Liverpool yet to agree deal for Enrique

Liverpool have yet to agree a deal with Newcastle United for left-back Jose Enrique.

The Reds have held a long-standing interest in the Spanish defender and reports today suggested his move to Anfield had been secured for a fee of around £8million.

However, the Echo understands no agreement is in place as Kenny Dalglish continues to eye defensive reinforcements.

Enrique, who only has a year remaining on his contract, is desperate to leave Newcastle and was recently fined two weeks wages after criticising their lack of ambition.

The 25-year-old former Villarreal star would jump at the chance to join the Reds and is hoping a fee can be agreed with the Magpies.

Meanwhile, Daniel Agger admits Liverpool have fallen short of their usual high standards in pre-season.

The Danish defender was the pick of the Reds' performers in Monday night's 3-3 draw with Valerenga in Oslo. Agger netted twice on his return to the side after injury but took no personal satisfaction from the game.

It was the fifth successive friendly in which Liverpool have leaked three goals and Agger knows they must tighten up at the back ahead of their Premier League opener with Sunderland a week on Saturday.

"It just wasn't good enough, especially in the first half," Agger said.

"The second half was okay but it wasn't what it needs to be. The amount of goals we have conceded is definitely not good enough. We need to show we can keep a clean sheet and we have got to defend better."

After a busy pre-season schedule which has taken the Reds to China, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and Norway, the travelling is finally over.

Valencia await at Anfield in the final friendly on Saturday and Agger is bracing himself for a busy few days at Melwood.

"Kenny has his way of getting his point across," Agger said. "He has said himself that we need to be streetwise. That is what we have got to do.

"If you are a footballer, you have to be a perfectionist. We are all the same as defenders and so far we just have to admit that the way we have played has not been good enough.

"There is definitely something to work on."

Monday night was Pepe Reina's first pre-season game following a double hernia operation.

The Spaniard said: "We have a lot of work ahead of us as we cannot afford to concede so many goals. To let in three is not our identity. We have some new signings and we are still working them into our system."

Asked about Liverpool's chances in the Premier League this season, Reina added: "We have to be optimistic but we were far behind last year. We need to make sure that we improve."

Meanwhile, Milan Jovanovic's miserable spell with Liverpool is over after a deal was agreed for him to join Anderlecht on a free transfer.

The Serbian will pen a two-year deal if he passes his medical tomorrow.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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