Anfield Red

Whilst tonight’s league match against West Ham is currently on the mind of every Reds supporter on the planet, Rafa Benitez also has to prepare a tactical plan for this week’s Europa League semi-final against Atlético.

The match, which was up in the air at the start of this week, has been confirmed after much debate by Uefa officials. Liverpool have been given the green light to proceed to Spain for their match, a decision that was made after much talk with air traffic control and officials from both clubs.

“Uefa is continuing to closely monitor the travel situation throughout Europe and beyond, in an effort to confirm the staging of a number of matches that are due to take place this week in Uefa competitions,” it said in a statement.

“Regarding the Europa League semi-final first-leg matches scheduled for Thursday 22 April between Club Atlético de Madrid and Liverpool FC, and Hamburg SV and Fulham FC, it is planned that both games will go ahead as normal.

Fernando Torres has been ruled out for the rest of the season after the club confirmed he is to undergo surgery on his right knee.

Right, so we’ve got West Ham on Monday in a match that’s all but meaningless for our Champions League aspirations. Given the way City have been playing, one would have to assume it’d take a monumental collapse from them to relinquish their hold on fourth.

Torres has reportedly seen a specialist in Barcelona to check on his injured right knee. While the extent of the injury isn’t know, there is talk he could be ready for the run-up against West Ham on Monday.

“Until the rest period imposed by the doctor has passed, we will not know the extent of the injury,”said Fernando Hierro, Spain’s Football Federation’s sporting director. “I talk to Torres every day and he is optimistic. I am too. Hopefully the problem is due to a knock, because it reduces the risk.”

But is it worth risking him in a league match at this point?

Given all the heartache and pain we’ve had to endure over the past couple of years, this morning’s news that Tom Hicks and George Gillett were putting the club up for sale was music to my ears.

Mind you, we’re not out of the woods yet. Whilst everyone will be singing in the streets and counting down the days until the Yank bastards are no longer at our club, there are some massive hurdles to jump before we’ll ever be able to reclaim the club from quite possibly the worse ownership duo I’ve ever seen.

There are still a lot of things that aren’t clear at the moment, with regards to the sale of the club. But here are the details we do know:

Tom Hicks and George Gillett have confirmed that Liverpool Football Club is for sale; and that a new chairman has been appointed to oversee the transaction.

It is no secret the squad needs strengthening this summer; with both players and the manager alike calling for funds to improve the team. Rafa says we need three new top class players costing around £20million each; but in which positions do you think the money should be spent?

Rafa Benitez has outlined his summer spending requirements; saying Liverpool need three top class players at around £20million each.

Fernando Torres is absent from the squad to face Fulham at Anfield today, with David N’Gog taking his place in the team.

Tom Hicks & George Gillette have instructed Barclays to find new buyers for the club; according to Sky News.

Benfica today in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals is almost certainly the most important story of the day, but that doesn’t mean stories about the new Liverpool kit should be kicked to the curb!

The club unveiled their new kit for the upcoming season yesterday with a new look and sponsor for the upcoming campaign. Next year could be the first time Liverpool has played in a European competition other than the Champions League, and if that’s that case, they’ll be doing so with Standard Chartered splashed across their chest.

The financial group is taking over for brewer, Carlsberg, after the club decided to swap loyalty with a long-time sponsor for a massive payday. In the end, that new kit sponsor deal is looking better and better given our current financial position.