LiverpoolFC 09/10 Season

St Gallen (A), Wednesday 15th July, 19.00
0 - 0

Rapid Vienna (A), Sunday 19th July, 18.15 0 - 1
Thailand (A), Wednesday 22nd July, 14.00 1 - 0
Singapore (A), Sunday 26th July, 12.00 5 - 0
Espanyol (A), Sunday 2nd August, 20.00
FC Lyn (A), Wednesday 5th August, 18.00
Atletico Madrid (H), Saturday 8th August, 15.00

England international Glen Johnson is an attacking right-back who arrived at Anfield in June 2009.

Johnson established himself as one of the Premier League's top full-backs in the years prior to his big money move to Merseyside and he is an integral part of the national team under Fabio Capello.

His career began with Harry Redknapp at West Ham but after just 15 appearances and a loan spell at Millwall he became the first signing for new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in 2003.

The Londoner's league debut for the Blues arrived at Anfield in August of the same year.

Three months later came an international bow against Denmark as a substitute for Gary Neville.

Johnson won the Premier League and League Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge but was loaned by Jose Mourinho to Portsmouth in 2006.

The deal was made permanent a year later and the England man went on to be a massive hit with the Fratton Park faithful.

He helped the club to FA Cup glory in 2008 - and the season that followed brought a host of personal accolades.

Despite Portsmouth finishing 14th in the league, Johnson was selected at right-back in the PFA Team of the Year for 2008-09. His screaming left-foot volley against Hull on November 22 also won Match of the Day's Goal of the Season.

Away from the pitch, our new boy established the 'Glen Johnson Soccer School' in Dartford back in 2007 for children aged between four and 16.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has signed a contract extension with the club.

The England international extended his deal with the Reds by a further two years, keeping him at Anfield until 2013.

The new and improved deal is believed to be worth £26 million and will ensure that Gerrard finishes his career in a Liverpool shirt.

Everton face local competition for Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour.

The Mirror says the youngster is on Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez's radar as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.

Everton offered £12 million for Defour last week.
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Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has invited five Hungarian youngsters to Anfield for a trial.

Goalkeeper Attila Abu, midfield duo Krisztian Adorjan and Patrik Vass, striker Peter Horvath and defender Patrik Poor are currently at the football academy of MTK Budapest but will now undergo a trial with the Reds.

The agent of the quintet, Tibor Pataky, confirmed that Liverpool were seriously monitoring the players.

"All of the players have been observed at least three times by a Liverpool scout, what's more at the end of May the new director of the Liverpool Academy, Frank McParland, went to Hungary to check the players' abilities," Pataky told Pepsifoci.

"He invited five players to Liverpool. Krisztian Adorjan and Patrik Vass go to Liverpool for the second time, a year-and-a-half ago they trained with the youth team of Liverpool and played a game in England."
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Paris Saint Germain teenager Chris Mavinga is on the verge of signing with Liverpool.

The 18-year old left-back is likely to sign with the Reds by the end of the week, providing Rafael Benitez with competition for the position after Fabio Aurelio went down with injury.

Liverpool will have to pay PSG compensation for Mavinga who is not on a full contract with the French club.

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Martin Skrtel could be key to any Liverpool deal for Napoli star Marek Hamsik.

The Daily Mail says Liverpool have Hamsik on their shortlist in the event they lose Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid.

Hamsik is a player who caught the eye two years ago when the Slovakia international, and friend of Skrtel, was top scorer at Napoli.

Still only 21 he is more attack-minded than Alonso so wouldn't be a direct replacement. Manchester United and Arsenal have also watched him.

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is eyeing Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso.

AS says should Benitez sell Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, he will compete with Manchester City for Cambiasso.

City offered £15 million for the Argentina international last week, with personal terms worth £5 million-a-year. Inter, however, rate Cambiasso in the £25 million class.

Liverpool left-back Fabio Aurelio is in danger of missing up to six months after suffering an injury whilst on holidays.

The 29-year old injured his knee playing football with his children and will require surgery. Aurelio suffered the injury in late June but the severity has just come to the fore since he has been absent from training this week.