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Liverpool Heading To Rotterdam For Preseason Tournament

Looks like Liverpool are off to Holland, the club announcing today that they’re to participate in the Port of Rotterdam Tournament alongside FC Porto, hosts Feyenoord and Chinese league side Shanghai Shenhua. The four games will all take place in Feyenoord’s de Kuip stadium with Liverpool playing both Shanghai Shenhua and Feyenoord.

The competition takes place over the August bank holiday weekend with Liverpool playing on the Friday (Shenhua) and the Sunday (Feyenoord).

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Malouda-doo, Malouda-da

Word on the wire this morning has Liverpool lining up a ten million pound bid Lyon’s 26-year-old French midfielder Florent Malouda. With Bolo Zenden on the way out, Malouda provides a terrific option for the left wing, the French Footballer of the Year providing more than ample competition for a spot on the left (while being comfortable across the middle) as Rafa reinvents the Liverpool squad.

I’d welcome the transfer anyway, he’s had a great season as one of the linchpins of the Lyon squad who recently retained their French Ligue 1 title. If anything can come of this summer’s transfer it should be strengthening in the wings. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has already suggested that Florent Malouda will likely move on by the end of June, all thats needed is someone to come in and pick him up.

He’s also a decent goalscorer, having clocked up 8 goals for Lyon this season as well as having three for the French national team. We had a massive exodus of French players after Gerard Houllier left, something which has left me skeptical of French buys but Malouda is different and could certainly make a difference at Liverpool. If he’s up there on the transfer list and Rafa has the full backing of the new owners then I say bring it.

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Cisse Discussions To Open This Week

The Times are showing that discussions over the future of Djibril Cissé are due to begin this week with Marseille either going to take Cissé on loan for another year or look to buy him at a price “significantly” lower than the 14 million that Gerard Houllier had arranged for him.

L’OM president Pape Diouf…

There is room for manoeuvre between what both sides want… We will discuss things this week.

See previous post on Cissé to remain at Marseille

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Gonzalez, Zenden Will Leave Liverpool

The mighty sword is out in force as Rafa Benitez has confirmed this morning that Bolo Zenden’s contract will not be renewed this summer and that Mark Gonzalez looks set to join Real Betis. Fowler and Dudek are already on the way out the door, Zenden the only one of the four to feature in last night’s game against Milan.

While there’s about to be an exodus of players, it shouldn’t be too long before the influx begins as well, according to Benitez.

We must spend big and spend now. Our fans know what we need to do and so do I. We need to pay the price needed for each position. We must move quickly to sign our number one targets. If we wait we will be chasing the players who are second and third on our list. We need to change the structure of the club on and off the pitch.

Whatever he means about changing the structure of the club off the pitch it is clear that Rafa wants to spend the money. He’s done reasonably well with transfer purchases so far and anyone who hasn’t lived up to his standard he’s shipped out - Mark Gonzalez clearly one of those along with Jan Kromkamp - unlike Gerard Houllier who liked to leave players to rot away in the reserves.

As to who arrives we’ll just have to wait and see. Also interested as to who else goes, something I covered earlier in the week. Rumour has it now that Craig Bellamy could also be on the way out - big mistake to let him slip away if its true. Still, time to start counting the casualties of a trophy-less season.

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Turns Out We Didn’t Win The Champions League

Think it was a case of too little too late last night for Liverpool, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat in Athens at the hand of AC Milan. I’d say I’m gutted but when you look at the full 90 of the game we weren’t good enough for the win, a lot of spent energy in the first half that resulted in an undeserved AC Milan goal. The second half proved a little weaker for Liverpool, Gerrard missing two good chances, Peter Crouch coming close as well in forcing Dida to a rasping save. But, the goals couldn’t come.

When it did come it was too little too late, Agger flicking on the corner ball to Kuyt who headed across the goal and into the top corner beyond Dida.

It was a close game, chances exchanged in the first half - Pennant going close, Xabi Alonso firing just wide, Kaka too going close for Milan before Pirlo curled in a free kick from the edge of the box just before half time - all with the help of a wicked deflection from Pippo Inzaghi.

Liverpool did play well in the second half but from my reckoning it was a shadow of the first half. Bolo Zenden was lacking and eventually replaced by Harry Kewell while Javier Mascherano made way for Peter Crouch as Liverpool reverted to a 4-4-2 for the last quarter of the game but when Kaka sent Inzaghi through to go around Reina the victory for Milan was pretty much cemented.

We can learn from the game. Kuyt looked well, Gerrard, Mascherano and Alonso can work well side by side while Pennant was sharp on the wing. Disappointment will drive the team forward into the new season but this time around they’ll have to settle for runners up medals. Congratulations to the team though, it would have been a completely different review if we did win but you take these things on the chin, not to heart, you pick yourself up and you go on towards the next campaign. We know we’re in there again next season so lets try and make it to the final again.

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Live: Milan 2 - 1 Liverpool

Agger rises to head goalwards from a late Liverpool corner, Dirk Kuyt throwing his head under the ball and into the back of the net with 1 minute to go in regular time, likely 3 minutes extra time to be played.

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Live: Milan 2 - 0 Liverpool

I don’t think there is going to be any coming back from this one, Pippo Inzaghi taking Kaka’s through ball around Reina, slotting under him at a tight angle to roll the ball into the back of the next. Just seven minutes remain in the game but Liverpool, disappointingly so, haven’t been there in the second half the way they should have been.

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Live: Milan 1 - 0 Liverpool, Peter Crouch On

Its been an even enough second half so far, Liverpool lacking the injection they had in the first half so Peter Crouch is coming on with all of twelve minutes left to go in this year’s Champions League Final. Steven Gerrard looks like he wants to do everything by himself but he’ll be able to take it a little easier, Javier Mascherano coming off to make way for Crouch.

Milan look to be shaping up for a defensive substitution as well.

Edit: Change Made, Jankulovski is gone for Milan with Kaladze on in his place.

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Live: Milan 1 - 0 Liverpool, Kewell Coming On, Carragher Booked

It didn’t take too long for the substitution, just over 13 minutes gone in the second half. Harry Kewell is coming on for his third Liverpool appearance of the season in place of a tired and recovering Bolo Zenden but if he’s on form let him on, still could be his last match for Liverpool (all this in my mind of course, nothing has been suggested through the club).

Jamie Carragher just booked as well for bringing Kaka down outside the area. Awful similar look to the first half setup but Pirlo misses the free kick blasting high and to the left.

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Live: Milan 1 - 0, Mascherano Booked

Javier Mascherano makes it into the referee’s book thanks to a little badgering from Milan as bloody usual.

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