Soccer: Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Spanish left-back Jose Enrique as manager Kenny Dalglish makes his final preparations for the start of the new season.
The 25-year-old had a medical at the club's Melwood training ground yesterday after the Reds agreed a fee of around €6.7 million for the Newcastle defender and he signed a "long-term" deal this morning.
"This is one of the happiest days of my life," he told liverpoolfc.tv today. "I have come to one of the biggest clubs not just in England, but in the world. I am really, really happy."
His signing may come too late for him to be involved in Saturday's opening match at home to Sunderland but Enrique is ready to play if called upon.
"If the manager needs me, I am ready to play," he said. "I have already played for Newcastle in pre-season, not every game but two or three games and I am fit and if the manager needs me, I am ready to play. My ambition is win everything with Liverpool. This year we won't play in the Champions League, so the most important thing is to try and win the league."
The left side of defence has been a problem position for Liverpool over the last few years but, on the face of his performances for the Magpies, Enrique's arrival could well change that. His partnership with fellow summer signing Stewart Downing down the left should provide the Merseysiders with the balance and attacking thrust they have lacked in recent seasons.
With Fabio Aurelio and teenage reserve-team defender Jack Robinson providing back-up it puts the future of Emiliano Insua, who spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, in doubt. But while filling the vacancy at left-back has been a major requirement for Dalglish, his options further upfield appear to be plentiful.
Ex-Villa winger Downing, Blackpool's Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, who will hope to face his former club on Saturday, have all bolstered midfield to such an extent last season's player of the year Lucas Leiva admits he will have to work hard to earn his spot.
"We have a lot of midfielders at the club at the moment," he said. "It's always important to strengthen the squad and I think I will have to fight again for my place. It's been like this all my years here and this season is going to be the same.
"In football you have to prove yourself every single day. Of course I got the award last season but this season is a new challenge. There is more responsibility on me in the team. Hopefully I will cope well and have a great season."
The Brazil midfielder believes Dalglish's recruitment of British players, primarily, will boost their chances in the league.
"The English players know the mentality, they know the way the Premier League is played," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "I think we have a good mix of foreign players and British players. For me, it's good because they know the mentality you need to be a winner at a club like Liverpool."
Striker Luis Suarez could play against Sunderland, despite only returning to training on Monday.
The Uruguay international’s involvement in winning the Copa America prevented him from featuring in the club’s pre-season but manager Dalglish will consider him for selection.
"He's trained and has no problem," said the Scot today. "We'll wait and see how he is tomorrow. We'll also see how Glen Johnson is in the morning. Obviously Steven (Gerrard) and Martin Skrtel aren't there and they are the only two. Everyone has come back from the international matches fine."
New signings Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Alexander Doni are all in the squad.
Provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Flanagan, Aurelio, Robinson, Lucas, Adam, Spearing, Henderson, Shelvey, Downing, Cole, Meireles, Rodriguez, Kuyt, Suarez, Carroll, Ngog, Doni.
