FA Cup Preview: Luton Town vs. Liverpool (updated)

Cast your minds back two years to 7 January 2006 and you will no doubt remember the classic cup-tie of the third round that year.

In a game that will surely go down as one of the most remarkable in the magical history of the world's oldest cup competition, despite going 1-0 down, Luton hit back to lead the mighty Liverpool 3-1. However a Reds fightback saw them run out 5-3 winners with two memorable goals from Xabi Alonso- one from 40 yards and one from within his own half!

So history repeats itself on Sunday as Luton once again welcome the Merseyside giants to Kenilworth Road with dreams of a big FA Cup giant-killing in the forefront of their minds. Could we be in store for yet another Cup classic?

The FA Cup tie against Liverpool will provide Luton manager Kevin Blackwell with a little light relief on Sunday, which on the surface, may seem a rather strange statement.

Blackwell though has far bigger worries than Liverpool on his mind as Luton battle for their future existence. The League 1 club have recently been charged by the FA for making irregular payments, placed into administration, had 10 points deducted as a result, and been put up for sale.

The manager and the players were not paid in November and received only 50% of their December wages. The former Leeds boss faces seeing his best players sold off, while at the same time being unable to sign any replacements due to a transfer embargo placed on the club.

So not the ideal way to prepare for the visit of the five-times Eurpean and six-times FA Cup winners Liverpol.

"I can't even look to the end of the week at the moment, " Blackwell has said. "Something different happens every day and it is never good news - always bad.

"Everybody sees the big clubs and thinks that it is glamorous but right now, I can tell you, there is no glamour at Luton Town. We have all been issued with termination notices. Our jobs will be in place until someone decides that we are no longer required" he explained.

"And there is a real danger that the club might not be in existence in February or March. If we can't get a bidder who will come in and take the club on and take the debts on then there is only one outcome" Blackwell added.

The frustrating thing for the 49 year old boss is that matters on the pitch are actually going well at the present moment. The Hatters were unbeaten over the Christmas period, collecting 10 points from a possible 12. Before the points deduction, Luton had climbed well clear of the relegation zone in League 1 and moved towards the play-off zone.

Earlier in the season the club also enjoyed a fantastic run in the Carling Cup beating both Sunderland and Charlton, before very nearly causing a shock against Everton.

So Liverpool have been warned. Luton Town are are a club in severe financial difficulty, but the FA Cup is renound for throwing up unlikely stories. With Liverpool 12 points adrift of Arsenal at the top pf the Premier League, Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Wigan at Anfield appears to have dealt the Red's title ambitions a serious blow. With that the case, Rafa Benitez may have to adjust the way he approaches this game, knowing that any little slip up would only give his detractors more ammunition to use against him.

With the game live on Sky Sports, millions will be tuning in on Sunday to see whether Luton can produce the kind of performance they did back in 2006 and cause a massive Cup upset this time around.

Xabi Alonso, the hero of the 2006 tie, insists that the Reds are foccussed on the third round tie and know they face a tricky game.

"This is the first round of the FA Cup for us and it is a great competition so we are really looking forward to it. But it is a tricky tie and we will have to see what happens" he admitted.

"The thought of getting to Wembley is a motivation for us but there are still a lot of games to play before anyone thinks of that and first we have to concentrate on Luton.

"It's going to be a huge game for Luton and I'm sure they are going to work really hard so it is not going to be easy for us" he aded.

Reds fans will be hoping that it is a positive omen meeting Luton again, and that they can go on to win their seventh FA Cup and their first at the new Wembley.


FORM GUIDE

Luton Town

Match Result Date Championship
Luton - Yeovil 1 - 0 01/01/2008 LEAGUE ONE
Port Vale - Luton 1 - 2 29/12/2007 LEAGUE ONE
Bristol R - Luton 1 - 1 26/12/2007 LEAGUE ONE
Luton - Tranmere 1 - 0 22/12/2007 LEAGUE ONE
Cheltenham - Luton 1 - 0 14/12/2007 LEAGUE ONE
Luton - Notts Forest 1 - 0 11/12/2007 FA CUP


Liverpool

Match Result Date Championship
Liverpool - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 02/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City - Liverpool 0 - 0 30/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 CARLING CUP
Liverpool - Man Utd. 0 - 1 16/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE



TEAM NEWS

Luton Town

Kevin Blackwell has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the visit of Liverpool. The Luton boss will have Chris Coyne back from suspension, but will have to do without Jaroslaw Fojut, who has returned to Bolton following his loan spell.

Anthony Grant is suspended, but Sam Parkin is pushing for a recall after recovering from injury and Paul Furlong could start after a hamstring problem.

Veteran striker Paul Peschisolido is ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious ankle injury, while veteran midfielder Don Hutchinson would dearly love to get the chance to face his old club. The 35 year old may have to settle for a place on the bench though.

Last Starting XI: Brill, Goodall, Perry, Fojut, Bell, Currie (McVeigh), Edwards, Keane, Spring, Andrew, Talbot (Furlong)

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is expected to shuffle his pack for the trip south after a busy festive programme, although not quite as much as some would have thought. Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun, Lucas and Andrei Voronin could all be handed places in the starting XI.

Steven Gerrard, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio have all been ruled out of Sunday's match. All three players picked up muscle injuries against Wigan in midweek and are sidelined for the trip to Kenilworth Road.

Last Starting XI: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano (Crouch), Gerrard. Pennant (Kuyt), Kewell (Benayoun), Torres


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Luton- David Bell

The highly rated 23-year-old midfielder has been a first-team regular at Kenilworth Road so far, scoring four goals for Kevin Blackwell's side. His performances have been impressive enough to attract the attention of West Bromwich Albion, who are reported to be lining up a bid for the £1 million rated wide man. In Luton's current plight he will be for sale, but a god showing against Liverpool may see a few more suitors knocking on Kevin Blackwell's door.

Liverpool- Yossi Benayoun

With Jermaine Pennant making a return to fitness, Benayoun will want to impress Rafa Benitez in every game he plays in order to maintain his place in the manager's thoughts. The summer signing has impressed during his first six months at Anfield and will surely enjoy the extra time and space he will get against Luton. The Israeli is really determined to reach the final this year to try to make up for the disappointment of losing in the 2006 final at the hands of Liverpool.

Jose Waits As Benitez Prepares To Leave

Rafa Benitez reportedly believes he will be sacked by Liverpool at the end of the season - and Jose Mourinho is poised to replace him at Anfield.

While previous reports of Benitez's imminent demise have proved premature, the Sunday papers are united in their belief that the Spaniard is preparing to leave England after his spat with Liverpool's American owners proved terminal.

According to The Sunday People, 'Benitez will finally join Real Madrid in the summer - at the third time of asking. Benitez believes he is a dead man walking at Anfield following his war with the Kop's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.'

And a 'close friend' of Benitez is quoted as saying in the News of the World: "Rafa wants to stay but now he believes he will be sacked because the owners have not shown they will back him."

Should he depart, Benitez will not be short of alternative employment. Real Madrid are said to be keen on recruiting him, while the People claims that 'Top Italian sides Inter and AC Milan are hot on the Spaniard's heels, with Bayern Munich also massively impressed by the former Valencia chief'.

Martin O'Neill and Jurgen Klinsmann would most probably be installed as the favourites to move into the Anfield hot seat but, in an intriguing twist, The Observer leads with the claim that 'Jose Mourinho is growing increasingly restless in his search for a return to management and is monitoring the position of Rafa Benitez at Liverpool.'

Out of work since his dismissal by Chelski in September, Mourinho has apparently become disenchanted with his prospects of returning to management with either Barcelona, Real Madrid or AC Milan.

According to The Observer, 'There has been no approach to Mourinho by the Americans, but Hicks and Gillett are understood to be actively considering replacement managers and are well aware of the abilities of the Portuguese, who discussed becoming Liverpool manager before joining Chelsea in 2004. Asked last night to comment on the pair's interest in employing Mourinho, Hicks declined.

'Mourinho's family were keen to live in London again when he was considering becoming England coach, although they do not hold the same enthusiasm about the wetter, colder and (in their view) less cosmopolitan North-West. 'Liverpool is not the same as London,' said a friend. 'But Liverpool is a big club and Jose loves English football. For now we have to wait.''

Benitez Puts Job On The Line.. And Rotates Yet Again

Rafa Benitez is ready for an almighty scrap to save his Anfield career, after admitting he is prepared to take another massive selection gamble.

The Liverpool manager will rest key players for tomorrow's tricky FA Cup visit to Luton, even though he knows that if the risk backfires, his position will be placed under unbearable pressure.

He will give Fernando Torres (right), Jamie Carragher, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard - who has a slight knock - the day off, and with Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio injured, a vastly-changed Liverpool side will give Luton real hope of a huge upset.

While that may seem foolhardy following two desperately disappointing performances in the last week which saw them slip out of the title race, Benitez is adamant he should be allowed to use an expensively assembled squad in cup competition.

And defending himself against charges emanating from within the club his selection policy undermines results, Benitez insisted resting his top stars tomorrow must not be seen as a gamble.

"If you can't change players for an FA Cup tie at Luton, then you can't compete to win the three competitions we're left in," he said.

"I believe all the players in my squad are good enough to play against Luton. It does not matter if you use Torres, Crouch or Voronin, for instance, because for me, it is more or less the same.

"So where is the risk? We have three players injured because they played too many games in a row, so it's more of a risk to use Jamie Carragher again and Torres again than to use Crouch, Voronin or Kuyt, for example."

Benitez accepts that should his side lose at Luton then his position at the club will become almost untenable and crucially, he seems to have lost the support of the board at Anfield.

But he said: "We finished third in the last two years, we had 82 points which was the Premier League record for the club.

"We've won four trophies, including one Champions League and reaching another final, so the progress is clear."

Sissoko Precedes Van Der Vaart?

Rafael Van Der Vaart has confirmed “I can see myself at Juventus,” but in the meantime the Bianconeri turn to Mohamed Sissoko or Javier Mascherano.

The Dutch international’s deal with Hamburg runs until July 2010, but he has rejected an offer to add another two years with wages worth £3m per season.

“I still dream of playing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs and if I signed for Hamburg until 2012, I’d have to wait too long for that to come true,” the 24-year-old told ‘Bild.’

“I still have another two and a half years on my contract and it is quite a long period. It was very difficult for me to turn down the offer, as it was an excellent proposal and the club did everything it could to keep me here.”

Inter and several Premiership and Liga sides had also shown an interest in Van Der Vaart, but he has made his preference very clear.

“I have not yet received an official bid, but I did hear that Juve are interested in me. I can really see myself at Juventus.”

An £11m proposal is already on the table with a five-year contract for the midfielder to be signed in June.

In the meantime, the Bianconeri want a January reinforcement to replace the Olympiacos-bound Sergio Almiron, who has been something of a flop since his switch from Empoli.

Their sights are firmly set on the Premier League and specifically Liverpool, where Sissoko is the prime target for a mid-season swoop.

The midfielder admitted it was “a mistake” to reject Juve’s offer in the summer and is increasingly marginalised after his row with Coach Rafa Benitez.

However, Sissoko would not be able to join his new teammates in Turin until February, as he will be playing in the African Cup of Nations.

Another alternative is his Liverpool colleague Mascherano, who could arrive on loan with a fixed payment set for the end of the season.

Rafa Benitez Faith In Fringe Players For FA Cup Test

Under-fire Rafael Benitez will place his faith in his fringe players tomorrow in the confidence that whichever team he selects should be good enough to beat Luton Town.

Liverpool travel to Kenilworth Road to face the Coca-Cola League One strugglers in an FA Cup third round tie for the second time in three seasons.

The Anfield manager will be without the services of skipper Steven Gerrard, one of several injury concerns as the effects of the hectic festive programme bite into his squad.

One name that has been linked with Liverpool is 23-year-old Zenit St Petersburg defender Martin Skrtel.

The Slovakian, who featured in Zenit’s 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park in December, is valued at £4-5million.

Benitez has come under renewed scrutiny after successive draws against Manchester City and Wigan Athletic left Liverpool 12 points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.

Defeat at Luton would heighten the pressure, but the Spaniard has no qualms with juggling his resources tomorrow.

“It’s important for us to progress in the competition,” said Benitez. “It is clear that the league is more difficult now than two games ago, but it is a long race and we need to keep going.

“All the players in our squad are good enough to play against Luton in the FA Cup. If we decide to use Crouch, Voronin, Torres or Crouch, for me it’s more or less the same.

“I need to look at players that have not been playing. For example, Lucas Leiva was playing a few weeks ago and doing well, so he is capable of playing in these games.

“If you can’t change players for an FA Cup tie at Luton, then you can’t compete to win the three competitions we’re left in.”

As well as Gerrard, who has a calf problem, Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) and Alvaro Arbeloa (calf) will also miss tomorrow’s tie, although all three are expected to be available for the league visit to Middlesbrough next Saturday.

Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, John Arne Riise, Lucas and Momo Sissoko are all pressing for a starting role at Luton while Charles Itandje could replace Pepe Reina in goal.

“We know that we have had too many players playing games in a row, and it could be a risk to use them,” added Benitez. “Now, after the last game, we have Aurelio, Gerrard and Arbeloa injured.

“It’s more of a risk to use Carra again and Torres again than to use Crouch, Voronin or Kuyt, for example. We need to manage the squad and use the best players for the game against Luton.

“I don’t think the team overall looked tired at the end of the Wigan game, but maybe some of the players that were playing a lot of games in a row were a bit tired.

“We have two or three weeks where we don’t play two games a week. It means we can prepare everything much better, the players will be fitter and we can prepare the team for the rest of the season.”

With doubts persisting over Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger, Jack Hobbs is on standby to start at centre-back.

“I need to see the situation with Sami and Agger,” said Benitez. “They will train tomorrow and it would be a risk for both. I need to speak with the doctor and see how they are, but if they are available I might use one of them or maybe both. If not, then I will use Jack Hobbs.

“Daniel needs confidence. He needs to be sure. We had a problem with Alonso against Arsenal and were without him for another three weeks, so with Agger we must be careful.”

Benitez yesterday dismissed rumours of moves for Chelsea’s Wayne Bridge and Mallorca midfielder Juan Arango while insisting Hyypia, a target for Fulham, is not for sale.

Instead, a centre-back remains the priority with Liverpool confident they are close to securing a signature.

“We are working hard with the owners and the chief executive,” said Benitez. “We are progressing in some business. We need a centre-back and are not looking for a left-back.”

Time Is Precious In Race For Premier Progress

It has become tradition that whenever he leads Liverpool to silverware, Rafael Benitez buys his wife Montse a watch. Such a gift is perhaps fitting given the Anfield manager knows all too well the value of time in a profession that doesn’t grant much.

The clock began ticking a little louder on Benitez’s tenure after a festive campaign in which his team fell further behind in their quest for the Premier League crown.

Successive draws against Manchester City and Wigan Athletic have increased the scrutiny of the Spaniard’s methods and exposed how Liverpool trail Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea in the top-flight pecking order.

Benitez will hope relief comes in the form of a lengthy FA Cup run, starting tomorrow with the visit to Luton Town in the third round.

A memorable 5-3 victory at Kenilworth Road at the same stage of the competition two years was the catalyst for a cup campaign which ended with the trophy being lifted by Steven Gerrard in Cardiff.

Benitez believes that triumph is an indication of the strides made under his tenure. But while confident that progress continues to be made at a rapid rate, the manager accepts keeping pace with their main rivals remains an increasingly difficult objective.

“We’ve won four trophies, including one Champions League and reaching another final, so the progress is clear,” says the Spaniard.

In the league, Arsenal, United and Chelsea have very good teams and are also spending big money. We are progressing but they are also. We need to progress faster than them, sometimes it’s possible and sometimes it isn’t.

“Expectation can be a problem. When we started this season, everybody was talking about how we can be title contenders this year. I think the same too, but with the other teams also improving their squads, you never know.

“If it’s just a race against the watch, then we are faster than before. But if it’s against the others, it depends on them also whether you finish first, second or third.”

Benitez adds: “As a manager at a football club you just think about winning. It’s difficult but it’s simple. If you keep winning then everybody is happy, the owners, everyone at the club, and the supporters.

“I don’t think that the owners are putting more pressure on me. We are working hard together now trying to improve the squad in January. I don’t have any problems with the situation now. I think it was a misunderstanding in the past, now we are working together. Foster Gillett is here now and I speak to him every day.

“We are doing the plan for this season, as this season hasn’t finished yet. We will continue thinking about this season and also the future.”

Liverpool are 12 points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal and are currently outside the automatic Champions League places.

While Benitez hasn’t given up hope of the title just yet, he concedes his team will almost certainly need a maximum-point haul from their trips to the Emirates, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge later this season.

“I have a lot of confidence that like two years ago we can win some games in a row and progress and try to get closer,” he says. “I cannot lie and say the Premier League will be easy. In England it’s always difficult and it’s now more difficult than it was two games ago.

No-one is the champion yet. But we must do everything almost perfect if we want to win the title. Now is not the time to ask if we can or cannot win the title. In two months time we will know more. The games against the other top teams will be more important now.”

With calf injury victim Gerrard among several players unavailable tomorrow, Benitez is expected to make a raft of changes for the visit to Kenilworth Road.

And the manager has urged his players to stamp out the profligacy that has undermined their efforts in recent outings.

“We were really disappointed after the Wigan game,” he says. “We deserved to win four games over Christmas and we could not. But we can’t dwell on that disappointment. We have to think about working, and the commitment of the staff and the players is 100%.

“If you analyse the other teams, then they sometimes have bad games but win, and that’s been the difference this season. We’ve been playing well but not scoring the second goal to finish off the game, and that’s been a problem. The players know that we need to improve in this particular area.”

Liverpool came from 3-1 down to win 5-3 in their famous third-round clash at Luton in January 2006, with Xabi Alonso scoring one of the competition’s great goals from inside his own half – despite Gerrard’s initial disgust the Spaniard had shot instead of passing.

And Benitez says: “It was an exciting game with a lot happening in it. I remember the goal of Xabi Alonso and how disappointed Gerrard was with the way he had shot for goal.

“Maybe I had the same reaction as Gerrard as I thought Xabi might have passed, but it was a fantastic goal in a very good game.

“I have good memories of that, if not the 5-3 scoreline. I am not sure my heart could cope with that again, especially as we were 3-1 down in the second half.

“It’s important for Luton to play against a top team. Their supporters will be pleased to see Liverpool again and maybe it will help the club’s financial situation.”

Hobbs Relishing Cup Chance

Liverpool's teenager Jack Hobbs is relishing the prospect of facing Luton in the FA Cup on Sunday.

The last time teenager Hobbs got the chance of a cup run-out for Liverpool Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink broke his nose.

The 19-year-old has been eased gently into senior action by manager Rafael Benitez these past few months but the former Lincoln City centre-back is likely to find himself involved in Sunday's third round tie at Luton.

Liverpool will be without calf injury victim Steven Gerrard at Kenilworth Road, but it is the absence of defenders Alvaro Arbeloa (calf) and Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) that increases the chances of Hobbs playing.

With Liverpool's other injury problems in central defence - Sami Hyypia (ankle) and Daniel Agger (foot) are still not fully recovered from long-term problems - Benitez may well be prepared to give Hobbs another chance to shine.

Benitez could use John Arne Riise in the heart of defence but Hobbs will fancy his chances of playing.

"We will wait for medical reports but youngsters like Hobbs and Lucas Leiva could be involved," said Benitez.

Hobbs originally made his Liverpool debut as a late substitute in the Carling Cup victory at Reading in September and his next outing came in the same competition when Cardiff arrived at Anfield with Hasselbaink and Kop legend Robbie Fowler up front.

"It was great to start that match and I learned a lot from facing Fowler and Hasselbaink," said Hobbs.

"They may not be in their prime now but they had so much experience. I really had to be on my toes against them."

But Hobbs was not quick enough to avoid colliding with the back of Hasselbaink's head, breaking his nose.

"Initially I did not realise it was broken when I collided with him. At the time the doctor put some ice on it and said it would be fine," added the teenager.

"I only found out how bad it was after the game. I don't think the medical staff wanted to tell me during the interval and I didn't want to be worried about such things then.

"The initial impact wasn't that bad, it only made my eyes water and there wasn't much blood.

"Hasselbaink gave me some stick after the collision but I didn't pay any attention to him."

But the real pain came when Hobbs needed the problem rectified afterwards. He said: "My nose had to be straightened and it wasn't a nice experience.

"The doctor needed three attempts to push it back into place. In the end he said 'Wiggle your toes' and when I did he pushed my nose back into place."

Since then Hobbs has been around the squad, travelling in the party to away matches, and got another chance when Jamie Carragher was injured in the home win over Bolton in early December.

Hobbs came on as a second half substitute and found himself facing Nicolas Anelka.

Liverpool were 2-0 up at that stage and Hobbs said: "One of my mates texted me afterwards and said I had Anelka in my pocket.

"That wasn't the case; he's one of the best around but he'd probably lost interest by the time I got on."

Whether Hobbs is plunged into a televised match against a Luton side desperate for a top club's scalp is open to debate.

Had Liverpool been in a better position in the league and viewing the cup ties as matches to rotate younger players into the action, Hobbs may have been a certainty to start.

But Liverpool need to win and attempt to give the back-end of a disappointing domestic season a significant target like an FA Cup final.

Hobbs said: "It gives me a lot of confidence that the manager has been willing to put me in the team.

"Now that I have played a few games it means he believes in me. I have got to pay back that trust by putting in good performances.

"Hopefully I will get the chance to do that in the second half of the season."

Preview: Luton Town vs. LiverpooL

Liverpool travel to Luton on Sunday aiming to avoid an early exit from the FA Cup.

The pair served up a cup classic when they met in the third round in 2006 with Liverpool finally prevailing 5-3 at Kenilworth Road.

Liverpool will be hoping that the draw is a good omen for them as they went on to win the cup in 2006 after overcoming Luton.

Luton, who were docked ten points after going into administration in November, go into the game in good form after winning three of their last four matches.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is expected to shuffle his pack for the trip south after a busy festive programme.

Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun, Lucas and Andrei Voronin could all be handed places in the starting XI.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has been ruled out with a calf problem.

Luton are still without suspended duo Chris Coyne and Anthony Grant.

Sam Parkin is pushing for a recall after recovering from injury and Paul Furlong could start after a hamstring problem.

Veteran striker Paul Peschisolido is ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious ankle injury.

More updated details soon....check back in 24 hours.

Alonso Awaits Luton Town Rematch

Liverpool face a potential banana skin of an FA Cup third round tie this weekend as they take on League One strugglers Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

But the Reds have proved they know how to get the job done against the Hatters, even if they suffered an almighty scare during their cup clash in the same round two years ago.

Rafa Benítez' ultimately rounded out 5-3 winners, with the highlight being Xabi Alonso's strike from inside his own half. "Of course I remember that one," smiled Alonso when reminded of his last-minute wondergoal.

"I don't score so many goals so I remember all of them. That goal became very popular because of where it was scored from and because of Stevie's reaction. It was great for me, for the team and for the supporters.

"But I would think it's not likely to be repeated anyway. It brings back good memories for me though. It was a very exciting game and we managed to win it after being 3-1 down and we ended up going to the cup final that year."

Liverpool famously lifted the FA Cup that year after an equally entertaining 3-3 draw and penalties win over West Ham United, a game many fans heralded as the best FA Cup final for 50 years.

The Reds would like to repeat the feat in 2007, but Benítez would prefer that the players didn't put themselves in such great danger before coming back to win this time.

"The manager would just like us to win because I don't think he is really a big fan of big scores where you concede a lot of goals," explained Alonso. "This is the first round of the FA Cup for us and it is a great competition so we are really looking forward to it. But it is a tricky tie and we will have to see what happens.

"The thought of getting to Wembley is a motivation for us but there are still a lot of games to play before anyone thinks of that and first we have to concentrate on Luton. It's going to be a huge game for Luton and I'm sure they are going to work really hard so it is not going to be easy for us."

Wenger: Don't Write Off Liverpool's Title Challenge Yet

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not written off Liverpool's title challenge just yet.

Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Wigan last weekend left them 12 points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal and outside of the Champions League places.

To make matters worse for under-pressure Anfield boss Rafael Benitez, his side still have to travel to Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

But Wenger knows from personal experience that Liverpool cannot be discounted with half the season remaining. In 1997-98, Arsenal came from 13 points off the pace to win the title.

And Wenger said: 'I wouldn't say it is completely (a three horse race). I still feel Liverpool are in the race but they cannot have any blips anymore.

'They are still a dangerous team. The disadvantage for them is that there are three teams in front of them (Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea) who might not drop many points.

'I still don't dismiss them at this stage. It happened to us in 1997-98 and we made the ground up.'

Rafa Eager To Keep Mascherano

Rafa Benitez wants to keep Javier Mascherano at Liverpool, and sign a new centre-half in January.

Mascherano has been a big hit at Anfield since arriving last January on an 18-month loan deal.

But the Reds have yet to take up a £17million option to sign him permanently, leading to speculation he could end up elsewhere.

Benitez however is hoping that Mascherano, a target for the likes of Barcelona, will stay on Merseyside. The player himself has already said he wants to remain with the Reds.

"We know Juventus and other top sides are interested in him but we have the option," Benitez told the club's official website.

"Javier is happy here and wants to stay. We will do our best to keep him here."

Benitez meanwhile says he's hoping to sign a centre-half during the January transfer window, and not a left-back as many reports have claimed.

Some speculation was linking Chelsea's Wayne Bridge with a move to Merseyside, but Benitez says he won't be arriving, and added that veteran central defender Sami Hyypia won't be leaving.

"We are looking for a centre back and not a left back," he added.

"We are working hard with the new owners and the Chief Executive to find an option."

Liverpool Show Interest In Wayne Bridge

Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge has emerged as one of the players on Liverpool's transfer window shortlist.

Liverpool have yet to make formal contact with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon over a possible transfer, but it is thought that the 27-year-old is one of a number of left-backs being closely monitored by the club.

Although Chelsea are unlikely to want to sell the former Southampton full-back to a top-four rival, Bridge could angle for a move away from Stamford Bridge as he sees himself as second choice behind Ashley Cole.

Despite playing the last two matches against Fulham and Newcastle, Bridge has spent more time on the sidelines since the arrival of Cole 18 months ago.

His prospects at Chelsea have further been given a setback with Serbia international Branislav Ivanovic of Lokomotiv Moscow closing in on a £10 million move to west London.

Ivanovic can operate anywhere along the back line and, while he has spent more time on the right, has indicated that he prefers to play on the left.

Bridge has already spent time away from Stamford Bridge following a four-month loan spell at Fulham at the end of last season.

He has also attracted the attention of Tottenham in the past but Bridge could see Liverpool as the club to reignite his career and a chance to return to regular first-team action.

A move could also aid his chances of adding to his 27 international caps with Fabio Capello to officially take over the England reins on Monday.

Barcelona Looking For Chance To Sign Mascherano

Barcelona are said to be one of a number of clubs in Spain eager to sign Javier Mascherano if Liverpool fail to convert his loan a permanent transfer.

The status of Javier Mascherano at Liverpool has been a vexed question for several weeks, with Reds' manager Rafael Benitez publicly urging the club's American co-owners to act quickly to sign the Argentine on a permanent basis - or risk losing the key defensive midfielder.

Benitez and owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, have appeared to fall out over this and related transfer issues, the Spaniard urging haste and suggesting that the Americans do not understand how the European transfer market works.

But the future at Anfield of Mascherano - and, some believe, of Benitez himself - remains uncertain.

Liverpool dropped more home points last night to struggling Wigan and were overtaken in the table again by Manchester City. Should Liverpool remain outside the top four, Hicks and Gillett will see their already-strained financial plans for the club further compromised, in turn putting Benitez under greater pressure.

It is looking likely that he will not be allowed to spend much money in the January transfer window, and with Mascherano's loan ending in the summer, they risk losing the Argentine star.

Hicks and Gillett are not willing to spend £17million to secure him now, which could prompt the player's agents to tout him around Europe to the highest bidders.

And Barcelona are, says the Daily Mail, poised to pounce.

Mascherano himself is quoted as saying: "With the time that has passed, it will now be more difficult for me to stay here because I need to do something about my future.

"I have done everything to stay but now the owners have to decide if they want to buy me or not."

Finnan Disappointed With Liverpool's Inability To Translate Good Performances Into Wins

Liverpool defender Steve Finnan admitted that the Reds failure in collecting full points from the games they have performed impressively at Anfield, is marring their Premiership title hopes.

Star striker Fernando Torres’ strike against Wigan Athletic gave Liverpool the hope of notching a victory but Latics defender Titus Bramble’s equalizer put their hopes to rest to see the Reds once again failing to grasp the two valuable points.

"No disrespect to Wigan but if you want to challenge for the title then you need to be winning games like this," he said.

"We had taken the lead as well and we thought we were going to go on and win the game.

"The goal we scored was a good one and it is obviously frustrating and really disappointing that we didn't win.

"The first goal is always important, especially when a team sits back a lot because it can be hard to break them down.

"So when you get that first goal you think you will go on from there but we didn't do that and they came back into the game.

"After Titus (Bramble) scored we had one or two chances but we didn't really look like we were going to score and overall it is disappointing.

"We have players who are capable of scoring goals but sometimes they just don't go in and it was the same against Man City but we definitely have the players there.

"We've slipped up at home and it is going to be really difficult but we've got to look to the 18 games we’ve got left and try to do our best."

Rafa Benitez Remains Bullish Over Title Chances

Rafael Benitez denies his Liverpool side are out of the Premier league title race despite a dismal home draw with Wigan Athletic on Wednesday which saw them slip out of the top four.

Liverpool led 1-0 through Fernando Torres' 16th goal of the season until 11 minutes from time when Titus Bramble grabbed a shock equaliser for Wigan.

"I do not think there is a lack of confidence, we need more luck and to score the chances we are creating," Benitez said. "We are creating chances but not taking them. One more would have killed the game. We deserved more than we got. Their keeper [Chris Kirkland] made some very good saves, but we still made enough chances to have won the game.

"The league table is looking difficult, we need to reduce that gap but we must not start to look at the table too much, just keep going and keep creating chances.

"We can reduce the gap, but it is best not to talk about it, just go out and score the goals we are missing."

Two league wins in their last six matches and a shocking home record [they have dropped 13 points in 10 matches at Anfield] has seen Liverpool fall 12 points behind leaders Arsenal, still with a game in hand, but facing tough away games at the Emirates, Manchester United and Chelsea.

"It is difficult to explain why our home form is not good," Benitez said. "We are controlling all the games, we are passing the ball well, controlling almost everything. But we paid for one mistake.

"There is no need to analyse the four holiday games, we deserved to beat Manchester City, we deserved to win against Wigan, while we beat Portsmouth and Derby, but we have lost four points in these games and it has meant the gap is bigger.

"There is no point being too critical of performances. We know we were much better than City and Wigan but we know we need to win, that is simple."

LiverpooL 1 - 1 Wigan

Liverpool's slim title hopes were all-but extinguished after they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Wigan at Anfield.

The draw, coupled with Manchester City's win at Newcastle, dropped Rafael Benitez's side to fifth in the Barclays Premier League and left them trailing leaders Arsenal by 12 points with a match in hand.

Striker Fernando Torres had put the home side ahead in the 49th minute but they could not find the important second goal and Titus Bramble smashed in an 80th-minute equaliser.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has long had the Indian sign over Benitez and now he has managed to frustrate the Liverpool boss twice in the same season at Anfield with different clubs.

Bruce never lost a league match to Benitez while he was at former club Birmingham and earlier this season he engineered a draw for Blues at Anfield and he achieved a similar result on his return.

Winger Jermaine Pennant made his Liverpool comeback after being out since October with a fractured right leg, while Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt were rested to the bench, with Xabi Alonso also returning.

Wigan made one change from the side that lost at home to Aston Villa last time out, former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey returned from injury with Antoine Sibierski dropping to the bench.

The visitors' game plan was pretty obvious, putting every one behind the ball in their own half when Liverpool had possession, which was almost continuously in the opening period.

Heskey and Marcus Bent were quick to break and after spinning the ball around between themselves for long spells it was the loss of possession by the hosts, and a ball up to the big England striker, that forced Jose Reina into a swift run to the edge of the box to punch hurriedly away.

Liverpool were painfully slow in their build-up and the nearest they got in the opening stages was when Torres was judged fractionally offside when he got away to beat Chris Kirkland after 13 minutes.

Wigan were quick to make use of set-pieces and when a corner was not cleared Michael Brown lashed as 20-yard shot just wide of a post.

Kirkland saved well after 21 minutes when Javier Mascherano exchanged passes with Torres before rolling in a low shot.

From then on until the break it was Liverpool who were frustrated as they searched for openings, with Torres lifting a pass into the box only for Gerrard's snap-shot to be held by Kirkland.

Crosses from Pennant, Steve Finnan and Steven Gerrard all caused problems but without any end product.

Torres then saw a flicked header just clear the crossbar after a 25-yard Alonso free-kick, before the Spain striker set up Gerrard for a right-foot shot which he pulled wide of the far post.

The breakthrough for Liverpool came soon after the break when Finnan committed himself to attack to disrupt Wigan's back-line.

After 49 minutes he found Gerrard on the right and kept running for the return, which arrived perfectly for him to cross first-time to allow Torres to tuck the ball inside Kirkland's left-hand post.

Paul Scharner was booked after 58 minutes for a foul on Mascherano and when Gerrard fired in a fierce free-kick Kirkland spilled it and the Argentinian almost got on the end of the slip.

Scharner's late intervention stopped Torres adding another after a clever flick, before Kirkland saved well to his left from a Gerrard drive.

Liverpool needed the cushion of a second goal and Torres' cross-field ball presented Harry Kewell with a chance but he blasted inches over from 30 yards.

It was the Australian's last involvement as he was replaced by Benayoun after 73 minutes.

Mascherano was booked for a foul on Bent as Wigan broke quickly from defence and before the free-kick Wigan sent on Jason Koumas for Ryan Taylor.

But when the set-piece was lifted into the box Gerrard failed to get the ball away properly and when it fell to defender Bramble he lashed a shot past Reina for his second goal in as many matches.

Gerrard tried to make amends, firing a low shot at Kirkland that was pushed out with the Liverpool captain just failing to reach the rebound.

Liverpool sent on Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt for Mascherano and Pennant but they could not force a winner.

Preview: Liverpool vs. Wigan Atheltic

Wigan’s very recent path to success means there is little history between these two sides, but two former Liverpool players – Emile Heskey and Chris Kirkland – will return to Anfield seeking to make a solid start to 2008 on familiar ground.

However, Wigan know that getting a result on Wednesday will be a tall order – they have yet to earn so much as a draw against the Reds in their entire history.

"When you got a place like Anfield, you need to be at your best to get something and it's always a massive occasion for any club to visit there,” said new Latics boss Steve Bruce.

“To get something at Anfield would be a great achievement. We will go there full of confidence and approach the game in the same way as we would any other,” added the former United player, who has a 0-0 draw at Liverpool this season as manager of Birmingham.

Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa was a major disappointment for Wigan, who threw away a 1-0 lead and brought to an end a streak of seven points from nine. But the bigger picture, however, is just two wins in 17. The Latics once again find themselves in the relegation zone. They’ll be keen to clamber out as soon as possible, but is Anfield really the place to do it?

Despite what much of the media have claimed, Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Manchester City wasn’t a bad result: United lost at Eastlands and only Blackburn have matched Liverpool’s feat of a point so far this season. However, the fact remains that the gap to league leaders Arsenal is now two points greater than it was heading into the weekend. Time is slowly but surely running out for Liverpool’s title challenge.

As has often been the case this season, Rafa Benítez’ side have failed to convert pressure and chances into goals when it matters most: comfortable wins are great morale boosters, but a couple of sly 1-0’s yield more points than a 4-0 thrashing followed by a scoreless draw.

City defended well, but – more so than any of their title rivals – those were two points Liverpool could not afford to drop. Anything other than three points against lowly Wigan and the Anfield faithful must resign themselves to yet another season without the league championship.

The pressure is particularly on strikers Kuyt, Voronin and Crouch to start pulling their weight: the trio notched a paltry one goal between them in all competitions in December, and even that was hardly a key strike (Kuyt scored the third in the 4-0 win at Marseille).

As great as Fernando Torres is, Liverpool cannot keep relying on him to score the important goal in every game. Wednesday, against a Wigan side with just one clean sheet in 18 games, would be a fine time for Liverpool’s other forwards to rediscover their goalscoring form and begin justifying their place in the squad.



FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Match Result Date Championship
Manchester City - Liverpool 0 - 0 30/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 CARLING CUP
Liverpool - Man Utd. 0 - 1 16/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Marseille - Liverpool 0 - 4 11/12/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE




Wigan

Match Result Date Championship
Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa 1 - 2 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Newcastle 1 - 0 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Blackburn 5 - 3 15/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Bolton - Wigan Athletic 4 - 1 09/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Manchester City 1 - 1 01/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE




TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Peter Crouch has completed his three-match ban and is available for selection. The news is less positive in defence, however, as Sami Hyypia’s ankle continues to bother him and Daniel Agger is still not fit. Benítez will probably select Arbeloa over Hobbs at centre-back, but may rotate his midfield and forwards once more. Torres will probably start, but it remains to be seen whether Crouch or Voronin get the nod over Kuyt.

Likely XI (4-4-2): Reina – Finnan, Carragher, Arbeloa, Riise – Babel, Gerrard, Alonso, Aurélio – Torres, Voronin

Wigan

Emile Heskey resumed training on Monday and could be recalled against his old club. Jason Koumas is also available having recovered from a groin strain. Sibierski and Taylor respectively will probably make way for the duo.

Likely XI (4-4-2): Kirkland – Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane – Valencia, Brown, Landzaat, Koumas – Bent, Heskey



PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Andriy Voronin (pictured)

Fernando Torres will no doubt be keen to return to goalscoring ways at Anfield on Wednesday, but it is Liverpool’s other strikers who really need goals at the moment. Voronin has failed to set Merseyside alight since arriving from Leverkusen, netting just four times and not since October’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham. 2008’s first game gives the Ukrainian a chance to make a fresh start.

Wigan – Chris Kirkland

All eyes will be on Emile Heskey as he makes his Anfield return, but it is Chris Kirkland, another former Liverpool man, who will be of the greatest importance to the Latics. Blighted by injury, the goalkeeper was granted insufficient chances to make an impression in front of the Kop. A clean sheet on Wednesday would show the Reds exactly what talents they’ve thrown away.

Gerrard Gets The SAS To Guard His House

England star Steven Gerrard has hired a crack team of former SAS soldiers to protect his family after a terrifying raid.

The 27-year-old Liverpool captain took drastic action after his wife Alex Curran was threatened at their £4.5million home while he was playing in France.

The security men, whose regimental motto was Who Dares Wins, are now guarding Gerrard's home around the clock.

A friend told The Daily Mirror: "Stevie just felt that something had to be done to protect his wife, himself and his children. The safety of the ones he loves was the priority. These guys will now be there for him 24 hours a day. The family can sleep soundly." Alex confronted four masked men after hearing noises downstairs at their mansion in Formby, Merseyside, last month.

As daughters Lilly-Ella, three, and one-year-old Lexie slept, Mirror columnist Alex came face-to-face with the gang. They threatened her with violence before escaping with a large haul of jewellery.

Gerrard was told of the robbery at the end of a Champions League game against Marseille.

Alex, 25, was still in a state of shock when her husband arrived back home in the early hours.

The player was clearly upset the next day when he talked about his wife's ordeal. He said he was just relieved that no one was hurt but friends said he was angry his home had been raided while he was away.

A friend said: "Steve was livid. It was the work of cowards, hitting a property where they must have known there was only his wife and children there.

"Stevie was just the latest of several Liverpool players whose homes had been raided while they were playing away.

"The club started to look at ways to provide cover for the players' houses whenever they were away.

"But Stevie realised he needed something a bit extra and that's how he came to get involved with these specialist guys."

Javier Mascherano Unsure Of Liverpool Future

Uncertainty surrounding Liverpool's finances and indecision in the transfer market could lead Javier Mascherano to leave Anfield, with Barcelona said to be interested.

Mascherano is currently on a loan arrangement at the club after signing from West Ham United, where he was on a similar deal, a year ago following an unsuccessful spell at Upton Park.

The Argentine has revived his reputation at Liverpool as one of the best holding midfield players in world football and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is keen to tie up a permanent deal for the player.

However, Benitez has yet to fully resolve a dispute with Liverpool's American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, over what funds will be available to him to strengthen a squad that is in danger of falling out of the title race little over half way through the season and even faces competition from Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa for the fourth Champions League position.

Liverpool's shaky form this season means that Hicks and Gillett - already having to refinance their own loans used to buy the club due to the global credit crunch and having scaled down ambitions plans for a new stadium - might be unwilling to meet the £17 million asking price for the player.

The player's agents have already put word out that he is for sale and have had positive feedback, particularly from the Nou Camp.

"With the time that has passed, it'll now be more difficult for me to stay here because I need to do something about my future," said Mascherano.

"I have done everything to stay but now the owners must decide if they want to buy me or not."

Liverpool host relegation-threatened Wigan at Anfield tonight with Benitez conscious, after recent dropped points, that only victory will keep his side in touch with the Premier League leaders.

Eriksson May Have To Swap To Land Crouch

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has reportedly earmarked Liverpool striker Peter Crouch as his top January transfer target - but he may have to negotiate a swap deal with the Anfield club to land him.

Sven-Goran Eriksson became a Peter Crouch fan when he was manager of England and selected the forward for the national team. Now he sees him as the player to give his promising City side an extra dimenbsion and a more consistent goal threat.

Eriksson has been tipped for weeks to be lining up a bid for Crouch, whose first-team opportunities at Liverpool have been restricted since the Anfield arrivals of Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.

However, the Manchester Evening News suggests that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who is known to be keen to bring in more new faces, and who (says the paper) has been told by his American bosses that he has very little money to spend this January, might favour a swap deal.

The men describes Benitez as a 'known admirer' of City's England Under-21 pair, Michael Johnson and Nedum Onuoha.

City's prized asset is Micah Richards, but although he has yet to sign a new £50,000 a week contract at Eastlands as he changes agents, City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is determined to resist any attempts to lure the England defender away.

Shinawatra's vision is to achieve European qualification for City with a team that is a blend of overseas superstars and Academy graduates.

Meanwhile Mexico striker Nery Castillo is not eligible for tonight's Premier League clash at Newcastle because the League's offices were not open to register him yesterday. The rule is that a player's name must be with the authorities 24 hours before he can be selected.

Castillo has arrived at City on a £3million, 12-month loan deal from Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk, but he will be available to play for City in Saturday's FA Cup third round tie at West Ham.

His arrival at Eastlands marked the staret of the second phase of Eriksson's recruitment drive.

The Swede, who has steered City to an impressive first half of the season, brought in eight players during his initial spending spree last summer.

But his priority this month is to sign a top striker.

Eriksson said: "We are talking to agents and we are trying in this country as well as abroad. I think something else will happen in January and we will be having meetings over the next few days.

“But it is difficult because we are working and the rest of Europe is on holiday, so it is hard to talk to people right now.”

Sissoko Now Ranieri’s Number One Target

Momo Sissoko is now Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri’s number one January transfer target, following the likely failure to sign Boca Juniors’ Ever Banega.

The Bianconeri are widely known to be in the market for a top-class centre midfielder and their bid to sign Banega seems to have failed, with Spanish giants Valencia set to tie up a deal over the next week or so.

Mali midfielder Sissoko is unhappy at his lack of playing time at Liverpool, as he currently finds himself behind Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in the centre-midfield pecking order.

Ranieri is a huge admirer of the player, having worked with him at Valencia in 2004/05, and sees him as the “new Patrick Vieira”.

According to the Corriere dello Sport, Ranieri will now do everything in his power to bring Sissoko to the club when the transfer window re-opens at midnight.

He may even be prepared to include defender Jonathan Zebina in a player exchange deal, an offer that Liverpool are likely to consider, given their previous interest in the Frenchman.

Ranieri and Zebina are not on the best of terms following the 29-year-old’s sending off against Cagliari in week two, when he received a long suspension for then slapping a cameraman as he walked off the pitch.

Liverpool Boss Rafa Heads Race For Reinforcements As Window Opens

Rafael Benitez is plotting a transfer splash when the January window opens tonight after Liverpool slipped 10 points off the Barclays Premier League title pace.

Experts predict that spending will top the record £70million January outlay by Premiership clubs in 2006 - and Benitez cannot afford to be left standing with Manchester United planning a £10m raid for FC Porto's right back Jose Bosingwa.

Sunday's goalless draw at Manchester City left Liverpool trailing leaders Arsenal by 10 points and Benitez will risk his uneasy relationship with the club's American owners by asking them to bankroll his attempts to revive their faltering title challenge.

But he will not be the only one chasing new blood. United are being linked with two full backs while neighbours City will also spend heavily.

United's defensive targets are Bosingwa and Lokomotiv Moscow left back Branislav Ivanovic, who is also wanted by Chelsea.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are facing a battle to hang on to Dimitar Berbatov, even though chairman Daniel Levy insisted yesterday that they would fight to hang on to their top players.

The main target is Bulgaria striker Berbatov, who scored four goals in Saturday's 6-4 win over Reading.

Levy said: "Once again for the record, we are not a selling club. We're building for the future."

But Berbatov's agent Emile Dantchev confirmed interest from one Premier League club - thought to be Manchester United - and two others abroad, warning: "Fans must understand that Dimitar is 27 next month and time is running out for him to play for a club that can match his ambition. I would like to stress this is not about money.

"This is about sporting ambition. Dimitar is perfectly happy with Juande Ramos and the way he is working. But after Tottenham's bad start, it is unlikely they'll have a chance to do something big this season.

"It is a long-term plan for them. Dimitar wants to fulfil his potential and win trophies now. He would definitely consider a move outside of England. That is not the issue. What matters is it is a club that matches his ambition and level and there are only five or six around Europe.

"Two clubs outside of England and one in the Premier League are interested in him."

At Anfield, while Benitez may have fallen out with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over transfer strategy, there was no doubting the Spaniard's intent as he looked forward to the window opening.

"We are working very hard on some things and we are doing our best," said the Spaniard after the 0-0 draw at Eastlands. "We are speaking to people and I am trying to make things better for now and also for the future. We are confident that we can sign the right players at the right price."

United have stepped up their search for Gary Neville's long-term replacement by targeting Bosingwa, Portugal's first-choice right back.

Ivanovic is favourite to fill the other problem position at left back, while United may also move for Porto centre back Bruno Alves.

Kewell Puts Off Thoughts Of New Contract

Harry Kewell is not even thinking about a new contract as he tries to claim a regular place in the Liverpool side.

The Australian midfielder, whose contract runs out in the summer, has suffered four years of injury problems at Anfield. From the new year he would be free to discuss his future with other clubs.

But after figuring in 11 of Liverpool's last 14 matches, it is clear that boss Rafael Benitez is giving Kewell every chance to prove his worth and win a new deal.

Benitez is currently trying to bolster his defence, and after Sunday's 0-0 draw at Manchester City he made it clear he was trying to bring in a young centre-back due to the injury problems of Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger.

Chief executive Rick Parry insists there is money to spend, despite the very public fall-out between Benitez and the club's American owners, but it is unlikely the Spanish manager will have anything but a limited amount to spend in this transfer window.

Parry said: "Money is always available if we need it. We are not going to give our plans away, but if we need to do something, we will do it."

Alvaro Arbeloa is expected to continue in central defence against Wigan on Wednesday, with Hyypia (ankle) and Agger (broken metatarsal) still unlikely to be fit, while youngster Jack Hobbs is unlikely to be risked against the potential return of Emile Heskey.

And Kewell will also hope to get a further run in the side for Anfield's first game of 2008.

Kewell, in a Liverpool FC magazine interview, explained his attitude to the next few months.

He said: "The last four years have been hellish with one injury after another.

"But I can't even think about a new contract. That is what people have been talking about and saying about me, but I will tell the truth so the fans know the truth.

"And that is why I haven't honestly thought about it. I can't think about it at the moment.

"With my injury history and my record over the last two seasons, games and goals wise, I can look no further than the next match.

"That is all I am prepared to do. Take one training session at a time and do my best and give my all every time."

Kewell, who has been hit by a succession of groin problems, added: "Given my Liverpool career, and the way it has gone, all I want to do is take the chance that the manager is giving me.

"I want to repay him for that, and the boys who have helped me through, for sticking with me and not giving up.

"You don't want to know what I have been through in four years, with injury after injury. The places I've been mentally during all those times, it has been pretty dark."

Liverpool will have Peter Crouch back from his three-match suspension to be in contention against Wigan, the side he broke his goalless run against last year.

Sven Targets Crouch In January Sales

Liverpool’s out-of-sorts striker Peter Crouch is widely touted to become the first man to be bought in by Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in the January transfer window.

The Swede has overseen a complete overhaul of City’s on-field fortunes, leading them to fourth in the league and raising expectations to previously unthinkable levels.

And now the former England manager wants to maintain the club’s hike up the football ladder by persuading billionaire owner Dr Thaksin Shinawatra to part with some more of his cash.

After his team’s hard-fought draw against Liverpool Eriksson admitted that he was definitely on the hunt for new faces, but refused to reveal any names.

However, intense speculation from all corners suggests Crouch has already been approached by City representative after being given the green-light by Reds manager Rafael Benitez.

Eriksson has already paid-up around £3m for a loan-deal with a view to buy on Nery Castillo, and is thought to see Crouch as the ideal partner for the quick Mexican international.

"Castillo has happened and there will be something more", said Eriksson.

"The players we are talking about are big ones and cost a lot of money."

A deal for Crouch hasn’t not been officially ruled out by Benitez, who needs the extra money to buy his intended targets after a misunderstanding with his American bosses on the amount of money available to him for January transfers.

Liverpool Boss Benitez Desperate To Splash The Cash

Rafael Benitez is ready to plunge into the January transfer market in an attempt to solve Liverpool's central-defensive crisis.

With Sami Hyypia sidelined by an ankle injury and Daniel Agger still to recover from a broken foot, Benitez was forced to pick Alvaro Arbeloa alongside Jamie Carragher for yesterday's 0-0 draw with Manchester City at Eastlands.

Although a clean sheet suggests the decision worked, Benitez knows the situation is unsustainable over the long term and with youngster Jack Hobbs likely to be restricted to games such as next weekend's FA Cup tie at Luton, the Merseyside giants need reinforcements.

Benitez has been heavily linked with Fiorentina's Czech Republic international Tomas Ujfalusi, as well as AC Milan's Kakha Kaladze and Racing Santander's £8million-rated Ezequiel Garay.

The Liverpool boss is understandably not naming names. But, despite reports owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett would be offering a very restricted budget, Benitez is getting ready to spend.

'We are working to try to find some solutions and we are close to getting some players,' said Benitez.

'Until they actually put pen to paper we will keep working with the players we have but we are confident we can get the right players at the right price and that would be good for us.'

Benitez Lines Up Transfer Targets

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez says he will be active in the January transfer window to help revive the team's Premier League title challenge.

Benitez has refused to give up on the title despite seeing his side fall 10 points behind leaders Arsenal after being held 0-0 by Manchester City.

And he has revealed that new faces will be on their way to Anfield.

"We have some players, have some targets and we will try to sign the players we need," he said.

Earlier in the season, Benitez had a high-profile falling out with co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over his plans for the transfer window, but this was later blamed on trans-Atlantic communication difficulties and seems to have calmed down.

"Maybe we will bring in one, maybe two, if everyone is fit you never know. We are working hard and are very close," Benitez added.

Benitez was frustrated that his side could not break down a resilient City defence, but took pride in the display of his side who now sit in fourth place behind Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

"We knew they were playing really well at home, but we had our chances and could have won," he said.

"In the last 15 minutes, we were on top of them. For me, we deserved to win."

And despite the 10-point gap between his side and Premier league leaders Arsenal, the Spaniard is confident they can go on and life the title.

"We are 10 points behind the top with a game in hand, but if we play like we did on Sunday we will win a lot of games," said Benitez.

"I don't look at the table too much because I am busy analysing every game. We have one more point and can beat anyone."

Liverpool's next Premier League game is at home to Wigan on 2 January.

Manchester City 0 - 0 LiverpooL

Richard Dunne's heroic defensive display saw Manchester City thwart Liverpool's attempts to make up ground in the Premier League title race.

Dunne stood like an unshakeable tower as Rafael Benitez's men controlled a one-sided north-west derby without getting the breakthrough they deserved.

Fernando Torres was barely in the game such was Dunne's dominance of the Spaniard, with Harry Kewell, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun wasting the Reds' best opportunities before Joe Hart denied Dirk Kuyt late on.

Even then, the young City keeper needed Dunne to come to his aid with a goalline clearance from the rebound, ensuring a result which leaves Liverpool 10 points adrift of new leaders Arsenal.

Indeed, on this evidence, the Blues, just a point adrift of the fourth-placed Merseysiders, may take some shaking off as the battle for Champions League spots hots up in the new year.

When the host broadcaster describes a contest as "a thinking man's game", the chances are it is a cover for one lacking goalmouth incident, which, in this instance, for the first half at least, was certainly the case.

Given the prize for victory was fourth spot in the table heading into 2008, it would have been nice if Sven-Goran Eriksson had taken the fight to Liverpool right from the start.

Yet the pragmatic Swede has not got City into such a lofty position with free-flowing, attack-at-all-costs tactics.

Eriksson's philosophy has been to keep it tight at the back and in central midfield, then look to Elano, Martin Petrov, Stephen Ireland or Michael Johnson to conjure something up.

Given the latter man is nursing an abdominal injury, City's hopes were reduced by 25 per cent and Benitez is too astute a coach himself to give the other three free rein to exhibit their skills.

By half-time, Elano in particular must have been sick of seeing Jamie Carragher in his face.

The Liverpool defender, partnered by Alvaro Arbeloa as Sami Hyypia was ruled out with an ankle problem, was on hand to make a tackle or a block every time the South American came close to threatening.

As a result, City did not manage one single effort on goal during the opening period, although skipper Dunne should have done with a glancing header from Petrov's corner which ended up bouncing out for a throw-in.

But, to Liverpool's frustration, it was the same story at the other end, where Dunne and Richards were even more impressive than Carragher in their joint handling Torres.

Fortunate to escape wrestling the 15-goal forward to the floor in one early skirmish, Richards used his strength and speed to blunt Liverpool's star striker, with Dunne taking up the baton when necessary in equally formidable fashion.

In fact, the only offensive player to get the better of his marker on anything like a regular basis was Harry Kewell, who skipped past Nedum Onuoha on a couple of occasions.

England Under-21 keeper Hart needed a couple of attempts to smother the Australian's angled drive midway through the half while it was Kewell's cross that led to Fabio Aurelio lashing a speculative effort narrowly wide on the half-hour.

The suspicion remained Liverpool would eventually find a way through and within five minutes of the restart they had nearly done so three times.

After prodding one shot straight at Hart, Torres then found himself charging onto a Gerrard pass.

The young City keeper advanced quickly but was powerless to prevent Torres nudging the ball past.

For one awful moment, it looked as though Richards and Richard Dunne would get in each other's way as they raced back to clear before they both realised the effort was not going in and ushered it wide.

Then, Gerrard curled a free-kick narrowly beyond Hart's left-hand post after Richards had fouled Torres.

Hart tipped over from Yossi Benayoun and Gerrard fired wide as Liverpool maintained their early offensive, with City barely able to get out of their own half.

The introduction of Rolando Bianchi, still a popular figure among the City support despite his wide-ranging attack on the English game, was designed to relieve some of the pressure.

It did not really work as Benayoun and Gerrard peppered the City goal after the £8.8million Italian's arrival.

But the Blues, and Dunne in particular, would not yield.

The Irishman booted clear after Hart had denied Kuyt and when he slid in to block Benayoun's goalbound effort at the death, few would deny the defender deserved a share of the spoils.

Rafa Benitez Pins Hopes On Gerrard & Torres

Rafael Benitez prefers to call it "changing" rather than "rotating", but he now accepts that two of his players need to be deployed almost without break if Liverpool are to challenge for the Premier League title. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are simply indispensable.

Torres's glorious solo goal and Gerrard's swashbuckling winner at Derby on Boxing Day encapsulated the strengths and weaknesses of Liverpool's struggle to become English champions for the first time in 18 years. Even Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea must covet the Spanish striker and the Anfield captain, yet few of their colleagues would merit a regular place with the other three members of the Big Four.

Liverpool go to Manchester City today clinging to the coattails of the familiar front-runners and Benitez, though still an advocate of the squad system, acknowledged that Gerrard, 27, and Torres were fundamental to his club's ambitions.

"If Torres is not injured and Gerrard is not injured, you can maybe do a fantastic season," Benitez said. "You need some luck and also to change players at the right moment. The first year I was here Gerrard was injured for three months. The second year he scored 23 goals and we finished with 82 points.

"When you have three or four days between matches and you are a 23-year-old like Torres, it is easy to keep playing. For Gerrard, too."

Benitez was fortunate to inherit Gerrard's phenomenal capabilities, but takes the credit for signing Torres when other leading clubs, notably United, prevaricated. They knew he had good control and pace, but questioned whether he would score enough goals to justify the investment. Fifteen so far this season seems an emphatic response.

Benitez never doubted Torres had the attributes and application to succeed where others, including his countryman, Fernando Morientes, failed. "Maybe Torres has surprised other clubs because they were saying he would be signing for them," Benitez said. "But the first time I talked to him about coming here he was very clear - he wanted to come right away.

"He is a Spanish player who has come to a team with a Spanish manager and some Spanish speaking team-mates. It can be difficult for a manager to explain what he wants, but I tell him in Spanish and can explain things that maybe others couldn't. It is not the same to go through a translator.

"Torres will get better because he wants to improve. His mentality is good. If you tell him he needs to work hard, he works harder. If you need him to stay and practice after training, he stays and practices.

"When we signed Morientes his mentality was really good. I was looking for a player good in the air and a target man. But Morientes couldn't handle it physically. Torres can. He is quick and strong. And he's younger."

Agger Set For Liverpool Recall In Clash With Manchester City

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is set to recall Daniel Agger if Sami Hyypia fails to recover in time to feature at Manchester City on Sunday.

Denmark international Agger, who started the season in central defence alongside Jamie Carragher, has been sidelined since September with a foot problem.

But with veteran Hyypia struggling with an ankle injury sustained in the 2-1 win at Derby on Boxing Day, the 23-year-old could start at Eastlands.

Benitez said: "It will be difficult for Sami. He is working hard with the physios and we are waiting to see whether he will be available. We will have to wait and see.

"If Sami doesn't play then we can think about using Daniel. He is training and is very close now."

Liverpool go into this match 11 points behind leaders Arsenal but with two games in hand.

Although they will have two games in hand over Sir Alex Ferguson's side, Benitez admits his side can afford no slip-ups.

He added: "It will be a really difficult game because they have a fantastic record at home.

"They have a manager with experience and good players who work really hard.

"As always though we have confidence. Our away form has been good this season and we are looking for that to continue on Sunday.

"It's important for us to just keep winning. Other teams around us have been dropping points and if we win matches then at the end of this period we can have a look at the league table and see how things stand.

"Our season has not been bad, but it could be better. We are in a good position. It could be better, but the best of us is still to come."

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson admits the game will hinge on whether his team can stop Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.

Eriksson's side dropped Premiership points for the first time at home this season with a 2-2 draw with Blackburn on Thursday night but they could move above the Reds with a victory over Benitez's men.

But Eriksson knows all about the threat of Gerrard after the two of them worked together closely during his spell in charge of England.

The Swede said: "Steven is one of the best players you can find. He has everything.

"He can defend. He can tackle incredibly well. He has vision, he is an extremely good passer. He can shoot, score goals and has the energy to get up and down the pitch.

"It is very difficult to say who is the best player in the country but Steven is certainly one of them - and has been for a long time now.

"As long as I was England manager, he was extremely important to me. He was important to England last year after I left and he will be very important in the future as well.

"Of course it will be difficult, we know that. It can't be easy to beat Liverpool. We will do our best and we will fight. Who knows what will happen after that."

Ujfalusi Rejects Liverpool Offer

Fiorentina defender Tomas Ujfalusi has rejected an offer from Liverpool and could be set for a new deal with the Viola.

Ujfalusi’s agent Pavel Paska is in the process of negotiating an extension to the Czech ace’s current contract which expires at the end of the campaign.

However, the player has been linked with Juventus recently and could join the Bianconeri at the end of the season.

“I have to respect his decisions, but I was really surprised when he said no to the Reds,” noted Paska. “Liverpool rarely offer a player a second chance.”

The Czech international is in his fourth season with the Viola after his £5m move from Hamburg in 2003.

He has made 10 appearances in Serie A this season and has already confirmed he wishes to stay in Italy.

EPL Match Preview: Manchester City vs LiverpooL:

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is facing a defensive crisis with Sami Hyypia almost certainly unavailable for Sunday's trip to Manchester City.

Hyypia suffered a twisted ankle in the Boxing Day win at Derby, and although Benitez is awaiting reports from his medical team, he has virtually ruled the Finn out of the Premier League clash.

It means Benitez must decide whether to risk Daniel Agger in the match at Eastlands, the young Dane having not played for three months as he recovers from a broken metatarsal.

He has been training for a fortnight and is using specially built-up boots, but his lack of match practice is a concern.

Liverpool have full-back Alvaro Arbeloa fit again after a bout of flu, and he could be switched to partner Jamie Carragher while youngster Jack Hobbs is also on stand-by. Peter Crouch is still suspended.

Meanwhile Elano and Dietmar Hamann will earn immediate recalls as Manchester City look to regain a top four place by beating Liverpool at Eastlands.

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson left the pair out of Thursday night's 2-2 draw with Blackburn as he attempts to keep his squad fresh over the festive period.

With Michael Johnson (groin) again set to miss out, Eriksson will turn to Elano to provide the inspiration for victory and former Reds star Hamann to subdue his old team-mate Steven Gerrard.

TEAMS:

City (from): Hart, Isaksson, Onuoha, Corluka, Sun, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Elano, Fernandes, Geovanni, Petrov, Mpenza, Vassell, Bianchi, Samaras.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hobbs, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Kewell, Voronin, Torres, Kuyt, Lucas, Agger, Itandje.

Reina: I'm Happy In England, But I'm An Atletico Fan

Liverpool and Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina admitted that one day he'd love to wear the red and white of Atletico Madrid, but for now he's more than happy at Anfield.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina told Spanish sports daily As of his respect both for his current club and Atletico Madrid.

While he's made little secret of his desire to one day play for Atleti, though, he's absolutely delighted to be at Liverpool for now.

"I'm in my third season here and I'm very happy, and I'm an important figure in the locker room," he began.

"That makes you identify a lot with the side, your commitment is greater to the rest of the squad and to the team as well. I'm very comfortable here.

"People who read this don't know how it is to play for Liverpool in this league. Here we battle for so many titles, and are one of the best clubs in Europe.

"Atletico? I love this team, of course, for family reasons and many others. It's flattering for me to be linked with them, but I'm not looking for change.

"It's a club for which I have a special love - I can't deny it. My father played for them and I have a lot of friends there. Plus, Madrid is a great city.

"I like Atletico, but I have a contract with Liverpool and I'm happy here. Right now there's no reason to switch."

On the subject of a player who made a move in the opposite direction, the ex-Villarreal man had this to say:

"Fernando Torres? He's been received very well. He's very important for the club and has fitted in well. So far everything is going swimmingly.

"The crowd love him. They're very affectionate with him and constantly show their respect."

The 25-year-old then discussed his prospects with the international side.

"Football is full of surprises," he mused. "Iker [Casillas] is a great goalkeeper, a good teammate and a rival for the position of goalkeeper with the Selección, and he'll be tough to topple from his post.

"It takes many years to be elite in a team like Real Madrid, playing well every week, but one must be prepared when the time comes to play. I'm keen to play myself."

Liverpool’s Agger Could Return If Hyypia Fails Test

Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia might make way for Daniel Agger if the veteran fails the fitness test ahead of Sunday’s Premiership clash at Manchester City.

Hyypia limped off the field on Boxing Day with an ankle injury and Reds boss Rafa Benitez feels it will be difficult for the Finland international to recover in time for the City game.

Denmark defender Agger meanwhile had been out with metatarsal injury since September and could provide a timely boost.

"It will be difficult for Sami," Benitez said on the club’s official website.

"He is working hard with the physios and we are waiting to see whether he will be available. We will have to wait and see.

"If Sami doesn't play then we can think about using Daniel. He is training and is very close now."

Liverpool Sign Starlet Cooper

Liverpool will complete the signing of 16-year-old Ross County prospect Alex Cooper when the transfer window opens.

Liverpool have signed Alex Cooper from Ross County - a Scottish Second Division club in the Highlands.

16-year-old winger Cooper will move from Victoria Park to Anfield after the clubs agreed a £100,000 fee.

A winger capped by Scotland Under-16s, he was reportedly tracked by Jose Mourinho when the Portuguese was Chelsea boss.

But Liverpool wowed the youngster and Cooper has signed with the Premiership giants until 2011. His father Neale, a former Aberdeen star, expressed his enthusiasm after seeing his son agree a dream move.

"All his family are delighted Alex has been given the opportunity to sign for Liverpool.

"He could have gone to one or two other clubs but he just loved the way he was treated by Liverpool when he was there."

Gerrard Hailed By Sven Goran Eriksson

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Steven Gerrard is the perfect player and is unsure how to stop him at Eastlands on Sunday.

After spending so long in the England camp together, the pair find themselves in opposition for the first time on Sunday when Eriksson's side look for a home win which would lift them over Liverpool into a Champions League spot.

Despite losing their 100% home record to Blackburn on Thursday night, City have every reason to be confident, particularly as Liverpool struggled badly against bottom club Derby on Boxing Day.

It would have been no surprise to Eriksson that Gerrard should be the man to rescue the Reds with his late winner at Pride Park.

While the Swede is reluctant to single out one individual as the Premier League's best player just now, there are not many who would be afforded such lavish praise as he heaps on Gerrard.

"Steven is one of the best players you can find. He has everything," said Eriksson.

"He can defend. He can tackle incredibly well. He has vision, he is an extremely good passer. He can shoot, score goals and has the energy to get up and down the pitch.

"It is very difficult to say who is the best player in the country but Steven is certainly one of them - and has been for a long time now.

"As long as I was England manager, he was extremely important to me. He was important to England last year after I left and he will be very important in the future as well."

Eriksson admits stopping Gerrard will be no easy task for his progressive team.

With youngster Michael Johnson missing, City will probably rely on the experience of Gerrard's former Liverpool team-mate Dietmar Hamann, who was rested for the Blackburn game.

"I am not sure how to stop Steven," said Eriksson.

"We shall have to find a way but I do know if you give him space and time and the chance to run forward with or without the ball, he is incredible."

With Manchester United among their nine previous home victims this term, City have already claimed one major scalp at Eastlands.

Yet it is a measure of where the Blues have come from that Eriksson still regards it as 'a dream' to beat the club he supported as a child in Sweden.

"Of course it will be difficult, we know that. It can't be easy to beat Liverpool. We will do our best and we will fight. Who knows what will happen after that," he added.

If City are to triumph, they require big performances from their key men.

The form of Brazilian playmaker Elano has dipped in recent weeks and, like Hamann, he was left out of Eriksson's starting line-up yesterday.

However, Martin Petrov's sensational performance against Rovers has given Elano a standard to reach, as well as providing an injury-hit Liverpool side with a major defensive headache.

Courted extensively by Tottenham, Petrov's move to City from Atletico Madrid last summer is proof of Eriksson's pulling power in the transfer market.

As he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for a top six spot consistently, Eriksson will hope the attraction will bring in more players, although he is not keen to play up his reputation too much.

"I have never asked Petrov why he ended up here," said Eriksson.

"I don't think we were the first team but maybe he heard about the new owner and the big project he has. It is a big challenge, which is the same reason why I am here.

"I don't know if Martin is here because of me, although I have been lucky to work at big clubs in Italy and Portugal and, whether you want it or not, it is a fact that when you have been England manager, you do become a little bit more famous because the job is so big."

Benitez Confident On Mascherano

Rafa Benitez says he has no fears that Javier Mascherano will join another club.

The Argentina midfielder is currently on loan at Anfield and Liverpool will reportedly have to pay in the region of £17m in the summer to secure his services on a permanent basis.

And while that leaves open the possibility the player could leave the club in six months' time, Benitez believes there is no need to rush into agreeing a deal.

"We were not talking too much about this because I have a lot of confidence that he will stay with us," he told Sky Sports News.

"He's just training, being ready, trying to enjoy now and being with his family. We will talk again, but he's happy here, so I think we can have some confidence."

Asked if he had any fears another club could get him, he responded: "No. Not in this moment, for sure."

Jewell And Rafa In Bust Up

Derby boss Paul Jewell last night accused Liverpool star Andriy Voronin of play-acting after Rams defender Jay McEveley got booked in a controversial challenge with the Ukranian striker.

Jewell and Reds chief Rafa Benitez had to be separated at Pride Park yesterday by the fourth official as the two rival managers squared up to each other over the second-half flashpoint.

With the scores locked at 1-1, Voronin went down theatrically after McEveley was late closing down the forward and Derby's Scottish defender was cautioned in the incident.

"I didn't think he touched him," insisted Jewell. "If he had touched him Voronin wouldn't have got up."

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Benitez played down the episode, concentrating instead on Steven Gerrard's superb form in front of goal.

The Liverpool skipper made it eight goals in 10 games with his late winner.

Benitez says the midfielder is thriving in his favoured central role where he has more responsibility to score.

"We know Gerrard is the type of player who can go from box to box and it is important for us to keep him going forward," he said.

"Gerrard is a key player for us and is the captain and a top-class player. These type of players must be there when you need them and he has been great for us recently."

Jewell added: "We could have nicked it ourselves."

Benitez: We Kept Title Dream Alive

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool kept their Premier League title ambitions alive with the last-gasp victory over Derby on Boxing Day.

Benitez is unmoved by the good fortune that saw captain Steven Gerrard claim a winner in the last few seconds to secure a victory at Pride Park that had not looked like coming.

With Arsenal and Chelsea both drawing, Benitez knows his team have inched closer to their own unlikely dream as they are now nine points behind leaders Manchester United with a match in hand.

It is still only a slim chance but after Liverpool's second victory in five days Benitez is clearly not bothered about how the wins arrive in packed schedule.

Fernando Torres scored an impressive opener, his 15th in 18 games, before Liverpool-born Evertonian Jay McEveley gave Derby a second-half lifeline with an equaliser.

Gerrard's heroics with his 11th in 14 matches eventually ended the Rams' hopes of a miracle victory.

But Benitez said: "I cannot be disappointed with another three points, I am really pleased. People forget in football the days when you play really well and get nothing.

"We were the best team in the first half, we were the best team at the end. In three months' time nobody will remember, nobody will talk of how we got those points, they will just see the result.

"We have been unfortunate against Chelsea at home, and Arsenal, and did not win. These points are won now and we are a little bit closer.

"When people ask if we have a realistic chance of the title they are really trying to tell me something.

"Let's wait and see. We have Manchester City next and that is very important for us.

"We have two more games over the holiday period. The most important thing for me is that we stay close.

"The question for me is to be as close as possible and we still have one game in hand. You never know what can happen."

Benitez must now cope with the likely loss of defender Sami Hyypia for a spell with a twisted ankle, the one position he does not have sufficient cover for.

"The second half was not the best for us but for me the key was winning three points and we were controlling the game for long spells," he added.

"If we had scored a second it would have been impossible for them. We lost Sami Hyypia and had players returning from injury who were not 100 per cent fit, those are some of the reasons for what happened in the second period.

"But we put ourselves under pressure by giving the ball away too often."

Benitez now has to drill into his team the need to find a killer instinct to avoid such embarrassments as Derby almost achieved and midfielder Xabi Alonso believes he and his team-mates must learn from their narrow escape.

Alonso, who made his first league start for two months, said: "We should have scored and killed the game.

"We should have kept the ball better and not let them have so many chances.

"We were in control in the first half, then we had a few injured players and we were struggling and we were not in control of the situation.

"We must not allow ourselves to be in that position again because we had chances to win the game. We have to learn and not repeat what happened at Derby again."

Alonso has made just eight appearances this season after a double metatarsal blow, and admits it has been a frustrating few months.

"When you are on the sidelines and injured, just watching, it is frustrating, but I am back now and looking forward to the next games.

"The problem is getting the match fitness that you need but I am getting there after almost three months out of the game."

For McEveley, scoring against Liverpool was not enough to make up for the shattering blow of losing a game Derby could have won.

He said: "It was nice to score against the Reds as an Evertonian but it is irrelevant now because they won - a real kick in the teeth.

"It is the way it is going for us at the moment. We were ahead twice at Newcastle and only drew, and it shows we must concentrate to the end.

"But we have shown in these last two games that we can compete in this division. It gives us confidence to go into our next game with Blackburn."

Derby 1 - 2 LiverpooL

Steven Gerrard's unrelenting determination earned Liverpool all three points against a Derby side with every right to feel hard done by at Pride Park.

Liverpool had been comfortably the better side in the first half and Fernando Torres scored his 15th goal in 18 games.

But following on from their outstanding efforts to force a draw at Newcastle at the weekend, injury-ravaged Derby showed magnificent spirit to force their way back into the game with a second-half equaliser from Jay McEveley.

They battered away at Liverpool for much of the second period, with rookie goalkeeper Lewis Price outstanding even if his side finished with 10 fit men - Robert Earnshaw was by then a limping passenger.

Liverpool at times were dreadful, but captain Gerrard showed how to fight by instigating an 80-yard move, finishing it off by bundling the ball past Price in the dying minutes.

Derby believed they had good shouts for two late penalties, but they ended with nothing.

Derby's cause was not helped when they were hit by the late loss of goalkeeper Stephen Bywater, who suffered a shoulder injury in the draw at Newcastle at the weekend.

Liverpool made five changes from the side that beat Portsmouth on Saturday, with Steve Finnan, Andriy Voronin, Fabio Aurelio, Ryan Babel and Xabi Alonso coming into the side, but it was still awesome opposition for young Price.

A string of free-kicks, planted into the box by McEveley, caused some concern for the visitors.

And when Gary Teale fired in a left-wing cross on seven minutes, Steve Howard's aerial pressure created a chance for Kenny Miller to fire over from an acute angle.

But one flash of genius after 12 minutes saw Liverpool go ahead.

Torres took a pass from Babel, pushed the ball through Darren Moore's legs before side-stepping Dean Leacock and blasting a 15-yard strike past the helpless Price.

But Derby's injury woes soon got worse. Two home players collided on 24 minutes, leaving Stephen Pearson hurt. Liverpool stormed away and Babel should have scored when John Arne Riise's cross reached him at the far post. But the effort finished in the crowd.

Pearson eventually received treatment was led away with a damaged right arm, Michael Johnson coming on as substitute, slotting in as centre-back with Leacock moving into midfield.

Derby replaced Moore with American midfielder Benny Feilhaber at the break, another injury problem for Jewell.

But after 53 minutes Liverpool lost Sami Hyypia, the big defender limping away, Yossi Benayoun coming on. Riise moved into the centre of defence, and with Daniel Agger still not fit, Liverpool now could have serious problems in central defence.

Jamie Carragher was then felled by a poor Howard challenge, and Jewell almost immediately sent on striker Earnshaw to try to exploit the problems now at the heart of Liverpool's back line with his pace.

Derby had dominated the opening exchanges of the second half with Giles Barnes coming into the game.

Price saved well to his left from an Alonso effort, but Derby still came forward with belief and a ferocity in the challenge that forced Liverpool back.

And from a 67th-minute free-kick, Derby were level to send Pride Park wild. Eddie Lewis lifted a free-kick into the box from the right and it was allowed to bounce around before McEveley fired past Jose Reina.

McEveley was then booked for a foul on Voronin before Liverpool sent on Dirk Kuyt for Babel. Gerrard fired wide from the edge of the box, before more injury problems hit Derby with Earnshaw's injury.

Price made a stunning save to turn away an Alonso 30-yard strike after 82 minutes, and then Torres fired high over as Liverpool continued to come forward.

Barnes missed with a close-range diving header, the game now on a knife-edge as Liverpool came forward in desperation.

Gerrard hit the bar from 20 yards before he put Liverpool ahead in the 89th minute.

Price made another fine save from Torres, but the ball bounced out for the Liverpool skipper to force home, having started the move 80 yards away in his own half.