Liverpool latest: Including Johnson and Reina

Football Talk.co.uk discuss the future of Manchester City winger Adam Johnson and how Liverpool and Tottenham are said to be leading the race for his signature. £10 million is said to be the asking price for the England international and if he ends up at Anfield, surely this will bring the well over-due end to Stewart Downing's run in the first-team.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has told the club's official website how the side must be much stronger at Anfield - this a must if Liverpool are going to improve on last season's dismal finish of eighth. Raina also spoke of the defeat to West Brom will not influence the team's performances in their upcoming fixtures - the fans will hope he is right.

Sunderland are hoping to pip Liverpool to the signing of Fulham's attacking midfielder, Clint Dempsey, according to the Daily Mail. The 29-year-old has been a target for the Reds all summer but Sunderland are hoping they can persuade him to move to the North-East. Surely though, the USA international would chose Anfield over a move to the Stadium of Light.

The Metro are reporting how Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez turned the Liverpool job down before Brendan Rodgers got it. Liverpool co-owner Tom Werner has denied these claims and after Rodgers' first competitive game in charge in Saturday's shocking start against West Bromich Albion, will there be a number of Reds fans wishing they had got the Spaniard instead?

BBC Sport's gossip column report how the Reds have told striker Andy Carroll to make his mind up on his future as the club do not want any deadline drama. Tottenham are said to be interested in the former Newcastle forward but having just completed the signing of Emmanuel Adebayor, will this interest now subside?

The Mirror have said that Liverpool have told Carroll to go or get used to sitting on the bench.

BBC Sport also talk about how the Liverpool fly-on-the-wall documentary which has been being filmed since the back end of last season is set to go out in mid-September on Channel 5. This public showing of behind the scenes goings ons is quite out of character for the Reds but will no doubt make interesting viewing with all that went on last year. The documentary will be filmed up until after the Manchester City game at Anfield next weekend.

Quirkily, Steven Gerrard has revealed how he has selected former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres in his Premier League dream team, up front alongside Luis Suarez. He adds that he did not pick himself, rfeport the Metro.

Finally, Here is the City writer Di Davidson-Amadi analyses what went wrong during Liverpool's opening day defeat to the Baggies whilst Dan Coombs discusses midfielder Jay Spearing's future at the club.

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