Benitez Facing Struggle To Keep Pace As £20m Transfer Limit Revealed

Rafael Benitez’s struggle to keep pace with the Premier League elite is revealed in documents which suggest Liverpool's net summer spending will be locked at £20m until 2014 -- a figure which will also include wage increases accruing from contract renewals.

The figures, which suggest the manager must continue to sell before he can buy, are contained in a prospectus published in March by investment banks Rothschild and Merrill Lynch to attract potential investors.

The prospectus, which provides a sense of how desperately Liverpool's owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett need new finance, reveals the Americans were considering increasing the average ticket price by 8pc to help ease the club's debt problems. They were also seeking to raise £100m from investors and loans as pressure built to refinance a debt of £290m.

Gillett and Hicks paid £50m four months later, in July, to get a year's extension to the debt facility they have used to purchase and run the club since their takeover in February 2007.

This season they have secured a new £20m-a-year sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered Bank, a major improvement on the previous £14.6m Carlsberg deal and hope to retain a role for Carlsberg, the club revealed yesterday.

Yet the underlying lack of finance for Benitez remains a problem. It might not be as dire a position for the club as suggested by the banner unveiled by Liverpool fans before the Carling Cup tie with Leeds at Elland Road on Tuesday -- "We are the new Leeds" it read -- but Benitez is clearly limited in his options in the transfer market.

The section of the Rothschild/Merrill Lynch document relating to "player transfer payments" states: "Management believes that the normalised long-run level of new net player capital expenditure is £20m." The accompanying data suggests "long-run" means the next five years. This figure "will grow together with increases in media broadcasting revenues," the bankers promise.

Though revenues from British broadcasters are expected to drop, overseas rights should grow before 2014. This summer, the £30m sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid helped offset the outlay on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani.

The need to generate cash to finance future purchases next summer may make it more difficult to resist selling Javier Mascherano.

The Argentinian, who was yesterday cleared by the FA over the incident in which he appeared to swing a forearm at Leeds' Jermaine Beckford at Elland Road on Tuesday night, has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona.

Liverpool FC Fans Put Off Sponsors, Says Managing Director

Despite Liverpool concluding a world record shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered earlier this month - a partnership the bank put down to the club's huge global fan-base - managing director Christian Purslow has warned that those same fans could put off other sponsors.

There has been great discontent at Anfield over the club's management by owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, which has manifested itself in a number of fan protests. However, Purslow has called on the fans to cease those protests, warning them that their actions harm the club's commercial development, and have made it more difficult to conclude deals.

"Specific protest action at games made the financial and commercial part of the development of LFC more difficult as it can put off potential sponsors and business partners if they think there will be hassle," said Purslow in a meeting with the Spirit of Shankly (SOS) group.

Meanwhile, the club has again stated its desire for outgoing shirt sponsor Carlsberg to remain a club partner. "We see lots of opportunities for Carlsberg to continue with us - as do they," said Liverpool commercial director Ian Ayre. "Fans think of it as part of our family."

Kuyt: Johnson One Of The Best

Striker Dirk Kuyt believes summer signing Glen Johnson has provided Liverpool with a different emphasis this season.

The England defender, who moved from Portsmouth in the summer, has probably been the Merseysiders' best player so far, scoring twice and providing a much-needed cutting edge from right-back.

Johnson, 25, may yet have to win over critics who are skeptical about his defensive strengths but there are no doubts over his ability as an attacking force.

"I think Glen has done really well," said Kuyt.

"He was a big signing for us but he has shown straight from the start that he is very important - both defensively and in attack.

"He has scored some very good goals and provided some assists. He is probably one of the best players in the team so far this season.

"He is still young and I think he will only get better and better."

Kuyt's fellow striker David Ngog is prepared to play a waiting game as he tries to force his way into the starting line-up.

Tuesday's Carling Cup match-winner at Leeds accepts he is behind Fernando Torres, Kuyt and probably even Andriy Voronin in the Anfield centre-forward pecking order.

However, he hopes scoring the only goal at Elland Road will have given manager Rafael Benitez another glimpse of his talents.

"I think I played okay. The intensity of the game made it difficult and I was very happy to score," said the 20-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Paris St Germain in the summer of 2008. "When you are a striker, scoring is always the best thing. That is our job and what we work for.

"Of course I know that I'm not going to play every game so when the coach gives me a chance, I want to do my best for the team and try to score.

"I know I have to be patient and all I can do is when I get a chance, try to take it and show the manager what I can do.

"I hope I have done that and shown the manager my qualities and that I can be another possibility in attack."

No FA Rap For Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano has escaped disciplinary action following his clash with Jermain Beckford at Elland Road on Tuesday night.

The Liverpool midfielder appeared to strike his Leeds opponent with his arm as they tangled during the Carling Cup third round tie, which the Reds won 1-0.

However, the contact has been deemed accidental and Mascherano will not face a ban for the incident.

Referee Alan Whiley claimed that he didn’t see the altercation but on viewing a replay decided he would not have penalised the Argentinian for his part in the incident.

Had it been viewed as a red card offence, Mascherano could have been hit with a three-match ban but is now free to face Hull City at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday.

An FA spokesman said: “No further action will be taken against Javier Mascherano.”

Liverpool have also been handed a disciplinary boost by UEFA, who have banned Fiorentina’s Alberto Gilardino for two Champions League games.

It will rule the World Cup-winning striker out of the group game with Liverpool on Wednesday.

Gilardinho was sent off during the Viola’s opening game at Lyon, where they lost 1-0.

A statement on the Fiorentina’s website said: “UEFA’s disciplinary commission has given Alberto Gilardino a two-match suspension after his sending off against Lyon.

The player will be able to play on November 4 at the Artemio Franchi against Debrecen.”

Marking Needs To Change - Lawrenson

Former Liverpool defender and BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson says the Reds need to choose a defensive system which suits their players and the rigours of Premier League football.

Liverpool have often been criticised for employing a zonal making system when defending set-pieces and Lawrenson believes it is now time manager Rafa Benitez used a hybrid way of defending.

The former Republic of Ireland international, who made 332 appearances in his time in Liverpool, says a hybrid system is not too dissimilar to how the Reds defended when he graced the Anfield turf.

"You need a system which is a hybrid and means you have certain players in certain positions," Lawrenson told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"I remember in my day, Ronnie Whelan would mark the middle of the six-yard box and never pick anybody up - that was his job. Then we'd have two people on the post and the rest of us just picked our men up.

"Basically in many ways its fool-proof. If you mark your man and you stop him from getting the ball or you make it difficult for him, if you all do that job, it's very difficult for teams to score against you.

"Whereas nowadays, with the zonal thing, somebody just gets half a yard on the marker, and because of the way the balls are delivered into the box now, it's good night. It's a goal again.

"I do think it's a hybrid thing. If you're [Martin] Skrtel, [Daniel] Agger and [Jamie] Carragher, you mark their best headers of the ball and you make sure they don't get onto the ball. So I don't really get it.

"It's just a mixture of man marking and zonal and I think it can be done."

Despite having suffered two league defeats this season by Tottenham and Aston Villa, Lawrenson believes his former side can still challenge for the Premier League title.

"I think the top four teams Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United - it may well be a season were you can afford to lose a couple more games," he continued. "I think that's the way it started, Chelsea apart.

"I think it looks like we're a little taken a back by Xabi Alonso leaving [to Real Madrid] and we started a bit sluggishly. But the results since have been very good."

Mystery Of The Ditched Rotation Policy At Liverpool

It was late Saturday night, and the two guys at the bar, who had enjoyed more than one or two scoops to celebrate Fernando Torres’s return to form, were creating their own version of a famous Two Ronnies sketch.

“Whatever happened to...” said one. “Baby Jane?” replied the other.

“No, no, whatever happened to...” the first bloke tried again, this time to be met by “the Likely Lads?”

“No, no”, he persisted,” whatever happened to”...”The Heroes?” came a last desperate reply.

“No, no” the first guy cried in exasperation, “Rotation! Rotation! Whatever happened to rotation?”

A fair question indeed. Just when exactly did Rafa Benitez metamorphose into Bill Shankly?

“Same as last season”, Shankly used to reply when asked to name his team for any particular game.

Before Tuesday night’s match, just 15 players had started for Rafa in the seven competitive games to date, and three of those had played just one game each, meaning that just 12 have borne the burden of these early season fixtures (I knew that Maths ‘O’ Level would show its worth one day).

This compares to 17 in the same period last season; and 19 and 17 in the first seven league games of the two previous seasons. So has Rafa had an epiphany, the ghost of Mark Lawrenson’s moustache appearing to him in chains, moaning “you should always play your best side”?

Or are there other dark forces at work, such as those that bend time at Old Trafford, so that otherwise fastidious referees become befuddled when looking at their own watches?

The answer, I suspect, is that he has been blown off course by, as Harold MacMillan put it, “events, dear boy, events”.

The loss of Alonso and the injuries to Aurelio, Aquilani and Agger (watch out Babel and Benayoun) have reduced the numbers at his disposal certainly, shrinking the pool of talent available.

This pool is of course shrunk even further by the evaporation known as Voronin, Degen and Dossena, whose status as fringe players must surely owe more to their haircuts than any aspiration to first team standing.

But the real reason why Rafa has chosen to ignore one of his most devout canons, the rotation of players to preserve their energy for later in the season, is the seismic ramifications of those two early defeats, immediately plunging us six points adrift of the Chelsea arrivistes.

For despite the obvious clichés of it being a long season, plenty of points to play for etc., any further deficit incurred before we travel to Stamford Bridge a week on Sunday would put us at risk of being 10-12 points behind should our dire record at the Home of No History prior to last season return to haunt us.

Putting on a brave face in this situation would require the combined acting skills of John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, aided by the entire staff of the BBC Make-up Department.

So while there may appear to be plenty of time available for us to claw our way back to the top, the reality is that Rafa has been unable to take the risks inherent in rotation, and has sensibly opted to delay any radical changes until the situation improves.

Our aim now must surely be to stay in contention until Christmas at the earliest, and reappraise the position then.

Anything less and it might not be just Goodnight from him, but quite possibly Goodnight from him.

Jamie Carragher Predicts Cool Anfield Reception For Man Utd’s Michael Owen

Jamie Carragher has told Michael Owen to expect a frosty reception when he returns to Anfield next month.

And the Liverpool defender admits he was taken aback by his former team-mate’s move to Manchester United in the summer.

Owen made the shock switch to Old Trafford after declining the opportunity to renew his contract with relegated Newcastle United.

There is no love lost between the two bitter North West rivals, with Owen the first player in recent memory to have played for United having earlier appeared regularly in Liverpool’s first team.

And Carragher said: “It was a bit of a surprise. Not because I had any doubts about Michael’s ability but it was just so out of the blue and it happened so quickly.

“One minute you are wondering where he will end up and the next he is at Old Trafford.”

United visit Anfield for the first time since Owen’s arrival when the two teams clash on October 25.

And Carragher believes the home support will make clear their displeasure at the striker’s perceived betrayal – despite expecting his former colleague to shrug off any abuse.

“Our fans are usually brilliant with former players but he might get a cool reception,” said Carragher. “That won’t bother him though.

“I can understand the fans point of view, he used to play for us and now he is at our big rivals so of course there will be some reaction. That’s football and Michael will know that.

“At the same time, Michael has got his own career to think about. He wants to play Champions League football and get back into the World Cup squad.

“The move gives him that opportunity. It will upset some fans but that’s football. He is a mate of mine so I suppose I have to wish him well but only to a certain extent.”

Agent: Lavezzi Happy At Napoli

Ezequiel Lavezzi's agent has insisted the striker is happy at Napoli after being linked with a move away from the club over the summer.

The Argentine claimed during the transfer window that Liverpool had lodged a bid for his services, although Rafa Benitez never confirmed his interest.

Napoli warned Lavezzi over his conduct and his relationship with manager Roberto Donadoni quickly improved.

There have nevertheless been suggestions that the striker could seek a winter departure from Napoli due to their lack of involvement in European competition.

However, Lavezzi's representative Alejandro Mazzoni maintains that the 24-year-old will not be going anywhere.

"Lavezzi doesn't have any problem with staying at Napoli because he is part of the project of the team and not playing in the Europa League will not be a problem.

"Ezequiel is OK. He got very well prepared in Austria and I think he will have a very good season together with his team."

Mazzoni admits Lavezzi is happy to be playing in his preferred centre-forward position under Donadoni.

"When he plays more as a striker he is more important so that's the place in which he should be," said Mazzoni.

"Between Lavezzi and Roberto Donadoni there is a good relationship because he asks him to play more as a striker."

Match Report: Leeds United 0 -1 Liverpool

David Ngog struck the only goal as a much-changed Liverpool side sneaked past a fired-up Leeds in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.

The Premier League giants were outplayed by the League One leaders for much of the third-round tie but Ngog netted against the run of play after 65 minutes.

Leeds spurned a number of chances as Elland Road enjoyed a big-game atmosphere once again, but a lack of composure in front of goal cost them.

Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford endured a particularly frustrating night as he missed several good chances and had a goal in the first half disallowed.

It was Liverpool's first visit to Leeds since their hosts were relegated from the top flight in 2004 but the atmosphere generated by the 38,168 crowd rekindled memories of a once intense rivalry.

Leeds, looking upwards again after an unbeaten start to the season, played like they had a point to prove against a Liverpool side showing nine changes.

Jamie Carragher, who took over the captaincy, and Javier Mascherano were the only survivors from the Reds side which won at West Ham last weekend.

Manager Rafael Benitez, however, had big guns Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson on the bench in case not all went according to plan.

It seemed a sensible insurance policy as for large parts Leeds, with Robert Snodgrass a constant danger on the right, exploited the unfamiliarity in the Liverpool ranks.

There was a huge roar inside the opening minutes when Beckford went down in the area but referee Alan Wiley gave nothing.

Leeds were keen to attack and gave warning when Snodgrass broke free, although his cross was easily claimed by Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri.

Ngog, starting up front alone, then got into the game with a couple of breaks but saw a long-range shot after a neat turn blocked.

Leeds then missed a glorious chance to take the lead when Snodgrass delivered a perfect cross but Michael Doyle headed wide from about eight yards.

The Yorkshire side had the ball in the net after 11 minutes when Beckford turned in Michalik's goalbound header from close range but Wiley ruled the striker offside.

Luciano Becchio also tried his luck for Leeds but curled wide from 20 yards.

Ryan Babel, hoping to stake a claim for a regular place, created Liverpool's first serious chance after a run from deep but Shane Higgs dealt comfortably with his tame shot.

Snodgrass caused further alarm in the Liverpool defence with another deep cross from a clever Beckford flick but Cavalieri just did enough to frustrate Becchio.

Albert Riera should have given Liverpool the lead, against the run of play, on the stroke of half-time after meeting a Fabio Aurelio free-kick but Higgs saved his firm header.

The outstanding Snodgrass weaved his way into the Liverpool box soon after the restart but the visitors eventually managed to crowd him out.

Leeds continued to look the most likely side but Liverpool youngster Jay Spearing got a shooting chance from a Riera lay-off, only to fire well over.

Beckford then raced on to a long bouncing ball but scuffed his shot when any firm contact might have beaten Cavalieri.

The Leeds striker had another gilt-edged opportunity when Bradley Johnson crossed from the byline after 63 minutes but, after turning brilliantly, he sent his shot over.

Leeds paid the price as Liverpool went ahead two minutes later.

Mascherano mis-hit a shot from the edge of the area but Ngog reacted quickly and seized on the ball to tuck past Higgs.

Leeds tried to respond as Johnson controlled a Michalik long ball outside the area but shot straight at Cavalieri.

Liverpool brought on Johnson and Gerrard in an attempt to see out the game but Leeds continued to push.

Johnson needed to intervene to head back to Cavalieri as Liverpool struggled to clear another Leeds attack.

Liverpool did break out again with Babel winning a free-kick on the edge of the area but Aurelio's shot was deflected wide.

Gerrard almost made doubly sure of victory as time ran down but fired into the side-netting and then straight at Cavalieri after powerful runs.

Benitez Heaps Praises On Whites

Leeds turned the clock back to the start of the decade as they gave Liverpool a stern examination in third round Carling Cup action last night.

A second-half goal from French striker David Ngog eventually settled the third-round tie in the Barclays Premier League side's favour but it was the fallen Yorkshire giants who took most of the plaudits.

"The atmosphere was fantastic, Leeds were really good," admitted Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.

"They are good team with good players and they worked really hard."

The League One leaders, roared on by the majority of a raucous 38,168 crowd, dominated large parts of game and spurned a number of good opportunities.

Striker Jermaine Beckford endured a particularly frustrating night with several clear-cut chances wasted and a goal disallowed.

It was Liverpool's first visit to Elland Road since Leeds were relegated from the top flight in 2004 but the passion of the occasion rekindled memories of a once intense rivalry.

Benitez Backing For Ngog

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes David Ngog has a big role to play for the side this season.

Ngog helped Liverpool reach the fourth round of the Carling Cup with the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Leeds on Tuesday night.

The Frenchman has found first-team chances limited at Anfield with most of his appearances coming off the bench.

Benitez feels Ngog, who joined Liverpool from Paris St Germain in the summer of 2008, is making steady progress at Anfield and he believes he has the quality to be a success on Merseyside.

"He is a young player, but he has quality," said Benitez. "That is something we knew. He showed character.

"He was trying to keep the ball and get into positions. He was really tired at the end but he did a fantastic job.

"He knows the Premier League is very difficult but here he showed he can do it.

"Cup competitions are always very difficult. You have to win, everyone is working so hard.

"He is still a young player, he has quality."

Spearing Revels In Reds Start

Liverpool starlet Jay Spearing has hailed his first start for the club against Leeds as a 'special night'.

Highly-rated midfielder Spearing played the full 90 minutes of Liverpool's Carling Cup victory over Leeds at Elland Road.

Spearing impressed against Leeds and he is hoping to earn a regular run in Rafa Benitez's plans.

"It was a very special night for me to make my first start for the club," Spearing told the Liverpool Echo.

"To play the full 90 minutes was fantastic and we had to work hard for the win.

"The atmosphere was unbelievable and it was a great cup tie to play in.

"When I was warming up it was more excitement than nerves to be honest.

"We trained in the formation we used on the night on Monday so I thought I might have a chance of starting, and then when we got to the hotel the boss told me I was playing.

"It has been a long time coming waiting for my first start but I've had to keep grafting hard and wait for my chance. I knew it was going to come soon and thankfully we got the result we needed.

"I thought we battled well and it was a team effort. We wanted to get through so we can play more games in this competition.

"I felt I did alright and hopefully I've proved to the boss and the supporters that I can do it for the first team.

"I worked hard and just tried to show the manager what I'm capable of. Hopefully I will get another chance but I have just got to keep working hard and then take the chance when it comes."

Liverpool's Mascherano Could Face Three-Game Ban For Jermaine Beckford Clash

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano could face an FA charge of violent conduct, after appearing to catch Leeds United's Jermaine Beckford on the back of the head with his elbow at Elland Road last night.

The Reds made hard work of beating the League One outfit 1-0 in the League Cup third round tie, thanks to a David Ngog strike, but Mascherano could be in trouble after Beckford appeared to pull him back at a throw in. The Argentine swivelled and his arm seemed to strike Beckford's head.

The striker tumbled to the ground clutching his head, but referee Alan Wiley took no action and the game continued. It was unclear whether Wiley had seen the incident or not.

Should Wiley report to the FA that he saw the incident then no further action can be taken. However, should Wiley's report state that he didn't see it, then video evidence can be used to review what happened.

That could leave Mascherano looking at a charge of violent conduct and a likely three-game ban.

His manager, Rafa Benitez, claimed that too much was being made of the incident, saying, according to The Guardian: "I think it is just nothing."

Leeds boss Simon Grayson saw things a little differently, and felt that the Liverpool midfielder might well be in trouble. He said: "Mascherano's turned and put his arm up; it went a bit too high. I've looked at replays. I'm not saying it's malicious and I'm not saying it's not, you can't really tell. Some players have been sent off for that, some haven't, sometimes these things go your way, sometimes they don't."

Torres: How Rafa Has Improved Me

Liverpool's No.9, who was in blistering form against West Ham at the weekend, told LFC Weekly magazine: "Under Rafa I've started to play much more in the middle. I've scored a lot of goals from this position, rather than playing further out towards the wings.

"I like to play between the centre-backs and keep them busy and leave some space for the midfielders. That can make it easier for me to receive a pass when we attack.

"You have to play to your strengths. I don't know how to play in another position. Striker is the right position for me.

"Maybe I don't have the same qualities as Stevie to play between the lines or like Yossi to come in from the wing through the middle.

"I guess it is the same for players like Emmanuel Adebayor or Didier Drogba. If they were to play on the wing or in between or behind the lines, they may not be the same players as when they play as a striker.

"But from the first day I arrived here, I have always been improving.

"I am a better player now than when I was at Atletico. I hope to continue to keep improving with the manager and my teammates who can all help me get better and better."

Liverpool: Standard Chartered Explain Backing Of Club With ‘Huge Following’

Standard Chartered, the bank that has signed a world record sponsorship deal with English soccer club Liverpool, has moved to explain the reasoning behind its move into soccer.

The bank will pay Liverpool more than US$130 million over the next four years as it seeks to increase its business. Its sponsorship of Liverpool, who has been the English champions 18 times and European champions five times, is tailored not at either of those regions, but at Asia.

"From a Standard Chartered perspective, Asia is our home," senior group brand manager Nicola Apostolis told Asia Sponsorship News. "We opened our first branches in 1858 in Shanghai and Mumbai; and in Hong Kong and Singapore in 1859. Today, 80 per cent of our business is done in Asia.

"The Liverpool sponsorship is a perfect match in terms of geographic footprint, as the club has a huge following in many of our markets, particularly across Asia."

Liverpool claim to have 58 million fans in China, the country identified by many analysts as the next key market for the English Premier League. Asia Sponsorship News quotes a study reporting that 90 per cent of Asian sports fans identified the Premier League as the sports competition they follow most closely.

The bank has confirmed it will sell Liverpool shirts in its Asian branches, providing another revenue stream for the club.

Liverpool Owners Planned Ticket Rise As Debt Refinancing Loomed

Liverpool’s owners proposed increasing the soccer club’s average ticket price by 8 percent and raising 100 million pounds ($163 million) from investors and loans as pressure built to refinance debt of 290 million pounds.

The team’s U.S. owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks considered selling equity in the 18-time English league champion to pay down their debts with Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and Wachovia Corp., according to documents prepared by the club’s bankers and obtained by Bloomberg News. Jonathon Brill, a spokesman for Liverpool’s owners, declined to comment. He confirmed the documents.

Gillett and Hicks paid 50 million pounds in July to get a year’s extension to the debt facility they used to purchase and run the club since their February 2007 takeover. Liverpool owes about 240 million pounds to the banks. Fans of the five-time European champion have criticized the owners for backtracking on a pledge not to raise the club’s debt and delaying work on a new 72,000-seat stadium. Ticket prices stayed the same in the end.

“It would have been a very unpopular move” to increase prices, said Rogan Taylor, director of the Football Industry Group at Liverpool University and a member of a supporter-led group trying to acquire the club. “It looks like they took some wise advice not to do it.”

The proposed hike, which came as the majority of the 20 English Premier League clubs decided to freeze or reduce the price of some tickets for the 2009-2010 season, was one of a number of revenue-boosting plans outlined in the document. Liverpool may convert 1,000 regular seats into corporate seating by July 2011 and establish its own soccer academies.

The March 2009 prospectus drawn up by investment banks Rothschild and Merrill Lynch tells potential investors that for 50 million pounds they would get a minority stake in “one of the world’s most successful football clubs.” The document says Liverpool was considering raising another 50 million pounds in high-interest payment-in-kind loans that would’ve ended up costing 104.4 million pounds by the end of a five-year term.

In June, Kop Football (Holdings) Ltd., the club’s parent company, reported a loss of 42.6 million pounds for the year ended July 2008 on interest charges of 36.5 million pounds.

According to the document, all but 5 million pounds of the new 100 million pounds the club was trying to access would have gone toward reducing its debts. U.K. media have reported that the new money would kick-start the stadium project.

Liverpool last week announced a record sponsorship with Standard Chartered Plc, which will pay about 20 million pounds a season to replace Carlsberg A/S on the front of the players’ shirts. The document reveals Liverpool had forecast that it would retain the brewer by charging it 14.2 million pounds a season. Other forecasts in the prospectus include player wages and manager Rafael Benitez’s transfer budget until 2014.

According to management, Benitez would have about 20 million pounds a season to spend on new players, a figure that “will grow together with increases in broadcast revenues,” the document said.

Liverpool made a profit in the last transfer window after the purchase of defender Glen Johnson was offset by the 30 million euro ($44 million) sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid. Player wages will increase to 115.2 million pounds from the current level of 81.7 million, the club estimates.

Other details of Liverpool’s future commercial strategy are outlined in the document alongside the increased corporate seating and Liverpool-branded academies. New secondary sponsors will be targeted and catering facilities improved to increase commercial revenue to 111.4 million pounds from 59 million pounds in the next five years.

Mark Lawrenson: Liverpool FC’s Fernando Torres Scores Goals That Nobody Else Could

A week ago I said that Rafael Benitez will have been looking for more of his side other that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to join Yossi Benayoun as match-winners but the Liverpool manager will still be delighted with his star striker’s two-goal blast at West Ham.

It’s not like the Spanish international has been struggling in front of goal so far this season – he netted in three consecutive Premier League games against Stoke, Aston Villa and Bolton last month – but his brace at Upton Park signalled a return to the kind of devastating form he is capable of.

Like so many of the great strikers, you can seemingly keep Torres quiet for long periods of the game only for him to hit you with a sucker punch.

I don’t know how anybody else could have scored that first goal like he did on Saturday.

The way he slowed down James Tomkins before finishing was sensational.

His second goal was also a tough one to score but if you give Torres a mere half a yard he will absolutely kill you.

Again it was a topsy-turvy affair away from home before Liverpool again came out on top but Upton Park was always going to be a tough place to go to.

You never get any space down there and the way Gianfranco Zola has got West Ham playing I bet there are a few ‘top sides’ who go there this season and don’t come away with a win.

On a positive note for Ryan Babel, he came off the bench to set up Torres’s winner.

However, if the Dutchman thinks that playing one ball through has saved his Anfield career then he better think again because he must start to do much more.

After being brought on for the last half an hour, Babel spent most of the time giving the ball away and he needs to realise that without hard work he will not be a Liverpool player for much longer.

He’s just not justified his fee or fulfilled his potential since his move from Ajax and instead of moaning and then going on about how he’s been misquoted he needs to put up or shut up and show Benitez that he’s worth his place in the side.

Benayoun has been playing well and Albert Riera has done okay so Babel will remain down the pecking order unless he can improve on his consistency dramatically. Who knows, he may well get another chance on Tuesday night when Liverpool travel to Leeds for their Carling Cup tie.

Not too long ago, this match-up was a top Premier League fixture but even though the Yorkshire side has fallen on hard times in recent years, they’re bound to be backed by a large and passionate home crowd.

Chelsea Plan To Rest Didier Drogba Until Critical Liverpool Test

Didier Drogba is facing a spell on the sidelines regardless of the results of a scan on the Chelsea striker’s right calf last night.

Carlo Ancelotti hopes that Drogba is merely suffering from severe cramp after being carried off on a stretcher during the second half of Sunday’s 3-0 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur, but the manager was planning on resting him for the next three matches in any case.

The Ivory Coast forward will take no part in tomorrow’s Carling Cup tie against Queens Park Rangers, is unlikely to be involved in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League match away to Wigan Athletic and is suspended from next week’s Champions League game against Apoel Nicosia. Ancelotti is focusing on getting him fit for Liverpool’s visit to Stamford Bridge in a fortnight instead, although Chelsea insist the scan was precautionary.

Drogba’s absence against Liverpool, in what promises to be Chelsea’s biggest test of the season to date, would be a huge blow to Ancelotti, but the Italian has a more than capable striker in Nicolas Anelka. The France player acknowledged yesterday that Chelsea are a better side when Drogba is involved, but expressed his confidence that they can continue to win matches without him.

Liverpool Owner Hicks Promises To Better Chelsea, Manchester United & Arsenal

Tom Hicks, the co-owner of English Premier League soccer club Liverpool, has vowed to reduce the club's debt, created when he bought the team with his co-owner George Gillett, and insists the club will have less debt than any of its rivals in England's 'big four' - Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

There were worries this summer that the banks RBS and Wachovia would refuse to refinance the club's loans, while the club's accountants issued a public warning about its finances despite record revenues. However, Hicks has dismissed those concerns.

"You have to look cash flow rather than accounting," insisted Hicks in an interview with Associated Press, "and we intend to operate Liverpool where it has a very strong positive cash flow so we have the resources to be as competitive as possible on the pitch - that's our commitment.

"We had strong, positive cash flows last year. Our debts levels are at a very comfortable level and we are going to continue bringing it down. Our goal is to have less debt than any of the top clubs and that's a commitment we have made and will continue to make."

Earlier this month the club secured a world record shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered worth more than US$130 million over the next four years.

Rafa Benitez Challenges Liverpool FC Fringe Players To Fight For The Shirt

Rafa Benitez has challenged his fringe players to show their “fight” in Tuesday night’s Carling Cup third round tie at Leeds United.

The Liverpool boss is set to make wholesale changes for the clash with the high-flying League One club.

And the Spaniard insists it is a golden opportunity for those who have been out of favour to impress him.

“In these kind of games you can manage with different players and we are considering making some changes,” he admitted.

“We say to the players ‘Listen, you have an opportunity. If we progress in the Carling Cup you will have more chances’.

“This is an important competition for us and everyone can be involved.

“Some players don’t have too many chances in the Premier League, but they can fight for their position here. It makes it easier for me and the staff to analyse if they are ready or not.”

The Reds have won the trophy a record seven times but since losing the 2005 final to Chelsea they haven’t got beyond the last eight.

The last four seasons have seen weakened Liverpool sides meekly bow out to Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.

This time Benitez wants to go all the way and secure the club’s first trip to the new Wembley.

“In my first year here I was really disappointed because we were 10 minutes away from winning the final – losing that was difficult to take,” he said.

“I would like to go to the final again and make amends for that.

“We want to win silverware and this is an option. We will try to do our best in the Carling Cup.

“Sometimes motivation is harder if a player is playing a lot of games. Maybe they won’t consider the Carling Cup as being important.

“But it is important and for the players who aren’t playing at the moment maybe it is the most important competition.

“The main thing is mentality – not just of the team but of the squad.

“If we can have a winning mentality in the cup competitions it will be good because it will make it harder for me to pick the team.”

Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Glen Johnson are among those expected to be rested on Tuesday night.

Diego Cavalieri is set to replace Pepe Reina in goal, while Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Fabio Aurelio, Philipp Degen, Andrea Dossena, Ryan Babel, Jay Spearing, Andriy Voronin and David Ngog are all vying for a starting spot.

It’s a 38,000 sell-out at Elland Road and Benitez is wary of the fallen giants who are top of League One.

“We have a lot of respect for Leeds and we know it will be tough,” Benitez said. “They are a massive club and it’s a surprise to see them in the division they are in now.

“Their fans are passionate and really get behind the players.”