Off-the-field issues have overtaken Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's preparations for Saturday's early kick-off at Newcastle after the club's co-chairmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett laid down a marker on transfers.
After a fortnight without action because of the international break the Spaniard has had little time to get his players ready for the trip to Tyneside.
And his mood was not helped by an apparent disagreement with the club's American owners over how much money - if any - will be forthcoming in January.
Benitez patently had issues when he spoke to the press to preview the match and a few hours later the reason for his mood became clearer.
"We made a significant investment in the playing squad during the summer and desperately want this team to succeed," said a statement from Hicks and Gillett.
"There are some very important games coming up in the next couple of weeks and all of us need to focus on winning those games and getting the best out of the players we already have at the club.
"We will leave any talk of buying or selling players until we come across to Liverpool in December and sit down with the manager then."
It was a distraction Benitez did not need considering the limited amount of time he will have with his full squad once they all returned from international duty on Wednesday.
However, those players that were not involved with their countries have boosted the Spaniard's plans for Newcastle.
Daniel Agger, Harry Kewell and Fernando Torres are all in line for a return to the starting line-up with the latter the most significant of the trio.
Liverpool's record signing remained at Melwood this week, working on his match fitness, and has not been involved for Spain.
It seems Torres will regain his place in the starting line-up and will keep the shirt for next week's crucial Champions League crunch at home to Porto, a match Liverpool must win to stay in contention to qualify for the group stages.
Torres made his initial comeback a fortnight ago when he scored a fine goal as substitute against Fulham - and is likely to get the nod from Benitez at St James' Park.
Agger is close to full recovery from a broken metatarsal, while Kewell could also be in contention after a succession of groin-related problems.
He played a full 90 minutes for Australia last weekend, and Benitez described his return as like "having signed a new player".
It will be Torres, though, who will be in the spotlight.
"We have a confidence and a focus which will make us a very dangerous opponent for everyone who has to face us," he predicted.
"We have maybe not played as well as we are all capable of all the time this season - but look at how close we are to the teams at the top of the table.
"That is highly encouraging for us.
"From what I have seen so far in England, we do not have anything to fear from any of our opponents for the title. They are all great teams with a lot of experience and many very, very good players - but so are we."
Torres sees the title as a straight battle between the established top four clubs in this country.
"I am sure that as the season progresses it will come down to a fight between Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea - and we will be in there too.
"There is a winning mentality at Liverpool. I look around in the dressing room before a game, and in the face of ever player and every coach you see the winning expectation.
"They do not go out on to the pitch, either hoping they will or praying they will win - they expect it. They have such a belief in their ability that another outcome is just not something they consider.
"It is very new to me, but I enjoy that mentality very much and I am thinking this way too now."
After a fortnight without action because of the international break the Spaniard has had little time to get his players ready for the trip to Tyneside.
And his mood was not helped by an apparent disagreement with the club's American owners over how much money - if any - will be forthcoming in January.
Benitez patently had issues when he spoke to the press to preview the match and a few hours later the reason for his mood became clearer.
"We made a significant investment in the playing squad during the summer and desperately want this team to succeed," said a statement from Hicks and Gillett.
"There are some very important games coming up in the next couple of weeks and all of us need to focus on winning those games and getting the best out of the players we already have at the club.
"We will leave any talk of buying or selling players until we come across to Liverpool in December and sit down with the manager then."
It was a distraction Benitez did not need considering the limited amount of time he will have with his full squad once they all returned from international duty on Wednesday.
However, those players that were not involved with their countries have boosted the Spaniard's plans for Newcastle.
Daniel Agger, Harry Kewell and Fernando Torres are all in line for a return to the starting line-up with the latter the most significant of the trio.
Liverpool's record signing remained at Melwood this week, working on his match fitness, and has not been involved for Spain.
It seems Torres will regain his place in the starting line-up and will keep the shirt for next week's crucial Champions League crunch at home to Porto, a match Liverpool must win to stay in contention to qualify for the group stages.
Torres made his initial comeback a fortnight ago when he scored a fine goal as substitute against Fulham - and is likely to get the nod from Benitez at St James' Park.
Agger is close to full recovery from a broken metatarsal, while Kewell could also be in contention after a succession of groin-related problems.
He played a full 90 minutes for Australia last weekend, and Benitez described his return as like "having signed a new player".
It will be Torres, though, who will be in the spotlight.
"We have a confidence and a focus which will make us a very dangerous opponent for everyone who has to face us," he predicted.
"We have maybe not played as well as we are all capable of all the time this season - but look at how close we are to the teams at the top of the table.
"That is highly encouraging for us.
"From what I have seen so far in England, we do not have anything to fear from any of our opponents for the title. They are all great teams with a lot of experience and many very, very good players - but so are we."
Torres sees the title as a straight battle between the established top four clubs in this country.
"I am sure that as the season progresses it will come down to a fight between Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea - and we will be in there too.
"There is a winning mentality at Liverpool. I look around in the dressing room before a game, and in the face of ever player and every coach you see the winning expectation.
"They do not go out on to the pitch, either hoping they will or praying they will win - they expect it. They have such a belief in their ability that another outcome is just not something they consider.
"It is very new to me, but I enjoy that mentality very much and I am thinking this way too now."
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