Home Wins Are Key For Liverpool's Title Push

Liverpool glovesman Pepe Reina believes his side can maintain their early season momentum if they carry on winning at home, and stay consistent away.

Liverpool stopper Pepe Reina kept another clean sheet on Wednesday night as the Reds narrowly beat visiting Pompey by a goal to nil.

Reina believes the key to keeping distance between themselves and the chasing pack is to win at home, and stay consistent when on the road.

"This was a hugely important three points for us because we have to keep on winning," Reina is quoted by the club's official website as saying.

"Once you are at the top of the table you have to do everything to defend that position and that means winning every game you can.

"We cannot afford to drop any points at home. It is important we keep winning at home and also be consistent away," he declared.

"We can only go step by step and the next game for us is Tottenham on Saturday, which is going to be tough. They had a great result against Arsenal on Wednesday night, so we know it will be difficult.

"But let's see if we can beat them and then after that we will think about qualifying from the Champions League group stages and hopefully being able to concentrate even more on the Premier League," the 26-year said.

"This is what we look for - to defend properly and not concede too many chances.

"Every time I go onto the pitch I am looking for a quiet game because it is better for me and better for the team if I am less busy."

Lucas Reflects On His Best Red Performance

Liverpool's young Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva believes his performance in last night's victory over visiting Portsmouth was his best in a Red shirt.

Liverpool needed a late Steven Gerrard penalty conversion to secure victory at Anfield over a stubborn Portsmouth side last night. But they achieved what they needed to, by adding a further three points to their league tally.

Lucas Leiva was gifted a rare start in Liverpool's midfield and the Brazilian put in a fine display in the centre of the park by breaking up play and contributing to the attack.

The 21-year old feels his Pompey showing was his finest in a 'Pool shirt, and the former Gremio ace told the liverpoolfc.tv:

"I feel I have adapted to English football and I can play much quicker in games now.

"I was getting into the box and also had a few chances to score against Portsmouth, so I am happy and I am trying to improve every day," he said.

"I think it was my best performance for the team."

Reina: We Don't Need 'Nando

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose 'Pepe' Reina has suggested that his side's excellent run of results in recent weeks demonstrates that they are no longer reliant on their superstar striker.

Fernando Torres burst onto the Premier League last season, scoring 33 goals and fully justifying the club's decision fork out £21million for his services.

And yet the Reds endured arguably their worst season under Rafael Benitez, finishing fourth, trophyless and even missing out on their customary appearance in the Champions League final.

While off-field issues concerning the club's ownership and the manager's future clearly played their part, many believe part of Liverpool's problem was their reliance on Torres.

The Merseysiders had often been accused of heaping too much burden upon Steven Gerrard in the past; and although he and Torres formed a formidable tandem, the only difference was that the team were relying on two irreplaceable players instead of one.

That seems to have changed, for Liverpool sit unbeaten at the top of the table despite Torres being injured for much of the campaign to date. He was absent from the win over Chelsea, and he warmed the pine when Manchester United fell at Anfield last month.

Pepe Reina believes this can only be a good sign. "The Man United game was a big moment for us. We already had a lot of belief but we had a big job ahead of us when they took the lead," he said in the Daily Mail.

"The way we responded told the Premier League a lot about us. It wasn’t just that we scored two goals, it was the way we controlled the game.

"That we achieved it without two of our better players Torres and Steven Gerrard, was also a confidence booster. We have built not only a strong team but a strong squad.

"It was the same at Chelsea. We did not have Fernando Torres but other players made their contribution to our victory.

"Over the course of a season these things are going to happen. We have proved we can cope without Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard and Fernando."

Torres is a possibility to return against Atletico Madrid next week, but he is expected to sit out this Saturday's clash against Tottenham.

Brazilian Hot-Shot To Liverpool?

Premier League leaders Liverpool have been linked with a January move for Brazilian teenager Keirrison.

The 19 year-old currently plays for Brazilian league side Coritiba but has already been linked with a move to La Liga with either Valencia or Barcelona.

The Daily Mirror reports that the forward has been offered to Liverpool and not to the Spanish pair, who are known to have been tracking Keirrison since he was drafted into the Coritiba squad in 2007.

The teenager has gone on to score over 50 goals in just over 100 matches and has now come to prominence across the Atlantic.

Liverpool now have an extensive scouting network across Brazil, with samba stars Lucas and Diego Cavalieri acquired by Rafa Benitez's side from their home land.

However, it is not stated whether Benitez would add the player in January but los Chés and Barça would allegedly be interested.

Liverpool Co-Owner George Gillett Urges Stability As Sami Hyypia Expresses Title Belief

As Liverpool co-owner George Gillett was vowing that he would "let the club do the talking", Sami Hyypia was doing the same following the win over Portsmouth while in the same breath explaining why he feels they have never been better placed to take the title in his 10 seasons at Anfield.

While the manner of Wednesday's 1-0 win that keeps Rafael Benitez's team three points clear at the top of the Premier League will be seen as further evidence that they will not stay the course, Hyypia believes the fact that they came away with three points actually demonstrates that they can.

Liverpool toiled at Anfield, as they have all season, where they have been held to a goalless draw by Stoke and have had to come from behind to take the points against Middlesbrough, Manchester United and Wigan.

However, Hyypia feels that the only fact of importance is that with 10 games gone, Liverpool, who travel to Tottenham on Saturday, have dropped just four points from their 10 matches this season.

Despite maintaining a level of caution in the face of growing excitement that the wait for a first league title since 1990, Hyypia, 35, feels Liverpool now have the quality and the character to sustain the level of performance they have shown in the first quarter of the season.

"It's still early days so we will keep our feet on the ground and take it game by game, and just try to win every game," the defender said. "We are letting all the other people do the talking. We're not ones to go shouting about what we're going to do.

"The difference from the previous seasons I have been here is that in the summer we made some good signings that have settled very well straight away into the team. We also have a lot of competition for places, which is something we haven't maybe had as much in past seasons.

"I think this season maybe we are a bit stronger mentally too. You only have to look at the way in which we have won some games to see that. The result is always more important than how you play. At the beginning of the season there were some games in which we didn't perform brilliantly, but we got the result.

"If, come May, we are at the top of the league, then nobody will remember that we played bad football at the beginning of the season."

Gillett must wish he was in a similarly simple situation but the American, who refused to comment on the proposed sale of the club yesterday, has insisted that plans to build a new stadium on Stanley Park are still ongoing despite the delay in the start of building.

He said: "We put it off on a temporary basis and we continued to invest substantial money every month in both engineering, architecture, planning, approving and zoning."

Gillett has pledged he will continue with a policy of not destabilising things at Anfield with controversial public statements and added: "I think they are at a point now where they are allowing the boys to demonstrate their skill. And also to allow Rafael Benitez, who is one of the great coaches, to do his thing and we just want to leave it that way and we will operate behind the scenes and let the club do the talking."

Gillett Speaks For Hicks In Declaring Liverpool Sound

George Gillett believes Liverpool are in a sound position to ride out their financial problems but has refused to comment on whether the club is up for sale.

There had been speculation that Gillett and his co-owner, Tom Hicks, are ready to sell their stake in the club, with the investment bank Merrill Lynch understood to have been contacted to find a buyer as the Americans need to restructure the £350m loan with the Royal Bank of Scotland that expires in January. However the RBS, about to be part nationalised, has now adopted more stringent policies.

"The stories feed on themselves and some are made up," Gillett claimed. "With regard to what we're doing, we would not have any comment on that - there has already been enough speculation."

Gillett is confident Liverpool - and Premier League clubs in general - are in a good position, despite their debts, to survive in these testing times. "What I read is not in the newspapers because it is an unreliable source - what I am looking at are other financial filings which I think are more reliable," he told Toronto's Sports Radio. "There are certain sports which have felt the impact. It's a good time to be cautious but it's a bit early to write the obituary of professional sports."

Gillett, also the owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise, added that plans for a new stadium in Liverpool have not been shelved permanently. "We put it off on a temporary basis and we continued to invest substantial money every month in engineering, architecture, planning, approving and zoning. There is still a substantial effort going on but the current situation in the financial world has made it prudent to delay it for an immediate period until the money market eases up.

"There are some things which have happened which have upset the fans and got them mad at Tom and myself. At this point, based on the media that we are seeing and an awful lot of the fan communication, I think they are at a point now where they are allowing the boys to demonstrate their skill; and also to allow Rafael Benítez, who is one of the great coaches, to do his thing. We just want to leave it that way and we will operate behind the scenes and let the club do the talking.

"Tom and I are talking and we are working together. They seem to have a measure over in England as to how well you're getting along as friends by whether you use first names to each other or not. And the answer to that is that we are talking to each other on a first-name basis. Things are good. Tom is a great guy and he is smart as hell. We got off on the wrong basis and I think we are a little embarrassed by that."

Sami Hyypia, meanwhile, maintains that he is unconcerned about the manner of Liverpool's victories, seven of the eight by the odd goal, as long as they remain at the top of the table. The 35-year-old Finn, now in his 10th season at the club and returned to the starting line-up for the 1-0 win over Portsmouth, claims they have never been better equipped.

"At the beginning of the season there were some games in which we didn't perform brilliantly but we got the result," he said. "If, come May, we are at the top of the league, then nobody will remember that we played bad football at the beginning of the season. The difference from the previous seasons is that in the summer we made some good signings that have settled straight into the team. We also have a lot of competition for places, which is something we haven't maybe had as much in past seasons. I think this season maybe we are a bit stronger mentally, too."

Mascherano Welcomes Maradona Move - But Does Not Want To Be Argentina Captain

Javier Mascherano has welcomed Maradona's appointment as Argentina boss - but has pleaded: "Don't make me captain."

Maradona is poised to take the national job next week and has long praised the Liverpool hardman - already saying the Argentina team will be "Mascherano and ten more.

"But it seems the 24-year-old does not want the responsibility of leading his country.

He said: "I do not have the charisma to be the captain of my country.

"I can put my determination and my strength on the pitch and that can spread, but being captain is not in my personality - it is something you are born with, not something you acquire."

Although Mascherano has shunned the captaincy, he says Maradona will be a success and that he cannot wait to play under him after getting a little taster before the 2008 Olympics.

Maradona joined the national side just before the tournament in Beijing for a kickaround and left Mascherano impressed.

He added: "I believe Maradona as coach will be really special. The experience around Beijing was spectacular.

"The day he came to Ezeiza, just before the trip, and requested permission to coach us, was impressive.

"I think it will be very positive to all be under the command of Diego."

Riera Senses Increasing Pressure

Liverpool new boy Albert Riera knows the club's rise to the Barclays Premier League summit will bring growing pressure for the Anfield men.

Winger Riera, already a big hit after only 10 games following his £8million summer move from Espanyol, thinks Liverpool will become the scalp everyone wants.

Tottenham, reborn under new boss Harry Redknapp, will provide the next test at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Riera said: "We have to concentrate now even more, clubs will know that we are top and they will want to beat us even more.

"Before last weekend, everyone was talking about Chelsea and the fact that they were top of the league and unbeaten so far this season.

"But we are now in the same situation and under that sort of pressure. Maybe, though, people now know that we are a good team also and that we want to continue at the top of the league.

"But if this is to happen we know we have to keep on working hard in games and in training and doing the same things that have helped us get to the position we are in right now.

"We know it will be tough because the Premier League is very competitive and you have to work hard in every single game otherwise you can come unstuck."

Riera was only used as a late substitute in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Portsmouth, having picked up a minor muscle injury against Chelsea last weekend.

But he is expected to return to the front line at Spurs, as are Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano and Robbie Keane, who were all rested on the bench in midweek.

Fernando Torres could also return after his hamstring injury, but Liverpool may well hold him back to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Riera said: "The win at Chelsea last weekend was a very big result, but it was only one result and the most important thing for us now is that we must build upon it.

"It was very important for us and for our confidence in ourselves but in football you can never afford to think that you have done enough, you always have to look ahead and try to keep on getting better.

"We are at a good moment but we cannot afford to stand still. And as for myself, I know I can still get better.

"The best way to progress is to believe that you can get better and give more to the team, and that is the way I am."

Boss Rafael Benitez wants his side to learn how to be leaders.

He said: "The expression in England I have learned is that we must keep our feet on the ground.

"That is the key for us from now on. We must learn to be patient, learn to handle the situation we are now in.

"The players know the position we are in, how to handle it is easy.

"Everyone must be calm, take their time in matches, with feet firmly on the ground."

Full Match Report: LiverpooL vs. Portsmouth

It needed a Steven Gerrard penalty to make sure Liverpool did not waste the tremendous victory they achieved at Chelsea at the weekend.

That win put Liverpool top of the Barclays Premier League, and a slip-up tonight against Portsmouth would have been a disaster for the Anfield men.

Tony Adams, in his first match in command of Pompey following Harry Redknapp's departure, saw his side push Liverpool all the way.

But Gerrard's spot-kick with 15 minutes left kept Liverpool top and extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches this season.

Liverpool made four changes from the side that claimed top spot in the Premier League by beating Chelsea on Sunday.

Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano, Robbie Keane and Albert Riera were all rested to the bench, with Sami Hyypia, Jermaine Pennant, Ryan Babel and Lucas coming into the side.

New Pompey boss Tony Adams also made changes from the side that drew with Fulham last time out.

Jermain Defoe and Richard Hughes were on the bench, with Sean Davis and John Utaka in midfield and former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch on his own up front.

There was an air of expectancy around Anfield following the Stamford Bridge success and Liverpool had Pompey under pressure from the start with some fine, flowing, football - much of which was aimed at getting Pennant into space on the right.

The passing was quick and the movement the same, with Liverpool looking like they were going to grab the lead plenty of times in the opening spell.

After 10 minutes Pennant and Alvaro Arbeloa combined to find Dirk Kuyt just outside the box, and his fierce low drive was superbly turned away and onto a post by David James.

Lucas saw a header fly over the bar and Xabi Alonso sent a 20-yarder swerving wide of the left-hand post.

But slowly, Pompey's resilience took the edge from Liverpool's approach play.

Crouch was the sole target for much of Pompey's forward movement, winning consistently in the air but missing his strike-partner Defoe.

The visitors' first chance was headed wide by Younes Kaboul from Lassana Diarra's free-kick, and then Papa Bouba Diop missed a sitter.

Diarra's chip found the big midfielder unmarked six yards out, but he planted his free header straight into Jose Reina's grateful hands.

Liverpool responded with a Gerrard shot into the wall from a tapped free-kick, the ball dropping for Jamie Carragher to test James from 25 yards.

Kuyt had a couple more chances in the half, but Liverpool ended the first-half looking for inspiration.

Diarra was booked for a trip on Gerrard just outside the box after 49 minutes, but Alonso planted the free-kick into the wall.

Portsmouth were beginning to look comfortable, Sylvain Distin and Kaboul assured at the back.

Liverpool needed sharpness, urgency and accuracy with their passing. Hyypia saw a header flash wide and Lucas had an effort deflected past the target, but too many mistakes in possession from Ryan Babel and Pennant continuall hindered the home side's progress.

Liverpool sent on Yossi Benayoun for an increasingly frustrated Pennant and soon after Pompey introduced Niko Kranjcar for Armand Traore.

Next into the fray was Riera, for Babel - and Liverpool increased the tempo.

Distin's block stopped Benayoun when Steven Gerrard had put him clear, and then James saved superbly from Gerrard's 25-yard effort.

Then after 75 minutes Liverpool got their breakthrough. Hyypia's header from Fabio Aurelio's corner was goalbound before Bouba Diop threw two arms into the flight of the ball.

Somerset referee Steve Tanner booked the Pompey midfielder and pointed to the spot, before Gerrard drove home the penalty.

Hughes came on for Diarra with 10 minutes left and four minutes later Defoe replaced Utaka as the visitors sought a point.

Robbie Keane came on for Gerrard in injury-time and almost got on the scoresheet in the final seconds - but there was only one goal in the game.

Arsenal Join Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United, Bolton & Sunderland In Chase For League 1 Wonderkid?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to make another raid on the lower leagues of English football, with Leeds United starlet Fabian Delph on the radar of the Frenchman, according to reports.

18-year-old midfielder Delph has been at Leeds since making the short trip across Yorkshire from Bradford City in 2001 and made his senior debut for United earlier this season. Delph has been hailed as the most exciting prospect to come out of Elland Road since England International Aaron Lennon, who is now at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Wenger has already got recent history of signing young players from lower league football, with the Gunners boss bringing Theo Walcott from Championship side Southampton and Aaron Ramsey to the Emirates Stadium from Cardiff City. With the Frenchman now understood to be ready to test the water in League 1 and make a move for the young prodigy.

However, Arsenal will face competition from Premiership rivals Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland for the England Under-19 International, who are all said to have expressed an interest in the talented midfielder.

Delph is under contract at Elland Road until 2012, with it believed that Leeds value the young starlet in the region of £5million, £1million of which would go to Bradford as part of the deal that took Delph to United as an 11-year-old.

Spurs Boss Redknapp: Bring On Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has said that his side will give a real go to Premiership leaders Liverpool at the weekend.

Spurs, who are still placed bottom of the table, have picked four points from two games since Redknapp replaced Juande Ramos in the White Hart Lane hot-seat. And the former Portsmouth manager has instilled a sense of belief in Spurs players that was evident last night as they pulled back two goals in the closing stages to hold bitter north-London rivals Arsenal to a 4-4 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

On Saturday, Spurs will face Rafa Benitez’s Reds, who are the only unbeaten side in the ongoing campaign, but Tottenham are ready for the test.

Redknapp said: "I've tried to make them believe in themselves. There's ability in the squad. Bring on Liverpool. We'll give them a good go on Saturday.

"I've not thought about points. I like to see us when we play and pass the ball. We had long spells in the first half where we passed the ball ever so well. We just encourage them to play."

Winning Is All That Matters - Rafa

Rafael Benitez has expressed his satisfaction with Liverpool's narrow victory over Portsmouth, despite a less than brilliant display from his team.

Many were expecting Liverpool to come crashing back to reality following their fantastic win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. They did, although an inexplicable brain-fade from Papa Bouba Diop allowed Steven Gerrard to fire his side to a 1-0 win from the penalty sport.

The hosts dominated proceedings but couldn't breach David James' goal from open play, leaving the Kopites somewhat deflated despite being top of the table.

But Benitez told the club's official website: "Clearly the win was more important than the performance. After the victory against Chelsea it was important to get the three points tonight.

"We changed four players and still won the game and the message for the squad and everyone is we can make changes and still win. We used players with different qualities and we always had belief we would score."

Wednesday night's performance was eerily reminiscent of the frustrating 0-0 draw against Stoke City which followed Liverpool's victory over Manchester United last month.

But Benitez chose to focus on the positives, insisting that his players did well considering Pompey stacked their defence.

"Portsmouth are a good team and we needed to be patient and keep passing the ball and creating opportunities. Being patient was the key word for us tonight," the Spaniard said.

"Everybody could see Portsmouth were defending well and they had a lot of bodies behind the ball so it was not easy to find the space. So we had to be precise with our final pass.

"We were very dominant in the first half and controlled the game. We had our chances and we regained the ball quickly.

"I thought the second half was more open and at the end we were a little nervous because they were playing a lot of long balls up to Crouch.

"I don't remember Pepe having a shot to save. Okay, we won the game with a penalty but we had other chances."

Liverpool will take on a rejuvenated Tottenham Hotspur this weekend as they seek to cement their spot at the summit of the Premier League standings.

Benitez added: "We will try to be at the top of the table for a long time but our idea as always is to think about one game at a time and the next three points."

Rafa Agrees With Carra, 'We Should Be Top'

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has agreed with Jamie Carragher's recent sentiment that the Reds deserve top spot.

Liverpool's win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge gave the league leaders a three point cushion, and confirmed Rafa Benitez's finest start to a Premier League season.

Jamie Carragher recently claimed that the Reds deserve their top spot, and this is a notion confirmed by his manager too.

When Benitez was asked whether he agreed with his vice captain, he replied: "Yes, I think it is important to have confidence. But we know there's a long way to go, so it is important for us to keep winning every game and keep getting three points.

"It is difficult to keep the people calm. You know, there is a lot to live up to, so we have to give out the same message and think about one game at a time," the club's official website quote the Spanish gaffer as saying.

"It is better to be in this position than playing catch-up with the other teams, because you know that if you make mistakes then they have fewer points anyway. It is a fantastic position and we will try to stay there as long as we can," he added.

Albert Riera On A Mission To Make Amends

ALBERT RIERA knows all too well that raising expectations is one thing but delivering on your promise is quite another.

This time last year, Riera was starring in an Espanyol side which was riding high in La Liga with hopes high that Barcelona's second club might even be able to challenge for the Spanish league title, a trophy they had never won in their history.

By January, they were third, due in no small part to outstanding performances from Riera and talismanic forward Luis Garcia, and were playing well enough to have Real Madrid looking over their shoulders.

But no sooner had hope emerged than it was replaced by despair as Espanyol went on a run of 11 defeats in 14 games which led to them finishing a hugely disappointing 12th.

Having gone from high to low in just four months, it is little wonder the 26-year-old is not getting carried away by the start made to the Premier League season by new club Liverpool, and he is warning that there is much hard work to be done before Rafa Benitez's side can class themselves as genuine title challengers – even after Sunday's momentous victory over Chelsea.

"That result was very important for us and for our confidence," he said.

"It was a very big result but it was only one result and the most important thing for us now is that we must build upon it.

"Now we are confident in ourselves and we know each other better but in football you can never afford to think that you have done enough, you always have to look ahead and try to keep on getting better.

"We are in a good moment but we cannot afford to stand still."

So well has the Majorcan-born left winger settled into the Liverpool side following his £8m move from Espanyol that it is hard to believe he has still only played nine games for his new club.

Anfield observers would be hard pressed to name a fixture where Riera has not played well, and in the short time he has been with Liverpool his performances have been of a particularly high standard.

His Liverpool career thus far is book-ended by appearances against Manchester United and Chelsea, the crème-de-la-crème of English football, and rather than being cowed by facing such illustrious opponents, Riera has actually been inspired by them and was a key factor in the Reds securing memorable victories against their fellow members of the big four.

Riera, though, is still not satisfied. As far as he is concerned, there is more – perhaps even much more – to come from himself as he becomes more acclimatised to the Liverpool way of doing things.

"I know I can still get better," said the Spanish international.

"The best way to progress is to believe that you can get better and give more to the team, and that's the way I am.

"I know that I can give more and having played less than ten games with the team I know that I can improve.

"It is the same for all players in the Premier League – if you have talent and you are prepared to work hard then you can succeed here and you can get better.

"At Liverpool we train hard all the time and this gives us all a chance of improving, especially the players who have not played too much in this country.

"But the most important thing is that the team is winning and that is happening right now."

Of course, some wins are more momentous than others and Sunday's 1-0 victory over Chelsea was the kind of triumph that makes the rest of the nation sit up and take notice.

All of a sudden, Liverpool are being regarded as a team which can challenge the recent supremacy of Chelsea and United, even though they have played just nine games and lack the course and distance record of their rivals.

Riera is delighted that the Reds have made a statement of intent for the rest of the season but he knows it will count for little unless they follow it up with yet more victories – hopefully starting tonight against FA Cup holders Portsmouth at Anfield.

He said: "Before Sunday's game everyone was talking about Chelsea and the fact that they were top of the league and unbeaten so far this season, but we were in the same situation and maybe people now know that we are a good team also and that we want to continue at the top of the league.

"But if this is to happen we know we have to keep on working hard in games and in training and doing the same things that have helped us get to the position we are in right now.

"We know it will be tough because the Premier League is very competitive and you have to work hard in every single game otherwise you can come unstuck.

"Portsmouth will be another difficult game for us.

“They won the FA Cup last season, are in Europe and have had some good results this season.

"But we have confidence and are playing in front of our own fans so we have to try and get another good result."

Having followed up their recent victory over United with a draw against Stoke, Liverpool will be looking to show that they have learned from that experience by ensuring that Pompey are not able to deflate them in a similar fashion.

Expectations are high at Anfield right now – that is the price that comes with beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

It is now up to Liverpool to prove that they can live up to them and not be weighed down by them, like Riera's former club was last season.

Benitez Ready To Rotate His Way To The Title

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits the time has come for his Premier League leaders to show they have the strength in depth to sustain a title challenge.

The Reds laboured to beat a stubborn Portsmouth side 1-0 at Anfield on Wednesday after Benitez made four changes to the team that stunned Chelsea at the weekend.

Benitez gambled by resting Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano, Albert Riera and Robbie Keane and it took a late Steven Gerrard penalty to condemn Tony Adams to defeat in his first match as Portsmouth boss.

But the Spaniard insists that, having largely kept a settled team so far this season, he will now be forced to rotate on a more regular basis and that it is time to "manage" his squad.

"When you play another game in three days and you have the Champions League and you need to change players," Benitez said.

"Against Portsmouth it was clear that two or three players could give us fresh legs and now we need to manage the squad.

"We knew that the game against Portsmouth would be difficult so we used players with different qualities and then we were changing and trying to find other solutions.

"We were looking for different options and we had confidence that we could score."

Liverpool remain three points clear at the summit of the Premier League, having dropped just four points in their first 10 matches of the season.

But Benitez, who is hopeful that Fernando Torres will return from a hamstring problem at Tottenham this weekend, maintains that only a short-term view will give the Reds a chance of winning a first league title since 1990.

He added: "After the victory against Chelsea, to get three points against Portsmouth was really important and to change four or five players and still win is a message for the squad that we can change players and we can still win.

"We will try to be top of the table for a long time but we will just keep thinking about one game at a time and the next three points and that's it."

In Adams's first official game in charge of Portsmouth he surprisingly left striker Jermain Defoe, who has scored six goals in his nine Premier League starts, on the bench.

But Adams insists that there is no problem with his top-scorer and may persist with a five-man midfield on Pompey's travels, with Defoe or Peter Crouch left on the sidelines.

Adams said: "I will make tactical decisions, I will make technical decisions, physiological decisions and emotional decisions.

"I want Jermain to be Portsmouth's top goal-scorer and he will be and I want him to push to be the top scorer in the league and I think he can.

"We've been getting smashed up away from home. We'd lost to Braga 3-0 and 6-0 at Manchester City.

"I played with a 4-5-1 against the league leaders and that's why Jermain was rested.

"Jermain's 100 per cent behind me and he's magnificent. I've had nothing but a positive response from all of them but Jermain in particular.

"He understands and next week it might be Peter's turn or someone else's turn but I'm a big fan of Jermain Defoe and we'll see what happens against Wigan now."

Liverpool were made to work hard for the points but could have been infront before Gerrard's spotkick.

Dirk Kuyt headed into the ground from a Ryan Babel cross and Lucas had a shot deflected wide after he burst onto Gerrard's pass, with Sami Hyypia heading inches wide from the resulting corner.

And when it looked like substitute Yossi Benayoun would finally make the breakthrough from a Gerrard pass, he was denied by Sylvain Distin's sliding challenge as he prepared to shoot.

But just as Portsmouth were looking like holding on for a point, Papa Bouba Diop threw two hands at Fabio Aurelio's resulting corner as he attempted to stop Hyypia and Gerrard made no mistake from the spot.

Match Preview: LiverpooL vs. Portsmouth

Wednesday night’s Premier League clash at Anfield will see two sides in very different states going head-to-head. On the one hand, Portsmouth are plagued by uncertainty following their much-publicised managerial change; on the other, Liverpool are flying after an incredible weekend win.

Xabi Alonso’s deflected strike at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon brought an end to Chelsea’s incredible run at home, halting their sequence of league games without defeat at 86. The Spanish midfielder, who nearly left the club during the summer, may also have put Liverpool on the road to a new era of domestic success.

The Reds remain unbeaten atop the league ladder with 23 points from nine games – easily their most impressive start to a campaign in the Rafael Benitez era. While most observers were sceptical of the club’s title credentials before that remarkable result in West London, even the most cynical doubters are now whispering, or at least entertaining the thought, of the Premiership trophy making its way to Merseyside for the first time.

The Liverpool camp has been very hush-hush following their win at the Bridge; seasoned veterans Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have been almost dismissive of the result’s significance. It may be that they have seen too many false dawns during their illustrious, yet obviously unfulfilled, careers. But reading between the lines of even Gerrard’s and Carragher’s recent statements, you cannot help but sense an underlying anticipation and excitement that has not existed at Anfield since the early 1990s.

The message from Benitez and his charges has been clear: the victory over Chelsea, and the one over Manchester United last month, will mean nothing if Liverpool slip up against Portsmouth this evening.

They have had their scares this season – going behind to the likes of Wigan Athletic and Middlesbrough are rarely considered firm foundations for a title tilt. But such encounters have allowed the Reds to display their newfound ruthlessness and their ability to claim points even when playing well below par. If Sir Alex Ferguson’s championship-winning sides have proven one thing, it is that every great team needs to be both a flat-track bully and a grafter.

Hence, Wednesday’s game against Pompey will prove just as important in Liverpool’s title chase as their clash with Arsenal in December. And while they head into the fixture brimming with confidence, it is unclear exactly what mindset their opponents will be in.

The announcement that Juande Ramos had been sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur came as little surprise to anyone, despite the media’s insistence that he had been given until Christmas to save his job. However, the news that Harry Redknapp would take up residency at White Hart Lane shocked the football -following public.

Just months after leading Pompey to the FA Cup – their first major trophy since 1950 – and their first taste of European football, Redknapp jumped ship due to the club’s well-documented financial restraints. It is being reported that Tony Adams, the assistant manager, will be promoted to the job; if so, the former Arsenal skipper faces a stern task on his first outing in charge.

Despite suffering humiliating defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City, Pompey’s points tally reads relatively well. They sit in seventh spot, sandwiched between the two Mancunian clubs. Their last trip to Anfield ended in a comprehensive defeat, but the boys from the South Coast could be due for a bout of ‘New Manager Syndrome’.


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Oct 26 vs. Chelsea (A) WIN 1-0
Oct 22 vs. Atletico Madrid (A) DRAW 1-1
Oct 18 vs. Wigan Athletic (H) WIN 3-2
Oct 5 vs. Manchester City (A) WIN 3-2
Oct 1 vs. PSV Eindhoven (H) WIN 3-1

Portsmouth

Oct 26 vs. Fulham (H) DRAW 1-1
Oct 23 vs. Sporting Braga (A) LOSS 3-0
Oct 18 vs. Aston Villa (A) DRAW 0-0
Oct 5 vs. Stoke City (H) WIN 2-1
Oct 2 vs. Vitoria Guimaraes (A) DRAW 2-2


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

It was hoped Fernando Torres might be fit enough to take part this match, but the Spanish striker is expected to sit out once more as he continues to recover from a hamstring tear. Martin Skrtel and Philippe Degen are also on the injured list, but fitness concerns are otherwise few and far between for Rafael Benitez. Robbie Keane and Xabi Alonso both played against Chelsea after picking up knocks against Atletico Madrid last week, and they should be available on Wednesday.

The real dilemma for Rafa is who to play up front. Keane got the gig on Sunday, but Ryan Babel impressed after coming on as a substitute and Dirk Kuyt’s experience and reliability cannot be overlooked.

Possible XI: Reina – Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio/Dossena – Mascherano, Alonso/Lucas – Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera – Babel/Keane.

Portsmouth

Peter Crouch is expected to start up top on his return to Anfield after leaving the Reds during the summer. Wide-men Glen Little and Glen Johnson are likely absentees as they battle injury problems, while Niko Kranjcar could return to the starting line-up. Lassana Diarra returned from suspension – and a knee injury – against Fulham at the weekend, a game in which Sol Campell was rested. Younes Kaboul might make way for the skipper, although the 5-3-2 was experimenting with could come into play.

Possible XI: James – Paramot, Campbell, Kaboul, Distin, Traore – Diarra, Bouba Diop, Kranjcar – Crouch, Defoe.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool

In Fernando Torres’ probable absence, Steven Gerrard will bask in the limelight after a true captain’s performance against Chelsea at the weekend. The man knows how to win games, regardless of where he is played. If Liverpool revert to the status quo and concede the lead, all eyes on the Kop will turn to Stevie G.

Portsmouth

Two-metre Peter Crouch earned cult status during his stay on Merseyside, where he established himself as an international-quality striker despite his limited opportunities. So liked was he at Liverpool that even the most die-hard Kopite wouldn’t begrudge him a goal on his return to Anfield - as long as the end result is right, of course. Jamie Carragher might even help him out, as the centre-half reserved some particularly glowing praise for Crouch in his autobiography.

Benitez Hails Alonso

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has hailed the form of Xabi Alonso after the midfielder got the winner against Chelsea on Sunday, to fire the Reds to the top of the league.

The Spaniard struck the only goal at Stamford Bridge to inflict a first defeat on the Blues in 86 games on home soil.

But it could have all been different if he had been sold to Juventus in the summer to finance a bid for Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.

But Juventus did not match Liverpool's valuation of the player and the Reds could not prise Barry away from Villa Park, which is now giving Alonso a new lease of life at Anfield, where Portsmouth next visit on Wednesday.

Benitez said: "What happened in the summer with Alonso is just football, and you always have to try to change things.

"Maybe I will now tell half a dozen players that I may sell them, maybe they will all start to play as well as Xabi!

"It doesn't matter whether I change my mind about something or the player changes his mind. What matters is that as a manager if I have a good player, a good professional, I will use that player for the benefit of the team.

"He is our player and we will try to take the best from him."

Benitez added: "He is showing the quality we know he has. Always he is a good professional, a good player.

"Just like Peter Crouch, who we sold to Portsmouth, people must not forget that these were players I wanted to sign, and did sign. They are good players.

"We did not sell Xabi in the summer because the price was not good enough for such a talented player.

"That is simple, this is a football market, and now he is showing character and we have a very positive situation with competition for every place in the side being very high.

"Alonso and Barry are two different issues. Barry is still a very good player, a fantastic player. As is Alonso.

"Now Alonso is playing well and the team are playing well, that applies to everyone from Steven Gerrard to Daniel Agger."

Benitez Ready For Crouch Backlash

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez expects Peter Crouch to return to Anfield on Wednesday night intent on proving the decision to sell him in the summer was wrong.

Crouch left Anfield for Portsmouth because he became frustrated at spending so much time on the bench, believing it was hindering his England career.

That means Crouch, as well as new Pompey boss Tony Adams, will have extra motivation against the Premier League leaders.

Adams' appointment on Tuesday to replace new Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp adds extra spice to Wednesday night's clash.

Benitez said: "Peter is a fantastic lad, we signed him and wanted to keep him. But we couldn't - he wanted to play more. I still wish him every success and hope he scores many goals for England, but not for Portsmouth this week!

"I am sure he will come here with that extra motivation, I would be surprised if he felt any different playing again at Anfield.

"He did well here, the fans liked him, and we know he will be dangerous."

Commenting on the latest managerial changes in the top flight, he said: "I must admit I was surprised by the changes in management at Spurs and Portsmouth. I know Tony Adams as a player and have great respect for him, I wish him well in his new job. But just as with Crouch, not in this game.

"Adams has taken over a good team with fine players. I consider the situation for Liverpool to be very dangerous, because everyone now expects us to take another three points after beating Chelsea.

"But Portsmouth will have a new manager and determined players, and they have Crouch and Defoe up front, a very good partnership."

Benitez knows Liverpool must not waste the win at Chelsea on Sunday by failing to claim a victory over Pompey.

He said: "It is a crucial week for us. We are at the top for the first time and everybody is waiting for our reaction, to see whether we can handle it.

"So we must concentrate even more now. We must not slip up or lose our focus.

"We are in a fantastic position and we will try to stay there as long as we can.

"The key for me is that the team is working together, all of them helping and motivating their team-mates. That is a massive difference.

"It is good to have confidence, but there is a long way to go. I do not want to hear people saying 'we can do this or that'.

"Forget it. I want them to go out and do it.

"Keeping a lid on expectation is difficult. The fans want to see the team at the top and they badly want the title, so it is difficult to keep our people calm."

He added: "We know we have the responsibility to give the same message to everyone, the fans in particular.

"We are top, and we are pleased to be there. But we also have a clear understanding and vision about the future, and we know there are a lot more games to go.

"The team has confidence and is playing well, but we dare not allow our thoughts to stray too far beyond Portsmouth next.

"But there is a massive difference between this season and previous seasons. There is a character and quality about our team, and I cannot hide this."

Everyone Looking For A Liverpool Reaction

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has warned his side that after their wins over Manchester United and Chelsea, all teams will now be looking for a reaction.

Liverpool's Spanish boss Rafa Benitez has warned his side against complacency. The Reds have moved three points clear at the top of the table after a quarter of the season, and believes that the teams they face in the upcoming games will be looking for them to stutter.

"It's a crucial week for us because we are, for the first time, at the top of the table. Everyone is looking for our reaction," Benitez told the club's official website.

"We are playing against two tough teams with good players and we have to concentrate only on the teams and the three points - nothing else.

"Beating Manchester United and Chelsea has shown the character of the team this year. I cannot hide this but that's it - we know how difficult it is to win titles and we have to keep going. If we want to stay at the top we need to win the next game," he continued.

"The team is playing well and has confidence, but as for anything else, well we just have to prepare for games."

Liverpool are the only side in the Premier League who remain unbeaten. They host Portsmouth on Wednesday evening.

Torres Fighting To Be Fit For Atlético

Fernando Torres might have missed out on his return to the Vicente Calderón but the Spaniard is fighting to be fit to face Atlético Madrid when they come to Anfield next week.

It was the homecoming everyone had been waiting for but unfortunately it never happened as Fernando Torres saw his return to the Vicente Calderón ruined by injury.

The ex-Atlético Madrid player was ruled out of that match but he is hoping to be fit for the rematch at Anfield which takes place in a weeks time.

Liverpool recorded a splendid win over Chelsea at the weekend without the striker but they will still be keen to have him back as soon as possible with a busy fixture list approaching.

Likewise, he will be desperate to play against his former club who he is known to have a lot of affection for and wanted to play against in Madrid.

He is now training his hardest in an attempt to make that return possible after injuring himself whilst with the Spanish national side a few weeks ago.

The striker has scored five goals in six games for Liverpool this year and was a revelation last season as he scored 24 times in 29 Premiership matches.