Rafa, You're Letting Liverpool Fans Down

Sportsmail's Jim Mansell, a fervent but despairing Liverpool fan, pens an open letter to his club's manager after their humiliating Champions League defeat to Marseille at Anfield:

Dear Mr Benitez, I felt compelled to write to you following Liverpool's abject display against Marseille.

I have a fear that you are blind to the one key element which is vital to any successful team - consistency.

In my view the Champions League defeat on Wednesday hardly matters a jot - though not to qualify for the knockout stages would be humiliating enough - but was a clear manifestation of the problems thrown up by your baffling rotation system.

Let's be frank. Your changes are infuriating Liverpool fans. I haven't spoken to one who thinks it's the right policy or that it will win us the prize we most cherish - the Premier League.

We've been waiting since 1990 for a sniff of the Holy Grail - and gritted our teeth as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have dominated.

They have done it by moulding teams which play at a high level of consistency. Barring loss of form and injury, the manager has picked virtually the same players week in, week out.

They became teams and a developed a pattern of play to suit.

Currently, this does not seem to apply to Liverpool. You made another bucketload of changes for the Marseille game from the team that scraped a 1-0 away win at Wigan. Not surprisingly, they played like strangers. As Robin van Persie said this week Arsenal benefit by having the same team because the players like it that way.

How can Crouch be expected to perform if he's hardly given a look-in? How can Torres be the 20-goals-a-season striker the team desperately needs if he's not in the starting line-up for games against the likes of Portsmouth and Birmingham? How can the midfield develop an understanding if it's chopped and changed so much?

I heard you say in an interview recently that your policy was designed to ensure the players were in peak fitness for the run-in to the Champions League and the title.

That's no good if the team are not in contention for either due to poor performances in the rest of the season.

Your summer buys gave us hope that the title would be a realistic target. The season started brightly. Don't let that flicker of hope be extinguished so quickly.

On behalf of all title-starved Liverpool fans, pick a team to win the league and stick with it.

You gave us a truly unbelievable triumph in Istanbul. And a memorably nerve-wracking FA Cup success. But, Mr. Benitez, we're desperate to be the best team in the Premier League.

What we can't stomach is a rotation policy which will see the names of just United, Chelsea and Arsenal on the Premier League trophy for another 17 years!

Benitez Says Besiktas A Must-Win Game For Liverpool

Liverpool must win their Champions League match against Besiktas later this month to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages alive, coach Rafael Benitez said.

His side were beaten 1-0 at home by Marseille on Wednesday to leave them with just one point from their opening two group games. They trail the Group A leading French side by five points and are three behind second-placed Porto.

It is clear we need to win the next game without thinking about numbers you must have to qualify from the group," he told reporters.

"You can set long-term targets, but we just need to win the next game."

Liverpool travel to Istanbul on October 24 having hit a slump in form in recent weeks.

They were held to two 0-0 draws in the Premier League by Portsmouth and Birmingham before earning an unconvincing 1-0 win at Wigan last Saturday.

They were also held 1-1 in Porto in their first Champions League fixture and lost to a Marseille team that had won just one of their opening nine league games.

Benitez's rotation policy has been criticised by frustrated Liverpool fans, but the coach said he is unsure why his side delivered such a poor display in the loss to Marseille.

We were playing badly and maybe had some anxiety and were trying to do too many things at the same time," he said.

"It's difficult to explain why we played badly, but the other team did press the ball very well.

"It is a bad experience, but we are trying to be positive about the future."

LiverpooL 0 - 1 Marseille

Liverpool lost their unbeaten record this season and saw their Champions League dreams take a beating after a home defeat by Marseille.

Marseille, despite terrible domestic form, have now won both their opening Group A matches and appear likely to qualify for the knockout stages.

The French club's winner came from the night's best player, midfielder Mathieu Valbuena with 13 minutes left - but their superiority should have been rewarded a lot earlier.

Porto's win in Turkey against Besiktas makes Liverpool's quest for qualification that bit harder.

Liverpool could not afford to repeat the slow start they produced in Porto in their opening game - but they were again slow out of the blocks.

Marseille, clearly intent on impressing new coach Erik Gerets in his first match in control of the French side, made Liverpool look slow and way off the pace.

The visitors' midfield of Valbuena, Benoit Cheyrou and Karim Ziani dominated, with skipper Lorik Cana effortlessly controlling play from the holding role.

Liverpool were constantly ambushed in possession, or just gave the ball away.

With Mohamed Sissoko let down by his passing and skipper Steven Gerrard forced to do the running of several of his team-mates, it was a miracle that Liverpool were still level at the break.

Marseille were almost ahead early on when Ziani robbed Fabio Aurelio and set up Mamadou Niang in the box, the resulting shot stopped by Jose Reina's knee.

Gerrard was booked for a tackle on Cheyrou before Niang missed a clear volley from Taye Taiwo's deep cross.

Former Liverpool man Boudewijn Zenden was effective on the left, neatly moving into space inside.

Sebastian Leto, preferred on the left to John Arne Riise and Ryan Babel, started competitively but was soon being swept aside as Marseille continually surged forward, Valbuena a constant threat.

It took Benitez just five minutes of the second half to replace Leto with Riise, Sissoko having already been booked for a foul on Valbuena.

It was not much better elsewhere in Liverpool's ranks, and when Valbuena's clever turn exposed Jamie Carragher, the Anfield defender was the next to be booked for hauling back the elusive playmaker.

Benitez was a picture of annoyance on the line, and when he opted to bring on Voronin, he changed his mind about who was to come off.

First it was Fernando Torres, and then after a quick rethink, Aurelio was replaced.

At the same time Marseille brought off Niang and replaced him with Djibril Cisse, who got a warm reception from the Anfield fans.

Dirk Kuyt was next into the fray for Liverpool, taking over from Peter Crouch, who had made little impact even if the amount of decent possession he was afforded was minimal.

Eventually Marseille got the goal they deserved - and it followed squandered possession by Sissoko in the 77th minute.

The ball was quickly moved by Zenden to Valbuena, who saw his 20-yard shot crack against the angle of the bar and post on its way into the net.

Marseille surprisingly took off Valbuena on 83 minutes, sending on Wilson Oruma.

When Zenden limped off with three minutes left, Salim Arrache taking over, Marseille were within touching distance of a historic victory.

Gail Givet had barely given Torres a yard all night, and it says something for the efforts of Liverpool's forwards that it was Sami Hyypia who had their best two efforts before Yossi Benayoun saw a low header pushed away by Steve Mandanda in injury-time.

Torres then hit a post after Gerrard had stormed through to cause chaos in the Marseille box.

But the French clung on and Liverpool just did not deserve anything from this, all their best efforts coming in four minutes of injury-time.

Teams


Liverpool Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia,Aurelio (Voronin 70), Benayoun, Gerrard, Sissoko,Leto (Riise 52), Torres, Crouch (Kuyt 75).


Subs Not Used: Itandje, Arbeloa, Babel, Mascherano.


Booked: Gerrard, Sissoko, Carragher.


Marseille Mandanda, Bonnart, Rodriguez, Givet, Taiwo, Cana,Cheyrou, Valbuena (Oruma 83), Ziani, Zenden (Arrache 87),Niang (Cisse 70).


Subs Not Used: Hamel, Zubar, M'Bami, Moussilou.

Champions League Preview: LiverpooL vs Marseille

Wednesday’s encounter at Anfield will pit two traditionally heavyweight teams from their respective leagues against each other. In England, Liverpool have a long and rich history which includes more than a fair share of epic European adventures, whilst French giants Marseille have also enjoyed significant success at home as well as abroad.

By wining the inaugural Champions League, albeit with post match-fixing scandals, the French outfit highlighted the lofty heights to which they aspire, as did Rafael Benitez when he admirably steered the Reds to their fifth European Cup in 2005.

Aside from winning trophies these two clubs share many other things in common. They both have historically been seen as the antithesis to their country’s capital cities, via geographically, culturally and of course, through football. However, recently both sides have been forced to step aside as another major force in their leagues have emerged to dominate domestic success.

Manchester United have run amok since the Premiership formed, whilst Lyon have constantly blown away the Ligue opposition over the last six years, leaving Liverpool and Marseille to occupy that un-wanted and un-fancied position of scrapping for leftovers under the shadow of their rivals. But here is where the similarities end.

Very recently, under the stewardship of Rafael Benitez, Liverpool are steadily but surely starting to look like their all-conquering selves again. Unlike Marseille, who with a succession of managers coming and going through the Stade Velodrome doors, have flattered to deceive whilst at other times just plain flattered no-one.

Their contrasting league forms this year tells the tale of the different directions these two fiercely supported clubs seem to be heading in. Liverpool are genuinely looking like title contenders this term, whilst Marseille are frankly expressing depressing relegation form, as they lie just outside the drop zone with only one win from nine games to show for their efforts so far.

Their opening results had been so poor that initial manager Albert Emon was replaced by Eric Gerets only seven days ago, and the new man has managed a loss and a draw to his name so-far.

The form guide suggests Marseille will struggle at Anfield, but then again how many times in football’s lush history has the form-book been completely and utterly thrown out of the window, especially when a European cup competition offers a release from the constraints of domestic league troubles.

Past Encounters, Old Nemeses And Returning Heroes

Surprisingly for two clubs of vivacious history in European competitions, the Reds and l’OM have only met each other on two occasions, both coming in a two-legged UEFA Cup fourth round tie in 2003-04. France prevailed 3-2 on aggregate from that Anglo-French tie and they subsequently went on to reach the final.

No players from the current Marseille squad played in either of those games, although incidentally Liverpool stalwarts Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise and Steven Gerrard all were involved and will undoubtedly feel a touch of revenge is in order, for no players forget a previous loss in European fixtures, as the chance to redeem yourselves may not come along again for a while.

Though that is not to say Marseille do not have reason to seek retribution, for who was the man who masterminded their downfall in the 2004 UEFA Cup final of which they beat Liverpool to reach…yes please arise Mr. Benitez, in charge of Valencia at the time and winner of a prestigious double: the Spanish league and UEFA Cup.

Once again, this time with Liverpool, the tactician seeks the double and after the expensive signing of Fernando Torres, he may well have found the last piece to the jigsaw needed to pull off an unthinkable Premiership and Champions League haul. An intriguing and sure to be closely followed subplot to this affair will be the Anfield return of the sometime ordinary, always entertaining ex-Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse.

The blond-haired, leopard-print underwear wearing striker only braced Merseyside for two largely ineffective seasons, yet his infectious personality warmed many a Kopite’s heart, and with his outlandish style he became a cultish hero for the younger generation (including many a female admirer).

On analysis his contribution overall isn’t something to be lauded, especially when one considers the fanfare that followed his £14m price-tag, and yet, there were highly poignant moments in his brief Liverpool career that really stand-out. He scored on his debut before suffering a horrific potential career-ending leg-break a few weeks later, from which he recovered to score a significant penalty in the now famed 2005 Champions League final shoot-out against AC Milan.

He also scored an important equalizer and then went on to heroically play through the pain-barrier in the 2006 FA Cup Final against West Ham United. Liverpool fans do not forget such vital roles in their clubs recent rebirth and will thus extend Cisse a hero’s welcome.

FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

29 Sept v Wigan (A) WON 0-1 (Prem)

25 Sept v Reading (A) WON 2-4 (Carling Cup)

22 Sept v Birmingham (H) DREW 0-0 (Prem)

18 Sept v Porto (A) DREW 0-0 (CL)

15 Sept v Portsmouth (A) DREW 0-0 (Prem)

01 Sept v Derby (H) WON 6-0 (Prem)

Marseille

22 Sept v Auxerre (A) LOST 2-0 (Ligue)

18 Sept v Besiktas (H) WON 2-0 (CL)

15 Sept v Toulouse (H) LOST 1-2 (Ligue)

02 Sept v PSG (A) DREW 1-1 (Ligue)

29 Aug v Nice (H) LOST 0-2 (Ligue) 2

5 Aug v Caen (A) WON 1-2 (Ligue)

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Liverpool’s last forage into Europe came with heavy losses. Dan Agger and Xabi Alonso both picked up the dreaded metatarsal injury when training for the Porto game, and are now expected to be out for a further six weeks. Which means Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia will be expected to start at the back against Marseille, with possibly Momo Sissoko or Javier Mascherano anchoring in the holding midfield position.

Much has been made of Rafael Benitez’s rotation policy, and when one considers the employment of similar tactics in Manchester and West London, it seems rather unfair for the Spaniard to be labeled, rather belittlingly, as the “new tinkerman”.

No such cries of ‘wanton rotation’ were heard as Benitez’s changed eleven beat Wigan on the weekend, so no groans of another anticipated changed line-up for the game against Marseille should be made.

It is not the case of ‘anyone guess’ who will start against Marseille, merely an educated one, which leads one to suggest that because Torres and Kuyt started on the weekend, Peter Crouch and Andriy Voronin, fresh and playing at home, should start against Marseille.

Rafa will probably think the under-performing l’OM will defend in numbers at Anfield happy to pick up a draw, so he shall look for the combination of height, game intelligence and ability to play between the lines from Crouch and Voronin to break them down. Although it didn’t work at Birmingham, he does have players who can change the game if things are not working, as Yossi Benyaoun showed on the weekend. Squad to be announced

Marseille

The biggest problem for newly installed boss Eric Gerets is the unavailability of star midfielder Sami Nasri. The young Frenchman is widely coveted by Europe’s elite and is routinely praised in his own country as the natural heir to the throne of Zindene Zidane.

He shares the French icon’s flair and creativity, yet lacks the physical necessities to be a great star. But at 20 years old, he is still young and has time to grow in physique and footballing craft. His loss through a virus which hospitalized him will mean Marseille shall lack a player who will be able to unlock the usual watertight defence of Liverpool.

Along with Cisse, Liverpool fans may also get the opportunity to welcome another former player back to Merseyside. Bolo Zenden was released by Liverpool in the summer and was promptly snapped up by Marseille, although he is yet to win over the fans and may not make the starting line-up. Otherwise Gerets has a reasonably fully-strength, if lacking confidence and form, squad to choose from.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Steven Gerrard

Some of his most swashbuckling performances have come on truly special European nights at Anfield. Who can forget the manner is which he dragged Liverpool into the knockout stages of their triumphant 2005 Champions League run? Needing to score three goals in the second-half against Olympiacos, Gerrard ran the show and scored the all-important third in emphatic fashion.

So far this term, Gerrard has admitted he hasn’t played to his usual standards, but with niggling injuries and national duty behind for the moment, he has issued a war-cry stating his intent to get back to the top of his game. He is fit, strong and raring to go, a fact that shall send shivers down the spines of Marseille, for as Cisse has already said in the build-up, Gerrard is “the best player in his position in the world”.

Marseille – Djibril Cisse

The stage is really set for the ex-Red hitman to prove to Rafael Benitez that he was wrong to off-load him in the summer. Even though at the moment Marseille are experiencing a turbulent period of time, Cisse has still managed to score goals and be their out-standing player in the beginning of the season.

He has three goals to his name already, one coming against Besitkas, so he shall be confident and fired-up to perform well, and even score in front of his former fans. Probably operating as a lone-forward Cisse will have most of the French club’s hopes on his shoulders, and with his sheer pace and explosive shooting he have to be watched closely by Liverpool’s rather slow defence.

PREDICTION

Liverpool will be too strong at home, and although their performances have been stuttering of late, contrasted with Marseille’s horrendous form, Liverpool should win comfortably in the end. Although expect Cisse to follow the script and score on his return to possibly create a tense end to the game. If Marseille keep the door shut at the back and score late, then they have a chance, but if they have conceded in the first-half, then they are finished.

Liverpool 3-1 Marseille

Liverpool vs Marseille - Key Battles

Liverpool take on Marseille in the second match of their Champions League Group A campaign. Let us assesses the game's key battles.

SAMI HYYPIA v DJIBRIL CISSE

The experienced Hyypia is back in the Liverpool backline with Daniel Agger out injured. His lack of pace has seen him slip down the pecking order but he still offers plenty of know-how and aerial strength.

He comes up against a familiar opponent in former Reds striker Cisse, who will be itching to make a point at Anfield. Cisse has pace in abundance and will relish the chance to run at the Liverpool defence. He could give Hyypia an uncomfortable night.

STEVEN GERRARD v BOUDEWIJN ZENDEN

Gerrard will have another former team-mate up against him as he tries to control the game against the French. Gerrard dominates games from the centre and directs the team with his dynamism and influence.

Zenden, a former winger who played in central midfield at Anfield, will need to contain him. The Dutchman is not the exciting player of his youth but is experienced and has the advantage of knowing Gerrard's game well.

FERNANDO TORRES v STEVE MANDANDA

Torres is Liverpool's most exciting signing for some time and has already made quite an impact at Anfield. He is not only strong and quick with a deadly eye for goal but a hard worker and is often willing to chase back.

Goalkeeper Mandanda, thrust into the limelight due to serious injury to Cedric Carrasso, will hope his defence can keep a close eye on him. He will certainly not want to be exposed to a striker with such ability or in such form.

Liverpool vs Marseille - Head To Head

Liverpool face Marseille in the first home match of their Champions League Group A campaign. Let us look at how the two clubs compare.

MANAGERS

Eric Gerets, Marseille's 15th different manager in the past 10 years, faces a difficult baptism in his first match in charge. He must pit his wits against a man in Rafael Benitez who has led Liverpool to two Champions League finals in the past three years. He does, however, have experience of success in the competition having won it with PSV Eindhoven in 1988. Benitez, who has rotated his squad frequently this season, is again likely to keep his opponents guessing as to his team line-up.

PAST MEETINGS

The sides last met in the UEFA Cup fourth round in 2003-04, when the French side prevailed 3-2 on aggregate. A certain Didier Drogba scored in both legs for Marseille. Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise all featured for Liverpool but Marseille have no survivors. They do, however, have two former Liverpool players in Djibril Cisse and Boudewijn Zenden.

EUROPEAN PEDIGREE

Marseille won the Champions League in its first season in 1993 but times have changed considerably since then with the club demoted due to financial irregularities. Five-time European Cup winners Liverpool are competing in the group stages for the sixth time.

FORM

Liverpool made a flying start to the new campaign before a run of three successive draws last month, including one against Porto in their Champions League opener, slowed their progress. The Reds got back to winning ways with victory at Wigan last weekend. Marseille won just one of their opening nine matches in Ligue 1, a record which cost manager Albert Emon his job. The French outfit opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Besiktas.

Gerrard: We Trust Rafa

Steven Gerrard insists the Liverpool squad 'trust' manager Rafa Benitez's rotation policy.

Liverpool secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wigan on Saturday and Gerrard believes his side are now back on track after a previous run of two draws in their last Premier League outings.

Having secured the weekend win at the JJB Stadium, Gerrard has underlined the importance of a large squad in mounting a title tilt both at home and in Europe.

"There are so many games," the Liverpool captain told the club's official website. "There are 60-65 games we hope.

"So it is impossible to ask the players to play in every game. We have got to trust Rafa."

Liverpool began the season in impressive form, including a comprehensive 6-0 demolition of Derby, but Gerrard believes his side's slump in form over recent weeks was to be expected.

"We had a bit of a blip," Gerrard added.

"Because we started the season so well, we were on fire and were blowing most teams away, expectations went even higher. People were expecting us to do it every week.

"But at Premier League level and UEFA Champions League level it is not going to happen.

"There are going to be times when we have to grind draws out and times when you don't play well."

Babbel: I'd Love To Manage Liverpool

As Stuttgart gear up to welcome Barcelona to the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion on Tuesday night, former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel is eager to see Die Roten qualify for the knockout rounds. What's more, the former Liverpool legend has a long-term plan for himself: to manage at Anfield.

Markus Babbel, assistant manager at VfB Stuttgart, has pledged that his team will do its utmost to make it to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Having lost on Matchday 1 to Rangers at Ibrox, the German side faces an uphill struggle, with Barcelona the opponents at the Gottlieb-Daimler on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, the former Liverpool man insists that their European challenge is very much alive.

"European football is a bit different from the Bundesliga but I think Stuttgart can play at the highest level and if the players perform to their best we can beat any team on our day. At the very least we should be aiming to qualify from this group," he told UEFA.com.

Babbel himself is no stranger to European success, being a member of the Liverpool side that won an historic treble in 2001, including a close-fought UEFA Cup final win over Deportivo Alaves of Spain.

"It was the best time in my life," sighed the former defender.

"I played for one of the biggest clubs in Europe alongside players like Gary [McAllister], who's a legend for me because he's such a great character and leader.

"We won five trophies together. That was a fantastic time.

"The only sadness for me was that I became ill after that and never came back as before. I was a little unlucky but this one season will always be in my head."

Indeed, while Babbel's career was cut short by Guillain-Barré syndrome, he's still heavily involved in football - and even has his eye on the Anfield hotseat.

"I would like to manage a club in Britain one day," he revealed.

"I love the British style of football and especially the passion of the fans at big clubs like Liverpool.

"Of course, it would be a dream to go back to Anfield as manager, but there's a lot of hard work to be done before that can happen."

Babbel, 35, spent three years with Liverpool - plus one on loan at Blackburn - before signing for Stuttgart in 2004. The Munich-born player has also served hometown side Bayern, and Hamburger SV.

Reina Heaps Praise On Reds Defence

Liverpool prepare for a return to Champions League action knowing that goalkeeper Jose Reina is in the form of his life.

The Spanish international achieved his fifth clean sheet of the season in Saturday's 1-0 win over Wigan - equalling a 30-year-old club record for the best defensive start to the season.

And with Liverpool now awaiting the arrival of Marseille and former player Djibril Cisse for Tuesday's Champions League group match at Anfield, such solidity is a massive boost for manager Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool, unbeaten this season in all competitions, need to build on their fortunate 1-1 draw at Porto last month to put themselves on track for qualification from the group stages, with Benitez believing 10 points should do it.

And with Reina in such fine form, Liverpool can approach the clash with the French side with confidence.

The Spanish stopper has yet to concede a goal from open play this season and, in keeping a clean sheet at the JJB Stadium on Saturday, Liverpool equalled their record set in 1977.

Reina said: "We are very proud of that record, but we all defend together so it's everyone's record.

"We have only conceded from penalties so far, which is important. It is something we can be proud of but we must keep working in that way.

"The defence has changed a lot as well as the other departments of the team.

"Steve Finnan and Arbeloa have played on the right, Riise, Arbeloa and Aurelio on the left, with Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia in the centre.

"All of the players in our squad are good enough to play the same level and that's important for us."

He added: "We know that to win the most important thing is to keep clean sheets. Then we have possibilities to score with the quality of players we have here.

"To win away in these type of games permits you to fight for the title and be real contenders.

"But our mentality is to win game after game, not think about the target of the title. But, of course, it's there in our minds.

"Our mentality should be to go week by week and win every game."

Liverpool Sign The "Messi Of Madrid"

Gerardo Bruna has already been dubbed the "Messi of Madrid", the former Real Madrid youth player now making his way to Anfield.

Liverpool have completed the signing of Real Madrid youngster Gerardo Bruna.

The 16 year old, of Argentinean extraction, will join up with the Anfield side's youth teams after being earmarked as the next Lionel Messi.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez himself has apparently given his approval to the signing, citing the youngster as a long-term investment.

This isn't the first time that an English club has sought young talent in Spain. One need only remember Francesc Fabregas, who was brought to Arsenal as a teenager from the Barcelona youth ranks, as was Fran Merida last year.

Gerard Pique, too, was brought to England by Manchester United from Barcelona, albeit to return to Spain on loan last season.

For now, though, all eyes are on Bruna, a player of considerable renown back in Madrid, despite his tender years.

Gerardo Bruna Blanco, born on 29th January 1991, is not considered anywhere near ready for league football, but is rather seen as one for the future. Perhaps, even, the not-too-distant future.

Fowler Set To Make Anfield Return

Robbie Fowler will return to the ground where he remains revered after Cardiff were dealt a trip to Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

The 32-year-old left Liverpool for the second time at the end of last season when he was not offered a new contract by manager Rafael Benítez, but remains massively popular on the Kop.

He has scored four goals in five starts since joining Cardiff, including a brace in their midweek Carling Cup win over West Brom.

Coventry's reward for eliminating Manchester United, meanwhile, is home draw against another big-spending Premier League team, West Ham.

There are two all-Premier League ties: Bolton against Manchester City and Portsmouth versus Blackburn.

Tottenham will host Blackpool, while Gary Megson's Leicester will be away to Chelsea. Everton face a tricky trip to lone League One survivors Luton, while Arsenal's youngsters will have to overcome Bryan Robson's Sheffield United.

The matches will be played in the week commencing the October 29.

Wigan Athletic 0 - 1 LiverpooL

Yossi Benayoun ended Liverpool's mini crisis as Wigan suffered a 17th defeat in 17 matches against the Barclays Premier League's fabled 'big four'.

Liverpool had endured goalless draws in their previous two league games, sparking much criticism of boss Rafael Benitez's rotation policy.

In the end it was substitute Benayoun, a £5million buy from West Ham in the summer, who netted a 75th minute winner for his first league goal for the Reds.
Fernando Torres avoided the axe of boss Benitez's rotation policy.

After scoring a hat-trick in the Carling Cup victory at Reading in midweek, the club record £26million striker managed to retain his place in the starting line-up.

Benitez showed seven changes from the team that faced the Royals, but only two from the side that drew at home to Birmingham a week ago, with Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa replacing Andriy Voronin and Ryan Babel.

Wigan, who have lost all four previous league games to Liverpool without scoring a goal, also showed two changes from the team beaten 2-1 at Reading last week.
Julius Aghahowa started his first game this season with Antoine Sibierski out with a hamstring injury, while Emmerson Boyce took over from the benched Andreas Granqvist.

The visitors had the opening chance inside 70 seconds, with former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland behind a fierce 25-yard drive from Steven Gerrard following a short free-kick lay-off from John Arne Riise.

The Latics replied in the fifth minute, but Marcus Bent was too greedy in electing to shoot from distance when in space, firing wide to the disappointment of Aghahowa who was waiting for a pass inside.

Wigan then bossed matters for the following few minutes prior to a Liverpool break that culminated in an effort from Torres being blocked by Boyce.

Another counter followed in the 18th minute, with Riise and Torres combining before the latter chipped a cross into the area where Jermaine Pennant met the ball first time, only for Kevin Kilbane to block.

As the half wore on it was becoming easier for Liverpool, and they came close again in the 23rd minute with Dirk Kuyt setting up Riise for a flicked shot from 12 yards that was deflected wide.

That was followed by Kuyt cushioning a right-wing cross from Pennant into the path of Torres, but the striker scuffed his shot from just inside the area.
Then on the half hour life-long Liverpool fan Jason Koumas almost paid the penalty for a woeful error on the halfway line, passing directly to Kuyt who immediately set Torres clear.
After outpacing Boyce, Torres stabbed a shot goalwards that was blocked at point-blank range by Kirkland, but with the ricochet coming off the Spaniard and rebounding inches past the left-hand post.

The spectacular followed from Torres two minutes later, dragging a scissor kick just wide in meeting a right-wing ball from Arbeloa, with Wigan's defence nowhere.
HT Wigan 0 Liverpool 0

In front of a near sell-out crowd of 24,311, Bent had the ball in the net in the 50th minute, but it was controversially ruled out.

Aghahowa, running back when the ball was played in by Skoko, was offside, but not Bent who was three yards onside when the cross was delivered before he fired past Reina, only for the flag to stifle his delight.

Five minutes later Koumas forced the first meaningful save out of Reina with a 20-yard drive, before a combination of Kirkland and Skoko denied Kuyt shortly after.

In an end-to-end encounter, a Koumas cross over the top found Scharner beat Reina to the ball on the edge of the six-yard area, but his ungainly flick with the right foot went wide.

Gerrard, not on top of his game with his passing in particular wayward, sent a 25-yard drive narrowly wide.
Then 15 minutes from time the deadlock was finally broken with Yossi Benayoun, on in the 56th minute for Fabio Aurelio, beat Kirkland with a low curling shot from just inside the area.

Voronin replaced Pennant and Mohamed Sissoko came on for Torres in the final 10 minutes as Liverpool held on for the victory.
Yet it was close as Aghahowa should have buried a header in the first of three minutes of injury time, but nodded wide from six yards following a pinpoint Koumas cross.

FT Wigan 0 Liverpool 1

Match Preview: Wigan Athletic vs LiverpooL

Wigan have never beaten Liverpool in the league so this is their opportunity to turn things around. The Latics are a more confident side under Chris Hutchings and play some decent football.

The loss of Emile Heskey has spoilt the manager’s plans but Marcus Bent and Antoine Sibierski should keep the boat floating until his return. The main talking point of Wigan’s inspiring start to the season has been the outstanding performances of Jason Koumas.

Though he is underestimated, the talented midfielder has a very good eye for the game and can play some quality balls into the box. As long as Koumas can keep his form up, Wigan should be fine.

Liverpool have come under heavy criticism recently over Benitez’s decision to leave star striker Fernando Torres on the bench for the disappointing draws against Portsmouth and Birmingham. The young Spanish hitman took his chance to impress the manager by scoring an outstanding hat trick in the 4-2 defeat of Reading in the Carling Cup.

However, what the gaffer must now decide is which pair of his four quality strikers he should choose against Wigan, in order to hurt the Latics most. Come Saturday, the team sheet is likely to contain Torres, though you never know with Rafa Benitez, who likes to rotate his players every game in order to keep them fresh and raring to go.

Liverpool should find this a very easy task. They have never been beaten by Wigan and certainly won’t be looking to lose this weekend. Rafael Benitez’s only problem is whether he should stick to his under fire rotation policy.

Though it does have its upsides, the tactic also has its negatives, such as players being unable to gel with each other. I am sure though that come Saturday evening, with three points in the bag, the pressure will come off Benitez and his tactics.


Teams

Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Brown, Scharner, Skoko, Koumas, Sibierski, Bent, Aghahowa, Boyce, Cotterill, Hall, Olembe, Taylor, Valencia, Pollitt.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Mascherano, Benayoun, Babel, Kuyt, Crouch, Voronin, Torres, Itandje.

Benitez: I Need To Keep Torres Fit

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists his hunger to secure major trophies is precisely the reason Fernando Torres is not starting every game.

Torres played only the last half-hour of last week's Premier League stalemate against Birmingham and responded in midweek with a stunning hat-trick in the Carling Cup win at Reading.

But despite Liverpool's desperate need to get back to winning ways in the league after two successive goalless draws, Benitez has warned Torres is far from guaranteed a starting place at Wigan on Saturday.

Benitez said: "Players can play 20 or 30 games in a row no problem, but the problem is at the end of the season when you are playing for trophies and you need players who are fresh, ready and fit.

"I don't need Fernando Torres fit for playing against Birmingham now if I have got (Peter) Crouch, (Andriy) Voronin and (Dirk) Kuyt. I need the speed of Torres in the last game of the season, for winning the Champions League or the Premier League.

"If you have a lot of strikers, you have to decide who is the best for each game. I decided Torres was best to play against Reading. These are the decisions you have to make as a manager."

Benitez is well aware he has to strike a fine balance between preserving his best players for what he hopes will be a crucial end-of-season run-in, and ensuring his side does not fall too far off the Premier League pace in the meantime.

The dropped points against Birmingham and Portsmouth have only left Liverpool four points off leaders Arsenal, but failure to pick up three points at the JJB Stadium would significantly increase the pressure.

However, Benitez remains as resolute as ever in his conviction his side would not accomplish anything if his squad dictated he had to play all his best players in every match.

He said: "If you are playing against a team with 20 or 25 players in their squad and they are changing their players, in the last weeks of the season they will be ready and fit and you will not.

"You cannot change the physical condition of a player in one week. If they are not ready at the end of the season after five months of playing every game, maybe you will play for trophies and you will lose.

"If you need to use your best players in the Carling Cup then you can't win the Champions League. If you need to play Torres, (Steven) Gerrard and (Jamie) Carragher in every game then it will be impossible."

Gerrard: Torres Could Be Our New Ian Rush

Steven Gerrard is so impressed by Fernando Torres's performances for Liverpool this season that he has likened the Spanish striker to the club's goalscoring legend Ian Rush.

"He reminds me a bit of Ian Rush," the Liverpool captain said. "Rush was a great striker and I don't want to put much pressure on Fernando as far as goals are concerned but Rushy got a lot of credit for working hard for the team, tracking back and not giving defenders a minute on the ball, and he [Torres] is similar in a lot ways."

The Spanish international has begun the past two Premier League games on the bench but showed how quickly he has adapted to the English game with a hat-trick in Liverpool's 4-2 win at Reading in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night. And Gerrard was particularly impressed by how the Spaniard dealt with the treatment from Reading's centre-backs André Bikey and Michael Duberry.

"Foreign strikers normally get a bit of stick about the fact that when they get kicked they go hiding," he said. "But he got murdered all night by their centre-halves and kept going back and going back, and worked so hard for the team. I thought he was awesome. He thoroughly deserved his goals but the most impressive thing for me was his attitude. He didn't react to what was happening and kept working hard."

Peter Crouch, encouraged by how quickly the summer signings have settled in, believes Liverpool are in a position to challenge for an unprecedented quadruple. "We are going to challenge on all fronts this year. I really believe that," said the England international, who partnered Torres for the first time at Reading.

"Just look at the players; we've won at Reading but there are players who didn't even travel like [Jermaine] Pennant, [Dirk] Kuyt or [Andriy] Voronin, there was [Steven] Gerrard on the bench. The manager has a lot of players at his disposal."

Crouch believes those resources are already bringing reward. "We want to be as consistent as we can," he added. "Chelsea and Manchester United have proved how consistent you have to be to get anywhere near winning the league and we need to turn some of those draws into wins now. Ten unbeaten is a good start for us. It could have been even better but we need to get that winning mentality."

The sizeable investment Benítez made during the close season has undoubtedly helped, Crouch noting that there had been few problems with any of the new recruits acclimatising to English football. "Sometimes it can take a while to bed in but they've come in and are really firing. That's good for the squad and the team.

Benitez: No Guarantees For Torres

Rafael Benitez refused to promise Fernando Torres a regular starting place despite seeing the Spaniard score his first Liverpool hat trick in its League Cup third round win at Reading.

Benitez sparked an angry reaction from Liverpool fans by resting Torres for Liverpool's recent goalless Premier League draws with Portsmouth and Birmingham.

But the 26 million pound striker responded by inspiring Liverpool to a 4-2 win at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday.

"With Fernando's pace you know he will kill defenders and he had a terrific game," said Benitez.

"If he is not injured and if he keeps training well, maybe he will start the game against Wigan on Saturday.

"We have four good strikers and I need to watch all of them. If you play well you have got a chance and as a manager you have to make difficult decisions."

Israel international Yossi Benayoun put Liverpool in front with his first goal since a summer move from West Ham in the 22nd minute, capping a fine solo run with a powerful finish from the edge of the penalty area.

Bobby Convey drew Reading level with his first goal after a year out with a knee injury just seven minutes later.

Torres restored Liverpool's lead five minutes into the second half with the first goal of his classy treble, holding off Michael Duberry's challenge before side-footing into the bottom left corner.

Benitez Frustration Over Gerrard

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes Steven Gerrard's recent England outings have taken a toll on the midfielder.

Gerrard was doubtful for England with a broken toe but played in both Euro 2008 qualifying wins over Israel and Russia.

"It could be that playing twice for England has had an impact," Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.

"They (England) knew (what I felt about him playing in both games) but everyone was talking about how important this situation was for England."

Gerrard came off with cramp after 71 minutes in the win over Israel before playing the full game when Russia lost at Wembley in two crucial games in England's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

But, since his return from international duty, Gerrard has seemed to be struggling to reach his usual all-action style as Liverpool's form has also stuttered.

Gerrard came on as a substitute in the 0-0 with Portsmouth, while starting when the Reds came back to draw 1-1 Porto in the Champions League.

He also started in the goalless draw with Birmingham as the Reds were held at Anfield on Saturday with Benitez criticised for his squad rotation.

"His national team is England but it is clear that these players cannot play every game for 90 minutes," added Benitez.

"Gerrard was not 100% physically fresh, I don't mean fit but fresh.

"In these kind of games you need to keep the tempo really high and if you play too many games in a row for 90 minutes, especially if you are not fit then normally you have problems."

Carling Cup Preview: Reading vs LiverpooL

Reading host Liverpool in the Carling Cup third round with both sides hunting the win for varying reasons.

The Royals have endured a disappointing start to the season, where they have recorded only two wins from seven league games, and they will be hoping to kick start their campaign.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have drawn their last three games - against Porto in the UEFA Champions League, and Portsmouth and Birmingham in the Premier League - and will be keen for a return to winning ways.

Reading manager Steve Coppell looks set to make sweeping changes to his first XI in a bid to freshen up his side.

Leroy Lita, who has been the subject of recent newspaper allegations, has been assured of a starting place after being omitted from the Reading squad which recorded a 2-1 win over Wigan at the weekend.

Adam Federici, Ulises de la Cruz, Scott Golbourne, Andre Bikey, Emerse Fae, Bobby Convey and Shane Long are also expected to start after missing out against the Latics, while James Henry is likely to be on the bench.

Kalifa Cisse has recovered from a slight knee injury and could also be a substitute.

Peter Mate (hamstring) and Glen Little (Achilles) are unavailable, while Ibrahima Sonko will not be risked despite recently making his comeback from a knee injury in the reserves.

Liverpool could hand debuts to goalkeeper Charles Itandje and 19-year-old defender Jack Hobbs in a much changed line-up.

Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have also been included in the squad, but the star trio are unlikely to feature.

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva is expected to play some part in the tie, as well as wingers Nabil El Zhar and Sebastian Leto.

Fit-again Fabio Aurelio - who ruptured his Achilles tendon at the end of last season - and young defender Emiliano Insua could also be involved, while Yossi Benayoun is expected to start after the Israeli missed Saturday's meeting with Birmingham.

Hyypia: Rotation Talk Is Silly

Sami Hyypia has labelled the preoccupation with Rafa Benitez's rotation policy 'silly'.

The big Finn is frustrated the subject arises whenever Liverpool drop points – but never when they win.

He said: "The first time the manager tells us about the team is an hour and a half before the game. But sometimes after the meeting at Melwood he'll tell some individual players that they are playing.

"Everybody knows that the manager likes to rotate, and he isn't going to change his style. Nobody said anything about that at the beginning of the season when we were winning games.

"But because we've drawn a few games people have started to talk about it again. It's silly because that's his style and he's not going to change it."

Hyypia, who is about to turn 34, even believes a bit of chopping and changing can do wonders for a veteran for him.

"It's the manager's decision whether I play or not. But I'm not 20-years-old any more and the recovery time isn't the same as when I was younger. But I'm always ready when he needs me.

"The unfortunate injury to Danny means I'm going to get some games now, though I'm not very happy with the way I get them as I would prefer Danny to be fit and help the team."

Reading v LiverpooL: Brazilian ace set to start

Rafael Benitez has admitted he will ring the changes for Tuesday night's Carling Cup clash at Reading.

The Liverpool manager insists the competition is one he would dearly love to win this season, but he knows the importance of giving some of his fringe players a chance as the Reds look to take their first step on the road to Wembley.

Sebastian Leto, Lucas Leiva, Emiliano Insua and Jack Hobbs could all be involved, while there could be a first start for Charles Itandje in goal.

"For some of the players who are not playing too much in the Premier League or the Champions League, this will be an important competition for them," he said.

"It is a trophy I would be happy to win, the first season I was here we got to the final. I would like to be in the final again.

"Some of the senior players will have to play against Reading, I will not change the whole team. It depends on who is available and what cover we have in certain positions.

"But I would hope to give players who are not playing regularly in the Premier League the chance to play.

"It is clear that with a big squad we need to see some of the other players.

"They must be involved because you cannot have them in the squad and then tell them you will not use them in any game.

"If we stay in the Carling Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League they will obviously have more chances to play."

Liverpool Lose Their Cutting Edge

The most lethal attack in the Premier League, responsible for 11 goals in the opening four games, was frustrated for the second successive game and suddenly some familiar anxieties are beginning to afflict Liverpool.

Vastly superior to their brave opponents for almost the entire game, Rafa Benitez’s team failed to secure the win their control merited through their failure to manufacture more clear-cut opportunities and flagrant profligacy when they did.

Johan Djourou, the 19-year-old on loan from Arsenal, was the epitome of Birmingham’s splendid defiance but Benitez could have expected a more emphatic response to the questions raised during a chastening week. His decision to leave Fernando Torres on the bench yesterday will add to the questions over Liverpool’s ability to end their 18-year wait for another league title. With Peter Crouch also a substitute, the partnership of Andriy Voronin and Dirk Kuyt lacked the necessary cutting edge, for the truth is that Birmingham should have been put to the sword. But Benitez, apparently, is encouraged by his side’s start to the season.

Liverpool made an assertive start. John Arne Riise, on the overlap, played a smart one-two with Ryan Babel on the edge of the Birmingham penalty area, which opened a gap almost immediately and the Norwegian might have done better with a low, powerfully-struck shot that went across the face of goal.

Steven Gerrard was ruthless in breaking up potential Birmingham counterattacks, putting in two particularly hard challenges on Mehdi Nafti and Sebastian Larsson early on and Liverpool’s passing was crisp.

But the promise of some high-tempo fireworks quickly evaporated, giving way to a tepid, disappointing first half.

Having made 38 changes to his team in eight matches previously this season, Benitez, the Liverpool manager, made several more. His hand was forced over defender Daniel Agger and midfielder Xabi Alonso, who were both ruled out with broken metatarsals. Whether the constant tinkering is a factor or not, the fluidity of their dominating display against Derby three weeks ago was conspicuously lacking as the team remained in second gear.

Birmingham’s cause was not helped by an injury sustained by Borja Oubina in the 12th minute. His role was to sit just in front of the back four, but he had to be stretchered off and Blues reverted to four in midfield when Gary McSheffrey was introduced. Starved of possession in attacking areas and closed down fast any moment they threatened, neither McSheffrey on the left nor Sebastian Larsson on the right could make any inroads and Birmingham’s only shot on target in the opening half was an optimistic effort from 40 yards by Wilson Palacios, which Jose Reina gathered comfortably.

Maik Taylor in goal was on a higher state of alert. Liverpool struggled to produce sufficient incisive movement among their attacking players but, from a corner rolled along the deck by Babel, Riise made a sweet connection from 30 yards with the inside of his left boot and his shot narrowly cleared the Birmingham crossbar.

Franck Queudrue made a strong challenge on Kuyt to block the striker’s shot at the expense of another corner but from set pieces Liverpool remained largely impotent. Kuyt headed wide from a dangerous cross by Gerrard, then shot wide from outside the area as frustration grew.

The closest the home side came to a breakthrough was just before half-time when Gerrard played a short free kick to Jermaine Pennant, whose 25-yard shot had to be tipped over by Taylor.

Liverpool’s play lacked the invention, pace and penetration to break down Birmingham’s dogged defending. The Anfield crowd could barely await the introduction of Torres, who was finally unleashed by Benitez just beyond the hour.

Liverpool at last started to ask serious questions of the Birmingham defence but still they held firm. Gerrard and Pennant were combining on the right side of their penalty area with greater effect, stretching Queudrue and Liam Ridgewell. Jamie Carragher’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Djourou and yielded a corner, which Pennant steered towards the near post and Gerrard met with a low shot that Nafti, reacting sharply on the line, managed to block and clear. Voronin, who struggled to bring authority to his striking role, almost capitalised on a stray pass by Djourou, holding off the defender and his teammate Ridgewell, to force a fine save from Taylor from the edge of the area.

Birmingham often had 10 men behind the ball, with only Cameron Jerome up front, but the constant pressure was taking its toll. Pennant managed to move in behind the defence from a superb ball by Gerrard and the winger’s low cross had to be booted away by Ridgewell just ahead of Kuyt at the near post. Crouch was added to the attack and increased the stress for Birmingham as his aerial threat was put to use.

But it was the class of Torres that almost made the difference. Pennant was increasingly finding space on the right in behind Birmingham’s beleaguered defence and a cross into Torres in the centre yielded an opportunity. The Spanish striker produced a stunning overhead kick that just cleared the crossbar, much to the relief of Taylor.

As Liverpool maintained their momentum, Torres intervened again with a clever backheel which Crouch and Gerrard ran onto, and only a perfectly-timed tackle by Stephen Kelly saved Birmingham on the edge of the box. Crouch squandered a final opportunity with a wayward header and Birmingham’s bravery and resilience proved enough to deny Liverpool victory.

Two points lost, which Benitez and his team may come to rue.

Liverpool 0 Birmingham 0

The voices of Birmingham's delighted fans boomed around Anfield at the end of this bitterly frustrating Barclays Premier League game for Liverpool.

They may be still unbeaten and boss Rafael Benitez was able to utilise £40million plus of striking talent, but nobody had the ability to prise open the massed blue ranks.

Birmingham unashamedly strung 10 men across their own penalty area at times and fought like lions for a point.

The Midlanders were clearly not going to be letting themselves suffer a six-goal thrashing like Derby did recently, and set out to suffocate the life from Liverpool's game.

Steve Bruce's side more than achieved their aim - and fully deserved the point.

Liam Ridgewell and Johan Djourou were outstanding at the back and Benitez has still to register a league win over Bruce's men after five attempts.

Benitez restricted himself to just two changes - he has been averaging five a match so far this term - from the team which drew their Champions League game in Porto in midweek.

Fit-again John Arne Riise returned in defence with Andriy Voronin coming in up front as Liverpool attempted to maintain their unbeaten record this term.

Birmingham arrived with a suffocating gameplan, and set about frustrating Liverpool from the start.

Liverpool might have put six goals past Derby last time out in the league at Anfield, but Birmingham looked a totally different proposition.

They strung five across a deep midfield and worked to deny Liverpool space to run into.

Gaps were limited. Ryan Babel combined to play Riise in on the left, and his fierce low cross was too far ahead of Voronin.

Babel then cut in from the left and found Dirk Kuyt - but the striker was forced into a hurried shot wide.

Birmingham's system, though, was disrupted on 16 minutes by what looked a bad injury to Borja Oubina on his full debut for the Midlanders - the loanee from Celta Vigo was carried off and replaced by Gary McSheffrey.

Mehdi Nafti moved into the midfield holding role, and immediately there was space for Riise to fire a dipping 20-yard effort just over.

Birmingham were regimented and organised and were forcing Liverpool to make all the decisions.

Chances were rare, with Kuyt heading wide from a Steven Gerrard cross in the 26th minute.

Jermaine Pennant, against his old club, was switched from right to left wing - and Babel moved in the opposite direction.

But openings, space and time on the ball remained at a premium.

Birmingham at times had 10 players in their final third - with Cameron Jerome the exception - but Bruce's men were sticking to their plan diligently.

Pennant produced a 25-yard effort which was turned over the bar by Maik Taylor, before Jose Reina made his only contribution to the first half when Wilson Palacios shot from 25 yards.

Liverpool continued to toil after the break, and Jamie Carragher saw an 18-yard effort deflected just over.

From Pennant's corner, Gerrard stabbed in a near post effort which Nafti cleared off the line.

Voronin was next to go close, stumbling as he picked up a through-ball, but still able to fire in a low shot that Taylor saved well to his left.

Liverpool sent on Fernando Torres for Babel on the hour, before Olivier Kapo forced Reina into a save with a shot from 30 yards.

Liam Ridgewell was then booked in the 62nd minute for obstructing Reina as he tried to kick clear.

Birmingham increasingly fancied their chances and five minutes later they sent on an extra striker in Garry O'Connor for Palacios.

Peter Crouch finally got on after 74 minutes to add some aerial threat, replacing Voronin - and two minutes later Torres produced an overhead kick which flashed inches over from Pennant's corner.

Birmingham were looking now to punish Liverpool on the break, and McSheffrey almost achieved that with an 18-yard effort which went just over.

Rafael Schmitz replaced Jerome in the 79th minute, as Liverpool's players began to getting in the way of each other in their desperation for a goal.

Torres' backheel was meant for Gerrard's run - but Crouch collided with his more-than-annoyed captain six yards out.

Steve Finnan replaced the injured Pennant with three minutes left, the winger looking to have picked up a hamstring problem.

Gerrard's corner soon after found Crouch rising unchallenged, but he could only bounce his header into the Kop, summing up Liverpool's day.

Pennant Pinpointed As Reds Dangerman

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce is wary of the threat posed by winger Jermaine Pennant when he takes his side to Liverpool on Saturday.

Bruce handed Pennant a career lifeline when he signed him from Arsenal and stood by him after he was jailed for motoring offences.

Pennant's form for Birmingham earned him a dream move to Liverpool last summer and Bruce said: "He seems to have knuckled down and did well to get a move to such a top club as Liverpool.

"He appears to have behaved himself since joining Liverpool and made himself into a really good player.

"No-one doubts his ability. He has taken on added responsibility and I felt that in the European Cup final he was their best player.

"Going to prison certainly gave him a wake-up call.

"He was a fantastic player for us and he is a genuinely a good kid.

"After leaving Birmingham he gave me a Liverpool shirt but it does not go down too well in my house," added former Manchester United skipper Bruce.

Bruce believes he has got a more than able replacement for Pennant in the shape of Sebastian Larsson.

"We sold Jermaine to Liverpool for £8million and we brought in Seb Larsson from Arsenal for £1million to replace him," said Bruce. "Seb has been a great replacement for us and he has been a fantastic signing.

"He scored nine goals last season and played a key role in us winning promotion.

"He probably had his best game of the season in the 1-0 win over Bolton last Saturday.

"He is keen to prove himself in the Premier League and he is turning out to be a great replacement for Pennant."

Preview: LiverpooL vs Birmingham City

Liverpool Look To Get Back To Winning Ways When Birmingham Visit Anfield.

The last two results have been rather forgettable for the Reds, not because of the points amounted, but instead due to the abject displays of the team. Rafa Benitez gambled by resting Gerrard, Torres, Babel and Kuyt at Pompey away and it didn’t pay off. The Reds were maybe lucky to walk away with a draw.

No one would argue with the idea that players need to be rested at times, but maybe Benitez needs to pick the games in which he does this more carefully. Pompey are formidable at home, they have already held Manchester United to a draw on their own patch and Liverpool have struggled to beat them at Fratton Park in the past.

Birmingham will look to build on their first home victory of the season in which they disposed of Bolton. They will also look to secure some points from Anfield to avoid getting dragged into any relegation battle this season. Steve Bruce will be fairly happy with the start they have made to the season, twelfth position is indeed a decent position for them to occupy in the league.

The Reds boast an impressive record, and are yet to concede a league goal from open play so far this campaign. Birmingham lead Liverpool by three wins to two in the Premier League head-to-head standings. The Blues have never failed to score at Anfield in the Premier League.




FORM GUIDE



Liverpool



Sep 18 Porto (a, CL) DREW 1-1

Sep 15 Portsmouth (a) DREW 0-0

Sep 1 Derby (h) WON 6-0

Aug 28 Toulouse (h) WON 4-0

Aug 25 Sunderland (a) WON 2-0



Birmingham



Sep 15 (h) Bolton WON 1-0

Sep 1 (a) Middlesbrough LOST 2-0

Aug 28 (h) Hereford WON 2-1

Aug 25 (a) Derby WON 2-1

Aug 18 (h) West Ham LOST 1-0





TEAM NEWS



Liverpool:

Agger and Alonso are out for six weeks with fractured metatarsals. Harry Kewell has not fully recovered from his hamstring injury and misses out. Sissoko returns to the squad after missing the trip to Portugal. Lucas can expect a place on the bench.


Possible Starting XI: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Benayoun, Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Torres, Kuyt



Birmingham:

Birmingham skipper Damien Johnson will not be risked despite coming through a reserve game after a hamstring injury. That means the Blues are set to name an unchanged team, with Olivier Kapo playing in the hole off the strikers.


Possible Starting XI: Taylor, Queudrue, Ridgewell, Djourou, Nafti, Muamba, Larsson, Jerome, Mcsheffrey, Kapo




PLAYERS TO WATCH



Liverpool – Jermaine Pennant will look to impress against his old club and he will also look to put in a good performance after his dismissal in midweek.


Birmingham – Olivier Kapo has settled in really fast and has already notched up a couple of goals from midfield. The former French international has plenty of pedigree and will be a threat.





PREDICTION



Liverpool 3 – 0 Birmingham

Liverpool are dominant at home and I can’t see Birmingham taking anything away from Anfield. The defence has been very miserly this season, only conceding goals from penalties.

Riise Fit To Play Birmingham

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez returned from the near-disaster of the Champions League trip to Porto to be boosted by confirmation that Norwegian defender John Arne Riise had declared himself fit for selection for Saturday's home league clash with Birmingham.

It was a small mercy for Benitez, who had witnessed a depressingly poor display in the Group A opener in Portugal, even though Dirk Kuyt's header secured a fortunate 1-1 draw.

The positives from that were, however, clear. Liverpool, despite playing badly, did not lose to arguably their biggest rivals in the group, and it is a point that could be crucial to deciding top spot come December.

Benitez left Riise behind on Merseyside for treatment on a back problem that he had picked up on international duty last week, and which had ruled him out of last weekend's trip to Portsmouth.

The Spaniard will now need assessments on Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger, who also missed the drama in the Estadio do Dragao.

Alonso failed to shake off an ankle problem that sidelined him at Pompey, while Agger was named on the bench in Porto despite picking up a foot injury.

Benitez knows Liverpool must bounce back against the promoted midlanders to retain their unbeaten record this term.

Riise is likely to return to the side as a wide midfielder, with Alvaro Arbeloa retaining the left-back slot.

Riise said: "I am fit again and raring to go now. It was devastating for me to miss the last two games because they were big matches against Portsmouth and Porto.

"I picked up the injury playing for my national team but a scan showed it was not a serious problem. I missed four days training but I am a quick healer and thankfully I am fit again now.

"Throughout my time at Liverpool I have not picked up too many injuries and have not missed that many games.

"I am full of energy now after not playing in the last couple of games and I am now looking forward to the rest of the week's training and the chance to force my way back into the side at the weekend."

Amauri Linked With Liverpool Move

Forward Amauri Carvalho has been linked with a move to Liverpool next season following comments from Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini.

Amauri has apparently been attracting the interest of the Anfield side while top Spanish clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona have reportedly shown an interest in acquiring the 27-year-old.

"It's going to be very difficult to keep Amauri," admitted Zamparini. "It will be difficult especially if he continues to play as he has done.

"Amauri could finish in a top club in Spain or in the Premiership."

Amauri joined Palermo from Chievo in the summer of 2006 and signed a four-year contract with the Rossaneri.

He scored eight goals in 18 Serie A games last season before suffering a serious knee injury.

Amauri has recovered his form and has scored one goal in three league appearances for the Sicilian giants so far this campaign.

Liverpool Braced For Injury Crisis

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is facing up to the first serious test of the Anfield club's unbeaten season after key players Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso were ruled out with injuries.

At the same time veteran defender Sami Hyypia is having to contend with scrutiny over his ability to continue at the highest level.

Hyypia, 34 next month and in his ninth season at the club, was a summer target of Fulham, Newcastle and Bolton but despite Agger becoming a first choice alongside Jamie Carragher the Finland defender was determined to see out the final year of his contract.

That has paid off quicker than he would have expected as Agger has been ruled out for six weeks with a broken metatarsal.

Spain midfielder Alonso has suffered a similar injury and will be out for a similar length of time, leaving Benitez to cope with Barclays Premier League, Carling Cup and Champions League games without two key figures of his side.

Both will be missed as Benitez has no-one in his midfield who can pass the ball and open up defences to Alonso's standards, while Agger's absence will expose the one genuine weakness of his squad at the heart of defence.

Liverpool are still unbeaten but a Premier League draw at Portsmouth followed by the 1-1 stalemate in Portugal against Porto on Tuesday has given the Red's so-far serene progress this season a real jolt.

Hyypia was partly to blame for Porto's penalty in the Estadio do Dragao, where his increasing lack of pace was exposed.

The Finn, though, did not look for excuses and approached Saturday's home match with Birmingham saying: "That result in Portugal was a kick up the backside for us all."

Liverpool have a Carling Cup game at Reading on Tuesday, in which youngster Jack Hobbs could get his chance in defence now Gabriel Paletta has left, with the team making the trip to Wigan on Saturday week.

They are all matches Liverpool would have been expected to win before the self-doubt set in after Portugal.

"We understand we didn't play well but still got the point which was very important, and we realise what we have to do to get a better result, it can work that way," added Hyypia.

Dirk Kuyt, whose header gave Liverpool the equaliser against Porto, has underlined the determination within the Anfield camp to maintain their nine-match unbeaten run this season.

He said: "What is important now is for us to keep our unbeaten record for as long as possible because this gives everyone a lot of confidence.

"We still haven't played our best football this season but if we continue to work as hard as we have we know we will get better because we have a really good to team. It will improve.

"If we do want to win the Premier League and other trophies, we know we have to do better than that, hopefully starting on Saturday against Birmingham."

Benitez, who has already made 38 changes in their nine matches this season must now search for a solution to Alonso's absence.

At least the manager is boosted by the return to fitness of defenders Fabio Aurelio and John Arne Riise while Alvaro Arbeloa - who has already played left and right-back this term - can also play in the centre of defence.

In midfield Benitez has Javier Mascherano and Mohamed Sissoko but neither have the quality of passing Alonso possesses.

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva will come into consideration but the 20-year-old clearly lacks experience of the English game.

Liverpool Boss Wants Quick Qualification

Rafael Benitez wants his Liverpool team to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League long before the end of the their group matches.

The Anfield chief has already admitted he sees the Barclays Premier League as his priority for this season, a statement made well ahead of their opening Champions League group A match here in Porto.

In recent seasons, Liverpool have frequently had to rely on last-day heroics - something skipper Steven Gerrard has been forced to specialise in - to make sure that the club reaches the last 16.

That, insists Benitez, has to change if the club are to have any chance of managing their Premier League campaign successfully.

Last season was the first time in the competition's current format that they went into the final group game in Istanbul against Galatasaray with their destiny already assured.

And now Benitez wants that scenario repeated so that when they arrive in Marseille for their last group match in early December, their fate will already be decided.

He said: "It is clear that the perfect situation is to get to the last game and already be qualified for the next stage. Last season we achieved that and by the time we went to Galatasaray for the last group match, we had already qualified.

"This is something we must achieve regularly. The way to do that is to win from the very first match in the group, if you do that it is easier to manage the rest of the Champions League games and to be able to concentrate on the Premier League as well."

With the Premier League title now the prize Benitez covets above all else, he does not need Champions League problems getting in the way of that vision.

Benitez, who will be without full-back John Arne Riise in Portugal because of a groin injury sustained playing for Norway last week, has a very clear objective as the group matches unfold over next three months.

He says: "We are not thinking of drawing this one, like we did with last season's first group game in Eindhoven, we are aiming to win.

"I feel we need 12 points to get through to the next stage. Some people say 10 is enough, but if we win our three home games and then achieve one away win, that should be enough.

"So it is important that we win early in the group, and not have to depend on the last match. It is best to have the points now, that is what you need and that is why we aim to win here in Porto.

"I know the group and the quality of the teams, it will be difficult but we know what we need to do.

"We have confidence and experience in Europe, we should be able to manage the situation."

As the domestic season hots up, Benitez wants to rotate his large squad to make sure the title campaign stays on track, with the Champions League qualification already in the bag.

That is the real step up Liverpool, despite two final appearances in three seasons, have to make.

That is how the real top teams in Europe manage their seasons. And it is something that Liverpool, apart from last term, have struggled to achieve.

But this is a new Liverpool. One with vast money spent on rebuilding Benitez's squad, and they will be expected to act with the confidence and arrogance Manchester United and AC Milan have done over the years.

Benitez adds: "As a top side you must think of winning every competition, everything is a challenge, but right now we can concentrate on the Champions League.

"If we win this one, it will give us the opportunity to clinch qualification early. That is important, if we can start winning now it makes it easier later on.

"Then you can start counting the points, we will be happy then and then think about everything else we are chasing."

Liverpool face a Porto side with a 100% record at the head of the Portuguese league after four successive wins.

Benitez continued: "We have confidence and experience in Europe, we should be able to manage the situation.

"But Porto are a difficult opponent. Every season they seem to sell very good players, but always they have a good team and do well in Europe."

Benitez is expected to start with Gerrard and Fernando Torres, both on the bench for the 0-0 draw at Portsmouth on Saturday, with Dirk Kuyt expected to partner the Spanish star up front.

Benitez says: "Mentally we will be ready but physically we will have to change some players. We trained a little on Sunday, but you can't do too much, it is all about being careful with your players.

"The team has confidence in every game, in the league and the Champions League. We have experience and quality to approach this game with confidence.

"We will now see the quality of our players in these difficult situations.

"We were able to use experienced players from the bench at Portsmouth and almost won the game. Now if we use those same players from the start against Porto it will be a real benefit to our objectives."

Mohamed Sissoko And John Arne Riise To Miss Porto Game

Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko and John Arne Riise will miss the Champions League Group A match against FC Porto on Tuesday.

Defender Riise has a groin injury he picked up on international duty with Norway last week, while Sissoko and Harry Kewell will also not make the trip to Portugal.

But defender Fabio Aurelio is back in the squad after a lengthy absence with an Achilles tendon injury.

"Fabio is back which is good news for us," Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager said. "He has worked hard to recover from his injury and could be a useful asset for us."

Dirk Kuyt and Javier Mascherano also return for club duty after both missed the game with Portsmouth on Saturday. Mascherano had travelled to Australia to play in a friendly match for Argentina on Tuesday.

Jesualdo Ferreira, the Porto manager, has warned Liverpool that his side will show no fear when they face the five-time European champions.

"In the last four years Porto and Liverpool have both won the Champions League," he said. "So the past is just old stories. There are no favourites in this match."

Ferreira also expects Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma, targeted by Jose Mourinho as a replacement for Arjen Robben in the summer, to play a key role.

"He is a big player for us and everything else that is going on around him doesn't matter." he added. "We know how Liverpool plays. They are very good on the counter-attack and have a strong defence, but we think we are ready.

"We have our own ideas and if we play well we will have the chances to win. I hope the stadium is full and the supporters will put a lot of pressure on Liverpool."

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurelio, Arbeloa, Pennant, Benayoun, Babel, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Crouch, Torres, Kuyt, Voronin, Itandje.

Porto vs Liverpool: Head To Head

Liverpool and Porto are expected to be battling it out for Group A supremacy, with both sides among the recent winners of the Champions League.

Here let’s see how the sides match up in three key areas.

MANAGERS

Rafael Benitez first came to the attention as a major force in the European game when he blew the Real Madrid/Barcelona duopoly in Spain during his time with Valencia.

His tactical nous and inventive use of formations and players earned him plenty of respect in Spain - a trick he has repeated in England with Liverpool.

Despite a good start to the season domestically his success with the Reds has been predominantly in cup competitions.

He has a superb record in knockout tournaments and the club's displays in the Champions League is second to none in the last three years.

Porto's Jesualdo Ferreira is a vastly experienced coach, having worked as assistant manager of Portugal and with the under-21s. He won the title in his first year as Porto boss and previously cut his teeth at Benfica and Boavista.

EUROPEAN PEDIGREE

Liverpool are England's most successful side in Europe, with five European Cups adorning the Anfield trophy cabinet.

While four of those came between 1997 and 1984 the already legendary 2005 win over AC Milan, followed by a second appearance in the final last season - a defeat to the same opponents - make them one of the most dominant sides recent years.

Former Porto manager Jose Mourinho gave the Portuguese club a glory day of their own in 2004, leading them to a classic underdog victory by lifting the 2004 Champions League trophy.

They claimed the UEFA Cup one year previously, and with a European Cup win to their name in 1987, they are clearly a club who can mix it up with more established sides.

CURRENT FORM

Liverpool's start to the season has been their best in recent memory, with an unbeaten record from their opening five league outings.

The 6-0 win over Derby showcased Benitez's side - and his fine collection of summer signings - at their very best, but Saturday's 0-0 with Portsmouth proved they cannot expect to score at will.

There are still some questions over their best XI but with the Spaniard favouring rotation these may never be answered.

Porto's players come into the match on the back of successive victories, with clean sheets in both after a 3-0 win over Uniao Leiria and a 1-0 triumph over Maritimo.

Portsmouth 0 - 0 LiverpooL

Portsmouth, having drawn with Manchester United here, gave a further indication that they can live with England's Champions League clubs at home by holding Liverpool. True, they have lost away at Arsenal and Chelsea, but it has been a difficult start to the season and, as their fixtures become notionally less hazardous, Harry Redknapp's side can expect to keep climbing the Premier League table until Christmas, when their prospects can be more fairly assessed.

Whether Liverpool's challenge for the title will be as plausible then as now is more difficult to assess. Redknapp was cautiously optimistic on their behalf. "They are going to go close this year,'' he said. ”They've got a big squad and good players. But I still think Manchester United will edge it.''

Even in these early days you can see what he meant: while United were winning at Everton, Liverpool dropped points here (even if it still represented progress in the sense that they lost at Fratton last season). Naturally Rafa Benitez was questioned on why he had used Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres only in the final quarter, but he pointed out that his side had enjoyed the better of the first half; after the dispersal of so many players for international duty, and with a need to think of Tuesday's Champions League opening match in Oporto, careful management of resources had been necessary.

Redknapp, having admitted he was pleased to see Liverpool's starting line-up, said: "Before the game, I'd have taken a point, but we had a few gilt-edged chances to win it.'' Principally a penalty after half an hour. A disputed one. Although Xabi Alonso was shown the yellow card for his leading role in the protests, television suggested one of Mike Riley's assistants had correctly discerned a slight tug on John Utaka's shirt by Alvaro Arbeloa. "It was very slight,'' said Redknapp, "and I've seen those not given a thousand times.'' Not that this even-handedness lessened his exasperation when Kanu's kick was saved by Pepe Reina. "I like to see people run up and put their boot through penalties,'' the Portsmouth manager explained. "Really smash 'em. Kanu had one for a hat-trick against Blackburn last season and tried to place it - he missed that one as well!''

Reina's save was the highlight of the first half. Kanu sent the kick to his right, but the goalkeeper has a history of thwarting penalty-takers and hurled himself to beat away the effort. Portsmouth would have been flattered by the lead, for Liverpool, despite the decision to rest Gerrard and Torres, had been the more impressive side, dominating the midfield through Alonso and Momo Sissoko. Up front Peter Crouch, eager and intelligent, outshone Andriy Voronin, forcing a sharp low save from David James.

Immediately after the interval, Crouch contrived an extraordinary piece of skill. Steve Finnan flighted the ball from the right and the lanky striker somehow flicked up a heel behind his back to almost shoulder height and made controlled contact with the ball, which went just over James's crossbar. A more orthodox volley by Voronin then kissed the bar on its way over.

Yet Liverpool, for all this, made what might have proved a costly error in letting the excellent debutant Papa Bouba Diop's crafty prod travel through the heart of their defence to Utaka, who shot wide; it was a dreadful miss. Infinitely more pardonable was Sulley Muntari's lob on to the roof of the net, because he was under pressure from the advancing Reina. It was also a sign that the initiative had slipped away from Liverpool, and Benitez reacted by sending on Torres and Gerrard.

The changes made little difference and Muntari took his turn to throw away a great opportunity. Kanu set him up cleverly but the Ghanaian, with Reina at his mercy, screwed the ball off target, and in the end it might have been Liverpool who snatched victory when Torres's pass across the face of goal just eluded Voronin. But neither side had made out a convincing case for three points and both managers seemed relieved enough to take one. Redknapp, his aspirations lower, could claim: "We looked strong enough to give anyone a game if we keep all our people fit.'' Benitez prepared to turn his thoughts to Europe and, when asked if the English title, last secured by Liverpool in 1990, was not inevitably the club's top priority, replied: "If we have the choice, yes.''

Benitez Hoping For Fresher Legs As Europe Beckons

Rafa Benitez admitted a week of international duty had contributed to his side being knocked off the top of the Premier League but the Liverpool boss was bullish as he turned his attention to the start of the Reds' Champions League campaign.

Goalkeeper Jose Reina ensured Benitez's men remain unbeaten in the league by saving Nwankwo Kanu's first-half penalty and a lacklustre Liverpool allowed their hosts several good second-half chances to break the stalemate.

Benitez rested both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard and was unable to pick Javier Mascherano after the Argentinian midfield anchor-man played a friendly in Australia during the week.

In total Benitez had 18 players from his first team squad absent on international duty last week and it showed at times as Pompey really troubled the Reds in the final fifteen minutes as jet-lagged legs began to tire.

Benitez, whose side face FC Porto in the first of their Champions League group fixtures on Tuesday, said: "It is disappointing. I think we controlled the game in the first half but in the last 15 minutes it was very open.

"After an international break it is very difficult to pick the team because you do not have any time to train with the players.

"Mascherano for example was in Australia playing a very important friendly.

When so many players are away you can only really work on fitness because it is pointless talking about tactics.

"I think a point was a fair result but both sides had chances to win the game. It is nice not to have any real injury worries for the game on Tuesday and we go there still unbeaten and full of confidence."

True, Benitez's men looked the most likely to score in the opening half hour as Yossi Benayoun and Peter Crouch might have done better when presented with good opportunities.

But they were dramatically pegged back when Alvaro Arbeloa hauled back Benjani for Mike Riley to award a penalty.

In somewhat predictable fashion, due to his past record, Reina saved the spot-kick from Nigerian playmaker Kanu and Liverpool were able to breathe easy.

The second half, with the exception of Voronin clipping the crossbar, largely belonged to Portsmouth as Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin’s dominance at the back gave them the platform to progress forward.

Kanu's compatriot John Utaka embarrassingly missed from ten yards out when he slashed his effort wide only for Sulley Muntari to produce an even worse finish five minutes later when teed up by Kanu.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp was delighted with his side’s first clean sheet of the season but reserved special praise for debutant Papa Bouba Diop.

Redknapp said: "He covered every blade of grass. I have always been a fan of his, he is big and has a presence and I think he will do well for us.

"It was an even game and we had a couple of good chances. When you get the chance you have to stick it away against Liverpool. Had we gone in front I am sure we would have gone on to win the game."

Unhappy Crouch Set To Leave LiverpooL

Liverpool face a fight to keep Peter Crouch, with Manchester City and Italian giants Juventus both ready to make a move for the England striker in January.

Crouch is considering his future and is stalling on signing a new three-year contract.

He is unhappy at being fourth-choice striker at Liverpool this season behind new signings Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin, plus Dutchman Dirk Kuyt.

Crouch, 26, is concerned about his place in the England squad as he feels he isn’t starting enough matches.

Already this season, he has dropped to fourth spot in the England striking ranks after the re-emergence of Wigan’s former Liverpool front man Emile Heskey, who was picked ahead of Crouch for the Russia match. Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are also ahead of him.

City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who gave Crouch his international debut, wants another striker to replace the injured Valeri Bojinov.

Ferguson Backs Rafa In Schedule Row

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez's complaints over the Premier League fixture scheduling and claimed clubs like his own are being punished for their success.

Benitez is fuming at the number of Saturday lunchtime away games Liverpool find themselves involved in immediately after international breaks and Champions League weeks.

Manchester United often find themselves in the same situation and head to Everton on Saturday for a noon start at Goodison Park.

Although on this occasion the kick-off time has been determined by Merseyside Police rather than the TV companies, Ferguson does believe there is an issue to be addressed.

And the Red Devils chief is laying the blame squarely at the Premier League's door.

"Rafa is quite right to complain," said Ferguson.

"If there is an unfairness against teams, it should be addressed but I don't know if the authorities would listen.

"Over the last five years, we have had more lunchtime kick-offs than anyone and you would think that deserves some kind of attention.

"The Premier League are to blame. I accept, given when the fixture lists come out, it is just unfortunate if you find yourself away from home after a European tie but Rafa is talking about the lunchtime kick-offs."

Ferguson does accept pleasing every interested party is an impossible job for anyone.

And, in accepting an enormous £1.7billion cheque from Sky and Setanta for the domestic TV rights, the United manager also acknowledges the Premier League has given up any realistic control over kick-off times.

But he feels there are elements of unfairness about the way the Premier League handle certain situations, citing the differing examples of his own club and major title rivals Chelsea last year.

"Chelsea had a Sunday game against Tottenham and the Premier League changed it at their behest because they had a European tie the following Tuesday," he said.

"That decision gave Chelsea three days to prepare, which is fine, except Tottenham had played their own European game on the previous Thursday, which left them with one-and-a-half days to prepare.

"There was no fairness there whatsoever.

"Then, when we asked for a Saturday lunchtime fixture at Manchester City to be changed because we had a Champions League semi-final the previous Wednesday, the Premier League said no, even though City had not played at all. That was wonderful."

Ferguson continued: "I do think the successful teams are punished.

"The top teams are always going to be televised at a time that suits the public demand. Sky and Setanta are always going to pick the successful teams for the prime-time games, you can't blame them for that given the amount of money they have put it.

"Money is important to every club now, so they do a deal. But once you shake hands with the devil, you have to accept they are in control."