English Premier League: Liverpool

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Reina committed to Liverpool
Pepe Reina assured fans he is still committed to Liverpool despite Rafael Benitez's departure.
 

The Spanish coach has left Anfield by mutual consent after six years in charge following a difficult season in which the Reds finished seventh in the Barclays Premier League.

Reina spent the past five years with Benitez at Liverpool and feels it is a sad day for the club.

"Something like this is always sad," Reina told the club's official website.
"Rafa is the one who has always trusted me. I can only give my utmost gratitude for all that he's done for me. I wish him the very best.

"But this changes nothing. I still have a six-year contract with Liverpool."

SO IMPORTANT

Reina, who recently signed that deal with the club, dmitted he was shocked by the news.

"That a person so important for the club as Rafa Benitez has left is news that you never would have expected and that you never would have believed," he added.

"The only thing left for me is to thank him for his confidence during all this time."

Liverpool have set no deadline on their search for a new manager. The club have already said Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish, manager from 1985-91, will

assist managing director Christian Purslow in the recruitment process.

Courtesy of:   premierleague.com

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Hodgson confirmed as Reds manager
Roy Hodgson has been appointed the new manager of Liverpool.
 

The decision was announced by Liverpool after they agreed compensation with Barclays Premier League rivals Fulham.

The 62-year-old takes over at Anfield on a three-year contract, 28 days after the departure of Rafael Benitez, who parted company with the Reds after a disappointing season saw them finish seventh in the table.

FIRST CHOICE
Hodgson, a former Inter Milan and Blackburn Rovers manager, was Liverpool's first choice despite a host of other names being mentioned.

Former player and manager Kenny Dalglish, who was part of the selection process with managing director Christian Purslow and is currently an ambassador for the club's academy, had expressed an interest in returning to a role in which he enjoyed great success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but was overlooked for the post.

Hodgson's name had been linked with England after their disappointing World Cup campaign under Fabio Capello, but negotiations were already at an advanced stage with the Merseysiders and the deal has now been completed.

He told the club's official webiste: "This is the biggest job in club football and I'm honoured to be taking on the role of manager of Britain's most successful football club. I look forward to meeting the players and the supporters and getting down to work at Melwood."

Hodgson has less than a month to get to know his players and prepare them for a Europa League third qualifying round first-leg tie on 29th July.

He is at least familiar with the prospect, having guided Fulham from that starting point all the way to the final this season, eventually losing to Atletico Madrid.

_{Courtesy of:  premierleague.com}

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Reds boosted by Torres news
Liverpool have confirmed Fernando Torres faces up to three weeks on the sidelines after suffering an adductor injury.
 

Scans have indicated the Spain international suffered only a small adductor tear playing for his country in Sunday's World Cup final.

The club are now hopeful the 26-year-old could be back in action in time for their opening league fixture against Arsenal on 15th August.

PLAY AGAIN
The club's head of sports science and medicine Peter Brukner told Liverpool's official website: "The initial assessment was he had a mild adductor tear and the Spanish medial staff didn't consider it to be too serious at the time.

"He had an MRI scan yesterday which confirmed a small tear. He should be able to resume training within two to three weeks and be able to play again within three to four weeks."

Torres suffered the injury late in extra-time of Spain's glorious triumph against Holland in Johannesburg, soon after coming on as a substitute.

The striker was hampered by injuries last season, having a spell out with a groin problem and then having two knee operations.

He was still the club's top goalscorer with 18 Barclays Premier League strikes but lacked match sharpness throughout the World Cup and endured a disappointing tournament on a personal level.

These recent problems appear to have dampened down speculation linking Torres with a big-money move away from Anfield this summer.

GREAT PRIDE
Nevertheless, manager Roy Hodgson admitted that pictures of Torres celebrating the World Cup triumph wearing a Liverpool scarf have lifted the club.

The former Atletico Madrid star was one of four Liverpool players in the World Cup final squads along with Spanish team-mate Jose Reina and Holland pair Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel.

Hodgson told the club's website: "As Liverpool manager, I take great pride in the fact that two of our players can call themselves World Cup winners this summer.

"Unfortunately, one team had to lose that final and while my commiserations go out to the Dutch lads, I have to say congratulations to Fernando and Pepe. Winning the World Cup is the ultimate honour any player can have in international football and you could see what it meant to both players as soon as the celebrations started.

"I think it's safe to say the pictures of Fernando in the dressing room with the World Cup certainly went down well with our fans but the club can be proud of all the players who went away to the World Cup.

"To have four players reach the final is an incredible achievement and I look forward to working with them when they return to Melwood after their holidays."

The Liverpool players who have already returned for pre-season work are set to step up their preparations by flying out to a training camp in Switzerland.

_{Courtesy of:  premierleague.com}

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Insua heading to Florence
Liverpool have agreed a fee with Fiorentina for the sale of defender Emiliano Insua.
 

The Argentinian had a difficult season as injury to Fabio Aurelio meant he was first-choice left-back for most of the campaign and that eventually took its toll on his performances.

Insua on Saturday left the club's training camp in Switzerland and the player is travelling to Italy to discuss personal terms.

IMMINENT DEPARTURE
"We have agreed a fee for the sale of Emiliano Insua to Fiorentina and given them permission to speak with the player," said a club spokesman. "Emiliano has now left our Swiss training camp and we'll make further comment when appropriate."

His imminent departure, combined with Aurelio being released after his contract expired, means manager Roy Hodgson's priority is finding a new left-back as soon as possible.

"A deal has been struck with Fiorentina, we wish him well for the rest of his career and thank him for his time spent at Liverpool," Hodgson said. "I am expecting him to join Fiorentina next week."

Insua arrived at Anfield in January 2007 from Boca Juniors and played 62 matches for the Reds.

 _{Courtesy of:   premierleague.com}