Match Preview: Reading vs. Liverpool (FA Cup)

Reading have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the FA Cup tie with Liverpool.

Brian McDermott saw his side hammered 4-1 at fellow Championship strugglers Plymouth on Monday and may choose to make changes.

Defender Matthew Mills is expected to be handed a recall as McDermott looks for a response to a damaging defeat at Home Park which left the Royals just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Midfielder Brian Howard has been an unused substitute for the last two games after a swift return from a broken jaw and may be back in the starting line-up and be given a chance to emulate his famous FA Cup goal at Anfield while a Barnsley player in 2008.

Jay Tabb is still struggling with a calf strain while striker Noel Hunt is likely to be out until the end of the season as he recovers from a knee injury.

New signing Gunnar Thorvaldsson is not available to play until next week`s clash with Newcastle.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to his side.

Benitez is already without Glen Johnson because of a knee injury sustained in the win at Aston Villa on Tuesday, while midfielder Javier Mascherano is still serving a suspension.

Liverpool need to do well in the FA Cup considering their poor season, so Benitez will mix his side with experienced and fringe players.

Winger Albert Riera, back in training after a calf injury, is unlikely to be involved.

Liverpool FC FA Cup Hero Michael Thomas Urges Reds To Wembley Glory

Up and down the country on Saturday Premier League managers will ring the changes. Key players will be given the weekend off and rookies handed a chance to shine.

The FA Cup is now viewed by many as an unwelcome distraction from the riches on offer in the top flight.

An early exit will be greeted by a casual shrug of the shoulders amid talk of how they don’t have the strength in depth to compete on both fronts.

However, one former Wembley winner is hoping the oldest club cup competition in the world has leapt up Rafa Benitez’s list of priorities.

With their Champions League and title dreams in tatters, Michael Thomas believes the

FA Cup now represents Liverpool’s best chance of securing a first trophy since that unforgettable final against West Ham in 2006.

All the talk ahead of tomorrow’s third round clash at Championship strugglers Reading has been about the race for fourth place, but Thomas insists silverware should still be the major goal.

“The FA Cup is very special and when Premier League teams put out weakened teams I think it’s a disgrace,” he said.

“It’s a very prestigious competition watched by people across the world and it should be treated with respect.

“These days it’s all about the Champions League. If you want to get in that because you think you’ve got a genuine chance of winning it then fair enough, but when your sole target is qualifying just for the money that’s very sad.

“Nobody gets remembered for finishing fourth. At the end of your career you might be rich but you make your mark on the game by winning trophies.

“Medals are what every player wants and the FA Cup would do nicely for Liverpool this season.”

Maximum points against Wolves and Aston Villa over Christmas have lifted spirits at Anfield and breathed new life into their Champions League qualification hopes.

Thomas, who scored 12 goals in 163 appearances for the Reds between 1991 and 1998 and who has since made Merseyside his home, believes it’s crucial that momentum is maintained at the Madejski Stadium.

“Hopefully the win over Villa will really kick-start things and a victory in the Cup would breed more confidence,” he added.

“The team is just getting used to winning again so I hope Rafa plays his strongest team.

“I’m sure Liverpool will finish in the top four. When they hit top gear they will put together a long unbeaten run.

“The season has been disappointing so far and they’ve really missed Xabi Alonso. He was the one who got everything going. The defence released the ball to him and he always knew what to do with it. But there have been some promising signs from Alberto Aquilani. He needs more games under his belt but he’s going to be crucial.

“Going well in the FA Cup isn’t going to harm the league form. Winning trophies just makes you hungry for more.”

The 42-year-old got his hands on the FA Cup back in May 1992 at the end of a roller-coaster first season with the club.

The midfielder, who broke Kopites’ hearts with his dramatic late winner for Arsenal to clinch the league title at Anfield in 1989, was snapped up from the Gunners in December 1991 for £1.5million.

He joined a squad with high hopes of clinching the championship but injuries dogged their season and Graeme Souness’ side could only finish sixth.

The Cup run provided some welcome relief and Thomas was crucial to the Reds’ progress.

Having thrashed Crewe 4-0, they needed replays to see off Bristol Rovers and Ipswich before Thomas’ sweet strike settled a quarter-final tie with Aston Villa at Anfield.

The semi-final with Portsmouth also went to a replay and the Reds held their nerve to win on penalties and book a Wembley showdown with Sunderland.

Thomas said: “It was a strange season because we believed we could have won the league that year. We backed ourselves to beat anyone and we were close to the top early on but injuries to players like John Barnes, Jan Molby, Barry Venison and Ronnie Whelan really did us in.

“We couldn’t get into a rhythm and it was so stop-start. As we weren’t doing well in the league, we were under pressure to deliver in the Cup.

“We had some nervy moments but we kept progressing and the goal against Villa, my first in front of the Kop, is a special memory.”

The final surpassed that as Thomas broke the deadlock early in the second half with a stunning right-footed volley into the top corner of the net.

The midfielder also provided the pass for Ian Rush to settle the contest as he famously scored for the fifth time in three Cup finals to eclipse the long-standing record of Stan Mortensen.

Thomas’ Wembley heroics secured his place in Liverpool folklore and now he’s hoping to see the current crop write another chapter in the club’s illustrious FA Cup history.

“It had been a dream of mine since I was a kid to play at Wembley and score in the Cup final,” he said.

“Growing up, you don’t think about scoring a winning goal to secure the title, it was always the FA Cup. And to fulfil my dream that day was very special.

“The moment the ball left my boot I knew I had caught it perfectly. I hit it just right and to see it fly into the top corner was amazing.

“It was a real highlight of my career and to be able to say I scored in a winning Cup final side is something I’m very proud of.

Hopefully this is the year Liverpool bring the trophy back to Merseyside again. Going to the Cup final used to be almost an annual trip for Liverpool fans. It’s about time those supporters had their first day out at the new Wembley.”

Benitez Targeting Cup Success

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has outlined the FA Cup as being a main priority in their disappointing campaign.

Seven defeats in the Premier League sees the Reds lie seventh in the table and they face an uphill battle to maintain their top four status.

However, after back-to-back wins against Wolves and UEFA Champions League rivals Aston Villa over Christmas, Liverpool have fresh hopes of salvaging their season.

Benitez takes his side to Reading on Saturday bidding for three wins in a row and he admits that after their early Champions League exit, the FA Cup is now high on his agenda.

"The FA Cup is always important, but when you are out of the Champions League it becomes a major trophy," he said.

"The feeling after the win at Aston Villa this week was really good, it can only improve confidence.

"After the way things had been going, we needed to start winning some games in a row. We have now won twice on the trot in the league against Wolves and Villa over Christmas and are aiming to add to that run against Reading.

"We had been very close to some good form, but the confidence is now really high so hopefully we can continue in this way with the same mentality."

The Reds boss is reluctant to get carried away by the recent success over Villa, and maintains his side must use their renewed confidence to gain momentum.

"It will be very difficult for us to finish in the top four: Spurs, Manchester City and Aston Villa are all pushing very hard for fourth place.

"We have to keep working and keep going right to the end. We know there will be difficulties, but we must keep our confidence and add to the two wins in two games we achieved over Christmas.

"Now it is the perfect time to go on a winning run, and a victory and good performance at Reading will add to our growing confidence.

"We had to win one, then two and now we want three. If we do that before we face Spurs at Anfield in our next league game, it will be a real boost to our confidence.

"Our fans are still thinking of winning silverware this season, so that means the FA Cup. It is a very important competition for us now.

"We must look at our squad and decide what we are going to do at Reading. We have more training sessions to see how they are, but because the competition has added importance now maybe we will not change too many players.

"We know we are facing Spurs eight days later, but that does give us more time to get players fit so we can field a strong team at Reading.

"We cannot underestimate Reading. It is something you must be very careful about in the FA Cup.

"They are at a difficult time, having changed their manager. They are looking to improve and they will be difficult for us.

"They have players with Premier League experience, and they are working hard as a team."

Liverpool Weighing Up Bid For Greek Right Back As Cover For Glen Johnson

Liverpool are considering a move for Greek international right-back Vasilis Torosidis as a replacement for crocked Glen Johnson.

England full-back Johnson, 25, faces three months out after tearing medial ligaments in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Aston Villa.

And Reds boss Rafa Benitez is now deciding whether to bring in a cheap replacement.

Olympiakos Torosidis, 24, fits the bill as he has 25 caps for his country.

He is available for a knock-down fee and already has Juventus clamouring for his services.

Liverpool Close To Sealing Deal For Atletico Madrid Star

Liverpool will kick start the January sales with a loan move for Argentina star Maxi Rodriguez.

And boss Rafa Benitez is hoping that cut price deal will give him the room to wheel and deal in the transfer market to spend decent money on the striker he is desperate to sign.

Rodriguez is a full Argie international who is a former team mate of Fernando Torres, and his contract is up with Atletico Madrid in the summer, making him a cheap option in the window.

Benitez wants to take the winger on loan, with a view to a permanent deal in the summer if the move proves a success, and he is likely to make it happen after the weekend's cup games.

The midfielder will be 29 today, and has vast experience after claiming 35 caps and 10 goals for his country, and Benitez sees him as a good option to help provide cover on the flanks and even in central midfield.

His appearances with Madrid have been limited this season, and he is keen to move in the window as the World Cup approaches.

Boca Juniors have already made an approach, but Benitez is confident he can do business in the next few days to secure the capture of the player.

And that will give him options in the transfer window, as he attempts to raise in the region of £15million through the sale of fringe players such as Ryan Babel, Andrea Dossena, Andreiy Voronin and Philipp Degen.

The Reds boss is struggling to find buyers for the quartet at present, with his most salable asset Babel dragging his heels over a potential move to Fiorentina.

But if he can offload his unwanted players, then he will offer decent money for a striker, with Kenwyne Jones, Emile Heskey, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Ruud van Nistelrooy all on his radar.

Rodriguez has been linked with a host of clubs in previous season, and Benitez sees his fast, direct style and his ability to cross as an attractive option as he looks for more width in his team.

Glen Johnson Injury May Force Liverpool To Re-think January Transfer Plans

Rafael Benítez may have to rethink his plans for the transfer window after learning that Glen Johnson's medial knee ligament damage will sideline the England international until the middle of next month.

Johnson saw a specialist on Thursday to establish the extent of the injury, sustained in Tuesday's 1-0 Premier League win against Aston Villa, and Benítez has confirmed that the £18 million right-back will be out for "at least one month", though reports that Johnson could miss the World Cup are wide of the mark.

"He has a problem, so he'll see [another] specialist and then we will talk," said the Liverpool manager. "We know he'll be out for at least one month. But we're waiting for another opinion and then we'll know how long."

Johnson's understudy, Martin Kelly, has struggled with an ankle injured in the Champions League tie against Lyon in October and is not expected to be fully fit until the end of the month. Benítez had planned to sell Philipp Degen, the injury-plagued Swiss international, but the manager is now considering retaining Degen, who has made just seven appearances in 18 months at Anfield, for the rest of the season.

Should Degen indeed leave, Benítez would have just the rookie Stephen Darby and a reluctant Jamie Carragher – who has made it clear he would rather not switch from his usual central role – to cover for Johnson.

Benítez may still look to bolster his resources at full-back should Degen stay, though Liverpool's financial strictures are such that he would, most likely, be able only to bring in a temporary replacement on loan or a free transfer.

Until Johnson limped off in the 89th minute at Villa Park, Benítez's priority was to secure experienced attacking cover for Fernando Torres, with Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United striker, and Emile Heskey believed to be potential targets.

Van Nistelrooy's wages at Real Madrid, though, remain an obstacle to a loan deal – the Spanish side would have to pay a significant proportion of his £150,000-a-week salary to bring him into Liverpool's price range – while Martin O'Neill would be reluctant to allow Heskey to leave Aston Villa for a direct Premier League rival.

Benítez knows that he must trim his squad to allow him even the luxury of securing the long-term futures of Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano before he considers boosting his numbers. Ryan Babel, Andrea Dossena and Andriy Voronin are believed to be available for transfer.

Fiorentina Interested In Liverpool's Ryan Babel

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel is attracting the attention of Italian outfit Fiorentina.

The 23-year-old is being lined up as a possible replacement for Adrian Mutu, who is said to want a move away from Florence.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is looking to sell his fringe players as he seeks to raise money to spend on new players in the January transfer window.

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claims Liverpool are set to offload Babel in the new year and they report that Fiorentina are preparing to table a bid for the Holland international.

Babel revealed earlier on this season that he was hoping to secure a loan move away from Anfield in January to earn a place in the Holland squad for the World Cup finals next summer.

The Dutchman has never cemented his place in the Liverpool side since his £11 million move from Ajax in 2007.

Babel has scored nine goals in 67 league appearances for Liverpool but has failed to become a regular starter for Benitez's side.

Milan Chase Liverpool Hitman Fernando Torres

According to a report in Corriere dello Sport, Italian titans Milan are considering making a move for highly rated Liverpool hitman Fernando Torres.

The Rossoneri are eager to strengthen their attacking department and had initially set their sights on signing Wolfsburg's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko. However, they appear to be reluctant to meet the forward's €40 million buy-out clause.

Therefore, they have turned their attention to Fernando Torres. The Liverpool star won't come to Italy on the cheap either, but Milan are more willing to splash the cash on the Spaniard following his experience in one of Europe's biggest three leagues.

Torres recently expressed his worries about Liverpool's performances so far this term and the prolific striker made it clear that he might leave Anfield Road if the Reds fail to qualify for next year's Champions League.

Milan reportedly face stiff competition in the race for Torres' signature though, as Chelsea and Manchester City are closely monitoring the striker's situation too.

Reds Eye Hammers Ace

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is in a three way fight with Spurs and Aston Villa to sign West Ham midfielder Scott Parker for £8m.

The Hammers would be very reluctant to allow the all action midfielder to leave Upton Park but an offer in the region of £8m would be difficult to turn down.

Aston Villa are also in the race to land the holding midfielder as are Spurs and it may well be that Reds boss Benitez spends any money he has on landing a striker to play alongside Fernando Torres.

But, if he can generate the cash, then a move for Parker could be on the cards.

Liverpool Defender Glen Johnson Out For At Least A Month

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has been ruled out for at least a month with a medial ligament tear of his right knee.

The England international sustained the injury in Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.

Johnson will have to see a specialist again before a specific timescale will be put on how long he will be out of action for.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "Johnson has a problem, so he'll see a specialist and then we'll talk but we know he'll be out for at least one month.

"But we are waiting for another opinion and then we'll know how long."

The Reds are lacking cover for Johnson in the right-back berth, as Martin Kelly is also out for the next couple of weeks so centre-back Jamie Carragher may be forced to play out of position once again.

Fernando Torres Will Never Sign For Real Madrid, Insists Bernabeu Defender Alvaro Arbeloa

Alvaro Arbeloa believes Real Madrid have no chance of prising Fernando Torres from Liverpool.

Europe's top clubs are monitoring Spain striker Torres as Liverpool struggle to hold on to their Big Four status.

But Arbeloa, the defender who quit Anfield for Real Madrid in the summer, believes he won't be welcoming his compatriot to the Bernabeu any time soon.

'I think he is happy there and he just extended his contract. The Premier League suits him, he has adjusted well and he is scoring a lot of goals, so I doubt that he will come back. If he does I assume it would be to play for Atletico Madrid.'

Torres has often ruled out a move to the Bernabeu because of his ties to city rivals Atletico, where he came through the ranks before Liverpool signed him in a £21million deal in 2007.

But Real and Barcelona would both be interested if Torres's commitment to Liverpool shows any sign of wavering.

There is no suggestion the 25-year-old wants to leave Anfield and his goal in the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday night made him the fastest player in Liverpool history to score 50 League goals.

Arbeloa, who signed for Real in a £3.5m summer move, congratulated his former team-mate.

'What can I say? He speaks for himself,' said the full-back. 'Congratulations because it wasn't an easy feat at an historic club like Liverpool.'

Rafa Benitez Eyes Spending Spree As Liverpool Boss Prepares For The January Transfer Window

Rafa Benitez has revealed he is looking to boost his squad in the January transfer window.

The Liverpool boss is under serious pressure to finish in the top four and reclaim their place in the lucrative Champions League.

Aside from his star players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, the Reds have been short on attacking power this season and they are likely to pursue reinforcements up front.

'We are working hard and trying to do our jobs, and we'll see if we can do something,' said Benitez.

'We are looking in the market but it's not easy to find good players available because the majority of them are playing in top sides. But we are trying to find solutions if we can.

'We have some good players who people are interested in because they're not playing too many games, but we have to manage carefully.'

Benitez is interested in signing former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy on a six-month loan deal.

It would be a controversial move to bring the Real Madrid veteran to Anfield but his huge wages could prove to be a stumbling block.

Another target is Tottenham outcast Roman Pavlyuchenko, who has been told he can leave White Hart Lane. A swap deal involving Liverpool misfit Ryan Babel is one possibility.

Meanwhile, Benitez has highlighted the importance of the FA Cup following Liverpool's shock exit from the Champions League group stages last month.

They travel to Championship strugglers Reading on Saturday desperate to land a piece of silverware this season.

'It's always been important but you know that when you're out of the Champions League, the people think about silverware and the FA Cup is very, very important for us,' Benitez added.

'We want to progress, we want to go as far as we can. We'll have to analyse and consider what to do and we still have another training session. We'll see how the players are but maybe we won't change too many.

'We know we're playing against Tottenham eight days later, so we'll have time. We can put a strong team out. Always in the FA Cup it's really important to do things right. Everyone wants to win and it's a massive competition, so we have to be ready.'

Why Rafa Benitez Most Certainly Does Know His Enemy

American rockers Green Day recently asked 'Do you know your enemy?' In Rafael Benitez's case, it is the media and their anti-Liverpool agenda.

Anyone who has been present at Melwood when the Spaniard holds court for pre-match press conferences knows the level of irritation the manager feels when asked lazy journalism questions, cleverly disguised as sensationalist probes.

Having been the subject of idle paper talk linking him with resigning from the Anfield hot seat should the Reds fail to secure Champions League qualification, a vindicated Benitez hit back on Tuesday night in his post-match interview at Villa Park.

He said: "I don't see any journalist making a mistake and resigning, so every time that you ask me the same, I will ask you the same."

Benitez has every reason to be upset.

The critics have been quick to attack Alberto Aquilani, just as they were Jamie Carragher earlier in the season, but the Italian has to be given time to find his feet in the Premier League and the signs have been there in the last two games that he is doing that.

Some sections of the press have also included Benitez in lists of the worst managers of the year, despite him steering Liverpool to a second-place finish in the Premier League last season, and anyone hoping that the media tide against Liverpool will finally turn in 2010 shouldn’t hold their breath if the previous 12 months are anything to go by.

With all the adversity flying in the face of the club, the manner in which the Reds snatched all three points was made all the sweeter. An equally pleasurable sight was seeing Villa boss Martin O’Neill looking inconsolable as Fernando Torres hit his 50th league goal, scored in a record 72 appearances, proving that form is temporary and class is still permanent.

The old adage of playing to the whistle was also given real meaning with several players looking strong against the top four pretenders, notably Carragher, Emiliano Insua and Lucas Leiva. Glen Johnson and Dirk Kuyt are still lacking in confidence but as we saw with Yossi Benayoun at the turn of the year, players of their ability will find that form.

Yesterday it was revealed that the club are planning to begin work on the proposed new stadium before the end of the first quarter of 2010 after George Gillett’s pledge of having “a shovel in the ground” within 60 days of the Americans’ takeover in 2007 failed to come to fruition. There will be a shovel in the ground on Stanley Park before the end of April but it is more likely to be that of Anfield Comprehensive students as part of an archaeological experiment rather than builders performing excavation work.

So what does the future hold for Liverpool Football Club at the dawn of a new decade? Crippling debts, non-existent transfer budgets and a lack of overall progress under the current ownership. This is the storm that Gerry Marsden once referenced and it looks set to be a lengthy one with Gillett and Hicks at the helm.

Benitez Must Take Gamble - Expert

Liverpool may have to spend heavily in the January transfer window if they are to protect their future income.

That is the view of Simon Chadwick, professor of sport business at Coventry University, who believes the financial implications of the club's failure to reach the knockout stage of this season's Champions League could minor compared to those of finishing the current Premier League campaign outside the top four.

The Reds ended 2009 off the pace with Tottenham providing the closest challenge to the remaining three members of the usual suspects at the top of the division, and with manager Rafael Benitez repeatedly finding himself under pressure.

And if they cannot improve upon that situation over the second half of the season, Prof Chadwick fears for their longer-term future.

He said: "They are faltering.

"For clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, the business model is very much founded on qualification for the knockout phase of the Champions League.

"Liverpool have failed at that first hurdle - they didn't progress to the knockout phase - but potentially, they could fail at the second hurdle too, which means they don't qualify for next season's Champions League either.

"If Liverpool do not qualify for the Champions League next season, they are on a little bit of a slippery slope and it starts to impinge upon their business model.

"They have to qualify for the Champions League next season and as a consequence of that, they have to spend some money.

"But is the money there to spend? They are either going to have to sell people to find it, or there is talk of prospective investors coming in.

"Whether those prospective investors might potentially be in place by January, which would enable Liverpool to buy, we will have to wait and see.

"But they have got to spend and they haven't got the money to spend, so they will have to sell or bring in new investors."

Prof Chadwick expects few clubs to invest heavily next month, although it tipping Manchester United to spend some of the £80million they raked in, but did not spend, by selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid during the summer, while neighbours City have seemingly limitless funds upon which to call.

Instead, he is forecasting a rash of short-term deals as clubs jockey for position without over-committing themselves in the current economic climate.

He said: "I think by and large, the transfer window will be relatively quiet, and that comes out of concerns about money and continuing concerns about the downturn.

"In the main, I think it will be relatively quiet and if anything, the window will be characterised more by loan deals than transfers."

Liverpool And Benfica Chase Teenaged Slovenian Goalkeeper Jan Oblak

Liverpool, Benfica, and Aston Villa are locked in a battle to sign highly-rated Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

The 16-year-old, who is first choice for Slovenian club Olimpija and a member of his country's U-21 side, is valued at around 2 million euros.

Oblak visited Anfield to watch the Reds 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in December and he was due to attend a trial with the club but he couldn’t train after picking up a slight muscle strain.

Olimpija's director of football Simon Seslar told Zurnal24: "Yes, we have numerous offers for Jan, there are clubs that are prepared to enter concrete talks with us. If we are satisfied and the player is satisfied as well, we can strike a deal.

"Some people have invited us to Anfield, where we watched the game, Liverpool versus Arsenal. But that's it. We flew home the following day."

Oblak has also been linked with moves to Aston Villa and Portuguese outfit Benfica but he refused to say where he is heading.

He said: "Yes, there is something going on, but I am not allowed to talk about it. If my transfer will help the club financially, I am willing to say yes to a transfer."

The Olimpija keeper has already featured for Slovenia Under-21s and he even captained his club side in their last match before the winter break against Maribor.

Mancini: I’ll Raid The Reds

Roberto Mancini will make a move for Fernando Torres and Co - if Liverpool finish outside the top four.

The Merseysiders face a cash crisis should they miss out on Champions League football next season.

And Manchester City chief Mancini has the mega-money to bag the Kop's crown jewels.

He said: "If they put Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres on the market, City will be interested.

"We at City will do everything possible to prevent Liverpool from finishing fourth."

Funds are already tight at Anfield and failure to make Europe's elite competition could force the club to sell their prized assets. There ]are worries striker Torres and talismanic skipper Gerrard may quit without the Champions League to play for.

While midfielder Javier Mascherano had looked to leave last summer to join Barcelona.

City would have to shell out more than £100million for Liverpool's biggest names.

But that would not be a problem for the club's billionaire Arab owners.

Mancini admits he needs to bolster his backline in the January window.

He said: "In defence I have so many out injured that there will be some coming and the same in midfield. In attack we don't have problems."

Mancini knows it will be easier to tempt the world's best stars to Eastlands if they qualify for the Champions League.

And he admitted he would love to have Inter Milan full-back Maicon and Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his ranks after working with them at the San Siro.

Mancini told Italian website francorossi.com: "If City finish in the top four we will look for players of the highest level.

"I would like to have Maicon. With Ibra there's always been a rapport of great loyalty.

"He's world class. Which manager in the world wouldn't like Ibrahimovic?"

He added: "City is the best club in the world for an ambitious manager.

"There are very, very good players there but we must improve as it won't be easy to get to the top four."

Banega The Man To Fill The Boots Of Xabi Alonso?

He is one of the rising stars in La Liga – but who is Ever Banega? In my view he is the ideal replacement for the departed Xabi Alonso and just the man to bring that creative edge to Liverpool’s midfield.

Aged just 18, Banega came through the Boca Juniors ranks in early 2007, after the departure of Fernando Gago. After impressive displays it only took Valencia twenty-eight games of first team football to pay Boca Juniors some 18m euros for his services in January 2008.

Banega didn’t hit the ground running in Spain as perhaps the move was a little too soon and after failing to win over Ronald Koeman, Valencia’s new boss Unai Emery sent him out on loan to Atletico Madrid where he was an absolute revelation.

It remains to be seen as to whether Valencia would be so keen to offload him as they were prepared to do last summer, however, if they do, then I personally couldn’t think of a better player for Rafa to look to as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.

With an eclectic range of passing, two footed, silky skilled and excellence at one touch football, he is very reminiscent of a certain Xabi Alonso. Banega, like a lot of Argentines, is strong as a bull, possesses a low centre of gravity and is extremely difficult to knock off the ball when in possession.

His performances at Atletico saw Banega starting to fulfil the potential that first convinced Valencia to spend big to bring him to La Liga and although Emery may want to keep him at the Mestalla long term, their current financial plight is likely to see them having to cash in. My own view is that he’ll be a revelation at Anfield and would certainly provide a better foil for Mascherano in the middle, as opposed to Lucas and Alberto Aquilani; who for me is suited to Steven Gerrard role behind Torres anyway.

Church Praying For Strong Reds

Reading striker Simon Church is hoping Liverpool play their strongest team in this weekend's FA Cup tie at the Madejski Stadium.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez may use the Saturday evening clash to rest some of his star names, but Church is desperate to take on the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

"This type of game is what you want as a player," he told the Royals' official website.

"Hopefully they will have a strong team and personally I would love to play on the same pitch as Torres.

"He is one of the best in the world and it would be an amazing experience to be on the same pitch as him."

Fernando Torres Worth The £25m Liverpool Spent - Jamie Carragher

Fernando Torres struck his 50th League goal in Liverpool colours in the third minute of added time on Tuesday evening, when Rafael Benitez's Reds sealed a much-needed win against top-four rivals Aston Villa.

The swiftness with which Torres accumulated the half ton has impressed team-mate Jamie Carragher, who claimed the Spain international has already paid back the transfer fee that Benitez paid Atletico Madrid in order to secure his services.

"Fernando is a great player, a world-class striker, and to beat people like Ian Rush, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Roger Hunt to 50 league goals says it all about him really," said Carragher to British tabloid The Daily Mail.

"To be top of that list shows what a great player he is and that's why we paid the money for him."

Despite struggling with injury this season, Torres, 25, has already established himself as one of the Premier League's top strikers. 'El Nino' has returned 12 goals in England's top-flight so far this term, and is in fifth place in the goalscoring charts.

Gerrard Up For Top-Four Fight

Steven Gerrard accepts Liverpool have a real battle on their hands to finish in the top four this season.

Liverpool boosted their hopes of claiming a top-four finish with a late win over rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday, thanks to Fernando Torres' last-gasp effort.

The win reduced the gap between the Reds and fourth-placed Tottenham to four points.

But Gerrard knows there is still a major fight ahead if Liverpool are to secure Champions League football in May.

"We've got to try and win as many games as we can. This means nothing. It all depends where you are at the end of the season," Gerrard told Sky Sports 1.

"We know Villa, Spurs and Man City are going to keep fighting all the way and we need to do the same.

"But it is important to keep the momentum going and build on this victory. I am sure we will gain a lot of confidence from this, like we did against Wolves.

"We've virtually got everyone back fit now so there are no excuses now. We need to go on a run of winning games.

"Can we secure a top-four spot? It is going to be difficult. There are a lot of fantastic teams about. I am sure teams will spend in January.

"It will be a race to the very end and we've got to make sure we are in it."