Liverpool FC preseason 2013

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KKIICCKKIINNGG OONNJames Pearce previews Rodgers’ second season

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MMAACCCCAAEx-Reds star onthe young guns

TTOOUURREEStepping intoCarra’s boots

2 Liverpool FC 2013/14

THE bar has beenraised and BrendanRodgers doesn’t needtelling that more will

be expected from hisLiverpool side in 2013/14.

During a rollercoaster firstseason at the helm he wasn’tburdened with targets as he gotto grips with the size of thechallenge facing him atAnfield.

Rodgers was rightlyafforded both timeand patience byowners andsupporters alike whichwas rewarded with theReds’ strong finish to thecampaign after such a wretchedstart.

Seventh place with 61 pointsrepresented steady, ifunspectacular progress, duringa season of transition – oneplace and nine points betteroff than a year earlier.

However, this time around thepressure has been cranked up.Twelve months after declaring ‘wedon’t expect miracles overnight,’principal owner John W Henry hasadmitted that he now expects tosee Liverpool competing for aChampions League spot.

Rodgers is tasked with securingthe prized top four finish whichwould end the Reds’ painfulfour-year absence from Europe’selite. It’s a mission theNorthern Irishman hasn’tshied away from as helooks to build on thefoundations laid in2012/13.

“The Champions Leagueis a competition we’refighting to get in,” he said.

“The great name ofLiverpool dictates that weshould be in thatcompetition. There’s noother measure for us.

“The challenge is verydifficult because of thecompetitors but I believewe can put up a great fightthis year. Let’s hope we canget back to where the clubbelongs.”

It won’t be easy. Thelonger you are stuck outsidethe Champions League, thetougher it gets to force yourway back in.

Rodgers has found that tohis cost during a summerwhen Liverpool have struggled toattract their top transfer targetsand seen their prized asset demanda move to Arsenal.

Trying to predict with anycertainty what the next ninemonths has in store for the Reds istough because there are so manyimponderables.

The Luis Suarez saga hasdominated the agenda throughoutpre-season and how that damagingepisode will play out is stillanyone’s guess.

The club’s hardline stancehas been rightly praised withHenry adamant that Suarez isgoing nowhere – butuncertainty still reigns.

The Uruguayan has alienatedthose fans who stood by him andbeen banished to train on his ownas a result of his poor attitude andpublic attack on Rodgers.

Liverpool insist there is a road toredemption but whether Suarezagrees to walk down it is anothermatter.

The bottom line is that lastseason’s 30-goal top scorer isbitter and disillusioned at beingkept at Anfield against his will.

He will miss the opening sixmatches due to suspension but willhis exile continue beyond that?Will he really issue the grovellingapology Rodgers has demandedand knuckle down?

How Liverpool need him to takeout his anger on Premier Leaguedefenders and reproduce theblistering form he showed prior tosinking his teeth into BranislavIvanovic. What is undeniable is thatall the acrimony has dented thepositivity and momentumgenerated in the second half of lastseason.

With Suarez missing until lateSeptember at the earliest, therewill be greater responsibility on theshoulders of Daniel Sturridge tolead the line. The £12million man

was a revelation after his Januarymove from Chelsea – firing 10Premier League goals for Liverpoolin just 13 appearances and breakinga club record held by RobbieFowler and Fernando Torres.

Yet he missed most of pre-seasonas he recovered from an ankleinjury and has had precious littlefootball under his belt ahead of thebig kick-off.

Rodgers had wanted anotherpotent attacking threat on boardbut Liverpool failed in big moneymoves for both HenrikhMkhitaryan and Diego Costa.

Instead the boss must hope thatFabio Borini comes to the partyafter a wretched injury-plaguedfirst season at Anfield and that newboy Iago Aspas adapts quickly tothe demands of English football.

Aspas has shown promise withfour goals in the friendlies followinghis £7million switch from Celta

BYJAMES

PEARCE

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WhyStevenGerrardis ascrucial toLiverpoolas he’severbeen... ifnot more

Former Red SteveMcManaman on theScouse pride in theAnfield dressing room

Pullout Reds poster –with up-to-date fixtures

David James on the taskfacing Simon Mignolet

Become apub borewith Redsstats galore

Kolo Toure – the newrock at the heart of theReds’ defence

In case you missed it...every Reds pre-seasongame reviewed

Pre-seasonwas positivefor BrendanRodgers’squad – butthe antics ofLuis Suarezthreatened toderail thegood work

Liverpool FC 2013/14 3

Vigo but he needs to spend morehours in the gym.

There have been flashes of classfrom fellow Spaniard Luis Albertobut the £6.8million buy from Sevillais viewed more as one for thefuture.

The signing of Kolo Toure on afree transfer from Manchester Citylooks inspired with the Ivorianhaving been hugely impressiveduring pre-season. His wealth ofexperience and defensive qualitieswill be crucial as the Reds come toterms with the retirement of JamieCarragher.

Rodgers has taken some bigdecisions, most notably the£9million purchase of keeperSimon Mignolet from Sunderland,which was followed by Pepe Reinabeing packed off to Napoli on aseason-long loan.

Ending Reina’s eight-year reign asAnfield No. 1 was a bold call. For

all the talk of Reina’s flirtation withBarcelona and the club’s desire toget his £110,000-a-week salary offthe wage bill, the bottom line isRodgers believes the 25-year-oldBelgian represents a safer pair ofhands.

After initially earning praise forgetting business done early, therehas been frustration among fans atthe Reds’ inactivity since early July.

They still haven’t got thedominant centre-back Rodgers hadtargeted with no joy in theirpursuit of Schalke’s KyriakosPapadopoulos. With Martin Skrteland Sebastian Coates both out offavour, the lack of depth thereremains a concern.

That early summer outlay ofaround £23million has beencomfortably recouped with thesales of Andy Carroll (£15m, WestHam), Jonjo Shelvey (£5m, SwanseaCity), Jay Spearing (£1.5m, Bolton)

and Stewart Downing (£6m, WestHam).

Fringe players Peter Gulacsi andDanny Wilson have moved on,while youngsters Conor Coady,Jack Robinson, Michael Ngoo, Susoand Krisztian Adorjan have allheaded out on loan.

A squad Rodgers bemoaned astoo thin last season has actuallyshrunk further and a couple of highquality reinforcements before thewindow shuts is vital.

Yet there has been plenty toadmire over the course ofpre-season.

Philippe Coutinho hascarried on where he left off inMay and the gifted Brazilianhas the ability to light up thetop flight this season.

Skipper Steven Gerrard looks fitand strong following shouldersurgery and Lucas Leiva has shownsigns of getting back to the level he

was at before his cruciate injury.Teenage wingers Raheem Sterling

and Jordon Ibe both showcasedtheir exciting potential as the Redsrattled off six straight friendly winsprior to last weekend’s defeat toCeltic.

If Liverpool are going to make acharge for the top four then aflying start is absolutely crucial. Ayear ago they stumbled out of theblocks, didn’t win a league gameuntil late September and were cutadrift. Back then pre-season hadbeen hampered by the late returnof players following Euro 2012,they were still adapting to a newstyle of play and transfer deadlineday was a mess with Carroll goingto West Ham on loan and notbeing replaced.

The fixture list also did them nofavours but this time they are muchbetter placed and can have no suchcomplaints.

In their opening nine leaguegames Liverpool face just oneclub who finished in the top sixlast season – ManchesterUnited at home.

That highly-charged fixture willrepresent an early chance for theReds to prove they aren’t simplyflat-track bullies.

The manner in which thrashingswere dished out to the likes ofNorwich, Swansea, Wigan andNewcastle last term showcasedsome stunning attacking football,but in the 12 games against top sixclubs the Reds won just once.

That record must be radicallyimproved.

With no European football onthe agenda, better will also beexpected in the domestic cupsafter last season’s early exits.

Rodgers knows that expectationsare now greater. It’s time to pushon.

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“Rodgersis tasked

withsecuringthe top

four finishwhich

would endthe Reds’painful

four-yearabsence

fromEurope’s

elite.”

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Win percentage: 42%Average possession: 57%

Pass completion: 84%Opponents’ passcompletion: 79%

Chance conversion: 13%Opponents’ chance

conversion: 13%


FFoollllooww tthheeLLEEAADDEERR

A SUMMER of changeat Anfield has onlyserved to reinforcethe enduring

importance of Steven Gerrardto Liverpool Football Club.

The Reds may have lost half theirScouse heartbeat following JamieCarragher’s retirement but theskipper is fit and ready to lead thecharge once again.

When Gerrard put pen to paperon a new contract to extend hisLiverpool career until 2015,Brendan Rodgers described it as theclub’s most significant signing of thetransfer window.

Anfield recently celebratedGerrard’s glorious past with hisrichly deserved testimonial againstOlympiacos but it’s the future whichexcites his manager.

“He’s 33 now but Steven is still anintegral part of what I’m trying todo here,” Rodgers said.

“He’s an icon here at the footballclub for both the players and thesupporters.

“Steven is a top player whosehunger and desire for Liverpool tosucceed is remarkable. To workwith him is a huge pleasure andprivilege.

“I think he’s still got a good fewyears left yet. His level ofperformance last year wasoutstanding. He will continue to beinfluential. He’s an incredible talent.

“He is still, for me, the best passerof a ball in the Premier League. Hisrole is to make the team tick.”

Gerrard played a pivotal part inthe Reds’ revival under Rodgers inthe second half of the 2012/13campaign. He made 36 successivePremier League starts before finallysuccumbing to a niggling shoulderinjury which required surgery inMay.

He worked tirelessly to get backahead of schedule and has enjoyed afull pre-season ahead of his 16thcampaign of first-team duty.

More personal landmarks await.In October it will be a decade

since Gerard Houllier handedhim the captaincy and he willbecome the longest-servingskipper in the club’s 121-yearhistory.

Gerrard will beat the mark set byScotland international AlexRaisbeck, who wore the armbandfrom 1899 to 1909.

Currently eighth in the club’sall-time appearance list on 630games, he’s set to climb above thelikes of Tommy Smith, Phil Neal, IanRush, Emlyn Hughes and RayClemence over the next ninemonths. He is also only two goalsaway from securing a century ofPremier League strikes.

Typically, the talismanic midfielderis more interested in the mission oftrying to restore Liverpool toEurope’s elite.

“Personal achievements are nicebut my main focus is achieving stuffwith the team,” he said.

“I want to win a couple moretrophies before I hang my boots upand try to get this club back in theChampions League.

“The form we showed fromJanuary onwards gives meconfidence we can compete for thetop four this season.

“There is certainly the basis herefor a top team and we have a goodmanager who has got us playing theright way. The talent is certainlythere, now we just have to deliver.”

Carragher will be watchingevents unfold with interest fromhis pundit’s chair in the SkySports studio.

The Kop legend believes thereare plenty more chapters to bewritten in his close friend’s career.

Rodgers utilised the captain’stalents in a deeper midfield role formuch of last season and Carragher

is convinced Gerrard could playthere well beyond the end of hiscurrent deal.

“I know Stevie’s got two years lefton his contract but I can honestlysee him playing for another coupleof years after that as well,”Carragher said.

“He would have to become thesitter, the quarter-back if you like,pinging passes from that position.

“Look at the goal at home toSunderland last season when he hit

a 60-yard pass from inside his ownhalf for Luis Suarez to score.

“That’s the type of role we’retalking about. Getting the ball inthose type of areas off the back fourand dictating the game.

“As time goes on you might notsee that box-to-box Steven Gerrardwe’ve seen over the years.

“But he can change his game andstill have a huge impact on matches.

“I’ve always said Stevie’s onestrength is he has no weakness. He

can do the lot.”With Carragher having hung up

his boots and Pepe Reina havingbeen packed off on loan to Napoli,Gerrard’s experience and leadershipqualities will be more importantthan ever.

The captain has lost two trustedlieutenants in the dressing room butCarragher wants to see otherscome to the fore and ease theburden on Gerrard.

“There are people who should be

stepping up to the mark and lookingto embrace the role of a leader,”Carragher said.

“Obviously, Daniel Agger has beenmade vice-captain and it’s not newto him as he’s already captain of hiscountry.

“Glen Johnson plays every gamefor England and Lucas Leiva is aBrazil international.

“Myself or Pepe might not be thereany more but that should give playerslike that a bit more confidence to

BYJAMES

PEARCE

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher play together for the last time, inthe skipper’s testimonial against Olympiacos

England captain Gerrard received his 100th cap from Peter Shilton inFebruary – more milestones await this season

SStteevveenn GGeerrrraarrdd22001122//1133

Minutes played: 3,223

Goals: 9

Pass completion: 86%

Assists: 9

Chances created: 56

Interceptions: 53


stand up for themselves and have abit more to say.

“If you want to be a topplayer, it’s not just about ability,you have to become a leader aswell. That always enhancesyour game.

“There are different types ofleaders. You can lead by the way youplay or how you talk. As the seasongoes on I think you’ll see more fromcertain players as they feel they aremore important for the team.”

Gerrard’s testimonial showcasedthe close bond which existsbetween the player and the Kop.

The thunderous ovation on his lapof honour was a thank-you for 15years of complete dedication to thecause. He has provided theinspiration for so many memorabletriumphs, rescued so many lostcauses. The responsibility heaped onhis shoulders as Liverpool prepareto kick-off the 2013/14 campaignremains great – but Gerrard

wouldn’t want it any other way.“I think that pressure helps with

your own performances and yourown form because you are alwaysstriving for the top,” he said.

“When you have that relationshipyou don’t want to let the fans down.You want to maintain a highstandard every time you go out andplay.

“I don’t think I would enjoy itif I played at a club where therewasn’t the same demands.”

Liverpool’s fans showed exactly what they thought of Gerrard during his well-deserved testimonial

TThhee ssqquuaadd1. Brad Jones GK2. Glen Johnson DF3. Jose Enrique DF4. Kolo Toure DF5. Daniel Agger (vc) DF6. Luis Alberto MF7. Luis Suarez FW8. Steven Gerrard (c) MF9. Iago Aspas FW10. Philippe Coutinho MF11. Oussama Assaidi FW14. Jordan Henderson MF15. Daniel Sturridge FW16. Sebastian Coates DF21. Lucas Leiva MF

22. Simon Mignolet GK24. Joe Allen MF29. Fabio Borini FW31. Raheem Sterling FW34. Martin Kelly DF36. Samed Yesil FW38. Jon Flanagan DF43. Ryan McLaughlin DF44. Jordon Ibe FW45. Stephen Sama DF47. Andre Wisdom DF48. Jerome Sinclair FW50. Adam Morgan FW51. Lloyd Jones DF52. Danny Ward GK

MMoosstt ggaammeess ffoorrLLiivveerrppooooll

1. Ian Callaghan – 8572. Jamie Carragher – 7373= Ray Clemence – 6653= Emlyn Hughes – 665

5. Ian Rush – 6606. Phil Neal – 650

7. Tommy Smith – 6388. Steven Gerrard – 6299. Bruce Grobbelaar – 628

10. Alan Hansen – 620

MMoosstt ggooaallss ffoorrLLiivveerrppooooll

1. Ian Rush – 3462. Roger Hunt – 286

3. Gordon Hodgson – 2414. Billy Liddell – 228

5. Robbie Fowler – 1836. Kenny Dalglish – 172

7. Steven Gerrard – 1598. Michael Owen – 158

9. Harry Chambers – 15110. Jack Parkinson – 130

Freephone from UK landline only. Texts charged at standard network rate. Other markets on request. Prices subject tofluctuation. Betfred rules apply. Over 18s only. Please gamble responsibly – gambleaware.co.uk.

CREAM OFTHE KOP

1/3Liverpool to finish above Everton

2/1Liverpool to finish in the Top 4

15/2Liverpool to finish above Man Utd

16/1Liverpool to be the highest placedNorth West club

Who will be Liverpool’s top goalscorer?6/47/49/215/28/1

9/133/150/166/1

Luis SuarezDaniel SturridgeIago AspasPhillippe CoutinhoSteven Gerrard

Fabio BoriniRaheem SterlingJordan HendersonStewart Downing

All above markets are for the EPL 2013/2014 season

Liverpool to finish higher than Man Utd, Man City and Everton.

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TThhee ppoowweerr ooffO F ALL the

photographs takenduring SteveMcManaman’s

illustrious footballing career,there is one, from 1999, whichnever fails to bring a smile tohis face.

It features McManaman, in hisprime and sporting his trademarkflowing locks, alongside sevenLiverpool team-mates – RobbieFowler, Michael Owen, JamieCarragher, Steven Gerrard,Dominic Matteo, David Thompsonand Stephen Wright.

All eight had worked their waythrough the youth team ranks, allhad Liverpool in their heart, andall had made the jump to firstteam during a rich, eight-year spellat Anfield.

On one occasion, against CeltaVigo in the UEFA Cup, seven ofthose eight (McManaman,ironically, was suspended) featuredin the same first-team squad, withanother Scouser, Jason McAteer,also involved. Two more, DannyMurphy and Steve Harkness, weresigned by the club as teenagers,developing in the youth teambefore stepping up to senior level.

“That probably won’t happenagain,” admits McManaman, nowsettling into his role as a punditfor the newly-launched BT Sportschannel.

“We had eight youth-teamplayers playing in the first team,and that’s before you evenconsider the likes of DannyMurphy, Steve Harkness orJamie Redknapp, who weresigned as young lads andgrew up as footballers atLiverpool. It’sincredible to thinkthat was only, what,15 years ago.”

McMananaman, ofcourse, was the first ofthat crop to emerge atLiverpool, making his senior debutin December 1990, and going onto represent the club 364 timesbefore leaving for Real Madrid.

And he is watching with interestthe development of a new bunchof young talents at Anfield.

Necessity has played itspart, but Brendan Rodgers’first, troubled season atLiverpool saw three teenagers– Raheem Sterling, Suso andAndre Wisdom – make a totalof 75 senior appearancesbetween them.

Meanwhile, the likes of JordonIbe, Conor Coady, Lloyd Jones,Stephen Sama, Samed Yesil, AdamMorgan and Jerome Sinclair allfeatured with the first team atvarious stages. Liverpool fielded,on average, the youngest startingline-up in the Premier League.

Few things excite supporters like

a young talent making his way upthrough the ranks, free ofpressure, devoid of ego,untarnished by the cynical,money-driven nature of the sport.McManaman, naturally, is enthusedby Liverpool’s youth-friendlypolicy.

“I think it is absolutely fantasticwhen the club brings playersthrough,” he says. “Whathappened when I was playing,where we had eight or nineScousers in the same squad,probably isn’t going to happenagain.

“It’s getting harder and harder to

do that because the world is asmaller, more competitive place,and rather than investing in yourown, you can go and get peoplefrom here, there and everywhere,which is what everyone else does.

“I have to say, I appreciate itmore when I see one of the locallads coming through, and I thinkthe fans do too. I think it makes ita little bit warmer for supportersto see one of their ownrepresenting the city and theclub.”

The likes of Sterling, of course,do not, technically speaking,qualify as ‘local’ products. Signed

from QPR as a schoolboy, theJamaica-born winger hasflourished at Anfield and, free ofthe niggling injuries which stoppedhim in his tracks last season, isbeing tipped for a big campaignthis time around, with Ibe, 12months his junior, alreadybreathing down his neck followingan excellent showing inpre-season.

“People need to understandthat, God bless them, theseare only young kids,” saysMcManaman.

“Raheem Sterling is 18-years-old,a boy, and so we have to give him

lots of time to develop and learnto pick the right ball at the righttime.

“The fans know. They’re notstupid. They know Raheem is notJohn Barnes, who was signed as abona fide superstar, so they don’texpect him to be an absolutegenius straight away.

“The main thing is that he keepsdeveloping, keeps improving, andhopefully turns into thefully-fledged superstar thateverybody wants him to be.

“It’s the same with Jordon Ibe.He’s played for Wycombe atsenior level, but he’s so young. He

SteveMcManamanwith RobbieFowler andJamieCarragher

BYNEIL

JONES


needs to develop and to be giventime, we need to get behind himand give him lots ofencouragement.

“These players will make lots ofmistakes. Of course they will,because they’re only 17, 18. It’sthe same across the game. I lookat (Wilfried) Zaha at ManchesterUnited, he cost them a lot ofmoney and obviously has immensetalent, but I watched theCommunity Shield game againstWigan and he does lots and lotsof things wrong as well.

“It is all about patience,making sure they develop,

teaching them the rightthings and helping themprogress into stars.

“As I say, these are kids, learningthe trade and learning their game.But hopefully with the rightcoaching and the right attitude,they can get there in the end.

“Both Raheem and Jordon lookreally good players. They arepretty similar, they have a trickand they are quick and like to takepeople on.

“The key for Raheem is to keepimproving and adding to theirgame. He is not what you wouldcall a surprise package any more.

“People know what he wants todo, they know he wants to takepeople on and he likes to go onhis right foot.

“It’s up to him now to developand to become a better, morevaried player. The same will applyto Jordon, who has done reallywell in pre-season.”

Whatever happens, it promisesto be an interesting season onMerseyside. Doors have closed atAnfield in recent years, but othershave been left ajar.

And the next generation ofyoung players, it would appear, areknocking louder and louder.

11 22

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QQUUIIZZ PPaarrtt IITThhee 22001122//1133 sseeaassoonn

Who scoredLiverpool’sfirst goal inthe PremierLeague lastseason?

Name theReds’ threeGroup Aopponents inthe EuropaLeague.

Who nettedboth Liverpoolgoals in their2-1 CapitalOne Cup thirdround winover WestBrom?

Which sidewas the lastto defeatBrendanRodgers’team in theleague lastseason?

1MartinSkrtel;2AnzhiMakhachkala,UdineseandYoungBoys;310;4NuriSahin;5Southampton

JORDON IBEAge: 18Position: WingerFirst team appearances: 1Quick, two-footed and skilful,Ibe made his Reds debut onthe final day of the seasonagainst QPR, and shone in theU18s’ run to the semi-finals ofthe FA Youth Cup. Looking tofollow in the footsteps ofRaheem Sterling in the next12 months, and has enjoyed aprominent role in the Reds'pre-season campaign.

JEROMESINCLAIR

Age: 16Position: StrikerFirst team appearances: 1Blessed with physicality as wellas subtlety, Sinclair has made abig impact with the club’s U18team, and became the Reds’youngest ever first-teamerwhen featuring against WestBrom, his former club, in theCapital One Cup last season.Injuries have hampered him oflate, but he has the tools tomake a big impact.

LLOYDJONES

Age: 17Position: CentraldefenderFirst team appearances: 0Tall, commanding and afearless attacker of the ball,Jones was part of the Reds’travelling squad at Fulhamback in May, and is very highlythought of by club staff. Mayneed a little longer to bloomin one of the mostdemanding positions on thefield.

JORDANROSSITER

Age: 16Position: CentralmidfielderFirst team appearances: 0Established himself as anU18 mainstay aged just 15,and possesses a maturityand composure inpossession which belies hisyears.

Already captain ofEngland’s U17 team, thoughAcademy coaches are keento ensure his developmentstays under the radar for thetime being.

JOAOCARLOS

TEIXEIRAAge: 20Position: CentralmidfielderFirst team appearances: 0Taken a while to find hisfeet following an £850,000move from Sporting Lisbonlast year, but has thetechnical ability, spatialawareness and mobility tobecome an excellent player.

The pick of the currentU21 crop, though may lacka little physically at thisstage.

FFIIVVEE ttoo wwaattcchh

PROFILES BY NEIL JONES

Clockwise from top left: Jordon Ibe, Jerome Sinclair,Lloyd Jones, Jordan Rossiter. Centre: Joao CarlosTeixeira

“We hadeight or

nineScousers

in thesquad...

thatprobably

won’thappenagain.”

YYOOUUTTHH

33How manyPremierLeague goalsdid DanielSturridgescore forLiverpool lastseason?


AAuugguusstt17 12.45pm Stoke City H24 5.30pm Aston Villa A

SSeepptteemmbbeerr01 1.30pm Manchester United H16 8pm Swansea City A21 3pm Southampton H29 4pm Sunderland A

OOccttoobbeerr05 3pm Crystal Palace H19 12.45pm Newcastle United A26 3pm West Brom H

NNoovveemmbbeerr02 5.30pm Arsenal A09 3pm Fulham H23 12.45pm Everton A

DDeecceemmbbeerr01 1.30pm Hull City A04 7.45pm Norwich City H07 3pm West Ham Utd H14 3pm Tottenham Hotspur A21 3pm Cardiff City H26 3pm Manchester City A28 3pm Chelsea A

JJaannuuaarryy01 3pm Hull City H11 3pm Stoke City A18 3pm Aston Villa H28 8pm Everton H

FFeebbrruuaarryy01 3pm West Brom A08 3pm Arsenal H12 8pm Fulham A22 3pm Swansea City H

MMaarrcchh01 3pm Southampton A08 3pm Sunderland H15 3pm Manchester United A22 3pm Cardiff City A29 3pm Tottenham Hotspur H

AApprriill05 3pm West Ham United A12 3pm Manchester City H19 3pm Norwich City A26 3pm Chelsea H

MMaayy03 3pm Crystal Palace A11 3pm Newcastle United H

Fixtures 2013/14


FFaannss bbeehhiinnddON THE set of

Betfred’s swanky TVstudio in the heartof Manchester’s

Media City is sat one ofLiverpool’s mostexperiencedgoalkeepers.

Sitting comfortably inthe surroundings thathave become as familiarto him as his time spentbetween the Anfieldgoalposts, is the formerEngland international, David James.

The 43-year-old has just embarkedon a new career in TV as BT Sport’snew football analyst. But James washere to share his views on thecurrent goalkeeping crop at Anfield.

James spent seven years with theReds from 1992 – featuring in morethan 200 games – and the selfconfessed stat-man endured manyhighs and lows during his time onMerseyside.

So who better to shed a light onthe pressures that await Anfield’snew signing Simon Mignolet?

James has been encouraged by theearly displays from the Belgiuminternational throughout the Reds’pre-season campaign, but admittedit will take time for him to adapt tothe gargantuan support whichLiverpool harness – and theexpectations which come with it.

“He’s got to know that theLiverpool fans are behind him,”James said.

“I think this is where the anxietycomes from because you think youhave to try your best, and of courseyou do. But the start point is thatthey’re behind you – so therefore goout and enjoy it.

“He knows he has thecapabilities to perform at thislevel. Brendan Rodgers hasspent £9million on him and he’snot going to do that withoutdoing his homework.

“But you can take the big transferfee two ways. You can take it as aburden that ‘Wow, I have toproduce’, or you can take it as a signthat ‘the club really like me’.

“The absolute starting point forhim is that the Liverpool fans areright behind him. I mean, strewth,playing in front of the Kop and infront of a Liverpool team winning; itdoesn’t get much better than that.

“He’s used to the crowd becausehe’s played at Anfield before but hewill have got used to everyonesupporting the opposition.

“All of a sudden that support isbehind you. Stevie (Gerrard) saidthey played in front of 250,000people on their tour. I mean that’s amassive amount of support, in adifferent country and it shows themagnitude of what you’re actuallygetting involved in.

“But I like the fact Liverpool areinvesting in a young goalkeeper.Obviously I’d prefer it to be an

say ‘oh there’s Bruce’.But when I went to the

club I was there tocompete against him. And

when I did take over theposition and he went, he was

very gracious about it.“I can see the logic in not

keeping hold of Reina – but I stillthink he is an incrediblegoalkeeper.

“He’s done so much well over agood period of time. Granted youcould argue he wasn’t at his best insome periods in the last couple ofyears.

“He’ll be good again and that’s thething. For him to sit on a bench, itdoesn’t give him the opportunity tobe good again. So he had to getout.”

James, who now plies his trade

English goalkeeper but Rodgers islooking at the long-term picture and

that’s good.”Mignolet made the movefrom Sunderland for an

initial £9million fee thissummer and has sincefeatured in everypre-season game,producing some very

assured performances.However, James reckons

the 25-year-old will have tomake a few minor tweaks in orderto suit Rodgers’ style of play.

“I saw him at the Stevie Gtestimonial and I think you saw bothsides of him there,” James added.

“When Liverpool signed him myquery was whether or not he’d fitinto what I see as Brendan Rodgers’style.

“He likes goalkeepers with gooddistribution with the ability to usetheir feet. There were a fewexamples in that game where hestruggled.

“When Pepe Reina was at the clubhis distribution was phenomenal.

“Having looked at a few of thestats Reina played so many balls outof the back compared to Mignolet,who was more of along-ball kicker.

“Now some ofSunderland’s styleof play may havedictated that,but he didcome acrossconfidently in thesecond half.

“Reina at his best,you didn’t worry about him in anyposition in the game. However, hewas more confident when he waspunching the ball than when he wascatching it.

“Personal choice? If you’recatching the ball the game is deadand the ball is in your hands.

“Mignolet is more of acatcher and he showed he hasthe confidence to go and dothat.”

Added the former Anfieldstopper: “I think he’s a very goodacquisition.

“The tweaks that I’m talking aboutare for the manager to deal withand for the coaches to help him tofeel more confident. Whether it isback passes or collecting the ball.”

James’ career at Anfield came toan end in 1999 when he was sold toAston Villa for £1.8million after thearrival of American goalkeeper BradFreidel put his hold on a startingposition in jeopardy.

James holds no great sympathy forReina – and believes it is just theevolution of football.

Reina was shipped out on loan tobe reunited with the man whobrought him to Anfield, RafaBenitez, now in charge at Napoli.

Over the course of the summerthe Spanish international had been

BYALE

X

RAE

courting a move back home toBarcelona and his flirtations withthe Nou Camp ultimately costhim his place at Anfield.

“It’s evolution,” James said.“I took over from Bruce

(Grobbelaar) and he was a biginfluence on the way I played mygame.

“Arguably when I dropped acouple of crosses people would

SSiimmoonn MMiiggnnoolleettBorn: Sint-Truiden (Belgium) March

6, 1988Height: 6ft 4in

Previous Clubs: Sint-Truiden,Sunderland

Cost: £9m plus add-onsInternational Caps: 13 (Belgium)Honours: Belgian second division(2008-09), Belgian goalkeeper of the

year (2009-10)


SSIIMMOONN

with Icelandic club IBV – where hecombines an assistant manager rolewith playing – harbours concernsthat there isn’t enough quality onthe bench should Mignolet have todrop out for any reason.

“Liverpool’s concern is that you’vegot Mignolet in goal but theirback-up in Brad Jones is not goodenough,” James said.

“My situation when I was at the

club was that Bruce was still there.So if I dropped out, Bruce went in.

“If for any reason Mignolet wasn’table to play then Brad Jones willhave to step in.

“But they don’t already fancy himbecause otherwise he would havestepped up from Reina.”

The Reds rounded off theirpre-season campaign with a 1-0defeat at the hands of Celtic in

Dublin last weekend.Rodgers’ side have looked solid

over the summer and with possiblesignings still to come, the squad aredetermined to mount an assault ona top four place.

Mignolet will be fundamental inproviding a solid platform – and alleyes will be on him when the Redskick-off the season against Stokeat Anfield on Saturday.

SimonMignolethas beenworkinghard on thepitch and(inset) intraining.Left: DavidJames

11 2233

5544

QQUUIIZZ PPaarrtt IIIIBBrreennddaann RRooddggeerrss

For whichNorthernIreland sidedid BrendanRodgers playas a defender?

BrendanRodgersserved underthreemanagers atChelsea –name them.

Whom didBrendanRodgersreplace asReadingboss in thesummer of2009?

By what score didBrendan Rodgers’Swansea Citydefeat Reading inthe 2011Championshipplay-off final?

In whichNorthernIrelandvillage wasBrendanRodgersborn in1973?

1BallymenaUnited;2JoseMourinho,AvramGrantandLuizFelipeScolari;3SteveCoppell;44-2;5Carnlough

SSiimmoonn MMiiggnnoolleett22001122//1133

Minutes played: 3,420

Saves: 149

Goals conceded: 54

Clean sheets: 11

Best game: Tottenham (a),May 19 – 10 saves


FFiilllliinngg tthheeS PANISH imports have

played a major role inshaping the recent history ofLiverpool.

The path from southern Europe toAnfield is a well worn one and so thehope is the latest Spanish influx will findtheir transition smooth.

Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto weresnapped up by manager Brendan Rodgersthis summer to join a growing list of theircountryman to have played for the Reds.

Aspas, a £7m signing from Celta Vigo,looks like featuring more prominentlythis season than the younger Alberto, a£6.8m acquisition from Sevilla.

The former Celta man has struck fourtimes in pre-season and with Luis Suarezbanned for the opening six games of theseason and Daniel Sturridge on his wayback from injury, Aspas is in pole positionto face Stoke City.

“He’s a great talent, one that Brendanidentified a long time ago,” said the Reds’managing director Ian Ayre.

“The scouting network and everybodyelse have done a lot of hard work to gethim here and I’m pleased that we’ve beenable to get his signature and have him inthe squad.”

Aspas has shown flashes of magnificentskill and was the stand-out player in thefirst-half of Steven Gerrard’s testimonialagainst Olympiacos.

Question marks have been raised overhis ability to cope with the physicaldemands of the Premier League buthaving lead Celta to safety in La Liga lastseason, he has shown a stomach for thefight.

Alberto arrives on Merseyside havingspent the previous 12 months in one ofworld football’s most fertile breedinggrounds.

Sevilla loaned the 20-year-old toBarcelona B, the Spanish giants’ secondstring and though Barca passed on theoption to sign him permanently,Liverpool were quick to pounce.

Alberto scored his first goal for theReds against Valerenga and Rodgers isthrilled to have him on board.

“Luis has the correct footballing profileand mentality to be a Liverpool player,”said Rodgers.

“I look forward to working with him todevelop his talent and he joins a group ofyoung exciting players at our club.”

SSppaanniisshh RReeddssccoouulldd pprroovveejjuusstt tthhee ttoonniicc

Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas train inIndonesia in pre-season VVOOIIDD

H IS feet are a modest sizeeight. But while thestrapping Kolo Toure willhave no problem filling

Jamie Carragher’s boots physicallythis season, metaphorically theretired Liverpool icon will leave achasm at the heart of the Redsdefence.

Carragher wasn’t just a defender – andan enormously talented and reliable oneat that.

He was an organiser, a self-drivenleader, a dressing room motivator, acommunicator of club principles toforeign footballers perhaps unaware ofjust what was expected of a Liverpoolplayer. And from his return to the Redsstarting line-up from January onwards,Jamie Carragher was Liverpool’s bestdefender.

They are the very big boots for Toureto step into, but Carragher himself hasno fears about the man who is followinghim into the Reds rearguard.

“He’s got experience and awinning mentality,” said Carragher.“He was part of the Invincibles atArsenal which is an achievement initself.

“He’s been at Manchester City and nowhe’s come to Liverpool – and he’ll addsomething, of course he will.

“He can play centre-back, he canplay in a three at the back and atfull-back in an emergency.

“It’s a very good signing by themanager of the club.”

It’s such a good signing that BrendanRodgers, a manager who has chasedKyriakos Papadopoulos and Tiago Iloriand been linked with Ashley Williams,

Brazilian international Dede, TobyAlderweireld of Ajax and Feyenoord’sStefan de Vrij, says he evenreconsidered his plans to buyanother established centre-back.

Toure, a free transfer fromManchester City, was initially viewed

as a squad player, but such has beenthe consistency and the authority of his

displays pre-season that he now looksincreasingly likely to kick-off the newseason alongside Daniel Agger at theheart of the Reds defence.

“Defensively, I think we’ll be fine,”Rodgers said. “Kolo has been terrificsince he came in here. He may be 32years of age but he’s super fit and ingreat condition.

“He’s a player who has lookedafter himself all his life. His age isno barrier and he’s someone with awinning mentality.

“He’s someone we felt could come inand support the group with hisexperience and his qualities. I’ve lookedat him over the course of his career and

BYDAVID

PRENTIC

E

KKoolloo TToouurreeBorn: Bouake (Ivory Coast)

March 19, 1981

Height: 5ft 10in

Previous Clubs: ASEC Mimosas(Youth), Arsenal, Manchester

City

Cost: Free transfer

International Caps: 106 (IvoryCoast)

Honours: Ivory Coast PremierDivision 2001 & 2002, Ivory

Coast Super Cup 1999, PremierLeague 2003-04 & 2011-12, FA

Cup 2002-03, 2004-05 &2010-11, FA Community Shield

2002, 2004 & 2012


11 22

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QQUUIIZZPPaarrtt IIIIIITThhee nneeww bbooyyss

From whichclub did theReds sign LuisAlberto?

In which yeardid Kolo Touremake his fullinternationaldebut for IvoryCoast?

SimonMignoletbegan hisprofessionalcareer withwhich Belgianteam?

How manygoals did IagoAspas scorefor CeltaVigo in LaLiga lastseason?

1Seville;22000;3Three;4Sint-Truiden;5Twelve

33 How manyFA Cupwinner’smedalsdoes KoloTourehave?

watched him a lot last year. Having seenhim first hand since he joined the club,he will be very good for us this season.

“We have a number of otheroutstanding centre-halves in DanielAgger and Martin Skrtel. We also have anup-and-coming top talent in AndreWisdom who will be a very goodcentre-half for Liverpool in the future.And we still have Sebastian Coates too.”

Despite the number of centre-backs atAnfield, it will be Carragher’s absencewhich will be felt most keenly.

Toure himself is aware of the stature ofthe player he is replacing.

“It’s hard because Jamie is Jamie,” heexplained. “He was a fantastic player forLiverpool and in his time here, he wasamazing.

“For me, I just like to try to do things myway , but I think it’s going to be reallydifficult to replace him. I will give my all andit’s going to be a great challenge for me.

“I’m still really hungry for more. Istill think I can bring more infootball.

“This season is going to be massive forme. I will just try to show that I am stillone of the best defenders. For adefender, 32 is nothing and physically Ifeel great.

“When I left City it was important forme to stay in England because it’s thebest league – and to join Liverpool ismassive for me.

“I chose Liverpool because of thehistory and because of the spirit of theteam and the people here.”

People like Jamie Carragher...

Kolo Toure willprovide somesteel after theretirement ofJamie Carragher(below left)


FFrriieennddllyyPRESTON

NORTH END 0LIVERPOOL 4(Coutinho pen,Ibe, Sterling,

Aspas) – July 13

G LORIOUS sunshinegreeted Liverpool’ssupporters as theymade the short trip

up the M6 to Deepdale for theReds’ first friendly of thesummer, and they weretreated to the most routine ofwins.

Preston were no match for theirPremier League counterparts.Debuts for Simon Mignolet, KoloToure, Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas,who marked his with a goal, werenotable, as was Jordon Ibe’s firstsenior Reds goal, as Liverpool liftedthe Bill Shankly Shield.

Philippe Coutinho opened thescoring, converting a penalty afterhe had been pulled back by formerAnfield Academy prospect JohnWelsh. Ibe added a second beforehalf-time, firing home inside thenear post from 20 yards.

Raheem Sterling made it 3-0 afterthe break, racing clear to round thegoalkeeper, and Aspas put the sealon things with a 20-yard curler thatNorth End ‘keeper ThorstenStuckman dived straight past.

INDONESIA XI0 LIVERPOOL 2

(Coutinho,Sterling) – July 20

L IVERPOOL arrived inJakarta to a hero’swelcome, with Redsfans mobbing them at

the airport, and thousandsturning out just to watch themtrain at the Gelora BungKarno National Stadium.

It was a similar scenario onmatchday, as the Indonesian fanswelcomed their idols with openarms. They were treated to a Redsstarting line-up which featuredskipper Steven Gerrard. Gerrardplayed the first half, but it wasCoutinho again who stole theshow, opening the scoring witha low finish after 10 minutes.

Liverpool were given a decentexamination by their hosts, butcontinued to carve out chances. Itwas not until three minutes fromtime, though, that they doubledtheir lead, Jordon Ibe running 60yards before teeing up OussamaAssaidi, who rolled the ball squarefor Raheem Sterling to score.

MELBOURNEVICTORY 0

LIVERPOOL 2(Gerrard, Aspas)

– July 24

THE return of LuisSuarez was thetalking point, but fewinside the MCG will

ever forget the sound of 90,000supporters belting out ‘You’llNever Walk Alone’.

Liverpool’s first visit to Australiawas undoubtedly a successful one,and they maintained their unbeatenstart to pre-season against theirA-League opponents.

Steven Gerrard gave them thelead, sweeping home a pass fromJoe Allen on 32 minutes, thoughLiverpool were made to work by arapid, well-drilled Melbourne.

The second half saw Luis Suarez,amid a wave of stories about hisfuture, make his first outing sinceApril. The Uruguayan managed 18minutes after replacing FabioBorini, and laid on a goal for IagoAspas in the final minute.

BYNEIL

JONES

Philippe Coutinho celebrateshis goal at Preston with JordanHenderson

Above, Redsfans in Jakarta;right, IagoAspas scoresat the MCG

PPrree--sseeaassoonnrreeccoorrdd

Played: 7

Won: 6

Drawn: 0

Lost: 1

Goals for: 17

Goals against: 2

Top scorer: Iago Aspas(4)


FFIIRREETHAILAND XI 0

LIVERPOOL 3(Coutinho,

Aspas, Gerrard)– July 27

THE final leg ofLiverpool’s tour tookthem to Bangkok,where they received

another warm welcome fromlocals.

The Rajamangala NationalStadium was the setting as theReds continued their miserly form.Philippe Coutinho put them aheadon 17 minutes, dribbling beyond aclutch of challenges to slide homehis third goal in four matches.

Iago Aspas added number twofour minutes after half time, theSpaniard side-footing home aCoutinho pass. Aspas then laid ona third for Steven Gerrard, drawingthe Thai ‘keeper out of his goal forGerrard to lift a delicate chip intothe net.

There were 28 more minutes forLuis Suarez, who was cheered byReds supporters.

LIVERPOOL 2OLYMPIACOS 0

(Allen,Henderson) –

August 3

A FITTING day tomark the career ofone of Anfield’sall-time greats.

Olympiacos were theopponents as a full house sawSteven Gerrard reach hisLiverpool testimonial.

A host of Gerrard’s formercoaches and team-mates turnedout to celebrate the occasion.Gerard Houllier, John Arne Riiseand Emile Heskey were in thestands, whilst Jamie Carragher andRobbie Fowler were on the pitchas second-half substitutes.

Gerrard, given a standing ovationby a sell-out crowd, played 85minutes, as Liverpool treated thegame seriously.

Joe Allen gave them the lead,sliding in Iago Aspas’ cross-shot atthe far post on 24 minutes. JordanHenderson, Allen’s replacement,then made it 2-0 on 63 minutes,less than 60 seconds after hisintroduction as a substitute.

VALERENGA 1LIVERPOOL 4(Luis Alberto,Aspas, Kelly,Sterling) –August 7

THE Luis Suarez affairdominated theheadlines as Liverpoolheaded for Oslo.

Suarez remained onMerseyside with a foot injury,but it was his interview withtwo national newspapers, inwhich he made clear his desireto leave Anfield, whichprovided the main talkingpoint.

A much-changed Liverpool sidetook the lead after 31 minutes inNorway, new signing Luis Albertoguiding his first goal for the club inon the volley. Valerenga hit backimmediately with a goal from aset-piece, but Iago Aspas convertedStewart Downing’s low cross torestore Liverpool’s advantagebefore half time.

Martin Kelly, back after along-term injury, made it 3-1 with abundled finish after the break, andRaheem Sterling added some glossto the scoreline, sweeping home inthe final minute.

CELTIC 1LIVERPOOL 0 -

August 10

THE Dublin Deciderdecided very little, ofcourse, but Liverpoolended their

pre-season campaign with afirst defeat, as a second-stringCeltic triumphed at aboisterous Aviva Stadium.

It was a shame the football didn’tmatch the support. Amido Balde’sfirst-half goal was enough to give anexperimental Celtic side the win,though Liverpool should really havetaken one of a number of chances.Lukasz Zaluska and SteveMouyokolo thwarted PhilippeCoutinho, Stewart Downing and afit-again Daniel Sturridge.

Sturridge played the entiresecond half, his first run out sinceMay, and looked sharp. Liverpool,though, were rather moretoothless, without Luis Suarez oncemore.

Jose Enrique battles for the ball in Bangkok

Steven Gerrard congratulates Joe Allen on hisgoal against Olympiacos

Jon Flanagan congratulatesLuis Alberto on his goal againstValerenga

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QQUUIIZZPPaarrtt IIVVTTeenn yyeeaarrss aaggoo

LiverpoolsigneddefenderSteve Finnanfrom whichclub in thesummer of2003?

The Redsopened theseason with a2-1 home lossto Chelsea.Who scoredLiverpool’sgoal from thespot?

Carling Cup holdersLiverpool wereknocked out at homeat the fourth roundstage of thecompetition by whichside?

1Fulham;2MichaelOwen;3StevenGerrard;4Marseille;5BoltonWanderers

33 Whichplayer worethe number17 shirt forLiverpoolthat season?

44WhichFrenchteamknockedLiverpoolout of theUEFACup atthefourthroundstage?


SSTTAATT aattttaacckk22338877Steven Gerrard’s total of 2,387 passes was theleague’s fifth highest last season

9977..66The skippercreated achancefrom a setplay every97.6minutes –the fifthhighestrate in theleague

9944Gerrardcreateda totalof 94chances– thefifthhighestin theleague...

... while nine ofthem wereconverted,placing himseventh in theleague for assists– and the onlyman in the top10 not to play fora ChampionsLeague club99

22Simon Mignoletmade two errorslast season, a rateof one every 19games – Pepe Reinamade six, or oneevery 5.2 games

MartinSkrtel,JoseEnriqueandRaheemSterlingall won85% oftheirtackles

1122333399

Daniel Sturridgeaveraged a shot ontarget every 39minutes

11998855%%

Reds pair DanielAgger and GlenJohnson were firstand fourth amongdefenders to havemade the mostpasses – first andsecond wereAshley Williamsand Angel Rangel,of BrendanRodgers’ formerclub, Swansea

LucasLeiva’stotal of123tackleswas thesecondhighest inthe league– eventhough heonlyplayed 26games

Liverpool FC preseason 2013

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