Liverpool Backed By Standard Chartered Despite Luis Suárez Row

Liverpool has received the full support of their multi-million pound shirt sponsor, Standard Chartered, in the aftermath of the recent race-row controversies which engulfed the club.

Anti-racism organisations, especially Football Against Racism in Europe’s executive director, Piara Power, claimed Liverpool’s reputation and ‘brand’ has been severely damaged in the light of the Luis Suárez affair.

However, the banking group which last year secured the largest commercial deal in Anfield history - an estimated £80million - has reiterated its ongoing commitment to the club.

Standard Chartered officials are understood to have maintained daily contact with the Anfield hierarchy following recent events, and held talks with the club after the Oldham defender Tom Adeyemi was abused by a supporter last Friday.

The bank says it is happy with how the Anfield board has responded and there is no suggestion their relationship has been compromised.

In a statement to Telegraph Sport, Standard Chartered said: “Liverpool FC has recently reiterated its resolute stance against racism.

“Standard Chartered is a multicultural, multinational organization and we fully support and share the club’s efforts to combat racism and any sort of discrimination. We remain very happy with our sponsorship of the club.”

Such remarks come at an especially sensitive time as Liverpool pursues more global commercial partners.

The club’s American owners are actively searching for a stadium sponsor to build their new £300million arena on Stanley Park, and any suggestion lucrative backers will be dissuaded in the light of recent events would cause untold damage.

Liverpool requires a minimum of £150million in outside investment before they can press ahead with their relocation from their current Anfield site, so their strong reiteration of their anti-racism stance in recent days has been a necessity.

Both managing director, Ian Ayre, and Kenny Dalglish, whose charismatic presence has been used to attract investors into the club in the past, both delivered a passionate defence of the club over the last 48 hours.

The supportive stance of Standard Chartered is a welcome reassurance.

The bank is in its second year of an estimated £20million-a-year shirt deal with the Merseyside club, which runs until 2014.

It will be noted that the bank’s most lucrative market is in Africa, Asia and across the Middle East, where sensitivities about any racial controversy could cause most embarrassment for Liverpool and their chief sponsor if there was a strong reaction.

The Standard Chartered position would suggest, as Liverpool have argued throughout, that beyond the jurisdiction of the English FA the case against Suárez is not perceived to be as cut and dried as many in this country have presumed. The club is confident global investors will not take as dim a view of the club’s reaction as has been claimed.

Liverpool’s swift response to the latest race row involving Adeyemi has received praise from his club, Oldham Athletic.

“The chairman and directors of Oldham Athletic Football Club would like to thank Liverpool Football Club and officers of the Merseyside Police for their concerns and painstaking efforts in investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident involving Tom Adeyemi,” read a statement. “The club and player have been notified of every detail during the progress of the investigation.

“The professional standards applied throughout have been praiseworthy.

“The club would also like to thank the numerous fans from Liverpool and Oldham, and also those from around the country who have sent letters of support to Tom.

“This type of incident is contained within a minority and should not deflect from a superb match that was enjoyed by both sets of club officials and fans.”

Arrest Made In Racism Row

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after Oldham footballer Tom Adeyemi was allegedly abused by fans during an FA Cup game against Liverpool.

The man, from Aintree, is being questioned by officers from Merseyside Police who are investigating the incident which took place in the second half of the match at Anfield on Friday night.

Late in the FA Cup third-round fixture Adeyemi, a 20-year-old on loan at Oldham from Norwich, appeared to take offence at something shouted from the Kop.

A police spokesman said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that tonight a 20-year-old man from the Aintree area of Merseyside has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence following an incident at Anfield on Friday evening.

"The man is currently in custody being interviewed by detectives."

Liverpool, who won the match 5-1, said they are also investigating the incident.

The club issued a statement earlier on Saturday evening saying it was continuing to work closely with the police to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

Liverpool Are Not Soft On Racism - Barnes

John Barnes spoke out in defence of Liverpool Football Club on Saturday, telling ESPN that the Merseyside club are no more racist than any other in the country.

Liverpool have seen their reputation damaged by the drawn-out Luis Suarez saga, which has seen the Reds defend their player despite a guilty verdict of racial abuse delivered by the FA. Kenny Dalglish and his men have been extremely public in their defence of the Uruguayan, wearing t-shirts to show support, which has drawn widespread criticism.

Compounding the issue is an incident that took place during their FA Cup third round win against Oldham, when Tom Adeyemi was reduced to tears by an alleged moment of racist abuse from a section of the Anfield crowd. A police investigation has since been launched, and while Barnes believes there will prove to have been a racial element to the incident, he insists racism is not only Liverpool's problem.

"I have no doubt that somebody hurled racist abuse at him, and it really hasn't come at a good time for Liverpool. However, I'm not naive enough to think incidents like this don't happen at pitches across the country every Saturday," Barnes told ESPN.

"I for one never believed that racism ever went away. I wouldn't say it happens at Liverpool more than anywhere else. The fact that he heard it means there is an investigation and Liverpool will co-operate fully."

Liverpool confirmed in a statement on Saturday that they will aid the police probe, saying on their official website: "Liverpool Football Club continue to work closely with Merseyside Police to establish all the facts surrounding the incident that occurred during last night's game.

"We take this matter extremely seriously and have today provided the police with the evidence we currently have available to us. This includes CCTV coverage and still photography of what we believe to be the relevant part of the stadium, statements from matchday stewards in that area and full access to all the footage captured by the cameras filming the match for our in-house TV operation."

The general consensus, certainly in parts of the British media, appears to be that Liverpool have failed to react in the right manner by defending Suarez following his clash with Patrice Evra. However, Barnes does not believe his former club have done anything wrong.

"Unfortunately for Liverpool, the perception is that Liverpool are being soft on racism. That is far from the reality," Barnes said. "If you want to talk about the Luis Suarez incident, the perception is that because Liverpool didn't castigate him, they are condoning it. The reality is they firmly believe Suarez is innocent, so while they don't accept the punishment, they don't agree with the verdict.

"They think the verdict was flawed, and they are backing Luis Suarez 100 per cent. Suarez himself feels he's done nothing wrong, in terms of the word he said, he also says there are things he didn't say, the claim that he does not talk to black people he says he 100% did not say.

"Liverpool has to be seen to be backing him if they believe that is the case."

Howard Wilkinson Can Help Make The Peace Between Liverpool & Manchester United

A wise old head is needed to calm the growing tensions between Sir Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish and their teams in the wake of the Suarez/Evra race row.

Forget the Manchester derby for a moment and consider this: how do you extract the bile from the Manchester Ship Canal in the wake of Luis Suarez racially abusing Patrice Evra?

All this ancient and modern poison flowing back and forth between Anfield and Old Trafford is so damaging to the reputations of two distinguished FOOTBALL clubs, although primarily to Liverpool, that an intermediary is required, somebody trusted by Kenny Dalglish and Sir Alex Ferguson. Somebody of Howard Wilkinson’s stature.

Both Dalglish and Ferguson would answer his phone-call and might even heed his call. Managers respect Wilkinson, who understands the job’s many pressures from time spent at Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Sunderland and even with England as caretaker.

Wilkinson might be able to organize a rapprochement between Dalglish and Ferguson, bringing some calm to a heated situation between their clubs.

Somebody of substance within the game needs to talk to both managers, who risk their dugouts turning into trenches for the Feb 11 game at Old Trafford. Tension has always clung to these Manchester United-Liverpool matches, the dislike rooted in their cities’ past industrial competition as well as long-standing footballing feuding.

Supporters fling abuse at each other, revelling in their tribalism, taunting each other over tragedies that have befallen their great clubs. The onus is mainly on Liverpool, of course.

They are the ones whose image needs rehabilitating post-Suarez and again after club and police launched an investigation into claims that a fan racially abused Oldham Athletic’s Tom Adeyemi at Anfield on Friday. If true, the fan has to be banned for life from Anfield while the full weight of the law descends on the individual. As Oldham’s captain Dean Furman says it’s an “absolute disgrace”.

Liverpool need to spread the message of their commitment to social-inclusion programmes, which has brought them an award from Lord Herman Ouseley, chair of the Kick It Out campaign.

Clearly more needs to be done. As Liverpool tackle their internal issues, it would help the game generally if some bridges were built over the Manchester Ship Canal.

It needs stressing again that rivalry is healthy but hatred is unhealthy. The Suarez case has intensified the friction. Liverpool’s failure to apologize exacerbates the original offence.

Ditto Suarez (properly to Evra). The Uruguayan returns from his eight-match suspension against Spurs on Feb 6 and is sure to start the following match at Old Trafford.

A sub-plot threatens to eclipse the main football drama. The cameras will zoom in on the handshake moment with Evra, let alone every touch of the Uruguayan during the game, every time he comes into proximity with United’s left-back.

Good luck to the television sound man attempting to cut out the fans’ more acerbic chants.

Fixated by an astonishing Premier League season, hundreds of millions of people around the world will be tuning in, the 12.45 kick-off time a particular joy to followers of English football in the Far East.

Every effort must be made to ensure the spectacle is a celebration of football and fans’ fervour without falling into the abyss of enmity.

All police leave will have long been cancelled. All lines of communication between the boards will have been encouraged by the authorities, both footballing and civil.

But it is down to Ferguson and Dalglish to set a more civilized tone with their pre-match pronouncements. Wilkinson could help that. Blessed are the peacemakers.

McLeish - Reds Not Chasing Bent

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish says he has been told by Liverpool counterpart Kenny Dalglish the Reds are not interested in signing Darren Bent.

McLeish was speaking after watching his side reach the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory at Bristol Rovers.

England striker Bent, 27, who joined Villa from Sunderland a year ago, has been linked with a move away, with Liverpool reportedly among the favourites, and he played in Saturday night's win at the Memorial Stadium.

McLeish has insisted that the player will not be sold, but rumours have persisted.

However, the former Birmingham manager, who is also hopeful of completing a short-term loan deal for Los Angeles Galaxy striker Robbie Keane within the next 48 hours despite what he described as "red tape" holding up the move, says that no-one he has spoken to, including Dalglish, has expressed an interest in Bent.

Of the continued speculation, McLeish said: "It's not frustrating, it's just the transfer window.

"People like to speculate and use social networking sites and they are having a field day.

"If there is anybody out there that wants him they certainly haven't contacted me and Darren has said on the record he wants to stay at the club.

"Whenever I have asked anyone outside the club I've been told flatly 'No'.

"I have spoken to Kenny and he said there was nothing in it."

Eric Abidal Courted By Liverpool & Manchester City

Eric Abidal is a free transfer target for both Liverpool and Manchester City as he approaches the end of his Barcelona contract.

The France international's current deal is scheduled to expire at the end of the season and he is now entitled to speak to other clubs about a summer move.

Barcelona has offered him a two-year contract extension, but with a number of major European clubs interested, the defender has asked for time to think about his future, reports L'Equipe.

AC Milan has already confirmed they are ready to hand the 32-year-old a three-year deal, but there is also interest from England.

Liverpool and Manchester City have apparently made Abidal aware they are keen, although they have not yet made formal offers.

Both clubs signed players - Jose Enrique and Gael Clichy - who play in the Barca star's preferred position of left-back last summer, but the chance to bring in an experienced international who can cover across the back four is still an attractive prospect to them.

Abidal has previously indicated he would like to stay at Barcelona, as he is thankful for the way they stood by him after he was diagnosed with a liver tumour last season.

£30m Suarez Race

Liverpool’s bad-boy Luis Suarez is Europe’s £30million wanted man.

Top clubs on the continent are queuing up to offer the Uruguayan ace, currently serving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra, an escape route from his Premier League hell.

La Liga leaders Real Madrid, loaded French outfit Paris St-Germain and Serie A giants Inter Milan and Juventus would all be interested in taking Suarez, 25 later this month, away from Anfield in the summer.

And that means Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is bracing himself for a major battle to keep hold of his inspirational striker beyond this season.

Although publicly the Reds insist Suarez a £24m signing from Ajax this time last year, is not going anywhere, privately it is a very different story.

There are growing fears inside the club that the furore surrounding the player’s racist clash with Man United defender Evra back in October will drive him out of the English game.

Last week Liverpool opted not to appeal the lengthy ban meted out on Suarez by the FA – in a desperate effort to stem the huge criticism being levelled at both themselves and their hitman.

The club’s unwavering support of Suarez – also fined £40,000 over the Evra incident – and his refusal to say sorry directly to the French left-back, has caused uproar in the game.

The fact Liverpool allowed their players and manager to wear T-shirts backing Suarez, even though the case with Evra was still ongoing, angered observers.

Now, when he returns next month, against Spurs on February 6, it seems inevitable Suarez, with 12 goals in 33 Liverpool games, will be targeted with non-stop stick by rival supporters.

Five days later, Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to face United for what is sure to be an explosive clash on and off the pitch.

Yet, while Suarez expects to be on the receiving end from United fans, it will be the level of abuse he gets at other grounds for the rest of the season that will decide whether he feels he has a future in England.

Mark Lawrenson, a friend and ex-Liverpool colleague of Kop boss Dalglish, believes the Reds face a crucial few months trying to hang on to Suarez.

BBC pundit Lawro said: “If you are Liverpool what you don’t want to do is put Suarez in a position where he thinks he can’t possibly continue to play in England.

“From that point of view, they have to be very, very careful in terms of what, going forward, they do with Luis.

Lussey Derails Crewe

Jordan Lussey netted a late winner as Liverpool U18s won their first game of 2012 with a 1-0 success over Crewe Alexandra on Saturday morning.

Mike Marsh's side, who had striker Jordan Ibe making his debut, had to work hard for their victory in a match played out in a gale force wind.

Lussey found the net six minutes from time when he found space just outside the box and his shot took a wicked deflection on its way into the net.

It was only the young Reds second win on home turf in 2011-12 and this will give them confidence for the rest of the campaign.

Crewe was unfortunate not to take anything from the game but Reds stopper Tyrell Belford pulled off two superb saves.

Match Report: Liverpool 5 - 1 Oldham

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard put more than two months of frustration behind him to score on his first start since October as his side beat Oldham 5-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.

After three substitute appearances following recovery from an ankle infection the 31-year-old finally reclaimed his place in the team and expertly dispatched the penalty which put his side into a lead they did not surrender despite a valiant effort from their League One opponents.

Gerrard did the same thing back in October when, on his first start after six months out after a groin operation, he scored against Manchester United.

On that occasion he played only one more match before succumbing to the ankle problem which sidelined him until Boxing Day.

The England international will be hoping recent history does not repeat itself as Liverpool have an important few months ahead of them, starting with a two-legged Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City next week.

Almost exactly a year ago manager Kenny Dalglish marked the start of his second spell in charge at the club with a third-round exit at Manchester United 24 hours after replacing Roy Hodgson.

There was no recurrence against a side 52 places below them in the league - although for a fleeting moment the visitors threatened a shock with a brilliantly-taken goal from Robbie Simpson which would not have looked out of place had it been scored at Wembley itself.

A week ago the 26-year-old Simpson was not even registered to play for the Latics but he re-signed on loan from Huddersfield and his 30-yard strike will have done no harm in securing him a permanent move.

If the Latics had held on for longer than two minutes they may have stood a chance but a freakish deflected equalizer via Craig Bellamy and Gerrard's penalty put the Reds in control and Jonjo Shelvey's first goal for the club and late efforts from substitutes Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing wrapped things up.

With Gary Ablett's family watching from the stand there was a minute's applause for the former Liverpool defender who died on New Year's Day aged 46 after losing a 16-month battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Reds may be unbeaten at home this season but they have often struggled at Anfield and they were fortunate not to go behind after just 10 minutes.

Experienced striker Shefki Kuqi outmuscled Sebastian Coates and wrong-footed Jamie Carragher but wastefully shot into the side-netting with only Jose Reina to beat.

Right-back Tom Adeyemi had an equally good chance from Simpson's 14th-minute corner but planted his free header just over while Chris Taylor also fired wide.

Oldham deservedly took the lead in spectacular style in the 28th minute when, after receiving Dean Furman's pass, Simpson took one touch before unleashing a left-footed half-volley which flew past Reina.

The goal had the Oldham contingent in the directors' box - and the 6,132 visiting fans - on their feet but they were soon pegged back by a huge stroke of luck.

Shelvey cut in from the right and speculatively aimed for the far post only for the shot to take a huge deflection off Bellamy's chest and leave Alex Cisak helpless.

Gerrard put his side ahead just before the interval when, after Maxi Rodriguez was pushed by Adeyemi, he expertly converted only the second of six penalties the Reds have been awarded this season.

Bellamy, Dirk Kuyt and Martin Kelly all had chances early in the second half - the latter brilliantly denied by Cisak - before Shelvey smashed home from Bellamy's 68th-minute cross.

Late in the second half Adeyemi appeared to take offence to something shouted from the Kop and despite reassurance from his team-mates, Kuyt and Gerrard, the 20-year-old right-back seemed visibly upset.

There then appeared to be discussion between the fourth official and a police officer down by the tunnel.

In the 89th minute Carroll smashed in a low shot from outside the area barely two minutes after coming on before Downing, also coming off the bench, wrapped things up even later.

Kenny - Scoreline Flattered Us

Manager Kenny Dalglish admits the 5-1 scoreline in Liverpool's FA Cup third-round triumph over Oldham at Anfield flattered his side.

The League One visitors took a deserved lead through Robbie Simpson's brilliant strike in the 28th minute but a freakish deflected equalizer from Craig Bellamy soon after was followed by Steven Gerrard's penalty just before half-time.

Jonjo Shelvey and Stewart Downing both scored their first Liverpool goals either side of Andy Carroll's 89th-minute effort to clinch victory.

"The scoreline is a bit flattering really," said Dalglish, who made eight changes to give some of his fringe players a run-out.

"Oldham did their club and their manager proud.

"They created one or two threatening situations for themselves, especially in the first half, so getting back as quickly as we did with the equalizer helped us.

"But the scoreline does not reflect the distance between the two teams on that performance."

Dalglish gave Fabio Aurelio his first appearance of the season while the likes of Jon Flanagan, Martin Kelly, Sebastian Coates and Jamie Carragher were given valuable pitch time.

"It was important for some of the players who haven't played as much as the others to get a game and Fabio Aurelio got his first 60 minutes (of the season)," said the Scot.

"For us there were a lot of positives to come out of it: Stewart Downing scoring, Andy getting a goal, Jonjo scored and Steven got a penalty.

"They just need games. Every single one of them will be better for it.

"There was nothing wrong with their application but you can train as much as you want but you can't replicate what happens on a pitch."

Gerrard marked his first start after two months out with an ankle infection with a goal and was praised by his manager.

"It is fabulous what he has done and how hard he has worked to come back - playing a full game is fantastic is for him," he added.

Paul Dickov Slams Liverpool Penalty Award

Oldham Athletic manager Paul Dickov has hit out at referee Neil Swarbrick’s decision to award a penalty to Liverpool in his side’s 5-1 defeat to the Reds at Anfield.

With the game at 1-1 on the stroke of half-time, the referee awarded the hosts a penalty, which was converted by Steven Gerrard, after an apparent push by Tom Adeyemi on Maxi Rodriguez.

Dickov said: "The penalty’s a joke. I thought he [Maxi] fell over, Tom’s [Adeyemi] looking at the ball, there’s no chance he can see him. I’ve been told by the referee that he’s got two hands and pushed him in the back, which is never a case.

"I know by the reaction of my players, especially when decisions go against them, they are an honest bunch. If they come in at half-time and Tom would have held up his hand and say ‘sorry’ then the boys would have said ‘yes it was a penalty‘, but they were livid it was given, just before half-time as well."

Liverpool, who had levelled thanks to a quickfire Craig Bellamy goal in the first half after a stunning opener from Oldham’s Robbie Simpson, went on to score second-half goals through Jonjo Shelvey, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing after Gerrard’s penalty.

Dickov expressed his delight at his side's start to the game and suggested his players may have lost their discipline after conceding so soon after scoring.

The 39-year-old said: "I thought the first 20-25 minutes we played some tremendous football, we had three or four really good chances before we scored.

"Thirty seconds after we score our goal we concede, it puts you on the back-foot. Then as a group I think we lost our discipline a little bit, the things that put us in front and created us chances and a disciplined performance off the ball, but with making the right decisions and passing the ball that got us in front.

"Then we started lashing at things and hitting long balls which are things we never practice."

However, Dickov paid tribute to his players for having a go at the Premier League outfit, conceding they were killed off when trying to push forward.

He added: "They picked themselves up, I told them to keep doing the right things. We know what a good team Liverpool is so we just wanted them to have a good go.

"But the third goal kills us. We put as many forwards as we can on the pitch being a cup game trying to put ourselves back in it, but they broke away twice and scored the fourth and fifth which I was gutted about, which doesn’t reflect the performance my boys put in."

Reds And Police Probe Incident

Liverpool and the Merseyside police are investigating alleged racist abuse of Oldham's Tom Adeyemi at Anfield on Friday night.

Adeyemi appeared to take offence to something shouted from the Kop late in the second half of the Reds' 5-1 victory in the third round of the FA Cup.

The Latics midfielder, on loan from Norwich, was reduced to tears despite reassurances from his team-mates and Liverpool duo Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard.

There then appeared to be discussion between the fourth official and a police officer down by the tunnel while the match was continuing.

Liverpool announced that no arrests had been made but confirmed in a statement they are investigating the incident with the Merseyside police.

The statement read: "An incident occurred in the second half of the match which is now being investigated by both the club and the police.

"We will continue to work closely with the police and establish the details of what actually happened and will make a further statement in due course."

A senior Liverpool official also told The Guardian: "We will do everything in our power to investigate the matter and ensure the appropriate action is taken."

The incident comes at a sensitive time for Liverpool, who have recently seen striker Luis Suarez suspended for eight matches by the Football Association for racist abuse of Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

Liverpool In For Colombian International Striker Martinez

Liverpool has held talks with the representatives of Jaguares striker Jackson Martinez.

The Colombia international, 25, has also attracted strong interest from Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal but his club have raised the price since negotiations were opened in September.

He was originally available for a bargain £5.5million but Jaguares now want £8.5million.

Liverpool are desperate to add to their attacking options with Luis Suarez currently serving an eight-match ban and £35m Andy Carroll struggling for form.

The club has expressed an interest in Aston Villa and England frontman Darren Bent but it is unlikely that Villa will want to sell.

Martinez has a decent return of five goals in 10 appearances for his country and has scored nearly a goal every other game for Jaguares.

Liverpool will have to move quickly if they want to secure a deal as Porto are reportedly close to agreeing a fee.

Reds Keen On Inter Striker

Liverpool is looking into the possibility of loaning Inter Milan forward Mauro Zarate, according to The National.

However, for any deal to happen, Inter would have to release Zarate back to his parent club Lazio because the 24-year-old is currently on a temporary contract at the San Siro until June.

Liverpool is looking into possible replacements for Luis Suarez who is in the midst of his eight-match ban from the FA.

Zarate, who spent time on loan at Birmingham City in 2008, could be the answer with his similar direct style of play.

Liverpool Seriously Considering Young Right-Back

Merseyside club Liverpool are seriously considering a move for young Welshman and Celtic right-back Adam Matthews and sources suggest the club are contemplating a bid for the 19 year old.

However Matthews has only just joined Celtic from Cardiff City and his performances have shown he is a player that could make him one of the Celtic legends if he were to remain.

Capped five times by Wales this year, Matthews, who turns 20 next week, appears to be the ideal type of player that Dalglish would purchase, young, British and full of great potential.

Liverpool will find it difficult in prising him away from the SPL so soon but should a big enough offer come in from the Anfield side then Celtic are sure to consider it if the profit is worth considering.

Liverpool Launch Raid For £10m English Wonderkid

Liverpool is making progress on establishing grounds to negotiate a deal for Birmingham City winger Nathan Redmond, who is being valued at £10 million by the midlands club.

Redmond has 2 years remaining on his current deal at St. Andrew’s, but has recently attracted interest from Manchester City and other Premier League clubs. His development through the youth system at Birmingham eventually led to him being handed his debut in August 2010, aged 16 years and 56 days.

Since then, nineteen appearances and two goals have helped Redmond get himself noticed by some elite clubs in the Premier League. Still just 17, Redmond has been likened to “one of those wingers like an Aaron Lennon or an Ashley Young,” by Birmingham Academy manager Terry Westley.

Former manager Alex McLeish expressed his delight over the progress of the talented youngster, claiming; “Has he got a big future? It looks like it. He's electric. He's a right winger but he showed his versatility coming in off the left and going in and hitting shots.”

Liverpool reportedly made an enquiry in the summer about Redmond’s availability, although found themselves snubbed by Birmingham boss Chris Hughton who wanted to see how Redmond developed in the early stages of this season.

However, with Hughton fully aware that the club will likely sell given the financial incentives of agreeing a deal with either Liverpool or Manchester City, a deal for the England youth international looks highly likely.

Liverpool already trumped Manchester City in a deal agreed with 16-year-old Wycombe youngster Jordan Ibe, and it has been suggested that Redmond is favouring the same path.

Liverpool Given Grounds For Hope At Stanley Park

Liverpool are now concentrating their efforts on financing a new stadium in Stanley Park, where they have planning permission, rather than redevelop Anfield.

American owners Fenway Sports Group had been keen to renovate the current ground like they did at their baseball franchise, the Boston Red Sox.

But property and land acquisition difficulties and other environmental problems have made a refurbishment highly unlikely. Liverpool is in talks with companies for a naming rights deal to help fund a new 60,000- capacity ground.

Liverpool council, who favour the move to Stanley Park to spark a re-generation of the area, have been pressing for a definitive decision to end the long uncertainty for local residents.

The fall-out from Liverpool's inept handling of the Luis Suarez racism and the damage it might do to the club's reputation won't help discussions with potential sponsors.

So Liverpool are lucky their kit sponsors Standard Chartered Bank, who have a big presence in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, have been supportive throughout the controversy and even want to be involved in the naming rights talks.

FA Cup Preview: Liverpool vs. Oldham

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is likely to rotate his squad for the game against the League One Latics.

That could mean recalls for defenders Jamie Carragher and Sebastian Coates, who have not started since the Carling Cup win at Chelsea in late November.

Striker Luis Suarez serves the second game of an eight-match ban, but captain Steven Gerrard will probably be given another chance to continue building up his sharpness having made three substitute appearances following his comeback from an ankle infection.

Oldham manager Paul Dickov expects to have on-loan trio Luca Scapuzzi, Tom Adeyemi and Nathan Clarke available for the game.

The players' loans expire ahead of the tie, but Dickov is confident that respective agreements with Manchester City, Norwich and Huddersfield will be reached to make them eligible for selection at Anfield.

"Hopefully that will be done so they will be available," said the Latics boss at a Thursday press conference. "Nathan, Luca and young Tom will hopefully be sorted out today."

Midfielder James Wesolowski is expected to recover from a dislocated shoulder to contest a place in the starting line-up having taken part in a practice match on Wednesday.

Striker Matt Smith scored on his first start since August in the 1-1 draw with Chesterfield on Monday but is expected to make way for top scorer Shefki Kuqi, and Dickov admits he is suffering from selection headaches.

"The good thing for me is that I've got more or less a fully fit squad to pick from," he said. "The sad thing for me is I'm going to have to leave a couple of players out of the starting XI and the 18 who work ever so hard for me, which isn't going to be nice, but that's my job as a manager."

Dalglish Won't Undermine FA Cup

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish hopes his team's football will do the talking against Oldham in the FA Cup on Friday night after a week in which the club's off-field actions have made the headlines.

The Reds decided not to appeal Luis Suarez's eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra earlier this week but have faced criticism over the way they have handled the whole controversy.

Dalglish is now keen to focus on matters on the pitch and is looking for a good performance from his side at Anfield on Friday.

"To get back on the pitch after the week we've had on and off it is the best thing we can do," said the Scot.

"It'll be a great time too for our people to show support for one another - for the players to show their gratitude towards the fans for the support they've given us recently and also vice-versa.

"The FA Cup has been undermined in many ways and in many quarters, for varying reasons, but we certainly won't ever undermine it.

"It's a competition that's there to be won so we'll go into the Oldham game with the same attitude and desire as we went into the Carling Cup.

"The Carling Cup is something people have done the same with - undermined and undervalued - but we went about our job as well as we possibly could and we've got our reward for that (with a two-legged semi-final against City starting on Wednesday)."

Dalglish is certain to make several changes for the League One visitors but that does not mean he will take Paul Dickov's League One side lightly.

"We've always said how strong the squad is and maybe it's an opportunity for us to give the people in that squad the gratitude they deserve by giving them an opportunity to start the game," added Dalglish.

"But that's not to say we're undermining or being disrespectful in any way. We'll treat Oldham with complete respect.

"League positions don't matter in cup competitions or in any game. On any one day, any team can beat anyone else.

"If you're not prepared for it mentally and physically, you're going to make it much more difficult for yourself."

Friday represents the Reds' first home cup draw Dalglish has had since taking over almost exactly 12 months ago - his first match in charge was the FA Cup third-round defeat at Manchester United.

"When we've had home draws before that we've not been too successful have we?" he told Liverpool's official website.

"We don't want to rewrite that history. It's going to be difficult because it's a big draw for them to come to Anfield and I'm sure if they lose the game it won't be because of lack of effort.

"We've got to match them for effort and make sure we come out on top."

Dickov To Take Fight To Reds

Paul Dickov insists his Oldham side will look to attack when they chase an FA Cup upset against Liverpool on Friday night.

A second-round replay victory over Southend at Boundary Park in December booked a mouthwatering trip to face Kenny Dalglish's side for the Latics, who currently lie 14th in League One.

Only veteran striker Shefki Kuqi has played at Anfield before among Dickov's largely youthful squad and, while acknowledging the magnitude of the task in hand, the former Manchester City forward is determined that his players enjoy the tie.

"I'm not going to say we're going to go to Anfield and win the game - I think I'd probably get taken away in a straightjacket - but the one thing we are going to do is go there and have a right good go," he said.

"People are saying you've got to go there and play five at the back or five in midfield, but we don't want to change too much. We're trying to keep it as normal as we can this week.

"As to how the players will react, we won't know until eight o'clock on Friday night, but the one thing we're just trying to say to them is go and enjoy the occasion by doing the right things.

"I've been lucky enough to play in big games over my career at big stadiums and at Wembley. You can get carried away with the occasion and before you know it the game's finished.

"I want all my players to remember every single minute of the game and take it with them for the rest of their careers."

This term Oldham began their 15th consecutive season in the Football League's third tier - the longest tenure of any side in the division - but a pair of famous cup occasions over the past decade have allowed supporters to hark back to the club's early 1990's heyday in the top flight.

On their previous third-round trip to Merseyside, Gary McDonald's goal sank Everton 1-0 in 2008, three years after Manchester City fell foul of Latics at the same stage.

More that 6,000 travelling supporters will make the short journey down the M62 dreaming of a repeat, with Liverpool's recent history of cup mishaps at the hands of Barnsley, Reading and Northampton providing further encouragement.

"We know that economically times have been hard for the town and the fans, and the support we're getting is quite humbling for myself and the players," said Dickov, who was on hand to pour hot drinks for fans queuing outside Boundary Park for Anfield tickets last week.

"Tomorrow night is a big thank-you to the fans, but that's not to say we're going there to make up the numbers."

And, straightjacket or otherwise, Dickov admits he has already cast his minds eye towards the improbable.

"I do dream, I just hope it's not a nightmare," he said. "I'd be daft to say that I'm not thinking about going there and winning and what would happen. Every single round in the FA Cup there's a shock.

"Win, lose or draw I want my players to do themselves proud. And I'm going to stand on the touchline and be proud of my players and the football club."

Gerrard's Return Can Lift Carroll - McManaman

Steve McManaman has backed Steven Gerrard to set Liverpool striker Andy Carroll on the path to becoming a "number nine superstar".

Carroll has scored just five goals in 30 appearances since his £35million switch from Newcastle and this season he has appeared bereft of confidence.

But former Anfield favourite McManaman believes Gerrard, who is back in action after an injury-dogged 2011, has the quality to bring the best out of Carroll.

And McManaman warned that Oldham could feel the backlash in the FA Cup third round tie.

"Steven is Liverpool's best player, he is arguably England's best player," said McManaman. "His assists are wonderful. Just ask Fernando Torres what his assists were like.

"His delivery, his ability to put a ball through is second to none. It should help any centre forward, whether it is Luis Suarez, Torres or Andy Carroll and hopefully it will do.

"Against Manchester City he was a little bit isolated. Liverpool huffed and puffed and lacked that real goal threat.

"I felt a little bit sorry for him because he was up front on his own and Liverpool felt 'we have a big man here, let's chuck everything into the box'.

"It is about quality. Andy Carroll will improve significantly by being at Liverpool. The time to judge him is not now.

"I hope in years to come we are talking about a number nine superstar. You hope that Steven plays against Oldham because he is trying to get his fitness back and that Andy Carroll does play."

McLeish - No Reds Bent Contact

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish insists he has not had any contact with Liverpool about a possible move for Darren Bent.

Rumours have suggested Liverpool are weighing up a move for Bent as they look to bring in cover in attack with Luis Suarez currently serving an eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

Bent, Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner and McLeish had all previously said the England international was going nowhere and McLeish insists they would not consider selling the former Tottenham and Sunderland man.

"We've not heard a thing from Liverpool," said McLeish. "I'm aware of the speculation.

"But there has been no contact with this club and I think you've had three parties telling you that.

"But, even if there was contact, we would not entertain that (selling Bent).

"We wouldn't want to entertain selling our top scorer of last season. He is a prolific marksman."

Liverpool Alerted As Moses Stalls On New Contract

Wigan forward Victor Moses is being linked with a possible move away from the DW Stadium after the player’s agent revealed that he is yet to sign a new contract.

The former Crystal Palace player initially struggled to make the step up to the Premier League but this season has rediscovered his best form and has been one of Wigan's best players.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has continually praised the youngster and was hoping to tie him down to a new deal in the coming weeks, however, it has been revealed that talks have so far been unsuccessful.

Tony Finnigan, Moses' agent, said: "We talked to Wigan about a contract five weeks ago but still haven't seen anything. My phone goes all the time. Victor's got his admirers out there."

As well as Liverpool, Tottenham and Sunderland are also said to be tracking the progress of the 21-year-old and may consider moving for him at the end of the season.

Moses represented England throughout his youth career but still has the opportunity to play for Nigeria as he is yet to make an appearance for the senior England side.

Martin O'Neill is said to be an admirer of Moses and with rumours that Stephane Sessegnon is unhappy at the Stadium of Light, he may consider the Wigan man as a replacement.

Yet, it is Liverpool that is thought to be leading the race to sign the youngster after scouting the player on a number of occasions.

The Metro believes that a bid of £8million would be enough to persuade Wigan to part with the attacker, who also has the ability to drop into midfield and play in wide areas.

Moses record in front of goal is not particularly impressive, with just four league goals for Wigan, but glimpses of his ability have led sides to believe he will improve as he matures.

Liverpool And Arsenal Battle For Brazilian Striker

Liverpool and Arsenal face a major battle with Fiorentina and Borussia Dortmund to sign Spartak Moscow striker Welliton.

The Brazilian, 25, is rated one of the best forwards in Russia and has attracted interest from a number of European clubs.

Both Liverpool and Arsenal are keen to bolster their forward line and have been linked with a move for the 5ft 9in forward.

Spartak Moscow is desperate to keep their prolific forward but would consider offers in the region of £7m.

Kenny Dalglish and Arsene Wenger will have to act fast if they want to sign him as reports in Russia suggest that Fiorentina and Borussia Dortmund have also entered the race to clinch his signature.

FA Urged To Take Further Action Against Liverpool

The head of European football's anti-racism group has urged the Football Association to charge Liverpool with bringing the game into disrepute over their response to Luis Suarez's eight-match ban.

Piara Powar, executive director of European football's anti-discrimination body FARE, said Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's comments had been ''undignified'' and that their reaction had damaged the club's brand across the world.

He said: ''This is a lack of respect for the governing body by Liverpool and the FA should charge Liverpool FC and Kenny Dalglish.

''I think the FA should come back now and be very clear that Liverpool could be construed to have brought the game into disrepute by the way in which they have consistently undermined the judgment and by Kenny Dalglish's comments.

''Liverpool have been too keen to support their man and in doing so have whipped up a sense of paranoia amongst their fans. This is not the Liverpool FC that we have applauded in the past for their support for a whole range of issues.

''The responses from Kenny Dalglish have been undignified; the way in which they have dealt with the whole matter has been unprofessional. For the club to so aggressively militate against what looks to most people a considered judgment from the FA leads to a potential for anarchy.''

Powar said reaction from his colleagues in other parts of the world made him believe the affair was damaging Liverpool.

He added: ''They have damaged their brand, no question. There is no question that Liverpool do have a global appeal, but I have emails from colleagues in Africa asking me what the hell is going on.

''I think people will be watching this and I believe there is no question that their plans for global expansion will have been damaged by this. That's not to say they cannot come back from this but it has done them a lot of damage and they have not conducted themselves in a very palatable way.''

Powar's call comes after Lord Ouseley, the chairman on British football's anti-racism group Kick It Out, called Liverpool ''hypocritical'' and Suarez's apology ''lamentable''. Ouseley also described Liverpool players wearing T-shirts in support of Suarez as ''dreadful''.