1st July

Without a hint of irony, Ed astounded uk.sport.football.clubs.liverpool at 11:58:22 on 01-07-2005 by announcing:

Liverpool Echo, 1 July 2005 Reds close to landing Gonzalez By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL are poised to snap up Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez from Albacete.

But boss Rafa Benitez won't be able to use the £5m-rated 20-year-old until October.

The Reds are in discussions with Spanish side Albacete with a view to bringing the South-African born star on a year's loan. A permanent £4.9m switch could then follow. The deal is subject to a work permit being granted.

But a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in May means it will be October before he is fit enough to be considered for selection.

The Reds had originally planned to move in the January transfer window, but the full Chilean international has made quicker progress than anticipated which has persuaded Benitez to bring forward the transfer.

If discussions are successfully concluded, the player would arrive at Anfield on August 1.

-- "It feels as if I have been on a permanent honeymoon since I arrived here, I am on a cloud and I feel as if with Liverpool I have found the love of my life." - Rafael Ben'tez