A stuttering start to the current season and a somewhat muted transfer window (with obvious eXception) at Anfield this summer, but the end of August brought Champions League and Carling Cup draws and a chance to get 2009/2010′s campaign back on track for Benitez, Gerrard and the rest.
One week left of this summer’s transfer window, the 26th August saw Hungarian striker Krisztian Nemeth sent out on loan to AEK Athens of Greece.
The 20-year-old has yet to play for the Reds’ first team, having signed for them in 2007.
Liverpool FC representatives were present for the Champions League Group Stage draw on the 27th, with Liverpool drawn in Group E alongside Debreceni VSC, Olympique Lyonnais and Fiorentina.
The first matches will be playesd on Wednesday September 16th.
Carling Cup Third Round Draw 29th August
Liverpool FC will go to old rivals Leeds United in a tasty third round clash.
The match has been selected for live television coverage on Tuesday 22nd September, with a 19:45 kick-off showing on Sky Sports.
Liverpool FC Barclays Premier League Result
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Bolton Wanderers 2 – 3 Liverpool FC
(Davies 33, (Johnson 41,
Cohen 47) Torres 56,
Gerrard 83)
Liverpool put the previous week’s defeat to rest, coming back twice from behind to get maximum points at the Reebok Stadium.
Kevin Davies put Bolton ahead after half an hour from a corner, with Liverpool defender Glen Johnson drawing the teams level before half-time.
Immediately after the restart, Tamir Cohen put Bolton back in front, then the game was changed somewhat with Sean Davis sent off for a second yellow on 54 minutes.
Steven Gerrard had already hit the bar before Fernando drew LFC back once more, then Gerrard clinched the three points with less than 10 minutes to go.
Liverpool had lacked any sense of urgency before Davis’ sending off, with Gerrard relatively quiet for the first half, having been a verbal target of Rafael Benitez earlier in the week.
After the game, manager Benitez told the BBC: “All our players wanted to impress and do well. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, among others, knew they needed to improve.
“We showed we have quality players and they all fought hard to show their improvement.
“We had a lot of possession and were in control for much of the game. To concede two goals like we did is disappointing, but the team hit back and proved their quality.”
Hear skipper Steven Gerrard speaking about his winning goal.
Liverpool FC: played 4, won 2, lost 2, gd +2, points 6, position 7th
The last day of August, and Liverpool’s French goalkeeper Charles Itandje left Anfield for a season-long loan to Greek club Kavala FC.
The 26-year-old has made seven first-team appearances in the last two seasons, but was seen on camera nudging a team-mate during the Hillsborough Memorial Service in April, something for which he expressed his “deep regret”.
The 1st September was the final day of the transfer window, but no further comings or goings were noted at Liverpool Football club.
Instead, news was focused on the fall-out from the opening day’s defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on 16th August.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association, following his post-match comments made immediately after the 2-1 defeat.
Upset with officials, he said: ”The decisions were very poor.”
Rafa has until 15 September to officially respond to the charge.
His assistant manager, Sammy Lee, was also charged with improper conduct for his behaviour during the same match at White Hart Lane.
Lee, was sent to the stands for protesting with the fourth official.
Assistant Lee admitted the charge, and was warned about future conduct, and was told that he would have received a stiffer penalty had it not been for an “exemplary” record.
Better news on 9th September, as Reds captain Steven Gerrard got himself a brace on international duty for England in the 5 – 1 defeat of Croatia at Wembley.
Midfielder Gerrard headed home twice, one goal in each half, to help the squad qualify for South Africa 2010.
Liverpool FC’s next match is on Saturday 12th September, against Burnley at Anfield.