Suarez to push for Reds move

LUIS SUAREZ will urge Ajax to return to the negotiating table today as he looks to push through a move to Liverpool before the transfer window closes on Monday.

Talks between the two clubs stalled earlier this week with Liverpool unwilling to meet the asking price of £25million for the Uruguay international striker.

Suarez will now ask Rik van den Boog, Ajax's chief executive, to resume negotiations in the hope a compromise deal can be thrashed out.

Van den Boog has been in South Africa recruiting a new assistant coach, and is due back in Amsterdam today.

Ajax have told Liverpool to be "more respectful" after rejecting the Anfield outfit's opening offer of barely half their valuation of the 23-year-old.

However, although their coffers will be bolstered by the £5.8million from Ryan Babel's move to German side Hoffenheim, Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group still have the strong bargaining tool of Suarez's intent on moving to Merseyside.

Suarez and Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam top the wanted list of manager Kenny Dalglish and director of football strategy Damien Comolli, with Liverpool still confident both protracted transfers can be completed within the next five days.

In the meantime, Dalglish has told his players to embrace the chance to turn Anfield into a fortress again as he aims for the first home win of his second coming as Liverpool manager.

Dalglish's men entertain Fulham in the Premier League this evening looking to build on Saturday's encouraging 3-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Liverpool have lost to Wolves and Blackpool at home this season, dropped points against Sunderland and Everton and were eliminated from the Carling Cup on their own turf by fourth-tier Northampton.

But Dalglish believes Anfield can regain its temporarily-lost aura, and said: "I never saw them take the sign down. It's just as it was. We're very proud and privileged of what has happened at Anfield and want to be part of the history in going forwards.

"We want to continue with the same principles and philosophies about the club, whether it's the atmosphere within or what we do on the pitch.

"We have to be helpful to the punters at times and they have to help us. Together we have to stand beside each other and move it forwards. We can help each other do that.

"Anfield is a fantastic place to go and play and should be something we look forward to. We shouldn't be afraid of it."

The clean sheet at Molineux on Saturday was only Liverpool's seventh in 23 Premier League games and their first since mid-December.

And Dalglish said: "A 3-0 win away from home gives everybody a lift because there were no goals against.

"You can take it straight back to the goalkeeper and say it's great for Pepe. You go to the front and say it's great for Fernando to get two goals. Raul scored a fantastic goal, so overall for the team it was fantastic because everyone defends and attacks."

Steven Gerrard, who returns after serving a three-match suspension, is expected to replace Christian Poulsen in midfield while Lucas Leiva has shrugged off a thigh strain.

Milan Jovanovic (illness) and Paul Konchesky (Achilles) are both now available, while Jamie Carragher is back in light training and on course to return to the first-team fold late next month.

Meanwhile, teenage winger David Amoo, who appeared for Liverpool in the Europa League in July, has signed for npower League One side MK Dons on loan until February 23.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post

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