Steven Gerrard is currently sidelined and will miss out on England's crucial opening World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia, both away. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez hopes that his talismanic captain will return for the key Premier League crunch game versus Manchester United.

Steven Gerrard recently underwent a groin operation that ruled him out of England's opening World Cup qualifying campaign. Click to continue reading...

Albert Riera did not consider joining another club after discovering he was a target of Liverpool.

The former Espanyol winger moved to Anfield on Monday as Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez paid an undisclosed fee ahead of the transfer window deadline.

And having completed his move to Merseyside, Reira, who had a loan spell at Manchester City in 2006, is looking forward to the challenge. Click to continue reading...

With Manchester United losing out to Zenit St. Petersberg in the little-seen UEFA Super Cup on Friday night, the stage was set for the two big boys with 100% records, Chelsea and Liverpool, to already open a bit of a gap ahead of the current Premier League champions.

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Liverpool have completed the permanent transfer of Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi on a two-year contract.

The 18-year-old spent last season on loan with the Reds and was a part of the club's Treble-winning reserve side.

And Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has now opted to secure Gulacsi's services until 2010 as back-up to first-choice shot-stopper Jose Reina. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is waiting to know the exact nature of Fernando Torres' hamstring injury, while acknowledging that to lose the star striker close on the heels of captain Steven Gerrard's groin surgery, is a problem.

The Spain international damaged his hamstring in the first half during Sunday's stalemate at Aston Villa, and on first reports it appears that the 24-year-old could be out for a minimum of two weeks although a scan will determine the extent of the problem. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has reiterated that he wants to keep Xabi Alonso at Anfield.

The midfielder has been linked with Juventus and Arsenal throughout the summer transfer window and it was thought he could leave to finance a move for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry.

However, with a deal for Barry having been ruled out last week, Benitez has confirmed he will not be allowing Alonso to leave in any deadline day deal. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez thinks that Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera will be at Anfield by the end of the day. The Espanyol midfielder is expected to make the move for a fee of around £8million. The deal for Riera is... Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was satisfied with the point his side secured away to Aston Villa, but believes his men need to improve their final ball if they are to challenge for a top-two finish.

In a drab affair at Villa Park, both teams lacked potency in the final third as Robbie Keane, Martin Laursen and John Carew spurned the only real clear-cut chanced of the game. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry insists that the fighting within Anfield is now over. Rows between Parry and Rafa Benitez over who would and wouldn't be signing for the Reds, along with the fallout between owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, threatened to see chaos decent. However Parry says that stability has been restored and everyone is now pulling in the right direction, as he explained to Sky Sports:

'Everyone is working together. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will undergo a scan to determine the severity of a hamstring problem, but Reds manager Rafa Benitez has hinted that the injury will only be a short-term one.(Setanta)

The Spain international lasted only 27 minutes of Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday as he was substituted for David Ngog after chasing a pass from Javier Mascherano. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez insisted he had made his peace with England coach Fabio Capello yesterday and dismissed claims of a breakdown in communication over Steven Gerrard's latest injury absence.

Gerrard will have the second of two minor groin operations today and will miss Capello's first two competitive games in charge, as England begin their World Cup campaign against Andorra next Saturday and Croatia four days later. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are preparing a £10 million bid for Newcastle United midfielder James Milner. It was confirmed yesterday that the England under-21 international has handed in a transfer request at St James' Park after spending three years at the club. (Guardian)

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has been linked with Milner all summer as he looks to sign a new left-sided midfielder. Click to continue reading...

Musings on last night's European action 1. Liverpool have got problems. There is no fluidity or shape to the side and Rafa Benitez doesn't seem to know how to turn the situation around. Click to continue reading...

After another two hours of torturous footballing tedium interspersed with (inevitable) periods of headless chikenry and a disturbing lack of creativity, here are my ratings for Liverpool FC's alleged 'team'.

Reina – 8

Man of the Match. If not for Reina's superb saves, Liverpool would be in the UEFA cup right now. Click to continue reading...

Greetings faithful following, and welcome to a somewhat late review of this past Bank Holiday weekend's exciting action. Many factors (ok, one factor: beer) have delayed the writing of this wrap-up, but suffice to say that the editorial whip has been cracked and it will not be happening again. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool will be aiming to avoid European disaster when they face Standard Liege in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifier at Anfield.

The tie is delicately balanced following a goalless draw in Belgium two weeks ago, but the Reds rode their luck in the first leg.

Standard appeared to have a legitimate goal ruled out, while Jose Reina saved a penalty as the Belgian champions gave Liverpool an almighty scare in the first leg. Click to continue reading...

Rafa's latest glowing review of Dirk Kuyt proves that his blind faith in the staggeringly ineffective 'attacker' shows no sign of abating, which is bad news for Liverpool fans everywhere.

Gerard Houllier had illogical blind faith in some of his most ineffective players, a notable of which being Emile Heskey. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is reported to have agreed a fee for Espanyol winger Albert Riera.

The Liverpool Echo understands that Liverpool have beaten rivals Everton in their attempt to land the player and agreed to the Spanish club's £12 million fee.

Espanyol were reluctant to allow the former Manchester City winger to leave the club, but after spending some considerable time yesterday in negotiations, Riera's wish to join Anfield now appears within reach. Click to continue reading...

Manager Rafa Benitez said on Tuesday he was still waiting for Liverpool to move up a gear as they prepare for their crunch Champions League qualifier with Standard Liege.

Wednesday's game follows a disappointing 0-0 draw in Belgium two weeks ago and some mediocre form in the Premier League, where late goals have yielded two victories and masked some mediocre performances. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool striker Robbie Keane says he is confident his team's performances will improve as the season progresses.

Rafa Benitez's side have taken six points from their opening two Premier League games but have struggled to hit top-form so far.

"We haven't been playing unbelievably in the last two games," Keane told BBC Radio Merseyside. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has acknowledged the impact made by youngster Nabil El Zhar in the weekend's last-gasp 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Anfield.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute when the Reds were trailing by a goal. The home side soon wiped out the deficit before the Moroccan international winger played an important role in the build-up to captain Steven Gerrard's late winner. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool have won their opening two premiership games for the first time in a staggering 14 years. Yes, you read that right: 14 years.

The last time the club achieved this seemingly rare feat was back in the 1994-95 season. Roy Evans was at the helm; club legends John Barnes, Jan Molby and Ian Rush were still going strong; Phil Babb and Neil Ruddock were in defence (*shudder*); Kenny Dalglish managed Blackburn to an improbable Premiership triumph and Robbie Fowler scored 31 goals in all competitions. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was delighted with how his side battled to the end and claimed an unlikely three points against Middlesbrough.

Benitez said prior to kick-off his side needed to start winning 'ugly' this season and that could easily sum up their victory over Boro.

Mido had given the visitors a shock lead 20 minutes from the end, but Liverpool claimed all three points thanks to a deflected Jamie Carragher effort and a trademark Steven Gerrard curler into the corner. Click to continue reading...

There may have been a welcome thaw behind the scenes at Anfield, but Rafa Benitez still wore an anxious look as he outlined new fitness worries over Steven Gerrard.

The Liverpool skipper returned from England duty amid more controversy over his role in the side, with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp claiming it was ‘killing him' playing him left midfield. Click to continue reading...

According to this source, Arsene Wenger is still very much interested in this Liverpool midfielder, but the move may hinge on the valuation placed on his shoulders. Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager! Arsenal remain keen on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. The Times says Reds boss Rafa Benitez is eager to . Click to continue reading...