Christian Benteke to miss next fortnight with hamstring injury

Christian Benteke will be out for around two weeks with the hamstring injury suffered in the draw with Norwich City at the weekend, making him a doubt for the Merseyside derby.

Benteke was withdrawn at half-time on Sunday, with his replacement Danny Ings scoring early in the second half and putting in a good performance.

The 24-year-old is now expected to miss two weeks, ruling him out of the home game against former side Aston Villa on Saturday and making him a doubt for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park the following Sunday (October 4th).

He’ll also miss tonight’s League Cup clash with Carlisle and next week’s Europa League game against FC Sion.

Under pressure Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is already without captain Jordan Henderson after he suffered a broken foot the day after flying back from America after having treatment on the other foot.

Thankfully, Daniel Sturridge has returned to fitness sooner than anticipated, having made his first appearance since April against Norwich on Sunday.

Benteke’s somewhat questionable injury record was one of the questions raised when Liverpool and Rodgers opted to spend £32.5 million on the Belgian in the summer.

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Video: Mario Balotelli strikes to show he can be AC Milan loan hit

Mario Balotelli believes he has started proving his doubters wrong after scoring the first goal of his second spell with AC Milan.

The 25-year-old striker, on loan from Liverpool after a disappointing season at Anfield, netted as the Rossoneri beat Udinese 3-2 in Friuli on Tuesday.

Balotelli marked his first start with a stunning opening goal, the Italy international driving home a free-kick from long range after only five minutes.

And the controversial forward now feels he has taken the first step towards answering his critics, both at home in Italy and back in England.

He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: “It was a difficult game for me because I know they were trying to provoke me. I picked up a yellow card and that did ruin things for me a bit.

“But I’m happy with my performance.

“Slowly I’m starting to remove all the stones from my shoes, because in recent years, in Italy and England, they’ve concocted a lot of things about me. I’ve stayed silent.

“Are defenders trying to provoke me? Let them come and get their yellow cards, or try and take my legs out, but they won’t be seeing the ball.”

The former Manchester City player scored 30 goals in 54 games during his previous stint at Milan, but managed only four in all competitions for Liverpool in the 2014-15 campaign.

Milan boss Sinisa Mihajlovic said: “The real Balotelli has returned, and he can now handle the provocation.

“He was perfect, the best player on the pitch.

“He made a real difference and I’m happy with that, but he has to continue doing so.”

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Carlo Ancelotti would be the show of ambition FSG need at Liverpool

FSG have not acted like the ruthless businessmen we expected them to be; by appointing Carlo Ancelotti they can show ambition that they want Liverpool FC to be back among Europe’s elite.

As we approach the 5-year anniversary of FSG purchasing Liverpool, we find ourselves in a similar situation to the one which John Henry and co. inherited back in 2010.

Five years ago, supporters urged Henry and the then-named New England Sports Ventures to fire Roy Hodgson, a manager who was clearly out of his depth, deploying negative tactics and signing players who weren’t good enough to sport the Liverbird upon their chest.

A 2-0 defeat in the Merseyside derby, NESV’s first game in control of the club, wasn’t enough. Nor was a 1-0 home defeat to Wolves. Eventually, it was a 3-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers three months later.

Why the owners waited three months to do the inevitable remains baffling.

It’s a similar case now, with Brendan Rodgers‘ position as Liverpool manager being seen by many as untenable from the moment his side were hammered 6-1 by Stoke City on the final day of last season – a week after a 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Steven Gerrard‘s Anfield farewell.

Those two defeats, 9-2 on aggregate, to midtable opposition arrived on the back of the woeful FA Cup semi-final exit and a complete capitulation from the moment Rodgers had talked his side up as being able to potentially finish as high as second.

Since Rodgers uttered that optimistic claim, after the 1-0 win at Swansea in March, Liverpool have won just four league games; against Newcastle, QPR, Stoke and Bournemouth.

There have been claims this week that FSG aren’t planning on sacking Rodgers unless a “catastrophic set of results” change their mind.

The final 11 games of last season were a catastrophic set of results for Liverpool FC.

So too was the run of games in October – November of the same season, which saw four defeats in a row, then a 2-2 draw with European minnows, before scraping past Stoke 1-0 at Anfield.

Something else that was catastrophic was the team selection against FC Basel in December – a must-win Champions League game.

But by refusing to sack Rodgers in the summer, at a point where there was certainly reason to do so, FSG have made a rod for their own back, knowing that they would now look foolish to sack their man so soon into the new season.

We all know the stats; we’ve only scored more than one goal in two of the last 20 games; we haven’t won any of the last five; our only two victories this season have been courtesy of Coutinho’s worldie and Benteke’s offside goal; we’ve scored just five goals in seven games; we have a negative goal difference after six league games; we’re 13th in the league. These are stats that are catastrophic for a club of Liverpool’s stature and ambition.

Rodgers should have gone in the summer, and those who didn’t think so then, almost certainly think so now.

The only people still in Rodgers’ corner appear to chief executive Ian Ayre and the mysterious FSG director Mike Gordon.

FSG must ask themselves – can they see Rodgers turning this around? It looks highly unlikely. You certainly wouldn’t bet on it and ruthless businessmen would certainly not anticipate it.

So why wait? What can be gained by waiting?

FSG missed an opportunity to consolidate a place back in the Champions League by dropping straight back out of it. Rodgers should have been told in no uncertain terms to focus solely on that last season, instead of flirting with cup success, falling short there, and that distracting from Champions League qualification.

They then missed the opportunity to get rid of Rodgers and have a fresh start in the summer.

They simply cannot afford to miss the opportunity now to bring in a proven manager that the club so desperately requires.

Carlo Ancelotti provides the experience that FSG and Liverpool as a club so desperately lack among the hierarchy.

He also provides the ability to attract top players.

A winner, experienced in the Premier League, still at an age where he has a lot to offer. He also appears to have an affection for the club and it’s supporters.

It’s an absolute no brainer. FSG can win back supporters and prove their ambition by appointing Ancelotti.

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“World class”, “would attract top players” – Liverpool fans react to Carlo Ancelotti rumours

Following reports linking Carlo Ancelotti with replacing Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager, here’s how the fans are reacting.

Liverpool have moved swiftly to deny the reports linking them with contacting Ancelotti – no doubt done to ensure that a claim for constructive dismissal cannot be made, and also to avoid a similar situation to when previous owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks approached Jurgen Klinsmann while Rafa Benitez was in charge.

But the news of Ancelotti’s potential future employment on Merseyside has seen fans react in their droves, with many supporters excited by the prospect of the Italian being in the Anfield hot-seat.

DickCzinya in the comments:

Of course they’ll deny it.

Bodgers is still manager, no point undermining him even more than he’s undermining himself unless a firm decision has been made.

Doesn’t mean it is / isn’t true though.

Conor McKillion in the comments:

I have been saying this since May.

Carlo Ancelotti is a world class elite coach who has won the European Cup 3 times and numerous leagues and domestic cups. He is the sort of manager we should be after and who would attract top players and could help keep our best players here (Coutinho namely, Can in a couple of years etc).

The only issue is if he will work under a director of football and with a lesser budget than he had at Milan, PSG or Real Madrid. I know he wanted a year off to get surgery and chill out so do we go for him now or wait until January or later when the season could already be wrote off.

I believe he is a perfect fit, the way he speaks about Liverpool is lovely and he clearly respects the club.

This is all coming from a Northern Irishman who was never part of the Rodgers out brigade until May but it is plain to see something needs to change drastically and soon, Rodgers is done, the squad are not playing for him and the fans know it, he should know the time is right to call it a day.

Benvenuto amico mio Carlo!!

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Liverpool deny Carlo Ancelotti approach

Liverpool have moved quickly to deny they have approached former AC Milan and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Over the last 24 hours, the 56-year-old Italian has been linked with a move to Liverpool should Brendan Rodgers leave the club.

The three-times Champions League winning coach and Premier League title winner would provide a high-calibre, experienced manager at Anfield.

But Liverpool have moved quickly to deny the reports, with the usual Liverpool press gang being briefed to deny any such approach for Ancelotti.

The Echo’s James Pearce, the Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe, and the Times’ Tony Barrett all took to Twitter within minutes of each other to say LFC denied the links.

Somebody at Liverpool told them the denial, but after weeks of Jurgen Klopp speculation, why have the club acted so quickly to deny the Ancelotti link? No smoke without fire, perhaps.

It could also be a move to ensure a constructive dismissal claim cannot be made against the club, should Rodgers eventually leave.

Reports suggest FSG aren’t planning on sacking Brendan Rodgers any time soon, but that Ancelotti is their first-choice should Rodgers leave.

An appointment of Ancelotti would be a true show of ambition from owners FSG.

Ancelotti is now 2/1 to be the next permanent Liverpool boss, with Klopp at 6/4.

Next Permanent Liverpool Manager Latest Odds

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Reports: Liverpool contact Carlo Ancelotti

Liverpool have approached former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti about the possibility of replacing Brendan Rodgers at Anfield.

The news is reported in the Daily Mail, after similar such murmurings were widespread across social media on Tuesday.

The Mail’s Neil Ashton writes:

Ancelotti, who won the European Cup with AC Milan and Real Madrid, has been approached to take over from Rodgers after Liverpool’s poor start to the season.

It is understood Rodgers retains the support of some decision makers at Liverpool, but his job is now hanging by a thread after Ancelotti was contacted about his position.

The news of an approach for the highly-experienced Italian manager comes after a report at the weekend claimed Liverpool had been warned off a move for Jurgen Klopp.

Italian website Calciomercatoweb has also reported the approach for Ancelotti.

The Twiiter feed of @LFCGlobe claims that Ancelotti is FSG’s first choice option, saying that any move is “Nowhere near imminent, but he’s the first choice should BR walk.”

Liverpool were also linked with a move for Ancelotti in May, shortly after the 6-1 defeat at Stoke City and after Ancelotti left Real Madrid.

Ancelotti has previously been quoted speaking of his admiration for Liverpool:

I’ve followed Liverpool since 1984 after facing them with Roma in the European Cup Final, when we lost on penalties.

It’s always been a club that excites me. The “You’ll Never Walk Alone” they sing is incredible. Nobody sings an anthem like Liverpool fans.

Tomorrow, before the game, I’m going to go out onto the pitch early because I want to hear them sing it.

I’m so excited… sometimes I look for it on the internet and put it on for my friends. It’s something really unique, seriously.

I remember when we played them in Istanbul [in the Champions League Final] and we were winning 3-0 at the break.

There were 45,000 Liverpool fans in the ground singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” for 10 minutes. It was incredible and for an Italian it was a shock.

Ancelotti left Madrid despite a 75% win ratio and guiding Real to the Champions League title for the first time in 12 years.

The 55-year-old would bring a wealth of experience, something which is hugely lacking at Liverpool FC currently.

Ancelotti is now 2/1 to be the next permanent Liverpool boss, with Klopp at 6/4.

Next Permanent Liverpool Manager Latest Odds

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LFC Ladies head coach Matt Beard to leave the club at end of the season

Liverpool FC Ladies head coach Matt Beard is to leave the club at the end of the season, joining US-based Boston Breakers.

Beard has guided the LFC Ladies to back-to-back WSL titles in the last two seasons, although the double champions find themselves way off the pace this season.

“I feel like I need a new challenge and I feel I have taken the club as far as I can,” said Beard, who joined the Reds from Chelsea in 2011.

“I would like to thank all of the players and staff that I have worked with during my tenure as Liverpool Ladies manager. I have had some fantastic times with the club and will take some memories that will last forever.

“I would also like to thank the Liverpool Ladies supporters who, in my opinion, are the best supporters in the Women’s Super League.

“The backing that we have received both home and away has been nothing short of fantastic and I would like to express my gratitude to the fans for the backing they have given to the team.”

With two league games remaining, the Ladies are third from bottom in WSL1, but have reached the semi-finals of the Continental Tyres Cup.

Boston Breakers finished bottom of the NWSL last season and their former head coach, Tom Durkin, stepped down earlier this month.

Liverpool will be hoping Beard doesn’t lure any of LFC Ladies’ best players across the pond with him.

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