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Liverpool: The Weekly LFC News Update 15/16 #20

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Image for Liverpool: The Weekly LFC News Update 15/16 #20

A selection of Liverpool Football Club-related stories and titbits you may have missed over the past seven days…

Defender Dejan Lovren has been reflecting on the disappointing defeat to West Ham United at the weekend and called for a better resilience. Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, the Croatian international said: “We need to step up quickly from this because we don’t have time to think about it now, because we have the game with Stoke on Tuesday. We definitely need to change our mentality and we need to keep a better run of games and to fight more. It was two easy goals [conceded], I would say. We left them space to cross early and then it’s difficult [to defend].”

The 2-0 defeat was the sixth time the Merseysiders have failed to net in 20 Premier League outings this season. Research from LFChistory.net shows that Liverpool’s current tally of 22 goals is their worst at this stage of a season in the club’s entire 124-year history.

Steven Gerrard will captain the Liverpool FC Legends in their game against an Australian Legends XI this Thursday. The encounter, at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, will be shown live on LFCTV. Anfield favourites such as Jamie Carragher, Dietmar Hamann and Luis Garcia will also be pulling on the famous red shirt once more.

Welsh U21 international goalkeeper Danny Ward has been discussing his loan spell at Aberdeen and his hopes for a long-term future at Anfield. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ward remarked: “Scotland has been very enjoyable. Getting regular games has been massive… It is definitely an ambition of mine to be Liverpool’s first-choice. I have a self-belief where I think I can play at the highest level. Ideally that’s at Liverpool, that would be fantastic. They gave me a new long-term contract before I came up. I took it to mean they think I have got a chance. Long term, I would love to be their No 1.”

Full-back Jon Flanagan took another step on his road to recovery today by playing 45 minutes in a 4-0 friendly victory for Liverpool U21s against Morecambe. The England international, who has spent the last 19 months on the sidelines following a succession of knee injuries, also managed 30 minutes against Fleetwood Town last week.

Promising Brazilian youngster Allan Rodrigues de Souza looks set for another loan spell away from Anfield in January. The midfielder enjoyed a successful stint at Finnish club SJK earlier in the season and expects to be making a second temporary switch later this month. “I wouldn’t be available [for selection] in January because my work visa isn’t ready,” he reportedly told ESPN Brazil. “So I will be loaned out again. I’ll be back in the middle of 2016, even more ready and eager to play for Liverpool.”

According to the Liverpool ECHO, Liverpool are looking to boost their Academy ranks with the capture of Poland youth international goalkeeper Kamil Grabara. The 16-year-old, currently at Polish top-flight outfit Ruch Chorzow, is expected to travel to Merseyside later this week ‘with a view to undergoing a medical’. If the transfer goes through, Grabara would initially become part of Neil Critchley’s under-18s squad.

Former Anfield shot stopper Brad Friedel has taken his first steps into management after being named the new United States Under-19s head coach.

Liverpool Ladies will be without another of their best players next season after it was announced Natasha Dowie will be leaving the club to join Doncaster Rovers Belles. The striker was voted the FA Players’ Player of the Year in 2013 as the Reds won the league for the first time in the club’s history, scoring an impressive 19 goals in 21 games.

Another soon-to-be-departing female star, Fara Williams, has been rewarded for her incredible contribution to women’s football with an MBE in the New Year Honours List. The 31-year-old, who helped the Reds claim successive Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014 and is on the verge of a move to Arsenal, has won a record 148 caps for England.

Reds youngster Sergi Canos scored a goal of the season contender in loan side Brentford’s 2-1 win over Reading last week. The Spaniard hit an exquisite half-volley after bamboozling two Royals defenders (video below). Canos, 18, has now made 18 Championship appearances for the Bees.


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Editor & ex-Anfield Roar Columnist