Match Report: Liverpool 2 - 2 Everton

It was not an entirely happy homecoming for Kenny Dalglish on his first match at Anfield since becoming Liverpool manager for the second time but a draw in an entertaining 215th Merseyside derby represented some progress.

The club's legendary former player went into the game on the back of successive defeats to Manchester United and Blackpool but the result against their closest rivals at least ensured his first point.

However, there are still many issues to address as Liverpool's defensive frailties let an early advantage slip in a frenetic six minutes after half-time and their pride was only salvaged by a penalty in the final quarter.

Raul Meireles picked the perfect time to score his first goal to give the club he joined in the summer an interval lead but Sylvain Distin and Jermaine Beckford soon turned that around after the break.

But the Reds earned a deserved draw when Dirk Kuyt stroked home his fifth derby goal from the spot.

Watched by principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner, Dalglish received the expected rousing welcome which the Kop had been waiting to give him for a week since taking over from Roy Hodgson.

The occasion may have got to his players more than him as Everton enjoyed the better of the early exchanges.

However, it was not long before Fernando Torres showed he was in the kind of mood which had brought 63 goals in his previous 99 Barclays Premier League appearances.

Having volleyed over from a Meireles corner the Spaniard almost opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a typical piece of brilliance.

Anticipating the bounce of the ball better than Distin the 26-year-old cleverly turned the centre-half before twisting inside his defensive partner John Heitinga and unleashing a left-footed shot which beat Tim Howard but rebounded off the far post.

Kuyt charged into the area to reach the loose ball but his effort was deflected over.

Dalglish's decision to play Glen Johnson out of position at left-back in the last two matches had raised a few eyebrows but the England international's right-footedness was pivotal in setting up the opening goal.

Having cut inside in the 29th minute his far-post cross was headed down by Kuyt but Howard saved brilliantly low to his right and got up immediately to block the Dutchman's follow-up.

The Everton goalkeeper may have felt his work was done but the ball dropped to Meireles on the edge of the area and he drilled a swerving shot inside the near post with Howard unsighted.

Meireles was having one of his best games since arriving in the summer and when Kuyt's inch-perfect through-ball picked him out Howard was forced to tip a shot around his near post.

Half-time brought not only a change of player - Sotirios Kyrgiakos replacing the ill Daniel Agger - but a major shift in momentum.

Just 42 seconds after the restart Martin Skrtel allowed Distin to head Mikel Arteta's corner past Jose Reina and Johnson could not keep the ball out.

Everton went ahead six minutes later while Martin Kelly was laying pole-axed on the pitch after landing awkwardly after an aerial collision with Victor Anichebe.

The ball found its way to Leon Osman and he jinked his way into the penalty area before slipping a pass inside for Beckford to slot past Reina, who was booked for his protestations about Kelly not being able to receive treatment.

But just as Everton looked to have secured a grip on the game Howard handed their rivals a way back in the 68th minute when he tripped Maxi Rodriguez as they challenged for the breakdown of Meireles' free-kick.

Referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot and Kuyt duly dispatched.

The closing moments became increasingly frenetic as the home side pressed for the winner they desperately craved to get the second era of Dalglish up and running.

Even the legendary manager's encouragement from the sidelines could not cajole the breakthrough.

But with Henry and Werner in the city for the next few days he may have to save his most persuasive arguments for the owners as he seeks reinforcements for his squad.

Liverpool are only four points above the relegation zone and considerable improvement is still required to banish the lingering but almost unthinkable spectre of relegation.

Kenny Dalglish Says Supporters Are The Key

Kenny Dalglish believes the Liverpool supporters hold the key to turning around the club's fortunes and feels the players showed signs of returning to form in the 2-2 draw with Everton on Sunday.

The Scot was back in the Anfield dugout for the first time since his return and watched his side dominate the first half but only come in at the break one goal up thanks to Raul Meireles' strike. The Reds fell 2-1 behind after in the second half but showed character to fight back and earn a draw as Dirk Kuyt slotted home a 68th minute penalty.

Dalglish felt the home support lifted the Liverpool players for the Merseyside derby following a poor run of form and he insists results will improve if they continue to show the same application.

He said: “We started very brightly. I don't know if the players lifted the supporters or the supporters lifted the players. We will be much better off if we are all in it together.

“I think today showed we care about the football club and maybe we can turn it around sooner rather than later.

“You could say we deserved to win the game but at the moment we don't have a great deal of fortune going our way.

“It's a great credit to the players that they continue to tap away at the door to try and get better. The harder the try, the sooner it will come.

“Other than taking all three points, I think it's been a very positive day for us.”

Dalglish felt aggrieved by decisions in the build-up to both Everton goals, the first a header by Sylvain Distin from the corner and the second turned in from close range by Jermaine Beckford.

“The first goal should have been a goalkick and he gave a corner,” he added. “Even if I've lenses in I could have seen that.

“The second one, Martin Kelly got battered and we got turned on the edge of the box. Maybe some other day we would get them given in our favour.

“Sometimes you get a cruel hand. The bounce of the ball went against us. We played with enough to get three points but we can be really pleased with the quality of our football.”

Injection Of New Blood Needed To Match Dalglish's Intensive Care

There is a well-known saying in American sport, often offered in support of coaches far more embattled than Kenny Dalglish at this stage of his second honeymoon.

It says that you can't make chicken salad out of chicken****. Dalglish may well consider his situation desperate enough to employ this coarse but vivid phrase when he sits down with owner John W Henry.

Henry is very proud of his restoration of the Boston Red Sox to the point of winning two World Series. But he didn't do it with lightweight playing resources, certainly nothing as flimsy as that now at the disposal of Dalglish as he seeks to prod his old club back to within shouting distance of the top flight of English football.

So now Henry has to get serious about the Anfield project. It's all very well appointing a director of football to draw up a master plan but he should know that a lot of people in English football -- and quite a number of them in relatively successful places like Arsenal and Tottenham -- are unconvinced that Damien Comolli is quite the sure-fire messiah his publicity sometimes suggests.

In the meantime, Henry has to realize that if Dalglish has been appointed as anything more than a big-league window dresser, he has to be given the means to do a job, however long or short his tenure.

Yesterday the challenge of merely making Liverpool look reasonably competitive again as something more than relegation scramblers still looked pretty mountainous.

Not, it is true, quite as Himalayan as it appeared at Blackpool in midweek, when Ian Holloway's cut-priced warriors merely had to throw a few well-aimed blows to create the foundation of complete mastery.

At least Liverpool came back from Everton's heavy one-two combination early in the second half -- and when they equalized it was interesting to see that Dalglish's instructions came straight from football's oldest playbook -- move, pass the ball, take the game to your opponents, he exhorted.

But then Dalglish knows well enough that however much you try to spruce up the football salad, you are rather dependent on the ingredients. They are not good enough, not nearly, and the extent of the problem deepens the moment you move beyond the holy trinity of Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and the suspended Steven Gerrard.

Dirk Kuyt is, of course, a player of vast commitment. It must also help Dalglish's peace of mind that he seems to have helped provoke something like the old, brilliant furies in Torres.

The Spaniard came within an inch of scoring another superb goal and generally looked as if he had indeed returned from another planet.

That's fine as far as it goes but whatever new horizons, and old standards, Dalglish is able to evoke, they will remain as unattainable as they have seemed the past few years without a substantial increase in superior manpower.

One word now is that Dalglish is placing some hopes on signing the Beast of the World Cup -- Mark van Bommel. It makes a degree of sense.

In South Africa last summer, Van Bommel seemed hell-bent on becoming the football Antichrist. Not only he did he commit a rash of fouls, he did it with an absolute sense of impunity.

It was also true that he was one of the reasons why a stop-start Netherlands reached the final and might have won it if they had set their minds to playing a little football in the final.

Van Bommel can also pass the ball and read a game. For these reasons alone you could weigh the Dutchman in gold at Anfield right now and at around £3m Dalglish could fairly claim a bargain that could at least go some way to repairing erosion of a first-team squad completely ill-equipped to ride such losses as those of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

What is self-evident is that Liverpool have problems beyond the inspiration of a Dalglish if the new ownership do not abandon the pretty but impractical notion that the aura of King Kenny is in itself a powerful enough antidote to recent disasters, enough at least to keep the old caravan rolling until some grand reappraisals in the summer.

Unlike baseball, football has a trapdoor. It's called relegation and the new owners might be intrigued to know that it is an experience not unknown to clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea, and that before their desert windfall Manchester City regarded it as recurring feature of the football life.

Potential Raul Meireles-Steven Gerrard Midfield Partnership Gives Liverpool Reason For Optimism

There's no doubt that a 2-2 result in the 215th Merseyside Derby was far from an ideal outcome at Anfield, but -- aside from the short burst of Everton dominance to begin the second half -- this was one of matches that should be viewed as more encouraging than disappointing.

Most strikingly, Raul Meireles continued to emerge from his shell and was perhaps the best player on the pitch. He significantly contributed behind Fernando Torres in the center-right of the pitch and strong in combining with Dirk Kuyt, Torres and Martin Kelly in the wide-right areas as well. He was aggressive, creative and was looking to finish.

That ingenuity paid off in full. When Kuyt was twice rejected at the far post by Tim Howard, the ball fell to Meireles at the top of the area, and he brilliantly put the ball into the top corner of the net.

That goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 lead with two-thirds of the first half in the books, but it was far from Liverpool's first chance. Torres had previously hit the woodwork on a counter down the right, and Howard was constantly under fire.

Liverpool's full backs, Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly, very effectively advanced the ball through the wide areas, justifying Kenny Dalglish's decision to play Johnson out of position so that Kelly could be included.

Neither made a significant mistake at the back as well, and Lucas and Jay Spearing -- both of whom were relatively non-existent going forward -- did supply sufficient cover as defensive midfielders.

Everton scored on a set piece and brilliant play by Leon Osman and Jermaine Beckford, two of the Toffees' four shots on target. It'd be difficult to blame such on the defense.

The recently-maligned Martin Skrtel even did well, being involved in the play that led to Kuyt's spot kick on top of his contributions at the back.

When you add it all up, you see a match that Liverpool dominated for at least 70 of the 90 minutes -- even without Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool had 11 shots on target to Everton's four, 10 corners to Everton's six, and five offsides flags to Everton's zero. Those numbers, clearly, indicate the run of play strongly favoring Liverpool -- to the extent that the scoreline has to be considered somewhat unfair.

Liverpool, however, couldn't convert on many of these opportunities, but if Gerrard had been in the side, the story may have been quite different.

Liverpool's 10 corner kicks created little threat on goal, with many of them being mishit at the near post or being taken short. If the captain had been in the side, the delivery, surely, would have been much different.

The same can be said of those five offsides flags -- as it would seem a good bet that on one of those occasions Gerrard would have been able to more perfectly time the through pass.

Given what the Reds were able to do without their captain, it's hard to be anything but optimistic about the squad. When Gerrard does rejoin to the lineup, he'll have an in-form Meireles to partner with.

Before such occurs, however, a Gerrard-less Liverpool will have to slay two of its 2010-11 demons, road matches and Wolves, at Molineux this coming Saturday.

If Meireles can continue to build on his improving performances, that seems a pretty viable proposition.

Liverpool Hope To Sign One Of Premier League Winger Trio

Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli will be discussing at length when they feel Liverpool need in order to improve the Anfield squad as the Merseyside club tries to force their way back up the Premier League table. It appears that high up on the list of priority is the signing of a quality winger or two to add more natural width to a side that looks predictable and stifled on the attack.

Gerard Houllier will surely not be looking to sell either Aston Villa wingers Ashley Young or Stewart Downing, even if it was to his former club who he appears to still have a great deal of time and admiration for. The Villa Park boss is under fire after a very poor run of form and whilst the Frenchman is looking to freshen things up at the club and a number of players have been earmarked as exit bound, neither of the two England internationals are likely to be made available.

That said both players may be tempted by a move to Liverpool and if either expresses their desire to leave then perhaps things could become problematic for Villa. The good form shown by former Middlesbrough man Downing has been one of the few bright spots the club have experienced in what has been a very troubling season.

Ashley Young has consistently been linked with a move and is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal and come the summer the 25 year old will only have a year left on his current contract. The likes of Tottenham and Man United have been linked with interest in the former Watford man who may be looking for a new challenge.

Charles N’Zogbia has been close to a move away from the DW Stadium before and was set to move to Birmingham City in the summer until the French international’s wage demands put an end to any interest. The former Newcastle United man has repeatedly been linked with moves to a big club but as yet this has yet to materialize and a move to Liverpool would be something of a surprise.

Liverpool 'Close' To Landing Former Barca Star

Liverpool is reportedly close to landing Dutch international midfielder Mark Van Bommel after a €3 million offer for the player.

The out-of-favour Bayern Munich star has reportedly been told he can leave the club, and the Sunday Times reports that Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has moved for the player.

AC Milan are also said to be interested and are thought to have had a similar bid accepted by the German giants, with the Serie 'A' outfit set to go head-to-head with Liverpool for the Holland captain.

The former PSV Eindhoven midfielder has previously admitted a desire to play in the Premier League, although the Italian outfit has the lure of Champions League football to try and tempt Van Bommel to the San Siro.

With just six-months remaining on his current contract, the player is available at a discount fee, and has attracted interest from a number of clubs. Liverpool has been linked with the player in the past, and have this time taken their interest further with a concrete bid.

Reds owner John W. Henry is in Merseyside to discuss the club’s transfer activity this month, and the Anfield outfit are believed to be interested in strengthening in a number of positions.

An attacking foil for Fernando Torres is believed to be the priority for Liverpool, but a discount deal for Van Bommel appears to have been too good to turn down.

Damien Comolli is thought to have agreed with club scouting reports that the player would be a quality addition at Anfield, and the 33-year-old veteran could provide Steven Gerrard with some tough-tackling assistance in the Liverpool midfield.

An injury crisis at the Allianz Arena means that the Bundesliga side could try and persuade the player to stay, but face the possibility of losing him for free at the end of the season. Liverpool has sensed an opportunity, and will hope to persuade the player that Merseyside is his future home.

Liverpool And Arsenal Linked With Hungarian Winger

Despite the Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger announcing that he will not be bringing any strikers to the Emirates this month, the Mail reports this morning that Arsenal and Liverpool are both chasing the Hungarian winger Balazs Dzsudzsak who is currently playing for PSV Eindhoven in Holland.

Kenny Dalglish will definitely be reinforcing the Liverpool squad this month and there is every possibility that Dzsudzsak could arrive at Anfield to add some much-needed width to the Reds attack.

Dzsudzsak has been linked to Liverpool many times in the past while Rafael Benitez was manager, and if anything the tricky Hungarian international has improved even further. This season he has already scored 10 goals for PSV and made 5 assists as he has come to the attention of many top sides, but the Mail thinks that the Dutch giants would be willing to sell the 24 year-old to Liverpool or Arsenal for the attractive sum of just £10m.

He would certainly add a bit of flare to the Liverpool attack, but I would imagine that Arsene Wenger already has a good supply of wingers at Arsenal.

Pepe Reina Desperate For Liverpool To Qualify For Next Season's Europa League

Pepe Reina hopes that Liverpool can resurrect their season and somehow manage to qualify for a Europa League run next term.

The Reds have had an utterly under-par season so far, and are currently only four points above the dreaded drop zone. But they have changed managers as Roy Hodgson was given the boot and fans' favourite Kenny Dalglish was installed on a temporary basis - until the end of the season.

Now the shot-stopper admits that the gaffer has put forth his ambition of guiding the club to a European spot.

"Kenny has spoken about his idea for the club and that is clear - we need to save our season and fight to be in the Europa League," Reina told The People.

"Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in England and our fans do not deserve this season. It has not been the real Reds they have been seeing and I just hope we can end our bad run.

"Dalglish is a historic man in Liverpool and the dressing room is obviously with him.

"We are having a bad time of it but the players want to help get through that because it is our career and we have pride in our game.

"Dalglish has a lot of experience and knows perfectly what Liverpool Football Club is about. I hope we have success, although now is not the best of times."

Concerning the differences in ideologies between Hodgson and Dalglish, Reina said: "It is too soon too speak about the differences in the way Dalglish and Hodgson work, but with Dalglish there is more ball work and they are also working with us as people.

"Our morale needs to be worked on and that is key for the rest of the season."

Liverpool Owners' £30 Million Transfer Plan In Tatters After Potential Signings Put Off By Club Uncertainty

Liverpool's owners are reportedly having to deal with their transfer targets being against the idea of joining the club owing to the uncertainty concerning the management team.

It has been reported that a part of the reason why former boss Roy Hodgson got the boot at Anfield was because the club's targets were not keen on playing under him, at which point Kenny Dalglish was handed the reins until the end of the season.

Now the News of the World claims that despite the Kop hero having enough clout to bring in the big names, the targets are worried about the uncertainty surrounding the club's management as the Scot has only been appointed on a temporary basis.

It is believed that the Reds owners brought in fans' favourite Dalglish as a means to steady the ship, but two recent losses have reportedly led them to think that they face a much bigger task than that which they had initially anticipated when taking over the Merseyside outfit.

The owners are thought to be in line to spend £30 million in the market, with Goal.com UK exclusively revealing that Luis Suarez is one of the club's top targets with the club locked in a transfer battle with Tottenham.

Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs Everton

Liverpool recently sacked Roy Hodgson after an underwhelming campaign and brought in former boss and club legend Kenny Dalglish to take the reins on a temporary basis. But the Scot is yet to taste victory in his second stint at the helm.

His first game in charge was against Manchester United in the FA Cup, which ended in a 1-0 defeat to his side. This was followed by a trip to Bloomfield Road, where the Reds surrendered the lead before allowing the hosts to snatch a victory.

Now for the Merseyside derby. It is almost two decades since Dalglish suddenly quit the very position he holds, after his side played out a 4-4 draw with these very opponents.

The 59-year-old is held as a true legend of the club as a player as well as a manager, but his status could be dimmed if he is unable to bring about a resurrection in the team’s dreadful form. But on the contrary, a positive achievement - and a victory over Moyes’ men, for now - will do a world of good to the team as well as himself.

It is almost as if the two clubs on Merseyside are sympathizing with each other stooping down to newer lows, as only goal difference separates both teams in the Premier League.

This means that the derby takes an added significance as both teams are only four points above the relegation zone, and the loser could face potentially very difficult consequences in terms of getting back up in the standings.

The visitors were having some trouble converting their chances in recent weeks, but were able to successfully put five past Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup. But their current opponents are not a team that sit in the Championship drop zone, which would make the task all the more difficult.

To add to the Moyes’ woes, Australian Tim Cahill is away on international duty in the Asia Cup and will play no part in this game. But on the positive side, the Toffees have won their last two games and the cup win should give them enough confidence to hope for the right result at Anfield.

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Daniel Agger, Martin Kelly, Christian Poulsen and Daniel Agger recently received encouraging words from manager Kenny Dalglish, and could all be set to start this game. Jamie Carragher (shoulder) remains sidelined following his surgery, while Joe Cole and Jay Spearing are doubts for this one. Steven Gerrard will play no part in this game since he is suspended.

Possible starting line-up: Reina; Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Kelly; Kuyt, Lucas, Poulsen, Meireles; Cole; Torres.

Everton

David Moyes has revealed that the Toffees have accepted an offer for Steven Pienaar from an unnamed club, but the South Africa international could still play in this game. Phil Jagielka (thigh) was expected to be in contention to feature in the Merseyside derby, but he has been unable to recover well enough to take part in the mammoth encounter at Anfield. Tim Cahill is unavailable since he is away on international duty at the Asian Cup.

Possible starting line-up: Howard; Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Arteta, Pienaar; Saha.

Pepe Reina Believes Victory Over Everton Can Be A Catalyst For Change In Liverpool's Fortunes

A victory over local rivals Everton could lead to a revitalisation of Liverpool’s season, according to Pepe Reina.

Currently below their neighbours on goal difference, the Reds desperately need a result, having lost three on the spin.

"It can be a turning point in the season," Reina told the club's official website. "What better game to do it in than the derby? For the supporters and for us, it is a massive one and I hope the season will turn around from Sunday onwards."

The Spaniard believes the atmosphere will reach fever-pitch on Sunday with new boss Kenny Dalglish embarking on his first home fixture since his shock departure in 1991.

Reina said: "I think the supporters will be more excited than ever because of Kenny, the situation of the team and because it is a derby and we need the three points desperately.

"We need to have them behind us. I'm sure we will, but they have to be conscious that now is the time to get the famous Kop and Anfield behind us because we definitely need them more than any other game."

The 28-year-old shot-stopper is adamant that all the players know the importance of the game, and believes that the squad is beginning to grasp the ideas of the new manager despite falling short at Blackpool in midweek.

"Kenny has told us to trust ourselves, to trust each other and to try and train harder and be more positive," said Reina.

"He knows a lack of confidence is there and we need a couple of positive results, but by doing a great job in our training sessions we will get them.

"He has spoken to all of us together about where we have to improve as a team, told us to stay together and be more compact than ever, to try to trust each other and have confidence things will turn around."

The fixture will see three of its usual protagonists sidelined in Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Tim Cahill, and the World Cup winner admits that whilst the absence of Cahill is a boost, Liverpool must up their game if they are to succeed without the local duo.

He said: "Cahill's a great player and it's good for us in this case that he's involved in the Asian Cup and won't be on the park.

"But we have to worry about ourselves and when Stevie and Carra are missing, we are a bit weaker. The players know what the game means and all of us will be ready for Sunday.”

On a personal level, the absence of Gerrard and Carragher puts Reina in line to be handed the captaincy by Dalglish.

"It would be a proud honour," he added.

"With Mikel Arteta captaining Everton as well, it will be fun and a great picture of both of us together before kick-off.

"Whenever you are wearing the Liverpool armband, it is a pleasure, honour and a privilege."

Kenny Dalglish Aiming To Recreate Glory Days For Young Liverpool Fans

Kenny Dalglish is hoping today's Merseyside derby is the first step on the road to glory for young Liverpool fans.

The Reds boss, who returned to the Anfield hot seat last weekend, previously played and managed Liverpool during the all-conquering era that older supporters love to reminisce about.

Dalglish is all too aware the club have not won the league since 1990 and that the younger generation of Reds fans are sick of hearing about the good old days, instead of experiencing domestic success themselves.

'There are a couple of generations out there who don't know what it's like to see their team win the title,' he said.

'My aim is to let those people share in the kind of times that our older supporters still remember.

'I know it's a huge ask to recreate the days of the 1970s and '80s and that you have to be realistic about what you can achieve - but we have always aimed high here.'

Dalglish added that although it would be difficult for Liverpool to return to the top, Manchester United had shown it is possible to recover from a prolonged period without success.

No Reds Move For Ajax Ace

Urby Emanuelson's agent has played down reports linking Liverpool with a move for the Ajax defender.

Reports have suggested Liverpool have targeted the Dutch international to help solve their problematic left-back position.

Emanuelson's future at Ajax has been the subject of speculation for some time with the player rejecting a new deal at the Amsterdam ArenA and his contract expiring in the summer.

New Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is thought to be keen to bring in some new faces to freshen up the squad at Anfield and Emanuelson has been mentioned as a possible target due to his versatility in that he can play in defence or midfield.

Emanuelson's, representative, Brian Berkleef, insists he has had no contact with Liverpool, but that the Dutchman would consider a move to Anfield if they came calling for his services.

"Nobody from Liverpool has contacted us about Urby, but they are a great club and we would be happy to talk to them if they were to contact us," Berkleef told skysports.com.

"Obviously there is a lot of clubs interested in Urby as he is a talented player and he is out of contract in the summer.

"It is a bit tricky as Ajax could make some money by selling him now, but I think he will stay until the end of the season as he wants to try and win the championship with Ajax.

"However, if a good offer arrives and Urby feels good about it he would consider moving this month."

Liverpool Eye Stewart Downing

Liverpool is trying to tempt Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier to part with England winger Stewart Downing.

New Kop manager Kenny Dalglish believes Downing, 26, would give his side much-needed width and pace.

Dalglish’s predecessor, Roy Hodgson, had also been eyeing Villa’s Ashley Young, 25, but it’s Downing who is on a shortlist of possible Kop signings during the transfer window.

Liverpool believes Downing would come cheaper than his Villa Park team-mate at around £10 million.

Also on Liverpool’s radar is Wigan’s enigmatic Charles N’Zogbia, but it’s believed that manager Roberto Martinez is holding out for around £15million.

Stephen Warnock 'Set For Liverpool Transfer'

Stephen Warnock is poised to return to Liverpool after accepting he has little future at Aston Villa, according to a report.

The England left-back has lost his place in the Villa first team and manager Gerard Houllier has indicated he is free to leave.

Blackburn Rovers were keen to sign the 29-year-old but it now seems that his destination will be Liverpool, reports the Daily Mail.

The Reds have asked to take Warnock on loan for the rest of the season and the player has apparently been told he can move to Anfield.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish views Warnock, who began his career with the Reds, as the answer to his team's left-back problem.

England right-back Glen Johnson moved across the defence to fill the role during the 2-1 defeat at Blackpool in midweek, but Dalglish believes he needs a more permanent replacement for Roy Hodgson favourite Paul Konchesky.

Aston Villa, who completed the transfer of Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun from Lyon this morning, plan to sign a replacement for Warnock in the next few days.

Wigan Athletic's Maynor Figueroa is believed to be Houllier's preferred choice.

Roma Reject Liverpool Interest In Mirko Vucinic

Roma are in no mood to unclench their fists with Mirko Vucinic as they reject Liverpool advances.

The 27-year-old Montenegrin striker has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield. Il Corriere dello Sport claimed on Friday that Roma were considering a sale as budgetary constraints was forcing the club to offload.

However, Sky Sport Italia are now reporting opposition to a sale by the Roma directorate. Chiefs at Trigoria have rejected proposals from Anfield, telling the Premier League side that Vucinic is not for sale.

Vucinic is considered a stable part of plans by coach Claudio Ranieri and he is part of the squad for Sunday's trip to Cesena.

Kenny Eyes Clarke Connection

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is hopeful Steve Clarke can provide the answer to getting the best out of Joe Cole and Glen Johnson.

The pair have so far failed to live up to expectations at Anfield, with Johnson costing the club £17million in the summer of 2009, while Cole has not hit the ground running since arriving this season.

The conundrum was something former manager Roy Hodgson was unable to solve during his six months in charge.

But Dalglish hopes the arrival of former Chelsea assistant Clarke will help find the key to unlocking the talent of the former Stamford Bridge duo.

"It is a positive because Steve and Glen have terrific respect for each other, as has Joe for Steve," said the Reds boss, whose side takes on local foes Everton on Sunday.

"They worked closely at Chelsea and they have a great belief in him.

"Steve has a lot more information on Glen and Joe than I have so it is going to be helpful for everyone."

Dalglish has not had the immediate impact he would have hoped for having cut short a family holiday to take over from Hodgson last Saturday and heads into Sunday's derby fixture with a team which have lost four of their last five domestic league and cup fixtures.

Confidence has taken a battering and even his own return to the manager's position, although bringing brighter performances on the pitch, has not halted the slide.

He does not have much time to turn things around, having been given the job initially until the end of the season, and accepts everyone is still coming to terms with the new set up.

"It is a bit difficult when you are in the middle of the Persian Gulf to try to prepare a team for a game," said Dalglish in reference to last weekend's SOS call from principle owner John W Henry.

"Steve Clarke has been excellent this week and the players have responded brilliantly.

"Steve and Sammy Lee (assistant manager) have set the program up and we've had conversations every morning about what we want to achieve in that session and they have gone out and the players have adapted to it and done it.

"They have shown in training sessions and the matches they are determined to get this ship turned around and for it to be more positive than it has been.

"It is a change for them (the players) as well. A change of manager, change of training - they have got to adapt and I've got to adapt because it's been a while since I was a manager.

"I have changes to make and I have to re-educate myself so the quicker we can all learn from each other the better we will all be.

"There is one common denominator of both parties is that we have respect for each other."

Silva Strike Seals U18s Win

Liverpool U18s continued their impressive start to 2011 with a convincing 3-1 victory over Bolton on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds followed on from their FA Youth Cup heroics with another performance full of attacking purpose and deservedly took the spoils courtesy of goals from Adam Morgan, Conor Coady and Toni Silva.

Jack Sampson had pulled the visitors level with a well-taken first-half volley but they could do little to deny the home side victory in what proved to be a one-sided second 45 at the Academy.

The result means Rodolfo Borrell's youngsters will head into next Saturday's mini-derby at Everton in high spirits and eager to impress as they bid to secure starting berths for their upcoming Youth Cup clash with either Southend or Derby.

The Reds made a supercharged start to the proceedings and were ahead on eight minutes when a fine move down the left flank ended with a clinical near post finish from Morgan.

The Academy die-hards that had braved the blustery conditions may have felt it was a sign of things to come for the visitors who had succumbed to a 6-0 defeat against Borrell's side on their own patch back in November.

And the Trotters could well have been two down just minutes later but Jay Lynch did well to deny Morgan after the forward had been sent scampering clear by Silva.

It looked all set to be a comfortable afternoon for Borrell's charges until Sampson latched on to a loose ball in the Reds area and dispatched a well-struck volley back across Tyrell Belford and in off the far post on 15 minutes.

It was shock to the system for the hosts and they struggled to impose their usual game on events until a sublime ball from Krisztian Adorjan sent Silva galloping in on goal. The Portuguese winger cut inside his man before teeing up Raheem Sterling to sting the fingertips of Lynch with a first time drive.

Adorjan's creativity when dropping off the frontman was causing the Bolton rearguard all sorts of problems and it was only a fine stop from Lynch that denied Silva on 38 minutes after the Hungarian had conjured up another beautifully weighted pass.

As the interval approached the Reds continued to probe but it was the away team that almost snatched the lead when Oluwasanmi Odelusz rounded Belford, only to see Stephen Sama keep out his effort with a remarkable headed clearance.

The second half brought with it heavier rainfall and both sides threatened in what had developed into a keenly contested encounter.

Liverpool continued to play the more attractive football while the away side looked dangerous at set pieces and it became evident that the next goal would be hugely significant in the outcome of the game.

Thankfully, it fell the home team's way as Coady seized upon a pass 25 yards from goal and sent a rasping first-time drive into the far corner of the net on 56 minutes.

It gave Borrell's men an instant lift and Adorjan looked to extend their advantage with a dipping 25 yard free-kick that drew another good save from Lynch.

With Bolton legs getting weary Liverpool unleashed new signing Jason Banton into the action and he showed some neat touches when he replaced Sterling late on.

By now it was all one-way traffic and Silva ensured the Reds would complete the double over Bolton when he drilled in a third from a tight angle.

Adorjan then came close to rubbing salt in their wounds in added time when his swirling free-kick crashed back off the crossbar.

Emotional Kenny Tells Reds To Cool It

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish admits his Anfield return will be emotional but he has told his players to make sure they keep their tempers in check in Sunday's 215th Merseyside derby.

Dalglish will walk out of the Anfield tunnel as Reds boss for the first time in nearly 20 years and although the welcome he will receive will surpass anything afforded his predecessors he will have wanted to arrive in better circumstances. Dalglish is desperately in need of a win after two losses to start his latest era but that will not detract from the moment he walks under the famous Anfield sign to take his place on the bench.

"It will be emotive coming back down the steps," he said. "If the supporters are pleased to see me sitting there, they will not be as pleased as I am. It's all very well being romantic but the truth of the matter is we have got to start winning games. Me, the players, the staff, we are all responsible for trying to achieve that. It would cap off a fantastic day if we got a positive result. But Everton want a positive result, too, because they haven't exactly set the world alight this year either."

Dalglish will send out his team - without Scousers Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher through suspension and injury - at Anfield telling them to play the game and not the occasion. There have been 19 red cards in this fixture in the last 14 years and Dalglish is keen for his men not to add to that tally.

"The players here know the importance of the derby and sometimes the local lads get carried away and are too motivated and get a bit heated,'' Dalglish said. "Nowadays if you say 'Good morning' to someone you've got a chance of getting a red card. But you can't blame players for being passionate and committed - they've been highly criticized for not being passionate and committed.

"If there is a bit of understanding from the officials I'm sure it would ease things along a bit. You have to be intelligent - the fact it is a derby doesn't change the rules of the game, they are exactly the same. But you have to go and compete, just as you have in every other game. We want to see the players competing but within the rules of the game and if I have 11 players on the pitch we have a chance of winning.''

After defeats in Dalglish's opening two matches, and the team on a run of four losses in five domestic league and cup matches which have dropped them closer to the relegation zone, the significance of this derby is being hyped up. But the manager played down those suggestions.

"We're going out to win game. Where it takes us at this moment in time isn't particularly relevant,'' he added. "It's where you are at the end of the season when you add up the points that's the most relevant thing. A positive result for us gives everyone a lift. We just need a bit of confidence. The best way to do it is to start winning matches. The sooner we do that, the quicker the confidence will come.''

Fernando Torres Must Put In A Big Shift For His Team-Mates

In among the debris of Liverpool’s defeat at Blackpool there were one or two signs that Kenny Dalglish had already had a positive effect on Fernando Torres; the Spaniard’s goal for a start, when he finished forcefully after a good run.

But Dalglish and Liverpool need much more than that if the team’s fortunes are to turn around. They need Torres working hard in the right areas. They need him to be strong when the ball is played up and to constantly make runs off the back of defenders.

Not only that, they need him to do it on Sunday in the Merseyside derby, otherwise Everton could end up rubbing more salt in the wounds.

But if anybody can breathe new life into Torres, it is surely ‘King Kenny’.

As one of the cleverest strikers to ever grace this game, Dalglish can offer all sorts of tips. The first one must be to work hard, to put in the miles so that your team-mates, for one thing, can find you with a pass. Significantly, this has not always happened.

Back in October at Goodison Park, for example, Jamie Carragher had a right go at Torres when he did not get across to make himself available. Carragher got closed down because he did not have an option and, typically, was not slow to tell the forward where he went wrong.