Today is Matchday One of the world's biggest club football tournament, the UEFA Champions League.
Super clubs like England's Manchester United and holder FC Barcelona of Spain will battle it out with Europe's elite clubs for the right to call themselves the continent's best team.
Who will win the title? Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez used the unveiling of defender Glen Johnson to attack Manchester City's "money, money, money" approach to transfers.
Gee Rafa, aren't you the one spending the money? And how much did you pay for Robbie Keane last year before you gave up on him? How much were you ready to spend on Gareth Barry last year? Click to continue reading...

Throughout Europe the most successful teams are the ones that spent the most wedge. Chelsea will be remembered – possibly unkindly- as the purchaser of two league titles, and Man Utd only got back on top after splashing some significant readies on the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Anderson / Nani.

Click to continue reading...

The Serie A kicked off yesterday with Inter, now featuring our old friend Jose Mourinho, being held to a 1-1 draw by Sampdoria. Italian football's reputation has taken something of a battering in recent years, but with five clubs all with reasonable hopes of winning the league, it is bound to be an exciting season. Click to continue reading...

Reports Sissoko to be on the bench again
Momo Sissoko is reportedly struggling to impress at Juventus, in Italy, and is set to again be overlooked by Claudio Ranieri for Juventus's big game against Roma. Juventus Manager Claudio Ranieri played down the fact that Sissoko has not started yet, by arguing he needs time to get used to the system of play. Click to continue reading...

If there's one golden rule that should be followed by all Liverpool managers, it is that they shouldn't try to liken their players to more famous counterparts.
Gerard Houllier, for instance, loved doing this so over the years we had the new Marcel Desailly (Djimi Traore), the new Patrick Vieira (Salif Diao) and the new Zinedine Zidane (Bruno Cheyrou). Click to continue reading...

The official Liverpool FC site posted this letter from Sissoko to the fans.

Dear Liverpool fans,

As soon as I arrived in Liverpool I realised how much this team meant.

Now, after two and a half years I have to say goodbye and I can't hide the great sorrow I feel in leaving one of the best clubs in Europe.

Click to continue reading...

Sissoko's next club not clear as three clubs jostle to seal a deal
Reports are circulating that Juventus have cooled their interest in Liverpool's Momo Sissoko, leading to speculation that Liverpool will not be able to afford to tie up the Javier Mascherano deal in this transfer window.
Of note however, is the fact that the Liverpool Echo is reporting three clubs are interested in Sissoko, which all points to a deal being done soon. Click to continue reading...

SAM ALLARDYCE: Sacked - well actually, Big Sam left by mutual consent - but yea, sacked. Who's next? There are reports out there that Newcastle immortal Alan Shearer will take the post but he has already distanced himself. Everton's David Moyes - Lucius Vorenus look-alike - was also put out there, but that's already been shot down. Click to continue reading...

It's a match made in heaven, with the circumstances favouring the marriage. Mohamed Sissoko and Juventus appear destined to be with each other and in all likelihood, the duo will be happily tying the knot this month and living with each other in a potentially fruitful partnership in Turin. The Malian defensive midfielder has fallen out [. Click to continue reading...

BRAD GUZAN: Brad Guzan's transfer speculaton hit SkySports for the first time adding credibility from both sides of the pond to his potential suitors. Celtic is the most recently named party interested in the shotstopper, while we have all heard the rumors involving Arsenal. Some other suitors include Liverpool, Auxerre, and Greek champions Olympiakos. Click to continue reading...

Since when did it become a sign of intelligence to be negative? Cynicism is one thing, pessimism is another, but negativity is not the act of critical thinking. In fact, it's more a sign of emotional instability or stunted maturity and lack of understanding. What good does it do to go on a inimical tangent? Click to continue reading...

Some interesting ones out there in the Premier League transfer rumours. A fellow blogger website is reporting Wes Brown is off to Newcastle. He would be a great buy for Newcastle if they could get him. He may not be getting in the team at Man U but he is top quality.
Newcastle are apparently about to offload Shola Ameobi to Norwich while big Sam Allardyce has ruled out bringing in Barcelona's Edmilson due to the fact he's injured and yet to start a game this season! Click to continue reading...

It appears Momo Sissoko's days at Liverpool are numbered. The 23-year-old lashed out in frustration after being omitted from the traveling squad to face Marseilles today. Being that his family is from France and would have a rare chance to see him play, the defensive midfielder felt he should have at least been included. Click to continue reading...

On Monday, Momo Sissoko publicly expressed his discontent at being dumped on the sidelines for Tuesday's must-win tie against Marseille.
Given the fact the Mali International is not one of Liverpool's most popular players, one thing is certain: Over the next few days, he will be subjected to a ridiculous amount of misguided, hypocritical character-assassination by so called Liverpool 'fans'. Click to continue reading...

Over at Liverpool there seems to be plenty going on at the moment. Crouch, Riise and Sissoko are the subject of yet more speculation that they are for the axe so Rafa the Gaffer can raise money for Garay and Mascherano. Seems to me at least one will go - my thought is that it is Crouch. He's probably the most expendable - get an injury to Mascherano and Sissokos back in, while Riise is always likely to get a go at full back. Click to continue reading...

All appears quiet on the Liverpool front, which is fine by me, but apparently not so for the wind-up bloggers. There's this one site in particular that holds contests for it's 'writers' to see who can attract the most hits. Basically it's who can write the most outrageous title followed-up by the most inane, speculative garbage that any half-witted teenager could author. Click to continue reading...

Everton manager David Moyes may be set to make a January move for Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko after the Mali international admitted that he may have to leave Anfield to start getting first team football again.
The midfielder is said to be finding it hard to understand why he hasn't received much first team football this season after such a good campaign last year. Click to continue reading...

All the media reports seem to be pointing to these two on the way out. The usual pattern of unquoted reports are appearing in more than one source. They'll follow the usual trend of it being reported, denied, reported, 'oh maybe' etc until it becomes an open secret. Newcatle, Juventus and err Portsmouth are reportedly after Crouch with Eveton supposedly leading the chase for Sissoko. Click to continue reading...

Well, this is quite alarming. Apparently David Moyes is interested in bringing Momo Sissoko to Everton. Why do I get the feeling that this is going to spark Toffee cries that Liverpool stole him away from them in the first place? Of course they just want to ignore the fact that he played under Rafa at Valencia. As for this rumor, I'm going to have to give it the Heston treatment and say, 'From my cold dead hands! Click to continue reading...

Javier Mascherano is apparently loving Liverpool life and has no desire to go elsewhere. So much so that he has stated that if he doesn't sign with our club, he won't play for any other English side. That's good to hear, but I hope we do whatever we have to secure his services because I'd rather not face a side in Europe with him on it either.
Yossi Benayoun won't be the savior of England's Euro hopes if Israel happens to beat Russia next Saturday. Click to continue reading...

I have to admit that I was kind of shocked when I read so many reviews of the Blackburn match that slagged off on Momo's performance. What match were they watching? I'm beginning to think that it matters little what the 22-year-old Malian International does, his haters are solid in their mindset that he's no good.
The main argument against Sissoko is that he's a good defensive midfielder, but it doesn't matter because once he makes a tackle and wins possession, he throws it away, basically nullifying his effort. Click to continue reading...

Well, first let's get to the ridiculous rumor of the day. Apparently Jose Mourinho is interested in taking over at Liverpool if Rafa were to leave. I don't think 'The Special One' has thought this one through though. First, unlike at Chelsea, he would not have the resources to build a squad to his liking. He'll have some funds available to him and will probably be able to scrape up more by selling players he deems undesirable, but there's quite a gap between Abramovich money and Gillett/Hicks money. Click to continue reading...

A kid in the stands trying to solve a rubik's cube is probably a fair representation of how this match has gone. It has been a rather odd and drab affair, though I'm pretty confident in saying it's more the fault of Blackburn's then our own. The Rovers appear to be sitting back as we slowly push the ball forward, at least we're not attempting the long pass every other time we gain possession. Click to continue reading...

Though the Merseyside police have stated that they will look no further into how John Arne Riise's wageslip was leaked to the internet due to lack of complaint, Liverpool FC have decided to take matters into their own hands by launching an independent investigation. The first anecdote to emerge involving the controversy is that a group of Everton fans co-conspired to rummage Riise's vehicle after spotting the 27-year-old Norwegian in a pub. Click to continue reading...

- Reading this, I wonder if it was purposely taken out of context. Was Sissoko asked if he regrets not to flat out leave Liverpool to go to Juventus or was he asked if he thought he would have more playing opportunities at Juventus? I sort of doubt Sissoko wants to leave. I'm sure he has told friends at times that he would like to, but who doesn't at times bitch about their life and wishing for change to their closest acquaintances? Click to continue reading...

It would seem that Momo Sissoko wants out, frustrated by the lack of opportunities coming his way. Based on Saturday's performance – and many others over the past months to be honest – few fans would stop him.
Benitez, however, isn't one for such knee-jerk reactions. His praise of the Mali midfielder early last week seemed strange at the time – he isn't big on compassion either – but in the light of such rumours it is easy to see what motivated him to do so. Click to continue reading...

Rafa looks to be taking this match quite seriously.
Here's the line-up:
Itandje
Aurelio
Carragher
Arbeloa
Finnan
Leto
Sissoko
Lucas
Benayoun
Crouch
Torres
Subs:
Martin
Gerrard
Riise
Hobbs
Putterill
I'm pretty pumped to see Leto there as well as Lucas and Torres on the same pitch with him. Click to continue reading...

- John Arne Riise picked up a groin injury in Norway's draw with Greece last Wednesday and will not be fit for tomorrow's match at Porto. Fabio Aurelio will be available though, just in the nick of time.
- No reason was given, but Momo won't be making the trip either and surprise, surprise, Harry Kewell is still nursing a groin pull.
- Rafa has revealed that his former number two, Pako Ayesteran, is contractually prevented from joining another English club. Click to continue reading...

Well, if I learned anything from this match, it's that we're not going to win tough away matches like this without Torres playing the full ninety. When he came on in the 63rd minute, we immediately became a greater threat to score. Gerrard came on four minutes later, was his usual class self and probably was the reason Torres had so much freedom up front, but for the most part Stevie-G wasn't too involved in the match the roughly thirty minutes he was on. Click to continue reading...

Here's Pepe's save on Kanu's penalty, that was wrongfully awarded, by the way. Cheers. Click to continue reading...

Well despite the officials trying to gift Portsmouth the three points and the home side giving a clinic on how to cheat English football style, our boys find themselves drawn 0-0 at the break. Of course if it wasn't for the greatest penalty keep in the world, they'd probably find themselves down 0-1.
The awarded penalty in the 32nd minute was absolutely atrocious. Click to continue reading...

Reina
Finnan
Agger
Carragher
Arbeloa
Pennant
Sissoko
Alonso
Benayoun
Crouch
Voronin
Subs:
Itandje
Hyypia
Torres
Gerrard
Babel
No big surprises except Finnan. Looks awfully familiar though. Cheers. Click to continue reading...

It's baaaccckkkkk!!!! My favorite game trying to predict what Rafa 'the Mad Tinkerer' Benitez will do tomorrow against Pompey. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments. Anyhow, let's go...
With about half the squad on international duty this past week, Rafa's choices have been somewhat limited to players who didn't play or play much on Wednesday because they aren't part of their country's national team (For now, that includes Pennant & Arbeloa), were injured or retired from international play (Finnan, the former, Carra, the latter), their country didn't have a fixture (Yossi Benayoun), they got a red card and were suspended for the match (Xabi, I'm talkin' 'bout you), or were an early exit or late sub from their teams' matches (Agger, the former, Peter Crouch and Andriy Voronin, the latter). Click to continue reading...

As I sat around with some friends this past Sunday watching some NFL and patiently awaiting the US-Brazil friendly in Chicago, I got to thinking how Javier Mascherano would make a bad ass American football player, particularly at running back. He seems to have the perfect low-gravity, wide, muscular build with powerful tree trunk like legs to propel him forward while carrying a couple of players with him. Click to continue reading...