Rafa Benitez Gets Ready To Axe Peter Crouch

Having lifted Liverpool from a dreadful lethargy by scoring the opening goal against Sunderland last week and followed up with a half- decent display for England at Wembley, Peter Crouch ought to be a shoo-in for a starting place at Chelsea today. But in the wacky world of management as practised by Rafa Benitez, Crouch might yet find himself on the bench, even though Fernando Torres is injured and Dirk Kuyt still upset after the death of his father last June.

If former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri was the Tinkerman, Benitez is the Mad Axeman, chopping at least four or five players every game in the name of rotation or just to keep people on their toes. So Crouch responds with a nervous laugh when asked if he is confident of making the line-up at Stamford Bridge.

He says: "I don't know about confident. I started the last game, did well and scored. But with our manager it's not a case of whether you've done well in the last game but how he feels the next game is going to be. So I have no idea."

Crouch tries to present himself as the good professional but he is clearly fed up to the back teeth. He says: "I'm not going to lie, it's frustrating. I feel I've taken my chances when they have come but I'd like to be playing a bit more. I do feel I'm in the manager's plans, though, and will play enough games towards the end of the season to warrant staying."

One may be Spanish, the other Italian. But in the way they handle their team selection and announce it to their players, Steven Gerrard reckons Rafa Benitez and Fabio Capello might have been separated at birth.

Not only did Capello keep his England players sweating almost until it was time to get changed, à la Rafa, when the squad saw the team sheet, there were gasps of: "Blimey, is he playing?" and "I can't believe so-and-so has been left out".

Gerrard, delighted to be Capello's first captain, said: "He is very like our manager in the way he keeps things close to his chest. We didn't know the team until two hours before kick-off. We didn't have a clue and I don’t think anyone in the country would have guessed that team."

Tom Hicks Plans To Get More Involved At Liverpool As Gillett's Son Leaves

Liverpool FC co-owner Tom Hicks last night signalled that he plans to play a more hands-on roll in the running of the Anfield club.

Despite becoming the target of fans’ anger over the £100million-plus debt he and fellow owner George Gillett have placed on the club, Hicks told an American press conference he intends to become more involved at Anfield.

He dismissed suggestions he would be driven to sell up to Dubai International Capital or the growing ‘Share Liverpool’ group which aims to raise the money needed to buy out both Gillett and Hicks.

"I'm anticipating a more active role in Liverpool,'' Hicks told reporters at the Texas Rangers baseball franchise he also owns. I really don't want to comment more at this point.''

Hicks wouldn't be pressed into answering qustions about Liverpool’s financial stability.

Question marks have been hanging over how the Americans plan to run Liverpool FC since Gillett’s son Foster, who arrived to work with LFC chief executive Rick Parry after the takeover last year, went on holiday.

That was a month ago, and the Liverpool Daily Post understands he has not been back since.

The Daily Post understands that Foster Gillett and his wife have no plans to return to the city, despite having recently bought a £1m home in Woolton.

Any plans by Hicks to get more actively involved in Liverpool are likely to upset fans.

Comments by Hicks about approaching Jurgen Klinsmann as a possible replacement for Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez have galvanised public opinion against him.

In a survey carried out by the Liverpool Daily Post last month, nine out of 10 fans wanted Hicks to sell up his stake immediatley.

On the anniversary of the club’s takeover on Wednesday, chief executive Rick Parry urged all sides to start working together again.

But with rumours persisting in the financial press that the Americans may pass more of their debt on to the club’s book, that is unlikely to happen.

Rafael Benitez Admits That It's Win Or Bust At Chelsea

Rafael Benitez has admitted that it is win or bust at Chelsea if Liverpool are going to have a credible Premier League campaign.

The Anfield boss believes that if his side suffer yet another defeat at Stamford Bridge, then the best they can hope for is fourth place.

That is why he has described the encounter with Chelsea as a defining moment in his team's season - even though he knows it will take a superhuman effort to win there.

Under Benitez, Liverpool have lost every time they have visited the other members of the so-called 'Big Four'. In nine visits, they have not taken a single point from Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal.

And with away trips to all three coming up over the next six weeks, the Spanish coach knows that if his side are to hold any ambition of closing the gap on third place, then they must start beating their biggest rivals.

With such a tough run-in, they may have to take points of the title-chasers just to remain a distant fourth.

He admitted: "It is clear we have to win at Chelsea if we want to lift our season. It is a big game for us, because a result against a big team can offer real momentum.

"We are fighting for fourth position and if we beat Chelsea we can think about maybe third position.

"But if we lose, then we're running out of games and it would be much more difficult to even think about third place. We know how important it is."

Despite Liverpool's dismal record against the clubs they consider to be their main rivals, Benitez is still confident he can pull off a major shock.

They have taken only two points from their three home games against the top three this season.

But the Spanish coach was in defiant mood yesterday, insisting that he can inspire his men to a famous victory. "I go into the game with confidence. Personally, I feel very good," he said.

"We know we will need to play better than we have to get anything at Chelsea. When you play against the top sides you must play really well if you want to get something from the game.

"I think the players have the confidence now to go and get a result. The players who were not on international duty have trained well, the sessions were really good and the mood fantastic.

"I think we can do it, I really do. We have shown in different games that we are capable of doing it. We have gone to Chelsea before and played well, and deserved more from the game. Maybe this is the time we get it."

Benitez though, will be without his top scorer Fernando Torres, and he admits there is now a major worry about where the goals will come from.

His record against the top teams hasn't been good enough, but he argues that against the very best teams, it is the smallest of details that decide the outcome.

"When you play at Chelsea, it isn't easy. It isn't just Liverpool, nobody wins there, because they are so strong at home.

"So it's important to be focused on not making mistakes, because you know the small details are always important against a top team, especially away from home.

"We have played well, but I've said it before many times, we need to start taking the chances we create.

"How do we do that? I was asked a few weeks ago about why only Steven Gerrard and Torres are scoring.

But now we've lost Torres, we'll see if Gerrard can score!

"Clearly, we need goalscorers from all over the team. I hope the team will be ready, but goalscoring has been a problem for us from other areas, that is clear."

Liverpool will be forced to play Javier Mascherano, even after his long trip in midweek to the United States for a meaningless friendly with the Argentine Olympic squad, because Xabi Alonso is suspended.

Peter Crouch will start up front with Dirk Kuyt behind, and Benitez must also decide whether to continue with his unpopular tactic of employing Jamie Carragher at right-back.

Liverpool are the league's draw specialists with 10 games finishing all square.

Kenny Would Be Ideal For Anfield Role

Kenny Dalglish took to the stage at the ECHO Sports Personality Awards on Monday night and reminded everyone what qualities Liverpool Football Club has been so sorely lacking in recent months.

Class, humility and dignity used to be watchwords at Anfield at a time when dirty linen being washed in public was as rare an occurrence as a season without a trophy.

Far too often during the all too difficult last 12 months the qualities which made the Liverpool Way the route all other clubs in English football looked to follow have been cast aside as personal agendas and vendettas have been put before the good of the club.

And because of that, when Dalglish addressed the Echo Arena his adherence to the old Liverpool way of doing things highlighted just how badly the club has been getting things wrong since it was taken over a year ago.

There were even those in the audience who spoke of a desire to see Dalglish back at the club he still loves so he can help restore the values which have been conspicuous only by their absence of late.

That would be a tall order, of course. Dalglish’s status among Liverpool’s fans means there is a risk that his mere presence could overshadow the manager if he was given some sort of role at Anfield.

Such a situation has occurred at Barcelona, where Johann Cruyff looms large over each and every coach who takes charge of first team affairs at the Nou Camp, even though Cruyff is only an adviser to club president Joan Laporta.

The “ghost on the wall” situation is nothing new, either, as a succession of Manchester United managers who wilted in the presence of the late Matt Busby can testify.

Liverpool managed to avoid such problems when they stopped Bill Shankly from turning up at Melwood after the legendary Scot was succeeded by Bob Paisley, and although it was harsh on Shankly, it was undoubtedly for the good of the club.

Having legends hanging around isn’t always good for a club but with Liverpool currently being in so desperate need of the qualities Dalglish has in abundance maybe the time is right to get him back on board in some capacity.

Although, judging by the way he responded to being offered the manager’s job more than 20 years ago, it might not be all that easy to convince him.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, he said: “I got a phone call from Peter Robinson asking could he come up to the house to see me with John Smith.

“The club had only just given me a four-year contract so I didn’t really know what they wanted to see me about.

“Then Peter said they wanted to talk to me about the manager’s job and I said ‘well, don’t worry about that, you can still come anyway’.”

Liverpool has had no finer servant than Kenny Dalglish and if a role was created for him it could only be good news for the club and its fans.

Rafa - Time Is Running Out

Rafa Benitez admits time is running out for Liverpool as they chase a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Liverpool face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1, and Reds boss Benitez is targeting a rare victory in West London.

The Reds had been touted as genuine title challengers this year, but they now face a battle with the likes of Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Portsmouth just to finish in the top four.

And under-pressure Benitez acknowledges that his side must start to find some consistency in the race to reach a place in Europe's top club competition.

"We are fighting for fourth position and if we beat Chelsea we can maybe think about third," Benitez said in the Daily Star.

"But if we don't we are running out of games. I've said it many times, but we need to start taking our chances more often.

"If we get three points at Chelsea, in terms of confidence it will be good for the team.

"I know we have not won at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons, but nobody is winning there so it is not just for us that it is difficult, it is difficult for everyone who goes there."

Kewell Targets New Liverpool Deal

Harry Kewell is looking forward to getting an extension to his existing deal at Liverpool as he believes Anfield “has the best atmosphere in the world.”

The Australian winger’s contract expires in the summer and as such, he is keen to get back to his best form to prove to manager Rafa Benitez that he can still play at the highest standard.

"I want to stay at Liverpool and I'm going to be working hard to get another contract," Kewell told The Guardian.

"I think this is a great club. I was out on the pitch the other night and I said to Yossi (Benayoun) that Anfield has the best atmosphere in the world. Why would you want to leave?"

The 29-year-old, who has been with the Merseysiders since 2003, has faced a lot of injury problems for last two years and is aiming to put the troubles behind him for good. Benitez too is an admirer of Kewell’s talent and had said earlier this season that the attacker could get a new deal.

"I'm one to face up to my problems,” added the former Leeds United player. “I'm not afraid to turn around and say I have got some problems and I need to work at them.

“It is hard getting back to the top level after being out for so long but I'm getting there slowly. I'm showing glimpses but I would like to be more consistent.”

On speculation of Italian and Spanish clubs interested in him, he said: "You can't help talk but the truth is that I haven't heard anything, my agent hasn't heard anything and Liverpool haven't heard anything. So I just continue playing."

Crouch: We Can Beat Chelsea

Peter Crouch returns to the home of his boyhood heroes believing that Liverpool's brittle confidence is being repaired.

The Liverpool front man, born in Macclesfield but brought up in west London, was a regular visitor to Stamford Bridge as a youngster.

He is relishing the chance to help Liverpool finally get a Barclays Premier League win on a ground of a top three club for the first time under boss Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool have had a wretched month but still find themselves in fifth spot, a point behind Everton with a game in hand, ahead of Sunday's game.

They have lost only one of their last 11 games, but that hardly tells the true story of a side with their confidence shredded.

Five of those games were drawn and produced depressing performances against Wigan, Derby, Middlesbrough, Luton, and Aston Villa before losing at West Ham.

Last weekend's 3-0 victory over Sunderland, with Crouch returning to the side for a starring role, was much needed with Chelsea next on their fixture list.

Crouch, sent off in his last visit to Chelsea in the Carling Cup fifth round in December, said: "It's a big game next for us at Chelsea, and we were more interested in taking the points against Sunderland to give us confidence for the next match at Stamford Bridge.

"We will go into that game with more confidence now. We are good enough to beat Chelsea, we have done it before and I am sure we can do it again although it will be a difficult game.

"We have beaten Chelsea in big, big games before, and this is a big one for both of us. They want to challenge Arsenal and Manchester United and we have got to make sure we keep our momentum going, so it is important for both sides."

It is expected that Crouch's partnership with Fernando Torres will be curtailed, now the Spaniard has picked up a hamstring injury while with Spain this week.

It means that Dirk Kuyt is expected to get a recall. Liverpool will be without the suspended Xabi Alonso plus long-term injured players Andriy Voronin, Daniel Agger, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio.

Crouch hopes to be re-united with Torres soon, adding: "I enjoyed the partnership with Fernando, We have not played that many times together this season and against Sunderland we did and I felt it went well.

"Fernando played well and I was obviously pleased to get a place in the starting line-up and to play myself. It worked well."

Torres Faces Ten Days Out

Liverpool have confirmed that striker Fernando Torres faces up to ten days on the sidelines through injury.

Torres underwent scans on a hamstring injury he picked up in Spain's 1-0 win over France on Wednesday.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez lamented the injury to Torres ruling him out of this weekend's clash at Chelsea.

Scans have confirmed the full extent of the injury with the former Atletico Madrid ace suffering a tear to his hamstring.

A statement from club spokesman Ian Cotton on the club's official website, said: "Fernando was examined by medical staff when he returned to Melwood.

"A scan later confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a hamstring tear in his right leg. Fernando is expected to be out for approximately 10 days."

It means Torres will miss the clash at Stamford Bridge as well as the FA Cup tie with Barnsley on 16th February, but Liverpool are hopeful he will be back in time for the UEFA Champions League game with Internazionale on 19th February.

Rafa Benitez Attacks International Friendlies

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has launched a scathing attack on the current international football schedule in light of the injury picked up Fernando Torres.

The striker, 23, tore his hamstring while representing Spain in a friendly international with France in Marbella on Wednesday night and is now likely to be out action for up to 10 days, so missing the Merseysiders' crucial Premier League trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday and also making him a serious doubt for the first leg of their Champions League tie with Internazionale at Anfield on Feb 19.

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano will only return from featuring for Argentina's Olympic side in a friendly with Guatemala that was played in Los Angeles at some point today, leaving Benitez little time in which to prepare his misfiring team to face Chelsea.

And, like Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger yesterday, the Spaniard has laid the blame squarely at the door of the respective international football federations for organising such friendlies at such a vital time of the season for domestic clubs.

"We should not have international friendlies this week. We have lost Torres and Mascherano is not due back until Friday after playing for Argentina in Los Angeles. It is a busy period for the clubs, so it is not fair," he said.

"It doesn't matter if the national associations pay money if you have a player injured. We have three important games in three different competitions in 10 days, and we have lost Torres and maybe other players. It's not fair on the clubs. I don't just mean Liverpool, I mean everyone, especially the top teams."

In reference to Argentina's match on Wednesday, Benitez was scathing, asking: "Why do they have to play in Los Angeles? Just money. Javier will fly back to Manchester and will arrive here on Friday. With the change of continents and the danger of jet lag, I will have to wait and see if I can use him against Chelsea."

Benitez's frustrations are understandable, especially given the fact he has already lost Torres to an injury picked up while on international duty once before this season, while yesterday's news that the Premier League are planning an extra round of fixtures in foreign destinations from the start of the 2010-2011 season will hardly have brought a smile to his face either.

Liverpool Boss Slams Offside Rule

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has blasted the offside law as "a mess, a disaster".

The Spaniard launched himself into the debate over the law when asked today whether he understood the new interpretations.

He said: 'I understand the offside law is a mess, it is a disaster. That is very clear.

'I have explained 100 times to people, if they will listen, that we need to go back to the old rule.

'The offside rule is a good one, but the key should still be that if the player is in an offside position, he is offside. Finish.'

Benitez added: 'It will be easier for the linesmen and referees. But we have someone in an office who wants to invent something and they have created a mess.

'Phases of play is confusing. We see things in every game now that people cannot understand. So it should be simple again, if someone is offside, that is the end of it.

'When I was a player, a long time ago, it was not difficult to understand. Now it is.

'Then if a player was way out in the corner, then he is not interfering with the game, but now we have players in the middle of the box who are considered not interfering.

'That is nonsense. They are being watched by the goalkeeper, they are being watched by defenders, that is interfering.'

Kuyt Reveals Reds Pain

Dirk Kuyt has admitted his performances for Liverpool have not been good enough this season but has vowed to turn his form around.

The Dutchman has scored just three goals in 21 Premier League appearances but he has now revealed what he believes to be the main reason for his struggles on the pitch.

Kuyt's father, Gerrit, died of cancer last June and he admits it has resulted in a loss of confidence.

"I'd be lying if I said it hasn't affected me, because obviously it has," Kuyt said in the Daily Mirror.

"He was my biggest supporter and someone I always turned to for advice. I know if he was here right now he'd help me with the difficulties I've been having on the field.

"Naturally it's had a major impact on my life but at the same time my performances just haven't been good enough."

Kuyt is aware of his responsibilities as a striker at Liverpool and feels he can return to his best over the coming months.

He said: "It's my job to score goals and I haven't done that on a regular basis.

"Now I've got to keep going and turn this situation around."

Finnan: Chelsea The Same Under Grant

Liverpool's Steve Finnan is relishing a rest this week after retiring from the Republic of Ireland set-up. Turning his thoughts to the upcoming visit to Chelsea, he insists that the difference between the Blues since Jose Mourinho left is negligible.

Liverpool’s veteran right-back Steve Finnan is able to enjoy a rest this week. While his Republic of Ireland countrymen prepare for Dunga’s Brasil, Finnan is enjoying his first taste of international retirement.

However, the 31-year-old just can’t keep his mind off football. He insists the hard-fought 3-0 win over Sunderland at the weekend has raised spirits around Anfield.

“A good win like that can only give us confidence for the next game,” Finnan told Liverpool’s official website. “It's just about trying to get in and stay in that top four.”

“It gives everyone a lift and the fans a lift, especially at Anfield.”

A stiffer test looms this weekend at Stamford Bridge against resurgent Chelsea. Finnan, though, is optimistic about his team’s chances, whilst pondering the difference between the Chelseas of Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant.

“We've done alright there a few times and not got the results that we should have,” he admitted.

“But now is a good time to change that. Playing a team like Chelsea can bring the best out of us.

“There was a lot of rivalry when Mourinho was there, with both managers and both sets of players, because we'd met each other so many times in the league and Europe. We knocked them out of Europe twice, so there's a competitive edge to that game.

“[Mourinho] was good for English football and a lot of people might miss him. Obviously there's a lot of people outside Chelsea who didn't like him but he was good for football.”

If there’s any new threats under the Grant regime, Finnan is oblivious.

“They've done well under [Grant], though it's pretty much the same players,” said Finnan.

“Maybe our staff here have seen something different. Maybe they'll play a different formation, but we know what to expect: they've got good players and it will be a difficult game.”

As faltering Liverpool’s title challenge becomes the stuff of fiction, Finnan knows that fourth place is the minimum requirement. As he attempts to shake off a knock that is keeping him from training, he refused to name a main rival for that crucial Champions League spot.

“I wouldn't say one team in particular. Those around us – Everton, Man City and Villa – all pose a threat. They've all done well and are capable of putting runs together. It's just down to ourselves.

“Hopefully I'll be training in a couple of days – it’s just something I aggravated the other day.”

Gerrard - Long Way To Go

Steven Gerrard admitted that England still have a long way to go after the Fabio Capello era started with a victory.

The Liverpool midfielder skippered the national side as they defeated Switzerland 2-1 at Wembley, with Jermaine Jenas and Shaun Wright-Phillips on target.

England were nervous for much of the opening period and Gerrard knows it will take time before the players can put Capello's ideas into practice.

He told Sky Sports News: "There's still a long way to go and there still's a lot of improvement before we get to where we want to be.

"I think we kept the ball a lot better in the second half and we were a lot more patient.

"Once the players get used to the new manager and the way he wants us to play, I'm sure we'll improve. It's all about adapting to his ideas.

"We've only worked together for a couple of days. We've worked really hard in training to take in as much information as possible, but this team has still got a lot of improving to do.

"We'll get there if we work hard and listen to what he wants us to do."

Gerrard was proud to lead his country out, and would be more than happy to keep the armband when Capello names a permanent skipper for the World Cup qualification campaign in September.

He added: "For a manager of Fabio Capello's stature to give me the captaincy was a big boost.

"I've said many times before I don't want to blow my own trumpet or put my name forward. John Terry is still our captain and until that changes I'm happy to be the stand-in captain.

"I'm sure if you asked any player in that dressing room if they wanted to lead their country out on nights like this, they'd say 'yes, of course'."

Torres Forced Off With Injury

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres lasted just 23 minutes of Spain's international friendly against France on Wednesday before being replaced after suffering what appeared to be a right hamstring injury.

It was not immediately obvious when Torres sustained the problem, but Spain coach Luis Aragones was quick to replace the frontman with Daniel Guiza when it became obvious he was struggling.

Liverpool, who are away to Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League this weekend, will be keeping their fingers crossed that the injury to Torres - their top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions - is not serious.

Liverpool May Be Responsible For £350m Debt

Despite an appeal from chief executive Rick Parry for everyone associated with Liverpool to stop washing dirty linen in public, there is still great unease within the club over exactly where the liability for the new £350 million refinancing resides.

Exactly one year on from their £220 million takeover of the club, a spokesman for American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. insisted yesterday that there was no intention to load all the debts on to Liverpool's balance sheet.

While they have admitted the £30 million-a-year interest payments will be serviced by the club, they maintain Liverpool will be liable only for £105 million of the new loans with Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia.

The Americans insist a further £245 million of new borrowings taken out by parent company, Kop Football, are secured by their personal guarantees and cash.

But there is uncertainty within Anfield about the implications of an inter-company loan set up to ensure the interest payments can be paid by club income. Some sources believe it makes Liverpool legally responsible for the full £350 million.

If that is the case, then the move would seem to run contrary to a commitment given by Hicks and Gillett in their official offer document to shareholders last year.

At that time they said: "The payment of interest on, repayment of or security for any liability (contingent or otherwise) due under the facilities [loans] will not depend to any significant extent on the business of Liverpool."

If they were to go back on that commitment, the move could attract the interest of City regulator, the Takeover Panel, and embarrass Rothschilds, the bankers used by the Americans to do the deal.

With Liverpool's future still unclear and Dubai International Capital still trying to launch a takeover bid, Parry yesterday called for the club to pull together.

"This is not the Liverpool we all know and love," he said. "It has never been our style to wash our dirty linen in public. The sooner we can put all of this behind us and get back to the Liverpool way the better."

Almost £60m Pledged By Liverpool FC Fans To Buy-out Club

Nearly £60m has been pledged towards a fans’ buy-out of Liverpool FC during the first four days of canvassing for supporter opinion.

A total of 11,892 fans have indicated they will buy shares in the club on Share Liverpool FC’s website – the group which has outlined proposals for 100,000 fans to buy the club by purchasing a single £5,000 share each.

This amounts to £59.46m towards the £500m total needed for the proposed buy-out.

The first statistics show just under 50,000 people visited the site from 149 countries, between February 1 and 4.

Organisers say the website crashed within minutes of opening last Thursday, due to the sheer weight of numbers trying to reach the site, and re-opened the next afternoon.

Analysis by Google reveals that during the weekend the site received 11,892 “count me in” responses, 5,394 responses praising the idea but saying they want more information, and 7,930 responders saying they could not afford the step.

The four biggest countries of origin were the UK, with 25,177 hits, Norway, with 6,138, the USA with 3,071 and Ireland with 2,053.

Only 128 fans ticked the “you’ve got no chance” option on the site.

Many Anfield fans are furious a £350m loans package secured by US owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will saddle the club with interest payments of up to £30m a year – fuelling the desire for a supporter controlled club.

Rogan Taylor, Share Liverpool FC’s spokesperson, said: “These are pretty impressive numbers for just a few days with www.shareliverpoolfc.co.uk live on line and we’re very encouraged.

“We undoubtedly lost a big spike when the site crashed on Thursday, but I think these numbers reveal that most fans were patient and came back when it returned.

“The stats also reveal we have a lot of work to do to present more detailed information, and also to address the affordability issue many fans flagged up.

“We will be underlining that group membership will be possible – even a group of pub regulars could get together – and we hope soon to be able to announce a loan scheme which would enable fans to spread the cost over a number of years.”

“What they will be buying is something that lasts forever – a share in Liverpool Football Club which cannot be disturbed.

“The member shareholder will be able to pass it on, down through his or her family generations; to sons and daughters, and grandchildren. You will sit in that new stadium and think: ‘This belongs to us . . . and so does the club that plays here!’”

Reds Invite Finn For Trial

Liverpool have invited Finnish starlet Simon Skrabb for a trial at Anfield.

Skrabb returns to Liverpool for a second time, after he linked up with the Merseyside outfit last August and did enough to earn a further chance to impress.

The 13-year-old has been recommended to Reds boss Rafa Benitez by the club's Finnish scout Tor Sparv.

Skrabb is an attacking midfielder and he is regarded as one of the most promising prospects in Finnish football.

The player's club Jaro have confirmed the youngster will visit Liverpool two or three times a year ahead of a possible move to Anfield.

Aragones Admits To Arbeloa Blunder

Spain coach Luis Aragones has admitted he made a mistake by including injured Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa in his squad to face France.

The coach has come under increasing pressure recently over his decision to include injured and untried players, such as Arbeloa and 17-year-old Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic, at the expense of the experienced Raul.

Aragones admitted that the decision to include Arbeloa - who has since withdrawn from the squad - was his decision, but insisted that nothing more should be made of the matter.

He said: "It was a mistake by the manager, full stop.

"It was a mistake that never should have been made, but what's done is done."

However, Aragones stood by his inclusion of Bojan, stating: "He's a kid with a great future, but we're going to try to get him involved now as I've known players with great futures who later never got there."

On arrival in Malaga ahead of Wednesday's match, Aragones was jeered by around 500 Spanish fans, who chanted for Raul to be recalled to the squad.

But the coach remained defiant when addressing the press on Tuesday, insisting he will not be replaced by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) before Euro 2008.

Aragones joked that he had "never seen a national team with two managers" and added that he had never been worried about losing his job.

Earlier, Aragones received backing from RFEF president Angel Maria Villar, who told Radio Marca: "Luis is our coach and he will be so at Euro 2008."

Riise Wants To End Career At Anfield

John Arne Riise has declared he wants to end his career at Liverpool, despite speculation he could leave Anfield in the summer.

The versatile defender has fallen out of favour with Reds boss Rafa Benitez over recent weeks and it was rumoured Riise was close to a January move to Aston Villa.

However, Riise insists he is happy to accept Benitez's rotation policy at Liverpool after losing his place to Fabio Aurellio.

"It is disappointing not to be playing the last few games," Riise told Sky Sports News. "But everyone knows what the boss is thinking.

"He likes to rotate his team and the squad. I don't like not playing, but I understand he likes to rotate.

"He has opted to field Aurelio for a few matches, who has been injured a lot and has got some matches now. That is no problem with me.

"I want to stay with Liverpool for the rest of my career if possible. I've always said that and I hope it can happen, but I have to play good and keeping playing good for years to come.

"At the moment I am happy and looking forward to the rest of the season because we can do some good stuff."

And the 27-year-old, who is expected to start for Norway against Wales on Wednesday, has rubbished speculation that Liverpool were looking to sell him in the recent transfer window.

"Not that I know of," added Riise when asked if he had been informed of a possible transfer. "Just in the papers. If the club want to sell me they would have done it.

"They didn't and I think they are happy with me. I am happy at Liverpool.

"I don't think about my future too much, I just enjoy playing and we will see what happens in the future."

Liverpool’s Gerrard Could Be Regular England Captain

England boss Fabio Capello has named Steven Gerrard as his first England captain but it would not be a surprise if the Italian tactician continues with the Liverpool skipper as the regular Three Lions captain.

Capello will however wait until later this year before naming the regular captain ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Midfielder Gerrard will lead the Three Lions side tonight in the international friendly against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium, as Chelsea skipper John Terry, who was the England captain under Steve McClaren, is out injured.

Capello, who began his England job on January 7 and tonight’s match will be his first game in charge after McClaren was sacked following the failure to qualify for the summer’s Euro Championship finals, has praised Gerrard, saying he “commands authority”.
“I believe Steven Gerrard is the Liverpool captain - and Liverpool are a very important team which won the Champions League,” Capello said in the Liverpool Echo.

“He is a player who commands authority and can lead by example on the pitch and inspire the team.

“He is an important player for England and will be the captain for this match.

“He is not going to be a permanent captain and I am not going to announce a permanent captain before the Andorran game.

“But I believe Steven Gerrard is important for everyone, for all the players we have, because he is a player who can transmit things on the pitch and, like I said, can inspire players.”

Parry's Peace Call As Chief Executive Asks For United Front At Liverpool

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has called for everyone associated with the club to stop washing their dirty linen in public and unite after weeks of turmoil on and off the pitch.

The club's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have fallen out of favour with Reds fans, due in no small part to Hicks revealing the club had spoken to former Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann as an "insurance policy" against current manager Rafael Benitez leaving the club.

Fans stayed behind on the Kop after Saturday evening's Barclays Premier League game victory over Sunderland to protest against the owners, with some carrying banners calling for Dubai Investment Capital to step forward and take over the club.

Parry believes the constant speculation surrounding the Reds - coming from inside and outside the club - has been harmful and sought to draw an end to the disharmony in his LFC Magazine column.

"This is not the Liverpool we all know and love," he said.

"It has never been our style to wash our dirty linen in public and it is never pleasant for anyone when it happens.

"The sooner we can put all of this behind us and get back to the Liverpool way the better. That's certainly not pointing the finger at anyone. It's a hard fact of life in football that any negative publicity quickly leads to further headlines and debate.
"You learn to live with it. What really frustrates me is when outsiders start having a go. When this happens you know instinctively it's time to unite, draw some strength from our togetherness and get back on the rails."

Another apparent bone of contention has been the club's plans for their new stadium, which were revised when the initial costs were deemed to be too high.

But Parry is adamant the new ground, scheduled for completion in 2011, will still be something for the club to be very proud of.

"When we said we were revising things, perhaps there was a bit of consternation that we were somehow going back to the drawing board to make dramatic alterations," he added.

"In fact, it was a case of looking at some costs to see if we could make them more efficient.

"Could we look at some aspects of the build to make it work better without losing the impact of the design that had made it so special? That is exactly what has happened and our plans remain on course."

Meanwhile Javier Mascherano expects his permanent deal to join the club to be completed this week.

The Argentina midfielder told Clarin newspaper: "I think it will take no longer than this week.

"I want to stay at the club because I'm playing very often and I feel very comfortable.

"I would not like packing again."

Gerrard Desperate For England Glory

Steven Gerrard has admitted to being worried that his chances to win a trophy with England are "running out", but he is confident that Fabio Capello is just the right man to lead the long suffering Three Lions to silverware.

“I feel the need to win something. I’m 28 in the summer and you would think the chances of being in a successful England team are running out", said Gerrard, who has just been confirmed as England's interim captain for Capello’s first game in charge against Switzerland tomorrow night.

“I’ve played in good teams but, in the end, teams that have been knocked out in the last eight of tournaments, or most recently failed to qualify for one.

“I want to make the most of it over the next four to six years so I can look back over my England career and think I played in a successful team.

“We will have to wait and see what the future brings in terms of results but there is certainly a big excitement in the squad that the new manager has been put in charge of.

“He has got a wonderful CV and, wherever he has been, he has been successful. England have got one of the best managers in the world.

“As a player, you think, ‘can he make these good players we have got into a successful winning team?’ – and I am confident that can happen.

“The players with ability are there and hopefully the manager can make us difficult to beat, exciting going forward and bring some successful results to the table.”

The Liverpool superstar then reiterated how impressed he has been with Capello, since the Italian success monger has assumed hands-on control of the team.

“Fabio has the aura all top managers have. When he walks in the room, he has got an aura about him and those are the type of managers you want to play for.

“When you look someone in the eye at a team meeting, you get a feel for someone straight away. I think about the third, fourth and fifth words which came out of his mouth were ‘winning football matches’ so he let us know early doors what he wanted from us.

“I wouldn’t say you have to intimidate the players but I think as a manager you have to get their respect and let them know who is the boss and what he says goes – and we as players have to adapt to that.”

Rush Backs Torres And Crouch Partnership

Liverpool legend Ian Rush has backed the partnership of Fernando Torres and Peter Crouch to come up with the goals needed to fire the Reds to glory.

The club’s all-time record goalscorer believes that the pair are the two on-form strikers at the Merseyside club as should be allowed the time to gel and develop a real partnership.

The duo both scored in Liverpool’s 3-0 in over Sunderland at the weekend, which was the club’s first league win of 2008.

"There's no doubt that they're the most in-form pairing at present, so I think now is the time to see if they can develop into a decent strike force" Rush said.

"Saturday's match against Sunderland was only the third time they've started a match together in the Premier League, and there were one or two signs that they could flourish.

"But the fact is we will never know unless we give them a chance to gel."

The former Welsh international forward is also of the opinion that Crouch is the ideal foil for Torres, who is well suited to playing off a taller target man.

"I've said before that Peter Crouch has done nothing wrong this season, and with three goals in his last three appearances he's flying, Rush added.

"But his presence can also help Fernando Torres.

"By virtue of his height alone, he occupies one or two defenders, giving Torres more room to operate in, and he showed with the flick-on that created Torres' goal that he can be very much a traditional target man.

"In situations like that it's important that one player is able to anticipate the flick-ons of the other, but Torres is a very intelligent striker and that will never be a problem to a player of his class."

LiverpooL's Dirk Kuyt Upset At Being Dropped

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has revealed his disappointment at being dropped from the Dutch squad by Marco van Basten.

Kuyt has been left out of the Holland squad to face Croatia in a friendly on Wednesday after struggling for form this season.

The former Feyenoord hit-man now fears he will miss out on Euro 2008 after being left out by van Basten.

"I need some time to get over this blow. I am extremely disappointed to have been dropped from the squad," said Kuyt.

"I featured in 39 out of the 42 previous internationals for my country.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool hero Ian Rush is set to take up a coaching role with Malaysia.

Malaysia are set to appoint Rush as a striking coach to help their forwards.

Khairy Jamaluddin, deputy president of the Football Association of Malaysia, told local media that Rush will help the country's forwards.

"Rush will be here in March... we know that our strikers are not doing very well so they should learn from him," said Jamaluddin.

Steven Gerrard Handed England Captaincy

Steven Gerrard has been handed the captaincy for Fabio Capello’s first match as England manager.

The Liverpool midfielder will lead out the side for the friendly international with Switzerland at Wembley tomorrow night.

Gerrard has been made skipper in the absence of the injured Chelsea defender John Terry who had been appointed by Capello’s predecessor Steve McClaren.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was also thought to be in contention to be Capello’s on the field lieutenant against the Swiss.

But Capello has turned to the safe option in Gerrard who was also captain for McClaren’s last game in charge, the ill-fated Euro 2008 qualifier with Croatia at Wembley.

Capello said: “I have just informed my team before coming to see you that tomorrow’s captain against Switzerland will be Steven Gerrard.

“I have done it because I think he is an important player for England, according to my plans. He will be captain for this match.”

Capello has already made it clear he may experiment with other captaincy options before England launch their World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign in September.

Terry remains a contender for the role but has been given no assurances he will return as captain once he regains fitness.

Alvaro Arebeloa's Mixed Feelings At International Call Up

Injured Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa admitted he was surprised but delighted to receive his first call-up to the Spain squad.

The defender, currently out of action with a stomach muscle injury, told Spanish radio station Onda Cero that it came as a shock when national team coach Luis Aragones announced the squad for the friendly against France in Malaga on Wednesday.

He said: “In the morning I was injured and in the afternoon I was injured but in the Spain squad.

“They’d never picked me before and Friday was my first call-up.”

Despite the elation at the prospect of his first international cap, Arbeloa was forced to withdraw because of an ongoing abdominal problem.

He said: “I spoke to him (Aragones) for 15 minutes after he’d announced the squad and told him that I couldn’t take part, but maybe next time we’d have more luck.”

Liverpool FC Fans Plan 'Gains Global Support'

A proposal for fans to seize control of Liverpool is gaining support from around the world, according to one of the main figures behind the plan.

Share Liverpool FC have proposed 100,000 supporters contribute £5,000 to a fund which will be used to buy the club and fund a £300million stadium.

The scheme was launched at a press conference at the University of Liverpool yesterday, when a website - www.shareliverpoolfc.co.uk - was unveiled as the focal point of initial discussions over the project’s feasibility.

One of the main figures behind the plan is football business lecturer and Liverpool fan Dr Rogan Taylor, who revealed: “Already I have enquiries from all round the world, from Norway to California - the fanbase of this club stretches all over the world.

“I think there is a broader appeal for this idea than any initially imagined. Of course, if the owners do not want to sell then there is nothing you can do to force them sell.

“But if you have two businessmen, faced with a takeover from a group backed by 100,000 supporters with a vested interest in the club, then they would have to look at it.

“At this stage it is just a test of the market, to see if there is a hunger for it, how far it is, how widespread and what is the intensity.”

Taylor explained that any takeover would not feature a majority shareholder, ruling out the involvement of Dubai International Capital group.

“This is not a pipe dream. We are serious and it is something we believe we can do,” Taylor told BBC Radio Merseyside.

“At the moment we want fans to just visit the website and give us an indication of how they feel.

“Once we get a feeling of how things lie we will decide how to progress but we can guarantee it will be a one member, one vote scheme.

“Nobody will ever own more than one share and they will have that share forever and be able to pass it on to their children.

“We’re not asking for money at this stage - we’re just testing the water and seeing if there is enthusiasm and commitment for the idea.”

Also involved in the Share Liverpool project is Phil French, formerly of the Premier League and now chief executive of Supporters Direct, and Kevin Jaquiss, from law firm Cobbetts, who has headed some of the country’s most successful sporting legal cases.
A statement on www.shareliverpoolfc.co.uk detailed that plans would be similar to the membership system run by a number of clubs in Europe.

The statement said: “We propose a model of ownership similar to that at Barcelona. This club is owned by their ’members’ where over 100,000 fans have bought single ’member’ shares, which entitle them to elect a board who will run the club until the next election.

“Is structure makes its sale to the next sporting conglomerate that fancies a Premiership football club a legal impossibility.

“The shares can never be sold - the club can never be sold. Let’s stop Liverpool Football Club becoming a trinket any rich man might like to wear around his neck. This club is close to the hearts of millions of people all over the world.”

Benitez Trying To Motivate Alonso

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is urging Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso to raise his game.

Rafa Benitez has explained why he left Xabi Alonso out of the Liverpool squad for Saturday evening's 3-0 victory over Sunderland. Alonso did not not even make the bench for the Reds' first League win of 2008.

Benitez had Javier Mascherano back from suspension and paired him with captain Steven Gerrard in central midfield, bringing in Brazilian Lucas for a rare start.

And the Liverpool boss urged Alonso to improve his level of performance if he wants to reclaim his place.

Alonso was dropped after playing the full 90 minutes against West Ham last Wednesday, when Liverpool lost 0-1.

"Xabi needs to step it up. When you are not 100% fit, you want to play every game because you need to play more games to build up your fitness,” Benitez told Liverpool's official website.

"But if Gerrard, Mascherano or Lucas are playing well, it means there is competition for places which is good for the team.

"Xabi knows he needs to work harder if he wants to have a place in the team.

"Mascherano was back from suspension and he gives us balance in the middle and Gerrard can be more free going forward.

"Lucas was playing really well the other day so we had three midfielders, and we needed to have wingers or strikers on the bench. That's why Alonso was not in the squad on Saturday."

MP Gives His Backing To Liverpool Fans’ Buyout Plans

An early-day motion has been tabled in the House of Commons welcoming Rogan Taylor’s “Share Liverpool FC” concept.

MP John McDowell has signed the motion supporting the idea of 100,000 Liverpool fans putting in £5,000 each to take over the club.

The Liverpool-born MP said: “The Share Liverpool FC initiative could be an absolutely huge development for football in this country, and if it succeeds will show that there is an alternative route to the corporate takeover of clubs with all the attendant dangers for the clubs and fans.

“Football is rightly the property of those who go every week, commit their life’s savings and every second of their time and energy for the club they love.”

In response, Rogan Taylor said: “It gives us a lot of heart to hear this kind of encouragement and backing for our proposal. The website www.shareliverpoolfc.co.uk is receiving a tremendous number of visits and in a few days we should be able to put some figures on just how many fans have signed: Count me in!”

Asked about Saturday’s post-match Kop demonstration, Mr. Taylor said: “I knew it was coming. I would not like it to be confused with the shareholder group proposal, but I understand how they feel.

“With our proposal, you can sort the issue out for ever and the club can never be sold again.

“At the moment, we are renting the club from the Americans, but with this idea fans can own the club themselves – like you own your own home and do not have to pay rent.”

Hundreds of fans stayed behind on Saturday to call for the American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to leave the club.

Skrtel Takes Slovakian Prize

Three weeks after concluding a dream move to Liverpool FC, defender Martin Skrtel has been named as Slovakia's Player of the Year.

The 23-year-old left FC Zenit St. Petersburg to join his new club but did enough in Russia in 2007 to convince a jury to name him as his nation's premier player, three years after being named as Slovakia's most promising young prospect at the same ceremony.

"I am grateful for this award," said the Handlova-born defender.

"I had a fantastic year but winning the Russian title with Zenit was more important for me."

Skrtel finished as runner-up to 1. FC Nurnberg forward Robert Vittek last year, and added: "This is my most valuable individual success."

Torres Goals Cost Liverpool

According to the News of the World, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is costing the club £10,000 for every goal he scores.

The newspaper have revealed that one of the conditions of the deal that took him to Anfield from Atletico Madrid was that his old club are paid £150,000 for every 15 goals he scores in England.

Torres moved to Liverpool for a club record fee of around £22 million last summer, becoming the most expensive Spanish player of all time.

And fortunately for Atletico, the Spanish international has been on a red hot scoring streak of late and has scored 18 times in all competitions this season.

"I'm keeping everyone happy," said Torres. "Liverpool get the goals and Atletico get the money.

"I honestly did not think I would score as many goals as I have so soon. But things have gone well for me.

"Now I just want them to go better for the team in general so we can win the league or a cup to reward everyone's hard work."

Liverpool Star Steven Gerrard's "Garden Pavilion" Plan For House

Soccer star Stevie Gerrard is to have his own thatch of the day - on the spa at his mansion.

The England and Liverpool midfielder is installing a living "sedum roof" on the luxury gym and games building.

But unlike the Anfield pitch, it will not need careful daily tending - just weeding once a year.

Council planners in Formby, Merseyside, who gave Gerrard, 27, permission for the "garden pavilion" liked his plan for a "sedum roof".

Advertisement
An increasing number of buildings are being constructed with "living roofs" of grass, mosses or other plants. They provide additional insulation, which helps cut fuel bills by keeping homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

They also help absorb pollutants, dust, greenhouse gases and noise and provide a haven for birds and insects.

Gerrard's project is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and work should begin within months. Plans show he and his wife, Mirror columnist Alex Curran, 25, will have space for running, weight and fitness machines.

There will be changing rooms, plunge pool, shower rooms, solarium, kitchenette, treatment area, games area with room for full size table tennis and snooker tables and large lounge looking across the garden towards the house.

Gerrard decided to press on with plans for the spa despite bad memories for Alex and daughters Lilly-Ella, three, and Lexie, one, who were victims of a terrifying raid by masked men at the £4.5million home last year.

Liverpool Agree Deal For Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano will complete a £17.1 million move to Liverpool in the summer.

Mascherano, 23, joined the club on an 18-month loan from West Ham, which expires in June.

Benitez's attempts to buy the player were recently blocked by Liverpool's owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, adding to the growing tension between the Spaniard and the American duo.

However, after Hicks and Gillett's refinancing package was completed last week, a four-year contract will be formalized in the summer.

Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, and Kia Joorabchian, who heads the Media Sports Investments consortium that 'owns' Mascherano, agreed a deal that should be ratified next week.

Liverpool had hoped to negotiate a lower fee for Mascherano, but with Manchester City monitoring the situation with interest, they had to settle for the sum that had already been agreed with Joorabchian a year ago.

The news of the imminent transfer, which will be the second most expensive in Liverpool's history, will be welcomed by Benitez, who has been rocked by bitter disputes over transfer policy and a run of poor form that has seen Liverpool drop out of contention for the Premier League title.

Sheikh Mohammed To Try Again

Sheikh Mohammed is ready to test the partnership between the joint owners of Liverpool by making a formal offer for the club.

The billionaire's investment company DIC has been studying closely the terms of a restructuring deal at Anfield that Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett announced last week.

And now the investment arm of the Dubai government is primed to approach the pair with a fresh offer that will value the club in the region of £300million.

DIC's hopes of buying the club they first bid for a year ago seem to rest on exploitation of the uneasy relationship between the two US tycoons.

Hicks has taken the lead in recent weeks by announcing a refinancing deal with the banks that secures his grip on the club - and he also unveiled £300million plans for a new state-of-the-art stadium

Gillett, who has the option of selling his 50 per cent stake, has remained conspicuously silent during that fanfare - and his position is the key to success for the increasingly confident Sheikh.

Kewell Left Out Of Squad

New Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has produced a massive selection shock, leaving Harry Kewell out of the squad for the World Cup qualifying opener against Qatar in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Verbeek confirmed today Kewell had not been asked to fly back to Australia for the match, with Bristol City midfielder Nick Carle and German-based defender Michael Beauchamp also left behind in Europe.

Kewell had been available for selection and finally appears to be over a wretched run of injuries which have blighted his career for the best part of two years.

But Verbeek made it clear the 29-year-old Liverpool star - for so long the Socceroos' talisman - would not be needed.

"I have now had six days with the players in Melbourne and I have made the decision that those three players will not be required to travel to Australia," Verbeek said of Kewell, Carle and Beauchamp.

"Obviously, the three players are disappointed that I have not selected them, but I appreciate that they were available to come if I wanted them to."

Kewell did not play for Liverpool in their 3-0 English Premier League win over Sunderland overnight.

The other 12 European-based Socceroos Verbeek had selected in his initial squad, including Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, will start arriving in Melbourne from tomorrow.

Cahill, who had been nursing a hamstring problem, played the full 90 minutes in Everton's 0-0 Premier League draw with Blackburn.

With Verbeek expected to name his final 18-man squad on Tuesday, it would appear there are now just six places available for the mostly A-League players who have spent the past week at the Socceroos' training camp in Melbourne.

Few did anything to enhance their selection claims in the disappointing 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory in a training match on Saturday.

But Sydney FC defender Mark Milligan, who probably would have been selected, will miss the Qatar game after breaking his nose during the training match.

Newcastle Jets attacker Joel Griffiths is also in doubt because of hamstring tightness.

Newcastle goalkeeper Ante Covic looks certain to take one of the available spots in the squad as back-up custodian to Mark Schwarzer, who will be the last man into camp on Tuesday after his English club match tomorrow.

Overseas players Michael Thwaite and Jacob Burns, who have been at the training camp, are also probable inclusions.

Verbeek is also likely to plump for experienced Queensland Roar defender Craig Moore in his final squad.

LiverpooL 3 - 0 Sunderland

Liverpool's wretched league run came to an end as three second-half goals against Sunderland eased the pressure on the team and manager Rafael Benitez.

The Anfield side had not won in the Barclays Premier League since Boxing Day and they had to fight hard to finally subdue the battling Black Cats.

A shocking sequence of five league games without a victory - effectively destroying any lingering hopes of a title bid - was ended with goals from Peter Crouch and Fernando Torres before Steven Gerrard completed the scoring from the spot.

Sunderland had worked hard and felt they should have had a penalty when Jamie Carragher appeared to handle.

But Liverpool pulled themselves together after a frustrating first half and moved back up to fifth in the table.

Benitez's response to the midweek defeat at West Ham was to leave out Steve Finnan, Yossi Benayoun, Xabi Alonso, Harry Kewell and Dirk Kuyt.

Crouch came in up front, Carragher moved to the right to allow centre-back Martin Skrtel to slot into the back four while Lucas Leiva, Jermaine Pennant and Javier Mascherano all returned.

Sunderland, who have not won at Anfield since 1983, were missing Dwight Yorke (knee) and Anthony Stokes from the side that beat Birmingham last time out as Michael Chopra returned from suspension and Kieran Richardson came back from injury.

But Richardson's suspect hamstring lasted just seven minutes before he was replaced by striker Rada Prica, with Daryl Murphy moving to the left of midfield.

Gerrard saw two long-range efforts charged down but that was as close as anyone got in the opening exchanges.

Slowly Liverpool seemed to run out of inspiration as the tackles continued to come in and Liam Miller, who had transgressed a couple of times, was booked for a foul on Gerrard.

Sunderland's determined defending kept Liverpool at bay and Nosworthy, despite a height disadvantage, did a solid job against Crouch.

Lucas was asked to play on the left for Liverpool with marginal success as Bardsley and Chopra were an effective pairing down that flank and Sunderland's confidence grew with every attack they broke down.

Liverpool finally created a chance after 38 minutes when Pennant's cross was met by Torres with a downward header that Craig Gordon scooped up.

A minute from the break Lucas' flick picked out Torres in the box for a shooting chance but Jonny Evans' produced a fine last-ditch block.

Liverpool replaced Fabio Aurelio with Finnan at half-time while, 10 minutes after the interval, Sunderland sent on Roy O'Donovan in place of Prica to bolster the midfield.

However, two minutes later Liverpool finally got themselves ahead.

Carragher got down the right and lifted a cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Crouch rose to head down and wide of Gordon's dive.

The goal lifted the hosts and Torres brought down a through-ball and flashed a drive Gordon did well to push into the Kop.

After 63 minutes Crouch saw a hooked shot blocked by Gordon, with Gerrard's follow-up deflected wide and from the resulting corner Crouch's towering header was cleared off the line by Dean Whitehead.

Six minutes later the second goal came when Torres surged on to a Crouch flick-on and hammered a right-foot shot past Gordon.

Sunderland were unfortunate not to get a penalty in the 73rd minute when Carragher threw himself at a Murphy shot and the ball struck his arm but Styles did nothing.

Evans had a header blocked by Jose Reina as Sunderland continued to power forward, with Finnan was booked for a foul on O'Donovan.

But two minutes from time Liverpool were awarded a penalty for a Nosworthy challenge on Pennant.

Gordon was booked for dissent before Gerrard scored from the spot with the Scotland goalkeeper almost keeping the ball out.

Match Preview: LiverpooL vs. Sunderland

No Liverpool fan with a shred of realism can now say that their club is still in the hunt for the league title. The Reds are locked in a battle for fourth-place, plain and simple. And it is an intense fight, contested between five teams, all of which at this moment could realistically claim the coveted Champions League qualifying spot come May.

Each match is now vital - and a nervous affair. Games such as Sunderland at home were previously seen as three-points banked on Merseyside, but now, considering the team’s present form, Liverpool fans everywhere are running more on hope than expectation as the final score comes through.

The spirit of brotherhood embedded in Liverpool’s mantra, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, will always be conjured up in magnificent fashion to support one another during pressing times like this – but when one considers that the arrival of Fernando Torres was to herald a new successful dawn for the Reds, when-in fact the club could be staring at their worst season in recent years, it leaves one wondering where it all went wrong?

Whilst the club as a whole seems to be reeling, punch-drunk from all the shenanigans off the pitch, the players' performance levels have dipped to steeper lows every week, ultimately a bad cocktail for any club with lofty ambitions.

And while the arguments rage on as to who is too really blame for the club’s misfortune’s - Spaniard or American - an urgent need to arrest the poor form, home and away, needs full attention. Otherwise political struggles and power-play off-the-pitch could rumble on until the Reds are staring at a wreckage of a season in which a Uefa Cup spot is their only reward from 07/08.

That, of course, is the bleakest of views, although one that is perfectly possible. But at the other end of the spectrum lies only slightly more-happier times when one considers the hunger for a title run amongst the red half of Merseyside.

If Rafael Benitez was to get his men motivated again so that they stride onto a pitch full of beans, then the Reds could still secure fourth-place at a canter, and may even bag one of the two prestigious cups on offer. However, such an end needs a beginning, and that beginning needs to be now against Sunderland.

The Reds have, by their high standards, an appalling home record this season, in which of late they have struggled to overcome a part-time side and just about scraped a belated draw against a Villa outfit that they dominated for most of the game.

Nothing less than a win will do against Roy Keane’s men, and not only because of the visiting manager’s deep and heroic association with Liverpool’s bitter Manchester rivals. It's also vital because it seems that not only are certain individuals now playing for their futures at Anfield, they are also playing for the immediate future of the club itself.

Some may scoff that a visit from Sunderland provides the ideal treatment to the illness at Anfield, but in-truth the reverse is more accurate. Roy Keane will no doubt be telling his troops that their scheduled trip to Liverpool has come at the best possible time, and that the Reds are more of a scalded dog rather than a wounded animal, ready to run and hide rather than attack back.

To that extent, the Black Cats may come with their claws especially sharpened and ready to pounce on Liverpool from the opening whistle. If so then this game could be more open and livelier than first thought when the fixture list was complied back in August, and a shrewd punter may just back an in-form Sunderland to cause an upset on Saturday.

FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

30 January v West Ham (A) LOST 1-0

26 January v Havant & Waterlooville (H) WON 5-2 (FA Cup)

21 January v Aston Villa (H) DREW 2-2

15 January v Luton (H) WON 5-0 (FA Cup)

12 January v Middlesbrough (A) DREW 1-1

Sunderland

29 January v Birmingham (H) WON 2-0

19 January v Tottenham (A) LOST 2-0

13 January v Portsmouth (H) WON 2-0

05 January v Wigan (A) LOST 0-3 (FA Cup)

02 January v Blackburn (A) LOST 1-0

TEAM NEWS

The Reds have a strong squad to call on, with relatively few first-team players out injured. Alvaro Arebola will miss out with a muscle strain, meaning Fabio Aurelio will most likely continue at left-back in the Spaniard’s absence. After the laboured win over Havant in the FA Cup last weekend, a disappointed Benitez made seven changes for the midweek West Ham loss.

How the Spaniard will react to that game with his line-up for tomorrow’s match is, as always with Benitez, hard to predict. He may use the extra speed, penetration and athleticism of Ryan Babel and Jermaine Pennant over the more measured and creative Harry Kewell and Yossi Benayoun, while Kuyt may be rotated for the more in-form but under-used Peter Crouch.

Whispers emanating from the club suggest new signing Martin Skrtel may get his league debut to counter the aerial threat of Kenweyne Jones, Daryl Murphy and Radu Prica. Meanwhile, long-term absentees Daniel Agger (foot) and Andriy Voronin (ankle) will continue with their recuperation away from Anfield.

Keane will be hoping winger Kieran Richardson will be fit enough to return to the fold after recovering from a hamstring strain. The manager will need the pacey wide-man available as without Dwight Yorke (calf) and new signing Andy Reid (knee) he is lacking in creative players. Otherwise, Michael Chopra returns from suspension to bolster the attack. The £5 signing joins £2.5 Radu Prica and Murphy in a fight for a starting place alongside £6m-man Jones.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Fernando Torres

They say that if Torres or Steven Gerrard don’t score then Liverpool are in trouble. Well, there is much to support that view, as the duo are way out in front in the goal-scoring charts, but recently Gerrard has struggled to bring his awesome match-winning form to the boil, making Torres the man fans will look too to make the difference against the visitors.

Sunderland – Kenweyne Jones

The striker has surprised nearly everyone since signing for a hefty £6m last summer. Whilst he isn’t quite in the “Thierry Henry” category as a delighted Keane once exclaimed he was after watching one of the forward’s match-winning displays, he nonetheless he has been under-estimated this season. He definitely is the spearhead of Sunderland’s attack and poses problems for any opponent.

Torres Backs Benítez To Succeed

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres believes boss Rafael Benítez can bring the league title to Anfield. Even if it's not this season. Asked to choose between the club's manager and owners, there's no question who Torres would opt for.

For those who refused to accept that Liverpool were out of this season's title race, Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at West Ham United definitely spelled the end.

A last minute penalty ensured the Reds left Upton Park empty handed while yet again all of the front three sides won.

Liverpool must face the prospect of another season without the league title on Merseyside, but nevertheless fans remain overwhelmingly in support of manager Rafa Benítez.

And another man who is giving the Spaniard his support is compatriot and Anfield striker Fernando Torres, who insists he owes the former Valencia coach a lot for the way he's helped him settled in to English football following his big money move from Atlético Madrid.

“Rafa has done so much for me as a player and also brought me DVDs, videos and books to teach me the history of this great club," said Torres, who has scored 17 times already this season.

"He taught me about the successes of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley - I really didn’t know how fantastic the achievements of Liverpool had been.

"And it was Rafa who told me to lay my hand on the Liverpool badge as you go down the tunnel and on to the pitch. He taught me that Bill Shankly put the ‘This is Anfield’ sign there and why.

"Rafa lives and breathes Liverpool. It’s impossible for me to imagine this club without Rafa Benítez in charge," Torres added. "It’s just unthinkable what would happen if he should decide to leave. They have to let the boss just get on with it. It has been a difficult season for the club because, frankly, people expected us to win the title," he admitted. "It takes time for a squad to gel. Winning the Premier League is not easy, it’s a process of growing into it."

And what fans and journalists don't see is the manner in which Benítez runs the club on a day-to-day basis, insists Torres. "I’ve been surprised by just how good a coach Rafa is," he said. "What he manages to do in every training session is draw the very best out of each player. He’s right on top of every single detail and picks up on little things even you had no idea you might benefit from paying attention to.

"Then, suddenly, he’s shown you three or four things which you had no idea needed work. Rafa massively improves every player he works with. I’ve experienced many different coaches and managed to learn a bit from each one. But every day at training you see the benefit of the fact Rafa has been in charge of so many different teams, has won trophies everywhere he’s been and dealt with dressing rooms which are known to be problematic.”

And Torres has revealed he's not alone in backing the manager ahead of the owners in the public spat that developed between the two parties towards the end of last year. "It’s not just the Spanish players who feel caught in the middle of what happens between the boss and the owners," said Liverpool's record transfer signing.

"If you think about it, Rafa has brought a lot of the squad here and put his faith firmly in them. That’s why I’m not alone in the squad in hoping all the fuss can be solved as quickly and harmoniously as possible. That is when Liverpool will get the best out of everyone.”
And while the Spanish international admits off-the-pitch matters have been a downer in his first season at Anfield, he stressed that on a personal note his progress on the pitch has been excellent. "Even I didn’t expect to score as many goals as quickly as I have," he commented of his 17 strikes. "I thought it was going to take me some time to settle in. I knew I had sufficient quality and I knew I’d get there but for things to happen so smoothly and quickly has been a real thrill.

"Maybe the style of play here in England (has helped me)," he continued. "The power and pace is perfect for me. There seems to be a bit more space here. The big teams have so much extra individual quality it’s no wonder they win all the trophies. Perhaps the tackling is fiercer here - but it’s also more honest," he expressed in comparison to Spain. You’ll see a horror tackle when there’s a loose ball but generally, I find the football more honest here than in La Liga.”

Torres says his immediate aims are now to hit top form as the Reds trying to lift silverware in the FA Cup and Champions League. And top form will only come by sticking away more goals. "I need to give credit to players like Gerrard, Kewell and Pennant, who are always looking for me with passes," he said.

"If I don’t get as many chances as I did in Spain, I certainly get better-quality openings. I’m at the age when strikers start to blossom and marry their talent to their experience. I only pray that comes at the right time for the team and Liverpool start to punch their weight because winning the FA Cup or the Champions League is within our reach this season.”

Liverpool face Sunderland today in the Premiership's late kick-off.

Benitez Wants To Reward Fans

Rafael Benitez reckons Liverpool fans are not getting value for money as their team flounder in the Barclays Premier League title race.

The Liverpool boss, and senior star Jamie Carragher, have finally conceded this week that the league title is beyond an Anfield side who have not won a league game since Boxing Day.

Four points from the last 15 on offer - form that came to a head with the shattering 1-0 defeat at West Ham on Wednesday - has finished Liverpool's championship challenge.

It has left Benitez calling for pride from his players and a desire to improve on all fronts when they face Sunderland at Anfield.

Benitez will have Javier Mascherano back from suspension but is still without Alvaro Arbeloa - called into the Spain squad on Friday for the first time - Andriy Voronin and Daniel Agger, although the Danish defender is back in full training and near to a first-team return.

But Benitez concedes that the fans are being short-changed at the moment.

He said: "The confidence is low, but I do not like to criticise the players. If they work hard, that's OK. If you have to say anything to them it must be done in the dressing room.

"We know we need to improve and take our chances. We must be strong in defence and score more.

"The way to do this is for the staff, the players, everyone, to do our best every day and in every training session. Our supporters deserve more than they are seeing."

With the pressures increasing on Benitez and the club, he also accepts that the side's poor form must be addressed, and quickly, to avoid a disastrous season.

He added: "When you are not winning, especially a few league games on the trot, people talk about managers, the staff or individual players. So in this situation you must work together, work harder and improve.

"We have two cups we can still win, and in the Premier League we must concentrate on improving.

"We were thinking we were contenders and maybe we cannot be now, so we need to concentrate on each game and make sure we take three points, and then see where we are.

"The team has quality and now we need to show our supporters that the commitment is there and we want to progress. We will do it.

"We know we must beat Sunderland, it is clearly a must-win match for us."

He added: "We cannot talk about the title, only the next three points getting close to the top four.

"They are not the results we want and we are drawing games we should be able to win.

"But everything will change when we win two or three games. At the beginning of the season we won a lot of games, scored a lot of goals and everyone was happy.

"We have had some problems, but won against Besiktas, Porto and Marseille (in the Champions League group phase) and played some very good games and scored a lot of goals so we know what we are capable of."

Dubai Bid To Divide Liverpool FC’s American Owners

Dubai-based consortium DIC was last night set to join forces with Liverpool FC co-owner George Gillett in a bid to buy out his partner Tom Hicks.

Events could move forward within a matter of days, with figures close to the club anxious to see a rapid conclusion to what is seen as a damaging distraction at a crucial time in the season.

Relations between Gillett and Hicks are at an all time low, with Gillett remaining silent, but understood to be privately furious with his partner’s unsanctioned public statements over club affairs.

Gillett originally brokered the deal to buy Liverpool, but was forced to bring the significantly wealthier Hicks on board to be able to afford the buy-out.

Now, with the first anniversary of the takeover looming next week, relations have soured between the two men to such a degree that Gillett’s son Foster, who moved to Liverpool to represent the Americans and work alongside club chief executive Rick Parry, returned to the US 3½ weeks ago, and has not been seen at the club since.

The Daily Post understands that Foster Gillett and his wife have no plans to return to the city, despite having recently bought a £1m home in Woolton. The final twist of the knife for George Gillett came when Hicks went public last month with their approach in November to Jurgen Klinsmann as a possible replacement for beleaguered manager Rafael Benitez.

DIC (Dubai International Capital), led by Sameer Al Ansari whose £4,500 a share offer for Liverpool last year was trumped when Hicks helped Gillett to bankroll a successful £5,000 a share offer, are known to be keen to test the resolution of the Americans with a new offer.

Hicks has stated repeatedly that he has no intention of selling in the short term. It is believed he sees the potential to sell the club for well over £1bn in 2012, if the 70,000 seater stadium plan is delivered.

But Gillett is equally determined to hang on to his interest in the club, seeing the whole takeover as his deal, with Hicks merely providing the financial clout to make it happen.

With relations between the pair at such a low ebb, insiders doubt whether both of them can remain as co-owners. The Dubai proposal would allow Gillett to carry forward his plans, while allowing Hicks an exit-strategy with a healthy profit on his 12 months investment.

One source close to the negotiations told the Daily Post last night: “Discussions are still ongoing with DIC. They would be happy to take Hicks out and work with Gillett, or they would be happy to take both of them out.

“But DIC doesn’t want to pay Hicks a huge premium. The key is to get a deal done within days rather than weeks.

“All this has been a huge distraction at the club. Hicks insists on valuing the club at £1bn because he includes the valuation after the stadium is in place, yet it is not even built and doesn’t even have planning permission for the 70,000 seats.”

Hicks has matched Gillett’s £20m personal investment in the club following last week’s £350m refinancing deal, and is likely to be offered double that sum by the Dubai consortium to walk away.

No-one for DIC was available to comment last night while Mr Gillett’s office declined to discuss the matter.

Liverpool FC had no comment to make on the issue.

But a spokesman for Tom Hicks told the Daily Post he remained determined to stay at Liverpool FC.

He said: “As we have said previously and repeatedly, Liverpool Football Club is not for sale.

“Mr Hicks has been very clear in terms of the club not being for sale and that has not changed in any way, shape or form.”

Momo Sissoko Sends Letter Of Thanks To Liverpool Fans

Momo Sissoko, who quit Liverpool to sign for Juventus this week, has sent the club a letter for supporters thanking them for making his time on Merseyside enjoyable.

The letter, released by the club today, says:

Dear Liverpool fans,

As soon as I arrived in Liverpool I realised how much this team meant.

Now, after two and a half years I have to say goodbye and I can't hide the great sorrow I feel in leaving one of the best clubs in Europe.

Liverpool FC as a club, its fans, its coaches and my team-mates have together helped me to become a better player and, above all, a better person.

Liverpool FC is one of the greatest. The Liverpool fans never desert their team.

Even in the worst moments you have a strong sense that the fans are with you, supporting you as much as they can, never giving up, those fans make Liverpool even stronger. I really want to thank them for helping me to feel and to understand what football means in its purest form.

I also think Liverpool FC functions this way because of its leaders; Rafael Benitez works from dawn to dusk, and the players know they must fight for the red shirt in every second of every match.

Now I am beginning a new adventure in another big European Club in Juventus. They have also now put their faith in me.

I shall play to my best in every single match, I shall fight hard for my new shirt to the end, but when every match is finished, I know what I'll do first - I shall ask about the results of Liverpool FC.

Everybody knows the legend "You'll Never Walk Alone" and I shall never ever forget the experience and the team.

I want to thank everyone for the opportunity and wish everyone all the best for the future.

With my best regards,

Mohammed Sissoko

Van Basten: Kuyt Not Good Enough

Holland coach Marco van Basten has claimed Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt was not worthy of a place in his latest Dutch squad.

The 27-year-old has been omitted from the 21-man party named on Friday for the friendly against Croatia on February 6.

Van Basten, who will step down from his post after Euro 2008, had named Kuyt in a provisional squad of 27, but the former Feyenoord forward did not make the cut for the clash at the Poljud Stadium in Split.

The coach criticised his performances for Liverpool which have seen him score just seven times this season and fail to find the net in his last 11 games.

Van Basten told reporters: "The system we had can be compared with Liverpool's... and his performances are not good enough."

The AC Milan legend gave Kuyt, who has racked up 35 caps, his debut in 2004, but his omission signals a change of system for Holland.

"We will now move on with a sort of 4-2-3-1 system," van Basten added.

Holland have four further friendlies - against Austria, Ukraine, Denmark and Wales - before they kick off their European Championship campaign, but with Van Basten opting to go for just up one front, Kuyt's chances of an international return before the summer look bleak.

There was though good news for Ibrahim Afellay, Denny Landzaat and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who are all back in the squad after lengthy absences.

PSV Eindhoven star Afellay and Feyenoord's Landzaat return after five-month absences, while Celtic striker Vennegoor of Hesselink has been out of favour for six months.

Afellay and Vennegoor of Hesselink were last part of the national set-up in September for their Euro 2008 qualifying double-header against Bulgaria and Albania, while Landzaat, who moved back to his homeland from Premier League side Wigan in the transfer window, was last involved in a friendly with Switzerland in August.

But with Holland drawn in the toughest group at Euro 2008 alongside France, Italy and Romania, Van Basten does not see the Croatia game as a chance to experiment.

He told uefa.com: "Croatia's a friendly match so in that sense the result is of less importance, but obviously we want to practice as well as we can so we have to take this match seriously."

Other members of the provisional party who have not been called up by Van Basten are Danny Koevermans, Urby Emanuelson, Kew Jaliens, Hedwiges Maduro and Henk Timmer

Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben were not included because of injury.

Benitez Demands Passion And Pride

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has urged his players to show the passion and pride the shirt deserves when they face Sunderland at the weekend.

Benitez says that the players need to recognise that it is an honour to play for such a “special” club, and has urged them to show the fighting spirit required in order to gain their first win of 2008 against Roy Keane’s Sunderland.

"This is a very, very special club and we are really lucky because we have the support of the best fans in the world" Benitez said.

"Whenever I speak to my friends who work in football in Spain they tell me how lucky I am to be manager of such a great club with such fans and I know that.

"So when things are not going so well it is vital that everyone at the club does everything we can to make things better. We have to have pride in the shirt, pride in the club that we work for and pride in the fans that we represent.

"We cannot feel sorry for ourselves or wish that things were different because that changes nothing. The only way things will get better for us is if we make it happen."

Two FA Cup wins over lesser sides Luton and Havant & Waterlooville have not creased over the cracks of their poor league form.

"I have confidence in my players and in my staff and we have shown what we can achieve together so many times" Benitez continued.

"Things have not gone our way in the last few games but you do not always get what you deserve. The key when this happens is to train harder, to work harder in training and to play better in matches.

"If you do all of those things then we will soon get back to winning ways" he added.

Heat Is All On Liverpool, Insists Moyes

Everton boss David Moyes is quietly confident that his team can defy the odds to secure a place in the Champions League, and insists they hold an important psychological advantage over their bitter rivals Liverpool.

Before the start of this season, hardly anyone would have favoured Everton over Liverpool in the increasingly cutthroat battle to qualify for Europe's elite club competition, but a couple of games past the halfway mark already and it is the blue half of Merseyside who find themselves in the inside lane.

“There is certainly less pressure on us than on Liverpool now, because we are not expected to make the Champions League," reasoned Moyes. "When people talk of the top four they do not mention Everton but I would back my team against any of our rivals.

“For us to finish fourth would be outstanding, but I do not see any point talking about it until there is a month to go and we are still in a strong position.”

Everton's hard-earned draw against resurgent Tottenham combined with Liverpool's shock defeat to West Ham meant that Moyes' side will go into round 25 still in fourth while their neighbours, who are yet to win in the league in 2008, languish in seventh.

“I did not know Liverpool had lost until after the game, maybe people will think I should be overjoyed," he added.

"Of course it helps us when they lose, but I do not want to get too carried away with the current situation. Come the end of the season we will see how things are.”

Rafa Frustrated By Profligacy

Liverpool manager pointed to his side’s lack of a scoring touch as the main reason they lost at Upton Park.

West Ham collected all three points via a last-minute penalty, only after however, Liverpool has wasted numerous chances.

“I am disappointed about the manner in which we lost”, admitted Benitez.

“We played well and worked hard, but we couldn’t score and they came back.”

Former Hammer Yossi Benyaoun had the best of a bunch of chances, but managed to spoon his shot over the bar from ten yards out, leaving Benitez a frustrated manager.

"We had chances but couldn’t take them.

"We started really well and in the second half we had a lot of possession and to lose following a counter attack in the final minute is disappointing.

"For them to score from a penalty so late on was terrible. We now need to think about the next game."