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    The Reds continue to be linked with Shakhtar Donetsk's Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with latest reports claiming Martin Skrtel could be used as part of a deal to tempt the Russian club into selling.
     
    Skrtel is unsettled at Anfield haven fall out of favour with Brendan Rodgers, and according to Armenian radio he could be offered to Shakhtar in addition to £10m to land the highly rated midfielder who has been a prolific scorer this season in Russia.
  • Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers has heaped praise on keeper Pepe Reina, and insists the 30 year old Spaniard is a key man for him moving forward.
     
    “He’s never been unsettled and our relationship is very strong,” the boss told reporters. “I have given him and a few of the senior boys real responsibility and I think they have enjoyed that." 
     
    He added: "I see him as someone who is going to be here. He is 30 years of age and is someone who looks after his body. The sports science team this year have worked really well with him. I think he’s been outstanding and had great focus and hopefully that will continue for us.”
     
    “Pepe and I speak a lot,” he said. “He’s a good man and I’ve got real respect for him as a player and as a human being. He understands everything we are trying to do here and is a great voice in the little debriefing meetings we have with the group and with the defenders and other goalkeepers. He’s brilliant. And on a personal level we’ll sit and have a cup of tea in the office and we’ll chat about where he’s at with his game and how he can improve.”
  • FRIDAY - 0700: I wake to the sound of the Champions League theme music coming from my alarm clock. I’m not even close to being tired of that yet.
     
    0702:  Notice the missus has already gone out. We had a fall out last night. Went round Roman’s and ended up playing Monopoly. Once the cash was dished out he goes and pulls out a massive wad of extra money for himself. I accuse him of cheating, he made a gag about “it takes one to know one” so the other half laughs and then gives me evils all night. Really awkward.
     
    0715: Get some breakfast and feed my bulldog, Churchill.  There’s a black and white cat knocking about our street with a little Hitler ‘tash, can’t wait for Churchill to sort him out. Would it be wrong to give a dog cigars and brandy? Probably. PC gone mad.
     
    0830: On the way out I pass my new painting in the hall: me, rising like a salmon to head away another Bayern Munich attack. The missus says it’s sad but it’s just showing what would have happened if I wasn’t banned, so what’s the big deal? Birds don’t get footy at all.
     
    0900: Pull into the training ground and someone has painted over my name on my parking space with “Ron Atkinson”. Terrible banter that.
     
    0912: Di Matteo tries to pull me for being late; tell him to leave it out. Asked what he had planned for the morning and he said endurance stuff. Went into the changing rooms and told the lads to get the cones out for some 5-a-side, left Bobby waiting in the gym. 1-0 JT!
     
    0950: Had a word with Ash about that Ferdinand coconut comment. Asked what it meant. He explained that Rio was saying he was only black on the outside but white on the inside. Me saying that it might have been a compliment didn’t go down well. Ash was well miffed. Touchy fucker.
     
    1035: Got put in what was clearly a reserve side for a match. Lolz and Cahill were palling up again for the firsts. Had the new Spanish full-back on my side. He’s got a mad foreign name with zs and xs and stuff in it so I just call him Pedro. He’s not loving it yet but it’ll grow on him. It was really hard work, him bombing up the pitch leaving me exposed and Mikel in front of me; that lads about as much use as a chocolate...erm, as an ashtray on a motorcycle.
     
    1200: Broke for lunch. Asked Sturridge to pass me the salt and he said that I had to say please four times before I could have it. Bastard won’t let that courtroom mistake die. He keeps calling me Ron too, I’m not Columbus but I reckon it’s him that did my parking space.
     
    1215: Chatting with Torres and mentioned to him that I didn’t like Mata’s little stubbly ginger beard. He proper snapped. Told me that it was lovely and how it reminds him of some of his favourite times, something about loving it shabby, then ran out crying like a teenage girl. WTF!
     
    1225: Looking out the window onto the training ground with Lamps. He looked really down. He said to me it was because of the writing on the wall but there was no wall, and no writing, just that lunatic Ramires doing laps around the pitches with weights in a rucksack. He confuses me sometimes.
     
    1300: Heard Hazard saying to one of the other lads that when training with Belgium he is amazed how good Fellaini is with his chest. Says that he should start taking free-kicks and penalties with it. Waited until nobody was looking and tried a few pens that way. They were utter garbage. Ridiculous idea.
     
    1400: Good afternoon session is topped off by the gaffer coming over and telling me I’ll be starting against Liverpool this weekend. He then said to try and be a lot less shit than the last league game against them because he’s never seen a man ‘megged so many times in one match. Way to build my confidence up you tosser.
     
    1500: Getting ready to leave and I see Ryan Bertrand getting an almighty bollocking as an ambulance pulls up. Ash sneaks past me with his air rifle giggling and saying he’s training the lad to be the perfect replacement for him. 
     
    1600: Get home, feet up and decide to check my voicemail from today. One from Rio: “I hear you got a new Champions league painting, is it of you slipping on your arse and crying?” –  twat. 
     
    1730: Sky News making a big thing about me and Suarez playing each other and how kicking people who are nasty to different people out of football is important. Then there was a story with some angry news bloke saying how lots of foreign people are scroungers and take all our money. My head hurt.
     
    1900: Watching some preview stuff about our game this weekend. They’re all asking how much Rodgers learnt from Mourinho. Texted Jose for some advice: “The Special One thinks that Suarez is Special too and you might have to pray. Not special in your way either, JT” – I wish he didn’t talk in riddles sometimes.
     
    2000: AVB on SSN telling them how that Caulker is the future of English football and the game might have left people like me behind. Ha! Shows how dumb he is, as if Roy’s football could leave anyone behind. Stick to dishing out the DVDs you glorified scout.
     
    2100: My agent gives me a bell and says that a few of the papers want me to give a comment on this Clattenburg thing. Said to absolutely, under no circumstances, say anything to them. Fair enough. Don’t know who to believe on that one – Mikel could get that Ghandi bloke to take a swing for him but Mata? Who could get mad with him? He’s like a friendly little Elf...with a beard. That Clattenburg does get shirty if you mention his hair though, so who knows?
     
    2230: Get up to bed with my Chelsea pyjamas on and a mug of warm milk. Have another go at that Dan Brown book the missus bought me. You wouldn’t think he’d write this sort of thing after watching all that hypnotism stuff on TV; strange. Tuck in and go to sleep; nod off thinking how happy I am to be back playing, and looking forward to getting a good run in the side.
     

     
    MON 0900: Going for an MRI scan this morning. Bollocks.
  • 0700: Wake up to my Escape to Victory alarm clock and look at the time. Too early. Group text to the boys: “Training an hour later today, C U there”. Roll over.
     
    0805: Alarm goes off again. Walk to the bathroom feeling rough. Not sleeping well due to nightmares of that dirty, Chilean, Barca bastard charging at me backwards and having to defend myself. Such an injustice. 
     
    0815: Get out of shower. Look at my hair in the mirror. Is it time to get that number off Wayne?
     
    0820: Walking to the kitchen I see Churchill has been at my best loafers again. I swear I’ll put that dog down one day.
     
    0830: Sat having breakfast staring at the massive print of the Golden Gate Bridge that the missus bought the other week for the living room. Not keen on it.
     
    0845: Walk out to the car, the new number plate looks brilliant: AVB L0L
     
    0925: Have a prang in the motor. The police were being right pricks about it and taking the other bloke’s side. Laughing right in my face when I told them how it was his fault ‘cos he’d checked his manoeuvre and that’s why I hit him up the arse.
     
    1030: Arrive at training. Bobby Di Matteo had already set-up the drills and stuff and was waiting for me, he’s great like that. He seemed a bit miffed that I’d put training back a bit without telling him but we soon laughed it off.
     
    1050: Picking the teams and Ramires jogs through the gates. Start to bollock him for being late when Bobby tells me he was here at six but just went jogging round London for a few hours to warm up. Lunatic.
     
    1053: First pick for my team? David Lolz. He doesn’t know it yet but he’s going in goal.
     

    1110: Let Lolz come out of nets but make him wear the “shittest hair” bib. Saw him and Meireles making remarks to each other in Brazilian about it; brought out another bib for Raul. Dicks.
     
    1200: Chatting with Lamps about England. He reckons his Uncle Harry will still get the job but said that it might not be so bad if Hodgson got it. Meireles and Torres were laughing their heads off for about five minutes. They actually had tears running down their faces.  Odd pair, them two.
     
    1215: Got a text off Joey Cole over in France. He says that Hazard is amazing and that he’s going to be a nightmare for anyone to play against next season in the Prem. Shouted over to the other table to Cahill: “You’re marking Hazard against France in the Euros, Tim!” Everyone loved it, loads of laughs.
     
    1230: Bobby called us out of the lunch hall to start the afternoon’s fitness work but I was in the middle of a game of Angry Birds so finished that first. 
     
    1245: Stoll onto the training pitch. One of the academy lads is tied to the crossbar by his ankle and Bobby was giving Ashley a proper telling off. Some seriously funny shit.
     
    1255: Notice that Roman is knocking around so need to shape up a bit, just go and randomly tear a strip of someone, looked dead captainy I reckon. Roman is looking a lot better than last time I saw him. Pre-match at Everton and he walked past Tony Hibbert in the tunnel; I’ve never seen a man so scared. Ran away shouting something like: “I didn’t steal the gas Vladimir!” 
     
    1345: Had a bit of agro with Sturridge. I said to Frank that if he were made of chocolate he’d eat himself. Went mental when I called him “Chocolate” though; touchy twat.
     
    1350: Drogba and Cech both went for a ball and clashed heads. Physio ran on; saw Didier rolling around in agony and Petr with a dazed and confused look on his face. He looked relieved that nothing was wrong.
     
    1415: Finished training but Drogba and Mikel stayed behind for a bit to work on their theatrical falls. Fair play to them like, they’ve both become masters at it.
     
    1445: Getting changed out of our training kit and Sturridge is whistling Ebony and Ivory. Really hope he doesn’t go to the Euros.
     
    1515: As we were walking to the cars Ashley showed me this thing on Twitter where someone was pretending to be Big Sam. Ash was loving it but I didn’t get it...why would that be funny?
     
    1540: Ash gave me a lift back home. On the way his missus called him on the hands-free in the car. No idea what she said like, never could understand the Scottish accent.
     
    1543: Reminded me to call the missus. She’s off on holiday with the girls; again. She told me to send some more money over to her hotel in Rio. Sounded like she was with a bloke but she said it was a taxi driver. Sure I could hear people jumping in a pool though. Odd.
     
    1630: Got home and chucked the Sports news on. Wish they’d stop re-running my sending off and taking the piss out of me. After all I’ve done for this country too. 
     
    1633: They showed the Madrid v Bayern penalties again on TV. Ramos looks at the pitch after skying his; textbook stuff. Bet he felt like crying, even if he didn’t.
     
    1645: Got a text of Bridge: “U watchin’ SSN? That Ramos doing a Terry. At least he didn’t cry and he’s got hair though, eh?” – That bastard knows my routine. I hate him.
     
    1730: Nothing in for tea so decide to “Do an Avram”. Get my credit card, get on the phone and order myself a Thai.
     
    1755: The next door neighbour comes round with my take-away. Says that if I keep getting it delivered to the wrong place then next time it’ll go in the bin. Stroppy cow.
     
    1826: Took the rubbish from my meal out to the bins, noticed that my “Dad of the year 2009” trophy had been chucked in the recycling. How did that happen?
     
    1856: Got a text off AVB: “There are some decent museums in Munich if you want something to do whilst the final is on?” Horrible little dwarf.
     
    1934: Get the Xbox out for a few games of FIFA. Started a new game where I’m player-manager for Chelsea. Had to edit my pace though, kept getting skinned and it was doing my head in. Pro-Evo still send me boxes of their games each year after I was on the cover. Can’t give them away!
     
    2003: Trying to play and the cat keeps pestering me to be fed. It can piss off. I told her I didn’t want one and she gets one anyway. Then calls it Anton. Yeah, before you ask, it’s black. 
     
    2100: Got a call from the Gaffer in Madrid. We had a long chat and he gave me some tips on where we are going wrong. Bit of an awkward moment half way through the call though: he said it was a shame Chelsea’s Special One won’t be at the final and I thought he was talking about me, and thanked him. He wasn’t. Obviously. Asked him how he reckons Bosingwa should deal with Robben and he just started laughing and put the phone down. I didn’t get the joke.
     
    2215: Decided to get an early night’s sleep. Got a big day tomorrow, a photo-shoot for the Chelsea website promoting those little plastic flags. Decide to try this product the missus got for me on my hair. She says it’s a bit like that Regaine stuff, it’s called Imaac?
     
    2230: Turn out my CFC branded, bedside lamp and try to get some zeds.
     
    0430: Wake up in a pool of my own sweat. Having some grim nightmares about that sending off again. My pillow seems glued to my head for some reason. Bollocks.
  • Adam Morgan's cool finish in front of the Kop proved to be little more than a consolation goal as the Reds' u21 side were comprehensively beaten by an impressive Spurs side.
     
    The visitors top the table and it's easy to see why on this evidence. They took the lead when Reds' keeper Peter Gulacsi could only deflect a cross from the lively Ceballos into his own net. Former Barcelona forward Ceballos then headed the visitors into a 2-0 lead and it could have gotten worse for Alex Ingelthorpe's men as other chances were squandered by the Londoners.
     
    Morgan's composed finish gave the Reds hope and Kris Peterson hit the bar almost immediately after before Spurs regained their composure and wrapped up the win with a goal from McEvoy.
     
    Team: Gulacsi; McLaughlin, Sama, Jones, Roddan; Coady, Teixera (Brannagan), Adorjan (Nacho); Ibe, Morgan, Peterson:
  • Report by
    Dave Usher
     
     
     

    The loss at Southampton meant the chances of us winning this were pretty good.  I don't think we've lost two on the bounce in the league all season and recently our bad results have been sandwiched in between a run of good ones.  That trend continued here, although at half time it wasn't looking that way.
     
    In the end it was a decent enough performance and a good result against a side desperately fighting for points, but even within it you could see why we've won some games so impressively only to lose others so disappointingly.  We look very good at times when we have the ball, and very bad at times when we don't.  The first half was a case in point, we didn't play badly, we had some chances, produced some decent stuff yet we often looked vulnerable.  We conceded one goal, but it could easily have been more.
     
    The second half was better, we weren't water tight by any means but we certainly looked more secure.  We kept possession better too, which in turn made it easier for us to defend.  That was a big problem for me in the first half, I thought we tried to attack too quickly and the result of that was as soon as it broke down Villa were allowed to come back at us.  We didn't make them have to work hard to enough to win the ball back and I just felt our play was too hurried and we didn't have the type of control Rodgers looks for.  
     
    It just felt like every time we got the ball we immediately went forward and tried to score as quickly as possible.  We didn't take time to build attacks, to make them chase, tire them out, and Villa had far more of the ball than they should have as a result of that.  It was far from 'death by football' that's for sure.  Their goal actually came as a result of our attack breaking down.  They immediately launched it forward where Carragher had been left to deal with both Agbonlahor and Benteke.  Johnson hadn't gotten tight enough to Agbonlahor who was able to cushion the ball down for Benteke to hit an early shot past Reina.  Pepe got a hand to it and possibly could have done better, but it would have been a great save if he had kept it out and I'm certainly not putting the goal on him.
     
    It was an infuriating way to concede though, just a bread and butter punt up the middle.  I hate how easy it is for teams to score against us these days, they rarely have to do anything special to find the net and it's really irritating.  Villa had a few excellent chances during the game and should have scored early on when Lowton whipped in a ball behind our backline only for Agbonlahor to sidefoot straight at Reina from point blank range.  Massive let off for us that.
     
    It happened at a time when we were playing well and had an element of control too.  Even so, we still looked shaky and Benteke was proving to be a thorn in our side again.  Every ball played up to the Beligian had us bouncing off him and unable to get the ball off him.  He seemed to have all day on the ball and was like the big kid in playground playing against all the little kids.  We desperately lack a big, physical presence in middle of the side, someone who will stop the likes of Benteke having his wicked way with us. 
     
    Still, we dealt with him far better than at the game at Anfield, he only scored one this time, although he could have had more as Villa's front three all had opportunities in the first half.  Benteke failed to connect with a header from a good cross by Bennett, whilst Weimann wastefully overhit a cross when he had Agbonlahor in the centre waiting for a tap in.  
     
    It was an open game with chances at both ends.  Suarez was causing havoc and linking up well with Coutinho especially.  He almost got in from a perfectly weighted pass by the Brazilian but he was challenged just as he prepared to shoot and the ball went behind for a goal-kick.  
     
    The first half was the Suarez v Guzan show at times.  The keeper tipped over a powerful shot from Luis after some great set up play by Johnson, he made a much easier save from a disappointingly weak shot that came after Suarez had bamboozled the defence with a mazy run that took him past three defenders, and he just about kept one out with his heel after Bannan's wayward backpass had sent him through.  The only thing missing from Suarez was a goal, he ran Villa ragged and I lost count of the number of nutmegs he inflicted on their beleaguered centre backs.   
     
    Guzan also made a save from the outstanding Gerrard, and we could consider ourselves a bit hard done by to be trailing at the break.  If you don't defend properly though this is what happens, and it's happened to us far too many times.
     
    The next goal was going to be crucial, if Villa got it then we'd be looking at a repeat of the Southampton game.  If we got it, Villa's heads would drop and we'd be in position to go on and win the game.  Thankfully we got it, and we got it quickly.
     
    Less than two minutes of the second half had been played when we drew level.  It was a great goal too, although it started in slightly fortuitous circumstances when Agger's pass was blocked by a Villa player and it could have gone anywhere.  Luckily it found it's way to Gerrard who immediately released Coutinho on the left with a great ball.  Suarez made a run down the line which drew a centre back out of the middle and Henderson charged into the space and began screaming for a pass.
     
    Coutinho spotted the run and delivered an inch perfect ball that put Henderson one on one with the keeper and not even needing to break stride.  A wonderful pass, but what would Henderson do?  We've seen him completely shit himself in this situation, such as at Stoke last season and in one of our Europa away games this year.  We've also seen him show a cool head and bury them too, like he did against Chelsea at Anfield at the end of last season.  He buried it in some style, there was no hesitation or doubt in his mind and he immediately lifted the ball over Guzan into the net.  His celebration was ace too, running to the away end and going nuts.
     
    That goal was just about the first time I'd even noticed Henderson, he'd been mostly invisible up that point.  He'd been brought into the side to bolster the midfield after we'd been exposed in that area in recent weeks, but despite his inclusion I didn't feel we had control of the middle of the park in the opening 45 minutes.  Lucas looked off the pace again and committed a series of fouls that must have been testing the patience of the ref, and like I say, Hendo was barely in it.  
     
    That changed after the break, perhaps because of the goal or maybe due to whatever Rodgers said at the break.  Lucas improved, Henderson became more involved and generally we just seemed to have a better rhythm to our play. 
     
    We took control of the game after the equaliser and Coutinho should have added another soon after.  The through ball from Suarez was brilliant, Coutinho initially looked offside but Lowton had played him on before stepping out after the ball had been played.  Coutinho should have scored, but I'd have to give a lot of credit to Guzan here as he made sure he wasn't going to beaten the same way Henderson did and he stood tall.
     
    The option of lifting it wasn't there, so Coutinho had to try and go low and find the corner, but there wasn't a lot of space as the keeper had narrowed the angle.  It looked like the Brazilian's shot was goalbound but it rolled a lick of paint past the far post.  Johnson then went even closer when his deflected shot hit the inside of said post, and at this point I began to worry that it wasn't going to be our day.
     
    Then Nathan Baker came to the rescue with a reckless lunge on Suarez in the box.  Kamikaze defending that, when Suarez is in that position you know exactly what he's going to do, we've seen it a thousand time; he's going to nutmeg some fool.  That's exactly what he did, but if Baker had stood up he'd have had a chance of dealing with it.  Instead he flew in and brought Luis down.  Stonewall pen, not even Lee Mason could turn that down.
     
    Gerrard stepped up and put his kick right into the bottom corner, just out of the reach of Guzan who had guessed the right way.  We didn't build on the lead as well as we should have, we didn't keep the ball too well and we didn't create too many more chances either.  Some credit has to go to Villa for that too I guess, they never gave up and on another day they'd have got something from the game because they certainly had chances.
     
    In fact they had two really great opportunities to equalise. The first was when the disappointing Weimann shot over from eight yards after he'd lost the otherwise excellent Agger in the box far too easily.  The second was a header by Benteke that was miraculously kept out on the line by Gerrard, who somehow arched his neck to head the ball out from under his own bar.  Incredible stuff from the skipper.
     
    I'd have been seriously pissed off if they'd scored from that though, as it all came from a ridiculous free kick that was awarded after a clear dive by Benteke.  Johnson gave him the slightest of nudges but a fella as big and strong as he is does not fall over from that.  Johnson just laughed at him, I certainly wouldn't have been so calm about it and I'd have let Benteke know exactly what I thought of him.  Admittedly when I realised what I'd done I'd most likely have ran and hid behind Pepe.  
     
    The free-kick wasn't even given at first, it was only when Benteke kicked off at Johnson that Mason decided to give a foul.  That free-kick led to the corner that Benteke almost scored from, although I have to wonder why Henderson appeared to be marking him as that seems a bit daft to me, and merely re-enforces the need for more big, physical players this summer.  
     
    Speaking of big physical players, Rodgers then brought on Sterling for Coutinho, a move that made perfect sense as the Brazilian was tiring and with Villa pushing forward Raheem's pace on the break would be useful.  A quick word on Rodgers' selection for this game, the team he started with is the exact line up I'd have picked and I also agreed with the change he made late on.
     
    I like that he sees the obvious issues and addresses them.  We've been over run in midfield recently because he's been keen to get all his attacking players into the side.  It must be difficult leaving out Sturridge but it was the right call for the good of the team.  If Sturridge is performing to the level he was against the likes of Norwich and Man City, then you move Suarez to accommodate the pair of them.  If he isn't at that level - and recently he hasn't been - then we're better served with Suarez in the centre.
     
    Daniel won't be thrilled about it, but it won't do him any harm to realise that he needs to sustain his best form if he's to stay in the side.  He's got a job on his hands to get back in I think, not specifically because other players are better than him, more so because the shape of the team looks better with Luis playing in the middle of the front three and because our midfield can be exposed when we don't have the extra man in there.  
     
    It's a problem that needs solving as we want to see Sturridge and Suarez on the pitch  together as much as possible.  Next week's game at home to West Ham looks to be an ideal chance to do it, as Fat Sam isn't exactly big on playing through midfield.  Away from home though, Sturridge may have to get used to the bench for a little while.
     
    Anyway, Suarez went desperately close to what would have been yet another brilliant goal from him when he set off on another mazy run into the box, nutmegged Baker once more and was within a whisker of rounding the keeper and having an empty net.  Guzan got the slightest touch on the ball to knock him out of his stride and Villa survived.
     
    The rest of the game passed off without too much more incident, Westwood could have been sent off for a nasty looking lunge on Henderson and Benteke had a goal correctly ruled out for offside as we saw out the closing stages relatively comfortably to pick up a very important three points.
     
    With Everton winning the day before, we had to get three points here to avoid falling too far behind them.  Any win away from home is not to be sniffed at, and games at this stage of the season against teams fighting for survival are never easy.  It's pleasing to finally win a game after conceding the first goal, but it is alarming how vulnerable we look defensively.
     
    Star man was Gerrard, it's not even close.  He just oozed authority in everything he did.  Johnson was much improved on his last outing, and Coutinho showed plenty of quality.  I don't think anyone played badly though, at least not in the second half.  
     
    Looking ahead at the fixtures we have left, I find myself wondering where the next inevitable cock up is coming.  A three game stretch of Villa, West Ham and Reading should yield nine points, but that's not how we roll is it.  We should win our next two, but how many times have we said that only to shit the bed somewhere along the way?  It's high time we started to buck that trend, especially as we have Chelsea coming up after that and two wins may see us right on their coat tails.   
     
     
    Team:  Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson; Downing, Suarez, Coutinho (Sterling):
  • Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers has again spoken of the incredible appetite for football of star striker Luis Suarez.
     
    The country's leading goalscorer returned from playing a double header with Uruguay, and immediately got back onto the training field at Melwood ahead of the game with Aston Villa this Sunday, leaving his manager to purr about the enthusiasm of his star man. “This is a boy who must clock up incredible air miles. As soon as he arrived in Manchester [on Thursday] we get all the players to report back so we can give them a quick medical MOT to check if they are right – he comes back in and he is back out on the training pitch again."

    “Of course he looks a little bit tired after all that flying but that doesn't stop him. He was out there working, running and chasing. He's an amazing character. He doesn't get enough credit for that.”
  • Brendan Rodgers is ready to do battle with Alex Ferguson to secure the services of talented England u17 striker Patrick Roberts according to the Daily Express.
     
    The Fulham youngster has yet to sign a professional contract and has attracted the attention of several big clubs with his displays in the Fulham u18 side as well as for England u17s.
     
    Fulham boss Martin Jol is reportedly looking to introduce the talented forward into his first team set up next season, but Rodgers can point to the examples of Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom and Suso to convince potential new recruits that first team opportunities are there for young players providing they show they are good enough.
     
    The Reds have been recruiting young players from all over the country in recent years, the likes of Sterling, Wisdom, Jordan Ibe and Seyi Ojo amongst others have all been snapped up from other English clubs at a very young age.  It remains to be seen if Roberts is the next one.
  • Ajax Sporting Director Marc Overmars has revealed that Liverpool's scouts have been regular visitors to their games as Brendan Rodgers prepares to step up his interest in highly rated Dane Christian Eriksen.
     
    "We have the list of the scouts of foreign clubs who have been here recently and Liverpool has been a regular visitor," Overmars told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.  The Reds also reportedly watched the 21 year old attacker represent his country this week against the Czech Republic, and with the youngster stalling on a new deal Liverpool are one of a number of clubs looking to pounce this summer.
  • Various reports today suggest that Shakhtar Donetsk forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan is on Brendan Rodgers' summer shopping list.
     
    The 24 year old Armenian has been with Shakhtar since 2010 but is looking for a new challenge in one of Europe's major leagues. Mkhitaryan was voted Armenian Footballer of the Year in 2009, 2011 & 2012 and was last year names Shakhtar's Player of the Season.  He plays as an attacking midfielder but can also play centre forward and he would cost a reported £12m. 
  • Reported summer transfer target Dede has been given the green light to leave Vasco Da Gama according to the player's agent.
     
    The Brazil international centre back is a wanted man, with Liverpool and Manchester United amongst the many clubs reportedly interested in signing him this summer, and his agent Paolo Autouri has confirmed that Vaso are resigned to losing him: "I know Dede is leaving" he said."We talked about this since when I was negotiating with the club, I won't make up stories as that only complicates things".
     
    Vasco director Cristiano Koehler has also said that Dede will be sold, but the Reds will face stiff competition for one of the most highly rated players in Brazil.
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