Lucas Moura named on Brazil's seven-man World Cup standby list

Lucas Moura named on Brazil's seven-man World Cup standby list - Brazil has named its list of seven players who will be on standby for this summer's home World Cup, with Lucas Moura the star among the backup options.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has already named his preferred 23-man selection for the tournament, but has now confirmed the list of those who will be held in reserve should any late changes to the squad be required.

Lucas Moura named on Brazil's seven-man World Cup standby list

Atletico Madrid defenders Filipe Luis and Miranda are in the seven-man list of backups, as is Bayern Munich right back Rafinha.

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas Moura and Sao Paulo striker Alan Kardec have also been asked to be ready if called upon.

Fluminense goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri rounds off the list and will step in for the tournament if there are any issues with Julio Cesar, Jefferson or Victor.

The announcement means some of the notable absentees from the original squad, including Kaka, Robinho, Ronaldinho and Philippe Coutinho, have not even made Scolari’s top 30 for this summer.

Brazil has warm-up matches against Panama and Serbia before it begins its World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 12.

Brazil standby list: Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Alan Kardec (Sao Paulo), Lucas Moura (PSG), Rafinha (Bayern Munchen), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Miranda (Atletico Madrid), Diego Cavalieri (Fluminense). // goal.com

READ MORE - Lucas Moura named on Brazil's seven-man World Cup standby list

Liverpool fans will defend Luis Suarez to the hilt

Proof that Luis Suarez is a nice guy after all. Not only is he a great player, but he’s a lovely chap, even if his on-pitch antics leave something to be desired.

Many remain to be convinced – hugging team-mates and being nice to one’s family are hardly indicators of an unusually kind soul – but this photo may change your mind.

(Photo from imgur)

The photo, which is actually from last season but has just gone viral, was taken after the Uruguayan striker was out in his local park when he spotted seven-year-old Ethan Mullin playing with a Liverpool-branded football.

Suarez decided to join in, before posing for a photo with Ethan, who has Down’s Syndrome, and his father David.

Hilariously, it took a while for the penny to drop, with the youngster’s cousin Ben Mullin - who posted the image - saying on Liverpool's Reddit page that his uncle initially “thought it was just some annoying man”.

We spoke to Ben, who explained that his uncle isn't a big football fan and at first thought it was just a random passer by having a laugh:

“My uncle took quite a while looking at Suarez’s face as he’s not a massive follower of football, but – after a couple of minutes – it suddenly dawned on him.

“He asked if he was Luis Suarez and he sheepishly answered ‘yes’. Suarez was doing all of his famous dribbles and passing to Ethan.

“Ethan was clearly impressed but due to his age was not certain to who it was.

“But now he knows who he is and will treasure the image for the rest of his life.”

Suarez went on to let the child nutmeg him, although reports that he responded with a chomp on his shoulder remain unconfirmed.

But on a serious note, for all the heat Suarez catches for his on-the-pitch actions, it's nice to see him being a genuinely normal and likeable chap when it matters. ( Eurosport )

READ MORE - Liverpool fans will defend Luis Suarez to the hilt

Fernando Torres never hides : Jose Mourinho

Fernando Torres never hides - Jose Mourinho says Fernando Torres won't "hide" against former club Atletico Madrid during Chelsea's Champions League semifinal.

The Spaniard has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge but is in line to face the Liga leaders in Tuesday's first leg clash after Samuel Eto'o did not travel with the squad because of a knee injury.

Jose Mourinho: Fernando Torres never hides

Torres came though the youth ranks at the Vicente Calderon, scoring 91 goals during seven seasons in the first team before joining Liverpool in 2007, but Mourinho is not concerned by his striker's state of mind ahead of the fixture.

"Playing in the Champions League is a big motivation for every player. Everyone wants to play. Those chosen are happy those who aren't, are not," he told reporters. "I am not saying that Fernando Torres will start, I am saying that he never hides. We feel that every day. He is a real Atletico supporter, I would say a big one. We talk about Spanish football every day.

"He is a professional. I have no doubts that the minutes he will be on the pitch tomorrow he will do everything for Chelsea given the professional that he is."

Mourinho also refuted claims that Atletico Madrid counterpart Diego Simeone is a superior coach to him.

"I don't agree," he said. "It is difficult to compare coaches; in fact it is not fair to do so.

"It is not fair to compare someone with 15 years of experience as a coach to one with less than that. It is something that I don't like to do."

After suffering semifinal defeats to Liverpool during his first spell in charge of Chelsea, Mourinho insists those disappointments do not provide extra motivation.

"I have no unfinished business with Chelsea in in the Champions League," he said. "I did my best. I always do my best. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

"In one semifinal we lost on penalties and in the other we lost because of a goal that wasn't a goal [a reference to a shot from Luis Garcia that was adjudged to have crossed the line], but that's football." ( goal.com )

READ MORE - Fernando Torres never hides : Jose Mourinho

I’m a demon on the pitch (but an angel at home) : Suarez

Suarez : I’m a demon on the pitch (but an angel at home) - Eurosport caught up with Liverpool star Luis Suarez, who admits he will do anything he can to win matches, but is the complete opposite at home.

In an exclusive interview for the Eurogoals show, Suarez was in jovial mood, talking about his amazing season, the World Cup in Brazil, and some of the controversies that have followed him throughout his career.

First up, he talked about his incredible campaign, and how he wants that form to continue through the summer:

“I think I’m having one of my best football seasons. Obviously I’m working very hard with Liverpool and I hope I take my success to the World Cup.

“For Uruguay it is the main focus and I can’t wait to play in Brazil.”

Then it was back to Liverpool, who are looking increasingly like they will be playing Champions League football next season – and are in with a shout at the Premier League title.

“This is a great club but we haven’t played Champions League for a while – to go there would be a fantastic dream.

“We’ve got an opportunity this year – the others say it’s an unforgettable experience to play Champions League at Anfield.”

Inevitably, the subject turned to the naughty things he has done throughout his career. But Suarez insisted that, while he has a tendency to misbehave on the pitch, it is merely his competitive spirit – and that he’s actually a nice man in real life.

He used his infamous handball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup – which ultimately denied the Africans a place in the semi-final – as an example of how he can be a “demon on the pitch”.

“For me I was helping my team – I stopped the ball with my hand, I didn’t hurt anyone, and the referee did his job by sending me off and awarding a penalty.

“It could be a problem for me to be famous for controversies – but off the pitch I am closer to an angel and not a demon!

“On the pitch I do anything for the jersey, but I’m completely different at home with my family.” ( uk.eurosport.yahoo.com )

READ MORE - I’m a demon on the pitch (but an angel at home) : Suarez

5 things to know before Europa League matches

5 things to know before Europa League matches — The second leg of fixtures in the last 32 of the Europa League take place Thursday with the potential for some big names to be knocked out of the competition.

Lazio lost 1-0 at home to Bulgarian side Ludogorets, Tottenham was beaten by the same score away to Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Ajax was trounced 3-0 at home by Salzburg.

The ties involving Napoli and Sevilla also delicately balanced.

___

Sevilla's Vicente Iborra, left, and teammate Federico Fazio celebrate their goal during the Europa League round of 32, first leg soccer match against Maribor in Maribor, Slovenia, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat)

Jonatan Soriano, left and Alan of FC Salzburg celebrate the first goal by way of a penalty, during the Europa League round of 32 first leg soccer match between Ajax and FC Salzburg at the ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

ENGLISH TEAMS NEED GOALS

Swansea did well to hold Napoli to a 0-0 draw at home but will need to work even harder to find a way past the Italians' defense at the Sao Paolo.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, of France, celebrates after scoring with teammates Andrea Pirlo, right, and Carlos Tevez, center, during the Europa League, round of 16th, soccer match between Juventus and Trabzonspor at the Juventus stadium, in Turin, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Massimo Pinca)

"In Italy it will be very difficult and I'm sure it will be an intimidating atmosphere," defender Angel Rangel said. "We have to believe in ourselves because what we achieved last week in the first leg was a big achievement."

Despite losing 4-3 to Liverpool on Sunday, scoring three times at Anfield in another impressive display should help to build Swansea's confidence. Tottenham, which lost 1-0 to Norwich, will rely on home advantage to help it overturn the 1-0 deficit against Dnipro.

The winner of that tie could play Benfica, last year's runner-up.

___

FOUR ITALIAN TEAMS IN ACTION

Eintracht Frankfurt's Carlos Zambrano, left, challenges FC Porto's Hector Herrera, right, during their Europa League round of 32, first leg soccer match at the Dragao stadium, in Porto, Portugal, Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.(AP Photo/Paulo Duarte)

Aside from Napoli, Italy also has Serie A leader Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina in action on Thursday. Lazio trails Ludogorets by an away goal but Fiorentina and Juventus look more assured.

Fiorentina hit three first-half goals against Esbjerg in Denmark to win 3-1 and take control of that tie. In Turin, Juventus beat Trabzonspor 2-0 but coach Antonio Conte is aware of how tough the away trip to Turkey for the return leg could be.

"We'll need to score as soon as possible because we'll be playing in a heated atmosphere and qualification isn't yet in the bag," Conte said.

Should Juventus and Fiorentina come out of their games victorious, they will meet in the last 16.

___

AJAX READY TO RESPOND?

The 3-0 home loss to Salzburg was the shock result of last week's matches, but Ajax responded by thrashing fellow Europa League side AZ Alkmaar 4-0 in the Dutch league at the weekend, with coach Frank de Boer saying "We redeemed ourselves."

The four-time European champion conceded all three goals before halftime in the first leg.

Alkmaar takes on Slovan Liberec, where it has a 1-0 lead and an away goal, thanks to a winner in the 89th minute from Nick Viergever.

___

PORTO IN DANGER, BENFICA IN COMMAND

Surrendering a winning position at home is not normally associated with Porto, but it was stunned in the home leg of its tie with Eintracht Frankfurt last week. It led 2-0, but conceded twice in five minutes as Eintracht pulled level. The Portuguese side then lost 1-0 at home to Estoril in the league, its first domestic defeat at the Dragao stadium in five years.

Portuguese league leader Benfica has a 1-0 lead ahead of its home game with PAOK.

"Benfica is an experienced team in these competitions," coach Jorge Jesus said. "We won the first half of this round; now we have to think about the second."

___

SPANISH TRIO HAVE TOUGH TIES

Valencia recorded an impressive 2-0 away win against Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 with two goals in the last 11 minutes. It followed that result by beating Granada 2-1 at the Mestalla, and will be favorite to make the last 16, where it will play either Lazio or Ludogorets.

Sevilla drew 2-2 at Slovenian club Maribor but will be hoping that home advantage, along with two away goals, can help it progress.

Real Betis, bottom of La Liga and 10 points from safety, travels to Russia to face Rubin Kazan after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Should Betis and Sevilla both progress, they will meet in an all-Spanish tie in the last 16. ( Associated Press )

READ MORE - 5 things to know before Europa League matches

Soccer-Brazilian fans seduced by glamour of Europe

Soccer-Brazilian fans seduced by glamour of Europe - Mario Soares, who lives in soccer-mad Brazil and speaks little English, runs a Facebook page devoted to the fortunes of Nottingham Forest.

With the help of automatic translation programs, the 20-year-old Brazilian journalism student spends countless hours reporting on the modest English championship (second tier) club.

"My friends thought it was weird at first but when I explained the club's history to them they came round a bit," Soares said. "They all follow one Brazilian team and other teams in foreign leagues."

Turned off by the corruption and mismanagement endemic in their domestic game and with European soccer available on demand via TV, the internet and video games, many Brazilians are taking a greater interest in foreign football.

"Little by little, the big European clubs are silently 'invading' the hearts and minds of Brazilian football lovers, especially the young, who are seduced by competitions that are much more attractive than those we are used to seeing in Brazil," said Fernando Ferreira, the director of sports consultancy firm Pluri.

"The phenomenon of Brazilians supporting one team in Brazil and another abroad is more and more common."

The trend is occurring all over the world but it is especially striking in Brazil, the home of Pele, Zico and Ronaldo and the only country to win the World Cup five times.

Brazilians already have their own highly competitive league and their country is known throughout the world for producing great players and strong teams.

So why do Brazilians care about what happens on a wet Wednesday in Stoke?

BETTER PRODUCT

Some of the answer resides in Brazil's economic boom over the past decade.

More than 30 million people have been lifted from poverty into the consuming classes. As a result of that and improved, cheaper technology, the number of households with cable TV has more than tripled to 16.5 million since 2007.

Brazilian cable TV broadcasts as many as nine English games a day over the weekend and several more from Italy, Spain, Russia and elsewhere.

The matches feature the best footballers in the world playing at their peak and Brazilians, accustomed to half-empty stadiums, enjoy and envy the spectacle of grounds filled with fans who chant and sing for 90 minutes.

While Brazil is now the seventh biggest economy in the world, it is also exorbitantly expensive. It costs more for a family of four to buy tickets to see one top-flight game than it does to purchase a cable TV package featuring two dozen Premier League matches.

They can watch those games in the comfort of their own homes. In Brazil, fans must sit in run-down stadiums, with dilapidated facilities, basic yet overpriced food and drink, and under constant threat from fans and police alike.

More than 50 fans have been killed in or around football grounds since the turn of the century, according to studies and news reports.

There is the question of inconvenient kick-off times, designed not for supporters, but for TV companies to fill in time between soap operas and the nightly news.

"Authorities show a lack of respect for fans, scheduling (midweek) games to start at 10 p.m., making people return home in the middle of the night," said Max dos Santos, the 18-year old who founded and runs BritFoot, a website dedicated to British soccer.

Dos Santos supports Manchester United but Brazilians' thirst for foreign football embraces less glamorous teams too.

In addition to Soares's Nottingham Forest page, there are other Facebook and Twitter forums for Brazilians who follow West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City and Wigan Athletic.

Clubs and businesses have spotted the trend.

The sale of foreign jerseys increased 50 percent in the last year alone, according to Netshoes, one of Brazil's biggest online sports retailers, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and now Paris Saint-Germain, home to Brazilian youngster Lucas, among the biggest sellers.

The firm has expanded the number of club shirts in stock by 20 percent because of rising demand, said Marcel Castro, the company's head of football marketing.

Clubs, too, are taking steps to connect with a fan base that is young, knowledgeable and potentially lucrative.

Liverpool recently added a twitter account in Portuguese and are preparing a Facebook page also.

Although other British clubs have concentrated on the Far East, Liverpool officials believe more will soon be looking to South America.

"This is an emerging market but not for football," said Paul Rogers, Liverpool's head of international digital development.

"What we have seen is that where we have engaged fans we have seen more traffic to the website and the online store. In Brazil's case it is early to say but ultimately we believe that the more fans that follow the club (via social media), the stronger the bond and you'd expect that to lead to a better commercial situation."

(Editing by Brian Winter and Ed Osmond) // Reuters

READ MORE - Soccer-Brazilian fans seduced by glamour of Europe

Zorro unmasked

Zorro unmasked - That is three more than Wayne Rooney, who has admittedly featured in fewer matches than the Spaniard, but it is also only four less than Robin van Persie.

Van Persie’s goalscoring exploits at the start of the season have effectively won Manchester United the Premier League title ahead of schedule, but his worrying loss of form – he has only scored once in the last 12 matches – has coincided with exits from both the Champions League and the FA Cup.

At Chelsea, Torres has impressed in fits and starts this campaign and – while he has not hit the heights of his pomp at Liverpool – El Nino (it seems strange to call a 29-year-old The Kid) is in far better nick than the washed-up has-been that was all but written off this time last year.

Fernando Torres has scored 19 goals for his club this season.

Where – and against whom – Torres has found his goals is arguably a major sticking point though.

Only seven of Torres’s 19 goals have come in the Premier League, and most of them have come against weaker opposition. Indeed, discounting the strike against Manchester City in the Community Shield, Torres has only managed one goal against Chelsea’s nearest rivals, in the 2-1 win at Arsenal earlier in the campaign.

However, quality of opposition has not necessarily been the problem – Torres found the net against an excellent Shakhtar Donetsk side, and Rubin Kazan are a decent outfit, certainly one who would be challenging for the minor European places if they were suddenly transported to England.

What was impressive about Torres’s match-winning brace last night was the manner in which he took his goals – both brave, swashbuckling efforts – and the bright and inventive nature of his build-up play.

I watched Torres regularly when he was at Atletico Madrid, having been based in the city for some time in the mid 00’s, and even then the hype was tempered by a relative inconsistency, the feeling that he – like many strikers – is a confidence player, and that his confidence was particularly brittle.

Indeed, Torres went eight Liga matches without scoring towards the end of the 2004-05 campaign, but crucially he was at his hometown club, a side with relatively low expectations supported by fans willing to give their hero a chance to regain his form.

Current Chelsea fans have greater expectations than Atletico fans back then, and display a certain ruthlessness that they expect from their heroes.

While Torres may have lost a smidgeon of the pace he so willingly displayed at Liverpool, he has regained some of the confidence that appeared terminally lost. Demba Ba has taken the heat off him somewhat (he will hit a lean streak soon, and it will be interesting to see how he copes with the inevitable backlash), while Rafael Benitez’s appointment does seem to have helped him, albeit not in the manner we may have expected.

Tactically, Torres is being used in his preferred role – the central striker position that Didier Drogba hogged prior to his departure – but the main help has come from the lightning-rod effect that Benitez has unwittingly provided: Chelsea fans are too busy hating on Agent Rafa to get on Torres’s back, and he appears calmer and happier as a result.

Torres needs to start doing it in the Premier League – where opposition fans are giving him the grief that he escapes in Europe – and if he hits double figures in that competition by the end of the season Chelsea will view that as a decent return.

Maybe he needs to continue wearing that ridiculous mask, which could bizarrely give him the cloak of anonymity needed for him to stop overthinking his moves when he gets in the positions he has always been capable of finding.

Either way, talk of his demise appears to have been premature and, given that he is an intelligent man and a willing worker, there could be a long-term lease of life as he adapts his game to account for less searing speed. It worked for another Madrileno after all – and Raul didn’t do too badly into his 30s. Reda Maher – on Twitter @Reda_Eurosport

--

QUOTE(S) OF THE DAY

“It’s a pity. City pay big money, but do not understand that human relations mean more than anything. Yaya feels the club do not want him” – Yaya Toure’s agent before his client signed a bumper new contract.
"I will never forget how I have been treated here by the fans, the club and the owners and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player” – Yaya Toure after signing a bumper new contract.

FOREIGN VIEW

"The club has written to UEFA due to a series of incidents on the pitch in the understanding that objectively speaking it was evident that the referee did not apply the rules of the game. When two players from the same team are on the floor the referee should stop the match, which did not happen” – What about when those two players are probably faking it, as many of your team do on a regular basis? Whinging Barcelona start to lose the sympathy of the wider football world for the less appealing side to their game.

COMING UP

Tranny-spotter Joey Barton may have Tweeted himself out of a starting role for Marseille when they face Bordeaux in what promises to be a fiery all-southern Ligue 1 clash on Friday night, while Premier League expert Jim White does his thing and Pitchside Europe picks its European Match of the Weekend.

By Eurosport | Early Doors – 11 hours ago

READ MORE - Zorro unmasked

Paper Round: Carroll offered Anfield lifeline

Premier League - Paper Round: Carroll offered Anfield lifeline - Andy Carroll, marginalised and loaned out of Liverpool by manager Brendan Rodgers, has an opportunity to return, claims the Daily Mirror.

But any Liverpool comeback, the paper adds, would be contingent on two things - Carroll accepting a role as an impact substitute, and undergoing a personalised medical programme.

The report says the £35m man, who is spending the season at West Ham United, has not done enough to convince the Hammers to sign him up full-time.

That might come as something of a surprise to those who watched the 24-year-old torment West Brom at the weekend with a powerful brace of goals, but he only has five goals in 21 appearances this season and has also battled with injuries.

Eurosport - West Ham's English striker Andy Carroll celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at Upton Park in east London on March 30, 2013 

West Ham have an option to buy as part of their loan agreement, but appear to be looking elsewhere, with Wilfried Bony rumoured to be the striker they want to lead the line next season.

Rodgers and Carroll are set to talk about his Anfield future, and if the target man agrees to a personalised fitness programme and a limited role within the team, he has a chance to resurrect his career with the club.

Tottenham are another club with a striker shuffle in mind – the Daily Star says that they are set to negotiate with Aston Villa over the £15m sale of Christian Benteke.

While Spurs know Villa’s bargaining position will be weakened if the Belgian’s club are relegated, the flip side is that he could be the subject of a bidding war, with several top clubs impressed by his performances this season.

In addition, the paper breathlessly adds, Emmanuel Adebayor could be on his way out of White Hart Lane, Jermain Defoe’s injury worries mean that Spurs would be prepared to sell him for the right price, while Leandro Damiao remains a target.

The Wayne Rooney to Paris Saint-Germain story remains on the back pages – The Sun boasts a ‘world exclusive’ that Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants him to join him in Paris.

“If he wants to be part of the best project in football then there is only one club to sign for,” Ibrahimovic reportedly said.

“Only he knows the decision he is going to make in the summer but the project we are trying to build here is clear.

“We are not content with being the dominant force in France, we want to be the top club in Europe as well.

“I can understand why the owners are interested in Rooney — he is in the top 10 of strikers in Europe.”

The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, says that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all ready to swoop for Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany should the defender’s row with his manager escalate to the point that the Belgian wants out of the club.

Right then - you've now read a couple of hundred words about what’s in the papers without mention of Paolo Di Canio. Feels good, right? We're afraid that feeling of relief ends here, however.

As much as Di Canio fatigue is setting in, Paper Round's job is to tell you what’s in the papers, and many of the back pages are leading on his belated clarification that he is not, nor has ever been, a fascist.

End of the saga, then?

Not quite.

The Sun brings us Rio Ferdinand’s view on Di Canio – and he reckons the Italian is an ‘absolute idiot’.

Or at least, he did once – in his 2006 autobiography.

When you think about it, using quotes in a 2006 autobiography to counter a quote from 2005 dragged up again this week is actually strangely fitting.

Elsewhere the Daily Mail ask why the Italian was at the funeral of an Italian terrorist bomber, and why he has a tattoo of Benito Mussolini.

The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, brands his appointment at Sunderland as the ‘most botched recruitment in Premier League history’, suggesting that this story will run and run – at least until there’s some football to play.

Eurosport – 2 hours 23 minutes ago

READ MORE - Paper Round: Carroll offered Anfield lifeline

Liverpool needs reinforcements to challenge top four

Liverpool needs reinforcements to challenge top four - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists the club needs reinforcements to challenge for a place in the Champions League next season.

Brendan Rodgers' side is currently seventh in the Premier League table, seven points behind Chelsea in fourth, and though it still retains a slim chance of reaching the Champions League, the Reds captain says it will edge closer with some more key additions.

"We know what the problem is and it's inconsistency," Gerrard told reporters. "In the minority of games we've played well enough to be higher than where we are in the league.

"But when you look at performances like Southampton, Villa at home, West Brom away, Arsenal at home, there's a handful of games where this team hasn't turned up.

Gerrard: Liverpool needs reinforcements to challenge top four

"That's the reason why we are sitting where we are in the table. In between those games there have been some fantastic performances, well worth a top four finish. So we know we're not far away.

"But I think if you say that you haven't got what you deserved then there's an element of feeling sorry for yourself.

"If there's a few improvements in the summer to the squad, we believe we can put in a better challenge to the top four next season."

Despite Rodgers confirming Gerrard will be offered a new contract in the near future, the 32-year-old is maintaining his focus on finishing the season well.

"For me, [a new contract] is not a priority at the moment," he added.

"The most important thing for me now is to move on to the West Ham game. I want to finish the season strong. I'm feeling good.

"Of course, I'm happy that the club are mentioning new contracts, but it's not important at the moment.

"What we need to do is put pressure on for that European place. A lot of the teams above us need to play each other. We're hoping there's a few slip ups above us and we can capitalize, but it's important that we take maximum points."

By Joe Doyle | Goal.com – 4 hours ago

READ MORE - Liverpool needs reinforcements to challenge top four