Benitez Praises Liverpool's 'Perfect' Victory

Rafa Benitez hailed a "perfect" victory over Newcastle which sees Liverpool travel to Inter Milan in the Champions League highly confident of finishing the job they started at Anfield three weeks ago.

Another inspirational Fernando Torres performance propelled Benitez's side to a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Newcastle at Anfield on Saturday.

The Spain striker scored one and was involved in the other two as Liverpool clocked up a fifth successive wins. They are now just two points behind third-placed Chelsea in the Premier League, although the London club does have two games in hand.

More importantly they head for Milan to defend a 2-0 first leg lead playing their best football of the season.

"We needed to win against Newcastle," said Benitez. "We scored three goals, conceded none and I was able to rest some players ahead of our Champions League game. Everything was perfect."

Torres now has 25 goals since joining from Atletico Madrid for 26.5 million pounds in pre-season. And his understanding with captain Steven Gerrard is beginning to prove fruitful for Benitez.

The duo have scored 29 of Liverpool's 53 league goals between them this season and Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan, an Anfield legend in his playing days, believes the duo can bring the glory days back to the club.

"I think Gerrard and Torres is a combination that can only get better. I think they will get even better," said Keegan.

"If you're spending 20 million pounds on a striker then I don't think it's a gamble. It's not like my situation when they spent 30,000-pounds to bring me from Scunthorpe."

Newcastle remain three points above the relegation zone but they have now played a game more than third-from-bottom Bolton. Defeat in their next game against fellow strugglers Birmingham could see them slip into the bottom three.

"I've told my players that I didn't think our performance was quite good enough," added Keegan.

"It's important we get to 40 points but we're still four wins away from that with nine games remaining."

Newcastle can feel hard done by after falling behind to a bizarre goal. But they can have no complaints about the other two goals and they were thoroughly defeated in the end.

There had been little to choose between the two sides before a huge slice of luck allowed Jermaine Pennant to give Liverpool a 43rd minute lead.

There appeared little danger when Jose Enrique cut out Torres' ball into the Newcastle penalty area, but the Spanish defender's attempted clearance cannoned off Pennant before looping over keeper Steve Harper into the net.

Liverpool fans were still celebrating when Torres made it 2-0. A defence-splitting pass by the impressive Gerrard found Torres with time and space to fire home his seventh goal in three Anfield appearances.

Newcastle were completely deflated and within six minutes of the second half they were 3-0 behind.

Torres was once again involved but this time he turned provider as he teed-up Gerrard to hammer home his 19th of the season and kill the game.

To their credit, the visitors continued to plug away and they were unfortunate not to score a consolation in the 70th minute through substitute Obafemi Martins.

The powerful striker showed great initiative with a stunning shot-on-the-turn from 30-yards which cannoned off Jose Reina's crossbar and away to safety.

Carragher Would Rather Win Champions League Than Premier

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher claims that their Champions League conquest in 2005 was worth more than any Premiership title could ever mean.

The Reds were crowned kings of Europe for the first time since the glory days of the 80's courtesy of an epic comeback victory against Milan, which Carragher reckons earned the 04/05 squad a place in Liverpool folklore.

"I'm desperate to win the league but the European Cup is bigger," he said. "I wouldn't swap Istanbul for a league title. People will talk about that match in 50 years' time, like they talk about Real Madrid beating Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3.

"Whatever has happened in the league, winning the Champions League again would make it an unbelievable season."

Liverpool, who only have fourth place to play for domestically, are in good stead to at least make it into the last eight of the competition, as they travel to Milan next week holding a two goal advantage over Inter.

Anfield In Dirty Tricks Uproar: Liverpool Owner Accuses Dubai As £500m Takeover Turns Nasty

The £500million battle for Liverpool descended into a bitter war of words last night as American co-owner Tom Hicks accused Dubai International Capital of resorting to dirty tricks in their bid to buy the club.

Despite a 3-0 victory over Newcastle delighting Anfield yesterday as Liverpool battled for the final Champions League place, the famous club's future was mired in controversy behind the scenes.

The woman at the centre of the row is Prince Andrew's former girlfriend, Amanda Staveley, who has been negotiating the deal on behalf of DIC.

A furious Hicks accused her of leaking a private email from the head of his sports company and warned that her allegedly aggressive tactics risked scuppering the Arabs' hope of buying into Liverpool.

"DIC is one of several potential minority investors we are or will be talking to," said the 61-year-old Texan multimillionaire.

"As for Amanda Staveley, who has a reputation for being pretty smart, she should know better than to publicly put words in my mouth, particularly words that she knows or should know perfectly well aren't true. She should also know better than to release actual copies of my private correspondence to the Press. If she thinks that is an appropriate way to acquire a stake in Liverpool FC, she'd better think again."

DIC and 34-year-old Staveley, who works for PCP Capital Partners, deny leaking the email and were bemused last night by the latest outburst from Hicks.

They remain confident there is nothing he can do to stop co-owner George Gillett selling his share of the club to them and are determined that they will have a significant say in how Liverpool is run, rather than be sleeping partners — the only situation Hicks says he will accept.

One or two DIC representatives, perhaps including Staveley, are set for seats on the board if Gillett Jnr completes the sale of his stake which was agreed late last week — 49 per cent of the club to the Arabs and one per cent to Hicks.

There will be a DIC presence among the travelling Liverpool fans at Tuesday's Champions League match against Internazionale.

The provisional deal struck with Gillett values Liverpool at £500m, including £350m of debts, leaving Gillett to walk away with a profit of £75m.

Assuming Hicks and DIC can strike an uneasy truce, the new partnership should not only guarantee a generous summer transfer kitty but also lead to the long-awaited start on a new stadium.

The recent refinancing of debts the Americans ran up in buying and running Liverpool left the club facing a £30m annual interest bill, which would have crippled manager Rafa Benitez in the transfer market even if the team succeeded in qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Yet even though Hicks would retain control by holding 51 per cent to DIC's 49 per cent, the involvement of the investment arm of the Middle East state all but ensures a healthy warchest.

Match Review: LiverpooL 3 - 0 Newcastle United

Kevin Keegan's Newcastle misery deepened on the ground where he is rightly still remembered as a playing legend in the heady days under Bill Shankly.

As a manager, Keegan has inherited a feeble, spineless Newcastle outfit who have now gone 12 Barclays Premier League games without a victory.

Liverpool cruised to their fourth successive league win, the first time they have achieved that measure of consistency for 13 months, and they will head off to their Champions League night of destiny against Inter Milan next week high on confidence.

This was Liverpool's 300th Premier League victory, and they now have a firm grip on that elusive fourth spot.

It was again their scoring double act of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres who put victory beyond doubt before the captain was withdrawn on the hour to protect him for Tuesday's date in the San Siro.

Ten minutes later Torres was also withdrawn, the Spaniard - now with 25 goals in 34 games, 13 in his last 12 - certainly could not be risked any longer with Inter next up.

Jermaine Pennant, very fortunately, deflected in the first goal while Torres and Gerrard created goals for each other.

Michael Owen, on his 250th Premier League appearance, was a pale shadow of the player who once electrified Anfield. Now Torres has taken that mantle.

Liverpool were without injured pair Javier Mascherano and Steve Finnan, while Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel started on the bench - with Yossi Benayoun, Pennant and Lucas coming into the side.

Newcastle were without Joey Barton, with Charles N'Zogbia the only change from the side which lost at home to Blackburn last weekend.

There was a show of strength from the Americans, with Liverpool moving towards shared ownership if Dubai International Capital complete their buy out of George Gillett next week,

A clutch of them were in the directors' box, including another of Tom Hicks' sons, Mike.

But Liverpool fans paid more attention to Kevin Keegan, a Kop legend, who spent 20 minutes before the game signing countless autographs as his team warmed up.

The Newcastle manager did not look like he had a care in the world - and his team started confidently, with Alan Smith seeing a seventh-minute header from a corner deflected wide from a corner.

At the other end Fernando Torres - the Barclays player of the month - took on Abdoulaye Faye on the right and fired in a cross-shot which Steve Harper turned away.

John Arne Riise was booked for a high challenge on James Milner but Newcastle were still more than holding their own - until the freak 43rd-minute incident which took the game away from them.

Jose Enrique's attempted clearance cannoned back off Pennant and into the net, giving Liverpool the lead and Pennant only his second goal in 71 games for the club.

Seconds before the break Torres rubbed salt into visiting wounds when he rounded Harper and coolly netted following an outstanding ball from Gerrard.

Newcastle, who had replaced Milner with Geremi just before the break, fell three goals behind in the 51st minute, with Enrique again the man to suffer.

The Magpies defender failed to confront Torres, opting to back away as the Spaniard took possession. That invited Liverpool forward, and Torres sent Gerrard away down the middle to neatly chip Harper for the third.

Newcastle were now a shambles at the back, with Torres and Gerrard combining with ease before the latter saw a shot saved excellently by Harper.

Keegan sent on Obafemi Martins for the ineffective Damien Duff, before Liverpool replaced Gerrard on the hour.

Martins hit the bar with a fierce left-footed effort in the 68th minutes, before Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch formed the home strike partnership.

Sami Hyypia came on after 78 minutes - replacing Pennant - as Liverpool utilised a three-man central defence which could operate against Inter on Tuesday.

Harper saved well from a Kuyt flick and then got down to block a Riise drive, before Benayoun saw a diving header deflected just wide. as the Reds finished in confident fashion against a team who are heading in the wrong direction.

Le Tallec Reveals Reds Regret

Anthony Le Tallec believes he made his 'biggest mistake' by handing in a loan request at Liverpool.

Le Tallec was brought to Anfield from Le Havre in 2002 by former Reds manager Gerard Houllier.

The 23-year-old made a number of appearances under Houllier, however he has barely featured since Rafa Benitez took over as manager in 2004.

Le Tallec has had loan spells at St Etienne, Sunderland and Sochaux before joining Le Mans last summer on a season-long loan.

And the former France Under 21 international has explained that he regrets asking Benitez for a loan move so soon after the Spaniard arrived on Merseyside.

"I left France when I was 18-years-old," he told L'Equipe. "There were 10 big clubs following me, but I preferred Liverpool.

"Gerard Houllier, with his French players - I believed it would be easier for me to adapt.

"I signed a five-year contract with an option to extend it for a further year. I am still under contract with Liverpool.

"My first season was very good, and I started to make a name for myself when Houllier left.

"The only regret I have is when I met with Benitez and asked to be loaned out.

"In my mind, I thought he was going to bring in Spanish players, and I was afraid I would not play anymore.

"It is my biggest mistake."

DIC And Hicks Reach Power Sharing Deal For Liverpool

Liverpool were last night preparing to enter an uncertain period of coalition ownership after Dubai International Capital (DIC) agreed a deal to buy 49 per cent of the club, with Tom Hicks securing the additional 1 per cent that he needs to earn majority control.

George Gillett Jr, who bought Liverpool with Hicks just 13 months ago, has agreed to sell his 50 per cent share in the club, but, rather than sell the entire stake to DIC, he will sell 1 per cent of the company to Hicks. The deal allows Hicks to assume majority control, although DIC, the private-equity investment arm of the Dubai Government, remains confident that it will ultimately buy him out.

The compromise agreement, which will be finalised at a meeting in Dubai next week, was accepted by DIC last night after talks between Amanda Staveley, its representative in London, and lawyers for both Hicks and Gillett. In a statement last night Staveley said: “Subject to renegotiation of a partnership agreement and subject to the stringent minority shareholder protection rights we would be prepared to accept a 49 per cent shareholding in Liverpool FC. This arrangement provides the best possible solution to the situation and would be in the best interests of the club and their loyal fans.”

Liverpool’s supporters are likely to have mixed feelings about the partnership, which some Anfield officials had described as a “nightmare scenario”. In theory it means that Hicks will call the shots in the boardroom, but DIC is determined to exert its influence, having indicated that it will conduct a review of all aspects of the club. Staveley, a senior partner of the PCP private equity firm, and Sameer al-Ansari, the chief executive, are expected to be among those joining the board, with Gillett and his son, Foster, likely to depart.

Liverpool attempt to focus on on-field matters this afternoon against Newcastle United in the Barclays Premier League and, with Michael Owen returning to Anfield as captain of the visiting side, it is hard to say which he will find most unsettling: the admission from Rafael Benítez yesterday that he was on a list of potential signings last summer or the uncomfortable knowledge that the Liverpool manager was right to go with his instincts and opt for Fernando Torres instead.

“We know that Michael is a brilliant finisher, but we were looking for a player with the conditions of Torres, a player with pace and power,” Benítez said. “We had a list of ten strikers and he [Owen] was one of the names we had. Afterwards we decided that Torres was the No 1 priority. It is obvious we are happy with Torres.”

Dalglish: Torres Is The Buy Of The Season

Fernando Torres will lead Liverpool into their European night of destiny at the San Siro with the ringing endorsement of Kenny Dalglish.

The Spanish striker, with 24 goals in 33 matches since his £20million-plus move from Atletico Madrid last summer, will strike fear into the hearts of Inter Milan as Liverpool seek to clinch a Champions League quarter final place.

The 23-year-old has embarked on a scoring spree featuring two hat-tricks since the club's met in the first leg at Anfield three weeks ago when Liverpool built a 2-0 lead.

Dalglish, voted recently as Liverpool's greatest-ever player, said of Torres: "Torres just oozes class in attack. For me the kid is the best buy anywhere in Europe this season.

"The worrying thing for everyone else is the fact that I can only see him getting better and better as the season continues."

Liverpool are 2-0 ahead from the first leg of their Champions League showdown and on the brink of being the fourth English side to reach the quarter-finals -following Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea's progress this week.

Dalglish was hugely impressed with Liverpool's display in the first leg and they will go to the San Siro with confidence high.

Dalglish said: "In the first leg, Liverpool showed what they are truly capable of. We all felt they had it in them, but we have only seen it in flashes this season.

"To a man Liverpool were excellent, but I was expecting more from Inter.

"They put out a team that lacked pace of any description. They looked like they had come for a clean sheet and maybe hit Liverpool on the break to nick something.

"They will say that we benefited from them having Marco Materazzi sent-off, but they had been made to look ordinary long before his second yellow card.

"Having 10 men did not mean they had to change their game plan much, and they have plenty of practice playing with a man down over in Italy.

"They looked stunned and shell-shocked by the way Liverpool played and they couldn't do the simple things like keeping possession. Those are basics for Italian teams."

For Inter Milan this second-leg comes at a key moment in their history as they celebrate their centenary this weekend.

Up until they played Liverpool, Inter had been a massive, dominant force in Serie A this season, unbeaten and miles ahead at the top of the table.

But things have changed since then, and Inter have lost their unbeaten league record, going down to defeat away to Napoli last weekend.

Second-placed Roma have closed the gap at the top and are six points behind with 12 games remaining.

Inter have been boosted by the return to training of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been out with a knee problem. Also close to a return is another striker, Julio Cruz, who has been struggling with a muscle problem.

Materazzi is suspended for the return leg, but club president Massimo Moratti said: "I would have never imagined that we would lose our first league game of the season just before our celebrations.

"Nor that we would face such a perilous position in the Champions League days later.

"The best present we could give would be to beat Liverpool. I have great confidence in the players that coach Roberto Mancini will choose, because they have the quality to play a game showing the heroic character that we will need to progress."

Premier League Preview: LiverpooL vs. Newcastle United

Kevin Keegan returns to Anfield having endured a torrid start to his second coming at St. James’ Park. His first spell holders fonder memories: Keegan was the manager of Newcastle when his side succumbed to a last minute Stan Collymore goal in a 4-3 defeat that is possibly still the most entertaining Premier League game ever.

That Newcastle team had flair - Ginola, Beardsley and Asprilla, as well as the goals of Les Ferdinand, and they went so close to winning the championship under Keegan’s guidance. This time, it's been different: sections of the Toon Army were delighted when Keegan returned but, to be honest, Keegan could not have imagined such a dreadful sequence of results in his darkest nightmares.

Newcastle are sliding slowly towards the bottom three with a squad of ageing and unmotivated players who are underperforming massively. Having not won in 11 league games, Newcastle now face the daunting prospect of a trip to Anfield, a side that have already beaten them 3-0 this season.

Newcastle concede goals far too readily and Liverpool’s in-form Fernando Torres will fancy his chances of scoring a third consecutive hat-trick at Anfield here. Rafa Benitez, in fact, has seen his side finally start to play like a top four club in recent weeks, winning four on the spin and scoring plenty of goals on the process.

With a solid defensive midfield duo of Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso dictating play, Benitez has released Steven Gerrard to support the scintillating Fernando Torres and it has worked well. Dirk Kuyt has found some form playing wide where he is not expected to score goals, and Ryan Babel’s pace on the opposite flank stretches teams creating space for Torres and Gerrard to exploit.

Benitez has not rotated as much since that shocking Cup defeat at the hands of Barnsley, and so long as he continues to do this The Red’s can expect an excellent end to the season. A victory on Saturday looks like a formality, but Newcastle have to win sometime and what better ground to win on than Anfield where manager Keegan and captain Owen enjoyed so many glorious games in the colours of Liverpool.



FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

05 Mar v West Ham (h) WON 4-0 (Prem)

02 Mar v Bolton (a) WON 3-1 (Prem)

23 Feb v Middlesbrough (h) WON 3-2 (Prem)

19 Feb v Internazionale (h) WON 2-0 (CL)

16 Feb v Barnsley (h) LOST 1-2 (FA Cup)

10 Feb v Chelsea (a) DREW 0-0 (Prem)



Newcastle

01 Mar v Blackburn (h) LOST 0-1 (Prem)

23 Feb v Manchester United (h) LOST 1-5 (Prem)

09 Feb v Aston Villa (a) LOST 1-4 (Prem)

03 Feb v Middlesbrough (h) DREW 1-1 (Prem)

29 Jan v Arsenal (a) LOST 0-3 (Prem)

26 Jan v Arsenal (a) LOST 0-3 (FA Cup)



TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Rafa is becoming more consistent with his team selections in recent weeks, and probably won’’t tinker much with the side that thrashed West Ham in midweek. Steve Finnan and Andriy Voronin (ankle) will miss out, but Daniel Agger is back in contention after getting some action in the reserves on Tuesday night.

Newcastle

King Kev has not had any luck since returning to Newcastle and that has continued with Shay Given sidelined. Elsewhere, Stephen Carr, Mark Viduka, Peter Ramage and Emre are missing, as is Joey Barton who is not allowed to play in Liverpool due to the terms of his bail. Expect a central midfield role Charles N’Zogbia.



PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool - Fernando Torres has scored hat-tricks in his last two home games, and the former Atletico Madrid forward will be rubbing his hands at the prospect of another against a confidence stricken Newcastle on Saturday. Torres ripped Newcastle to pieces at St. James’ Park earlier in the campaign, yet somehow failed to convert any of the chances he created for himself. Do not expect the best striker in the country to be as forgiving this weekend.

Newcastle - Michael Owen returns to Anfield as captain of a Newcastle side that find themselves in freefall. Owen rose to prominence after coming through the Liverpool youth ranks, and many Koppites were angered when Benitez chose not to bring back the England man from Real Madrid. Owen has lost some pace due to injuries but he is still a predator, and if Newcastle can supply him with decent chances, it is only a matter of time before he starts hitting the net again.

Reds Cannot Afford To Ease Off - Rafa

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has stressed to his players the importance of maintaining their vastly-improved form over the coming weeks.

The Anfield boss is rightly happy with a dramatic change in fortunes which has seen the team emerge from frustrating inconsistency to win four of their five unbeaten league matches since losing at West Ham in January.

Fernando Torres' third hat-trick of the season helped the side to a 4-0 victory over the Hammers on Wednesday to put Liverpool back into fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League but with competition so tight Benitez knows the club's revival must be maintained.

"We have been growing in confidence and the whole side believes that Fernando Torres is in the sort of form that will produce us goals," said the Spaniard.

"But now we must take this on. Winning three games on the trot has helped our quest for fourth place, but we must now beat Newcastle before we turn our attention to the Champions League at Inter Milan next week."

Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan brings his relegation-threatened Newcastle to Anfield on Saturday still without a win after seven matches since his return to St James' Park as manager.

Keegan - who joined Liverpool in 1971 as a £33,000 signing from Scunthorpe by Bill Shankly - can be assured of a great welcome from the Kop but that is where the sympathy will end.

Few will ever forget the two famous clashes between the clubs in 1996 and 1997 which both ended in 4-3 wins for Liverpool and remain timeless classics.

But Keegan's side were title contenders then and the fear is there could be plenty more goals on Saturday with Liverpool on a roll - although no-one is expecting the visitors to score three times on this occasion.

Newcastle's only Premier League win at Anfield came in 1994 on Keegan's first visit as Magpies manager. They have not won in 13 visits since and, considering their current form, it will be a major shock if they reverse that trend.

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who scored 158 goals in 297 games for the club, also returns.

He has never quite been forgiven for the manner of his departure to Real Madrid after saying he wanted to win trophies - ironically, the season he departed Liverpool won the Champions League.

But when he first played for Newcastle at Anfield on his return to England after one season in Spain the Kop sang "Where were you in Istanbul?" at their former hero.

Liverpool have a doubt over defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano, who picked up a muscle injury against West Ham.

Benitez - Torres Can Eclipse Ruud

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes Fernando Torres is more than capable of breaking an impressive record currently held by former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Torres will run out at Anfield on Saturday for the visit of Newcastle having scored hat-tricks in his last two matches at the stadium.

He will also be presented with the Barclays player of the month award for February beforehand.

With 24 goals in 33 games since joining from Atletico Madrid in the summer Benitez claims Torres believes he will score every time he walks onto a pitch.

So far he has scored 18 league goals, five short of Van Nistelrooy's total of 23 in the 2001-02 season, the highest league tally by a foreign player in his Premier League debut season.

Torres is also on course to become the first Liverpool player for 12 years to hit 20 league goals in a season - something Michael Owen, returning to Anfield with Newcastle, never achieved in his time at Liverpool.

For Benitez, Torres' speedy adaptation to English football is a genuine plus.

"We knew when we signed Fernando that he had quality, pace and strength," said the Spanish manager.

"But I am a little surprised to see him scoring so regularly at this level straight away, it is not easy for someone in their first season in England.

"But he believes he can score in every game now and the sort of records that are being mentioned are within his capabilities.

"He has such confidence the prospect of scoring 24 league goals is within him."

Benitez will be forced into changing a winning side against Kevin Keegan's strugglers, with midfielder Javier Mascherano out with a muscle injury.

Benitez could bring in young Brazilian Lucas Leiva or switch Steven Gerrard back to a central midfield role with Dirk Kuyt coming in off the right wing to partner Torres up front, meaning Yossi Benayoun would be likely to start.

Mascherano is expected to be fit for Tuesday's trip to face Inter Milan in the Champions League but right-back Steve Finnan is more doubtful as he struggles with a hamstring problem which will sideline him against Newcastle.

Benitez knows Torres has become the key to Liverpool's ambitions for the remainder of the season after a shockingly inconsistent campaign but he admitted: "Fernando is not the perfect striker yet. He has things he can learn - and you cannot find a perfect manager either!"

The Reds boss also made sure he did not get dragged into commenting on the club's takeover saga, which is close to a solution.

"For us at the moment it is more important to keep our concentration on the matches we have. They are coming fast now, and hugely important," he added.

"I am thinking only of that. Together, myself and the players need to concentrate on the football."

Benitez also accepts Saturday's game will be an emotional one for Liverpool legend Keegan, who has yet to win any of the seven matches he has been in charge for since returning to manage Newcastle.

"My memories of Keegan come from watching him play for Hamburg against Real Madrid in the European Cup," said the Spaniard.

"In Madrid he was marked out of the game but in Hamburg it was a different matter.

"Madrid's defenders never saw him, he was always getting in behind them and showed what a great player he was."

As for Keegan's current managerial problems, Benitez said: "Newcastle were in a bad position before he took over but they have quality and experience and he will soon show that he is a manager of equal experience."

Of Owen's return, as Newcastle captain, Benitez said: "He was a great servant to Liverpool and an excellent finisher. I am sure he will start scoring again but hopefully not until after this match."

With Liverpool returning to fourth place in the Barclays Premier League with their win over West Ham, the manager stressed the players knew exactly what they have to do to secure Champions League qualification.

"It is back in our own hands now. If we win all our games from now we will finish fourth," he added.

"But Everton and Aston Villa are fighting for the position as well. It makes our derby game with Everton at the end of the month very significant, but there are plenty of games before that we must win, it will not depend on just one game."

Liverpool’s Benitez: Newcastle Have Enough Quality

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez feels Newcastle United’s current position is not due to lack of quality but because they are not playing at their highest level.

The Reds take on Kevin Keegan’s side, who are only three points above the relegation zone, at Anfield tomorrow.

“I think they have enough quality in their squad, and also the manager has a lot of experience. It's a surprise where they are because they have very good players, so hopefully after this game they will start winning,” Benitez said on the club’s official website.

“I think that, because they were in a bad position, and then they couldn't win the first games, they have been a little bit under pressure. When you are under pressure you cannot play at your level. But they have enough quality and experience in the squad, so I think after this game they will start winning.

Former Reds favourite, Michael Owen returns to Merseyside as the skipper of the Toon tomorrow and will be keen to spark the revival of the Tynesiders by scoring against his old club.

“We know Michael is a very good player and a great finisher. We'll have to take care of him tomorrow and if he is calm against us then maybe he can go and score 20 goals,” quipped Benitez.

Gerrard Hungry For More

It is not easy waiting to play your UEFA Champions League quarter-final when seven of the eight places have already been decided. Liverpool FC have had an extra week before concluding their tie with FC Internazionale Milano, and with three English sides already through, the onus is on the 2005 champions to join them.

"It's something I've never experienced before," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard tells uefa.com. "But we've just got to get over that final hurdle and get ourselves into that draw. Some fantastic teams have qualified already and it would be nice to join them." Speaking the morning after his side's 4-0 defeat of West Ham United FC, the trip to the San Siro cannot come soon enough. It is one of the few great European stadiums Gerrard has never played at and he is eager to return to the competition that has brought him and the club so much success.

Patience, though, has been the buzz word of the tie. Liverpool were made to wait for the two late goals that finally beat Inter at Anfield and have had to wait again as they look to finish the job in Italy. "You just have to keep going all the way to the end," says Gerrard, who once again struck when it mattered most in the dying seconds against Inter. "A lot of goals in football are scored late on when teams are tired, especially when teams are down to ten men, like against Inter [following Marco Materazzi's 30th-minute dismissal]. We had to be patient. A 1-0 lead is a good enough result but 2-0, that's the icing on the cake. It gives us a good cushion and confidence is really high for the second leg, but this tie is not over yet."

Former Reds have been drilling that point home, particularly those that played in the 1965 semi-final when Liverpool were knocked out by Inter after winning the first leg 3-1 at Anfield. "We can learn an awful lot from what they're saying," Gerrard says. "They say the tie is not over and that we've got to go and perform just as well as we did at Anfield. That's the message, from me the captain to the rest of the boys: we can't go there thinking we've got this tie won. We've got a really difficult 90 minutes ahead of us."

Liverpool fans will not be taking anything for granted. Inconsistency in the Premier League and the pain of their FA Cup defeat by Barnsley FC have made sure of that. Since that nadir, though, Rafael Benítez's men have risen again. Victory against Inter was followed by three straight league wins and the brilliant form of Fernando Torres has got the Kop buzzing again. Gerrard too is thriving, playing in behind the Spaniard, whose hat-trick against West Ham took him to 24 goals for the season. Following his treble against Middlesbrough FC, it was the first time a Liverpool player had scored back-to-back hat-tricks at home in 62 years.

"Yeah, I'm enjoying it," Gerrard says. "Playing behind Fernando Torres is always a pleasure. Fernando's on fire. He just gives me so many options when I turn and have space. His direct running and good movement in that role helps me an awful lot and with [Xabi] Alonso and Javier Mascherano tidying up behind me, I think this team is looking really strong. With players like Fernando, Ryan Babbel, Dirk Kuyt and with the way I'm playing myself, we've got a great chance going forward to cause Inter Milan some problems. I think we've got to be positive there. A goal virtually kills the tie. We need to obviously be very strong defensively, but with a game plan of going forward to try and cause them problems like we did at home."

Gerrard's committed approach has won him fans far beyond his native Liverpool. He was voted into uefa.com's Team of the Year for the third year in succession after leading Liverpool to the 2007 UEFA Champions League final and was also chosen to captain the side. "It's a surprise to be captain of that team with so many top, top players," Gerrard said. "It's a fantastic honour, especially because it is voted for by the supporters. To get in the team full of star names and big, big players for the third year running is a big achievement and I'm really proud of that."

Gerrard has had much to be proud of this year, including being named as England captain for new manager Fabio Capello's first match last month. Seeing off the Italian champions would be further cause for celebration, something that did not look likely after Liverpool collected just one point from their first three games in the group stage. Since then they have won four in a row, scoring 18 and conceding just once. Gerrard admits: "We were guilty of being slightly over-confident in the group. As a team, we thought it was going to be easy and that we would easily top the group but Marseille, Porto and Beşiktaş caused us some problems and made it a really difficult group to get out of. That emphatic 8-0 win against Beşiktaş gave us a lot of confidence."

Gerrard is determined to ensure there is no complacency on Tuesday. Having led Liverpool to the European crown in 2005 then back to the final last term, the 27-year-old knows what it takes to succeed. "Hard work and a little bit of luck along the way. This team knows what's needed to get to the final, we're experienced and we realise it's going to be difficult. But you've got to be confident, believe it can happen and go and make the most of it. We've got a fantastic chance of going through to the last eight and we can't let that slip through our fingers."

Particularly with three English clubs already there. "If we qualify against Inter, that's four teams out of eight so no one can argue with the fact that the Premiership's been the strongest league this year. And I think it's going to get even stronger. I know a lot of players around Europe want to play in this league so it is only going to get better. [Arsenal beating Milan] was a surprise. Arsenal were fantastic on the night. When they got drawn together, I thought Arsenal would come unstuck against Milan because of the experience I have had playing against them. They're a fantastic team, a difficult team to beat, so I think Arsenal deserve a lot of credit."

Gerrard knows that better than most. A 2-1 defeat by the Rossoneri in the Athens final last May provides motivation to go out and reclaim the trophy, but it is the taste of victory in 2005 that most spurs on the Liverpool talisman. "It is great memories, memories I'll never forget. It was the best night of my footballing career so far – I'd love nothing better than to go and achieve it again."

Reds Fans Form Splinter Club

A group of Liverpool fans are looking to form a breakaway club in response to what they see as a decline in 'the Liverpool way'.

AFC Liverpool say there has been 'enormous' interest in the idea to start up a team in the North West Counties League next season, a move that would be similar to that made by Manchester United rebels FC United in 2005.

However as on-going protests towards the club's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks continue, AFC officials insist the idea is more geared toward making football affordable again rather than a reaction to the current state of the club.

Organiser Alun Parry, an Anfield season ticket holder for 17 years, said: "This is a pro-Liverpool idea rather than an anti-Liverpool one.

"The 39th game idea proved once and for all that the people in charge of football are not interested in the people. They are not interested in the integrity of the opposition.

"In real terms, football is now seven times more expensive to watch than it was in 1985 - three games now could buy you a season ticket then.

"Football is too expensive now for a lot of people and we want to give Reds fans the opportunity again to feel part of the club."

Parry added: "Despite the obvious rivalries we have in The Premier League, everyone at FC United have been really supportive and all the forums have urged us to go for it.

"It is about more than football, it is about the match becoming a 'day out' again.

"AFC Wimbledon have also been in touch and offered their help. Every non-league club we have spoken to have been really supportive."

Torres Is So Good He's Frightening - Gerrard

Fernando Torres has put the fear factor back into Liverpool, says Steven Gerrard.

The Spanish striker scored a hat-trick for the second successive home match in midweek, and now has an unprecedented treble in his sights against Newcastle tomorrow.

It was his third hat-trick of the season – the last Reds star to achieve that feat was Michael Owen in 2002/03, who will line up against Torres – and now he is aiming to become the first Liverpool player since Ian Rush in November 1982 to score a hat-trick in successive games.

Gerrard declared: “Fernando is frightening. From the opening home game of the season against Chelsea when he scored a cracker, he has been consistent all the way.

“He got off to a good start then and now he has hit 18 Premier League goals, the first person to do that here since Michael Owen. So hopefully he can continue like this to the end of the season.

“He has pace, power and is very direct but the most important thing for us is his work rate. He hasn’t come here as a star, he is chipping in with his work as well and when you get that from a player as well you cannot ask for much more.”

Gerrard, who took his own tally for the season to 18 in all competitions against West Ham, was delighted to see the Reds move back above Everton in the table.

“I know I called for an improvement recently and the way the performances have gone I am obviously pleased,” he added.

“We were all disappointed with the inconsistency at home but against West Ham we started to put that right.

“It was a good team performance, I said well done to all of them. But we have another big game tomorrow and must keep doing this to the end of the season.

“There is still a lot of pressure on us to get fourth place. This is now a massive month for us, it will be tough all the way.

“We have won the last three and if we can beat Newcastle on Saturday we will be able to focus on a huge game away to Inter Milan on Tuesday. That’s so important for us now.”

Liverpool Boss Benitez Finds An Unlikely Ally In United Striker Rooney

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has come out in support of the rotation of players, the same system Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been criticised for using.

The Liverpool boss has been pilloried for most of the season for his rotation policy, but now former Everton striker Rooney has admitted that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson does exactly the same and it works.

Benitez will be forgiven a wry smile at that, because he has long insisted in the face of fierce opposition that all top clubs rotate their players.

Benitez said on the subject: "When I change players it is rotation, when other managers do it, they call it resting people."

And now Rooney has come out in support of rotation, as it is revealed that Fergie has not named the same side for successive matches since August.

Despite an injury to Ryan Giggs, Ferguson was able to name Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez among the substitutes in midweek in the 2-1 aggregate victory over Lyon in the Champions League, with Cristiano Ronaldo's 30th goal of the season winning the second leg 1-0.

Rooney said in an interview on UEFA.com: "Last season we had a lot of injuries and we had a few players who played a lot of games and they were tired.

"Now we have a big squad so hopefully the rotation policy will help us. I think we are a lot fresher.

"A lot of players have not played so many games this season. We brought players in, the squad is bigger and we have not really got any serious injuries at the moment."

After brushing aside Roma 7-1 in the Champions League last eight at Old Trafford last year, United ran out of steam against AC Milan in the semi-finals, a combination of fatigue and injuries taking their toll.

It is a situation Ferguson is clearly determined to avoid in a bid to keep his squad fresh.

While the defence is largely settled he rotates his midfield and attack, with summer arrivals Nani, Anderson and Tevez giving him plenty of options.

Ronaldo, now the Champions League's joint leading scorer with six goals, believes the side is "more mature" than last year and Ferguson's ability to keep a harmonious squad while ringing the changes backs that up.

For the record, Benitez is approaching 300 changes to his side, match by match, from the first day of the season.

He is now on 298 and will almost certainly top that on Saturday against Newcastle.

DIC Confident Of Closing Deal For Liverpool

Tom Hicks is expected in London early next week to discuss the future of Liverpool with Dubai International Capital, with indications that that American's stance has softened somewhat and that a deal to sell the club could be imminent.

The club’s co-owner has been in a stand-off with DIC all week over their attempts to buy Liverpool for £400 million. However, he is now believed to have assured Amanda Staveley, DIC’s chief negotiator in the UK, which he will be prepared to talk business at the same time as Liverpool will be in Italy preparing for their Champions League match with Inter Milan.

By the time Liverpool return from the San Siro, the future ownership of the club could be known - and a DIC source appeared confident that a deal could be in the offing, saying: “We are in the end zone.”

DIC is the financial arm of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Staveley reports directly to him and chief executive Sameer al-Ansari - a lifelong Liverpool fan who has been the driving force behind two attempts to buy the club.

DIC have been encouraged today by claims that Hicks has agreed not to block the sale of his co-owner George Gillett’s 50 per cent holding.

Hicks has also intimated he is still not prepared to sell any of his stake - but DIC appear prepared to go with that suggestion, for now at least.

The source said: “To accommodate a deal, DIC, within reason, would accept certain agreements. It looks as if we are in the home straight. A deal involving both parties could be imminent.”

After a week of constant cross-Atlantic negotiations through Staveley, lawyers and accountants, DIC are confident they will eventually control Liverpool.

It is also believed that Gillett, who has wanted ’out’ for some while, is not willing to sell a small percentage of his stake to Hicks.

DIC dispatched a representative to Anfield last night to watch the Barclays Premier League match against West Ham from the Kop - where he was able to judge the mood of fans and hold general discussions with members of the ‘Spirit of Shankly’ group who have been campaigning for the end of the Americans’ rule at Anfield.

Fans chanted against the Americans before the game and at half-time, but not during the match or at the end.

Hicks Denies Gillett Talk

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has refuted claims he is open to George Gillett selling his stake in the club.

Reports had suggested Hicks would not stand in the way of Gillett selling his 50 per cent stake in the Anfield outfit.

Gillett is understood to be in negotiations with Dubai International Capital (DIC) concerning the potential sale of his shares, but required the backing of Hicks in order to complete any deal.

The two Americans entered into an agreement at the time of their purchase of the club that stipulated that if either of them should decide to walk away from Anfield then the other would have first refusal on buying their partner out.

Hicks' camp have now denied the suggestions that they have given Gillett the green light to sell his 50 per cent stake in Liverpool to DIC.

Hicks is believed to be sticking to his plan to try and obtain complete control of the Reds rather than parting with his stake in the club to DIC.

Liverpool Sweat On Mascherano But Voronin Back In Training

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano is reportedly doubtful to take part in tomorrow’s home game against Newcastle.

The Argentina international, who has been a key player for Rafa Benitez’s side, is said to have picked a muscle injury from the Reds’ 4-0 win over West Ham United on Wednesday night.

And with the Reds slated to play Inter Milan away in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday, Benitez is unlikely to risk the defensive midfielder.

Meanwhile forward Andriy Voronin is reportedly back in training after an ankle problem, but the Toon clash is too soon for the Ukrainian to make a comeback.

LiverpooL 4 - 0 West Ham United

Fernando Torres swept Liverpool back into the top four of the Premier League, on a night when the Kop made it clear they wanted the club's American owners to leave Anfield.

Torres, the shining light of Liverpool's season, became only the fourth player in the club's history to score hat-tricks in successive home matches.

But despite moving above city rivals Everton, the dark cloud of the war for control of the club was never far away at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Before and at half-time fans all around the ground sung and chanted their anger at the American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Fortunately Rafael Benitez's players - and Torres in particular - gave the supporters something to take their minds off the behind-the-scenes turmoil.

The Spanish striker was declared fit despite missing training all week with a stomach bug, while John Arne Riise and Alvaro Arbeloa came in at the expense of Fabio Aurelio and Sami Hyypia, following Sunday's win at Bolton.

Julien Faubert, suffering with an ankle injury following Claude Makelele's tackle in Chelsea's 4-0 win at Upton Park on Saturday, missed out for the visitors - Nolberto Solano took his place.

Liverpool were on the attack from the start, with West Ham prepared to concede space and leave Carlton Cole on his own up front.

The visitors had a half chance when Robert Green's clearance was nodded down by Cole and only half-hit at Jose Reina by Mark Noble.

But Liverpool were more decisive and Torres put them ahead after eight minutes, having already sent a header just over from Dirk Kuyt's knock-down.

The Reds took the lead when Kuyt's low cross from the right was volleyed fiercely past Green by Torres from 12 yards.

West Ham should have equalised after 13 minutes when Luis Boa Morte was played in on the left, but from a tight angle his shot was hooked over his own bar by Arbeloa.

Liverpool were always a threat out wide, and West Ham struggled to deal with the resulting crosses.

The same applied to corners and after 29 minutes Steven Gerrard fired one in from the left which Martin Skrtel, arriving fast at the near post, headed onto the roof of the net.

Seven minutes later Ryan Babel fashioned a cross from the left and Gerrard's close-range effort was superbly turned round a post by Green at full-stretch.

Cole was booked after 39 minutes when his flaying elbow caught Xabi Alonso on the head, while West Ham survived at the back until the break.

The Hammers continued to live dangerously after the break and only a fine save from Green stopped Babel after Gerrard had cleverly played the Dutchman into the box.

The hosts got their second goal on the hour - with Kuyt again the provider.

The Dutchman's chipped cross from the left enabled Torres to neatly lift a header into the top corner from six yards.

West Ham's own fans started to chant for an extra striker, declared their own side "boring" and subjected Alan Curbishley's men to chants of: "It's just like watching Charlton."

Liverpool sent on Yossi Benayoun for Kuyt after 62 minutes, with West Ham replacing the injured Matthew Upson with Jonathan Spector.

Torres saw a diving header hit a post, with Green scrambling to pick up the ball as it rolled across the six-yard box.

The visiting fans finally got their two strikers when Bobby Zamora and Dean Ashton replaced Solano and Cole - but it was too late.

Torres completed his hat-trick after 80 minutes when he took a knockdown from Riise to sidestep his way into the six-yard box before rolling the ball past Green.

The Spaniard's goal tally now reads 24 in 33 matches - 12 of them coming from his last 11 games.

Gerrard capped the win two minutes later, blasting home the fourth goal with a blistering drive from outside the box, as Liverpool eased back above Everton in the table.

Rafa Benitez: Liverpool Finding Form At Just The Right Time

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes his side are finding their form at a “crucial” point in the season after they ignored boardroom turmoil to regain fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.

The Reds moved above rivals Everton last night with a 4-0 win over West Ham and Benitez could manage a smile at last after a match.

For 90 minutes, Liverpool’s in-form stars gave their fans something else to think about rather than the takeover battle, which now seems to have reached stalemate.

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley admitted he had been forced into a near-crisis meeting in the dressing room with his team after their second four-goal drubbing in five days.

Benitez had Fernando Torres to thank as the Spaniard climbed from his sick-bed to grab his second successive home hat-trick, the first time a Liverpool player has done that in 62 years.

That took Torres’ total for the season to 24 in 33 games, while Steven Gerrard weighed in with his 18th of the campaign.

Now Liverpool must continue in this vein at home to Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle on Saturday to send themselves into next Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan full of confidence.

Benitez said: “It is good that we are running into form at a crucial time of the season.

“We are playing well as a team, working as a team, that is the difference in our play now.”

He added: “Torres is in great form and he is on fire. Everyone has confidence now that we will score.”

Liverpool have now won three league games on the trot, and Benitez said: “It is now in our own hands whether we qualify for the Champions League.

“But we need to win at home to Newcastle on Saturday so we can then turn our attention to Inter Milan in the Champions League next week high on confidence.”

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley was fuming afterwards, saying: “We made no impression on Liverpool in any area of the pitch.

“We have had two tough games against Chelsea and now Liverpool, and made no impression on either side. I expected it to be hard, but I did not expect it to be like this.

“But this is the first four days of our season that we have let ourselves down. These last two performances have not been good enough, so now we have to go to Tottenham on Sunday and get back on track.”

He added: “I heard our fans voicing their disapproval, they think that playing 4-5-1 is negative. But that is how Liverpool played tonight, even if they had top players who could change a game.

“A lot depends on the players that we have available and what suits them. We have been missing so many of our signings through injury, this is the best way for us to play.

“But we had a meeting in the dressing room, not a crisis one, but we needed to say that this cannot continue.”