Ian Ayre says Liverpool attract stars despite no Champions League

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre insists the club are still capable of adding quality to their squad despite not qualifying for next season's Champions League.

The Anfield outfit have already made six first-team signings this summer, the most expensive that of Hoffenheim forward Roberto Firmino at £29m.

They have also been linked with Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke, although they are reported to value him at less than his release clause of £32.5m.

Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne and Manchester City midfielder James Milner are among the other players to have agreed terms.

While spending has not been as excessive as last summer - when £110m was spent off the back of selling Luis Suarez to Barcelona - manager Brendan Rodgers has been able to recruit well.

The club’s owners Fenway Sports Group have a policy of buying younger players with resale value and Ayre believes it is imperative to stick to that format.

He told The Manager, the League Managers’ Association’s magazine: "I stood on the Kop for many years as a fan.

"Like everyone else, I'd love to buy all the greatest players - regardless of price - but as we saw under the club's previous ownership, things can all go very wrong financially.

"Then people will hold you accountable for not running the club in the right way. You can't work that way.

“You have to have a very detailed, thought-out plan and ensure everyone buys into it and adheres to it. That is what we have been doing and will continue to do.

“It doesn't mean we are not investing in or buying good players, we are just doing it in a smart and sustainable way.

"We may not be competing in the Champions League this year but we are still making progress as a club and continuing to add quality to our squad.

"We are also improving financially, which means that as we go forward with the plan we will have more resources and will be able to invest more than we have in the past."

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Gerrard turned down Euro move

Steven Gerrard: Snubbed European moves

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits he turned down a "couple of nice opportunities" to move to a club in Europe in order to pursue a new challenge with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 35-year-old midfielder is set to be presented to his new club's fans at half-time of Saturday's Major League Soccer game against Toronto.

He will then publicly don Galaxy kit for the first time in an open training session on Tuesday ahead of a press conference, with his debut pencilled in for July 17 at home to San Jose Earthquakes.

Former England captain Gerrard is looking forward to a fresh start after admitting he wanted a new challenge.

"I had some nice opportunities around Europe," he told Galaxy TV.

"But I wanted a completely fresh challenge, to come out of my comfort zone, live away from home and get a different life experience and choose a place where my family can enjoy themselves and settle.

"When I retire from football in a few years time I want to say I did try something different and didn't stay in the same place - although I loved every minute of it."

Gerrard has had to counter accusations he will have an easy life in MLS having played so long in the Premier League, but he is determined not to allow his personal standards to slip.

"I've been working really hard alone to make sure my physical condition is still good and to make sure I still have my strength because when I turn up at Los Angeles I want to be ready to go," he said.

"I don't want any excuses that I need weeks or a month to get fitness, I'm trying to keep that level so I'm in good condition when I arrive.

"I like to give 100 per cent, work as hard as I can, I don't like losing, so I'll do everything I can to try to win football matches.

"I'm a team player, I'm no individual, I never think about myself - it's all about the team and what I can bring to the team to help us win."

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Premier League fixtures on Sky Sports: Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City live on bumper 2015/16 opening weekend

Chelsea will start their Premier League title defence exclusively live on Sky Sports, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City also on a bumper opening-weekend bill.

The Blues' curtain-raiser against Swansea on Saturday, August 8 is the first of 24 live matches on Sky Sports from the opening seven rounds of the new 2015/16 season, with Arsenal and Liverpool starring in the first Super Sunday clashes, Manchester City featuring in the return of Monday Night Football and Manchester United in front of the cameras in a one-off Friday night game.

Sky Sports will show every team live by the end of September and the schedule features 14 matches involving last season’s top four, as well as mouthwatering head-to-heads including Manchester City v Chelsea, Arsenal v Liverpool and Manchester United v Liverpool.

The live matches are the first of 116 Barclays Premier League fixtures to be shown exclusively live on Sky Sports with unrivalled analysis from Thierry Henry, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness.

Sky Sports viewers can enjoy another huge season of live football kicking off in August, including 127 matches from the Football League - more than ever before - Capital One Cup, the climax of UEFA Euro 2016 qualification and action from Scotland in the SPFL and Scottish Cup, as well as MLS and Eredivisie.

Sky Sports Managing Director Barney Francis said: "Sky Sports will be live from the home of the champions as another Premier League season kicks off, and with these first seven rounds of games there is much to look forward to.

"In our opening 24 matches we will show every Premier League team, telling the complete story as the season starts to take shape, as well as the big head-to-heads like Man City v Chelsea and Man Utd v Liverpool.

"With 116 games from the Premier League it will be another huge season of live football on Sky Sports, with more Football League games than ever before and the Euro 2016 qualifiers coming to a conclusion with all the Home Nations in with a shot at getting to France next summer."

Global football icon Thierry Henry said: "I can’t wait for the Premier League season to begin so we can get back into the studio on Sky Sports.

"Starting at Chelsea, everyone will be looking at them to see if they can retain their title, and on that opening weekend we also have Man City and Arsenal from last season’s top three; they will want to show they can put up a challenge.

"It’s also important that we tell the whole story of the Premier League, all 20 clubs in the first two months so we can understand each team, how they start the season will be crucial and Sky Sports will be there to show it.”

From August Sky Sports will be the only place to see the big kick-off with SPFL champions Celtic starting at home against Ross County on Saturday, August 1, and then in the Football League with Brighton welcoming Nottingham Forest on Friday, August 7, a day before Chelsea take on Swansea City in the opening game of the Premier League.

The first Super Sunday of the season will see Liverpool return to Stoke following their defeat on the final day of last season. The following day Monday Night Football returns as West Brom welcome Manchester City, and a week later Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher will cover Bournemouth’s visit to Anfield for the first time as a Premier League club.

Monday Night Football will also see Arsenal face Liverpool in August, as well as Slaven Bilic come up against Steve McClaren when West Ham face Newcastle in September - eight years on from England’s Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley.

Premier League teams will be looking to make additions to their squad before the big kick-off and Sky Sports News HQ will follow all the transfer news through to deadline day, our dedicated Transfer Centre available at http://ift.tt/1JGP5Sa and via the Sky Sports apps for supporters on the go.

Sky Sports will offer at least four more seasons of the Premier League, with 116 lives games coming this season increasing to 126 each term from the 2016/17 season.

Sky Sports' live Premier League fixtures:

August

Sat 8: Chelsea v Swansea City (5.30pm)

Sun 9: Arsenal v West Ham United (1.30pm)

Sun 9: Stoke City v Liverpool (4pm)

Mon 10: West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City (8pm)

Fri 14: Aston Villa v Manchester United (7.45pm)

Sun 16: Crystal Palace v Arsenal (1.30pm)

Sun 16: Manchester City v Chelsea (4pm)

Mon 17: Liverpool v Bournemouth (8pm)

Sun 23: West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea (1.30pm)

Sun 23: Everton v Manchester City (4pm)

Mon 24: Arsenal v Liverpool (8pm)

Sat 29: Tottenham Hotspur v Everton (5.30pm)

Sun 30: Southampton v Norwich City (1.30pm)

Sun 30: Swansea City v Manchester United (4pm)

September

Sat 12: Manchester United v Liverpool (5.30pm)

Sun 13: Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur (1.30pm)

Sun 13: Leicester City v Aston Villa (4pm)

Mon 14: West Ham United v Newcastle United (8pm)

Sat 19: Manchester City v West Ham United (5.30pm)

Sun 20: Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace (1.30pm)

Sun 20: Southampton v Manchester United (4pm)

Sat 26: Newcastle United v Chelsea (5.30pm)

Sun 27: Watford v Crystal Palace (4pm)

Mon 28: West Bromwich Albion v Everton (8pm)

Find all this season's fixtures at http://ift.tt/KyK0Rx or via the Sky Sports apps.

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Skrtel and Allen to sign new Liverpool deals

Martin Skrtel: Set to sign new Liverpool contract

Martin Skrtel is reported to have agreed a new three-year Liverpool contract and could soon be followed in putting pen to paper by Joe Allen.

Skrtel revealed last month that he had turned down an "unacceptable" offer of a new contract, but the Slovakia international is now expected to sign an extension when he returns to training next Monday.

Skrtel, who has made 293 appearances for the Reds since joining from Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2008, follows in the footsteps of Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson, Jordan Ibe and Jon Flanagan in committing his future to the club.

Allen, who has two years remaining on his contract, is also in talks over an extension, according to the Liverpool Echo.

One player that does not appear to have a future at Anfield, however, is Javier Manquillo amid talk Liverpool are looking to terminate his two-year loan, sending him back to Atletico Madrid 12 months early.

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Liverpool could end Javi Manquillo's loan from Atletico Madrid early

Javier Manquillo joined Liverpool on a two-year loan deal last summer

Liverpool are discussing whether to terminate Javier Manquillo's loan deal and send him back to Atletico Madrid a year early, according to reports.

The 21-year-old right-back joined on a two-year loan deal last summer and made 19 appearances, but he did not play a single Premier League game after December.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has recently signed two new right-backs; Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton and Joe Gomez from Charlton - and is considering his options as he reshapes his squad.

He has also handed a new long-term deal to young right-back Andre Wisdom and Sky sources reported at the end of last month that England U19 international Gomez is also under consideration for a loan.

The Liverpool Echo report Manquillo would not be averse to the idea of moving on, either back to Atletico or to another club.

Manquillo made 10 Premier League starts in the first half of last season. He made nine first team appearances for Atletico prior, having made his way through their youth ranks.

He has also represented every level of Spain's youth system from U16 to U21, but is yet to appear for the seniors.

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Bobby Adekanye confirms Liverpool move after Barcelona exit

Bobby Adekanye confirmed his move to Liverpool with a picture on his Instagram account

Liverpool have taken advantage of a red tape row to sign Barcelona youth prospect Bobby Adekanye.

Highly-rated Adekanye confirmed the move on Instagram on Thursday evening, saying: “I am very happy to sign for Liverpool.”

The Anfield side have moved to secure the 16-year-old’s services as a free agent after he was the subject of a dispute between Barcelona and FIFA.

Their disagreement was over the Spanish club’s recruitment of young players for their renowned academy at La Masia.

FIFA’s stance is Adekanye was signed by Barcelona illegally from Ajax in 2011 when he was 12, something the Catalan giants don’t believe was the case.

He was banned by world football’s governing body from playing competitively for Barcelona, who consequently sent the teenager on loan to PSV last season.

The Nigerian-born winger, a Dutch youth international, impressed during his stay in Holland and the 1988 European champions were keen to make his move permanent.

Barcelona’s preference was that he remained in the Netherlands until the matter was resolved with FIFA but no conclusion had been reached.

Adekanye – compared in style with fellow Dutchman Arjen Robben - therefore decided to act himself and cut his ties in Spain to pursue a move to Merseyside.

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Fowler: Benteke can be Reds' main man

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke can be the "main man" for Liverpool next season, according to Robbie Fowler.

The Reds have been heavily linked with the Belgian forward, but are so far refusing to meet the £32.5million release clause in Benteke’s Villa contract.

Benteke, 24, has two years to run on his current deal and is keen to stay in the Premier League, but wants to play for a club in Europe, according to his agent Eris Kismet.

Liverpool have signed Burnley striker Danny Ings, but Brendan Rodgers is still keen to strengthen his forward line with the futures of Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini and Mario Balotelli all far from assured.

And former Kop king Fowler is sure that Benteke is the right man for Rodgers.

"The striker issue is a big thing," Fowler told the Liverpool Echo.

"We didn’t have anyone who scored 10 Premier League goals last year and I can’t remember the last time that happened at Liverpool.

"It’s important we get a proven goalscorer and of the names being bandied about I’d go for Benteke. I think he’s excellent.

"I know there are other top strikers out there and probably more prolific scorers. But in terms of all-round play - strength, speed, physicality, finishing - I think Benteke could be the main man for Liverpool.

"I think we cross more balls into the box than any club in the league and I think Christian says he feeds off crosses. There’s no point going to a club where they don’t cross the ball."

The prolific Fowler, who had two spells with Liverpool, is confident that Benteke has enough in his game to become a superstar at Anfield.

"I've watched him a lot and he’s not just a targetman," added Fowler.

"He can hold the ball well and bring others into play but he’s also mobile and keeps defenders on their toes.

"Before he got his injury I was very impressed with him and I was hoping we would sign him then. He had a slow start after getting back fit but under Tim Sherwood his form was superb."

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→