Brendan Rodgers agrees deal to become new Reds manager

Brendan Rodgers has agreed a deal to become the new manager of Liverpool Football Club.

The 39-year-old is understood to have agreed a three-year contract at Anfield and his appointment is likely to be officially confirmed within 24 hours.

Liverpool will pay Swansea City between £4m and £5m in compensation to secure the Northern Irishman's services.

Liverpool sacked former manager Kenny Dalglish on 16 May after finishing eighth in the Premier League.

The Reds were 17 points away from a Champions League qualification spot, but won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final.

In contrast, Rodgers guided his Swansea side to an impressive first season in the top flight, including a 1-0 win over Liverpool on the final day of the season.

After parting ways with Dalglish, Liverpool embarked on an extensive search for a new manager.

The Reds were linked not only with Rodgers and Wigan manager Roberto Martinez but also former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas,  ex-England coach Fabio Capello,  and Ajax manager Frank de Boer. 

Rodgers declined the opportunity to speak to Liverpool about the vacancy 12 days ago, and instead the club's hierarchy sought a meeting with Wigan's Martinez.

But it appears Rodgers was always the preferred candidate, despite Wigan chairman Dave Whelan at one point suggesting his manager had been offered the job at Anfield.

Rodgers' managerial career began at Watford in 2008 after coaching spells at Reading and Chelsea.

His return to Reading was an unhappy onebut, after his appointment as Swansea boss in July 2010, Rodgers guided his Welsh side to promotion to the top flight in May 2011, making Swansea the first Welsh team to reach the Premier League.


Via -> BBC

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Louis van Gaal - I'll Be Joining Liverpool

Louis van Gaal says he's joining Liverpool as Martinez considers offer

Louis van Gaal believes that Liverpool will make an official announcement of his appointment at the club by the end of the week.

However, it is still unclear whether he will be the manager of the Anfield club or a sporting director.

The Dutchman has told those close to him that he is considering an offer from Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owners of Liverpool.Liverpool currently have two vacancies after Damien Comolli and Kenny Dalglish left the Merseyside club and the owners have been in discussions with a number of candidates for each job.

Despite being initially approached about the sporting director role, Van Gaal has made it clear he would be happy to succeed King Kenny in the Anfield dugout.

There is still confusion over the situation as outspoken Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has claimed that Latics boss Roberto Martinez has been offered the manager's role at Liverpool.He met with the owners in Miami earlier this week about the role and it is thought he would not be happy to work under a sporting director.Swansea's Brendan Rodgers, Jürgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund and Ajax's Frank de Boer have all turned down the opportunity to discuss a move to Anfield.

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Liverpool Manager News: Reds Approach van Gaal as Martinez Decision Nears

                

















  








   


Liverpool chiefs have spoken to Louis van Gaal with the intention of making him the club's first ever sporting director, according to the Telegraph.

The Reds are reportedly looking to shake up their management structure ahead of the new season and it is believed the role offered to van Gaal would be similar to the one occupied by former director of football Damien Comolli, who was shown the door in April. The report adds that Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre flew to the Dutchman's summer residence in the Algarve to discuss the position.

However, van Gaal recently revealed he was eager to work with players and wanted to return to football as a manager. He reportedly stressed he was not keen on an administrative role, a declaration that seems to rule him out of the position Liverpool are offering. Nevertheless, an earlier IBTimes UK report suggested the 60 year old could well also be seen as one of the candidates to replace Kenny Dalglish.

Van Gaal has seven league titles to his managerial credit - from Spain,Germany and Holland - and has also won the Champions League, during his time at Ajax. He is presently unemployed, after a spell with German club Bayern Munich, and is believed to be keen on a move to England.

Meanwhile, Wigan Athletic will hold a press conference on Tuesday where they expect Roberto Martinez to announce whether he is joining Liverpool, reports the Daily Mirror. The Spaniard has held talks with Reds' owner John Henry in Miami and Wigan chairman Dave Whelan earlier stated Martinez had been officially offered the manager's post at Anfield, only for Liverpool to dismiss those claims.

However, the 38 year old is still considered the favourite to nab the position at this point. Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers, Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp and Ajax coach Frank de Boer have all already rejected approaches from Anfield, while Andre Villas-Boas revealed he would not be rushed and wanted to study all his options carefully before committing to a club.

Club captain Steven Gerrard has already pledged his full support to Martinez if he gets the job.

"We'll have to wait and see. I'm aware Roberto Martinez has been talking to the club but all I've heard about him is positive. If he is going to be the manager, he's got my full support," ESPN quoted the 31 year old as saying.

Martinez took charge at the DW Stadium after arriving from Swansea City in 2009.

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Guardiola Ready To Be Seduced By Liverpool

ARE we waking up to the news that every single Liverpool fan has been waiting for, the reason why FSG have remained silent until now about the Kings replacement and the headlines that could rock the Premier League to its core?

Well if Señor Guardiola is to be taken to his word then maybe, just maybe, Anfield could be about to welcome Pep to Liverpool Football club as their new Manager.

The news will thrill every Kopite and leave us coiled in anticipation of the next week’s events.

In an interview taken before the upcoming Spanish cup final against Europa League finalists and Manchester United conquerors Athletic Bilbao the mercurial Spaniard admits he could be ‘seduced’ into scrapping his 12 month sabbatical by accepting a role elsewhere.

When pressed on his future Guardiola said:

“I will receive all calls with pleasure, but for the next month I have to recharge my batteries and my mind. I will rest and wait. I will be ready, if one club wants me, if they seduce me, I will train again”.

His comments will no doubt have messrs Henry and Abramovich in a no holds barred battle to secure the much acclaimed Barcelona idol. With Roberto Di Matteo delivering the FA cup and UEFA Champions League for Chelsea already this month perhaps Pep would see Liverpool as a more interesting proposition and would relish the challenge of restoring one of the world’s greatest football clubs to its rightful place at the pinnacle of domestic and European football.

I think I speak for every Liverpool fan worldwide when I say I certainly hope so. YNWA!

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Liverpool planning fresh Guardiola approach

Liverpool will make another effort to discover this weekend whether they can convince Pep Guardiola to take over the managerial reins at Anfield.

The Reds have previously made enquires through Pere Guardiola, Pep's brother and also agent to Luis Suarez, but have not received a response from the outgoing Barcelona boss.

Guardiola had initially claimed he wanted to take a sabbatical from football to recharge his batteries, but hinted earlier this week that he could be willing to take on a new job in the summer.

That has put Chelsea and Liverpool on red alert, and the Reds will again try to make contact with the Spaniard, who won the Copa del Rey on Friday in his last match as Barca manager.

Roberto Martinez has already held initial talks with Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) but is thought to want more control over transfers than is being suggested at present.

Guardiola, on the other hand, is used to working in the sort of system FSG want to implement, with his focus on coaching the team while a sporting director identifies transfer targets.

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Joe Cole - I want to prove myself at LFC

Unwanted Liverpool ace keen on making it work at Anfield

A year is a long time in football, ask former England international Joe Cole. While the rest of his former teammates get ready for the European Championships next month, Cole is leaving Lille after an excellent season long loan spell that has helped him regain both fitness and confidence.

The 30-year old midfielder was a cult hero at West Ham United, and had many eventful years in the Blue of Chelsea before signing for Liverpool a couple of seasons ago on a free transfer. His Liverpool career though never really took off. He was sent off on debut against Arsenal, and in an effort to reduce the wage bill around the club and shift focus towards signing young talent, Kenny Dalglish banished Cole to France for a year.

With Kenny having been sacked though, Cole returns to Merseyside full of hope. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Joe said, “There is still a part of me that would really love to make it work there and I don’t want to have a bad spell at Anfield on my CV. But it is out of my hands now…We have got to speak to Liverpool and see what happens there.”

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Dalglish leads Ablett tributes

Kenny Dalglish has today led the tributes to Gary Ablett who sadly passed away on Sunday night after a 16-month battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

It was the Reds boss who handed Ablett his debut against Charlton Athletic in December 1986 before the Aigburth-born defender went on to win two league titles and an FA Cup during an Anfield playing career that spanned 147 games.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv on Monday, Dalglish said: "The most important thing just now is to pay our respects to Gary, his wife Jacqueline, the two boys and his wee girl.

"It's a sad, sad day for his family and everyone connected with Liverpool Football Club. Obviously he had a long battle and I'm sure it was a lot of suffering and a lot of pain for him, but the only thing you can say is at least he won't be suffering any longer.

"I gave Gary his debut and remember him scoring on his first start at Anfield against Nottingham Forest.

"He was a really good servant to the football club not only as a player, but also as reserve team coach.

"He served the club proudly and credibly. It's very sad for everybody."

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Stevie is looking superb says KD

Kenny Dalglish today spoke of his delight that captain Steven Gerrard is back in action and admitted he is looking sharper than the last time he returned.

The Reds skipper returned as a second half substitute during the Boxing Day draw with Blackburn Rovers, and the boss said he will ease him back into the team.

"Steven was back to full fitness before he got a freak injury and that's why he had to recover again, but the two of them weren't related and he is back and looks even better than he did the last time he came back.

"But we are not going to be irresponsible and throw him in and take a chance. We know he's fit and we know he just needs game time in the same way as we monitored him through last time and we'll do the same this time.

"He looks superb at the moment."

Dalglish was also asked how big a lift Gerrard's return has given to the rest of the squad.

He added: "We have got three captains in the dressing room in Stevie, Carra and Pepe so we've always said it's best to have your strongest players, your best players, fit and around the squad, so we've got the three captains in there now and it must make us better and stronger.

"Given a bit of luck in front of goal I think it will make us a lot stronger on the pitch as well."

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Liverpool FC: 3 Strikers That Would Arrive in a Perfect World

Liverpool have encountered a somewhat major stumbling block in the form of an eight-match ban for star striker Luis Suarez. Though the ban will be appealed, the ban will still take place. Regardless of Suarez's inclusion in the starting lineup, Liverpool need a striker that will score goals.

Suarez isn't clinical at times, Kuyt has looked off the mark, Bellamy has to be used sparingly, and Carroll hasn't kicked off yet. If Liverpool are to achieve targets they have set, a proven striker must walk through Liverpool's gates before or on January 31st.

1.- KARIM BENZEMA

 

Given that Real Madrid have one of the best attack forces in the world, it comes as no surprise that Benzema doesn't play as much football as he would like. This may be the pivotal factor in a move away from Madrid and into Liverpool, and he would ensure more goals in a Liverpool squad that are in dire need of some firepower.

2.- HULK

 

3 . - FERNANDO TORRES

 

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

It's funny that now Torres has been linked back to Anfield, all is wonderful. He is no longer a traitor.

I never thought he was a traitor, to be honest. Sure, he left. Ronaldo left United. It happens. I always wanted him to do well atChelsea, simply because I am a Torres fan.

Now if he came back, imagine that. Gerrard's passing coupled with movement by Torres almost won Liverpool a title singlehandedly.

Now factor in Suarez. His movement, Torres' movement. That, ladies and gentlemen, equals goals.

Everyone knows Hulk. He can score the tap-ins and score the spectacular. He is everything you want from a striker. Enough said.

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Torres rebukes Liverpool 'lies'

Fernando Torres claims Liverpool were not honest about his departure from the club.

The Chelsea striker left Anfield in January for a British-record £50million fee.

And the Spaniard told Canal+ Liga TV that the version of the story that has been told to the public is not true.

"The Liverpool fans don't know the truth about why I signed for Chelsea," he said

"The fans don't even know half of what happened. They don't know what the people in charge at Liverpool are like - they have a completely different perception of what they are like.

"They made promises that they didn't keep and I left because I realised I didn't have time to be part of a project that would take years.

"I have nothing against the Liverpool fans. I didn't want to leave Liverpool the way I did but the club lied. I was let down and I don't understand why the fans hate me."

And of his current struggles at Chelsea, for whom he has scored just three times in the league since arriving, Torres said: "It's true that Vicente Del Bosque is worried about me and my form for Chelsea. It's up to me to go back to being the striker I was before.

"If I go back to how I was a few years ago, I will again play an important role in the Spanish national team.

"I am going to try to be very humble and get back into the Chelsea starting line-up. My form has not been good but I am world and European champion and I deserve more respect.

"It's hard being on the bench but I respect the players who are playing. I'm going to support the team and get back in."

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Dalglish disappointed by Wigan draw

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish did not hide his disappointment after his side were held to a goalless draw against Wigan on Wednesday.

The Reds looked to be handed another win on the road after being awarded a penalty in the 51st minute following a hand-ball by Gary Caldwell.

But Charlie Adam's effort was saved by keeper Ali Al Habsi as Wigan held on to a valuable point against the Reds.

Speaking after the match, Dalglish admitted his disappointment not to have picked up three points.

"Obviously we were disappointed not to come away with the three points. We started really well for 20 minutes, they got back in it a wee bit, but I think in the second half we controlled the game," he told the club's official website.

"We made a few chances, they had a few efforts at goal as well, but I think overall we are happy with the performance. It's a hard-fought draw to come here and get a point.

"As I said, the first 20 minutes, when the pitch wasn't too bad, was when we played our best football. The longer the game went on, the more difficult it was for us to play the way we like to play.

Despite dropping further points in their quest for a top-four spot, Dalglish praised his players' efforts.

He added: "They (the players) kept getting in there, kept going and even right at the death they wanted to get the three points, which left us a wee bit exposed at the back.

"That's a fault we can correct, but at the end of the day you can't fault people's determination and efforts. They were a credit tonight with the effort they put into the game. "

The draw leaves the Reds sixth in the table as they host Blackburn next on 26 December.

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