Watch Liverpool

Archive for July, 2010

• Aurelio left Anfield in May after four seasons
• The 30-year-old has now signed a two-year deal

Fábio Aurélio has re-signed for Liverpool having been released by the club at the end of last season.

The 30-year-old left the club in May following the expiry of his contract but Roy Hodgson offered him the chance to train with the Reds in a bid to earn a return.

Having impressed the new boss and his backroom staff, he has duly been handed a two-year contract to bring him back to the club until 2012 and was included in the travelling party for tomorrow’s friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach.

“I asked the club to find out whether Fábio had found a new club,” Hodgson told the official Liverpool website. “When we ascertained that he hadn’t, we invited him back to Melwood so myself and my staff and the medical team could properly assess the player. We were very impressed and I am delighted we were able to re-sign Fábio.”

Aurélio made 71 appearances in four seasons, scoring three goals, after being brought to Anfield in 2006 by Rafael Benítez.

He becomes Liverpool’s fourth signing of the summer for a total initial outlay of £2m following the acquisitions of Milan Jovanovic, Joe Cole and Danny Wilson.

LiverpoolTransfer windowguardian.co.uk

• Midfielder pleased at captaining side in Europe
• He expects significant improvements this season

Lucas Leiva would relish stepping into Javier Mascherano’s boots should, as is widely expected, the unsettled Argentinian depart Liverpool this summer. At one time that idea might have prompted derision among Anfield regulars but the Brazilian central midfielder has begun quietly winning over his critics.

Deployed in an enforcement role Lucas not only captained an understrength Liverpool during a comfortable 2-0 Europa League qualifier first‑leg win against FK

• Fans in Macedonia seen making ‘monkey taunts’
• Uefa await reports from referee and delegate

Uefa have confirmed they are aware of claims that racist chants were directed at Liverpool’s players during last night’s Europa League qualifying game against Rabotnicki in Macedonia. The governing body are waiting to assess reports from both the Uefa delegate and the referee before taking any action against Rabotnicki.

Liverpool won the first leg of their third qualifying round tie 2-0 with David Ngog scoring both goals. But pictures emerged after the game that showed Rabotnicki fans appearing to direct so-called “monkey taunts” at Liverpool players.

Liverpool started the game with two black players – Ngog and the impressive 19-year-old winger David Amoo. A spokesman for Uefa told the Press Association: “We are aware of the matter but we are waiting for the reports from the delegate and the referee.”

Once Uefa have assessed the reports, a disciplinary case could be opened against Rabotnicki. Macedonian football has had problems with racism and their governing body was fined after Emile Heskey, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell were subjected to abuse during an international against England in 2003.

LiverpoolUefaEuropa Leagueguardian.co.uk