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.

BOLA BOYZ  LIVERPOOL

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.

BOLA BOYZ  LIVERPOOL

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