HULL - LIVERPOOL MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Hull have never beaten Liverpool in any competition (P14 D3 L11).

• Since the teams drew 2-2 at Anfield last December, Liverpool have won 18 league games while Hull have won just two.

Liverpool

• Liverpool have scored in their last 22 games in all competitions (17 in the Premier League). Middlesbrough were the last team to keep a clean sheet against the Reds on 28 February.

• Liverpool were last season's top scorers in the Premier League and have begun this season with 16 goals in their first 6 league matches.

• Liverpool have had 74 shots on target this season, more than any other Premier League side.

Hull

• Hull only lost one of their four league visits to the 'Big Four' grounds last season and scored at least two goals in three of the four games.

Talk of pressure causes Brown to walk off

• Phil Brown's side have not won any of their last eight away games. Their last win on the road was at Fulham last March.

• Hull have not scored more than once in their last 20 league games.

• The Tigers have committed 102 fouls this season, more than any other Premier League side.

• Nick Barmby is on 99 club career goals.

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Liverpool reported in tap-up row

Liverpool are the club reported by crewe over an alleged illegal approach to sign a player from their academy, BBC radio Stoke understands.

Crewe's director of football Dario Gradi revealed on Monday his club had made the complaint and the player in question is 15-year-old Max Clayton.

Liverpool were linked with Clayton in February 2008 and were willing to pay a six-figure sum to take him to Anfield.

Liverpool told BBC Sport they had no comment to make.

Crewe rejected Liverpool's initial approach for Clayton, but Gradi says the teenager now wants to leave the League Two outfit.

He told the Daily Express: "Max has come in and told us that he wants to leave right now to join a big club.

"You worry financially for the clubs where the players are stolen from.

"What sort of compensation are we going to get for all the work that has gone into developing him? Any compensation is insignificant for the effort that gone in.

"It's simple, the big clubs are stealing other people's players."

Gradi revealed the news in the wake of the decision to ban Chelsea from signing any players until January 2011.

The 68-year-old, who managed Crewe between 1983 and 2007, brought players such as David Platt, Danny Murphy, Seth Johnson, Robbie Savage and Dean Ashton through the ranks at the Alexandra Stadium during his time in charge.

Gradi has given his support to Fifa's decision to place a transfer embargo on Chelsea, after they were found guilty of inducing 18-year-old French midfielder Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

Chelsea have already confirmed that they will launch the "strongest possible appeal" to the ruling.

Manchester United could also face an investigation after it emerged that another French club, Le Havre, are going to ask Fifa to look into Paul Pogba's move to Old Trafford in August.

"I'm delighted with what has happened with Chelsea," added Gradi. "I would hope all the big clubs are frightened to death. There is no excuse for breaking the rules.

"We lost a 12-year-old to Everton. He was our best 12-year-old. The lure is that the bigger clubs pay big expenses.

"This kid will be getting several hundred pounds a week in expenses. We pay expenses but nothing like that. It's more a case of giving out £20 if someone can pick a kid up en-route.

"At least Fifa have given the smaller clubs hope."

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Tuesday 18th August, 2009 Transfer Rumours and News

By Antoine Zammit

Andriy Voronin : German newspapers are reporting that Hertha Berlin are hopeful of signing him.

Albert Riera : The Daily Mirror is reporting that both Real Madrid & Barcelona are interested in signing the winger. (where did this come from? Albert would never play for Barca and Real didn’t they buy enough players from us this summer? What do they want the keys to Melwood too?)

Dietmar Hammann : The former Red has rejected an offer to move down to League 2 and join Sven’s Notts County.

Keisuke Honda : The Japanese international has claimed that he is happy playing for a little club.

Andrea Dossena : He looks set for another season at Liverpool as the Napoli bid is now dead.

Rafael van der Vaart : Is being linked with Liverpool but the question is DO WE HAVE THE MONEY?

Money : Various reports indicate that Rafa only has 1.5 million Euros to spend!!!! 1.5 million Euros??? Even a non league team can afford more than that.

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Rafa Benitez set to bid for Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta

Rafa Benitez is ready to make a £10m bid for Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta.

The Liverpool boss sent scouts to watch the centre-half play against Espanyol on Sunday and is preparing to table an offer this week.

Benitez is desperate to end his hunt for a commanding defender and has already seen a £6m bid for Hull’s Michael Turner rejected.

Fulham star Brede Hangeland and Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross have also come under consideration but Benitez is now set to firm up his interest in Amorebieta, 24.

Bilbao will ask for at least £10m and Benitez will have to persuade American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to cough up the cash, with only two weeks left until the transfer window slams shut.

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