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Five Year Deal For Carson

The one possible real challenger to Paul Robinson’s place between the English posts is Scott Carson, given time of course. The 20 year old played no part on the pitch during England’s failed World Cup campaign but is without doubt one of England’s best goalkeeping prospects and as a sign of the manager’s faith in the lad, Benitez has just tied Scott Carson down to a new five year deal at Anfield.

I’m hoping that this means we’ll see a little more of Carson during the season. Not that I would go replacing Pepe Reina - God no - but take him to the League Cup, take him to the early stages of the FA Cup or those latter Champions League group games (showing my confidence here at all?).

Sheffield Wednesday, where Carson had spent a good chunk of last season on loan for first team action, were waiting patiently in the wings to sign the former Leeds man, rumoured to be queuing up alongside Portsmouth for his services but with a five year deal now wrapped up it could well be Dudek that heads for the door first.

Popularity: 13% [?]

£6.2m for Pennant… why?

Can someone tell me why there is £6.2 million being spent on Jermaine Pennant?

Only today Rafa Benitez was quoted as saying (my paraphrasing of course) that he wouldn’t spend £20 million to get a player who was only valued at £10 million. I think the same law here equally applies to Jermaine Pennant and Birmingham are being pure greedy. Their fault they agreed to a 25% sell-on clause. The club want their £3/3.5 million back that their paid for him, and the 25% that they have to hand over to Wenger and I think its ridiculous. The club are being held up for a player that simply isn’t worth £6.2 million. Or maybe even half that.

Karren Brady says the player won’t be sold at all, Steve Bruce has admitted an initial bid of £3.5 million was rejected but when Birmingham upped their asking price to £8 million I laughed, and laughed hard too. You see a player of immense quality like Duff disappearing to the wilds of Newcastle for £5 million, a player who has done a terrific job for his previous employers, picked up two League medals, has always been a top performer on international level - actually, maybe I just don’t like Pennant.

I can’t see the value in throwing over £6 million at him, especially when £1.5 of that is being given to Arsenal - so clearly Birmingham value the player closer to £4 million and at that, without the sell on clause, they should count themselves lucky to get that fee!

Credit to Benitez on the other side for wanting to invest in tested league players but I don’t see the point in going for Pennant, in particular at that price as well. Yet, if the reports are to be believed, it is quite possible that Pennant will hook up with the Liverpool squad in their Swiss training camp ahead of the weekend to pick up his new club colours.

But can someone still tell me why, and why not someone else?

Still no word on who this possible “second face” will be appearing at Liverpool this week.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Diao Off To Charlton, More To Follow?

Well at least after a week of rumours over Djimi Traoré we’ve finally got one Liverpool player in the form of Salif Diao arriving at Charlton ahead of a possible transfer to The Valley.

Diao will spend all of this week training with Charlton as Iain Dowie looks to strengthen his midfield selection ahead of the start of the coming season. Diao too, credit too him has looked well in preseason for Liverpool after what can only be described as a disastrous spell at the club between injuries, loans, reserve appearances and just being left out in the wilds. Even with Hamann out of the club, Diao doesn’t really stand a chance getting in at midfield at all this year and is genuinely served better away from Anfield.

Having played against Wrexham and putting in a good first half appearance against Crewe this weekend, Diao is likely to travel with Charlton on their preseason tour this week picking up games against Hibs and Valencia with Liverpool having granted Charlton permission to use Diao in midfield against Hibernian tomorrow night.

Still no word however on if there is more to follow Diao out of Anfield, namely Djimi Traoré with no real word on the continued interest in the player from both Bolton and Charlton.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Liverpool Top All-Time League

With 18 league titles in the bag and a grand total of 5,927 points in 3,643 matches, Liverpool sit atop the all-time English league table averaging 1.63 points a game, just .01 ahead of Man United. Another league title would certainly go a long way!

Check out the details via Reuters….

Popularity: 7% [?]

Xabi Alonso Not For Sale

Peace of mind for Liverpool fans this morning as Rafa Benitez has categorically stated that Xabi Alonso is going nowhere. In fairness, Liverpool would be mad to sell him. Reports were rife during the week that Real had been in touch with the player’s agent and club in relation to a possible €25m bid for the player to line up alongside Emerson in the new look Real Madrid team when Fabio Capello got nowhere with Cesc Fabregas.

Nice to know you can enjoy your Sunday breakfast without choking over pictures of Alonso in a Madrid jersey!

Popularity: 20% [?]

Result : Crewe 0 - 1 Liverpool

The final whistle blows at Gresty road with the end score 1-0 to Liverpool. Youth team player Craig Lindfield, making his first team debut, opened the scoring on 18 minutes thanks to some great vision and build-up play between Bolo Zenden and Robbie Fowler, setting the young lad free inside the box to rifle into the top left corner of the goal.

Two good chances from Crewe early in the first half, followed by a close effort from Tony Grant forcing a save out of Dudek at the near post was all Crewe could muster on an attacking front though they played some great pressing football through the first half. Salif Diao came through the half and impressed, also finding himself in a shooting position with a thundering volley just before the half hour mark. The first half, I feel, belonged to Craig Lindfield and Paul Anderson, the two youths showing no problems when playing with their idols and senior counterparts, Linfield a constant threat in front of the Crewe goal.

Some great displays through to the first half by Fabio Aurélio who impressed on his first team debut, playing 45 minutes, providing some great width on the left and showing pace in attack.

Rafa Benitez rang in the changes as expected in the second half, introducing Riise, Bellamy, Paletta, Potter, Pongolle, Antwi, Sissoko and the man everyone was waiting to see, Mark Gonzalez.

The second half looked more like a lesson in buildup play and passing for Liverpool, no real aggressive threats or moments of magic, but some great football to be had all round. Paletta’s physical and mental strength were on display in abundance for the second half, the Argentinian making his presence felt to the Crewe attacking line throughout the half and looked an improved version of himself from his appearance at Wrexham.

Impressive second half from both Gonzalez and Momo Sissoko. The Chilean’s first contribution to the game was to clear a dangerous Crewe ball off the line before plying his attacking game through the half. Nice touch also by Benitez to let Dudek skipper the side for the second half before being replaced after a half hour by David Martin with Riise taking over the captaincy as he did last week.

Great day and great game to watch at Gresty Road before Liverpool continue the buildup to the Premier League by travelling to Switzerland.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Live : Crewe 0 - 1 Liverpool (Second Half)

Dudek skippers for the second half with Riise likely to take over later in the half as the Norwegian comes on to left back, Paletta replaces Sami Hyypia at centre back, Godwin Antwi is on at right back, Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez (wearing number 18) are both on, Momo Sissoko is also on alongside Zenden in the centre, Pongolle on to replace Fowler with Darren Potter replacing Paul Anderson on the right. Changes a plenty as the second half gets under way on Gresty Road.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Half Time : Crewe 0 - 1 Liverpool

Going into the break its Liverpool who lead by the single goal, Craig Lindfield the scorer after 18 minutes, Zenden and Fowler combining well to set up Linfield just inside the Crewe box to rifle home into the top left corner past Williams.

Overall Fowler has been a shining light on the pitch, great vision and forward thinking, terrific play overall by the man returning to the number 9 shirt. Great play also during the first half by Bolo Zenden and Salif Diao but I think the half belonged to Craig Lindfield and Paul Anderson who have been nothing short of brilliant in the first half. Anderson, maybe not as much, but has been a threat down the right with Linfield a constant thorn in Williams side between the sticks for most of the first half.

As with last weekend against Wrexham, eight changes are expected with Bellamy, Pongolle and Mark Gonzalez warming up during the first half, fans and myself alike looking forward to the introduction of Gonzalez. A few chances too for Crewe early in the half, Tony Grant also coming close with almost a half hour gone, testing Dudek at the near post with a powerful header.

So far so good for Liverpool, on we go to the second half.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Live : Crewe 0 - 1 Liverpool

What a way to mark his debut Liverpool appearance, Craig Lindfield has just hammered home from just inside the box. Robbie Fowler tipped a pass to Zenden in midfield before heading on a blistering run, Zenden just able to pick out Robbie going along the ground with a long pass to the right of the box, Fowler back heeling to Lindfield just inside the edge of the box to rifle home into the top left corner. 19 minutes gone and it is Liverpool a goal up.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Live : Crewe 0 - 0 Liverpool

We’re a quarter of an hour into the game at Gresty Road with the score 0-0. Some nice touches from Fabio Aurélio but as far as the exchanges go its about 50/50, Crewe coming closest with two efforts early on in the game. Crewe well able to apply the pressure at this stage.

The team that started is as follows :

Dudek, Traoré, O’Donnell, Hyypia, Finnan, Aurélio, Diao, Zenden, Anderson, Fowler, Lindfield.

On the bench we’ve got Sissoko, Potter, Antwi, Bellamy, Martin, Gonzalez, Hobbs, Riise, Paletta, Pongolle and Lee Peltier. Former Red Jon Otsemobor started at right back for Crewe.

Popularity: 13% [?]

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