Friendly win for Reds at Wrexham

Teenage striker Besian Idrizaj scored a first half hat-trick to give Liverpool a 3-2 friendly win over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday afternoon. Jermaine Pennant was involved in all 3 of the goals and of the first team players on show he looked sharpest.

Rafa Benitez used two different teams for the first and second half and gave a host of youngsters a run out in front of a capacity 11,000 crowd.

Teams: Martin, Finnan, Hobbs, Paletta, Arbeloa, Pennant, Sissoko, Peltier, Hammill, Idrizaj (capt), Brouwer. Subs: Roque, Threlfall, Lindfield, Spearing, Nemeth, El Zhar, Simon, Hansen, Huth, Darby, Flynn.

Rafa confirms Cisse and Bellamy departures

Rafa Benitez has confirmed both Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse have concluded their deals with West Ham and Marseille respectively - despite the Hammers also wanting to sign Cisse.

Bellamy’s move is reportedly worth £8m, while Cisse’s £6m.

Benayoun is wanted - Rafa

Liverpool and West Ham had attempted to make midfielder Yossi Benayoun part of the deal for Bellamy - but Liverpool value the player at £3.5m but West Ham rejected that offer.

Benitez said “Any move for Benayoun to join us from West Ham will not be linked with the Bellamy sale. We have made an offer which has been rejected.

“He is a player I like and would want to sign, and I believe he wants to join us, but that deal will be separate now. We will have to wait and see what happens now next week.”