Match Preview: Portsmouth vs LiverpooL

With the international fixtures out of sight and out of mind, its business as usual in the Premiership, and in case you have forgotten, Liverpool are going great guns.

The Reds have looked good value for their ten points, meanwhile Portsmouth have been a bit indifferent for their high standards, but having played Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in their opening five matches, they’d be happy with an even return.

It’s a tale of two clubs coming into this fixture, and they’re at polar opposites. Liverpool are looking to achieve their third consecutive victory for the first time in 17 outings, whereas Pompey will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive league defeat, something that has not happened for 53 games.

The contradictions keep on coming, Liverpool are they only club to have scored first in all of their Premiership games this season, Portsmouth are the only club to have conceded first in all of their games, so if you’ve got to have a bet this weekend, I think you’ll know where to put your money.

Normally this early in the season when Pompey draw Liverpool at home, you’d be tempted to say ‘this is their toughest test so far’. Well not this season, as Harry’s men have already faced Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Not the most fortuitous of starts then, but once the Liverpool game is out of the way, Harry can truly believe that things couldn’t get any worse until Christmas at least. Considering the start they’ve had, Pompey have done well, holding United to a draw at Fratton Park and deserving at least a draw against Chelsea after lording it over The Blues for most of the game at Stamford Bridge.

Their last result brought into focus that Portsmouth still have a long way to go to be considered a top six club, a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates proof that the south coast side can’t fight toe-to-toe with the big boys all the time.

But Pompey should be encouraged by the stat that against Liverpool at Fratton Park in the league, they have won 15 times in 27 meetings, only losing to them on 8 occasions. Indeed last season Pompey emerged victorious 2-1.

Portsmouth are undefeated at home in six matches since losing 2-0 to Chelsea in March, their only loss in nine games at Fratton Park. But Liverpool are storming at the minute and will really be ‘their toughest test so far’.

The Reds have started extremely well this season, topping the table after four games and with a match in hand over Chelsea, but more importantly they sit two points and a game ahead of bitter rivals and reigning champions Manchester United.

The 2007-08 campaign has already brought the best start from a Liverpool team since the 1998-99 season. A win against Portsmouth would ensure that it would be the best ever start to a Premiership season for the Merseysiders.

Perhaps the key to Liverpool’s success so far is their attacking prowess, proof that Rafa Benitez’s transfer decisions were made in good thought. Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin have already played their part to make sure that after four games the side has a goal difference of +12, the best in the league.

But the defence are also contributing, despite the absence of several back-liners over recent week. Liverpool are yet to concede in open play, both goals let in this season have come from the penalty spot.

Combining attacking prowess and defence solidity is the key to success and so far Liverpool have done a great job, a run that Portsmouth will be hoping to end to end tomorrow lunch time.

FORM GUIDE


Portsmouth

2 September v Arsenal (A) LOST 3-1
28 August v Leeds United (League Cup) (H) WON 3-0
25 August v Chelsea (A) LOST 1-0
18 August v Bolton Wanderers (H) WON 3-1
15 August v Manchester United (H) DREW 1-1

Liverpool

1 September v Derby County (H) WON 6-0
28 August v Toulouse (CLQR3) (H) WON 4-0
25 August v Sunderland (A) WON 2-0
19 August v Chelsea (H) DREW 1-1
15 August v Toulouse (CLQR3) (A) WON 1-0



TEAM NEWS

Portsmouth

Portsmouth can take encouragement from the fact that they have pretty much a fully-fit squad.

Sol Campbell, after suffering a double whammy of hamstring and groin trouble, is back in the reckoning, although the veteran defender may still lack a bit of match fitness.

Also coming back is Benjani, having recovered from a neck injury and Papa Bouba Diop comes into the squad hoping to make his first appearance after his arrival from Fulham on deadline day.

Squad: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Muntari, Davis, Taylor, Kanu, Benjani, Lauren, Kranjcar, Mendes, Diop, Nugent, Pamarot, Traore, Hughes, Ashdown.



Liverpool

Things are also looking good for Liverpool, who continue to go from strength to strength.

After breaking a rib against Sunderland just three weeks ago, Jamie Carragher is back in the side but he, like Campbell, could be lacking a bit of an edge. Steve Finnan is still a doubt with a knee injury.

Steven Gerrard looks well and truly over his toe injury after playing excellently for England over the past week. Harry Kewell and Fabio Aurelio are well on the road to recovery but are a few weeks off yet.

Squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Riise, Pennant, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko, Babel, Kuyt, Crouch, Torres, Voronin, Finnan, Itandje.



PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portsmouth: – Nwankwo Kanu - After a summer of indecision from the big Nigerian, he must be glad to have stuck around Fratton Park, scoring two in four and looking quality. Harry Redknapp showed faith in the former Arsenal man and he is repaying it with his usual, inconspicuous work ethic that more often than not reaps the rewards. To say he was lucky to score the goal against Arsenal was an understatement, but they all count.

Liverpool: – Fernando Torres – All the superlatives have been used up when describing this man’s game. Managers the world over have been aware of his talents for years, but in his first season away from Atletico Madrid the hype has been well and truly justified. In Spain he was a bit of a ‘go and fetch it’ forward, working hard to get into scoring positions, therefore his tallies at the end of each season have been misleading. At Liverpool he has the support from midfield to be a bona fide striker, and an effective one at that, netting three in four.


PREDICTION

Portsmouth 1–2 Liverpool

Although the statistics suggest that Pompey are slight favourites for this match, form this season shows that it will take an almighty effort from the home side to get a result. With further depth to their team, Liverpool can chop and change and still have a side capable of overturning Portsmouth. But Redknapp has also brought in some talented individuals, notably John Utaka and Sulley Muntari, so, with the chimes in full swing, Portsmouth will be spirited in what will be a close affair, But The Reds should just edge it.

Carragher Fit For Pompey Match

Jamie Carragher has won his battle to be fit for Liverpool's clash at Portsmouth at the weekend.

The Liverpool defender has overcome his broken rib injury and has trained normally with his team-mates at Melwood this week.

He is expected to go straight back into the side for Saturday lunchtime's game at Fratton Park when the Reds will be looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table.

"Carragher has been training normally with the rest of the players who’ve been here all week," said Benitez. "He is okay and I think he will be available this weekend, which is good news for us.

"Fabio Aurelio is now getting closer to the squad after playing 45 minutes for the reserves. Harry Kewell is also running again and is nearer to fitness.

"Today, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the safe return of all our internationals. It's not going to be easy for us to travel to Portsmouth tomorrow to play without one training session.

"All you can ask the players to do when they return is some running, so it's always a difficult time."

Benitez suffered a scare when Daniel Agger was substituted after 28 minutes of Denmark's international against Liechtenstein last night.

However, the Dane was only subbed because he is one yellow card away from a suspension and his country's next fixture is against Spain.

Rafa Rues Fixture List

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has again vented his frustration at the fixture list in England.

Benitez is trying to prepare his squad for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at Portsmouth on the back of the international break.

But the Spaniard claims it is 'impossible' to formulate his plans properly due to the limited time he will spend with his players in the build-up to the game.

"I am really disappointed with the fixtures that we have because it is more difficult here in England," Benitez told the League Mangers' Association's official website.

"You play early kick-offs on the Saturday (after internationals) and it is impossible to prepare the team properly.

"The players arrive back on Thursday evening and the only thing you can do with some of them is just to run a little bit and send them home.

"Friday morning you will have a light training session and you will travel to Portsmouth in this case and you cannot prepare the team.

"Normally the players that are going away are internationals because they are good players and you need these players for winning every game.

"For me it's impossible to prepare the team properly, you can prepare small details, but to prepare the team physically and mentally for the game will be difficult."

Liverpool Star Faces Axe After Bust-up With Coach

Furious Ukraine boss Oleg Blokhin has threatened to axe Andriy Voronin for the match against Scotland after a touchline bust-up.

The Liverpool hitman, a substitute in his country's 2-1 defeat to Italy, reacted angrily to comments made by his coach late in the game.

A toe-to-toe argument then broke out between the pair on the sidelines and no-nonsense Blokhin revealed he may now drop Voronin for the match against Alex McLeish's men next month.

When asked why the Anfield star was benched at the start, Blokhin fumed: "It's obvious. Voronin hardly strengthened us when he came on.

"In fact, he was one of the reasons Italy got the second goal. He looks to me like he has put on an extra three kilos of weight.

"We created 10 chances in the match and only took one. It's no wonder there was frustration.

"But no footballer has any right to speak the way he did to his coach. If he wishes to shout like that, let him go to Liverpool and say it to Rafa Benitez!

"After the match, I apologised to the team. I know that it was partly my fault, too.

"However, Andriy obviously doesn't consider it necessary to apologise and, if he continues like that, then I won't think it necessary to include him in the national team!"

But Voronin last night refused to back down in the war of words with Blokhin that could result in him being dropped.

The 28-year-old ace, capped 48 times for his country, said: "You must understand that I do not welcome this situation, but I am no longer a child. I won't allow anyone to patronise me the way Blokhin did."

Ukraine got their only goal through Chelsea superstar Andriy Shevchenko before Italy's Antonio Di Natale struck his second of the match to secure the win.

However, the former AC Milan striker has now given up hope of qualification and admitted his country are playing for honour in their four remaining group games.

Shevchenko said: "Italy made the most of the few chances they had and that's what separates them from the rest.

"The games ahead of us are a great chance for our young players to show what they can do.

"But our main motivation in these fixtures is to defend our country's honour."

Scotland face Ukraine in their next Euro 2008 qualifying match at Hampden on October 13.

Aurelio On Reds Comeback Trail

Liverpool's Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio has come through his first run-out since April following a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Aurelio played the first-half of a reserve match against Crewe, which Liverpool won 2-1.

Aurelio, who sustained the injury in the first leg of last season's Champions League quarter-final at PSV Eindhoven, came through 45 minutes to suggest his return to the fold is imminent.

Saturday's Premier League trip to Portsmouth is likely to come too soon but boss Rafael Benitez will be keen to have Aurelio back to full fitness to provide cover, especially after he missed out on signing Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United at the end of the transfer window.

Liverpool To Retain Pako On Gardening Leave

Liverpool are in the process of thrashing out a release deal for Rafa Benitez's assistant coach Pako Ayesteran. However, with other Premier League sides set to offer a deal to the Spaniard, Liverpool are set to hold onto him as long as they can - even to the extent of offering him 'gardening leave'...

Liverpool are retaining assistant manager Pako Ayesteran on gardening leave as club and coach alike thrash out a resignation process for the coach.

'Gardening leave' is generally used by employers seeking to fulfil their contractual notice period to their employees but also instructing them to stay away from the premises.

This can have the effect of giving the outgoing employee some time off, or some time to look for a new job. In this instance, though, it is to prevent Pako from signing on with another club.

Liverpool are reportedly concerned that Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in landing the 44 year old, renowned for his physical coaching expertise, and are set to make it difficult for them to do so.

It was announced at the end of August that Pako, long-standing confidant and assistant to Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez would leave to forge his own path, the English tabloids speculating over a breakdown in communication between the two.

Benitez would not elaborate on why Pako, who had followed him from Tenerife to Valencia and finally to Anfield, had opted to leave his post.

Barcelona Wonderkid Has Liverpool On Alert

Barcelona fear that Mexican Giovani dos Santos will join Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea in the New Year because the 18-year-old has hired Pini Zahavi as his new agent.

United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all keeping close tabs on the skilful attacking midfielder — touted as a successor to Ronaldinho at the Nou Camp — who made his debut for Mexico against Panama recently.

Giovani, who starred in Mexico's Under-17 World Cup win in 2005, is under contract at Barca until 2008 and has a buy-out clause of around £10 million. But because he signed his contract before he turned 18 and was not officially an adult, his deal may not be legally enforceable.

Zahavi, who fixed Roman Abramovich's deal to buy Chelsea and who has negotiated many transfers for United, will act for Giovani in November.

Zahavi said: "Until then I will not speak to anyone about him. There has been no contact with English clubs. But obviously Giovani is a diamond of world football. He has a contract until 2008 but he signed when he was under 18, so you can look at that how you wish."

Barca fear that Zahavi's links with Abramovich and Sir Alex Ferguson mean they may have to break their budget to keep him.

Dos Santos, son of former Brazilian player Zizinho, has a European Union passport and will not require a work permit.

Liverpool Target Cagliari's Foggia

According to the 'News of the World', the Reds want to sign the talented Rossoblu midfielder for a sum of around 18 million Euros.

Pasquale Foggia has caught the eye of various clubs, both in Italy and abroad, thanks to some excellent performances and his prolific goal scoring record which saw him already net three goals in Serie A from two matches played.

Liverpool are ready to pay 18 million Euros to buy the 24-year-old Italian midfielder who just received his first call-up for the Azzurri's squad following the first two positive matchdays in Serie A.

The main problem for the Reds is that the player is currently on loan at Cagliari from Lazio, and neither club has any intention of losing the midfielder in January.

The Sardinian side have the option of buying the player at the end of the season, whereas the Biancocelesti see him as the ideal player for the future, therefore a January transfer to Liverpool seems highly unlikely.

However, the 18 million Euro price tag might convince both President Cellino (Cagliari) and President Lotito (Lazio) that selling Foggia in summer would be the best choice.

Atletico Linked With Reina

Atletico Madrid are reported to have set their sights on luring Jose Reina away from Liverpool and back to La Liga.

Spanish daily AS claims Atletico have made the former Villarreal goalkeeper one of their top transfer targets.

Atletico are searching for a new goalkeeper with Leo Franco failing to perform on a consistent basis and Christian Abbiati only being on loan until the end of the season.

The capital club are believed to have sounded out Reina's representatives to find out if the keeper would be interested in a move back to Spain.

However, Liverpool are unlikely to entertain any move for Reina who is firmly established as the No 1 at Anfield.

Reina has previously expressed his happiness at Anfield and he signed a new deal earlier in the summer to keep him at the club until 2012.

Riise: We've Got The Best

John Arne Riise has hailed Liverpool's new owners for bringing 'the best of the best' to the club.

Riise believes the Reds are in the most exciting period in their recent history – something he puts largely down to co-chairman Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"This is the most exciting period during my time with Liverpool," the Norwegian told LFC Magazine. "Not just because of the players but also the plans for the new stadium and the new owners, too.

"We've got the best of the best here. We have one of the best managers in the world, one of the best stadiums on the way, great new owners and fantastic players.

"We've been able to go out and buy more expensive players than ever before thanks to the new owners. Players like Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun; those are the kind of players we need to take this club forward."

Riise, who has made 309 appearances since arriving on Merseyside in 2001, also admits to being impressed with his American bosses on a personal level.

He said: "I totally respect our new owners and what they are trying to do here. It seems like they care about the people and the club, and us players.

"Following the Barcelona game last season, they were giving us all a hug and a pat on the back. It was the same in Athens when we lost. That is great and tells us we have some great people around us."

Riise is currently with the Norway squad ahead of Euro qualifiers against Greece and Moldova.

Voronin: Rafa Is Right To Rotate

Andriy Voronin has insisted that Liverpool's excellent start to the season justifies Rafael Benitez's squad rotation policy.

The Reds are currently top of the Premier League, following their 6-0 thrashing of Derby County.

The Spanish tactician is famous for tinkering, but after a summer of several transfers, Benitez now seems content with the options available to him.

The Ukrainian has made four appearances so far this season, two of those off the bench, but Voronin believes their unbeaten start to the campaign is down to the astuteness of Benitez.

"When I signed, Rafa told me that I should be prepared to be rotated," Voronin told the club's official website.

"Liverpool have a 23-player squad, and 20 of them are national-team players.

"Everyone wants to play and everyone knows how to play. But the coach is doing the right thing by giving us rests.

"He wants us to play 50 or 60 games at the highest level per season, not 20.

"This is why over the last five games our squad has been changed four times. The results show that Benitez is right."

Rafa Alerted To Taylor's New Contract Rejection

LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez has been placed on red alert after Newcastle centre-half Steven Taylor turned down the offer of a new five-year contract at St James' Park.

Taylor, who is the most successful player to have emerged from Newcastle's Academy in the best part of a decade, was in Montenegro last night captaining England Under-21s.

But, in his absence, his father and representative, Alf, confirmed the defender had rejected an offer that was described as "disappointing".

That news has been greeted with interest at Anfield, where Benitez has long coveted arguably the most promising young centre-half in the English game.

And while the Liverpool manager opted not to make a formal offer for Taylor's services during the summer transfer window, sources on Merseyside suggest he will attempt to sign the North-Easterner if the current impasse is not resolved by January 1.

With Sami Hyypia approaching retirement, Benitez is understood to regard Taylor as an ideal back-up to his preferred defensive partnership of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger.

Taylor's current Magpies contract runs to 2009 but, after making 44 senior starts last season, the 21-year-old is looking to secure an improved deal.

James Milner and Charles N'Zogbia have both re-negotiated pre-existing deals recently, and Taylor had been hoping to follow suit.

But while he insists he has no intention of leaving Newcastle, he is clearly frustrated at the club's unwillingness to meet his demands.

"I only hope they are not trying to force Steven out," said his father, Alf.

"He loves Newcastle United and it is the only club he wants to play for, but he is most disappointed at what they are offering."

Taylor is currently one of the lowest-paid first-team players on Newcastle's books.

While summer signing Abdoulaye Faye is understood to be earning around £30,000-a-week after completing a summer move from Bolton, Taylor is believed to be commanding less than a third of that figure despite earning a call-up to Steve McClaren's senior England squad last month.

"Fans seeing the likes of Albert Luque and Jean-Alain Boumsong coming into the club with massive wages must think Steven is on big bucks, but that is not the case," added Taylor senior.

"He is not playing for Newcastle for the money, but because he loves football and the club.

"But having said that, it is a short career and the financial aspect is still important.

"Fortunately, while he is disappointed, Steven has never - nor ever will - let it affect his performance on the field.

"He is a local lad who only wants to play for his local team.

"But perhaps that is why his contract offer is not in the same category as those players who are coming in from all over the place.

"Yet I do not see this being a problem at Liverpool with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher."

Taylor was not the only Newcastle player on Under-21 duty last night, as Charles N'Zogbia was making his bow for France's junior side against Wales in Grenoble.

The versatile left-footer has been rewarded with a lucrative deal after his impressive start to the new season and, while France are hardly short of talent on the international stage, he is already eyeing a promotion to Raymond Domenech's senior squad.

Gerrard Declares Himself Fit For England

Steven Gerrard is winning his battle to be fit for Saturday’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel and has told Steve McClaren to count him in when he announces his team to the players today. The Liverpool captain is also more confident he will be able to figure against Russia on Wednesday as well.

The question of whether Gerrard will need a painkilling injection to play against Israel remains open, although it is more likely that he will need something to get him through the game. Nevertheless, he is still hopeful that the hairline fracture to a toe on his right foot will not prevent him playing in the second vital game against Guus Hiddink's Russia on Wednesday. It had been previously thought that playing him tomorrow would preclude him from the second game.

The news about Gerrard is a significant boost for McClaren who has already lost Frank Lampard for the Israel game and moved yesterday to allay the doubts over Owen Hargreaves' fitness. The Manchester United midfielder missed training on Tuesday and was, like the rest of the squad, given Thursday off. The Football Association said that it was common practice for the squad to have one day of rest in the build-up to an international double-header.

Gerrard's inclusion will not please Rafael Benitez, but McClaren has said right from the start of the week that it is a decision that will ultimately rest with the player himself. The 27-year-old has always been philosophical about the decision himself and would never play if he thought he was putting himself in danger of serious long-term damage. Having done some light training on Wednesday he now believes he is in a position to play his first match since Liverpool faced Chelsea on 19 August.

While the players took the day off yesterday, McClaren convened a meeting of his coaches to discuss the team that will play tomorrow. As has been his practice as England manager, he will leave it until today to make the final decision – the most crucial of which being his choice of goalkeeper. McClaren sees it as a straight choice between Paul Robinson and David James despite Scott Carson's recent impressive form for Aston Villa.

On the right side of midfield Shaun Wright-Phillips is expected to be selected ahead of David Bentley. The Chelsea man's recent form would give him the edge over Bentley who, while impressing in training, has not played for the senior England team and, as such, is viewed as something of a risk in such an important match.

McClaren played down the significance of Hargreaves missing training on Wednesday and said that a scan had revealed only a "small problem" with his thigh that he was hopeful would clear. "The thigh problem is not related to the tendonitis Owen has been suffering with in his knee," he said. "We're still hoping he will be available for Saturday, and he is definitely not ruled out.

"We'll give Owen as much time as we can before making a decision. He's a determined character and we know that he really wants to play. Naturally, we won't take any unnecessary risks with him though."

As for his strikers, McClaren is leaning towards the inclusion of Andy Johnson – who has figured more prominently alongside Michael Owen in recent training sessions – than Emile Heskey. Once again that is a decision that McClaren will finalise this morning although he has not ruled out a late change to a different system. Heskey said yesterday that he had enjoyed his return to the England squad. "It's good, I'm enjoying every minute of it," he said. "The lads have taken me in well again, so I'm enjoying it. I wasn't expecting it to be honest. I was on my way home from the [Newcastle v Wigan] game and I got the call. I was a bit surprised, but delighted as well.

"We've got a new manager, he was No 2 at the time, and we've got a lot of younger players. I'd never given up hope, but you know the situation with the national team, we've got so many good players coming through at the minute so he's got to pick from a lot.

"I'm that sort of player, unselfish who'll try my hardest and I think a lot of people see that in me. It's always been a joy playing alongside Michael. I've played with Michael since England under-18s so we kind of gelled then and it's taken itself through most of my career. It's been a joy to play with him, he's a brilliant player."

In contrast to England's long injury list, Israel have only one seriously doubt, although he is a significant one. Argentinian-born striker Roberto Colautti, Israel's top scorer with six goals in the campaign, looks like being replaced by Yaniv Katan. With an experienced back line, Israel will rely mainly on a solid defensive performance with Dudu Aouate of Deportivo Coruna in goal behind Tal Ben Haim of Chelsea and Beitar Jerusalem's Shimon Gershon in central defence. Arik Benado, who normally plays in central defence, will move up to a defensive midfield position, a role he played against England in March.

Rafa Has Made Me Stronger - Babel

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has revealed how Rafa Benitez has worked with him to solve problems on and off the pitch.

New Liverpool signing Ryan Babel admitted that he has always been susceptible to pressure from the crowd, and struggled to handle fans turning against him.

That seems to be a thing of the past, though, thanks to Rafa Benitez.

"Rafa knows everything about me, down to the fine details," the Dutchman said. "Not just about my style of play, but my character too.

"He told me he had watched me play in an away game for Ajax, and it had struck him how easily I was influenced by the crowd.

"He saw how I was struggling when the fans turned against me.

"He could tell from my body language - I had unknowingly let my shoulders drop.

"But he told me that the abuse ought to make me stronger, saying the more the opposing fans swore at me, the more afraid of me they were."

Mascherano Hails 'Saviour' Rafa

Liverpool ace Javier Mascherano has thanked Rafa Benitez for 'saving his career' after the Reds boss rescued him from his West Ham nightmare.

The Argentina midfielder endured a miserable spell with the Hammers during the first half of last season, before Benitez swooped to bring him to Anfield in the January transfer window.

Mascherano has been a revelation since his arrival on Merseyside and he has put his success down to Benitez's influence.

"Rafa saved my career when came for me at West Ham where I was not playing," said Mascherano.

"He came to see me in London and told me that he needed me.

"In that moment Benitez said to me that I could play in a good team like Liverpool. I really couldn't believe it as I wasn't playing at West Ham and he came to offer to me to play at Liverpool.

"In the beginning I had some problems for getting adapted to English football.

"I had arrived at West Ham, another country and even without knowing the language, a different culture, everything was very difficult. I even knew that I was not going to play each time I went to a training session.

"Now I am in one of the most important teams of the world and I really feel good.

"I speak with Benitez and everything is much more easier. Rafa saved my career."

No New No 2 For Rafael Benitez

Ayestaran has not yet officially left the club but has had a major fall-out with the man he has sat beside for 11 years with Tenerife, Valencia and now Liverpool.

The Premier League leaders are in discussion over the termination of Ayestaran's contract and an announcement is expected this week.

Benitez said: "It was a great week, we scored four and six in front of our own fans and that makes me happy. But on a personal basis I am disappointed with what's happened. He [Ayestaran] is talking to the club, but the situation will not change."

Sources at Anfield do not expect Benitez to appoint a successor. The situation came to a head during training last week at Melwood, and Ayestaran was immediately sent on leave and was not at Anfield on Saturday for the 6-0 win over Derby.

Now it is believed Benitez will take a more hands-on role in training with first-team coach Alex Miller assuming greater responsibility. Ayestaran's fitness work will be absorbed by the two fitness coaches Paco de Miguel and Antonio Gomez. Liverpool have also imported a new goalkeeping coach in Xavi Valero, who had a spell as Wrexham's keeper.

Ayestaran was in sole control of team administration and fitness training, but during the summer Benitez changed some of the training regimes in an attempt to avoid another sluggish start to the season.

I'll Take Your Golden Boot - Torres Warns Drogba

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has warned Didier Drogba that he will not walk way with the golden boot as easy as he did last season.

Drogba notched 20 goals last season to claim the prize, but Torres believes he can scoop the award ahead of Drogba and the rest of the Premier League's top strikers in his first season in the Premier League.

"I am happy with my work at Liverpool," Torres told the Daily Star. "But really I warn the fans they have only seen 60 per cent of the real Torres.

"To be the top scorer in the Premier League will not be easy, but in the first few weeks I have shown it will not be a parade for Drogba to repeat his success of last season."

Torres scored twice in Liverpool's 6-0 win over Derby on Saturday, to take his Premier League tally to three.

"On Saturday I realised how to be a hero at Anfield," Torres added. "The people were happy with my goals and it was a sensational experience.

"I am not obsessed with the number of goals I score this season and at the moment I am still a nobody in the Premier League.

"My challenge is to triumph in Liverpool and become the best striker in the club's history.

"I know that this will be difficult, but I am prepared for the adventure."

Momo Underlines Reds Commitment

Momo Sissoko has revealed he was offered the chance to join Juventus in the summer, but rejected the move because Liverpool are a bigger club.

The powerful Malian faces tough competition to secure a spot in Rafa Benitez's midfield this season with Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano all rivals for a place in central midfield.

Juventus were eager to bring in Sissoko after bidding £10million but while the 22-year-old's representatives engaged in discussions with the Turin giants, Sissoko insists his heart always remained on Merseyside.

While accepting he will have to be at his best to win playing time, Sissoko is more than content at Anfield.

"I believed that Liverpool are a much bigger club than Juventus and decided not to speak to them any longer," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"I'm a Liverpool player and I want to show to the people here, to everyone, that I'm already at a big club.

"I'm happy to be in Liverpool. I did want to stay despite the interest. That's why I signed a new contract.

"There are five midfielders for two positions. I'm happy in Liverpool and I want to play for the club as long as I can."

LiverpooL 6 - 0 Derby County

Liverpool made it 10 home goals in a week to underline the belief at Anfield that they are genuine Premier League title contenders.

They followed up the four they put past Toulouse in the Champions League on Tuesday with six unanswered goals to crush Derby.

Spaniards Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso grabbed two each, Ryan Babel netted his first for the club and substitute Andriy Voronin also got onto the scoresheet.

It is the first time Liverpool have led the top flight for five years and their best start to a league season since 1998.

You had to feel sorry for Derby. Fresh up from the Championship, they simply could not cope with the variety, pace and skill Liverpool possessed - or indeed the pots of money that has seen boss Rafael Benitez build his squad.

Benitez made five changes from the side that beat Toulouse in midweek, with Peter Crouch not even on the bench and Dirk Kuyt and Torres being paired up front.

Derby duo Claude Davis and Tyrone Mears both passed fitness tests for the Premier League's bottom club, but Dean Leacock missed out with a toe problem.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher watched from the directors' box, as both were still injured for Liverpool, who recalled Steve Finnan, Alonso, Jermaine Pennant and Babel along with Torres.

Without Paco Ayestaran - his assistant for 11 years at three clubs - alongside him, Benitez watched his team start with confidence and cruise through the game.

Ayestaran has shocked the Liverpool backroom by deciding he wants to leave, after what is believed to be several recent differences with Benitez.

How this affects the smooth running of Liverpool long term remains to be seen, but the players set about finding the gaps in Derby's rearguard with single-minded determination.

Daniel Agger saw a 25-yard shot clip Bob Malcolm and force Stephen Bywater into a flying save. The goalkeeper was in action again when he fielded Torres' header powered in from Pennant's cross.

Mears ventured forward to blast a 20-yard shot over the bar, and Stephen Pearson wasted possession after robbing Javier Mascherano and chasing 40 yards before a poor pass let Liverpool off the hook.

But that was about it from Derby in the first period as they became increasingly occupied by the Red tide coming their way.

Kuyt cracked a 25-yard shot just over the angle and Mascherano saw a long-range effort skim the far post.

Derby were battling hard, trying to restrict the space in front of their defence, but it was becoming increasingly difficult and Mears was warned by referee Alan Wiley for a succession of fouls.

After one on Pennant, Alonso took the free-kick 35 yards out on the left. As his low drive swerved into the box Kuyt ran across Bywater's line of vision and the ball nestled in the back of the net.

Kuyt should have made it two when Pennant raced away on the left to lift in a cross for the unmarked Dutchman to head over from eight yards.

Two minutes later Pennant's pace and skill severely embarrassed Malcolm and, from yet another cross, Kuyt was there again to lift his effort over the bar.

Liverpool were pouring forward now, and after one sustained run from Finnan, the cross was controlled superbly by Torres before the striker cracked his effort over the top.

Derby were praying now to get to the break without further damage but they were to be disappointed. The second goal came in first-half injury-time when Pennant set up Babel, who side-stepped two diving defenders before belting in his first goal for the club.

The second period started just as ominously for Derby. Pennant, Torres and Kuyt combined to set up Alonso from 10 yards, but the Spaniard lifted his effort into the Kop.

The third was not long coming. Mascherano dispossessed a dithering Malcolm 30 yards out and pushed the ball to Torres. The Spaniard then took on a beat three defenders in a run across the box before burying his shot into the bottom corner on 56 minutes.

Three minutes later the hapless Malcolm was withdrawn to save him further punishment, and Gary Teale came on.

Liverpool were playing at such a pace and with outstanding control, Derby just could not handle it and continually gave the ball away or made forced errors.

Liverpool's response was to take off the excellent Pennant, to a rousing ovation, with Yossi Benayoun coming on. Derby then took off Mohammed Camara - another defender out of his depth - and replaced him with James McEveley.

Andy Griffin was booked for pulling back Torres on 65 minutes, with the Liverpool attacks incessant. The fourth came on 69 minutes when Babel crossed from the right, Benayoun's effort was blocked and Alonso placed an 18-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Next on was Andriy Voronin in place of Babel and virtually his first touch produced the fifth. Kuyt surged into the box on the right and fired in an angled shot that Bywater could only push out for the Ukrainian to force home from a couple of yards.

It got worse for Derby a minute later when a poor back-pass by Andy Todd was snapped up by Torres, who rounded Bywater to run the ball into an empty net.

Mohamed Sissoko came on for Mascherano between the fifth and sixth goals, Darren Moore being sent on by Derby for Griffin on 80 minutes, and Derby survived without any further damage.

Preview: LiverpooL vs Derby County

A midweek Champions League masterclass versus Toulouse saw Liverpool progress to the group stages on a 5-0 aggregate scoreline. With Crouch opening the scoring in 19th minute and Hyypia doubling it up on the 49th, it was left to Kuyt to add the finishing touches with a quick brace just before the final whistle: nice stuff from a squad that have shown their quality in depth so early in the season.

Rafa must be well pleased that his striking options are getting off the mark with each week that passes, plus his defence have kept 3 out of 5 clean sheets, although it really should be 4 as the Chelsea penalty was a big mistake.

Pity that Carragher got injured against Sunderland as he is so integral to the back-line, but having said that they managed well enough against Toulouse. Another key player out is Steven Gerrard with a niggling hairline fracture. Again, Liverpool have not dropped the pace in his absence and indeed there is a case to be made for him not automatically getting back into the squad when fully recovered. The saying goes “If it ain't broke, don't mend it"...I wonder if Rafa is familiar with it? Probably not, and anyway, he's too busy stroking his lovely goatee, and modeling himself on The Rock's character in the movie 'Be Cool’: Eliot Wilhem.... Rafa can do the eyebrow raise!.. oh yes.

With Derby stuttering to their EPL start the Anfield faithful will be expecting nothing other than 3 points and a clean sheet. And why not? Liverpool have been moving the ball around very well, very confidently, and the added creativity that Rafa sourced with the likes of Babel, Torres and Voronin, has shown its worth already.

Competition for starting places is toughening up and the frontline are all worth a start, while midfield and defence cannot be guaranteed either. All of which makes for a brilliant time to be a Liverpool supporter and, for once, to genuinely consider the EPL title heading to Anfield's already bulging silverware cabinet. The Rafa-revolution is upon us!


Billy's Getting Rammed

Losing to Blackpool (14th,The Championship) 6-7 on penalties, midweek in the Carling Cup ....you've got to be struggling to write the Saturday pep talk? Surely?

If it wasn't bad enough to be sitting bottom after 4 games and only taking 1 point from 12, then walking off the pitch the other night and knowing you're going to be traveling to Anfield to face a seriously in-form Liverpool squad...well, that pretty much pushes it over the edge into NIGHTMARE territory. Walls crawling with snakes, spiders from Mars, and a never-ending loop of the Spurs game.

There is always speculation in the paper about Derby's coming and goings of late, and this week has been no different. Is Earnshaw off to Charlton? Is David Nugent moving from Portsmouth to join them? Are Celtic considering allowing a move for Miller? Busy days, busy nights. As yet nothing has been confirmed but it certainly leaves you with the impression that this is one unsettled club.

Derby are simply lack the quality to cope with the Premiership just now. More new signings may yet help them, but it's not looking good. Young talent such as Giles Barnes won't be allowed to stay if the right cash comes in because it would be madness to assume that he alone will decide their fate... so of course the board will take the cash - if it's full of the right amount of decimal points, that is.

Tottenham really went to town early doors against them, but they did show battling qualities vs Manchester City and Pompey, so it's not a complete loss, more a case of getting a break to give them a boost and a breather from all this relegation talk ...and all before the first month is over!


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool
Aug 28th vs Toulouse (H) WON 4-0 (UEFA CL)
Aug 25th vs Sunderland (A) WON 2-0 (PREM)
Aug 19th vs Chelsea (H) DREW 1-1 (PREM)
Aug 15th vs Toulouse (A) WON 1-0 (UEFA CL)
Aug 11th vs Aston Villa (A) Won 2-1 (PREM)

Derby
Aug 28th vs Blackpool (H) DREW 1-1 (CARLING CUP , lost 6-7 pens)
Aug 25th vs Birmingham City (H) LOST 2-1 (Prem)
Aug 18th vs Tottenham (A) LOST 4-0 (PREM)
Aug 15th vs Man City (A) LOST 1-0 (PREM)
Aug 11th vs Portsmouth (H) DREW 2-2 (PREM)


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool: Steven Gerrard is doubtful as Benitez doesn't want to rush him back. Jamie Carragher suffered a broken rib and collapsed lung against Sunderland, and don't have a return date yet. Aurelio is still sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Squad from : Reina, Finnan, Agger, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Riise, Pennant, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Benayoun, Sissoko, Voronin, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Babel, Itandje



Derby: Mears (D) and Barnes (M) are still on the injured list but are expected back in September. At the time of writing there was no further injury news.

Squad from: Bywater, Edworthy, Todd, Moore, Camara, Fagan, Oakley, Jones, Pearson, Howard, Earnshaw, Price, Leacock, McEveley, Griffin, Lewis, Feilhaber



PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool: Fernando Torres has a great opportunity against Derby to really show everyone what he can do. In La Liga he had the pacy wingers to feed him in and Liverpool can do the same if the team selection is suited to his style. He has the pace to arrive late, and also to drift out to pick up the ball. Feed him good crosses and give him space to run into and he's your man. Derby are definitely vulnerable to a team with width and pace and players willing to run straight at them, but more importantly a deliverer of a great ball will be their undoing. This could be the Torres Show if it all goes to plan.

Derby: Matt Oakley has scored twice so far, and players and fans alike must be so grateful for that as their strikers appear to be AWOL come Saturday afternoon. He made his Premier League debut back in 1995 vs Liverpool so there are happy memories for him along the way. Oakley is a creative player and Derby will need his vision and experience to avoid an onslaught.


PREDICTION

It's almost impossible to find a form line that could be held up to scrutiny in favour of Derby taking even a point from this game, so I'll opt for the obvious and genuinely most likely outcome - Liverpool to win, and keep a clean sheet.

Liverpool 3 - 0 Derby

Liverpool In For Boumsong

Italian sports daily Tuttosport claims that Liverpool are set to make a surprise move for out-of-favour Juventus stopper Jean-Alain Boumsong.

Tuttosport has claimed that Liverpool are set to pounce for Juventus stopper Jean-Alain Boumsong.

The French international centre-back is out of favour at the Old Lady and, with the arrival of the likes of Jorge Andrade over the summer, his prospects in the first team are limited at best.

Recently, Boumsong has been linked with clubs ranging from Barcelona to Lyon. Predictably, none of the rumours have as yet come to fruition.

Boumsong himself has recently claimed that he forsees a stay at Juventus, saying, "I have Juve on my mind, ready to start the new season. I'm ready to work and looking forward to enjoying time on the pitch.

"There is a 99% chance that I will be at Juve after August 31."

But Tuttosport insisted that Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to look to the ex-Newcastle United defender to play stopgap after the injury to Jamie Carragher.

Neither club has confirmed the news at this time.

Champions League Final Draw

UEFA Champions League holders AC Milan will begin their trophy defence against fellow European title-winners SL Benfica and Celtic FC as well as FC Shakhtar Donetsk after the group stage draw was made at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The 32 teams were split into eight sections of four and while Milan were joined by Benfica and Celtic in Group D, last season's runners-up Liverpool FC must also play two former European champions, meeting FC Porto and Olympique de Marseille along with Beşiktaş JK in Group A. PFC CSKA Moskva, hoping to reach the final in their home city, will take on Group G rivals FC Internazionale Milano, PSV Eindhoven and Fenerbahçe SK.

One place in the group stage is yet to be filled, as the second leg of AEK Athens FC's third qualifying round tie with Sevilla FC was postponed to Monday 3 September due to the death of the Spanish club's midfielder Antonio Puerta on Tuesday. The eventual winners will play in Group H against Arsenal FC, FC Steaua Bucureşti and SK Slavia Praha, newcomers to this stage.

The group stage fixtures will be played on 18/19 September, 2/3 October, 23/24 October, 6/7 November, 27/28 November and 11/12 December, though Milan's last game will be on 4 December due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. The winners and runners-up from each pool will progress to the first knockout round in the spring, with the final set for Moscow on 21 May. Teams finishing third in each section will have the consolation of going into the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage:

Group A:
Liverpool FC (ENG), FC Porto (POR), Olympique de Marseille (FRA), Beşiktaş JK (TUR)

Group B:
Chelsea FC (ENG), Valencia CF (ESP), FC Schalke 04 (GER), Rosenborg BK (NOR)

Group C:
Real Madrid CF (ESP), Werder Bremen (GER), SS Lazio (ITA), Olympiacos CFP (GRE)

Group D:
AC Milan (ITA), SL Benfica (POR), Celtic FC (SCO), FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

Group E:
FC Barcelona (ESP), Olympique Lyonnais (FRA), VfB Stuttgart (GER), Rangers FC (SCO)

Group F:
Manchester United FC (ENG), AS Roma (ITA), Sporting Lisbon (POR), FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)

Group G:
Inter Milan (ITA), PSV Eindhoven (NED), PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS), Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)

Group H:
Arsenal FC (ENG), FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU), SK Slavia Praha (CZE), Sevilla FC (ESP) / AEK Athens FC (GRE)

Benitez Happy With Options

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was delighted with his side's 4-0 Champions League thumping of Toulouse at Anfield, which he says emphasised the strength he now has in his squad.

The Reds welcomed the French side to Anfield with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, and had to complete the job of making the group stages of the Champions League without Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

However, they never looked like being troubled and goals from Peter Crouch, Sami Hyypia and a late Dirk Kuyt double saw last season's European Cup finalists safely into the last 32 of this year's competition.

Benitez made seven changes to the side that started the 2-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday, with Crouch starting just his second game of the season alongside Kuyt, both of whom got off the mark for the season.

With Yossi Benayoun also looking in good touch and young South Americans Sebastian Leto and Lucas Leiva making their debuts, Benitez is delighted with the strength of his squad.

"I was very pleased with the performance, we played well and you can see the competition now for places with players working to impress right to the end," said Benitez.

"I know Peter Crouch has been out of the last two games and he has now scored eight in his last 10 games in Europe.

"But if the team keeps winning and everyone else scores goals as well, I will be happy.

"I was able to bring in Benayoun, Leto and Lucas for this game and they all did well."

Benitez has long been looking to have a big squad of quality players and he now believes he has good options in every position.

"You can see the quality in every position. I have two players to choose from now for every place and the players know that," added Benitez.

"I now do not need to talk a lot about one or two star players all the time, I have players everywhere who want to play and have the ability to play."

Despite his side's dominance, Benitez was not happy with some sloppy aspects of play in such an important match for the club.

"I was a little bit worried in the first half because we kept giving the ball away and they caused problems on the counter attack," he added.

"We needed to be awake and alert and needed the second goal to kill the game off and then we started enjoying our football.

"It is important to be in the group stage. These kind of games you must treat with caution and now I'm pleased to be looking forward to see the draw and see how far we can go."

As Anfield paid its tribute to murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones before the game, Benitez insisted that football was very much overshadowed.

Benitez hugged the boy's mother Melanie before the match and shook the hand of father Steve and elder son Owen, 17.

Along with the tragedy in Liverpool, Benitez was also shaken by the sudden death of Sevilla's Antonio Puerta after he collapsed during a game at the weekend.

"Football must take a back seat when such tragedies happen. It was very emotional for me and all you can do at this point is offer your respect and support."

Champions League: LiverpooL 4 - 0 Toulouse

Liverpool eased themselves into the Champions League group stages with a 4-0 home win over Toulouse, putting the Reds through 5-0 on aggregate.

On the 800th anniversary of the city the Reds claimed their 50th home European Cup win - plus £12million into the bargain - and it was never easier.

Without Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, they still outplayed an uninspired French side to reach the last 32 of the competition.

Liverpool shuffled their pack again and still produced a side that played fluent, quick-passing football that Toulouse never matched.

Peter Crouch, left out of the last two matches, returned to score after just 19 minutes and captain for the night Sami Hyypia made light of a broken nose to head home the second just after the break.

Dirk Kuyt gained his reward with the third after 87 minutes, drilling a shot in off the far post, and he added a fourth in injury time.

Hyypia captained the side as Javier Mascherano and Mohamed Sissoko were paired in central midfield with Argentinian winger Sebastian Leto making his debut on the left.

Crouch and Yossi Benayoun also both returned to the starting line-up to good effect.

Before the match moving tributes were paid to murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones, with his parents standing on the touchline as both Everton and Liverpool's theme tunes - Z Cars and You'll Never Walk Alone - were played.

However, last season's beaten finalists had to put all the emotion aside as they went about their job of trying to finish the tie and they set about the French with quick passing and movement.

Benayoun's enthusiasm, pace and skill was at the centre of most of Liverpool's attacks and the opening goal came after when Benayoun worked to get Kuyt into space on the right and his far-post cross was turned in by Crouch's outstretched right leg.

The French started to make chances and Andre Gignac got through on the right when only a fine block from Alvaro Arbeloa halted the surge.

Crouch should have scored again two minutes later when Benayoun popped up on the left and lifted in a cross that the tall striker rose to meet from six yards but planted his header over the crossbar.

Benayoun again was the creator for Kuyt, setting up the Dutchman for a low drive that flashed inches wide of a post. Toulouse responded with a header from Pantxi Sirieix that dropped a yard wide.

Crouch continued his wasteful ways when Arbeloa swung over another cross, again heading over, while Kuyt was next to miss with a header from another Benayoun cross.

Mascherano's powerful run to win a corner on the right set up Liverpool for their second after 49 minutes.

And it came from Hyypia's head as he stood unmarked eight yards out to power home a Benayoun corner.

Toulouse looked disheartened by now but they sent on striker Bryan Bergougnoux for Gignac after 54 minutes but up to that point the French side had barely offered a serious threat and were being thoroughly outplayed.

After 68 minutes Benitez sent on another of his South American imports, youngster Lucas Leiva for his debut, with the £5million Brazilian replacing Sissoko.

Kuyt saw one header bounce wide before almost adding a third after 74 minutes.

He drove in from the right and saw his shot hit Mauro Cetto and deflect onto the crossbar and over. A minute Later Ryan Babel replaced Leto.

Toulouse then took off Achille Emana, sending on Fabio Felix, but Liverpool were all but home by now.

Crouch, with some clever juggling from a John Arne Riise cross, lifted another chance just over the top.

Steve Finnan took over from Daniel Agger for the final minutes, while Moussa Sissoko replaced the injured Jeremy Mathieu.

Kuyt gained his reward for a night of constant running by drilling home the third off the far post after 87 minutes, and then forcing in his second in injury time.

LiverpooL Linked With 'The Beast'

Liverpool have tabled a bid of 20million euros (£13.5million) for Real Madrid striker Julio Baptista, according to Marca.

The Brazilian - nicknamed 'The Beast' - spent last season on loan at Arsenal but failed to shine consistently, although he did net four goals as the Gunners beat Liverpool 6-3 in a Carling Cup tie at Anfield in January.

After helping Brazil win the Copa America over the summer he was linked with a move for AC Milan, but it is now claimed Rafael Benitez has entered the bidding with an offer that may be enough to tempt Real to sell.

They are looking to raise money to enable them to make a fresh move for Sevilla full-back Daniel Alves, and Marca claims they could also be ready to sell Roberto Soldado to Benfica.

Lucky Escape For Carragher

Jamie Carragher narrowly avoided suffering a collapsed lung during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory away to Sunderland. An X-ray yesterday revealed that the defender suffered a broken rib, but, more alarmingly, that he developed a pneumothorax, a condition synonymous with a collapsed lung.

The club confirmed that Carragher will miss the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League third qualifying round tie at home to Toulouse tomorrow, when his team start with a 1-0 lead, but he may face a longer layoff. A pneumothorax, caused by an accumulation of air in the pleural cavity, could have been more serious. Carragher was described last night as being “in good spirits”.

Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, will be relieved that Sami Hyypia has been declared fit to face Toulouse after breaking his nose against Sunderland. Central defence is an area where Liverpool’s much-vaunted strength in depth is lacking, which is one reason why Benítez was so disappointed to see Gabriel Heinze, who can operate at left back or in central defence, move from Manchester United to Real Madrid last week.

It is possible that Benítez will intensify his search for reinforcements before the transfer window closes on Friday, having sold Gabriel Paletta, the Argentine defender, to Boca Juniors for an undisclosed fee. As part of the deal, Emiliano Insúa, the 18-year-old left back, turned his loan move to Anfield from Boca into a permanent transfer.

Champions League: LiverpooL vs Toulouse

Injury-hit sides, Liverpool and Toulouse will lock horns in the second-leg of Champions League Third Qualifying round at Anfield On Tuesday.

The Reds have the advantage having won the first-leg away courtesy Andriy Voronin goal. However, it was the match that saw skipper Steven Gerrard suffer from a hairline fracture of his toe and that has apparently not healed as the commanding midfielder misses out.

Centre-back and stand-in skipper Jamie Carragher is also out as he suffered a broken rib in 2-0 win over Sunderland in the Premiership on Saturday.

The French side also have key players namely Dominique Arribage, Daniel Congre and Albin Ebondo missing out with injuries.

The Reds boss Rafa Benitez said on Monday: "Both players (Steven & Jamie) will not be available for this game.

“It's a shame because they are both important players for us, but we have enough players and enough competition within the squad to cope.

"Carra is improving which is good news. I need to talk to the doctor to find out more and to see how long he will be out for.

"It's clear that with Steven we need to take care of him. He could be available for the game at the weekend but we'll have to see. Again I will need to talk to the doctor first because I don't want to run the risk of losing him for a long time.

"This week we will keep him training and keep him fit and then see about the Derby game on Saturday."

On brighter side for the Merseysiders, centre-back Sami Hyypia, who had a broken nose from the Stadium of Light clash, will be fit to play tomorrow.

"I think he will be okay," added Benitez. "The break was in the right place and so I don't think it will be a problem for him.

"We have Sami and Daniel Agger available and we can also use Arbeloa as a centre back so we have enough players in that position."

Carragher Could Have Broken Rib

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was happy after his side's 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, but the Reds must now wait for news on injuries to Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher.

Speaking at the post match press conference, Rafa confirmed Hyypia had a suspected broken nose and Carragher could possibly have broken a rib.

Goals from Momo Sissoko, Liverpool's 7,000th league goal, and Andriy Voronin gave the Reds their second away win of the season and Rafa was quick to praise his players.

"The team was very good and we showed we have a better squad this season," enthused Benitez. "It was special for Momo to score our 7,000th goal and he's now in the record books.

"I thought Torres, Voronin, Pennant and Babel caused the Sunderland defence a lot of problems. We created a lot of chances and we could have finished off the game a lot earlier.

"It's not good as a manager for my heart seeing us miss chances, but Voronin scored a good goal to get us the win."

Sunderland 0 - 2 LiverpooL

Mohamed Sissoko picked an historic moment to score the first competitive goal of his career as Liverpool saw off battling Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Sissoko's 37th-minute strike was his club's 7,000th league goal and earned the praise of Rafael Benitez, whose joy was tempered by injury scares involving Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher.

Benitez said: "Sissoko can score more goals. He does not score many but now he has scored the 7,000th he will be in the record books all his life. I am really pleased for him."

Hyypia went off with a suspected broken nose and Carragher followed with a possible broken rib in a game which Benitez's men wrapped up four minutes from time through Andriy Voronin.

Voronin fired home after a fine pass from strike partner Fernando Torres on an afternoon when only the heroics of Craig Gordon in the home goal kept the scoreline down.

"I am really pleased but I wish we could have finished the game earlier for my health," added Benitez. "I think we showed the strength of our squad today."

Sunderland boss Roy Keane was not too downbeat about his team's display, which he regarded as a vast improvement on his side's dismal 3-0 capitulation at Wigan last week.

And things might have been even better for his spirited side had substitute Anthony Stokes slotted away a 24th minute chance after being sent clear in the box by Michael Chopra.

Keane said: "No-one likes losing football matches but I am slightly happier than I was last weekend and sometimes you have to lose games to teams with bigger and stronger squads.

"We showed good bits of quality ourselves and you are always in with a chance at 1-0 with five minutes to go. It would have been nice to have tested their keeper a little bit more."

Liverpool were well on top from the start and could have grabbed the lead after just 25 seconds when Greg Halford's dreadful back pass let in Voronin, who shot wide.

Xabi Alonso screwed a rising shot just wide in the 14th minute after Ryan Babel had cleverly laid off a Steve Finnan right-wing cross, but the expected succession of chances did not materialise.

Once again Paul McShane and Nyron Nosworthy held firm in the centre of the home defence, marshalled superbly by captain Dwight Yorke, and frustration slowly grew among the visitors.

That frustration should have increased in the 24th minute when Stokes, on for Richardson, squirmed a shot under Reina only for Daniel Agger to boot clear from the edge of the six-yard box.

That missed opportunity came back to haunt the home side in the 37th minute, when Sissoko latched onto a ball back by Voronin to fire past the helpless Gordon.

Gordon would go on to twice deny Torres with superb low saves which showed why Keane had no qualms about paying £9million for the former Hearts stopper.

Sunderland rallied in the second half and Ross Wallace's deep cross into the Reds box in the 68th minute was punched away by Reina under pressure as the Stadium of Light crowd sensed a comeback.

But Liverpool's front pair oozed class and Gordon was required again in the 79th minute to produce a point-blank save to deny Voronin in front of goal.

"Craig was a bit busy but that's what he's there for," added Keane. "When you play against teams like Liverpool if you think your keeper is not going to work hard you are in cloud cuckoo land."

Finally Voronin extinguished those lingering Stadium of Light dreams with four minutes to go with a clinical finish to wrap up a productive afternoon for Rafael Benitez.

Benitez added: "With Torres running at defenders and Voronin running in the lines, they are always going to pose problems for defenders."

Rafael Benitez Turns On The Premier League

Benitez was disappointed that an arbitration panel on Tuesday ruled that a signed letter did not oblige Manchester United to sell Gabriel Heinze to Liverpool for £6.8 million. The Argentine defender is now likely to join Real Madrid after they agreed a fee last night with Manchester United believed to be £8.1 million.

"I would like to ask the Premier League a number of questions," said Benitez. "How can a player with a signed agreement be treated like this? He has a document which is clear, but the Premier League prefers to believe the word of someone else who made a mistake.

''I know there were accusations made against Liverpool in the hearing, which were unbelievable. How can this be allowed?

''Then I want to ask the Premier League why it was so difficult for Liverpool to sign Javier Mascherano, when we had to wait a long time for the paperwork, but it was so easy for Carlos Tevez to join Manchester United?"

Argentina midfielder Mascherano joined Liverpool from West Ham in the January transfer window and the deal took weeks to clear as the row over third-party ownership of players at Upton Park raged on. The Tevez move from West Ham to United took less time to approve.

Benitez also broadened his complaint to the fixture schedule.

"I would like to ask the Premier League why is it that Liverpool always play the most fixtures away from home in an early kick-off, following an international break?" he said.

"We had more than the top clubs last season and we have four already to prepare for this season. It's going to be very difficult for us to win the Premier League because the other teams are so strong, but I want our supporters to know that despite the disadvantages we have, we will fight all the way.

"We will fight to cope with our more difficult kick-off times and all the other decisions which are going against us."

A spokesman for the Premier League denied any bias against Liverpool. "We try to ensure dealings with all our member clubs, including the scheduling of fixtures, are as fair as possible," he said.

"We are disappointed to read Rafael Benitez's remarks in the media, especially as channels exist for every member club to raise any issues directly with the League."

Heinze had been planning to appeal against the Premier League's decision before news came through of Real Madrid's move.

Heinze Loses Reds Appeal

Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze has been denied the opportunity to join Liverpool after a Premier League arbitration panel ruled against the Argentinian.

The 29-year-old had claimed that the Red Devils had agreed that he could leave Old Trafford for £6.8million, after sending a letter to Heinze's agent stipulating such a fee.

However, the Premier League panel ruled that that did not represent a firm obligation to sanction a deal and also applied principally to an international transfer.

A Premier League statement confirmed: "The Premier League Board appointed panel have heard submissions of evidence from both parties and has ruled to dismiss the player's case.

"The hearing concluded that nature and intention of the disputed 13 June 2007 letter, especially when taken in context of verbal discussions and Manchester United FC's transfer policy, was unambiguous in that it envisages only an international transfer.

"Furthermore the hearing finds the letter constitutes an 'agreement to agree' and did not create an obligation or binding agreement for the club to transfer the player to any particular club.

"In other words the letter is evidence of an intention to negotiate, both between the parties and with potential buying clubs and not evidence of any intention to create legal relations."

Ref Dropped After Penalty Blunder

Premier League referee Rob Styles has been dropped from this weekend's matches after awarding Chelsea a controversial penalty in Sunday's match at Liverpool.

Styles gave Chelsea a penalty when Florent Malouda went down despite minimal contact from Liverpool defender Steve Finnan and Frank Lampard converted the spot kick to give the London side a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

"(Styles) looked at the video with the decision and he's admitted that he got it wrong," chief of referees Keith Hackett was quoted as saying on Sky Sports News on Monday.

"I've left a message with (Liverpool manager) Rafa Benitez to apologise on behalf of the PGMO (Professional Game Match Officials) for the error," Hackett added.

"I did in pre-season say to managers and the general public that accountability exists and we do, at the PGMO, expect referees to get the big decisions correct.

"On this occasion this is wrong and therefore Rob will not be officiating next weekend."

Benitez was incensed by the penalty decision that left Liverpool, who had taken the lead through Fernando Torres, in seventh place with four points from two games at the start of a season in which he is determined they win their first championship title since 1990. Chelsea are second with seven points from three games.

Styles also appeared to book Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien for a second time in the match shortly after the equaliser but did not send him off.

However, Hackett explained that Styles, having booked Chelsea captain John Terry still had his yellow card in his hand when he raised his arm to indicate a free kick.

"He showed the card to John Terry, then held the card to indicate an indirect free kick," he said.

"In fairness, he forgot to put the card away so it was a basic... admin error as against an error in application of law but it is again something where we'll look closely at the video to ensure we don't get a repeat of that."

Hackett said a linesman at Saturday's Fulham game against Middlesbrough had also been dropped. The London side were denied an equaliser when a shot by striker David Healy appeared to have crossed the line, a fact confirmed by television replays.

LiverpooL 1 - 1 Chelsea

Liverpool and Chelsea played out a draw which suggested the Barclays Premier League season could be a war of attrition right to the end.

The two clubs have played each other 16 times in three seasons and familiarity clearly breeds contempt with nine bookings and Hampshire referee Rob Styles coming in for flak from both sets of players as he fought to maintain order.

Fernando Torres' excellent first goal for Liverpool was all but forgotten as the yellow cards were waved, five for Chelsea and four for Liverpool. Captains Steven Gerrard and John Terry were among the bookings.

Chelsea battled away after going behind and were rewarded with a controversial penalty that Frank Lampard drove past Jose Reina.

Steve Finnan was adjudged to have brought down Florent Malouda, but the incident looked more like the Frenchman jumping between Finnan and Jamie Carragher before crashing to the ground.

The incident set the tone for the rest of a fractious match in which Styles almost lost control. In the latter stages he appeared to book Michael Essien for a second time without sending off the Ghanaian only for the fourth official reveal the booking had been issued to Terry.

Broken toe or not, Gerrard was there to skipper Liverpool against a Chelsea side who had their own captain Terry back from injury.

It was never a cordial meeting between international skipper and his deputy, the pair involved in frequent verbal exchanges during an increasingly feisty clash.

Chelsea included Essien in their defence, who was pressed into service despite a groin injury because Jose Mourinho was without defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira.

Chelsea used Essien at right-back and John Obi Mikel as a holding midfielder, with Salomon Kalou trying to push on from midfield to aid Didier Drogba.

Malouda, who chose Chelsea ahead of Liverpool when he moved from Lyon in the summer, and Shaun Wright-Phillips were also quick to attack in a brave Mourinho system.

Liverpool went for a straight-forward 4-4-2 with Riise keen to exploit any unfamiliarity to right-back from Essien.

And the threat was demonstrated when Riise appeared in yards of space to take a Steve Finnan cross-field ball only for Petr Cech to come flying off his line to avert the danger.

Essien was booked for sending Alvaro Arbeloa flying on the touchline, then Chelsea's vulnerability on their right flank saw them a goal behind on 16 minutes.

Gerrard played the ball with the outside of his right foot, finding Torres heading into the area.

The Spain international took on Tal Ben-Haim, leaving the ex-Bolton man in just a couple of yards before squeezing a clever side-foot shot just inside Cech's far post.

Anfield went wild and the £20million man was an instant hero as he was mobbed by his delirious colleagues.

Chelsea responded with a Drogba free-kick that was deflected wide and Kalou saw a six-yard box chance disappear as he failed to shoot quickly.

Gerrard mopped up with a ferocious challenge on Drogba to clear.

The match got more heated and Dirk Kuyt was booked for a trip on Lampard.

The atmosphere deteriorated further after Chelsea complaints to referee Rob Styles over challenges on Malouda and Terry, the latter involved in an exchange of words with the perpetrator, Torres.

Pennant was then booked for dissent after being penalised for a foul.

Gerrard was next into the book for a foul on Mikel, the half ending with Torres limping away after a heavy challenge and plenty of exchanges between England colleagues on both sides.

Chelsea brought on Claudio Pizarro for Kalou at the break, to provide better support for Drogba. And the Peruvian made an instant impact.

First he nodded on a Lampard corner for Terry to head just over, and then he stretched at the far post to head wide himself.

Much of Liverpool's play in the opening half was geared to containment, but they were more adventurous attacking the Kop end and Gerrard and Xabi Alonso both saw chances go wide while a Riise free-kick was charged down.

But on 61 minutes, Chelsea were level from the penalty spot. It was a controversial decision by referee Styles to penalise Steve Finnan for a challenge on Malouda.

It looked as if Malouda had jumped between Finnan and Carragher before tumbling and Carragher was booked for arguing before Lampard drove the spot-kick home.

The bookings continued and Ben-Haim's for dissent soon after was the third caution in four minutes.

On 67 minutes, Ryan Babel replaced Pennant, who had just set up Riise for a power drive just wide.

Lampard was soon booked for dissent, with Terry following, Chelsea fuming at what they perceived as a Torres dive looking for a free-kick.

There was more argument involving Essien before the free-kick went Liverpool's way. The Ghanian appeared to be booked for a second time but Styles later confirmed that only Terry had been yellow-carded.

What was certain was that the game had deteriorated into a nasty, spiteful battle.

Cech did well to keep out a close-range Riise effort as Liverpool pressed again. Crouch taking over from Riise with seven minutes left.

Kuyt's flicked header just cleared the bar before Alex came on for his Chelsea debut in place of Malouda.

Chelsea were now intent on the point, which they achieved after Babel skimmed a late effort inches wide.

Preview: LiverpooL vs Chelsea

Despite Steven Gerrard damaging his toe in midweek, Rafael Benitez looks set to include him in his starting XI today. Playing in central midfield, Gerrard was outstanding against Premier League opponents Aston Villa and Toulouse in the Champions League. He was dynamic when running with the ball, passed with penetration and continually made threatening forward runs. To cap his performance against Villa, he scored with a match-winning free-kick.

However, while manager Rafael Benitez will be delighted with Gerrard's potency, he will have been concerned that he showed less enthusiasm to make recovery runs. This is not a problem for Liverpool when he is one of three in central midfield, but with Jermaine Pennant and John Arne Riise playing in such advanced positions, as they did against Villa, it left just Xavi Alonso patrolling the midfield. Alonso may be an excellent passer of the ball but he is not athletic enough to protect large areas. The same happened in Toulouse, only with different personnel.

Villa and Toulouse were not good enough to take advantage but today's opponents are. For these reasons, Benitez has continually declined to play Gerrard in a two-man midfield.

Chelsea are masters at breaking quickly from defence and this is largely due to the positions that their wide players break into when possession is regained. These positions are infield and into the areas vacated either side of the holding midfield player.

Benitez will not want to interfere with Gerrard's forward play but he has to think of the team's solidity. So I cannot envisage Benitez asking his wide players to be quite as adventurous in their positional play. But if he does, then one way of safeguarding that area would be for his full-backs to support attacks from an infield rather than an outside position, thus staying in contact with Chelsea's wingers.

Yet Chelsea were equally open to the counter-attack against Birmingham last Sunday. Manager Jose Mourinho played with two strikers, two wide players and Frank Lampard breaking forward in a similar fashion to Gerrard. All eyes have been on Fernando Torres since his move to Liverpool and, against Villa, he demonstrated good attributes. After a slow start, he created a chance for himself following indecision in Villa's rearguard. Striding on to a loose ball, he controlled it quickly and fired a left-foot volley over the bar. Despite the inaccuracy of his finish, it showed his speed of thought and deceptive pace. He doesn't play right up against centre-halves but finds space short of them, or makes runs beyond them if they come out of their defensive line to mark him.

For any front player to be really successful he has to form a good understanding with his fellow striker. The telepathic understanding between John Toshack and Kevin Keegan - and between Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush - made them almost unstoppable. With the advent of squad rotation and lone strikers, forwards have struggled to create similar partnerships. The early signs look encouraging for the combination of Torres and Dirk Kuyt.

Playing slightly deeper, Kuyt can link up the play while Torres seems aware of where to find space through clever movement. The first goal against Villa was a product of the two linking up. One-twos, letting the ball run for each other and combination play between strikers will always cause problems but they need to play together as often as possible to gain that understanding. But will Benitez, who rotated his forwards again last week, give them that opportunity?

The injury to Ricardo Carvalho is a blow for Chelsea even if John Terry and Alex are now available for selection. Today should have provided the opportunity to compare Carvalho to Jamie Carragher. Carvalho and Carragher are brilliant readers of the game, always ready to intercept or make last-ditch clearances. Carragher may lack technical ability and genuine pace but his understanding of the game more than makes up for it as it does in Carvalho's case for a lack of physical presence.

Team details (probable):

Liverpool: Liverpool: Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise; Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Arbeloa; Kuyt, Torres.

Chelsea: Cech; Ferreira, Terry, Ben Haim, A. Cole; Wright-Phillips, Lampard, Mikel, Malouda; Drogba, Pizarro.


Some useful info: Chelsea will miss Ricardo Carvalho today. Chelsea's win percentage dropped to 29 per cent last season when he was absent from the starting XI. Jamie Carragher is equally important to Liverpool. Last season Rafa Benitez's side conceded 0.66 goals per game on average when Carragher played and 1.33 without him.

Benitez Speaks Out

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists he would rather focus on the team than his war of words with Chelsea chief Jose Mourinho.

The pair will go head-to-head on Sunday in the season's first major showdown at Anfield.

The charismatic Mourinho could not wait for the season to start before he declared the heat was on Benitez to deliver this campaign following his £40million summer spending spree.

The Liverpool boss could not resist responding to his Blues counterpart, saying: "I thought Jose had said he wouldn't be talking about other clubs this season. Maybe he's already forgotten that.

"You only have to look at who are the clubs who have spent most over the last five seasons and there are two, Chelsea and Manchester United, and they have won most of the trophies.

"If you analyse who finished top of the table last season, who have spent more money in those years, it is clear and simple there are two teams ahead of the others in terms of money, spending and also titles won.

"And I always say that (Chelsea owner Roman) Abramovich has done a really good job, that is the key."

Benitez insists he is under no more pressure now, after spending big over the summer on players such as Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun, than he was before as he prepares for Sunday's encounter.

"I do not feel more pressure because I have bought players, and I would rather it was not about me and Jose all the time, I would prefer it to be about (Steven) Gerrard, (Chelsea captain John) Terry and the other players, and I think we will be okay together this season," he continued.

"We are both professionals and we have our responsibilities. But it is better if we do not talk too much about each other.

"I really don't enjoy it and want to concentrate on my team, I do not like talking about other managers every day."

Benitez is expected to include captain Gerrard in the side despite suffering a hairline fracture to his big toe on his right foot during the midweek UEFA Champions League clash at Toulouse.

Gerrard Passed To Face Chelsea, But Won't Figure In England Friendly

Steven Gerrard will play for Liverpool against Chelsea on Sunday despite a scan revealing today that he has a hairline fracture of the toe.

But Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists Gerrard will then need to rest and will not figure in England's friendly against Germany at Wembley next Wednesday.

Gerrard picked up the injury in Toulouse yesterday when Liverpool won their Champions League third qualifying round first leg tie 1-0.

Benitez is prepared to push his player to the limit to face the Blues but said: “He will then need one or two weeks' rest.”

“He will train but he will not be able to join up with England. I will talk to Steve McClaren and I am sure he will understand.”

“We have been told by our doctors that this is not a big risk but he will clearly then need to rest after the Chelsea match.'”