Surely a good defence doesn't turn bad overnight and therefore a move for new additions at the back is a tad of a knee-jerk reaction?

WEST HAM could have a fight on their hands to keep their star players after reports emerged that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is planning a £15million double raid for defenders Matthew Upson and Herita Ilunga.

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Plenty of people have mourned the departure of Xabi Alonso.
He was a great player but hopefully Alberto Aquilani having made his home debut now will start to fill that gap.
But the two players I think we should have kept are Sami Hyypia and Alvaro Arbeloa.
Ok, it's possibly with hindsight but we're missing a dominant centre half – as evidenced by Birmingham's equaliser – and Sami is I'm told playing his socks off for Bayer Leverkusen, who are top of the Bundesliga. Click to continue reading...

After Jermaine Pennant came out from his Spanish Villa and criticised Benetiz for miss-management of players, it felt like the final nail in the coffin for the Spanish manager.

A poor result in mid-week against a Lyon team not at the peak of their powers looked like silencing Rafa once and for all.

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Picking Liverpool's greatest ever XI is a nigh-on impossible task, especially given the sheer volume of fantastic players in the club's glorious history. In my personal greatest XI, skill and leadership ability are the defining characteristics, and I believe that the side I've chosen would pulverise any team in world football - past or present. Click to continue reading...

As the football world turn their focus on which nation will qualify for World Cup 2010, Sweden, Argentina, France and Portugal stand as the countries who might not make it to South Africa. If these countries fail to qualify, then some of the world's best players will not be gracing the biggest stage in football. Click to continue reading...

These guys may be nearer to drawing their pensions than most, but boy they still have the power to amaze.

We've done the young whippersnappers and we've done the ode to Britain the 25 and over squad, so it's time to pay homage to experienced, the wily, the cunning: the Viagra crowd.

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Another week, another victory! This week was a 4-0 route of Nuremburg. Bayer 04 have become, along with HSV, one of the dominant teams in the Bundesliga. But it was only a year ago that Bayer, under Bruno Labbadia had a blistering start. But it wasn't anything comparable to this start, because the Werkself aren't just winning, their winning with panache and style.

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.Arsenal Transfered In: Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax, £11m), Damian Martinez (Club Athletico Independiente, £1.3m), Jamie Edge (Cheltenham, undisc) Transfered Out: Abu Ogogo (Dag & Red, free), Amaury Bischoff (Academica de Coimbra, free), Emmanuel Adebayor (Man C, £25m), Kolo Toure (Man C, £14m), Jay Simpson (QPR, loan), James Dunne (Exeter, free), Rui Fonte (Lisbon, free), Rene Steer (Oldham, free), [. Click to continue reading...

International breaks are always an anxious time for Rafa Benitez. Three times in the past two seasons the Liverpool manager has waved off Fernando Torres only for the Spain striker to return to Anfield injured. Ryan Babel, Sami Hyypia, who has since left, and Yossi Benayoun have also been wounded in the heat of international battle in the past 12 months. Click to continue reading...

Hopefully a typo and not a sign of a whole new transfer tactic.

Over 50 Ashes tickets still available Click Here to Buy!

Sotiros Kyrgiakos is a veteran who has enjoyed spells in his native Greece as well as in Germany and one double winning season in Scotland with Rangers, however luckily for us Liverpool fans he has only just turned 30 and not over a century old.

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A Liverpool legend once sang money cant't buy you love, but there is one man on Merseyside who would probably disagree.
As Liverpool prepare to face Stoke at Anfield on Wednesday, looking to put their first Premier League points on the board in the new campaign, manager Rafa Benitez has managed to fit in a spot of bargain basement shopping to fill a gaping hole in the Reds defence. Click to continue reading...

LIVERPOOL
Manager: Rafa Benitez
Last season in the Premier League: 2nd, 86 points (25 wins, 11 draws, 2 defeats)
Summer moves
In: Glen Johnson (Portsmouth, £18m), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma, £20m).
Out: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, £30m) Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid, £3. Click to continue reading...

On the 9th April 2002, a particularly catastrophic tactical decision by Gerard Houllier robbed Liverpool FC of the chance to participate in what would undoubtedly have been the game of the century.
On the night in question, Liverpool faced Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. Click to continue reading...

2008-09 Record
Premier League 2, FA Cup rnd4, Carling Cup rnd4, Champions League QF
Manager:

Rafael Benitez His eccentric behaviour — silly spats with Sir Alex Ferguson he could never win; his inexhaustible internal politicking and some rum selections — distracted from what was Liverpool's best season of the century. Click to continue reading...

A bargain that we should not pass up!

Liverpool, Man City go for Portsmouth defender Distin

Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin remains in the sights of Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

The Times says with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, who have back and hamstring injuries respectively, struggling to be fit for the opening game of the new Barclays Premier League season away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday week, Benítez has only one fit, recognised centre half available — Jamie Carragher — after the exit of Sami Hyypia to Bayer Leverkusen and the manager wants cover in the position.

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Sami Hyypia revolutionized the club... defense would actually exist now! SEASON SUMMARY My first season of supporting Liverpool Football Club was in 1999-2000, a season that saw Liverpool recover their status as a club that mattered on the English scene after a few seasons of falling apart. As a casual viewer in 1998-1999, I wouldn't have known [. Click to continue reading...

Centerback

0Â Goals

1 Appearance (as of the end of 2008-2009)

Signed as a youth product through our Academy... joined in 2007

BACKGROUND BEFORE LFC

Martin Kelly graduated from the Academy in 2007 as a central defender with loads of potential.

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Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel believes the competition for places at the centre of defence is pushing everyone in the squad vying for the position to their peak.
The Reds are notoriously strong in the centre back position, last season boasting Martin Skrtel, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger as their four top options. Click to continue reading...

Martin Skrtel has been a mainstay in the middle of Liverpool's backline for the last couple of seasons. Daniel Agger's injury played a key role in making his stay an easy one for Rafa, but with the addition of Agger back to the equation, you'd imagine the battle for the two centre-back spots will be heated during the pre-season.

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Martin Skrtel has been a mainstay in the middle of Liverpool's backline for the last couple of seasons. Daniel Agger's injury played a key role in making his stay an easy one for Rafa, but with the addition of Agger back to the equation, you'd imagine the battle for the two centre-back spots will be heated during the pre-season.

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I'm still shocked at Glen Johnson's £17.5m price tag. Bumping up Liverpool's record defensive transfer fee by some £10m is a lot to take. It's only a year since they paid around £7m for Andreas Dossena. It's only 18 months since they paid £6m for Martin Skrtel, the Liverpool defensive record before Dossena's move.

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A Liverpool FC fans group today vowed to investigate after Reds supporters apparently mocked the Munich disaster at an end-of-season party.
Footage has emerged from the Olympia venue of a room full of supporters singing derogatory references about the 1958 air crash which killed 23 people – many of them Busby Babes. Click to continue reading...

The home side Finland know that a victory over Euro 2008 semi-finalists Russia will take them into the crucial second spot in group four. The two teams look likely to be battling it out for second spot, with European heavyweights Germany top of the group and seemingly all but qualified for the finals.

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Fernando Torres has committed his future to Liverpool by signing a new contract at Anfield.
The Spanish striker, who penned a six-year deal on his arrival in 2007, has agreed improved terms and an extended deal which ties him to the club for a further year until 2014.
Torres' fresh package is a reward for the impressive start he has made to his time in England, having netted 50 goals in his first two seasons for Liverpool. Click to continue reading...

Sami Hyypia called the curtain down on an illustrious decade of service at Liverpool recently, and will embark on one last footballing voyage - to Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen.
It is a move that has brought with it countless tributes, and club legend Ian Rush believes the Finn is deserving of any accolade. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard admits he is saddened by Sami Hyypia's decision to leave the club in the summer, though made clear that he completely understands the big Finn's decision.
The 35-year-old will be marshalling the defence of Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen next term, after having done that job so exceptionally well at Anfield for the better part of the last ten years. Click to continue reading...

Today marks the end of Sami Hyypia's Liverpool career, but he is one player who will never be forgotten at Anfield. Watch this video compilation of some of his best moments here!

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Today marks the end of Sami Hyypia's Liverpool career, but he is one player who will never be forgotten at Anfield. Watch this video compilation of some of his best moments here!

read more

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Sami gets ready for emotional goodbye. Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia says he will be leaving behind a club that has improved dramatically in the last 10 years when he joins Bayer Leverkusen. The 35-year-old leaves Anfield this summer after a successful decade in which he has won numerous trophies, including the Champions . Click to continue reading...

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is already turning his mind towards next season and the absence of a man who has almost become part of the furniture at Anfield - Sami Hyypia.
The Finnish international centre-back, a man who, much like Carragher, has come to symbolise something of the indomitable spirit at the club, is leaving Merseyside for the Bundesliga, and will be joining Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year deal in the summer. Click to continue reading...

There won't be a sympathy vote PFA award for Sami Hyypia as he ends his ten year career with Liverpool FC, but for Reds supporters his legend will remain as large as the 6′4 Finn himself.

Bought from Willem II in 1999 for a mere £2.5m, Hyypia is easily one of the greatest bargains in Liverpool's rich history.

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It has been an interesting week in rumors.

First the managers!

Hoffenheim will say goodbye to Ralf Rangnick because he wants to spend money this summer. They will then say hello to Jurgen Klinsmann, who is the epitome of frugality. After all, he only forced Bayern to rebuild it's training facility.

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Sami Hyypia, 35, is to leave Liverpool this summer. He has agreed a two-year deal with Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen, the English club's official website confirms.
Hyypia passed a medical earlier today and will join the German side for pre-season training.
The Finnish international proved to be an astute purchase when he was bought for a meagre £2. Click to continue reading...

So Daniel Agger has finally heard what he's been dying to hear for months – that Rafael Benitez wants him.
Now he has to show how much he wants the responsibility of being Liverpool's main defender.
The end of Sami Hyypia's Liverpool career edged closer with yesterday's move to Levrkusen and Jamie Carragher can't go on forever.

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When Gerard Houllier invested £3m in 26 year old Sami Hyypia in 1999 no one could have thought the Willem II player would have had half the impact he did on the Merseyside outfit and now almost ten years on he is of to the Bundesliga on a two year ... Click to continue reading...