English Premier League Preview: LiverpooL vs. Everton

Sunday brings the 178th Merseyside derby to Anfield with both sides having plenty to play for. The Merseyside neighbours are both vying for the fourth and final Champions League spot with Liverpool currently leading Everton by two points in the table. A win for Liverpool would establish a healthy lead over their neighbours and give them some breathing space ahead of their triple header with Arsenal; whilst a win for Everton would see them leapfrog their neighbours into fourth.

Earlier in the season, Liverpool won the derby 2-1 in a fractious game that had practically everything: an own goal, two red cards, a last minute penalty winner for Liverpool and an even later penalty claim for Everton turned down by the referee in the dying seconds.

Everton will be anxious to gain revenge for that match which they felt unlucky to lose and also to prevent Liverpool from doing the double over them for the third time in the Premier League. However, they will be conscious they have won only two of the last sixteen derbies and have not won at Anfield since 1999. Despite this, their away form in the league is good with only Chelsea and Manchester United having picked up more points on the road.

Liverpool will be eager to bounce back from last weekend’s mauling at the hands of Manchester United. They were on an excellent run of form before that game with seven wins out of seven and will be looking to regain their momentum, particularly with important Champions League fixtures looming.

If recent form is anything to go by Sunday’s referee Howard Webb will have a busy afternoon. This fixture has seen more red cards in the Premier League than any other, as Everton will remember to their cost from the last fixture when Hibbert and Neville were both sent off. Steven Gerrard will also be well aware of this fact, having already seen red twice in this fixture in his career already.

Whilst Liverpool will be desperate to beat their local rivals and make up for last weekend’s defeat, they do go into this fixture with one eye on the midweek Champions League game against Arsenal. Whether Benitez will be able to resist rotating his side remains to be seen, especially seeing as many of his players were on international duty in midweek. He will certainly be without Mascherano after his red card last week so Lucas may come in and Benayoun may feature. Torres should be fit despite picking up a knock against United and coming off early in midweek for Spain against Italy.

Everton were furious with the referee after the last Merseyside derby for refusing to send off Dirk Kuyt for a late challenge on Phil Neville and also for not awarding them a last minute penalty, and they will be desperate for a result at Anfield.

However, since being knocked out of the UEFA Cup against Fiorentina their form has dipped at this crucial stage of the season, losing to strugglers Fulham and only managing a draw against West Ham in their last two games. A point may not be enough either if they seriously want to be playing Champions League football next season so they will head to Anfield looking for the win and to ensure that their otherwise excellent season does not start to slip away from them.

Their situation is not helped by the news that Tim Cahill is out for the season with a broken metatarsal and his goals will be missed, particularly seeing as he has scored in the derby in the last three seasons.



FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

23 March v Man Utd (a) LOST 0-3

15 March v Reading (h) WON 2-1

8 March v Newcastle (h) WON 3-0

5 March v West Ham (h) WON 4-0

2 March v Bolton (a) WON 3-1

Everton

22 March v West Ham (h) DREW 1-1

16 March v Fulham (a) LOST 0-1

9 March v Sunderland (a) WON 1-0

2 March v Portsmouth (h) WON 3-1

25 Feb v Man City (a) Won 2-0



TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Mascherano is banned after his red card against Manchester United and Lucas may come into midfield. Torres should be fit after picking up minor knocks in recent weeks. Although manager Rafael Benitez has resisted the urge to rotate his team recently he may have an eye on the midweek Champions League game against Arsenal and could possibly make changes from the team that started at Old Trafford.

Everton

Tim Cahill is out and will be a big absence for the Toffees. Pienaar, Yobo and Johnson are also doubts which means Osman may retain his place in the side and Anichebe may start up front with top scorer Yakubu.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool: Steven Gerrard

After less than impressive performances against Manchester United last weekend and in midweek for England, the Liverpool skipper may just be in the mood to put things right against Everton. He will be looking to add to his tally of ten league goals for the season and to keep Everton well behind his team in the race for fourth place.

Everton: Andy Johnson

If Johnson can shrug off a groin injury he could be the man Everton look to for goals in this game. The last time Everton beat Liverpool Johnson scored twice and he remains the last Everton player to score in a Merseyside derby (Everton scoring through a Hyypia own goal earlier in the season). If he finds the net at Anfield it will be his 100th league goal which should prove a huge incentive.

Rafa: Three Signings Already Confirmed

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has been keen to reveal that he has already made headway in his bid to strengthen the club ahead of next season.

The Anfield Club are desperate to close the gap on the league's leading sides, and as such their manager has already got a jump on the summer transfer market, with a trio of new players already confirmed.

"We have agreements with two young players and one senior player who will be a starting XI player. That deal is already done," trumpeted Benitez. "We are also making plans for our preseason tour and talking to players here about new contracts."

The press have been speculating that the 'senior player' is likely Schalke's highly rated Brazilian full-back Rafinha, while the two youngsters are also believed to be South American in origin.

Perhaps more significantly than the signings themselves is that it strongly indicates that Benitez is planning for a future at Liverpool.

The Spanish tactician is said to be on the wishlists of several of La Liga's top clubs, and Inter Milan are also supposedly intent on luring him away from Anfield.

Arbeloa: Torres Deserves Award More Than Ronaldo

Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa believes that club mate and compatriot Fernando Torres deserves the Player of the Year award ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo is the favourite to win this year's individual honours - both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year, as well as the PFA Player of the Year - on the back of a season that has seen him score 35 goals already, and provide nearly as many assists.

However, Fernando Torres is not far behind, also having netted 27 this season, which is already the best by anyone in his debut season in the Premier League.

The Spaniard has adapted seamlessly to life in the English top tier, something even the likes of Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba failed to do, and Arbeloa believes that the striker deserves to be named the Player of the Year despite Ronaldo's heroics.

"Ronaldo's confidence level is so high everything he tries seems to come off and he is a step ahead of everyone else at the moment," he began, speaking on the club's official website.

"Alex Hleb of Arsenal and Chelsea's Joe Cole have also caught my eye but Torres has been massive for us.

"He has created a lot of goals for himself and is on a par with the best and I am sure he will be voted Footballer of the Year ahead of Ronaldo.

"He is an idol who has earned his stripes, particularly at Anfield, where he has scored most of his goals."

Awards such as these are often decided by the results of top European competitions, and with both involved in the Champions League, as well as set to feature in Euro 2008, there is everything to play for.

Parry Wants Quick End To Reds Saga

Rick Parry believes Liverpool's ownership saga is coming "to a head" and must now be resolved by the American co-owners as quickly as possible.

George Gillett revealed in an interview this week that his relationship with Tom Hicks had long since broken down, and Parry admits that he sees no way in which they can carry on as a partnership.

With Dubai International Capital reportedly keen to launch a full takeover of the Anfield club, Hicks has so far refused to do business unless he can retain a controlling share, while Gillett appears more amenable - claiming DIC would be "responsible" owners.

But whatever happens, Parry has called for matters to move quickly.

"I think it brings it to a head - clearly for the good of the club from where I sit," the Reds' chief executive told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"The hope will be that it's resolved quickly now, it's dragged on for long enough and the ideal would be to move to as speedy a resolution as possible."

Parry added: "All things are possible at the moment - somebody's got to sell, that's clear. If they're not able to co-exist then there needs to be a solution where one buys and one sells, or both sell.

"There aren't too many other possibilities but it's pretty clear that to carry on with the status quo is going to be extremely difficult."

Petulance Must Not Mar The Merseyside Derby

Most Evertonians will be familiar with the on-edge, slightly queasy feeling I have as we approach an end of season Merseyside derby with a lot at stake.

We approach these games with trepidation because, in our eyes at least, they have delivered some big injustices over the years. You won't spend long in the company of an Evertonian before talk turns to a disallowed late winner in the 1977 FA Cup semi-final and an Alan Hansen handball on the line in the 1984 Milk Cup Final.

Questions of refereeing are never far from the after-match analysis of a derby but today, of all days, I'm hoping the headlines are about the result, not the referee - especially after recent events.

The debate about players abusing referees is not new. But I sense it now has the potential to become a serious issue for the game. There is a real risk that the game is increasingly perceived as becoming arrogant and laced with a culture of disrespect.

The words of rugby league international Adrian Morley struck a chord: "Far too many footballers have been allowed to get away with this kind of petulance and ignorance for far too long. The referee's decision is final and the referee is always referred to as 'Sir', even now in Super League. Footballers should learn from us."

Footballers may be tempted to shrug their shoulders but that would be the wrong response. I would be the first to point out that football culture is different from rugby. No one expects footballers to be angels. As my old Sunday league team-mates would tell you, I was not averse to having a say on referees' decisions myself.

But some of the recent scenes of footballers berating referees go way too far and it's a terrible indictment of our top flight that abuse of referees in junior football is growing. Of course it doesn't end there. Every weekend in the Premier League we are treated to an array of diving that would make the talented Tom Daley proud.

So football needs to act decisively on respect for referees. I'm pleased that the FA, under the leadership of David Triesman, is facing up to the scale of this problem.

The Respect campaign being trailed at grassroots level bans anyone but captains talking to referees. Barnet, to their great credit, recently adopted the same approach and went on a fantastic run. There is a real case for its introduction in the professional game.

The now-established Professional Game Match Officials Board, which draws together the FA, Premier League and the Football League is another step in the right direction.

Everyone in football has a responsibility to take this campaign seriously, including the managers who appear to make referee-bashing their second job. It pains me to hear time and time again some managers failing to take responsibility for a team's defeat and blame the referee instead. So it was encouraging to hear Fabio Capello talking about the importance of respect in relation to the England team.

But David Moyes has a point too. He will strike a chord with supporters of many clubs when he calls for more openness when things go wrong and poor decisions made that can cost clubs dear. If that happened, perhaps it would encourage managers to be more temperate in their remarks.

Everybody accepts that referees will make mistakes. But people pay a lot of money to watch games and it would help take the heat out of these situations if there was more acknowledgement of mistakes.

Why is it all so important? Football is so prominent in our society that it affects the behaviour of young people. Young boys and girls who grow up watching their role models respect authority are much more likely to go on to respect authority in their life.

It matters because football's reputation is in question and the game risks losing support and standing.

But, if we don't get a grip, who will be the referees of the future? It is a thankless job and people will simply not turn out to do it if the reward is abuse. If there is a shortage of referees, there is the risk of people refereeing without sufficient experience at every level - that can only lead to more argument between players, managers and the authorities.

It is a vicious circle football needs to break - quickly.

Wenger Wary Of Torres Danger

Arsene Wenger knows his Arsenal side must be wary of "dangerous" Liverpool frontman Fernando Torres and pass a "test of character" when the two English sides go head to head for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The Gunners host the first leg of the all-Barclays Premier League affair on Tuesday night in what will be a run of three matches against the Reds, with a domestic fixture at Emirates Stadium to come in between on Saturday.

Even though the Arsenal manager accepts both sides know each other well, Wenger maintains there will be no chance of his men underestimating the challenge which lies ahead.

"I rate Torres," said Wenger of Liverpool's in-form Spanish frontman. "I believe he had quite a good start after a spell when he was in and out.

"Since he is back on a regular basis, he is extremely dangerous."

Wenger revealed: "We have known about him for a long time, but I never tried to sign him.

"We were interested when he first started at Atletico Madrid, but we never made any offer."

Wenger maintains the familiarity of the opposition means mental focus will have a big influence.

"When you play a 'local' team in the European Cup it is a test of character. We know we can do it, but who wants it the most?" he said.

"Against an English team the competition is always different. You come back more to a formula - the mental strengths of the two teams will make all the difference in the game.

"We know each other well, so there are two things which will make the difference - the quantity of the mental strengths available in the teams and how well the players who can make a decision perform.

"We play each other three times in six days and it will be a case of 'who is ready again'?"

Wenger accepts preparation for the tie will be similar to what would happen in the build-up to a Premier League game, but with a different approach to the games themselves, given it is effectively a cup competition.

"You know in this game - a direct knockout - the goal conceded at home is the killer," he said.

"In a league game you think even if you can concede a goal you can still win it.

"So we have to be organised, cautious and make sure you defend well first before you attack."

Having knocked holders AC Milan out in the last round, following a goalless draw at Emirates and then a fine 2-0 win in Italy, Wenger accepts it will take another composed all-round display to see off the Reds, who won the Champions League in 2005 and reached last year's final.

"Liverpool will be more rough, more edgy and difficult to penetrate," he observed.

"Milan was a confrontation of two similar styles where we were better. Against Liverpool we will have to win the physical battle as well.

"They can raise their game and it is a team which at home can dig deep and produce a result."

Wenger noted: "We want to win the game on Tuesday, but 0-0 is never a disappointing result at home in the first leg because it puts the team who plays against you at home under huge pressure.

"They play with the idea that if they concede a goal they are out. That puts them a little bit in between - do we go for it or do we wait? It gives you a good chance."

Chelsea await the winners in the semi-finals, should they come through against Fenerbahce. Manchester United take on Roma in the other half of the draw.

Wenger - who guided his men to the European Cup final two seasons ago - sees no reason why there should not be Premier League representation again in Moscow.

"Certainly one English if not two will be in the final this year," he said.

"We were in the final in 2006 and we can come there again."

Penitent Mascherano Says Sorry To Referee After Being Fined By Club

Javier Mascherano has written to the referee Steve Bennett to apologise for the persistent dissent that caused him to be sent off against Manchester United last Sunday. The Liverpool midfielder, whose dismissal after running 20 yards to harangue Bennett was the low point of a petulant display, has been fined £20,000 by the club but also faces a Football Association charge and has asked for a personal hearing, at which he could have his one-match ban increased to three.

"The player wants to show that he has apologised," said Rafael Benítez, who will be without Mascherano against Everton tomorrow. "He accepts he lost control after the sending-off and has said sorry to the referee. I have also talked with him now and told him he would be fined by the club, and he has accepted that and wants the money donated to charity.

"It is clear that Javier is a player who was working hard and playing well. He was giving balance to us. Normally when a player is playing at this level you will miss him, but I have a lot of confidence in Lucas [Leiva], or [Peter] Crouch and [Andriy] Voronin, if we want to change the system."

Benítez does not consider indiscipline to be a problem among his players and trusts them to act with maturity amid the passion of Anfield. "You can see our record during the season. We didn't have any problems and you could see that was not the case with some other sides.

"[Tomorrow] is a derby and people will be more excited but the players have experience. We say before all the games, try and do the right things, watch the tackles, don't have problems with the referees."

Everton will be without their midfielder Tim Cahill for the rest of the season with a broken metatarsal. "It is the same toe he has broken before but, from what I've been told, I don't think it's a really big problem for his future," said his manager, David Moyes. "Tim has not had a rest from football for a good while with World Cups, Asia Cups, Confederation Cups etc, and maybe the workload has taken its toll. He will have an operation soon and a summer to recover."

Everton have taken one point from their past two games and Moyes conceded yesterday that they might ultimately have to settle for fifth place. "Our first priority is to finish fifth at worst, so that we can at least get back into Europe again," he said.

The Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom admits he would relish a summer move to Everton. "At this moment I'm focusing on playing well in France," he told L'Equipe. "England? Maybe. It's a great championship, so why not? And why not Everton? They're a great club who play at the top of the Premier League table. You never know. We'll see next summer, after the European Championship."

Talking Tactics: Steven Gerrard's Deja Vu

Steven Gerrard will suffer a severe case of deja vu if David Moyes gets his way at Anfield.

The Everton manager will have noticed how Liverpool captain was so successfully stifled by Claude Makelele when England played France in Paris the other night and he will ask Lee Carsley to perform a similar role today.

Gerrard has really been hitting it off playing 10 or 15 yards deeper than Fernando Torres for Liverpool because he has been granted the time and space in 'the hole' to drive forward.

Makelele ensured Gerrard didn't get either at the Stade de France by fulfilling the role of anchorman in exemplary fashion. He hardly moved from his post in front of the back four, an area Gerrard was out to exploit and so his opponent hardly got into the game.

Gerrard has been successful in that role with Liverpool because he doesn't have to deal with Makelele every week but Carsley is one of the nearest things you'll get to the French international.

Carsley might not be as disciplined as Makelele and he does like to wander forward but, on this occasion, he will be told to smother Gerrard and generally get in his way to make his afternoon an awkward one.

There is, however, a way for Gerrard to get the better of a good solid operator like Carsley and that will be to launch his attacks from a wider berth in the old outside right position and the same could apply when he's on England duty.

That's an area where he used to do best attacking work for Liverpool before Torres arrived and maybe Rafael Benitez will want him to return to his old ways in the derby so he can be more influential for his club than he was his country.

The way Gerrard plays will probably prove pivotal to how the game unfolds and maybe who finishes fourth and fifth this season.

Sometimes it appears as if David Moyes has his team playing the match in quarters. For starters, he'll adopt more direct tactics which are designed to force opposing defences to turn around. Only then will his team's pass-and-move tactics kick in as things settle down and opposing defenders have been given the run-around. It's a process that is repeated after half-time with the change in tactics so finely tuned it's as if the players hear an alarm clock.

Meanwhile, Carragher knows he won't have to chase Yakubu out wide because the Nigerian striker rarely wanders out to the wings, instead preferring to make angled runs between the centre-halves because he's quick on to the ball, strong, sharp and has a terrific eye for goal. He also has a powerful shot.

Rafa Benitez Focused Despite Anfield Board Rift

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says he will not be distracted by boardroom turmoil as he prepares for a massively important Premier League game against Everton tomorrow.

Off-field matters are grabbing the headlines after co-owner George Gillett described his relationship with Tom Hicks as "unworkable".

Gillett said Hicks' admission that they had courted Jurgen Klinsmann as a possible replacement for Benitez at the end of last year, was a key reason why he had received death threats.

"This partnership has been unworkable," Gillett said. "We have tried to be co-operative, we have tried to be supportive but when your public persona is more important than the facts, which make it difficult to have a rational relationship.

"We were very fair. We gave our partner a long period of time to try to make arrangements to buy us out. We didn't put pressure on him but he ultimately did not get to the finish line. Because of the things he said, the fans' reaction has been so negative towards him and towards us if we sold to him, which has now made that an untenable alternative for us.

"He threatened to block me selling to Dubai - that was certainly one of the things that made the fans upset.

"Lord knows, DIC have the money with oil prices going up every day, that's not an issue. They certainly have the history and they are fans. I think they would have been very responsible owners."

Ahead of the derby, Benitez said: "There is nothing I can do but concentrate on the game and prepare properly. I will just be thinking about Everton."

Benitez also said that Javier Mascherano, who has admitted a charge of improper conduct for his reaction to being sent off on Sunday, has been fined £20,000 by the club, with the money going to charity. Mascherano yesterday asked the FA for a personal hearing which is expected to take place in London next Friday.

Benitez said: "Javier knows he made a big mistake, he apologised to his team-mates and the supporters and he has now apologised to the referee. He accepts he lost control after the sending-off."

Liverpool Fine Javier Mascherano £100,000 For Red Card

Liverpool have fined midfielder Javier Mascherano after he admitted a Football Association charge of improper conduct following his sending-off away to Manchester United last weekend.

Mascherano today asked for a personal hearing which is expected to take place in London next Friday. But today Anfield boss Rafael Benitez also revealed that Mascherano had been fined by the club - believed to be the maximum two weeks’ wages of around £100,000 - with the 23-year-old asking that the money be donated to charity.

Benitez said today: “Javier is a fantastic professional and he knows he made a big mistake, he apologised to his team-mates and the supporters and he has now apologised to the referee.

“He accepts he lost control after the sending-off and has said sorry to the referee. I have also talked with him now and told him he would be fined by the club, and he has accepted that and wants the money donated to charity.

“We would like a personal hearing now. This was the first red card of our season and we do not have problems of this kind. We will now await the outcome of the hearing and the lawyers are now working on it.”

Mascherano will serve an initial one-match ban in the Merseyside derby on Sunday. It is possible that that suspension could be extended for two more matches if he loses the appeal.

George Gillett Claims Liverpool FC Fans Have Sent Him Death Threats

Liverpool Football Club’s joint owner George Gillett said he and his wife have received death threats from angry fans.

The American said supporters made the telephoned threats in the middle of the night because of the club’s ongoing turmoil.

Gillett, 69, confirmed that his partnership with Tom Hicks - who also owns 50% of the historic club - had completely broken down and had been untenable for some time.

He spoke for the first time about the controversy surrounding Anfield on a Canadian radio station.

He said Hicks, 62, threatened to block a proposed sale of his shareholding to Dubai International Capital - a move widely supported by Reds fans.

Referring to Hicks’s disclosure that manager Rafael Benitez’s job was offered to ex-Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann last year, Gillett said: “We get as many as 2,000 emails a week.

“I would say 95% of them have been directed at some of the comments made by my partner and 5% aimed at both of us, ’Go home Americans’.”

He added: “The fans don’t want him to have even one share of my stake in the club, based on what they are sending to me.

“As a result of that we have received many phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives - death threats.”

Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team and Nascar racing team, bought Britain’s Liverpool football club with Hicks in February 2007.

Tom Hicks And George Gillett Take Centre Stage Ahead Of Merseyside Derby

Liverpool confront the most important 10 days of their season with the club’s ongoing boardroom crisis again grabbing centre stage in the build-up to Sunday’s crucial Merseyside derby.

A showdown with Everton will be followed by three games against Arsenal - two in the Champions League - which will stretch Liverpool to the limits.

With the repercussions of Javier Mascherano’s red-card tantrum at Old Trafford more than enough for boss Rafael Benitez to contend with, he was ambushed by co-owner George Gillett’s extraordinary claims that he has been the victim of death threats over his desire to sell his stake in the club.

As if facing their fired-up rivals from across Stanley Park was not enough of a challenge to overcome, once again an American owner has shown scant regard for timing.

Tom Hicks’ battle to fight off Dubai International Capital’s bid to buy the club dominated the last few months, and now on the eve of the 207th derby - one of the most important in history - Gillett’s astonishing claims from across the Atlantic threaten to deflect Liverpool’s concentration.

Benitez did his level best today to straight-bat probing questions.

He said: “I have been told about the comments (from George Gillett), but my response is to be really focused on the derby, that is all that I am concerned about.

“But if we win everything will be happier, particularly if it is against Everton.”

He added: “Whatever comments are made there is nothing I can do but concentrate on the game and prepare properly.

“I will just be thinking about Everton. I put it out of my mind by working on the games, analysing our opponents and I do not talk too much with anyone. All I want is to have 11 players fit for the game.”

He will be without Mascherano, serving an initial one-match ban for the red card against Manchester United, which has been followed by an FA charge for improper conduct, which the Argentina midfielder has admitted.

Mascherano has also been fined two weeks’ wages - donated to charity - and has requested a personal hearing in London next week despite the guilty plea.

He can expect another two matches added to that suspension, regardless of the work being put in by lawyers, to whom Benitez is no doubt grateful to pass on the problem.

Brazilian youngster Lucas can expect to be hurled into the cauldron of a Merseyside war in Mascherano’s place, with Benitez confident he can cope.

Benitez said: “Lucas can come in for Mascherano. He played well against Inter Milan, so why can he not play well against Everton? He can do the job.”

Liverpool, two points clear of fifth-placed Everton, dare not allow the Toffees to take anything away from Anfield.

With behaviour and respect at the top of the current agenda, a Merseyside derby could potentially be a fixture everyone at Anfield would rather have avoided.

But Benitez says: “We do not have problems as a club. People are talking about the number of red and yellow cards, but the players know how to behave.

“They know they must do things properly, they must challenge, but not foul. I have not felt the need to talk to the players about such disciplinary issues because we have a good record this season.

“We will approach the games from now on just like before. We will play with the heart and also the head.

“We do not need to change too many things. The behaviour of the team all season has been good, and just because it is a derby next does not mean things will be different.

“The key now and the message for everyone is to try to support our team and for the players to be good professionals.”

He added: “The game is really important for both clubs, with a position in the top four at stake. It may have more passion than before, if that is possible.

“There needs to be discipline, we have not had problems during the season and our behaviour has been very good.”

Benitez does not believe that a Liverpool win will end Everton’s challenge.

He says: “I do not think that if we win it will kill off Everton. They are winning a lot of games and they are near the top of the table. These games are different, exciting for everyone.

“We must continue winning games in succession regardless of the result, we have to keep going.”

Inter Rule Out Benitez Approach

Massimo Moratti has rubbished reports linking Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with the Inter Milan job.

Speculation remains rife about Inter manager Roberto Mancini's future after he announced in the aftermath of the Champions League defeat to Liverpool that he would step down at the end of the season.

He later made a made a U-turn and decided to stay after holding talks with Inter president Moratti, but speculation has continued about a possible change.

The future of Liverpool boss Benitez has also been the subject of conjecture for some time, while Mourinho has been linked with several jobs since leaving Chelsea.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli is another name reportedly in the frame to come to come in for Mancini, but Moratti insists there is no truth in any of the rumours.

"These are all baloney," Moratti said. "Despite what you are saying and writing, there has been nothing.

"These would all be things to deny, but we have not got the patience to do it.

"I hope these rumours do not have an influence on Saturday's performance because we have a big game against Lazio."

Torres Fit For Derby Clash

Fernando Torres has overcome any fears that his fitness would be in doubt for Sunday’s 207th Merseyside derby with Everton at Anfield.

Top scorer Torres needed precautionary scans on back and ankle knocks after the controversial defeat at Manchester United last weekend. The Spaniard only played 50 minutes of his country’s win over Italy in midweek, an agreement that boss Rafael Benitez had struck with Spain boss Luis Aragones.

Torres looked sharp in the international and will play against Everton. Javier Mascherano will be suspended, while Steve Finnan is close to a return after a groin problem. Yossi Benayoun scored in Israel’s midweek 1-0 win over Chile to stake his claim for a place in the side, while John Arne Riise is also in contention, having been on the bench for the past three games.

Provisional squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Arbeloa, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Lucas, Torres, Kuyt, Voronin, Crouch, Pennant, Itandje.

Gerrard Out To Make England Striker Role His Own

Steven Gerrard will need more time to fully adapt to being the second striker for England - but the Liverpool captain is confident he can 'make things happen' in the role behind Wayne Rooney.

Gerrard played just behind Wayne Rooney in Wednesday night's 1-0 defeat against France in Paris and looked dangerous in the first half when Fabio Capello's side dominated possession, before falling behind to a Franck Ribery penalty.

He has enjoyed success in the position in partnership with Fernando Torres at club level but concedes he is still learning what is required if he is to become fully effective.

Gerrard said: 'I've been playing that role for Liverpool. I've been enjoying it. To play with players like Torres and Rooney is always a pleasure, and I'm involved and I can get forward.

'I don't know if it's my best position. I'm a central midfielder; I've played there all my life but I do feel as if I can cause problems in there and I can adapt to the role - but I'll need more time.

'I am still learning that position. I think I've played it 10 to 15 times but I am confident I can make it happen in there.'

Gerrard believes Rooney, who has sparkled himself in the past in the second striker role, will have to adapt his game and play further forward.

He said: 'I think Wayne slightly has to adapt his game as well - because, for me to get space in there and for it to work, he has to play a lot higher and stretch the defence.

'I think that is why I and Torres are having a lot of joy, because he is so direct and plays high up.

'With two holding midfielders behind us, the team are a lot more secure when they lose the ball. Wayne will have to adapt his game - but if anyone can do it, it is him.

'I've seen him do it with Manchester United. He destroyed us at the weekend with his direct running and making it difficult for defenders. I am sure both of us can make it work.

'It is going to take time. We've had two games together, four or five training sessions - and it is a brand new set-up, not just the manager but the whole coaching side.

'It will take time for us to adapt to each other, but I think there were signs of improvement there against France.'

Gerrard can see positive indications from the two games Capello has been in charge - but has called for patience in giving time for things to gel.

He said: 'You don't want to lose a football match. But you look at the game as a whole, and there was a slight improvement on the performance against Switzerland.

'It is all about patience and getting used to what the manager wants. I think there were signs of that in Paris, certainly in the first half.

'We were happy, controlling the game. But we conceded a stupid goal - which we will have to eradicate in the future.

'The message is that everyone has to be patient. We need time to work on different formations and tactics.'

The intention is that England are ready to start the World Cup qualifying campaign as a well-organised team.

'The important thing is we peak in September,' said Gerrard.

'We all know when the important games are in the World Cup qualifiers, but it is important now to start getting it right before we go into those games.

'The manager wants us to be a lot more aggressive without the ball and pass it a lot more - and we controlled the game first half.

'Without the ball, France couldn't play. Up until the goal, which was a stupid goal to concede, we were comfortable and in charge.'

Arbeloa Admits 'Inhumane' Start

Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa has described his first few weeks under manager Rafa Benitez as 'inhumane'.

Arbeloa joined the Reds for £2.5million from Deportivo La Coruna in January 2007 and the Spanish international admits he was shocked by his first few weeks.

But the right-back - who made his debut for Spain in Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Italy - insists he is now settled on Merseyside ahead of Sunday's crucial derby with Everton at Anfield, which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1.

Arbeloa has made 35 appearances for Liverpool this season after taking advantage of the injury and inconsistent form of Steve Finnan, but he admits he struggled to settle in his early days in England.

"I didn't know where I was in my first week with Liverpool," Arbeloa told the Daily Mail.

"It went badly, and the image I remember from those early days is of the manager (Benitez) criticising everything I did, from the way I did some basketball practice to how I played my football.

"My first fortnight at the club was inhumane, but I am grateful to him now for filling me in on how the team works. It is a well-run club and I found it easy to adapt to their way of working.

"People say the manager is grumpy but I have only seen that once. He is serious-minded, though, and I can assure you nobody enjoys themselves during the training sessions."

Arbeloa has also described Jamie Carragher as Liverpool's 'boss' in the dressing room, but insists Steven Gerrard is the team's on-field leader.

"Jamie is the true boss in the changing room," Arbeloa added. "He orders everyone around and yells a lot but, to be fair, he has a CV equal to Fernando Hierro's for Real Madrid and the Spain national team. He sees and hears everything and keeps us informed about what is happening.

"Gerrard is also important. He is like Zinedine Zidane - a genius who doesn't like to be the centre of attention. He is the first to make runs, to lend a hand or to get stuck in when necessary."

Transfer Talk

Xabi Alonso has handed Liverpool a major boost ahead of Sunday's Merseyside deby by insisting he wants to stay at Anfield.

Real Madrid are among the club in Spain interested in the Reds midfielder but he has no intention of leaving the Premier League outfit.

There have been fears on the Kop that influential Alonso would be lured to la Liga but he is adamant he is happy to play under the command of Rafael Benitez as he sees a bright future ahead under the Spanish boss.

Liverpool are preparing a major spending offensive in the summer and David Bentley, the heir apparent to David Beckham in the England side, is at the top of their list.

But Blackburn are determined to keep a firm grip on their prize asset and manager Mark Hughes will not let him leave Ewood Park unless the fee is exorbitant.

Ipswich are favourites to sign Northern Ireland crackerjack David Healy as he will be allowed to leave Fulham at the end of the season but Crystal Palace and Derby could also be interested.

West Ham defender John Pantsil will also be looking for new employers in the summer as he is determined to leave Upton Park for regular first-team football.

But Manchester United defender Jonny Evans is happy to stay at Sunderland on a permanent transfer after enjoying his loan spell at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats could move for Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson, who wants to leave the Riverside Stadium for first-team football.

And Andreas Isaksson and Kasper Schmeichel are both edgy at Eastlands as they cannot see a way part first-choice Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Deadline Extended For Mascherano

The Football Association will allow Javier Mascherano an extra 24 hours to respond to his improper conduct charge.

The Liverpool midfielder will now have until 6pm on Friday to answer the charge as he has been on international duty with Argentina.

Mascherano was charged by the FA for his reaction towards referee Steve Bennett following his sending-off against Manchester United on Sunday.

He will serve a one-match ban and could miss two more games if found guilty.

The date for the case - scheduled to be heard by a regulatory commission - has been brought forward to Thursday 3 April.

Mascherano, 23, appeared to question Bennett's decision to caution Fernando Torres, and was then shown a second yellow card himself.

The Argentine will definitely miss Sunday's Merseyside derby at Anfield.

If the charge is upheld then he will also miss Premier League games against Arsenal on 5 April and Blackburn eight days later.

Liverpool 'Too Reliant' On Stars

Former Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz says the Reds are too reliant on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to challenge for the Premier League.

The 33-year-old, now at Blackburn, won three trophies with Liverpool in 2001 but was one of the first to leave the club when Rafa Benitez joined in 2004.

"If Gerrard and Torres are not playing at their best, you hardly see where the goals are coming from," Henchoz said.

"They probably need two or three very good players if they want to compete."

Gerrard and Torres have scored 30 of Liverpool's 55 league goals this season.

Their title hopes were effectively dashed against Manchester United last Sunday when a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford put them 14 points behind the reigning champions with seven games left.

Henchoz left Anfield in January 2005 - just seven months after Benitez took over - and the defender made no secret of his anger at the way he had been treated by the Spaniard.

The 33-year-old has not been impressed by Benitez's squad rotation policy this season.

"The rotation system sometimes in the league was not the best," said the Swiss speaking at the Liverpool leg of BBC Your Game.

"They drew too many times and if they kept their best XI, they would have won a few more games."

On a personal level, Henchoz is on the verge of a comeback from a disrupted season at Ewood Park where he has had two operations on an injured knee.

But with his contract up at the end of the season, he has already begun planning for the future.

"I've been injured since September, (I've had) two operations and it did not go well at all," he said.

"I'm hoping to be back in first-team training next week, and then it's nearly the end of the season so I will try to get back and play a few reserve games in April and then see what happens.

"But I'm starting a coaching badge next week with some lads at Blackburn, but that takes a couple of years to do that. Then maybe, if the opportunity comes, why not try management?"

Stephane Henchoz attended Your Game in Liverpool as a guest of the Swiss Embassy in London. The Swiss Embassy are supporting Your Game by taking the 2008 Your Game All Stars to Switzerland during the European Championship.

Torres Injury Worry For Liverpool After Materazzi Clash

Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of star striker Fernando Torres after he was replaced at half-time during the Spain clash with Italy following a challenge from Azzurri defender Marco Materazzi.

The Spaniard had scans on rib and ankle injuries following Liverpool's match against Manchester United at the weekend and, following a session with the national team's physio on Monday, only returned to training on Tuesday.

The Italian defender's lunge looked to connect with Torres' right ankle - the same one that had concerned the striker following the game at Old Trafford.

Torres had been at the centre of a row during the incident-packed United match with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez saying after the match that the forward was substituted for his own protection following some hefty challenges from the United defenders.

Liverpool will now have to wait for the 24-year-old to return from international duty so that he can be assessed by club doctors.

An injury to the striker, who has spearheaded the Reds attack with 27 goals so far this season, would be a serious blow to Liverpool at this key stage of the season.

Their next four games are Sunday's Merseyside derby before three matches against Arsenal including the Champions League quarter-final ties.

David Villa hit a spectacular volley to earn Spain a 1-0 win over world champions Italy.

The Valencia striker, who replaced Torres at half-time, fired the ball into the top corner past Gianluigi Buffon 13 minutes from time after Fabio Cannavaro had failed to get enough distance with his headed clearance.