Megson Tips Liverpool For Title

Bolton manager Gary Megson believes Liverpool are "genuine contenders" for this season's Premier League title.

Rafa Benitez brings his Liverpool side to the Reebok Stadium for Saturday's early kick-off, and Megson has backed his opponents to win the league.

"They seem settled and they are flying," said Megson.

"They expect to be in the Champions League and picking up league titles and they are well capable of building on their great start this year."

Liverpool last won the title in 1990 under the stewardship of Kenny Dalglish but they are currently second in the Premier League table, level on points with leaders Chelsea.

And Megson believes that it is important for Benitez's team to win the league.

"They've had top-class players for the last 40 to 50 years and they've got great expectations," he said.

"It seems incredible that it's been 18 years since they won the league.

"Yes, they've won plenty of cups during that time but, ultimately, you are judged on Premier League titles.

"But what has happened this year is that they have got off to a good start."

Megson will be buoyed by the return of boyhood Liverpool fan Kevin Nolan from suspension, but Liverpool are set to bring a number of seasoned internationals back into the side.

Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Keane and Xabi Alonso are all expected to return following Wednesday's Carling Cup 4-2 defeat to Spurs, and Megson is wary of the talent at Benitez's disposal.

"They've got some world-class players, backed up by some real class players, but the thing that they've all got is a really high work ethic.

"They are organised, they're a problem from set-pieces and all those things that the smaller clubs are supposed to be good at, Liverpool do it as well as everyone else and, in most cases, better.

"Allied to the talent they've got, it's a real difficult task to beat them, as it's proved for everyone else."

Babel Confident Of Title Prospects

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel claims that the club's Premier League wins over Manchester United and Chelsea prove that the Merseysiders are ready for a title challenge.

Liverpool sit second in the Premier League a third of the way through the calendar, but trail Chelsea only by virtue of goal-difference.

The Merseysiders' early season form has been strong, and blips against Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City have been offset by wins against Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Reds have claimed their first Premier League win over either side in the Rafa Benitez era this season, and this demonstrates the club's title credentials, according to Ryan Babel.

The Ajax-schooled frontman, who scored the winner against the Red Devils, believes that the race for the top-flight title will go to the wire this season, and that results against fellow championship contenders will make the ultimate difference.

He told the press: "At the end of the season I think the difference will be the games we play against the top sides," said Babel.

"We have already beaten Manchester United and Chelsea so hopefully we can take points from Arsenal as well now.

"But we try not to look at the others and focus on ourselves. It's clear that these next few months will be very important. We have a lot of games to play but it's very important to keep everybody fit and try to win most of the games we play."

Torres Told There Is No Guarantee Of Liverpool Place

Fernando Torres could be a surprise casualty from the fall-out of Liverpool's Carling Cup exit after the manager, Rafael Benítez, warned that no player is guaranteed a starting place in his title-chasing side.

Torres started his first game after five weeks' absence with a hamstring injury at White Hart Lane, but the Spanish striker looked a shadow of the player who scored 36 goals for club and country last season.

Benítez believes the 24-year-old is still "two or three weeks" from returning to peak form, and the Liverpool manager could decide to demote him to the bench at Bolton today. "The team is doing very well so Torres has to compete for his position," said Benítez. "Clearly he is not 100% fit in terms of sharpness. He is a fantastic player, but we have [Robbie] Keane and [Dirk] Kuyt playing well, so he has to compete. I was disappointed after the Carling Cup because we lost the game and didn't perform well. I think some of the senior players have to take some of the responsibility. Torres is clever and he knows he can't rest on his laurels."

The prospect of Torres, one of five Liverpool players named yesterday in Spain's squad to face Chile on Wednesday, being dropped seemed unthinkable not long ago, although he picked up his last injury in training with the national squad and Benítez may feel he needs easing back.

Liverpool will go three points clear of Chelsea, if only for a few hours, if they defeat Bolton in the lunchtime start. Jamie Carragher is set to start at right-back in place of the suspended Alvaro Arbeloa, with Sami Hyypia partnering Daniel Agger in the centre of defence.

Benítez, meanwhile, has confirmed that contract negotiations have started. "My advisers are working on this," he said. "I want to concentrate on football, but for me it has to be done quickly because I don't want to be talking every press conference about this."

Liverpool midfielder Jermaine Pennant Could Leave Anfield On Free Transfer In Summer

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's decision to freeze out Jermaine Pennant could see the midfielder walk away on a free transfer.

Pennant will become a free agent in the summer unless he makes an estimated 15 first-team appearances this season.

Benitez signalled his intent to offload the midfielder in January by dropping him from the 18-man squad for their Carling Cup tie against Spurs in midweek.

But his decision to overlook the 25-year-old for the trip to White Hart Lane, when he opted to field many fringe players, could see the club lose out on the chance to recoup even a slice of the £6.7 million fee Liverpool paid Birmingham to sign the former England Under-21 international two years ago.

Pennant signed a three-year contract on his arrival with a one-year option but it appears that he may have played his last game for the club.

The 25-year-old has only made four appearances this season but the Carling Cup allowed Benitez the chance to increase that tally, a decision Benitez opted against.

Even if rival Premier League clubs came in for him during the transfer window, Pennant could decide to bide his time on the sidelines and leave Anfield for nothing next summer.

Pennant has failed to hold down a regular starting berth since arriving on Merseyside and came close to leaving for Stoke before the new season.

Stoke met Liverpool's £5m asking price but were unable to agree personal terms with the former Arsenal midfielder.

Blackburn have also been keeping a close eye on Pennant's availability but may hold off launching a bid in January with the possibility of signing him on a free four months later.

Benitez: Don't Compare Us With Arsenal

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has defended his decision to use fringe first-teamers in the Carling Cup rather than adopt Arsenal's tactics of putting out a team of youngsters.

None of the players who lined up in red for the start of Liverpool's Carling Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur were products of the club's academy. This is a direct contrast to their title rivals Arsenal, who use the competition as a means of blooding youngsters.

Liverpool-born Stephen Darby did make a substitute appearance late on, but this almost seems like a token gesture on the part of the Liverpool boss, who is nevertheless expected to name Darby in his squad for this weekend's game at Bolton Wanderers, as Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended and Philipp Degen injured.

The Liverpool team at Spurs consisted mainly of more experienced players in need of a game, but Benitez justified his choice and insisted that there are young, English players coming through at Anfield - they're just not quite ready yet.

“Our young players will need more time," said the Spaniard.

"I decided to use the other members of the squad rather than very young players, mainly because the seniors needed to play matches.

“I have to think about having senior men ready to play in the Premier League as the season progresses. I was also concerned that we were playing against a Spurs side who have been doing very well, maybe it was not the game for teenagers.

“We used senior squad players and they did not play well. Fernando Torres played 55 minutes and did not play well, if the big names do not perform then you cannot blame the young players.

“We have good young players, the future for the club is brilliant. We have good, young, local players and they are working well.”

Benitez was annoyed when his policy was directly compared with that of Arsenal, whose youngsters swept Wigan Athletic out of the competition.

“Do not compare us with Arsenal,” he said.

“They have been paying big, big money for young players for all the time that Arsene Wenger has been there.

“It is not about the age of players, it is about quality. Sometimes you have to pay big money for the best young players around, and that is what Arsenal have done.

“But Arsenal were being criticised only recently for using too many inexperienced youngsters. Then they beat Manchester United and Wigan and everyone says they are fantastic.

“It is important to be calm, look to the long term, and see the bigger picture.”

It will be interesting to see whether any young local players do emerge at Anfield. The city of Liverpool is rich with football tradition and fans love local-born legends like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

And, as Benitez himself said, “If you had to choose between local players or foreign players of the same ability, that is easy, you would go with the local boys because they have more passion."

Rafa Benitez: Why I'm Backing Liverpool's Youth Players

Rafael Benitez has defended his decision not to use academy youngsters in the midweek Carling Cup loss to Tottenham and has lined up local boy Stephen Darby for his Barclays Premier League debut this weekend.

The Liverpool boss fielded a raft of overseas fringe players for Wednesday’s 4-2 loss at White Hart Lane, meaning there was no space in the starting XI for any of the club’s youth system players.

Liverpool-born Darby did at least make an appearance from the bench against Spurs, and the 20-year-old right-back is now in line to make his league bow at Bolton tomorrow with Alvaro Arbeloa suspended and Philipp Degen sidelined with a fractured metatarsal that could keep him out for two months.

Darby’s likely inclusion in the Reds’ line-up will be a timely riposte to those who have criticised Benitez for not nurturing young, English talent, and the Spaniard insists academy players have a future at Anfield.

Benitez said: “Our young players will need more time. I decided to use the other members of the squad rather than very young players, mainly because the seniors needed to play matches.

“I have to think about having senior men ready to play in the Premier League as the season progresses. I was also concerned that we were playing against a Spurs side who have been doing very well, maybe it was not the game for teenagers.

“We used senior squad players and they did not play well. Fernando Torres played 55 minutes and did not play well, if the big names do not perform then you cannot blame the young players.

“We have good young players, the future for the club is brilliant. We have good, young, local players and they are working well.”

Benitez bridled at suggestions his tactics were in contrast to those of Arsenal, whose team of academy products swept aside Wigan in the same competition on Tuesday.

“Do not compare us with Arsenal,” he said.

“They have been paying big, big money for young players for all the time that Arsene Wenger has been there.

“It is not about the age of players, it is about quality. Sometimes you have to pay big money for the best young players around, and that is what Arsenal have done.

“But Arsenal were being criticised only recently for using too many inexperienced youngsters. Then they beat Manchester United and Wigan and everyone says they are fantastic.

“It is important to be calm, look to the long term, and see the bigger picture.”

Benitez added: “If you had to choose between local players or foreign players of the same ability, that is easy, you would go with the local boys because they have more passion.

“You have to talk about quality first. I would be really pleased with five Carraghers and five Gerrards, that would be wonderful.

“But Arsenal have been working for 12 years or more bringing in young foreign players. Everyone was criticising them, and now because they have two or three good English players coming through, the attitude has changed.

“But for 12 years or so they have been bringing in foreign players. Why? Because it is a question of quality. I understand that. My view is that the academy system is not producing enough good players all around the country. That is a fact.”

Benitez - who was today named Barclays Manager of the Month for October - will have all his big-name stars back at the Reebok.

Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Keane and Albert Riera will all feature in the squad.

Benitez added that using Darby in his starting XI this weekend should not be viewed as a gamble.

“Darby is a fantastic young player, a good boy, he has been working very, very hard ever since I have known him,” he said.

“Using him at Bolton is not a gamble.

“We have had Darby training well this week. We have worked on a few things he needed to improve, but I could not have asked for more from him. We have a choice between using Stephen or switching Carragher to right-back.”

Liverpool have managed just one win from their last five visits to Bolton, and Benitez is aware that it is match that must be won if the Reds are to keep pace with Chelsea at the Premier League’s summit.

“These games are the most dangerous,” he said.

“Against the top sides it is easy to be motivated, but it is in such matches as this that you win and lose titles.

“It is more physical and you have to show character. If you can do this then you can stay up at the top of the table.”

Rafa Benitez Gets Manager Of The Month Award

Frank Lampard and Rafael Benitez have been named the Barclays Premier League player and manager of the month for October.

It is the third time Lampard has been voted the top flight’s best performer - coming exactly three years after the last time - and is just reward for a month in which he scored twice and helped Chelsea secure three league wins out of four.

The highlight of a productive October was the England star’s sublime chip which put the Blues on their way to a 3-0 victory at Hull, and he now stands just behind the leading group of six players - including Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney - who have won the monthly accolade on four occasions.

The only blemish on Chelsea’s record in October came with a 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool, whose manager Benitez led the Merseysiders to a perfect four wins out of four.

Manchester City and Wigan were also beaten by the Reds after thrilling comebacks, while Portsmouth were edged out at Anfield.

Benitez has now won the award on four occasions, putting him seventh on the all-time list.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has, meanwhile, been awarded the Barclays Golden Boot for becoming the first player to score 10 goals in the top flight this season.

Rafael Benitez Begins Preliminary Talks Over New Liverpool Contract

Rafael Benitez has begun preliminary talks over a new contract. The Liverpool manager says his advisors will be handing the negotiations because he is determined not to allow the issue to distract him from the club's title challenge.

After an impressive start to the season, the Spaniard is now in a sufficiently powerful position to have been able to force contract discussions on to the club's agenda. Previously Tom Hicks, the American co-owner, had alluded to a one-year extension to Benitez’s existing £2.6 million-a-year deal, which expires in June 2010, but George Gillett, having taken their fallouts more personally, had been opposed to the idea.

However, with disagreements between Benitez and the owners now resolved the manager is delighted that talks have begun. "I want to clarify the situation over my new contract," he said. "My advisor has had contact with the club's owners, and they will have a meeting in the future, hopefully next week.

"But I want to make it clear that no details were discussed. Not the length of the contract, nor money or any conditions. None of those things were discussed. There has been contact and now things will start progressing.

"And in the future my agent will be talking about this with the club and I will concentrate on football, because I do not want to be talking about things every week that can distract the players. They will talk next week and hopefully there will be progress, but I do not want to be involved in those talks."

Rafa: I Couldn't Do It Without Sammy Lee

Liverpool are enjoying a great start to the season on all fronts and Rafa Benitez has hailed assistant manager Sammy Lee for his work.

Sammy Lee didn't make much of a manager, bumbling his way briefly in and out of the Bolton hotseat in 2007, but it's clear that he's an exceptional assistant.

The former Liverpool midfielder was highly-rated by Graeme Souness, Roy Evans and Gérard Houllier during his first stint at Anfield and was a key part of Sam Allardyce's Trotters set-up.

Now, current Reds boss Rafa Benitez can't get enough of him, hailing Lee's impact since he returned to the club in May.

He Spaniard mentioned Lee's Melwood picture montage of iconic players - Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff et al. - as an example of Lee's inspirational behaviour.

Benitez told the club's official website: "This is a good message for the players - to see the legends when they are at Melwood. It can be an inspiration for them.

"Sammy has brought the spirit and mentality of the former players who know everything about the club.

"He has passion and is a very, very positive person. He's been a very good addition."

The wily gaffer want on to say that, despite the Reds' positive start - level with Chelsea, six ahead of Arsenal and eight to the good where Man Utd are concerned - no-one is about it ease up.

"The gap is not really important at this stage," he insisted. "It's better to be ahead but it's too soon for it to be important.

"I always say the same: it's a long race."

The Reds travel to the Reebock to face Lee's former club Bolton at the weekend.

Torres: Albert Will Help Me Beat 33

Fernando Torres believes the arrival of 'real winger' Albert Riera could help him beat the 33 goals he scored last season.

A hamstring tear has restricted Torres to just four starts with his countryman so far, but the striker has already seen enough to predict Riera will have a big impact at Anfield.

"He's a different player to what we've had because he is a real winger," El Nino told the official LFC Magazine.

"On the right we have Jermaine Pennant and now on the left we have Albert.

"He is capable of going on the outside or coming inside. He can dribble and cross - he is a complete player. He is really important to the team already.

"As a striker, it is great to have someone who can cross the ball so well.

"Having him in the team should create more space for the other forwards because defenders need to watch Albert. That should help the rest of us get more opportunities."

Liverpool Lack Title Race Strength In Depth

Liverpool appear to have the best chance of ending their league title drought since Roy Evans's team fell away in the finishing straight in 1997, but their Carling Cup exit on Wednesday has revived concerns over their strength in depth. While their first XI looks formidable, the back-up players have struggled to match those standards, again falling short in the 4-2 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Fernando Torres and Daniel Agger were the only first-choice players in the Liverpool starting line-up on a night when Rafael Benítez's team suffered their second defeat away to Tottenham in 12 days. But whereas the visiting side were unfortunate to lose 2-1 in the Barclays Premier League, they were poor on their return to North London this week.

Agger, who was part of a defence that conceded three times shortly before the break to leave Liverpool 3-0 down at half-time, claimed afterwards that no trophies, Premier League or otherwise, would be going to Anfield if they continued to play in the same manner. “If you see the goals, it was the same problem every time and they speak for themselves,” the Denmark central defender said. “We conceded four bad goals and you cannot expect to do that and still get anything out of a game.

“Right now it's difficult to take any positives at all. That just wasn't good enough. We have to do better than this otherwise we won't achieve anything this season.”

Liverpool will hope that they can get through the season without many injuries to their leading players, but such a scenario might be less devastating for Arsenal. While their failure to win the Premier League over the past four years has been blamed partly on Arsène Wenger's reluctance to address weaknesses in his first XI by acquiring established top-class players, the manager can boast an abundance of riches in reserve.

The Premier League's “big four” rested most of their first-choice players in this week's Carling Cup fourth-round ties, but Arsenal recorded much the best result. Chelsea joined Liverpool in departing the competition, succumbing in a penalty shoot-out at home to Burnley, while Manchester United needed a late penalty by Carlos Tévez at Old Trafford to see off Queens Park Rangers, but Wenger's team steamrollered Wigan Athletic.

Arsenal's achievement was all the more impressive because their line-up featured a majority of what amounted to third-team players, whereas United and Liverpool had two each and Chelsea had none. Wenger also declined to pick any of his first-choice team, in contrast to Benítez, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Sir Alex Ferguson (although it could be argued that the United manager no longer considers Gary Neville to be his main right back, in which case the Scot also overlooked his entire first team).

Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, described Arsenal's youngsters as “frightening” and admitted that “we got our backsides kicked by a very good team”. The six players who started at the Emirates Stadium but who would probably not make the club's second XI are Gavin Hoyte, Jack Wilshere, Mark Randall, Fran Mérida, Jay Simpson and Carlos Vela, teenagers all. Among them they provided the goals - two by Simpson and one by Vela - and two of the three assists.

Five of this half-dozen also started the 6-0 win over Sheffield United in the previous round. The only possible drawback for Arsenal fans is whether any of these players are ready to make a significant contribution to the present Premier League campaign. The answer to that question, and the depth of their rivals' reserve strength, may help to decide the destination of the title.

Daniel Agger: We Have To Do Better At Bolton

Daniel Agger has demanded improvement from Liverpool as they look to sustain their Barclays Premier League title challenge with victory at Bolton on Saturday.

Centre-back Agger was the only player retained in the starting XI for the midweek Carling Cup defeat against Tottenham where Rafael Benitez’s under-par second string made his squad look lightweight and lacking depth.

Benitez will recall his first-choice players for the trip to the Reebok Stadium, with Agger hoping there will be no hangover from White Hart Lane.

The 23-year-old Denmark international feels standards must be higher if Benitez needs to call on his squad players again.

"We definitely have to do better," he said. "Bolton are a physical and strong team so it will be a tough match for us, but we are focused on making improvements in every area."

The 4-2 defeat allows Benitez to prioritise the Premier League and Champions League - and Agger feels there should be lessons learned from the defeat to Spurs as well.

"We can’t take many positives from that game," said Agger.

"I think it’s easy to say that when you let the opposition score four goals, you won’t win the game.

"Our team performance was just not good enough. We were far from strong enough and we have to do better.

"But now we will think about improving against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday - that is all we can do.

"We take every game as it comes and must play a lot better than how we performed against Tottenham."

Fernando Torres returned from his hamstring tear against Spurs, and he is relishing a return to action to link up with fellow Spaniard Albert Riera, who was signed from Espanyol to provide genuine width.

"He’s a different player to what we’ve had because he is a real winger," Torres told the LFC Magazine. "On the right we have Jermaine Pennant and now on the left we have Albert.

"He is capable of going on the outside or coming inside. He can dribble and cross - he is a complete player. He is really important to the team already.

"As a striker, it is great to have someone who can cross the ball so well.

"Having him in the team should create more space for the other forwards because defenders need to watch Albert. That should help the rest of us get more opportunities."

Rafa Riles Reds Owners Again By Revealing Details Of Talks Over A New Liverpool Contract

Rafa Benitez is continuing to rub Liverpool's co-owners the wrong way by going public with their plans to open talks over a new contract.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett have seen their Anfield regime weakened by internal conflicts and the global credit crunch - but the tycoons have again found common ground in disapproval of Benitez, according to The Times.

Having finally been given encouragement last week to believe that Hicks and Gillett would agree to discuss a new deal, Reds manager Benitez confirmed in an interview with the Liverpool Echo that 'they gave me their word' and that he expected talks to start some time this week.

But the Americans were frustrated that the message was broadcast to the media so quickly, increasing their feeling that they are being forced into a corner by Benitez.

After an impressive start to the season, Benitez is in a sufficiently powerful position to have been able to force contract discussions on to the agenda.

Hicks had alluded to a one-year extension to Benitez’s existing £2.6 million-a-year deal, which expires in June 2010, but Gillett, having taken their fallouts more personally, had been opposed to the idea.

Preliminary discussions between chief executive Rick Parry and Benitez’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, are due to take place in the coming days, but, with the parties likely to be far apart on the size and length of any contract, it may be that Liverpool are under new ownership by the time the matter is resolved.

Hicks and Gillett are looking to sell the club and there is a growing belief that they are ready to drop their asking price from £550 million to £500 million - closer to sums that have been offered by Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, and another unidentified Arab consortium.

Hicks and Gillett remain hopeful that they will succeed in persuading Royal Bank of Scotland to grant a six-month extension to their £350 million refinancing loan, which expires on January 25, but there have not yet been any such guarantees.

Even if they are granted more time, Hicks and Gillett have little or no prospect of taking the club forward, having failed to raise the additional £350 million required for the construction of a new stadium.

Liverpool FC Academy Production Line Is Letting Side Down

ENJOYING their best-ever start to a Premier League season and closing on yet another qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League, things would appear to be going well for Liverpool.

But scratch beneath the surface at Anfield and it’s clear something has to change.

Wednesday’s woeful Carling Cup capitulation at Tottenham Hotspur should have sent the alarm bells ringing throughout the club.

While Arsenal’s youngsters continue to thrill in the competition, Rafael Benitez is evidently finding it a struggle to find any of a similar standard either at home or abroad.

Lacking the financial resources that allowed Arsene Wenger to snap up the cream of the world’s budding talent in recent years, Benitez’s attempts to unearth a rare gem of his own from across the globe means there are nearly 30 youngsters at the club under the age of 23.

Few of those hopefuls realistically have any chance of ever forging a career at Anfield.

However, the alternative production line at the Academy, another profitable source for Wenger, is proving just as fruitless.

After all, why did Benitez see fit to select only one recent homegrown graduate, reserve team skipper Stephen Darby, in the squad for Wednesday’s trip to White Hart Lane in a competition that is a long way last in the manager’s list of priorities?

Of course, this situation hasn’t just happened overnight. Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier was regularly at loggerheads with the Academy over the lack of quality emerging from the Kirkby set-up.

Benitez has used the Carling Cup to give youth its chance at Anfield, most notably on his previous visit to Tottenham in the competition in December 2004 when eight homegrown players made an appearance.

But it’s telling that none are still at the club with only Stephen Warnock plying his trade in the top flight.

Punters who hit the internet message boards and radio phone-ins to lambast Wednesday’s performance as one of the worst they have ever seen from Liverpool certainly have short memories.

Don’t forget, it was less than two years ago that the Anfield outfit were humbled 6-3 at home by Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

Carling Cup exits have proven a watershed during previous seasons under Benitez, particularly for the young hopefuls selected.

After losing at Crystal Palace in 2005, David Raven and Zak Whitbread never played for Liverpool again while Darren Potter made only one further appearance.

And the Arsenal humbling in January 2007 saw a last outing for Lee Peltier, with Danny Guthrie only playing one more time and Gabriel Paletta three times.

It was also a final appearance for Warnock, who joined Blackburn Rovers shortly afterwards.

Ominous signs, then, for the likes of David Ngog, Nabil El Zhar and Damien Plessis, who all played at White Hart Lane.

But the trio weren’t helped by the performances and attitude of some of their senior professionals on Wednesday.

Philipp Degen in particular demonstrated little appetite for the fight and the sight of him hobbling off with yet another injury may be the last time he is seen in a Liver-pool shirt. Darby is surely a better long-term bet.

Liverpool’s Academy may be located six miles from Melwood but it could just as easily be in another country and not just because of the accents that echo around the corridors these days.

Co-operation between the two complexes does not exist, simply cynicism of what each other is trying to achieve when they should be chasing the same goal.

There is no doubt that some people at the Academy will have relished the sight of Ngog, Plessis and El Zhar toiling – which in itself is an even bigger disgrace – without offering up a solution to the problem themselves.

Manchester City can churn out talent and Everton can churn out English talent that, even if they do not prove good enough, would raise some money. Nothing is coming from Kirkby.

Liverpool’s board cannot keep on ignoring the situation by refusing to take sides for fear of upsetting people.

Both sides need shaking up for the common good of the club and it amounts to a dereliction of duty that the status quo is being allowed to fester.

The Academy has other difficulties, as highlighted last month by Sunderland manager Roy Keane.

Premier League rules dictate that boys must live within 90 minutes’ travel time of any team they sign for, putting the likes of coastal outfits Sunderland and Liverpool at a disadvantage compared to London clubs.

“That’s something we are looking at,” said Keane. “If you look at our academy, we are restricted in terms of our location.

“You can only bring in kids from a certain area. It’s a certain radius and a lot of our radius is in the water. We have to look at whether there’s any good fish out there.”

If Liverpool are going to improve their catch of youngsters, then the bait, the rod and maybe even the anglers need to be reassessed.

Kevin Nolan: Winning Premier League Would Mean More To Liverpool FC Than European Cup

BOLTON captain Kevin Nolan was in Istanbul to watch Liverpool claim their fifth European Cup in 2005 but he insists a first domestic title since 1990 would rank far higher.

The Reds enhanced their remarkable European pedigree further three years ago with their stunning comeback victory against AC Milan.

Nolan, a boyhood Liverpool fan who still lives in the city, has fond memories of the match regarded as one of the greatest European finals.

However, almost 19 years have passed since the club were last crowned domestic champions and that is a source of immense frustration to Nolan and thousands of other Liverpool followers.

But a hugely impressive start to the campaign has ensured Rafael Benitez’s side head to the Reebok Stadium tomorrow lunchtime joint top of the Premier League with Chelsea.

If Sir Alex Ferguson’s men retain the title again this season, they will draw level with Liverpool’s record haul of 18 English championships.

For Nolan, 26, that is simply not acceptable.

“There’s been a lot of talk about United matching Liverpool’s record of 18 and that’s not something that I want to see,” he said.

“As a Liverpool lad and as a fan I don’t think it should happen to be honest.

“It would certainly hurt the history of Liverpool and everything they have achieved.

“It would hurt the players as well but if United get that 18th title then they will deserve it. They have been absolutely fantastic over the last 15 years.

“It would be great to see the championship coming back to Liverpool because it would mean so much to the fans.

“Istanbul was brilliant but winning the league would top that and I don’t think Liverpool are far off.”

Jermaine Pennant’s Anfield Future Is In Doubt

JERMAINE PENNANT’S Liverpool future is under fresh doubt after the winger was left out of the Carling Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

But the Anfield outfit run the risk of the winger walking away for nothing at the end of the season if they fail to offload him during the January transfer window.

After starting Liverpool’s previous two home Premier League games, Pennant failed to make the squad for the weekend Anfield win against West Bromwich Albion and was again absent from the 18-man party on Wednesday.

It is believed the absence at White Hart Lane of Pennant, who appeared in the win over Crewe Alexandra in the previous round, was due to disciplinary reasons.

Pennant was told by Rafael Benitez earlier this season that he would not be frozen out despite Liverpool actively seeking to sell the player during the summer.

The winger turned down the chance of a £5million move to Stoke City and came close to joining Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day.

Recent events are likely to accelerate Pennant’s departure, with Wigan Athletic tracking the player along with Bolton Wanderers, who were yesterday linked with a possible £3.5m bid in the New Year.

However, the situation is complicated by the contract Pennant agreed when signing from Birmingham City for £6.7m in July 2006.

That deal will expire in the summer unless Pennant plays a specified number of games this season. Should he reach that target – thought to be around 15 – it will automatically invoke a one-year contract extension.

But if Pennant, who has played only four times so far this campaign, falls short of the required total of appearances – the likelihood of which has increased with Liverpool’s Carling Cup exit – then he would walk away for nothing in June.

Meanwhile, Daniel Agger admits Benitez’s side will win nothing this season if they don’t improve on their woeful showing at Tottenham.

Liverpool conceded three goals in seven minutes before half-time before eventually slumping to a 4-2 defeat.

And Agger, the only survivor at White Hart Lane from the team that started the 3-0 win against West Brom five days earlier, reckons the Anfield outfit must banish the game from their memory banks ahead of tomorrow’s tricky trip to Bolton Wanderers.

“If you see the goals it was the same problem every time and they speak for themselves,” said the Denmark international. “We conceded four bad goals and you cannot expect to do that and still get anything out of a game.

“We improved in the second half but we knew it could only go one way as we couldn’t play as badly as we did in the first half.

“Right now it’s difficult to take any positives at all. That just wasn’t good enough. We have to do better than this otherwise we won’t achieve anything this season.

“The mood wasn’t the best in the squad after the game but we have to put this behind us quickly. Bolton are a strong, physical team and it’s another difficult game for us. We can’t perform like this on Saturday because if we do then we will lose.”

Agger refused to entertain the notion that the Carling Cup was a mere distraction for Liverpool, given their progress in the Premier League and Champions League this season.

“For some players this is a very important competition,” he said. “We have a big squad and the more games we can have the better it is for us. Not going any further than the fourth round this season is very annoying.”

Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 4 - 2 LiverpooL

Harry Redknapp's magic touch continued with victory over Liverpool at White Hart Lane to secure Tottenham a place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

As if to illustrate the manager's impact since taking charge 18 days ago, it was two players on the fringes during Redknapp's revolution who turned the tie with three goals in six minutes just before the break against Rafael Benitez's reserves.

Roman Pavlyuchenko, who netted the late winner when Liverpool were beaten by Spurs in the Premier League, opened the scoring with a crisp finish before Fraizer Campbell added his first two for the club since his loan from Manchester United.

Damien Plessis and Sami Hyypia pulled goals back either side Pavlyuchenko's second, stirring memories of their second-half Istanbul comeback in the 2005 Champions League final - but Spurs held on to stay in the competition they won in February under Juande Ramos.

It is now five wins and a draw since the new manager was appointed.

Redknapp clearly wants to keep his whole squad happy and motivated - that was shown by the entire team shaking hands with suspended full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto when they returned from the warm-up.

Fabio Capello was in the stands to cast an eye on Darren Bent - the player most transformed since Redknapp's arrival - but Pavlyuchenko and Campbell were given their opportunities instead.

Capello could still look at Tom Huddlestone, whose range of passing was the bright spots in a dull opening to the match.

There was only a tame penalty shout of note before the match exploded into life seven minutes before the break after Gareth Bale slipped the ball down the left flank for Campbell.

The low cross was met first time by Pavlyuchenko and the powerful finish went through Diego Cavalieri's legs.

Jamie O'Hara should have added a second a minute later, with Campbell again providing but Cavalieri saved, then Ryan Babel and Pavlyuchenko were booked as the intensity rose.

Campbell grabbed his first in the 42nd minute after O'Hara chipped through, Cavalieri and Andrea Dossena got in the way of each other, leaving an open goal for the striker.

His next goal was a header from Aaron Lennon's cross, a neat finish to give Spurs a three-goal lead.

Liverpool have history when it comes to coming back from 3-0 down, and they were given hope when Plessis headed home Babel's corner from the left three minutes after the restart.

Pavlyuchenko replied immediately, restoring the three-goal cushion when he tapped in Didier Zokora's cross.

Fernando Torres was struggling on his return from his hamstring tear. He barely had sight of goal on his comeback and his evening was brought to an end 11 minutes into the second half when he was taken off for Emiliano Insua.

Apart from Torres and Daniel Agger, though, it was a second-string side that Benitez put out and there was no Steven Gerrard to inspire another famous comeback.

But their hopes did not fade entirely with Torres' departure, as Hyypia headed in from another corner, with Benitez then sending on Xabi Alonso.

As Spurs protected their lead, there were worrying scenes for Redknapp as goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes required lengthy treatment after Philipp Degen caught him.

Gomes was carried off on a stretcher in a neck brace, with oxygen required for the Brazilian, who was replaced by Cesar Sanchez.

Pavlyuchenko had a first hat-trick in English football in his sights but fired straight at Cavalieri when he raced through.

Liverpool fans thought they should have had a penalty when Bale tackled Degen.

Kevin-Prince Boateng, another player frozen out by Ramos, was also brought on for an appearance.

Benitez Defends Reds Selection

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended his decision to field reserves in the Carling Cup defeat by Tottenham on Wednesday night.

While Arsenal's youngsters looked ready for the top flight when they booked their place in the Carling Cup quarter-final earlier in the week, Benitez's second-string struggled at White Hart Lane and were defeated 4-2.

"They are internationals and have quality, but we didn't play well," said Benitez.

"I think they can still do well. When you have two or three not playing well, though, it's difficult for the others to keep up their levels.

"The young players need to play more games like this - win some games, lose some games, gain some experience."

Liverpool remain second in the Premier League but there will now be doubts if Benitez's squad players are ready to step in when suspensions and injuries

"If the team goes to Bolton and wins, we'll still be top of the table and everyone will be talking about our priorities," added the Spaniard.

"We're disappointed because I want to win every game. We had a lot of quality in that team and wanted to win. But you have to think about priorities.

"The Champions League and the Premier League are the priorities. After that, the FA Cup."

Spurs sealed their place in the last eight after two goals apiece for Roman Pavlyuchenko and Fraizer Campbell - strikers who have so far been overshadowed by Darren Bent since Harry Redknapp's arrival as manager.

"A lot of the heads were down, he's come in and stroked their egos a bit," said Campbell on Sky Sports 1.

Liverpool scored through Damien Plessis and Sami Hyypia, with Spurs seeing out the final 20 minutes despite having goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes carried off on a stretcher after a blow to the head.

The injury looked serious at the time but the Brazilian did not need to go to hospital and was able to talk to his team-mates after the win.

It means Redknapp, who was celebrating the birth of his grandchild Beau earlier this week, is still unbeaten as Spurs boss.

"The run will come to an end at some point, that's for sure," he said.

"The morale's great. They're all enjoying it. It's easy when you're winning.

"That's why we want to keep this run going. We're going well. We've got a big chance, here. But we have to keep going - we need league points."

Rafael Benitez Bemoans Errors In Liverpool FC Defence

Unhappy Rafael Benitez bemoaned the “very poor” defending that ensured a Carling Cup hammering for Liverpool.

The Anfield outfit conceded three goals in seven minutes before half-time before ultimately crashing to a 4-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in their fourth round tie.

A Roman Pavlyuchenko strike and two from Fraizer Campbell sent the Londoners on their way to inflicting a second loss on Benitez’s side in 11 days, following their earlier 2-1 Premier League triumph at White Hart Lane.

Pavlyuchenko scored another after the interval to leave goals from Damien Plessis – the first of his Anfield career – and Sami Hyypia as mere consolation for the visitors.

And a hugely disappointed Benitez admitted a woeful first-half display had cost his much-changed team.

“It was very unlike us,” said the Liverpool manager. “We were very poor in the last minutes of the first half.

“If you make one mistake and concede then you can change things around in the second half, but to concede three goals in a couple of minutes meant it was difficult for us to change anything.

“In the Premier League game here we played really well, but tonight we played really badly in the first half.

“In the second half, the commitment and effort from the players was much better and we scored two goals and had other opportunities, but we were always chasing the game and leaving ourselves open to a good counter-attacking side.

“We needed to play well, and instead we played badly and made some bad mistakes in defence.”

Benitez made 10 changes from the team that beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at the weekend, with Daniel Agger the only survivor.

Along with Plessis, youngsters David Ngog and Nabil El Zhar were handed starts while Philipp Degen and Diego Cavalieri made only their second appearances since their summer arrivals.

Reserve team captain Stephen Darby made his debut as a late substitute for Degen.

But Benitez defended his selection policy for the Carling Cup, and said: “You have to use the whole squad in this competition as you cannot have players playing in every game, especially when you are playing twice a week.

“Some need to rest and you need to use the squad. Many of the players we brought in tonight are internationals and have quality. But it’s clear they didn’t play well as a team.

“I’m not picking on any individuals. The youngsters would have been better had some of the more senior players done well. But they will get more experience from nights like this.”

Benitez added: “If the team goes to Bolton and wins then we will still be at the top of the table and people will talk about us doing well and the Premier League being our priority.

“But I am disappointed because I want to win every gamer. We came here with a lot of players with quality for winning.”

Fernando Torres, who made his first start since his hamstring injury last month, was substituted after 56 minutes with Benitez admitting he was nursing the striker back to full fitness.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said: “If you’re in it, you want to win it.

“I’ve sensed a strong desire that they want to win every game.”

Of Campbell who netted twice, his first goals since arriving from Manchester United on loan, Redknapp said: “You can see why Sir Alex Ferguson turned down £7million for him from Hull.”

The result maintains Redknapp’s unbeaten record and he joked: “I should get out now, I’ve taken them as far as I can.

“It’s been a terrific start but you know you’ll have ups and downs.

“Saturday is a massive game against Fulham, there are 14 teams scrapping away and can be in trouble.”

Heurelho Gomes was carried off on a stretcher after taking a blow to the head but the injury was not serious – and there were still smiles in the dressing room afterwards.

“They are all enjoying it, when you are winning its easy,” Redknapp said. “That is why we want to keep this run going.”

Cash Crisis Could Force American Co-Owners To Accept £500m Bid From Sheikh Mohammed

Tom Hicks and George Gillett may have to swallow their pride and accept a take-it-or-leave-it £500million buy-out offer from Sheikh Mohammed in the wake of grim forecasts about their prospects of steering Liverpool through a worsening financial crisis.

With the deadline looming for repayment of a £350million loan to Royal Bank of Scotland, Liverpool's co-owners face a dilemma over their next move, following claims from financial expert Keith Harris that the Anfield club are 'the ones who worry me most.'
Sportsmail understands a £500million bid from Sheikh Mohammed is still on the table, after being lodged last February, but that it may be withdrawn, if the Americans are forced into a corner by their bank.

Hicks and Gillett are considering asking RBS for a six-month extension on their debt but are acutely aware of the implications, should their plea fail.

A healthy profit of up to £75million each still awaits them, if they accept defeat in an often acrimonious power battle with the Dubai leader and pocket his long-standing offer, but the terms could change drastically, if they take it to the wire and are denied more time to raise the necessary funds.

A refusal from RBS would be followed by an instruction to sell-up, and the Sheikh would need no crash course in the rudiments of business to sense a killing. Hicks and Gillett would no longer have any bargaining power, and a revised figure of around £350million, just enough to clear the arrears, would be the likely outcome.

With the credit crunch biting ever deeper, and Hicks and Gillett struggling to service debts and plans for a new stadium, they are unlikely to risk waiting for the bank's January 25 deadline and may even force the issue in the next few weeks.

Gillett indicated a willingness to deal with Sheikh Mohammed earlier this year, given the package would clear the £350million the American pair owed and still leave a surplus to be shared between them, but Hicks remained defiant.

The oil-rich billionaire is keen to pursue a rivalry with Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners and is confident it is only a matter of time before he finally assumes control at Anfield. Time appears to be running out for the Americans, who are playing a game of brinkmanship that could leave them out of pocket if RBS bow to pressure from the current economic climate and call in their debt over the next couple of months.

Anfield fans' group ShareLiverpoolFC continue to demand a role in the club's future ownership but are still awaiting an invitation to talks from Hicks and Gillett.
Meanwhile, Harris appeared to backtrack over his claims that there seemed little chance of finding a buyer for Everton.

'There are certainly grounds for optimism,' he said. 'It is a terrific club, and having Bill Kenwright as chairman is one of its strongest selling points. I did not say there was no hope of selling Everton. There are plenty of people having a serious look.'

Liverpool Owners Tom Hicks And George Gillett Hit Out At Cash Crisis Rumours

Liverpool's American owners have firmly rejected suggestions that they are facing serious problems with debt amid the pressure of the global credit crunch.

Although both Tom Hicks and George Gillett have not directly commented, they are understood to be infuriated by the intervention of Keith Harris, one of English football's main power brokers, who has publicly expressed his concern over developments on Merseyside.

"Keith has an agenda here and is making mischief – the truth is our debt is lower than people think and manageable given the club's profitability," said a source close to Liverpool's owners.

"All the top clubs have debt, and Liverpool's is in fact lower than Arsenal and Manchester United."

The Americans are also adamant that the actual serviceable level of debt to the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia is around £200 million rather than the £350 million loan figure that is regularly reported.

Harris was in Zurich with other leading figures in football at the International Football Arena on Tuesday.

"The one that worries me is Liverpool," he said. "The banks are two of those that have suffered, so whether they want to lend it again or not, they may not be able to. What normally happens in business is, if the banks won't finance, you have to raise equity."

Sources close to the Americans, however, launched a defence of their business plan. They put the actual drawn debt at £265 million, with the remaining balance of the loan made up of an available overdraft facility of £50 million and an undrawn figure of £30 million that will go towards the new stadium.

Hicks and Gillett also had £60 million of cash collateralisation pledged towards the banks, leaving a net debt figure of £205 million. That would be only just over five times the serviceable profitability of £35-40 million, a figure that is argued to provide sustainability and be similar to other competitors, such as Manchester United and Arsenal. Hicks and Gillett plan to use Liverpool's profits to pay the interest on the loans.

The Americans financed their initial purchase of the club with a £298 million loan that was replaced in January by a £350.5 million facility with the same banks. They also remain confident that a six-month extension to their loan is available and can be triggered at any time.

That would take them to July next year and would avert any danger of needing to raise equity by selling players in the January transfer window. Pressure, though, has been mounting in Liverpool on politicians to lobby the banks into refusing to extend the loan beyond January.

Share Liverpool FC, the supporters' group, are also attempting to organise the fan base into collectively raising the funds to bid either independently or with another investor for the club.

A bid for the club of £500 million has been on the table since earlier this year, but it is believed that the potential Dubai investors might be reluctant to maintain that offer as the deadline on the loan nears.

Banks "Could Pull Plug On Gillett And Hicks At Liverpool"

Keith Harris, the man who has brokered five Premier League takeover deals, believes the credit crunch could affect clubs seeking new owners as benefactors become more cautious.

Harris, who has masterminded deals at Chelsea, Aston Villa, Hull, West Ham and Manchester City and is seeking buyers for Newcastle and Everton, claims the economic downturn has made it tougher to find investors willing to risk moving into the top echelons of the game.

“It has never been more difficult to find buyers,” said Harris.

“It’s no longer a question of price negotiation - it’s should we? People are wondering if now is the time to spend.”

Harris is particularly concerned Liverpool may find themselves in financial difficulty if joint owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett fail to pay back a reported £350million worth of debt.

He also claims Merseyside rivals Everton are no longer a realistic proposition to be bought out.

“Liverpool’s debt is due in January, with maybe a six-month extension,” said Harris.

“The two banks which are the principal lenders - the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia - are two of those that have suffered. Whether they want to lend it again or not, they may not be able to.”

Equally alarming, said Harris, was the situation at Everton where there has been no movement in terms of a buyer for the Goodison Park club who, like Liverpool, want to build a new stadium.

“There is no progress at all,” said Harris, chairman of Seymour Pierce investment bank and a former Football League chairman.

Harris, speaking after a private address to football financiers in Zurich, re-iterated there were still two offers on the table for Newcastle but refused to name them.

“The work is progressing. They are wealthy investment funds, not from the Middle East but they do tick the test,” he added.

“The people behind them are first rate. They are capable of doing the deal and of investing in and managing the future.

“I don’t know how to predict when we might do the deal.”

Harris believes the Premier League’s fit and proper persons rule should be reviewed after the debacle of former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra, who was in charge at Eastlands for a mere 14 months before selling the club to Abu Dhabi Investment Group for almost double what he paid.

“When he was first introduced to me I competed with another major investment bank to become his advisor.

“It wasn’t me who said Man City, it was him who wanted the club,” said Harris.

“We did an investigation into him by one of the big detective agencies. We found there was a military regime that was out to get him at all costs.

“We found that none of the allegations were proven and there was sufficient doubt in everyone’s mind as to what the motivation was of the military government - in short we thought it was out to get him.

“I actually I thought I was siding with the underdog but it went wrong which is sad. I think that probably what will happen now is that there will be an amendment in the way the Premier League view these (kind of) circumstances.”

Harris believes there has been too much negative publicity when it comes to the amount of debt accrued in English football and questioned FA chairman Lord Triesman’s widely-reported comments that the deficit figure was £3billion.

“The numbers he has used are slightly inaccurate,” said Harris. “The published figure is £2.5billion of which £900million is soft debt with no interest costs.

“The problem is only serious if the debt is with clubs which do not generate the cash to service it.”

Liverpool FC Target Admits To Wanting To Play In Liverpool

Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa has revealed his long-term goal is still to play in England.

Simao looked close to joining Liverpool from Benfica in 2005, but that switch fell through and he ended up moving to Atletico Madrid two years later in a transfer reportedly worth around 20 million euros (£13.4million).

The 29-year-old insists he is “very happy” at Atletico, but admits his ambition is to move to the Premier League in the future.

“I signed a four-year contract. I have two more left (after this) and, if I complete them, I will do it happily, but I still have the dream of playing in England,” he said on Portuguese television channel Sic Noticias.

“I’m attracted to the style of play there and their stadiums.”

Liverpool Jilted By Another Suitor

The ownership saga at Liverpool has taken another twist amid claims that a Middle East investment group came close to buying the Merseyside club two weeks ago, only to drop its interest in mysterious circumstances.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr., the club’s American owners, continue to deny that they are looking to sell Liverpool and that they have held negotiations with any potential buyer, but sources claimed last night that an Arab group — unrelated to Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai — had made a firm offer for the club, having inspected the company accounts, but walked away without explanation with a deal looking imminent.

The Times has learnt that there has been interest shown in Liverpool recently by a consortium from Kuwait, although it is not clear whether this was the same group that came close to buying the Merseyside club. The previous £500 million offer from Sheikh Mohammed, now operating independently of, rather than through, the Dubai International Capital group, remains on the table.

The American tycoons are expected to issue another public denial today, amid concerns that the price could be driven down if they are seen as active sellers, but it is an open secret in the world of football finance that they are willing to sell for the right price. Even if they have not been directly involved in negotiations, others have negotiated on their behalf. Last month The Times revealed that they engaged Merrill Lynch, the investment bank, to help to find a buyer. Another swift denial was issued that day, but Gillett squirmed and declined to comment when put on the spot in an interview with a Canadian radio station last week.

Gillett conceded in the same interview that he was “embarrassed” by certain episodes since buying the club with Hicks in February 2007, such as the failure to deliver their promise of a new stadium in Stanley Park, the construction of which has been postponed indefinitely because of their inability to raise the funds.

The Americans are under additional pressure to restructure their £350 million loan with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Wachovia banks, which expires on January 25. If no buyer can be found in time, they hope to be given permission to take up the option of a six-month extension, but RBS, at present under public ownership because of the credit crunch, is by no means guaranteed to renew thereafter. Amid that growing pressure, Hicks and Gillett are firmly expected to sell the club sooner rather than later.

Fears Over Fire Sale Of Liverpool's Top Players

One of English football’s most influential powerbrokers has expressed grave concerns for the future of Liverpool under the ownership of George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks. Keith Harris, the chairman of Seymour Pierce, the investment bank, and the man responsible for brokering some of the biggest takeovers of Barclays Premier League clubs, including the sale of Chelsea to Roman Abramovich in 2003, believes that the Americans could be forced to sell leading players if they are unable to pay off the club’s £350 million debt.

Although Hicks and Gillett have an option to extend the January 25 deadline for repaying the loan by six months, it is far from guaranteed that an extension will be granted, with their main lenders, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Wachovia, being two of the banks worst hit by the global economic crisis.

Hicks and Gillett are confident that an extension will be granted, but, with the Government set to own up to 60 per cent of RBS after the £20 billion bailout, MPs have lobbied Gordon Brown to prevent the bank from giving the Americans extra time to repay the loan when many believe that they are not in a position, financially, to do that, let alone fund a new 60,000-seat stadium.

“The one that worries me is Liverpool,” said Harris, the former chairman of the Football League, who has been asked to find buyers for Everton and Newcastle United. “Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia are two of those that have suffered. Whether they want to lend it [the money] again or not, they may not be able to.” A £500 million offer to buy the club, from Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, remains on the table, although Harris believes the club’s hand could be forced if a buyer cannot be found.

The Times revealed in April how Liverpool may have to sell Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel unless they repay by next summer the £31.5 million borrowed to sign the Spain and Holland forwards.

Harris, who was in Zurich yesterday to address football financiers at the International Football Arena conference, said: “If the banks won’t finance, you have to raise equity. If they can’t find it, it’s a brave banker that would repossess Liverpool Football Club.”

Harris added that he was struggling to find a credible buyer for Everton in the face of a sharp economic downturn. Everton are also hopeful of building a new stadium, but Harris hinted that it would make far better sense financially for the Merseyside clubs to groundshare, a move that has been steadfastly opposed by the clubs and their supporters.

“There is no progress at all [on Everton],” Harris said. “The demographics of Liverpool as an area are not hugely compelling. It is not a very wealthy city and Everton share the city with another club which has been in the vanguard for the last decade. They both have a stadium to build, so the economics need a lot of looking at, whereas Newcastle is a one-club city with a fabulous stadium.”

Torres is expected to be included in Liverpool’s squad for their Carling Cup fourth-round tie at White Hart Lane this evening. However, Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, expects to play several fringe players, including Fraizer Campbell, the forward, who came on as a substitute during the 4-0 victory against Dynamo Zagreb in the Uefa Cup group match last week.

Paul Stalteri, Adel Taarabt, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Hossam Ghaly may also play, but Benoît Assou-Ekotto, the left back, is suspended, and Ledley King is expected to be rested. “I’m going to make one or two changes to give the lads who haven’t played an opportunity,” Redknapp said. Giovani dos Santos does not need surgery on an ankle problem, but the forward will be out for up to four weeks.

Benitez Confirms Keane Won't Face Former Club Spurs

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed both Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane will definitely be rested for tonight's Carling Cup fourth-round tie at Tottenham.

And he has intimated Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso could also be left out.

Benitez's decision means Keane will not be able to face his former club, having left Spurs for Liverpool during the summer in a £20million move.

Benitez made it clear he would rest several senior players – some of whom have played six games in 18 days.

Benitez said: "Gerrard will not be in the squad and neither will Keane. It is always difficult to play so many games in a row and you have to change some players depending on the competition. The majority of them can play games in a row but some need to be taken care of.

"Gerrard is one of them at this moment. Dirk Kuyt is another who has played almost every game. Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher and Robbie Keane are the same. You also have to consider that some of these players have played internationals this season too. I believe Keane has played 23 games already."

One big name not needing a rest is Fernando Torres, who requires match practice after missing six games with a hamstring tear. The Spaniard will travel to White Hart Lane and may even start against Harry Redknapp's men.

Benitez said: "He will be in the squad and hopefully he can play. He could start. It is an important competition for us. We have players who are not always involved but have enough quality. They need games for match fitness because they could be needed later in the season."

Redknapp Wants Better For Return Of Liverpool

Harry Redknapp admits Tottenham Hotspur will lose their grip on the Carling Cup if there is a repeat of their performance against Liverpool during his first week in charge at White Hart Lane. Spurs could have been dead and buried against Rafael Benitez's men when they met in the Premier League, only for Jamie Carragher's own goal and a last-ditch winner from Roman Pavlyuchenko to give them a 2-1 win.

Redknapp's magic touch has been credited with Spurs going unbeaten since their change of manager – and defending the Carling Cup is the next task, with Liverpool their opponents in the fourth round. "We played Liverpool and beat them but let's face it, they murdered us," Redknapp said.

Redknapp has Benoit Assou-Ekotto suspended and Ledley King in need of rest, and he has the option of involving fringe players such as Paul Stalteri, Ricardo Rocha, Adel Taarabt, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Hossam Ghaly who all struggled under former head coach Juande Ramos.

A full-strength team was picked for the Uefa Cup game against Dinamo Zagreb last week and balanced against the defence of a trophy, Redknapp is keen to keep his whole squad involved in first-team duties. "All the players are in the dressing room after the games, delighted that we have won," Redknapp said. "I have not isolated any of them. They are part of it. And that is how I want to keep it."

Ricardo Rocha has felt the difference, and the Portuguese defender said: "Redknapp is a great coach, very communicative and everyone is motivated to show what they can do."

Another factor in Redknapp's possible starting XI is the tight bottom half of the Premier League, with three points separating West Bromwich at the foot and 10th-placed Fulham, who Spurs face at the weekend.

"The only thing that is important at this moment in time is retaining our Premier League status because we are still very much in trouble along with lots of other clubs and no one is getting carried away here," said assistant coach Kevin Bond.

Against Liverpool last time out, Redknapp's magic touch was almost undermined by errors from goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. Redknapp has spoken to Gomes about the selection process for claiming crosses, and the Spurs manager has backed the Brazilian to make a marked improvement over the coming games. "He did all right against Manchester City [at the weekend]," said Redknapp. "He has just got to settle in and understand what is required in England. When you talk to people about him, they talk highly of his qualities. Tony Adams did when he returned from Holland. Gomes took PSV to the semi-finals of the Champions League almost single-handedly. He was that good.

"It is a game of confidence and he has had one or two iffy days. Hopefully now his confidence will start to grow and we will see what he can do."

Redknapp is not expected to make radical changes in the January transfer window. Andrei Arshavin, a Spurs target in the summer, has been linked with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while Vagner Love has committed himself to CSKA Moscow. The striker said: "My contract with CSKA has three years to run. I am going to defend their interests at least until then."

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will make a late decision on whether striker Fernando Torres starts at White Hart Lane tonight. Torres is in need of match fitness after missing six games with a hamstring injury and is expected to feature in the fourth round tie while Benitez rests several of his other stars, including Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane.

He could also leave out Carragher, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso. Second-choice goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, Sami Hyypia, Yossi Benayoun and Jermaine Pennant are expected to play.

Benitez believes he has players desperate to prove themselves given the size of his squad and that that will make the difference against Spurs.

He said: "We have enough players in the squad waiting for their chance to impress, it will be important for them to grab this opportunity. And when the team is playing well it is easier to change players and retain the system.

"I believe we can still continue to play well and to keep winning regardless of the players we use.

"We want to win every game but this is another competition and we have several players who are tired after some difficult weeks so we rest some and change a few."

Liverpool FC Second String Ready To Impress - Rafa Benitez

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can march into the Carling Cup quarter-finals with a revenge win at Spurs because he has players desperate to prove themselves.

Benitez will make wholesale changes for the fourth-round tie at White Hart Lane, scene of the Reds’ only defeat this season when Spurs fought back to claim a late 2-1 victory.

The bulk of that side will not be on show tomorrow, although Benitez is considering using Fernando Torres from the start.

Torres played for the final 19 minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 win over West Brom after a six-game absence with a hamstring injury.

The likes of Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano, Daniel Agger and Albert Riera are not expected to figure but Benitez insists Liverpool can force their way into the last eight.

He said: “We have enough players in the squad waiting for their chance to impress, it will be important for them to grab this opportunity.

“And when the team is playing well it is easier to change players and retain the system.

“I believe we can still continue to play well and to keep winning regardless of the players we use.”

Benitez will probably bring in goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, defenders Sami Hyypia and Andreas Dossena, midfielders Yossi Benayoun, Jermaine Pennant, Lucas, Nabil El Zhar and Ryan Babel.

Robbie Keane may get a chance to play again at his former club, possibly alongside Torres, while youngsters Jay Spearing, David Ngog, Emiliano Insua and Damien Plessis could be involved.

Benitez added: “We want to win every game but this is another competition and we have several players who are tired after some difficult weeks so we rest some and change a few.

“But we have a good squad so we will try to win with different players.

“We may well use Torres from the start. It is a decision I will take on the day after seeing how he has done during training.”

The league defeat at Spurs earlier this month still rankles with Benitez, and he will be looking for his much-changed side to gain revenge.

He said: “We were very much on top and looking a good team, but in football you can play really well and lose while on other occasions you can play badly and still win.

“That was the case last time. We played well and lost. It was more a case that we lost the game rather than them winning it.

“But Spurs have done well. When you are at the bottom and start winning, the confidence comes back. They have good players and finished fifth twice a few years back.”

Israel midfielder Benayoun already has his eyes on a Wembley appearance and a winners’ medal.

He said: “We have a cup game we know we can win and want to win. We want to win all the competitions, do not doubt that.

“We want to win at Spurs, especially having lost there in the league.

“And for the other players in the squad it is a chance to show what we can do.

“We want to win the game and go on to win the Carling Cup, whoever is in the side. It is important for us.

“There’s a little bit of revenge maybe. The league game at Spurs was one of our best performances of the season and we lost at the end.

“We know we are a better team than that and we have a team who can win at Spurs.”

Benayoun admits he is impressed by the job new Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has done, adding: “I have been a little surprised by what Harry Redknapp has done, he changed them almost in a few days.

“He deserves the credit and is a good manager and a good person. I wish him all the best, but only after Wednesday.”

Rush: Fringe Benefits

Liverpool legend Ian Rush feels the performances of Rafael Benitez's fringe players will decide their future in the Carling Cup as they prepare to face holders Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Rush and former Spurs captain Alan Mullery spoke to Sky Sports News about the fourth round game, and although Liverpool may include Fernando Torres after six matches out with a hamstring injury, Steven Gerrard and Jose Reina are set for a well-earned rest.

That will put pressure on the likes of Diego Cavalleri, Sami Hyypia, Lucas and Ryan Babel, who could do their chances of a run in the first-team plenty of good with a positive display.

Rush explained: "I think Harry (Redknapp) will play his strongest side - he will be looking at it as a chance to that Tottenham can get into Europe. They are the defending champions so I think Tottenham will take it very seriously.

"Apart from the top four, and obviously they have a stronger squad to play certain players in these games, the likes of Tottenham and everyone else will play a strong side.

"I think what Rafa will do is give these fringe players a chance to show what they can do. I think to win the league it's not 11 players that win it, it's 19-20, and what Rafa will be doing now is to say to these players here's your chance to prove you are good enough to play against Premier League opposition.

"I think he'll be looking to them to do that and if they can they give the manager a problem when it comes to league games, it's a great chance for them.

Rush also paid tribute to Robbie Keane after his weekend double against West Brom, although the former Spurs hero is one of Benitez's regulars who will not be in the squad on Wednesday.

He added: "He's a fantastic player. I think his work-rate is unbelievable. He hadn't scored before the weekend, but with Liverpool winning, they were looking at his work-rate.

"It's only when you are losing that people look at the strikers, but I think he's worth every penny Liverpool paid for him and I think he will get better and better."

Mullery feels Harry Redknapp has been little short of a miracle worker so far for Spurs, but wonders if he will get the same sort of luck he enjoyed when the two clubs met 10 days ago, a game in which Liverpool hit the woodwork three times, missed a host of chances, and went on to lose 2-1.

Mullery explained: "If you go back to the Liverpool game in the league, I bumped into Jamie Redknapp and he said to me 'What do you think Alan?' I said 'Do you want the truth? I think we should have been four down at half-time.'

"He said 'I don't agree with you' and I thought there was going to be an argument, but he then said: 'No, it should have been five!'

"We had all the luck that was going, it was absolutely amazing, and also for Pavlyuchenko to come on at half-time and score the winning goal in the 93rd minute was just amazing.

"Liverpool on the day were outstanding, I thought they looked a very very good side and if they'd have scored the goals - and the biggest word in football is if - which they didn't, then Spurs go and get the winning goal.

"I hope Harry doesn't change his side and picks the players he has been using recently, but Liverpool will definitely change their team, there's no doubt about that."

Lucas: Play Me And I'll Be Red Hot

Liverpool's Lucas Leiva wants to show what he can do against Tottenham Hotspur in the midweek Carling Cup showdown.

He looked promising when he first arrived on Merseyside, but young Lucas Leiva hasn't quite made the first team impact he'd hoped for and is now very much a fringe player. In fact, sections of the Liverpool fanbase are seriously underwhelmed by his progress.

However, the Brazilian is hoping he'll get the nod from boss Rafa Benitez for the Carling Cup clash with holders Tottenham in midweek.

The 21-year-old former Grêmio midfielder has further urged Rafa to let him off the leash so he can fulfil his potential as a goalscoring threat.

"In Brazil I scored goals," he noted, "I got eight in my best season.

"Now? I can't get into the box as much. I didn't last season because I was adapting to the game here, where the pace is so different.

"This season, though, I can get into the box more and hopefully get some goals. The Carling Cup is an opportunity for us to show what we can do.

"It's not as important as the Premier League, but when you play for a club like Liverpool you want to win all the trophies. I want to opportunity to play at Wembley, where some of the Brazil internationals have played."

It'll likely be tough for Lucas to prove himself as a goalscoring midfielder in a team full of prolific midfield marksmen.

Riera: Let's Learn English, Lads

Albert Riera is keen for his Spanish colleagues at Anfield to join him in speaking English in order to help team unity.

Albert Riera's performances have been a nice surprise for Liverpool fans since his summer switch from Espanyol.

The winger failed to make a significant impression two years ago whilst on loan with Manchester City, but has thrived at Anfield thus far.

Undoubtedly, the large Spanish contingent in the present Reds squad has helped the 26-year-old to settle more quickly than he might have elsewhere.

However, Riera isn't wearing Roja tinted glasses and has urged Rafa's Spanish army to brush up on their English skills.

He told Setanta: "We came here, not the opposite. We have to learn here and improve with the football.

"We are not in Spain, we are here. We need to learn here and to speak in English, because we speak in Spanish a lot of time.

He insists, however, that there's no dressing room divide, adding: "It’s true we know each other and, on the pitch, it’s very important.

"However, I think all people can see on the pitch we are as a team. Not only Spanish, I think it's all players and that’s very important."

Rafa: Torres In Contention For Spurs Start

After nursing his way back to match fitness following a hamstring injury, Spanish striker Fernando Torres may feature for Liverpool in Wednesday evening's Carling Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Fernando Torres' problematic hamstring has kept the Spaniard sidelined since mid October, but he may feature in Liverpool's fourth round Carling Cup tie on Wednesday evening against resurgent lily white side Tottenham Hotspur.

Manager Rafa Benitez confirmed today that his No 9 may even start the fixture.

"He will be in the squad and hopefully he can play. He could start," the Liverpool boss told the club's official website.

The Carling Cup traditionally provides Premier League sides a chance to rest their star players, rotate, and gives members of the top four an opportunity to groom their younger players.

"Gerrard will not be in the squad and neither will Keane," Benitez continued. "It's always difficult to play so many games in a row and you have to change some players depending on the competition. The majority of them can play games in a row but some need to be taken care of.

"Gerrard is one of them at this moment. Dirk Kuyt is another who has played almost every game. Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher and Robbie Keane are the same.

"You also have to consider that some of these players have played internationals this season too. I think Keane has played 23 games already," he said.

"We will use players who haven't played every game. I have confidence in them because they are all internationals."

Banks Could Force Sale Of 'Financially Vulnerable' Liverpool

Liverpool, whose American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett stand two months away from the expiry date of loans which could force them to sell up, are the most financially vulnerable club in the land, the Premier League's most experienced football financier declared yesterday.

Keith Harris, of Seymour Harris, who brought Roman Abramovich to Chelsea and is currently seeking buyers for Everton and Newcastle United, said he had doubts about whether Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Wachovia, buffeted by the worldwide financial crisis, were either willing or able to refinance the loans which are currently propping up Liverpool.

Speaking at the International Football Arena conference in Zurich, Harris said of Britain's debt-laden clubs: "The one that worries me is Liverpool. The principal lenders [RBS and Wachovia] are two of those that have suffered. Whether they want to lend it again or not, they may not be able to." Without fresh investment, said Harris, the club's joint owners could be forced to sell players. If neither refinancing, nor new financial stakeholders can be found, the banks must consider whether to repossess the club. "It's a brave banker that would repossess Liverpool Football Club," he said.

By the indicator which bankers judge the financial health of the club – the ratio of operating profit against interest payments due on their debt – Harris is right. Newcastle, one of the clubs routinely cited as financially troubled, have had their debt removed by Mike Ashley, and West Ham, despite Sheffield United's impending legal suit over the Carlos Tevez affair and the damage caused to its owners by the problems of the Icelandic financial system, make almost enough profit to cover their interest twice.

Bankers begin to get uncomfortable when profit is less than twice the interest payments and Liverpool's profit barely covers the huge interest payments with which Hicks and Gillett have saddled the club. "If their's was a normal business they would be financially in the intensive care ward," one financier said yesterday.

Harris' comments comes amid new hints that Hicks and Gillett are looking to sell Liverpool – despite their fantastic start to the season – before the 25 January deadline by which RBS will decide whether to allow them a six-month extension on the refinancing arrangement they struck last January. Gillett steadfastly refused to discuss the sale issue in London two weeks ago during an interview in which he suggested that he was planning new sporting investment in India.

It is believed that a prospective Middle East investor – unrelated to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai – walked away from discussions to buy the club three weeks ago, during which they tabled an offer believed to be no better than the £500m Dubai International Capital (DIC) have bid in the past. Sources suggest that the prospective buyer was told that the club's projected profit for this financial year was £45m. Most informed estimates would put the likely figure at nearer to £30m at best. It is understood that the DIC offer still stands, months after the Americans walked away from it.

In the current climate, with Hicks and Gillett too cash-strapped to progress the Stanley Park stadium which is integral to their development plans for Liverpool, it is difficult to see how the pair can afford to offer Rafael Benitez the improved five-year contract which he is seeking. Hicks has told the Liverpool manager that talks can get under way, though one interpretation of his willingness to go public on that fact is that the Americans are looking to establish a sense of stability which would help any sale.

RBS are currently being lobbied by the Spirit of Shankly supporters group not to allow the six-month extension. It is unclear whether their move into public ownership as a result of the credit crunch will affect their willingness to allow an extension. No government would welcome the attention which a refusal to extend would bring.

Harris was equally gloomy about Everton, who, he said, were proving difficult to sell. "There is no progress at all," Harris said "The demographics of Liverpool as an area are not hugely compelling. It is not a very wealthy city and Everton share the city with another club which arguably has been in the vanguard for the last decade.

"They both have a stadium to build, so the economics need a lot of looking at whereas Newcastle is a one-club city with a fabulous stadium."

Never, said Harris, had it been more difficult to find the right buyers. "It's not a question of price negotiation – it's should we? People are wondering if now is the time to spend." Speaking after a private address to football financiers in Zurich, he re-iterated that there were still two genuine offers in the pipeline for Newcastle but refused to name them.

Torres Focused On Winning The League - Not On A Move South

Fernando Torres has said he has no intention of leaving Liverpool for Chelsea or any other European club as the Spain international prepares to return to Rafael Benítez's starting line-up at Tottenham Hotspur tonight.

The £26.5m record signing is scheduled to make his first start since October 5 in the Carling Cup fourth-round tie, and announced his recovery from a hamstring tear yesterday by reaffirming his commitment to Anfield. Torres was a supposed target for Luiz Felipe Scolari when the Brazilian first arrived at Stamford Bridge, although no contact was ever made with Liverpool over the player who has become one of the most coveted in the game.

However, the 24-year-old, who signed a six-year contract when he joined Liverpool from Atlético Madrid last year, said: "I have no plans to go anywhere, not back to Spain, not to Italy, not to another English club. I read a lot of things [about Chelsea in the summer] but I was at the European Championships and I did not want any distractions. I don't know if they spoke with the club or with my agent. But in any case even if there was something in it nothing was ever going to make me abandon Liverpool."

Torres hailed the Liverpool manager, Benítez, as "the best coach I have ever had without doubt" and admitted the priority at Anfield this season has to be winning the league title. He added: "When I arrived at Liverpool, everyone talked about the league. We have won it 19 times and Manchester United 18. If they win it this season then they draw level and the fans don't want that. I think 90% of Liverpool fans would prefer the league."

Benítez yesterday confirmed his compatriot could start at White Hart Lane but travelled to London without Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane. Dirk Kuyt, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso are also expected to be rested. "We have a lot of good players in our first-team squad and a lot of young players too, and they all need games, so I have to decide on which ones," the Liverpool manager said.

Lucas Dreaming Of Wembley

Lucas Leiva admits the prospect of playing at the new Wembley stadium will drive him on when Liverpool face Tottenham in the fourth round of the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

The Reds beat Spurs en route to their last League Cup final in 2005 back when the fixture was staged at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

A repeat performance on Wednesday would put Lucas and co in the quarter-finals, just two ties away from a first trip to Wembley since 1996.

"I have never played at Wembley and hopefully I will get the opportunity, but we are only at the start of the Carling Cup," the Brazilian told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"I know it's a very famous stadium. Some of the Brazil internationals are played there but I have never had the opportunity to play in one of them, so hopefully I can play in the final!"

The Carling Cup third round victory over Crewe provided an opportunity for several fringe players to show Rafa Benitez what they could do.

Lucas grasped the nettle with a fine headed goal to add to Daniel Agger's long-range effort.

The 21-year-old is hoping for more of the same on Wednesday night.

"In Brazil I scored goals. I got eight in my best season," said Lucas. "I couldn't get into the box as much last season because I was adapting to the game here. It's totally different here with the pace of the game. But this season I can get into the box more and hopefully get some goals.

"The Carling Cup is an opportunity for us to show what we can do.

"It's an opportunity not just for me but for all the players and the club. The Carling Cup is not as important as the Premier League, but when you play for a club like Liverpool you want to win all the trophies."