Liverpool Set For Glory After Successful Summer

When Brendan Rodgers arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2012 the air of anticipation around Liverpool fans was a sure sign that the club was pulling itself out from the lows seen under Kenny Dalglish.

While Rodgers' first year in charge may not have been the most successful for Liverpool, a strong second half, seeing them only score two points less than champions Manchester United in the final 18 games, gave Kopites much to be excited about.

In the summer transfer window all the speculation was surrounding the future of Luis Suarez. Comments by the Uruguayan and interest from Arsenal seemed to make it more likely the man who all but carried Liverpool for much of last season would be heading through the door.

Fast forward to present day however and Luis Suarez is still a Liverpool player, solid signings for good prices mean the Reds have not broken the bank but have strengthened the squad and three wins from the opening three Premier League games have fans believing the Anfield side can fight for a top four finish this season.

That target is perhaps more in reach now than it ever has been in recent years and should success return to Anfield, this summer will be remembered as the moment fortunes turned.

In keeping Luis Suarez, Liverpool now have two out-and-out strikers with the potential of scoring 20+ goals a season- something that has been desperately lacking at Anfield, even in the Fernando Torres days.

Suarez and Daniel Sturridge were forming a good partnership until the Uruguayan's biting incident with Branislav Ivanovic but with Suarez set to return to action, probably against Manchester United in the Capital One Cup, the current average of a goal a game will surely increase.

To further that, Suarez has plenty of motivation this season. He is not where he wants to be in terms of Liverpool not playing in Europe so his desire means not only will he have to lead Liverpool's assault on the Champions League places but also prove himself to clubs currently in that competition that he is worthy of playing for them.

Liverpool fans are more than aware that should another year pass without making it back into the top four then Suarez will be out the door and this time they won't have a case of which to argue.

Liverpool however is probably in their best place now since the last time they made the Champions League back in 2009, and that is thanks to a more balanced, stronger team.

Philippe Coutinho continues to terrorize defences throughout the Premier League with his pace and skill, as does Raheem Sterling. The signing of Iago Aspas also looks very promising with the British-born Spaniard looking a threat as he continues to adjust to the Premier League.

While Luis Alberto hasn't been used much thus far, he too will provide the impetus from midfield with Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard the powerhouses in the centre of the pitch. The arrival of Victor Moses on loan from Chelsea is another signing that only adds strength in depth to Liverpool going forward.

In defence Lucas continues to be the rock just in front of a back four that is also now looking very formidable. The importance of keeping Daniel Agger, following interest from Barcelona, is under-estimated and with Martin Skrtel keen to prove a point as he did against United the ability to keep clean sheets will only be a help to Liverpool's chances.

Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson add their own challenge for opposing teams being a major force going forward and at the back and the signings of Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori along with Kolo Toure mean Liverpool have plenty of very capable options in defence.

Finally, the arrival of Simon Mignolet has certainly given Liverpool another future stalwart in goal. Pepe Reina remains on Liverpool's books (currently on loan at Napoli), but the start Mignolet has made with the fine penalty save against Stoke City and the good performances against Aston Villa and Man Utd only add to the sense that Liverpool have a team to be afraid of this season.

Certainly with all the potential there and confidence currently sky high it is all about momentum this season, the red half of Merseyside has had it's best summer window in years and if the gains made on paper continue to show on the pitch then maybe a return to the Champions League could be just the start of a new successful era at Anfield.

Liverpool Star Urges Fans To Celebrate

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has urged Reds fans to celebrate the club's impressive start to the season after three 1-0 wins and a Capital One Cup victory over Notts County has lead to their best start since 1995.

The Brazilian told Liverpoolfc.com of his delight going into the international break at the top of the table.

"It's a great start, we can't deny that. That's the way we wanted to start," he said.

Liverpool has won all three Premier League games with a single Daniel Sturridge goal, a small margin that won't continue, but Lucas is remaining optimistic of the season ahead.

"I don't think it's dangerous for the fans to get a bit carried away after a win like this - they should celebrate," he added.

Liverpool did not qualify for Europe last season but after such a promising start and with the recent additions of Victor Moses from Chelsea (loan), Tiago Ilori from Sporting Lisbon and Mamadou Sakho from PSG, there's no wonder the red half of Liverpool is even more optimistic than usual.

"There's a greater belief among us now. We all believed previously, but now we have a stronger team," said the Brazilian.

Brendan Rodgers has recently said that the club's lack of European football this season will help to create an added incentive to win a domestic cup competition but Lucas is focusing on finishing in an elusive top-four position.

"We've always said the main target this season is a top-four finish as we all want to play Champions League football," said the 26-year-old.

Lucas is not getting carried away with the early-season hype but is reminding the Liverpool fans to appreciate every important victory as they come.

"If we keep going like we have done now, then it's going to be a great season. But the fans just have to celebrate, and if they have the belief then they will support us even more," he concluded.

Suarez Insists He Is ‘Delighted’ To Stay At Liverpool

Luis Suarez has claimed he is happy that he remains a Liverpool player following late speculation that Real Madrid would make a move for the striker.

The Uruguayan announced his intention to leave Anfield at the beginning of the transfer window amid speculation that he wanted to join Arsenal in search of Champions League football.

Liverpool made it obvious that they didn’t want to sell, rejecting high offers from Real Madrid and Arsenal and it became increasingly clear that Suarez would have to stay put.

But the controversial striker insists that he made his mind up a number of weeks ago and wanted to repay the Liverpool fans for the faith they showed in him.

He told the Daily Mail: “I closed this subject a while ago. I have already taken the decision to stay at Liverpool.

“If I play I am talked about, if don’t play it's the same… They’ve already put me in every team.

“In that moment I said if something happens then good, but if I was staying at Liverpool I'd be delighted. This is over a while now.”

Skrtel: Liverpool Exit Never An Option

Martin Srktel has insisted that he never gave the possibility of leaving Liverpool serious thought during the summer, with his focus firmly on fighting for a first-team place at Anfield and helping the Reds fight for Champions League qualification.

Srktel was consistently linked with clubs across Europe for much of the close season, including a reunion with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Serie A giants Napoli.

The Slovakian defender started for the first time in Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester United, filling in for Kolo Toure to help Brendan Rodgers' side maintain their 100 per cent start to the Premier League.

With French international Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori both joining to strengthen Liverpool's defensive options, Srktel believes that the Reds are well placed to challenge for a top-four finish this season.

He told SITA: "I'm staying at Liverpool. The rumours were never as strong as it was made out. There has been no contact with other clubs because the Liverpool management told me that they were counting on me. That is why a transfer was never in my plans.

"I have never considered it [the United game] to be a chance to show that I deserve to stay at Liverpool. Players come, players leave, it's a normal thing and we will see how it develops. It was a big derby but, on the other hand, it was also just another league game.

"You may say that the number of clubs competing is increasing from one year to the next. Again we have seen clubs spending big sums of money - City, Tottenham, Chelsea and even Arsenal. Competition is big but when I look at how we have played, I would say that we belong in the top four."

Since signing for Liverpool in 2008 Skrtel has played more than 200 times for the Merseysiders, with the 28-year-old scoring nine goals in all competitions during that spell.

Liverpool Tried To Hijack Madrid Bid For Alderweireld

Liverpool tried to hijack Atletico Madrid's deal for Ajax star Toby Alderweireld.

The Belgian international revealed the Anfield side came back with a deal in last few days of the window, but was convinced the La Liga side would be the better choice.

"The club has been following me now for two or three weeks, and you could see they really wanted me," he said.

"That is why I turned down approaches from other teams.

"Liverpool, for example, appeared in the last few days, but the truth is that Atletico made a huge effort to convince me."

Alderweireld also said his international colleague Thibaut Courtois helped him decide to join the Spanish side after a chat.

"Courtois is naturally very happy with my arrival," he said.

"In the end I am coming to 'his Atletico'. He said positive things to me as I was studying the offer. He said it was a club with great fans and that he was very happy playing at the Calderon."

Schalke Were Open To Late Liverpool Bid For Papadopoulos

Schalke remained open to a late Liverpool bid for Greek defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos right up until the final day of the transfer window.

Reports in Germany suggest that while Schalke had essentially completed their transfer business prior to the final day, they were still prepared to let Papadopoulos leave if they received a compelling bid.

According to Kicker however, the 21-year-old had no real desire to leave this summer even if a bid had come in for him, with Russian club Zenit St Petersburg also linked.

Papadopoulos has been linked with a move to Liverpool throughout the summer after being spotted at the club's game against Fulham near the end of last season.

Indeed, some reports even suggested that a deal for Papadopoulos had already been agreed in principle and was only being held up by the player's inability to undergo a medical until he had recovered from a knee injury.

However, any chance of Papadopoulos moving to Anfield this summer was essentially killed off after the club announced the signings of both Mamadou Sakho from PSG and Tiago Ilori Sporting Lisbon.

Liverpool also successfully held onto Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, who both featured prominently in rumours of a move to Barcelona and Napoli respectively.

It now remains to be seen whether Liverpool continue to track Papadopoulos, with Schalke seemingly willing to let the player leave should they receive an appropriate bid in the future.

Sturridge Absent From England Training

It's been almost uncomfortably positive around these parts over the past week, Liverpool's late-window transfer business was mostly settled by Saturday, with Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho arriving on permanent deals and Victor Moses coming in on a season-long loan.

All moves were arguably necessary, and all make the squad stronger. Not perfect by any stretch, but combined with a loan for Fabio Borini and a final exit for Dani Pacheco on Monday, Liverpool were making plenty of sense while others panicked. Oh, and the win over Manchester United didn't hurt either.

But an international break always ushers in a bit of uncertainty and hand-wringing, and this time is no different after Daniel Sturridge played through a thigh injury in the win over United on Sunday.

Rest and recovery would be the preferred approach for a player with a lengthy list of previous fitness concerns, yet after having played every minute of Liverpool's three wins in a week, he was still optimistic about representing his country in their World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.

England Want Tiago Ilori To Switch Allegiance

Roy Hodgson will attempt to convince Liverpool’s new signing Tiago Ilori to snub Portugal and adopt English nationality.

No sooner had Ilori completed his £7 million switch to Anfield from Sporting Lisbon, it emerged that the Football Association has opened the door for the 20-year-old defender to represent England.

Ilori was born in London before returning to the birthplace of his Portuguese mother, and although he has represented Portugal at youth level, he has not won a senior cap and would be eligible to make the switch.

Whether Ilori has any interest in playing for England is yet to be established but, given the worrying shortage in home-grown players emerging through the academies into the top Premier League teams, Hodgson and the FA are taking a more proactive stance in tracing players with English roots.

Moses Hails Sturridge Influence In Liverpool Move

Chelsea winger Victor Moses has revealed that Daniel Sturridge helped to persuade him to join Liverpool on loan.

The 22-year-old, who made just 12 starts for the London club in the Premier League last season, completed his switch to Anfield on deadline day, with Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori also arriving.

But the Nigeria international confirmed that former team-mate Sturridge helped him to make his mind up, though he did not need much convincing.

Moses told the club's official website: "I spoke to Sturridge and he wanted me to come here. He said I'd love it here but he didn't need to say much.

"The next morning, I had a word with my agent and told him it could be the right move for me.

"It's a massive club with great history. The club is doing well, so I wanted to come here and enjoy my football.

"I just want to come here, help my team-mates however I can to try and get into the top four, and get as many games as I can at the same time."

Moses will now link up with his country ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier against Malawi on Saturday before possibly making his Liverpool bow against Swansea City on September 16.

Wisdom To Skipper England U21

New England U21 coach Gareth Southgate has appointed Anfield starlet Andre Wisdom as his captain.

The 20-year-old wore the armband during the 6-0 friendly victory over Scotland last month and will now retain the honour for the upcoming European U21 Championship qualifying campaign.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday's match with Moldova, Wisdom commented: "It's a great honour to captain England at any level, so I'm delighted to have retained the captaincy."

The Leeds-born youngster has eight caps to his name in this age group and has also represented the Three Lions at U16, U17 and U19 level.

Left-back Jack Robinson, currently on-loan at Blackpool, is also in Southgate's squad for the fixture which is followed by a trip to Finland on Tuesday.

Wisdom featured for the Liverpool first-team as a late substitute against Manchester United on Sunday, taking his senior Reds appearances to 21.

The previous regular England captain at U21 level was Anfield colleague Jordan Henderson but at 23 the midfielder is now ineligible.

Match Report: Liverpool 1 - 0 Manchester United

Daniel Sturridge provided a fitting tribute to the memory of Bill Shankly with a fourth-minute winner against Manchester United to maintain Liverpool's 100 per cent start to the Barclays Premier League season.

Monday would have been Shankly's 100th birthday, and it will be celebrated with Liverpool claiming a 1-0 victory, with Sturridge now bagging the only goal in all three matches so far.

In contrast, Manchester United manager David Moyes endured a depressing day.

He failed to claim a hoped-for first win at Anfield following 12 unsuccessful visits with Everton.

If that was not bad enough, Wayne Rooney faces a few weeks on the sidelines with the head injury sustained in training on Saturday, and with the transfer window closing at 11pm on Monday night, Moyes is still to make his first significant signing.

Not that United's travails will bother Liverpool, who dominated the opening half, then had enough defensive muscle to resist the visitors' late rally.

If United's first half was bad, spare a thought for Roy Hodgson.

The England manager now knows he will be without Rooney for the vital World Cup qualfiers with Moldova and Ukraine.

In addition, he saw Phil Jones limp off after the defender landed awkwardly jumping for a routine header.

To top it off, he was forced to watch from a seat normally afforded to visiting scouts as a result of what he was told was a "clerical error".

It seemed a pretty woeful oversight on a day when the presence of Victor Moses, Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori in the directors' box showed Liverpool's intent for the last day of the transfer window.

At least Hodgson had Sturridge's form to console him on the drive down to St George's Park.

Liverpool's match-winner against Stoke and Aston Villa on the Reds' perfect opening to the season, Sturridge bagged another as the hosts made a lightning start.

The former Chelsea man had already given warning of his threat when he seized on the loose ball after Jordan Henderson had harassed Ashley Young into a mistake. Rio Ferdinand turned away his shot on that occasion.

But when Daniel Agger leapt highest at the corner, Sturridge was afforded far too much room inside the six-yard area to turn the ball home.

It was the kind of start Moyes must have dreaded, raising the decibel level of an already pretty raucous occasion.

Robin van Persie was not far away with an overhead kick after Patrice Evra had knocked down a Ryan Giggs free-kick, but largely it was an opening period of unremitting frustration for the visitors.

Van Persie was one of three United players cautioned and the half ended with an angry exchange of words between Steven Gerrard and Van Persie, whose focus appeared to have slipped somewhat after an earlier tangle with Agger.

It was not that Liverpool were creating lots of opportunities, David de Gea saved a decent curling free-kick from Gerrard after Glen Johnson's powerful burst had been halted unfairly and the excellent Philippe Coutinho curled a free-kick over the crossbar, but Liverpool's main advantage came through their control of the game, with Lucas outstanding alongside his captain in that crucial central midfield area.

United did return with a bit more purpose at least.

Michael Carrick started to find his passing range, which allowed Young, and then his replacement Nani to threaten from wide positions.

Still, United's increased attacking threat came at the exposure of their defence, and the risk of a killer second.

Nemanja Vidic almost gifted it to Liverpool with an underhit back-pass that had De Gea rushing to clear as Johnson closed in.

Nani forced Simon Mignolet into his best save of the match 15 minutes from time, just before Johnson became the latest member of Hodgson's squad to depart, limping pretty badly after a crunching clash with Patrice Evra.

Van Persie could not make the most of a late opportunity provided by Javier Hernandez, and although five additional minutes of injury time brought a few nerves, in the end it was the hosts who came closest to scoring, De Gea brilliantly turning over Raheem Sterling's powerful drive.

Rodgers Refuses To Discuss Title Bid

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has shrugged off premature title talk even though his side has the last remaining 100 per cent Barclays Premier League record.

Sunday's 1-0 win over old rivals Manchester United at Anfield means the Merseyside giants are top of the table heading into the first international break of the season.

It is a fitting way to mark Bill Shankly's 100th birthday, with Daniel Sturridge claiming the only goal on his 24th, yet Rodgers is not getting carried away.

"We have got 35 matches to go," said Rodgers.

"We won't be getting carried away. The team has a lot of improvement to do and there is a lot of work ahead of us.

"The initial challenge is to get in the top four."

They will certainly be pushing for that, particularly if Sturridge maintains his present form.

The former Chelsea man took his overall tally for the season to five and became a match-winner for the third successive game when he turned home Daniel Agger's knock-down in the fourth minute.

Injured Johnson A Doubt For England

Glen Johnson is a doubt for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine after leaving Anfield on crutches following Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester United.

The right-back suffered an ankle injury, and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said he feared the worst after having to replace him with Andre Wisdom.

“He took a bad knock on his ankle. It’s quite bad for him to come off,” Rodgers said.

However, team-mate Daniel Sturridge said he hoped he would be fit for the games -- even though his manager said he had not been not fully fit against United.

Sturridge scored the winner to become the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler, 19 years ago, to score in the opening three games of a Premier League season.

“I’m delighted with Daniel’s application because he was nowhere near fit,” Rodgers said. “He had a slight knock on his thigh.

"We have just said: ‘Put yourself out there -- at 70%, you are better than most strikers.’ He got his reward. He can always be a threat whenever he is on the pitch.”

Rodgers said Sturridge could still join up with the England squad but added: “We just need to assess him. We need to make sure we think of Liverpool first. I’m sure [England manager] Roy [Hodgson] would see him as a starter.”

Sturridge said he was optimistic that he would be ready, adding: “I had a problem with my thigh before the game and it is still hindering me, but I hope I will be okay for the squad.”

Mamadou Sakho & Tiago Ilori Join Liverpool

Liverpool has signed central defenders Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori for a combined fee of about £25m.

Sakho, 23, who has 14 France caps, will cost around £18m from Paris St-Germain.

Sporting Lisbon's Ilori, 20, has represented Portugal at youth level but is still eligible to play for England because he is born in London.

Sakho told the club's website: "I came here because the project at Liverpool interests me. I'm really looking forward to playing my first game."

He is manager Brendan Rodgers' most expensive signing of the summer and can play in the centre of defence as well as at left-back.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said: "He's an important marquee signing for us. It was a difficult one to do and it was a difficult one for us to get, but I'm very pleased that we've been able to attract him to the football club."

Ilori, who cost £7m, said: "Liverpool has a great team and I think it's the place for me to be at the moment.

"There have been some great teams here in the past and the club has won a lot of trophies and I want to be a part of it."

Rodgers has now signed seven players this summer following the captures of Kolo Toure, Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto, Simon Mignolet and Aly Cissokho.

Liverpool prioritized defensive recruitments because Sebastian Coates has been ruled out for most of the season while Toure and Cissokho are also injured.

Sakho and Ilori were both at Anfield on Sunday to watch Liverpool beat Manchester United to move top of the Premier League.

Victor Moses Signs For Liverpool

Liverpool has signed Chelsea forward Victor Moses on loan for the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old former Crystal Palace and Wigan player links up with central defenders Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori, who have joined Liverpool for a combined fee of about £25m, at Anfield.

"The target is to get into the top four and for the club to compete in the Champions League," said Moses.

"I just want to gel in, the formation and players here will help me."

Moses scored one goal in 23 Premier League appearances for Chelsea following a £9m move from Wigan last August.

The Nigeria international helped the Blues reach the final of the Europa League by scoring four goals in the competition, and was an unused substitute as Chelsea beat Benfica in the final.

But Moses has yet to feature in a game under new manager Jose Mourinho and has now been allowed to move to Anfield after watching Liverpool beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.

"First and foremost, I'm delighted to have made the loan from Chelsea to a big club like Liverpool," added Moses.

"The manager [Brendan Rodgers] has done very well. There are a lot of quality players here - they're winning games and creating chances. It's a massive thing for me to be here."

Madrid Lining Up Shock Suarez move

Real Madrid could be lining up a shock move for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

It comes just after completing the world record signing of Gareth Bale for £86m.

According to the Metro, sources in Spain are suggesting that Madrid will continue their spending and is willing to pay £45m for Suarez.

The Uruguayan international was rumoured to be seeking a way out of Anfield and speculation has been mounting over the majority of the summer whether he will depart from Brendan Rodgers’s side.

The 26-year-old was strongly linked with Arsenal after the Gunners had a £40,000,001m bid rejected from the Reds.

Suarez decided to favour a move to stay at Anfield for another season but his representatives are now on high alert after Madrid is thought to be considering a new bid.

If the transfer does happen, it could spark a mass exodus from the Madrid squad in order to recoup some of the money spent already.

Mesut Ozil looks set to join Arsenal and Sami Khedira is being strongly linked with Chelsea.

Liverpool Rule Out Selling Suarez On Deadline Day

Liverpool has ruled out selling Luis Suarez to Real Madrid or Arsenal on transfer deadline day.

The Reds have been bracing themselves for last-minute offers for Suarez, who asked to leave the club at the end of last season.

But despite Madrid reportedly opening talks over a deal on Sunday, and Arsenal considering making a last ditch offer, Liverpool say their player will stay.

‘Luis Suarez will stay at Liverpool despite what offers arrive,’ the club said in a statement.

It means that Suarez will be forced to stay at Anfield until at least January, where talk over his future is expected to arise again.

The player, who only signed a new contract last year, has been reintegrated back into the Liverpool squad, but still remains keen to play Champions League football.

Suarez is expected to return from a ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic next month, having not played so far this season due to suspension.

Gerrard Hopes Suarez Shows Liverpool Loyalty

Steven Gerrard has called on Luis Suarez to show the Liverpool supporters his loyalty by staying for at least another year at the club.

Despite pushing a move to Arsenal this summer, the Liverpool supporters have given the Uruguayan striker their full support during several pre-season matches.

Suarez has been forced to watch from the sidelines at the beginning of the Premier League season because of his ten-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic last season but will return in a Capital One Cup clash with Manchester United next month.

Sky Sports report that Gerrard never thought Suarez would end up leaving and says if Liverpool doesn’t qualify for the Champions League then a move abroad is more than likely.

“I didn’t ever think Luis would leave – well, not to another English club anyway,” revealed Gerrard.

“I don’t want to disrespect Arsenal, because they are a fantastic club, but I don’t see joining them as being a step forward for Luis.

“There are only really two or three clubs he should leave this football club for if he is taking a step forward.

“If we don’t qualify for the Champions League this season he can go to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich – and he can go with his head held high.

“The one thing I can assure you, it’s not about money with Luis Suarez.”

Gerrard also said he didn’t want Suarez to make the same mistake as Fernando Torres, who has struggled to replicate his Liverpool form with Chelsea.

"I saw what happened to Fernando Torres. I didn't want Luis to make the same mistake and that's the advice I gave him. He'll have another chance to move forward to a club that he deserves to be at.

"Luis has got to openly admit this club has stood behind him on a couple of massive occasions and they've rewarded him with new contracts as well.

"I think he's got to stop and realize that the club has been fair to him. He is at the right age (26), he is going to be fantastic for us if he stays for another year.”

Wisdom Is Reportedly Holding Talks With Wigan

Liverpool youngster Andre Wisdom is reportedly holding talks with Championship side Wigan Athletic, over the possibility of a loan move for the season, reports The Daily Mirror.

The 20 year old is believed to feature in the long term plans of manager Brendan Rodgers but needs more playing time and experience to mature into a first team player for the Reds.

It is reported that the Rodgers considers a move for the player to Wigan apt, with his Latics counterpart Owen Coyle sharing his views.

The club has a massive fixture list involving Championship games and Europa League ties, ahead of them and that would ensure quality playing time and opportunities for Wisdom.

A product of the club’s youth academy, Wisdom made 20 appearances for the Reds last season, scoring a goal and providing 2 assists too.

Fabio Borini Set For Sunderland Loan

Liverpool striker Fabio Borini is set for a loan move to Sunderland after the player was spotted arriving at the Black Cats' training ground.

Borini, 22, joined the Reds from Roma last summer in a deal worth an estimated £10.5 million.

However, after an injury-hit first season and the arrival of a clutch of attackers, including Daniel Sturridge, Iago Aspas and Victor Moses, the Italy international has slipped down the pecking order.

The former Chelsea and Swansea player was not involved at all as Liverpool overcame Manchester United on Sunday, and after starting just five games last year he will now be allowed to move to the Stadium of Light in the pursuit of regular first-team football.

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Manchester United

Liverpool will be aiming to celebrate the birth of their most famous manager Bill Shankly with victory over arch-rivals Manchester United.

Monday marks 100 years since the birth of Shankly and the home fans would see victory over United as the ideal birthday present for the Liverpool legend.

Brendan Rodgers' side go into the game above United in the table after winning their opening two games of the season and they will be looking to set down a marker against the reigning champions.

Rodgers lost both meetings with United last season and breaking his duck against their old foes would be a major boost to their top-four aspirations.

United boss David Moyes has never won at Anfield during his time in charge of Everton and he will be seeking to end that record on Sunday.

United have won their last three league meetings against Liverpool 2-1, with Robin van Persie scoring in both fixtures last season.

Andre Marriner is the man in the middle for what should be as usual a passionate, fiery encounter between England's two most successful club sides.

Jose Mourinho went to Old Trafford on Monday night and shut up shop, making sure Chelsea didn't get beat. He put the pressure on Man United and they didn't do enough. This is now a big game for David Moyes because if they lose to Liverpool a few questions will be asked. They've had a tough start and if they go unbeaten in the first three games, I think that will be positive. However, if they lose the game, then that'll be two big games against big rivals that he hasn't won.

Liverpool has a number of injury concerns to contend with before Brendan Rodgers finalises his line-up.

Defensive duo Kolo Toure and Aly Cissokho and midfielder Joe Allen picked up injuries during the midweek Capital One Cup win over Notts County.

If Toure fails to recover from his groin problem, Liverpool is hoping that Martin Sktrel will recover from a knee injury to take his place alongside Daniel Agger in the heart of their defence.

Luis Suarez remains absent for Liverpool as he serves the eighth game of his 10-match ban meaning the in-form Daniel Sturridge will continue to lead the attack.

Sebastian Coates is a long-term absentee for Liverpool as he recovers from a cruciate knee injury.

Wayne Rooney could keep his place in the starting XI after impressing against Chelsea on Monday night.

Phil Jones is expected to shake off a back injury he picked up against Chelsea to start at right-back in place of the injured Rafael.

United boss David Moyes has no other injury concerns to deal with as he prepares for his first experience of Manchester United versus Liverpool at Anfield.

Moyes Prepared For Anfield Reception

David Moyes expects a fiery reception from Liverpool fans when he takes Manchester United to Anfield for the first time on Sunday.

Having managed city rivals Everton and the Reds' arch-enemies, the Scot knows that he will not be a popular man inside the stadium but is relishing the occasion.

United won on their last visit and completed the double over Brendan Rodgers's side later in the season while Moyes has never won at Anfield, only tasting victory on three occasions against Liverpool, but he is confident of turning that record around.

"Everybody tells me about the big rivalry between Liverpool and United and it was certainly there when I was at Everton as well," he told the press. "I would think I'll get as good a reception as I did with Everton.

"It has always been a difficult place to go but I am looking forward to going back there."

Toure Could Be Fit To Face United

Liverpool defender Kolo Toure could make a surprise return to action against Manchester United, just days after being stretchered off with a suspected groin injury.

Toure was stretchered from the field in the early stages of extra-time in the Capital One Cup win over Notts County and afterwards Brendan Rodgers admitted the Ivorian could be out for some time.

However, the injury is not as bad as first thought and Rodgers has hinted that he could be available for the visit of the champions.

“His injury is nowhere near as bad as what we thought. We’ll just assess that over the next 24/48 hours,” Rodgers said at his pre-match press conference.

“I think we were all thinking that he might be out for longer after the game, but he’s made an excellent recovery. The diagnosis isn’t anywhere near as bad as we thought, so we’ll see how he is for this weekend.

Liverpool prepare Move For Deni Hocko

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is preparing a move for a player dubbed the 'next Pirlo', Deni Hocko, according to the Daily Star.

The Reds are in a battle with Premier League new-boys Crystal Palace for the youngster’s signature and sources in Italy have claimed that both sides have contacted Buducnost Podgorica over his availability.

Hocko has represented the Montenegrin national side at Under-17, U19 and U21 levels and has impressed going up the ranks.

Rodgers is also reportedly interested in Richairo Zivkovic, a Serbian youngster, who is currently FC Groningen's youngest ever goalscorer.

FC Groningen director Hans Nijland has revealed Liverpool's interest in their star, saying: "All the top clubs in Holland want him but Liverpool are here every week too.

"They are watching him closely and are very keen."

Liverpool is currently preparing to take on Manchester United at Anfield in a crunch game this Sunday.

Rodgers' side have started the Premier League season well, with two victories out of two and are yet to concede a league goal.

However, they face their biggest challenge yet as they welcome David Moyes' side to Merseyside.

Liverpool Set To Capture Ilori

Liverpool is on the verge of announcing the signing of Tiago Ilori from Sporting Lisbon.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has been in the market for a new defender after seeing injuries to Kolo Toure, Aly Cissokho and Sebastian Coates spread his options at the back very thin.

The highly-rated centre back has been attracting the interest of big European clubs but Liverpool look to have agreed a deal in the region of £8m according to the Mirror.

The 20-year-old, who was born in London, joined Sporting’s youth setup in 2006 and has progressed into the first team becoming one of the most highly-sought after talents in Europe during the process.

The Portuguese youngster has represented his national side at U18, U19 and U20 level but does have the option to play for England as his father is English.

His father and agent have apparently flown into London to complete the deal and he could be unveiled by the beginning of next week.

Liverpool Move For Shay Given

Liverpool is closing in on a shock move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given, according to reports.

Given had been linked with dropping down into the Championship in a bid to gain first team football after he failed to displace Brad Guzan at Villa Park.

However, according to the Daily Mail, Brendan Rodgers is aiming to bring in experienced back-up for Simon Mignolet, whom he brought into replace Pepe Reina in June, and has identified Given as being an ideal. Should talks go smoothly, a deal could be completed before the weekend.

The Reds have been busy during the transfer window and look to continue their movement in the transfer window after Kolo Toure sustained a groin injury in League Cup on Tuesday night against Notts County.

Liverpool Suffer Alderweireld Setback

Liverpool looks set to miss out on defender target Toby Alderweireld, according to the Daily Mail.

Brendan Rodgers had been keen to bring the 24-year-old stopper to Anfield, and was hopeful of securing the player's signature ahead of the September 2 deadline.

But Atletico Madrid have jumped to the head of the queue, with Alderweireld - who has just one year remaining on his Ajax contract - opting for a move to La Liga over an Anfield switch.

Alderweireld has not been short of admirers this summer, with the likes of Everton, Norwich and Tottenham all linked to the Belgian international.

Ajax have accepted numerous offers for the versatile defender, with Spartak Moscow coming closest to landing the £5 million-rated star, only for Alderweireld to reject a move to Russia.

However, the lure of playing Champions League football with Atletico proved to be too good an opportunity to miss, and Alderweireld is expected to complete his move to the Spanish capital imminently, paving the way for Manchester City to tie up a deal for Martin Demichelis.

Liverpool must now turn their attentions elsewhere, as boss Rodgers continues in his search for defensive reinforcements.

Injuries to summer signing Kolo Toure and Sebastian Coates - as well as persistent rumours linking Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger with an Anfield exit - led the Liverpool chief into stepping up his search for a new defender.

With the Reds' missing out on Alderweireld, Joleon Lescott has been touted as a possible alternative, with a reported £7.5 million bid likely to be enough to prize the England international away from the Etihad stadium.

Allen Misses Wales' World Cup Qualifiers

Liverpool's Joe Allen will miss Wales' World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia.

Midfielder Allen was injured playing for his club against Notts County in the 4-2 win at Anfield on Tuesday night in the Capital One Cup.

Allen joins Swansea City's Neil Taylor on the sidelines.

They will be replaced in Chris Coleman's squad by David Vaughan of Sunderland and Ashley Richards of Swansea City.

There were fears over Aaron Ramsey's fitness after the midfielder suffered a groin injury late on in Arsenal's Champions League win over Fenerbahce.

Ramsey finished the match on the bench but is expected to be available for Sunday's North London derby against Tottenham.

Fellow midfielder Allen limped off with a hamstring injury during Liverpool's victory over Notts County.

Defender Taylor is not included after being ruled out for four to six weeks after suffering severe bruising on his thigh during Swansea's Europa League win over Petrolul Ploiesti last week.

Liverpool Defender Set For Six-Week Layoff

Liverpool has been hit with the news that defender Aly Cissokho will miss up to six weeks with an ankle injury.

25-year-old Cissokho, who arrived on Merseyside from La Liga outfit Valencia this summer, picked up the problem during the early stages of the Reds' dramatic 4-2 victory over Notts County in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday that was sealed by extra-time strikes from English duo Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson.

Despite initial hopes that he might be able to shake off the injury and feature in the coming weeks, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed the French international is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

"Young Aly Cissokho will be slightly different - he could be out for four to six weeks, which is a blow because he came in and trained really well last week," Rodgers was quoted by Sky Sports.

"He's on crutches at the moment and we'll look at that over the coming weeks."

Liverpool, who won both of their opening Premier League fixtures against Stoke City and Aston Villa without conceding a single goal, are set for a far sterner test of their top four credentials on Sunday as they host champions and fierce rivals Manchester United.

Young Reds Suffer Barca Loss

Liverpool's Academy youngsters suffered disappointment when they lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the final of the prestigious Soccer World Challenge in Japan.

Led by coaches Stephen Torpey and Dave Rowe alongside Academy technical director and head of coaching Rodolfo Borrell, the U13 squad had produced a brilliant performance to beat Kashiwa Reysol 4-0 in the semi-final.

Reysol are the Japan champions at U13 level and had only conceded one goal in their first five games of the tournament.

However, fatigue played a big part in the showpiece final as the U13 squad struggled in the heat and humidity as they lost to a strong Barcelona team.

Despite the loss it was an invaluable experience for the youngsters who won seven out of eight games in the competition.

Borrell told Liverpoolfc.com: "We are really proud of the lads. They performed brilliantly in this tournament and they were a real credit to the club."