James Milner hails Liverpool's midfield options

James Milner: In action for Liverpool against Stoke

Liverpool's James Milner says "energy" is the key attribute Brendan Rodgers wants to see from his midfielders at Anfield.

Milner, who moved to Merseyside on a free transfer from Manchester City in the summer, started Monday's win against Bournemouth in central midfield alongside Jordan Henderson, who is a doubt for Liverpool's match against Arsenal on Monday evening.

Speaking on the club's official website, Milner said: "There's a lot of options for us and a lot of different styles of players, and a lot of energy. That's how we want to play, we want to move the ball but we want to put teams under pressure as well when they have it."

Emre Can replaced Henderson against Bournemouth and is another option for Brendan Rodgers in central midfield.

"It depends how the manager wants to play - two or three, or one of us sitting or moving out," Milner added. "There's plenty of energy in there.

"Emre came on as well, Adam Lallana played in there and Philippe Coutinho played in there at Stoke City," he said.

Liverpool have a 100 per cent record this season, but Milner is expecting a tough game when they travel to Emirates Stadium.

"They look sharp," he said. "They had a disappointing result in their first game against West Ham United, but they are a quality team and will want to bounce back from that and try to get their run going.

"We have defended well in the first two games of the season and we're going to need to do that there. But if we can keep improving and keep clean sheets, we have quality going forward,"

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Liverpool midfielder Lucas is poised to join Besiktas on a season-long loan

Lucas: Liverpool's longest serving player set for exit

Liverpool midifelder Lucas is set to leave Anfield and join Turkish side Besiktas on loan until the end of the season, according to reports.

Lucas is Liverpool's longest-serving player but has fallen out of favour at Anfield and failed to make either of Brendan Rodgers' starting line-ups for their opening two Premier League wins over Stoke and Bournemouth.

According to Sky sources, the Turkish side say they are confident of signing the Brazilian midfielder, who has two years remaining on his current contract, within the next two days.

Besiktas are in the market for a midfielder following injuries to Toglay Arslan and Veli Kavlak. 

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Daniel Sturridge may return against Manchester United

Daniel Sturridge: Could return for Liverpool against Manchester United

Daniel Sturridge has completed his rehabilitation programme after hip surgery and may return for Liverpool against Mancheste United next month.

Sturridge was restricted to just 17 first-team appearances and only nine starts last season after struggling with thigh, hamstring and, finally, hip injuries throughout the whole of the campaign.

The England international underwent surgery in May and has spent the majority of his recovery period in Boston, undergoing rehabilitation with MLB franchise Red Sox, who also fall under the umbrella of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group.

Sturridge is not yet scheduled for a return to first-team action, with England's Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland early next month coming too soon for a comeback, but he is said to be targeting Liverpool's first game back from the international break - against Manchester United on September 12 - as a date for his potential return.

Scans have revealed no break in Jordan Henderson's foot, meanwhile, after he played through the 1-0 win over Bournemouth with an injury, but the club captain remains a doubt to face Arsenal on Monday night.

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Tiago Ilori determined to win Liverpool first-team place

Tiago Ilori: Liverpool defender has spent last two seasons on loan

Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori has vowed to "do everything" to achieve his "number one objective" of playing for the Reds' first team.

The Portugal Under-21 international joined the Reds for £7million in 2013 from Sporting Lisbon but has spent the last two seasons on loan at Granada and Bordeaux.

Now he is targeting a place in Brendan Rodgers' first-team squad.

"I want to play for Liverpool. I don't want to be in Liverpool just to be sitting around," the 22-year-old told the Liverpool Echo after playing a half for the U21 side in the 'mini-derby' against Everton on Wednesday.

"My objective is the same as every other player, we all want to play so everyone's going to fight for their place.

"I joined Liverpool two seasons ago to play for Liverpool, that is my number one objective so I'm going to do everything to make that happen."

An injury sustained at the European U21 Championship prevented Ilori from joining Liverpool's summer tour and the defender is desperate to make up for lost time.

"I haven't played for a few months so the most important thing for me was to get back into action," Ilori said.

"It was frustrating to get injured but at the same time I hadn't had a holiday for two years and you need some time off, so it came at the right time."

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Liverpool reject advances from Roma and Bayer Leverkusen for Mamadou Sakho

Mamadou Sakho: Linked with Leverkusen and Roma

Liverpool have reportedly rejected offers from Roma and Bayer Leverkusen for Mamadou Sakho, despite the defender's lack of action so far.

The France defender has yet to start a game for the Reds so far this season with Brendan Rodgers opting for Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel as his preferred centre-half pairing.

But despite his lack of game time, Sakho remains very much a part of Rodgers' first-team plans, with reports on Wednesday suggesting the Reds have rebuffed approaches from the two European clubs.

Sakho made 28 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool last season has made 46 appearances across two seasons overall since signing for the Merseysiders from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2013.

He has 26 caps for France and began his career at PSG where he broke into the first-team at 17 years old and made over 150 appearances.

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Lallana acknowledges need to improve

Christian Benteke: Earned Liverpool victory against Bournemouth

Adam Lallana acknowledges Liverpool have room to improve but believes the Reds have proven they have the right mentality in grinding out wins.

Liverpool followed up a 1-0 win at Stoke on the opening weekend with a victory by the same scoreline against Bournemouth at Anfield on Monday night.

Brendan Rodgers' side managed only three shots on target at the Britannia Stadium and were on the right side of two controversial decisions against the Cherries, but Lallana is confident performances will improve over time and is just glad the Reds have picked up managed to pick up maximum points anyway.

"We know there's room for improvement and we're working hard in training to achieve that," Lallana said. "There's no doubt we have a lot of ability in the squad and I think you'll see our performances improve over the coming weeks.

"But I also think it's important to see this side of us.

"People asked questions about our mentality and our fighting spirit last week at Stoke. We showed that there, and we took it into the Bournemouth game.

"Sometimes you have to win a game 1-0 - it was massively important for us."

Lallana has also joined Rodgers in heaping praise on Christian Benteke after the new £32.5million signing opened his account for the club with Monday night's winner.

"He's a great lad and a great professional," Lallana added. "He's a big presence up there.

"He's great in the air and good with his feet. He brings team-mates into play. He has that finishing ability. [Benteke's goal] was a real poacher's finish, and it was brilliantly technically."

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Video: Daniel Sturridge posts another injury return update – “Home time soon”

Daniel Sturridge continues his return from injury and has posted another video update of him working on his fitness in America.

“Feeling good right now. Home time soon,” he captioned the video update, which shows him receiving, finishing and sprinting – using the new Premier League football for this season.

The 25-year-old forward is due to return to Merseyside later this month, having worked on his rehabilitation in the United States since undergoing surgery on his hip in New York in May.

It’s hope the England international will return in September, with the match at Old Trafford on September 12th a possible return date.

A more likely return though is likely to arrive the following week, in the Europa League.

Sturridge’s return to fitness will see an interesting dilemma for Brendan Rodgers, who must decide whether to change his side’s shape in order to pair him alongside Christian Benteke.

LIVERPOOL 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH:

PLAYER FOCUS: Christian Benteke vs. Bournemouth
FAN REACTION: “Performance unconvincing, result important”
TALKING POINTS: Clyne and Benteke impress, Lallana ineffective
PLAYER RATINGS
MANAGER REACTION: Howe unhappy with decisions

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