Former Liverpool players Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Rob Jones have been drafted in by manager Brendan Rodgers to help coach the club’s youngsters.
The trio are to assist the Under-21 and Under-18 squads at the Kirkby Academy.
“It’s great to have Robbie, Steve and Rob on board,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
“I wanted to get more former players involved and over the off-season I spoke to a number of them about a possible role here.
“For me it’s so important to have players like that around. These are players who the young guys look up to.”
Bale has thigh muscle injury
Real Madrid’s Wales winger and record signing Gareth Bale has a muscle strain in his left thigh, the La Liga club said yesterday.
Real did not say how long Bale will be sidelined for.
He is likely to miss Saturday’s game at Levante and may not be able to join up with Wales for their World Cup qualifiers at home to Macedonia on October 11 and away to Belgium four days later.
Bale played the second half of Real’s 1-0 league defeat at home to Atletico Madrid last weekend but was unable to train on Tuesday and was left out of the squad for the Champions League Group B match at home to FC Copenhagen yesterday.
W. Bremen want De Bruyne back
Werder Bremen are keen to take Chelsea’s Kevin De Bruyne back to the club in January.
The Belgian, who enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell at the Bundesliga side last season, was left out of the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Steaua Bucharest, with questions over his omission prompting Blues boss Jose Mourinho to call a halt to his pre-match press conference.
Bremen general manager Thomas Eichin told the Bild newspaper: “Should Kevin be unhappy, we are an eager first contact.
“I am in contact with his agent and am informed about Kevin’s situation at Chelsea.”
Wenger hails Mesut Ozil impact
Arsene Wenger described Mesut Ozil’s masterclass in Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Napoli as the complete performance.
The 24-year-old club record signing inspired a devastating opening 15 minutes that saw him stroke home the opener with the classiest of finishes before setting up the second for Olivier Giroud.
“Ozil is like the team in that he had an outstanding first half that had everything you want to see from a great player,” Wenger said.
“I loved him when he was at Real Madrid, I thought he was great there... we are lucky to have got him.”
Ferguson rules out United return
Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has no interest in returning to manage Manchester United.
With manager David Moyes under increasing pressure, it had been suggested that Ferguson might eventually be ushered out of retirement in order to salvage the situation.
However, speaking to US TV network PBS, Ferguson ruled that scenario out.
“I’m not interested in managing again or getting myself worked up about Manchester United’s re-sults,” said the 71-year-old.
“You would be throwing your money down the drain if you put any money on me coming back as a manager.
“United are in good hands with David Moyes. He will be fine. He’s a good manager.”
Mazzarri pleased with Inter progress
Inter coach Walter Mazzarri has expressed his satisfaction at the efforts of his players following his summer appointment.
Mazzarri left Napoli to take charge of the San Siro giants at the end of last season after the latter sacked the inexperienced Andrea Stramaccioni.
“It’s all great, it’s all going as well as possible and I hope that continues,” Mazzarri, who cele-brated his 52nd birthday on Tuesday, told Sky Sport Italia.
“I just want the guys to keep doing what they’ve done up until now – starting from the next match against Roma.”
Rossi boost for Fiorentina
Giuseppe Rossi’s calf injury is less serious than initially feared and the Fiorentina striker could feature in Sunday’s game at Lazio.
Rossi was replaced in the first half of Monday’s 2-2 draw against Parma and tests taken on Tuesday confirmed the 26-year-old is struggling with a calf strain in his right leg.
The Italy international, who is Serie A’s joint-top scorer alongside Torino’s Alessio Cerci with five goals this season, will miss today’s Europa League Group E match at Dnipro but has not yet been ruled out of the trip to Lazio.
A statement from the club read: “Rossi will remain in Florence to undergo treatment and his availability for Sunday’s game will be evaluated.”