GIVE KEWELL A DEAL

after watching Kewell coming back from injury and played the last 2 matches against Fulham and Charlton, I think Rafa should give him another chance to prove himself yet again. I know he is very prone to injury, but he definitely has something more to offer.

in my personal opinion, he is better than Mark Gonzalez and also Bolo Zenden. he can shoot, he can dribble and he can pass. he is only 28 years old now, still with a few more good years left. give him one more season if I were Rafa. [ass]

WHAT DO YOU THINK??

I wanna to know your oppinion about this thing....

REDS SIGN BRAZILIAN STAR

Liverpool today made their first significant transfer move of the summer with a swoop for 20-year-old Brazilian Lucas Leiva. The youngster, rated one of the most exciting emerging talents in South America, has signed from Brazilian club Gremio.

Leiva was recently called up to his national team, and Rafa Benitez believes the central midfielder will be challenging for a first team place at the beginning of next season. Leiva will join the Reds in the summer after Benitez beat a host of top clubs to his signature. The fee has remained undisclosed at this stage, but is believed to be around £5m.

“He’s a player with a lot of quality who we watched playing for the Brazil Under-20s. He will be ready to join the first team squad from the start of next season. He's a very good signing for us and likes to be an attacking midfielder, but he has many qualities. We've now reached an agreement for the player to join us,” Benitez said today.

Leiva will be the second South American to join the Reds this summer, following Argentinian left winger Sebastian Leto.

ALONSO STILL A KEY PLAYER

Xabi Alonso has been reassured he remains an integral part of Rafael Benitez’s plans. Alonso was surprisingly dropped to the bench for the Champions League semi-final second leg victory over Chelsea at Anfield.

The 26-year-old, who had previously started all of Liverpool’s key games under Benitez when available, was usurped from central midfield by Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard. It sparked fresh rumours of a move away from Anfield, with Barcelona known suitors of the Spain international.

While Alonso eventually played a part in helping Liverpool seal a place in the Athens final against AC Milan by scoring in the penalty shoot-out against Chelsea, a fit Momo Sissoko didn’t even feature among the substitutes.

But Benitez reckons both midfielders accept the competition for places and will play a part for Liverpool next season. “I think Xabi understands. “The players know me. They know I can change one or two players but that doesn't mean I am disappointed with them. I was talking with Sissoko. The last two or three weeks he has had more problems because Mascherano was playing well and Gerrard was in the middle. I said to him it was not a problem because we will play 60 games next season and we need a lot of good players. We have injuries also. All the players must be a little bit disappointed if they don't play, but they need to have respect for their team-mates. Xabi is a good professional and it is not a problem,” said the Liverpool manager.

Both Alonso and Sissoko started last Saturday’s Premiership visit to Fulham, where a much-changed Liverpool were beaten 1-0.

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER RUMOUR

Liverpool are being linked with a double swoop for Palermo's Amauri and Real Zaragoza's Gabriel Milito.

The Reds have held a long-term interest in the pair and reports suggest they could make a move for the duo in the summer.

Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez is busy planning for next season and he is set to be handed a substantial transfer kitty by American owners to Tom Hicks and George Gillett to build a team capable of challenging for the Premiership title.

Benitez is widely expected to bring in a new striker and Palermo's Brazilian-born hit-man Amauri could be one of his top targets.

Amauri's agent Mariano Grimaldi claims Benitez is a big admirer of Amauri, but says they could face a fight for his signature with a number of other clubs tracking him.

"Benitez is an admirer and considers him to be the best striker in Europe along with Didier Drogba," Grimaldi told The Sun.

"However, Liverpool are not the only ones after Amauri. There are offers coming from several clubs.

"But Liverpool have kept an eye on him for quite a while now."



Liverpool have been chasing Milito for some time and they failed in a bid to land him two seasons ago.

However, the Argentine international has opened the door for Liverpool to rekindle their interest in him by suggesting he would be interested in a switch to Anfield.


Reports emanating from Spain suggest Liverpool are ready to offer Mark Gonzalez plus money to try and persuade Zaragoza to do business for Milito.

"This is my opportunity to join a big club in Europe," Milito is quoted as saying in the Mirror.

"Liverpool have a Spanish coach, which is very important for me."

Rafa Benitez is also reportedly lining up a sensational £12 million raid on West Ham for striker Carlos Tevez even if the east London club avoid relegation from the Premiership.

The People newspaper claims that Tevez' business manager Kia Joorabchian met with Benitez in a London hotel at the weekend to discuss a move for the player.

Tevez has played a key role in West Ham's recent revival but the rumours coming out of the club are that the original deal has left far too many wounds for all concerned for the player to remain at the club next season even if relegation is avoided.

That position leaves the door open for potential suitors for Tevez with Liverpool leading the chase having already done a deal for Javier Mascherano earlier in the year.

Liverpool will be mindful of the mistakes in the original deal that led to West Ham's £5.5 million fine and will be making sure any new deal is entirely in line with Premier League rules.

Editor's Notes

These players are perhaps a handful of the many that Liverpool will be linked with as Rafa has been quoted in saying.

Rafa is one who is very meticulous not only when preparing for a match but also on the scouting for new players. Palermo's Amauri has been described as in the same mould to that of Didier DROPba only that he doesn't drop too easily.

But after the signing of Andriy Voronin, one would expect Rafa going for a big name this time round. Rumours have been circulating that it could perhaps be one of the three between David Villa, Fernando Torres or Carlos Tevez. And knowing Rafa, he will not be giving out any clues just yet. Barcelona has also been trying to tempt Liverpool to table an offer for Samuel Eto'o that will include pass-master Xabi Alonso in the mix but it has since been rejected by Rafa.

It has also been well documented that Rafa had previously tried to sign Argentine Gabriel Milito unsuccessfully over the last two campaign. And the fact that the player has shown interest would certainly re-trigger the speculation.

Should Liverpool be successful on the reported £12 million bid for Tevez and also the signing of Milito, we could see a team of Argentinian as the main cast come next season.

GRUMPY OL' MAN

first iwas Moaninho...
then its Gattusso...
now its the grumpy ol' man taking a swipe at Pool's chances...

PONGOLE SECURE SWITCH

Recreativo de Huelva have confirmed the signing of Florent Sinama-Pongolle from Liverpool for £2.7 million.

Pongolle has had a superb season in the Spanish La Liga. The French striker has been on a season long loan at Recre and impressed the club with an 11 goal total for the season so far.


The French striker arrived at Anfield under Gerard Houllier’s reign and alongside Anthony Le Tallec was believed to cost a joint £3 million. The figures declared by Recreativo indicate a small profit on Flo.

Sinama-Pongolle is now under contract to Recre until the summer of 2011 and the deal has been welcomed by the Spanish club's president Francisco Mendoza.

"Today is a very happy day for all those connected with Recreativo, as we have all waited for the moment of seeing Sinama as a member of the club," he told the club's official website.

"We have obtained him by putting in the most important financial push of this organisation in its 118-year history."

Sinama-Pongolle added: "I would like to thank the club and the fans for the affection they have shown me since I arrived at Huelva."

Editor's Notes

The uncertainty over the future of Florence Sinama Pongolle at Liverpool seemed to have reached a closure. He has earned his due contract with reportedly impressive performances in the La-Liga and has taken to the hearts of the fans there.

Once heralded as the next generation of the "French greats" along with Anthony Le-Tallec, he has been told that he is not in Rafa's future plans.

His invaluable contributions to the historical Champions League victory of 2005 shall always be remembered. He deserved better and I reckon he will enjoy his soccer and have a 'Heluva' career with Recreativo.

Wishing him all the success in his career.