Voronin Delight At Hertha Switch

New Hertha Berlin signing Andriy Voronin is excited by the prospect of playing in the Bundesliga after joining on loan from Liverpool.

The Ukraine striker was a deadline-day arrival from Anfield and is looking forward a second stint in Germany having plied his trade there for 12 years before moving to Merseyside in the summer of 2007.

"Hertha is a fine club with a young and very good team. It is a very, very exciting task ahead of me," he told Hertha's official website.

"The team has a lot of potential and good players like Arne Friedrich, Mark Pantelic or Joe Simunic to name but a few.

"Of course it is a brilliant league and the atmosphere is very special, but the difference between the Premier League and the Bundesliga is not huge."

Voronin might be missing out on Champions League football by leaving Liverpool, but the 29-year-old is still confident of a successful season in German capital.

He said: "Hertha are a young team with a lot of potential. Hertha is an ambitious club and I want to play a part in their goals.

"I think qualification for the UEFA Cup is a realistic target, and of course we want to progress as far as possible in this year's competition."

Dubai Investors Yet To Make Fresh Bid

The Dubai investors who attempted to buy Liverpool last year are yet to make an increased offer for the club.

Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, was reported to have sanctioned an increased offer of £500 million to buy Liverpool.

However, sources have now described those claims as inaccurate, and insisted there are no ongoing talks about the possible sale of Liverpool.

With the global banking crisis leaving Liverpool’s American owners unable to finance plans for a new stadium in Stanley Park, the club are in danger of treading water.

Cash flow is not a concern for Dubai International Capital, one of Sheikh Mohammed’s investment arms. But it remains unclear whether Tom Hicks and George Gillett would be prepared to listen to a fresh offer for their shares, should DIC return to the table.

Manchester City’s recent takeover by the Abu Dhabi United group makes the situation of Liverpool’s ownership all the more critical.

With such financial muscle, City can now realistically expect to mount a serious challenge for one of four Champions League places.

Liverpool and Arsenal are most at risk, but the impact of failure to qualify for the Champions League would be much greater at Anfield, where matchday revenues are dwarfed by those raised at the larger and more corporate-friendly Emirates Stadium.

It is estimated Arsenal generate £50 million more than Liverpool every year simply through this means, making the need to leave Anfield all the more pressing.

When they bought the club in 2007, Hicks and Gillett promised work on the new stadium would begin almost immediately.

But with annual interest payments of £30 million and the current financial climate as it is, there are fears on Merseyside that the Texan pair are simply incapable of fulfilling their pledges.

Rafael Benitez Defends Tactics For Aston Villa Game

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has defended his tactics at Aston Villa.

The Anfield side gained a creditable point from a goalless draw with Martin O'Neill's team.

But the use of striker Robbie Keane out wide on the left provoked a lot of comment.

However Benitez insists it was the right decision.

He said: "We changed the system to play 4-3-3 and give Xabi Alonso freedom, then when he was being pressed we changed to 4-2-3-1. People said, 'Oh, Robbie Keane wasn't playing well on the left.' But we had to think about winning the game, not just one player."

Liverpool were without Steven Gerrard through injury and lost Fernando Torres to a hamstring strain in the first half.

Benitez added: "Getting a draw without them showed the quality in the squad – but it could have been better. Having watched the videos, I thought we could have won. We had four chances – Alonso, Kuyt, Ngog and Keane. They had two and some set-pieces. So, the point was good but it could have been better."

Meanwhile, he is backing his side to improve their form - even though they remain unbeaten in the Premier League and are joint top of the table.

The displays have not been totally convincing and with dates against Manchester United and Everton on the horizon along with the start of the Champions League group stages, Benitez told the club's official website:

"Javier Mascherano, Lucas and Ryan Babel arrived late and I am sure that in a few weeks' time it will be better. We need to have better possession and work on having a higher tempo."

And the manager is optimistic Gerrard, out with a groin strain, could be fit in time for the encounter with United on September 13.

Benitez said: "Steven is okay. He's started with bicycle work and will start jogging, so I think he will be ready soon."

Benitez has also welcomed the competition for places in the squad, which has seen Daniel Agger miss out from playing in defence since the first leg of the Champions League qualifier in Liege.

Benitez said: "Martin Skrtel is a good centre-back, Jamie Carragher is very consistent and Sami Hyypia is a good option also, so Daniel needs to work hard if he wants to play and he knows that.

"We want two players for each position but Daniel has a very good mentality and he will be ready."

Sale Of Liverpool Likely To Be Sooner Rather Than Later

The Arab invasion of the Barclays Premier League seems certain to continue, with Liverpool's American owners weakening in their resistance to selling the club to Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai. Tom Hicks vetoed an attempted sale by George Gillett Jr, his co-chairman at Anfield, this year, but the American tycoons are expected to return to the negotiating table as an unforgiving financial climate takes a toll on their ambitions for the club.

Hicks maintains that he will not sell Liverpool, but the Texan is known to be troubled by the financial storm that has engulfed him and Gillett in the past 12 months. Last week, they blamed the credit crunch for the postponement of building work on a proposed 60,000-capacity stadium in Stanley Park and, with the Premier League stakes raised further by the Abu Dhabi royal family's imminent takeover at Manchester City, Hicks and Gillett are close to conceding that they do not have the resources to fulfil the ambitions they had when they bought Liverpool in February 2007.

There remains a £400 million-plus offer on the table from Sheikh Mohammed, who is leading the bid that was being driven by Dubai International Capital, the private-equity investment arm of the Dubai Government, when Hicks blocked Gillett's attempted sale this year. Hicks is known to be more open to selling Liverpool, but the two sides remain some way apart in their valuation of the club.

Hicks and Gillett are aware that the £350 million refinancing deal they secured through the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia a little more than seven months ago is up for renewal on January 25 next year and that the banks are not certain to grant them the option of a six-month extension. They must decide by January whether to try to prop up their regime for a further six months, or to sell.

The takeover of City could have a knock-on effect, with Liverpool facing greater competition to qualify for next season's Champions League. The club have annual interest payments of £30 million, which last season's revenue of about £20 million from European competition went a long way towards clearing.

Increased competition from an opponents with seemingly unlimited financial resources is likely to heighten the anxiety of Liverpool's owners, who kept a tight hold of the purse strings this summer in the belief that Rafael Benítez's squad was good enough to compete for the Premier League title and at very least to secure the top-four finish that would lead to next season's Champions League. Liverpool's net spend this summer was approximately £18 million, but Benítez remains aggrieved that the board vetoed an £18 million deal to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.

Could Gareth Barry Be At Liverpool FC In January?

FOR all Liverpool’s wheelings and dealings during the transfer window, this summer will forever be remembered for the one player who didn’t go anywhere.

The Champions League semi-final defeat to Chelsea had barely began to sink in when Rafael Benitez started planning for the new season in earnest with a £10m bid for Gareth Barry.

It would spark a protracted, rancorous, tedious and ultimately futile attempt to bring the Aston Villa midfielder to Anfield.

For whatever reason – and the rights and wrongs of the transfer chase remain fiercely debated and defended at both clubs – the Barry saga cast a long, embarrassing shadow over Liverpool’s summer.

And it also threatened to shatter the uneasy peace that had held among the Anfield corridors of power after a tumultuous previous campaign.

Such was Benitez’s frustration at the club’s owners’ failure to back his pursuit of £18m Barry, he had to be talked out of quitting. Instead, the Spaniard headed for yet more clear-the-air talks with chief executive Rick Parry.

With Xabi Alonso’s future intrinsically linked to that of Barry, it was all very messy and very unnecessary. But don’t be surprised if the chase resumes nearer the January transfer window, when Barry will be available at a greatly reduced price.

Benitez’s other summer priorities were a pair of full-backs, a striker, some wingers and a goalkeeper to provide a realistic challenge to first-choice Pepe Reina between the sticks.

The Anfield manager can feel satisfied – at least in principle – with movements both in and out of the club.

Brazilian keeper Diego Cavalieri arrived from Palmeiras and was encouragingly composed and authoritative during pre-season, with a debut against Crewe Alexandra in the Carling Cup lined up for later this month.

Andrea Dossena, a big-money £7m signing from Udinese, and free transfer Philipp Degen will provide competition on either side of defence, an area Benitez has long since pinpointed for improvement.

Evidence thus far suggests Italy international Dossena will need time to settle at left-back, although he will surely prosper once the team hits its stride after an unsure start to the campaign.

Degen, meanwhile, has already lived up to his injury-prone reputation by succumbing to a groin problem that has prevented him from making his bow. Clearly, it’s unlikely the Switzerland international will prove as dependable as the departed Steve Finnan.

Young striker David Ngog could prove an inspired signing if the Frenchman lives up to the promise of his earlier career.

The main interest, though, has come in the form of the two major attacking players Benitez has brought to the club.

Robbie Keane is the centrepiece of Benitez’s summer rebuild. Second only to Fernando Torres as the most expensive player in Liverpool’s history, the former Tottenham Hotspur man will be expected to strike up a partnership with the Spaniard and fire the goals that can ensure a creditable Premier League title challenge.

To do that, the duo will need the required service, particularly from the wide areas where Liverpool have been desperately crying out for creativity since the start of the campaign.

A successful end to a summer-long pursuit of Espanyol’s Albert Riera will hopefully provide potency down a left flank shorn of John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell and work-permit victim Sebastian Leto.

But the lack of similar threat down the right and the doubts concerning the balance in central midfield may well need to be addressed in January. Gareth Barry, anyone?

Jordy Brouwer Seals Opening Win For Liverpool Reserves

JORDY BROUWER scored the only goal of the game as champions Liverpool Reserves opened the defence of their FA Premiership Reserve League Northern Section title with victory over Middlesbrough Reserves at the Riverside Stadium last night.

Liverpool also saw new boy Phillip Degen come through 45 minutes of the match as the Swiss international right-back works his way back to full fitness following injury.

Gary Ablett’s side won three trophies last term and they started where they left off with victory.

After a slow start Liverpool hit their stride and took the lead on 17 minutes.

Spanish striker Dani Pacheco’s cross was met by Brouwer and despite seeing his first effort hit the bar, the Dutch youngster followed to head home the rebound.

Pacheco hit a post and Stephen Darby had an effort ruled out for offside. But in the end Brouwer’s strike was enough to seal all three points.

LIVERPOOL RESERVES: Gulacsi, Ayala (Degen 45), Darby, San Jose, Huth, Kelly, Bruna, Spearing, Brouwer (Simon 61), Pacheco, Weijl (Irwin 85). Subs: Bouzanis, Crowther.

Jamie Carragher Admits Big-Spending Manchester City Will Be A Threat

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City's dramatic transfer deadline day transformation into one of the Premier League's biggest spenders could post a threat to the top four.

The Eastlands takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group was followed immediately by the £33million signing of Brazilian striker Robinho from Real Madrid.

Carragher says manager Mark Hughes has managed to pull off an "amazing" transfer.

"I was watching the transfer news up until 12am to see what was going on. It was an amazing day," the 30 year-old told the club's official website.

"It's like an Abramovic-type thing there, you know. To come in and break the British transfer record in one day is pretty amazing. If they've got that type of wealth and they've got players like Robinho, one of the best players in the world, then it's something you have to think about."

However Carragher remains upbeat about prospects for the season at Anfield following the closing of the transfer window until Janaury. And he has welcomed the arrival of Spanish winger Albert Riera from Espanyol.

He said: "I remember him from City. It's something we've needed after losing John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell and Sebastian Leto. He's got a good left foot.

"The manager obviously knows him a lot better than us players because he has a good link with Paco Herrera, who used to be his coach at Espanyol. Hopefully he can add something that's been missing from the team."

Full back Steve Finnan left Anfield for Spain as part of the deal after five years on Merseyside, with Carragher paying a warm tribute to the departing Republic of Ireland international.

"He has been a great servant," said Carragher. "He and Markus Babbel have been the best full-backs I have played with at this club. He was part of Istanbul and getting us to Athens, as well as the 2006 FA Cup win.

"It was a great signing by Gerard Houllier and I think Steve can be very proud of his Liverpool career."

Benitez Hopes Gerrard Is Fit For Key Clash

Steven Gerrard is currently sidelined and will miss out on England's crucial opening World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia, both away. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez hopes that his talismanic captain will return for the key Premier League crunch game versus Manchester United.

Steven Gerrard recently underwent a groin operation that ruled him out of England's opening World Cup qualifying campaign. The recovery time is expected to be 15 days leaving him uncertain for the visit of League champions Manchester United on the 13th of September.

Rafa Benitez gave the club's official website an update of Gerrard's progress, he said: "Steven is okay. He's started with bicycle work and will start jogging, so I think he will be ready soon."

Fernando Torres too is doubtful for the United game after a hamstring injury prevented him from Spain's games against Bosnia and Armenia.

Olympic call-ups to Lucas, Ryan Babel, and Javier Mascherano meant that they would return to Liverpool late, but Benitez is optimistic that they will be ready: "I am sure that in a few weeks' time it will be better."

Liverpool's Jamie Carragher 'Would Rather Miss For England'

Jamie Carragher says defeat while playing for England, even in the World Cup, hurt less than a loss with Liverpool.

Carragher turned his back on international football last year after being constantly overlooked by then manager Steve McClaren.

The 30-year-old won 34 caps, the last of which saw him miss a penalty as England went out of the 2006 World Cup against Portugal in a shootout.

And while the nation mourned, Carragher was consoled by the fact he "would rather miss for England than LFC."

"Did I care we'd gone out of the tournament? Of course I did. Passionately," writes Carragher in his forthcoming autobiography.

"I've never given less than 100% in any game.

"Despite this, whenever I returned home from disappointing England experiences one unshakeable, overriding thought pushed itself to the forefront of my mind, no matter how much the rest of the nation mourned.

"'At least it wasn't Liverpool,' I'd repeat to myself, over and over.

"The text messages of consolation I received on the coach included one from Kenny Dalglish.

"'I would rather miss for England than LFC,' I wrote back.

"I confess: defeats wearing an England shirt never hurt me in the same way as losing with my club. I wasn't caring or indifferent, I simply didn't put England's fortunes at the top of my priority list.

"Losing felt like a disappointment rather than a calamity. I was never in love with playing for England in the first place. By the time I stopped I felt a huge weight lifting."

In the book, Carragher also expresses his desire to manage Liverpool when he retires from playing.

Carragher Wants To Manage Reds

Liverpool's rock-at-the-back Jamie Carragher, in an interview in the Mirror, reveals his dreams of masterminding a successful Premier League campaign, not just as a player but also as a manager.

Sir Alex Ferguson established Manchester United as the dominant force in England over the past two decades much to the detriment to Liverpool.

In its modern format Liverpool have never won the League title. Two FA Cups; three League Cups; one Champions League; and one Uefa Cup have eased the league disappointment somewhat but the 38-game campaign still remains the crown that scousers covet the most.

Speaking ahead of the launch of his book: Carra My Autobiography, Jamie Carragher shared with the Mirror his ambitions of winning the Premier League with Liverpool, and the joy he would have being the Red that masterminded knocking Sir Alex Ferguson off of his long, illustrious, silver-laden pedestal.

"It would be more of an achievement [to win the league] as manager because it would come about through my decisions," he said. Whilst acknowledging the United boss' achievements, any competitive ruthlessness Carragher bears to the head coach of his north west rival he insists is born out of obeisance, as opposed to abhorrence. "It's like the ultimate football man's dream to be better than Ferguson because he is the master. I just hope he hangs around long enough to wait for me."

He continued: "I've got more respect for Ferguson than anyone else in the game," and in a statement that is sure to rile the red side of Mancunia, he claimed: "He's like a Scouser, really. He's funny, doesn't mind telling people to f*** off, and he even votes Labour. I love him."

Concerning derby day emotion, and the felicity he extracts from defeating a club he once held so dear he said: "Losing the derby is worse than losing any other game. My passion has gone full circle. I was made up on the first day of the season when Blackburn scored that late winner at Goodison. We were getting ready to play Sunderland and it gave me a big lift."

There is a shocking rumour that floats around the streets of Liverpool that states the reason Jamie Carragher always plays with a long-sleeved shirt is because he has a tattoo of an Everton badge on his arm. The retired international defender adds credence to this whisper as he revealed: "I was an Everton fanatic right through my childhood and teens. Everton controlled my life and dominated my thoughts 24/7. I went to the away games, followed them across Europe and in the mid-80s went to Wembley so often it began to feel like Alton Towers."

"When I talk about that Everton team I still say 'we'. Even when I was playing for Liverpool reserves I'd want Everton's first team to win the derby every time," he added.

A dramatic change-of-heart occured though in 1999 when Manchester United defeated Liverpool at Old Trafford and then the scourse firm were handed further misery as they were knocked out of the FA Cup. The 30-year old, from Bootle, visited a local called The Chaucer and was unashamedly ridiculed and lauded as a 'dirty Kopite', leaving the current vice-captain 'drained and demoralised'.

"I couldn't take it, he said.... People who I thought loved me, were getting off on my misery so I turned around and walked out. They hadn't done anything wrong. They were just being themselves and they're still my mates. But it was over. When I walked out of that pub I turned my back on Everton for good."

His dereliction of all things Blue gained momentum when, on derby days, team-mates such as Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler would be subject to personal abuse. The former's relationship with his girlfriend is often hecked on the terraces and the allegations often border on libel.

"I hate what they sing about Steven and his family. It's disgusting and goes way beyond the kind of banter that's acceptable in life, not just football... Robbie suffered the same type of scandalous taunts which really hurt him and his family. I'm not saying Liverpool fans are blameless because they're not. They dish out abuse during games with our rivals too. But it ends when the game ends."

He continued: "Evertonians spread the lies around the streets of Liverpool and chant them whether they're playing us, Reading or Portsmouth. I even hear it on the telly when they're playing away in Europe and I think that could be my family they're singing about."

Carragher has strong family ties due to his own upbringing and the respect he has for his mother, Paula. The Mirror report that when Paula was pregnant with him she was informed by doctors that her unborn child had spina bifida - a neural tube defect - and was alerted to the fact that she could have an abortion, but Paula - a strict Catholic - turned it down. The original diagnosis of spina bifida was false though... he had gastroschisis - a congenital abdominal wall defect - and spent six weeks in hospital trying to stay alive.

"She was willing to bring up a disabled child and was prepared to sacrifice her life for me. I owe everything I've ever done in the past 30 years to that decision."

Growing up he had a tough competitive streak that lent it's way to confidence and cockiness as he quickly realised he far outclassed his early team-mates.

"I couldn't accept that others weren't as good and I couldn't get off their backs. I was always getting dragged aside by managers and told to treat my team-mates better. It still happens today. Rafa often pulls me up about being too harsh on other players."

He continued: "I've had to send a text message to Pepe Reina apologising for what I'd said during a game. I say things to players and afterwards think 'what have I done?' And sometimes after I've had a stand-up row I think 'do they hate me?' "But I can't let people around me switch off... If someone tells me what to do on the pitch there's a good chance they'll get told to f*** off. That's my job," he jokes.

Regarding the impact that foreign talent has had on the English game, Carragher believes in some ways it has benefitted greatly, but in others it limits the opportunities for the local youth to play for the bigger clubs.

"There's definitely too many foreigners in the game," he said. "What's the point of spending all this money on the academies if we're not pushing local kids through? Liverpool FC is our club. It's a big part of our city and you've got to give young aspirational Scousers the chance to succeed. It's not just football," he added. "I've got two brothers who find it hard to work in Liverpool - in the Capital of Culture. One of the reasons is we've made it too easy for foreigners to come here and take the jobs."

In a startling admission of choosing club over country, Carragher admitted: "If I was given the choice between winning the World Cup with England or doing what we did in Istanbul, I'd take Istanbul because I know how much it meant to Liverpool. People told me that we gave them the greatest night of their lives and if they died next week they'd die happy... That's some thought."

Carragher stresses the importance of loyalty, not just in the modern game, but also in life - he married his childhood sweetheart three years ago, but they have been together since he was 18. But this is an ethic that has translated to Carragher's club-life, and he reflected on the occasion when Gerard Houillier opted to bring in Stephane Henchoz and Sami Hyypia after a young Jamie had just been awarded Player of the Year, he said:

"I'd just been voted Player of the Year but didn't start the season very well and fans were calling for Henchoz to play in my position. I thought 'hang on, a few games ago I was your best player'. I was only 21 back then and I struggled to get my head round it... It angered me and it took a while to get myself together. Then eventually the fans started singing about dreaming of a team of Carraghers and I thought 'you weren't singing that six years ago'!

"I'm under no illusion. No matter what I've done over the years as soon as someone better comes along it'll be 'f*** Carra off'. But that's football. People go on about how loyal I am to Liverpool. But it's not a question of loyalty. It's a question of 'where am I going to go from Liverpool?' "We're one of the best teams in the world and I'm playing every week. I don't to leave Liverpool, but if Liverpool weren't that good and a great team like Real Madrid or Barcelona came in for me I might go, because I've always driven myself to play at the best level."

On his current and future ambitions he said: "I've got three years left on my contract and I want to be playing 50 games a season. There's competition for my place and I'm prepared to fight for that because I've been fighting all my life. There will always be technically better players around than me, but no-one will be able to match my passion or drive. I'll be fighting for another contract after this one and I'll be happy then to accept 25 games a season."

Rafa Happy To Concentrate On Football

Rafa Benitez is looking forward to concentrating on football after a hectic transfer window.

The Anfield boss added six names to his first-team squad during the summer, including the deadline day capture of Albert Riera.

That deal saw Steve Finnan go the other way to Espanyol, while Andriy Voronin left for a year on loan at Hertha Berlin.

Benitez believes the departures will benefit both players, and the Spaniard is now looking forward to an extended period focusing solely on football.

"It's important because we can now concentrate on football and preparing the team," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Voronin needed to play, and with the competition we have got up front it was going to be difficult for him. Hertha Berlin are a big team, so it was a good move for him.

"Finnan was involved in the Albert Riera deal, so it was a good option for us.

"We signed Philipp Degen and have also got Alvaro Arbeloa.

"But Finnan has been a good servant to the club. He is a consistent player – that's important in any position, but especially full-back."

Mark Lawrenson: Albert Riera Appears Miles Better Than In His Manchester City Days

I remember watching Albert Riera playing for Manchester City a couple from times.

Back then I wouldn’t have paid you air miles for him.

But I also watched him in La Liga for Espanyol last year and he seemed to have improved a great deal. And he clearly benefited from playing every week, so if Rafael Benitez really sees him as the solution to his left-sided problem then he must give him a run of games.

If he doesn’t, then play Ryan Babel on the left and give him a run of games. Either way, he needs to stick with who he feels is best in a certain position and go with that because bringing players in for a spell then leaving them out just won’t work.

Who he prefers in that slot is his decision, but sticking Robbie Keane out there certainly isn’t the answer. The reason why Liverpool are desperate for width is because they need to stretch defences and create more space for the strikers to work in.

Then they will get the ball where they want it rather than having to go looking for it in deeper and wider areas.

Either way, it’s time for Liverpool to take more chances in league games. At the back, it’s not as if the defence and goalkeeper are useless and need protecting, they’re probably the best in the top flight.

So I’m hoping to see more draws converted into wins before it costs them like it did last season.

Liverpool Defender Jamie Carragher Admits He Could Walk Away From Anfield

Jamie Carragher has admitted that hecould - at some stage - leave Liverpool.

The 30-year-old defender has spent his entire career at Anfield but he told the Daily Mirror: 'People go on about how loyal I am to Liverpool. But it's not a question of loyalty. It's a question of "where am I going to go from Liverpool?"

'We're one of the best teams in the world and I'm playing every week.

'I'm not saying I want to leave Liverpool, but if Liverpool weren't that good and a great team like Real Madrid or Barcelona came in for me I might go, because I've always driven myself to play at the best level I can.

Riera Ready For Reds Challenge

Albert Riera did not consider joining another club after discovering he was a target of Liverpool.

The former Espanyol winger moved to Anfield on Monday as Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez paid an undisclosed fee ahead of the transfer window deadline.

And having completed his move to Merseyside, Reira, who had a loan spell at Manchester City in 2006, is looking forward to the challenge.

The Spain international will be charged with the task of ending Liverpool's problems on the left of midfield, but he welcomes the pressure.

"As soon as I knew they were interested in me I knew there was only one club that I wanted to sign for and thankfully it has now happened," Riera, who had also been chased by Everton, told Liverpool's official website.

"I know I will have to work very hard to get into the team because there are a lot of good players here but that is a challenge I am looking forward to.

"It feels really good to be a Liverpool player and I am really happy to be at this club.

"I am looking forward to working with the manager and the players."

Riise's Open Letter To Liverpool Fans

Roma’s Norwegian international full-back John Arne Riise has penned a heart-felt open letter to Liverpool fans all over the world following his transfer from Merseyside to the Eternal City this summer.

John Arne Riise, something of a cult hero among Liverpool fans during his seven successful years at Anfield, left the club in the summer for AS Roma as it became clear his first-team opportunities under Rafael Benitez would become increasingly restricted following the manager’s transfer dealings.

Now Riise has written the following letter, published on Liverpool’s official website, liverpool.tv, to the Reds fans with whom he was so popular…


“Dear fans of Liverpool FC,

“After seven seasons at Anfield, it's time for me to "walk on". In many ways it feels inspiring and exciting to be familiar with the pressure of a new employer, meet new fans, meet a new culture and play a new kind of football. I look forward to this new adventure, but I travel with a loss.

“Because, it's not easy for me to leave you - the world's best supporters! I've been thinking about this almost every day this summer. After seven wonderful seasons, and more than 340 matches for Liverpool, I never had the opportunity to make a real and proper goodbye with you - the world's most motivating fans. You have always supported me and the team and I want you all to know how important you've been to me and the other players.

“I've been giving my "thank you" to the club, the staff and the players and they'll always have a special place in my heart. And this is my thank-you letter to all the fans out there that have been supporting me during these years. I will follow the team closely from Italy and will stay in touch with many of the players and many of my friends in Liverpool.

“With respect to the many hundreds of great moments I have experienced in red, it will be unfair to draw up one highlight rather than another. There has always been the highlight of wearing the red shirt at Anfield. It's always been a privilege to have the initials LFC on the space closest to the heart. As you all know I was a player who always, no matter what, gave 110 per cent in every training session and every game. I always tried to give you the entertainment you deserved. Even in the bad moments you were there for me and the team.

“To play in front of the red crowd, every minute has been a privilege. Even after my unfortunate own goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi last April - where all our dreams were crushed - I felt the support and sympathies from you as real and important. When I signed seven years ago, I couldn't in my wildest dreams expect the journey you all gave me. I will always be grateful for that. A big thank-you to you all.

“I'm 100 per cent sincere when I say that I will always remember all the great moments we've had and you - our fans - have such great importance for these great matches and great moments. Liverpool FC will have a lot more great moments like this in the future and I hope that I will experience great things with my new team - AS Roma. I hope you will continue to follow my career.

“Therefore, I do not say goodbye, but so long. Arrivederci - Walk on!

Sincerely,
John Arne Riise
"The ginger".

Kuyt Bemoans Injury To Torres

Dirk Kuyt concedes the loss of striker Fernando Torres is a major blow for Liverpool, with their next match at home to Manchester United.

Torres damaged a hamstring in the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday, and the club have since confirmed the injury will rule him out for between two and three weeks - making it highly unlikely he will be fit to face the champions in the Premier League clash at Anfield on September 13.

Kuyt could well take a more central striking role in Torres' absence, and said: "Fernando is one of the best players in the world and obviously he will be a huge loss to us.

"But at Villa we handled the loss well. We re-grouped and showed tremendous team spirit.

"It is something we will have to do against United if Fernando does not make it."

Ian Rush: Reds Lost The Chance To Put Pressure On United

Any team that comes away from Villa Park with a point this season is not going to be disappointed – but I can’t help but think that Liverpool missed a big opportunity on Sunday.

If they had won the game, they would now be five points ahead of Manchester United and with the international break that gap could not have been closed until the two sides meet at Anfield on September 13.

It might still be early in the season and United do have a game in hand, but they would not have wanted to come to Anfield knowing that a defeat would leave them trailing by eight points.

Football at its very highest level is all about pressure, and the best sides are the ones who can deal with it the best.

United have certainly not been found wanting in this respect, but it would have been interesting to see how they would have coped with the knowledge that they could lose touch with the league leaders.

As it is, Liverpool did not do enough to beat Villa and that means United will not be under quite as much pressure, and I think that’s a shame.

Seven points from your first three games of the season is always going to be a good return and there are plenty of other teams in the Premier League who would love to have made as good a start as Liverpool.

Even though they are nowhere near their best, they have still managed to pick up points from some difficult games and that is definitely a positive.

But if they had just gone for Villa a bit more at the weekend I am sure they could today be boasting a maximum points haul and be top of the league on their own instead of sharing the leadership with Chelsea.

That is the next test for this Liverpool side and their title credentials – they have to start going to tough away grounds believing that they can win and doing everything they can to do so.

Too many draws stopped them from mounting a proper title challenge last season and they do not want the same thing to happen this time around, but they are going to have to start going for the jugular more if they are to turn draws like Sunday’s against Villa into wins.

Rafa Benitez is never usually happy when the international breaks come around but I’m sure he’s quite relieved on this occasion.

Losing Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to injury at the same time is obviously a massive blow but at least the blow is being softened by the fact that Liverpool do not have a game for a couple of weeks because of the internationals.

The two-week break means Torres and Gerrard can work on their recovery without missing games and hopefully they will both be back sooner rather than later.

But even if either or both of them have to miss the Manchester United game it is up to the other players to step up and prove that Liverpool can win without their star duo.

When I was a player, Bob Paisley was always telling all the lads at Liverpool that we had to make sure we were not found wanting whenever chances came our way.

That meant that if someone got injured you had to come into the side and do everything you possibly could to stay there.

That very same message will be being delivered by Rafa Benitez to those players he feels can come in and do a job if Torres and Gerrard are absent.

One of the big plus points to the way Liverpool have started the season has been the form of Pepe Reina.

There were a lot of people who wondered whether he would be good enough when he first moved to Anfield and I’ve got to admit I was one of those people.

But since then Reina has got better and better and he is undoubtedly one of the best around at the moment.

In the first few games of the season he has proved himself to be a match winner and when you’ve got a keeper who can do that it makes a massive difference.

Against Standard Liege he was Liverpool’s best player in both legs and the saves he made were the difference between going through or being knocked out.

Another thing I’ve noticed about Reina is how popular he clearly is with his team mates.

I first picked up on it during Euro 2008 when he made sure he looked out for all Spain’s players even though he wasn’t in the starting line-up. No doubt he is exactly the same with Liverpool and players like that are worth their weight in gold when it comes to building team spirit.

Arsenal Fail In £14million Liverpool Alonso Bid

Arsenal are reported to have had an eleventh hour offer of £14million rejected by Liverpool for Spanish International Xabi Alonso.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had been heavily linked with a move for the EURO 2008 winner all summer, along with the man the Anfield club had identified as the Spaniards replacement at the Reds, Gareth Barry of Aston Villa.

26-year-old Alonso had also been a target for Juventus and Turkish side Fenerbahce, where former Spain boss Luis Aragones is now the coach. However, there was no substance behind the Turkish rumours and La Vecchia Signora opted to sign Christian Poulsen from Sevilla instead.

This led to the Gunners making there last ditch bid to improve the midfield at the Emirates Stadium, but Liverpool have refuted the bid, with manager Rafa Benitez wanting more for the midfielder and being in no hurry to sell Alonso after skipper Steven Gerrard picked up an injury that will keep the England International out for a while.

Riera Moves To LiverpooL

Liverpool have signed Spain winger Albert Riera from Espanyol for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Anfield after choosing Rafael Benitez's side over a host of other clubs including neighbours Everton.

Riera, who has been given the number 11 shirt at Anfield, has previously played in the Premier League in the 2005-06 season when he was on loan at Manchester City.

Vitor Flora Joins Liverpool FC

Liverpool have signed Brazilian striker Vitor Flora on a free transfer.

The 18-year-old spent last season playing in his homeland with Botafogo and has signed a contract until 2010.

He holds an Italian passport so he does not require a work permit, however, he will need to gain international clearance before playing for the Reds.

Flora joins fellow countrymen Lucas Leiva and Fabio Aurelio at Anfield and could make his debut for Liverpool reserves on Tuesday night.

The signings of pacey left-footed forward Flora and Gulacsi means manager Rafael Benitez has brought inv seven players this summer and the Spaniard is also hopeful of completing a deal for Espanyol winger Albert Riera, 26, before the end of the transfer window on Monday.