Tranmere v Liverpool Match thread

[DeeTheDog]

Pre-season has almost begun, who are players everyone is looking out for? Personally I like the earlier games were some of the young players get a run out.

The UEFA U19 Euro Championship kicks off soon, does that mean we are missing the likes of Nemeth?

[DeeTheDog]

Rafa Benitez tells youngsters: Show me you're ready
Jul 8 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

RAFA Benitez today challenged his promising youngsters to use Liverpool's pre-season programme to prove themselves ready for first team football.

The Reds boss has been impressed by the progress made by reserve team starlets such as Krisztian Nemeth, Damien Plessis, Emiliano Insua and Dani Pacheco over the last 12 months and now he is throwing down the gauntlet to them to make the next step up.

Both Plessis and Insua have already tasted first team action towards the end of last season and Benitez believes they must now show they are ready to build on their hitherto limited experience.

And he has given teenage forward Pacheco a vote of confidence by including him in the early stages of his pre-season training programme at Melwood.

Nemeth has already trained with the first team but his preparations for the season with Liverpool have been complicated by a call up to the Hungary squad for the European under-19 championships in the Czech Republic later this month.

Benitez said: “Clearly some of the young players will be involved in some of our games during pre-season and this is an opportunity for them to show what they can do, although some of them are so good they will play some games with their national teams.

“But we have a lot of confidence in them so if they can be with the first team players and work with the coaching staff I am sure it will be good for them.

“It is important that they develop their experience at this stage of their careers and afterwards we will see but it is clear that they have a chance.”

Benitez’s policy of stocking his reserve ranks with teenage talent acquired from around Europe has resulted in another promising youngster being recruited after Liverpool confirmed the signing of Nikola Saric.

The 17-year-old Serbian-born striker is rated the best young player to come out of Denmark since Liverpool’s own Daniel Agger and the Reds beat off competition from a host of European clubs for his signature.

Meanwhile, Lucas has become the second Liverpool star to be named in his national squad for the Olympics in Beijing.

Javier Mascherano has already had his selection confirmed by Argentina and now Brazil have named his Anfield team- mate in a squad alongside Ronaldinho, Robinho and Alexandre Pato.

[calvoboy]

I was very impressed with Plessis and Insua last season, so I'm hoping to see them develop into genuine first team squad members - on the same level as Lucas was last year. It would be good to see one of Nemeth or Pacheco burst onto the scene this year too, but it will probably be in the League cup if at all.

From the first teamers, I'm just hoping to see Degen and Dossena make solid debuts, looking like they can handle the physical side of things without diving or moaning, and not looking error-prone.

[Sean_LFC_1892]

Ablett throws down first team gauntlet.

Rafa: Show me you are good enough.

[Liverta 78]

I wouldn't mind seeing what Bruna Blanco is like. Probably still too young to get a run in the first team though.

[lucas]

Pre-season has almost begun, who are players everyone is looking out for? Personally I like the earlier games were some of the young players get a run out.

The UEFA U19 Euro Championship kicks off soon, does that mean we are missing the likes of Nemeth?

Is Nemeth going to Leeds on loan for the season? I heard Gary Mac was interested in taking him.

[Vermilion]

Yes Yes Yes, The Red shirts run out again, Ok only Tranmere, and not the first team, but it's Liverpool fc, these little Euro thingy tournaments like the one just been are fine, but it's not the Red's, Cant wait.

[frank the tank]

i actually think that we are going to be as good as arsenal in bringing thru first teamers and i for one can't wait....

spearing and irwin look like genuine prospects.... Eccleston looks class too and so does amoo and purie.... then we have young adam pepper who could easily make it... obviously there is also nemeth, pacheco and bruna and now hopefully saric kicks on as well.... looking at midfielders, we have astridovic (sp? - althought he could now be leaving???), plessis.....

[Attilladahun]

I was speaking to someone from TRFC tonight and was told no one is allowed to put in a stiff tackle on Saturday

[DannyMan2006]

I was speaking to someone from TRFC tonight and was told no one is allowed to put in a stiff tackle on Saturday

Is that why they call it a friendly?

[Pablo]

I was speaking to someone from TRFC tonight and was told no one is allowed to put in a stiff tackle on Saturday

Ooh er missus! And I should hope not too.

[Pablo]

Looks like it might be on P2P tomorrow for anyone thats not got liverpool TV

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=14510&part=sports

That is all.

[Jaymo]

Hmm as i live in southport, I've noticed that posters everywhere are saying that Southport will play Liverpool on Sunday.. yet it isn't listed in the fixtures on the lfc offal.

I would expect it to be Liverpool reserves, yes?

Link to southport official: http://208.106.246.12/

[Exiled_red]

Has a squad been announced?? Usually early preseason games feature solely reserves and youth team players or at least very few first teamers, just wondered if that's the case tomorrow?

[Meols Kopite]

Sorry double post.