Benitez: "Too Soon" For Premier League Quota System

Rafael Benitez has expressed concern at the speed in which the Premier League have introduced a quota system for home-grown players.

The Liverpool manager will take charge of his 300th match since joining the Reds as another Champions League campaign starts tomorrow with a Group E clash against Hungarian champions Debrecen at Anfield.

He has had to contend with quotas in European football for several years, but now he fears for the overall quality of the English game.

The new regulations mean there will have to be eight home-grown players in every 25-man league squad from next season. The 20 Premier League clubs met last Thursday to agree the introduction of the rule.

Benitez said: "Maybe it has been brought in too soon. In the Champions League we had two or three years to increase the numbers of ome-grown players. The problem in England is that there is a big gap between the academies and the first team, the reserve league is not filling this gap.

"It may now be difficult to maintain quality, but we will continue to do our best. The number of players is not the point, the quality is the point. But if they have decided this maybe they have been thinking about this rule for a long time.''

Benitez added: "Similar rules have been introduced in the Champions League, first four, then six now eight home-grown players in each squad. We were all given three years to make these changes slowly. Now it will be different, and quicker. It all depends on the players. Not the amount, more the quality.

"If a top side has to find eight players from the academy straight away, it may well be difficult. Academies do not produce too many in England, (home-grown) players tend to play in the lower divisions because they may not be good enough for the very top.
"Clubs have to bring in the best young players from around the world at a young age to produce the quality (in the academies), and we have been expecting some sort of rule change like this. People talk too much about the age of players and where they are from. They forget about quality, the Premier League is the best league in the world because of the quality, not because of where the players come from.

"When they decided to put this rule in place, maybe they have been thinking about it for years. Sooner rather than later, with the Champions League rules changing, we expected something similar here. Players like Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard - when they were 17 - were playing in the first teams, but not too many because the level is too high.

"Most players need time. But between 18 and 21 years of age, the reserve league is not good enough for them. In two or three years' time we will see what the quality of the league is like then.''

Liverpool have one of the highest numbers of foreign players in the country, and can only just manage to meet the current Champions League criteria of eight home-grown players in a 28-man squad.

The likes of Stephen Darby, Jay Spearing, David Martin, Martin Kelly, David Amoo and Nathan Eccleston are academy players in the Champions League squad, but none are close to Premier League level yet.

Benitez will put those concerns behind him for the visit of Debrecen, on their Champions League debut.

Liverpool FC Wait For Javier Mascherano Injury Update

Javier Mascherano is a major fitness doubt for Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Debrecen on Wednesday.

The Argentinean international failed to report back on time from international duty last week and missed Saturday’s demolition of Premier League new boys Burnley.

Mascherano picked up a pelvic injury in midweek and was advised not to fly by doctors in Argentina.

It was initially believed he had just returned late, but Benitez admitted: “He has still not returned. He picked up an injury and it was decided that he needed to have tests.

“Our doctor was in contact with the Argentina medical team and it was decided it was best that he stay there for the tests, and he will be back in England next week before the Champions League game.

“The problem was a minor one, but we needed to have the checks made straight away.”

Standard Chartered Joy At Liverpool FC Deal

Standard Chartered Bank, which employs 70,000 people worldwide and whose emblem will replace Carlsberg’s on Liverpool’s famous red shirts from next season, today hailed their new £80m, four-year shirt sponsorship deal.

While registered in London, SCB conducts most of its business in Asia and other parts of the world and its chairman John Peace said today as the deal was announced: “I am absolutely delighted.

“I am delighted for Liverpool Football Club and its fans, and particularly delighted for Standard Chartered and its stakeholders.

“It will be a great four years and we're looking forward to seeing some exciting football and working closely together with the team.

"Liverpool has a great heritage and has had some fabulous football teams over the years with great managers. With the heritage of Standard Chartered Bank we have a lot in common. We are both going places and that is important going forward.

“I think Liverpool will have a fabulous season and a lot of success in the coming years. Our bank is in a very similar position. I am delighted we are able to enter into this agreement today.

“Standard Chartered today operates in a global market, in a global economy. Liverpool recognised, very wisely in my opinion, that the market for football is global.

“Together we will find some new and very enthusiastic fans for the team.

“I can't wait until the day I see the Liverpool players wearing the logo of our company on their shirts. I'm really looking forward to that day.

“I am hoping this season I can say congratulations on winning the Champions League. And if at the same time you can win the Premier League then it won't be a bad way to start our relationship in 2010.”

Rafa Benitez: I Work Well With Christian Purslow

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez today stressed he is working well with new Anfield managing director Christian Purslow – following the well-documented tensions which existed with his predecessor Rick Parry.

Said Benitez: “We are working very hard together, very close.

“I would say we have a meeting not just every week but every day.

“We are on the phone and as soon as I try to do something or want to do something, he is there.

“So we are working very hard here and I think the relationship is good. I am really pleased.

Added Benitez: “I think he understands the club.

“He was telling me about some games and he remembers who scored the winning goals and things like this – so sometimes it’s a problem for me!

“He loves the club and he wants the best for the club.”

Kenny Dalglish added: “I know as a managing director you are judged on many things.

“Christian Purslow and the club’s commercial director Ian Ayre have to take a huge pat on the back for getting this record shirt sponsorship deal into the football club.

“It shows we have men determined to push the club forward in the right direction.

“And it illustrates the standing of Liverpool Football Club that a company the size of Standard Chartered Bank have come to put their name on our shirts. It's fantastic news.”

Kenny: Deal Will Help Rafa

Kenny Dalglish believes the club's new sponsorship deal will aid Rafa Benitez in his quest to bring silverware to Anfield.

Liverpool today announced the biggest commercial contract in its history, with Standard Chartered set to appear on our shirts for four years from 2010-11.

New club ambassador Dalglish claims the deal is another example of how the Reds are evolving on and off the pitch.

"Like every other Liverpool fan, I want the best assets of this club to be on the pitch - and this deal will help that," Dalglish told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"If it can help Rafa and increase his budget - well that's what everyone wants.

"Success on the pitch leads to success off it and vice versa. It all leads to the same thing - a lot of happy Liverpool supporters. This is a fantastic deal for everybody."

Dalglish met executives at Standard Chartered prior to today's announcement and believes our new partners fit perfectly with the traditions of the club.

"The size of this deal commercially is very important, but equally as important are the people involved," he said. "Standard Chartered are good, solid people. I've met them before and they're very good."

Dalglish thinks Liverpool's global support was a major attraction for our new sponsors.

"The importance of the support Liverpool have in the Far East is very important for them because they have their base there as well as the Middle East and Africa," he added.

"Our support out there was highlighted during our pre-season tour, and I think that time helped make up both minds that this would be a fantastic opportunity.

"This only endorses what a lot of people already knew - that this is one of the most important clubs in world football."

Liverpool Bring Dose Of Reality To The Table

At kick-off on Saturday afternoon, Liverpool and Burnley lined up as equals according to the Barclays Premier League table. Within a couple of hours, any ideas that such an unlikely equality could last had been ruthlessly dismissed.

Liverpool scored four times but, such was their dominance as the game wore on, could have underlined their superiority with several more goals. At the other end of the pitch, Pepe Reina was unemployed to such an extent that he had ample time to contemplate a pre-match interview given in his native tongue and translated into English in which he apparently questioned Liverpool’s ability to win the title. On the evidence of this game, any such notions appear misguided. The only problem is, Burnley provided anything but an acid test.

The victories that Owen Coyle’s side enjoyed over Manchester United and Everton counted for nothing at Anfield, apart from prompting many in the home crowd to question how such results had been possible, as Yossi Benayoun’s first Premier League hat-trick and a tap-in for Dirk Kuyt ensured that Liverpool would not become another notable notch on the Scottish manager’s bedpost.

If Coyle is to take any positives from such a one-sided affair, it will be that his team are a different proposition at Turf Moor, where both of their wins have been recorded. If safety is to be secured, it will be done in the manner of Stoke City last season, by making the most of home advantage.

Acutely aware of their vulnerability, survival remains Burnley’s goal and Tyrone Mears, the right back, recognised that it is against the Premier League’s lesser lights that their fate will be determined. “People might have thought we would have been sitting at the bottom of the table with no points,” Mears said. “But we have six and hopefully we’ll be picking more up, particularly from the teams around us. That will keep us up. I don’t think we should be judged on games against the likes of Liverpool.”

For altogether different reasons, Liverpool face a similar challenge, for it was a string of poor home results against teams from whom they should have taken maximum points that cost them the title last season.

The penny finally appears to be dropping, though, with Stoke and Burnley on the receiving end of four-goal hidings. “We know it is important to win these games, and it is important to be on top of these teams from the beginning, then if you get the first goal it becomes easier for the players with quality,” Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, said.

For 27 minutes, Burnley were in the game and their resolution made life difficult for Liverpool, who, up to that point, had laboured in the face of qualities that ensured the visiting team were high on perspiration if a little lacking in inspiration.

Then Benayoun provided a wonderfully incisive finishing flourish and what had been a contest increasingly turned into a procession. Liverpool made the most of the resultant space afforded them and by the time this caricatured meeting of football’s have and have nots was reaching its closing stages, Steven Gerrard, Benayoun et al were playing give and goes on the edge of the Burnley penalty area with minimal fear of interruption.

“The first goal killed us and we lost our shape,” Mears said. “We passed the ball quite well but if you give Liverpool chances, they take them.”

He could have added that a goal was all that it took for the gulf in class between the hosts and visiting team to be exposed, but it had already been demonstrated where it matters most, on the pitch.

Itandje Aware Of Interest

Charles Itandje admits he could be tempted into securing a permanent move away from Liverpool.

The Reds keeper is currently taking in a season-long loan spell at Greek outfit Kavala, having been deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield.

His career on Merseyside appears to have come to an end, with Rafa Benitez now well-stocked in the keeping department.

That suggests the former Lens shot-stopper could be offloaded were a suitable approach to be lodged.

Greek giants Panathinaikos are reported to be keen on the 26-year-old, and Itandje has revealed that he is aware of mounting interest in his services.

"I am aware that there is interest but I am on loan at the moment so let's wait and see," the Frenchman told skysports.com.

"I have a contract with Liverpool until 2011, but I will never get the chance to play for the first-team there, so any other opportunities would be good for me."

Yossi Benayoun Is Liverpool FC's Title Omen

The champagne is likely to find a different home but Yossi Benayoun is here to stay.

The teetotal midfielder deservedly left Anfield with the man of the match bubbly on Saturday after running Burnley ragged.

Benayoun has had to battle to make the grade at Liverpool since he arrived from West Ham two years ago.

When he found himself warming the bench during the first half of last season his future at the club was in doubt.

But he responded with a string of crucial contributions, most notably a winner in the Bernabeu, and earned himself a new deal.

He is still on a mission to prove to Rafa Benitez that he is more than just a useful impact substitute.

Having been left out of the side for the trip to Bolton, this was his chance to stake a claim for a regular spot.

And he grabbed it in style with a third hat-trick for the club to sit alongside his trebles against Besiktas in the Champions League and the one against Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup.

Benayoun shrugged off fatigue after two World Cup qualifiers in Israel to demonstrate that he is an increasingly key member of Benitez's squad.

Burnley couldn't handle his nifty footwork and clever movement as he drifted inside from the right and exposed the gaping holes in the visitors' rearguard.

Ryan Babel and Albert Riera recently hit out at their lack of first team action but Benayoun has wisely kept his head down and let his boots do the talking.

Hopefully others will take note because Benayoun is a shining example to fringe players about what can be achieved through dedication and hard work.

The last time an Israeli scored a league hat-trick for Liverpool they went on to win the title.

Of course a thumping victory over Premier League new boys Burnley is hardly cause to get carried away.

But the manner of the triumph, in which Benayoun matched the feat of his compatriot Ronnie Rosenthal in 1990, offered genuine hope that the Reds are finding their feet after an unimpressive opening month of the season.

After seeing their proud unbeaten home league record stretching back nearly two years ended by Aston Villa, this was a case of normal service being resumed.

In the end the Reds settled for four but had they been more clinical they could have doubled their tally.

With an £80million shirt sponsorship deal with investment bank Standard Chartered in the bag and Michael Shields being released, it completed a good week for the club.

The presence of Shields and his family in the director’s box was celebrated but while that battle has been won, the banners on the Kop signalled that others are ongoing.

George Gillett's claim that the club's finances have "never been stronger" will hardly reduce the flak flying in the Americans' direction.

This was the first league meeting between the clubs for 33 years and the first in any competition since the Clarets dumped Liverpool out of the FA Cup in January 2005.

Back then Burnley benefited from a comical Djimi Traore’s own goal and the fact that the Reds' starting line up also included Antonio Nunez, David Raven, Zak Whitbread, John Welsh and Darren Potter.

Two of the promoted clubs grabbed a point at Anfield last season but another costly slip up was never on the cards as Burnley's positive approach played straight into Liverpool's hands.

Owen Coyle's side are easy on the eye but they were ripped apart with ease.

Fears about a hangover from the international break were just starting to grow in the stands when Benayoun opened the scoring midway through the first half.

He raced on to Glen Johnson's pass and turned away from Graham Alexander before slotting past Brian Jensen.

There was a collective sigh of relief and with the pressure eased the Reds stepped up a gear.

Javier Mascherano's extended stay in Argentina to have treatment had forced a reshuffle with skipper Steven Gerrard dropping back to play alongside Lucas Leiva. And the skipper underlined his versatility with a virtuoso display as he relished a deeper role.

Gerrard created the Reds' third and only Jensen's heroics and the woodwork denied him the goal his performance deserved.

Lucas, asked to play the holding role in the absence of Mascherano, barely put a foot wrong.

The Brazilian frequently won back possession and provided the platform for the Reds to bomb forward.

Benayoun and Lucas were both thwarted by Jensen before the second goal finally arrived four minutes before the break.

Defence was turned into attack with ruthless efficiency after Pepe Reina had punched clear a corner.

Fernando Torres and Emiliano Insua combined to set up Benayoun and when his shot was carelessly spurned by Jensen, Dirk Kuyt pounced on the rebound.

With Burnley's resolve broken the second half was simply a case of boosting the goal difference.

Gerrard kick-started proceedings just past the hour mark when he burst into the box and unselfishly squared for Benayoun to tap home.

Such was Liverpool's dominance that Benitez brought on Philipp Degen for his first appearance since the Carling Cup debacle at Tottenham last season, and the injury-prone Swiss defender' managed to get through half an hour unscathed.

Andriy Voronin and David Ngog were also introduced as Liverpool maintained their vice-like grip on proceedings.

Benayoun looked set to be denied his hat-trick when an effort was wrongly ruled out for offside but justice was done eight minutes from time.

A clever pass from Voronin put him clear and as Burnley appealed forlornly for a flag he held his nerve to fire past Jensen.

Voronin wastefully spurned the chance to add a fifth late on but it mattered little.

After the struggle to see off Bolton this was slick and straightforward.

And after a mixed start to the season all supporters will drink to that.

Kenny Dalglish Insists Liverpool Are Still In The Title Race And Starting To Click

Kenny Dalglish claims Liverpool can still prove their doubters wrong and win the Barclays Premier League this season.

The Reds moved up to fifth in the table on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Burnley, but they have already suffered two defeats in their opening five league fixtures this year, including a humiliating 3-1 loss to Aston Villa at Anfield.

That result, along with a defeat at Tottenham on the opening weekend and an unconvincing 3-2 victory at Bolton, has left many doubting the title credentials of Rafael Benitez's side, who lost only two league games all year last time out on the way to finishing second behind champions Manchester United.

But Dalglish, who managed the club to their last Football League championship almost 20 years ago, remains convinced Liverpool can silence their critics this season by becoming the kings of England once again.

"That's all right, let them keep writing us off," said Dalglish, who now works with the club's academy. "We'll add the points up at the end of the season and see what happens.

"Certainly when you lose a home game it is a disappointment, but it wouldn't be the first time that a team has lost a home game and gone on and won the league, so we'll keep our fingers crossed."

Liverpool have been prolific in fits and starts this season, hitting five past Stoke in their first home game of the campaign before Saturday's four-goal haul against Burnley, and Dalglish believes the signs are there that the players' confidence is growing.

"We can achieve whatever we want to achieve," he said. "We go out in every game to achieve maximum points, or get through the cup tie, whatever is relevant. We go out on the pitch with the same determination as we have ever done to be successful.

"We've never shouted our mouth off, we've just got on with our work, and I'm sure that's what the players are doing at the moment.

"They played very well on Saturday. (Yossi) Benayoun getting a hat-trick was fantastic for him and for everyone, I think it is starting to come together."

Club Legends Part Of Bright Future

Christian Purslow today insisted how important it was for Liverpool to embrace the greats of Anfield’s past – including legends like Kenny Dalglish.

The Scot, still worshipped by the Kop for his heroics as both player and manager, rejoined the Anfield hierarchy this summer.

Said Purslow: “Kenny Dalglish coming back to the club is a key development. It’s a key symbol of what we are all about.

“Liverpool is a family and our great legends need to feel included and wanted. And where they can play a role in driving Liverpool forward then that’s something that I passionately feel is important.

Š“Rafa and I discussed that probably on my second day at work and again it’s a perfect example of football and commercial working together.

“Kenny has two roles. He is helping Rafa in the Academy to be the face of our youth program in the community; to make families feel more comfortable about committing their family members to our set up and helping Rafa instil a sense of newness in a youth set up that for the last ten years, let’s not beat about the bush, has failed to deliver a single first team starting player.

“But at the same time on the commercial side, having a guy like Kenny working for the football club is incredibly important.

“Many of our key commercial partners now thrive at the prospect of spending time with him and some of our legendary players.

“And that is good for our football club.”

“On match day I am delighted to have businessmen, potential investors, and potential commercial partners as our guests on match day spending time with Kenny and our other legendary footballers, taking in what it is to be part of Liverpool FC.

“That’s the best way to drive long term commercial interest in our football club and that is something I’ve been very proud to have done in the last couple of months.”

Yossi's Giant!

Charlie Nicholas believes Yossi Benayoun underlined his value to Liverpool as his hat-trick blew Burnley away at Anfield.

The Isreal international was making his third start of the season, but pressed his claims for a permanent starting role as Rafa Benitez's side ran riot against the Premier League newcomers.

The decision to include him meant Steven Gerrard dropping deeper, unable to link up with Fernando Torres, but the Reds manager was proved right in emphatic fashion.

And Nicholas, who has already advocated playing Benayoun just off a lone striker this season, believes it underlines how vital he is to their title chances.

"Benayoun, I think we have all said more than once needs to play in this position," he told Soccer Saturday.

"He played in that Gerrard role; it withdraws Gerrard a little bit but his movement creates space and it also helps Stevie Gerrard get a little bit more space because that threat is there in the last third. With (Fernando) Torres' movement, Kuyt coming in from the wide area and Benayoun just being prepared to take people on, it just makes more space.

"Burnley played quite well, they were sharp, they moved it well without any real penetration, but once Benayoun scored a lovely goal for the second - it was a decent run from the right-hand side, he just kept running at them and on his favoured right foot cut it across the keeper into the bottom corner - after that they just burned it, in cruise control.

"The second then came from a simple tap-in from Dirk Kuyt after a mistake from (Brian) Jensen and then it was really just a matter of how many Liverpool wanted to score - and Benayoun got his hat-trick with two more in the second half."

Despite the scoreline, Nicholas was full of praise for Owen Coyle's side, centre-backs Clarke Carlisle and Andre Bikey in particular, and because of that, still has some doubts over Liverpool's title credentials.

Struggling against supposedly lesser opposition, especially at Anfield, has often being single out as the reason they have trailed behind Chelsea and Manchester United.

And Nicholas says even this does not prove anything - but will do them the world of good after losing to Aston Villa and Spurs already this season.

"Liverpool are back, they've got their confidence up and they've responded well to those two defeats," he said. "It's a sign that they are going to be in there battling, no doubt about that.

"But there's still a question mark for me: I know Thommo finds it hard because he thinks we're picking on them, hut Liverpool at this moment, I don't know if Rafa is going to start with Benayoun in every game or play Stevie Gerrard further forwards. He needs that variety because he's not got that strong a squad.

"There are tougher games to come no doubt about that, but there's nothing wrong with gathering momentum and confidence - and that's exactly what they've done on Saturday."

Benayoun Looking To Cement Place

Yossi Benayoun hopes his hat-trick in Liverpool's 4-0 success over Burnley can help secure regular first-team football under Rafa Benitez.

The former West Ham winger has featured frequently as a substitute during his two seasons with the Anfield side.

The Israel international acknowledges competition for places in Benitez's side is fierce, but that has not diminished his desire to become a regular.

Benayoun showed what he can do against The Clarets with a hat-trick, his first goals of the new season as The Reds returned to form.

He has admitted fatigue was a factor after enduring a gruelling trip home from Israel in midweek, although he will stop at nothing to secure regular first-team football.

"The competition is very high at a club like Liverpool, you have to want to play every time," explained Benayoun.

"It is always difficult after being away on the international break, but this one came at the right time for us.

"We had lost two of the first four, we needed the break. The team needed to think about the things that we did wrong and come back to try to put things right.

"We have learned from our mistakes, and you could see that from the first moment. I played 90 minutes for Israel on Wednesday and then there were two long flights to get back here.

"But everyone wants to play, regardless of tiredness. Nobody wants to be on the bench, but particularly at a big club like this there are a lot of good players and you cannot let someone else play."

Benayoun has conceded it has taken him a little time to settle on Merseyside, although he believes his recent form proves he deserves to be with Liverpool.

He added: "From the moment I arrived at Liverpool I told myself that I would take every opportunity to do my best and prove I deserved to be in the team.

"I have had ups and downs in the last two years here, but from the final months of last season I have showed I can play better and better when I have confidence.

"You must accept you will be on the bench sometimes, but even if you get just 10 minutes, you have to do your best and show your quality.

"It was the perfect day for me, and we have started to win matches. The season didn't start too well for us, and maybe it has been good that people have already written us off.

"There will be less pressure. We can build our confidence slowly and when we win games like this, everyone can see we have the quality to be up there in the race."

Benitez Learns Lessons

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits his side used the disappointing experiences of last season as guidance in Saturday's 4-0 victory over Burnley.

Yossi Benayoun hit a hat-trick, with a Dirk Kuyt goal sandwiched in between, to wrap up a comfortable win against the newly-promoted Clarets on their first league visit to Anfield in 33 years.

The win marked progress for Liverpool after last season's Premier League title challenge was derailed by home draws against the likes of Stoke, Hull City, Fulham and West Ham.

Benitez acknowledges that work has taken place to devise strategies to help his side, who hammered Stoke on Merseyside in August in an earlier example of development, break down stubborn visitors.

The Spaniard told Sky Sports: "Clearly we have used experiences from the past years. We try to play our football.

"In the first half they (Burnley) were not bad and they were doing well. But as soon as we scored the first goal, and especially the second goal, they needed to go forward.

"There was some more space for us and clearly with quality we can always be a threat."

Burnley could not cope with the intricacy of movement from Liverpool, who appear to be rediscovering momentum following earlier defeats to Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Israel captain Benayoun and Kuyt were particularly troublesome to last season's Championship play-off winners, with the intelligence of the duo's inter-changing runs from opposite flanks proving unstoppable.

Benitez is delighted with the way the pair worked together and believes former West Ham player Benayoun is now showing the characteristics of a first-team regular after beginning his Liverpool career on the fringes in past seasons.

"The understanding of both of them is really good," he said. "One of the strengths of Yossi is to go between the lines and do the right things and the right movement."

Benitez added: "Yossi had been away on international duty in midweek and done a lot of travelling, but he wanted to play. It is important to him to show his quality in every training session and every match.

"Over the seasons he has shown his value coming off the bench, but now he is showing how important he can be with movement and passing ability from the start."

Benitez Hits Back At Carragher's Critics

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has hit back at critics who have targeted Jamie Carragher.

The Reds have made a stuttering start to the new Premier League season, losing 2-1 to Tottenham on the opening weekend and slipping up at home to Aston Villa.

They have conceded seven goals in five games but Benitez believes it is unfair for the defenders to be blamed for poor performances.

Carragher has been singled out by some pundits who have suggested the 31-year-old no longer has the pace and fitness to perform as consistently as he has in the past.

However, Benitez has no such doubts and maintains that Carragher will continue to play a key role this term.

"When the team hasn't done well it is the defenders who take the rap," Benitez said in the Daily Star Sunday.

"When you are losing, they will get criticised more than the strikers.

"Jamie is still a top player. He's training as always. He's fit and quick and he will always be the same.

"He's a professional who has taken care of himself, so I don't see him slowing down quickly."

Benitez accepts that Carragher has perhaps had to shoulder too much of the responsibility in terms of making the team a cohesive unit and he has called on other players to do more.

"It depends now on the team. If they help the defenders it will be easy for the defenders to play well," he explained.

"It's more difficult for Carragher because he's been playing with a lot of team-mates.

"He likes to talk but the other players around him are important too. If he doesn't need to be talking much it's easier for him to focus on his own game."

Rafael Benitez: Lucas 'Key' For Liverpool Against Burnley

Yossi Benayoun may have scored a hat-trick and set up another goal in today's 4-0 drubbing of Burnley but manager Rafael Benitez attributes another player as Liverpool's show-stealer. Brazilian youngster Lucas Leiva - heavily criticised by the Anfield faithful for an as-yet mediocre two years in England - has his manager purring.

Benitez told the club's official website: "Lucas supported and managed in the middle and kept everyone else going forward,

"For me he was the key player today. We can talk about Yossi but it was thanks to Lucas. One thing everyone told me when I came here was that if you work hard the fans are with you. They could see again today that Lucas is a worker who had quality. He can challenge in the air, can tackle and pass the ball."

The 22-year-old arrived from Gremio in 2007 as the youngest player to ever to receive Placar magazine's 'Bola de Ouro' (Golden Ball), given to the best player in the Campeonato Brasileiro. He was expected to star at The Kop but a string of uninspiring performances brought rise to doubts about his ability to impose himself on the Premier League. However, Benitez feels his young gun is often overlooked.

He continued: "He worked so hard in different positions and allowed the other players more freedom. For me he was a very important player for us today."

With Xabi Alonso's departure for Real Madrid, Lucas seems to be starring at the right time. Also starring is similarly unheralded Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun, whose hat-trick was a worthy by-product of intelligent movement and flawless technique today. Benitez saluted his performance.

"We know he's a player with quality. We have seen how good he is coming from the bench and we were talking about whether he could start or not. Today he was very, very good and his movement was fantastic for the team," Benitez said.

"During the internationals I was talking with some players about how they could change things, and it was just to work hard. Yossi was away but he wanted to play, and when a player wants to play it's very easy: you have to prove these things in every training session and in a game if you get the opportunity."

After two defeats in their first four matches, Liverpool's resounding victory over Burnley has hushed some critical whispers and kick-started their title challenge.

Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun Hails 'Perfect Day' Against Burnley

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun believes his three-goal performance against Burnley on Saturday was the best of his career for the Reds thus far.

The Israeli scored a superb hat-trick to help the Anfield club to a 4-0 victory over Owen Coyle's Burnley, with Dutch international Dirk Kuyt grabbing the other goal.

The result moves Liverpool up to fifth in the Premier League table, ahead of Arsenal and just three points behind third placed Manchester United.

As well as acknowledging his own performance, Benayoun was quick to declare that the result was more important than his individual contribution.

"It was a good day for me and it was great to score three goals," the former West Ham United star told Liverpool's official club website.

"But the most important thing is the three points. We played a lot of good football at times and won the match - that is more important to me than scoring goals."

With the absence of combative Argentine ace Javier Mascherano, Benayoun claims he was afforded more of a license to roam forward by manager Rafael Benitez, a ploy that the Israeli feels brought the best out of him.

"I started on the right but Rafa [Benitez] told me to move around and try and get in between the lines," he added.

"Every time I did that I found space so I could turn and go forward.

"I was lucky because the rest of the team provided me with good passes to score.

"It was the perfect day for me."

Rafa Expects Masch Return

Rafa Benitez is confident that Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano will be fit for the start of Liverpool's Champions League campaign.

Mascherano was missing as his side demolished Burnley 4-0 at Anfield, with his replacement Yossi Benayoun scoring the third hat-trick of his Liverpool career.

But Benitez expects Mascherano to be available for Thursday's (AEST) game against Hungarian side Debrecen at Anfield after the midfielder was given special permission to remain in South America for treatment.

Mascherano suffered a pelvis injury playing for Argentina in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat against Paraguay midweek.

"He will be back here on Sunday)," said Benitez after his side recorded back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time this season.

"It's not serious. He has had some problems and he's been doing some tests over there.

"We gave him permission to stay there but he is coming back."

If Mascherano is fit to play on Wednesday then Benitez faces something of a selection dilemma after Benayoun's dazzling display.

Benayoun has impressed after coming on as a substitute this season although Benitez had been unconvinced that he was capable of making the same impact for the full 90 minutes.

Benayoun showed he has the ability to be as lethal from the start of the game as his hat-trick inspired a comfortable victory as Liverpool overcame a sluggish start.

"We know that Yossi is a quality player," Benitez said. "We have seen how good he is off the bench and we were talking whether he could do the same thing from the start of the match.

"He was fantastic. He is someone who has experience. He knows that the best way to fight for a place in the team is by doing something on the pitch."

Liverpool twice failed to win against newly promoted Hull and Stoke at Anfield last season, results which eventually cost them the title.

But they saw off Burnley, promoted via the Championship play-offs, in style, with Dirk Kuyt also scoring.

"The second goal was the key for me," added Benitez. "I was not happy with what I was seeing in the first few minutes because we didn't start very well."

Burnley manager Owen Coyle was left to bemoan his side's defending. "We didn't lose because we passed the ball, we lost because we gave away soft goals," said Coyle.

"At 0-0 there was nothing in it and we started well. The start was the pleasing aspect.

"We lost the second goal when it was our most pleasing aspect of the game, when we were controlling the game."

Benayoun broke the deadlock in the 27th minute.

He raced past Graham Alexander after cutting inside the area following a neat pass by Glen Johnson before firing low past Brian Jensen.

Kuyt doubled the lead with a simple tap-in - his second goal of the campaign - after Jensen had spilled Benayoun's 20-yard effort into the path of the Dutchman.

Man-of-the-match Benayoun made it 3-0 on the hour mark after great play by Gerrard and Torres had cut the Clarets defence to pieces.

Liverpool rammed home their superiority nine minutes from time when Benayoun completed his hat-trick. He finished from close range after good work by Kuyt in front of the Kop.

Amoo On Target As Reds Sink Tykes

Goals from David Amoo and substitute Tony Silva secured the points for Rodolfo Borrell's men as they brought a run of two straight defeats to an end with a hard-working display against the Yorkshire outfit.

Having conceded five goals without reply against both Nottingham Forest and Leicester City, confidence was low going into the clash with the Tykes and it was no surprise to see the Reds youngsters make a tentative start to the proceedings.

Barnsley looked the more likely early on and put the home side's rearguard to the test with a series of well worked set pieces. First, Chris Oldfield had to be alert to punch a fierce corner away from underneath his own crossbar while Andre Wisdom was on hand to make two vital interceptions to keep the visitors at bay.

Liverpool needed to get a foothold in the game and on 10 minutes they manufactured the first real opportunity when Amoo powered down the right flank before sending over a cross that Chris Buchtmann came within a whisker of touching home.

It seemed to give the Reds the lift they needed and on 14 minutes the roles reversed to see Amoo guide Buchtmann's pinpoint centre into the back of the net.

The former Millwall starlet has shown glimpses of his promise with the reserves this season and gave another example of his ability to beat defenders minutes later, when he side stepped Liam Reffin and sent in a devilish centre that Michael Ngoo almost guided in with an acrobatic attempt.

At this point the Reds were in total control but an injury to Alex Cooper on 25 minutes disrupted the hosts' flow. After a lengthy delay the midfielder was stretchered off and it took Borrell's men time to re-establish their dominance.

As the half came to an end Liverpool did find their rhythm again and could have easily doubled their advantage. Krisztian Adorjan blazed over from the edge of the box while Ngoo skewed wide when in on goal. Jevan Hodgson then produced heroics in the visitors' goal to touch Adorjan's header onto the bar after another piece of majestic wing play by Amoo.

It was developing into the type of morale-boosting performance the youngsters needed and Ngoo gave the away side a cameo of what was to follow in the second period when he beat two before forcing a smart save out of Hodgson from distance.

The front man was proving to be a real nuisance to the Barnsley defence and was unlucky not to mark a fine display with a goal on 60 minutes when he flashed Buchtmann's cut back inches past the near post.

As chance after chance continued to go begging, Borrell may have started to wonder if it was going to be one of those days for his team, but any fears he may have had were vanquished on 71 minutes when substitute Silva struck the Reds' second after more good approach play by Buchtmann.

Amoo then went close to extending the margin of victory late on as the hosts eased to a comfortable triumph.

Liverpool under-18s: Chris Oldfield, John Flanagan, Jack Robinson, Andre Wisdom, Matty McGiveron, Conor Coady, David Amoo, Alex Cooper (Michael Roberts 25), Michael Ngoo (Tony Silva 67), Krisztian Adorjan (Michael Ihiekwe 73), Chris Buchtmann. Unused subs: Stephen Sama, Deale Chamberlain.

Match Report: Liverpool 4 - 0 Burnley

Liverpool's season is firmly back on track after a Yossi Benayoun hat-trick left promoted Burnley overwhelmed.

The top-flight new boys had started the season so well with wins over Manchester United and Everton but have now suffered successive defeats at Chelsea and now Liverpool - conceding seven in the process.

They could not live with a vibrant Liverpool, who kept up an impressive high tempo throughout and are slowly wiping away the memory of those two early league defeats to Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Benayoun scored his first from the edge of the box, and saw his shot parried by the overworked Brian Jensen for Dirk Kuyt to add the second before the break.

Steven Gerrard's pass set up Benayoun for his second, a close-range tap-in, before the Israeli was sent clear by substitute Andriy Voronin for his third and Liverpool's fourth.

Rafael Benitez made two changes from the side which won at Bolton a fortnight ago, with Martin Skrtel returning to central defence in place of Greece international Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

With Javier Mascherano suffering a muscle injury while on international duty with Argentina and not arriving back until late Friday, Benayoun came into the side.

And what a tremendous impact he made, with a goal and a display of running power that Burnley never came to terms with.

The Clarets, in their first league visit to Anfield for 33 years, retained the side that lost at Chelsea last time out, with new loan signing David Nugent - a former Liverpool trainee - on the bench.

The absence of Mascherano meant that Steven Gerrard played in a much deeper role, alongside Lucas in the centre of midfield, with Benayoun and Kuyt left to play just behind Fernando Torres.

Burnley started brightly with Martin Paterson firing wide from the edge of the box, while Kuyt produced a low shot at the other end that produced the first of many saves by Jensen.

Liverpool slowly built up possession, moving the ball quickly and Torres saw a curling 20-yard shot clear the far post.

But Burnley had Steven Fletcher and Paterson interchanging positions up front and the visitors were quick and dangerous on the break.

Liverpool's best early chance came when Emiliano Insua's chip was headed a foot wide by Benayoun, the beginning of a purple patch from the 29-year-old.

The lively Israel captain broke the deadlock with a gem of a goal after 27 minutes.

He surged from midfield, turned away from Graham Alexander and moved into the box to fire across Jensen and into the bottom corner.

Benayoun almost added another a minute later when he met Albert Riera's cross with a low header that Jensen blocked, the Burnley goalkeeper also keeping out Kuyt's follow-up.

Jensen had to keep out drives from Benayoun and Lucas before Paterson forced his way past Gerrard to unleash a rising drive that was held by Jose Reina.

But Liverpool went further ahead after 40 minutes with a dynamic five-man break from defence.

Torres and Insua combined to set up Benayoun for a 20-yard shot that Jensen blocked, but only as far as Kuyt who clipped home from five yards.

The increasingly busy Jensen had to produce the save of the half to keep out a Gerrard 20-yard drive before the break.

Liverpool kept up their assault after the interval with Riera seeing two efforts blocked while Jensen saved from a Kuyt flick.

Stephen Jordan was booked for a block on Torres before Burnley sent on Chris Eagles to replace Robbie Blake.

Torres was starting to stretch a tiring Burnley defence by now and only Tyrone Mears' fine saving tackle stopped the Spaniard in full flow.

But after 61 minutes Torres' pass played in a fiercely determined Gerrard, who battered his way past two men in the box to find Benayoun on the far post for a tap-in.

Liverpool sent on Swiss defender Philipp Degen for Glen Johnson and Voronin for the hard-running Kuyt, the game well won by now, and Burnley responded by giving Nugent his debut for Paterson.

Benayoun had an effort ruled out for offside and Gerrard forced his way through again to hit a post, before David Ngog took over from Torres.

There was still time for Benayoun to secure his hat-trick after 81 minutes. Voronin's pass sent him clear in the box - played onside by Jordan - and he side-footed the ball past an exposed Jensen.

Eagles was booked for a foul on Benayoun, Jensen saved again from Gerrard and Voronin missed when clear, with Burnley just wanting it all to end.

Benitez Targets Smooth Passage

Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool must hit the ground running when they open their Champions League campaign on Wednesday against Hungarian newcomers Debrecen in a Group E match at Anfield.

The Reds chief has underlined the importance of a winning start in Europe to avoid needless pressure in the club's domestic campaign, and to boost their coffers.

He recalled the situation two seasons ago when Liverpool lost their opening two group matches to Marseille and Besiktas and caused themselves dreadful problems in qualifying for the next stage - with the side winning only five of nine Premier League games during that fraught period.

That season they struggled to finish fourth in the league. Last term, when Liverpool won both their opening group matches, they ended the season as runners-up after a far less frantic campaign.

Benitez also underlined the importance, in terms of cash, of Liverpool progressing to the latter stages.

He said: "Money is important to us and it is also important for the name of this club to see us progressing to the final stages. This season, especially, it is very important.

"We always know we must start well in the group, to win your first match and then to analyse the match between the other two teams in the group, Fiorentina and Lyon.

"We lost our first game a couple of seasons ago against Marseille. That caused us a lot of problems and it was hard to qualify from the group.

"We must start well, the first game is vital. We must be in control of the group straight away because we then go to Florence next and Fiorentina will be tough, all Italian teams are tough at this level."

Last season Liverpool were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Chelsea after a remarkable 4-4 second-leg draw at Stamford Bridge, a result that still hurts Benitez.

He added: "The Champions League is a special competition, particularly for this club.

"You always want to win and the way we went out of the tournament last season in those games with Chelsea is still a disappointment that I feel, and the players too.

"It is always important to progress in Europe, you lose and it becomes a big problem.

"You lose confidence and you lose money. This season we face teams we have not played in Europe before and Debrecen is a club appearing for the first time.

"That will be a concern for us. We do have some reports and information but we do not know too much about them at the moment.

"But I will soon have more reports and videos to watch. It is important that we make a good start in the competition."

For Debrecen, this is a step into the unknown; their first match in the Champions League proper after becoming the first team from Hungary to qualify for the group stage since Ferencvaros in 1995-96.

Debrecen won five of their six games in qualifying, including away at Levadia Tallin and Levski Sofia, but they know they face a much tougher test at Anfield.

Liverpool are competing in their sixth successive group-stage campaign and not once have they failed to reach the last 16.

For Debrecen, this is the second time they have visited England in the competition, and they will hope to fare better than the previous occasion, when they lost 3-0 to Manchester United in a third qualifying round tie in August 2005 - the first instalment of a 6-0 aggregate defeat.

There are four survivors in Debrecen's squad from that last visit to the north west. Tibor Dombi played while Csaba Bernath, Zoltan Kiss and Adam Komlosi were on the bench. Kiss and Dombi featured in the return.

Liverpool’s £80m Shirt Deal Equals Biggest Ever

Liverpool have secured a new shirt sponsorship deal that equals the most lucrative in football history after signing a four-year agreement with Standard Chartered, the London-based international bank, worth £80 million over four years.

With their present deal with Carlsberg due to expire in mid-2010, Liverpool’s commercial department, headed by Ian Ayre, has been looking for a money-spinning agreement in keeping with the club’s status as one of the most recognisable brands in world sport. Until July, an exclusivity accord with Carlsberg prevented them from entering into talks with any other interested parties but once that had expired, Liverpool moved swiftly to tie up a new deal.

Carlsberg has enjoyed a 17-year relationship with Liverpool, one of the longest-running associations in world sport, but was unwilling to match the £20 million a season offer made by Standard Chartered, which equals the deal struck by Manchester United with Aon Corp, the American financial giant, in June.

Liverpool have long been criticised by their supporters for punching below their weight when it comes to commercial opportunities but the sponsorship deal struck by Ayre, the commercial director, is an indication that the club are beginning to make the most of their glittering history and worldwide fan base.

The fact that the Merseyside club have secured a sponsorship arrangement on a par with United’s is also hugely symbolic, with Liverpool having trailed some way behind their North West rivals for several years in terms of commercial enterprise. Liverpool’s deal with Carlsberg, for example, is worth just £7.2 million per annum, a figure that fell short of United’s £14 million income from AIG, the American insurance corporation.

The deal with Standard Chartered will be confirmed by Liverpool imminently, with George Gillett Jr., the club’s co-owner, having admitted during a radio interview that he expects a formal announcement to be made on Friday. “I think people will be pleased and surprised,” Gillett said. “It will be one of the great, worldwide corporations. And I think it will be a sponsor people will be pleased and surprised to be [associated with].”

For the first time since he bought Liverpool along with Tom Hicks in February 2007, Gillett has admitted that he could be willing to sell the club “if someone gets beamed in who’s got bags of money”.

But the revelation was tempered by the American’s admission that he would “probably” be at the helm for the long term.

“The club is in outstanding shape,” Gillett said. “Economically, it’s never been stronger. We just paid down our debt very substantially. We have less debt per dollar than any club in the league.”

Liverpool, meanwhile, have sealed a £250,000 deal with Southend United for the transfer of Michael Ngoo, a 16-year-old centre forward who was also being watched by Manchester United. Ngoo, who is 6ft 4in and has been likened in style to Peter Crouch, impressed during a recent trial with United but Liverpool have beaten their North West rivals to his signature after meeting Southend’s asking price.

In a departure from the recent furore surrounding the transfers of a number of teenagers, the deal for Ngoo has not resulted in acrimony between Liverpool and Southend, with the Coca-Cola League One club praising their Barclays Premier League counterparts for the way negotiations were conducted.

Jamie Carragher Eager To Complete Medal Collection With Premiership

One month and two defeats into the season, the clock is already audibly ticking on Liverpool’s championship challenge.

But for at least one of Rafael Benitez’s squad, there is extra incentive to beat the sands of time.

As a mainstay of the Anfield effort since making his debut back in January 1997, Jamie Carragher has played an integral role in all subsequent triumphs.

Yet a medal haul that includes the European Cup, UEFA Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Super Cup still has one notable, gaping omission.

And at the age of 31, the Anfield vice-captain admits to having dwelled on possibly not being around long enough to in appear in what he is convinced will soon be the inevitable – a title-winning Liverpool team.

“It is at the back of my mind but Liverpool is about winning things now – that’s what we want, as well as in the future,” says Carragher. “Rafa can’t be thinking ‘I have to win the league for Carra’, he’s doing it for the club, as well as building for future seasons.

“I’m sure we will get there in the end, whether it’s with me or without me. It’s important this club gets back to winning titles, but for Liverpool, not just me, even though on a personal level I would love to do it.

“I’ve been lucky enough with what I have won now, and really grateful for it, but obviously I want to win that Premier League. If not, then I have still won lots of trophies, but the main thing is seeing Liverpool win titles, whether I’m here or not.”

Having already retired from international football to help prolong his club career, Carragher faces strong competition for a centre-back berth this season with Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and new arrival Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

But the defender says: “I think the whole squad is under pressure for positions now. Rafa’s always liked a big squad, with two for each place.

“Teams change around a lot now, and some people say our squad is still not big enough, but I think we have a strong one.”

The early-season defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have quelled the expectation this could be Liverpool’s year to end a title drought that stretches back to 1990.

Benitez’s men have already lost as many league games as they did in the whole of last season, but Carragher is convinced there remains plenty of time to overcome that slipshod start.

“What we have to do is stay focused, and I’m old enough and mature enough not to listen to everything others say,” he says. “We’re aware we’ve lost two of the first four, when we only lost two all year last time, but it’s not how many you win or lose, it’s how many points you get.

“In the last two seasons we have lost less games than Manchester United, and they won the league twice, so that proves the point. But if you keep losing games, you keep losing points, and we have to put that right.

“We have to make sure we don’t worry about other teams. Hopefully that’s something we can learn from last season – don’t think about them, just do your own stuff.

“With 10 games to go last season we were five or six points behind United and people were saying we had a great chance of winning the league. We’re six points off the top now and have 34 games to go.

“If we have that many left, rather than just ten, obviously we have much more chance of making it up, but we are still in the title race, no doubt about it.”

Each of the seven goals Liverpool have conceded this campaign have come from set-pieces, reopening the tiresome debate over Benitez’s zonal marking system.

Carragher has his own view on the shortcoming, and says: “We’ve conceded our goals at set pieces this season, but I don’t think that’s down to a lack of understanding. It’s maybe that we haven’t attacked the ball, lost a runner or something. The whole team comes back defending in the box and if one man doesn’t do their job, the ball’s in the back of your net.

“It’s not about the new players because in general play we have been fine, but it’s obviously something we have to improve on.

“People always say when you man mark you know whose fault it is when the goal goes in. But because we know the zonal system a bit better than you guys, we know who’s at fault when someone’s not done their job, and we talk about that on the training ground to put it right.

“It’s easy to point the finger at man marking, but we are aware of where things have gone wrong and on Saturday we have to put it right.

“We’ve been using that system for a long time so everyone should be comfortable with it. Personally I’ve been doing it for five or six years with the manager, and for a few of them we’ve had one of the best records in the Premiership. It’s about players wanting to head the ball and being aggressive in the box.”

Reina Plays Down Liverpool's Title Chances

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina insists winning the Premier League is "not a realistic objective" with the current squad of players, some of whom are becoming frustrated at Anfield.

Although the Reds finished second last year and were hoping to go one better this season, ending their search for a first Premier League title, Reina thinks Liverpool lack the match-winners to do so.

After a mixed start to the current campaign, including two defeats from their first four outings, Spain international Reina has voiced his doubts about the depth of the playing staff.

"We all want to win the league but right now it's not a realistic objective," he told The Guardian. "There isn't frustration, there's resignation. We know what's in the squad; we can't do anything about it. All we can do is roll our sleeves up, work hard and try to win matches.

"Teams like Manchester United have lots of players who can tip the balance; we haven't got the individuals. There are games that get congested and we haven't got the vision other sides boast. There is a problem."

Reina also suggested that it was the responsibility of the club's American co-owner George Gillett and Tom Hicks to improve Liverpool's chances by freeing up further funds.

"It would be good if the owners made an effort economically," he added. "It would be lovely if we found ourselves in an economic position where we can bring in players and build a squad that can compete with other sides.

"But it's up to the owners to try to bring players in, not us."

Ryan Babel Needs To Repay Faith Rafael Benitez Has Shown In Him

The fly on the wall in Rafa Benitez’s office at Melwood on Thursday will certainly have a story to tell.

Ryan Babel had some serious explaining to do following his return from international duty.

The Dutchman’s outburst while he was away with his national side was as ill advised as it was nonsensical.

Benitez has shown remarkable faith in a player who has repeatedly flattered to deceive since he arrived on Merseyside for £11.5million from Ajax two years ago.

His first season offered real promise with 10 goals in 49 appearances – including memorable Champions League strikes against Arsenal and Chelsea.

But last season he failed to kick on and made only 13 starts with a further 29 outings off the bench.

The temptation to offload the 22-year-old this summer must have been great, especially as the manager needed to raise funds to make signings.

But Benitez decided to persevere with him and made a point on the tour of the Far East of taking every possible opportunity to talk up the winger.

The Reds boss believed this would finally be the season when Babel came good and realise his obvious potential. Instead it’s been a case of more of the same.

Babel had a big chance to shine at Spurs on the opening weekend of the campaign but he blew it.

Off the pace and showing an alarming lack of desire, it was no surprise to see him consigned to the bench for the clash with Stoke.

A brief cameo against Aston Villa followed before he didn’t even make the squad for the trip to Bolton.

Babel could have no complaints but he reacted by claiming Benitez had “broken promises” about more playing time this season.

The manager may well have told him he would have more chances to play but it’s fair to assume Babel made promises of his own, which he has failed to keep, about putting in a proper shift.

Admitting that he would be up for heading home on loan in January smacks of a player who lacks the stomach to fight for his place.

Benitez’s patience with the Dutchman must be wearing thin and Babel is likely to have copped a dressing down for his recent outburst.

However, the Reds’ tough schedule of six matches in the next 17 days means he is likely to get the chance to redeem himself.

Babel has some serious thinking to do. At Liverpool he has the stage to make history and become one of the Premier League’s hottest talents.

Alternatively, he could join the long list of flops who promised a lot and delivered little, and slip back into the relative ignominy of Dutch football.

What is clear is that Babel is now drinking in the last chance saloon at Anfield.

Pellegrino Backs Insua Call-up Hopes

Mauricio Pellegrino has backed Emiliano Insua to achieve his dream of being called up by the Argentinean national team.

After breaking into the Liverpool first-team last season, the 20-year-old left-back has started all four of the Reds' matches so far this term.

Pellegrino has been delighted by the form of his compatriot - and believes there is much more to come.

"We are always thinking about whether a young player can be involved in the future because the gap between the reserves and the first-team is really thin," the Reds first-team coach told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"But it is difficult because to make this jump you require a lot of different circumstances for it to happen.

"You have to be ready and when Emiliano had the opportunity to play, his performances were really good.

"Now he is involved in more games and is playing almost every match.

"Emiliano will be a really important player in the future. He is young and can progress a lot. The best is yet to come from him, but now he is working hard and I am sure he will improve."

Asked if he felt Insua could soon make the step-up to international level for Argentina, Pellegrino replied: "Yes. Liverpool are a big club and everybody in Argentina follows the Premier League. A lot of people in Argentina are talking about Emiliano and I don't see any reason why not."

Insua's first-team berth could soon come under pressure from Fabio Aurelio, with the Brazilian defender edging ever closer to full fitness following injury.

Pellegrino admits having the services of the 29-year-old available again will be a boost to Liverpool.

He said: "It is amazing news for us because Fabio is a good professional, has a lot of quality and we need him and all of the players in the squad.

"He has suffered a lot this year and been unlucky with injuries, but he has been working until three or four o'clock in the afternoon each day because he wants to be ready.

Why Liverpool Should Be Very Worried About The Challenge Of Tottenham And Manchester City This Season

You don't win anything in September but you can lose things and that is why the pressure is on at the top already.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remains adamant that two defeats in the first four games - and that narrow squeak past Bolton - will not affect the Anfield outfit's hopes of finally ending that title drought.

But keeper Pepe Reina's admission that the Merseysiders are badly missing Xabi Alonso's midfield calmness will not ease the fears of the Liverpool fans.

The reality after those losses against Spurs and Aston Villa is that Benitez and Liverpool are under pressure for the next six weeks not to drop any more silly points or risk seeing Chelsea, United and Arsenal - and possibly City or Tottenham - pull too far clear of them for the gap to be made up.

Not what you want when you are already coping with the burden of Merseyside's desperation for that first crown since 1990.

Of course, any City fan who can remember their club's last championship will be in his or her late-40s and tomorrow is the first real test of what Mark Hughes is doing at Eastlands.

I think Hughes has bought brilliantly over the summer, especially the captures of Gareth Barry and the currently injured Roque Santa Cruz, with the really important fact being his decision to sign players with a knowledge and understanding of English football, rather than squandering his desert inheritance on a list of names to please the club's owners.

The City boss certainly sounds ready to take on Arsenal but this will be a proper gauge of the Eastlands outfit, and a Gunners side who need to bounce back after somehow conspiring to lost at Old Trafford two weeks ago.

United will be confident of ending Spurs' terrific start despite the probable return of Heurelho Gomes in goal - Harry Redknapp desperately needs the Brazilian rather than Carlo Cudicini - and good news over Sebastian Bassong.

And while Carlo Ancelotti admitted today he was entirely in the dark about the Gael Kakuta affair until it blew up in his face last week, he should cope with his trip into the unknown at Stoke, whose football is, as he conceded today, something he has never quite experienced in Serie A.

A Big Thank You From Michael Shields

I'd like to thank every reader, especially the many non-Liverpool fans, who have written to me with their support for Michael Shields during the past four years.

Hundreds of you got in touch to express your disgust at his treatment and to pass on your support to his family. I did, and they passed it on to him. And he has told me that it helped him get through the 1,562 nights he spent in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

To the other readers who told me I was chasing a lost cause and that Shields was as guilty as hell, I'm glad you've been proved wrong.

I've learned many lessons in the 12 years I've been writing this column. By far the most important is that football fans may be divided on a tribal basis, but when a clear injustice has been done to one of us, the majority rally round.

Michael Shields was a case of prejudice against an English football fan, pure and simple. I've said many times that had this been a middle-class teenager on a Gap Year who'd been fitted up abroad for a crime he didn't commit, he'd have been out within weeks of the non-evidence being put before the court.

But he was an English football fan. So he didn't matter.

I'm glad he mattered to so many of you, even though you have no time for the club he supports.

You helped him get through it. And he's asked me to thank you.

Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs. Burnley

It's been a strange old start to the season for Liverpool. They headed in with sky-high expectations after taking home the silver medal in last season's Premier League race, but the mob from Merseyside have lost two and won two in their first four games of 2009-10.

And it could have been worse - for when the half-time whistle blew in their last outing against Bolton Wanderers, it looked like the Reds would go into the international break with three defeats under their belts. However, Steven Gerrard struck late to secure what was a morale-boosting victory.

Spirits have been alarmingly low at Anfield over the early stages of the season, with questions continuing to mount as to whether Rafael Benitez's Xabi Alonso-less squad can match, let alone exceed, the standards set in the last campaign.

The manager has acknowledged the problem but believes the gritty win at the Reebok could prove a turning point for Liverpool.

"When you are not doing well you always need character - and the players showed character against Bolton," Benitez told the press on Thursday. "We controlled the game and although we conceded two goals, we scored three and came from behind to win. That is very positive and hopefully it will be a different situation for us now."

It is Burnley who visit Anfield this weekend, and recent events indicate that the promoted club could cause their out-of-sorts hosts any number of problems.

The 3-0 drubbing by in-form Chelsea last time out was something of an anomaly for the Clarets, who have sent out warning shots to their doubters with shock wins against Manchester United and Everton.

Thus, although situated three places back in 10th, Owen Coyle's men stand level on points with their upcoming opponents, whom they famously ousted from the FA Cup in 2005.

And while both Burnley's wins so far this season have come at Turf Moor, they head to Liverpool confident of competing. Veteran defender Graham Alexander said recently: "It's an amazing spirit we've got, the gaffer instils it and breeds it that we can beat anyone on our day."

Early trends suggest that away form could be the Lancashire outfit's undoing, as they have yet to pick up a point - or score a goal - on the road this term.


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Aug 29 Bolton Wanderers 2-3 Liverpool (Premier League)
Aug 24 Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Aug 19 Liverpool 4-0 Stoke City (Premier League)
Aug 16 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Aug 8 Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid (Friendly)

Burnley

Aug 29 Chelsea 3-0 Burnley (Premier League)
Aug 25 Hartlepool United 1-2 Burnley (League Cup)
Aug 23 Burnley 1-0 Everton (Premier League)
Aug 19 Burnley 1-0 Manchester United (Premier League)
Aug 15 Stoke City 0-2 Burnley (Premier League)


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Five of Benitez's first-team players featured over the international break, including England heroes Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson, but all appear to have reported back to Melwood unscathed.

In some good news, Fabio Aurelio is available for selection after recovering from a freak knee injury sustained duting the summer. Young Emiliano Insua has impressed at left-back in the Brazilian's absence.

Alberto Aquilani (ankle) and Daniel Agger (back) remain sidelined with long-term problems.

Possible Starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun; Torres.

Burnley

Manchester United product Richard Eckersley is back in the frame after completing a suspension, giving Coyle an extra option in defence.

At the other end of the pitch, David Nugent could make his league debut for the Clarets. The one-time England striker - who began his career in Liverpool's youth team - recently moved from Portsmouth on loan.

Nugent has impressed his new manager in training and is an outside chance to start ahead of Martin Paterson, who played in Northern Ireland's midweek defeat by Slovakia.

Possible Starting XI: Jensen; Mears, Bikey, Carlisle, Jordan; Elliot, Alexander, McCann, Blake; Fletcher, Paterson.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Glen Johnson (Liverpool)

The dashing wing-back has made a superb start to life at Anfield since his summer move from Portsmouth, yet his defensively suspect performances for England continue to draw criticism. Thus, he will be hoping to bounce back with another dynamic display in red.

Robbie Blake (Burnley)

In a career that has been spent largely in the lower divisions, this man has often been touted as the best player outside the Premier League. The wily 33-year-old has already shown his class this term with a magnificent strike against Man United - could he undo the other giants of the North West?

Rafa Must Avoid Burnley Banana Skin

Rafael Benitez v Owen Coyle

There's no doubt Owen Coyle has enjoyed a better start to the season than his opposite number. Burnley's opening day defeat at Stoke was quickly forgotten after a famous victory over Manchester United in their first top flight fixture at Turf Moor in 33 years. Add to that another three points when Everton visited four days later and Clarets' fans already have more memories to cherish than many promoted sides acquire in a full season. At Chelsea, Burnley were given a harsh lesson about life in the top flight, and the top four especially, but if Coyle's men can hold out until half-time at Anfield they may put a brittle Liverpool side under even more pressure.

Nothing less than three points and a clean sheet will allow Rafael Benitez to emerge from Saturday's game without any sort of stick. A limp defeat at Spurs on the opening weekend and a home reverse against Aston Villa showed what life is like when neither of his two heavyweights - Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres - can launch a sustained assault between them. A victory is a must but just as important is emerging with the fitness of his two major players intact. Benitez has left himself very little room for manoeuvre already and the season is only just into September.

Fernando Torres v Brian Jensen

Brian Jensen probably had an inkling before the big kick-off he was in line for his busiest ever season and the opening four games will have done little to convince him otherwise. Jensen will have to complement his heroics against Manchester United and Chelsea with another all-action display at Anfield. As ever with a team involving Gerrard, he will be worked from long distance while the obvious threat of Torres will be felt much closer to his net. Any side to take points from Liverpool needs their keeper to play a blinder; Burnley will hope Jensen makes it a hat-trick for the season.

Like the rest of his team-mates, Torres has endured a slovenly start to the season. Isolated from his midfield, and Gerrard in particular, at Spurs he was starved of supply against Aston Villa, despite notching his second goal of the campaign. With Gerrard restored to form, the axis Liverpool relies on so heavily should be renewed. Despite Burnley's obvious game plan to close the Spaniard down as much as possible, Torres will still be vital to the home side's threat. Chances usually fall his way and even if they don't his movement is enough to attract defenders and create space for his colleagues.

Steven Gerrard v Graham Alexander

Benitez underlined Gerrard's continued importance to the cause by singling him out for criticism after Liverpool's defeat to Aston Villa - no-one else was lucky enough to get a name check. Despite his unnecessary admonishment, an improved showing at Bolton (after Sean Davis was dismissed, of course) and two midweek goals for England show the Reds' skipper is back to his team-carrying best. Like Torres, he'll be followed as closely as an MI5 target, but will still be crucial for his set piece delivery and potency from range. Floating in between midfield and attack, Gerrard will look to exploit every inch of the field he can find.

Graham Alexander will more than likely be handed the task of shackling Gerrard, just as Davis did so successfully for two thirds of the game in Bolton. At Anfield, Alexander will occupy the hole and track Gerrard's attempts to link with Torres. Coyle will drum into his players the need for snap in their early tackles to show they aren't overawed by the occasion. A tireless afternoon awaits the 37-year-old.

Glen Johnson v Stephen Jordan

With the visitors defending in numbers to try and stifle Liverpool's creative juices, both full-backs will be instructed to push forward to offer width in the assault to unlock Burnley's back door. As such, Johnson and Emiliano Insua will doubtless spend more time in the opposition half than their own. Question marks still remain over the Johnson the defender, as Croatia's solitary goal at Wembley proved, but going forward there are few better in the Premier League. In four games for his new club Johnson has scored twice and had a hand in two more. Overlapping runners from deep will stretch Burnley's back line and Johnson will be afforded plenty of opportunity to indulge his attacking instincts.

Stephen Jordan will not only have Johnson to contend with, but Dirk Kuyt as well. The Dutchman will effectively be employed as a third striker on Saturday and the protection Jordan is offered by Chris McCann will be critical. Gerrard will drift left and right to try and open up gaps in the visiting back line and Jordan will have to operate as one with his fellow defenders to allow no chink of light through. Stopping delivery into the box from wide areas will be top of his to do list.

Liverpool Boss Rafa Benitez Set To Swoop For Free Chelsea Defender Alex

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is ready make a shock move for Chelsea defender Alex as he bids to boost his defensive options at Anfield.

The Brazil international is out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer and, as a free agent, is attracting a number of high-profile clubs.

Sportsmail understands that the 27-year-old wants a longer deal than the two-year extension offered by Chelsea.

Leaving on a free could be lucrative, with suitors ready to increase his £30,000-a-week deal.

His place in the Chelsea team is also by no means assured, with Carlo Ancelotti getting success with a partnership of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho at the heart of his defence, while Branislav Ivanovic has also been given opportunities.

Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Juventus, Lyon and Real Madrid are among other clubs linked with the former PSV Eindhoven player, who is currently out with a groin injury.

Rafa Benitez Wants England Lions To Roar For Liverpool FC

International breaks are a source of great frustration at Melwood.

Just when you are building up a head of steam your top stars depart and jet off around the world.

Even if they come back fit, fatigue is a major concern and there is little time to prepare for your next assignment.

For the past 10 days Rafa Benitez has been left with less than a dozen senior players to work with.

Practice matches against the under-18s and the reserves have helped to kill time before he finally welcomed back most of his squad yesterday. Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva will complete the line-up today.

It’s hardly ideal but Benitez admits Liverpool could actually benefit from the events of midweek.

Reds skipper Steven Gerrard and full-back Glen Johnson were instrumental in England’s 5-1 thrashing of Croatia.

Gerrard’s two-goal burst in a left wing role provided further evidence he’s getting back to his best, while Johnson answered his critics with an excellent display down the right.

Both returned to Melwood buoyant having secured World Cup qualification and Benitez is hoping they will carry on against Burnley where they left off at Wembley.

“They will be on a high and doing well for England is really good for their confidence,” he said. “Now they don’t need to be worried about qualifying and when internationals do come along now they can just go and enjoy it.

“I have been talking about Steven's best position for years, but he is a very good player who can play in any position in midfield or further forward.

“He is doing well for England on the left and if he plays in the middle or as a second striker he will be good too. In playing him on the left, I think Steven knows he has freedom and can go inside.

“Glen has been really good for us since the first day he was here. We knew we had signed a player with a very good offensive mentality and a decent defender who is improving.

“I was surprised to see some criticism the other day. He can improve and he knows this. Glen is a young player who is still learning every day.

“I think he has done really well for England and I know Capello has been supporting him. When I’ve seen him play for England or for us he has been a real threat to teams. His understanding of the game is good.”

Benitez admits his side haven’t been at their best during the opening month of the campaign.

But he is confident they will build on their dramatic 3-2 win at Bolton a fortnight ago.

“The team has not played at the level we can, but hopefully the win against Bolton will be a lift for us,” he said. “It’s always difficult to beat them and that win was good for the confidence of the team.

“We showed the character you need in those kind of games and hopefully for the rest of the season we can do the same.

“Our pre-season wasn’t the best with a lot of players returning at different times.

“We tried to manage the situation and then we had another international break, so we didn’t have too much time.

“Sometimes you can see players need to improve physically or in terms of match fitness. It’s just a question of time.”

Benitez is banking on a flying start to help ensure the Reds defeat a newly-promoted Burnley side who have already beaten Manchester United and Everton.

He said: “In these games you have to do really well from the beginning. If you make mistakes everybody will be more worried about the situation and the players will play with more pressure.

“Normally when you are playing with more pressure you make more mistakes so it’s important we do things right from the start.”

Mascherano Blow Rocks Reds

Javier Mascherano is a major doubt for Liverpool's Premier League clash with Burnley at Anfield today.

The 25-year-old midfielder picked up a knock in Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Paraguay on Wednesday night.

Mascherano is having treatment but after playing two full 90 minutes for his country over the past week he is unlikely to be risked against the Clarets.

However, Lucas Leiva is expected to play after making the 6,000 mile trip home from South America.

Lucas was due back at Melwood today and having not featured in either of Brazil's World Cup qualifiers he is set to face Owen Coyle's side.

If Mascherano misses out, skipper Steven Gerrard is expected to drop into a central midfield role alongside Lucas.

Aquilani Continues Progress

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is optimistic that summer signing Alberto Aquilani could return to training in 'two or three weeks'.

It was revealed when the ex-Roma star joined the Reds at the start of August that he was possibly eight weeks away from fitness following an ankle operation.

But Benitez hinted at the beginning of September that Aquilani was ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation after resuming work in the gym and swimming pool.

The Liverpool boss is now hopeful that the Italy international, a £20million replacement for Xabi Alonso, will soon join his new team-mates in training.

Benitez said: "Aquilani has improved, he has progressed in the way that we expected and now maybe in two or three weeks we will see him training.

"Then we will see how he progresses, but the last scan he had was very good."

Benitez Set For Babel Talks

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is to hold talks with Ryan Babel, but maintains that he will not allow the winger to leave on loan.

Babel is disappointed at a lack of first-team opportunities this season and has claimed summer guarantees from his club boss have not been kept.

A loan return to Ajax was hinted as a possibility, and it remains an option for the future, as the Holland ace wants to reinforce his place for the 2010 World Cup.

But Benitez, who has previously challenged Babel to battle for a role, will not allow a player he signed for £11.5million in 2007 leave on a temporary basis.

He said: "I will talk to Ryan. But I do not want him going on loan, he needs to work and fight for his place here."

April & May Is When You Fight - Liverpool Boss Rafael Benitez

Liverpool have endured a sluggish start to the season, spurring widespread speculation that the Reds are already out of the title running.

A dramatic late 3-2 win against Bolton Wanderers, thanks to another timely Steven Gerrard thunderbolt, is just the momentum-changer that manager Rafael Benitez believes his club needed.

"The team as a team has not played at the level we can, but hopefully the win against Bolton will be a lift for us," the boss said in his weekly press conference at Melwood.

"When you are not doing well you always need character - and the players showed character against Bolton.

"We controlled the game and although we conceded two goals, we scored three and came from behind to win. That is very positive and hopefully it will be a different situation for us now."

Asked what he felt the reason was behind Liverpool's mixed start to the campaign, Benitez replied: "Two things. One was expectation - when we finished last season with 86 points, I think everybody was expecting this year to be ours.

"But the message is always the same - we have to think about one game at a time, try to get three points and then see what our position is each week.

"You cannot win titles in September, so you have to go to January and see where you are, and then April and May is when you will fight.

"The other thing was that pre-season was difficult with a lot of players returning at different times.

"We tried to manage the situation and then we had another international break, so we didn't have too much time. Then we started against Tottenham, who are doing well, so it was difficult."

Tipped by many to win the Premier League, the faltering Reds have fallen victim to what Benitez sees as a much more competitive league this season.

"The teams at the top fighting can beat anyone, so I think you will see some top teams lose games," he said.

Gillett: Liverpool In "Outstanding" Financial Shape

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has claimed that the Premier League club has "never been stronger" from an economic perspective, while underlining that he has a long-term view of his association with the Reds.

Questions were raised regarding Liverpool's financial muscle during the summer transfer window but Gillett, who purchased the club along with Tom Hicks, is adamant that the economic situation at Liverpool is very much robust.

Having purchased the club for £435m in 2007, with money borrowed from both Wachovia and the Royal Bank of Scotland, he and co-owner Hicks were forced to refinance their debts in July. Doing so, says Gillett, has put the club on solid financial ground.

"The club is in outstanding shape," he told The Fan 590 - a Toronto radio station. "Economically, it's never been stronger. We just paid down our debt very substantially. We have less debt per dollar than any club in the league."

To make the payments, Gillett sold his interest in the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club, valued at £200m ($334m) by Forbes magazine. Worth an estimated £660m ($1.1bn) in November 2007, a full year before the economic downturn, he was forced to sell one of his sports properties to fulfill what he termed "family commitments". The Canadiens, he admitted, were simply more sellable than Liverpool.

As for the tenure of his Liverpool ownership, Gillett stated that an assumption that he was in it for the long haul was "probably the correct conclusion". But, he added, "If someone gets beamed in who's got bags of money, things may change."

Gillett also confirmed that Liverpool will unveil a new shirt sponsor on September 18, stating: "I think people will be pleased and surprised. It will be one of the great, worldwide corporations. And I think it will be a sponsor people will be pleased and surprised to be [associated with] Liverpool."

Addressing the club's demand for tickets - which he estimated at 75,000 - he said both he and Hicks would revisit their plans for a new stadium "as the world economy gets better - if and when it gets better."

"We were going to build an iconic stadium previously," he said. "The world economy has certainly suggested that it would be a good suggestion. But in the normal world, building a stadium in the 65,000 to 75,000 seat range - we would look forward to that."