Preview: Liverpool vs. Wigan Atheltic

Wigan’s very recent path to success means there is little history between these two sides, but two former Liverpool players – Emile Heskey and Chris Kirkland – will return to Anfield seeking to make a solid start to 2008 on familiar ground.

However, Wigan know that getting a result on Wednesday will be a tall order – they have yet to earn so much as a draw against the Reds in their entire history.

"When you got a place like Anfield, you need to be at your best to get something and it's always a massive occasion for any club to visit there,” said new Latics boss Steve Bruce.

“To get something at Anfield would be a great achievement. We will go there full of confidence and approach the game in the same way as we would any other,” added the former United player, who has a 0-0 draw at Liverpool this season as manager of Birmingham.

Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa was a major disappointment for Wigan, who threw away a 1-0 lead and brought to an end a streak of seven points from nine. But the bigger picture, however, is just two wins in 17. The Latics once again find themselves in the relegation zone. They’ll be keen to clamber out as soon as possible, but is Anfield really the place to do it?

Despite what much of the media have claimed, Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Manchester City wasn’t a bad result: United lost at Eastlands and only Blackburn have matched Liverpool’s feat of a point so far this season. However, the fact remains that the gap to league leaders Arsenal is now two points greater than it was heading into the weekend. Time is slowly but surely running out for Liverpool’s title challenge.

As has often been the case this season, Rafa Benítez’ side have failed to convert pressure and chances into goals when it matters most: comfortable wins are great morale boosters, but a couple of sly 1-0’s yield more points than a 4-0 thrashing followed by a scoreless draw.

City defended well, but – more so than any of their title rivals – those were two points Liverpool could not afford to drop. Anything other than three points against lowly Wigan and the Anfield faithful must resign themselves to yet another season without the league championship.

The pressure is particularly on strikers Kuyt, Voronin and Crouch to start pulling their weight: the trio notched a paltry one goal between them in all competitions in December, and even that was hardly a key strike (Kuyt scored the third in the 4-0 win at Marseille).

As great as Fernando Torres is, Liverpool cannot keep relying on him to score the important goal in every game. Wednesday, against a Wigan side with just one clean sheet in 18 games, would be a fine time for Liverpool’s other forwards to rediscover their goalscoring form and begin justifying their place in the squad.



FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Match Result Date Championship
Manchester City - Liverpool 0 - 0 30/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 CARLING CUP
Liverpool - Man Utd. 0 - 1 16/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Marseille - Liverpool 0 - 4 11/12/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE




Wigan

Match Result Date Championship
Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa 1 - 2 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Newcastle 1 - 0 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Blackburn 5 - 3 15/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Bolton - Wigan Athletic 4 - 1 09/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Manchester City 1 - 1 01/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE




TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Peter Crouch has completed his three-match ban and is available for selection. The news is less positive in defence, however, as Sami Hyypia’s ankle continues to bother him and Daniel Agger is still not fit. Benítez will probably select Arbeloa over Hobbs at centre-back, but may rotate his midfield and forwards once more. Torres will probably start, but it remains to be seen whether Crouch or Voronin get the nod over Kuyt.

Likely XI (4-4-2): Reina – Finnan, Carragher, Arbeloa, Riise – Babel, Gerrard, Alonso, Aurélio – Torres, Voronin

Wigan

Emile Heskey resumed training on Monday and could be recalled against his old club. Jason Koumas is also available having recovered from a groin strain. Sibierski and Taylor respectively will probably make way for the duo.

Likely XI (4-4-2): Kirkland – Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane – Valencia, Brown, Landzaat, Koumas – Bent, Heskey



PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Andriy Voronin (pictured)

Fernando Torres will no doubt be keen to return to goalscoring ways at Anfield on Wednesday, but it is Liverpool’s other strikers who really need goals at the moment. Voronin has failed to set Merseyside alight since arriving from Leverkusen, netting just four times and not since October’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham. 2008’s first game gives the Ukrainian a chance to make a fresh start.

Wigan – Chris Kirkland

All eyes will be on Emile Heskey as he makes his Anfield return, but it is Chris Kirkland, another former Liverpool man, who will be of the greatest importance to the Latics. Blighted by injury, the goalkeeper was granted insufficient chances to make an impression in front of the Kop. A clean sheet on Wednesday would show the Reds exactly what talents they’ve thrown away.

Gerrard Gets The SAS To Guard His House

England star Steven Gerrard has hired a crack team of former SAS soldiers to protect his family after a terrifying raid.

The 27-year-old Liverpool captain took drastic action after his wife Alex Curran was threatened at their £4.5million home while he was playing in France.

The security men, whose regimental motto was Who Dares Wins, are now guarding Gerrard's home around the clock.

A friend told The Daily Mirror: "Stevie just felt that something had to be done to protect his wife, himself and his children. The safety of the ones he loves was the priority. These guys will now be there for him 24 hours a day. The family can sleep soundly." Alex confronted four masked men after hearing noises downstairs at their mansion in Formby, Merseyside, last month.

As daughters Lilly-Ella, three, and one-year-old Lexie slept, Mirror columnist Alex came face-to-face with the gang. They threatened her with violence before escaping with a large haul of jewellery.

Gerrard was told of the robbery at the end of a Champions League game against Marseille.

Alex, 25, was still in a state of shock when her husband arrived back home in the early hours.

The player was clearly upset the next day when he talked about his wife's ordeal. He said he was just relieved that no one was hurt but friends said he was angry his home had been raided while he was away.

A friend said: "Steve was livid. It was the work of cowards, hitting a property where they must have known there was only his wife and children there.

"Stevie was just the latest of several Liverpool players whose homes had been raided while they were playing away.

"The club started to look at ways to provide cover for the players' houses whenever they were away.

"But Stevie realised he needed something a bit extra and that's how he came to get involved with these specialist guys."

Javier Mascherano Unsure Of Liverpool Future

Uncertainty surrounding Liverpool's finances and indecision in the transfer market could lead Javier Mascherano to leave Anfield, with Barcelona said to be interested.

Mascherano is currently on a loan arrangement at the club after signing from West Ham United, where he was on a similar deal, a year ago following an unsuccessful spell at Upton Park.

The Argentine has revived his reputation at Liverpool as one of the best holding midfield players in world football and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is keen to tie up a permanent deal for the player.

However, Benitez has yet to fully resolve a dispute with Liverpool's American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, over what funds will be available to him to strengthen a squad that is in danger of falling out of the title race little over half way through the season and even faces competition from Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa for the fourth Champions League position.

Liverpool's shaky form this season means that Hicks and Gillett - already having to refinance their own loans used to buy the club due to the global credit crunch and having scaled down ambitions plans for a new stadium - might be unwilling to meet the £17 million asking price for the player.

The player's agents have already put word out that he is for sale and have had positive feedback, particularly from the Nou Camp.

"With the time that has passed, it'll now be more difficult for me to stay here because I need to do something about my future," said Mascherano.

"I have done everything to stay but now the owners must decide if they want to buy me or not."

Liverpool host relegation-threatened Wigan at Anfield tonight with Benitez conscious, after recent dropped points, that only victory will keep his side in touch with the Premier League leaders.

Eriksson May Have To Swap To Land Crouch

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has reportedly earmarked Liverpool striker Peter Crouch as his top January transfer target - but he may have to negotiate a swap deal with the Anfield club to land him.

Sven-Goran Eriksson became a Peter Crouch fan when he was manager of England and selected the forward for the national team. Now he sees him as the player to give his promising City side an extra dimenbsion and a more consistent goal threat.

Eriksson has been tipped for weeks to be lining up a bid for Crouch, whose first-team opportunities at Liverpool have been restricted since the Anfield arrivals of Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.

However, the Manchester Evening News suggests that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who is known to be keen to bring in more new faces, and who (says the paper) has been told by his American bosses that he has very little money to spend this January, might favour a swap deal.

The men describes Benitez as a 'known admirer' of City's England Under-21 pair, Michael Johnson and Nedum Onuoha.

City's prized asset is Micah Richards, but although he has yet to sign a new £50,000 a week contract at Eastlands as he changes agents, City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is determined to resist any attempts to lure the England defender away.

Shinawatra's vision is to achieve European qualification for City with a team that is a blend of overseas superstars and Academy graduates.

Meanwhile Mexico striker Nery Castillo is not eligible for tonight's Premier League clash at Newcastle because the League's offices were not open to register him yesterday. The rule is that a player's name must be with the authorities 24 hours before he can be selected.

Castillo has arrived at City on a £3million, 12-month loan deal from Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk, but he will be available to play for City in Saturday's FA Cup third round tie at West Ham.

His arrival at Eastlands marked the staret of the second phase of Eriksson's recruitment drive.

The Swede, who has steered City to an impressive first half of the season, brought in eight players during his initial spending spree last summer.

But his priority this month is to sign a top striker.

Eriksson said: "We are talking to agents and we are trying in this country as well as abroad. I think something else will happen in January and we will be having meetings over the next few days.

“But it is difficult because we are working and the rest of Europe is on holiday, so it is hard to talk to people right now.”

Sissoko Now Ranieri’s Number One Target

Momo Sissoko is now Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri’s number one January transfer target, following the likely failure to sign Boca Juniors’ Ever Banega.

The Bianconeri are widely known to be in the market for a top-class centre midfielder and their bid to sign Banega seems to have failed, with Spanish giants Valencia set to tie up a deal over the next week or so.

Mali midfielder Sissoko is unhappy at his lack of playing time at Liverpool, as he currently finds himself behind Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in the centre-midfield pecking order.

Ranieri is a huge admirer of the player, having worked with him at Valencia in 2004/05, and sees him as the “new Patrick Vieira”.

According to the Corriere dello Sport, Ranieri will now do everything in his power to bring Sissoko to the club when the transfer window re-opens at midnight.

He may even be prepared to include defender Jonathan Zebina in a player exchange deal, an offer that Liverpool are likely to consider, given their previous interest in the Frenchman.

Ranieri and Zebina are not on the best of terms following the 29-year-old’s sending off against Cagliari in week two, when he received a long suspension for then slapping a cameraman as he walked off the pitch.

Liverpool Boss Rafa Heads Race For Reinforcements As Window Opens

Rafael Benitez is plotting a transfer splash when the January window opens tonight after Liverpool slipped 10 points off the Barclays Premier League title pace.

Experts predict that spending will top the record £70million January outlay by Premiership clubs in 2006 - and Benitez cannot afford to be left standing with Manchester United planning a £10m raid for FC Porto's right back Jose Bosingwa.

Sunday's goalless draw at Manchester City left Liverpool trailing leaders Arsenal by 10 points and Benitez will risk his uneasy relationship with the club's American owners by asking them to bankroll his attempts to revive their faltering title challenge.

But he will not be the only one chasing new blood. United are being linked with two full backs while neighbours City will also spend heavily.

United's defensive targets are Bosingwa and Lokomotiv Moscow left back Branislav Ivanovic, who is also wanted by Chelsea.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are facing a battle to hang on to Dimitar Berbatov, even though chairman Daniel Levy insisted yesterday that they would fight to hang on to their top players.

The main target is Bulgaria striker Berbatov, who scored four goals in Saturday's 6-4 win over Reading.

Levy said: "Once again for the record, we are not a selling club. We're building for the future."

But Berbatov's agent Emile Dantchev confirmed interest from one Premier League club - thought to be Manchester United - and two others abroad, warning: "Fans must understand that Dimitar is 27 next month and time is running out for him to play for a club that can match his ambition. I would like to stress this is not about money.

"This is about sporting ambition. Dimitar is perfectly happy with Juande Ramos and the way he is working. But after Tottenham's bad start, it is unlikely they'll have a chance to do something big this season.

"It is a long-term plan for them. Dimitar wants to fulfil his potential and win trophies now. He would definitely consider a move outside of England. That is not the issue. What matters is it is a club that matches his ambition and level and there are only five or six around Europe.

"Two clubs outside of England and one in the Premier League are interested in him."

At Anfield, while Benitez may have fallen out with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over transfer strategy, there was no doubting the Spaniard's intent as he looked forward to the window opening.

"We are working very hard on some things and we are doing our best," said the Spaniard after the 0-0 draw at Eastlands. "We are speaking to people and I am trying to make things better for now and also for the future. We are confident that we can sign the right players at the right price."

United have stepped up their search for Gary Neville's long-term replacement by targeting Bosingwa, Portugal's first-choice right back.

Ivanovic is favourite to fill the other problem position at left back, while United may also move for Porto centre back Bruno Alves.

Kewell Puts Off Thoughts Of New Contract

Harry Kewell is not even thinking about a new contract as he tries to claim a regular place in the Liverpool side.

The Australian midfielder, whose contract runs out in the summer, has suffered four years of injury problems at Anfield. From the new year he would be free to discuss his future with other clubs.

But after figuring in 11 of Liverpool's last 14 matches, it is clear that boss Rafael Benitez is giving Kewell every chance to prove his worth and win a new deal.

Benitez is currently trying to bolster his defence, and after Sunday's 0-0 draw at Manchester City he made it clear he was trying to bring in a young centre-back due to the injury problems of Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger.

Chief executive Rick Parry insists there is money to spend, despite the very public fall-out between Benitez and the club's American owners, but it is unlikely the Spanish manager will have anything but a limited amount to spend in this transfer window.

Parry said: "Money is always available if we need it. We are not going to give our plans away, but if we need to do something, we will do it."

Alvaro Arbeloa is expected to continue in central defence against Wigan on Wednesday, with Hyypia (ankle) and Agger (broken metatarsal) still unlikely to be fit, while youngster Jack Hobbs is unlikely to be risked against the potential return of Emile Heskey.

And Kewell will also hope to get a further run in the side for Anfield's first game of 2008.

Kewell, in a Liverpool FC magazine interview, explained his attitude to the next few months.

He said: "The last four years have been hellish with one injury after another.

"But I can't even think about a new contract. That is what people have been talking about and saying about me, but I will tell the truth so the fans know the truth.

"And that is why I haven't honestly thought about it. I can't think about it at the moment.

"With my injury history and my record over the last two seasons, games and goals wise, I can look no further than the next match.

"That is all I am prepared to do. Take one training session at a time and do my best and give my all every time."

Kewell, who has been hit by a succession of groin problems, added: "Given my Liverpool career, and the way it has gone, all I want to do is take the chance that the manager is giving me.

"I want to repay him for that, and the boys who have helped me through, for sticking with me and not giving up.

"You don't want to know what I have been through in four years, with injury after injury. The places I've been mentally during all those times, it has been pretty dark."

Liverpool will have Peter Crouch back from his three-match suspension to be in contention against Wigan, the side he broke his goalless run against last year.

Sven Targets Crouch In January Sales

Liverpool’s out-of-sorts striker Peter Crouch is widely touted to become the first man to be bought in by Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in the January transfer window.

The Swede has overseen a complete overhaul of City’s on-field fortunes, leading them to fourth in the league and raising expectations to previously unthinkable levels.

And now the former England manager wants to maintain the club’s hike up the football ladder by persuading billionaire owner Dr Thaksin Shinawatra to part with some more of his cash.

After his team’s hard-fought draw against Liverpool Eriksson admitted that he was definitely on the hunt for new faces, but refused to reveal any names.

However, intense speculation from all corners suggests Crouch has already been approached by City representative after being given the green-light by Reds manager Rafael Benitez.

Eriksson has already paid-up around £3m for a loan-deal with a view to buy on Nery Castillo, and is thought to see Crouch as the ideal partner for the quick Mexican international.

"Castillo has happened and there will be something more", said Eriksson.

"The players we are talking about are big ones and cost a lot of money."

A deal for Crouch hasn’t not been officially ruled out by Benitez, who needs the extra money to buy his intended targets after a misunderstanding with his American bosses on the amount of money available to him for January transfers.

Liverpool Boss Benitez Desperate To Splash The Cash

Rafael Benitez is ready to plunge into the January transfer market in an attempt to solve Liverpool's central-defensive crisis.

With Sami Hyypia sidelined by an ankle injury and Daniel Agger still to recover from a broken foot, Benitez was forced to pick Alvaro Arbeloa alongside Jamie Carragher for yesterday's 0-0 draw with Manchester City at Eastlands.

Although a clean sheet suggests the decision worked, Benitez knows the situation is unsustainable over the long term and with youngster Jack Hobbs likely to be restricted to games such as next weekend's FA Cup tie at Luton, the Merseyside giants need reinforcements.

Benitez has been heavily linked with Fiorentina's Czech Republic international Tomas Ujfalusi, as well as AC Milan's Kakha Kaladze and Racing Santander's £8million-rated Ezequiel Garay.

The Liverpool boss is understandably not naming names. But, despite reports owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett would be offering a very restricted budget, Benitez is getting ready to spend.

'We are working to try to find some solutions and we are close to getting some players,' said Benitez.

'Until they actually put pen to paper we will keep working with the players we have but we are confident we can get the right players at the right price and that would be good for us.'

Benitez Lines Up Transfer Targets

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez says he will be active in the January transfer window to help revive the team's Premier League title challenge.

Benitez has refused to give up on the title despite seeing his side fall 10 points behind leaders Arsenal after being held 0-0 by Manchester City.

And he has revealed that new faces will be on their way to Anfield.

"We have some players, have some targets and we will try to sign the players we need," he said.

Earlier in the season, Benitez had a high-profile falling out with co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over his plans for the transfer window, but this was later blamed on trans-Atlantic communication difficulties and seems to have calmed down.

"Maybe we will bring in one, maybe two, if everyone is fit you never know. We are working hard and are very close," Benitez added.

Benitez was frustrated that his side could not break down a resilient City defence, but took pride in the display of his side who now sit in fourth place behind Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

"We knew they were playing really well at home, but we had our chances and could have won," he said.

"In the last 15 minutes, we were on top of them. For me, we deserved to win."

And despite the 10-point gap between his side and Premier league leaders Arsenal, the Spaniard is confident they can go on and life the title.

"We are 10 points behind the top with a game in hand, but if we play like we did on Sunday we will win a lot of games," said Benitez.

"I don't look at the table too much because I am busy analysing every game. We have one more point and can beat anyone."

Liverpool's next Premier League game is at home to Wigan on 2 January.

Manchester City 0 - 0 LiverpooL

Richard Dunne's heroic defensive display saw Manchester City thwart Liverpool's attempts to make up ground in the Premier League title race.

Dunne stood like an unshakeable tower as Rafael Benitez's men controlled a one-sided north-west derby without getting the breakthrough they deserved.

Fernando Torres was barely in the game such was Dunne's dominance of the Spaniard, with Harry Kewell, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun wasting the Reds' best opportunities before Joe Hart denied Dirk Kuyt late on.

Even then, the young City keeper needed Dunne to come to his aid with a goalline clearance from the rebound, ensuring a result which leaves Liverpool 10 points adrift of new leaders Arsenal.

Indeed, on this evidence, the Blues, just a point adrift of the fourth-placed Merseysiders, may take some shaking off as the battle for Champions League spots hots up in the new year.

When the host broadcaster describes a contest as "a thinking man's game", the chances are it is a cover for one lacking goalmouth incident, which, in this instance, for the first half at least, was certainly the case.

Given the prize for victory was fourth spot in the table heading into 2008, it would have been nice if Sven-Goran Eriksson had taken the fight to Liverpool right from the start.

Yet the pragmatic Swede has not got City into such a lofty position with free-flowing, attack-at-all-costs tactics.

Eriksson's philosophy has been to keep it tight at the back and in central midfield, then look to Elano, Martin Petrov, Stephen Ireland or Michael Johnson to conjure something up.

Given the latter man is nursing an abdominal injury, City's hopes were reduced by 25 per cent and Benitez is too astute a coach himself to give the other three free rein to exhibit their skills.

By half-time, Elano in particular must have been sick of seeing Jamie Carragher in his face.

The Liverpool defender, partnered by Alvaro Arbeloa as Sami Hyypia was ruled out with an ankle problem, was on hand to make a tackle or a block every time the South American came close to threatening.

As a result, City did not manage one single effort on goal during the opening period, although skipper Dunne should have done with a glancing header from Petrov's corner which ended up bouncing out for a throw-in.

But, to Liverpool's frustration, it was the same story at the other end, where Dunne and Richards were even more impressive than Carragher in their joint handling Torres.

Fortunate to escape wrestling the 15-goal forward to the floor in one early skirmish, Richards used his strength and speed to blunt Liverpool's star striker, with Dunne taking up the baton when necessary in equally formidable fashion.

In fact, the only offensive player to get the better of his marker on anything like a regular basis was Harry Kewell, who skipped past Nedum Onuoha on a couple of occasions.

England Under-21 keeper Hart needed a couple of attempts to smother the Australian's angled drive midway through the half while it was Kewell's cross that led to Fabio Aurelio lashing a speculative effort narrowly wide on the half-hour.

The suspicion remained Liverpool would eventually find a way through and within five minutes of the restart they had nearly done so three times.

After prodding one shot straight at Hart, Torres then found himself charging onto a Gerrard pass.

The young City keeper advanced quickly but was powerless to prevent Torres nudging the ball past.

For one awful moment, it looked as though Richards and Richard Dunne would get in each other's way as they raced back to clear before they both realised the effort was not going in and ushered it wide.

Then, Gerrard curled a free-kick narrowly beyond Hart's left-hand post after Richards had fouled Torres.

Hart tipped over from Yossi Benayoun and Gerrard fired wide as Liverpool maintained their early offensive, with City barely able to get out of their own half.

The introduction of Rolando Bianchi, still a popular figure among the City support despite his wide-ranging attack on the English game, was designed to relieve some of the pressure.

It did not really work as Benayoun and Gerrard peppered the City goal after the £8.8million Italian's arrival.

But the Blues, and Dunne in particular, would not yield.

The Irishman booted clear after Hart had denied Kuyt and when he slid in to block Benayoun's goalbound effort at the death, few would deny the defender deserved a share of the spoils.

Rafa Benitez Pins Hopes On Gerrard & Torres

Rafael Benitez prefers to call it "changing" rather than "rotating", but he now accepts that two of his players need to be deployed almost without break if Liverpool are to challenge for the Premier League title. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are simply indispensable.

Torres's glorious solo goal and Gerrard's swashbuckling winner at Derby on Boxing Day encapsulated the strengths and weaknesses of Liverpool's struggle to become English champions for the first time in 18 years. Even Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea must covet the Spanish striker and the Anfield captain, yet few of their colleagues would merit a regular place with the other three members of the Big Four.

Liverpool go to Manchester City today clinging to the coattails of the familiar front-runners and Benitez, though still an advocate of the squad system, acknowledged that Gerrard, 27, and Torres were fundamental to his club's ambitions.

"If Torres is not injured and Gerrard is not injured, you can maybe do a fantastic season," Benitez said. "You need some luck and also to change players at the right moment. The first year I was here Gerrard was injured for three months. The second year he scored 23 goals and we finished with 82 points.

"When you have three or four days between matches and you are a 23-year-old like Torres, it is easy to keep playing. For Gerrard, too."

Benitez was fortunate to inherit Gerrard's phenomenal capabilities, but takes the credit for signing Torres when other leading clubs, notably United, prevaricated. They knew he had good control and pace, but questioned whether he would score enough goals to justify the investment. Fifteen so far this season seems an emphatic response.

Benitez never doubted Torres had the attributes and application to succeed where others, including his countryman, Fernando Morientes, failed. "Maybe Torres has surprised other clubs because they were saying he would be signing for them," Benitez said. "But the first time I talked to him about coming here he was very clear - he wanted to come right away.

"He is a Spanish player who has come to a team with a Spanish manager and some Spanish speaking team-mates. It can be difficult for a manager to explain what he wants, but I tell him in Spanish and can explain things that maybe others couldn't. It is not the same to go through a translator.

"Torres will get better because he wants to improve. His mentality is good. If you tell him he needs to work hard, he works harder. If you need him to stay and practice after training, he stays and practices.

"When we signed Morientes his mentality was really good. I was looking for a player good in the air and a target man. But Morientes couldn't handle it physically. Torres can. He is quick and strong. And he's younger."

Agger Set For Liverpool Recall In Clash With Manchester City

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is set to recall Daniel Agger if Sami Hyypia fails to recover in time to feature at Manchester City on Sunday.

Denmark international Agger, who started the season in central defence alongside Jamie Carragher, has been sidelined since September with a foot problem.

But with veteran Hyypia struggling with an ankle injury sustained in the 2-1 win at Derby on Boxing Day, the 23-year-old could start at Eastlands.

Benitez said: "It will be difficult for Sami. He is working hard with the physios and we are waiting to see whether he will be available. We will have to wait and see.

"If Sami doesn't play then we can think about using Daniel. He is training and is very close now."

Liverpool go into this match 11 points behind leaders Arsenal but with two games in hand.

Although they will have two games in hand over Sir Alex Ferguson's side, Benitez admits his side can afford no slip-ups.

He added: "It will be a really difficult game because they have a fantastic record at home.

"They have a manager with experience and good players who work really hard.

"As always though we have confidence. Our away form has been good this season and we are looking for that to continue on Sunday.

"It's important for us to just keep winning. Other teams around us have been dropping points and if we win matches then at the end of this period we can have a look at the league table and see how things stand.

"Our season has not been bad, but it could be better. We are in a good position. It could be better, but the best of us is still to come."

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson admits the game will hinge on whether his team can stop Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.

Eriksson's side dropped Premiership points for the first time at home this season with a 2-2 draw with Blackburn on Thursday night but they could move above the Reds with a victory over Benitez's men.

But Eriksson knows all about the threat of Gerrard after the two of them worked together closely during his spell in charge of England.

The Swede said: "Steven is one of the best players you can find. He has everything.

"He can defend. He can tackle incredibly well. He has vision, he is an extremely good passer. He can shoot, score goals and has the energy to get up and down the pitch.

"It is very difficult to say who is the best player in the country but Steven is certainly one of them - and has been for a long time now.

"As long as I was England manager, he was extremely important to me. He was important to England last year after I left and he will be very important in the future as well.

"Of course it will be difficult, we know that. It can't be easy to beat Liverpool. We will do our best and we will fight. Who knows what will happen after that."

Ujfalusi Rejects Liverpool Offer

Fiorentina defender Tomas Ujfalusi has rejected an offer from Liverpool and could be set for a new deal with the Viola.

Ujfalusi’s agent Pavel Paska is in the process of negotiating an extension to the Czech ace’s current contract which expires at the end of the campaign.

However, the player has been linked with Juventus recently and could join the Bianconeri at the end of the season.

“I have to respect his decisions, but I was really surprised when he said no to the Reds,” noted Paska. “Liverpool rarely offer a player a second chance.”

The Czech international is in his fourth season with the Viola after his £5m move from Hamburg in 2003.

He has made 10 appearances in Serie A this season and has already confirmed he wishes to stay in Italy.

EPL Match Preview: Manchester City vs LiverpooL:

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is facing a defensive crisis with Sami Hyypia almost certainly unavailable for Sunday's trip to Manchester City.

Hyypia suffered a twisted ankle in the Boxing Day win at Derby, and although Benitez is awaiting reports from his medical team, he has virtually ruled the Finn out of the Premier League clash.

It means Benitez must decide whether to risk Daniel Agger in the match at Eastlands, the young Dane having not played for three months as he recovers from a broken metatarsal.

He has been training for a fortnight and is using specially built-up boots, but his lack of match practice is a concern.

Liverpool have full-back Alvaro Arbeloa fit again after a bout of flu, and he could be switched to partner Jamie Carragher while youngster Jack Hobbs is also on stand-by. Peter Crouch is still suspended.

Meanwhile Elano and Dietmar Hamann will earn immediate recalls as Manchester City look to regain a top four place by beating Liverpool at Eastlands.

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson left the pair out of Thursday night's 2-2 draw with Blackburn as he attempts to keep his squad fresh over the festive period.

With Michael Johnson (groin) again set to miss out, Eriksson will turn to Elano to provide the inspiration for victory and former Reds star Hamann to subdue his old team-mate Steven Gerrard.

TEAMS:

City (from): Hart, Isaksson, Onuoha, Corluka, Sun, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Elano, Fernandes, Geovanni, Petrov, Mpenza, Vassell, Bianchi, Samaras.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hobbs, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Kewell, Voronin, Torres, Kuyt, Lucas, Agger, Itandje.

Reina: I'm Happy In England, But I'm An Atletico Fan

Liverpool and Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina admitted that one day he'd love to wear the red and white of Atletico Madrid, but for now he's more than happy at Anfield.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina told Spanish sports daily As of his respect both for his current club and Atletico Madrid.

While he's made little secret of his desire to one day play for Atleti, though, he's absolutely delighted to be at Liverpool for now.

"I'm in my third season here and I'm very happy, and I'm an important figure in the locker room," he began.

"That makes you identify a lot with the side, your commitment is greater to the rest of the squad and to the team as well. I'm very comfortable here.

"People who read this don't know how it is to play for Liverpool in this league. Here we battle for so many titles, and are one of the best clubs in Europe.

"Atletico? I love this team, of course, for family reasons and many others. It's flattering for me to be linked with them, but I'm not looking for change.

"It's a club for which I have a special love - I can't deny it. My father played for them and I have a lot of friends there. Plus, Madrid is a great city.

"I like Atletico, but I have a contract with Liverpool and I'm happy here. Right now there's no reason to switch."

On the subject of a player who made a move in the opposite direction, the ex-Villarreal man had this to say:

"Fernando Torres? He's been received very well. He's very important for the club and has fitted in well. So far everything is going swimmingly.

"The crowd love him. They're very affectionate with him and constantly show their respect."

The 25-year-old then discussed his prospects with the international side.

"Football is full of surprises," he mused. "Iker [Casillas] is a great goalkeeper, a good teammate and a rival for the position of goalkeeper with the Selección, and he'll be tough to topple from his post.

"It takes many years to be elite in a team like Real Madrid, playing well every week, but one must be prepared when the time comes to play. I'm keen to play myself."

Liverpool’s Agger Could Return If Hyypia Fails Test

Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia might make way for Daniel Agger if the veteran fails the fitness test ahead of Sunday’s Premiership clash at Manchester City.

Hyypia limped off the field on Boxing Day with an ankle injury and Reds boss Rafa Benitez feels it will be difficult for the Finland international to recover in time for the City game.

Denmark defender Agger meanwhile had been out with metatarsal injury since September and could provide a timely boost.

"It will be difficult for Sami," Benitez said on the club’s official website.

"He is working hard with the physios and we are waiting to see whether he will be available. We will have to wait and see.

"If Sami doesn't play then we can think about using Daniel. He is training and is very close now."

Liverpool Sign Starlet Cooper

Liverpool will complete the signing of 16-year-old Ross County prospect Alex Cooper when the transfer window opens.

Liverpool have signed Alex Cooper from Ross County - a Scottish Second Division club in the Highlands.

16-year-old winger Cooper will move from Victoria Park to Anfield after the clubs agreed a £100,000 fee.

A winger capped by Scotland Under-16s, he was reportedly tracked by Jose Mourinho when the Portuguese was Chelsea boss.

But Liverpool wowed the youngster and Cooper has signed with the Premiership giants until 2011. His father Neale, a former Aberdeen star, expressed his enthusiasm after seeing his son agree a dream move.

"All his family are delighted Alex has been given the opportunity to sign for Liverpool.

"He could have gone to one or two other clubs but he just loved the way he was treated by Liverpool when he was there."

Gerrard Hailed By Sven Goran Eriksson

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Steven Gerrard is the perfect player and is unsure how to stop him at Eastlands on Sunday.

After spending so long in the England camp together, the pair find themselves in opposition for the first time on Sunday when Eriksson's side look for a home win which would lift them over Liverpool into a Champions League spot.

Despite losing their 100% home record to Blackburn on Thursday night, City have every reason to be confident, particularly as Liverpool struggled badly against bottom club Derby on Boxing Day.

It would have been no surprise to Eriksson that Gerrard should be the man to rescue the Reds with his late winner at Pride Park.

While the Swede is reluctant to single out one individual as the Premier League's best player just now, there are not many who would be afforded such lavish praise as he heaps on Gerrard.

"Steven is one of the best players you can find. He has everything," said Eriksson.

"He can defend. He can tackle incredibly well. He has vision, he is an extremely good passer. He can shoot, score goals and has the energy to get up and down the pitch.

"It is very difficult to say who is the best player in the country but Steven is certainly one of them - and has been for a long time now.

"As long as I was England manager, he was extremely important to me. He was important to England last year after I left and he will be very important in the future as well."

Eriksson admits stopping Gerrard will be no easy task for his progressive team.

With youngster Michael Johnson missing, City will probably rely on the experience of Gerrard's former Liverpool team-mate Dietmar Hamann, who was rested for the Blackburn game.

"I am not sure how to stop Steven," said Eriksson.

"We shall have to find a way but I do know if you give him space and time and the chance to run forward with or without the ball, he is incredible."

With Manchester United among their nine previous home victims this term, City have already claimed one major scalp at Eastlands.

Yet it is a measure of where the Blues have come from that Eriksson still regards it as 'a dream' to beat the club he supported as a child in Sweden.

"Of course it will be difficult, we know that. It can't be easy to beat Liverpool. We will do our best and we will fight. Who knows what will happen after that," he added.

If City are to triumph, they require big performances from their key men.

The form of Brazilian playmaker Elano has dipped in recent weeks and, like Hamann, he was left out of Eriksson's starting line-up yesterday.

However, Martin Petrov's sensational performance against Rovers has given Elano a standard to reach, as well as providing an injury-hit Liverpool side with a major defensive headache.

Courted extensively by Tottenham, Petrov's move to City from Atletico Madrid last summer is proof of Eriksson's pulling power in the transfer market.

As he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for a top six spot consistently, Eriksson will hope the attraction will bring in more players, although he is not keen to play up his reputation too much.

"I have never asked Petrov why he ended up here," said Eriksson.

"I don't think we were the first team but maybe he heard about the new owner and the big project he has. It is a big challenge, which is the same reason why I am here.

"I don't know if Martin is here because of me, although I have been lucky to work at big clubs in Italy and Portugal and, whether you want it or not, it is a fact that when you have been England manager, you do become a little bit more famous because the job is so big."

Benitez Confident On Mascherano

Rafa Benitez says he has no fears that Javier Mascherano will join another club.

The Argentina midfielder is currently on loan at Anfield and Liverpool will reportedly have to pay in the region of £17m in the summer to secure his services on a permanent basis.

And while that leaves open the possibility the player could leave the club in six months' time, Benitez believes there is no need to rush into agreeing a deal.

"We were not talking too much about this because I have a lot of confidence that he will stay with us," he told Sky Sports News.

"He's just training, being ready, trying to enjoy now and being with his family. We will talk again, but he's happy here, so I think we can have some confidence."

Asked if he had any fears another club could get him, he responded: "No. Not in this moment, for sure."