Gary Ablett has thrown down a League Cup gauntlet to his young starlets ahead of their clash with Sunderland tonight.

With the Carling Cup third round tie against Crewe Alexandra beckoning at Anfield next Tuesday night, Ablett is hoping the likes of Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing can impress manager Rafael Benitez and give him a selection poser. Click to continue reading...

For most fans, Saturday 16th August means the start of the new season with the visit to Sunderland being penciled into most diaries ever since the draw was made last June. A group of supporters will however be making the trip to the North East for a completely different. Having worked for the past nine months on the project of building a memorial for the great Bob Paisley at his birth-place of Hetton-le-Hole, next Saturday is when they will be going there to officially unveil this memorial. Click to continue reading...

When Sir Alex Ferguson was knighted following our success in 1999, our neighbours in Merseyside were not happy bunnies. Firstly, because they didn't need any more reminding that our lads had achieved something they hadn't, but mainly because Fergie was receiving an honour Bob Paisley never did. Fergie had been recognised for his 25 years of [. Click to continue reading...

Good Bob Paisley was laid to rest in his parish churchyard yesterday as Liverpool supporters respected his family's request for privacy, and there were fewer than 100 gathered outside when the simple coffin, adorned with red and white roses, was carried into St Peter's, Woolton. There will be a more acclaiming memorial service in the city in the spring. Click to continue reading...

Four trains are being named after legends from Liverpool's sport and music scenes after being chosen by ECHO readers.

Blues' star Dixie Dean and former Liverpool Football Club manager Bob Paisley will now both be immortalised on Merseyrail units.

The Beatles will also be recognised. Click to continue reading...

It is impossible to call him anything other than a legend. To this day Phil Neal remains the only Englishman to have won four European Cups and did so at a time when the competition's name was truly honoured as only a country's champions could compete in Europe's premier competition. Indeed Neal won the English title eight times which, along with four League Cup wins a UEFA Cup triumph, make him one of the most successful players of any era. Click to continue reading...

The desk Bill Shankly sat at to write out a furious resignation letter in 1964 is to go under the auctioneer's hammer in Liverpool.

The roll-top desk is included in a bundle of artefacts that will be sold by Cato Crane next week.

It comes from a collection gathered together by former player, coach and club stalwart Tom Bush, who spent 37 years at Anfield. Click to continue reading...

When the pundits hand out the plaudits they can't help but buy into the great game of comparisons. So Sir Alex Ferguson must be measured against Brian Clough, Bob Paisley, Matt Busby et al. They point to his singular European triumph as evidence that Paisley and Clough surpassed him, they point to his attitude as evidence that "gentleman" Sir Matt was somehow the bigger man. Click to continue reading...

It's no secret that Tommy Smith and Emlyn Hughes - two of Liverpool's greatest captains and finest servants - hated each other, but what caused the friction between ‘Crazy Horse' and Liverpool's ‘Iron Man'?

And make no mistake - Smith really did hate Hughes, as he stated in emphatic terms in an interview once:

"I hated scoring for Liverpool because Hughes would come up and congratulate me. Click to continue reading...