Xabi Alonso Sets Deadline To Finalise Move From Liverpool To Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso has reportedly told his agent he wants his future resolved by July 19.

The Liverpool midfielder, who has been on international duty with Spain at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, met his representative Inaki Ibanez immediately after flying back to Madrid yesterday.

Real Madrid hope to sign the 27-year-old, but face a determined effort by Anfield boss Rafael Benitez to keep him.

Alonso went straight to lunch with Ibanez at Madrid's Hotel Melia Barajas after getting off a 10-hour flight from Johannesburg.

The former Real Sociedad player is said to be keen on a move to the Bernabeu and, after the meeting, told Spanish newspaper AS: 'I don't know what will happen. The clubs now have to negotiate.'

Alonso insisted in a separate interview that the transfer 'was not impossible', though the two clubs are some distance apart on a fee.

Madrid are considering a £55million combined bid for Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Alvaro Arbeloa, but are prepared to negotiate players separately as Liverpool are unlikely to even contemplate losing both Alonso and Mascherano.

In a bid to scare off suitors, Benitez has quoted a price-tag of £50m for Alonso, but sources in Spain say the actual valuation coming out of Merseyside is £35m.

Madrid have bid £20m and are reluctant to go above £25m.

However, if Alonso forces the matter, the two sides could quickly converge. Liverpool report for pre-season training on July 6 but Alonso will be given extra time off because of his Spain duty.

He has already moved on to San Sebastian to start vacations but is apparently due to join up with Liverpool on July 19 ahead of their Asia tour.

AS say Alonso is keen for a resolution before then so that he can search for a new home in the Spanish capital.

Alvaro Arbeloa To Complete Switch From Liverpool To Real Madrid This Week

According to a report in the British broadsheet The Independent, Alvaro Arbeloa may move from Premier League outfit Liverpool to Primera Division giants Real Madrid at some point this week.

On Sunday, quotes attributed to the 26-year-old's agent suggested that the player is keen to complete a transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

It is thought that the 6ft right-back could be available to purchase for as little as €5.9 million (£5m) as his contract at Anfield is due to expire next summer, when he will be available on a free-transfer.

Although Reds manager Rafa Benitez may be reluctant to let the nine-time capped Spain international leave, he has already made a move in the transfer market to bring in a readymade replacement in the form of €20 million (£17m) signing Glen Johnson from Portsmouth.

Since joining the Merseyside-based club from Deportivo La Coruna for €4m (£3.3m) in 2007, Arbeloa has scored twice in 98 first-team appearances.

Juve Revisit Alonso Idea

According to Tuttosport, the Juventus board have given Alessio Secco the all clear to sign Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Bianconeri tried to buy Alonso last year, only for Claudio Ranieri to turn his attention to Christian Poulsen.

Tuttosport understands Juventus want the 27-year-old Spain international to anchor their midfield so Diego can fully express his talent.

A new bid for Alonso was apparently prepared four days ago as talks with Udinese for Gaetano D'Agostino began to deteriorate.

The Bianconeri face serious competition in the race to sign Alonso, who is being valued at £21m amid interest from Real Madrid.

Juventus will need to sell players if they are to raise enough funds to complete the transfer.

Poulsen is the one of the players who is up for sale.

However, at the weekend he rejected a move to Fenerbahce and insisted he wants to stay in Bianconero.

Reds Must Keep Stars To Win - Torres

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres believes the club have to hang on to the likes of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano if they are to depose Manchester United as Barclays Premier League champions.

The two midfielders are major targets for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively but Torres is in agreement with manager Rafael Benitez that neither should be sold - despite potential offers in excess of £25millon each.

Yesterday Alonso failed to pledge his full commitment to the Merseysiders while Barca president Joan Laporta again hinted they were willing to use Mascherano's international team-mate Lionel Messi to lure the Argentina captain away from Anfield.

The increasing speculation about the two is a concern for Torres, who himself signed an improved contract with the club towards the end of last season.

"I worry about losing my team-mates but if we can keep our best players and bring in some more, we'll be even stronger for next season," he said.

"The important thing is we're getting closer to the title. It's been frustrating for me because three years without a trophy for Liverpool is too long.

"The next one is coming, though - I'm sure of it. Man United have been the strongest team in Europe but they've lost an important player (Real Madrid-bound Cristiano Ronaldo), so maybe it's our time now.

"My ambition is to win trophies with Liverpool. We must win something next season.

"And then, with Spain, it's obvious that the 2010 World Cup is our big challenge. I hope 2009-10 will be a great season for me."

Liverpool Pondering Matias De Federico Move

Liverpool are weighing up a potential move for Argentine sensation Matias De Federico.

The 19-year-old Huracan star is attracting the interest of clubs all around Europe following his impressive performances this season.

Now, according to Sport.co.uk, Rafael Benitez's Reds are seriously considering swooping for the player.

When informed of the interest in him from England, De Federico expressed his admiration for the Premier League.

The young forward said, "I like to watch the English Premier League, it is very fast and I think that it would suit my speed well."

De Federico has already made his senior debut for Argentina, a game he marked by scoring a spectacular opener against Panama.

Real Madrid To Offer Cash Plus Negredo For Liverpool’s Alonso?

Spanish giants Real Madrid are considering using striker Alvaro Negredo - plus a considerable amount of cash - as bait to entice Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez to release midfield playmaker Xabi Alonso. Real have made their interest in Alonso no secret, but Benitez maintains that the Spanish international is not available at any price.

However, with Benitez thought to be searching for new attacking options to provide back-up for Fernando Torres, the Spanish striker may have emerged as a possible target for the Red’s boss.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed two successful seasons with Almeria, scoring 19 league goals for them last season, but Real Madrid are ready to activate the buy-back option included as a condition of his transfer in 2007.

Negredo admits the prospect of a move to Liverpool excites him, stating recently: "To play next to Fernando Torres at Anfield is a dream and any player would accept that. But I prefer to talk about reality and I have not spoken with Rafa Benitez, but I do know that some contact exists between the clubs."

He added: "My future depends on Real Madrid, but I believe that this summer I will be out of Almeria. I am grateful to Almeria because they have given me my chance to play in the Primera Liga.”

"But it is logical that I am interested in playing in the Premier League and especially Liverpool. I believe that playing in England would be a great chance for me as this league is a sensational place for forwards."

Any deal would also include a hefty price tag for Alonso, with straight cash deals of £30-35 million being quoted in the British press.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed a sensational season for Liverpool and managed to stake a claim for a regular place in the Spain midfield, an area of the team boasting an abundance of talent at the moment with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva amongst others.

Kentaro And Pitch To Sell Liverpool Pre-Season Media Rights

Rights agencies Kentaro and Pitch International have agreed a new deal to jointly sell the media rights for four Liverpool FC pre-season friendly matches.

Between July 22 and August 8, Liverpool play the Thai national team in Thailand, the Singapore national team in Singapore, FC Lyn Oslo in Norway, and Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

The rights add to Kentaro's pre-season football portfolio which already includes the Emirates Cup – featuring Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Glasgow Rangers and Paris St Germain – as well as matches involving other top English Premier League teams, including Chelsea and Manchester United.

Torres Not Expecting Villa Buy

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres accepts the club's lack of financial muscle means they are unlikely to be able to compete for star signings like international team-mate David Villa but he believes that will not affect their chances of winning trophies.

The Reds have been linked with the £40million Valencia forward but it seems he is destined to remain in Spain with Barcelona and Real Madrid vying for his signature.

Torres expressed a wish for Villa to join him at Anfield - he has recommended him and fellow Valencia pair David Silva and Juan Mata to manager Rafael Benitez - but knows it is a distant prospect with Liverpool's transfer fund dwarfed by the Spanish giants and also Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.

However, regardless of finances the Spain striker is confident Liverpool can overcome United, whom they came a close second to in last season's Barclays Premier League.

"I don't know about Liverpool's financial situation but I know we don't have the same money as Manchester United or Chelsea,'' he said.

"We're fighting them with less money every season. That's not a problem for us - we're a strong team and we'll win trophies with money or without it.

"The important thing is we're getting closer to the title. It's been frustrating for me because three years without a trophy for Liverpool is too long. The next one is coming, though - I'm sure of it.

"I know Rafa is working hard to bring in good players but I'm pretty sure David Villa will be too expensive for us.

"He is an outstanding striker and if Liverpool could sign anyone, I'd ask for him. He's been in sensational form this season.

"But, to be honest, we have Steven Gerrard playing behind the striker and he scores 20 goals a season, so we don't really need another forward. We just need to keep our best players.''

That may be easier said than done as Real are reportedly planning to sign midfielder Xabi Alonso and defender Alvaro Arbeloa in a £35million swoop with Barcelona eyeing a move for Javier Mascherano despite Benitez putting a £50million price tag on the Argentina captain.

Now Spain's involvement in the Confederations Cup is over Benitez plans talks with Alonso over his future. The Liverpool boss is determined to hold on to his central midfielders and will resist all approaches to sign them.

The speculation is a concern for Torres, who signed an improved deal at Anfield at end of last season and would like to see a number of his Spain team-mates follow suit.

"I worry about losing my team-mates but if we can keep our best players and bring in some more, we'll be even stronger for next season,'' he told ZOO Magazine.

"It'd be fantastic if we play together for many years because Liverpool are the team with the second-most players in the Spain squad.

"It's important for Spanish players to play in the Premier League and Serie A as it makes us more complete footballers.''

Liverpool FC Under Pressure Over Xabi Alonso And Javier Mascherano

The battle for Liverpool FC’s first-choice centre midfielders is set to continue after Real Madrid and Barcelona refused to concede defeat.

Real are keen to lure Xabi Alonso to the Bernabeu while European champions Barcelona believe they can find a place for Javier Mascherano in their treble-winning side.

Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez does not want to lose either but the sums being suggested - £30million for Alonso and £25million for Mascherano - may mean some difficult decisions have to be taken at Anfield.

Speculation about the future of Alonso has been rife ever since Liverpool considered selling him last summer to fund the Gareth Barry transfer that never came off.

The Spain midfielder went on to have one of his best seasons for the club but rumours persisted about his unhappiness over his supposed treatment by Benitez.

Benitez plans to have talks with the 27-year-old now Spain’s involvement in the Confederations Cup is over but he may not be able to persuade Alonso to commit himself to the club.

"I don’t close any door in that area, so we’ll see what happens," was the player’s response to questions about his future.

"Last year I was close to joining Juventus, I do not have a defined career plan. It is always good that several clubs want you - it’s better than no-one wanting you - but I can’t do too much about it.

"I know that I have to do my work well and, in the future, I’ll decide what I have to decide."

That is hardly the definitive statement Benitez is looking for and discussions may be difficult as the pair’s relationship is not as friendly as it could be despite their shared nationality.

"My relationship with Benitez is professional, like he has with any other player. I leave it at that - professional," the former Real Sociedad player told Spain’s Don Balon magazine.

Alonso also admitted that while he has settled on Merseyside he still misses some home comforts.

"I’ve already been in England five years and the truth is I have adapted well," he added.

"I am happy here, although from the beginning I have longed for certain things and continue to do so."

Mascherano is equally in demand with Barcelona seemingly not put off by the £50million price tag Benitez put on him to try to ward off the attention of the Champions League winners.

The Catalan club appear to be mounting a charm offensive with Mascherano’s international team-mate Lionel Messi the focal point.

Despite giving defensive midfielder Yaya Toure a new contract Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reiterated his interest in the Argentina captain.

"Mascherano is a close friend of Leo Messi. We will see what happens. He’s a player I like very much," he told icat FM.

Xabi Alonso Will Confront Rafa Benitez This Week About Liverpool Future

Xabi Alonso, voted man of the match in Spain’s 3-2 victory over South Africa in the Confederations Cup third-place playoff, is set to meet with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez to clear up his future once and for all.

The midfielder, who scored the winning goal in extra-time against Bafana Bafana, is still being hotly tracked by Real Madrid, and certain quarters of the Spanish press are convinced that he wants to join Florentino Perez’s revolution.

According to AS, Alonso spoke to Benitez on the telephone last week, asking the gaffer to allow him to move to the Santiago Bernabeu, only to be told, “I will not sell you to Madrid for less than €40 million.”

It is now believed that Xabi, who will touch down in Spain with La Seleccion later on Monday, will seek a meeting with Benitez sometime this week to clarify his future.

Speaking to reporters after the South Africa game, he said, “I myself do not know what my future is. I do not know if I will play in Madrid or not.”

Many around the Anfield camp feel that it’s only a matter of time before the 27-year-old makes his exit, especially after he reportedly bid farewell to certain staff members of the club.

The Spanish paper, meanwhile, is speculating that Madrid and Liverpool could reach an agreement of around €35m for the transfer fee.

If Los Blancos do wish to sign Xabi, they will have to move quickly, as arch rivals Barcelona have their eyes set on his team-mate, Javier Mascherano, and it is believed that Benitez will only let one or the other leave Merseyside.

Johnson's In, Money's Fine, Sun's Shining, What Now?

Glen Johnson has completed his estimated £18m pound move from Portsmouth to Liverpool, becoming the first transfer signing to arrive at Anfield in this summer of a thousand random names.

Johnson was away on holiday when the negotiations took place, but upon arriving back in England he quickly whisked away 'up north to put his John Hancock on a four year contract, putting to bed any rumours about us not having enough money to compete.

On those rumours - the RBS took the unusual step of writing to Liverpool fans reassuring them that there was nothing wrong with the way the club was being run. While we all agree there's very little right in the way the business is done, what with us all coming from a world that is very quickly discovering the pitfalls and perils of being in debt, the fact is that Liverpool is turning in a profit, and that any debt worries belong to the Yanks and not us.

Incidentally, I've been seeing some ridiculous accusations flying around at Rafa for spending £18million on a right back. How can Rafa win?

Every year the press slate us for taking the cheap option with signings like Voronin, Degen, Pennant, Bellamy, Riera, Aurelio, Zenden, Ngog, Arbeloa and others being greeted with a fanfare of disapproval from supposed 'neutrals'

So when we do go and spend big money, those same 'neutrals' complain that we're over spending. Calling £20m for Torres a gamble, booing over our funding of the third-party style of ownership by buying Mascherano for £18m (um, therefore removing him from third party ownership) and bitching about us 'tapping up' Keane, which we sort of confessed to (a donation to a charity of Spurs choice) but it's not like Spurs weren't compensated handsomely, wasn't it? We made a small loss on Keane, and if we were to sell Torres or Mascherano now it'd be at a huge profit. Yes, Rafa clearly knows nothing about spending big money.

So, why all this antagonism in the media about the fee for Johnson? I mean, Chelsea and City matched the bid, but we don't hear anyone vindicting them about it, do we? No, because we are apparently poor, and must remain so in the eyes of the media.

We're not allowed to spend £18million on a full back! That's something rich teams at the top of the table do.

Liverpool Star Celebrates Ronaldo’s Departure

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Manchester United selling Cristiano Ronaldo has undoubtedly benefited themselves as well as title chasing Chelsea and Arsenal.

Having helped Liverpool lose just two games in the league all year, Carragher is as confident as ever of beating Manchester United to nineteen league titles, despite seeing them draw level on eighteen apiece last campaign.

Carragher told the Star: “It’s hard to win the Premier League as our top four sides, plus Barcelona, probably make up the best five sides in Europe."

“But that’s the challenge we face as United face their own challenge in carrying on without Ronaldo.”

“He’s a great player and I think he will be a big miss for the Premier League. “

“He made a big difference to Manchester United, even though they have a lot of other great players. And I think he was one of them.”

“We all know it will be difficult for them to replace Ronaldo, no doubt."

“But maybe they will do it a different way and get two or three players."

“But, as I’ve said, it will be so difficult to replace someone like him."

“Hopefully they won’t bring in someone as good as Ronaldo.”

Although he admitted Ronaldo’s absence would be difficult to replace for the English Champions, the Liverpool stalwart also suggested their manager undoubtedly knew what he was doing.

Carragher added: “I’m sure Sir Alex knows what he is doing…”

Rafa's Second Signing Could Be His Most Important

I honestly whole heartedly believe that we have the strongest starting 11 in Europe.

Why? Well we currently have Europe's best keeper in Reina, three of the best center backs in the league in Carragher, Daniel Agger and Skrtel, as well as one of the best left backs in the league in Aurelio and a very promising left back in Insua.

Now we have the premier league’s best right back in Johnson and the world’s best defensive midfielder in Mascherano, as well as one of the best players in Europe this season in Alonso, along with 07-08s Champions League top scorers (including qualifiers) in Kuyt who has the best stamina of any player in Europe.

A top notch winger able to break down most defences in Riera, the world’s best midfielder in Gerrard as well as the world’s best striker in Torres.

People always talk about depth being the difference between us and the title, but the difference this year has been the one and only once, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now like Jamie Carragher, I believe that on the 1st of July when Ronaldo signs for Real Madrid, the pendulum will finally swing our way.

Now that the scum have sold Ronaldo, they've lost one of their main advantages on us, someone that can break down teams when there drawing in boring games against teams that put 10 men behind the ball. The sort of teams that have lost us the league.

People say that Ronaldo doesn't perform in the big games, but you dont need him to.

To go back to one of the many title costing games of the season, let’s remember the 28th of January 2009. A groggy evening at the JJB stadium with over 25 shots on goal, a Yossi strike put us 1 up. And in the final minutes, Wigan's one and only shot on target came through a penalty, costing us 2 points.

Now to take Ronaldo as an example, someone who may not perform in big games, but who scored (in need of clarification) 47% of Manchester United's match winning goals this season.

To add another winger, in the form of David Silva or his team mate Juan Manuel Mata, would add another dimension to our team, the short skilful players that can change a game with one touch.

United may bring in 4 players worth 20m each from the Ronaldo money, but I can’t see that replacing him, adding more depth to their squad will only improve an area that they are already superior. The only way I could see United making up for the sale of Ronaldo, is by spending at least a 3rd of the 80mil on a player experienced in our league of Ronaldo's calibre. Now I can’t see that happening as I can’t imagine Torres/Gerrard/Fabregas/Lampard joining United.

We need a young skilful talented promising goal scoring match changing winger to step up to the plate and give us that spark when others can’t. Now I'm not saying we would have to pay anywhere near Ronaldo's fee, but someone like David Silva, Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla or Jesus Navas to name a few.

If Rafa can hold onto the likes of Mascherano and Alonso keeping our starting eleven in place but adding one more skilful match winning winger I can see us bringing home number nineteen.

Arbeloa Wants Reds Exit - Agent

Alvaro Arbeloa's agent claims the Liverpool defender is keen to leave Anfield to join Real Madrid.

The Spanish international's future at Liverpool is in doubt following Liverpool's big-money capture of Glen Johnson from Portsmouth.

Liverpool are in talks with Arbeloa over a new deal with the full-back entering the final year of his contract, but Reds boss Rafa Benitez has refused to rule out a transfer for the former Deportivo La Coruna man.

Real Madrid have confirmed their interest in Arbeloa along with team-mate Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa's representative Manuel Garcia Quilon believes Liverpool should let him move on.

"Alvaro has a year left on his current deal and Rafa Benitez knows that it's best to let him go now," Garcia Quilon told the Sunday Mirror.

"The career of a football player has many stages and he is qualified to play anywhere."

Alonso Strikes Winner For Spain

Xabi Alonso's free-kick in extra-time enabled Spain to beat South Africa 3-2 and clinch third place in the Confederations Cup.

European champions Spain, whose 35-match unbeaten run came to a shock end against the United States in the semi-finals, were lethargic for much of the encounter and appeared to be heading for another defeat when Katlego Mphela put the tournament hosts ahead after 73 minutes.

But two goals in the final three minutes from substitute Daniel Guiza turned the match around only for Mphela to send the game into extra-time with a blistering free-kick.

Spain sealed it when Liverpool midfielder Alonso curled a 107th-minute free-kick from the left into the area which eluded everyone and ended up in the bottom right-hand corner.

Marseille Would Let Cana Leave

Marseille will not stand in the way of captain Lorik Cana if the midfielder decides to leave the Stade Velodrome.

Cana has been an ever-present for Marseille since joining from Paris St Germain in 2005 and has played over 100 league games for the Ligue 1 giants.

Reports suggest the Albania international is keen to move on, with Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton and Bundesliga sides Hamburg and Wolfsburg said to be interested.

Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo claims they would not force the 25-year-old to see out the remaining three years of his contract.

"It's not that he's shown his desire to leave," Anigo told L'Equipe.

"It's simply that at a given moment it's been four years that Lorik is here and he has the right to want to experience other things.

"Today we're open to his transfer, if something happens we'll listen."

Real Madrid On The Alert As Xabi Alonso Says His Liverpool Goodbyes

Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez could be about to land one of his favourite players, Xabi Alonso, after having tracked the Liverpool midfielder since 2004.

According to The Times, the Merseysiders have hurriedly slapped a €41 million (₤35m) price tag on the 27-year-old after he reportedly bid farewell to certain members of the Reds staff.

Madrid have yet to pounce by making any official offers but it is well documented that Los Blancos’ new administration have made the ex-Real Sociedad man one of their prime objectives in the transfer market. They have reportedly made various offers in the recent past, ranging anywhere from €20m to €25m plus player exchanges, although they conceded defeat when Liverpool announced that he was not for sale.

Alonso has had a rocky relationship with manager, Rafa Benitez ever since the gaffer persistently went after Gareth Barry last summer. But the player has still declared that he is happy to remain at Anfield, although he would constantly admit that his future is unclear.

Torres Sees Three Amigos At Anfield

The timing, coming as it did in the week of Spain's surprising defeat to the USA, was perhaps a little curious, but Fernando Torres believes that if Liverpool are to win the Premier League next season, they must become more like his national side.

It is not hard to pinpoint where Liverpool lost ground on Manchester United last season. Although they beat the champions twice, and finished the season unbeaten in the League against the other members of the Big Four, their challenge was undermined by home draws against Stoke, Fulham, West Ham, Hull and Manchester City. Had just two of those been converted into victories, the title would have been theirs.

"We have to improve at home," Torres said. "We lost a lot of points at home against teams in the middle of the table. If we can get 10 more points at home I think at the end of the season we can win the Premier League. It was frustrating but football is difficult against these kinds of teams. We need players with quality to try to win these kinds of games and I hope Liverpool will bring in players like this. I hope Liverpool will bring in players like [David] Silva, [Juan Manuel] Mata or [David] Villa: small players with quality – like Manchester United had [Carlos] Tevez or [Paul] Scholes.

"It's players like this who can make the difference. These are clever players. Yossi Benayoun plays like this, and I hope we can bring more like that so we have different options."

Had he recommended his international team-mates to Rafa Benitez? "Of course," he said. "But I don't know if we have the money." He has mentioned Villa as a dream partner plenty of times before, while accepting that he is far more likely to join a Spanish club this summer. Silva and Mata, though, are more realistic targets as Valencia's ongoing financial problems force them to offload.

Mata, at 21, was used mainly as a left-winger last season, but can also operate as a second striker, meaning he would not merely provide competition for Albert Riera, but could also cover for Steven Gerrard in the central role behind Torres. The 23-year-old Silva, similarly, is versatile enough to play in any of the attacking midfield positions in a 4-2-3-1, and is known to be a favourite of other senior (and not necessarily Spanish) members of the Liverpool squad.

Both are under six feet tall and neither could be described as physically robust, but for Torres it is their imagination that makes them stand out. "English football is very difficult because it's very physical and at a high tempo," he said. "With Spain we play with quality, passing the ball, slow, don't lose the ball. And in England we play with more pace, we try to arrive in the opposition area as soon as possible. Liverpool have a fantastic team to play against the big teams; we are competitive. But maybe against those other kind of teams we are not good enough. We have to improve that."

The need for sides to have a Plan B was demonstrated on Wednesday, as Spain's 15-match winning run came to an end with a 2-0 defeat to the USA. "We had to lose sometime," Torres said, and given the balance of the game and the chances Spain missed, he is probably right not to be concerned.

That said, though, USA showed that by defending deep, and shutting off the space for Xavi to exploit, Spain are not invincible. "We decided we were going to keep it tight in the middle," explained the goalkeeper Tim Howard. "If they wanted to play wide, fine, we'll try and get guys out there and close down the crosses as much as we could but that wasn't the priority. We just said, 'Right, we're going to deal with as many crosses as you can swing in because we believe we're better at clearing these balls'."

With Watford's Jay DeMerit outstanding and Torres perhaps not quite at his best, the policy worked, with neither Riera nor Sergio Ramos able to provide the necessary quality of service. Spain, perhaps, could have done with being more direct, just as Liverpool sometimes need more imagination. Versatility, always, is vital.

Liverpool Legend Rob Jones: Glen Johnson Is The Perfect Right-Back

Liverpool legend Rob Jones has stated that the club have signed England's best right-back in Glen Johnson.

The England international joined the Reds from Portsmouth yesterday for a fee of around £18 million, and Jones feels the money will prove to be well spent.

Speaking to Liverpool's official website, Jones said, "I think Johnson is an excellent player. We're getting a good defender and someone who loves to go forward too, which is something I think Liverpool have perhaps been missing.

"He's got virtually everything to his game and I think that's why the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea were fighting over him.

"Johnson is strong in most areas; he's good at going forward, has good pace, is strong and his defending has really come in the last couple of years.

"He's the all-round right-back and will strengthen the team. It's obvious Rafa rates him very highly."

Despite the defender's poor spell at Chelsea, Jones feels the 24-year-old has enough experience to be a big hit at Anfield.

"When he first went to Chelsea, he was perhaps a little bit too young and things didn't work out too well for him," continued the former England international.

"However, I've watched him in a few games since he went to Portsmouth and he's played really well and has even been scoring goals.

"I think he's got what it takes to cut it at a top club like Liverpool. He will have learned from his time at Chelsea and is a more experienced player now.

"I believe now is the right time for him to come to club as big as Liverpool."

Jones, who made a total of 243 appearances for the Reds, argued that Johnson is currently the best right-back in England.

"Johnson is the best English right-back around, definitely. He's strong, quick and good going forward and defending.

"Benitez has certainly gone for one of the very best there is."

Johnson made a total of 58 Premier League appearances during his permanent two year spell with Pompey.

Jermaine Pennant Could Swap Liverpool For Everton

Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant may be about to swap the red half of Merseyside for the blue half, according to the News of the World.

The British tabloid claims that Pennant, who spent last season on loan at Portsmouth, is considering making the controversial move this summer when he will become a free agent.

The winger’s contract at Liverpool expires on July 1, meaning he will be available on a free transfer, news that has reportedly interested Toffees boss David Moyes.

However, one stumbling block could be the player himself who is believed to be unwilling to upset the Liverpool fans by making the move across Stanley Park.

Indeed, the report quotes a 'friend' of Pennant as saying, “Jermaine wouldn't want to do anything to upset the Liverpool fans who have always been good to him.”

The 26-year-old signed for the Reds in 2006 but failed to nail down a place in the starting XI at Anfield and was sent out on loan last season.

His performances are believed to have attracted a number of clubs with Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Manchester City also reported to be interested in the winger.