As with the game against Manchester United, I felt awful before this game. And, as with the game with Manchester United, I shouldn't have bothered. Rarely have Liverpool dominated with such ease at Goodison Park (61% of possession, the stats showed at the end) and really it was a game that could have been won by a bigger margin. Click to continue reading...

Alvaro Arbeloa insists Liverpool will not buckle under the weight of their 'favourites' tag against Everton in the Merseyside derby.

The Reds make the short trip to Goodison Park on Saturday to take on their arch rivals.

And Arbeloa is confident he and his team-mates can get their Premier League title challenge back on track with three points. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez, previously renowned for his rotation policy, has indicated that Fernando Torres will remain one of his "untouchables" despite the goals drying up for the Spain striker. The Liverpool manager, who was left frustrated by Saturday's goalless draw against Stoke City at Anfield, argued that the 24-year-old will be better off playing his way back to full sharpness rather than resting. Click to continue reading...

After the week Liverpool had, it was almost inevitable that something like this would happen to end it on a sour note. Last week it was suggested that in beating Manchester United, Liverpool had finally overcome the problem that had held them back in the past. To an extent that is true yet Liverpool must also win these games to have a realistic chance. Click to continue reading...

Steven Gerrard played a captain's role by taking his Liverpool goals tally to 99 as the Merseysiders opened their Champions League group campaign with a crucial win.

The Stade Velodrome had been the venue for Liverpool's European salvation last season, and Gerrard made sure it was a welcome return to the south of France. Click to continue reading...

Olympique Marseille vs Liverpool Stade Velodrome Kickoff is 8:45 pm CET, 19:45 pm GMT, 2:45 pm US Eastern Marseille 0-0 Liverpool Big team news is that Gerrard and Torres are starting for Liverpool. Marseille: 4-2-3-1: Mandanda; Bonnart, Taiwo, Hilton, Zubar; Cheyrou, Kana; Kone, M'Bami, Ben Arfa; Niang Liverpool: 4-3-3: Reina; Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Skrtel; Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Torres, Babel Click to continue reading...

I have a confession to make: I didn't feel too good before this game. We've been playing too poorly to be in any condition to face United especially without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

I shouldn't have troubled myself because it was pride and determination rather than form that decided this game. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool FC have named both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in their squad to face Manchester United at Anfield tomorrow.

The duo have been forced out in recent weeks with hamstring and groin problems respectively.

Boss Rafa Benitez is hopeful both may feature at some stage. Click to continue reading...

Apologies for the lack of posting but I came down with a case of bird flu and when you've got the bird flu you have to adhere to a strict diet of no cigarettes or alcohol which means no blog posts. But I'm back and slightly intoxicated and here to tell you about this little match we have coming up on Saturday.

Click to continue reading...

Alvaro Arbeloa insists Liverpool can still beat Manchester United without Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres.

The key duo faces a race against time to prove their fitness ahead of Saturday's Premier League showdown.

Club captain Gerrard is recovering from groin surgery, while striker Torres is struggling with a hamstring strain. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia has today admitted he will consider his future after been left out Rafa Benitez' plans for the Champions League. The Finland international has been omitted from the club's 25-man panel for the Champions League group stages, weeks after the club rejected an offer from Stoke City for the player. Click to continue reading...

Alvaro Arbeloa has poured cold water on reports that he is looking to engineer a move away from Liverpool.

Rumours that the 25-year-old Spanish defender is unsettled at Anfield surface intermittently, despite both he and the cub continuously insisting that such concerns are completely unfounded. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

On the face of it, a 0-0 draw away at a side with genuine top four ambitions isn't such a bad deal especially if your best two players are out injured. Such justifications may be easy to find yet it is wrong to find comfort in them for the truth is that Liverpool could have won at Villa Park. For all the hype surrounding them, with their hyped up wide players being kept quite Aston Villa didn't show anything special. Click to continue reading...

Alvaro Arbeloa is refusing to get cozy in Liverpool's starting XI, as he is well aware of the competition he will face from his team-mates throughout the season.

Arbeloa has started all four of the Reds' competitive fixtures so far this season, leading some to declare that he has won the title of first-choice right-back. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has acknowledged the impact made by youngster Nabil El Zhar in the weekend's last-gasp 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Anfield.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute when the Reds were trailing by a goal. The home side soon wiped out the deficit before the Moroccan international winger played an important role in the build-up to captain Steven Gerrard's late winner. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool vs Middlesbrough: Rafa seeking to maintain a good start

Liverpool vs Middlesbrough is a tricky one for Rafa, particularly in the white hot pressure of the Premier League. The expectations on Liverpool are such that Rafa Benitez is one bad result from a wave of pressure, particularly at the start of the season. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez has preferred Alvaro Arbeloa in the right-back position in recent times over Steve Finnan, and to be honest, it's not a move that's made much sense. On ability they are roughly equal, and Finnan has the added advantage of experience that helps him read the game better and not only defend better but [. Click to continue reading...

With the season underway it is already looking like it may be dominated by at least 3 of the Big Four teams. The top teams will concede fewer goals and keep more clean sheets, so their defenders make fine choices. We looked recently at Arsenal defenders; but which team will provide better value in the backs between Liverpool and Chelsea? Click to continue reading...

Liverpool defender Steve Finnan admits he is uncertain if he still has a future at Anfield.

Finnan was a regular in his first seasons on Merseyside after being signed by former Reds boss Gerard Houllier from Fulham in 2003.

The Republic of Ireland right-back was a part of the Liverpool side which won the UEFA Champions League in 2005, but he has since fallen behind Alvaro Arbeloa in current manager Rafa Benitez's pecking order. Click to continue reading...

3pm Eastern Time. As far as I can tell, it's not on TV in the States. Last year, the 3rd round of CL qualifying was on GolTV, but they're showing the Bayern Munich friendly tomorrow.

Referee: Tom Henning Ovrebo (NOR)

As YNWA.tv writes, this is weird, as Overbo was in charge of the friendly at Vålerenga last week. Click to continue reading...

Steve Finnan's future at Liverpool hangs in the balance following a reported row with manager Rafael Benitez.

News of the World claims that Finnan was omitted from the Reds' pre-season trip to Norway after exchanging less-than-friendly words with Benitez regarding his status at the club.

Click to continue reading...

Cavalieri
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Plessis Benayoun
Torres Keane

Subs:
Agger for Skrtel 46'
Hyypia for Carragher 46'
Ngog for Torres 46'
Darby for Arbeloa 46'
Alonso for Plessis 46'
Nemeth for Keane 59'
Insua for Dossena 59'
Spearing for Gerrard 59'
Reina for Cavalieri
Pennant for Benayoun 72'

Goals:
Torres 23'
Ngog 56'
Benayoun 60'
Alonso 70' (pen)

I didn't end up seeing the whole game until late last evening, so once again this is a bit late. Click to continue reading...

Reports coming in of a deal done for Gareth Barry to move to Liverpool

At long, long, last it appears the Gareth Barry move to Liverpool has happened. Reports are surfacing of Villa recieving 17.5 million plus Steve Finnan for Barry.

Rafael Benitez and all Liverpool fans will be pleased the longest running transfer saga of the summer will now be over. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool and Villa finally agree £19m deal for Gareth Barry as England star secures his Anfield move

Liverpool have drawn a line under the summer's longest-running transfer saga after finalising a £19m deal for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

Fresh from concluding a £20million deal for Spurs striker Robbie Keane, the Anfield club have held further talks with Villa and The Insider understands that they have reached agreement on a £17. Click to continue reading...

Sarebbe finalmente arrivato il tanto sospirato accordo tra il Liverpool e l'Aston Villa per il trasferimento ai reds del centrocapista Gareth Barry. Lo riferisce il sito web del tabloid britannico Daily Mail secondo cui al club di Birmingham andranno circa 22mln di euro più il difensore Steve Finnan. Click to continue reading...

Alvaro Arbeloa is 'definitely, definitely' staying at Anfield despite rumours that he is unsettled on Merseyside.

Media reports have linked the Spanish right-back with a move back to La Liga after just one season in a Liverpool shirt.

Yet a senior club source said all speculation was unfounded and that the 25-year-old defender will still be with the Reds next season. Click to continue reading...

Brazilian fullback Rafinha is once again being linked with a possible transfer to Premier League side Liverpool.

He has long been linked with a move to the Merseyside giants with Reds boss Rafa Benitez a confirmed admirer of the Schalke right back.

With Alvaro Arbeloa being linked with a move back to Spain following a mystery £6 million bid, money could well be available for the purchase of Rafinha. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool missed Daniel Agger during his injury problem, according to boss Rafa Benitez, who feels had the defender been fit the Reds would have had a chance of mounting the Premier League title challenge.

The Danish aided the side to have a brilliant start to last season's campaign which saw them concede just two goals in their first seven matches. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes new signing Philipp Degen will provide the width to facilitate the attacks, from the full-back position and bring about increased competition for places.

The 25-year-old Switzerland international right-back completed his Bosman move to Anfield on Thursday and met his Reds team-mates for the first time on Friday. Click to continue reading...

AP Photo by Paolo Giovannini

Liverpool are hoping to complete the signing of Udinese full-back Andrea Dossena next week.

Reds chief executive Rick Parry confirmed a deal for the 26-year-old Italian is almost done.

"We are now ready to confirm the signing of Dossena.

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Liverpool full-back Alvaro Arbeloa reckons (while talking to Sky Sports) that Ronaldo leaving Manchester United and going to Real Madrid can only be good for Liverpool. Which brings us to the topic of this post - can Liverpool beat United if Ronaldo isn't playing? And perhaps just as important, can Liverpool finish ahead of [. Click to continue reading...

Fair play to Alvaro Arbeloa, who has pulled no punches when being asked about the Cristiano Ronaldo situation at Old Trafford. It doesn't matter who Liverpool sign this summer, no player is going to have the same positive impact for the Reds as the negative impact felt by Manchester United if the Portuguese forward does [. Click to continue reading...

Alvaro Arbeloa has echoed the thoughts of all Premier League defenders – by admitting he hopes Cristiano Ronaldo joins his former club Real Madrid.

The Liverpool defender, who began his career at the Bernabeu, was on the receiving end of the Manchester United winger's brilliance last season, when he scored 42 goals as they clinched a Premier League and Champions League double. Click to continue reading...

"We're going to do it. We're going to win,We have to do it however we can. If we have to play ugly, we'll do so."

Cesc Fabregas

Italy are one of the toughest rivals to play against and their record says everything, even though there are other teams who are playing well in the tournament. Click to continue reading...