Following Liverpool's blinding performance against Standard Liege (a really great team in Belgium if you didn't know) Steven Gerrard is undergoing surgery on his groin. This means that he could be missing for the game against us. "We decided that Steven would play through the pain against Liege and then have the operation," Rafa Benitez, of [. Click to continue reading...

Después de un inicio de temporada un poco titubeante, el equipo campeón de el torneo pasado, el Santos de Torreón, a regresado la misma senda que lo llevo al campeonato el año pasado, El Triunfo. Parece que el equipo de la Comarca Lagunera con el regreso de la lesión de Benitez y el poco a poco [. Click to continue reading...

Después de un inicio de temporada un poco titubeante, el equipo campeón de el torneo pasado, el Santos de Torreón, a regresado la misma senda que lo llevo al campeonato el año pasado, El Triunfo. Parece que el equipo de la Comarca Lagunera con el regreso de la lesión de Benitez y el poco a poco [. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are closing in on Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera after the La Liga outfit dropper their asking price. The Spanish international has been linked with a move to Anfield all summer after Rafa Benitez made his interest in the player public in June. (The Times)

The former Manchester City man has also been linked with Liverpool's arch rivals Everton this summer but for whatever reason, David Moyes hasn't made his interest known. Click to continue reading...

3:05pm Eastern Time. Once again, I think US viewers are stuck looking for streams if they don't have lfc.tv's e-season ticket.

0-0 on aggregate.

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 2-1 Boro (h); 1-0 Sunderland (a); 0-0 Standard (a)
Standard: 3-0 KVC Westerlo (h); 3-1 Dender (a); 0-0 Liverpool (h)

Referee: Massimo Busacca (SUI)

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Benayoun
Keane Torres

Benitez has ruled out both Lucas and Mascherano, with this game coming too soon after their return from the Olympics, but hopes they'll be back for Sunday. Click to continue reading...

According to these somewhat-contradictory rumours, Rafa may or may not be about to offload one of his longest-serving stars to Stoke City! Why not join the debate at the COS forum? The Guardian claims that Rafa Benitez will raise some of the required cash by selling Jermaine Pennant and Sami Hyypia for . Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has revealed there is a new buzz around Melwood following the return of our Olympic trio – but neither Javier Mascherano nor Lucas will feature against Standard Liege.

The Champions League qualifier comes too soon for the pair following their Beijing exploits, though both are fighting for a place in the starting XI versus Aston Villa on Sunday. Click to continue reading...

Well, we wanted a winger, especially with Benayoun's sub-standard performances on the left in the past few games. Now Liverpool's close to finalizing a deal for Albert Riera, an out-and-out left winger, subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms. The Liverpool Echo reports the fee's "in excess of £8m," which is a steal compared to Espanyol's previous demand that any club meet Riera's buy-out clause, which is £16m. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are to offload midfielder Jermaine Pennant for as much as £6 million. The former Arsenal youth player has struggled to nail down a first team place at Anfield since his arrival at the club two years ago from Birmingham. (The Guardian)

Pennant, 25, has been linked with a move to Paul Ince's Blackburn aswell as Tony Pulis' Stoke City but as yet nothing has been agreed. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez will have been impressed by one member of the Middlesbrough line-up over the weekend and apparently this has led to speculation that Liverpool are considering making a big-money bid for the England man. Why not join the debate at the COS forum? Middlesbrough will resist any offers from Liverpool for . Click to continue reading...

Everton are closing in on £12 million Liverpool target Albert Riera. The Espanyol midfielder has been linked with a move to Liverpool all summer long after Rafa Benitez admitted his interest in the Spanish international, but not David Moyes is in the market for Riera. (Guardian)

The 26-year old has already tasted life in the Premier League with Manchester City a few years back, where he spent an unsuccessful year long loan at Eastlands. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has urged fellow countryman Xabi Alonso to join him at the Emirates. The Liverpool midfielder has been linked with a £16 million move to the Gunners in recent weeks after it became clear that Rafa Benitez may have to sell the Spaniard to sign Gareth Barry.

"Xabi is my friend of course, but apart from that he is a great player," Fabregas said in The People. Click to continue reading...

Football Gossip: Pennant winging his way to Blackburn?
Football gossip has it that Blackburn have been told by Liverpool to bid six million pounds for Jermaine Pennant, or forget it.

Paul Ince obviously is looking for a replacement for David Bentley and Pennant obviously fits the bill. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez will this week make an official approach to Middlesbrough for Stewart Downing.

The Reds boss had hoped Downing would remain on Merseyside for talks following Boro's 2-1 defeat at Anfield yesterday, but the winger's boss Gareth Southgate refused him permission.

Benitez is a huge fan of the England star and is prepared to meet the north-east side's £12 million valuation. Click to continue reading...

England are wasting Steven Gerrard. They are ruining an outstanding talent. I've heard the word 'timid' being whispered as a reason for him not being a contender to take the captain's armband. Timid? You've got to be joking.

Here are some better words for him: Powerful. Explosive. Dynamic. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is to challenge Rafa Benitez for the Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry. The England international has been linked with a move to Liverpool all-summer long but now Wenger admits he is interested in Barry. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill insists that if anyone wants to buy Barry, they will have to cough up the £18 million price-tag. Click to continue reading...

Alex Ferguson would have rather slit his wrists than sell Gabriel Heinze to Liverpool last summer, but was more than willing to let Mikael Silvestre go to Arsenal yesterday.

I had thought that Arsenal would strengthen their backline over the summer, but it looked as if Wenger had ruled out a new centerback two months ago. Click to continue reading...

According to this source, a certain Middlesbrough favourite is top of the list of feasible targets for Rafa Benitez. Why not join the debate at the COS forum? Liverpool look set to renew their interest in Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing after Espanyol demanded £16million for Albert Riera. Having failed to raise the funds . Click to continue reading...

According to his agent and indeed this source, Benitez still wants this Spanish left-sided flair player, but is the price still just too damn high?! Why not join the debate at the COS forum? Espanyol are set to continue their hardline stance over Albert Riera – and insist Liverpool meet his £16m . Click to continue reading...

Liverpudlians are renowned for a slightly strange sense of humour, probably because of the crap weather and proximity to Ireland. It turns out that Liverpool signed a rather bizarre player last month and he goes by the name Baa-nitez. Bearing a striking resemblence to Rafa, the 2 meter long fiberglass half-lamb half-banana wears a fetching little beard, glasses and Liverpool scarf. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio says the Reds must mount a sustained challenge for the Premier League title.

The 28-year-old Brazilian is now entering his third season at Anfield and is keen to mark it with a League winner's medal.

"Each season the expectation is very big," he told BBC Radio Merseyside. Click to continue reading...

This last weekend, I had to miss the mouthwatering season start fixtures and move houses. So here is my late report based on the highlights I was able to catch online.  Geovanni I cant believe this fellow was released by Manchester City. Facing their mini personnel crisis and lack of funds, I have no idea why [. Click to continue reading...

Fernando Torres, nicknamed 'El Nino', had a very impressive debut season in the Premiership, scoring 24 league goals for Liverpool. The player who United have been linked with on numerous occasions but instead joined compatriot Rafa Benitez with the dippers. Whilst having his way against most Premiership defences, Torres was rendered absolutely worthless in both matches [. 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...

Rafa Benitez has suggested Liverpool's American owners were split over his £18million pursuit of Gareth Barry.

Despite a recent club statement indicating that Liverpool felt Aston Villa's asking price was too high, Benitez claimed co-owner Tom Hicks had assured him funds were in place. Click to continue reading...