Liverpool are reportedly set to turn their attentions to Lacina Traore - should they lose out on Luis Suarez.
Suarez's protracted move to Anfield has eked out for some time now and - according to The Telegraph - the Reds and Ajax are currently way apart in their valuation of the Uruguayan.
And, with Liverpool desperate for striking reinforcements in January, they could be forced to set their sights elsewhere in pursuit of more potent attacking options.

So 2011 is upon us. And with ominous trumpets and bad violins, BigFourZa start this decade with the second part of our Annual Football Awards or Fourzys. You can relive the horror of Part One if you wish, or else continue to Part Two.

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The 'Not That Kind Of Player' Award- Joey Barton

This award is given to players who masterfully imitate a rabid dog foaming at the mouth without the pundits catching on to it.

Attentions turn to the FA Cup this weekend and our mouthwatering tie at home to Newcastle United tomorrow evening, live on ESPN. It's been a long 6 weeks since the draw for the 3rd round was made. The lack of games in December due to the adverse weather conditions have made it feel longer too. However, the game is nearly upon us and if it is anything like last time, then we'll be in for a rollercoaster ride come 5.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel's proposed move to Liverpool or Spurs appears to have fallen through after it was revealed he needs surgery to repair a damaged collarbone.
Both English clubs are thought to have been tracking the Dutch playmaker with a view to making a bid for his services this month.
However, any move has been scuppered after he broke his collarbone in a Europa League game last month - coincidentally at Anfield.

Just Desserts #6 is a post from: Just Football

Here for your reading pleasure, another Just Desserts packed full of links to interesting articles we've spotted elsewhere:

1) First, a highly insightful article on the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and it's likely effect on Tunisian football, by one of the most prominent voices on the subject on Twitter, Rami.

Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo has emerged as a back-up option for Liverpool if their move for £20 million-rated Luis Suarez fails to materialize, according to The Times.
The Reds are in the hunt for a new striker this January, with David Ngog and Dirk Kuyt their only first-team options to partner Fernando Torres in attack.

Did you see him? Did you? Him with his regal mane of golden hair and artistically tattooed limbs sashaying into the stadium with his young one and blessing us all with his presence for ninety minutes. He watched on, he talked to his son, he ate peanuts, he applauded politely, he ‘ooh'ed, he ‘aah'ed, he furiously picked his nose and the merciful cameras didn't miss one bit of it.

There was just one Premiership game being played on Sunday as Roberto Matteo's West Bromwich Albion travelled to Ewood Park to pit their wits against the new management team at Blackburn. The Indian owners of Rovers are standing firmly behind their man since Allardyce's departure and Kean didn't do his cause any harm today.

Liverpool is being linked with a January move for Fernando Llorente as their efforts to sign Luis Suarez falter.
The Reds have reportedly been in negotiations with Ajax to bring the Uruguayan international striker to Anfield, but with Liverpool still struggling to agree a fee with the Dutch giants they could turn their attentions to Llorente.

Liverpool face Fulham in the second of the two rearranged fixtures.

We can probably all agree that this is a slightly better time for Liverpool to be facing...anyone, yes?

You Hodgsonphiles will likely miss the romance inherent when a former manager faces his old club the admiring gazes exchanged prior to the opening whistle, the friendly pats on the back when they encounter one another, the loving cheers from the former supporters, and the rapture everyone experiences when they're watching two teams compete to see whose centerbacks can kick the ball furthest.

Jonathan Spector was in the starting lineup for West Ham yet again, but he couldn't duplicate his past Carling Cup magic as the Hammers lost to Birmingham, 3-1, in overtime of their second leg at St. Andrews on Wednesday. The loss sent Birmingham to the Carling Cup Final.

West Ham came in with a 2-1 lead on aggregate, but Birmingham forced extra time with its own 2-1 regulation scoreline and clinched the victory at home courtesy of a Craig Gardner goal.