By Chris Rowland and Daniel Rhodes.
W/c Monday July 2oth 2015.
Welcome to our weekly round-up, a diary of news and events on the site, matters relating to LFC and the world of football generally.
The Week in Football – Liverpool FC:
Monday:
Raheem Sterling – sorry to start yet another week with those two words – says he must now make headlines for the right reasons after an acrimonious departure from Liverpool, but admits he would be “quite happy to lie down” on his sofa for the whole day. The 20-year-old insists, however, that he was ill when he missed training at Liverpool shortly before his £49m transfer.
Liverpool’s pre-season tour continued with a friendly against A-League side Adelaide United at the Adelaide Oval, with a 2-0 win courtesy of another Milner goal and a last kick of the match effort from Danny Ings.
Liverpool team: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Henderson, Allen, Milner, Ibe, Lallana, Origi.
Substitutes: Bogdan, Fulton, Toure, Sakho, Lambert, Moreno, Lucas, Ings, Kent, Rossiter, Wisdom, Markovic, Teixeira, Ojo, Wilson, Maguire, Cleary, Chirivella.
Brendan Rodgers admitted Liverpool will depart Australia ‘with a heavy heart’ and can’t wait to return after playing in front of more than 50,000 fans for the second time in four days. (LiverpoolFC.com)
Rodgers said:
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to be in Australia. For some of our people and staff it’s their first time, but I was very lucky to come here for the first time when we were here two years ago.
“This trip has been equally as enjoyable. To have had over 100,000 supporters over the two games on the other side of the world tells you about the passion of the people here for the club.
“It’s been a great honour and I’d come back here as soon as we possibly could, for sure. We leave tomorrow with a heavy heart because when you play in front of those supporters, it means so much.
“It’s been very humbling how we’ve been received and hopefully we can come back.”
“We achieved our objectives tonight, firstly to develop our fitness,” said Rodgers. “I thought our pressing and intensity in the game was excellent.
“And we’re obviously still improving and looking to develop that tactical idea with a host of new players.
“Our performance was very good again against another very well-organised team that play excellent football and play with a good notion of the game. Our set-up was good and the players played very well.
Rodgers also said he expects Jordon Ibe to play an important role in Liverpool’s senior set up in 2015-16 – but stressed the 19-year-old still has plenty of development to do before he reaches his full potential. (LiverpoolFC.com)
“He’s still very young, he’s still 19 years of age, but I think you see the potential. It’s just [about] him continually working hard at his game; he’s still got a way to go for that consistency but I think everyone sees that potential.
“All our young players at the club know that if they demonstrate the right personality, they have a chance to play. Joe Gomez at 18 years of age has huge potential as well. It’s up to them. They know they’ll get a chance if they co-ordinate their game and work to the plan of the collective, then there’ll be a chance.
“Jordon is a very exciting talent and we’ll manage him individually, because it’s not the same for everyone. He’s his own player and we need to manage him and what’s best for him and the team.”
Tuesday:
Former Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says Christian Benteke’s £32.5m move from Villa to Liverpool will prove to be money well spent. (Sky Sports)
“He’s a brilliant number nine and if he gets the service he’ll score.
“… on his game he’s a handful. I’m delighted for him, he’s earned that move and if he can do what I think he can do, he’ll do great for them. He’s one of the best number nines that I’ve seen in a long time.”
“I thought he was a handful every time I saw him playing. I sent people to watch him as well who I thought I could rely on and they said the same.
“Then I saw him again and thought, ‘let’s try to get this big guy over’. He came in and he was excellent. He took to English football really well.
“That will be in his development as well, that he’s going to have to handle the expectancy level of winning [at Liverpool].
“When you speak to Christian, he has a great belief in himself to do well. He’s a top guy … and I need some tickets for Anfield so he’s my link for that.”
Jordon Ibe has spoken about his determination to impress during pre-season and show Brendan Rodgers he has the qualities to claim a regular place in the squad during 2015-16. (LiverpoolFC.com)
Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has gone to extreme lengths to ensure he does not forget his old club by having the club’s slogan ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ tattooed on his leg.
“Proud to show my new tattoo,” he wrote on Instagram. “A tribute to the amazing club and fans of @liverpoolfc.”
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