Albert Riera Given Shock Oppurtunity To Revive Anfield Career

ALBERT RIERA has been given a shock opportunity to revive his troubled Liverpool career after he was named in the 22-man squad that has flown to Switzerland.
The Spanish winger has not been sighted near Liverpool’s first team since he was suspended and fined two weeks wages for a serious breach of club discipline in March.
Liverpool had looked to offload Riera – who fell out spectacularly with former boss Rafa Benitez – in April to Spartak Moscow but the deal fell through due to his personal demands.
Riera had enraged officials and team-mates alike when he referred to Liverpool as being “a sinking ship” on Spanish radio station the night before they played Lille in the second leg of their

last 16 Europa League tie.
However, Roy Hodgson has taken the surprise step of including Riera, who had missed the first two days training under the new manager due to a slight knee problem.
Though there is still some doubt about Riera’s long-term future at Anfield – his list of misdemeanours include a fight with an unnamed youth player – he is poised to get a chance to turn things around.
Liverpool paid £6m for Riera just before transfer deadline day in August 2008 but he has failed to make a significant impression due to a succession of injuries and indiscipline.
Aside from Riera, the travelling party, which includes first-teamers Lucas, Alberto Aquilani, Emiliano Insua and David Ngog, arrived in Switzerland last night and will play the first of three friendlies against Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal on Saturday in Austria.
New signing Milan Jovanovic will meet up with squad in Switzerland, as will Sotirios Kyrgiakos – he will begin his pre-season training programme today after returning from his post World Cup break.
Hodgson will be united with Liverpool’s top names at the end of the month but a delegation from the club’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine department are expected to head out to Madrid for discussions with Spain’s medical staff over Fernando Torres.
Liverpool confirmed last night that their World Cup striker faces up to three weeks on the sidelines after suffering an adductor injury in Sunday’s final.
Torres underwent a scan in Spain on Tuesday in which a small tear was diagnosed.

The club’s new Head of Sports Science and Medicine Peter Brukner said: “The initial assessment was he had a mild adductor tear and the Spanish medial staff didn’t consider it to be too serious at the time.
“He had an MRI scan yesterday which confirmed a small tear. He should be able to resume training within two to three weeks and be able to play again within three to four weeks.”
Hodgson has yet to meet Torres in person but he was thrilled to see him pictured in a Liverpool scarf cradling the World Cup immediately after the final.
“As Liverpool manager, I take great pride in the fact that two of our players can call themselves World Cup winners this summer,” he said.
“I think it’s safe to say the pictures of Fernando in the dressing room with the World Cup certainly went down well with our fans. But the club can be proud of all the players who went away to the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Liverpudlians will be keeping an eye on the action from the first legs of the Europa League second round qualifiers to check out prospective third round opponents.
The draw takes place in UEFA’s headquarters tomorrow but Liverpool cannot be paired with big guns such as Juventus and Sporting Lisbon thanks to their UEFA coefficient.