Rodgers' Reds: Class is Permanent

Wow, Kirk is an idiot. I mean, Hendo isn't getting any younger.. Shame about Bascon, although you might be wanting to look for CB regens.

2015-07-06 11:36#215880 Pauker : Wow, Kirk is an idiot. I mean, Hendo isn't getting any younger.. Shame about Bascon, although you might be wanting to look for CB regens.

Yeah, some CB regens would be nice, any regen would be nice honestly

---

Liverpool can confirm that Brazilian striker Israel will be signing a four-year contract with the club worth about £120k per week.

The 19-year-old joins from Atalanta having scored 26 goals in 49 league appearances for the Serie A club, and leaves with numerous personal honors.

Israel won the 2019/20 Serie A Striker of the Year, the Capocannoniere, and was also named in the 2020 Serie A Team of the Year. However, he never managed to win a trophy throughout his two and a half years in Italy, with his only winner's medal being a Campeonato Brasileiro league title, won at boyhood club Gremio.

That could soon change at Liverpool, after the Merseyside club made him the second most expensive player in their history after buying him for £35 million, which was also the largest amount Atalanta have ever received from a transfer.

Of course, fans will hope that Israel does not turn out to be like fellow £35 million signing Andy Carroll. The Kop flop scored just 6 goals in 44 appearances for the Reds after signing from Newcastle for a then club record fee, leaving barely 2 years later for less than half that price.

The rest of his professional career did not pan out well either as the towering target man played in only 47 league games over 7 years at West Ham. Now 32, Carroll was recently released by League Two side Plymouth Argyle and is contemplating retirement.

Israel will certainly not want to go down that route, although he has little to fear. The forward, who can also be utilized as an offensive right winger, is currently playing at the top of his game at the mere age of 19.


Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on the decision to splash the cash, saying, "Israel is someone we've looked at for a very long time and I'm pleased to finally be able to have him in my squad.

"It's not good to be spending money unnecessarily but money is something we had to part with to secure such a quality player. I have no doubts that he will be scoring goals for this club for years to come."

Israel, full name Israel Kelvin Schmitt, was unveiled today with his favorite number 11 shirt, which he will be wearing at Anfield.

His first interview as a Liverpool player was conducted by LFCTV, in which he revealed that the presence of international teammate Philippe Coutinho helped to persuade him to leave Atalanta for the Premier League.

"It's great to finally be here and I can't wait to get started. The Premier League is the best league in the world and I'm playing for the best club in the Premier League so it's fantastic, really.

"Coutinho plays for Liverpool and I play with him on the Brazil national team. He's a great player and him being at the club played a big part in my decision to come here to play football.

"We have quite a number of forwards here at Liverpool and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of it all. Competing for first team places, the toughness of playing in England, all of it."

Israel could make his debut in next week's FA Cup tie against West Bromwich. However, he is cup tied for the Champions League having played in the tournament for Atalanta early this season.

Looks like a good signing. Keep up the good writing

I'm sorry but that regen looks better than Carroll was when he was at his best in NUFC. Shame about being released by fkin Plymouth loloolol

2015-07-07 02:50#215905 TheAlex651 : Looks like a good signing. Keep up the good writing

Thanks Alex, appreciate it.

2015-07-07 04:31#215913 Pauker : I'm sorry but that regen looks better than Carroll was when he was at his best in NUFC. Shame about being released by fkin Plymouth loloolol

Lmao, indeed

Liverpool enjoyed a flawless month as they maintained their nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League, while also progressing forward in the FA Cup. The Reds also reached the Capital One Cup Final following a demolishing of Norwich and will face Arsenal at Wembley.

Liverpool January Player of the Month

Ernie Sharp takes the Player of the Month for January after a handful of great performances. The exciting 21-year-old managed to net 2 goals for himself, including an important winner against Stoke in the FA Cup that ensured his side advanced to the next round. Having been in impressive form so far this season, an international call-up to the England team may just be around the corner.

Manager's Thoughts

A good month for us to recover from the shocking loss to Newcastle in December, and the uninspiring draw against Leicester that saw us drop two valuable points. Thankfully, our nine-point lead has not diminished and if things go well the title is all but ours. I'm also very happy with the signings done, and Israel really made a fantastic debut with a brace against West Bromwich. He also netted at Brentford for his first ever Premier League goal, in his first league appearance too! At this rate, £35 million pounds for such a player could eventually turn out to be very good business for us.

Liverpool kept all their players this month, and recruited two more to strengthen their squad. Gustavo Cuello completed a return from Real Madrid on a free transfer, while Atalanta star Israel also joins for a record fee.

Are you thinking of offloading Balo in the near future? Nice to see Israel scoring already

2015-07-08 01:06#215956 Pauker : Are you thinking of offloading Balo in the near future? Nice to see Israel scoring already

We'll see what happens in the future. It's most likely going to happen soon though And yeah, great to see Israel scoring!

Very happy to be able to say that I've won Story of the Month for the second time in a row, albeit as joint winner with pompeyblue's story Santiago Muñez: The Revival, Return, and Uprising. It's my eighth (or seventh, I don't know) SotM award now and the third one that I've won with this story.

So yeah, anyway, I'm really honored. Thanks to everyone who has read and followed Rodgers' Reds: Class is Permanent so far!

Thoroughly deserved, quality updates and on a consistent basis!

Under Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool are back in their seventh consecutive Capital One Cup Final, and the opponents trying to topple them this time around will be Arsenal.

The Reds have been flying high in every competition this season, and are about ten points ahead at the Premier League's summit. Meanwhile, their opponents, the underdogs of this fixture for obvious reasons, have been the complete opposite.

Under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, Arsenal finally ended their Champions League heartbreak last season, clinching their first ever European Cup. And if that wasn't enough, the successful Spaniard made it a double, adding the FA Cup to the fairly barren trophy cabinet at the Emirates.

But the former Everton manager turned Gunners legend left in the summer to take the reins of the Spain national team, and with Arsenal currently lingering at 10th place, it is fair to say that Antonio Conte hasn't been able to replicate his predecessor. In fact, the Italian was sacked just last week after less than a year into the job, and Arsenal will go into this Final with interim in-charge Steve Bould.

For all their disappointments this season, a run in the Capital One Cup has been the shining positive, and no doubt Gooners will be desperately hoping for a happy ending. Against in-form Liverpool though, the possibility of winning their first League Cup since 1993 looks unlikely.


A Third Round draw against rivals Manchester United away at Old Trafford promised to be tough for Liverpool and it indeed was as the eventual finalists only found a winner through Conor Skinner in extra time. Sunderland was easily disposed of but a strong showing from Championship side Rotherham almost forced another extra time game against a lethargic Reds side in the Quarter Finals. The Semi Finals saw Norwich being slayed 7-3, sealing Liverpool's return to their second home stadium - Wembley.


Starting 11: Rulli; Joseph, Umtiti, Papadopoulos, Alaba; Romero, Ward-Prowse, Savitskiy; Balotelli, Moreyra; Israel
Subs: Steele, Clyne, Turan, Aubry, Skinner, Sterling, Zivkovic


Rodgers has pulled some surprises with his lineup today with players like Philippe Coutinho and Ernie Sharp failing to even make the bench. Richairo Zivkovic is also benched in favor of January signing Israel, who has been lethal up front with 4 goals in 6 games so far. Raheem Sterling is another key man who will not start the game, and instead it will be Mario Balotelli and Pavel Savitskiy occupying both wings. In defense, Eder Alvarez Balanta's untimely injury means that Kyriakos Papadopoulos will play against his former club.


Arsenal started their cup campaign with two fairly easy wins against Leicester and Stoke City. An unexpected triumph over big-spending Manchester City followed, with the Gunners scoring two past Golden Glove contender Joe Hart. A relatively straightforward two legs against Blackburn was met with two clear-cut victories, leading Arsenal into their first Capital One Cup Final in six years.


Starting 11: Szczesny; Chambers, Murillo, Matip, Digne; Wilshere, Ramsey; Costa, Thauvin, Barkley; Insigne
Subs: Ospina, Alhadhur, Asamoah, Mijailovic, Son, Ozil, Welbeck


Bould has gone for a simple 4-2-3-1 but his selections for the day has stunned Arsenal and non-Arsenal fans alike. Joel Matip has been introduced into the side and Jeison Murillo's usual defensive partner Aleksander Dragovic is left out completely, despite being fully fit. Jack Wilshere is also called into midfield alongside Aaron Ramsey, instead of the reliable Geoffrey Kondogbia, while Ross Barkley and Florian Thauvin are other starters that will leave many people scratching their heads, considering the duo has less than 10 league games shared between them this term. It may be unwise to criticize Bould's decisions as of yet though, for the temporary manager might just have a trick up his sleeve.

0' - And here we go! Liverpool versus their latest cup challengers Arsenal kicks off now. Can Bould's men pull off something extraordinary here, or will it be Liverpool bringing home their fourteenth League Cup trophy?

11' - Arsenal make the first move as some superb passing football sees Ross Barkley playing Lorenzo Insigne through, but the Gunners captain's strike is saved by Jeronimo Rulli.

16' - GOAL! James Ward-Prowse's cross finds Alejandro Moreyra, and the Argentine's volley smashes into the back of the net! Liverpool 1-0 up!

33' - GOAL! Liverpool extend their lead! Arsenal's defense simply cannot contain Liverpool as Pavel Savitskiy easily evades Calum Chambers to hit a forward pass for Israel. The Brazilian forward is promptly chased by Jeison Murillo, but he wastes no time as the ball is quickly given to Moreyra, who takes advantage of the enormous space allowed to him by Jack Wilshere to score his second goal of the day.


36' - That was so close! Arsenal almost find a response! Barkley catches Liverpool's defenders napping as he finds Florian Thauvin. Left unmarked by David Alaba, the French winger has a clear shot at goal but attempts to dribble past Kyriakos Papadopoulos instead, and he is quickly punished as Samuel Umtiti hacks him down to make a clearance.

44' - Ward-Prowse's corner finds Mario Balotelli and the forward unleashes a powerful effort, but it's blocked by Chambers.

45' - HT: Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal. Arsenal aren't giving Liverpool much of a challenge at all, and an extremely inspirational half-time team talk may be needed to get them back on track. On the other hand, Liverpool are playing at their usual best, and will be looking to add to their scoreline.

45' - The second half kicks off.

53' - Amazing! Rulli punts the ball all the way up to Israel from the Liverpool goal, and the striker beats the offside trap to try his luck, but the Wojciech Szczesny keeps it from going to 3-0 with his lightning reflexes.

62' - GOAL! Magnificent free kick by Balotelli! No goalkeeper could have saved that. Accurate, precise, and fierce. No mistake!


69' - GOAL! Liverpool are playing so offensively, with seven of their ten outfield players up front, and it's paying off! Ward-Prowse's pass goes to the feet of Balotelli, who is in a position to take a strike. However, he unselfishly gives it to Israel, and Joel Matip cannot keep the 19-year-old star from scoring!

71' - GOAL! Embarrassing for Arsenal at this point. Wilshere dispossesses Moreyra, but Israel latches onto the free ball ahead of Matip and Murillo to round past the defensive duo, who are both having a torrid time, to beat Szczesny for the completion of his brace.

79' - Red card! Papadopoulos picks up his second booking after taking down Insigne from behind, but with ten minutes left on the clock and leading by five goals, Liverpool are not going to be too unhappy.


84' - Insigne is fed by Mesut Ozil and has a crack after beating Umtiti, but his side is not allowed even a consolation goal with Rulli diving to save the ball.

90' - GOAL! Disastrous, absolutely disastrous! Israel sees his final attempt at a hat trick parried by Szczesny, but the rebound falls to Savitskiy whose cross mistakenly seeks out Lucas Digne. It is the left-back who makes the worst mistake of all though, as his clearance hits Balotelli to reverse itself into the Arsenal net. What a terrible error to make, and as Liverpool celebrate their sixth goal, Digne is down on his knees with his head buried in his hands.

90' - FT: Liverpool 6-0 Arsenal. Goals galore for Liverpool and the Kop will be delighted with the performance today. Arsenal, on the contrary, have been dreadful, and the club's board will now speed up their search for a new manager having already seen for themselves why Bould cannot be trusted with the role.

Wow, huge win, congratulations. Fantastic read.

Monster win there Glenn! congratulations on another SotM win too!