Lucas is set to stay at Liverpool and fight for his first team place rather than move to Stoke City on loan, according to the Daily Mail.
The 23-year-old has been pushed down the Anfield pecking order by the arrivals of central midfielders Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles.
After making 41 appearances and winning the club's Young Player of the Year award last season, the Brazilian was believed to be considering a move away.

At least you can't say the club isn't efficient.

With yesterday now just another painful memory, we move forward.

As you know, the Premier League now mandates that teams name 25-man squads for the season 8 must qualify as homegrown, and 17 can be non-homegrown. Teams can also have as many U21 players as they want.

At least you can't say the club isn't efficient.

With yesterday now just another painful memory, we move forward.

As you know, the Premier League now mandates that teams name 25-man squads for the season 8 must qualify as homegrown, and 17 can be non-homegrown. Teams can also have as many U21 players as they want.

Liverpool Football Club has today submitted its first squad to the Premier League, in accordance with new 25 man squad and home grown rules which have come into force today for the 2010/11 season. The club has named a squad of 21 players for its campaign and for further information on the new Premier League rules please see our linked previous article.

Christian Poulsen today claimed a hectic September schedule is exactly what the new-look Liverpool need to show their best form.
The Reds midfielder is currently with compatriot Daniel Agger in Copenhagen preparing for next Tuesday European Championship qualifier against Iceland.
However, he already has one eye on what lies in store for Liverpool during the course of the next four weeks and cannot wait to get started.

Full slate of internationals starts tomorrow for those called up.

As noted by Daryl on the front page a few days ago, qualifying for Euro 2012 starts tomorrow with a slightly different schedule. Matches will now take place on Fridays and Tuesdays as opposed to the traditional Saturday and Wednesday schedule.

Hodgson made no secret of his desire to strengthen his frontline, but the expected last-minute signing failed to materialise.
According to the News of the World, the Reds made a trio of £9 million bids as the end of the transfer window approached, including one for Wolves striker Doyle.
They were told the Ireland international was not for sale at that price and received similar responses from West Ham United about Carlton Cole and Fulham about Bobby Zamora.

Paul Konchesky, who became Roy Hodgson's last-minute recruit towards the end of last week's transfer window, admits that the move from Fulham to Merseyside could bring forth a greater challenge.

However, as far as the 29-year old left back is concerned, he is relishing the prospect of playing football at a level that is best suited for his prime.

Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher has given the thumbs up to manager Roy Hdogson's transfer dealings.
Hodgson, 63, arrived at Anfield this summer and immediately tried to reshape the squad under serious financial constraints.
Portugal star Raul Meireles, Fulham's Paul Konchesky, ex-Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, Middlesbrough's Brad Jones, ex-Standard Liege attacker Milan Jovanovic, Juventus' Christian Poulsen and Rangers centre-back Danny Wilson were all brought in this summer, with Fabio Aurelio also being re-signed.

Another meaningless feat of athleticism is punished.

From the Premier League:

Liverpool have confirmed Dirk Kuyt will miss the next four weeks with a shoulder injury. Kuyt suffered the injury during training with Holland ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifier against Finland, and returned to England for tests at Liverpool's Melwood training base.

Roy Hodgson today declared himself satisfied with Liverpool's summer transfer dealings - and insisted new boys Raul Meireles and Paul Konchesky will prove to be quality additions to his squad.
With the transfer window now closed until January and Liverpool having submitted their Barclays Premier League squad, Hodgson insists he is happy with the players at his disposal and is pleased the Reds were able to act quickly to fill the midfield gap left by Javier Mascherano.

At long last, the international break is over.

And, surprisingly enough, this one didn't turn out to be the apocalypse.

For a full recap of how Liverpool's internationals did during the break, head over to oh you beauty, where nate's got a rundown of all the regular first-teamers who took part in their nation's senior squads.

At long last, the international break is over.

And, surprisingly enough, this one didn't turn out to be the apocalypse.

For a full recap of how Liverpool's internationals did during the break, head over to oh you beauty, where nate's got a rundown of all the regular first-teamers who took part in their nation's senior squads.

Denmark have recently appointed their new captain in their ranks, new Liverpool defensive midfielder Christian Poulsen 30, but NB hopes to take over from that reign when C-Poulsen retires from international football.

He said . . .

When Jon stopped, was it that it would be either Christian or Daniel Agger, who would replace him.

The transfer window may now well be firmly slammed shut until the New Year but while all matters RBS go back to dominating the headlines, it seems that squad changes at Anfield are still on the mind of Roy Hodgson, just as much as the media continue to work on possible new arrivals.

Liverpool's squad to start the 2010 campaign may well be lacking the fire power in atacking areas that many a fan craved but Roy Hodgson has been happy to throw some more optimism out there to be digested, as he declared himself satisified with the clubs summer dealings.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has warned more fringe players could leave the club as he streamlines his squad.
Since taking over from Rafael Benitez, Hodgson has seen Albert Riera, Alberto Aquilani, Emiliano Insua and Diego Cavalieri among others leave the club.
And the 62-year-old said players who do not feature in the first team nor offer future promise could exit Anfield.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina claims the departure of Javier Mascherano is a "big problem" for Liverpool.
Argentina captain Mascherano left for Barcelona last month after telling new Reds boss Roy Hodgson of his desire to move on after three and a half years at Anfield.
Hodgson banked £17million from the sale and signed Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles in a bid to bolster his midfield options.

At long last, there's club football to be played. That's a good thing, right?

As I've alluded to time and again, international breaks are quite possibly the bane of my existence. Maybe not Martin at the Arsenal Offside levels of hatred, but still a healthy amount. I understand there's a heavy investment that many have in their respective national teams' success, but for me it was a long two weeks.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson does not know what budget will be available to him in January despite making a profit on the club's summer transfers.
The 62-year-old was roughly £8million in profit thanks mainly to the £20million deal which took Javier Mascherano to Barcelona.
He had hoped to use the surplus to bring in a striker but with Mascherano's move to the Spanish champions not being completed until a couple of days before the deadline there was not the time.

Kickoff from St. Andrew's at 16:00 GMT, 11:00 EST.

Ways to Watch:

Match shown live on Sky Sports 1(HD) in the UK and FSC(HD) in the United States.

MyP2P.eu
Atdhe.net
ChannelSurfing.net

Liverpool:

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Konchesky
Maxi Poulsen Lucas Jovanovic
Gerrard
Torres

Bench: Jones, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Pacheco, Meireles, Ngog, Babel

Birmingham:

Team sheet when it's released.

Could Manchester United's success in the past be attributable to the fact that very few of his players, as a percentage, play international soccer? And even when his players are picked for duty, you know and I know that his footballers often pick up mystery injuries where they have to pull out at the last minute.

di·a·bol·i·cal

Sarah's already covered this in some depth on the front page, but I figured this has become enough of a thing that I should at least go through the motions. Plus her piece wasn't biased enough.

Let's first play Mad Libs with Redknapp's halftime quote:

"Out there for 45 minutes ____________ has been terrible.

Steaua on Thursday, United on Sunday...triage already?

With squad depth and fitness an issue so early in the season, I fear the answer is yes.

I'm typically not one to want to talk at length about prioritizing one competition over another it's too tempting to ramble on about courage and honor and such.

Kickoff from Anfield at 20:05 GMT, 3:05 EST.

Ways to Watch:

Match televised live on FIVE(HD) in the UK and DirecTV(HD) in the US.

MyP2P.eu
Atdhe.net
ChannelSurfing.net

Liverpool:

Team sheet when it's available.

A few bits and pieces ahead of the visit to Old Trafford.

First, thanks to all who chimed in with their thoughts after yesterday's match. Fox Soccer Report provided nothing I hadn't seen already, so I was still starved for meaningful second-half action. Sounds like consensus remains that it was a better second-half performance, but not something that completely wipes away concerns folks have had.

A match of some importance will unfold tomorrow.

A match so important that, in a show of loyalty that far outreaches the time he's been with the club, Roy Hodgson will refrain from texting Alex Ferguson until it's over. No chumming about. No slaps on the rear. And maybe just a bit of lustful gazing.

Kickoff from Old Trafford at 13:30 GMT, 7:30 EST.

Ways to Watch:

Match televised live on Sky Sports 1(HD) in the UK and Fox Soccer Plus(HD) in the US.

MyP2P.eu
Atdhe.net
ChannelSurfing.net

Liverpool:

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Konchesky
Meireles Poulsen
Maxi Gerrard Cole
Torres

Bench: Jones, Agger, Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Lucas, Ngog

Manchester United:

Team sheet when it's released.

We are less than an hour away from the big game of the weekend in the EPL with fierce rivals Manchester United and Liverpool going head to head at Old Trafford. Manchester United can go within one point of Chelsea before their game at home to Blackpool, and already this season it seems this is a must win game for the Reds of Manchester.

Dimitar Berbatov nets a hat-trick to lead United past a resilient Liverpool at Old Trafford.

As usual, this space will be a place-holder until later in the day. In the meantime, I'll be perseverating on another dismal first-half display that was nearly followed up by the Reds rescuing a point or more in a furious 15-minute spell.

Dimitar Berbatov nets a hat-trick to lead United past a resilient Liverpool at Old Trafford.

As usual, this space will be a place-holder until later in the day. In the meantime, I'll be perseverating on another dismal first-half display that was nearly followed up by the Reds rescuing a point or more in a furious 15-minute spell.

Kickoff from Anfield at 15:00 GMT, 10:00 EST.

Ways to Watch:

Match not televised live in the UK, but it's on Fox Sports Plus(HD) in the US.

MyP2P.eu
Atdhe.net
ChannelSurfing.net

Liverpool:

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Konchesky
Gerrard Poulsen
Kuyt Meireles Cole
Torres

Bench: Jones, Kyrgiakos, Lucas, Ngog, Agger, Jovanovic, Maxi

The one-armed man did it!

Liverpool underwhelm yet again and barely grab a point against Sunderland.

If my patience was wearing thin in the build-up to this match, it's now a razor's edge. Save for five minutes at the start and the closing twenty-five or so, Liverpool again gave a meek, insecure display at Anfield.

**Noel chimes in again, this time in a two-part piece about the tactics we've seen since Roy Hodgson's arrived. Needless to say, plenty in-depth and plenty to think about.**

"Well, we looked good against Arsenal," says one fan. "I mean, was it just the shine of a new manager and new season, or is there actually some reason to hope the squad can regain or just gain a bit of fluidity and purpose?

Malaga want to take Lucas off Liverpool's hands and intend to snap up the midfielder in the New Year, according to talkSPORT.
Lucas, 23, has dropped out of the Reds' starting side after the arrivals of Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles. The Brazil international is eager to find regular first team football and could be interested in a switch to the Primera Division.

Liverpool FC today released the 2010/11 squad photo on the official club site.

Back Row:
Graham Carter (Kit Manager), Chris Morgan (Physiotherapist), Darren Burgess (Head, Fitness and Conditioning), John Achterberg (Goalkeeping Coach), David Ngog, Martin Kelly, Martin Hansen, Brad Jones, Jose Reina, Peter Gulacsi, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Danny Wilson, Rob Price (Senior Physiotherapist), Phil Coles (Head of Physical Services), Jordan Milsom (Rehab Fitness Coach), Lee Radcliffe (Kit Man).

Matchday two in the group stage of the Europa League.

Apologies for the lateness and the forthcoming brevity busy day for me that has no signs of relenting.

Liverpool travel to the Netherlands to face FC Utrecht, who currently sit in the 12th spot domestically and are level with Napoli on one point after matchday one.