News stories of Xabi Alonso’s impending move to another European Club continue to percolate and bubble in the background at Anfield through the closed season, but what other ins, outs and headlines have been covered?
New signing Glen Johnson played his first game for Liverpool, a 0-0 draw against St. Gallen in Switzerland. The 15th July pre-season friendly saw two Liverpool teams play, with all 24 squad members getting a run-out.
July 19th, the Reds lose 1-0 in the friendly at Rapid Vienna. Javier Mascherano started on the bench, following his return from international duty with Argentina.
The next pre-season match, against Peter Reid’s Thailand, ends 1-1. Xabi Alonso misses out on a place in the squad once more, with Rafa Benitez telling the press that the rumour-plagued player has an ankle injury.
Martin Skrtel and Nabil El Zahir return to Merseyside, following injuries picked up in the game against Thailand. El Zahir damaged knee ligaments, and Skrtel pulledup with a hamstring injury, both players could miss the start of Liverpool’s 2009-2010 season.
July 24th sees Liverpool FC team captain Steven Gerrard cleared of affray in his court case heard in Merseyside. “We are really pleased,” said Rafa Benitez of the verdict. “He is very important for us and he can now focus just on football.
“We are all pleased at the club and over here at the training camp.”
“We have been supporting him all the time and were just waiting for the decision. Now he can concentrate just on football and hopefully play at the same level as last year.”
The Reds’ skipper played for a Liverpool XI against Tranmere just hours after the end of the court case, playing for 60 minutes and scoring Liverpool’s first goal in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw.
In news concerning the club owners, Liverpool Football Club renogotiates its debt with Royal Bank of Scotland. News released on 27th July suggests that Tom Hicks and George Gillett have extended the debt, worth £290 million, for another year, agreeing to pay back £60 million in the meantime.
Finally, in completely non-football news, a live hand grenade was found on the garden wall at the home of Kenny Dalglish.
And that’s how the Anfield status stands, with Alonso still a big question mark for the start of the season, and a new rumour suggesting the impending move of Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid.