Dirk Kuyt: We Must Win Our Next Three Games

Dirk Kuyt emphasised the importance of avoiding a third consecutive Premiership defeat with the win over Portsmouth on Saturday.

The last time Liverpool suffered such a run was when Portsmouth beat them 1-0 in October 2003, but after recent losses to Reading and Manchester United, Liverpool ensured there was no repeat as they completed a comfortable 4-1 victory.

And Dutch striker Kuyt hopes it will kick off a run of three-pointers over the Christmas and New Year period.

He said: “Every defeat in the league is big one for us because you just want to win and compete with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea so we can’t afford to lose any more.

“We just have to look at the next games and look forward.

“We have to win our next three now at Derby, Manchester City and at home to Wigan and if we can get nine points from those games I think we will get closer to the other teams.

“We want to go on a run and win a lot of games.”

Kuyt was Liverpool’s top scorer in the Premier League last season with 12 in his debut season in English football, with all of them coming from open play.

But two of his three league goals this season came from the penalty spot in the derby victory over Everton as he has taken a back-seat to 14-goal Fernando Torres in the scoring stakes.

Kuyt, however, admits that the extra firepower the Spanish record signing, who scored twice against Portsmouth, was necessary to bring in in order to improve the side’s title challenge during this campaign.

“Fernando is unbelievably quick and it’s what the team needs,” added Kuyt. “Quick players and clever players.

“We have got everything in our squad now and we can do something really good so we’ll see how far we can go this season.”

Yossi Benayoun, who opened the scoring, also outlined how vital the victory over Portsmouth was after the first home league defeat of the season to United last Sunday.

“We played a great game against a strong rival in Portsmouth and it was an important win for us after we lost to Man United,” Benayoun said.

“It was good to get back to winning ways and to prove that we can still go to the end of the season. So overall I think it was a good performance for us.

“It was nice to score and the goal was a bonus,” he added. “But it’s not the main thing for me. The main thing is to keep playing and try to do my best for the team so that we keep winning.

“I enjoyed the goal and I caught it well but I’d have to give credit to Harry Kewell because he delivered a great cross from the left to pick me out.

“It gave us the start we needed and we went on from there.”

Liverpool’s Benitez Upbeat Over Title Challenge

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is confident that his side can go on a winning run and mount a title challenge.

The Reds scored a 4-1 home win over Portsmouth, who have been best on the road in the Premiership this season and had arrived at Anfield with six consecutive away league wins under their belt, to get back to winning ways domestically.

Benitez’s side are however 10 points behind the leaders Arsenal, who earlier on Saturday defeated their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. However, the Merseysiders have a game in hand.

"They showed today that we can do it and that we can win some games in a row," Benitez told Sky Sports News.

"They showed the character they need to at least try to compete for a title.

"We are really pleased. The team was playing well and scored four goals against the best team away.

"It is really important to see the confidence around the players and everything is happy now.

"Today we had a lot of chances and the team was playing with passion and also intelligence."

On the hectic schedule over the Christmas period, the Spaniard commented: "Everybody needs to win every game in this period at least because it is three games in 10 days and we will see what happens with Chelsea and Arsenal or United."

Liverpool Looking For New Signings In January

Liverpool are looking to bring in reinforcement when the transfer market opens next month, according to chief executive Rick Parry.

There was a speculation that the Reds have been told there was no fund to bring in new players in January as American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, had not come out clear on the transfer window strategy when they had a meeting with manager Rafa Benitez recently.

However, all such rumours have been dismissed and Parry said in the Liverpool Daily Post: "We will be active in the transfer market next month, as we always are.

"There has never been any suggestion of a ban, I don't know where that has come from.

"Our priority is to do as well as we can on the field, and, as always, we will be active."

Liverpool Money Crisis Deepens As American Owners Miss Deadline Over £220m Debt

Fernando Torres, starting to pay back his £21million transfer fee, scored twice yesterday as Rafa Benitez's Liverpool trounced Portsmouth 4-1 at Anfield to stay in touch with the Premier League pacesetters.

But off the field, the failure so far of efforts by American owners George Gillett jnr and Tom Hicks to refinance the £220million they borrowed from the Royal Bank of Scotland to fund their takeover of the club 10 months ago is pushing Liverpool towards an unprecedented period of uncertainty.

The American owners have missed a selfimposed deadline to strike a deal with RBS before Christmas.

The bank will not allow the club to go under but the problems facing Gillett and Hicks could hasten their departure — and see Dubai International Capital, the state-backed investment firm who were in pole position to buy Liverpool before the arrival of the Americans, back in the market as potential new owners.

Adding to the intrigue over the club's future, it is understood that former Germany World Cup coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been sounded out as a replacement for Benitez.

It is believed that contact between Klinsmann and the club has taken place at a high level and the German is thought to be interested in taking over at Anfield.

Despite assurances that there is money to spend in the January window, Benitez's public rift with Hicks and Gillett over the club's transfer policy may be beyond repair.

Boardroom backing for Benitez has been lukewarm in the wake of reports linking Klinsmann with the job.

Sources close to the ex- Tottenham striker and former Footballer of the Year believe he is eager to end his self-imposed exile from football and take a top manager's job.

A move for Klinsmann could proceed regardless of whether Hicks and Gillett remain the owners of Liverpool, but the crisis in their refinancing plans threatens to undermine the club both on and off the pitch.

Despite revelations last week that talks with RBS and American bank Wachovia over a new £350m loan had stalled, Kekst, the American owners' New York-based PR firm, continued to brief that a deal would be done before Christmas.

But Friday, the last day for business before the festive break, passed without announcement and although it is understood that negotiations will continue, banking sources on this side of Atlantic believe an impasse has been reached.

Hicks and Gillett have until February to refinance the £220m they borrowed from RBS to fund their takeover, plus the interest which has accrued in the past year, the credit notes used to buy Torres and Ryan Babel, and £60m to cover initial work on a new stadium.

If they are unable to strike a deal before the deadline and unable to persuade RBS to take up the option of extending the existing loan for another year, the bank stand to become the de facto owners of the club.

Benitez Laughs Off Transfer Reports

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has dismissed reports that restrictions have been placed on him in regard to strengthening his squad in January.

The Spaniard had a much-publicised disagreement over transfer-window plans with American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks last month, but that was all cleared up at a meeting last weekend following the defeat against Manchester United.

"In our meeting we talked about how to go forward, but we did not talk about the need to sell before we could buy," said the Liverpool boss.

"We don't know exactly (what money will be spent). We need to find the players who can be good for us - I think we will be okay."

On his own future, Benitez admits he would like to extend his stay beyond the end of his current contract - which is due to expire in 2010 - but he has not raised the issue with the Americans.

"I have two-and-a-half years left on my contract, and I will be really pleased if they offered me another. I would say 'yes' - but I'm not expecting one."

Captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres are expected to return against Portsmouth, having missed the Carling Cup match with stomach upsets.

Midfielder Xabi Alonso is back in contention after a 60-minute run-out at Stamford Bridge, having recovered from a broken foot, but England forward Peter Crouch is suspended after his sending-off against the Blues.

Mancini Glad To Face Liverpool

Roberto Mancini insists he is happy to have drawn Liverpool in the Champions League. “It’s the weaker sides on paper who are more dangerous.”

Inter were paired with the 2005 winners and 2007 Finalists for the first knockout round and will face off at Anfield Road on Tuesday February 19 before the San Siro decider on March 12.

“It is a good draw,” assured Mancio. “There are no weak sides in the competition now and history teaches us that when you pick those who are weaker on paper, they are the ones where you most risk tripping up.

“It is better to take on the strongest of the lot, as if you want to lift the trophy then you have to beat them all. I think this will be a battle of two great teams.”

Liverpool have only met Inter once before, in the 1964-65 semi-final. The Italians lost 3-1 away, but won the second leg 3-0 and went on to lift the European Cup.

“Liverpool are a strong side, very solid with great players. They have the English mentality, but also the tactical nous of a Coach who studies and prepares for games very carefully,” added Mancini.

“They are very good on home turf and have eliminated Chelsea twice as well as Juventus in recent years.”

LiverpooL 4 - 1 Portsmouth

Rafael Benitez has good reason to go into Christmas in a positive frame of mind after Liverpool returned to winning ways.

Defeats by Manchester United and Reading following a long unbeaten run had raised doubts about their title credentials.

With Portsmouth arriving at Anfield on the back of six away wins this had the makings of being a severe test for Liverpool.

But despite a brief scare they won comfortably, thanks to two goals from Fernando Torres, and will now face struggling Derby on Boxing Day with confidence renewed.

Javier Mascherano, Harry Kewell and Torres all had half chances before Liverpool's pressure paid off in the 13th minute.

Midfielder Yossi Benayoun gave David James no chance with a superb volley from 20 yards after being set up by Kewell.

It was Benayoun's second league goal following his summer move from West Ham.

Liverpool took confidence from making the breakthrough and extended their lead three minutes later.

Dirk Kuyt and Torres linked up with the Spanish striker trying to set up his team-mate.

Sylvain Distin, though, got his bearings wrong and the ball came off his leg and past his own goalkeeper James.

Portsmouth were struggling to get into the match and Steven Gerrard, who had recovered from a bout of sickness, rifled a shot wide of the post in the 21st minute.

Distin and Sol Campbell were having their work cut out at the back as the first half drew to a close.

Portsmouth defender Hermann Hreidarsson's frustration boiled over in the 34th minute and he was booked for holding back Benayoun as he tried to burst forward.

Benayoun then raced away down the right in the 37th minute. He cut inside and tried his luck on goal only for his effort to find the side netting.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina had not been tested in the first half.

Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes sent a shot in from distance on the stroke of the half but saw it go wide of the post.

Papa Bouba Diop almost pulled a goal back a minute into the second half but his effort went marginally over the bar.

Hreidarsson then sent a header wide following a free-kick on the right from Lauren after 53 minutes.

Liverpool responded and Gerrard tried to release Torres two minutes later.

Torres could not get decent touch but the ball broke to Kewell who rattled a shot wide.

Portsmouth pulled a goal back in the 57th minute with Benjani Mwaruwari's ninth of the season.

He steered his effort wide of Reina from the edge of the area after being set up by Kanu to stun Liverpool.

There was a scare though for Portsmouth in the 60th minute when James fumbled a header from Sami Hyypia after a free-kick from Gerrard. However they were able to scramble the ball away.

Kewell then showed some inspiration to race forward in the 67th minute to send a dipping shot from distance over the top.

Liverpool regained their two-goal advantage a minute later following a glorious pass from Mascherano to substitute Ryan Babel.

Babel's effort was parried by James only for Torres to find the corner from the rebound.

Torres added to his tally in the 84th minute and made it 4-1 to Liverpool with his 14th goal of the season, a clinical finish after he had been set up by Gerrard.

It was tough luck on Portsmouth but they had been carved apart in the second half.

Klinsmann Waiting In The Wings To Replace Benitez At Liverpool

Rafa Benitez wants his Liverpool deal extended — as Jurgen Klinsmann waits in the wings for his job.

The Kop boss insists he can still deliver the title to American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Benitez' future was up in the air after a public fall-out with the pair — reminiscent of a Carry On film.

But, after Sunday's peace talks, Rafa wants to stay.

His deal runs for another four years but Benitez said: “I'd like to fulfil my contract and extend it, if possible.

"We are already very close to winning the Premier League. We are now eight points ahead of what we had last year.”

But SunSport has revealed Hicks and Gillett are keen admirers of German legend Klinsmann.

The ex-Spurs star is set to move from California.

And the feeling on Merseyside is that Benitez will probably go in the summer — possibly to Real Madrid.

A source close to Klinsmann told SunSport: “It appears Jurgen will be moving back to Europe and the word is Liverpool are favourites to get him.”

Valencia Set Their Sights On £4m Liverpool Defender Riise

Valencia boss Ronaldo Koeman has launched a £4m bid to prise John Arne Riise away from Liverpool.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is determined to keep 27-year-old Riise but Koeman told the Daily Mirror: "He is a player with experience and would offer options to our game."

Valencia sporting director Miguel Angel Ruiz added: "We want to improve our squad."

Valencia are already out of the Champions League and are rebuilding.

They see Riise as a vital part of that and will not be put off an initial rejection from Anfield.

Inter Visit Anfield On Opening Night

Liverpool FC, AS Roma, FC Schalke 04 and Olympiacos CFP will all look to take a significant step towards the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals by exploiting home advantage in the first leg of their first knockout round ties on 19 February.

That quartet will face tricky away trips in the return matches, with Liverpool travelling to FC Internazionale Milano – although that second leg will be played on Tuesday 11 March due to a stadium clash with Inter's city rivals and UEFA Champions League holders AC Milan. Roma meet Real Madrid CF, Schalke play FC Porto and Olympiacos take on Chelsea FC, with the second legs of those three ties to take place on Wednesday 5 March.

The remaining four first knockout round fixtures kick off on Wednesday 20 February, with Milan visiting Arsenal FC and their predecessors as European champions, FC Barcelona, also heading for Britain to tackle Celtic FC. Fenerbahçe SK welcome two-time UEFA Cup winners Sevilla FC to Istanbul, while Ligue 1 champions Olympique Lyonnais host English counterparts Manchester United FC. The second legs will be held on 4 March.

Rick Parry: Liverpool Will Be Active In Transfer Market

Rick Parry has pledged that Liverpool WILL be active when the transfer window opens next month.

The club's chief executive has quashed speculation that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez would not have any money to spend to new players in January.

Parry said: "We will be active in the transfer market next month, as we always are.

"There has never been any suggestion of a ban, I don't know where that has come from.

"Our priority is to do as well as we can on the field, and, as always, we will be active."

Speculation has been rife about Liverpool's transfer policy for the past few weeks, ever since Benitez fell out with the club's owners over their refusal to plan in advance for next month's window.

Interest Grows In Ujfalusi

Tomas Ujfalusi's agent claims Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have shown an interest in the Fiorentina defender.

The Czech Republic international's contract with the Viola expires at the end of the season and a clutch of clubs are chasing the 29-year-old.

Ujfalusi is considering his future with the Serie A club and has previously intimated at a move to Spain next summer.

Sevilla, when coached by current Spurs boss Juande Ramos, had been long-time admirers of the former Hamburg centre-half.

According to Ujfalusi's agent Dalibor Lacina, the Uefa Cup holders are still keen, along with Premier League duo Liverpool and Spurs.

"Tomas is right, it is 50-50," Lacina told Sport when asked if the player would leave Fiorentina or sign a new contract.

"A lot of clubs are interested in him, we will decide in the summer.

"The clubs which have been questioning us about him are Internazionale, Juventus, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Tottenham and Sevilla."
But Lacina did not rule out Ujfalusi making a late decision to extend his time at Fiorentina, who he joined in 2004.

Lacina added: "Their captain Dario Dainelli extended his contract two weeks before its expiry and the same may happen in Tomas' case."

John Obi Mikel Went Down Like He Was Shot - Crouch

Peter Crouch, the Liverpool forward, has admitted he deserved to be sent off against Chelsea last night, but has criticised the role of John Obi Mikel in his dismissal.

Crouch was shown the red card for a two-footed challenge on Mikel during the second half of Liverpool’s 2-0 Carling Cup quarter-final defeat at Stamford Bridge.
The England striker verbally retorted to crowd abuse as he left the field and he admits he was frustrated. “Mikel came in with his studs up and that was in the back of my mind,” he said. “Then I thought there was another foul in there and obviously I’ve lost my head.

"There are no excuses for the tackle I made but if the referee had pulled the foul up when he should have done it wouldn’t have happened. A lot was going their way and I think frustration got the better of me.”

Crouch admits his challenge looked dangerous but says that he made only minimal contact with Mikel and he was unimpressed with the midfield player’s reaction. “What I’m thinking is if you go in on Frank Lampard or John Terry would they roll around like Obi Mikel did?” Crouch said. “I don’t think they would have done. Would someone like Carra [Jamie Carragher] have gone down like that? I think it’s safe to say that he wouldn’t.

“Foreign players have brought a lot to our game but that’s something you don’t want to see. I didn’t catch him but he’s gone down like he’s been shot.”

Liverpool were trailing to a deflected Lampard goal at the time of Crouch’s sending off in the 60th minute and the incident all but ended their hopes of getting back into the game.

Crouch concedes it was probably the defining moment of the game. “It’s frustrating because I thought we played OK as a team and obviously it was always going to be difficult from the moment I was sent off,” Crouch said.

Benitez Keen On New Deal

Rafa Benitez has revealed he would be open to extending his Liverpool contract following talks with owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The Liverpool boss met the American duo on Sunday, following the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, to discuss the recent stand-off.

Benitez had been critical of the owners' lack of understanding of the transfer window, but is confident any problems have now been resolved.

And, having won the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League during his Anfield tenure, the Spaniard aims to win the Premier League and prolong his reign.

"I am quite at ease," Benitez told Sport newspaper. "I would like to fulfil my contract and extend it, if possible.

"My family has settled very well and, to me, the respect and appreciation of the public in England is incredible.

"We are already very close to winning the Premier League. We are now eight points ahead of what we had last year and we have made progress in the Champions League.

"We are in a good position, but others also invest, progress and evolve."

Benitez also played down his row with Gillett and Hicks, and revealed the level of support he had received from Liverpool fans across the globe.

He added: "It has been a little exaggerated. The Americans want the best for the club and so do I.

"The only thing they want is that we sit down and talk because there is a difference in language and a significant distance. I think there must be better lines of communication.

"I am calm. I am confident that things are going to settle and we will succeed.

"40,000 signatures on the internet supported me to continue at the Liverpool helm. The signatures came from Australia or from Asia. Many supporters of Liverpool around the world are supporting a coach who has won major titles for the club."

Fernando Torrres Hopes To Emulate Ian Rush And Kenny Dalglish

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres hopes to emulate Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish and become a Kop idol.

The 23-year-old Spaniard has made an excellent start to life in England following his £20million-plus move from Atletico Madrid in the summer, scoring 12 goals in 20 games so far.

Reds fans have dedicated a chant once reserved for Dalglish and another Liverpool great Robbie Fowler to Torres, and he hopes by the time his career at Anfield is over he will be held in similar high regard.

“To be linked with players like that gives me pride and great satisfaction,” he said.

“They were some of the greatest players in the history of Liverpool Football Club. I have just arrived and still have a long way to go, but I am proud of the association.

“These players, Rush and Dalglish, they defined an era for Liverpool by scoring so many goals.

“It’s not just for their sake that I shy away from these comparisons, it’s for me too. I have only just arrived here. Many years down the line when I eventually leave Liverpool I would like to be held in the same affection as these players but I’ve got a long way to go, so I’ll leave them on their pedestal at the moment.”

Torres again gave his backing to Reds boss Rafael Benitez, who appears to have patched up his differences with the club’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

“It was Rafa who called me to join Liverpool, and that showed his trust in me,” the Spain forward told www.liverpoolfc.tv.

“He wanted me to join a team of champions and I saw that as a vote of confidence. This confidence was a serious factor in me joining.

“In Spain he has been at many clubs. He was at Tenerife and led the league, and won La Liga and the UEFA Cup with Valencia. At Liverpool he won the Champions League. He is a recognised winner in Spain both with small clubs and massive clubs like ours.

“He is known throughout Spain as someone who brings success and he is a treasure for all Spaniards.”

Liverpool Face Funding Crisis

Liverpool's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, have postponed until 2009 plans to borrow £300 million from banks to pay for the club's new home at Stanley Park, plunging the project into fresh uncertainty.

Hicks and Gillett are confident of clinching a separate interim deal before Christmas with the Royal Bank of Scotland and American bank Wachovia to borrow £350 million to refinance a loan used to fund their £220 million takeover last February and pay for initial building work.

However, The Daily Telegraph has learned that there are now serious question marks over the rest of the money required to complete the move from Anfield. A combination of the global credit crunch and nervousness over the level of debt which will be placed on to Liverpool's balance sheet has forced Hicks and Gillett to abandon plans to raise all the money in one go.

Instead they are now looking to borrow £350 million to pay off a two-year loan with RBS worth approaching £270 million, inject £60 million of working capital for the new ground and cover £25 million of credit notes used to finance the summer purchases of Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, again provided by RBS.

It is understood that while the £60 million of stadium financing will get Hicks and Gillett through the first 18 months of work on the Stanley Park project there are serious concerns over how they will raise the remaining £300 million needed to complete the stadium, which has been scaled back after the designs came in £50 million over budget.

Sources close to Hicks and Gillett maintain the Americans are confident of raising the money for the stadium in 2009 when it will be two years from completion and easier to secure contracts with future sponsors for naming rights and to predict income from the sale of club seats and executive boxes.

But contrary to promises made at the time of their takeover earlier this year, the owners are now preparing to load at least half of the new £350 million debt on to the club.

Banking sources said that, while Hicks and Gillett had now agreed to pump in £20 million each of their own cash to secure the new £350 million loan, one of the main sticking points previously has been the American pair's reluctance or inability to put up their own money. In addition to the £40 million in cash, the pair are also underwriting £75 million in letters of credit and £60 million in personal guarantees. The refinancing of the club's debts means that from next season Liverpool will have to shoulder about £30 million in annual interest repayments.

According to financial predictions for 2008, that will swallow up much of the club's spare cash, making it harder to provide funds for manager Rafa Benitez to invest in his squad. And although Benitez called a truce with Hicks and Gillett following a meeting on Sunday, tensions with the owners are likely to resurface if he is forced to sell players to fund new acquisitions in January.

Chelsea 2 - 0 LiverpooL

Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch saw red as Chelsea progressed to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup thanks to second-half strikes from Frank Lampard and Andriy Shevchenko.

Lampard's deflected 59th minute opener was followed, seconds later, by a moment of madness from Crouch who was red-carded for a disgraceful two-footed lunge on Mikel John Obi.

Referee Martin Atkinson immediately dismissed the England striker who unleashed a four-letter tirade at Chelsea fans before disappearing down the tunnel.

Crouch will now miss Liverpool's home clash with Portsmouth and the visits to Derby and Manchester City over the festive period.

The Carling Cup has never been high on Rafael Benitez's hit-list and he underlined that by putting out a side which did not contain England midfielder Steven Gerrard and Spanish striker Fernando Torres.

Gerrard, laid low with a stomach complaint, was certainly missed by the Merseysiders - who showed little drive in a goalless opening half largely controlled by the home side.

But Chelsea's failure to break the deadlock was largely due to the agility of Liverpool's reserve goalkeeper Charles Itandje.

In the 11th minute he denied Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou when Andriy Shevchenko's low cross had invited him to try his luck from just inside the penalty area.

However, the Liverpool goalkeeper had to rely on his shoulder to prevent Lampard scoring in the 24th minute.

Alvaro Arbeloa's attempted clearance fell to Lampard's feet on the edge of the penalty area but the England man could not finish the job.

A minute later Chelsea had to rely on Petr Cech, playing his first game in the competition this season, when a move involving Andriy Voronin and Crouch set up Lucas.

The Czech international keeper, at fault for Arsenal's winner in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday, produced a fine diving save to deny the Liverpool midfielder.

But they were the only real highlights in a first half littered with poor passes and choked by a packed midfield.

Chelsea continued to look the more likely to score but Lampard was still finding his range when he sent a 20-yard shot high into the crowd in the 52nd minute.

Less than 60 seconds later, Itandje denied Michael Essien, back from his three-match suspension, with a flying one-handed save as the Ghanaian's 18-yard effort looked destined for the corner.

Liverpool's attacks were sporadic at best but they were almost gifted a goal in the 55th minute when Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, playing his first game since breaking a small bone in his back against Everton in early November, failed to reach Cech with a back-header.

The ball fell straight into the path of Crouch but the lanky striker could not lift the ball over the advancing Chelsea keeper.

But four minutes later, Chelsea were in front. Mikel found Shevchenko with a clever pass and the Ukraine striker put Lampard in the clear thanks to a neat first touch.

The England midfielder's shot was half-stopped by Jamie Carragher but the ball ballooned up and over the stranded Itandje to register Lampard's 99th goal for the club.

But the game erupted in the worst possible way within a minute when Crouch inexplicably decided to launch himself at Mikel right in front of the home dugout.

The two-footed lunge was high and dangerous and Atkinson had no hesitation in dismissing the England striker - to the fury of Benitez and the player himself.

Mikel was later replaced by Michael Ballack, who was returning to action for the first time since April.

In the intervening period, the Germany captain underwent two ankle operations - but he showed no ill-effects as Chelsea went in search of a second goal.

Indeed, it was Ballack's header down to Shevchenko in the final minute of normal time which allowed the Ukrainian to drill an angled shot past Itandje to put Chelsea into the last four of the competition.

Jamie Carragher Snubs Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello last night suffered the first setback of his reign as England manager when Liverpool's Jamie Carragher insisted he would not come out of international retirement.

Named as Steve McClaren's successor last Friday, Capello has already talked of his desire for Carragher to rescind his decision to step down from the international arena. Carragher's performances in the Champions League, particularly against Capello's old Juventus side, had impressed the new England manager.

But Carragher wants to concentrate on Liverpool and will refuse any plea from Capello to return for England. "I don't think so," said Carragher. "I am happy with the way things are now and I get to have a break with the family as well. I cannot see that changing."

Asked if Capello travelling to the North-West and knocking on his door would influence matters, Carragher responded: "I don't think so."

Carragher had grown frustrated at being shifted around England's back-line by Sven-Goran Eriksson, who used him at left-back and also as a holding midfielder. Capello, who sees his England spine involving John Terry, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, wanted to add Carragher to his central-defensive options.

Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, meanwhile, believes that Capello may have to axe an "important player" for the overall good of the England team.

Lippi, who was among the candidates considered for the England job, was not afraid to drop star players during his successful reign with the Italian national team and predicted that his compatriot would also face difficult decisions.

"Capello's most difficult task will be to make a team become a team, something which in recent years it hasn't felt like," he said. "That will be the most difficult challenge. The national team is not the selection of the best players of the country, but in order to make a team you may also need to have to drop an important player that perhaps is not on the same wavelength as the others." Capello plans to study English intensively over the next month and Lippi agrees that mastering the language will be fundamental to his success.

"I have always said that a coach must transmit to his players everything that goes through his heart and head and in order to do so, he can't be talking and then asking the interpreter to translate, it's impossible," he said.

"The fact that I don't speak English is one of the reasons why I have turned down three or four proposals that have arrived from the English Premiership."

Liverpool Want To Sign Kaladze

Reds' boss Rafa Benitez is desperate to add a central defender to his squad as he currently has just Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and the ageing Sami Hyypia among his ranks.

Benitez is a huge admirer of Kaladze, 29, who comes with the added bonus of being able to play at left back, or even as an emergency midfielder.

However the Spanish tactician has been told that he will not be given any extra transfer funds in January, and will only be allowed to spend the money that he makes through player sales.

Benitez is willing to sell giant striker Peter Crouch, who could move to Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Manchester City.

Mali midfielder Momo Sissoko will also be permitted to leave after hitting out at his boss last week over his lack of playing time. Juventus are said to be very interested.

Whether or not Milan will be willing to sell Kaladze is highly debatable, as the Georgian has formed a fine centre-back partnership alongside Alessandro Nesta.

Reds Transfer Cash Pledge

Liverpool's American owners have insisted Rafa Benitez is the manager they want to take them into the future.

But George Gillett and Tom Hicks have stopped short of an unequivocal backing of the Spanish coach, which leaves his long-term position in doubt. Benitez is safe until the end of the season at least after a summit meeting between the two parties on Sunday night thrashed out their immediate differences.

And both the Liverpool boss and the Americans have agreed to use the next six months to help repair the damage to their relationship, and see where the new-found peace agreement takes them. Both sides have also agreed not to air their disputes in public again, and Benitez has been offered some appeasement with the promise of a new signing in the January transfer window.

Gillett spoke about the problems he and Hicks have endured in their relationship with the manager, and insisted both sides will now try to work together.

"This situation wasn't supposed to happen, but it has happened, and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation," Gillett said.

"I've been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument. Rafa is the one we want as a manager further on, and we have faith in him.

"We concentrated on getting an overview over the situation, and I felt we accomplished that."

While that assures Benitez about his immediate position, it is clear that there is merely an uneasy truce in place, with the potential still for a parting of the ways.

Insiders suggest that both the manager and the Americans want to go on until the summer, and then decide if the relationship is working.

Benitez is still unhappy with the way the club drags its feet over potential deals, and he has been given no assurance that it will change.

He has also been told that chief executive Rick Parry will still conduct all financial negotiations, with the manager expected to take a secondary role in deals. There is further confusion over the sort of transfer budget the Spaniard can expect, both in January and, importantly, next summer.

Parry yesterday revealed the club simply cannot afford the planned new stadium to replace Anfield, and will now have to draw up yet more designs to try to cut projected costs.

It is a massive blow to the Merseyside club, because the hi-tech new stadium was a central platform in their blueprint to generate income.

Parry said: "We are now considering two schemes but the stadium will be a 70,000- seater.

"The new stadium will be a significant improvement on the original plans (from 2001) and a slightly downgraded version of the new ones (which were submitted two months ago)."

These plans will again have to go before Liverpool City Council and then the government for final approval, but it appears there will be less of an emphasis given to areas which generate significant match-day income.

And with the new owners clearly looking to cut costs, Benitez fears that there will be little or no money in the short to medium term for transfers, with all profits set against the interest on massive loans required to pay for the purchase of the club and their new home.

If Benitez feels that he is not getting sufficient backing by the summer, then he has made it clear to his closest associates that he will consider some of the other offers from top European clubs he is bound to receive by then.

Liverpool Revise Stadium Plan

Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr insist their plan to raise at least £500 million to re-finance the takeover of the club and move from Anfield remains on track despite last night's announcement that the new 70,000- seater stadium was being scaled back.

The club's chief executive Rick Parry issued a statement yesterday revealing that the futuristic £350m project at Stanley Park, first made public in the summer, had been replaced by a less "dramatic" design.

He explained two schemes were now being considered but emphasised that the capacity would stay at 70,000 and plans for a single-tier Kop were not being scrapped.

The announcement followed weekend reports that Hicks and Gillett were encountering major problems in attracting banks to finance their scheme.

The Americans, who bought the club from David Moores last January in a £174 million deal, want to re-finance the £298m they borrowed from Royal Bank of Scotland to pay for the deal and give them working capital for players and the stadium.

That two-year loan expires in 2009 and Hicks and Gillett want to roll the deal into a long-term package to help them to pay for the new stadium.

Last month Liverpool were thought to be close to agreeing a deal with RBS and American bank Wachovia, but reports at the weekend suggested Wachovia had walked away.

Last night sources close to the American owners described the reports as "false" and, while they admitted the re-financing was taking longer than they expected, said they were confident it would be in place by January at the latest.

But Liverpool fans will be within their rights to question the owners' confidence given how long the re-financing has been dragging on for. Back in September Goldman Sachs pulled out of a deal with Liverpool after Hicks and Gillett refused to pump in £100m of their own money.

Last night's announcement that the stadium's plans were changing again will only add to the uncertainty around the club, even if manager Rafa Benitez has been given the Americans' backing despite Sunday's home defeat by fierce rivals Manchester United.

"The new stadium will be a significant improvement on the original plans," Parry insisted in a statement released on the club's website.

"It will be a massive improvement on where we were 12 months ago, if not quite as dramatic as the plans unveiled in the summer.

"The single-tier Kop remains fundamental to the design and we are not expecting any delays, it should be on schedule for 2011."

Gillett Regrets Benitez Row

Liverpool co-owner George Gilett has expressed regret at the damage done from the row with manager Rafa Benitez over transfer policy.

With arch-rivals Manchester United not only inflicting another demoralising Anfield defeat on Liverpool at the weekend, but also preparing to announce record turnover and profits, these are trying times for the Merseyside Reds.

The club's owners, the two Aumerican business tycoons Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, watched the United match before holding "clear-the-air" talks with Benítez on Sunday evening.

The club issued a statement saying those talks were "positive, amicable and constructive," and indeed it seems they went as well as could be expected.

However, most observers believe that the long-term job security of Benitez has been compromised by the public sniping, which the Americans ordered the Spaniard to stop, telling him instead to focus on getting the best out of the current squad.

On Sunday night there was a vote of confidence in Benitez from Gillett, who was speaking at a Liverpool Former Players’ Association dinner. Gillett expressed regret at the damage done.

“This [the row with Benitez] wasn’t supposed to happen, but it has happened and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation,” Gillett said.

“Rafa is the one we want as a manager further on and we have faith in him. I’ve been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument.”

On the prickly question of satisfying Benítez’s desire for transfer funds to spend in January, Gillett would not be drawn.

“The window opens soon and we might use the option that gives us, or we might not,” he said.

Liverpool Eyeing Muntari

Liverpool are reported to be weighing up a January move for Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari if they are priced out of a move for Javier Mascherano.

Muntari has impressed at Fratton Park since his summer arrival from Udinese and his performances are thought to have alerted Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

Benitez is drawing up his list of targets in the January transfer window and could make a move for Muntari if he is priced out of a deal for Mascherano.

The Ghana international has quickly adapted to life in England and he is a big fans' favourite at Pompey.

The 23-year-old has admitted he would be interested in a move to a bigger club if the chance became available.

"I want to end up at one of the biggest clubs - that is every player's dream," Muntari is quoted as saying in The Mirror.

"Of course I will try my best here and help Portsmouth win many things, and maybe qualify for Europe, but eventually I would like to play for a bigger club."

Reds Report 'Positive' Talks

Liverpool have issued a statement describing clear-the-air talks between manager Rafael Benitez and the club's American owners as "positive".

The meeting was arranged following a dispute between the Spaniard and Tom Hicks and George Gillett over the club's approach to the January transfer window.

Benitez was frustrated at what he saw as an unnecessary delay over the pursuit of new players and claimed the American duo did not understand the European transfer market.

But a statement on the Liverpool website said: "A meeting was held this evening involving Tom Hicks, George Gillett, Foster Gillett, Rick Parry and Rafa Benitez which was wide-ranging and positive.

"The discussions were amicable and constructive. All those present are united in their desire to bring further success to the club."

Earlier in the day, the Reds had lost 1-0 at home to Manchester United, a result which seriously dents their Premier League title hopes.

Carlos Tevez scored the game's only goal, but Benitez said: "It is too soon to talk about the title.

"Clearly, it will be harder. If we are going to get closer we need to start winning some games in a row.

"Every team can lose points, so I have the same confidence to keep going and try and keep winning.

"We are a team that has a lot of positives but this defeat is frustrating because we are very close to Manchester United. We just made one mistake and paid for it, just as we did last season."

Liverpool 0 - 1 Man Utd

For the second season running, a close-range goal in front of the Kop proved enough to give Manchester United victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

Whereas John O'Shea's goal in the corresponding fixture came in stoppage time and spurred United on to the title, this time the first half was nearing its end when Carlos Tevez struck.

And while the Argentina forward's effort will not prove decisive in the championship race at this early stage, it has left United nine points in front of their fierce north-west rivals, who, after suffering their first defeat at Reading last week, have now lost their unbeaten home record too.

It is not the ideal backdrop to Rafael Benitez's crunch meeting with co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, although United, unbeaten in Premier League combat on this ground for six years now, will not care much about that.

Twelve months ago, Liverpool did everything but beat United, virtually battering their north-west rivals into submission before O'Shea popped up in the final minute to snatch victory.

The home fans must have endured an uneasy feeling of deja vu as they watched the opening period unfold.

What incisive football was played amid a frenzied atmosphere was all theirs. The chances fell the way of the men in red too. Unfortunately, the shots were either off target or failed to beat a United defender stood on the line.

Liverpool's efforts were assisted by a rare faltering performance from Edwin van der Sar, who twice had his attempts to take what looked like routine catches hindered by his own players.

On the first occasion, the veteran Dutchman ran into a crowd of United defenders as he tried to collect a Steven Gerrard free-kick that had been deflected high into the air.

Harry Kewell was on to the loose ball first but drove his volley straight at Anderson, who was still marshalling a post.

Fernando Torres, a man Ferguson tried to buy from Atletico Madrid on three separate occasions, should have finished off the rebound but, from six yards, nodded disappointingly wide.

Then, when Van der Sar came off worst in a collision with Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand's back header seemed destined to bounce into his own net until Patrice Evra raced back to clear.

Torres was off-target with a couple of efforts, as was Sami Hyypia.

Yet, for all the pressure, it was United who took the lead two minutes before the break as the Liverpool defence fell apart following a Ryan Giggs corner.

After failing to pick up Wayne Rooney on the edge of the area, Alvaro Arbeloa then remained rooted to the goalline as Liverpool pushed up hoping for an offside as the ball fizzed into the box.

Tevez was actually behind Pepe Reina as he scooped home his eighth goal of the season but with Arbeloa behind him, it did not matter and the Argentina forward wheeled away in celebration, the ball hitting virtually the same spot O'Shea had found in March.

For a very brief moment, it appeared Torres would level within a minute of the re-start as the United defence opened up in front of the Spain international.

The ball seemed to get stuck under his feet and before he could regain any momentum, Torres had been robbed.

It was the prelude for more sustained Liverpool pressure, which United countered by throwing their bodies in the way of anything vaguely threatening.

Ferdinand and Vidic were immense figures at the heart of the rearguard action, their efforts only made slightly easier by Dirk Kuyt's poor performance.

The Dutchman was totally ineffective, his contribution paling in comparison to Torres, even though he was not having one of his better days.

Crouch's introduction gave the Red Devils' overworked defence another problem to counter and another substitute, Ryan Babel, almost took advantage of the extra space when he skimmed a shot agonisingly wide of Van der Sar's left post.

Babel injected more life into the Liverpool attack but it was Rooney who would have saved the visiting fans an anxious final 10 minutes if he had not turned Ronaldo's low cross wide from eight yards.

Gerrard Will Go Down Alongside Dalglish As Anfield Great, Says Reds Team-mate Carragher

Jamie Carragher has hailed Steven Gerrard as one of the best players in the world - and puts the England midfielder alongside Kenny Dalglish in the list of Liverpool greats.

Gerrard inspired Liverpool to a 4-0 thrashing of Marseille to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stage - a feat that had appeared impossible earlier this season, after only one point was secured from their first three European games.

Carragher told the Liverpool Echo: "He's definitely one of the best players in the world. You look at Kaka and (Lionel) Messi, but they probably play further forward.

"For me, he'll go down alongside Kenny Dalglish as one of the greatest players ever to have played for Liverpool - and at the moment he's probably in the top four or five players in the world."

Gerrard opened the scoring in the Stade Velodrome and in doing so overtook Michael Owen's record for goals in Europe - and also became the first Liverpool player since John Aldridge in 1989 to score in seven successive matches.

Liverpool will face tough opponents in the last 16 - they will be drawn against AC Milan, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Barcelona or Seville but Carragher is not daunted.

He added: "We'll be a big game for anyone as well, don't forget. When you're in the Champions League you play the best teams in Europe.

"It's good players and the top teams in the best stadiums. But if you want to progress, you've got to beat the best."

Carragher added he does not have "a clue" whether the result eases the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez.

"That's not up to us," he said.

"We just get on with playing and at the moment we're doing all right - and we just hope to keep it going."

We Must Be One Of The Champions League Favourites, Says Bullish Liverpool Keeper Reina

Liverpool finished second in their group in their Champions League group and will now face an Italian or Spanish team in the last 16.

Inter Milan, holders AC Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona are prospective opponents, while Sevilla could join the list should they finish top of their pool after Tuesday’s matches.

Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina, however, said his side do not fear anyone in Europe, saying: "We know we will play a Spanish or an Italian team and it will be difficult.

"Playing the second game away will also be hard.

"But it is always a difficult competition and only the best can play in it. We trust ourselves - we have reached the final in two recent seasons so we have to be one of the favourites."

He added: "We have beaten Barca, Juventus, Chelsea (in recent seasons). These have been difficult games and we therefore have confidence in ourselves."

Reina also called on his team-mates to help relieve the boardroom tension that currently exists at the club by continuing their superb recent form on the pitch.

The much-publicised spat between manager Rafael Benitez and co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, which centres around the release of funds for the January transfer window, will come to a head this weekend when the parties meet.

Benitez can go into the talks armed with an amazing recent run of results - Saturday's defeat to Reading aside - that culminated in last night's stunning 4-0 win at Marseille which secured the Reds a place in the Champions League knockout stages.

That made it 25 goals in the last seven games for the Merseysiders, who are also well placed in the Barclays Premier League heading into Sunday's crucial clash with rivals Manchester United.

Benitez's position is surely not under threat after the results of the past month, and compatriot Reina has hailed his team-mates' ability to shut out the off-field issues and concentrate on what is happening on it.

"We have to respect the opinions of the manager and the owners," said the Spain goalkeeper.
"But all we can do is go out there to play and win - that is all. We are trying to play as well as we can on the pitch, and not worry about anything else.

"There are always things happening. But two weeks ago, we said to ourselves we must focus on our play and do our best on the pitch. That's what we are doing."

The club's players and supporters have rallied around Benitez in his time of need and arguably made his position even stronger, despite his public slanging match with the Reds' American owners.

Reina has ultimate faith in his boss, adding: "The manager has a cold mind - he knows what to do at any moment.

"We have showed everyone that people must trust us in what we are trying to do, and in these difficult situations. We have a great team. Now we have to compete at this high level in the Premier League now and play another 'final' against Manchester United."

The thrashing of Marseille will go down as another epic European night for the Anfield club.

Before Tuesday night, every English team who had come to the Stade Velodrome for a European fixture had gone home defeated - that included Liverpool following a UEFA Cup fourth-round clash in 2004.

But the class of 2007 made a mockery of that record, dominating from start to finish in a Champions League masterclass.

Goals by Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in the opening 11 minutes calmed any early nerves, and the Reds made the most of some embarrassing OM defending to add further efforts through Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel in the second half.

Benitez's men picked up just one point from their opening three games but three straight wins, during which the team scored 16 goals and conceded just one, rounded off an ultimately successful Group A campaign.

"The pressure is always there because we are Liverpool and with that, you must win every game," added Reina.

"We are favourites in every competition we play in and that brings its own pressure. It was a must-win game but we knew it was in our own hands.

"Because of the situation we were in, it was one of our best games in terms of completeness.

"We played well going forward and were compact in defence. In the end it was an easy game for us and we just have to keep this momentum going."

Rafa: Liverpool's Spending Has Not Matched Big Clubs But I Hope To Clear Up 'Misunderstanding' With Owners

Liverpool's net outlay on players is not as high as that spent by England's biggest clubs and as a result does not guarantee they can win the Premier League title, manager Rafael Benitez has said.

"There's a misunderstanding when people speak of the money Liverpool have spent, as between what we have spent and recovered we're at a similar level to those at the top, but not the biggest sides," Benitez told Thursday's sports daily AS.

"Manchester United have spent £70million pounds (this year) when we have spent £40 something million and recovered £26million.

"Many people say we have to win the title because of the money we have spent but other teams such as United, Chelsea, Newcastle United or Aston Villa have also spent a lot of money.

"Arsenal have been spending a lot on young players for years and now are reaping the rewards," he added in the interview.

"All the top teams spend money but this does not guarantee the league title because Chelsea and United... are very big with a base created over a number of years."

Arsenal are currently top of the standings one point clear of champions Manchester United and three ahead of Chelsea with Liverpool a further four points adrift in fourth spot.

Benitez has been reported to have a strained relationship with the club's new American owners over future spending plans for the squad, but he sought to play it down ahead of a meeting with them later this week.

"At a personal level we have a good relationship. We have had some differences at a professional level but when we meet and talk it will be cleared up as a misunderstanding," he added.

"We all want the best for Liverpool so I am sure we will understand each other well. I am very happy at Liverpool and hope to be here for many more years."

Liverpool reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 4-0 win at Olympique Marseille and host a Premier League clash with champions Manchester United on Sunday.

Torres Can End Our United Jinx, Warns Liverpool Boss

He could scarcely be called Liverpool's secret weapon, given his prominence on Sir Alex Ferguson's transfer radar in recent years.

But another accolade was fitting for Fernando Torres ahead of tomorrow's Anfield showdown with Manchester United.

Rafa Benitez is waiting for his first Barclays Premier League win over the defending champions after one draw and five defeats in three-and-a-half years since he left Valencia to replace Gerard Houllier.

He knows why and decided to do something about it last summer by persuading owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to pay a club record £21million for Atletico Madrid marksman Torres.

Nearly six months on, he has seen enough of the 23-year-old striker to hail him as the missing link to deliver United's scalp.

The Liverpool manager had an inkling of the returns he could expect after Torres stalled over a move to Old Trafford for fear he might be leaving home at too tender an age, and also after he turned his back on Inter Milan last summer after the Italian giants' £27million bid.

He just didn't expect to be benefiting from them quite so early. Torres has scored 12 goals in 19 appearances this season.

Benitez said: "In previous games against United, we have played well, controlled the game and had plenty of possession without creating too much.

"Now, in Torres, we have a player with pace and ability who can give us something different. He gives us another option up front and is the element we have been missing.

"I don't know how strong United's interest was, but there was another club from abroad who topped our offer by £6million," he said, referring to Inter's bid.

"Maybe it helped that I'm Spanish and could speak to Nando (Torres) in his own language. I just know it was not difficult persuading him to come here.

"As soon as I phoned him he was aware of how much I wanted him at Anfield. He knew all about the club and how the Spanish players already here could help him settle in and it was all really easy.

"I didn't see the fee as a big gamble. Even so, I wasn't looking to him to score 20 goals in his first season, just to progress steadily and give us something different. Yet he is well on course for 20 goals and that is fantastic — a real bonus."

Benitez's next objective is to wrap up the permanent £17m signing of Javier Mascherano and the Argentina midfielder has added incentive to shine against United with compatriot Carlos Tevez among the opposition.

"Carlos and I have played against each other before when I was at River Plate and he was at Boca, but never in England," said Mascherano.

"We are good friends and I will try not to kick him, but I know all about the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester.

"Now that Carlos has moved up this way and is a lot closer, we speak very often. But we have not discussed this game and I don't think we will. For 90 minutes we will be opponents then we can be friends again. I know Carlos will be trying just as hard to be the one who comes out on top, so let's see what happens. It should be interesting.

"I got a big kick on the shin against Marseille but this is one game I don't want to miss and I feel sure I will be all right. Everyone wants to be involved in it and I desperately want to try and make sure we don't lose. I have done everything I can to stay at Liverpool.

"Now they must decide whether to buy me. It is their decision, not mine, because I have done all I can to convince them I'm worth keeping."

Prem Preview: Liverpool vs Manchester United

The greatly anticipated ‘Grand Slam Sunday’ kicks off at Anfield as these bitter North West rivals clash. United make the short trip down the M62 knowing that a win would open up a six-point gap on their rivals, and a point is enough to take United back to the top of the table.

For Liverpool and their manager Rafa Benitez, this game is huge. His recent spat with the club’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett has cast a large shadow over his future at Liverpool, and the Spanish Tactician will hope to show his watching bosses how good his side are when they visit for this game against the Champions.

Benitez had overseen an unbeaten start to the season until last week’s lame defeat at Reading, but his side bounced back with an impressive showing away to Marseille where Liverpool were exceptional.

Fernando Torres already looks more suited to the Premier League than he was to football in his homeland, and his pace has terrorised Premier League defenders since day one. The former Atletico Madrid icon is fast becoming a favourite of the Kop, and it is not difficult to see why considering he has already found the net an impressive 12 times in all competitions.

Liverpool supporters are desperate to win another League title, and a win at home to the reigning Champions would be some welcome ammunition for Rafa to take into his meeting with the new owners, which follows this game. Liverpool appear to be as strong as any side in the country when they play their strongest XI and the battles in midfield should be key to deciding the outcome of this one.

Can Gerrard and Mascherano get the better of Hargreaves and Anderson? This area of the pitch should be a warzone on Sunday, with four battlers competing for superiority in the key part of the pitch.

Expect a few tackles flying in, and it would be no surprise to see a red card.

Both sides appear to have found some good attacking form and much will depend on how Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher cope with the movement of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo who have all been in scintillating form in recent weeks.

Possibly United’s biggest strength this season has come from their central defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand who have helped United to the Premier League’s best defensive record. That record will be severely tested by the pace of Torres and the forward surges from midfield that Gerrard has perfected.

Alex Ferguson has had the better of Benitez over the seasons, with five wins and a draw since Benitez became Liverpool boss. Last season’s win at Anfield, through a last minute winner from utility man John O’Shea, was the catalyst for United to take back the League title from Chelsea and this side have enough resolve and ability to once again win at Anfield – something that neither Chelsea or Arsenal have managed this term.

With Arsenal and Chelsea meeting later in the day, this is a crucial day for the Premier League title race and neither United nor Liverpool will want to lose this game and give Arsenal the chance to reopen their gap at the top of the table.

It promises to be a scintillating and highly charged game between England’s two most successful clubs, and let’s hope these traditional enemies can get the biggest day in the Premier League so far this season off to a fascinating start.


FORM GUIDE (Prem unless otherwise stated)


Liverpool


Dec 11 v Marseille (a, CL) WON 4-0 (Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Babel)

Dec 8 v Reading (a) LOST 1-3 (Gerrard)

Dec 2 v Bolton (h) WON 4-0 (Hyypia, Torres, Gerrard, Babel)

Nov 28 v Porto (h, CL) WON 4-1 (Torres 2, Gerrard, Crouch)

Nov 24 v Newcastle (a) WON 3-0 (Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel)



Manchester United


Dec 12 v Roma (a. CL) DREW 1-1 (Pique)

Dec 8 v Derby (h) WON 4-1 (Giggs, Tevez 2, Ronaldo)

Dec 3 v Fulham (h) WON 2-0 (Ronaldo 2)

Nov 27 v Sporting (h, CL) WON 2-1 (Tevez, Ronaldo)

Nov 24 v Bolton (a) LOST 0-1




TEAM NEWS



Liverpool:


Xabi Alonso could return to the squad after missing two months with a broken metatarsal. Right Back Steve Finnan is doubtful with a calf strain, while Centre half Daniel Agger (foot) is still missing.

Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Reina – Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa – Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Riise – Torres, Kuyt.




Manchester United:


Experienced United legends Gary Neville (calf) and Paul Scholes (knee), as well as Park Ji-Sung (knee) all miss out for United, but after the money spent by Ferguson in the summer, his squad should be able to cope without them.

Possible Starting XI (4-4-2): Van der Sar – Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra - Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs – Rooney, Tevez.



PLAYERS TO WATCH


Liverpool – Fernando Torres has already become a fans favourite at Anfield and will be desperate to score against the Champions on Sunday. ‘El Nino’ has scored some vital goals already and he has a pace and calmness in front of goal that is reminiscent of Thierry Henry.


Manchester United - Cristiano Ronaldo is always the man United look towards to decide games like this and the Portuguese winger is continuing his excellent form that won him the Player of the Year award last season. Ronaldo has strength and power to match his trickery and could be the match winner again at Anfield this Sunday.

Sissoko: I Want To Leave

Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko has declared that he is sick and tired over his lack of playing time at the club and wants to leave.

The 23-year-old has barely featured this season, and is behind the likes of Steven Gerard, Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso in the centre-midfield pecking order.

The Malian international’s lack of action has led to rumours he will leave Liverpool in January, and the player himself admits this is more than a possibility.

“I am sick and tired and want to leave,” said Sissoko.

“I am really disappointed because the game against Marseille [on Tuesday night] I was counting on.

“I respect the choices of the coach but now I want to discuss my future before the January transfer market. I am not happy about playing one game per month.”

Sissoko has been heavily associated with a transfer to Juventus, with their boss Claudio Ranieri a huge admirer.

The Bianconeri placed a bid for the ex-Valencia man in the summer, however they were scared off by his price tag.

With Juve in desperate need of a new centre-midfielder, there is every chance they may table a fresh offer next month.

Rafa Ready To Pounce In Window

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed his intention to try and snap up a centre-back during the January transfer window.

The Reds pinned all their summer hopes on bringing in Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United, but that high-profile move was scuppered when a Premier League tribunal ruled against it. He eventually joined Real Madrid.

And with Dane Daniel Agger still sidelined by a foot injury, Benitez plans to strengthen his defence next month.

He said: "We have had a problem at centre-back because we could not close the signing of Gabriel Heinze.

"Then Agger got injured. This has forced us to play with Sami Hyypia who is 34 and Jamie Carragher in every game.

"You are looking at two matches per week and with the intensity that the game is played here, it is not easy for them to do it.

"Our idea is to bring in a centre-back, to provide balance to the team in this position."

The Reds have been recently linked with a move for AC Milan's Georgian stopper Kakha Kaladze.

Javier Mascherano Declares Himself Fit For United Game

Javier Mascherano has indicated he will be fit to face Manchester United at Anfield.

Liverpool’s Argentina international midfielder looked in some discomfort during the 4-0 Champions League victory against Marseille in midweek.

However he insists there is little to be concerned about.

“I got a kick but I think it’s nothing and I should be okay to face Manchester United,” he said.

Mascherano admits he is excited at the prospect of going head to head with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

“We’re close to the top so we need to win on Sunday to get even closer plus it’s very important for our fans that we get a victory,” he told uefa.com.

“Liverpool against United is a massive game, maybe the biggest there is in England, so we have to start preparing for it.

“We know we can get a victory and and our confidence is obviously high as well.

“When you win 4-0 away it’s very good for the team and now we need a repeat of this performance on Sunday.”

Xabi Alonso is set to return to the squad after a two-month absence with a metatarsal injury.

The Spain midfielder has featured in only six Barclays Premier League games and been out of action since the Arsenal match in October.

Steve Finnan is doubtful because of a calf problem while Daniel Agger remains sidelined with a foot injury.

Torres Adds A New Dimension To Liverpool

Rafael Benitez has a clearly thought-out line of argument for when he comes face to face with the men who own Liverpool for the first time in three months.

However much Tom Hicks and George Gillett might resent his public criticism of them, however much they would like Benitez to become a mere coach rather than Liverpool's general manager, however much they would like talk of transfer budgets to cease, there is one thing that cannot be questioned. Liverpool are now a better, more successful club than the Liverpool Benitez inherited.

There is one chink in that argument and to those who cram the Kop, or any other part of Anfield, it matters painfully. The last time a Liverpool player scored a league goal against Manchester United, Gerard Houllier was managing a club Hicks and Gillett would have been only very dimly aware of. That was a Danny Murphy penalty in April 2004 - you would have to go back to November 2003 for the last time Liverpool managed to score one in open play.

Apart from a solitary victory in the FA Cup, marred by Liverpool fans attacking the ambulance that was attempting to take Alan Smith, his leg horribly broken, to hospital, Benitez's greatest achievement in this fixture has been a goalless draw.

For a man who rolls over the minutiae of football constantly in his head, Benitez is, naturally enough, aware of the naked statistics. "The differences have been in small details," he said, describing the last encounter at Anfield, a game in which United were all but overwhelmed until a half-saved free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo was stabbed home by, of all people, John O'Shea.

Sir Alex Ferguson, knowing the title was virtually his, leapt into the arms of his assistant, Carlos Queiroz. The United players hurled their white shirts into the away end, and Jamie Carragher was asked what more Liverpool had to do. "We need better players all over the pitch," the defender replied, before grinning, "except at centre-half."

Carragher got his wish, at least at centre-forward. In Fernando Torres, Liverpool finally possess the kind of striker Anfield has not seen since Michael Owen left Merseyside for Madrid in the first few weeks of Benitez's regime.

"When we were playing against Manchester United, we tended to have plenty of possession but couldn't make the breakthrough because they had good defenders and we were not so strong in attack," Benitez reflected before adding: "Now we have Torres, a player with pace and ability, and he will be a threat to them.

"This is a better squad now and Torres is one of the reasons for that. It will still be difficult, because Manchester United have a very good team, but we have different options to use against them than we did before."

There were several reasons why Torres chose Merseyside. He had spent four seasons leading Atletico Madrid's attack; he was only 23 and in those long, largely fruitless campaigns only Samuel Eto'o and David Villa had scored more times in La Liga. Yet when Barcelona could go to the Vicente Calderon stadium and win 6-0, Torres recognised that, despite the adoration of so many fans, it was time to find a club where success was a little easier to come by.

He might have gone to Old Trafford; he could have ended up at Inter Milan, who offered Atletico £6 million more than the £24 million Liverpool paid. But neither of them spoke to Torres in his native tongue. "It was simple to bring him here, because my Spanish is much better than my English," Benitez smiled. "I just gave him a call. We knew a lot of top sides were interested. But he knew the club and he knew some of our Spanish players and he knew I wanted him. It was quite easy."

Torres discussed the move with goalkeeper Jose Reina, who is now a next-door neighbour in the Woolton area of the city, and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. He had the ability and the pace, but Benitez must have questioned whether this young, almost coltish, striker had the toughness for what is the most physically demanding league in the world.

"We did not expect 20 goals in his first season; we brought him to Liverpool so he could progress and offer us something different," Benitez said.

"Sometimes you have to wait to see the best of someone, and we were signing Torres for six years not six months. Some players take time to settle - it took Daniel Agger three or four months. Torres is a shy person, but he has confidence now."

It seems Torres' settling-in at Anfield is over. His goals against Porto and Marseille that helped secure Liverpool's qualification for the Champions League knock-out stages were sublime and, if he is going to score 20 in his first season by the Mersey, he now requires only another eight.

Benitez reflected that Torres had been signed "because the relationship with the owners was good" and, if it can be fully repaired, who knows who else he could bring to Anfield?

Reina Insists Anfield Players Must Keep Heat Off Benitez

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has called on his team-mates to help relieve the boardroom tension that currently exists at the club by continuing their superb recent form on the pitch.

The much-publicised spat between manager Rafael Benitez and co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, which centres around the release of funds for the January transfer window, will come to a head this weekend when the parties meet.

Benitez can go into the talks armed with an amazing recent run of results - Saturday's defeat to Reading aside - that culminated in Tuesday night's stunning 4-0 win at Marseille which secured the Reds a place in the Champions League knockout stages.

That made it 25 goals in the last seven games for the Merseysiders, who are also well placed in the Barclays Premier League heading into Sunday's crucial clash with rivals Manchester United at Anfield.

Despite coming under fire for appearing to throw in the towel in the defeat at Reading by substituting the team's star trio, Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher, while their was still time to mount a fightback, Benitez's position is surely not under threat after the other results of the past month.

And compatriot Reina has hailed his team-mates' ability to shut out the off-field issues and concentrate on what is happening on it.

"We have to respect the opinions of the manager and the owners," said the Spain goalkeeper. "But all we can do is go out there to play and win. We are trying to play as well as we can on the pitch, and not worry about anything else. There are always things happening. But two weeks ago, we said to ourselves we must focus on our play and do our best on the pitch. That's what we are doing."

The club's players and supporters have rallied around Benitez in his time of need and arguably made his position even stronger, despite his public slanging match with the Reds' American owners.

Reina has ultimate faith in his compatriot, adding: "The manager has a cold mind - he knows what to do at any moment. We have showed everyone that people must trust us in what we are trying to do, and in these difficult situations.

"We have a great team. Now we have to compete at this high level in the Premier League now and play another 'final' against Manchester United."

The thrashing of Marseille will go down as another epic European night for the Anfield club. Before Tuesday night, every English team who had come to the Stade Velodrome for a European fixture had gone home defeated - including Liverpool following a UEFA Cup fourth-round clash in 2004.

But the class of 2007 made a mockery of that record, dominating from start to finish in a Champions League masterclass.

Goals by Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in the opening 11 minutes calmed any early nerves, and they made the most of some embarrassing Marseille defending to add further efforts through Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel in the second half.

Benitez's side had picked up just one point from their opening three games, but three straight wins, during which the team scored 16 goals and conceded just one, rounded off an ultimately successful Group A campaign.

"The pressure is always there because we are Liverpool and, with that, you must win every game," added Reina.

"We are favourites in every competition we play in and that brings its own pressure. It was a must-win game, but we knew it was in our own hands. Because of the situation we were in, it was one of our best games in terms of completeness.

"We played well going forward and were compact in defence. In the end, it was an easy game for us and we just have to keep this momentum going."

Liverpool finished second in their group and will now face an Italian or Spanish team in the last 16.

Reina, however, insists his side do not fear anyone in Europe, saying: "We know we will play a Spanish or an Italian team and it will be difficult. Playing the second game away will also be hard.

"But it is always a difficult competition and only the best can play in it.

"We trust ourselves - we have reached the final in two recent seasons, so we have to be one of the favourites."

He added: "We have beaten Barca, Juventus, Chelsea (in recent seasons). These have been difficult games and we therefore have confidence in ourselves."

Benitez lavished praise on his players for the manner in which they handled the pressure of knowing they needed a result in Marseille.

"They players have showed character in important games before and they have showed it again," he said. "When we lost against Besiktas and played badly against Marseille, I said we still had confidence.

"The team was still playing well in the league and scoring goals. That gave us more confidence. People are talking about how good the side is compared to last year, but we showed here that we can do different things.

"The performance was really good. We played compact as a unit, played well in attack, had our chances and did not concede."

The Anfield manager also claimed the impending meeting with the club owners has not entered his thoughts.

"I was not thinking about the meeting," he continued. "I must simply try to do my job. You could see the players, supporters, everyone was together. Everyone wants to win and we should talk about that, not the meeting.

"I am always confident - you can see that the players and supporters are happy, and this is good for the future of the club. I am not thinking about my situation every day, I am just thinking about my team and how they can improve."

Meanwhile, the Marseille coach, Eric Gerets, whose side failed to progress as a result of the defeat, admitted his out-of-sorts players were unable to cope with Liverpool's quality on the counter-attack.

"Every time Liverpool went forward, they looked dangerous," he said.

"I am really disappointed with what happened. We missed the game totally.

"I will wait to analyse the game, but it is fair to say it is the first time I have noticed that the players did not give 100 per cent."

Reds Duo Losing Fitness Battles

Liverpool duo Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso appear unlikely to make a return in time for Sunday's big encounter with Manchester United.

Liverpool pair Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso look set to miss Sunday's big game with Manchester United as they recover from foot injuries.

Though both are back in training, doubts over their fitness have resurfaced after Rafael Benítez failed to name either in the squad to face Marseille in midweek.

Lacking match fitness, it seems unlikely to coach will risk them in Sunday's big game.

Benítez found out the hard way that bringing back key players prematurely can do more harm than good - Alonso was put back in Liverpool's starting XI for last month's game at home to Arsenal, but like fellow returnee Fernando Torres he was forced to hobble off part-way through.

Alonso's creative output will be missed, but Benítez looks set to persist with Mascherano and Gerrard in central midfield following Tuesday's convincing showing.

Agger, meanwhile, has not appeared in a Liverpool shirt since the early part of this season, but given Sami Hyypia's recent string of impressive showings he might not be too sorely missed.

Torres Admits Second Not Best

Fernando Torres admits it would have been better for Liverpool to have won their UEFA Champions League group.

The former Atletico Madrid star scored a sensational goal as he helped Liverpool defeat Marseille 4-0 and book their place in the last 16.

Liverpool, though, could only finish second in Group A which means they will now face one of the teams who won their section and Torres says that is not ideal.

"It can be a Spanish or Italian team. All the teams are strong and to finish second is not the best," he told EFE.

"But it is all the same really, as we know that the level will be very high.

"Sevilla in the Champions League have been strong and Madrid and Barcelona are teams that aspire to win the whole competition.

Torres was pleased with his strike at the Stade Velodrome.

"I am very happy with my goal," he added.

"I think things are going very well for me and this goal has helped the team qualify and now we are in the next round.

"The game started at a very quick pace. It was not what we expected in the first ten minutes. The key to winning was to be able to play calmly and that is what happened.

"With Stevie's and my goal after only 11 minutes they knew it was very difficult to come back."

Liverpool Likely Tto Face European Giants

Liverpool may have fought back from the brink of elimination to reach the Champions League knockout stages but they face a tough tie in the second round.

A 4-0 win in Marseille means last season's beaten finalists will be in the draw for the first knockout round, but they only finished second in Group A so their potential opponents are limited to the holders Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Sevilla.

Liverpool cannot be drawn against a team from England, so if Arsenal beat Steaua Bucharest in their final fixture and finish top of Group H, Liverpool will not be able to face Sevilla and they will be guaranteed to face one of the giants from Italy and Spain.

After the emphatic win in Marseille, Benitez was clearly reminded of the 2005 final victory over Milan and the crucial wins over Olympiacos and Juventus in that run when he said: "The players have showed character in important games before and they have showed it again.

"When we lost against Besiktas and played badly against Marseille, I said we still had confidence."

He added: "The team was still playing well in the league and scoring goals. That gave us more confidence."

Liverpool's qualification improves Benitez's position when he finally holds talks with club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over his January transfer plans.

But Benitez's post-match comments suggested he does not plan to make huge changes to his squad.

He said: "People are talking about how good the side is compared to last year, but we showed here that we can do different things.

"The performance was really good. We played compact as a unit, played well in attack, had our chances and didn't concede."

Sissoko Angered By Reds Axe

Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has hit out at manager Rafael Benitez and hinted he could be set to leave Anfield in January.

Sissoko has been left out of the Reds' squad for their crucial UEFA Champions League showdown against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

The Mali international, who started his career with Auxerre, has made just one appearance in the Anfield outfit's group stage fixtures, the 1-0 home defeat by the French side.

Former Valencia player Sissoko insists he plans to hold talks with Benitez once the transfer window opens and wants to be a regular in the first-team.

He told radio station RMC: "I am really mad. The match is played in France, all my family is there and wanted to see me on the pitch.

"I respect that choice, but we will talk in January.

"That is quite a long time for me to ask myself the question (about leaving). I am not attracted to play one match in five."

Liverpool Justify Benayoun's Faith

Liverpool FC winger Yossi Benayoun praised his team's competitive edge after they advanced to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with a clinical 4-0 triumph at Olympique de Marseille.

The winner-takes-all affair at the Stade Vélodrome had looked poised to be a tense encounter until Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres struck a goal each inside the first eleven minutes. Dirk Kuyt and substitute Ryan Babel then pounced after the break to wrap up a qualification that had seemed highly unlikely when the five times European champions found themselves with a solitary point from their opening three matches.

"Honestly, I always believed we could do it," Benayoun told uefa.com. "Even at the time, I said that if there's one team that can win three games in a row, it's Liverpool. This is a club that's proved over the last few years that it can deal with big games in this competition. We knew every game would be like a final and we won three finals."

The Reds progress as the second-placed team in Group A, behind FC Porto, and they could well go far after a textbook example of how to tackle a tricky European tie in a hostile stadium. "We knew all about Marseille's great fans so it was important to get an early goal," Benayoun said. "That gave us confidence and our second came soon after. It killed the game and after that their supporters weren't so noisy anymore."

The Israeli international insisted that the match was anything but easy despite inflicting Marseille's heaviest home defeat in UEFA competition. "When you look at the scoreline it seems easy, but I can assure you it wasn't," he said. "They have a lot of good players and even when it was 2-0 we needed to be careful. They only needed half a chance to get a goal and start a comeback but we were very strong defensively."

The Merseysiders were also particularly strong on the flanks, where Benayoun and Harry Kewell looked fresh after being rested at the weekend. They both caused plenty of damage, but the 27-year-old Benayoun felt the whole team should share the acclaim. "Everyone put in a great performance, all over the pitch," he said. "We played the way we know we can, we deserved to win and we deserve to be in the next round."

Marseille 0 - 4 LiverpooL

Liverpool delivered an inspired performance when it really mattered to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stages at the expense of Marseille.

The Reds became the first English side to beat Marseille at the Stade Velodrome in European competition as early goals by Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were added to by second-half strikes by Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel.

It meant the Merseysiders finished second in Group A behind Porto and qualified from the pool stages for the fourth year in succession.

In truth, the Reds could and should have won by more, such was their dominance and Marseille's lethargy, especially at the back.

It was a special night for Gerrard, who opened the scoring when he powered home the rebound from a penalty he won himself.

That was his 23rd goal in the Champions League, overtaking a milestone he had shared jointly with Michael Owen.

Torres was a pest to the Marseille rearguard throughout and his 11th-minute goal was a gem, a mazy run topped off with an ice-cold finish.

Kuyt and substitute Babel scored neatly-taken goals at either end of the second half as Marseille imploded.

They can at least console themselves with a UEFA Cup spot, while Reds coach Rafael Benitez can go into Sunday's meeting with club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett in renewed heart.

Liverpool came into the match reeling from Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Reading, their first loss in this season's Barclays Premier League.

They would also have had Sunday's Anfield summit meeting with Manchester United in the back of their minds although, as expected, Benitez put out all his big names in a full-strength team.

They delivered in the most emphatic manner and had qualification wrapped up after just 11 minutes.

The deadlock was broken Gerrard in the third minute from the spot.

The captain was the man to win the penalty when, having been set free by Kewell, he was sent tumbling by Gael Givet.

The defender was the last man and should have been red-carded, but he did not even receive a booking.

Gerrard dusted himself down and even though his initial attempt was saved by Steve Mandanda, he rammed home the rebound from six yards and Liverpool were on their way.

Torres was doing well up front, pulling defenders out of position and finding space with his pace.

But it was his skill with the ball at his feet that put Liverpool 2-0 up.

Receiving a short pass from Harry Kewell just outside the area, the Spain international jinked around two defenders before opening his body up and sliding a cool finish inside the far post.

The crowd, so vibrant prior to kick-off, were stunned but their side could have been further behind by the break.

Liverpool were having little trouble at the back, Marseille relying on long-range pot-shots as their only means of testing Jose Reina.

Only once did they breach the Reds' rearguard, but Mathieu Valbuena - slipped in by Lorik Cana - chose to go round Jose Reina rather than shoot and the chance was lost. There was more action at the other end.

Kuyt, who was happy to drop back to help out his midfield, headed a drifting Harry Kewell cross straight at Mandanda midway into the half.

And towards the end of the opening period, Liverpool had a clutch of chances that should have harvested at least one more goal.

Gerrard sent a free-kick just wide before Kewell volleyed narrowly over in the 40th minute.

Torres, having outpaced Julien Rodriguez, then poked an effort over but it was all Liverpool.

By that time, Samir Nasri, the young France playmaker who was adjudged not fit enough to start after recent ankle trouble, had been thrown on by coach Eric Gerets, replacing Benoit Cheyrou.

And at half-time, former Liverpool player Djibril Cisse was introduced off the bench in place of another ex-Red, Boudewijn Zenden.

It mattered little and Liverpool were soon 3-0 up. More embarrassing defending allowed Kuyt to run free towards goal after Kewell's pass from the left in the 48th minute the Holland striker smashed home his finish from 10 yards and that was game, set and match.

Marseille's best chance of the game came just after the hour mark when Cisse got on the end of a Valbuena cross.

The striker's header beat Reina but hit the base of the post and went wide.

Benitez used his full allocation of substitutes in the final quarter, and one of them - Babel - added gloss to the scoreline in injury time when he ran onto a long ball, rounded Mandanda and slotted home into an empty net.