Anfield Red

Not that the whole Xabi Alonso saga needs any repeating; but I do think this story on Alonso in today’s Guardian sheds some light on what was really going on last summer between Rafa and the midfielder.

One would assume Alonso is being diplomatic with his comments regarding his relationship with Benitez and the club leading up to the transfer earlier this summer. But it looks like the stories regarding Alonso’s possible departure last year were true.

“It was a very difficult decision for me to make,” he told Sky Sports News. “After five years I have experienced wonderful nights at Anfield, to have experienced the support of probably the best fans in the world.

“That’s why I have always been very grateful and I will always have them in my mind and it has been a pleasure. Last summer the club [told] me that I might have to be sold to find funds for new players. It was a difficult decision or difficult moment to accept that. I accepted that as a professional and that moment probably changed my mind.”

Alonso was a class player right up until the end when he forced Rafa’s hand with a move to Real Madrid. But it looks like the whole thing was a longtime coming. Rafa stoked his transfer fire last summer with a possible move to fund new players. And while I’m all for bringing in new talents, one would have to figure that money would have gone exactly where the funds from Alonso did this time around: right into the ownership’s pockets.

Sure, it allowed us to be a replacement for Alonso; but it didn’t allow us to do anything more than that. Good to hear him heaping praise on his time at the club.

Does anyone else think Liverpool are missing another match winner apart from Gerrard or Torres and wish we had someone like Arshavin in our side?

Don’t get me wrong; I’ve celebrated just as much as the next person when Gerrard has popped up with a late winner (such as against Boro last year/Bolton on Saturday) but if Gerrard and/or Torres are out who can we really rely on?

At the start of the transfer window there was talk of us signing David Silva; with Rafa Benitez admitting we were in for him but that changed : “It is true that we were asking about the situation with him but we are not happy with the situation now and he will not be a target for us”.

Our frontline is worryingly thin, and there’s no way Voronin/Ngog would lead the attack of any of the other teams of the so called “big four”, probably not even Villa, City or Everton (who have come closest in recent times to breaking the top 4) so why are we going into a new season with them as backup?

If you look at Arsenal, they have signed a class player in Arshavin – he’s quick, tricky and can score some absolute belters such as the one against the Mancs:

Also, I doubt anyone will forget the four goals he scored against Liverpool at Anfield, one of which was again a screamer:

The guy can play anywhere across the front line, and can win a game for Arsenal just as often as Gerrard does for us. I wouldn’t drop Kuyt for anyone simply because he runs his arse off every game, Riera on his day is a quality winger and Benayoun could trick his way out of a phonebox with 10 people in it, but when they have off games who else steps up to the plate and pulls out a goal from nowhere?

Liverpool have rarely had alot of flair players that will turn a game; and had Rafa been backed in the transfer market perhaps he could have picked up someone like Arshavin who would be the difference between struggling to break a team down and making them wish they’d never turned up.

Charles Itandje has been loaned out to Greek side Kavala FC; let’s hope he doesn’t ever return to Anfield after his disgraceful show of disrespect at the Hillsborough memorial service.

Whilst family, friends and fans were listening to the Hillsborough song ‘Tragedy’, Itandje took it upon himself to start fooling around in an act of disrespect to not only the 96 fans who lost their lives but also their family & friends, and the club itself. Watch the video here:

Hopefully the door will twat him on the way out, the scumbag.

Christian Purslow has ruled out any more transfers before the window closes at the end of the month.

Speaking after the Champion’s League draw, Managing Director Purslow was asked if there would be any more transfers before the deadline to which he responded :“I wouldn’t bank on it”.

This is such a big difference from the end of last season when Rafa admitted we were after David Silva from Valencia, whereas now the club doesn’t have a pot to piss in thanks largely to our American owners.

If you’re like me and are as bitter as hell at the moment regarding the poor start to the campaign, then you probably feel a little bit of resentment and anger when someone brings up the name Xabi Alonso.

Sure, he shouldn’t be blamed one hundred percent for the poor start. But if you told me he shouldn’t be blamed at all for the change in chemistry so close to the beginning of the season … well I’d have to disagree with you.

Alonso knows some Liverpool supporters are frustrated by his exit, but he wants all of them to know that he’s not the one to blame for Liverpool’s first loss at home since December 2007.

“Liverpool’s bad beginning in three matches is not normal but I believe my exit has not been that decisive.

“Players are not that indispensable and these are only the first moments of the season. I am convinced the team will recover.”

His exit came right before the beginning of the campaign, so how is that not going to change the chemistry on the pitch? Sorry, Xabi, but I do blame you just a bit for our poor start.

What does everyone else think?

Those expecting to see Kristian Nemeth on the Anfield pitch this season will have to wait another year, after the Hungarian striker was loaned to AEK Athens for the season.

I’m not quite sure what I think of this loan move.

Liverpool have sent Hungarian striker Krisztian Nemeth out on loan to Greek side AEK Athens.

Nemeth scored 18 goals in 37 league games for MTK Hungarie and helped the club finish second in the Hungarian league in 2007. (BBC Sports)

To be totally honest, I really think this is a poor decision by Rafa. If you’ll recall, I think we purposely decided not to bring in a second striker with the intentions of having Nemeth come up this year to, at the very least, have a chance to get a shot at first team football.

I understand the draw to send him off to get football elsewhere for the year; but I’d rather see the lad playing for us. He’s only going to get the training and practise he needs when he gets thrown into the rough and tumble world of the Premier League.

Does anyone else think the Nemeth loan was a bad move?

Today we have been linked with Rafael Van Der Vaart from Real Madrid, but how are we going to pay for this player when the club have no money left to spend?

Rafa has confirmed he doesn’t want any other players to leave, and as mentioned on Radio City last night he implied to them that he wouldn’t see any money from player sales.

VDV has been touted as costing £10million, but if Rafa had this money do you think he would be chasing £1.5million 30 year old defenders?

When asked about his remaining budget, Benitez answered: “I don’t want to talk about money, sorry,”

“We are always analysing the market, it depends on the injuries sustained, and we will always work with the departments to see what is available.”

The club hasn’t got a pot to piss in because of the American Owners claiming expenses and paying off loans, so these £10million figures are wide of the mark.

Fernando Torres has signed a new contract at Anfield, having agreed the deal in May. Watch all 50 Liverpool goals here!

Torres will now be at Anfield until 2013, with the option to extend the contract for another year afterwards. Enjoy:

Liverpool Football Club have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Roma to sign Alberto Aquilani as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.

The Italian still has to undergo a medical, but the club has confirmed a fee has been agreed. Rafa Benitez had this to say about Aquilani: “Alberto is a very good player and I’m delighted we’ve reached agreement with Roma for his transfer. He will travel to Merseyside later this week for a medical. Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League.

“He has long been recognised as a top class talent in Italy, captaining his country at both Under 19 and Under 21 levels before establishing himself in the senior national side.”

Liverpool Football Club have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid for the sale of Xabi Alonso.

The story broke this evening that a fee has finally been agreed, however the club has confirmed the deal will remain confidential.

The long transfer saga can finally be put to bed, he’s off to Madrid. Let’s just hope we get someone in who is half as good as Xabi.