With no football until Saturday, the newspapers have turned their attention to other topics of interest, with transfer speculation and the idea of Liverpool groundsharing with Everton on today’s back page agenda.
There’s more talk of striker Robbie Keane being shown the door in January, despite both Rafa Benitez and the Irish striker himself saying he’s staying put. His less than impressive start to his career at Anfield has sparked rumours Benitez will try and recoup some of the £20million spent on him in the summer.
Reports say that former Reds defender and now football pundit Mark Lawrenson has been told by skipper Steven Gerrard that he expects Keane to leave in the January transfer window. From this morning’s Guardian:
Speaking on The Last Word on Today FM, Lawrenson said he discussed Keane’s predicament with Steven Gerrard after the game and claimed the Liverpool captain suspects his team-mate could be sold in the forthcoming transfer window. “I hate to name drop,” said Lawrenson, “but I was having a drink with Gerrard on Saturday and we talked about Keane. They share the same agent [Struan Marshall] and quite honestly he thinks something is going to happen with Keane in January. Sounds like he could be moved on.”
But The Telegraph follows this up with:
But a spokesman for Liverpool said on Tuesday night: ‘œMark Lawrenson’s remarks are his interpretation of a private chat between the two of them. They do not accurately reflect Steven’s opinion of Robbie Keane and they certainly do not tally with Steven’s recollection of the conversation itself.’
So we’re probably back to square one and Lawrenson is talking rubbish as usual.
The Daily Mail runs a story on more urges on Merseyside for Liverpool and Everton to groundshare. But we’ve heard this before too, surely.
There is an increasing political desire to see Liverpool and Everton share a ground in Stanley Park rather than build separate stadiums during the financial crisis.
The stalling of both Mersey clubs’ current building plans has led to fresh momentum – at both local and national government level – for what appears to neutrals to be the much more sensible strategy of pooling resources.
Meanwhile, the Liverpool Reserves were held to a goalless draw at home to Hull City Reserves last night. Gary Ablett’s team have now gone four games without a victory.
Rafa Benitez was released from hospital yesterday evening following a minor kidney operation. The club hope he will return to work on Thursday.
And former Liverpool captain Paul Ince was sacked as manager of struggling Blackburn Rovers last night. Blackburn lie 19th in the Premier League table, with just three victories this season.
