LIVERPOOL 4 - BURNLEY 0

In 2008/09 the Reds' Premier League title challenge was undermined by home draws against supposedly lesser opposition, but they had no such problems on Saturday as three goals from Yossi Benayoun sandwiched around a Dirk Kuyt strike earned the points.

 

Benayoun helped himself to a hat-trick as Liverpool produced a devastating performance to crush Burnley 4-0 at Anfield. Benayoun opened the scoring for the Reds and netted twice in the second half after Dirk Kuyt had also got in on the act.

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LIVERPOOL 1 - ASTON VILLA 3

Liverpool slumped to their second Premier League defeat in nine days as they lost 3-1 to Aston Villa to put their title credentials firmly on the line.

 

Villa produced a defiant, organised display and deserved their first win at Anfield since 2001.

 

Lucas own goal and a Curtis Davies header saw Villa 2-0 up at the break. Fernando Torres pulled one back but an Ashley Young penalty settled the points.

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JOHNSON PROUD TO BE REDS

Glen Johnson believes Liverpool can steal the title from Manchester United next season.

 

The Anfield club's new £17m full-back is supremely confident his new employers have the quality to go one better than last season, when they finished as runners-up to the men from Old Trafford.

 

The England defender was unveiled on Thursday as Liverpool's first major signing of the summer.

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MASCHERANO PROUD TO BE LINK WITH BARCA

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has revealed he is "proud" to hear he is attracting interest from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

 

The Argentina international has been tracked amid rumours that Liverpool maneger Rafael Benitez needs sell to buy over the course of the summer, coupled with Liverpool's need to secure extra finance ahead of a scheduled £350m debt payment on July 24.

 

Even so, it is unlikely that speculation over Mascherano's future will go away while he is giving lip service to the rumours.

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SOUTH AFRICA 2 - SPAIN 3

 

Xabi Alonso's free-kick in extra-time enabled Spain to see off the plucky challenge of South Africa and clinch third place in the Confederations Cup.

 

European champions Spain, whose 35-match unbeaten run came to a shock end against the United States in the semi-finals, were lethargic for much of the encounter and appeared to be heading for another defeat when Katlego Mphela put Bafana Bafana ahead after 73 minutes.

 

But two goals in the final three minutes from substitute Daniel Guiza turned the match around only for Mphela to send the game into extra-time with a blistering free-kick.

 

Spain sealed it when Liverpool midfielder Alonso curled a 107th-minute free-kick from the left into the area which eluded everyone and ended up in the bottom right-hand corner.

 

MAN UTD   ARSENAL  LIVERPOOL CHELSEA

ARBELOA KEEN TO QUIT REDS

 

Álvaro Arbeloa is desperate to quit Liverpool and join Real Madrid - according to his agent. The 26-year-old's future is in doubt, with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez confirming the signing of Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson and Real are ready to offer up to £8m for Arbeloa, who is unlikely to figure on Merseyside next season.

 

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NOW CHELSEA WANTS TORRES-VILLA

 

Chelsea are ready to test Liverpool's resolve with a £50 million bid for Fernando Torres. They have also offered Valencia £35m for the spanish striking partner David Villa.

 

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is worried the huge sum offered by Chelsea could tempt American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Liverpool's true financial state will be revealed soon, and Benitez is beginning to fear the worst.

 

Benitez was hopeful of landing 27-year-old Villa. Now he not only has to face up to Chelsea signing Villa but also possibility of losing Torres. Chelsea's bid for Villa is £4m higher than Real Madrid's and preferred by debt-ridden Valencia.

Roman Abramovich is prepared to take advantage of Liverpool's own money worries by making the sort of offer he hopes Gillett and Hicks will not be able to refuse. 

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TORRES TO STAY AT ANFIELD

 

Fernando Torres has brushed off transfer speculation by insisting he will stay at Liverpool for as long as he is wanted. He is not greedy to leave Anfield just to earn a little more somewhere else.

 

The 25-year-old has been linked with Manchester United following their acceptance of Real Madrid's £80m bid for Cristiano Ronaldo and will be sad to see the Portuguese leave the Premier League, but insists Liverpool will not win the title by default.

 

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TEVEZ SAYS NO TO ANFIELD

Carlos Tevez has reportedly ruled out a summer move to Liverpool. The Argentina international has spent the last two seasons on loan with Manchester United, but has made his desire to quit the club this summer clear after failing to start games as regularly as he would like.

A trio of Premier League clubs have shown an interest in the bullish forward - with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea reported to be considering bids of around £25m - but the player has himself ruled out a move to Anfield because of 'emotional ties'.

 

The Argentine international isn't prepared to make a move that would strengthen the side that was the biggest threat to the Old Trafford supremacy last season, despite pleas from international team-mate Javier Mascherano to join him at the club. Manchester City are now favourites to land his much coveted signature before the start of next season.

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SPAIN 5 - NEW ZEALAND 0

Spain opened their Confederations Cup campaign with a smashing win over New Zealand. The win extended their unbeaten run to 33 matches.

 

The top team in Oceania were no match for the European Champions, who were 4-0 up inside 24 minutes with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres grabbing a hat-trick.

 

Cesc Fabregas was also on the scoresheet with David Villa netting a fifth in front of a sparse crowd in the mining town of Rustenburg.

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REDS WILL NOT SELL DUO

Liverpool have denied reports that Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano are set to leave Anfield this summer. Argentina international Mascherano has been linked with Barcelona amid reports that his wife has struggled to settle on Merseyside.

And Spain midfielder Alonso is just the latest in a long line of players believed to be on Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's lengthy and expensive summer wish-list. Madrid's young strikers Alvaro Negredo and Alberto Bueno have been suggested as makeweights in any possible deal for Alonso.

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GERRARD DREAM ABOUT EPL & WORLD CUP

Steven Gerrard is already looking ahead to next season and has stated his desire to lift the World Cup after helping guide Liverpool to the Premier League title.

Gerrard and co have given Manchester United a run for their money in this season's title race, although the fans' favourite has conceded they will come up short this time around.

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ALONSO TO STAY AT ANFIELD

Xabi Alonso's agent has dismissed reports linking the Liverpool man with a move away from Anfield. Recent reports have suggested cash-rich Manchester City and Arsenal were lining up moves for the Spanish schemer.

Alonso's future at Anfield has been the subject of speculation for some time after a move to Juventus failed to materialise last summer.

BOLA BOYZ  LIVERPOOL

STEVIE G IS WRITERS' CHOICE!

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been voted England's Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association (FWA). The England midfielder topped the poll of journalists ahead of Manchester United duo Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to win the prestigious accolade, which has been running since 1948.

The 28-year-old Anfield hero has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season, the best tally of his career, and is leading Liverpool's continuing challenge to Premier League leaders Manchester United as the Reds bid to land their first league title for 19 years.

 

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GERRARD ALMOST A BLUES

Steven Gerrard admits he considered moving to Chelsea because he felt Liverpool were a long way from being title contenders.

 

The England midfielder was on the verge of a move to Stamford Bridge in 2005. However, the 28-year-old remained at Anfield. Gerrard admits he had considered going to Chelsea but is now relieved he chose to stay in the north-west.
 

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TORRES WANTS TO CREATE RECORD

Fernando Torres plans to etch his name into Liverpool folklore by hitting new goal-scoring heights. The Spanish striker has netted 29 times in the Premier League since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in July 2007.

 

Though, he still has some way to go to eclipse Roger Hunt's record 245 league goals for the Anfield club, Torres admits he is motivated by the thought of setting new benchmarks for the Reds so long as personal glory does not come at the expense of team success.

 

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STOKE 0 - LIVERPOOL 0

 

Liverpool threw away the chance to go 6 points clear at the top of Premier League as they were held to a goalless draw at Stoke. Chelsea is now just 4 points behind, with the Blues to play away to Manchester United.

 

They failed to break down a Stoke side which had failed to win in their previous six league games. Steven Gerrard twice hit the woodwork in the last five minutes. Benitez must have been left speechless at his side's overall performance.

 

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LUCAS DREAM OF SIX POINTS CLEAR

Lucas has called Liverpool team-mates to take advantage of this week meeting between their main two rivals by moving six points clear at the top of the Premier League. Manchester United host Chelsea, currently second, 24 hours after the leaders go to Stoke.

 

The Reds' have an impressive away record this season, they have won seven of their 10 league matches on the road. Lucas believes they cannot afford to drop points this weekend. Lucas watched from the bench as Stoke frustrated Liverpool at home in a goalless draw back in September and knows it will not be easy at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow.

 

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BENITEZ TO SKIP JANUARY TRANSFER

Rafa Benitez has no plans to sign any new faces in the January transfer window. The Liverpool Manager insists he is happy with the squad to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.

 

Liverpool has been linked with Emile Heskey and Glen Johnson, but Benitez has denied the rumours and expressed confidence to stick with the players already at Anfield. Benitez also believes the return to fitness of Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio has boosted his options.

 

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LIVERPOOL 2 - PRESTON 0

Liverpool recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Preston and avoided the pitfalls that had befallen some of their Premier League rivals. Albert Riera opened the scoring with a superb solo effort in the 25th minute as the Reds dominated the first half, carving out several chances that went begging.

 

They were nearly made to rue those misses as Preston enjoyed a fine spell midway through the second period, with a Sean St Ledger goal disallowed and a confident penalty appeal turned down. However, substitute Fernando Torres, on his return from injury, tapped home a Steven Gerrard pass in the 90th minute for a late second goal.

 

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LIVERPOOL WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR GERRARD

 

Liverpool has assured that captain Steven Gerrard will get "all the support he needs" after the England star was charged with assault and affray on Tuesday. The 28-year-old midfielder was charged in relation to an incident at a Southport bar in the early hours of Monday morning that left the venue's DJ requiring hospital treatment. According to the club spokesman, Gerrard has been an outstanding servant to Liverpool for the last 10 years and the club will give him all the support he needs at this time.

 

However, Gerrard was released from Southport police station after been bailed together with three other men who were arrested in connection with the incident on Tuesday morning. Merseyside Police also confirmed that Steven Gerrard, 28 years, of Formby, Sefton, John Doran, 29, and Ian Smith, 19 years, both from Huyton, Liverpool, has been charged for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray following an incident at Bold Street in Southport in the early hours of Monday, December 29. The three men will be appearing at North Sefton Magistrates' Court on January 23.

 

BOLA BOYZ  LIVERPOOL