Secret to training joy revealed

Kenny Dalglish has paid tribute to his backroom staff after several members of the Liverpool squad gave his training methods a huge thumbs-up.

The Reds boss admits he is delighted that his players are enjoying the Melwood sessions and reckons it is all down to the tireless work of an unsung duo.
Asked if he too wore a smile on his face on arriving at the club's training ground, the boss quipped: "Yes, but I'm a wee bit disappointed with the training matches. Steve Clarke won't give me a game. I keep asking to join in and there is always an odd number, but he never looks my way.
"It's a fantastic compliment to Stevie and Kevin (Keen) that the players are enjoying their training. They organise most of it. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed but certainly the contribution Steve and Kevin are making towards everything shouldn't be. It certainly doesn't go unnoticed within the framework of Liverpool Football Club.
"I enjoy coming in. It's great for me to come in here. A fine collection of billingsgates in a glass fronted display box . It's not so good when you have lost a game but hopefully those days will be few and far between.
"It's enjoyable for everyone. There is a friendly atmosphere here. At the same time they won't be kidding on that the friendliness means they aren't competitive. They know how to compete and the group of players here are really competitive. At the same time they are a bit more relaxed than what they were before."

Tottenham v Liverpool Preview (September 18 2011)

It might not be the biggest football match of the day in England, but the Tottenham v Liverpool clash at White Hart Lane promises to be just as exciting of an encounter as the Manchester United v Chelsea showdown later on in the day. Coming off of disappointing season, Liverpool and Tottenham have to make amends and feature in this year’s Champions League – at least that is the fan expectation from both sides as the two clubs currently stand at the bottom of the six super-team cluster.

What a return it would be for Gerrard if he can lead his team past fellow Champions League contenders Tottenham

Tottenham v Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur Team News & Stats
The Spurs are in the midst of trying to navigate their way out of a typical poor start to the season. A 2-0 away win at Wolverhampton took them out of dead last position and allowed room for a speedy recovery if they are able to get the result on Sunday against Liverpool. Harry Redknapp elected to keep many of his top players out for their opening UEFA Europa League match against PAOK. Some of the side’s most experienced players in Gallas, Lennon and Van der Vaart will all be available, but with the depth of the squad, time could be given to them until they are at 100%.



Liverpool Team News & Stats
Liverpool are experiencing a rare European football-less year – and the focus for Dalglish will be solely to get in the top 4, something that has become much more difficult than in past years with the fast rise of Man City and Tottenham. Some of the side’s most experienced players in Gallas, Lennon and Van der Vaart will all be available, but with the depth of the squad, time could be given to them until they are at 100%. Everyone will be keen to see if Gerrard will be able to return to his old self but how long he features, if at all, is still uncertain.

Luis Suarez says Sebastian Coates knows of Liverpool`s history and should grow as a player with the reds

Star Liverpool forward Luis Suarez shed some light on the discussions he held with Sebastian Coates before the center back completed his transfer to Anfield.
According to Suarez, his fellow Uruguayan was already well aware of club`s history and reputation , but was curious to hear about how the club operated off of the pitch.
Speaking candidly to LFC.tv, Suarez expanded upon their conversations saying, "The things I told [Coates] were about stuff about behind the scenes at the club -- he already knew about everything else.
"Liverpool is one of the biggest and best clubs in Europe, and he knows that well enough himself."
Suarez went on to comment about how he feels Coates will fit in with his new club.
"He is coming to a team where he can really develop as an individual," Suarez said. "He is still very young and has a lot to learn, but there are some highly-experienced players here who can help him a lot with that.
"He is aware of that and he is happy to learn and help the team as much as he can."
The Reds had to overcome interest from several clubs, most notably Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, in order to sign Coates following the young defender's dominant Copa America tournament.
Coates, who only made it as far as the bench for Saturday's loss to Stoke City, may be in line for a start this upcoming week as the Reds have a midweek Carling Cup match against Brighton sandwiched by Premier League fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves.

Liverpool can exact revenge on Spurs

Tottenham did the double over Liverpool FC last season but I expect Kenny Dalglish's side to come out on top at White Hart Lane on Sunday, writes Jan Molby.

Man City created so many chances when they went to Spurs and with our movement and pace I think we're going to have too much for them.
Spurs were by far the better side when the teams met at Anfield in May and deserved their victory. But Liverpool have progressed a lot and I'm not convinced Spurs are as strong as they were last season.
I think Liverpool will beat them and three points would be the perfect boost after a disappointing day at Stoke.
It was the best we've played there since they came into the Premier League. We stood up to Stoke physically, played our own game and created plenty of chances but didn't take them.
The result was decided by a soft penalty. I understand there was some contact but it was minimal. These days it seems when there's any contact players feel obliged to look for a penalty and that's disappointing.
I understand why it was given but it was tough to take against a team which has such a robust approach to the game. If that's a penalty then Stoke's central defenders will be giving away 30 of them a game.
There was enough in the performance to still believe this will be a big season for Liverpool. We certainly won't be the only top team to lose at Stoke.
If Liverpool hadn't played well we would have been thinking 'here we go again' - tough away game and we didn't stand up to them. But we did compete well and the defeat was harsh. Now we need to ensure we're ruthless in the final third at Spurs.

Chairman Tom Werner: Liverpool is 'enormously pleased' with Kenny Dalglish

American says Scot is the right man for the job after guiding the club out of a dark period and up to sixth place last season, and admits ground-share with Everton is "non-starter"

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has admitted that the board are "enormously pleased" with manager Kenny Dalglish.

"We are enormously pleased that he is our coach, he provides great leadership on the pitch," Werner told Sky Sports News. "I've been with him when he's talking to employees and when he's talking to supporter groups, and when he talks about Liverpool, this is a man who understands the club's history and our relentlessness when we were winning and hopefully he will bring trophies."

The Scot was brought in as a replacement for Roy Hodgson, who was asked to leave following an ill-fated reign that lasted less than a season on Merseyside.

The current boss managed to steady the ship and guided the team to a sixth-placed finish last term, whilst selling Fernando Torres to Chelsea and bringing in Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll during the January transfer window.

He has since conducted a significant amount of business in the summer, bolstering the squad to add a strength in depth that had previously been lacking at Anfield.

Werner also admitted that a groundsharing with Everton would be a "non-starter" since it would go against the wishes of the supporters.

"There's the possibility of building a new stadium at Stanley Park. The one thing I will say is that there have been rumours that we're interested in the possibility of a share with Everton," he said. "I won't ever say it is completely [ruled out], but our fans don't want it so I think it's a non-starter." 

Kenny meets with refs chief

Liverpool Manager Kenny Dalglish yesterday met with Mike Riley, General Manager of Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, at the Club's Melwood training ground.

Following the meeting, the Reds boss said: "It was good to see Mike and we had an extremely informative and amicable discussion, which has given us all a better understanding of how things operate.   
"It's our job to best represent the Club and protect its interests, but we have the utmost respect for the job referees do and have never wanted or asked for any form of preferential treatment, simply a level playing field for everyone.  
"We will continue to conduct ourselves in a dignified and respectful manner at all times.
"From our perspective it was certainly worthwhile sitting down together and maybe it's something that should happen more often."

Liverpool FC: Why The Reds Will Finish in the Top 4

Before culling through their players ahead of the August 31 transfer deadline in the game of divide and conquer, Liverpool had exhibited more diligence than any other club to pull themselves together and prove they still subsisted since the start of last year’s 2010 – 2011 Premier League season.
As if caught inside the virtual world of a video game, the team had to dodge obstacles from poor management to impenetrable opposition until they leveled up their mission with the arrival of game controller Kenny Dalglish.
Missing out on the Champions League this year had to hurt, and was the result of their own version of regional lockout.  But the good news is that some game pieces have been replaced in the shapes of Craig Bellamy and Luis Suarez (and with one faulty recall called Steven Gerrard (who is about to be fixed.)
Bellamy’s return ushers in more than the liminal state of his past existence at Anfield (his off-the-pitch rages mixed with his on-the-pitch short-lived scoring tear) but the same nostalgia and loyalty that brought Dalglish back.  It’s hard to fake dedication.
Quoted from the Daily Mail, Bellamy reflected that “Liverpool, I supported as a kid.  It’s great to see Dalglish there now, that’s given me a boost.”
Then there’s the Suarez and Carroll platform which allows the game to operate optimally.
Like an army of two, the strikers were recruited to land Liverpool a finish in the top four.  With previous top spot clubs like Chelsea, whose concern amongst fans is their aging players, and Arsenal, whose concern amongst fans is their aging manager, the feat to defeat seems more plausible with each weekly match.  If any striker could avert the force and maneuver around the opponent’s defense, it is the Red’s new no. 7.
As within the definition of any core game, football is measured by its intensity, and revolves around titles.
Hopefully there won’t be any glitches to dis-console us.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher: We can give other clubs a run for their money

Reds' defender lavishes praise on the club's owners, manager and staff for bringing in new players and turning the team into a competitive one with a positive mental attitude.

 

Jamie Carragher has hailed the way Liverpool have transformed themselves under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group, insisting that they can now give any club a run for their money.

The Reds finished in seventh place in the Premier League two seasons ago, missing out on Champions League football. But last season their early slump meant that they missed out on Europe altogether.

Signings have since been made to bolster the squad, as Charlie Adam, Craig Bellamy, Sebastian Coates, Stewart Downing, Jose Enrique and Jordan Henderson arrived during the summer, following the January acquisitions of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

Now the defender feels that the arrivals coupled with the improvements under the staff have given the team a positive new mentality.

"Normally when a new manager comes in you're building," Carragher told the club's official website.

"You take it one step at a time. Under Gerard Houllier and Rafa [Benitez], even though we won the Champions League with Rafa, in terms of competing it seemed to take a couple of years before you felt like you were not far behind the top teams.

"Now, the way we've started, the way we finished last season and the players we've brought in, I'm not saying we're going to win the league but you feel as if we can give people a run for their money. It's only been six months.

"That's what makes it exciting for me. The quicker the better for me because I'm getting on!

"It's a great credit to the manager and staff, to the owners and [director of football] Damien Comolli for changing things around and bringing in players. We've got rid of a few players now, I'm not sure how many, but there has been a lot of turnover of players and at the moment it looks like it is working.

"During some of the tough times it can feel like a million miles from where you want to be but at this moment we seem to be there and we want to stay there."

 

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard targets September 18 comeback against Tottenham

Captain to return to first train training next week and claims he is raring to go after a lengthy injury lay-off insisting he is 'fitter, stronger and hungrier than ever'

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard says he hopes to return for the Reds' Sept. 18 clash against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

The England international has not featured since March due to a groin injury. After surgery in April, his recovery was further delayed by an infection which put him back in hospital in July and ruled him out of Liverpool's first matches of the new campaign.

Now fully recovered from his long layoff, Gerrard says he can't wait to return to first team action.

"I feel really good and I'm back kicking balls again - it's all positive," Gerrard told the club's official website. "I should be back in full training with the team on Thursday or Friday of next week."

"I won't be involved against Stoke next Saturday but my plan is to hopefully be involved in the game against Tottenham [the following weekend on Sept. 18]. It will be Kenny [Dalglish]'s decision when I come back in." Gerrard admitted such a long spell on the sidelines had taken its toll on him at times but insisted he felt better than ever and is ready to play a big part in Liverpool's season.
"It's been a tough five months for me since I had the surgery," he said. "It's been up and down emotionally and I've missed playing so much.
"I've had a good rest, I'm fired up and I'm raring to go again. I know I'm going to come back fitter, stronger and hungrier than ever."
The 31-year old was also confident that he could avoid any recurrence of the groin problem and revealed that tests run on the problem area showed his rehabilitation had made him stronger than ever.
"Since coming out of hospital my rehab has gone really well. I'm really happy and positive again. My groin is as strong as it's ever been," he said.

Ngog happy to swap Liverpool for Bolton

Former Liverpool striker David Ngog is delighted with his move to Bolton Wanderers.

Owen Coyle's successes with Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge over the last two seasons have not gone unnoticed by the France Under-21 international, who too hopes to develop his game.
"The club is ambitious and has been constantly improving over the last few years, and I am happy to be part of that," Ngog told the club's official website.
"There is some good quality in the squad and I will try my best to add something extra to the team, and bring my experiences with Liverpool to the team.
"The gaffer makes decisions on who plays and I respect that. I'm ambitious and want to be on the pitch every week and show what I'm capable of."

Hazard clause not part of Cole loan - Lille

French champions Lille have denied reports that Liverpool received first option on highly-rated forward Eden Hazard as part of Joe Cole's loan move to the French club.

Reports in some quarters had suggested that Cole's season-long switch, completed on Wednesday, included a clause with the Anfield club that gave them first refusal on Hazard - the 20-year-old Belgian international who has attracted strong interest from Arsenal in recent times, and previously been linked with the likes of Real Madrid.
Liverpool are familiar with Hazard's ability, having seen him score against them during a Europa League clash in 2010, but Lille's general manager Frederic Paquet has rubbished any suggestion that negotiations for Cole's move involved a discussion of Hazard.
"There is absolutely nothing in that," Pacquet told The Independent. "There is no link between Joe Cole and Eden. There has been no discussion.
"We know Eden Hazard is interesting some of the best clubs in Europe, but he is here and part of the project."
Hazard's current contract at Stade Lille-Metropole runs until 2015.