It's safe to assume that the current Liverpool squad needs rebuilding and reconstruction this off season if they are to replicate the form that saw them finish runners up in the 2008-2009 season. It Liverpool aspire to challenge for a top four finish or the title, new bodies and a fresh outlook may just be what's needed at Anfield.

By Ollie Irish

Weird. I'd swear Riera is a foot taller than Messi...

Mental. Absolutely mental. Will you tell them or shall I?

By Ollie Irish

With my Spurs hat on: Damn. Damn and blast. This wasn't supposed to happen. I don't know what was supposed to happen Rafa's head exploding, Stevie G the sniper in the Kop? but I do know that this wasn't it. Very disappointing.

Out-thought. Out-played. Out-fought. Outclassed. These were all adjectives that sprang to mind after a truly horrendous display by Liverpool that highlighted, if ever this was needed, just how far behind the club has fallen. If the unlucky draw against Arsenal had given the illusion that this side could actually compete at the top, then the reality of where Liverpool stand should now be apparent to all.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is keen on Atletico Bilbao forward Fernando Llorente and is ready to make a big money offer to bring the Spanish international to Anfield. The giant 6ft 5in striker has been a consistent attacking force for the past three La Liga seasons and is now part of Vicente Del Bosque's all conquering World Cup winning side and could well be ready for a new challenge.

Rafa looking to bring talented Frenchman to Anfield.

Get Liverpool Tickets at Fantastic Prices Now!

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

A number of Premier League clubs have been alerted by the much publicized fall-out between Jeremy Menez and his manager Claudio Ranieri at Roma.

Dirk Kuyt's double strike injected new life into Liverpool's stuttering Premier League campaign as it secured a 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
The Holland international fired home in the sixth minute from the edge of the area and then converted a twice-taken penalty in second-half injury time.

Jose Reina has denied Liverpool are a 'sinking ship' and insists he will not regret extending his contract.
The highly-rated goalkeeper agreed a new four-year extension at Anfield earlier in the month, meaning the 27-year-old Spanish international has committed his best years to the Merseyside outfit.

Liverpool winger Albert Riera has admitted that a move to the Russian Premier League presents itself as an "interesting option", while hoping that a deal is concluded before the turn of the week.
The Spaniard fell afoul of Reds boss Rafael Benitez after calling the Merseyside club a "sinking ship" while alluding to the manager as one who lives in an ivory tower with little or no contact with his charges.

Sky Sports news are reporting that "Albert Riera's move to Spartak Moscow has stalled" Albert Riera has told Spanish newspaper Marca: "Negotiations with Spartak Moscow are stalled...my intention is to decide my future in the summer." 'I want to continue my career at Liverpool because it is one of the best clubs in the world.

It appears that things are, at last beginning to stabilise at Liverpool FC.
Martin Broughton, on the instructions of the Americans, have given Rafa Benitez a transfer kitty of upwards of £20 million to spend on new players this summer.
It seems that Rafa has managed to strengthen his position at the club for next season, at least.

The move to Chelsea confirmed and Hodgson starts to settle in.

We've known this was in the works for well over a month now, but it doesn't take away from the fact that he'll be sorely missed. The club confirmed today that terms had been agreed about a month ago, meaning that the rumors about his imminent departure were actually on point.

Manchester City have already spent £60m on strengthening their squad ahead of a run at Premier League and European success next season, but the money men in Manchester are nowhere near ready to close out their summer spree just yet.

Another midfield purchase could be on the way to Eastlands soon in the form of Aston Villa's James Milner, but Roberto Mancini and Co.

The 20 players traveling to the Alps are named...

And as expected, it's missing all the big names from the World Cup.

But it does have a few players that participated in South Africa Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Milan Jovanovic are in and it's also got plenty of recognizable names from the first team last season.

The 20 players traveling to the Alps are named...

And as expected, it's missing all the big names from the World Cup.

But it does have a few players that participated in South Africa Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Milan Jovanovic are in and it's also got plenty of recognizable names from the first team last season.

In a world of overpaid footballers that lack class and manners off the field it is nice to see a player handle himself with the utmost professionalism. Shortly after completing his move from Liverpool to Greek outfit Olympiacos, Albert Riera penned this letter to all Liverpool fans.

Dear Liverpool supporters,

I would like to say goodbye and thank you for the opportunity to play in this fantastic club.

Next into the Dragon's Den are Tom and George and they're looking for £800million for a 100 per cent stake in Liverpool Football Club.
It was the best club in the world but is laden with debt and now can boast only to be the seventh best in England.
The Europa League beckons, the famous Anfield home is earmarked for demolition and Mascherano wants to leave.

This is the fourth season preview I've done since starting this blog. Every year's felt like an evolution, not a revolution – even last year – and they've been fairly cut and dry with the previous season's results in mind. Not this year. I've absolutely no clue what to expect, which makes this analysis lark a little bit trickier.

Olympiacos will return to Liverpool with a bid for Spanish midfielder Albert Riera after their £5 million approach for Yossi Benayoun was rejected by the Anfield outfit, according to a report from The Daily Mail.
The Spaniard has not managed this season to reproduce the fine form of his debut campaign on Merseyside, and Reds boss Rafa Benitez could be tempted to part with the left-sided midfielder.

Rafael Benítez insists Liverpool can rediscover the fearsome form they showed in the second half of last season as they bid to see off Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa to claim the coveted fourth Champions League slot.
Benitez's side have enjoyed a run of six Premier League games undefeated since their loss to Portsmouth before Christmas, beating Harry Redknapp's and Martin O'Neill's teams in the process, but confidence at Anfield remains fragile after a disastrous autumn.

Albert Riera's continued omission from Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's match-day squads has prompted regional press to link the Spanish winger with a summer exit.
Riera has struggled with a hamstring problem this season, and was absent from the first-team for a six-week period.
During January, Benitez recruited Maxi Rodriguez, and with Dutch forward Ryan Babel's improvement in form, chances for Riera to edge his way back into contention appear limited.

Spanish side Villarreal are reportedly targeting Liverpool winger Albert Riera as an ideal replacement for Robert Pires in the summer.
According to the Sunday Mirror, the La Liga side are contemplating a £6 million swoop for the Reds' out-of-favour wide man, who has made just nine Premier League starts for the Anfield outfit this season.

It's sickening to read comments from current players slagging off on their manager, but given today's footballing world, it just seems commonplace these days. Albert Riera became the first of many players to have a go at their manager in a public forum, this time expressing his discontent with Benitez and the club over his [.

Albert Riera's Liverpool career could be over within weeks after he was suspended by the club following his astonishing verbal attack on Rafa Benitez.
The Reds winger has been told to stay away from Melwood until Monday after giving an interview to Spanish radio station Marca, in which he criticised Benitez's preferred style of play and the lack of chances he has been afforded this season.

Take a look at this quote: "People expect more from me and it's not easy. But they are also not doing what they said they were going to ... I can have a spectacular game but nobody guarantees me I will be starting the next match. It shatters your confidence ... He [the manager] can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes.

Liverpool have given Fernando Torres assurances they will be active in the transfer market this summer to try to convince him his future lies at Anfield.
Prior to the Manchester United clash on Sunday, both manager Rafa Benitez and managing director Christian Purslow have talked with their star striker.

Drastic times call for drastic measures, and that sometimes means offloading a player at even the most inopportune time in the season. With team looking for a bit of stability in these less-than-stable times, Rafa Benitez figured it made sense to offload the 'sinking ship' better know as Albert Riera as soon as possible.

If Albert Riera is to believed, Rafael Benitez's Liverpool ship is sinking, and there will be a mad rush at the end of the season as players seek to abandon it.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have, predictably, been linked with mega-money moves away from Anfield, but perhaps the most drawn-out saga has surrounded Javier Mascherano, whose protracted switch to Barcelona has dominated the gossip columns since the middle of last season.

For a fee believed to be around £6million the Spaniard is believed to be on his way to CSKA Moscow in the summer after a deal has apparently been agreed within the current Russian transfer window. After being involved in an incident with a youngster at Liverpool and also ranting and raving on Spanish radio, the [.

Liverpool are considering a summer move for Feyenoord winger Georginio Wijnaldum, according to reports in the Dutch media.
Voetbal Centraal reports that the £8 million-rated player has been watched by the Reds for the last 18 months and may well be keen to follow compatriots Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel to Merseyside.

Liverpool and Arsenal are planning summer swoops for Wigan Athletic star Hugo Rodallega, according to Click Liverpool.
The 24-year-old Colombian has scored nine league goals for the Latics this season and could follow the path of former Wigan star Antonio Valencia, who moved on from the unfancied DW stadium outfit to join one of the league's giants, Manchester United, last summer.

Anfield misfit set for swift Italian return.

Win the Club Shirt Of Your Choice Simply by Speaking Your Mind!

Serie A strugglers Juventus are preparing a bid for Liverpool misfit Alberto Aquilani this summer. Rafa Benitez is apparently ready to cut his losses with the Italian international and are willing to accept bids considerably lower than the total £20m outlay the Anfield side paid for the Roma man in the summer.

Anfield boss ready to make move for Bernabeu bench warmer.

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

Liverpool are ready to snap up Real Madrid bench warmer Royston Drenthe this summer. The La Liga giants are ready to a big clear out and Rafa Benitez has expressed an interest in the Dutchman who has found it next to impossible to secure a place in the Bernabeu first team under new boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is set to launch a £12 million bid for Manchester City defender Micah Richards according to caughtoffside.com
The Reds' boss is looking to entice the England man away from Eastlands with the promise of regular first-team football and a chance to break back into the international set-up.

Valencia striker Nikola Zigic is interested in a move to the Premier League and has garnered the interest of a number of English clubs including Liverpool.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez is keen to make an offer to los Che that could kill two birds with one stone. He is pondering a swap deal that would send out of sorts winger Albert Riera to Spain in return for los Che's towering striker, according to AS.

Liverpool have moved to reject reports their summer transfer kitty is empty, and insist manager Rafael Benitez has £15 million to spend.
The Anfield outfit was rumored to have less than £5m to splash in the transfer window, after failing to qualify for the Champions League last season and accruing debts of £473 million.

Anfield squad set to get significantly smaller.

Think England will win World Cup on pens? Bet with 888Sport and get £20 refund!

Get Your Anti Vuvuzela T-Shirt Now!

Finances at Anfield could be boosted as Fiorentina remain keen on a £4million deal for Emiliano Insua.

Anfield squad set to get significantly smaller.

Think England will win World Cup on pens? Bet with 888Sport and get £20 refund!

Get Your Anti Vuvuzela T-Shirt Now!

Finances at Anfield could be boosted as Fiorentina remain keen on a £4million deal for Emiliano Insua.

Busy day of news at Liverpool ahead of the club's first friendly...

And it's got a bit of the usual here-and-there along with continued talk about the fate of the big names.

The first concerns the Europa League, where Liverpool will face either FK Rabotnicki or FC Mika on the 29th of July at Anfield, with the away leg scheduled for August 5th.

UPDATE: According to Liverpool's official website, Liverpool have sold midfielder Albert Riera to Olympiacos. Riera signed a four-year deal with the club.

** Apologies for this update being a day late. I thought I had posted this but I must have forgotten **

July 21st, 2010 According to Liverpool's official website, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson admitted that midfielder Albert Riera did not play in the past friendly against Grasshoppers because the club is negotiating his departure with Olympiacos.