Has Rafa Benitez lied over the fitness of Alberto Aquilani? Is it fair to label Liverpool's manager a liar over the regularly changing estimates about the Italian's return to fitness? That is the question being considered here.
Let's take a look at the evidence.
AUG 7th 2009: Statement on the official Liverpool FC website:
"Liverpool FC confirmed this evening that Alberto Aquilani has successfully completed a medical and agreed a 5-year contract with the club. Click to continue reading...

Steven Gerrard is confident of making his first Liverpool start for a month against Manchester City on Saturday after revealing an anti-inflammatory injection has alleviated the need for groin surgery.
The Liverpool captain had the injection almost two weeks ago in an attempt to avoid an operation on the adductor problem he suffered playing for England against Ukraine on 10 October. Click to continue reading...

What the hell is going on with our injuries at the moment. As reported on here before, Jose Bosingwa is out. Ashley Cole is out and we are yet to have confirmation when he will return. Frank Lampard is out for three weeks. Didier Drogba has now been confirmed as out for three weeks with a rib injury suffered when Jonny Evans peformed his Karate Kick on him and got away with it and John Terry had to pull out of the England v Brazil game with an ankle problem but he hopes to be fit to face Wolves next weekend. Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is in the middle of a dispute between Real Madrid and Portugal.

Ronaldo was surprisingly called up by Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz for the two-legged FIFA World Cup play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina despite Real Madrid recently claiming that Ronaldo will not be fit for at least two more weeks.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player in the world,� but his spot in next year's World Cup will be determined when Portugal and Bosnia square off in a two-legged playoff later this month. There is only one problem for Ronaldo:� He may not have a say in if Portugal qualifies.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player in the world,� but his spot in next year's World Cup will be determined when Portugal and Bosnia square off in a two-legged playoff later this month. There is only one problem for Ronaldo:� He may not have a say in if Portugal qualifies.

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Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo is set to miss his � club's second meeting with AC Milan in next week's mouthwatering Champions League clash. The Portuguese winger has been sidelined with an ankle injury, and despite positive reports earlier in the week it has now been revealed that he will miss the match.

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You just can't get that Saturday feeling without football can you? Well, I say without football but there is just no Arsenal today, it should be a crime against humanity if you ask me and when I come to power one day I will make sure that there is Arsenal 24/7, 12 months of the year. I might even make sure there is some Arsenal on that extra day in a leap year.

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Liverpool have confirmed that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were withdrawn from training today after picking up injuries whilst on international duty this week.
Torres suffered a minor adductor problem whilst with Spain that limited him to the substitutes' bench for his country's game with Bosnia. Click to continue reading...

As long as you can walk, perhaps even with a limp, and have played football at the highest level, it seems a medical at Manchester United is a breeze.

Owen Hargreaves spoke in depth about his rehabilitation after surgery on both knees and gave an insight into how United's medical team assess the fitness of a player.

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There are TWO QPR Report sites: This site: QPR Report. And for cutting-edge, up-to-the-minute news re anything QPR-related: There is also the QPR Report Messageboard (in pratice, a combination of messageboard and quasi-blog). There you will find continuously-updated news re anything QPR (along with QPR nostalgia and nd some articles of more eclectic, broader football interest). Click to continue reading...

Owen Hargreaves last played for United over a year ago in a 1 – 1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The midfielder came through the full ninety minutes but after examination by Dr Richard Steadman, it became apparent that Hargreaves would need surgery on both knees in order to cure the tendonitis problem that had plagued him for so long.

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Bolton's newcomer Ivan Klasnic was interviewed for today's match programme and Megson or Gartside made sure he used the word 'positive' in relation to the club's mentality.

"I was impressed with everything that I saw. The stadium is excellent and everyone at the club has a positive mentality.

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Bad news regarding Carlos Tevez:

Carlos Tevez looks like missing out on his return trip to Old Trafford in Sunday's derby.

The little striker flies back today from Argentina determined to overcome a knee injury from international duty and pull on the Sky Blue shirt against his former club.

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Javier Mascherano is a major fitness doubt for Liverpool's Champions League clash with Debrecen on Wednesday.
The Argentinean international failed to report back on time from international duty last week and missed Saturday's demolition of Premier League new boys Burnley.
Mascherano picked up a pelvic injury in midweek and was advised not to fly by doctors in Argentina. Click to continue reading...

UNITED Supporters,
It is always exciting to watch soccer on game day in a ‘soccer culture'. Today, Kim and I watched official youth and professional league games. Game day in a foreign country always helps put perspective to soccer culture in the United States. Korea's soccer culture can rival any country in the world. Click to continue reading...

Amid the ‘stories' of bids for David Villa and Franck Ribery, Liverpool spent a considerable amount of money on the comparatively unknown Alberto Aquilani. Already, the former Roma player is charged with saving Liverpool's supposedly ‘faltering' title hopes, but could the expectation placed on his shoulders prove to be counter-productive? Click to continue reading...

Aloisio, a striker for Brazilian second division club Vasco da Gama, was making his debut as a starter on Tuesday when he nearly died as a result of chewing gum while playing. Seriously. And no, the Brazilian second division isn't a part of the Special Olympics.

Aloisio went up to challenge for a high ball, but instead butted heads with the opposing player in front of him while the ball went over both of them.

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The transfer window is winding down but several deals are being made, including Man City's bid for Everton defender Joleon Lescott. The two teams have agreed on a free and Lescott passed a physical with a contract signing imminent. Here's the full story of the Lescott's move to Man City.

Joleon Lescott passes physical, set to sign with Man City

Sky Sports News understands Joleon Lescott has passed a medical ahead of his proposed £24million move to Manchester City.

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Liverpool FC confirmed yesterday evening that Alberto Aquilani has successfully completed a medical and agreed a five-year contract with the club. Aquilani cost Liverpool £20million from AS Roma.

The Italian is unlikely to make his Reds debut before October. The player will now continue his rehabilitation from an ankle operation under the guidance of Liverpool's medical team and is expected to be fully fit in approximately four to eight weeks' time.

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Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani has passed a medical and agreed a five-year contract with Liverpool.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez identified Italy international Aquilani as his preferred replacement for Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid for around £30million earlier this week.

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He did it!

Liverpool FC confirmed this evening that Alberto Aquilani has successfully completed a medical and agreed a 5-year contract with the club.
The player will now continue his rehabilitation from an ankle operation under the guidance of Liverpool's medical team and is expected to be fully fit in approximately 4-8 weeks time.

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- As it turns out, the chica vacationing with Puyol is none other than Romanian model Claudia Neghina (photo) - more pictures of them together here.
- The deal with Inter Milan for the signing of Ibrahimovic and departure of Eto'o is almost complete. Reportedly, the two clubs have reached an agreement and the only step that remains is the paperwork. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool Football Club continues their preseason preparations for the new season with a tour of Asia. The tour billed as "The Kop Comes to Asia" will see Rafa Benitez and his boys play friendly matches against Thailand national team (22nd July) and Singapore national team (26th July).
Nando "El Nino" Torres visting the King's Palace in Bangkok
During a press conference, Malaysia's The Sun has this report,

BANGKOK: Liverpool insist they are not just in Asia to cash in on the lucrative commercial opportunities the region offers, but to give their fanatical fans a chance to see them in the flesh.

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Liverpool have insisted that the fans, not commercial opportunities, are the reason that they are undertaking their Asian tour.
Many see tours such as this as purely for financial benefit, but the Reds' commercial director, Ian Ayre, told the club's official website, "We have a duty to contribute to these football markets and to our supporters over here. Click to continue reading...

Who would have thought Michael Owen will be training at Old Trafford?� Even though it has been a week since the official transfer was announced,� the debate on his suitability rages on, at times emotionally charged with disbelief, vitriol and ridicule.

After trading in the "world's best player" and then signing an over-the-hill striker whose panache has been eroded by a stint at Newcastle and long term injuries, is Alex Ferguson running out of options already?

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On the 20th of June 2006 in Cologne, Germany, I was sat high behind the goal in the RheinEnergieStadion (then called simply 'The FIFA World Cup Stadium') when in the fourth minute, a figure crumpled to the ground. It was hard to see who it was from my unique vantage point, but the man sitting to my left immediately turned round and said 'any money it's Owen'.

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We find the offseason annoying because there's not nearly so much yummy news on our boys, nor any weekly matches from which we can single out one gent who was positiveley shining... nevertheless we can still manage to pick out a favorite even if they're not playing! And this week it's Rafael Marquez. Click to continue reading...

American gossip site, TMZ, showed footage on their website today of Ronnie going back to the stick insect's sister's pad in Los Angeles after their night in the club.

"I learned about the deal here in L.A. and have heard from my people that Manchester United has accepted," Ronaldo told Fox Sports.

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As the image shows AC MILAN & Brazilian International KAKA hasundergone his medical exam (cardio & the rest) as the prerequisitefor the signing of the contract that transfers him to REAL MADRID.The image shows Kaka entering the "Esperanza Clinic" of theBrazilian city of Recife where he was met by the Medical team ofReal Madrid to oversee all the examinations which lasted two hours& were Click to continue reading...

The medical team of the Spanish Football Federation have released the unfortunate news that Andres Iniesta's injury condition has worsened.
He tore the muscle in his right thigh in Barca's Liga match against Villareal, and remained sidelined after that until he participated in the Champions League final, where he did the most amazing job. Click to continue reading...

It´s official, the Spanish National squad Medical team has ruled outFC Barcelona midfielder ANDRES INIESTA from participating in theupcoming FIFA Confederations Cup Tournament in South Africawhich starts the 14 of June. The Barça midfielder has a torn musclewhich will not recover in time, & to avoid future risk everyone hasdecided for the best of the player to leave Iniesta home. Click to continue reading...

Tout Simplement means "its just that" in French.

It is also the title of the new book by Claude Makelele which has already generated a fair bit of controversy. The former Blues midfielder claims in his book that John Terry's unhappiness with his playing time was the catalyst behind Jose Mourinho's ouster.

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Tout Simplement means "its just that" in French.

It is also the title of the new book by Claude Makelele which has already generated a fair bit of controversy. The former Blues midfielder claims in his book that John Terry's unhappiness with his playing time was the catalyst behind Jose Mourinho's ouster.

Click to continue reading...

They say that great goalscorers become renowned for the timing of their goals as much as the quantity.

Such a maxim might well apply to 20-year-old NSW product Jason Hoffman after he popped up with the winner in the first-half of Newcastle's historic AFC Champions League victory over Ulsan Hyundai last night.

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