TheDailySoccerNews.com

Steven Gerrard returned to Liverpool colours after six months out with groin trouble and claimed the team’s 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday was “out of our system now” with this third-round Carling Cup win at Brighton & Hove Albion.

England’s vice-captain replaced Luis Suárez 73 minutes into Liverpool’s 2-1 victory and assumed a central-midfield position alongside Jay Spearing and Lucas Leiva. Gerrard, now 31, confined himself to neat short passes and half-speed forward thrusts as Liverpool contained a dangerous second-half fightback from Championship opposition.

“Tonight was not about me. It was about progressing in the cup and getting that Tottenham performance out of our system and I think we have now done that,” he said. “It is down to the manager now. I have been out for six months so it is about getting training sessions under my belt and match time. Hopefully I will be selected for the 18 against Wolves [at the weekend].”

“Steve coming back in was fantastic for everyone coming at the football club, but we are more pleased for Steven than anyone else,” Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, said. “He had a few setbacks along the way and we have had to manage it to get him this far. We need to be careful and we won’t get carried away – but it’s great for everyone.” (continue reading…)

LIVERPOOL captain Jamie Carragher declared himself “absolutely fine” after being knocked out during a dramatic 1-1 draw at Arsenal.

There was a lengthy delay in the second half when Carragher was left unconscious after a clash of heads with youngster John Flanagan.

The former England defender was eventually carried off on a stretcher, his neck in a brace, and given oxygen.

However, after treatment at the Emirates Stadium, the veteran Reds centre-half had recovered enough to run onto the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate a dramatic draw when Dirk Kuyt slotted home a last-gasp penalty just moments after Robin van Persie’s spot-kick deep into eight minutes of stoppage time looked to have won it for the Gunners.

“I can’t remember anything. As soon as I came round I was absolutely fine,” the 33-year-old said. “It was a little clash of heads and these things happen in football.

“The main thing was to get the three points. I watched their penalty in the dressing room and then saw that we got our own. (continue reading…)

Liverpool will turn to France’s next major star Mamadou Sakho if their campaign to land Gary Cahill ends in failure.

Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish has earmarked the Bolton and England centre half as a major priority when he is given funds in the summer.
But the Reds manager is painfully aware that Wanderers are determined to hold out until the bidding reaches £20million.

And with moneybags Manchester City also in the race, Dalglish has wisely lined up a back-up, with 21-year-old Sakho his preferred choice.

The Paris St Germain defender has already made a massive impact in France after winning his first full cap in the recent victory over England.

Sakho is doubly attractive because he can also play left back as well as centre half, and would cost only half the fee Cahill is likely to command.

Dalglish has other targets, with Aston Villa’s Ashley Young, Charlie Adam of Blackpool and Ipswich wonderboy Connor Wickham, who only turned 18 last week, on his list.

The Liverpool boss wants to concentrate on exciting young stars, after presiding over a massive improvement in the youth structure at Anfield since he returned to the club 18 months ago. (continue reading…)

Anything other than a Liverpool victory will end their faint hopes of snatching a Champions League spot, and dent their chances of qualifying for the Europa League.
The Reds may have won six of their last nine league games, but injuries are beginning to expose the lack of depth in the squad Kenny Dalglish inherited. The Merseysiders ended the 2-1 defeat at West Brom with four centre-backs in defence, a ploy they may have to repeat on Monday.
City fans may have one eye on Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against neighbours Manchester United, but manager Roberto Mancini has made it abundantly clear that a top-four finish is his priority this season.
On the evidence of the 5-0 win against Sunderland last time out, that should not be a problem for City, who played with the kind of verve and swagger rarely seen under Mancini.
The challenge for the Italian is to reproduce that form away from Eastlands; City have yet to win on the road in 2011 in either league or cup.

Liverpool are without injured defenders Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson, while captain Steven Gerrard has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Fabio Aurelio and Jonjo Shelvey are back in training but lack fitness, while David Ngog returned from injury in a reserve match on Monday.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini reported no new injury concerns following the win against Sunderland.

City are again without injured duo Jerome Boateng and Micah Richards.
Liverpool:
Doubtful: Aurelio & Shelvey (both fitness)
Injured: Agger (knee), Gerrard (groin), Johnson & Kelly (both hamstring)
Man City
Injured/unavailable: Boateng (knee), Given (shoulder), Richards (hamstring), K Toure (suspended) (continue reading…)

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is set to be reunited once again with his one-time prodigy Joe Cole after the Liverpool midfield player conceded that is future may not be at Anfield much past the end of this season.
The England international only arrived on Merseyside on a lucrative free transfer from Chelsea last summer, commanding wages of £90,000 a week, however, the 29 year old has endured a horrific first campaign at Anfield that has been disrupted by a combination of a total loss of form, injury and suspensions.
And, with his mentor Redknapp reported to be waiting in the wings to bring the player back to London, Cole has admitted in a frank interview that his future most probably now lies away from Liverpool.
“It has been difficult this season,” Cole said.
“I find myself playing these Europa League games trying to catch up but I am still nice and positive, still myself.”
(continue reading…)

After seeing their dreams of winning the Europa League dashed by SC Braga at Anfield on Thursday night, the Reds will now turn their attentions to qualifying for continental football via the Barclays Premier League.
Kenny Dalglish insists no-one should be casting any doubt on Liverpool’s chase to secure European football.
With nine games remaining in the top-flight this season, Dalglish is certainly not giving up hope that his team can obtain the points required to qualify.

“You only get into Europe if you win games. If we win enough games and get enough points, we will get in Europe,” Dalglish said.

“We know that in every league game we will try our best to get as much as we can from it. (continue reading…)

Fourth place still looked achievable until last weeks dismal display against West Ham. It was such a shame to see so much of the recent good work come undone and that sense of shame was only exacerbated by the league position of the opposition. After such solid displays at the back we were leaking goals against the bottom placed side and going forward, well, they looked like they were all wearing binoculars
Seriously though, all credit must go to West Ham because they put in an exceptional performance in all aspects of the game. Liverpool on the other hand looked tired and complacent, symptoms of a long and difficult season.
With fourth place surely now out of reach, it would seem that there’s not alot for us to play for anymore. I assure you, that’s not the case. We now have no excuses not to go on and win the Europa league. It may not be the best trophy to win but any silverware would go along way to easing the pain of this season.
We also have to make sure we re-qualify for the Europa league. With Birmingham winning the Carling Cup only the 5th and 6th placed teams will qualify. Liverpool are currently seventh behind Bolton, although we do have a game in hand. Finishing as high as possible is as much about pride as it is about European qualification, though. (continue reading…)

One of Kenny Dalglish’s masterstrokes against Chelsea was playing a back three — and no-one relished that more than Jamie Carragher.

It meant he could fully commit to tackles and one-on-ones while knowing there was cover from Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger.

It made him more positive in his defending. That is usually not the case in a back four and at times, Carragher has had Glen Johnson bombing forward and been exposed. The older Carragher gets, the more he will appreciate the help.

He was excellent against Chelsea and his passing was as good as I’ve seen it — he even hit a few raking diagonal passes. Agger looked comfortable on the ball too and with Pepe Reina rolling it out to them, it reminded me when Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson used to hog the ball at the back. (continue reading…)

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of defender David Luiz from Benfica for an undisclosed fee.

Luiz, who has signed a five-and-a-half year contract, joins Chelsea as the third Brazilian in the current squad, linking up with former Benfica team-mate Ramirez  and fellow central-defender Alex.

He said: ‘I am delighted to be joining a big English club, and I know very well the quality that Chelsea has.

‘It is a major challenge for me but I am determined and confident in my ability to adapt to this excellent league, and I look forward to meeting my new-team mates.’

Now 23, David Luiz Moreira Marinho was born on April 22, 1987 in Sao Paulo and began his career with Esporte Clube Vitoria in Bahia where he made 47 appearances. (continue reading…)