David Prentice: Why Are Liverpool And Everton So Slow On The FA Cup Draw?

It’s all Everton and Liverpool fans have talked about since Roberto di Matteo plucked out ball number 28 last Sunday, but don’t expect players or officials at either club to wax lyrical in the build-up to the derby double-header.

Enquiries at both clubs this week were met with Basil Fawlty-esque replies: “Don’t mention the draw!”

Tony Hibbert refreshingly broke ranks to describe the forthcoming cup tie as “electric”, but since then a gagging order appears to have been put in place.

Perhaps it’s a symptom of the recent spats between the clubs – people are terrified of pouring petrol onto a powder keg – but can’t we be just a bit more mature about this?

This is an historic occasion. The words spoken before and after this FA cup tie will pass into the history books of the future.

It’s good to talk, you know?

If institutions as reassuringly familiar as Northern Rock, Woolies and M & S can be credit crunched, how long before our football clubs start to suffer?

The answer is, they already have – and in more ways than is immediately obvious.

We all know about stadium constructors downing tools on the new Anfield because of rising building costs, Liverpool’s American owners struggling to refinance their borrowings and Everton finding it well nigh impossible to attract new investors.

But there are other, stealthier, concerns brought on by the economic downturn.

Everton spent a club record transfer fee to bring Marouane Fellaini from Standard Liege.

But his signature may cost the club quite a bit more than the advertised £15m as a result of the falling pound.

Unless the Blues have hedged against foreign currency transactions – for accounting ignoramuses like myself, that means paying for a financial instrument that protects against foreign currency movements – the falling pound could mean a bigger transfer fee.

When Fellaini signed on September 1, a euro was worth around 81p. Then Alistair Darling said that Britain was facing the worst economic conditions in 60 years and the pound went into freefall.

Now a euro is worth almost as much as a pound.

Which all means Fellaini’s transfer fee could rise by a couple of million unless the pound recovers.

Then there’s the issue of wages.

Everton and Liverpool pay their players in pounds – even the ones who hail from Europe – which means their salaries, albeit spectacular, are still not worth as much back home as they were when they signed their contracts.

There is no suggestion that the issue is upsetting anybody at Anfield or Goodison, as it shouldn’t when you’re talking about such stellar salaries.

But it’s worth noting that Manchester United have circumvented any potential problems by paying for some transfers and some wages in euros.

It’s an increasingly precarious world out there, and our football clubs are suffering as much as everyone else.

Pennant To Sacrifice Real Madrid And AC Milan For Liverpool Stay

Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant could stay at Anfield according to regional newspaper the Liverpool Echo.

The 25-year-old winger has been the subject of extensive speculation with all manner of clubs including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Hull City and Spurs all linked with the player.

Under the terms of his current contract, the former Arsenal and Birmingham man could walk away at the end of the season on a Bosman but with Liverpool chiefs keen not to lose the highly-rated wide-man without any return it is now thought the player could remain at Anfield for another year.

When sport.co.uk contacted Pennant's agent, Sky Andrew, he refused to comment but promised an update on Monday morning.

The news will come as a huge disappointment to both Phil Brown and Harry Redknapp, both of whom were supposedly keen on bringing the player to their respective clubs.

Wigan Hold Fire On Emile Heskey With Liverpool Waiting In The Wings

Emile Heskey is certain to rejoin Liverpool in the summer but Steve Bruce will resist any bid to hurry his England striker's leaving date as £4.5million Colombia star Hugo Rodallega gets used to life in Wigan.

Aston Villa's interest has cooled in Heskey, who is running down his contract, because Anfield is his preferred destination, and manager Rafa Benitez knows it would take a £4m bid to prise his target from Wigan in the transfer window.

Rodallega, 23, was also pencilled in for the summer until a change of regime at his Mexican club Necaxa. Bruce is confident that he will get a work permit on Monday despite falling just short of the international match criteria.

But Wigan's manager insists that will not mean accepting any advances from Liverpool boss Benitez for Heskey or allowing rejuvenated striker Henri Camara to join rivals Stoke's survival battle.

Bruce, sure of Amr Zaki's loan status until the end of the season, expects Rodallega, who scored 15 goals in 36 matches last season, to need months to adjust fully to the English weather and culture.

He said: 'It would be unfair to expect him to have an instant impact but if I've still got Heskey, Zaki and Camara - which I'm convinced I will - it would be an ideal time to bring him in. We'll ease him in gently.'

Wigan's match tomorrowwith Tottenham is followed by games against Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Bruce said: 'It's massive. If we can beat Tottenham and have 32 points by mid-January, that's fantastic for us.

'This is our defining month.'

Liverpool Want Cut-Price £1.5m Deal For Emile Heskey

Emile Heskey wants to go back to Liverpool - and Rafa Benitez is trying to sign him in a bargain-basement move this month.

Wigan's England striker has told close friends he is keen to go back to the Kop and be part of their trophy-chasing squad.

Aston Villa and Tottenham are interested, but Heskey, 30, has his heart set on a return to Anfield - the club he regretted leaving just before Rafa Benitez arrived.

Insiders claim Heskey will definitely join Liverpool in the summer for nothing - and that gives the Merseysiders the chance to broker a cut-price deal now.

Benitez wants Heskey for as low as £1.5m, with Wigan valuing him in the region of £4m.

Fernando Torres Will Have To Fight For Liverpool Place, Warns Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez has warned the critics expecting Liverpool to implode that they are going to be disappointed.

Liverpool hold a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League, but Manchester United are the bookies favourites to win the title in May.

Benitez believes his side will be stronger in the second half of the season having endured injuries to key players Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel, plus the return from a long-term lay-off of star striker Fernando Torres.

All that, according to Benitez, points to a major improvement from his club on the run-in. "We will have more options in the second half of the season and more competition for each position," he said.

"I believe we can improve. We have Torres to come back, Skrtel has not been playing, Javier Mascherano in the last few games has been playing much better but before he was not at the level we know. Gerrard now is improving.

"This will all make us stronger. Clearly we are in a much better position than in past seasons."

Indeed, Benitez believes that his biggest problem may be finding space for Torres in the side.

Liverpool desperately want their top scorer back in action but the Anfield boss knows he must be clever to ensure that it is a seamless transition.

"Torres just needs minutes on the pitch, but that is a problem because the team is doing well," he said.

"Some players you have to keep their momentum. But Aurelio, Skrtel and Torres need to play too. So to keep the balance will be difficult.

"We are doing what we did before and analysing all the same details, the difference is now that you know if you make a mistake it can be massive, so you have to consider everything."

Benitez is so confident his side will improve in 2009 that he refuses to rush headlong into the January transfer market.

He has been linked with a host of top players but it is likely, if he makes any purchases at all, it will be a modest one with former Anfield star Emile Heskey still top of his list.

And the Spanish coach insisted he does not want to upset his squad with big-name arrivals.

"Always it is difficult to buy in January. If you bring in new players then they need to settle down and they need time," he said.

"If you sell players then maybe you will lose something. We don't have any clubs asking for our players.

"It is important to keep the squad together - you cannot guarantee that you won't sell anyone or sign anyone - we have to see how things are as we go on."

Liverpool revealed that Xabi Alonso could have recovered from the foot injury which required seven stitches after the weekend FA Cup victory at Preston for Saturday's trip to Stoke.

Torres: Barcelona Are Liverpool FC's Biggest Euro Rivals

Fernando Torres believes Barcelona and not Real Madrid pose the biggest threat to Liverpool’s Champions League dream.

And the striker admits that Rafael Benitez’s current squad will “never be forgotten” if they manage to end the club’s 19-year wait for the championship this season.

The Anfield outfit have been drawn to face Spanish giants Real in the Champions League first knockout round next month.

Between them, the two clubs have won the European Cup 14 times, Real with a record nine triumphs and Liverpool with five.

It gives Torres another chance to return to his home city after injury ruled him out of both Champions League group games against former club Atletico Madrid earlier in the campaign.

And while the 24-year-old expects a tough encounter against the Bernabeu outfit, Torres has pinpointed Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona as favourites to lift the trophy in Rome in May.

“We will have to see how we are in February in the build-up to the game and what sort of form Real are in coming into,” says Torres.

“On the face of things, Real Madrid are a huge team. They are always in contention in European competition and there in no reason why this year should be any different.

“But over the last few years in Europe we have proven to be a tough ask for any rival. No-one likes to come up against us because of the way we are able to control games.

“When you consider the fact that the second leg is at Anfield it is a great draw for the spectators and should produce two great games. There are other interesting draws, but I think Real Madrid versus Liverpool takes top billing.

“But Barcelona are the best team in Europe without a doubt. I think that when you look at the way they approach each game and set out to win along with the amount of chances that they are creating they are in great form.

“The thing about this Barcelona is that they do not settle for what they have they are always looking for more. They just don’t seem to be capable of having a dip in form, in fact they look as if they are going to keep on improving.”

Torres has described 2008 as “a year to remember” after ending his record-breaking debut season at Liverpool by scoring the winner for Spain in the Euro 2008 final against Germany.

But the 24-year-old has lamented the failure to land any honours at Anfield.

“It has been a year to remember,” says Torres. “For the Spanish players here at Liverpool, the win at Euro 2008 did not compensate for the fact that we did not win any trophies with Liverpool, but for our country and for us as players representing our country it was something truly unforgettable that is going to stay with me forever.

“It is an honour to represent a club like Liverpool in Europe and we reached the semi-final of the Champions League and lost in extra time.

“I have been able to play every weekend and Wednesday at the highest level and have been able to score goals and get global recognition. The year has ended with my injury over the last couple of months but that has been just a blip in a great year.”

As well as reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, Liverpool have an FA Cup fourth round derby against Everton on the horizon and are three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

And Torres reckons the current squad will etch their names into Anfield folklore if they claim the club’s first league title since 1990.

“We have a real chance of winning things this season,” says the Spaniard. “A Benitez team is never just about one player but about the group. We have a solid unit that knows how to win games playing our way.

“We have beaten the big teams without me and on occasion without Gerrard, like the game against Manchester United. I think that was a positive for the team as a whole, it illustrated that importance of every player in the squad.

“Everyone is important here, we are working towards the same goal of ensuring that Liverpool win the Premier League. If we are able to achieve this it will have been a joint effort no one player will take the most credit. It is a group effort.”

Torres adds: “Having won the European Championships with Spain I have experienced what it is like to be part of a generation of players that will never be forgotten.

“I think that the same could be said of this Liverpool team if we can win the League. If we can do it we will be remembered for many years in the hearts of Liverpool fans.”

Alan Hansen Urges Liverpool To Spend In Transfer Window

Alan Hansen is urging Rafa Benitez to strengthen Liverpool's squad before the end of January.

Hansen, who played more than 600 games for the Merseyside club, believes the Liverpool boss needs to add more depth to his squad if they are to win the Premier League.

Hansen, a pundit for the New Football Pools, said: "Liverpool have made a great start to the season but, like anyone, they can always strengthen.

"That was the great thing about the Liverpool sides who were winning everything. If somebody comes along you think is better than what you've got you go and buy them.

"For Liverpool, the question about whether they can win the league isn't about the first 11 or 13 players, it's about the rest of the squad. You need tremendous strength in depth.

"So Benitez isn't looking to buy someone for £20m, he'll be looking to improve the strength of his squad."

Lucas - Reds Ready For Revenge

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva and his Anfield team-mates are eager to forget 'frustrating' memories against Stoke City in the Premier League.

The table-topping Reds travel to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday hoping to preserve their three-point lead at the summit.

However, Rafa Benitez's side make the trip with a note of caution after a goalless stalemate with the Potters - who sit in 18th position - on Merseyside in September, which earned the Reds criticism for their inability to break opponents down.

Lucas did not play in the home encounter but he is expected to feature on Saturday due to Xabi Alonso's foot injury and the Brazilian is eager to help Liverpool forget previous disappointment against Tony Pulis' men.

"We had a difficult game against them at Anfield when we could only draw which was very frustrating," said Lucas.

"Hopefully we will have more space on Saturday to pass the ball well and create more chances and put them away.

"In the game at Anfield we had about 70 per cent of the possession but it was really difficult to break them down because they were really narrow.

"They are near the bottom of the table so they will be trying to get the points but we will be ready for the game and we know what we have to do."

Liverpool FC Offer Jermaine Pennant New Deal

Liverpool are set to offer Jermaine Pennant a new one-year extension to his contract – to prevent him leaving on a free transfer in the summer.

The move would safeguard Liverpool against a clause in the winger’s contract – that entitles him to an automatic 12-month extension if he plays 15 games this season – not being activated.

Pennant has only made four appearances during this campaign and hasn’t featured since the home league game with Portsmouth on October 29.

With Liverpool leading the Premier League there is little prospect of the 25-year-old making up the remaining quota of games towards the end of the season and Saturday’s third round win over Preston displayed Rafael Benitez’s intention to field strong sides in the FA Cup.

Although Pennant is clearly out of his manager’s plans, Liverpool are keen to recoup a fee for a player they signed for £6.7m in the summer of 2006, particularly as there is no shortage of interest in him.

Although AC Milan’s recent desire to sign him was on a free, Real Madrid were prepared to pay £3m for him before the deal collapsed over personal terms.

And there are a clutch of Premier League clubs willing to take a chance on the erratic Pennant, including Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, they are aware that Pennant’s lack of action means he is certain to be a free agent at the end of the season, which has prompted Liverpool to draw up new terms for him.

Benitez, meanwhile, is preparing his team for the trip to Stoke City tomorrow, with Xabi Alonso the main injury concern following the foot injury he sustained at Preston.

Fernando Torres and Martin Sktrel will be pushing for places in the starting line-up after substitute appearances in the past two weeks.

However, in the case of centre-back Skrtel, Benitez has suggested he is no rush to press him back into action because of the faith he has in his defence, and Sami Hyypia in particular.

If the Finn is picked for the trip to the Britannia Stadium, it will be his sixth start in seven Premier League games and his 700th senior appearance.

“I have a lot of confidence in Sami,” said Benitez. “He is a fantastic professional so I knew he would play really well.

“Clearly, when you talk about Sami you are talking about a player who has been here for a long time.

“We have very good centre-backs here and it is good to see all of them competing for a place.

“That can only be good for the team.”

Liverpool Are Put Off By Portsmouth's £10m Demand For Glen Johnson

Portsmouth's Glen Johnson is expected to sign a new contract on Friday after a proposed move to Liverpool fell through.

England international Johnson, 24, was interested in the deal but Portsmouth value him at around £10million and Liverpool could not afford it.

Johnson will instead sign improved terms with Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie, who said: 'Let's make it clear, there will be no more players sold. We are concentrating on bringing others in.' Defender Hermann Hreidarsson, however, is considering an offer from Reading.

Liverpool are now trying to persuade out-of-favour winger Jermaine Pennant to sign a contract extension so that they can get money for him when he leaves.

But they know the player, who has attracted AC Milan and Real Madrid as well as Stoke, Hull and Wigan, can drive a hard bargain as he can sign a pre-contract agreement this month to join a foreign club in the summer on a Bosman free transfer.

Benitez Set To Pounce For Renato

Rafa Benitez has made an official enquiry for Brazilian right midfielder Renato Augusto according to a selection of reports from the German press.

The Bayer Leverkusen star has been tracked by Benitez for the last month, and the young starlet, thought of by some as one of the best products to come out of the Flamengo youth academy in the last decade, is said to be keen to move to Anfield.

With Jermaine Pennant set to move on, with a number of clubs interested including A.C Milan and Real Madrid, Benitez sees Renato as the ideal replacement as the tricky winger would be eligible to play in the Champions League.

Renato is valued between £10 and £15 million, and would join a Liverpool squad which already includes compatriots Lucas, Fabio Aurelio and Diego Cavalleri.

Liverpool Swoop For Anderson

Rafa Benitez looks set to strengthen his defensive options by swooping for highly-rated Brazilian centre-back Anderson.

Reports in Brazil claim that the Liverpool manager sent club scouts to watch the 21-year-old in Fluminense’s final fixture against Cruzeiro before the Campeonato Brasiliero wound down for their annual Christmas break.

The 6ft 1” tall defender is thought to be versatile and quick enough to function across the backline and already has experience of winning silverware having taken part in his side’s Brazilian Cup victory in 2007. With doubts surrounding the future of Daniel Agger and Sami Hyppia's long-term sustainability in doubt, Benitez appears to have acted early to ensure his side have enough cover at the back.

Reports in Germany and the British media have also suggested that the Anfield outfit could move for another samba star by sealing a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Renato Augusto. The right midfielder is valued between £10-15m and if joined by Anderson could bring the Brazilian contingent at Liverpool to five alongside Lucas, Fabio Aurelio and Diego Cavalleri.

Fernando Torres: I'm Not Another Liverpool Crock

When Fernando Torres pulled up sore after Liverpool's Champions League clash with Olympique Marseille in November, there was just a hint of panic in the club's reaction.

It was the third time in the space of three months that the Spanish superstar had been laid up with a hamstring injury: the first came against Aston Villa in August; the second, on duty with la Furia Roja in October.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez declared that Torres would not return to action until the problem was properly diagnosed and corrected, and that to speculation that the 24-year-old's dodgy hammy might dog the rest of his playing days.

But the former Atletico Madrid captain has insisted he won't be the next Harry Kewell or Michael Owen, putting his injury troubles down to misfortune more than anything else.

"When you come back from injury, the first week is always a risky time. I was just unlucky and ended up spending more time out," The Sun quoted Torres as saying.

"In theory we did everything right the first time round and followed the treatment schedule required in order for me to return. But sometimes things don’t turn out the way you want them to."

Torres returned to action in Liverpool's FA Cup third round win over Preston North End, scoring the second-half sealer after coming on as a substitute.

Schalke Deny Voronin Rumours

Schalke 04 sporting director Andreas Müller has moved to pour cold water on reports linking them to Ukrainian striker Andrey Voronin.

The 29-year-old is currently only on loan at Hertha Berlin and reports originating from the English press suggest that Liverpool are in talks to sell him outright to Schalke.

"He is a good player, but there is definitely nothing to this report," insisted Müller on S04's official website. "Someone is simply trying to make him even more appealing by attaching our name to his."

Voronin recently went on record as saying that he would be perfectly happy to stay in the German capital, though it should be pointed out he was responding to a question about whether he was craving a return to Liverpool.

"I'm getting along fine at Hertha," he told the newspaper Bild last month. "I've been well received by the players and there are no problems with the coaching staff and the manager. Things are also going well with the football.

"The most important thing is what Hertha want. If the club really are interested in me staying, I'm sure we'll be able to find a way."

Liverpool's Arbeloa to Miss Stoke City Trip

It is looking increasingly unlikely that Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa will be fit to face Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

The 25-year-old right-back injured a hamstring in training during the run-up to the Boxing Day victory over Bolton Wanderers, and, although he has returned to full training, his fitness is not quite sharp enough just yet to return to action.

Jamie Carragher has moved from centre-back to fill in on the right side of the Reds' defence in Arbeloa's absence, and that looks set to continue against the Potters.

Arebloa is enjoying this season at Anfield though, despite the injury, and remains convinced that Liverpool possess all the necessary qualities to be very successful this season.

"We have everything you need to win trophies," he told The Liverpool Echo today.

"A good manager, great supporters and a belief in our ability. We have proved that with the way we have rescued so many games already this season. Everyone is willing to fight and go the distance for one another.

"We have a really good team and I don’t think we have yet shown the world our best form this season.

"We are playing well but we are playing to 80% of our potential. Soon we will hit top gear."

Benitez, Torres And Kuyt Return To Bolster Liverpool Title Challenge

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will be back in the Barclays Premier League front-line at the weekend armed with an array of riches.

Benitez, whose side are unbeaten in 11 matches, will take charge at Stoke on Saturday evening and relieve assistant Sammy Lee of his touchline responsibility for the team.

The Reds boss, who has recovered from recent kidney stone surgery, will have star striker Fernando Torres ready to return to the starting line-up for the first time since being struck down with another hamstring injury in November.

Hard-working forward Dirk Kuyt will also be back after being rested at Preston for last weekend's FA Cup win, while Argentina captain Javier Mascherano has been declared fit following an ankle injury.

There is even an outside chance that Xabi Alonso could have recovered from the foot injury which required seven stitches after the Preston victory, however he is more likely to return on January 19 for the first of the two upcoming derby clashes with Everton.

Benitez said: 'Xabi trained yesterday but the problem is he had seven stitches so clearly it depends if he can put boots on and kick the ball.

'For running and training he is okay but we have to decide at the end of the week about his boots.

'If he can kick a ball he could be available for Stoke but we will have to wait and see.'

Benitez does have a worry over right-back Alvaro Arbeloa who is expected to again miss out with a hamstring problem.

The Liverpool boss said: 'Arbeloa is improving but I think he will need another week. Hopefully next week he can train normally again.'

Arbeloa's continued absence means Jamie Carragher is likely to continue at right-back, with Benitez having the choice of Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia in central defence.

Liverpool could even use all three at the Britannia Stadium to combat Stoke's physical approach.

Striker Robbie Keane may only feature on the bench, but Kuyt's return is almost certain as Liverpool look to make amends for their goalless draw against Stoke at Anfield back in September.

Kuyt says: 'The important thing for us this season is that we have had a better start than in previous seasons.

'We've had some new players in the squad who have made us better but the other players have all been together for a few years now and because of that we are only going to get better and better.'

Speaking to liverpoolfc.tv, Kuyt underlined how the players want to erase the memory of the dropped points against Stoke earlier in the season.

He added: 'That was a really frustrating afternoon for us. Sometimes you cannot explain football. We had so many chances to kill the game but just could not do it.

'I do not think their crowd will let them be as defensive this weekend as they were at Anfield and so maybe there will be more space for us to play in.

'They have done well at home though so we know it will be a difficult game. They are a strong team who can cause problems from long throws, but we are Liverpool and if we focus 100 per cent on the game then we should win.'

Rafa's Challenge For Fabio and Andrea

Rafael Benitez today challenged both Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena to win the battle for the left back berth in his team following Emiliano Insua's departure for international duty.

Insua today left for the Under-20 South American Championships in Venezuela and is expected to be away until February 8, ruling him out of a number of high profile matches over the next month.

Having started the Reds' last four matches, Insua was beginning to make the left back position his own - but his absence has now opened the way for both Aurelio and Dossena to stake their claim for a place the defence.

He said: "Emiliano has been really good for us and has been doing well and I know people are saying we are losing something with him going away.

"But we have a lot of confidence in Fabio and Andrea and both players can now compete for the position."

Premier League Is Fernando Torres' Priority After Great 2008

Fernando Torres has described 2008 as “a year to remember” but bemoaned the fact he has yet to win any honours for Liverpool.

The Spanish striker is hopeful the injury problems that plagued him in the back end of last year are now behind him and is looking forward to Liverpool’s mouthwatering meeting with Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.

In an interview on Sky TV’s Revista La Liga, Torres also told of his regret at missing out on a reunion with former club Atletico Madrid when he was kept out of Liverpool’s Champions League meetings with the Spanish side by a hamstring strain.

“It has been a year to remember,” said the 24-year-old. “I think that there have been more positives than negatives.

“For the Spanish players here at Liverpool the win at Euro 2008 did not compensate for the fact we did not win any trophies with Liverpool.

“But for our country, and for us as players representing our country, it was something truly unforgettable that is going to stay with me forever.

“It is an honour to represent a club like Liverpool in Europe and we reached the semi final of the Champions League and lost in extra time.

“I have been able to play every weekend and Wednesday at the highest level and have been able to score goals and get global recognition.

“The year has ended with my injury over the last couple of months, but that has been just a blip in a great year.

“I have never played against Atletico – it would have been a great opportunity to play against them so soon after leaving.

“When I left Atletico one of the things that I wanted to happen was that one day I would face my old team in the Champions League, go to the Calderon and acknowledge those fans again and receive them here in England.

“In the end all of those things happened, except I was not able to play, which was a great shame.

“I would have liked to have played in Madrid and at Anfield and to have experienced the game from the inside.

“I suppose you could say that, along with the injury, that was the other negative of the year but maybe we will face them again later in the competition.”

First on the Champions League agenda for Liverpool, though, is that two-legged tie with Real Madrid, and Torres believes the match-up between two of Europe’s most successful clubs will produce a thrilling spectacle.

He added: “We will have to see how we are in February in the build-up to the game and what sort of form they are in coming into the game.

“On the face of things Real Madrid are a huge team. They are always in contention in European competition and there is no reason why this year should be any different.

“But over the last few years in Europe we have proven to be a tough ask for any rival. No-one likes to come up against us because of the way we are able to control games.

“When you consider the fact that the second leg is at Anfield it is a great draw for the spectators and should produce two great games.

“There are other interesting draws, but I think Real Madrid versus Liverpool takes top billing.”

Aston Villa Desperate To Land Liverpool Target As Villa Forward Set For Stoke?

According to reports, Aston Villa are aiming to sign Emile Heskey from Wigan Athletic as manager Martin O’Neill is said to be planning to sell Marlon Harewood to Stoke City this month.

Villa face competition from Liverpool while Spurs have also been linked with the powerful England forward Heskey, who is out of contract at Wigan at the end of the season.

O’Neill wants Heskey to bolster the attack at Villa Park this month as the Premiership outfit chasing a Champions League place, are short of strikers with John Carew having an injury-troubled season, while 17-year-old Nathan Delfouneso is inexperienced.

Former West Ham United striker Harewood has not found favour with O’Neill and is reportedly set to be sold to the Potters in a deal reported to be in the region of £2m.

Former Leicester boss O’Neill wants to reunite with former Foxes ace Heskey and according to the Daily Mirror, could offer the Latics £4million for the 30-year-old former Liverpool ace.

Race On For Liverpool Forward

Andriy Voronin could be on his way out of Liverpool on a permanent basis as Bundesliga clubs are showing interest in the Ukraine international forward.

The 29-year-old is currently on loan at Hertha Berlin, who could get him for keeps as suggested by the player’s advisor, after he was deemed surplus by Reds boss Rafa Benitez at Anfield and sent out to Germany in the summer.

Former Mainz and Bayer Leverkusen star, Voronin had moved to Liverpool in 2007 summer and made 19 Premiership appearances scoring five goals.

“There are offers from other clubs already,” Voronin’s advisor, Andrey Golowasch said in Bild.

”We are also aware of the interest of Schalke 04, but Berlin is the priority."

Rafa: We're No Chokers

Rafa Benitez last night hit back at Sir Alex Ferguson for branding Liverpool chokers, saying: We will only get stronger.

Manchester United boss Fergie started the mind games this week by claiming the Premier League leaders will collapse under the pressure.

But Benitez reckons Liverpool will last the pace – because he has players like Fernando Torres coming back from injury.

He said: “I believe we can improve.

“I think we will have more options in the second-half of the season and more competition for each position – which can be important. Clearly we are in a much better position than in the past seasons.

“We are doing what we did before and analysing all the same details.

“The difference is now that you know if you make a mistake it can be massive.

“That is why we have to consider everything.

“Martin Skrtel has not been playing due to injury, Javier Mascherano, in the last few games, has been playing much better, Gerrard is improving and we have Torres to come back.”

Dirk Kuyt, 28, also echoed the words of his manager, saying: “We have had some new players in the squad who have made us better.

“But the other players have all been together for a few years now and because of that we are only going to get better.”

Liverpool have a chance to extend their three-point lead at the top of the table by beating Stoke this Saturday, because United and Chelsea do not square off at Old Trafford until the next day.

And midfielder Xabi Alonso could be fit for the trip to the Britannia Stadium after having seven stitches on the foot injury he suffered at Preston.

Gerrard Wins PFA Award Again

It's been an eventful week or so for Steven Gerrard - in more ways than one - but he can take both comfort and pride from the fact he has been named the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for December.

Liverpool's 5-1 victory at Newcastle on December 28 ensured the Reds went into the New Year as Premier League leaders and Gerrard, who was on target twice against the Magpies, continues to have a major influence on the side.

Gerrard reckons this season represents Liverpool's best chance of claiming the league title since the club last won it in 1990. "We have big players here and we will have a lot of tests and challenges to come," said the inspirational captain. "But if we keep playing like this then we will be there."

He added: "This is the best team I have played in. You look around the dressing room and, from the keeper to the forwards, we have some fantastic players. There is a confidence that we can get over the big hurdles."

Xabi Alonso Cleared For Liverpool's Derby Double

Xabi Alonso has returned to training for Liverpool after sustaining a foot injury in last weekend's FA Cup tie against Preston North End, The Daily Mail reports.

The Spanish midfielder's fine display at Deepdale was cut short when he was stamped on in a challenge with a Lilywhites defender. He hobbled to the sidelines for treatment late in the first half and did not reappear after the interval.

A nasty cut on the Basque star's instep required seven stitches, but it was the severe swelling and bruising which most concerned the Liverpool medical staff and manager Rafael Benitez.

Alonso has been hampered by a number of foot and ankle problems through his Anfield career, and it was initially feared he had suffered a reoccurrence of the metatarsal fracture which ruined his 2007-08 campaign.

However, scans taken yesterday have cleared the 27-year-old of any breaks or structural damage, and he is even a slim chance to feature this Saturday when the Reds take on Stoke City.

But most important for Benitez and his side is the fact Alonso will be available for the back-to-back derby dates with Everton. The Merseyside rivals will clash in the Premier League on January 19, before meeting in the FA Cup fourth round the following week.

Rafael Benitez Rules Out Dossena Sale

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has refuted claims that full back Andrea Dossena will be sold in the transfer window.

The Italian, who was a £7 million summer signing from Udinese, has struggled to make an impact at Anfield this season and is behind Fabio Aurelio in the pecking order for the left back slot in the Reds’ defence.

Speculation had linked him with a return to Serie A but Benitez has moved to dispel these rumours.

With Liverpool top of the Premier League as 2009 starts, the Liverpool boss is keen on keeping his squad intact as they look to clinch their first title since 1990.

"I am not considering selling Dossena," Benitez said in the Daily Star.

"I think it is important to keep the squad together."

Liverpool Reject Milan Bid For Agger

Milan may have to turn their attention to a different defender, as Liverpool have reportedly rejected the Rossoneri's bid for Daniel Agger.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is looking for a new recruit to solve his club's defensive woes this season, but it appears the 24-year-old will not be the one to join the Italian club.

The Reds have rejected Milan's €8.5 million bid, according to the Daily Star, as Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez considers the Danish stopper a key memeber of his squad and does not want to let him go.

Agger arrived at Liverpool in 2006 and has been in and out of the line-up since that time, often taking the place of the injured Martin Skrtel this season.

Milan have been linked with a number of defenders, including French internationals Philippe Mexes and William Gallas, so they may now go after one of those players before the winter transfer window ends.

Liverpool's Torres Dedicates Goal To Gerrard

Fernando Torres made his long-awaited comeback from hamstring injury in Saturday's FA Cup third round tie with Preston North End, coming on as a second-half substitute and sealing a 2-0 win with a late goal.

Torres was grateful to Steven Gerrard for setting up his strike and dedicated the goal to his captain, currently under police investigation for his alleged part in a nightclub brawl last week.

"I was pleased to score for the team and for the fans because it guaranteed the result and took us into the next round," Torres told The Liverpool Echo.

"I might have scored the goal but it was created by Stevie and I would like to dedicate my goal to him. He is our captain and he is also a great guy and he has helped me ever since I came to the club and moved to this area.

"Everyone at Liverpool is behind him."

The striker hadn't featured for the Reds since the Champions League tie with Marseille back in November, and made his return after undergoing an intensive rehabilitation programme in recent weeks.

He also revealed that the backing of the Liverpool fans provided him with timely boosts to his morale as he worked to return to full fitness.

"I am very pleased to be back in the team," the Spaniard continued. "I have been very frustrated at not being able to play but the lads have been in great form and the results they have achieved have kept my spirits up.

"The relationship I have with the fans is special. I know that.

"When I was injured to hear them still singing their song was special. I could hear it on the TV when I was at home. It’s fantastic."

Milan Set To Announce Pennant Move

The Corriere dello Sport reports this morning that Milan have completed an incredible swoop for Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant and have reached an agreement to sign him next July when his contract with the Reds will run out and the 25-year-old will become a free-agent.

The newspaper considers the move a done deal and reveals that the Rossoneri will soon make it official.

Arsenal snapped up the midfielder from Notts County in 1999 and he was handed his Premier League debut at the age of 16.

He has been with Liverpool since 2006 and turned down moves to Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers over the summer, but the Premier League leaders have decided not to take up the option to invoke a one-year-extension on his current deal and he will be free to walk away in the summer.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Beckham has shaken off his muscular problem and will make his debut in a Diavoli jersey in the game with Hamburg.

FA Play Down Capello's Off The Cuff' Criticism Of Liverpool Midfielder Gerrard

The FA have been forced to defend Fabio Capello over remarks that the England manager made about Steven Gerrard's 'recent behaviour'.

Capello appeared to criticise the Liverpool captain in Italian press reports - with Gerrard to appear in court on January 23 after being charged with assault and affray over an incident in a Southport nightclub.

The coach's comments came in response to an interview by Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, who said he modelled himself on Gerrard.

Capello replied by saying: 'Let's hope he doesn't want to imitate Gerrard in every way, especially his recent behaviour.'

However, an FA spokesman told the Daily Telegraph that the remark was merely 'off the cuff' and not intended as criticism.

Gerrard is expected to feature in England's squad for the friendly against Spain on February 11.

Rafa Happy With Reds Squad

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has given a strong indication he has no plans to sign any new faces in the January transfer window.

Benitez insists he is happy with the squad at his disposal as he looks to maintain Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League.

The Reds have been linked with the likes of Emile Heskey and Glen Johnson, but Benitez has played down the rumours, saying he is happy to stick with the players already at Anfield.

Benitez believes the return to fitness of key quartet Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio has boosted his options and no new signings are required.

"We finished 2008 very well, we played with style and have scored a lot of goals," said Benitez. "I am very pleased and happy with the situation and hope it will be the same in the new year.

"We have other players apart from Torres coming back from injury. There is Skrtel, Aurelio and Arbeloa all fit now. It will be like signing three new players.

"We do not need to go into the transfer market, we are certainly not desperate to do so.

"If we find we need something we will try, but it is always hard in this window and very expensive.

"But we are in a good position and I am happy to use the players we have now plus the ones returning from injury."

Trying Week For Stevie

Liverpool will face neighbours Everton twice inside a week – with Steven Gerrard’s court case sandwiched in between – after the recent FA Cup draw.

The Merseyside rivals were the first names out of the hat for the fourth round and meet in the competition for the first time since a trilogy of games in 1991, during which Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool boss.

Everton make the short trip to Anfield in two weeks time for a Premier League match, with Gerrard due to appear at North Sefton Magistrates court to answer charges of assault and affray the following Friday.

The FA Cup tie will be televised, with Sunday, January 25 the likeliest date.

“It’s a terrific draw for everyone, especially the fans,” said Phil Jagielka, who was on the receiving end when Liverpool won at Goodison Park in the league in September.

There will be a special atmosphere I’m sure and the fact that we play them just a few days earlier in the league makes it even more interesting. We didn’t do ourselves justice at Goodison Park earlier in the season but we’ve got two chances to put that right now.

“Derby games are always fantastic occasions and so to meet each other in the FA Cup is great for the supporters.”

The clash will trigger memories of the end of Dalglish’s reign. The first game was a goalless stalemate and Dalglish quit when a replay ended 4-4. Everton won a second replay 1-0 with caretaker-boss Ronnie Moran in charge of Liverpool.

Ian Rush: Premier League The Priority But FA Cup Win Would Be Massive Boost

One thing which can safely be said about the FA Cup draw is I’m sure both Liverpool and Everton would have preferred to have avoided one another.

It is an absolutely massive tie and the players, staff and fans at both Merseyside clubs will be really looking forward to it, particularly as it will be the second derby of the week with the league meeting taking place just a matter of days beforehand.

But the fourth round draw could have been an awful lot kinder because everyone knows just how fiercely contested this game will be and just how much will be at stake.

Merseyside derbies do not need any extra spice and neither do FA Cup games, so combining the two is an explosive concoction and I’m sure everyone in the country will be keeping an eye on the match at Anfield.

The big disappointment is that only one Merseyside team will be in the draw for the fifth round because it is always good when both clubs are doing well and making progress. But the only way for the players to approach it is to give absolutely everything for the cause in both the league and cup games.

People will talk about fatigue but I played in enough Merseyside derbies to know that you don’t feel tired in games like these.

You get through on adrenaline and on the energy that the crowd gives you – you just keep on going, it is as simple as that.

For me, Liverpool have the advantage because they are at home and also because they have a stronger squad.

When you play two games of such massive importance in the space of a week you are going to need to dip into your squad and Liverpool definitely have more strength in depth.

But there is also no doubt that the league derby is Liverpool’s most important of their two games and they cannot be deflected from that, even by an FA Cup tie.

Rafa Benitez and his team are in the perfect position to challenge for the title. and doing that has to be their priority.

It’s probably the other way around for Everton because realistically the FA Cup is the only trophy they can challenge for this season. So it will be interesting to see how both teams approach the two games.

But should Liverpool win both it would be a massive boost at a key time in the season.

Hyypia Is Still The Hero 10 Years On

From Sunderland to Serie A, Blackburn to the Bundesliga, Tottenham to Turkey, the glut of enquiries for Liverpool’s evergreen centre-half are persistent enough for a small call centre to be housed in one of the offices at Anfield.

Manager Rafa Benitez remains adamant the defender is too valuable to let go, yet it is testament to Hyypia’s enduring appeal that Liverpool could still almost double the £2.5million fee they paid to Dutch side Willem II for the player a decade ago.

Hyypia is in line to make his 700th career appearance on Saturday at Stoke – just another of the clubs who would pay a king’s ransom to recruit the veteran – and his importance to the cause in recent weeks has merely highlighted why he still retains such a fanatical following.

It was former Liverpool chief executive and Vice-Chairman Peter Robinson who first received a tip-off about Hyypia in 1998, with then manager Gerard Houllier and assistant Phil Thompson quick to act on the information.

Thompson, a central-defender who won seven league titles and two European Cups among other honours in 477 first-team appearances for the club, is better placed than most to pass judgment on Hyypia’s longevity.

“It doesn’t surprise me that so many teams would want Sami,” said Thompson. “He has been, and still is, brilliant for Liverpool.

“When you consider how much he cost then pound-for-pound he is up there with the £440,000 the club paid for Kenny Dalglish.

“I remember going to watch him playing for Finland against Oliver Bierhoff and Germany in Nuremberg. Bierhoff’s strength was in the air and Sami never let him win a header.

“We signed Stephane Henchoz at the same time as Sami and he was the better known of the two and people probably expected more from him.

“But after a couple of days on the training pitch with Sami, I was thinking we’ve signed a central midfielder here because he was that authoritative and comfortable on the ball.

“It always makes me laugh when people started saying a few years ago his pace had gone. Sami Hyypia never had any pace to lose! What he has got is an incredible ability to read the game and that has been his biggest asset. More often than not he is in position.

“I’d be lying if I said that when we signed him I thought he’d still be going strong 10 years later. That’s incredibly difficult to do, especially for a foreign player in the Premier League.

“He’s a legend and, for me, Sami is in Alan Hansen’s ilk.”

If Hyypia’s immediate future remains at Anfield, then Liverpool still have two major decisions to make over his prospects in the coming weeks.

The first is whether to hand him another one-year extension to his present deal which expires in the summer.

Given the uncertainty remaining over Daniel Agger’s long-term prospects, Benitez must wonder where he would find someone as reliable and also as willing to adopt Liverpool’s team-first ethos as Hyypia.

Secondly, and more pressing, Benitez must decide whether to find room in his Champions League squad for 35-year-old Hyypia, having controversially omitted him at the start of the season.

Hyypia is likely to push for clarification over where he now stands, with Liverpool having to resubmit their squad to UEFA for the knockout stages by midnight on February 1.

The perennially-injured Philipp Degen is taking up a place in the squad, although the emergence of Argentine left-back Emiliano Insua, who is also not presently on the list, complicates what is a sensitive issue.

Pourie Seals Germany Return

Striker Marvin Pourie is back in his native Germany after joining Schalke from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.

The teenager joined The Reds' academy in the summer of 2007 and had been a consistent scorer for Hughie McAuley's Under-18s side.

However, after failing to make the breakthrough at the Premier League giants the former Borussia Dortmund youngster has been allowed to leave.

Pourie has signed a four-a-half-year contract with Schalke that ties him to the Veltins-Arena outfit until the summer of 2013.

The 17-year-old, who won his first youth international cap for his country while at Anfield, will train with Schalke's first team but is expected to play in their Under-19s side for now.

Liverpool Unlikely To Swoop For Heskey, Johnson

Premier League leaders Liverpool may not be adding any reinforcements to their squad in January after all, according to a report in the British broadsheet the Independent.

Apparently, Reds manager Rafaael Benitez has revealed that they must sell before they buy, but the chances of Jermaine Pennant leaving the club during this transfer window are looking more and more faint.

The former Birmingham City winger failed to negotiate a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid recently, rejecting their contract offer, and has turned down offers from the likes of Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers.

Wigan Athletic and Hull City are thought to be interested in the €3.8 million-rated midfielder, as well as Italian club AC Milan, so a deal could yet go through.

However, Liverpool are believed to have told the Rossoneri to forget about making an offer of €9.2 m for Danish centre-back Daniel Agger.

It appears that Italian full-back Andrea Dossena will not be moving to the San Siro either, with Benitez quoted in the Guardian as saying: "I have not considered selling Andrea Dossena, I think it is important to keep people together now."

It is claimed, therefore, that the Reds will not be making a move for Portsmouth's England international right-back Glen Johnson, who is apparently set to agree a new contract at Fratton Park.

Wigan's England international forward Emile Heskey had been linked with a return to Anfield, but it is thought that Benitez has no plans to move for the player whose contract will expire in the summer, paving the way for Aston Villa to capture the 30-year-old.

Liverpool Owners Granted Extra Time To Repay £350m Loan

Tom Hicks and George Gillett have been granted a six-month period of grace to repay £350.5m to Liverpool's lenders. Those funds, provided last January as "working capital" to run Liverpool and including £60m towards constructing a new stadium, were due to be repaid or refinanced by 25 January. But the banks – the government-owned Royal Bank of Scotland and the US investment bank Wachovia – have deferred the deadline.

That came following a written request from Liverpool's American co-owners and their holding company, Kop Football, with the new deadline now set at 24 July. "The loan does not mature on 24 January," said an insider involved in the deal.

The Anfield club are currently the Premier League leaders but with £30m in annual interest repayments required, the supplementary income from Champions League participation is critical to their business. By July, Liverpool hope, those revenues will be guaranteed.

Although this provides breathing space in the short term, it is unclear how RBS-Wachovia will deal with the loan in the summer. The loan currently earns little more than 5% a year in interest, despite the risk involved with football clubs. City sources expect that even if RBS-Wachovia agree to renegotiate the debt in July they are likely to demand a very large fee, which will further increase Liverpool's indebtedness.

Another imponderable is the financial health of George Gillett's portfolio. Reports in the US say his Nascar team has been scaling back its activities after a drop in sponsorship. His Booth Creek Management Corp is exposed to the ailing automobile industry as the owner of dealerships. Although both Hicks and Gillett regularly stress their continued commitment to Liverpool, one route out of repaying the debt has now closed. Takeover interest from Dubai has been withdrawn following the collapse in the world economy.

Benitez: FA Cup Derby Clash Won’t Distract Liverpool FC From Title Bid

RAFAEL BENITEZ is confident Liverpool will not be detracted from their quest for the Premier League crown by the forthcoming FA Cup derby against Everton.

The Merseyside rivals will meet in the competition for the first time in 18 years after being paired together in the fourth round.

The game, which is due to take place on either January 24 or 25 at Anfield, comes in the middle of a critical run of league games for the Premier League leaders.

Liverpool are already hosting Everton in the league on Monday, January 19, before which they visit struggling Stoke City on Saturday.

They follow the Cup showdown with a trip to Wigan Athletic in midweek before the Reds entertain title rivals Chelsea.

And Benitez has moved to quell the growing excitement at the prospect of the FA Cup tie with their neighbours by insisting Liverpool are looking no further forward than the weekend clash at the Britannia Stadium.

“It is a draw which will excite everyone in the city because everyone knows about the great rivalry that exists between the two clubs,” said the Liverpool manager.

“But we must remember that we have some big games coming up in the league before the cup tie and we will be taking one game at a time.

“Only when the cup game comes around will it become our focus and before then we play Stoke and Everton in the league so we must keep our focus on those matches.

“But it is good to have so many important matches because it shows that your team is doing well.”

Everton defender Tony Hibbert believes the atmosphere for the Cup game will be “electric”, with the Goodison outfit expected to be handed their largest official ticket allocation at Anfield since the FA Cup fifth-round clash there in February 1991.

“To be first out of the hat was unbelievable,” said Hibbert. “It’s a great draw for the city but probably not one that either team would have wanted at this stage of the competition.

“The atmosphere in derby games is electric at the best of times but this will be something else again and we are all looking forward to it.

“The FA Cup is something we have grown up with and all the lads here would love to get into a final but there is a long, long way to go yet before we can think about that.”

Everton earned progress to the fourth round for the first time in three years with a 1-0 win at League Two outfit Macclesfield Town.

And Hibbert added: “It’s never easy going to those places. The pitch in places was very icy and hard, which made it even more difficult, but I thought the lads did a brilliant job coping with it.

“The performance was good but we didn’t make it easy for ourselves by missing a few chances and that’s something we will have to improve on.

“But the main thing was getting the win and getting through to the next round. We really wanted to put a show on for the fans and we should have done that with the chances we created.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s assistant boss Sammy Lee hailed skipper Steven Gerrard as a “top professional”.

Gerrard, who was charged with assault and affray after an incident at a bar in Southport, fully justified Benitez’s decision to play him against Preston on Saturday with a commanding performance in the 2-0 win, which set up the clash with Everton.

Lee said: “Steven is a great footballer and he produced a terrific performance. Things have been written about him, but we know that he is a top professional.”

Albert Riera’s first-half strike put the Reds in the driving seat before Gerrard unselfishly squared for substitute Fernando Torres to make it 2-0 late on.

“That second goal sums up this football club,” Lee said.

“Whoever scores is not important. It’s all about the team and that goal epitomised our team spirit.”

Mark Lawrenson: Nuisance FA Cup Tie Is Last Thing Everton Or Liverpool Would Want

MY first reaction when I heard the first tie out of the bag in the FA Cup fourth round draw was “Oh no – surely not!” And I bet that was how Liverpool and Everton reacted to it as well.

It’s a nuisance tie and the last one either side needed.

The sort that make you want to turn the clock back a few seconds and start the whole draw again.

For Liverpool, when they heard their name come out of the bag first and they knew had a home tie they must have been hoping for Kettering or Hartlepool to be next out.

Okay so they lost at home to Barnsley last year, but the odds of something like that happening again are remote and getting a similar draw is far more preferable than being paired with Everton, or anyone else from the top 10 of the Premier League for that matter.

You’d take awkward over tough any day.

As for David Moyes, well he has had some shockers but he’s also had some stinkers in his time in terms of draws.

Yes, you do have to knock out the best to win a cup but you also need luck as well so getting the top of the league away from home, whoever that might be, suggests that’s not on your side this year.

While the managers and players won’t like the draw, I’m not convinced the supporters will be too keen on it either.

I do think it is great that some of them have recognised the significance of a repeat of the 1989 final and are making the most of this opportunity to commemorate the 20th anniversary Hillsborough disaster.

But that is the closest I think anyone will come to creating any kind of a sense of occasion.

After all, the game will come just a few days after they have met in the league at Anfield.

These games are rarely spectacles anyway and I don’t see that changing just because they happen to be playing in the FA Cup.

It’s still a Merseyside derby and nobody wants to lose. Expect it to be cagey. In fact, expect a draw.

Which is the last thing Liverpool need when you’ve got a title to go for and a Champions League campaign ready to start up again.

Everton? Well, that won’t concern them. But it does all make me think that they could actually do quite well out of this draw.

Moyes is more than capable, as he has proved in the past, of going to Anfield and coming away with a draw.

On this occasion, he could still be suffering a severe shortage of players but when his tactics have been dictated to him because of availability, its usually worked out quite well.

There’s no reason to think he won’t go there with a 4-5-1 and maybe hedge his bets on giving his rivals that pesky extra fixture on their list.

There’s no doubt that, considering how many teams were still left in that bag when Liverpool came out first, that Moyes will be cursing his luck at being handed such a tough trip.

But aside from that, there are no problems with fixture pile-ups for them so they have no reason to be fearful of the tie.

They need to turn it in their favour and make the best of what at first seemed a bad situation. And it’s their ability to do that over and over again that has got them into such a strong position at this stage of the season.

Whatever happens, there is no denying that this is the tie of the round.

But a derby is a derby and the players will all be treating the tie the same way. In fact it’s the same way I treated the Cup final of 1986.

Just get through it and make sure you win it.

Liverpool Left-Back Emiliano Insua To Miss Five Games After Argentina Call-Up

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is fuming after Argentina called up Emiliano Insua for an Under-20 tournament that will put him out of five matches.

Insua has made a name for himself as the first-choice left-back at Anfield in the past few games, but he has been named in his country's squad for the mini Copa America in Venezuela.

The gifted youngster, who will turn 20 tomorrow, will miss Liverpool's double header with Everton then the games against Wigan, Chelsea and Portsmouth.

Insua will face Stoke on Saturday before jetting off for the tournament which ends on February 8.

Penannt Set For Sun And Sangria

Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is set for talks with Spanish giants Sevilla according to sources in Spain. A bid in the region of £3 milllion is rumoured to have been accepted by Rafa Benitez and Pennant is rumoured to favour a move to the warm climate of Seville.

Wigan, Real Madrid, Hull City and Stoke City have been linked with a move for the winger, however despite increased speculation no concrete offers were received by Liverpool.

Pennant has struggled to gain a starting berth in Benitez's first team and Liverpool would be keen to cash in on a player whose contract expires in the summer.

AC Milan Target Liverpool FC Stars During Transfer Window

AC Milan look set to fail in their attempts to sign Daniel Agger during the transfer window – but are giving Anfield outcast Jermaine Pennant a chance to kick-start his career.

Pennant, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has been offered a pre-contract agreement by the Italian giants to sign on a free transfer in the summer.

The winger is no longer part of Rafael Benitez’s plans with Liverpool keen to off-load the 25-year-old for a fee this month.

Real Madrid had a bid in the region of £3m accepted a fortnight ago but the deal is believed to have floundered over the player’s personal terms.

Pennant, also a target for Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur, has previously expressed a desire to play in Spain.

But he may now opt to sit tight and walk away for nothing at the end of the campaign and join Milan, against whom he was the star performer in Liverpool’s 2-1 Champions League final defeat in 2007.

However, the Italians will not be able to prise Pennant’s team-mate Agger away from Anfield this month.

Milan have been tracking the Denmark international since it emerged talks have stalled over a fresh deal for the centre-back, who has less than 18 months remaining on his current contract.

With no agreement yet in sight, the Italian giants are preparing to take advantage by lodging an £8.5m bid for the 24-year-old.

But Benitez has no intention of losing any key squad members as his team press for silverware both home and abroad.

Rafa Rules Out Dossena Exit

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has insisted that he wants to keep hold of Andrea Dossena.

The Italian arrived at Anfield from Udinese over the summer for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £7million.

He was given the opportunity to establish himself at left-back but failed to impress and lost his place to Fabio Aurelio.

Aurelio suffered an injury at the end of November but Benitez turned to Argentine youngster Emiliano Insua rather than Dossena.

Dossena has been linked with a January move away from Liverpool but Benitez has ruled out a departure.

He does not want to lose any of his players as the Reds continue to mount a challenge for the Premier League title.

"I am not considering selling Dossena," Benitez said in the Daily Star.

"I think it is important to keep the squad together."

Liverpool Join The Hunt For Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing

Liverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing, who it was today revealed, is ready to hand in a written transfer request to Boro manager Gareth Southgate tomorrow.

Reds manager Rafael Benitez is reportedly ready to offer Boro £12 million for the services of the talented left winger.

Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in acquiring the 24-year-old's services, and have had several bids for the player turned down by Boro, but Downing is now apparently ready to move on from the Riverside, and the list of clubs interested in him is growing by the day.

Spurs have already failed with bids during this transfer window and have now seen Downing's transfer request as their opportunity to pounce for the England international.

Liverpool bought Albert Riera during the summer transfer window and already have Ryan Babel in their squad, but Benitez seemingly wants Downing as a squad player, which he will inevitably be should he move there.

Downing has been playing for Boro for his entire professional career, only playing seven games for another team, at Sunderland during a loan spell in 2003.

Since he was promoted from the infamous Middlesbrough youth team, the 24-year-old has made a total of 154 Premier League appearances and scored 17 times in the process.

Liverpool-Everton Cup Clash Has 'Extra Significance' - Carragher

The Liverpool versus Everton FA Cup 4th round tie has been given some extra significance in a year that commemorates the 20th anniversary of some of the most dreadful events in English football's long history.

When Everton make the short trip across Stanley Park to Anfield later this month to take on city rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round, memories of more than just local pride will be mournfully rekindled.

The two clubs met in the FA Cup final of 1989, and events that led up to that game cast a grim shadow over English football to this day. Although Liverpool won a dramtic final, beating the Toffees 3-2, the real story of that season had occurred in Sheffield the previous month.

During Liverpool's semi-final with Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium 96 supporters were killed in a terrace crush that represents probably English football's biggest tragedy.

Events that day led to the Taylor Report, to all-seater stadia, to stands without fences, indeed, to the Premier League itself, but what was more important in 1989 was that Liverpool won the Cup for the fans who'd died. That they beat the other great club from their city in doing so just made it more appropriate.

As we approach the 20th anniversary of that dark day, both clubs are aware of the significance of today's draw. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher summed up what this year's competition really means to the Reds players.

"Hillsborough is something we are all obviously aware of," Carragher said.

"Extra significance will be attached to the competition for us. Going on to win it would be the perfect tribute to those who died."

The Liverpool FC badge now features flames at its sides as a memorial to those supporters who lost their lives at Hillsborough.

Hobbs Focused On Foxes

Jack Hobbs is not worrying about his long-term future at Liverpool during his loan spell at Leicester City.

The promising defender has made 26 appearances for the Foxes after joining the League One club on a season-long loan.

He is tipped as a bright prospect for the future and has played five first-team games for Liverpool since his 2005 move from Lincoln City.

The 20-year-old is unsure how he fits into Rafa Benitez's long-term plans at Anfield, but will wait until the end of the season before discussing the situation.

"I'm here until the end of the season and I'm in a winning side," said Hobbs in the Daily Star. "I'm developing well as a player.

"My main aim is to do well for Leicester and then I will go back to Liverpool in the summer.

"I can't tell you what will happen in the future, but I'm just focused on this season.

"I've got another year at Liverpool and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Fernando Torres: I Will Win Premier League Title For Liverpool Fans

Fernando Torres claims he is desperate to win the Premier League for Liverpool's fans. Torres is hoping his injury troubles are over after marking his comeback with a goal.

Torres had been sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring complaint, but came on as a substitute in Saturday's FA Cup tie at Preston North End.

He tapped in Steven Gerrard's pass in injury-time to seal a 2-0 win in the third round and is happy to be back on the pitch.

With Liverpool leading the Premier League, Torres is now eager to play a full role in the club's bid to win the title for the first time since 1990.

"The relationship I have with the fans is special," he said. "I know that. When I was injured, to hear them still singing their song about me was special.

"I could hear it on the TV when I was at home. That's fantastic.

They seem to love me and I want to win the title for this club.

"You want to be out there helping your team-mates and working hard, but the injury is in the past now.

"I have forgotten about it and I am only looking forward.

"I hope all my hamstring injuries are over and that I can keep playing and scoring for Liverpool.

"The team has shown they can win without Stevie and without me. That is very important. It shows that we play as a team."

Carragher Buoyed By The Return Of Torres

Jamie Carragher believes the return of Fernando Torres can fire Liverpool to glory this season.

The Spain international, who netted 33 times in all competitions last season, returned to action as a goal scoring substitute in the 2-0 FA Cup third round win over Preston on Saturday following five weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Liverpool's season could be defined by back-to-back meetings with Merseyside rivals Everton in the FA Cup and Premier League later this month.

And Carragher says that having Torres back has provided a massive lift to a squad who have performed admirably in his absence, opening up a three point gap at the top of the table.

"Having Torres back has given everyone a big lift," he said. "It is great when you see a player of that calibre coming back for the second half of the season.

"Hopefully, the time he has been out will refresh him because he had a long season with the Euros.

"A lot of players have played a lot of games this season because the manager hasn't changed it around so much and it will be good to have someone like him to come back in.

"It has been a feather in the cap for everyone concerned with the club that we have reached the top of the table without having the best striker in the world over the last 12 months for periods.

"You miss a player of that quality, but it will give us a lift to have him out there."

Liverpool Wait On Alonso Injury

Liverpool are waiting on news of the injury to Xabi Alonso, who needed seven stitches in his foot during Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup victory against Preston.

The midfielder was taken off at the end of the first half and he was later seen on the bench wearing a protective boot.

Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee said: "We do not know the full extent of the injury, apart from the fact he will be very sore.

"Hopefully there will be no damage but we won't know for 24 to 48 hours."

Alonso, 27, suffered the injury when his attempted shot was blocked by the Preston defence after a well-placed Robbie Keane laid the ball to him on the edge of the box.

The Spaniard was then treated as the players walked off for half-time but he did not appear for the second half of the third-round tie and was replaced by Lucas Leiva.

Alonso has enjoyed a fine first half of the season for Liverpool after he was on the verge of joining Juventus in the summer when Liverpool attempted to sign Aston Villa's Gareth Barry.

He also said as recently as October that he was still interested in a move to the Turin club.

Liverpool's next game is against Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday followed by Everton in the Merseyside derby on 19 January. They also face Chelsea on 1 February.

Liverpool FC Aim To Win Every Match, Says Sammy Lee

Liverpool signalled their intent to fight it out on all fronts with the line-up they named at Preston at Saturday – but Sammy Lee has banished talk about going for a treble.

The assistant manager again led operations from the bench for the third-round tie, although Rafael Benitez was sat just a row behind him as he closes in on a full recovery from his kidney stones operations.

With Benitez all but back in full charge, choosing a weakened side would perhaps have been more forgivable than it has been in past years, given Liverpool’s strong position at the top of the Premier League and a Champions League campaign to resume next month.

However, Diego Cavalieri replacing Pepe Reina in goal was the only obvious delve into the second string, although Dirk Kuyt was also rested.

With Steven Gerrard captaining the side in a bid to banish the troubles of the past week and Fernando Torres also sent on for his first action since November, there seems to be no sign of Liverpool sacrificing their FA Cup ambitions in favour of arguably more pressing concerns in the second half of the campaign.

“We’ve got nothing but respect for the competition and the opposition,” said Lee. “We feel we showed that with the team we put out.

“We never think we’re comfortable anywhere – we’re never in a comfort zone and we’re working very hard to make sure we improve on a daily basis.

“We’ve never made any rash promises at this football club. We’re just working hard to improve and hopefully that will manifest itself in results.

“Every side we put out we feel is our strongest side to go and win in any given scenario. I have nothing but credit for these group of players and they are working tirelessly on a daily basis to improve.

“At this football club anything is possible, but I have to be careful and I don’t want people to think that’s me saying we’re going to do this and that.

“We’ve never talk about titles, trebles or make rash promises at Liverpool.”

Lee has, however, promised to keep working with Robbie Keane to help boost his goal tally.

The £20m man spurned a host of chances at Deepdale as his struggle to hit his stride since joining from Spurs last summer continued into the new year.

Lee said after Saturday’s game: “Robbie shouldn’t be down because I thought he got in some great positions.

“The main thing is that we continue to keep creating those chances. Robbie’s worked very, very hard for this football club.

“People talk about this and about that, but we know the quality Robbie’s got and you’ve seen that today in abundance where he’s made some great runs.

“There’s no need to press the panic button – far from it.

“We know his quality and what Robbie Keane brings to this football club. There’s no problem with him – none whatsoever.

Preston North End Keeper Hails Gerrard After Defeat

Andrew Lonergan hailed Steven Gerrard as 'the best player in the world' after keeping him off the scoresheet at Deepdale.

The Preston keeper saved everything the Liverpool skipper threw at him and then revealed: "It was a privilege to be on the same field."

Lonergan kept out half a dozen efforts from Gerrard – one an acrobatic fingertip stop which earned a respectful nod from the England star himself.

He also frustrated a wasteful Robbie Keane on a night when North End gave the Premier League leaders a few frights of their own.

In the end class told. But Lonergan and his team-mates were able to walk away with the heads held high after pushing English football's top side all the way.

"To be honest I thought two-nil probably flattered them a little bit," said Lonergan, who needed a painkilling injection in his thigh to play.

"One-nil would have been about right – that second one was a bit harsh on us.

"I am proud of the way we stood up to a team with so many great players, especially in the second half.

"In the first half, we couldn't believe just how good they were.

"We had seen them against Newcastle last weekend and they were awesome that day.

"But face-to-face, the quality they have got is even more frightening.

"We managed to keep them to just the one goal by half-time and the gaffer said to keep our shape and we would do all right. And we did."

Preston pushed Liverpool back in the second half and even had the ball in the net after 64 minutes.

But referee Martin Atkinson chalked off Sean St Ledger's header because Jon Parkin was wrestling on the ground with Jamie Carragher in the goalmouth.

Throwing bodies forward late on in a bid to snatch a replay at Anfield cost North End a second goal, with Gerrard racing clear to gift Fernando Torres a simple tap in.

But Irvine's team were still given an appreciative ovation at the end as they claimed some big name shirts as souvenirs – Paul McKenna getting Gerrard's and Sean St Ledger bagging Torres'.

Lonergan said: "I can't speak highly enough about Liverpool, they are unbelievable.

"I feel privileged to play on the same pitch as Stevie Gerrard and Robbie Keane.

"I know Keane missed some chances. But their movement is just outstanding.

"That is the thing we can learn from. We can also learn a lot from how good, how fit, how fast and how strong you have got to be to play in the Premier League.

"In the first half I was thinking, 'I don't know if I'm cut out for this Premier League business'.

"But we were better second half and we gave a decent account of ourselves.

"I only made one or two saves really, but I thought they were good saves.

"I'm glad I did because I wouldn't have liked to be beaten by four or five – that wouldn't have been nice.

"The save from the Gerrard shot which was going into the top corner was a good one. I was happy with that one, especially being against a player who in my mind is the best in the world.

"I'm not totally over the moon because we got beaten. But at the end of the day it could have been worse, much worse.

"That second goal was when we were pushing everyone forward and we were down to just one defender – and it was probably a foul on him anyway."

Liverpool rolled out their big guns to face Preston after coming unstuck in the FA Cup with a weakened team against Barnsley last season.

Rafa Benitez granted skipper Gerrard's wish and put him in the starting line-up despite the traumatic week he had gone through off the field.

PNE fans taunted the 28-year-old, although the chants were never going to have a significant effect on a player assistant manager Sammy Lee described later as 'a terrific professional'.

Capello: Don't Be Like Gerrard!

Fabio Capello aimed a sideswipe at Steven Gerrard’s lack of discipline when giving advice to Fiorentina’s Riccardo Montolivo.

The Liverpool midfielder was recently charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray after an alleged nightclub brawl.

Gerrard has often been held up as a positive example for young Italian players to follow, while Montolivo has singled him out as an idol.

“Let’s hope he doesn’t want to imitate Gerrard in every way, especially with regards to recent behaviour,” said England manager Capello on firenzeviola.it.

It is still unclear whether Capello will exclude Gerrard from internationals until the legal situation is sorted out, but Liverpool have rushed to defend their star player.

Capello was speaking to Montolivo when he visited Fiorentina’s winter training camp in Marbella yesterday afternoon.

“I was happy to be here and I always have fun chatting with [Cesare] Prandelli about football. Fiorentina are a great squad.

“I won’t talk about tactics because it doesn’t seem appropriate for me to do so, but I can only say that what I saw here was really very interesting.”

Capello also had a special word for Adrian Mutu, who had worked with the Coach when they were both at Juventus.

“He is doing extremely well and represents a crucial figure for this team.”

Milan Set To Make Move For Liverpool Star Agger

AC Milan are set to make a move to sign Liverpool defender Dan Agger, according to reports in Italy.

Agger is waiting to be offered a new deal by Liverpool and Milan hope to take advantage by snapping up the player for around £7million, reports today's Gazzetta dello Sport.

Milan have also targeted Arsenal defender William Gallas but Agger is their first choice.

Rafa Benitez is believed to be reluctant to sell because the club are still in three competitions but should they sign Glen Johnson from Portsmouth, may allow Agger to leave.

Liverpool And Everton To Clash In FA Cup

A Merseyside derby was the pick of the ties following the draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup.

A third-round draw that largely failed to hit the heights was outdone by the very first match as Liverpool and Everton were pulled out of the hat.

To add further spice to an already legendary fixture, the tie comes in the same week as a league game between the teams at Anfield while Reds captain Steven Gerrard is due in court on charges of assault and affray.

The match also comes in the year of the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, following which Liverpool beat Everton in the FA Cup final.

A second heavyweight Premier League clash sees Manchester United hosting Tottenham.

Non-league Kettering were drawn at home to Fulham, while Arsenal travel to last year's beaten finalists, Cardiff.

Nottingham Forest's reward for beating Manchester City is a trip to bitter rivals Derby - a huge game for former Rams boss Billy Davies, who takes over as Forest's manager today.

Birmingham/Wolves v Middlesbrough
Cardiff v Arsenal
Chelsea/Southend v Ipswich
Cheltenham/Doncaster v Aston Villa
Derby v Nottm Forest
Hartlepool v West Ham
Hull/Newcastle v Millwall/Crewe
Kettering v Fulham
Leyton Orient/Sheff Utd v Charlton/Norwich
Liverpool v Everton
Man Utd v Tottenham
Portsmouth/Bristol City v Histon/Swansea
Sunderland v Blyth/Blackburn
Torquay v Coventry
Watford v Leicester/Crystal Palace
West Brom/Peterborough v QPR/Burnley


Matches to be played over the weekend of January 24 and 25.