Liverpool are planning a £15m double swoop for West Ham pair Matt Upson and Herita Ilunga.
Kop boss Rafa Benitez is already eyeing a £12m move for Hammers striker Carlton Cole, 26.
But the Londoners are holding out for around £20m for the England star which is likely to stretch the Reds' budget too far. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants an amazing £14 million for Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva - and plans to keep him despite needing to sell players.
The Kop chief has been approached by a couple of top European sides who hoped to exploit the Anfield cash problems by landing Lucas in a bargain deal. Click to continue reading...

He has won the Champions League, but only one of his last nine fixtures. He still appears adored by many on the Kop, but is derided by still more on messageboards and phone-ins. He is one of the most divisive figures in football. But how many of the criticisms commonly levelled at Rafa Benitez stand up to analysis? Click to continue reading...

We think diving is as much a stain on the modern game as the next person, but it's come to the point that when someone wins a penalty the armchair fans instinctively brandish the player a liar and a cheat. Such was the case after Monday's Liverpool v Birmingham match, when Lee Carsley's lunge at David Ngog in the penalty box earned the Reds a penalty kick, a valuable point, and ultimately gave Rafa Benitez a stay of execution.

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I watched the Liverpool vs. Birmingham game on the box yesterday evening and saw the Red's truly batter Birmingham. I muted the TV as I couldn't stand for another Jon Champion assisted commentary and put on Five Live instead. Out of the fire and into the frying pan. Instead of Champion, I got Green, Alan Green. Click to continue reading...

Monday 9th November
19:45 Barnsley v Sheffield Utd, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Start the week with a thundering Yorkshire derby if that's your pleasure. An Eee Ba Gum Classico if you will. Both teams are two of six on 17 points making it tighter than a gnat's chuff in the middle of the Championship. Click to continue reading...

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- In addition to this site, try the combination messageboard and quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard. If your're interested in constantly-updated QPR-related news; QPR nostalgia; and some other broader football-related isssues: QPR Report Messageboard is there for you. All opinions welcome! Click to continue reading...

He had already memorized the team sheet, memorized the formations and counter formations in case Lyon went a goal up in the first twenty-five minutes, where he would slot Voronin in case the first Lyon goal came after the first half. But this, different: the sweat on his palms, the trouble he had gripping his pencil as he jotted notes in the tunnel while Lee said whatever it was he felt needed to be said to the dressing room. Click to continue reading...

Today, our tifo series swings to Asia for the first time.

We check out Japanese fans at the Nabisco Cup (also known as the J-League Cup) final between Kawasaki Frontale and FC Tokyo, held earlier this week.

This video is a little slow to get going, but there's some gorgeous colour, some impressive banners, and generally well choreographed displays from supporters of both teams.

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Our tifo video series rolls across from Belgium to Switzerland, and we find ourselves in Lausanne, a small French-speaking city perhaps best known as the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee.

Swiss club FC Lausanne-Sport, founded in 1896 and successful for their first half-century, haven't won the league championship for other forty years.

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The "incredible" home support witnessed during Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Manchester United has increased Italian international Alberto Aquilani's desire to make his long-awaited debut for his new club.
Aquilani was purchased by Rafael Benitez in August for an estimated £17 million, as a direct replacement for Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso, but the former Roma star has been unable to represent the Reds in competitive action as his season has been beset with ankle trouble. Click to continue reading...

Some fantastic images of the new stadium put out in the last few days. Also announced was the inclusion of a single tier stand to rival the Kop at Anfield as Tottenham attempt to create one of 'the best atmospheric stadiums in Europe'.
The proposed moving dates have also been released to the public with Daniel Levy stating that Spurs will be playing in the their new, as yet unnamed, stadium by 2012. Click to continue reading...

¿Se habrán puesto de acuerdo en cuál es la fecha para que haya Clásicos? No lo sé con certeza, pero hubo Clásicos en todo el mundo, demos un repaso.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United

Este es un clásico, Mientras los del United gritan consignas contra los "scousers" del Merseyside, los livepudlians como yo también sentimos mucho encono contra los "Diablos rojos", y si bien en la localidad, el Liverpool tiene como rival al Everton, a nivel de la Isla, sería el Manchester United.

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Thousands of Liverpool fans gathered in protest against club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett before the blockbuster game against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
The army of supporters gathered at the Liverpool Supporters Club on Lower Breck Road and marched to the Albert pub outside the Kop in order to urge Hicks and Gillett to sell the club, as they attributed to the club's nosedive on and off the pitch to the American co-owners. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United fans plan to rub the Kop's noses in it even more on Sunday - and it is nothing to do with beachballs.
After a thrilling 3-3 Anfield draw in January 1994, Liverpool supporters unfurled a taunting banner which read: "Au revoir, Cantona and Man United. Come back when you've won 18. Click to continue reading...

Gerard Houllier was back in familiar territory this week – entranced by a swaying Kop and quietly mouthing the words to You'll Never Walk Alone.
But rather than being flanked by an assistant in the dug-out, he was sitting in the directors' box next to the man who had saved his life. Click to continue reading...

Security will be heightened at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool FC fans plan a march to protest against George Gillett and Tom Hicks' ownership of the club.
The American pair, who have come under pressure from fans' groups angry at the debt and direction of Liverpool FC, are expected to attend the Premier League clash with Manchester United. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benítez has been unable to get beach-ball boy off his mind over the past few days. That's the kid who kicked off Liverpool's latest crisis by throwing an inflatable on to the pitch at the Stadium of Light.
Six days later, Benítez's side are on the brink of elimination from the Champions League after Tuesday's defeat by Lyons, their title aspirations are in ruins and Michael Owen and Manchester United are due in town on Sunday. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool v Lyon
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Anfield, Liverpool
UEFA Champions League
Kick-off: 19:45 UK (20:45 CET)

Liverpool go into this Champions League game on the back of three consecutive defeats and are looking rattled. Lyon too suffered their first defeat of the season but seem to be in better shape mentally than their more illustrious Champions League opponents.

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Liverpool youngster Jay Spearing is too young to remember the last time the Kop tasted league title success and he admits Manchester United's dominance of the Premier League has been a painful experience to bear for the Merseyside local.
The Wirral born midfielder also claims this season is the most important of his career, suggesting he has to show Rafa Benitez what he is capable of. Click to continue reading...

Tevez was stunned by the stick he endured on his first outing in Manchester City's colours at his former club.
And Jamie Carragher is predicting a similar unfriendly response for Owen from Liverpool fans when the former Kop idol heads back to Anfield on October 25 in a United shirt.
Carragher said: "Our fans are usually brilliant with former players but he might get a cool reception. Click to continue reading...

Juventus are preparing to deepen Liverpool's misery with a January raid for Javier Mascherano.
Rafa Benitez's side are already six points behind Chelsea following their third defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Now Italians Juve are planning a fresh bid for Argentine midfielder Mascherano, 24, who they tried to sign from West Ham before he moved to Anfield in January 2007. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett is flying to Saudi Arabia next week for talks in a bid to sell his 50 per cent stake to Prince Faisal bin Fahd.
Gillett is due to arrive in the Middle East on Wednesday and is scheduled for a three-day stay to sort out the deal with the Prince's advisers and his financial company F6 Sports. Click to continue reading...

The good news for Liverpool fans this morning is they do have a team capable of winning the Premier League. The bad news however is, their that team and their best chance may have already been and gone last season.

Im not pressing the panic button just because of one defeat to Chelsea, but it was the manner of their defeat both to the Blues on Sunday and Fiorentina last week, that asks serious questions of Rafa Benitez's men and their title credentials this campaign.

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"Seeing these smiling faces is the greatest pleasure. They have been magnificent all season. They have been our 12th man. I have always said our fans are the best in England. Now I know they are the best in Europe too." (Rafa Benitez)

Yes indeed, Rafa Benitez may be many things but naiive he most definitely is not!

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Jamie Carragher reckons had it not been for Michael Owen's decision to join Manchester United, the fans' former hero would have been treated well. He reckons that Liverpool fans are usually 'brilliant' for their former players but it appears as though Ferguson's biggest fan has a very short term memory.

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Pepe Reina has joined his Liverpool teammates in hailing Fernando Torres after the striker scored a brace to help his side beat West Ham United 3-2 on Saturday.
The Reds striker scored two quality goals to silence his critics after doubts over his early-season form, but Reina was never in doubt that his fellow Spaniard would get back on track. Click to continue reading...

Lucas Leiva is a bit of an enigma really. He was brought to the club as "the best young Brazilian around" for a fee of £6m, which is quite a lot of money. He played a few times for the reserves, and did OK. He has always been on the fringes of the first team, much to most fans annoyance. His performances for The Reds up to February last season were not of Liverpool quality, and the fans had got on his back. Click to continue reading...

An Unsung Hero

When the full time whistle blew at Anfield on Saturday it brought to an end a gruelling two week period for Burnley. The Premier League newcomers were beaten by Chelsea at the end of August and then had an international break to mull over their defeat at the Bridge before their visit to Liverpool two weeks later.

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Christian Purslow today insisted how important it was for Liverpool to embrace the greats of Anfield's past – including legends like Kenny Dalglish.
The Scot, still worshipped by the Kop for his heroics as both player and manager, rejoined the Anfield hierarchy this summer.
Said Purslow: "Kenny Dalglish coming back to the club is a key development. Click to continue reading...

Yossi Benayoun may have scored a hat-trick and set up another goal in today's 4-0 drubbing of Burnley but manager Rafael Benitez attributes another player as Liverpool's show-stealer. Brazilian youngster Lucas Leiva - heavily criticised by the Anfield faithful for an as-yet mediocre two years in England - has his manager purring. Click to continue reading...

Footballers who cheat are undoubtedly a blight on the modern game, but fans who accept and encourage cheating are possibly even worse. And yes, such fans do exist, as the following examples prove.
I am a Liverpool fan, but in my experience, Liverpool fans can be massive hypocrites when it comes to diving. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool starlet Daniel Ayala has spoken of his delight at breaking into the Reds' first-team squad and is eager to get more playing time as soon as possible.
The 18-year-old Spaniard took full advantage of injuries to Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger and came on as a substitute in the opening game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur before starting at Anfield as Rafael Benitez's men comfortably beat Stoke City 4-0. Click to continue reading...

Dear Mr Levy looks at the Carrick-Modric swap.

The Guardian rumour page links Carrick with Liverpool. Right.

Studs Up laughs at the example set by the modern footballer.

The Independent looks at the funniest football chants.

My favourite Liverpool blog questions Benitez's tactics following their home defeat to Aston Villa.

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What a piggish little game this was. You might have assumed that Liverpool's first league defeat at home since 2007 would have been an exhibition of high drama, or at least of reasonable intensity, but the Kop was languid, the crowd left early, and the Liverpool players were fierce only in their complaints.

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