Match Report: Liverpool 1 - 3 Aston Villa

Aston Villa exposed Liverpool's flaws and the flakiness of their challenge for a top-four place by inflicting the Reds' worst home defeat for more than three years.

Christian Benteke scored twice, either side of Andreas Weimann's well-worked goal, before Steven Gerrard's late consolation as the hosts' three-match winning run was ended in surprising fashion.

It was the first time Villa had scored more than once in any half of league football this season and extended their own unbeaten run to five matches, with only a second away win in 17 away league games.

Villa inflicted the same scoreline in August 2009, and although both sides are at a lower level now, this was a result no-one would have predicted.

The visitors almost doubled their league away goals tally for the campaign, which now stands at seven, in recording only their fifth Anfield victory in 34 visits.

Yet barely 24 hours earlier Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had been talking about targeting second-placed Manchester City so high was the confidence in his squad.

City are now 14 points ahead and, worse still, Liverpool failed to take advantage of Everton's draw at Stoke to close the gap on fourth place with many of their rivals playing on Sunday.

For their part Villa moved three points clear of the relegation zone.

The opening half-hour was virtually one-way traffic as the home side set off at pace in search of a third successive Barclays Premier League victory for the first time since May 2011.

But their eagerness seemed to get the better of them as there was an air of over-complication and lack of finesse about their play in the final third.

Stewart Downing, who in the matchday program revealed Rodgers had told him he could leave and he would assess his options in January, started left-back for the injured Jose Enrique but enjoyed plenty of space down the flank.

Gerrard bundled a shot at goalkeeper Brad Guzan after a poor pass behind him from Luis Suarez, returning after suspension, rebounded back off Raheem Sterling before Downing shot wide after cutting in on his right foot.

It continued with Joe Allen driving wide, Gerrard's feet getting in a tangle after being picked out by Suarez's inch-perfect cross-field ball, and Shelvey delaying his shot long enough got Nathan Baker to block after Suarez capitalized on Chris Herd's mistake.

Liverpool's inability to take their chances has hurt them in the past and it proved to be the case again in the 29th minute.

Brett Holman passed inside to Benteke, who took a touch and - with no-one closing him down - unleashed a low shot which beat Reina off the inside of his right-hand post.

What a difference the goal made as Villa suddenly started playing 30 yards further up the field.

It almost paid off when Weimann seized on Glen Johnson's weak header to lob Reina, only for the ball to drop on to the roof of the net.

The Austrian did not make the same mistake just before half-time with a brilliantly-worked goal.

Weimann released Benteke in the inside-right channel and raced into a gaping hole in the Liverpool defence to turn the striker's clever backheel under Reina.

Joe Cole's emergence for the second half at the expense of Shelvey highlighted the lack of genuine match-winners outside of Rodgers' first XI.

They should, however, have got back into the game early in the second half when Ciaran Clark clearly pulled Daniel Agger's shirt in the penalty area, but referee Neil Swarbrick maintained Liverpool's record of not winning a penalty this season by ignoring the appeals.

It proved costly as when Cole was robbed by Holman on the halfway line, Benteke was sensibly quickly given possession and he danced through the Reds backline to chip a shot past Reina.

Liverpool laid siege to Guzman's goal in the final half-hour, with further claims for a penalty when Johnson's header hit Baker's arm also going unanswered.

When they finally made a breakthrough it came too late with Gerrard heading in Johnson's cross-shot three minutes from the end.

There was just enough time left for Benteke to escape with a yellow card for pushing Johnson in the face in front of a rapidly-emptying Anfield.

Rodgers Hopes For Reinforcements In January

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits his squad have some way to go to be a genuine top-four side and hopes the forthcoming transfer window can assist the process.

Christian Benteke’s double and an Andreas Weimann goal highlighted the Reds’ deficiencies as they were sunk 3-1 by Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday.

And Rodgers said: ‘That was probably as disappointing as we’ve been here but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

‘It is a strange thing football. We were talked up all week about us being top-four material but we know within the group we still have a long way to go.

‘There is going to be steady progress and there are going to be steps forward, like in the last few weeks, and a step backward like yesterday.

‘We looked at the first six months to assess: we know we need some support and hopefully we can get that in. We understand the process as well but the most important thing is to learn from it (the defeat).

‘The thing we’ve learned from Saturday is that you can’t ever be complacent. You have to be at full tilt every week. If we do that we have a great chance of getting the points but if we don’t you can get punished.

‘The challenge for us now is to have a good week’s training and come back next Saturday and hopefully get three points and get on the upward curve again.’

David Villa Primed For Barcelona Exit With Liverpool Waiting

David Villa could be available at the end of the season for a knockdown price of £10million, with Liverpool reported to be finally ready to bring him to England.

The striker has fallen down the pecking order of Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona, and Spanish paper AS claim the Reds could launch a bid for the 31-year-old in the summer.

Barca have ruled out selling Villa in the January transfer window, and Liverpool are unlikely to be able to splash that kind of cash in the new year, but if the Spanish giants complete the signing of Neymar at the end of the season, that would appear to leave little room for the former Valencia man at the Nou Camp.

Villa is already being overlooked for big games, and it’s understood he has become despondent with his place in the team, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Pedro, Alexis Sanchez and Crisitan Tello all ahead of him in Vilanova’s thoughts.

The Spain international’s contract expires in 2014, and a cut-price deal could appeal to both Liverpool and the player, who has always been strongly linked to the Anfield club.

Sweden & Genoa Defender Interested In Liverpool Move

Genoa defender Andreas Granqvist would consider a move to Liverpool after he admitted he was flattered by media reports linking him with the Premier League side.

Reports have claimed that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has deployed scouts to Italy on a number of occasions this season to watch Sweden international Granqvist in action, and following glowing recommendations, is considering a January bid.

And after he was informed of Liverpool’s reported interest, Granqvist responded that he would be interested in a switch to the Anfield club.

“Honestly, I don't know much about this interest. I am focused on Sweden's World Cup qualifiers and then we'll see what happens,” Granqvist told Sportbladet.

“I am happy in Genoa, but obviously I am flattered by the interest from the Reds. They are an historic and successful club.”

Granqvist may appear familiar to some Premier League fans, particularly those of the Wigan persuasion, as the 27-year-old spent 18 months at the DW Stadium from 2007.

He made 14 appearances in his first year in English football, but fell out of favour and left the club for Swedish side Gronigen in 2008.

However, a move to Genoa has reinvigorated his career, and Granqvist is now considered one of the stand-out defenders in Italian football. His performances in Serie A have also seen him nail down a starting place for his national team.

Liverpool Facing Competition For Tom Ince

Liverpool face stiff competition in their bid to resign England Under-21 international Tom Ince with Blackpool boss Michael Appleton confirming there are interests in the winger from a "couple of clubs".

Ince, 20, is wanted by Reds boss Brendan Rodgers as he looks to bolster his attacking line-up in the new year with reports claiming a £6million deal was in the offing.

Ince left Anfield just 18 months ago in a £250,000 deal, but is now being lined up for a return after dazzling for Blackpool this season with 13 goals in the Championship.

His pace and ability to play across the forward line has caught the eye of Rodgers who admitted recently he is aiming to bring two attacking players to Liverpool in January.

Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in Ince in recent weeks and are known to have dispatched scouts to watch him in action for England Under-21s in their recent win over their Northern Irish counterparts.

Ex-United midfielder Appleton has done little to quell the speculation that Liverpool or his former club are in the running for Ince's signature by confirming Blackpool have opened dialogue with two clubs over the sale of Ince.

"There have been no bids as far as I'm aware," said Appleton. "I think there have been conversations with a couple of clubs and the chairman, but nothing concrete. No-one has come in yet and set the marker in terms of a price."

Ince, the son of former United and Liverpool Paul, was the subject of a failed bid by Swansea and recently said he was in no rush to leave Bloomfield Road having established himself as a key player for the club.

Appleton admits if the youngster is tempted away it will be a huge blow to the club, who currently lie 11th in the Championship table, four points outside the play-off spots.

He said: "If the worst did happen in January, and we did lose Tom, then we have to make sure we have replacements ready. They will have to fill some very big shoes."

United And Arsenal Prepare To Bid For Sterling

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted that talks have stalled over Raheem Sterling’s contract with the club, paving the way for interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.

Sterling, who is valued at £15million, made his England debut against Sweden this year and if he were to move to United he would be the first player to move from Liverpool for nearly 50 years.

Former United winger Willie Morgan advised Sir Alex Ferguson to sign Sterling earlier this week and reports suggest that United, Arsenal and Manchester City are interested in the 18-year-old. He told the Manchester Evening News:

‘I think United should attempt to buy Liverpool’s left winger Raheem Sterling.

‘Sterling is the first winger I have seen in a long time who looks like a proper winger. He looks very good already and I think he is going to be great.

‘If you just let him go wide on the outside of the full-backs all the time I think he will be a great player. He’ll frighten people to death, so long as nobody coaches it out of him. He’s the brightest prospect out there and would suit United.’

Raheem Sterling Happy To Stay At Anfield

Raheem Sterling is currently happy at Liverpool and unlikely to move away from the club in the near future, talkSPORT understands.

With murmurings of a contract dispute and interest from Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly heightening, it had seemed the youngster could be set for the Anfield exit door.

But, it appears, this is far from the truth with the flying winger loving life on Merseyside.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has given the starlet, 17, a run in the first team this season for Liverpool and he has repaid his manager’s faith by putting in some sparkling performances on the flanks, earning himself an England call-up as well.

Sterling has made 14 appearances in the Premier League and scoring one goal, the winner against Reading in October, but he is still yet to receive a contract offer from the club with 18 months left on his current deal.

Downing Told He Can Leave Liverpool

Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has been told he can find a new club in order to get regular game time after failing to cement a starting place under new manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 28-year-old winger has frustrated Anfield fans in his 18-month spell at the club, and after being played up and down the left side this season, the manager's patience with Downing appears to have run out.

And with the blessing of Rodgers, the former Aston Villa man will start looking at alternative options in January - but may have to wait until the summer for a more permanent move.

"The manager has said I can leave if I want to. I think it's just the nature of football, the old cliche about it being a funny old game is true," he told reporters.

"I've played for a long time and there are spells when you can be in and out of any side. At the minute I'm trying to play as much as possible.

"If that doesn't happen I am at an age where I cannot be sat around. I need to play and the manager understands that."

The winger played 36 Premier League games for the Reds last season but failed to score a single league goal, and has not scored in six league appearances this term. He has, however, found the net three times in the Europa League.

And with Rodgers seemingly preferring Jose Enrique in a more advanced position on the left, Downing is looking at the upcoming transfer window and the summer for a potential move away from Anfield: "That's how the situation is and we will have to see what happens in January or in the summer."

Young Wing-Back Turns Down New Liverpool Contract

Liverpool wing-back Martin Kelly has reportedly rejected a contract extension with the Reds, according to the Daily Mirror.

The 22-year-old, who made his England debut earlier this year, has 18 months left on his present deal at Anfield and the club offered the youngster £35,000 per week to re-sign.

Kelly, who is out of action with a knee ligament injury, now joins fellow Liverpool academy graduate Raheem Sterling in rejecting new deals with the Merseyside club.

The report also claims that the Merseyside outfit finds the high salaries being paid to big-money signings such as Stewart Downing are causing problems in dealings with other players.

Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers has stated he is confident Sterling will sign a new contract with the Reds soon.

"No, [I'm] not at all [concerned. That will be resolved I'm sure, fairly soon. He's a kid who has got this special ability so that no matter what is going on, he doesn't get too involved with it. He focuses on his football. Hopefully, it stays that way," Goal.com quoted the Northern Irishman as saying.

Young Reds Beaten In NexLions Final

Liverpool U18s had to settle for the runners-up place in the inaugural NexLions tournament after losing 2-0 to Sporting Lisbon in Singapore on Sunday.

Having beaten Singapore 1-0 in their opening match on Friday, the Liverpool team, featuring three 16-year-olds, was hoping to exact revenge on the highly rated Portuguese outfit after suffering two consecutive defeats against them in the European NexGen series.

Two second-half goals - the first scored within a minute of the restart by Luka Stojanovic and a second from substitute Luis Cortez on the 90th minute - put paid to that plan but the youngsters, without the injured Jerome Sinclair and Samed Yesil, didn't give up the game without a fight.

A long-range free-kick from Jack Dunn, deflected wide by a Sporting defender, was Liverpool's best chance from the opening half but after conceding the goal, Alex Inglethorpe's team seemed to step up a gear.

A goal-bound shot from Marc Pelosi, cleared by the last defender with the goalkeeper beaten, was the closest they came to an equalizer as they chased the game with the score still 1-0 but the 90th-minute strike from Cortez killed off any chance of a comeback and made sure Sporting Lisbon were crowned the first ever winners of the NexLions Cup.

Manchester United, having been beaten 4-1 by Sporting on Friday, defeated Singapore 2-1 earlier in the evening to claim 3rd place in the tournament.

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Brendan Rodgers feels that his Liverpool side have recovered well from what he calls a 'disastrous' start to the season as they prepare to host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

Liverpool sit in 10th place, but Reds fans will be looking for their team to build upon solid recent form and make strides up the table.

Last Sunday's turnaround against West Ham, without suspended top scorer Luis Suarez, will have boosted morale and the controversial Uruguayan is available for selection once again.

Joe Cole stepped up to the plate to notch his first Premier League goal since April 2011 last weekend, but he has yet to start a league fixture so far this season. Despite his impressive contribution at Upton Park, Cole's future at Anfield is still uncertain, and it would be a surprise if he started against Villa.

Only goal difference keeps Paul Lambert's side out of the drop zone, but Wednesday night's Capital One Cup win at Norwich should have lifted spirits at Villa Park.

Goals have been hard to come by this season in the league, with just 12 in 16 games, and Darren Bent will not be adding to that total in the near future.

A thigh injury sustained at Carrow Road has sidelined the striker, but given his manager's reluctance to pick him of late, it is questionable whether he would have featured at Anfield.

Villa has a poor record at Anfield, with their victory on Merseyside in 2009 the only one in their last 16 visits.

Luis Suarez will return after serving a one-match suspension for reaching five yellow cards.

The Uruguay international has not been on the score-sheet in five appearances since netting twice against Wigan in mid-November.

Jose Enrique is a doubt after limping out of the win over West Ham with a hamstring strain.

Darren Bent's hamstring injury rules him out of contention until the new year.

The striker withdrew after 35 minutes of the Capital One Cup tie at Norwich on Tuesday, his first start since the Fulham game on 20 October.

Ron Vlaar is still out with a calf strain but Joe Bennett and Enda Stevens are available after recovering from their knee and ankle problems respectively.

Rodgers Sets Sights On Second

Brendan Rodgers believes his Liverpool side can confound their critics by not only chasing down fourth-placed Everton but also catching Manchester City in second.

Rodgers argues that his players have been "hammered" unfairly by pundits this season, and insists that his side's performances have been better than results suggest.

Liverpool have spent virtually the entire campaign in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but climbed to their season's high of tenth place by winning 3-2 at West Ham last Sunday.

That result came after a 1-0 home victory over Southampton the previous weekend, and marked the first time Liverpool had recorded back-to-back league victories since Rodgers took over in June.

Liverpool hosts Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday before Fulham visit Anfield the following weekend.

With trips to Stoke and QPR over Christmas followed by a New Year home clash with Sunderland, many Liverpool fans believe the club have a great chance to close the four-point gap between themselves and neighbours Everton, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification place.

But Rodgers believes his side can, over the remainder of the season, also cut the 11-point gap between his side and Manchester City in second.

He said: "I've heard lots of people talk about Liverpool. Everyone's got their opinion, and I understand that because of the standards the club set in the 1970s and 80s. I'm well in tune with that but, for a club that's supposedly been very poor, we only lie four points off that top four position. And for me, the ambition is to grow higher.

"We're 11 points off second and that can all turn round very quickly. We need to get consistency. That's what we've got at the moment.

"If we can keep showing the motivation and commitment, then this sequence of games are opportunities, but it's no good looking at Fulham next week just yet. We've got to take care of Aston Villa this week."

Rodgers, who welcomes back top scorer Luis Suarez from a one-match ban for the Villa game, is adamant that an upturn in results has been coming for some time.

Having made their worst start to a season in 100 years by collecting two points from their opening five games, Liverpool have lost just one of 11 league matches since.

Rodgers added: "I've never had any complaint with the players. They've been brilliant since the first day I walked in here. They've been hammered throughout the season, left, right and centre, by a number of people, but I was quite calm because I see them every day, and their focus and concentration has been first class.

"I'm just happy for them that they're getting the rewards for their hard work. It's just steady progress that we're making. We're not enough halfway through the league season. But for us, our focus is on the next game."

Liverpool Face Competition To Land Gornik Zabrze Starlet

Liverpool target Arkadiusz Milik is now high on Torino's wishlist as the Polish youngster's stock continues to rise.

The Gornik Zabrze teenager has made his name in his homeland's top flight with seven goals in 14 appearances at the tender age of 18.

The youngster is already drawing comparisons with Manchester United target Robert Lewandowski and Bayer Leverkusen are already heavily interested in signing the prospect.

Gornik Zabrze is reluctant to part with their star asset but financial struggles might force them to cash in on the rookie in January.

And it has now emerged that Torino are ready to enter the running for the starlet, who has been tracked by Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.

Fulham Plan January Swoop for Liverpool Midfielder

Fulham are reportedly planning a move for Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson in January.

The 22 year old, who arrived at Anfield from Sunderland last season, has failed to secure a starting spot in the Reds' first team under Brendan Rodgers.

The England international previously insisted he wanted to fight for his career at Merseyside but the Cottagers will now attempt to lure the player to west London by offering him regular first-team action, according to Goal.com.

The report also claims Liverpool offered Henderson to Fulham in the summer, in a part-exchange deal for forward Clint Dempsey, but the arrangement eventually fell through.

Cottagers boss Martin Jol knows he has failed to find an effective replacement for Belgian Moussa Dembele, who made the switch across London to join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, and is understood to be keen on snapping up Henderson.

Martinez Warns Liverpool Off Republic Of Ireland Star

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that there is no chance of James McCarthy leaving the club in January amid interest from Liverpool, but acknowledged that the Irishman will one day leave for a top club.

The 22-year-old has played an integral role in Wigan’s midfield since his arrival from Hamilton in 2009, and has gone on to state a claim for being a fixture of Ireland’s midfield despite his tender years. Roberto Martinez is aware that he may have a gem on his hands, but has urged McCarthy to continue polishing his game at the DW Stadium, rather than making the move to a bigger club to soon.

We will always feel really pleased with compliments towards our players, “Martinez said, The Daily Star report.”But James McCarthy is a young man - at 22 he is still developing

"One day he will be challenging to win titles and to be in the highest position in the game, there is no two ways about it.

"But he is still developing and the performance that he had on Saturday shows that he is developing in the right way.

"The last thing he needs now is to be distracted from his good work and the way he is developing."

Liverpool have also been linked with a move for McCarthy’s compatriot Shane Long in recent weeks, but West Brom’s leading goal scorer insists he is solely concentrating on his football at the Hawthorns.

Liverpool Chose Henderson Over Gotze

Liverpool briefly considered making a move for Borussia Dortmund starlet Mario Gotze in the summer of 2011, but instead the club chose to pursue and eventually sign Jordan Henderson from Sunderland.

The Times report that former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and the club’s former director of football Damien Comolli that the Germany international was briefly considered when the club outlined their summer transfer plans, only to discard his name and push forward with their efforts to bring Henderson to Anfield. Since then, the former Sunderland midfielder has flattered to deceive, struggling to impose himself on Brendan Rodgers’ side, whereas Gotze has continued to prove why he is considered one of the most prodigious talents in world football.

Comolli was appointed Director of football Strategy in late 2010, and working alongside Dalglish, helped the club sign Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Sebastian Coates, Craig Bellamy, Jose Enrique in addition to Henderson in the summer of 2011. With the exception of Enrique, Comolli’s dealings have seemingly fallen short of expectation. The Daily Mail also report that Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud and Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa were also targets under Comolli’s tenure, but were overlooked in favour of others.

Perhaps the most controversial comment on Comolli’s time upon Merseyside was the £35 million acquisition of Andy Carroll from Newcastle United, a deal which Comolli still defends.

“If you want to talk about the Carroll deal, the situation was quite clear,” the former Tottenham Hotspur Director of Football said, The Daily Mail report.

“The way we looked at it, we were selling two players – Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel – and we were bringing two in – Suarez and Carroll – and we were making a profit and the wage bill was coming down considerably as well. It was a four-player deal.”

“Chelsea kept bidding higher and higher for Torres. The difference between their first and final bid is double.

“They [FSG] asked me what the risks were and I said if things don’t go well you’ll lose something on Andy, but it is difficult to measure whether you will make money if things go well because Liverpool aren't a selling club and he could be here for the next 10 years.”

Rodgers: Diving Is The Player's Responsibility

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes there is little club managers can do about diving in their team, stating that the responsibility lands solely at the feet of the player.

Rodgers has seen one of his players in Luis Suarez come under severe criticism at points during the season for going the ground to easily. The former Swansea City manager has backed the Uruguayan when he has faced backlash from the likes of Stoke manager Tony Pulis and Swansea defender Ashley Williams in particular, but has said the problem plaguing the game exists at all levels.

"Luis Suarez was held up as the only one that seemed to be doing it. Whenever many other players were doing it, both British and European, it seemed to go very quiet," Rodgers told Liverpool’s official website.

"It's something that is the responsibility of the players. The managers can only guide and give their opinion to the players. I've seen it at all levels - the Premier League, reserve games, youth team games and some kids football.”

The northern Irish manager admits that the problem of players going down unchallenged is plaguing the Premier League, but maintains the stance that the problem will be especially hard to eliminate from the English game.

"You see it now becoming a part of the game but it's certainly something we want to eradicate. It's a difficult one for the referees because they have to make that judgement straight away,” Rodgers added.

"Pundits and others get a chance to review it a number of times. It's something we must work hard to eradicate from the game."

Liverpool Goalkeeper Signs New Deal At Anfield

Brad Jones has signed a new long term deal with Liverpool after impressing Brendan Rodgers in the absence of Pepe Reina.

A string of injuries saw Spain international Reina sidelined for a time earlier in the season, but the former Middlesbrough shot stopper has proved to be a reliable deputy. Brendan Rodgers has for the most part selected the 30-year-old for Europa League outings, but injuries to Reina saw him also step in for high profile games with Everton, Chelsea and Newcastle United.

Rodgers recently spoke of the quality of his two goalkeepers, dismissing the idea that he was in the market to sign replacements after the club was linked with a move for Birmingham City’s Jack Butland.

"Of course you are always looking for talent but what we have is one of the best number one keepers in the Premier League in Pepe Reina and then Brad Jones, who was a number three or number four keeper here but has really kicked on since the summer,” Rodgers told Sky Sports last month.

"In the games Brad has played he's showed he is a very loyal and supportive number two. Our job then below that is to ensure we have top young talents who can then hopefully challenge at the top end."

Jones is the fifth Liverpool player to put pen to paper on a new contract since Rodgers’s appointment, joining Luis Suarez, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Jonjo Shelvey in committing their futures to Anfield.

Allen Gaining Edge With Peters

Reds midfielder Joe Allen is reaping rewards in his maiden season with the club by working on the mental side of his performance with Dr. Steve Peters.

Peters, who has been enlisted by Brendan Rodgers on an informal basis, has helped some of Britain's finest athletes during the past decade with his method of sports psychiatry.

Allen is one player to benefit from Peters' services and the Welshman has explained the impact such preparation can have when taking to the field.

"I've been to see him and I've found it very helpful," the 22-year-old reflected to the Liverpool Echo.

"In football anything you can add or bring which can benefit us in any sort of way is something that I am happy to have.

"Steve really is an incredible person. The things he has done in his career are very impressive. Spending time with someone like him can only rub off on you in a good way.

"I'm not sure if the mental side of the game is more important these days but it's certainly something that plays a part in how you play.

"I think it's pretty obvious to see when you have someone on the pitch who is in a good frame of mind. When a player is brimming with confidence you certainly see a difference in his performance.

"You only have to look at some of the people Steve has worked with. It's something we will utilize and I'm sure he will help us all over the course of the season."

Young Reds Reach NexLions Final

Liverpool U18s will face Sporting Lisbon in the final of the inaugural NexLions Cup after beating Singapore 1-0 on Friday in the Jalan Besar Stadium.

A single first-half back-heeled goal from Samed Yesil was enough to secure victory for the youngsters - who only arrived in Singapore late on Wednesday afternoon - and set up what promises to be a mouth-watering clash with the highly-rated Portuguese outfit on Sunday night.

Earlier in the evening, Sporting came from a goal down at half-time against Manchester United to win 4-1 and book their place in the final.

Having arrived at the stadium in time to watch much of that second-half - including a goal scored within 20 seconds of the restart - the Liverpool players will be acutely aware of the task they face in attempting to overcome a physically strong Sporting side.

For LFC coach Alex Inglethorpe, however, it's the perfect test for his players.

"Before the game, I said I wanted to play Sporting Lisbon on Sunday because it will provide a real challenge for our lads," he said.

"They won't often come up against teams like Sporting who play with a different style to many English teams.

"These are the players who Premier League managers look at and so it's a good way to benchmark where they are against these continental players.

"Some of our players tonight were just 16, so to come away with a victory against a team featuring a couple of 21-year-olds is a great learning experience for them."

Liverpool Handed Double Boost In Spanish Striker Chase

Fernando Llorente insists that he hasn't agreed to sign a deal with Juventus, with the Spaniard continuing to be linked to Liverpool.

Llorente has long been a target for the Reds, with the striker revealing last year that the club had come in to sign him, but because of their refusal to match his £30 million exit clause, Athletic Bilbao said no.

And as speculation claimed that Juventus had beaten Liverpool to the star, Llorente has said that he has not decided where his future lies.

"No. That's totally untrue," he told Sky Sports of the rumours. "I think it's normal that people talk about these things, but ultimately you have to respect the rules.

"I am an Athletic player and, until January 1, I cannot sign with any other team."

Llorente also hinted that a move to the Premier League would be the preferred option, with Arsenal and Manchester City also believed to be pursuing the 27 year old, as he enters the final six months of his contract with Bilbao.

"It is true that we are approaching the date when I can sign for other clubs," he explained.

"I'm trying to keep it so that it is something which is managed by my brother and my representatives. That leaves me to focus in my football and help my team, Athletic, and nothing else, maintain focus.

"I really like the Premier League and I've mentioned on more than one occasion that it's a league which appeals to me a lot.

"You never know. It's one good option in terms of my future but we'll have to wait until the end of the season to see what happens."

Liverpool is desperately in need of striking power, with the club relying heavily on Luis Suarez to deliver the goals as they push for a top four spot.

The Uruguay international has been outstanding across the Premier League this season, but will need some assistance if the side hopes to be in contention for the Europa League trophy and push for Champions League qualification.

And while Liverpool have continually insisted that they don't have an unlimited budget like in seasons past, if they do sell the likes of Andy Carroll and Joe Cole like reports are suggesting, and Llorente chooses to move to the Reds, they could offer him an attractive salary.

Liverpool Make Butland Move

Liverpool have stepped up their chase of English goalkeeper Jack Butland as Arsenal prepare to make an £8 million move to sign Pepe Reina.

Goal.com has learned that the Merseysiders have made third-party contact with Birmingham City about buying Butland in January.

Wigan Athletic’s Ali Al-Habsi and Swansea City’s Michel Vorm also feature on Liverpool’s wish-list as they prepare the ground for the increasingly likely departure of Reina.

The Spaniard is believed to be open to a move to Arsenal in the forthcoming window and is even ready to contemplate a drop in his £120,000-a-week Liverpool salary to push the deal through.

The firm No.1 choice to succeed Reina is Butland, who is expected to be sold by cash-strapped Birmingham next year should their valuation be met.

The Championship club rejected a £6m offer from Southampton for the 19-year-old during the summer but is unlikely to stand in the way of a move in January, given the state of their finances.

Liverpool is wary of overpaying for potential, and will not be held to ransom, but club scouts have identified Butland as an outstanding young talent.

Butland, who has represented England at all age-group levels, came to prominence while on loan at Cheltenham Town last season before being selected in the England squad for Euro 2012 following an injury to John Ruddy. He was the Great Britain No.1 at the Olympics and then made his senior England debut in the friendly against Italy.

The teenager’s progress has continued in his first season in the Birmingham team, with West Ham and Manchester City the other clubs who are closely monitoring his progress.

However, Liverpool is the frontrunners in the race for Butland’s signature and is expected to make a formal move should Arsenal step up their pursuit of Reina.

Goal.com revealed last month that Reina tops Arsenal’s three-man goalkeeper shortlist to challenge established No.1 Wojciech Szczesny, followed by Vorm and Stoke City’s Thomas Sorensen.

Arsene Wenger is a long-time admirer of Reina, who he tried to sign from Anfield in the summer of 2010 for what the goalkeeper claimed in his recent autobiography was £20m.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers tried to flatten mounting rumours of Reina’s possible exit last week, claiming that “what is worth putting on record is that I’m not looking for another goalkeeper” and “any areas we will look to improve will be elsewhere”.

Privately, there is a growing acceptance at Anfield that the 30-year-old keeper could be ready for a new challenge.

Reina is contracted at Liverpool until 2016 and it would take an offer of around £10m to persuade the Merseysiders to part company with the fans’ favourite.

Dortmund Interested In Bringing Back Sahin

Borussia Dortmund’s chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has said that if on-loan Liverpool midfielder Nuri Sahin wants to come and play for the Bundesliga Champions, then, they may consider an approach.

Sahin played for BVB before moving to Real Madrid in 2011, but struggled to cement his place in the first team and is now on loan at the Reds.

The playmaker has found it difficult to adapt to life in both England and Spain and Watzke has said Dortmund would think about bringing Sahin back to the club, if the Turkey international showed his desire to play for them.

“I told him: If he comes to me and says, he doesn't want anything else than playing in Dortmund, we will think about this issue. But it has to be feasible," he told Bild.

The German champions have also sold on other players such as Shinji Kagawa and striker Lucas Barrios in recent times and the chief executive believes as well as Sahin that the duo are not currently as happy as they were when playing for BVB.

He added: “Which player, who has left us is happier now, Kagawa? Sahin? Barrios? No one."

Agent Plays Down Sanchez January Exit

Liverpool target Alexis Sanchez will not be leaving Barcelona any time soon, according to his agent, reports talkSPORT.

The 23-year-old Chilean winger has struggled to hold down a regular place in Tito Vilanova's side after suffering an injury-plagued start to his career at Camp Nou, and is once again being linked with a move to the Premier League.

Manchester United were interested in signing Sanchez from Udinese when he opted instead to move to Spain, but now it's Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers who wants to lure the South American star to Anfield.

However, Liverpool's hopes of securing his signature in January have been dealt a blow after Sanchez's representative Fernando Felicevich ruled out a move for his client.

"In no case will Alexis leave Barcelona," he told todomercadoweb.es. "He has returned after injury and played well.

"Alexis stays in Barcelona. Has no reason to leave. He is at the best team in the world. In addition to that Barca has [Lionel] Messi, a player that everyone can learn from."

Rodgers is keen to boost his attacking options on Merseyside, with Luis Suarez currently Liverpool's only fit first-team striker.

Sanchez's ability to play on either wing as well as through the middle would be an attractive attribute, if only the club can convince him and his agent, Felicevich, that his future would be better served in England.

Daniel Sturridge & Thomas Ince Set For Liverpool

Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is set to move to Liverpool in January for £12 million and so is Blackpool star Thomas Ince.

The Sun report that talks are at an advanced stage for both players and they want to get the business done as early as possible when the transfer window opens.

Liverpool turned down the chance to sign Sturridge back in the summer window but boss Brendan Rodgers ignored the opportunity because he was concerned about his character.

Sturridge is keen on moving to Anfield after growing disillusioned at a lack of openings at Chelsea and being used on the flanks when he plays.

Meanwhile, midfielder Ince, 20, left the Kop for just £250,000 18 months ago but has starred at Bloomfield Road.

Rodgers has also looked at Celtic ace Georgias Samaras.

Rodgers Unsure On Joe Cole's Liverpool Future

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said that Joe Cole's future prospects with the club depend on the player himself.

The 31-year-old midfielder scored his first Premier League goal since April 2011 in Sunday's 3-2 victory at his old club West Ham, but has not featured regularly for the Reds this season.

Cole has been out of action because of injury for parts of the season, but when fit he has only started cup matches and reports suggested he could be set for a move away from Anfield.

"I'm just going along game by game," said Rodgers on the Liverpool Echo website.

"There is every opportunity for every player.

"It's not just about the games. Every player gets a chance every single day to show what they are all about.

"Is his future here? You would have to ask him that."

Rodgers has not got any fixed views on what the future holds for Cole.

"The guy is still a Liverpool player and while he's a Liverpool player I'll work as hard as I can with my staff to try to make him the best we possibly can,” added the Liverpool boss.

"If he's not going to play as often as he wants then he's no different to any player really. Players are about game time and money.

"But he's not any kind of problem, he's a good guy and we will see what happens over the coming months."

Cole Not Looking For January Move

Joe Cole has indicated that he is not looking to leave Liverpool in the January transfer window, insisting that he wants to fight for a first team place at Anfield.

The former West Ham Ham and Chelsea attacker has been linked with a number of moves away after a relatively poor first half of the season, most notably with a chance to reunite with Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers. But after finding the back of net in his last two games against Young Boys and the Hammers, Cole has underlined his desire to claim a role in Brendan Rodgers’ first team.

"All I'm doing is giving my all in training every day, and trying to keep my place in the squad when we play Villa. That's all I can do,” Cole told the Daily Mirror.

"It has been difficult recently but I have scored in my last two appearances and I want to keep the sequence going if I can. And when I'm called upon, I will do the best job I can."

Cole has made a paltry eight appearances for the Reds this season, with only half of those coming from a starting position in the team and none of them coming in the Premier League. Fresh reports this morning suggested that Liverpool had made significant steps in their pursuit of Chelsea’s Daniel Strurridge and Blackpool starlet Tom Ince, who have been touted as replacements for Cole and the similarly underwhelming Stewart Downing.

Young Reds Head To Singapore

With the U21 reserve league on its winter break and a bit of time to fill for Liverpool's various youth teams, a handful of the club's more promising prospects are headed off to Singapore for a U19 mini-tournament this week. With only four teams involved, Liverpool are set to face off against a Singapore XI on Friday for the right to play the winner of Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon in Sunday's final while the two losing sides face off in a third-place playoff.

Liverpool have sent their strongest possible squad half way around the globe for a bit of experience, and promising prospects like Ryan McLaughlin, Brad Smith, Jordon Ibe, and Jerome Sinclair will joined by occasional first team players Adam Morgan and Samed Yesil in their efforts.

"It will be a great learning curve for our young players and a great opportunity for them to compete against some of the world's most promising players," said academy director Frank McParland of taking part in the inaugural edition of what organizers hope will become a yearly event. "It also gives us a chance to meet and play in front of our passionate fans in Singapore."

Once they arrive, the biggest difficulty for the players may be the humidity rather than their opposition. And though the honour of winning a fledgling two-match "tournament" may be open to debate, at a stage when every competitive match and new playing experience is beneficial to their development it's at the least an intriguing venture.

"I think the trip will be just as important for what happens off the pitch as well as on it in terms of the players' development," added McParland. "They'll go on two flights for 16 hours, they'll get used to the travelling and being in hotels with a lot of down time.

"And while we're there we'll also be going into schools and they'll be doing a lot of media - so it's not just about the football. It's about learning to be a footballer and, more importantly, it's about learning to be a Liverpool footballer."

Fulham Withdraw Complaint Against Liverpool

Fulham have withdrawn a complaint to the Premier League relating to Liverpool's pursuit of Clint Dempsey in the summer following an apology from Tom Werner, the Anfield club's chairman, for their “unprofessional” behaviour.

Goal.com exclusively revealed in August that the Cottagers had flagged the Merseysider's conduct to the FA, and the west London club have since accepted the apology which cited actions that were “simply not acceptable” and added that Werner “emphasized his regret for the entire episode.”

Fulham said on their official website: “Liverpool’s Chairman Tom Werner apologized personally to Mohamed Al Fayed, stating that his club were wholly responsible for unprofessional behaviour toward Fulham and emphasized his regret for the entire episode.

“The chairman decided that this sincere action was enough, and as a gesture of goodwill, instructed that all complaints against them be dropped.”

The Reds came under criticism for the manner in which they tried to tempt Dempsey to Merseyside, including a premature announcement of his transfer to Liverpool appearing on owner's Fenway Sports Group's website in July.

The Cottagers felt that after a sustained campaign to unsettle Dempsey and no forthcoming bid, Liverpool's behaviour was a form of tapping up their attacker, who was the club's top scorer in the 2011-12 season with 23 goals. Subsequently Fulham made a complaint against the Merseysiders after Dempsey moved to Tottenham on deadline day for £6 million.

The move prompted a war of words between the Texan and Martin Jol, with the former claiming he would have stayed at the club if he had been made to feel loved.

“If you always felt valued and appreciated enough, I don’t think you’d ever leave,” Dempsey said. “But it came to a point where I didn’t feel valued and appreciated, not by the fans, but by other situations.”

Yet Jol, refused to entertain the explanation, instead suggesting Dempsey wanted a move to earn a better contract.

“I told Clint in our last conversation that I loved him like a son, but he didn’t care because he wanted to move,” the Fulham manager said.

“So it’s a bit far-fetched and I don’t think it was personal because he never said he didn’t feel loved by me. I think he didn’t feel appreciated and that means, he told me, ‘you have all the money in the world’, but I haven’t. He wanted a financial move and he wanted to play Champions League.”

Hillsborough Hearing Date Set

The Attorney General's attempt to overturn the original Hillsborough inquest verdicts will be heard on 19 December.

Dominic Grieve made the application to the High Court in the wake of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's damning report into the 1989 disaster, which caused the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters.

And a spokesman for the Judicial Office said: "The Attorney General's application to quash the Hillsborough inquest verdicts has been listed for a substantive hearing before the Divisional Court on Wednesday 19 December, subject to any applications by interested parties to adjourn.

"The Lord Chief Justice, sitting with two other judges, will hear the application."

The original inquest, which did not consider evidence from after 3.15pm on the day of the disaster, returned accidental death verdicts.

But the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report concluded that 41 of the 96 victims could have survived if the emergency services' response had been better.