Ilori To Fight For Starting Spot

Liverpool defender is ready to fight for his place in the first team after making a first Anfield appearance, albeit for the under 21's.

The 20-year-old was a transfer deadline day arrival from Sporting Lisbon as The Reds shelled out £7 million the land the Portuguese youngster, who is also eligible for England.

However, Ilori is still working on his fitness after missing most of the pre-season with a broken hand.

On top of that, there is tough competition in the centre-back department.

Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and fellow signing Mamadou Sakho all stand in the way of a regular starting berth in Brendan Rodgers' side.

The Merseyside outfit has been impressive at the back this year, the 2-2 draw with Swansea was the first time they have conceded in the Premier League.

Their solidarity at the back mixed with the goals of Daniel Sturridge has propelled Liverpool to top of the table after four games.

Speaking after the under-21's win at Sunderland, Ilori told the Liverpool Echo: “I loved playing in the game and it was a great win,

“I hope I can carry on winning at Anfield. Every player wants to play whether it’s in the first team or the reserves.

“I want to get as many minutes as I can. I didn’t have a proper pre-season due to injuring my hand but it’s good to be back fit now. I’m enjoying it here. Brendan Rodgers seems like a great guy and a great coach. I will do my best for the club.

“This is the best league in the world and it has always been a dream of mine to come and play here,” he said.

“It’s never easy leaving the country you grew up in but it wasn’t that difficult because I knew I was doing what I wanted to do.

“That made it easier. I was aware of a couple of other clubs that were interested but the way Liverpool dealt with it and spoke with me made it an easier choice.

“The club’s history played a part but it was more about their approach and the way they dealt with me. I felt that this was the place to be.

“I don’t think I’m such a fighter like a typical centre-back, but I can be aggressive when I need to. I like to take the ball out. I’m quick as well.”

The Liverpool fans have been excited by the arrival as the pace Ilori eluded to saw him breaking sprinting records previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani in Portugal: “It’s true that they have speed tests at Sporting and in one of them I have the record,” Ilori added.

“Over 30 metres it’s something like three seconds. I learned a lot at Sporting. The biggest game I’ve ever played in was away to Benfica last season. It was in front of 62,000 people. We lost 2-0 but we really well and it was a great experience.”

Liverpool Linked With Young Salzburg Defender

Liverpool is reportedly taking keen interest in the highly-rated young Austrian central defender Martin Hinteregger.

According to reports from Swiss media outlet Ifoticker.ch, the Reds are showing great interests in the 21-year-old, who plays for Red Bull Salzburg. The defender is contracted at the club till 2018, but it is understood that Liverpool have been monitoring him closely.

The youngster joined Red Bull in 2006 and progressed through the youth ranks at the club. He made his first senior debut in 2010 and has made 22 league appearances so far.

Defence is one of the areas that have been bolstered by Liverpool in the summer. Brendan Rodgers has added three new faces to improve his defensive unit and out of them, Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori are seen as bright young prospects for the future.

Therefore, it is highly unlikely that Reds will make any offer for the youngster any time soon, but there’s no harm in keeping tabs on the development of any youngster. And this might interest the Liverpool fans – Hinteregger scored a wonderful goal, 70-yards out against Schalke 04 in the pre-season.

Liverpool Step Up Interest In 'Next Gerrard'

Liverpool have stepped up their interest in young Derby County midfielder Will Hughes with the Mirror claiming that the Reds have sent scouts to keep tabs on the 18-year-old.

Hughes has begun to gain prominence in the Championship with Liverpool not the only club keeping an eye on the England Under-21 international, as Merseyside rivals Everton are also keen to see how Hughes progresses over the next couple of seasons.

But Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has identified Hughes as the next Steven Gerrard and has sent the club's chief scout Dave Fallows to follow the youngster and give an adequate report on when to make a move to secure his signature.

Rodgers Upbeat Over Agger Fitness

Brendan Rodgers is “hopeful” that Daniel Agger will ease Liverpool’s injury troubles by returning to action against Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Agger, 28, missed Monday’s 2-2 draw at Swansea after damaging his ribs in a freak gymnasium accident.

The centre-back suffered the injury during a training session on the day before the game as he tried to avoid a falling weight.

Rodgers said on Thursday: “We’ll see how Daniel is in the next 24 hours. It’s too early to say if he’ll be ready for the weekend or not. It was just unfortunate that it happened the day before the game. But we’re hopeful he’ll be fine for the weekend.”

Rodgers’ bid to maintain the league leaders’ impressive start to the season has not been helped by a number of injuries to his players.

Playmaker Philippe Coutinho had surgery on Thursday to repair a shoulder injury and will not be back until the end of October, right-back Glen Johnson is likely to be missing for the next month with a sprained ankle and left-back Aly Cissokho -- who also has an ankle problem -- has been out since the end of August and is still around two weeks away from returning.

In addition, defender Kolo Toure is only just getting back to full fitness after a groin injury, while striker Daniel Sturridge was forced to pull out of England’s last two World Cup qualifiers with a thigh problem -- although both men are fit again.

Rodgers acknowledged that the injuries to key players have made his life more difficult, but believes he has the strength in depth to cope.

He said: “It’s just unfortunate that we’ve had a number of injuries that have all happened at the same time. The injury record we’ve had here has been very good. But these are things that you can’t plan for. It’s just something that we have to deal with. You can’t forecast injuries, and they’ve been unfortunate.

“But you look at Martin Skrtel, who had been out of the team a long time, but retained his commitment to the cause and retained his quality in training every day, so that he was ready to come back in. That’s all we ask.

“I said at the beginning of the season: I need every single one of them. We don’t just need 11. We need everybody. You just need to continue to be professional, so when you’re called upon, you come in and you’re ready. You come in, you get the shirt and you do well.

“It’s unfortunate that we’ve lost the quality of players that we have. Glen Johnson is the type of player you don’t realize you’re missing until he’s not in the team. But we hope it will only be a matter of weeks before he’s back.

“Young Coutinho will have to have a bit of time out. But it will open the door for someone else, and they’ve got to come in and perform. I’ve got every faith that they will do.”

Coutinho Loss A Blow For Liverpool - Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Liverpool will be without Philippe Coutinho for at least six weeks after he underwent shoulder surgery.

The Brazilian playmaker went off injured during the Reds' 2-2 draw at Swansea on Monday, and manager Rodgers admitted it is a blow as he looks to maintain his side's spot at the top of the table.

However, after having surgery on Thursday, Rodgers expects the 21-year-old to be unavailable until the end of October.

"He's only just having it today so the timescale from the medics is obviously up to six weeks," the Liverpool boss told reporters.

"We wouldn't anticipate any sooner than that. It's unfortunate for him because he's been in great form since he came here in January.

"Hopefully we'll get him back sooner rather than later and then he can come into the group again.

"It was one where it was more the fall than the challenge. The challenge was probably a bit clumsy but it was actually more the fall that did the damage.

"In those scenarios the bone may be bruised but unfortunately for Philippe the bone came through the muscle. That's what the pain was and why the operation was needed.

"It's unfortunate because he was a really pivotal player for us in the game. When he went, we lost that connection between our midfield and the front line; it disrupted our balance a bit."

Rodgers Issues Hillsborough Plea

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has joined the UK police watchdog in appealing for fans present at the 1989 Hillsborough disaster to help a new investigation.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) put out a plea for witnesses on Wednesday as it examines police conduct in the aftermath of the tragedy with a view to bringing possible criminal charges.

Some 96 Liverpool supporters were crushed to death in an over-crowded section of terracing at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, played at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground on April 15, 1989.

Around 12,000 fans gave evidence to West Midlands Police as part of an original investigation into the tragedy 24 years ago.

But the IPCC has unearthed discrepancies between that evidence and other statements that appear to have come from the same supporters.

An independent report published last September found that 164 police statements had been altered after the disaster - 116 of which were changed to remove negative comments about the policing of the match.

The IPCC wants to establish whether fan statements have also been tampered with.

Rodgers said: "I would ask all the supporters who gave those witness statements to get in touch with the IPCC.

"You've also got, on our club website, an opportunity for supporters to be directed on the right route. It's so important, this year. It's very important for the families of all the victims of Hillsborough - for their fight for justice.

"If we can get all those statements in, I know people will be reliving difficult memories, but it's something that will continue their fight for justice."

The West Midlands force took the fan statements in 1989 after being appointed to look into the way that South Yorkshire Police handled the Hillsborough disaster.

No individuals or organizations were prosecuted as a result of that original inquiry, but the Hillsborough Independent Panel report, which came out 12 months ago, highlighted a cover-up by the police and emergency services, while exonerating fans of any blame.

Since then, the victims' original inquest verdicts of accidental death have been quashed, while two separate investigations have been set up to examine the conduct of the police and emergency services.

The IPCC is examining police conduct in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster. A second investigation, focusing on possible criminal behaviour by any people or bodies with responsibility for fan safety at Hillsborough, is being headed up by former Durham chief constable Jon Stoddart.

Match Report: Swansea 2 - 2 Liverpool

Jonjo Shelvey went from hero to villain and back again against his former club as Swansea ended Liverpool's 100% start to the Barclays Premier League season in a frenetic draw at the Liberty Stadium.

Shelvey, who left the Reds for south Wales in the summer, fired the Swans into the lead after just 87 seconds.

However, two terrible errors from the midfielder allowed the in-form Daniel Sturridge and Liverpool debutant Victor Moses to put the visitors ahead.

However, Shelvey redeemed himself as he laid on an equalizer for Michu.

Brendan Rodgers has brought the Merseysiders to his former club with three wins from three on the board, but they were given a rude awakening when Shelvey rounded £18million signing Mamadou Sakho with ease before curling left-footed into the net.

The England international initially celebrated with gusto but reined himself in in front of the away end.

But he had few reasons to smile just 99 seconds later as a horrible backpass ended with Sturridge scoring his 12th goal in 10 games.

He then compounded the mistake by hitting a pass straight to Moses, who raced away to steer beyond Michel Vorm.

But, with his temper beginning to fray, Shelvey's clever header set Michu up for his first league goal of the season to cap a remarkable night for the former Charlton man.

So much of the build-up had centred on Shelvey's first meeting with his former employers, and he made a dream start.

The midfielder initially scuffed an attempted volley from Jordan Henderson’s poor header, but regained control to ghost pass Sakho and produces a lovely left-footed finish at the second attempt.

But his joy was brief as, still full of adrenaline, he played a blind backpass and failed to spot Sturridge lurking; the striker needed no second invitation.

Shelvey, perhaps understandably, took a few minutes to regain his composure but was guilty of being too eager to make amends, as he scythed down Philippe Coutinho before blazing well over the bar.

Liverpool took a stranglehold on possession and the pace of Moses was proving a real problem for the Swansea defence.

Ben Davies had to block from Henderson after one rangy run from the Nigerian, before he gave Sturridge a simple finish after outfoxing Angel Rangel and Nathan Dyer, but the striker headed straight at Vorm, who deflected the ball wide.

Swansea responded with a lovely exchange of passes between Michu and Wilfried Bony, but the Ivory Coast striker's shot did not have enough power to trouble Simon Mignolet.

Shelvey then took centre stage again, his risky pass went straight to Moses, who drove at a retreating Swans' rearguard to beat Vorm.

Swansea could have levelled inside a minute, but Martin Skrtel pulled off a magnificent last-gasp challenge to deny Bony a tap-in after Mignolet had parried a Dyer shot he should have held.

Liverpool almost extended their lead seven minutes into the second half. Swansea were caught sleeping at a free-kick as Henderson crept in at the back post, but Vorm saved from Andre Wisdom after the midfielder had pushed the ball across goal.

Shelvey's night almost plumbed new depths moments later as he squared up to Lucas after Swansea refused to return the ball after Coutinho limped off with an injury.

But referee Michael Oliver opted to book the pair rather than take more severe action.

And Shelvey's topsy-turvy evening soon turned on its head once more as he surged forward to cushion a header into the path of Michu, who finished low to Mignolet's right.

Swansea had renewed vigour and took the game to their visitors during a frantic final quarter, with Jonathan de Guzman forcing a fingertip save from Mignolet, but an engrossing contest ended level.

Mignolet Backs Sakho And Moses To Succeed

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has backed new signings Mamadou Sakho and Victor Moses to succeed at the club.

Both Moses, who joined on loan from Chelsea, and Sakho, who is now Liverpool's most expensive defender, impressed with their performances in the 2-2 draw away at Swansea on Monday night.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Mignolet heaped praise on the pair who both signed for the club on transfer deadline day, and he said: "It was great for Victor to score.

"It was a good performance from him and hopefully he keeps it going.

"With Sakho, you can see he has the qualities to be a centre-back in the Premier League. He’s big and strong and can pass the ball. It was good for him to make his debut and I hope he will settle into the team quickly."

The 25-year old stopper, who made the switch to Anfield in the summer, has himself impressed with a series of fine displays.

In his first game as a Liverpool player, he saved a last-minute Jonathan Walters penalty and he has gone on from there, establishing himself as a key member of the first team.

He said: "As a goalkeeper you always want to keep clean sheets. I did that in the first three games but tonight (against Swansea) we conceded early on.

"After that you just have to ensure you keep your head down and help the team when called upon.

"I'm pleased with how things are going but I'm not getting carried away. I need to keep improving."

New Liverpool Forward Hails 'Great' Debut

Victor Moses has described the 'great' feeling of making his Liverpool debut after getting on the score sheet in his new side's draw with Swansea on Monday night.

The 22-year-old made the switch from Chelsea to Liverpool on transfer deadline day, arriving at Anfield on a season-long loan.

Moses was allowed to move by the Europa League Champions after not appearing for them under new manager Jose Mourinho at the start of the new season.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers started the Nigerian international at the first opportunity and was rewarded with a goal from the former Wigan forward in the 2-2 draw at the Liberty Stadium.

And Moses was happy to be playing once again.

"It's always great to get on the scoresheet," he said.

"It was a great goal for me. They made a mistake in the middle of the park, I took the ball, cut in and watched the 'keeper - I gave him the face and put the ball in the back of the net.

"It was great to put on the red shirt, get back on the pitch again and enjoy my football. That was the most important thing. It was a great game for us today and we're delighted with the result.

"I think it's a fair result. We could have taken all three points but it wasn't an easy game for us. Coming here, we knew that it was going to be a difficult game. A point was a fair result for us so we're delighted with it."

Moses scored one goal in 23 Premier League appearances for Chelsea following a £9m move from Wigan last August and joined central defenders Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori in making the switch to Merseyside on transfer deadline day.

Moses' goal and that of Daniel Sturridge's - his fourth in as many games in the league - were cancelled out by Jonjo Shelvey and Michu but were enough to return Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table.

Rodgers Reveals Big Transfer Plans

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has unveiled his plans to rival Tottenham when it comes to big money transfers.

Tottenham broke their transfer record three times during the summers, and Rodgers believes Anfield must follow suit to keep their hopes alive of a top-four finish.

The Reds have made an impressive start to their new Premier League campaign and could reclaim the league top spot if they beat Swansea tonight.

And Rodgers has outlaid his plans for future transfer windows, telling the press Liverpool had to keep improving and avoid resting on their laurels because of their confident start.

He said: "We still need to make improvements.

"Tottenham have spent £100million to try and get in the top four. It will take another few windows to get that quality in the group.

"We can be better. We have shown in stages the quality we can have with the passion, resilience and desire. We just need to keep getting results.

"It is important to maintain that and we have to be vigilant. We need to keep the feel-good factor going."

Galatasaray Join The Race For Liverpool Target Lacina Traore

Turkish side Galatasaray is the latest club linked with a move for Anzhi Makhachkala striker Lacina Traore in January.

Traore was thought to almost certain to join Juventus in the winter, after Dinamo Moscow boss Dan Petrescu revealed he would not be making a bid for the player because he expects him to end up in Italy.

But reports in Russia suggest that Galatasaray have not be dissuaded from chasing the 23-year-old Ivorian, with the player's agent, Dmitry Selyuk, saying many clubs remain in the hunt to sign Traore.

Selyuk told Izvestia: "Recent developments have not changed Traore's relationship with Anzhi.

"Moreover, he believes that the change of direction towards development will benefit the club.

"He loves to work with [new coach] Gadzhi Gadzhiyev, who has assured him that he counts on Lacina as the main striker.

"But I can't deny that in the case of a decent proposal that suits both us and Anzhi, Lacina could still change club.

"The interest in Traore in Russia and Europe is quite large.

"Therefore, if we get a good offer in the winter I think the leadership of Anzhi will let him go.

"But there are not many teams that could afford to pay the price for the player."

Liverpool is thought to hold a long-standing interest in Traore, who scored 12 goals in 24 games for Anzhi last season, but whether they have either the desire or the means to compete for the player's signing in January, particularly given the clubs impressive start to the season, remains to be seen.

Arsenal To Battle With Liverpool For Papadopoulos

Arsenal will battle with rivals Liverpool to secure the signature of defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos.

The Schalke centre-back was linked with a move to Anfield throughout the summer but a deal failed to materialize after a knee injury scuppered his transfer.

The 21-year-old is highly rated in the Bundesliga and Arsenal has been monitoring the situation of Papadopoulos.

According to the Express, Arsene Wenger has been lining up an offer of around £11million for the player and it could be enough to secure a move to the Emirates.

However they will have to fight for the Greeks services with a host of European giants interested, including Manchester City, AC Milan, Chelsea and Zenit St Petersburg all supposedly willing to meet Schalke's asking price.

Papadopoulos has played 57 times for the German side since his move from Olympiakos and has featured for his national side 16 times.

He looked set to sign for Zenit after a bid believed to be around £16million was accepted but rejected a move to Russia to remain in Germany.

Luis Suarez Return Boosts Premier League Challenge

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes the return of Luis Suarez will boost his side in their Premier League challenge.

The Merseyside outfit is currently top of the Premier League after 10 points from their opening four games and will welcome back their controversial striker as they visit Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in the League Cup next week.

Suarez is currently completing a 10-match ban after a bite on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic towards the end of last season.

However, Rodgers believes the return of the Uruguayan will benefit his side and is looking forward to welcoming him back into the team.

The Reds boss told reporters: “It’s early stages but it keeps the momentum going and in the next couple of weeks we have one of the best strikers in the world coming back.

Liverpool earned a point against a strong Swansea City side in South Wales on Monday evening and will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign when they take on Southampton at Anfield this weekend.

After Monday night's draw, Rodgers went on to say: “You can’t look too much at it (being top). But you’d rather be there than be at the bottom and what it does is that the more you are up there the more aggression and will and desire you have to stay there.

“It’s only four games in, but we’ve had four tough games and we have only lost once in the last 16 odd games so we are getting a level of consistency and that was the biggest thing for me.

“Coming here there was no consistency in the performance and now we are just churning out wins and if we can’t win we are drawing games with resilient performances like in the last 25 minutes here.

“But I believe we will get better and more fluent as the season goes on so we are happy to be there and it gives us the fight to stay there.”

Daniel Agger Suffers Freak Injury

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger could miss the Reds' Premier League clash with Southampton at the weekend after he sustained a freak injury in the gym.

Agger was absent from the 2-2 draw with Swansea on Monday night due to the rib injury he suffered in training on Sunday, where he overstretched trying to avoid a falling dumbbell.

Phillipe Coutinho, who has struggled to reach the heights of last season so far, picked up a knock in Wales and reportedly left the Liberty Stadium in a sling.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is still unsure of the extent of both players’ injuries and he said: "Phillippe [Coutinho] will have a wee scan. As for Daniel, it's too early to say whether he will be fit for Saturday.

"He had a real freak accident in the gym. Just before he was coming out to train he overstretched trying to prevent a dumbbell falling on his foot.

"He has overstretched and yanked his side. We are waiting to see if that settles down over the next few days. If it doesn't, we have got ample replacements. That is why we brought in extra players."

Agger's injury handed £18million man Mamadou Sakho his first start for the club, and the former Swansea boss was pleased with the Frenchman's performance.

"Sakho did very well," Rodgers said.

"He has played a lot over pre-season but he has come back in and done very well. I thought he was excellent and assured. Once he gets used to working with us, he will improve."

The draw on Monday night sent Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League table and they will be hoping that they can keep their excellent form so far this season going.

Liverpool Boss Rodgers Reveals Reina Talks

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed he spoke to Pepe Reina about his plans to sign another goalkeeper this summer.

The Spaniard made 285 appearances during nine seasons as the club's first choice shot-stopper, before linking up with former boss Rafa Benitez on a season-long loan at Napoli. And after Reina backtracked on claims that he was forced out of the club, Rodgers has revealed he met with the 31-year-old to explain he planned to give him some competition in goal.

"It wasn't anything underhand," Rodgers told the Telegraph. "It was looking into his eye and telling him he was a very good keeper, but in order to be the best he can be and for us to be the best, I need to bring in another one who would be equal No. 1.

"He accepted that at the time, that was something he felt was needed also.

"Obviously here at the club we then have to consider the wages, as there is a financial implication too. So it was deemed through both parties that it was best for him to move on.

"As I said, I was comfortable enough to let it happen. He wanted to go and play, you have to consider that, it is World Cup year as well. He wanted to be a number one somewhere.

"We did everything we could to support him to be the best he could be. There was no rush for me to move Pepe out but I felt he needed competition so I had to bring in someone."

Rodgers has already been impressed by new No. 1 choice Simon Mignolet, who was signed for 9 million pounds from Sunderland during the summer transfer window.

"I’d seen him over the last few years, he’s adapted to the Premier League. He is a brilliant shot-stopper," Rodgers said. "John Achterberg, our Dutch goalkeeping coach, has been monitoring him for years.

"You see his presence, he is good with his feet, which is important, it is one of the big things I look for in my goalkeeper."

Borini Should Have Snubbed Liverpool

Fabio Borini has been told he might have been better snubbing Liverpool and staying at Roma.

Borini, 22, has flopped at Anfield following his £10.5million switch in July 2012 and has been sent out on loan to Sunderland for the season.

The striker's agent Marco De Marchi claims it might have been better for his career to remain at Roma.

"I think Fabio would have been the ideal player for Zdenek Zeman last year at Roma," De Marchi told Radio Mana Mana.

"But the decision was made to leave Roma. Of course, it all happened very quickly and there was no chance to talk with the new coach.

"But having said that, I still think Roma would have been the right team for Fabio."

Luis Alberto Hits U21s Hat-Trick

Luis Alberto's impressive second-half hat-trick sealed Liverpool U21s' valuable 5-2 victory over Barclays U21 Premier League leaders Sunderland at Anfield.

Summer signing Tiago Ilori made an encouragingly solid Reds debut as Alex Inglethorpe's side cancelled out strikes from Alejandro Rodriguez-Gorrin and David Moberg Karlsson through low drives by Jack Dunn and Alberto.

Raheem Sterling handed Liverpool the lead with an effort that bobbled narrowly over the line before the heroic Alberto ensured that the Reds couldn't be caught with a composed header and penalty.

Brendan Rodgers was in attendance to see his deadline day acquisition in action, while former Reds Michael Owen and Steve McManaman also travelled to see the thoroughly exciting match.

England U21s manager Gareth Southgate added himself to the list of familiar faces at Anfield as he ran the rule over the likes of Sterling, Jordon Ibe and Martin Kelly.

The opening stages of the encounter proved to be tightly contested, with both sides producing wayward efforts that failed to trouble either goalkeeper.

Attempts from Black Cats centre-backs Scott Harrison and Thomas McNamee soared well over the crossbar, while Reds wingers Sterling and Ibe both drilled shots that were equally fruitless.

Following several off-target attempts, the first shot directed towards goal - courtesy of Sunderland - broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark.

The Reds defence failed to clear sustained pressure from the visitors and were punished by a well-struck drive from the edge of the area by Rodriguez-Gorrin, who rifled beyond the outstretched arm of Danny Ward and into the bottom corner.

Liverpool nearly drew themselves back on terms in stunning circumstances through the somewhat unlikely source of Jon Flanagan.

A cross ricocheted into the path of the unmarked full-back and he responded by volleying the floating ball agonizingly wide.

The inevitable frustration of coming so close was compounded when Sunderland doubled their lead through some slick movement.

Moberg Karlsson latched onto an incisive through ball before calmly rounding Ward and prodding in from an acute angle.

That produced the desired response from Inglethorpe's youngsters as Dunn halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time. The front-man met captain Kelly's low cross with a calm clipped effort that found the far corner.

Dunn's goal proved to be the catalyst for a rampant second-half beginning from the home side as they overturned the scoreline within seven minutes of the restart.

Despite surging into the box, Alberto remained composed in possession before playing a quick passing exchange with Sterling that allowed the Spaniard to side-foot a solid effort past Joel Dixon to level the scoring.

Two minutes later, the Reds dramatically broke into the lead through the combination of Ibe and Sterling.

The former charged into the opposition's box and around Dixon before cutting back to Sterling, who managed to roll the ball just over the line under intense pressure.

A minor mar on the U21s' evening followed, when defender Lloyd Jones was shown a straight red card for an altercation with Mikael Mandron.

Sterling came close to increasing his and Liverpool's tally soon after but was harshly denied by the woodwork.

The 18-year-old's electric pace saw him race past multiple challenges before his slightly dragged left-footed shot bounced back off the post after beating the Sunderland custodian.

The home side was eventually rewarded for their continued efforts to extend their lead when Alberto found his second with just less than 20 minutes remaining.

A long ball played over the Black Cats' backline was expertly controlled by the 20-year-old, whose initial shot ricocheted off the diving Dixon and back into his path - making it easy for Alberto to calmly nod the ball into a gaping net.

With just eight minutes left in a thrilling battle, the frightening speed of Sterling drew a penalty for the Reds after he was brought down by the Sunderland 'keeper.

Alberto assumed the penalty duties and sealed his hat-trick as his spot-kick crept under the arms of Dixon and into the corner of the net, ensuring Liverpool ran out comfortable and deserved winners on the evening.

Liverpool Duo Earn August Premier League Awards

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and his manager Brendan Rodgers have won the respective player and manager of the month awards for August, Sky Sports, after the Reds won their opening three Premier League games.

Victories over Stoke City, Aston Villa and arch rivals Manchester United saw Liverpool enter the international break top of the early season Premier League table with the division’s only 100% winning record. They are also yet to concede a goal ahead of Monday’s encounter against Swansea City.

And Sturridge has led the way in attack, scoring the decisive goal in each of their games, displaying his talent, and his eye for goal in the absence of the suspended Luis Suarez. Since arriving at Anfield in January, Sturridge has been a regular scorer, with 16 goals in 20 appearances.

Liverpool is currently in their best run of form under Rodgers, and the club’s former manager Gerard Houllier believes the Northern Irishman’s style suits the club. He said: “I like his philosophy because it goes well with the Liverpool culture. I like his passing game and also their results this season. They're top of the league and I hope they can stay there for as long as possible.”

Liverpool Look To End 7-Year Glitch At Swansea

Even after hosting the champions with a one-legged player up front -- albeit a fine one of limitless endeavour and goal-scoring ability -- Liverpool's trip to Swansea City on Monday represents their hardest game of the season so far.

This is not an extempore exclamation to keep the veil of pretentious intelligence lifted high, nor is it a forlorn attempt to engage in the mindset of a football hipster. There are people who claim Tomas Rosicky is actually better than Mesut Ozil, and there are people who would rather watch a nil-nil draw instead of a 4-3 thriller, all the while clinging to their belief that Nigel Reo-Coker's form at Vancouver deserves an England call-up, it's just that England are too stupid to realize.

Not so with this suggestion. There is no hidden agenda, no snobbery; it is actually true. The equation is simple: The more Liverpool keep winning, the higher expectation rises; the higher the expectation rises, the more pressure that is exerted upon the burgeoning squad. If Liverpool (3-0) beat Swansea, then Southampton becomes their biggest game of the season. After that, Sunderland. Six wins from six and suddenly Crystal Palace becomes the biggest game since football began.

But first, Swansea, and a near eight-year record that Brendan Rodgers is close to breaking. Including the final two games of last season, Liverpool have won five games in a row. Not since 2005 have Liverpool won six consecutive league games, an astonishing reflection of two things: the strain of Champions League football under Rafael Benitez and the corrosion since they last failed to qualify for the competition.

There is a clear correlation between success and consistency; the ability to win no matter what, and do it often, is the sign of a serious football club. This is made evident when Liverpool's seven-year glitch is compared with those they chase. Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham have each managed six straight league wins in the past two seasons, while Chelsea did so in the season of their last title, 2009-10.

Though it fundamentally highlights that Liverpool's squad has not met the requirements in either quality or quantity, it also demonstrates a side that have forgotten how to maintain momentum. This team has not been capable of coping with pressure -- not in the league, at least -- and the slimmest sign of a must-win fixture is usually followed by a litany of failure. Shoulders hunch, heads explode and points are given away when there is a feeling, tangible or not, that the forthcoming fixture has importance attached to it.

An inspection of Liverpool's recent fixture lists reveals perpetual failure, must-win games becoming must-see for those who revel in their abjectness against teams both great and small. Even the current manager, striving to change that fault above all else, oversaw defeats to Aston Villa, Stoke and Southampton.

A lot of this is because of expectation. There is the expectation that engulfs a player, manager or tea-lady from the moment they sign for Liverpool, of course. There is the expectation spelled out by Bill Shankly's rhetoric that is essentially filtered through the sound system at Melwood; there is the suffocating patchwork quilt of success from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and Istanbul that adorns the walls, and the overriding, gut-grabbing realisation that your goals, tactics or cups of tea are never good enough to be placed on walls.

But there is the expectation of the here and now, as well. There is expectation that every win is another three points toward a restoration of greatness or, at the very least, Champions League qualification. This is a side that has struggled with that in recent years. In May 2011, Liverpool's must-win game for Europa League football against Tottenham at Anfield ended in a 2-0 defeat; in March 2012, with Champions League under Kenny Dalglish a possibility, they capitulated at home to Robin van Persie and Arsenal. When hopes are at their peak, the fall is far more painful.

Liverpool will travel to south Wales in peak form, even if it is broken by the summer break. Not since the end of 2008-09, the season when Liverpool flirted incessantly with the Premier League title, have they won five consecutive league games. Yet Rodgers has presided over that with this squad, a blossoming squad which is finding its step with every match.

It's impressive both statistically and when watching it unfold on the pitch. Of the five straight wins, the last four have been genuine bar-room brawls created by a steadfast belief in defending a 1-0 lead -- a genuine acknowledgement that Liverpool are playing in games that matter and will set up as such. After the performances against Stoke and Aston Villa, Daniel Sturridge's early goal against United was met with the Kop's united utterance: Defend this. The momentum, and expectation, was with them.

Of the five wins, only the 3-1 result against Fulham last May could be considered thoughtless and full of frolic; the other four have required the team to work hard and maintain discipline. With that comes expectation; expectation that Liverpool can win every game with such industry and calculation, that the red barricade can be erected and leads will remain untouched. Rightly so. In the past 11 league games, Liverpool has conceded from open play just twice.

It won't last forever, of course. And the longer it lasts, the more inevitable the tumble becomes -- such is the disposition of a club with no league title since 1990.

There is no reason for it to end at Swansea, however. Rodgers does not have it easy, but he rarely does. Against his former club, a club that will be desperate to show his loss is not felt at all, he must decide if he is to keep the defence -- sans the injured Glen Johnson -- that performed so well against David Moyes' United side. A dilemma, given Mamadou Sakho awaits his debut and Kolo Toure appears fit to return.

It's the biggest game of Rodgers' managerial career so far, an opportunity to keep Liverpool top of the league with 12 points from 12, so he must choose wisely. Not that he, or Liverpool, will mind that; it has been a long time since football mattered so much at Anfield. Momentum is with them and expectation shoots its laser-like glare; Liverpool must not wilt. If they do not, this unlikely adventure continues. On Monday, Swansea; the day after, the world.

Laudrup Surprised By Sturridge's Speedy Recovery

Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup has spiced up his side's clash with Liverpool by insisting he's "surprised" to hear about Daniel Sturridge's availability.

Sturridge pulled out of the England squad for the recent World Cup qualifying double-header, but reports suggest the 24-year-old could be available to lead the line for the Reds on Monday night.

Laudrup insisted he'd be pleased to play against a strong Liverpool side, but reopened the classic club vs. country debate by telling This Is Wales: "I thought Sturridge would not play because he was not fit enough for England, but now 48 hours later the reports are saying that he is fit to play against us."

"I was a little surprised about that. I hope he plays because I want to play against the best Liverpool team, but I thought there were rules to stop players not playing for their country and then playing for the club."

Despite his comments, the Swansea boss may have hoped Sturridge would be unavailable after the striker’s three goals in three games saw him crowned the Barclays Player of the month for August.

The match at the Liberty Stadium will see plenty of familiar faces do battle with former friends, as Brendan Rodgers and Joe Allen return to South Wales, while Jonjo Shelvey is likely to start against the Reds for the first time since his summer switch.

Suarez Still Seeking Liverpool Exit In January

Luis Suarez remains adamant he will leave Liverpool sooner rather than later, and will look to make the move in January, according to Goal.

The Uruguayan striker tried to force his way out of Anfield over the summer, and was the subject of two bids from Arsenal.

Although Liverpool's owners were adamant throughout the summer that Suarez wouldn't be sold, although the player's camp believed that Arsenal's second bid which exceeded £40 million was enough to activate a clause that would allow him to leave.

Liverpool refuted that and refused to entertain the bid from Arsenal, while Suarez's threat to take his case to the Premier League failed to materialize.

Despite late interest from Real Madrid Suarez remained at Liverpool after the close of the transfer window amidst rumours he was willing to commit himself to the club.

However Goal claim that all trust has been lost between Suarez and Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group, and that he will seek the earliest possible exit.

That may prove to be tricky given the fee that would Liverpool would command, and whether Arsenal would go back in for the former Ajax man having spent over £40 million on Mesut Ozil remains to be seen.

Suarez is yet to play for Liverpool this term as he serves his suspension for biting Branislav Ivanovic last season, but will return to face Manchester United in the Capital One Cup later this month.

Rodgers Has Careful Plans For Liverpool Captain

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed his plans in order to keep veteran midfielder Steven Gerrard match fit for the campaign.

The England midfielder has played his entire career with Liverpool and this weekend’s game will mark his 445th appearance for the club and his 400th game as captain.

The 33-year-old has become an integral figure in Rodgers’ team selection, playing the full 90 minutes for the first three matches of the season as well as playing the full 90 minutes in both of England’s World Cup qualifiers.

And Rodgers understands the implications too much football can have on the aging midfielders body and has careful plans in place.

“You need to analyze the people and what age he is at and the body type he is.” He told Sky Sports.

"One of the biggest things in our method of work is the recovery method. Stevie for example plays on the Saturday, recovers on the Sunday doing pulls, stretch and massage, on the Tuesday recovers further with maybe a light jog.

“It's a long load of low intensity recovery.

“Stevie was fit enough to play Saturday, Tuesday and Sunday at the start of this season.”

Rodgers believes the man-management of his players is imperative in achieving success and declares he is happy to allow Gerrard extra time off from training when he wants it.

"It depends if you are a dogmatic coach and you think you always have to have the player out there," added Rodgers.

"Given the culture we have created here, the players want to be out training every day.”

Rodgers faces a return to his former club Swansea on Monday night in the hope of keeping his 100% league record and remaining top of the Premier League.

Mignolet Basking In Penalty Save Glory

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet thinks his opening day debut penalty save against Stoke City has helped him settle into life at Anfield.

The Belgian stopper, was a £9 million summer transfer from Sunderland, replacing Pepe Reina who has since moved on a season long loan to Napoli to be with his old manager at Liverpool; Rafael Benitez.

He was one of many arrivals at the club this summer, alongside the likes of Mamadou Sakho, Iago Aspas and Victor Moses, the latter is on loan.

Mignolet's debut couldn't have had a better start to life with The Red's, his penalty save has helped Brendan Rodgers' side to record three straight victories.

Maximum points means that at this early stage of the season, Liverpool is top.

Furthermore, the 13 cap international is yet to concede a goal for his new club. As well as Stoke, Mignolet has kept clean sheets against Aston Villa and fierce rivals Manchester United.

Speaking about that save, Mignolet had this to say to Liverpool's official website: "Obviously if you do that in your first game as a Liverpool player in the Barclays Premier League, you're very happy."

"It boosted my confidence and it was a very special moment. Because of the save we won the game and it doesn't really happen often that as a goalkeeper you can be so decisive - especially in your first game."

"We've got three wins from the first three games played, so hopefully we can continue on that, progress and manage to play the coming games at the same level as we did the first couple of games."

Liverpool look to carry on their perfect start to the season with a win against Rodgers' former club Swansea on Monday night.

Glen Johnson Confirmed Out For A Month

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed full-back Glen Johnson is likely to miss a month of action with an ankle sprain.

The England international sustained the injury during the club's 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Anfield, during a challenge with Patrice Evra.

Johnson missed his country's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine as a result, but Rodgers is hopeful the 29-year-old will return to the first-team fold in October.

"It's a disappointment because I think he's made a good start and he was excellent against Manchester United," Rodgers told reporters ahead of Liverpool's trip to Swansea City on Monday.

"Fortunately for us, with the way it works out and the international breaks, he'll probably only miss about four Premier League games.

"Glen is the type of player that you never realize how much you miss him until he's not there. He'll go away, work hard and keep himself in the best shape he can."

Despite the setback to Johnson, Rodgers is confident of having key trio Daniel Sturridge, Joe Allen and Kolo Toure available for selection against his former club.

Sturridge was unavailable for England duty due to a thigh injury picked up before the United game, while Toure and Allen were both injured during the Capital One Cup victory over Notts County in August.

"[Sturridge] was obviously disappointed to miss out on England games," Rodgers continued. "I felt for him because he came here, first and foremost, to do as well as he possibly can for Liverpool - knowing if he could do well, his aim was obviously to be the England striker.

"He returned back and there was a slight improvement, but obviously Roy [Hodgson] and his staff have to make the decision on whether he's going to be right or available. Obviously at that stage, he wasn't.

On Allen and Toure, the Ulsterman added: "Joe has trained with the team. He looked good [on Friday] morning and is certainly fighting for a place on Monday.

"Kolo is with our physiologists and is working well. He should be available for Monday."