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ontd_football2010-08-10 02:09 pm
Joe Cole is better than Lionel Messi, claims Liverpool's Steven Gerrard
• Captain excited about new era after 'horror' of last season
• 'Anything Messi can do, Joe can do as well, if not better'
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool are set for a bright new era under Roy Hodgson after the "horror" of last season – and claims that the new signing Joe Cole is better than Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
Gerrard, in an interview with Match of the Day magazine, said the new manager has already given Liverpool a lift after a disappointing seventh-place finish last season.
"It's a great club and after speaking with Roy Hodgson I'm really pleased to see his plans for the club. It's a new era now – we must forget about the horror of what happened last season and get this club back to where it belongs, which is the Champions League at the very least."
Gerrard said Cole, signed in July on a Bosman from Chelsea, has the ability to drive the team forward.
"[Lionel] Messi can do some amazing things, but anything he can do Joe can do as well, if not better. He used to shock us in training by doing footy tricks with a golf ball that most players can't even do with a football. I really fancy Joe for the [player of the year] award this season."
Javier Mascherano would be 'delighted' with Barcelona move, says agent
• Representative says midfielder is chasing a move to Spain
• 'Liverpool promised him that they would help him leave'
Liverpool's unsettled midfielder Javier Mascherano is determined to join Barcelona, according to his representative in Spain.
The Argentinian informed the new manager Roy Hodgson that he wants to leave Anfield last month, and has also been linked with Internazionale in Italy.
Speaking to the Catalan radio station, Com Radio, Horacio Zandonadi said: "The player and all of us would be delighted if he could end up at Barcelona. We're talking about a figure that is about half the size of what Barcelona were being asked to pay for Cesc Fábregas.
"He has not renewed his contract [with Liverpool] and they promised him that this year they would help him leave, so we're talking about a situation that is much easier than it was last summer.
"Mascherano and [Lionel] Messi are friends, they get on very well because they are similar personalities. They are very professional, very committed and they love football and family."
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/10/javier-mascherano-liverpool-barcelona-agent
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