Barca Eye Paco Ayestaran

Barcelona are interested in securing the services of former Liverpool assistant manager Pako Ayestaran, according to reports in Spain.

Spanish radio station 'Putno Radio' claimed Barca initially made contact with Ayestaran in an attempt to lure him to the Camp Nou during the summer, but Liverpool rejected the move.

However, Spanish press now claims Barca will renew their attempts to attract Ayestaran following his recent departure from Liverpool.

Ayestaran is credited with masterminding Liverpool's UEFA Champions League success in 2005 alongside manager Rafa Benitez.

The 44-year-old, who joined Liverpool in 2004 with Benitez, was a popular figure among the Reds squad with a number of players admitting their disappointment at his departure earlier this season.

Babel Embraces Change At Anfield

New boy Ryan Babel insists Rafael Benitez's rotation policy at Liverpool is "not an issue" as far as he is concerned.

The Dutch youngster could well find himself the beneficiary of the ever-changing Benitez team selection tomorrow when he is expected to get a starting place against Tottenham at Anfield.

It is fair to say that being openly critical of your manager over such a touchy subject is not good for your health, but Babel insists he is more than satisfied with the way he is being treated by Benitez, who he describes as "a really nice guy".

On reflection though, more is made of Benitez's selection ideas outside the Liverpool camp than inside, where the likes of Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Fernando Torres and even Peter Crouch - the main man to suffer - have all backed their manager in recent weeks.

Crouch, despite some murmuring of complaint via his advisors earlier in the season, now says: "If you play for a big club you have to accept it."

Babel, the £11.5million winger from Ajax, has only started five matches this season but he said: "It's something different for me but it is not an issue.

"Everyone knows the boss likes to change line-ups and tactics depending on who we are playing. But I understand why he does it.

"You cannot play the same way in every match and you can't use the same players all the time. Flexibility is vital.

"It is an important part of the game and even more so here in England where teams play in four competitions. It is unrealistic to expect every player to play week in week out.

"It is similar to when the boss switches the wingers in games. Sometimes I play on the left and it doesn't work, so making changes can help both wingers.

"It gives the team an unpredictability and that has to be good. It means the opposition are not quite sure about what you are going to do and that gives them problems because they're left guessing."

Now the 20 year-old aims to make his mark in Benitez's plans, while insisting he knows he can do better.

Babel said: "I know I am capable of better. I know I still have not reached my real level, I can produce a lot more and hopefully the fans will see that as the season progresses.

"I am still learning how to play alongside my team-mates, and that will take time. I am still working out how to fit into the new formations the boss uses, and the way he wants me to play.

"It is very different from Ajax, I knew this move would not be easy but generally I am pleased with how my first season in England has started.

"But it is different. In the Eredivisie the ball spends a lot more time on the grass so that is also something I'm still adapting to.

He added: "Over here you come up against more teams that do not play that way, they prefer the ball in the air. That is new to me but again is something I must get used to."

Babel stands a good chance of starting on the left flank against Spurs following the patchy display of Sebastian Leto against Marseille in midweek, while Benitez will have to do without full-back Fabio Aurelio due to a calf injury.

But it is likely that he will recall Javier Mascherano, John Arne Riise, Alvaro Arbeloa and Andriy Voronin for this game where three points are vital for Liverpool if they are to get the critics off their backs.

Crouch Heading For Exit Soon?

Rafa Benitez is heading for a major fall-out with Peter Crouch as he tries to force the England striker out of Anfield in the January transfer window.

The Liverpool manager has decided to cash in on Crouch as soon as possible after confirming that he has a £20 million budget to spend on new players in the new year.

But the player, who has 18 months left on his contract, is determined to stay put until the summer unless he gets the right move for his future.

Benitez's patience with his centre-forward has finally snapped after Crouch's lacklustre performance in the 1-0 midweek defeat by Marseille and he is unlikely to play against Tottenham today.

The manager is irritated by the player's attitude towards his rotation system and his refusal to sign a new deal which would boost his resale value to the club.

Not only that, Crouch is looking for his first goal of the season after netting 24 times for club and country last season. Juventus,Real Madrid, Manchester City and Portsmouth are all interested in the 6ft 7in striker but he is prepared to wait until the summer to weigh up his options, particularly as he would be ineligible to play in the Champions League for another team this season.

Benitez, who has seen his side score just once in five Premier and Champions League games since hammering Derby 6-0, is ready to bring in new blood and Jon Arne Riise is also on the for-sale list.

The Anfield manager said: "We've been working on buying new players since the beginning of September. We do not have problems in the financial area because we have sold a lot of players.We have around 35m euros (£20.7m)."

Liverpool would get back the £7m they paid for Crouch if they sold him in January but the fee would drop as his contract started to run down.

Benitez admitted he was on the warpath following the Marseille debacle.

"We were really bad as a team so the staff and I and the players had to be together. I was really disappointed. And I was angry. But you cannot change anything by being angry.You need to analyse."

Are Liverpool Missing Pako?

Liverpool might have all eyes on the Premier League this season, but does that mean they should playing in the champions league in the manner they have been lately? I really don’t think it’s a matter of the Premier League being their sole priority; they just aren’t playing well, Period. As one fan puts it, “we haven’t played well since we beat Derby”.

Now, as a Liverpool supporter I am inclined to support the club no matter how good or bad the performance and results, but as a supporter I’m also inclined the right to criticize and axe the players when they don’t give their expected best. After all, they are getting paid big just to please us fans. But Liverpool has been a different team lacking in creativity and fire power and becoming far too predictable lately. They simply are not up to scratch, giving the ball away so cheaply and lacking the passion that comes along with putting on the red shirt. Something is definitely not right, and Rafa should get to the end of it and sort it out before it’s too late.

I checked out the message boards on the official Liverpool site (www.liverpoolfc.tv) and saw some interesting raised questions. One topic stated: “How much are we missing Xabi?” Now no one can deny how instrumental Alonso, with his slick passing and fluidity, has been to Liverpool in previous seasons. But that was before the arrival of Argentinean international Javier Mascherano, who has been on many occasions favored in the middle of the park alongside none other than Captain Steven Gerrard. Of course every game has a different approach to it and I’m not stating that Mascherano is any better than Alonso; I’m just making a point that we do have a qualified replacement, should Xabi get injured, as is the case now.

Is the reason for poor results then due to the Daniel Agger’s injury that put on hold a great partnership with Carragher, bringing back long but aging servant Sami Hyypia into the foray? Again, I believe the answer to be NO, for if injuries were to be used as an alibi for poor results, then only keeper Pepe Reina gets my vote (God forbid).

Rafael Benitez is today considered one of world’s best known and successful managers thanks to his European campaign results. But could the master plan that beat off the likes of Juventus, Chelsea, AC Milan and Barcelona all have come from one brain? Or was there more to Rafa Benitez than buying his wife a watch whenever he wins a final? Was his success depending on how much transfer money he received? But then we have to remember that he did win the Champions League with a more-or-less average squad in his debut season.

The way I see it then, is that Liverpool has been going downhill in terms of performance since Rafa’s right hand man, Pako, chose to leave the club. Again the same sentence rings in my mind, “we haven’t played well since we beat Derby” Is it a case of players believing the hype that was spouted after that game? Is overconfidence going to make us struggle to get results? Or are we missing something since Pako left?

Something just isn’t right, and I hope Rafa admits his wrong-doing and brings back his long-term side kick on board, whom it has becoming blatantly obvious he can’t do without, and hopefully then we shall see Liverpool FC flying sky high in every competition.

Furious Benitez Vows To Crack The Whip On His Stars

Rafael Benitez has demanded his stunned Liverpool stars “show their character” in a spell of matches that could define their season.

As the Spanish coach surveyed the wreckage of a disastrous Champions League defeat by Marseille in front of a bemused Anfield, he knows a season that started with high expectations could soon be in total disarray.

Sunday sees the visit of Spurs in the Barclays Premier League, followed by a trip to neighbours Everton and the visit of impressive leaders Arsenal on October 28.

Sandwiched between the Everton and Gunners matches is their next Champions League trip to Istanbul and a clash with Besiktas.

A tough trip to Blackburn and the Besiktas return are Liverpool’s opening games in November.

No wonder Benitez insisted: “We must improve, we must show our character now.

“We know we have to do better. We showed character to get a draw against Porto when we did not play well, and we showed character to win at Wigan last weekend in a hard match.

“Now we must show character against Tottenham. That is our first priority after the Marseille result.”

Benitez’s tinkering with his squad again took the brunt of the criticism after the French side turned an impressive display into a well-deserved victory thanks to Mathieu Valbuena’s late winner.

Benitez opted for youngster Sebastian Leto on the left, refused to take off a woefully out-of-touch Mohamed Sissoko, while giving Peter Crouch the opportunity to justify his claims his form has suffered because of the manager’s rotation policy.

The Anfield chief has now made a staggering 62 changes to his side over 12 matches this term, and has used 34 substitutes.

Compare that with Sir Alex Ferguson’s changes this term at Manchester United and the difference is remarkable.

Before the United chief made wholesale alternations for the Carling Cup defeat by Coventry, and then a complete change back to his senior men for the next league match, he had made a total of just 12 changes to his side in eight matches.

But Benitez will not be moved on his rotation policy.

He said: “It is not the changes, it is big players not playing well.”

And he defended Leto and Sissoko, saying: “I chose Leto because he had been training well and he had played well in the Carling Cup on the left with Fabio Aurelio.

“I wanted to give him his chance because he had shown he was a player who could beat opponents with pace.

“But for me it is not right to talk about only one player, the whole team played badly.

“It is difficult to explain how a team of talented players like ours could give the ball away so much.

“Marseille played well, they pressed us hard and worked well. But we should have been able to create chances behind teams who attack and press like that.

“But we did not create any clear chances. We did have the options, but just failed to take advantage and you do not win if you do not create openings.”

He added: “I decided not to change Momo Sissoko. I wanted to substitute Leto to try something different and then I wanted to change the strikers, but had to alter my thinking because Aurelio had picked up an injury and had to come off.

“I was more concerned with doing different things up front, but it was a very bad day for everyone. I prefer not to point the finger at any one player. The whole team played badly.”

Benitez made no excuses for the dire display, saying: “We did not deserve anything. From the beginning, the team did not play well. We were giving the ball away, losing second balls and not winning possession up front.

“It is very difficult to win a game like that. It was worse than in Porto in our first group match.

“Out there, particularly in the second-half, the team was well organised and showed character. This time, maybe with some anxiety because we were playing at home, many things were wrong.

“We were trying to do too much, to do everything and we needed to be calm and do the things that we would usually have done.”

Liverpool must now return to the city of their fifth European Cup triumph two seasons ago to save this campaign.

Third in Group A and five points behind Marseille, with Porto second on four points, the Merseysiders have to win against Besiktas on October 24.

Benitez said: “We are now going to have to win an away game, certainly the next away game with Besiktas.

“We need points quickly. There has been talk of us needing 10 or 12 points to qualify. Forget all this, we must concentrate first on winning the next group match.

“That is the situation, not what may happen later in the group.”

Rafa, You're Letting Liverpool Fans Down

Sportsmail's Jim Mansell, a fervent but despairing Liverpool fan, pens an open letter to his club's manager after their humiliating Champions League defeat to Marseille at Anfield:

Dear Mr Benitez, I felt compelled to write to you following Liverpool's abject display against Marseille.

I have a fear that you are blind to the one key element which is vital to any successful team - consistency.

In my view the Champions League defeat on Wednesday hardly matters a jot - though not to qualify for the knockout stages would be humiliating enough - but was a clear manifestation of the problems thrown up by your baffling rotation system.

Let's be frank. Your changes are infuriating Liverpool fans. I haven't spoken to one who thinks it's the right policy or that it will win us the prize we most cherish - the Premier League.

We've been waiting since 1990 for a sniff of the Holy Grail - and gritted our teeth as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have dominated.

They have done it by moulding teams which play at a high level of consistency. Barring loss of form and injury, the manager has picked virtually the same players week in, week out.

They became teams and a developed a pattern of play to suit.

Currently, this does not seem to apply to Liverpool. You made another bucketload of changes for the Marseille game from the team that scraped a 1-0 away win at Wigan. Not surprisingly, they played like strangers. As Robin van Persie said this week Arsenal benefit by having the same team because the players like it that way.

How can Crouch be expected to perform if he's hardly given a look-in? How can Torres be the 20-goals-a-season striker the team desperately needs if he's not in the starting line-up for games against the likes of Portsmouth and Birmingham? How can the midfield develop an understanding if it's chopped and changed so much?

I heard you say in an interview recently that your policy was designed to ensure the players were in peak fitness for the run-in to the Champions League and the title.

That's no good if the team are not in contention for either due to poor performances in the rest of the season.

Your summer buys gave us hope that the title would be a realistic target. The season started brightly. Don't let that flicker of hope be extinguished so quickly.

On behalf of all title-starved Liverpool fans, pick a team to win the league and stick with it.

You gave us a truly unbelievable triumph in Istanbul. And a memorably nerve-wracking FA Cup success. But, Mr. Benitez, we're desperate to be the best team in the Premier League.

What we can't stomach is a rotation policy which will see the names of just United, Chelsea and Arsenal on the Premier League trophy for another 17 years!

Benitez Says Besiktas A Must-Win Game For Liverpool

Liverpool must win their Champions League match against Besiktas later this month to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages alive, coach Rafael Benitez said.

His side were beaten 1-0 at home by Marseille on Wednesday to leave them with just one point from their opening two group games. They trail the Group A leading French side by five points and are three behind second-placed Porto.

It is clear we need to win the next game without thinking about numbers you must have to qualify from the group," he told reporters.

"You can set long-term targets, but we just need to win the next game."

Liverpool travel to Istanbul on October 24 having hit a slump in form in recent weeks.

They were held to two 0-0 draws in the Premier League by Portsmouth and Birmingham before earning an unconvincing 1-0 win at Wigan last Saturday.

They were also held 1-1 in Porto in their first Champions League fixture and lost to a Marseille team that had won just one of their opening nine league games.

Benitez's rotation policy has been criticised by frustrated Liverpool fans, but the coach said he is unsure why his side delivered such a poor display in the loss to Marseille.

We were playing badly and maybe had some anxiety and were trying to do too many things at the same time," he said.

"It's difficult to explain why we played badly, but the other team did press the ball very well.

"It is a bad experience, but we are trying to be positive about the future."

LiverpooL 0 - 1 Marseille

Liverpool lost their unbeaten record this season and saw their Champions League dreams take a beating after a home defeat by Marseille.

Marseille, despite terrible domestic form, have now won both their opening Group A matches and appear likely to qualify for the knockout stages.

The French club's winner came from the night's best player, midfielder Mathieu Valbuena with 13 minutes left - but their superiority should have been rewarded a lot earlier.

Porto's win in Turkey against Besiktas makes Liverpool's quest for qualification that bit harder.

Liverpool could not afford to repeat the slow start they produced in Porto in their opening game - but they were again slow out of the blocks.

Marseille, clearly intent on impressing new coach Erik Gerets in his first match in control of the French side, made Liverpool look slow and way off the pace.

The visitors' midfield of Valbuena, Benoit Cheyrou and Karim Ziani dominated, with skipper Lorik Cana effortlessly controlling play from the holding role.

Liverpool were constantly ambushed in possession, or just gave the ball away.

With Mohamed Sissoko let down by his passing and skipper Steven Gerrard forced to do the running of several of his team-mates, it was a miracle that Liverpool were still level at the break.

Marseille were almost ahead early on when Ziani robbed Fabio Aurelio and set up Mamadou Niang in the box, the resulting shot stopped by Jose Reina's knee.

Gerrard was booked for a tackle on Cheyrou before Niang missed a clear volley from Taye Taiwo's deep cross.

Former Liverpool man Boudewijn Zenden was effective on the left, neatly moving into space inside.

Sebastian Leto, preferred on the left to John Arne Riise and Ryan Babel, started competitively but was soon being swept aside as Marseille continually surged forward, Valbuena a constant threat.

It took Benitez just five minutes of the second half to replace Leto with Riise, Sissoko having already been booked for a foul on Valbuena.

It was not much better elsewhere in Liverpool's ranks, and when Valbuena's clever turn exposed Jamie Carragher, the Anfield defender was the next to be booked for hauling back the elusive playmaker.

Benitez was a picture of annoyance on the line, and when he opted to bring on Voronin, he changed his mind about who was to come off.

First it was Fernando Torres, and then after a quick rethink, Aurelio was replaced.

At the same time Marseille brought off Niang and replaced him with Djibril Cisse, who got a warm reception from the Anfield fans.

Dirk Kuyt was next into the fray for Liverpool, taking over from Peter Crouch, who had made little impact even if the amount of decent possession he was afforded was minimal.

Eventually Marseille got the goal they deserved - and it followed squandered possession by Sissoko in the 77th minute.

The ball was quickly moved by Zenden to Valbuena, who saw his 20-yard shot crack against the angle of the bar and post on its way into the net.

Marseille surprisingly took off Valbuena on 83 minutes, sending on Wilson Oruma.

When Zenden limped off with three minutes left, Salim Arrache taking over, Marseille were within touching distance of a historic victory.

Gail Givet had barely given Torres a yard all night, and it says something for the efforts of Liverpool's forwards that it was Sami Hyypia who had their best two efforts before Yossi Benayoun saw a low header pushed away by Steve Mandanda in injury-time.

Torres then hit a post after Gerrard had stormed through to cause chaos in the Marseille box.

But the French clung on and Liverpool just did not deserve anything from this, all their best efforts coming in four minutes of injury-time.

Teams


Liverpool Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia,Aurelio (Voronin 70), Benayoun, Gerrard, Sissoko,Leto (Riise 52), Torres, Crouch (Kuyt 75).


Subs Not Used: Itandje, Arbeloa, Babel, Mascherano.


Booked: Gerrard, Sissoko, Carragher.


Marseille Mandanda, Bonnart, Rodriguez, Givet, Taiwo, Cana,Cheyrou, Valbuena (Oruma 83), Ziani, Zenden (Arrache 87),Niang (Cisse 70).


Subs Not Used: Hamel, Zubar, M'Bami, Moussilou.

Champions League Preview: LiverpooL vs Marseille

Wednesday’s encounter at Anfield will pit two traditionally heavyweight teams from their respective leagues against each other. In England, Liverpool have a long and rich history which includes more than a fair share of epic European adventures, whilst French giants Marseille have also enjoyed significant success at home as well as abroad.

By wining the inaugural Champions League, albeit with post match-fixing scandals, the French outfit highlighted the lofty heights to which they aspire, as did Rafael Benitez when he admirably steered the Reds to their fifth European Cup in 2005.

Aside from winning trophies these two clubs share many other things in common. They both have historically been seen as the antithesis to their country’s capital cities, via geographically, culturally and of course, through football. However, recently both sides have been forced to step aside as another major force in their leagues have emerged to dominate domestic success.

Manchester United have run amok since the Premiership formed, whilst Lyon have constantly blown away the Ligue opposition over the last six years, leaving Liverpool and Marseille to occupy that un-wanted and un-fancied position of scrapping for leftovers under the shadow of their rivals. But here is where the similarities end.

Very recently, under the stewardship of Rafael Benitez, Liverpool are steadily but surely starting to look like their all-conquering selves again. Unlike Marseille, who with a succession of managers coming and going through the Stade Velodrome doors, have flattered to deceive whilst at other times just plain flattered no-one.

Their contrasting league forms this year tells the tale of the different directions these two fiercely supported clubs seem to be heading in. Liverpool are genuinely looking like title contenders this term, whilst Marseille are frankly expressing depressing relegation form, as they lie just outside the drop zone with only one win from nine games to show for their efforts so far.

Their opening results had been so poor that initial manager Albert Emon was replaced by Eric Gerets only seven days ago, and the new man has managed a loss and a draw to his name so-far.

The form guide suggests Marseille will struggle at Anfield, but then again how many times in football’s lush history has the form-book been completely and utterly thrown out of the window, especially when a European cup competition offers a release from the constraints of domestic league troubles.

Past Encounters, Old Nemeses And Returning Heroes

Surprisingly for two clubs of vivacious history in European competitions, the Reds and l’OM have only met each other on two occasions, both coming in a two-legged UEFA Cup fourth round tie in 2003-04. France prevailed 3-2 on aggregate from that Anglo-French tie and they subsequently went on to reach the final.

No players from the current Marseille squad played in either of those games, although incidentally Liverpool stalwarts Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise and Steven Gerrard all were involved and will undoubtedly feel a touch of revenge is in order, for no players forget a previous loss in European fixtures, as the chance to redeem yourselves may not come along again for a while.

Though that is not to say Marseille do not have reason to seek retribution, for who was the man who masterminded their downfall in the 2004 UEFA Cup final of which they beat Liverpool to reach…yes please arise Mr. Benitez, in charge of Valencia at the time and winner of a prestigious double: the Spanish league and UEFA Cup.

Once again, this time with Liverpool, the tactician seeks the double and after the expensive signing of Fernando Torres, he may well have found the last piece to the jigsaw needed to pull off an unthinkable Premiership and Champions League haul. An intriguing and sure to be closely followed subplot to this affair will be the Anfield return of the sometime ordinary, always entertaining ex-Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse.

The blond-haired, leopard-print underwear wearing striker only braced Merseyside for two largely ineffective seasons, yet his infectious personality warmed many a Kopite’s heart, and with his outlandish style he became a cultish hero for the younger generation (including many a female admirer).

On analysis his contribution overall isn’t something to be lauded, especially when one considers the fanfare that followed his £14m price-tag, and yet, there were highly poignant moments in his brief Liverpool career that really stand-out. He scored on his debut before suffering a horrific potential career-ending leg-break a few weeks later, from which he recovered to score a significant penalty in the now famed 2005 Champions League final shoot-out against AC Milan.

He also scored an important equalizer and then went on to heroically play through the pain-barrier in the 2006 FA Cup Final against West Ham United. Liverpool fans do not forget such vital roles in their clubs recent rebirth and will thus extend Cisse a hero’s welcome.

FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

29 Sept v Wigan (A) WON 0-1 (Prem)

25 Sept v Reading (A) WON 2-4 (Carling Cup)

22 Sept v Birmingham (H) DREW 0-0 (Prem)

18 Sept v Porto (A) DREW 0-0 (CL)

15 Sept v Portsmouth (A) DREW 0-0 (Prem)

01 Sept v Derby (H) WON 6-0 (Prem)

Marseille

22 Sept v Auxerre (A) LOST 2-0 (Ligue)

18 Sept v Besiktas (H) WON 2-0 (CL)

15 Sept v Toulouse (H) LOST 1-2 (Ligue)

02 Sept v PSG (A) DREW 1-1 (Ligue)

29 Aug v Nice (H) LOST 0-2 (Ligue) 2

5 Aug v Caen (A) WON 1-2 (Ligue)

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Liverpool’s last forage into Europe came with heavy losses. Dan Agger and Xabi Alonso both picked up the dreaded metatarsal injury when training for the Porto game, and are now expected to be out for a further six weeks. Which means Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia will be expected to start at the back against Marseille, with possibly Momo Sissoko or Javier Mascherano anchoring in the holding midfield position.

Much has been made of Rafael Benitez’s rotation policy, and when one considers the employment of similar tactics in Manchester and West London, it seems rather unfair for the Spaniard to be labeled, rather belittlingly, as the “new tinkerman”.

No such cries of ‘wanton rotation’ were heard as Benitez’s changed eleven beat Wigan on the weekend, so no groans of another anticipated changed line-up for the game against Marseille should be made.

It is not the case of ‘anyone guess’ who will start against Marseille, merely an educated one, which leads one to suggest that because Torres and Kuyt started on the weekend, Peter Crouch and Andriy Voronin, fresh and playing at home, should start against Marseille.

Rafa will probably think the under-performing l’OM will defend in numbers at Anfield happy to pick up a draw, so he shall look for the combination of height, game intelligence and ability to play between the lines from Crouch and Voronin to break them down. Although it didn’t work at Birmingham, he does have players who can change the game if things are not working, as Yossi Benyaoun showed on the weekend. Squad to be announced

Marseille

The biggest problem for newly installed boss Eric Gerets is the unavailability of star midfielder Sami Nasri. The young Frenchman is widely coveted by Europe’s elite and is routinely praised in his own country as the natural heir to the throne of Zindene Zidane.

He shares the French icon’s flair and creativity, yet lacks the physical necessities to be a great star. But at 20 years old, he is still young and has time to grow in physique and footballing craft. His loss through a virus which hospitalized him will mean Marseille shall lack a player who will be able to unlock the usual watertight defence of Liverpool.

Along with Cisse, Liverpool fans may also get the opportunity to welcome another former player back to Merseyside. Bolo Zenden was released by Liverpool in the summer and was promptly snapped up by Marseille, although he is yet to win over the fans and may not make the starting line-up. Otherwise Gerets has a reasonably fully-strength, if lacking confidence and form, squad to choose from.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Steven Gerrard

Some of his most swashbuckling performances have come on truly special European nights at Anfield. Who can forget the manner is which he dragged Liverpool into the knockout stages of their triumphant 2005 Champions League run? Needing to score three goals in the second-half against Olympiacos, Gerrard ran the show and scored the all-important third in emphatic fashion.

So far this term, Gerrard has admitted he hasn’t played to his usual standards, but with niggling injuries and national duty behind for the moment, he has issued a war-cry stating his intent to get back to the top of his game. He is fit, strong and raring to go, a fact that shall send shivers down the spines of Marseille, for as Cisse has already said in the build-up, Gerrard is “the best player in his position in the world”.

Marseille – Djibril Cisse

The stage is really set for the ex-Red hitman to prove to Rafael Benitez that he was wrong to off-load him in the summer. Even though at the moment Marseille are experiencing a turbulent period of time, Cisse has still managed to score goals and be their out-standing player in the beginning of the season.

He has three goals to his name already, one coming against Besitkas, so he shall be confident and fired-up to perform well, and even score in front of his former fans. Probably operating as a lone-forward Cisse will have most of the French club’s hopes on his shoulders, and with his sheer pace and explosive shooting he have to be watched closely by Liverpool’s rather slow defence.

PREDICTION

Liverpool will be too strong at home, and although their performances have been stuttering of late, contrasted with Marseille’s horrendous form, Liverpool should win comfortably in the end. Although expect Cisse to follow the script and score on his return to possibly create a tense end to the game. If Marseille keep the door shut at the back and score late, then they have a chance, but if they have conceded in the first-half, then they are finished.

Liverpool 3-1 Marseille

Liverpool vs Marseille - Key Battles

Liverpool take on Marseille in the second match of their Champions League Group A campaign. Let us assesses the game's key battles.

SAMI HYYPIA v DJIBRIL CISSE

The experienced Hyypia is back in the Liverpool backline with Daniel Agger out injured. His lack of pace has seen him slip down the pecking order but he still offers plenty of know-how and aerial strength.

He comes up against a familiar opponent in former Reds striker Cisse, who will be itching to make a point at Anfield. Cisse has pace in abundance and will relish the chance to run at the Liverpool defence. He could give Hyypia an uncomfortable night.

STEVEN GERRARD v BOUDEWIJN ZENDEN

Gerrard will have another former team-mate up against him as he tries to control the game against the French. Gerrard dominates games from the centre and directs the team with his dynamism and influence.

Zenden, a former winger who played in central midfield at Anfield, will need to contain him. The Dutchman is not the exciting player of his youth but is experienced and has the advantage of knowing Gerrard's game well.

FERNANDO TORRES v STEVE MANDANDA

Torres is Liverpool's most exciting signing for some time and has already made quite an impact at Anfield. He is not only strong and quick with a deadly eye for goal but a hard worker and is often willing to chase back.

Goalkeeper Mandanda, thrust into the limelight due to serious injury to Cedric Carrasso, will hope his defence can keep a close eye on him. He will certainly not want to be exposed to a striker with such ability or in such form.

Liverpool vs Marseille - Head To Head

Liverpool face Marseille in the first home match of their Champions League Group A campaign. Let us look at how the two clubs compare.

MANAGERS

Eric Gerets, Marseille's 15th different manager in the past 10 years, faces a difficult baptism in his first match in charge. He must pit his wits against a man in Rafael Benitez who has led Liverpool to two Champions League finals in the past three years. He does, however, have experience of success in the competition having won it with PSV Eindhoven in 1988. Benitez, who has rotated his squad frequently this season, is again likely to keep his opponents guessing as to his team line-up.

PAST MEETINGS

The sides last met in the UEFA Cup fourth round in 2003-04, when the French side prevailed 3-2 on aggregate. A certain Didier Drogba scored in both legs for Marseille. Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise all featured for Liverpool but Marseille have no survivors. They do, however, have two former Liverpool players in Djibril Cisse and Boudewijn Zenden.

EUROPEAN PEDIGREE

Marseille won the Champions League in its first season in 1993 but times have changed considerably since then with the club demoted due to financial irregularities. Five-time European Cup winners Liverpool are competing in the group stages for the sixth time.

FORM

Liverpool made a flying start to the new campaign before a run of three successive draws last month, including one against Porto in their Champions League opener, slowed their progress. The Reds got back to winning ways with victory at Wigan last weekend. Marseille won just one of their opening nine matches in Ligue 1, a record which cost manager Albert Emon his job. The French outfit opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Besiktas.

Gerrard: We Trust Rafa

Steven Gerrard insists the Liverpool squad 'trust' manager Rafa Benitez's rotation policy.

Liverpool secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wigan on Saturday and Gerrard believes his side are now back on track after a previous run of two draws in their last Premier League outings.

Having secured the weekend win at the JJB Stadium, Gerrard has underlined the importance of a large squad in mounting a title tilt both at home and in Europe.

"There are so many games," the Liverpool captain told the club's official website. "There are 60-65 games we hope.

"So it is impossible to ask the players to play in every game. We have got to trust Rafa."

Liverpool began the season in impressive form, including a comprehensive 6-0 demolition of Derby, but Gerrard believes his side's slump in form over recent weeks was to be expected.

"We had a bit of a blip," Gerrard added.

"Because we started the season so well, we were on fire and were blowing most teams away, expectations went even higher. People were expecting us to do it every week.

"But at Premier League level and UEFA Champions League level it is not going to happen.

"There are going to be times when we have to grind draws out and times when you don't play well."

Babbel: I'd Love To Manage Liverpool

As Stuttgart gear up to welcome Barcelona to the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion on Tuesday night, former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel is eager to see Die Roten qualify for the knockout rounds. What's more, the former Liverpool legend has a long-term plan for himself: to manage at Anfield.

Markus Babbel, assistant manager at VfB Stuttgart, has pledged that his team will do its utmost to make it to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Having lost on Matchday 1 to Rangers at Ibrox, the German side faces an uphill struggle, with Barcelona the opponents at the Gottlieb-Daimler on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, the former Liverpool man insists that their European challenge is very much alive.

"European football is a bit different from the Bundesliga but I think Stuttgart can play at the highest level and if the players perform to their best we can beat any team on our day. At the very least we should be aiming to qualify from this group," he told UEFA.com.

Babbel himself is no stranger to European success, being a member of the Liverpool side that won an historic treble in 2001, including a close-fought UEFA Cup final win over Deportivo Alaves of Spain.

"It was the best time in my life," sighed the former defender.

"I played for one of the biggest clubs in Europe alongside players like Gary [McAllister], who's a legend for me because he's such a great character and leader.

"We won five trophies together. That was a fantastic time.

"The only sadness for me was that I became ill after that and never came back as before. I was a little unlucky but this one season will always be in my head."

Indeed, while Babbel's career was cut short by Guillain-Barré syndrome, he's still heavily involved in football - and even has his eye on the Anfield hotseat.

"I would like to manage a club in Britain one day," he revealed.

"I love the British style of football and especially the passion of the fans at big clubs like Liverpool.

"Of course, it would be a dream to go back to Anfield as manager, but there's a lot of hard work to be done before that can happen."

Babbel, 35, spent three years with Liverpool - plus one on loan at Blackburn - before signing for Stuttgart in 2004. The Munich-born player has also served hometown side Bayern, and Hamburger SV.

Reina Heaps Praise On Reds Defence

Liverpool prepare for a return to Champions League action knowing that goalkeeper Jose Reina is in the form of his life.

The Spanish international achieved his fifth clean sheet of the season in Saturday's 1-0 win over Wigan - equalling a 30-year-old club record for the best defensive start to the season.

And with Liverpool now awaiting the arrival of Marseille and former player Djibril Cisse for Tuesday's Champions League group match at Anfield, such solidity is a massive boost for manager Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool, unbeaten this season in all competitions, need to build on their fortunate 1-1 draw at Porto last month to put themselves on track for qualification from the group stages, with Benitez believing 10 points should do it.

And with Reina in such fine form, Liverpool can approach the clash with the French side with confidence.

The Spanish stopper has yet to concede a goal from open play this season and, in keeping a clean sheet at the JJB Stadium on Saturday, Liverpool equalled their record set in 1977.

Reina said: "We are very proud of that record, but we all defend together so it's everyone's record.

"We have only conceded from penalties so far, which is important. It is something we can be proud of but we must keep working in that way.

"The defence has changed a lot as well as the other departments of the team.

"Steve Finnan and Arbeloa have played on the right, Riise, Arbeloa and Aurelio on the left, with Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia in the centre.

"All of the players in our squad are good enough to play the same level and that's important for us."

He added: "We know that to win the most important thing is to keep clean sheets. Then we have possibilities to score with the quality of players we have here.

"To win away in these type of games permits you to fight for the title and be real contenders.

"But our mentality is to win game after game, not think about the target of the title. But, of course, it's there in our minds.

"Our mentality should be to go week by week and win every game."

Liverpool Sign The "Messi Of Madrid"

Gerardo Bruna has already been dubbed the "Messi of Madrid", the former Real Madrid youth player now making his way to Anfield.

Liverpool have completed the signing of Real Madrid youngster Gerardo Bruna.

The 16 year old, of Argentinean extraction, will join up with the Anfield side's youth teams after being earmarked as the next Lionel Messi.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez himself has apparently given his approval to the signing, citing the youngster as a long-term investment.

This isn't the first time that an English club has sought young talent in Spain. One need only remember Francesc Fabregas, who was brought to Arsenal as a teenager from the Barcelona youth ranks, as was Fran Merida last year.

Gerard Pique, too, was brought to England by Manchester United from Barcelona, albeit to return to Spain on loan last season.

For now, though, all eyes are on Bruna, a player of considerable renown back in Madrid, despite his tender years.

Gerardo Bruna Blanco, born on 29th January 1991, is not considered anywhere near ready for league football, but is rather seen as one for the future. Perhaps, even, the not-too-distant future.

Fowler Set To Make Anfield Return

Robbie Fowler will return to the ground where he remains revered after Cardiff were dealt a trip to Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

The 32-year-old left Liverpool for the second time at the end of last season when he was not offered a new contract by manager Rafael Benítez, but remains massively popular on the Kop.

He has scored four goals in five starts since joining Cardiff, including a brace in their midweek Carling Cup win over West Brom.

Coventry's reward for eliminating Manchester United, meanwhile, is home draw against another big-spending Premier League team, West Ham.

There are two all-Premier League ties: Bolton against Manchester City and Portsmouth versus Blackburn.

Tottenham will host Blackpool, while Gary Megson's Leicester will be away to Chelsea. Everton face a tricky trip to lone League One survivors Luton, while Arsenal's youngsters will have to overcome Bryan Robson's Sheffield United.

The matches will be played in the week commencing the October 29.

Wigan Athletic 0 - 1 LiverpooL

Yossi Benayoun ended Liverpool's mini crisis as Wigan suffered a 17th defeat in 17 matches against the Barclays Premier League's fabled 'big four'.

Liverpool had endured goalless draws in their previous two league games, sparking much criticism of boss Rafael Benitez's rotation policy.

In the end it was substitute Benayoun, a £5million buy from West Ham in the summer, who netted a 75th minute winner for his first league goal for the Reds.
Fernando Torres avoided the axe of boss Benitez's rotation policy.

After scoring a hat-trick in the Carling Cup victory at Reading in midweek, the club record £26million striker managed to retain his place in the starting line-up.

Benitez showed seven changes from the team that faced the Royals, but only two from the side that drew at home to Birmingham a week ago, with Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa replacing Andriy Voronin and Ryan Babel.

Wigan, who have lost all four previous league games to Liverpool without scoring a goal, also showed two changes from the team beaten 2-1 at Reading last week.
Julius Aghahowa started his first game this season with Antoine Sibierski out with a hamstring injury, while Emmerson Boyce took over from the benched Andreas Granqvist.

The visitors had the opening chance inside 70 seconds, with former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland behind a fierce 25-yard drive from Steven Gerrard following a short free-kick lay-off from John Arne Riise.

The Latics replied in the fifth minute, but Marcus Bent was too greedy in electing to shoot from distance when in space, firing wide to the disappointment of Aghahowa who was waiting for a pass inside.

Wigan then bossed matters for the following few minutes prior to a Liverpool break that culminated in an effort from Torres being blocked by Boyce.

Another counter followed in the 18th minute, with Riise and Torres combining before the latter chipped a cross into the area where Jermaine Pennant met the ball first time, only for Kevin Kilbane to block.

As the half wore on it was becoming easier for Liverpool, and they came close again in the 23rd minute with Dirk Kuyt setting up Riise for a flicked shot from 12 yards that was deflected wide.

That was followed by Kuyt cushioning a right-wing cross from Pennant into the path of Torres, but the striker scuffed his shot from just inside the area.
Then on the half hour life-long Liverpool fan Jason Koumas almost paid the penalty for a woeful error on the halfway line, passing directly to Kuyt who immediately set Torres clear.
After outpacing Boyce, Torres stabbed a shot goalwards that was blocked at point-blank range by Kirkland, but with the ricochet coming off the Spaniard and rebounding inches past the left-hand post.

The spectacular followed from Torres two minutes later, dragging a scissor kick just wide in meeting a right-wing ball from Arbeloa, with Wigan's defence nowhere.
HT Wigan 0 Liverpool 0

In front of a near sell-out crowd of 24,311, Bent had the ball in the net in the 50th minute, but it was controversially ruled out.

Aghahowa, running back when the ball was played in by Skoko, was offside, but not Bent who was three yards onside when the cross was delivered before he fired past Reina, only for the flag to stifle his delight.

Five minutes later Koumas forced the first meaningful save out of Reina with a 20-yard drive, before a combination of Kirkland and Skoko denied Kuyt shortly after.

In an end-to-end encounter, a Koumas cross over the top found Scharner beat Reina to the ball on the edge of the six-yard area, but his ungainly flick with the right foot went wide.

Gerrard, not on top of his game with his passing in particular wayward, sent a 25-yard drive narrowly wide.
Then 15 minutes from time the deadlock was finally broken with Yossi Benayoun, on in the 56th minute for Fabio Aurelio, beat Kirkland with a low curling shot from just inside the area.

Voronin replaced Pennant and Mohamed Sissoko came on for Torres in the final 10 minutes as Liverpool held on for the victory.
Yet it was close as Aghahowa should have buried a header in the first of three minutes of injury time, but nodded wide from six yards following a pinpoint Koumas cross.

FT Wigan 0 Liverpool 1

Match Preview: Wigan Athletic vs LiverpooL

Wigan have never beaten Liverpool in the league so this is their opportunity to turn things around. The Latics are a more confident side under Chris Hutchings and play some decent football.

The loss of Emile Heskey has spoilt the manager’s plans but Marcus Bent and Antoine Sibierski should keep the boat floating until his return. The main talking point of Wigan’s inspiring start to the season has been the outstanding performances of Jason Koumas.

Though he is underestimated, the talented midfielder has a very good eye for the game and can play some quality balls into the box. As long as Koumas can keep his form up, Wigan should be fine.

Liverpool have come under heavy criticism recently over Benitez’s decision to leave star striker Fernando Torres on the bench for the disappointing draws against Portsmouth and Birmingham. The young Spanish hitman took his chance to impress the manager by scoring an outstanding hat trick in the 4-2 defeat of Reading in the Carling Cup.

However, what the gaffer must now decide is which pair of his four quality strikers he should choose against Wigan, in order to hurt the Latics most. Come Saturday, the team sheet is likely to contain Torres, though you never know with Rafa Benitez, who likes to rotate his players every game in order to keep them fresh and raring to go.

Liverpool should find this a very easy task. They have never been beaten by Wigan and certainly won’t be looking to lose this weekend. Rafael Benitez’s only problem is whether he should stick to his under fire rotation policy.

Though it does have its upsides, the tactic also has its negatives, such as players being unable to gel with each other. I am sure though that come Saturday evening, with three points in the bag, the pressure will come off Benitez and his tactics.


Teams

Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Brown, Scharner, Skoko, Koumas, Sibierski, Bent, Aghahowa, Boyce, Cotterill, Hall, Olembe, Taylor, Valencia, Pollitt.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Mascherano, Benayoun, Babel, Kuyt, Crouch, Voronin, Torres, Itandje.

Benitez: I Need To Keep Torres Fit

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists his hunger to secure major trophies is precisely the reason Fernando Torres is not starting every game.

Torres played only the last half-hour of last week's Premier League stalemate against Birmingham and responded in midweek with a stunning hat-trick in the Carling Cup win at Reading.

But despite Liverpool's desperate need to get back to winning ways in the league after two successive goalless draws, Benitez has warned Torres is far from guaranteed a starting place at Wigan on Saturday.

Benitez said: "Players can play 20 or 30 games in a row no problem, but the problem is at the end of the season when you are playing for trophies and you need players who are fresh, ready and fit.

"I don't need Fernando Torres fit for playing against Birmingham now if I have got (Peter) Crouch, (Andriy) Voronin and (Dirk) Kuyt. I need the speed of Torres in the last game of the season, for winning the Champions League or the Premier League.

"If you have a lot of strikers, you have to decide who is the best for each game. I decided Torres was best to play against Reading. These are the decisions you have to make as a manager."

Benitez is well aware he has to strike a fine balance between preserving his best players for what he hopes will be a crucial end-of-season run-in, and ensuring his side does not fall too far off the Premier League pace in the meantime.

The dropped points against Birmingham and Portsmouth have only left Liverpool four points off leaders Arsenal, but failure to pick up three points at the JJB Stadium would significantly increase the pressure.

However, Benitez remains as resolute as ever in his conviction his side would not accomplish anything if his squad dictated he had to play all his best players in every match.

He said: "If you are playing against a team with 20 or 25 players in their squad and they are changing their players, in the last weeks of the season they will be ready and fit and you will not.

"You cannot change the physical condition of a player in one week. If they are not ready at the end of the season after five months of playing every game, maybe you will play for trophies and you will lose.

"If you need to use your best players in the Carling Cup then you can't win the Champions League. If you need to play Torres, (Steven) Gerrard and (Jamie) Carragher in every game then it will be impossible."

Gerrard: Torres Could Be Our New Ian Rush

Steven Gerrard is so impressed by Fernando Torres's performances for Liverpool this season that he has likened the Spanish striker to the club's goalscoring legend Ian Rush.

"He reminds me a bit of Ian Rush," the Liverpool captain said. "Rush was a great striker and I don't want to put much pressure on Fernando as far as goals are concerned but Rushy got a lot of credit for working hard for the team, tracking back and not giving defenders a minute on the ball, and he [Torres] is similar in a lot ways."

The Spanish international has begun the past two Premier League games on the bench but showed how quickly he has adapted to the English game with a hat-trick in Liverpool's 4-2 win at Reading in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night. And Gerrard was particularly impressed by how the Spaniard dealt with the treatment from Reading's centre-backs André Bikey and Michael Duberry.

"Foreign strikers normally get a bit of stick about the fact that when they get kicked they go hiding," he said. "But he got murdered all night by their centre-halves and kept going back and going back, and worked so hard for the team. I thought he was awesome. He thoroughly deserved his goals but the most impressive thing for me was his attitude. He didn't react to what was happening and kept working hard."

Peter Crouch, encouraged by how quickly the summer signings have settled in, believes Liverpool are in a position to challenge for an unprecedented quadruple. "We are going to challenge on all fronts this year. I really believe that," said the England international, who partnered Torres for the first time at Reading.

"Just look at the players; we've won at Reading but there are players who didn't even travel like [Jermaine] Pennant, [Dirk] Kuyt or [Andriy] Voronin, there was [Steven] Gerrard on the bench. The manager has a lot of players at his disposal."

Crouch believes those resources are already bringing reward. "We want to be as consistent as we can," he added. "Chelsea and Manchester United have proved how consistent you have to be to get anywhere near winning the league and we need to turn some of those draws into wins now. Ten unbeaten is a good start for us. It could have been even better but we need to get that winning mentality."

The sizeable investment Benítez made during the close season has undoubtedly helped, Crouch noting that there had been few problems with any of the new recruits acclimatising to English football. "Sometimes it can take a while to bed in but they've come in and are really firing. That's good for the squad and the team.