Liverpool: Liverpool

While not much happening with Liverpool at the moment but this will be good news for the club.....


Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is on the verge of signing a new contract.

The 23-year-old has two years left on his current deal but is happy to extend his stay at the Anfield club.

"I have got two years left on my contract and I am sure I will sign a new contract very soon and stay at Liverpool," said Gerrard.

"You can never say never about playing abroad, but I am well happy at Liverpool. I am enjoying my football at Anfield.

"Everyone knows that when you have got two years left it's make or break about whether you stay.

"I know that the club want me and I want them. I am sure it will get sorted out."

good news. Gerrard is going to be the best midfielder in the world, that's if he's not already.

Yep Gerrad is a very good player and is improving all the time..he had a very good game for england the other night..

Auxerre defender Jean-Alain Boumsong has admitted to having contact with Liverpool and Marseille, but does not rule out a move elsewhere or even staying put in Burgundy.

Boumsong, who is with the French national team preparing for the Confederations Cup, told L'Equipe that he had been in touch with both clubs.

The Cameroon-born defender said: "I would be lying if I said I had not [had contact]. Notably with Marseille and Liverpool.

"But perhaps I won't be going there. You can have hundreds of contacts but with no transfer at the end."

Italian outfit Udinese have confirmed that Liverpool are chasing their Chilean midfield ace David Pizarro.

And another Anfield target, Portuguese youngster Cristiano Roberto, insists he would love to play alongside Michael Owen.

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has also been linked with Hamburg's Iranian winger Mehdi Mahdavikia and Inter Milan's French international midfielder Stephane Dalmat, but Pizarro could well be top of the Anfield hit-list.

Udinese director of sport Piepaolo Marino has admitted that Liverpool have inquired about 23-year-old Pizarro, who had an excellent season in Serie A where he scored seven goals in 31 games and helped fire his club into the UEFA Cup.

Marino, who has also had to contend with interest from Juventus, Parma and Lazio for Pizarro, said: "Something on Pizarro will be decided in July.

"Juventus, Lazio, Parma and Liverpool are the teams who want him, and things will be unblocked in July."

Pizarro made a big impression last season with unfashionable Udinese, and his club were interested in a variety of player-exchange deals before Liverpool became involved in the situation.

The Chilean, however, is hedging his bets and said: "I could still stay at Udinese, we are in the UEFA Cup next season."

Houllier still has hopes that the transfer situations involving Damien Duff or Djibril Cisse could change as the summer progresses.

Sporting Lisbon starlet Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted his desire to play for Liverpool and confessed that he would relish playing alongside England striker Michael Owen.

The Anfield club have been linked with a move for the talented 18-year-old and are believed to be in talks with the SuperLiga giants.

"Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in England, it's obviously being a dream for any footballer to be able to represent a team with such tradition," Ronaldo told www.ojogo.pt.

"Michael Owen is a great player and I would love to play alongside him.

"It would be a great offer for me and for Sporting, but let's wait and see. I have not been informed of anything about this, but I am pleased to know that they follow my progress."

Ronaldo, who is currently starring for Portugal at the Toulon Under-21 tournament, is confident that he would do well in England.

"There does not seem to me to be an incompatibility between the way I play and the way football is played in the Premier League," he added.

"When a football player has qualities, they adapt to any type of football."

Originally posted by John Nada
good news. Gerrard is going to be the best midfielder in the world, that's if he's not already.

Hi John Nada, welcome to Sportz Tawk.

Going to have to disagree with the above post, 'best midfielder in the world'.... nope, not now and not ever.

Liverpool will move for �7million Inter Milan ace Alvaro Recoba if they miss out on signing Damien Duff from Blackburn Rovers...


Recoba is a great player the next few weeks will be interesting...

Emile Heskey has committed his future to Liverpool and hopes to make more of an impact after an "unlucky" campaign last season.

The England striker endured a disappointing season, hitting the back of the net just nine times despite being a regular for Gerard Houllier's side.

That poor return led to suggestions the former Leicester striker may be offloaded to make way for a big-name front man, but Heskey is confident he has a future at Anfield.

He told the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv: "I've recently spoken with Gerard Houllier and he's assured me on my future at the club.

Harry Kewell and Leeds are understood to be locked in talks designed to iron out a snag which has held up a �7million move to Liverpool.

Kewell had been expected to sign for Liverpool on Tuesday, going so far as to say his goodbyes to his Leeds team-mates and boss Peter Reid at the club's Thorp Arch training complex on Monday.

The 24-year-old had also given an interview to Australian television in which he was due to exclusively reveal his chosen destination after months of speculation and deliberation.

But Channel 9 were left red-faced as "an 11th-hour hitch" forced them to air only brief highlights of the item, without revealing Kewell's club of choice.

The transfer is on ice at present for Kewell, who still has a year left on his current Leeds deal is believed to be seeking a loyalty payment in respect of that.

Cash-strapped Leeds have baulked at the request, forcing agent Bernie Mandic to try and reach a compromise so the move can go ahead in time for Kewell to link up with the rest of the Liverpool squad heading to a Swiss training camp on Thursday.

Kewell has already claimed that after talking to Liverpool "for over six months...everything just seems to be right for me to go there".

Leeds chairman Professor John McKenzie has accused Harry Kewell of 'stabbing fans in the back' after completing his move to Liverpool.

The 24-year-old midfielder is heading for Anfield after a protracted transfer saga which has seen a bitter war of words develop between the Elland Road club and the Australian's representative Bernie Mandic.

It is understood Liverpool initially agreed last Friday to pay Leeds �7million however, according to McKenzie, the implication is the Reds were instructed to only offer �5m, giving the other �2m to Kewell to help cover his five-year contract worth an estimated �15m.

Leeds also claim Mandic had told them that to avoid Kewell 'doing a Bosman' next summer and leaving for nothing, he would like 40% of the �5m transfer fee, amounting to another �2m and leaving United to bank "a paltry" �3m.

Kewell revealed his intentions to join Liverpool on Australian television, a move which left McKenzie "flabbergasted".

Well im surprised he did go to LIverpool,but i think it is a great signing for the club and he should do really well....

# Leeds, they tried to offload Kewell, not the other way around so he deserves to get what he wants out of it.

Well in Harry, No wonder Leeds are in the # they're in if that's how they do business.

Gerard Houllier praised Liverpool's strikers, plus midfielders Bruno Cheyrou and Steven Gerrard, after the Reds' win in Cologne.

Emile Heskey and Michael Owen got the goals in a comfortable 3-1 victory which marked the debut of Harry Kewell and Liverpool boss Houllier was satisfied with the display of his strikeforce.

He said: "Tactically we had a few things to do tonight and they worked out well.

"Emile took his goal well and could have scored a second one. He looked bright, as did Neil Mellor and Michael but I told you a long time ago that Michael would have a great season this season."

Elsewhere in the side, Houllier was pleased with the performances of Cheyrou and Gerrard.

He added: "I think Bruno played very well. I think he was a good foil to Steven Gerrard in midfield.

"I like the spirit in the camp, the boys seem to get on well and mix well and they were very good for Steve Finnan, Harry and the two French boys."

Yeah John i agree i hope leeds go down but i just can't see it happening...

Liverpool have a very good side for this season and they will easily be in the top 6 again....

England midfielder Steven Gerrard is ready to pledge his long-term future to Liverpool.

Gerrard made the announcement in Bangkok ahead of the match against Thailand on Thursday following speculation linking him to a move to Chelsea.

"I'm happy at Liverpool and the club is happy with me. I'm ready to commit myself to the club's future and I'm sure that's going to happen," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"I've been at Liverpool all my career and never thought about playing for anyone else.

"All I want to do is concentrate on playing for this club."

Gerrard's pledge is bound to delight manager Gerard Houllier, who believes striker Michael Owen is also keen to sign a new deal.

Like Owen, Gerrard has only two years left on his current contract.

It is understood negotiations with representatives of the duo are ongoing.

Gerrard says he is as fit and fresh as he has ever been

Former England and Liverpool captain Emlyn Hughes has undergone surgery on a brain tumour.

The Anfield club today revealed the 55-year-old was recovering from his illness and, in a statement, sent him their "warmest wishes".

Hughes was capped 62 times by England and led the Merseyside club to the European Cup twice.

The statement read: "Everyone at Liverpool wishes Emlyn a speedy recovery from his recent illness, and we send our support to Emlyn, Barbara and family during this difficult time.

has undergone surgery on a brain tumour.

The Anfield club today revealed the 55-year-old was recovering from his illness and, in a statement, sent him their "warmest wishes".

Hughes was capped 62 times by England and led the Merseyside club to the European Cup twice.

The statement read: "Everyone at Liverpool wishes Emlyn a speedy recovery from his recent illness, and we send our support to Emlyn, Barbara and family during this difficult time.

Liverpool's new defender Steve Finnan admits he can't wait to be fully fit so he can repay the faith boss Gerard Houllier has shown in him.

Finnan is short of match fitness because his early training at Liverpool has been handicapped by his recovery from a hernia operation.

He will not be considered for Sunday's Premiership opener against Chelsea but the Republic of Ireland international said: "I was disappointed not to start pre-season training with the other lads, but it has also showed the faith Liverpool have in my ability, given the fact that they signed me knowing I was injured and knowing I'd had an operation to rectify it.

"A lot of clubs would have waited until I'd had the corrective surgery and was playing again before they'd have brought me to their club. But Liverpool and Gerard Houllier didn't.

West Ham have signed Liverpool striker Neil Mellor on a year-long loan deal.

Liverpool defender Gregory Vignal has joined French side Rennes on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old Frenchman, who cost �500,000 from Montpellier three years ago, was not involved in Liverpool's opening three games of the campaign and will embark on the second loan spell of his Anfield career after spending three months at Bastia last season.

Chris Kirkland has been described as "the best young goalkeeper in the world" and the player likely to fill the boots of David Seaman by England Under-21 coach David Platt.

Kirkland is highly rated, but has had few chances to show his true potential since joining Liverpool from Coventry for a surprise �7million last summer due to back and knee injuries.

The latter came at a time in February when Jerzy Dudek had lost form and confidence, but Kirkland lasted barely a half in an FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace after suffering cruciate damage.

The injury was serious enough to warrant a visit to world-renowned specialist Richard Steadman but Kirkland was advised against surgery, and instead was treated via a course of intensive rehabilitation.

A call-up to the England seniors for the recently friendly with Croatia came as a bolt out of the blue, but proved a welcome fillip for the 21-year-old.

Kirkland will now take over the number one jersey for the Under-21s after a year's absence for the vital European Championship qualifying matches in Macedonia on Friday and against Portugal at Goodison Park next Tuesday.