'If you arrive at a new club in a new country from Real Madrid then you are under pressure,' said the Liverpool manager of his Spanish midfielder.
The holders and runners-up made their exit from the League Cup in the fourth round after being beaten by Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion respectively.
'We knew it was going to be hard to play against them, but I give all the praise to the lads for the hard work.'
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Barcelona crushed Slovakia's Puchov 8-0 at the Nou Camp to go through 9-1 on aggregate.\n\n
"I want to finish my career very strong. I want to add some more medals and trophies to my collection. So I think it's a match made in heaven, really.
Manager Gerard Houllier will hope his policy of continuity pays off after an unfulfilling 2002-03 season.
A Roberto Firmino hat-trick proved the highlight of Liverpool's 5-1 demolition of Arsenal as the Premier League leaders opened a nine-point gap over Tottenham Hotspur, who lost 3-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Philippe Coutinho's versatility makes him a great acquisition for Barcelona, coach Ernesto Valverde said on Sunday as the Brazilian made his first public appearance at the Nou Camp following his 142-million-pound ($192.57-million) move from Liverpool.
Liverpool rested Michael Owen for their 2-0 Champions League qualifying win over Graz AK on Tuesday, increasing speculation that the England striker may be set to leave.
Having left it late to earn a 3-2 win in the first leg, City took a while to hit their stride at The Etihad on Tuesday but when they did Guardiola's team produced a magnificent attacking display that will ring alarm bells around Europe.
Raheem Sterling scored a second-half hat-trick as leaders Manchester City beat Watford 3-1 on Saturday while Liverpool kept the gap at one point by overcoming Burnley 4-2 on Sunday.
Liverpool did not reveal the transfer fee but Southampton announced it was "a new world-record for a defender" with English media reporting that it was a 75 million pounds ($100.49 million) deal.
Liverpool needed two extra-time goals to beat NottsCounty 4-2 at Anfield on an eventful night for the Premier League clubs in the League Cup second round on Tuesday.
England striker Michael Owen's refusal to commit himself to Anfield beyond 2005.
Champions Manchester United travel to Swansea City for their first Premier League match under new manager David Moyes, while Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City are at home to Newcastle United on August 17.
Liverpool striker Michael Owen has made a pledge to his club that he has no intention of sitting out his contract and leaving on a free transfer at the end of next season.
Owen, 24, is out of contract at the end of next season and preliminary talks about a new deal have begun.
The Liverpool and England midfielder was penalised for his two-footed tackle on Everton's Gary Naysmith.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp is full of admiration for Leicester City's style of football which has propelled the Midlands club to the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool see Tuesday's Champions League game at holders Real Madrid as a chance to prove their doubters wrong and get their season back on track, said coach Brendan Rodgers and midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Liverpool a dramatic 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Anfield, thus maintaining the league leaders' 100 per cent start
Liverpool belatedly kick-started their year and damaged Tottenham Hotspur's slender Premier League title hopes as Sadio Mane struck both goals in a 2-0 victory at Anfield.
Champions Manchester United's hopes of retaining their English Premier League title suffered another major setback on Saturday when they were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford by a composed Newcastle United.
Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson scored as Liverpool registered their first Premier League win since August with a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Saturday.
Football rallied round on Saturday to offer support to former England captain Rio Ferdinand following the death of his wife, Rebecca Ellison, from cancer.
Manchester United continued their perfect start to the Premier League season by crushing Swansea City 4-0 with three late goals in four minutes.
Former Newcastle United striker Faustino Asprilla is entering the world of business by designing and selling fruit-flavoured condoms in his native Colombia.
Lucas ended a goal drought stretching back to 2010 and Divock Origi missed a late penalty as Liverpool beat fourth tier Plymouth Argyle 1-0 in an FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday.
Liverpool's 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday was more than an early season setback - it raised the question of whether they have the strength in depth to cope with the dual challenge ahead of them this term.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Wednesday.
Chelsea put a miserable week behind them to return to the Premier League summit with a 2-0 win over Fulham as the wheels came off Liverpool's bright start in a 1-0 home defeat to Southampton on Saturday.
Liverpool and Manchester United's globe-trotting squads must shake off the effects of international duty for one of English football's most eagerly-anticipated clashes on Saturday.
Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier said he is not interested in signing the Brazilian ace.
'It was shambolic ... so bad' 'United didn't need a new philosophy, they had one for 20-odd years that worked'
Five talking-points from the Premier League weekend after Manchester City suffered a shock home loss to Crystal Palace, meaning that Liverpool stayed four points clear at the top following their win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Liverpool failed to muster a single shot on target in a Champions League game for the first time since a 1-0 defeat to Benfica in February 2006.
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