Rafa Ready To Dent Blues

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez knows that Sunday's crucial meeting with Chelsea can contribute towards the outcome of the Premier League title race.

The Reds travel to London to take on their fierce rivals in determined mood as they aim to respond to critics who have already questioned their 2009/10 credentials.

Defeats to Tottenham and Aston Villa have already rocked Benitez's plans and allowed the doom-mongers to congregate around Anfield before August had come to an end.

But Liverpool have since stabilised in the league and their boss is adamant that there will still be plenty of twists in the battle for silverware as he aims to add pressure on Chelsea, who lost at Wigan last weekend.

Benitez told Sky Sports News: "It is always important when you play against the top sides because it can make a big difference.

"But you never know. It is important to do the right things and if you can win it is fantastic. If not, you have to keep going. It is an important game for both teams."

He added: "If we can win, it will be two defeats in a row for them. But my idea is always the same, it is a long race and there is still much to play."

Benitez heavily criticised his players in midweek following a comprehensive defeat at Fiorentina in the UEFA Champions League and he is expecting a reaction on Sunday.

But the former Valencia chief is also wary that Chelsea, who were unbeaten before their setback at Wigan, are looking to rediscover top gear.

He said: "Both teams will be desperate to win so we will hopefully see a good game. You always have to go with the idea that you can win."

Benitez is set to renew rivalries with Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti on Sunday after twice crossing swords with the ex-AC Milan manager in UEFA Champions League finals.

Liverpool memorably got the better of Milan in 2005 in arguably the best European Cup final in history, however, Ancelotti's side gained revenge in 2007.

Benitez is therefore expecting another intriguing encounter with the Italian, saying: "It will be interesting because he is a great manager.

"We have played in the finals and, OK, it will be good to see him and hopefully we will see him again in another final.

"He knows how to manage a top side. He has experience at AC Milan where he did really well and here he is now doing a very good job with good players."

But Benitez - who has been critical in the past of the tactics from the Blues under former bosses Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari - does not think Ancelotti has had a radical impact.

When asked if he had noticed any difference in Chelsea's approach this season, he said: "Not too much. He has changed the shape of the team a bit, but the style of football is similar."

Man Charged Over Gerrard Break-In

Police have charged a man with burglary and robbery at the home of Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard's wife Alex Curran, 27, was confronted by four masked raiders at the couple's mansion in Formby, Merseyside, on the evening of December 11, 2007.

She was left shaken but uninjured as the robbers struck while Gerrard, 29, was playing in Liverpool's Champions League tie away to Marseille.

The offenders, who all wore dark clothing, hoods and balaclavas, made off with items of jewellery.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "Police have arrested and charged a 22-year-old man from Stockbridge Village, Liverpool, with burglary and robbery following an incident at a house in Formby on December 11, 2007.

"Martin Wilson will appear at North Sefton Magistrates' Court on October 30."

Dirk Kuyt: Chelsea Don't Worry Liverpool

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt claims that his side are heading into Sunday's trip to Chelsea with confidence, despite the fine early season form of Carlo Ancelotti's men.

The Reds completed a Premier League double over the Londoners last season, and the Dutchman feels that that gives Rafa Benitez's men a strong reason for optimism.

"Okay, Chelsea had a one hundred per cent record until last weekend, but I'm not really worried about them," Kuyt told Liverpool's official website.

"If we play to the level we're capable of, we can win there again. We beat them home and away last season, so why not this year too?

"It's always a difficult game at Stamford Bridge but I believe we showed something last season by winning there.

"By beating both Chelsea and Man United twice in the league we proved we can beat most teams home and away. Chelsea have a group of players who have been together for a long time and with fantastic strikers such as Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

"But we know them well after playing against each other many times."

Two Premier League defeats already this season mean that there is a certain amount of pressure on Liverpool, although Kuyt maintains that if they focus on their own performance things should go well on Sunday.

He added: "We know what we have to do. At this stage we've already lost twice. That's the same amount as the whole of last season in the league.

"We just have to worry about our own games for now. Chelsea is a big game but we just have to look at ourselves.

"It's too early to talk about where the title is going, but if we beat Chelsea we'll be right back in there."

Babel Admits World Cup Fear

Ryan Babel is determined to earn an established place in Liverpool's first-team plans because his World Cup dream is in danger.

The Holland forward was dropped from his country's squad for September's meetings with Japan and Scotland after failing to play regular football at club level.

Babel was eventually called up by international boss Bert van Marwijk as cover for the injured Ibrahim Afellay, but his lack of games for Liverpool remains a concern.

The former Ajax player has still to settle since arriving at Anfield in 2007 and he has been linked with a loan return to Amsterdam.

But Babel is to fight for a role at Liverpool to earn a World Cup place, saying in the Daily Star: "Not being called up by Holland has definitely scared me into doing something.

"It's all about making the most of my chances in the first team now.

"The situation for me is clear. This has to be the year for me. I am trying to do whatever it takes to get into the team.

"If I give everything and the situation is still difficult, then you have to be honest with yourself.

"But I'm still confident that I can be a very important player for Liverpool.

"There's a World Cup at the end of the season and my position for the Holland national team is in danger.

"For the first time in 33 games, I wasn't called up for the national team. That was very scary. It's clear I have to play a lot of games for Liverpool to earn a ticket to the World Cup.

"The Holland coach made a statement that he wants his players playing for their clubs. It's clear I need to be playing more for Liverpool."

Aurelio Issues Warning To Liverpool

Fabio Aurelio has warned there can be no dwelling on the past as Liverpool seek to atone for their fiasco in Florence.

Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge on Sunday for a Barclays Premier League showdown with Chelsea knowing they cannot afford a repeat of their limp display against Fiorentina.

The 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Artemio Franchi resulted in Reds boss Rafa Benitez becoming apoplectic with rage during the break after witnessing a sub-standard first-half performance.

Brazilian defender Aurelio, who has known Benitez longer than any other Reds player after previously working with him at Valencia, confirmed after the game he had never seen the Spaniard so angry.

Now Liverpool have the perfect opportunity to atone for the loss by adding to Chelsea's league misery after the Blues' 100% top-flight record this season under Carlo Ancelotti was brought crashing down with last Saturday's shock 3-1 defeat at Wigan.

"We would have hoped for a better result against Fiorentina, but we can't think about that now, we must think about the future," the 30-year-old told liverpoolfc.tv.

"We have an important game in the Barclays Premier League against Chelsea on Sunday, and we must try to make things right.

"Football is like this. You cannot think in the past, you must always look to the future.

"Hopefully it will be a different game and we can go there and get a result."

Benitez has also claimed it will be "a totally different Liverpool" at Chelsea, with his comments echoed by captain Steven Gerrard who insists the team have to produce a reaction.

The last time Liverpool failed to score in a game was in another 2-0 defeat, at Middlesbrough at the end of February.

It sparked a phenomenal goal rush over the final three months of last season, with Liverpool rattling home 43 in just 14 games.

Benitez is at least expecting Javier Mascherano to return to the side after he missed Wednesday's game with a slight hamstring problem.

Liverpool Legend Ian Rush Hails Fernando Torres As 'The Best Striker In The World'

Liverpool's record goalscorer Ian Rush believes Fernando Torres, the man who now wears the number nine shirt the Welshman made famous, is the best striker in the world.

Torres' hat-trick against Hull last weekend took his tally to eight goals in his last six Barclays Premier League matches.

The Spaniard is edging closer to breaking a long-standing club record of being the fastest to 50 league goals and needs just four more in his next 15 games after notching 46 in his first 64 top-flight appearances.

Should he do that he will surpass the mark set by Sam Raybould, who played for the Reds between 1900 and 1907, and Albert Stubbins (1946-52) who both took 80 games to reach the half-century.

In comparison, Rush, who scored 346 goals in 660 matches for Liverpool, took 84, Robbie Fowler 88 and Michael Owen 98.

Rush said: 'He has been fantastic. He is the Premier League's top scorer this season and the goals he scored against Hull were great, both right foot and left foot.

'Had he stayed on the pitch against Hull he could have scored five or six that day. With experience I think he will get better. He is only 25 and he is a big plus for Liverpool as he and Steven Gerrard play really well together.

'Without doubt he is the best striker in the world at the moment. Lionel Messi is a great player, Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player but they are different to Torres.

David Villa is a great striker as well but Torres has proved it in the English league.'

Despite Torres drawing a blank in the Champions League in midweek as Liverpool lost 2-0 to Fiorentina, Rush is hoping the striker will be back to his clinical best against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

'A good side never really has two bad games and the Fiorentina result may serve as a wake-up call,' added the 47-year-old at the launch of FIFA 10 in London.

It may be a blessing in disguise because in the Champions League you can get away with losing one big game, in the league you won't. I think Liverpool will be up for it on Sunday. They had the best record against the top four last season.

'They beat Manchester United home and away, Chelsea home and away and drew with Arsenal home and away.

'The first test comes this season now they play Chelsea. I think they go into the game with the belief they can do it. Hopefully we will see a bit of Torres magic again.'

Liverpool Striker Fernando Torres Vows To Never Join Rivals Manchester United As Spain Star Plans To End His Career At Anfield

Fernando Torres has pledged to never join Manchester United out of respect for Liverpool fans.

Although the Premier League's top scorer is only 25, the Spanish striker admits he is already contemplating ending his career at Anfield, having firmly settled in on Merseyside since his £20million arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2007.

Asked about the chances of playing for United, Torres said: 'I can understand the feelings between Man United and Liverpool.

'I'm a foreign player, but I know how the Liverpool fans feel and I remember the welcome I had when I arrived - it was just amazing.

'I hope to play a lot of years or maybe even finish my career here.

'I don't know, but Liverpool is my English team and I don't think about playing for another one.'

Torres, who has scored eight goals so far this season, knows how important a win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea will be this Sunday if the Reds are to stake their claim as serious title contenders this season, insisting belief is the key to success.

'We know it will be difficult because a lot of teams want to win the Premier League,' he told Sport magazine.

'But I think we have to believe in ourselves.'

'We have the same chance as Manchester United, Chelsea, City or Arsenal.

'We just have to keep believing we can win, and then see what happens at the end of the season.'

Mascherano Making Progress

Liverpool could welcome Javier Mascherano and Daniel Agger back into the fold for Sunday's eagerly anticipated encounter with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Mascherano has responded well to treatment after missing Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Fiorentina with a hamstring injury while Agger came through a reserve team game in midweek unscathed.

The Danish defender has failed to feature in the first team so far this term after picking up a back injury in pre-season.

"It felt good to be back on the pitch again," said Agger. "It's always frustrating when you're out injured and can't play football, so to get back out there again was great.

"I knew in pre-season that my back wasn't right so I had to get the problem sorted. I set myself the target to be back around this time so I'm happy.

"I'll keep working hard and do everything I can to help the team and get back in the side as soon as possible."

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt Hails Yossi Benayoun's Intelligence & Quality

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has hailed the performances this season of team-mate Yossi Benayoun, and feels that the work rate and commitment shown by the Israeli will prove a key factor over the course of this campaign.

Benayoun also possesses a keen footballing brain and superb skill, according to the Dutch international.

"Yossi is an intelligent player with lots of quality," Kuyt told the Reds' official website.

"His biggest quality is to beat players. The way he passes them sometimes is unbelievable. He's got great skill and can do something for us in games to change things.

"Yossi can beat players and score goals. A lot of people will look at him and notice these qualities but he is also a team player. He puts everything into the team effort and also works really hard.

"That is really important. He's not only a skilful player but also works unbelievably hard for the team.

"For the last couple of months of last season he was really important for us, scoring goals and playing well as we challenged for the title. This season he has carried that on and is playing very well again."

Manchester United & Liverpool Scouting Real Sociedad's Antoine Griezmann

Manchester United and Liverpool are to go head-to-head in the battle to land Real Sociedad's prodigiously talented teenager Antoine Griezmann, according to the Daily Mirror.

Griezmann, a left winger, has burst onto the scene in recent months after being fast-tracked through the club's youth set-up. His rise to prominence has alerted a host of European clubs, and the two Premier League rivals are among the most high-profile to covet his signature.

The Frenchman has been with Real for four years, and enjoyed a productive pre-season. The Spanish club aim to tie the player down to a long-term deal after he impressed in his four appearances so far this season.

He scored on his first start for the club, in the 38th minute, in a fixture against SD Huesca.

The versatile attacker can also be deployed as a striker, but United and Liverpool may face an arduous task ahead in purchasing Griezmann as he recently made it clear that he would like to stay at the San Sebastian-based club.

He said: "Clearly I would like to stay with Real Sociedad.

The grounded youngster added: "I do not believe that I [deserve] a place in the first team."

Aurelio Reveals Rafa Anger

Rafa Benitez was as angry as he has ever been with Liverpool during their defeat by Fioretina, Fabio Aurelio has revealed.

The Brazilian full-back has admitted that the normally cool Spaniard blew his top at half-time in Tuscany during their UEFA Champions League clash.

Liverpool were 2-0 down at the Artemio Franchi, and Benitez made his feelings clear to his charges, although despite a second half improvement the scoreline stayed the same.

"That was the most annoyed we have seen the manager, but we all were," admitted Aurelio.

"We all felt like that after the first half and that's why you saw a better performance in the second.

"But we didn't need harsh words at half-time - we all knew that we were not playing well and that we had to be much better.

"In the second we were a different side and if it had been like that from the start it could have been a different result."

Aurelio admits that Liverpool will be looking to shrug off their defeat in Italy as they tackle Chelsea on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.

"In football you always have a chance to put it right and turn things to your favour and ours comes at Chelsea on Sunday," he said.

"It's a good opportunity for us to get over the disappointment of losing to Fiorentina.

"It is a very important game in the Premier League, against a very strong side, and we have to recover from this result straight away and have the confidence we can do a good job again.

"We have to fight really hard to take the points.

"It's important to get something against the top sides. We are scoring more goals at the moment but you must keep improving if you want to win trophies."

Saudi Prince Put Off By Club Debt And Issues Between Owners

Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah, a member of the ruling family of Saudi Arabia who claimed this week that he was close to agreeing a deal to invest in English soccer club Liverpool, has now spoken out about the ongoing tension between the club's American owners.

Liverpool and members of Fahd bin Abdullah's own company moved swiftly to distance themselves from his claims this week, with the club's owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, admitting that they have retained Bank of American Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to advise on possible investments but saying that any talks are in preliminary stages.

Fahd bin Abdullah attended the match against Hull last weekend to discuss tie-ups between F6, his investment company, and Gillett's Richard Petty Motorsports Nascar franchise, as well as the possibility of establishing Liverpool-supported youth academies in Saudi Arabia, but subsequently said to the press that he was keen to invest in up to 50 per cent of the club. Now he appears to be putting the confusion that followed down to a misunderstanding between the club's owners.

"It's clear to everyone that there is some sort of misunderstanding between Gillett and Hicks," Fahd bin Abdullah told Saudi television. "We are not there to pacify between them."

Meanwhile, F6 director Barry Didato has spoken out about the issue of the club's hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, secured through loans from RBS and Wachovia. "As far as investment in Liverpool is concerned, that would be a long way off," he said. "A lot of people have jumped the gun and any possible investment would be several months away. The agreement signed leaves the door open for it, but that was certainly not the focus of it. Another issue is the club's debt. Prince Faisal will not put forward investment capital to just clean up a balance sheet. He would only want to use money to take the club forward."

Agger Aiming For Return

Daniel Agger has set his sights on regaining a place in Liverpool's first-team after playing for the club's reserves as he continues his recovery from injury.

The classy Denmark defender has not featured in the current campaign, having undergone a back operation in pre-season.

But Agger played 68 minutes for Liverpool's reserves in the meeting with Manchester City on Tuesday as he edges closer to full fitness.

The 24-year-old, whose previous seasons have been disrupted by fitness problems, is now determined to regain a place in the first XI plans of Rafa Benitez.

Agger told Liverpool's official website: "I will keep working hard and do everything I can to help the team and get back in the side as soon as possible."

He added: "It is good to be back and it felt good to be back on the pitch again.

"It is always frustrating when you are out injured and can't play football, so to get back out there again was great.

"I knew in pre-season that my back wasn't right so I had to get the problem sorted. I set myself the target to be back around this time and so I'm happy."

Gillett And Hicks Still Live In Hope That Their Lies And Deceit Will Be Forgotten By Liverpool Fans

George Gillett's arrival on Merseyside last Saturday morning was greeted with great hostility. If the Reds co-owner was expecting the furore that surrounded events off the pitch over the past two years to have died down, he clearly underestimated the extent of his actions.

When Gillett and his business partner Tom Hicks strolled out onto the Anfield pitch in March 2007, they were given the most velvet of red carpet treatment by all connected with the club. They were the new custodians who promised to start work within 60 days of their arrival on a 60,000-seater stadium on Stanley Park that would rival the current famous old ground for atmosphere and grandeur.

Fast-forward 30 months and Gillett is denying that he ever made that now infamous reference about the need to have "a shovel in the ground" and claims it was Hicks who made the claim. If the American ever has time in his hectic schedule of (alleged) meetings with potential investors, he would do well to find the YouTube video of him saying those exact words. He was either lying or Tom Hicks is the world's greatest ventriloquist.

The purpose of largely absentee American’s visit to his 'investment' was to rubber stamp a deal with Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud to build club-accredited youth academies in the Middle East. The prince of Saudi Arabia’s first impression of the club will have been tainted by a welcoming committee of disgruntled supporters who confronted Gillett at Liverpool’s training ground and the youth academy in Kirkby where he had taken solace after being collared at Melwood.

Fans also made their feelings known later that day in the Main Stand car park where they gathered in numbers to vent their frustrations at the current predicament. Whilst Gillett and his royal guest soaked up the match day atmosphere from the comfort of the directors’ box, supporters stepped up their protests and unfurled non-offensive banners, reminding Gillett of the broken promises he and Hicks had made to the club and its fans, at the front of the Kop.

Club officials drafted in police to do their dirty work by having the banners removed from view and then confiscated. The hierarchy are more than happy cash in on the vast array of banners and wavers that adorn the famous terrace every other week as the focal point of selling the Anfield experience to whoever is gullible enough to spend a small fortune in the ground and leave the club shop tills endlessly ringing; but when that famous 12th man takes issue with the less than professional goings on away from the floodlights, they do their utmost to stifle their voice. In light of this, perhaps the PA announcement that signals the club’s safety drill should be rebranded “Standby for Operation Fascist State Anfield”.

Gillett and Hicks still live in hope that their lies and deceit will be forgotten with a few resounding wins on the pitch like the one against Hull last weekend but the club’s diehard supporters are not easily swayed as the day-tripping masses the pair encourage to flock to Anfield. News this week that the Americans have embarked on a search for fresh investment has been greeted with cautious optimism by the tirelessly devoted fans who continue to strive to prise their beloved club away from the incapable hands which it currently finds itself.

Five Key Questions On Liverpool’s Midfield

The Liverpool midfield has borne the brunt of most of the criticism that has come the team’s way since their 2-0 defeat away to Fiorentina on Tuesday. The Times answers the five key questions about why the usually reliable Liverpool midfield failed to function so badly and what can be done to improve it.

Why was Fábio Aurélio paired with Lucas Leiva in central midfield against Fiorentina?

Rafael Benítez’s idea seemed to be to try to dominate possession, hence the selection of Aurélio, a gifted ball player, in the heart of his midfield. The problem came when Liverpool did not have the ball, because they lacked the energy and physicality to stop the Serie A side from cutting through their midfield, a failing that was most apparent when Cristiano Zanetti, the Fiorentina midfield player, was allowed to waltz through a couple of half-hearted challenges on the halfway line before creating the opening goal for Stevan Jovetic.

Would Benítez have been better off asking Steven Gerrard to revert to a midfield role?

In hindsight this would probably have been the solution, particularly given Gerrard’s athleticism. The problem is, the Liverpool manager is loath to split up the prolific attacking partnership Gerrard has forged with Fernando Torres. By filling one hole in midfield he would have created another in attack, a situation that can be resolved in the long term only by the replenishment of the Liverpool squad because Benítez is short of options.

Could these problems have been avoided had the services of Xabi Alonso been retained?

In a word, yes. But once Alonso had set his heart on a move to Real Madrid, all Benítez and Liverpool could do was ensure they received a large fee for his transfer and then move on. Another “if only” revolves around Gareth Barry, the Manchester City and England midfield player. His form for club and country suggests that, had he been attracted to Anfield in the summer, he would have given Liverpool the kind of midfield balance that was absent in Florence.

Is Alberto Aquilani the solution to Liverpool’s problems?

Not directly. The Italy player is not a holding midfield player; he is best deployed in a more advanced position, similar to that which Gerrard operates in. As a temporary measure, Aquilani, when fit, could support Torres in attack, allowing Gerrard to revert to central midfield, where he has spent most of his career. But the ideal long-term scenario for Benítez would be for his captain to remain in the position just off Torres in which he excels. For this to happen, though, it is likely that another midfield player will need to be recruited in January.

Do Liverpool’s problems in midfield on Tuesday highlight the importance of Javier Mascherano?

Undoubtedly. At his best, Mascherano protects his back four at least as effectively as any other player in world football. Having been ruled out because of a tight hamstring, his presence was sorely missed against Fiorentina. However, the 25-year-old has been a long way short of peak form this season and there is concern on Merseyside that he might have allowed himself to become distracted from the job in hand by a combination of interest from Barcelona and the worry of captaining an Argentina team who are struggling to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals.

Banks Press Tom Hicks And George Gillett On Liverpool Debt

Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr., the owners of Liverpool, have been issued with an ultimatum by the club’s bankers to attract investors to reduce the club’s debt or to sell up.

A statement released on behalf of Hicks and Gillett yesterday provided official confirmation for the first time that a search for new funds is under way, with Rothschild and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the investment banks, leading the search.

City sources believe the announcement is an indication of the pressure that the Americans, who bought Liverpool in February 2007, are under to reduce the club’s exposure to debt. An equity raise — a quest to find minority shareholders to inject finance into the club in return for a stake — is a clear signal that the days of Hicks and Gillett as dual owners are numbered, although speculation that a Saudi Arabian prince is on the verge of concluding a deal to secure a half-share have been dismissed.

“The owners have jointly retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to evaluate the possibility of new investors injecting equity into Liverpool Football Club,” a spokesperson for Hicks and Gillett confirmed. “However, the process is at an early stage, there is no agreement with any party and reports to the contrary are wholly inaccurate.”

Hicks and Gillett secured a deal in July to refinance their debts with Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, but the agreement was struck only on the condition that they provided £60 million in equity to reduce Liverpool’s outstanding liabilities from £310 million to £250 million, after fears expressed by the club’s accountant, KPMG, of their ability to continue as a going concern given such large-scale exposure to debt.

However, rather than cementing their position as owners, the deal was designed to allow Hicks and Gillett more time to sell the club. It is understood both banks are reluctant to extend the loans again unless the club reduce their debt before next summer.

Claims that Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud, of Saudi Arabia, is about to strike a deal in which he would assume a 50 per cent stake in Liverpool were dismissed, with senior club officials having been taken by surprise by reports that an agreement was in place and that due diligence is under way, neither of which is true.

Gillett, in particular, though, is stepping up his efforts to recruit investors who would allow him to retain a partial stake in the club at the least. His meeting with Prince Faisal at Anfield last Saturday was accompanied by a raft of publicity.

In statements emanating from the Middle East, a spokesman on behalf of Prince Faisal has since claimed that a significant investment deal was imminent, but, as reported in The Times on Monday, this is not the case, with the only accord being one that will further Gillett’s interests in Nascar, the North American motor-racing sport.

Saudi Prince’s Company Blames Hicks For Stalling Deal

Speculation continues about the possibility of Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud, a member of the ruling family of Saudi Arabia, buying into Liverpool, after the English Premier League club admitted that it had appointed advisors to look at new investment opportunities.

Fahd bin Abdullah's F6 company has signed an agreement with Liverpool and co-owner George Gillett's Nascar franchise, Richard Petty MOtorsports, that will see two Liverpool-backed youth academies and a number of motor racing tracks built in Saudi Arabia. The prince also spoke publically about his desire to become a part-owner of the club, but a senior figure at F6 has now suggested that moves to that end have been frustrated by Gillett's relationship with Hicks.

"Right now George has a lot of ongoing issues with his existing partner, and he is working through those with the banks and Premier League," said F6 director Barry Didato last night. "Prince Faisal has said we're keeping a very open-door policy to it, but that the existing partnership should not look to him being a solution to Liverpool's balance sheet and there are some balance sheet issues yet to be resolved."

The news comes just one day after newspaper reports linked an Indian billionaire with a takeover bid for the club.

A spokesperson for Liverpool said simply: "The owners have jointly retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to evaluate the possibility of new investors injecting equity into LFC. However, the process is at an early stage, there is no agreement with any party and reports to the contrary are wholly inaccurate."

Tommy Smith: Bill Shankly Was The Greatest Boss Of All

I got a call yesterday from someone reminding me it was the 28th anniversary of Bill Shankly’s death.

It’s hard to believe so many years have passed since that time.

Of course, it is 50 years ago this December that Shanks first took over as manager of Liverpool. And the rest, as they say, is history.

The game has changed so much, with money now so important, that Shanks would never have imagined it. He would not have liked it either, of that I’m sure.

These days, you get players who are happy to sit on the bench because they are earning so much But in his day, players hated being left out - and Bill hated it if they weren’t deeply unhappy and desperate to get off it and into the team as soon as possible.

One thing he would have enjoyed, though, was seeing Liverpool bombard Hull City at Anfield and hit six.

Liverpool played the way Shanks wanted his teams to play - pummelling the opposition with big hearts and good football until they all but submitted, which Hull did after what Torres and company put them through.

He may not have been the most successful manager ever - though he did win pretty much everything. But for me, Shanks will always be the greatest boss of all.

Liverpool Are Better Suited To The Premier League This Season, Says Tony Barrett

The Times North West football writer says club must get back to basics if they are to address the problems that have dogged them this season.


What went wrong in Florence on Tuesday night?

Most Liverpool fans would have been concerned when they saw the team-sheet. Without Javier Mascherano, Liverpool were deprived of a very important part of the way Rafael Benitez likes to play in Europe. Mascherano sits in front of the back four and stops the opposition from playing in that part of the field. That has been one of the main reasons behind Liverpool's success in Europe.

Without Mascherano the feeling was that Steven Gerrard would drop back into midfield and that Dirk Kuyt would play off Fernando Torres.

But the decision to play Fabiano Aurelio in midfield alongside Leiva Lucas was perhaps where it all started to go wrong. Although Aurelio is a very capable midfielder, Liverpool lacked pace and a real physical presence in the centre of the field which meant Fiorentina were able to play through them far too easily.


Why do Liverpool look so frail defensively this season? Is it just that Jamie Carragher is a year older and Martin Skrtel is in a poor run of form?

It is a combination of factors. Liverpool are attacking more than they ever have done under Benitez and have scored more goals at the start of this season than any Liverpool team have done since 1995-96.

The signing of Glen Johnson has been a big part of that but the way they are playing now is a whole new departure for Benitez. It means they are committing a full back very high up the pitch and that in turn is putting a lot of extra pressure on the other members of the back four.

Carragher didn't have the best of games against West Ham United, that was well documented, but since then he has come back into the kind of form we expect from him. Skrtel is a big worry for Liverpool, he is well short of his best at the moment and all that is being exacerbated by the introduction of Emiliano Insua, who is a young left back still making his way in the game.

The problem for Insua is that he is part of a defence that is changing quite a lot at the moment and is far less solid that it has been in recent years. All those things are combining to give this feeling that Liverpool aren't as strong defensively as they have been in the past.


Daniel Agger made his return for the reserves on Tuesday night. Will he come into the equation?

He played 68 minutes for the reserves and by all accounts did very well. Agger will bring much-needed extra competition for places in the heart of the Liverpool defence.

Although Benitez signed Sotiris Kyrgiakos at the end of the transfer window, he is clearly fourth choice and is not putting any real pressure on Carragher and Skrtel. They know they are first picks and any manager needs to know that he has someone who can do a job if his current pairing continues to underperform.

I am not sure Agger will bring the kind of solidity Liverpool need, because he is very much a footballing centre back. Liverpool need to get back to the no-nonsense style of defending that has served them so well in the past.


What kind of impact will last night's defeat have on the club's preparation for the game with Chelsea?

Liverpool need to wake up to some of the problems that have plagued them since the start of the season. It is only when you get a serious setback, like the one they suffered in Florence, which you start to re-evaluate.

Liverpool need to get back to the basics that have been the bedrock of their success under Benitez. They are not defending well as a team. Mascherano will come back into the side on Sunday, so that will give the defence more protection, but it is not just the personnel it is the mentality of the team.

Benitez kept talking about mentality after the game on Tuesday night, there were a lot of individual performances out there but there was a lack of collective responsibility, especially defensively. That will be what is worked on most on the training pitches and if Liverpool can learn from their mistakes then we may well see the kind of Liverpool we have seen in the past.


Is the ongoing instability off the field playing a part in any of this?

The players are well used to what is happening off the field but it isn't helpful. George Gillett Jr. has made quite a few headlines in the past few days but his interests may not necessarily be in keeping with the best interests of the team.

He is looking to bring in investment and do whatever deals he can for his own sake, so maybe he has a different agenda from the club and that is something that will disappoint the supporters.

The lack of a big transfer budget was a problem in the summer. If you look at what he spent it was what he got in through sales. Liverpool were at a point where if they had been able to [spend more money] that may well have paid dividends this season. They were unable to do so because of financial constraints and it probably wouldn't have been prudent to do so.

But if Liverpool had been able to do that then Benitez would have strengthened a few areas of his squad which are looking quite thin at the moment.


Do you expect Liverpool's long wait for the league title to go on?

Liverpool never start well under Benitez, but I have a feeling that what was true in the past is not so true now. Under Benitez Liverpool have always been stronger in Europe, but looking at this side now it is much more suited to the Premier League.

We have seen already that they are more able to beat the lesser teams. They may well struggle against the better sides but, although I am not suggesting they are going to win the title, I wouldn't rule them out.


Has Benitez finally switched his priority to the Premier League and away from Europe?

I am not sure he would see it that way. The Champions League final is in Madrid this season and being a son of Madrid and a former Real Madrid player he would like nothing more than to go back there and lift the European Cup with Liverpool.

Benitez is just trying to address the weaknesses that stopped Liverpool winning the league last season. The loss of Xabi Alonso and even Alvaro Arbeloa has affected the balance of the side but it remains to be seen if Liverpool can address that as the season goes on.

Xabi Misses Liverpool, The Stadium, Everything

Xabi Alonso is delighted to be at Real Madrid however his brother Mikel, formerly of Bolton, and now in La Liga with Tenerife, believes he is missing his old club Liverpool.

The two siblings faced each other over the weekend, during which the eldest brother took home the bragging rights after a 3-0 Real Madrid win. Alonso junior suggests Xabi will always hold Liverpool, Anfield and the Premier League in high regard.

Mikel Alonso told Goal.com: “We talked a lot about it.”

“He made the decision, but you know there were a lot of times it was between Liverpool and Real Madrid because they are very big clubs, but I think my brother is happy now and that's important,”

“He had a lot of success at Liverpool, he had some very beautiful and good years there and I think Liverpool supporters are going to miss him, because he plays a good game and I think he's a very important player for any team that wants to be the best.”

Mikel refused to be drawn on the reasons why his brother left Anfield.

He says: “I think everything becomes important when you make a decision.”

“Maybe because he had already spent four years there and maybe sometimes you need a change.”

“I think I'm not the best person to talk about this stuff, but you know I think he's happy and this is the most important thing.”

“He has a big respect and great memory of Liverpool the stadium, the supporters, everything,”

“He misses that - he does miss that, but life goes ahead and sometimes changes come...”

He concluded: “I think he's very happy now.”

“I think he thinks the years in Liverpool were very happy years and he grew as a football player and now he's in another team and has new objectives and goals and now he is happy again.”