Suarez Facing Verdict Wait

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez may have to wait until tomorrow to discover whether his defence against a racism charge has been successful after the second day of a disciplinary hearing.

Proceedings against the Uruguay international began yesterday in front of an independent three-man panel but, although more aspects of the case were heard last night, it is understood no decision is imminent.

The 24-year-old has been charged with abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, and referring to his ‘‘ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race’’ by the Football Association.

Suarez has always denied the allegations levelled against him by the France defender and the player and his club were hoping to successfully make a case for his defence at the two-day hearing.

Manager Kenny Dalglish has given the Uruguay international his full support since the complaint was made back in October.

And he did not waver from that stance when asked about the case at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match at Aston Villa.

‘‘We are standing right beside him and helping him as much as we possibly can,’’ said the Scot, who would not comment on reports he planned to appear in person at Suarez’s hearing.

‘‘We have said many times before we cannot say anything which will be prejudicial.

After it’s finished there is a chance to have a conversation.

As I said last week the FA should have given you (the media) the information when everything was happening, not us.’’ Evra made his allegations about Suarez immediately after the match at Anfield on October 15, telling French TV the South American had used a racist insult to him ‘‘at least 10 times’’.

If Suarez, who has always denied the allegations, is found guilty he could be banned or fined, or both.

Evra said: ‘‘There are cameras.

You can see him (Suarez) say a certain word to me at least 10 times.’’ Both players spoke to FA officials during the investigation and there have been suggestions Suarez was unaware language that is acceptable in Uruguay is viewed as racist in Europe.

Liverpool & Arsenal Interest In Asian Genius Denied

Keisuke Honda's agent has denied claims that Liverpool or Arsenal are pursuing the player.

CSKA Moscow's attacking midfielder was heavily linked with a move to England in the summer transfer window, with both Kenny Dalglish and Arsene Wenger reported to be admirers of the 25-year-old.

However, agent Kees Ploegsma has moved quickly to deny the speculation, insisting there has been no contact over a possible move away from Russia.

"There is no interest in Keisuke to report. I have nothing else to add, there is no interest," he told the International Business Times when questioned on Liverpool and Arsenal.

Interest from the Gunners stems back to the FIFA World Cup in 2010, when Wenger described the Japanese playmaker as a 'genius' on national TV.

Following Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri's exits from the Emirates Stadium, Honda once again emerged on the Arsenal radar as the Frenchman looked to rebuild his midfield.

However, the north London outfit instead added Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun on loan, and whilst Park Chu-Young is yet to impress for Arsenal, a move no longer seems likely.

As for Liverpool, they are known to be in the market for players from Asia after chief sponsor Standard Chartered suggested the club would be able to expand their marketing capabilities with a player from the continent.

Chinese youth players have since spent time at Anfield on trial, although a senior international would help Liverpool take major steps into an 'untapped market', as suggested by director of football Damien Comolli.

The IBT goes on to site a recent report in The Sunday Mirror that the player has again emerged on the Liverpool radar, although initial interest stems back to Rafael Benitez's reign on Merseyside, and an offer doesn't appear to be close if the agent's comments are anything to go by.

Madrid Midfielder On Liverpool Loan Radar

Liverpool are being linked with a January loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra.

The 26-year-old is one of a handful of players in the position to be linked with the Reds, as Kenny Dalglish considers his options following a season-ending injury picked up by Brazilian Lucas Leiva.

Seydou Keita, Yann M'Vila and Sandro have also been placed on the radar, but reports in The Independent claim Liverpool are plotting a loan move on the French international.

Diarra has Barclays Premier League experience from his time at Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth, whilst Tottenham Hotspur were also linked with a move for the player in the summer.

Liverpool was also reported to have an interest at the time, and are once again considering the former Le Havre starlet with the transfer window just 17 days away.

Jay Spearing is expected to fill the gap left by Lucas in the heart of the Liverpool side, whilst skipper Steven Gerrard is yet to recover fully from an ankle injury at Anfield.

A short-term deal is expected to appeal most to Liverpool as their former Gremio starlet recovers from the anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up in the Carling Cup, although it's unclear if Jose Mourinho will be willing to let the out-of-favour central midfielder leave in a loan capacity.

Dalglish Confirms Andy Carroll Will Figure Over Festive Period

Kenny Dalglish has backed the strength of his Liverpool squad as the Premier League nears the busy festive season.

The Reds are one of the few clubs with squads big enough to handle the intense fixture list and the 60-year-old has backed his fringe players, including Andy Carroll, to make an impact.

When asked about Carroll's chances of playing over Christmas, Dalglish claimed: “Everybody’s got to be prepared and ready to play. They will all expect to play some part in some of the games, and Andy Carroll is no different.

"The performances in the Carling Cup where we’ve made a lot of changes for all the games, it’s proved to the players and the people who’ve been watching the players who haven’t played as much as they’d like that they’re very capable of stepping in.

Dalglish also dismissed rumours that he would be looking to sign players in January with several strikers being linked to the low-scoring Reds who have netted fewer times than the likes of Norwich, Blackburn and bottom club Bolton so far this season.

"There will always be speculation but it’s not a Panini sticker book," Dalglish continued. "We’re happy with what we have got.

"They’ve done as much as they possibly could with the opportunities they have had. We have said many times we are happy with what they have done on and off the pitch and that doesn’t change.”

Skrtel Enjoying Reds Role

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has hailed his partnership with Daniel Agger, stating the Dane is easy to play alongside.

The Reds have conceded three goals in six games since the Slovakian stopper was paired with Agger during Jamie Carragher's absence.

Uruguayan Sebastian Coates is also vying to start for Liverpool and Skrtel believes competition for places is healthy.

The 26-year-old is also enjoying his football under manager Kenny Dalglish and is happy continuing to fight for his place in the team.

"Daniel is a top quality player and is easy to play alongside," he told Liverpoolfc.tv. "I think we are doing well together.

"We have a very good understanding on the pitch which is important and we are working hard and enjoying our job."

Skrtel added: "I'm really enjoying my football under the manager. The atmosphere around the club is very good and he has played me in almost every single game which gives me a lot of confidence.

"I'm happy I am playing and I am working as hard as I can to stay in the team.

"Our squad is now very strong. That is very important for the team because we have a lot of games in front of us, especially January when we have cup matches as well, so we need everybody fresh."

Gerrard Set To Return To Training On Monday

Steven Gerrard is scheduled to return to full training with Liverpool on Monday after recovering from an ankle infection.

The club captain has spent the past week continuing his rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates, with club doctors believing the warmer climes would enable him to return to fitness sooner. Although no timescale has been put on his return to competitive action, the Telegraph reports it is hoped Gerrard will be available for the FA Cup third round tie against Oldham at the start of January.

Gerrard has seen his campaign ravaged by injury, with the ankle infection coming just a month after he had recovered from a groin injury that prevented him from playing at the start of the season.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will be particularly keen to have the midfielder back among his squad, especially over the hectic festive period. Dalglish admitted on Thursday that he will use all his options over the next few weeks - with under-fire striker Andy Carroll given the chance to press his claim for further first team football.

"Everybody will get an opportunity. I wouldn't know who has played how many games in a row and we won't judge by that," Dalglish said. "Every one of them is ready to step in and play. There is no individual we are not comfortable with putting in.

"Everybody will be hoping they take part but not because someone is injured but because it would be right for them to take part in a game. In that I think they're well set up for it. The performances in the Carling Cup, where we've made a lot of changes for all the games, proved to the players and the people who've been watching the players who haven't played as much as they'd like that they're very capable of stepping in. That's all we can ask for.

"Everybody's got to be prepared and ready to play. They will all expect to play some part in some of the games. A lot of the games are in proximity to one another.

"Everyone keeps throwing up exams for people but I think they've stood the test of time. They've done brilliantly. They've got to the semi-final of the Carling Cup, what else can you ask for?"

Juan Agudelo Enjoys Experience Training With Liverpool

USA international striker Juan Agudelo was left in awe after his trial experience with Liverpool.

The 19-year-old New York Red Bulls striker already has 15-caps to his name for Jürgen Klinsmann's national team, but got his first taste of European football during brief spells with Stuttgart and the Reds in recent weeks.

It's an experience which has left a lasting mark on the teenager, who cited Luis Suarez as a player who stood out on the Anfield training ground during the trial.

Veteran Liverpool defenders Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger also made their mark on the talented forward, who admitted that were difficult to get past even on the training ground.

"Suarez really stood out, and the two center backs, Skrtel and Agger, were unbelievable with their speed and strength," he said on the Liverpool experience.

"It was hard to get around them."

The Red Bulls were delighted that one of their rising starlets got the chance to stay fit during the MLS off-season with a stint in Europe, whilst US coach Klinsmann was also eager for Agudelo to gain some invaluable experience.

"We're very pleased that Juan is staying fit and gaining tremendous experience training at the highest level at Stuttgart of the German Bundesliga and now Liverpool of the English Premiership," said NYRB sporting director Erik Solér before the trip.

"For such a young player, these stints are invaluable and we are eager to continue to track his development heading into the upcoming MLS season."

Shevey Handed Championship Honour

Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been named Football League Player of the Month for November after his loan spell at Blackpool.

The 19-year-old, who has now been recalled to Anfield, scored four goals in five matches for Ian Holloway's Championship side during the month.

Now Shelvey, who was named on the bench for last week's 1-0 victory over QPR, is hoping that he can continue with his fine form and force his way back into the starting eleven for the Merseysiders.

He told the Liverpool Daily Post: "I think that going out on loan has helped me get my confidence back up and I think I am showing that in training back here.

"I have got to try to force my way into the Liverpool team and stay there. I feel this is a good chance for me to kick on.

"Being at Blackpool has helped get me back into Liverpool's plans."

Speaking following his recall, primarily to cover for the injured midfielder Lucas Leiva, Blackpool boss Holloway added: "Jonjo was fantastic [for us].

"I think he has all sorts of talent and will never lose that. Hopefully he will get the chance to use that and shine because he really suited us.

"The boy is good enough to play anywhere and in our system floating in off the right he was dynamic. He has gone a long way to giving us some confidence and making us realize we can win some games.

"I hope his career goes from strength to strength."

West Ham Join Liverpool In Race To Sign Crystal Palace Striker

West Ham are the latest club to be linked with a move for Crystal Palace's in-demand forward Wilfried Zaha, who has also been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks.

The teenage forward caught the attention last season when he burst into the Palace first team and this season has once again proved his quality with a string of impressive performances.

Zaha has scored five goals so far this season, while his ability running with the ball has also created a number of opportunities for his fellow forwards.

The 19-year-old has been one of the stand-out performers in Palace's superb run in the League Cup, a competition in which he has scored three times and was instrumental in helping the club overcome Manchester United in the last round.

West Ham are the latest club to declare their interest in the versatile forward as manager Sam Allardyce attempts to get his promotion push back on track after two consecutive losses.

The Sun believes that the east London club are prepared to make an offer of £5million in the January transfer window but are aware that there may be offers from Premier League clubs.

West Ham currently have a number of injuries to attacking players with the likes of Sam Baldock, Matt Taylor and Henri Lansbury all sidelines and Allardyce knows that he needs reinforcements.

Zaha has the ability to play across the front line or in wide positions and is viewed as the man to help fire West Ham to automatic promotion.

Liverpool Set To Raid Premiership Rivals For Brazilian International

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is preparing to step up his pursuit of a new midfielder to replace the injured Lucas who is out for the rest of the season and has set his sights on Tottenham's Sandro, according to reports in The Metro.

Sandro signed for Tottenham from Internacional in 2010 for £8million, however the Brazilian international has failed to nail down a regular first-team place and since the arrival of Scott Parker has found himself even further down the pecking order at White Hart Lane.

The 22-year-old had some impressive performances for Tottenham during their debut campaign in the Champions League last season and over the course of the previous couple of months Sandro has been linked with moves to Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus.

Premier League rivals Liverpool are now also keen to bring Sandro to Anfield once the January transfer window opens for business as Kop boss Dalglish feels he would a like-for-like replacement for Lucas.

It is believed Liverpool are planning to table a £12m offer for the Tottenham midfielder in the New Year.

Dalglish: We'll Rise To Festive Challenge

Kenny Dalglish insists Liverpool are ready to tackle the busy schedule awaiting them over the Christmas and New Year period.

Following Sunday's clash at Aston Villa, the Reds will take on Wigan on Wednesday night before playing host to Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day.

Newcastle United then travel to Anfield on December 30, before Liverpool's first test in 2012 is against Manchester City on January 3, with the FA Cup third round tie against Oldham scheduled to take place just three days later.

But while Dalglish acknowledges the program is a demanding one, he maintains his side will stick to their tried and tested mantra of taking each game as it comes.

"Obviously you take into account the fixtures you've got coming up and how many days you've got in between," he said. "There is a great deal of thought that goes into the process.

"After the first game, you take into account how your players are before you move into the second game - but you do that before every match.

"The games do come thick and fast now and we've just got to deal with it, but you do take into consideration the workload. Everything is monitored anyway, so you've got a good idea of how the players are."

Dalglish added: "We'll get the first game done, and then we'll worry about the one after it. We know what fixtures we've got coming up, but there is not a great of thought that goes into the one beyond the Aston Villa game.

"The greatest influence on the team against Aston Villa will be who we're playing against - not the game that's coming after that at Wigan. First thing's first."

The Reds head into Sunday's contest at Villa Park hoping to build on an away record that has seen them take 12 points from a possible 21 so far.

Dalglish acknowledges that the Villans will pose a real threat to his team's chances of closing the gap on the top four and is hopeful the encounter will see Liverpool hit the goal trail.

He said: "We're not going to sit and identify their dangers or weaknesses because we're not going to sting ourselves.

"Any information we've got we'll keep to ourselves. That's the way we've operated and that's the way we'll continue to go.

"They (Villa) got a fantastic result at Bolton at the weekend. It's been difficult for Alex (McLeish) moving from Birmingham to Villa, obviously. But he seems to have got them going a little bit, just at a bad time for us. We aren't doing bad either, so we'll be respectful and look forward to a difficult game.

"Our away form has been really impressive. We got beaten the last time away from home (Fulham) but the performance was good enough to have won it. We'll just keep going like we have done before.

"I think the only stat that isn't in our favour is probably in the goals for column. We've got fewer points than the performances deserve. We've got that in our own hands and we'll just continue to do what we've done and sooner or later we'll turn our chances into goals."

He added: "We've not come up against a goalkeeper who hasn't been outstanding against us. I think 16 times against the woodwork makes a contribution as well. At the same time the responsibility is on us to create chances and then finish them off.

"We'll probably win a game scoring every chance that we make, so we'll look forward to that."

Kenny On January Transfers

Kenny Dalglish today confirmed Liverpool 'have the option' to add to their squad in January - but insisted they don't necessarily need to bolster the ranks.

With the transfer window set to re-open in 16 days' time, journalists at Melwood were eager to quiz the boss on any potential plans to bring in new faces to the Reds squad.

"We don't speculate on anybody - either our own players or somebody else's players," Dalglish told his pre-Aston Villa press conference.

"It doesn't matter what we say, there is going to be speculation in the newspapers - but we won't be here to answer every question that's in newspapers.

"We'll do our business the way we've been brought up to do our business, and that's privately behind closed doors.

"We have the option to add if we want to, but we also have another option that we don't have to."

Gerrard Fitness Update

Kenny Dalglish today revealed that Steven Gerrard has stepped up his rehabilitation - but refused to give a timescale on when the skipper will return to action.

The midfielder has made great strides in his recovery from an ankle infection and was back in light training at the end of last week.

However, the boss remains cautious over when the No.8 will be available for selection.

Dalglish told reporters at Melwood: "We are looking alright I think. We only trained on Tuesday, but there's nothing there that will cause us a problem for Sunday."

He continued: "Steven is progressing and training really well. Everybody is delighted with his progress, so that is positive as well.

"We'll wait and see (if he's available). We won't set any targets for Sunday that we won't reach. When he's ready he'll be ready. It's fantastic for him that he's progressing as well as he is and great for us as well."

Gerrard And Carragher Are Vital To Liverpool FC, says McAllister

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are as important to Liverpool FC now as they were when they started out on their sparkling Anfield careers more than a decade ago, according to Gary McAllister.

Injury has restricted Gerrard to just two starts this season, while Carragher has been forced to settle for a place on the subs bench since a calf strain saw him miss two rare games through injury.

But Gary McAllister, who spent two years at Liverpool FC while the sparkling potential of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher was starting to emerge, does not accept that the influence of the two Scouse hearts of Kenny Dalglish’s squad is starting to wane.

“Now, both, first and foremost, they are big lovers of the club,” declared McAllister.

“I mean in the way they train, the way they represent that club, the way they speak about it. I think it tells you everything, they love it. They love the club, they love the history, the tradition, they love the fans. So Liverpool without these two guys… I just can’t picture it.

“You know when I was there, they were younger players but outstanding, both lovers of the game.

“That’s the thing, they trained as if it was their last training session. They played a game as if it were going to be their last game.

“So I think that was always the thing that always shone through from these guys, they love football. They’re football fans.”

Gerrard and Carragher were both integral to the trophy winning treble landed by Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool FC side in 2001, with McAllister an equally influential catalyst.

Eyebrows were raised when the Scottish international was signed by Houllier at the age of 35, but McAllister’s majestic performances over two seasons saw him safely installed as an Anfield idol.

The Scot made 87 appearances over two seasons, and scored nine goals, including some hugely significant strikes.

And it was McAllister’s free-kick which was headed into his own net by Alaves’ Delfi Geli to land the UEFA Cup and complete that historic Cup treble of 2001.

But McAllister believes that if he had joined Liverpool earlier in his career, when he was at his peak, the Reds might even have captured the ultimate domestic crown.

Speaking while filming for his role in online football game IAMPLAYR, McAllister added: “Well it was the perfect swansong, but yeah, it would have been nice if I had got there in my prime. Because, you know, I went to Leeds in 1990.

“Who knows? If I had gone to Liverpool in 1990 when I was in my prime, Liverpool might not have had to wait so long to win a Championship because I was fortunate enough to win one at Leeds.

“But it’s a fantastic club. It would have been nice to play at Liverpool when I was in my prime but to get there when I was 35 and have two unbelievable seasons it was like a dream.”

As a result of that spell at Anfield McAllister has a particular affinity with Liverpool’s famous old stadium – the evening he buried the decisive UEFA Cup semi-final winning penalty against Barcelona, past a young Pepe Reina, is recalled as one of Anfield’s great European nights.

But he reluctantly accepts that the time is looming when the Reds may have to move on.

“Well the thing is Anfield is such an iconic stadium,” he explained. “I was very fortunate to play in some fantastic European nights.

“You know, Anfield under the lights is unique it’s a fantastic stadium but as much as I am a traditionalist clubs have got to move on.

“I think they’re looking to expand Anfield and that would be the best result for me rather than moving away from Anfield, but if they have to move away it’s just a sign of the times.

“Look at Highbury. That was a wonderful stadium but I think their move to Emirates has worked for them.

“The money they can earn by moving to a bigger and better facility is there for everybody to see.”

McAllister left Liverpool in 2002 to forge a coaching career, and last September left a post with Middlesbrough to become Gerard Houllier’s assistant manager at Aston Villa.

Since leaving Villa Park in the wake of Houllier’s departure he has been out of the game, but is itching to get back.

“It’s what I know, it’s what I’ve done since I left school at 16,” he explained.

“I enjoyed my brief time at Aston Villa. You know if the right opportunity does come along I would jump at it.

“You know that’s just a fact, it’s what I have been brought up to do, it’s what I know it’s what I know best.

“I’ve played over seven hundred games so I would like to put something back in.”

Anfield Chance For Young Town Trio

Three Swindon Town Centre of Excellence players are spending this week training at Premier League side Liverpool.

The three players are Jordan Young (U13), Ryan Wood (U14) and Lee Marshall (U15) have been selected to spend a week's training at the Liverpool Academy.

The trip has been organized as part of their continued development with the club already having close links with the Anfield side.

Centre of Excellence manager, Jeremy Newton, commented: "Dave Moss, Head of Recruitment at the Liverpool Academy, is a former Swindon Town player and someone I know well.

"The experience of going up to Liverpool and training with them will be a good opportunity for the young boys and hopefully they will learn a lot from their time there.

"In turn, we are looking for the lads to come back to Swindon and put into practice what they learn from being in such a high-level environment.

Newton added: "It's a little reward for all the efforts the boys have put in during the first half of this season."

Marsh Expects Liverpool U18s To Respond To FA Youth Cup Defeat

Mike Marsh says he has no worries about his side’s ability to bounce back from their disappointing FA Youth Cup exit.

The Reds Under-18s were much-fancied for this season’s competition, but fell at the first hurdle as they were beaten 3-1 by Swansea City last week.

Marsh admits he was left frustrated by his side’s early exit, but says there is plenty to look forward to from the Reds’ next generation.

“It was very frustrating and disappointing,” he said. “We always have high hopes and we want to do well in any competition, but we can’t dwell on this.+

“The lads have reacted well in training, as I knew they would.

“Setbacks happen in football. At a club like Liverpool, you are always under scrutiny, you just need to pick yourself up and dust yourself off.”

Marsh hopes his side can do just that when they welcome West Bromwich Albion to Kirkby on Saturday morning, and says there is plenty of reason for positivity among his young talents.

“When you analyze it, we have lost four games out of sixteen,” he added. “We are doing really well, playing some nice stuff, and I think we are only going to improve in the New Year too.

“We have a very young side, with a lot of first year scholars in our line-up. It’s good to think that this time next year we will have a superb side, but they are doing great this year too.”

He added: “Generally, our performances have been good. Results-wise, they have been better away from home than at home for some reason, but in terms of performance there hasn’t been a lot of difference either way.

“We have hopefully learned one or two lessons from the Swansea game, and everything bodes well for the future.”

FA Begins Suarez Hearing

The Football Association has begun the disciplinary hearing into claims that Liverpool striker Luis Suarez racially abused Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

Suarez was accused of racially abusing Evra during Liverpool's 1-1 draw with United at Anfield in October.

The Uruguayan has categorically denied using any racist language towards Evra and Liverpool have backed the player over the incident

Suarez has been charged with abusing Evra, and referring to his "ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race" by the FA.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish has been critical of the FA for the amount of time it has taken in trying to resolve the issue.

The hearing is expected to last for two days with the outcome expected by the end of the week. Both players are due to give evidence to the hearing.

Liverpool Linked With Shock Move For In-Form Striker

Liverpool are being touted to make a shock January move for in-form Wolves striker Steven Fletcher.

The Scottish striker, who has bagged six goals in ten appearances this season has reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, who is growing concerned at his side's lack of goals this term.

Liverpool have only found the net 17 times this season, some way off the Premier League front runners.

While Liverpool have one of the highest chances created rates in the league, the main concern will be the low conversion rate, something which has led to many questioning the pricey acquisition of Andy Carroll nearly a year ago.

The club's owners appear reluctant to break the bank when the transfer window re-opens and are instead hoping the acumen of Director of Football Damien Comolli will allow the club to strengthen without spending too much.

The 24-year-old Fletcher, who has eight caps for Scotland, would be expected to relish a move to Anfield, although his current boss Mick McCarthy would be reluctant to let his striker leave.

Should Liverpool make a concrete offer, they would have to bid in the region of £5 million for his services.

Fernando Torres To Liverpool Is The Thing People Are Talking About

Like so much surrounding Fernando Torres in the past eighteen months, the sudden Twitter explosion about his possible return to Liverpool doesn’t make much sense. A seemingly baseless rumor about his current club’s willingness to sell for £30million less than he was purchased for eleven months ago, and all of a sudden there’s legitimate-seeming people having legitimate-seeming conversations about the likelihood that Liverpool would make a move for him. Proving that, once and for all, we need to stop drinking so much.

It was sort of a strange thing that happened once the Daily Mail reported that Chelsea would be willing to sell Torres in the January window, in that everyone apparently forgot that other clubs exist. It wasn’t just that Chelsea might be thinking about considering the idea of an opium dream that Neil Ashton had, it was that Fernando Torres was leaving London and he had to be coming back to Liverpool because he never really stopped loving them and how good would he be with Luis Suarez and does anyone know how to get burn marks off of ClimaCool?

Which isn’t meant to entirely trivialize the sentiment that comes along with the idea of Torres back in a Liverpool shirt, because even the most butthurt of us has to acknowledge that the love affair between player and club was something special. Hindsight can trick us into believing that it was never that great, but myriad YouTube compilations, public proclamations of undying love, and the four jerseys you have stuffed in a bin in the closet tell us otherwise.

We can probably all acknowledge that there’s a fair bit of romanticism involved here, and that as pejorative and condescending as we’d all like to be, there’s a flicker in all of us when the topic comes up that’s informed by past glories and endless what if’s. If only he’d stayed, his partnership with Suarez would be unbeatable. He’d never be struggling the way he is now, lifted by the unconditional love of supporters and a natural mentor in Kenny Dalglish. And obviously Steven Gerrard’s groin dong would be in pristine condition, buoyed by their magical link-up on a regular basis. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

There’s really no reason for any of this to have traction other than the romance and the memories, though, and I’m not so sure that’s good enough justification to go after anyone. The desire for a once-loved player to return makes sense emotionally, but in the real world, it doesn’t do anything for the club’s current troubles. Sentiment doesn’t convert chances, even as much as we’d like to believe it.

One of the other main talking points to emerge since Neil Ashton and most of the Twitterverse experimented with mescaline is the idea that, at £20million, there’s some sort of juking the stats to be done. All of a sudden bust of the century Andy Carroll only cost £5million, and we can retroactively explain why Liverpool spent so much money on the former Newcastle striker. Which is not really the most flattering argument for Liverpool or Carroll, who’s not yet had the chance to rid himself of the fact that people with lots of money decided to spend some of it on him.

What a terrifically awful idea—purchase a player you sold who’s scored fewer goals than the player you bought with the money earned from the player you sold to try to prove a point that the player you bought wasn’t worth that much. Uh-huh.

So to seriously argue that coming back to Liverpool is the best thing for the club or for Fernando Torres, or just because I could lift the ban on my wife wearing that jersey she really likes, is misguided at best. It’s emotionally appealing but ultimately unfulfilling, as the joy we experienced during his first stint at the club—and even the glee we felt as Daniel Agger delivered a Danish special to his jaw—can’t be taken back or duplicated. Both are painful in retrospect, but I doubt we’d take either of those things back.

In the end, Chelsea will probably end up selling Fernando Torres, whether it’s this coming January, next summer, or five years from now. He could find his way back to the starting eleven for them and hit the goalscoring trail, or continue to languish in obscurity and find himself subject to ongoing rumors about discontent and failed potential. And if by some otherwordly influence they end up selling to Liverpool, there’ll be a healthy amount of dissonance we’ll have to deal with.

David Villa To Be Offered To Liverpool, Chelsea & Aston Villa

Barcelona has reportedly placed David Villa on the transfer list, sparking a scramble for his signature between Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

The Spanish international, 30, has dropped down the pecking order at the Nou Camp this season, and more importantly, has allegedly fallen out with star player Lionel Messi.

Now, pro-Real Madrid publication Marca, claim the Catalan giants are ready to cash in on the unsettled forward, whom they paid £34million for back in 2010.

The Reds have long been linked with a move for Villa, and could view the forward as the ideal partner for Luis Suarez, but may struggle to match Chelsea in a bidding war should they decide to enter the running.

Alex McLeish’s Aston Villa are seen as rank outsiders for the Spaniard’s signature, but supposedly want their name to be kept in the mix in the event the Champions League winners decide to officially offer out the striker’s services.

However, Barca coach Pep Guardiola has refuted the claims, saying: 'Marca lie. I have not spoken to David after the last match in Madrid, but all of the players are in my plans.

'I am the one who comes up with 25 different line-ups during the season because I feel that is the best thing to do.

'Most of the players that are here now will continue for the rest of this season and the next.'

Liverpool's Lucas Hopes Dashed

Liverpool's hopes of signing Brazilian youngster Lucas have been dashed after he revealed he is scared of leaving his country for Europe.

The midfielder is under contract with Sao Paulo until 2015 and is valued at around £30m, with Liverpool among a string of admirers from across Europe.

Manchester United, AC Milan and Barcelona have all tracked his progress but Lucas believes he is better off staying put for now.

"I'm only 19, I'm still young and I'm scared of not being able to adapt to life abroad. I hope that this'll change some day," said Lucas, who has 10 caps for Brazil.

He added: "I'm working up a great relationship with the Sao Paulo fans. The worst aspect of being a footballer is not being able to see my childhood friends, who I miss very much."

Comolli Wants To Hurl Bundesliga Striker Into The Mix

Borussia Dortmund and Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is back in the frame again with Liverpool his most likely destination. Liverpool have been linked with many strikers with the transfer period looming on the horizon as Dalglish looks to conquer his attacking headaches.

Liverpool haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal this campaign notching up 18 goals in 15 Premier League games.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish will look to lure the Dortmund striker to Anfield as he looks to bolster his attacking options that could help lift the load of Suarez’s shoulders. Liverpool have had to solely rely heavily on the Uruguayan for both goals and flair this season, and Lewandowski could be the answer to fix Liverpool’s dilemma.

Lewandowski is not your typical out and out scorer but has still managed to notch up 10 league goals in 16 matches this season. He was instrumental in helping Dortmund lift the Bundesliga title last season and could see a move to Merseyside as a fresh challenge. The 6ft Polish striker would be the perfect player to complement Luis Suarez as he holds the ball well and likes to feed people through.

Liverpool had thought they found the perfect combination in Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez but the former has failed to live up to expectations. The England international has been below par since his switch to Anfield and heavy criticism on Carroll’s capabilities has left Dalglish convinced he needs more cover up front.

The Polish youngster moved to Dortmund on a four year contract in 2010 for a fee of around €4.9 million and will take some doing to lure the youngster to leave Dortmund having just signed with the club a year ago. However Liverpool’s new owners have shown enough steel that they are willing to spend big in a bid to put Liverpool back on the map, having already spent over £100 million since their takeover.

Shelvey Wants To Take Chance

Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey feels sorry for his team-mates who have suffered injury or suspension, but he is ready to step up as a replacement.

The £1.7million signing from Charlton in May 2010 was at the beginning of December recalled from a loan at Blackpool by boss Kenny Dalglish after Lucas Leiva's season was ended by knee surgery.

Jay Spearing has since also been made unavailable after being sent off at Fulham and he served the first of a three-match suspension in last Saturday's win over QPR.

Shelvey, who scored six goals in 10 appearances during his two months at Blackpool, was a late substitute in the victory and, ahead of Sunday's trip to Aston Villa, he is hoping for more opportunities.

"Obviously it was really unfortunate for Lucas to get such a bad injury and then for Jay to get a ban as well," said the 19-year-old in the Liverpool Echo.

"With a few players missing, there's definitely an opening there, but it's down to the gaffer whether he wants to pick me.

"When my time comes, I'll be waiting and ready to take my chance."

Shelvey thinks his time at Blackpool helped his development and manager Ian Holloway was very impressed by the teenager.

The England Under 21 international now hopes to continue his form with Liverpool and catch the eye of Dalglish.

"I feel that the time I spent away from the club really helped me come on as a player," said Shelvey. "But it also made me realize just how much I want to be playing in Liverpool's first team.

"There's a big difference between Championship football and Premier League football.

"It's so good to be back in and around the squad. I only got on for a few minutes on Saturday, but it was really special to be back out there on the pitch in front of the fans. It's always a great honour to play for Liverpool.

"Kenny called me back and hopefully now I can show the gaffer what I can do. I've got to deliver day in, day out in training and try to force my way into his plans."

Academy Starlet Signs Contract With LFC

Liverpool youth player Raheem Sterling has signed his first professional contract with the club.

Sterling turned 17 on the 8th December, and Liverpool wasted no time in tying down the exciting prospect to a pro-contract.

"The talented winger joined from Queens Park Rangers in February 2010 with a reputation for pace and flair. He made an immediate impact when he scored on his U18s debut in a mini-derby triumph against Everton.

"Since then he has continued to make great strides and at the age of 15, was rewarded with a substitute appearance in the first-team's pre-season defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

One of the highlights of his fledgling career came during a 9-0 FA Youth Cup thrashing of Southend in early 2010, with Sterling scoring five of the goals.

He has also represented England at youth level and helped his country reach the U17 World Cup quarter-finals in the summer of 2011".

Ian Rush is big fan of Sterling, and recently tipped him to make a breakthrough: There are a few young kids coming up. There is one young lad, Raheem Sterling. He is only 17. He is similar to Michael Owen at that age..."