The last few weeks have been pretty quiet on the Anfield front. John Arne Riise has left for Roma (rumours of him failing a medical due to lack of a right foot were unsubstantiated).
Gareth Barry remains at Aston Villa and Xabi Alonso remains a Liverpool player. I wouldn't be too disapointed if it stayed that way to be honest. Villa want £18m for Gareth Barry and that just isn't right for a player of his undoubted but not spectacular quality.
Alonso is a fans favourite, a top professional (Despite the speculation over his future he has been fantastic for Spain when given an opportunity at the Euros) and a key player whose work does go unnoticed in my view.
Those with a keen statistical eye (I don't count myself among them but I have noticed this particular stat) will know that it is often Alonso who covers the most ground in our games.
While his passing may not be as phenomenal as in those early months of his first season in 2004/05 his tactical awareness and the calm I believe he brings to the midfield is often a perfect compliment to the all action style of Stevie G and the marauding Javier Mascherano.
If Alonso were to leave and Barry to arrive it would be interesting to see how it works in midfield. But the way I feel about it is that we just won't gain much out of selling the Spaniard and bringing in the Villa captain.
It won't be like selling Craig Bellamy and buying Fernando Torres, that's for sure. And if we're looking to advance to the next level and challenge for the Premiership and I mean really challenge then that is surely what we need to be doing.
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