Match Report: LiverpooL 3 - 1 PSV Eindhoven

Steven Gerrard grabbed his 100th Liverpool goal to leave his side with their Champions League destiny in their own hands after a convincing Group D victory at Anfield.

Back-to-back games with Atletico Madrid now follow, and after the Spanish side's win over Marseille, those matches will almost certainly decide who wins the group.

Liverpool have won their first two group matches for the first time, and cruised to victory.

Robbie Keane scored his first goal for the club after 11 blank games since his £20million move from Tottenham, and Gerrard smashed home the third to grab his century of Liverpool goals.

And Dirk Kuyt got in on the act with his 10th goal in 16 Champions League games for the club.

But frankly, Liverpool never got out of second gear against the outclassed Dutch champions.

Benitez recalled Fabio Aurelio to left-back in place of Andrea Dossena, the only change from the side that won the Merseyside derby at Everton on Saturday.

It meant Javier Mascherano was left on the bench - despite recovering from a calf injury - for the manager's 250th game in control at Anfield.

PSV made three changes from side that beat Eredivisie bottom club Volendam at the weekend, with striker Danny Koevermans sacrificed for extra defensive strength.

Nordin Amrabat, Jason Culina and Otman Bakkal came into a side that included former Liverpool defender Jan Kromkamp.

With their side previously unbeaten this term, it was no surprise that there was an air of expectation around Anfield, and after four minutes the Kop got the start they wanted.

Gerrard's first corner, from the right, was met by a Fernando Torres first-time shot. He was criminally unmarked with Jeremie Brechet hopelessly adrift of his prey.

Somehow Andreas Isaksson blocked the Spaniard's effort, only for Dirk Kuyt to ram home the rebound from 10 yards.

Xabi Alonso tried another of his trademark 60-yard efforts, with Isaksson having to back-track to catch the ball, before Keane had a good penalty shout turned down when he was caught by Carlos Salcido.

Kuyt tested Isaksson again, this time with a 20-yard effort on the turn that the former Manchester City goalkeeper held low to his left.

Torres then headed wide from an Aurelio corner, before setting up Keane for his first Liverpool goal.

It came after 34 minutes when Kuyt's hard work sent Torres away down the right. When the low cross arrived in the box, it was met by Keane first-time, his shot speeding into the far bottom corner of the net.

Anfield erupted, Keane having finally netted on his 11th appearance for the club. His joy was obvious as he was mobbed by his colleagues.

PSV needed to do better after the break to rescue some pride. They brought on young defender Erik Peters for Jeremie Brechet, and at last started to come forward with some conviction.

Bakkal saw a 25-yard shot fizz just wide, before Salcido's tackle on Torres sent the Spaniard spinning to the turf, and a hush fell over the stadium until he struggled painfully to his feet.

Amrabat, who had battled away bravely on his own in attack, then unleashed a fierce 20-yard effort which thudded just wide.

Torres should have ended the debate after 65 minutes when Kromkamp's wayward pass put him clear - but his flick past Isaksson drifted inches wide of the far post.

The game was seemingly meandering to an inevitable conclusion, with Yossi Benayoun now on for Riera.

Gerrard was the next to try his luck, lifting a shot over from just outside the box, before Lucas replaced Keane.

Dirk Marcellis was booked for a foul on Torres, and that paved the way for Gerrard to grab his 100th goal for Liverpool after 75 minutes, smashing a fierce 25-yarder past Isaksson, to the acclaim of the Kop.

But PSV hit back three minutes later, when substitute Balazs Dzsudzsak crossed from the right.

The ball cleared Jamie Carragher to allow Koevermans to get to it ahead of Skrtel, and he headed past Jose Reina from 10 yards.

Ryan Babel replaced Gerrard with nine minutes to go - and the Reds comfortably saw out the closing stages of the match.

Unfashionable Dirk Kuyt Winning Over His Liverpool Critics

David Moores has probably been too busy beating himself up over his decision to sell his beloved Liverpool to a couple of cowboys to remember some of the better things he did for the club during his 16-year stay as chairman.

Moores is known to be deeply upset by the manner in which Liverpool’s name has been dragged through the mud under the ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, but while the danger is that he will be remembered — however harshly — as the man who sold a great institution, offering to dig his hands deep into his pockets to fund the £9 million signing of Dirk Kuyt was one of his more sensible decisions.

It has not always seemed that way. Kuyt is about as unfashionable as a player at a top-four club could be, the one who is easy to malign or target when things are not going well, the one whose name children will usually decide against having printed on the back of their replica shirts when it is far more glamorous — and acceptable in the eyes of schoolfriends — to plump for Torres or Gerrard.

But where once the gushing assessment of Kuyt’s qualities that Rafael Benítez delivered during the build-up to last night’s Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven would once have invited scepticism, the Dutchman is winning round his critics. There is still some doubt as to whether Benítez signed Kuyt from Feyenoord principally as a goalscorer or simply a stopgap as he waited for someone better to come along.

Having scored 116 goals in the four seasons before his move to Liverpool, Kuyt had pedigree as a striker, although if PSV are anything to go by, maybe we should no longer read too much into success in the Eredivisie in the Netherlands. Instead, Kuyt’s reincarnation as a right winger has owed everything to a remarkable work ethic and a willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good of the team.

Rumours abound that Kuyt may leave Merseyside soon, with Hamburg one of the clubs eager to secure his services, but his loss to Liverpool would be more keenly felt than many might believe. He will never dazzle on the right flank as Cristiano Ronaldo does for Manchester United, but there are few more consistent performers in Benítez’s team than the 28-year-old and while the goals may be harder to come by now than they were in the Netherlands, he retains an ability to score at important junctures, as he did against Standard Liège in qualifying for the Champions League group phase and again last night.

Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard stole the headlines but Kuyt, understated as he is, would probably not have it any other way.

Stevie, Robbie And Rafa On Landmark Goals

Liverpool obtained six points from six in the Champions League with an impressive 3-1 over PSV at Anfield. Robbie Keane scored his first goal for the club while Steven Gerrard scored his 100th on a landmark night for the Reds.

Steven Gerrard finally broke his 99 duck for Liverpool after failing to score in his last two outings. To his brace in Marseille, he added another strike tonight - a stunning 74mph effort from 25 yards into the Kop.

The Liverpool captain was quick to shrug off the significance of his ton-goal and instead paid tribute to his colleagues and declare his happiness with the result. While thanking the team's supporters, he eyed more major silverware for the Reds.

He told Sky Sports: "It's fantastic for me but we came to win the game and to get in the driving seat in the group.

"It's always a fantastic feeling scoring in front of the Kop and it's nice to say 'thank you' for their support over the years."

"If you win matches and play well your belief grows and we are very confident we can win. There's a good bond off the pitch and we're all in it together.

"But we've won nothing. It's a good start but it's important to put silverware on table this year - we've gone two years without."

Robbie Keane went 10 games without a goal for Liverpool, but got off the mark tonight with a half-volley that had him spinning cartwheels. He is pleased to have scored, but is not overly concerned with its significance, and hopes it is the first of many.

He said: "It's great. I've got a monkey off my back, it's been a few games. It's always nice to get the first goal but I wasn't too worried about it, it was just people talking. I hope I score a lot more for this club."

Steven Gerrard Tells Liverpool: Now Let's Get Silverware

Steven Gerrard scored his 100th goal for Liverpool in tonight’s 3-1 Champions League romp against PSV Eindhoven and then demanded his team back up their fine start to the season with silverware.

Gerrard blasted in a 25-yard free-kick to reach his landmark and claim the Reds’ third, after strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Robbie Keane - his first for the club - put them in control. Danny Koevermans struck a late consolation for the beleaguered visitors.

Liverpool now have a perfect six points in Group D and have made their best start to a Premier League season - but Gerrard shrugged off talk of his personal achievements to call for his team-mates to continue their rampant form.

“It’s fantastic for me but we came to win the game and to get in the driving seat in the group,” he told Sky Sports.

“It’s always a fantastic feeling scoring in front of the Kop and it’s nice to say ’thank you’ for their support over the years.”

The Reds skipper added: “If you win matches and play well your belief grows and we are very confident we can win. There’s a good bond off the pitch and we’re all in it together.

“But we’ve won nothing. It’s a good start but it’s important to put silverware on table this year - we’ve gone two years without.”

Keane was delighted to score his first goal for the Reds in his 11th match, but insisted he had not been overly concerned by his drought.

“It’s great. I’ve got a monkey off my back, it’s been a few games,” the striker told Sky Sports.

“It’s always nice to get the first goal but I wasn’t too worried about it, it was just people talking.

“I hope I score a lot more for this club.”

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was thrilled to see Gerrard reach his century of goals and then insisted the 28-year-old could conceivably double his tally.

“Going forward he is one of the best midfielders in the world,” he said.

“Today, (he got his) 100th goal, he is still young and can maybe score 200.”

Benitez: Reds Nearly There

Rafael Benitez believes if Liverpool win in his home city of Madrid in their next Champions League group match on October 22 they will have one foot in the knockout stage.

The Liverpool manager thinks one more point after that will see them qualify from Group D after watching his side secure a convincing 3-1 victory over out-classed Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven at Anfield Wednesday night.

The Spaniard said: "We have four games left in the group now, and we know from experience that you must fight to the bitter end. But I believe that 10 points will now be enough to see us into the next stage. We will try to win our next match away to Atletico Madrid, and then maybe just one more point will do."

Benitez hailed Liverpool's best-ever start to a group stage campaign. Coming after the opening win in Marseille last month, this is the first time Liverpool have taken a six-point maximum from their opening two matches at this stage.

With Atletico Madrid's win against Marseille, Liverpool and the Spanish club are now in a very strong position at the head of the group to both reach the knockout stage.

Benitez saw Robbie Keane score his first goal for the club, and skipper Steven Gerrard his 100th, after Dirk Kuyt had opened the scoring, before substitute Danny Koevermans grabbed a late consolation for the visitors.

Benitez said: "It was almost the perfect night. It was a really good game for us with lots of positive things, a solid performance with balance and quality.

"Now we must keep on winning. This is a very good start for us, different maybe from last season when we did not start our group matches that well.

"I was pleased for Robbie Keane. Now he has got his first European goal for us, I hope he will now score his first Premier League goal. I know Robbie will score a lot more goals for us in the future, so this was just the first step for him.

"I was pleased also for Steven Gerrard. For a midfielder to score 100 goals is very impressive. He is amongst the very best offensive midfield players anywhere."

Former 'Pool Defender Claims Reds Can Go All The Way

Dutch defender Jan Kromkamp has confirmed his belief that former club Liverpool have the necessary credentials to re-claim the Champions League at the end of the season.

Dutch full back Jan Kromkamp kitted out for Liverpool in 2006 under Rafa Benitez but failed to establish himself in the first team and moved onto PSV Eindhoven whom the Reds hosted in the group stage of the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Kromkamp maintains that he always believed that his former club could win any competition they entered, and that the Champions League might once again be theirs this season.

"They certainly have the quality. In fact, even when I was at Liverpool I believed they were capable of winning anything they took part in," Kromkamp is quoted by the BBC as saying.

"Having watched them a few times on TV this season, I can see their confidence is high and they are certainly able to win both the major tournaments."

"They have quality and are very strong. It is hard to find a weakness because they have been a big club in Europe for several years now. We know they have a strong defence and are difficult to break down, but we will try," the 28-year old added.

"I believe Steven Gerrard is one of the best players in the world and Liverpool have strength in every position. This is going to be a difficult game for us."

Redknapp Rubbishes Pennant Talk

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has rubbished speculation he is considering a January move for Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant.

The former Birmingham star has struggled to make an impact at Anfield since arriving in a £6.7million deal in 2006 and he has fallen out of favor this season.

Pennant made a late substitute appearance in last weekend's Merseyside derby victory over Everton, but prior to that his only outing this term was in the Carling Cup against Crewe earlier in September.

A lack of first-team football has seen Pennant linked with pastures new and Portsmouth have been rumoured to be keeping tabs on the 25-year-old.

But Redknapp insists that he has not yet considered transfer targets, telling The News: "I like Pennant. He's a good player, a great crosser of the ball and he's definitely got quality.

"But I can't say I have thought about signing him. In fact, I have not thought about anybody really, to be honest.

"The transfer window has just closed and the next one isn't open until January, other signings are not really in my thoughts this early.

"As far as I'm concerned, I have got my squad here, players I'm happy with.

"I just need to get on with it now. It's like any transfer, I'll see how we are going closer to the time and if we need something.

"You never know, you may get an injury in a certain position, something might need freshening up.

"I've got to see if everything is going okay. If everybody is doing well it's not a problem and I won't need to bring in anyone at all.

"But at the moment I'm not even thinking about that."

Liverpool Players Make Rotation A Thing Of The Past For Rafa Benitez

RAFA BENITEZ today admitted it is becoming increasingly difficult to rotate his side – because so many of his star players are “on fire”.

The Reds boss is keen to maintain Liverpool’s flying start to the season and believes the momentum they are picking up can be kept going in both Premier League and Champions League, starting with last night’s showdown with PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

This time last season the Reds boss made wholesale changes to his starting line-up for the first home game of the Champions League group stages – and suffered a damaging defeat by Marseille which left his side playing catch-up to qualify for the knockout rounds.

Last night Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven came to Anfield having already lost their opening match heavily at home to Atletico Madrid.

But Benitez intends to send out his big guns and try to wrap up the group quickly.

“We have the experience of last season,” he admitted “I won’t make many changes. If some players are on fire, maybe it is a good moment to keep them playing.

“Normally we try to check how the players are physically, mentally and also how the team is tactically – and then we decide whether we will change more or less players.

“But now we are in a good position so I do not think that I will change too many.”

Benitez has picked the same starting eleven for Liverpool’s last two league games against Stoke and Everton and his policy of sticking with a side that is performing well has even left the likes of Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel regularly kicking their heels on the subs bench.

The return of Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun from injury adds to the Liverpool manager’s selection headache as he now has a full squad to pick from. But Benitez insists that if he does make changes it won’t be many.

He added: “When some players are playing well, but are tired, you say ‘okay maybe we will have to keep them in.’ But then you play them, they are tired and you have to change them in a game!

“You never know. If you win, you can say ‘okay fantastic decision,’ but I don’t think I will change too many players.

“When we were analysing things this week we knew we had four days between the Everton match and this one and four days between this match and the Manchester City game. Three days is not enough, four days is better.”

Agger, Babel and Mascherano are pushing hardest for a recall along with Brazilian Fabio Aurelio, who is challenging Andrea Dossena for the left back spot.

Benitez added: will tell whoever he selects tonight that it is vitally important that they are focused 100%.

“Every match is important, but now, when you are playing well and people are really happy, it’s more important to concentrate and be focused.

“It’s totally different to the other times we have played them. It will be more or less the same style of football with players of pace and quality and ability, but it will be different because they have a new manager and different players.” “PSV will be more dangerous because they have lost their opening game. They are a good counter-attacking team. They have a new manager and different players.

Afellay Doubtful For Liverpool

Dutch champions PSV will probably be without their highly rated playmaker Ibrahim Afellay for the Champions League match against Liverpool.

Dutch giants PSV lost their first Champions League match 3-0 against Atletico Madrid and need a good result in the away match against Liverpool. However, they will most likely be missing key man Ibrahim Afellay.

The talented playmaker sustained a toe injury in a training session last week and the small injury is causing him bigger trouble than expected. He has already missed the Eredivisie match against Volendam and he’s also a doubt for the game in Liverpool.

“I really hope to be fully match fit for Wednesday,” said Afellay at the weekend. “However, I have to be realistic and it looks like I’m not going to make it in time.”

The 22-year-old midfielder is a product of the PSV youth academy and has developed into an indispensable player for the Eindhoven side in the past two years.

The league match against Volendam made it clear that the Dutch giants really need Afellay’s creativity on the pitch in order to create something and it would be a huge disappointment for manager Stevens if he can’t use his star player.

Torres Pays Tribute To Kuyt And Keane’s Contributions

DERBY match-winner Fernando Torres has hailed unsung heroes Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt for providing him with the chances to defeat Everton at Goodison Park.

The Spanish striker, who netted 33 goals in his debut season at Anfield, took his tally to three for the new campaign thanks to his brace on Saturday and was only denied the first Merseyside hat-trick for 26 years by what seemed to be a fussy Mike Riley call when Kuyt was adjudged to have committed a foul.

But while the Dutchman, who was Liverpool’s two-goal hero in last season’s Goodison derby, has not netted in the Premier League for 10 months and Torres’s £20million strike partner Robbie Keane has failed to register in 14 games including friendlies since arriving at Anfield, Torres insists their efforts are crucial when it comes to his own chances.

Both Kuyt and Keane were part of the moves for each of Liverpool’s goals against their neighbours and the Spaniard is delighted with their contribution.

He said: “It is very simple – without Robbie and Dirk, the goals I scored would not have been created.

“They were involved in both goals and it is because they give everything for the team that I was able to score them.

“If you look at my first goal, the ball that Robbie crossed in was perfect and so was the run by Dirk which took the Everton defenders away and gave me a clear chance.

“It is always nice to score, but without my team mates it would not have been possible.”

Keane is currently enduring his longest barren streak since the start of a campaign with 10 competitive outings without a goal.

However, Torres is happy with the Irish international’s progress.

He said: “It is not always easy to form a new partnership but we are working hard in training all the time and it was good to see that work pay off on Saturday.

“Robbie was very important for our victory and I am sure that very soon it will be him who is getting the goals because he is a great player.

“Once he gets his first goal even more will follow because sometimes you just need to relieve the pressure with one goal.

I have not been scoring for six games, which is too long for a striker. But when I got one on Saturday the other one followed almost straight away and that is often the way it happens.”

MARK LAWRENSON: Signs That This Could Be Benitez’s Year

WHISPER it softly, but Liverpool are showing signs of putting together a genuine title challenge.

And it may be that manager Rafael Benitez is prepared to gamble more on Premier League success this year than in the past.

He is putting out his most attacking teams since arriving perhaps in the realisation that it is no use drawing games if you want to finish as champions.

Last season Liverpool drew 13 matches compared with just seven by table-topping Manchester United, who lost one game more. But turning a couple of those draws into wins – even at the risk of losing the odd game more – would make all the difference.

There is still a worry teams like United and Chelsea have more potential match-winners, which is why Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres may need to be wrapped in cotton wool. But if they stay injury free, Liverpool are in as good a position as they have been for some time.

Playing Xabi Alonso at Goodison Park was not a negative move. He is not a holding midfielder.

He does a different kind of job and has a good passing game. Steven Gerrard was disciplined against Everton and in Torres, Kuyt, Keane, Babel and Riera, Benitez has a many attacking options.

In the past Benitez has always played that extra defensive player, but that is not the case this season.

The trick will be settling on a wide player and giving them a run of games.

Results breed confidence, there is good competition for places at Anfield and Liverpool will be looking to keep the momentum going.

Benitez has had the chance over the past two seasons to bring in the kind of players he wants, get rid of those he doesn’t and has had enough money to build a team capable of challenging for the title. For many people, this is his year.

Liverpool Double Boost As Mascherano & Benayoun Fit For PSV Eindhoven Clash

Liverpool have received a double boost on fitness front as Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun are passed fit for tomorrow night's Champions League group clash against Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.

The midfield duo had missed Saturday's victory against Everton at the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. However, Mascherano and Benayoun have recovered from calf and ankle knocks respectively, said Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

"Both players trained this morning and are fit," said Benitez. "We will have another training session in the morning but at the moment we have a fully fit squad."

The Reds had won their opening game in Marseille with a brace from captain Steven Gerrard, who is one goal short of reaching a century of goals.

Real Madrid Eye January Move For Liverpool's Agger

La Liga Champions Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Danish International Daniel Agger from Liverpool in the January transfer window, according to Spanish paper Sport.

23-year-old Agger joined the Reds in 2006 from Brondby and his present deal with Rafa Benitez’s side runs out in 2010, with it understood that the defender is growing frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities at the Premiership club.

Benitez has chosen to play Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel ahead of the Dane this season in the Premier League, with reports of the defender’s unrest at Anfield alerting Los Merengues coach Bernd Schuster, who is seeking a new centre-half for the Bernabeu.

However, Benitez is keen to keep Agger at the Merseyside club, with the Spaniard claiming recently that he was ready to offer the defender a new deal at Liverpool, but might be tempted to sell Agger to Real if he can make a decent profit on the £5.8million the Reds paid Brondby.

Agger Denies Rafa Rift

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has moved to quell speculation that he and his manager Rafa Benitez have fallen-out.

Agger has struggled to break back into the Liverpool first-team after nearly a year out through a metatarsal problem.

During his absence, Rafa Benitez signed Martin Skrtel as a replacement and the form of the Slovakian has seen Agger relegated to the bench this season, unable to force his way into the team.

Agger has started only two matches for Liverpool this season, once in the Champions League qualifying round against Standard Liege and another appearance in the Carling Cup versus Crewe.

Benitez was reportedly unhappy with Liverpool's performance in the Standard Liege game, but Agger has denied that a row broke out between he and his manager.

He told TV3 in his native Denmark: "Of course there are things that Benitez was not satisfied with after Liege.

"We didn't play a good match, but it is a big lie to say we had an argument. I certainly hope it is only football reasons why I am not playing.

"I have no problem in this club. He has just said that the team is playing very well, and that is why I am not playing."

Agger also denied that he is looking to exit the Anfield club, and stated that he is prepared to work hard to return to the first team.

He continued: "I want to stay here and fight for my place in the squad.

"I'm not satisfied with the fact that I'm not playing but I have to cope and accept it.

"I'm happy at Liverpool."

Liverpool's Benitez Guards Against PSV Complacency

Rafa Benitez finds himself in an unusual position - guarding against complacency ahead of Liverpool's home game against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Liverpool's best start to a domestic season since 1996 has raised expectations that the 19th English league title is finally in sight after falling short for 19 years.

And as Benitez prepares for his 250th match in charge of Liverpool, for once he doesn't need the Champions League as a convenient distraction from domestic struggles with his players beginning brightly in both competitions.

The Reds are only being kept off the top of Group D by Chelsea on goal difference after opening with a 2-1 win at Marseille.

"When you are playing well, winning games and everyone is talking about how good you are, it's important to calm down,'' Benitez said Tuesday. "It is dangerous when you hear people talking well about your team that we always keep them concentrating on the future.

"But it is better to manage expectations now than be bottom of the table and trying to motivate players.''

Benitez is even moving away from his favored rotation policy.

"If the players are fit and on fire, maybe it's a good moment to keep them (in the team),'' Benitez said.”But (they) have plenty of room for improvement physically.''

Fernando Torres ended a six-game goal drought to score twice as Liverpool beat city rival Everton 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday. Benitez wants to maintain the momentum to prevent a repeat of last year's stuttering Champions League start, which forced Liverpool to win its last three group matches to advance to the knockout phase.

"We remember the experience of last season and after three games we had just one point,'' Benitez said.”Now we have three points, so we are in a much better position and we would be like be after two more games almost qualified.''

PSV lost 3-0 at home to Atletico Madrid in the opening round, but Benitez is still wary of the threat PSV will pose.

"They are dangerous because they have good players on the counterattack and players with ability,'' he said.

Liverpool dominated PSV in the 2006-07 campaign, picking up three victories and a draw against the Dutch club en route to a defeat to AC Milan in the final.

But Netherlands winger Dirk Kuyt, who arrived at Anfield from Feyenoord in 2006, said the current PSV side presents a big change from the one that conceded six goals without reply in those four previous encounters.

"They are very different from the last time we played against them,'' he said. "(Heurelho) Gomes, the goalkeeper, is now at Spurs; Phillip Cocu has retired; and a lot of other players have also gone to other clubs. They are a totally different side, but they are still the best in Holland.

"They have won the league six times in a row, I think, so they're a very good team and we have to be ready.''

PSV coach Huub Stevens is pessimistic about his side's chances at Anfield after falling to Atletico.

"It was really disappointing to start the campaign with such a heavy home defeat,'' Stevens said.”We know we just have to learn from what happened, because going to Liverpool will be even more difficult. But we have only played one match, there are still five to go so we can turn this round.''

Mascherano Wary Of PSV Threat As He Targets Champions League Glory

Javier Mascherano aims to emulate his friend Carlos Tevez and win the Champions League.

Mascherano, 24, admits that he was delighted for his fellow Argentina international when he claimed a winner's medal in last season's final for Manchester United.

The midfielder was perhaps oblivious to the fact that he was probably the only person of a Liverpool persuasion who felt that way watching the final in Moscow last May, when the Red Devils beat Chelsea on penalties.

But having arrived in England alongside his friend Tevez at West Ham, he can probably be forgiven for such sentiment.

Mascherano said: 'I have a good relationship with Carlos. He is playing for Manchester United and me for Liverpool, but it does not matter because we are friends.

'I am happy for him that he has done well, that he has won the Champions League.

'When we play against each other, of course, I want to win, to beat him. But he is my friend and I am happy for him when he is successful.

'He had the chance to win the Champions League, and when he was in Argentina he won the Libertadores Cup. So he has many winners’ medals now.

'But we need to separate things. On one side there is football where we are rivals, but on the other in our private lives we are friends.

'I have a good friendship with him and his family, football will not change that.

'I spoke to Carlos after the Champions League final and I told him I was happy for him, but now I want to win it like him.'

Mascherano has recovered from a calf injury to be in Liverpool's squad to face PSV Eindhoven tomorrow in their second Champions League Group D match, having won their first at Marseille.

Liverpool, still unbeaten this season and with only two defeats in their last 29 games in all competitions, have hit the sort of form that gives their fans belief that the Barclays Premier League title can be claimed.

Mascherano said: 'I am fit, I can play if the manager wants. I have had a short rest with the injury, which coming after the Olympics and my busy schedule was good. Now I feel ready to play.

'Now we want to fight for every competition, we want to compete for the league and in Europe, so we must maintain this level.

'There will be many difficult games but we must make sure that we keep playing the way we are.

'I want to win everything, and I know the Champions League and the Premier League together are difficult. But let us see where we are at the end.

'As long as we keep going, keep doing the right things, we will see where that takes us.'

Mascherano warned his team-mates, still buoyant from Saturday's derby victory over Everton, that they cannot ease off against their Dutch opponents tomorrow night.

He added: 'But we must not lose our concentration. PSV have lost their first game in this group, so they will be dangerous. They will want to surprise us so we must not allow our level to drop.

'We are stronger than last season, we have more and more options. We have players who can perform just as well in several positions, so that is good for the manager and the team.

'We have more mental strength than last season, and we are able to recover from poor results much better. We have reached a certain level now and the aim is to keep it going all season.

'We have improved and we can fight for the title and Champions League.'

Liverpool Move Wasn't A Mistake For Me, Says Atletico Striker Florent

Atletico Madrid forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle insists it was not a mistake to join Liverpool as a youngster as it has now led to him becoming one of the top performers in the Primera Liga.

Sinama-Pongolle arrived on Merseyside from Le Havre at the age of 17 billed as one of the hottest young prospects in French football.

The move was criticised by many in France who felt he was too young to move abroad - a view which appeared to be vindicated when he found playing time hard to come by.

Following the departure of French coach Gerard Houllier in 2004, Sinama-Pongolle was pushed even further out of the frame, leading to his move to Recreativo Huelva in 2006.

But despite the lack of first-team football he managed during five years in England, the 24-year-old maintains going abroad early on in his career was definitely the right move.

'When I left Liverpool to sign for Huelva I took a risk,' Sinama-Pongolle told France Football.

'Nobody came to me, looked me in the eye and said they believed in me. Anyone who had would have been the king of hypocrites.

'I even get the impression people think I'm still that 17-year-old kid, educated at Le Havre, who made a mistake by joining Liverpool. That was seven years ago and wasn't a mistake.

'I am La Liga's second top goalscorer behind (Valencia's) David Villa. People are speaking about me every day.'

Despite his good start to his Atletico career, with four goals in five games so far in La Liga, Sinama-Pongolle knows he still has a fight on his hands to keep his place.

However, he believes his time at Liverpool has again made him ready for the challenge.

'I've been in the world of football for 16 years and this situation is not the first time that this has happened to me,' he told his club's website, www.clubatleticodemadrid.com.

'When I arrived at Liverpool, Michael Owen was there, the biggest player at the club back then, and so was Milan Baros.

'I landed there and I also had to fight for a spot, but that's something that doesn't scare me, as we footballers are very privileged.

'Everything that I experienced back then made me grow both as a footballer and as a person.'

Afellay To Be Unleashed Onto Liverpool

One of the hottest European prospects is to be unleashed onto Liverpool when they play PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League clash on Wednesday.

The player in question is Ibrahim Afellay, a Dutchman of Moroccan descent who has been with the Dutch champions for the past five seasons.

The young attacking midfielder is considered to be one of the finest of his generation and has already received praise from some of the most well respected people in the game.

Arsenal have been known admirers of the 22-year-old for the last couple of years, and PSV claim that the Gunners sent a scout to watch Afellay play 15 times last season.

Ronald Koeman, the former Dutch centre back, commented, “Ibrahim has certain things in his style that can be compared to Johan Cruyff's game.

“He can speed up with the ball, he can whizz past players as if they are puppets. He has qualities as an attacker which we hardly see these days in football.”

Manchester City were close to signing him on transfer deadline day, but the young Dutchman preferred to stay at PSV as he did not want to rush into a move abroad.

He has a £12m buy-out clause in his contract, and City have said they are willing to out bid anyone to secure his signature.

The first to spot Afellay’s talents outside Holland was Arsene Wenger, who was more than impressed with the impact Afellay made when coming on against Arsenal as a substitute 17 months ago.

The Arsenal boss has been an admirer ever since, and has been monitoring the 22-year-old’s situation carefully.

Liverpool will face a tough test when they come up against him on Wednesday, and it will be up to the player to see if he can triumph over the likes of Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel.

Liverpool Boss Benitez: Torres Can Only Get Better

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has told the rest of the Premier League that Spanish International striker Fernando Torres will only get better for the Merseyside club.

Benitez has revealed that the 24-year-old is yet to reach full fitness after a summer which saw the former Atletico Madrid forward win EURO 2008 with Spain, but return to Anfield with a slight hamstring problem.

However, despite Benitez’s claims that Torres is not at his peak, the Spaniard still struck twice to sink Everton in the derby at Goodison Park on Saturday, with the Reds boss insisting there is more to come from Torres, when he reaches full fitness.

“Torres knows he can improve a lot. The main thing for me is his mentality is really good,” Benitez said.

“He is trying to improve especially in the areas where he has to improve - at this moment in time physically. You need time but he is working so hard and he will be better.

“There were three players coming back from the Olympic Games and the Spanish players coming back from the European Championships.

“It was important for some of them to rest or to train properly. Torres was injured and that was another problem.

“I think he is more or less the same as last season. The only thing he is missing now is his physical condition. He will get better and better and he will be stronger for sure. I think he is a nice boy and a good professional. He knows he can improve. I think he is very humble.”

Gerrard Keen To Keep Liverpool's Feet On The Ground As Torres Shines For Reds

Steven Gerrard has warned his Liverpool team-mates not to get carried away with their strong start to the season.

Liverpool are undefeated in the Premier League and in second place after winning 2-0 at Everton, their best start in 12 years.

But with the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven coming up on Wednesday, Gerrard said: 'It’s important to be humble and to keep out feet on the ground.

'We set a standard [at Everton] but we need to match it week in, week out.'

Fernando Torres double proved the difference at Goodison Park and Gerrard was delighted to see the Spaniard back to his best.

He said: 'You can’t keep strikers with his talent down for long because they aren’t going to go long without a goal. It was only a matter of time.