Anfield Roar - August 2013 by Anfield Roar

www.liverpoolfctalk.com

Welcome Back! Another season is nearly upon us, and, if it wasn’t for the constant unnerving feeling about Suarez in the stomach, we would realise that we are approaching this season with more optimism than we have for about the last five years. And the optimism seems to be genuine: we have a good squad, we have had a brilliant pre-season, and we know that, on our day, we probably can beat just about anyone in England. Particularly at home. We’re not just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best when we say that we can actually do something this season! If things go right, this time next year I will be reflecting upon our glorious return to the Champions League – back to playing at the pinnacle of the game, which is where we deserve to be. The fact that we don’t get any Europa league nights this year is almost a positive: whilst I will miss the magic and atmosphere of European nights, it means we have fewer distractions and can focus on winning in England before we move on to take on the rest of the world. Qualifying for the Champions League will be tricky – no doubt about it, with competition from Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, as well as the two Manchester clubs, and ourselves for just four spaces. We will need to be on form from the start, and have to hope that the other teams slip up along the way. That’s almost taken as a given for Spurs, but Arsenal and Chelsea have been grinding out results for a few years now... Fingers crossed Suarez stays! Our second season at Anfield Roar promises to be even more exciting than our first, and I already can’t wait for it to start. Hope you enjoy this edition, and that we have a great season! YNWA 3

Message from the Editor

Excited for the new season!

Postbox

Fan rants and opinion

Raring to go

What’s happened all summer? We try and summarise it in 750 words!

Ready to go

The deals have been done, the players are ready - but will we make it into the top four?

In & Out

The transfer mill went into overdrive—who were we linked to, and who is on his way out?

Staying or Going

It’s the question we ALL want the answer to ASAP. Will Luis stay or go?

We can do it without him!

Will Suarez going mean that we can have a pair of great strikers instead of just one?

What we REALLY Need

Are we missing something? Arun Kannan reckons we are...

3 Reasons Reasons to be cheerful… 1. 2. 3! Why this season will be great for us!

On the Pitch

A look back on the last month’s games. Finally things are starting to look up.

Introducing… Kolo Toure

We run the rule over the man tasked with replacing Jamie Carragher.

Goodbye… Pepe Reina

He was such a great keeper for us, and even now he’s gone we still love him!

Goodbye… Jonjo Shelvey

Will he come back to haunt us? He’s only 21, and could be the future of England’s midfield.

LFX Fix

If you’re on twitter you should definitely be following @thisisanfield

The Month Ahead

We preview the big fixtures, and predict the results (and we’re only slightly biased!)

Kop Hero

Remember when we pipped Everton to the trophy twice in one season?

Best of Youtube

Our pick of the best Youtube footage of the Merseyside Derbies

As Clear as Day Gavin rues the Suarez judgement - not because its harsh, just that we’ll miss him.

Dear Anfield Roar, Suarez is a fabulous player and its understandable why he wants to leave but I share Gerrard's view that a 'better' team than Arsenal (apologies to you as you're a better team than us) will ultimately come for him and pay the £50m+ that the club are holding out for. He will be a massive loss from the side and although Coutinho has proved a good buy, and helped the team play more attractive football, Suarez was that touch player who could manoeuvre in confined spaces and make a goal from nothing. YNWA Andy, Liverpool _________________________________________________________________ Dear Anfield Roar I am looking forward to the new season, especially after our 6 wins so far, and really think we can make a go of it this time around! Obviously a lot hinges on the lunatic Uruguayan and whether he stays or goes. Suarez is a git but his genius will be nigh on impossible to replace, so it’s understandable that the club don’t want to sell without a fight. I’d like a clean break now so we can all move on, but if they don’t think there’s a suitable replacement around then it’s fair enough to sit tight. The expectation is that we need to finish with at least 9-10 more points than last year in order to compete with Spurs and Arsenal above us, and I’d say that’s not unrealistic.

POSTBOX But while a genuine battle for Champions League places isn’t out of the question, 5th to 7th is most likely. We’ve got a nice wedge of talented young kids coming through – Jordan Ibe, Sterling and Wisdom should get plenty of game time this season – and we’ve made some pretty astute (for us anyway) mid-level signings of which the lively Iago Aspas is the pick. It’s be interesting to see how Coutinho does now that teams will be aware of him a bit more, and how Rodgers integrates the improving Henderson and wee little Joe Allen now he’s fit. Others take much delight in our New Kop hero? downfall, but I think most are happy with how things are progressing and have faith in much of what Rodgers is doing. He still comes out with some complete twaddle now and again, but does have something about him and the squad (Suarez apart) seem a tight bunch. Michael Adnan, Liverpool __________________________________________________________________ Dear Anfield Roar, I think Liverpool will finish in the top 6 this season and make a better challenge for 4th place. I don’t think they should pressure themselves too much to get into the top 4. If they are still in touching distance of Arsenal and Spurs with 5 games to go then I think its progress. I think Liverpool have invested quite well this summer. Mignolet is a solid keeper, Toure although his best days are behind him will give experience to a young team. I don’t know a lot about Luis Alberto or Aspas although the only scraps of information I do know is that Alberto is an exciting prospect and that Aspas was one of the best players in La Liga outside the top 2. 7

POSTBOX I do think Liverpool could do with more signings and I think they should be signing another 3 or 4 players. I think a centre back, left back and I think another central midfielder is needed. Gerrard looks like the only great player in that area of the pitch and so could do with strengthening there. I think it will be an important season for Allen and Coutinho. Allen needs to drastically improve as he was poor last year after a promising start at Liverpool. He just needs to have a solid 5 or so games in a row to give him more confidence in himself. Coutinho is all of a sudden a crucial player for Liverpool after he was one of the best players at the back end of last season. I do hope though he stays in his position of playing behind Sturridge as he was fantastic when deployed there because I heard Jamie Carragher mention heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been used on the left this pre-season, so it will be interesting to see where Rodgers plays him. If Liverpool are to get closer to Arsenal and Spurs this season then they need to stop dropping silly points at home to the likes of West Ham or Stoke. Those are the type of games you have to win at home if you have aspirations of reaching the top 4. Ben Rodgers, London _________________________________________________________________ Dear Anfield Roar, Liverpool need to sign defenders - a solid CB and a left-back at least, and preferably someone to play either alongside Lucas, or to rotate with him. Ric Rhodes, Manchester

This is a new community section of our Fanzine, where we highlight issues or news on behalf of other LFC fans around the world to show that we are, indeed, not walking alone. Liverpool vs United Any football match between Manchester United and Liverpool is always an eagerly-anticipated affair. So when supporters of the two English giants from within an area of Ballymena collide for a special charity match this weekend, expect fireworks! Fans of the two clubs from within the Ballee area will show their skills in the fixture, at Ballymena Showgrounds 3G pitch on Friday, August 9 (8pm). There is no admission charge, but a collection of voluntary donations will be taken up. Everyone is also welcome to attend a postmatch function in the Coach Bar (10.30pm). Fighting for Justice Everyone probably remembers the Liverpool Tees t-shirt campaign last year, which raised over £2,500 for HFSG – well, this year the team have come up with a great new design, and are again selling the charity t-shirts for just £12, with £4 going directly to HFSG. If there is one LFC-based t-shirt you buy this year, then let it be this one! Buy it exclusively from www.liverpooltees.com Bring Bunce Home A DIE-HARD Liverpool FC fan from Widnes is set to make the ultimate sacrifice in memory of a Widnes Vikings player who died from cancer. Andy Cunningham has pledged to have a tattoo – of the Manchester United badge - as a way of appealing to friends to stump up as much cash as possible. If he raises £1500 he’ll get it done. Donate at: www.justgiving.com/andy-cunningham2 “It is going on my backside. At least it’s out of the way and it sums up what I think about them.” If you have an issue or idea that you would like to share with fellow LFC fans, then please get in touch!

Liverpooltees.com Proud to be helping fundraise for the Hillsborough Families Support Group

www.liverpooltees.com 10

RARING TO GO! Li Ming canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait for the season to start! Despite a pre-season surrounded with speculation about Luis Suarez's future, the Reds have done a good job both on the pitch, as well as off the pitch with regard to the handling of the media frenzy surrounding the Uruguayan's potential transfer away. Not only have the results have been very promising for Liverpool, as with six wins out of six, but fans will also be boosted by the fact that the victories were achieved with limited contribution by Luis Suarez (due to his very limited playing time down to his low fitness level at present), as well as Daniel Sturridge (who was left behind in Liverpool, as it was felt if he was left behind, he would have had a better chance of making Liverpool's opening Premier League fixture against Stoke City). Hero 11

RARING TO GO One standout of pre-season thus far is Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho. Having already made an impact in the second half of the Premier League season, the Brazilian has been at it again in preseason, putting in a couple of mesmerizing displays against the Asian and Australian sides the Reds have faced on their tour. The Brazilian has notched up a number of goals, as well as assists during this Asian-Australian stint. I believe that his form will determine how well Liverpool place this upcoming season. If he can hit top gear this year, he has the potential to hit the heights of the likes of David Silva and Luka Modric. In addition to Coutinhoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imperious form, Steven Gerrard and Iago Aspas have given Brendan Rodgers food for thought heading into the new season. Gerrard hasn't seemed to lose his hunger for chasing the ball down and making forward runs. Aspas has shown his composed nature in front of goal, and has went on to score four goals in the pre-season thus far. He seems to be that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fox in the boxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that Liverpool have really needed over the past few years. Finally, someone with the ability to put the ball in the back of the net with relative ease. The defence has looked steady as well, managing to help keep five consecutive clean sheets, before conceding once in the last (and most competitive) game. Whilst Pepe Reina will be missed inbetween the sticks for Liverpool, I sincerely believe that the signing of Simon Mignolet signals progress for Liverpool Football Club, as he seems to be a step in the right direction for Liverpool.

The signing of Mignolet signals progress, as he seems to be a step in the right direction for Liverpool

RARING TO GO However, the Reds must quickly decide whether or not to sell Luis Suarez. We most certainly do not want another case where we have to sign someone in a panic (i.e. the Andy Carroll transfer). We need to look at the alternatives and snap them up ahead of the new season with careful consideration. Sorting out that issue right now is the priority.

Is Diego Costa the right man? Selling Jonjo Shelvey has given assurance to fringe midfielders, such as Henderson and Joe Allen, about their immediate future, and although he was a fantastic prospect, it is for the best that he has left, taking into account the money Swansea offered. Rumours are circulating regarding a loan deal for Cissokho, and I reckon itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good move for Liverpool, as there's also a chance to make it permanent at the end of the season. Ideally, we need a striker or an additional winger before the transfer window slams shut, but we're looking really strong ahead of the start of the season. Bring on Stoke City! Expertly written by: Li Ming @2liverpoolfans Liâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s site is http://twoliverpoolfans.com

READY TO GO! Paul Baker can’t wait either! Only a week until we welcome Stoke City to Anfield. I think we can all agree that it can’t come soon enough! All in all pre-season has gone well. Our trip to Asia and Australia could not have gone better. Sell out grounds and fans lining the streets to welcome the club. The work off the field showed the caring side of the club. It was good to see the older faces on tour. The photos from the MCG in Australia were amazing. It showed that there is a large fan base in the country. The club will be looking to build on this and maybe return next year for a second visit? This can only be good for the club finances. New friends and fans will hopefully lead to more sponsors’ and partners.

95,000 14

READY TO GO Let’s hope this money can be invested into the team short term, and long term towards the redevelopment of Anfield. Extra capacity is vital to be able to compete. The news of a deal with EA Sports is positive. 6 games, 6 wins and no injuries. The opposition may not have been the strongest, but pre-season is about fitness, bedding in new players and planning for the new season.

One of the benefits of the EA deal - realistic player faces on FIFA!

Brendan Rogers would much rather start the season on the back of 6 wins with the team working as one and confidence being sky high. The team need to make a positive start to the 2013/2014 season. A top four finish is well within our grasp if the players can kick off the new season in form and feeling confident. Of course it’s a World Cup season, so even if we can’t win a trophy this season, there is still everything to play for, and desire shouldn’t be a problem. Have we been sidelined by the transfer speculation regarding one Luis Suarez? Overall: no!

A top four finish is well within our grasp if the players can kick off the new season in form and feeling confident. The club should be applauded for the way they have handed the situation. All players have a price where the club cannot afford to say no, but this does not mean that if he leaves this summer he will continue to perform at the same level, especially if the new club is based in the capital.

READY TO GO We, of course, should try and convince him to stay, but if we can’t, he should not be allowed to move to another Premier League team. I see Suarez staying until Christmas. If he comes back and performs to the level which he can, a move to Spain may be on the cards. The big European clubs will wait and see how he is playing on his return. Particularly as, without European competition, he won’t even be cup-tied. The new players we have brought in look like they have settled and are enjoying being part of LFC. I think we can all agree nobody could ever replace Jamie Carragher, Will Liverpool girls still be but Toure looks able to slot in and dreaming of kissing Luis not just cover the position. He is a under the mistletoe? leader on and off the pitch. Longer term we should be looking to blood the younger players to come into the team. Philippe Coutinho will be looking to build on a good start to his Anfield career. It is very pleasing to see Gerrard return to full fitness. He will be the key, again, to the team kicking off with a good start. Let’s look forward to 3 points in the bank come 5pm on the 17/08. Expertly written by: Paul Baker Feedback? Send your feedback to : editor@anfieldroar.com

Available NOW at Liverpoolshirts.com Liverpoolshirts com

In & Out Michael Reid tries to sum up three month’s worth of transfer rumour and gossip, and make sense of it all! It has already been a frantic transfer-window at Liverpool. However its only going to get busier, with Rodgers confirming that he plans to do more business before Deadline Day on Monday 2nd September! Let’s start with sales – avoiding the dangerous topic of Luis Suarez, who else is likely to depart Liverpool this Summer? There have already been numerous outgoings, however there will inevitably be more to help fund further purchases. Jay Spearing is one such player. Liverpool have already accepted a £1.75m bid from Championship club Blackburn Rovers however the midfielder rejected them, preferring to wait for a move that may suit him better. Where he will leave to, if anywhere, is currently unclear, but the writing looks like it is on the wall.

Shrek II

Another potential outgoing is Moroccan winger Oussama Assaidi, who is subject to interest back in Holland from PSV, FC Twente and Feyenoord, as well as Belgian club Anderlecht. Liverpool would prefer to sell the player after his disappointing first season, however a loan seems to be the most viable option to get him off the wage bill for now. 18

IN & OUT Dani Pacheco is another who will look to leave having refused to join the squad for the pre-season tour. Potential loanees include Sterling, who West Ham have enquired about however Rodgers is reluctant to allow him to leave there due to their contrasting style of play. Jon Flanagan, Adam Morgan and Andre Wisdom are amongst many other U21’s who would also be allowed to move on loan if the right club enquired. In terms of the defence, Sebastian Coates will likely leave the club as Rodgers feels his lack of pace is a major issue when playing in his system. Interest in him seems low at the moment and it is unclear whether he will go on loan or if a buyer will be found. Daniel Agger has had an offer from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco however his love for Liverpool means that he would surely only ever contemplate leaving for Barcelona, who have had long standing interest, but lack the funds to consider moving for the Dane at present.

If Suarez goes…?

Martin Skrtel would be a more likely outgoing if Coates is not the only centre back to be sold, with the former LFC Player of the Season looking to be following Reina on loan to Napoli, with an option to buy.

Martin Skrtel is more likely outgoing, probably following Pepe Reina and Rafa Benitez to Napoli With all this speculation on outgoings, who does Rodgers plan on bringing in to help challenge at the top end of the table this season? Hundreds of players have been scouted since the manager arrived in 2012, but who are realistic targets? A centre back is a possibility, with interest being shown in Toby Alderweireld of Ajax, Kyriakos Papadopoulos of Schalke and Tiago Ilori of Sporting. However, the prices quoted for these players have been seen by Liverpool as being extortionate – approximately £8m, £18m and £8.5m respectively. 19

IN & OUT If those fees can be negotiated down, or if Liverpool sell/loan Skrtel (probable) or Agger (very unlikely) as well as Coates, then deals could be possible. Left back is also a defensive area Rodgers would like to strengthen; with Jack Robinson out on loan to Blackpool, cover is needed for Jose Enrique. More recently, reports of French 25 year old Aly Cissokho, whom LFC have had long standing interest in, as well as Paraguayan 22 year old Lorenzo Melgarejo have been mentioned in the press as potential signings, be it on loan or for small purchase fees. Both can cover at left full back and also the left side of midfield where they have been utilised on multiple occasions. In midfield, since February of this year the Cissoko? likes of Anderlechtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dennis Praet and Jorginho of Hellas Verona have been subject to interest from LFC and so must be considered possibilities. A defensive minded midfielder (which Jorginho can be) may be on the agenda to cover for Lucas and/or provide more bite in midfield if needed, something that LFC have sorely lacked in recent seasons. With the likelihood of Suarezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; departure, it has to be presumed that a forward minded midfielder in a similar mould to former target Henrikh Mkhitaryan or a fluid left winger/striker will be acquired. Diego Costa would appear to be the player that the media believe is the option here. Christian Eriksen of Ajax is also of interest but until Liverpool can move on from sorting out the Suarez situation as they are currently forced into doing, it may be unclear as to who will be brought in for an attacking role. Remember that things can change dramatically between now and the final minutes of Deadline Day. Hold on to your hats because it could be a busy August for LFC! Expertly written by: Michael Reid Feedback? Send your feedback to : editor@anfieldroar.com 20

Staying or Going? Janoo Wasan gives us the inside line on the Luis Suarez transfer - will he stay or will he go now? The 'Luis Suarez Transfer Saga' has been arguably the longest, most discussed and yet, most confusing transfer story during this summer's transfer window, which has left Liverpool fans worrying about the fate of their most prized striker - will he stay or will he go? For those who are somehow inexplicably unaware of the well- (or some might argue over-) documented transfer saga, it all began shortly after the end of the season on the 31st May, when Suarez came out and spoke to the Uruguayan press explaining his desire to leave the club, stating the English media's intrusion on his personal life and the fact that they were tarnishing his image as the primary reason for wanting out. Of course with the revelation of this news, media journalists have since then been licking their lips to create new stories and juicy rumours regarding Suarez on a daily basis - some true and some false. As the on-going saga continued with Suarez wanting out, Arsenal stepped up and made an initial bid believed to be around ÂŁ35m.

SUAREZ As Liverpool fans laughed off this meagre bid from Arsenal, much to their surprise and shock, Suarez appeared to somewhat backtrack from his original reason for leaving (the English media), now saying he wants to leave for Champions League football, and also announcing that he was flattered by the bid from Arsenal, leaving some Liverpool fans worried about him potentially moving to another English club, and some fans angry at having been, in a sense, lied to.

“My reason for leaving is not money. It is my family and my image. I don’t feel comfortable here anymore.” Suarez in May This notion of him backtracking and now seemingly considering a move to another English club, and that to Arsenal, a rival club, had caused uproar with fans expressing their discontent. Some were even suggesting that Liverpool should just get rid of him, but this is (I think) still a minority (probably if and until Suarez submits a transfer request and, or clearly states he wants to go to Arsenal), as evident when Suarez received a great reception from the Anfield crowd when he came on as a substitute during Gerrard's testimonial match. Nonetheless, Suarez's admission of being flattered by Arsenal's initial bid meant that Arsenal became a little more serious in the pursuit for Suarez, making a second bid of £40m and 1 pound, which Arsenal were led to believe would trigger a ridiculous (and non-existent) clause allowing Suarez to speak with Arsenal's representative and demand a move. Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool were firm in their rejection of both bids saying that Arsenal's valuation was way off, and in any case, they don't want to sell Suarez. Some people reasonably argue that Suarez's admission of being flattered by Arsenal's interest was simply a ploy to lure Real Madrid (the club that Suarez actually wants to go to) to make a bid and step up their pursuit. 22

SUAREZ Amongst all the contradictory stories, different opinions and theories, ultimately, Suarez wants to leave LFC for greater ambitions. The questions on everyone's mind now is, will he leave this transfer window? Or to rephrase, will Liverpool let him leave? And if so, to who? Keep him or let him go? Of course, most fans (including Gerrard) are in unison that they would like him to stay. A step up? Though, strangely, there are some people (including the likes of Hamann and Barnes) who argue that our best player, top scorer and arguably the best player in England last season should leave. Their argument lies in the old and cultured notion that 'no player is bigger than the club' - he's not loyal to the club, he wants out, he won't have the same passion and mentality if he is forced to stay. And, on top of that, he is out for a couple of games at the beginning of the season anyways. Get the money, move on and replace him. However, Liverpool FC and Brendan Rodgers stance at the moment is that we need to keep him. True, he might not be bigger than the club, no player is…but still, he is arguably our best player, without whom a top 4 finish would seem more distant than it already is. For me, this situation reminds me a little of Xabi Alonso - again one of our best players in that squad, a special player, who we sold to Real Madrid, which turned out to be a big mistake - we've never been able to truly replace him. Similarly, I think we would struggle to replace a unique and special talent like Suarez. Moreover, we are not in the best of situations - finishing 7th, best player leaving - we need to ask ourselves who would want to come to a club where the best player leaves as a result of the club's lack of progress and a club with no Champions League football? Any big player would want Champions League football, as we saw with Mkhitaryan - who chose Champions League football with Dortmund rather than Liverpool, a club that, at this point, can only really resort to using their rich history as a major selling point. 23

SUAREZ We are Liverpool FC - we must keep our best players and not sell them to rival clubs and hinder our own progress. With regards to the fact that he won't have the mentality, desire and passion to play for Liverpool, a club he wants to leave, I think that's plain rubbish! - it's a World Cup year, and if he doesn't perform and sulks then he won't make the cut for the Uruguay team. The only reason I see that Liverpool should let Suarez go is if he does something more extreme about the situation and hands in a transfer request… Price and Club? If Suarez puts in a transfer request, Liverpool will be more prone to let him go. Nonetheless, the club should be strict price-wise and club-wise. Liverpool have held strong, rejecting two under-value bids from Arsenal, and with Rodgers insisting Suarez is worth at least £55 million. With speculation about Real Madrid reportedly willing to make a bid close to £100 million for Bale, Rodgers has used this rumour to his advantage, saying that there shouldn't be much of a difference between the selling price of Bale and Suarez. And I can’t see anyone willing to pay that! However, Real Madrid's pursuit for Bale can also be a bad thing for Liverpool, as if they sign Bale, they wouldn't go for Suarez, meaning that if Suarez does put in a transfer request, he could force a move to Arsenal. Selling Suarez to Arsenal or any other English club would directly hinder our progress and strengthen the buying team, thus Liverpool will be keen, if in a situation where Suarez puts in a transfer request, to sell to a foreign club. But personally, I don't think Suarez would put in a transfer request if Real Madrid don't show an interest. Which is why I think that, as a result of the Bale speculation, Suarez will stay put with Liverpool till January at the very least, as he would've realised that Arsenal aren't much of a step up from Liverpool. I think more and more Liverpool fans are starting to believe that he will stay put and are getting less and less worried – which is why it was good that we gave Suarez a great reception at Gerrard's testimonial. But what do you think? Expertly written by: Janoo Wasan Tweet Janoo - @janoow10 24

We can do it without him!

Luis Suarez? Bigger than the club? Thomas Jordan tells us why we can do without him! With the Luis Suarez transfer saga seemingly set to continue for the rest of the transfer window, many Liverpool fans must be feeling slightly nervous at the prospect of our main goal threat leaving the club. I am here to reassure these fans that he could be more easily replaced than most believe. The single big name of Suarez will be quickly forgotten if he is succeeded by two smaller names working in partnership up front. There is no doubt that Luis Suarez has been both talismanic and effective for Liverpool. One cannot ignore his stunning goalscoring record of more than a goal every other game. With 51 goals in 96 games and countless exhilarating performances, no one can begrudge the striker the famous no.7 shirt, at least in pure footballing terms. Nevertheless, you are about to be convinced that if the summer ends with the loss of our star player, it will not spell the end for Liverpool, and may even be the new dawn of goal scoring.

WITHOUT HIM The fundamental principle behind the title of this article is that a strike partnership is a more effective, reliable and long-lasting method of scoring goals in the premier league than a single talismanic striker. One need only take a glance at the football history books to see that strike partnerships are, in fact, more plentiful than the lone striker and that actually many of the great strikers that one might associate with being solo stars were more successful when accompanied by a fellow forward. Alan Shearer is the greatest goal-scorer in premier league history with 260 goals, but it is no coincidence that he went through the best three premier league seasons of his career between 1993 and 1996 (during which he scored 31, 34 and 31 goals respectively) when paired with Chris Sutton in a duo named â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the SASâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Shearer & Sutton

Despite achieving great success at Newcastle, Shearer never quite reached the goal-scoring heights of his Blackburn career. This points to the lack of a consistent strike partner, with the exception of one season next to Les Ferdinand (no offence Shola). However, strike partnerships do not simply rely upon individual goal-scorers creating an impressive aggregate goal-total, as the pairing of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry showed. Although they scored over 200 goals between them, the weight of this fell upon Henry as the out and out striker, whereas Bergkamp tended to play as a marauding forward who regularly scored stunning goals but more often played provider to the Frenchman.

WITHOUT HIM Again, it can’t be a fluke that Henry’s Arsenal career quickly spiraled downwards following the classy Dutchman’s retirement in 2006. It is undeniable that injuries played a part in Thierry Henry’s fall from grace, but it cannot be ignored that a return to form after injury would have been made far easier had Bergkamp been around to add to the 116 assists he made for the club. In Liverpudlian terms, arguably the four most successful strike partnerships in the history of the club - Stan Collymore with Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard with Fernando Torres, Kenny Daglish with Ian Rush and Kevin Keegan with John Toshack - all played in similar ‘finisher and provider’ roles. Each of the strike partnerships mentioned so far, though, has included at least one world-class player on the same level as the man this all relates to: Luis Suarez. However, the benefit of a partnership is that this is not necessary. Take Gudjohnsen and Hasselbaink – both very impressive, but probably not worldclass footballers. In their first season together in 2001/02, they netted 52 goals at a fairly equal ratio of 23:29. The Abramovich era then commenced, the partnership disintegrated as expensive foreign stars such as Mutu and Crespo were brought in and neither player ever scored as many goals in a season at any club again. Perhaps you can now see where I am heading. Last season, Sturridge and Suarez were in the process of forming the next ‘SAS’, when the duet was broken by the Uruguayan’s 10match ban.

WITHOUT HIM Immediately, a nippy, skillful Brazilian stepped in, with 3 out of the 5 Sturridge goals in the three games following the Suarez ban assisted by Philippe Coutinho, who also scored three goals in his limited 2012/13 season to demonstrate his goal-scoring capabilities. The future? Both players are in their early 20s and have plenty of time to mature as an alliance. Neither is a world-class player or a big name in world football like Luis Suarez, but, as already proven, this is of little importance. This pair also fit perfectly into the classic Liverpool â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;finisher and providerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; partnership. Rest assured, then, fellow Liverpool fans, that if our main man were sold, this would simply pave the way for the more understated - but just as effective, or possibly even more effective - combination of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho. Expertly written by: Thomas Jordan Tweet Thomas - @teejbusbys1

Different kind of double-act

What we REALLY need! Arun Kannan knows what we’re missing out on - players willing to go the extra mile... If you have been living in football obscurity for the past year, Liverpool are going through a revolution of sorts. Brendan Rodgers has instilled an ‘English Tiki Taka’ hybrid style of play that showcases fluid passing and precision football. What did this mean to the squad that he inherited from the Daglish regime? Suddenly, archetypical English types of players were out of favour. Andy Carroll is case and point. Jonjo Shelvey, who is having a new lease of life at Swansea, was the latest ‘victim’ of BR’s system. Suddenly Liverpool are turning into the latest Anglo-version of Barcelona (after Arsenal of course). The team is slowly starting to bristle with technical, flair players who are comfortable on the ball, with both feet, and are versatile enough to play various positions to allow a fluid style of play. Guys who had questionable first touches (like the Jonjo Shelvey’s and Martin Skrtel’s of this world) have either dropped out of favour or been let go altogether.

We do not have enough players who have that ‘ruthless’ mentality and a ‘win at all cost’ attitude. This brings me to the point of this article. The Liverpool squad today, especially the starting eleven, would not lose out in terms of technical ability to any team in the top four. So why is it that we are finding it so difficult to break into the top four? 29

MISSING What is holding Liverpool back from making it into the top four is simple: we do not have enough players who have that ‘ruthless’ mentality and a ‘win at all cost’ attitude. Let’s take a sample of players from teams that finished in the top four last season who are ‘ruthless winners’: Vidic, Evra, Van Persie, Giggs, Hart, Kompany, Tevez, Yaya Toure, Dzeko, Walcott, Arteta, Cech, Terry, Lampard, Hazard. These are names of players who go the extra-mile just to get 3 points week-in and week-out.

Never say die

These are the guys who see a draw as two points dropped instead of a point gained in any game. These are the type of footballers who can transform a good team into a great team, and who consistently strive to win and go into every game with the single thought of winning. Last season, Liverpool was a team in transition. We were a team trying to establish a new identity on the pitch. At times, we played breath-taking football and tore apart the opposition with ease. Then there were ‘those’ games. Yes, the ones where we would come out of the blocks at full momentum and create numerous chances. More often than not last season, the team did not take those chances and, a few bad refereeing decisions later, we seemed to start struggling in the very games where we were dominating a quarter of an hour ago. Why? Is it because the entire Liverpool team suddenly lost all their technical ability? I understand that football is a game of two halves, but there is more to this. It boils down to the mental condition of the players. Liverpool consistently fielded a young team last season, who had a lack of experience at the highest level of the game. This deficiency showed in ‘difficult’ games last season. As soon as the team was not getting the rub of the green, we would collapse and let the opposition into the game. 30

MISSING Leaders and winners like Carra, Stevie G and Suarez are few and far between within the squad, and they can only do so much. Gerrard and Carra are on the wrong side of thirty and they didn’t seem to be able to carry the team like they used to. The two icons could only do so much at this stage in their careers. BR seems to recognize this deficiency in the squad and is looking to solve this problem this summer. Just look at the players who we have already brought in and being linked to currently: Kolo Toure might not be the physical specimen he was all that time ago when he was part of the ‘Invincibles’, but he still retains that ‘ruthless ‘mentality and the winning attitude was evident in pre-season games so far.

“Kolo Toure speaks for himself – his experience and his fitness has been first-class since he came in. And he’s a really good man. That was the idea of bringing him in, because of his winning mentality and his personality.” Rodgers on Kolo Toure

We are being linked to Diego Costa who I would call the ‘Brazilian Suarez’ and the young Papadopoulos whose Youtube clips all seem to begin with the infamous staredown that he gave a seemingly terrified Samaras. If we do get Costa and Papadopoulous and manage to retain Suarez, this season I genuinely see us breaking into the top four and return to where the club should be, alongside Europe’s elite.

Expertly written by: Arun Kannan Tweet us your thoughts - @anfieldroarmag

3 REASONS Ben Reynolds lets us know what we should be expecting from Liverpool this season. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that time of the year again. The time when we are linked with every player under the sun. The time when we think that we have unearthed a gem when David Ngog manages to make contact with a cross, and the time when we think that Daniel Pacheco will be a world-beater! For some fans, this is the highlight of the year, opening up various transfer websites to see that Mikhycritan (apologies) is en-route to Melwood for a medical, when in fact, he is being unveiled in Dortmund. I think that the main thing to do during a transfer window is to wait for Sky Sports to have an article about it. Until then, take it with a pinch of salt reds! I do believe however, we can look forward to a much better season than last, and here are a few reasons why: 1) New players: As always, Liverpool have brought in players during the summer, some a little more known than others. For example, with Simon Mignolet and Kolo Toure, we know what we are going to

3 REASONS get, I have seen enough of Mignolet to know that he is a fantastic keeper, and will go some way in filling the gloves of Pepe Reina. In Toure, we have bought experience, simple as. Even if he doesn't start every game, he will make the back four more vocal and more compact as a unit, which as we saw last season, is something which is much needed. As for Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto, we will just have to wait and see. Both have looked good in pre-season, but that can be said for many players. We will know by the end of September if they are worthy of pulling on the red shirt. 2) Fixtures I think that it is safe to say that the fixture list has been kind to us this season, especially in the opening run of games. Last season, we got off to a torrid start. This was partly due to the fact that we weren't quite gelling as a team yet, but mainly because we had an incredibly hard opening two months. I think that we can take a lot of points from our opening 5 games, which will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.

3 REASONS 3) Midfield Maestros I firmly believe that the name Philippe Coutinho will be etched on Liverpool fans' lips for many seasons to come. From what we have seen of this guy so far, in the second half of last season and in pre-season, you can feel the excitement surrounding him.

What can he do in a full season? This season, he will be mentioned in the same breath as Mata, Cazorla and Hazard in terms of playmaking ability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just wait. Another key midfielder this season will be Joe Allen. Fans almost forgot that we had him last season, due to his injuries, so he will be like a new signing for us. There is a reason that we paid â&#x201A;Ź15 million for him, and from what he showed while he wasn't injured, he will be a key force in our challenge for Champions League football. So there you have it. 3 reasons to be optimistic about the new season. Now all we can do is hope that we keep hold of the key members of the squad, and we should have a fantastic season ahead of us. Expertly written by: Ben Reynolds Feedback? Send your feedback to : editor@anfieldroar.com

How did Liverpool do on the pitch over the last month? Ross Webber guides us through our pre-season victories... Played 6, won 6… So far, Liverpool have had a very promising pre season campaign: it has been a good opportunity for fans to view the team’s latest additions and gauge an idea of just where Brendan Rodgers’ side stand ahead of the new season. The Reds had scheduled a tour in the Far East, but began their preseason campaign with a trip to local side Preston North End in a bid for the Shankly Cup. On a scorching hot day in the North-west, Liverpool ran out comfortable winners thanks to goals from Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling, Jordon Ibe and new boy Iago Aspas. In addition to the Spanish forward, Luis Alberto, Simon Mignolet and Kolo Toure were also given their first outing in a Liverpool shirt.

A good challenge 35

ON THE PITCH A week later, the Reds were settled in the Far East where they had been greeted by millions of fans. The first fixture on the schedule was against an Indonesian XI. Coutinho and Sterling, both sparkling, each recorded their second goal in as many pre season games to claim victory. Next up for the Reds was a trip to Australia to face Melbourne Victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Here, Liverpool were watched by an official attendance of 95,446; the second largest attended match in football history! As a result, the rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone was a moment that Brendan Rodgers and his side claimed they would never forget.

“I knew it was going to be a special night, but it's not until you go out there and you really see how vocal the supporters were and the incredible 'You'll Never Walk Alone' [that you realise].” Rodgers on Melbourne On the field, Liverpool secured another victory thanks to goals from captain Steven Gerrard and a last minute tap in from Aspas. The match also saw Luis Suarez return in a red shirt following his involvement in the Confederations Cup. The Uruguayan was greeted well by the Melbourne crowd amidst growing speculation over his future. Liverpool rounded off their foreign pre-season tour in style with a three-goal victory against Thailand in Bangkok. Coutinho scored a mesmerising goal before Aspas grabbed his third of pre-season.

ON THE PITCH Gerrard added a third late on with a crafty chip. The win rounded off a successful tour - three victories, seven goals and none conceded. The Reds returned home in good spirits ahead of Steven Gerrard’s testimonial against Olympiacos. Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson scored both goals to secure yet another victorious run-out for Liverpool, with Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler both playing cameos on Gerrard’s special day. The captain was applauded off the field and overwhelmed by the noise of the Anfield faithful – so well done to the fans! Next up, the Reds were off to Norway to play Valerenga. The Reds will have been happy with the performance, but disappointed to concede their first pre-season goal. A convincing 4-1 victory with more dazzling performances from Aspas and Sterling – who both scored, as did Luis Alberto and Martin Kelly - and even Borini played well! With one game remaining in pre-season, Rodgers will be delighted with the work of the group so far this summer. We have recorded six wins out of six, scored plenty of goals and only one conceded. Clearly, the opposition have perhaps not been the most challenging that Liverpool will face this season, yet the side have worked well on their fitness, begun to gel and have a taste for the back of the net. Come the 17th August, everyone will see just how hard the players have worked in their pre-season campaign and fans will be hoping for a successful start in what promises to be an intriguing year for Rodgers’ men. Expertly written by: Ross Webber Ross’s site is liverpoolnewsandviews.tumblr.com 37

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Introducing Kolo

TOURE Ivan Emanuel takes a closer look at the man replacing Jamie Carragher in the heart of the Liverpool defence. As Jamie Carragher retired, it was clear that a replacement was needed in Liverpool’s back line. An experienced player, able to fill the void left by our reliable Carra, was imperative. Brendan Rodgers, alongside our great scouting team, were swift in response as Liverpool announced on the 28th of May that they had reached an agreement in principle to sign Kolo Touré on a free transfer from Manchester City. Alongside the likes of Didier Zokora, Emmanuel Eboue, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Romaric, Toure Yaya and many others, Liverpool’s number 4 is one of many international talents grown in ASEC's Academie MimoSifcom. The Bouake born player drew attention at quite a young age, as he was constantly playing for ASEC Mimosas - the most successful Ivorian team in history – and the Ivory Coast national team.

TOURE Toure was signed by Arsenal in 2002 after a trial for the London based club, but he made his debut for the Gunners a year later - in the FA Community Shield - against Liverpool. He fought for his place in the first team, being initially used by Wenger as a defensive midfielder and a right-back. The following years were almost perfect for Kolo as he became an established centre back for Arsenal. It all culminated in the 2003-2004 Premier League season, when he was part of the Gunners ‘Invincibles’ squad. The Ivorian was also part of the Arsenal team that lost the 2006 Uefa Champions League Final. Toure earned the captain’s armband in 2007, but left the Emirates in 2009, after 7 years and 225 appearances for the Londoners.

"I would never say a bad word about Mr Wenger. I came from nowhere. I was in Africa and nobody believed in me. I had been at a lot of clubs that didn't take me. This guy made me what I am now." Toure In the summer of 2009, Toure moved to Etihad Stadium for £14 million, being one of the many high-profile signings made by Man City in that transfer window. Initially appointed captain byHughes, he fell down City’s pecking order as Roberto Mancini became manager. After four years spent mostly as a squad player, in which he won a Premier League, a FA Cup and a Community Shield with City, his contract expired, and he decided he against renewing it. 40

TOURE As a result, Kolo Toure, thankfully, officially became a Liverpool player on the 2nd of July.

“Of course my experience is going to be important. I know Jamie Carragher was a really important player for this football club. He’s retired now and Liverpool had to look for somebody who can replace him. I’m the one and it’s a big honour, personally. To be chosen to replace Jamie Carragher is unbelievable because he has been a fantastic player for this football club, he was a great leader." Toure In my opinion, Kolo Toure as a replacement for Jamie Carragher is quite a shrewd piece of business: he’s an experienced defender with over 300 appearances in the Premier Legaue – including winning things – plus, he’s only 32, which is young for a centre back. And it made brilliant financial sense too – Kolo accepted a pay cut to play at Anfield, and arrived as a free agent. I can’t wait to see him out on the pitch in our famous Red shirts.

Expertly written by: Ivan Emanuel You can tweet Ivan at @emy_2good

Goodbye... Pepe

REINA No way Jose! George Way says thanks and good luck to the man who used to be a fan favourite. Jose Manual ‘Pepe’ Reina is up there with the best goalkeepers in the world today, and for the past 8 years he has stood firm as the primary goalkeeper at Anfield. In his own autobiography, he has documented that the majority of his career highlights happened on Merseyside, or when representing the Reds elsewhere. Likewise, many of the fans will remember the highs, and indeed the lows of his time at our club. However, now he has (temporarily?) departed for Napoli, leading to much confusion amongst the Anfield faithful. Will we ever see such passion from a goalkeeper again, as was shown by Pepe? Do we expect him to return after his loan spell under Rafa in Italy? And above all, why would we willingly give away one of our best and most experienced members of the team at a time when we have so much youth in our ranks? To many the most obvious and clear cut reason for off-loading one of our most valuable players on a temporary basis would be in relation to our wage bill; it has been reported that Pepe earned as much as £100,000 a week last season, making him one of our top earners. 42

REINA But where is this money being invested; could it be in the wages of new ‘keeper Simon Mignolet, an exciting prospect signed early on in the summer for around £9 million? Perhaps the intention behind this move is not motivated only by the financial boost; maybe it could simply be our way of providing the new goalkeeper with an opportunity to prove himself. By removing the competition, Mignolet can be confident of his place in the team every week, and concentrate on his own game, as opposed to worrying about Reina. In saying that, some would say that competition could only push the two goalkeepers to their limits, as they both strive to show that they deserve to start each week. Staying on the idea of two ‘first class’ goal keepers in the same team, I think that one positive to come from Reina’s departure is that he has not been reduced to the position of a keeper who can only play in cup games, which may have happened had he stayed.

"I was led to believe we were going to get an offer for Pepe Reina that would probably see him leave the club. At that stage we started our search for another goalkeeper and we found Simon Mignolet, who is top class and one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.” Rodgers on Reina But what is it that we have lost? The most obvious answer is that we will have to endure the next season (maybe more) without one of Europe’s top ‘keepers - but that’s not all. During his time at Liverpool Pepe has achieved a reputation as a joker, and somebody who can always be relied on to raise morale, in a different way to the inspirational figures like Gerrard and Brendan Rogers. 43

REINA For instance, Reina can always be seen dancing around celebrating after each of Spain successes in tournaments, in spite of the fact he perhaps didn’t play a major part in the first team. His lack of inclusion in the Spanish team may indeed be part of the reason we have loaned him to a club where he is guaranteed first team football in the year leading up to the next World Cup. Maybe this will be his opportunity to beat Casillas to the number one shirt for his country – under Spanish management (Rafa Benitez) he is sure to have that goal set firmly in his sights.

“My departure was different to what I expected, but I will always be grateful to them. This is the nature of football - when you are loved by a team, you really feel it, but when you go through bad moments, you are treated differently. In the end I will remember the love I felt from the fans for so many years.” Reina The departure aside, I think that we should all consider and pay tribute to the wonderful servant that Pepe Reina has been over the last 8 years; in a similar fashion to the open letter that he released for the fans to read. In the letter he writes about how he has been blessed to be part of our club, but I quite frankly feel that we have been blessed to have him in the Anfield goal. He has led us to European dreams, carried us through nail-biting penalty shoot outs, and won games for us through his saves alone. And through all of this he has maintained his passion and dedication to the club, showing that not only is he one of the best goalkeepers in modern football, but one of the best characters. A goalkeeper that I am sure we will all look forward to welcoming back next year, and a character that will be sorely missed over the next 12 months. Expertly written by: George Way Feedback? Send your feedback to : editor@anfieldroar.com 44

Goodbye... Jonjo

SHELVEY Emma Rhodes sums up the fans feelings on Jonjo Shelvey leaving for Swansea. We wish him well. On the 3rd July, Jonjo Shelvey said goodbye to Liverpool as he signed a 4 year contract with Brendan Rodgers former team, Swansea for the initial fee of £5 million. The 21 year old midfielder started his professional career at Charlton Athletic, where he became their youngest ever player at only 16 years and 59 days old. He then joined Liverpool for an initial fee of £1.7 million in May of 2010. During his time in Liverpool he made a total of 68 appearances, a total of 7 goals including a European brace vs Young Boys. Shelvey extended his contract with Liverpool and as a result of a Lucas injury, featured heavily in Brendan Rodgers’ side. Jonjo has also played for England at all levels, including a solitary senior cap when he briefly featured against San Marino. Jonjo was a regular captain for the national under–19 side. 45

SHELVEY As Shelvey appears to have a bright future ahead of him as he develops and grows further into the shaped player any team could hope for, will Liverpool and the fans miss him? It may not be a case of Liverpool will miss Shelvey as there appears to be a number of young potential players at the club and with a few new signings this summer, the team may be one to watch this year. Shelvey may be one to keep your eye on during his return to Anfield, knowing how the players work. Believe it or not, Shelvey is still only 21, so he has plenty of time to come back and haunt us! Sterling, a fellow young midfielder, has been in brilliant form recently which has possibly overshadowed the personal developments of Shelvey, so many fans may feel they will not miss him from the squad. Fans may also feel Shelvey is a little irrational in the tackle and is always susceptible to an unnecessary booking (the classic example of this was during the clash with Manchester United last season whilst also showing his immaturity as he left the pitch).

"Jonjo is coming in from the side, it is a tackle the player has to go for and one the United player has to go for but the Liverpool player can't get sent off and the United one stay on the field. I thought it was very harsh and that was how it was throughout the game as a number of poor decisions went against us" Rodgers

SHELVEY On the 3rd July, the midfielder tweeted a sentimental goodbye to Liverpool and the fans, “Just want to say thank you to every one of the Liverpool fans for their support! They were first class. And will be truly missed. Will miss the city very much and the club! Owe a lot to everyone there! Thank you. Time to start a new chapter in life in Wales. Thank you.”

“Just want to say thank you to every one of the Liverpool fans for their support! They were first class. And will be truly missed.” Shelvey’s tweet I feel Jonjo Shelvey grew and developed hugely under the close care of the Liverpool staff, however, there doesn’t seem to be a space for him in the team, which is a shame, but that is football. Whilst he is a good player, there are plenty of players like him already within the club, which may mean it is harder for him to grow and stand out as a player in the present squad. I wish him all the best but I just hope not to see his infamous glasses celebration return to Anfield this season.

Will he come back to haunt us?

Looking at the current inflated transfer market, £5 million for a 21 year old England International with a lot of potential seems a shrewd piece of business on Swansea’s behalf. Expertly written by: Emma Rhodes Feedback? Send your feedback to : editor@anfieldroar.com

LFC fix

Follow these guys on twitter to get your LFC fix!

Twittername: @thisisanfield Real Names: There's two of us who run the site; Matt ( @mattladson) and Max (@maxmunton) We're both mid twenties and we're split between Liverpool and Leeds. We’ve been tweeting since 2009 How many followers do you have? 153k What do you tweet about? All sorts of things - it could be news, comment, links, jokes, banter, etc…) If there is anything going on that’s vaguely Liverpoolrelated we’ll be posting about it! The number of tweets we post a day varies massively depending on what's going on in the world of LFC. Which of your tweets has had the most RT’s? I have no idea. There's been a lot that have been heavily RTed. Sum up this season in 160 characters: "Forgettable would be the main word. You won't be looking back and remembering it in decades to come!" 48

And so it begins...! Liverpool begin the new season full of hope against a Stoke City side hoping to improve on a dreadful final season under Tony Pulis. The beginning of the footballing season in Merseyside has been overshadowed somewhat by the speculation surrounding star striker Luis Suarez, and his potential departure from the Reds. However, with Suarez returning later than the other players due to his Confederations Cup commitments, Brendan Rodgers has been able to prepare his side for life without Suarez, both in the short term because of his suspension and indeed the possibility of a permanent exit. Liverpool vs Celtic Saturday 10th August - Final Pre-season game Liverpool’s final pre-season game before the beginning of the season is in Dublin against Scottish champions Celtic. Not knowing much about the probable line-ups etc... this is tough to preview. What you can be certain of is that you are likely to hear the most amazing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone in history! Both clubs have hugely passionate supporters who will relish the possibility, so do not miss it. With regards to the game itself, one would imagine Suarez will still be “injured”, possibly with a broken heart. 49

FIXTURES

Other than this, Liverpool will, as they have done in pre-season field a strong team against what will likely be a weakened Celtic team after their Champions League commitments on Wednesday evening against Elfsborg. I predict an easy win over a Celtic side with other things on their mind, but the carnival atmosphere could provide a basis for a few goals. Prediction: Liverpool 5 - 1 Celtic

Liverpool v Stoke City Saturday 17th August - Premier League On the footballing side of things, this should be a game that Liverpool win. It sounds simplistic, and in my mind it is. Liverpool finished last season in imperious form, while Stoke have recorded only three Premier League wins in 2013. The form guide points to only one thing, though as we all know with Liverpool...it is rarely that simple. It must however be noted that Hughes is now in charge of Stoke, prompting the belief that they will no longer be the defensive side that would happily take 1-0 wins or 0-0 draws both home and away.

Expect another â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;physicalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; match

The team news is encouraging for the reds, with Daniel Sturridge returning to training a little ahead of schedule and no other major injury worries (albeit Suarez will be missing regardless of any potential transfer). Prediction: I am going to go for an emphatic (if a little optimistic) 3-0 win for the reds against a team so used to defending that they will take time to adapt to Mark Hughes differing tactics. 50

FIXTURES Aston Villa v Liverpool Saturday 24th August - Premier League Aston Villa are the most infuriating team I have ever seen. I cannot imagine the frustration their fans must feel. Last season proves that point: they came to Anfield and produced what was for me the most perfect away performance in the league and won 3-1, yet they lost 8-0 the next away day to Chelsea. They are inexperienced at the back and somewhat anonymous in midfield at times, but they do have “the beast” Benteke up front with the can-be-brilliant Agbonlahor on one side and one-time Liverpool target Weimann on the other (or at least, they do at the time of going to press!) It is this unpredictability that makes me hate watching a Liverpool v Villa game. We could win 5-0 comfortably or be on the end of a Benteke inspired Villa romp. I don’t believe the Villains will be anywhere near relegation this season, but I am very excited to see what players like Coutinho, Sterling, Aspas and Sturridge will do to a backline that, although skillful, simply has no leadership or organisation. Prediction: If I had to predict a scoreline it would be a 2-1 victory for the Reds, though this partly depends on coming off the back of a win against Stoke.

Comp Friendly

Opposition Celtic (a)

Date Sat 10th Apr

Time 17:00

Predict WIN

Prem

Stoke City (h)

Sat 17th Aug

12:45

WIN

Prem

Aston Villa (a)

Sat 24th Aug

17:30

WIN

Expertly written by: Dominic Kealey - you can tweet Dominic your thoughts on twitter - @_valencia_12

KOP HERO Steven

GERRARD Steven Gerrard will go down as one of Liverpool’s favourite sons. Ronan McCourt tells us why. His loyalty to the club was never in doubt, nor was the club’s loyalty to him. Steven Gerrard may have got down to the final year of his contract, the furthest he’s ever reached on a deal with the club, but it was only a matter of time before a new deal was agreed for Captain Fantastic to finish his wonderful career with his boyhood team, and further cement his legend as possibly the club’s greatest ever player. After 630 appearances during an unforgettable 15 years in the first team, Stevie was given a fitting tribute by a capacity crowd at Anfield during his testimonial against Olympiakos on Saturday. Normally a fitting send off to a club legend approaching the end of their career, Gerrard will play on in the Liverpool red for at least another two seasons. 52

GERRARD Unsurprisingly then, the game was played as more of an advanced pre-season test than a kick-about with some former legendary pro’s (despite the appearances of both Carra and Fowler). But, at 33, can Gerrard still cut it at the top level for at least another two campaigns? At the start of last season, some would have said no. For the first time in his Liverpool career, it could be argued that Gerrard’s place in the starting XI was under fire after the club had a suspect start to life under Rodgers. Critics said that he didn’t fit the short passing game of the new gaffer and that his swashbuckling, all-action style of play was something he no longer had the legs for. His time as Mr. Untouchable was, if you believed what you read, coming to an end. But, as he has done his entire life, he proved his critics wrong. The skipper went on to play 36 times in the league last season, scoring 9 and setting up a further 8, playing every minute until necessary shoulder surgery saw him miss the last two fixtures. As the old adage goes: form is temporary, class is permanent.

"People talk about my loyalty to the football club because I’ve been here all the way through, but the club have been loyal to me all the way throughout my career and always rewarded me at the right times with deals. I won’t lie to you, I’m really excited at the moment. I’ve got a lot of confidence and belief in my team-mates and in the coaches.” Gerrard He has adapted his game to suit both Rodger’s style of play and his own aging process. The lung bursting box-to-box runs, lastditch tackles and long range wonder passes are still there, but he knows he cannot keep them up forever, so they are not as frequent as they once were. 53

GERRARD It is perhaps for this reason that he was able to play every minute of the league season until injury halted him. There’s life in the “old” dog yet.

“He’s an icon here at the football club for players and supporters. Also, importantly, his contribution at this moment in time is very much valued by myself and the staff. I think he’s still got a good few years left yet. His performances last year were outstanding." Rodgers Can he still cut it then? The answer is a resounding yes. He still has the same hunger and desire to win as he has always had - that will doubtless never change. His altered style of play will see him continue to contribute to the first team for the foreseeable future, and his status as club captain and “Mr. Liverpool” will be important to the club retaining its local identity and heartbeat in an era of foreign investment and overseas players plying their trade in England. His loyalty to his hometown club is as admirable nowadays as it is rare. He is one of a dying breed, and one who we have to cherish and enjoy while we are still fortunate enough to witness him doing what he does best every week for our club. He is Liverpool, and he’s sticking around for a little while longer yet! Expertly written by: Ronan McCourt You can tweet your responses to @anfieldroarmag

This month weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve brought you the best of the Pre-season action. If Liverpool start the proper season this well...

Aspas scores his first

Is this the first of many? Iago Aspas smashes the ball in from outside the box - http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=lj1-NuU0NGU 55

YOUTUBE Coutinho scores Wonder Goal

This is the man weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all excited to see, and he looks great. Check out his fancy footwork and clinical finish against Thailand - http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=qjqvf0a7UNc Sterling Taps it in

THIS is how Liverpool should play - neat passing, great movement, plenty of options, and a cool and calm finish. Sterling is in the right place at the right time to earn his goal bonus without actually having to do that much! Can we play you every week?! http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=YuwLyZcDk6E

Send us your favourites - @anfieldroarmag 56

With the new season fast approaching, I, like many other football fans across the world, have started to consider the makeup of my Premier League Fantasy Team. Never an easy task, but one made even more difficult these days by the small matter of the season kicking-off two weeks prior to the transfer window closing. Consequently, amongst other things, one has to weigh up whether or not a particular player will still be with his current employers come September. The uncertainty is even more keenly felt this summer with the future of last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two biggest stars, Tottenham's Gareth Bale and our very own (for now at least) Luis Suarez, still very much up in the air. The duo have been heavily linked with moves and it is highly likely that one, or indeed both, will not even be plying their trade in this country next month. The Suarez transfer saga is obviously an unwanted distraction and, although I can understand the pull of Real Madrid, I really cannot get my head around the possibility of him moving to Arsenal.

Worth ÂŁ100m?

I really cannot get my head around the possibility of him moving to Arsenal. The obvious plus, from the Uruguayan's perspective at least, is that the Gunners are in the Champions League, but that is surely negated by the fact theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won absolutely nothing for eight years and have a recent history filled with selling their best players? 57

CLEAR AS DAY Ironically, given the cobwebs that have since formed in the Emirates trophy cabinet around the 2005 FA Cup, the annoying 'Lonely' by Akon was number one in the UK singles chart at the time of their last success. During the period that has followed, and despite largely struggling on the field, being close to bankruptcy at one point off it and changing managers and boardroom personnel as often as Robbie Keane changes clubs, Liverpool have won two trophies and reached two further finals. Joking aside, and ignoring my clear bias, when everything is taken into account rationally (history, global reach, future prospects etc etc etc), surely we are still a bigger club and a better bet than Arsenal? The most galling thing about the proposed Suarez move is his initial protestations that a move away from Anfield was needed to escape the English press. Last time I checked, Arsenal not only played in England but were also based in the nation's capital, London, where the media intrusion and scrutiny is even more intense than on Merseyside! Suarez's constant pushing for a transfer over the summer from the safety of his native South America has been very hard to stomach, especially considering the support everyone afforded the player during his numerous high-profile misdemeanours.

If the 26-year-old really wants to go then the very least he owes us is some common courtesy. If the 26-year-old really wants to go then the very least he owes us is some common courtesy: stop the game playing and submit a formal transfer request! Liverpool have so far done well to bring in new faces and move a few out, many on-loan, but there comes a point when you want all your activity done and dusted. 58

CLEAR AS DAY

As we've seen before, if a transfer drags on until the final few days of the window then the club can be seriously compromised and left without replacements or forced into panic buying. I'm hopeful he will see sense and stay for what promises to be another exciting season of Premier League football… but I am sadly doubtful. As it stands, my prediction is for Manchester City to regain the title they surrendered to local rivals United last term. The purchases of Alvaro Negredo, Stevan Jovetic, Jesus Navas and Fernandinho, although making a mockery of the proposed Financial Fair Play initiative at almost £100million combined, strengthen an already impressive squad substantially. As for the Reds, we really need to finish in the top four this season or it will get even harder to convince our best players to stay and to attract new ones of the calibre needed to get us back into the Winners Enclosure on a regular basis. Our pursuit of Champions League qualification should be boosted by the lack of Europa League football on a Thursday night and, if Suarez stays, I genuinely think we will do it. Without him, depending on replacements, it’s a long-shot at best. My 2013/14 Fantasy Team: (4-3-3) Mignolet, Richards, Agger, Cahill, Coleman, Mirallas, Gerrard, Giaccherini, Altidore, Negredo, Bony. Subs: Speroni, Young, Ben Arfa, Riise.

Expertly written by: Gavin Day - tweet him @superbag Visit Gavin’s site at http://www.liverpool.vitalfootball.co.uk

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