Match Report: Aston Villa 0 - 1 Liverpool

Daniel Sturridge proved Liverpool's match-winner for a second successive weekend as the Merseyside club edged out Aston Villa to make their best start to a Premier League season for five years.

The Birmingham-born striker, who started his youth career with Villa, delivered a moment of pure quality midway through the first half, receiving Jose Enrique's left-wing pass before dancing past two defenders, rounding Brad Guzan and transferring his balance to poke home with his left foot.

It came after the England marksman fired the Reds to a 1-0 opening-day win over Stoke, leaving Brendan Rodgers' side with six points from their first two league games for the first time since 2008.

Liverpool finished second to Manchester United that season and, although that appears unlikely this term, Rodgers can only be delighted with the start his side have made without the suspended Luis Suarez.

For Villa, it was their third game in a tough opening eight days of the new season after victory at Arsenal and defeat at Chelsea, and they appeared off the pace in the opening 40 minutes against a sharper Reds side.

A late flurry at the end of the first half set the tone for a second period in which the hosts dominated and could well have taken a share of the spoils. Liverpool's new goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who saved a late penalty against Stoke, denied the in-form Christian Benteke with a superb one-handed stop.

There was plenty of cause for optimism for a youthful Villa side who has already showed signs of development from the one which struggled against relegation last term, despite failing to keep a Premier League clean sheet for a club-record 25th match.

Villa manager Paul Lambert handed full debuts to summer signings Jores Okore and Leandro Bacuna, while Rodgers kept faith with the starting XI who saw off Stoke.

Both sides looked to feel each other out inside the opening 15 minutes, with the visitors showing the greater incision, although neither goalkeeper was forced into action.

Philippe Coutinho sent an effort high and wide after good work down the left by Enrique as the Reds started to dominate possession.

And it was no surprise when they made the breakthrough after 21 minutes.

Sturridge started the move before losing his marker, Okore, and when Enrique's pass from the left was dummied by Coutinho on the edge on the area, the former Chelsea striker showed great footwork to evade two defenders as well as Guzan and convert.

The goal only further boosted Liverpool's confidence while the hosts were chasing shadows at times.

With the home faithful becoming slightly frustrated, Bacuna sent Villa's first effort harmlessly wide after 32 minutes before Benteke's control let him down at a crucial moment.

And then with half-time approaching, Villa had two decent openings.

Benteke finally forced Mignolet into action, tipping the Belgium international's effort around a post, before Andreas Weimann saw his shot deflected narrowly over the crossbar.

Lambert's side started the second half with more purpose and, roared on by a sell-out Villa Park crowd, Ashley Westwood twice fired over from distance.

Importantly, however, Mignolet was barely troubled by the time Liverpool boss Rodgers handed a debut to new loan signing Aly Cissokho in the 69th minute.

Benteke and Weimann then headed wide before an unmarked Gabriel Agbonlahor volleyed off target from 12 yards having been presented with a great chance to level.

Matt Lowton finally forced Mignolet into action from long distance before Liverpool's summer signing from Sunderland produced a superb 86th-minute stop to keep out Benteke.

Karim El Ahmadi headed on to fellow substitute Nicklas Helenius and he found Benteke, whose powerful drive was brilliantly pushed around a post by Mignolet - ensuring Villa have now beaten the Reds just once in their last 16 Premier League meetings at Villa Park.

Brendan Rodgers Praises Team Spirit

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has praised his side's improved team spirit after two wins in the first two games.

The Merseyside club beat Aston Villa 1-0 on Saturday, with Daniel Sturridge getting the only goal of the game in the first half.

Rodgers believes the spirit in the dressing room is much better than last season and praised the players for staying focused over a distracting summer.

"It's much better than last year," Rodgers told reporters. "It took us until September to get our first win. I think since January we have been getting better and improving. It's all credit to the players. They have been absolutely first class.

"There's a lot of speculation and maybe a lot of distractions over the course of the summer with everything that has been written.

"I think you have to give remarkable praise to them that we've just stayed and focused on our task which was to make a good start."

Liverpool faces a tough test against rivals Manchester United at Anfield next Sunday.

Mignolet Helping Liverpool Grind Out Results

One of the keys to being a successful team is mastering the art of grinding out 1-0 wins. No matter how good a team is, it's impossible to play well every week and the teams at the top end of the table are there because they can usually find a way to win, irrespective of their level of performance. It's a trait that has been notable by its absence in Liverpool for several years, so whilst the win at Villa Park was far from being a classic, there's something particularly pleasing about it; this time last year Brendan Rodgers' side would have been unlikely to escape with all three points.

In fact, this time last season the Reds were dropping two points at home to then-champions Manchester City, despite producing a fantastic performance. It was a travesty Liverpool didn't win that day; Yaya Toure even described it as the toughest game he's had in all his time in England. Whilst it was nice to receive plaudits for the performance, unfortunately style points don't count when the league table is compiled. That City result wasn't a freak occurrence; too often in recent seasons Liverpool couldn't even win games when they played well, never mind when their performance level dropped.

Last weekend against Stoke City the performance was impressive, yet the afternoon could so easily have ended in disappointment had it not been for Simon Mignolet's late penalty save. That was a game Liverpool probably wouldn't have won last year and the same can be said of Saturday's triumph over Villa, which was an archetypal "game of two halves."

The Reds were excellent in the first period, dominating possession and looking dangerous in attack. Without the ball they impressed, too, pressing well and forcing Villa into mistakes and completely preventing the Midlands side from finding any kind of rhythm. The only negative from the opening 45 minutes was that Liverpool had only Daniel Sturridge's solitary -- albeit wonderfully taken -- goal to show for a dominant performance in which the home side was chasing shadows for long periods.

After the break, however, Paul Lambert's men came back into the match as Liverpool faded badly and it needed the intervention of Mignolet, once again, to secure maximum points for the Reds. Let's not sugarcoat it: the second-half performance was poor, the possession football completely disappeared, as did the goal threat. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't what we've come to expect from Rodgers' Liverpool. And when Christian Benteke went clean through late on, Liverpool fans will have had the same sinking feeling they had last week when Stoke were awarded that last-gasp penalty. And just like last week, Mignolet came flying to the rescue with a superb save.

Great goalkeepers win points, and whilst it's too soon to be proclaiming the Belgian as "great," you can make a very strong argument that Liverpool is already four points better off just from his presence between the sticks. Benteke went close in the first half, only to be denied by a flying stop by his international colleague, and when the pair faced off again after the break, once again it was the keeper who came out on top. Two terrific saves. He pulled off two or three top-drawer stops last week, too.

Speculating as to whether Pepe Reina would have made the saves that Mignolet has is a completely pointless exercise -- it's impossible to know what would have happened and it's also disrespectful to Reina, a popular figure with the supporters and someone who provided good service in the eight years he was at the club. All I will say is that for the past few years fans often bemoaned how teams would need to have only one or two shots a game to be able to take points from the Reds, but that trend has been reversed, so far, in the opening two fixtures of this season. Liverpool could so easily have been held to two draws, but instead they have two clean sheets and two 1-0 wins. The biggest reason for that have been the goalkeeper and the high standards he has set.

Center back Kolo Toure also deserves some credit for the solid defensive start made by the team. He was rock solid once more and whilst you are never going to completely subdue a player of the caliber of Benteke, this was a far cry from last season when the powerful Belgian completely manhandled Martin Skrtel. Big Kolo stood up to the test well and he's shown already what a shrewd acquisition he will prove to be.

Six points from the opening two fixtures is a terrific start for the Reds. It hasn't been entirely convincing, but being able to grind out results is a vital habit to develop and Villa Park won't be the easiest place to go and win this season. Villa's young, hungry side is a far different proposition this year than they were last. Arsenal, Chelsea and now Liverpool has all been given a difficult test by Paul Lambert's side, and this was a huge three points for Liverpool.

One thing Liverpool certainly doesn’t want to do is fall behind early in the battle for the top four. Two early wins is the ideal preparation for next week's clash with Manchester United at Anfield. Playing well would be nice of course, but few at Anfield will be complaining if it's another less than entirely convincing 1-0 triumph.

Brendan Rodgers Seeks New Liverpool Winger

Brendan Rodgers remains determined to sign a left winger before the transfer deadline to allow Philippe Coutinho to develop as a No10 at Liverpool.

The Liverpool manager was left frustrated by the refusal of Fenway Sports Group, the club's owners, to pursue a deal for Willian once Anzhi Makhachkala received an increased offer from Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week. Willian is the third major transfer target that Liverpool have missed this summer, following Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Diego Costa, and with Stewart Downing sold to West Ham United Rodgers wants another attacking option in before 2 September.

Rodgers's reasoning is partly explained by the outstanding form of Coutinho. The Brazilian has been deployed mostly on the left since his £8.5m arrival from Internazionale in January but his manager believes the 21-year-old can make a bigger impact in the centre.

"His ideal position is in the No10 role," said Rodgers, who is also in the market for an experienced central defender. "I've seen him play when Inter had two advanced players and one holding, and he was one of the advanced players. Whether it's a two or a one, he can play in that role, or from the side. But centrally, that's where I see him playing. That's why I'm looking to sign someone for the left wing."

Coutinho's start to his Liverpool career is in marked contrast to a difficult 30 months in Italy, where he struggled with injury and spent six months on loan at Espanyol. But Rodgers insisted: "I don't think he was a failure at Inter. At the time, Inter needed to move players out to get money. He was one of the players, like [Wesley] Sneijder, they had to move on. In his time when he was fit, he actually performed well. But he was a young player. Notoriously in Italy, a lot of young players don't get the opportunity, hence the reason he went to Espanyol on loan.

"He was only 18, 19 when he started at Inter. You don't see many young players playing in Italian football. He was at the stage where his quality demanded he played regularly, and it was about finding a stage for him to do that. When I was aware he was available having known of him when he was in Brazil, I thought it would be perfect for us. He's a wonderful player, a joy to watch. He's just turned 21 and he has a great career ahead of him."

Arguably the only reservation over Coutinho since he joined Liverpool is his impact against the leading teams in the Premier League. He was substituted early against Chelsea and Tottenham last season but Rodgers believes there were mitigating circumstances in both fixtures.

"He was still gaining his fitness and those were high-tempo games," the manager explained. "But I have no doubts about him on the big stage. I've seen him play in Champions League games for Inter, he can play in the big games, he has the temperament and quality. He might not have been at his best in those games last season but he has contributed."

Liverpool Named Favourites In Eriksen Race

Liverpool has been made odds on favourites to sign Ajax star Christian Eriksen.

Sky Bet has listed the Anfield outfit ahead of several other Premier League suitors, including Tottenham and Everton, at 11/8.

Eriksen has been subject to much transfer speculation this term, having been linked to moves to some of Italy and Germany's top sides.

The midfielder's attorney, Martin Schoots, revealed that concrete offers have been received from the continent.

"Yes there was a proposal from an Italian club, but I’d prefer not to say which one, and there was a proposal from a German club too," he told TuttoMercatoWeb.

The 21-year-old was outstanding for Ajax last season as they captured their third successive Eredivisie title.

Liverpool Target Galatasaray Midfielder Selçuk İnan

Liverpool is interested in Galatasaray midfielder Selçuk İnan according to Sporx. The Reds scouted İnan regularly during the league and Champions League last season.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has been linked with moves for attacking midfielders this summer including Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Christian Eriksen however, failed to sign Mkhitaryan and Eriksen has hinted that he would prefer a club that can offer him Champions League football.

İnan is a Turkish international midfield playmaker, renowned for his passing range, technical ability and being a set-piece specialist.

The 28-year-old midfielder is coming off the back of lifting his second league title in as many seasons with Galatasaray and played an important role in the Lions reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

İnan has scored 20 goals and provided 28 assists in 84 appearances for Galatasaray; the Turkish international was the leagues assist king between 2010 and 2012 and was Galatasaray's highest scorer in 2011-12.

The Turkish international joined Galatasaray on a free transfer from Trabzonspor in 2011 and still has three-years on his contract.

Liverpool has strengthened ties with Turkey recently, helping organize Turkish reality series, Soccer Prince, as well as partnerships with Turkish Tourism, Misli.com and Ramsey.

Liverpool Line Up Victor Moses Move

Liverpool is reportedly interested in a deal for Nigerian winger Victor Moses who is likely to be sent out of Chelsea ahead of the imminent arrival of Willian.

Liverpool was interested in signing the Brazilian attacking midfielder, but they failed to push further for a deal for the now Chelsea-bound player.

Moses and Fiorentina’s Adem Ljajic are the names been mentioned as transfer candidates for frustrated Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is disappointed in his club’s inability to snatch Willian.

Rodgers is looking to fill the gap in his squad left by the departure of Stewart Downing and is looking at a clutch of available widemen, including Moses who now looks to be surplus to Jose Mourinho’s requirements at Stamford Bridge.

The 22-year-old Nigerian is a player Liverpool looked at when he was at Wigan Athletic and he is understood to be interested in the opportunity to follow ex-team-mate Danny Sturridge to Anfield, given how well he has doe since he left west London.

Liverpool Told To Pay £15million For Will Hughes

Derby has told Liverpool it will take a £15million-plus offer for them to part with midfield teen sensation Will Hughes, writes Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday People.

And Hotline understands the Rams will insist on a season-long loan back being part of any deal if Reds boss Brendan Rogers does meet their valuation.

Hughes, 18, is a huge talent and Derby is confident his value will go up even more this season.

The England prospect has previously been touted as a long-term successor to Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

But Derby is keen to keep hold of the star for another season as Nigel Clough looks to push the club further up the Championship table.

Davids Praises Liverpool Stance Over Suarez Transfer

Champions League winner Edgar Davids says he understands why Liverpool is doing their utmost to retain the services of star-striker Luis Suarez.

The Dutch legend and Barnet player-manager is a former team-mate of Suarez, playing alongside the Uruguayan during his second spell at Ajax.

And Davids believes Liverpool is reluctant to part with their number seven simply because of the sheer quality he possesses.

“He is a good football player," said the former Juventus and Barcelona midfielder.

“I think everybody can say that Luis Suarez is a very good player. He scored so many goals in the Premier League and he is definitely a quality player."

Suarez, who scored 23 Premier League goals for the Reds last season, had expressed a desire to leave Anfield earlier this summer amidst interest from Arsenal.

Liverpool rebuffed the Gunners efforts to land the 26-year-old and recent reports indicate that Suarez has now accepted he will have to remain at the club.

Despite the Merseysiders maintaining the striker will not leave during the current transfer window, speculation persists that Spanish giant Real Madrid could still make a late move for Suarez.

Davids can understand why Liverpool is loath to lose one of their prized assets but believes the impact of Suarez potentially staying at the club remains to be seen.

“Of course (I can understand the club s reluctance to let the player go), he's a player that kept Liverpool going last season" said the star who played for Ajax, Juventus and Barcelona.

"But the season is not even 10 matches old so we don't know how this situation is going to affect the team or the player.

Match Preview: Aston Villa vs Liverpool

Aston Villa take in their first home game of the new Premier League season, with Liverpool the visitors to Villa Park.

Villa may have come unstuck at Chelsea on Wednesday night, but manager Paul Lambert felt big decisions went against his side at Stamford Bridge and is pleased with how their campaign has started.

Lambert's men opened with an impressive 3-1 victory over Arsenal on the opening day, suggesting they should have enough to steer clear of the relegation struggles which haunted them in 2012/13.

They have also been buoyed by the summer commitment of Christian Benteke to a new contract, and the powerful Belgian forward has burst out of the blocks by netting three times in his two outings so far.

Liverpool will be hoping that someone within their ranks steps up to the scoring plate in the continued absence of Luis Suarez through suspension, with Daniel Sturridge seemingly the most likely candidate.

The England international struck the Reds' winner as they edged out Stoke City 1-0 at Anfield in their first fixture of the new campaign.

Brendan Rodgers is eager to see his side force their way back into top-four contention this term, and he will know that any side harbouring UEFA Champions League aspirations will need to collect points consistently on their travels - and Liverpool have emerged victorious in nine of their last 15 visits to Villa Park, losing just once.

Aston Villa should have defender Ciaran Clark available on Saturday.

Clark was forced off in the first half of the 2-1 loss at Chelsea on Wednesday with a head injury but is expected to be fit for the Reds' visit to Villa Park, while midfielder Chris Herd could be in contention for a first appearance this term following his calf problem.

Defender Nathan Baker (ankle) remains a doubt and winger Charles N'Zogbia (Achilles) definitely misses out.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez remains the only notable absentee in Rodgers' plans.

The controversial forward is now halfway through the 10-match ban he received last season after sitting out the Reds' season opener against Stoke.

Fellow Uruguayan Sebastian Coates, a defender, is likely to miss most of the season with a knee injury sustained on international duty last week. Striker Luis Alberto was an unused substitute in that game and is still to make his debut, while new signing Aly Cissokho could also be in contention.

Match Prediction

Aston Villa must be over the moon. I know they were beaten by Chelsea after winning against Arsenal, but with Liverpool coming up it could have been a nightmare start to the season. Whatever happens here, I didn't think they'd have this many points. I've said it before but the best signing they could've made, they have: Christian Benteke. The fact that he has started so well makes you wonder if someone is going to come in with silly money for him, but he will score 15 to 20 goals - and that is the one thing that could get Villa into mid-table.

Liverpool's main striker, Luis Suarez, is of course another topic of conversation. If Liverpool's best 11 are on their game, they can take on anyone, but go beyond that and onto the bench then they have youngsters and I am not sure they have any game-changers to turn to. If Brendan Rodgers can keep them all fit, they will do well. I like the look of Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, and I think they are in for a better season.

FINAL SCORE: 2-2

Sturridge Urges Liverpool To Push On

Daniel Sturridge has called for focus from his Liverpool team-mates as they look to continue their strong start to the new season.

Liverpool opened their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win against Stoke City last Saturday, with Sturridge netting the only goal.

Brendan Rodgers' side finished seventh last season, with defeats early in the campaign setting them back, and the former Chelsea man is now urging his side to push on and put together a long unbeaten run.

"It's always good to get off to a good start if you can and then going past Christmas, that's when you enter the business end of the season, so it's good to lay the foundations down at the beginning," Sturridge told the club's official website.

"It's important to try not to lose games - if we can try to get a draw here and there and then in the games we're drawing, we get a win here and there.

"The games where your backs are against the wall, but you stand up in and fight and get a win or a point, they're the ones that count towards the end of the season."

The 23-year-old impressed against Stoke as Liverpool showed their early promise, and ahead of the clash with Aston Villa this weekend he has underlined just how crucial it was to pick up all three points on the opening day.

"The first game was very important for us," he added. "To get off to a good start after the work you put in during pre-season and going into the game with the right mentality, it's a special feeling.

"After all the hard work you do, if you go into the first game and lose, it's deflating - everybody's gutted, leaving the stadium the fans and the players are unhappy.

"To get off to a good start and for everyone to be on a high going into the next game with confidence is always good."

Rodgers Senses Reds Revival

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers may still be looking for new players but he already feels his team has come a long way.

Rodgers is hoping to steer the Reds back into the Champions League for the first time since 2010 and has said he would like to add to the five summer signings he has already made.

But the Northern Irishman was hugely encouraged by the performance in last week's season-opening win over Stoke and is happy with the improvement since taking over a year ago.

Rodgers, whose side finished seventh in the Barclays Premier League last season, said: "In order to be a winner you have to have the belief. That was something last year we were maybe not able to find consistently.

"But we have picked up a lot. The group has grown over time. It might only have been a small thing last week, but to get that win shows the development mentally.

"I can only speak highly of the players. They are the ones doing the work, they are the ones being driven and asked. To get that last week was very important for us.

"Whatever transfer talk or speculation there has been this week, the bottom line is there are some outstanding players here - top, top players.

"They will hopefully keep finding the ways to win games and hopefully we will add to the squad alongside them."

Rodgers has indicated he may look for a central defender before the September 2 transfer deadline while recent, albeit fruitless, interest in Willian indicates a desire to bring in an exciting attack-minded player.

Liverpool impressed against Stoke although they scored only one goal through Daniel Sturridge and it needed a late penalty save from Simon Mignolet to preserve the win.

Rodgers said: "It was a really good win for us. Stoke are a very tough team to break down.

"The performance level was very good and we got the three points besides that, which is the most important element."

The Reds will hope to carry forward their confidence into this weekend's trip to Aston Villa.

Rodgers is preparing for a difficult encounter given that Villa, who last season survived a scrape with relegation, have shown vibrancy in their opening games against Arsenal and Chelsea.

Rodgers said: "I very much expect for them to have a very good season this year.

"They are very much a counter-attacking team. They set up to defend half a pitch and then they break out with pace - (Christian) Benteke and (Gabriel) Agbonlahor in particular.

"There is no doubt Benteke is the real reference point for the team. The ball goes up to him and he holds it up well. He is a big powerful boy.

"Andreas Weimann makes good runs and has a knack for a goal.

"It is about trying to control the counter-attack. They are very fast, energetic players.

"But our focus is really on our own game. Our mind is very good at the moment. The players are continuing from last season and we just want to keep that going."

Liverpool continues without Luis Suarez, who is now halfway through the 10-match ban he received last season.

The controversial forward's future remains uncertain even though Liverpool remain steadfast in their determination not to sell and the player is back in training after his recent calls to leave.

Rodgers is pleased with the way the rest of his squad have not been affected by the summer-long saga concerning the Uruguayan.

He said: "It is safe to say of any distractions or speculation, we have controlled that, and focused on performing well on the training ground, finding ways to be better every day and taking that into the games.

"We will go into this game with good confidence but expecting Aston Villa to be a good team and we'll have to work hard to get a result."

Liverpool Braced For Late Suarez Bid

Liverpool has insisted striker Luis Suarez will not be sold before the transfer deadline, with reports suggesting Real Madrid are planning a £40 million swoop for the Uruguayan.

The future of the Liverpool forward has been under intense scrutiny this summer, with Arsenal showing a keen interest in the 26-year-old who stated he wanted to leave the club.

However in a dramatic u-turn it appeared the situation had been resolved after the striker returned to training before appearing at Anfield for their Premier League opener against Stoke last Saturday.

But it seems that Spanish giants Real Madrid are preparing to throw a spanner in the works by launching a late bid for the striker, as a possible replacement for Karim Benzema if the Frenchman joins Arsenal, although manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted the striker is not going anywhere.

"It's very difficult at this time [for a Suarez bid to succeed]," Rodgers said.

"We are trying to get one or two more quality players in through the door. If we lose Luis at this stage, it would be difficult to replace him.

"There might have been a point a few months ago when there was time to do it, but not with only 11 days to go."

"I'm sure there will be plenty of activity in these last days (before the window closes). It is what it is. We will deal with it like we have during the summer," he added.

Real Madrid could be set to smash the transfer record in the coming days, with reports suggesting Gareth Bale's move to Spain is nearing completion.

Liverpool & Spurs Battle For Adem Ljajic

Liverpool has joined the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur target Adem Ljajic, according to reports.

The Daily Star claims Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen on the 21-year-old, who appears set to leave Fiorentina this summer.

Ljajic has a year left on his contract with the Viola, but club president Andrea Della Valle has accepted that the youngster could be making a move away from the club in the final stages of the transfer window.

“It’s difficult to see Ljajic staying with us. Personally I would like to keep him, of course, but one has to understand the player’s intentions and the atmosphere,” he said, according to the paper.

Ljajic scored 11 goals in 28 Serie ‘A’ appearances last season, alerting Premier League clubs to his availability.

And, the Liverpool manager has sensed an opportunity to add to his squad at Anfield, with the youngster available for as little as €9million, the report claims.

Rodgers has already brought a number of players to Merseyside this summer, with Simon Mignolet, Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas joining the Reds’ revolution.

The Serbian playmaker would provide Liverpool with another option in attack, but they face competition to bring the player to England.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas is also keen on the player, according to reports, with the north London outfit also looking to add quality to their squad.

Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli have already moved to White Hart Lane, although Tottenham Hotspur appears set to miss out on Willian this summer.

If Gareth Bale leaves Spurs this summer, then AVB will certainly still have money to spend, and Ljajic represents great value at the quoted price in the paper.

Arsenal And Liverpool On Turan Alert

Arsenal and Liverpool will continue to track the availability of Turkish star Arda Turan after his agent admitted he would jump at a move to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old joined Atletico Madrid from Galatasaray in 2011 for a fee of €12 making him the most expensive Turkish player of all time.

He has made 65 appearances for the La Liga side and has been an integral figure in Madrid’s side contributing to the sides Copa Del Rey triumph last season.

Atletico though, is reluctant to let Turan leave this summer as he still has two years remaining on his contract.

But his agent, Ahmet Bulut, admits that a move to the Premier League would be very difficult to resist.

He told tuttomercatoweb.com: "The club does not want to sell Arda. However, if we were to get an offer equal to his £29m buy-out clause Atletico should listen to such a proposal.

"Arsenal and Liverpool? A destination in the Premier League would be to the liking of the player and I can confirm there are clubs interested, like the two mentioned.

"At the moment there are no concrete offers, only preliminary contacts."

Although both clubs seem interested in taking the winger, the £29m buy-out clause remains a stumbling block.

Liverpool Wants Kiev Striker Yarmolenko

With the Willian deal now dead in the water, Liverpool is reportedly considering a move for Dynamo Kiev attacker Andriy Yarmolenko.

According to a report in Ukrainian newspaper, Liverpool is 'close' to signing Yarmolenko, whose current contract expires in 2015.

AC Milan tried to sign the 23-year old last summer, but according to his Agent, Mikhail Gulordava, Kiev rejected the Rossoneri's €20 million bid.

In a recent interview, Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko - a team-mate at Kiev - heaped praise on Yarmolenko, who is described by national coach Oleg Blokhin as ‘unstoppable'.

Liverpool is currently odds-on favourites to sign Yarmolenko, and reports in Spain claim that Reds are ready to make a €23m offer.

Yarmolenko is probably not the 'marquee' name LFC fans are hoping for, but there are some clear positives to his potential signing: 39 goals for Kiev in the last three seasons, double figures every year, and 11 goals in 32 games for the Ukraine national team.

Yarmolenko also scored for Kiev in the club's recent 3-2 Europa League victory over Aktobe.

Liverpool Reject £10 Million Bid For Skrtel

Liverpool has rejected a bid of £10 million for Martin Skrtel made by Napoli, it has been reported.

According to the Daily Mail, former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez made an offer for the central defender but it was instantly rebuffed by the Premier League club.

However, it is also reported that Napoli is now preparing a second, improved offer for the defender.

It was Benitez that signed Skrtel for Liverpool back in 2008, but if he wants to secure a reunion he will have to significantly improve his offer, according to the article.

The same article reveals that Brendan Rodgers is not willing to part with any of his defenders after an injury to Sebastian Coates has left him short at the back.

Coates has suffered a serious knee injury and is set to be out for around six months.

Skrtel has been a mainstay in the Liverpool defence since his arrival at the club and has made 151 appearances for the club in his time there.

Rodgers meanwhile has signed Kolo Toure this summer to replace Jamie Carragher who retired at the end of last season.

However, if Skrtel leaves then he will surely have to go and buy another centre-half before the transfer window closes.

Liverpool Drop Out Of Race To Sign Burak Yilmaz

Liverpool has been dealt a blow in the race to sign Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz, after the player's agent confirmed he is close to joining Lazio, reports the Daily Star.

The Turkish international has been the subject of intense transfer speculation all summer, after an impressive 2012/13 campaign at the Turk Telekom Arena, where he scored 32 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers was credited with an interest in bringing the 28-year-old to Anfield, as he looks to strengthen his squad even further, before the close of the transfer window.

With five new faces having already arrived on Merseyside, Yilmaz would have capped an impressive summer of business for Liverpool. But, it now looks as though he'll snub the chance to move to the Premier League, in favour of a switch to Serie 'A'.

"Lazio is the only side in the running to sign him," his agent, Ali Egesel, told Corriere dello Sport. "They have made an important offer for him, but it has not been accepted for now because Galatasaray don't want to lose him."

Yilmaz only joined Galatasaray from Trabzonspor last summer in an initial €5million deal, where he signed a four-year contract.

However, he could be about to leave the Super Lig champions as Lazio close in on the player's signature.

Liverpool Youngster Set For Loan Move

Stoke are plotting a loan move for out-of-favour Liverpool winger Oussama Assaidi, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

The 25-year-old appears to be surplus to requirements at Anfield, despite only having arrived at the club last summer.

Potters chief Mark Hughes is keen to take advantage of this as he continues his quest to inject some creativity into his inherited squad.

Liverpool is unlikely to stand in the player’s way if he is keen to push for the move, with Brendan Rodgers having already strengthened his attacking options noticeably over the last few months.

Stoke will face competition from a number of sides – including Genoa, Anderlecht and Feyenoord – for the Moroccan, who arrived on Merseyside with a promising reputation.

Despite showing glimpses of his ability in Europa League ties, Rodgers appeared to be unconvinced by the wide-man, and rarely allowed him first-team game time.

Hughes hopes that, given regular action, the pacey winger could develop into a lethal asset for his side.

Coutinho Could Be As Big As Dalglish

Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho has received a whole host of compliments since joining Liverpool in January but former Liverpool player Peter Beardsley has trumped them all, stating he could be on a par with legend Kenny Dalglish.

In his short time at Liverpool Coutinho has won the praise of the fans and the critics with quick feet, great ball control and the ability to create chances.

Beardsley, who played in the Liverpool team of the late 1980s that won the First Division title in 87/88 and 89/90, has said the Brazilian is a better player than he ever was and could even be as big as Dalglish if he fulfills his potential.

“I love Coutinho. He is outstanding and has unbelievable ability,” Beardsley told the Liverpool Echo.

“He’s better than I ever was and I really mean that. He’s miles better than me.

“If he stays here for a long time he’s got a chance of being as big as Kenny – that kind of stature.

“I look at his ability and I think he could be the new Kenny Dalglish. He is a very special player.”

Beardsley now works as football development manager at Newcastle and remembers watching the 21-year-old at St James’ Park last season.

“I watched him closely that day and he ran the game against us.

“It was a smart signing by Brendan [Rodgers]. I don’t think anyone saw it coming and he was a real bargain.”

Speaking of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, Beardsley believes Suarez will be forgiven by the fans and will come back after his ban as if he was a new signing.

“With the likes of Kenny and Kevin Keegan some special players have worn that No 7 shirt and I hope Suarez is wearing it this season,” he added.

“The healing process is underway and I think the fans will forgive him. He’s going to be like a new signing when he has served his ban.”