyon and Remy has joined up with his current club's training camp at Megeve.

Arsenal has also tracked Remy and is considering whether to recruit another forward to replace Shakhtar Donetsk-bound Eduardo.

Remy's agent Frederic Guerra told skysports.com: 'A major club from the Premier League has contacted me about Loic. I have a meeting with the club on Wednesday and we will see what happens.

'Whatever happens Loic will be leaving Nice this summer and he has his heart set on England.'

Hodgson - Degen Can Leave

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has informed full-back Philipp Degen that he is free to leave Anfield.

The Switzerland international arrived in England from Borussia Dortmund in July 2008, but he failed to earn a regular place in the plans of former boss Rafa Benitez after a succession of injuries and disappointing performances.

Hodgson, who took over as Liverpool boss this summer, also decided that Degen will not feature in his first team and held discussions with the 27-year-old before telling him that he can leave the club.

"We have had an amicable conversation with Philipp and he wants to play football," Hodgson told Liverpool's official website.

"We won't stand in his way and he is free to look for another club."

McMahon Welcomes Changes

Liverpool Reserves boss John McMahon has welcomed a more competitive Barclays Premier Reserve League North in 2010-11.

After discussions during the summer, the Reds second string will come up against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea in the new campaign.

Fresh from agreeing a new 12 month deal, McMahon will once again take sole charge of the reserve team and he believes the new look league will be of great benefit to the young players at the club.

A McMahon managed Liverpool XI will be in action tonight when they face Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground, with the match kicking-off at 7.45pm.

"It is very positive the changes that have been made and we look forward to playing the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal," McMahon told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"It's a more competitive league now and if you are going to push players through to the first team squad they need to be playing against good quality opposition.

"We have got some really good games to look forward to and it's always nice to play against different teams and test yourselves against quality opposition like Arsenal and Chelsea.

"Aston Villa have been in the national final for three years in a row so they are very strong at reserve team level, so it's going to be very competitive that's for sure."

It's also change off the pitch for the reserves as they will now be based full-time at the Academy in Kirkby.

"We were always planning to move the reserves squad to the Academy for a couple of reasons really," he added.

"One is the limited space down at Melwood and two is it's nice for the reserve squad to have a good base and then they can aspire to get to work with the first team at Melwood which is the ultimate aim.

"The transition has been an easy one and it's good because when we want to use younger players from the U18 team to come and train with us we can."

McMahon also spoke about meeting Roy Hodgson for the first time and added: "It was good to meet the boss and we all met as a staff and discussed the way forward in terms of what we are looking for ahead of the new season.

"I'm looking forward to taking the reserve team again and it's another good challenge. We will be a young squad again and we will be looking to continue their development.

"I will be in constant conversations with the manager and Sammy Lee about the progress of the young players and give them my opinions about their progress."

A number of players from McMahon's reserve team could feature for Hodgson's first team when they take on Grasshoppers in Switzerland - a match you can watch exclusively live on Liverpoolfc.tv.

McMahon believes the experience the young lads will get from taking part in the Swiss training camp will be invaluable for their future development.

"It's an exciting time for those lads like Steven Irwin, Daniel Ayala, David Amoo, Lauri Dalla Valle, Victor Palsson and the younger ones like Tom Ince and Jack Robinson," he added.

"It is a great experience for them and hopefully they can learn and improve and it will make them better players."

Chairman Martin Broughton Determined To Restore Liverpool's Status As 'Icon' Of Football

Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton has revealed that he took on the job at Anfield because he wants to see the club restored to its former glories.

Broughton, a lifelong Chelsea fan and current chairman of British Airways, was hired by the Reds with the aim of finding a new buyer for the club.

His motivations for doing so are purely about football, he insists, and hints that money has been wasted over the last few seasons at Anfield.

"I've taken the role on because Liverpool represents one of two, three or four footballing icons in the league," Broughton told Director magazine.

"Putting them back in their rightful position is in the interests of British football and the league. Seventh [where the club finished in the Premier League last season] is not their rightful position, and neither is administration.

"Remember, over the past five years, LFC is second only to Chelsea in terms of gross and net player spend. The question is whether the money has been spent wisely."

Broughton sees Liverpool as "a trophy asset worth a lot of money" and maintains that a buyer will be found for the Merseyside club.

"As long as we get sensible offers, we can do a deal," he added.

"We are out there to find someone wealthy. But it's important that they can win popular support."

The chairman does see similarities between his BA job and his role at Anfield, with media management an ongoing issue.

"In terms of intensity it's not very different to BA, where every little detail seems to fascinate the press," he explained.

"The level of misreporting is about the same, but the level of fabrication is higher. Football is a unique business.

"In any M&A [merger and acquisition] there are various stakeholders but supporters and their passion bring a new dimension."

Former Liverpool owner Peter Moores wrote an angry letter to The Times at the end of last season urging the current owners of the club, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to sell as soon as possible.

Broughton though dismisses the letter as a largely irrelevant gesture.

"No, I just found it sad," he asserted.

"An old man trying to justify what he himself saw as a mistake by blaming everyone except himself. Who chose to sell? He just went for the most money."

Official: Liverpool Sign England International Joe Cole

Premier League giants Liverpool have confirmed the capture of England international Joe Cole on a free transfer. The attacking midfielder was available on a free transfer after leaving Chelsea earlier this summer.

The Reds have announced on their official website that they've agreed personal terms with Cole and that the gifted midfielder will undergo a medical in the next 48 hours. The highly rated winger will sign a four-year deal with his new club upon completion of the medical.

Cole is Liverpool's second signing of the summer transfer window. The Reds previously secured the services of Serbian international Milan Jovanovic from Belgian outfit Standard Liege on a free transfer.

The 28-year-old Cole is a product of the West Ham youth system, but left the Hammers for a spell at Chelsea in the summer of 2003. He won three league titles and two FA Cups during a seven-year stay at Stamford Bridge. Additionally, he has represented his country 56 times, scoring 10 goals in the process.

The England international initially appeared to be on his way to Arsenal, while Tottenham Hotspur and Milan were also believed to be interested in signing Cole. The versatile midfielder will ply his trade at Anfield Road instead though in the 2010-'11 campaign.

Cole will be wearing the number 7 jersey at Liverpool, a number previously worn by Robbie Keane, who left the club for Tottenham Hotspur in January 2009.

Jamie Carragher: Joe Cole Swoop Shows Liverpool FC Mean Business

Jamie Carragher warned Liverpool's rivals they “mean business” next season as he hailed the headline-grabbing arrival of Joe Cole.

The Reds' vice-captain, who has returned to training at the club's Melwood base, is delighted Cole had spurned the advances of Arsenal and Tottenham to join Roy Hodgson's revolution.

Cole arrived at Liverpool's Swiss pre-season camp here in Bad Ragaz last night with his father, George, and will undergo a medical at the team hotel today, which has its own sports science facility.

No problems are envisaged and, once that is completed, Cole will put pen-to-paper on a deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2014.

It is quite a coup for Hodgson and it is a move which Carragher believes shows Liverpool are serious about reclaiming their place in the Champions League.

Carragher is looking forward to linking up with Cole and he has no doubts the 28-year-old will quickly become a favourite on The Kop.

“It's great news and it is a message that Liverpool mean business,” said Carragher. “We have signed a top international player who has been really important for Chelsea.

“A lot of clubs wanted to sign him but it is a real coup that he has chosen to come here and you have got to give the manager and the board a pat on the back for convincing him to come.

“Joe is someone I have known for a long time from playing with England. He is a great lad to have around the squad, he mixes well and is lively character – he's also an outstanding footballer.

“In the modern game, you need forwards that can function in two or three different positions and Joe will do that, no problem at all. He can play on the right, through the middle or on the left.”

Once the Cole deal is wrapped up, Hodgson will turn his attention to signing a left-back – Maynor Figueroa of Wigan continues to be linked – but there is little doubt only one man's name will dominate the agenda for the time being.

An impish box of tricks, Cole proved to be something of a thorn in Liverpool's side during his time at Chelsea and scored winning goals on three occasions.

Though he has endured trouble with injuries in recent seasons, Carragher saw enough when the pair was at the World Cup finals this summer to suggest he will flourish in Red.

“Every supporter that I have spoken to is absolutely delighted and all the players are the same – it's given everyone a boost, just at the right time,” said Carragher.

“It has been a long summer and we have been in a transitional period but now the World Cup is out of the way, we can start to look forward again.

“Joe is a player who has the ability to get supporters off their seats and I've no doubt he will do that here; the fact we have got him has given everyone a boost around the city.

“It's good news again and, hopefully, there will be more to come. It's the kind of signing that we needed to make.”

Mark Lawrenson Hails Joe Cole As 'Perfect Fit' For Liverpool

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson believes that Joe Cole will fit in at Anfield well and improve the team.

Cole joined Liverpool on a four-year deal on Monday, with the Merseysiders fighting off interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur to snare the player, a free agent after being released by Chelsea earlier in the summer.

Lawrenson feels that the England international will reinvigorate some of the other star names at the club and make Roy Hodgson's team a much more effective attacking unit.

"Joe Cole and Liverpool are a perfect fit - a really good move for player and club," the pundit told The Daily Mirror.

"Assuming his knee is okay - and he trained and played for England at the World Cup - then you’ve got a fit player with miles on the clock.

"A player who is extremely fresh and just wants to play, he has come into the club under a new manager and he is that manager’s choice.

"The sums also make sense as Yossi Benayoun had two years left on his contract and went for £5million."

"If things don’t work out for Joe at Anfield then he can simply move on and the club would get a decent transfer fee for him.

But to be honest the fans will love him. And if you’re Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard and you were thinking of leaving, you’d maybe think: ‘Hang on a minute. The club is showing a bit of ambition here’."

Cole's presence in the squad also gives Hodgson options in attack, with Lawrenson feeling that the England international should play wide with Steven Gerrard lining up just off the striker.

"But Joe will now give Roy Hodgson options at Liverpool. He can play right side, left side or off the forward," the former defender added.

"As things stand now - assuming the players stay - I see them lining up in a 4-2-3-1 with Cole right side in a three behind the striker, Gerrard playing off Torres and Milan Jovanovic on the left."

Meanwhile, Lawrenson also feels that Javier Mascherano's lack of contact with Hodgson shows a lack of respect from the player towards his new manager.

"We live in such a technological age that there’s no other conclusion to draw than a sign of disrespect," he said.

"The thing is, this is where Mascherano could have used his agent to get on the phone and just be honest with Roy and say: 'I want to leave.'

"Roy has been around the block. He’d know how to handle things the right way. He’d have the time to get a replacement in and all this could have been avoided.

"Let’s hope there can yet be a conclusion to this that suits all parties."

Reto Ziegler 'Tops Roy Hodgson's Left-Back Transfer List For Liverpool'

Swiss international defender Reto Ziegler has emerged as new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson's top transfer target to fill the vacant role at left-back.

Sampdoria star Ziegler, who starred in the group stages of this summer's World Cup, could be available for a cut-price fee of around £6million as reports suggest he is keen to leave the club.

Following Luigi del Neri's departure for Juventus earlier this summer, a number of players are thought to be on the verge of leaving - with former Spurs player Ziegler among them.

The Swiss has some Premier League experience from his time at White Hart Lane, as well as a loan spell with Wigan in 2006.

And while Spurs fans will remember him as something of a lightweight in defence, Ziegler's reputation has burgeoned since quitting north London in 2007.

The 24-year-old is now regarded as one of Europe's top defensive prospects and would be a good fit in Hodgson's rebuilding of the side.

Hodgson Locks In On Norwegian Rooney

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is considering an offer for Stromsgodset forward Marcus Pedersen, who has drawn comparisons with Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

The 20-year-old forward struck 10 goals in 24 appearances for his club last season while starting the 2010 campaign with 6 goals in his opening 15 games.

Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet have revealed that Reds boss Roy Hodgson sent scouts to watch Pedersen in the last two weeks and the Anfield chief is set to make a formal offer for the talented striker.

Jostein Floe, a Stromsgodset official revealed that despite Liverpool’s interest, a number of top clubs were following the youngster:

"There are several clubs who have followed him for a long time. But we have not yet received any bids for him."

Pedersen has a year and half left on his contract at the Norwegian club and it is thought the bustling striker would fetch a fee in the region of £5 million.

Work Permit Problems See Real Madrid Snatch 'New Didier Drogba' Juan Lescano From Liverpool

Real Madrid have snatched the 'new Didier Drogba' - Juan Lescano - from Liverpool after work permit problems scuppered his move.

Lescano, 17, had been training at Melwood for the last four months with the Reds' youth ranks after being picked up by ex-manager Rafael Benitez. After showing considerable promise, a permanent deal had been set-up for the Argentinian before it was scuppered by red tape.

Madrid have moved in quickly to sign the youngster and he will now join up with their Castilla sides. Speaking to skysports.com, Lescano was looking forward to his new start in the Spanish capital.

"At Liverpool people like [Javier] Mascherano and [Emiliano] Insua helped me a lot, but after the legal problems this is a big opportunity for me," Lescano said.

Inter Set To Pounce As Barcelona Cool Interest In Liverpool Midfielder Javier Mascherano

Barcelona are believed to have pulled out of the race to sign Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano, leaving Inter as clear favourites to land the Argentina captain.

With new manager Roy Hodgson still understood to be unable to contact Mascherano, his future at Anfield looks increasingly uncertain but according to tuttomercatoweb.com, his destination is looking more likely to be Italy as Spanish giants Barcelona are reluctant to shell out a massive fee for the Reds midfielder having already spent €40 million [£24m] securing the services of David Villa.

A failed pursuit of Cesc Fabregas this summer may alter that stance but it now appears that European champions Inter will seize Barcelona's hesitancy as an opportunity to step up their pursuit of Mascherano.

Coach Rafael Benitez is understood to be keen to renew acquaintances with the man he brought to Anfield. Nerazzuri president Massimo Moratti and sporting director Marco Branca are reportedly set to move in the coming days to secure the services of the 26-year-old.

Anger As Liverpool FC Raise Anfield Match Ticket Prices By 15% For Big Games

Liverpool fans are facing a 15% surge in ticket prices to their team’s biggest home games.

Despite a poorer than expected performance on the pitch bosses at Anfield opted to charge up to £45 for tickets next season.

Angry fans are already claiming they are being penalized as they are made to pay to service the club’s crippling £237m debt.

LFC announced games will fall into three categories and each would have different priced tickets.

Matches played against the club’s six biggest rivals will cost £45 to watch in the Main Stand, Centenary Stand, Paddock Enclosure and Anfield Road. Tickets in the Kop will be just £2 cheaper, at £43.

Those “Category A” games are against Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Last year top matches cost £39 to go to.

A statement on the club’s website said: “Liverpool Football Club have today confirmed ticket prices for the forthcoming 2010-11 Barclays Premier League campaign.

“Liverpool’s 19 home league matches have been divided into three pricing categories to reflect demand for tickets amongst supporters.”

The announcement follows a 7% hike in the cost of season tickets for Anfield.

In June the club said Kop tickets were being pushed up to £680, and Anfield Road, Centenary and Main Stands peaking at £722 or £732 respectively.

And Reds who wanted to buy tickets by post, phone or by visiting the club were stung with a £52 admin fee.

Supporter union Spirit of Shankly spokesman James McKenna said today: “They’ve done it to earn more money for the football club because we’ve got massive debts and we’re making losses.

“I would imagine a lot of fans are going to be asking questions about how they can justify it. There’s quite a lot of anger already about it.

“There are a lot of people questioning whether they will be going to Anfield considering the prices. I think the terraces could certainly be affected.”

Category B matches, which include home ties against Aston Villa and Newcastle United, will cost £39 in the Kop and £41 elsewhere. All other matches will cost £37 for Kop tickets and £39 everywhere else.