Extra Sessions Firing Fabio

Fabio Borini has revealed he is staying behind after training for extra shooting practice as he seeks to consistently put his name on the scoresheet for Liverpool.

The Italian has bagged one goal in eight appearances since arriving at Anfield from Roma during the summer - a record the 21-year-old is determined to improve upon.

So much so that Borini can often be found perfecting his aim and learning from teammate Luis Suarez at Melwood long after the regular sessions have concluded.

"I'm working really hard on the training ground," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "On my physical condition, technical side and tactical as well, with the manager and the assistant manager after training, with Luis and all the other players."

Having largely been used on the right-hand side so far this season, Borini found himself in a more central position against Sunderland on Saturday, and was presented with a couple of chances to score.

The forward did not add to his tally on that occasion but is confident that the situation will change provided he keeps putting himself in the right positions.

"There's not a particular key that can convert the chances into goals," Borini continued.

"It's just probably a moment or a matter of inches or luck. But I think we have qualities to convert the chances, we see in training and we work every day on shooting. It will come.

"I know they will come because as a striker you always get chances in a game. It's probably just a moment that you get unlucky or the keeper makes saves. It's just a moment."

The youngster revealed he has 'settled in quite well' to life with Liverpool and, after beginning pre-season late due to his Euro 2012 commitments with Italy, and is relishing the chance to prove himself.

"I've played lots of games and I've been involved in all of them. It's great for me because I can get more experience than I played last year," the former Chelsea and Swansea City player explained.

"I can get more experience in any kind of football - English Premier League and European football - which is very good for me. I didn't have pre-season training, it was hard at the beginning but now I feel a lot better."

By playing anywhere across the forward line Borini has already proven his versatility for the Reds, and the Italian said he would be happy to play in any position to help the team - even goalkeeper.

The No.29 said: "My favourite position and my natural position, as I've said in the past, is up front, because I played there every time in my career.

"But if to help the team I need to play left or right, midfield or even in goal, it's not a problem because to help the team I will do anything. That's the way it is, and all the players have to do that."

Reflecting on the 1-1 draw with the Black Cats last weekend, Borini felt Liverpool deserved more from the match.

He added: "I think we played quite well, as the manager wants, and we have been unlucky with our opportunities.

"I had two good chances in the first half, we hit the crossbar, we hit the post. They actually probably had one shot on goal and scored one. We've been unlucky, as maybe the last few games have been. But I think we made our point and our style.

"It's not about points but getting the win. That was more the feeling, because we wanted the win. We didn't get the win even though we probably deserved it."

Borini is more aware than most of how manager Brendan Rodgers works, having experienced the Northern Irishman's methods at Chelsea and Swansea, and the forward believes commitment and the right attitude are key factors for success.

Borrell Ready For Inter Test

Rodolfo Borrell is hoping his young squad can rise to the occasion this season when the NextGen Series gets underway with a tough trip away to Inter Milan on Wednesday.

Last season Borrell's charges came third in the competition, and this term they also face Rosenborg of Norway and German giants Borussia Dortmund in their group.

Most of the regular members of the U21 squad will not be involved in the NextGen Series squad as it's an U19 tournament and the likes of Michael Ngoo and Jack Robinson are now ineligible for it.

Last season, Borrell's men lost in the semi-finals to Ajax but came third after beating Marseille in the play-off.

This campaign, the competition is even stronger with the likes of Barcelona, CSKA Moscow, Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG fielding strong teams.

However, Borrell insists the squad are under no illusions as to the test they will face from the reigning NextGen Series champions.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "It is going to be difficult because we are in a very tough group and it's a tough first game for us against Inter Milan.

"They won the NextGen Series last season and they are a very tough and physical team so it's going to be a big test for us.

"Last season we managed to finish third out of 16 teams in the NextGen Series which was a magnificent achievement. In terms of results we had highs and lows because we faced top-level teams and had mixed results, but there were a lot of positives from our lads.

"This season will be tough because this is a competition for lads born in 1994. Last season we had a bigger and stronger squad but some of them now can't play.

"The squad will be mostly made up of the U18s team and it is a big opportunity for them to play at a higher level.

"It is a step-up for some of them but we can only get positives out of playing in this competition. It is a great experience for the players and they will learn quickly.

"We will be positive and try to get good performances and good results."

Ferguson Pledges Reds Support

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has promised Liverpool total support ahead of the two sides' Premier League game on Sunday.

The match will be the first to be played at Anfield since the report on the Hillsborough tragedy was released last Wednesday, placing the blame for the disaster, in which 96 people died, on South Yorkshire Police and other services.

Yet the chants of a few United fans during Saturday's 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford highlighted the potential for trouble.

Ferguson, who has already appealed for a line to be drawn in the sand by supporters of both clubs, has offered Liverpool unqualified support.

"It is going to be a very emotional day on Sunday and we will support them in every way we can," he said.

"As a club we are totally supportive of Liverpool in the situation they are in. We understand what those families must have felt when they got that report.

"I didn't hear it (on Saturday), but others did, particularly in the directors' box. (Chief executive) David Gill was disappointed."

Some fans have argued the chant heard on Saturday - "Always the victim, never your fault" - was only sung in the immediate aftermath of Luis Suarez's racism spat with Patrice Evra last season.

"It is a new chant that only started after the Suarez situation," said Ferguson.

"I was disappointed to hear it. It is a minority. But in society there is a minority wanting to be heard."

Liverpool Thank Everton

Liverpool has thanked their Merseyside rivals Everton for their tribute to the 96 fans who died in the Hillsborough disaster.

Everton were led out against Newcastle United on Monday night by two mascots, one wearing the blue kit and another wearing the Reds' with their shirt numbers displaying 96 when they stood side by side.

As the teams and supporters united in a round of applause, photographs and names of each of the 96 victims were displayed on the giant television screens, while the public address system played The Hollies' song 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother'.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has now thanked Everton for their gesture.

"I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff and fans at Everton Football Club from everyone at Liverpool for the display of support you have shown the Hillsborough families," he told Liverpool's official website.

"We've always been great rivals on the pitch but off it, the two clubs have always supported each other.

"In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, Everton Football Club was there for us and that solidarity was on display again last week when the Hillsborough Independent Panel's findings were revealed.

"At times like this, football rivalries take a back seat - something that makes this city unique. I think supporters of both clubs can be immensely proud of the way they have conducted themselves over the past days, weeks and years since the tragedy."

Match Report: Sunderland 1 - 1 Liverpool

Luis Suarez snatched just a second Barclays Premier League point of the season for Liverpool as Sunderland was denied victory.

The Uruguayan, who had earlier been booked for diving, struck 19 minutes from time to cancel out Steven Fletcher's first-half opener and give manager Brendan Rodgers a little breathing space after the club's worst start to a season in half a century.

On a day when the victims of the Hillsborough disaster were at the forefront of minds - Liverpool's players walked out wearing tracksuit tops with the number 96 on the backs and flags at the Stadium of Light flew at half-mast - both Glen Johnson and Steven Gerrard had earlier hit the woodwork.

Fletcher's third goal in two league starts looked like it was going to be enough to deepen the Reds' woes to the delight of the bulk of the 41,997 crowd, but Suarez ensured Liverpool did not return home empty-handed.

At the end of an emotional week off the pitch, Liverpool arrived on Wearside hoping for much-needed points on it, but as so often during the opening weeks of the season, they headed for the dressing room at half-time frustrated.

For the best part of half-an-hour, they dominated possession, but were unable to make the pressure tell.

Raheem Sterling threatened repeatedly down the right, but with Sunderland debutant Danny Rose giving as good as he got, the winger's efforts went largely unrewarded.

It started in promising fashion for the Merseysiders as Jonjo Shelvey fired just wide with four minutes gone after combining well with Suarez, who then also missed the target seven minutes later.

Shelvey played striker Fabio Borini into space on the right with a well-weighted 13th-minute pass, and his cross was deflected goal-wards, but straight to keeper Simon Mignolet.

The Belgian came to the Black Cats' rescue five minutes later when Borini ran on to Carlos Cuellar's woefully weak header and fired in a shot from a tight angle which the keeper managed to block.

Sunderland almost took the lead when they were awarded a 20th-minute free-kick which Sebastian Larsson curled into the box and just wide of the far post with Pepe Reina flat-footed and no one able to get a touch.

The game changed in an instant with 29 minutes gone when Sunderland full-back Craig Gardner slipped all too easily past Johnson and crossed for Fletcher to get in front of his man and turn the ball home from close range.

Liverpool's confidence visibly drained away as the home side started to take control, and the response from Rodgers' men was tepid.

Their afternoon took a turn for the worse when Suarez surged into the box eight minutes before the break and collapsed under John O'Shea's challenge, earning a yellow card rather than the penalty for which he was hoping.

Cuellar failed to re-appear after the break and was replaced by Titus Bramble, and the newcomer found his defence stretched within two minutes when Gerrard and Suarez combined to set up Shelvey, whose skidding drive was saved.

The visitors had once again started confidently and Johnson deserved better when he sent an inviting ball across the face of goal, but found no-one there to meet it.

Johnson opted to go it alone with 51 minutes gone when he cut inside and went right-footed for the top corner, only to see his effort come back off the crossbar with Mignolet beaten.

The Reds were desperately unfortunate not to be back on level terms on the hour when, after Mignolet had beaten away Sterling's cross, Shelvey squared for Gerrard to clip the outside of the post with a guided attempt.

Rodgers replaced Borini with winger Stewart Downing four minutes later, but it was defender Martin Skrtel who went close after Gerrard's deflected shot sat up nicely for him, but his header was well-saved by Mignolet.

Liverpool eventually made the breakthrough with 71 minutes gone when Sterling rounded Rose to cross from the right and Bramble could only block the ball to Suarez, who gleefully smashed it past the keeper from close range.

Shelvey might have won it 10 minutes from time when he cut inside on to his left foot and went for goal, but Mignolet got down well to save and Suarez could not climb high enough to head the rebound on goal.

Rodgers Happy With Liverpool's Draw

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was content with the draw at Sunderland after a difficult week for the club.

Luiz Suarez's 71st-minute equalizer denied the Black Cats victory at the Stadium of Light on a day when the 96 Reds fans who died at Hillsborough 23 years ago were poignantly remembered.

They and their fellow fans were this week cleared of blame for the disaster, with a number of apologies issued ranging from the prime minister to Football Association chairman David Bernstein as a result.

And Rodgers, whose players wore the number 96 on the back of their tracksuits before kick-off, was full of praise for them.

"They have been terrific. It's been a difficult week, of course, as you can imagine for the city and everything surrounding it," said Rodgers.

"Some of the players have been involved in the tragedy in terms of relatives, so it's been a really emotional week.

"But when you sign for Liverpool, that's part of the contract. As a player or manager, you sign an agreement and a contract with the supporters, an emotional one, and that's all part of the journey of Liverpool.

"We wanted to give hope for two reasons: one, for ourselves, because we have shown really good progress over the course of the weeks - we haven't quite got the results, but the performance level at times has been very good.

"And to end the week for the supporters, because it has been very difficult for them.

"It was a good point all round. We will go away from the game really pleased with the performance."

Flags flew at half-mast at the stadium as Sunderland paid their respects to the Hillsborough victims, a move Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill felt was only right.

He said: "It was the least we could have done in terms of our part of proceedings.

"It's been a pretty harrowing 20-odd years, but justice has been done and I think they will draw some comfort from events in the past couple of days."

On the pitch, Sunderland took the lead against the run of play when Steven Fletcher got ahead of his marker to turn Craig Gardner's 29th-minute cross past keeper Pepe Reina for his third goal in two league starts.

Liverpool lost momentum in the immediate aftermath, but fought back strongly after the break and was twice denied an equalizer by the woodwork when Glen Johnson's curling 51st-minute effort came back off the bar and then Steven Gerrard clipped the post on the hour.

However, salvation arrived 19 minutes from time when substitute Titus Bramble was only able to stab Raheem Sterling's cross to Suarez, who fired home to claim a point.

Rodgers said: "The performance was outstanding, both our creativity and our movement, and there was a really good tempo and rhythm to our game.

"We went behind and we were disappointed with the goal, it was a soft goal from our perspective and it went against the run of play.

"But in the second half, we showed a real reaction and continued what we were doing in the first half, but really upped the tempo and the penetration in our game and by the end of it, I am sure Sunderland were probably happier with the point than ourselves.

"But overall, the performance was outstanding and it's a big credit to the players."

Martin O'Neill Felt A Draw Was Fair

Martin O'Neill wants Sunderland to learn how to take the sting out of games following the 1-1 home draw with Liverpool.

Sunderland extended their unbeaten start to the season in their first home match of the campaign, but O'Neill's side is also still to win in the Premier League.

New signing Steven Fletcher opened the scoring in the first half, but Luis Suarez earned Liverpool a deserved point with a 71st minute equalizer.

O'Neill accepts Liverpool merited a draw at the Stadium of Light and he is anxious for his players to learn lessons from the game.

"It was always going to be difficult with Liverpool searching for that equalizing goal," said O'Neill. "Not many in the stadium would say that they didn't deserve it.

"We gave the ball away a little bit in the second half and I think that is something we must improve on.

"When we're under pressure in games we need to be able to take the sting out of matches.

"It was disappointing to concede the goal, especially at a point where we were just getting back into the game in terms of possession."

The Sunderland boss is confident his team will improve as the season progresses and praised Craig Gardner for his performance against Liverpool.

He added: "It was a terrific effort considering we had a number of members of the squad who are still not properly fit. As the weeks go on we'll get stronger.

"Craig Gardner did exceptionally well in the build-up to the goal, he earned that little bit of luck.

"He managed to get past two players and drove a great ball in for Fletcher to put it in the back of the net to get his third goal in two matches. That will be a big boost for him.

Signs Of Promise

Liverpool are still looking for their first Premier League win of the season, but there were some signs of promise in their performance at Sunderland.

The visitors dominated the game and with a bit more luck and better finishing would have come away with all three points as Brendan Rodgers looks to implement his style of play on this Liverpool side.

Rodgers stuck to his preferred 4-3-3 tactics and the side almost picked itself due to Liverpool's lack of attacking resources.

Raheem Sterling again started for the Reds and the teenager was arguably Liverpool's most dangerous player on the pitch when he got in the final third.

Luis Suarez started wide on the left of the front three and he became more effective when he was moved to the central spot after Fabio Borini was replaced by Stewart Downing.

Steven Gerrard and Joe Allen look like they are building up a good understanding in midfield and they dictated the game in the engine room.

Glen Johnson was again preferred at left-back ahead of Jose Enrique with Martin Kelly starting at right-back.

Sunderland was missing Adam Johnson as he failed to recover from injury to face Liverpool and the England man was sorely missed in the Sunderland attack.

Danny Rose replaced Johnson in the side from the last time out with the Spurs loanee being used in a left-back role with James McClean and Sebastian Larsson providing the width on the flanks.

Lee Cattermole and Jack Colback worked hard in the centre of midfield with Stephane Sessegnon playing behind Fletcher in attack.

There was no change in tactics from Rodgers, but there looked to be a better balance to the side when Downing was introduced for Borini, allowing Suarez to play down the centre with Sterling and Downing down the flanks.

The fluidity of the system with Allen and Gerrard playing quite deep allowed the likes of Glen Johnson to get forward from full-back and he was unlucky not to score in the second half.

Martin O'Neill is a traditional 4-4-2 man and there was no change to his tactics with two wide men trying to provide the service for new signing Steven Fletcher, but McClean and Larsson were unable to have an impact on the game.

Titus Bramble came on for the injured Carlos Cuellar and he slotted fine into central defence although he was partly at fault for Liverpool's equaliser. The big defender deflected Suarez's shot straight back to the Uruguayan who slammed the ball home at the second attempt.

Fraizer Campbell and Louis Saha were introduced late on as Sunderland looked to up the tempo as they struggled to get out of their half for long periods of the second half.

Liverpool only made one change with Downing coming on for the ineffective Borini and although the England winger did not create many chances his introduction allowed Suarez to switch to a more central role and the striker started to get the ball more in better positions for the visitors.

Martin Atkinson had a relatively quiet day at the office, but he may have got a penalty call wrong in the first half. Suarez went down in the box under a challenge from John O'Shea with Atkinson booking the Uruguayan for diving. TV replays showed there was contact between O'Shea and Suarez with possibly the striker's reputation going against him on this occasion.

Apart from the Suarez booking Atkinson cautioned Martin Skrtel and Larsson for routine fouls.

Liverpool need to take their chances when they are in the ascendancy otherwise they will continue to throw away points.

After dominating the opening half hour at the Stadium of Light they found themselves behind thanks to Sunderland's first noteworthy attack of the game with the side being punished for some carelessness in defence.

Next up is the small matter of Manchester United at Anfield and Liverpool will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to take anything from the clash with their bitter rivals.

Gerrard: Draw Fully Deserved

Steven Gerrard accepts change at Liverpool will not happen overnight and felt a 1-1 draw at Sunderland was the least his side deserved.

Liverpool controlled the game at the Stadium of Light for long periods, but fell behind to Steven Fletcher's first-half goal.

Luis Suarez earned the Reds a merited point with 19 minutes to go, but the result still leaves Brendan Rodgers waiting for his first Premier League win as manager.

Gerrard was pleased with the performance on Wearside and the Liverpool captain believes the changes Rodgers is trying to implement will take time.

"We knew change wouldn't happen overnight," said the midfielder.

"We have tried hard and even though we drew, we completely controlled the game. No-one watching can say we didn't deserve it."

Reds full-back Glen Johnson echoed his skipper's sentiments and believes the team having been playing well, despite only collecting two points from four games.

Johnson said: "We kept pushing for that second goal.

"Their goal was a disappointing goal to concede but the lads dug in and fought hard.

"We tried hard, we came out in the second half and got better. We never stopped working hard.

"We have played well in the majority of our games this season."

Rodgers To Be Careful With Suarez

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits Luis Suarez will have to be 'careful' with his discipline but does not want him to change his style of play.

Suarez picked up his third booking of the season in Saturday's draw at Sunderland after referee Martin Atkinson adjudged the striker to have dived in the box to try and win a penalty.

Suarez is now just two bookings away from a suspension, but Rodger insists he cannot look to temper the 25-year-old's fire and passion for the game.

"You are always trying to educate players and talk to them," said Rodgers. "That is part of what makes him and he is on to three now so he'll have to be careful.

"I have no complaints, I read from the outside all these reports about Luis Suarez but he has been an absolute pleasure to work with from the first day I came in here and he is a good guy who works very hard every day and gets his rewards on the field.

"He is an emotional guy, he runs on emotion, as some players do."

Rodgers is also keen to manage expectation levels surrounding Raheem Sterling after another eye-catching performance from the youngster at the Stadium of Light.

The Reds chief is trying to keep the winger's feet on the ground and he has hailed the 17-year-old's attitude to learn and improve.

"I am sure it is difficult for him to take it all. You get a lot of adulation for playing well but him and I communicate which is part of me trying to keep him level-headed and making sure the whole situation does not distort his reality," said Rodgers.

"The reality is he is an exceptional talent, we want to nurture and make sure he is around for many years, not just for a few months and he is a good kid, he is a good listener which is important, he is a really, really good lad.

"It is our job to manage him and manage the expectation and just let him concentrate on his football.

"He is a very level-headed boy. He doesn't waste his time doing stupid things, he comes into work with the first team and listens to the senior professionals, he is happy to listen to the coaches and it has been quite straightforward with him, and his performances have done the talking and he has come in every day to work and worked well.

"We know he still has a mountain to climb to be a top player but what we are seeing at 17 years of age is the early stages of his career and he is going to be a real talent."

Man Utd And Liverpool To Meet To Relieve Tensions

Manchester United chief executive David Gill is expected to hold talks with Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre in an attempt to calm tensions between fans before the clubs meet in the Premier League next weekend.

The build-up to United's visit to Anfield on Sunday has been marred by anti-Liverpool chanting heard at Old Trafford during last Saturday's 4-0 victory over Wigan.

United fan groups were quick to state that the chant of "Always the victims, it's never your fault" was not related to the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool supporters died.

But the airing of the chant, days after an independent report into the 1989 tragedy cleared Liverpool fans of any blame and revealed a huge police cover-up, has caused concern at both clubs.

It is understood preliminary talks between the two took place following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's findings on Wednesday.

At this stage, no plans have been made for a minute's silence to be held on Sunday in memory of those who died in the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough.

The possibility of wreaths being laid by officials from both clubs is also yet to be fully discussed.

There are also fears over a potential flashpoint involving Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez after the latter snubbed the former during the pre-match handshakes in February.

The Uruguayan's actions followed his eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra, and it has been reported that, when Gill and Ayre meet ahead of this weekend's game, they will discuss how best to avoid further controversy.

After the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers called for an end to the unsavoury chanting that has marred matches between the two clubs.

Chants about both Hillsborough and the 1958 Munich air disaster have been heard from a minority of fans.

Luis Suarez Told To Shake Hands With Patrice Evra

Liverpool's Luis Suarez has been told to shake hands with Manchester United's Patrice Evra when the two clubs meet in the Premier League this Sunday.

Last season when the teams met at Anfield Suarez ended up being banned for eight games for racially abusing the French player, and the Uruguayan refused to shake his hand in the re-match at Old Trafford.

This Sunday's game will be Liverpool's first home league match since the disclosure of evidence clearing their fans of any blame in the Hillsborough disaster, which left 96 of their number dead.

But that did not stop sections of the crowd at United's Old Trafford ground singing anti-Liverpool songs on Saturday, despite pleas by manager Sir Alex Ferguson for them not to do so.

United chief executive David Gill will talks to his Liverpool counterpart Ian Ayre this week in an effort defuse tensions ahead of Sunday's game, and to ensure the passion of the rivalry stays the right side of fierce and does not descend into all-out hostility.

Possible gestures of respect include a minute's silence, although it may be replaced by a less risky minute of applause, and United laying a wreath before kick-off.

Then-Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson did that when his team met United in a similarly fiercely-fought battle of rivals on the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash four years ago.

League Unlikely To Act On Chants

The Premier League are unlikely to take action following brief anti-Liverpool chanting during Manchester United's Barclays Premier League win over Wigan.

United's biggest win of the season was marred by a short burst of anti-Liverpool chanting from a small minority of home fans following this week's damning report on the handling of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, in which 96 people died.

The report laid bare a shocking cover-up which attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims, revealing that South Yorkshire Police had instructed officers to change or amend their statements relating to the tragic events.

One clearly audible chant at Saturday's game at Old Trafford was "Always the victims, never your fault", believed to be in reference to the report findings.

However, the song has been sung since Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra last season, which saw the Uruguay international given an eight-game ban and a £40,000 fine.

It is understood the Premier League deem the chants to be unacceptable but believe it is a matter for the clubs themselves to deal with.

There is a history of sour relations between the two sides. A minority of United fans have directed chants to Liverpool fans regarding Hillsborough and a Liverpool minority have chanted in reference to the Munich air disaster of 1958 in which 23 people died.

A United spokesperson said the club “deplores" such songs and, in a statement, the club said: "The manager has made the club's position very clear on this matter. It is now up to the fans to respect that."

The Football Association declined to comment on the matter on Sunday.

The tension between the two rival clubs is sure to be heightened when United travel to Anfield this Sunday.

Manchester United's Supporters' Trust echoed Ferguson's statements.

MUST chief executive Duncan Drasdo said: "We enjoy a fierce rivalry but these issues transcend that rivalry.

"We agree 100% with the statement made by Sir Alex Ferguson - this is the time for supporters of these two great clubs to represent their clubs with the integrity and honour that our glorious history demands.

"Following this week's developments and release of revelatory information on the Hillsborough tragedy, MUST wishes to make it absolutely clear that just as we condemn chants mocking the Munich air disaster we also condemn any chants relating to Hillsborough or indeed any other human tragedy.

"We did hear the usual anti-Liverpool chants at the match today but we're pleased to say, despite some reports to the contrary, there was nothing that was specifically referencing Hillsborough."

Match Preview: Sunderland v Liverpool

Liverpool must focus on on-field matters following an emotional week which saw the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report into the 1989 disaster.

The Reds travel to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland in the Saturday evening kick-off.

Both sides will be going all out to notch their first Premier League win of the campaign.

The Black Cats followed-up a creditable goalless draw at Arsenal with a 2-2 stalemate at Swansea.

Sandwiched between those draws was a 2-0 Capital One Cup victory over Morecambe and now back on home soil, Martin O'Neil's side will be looking to push on against the Reds and post their first win in 11 league attempts stretching back to last term.

Liverpool has taken just one point from their opening three league games under new boss Brendan Rodgers.

The Reds opened with a 3-0 loss at West Brom, then held champions Manchester City 2-2 at home before slipping to a 2-0 defeat to the Gunners at Anfield.

But the Reds have fared better in Europe, seeing-off Gomel and Hearts to progress into the group stages of the Europa League.

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson is battling to retain his place in the starting line-up after returning injured from international duty.

The 25-year-old missed England's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine with a thigh problem and will only be considered if he emerges unscathed from training on Friday.

Full-back Danny Rose could make his debut for the club and midfielder David Vaughan, who played 45 minutes for Wales in their 6-1 defeat in Serbia on Tuesday night after recovering from an ankle injury, may figure, while defenders Phil Bardsley (also ankle) and Wes Brown (knee) are making good progress, but are well short of match fitness.

Left-back Jose Enrique's knee injury will be assessed ahead of the Reds' trip to Sunderland.

The Spaniard has been training this week after the recurrence of a problem which has dogged him since the start of the season.

Midfielder Joe Allen has recovered from illness which disrupted his international duty while manager Rodgers is confident Luis Suarez and Sebastian Coates will be fine after international duty having travelled back from South America.

Allen Confident Of Success

Reds midfielder Joe Allen, a £15m summer buy from Swansea City, has acknowledged that his new side has endured a 'frustrating' time so far this campaign but remains confident success is just around the corner.

"There have been frustrating moments, it just shows the fine line between winning and the frustration you can get," commented Allen to Liverpoolfc.com.

"I think the Manchester City game is a great example of that. We could have come away with all three points, but we're faithful and confident that things are going to come good for us. We've got too much ability and talent in the team for it not to.

"Everyone knows the style of play the manager is looking to bring and is bringing to the football club.

"With the talent and ability that the players have got here, it's only going to bring the best out of everyone. In time, I'm sure we'll bring success, so I'm thrilled to be a part of this project and can't wait for the season to unfold."

Allen, who is available for Saturday’s game with Sunderland after overcoming an illness suffered on international duty, has impressed in his short Reds career to date. An Opta passing accuracy stat of 94% has helped the 22-year-old to win the club's first Standard Chartered Player of the Month award of the new season.

Speaking of his pride at playing for Liverpool, Allen continued: "Everyone knows what a special football club it is, the support we have, the history we have.

"But I don't think you realize just how big it is until you actually get here as a player. That feeling when you go out at Anfield is something I don't think you can experience in many other places, if anywhere in world football.

"It's very exciting for me to put on that shirt and get out there in front of those fans."

He also added: "In terms of the football club, everyone has done everything they possibly can to make me feel welcome but also to settle my family here as well. We have fallen in love with the city straight away - it's a great place that we're looking forward to living in. It's a city that's football crazy, which suits us down to the ground."

Rodgers Turns To Academy Players

Brendan Rodgers is ready to look to Liverpool's academy to bolster his attack after insisting that he will not try to sign any free agents before January.

Liverpool manager Rodgers was left with just two senior forwards after failing to bring in either Clint Dempsey or Daniel Sturridge to replace Andy Carroll, who has joined West Ham on a season's loan.

Rodgers has made it clear that he only let Carroll go before the transfer window closed because he thought he had a replacement lined up.

Liverpool have since been linked with a number of free agents, who can be signed outside the transfer window, but Rodgers said no moves were ever made to sign Michael Owen, Emile Heskey or Alessandro Del Piero.

Asked about any bids to bring in strikers on free transfers, he said: "There have been no attempts." Rodgers said none were in the pipeline and added: "The players I've got here have been terrific. It's going to be an opportunity for young players.

"There's money invested into the academy here. We have some wonderful people who work in the academy, and we've got some young talent.

"Sometimes, at the big clubs, it's very, very difficult to get an opportunity. And now some of these young players are going to get that opportunity to play some games. The platform will be there for them. I'll always look to what I've got from within before looking outside, and I'll look at some young talented players."

Rodgers also insisted his relationship with Liverpool's American owners, Fenway Sports Group, was as strong as ever despite the club's transfer deadline day frustrations.

And the manager believes he will be helped in his search for new talent in January by the arrival of scouts Dave Fallows and Barry Hunter, who joined the club from Manchester City this week.

It was initially thought that City would not allow Fallows and Hunter to move until the New Year, but Rodgers has managed to rush the appointments through.

"One of a number of reasons I came to Liverpool was the owners," Rodgers said. "There's no damage been done [to their relationship]. I have total respect for the people I work for and, like I say, there will be lessons learned from the window because it's a new group of people.

"We were behind because we were waiting for people to work on our recruitment side. Those guys have joined us this week, which has been great, and that will really help us now going forward.

"It was always going to be a difficult summer for us. But moving forward over the next number of months, we're going to see some young players. The senior players have been brilliant since I came in, and now we hope we'll move forward and revisit it again in January."

Rodgers Had No Owen Interest

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists he did not consider trying to bring Michael Owen back to Anfield.

The former England international was linked with a move back to Anfield prior to his switch to Stoke after the Reds failed to bring in a replacement for Andy Carroll before the close of the transfer window.

However, Rodgers claims the ex-Reds striker was never on his radar as he wants to give some of the young players at the club a chance to impress.

"Liverpool didn't consider Michael Owen," Rodgers told Talksport. "If we didn't get the targets that we hoped to get in the transfer window, I was going to go with what I had.

"There's no point putting money into the academy and then not giving young players a chance. Look at the impact Raheem Sterling has made as a 17-year-old. All I've given him is an opportunity and he's gone on and taken it.

"We've got a number of other young talents and hopefully over the coming months we can see them and see how they flourish."

Rodgers Rejects Reina Rumours

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists he has no problem with goalkeeper Pepe Reina and expects the Spaniard to stay at Anfield.

Reina's future at Liverpool has been the subject of speculation after an indifferent start to the season.

It has also been claimed Rodgers was looking to bolster his goalkeeping options, paving the way for a possible exit for Reina in the January transfer window.

However, Rodgers believes Reina is happy to stay at Liverpool and remains a key part of his future plans.

"I've never had a problem with Pepe. He's been brilliant for me. He's a key member of the squad here," insisted Rodgers.

"Absolutely first class, he's been. He understands what it is I'm trying to do. He understands the philosophy and he's a really, really good guy.

"Off the field, he's important for the group, he's a big voice in the changing room, and I've had no feelings at all that he's ever wanted to leave. I've never felt anything like that whatsoever.

"I've good communication with him. I speak regularly with Pepe. He's one of the senior players."

Ferguson Calls For An End To Liverpool Hostility

Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Liverpool and called for an end to the hostility between the two clubs.

Speaking on the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report – which cleared Liverpool fans of blame for the tragedy where 96 fans died - Sir Alex explained, “We are two great clubs, ourselves and Liverpool. We should understand each others problems. Maybe a line will be drawn in the sand in terms of their behavior to each other.”

As the two most successful clubs in the UK, the rivalry between them is steeped in history. Unfortunately, recent clashes have turned unsavory with Luis Suarez receiving an eight game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra when the sides met last October. The following fixture in February was once again controversial when Suarez refused to shake Evra’s hand.

Brendan Rodgers has mirrored Sir Alex's sentiments. When speaking on chants centered around the Hillsborough and Munich tragedies he said, “I speak as a human being and I don’t ever like to hear anything like that associating other clubs’ tragedies and deaths.

“But let’s hope we can all move on and hopefully we will all learn from this process.”

The sides meet each other next weekend at Anfield and Ferguson and Rodgers will be hoping the supporters have taken their advice.

Liverpool and Sunderland players will wear black armbands at The Stadium Of Light in memory of those who died.

Rodgers Calls For Disrespectful Chants To Stop

Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers, hopes that the disrespectful chants that fans sing on the terraces are stopped after the independent panel brought the actual details of the Hillsborough disaster to light.

The fans of the club, many of whom were related to victims of the tragedy, have had to endure the songs from rival fans including Manchester United over the past 23 years. Manchester United has themselves been at the centre of mindless chants after the Munich air disaster in 1968.

Northern Irishman, Rodgers, hopes that the chants will come to an end as a result of the independent panel's findings, he said, “I speak as a human being and I don't ever like to hear anything like that, whatever club it is, that associates with other people's tragedies and death,"

The Liverpool manager went onto add, "Unfortunately you have a very small percentage of idiots at any club who will always try to smear another club's reputation. Of course, it is obvious these are chants that no-one wants to hear about any club. Unfortunately there are that minority of supporters who will maybe disappoint but let's hope we can all move on and we can all learn from this whole process."

Rogers carried on to discuss the heartbreak and courage of the people of Liverpool who had to face the propaganda and misleading of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, "We have all suffered death in our lives but to have it happen to your son, daughter, brother, sister, and then have a campaign against that - you can't begin to imagine what that must feel like."

He continued, "It is absolutely incredible it has taken all that time. My respect goes out to everyone involved in that process over 23 long, hard, arduous years and hopefully they found some sort of justice.”

South Yorkshire Police Reopen Hillsborough Case

South Yorkshire police are reopening investigations in the force's conduct over the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

This follows reports that police statements were changed in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster on 15th April 1989, shifting the blame onto Liverpool fans for the crush which killed 96 people.

On Wednesday an independent panel, who had spent the last 18 months going through over 400,000 documents regarding the tragedy, announced their findings.

In a statement from the force, South Yorkshire's Chief Constable said that those who broke the laws should then face charges.

The statement read, the BBC Reports: "South Yorkshire Police is currently reviewing a wide variety of matters raised in the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel with a view to making a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

South Yorkshire Police also confirmed that they still employed 195 officers working for the force at Hillsborough that day.

West Yorkshire Police force is also investigating the role played by Chief Constable, Sir Norman Bettison, who was an off-duty inspector with South Yorkshire Police at the game and took part in an internal inquiry after the 1989 tragedy.

Due to Sir Norman's involvement in the case Liverpool Mayor, John Anderson, has asked Liverpool John Moores University to strip Sir Norman of an honorary fellowship that was given to him in 2004.

Since the independent panel announced their finding on Wednesday, high numbers of people involved with politics and the media have come out and publicly apologized for statements or pieces they wrote following the disaster. Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, offered his apology for the article he wrote in 2004 that said that the fans were partly to blame for the death the 96 Liverpool fans.

The editor of the Sun, Dominic Mohan, said he was deeply ashamed for the infamous 'The Truth' headline, sanctioned by then-editor Kelvin MacKenzie.

Another to release a statement of apology was MP Sir Irvine Patnick, who was identified as one of the sources contributing to the Sun's reporting of events that day. Many in and around Liverpool believe that the apology is not enough, especially as it was 23 years and 30 hours too late.

John Henry Denies Plans To Sell Boston Red Sox

Liverpool owner John Henry has denied rumours that he is looking to sell his other major sporting franchise, the Boston Red Sox.

Reports in America indicate that Henry and Fenway Sports Group are looking to offload the baseball team for a figure of around $1 billion (£600 million).

However, Henry, who has previously been accused by some Liverpool fans of prioritizing the Red Sox over the Premier League club, has rebuffed the suggestions.

“A sale of any kind is so far from our thinking it hasn't even come up apart from technical planning issues involving death or disability,” he told the Boston Globe.

“This report is completely without foundation. The Sox and any of the other components of FSG are not for sale and will not be for the foreseeable future.”

The reports also suggest that executives at FSG questioned whether they have the financial capacity to support both the Red Sox and Liverpool, but Henry said these claims were untrue.

"We have separate budgets for each entity, so they really aren't interrelated," Henry added.

"The budgets of the Red Sox are based on Red Sox revenues and the budgets for Liverpool are based on Liverpool revenues."