LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL FANS

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Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson says that he expects his former club to finally sell defender Glen Johnson during the January transfer window. The former Chelsea right back was brought to Liverpool in 2009 for £ 16 million from Portsmouth. He has been a major hit at Anfield after being first-team regular from the start. Johnson has not had much competition in his position, but this has finally changed after the arrival of Javi Manquillo in the summer. The Atletico Madrid player may have joined only a loan deal, but Liverpool have the option to buy him on a permanent basis in the summer.

Looking at the performances of the young Spaniard, it is looking highly likely that Liverpool will not think twice about parting with the £ 6 million transfer fee thought to be demanded by Atletico.

Johnson is on the wrong side of 30 and his performances in recent months have not inspired a lot of confidence in the team. A succession of injury problems coupled with poor form have seen Johnson lose his first-team spot to the likes of Javi Manquillo. Lawrenson also says that manager Brendan Rodgers does have enough options in the youth academy with the likes of Jon Flanagan pushing for a starting spot.

“Roy Hodgson effectively called time on Glen Johnson’s England career last week. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the right-back finds himself heading elsewhere in the New Year. Having not yet been given a new contract, it’s clear Johnson is not part of Liverpool’s long-term plans, with Javi Manquillo and, when fit, Jon Flanagan vying for the right-back slot.

Johnson can walk away from Anfield for nothing in the summer.So I’d expect the Reds to look to cash in on him in January,” said Lawrenson. Johnson’s contract expires in the summer and there have been no new talks.

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Premier League giants Liverpool are pondering legal action against FIFA, the sport’s governing body after star striker Luis Suarez was slapped a four month ban from all football activities following his bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup match against Italy.

The Uruguayan striker has already left Brazil and returned to his homeland following the ban which sees him miss the country’s next nine international games as well as well as a fine of £ 66,000. But the Anfield club believes the punishment is too harsh on them, particularly when the incident happened while he was on international duty.

With the Premier League’s Player of the Year banned from all activities in football as well as administrative duties till October 26^th, he will miss the first thirteen matches of the club’s season, a similar scenario to last season when he was banned for ten matches following his bite on Chelsea player Branislav Ivanovic.

The ban will see Suarez not being allowed to use the training facilities of Liverpool or any other club and also prevents him from entering football stadiums during this time.

The club’s view is that the punishment is harsh for them and they have been left in a vulnerable situation as they have to cope without their star striker for so many matches. The player’s lawyer has claimed that the Italian and English media blew the bite out of proportion and this prompted FIFA to hand such a harsh penalty on the player and the player as well as the football association of Uruguay will appeal the decision.

But the ban doesn’t mean that he cannot be transferred and that comes as a good piece of news for Barcelona who have been trailing the Liverpool striker for some time and are expected to swoop for him.