Did fake video trick Liverpool into buying Stewart Downing?
Pranksters put together a clip for YouTube that appeared to show the former Middlesbrough and Aston Villa winger chipping footballs into bins.
But it was part of a marketing drive by Aston Villa in a bid to boost season ticket sales at the Midlands club, reports the Daily Star.
Liverpool bosses John Henry and Tom Werner were taken in by the faked video, which ended with the slogan 'Seeing is believing'.
'There was some footage of Stewart where he was, from 30 yards away, kicking a football into five different trash cans,' said chairman Werner.
'We said: 'This player is brilliant, we've got to make a deal with him.'' he added.
Other clips produced by Villa for the campaign included striker John Carew fixing a faulty light with a shot and defender Carlos Cuellar hitting a groundsman to stop him disrupting an interview.
Downing - who has 32 caps for England - has struggled to settle in at Anfield after his big money transfer to the club in the summer, although he has seen his side qualify for the final of the Carling Cup after a narrow aggregate win over Manchester City.
Liverpool are reportedly lining up a sensational move to steal Edinson Cavani from under the noses of Manchester City.
据称,利物浦准备和曼城抢食,“偷下”卡瓦尼,没错,你没听错,就是曼城,就是卡瓦尼!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kenny Dalglish wants to strengthen his forward line.Dalglish has identified fellow Uruguayan Cavani as the man to fire Liverpool back into Champions League contention.
国王准备强化他的这个不给力的锋线。他认定苏亚雷斯的老乡卡瓦尼就是那个可以带领利物浦获得辉煌,取得冠军的人
The 23-year-old is currently on the books of Napoli and with 51 goals in 72 games has emerged as one of the deadliest strikers in Europe. His most recent scoring act was a brace against Inter Milan as they knocked Claudio Raneiri's side out of the Coppa Italia.
这位23岁72场51球的那不勒斯锋霸是当今欧洲最令人胆寒的前锋之一。他的进球我们就不赘述了。。。。
The 6ft 2" striker has scored 17 goals so far this season in all competitions and has previously been linked with moves to Chelsea and City. Both sides were unwilling to meet Napoli's £30 million pound asking price, however, allowing Liverpool to enter the equation.
这位6尺2寸的前锋本赛季已轰入17球,势不可挡,并此前和切尔西和曼城传出绯闻。但双方都不愿意满足那不勒斯3000w磅的要价,因此,利物浦加入是喜闻乐见的。
It remains to be seen if Liverpool will stump up that rather large sum. With 10 goals in 36 games for his country alongside Suarez, however, there is no doubt that Cavani would form an exciting all-South American front line for the Reds.
但是利物浦还有没有那么多钱呢?他作为苏亚雷斯的国家队队友已经在36场中打入10球,毫无疑问,卡瓦尼是利物浦迫切想要的南美杀星。
Werder Bremen winger Marko Marin could be heading for the Premier League as reports from Germany yesterday suggested that Liverpool have made an enquiry for the German international midfielder. Liverpool are weighing up a £12 million offer.
22-year-old Marin is very highly rated in his homeland and has been persistently linked with a move to Bavarian giants Bayern Munich, but has so far decided to stay with Werder Bremen.
According to the report, Bremen are unlikely to accept any offer from a team in Germany, and are prepared to do business with foreign sides but only at the right price.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is desperate to add to his squad before the end of the January transfer window, and has reportedly turned his attentions to the talented playmaker who played twice for his country in the 2010 World Cup.