Kenwright Open To Ground Share With Liverpool

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright says he would consider a possible ground share opportunity with Liverpool after Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish claimed the two clubs should ''look at every possibility''.

English football has so far shied away from ground sharing between the biggest Premier League clubs and Liverpool have always been opposed to the possibility of ground sharing with their Merseyside rivals. But with both now desperate to build new stadia, sharing a newly constructed Stanley Park could be a solution that would suit both parties.

Dalglish opened the door to the idea this week with comments in his Mail on Sunday column and Kenwright responded in a positive way when asked about the proposals.

"In the past Liverpool have always been opposed so I am intrigued about what Kenny Dalglish has had to say about ground sharing,'' Kenwright told ESPNsoccernet. "It is more than likely we would sit down and have a descent discussion about ground sharing in Stanley Park with Liverpool."

Dalglish had claimed that a ground share would not be the ''ideal'' situation for either club, but maintained that in the current financial climate, it would be something that would be ''worth looking at''.

"It's probably true that more people are becoming sympathetic to a ground-share with Everton if a third party came forward able to build it, with the two clubs renting,'' he wrote in the Mail on Sunday. ''Again, it is not the ideal situation: that would be to keep the two clubs in two separate stadiums with vibrant atmospheres of their own.

"But this is not an ideal time for either club and I'm sure they would sit down and have a conversation with each other about it if there was a feeling it would be beneficial. It's not anyone's personal views that is important - it is about what is best thing for the club.

''I don't know if it will ever happen but maybe you need a few people to sit down and say that, although it's not what they want in a perfect world, it's worth looking at.

''Whoever is in a position of responsibility at Liverpool and Everton are only custodians for the next generation of supporter. They owe it to the fans to look at every possibility to help their respective clubs."

Restaurant To Open At Anfield

While football fans around the country have to be content with Bovril and a pie, Kopites will soon be enjoying a whole new culinary experience when the club opens a family-friendly restaurant at Anfield.

The Boot Room Sports Cafe will serve top quality steaks, salads, pasta, pizza and much more at competitive prices from 11am until 11pm seven days a week.

Diners will also be able to enjoy hot and cold drinks, cocktails and big-screen TVs when the restaurant opens for business above the club shop on October 14.

Head chef Chris McDowell has been signed from Gusto on the Albert Dock - but kids are allowed to snub our talented cook and prepare their own pizza!

There will be lots more to keep children entertained, including the chance to visit a state-of-the-art ice-cream machine.

Vegetarians are also well catered for - and we're happy to accommodate all other dietary needs as well as parties.

To make things even easier, the club is providing secure parking outside the Centenary Stand.

Christian Grall, Executive Head Chef at LFC, said: "The Boot Room restaurant will provide the local community and visitors to the stadium with a unique, fun and family-orientated experience.

"The food and service will be of the highest standards with some unique twists that will hopefully add a little theatre to guests' dining experience."

Christian has worked at the club for 10 years and has always been keen to open a restaurant within the stadium.

He added: "There has long been a demand from fans for us to provide a restaurant facility open outside of match days at the ground and along with my newly recruited team I am very excited about the upcoming opening."

The Boot Room Sports Cafe can meet the demand for up to 230 diners, so booking isn't essential.

However, we highly recommend you do so during our opening week due to the anticipated interest.

Online booking will soon be up and running but in the meantime call 0151 906 1892 to secure a table.

Credit Where It's Due As Liverpool Fans Save For A Stake In Anfield

The Liverpool fans' group Spirit of Shankly-ShareLiverpoolFC has taken its first step towards setting up a financial foundation for supporter-led investment in the club.

The society has teamed up with the Merseyside-based Partners Credit Union to provide a safe house for supporters to save towards the goal of taking up a stake in Liverpool. The Liverpool Supporters' Credit Union scheme was launched on Saturday with the aim of making investing in Liverpool more affordable.

Fans will now be able to save towards having a stake in their club, something that the current sums involved put out of the reach of all but investment institutions and the super‑rich. "If you have 100,000 people all contributing £500, you can have £50m," said Partners Credit Union's chief executive, Tracy Fletcher. "Some credit unions have 15,000 to 20,000 members, this could be much bigger."

One obstacle to the success of the union is that regulations restrict membership to people living and working on Merseyside.

However, the credit union movement hopes that legislation which may come into effect next year will permit wider membership – a development that would open the door to the Spirit of Shankly group's tens of thousands of members worldwide.

Kuyt: Torres Is Focused On Winning With Liverpool

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has dismissed speculation about Fernando Torres' state of mind and insisted the striker has an important role to play even if he is not scoring.

Torres has provided the assists for the Reds' last four goals; winning the penalty and free-kick against Manchester United which allowed Steven Gerrard to hit a double and then setting up Kuyt and the captain again in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Sunderland.

However, he has scored only once for Liverpool so far this season - the winner against West Brom - and has started to show signs of frustration on the pitch. Reports regularly claim the Spain international is unhappy and is considering leaving Anfield, as happened in the summer, but Kuyt said Torres' quality would see him through.

"Everyone is expecting goals from Fernando but he offers a lot more. Against Sunderland he was responsible for setting up the two goals,'' said the Holland international, who returned to action against the Black Cats earlier than expected after a shoulder injury earlier this month.

"He is very important for the team even if he is not scoring goals. I'm sure his goals will come. His mood has never changed. If you are a striker, and the type of striker Fernando is, you want to be involved in goals. But everyone could see how happy he was to have set up two goals.

"When you are one of the world's best strikers everyone is watching you so if they get a moment to blame him they will. And if you are not winning games he is not happy, I am not happy and the team is not happy. But we all know next week he could score a hat-trick and then everything changes.''

Kuyt, who is hoping to be picked to face his former club in Europe on Thursday, admits Liverpool have yet to get into gear after their worst start to a top-flight season for 18 years, with just six points from as many games.

"We are not at our level yet because if we were in our best shape we would win these games,'' he said. "Every day everyone is working very hard to get there, unfortunately against Sunderland it didn't happen but we can't wait for the next opportunity to change it.

"We as players want to win every game and challenge for trophies but the situation at the club we have to be patient. If you are at Liverpool expectations are always high and you are expected to win every game. If you lose or draw people are not happy and we are not happy and that is what we are at the moment.

"Things will come because we know we have quality and it just takes time. We all want to win and challenge for things and I am sure it will happen if we keep working. But we have to make sure we get some points in (against Blackpool) before we go away for the international break.''

Liverpool Interested In £8m Rated Newcastle United Attacker

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is considering a January move for Newcastle United winger Wayne Routledge and hopes that he is given sufficient funds by the club’s board to make an offer that might tempt the St James’ Park side into accepting.

The former Tottenham and Crystal Palace wide man was instrumental in helping Chris Hughton’s side to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt as his incisive running helped the Toon Army to the Championship title and the 25 year old has continued to impress this term.

Hodgson is known to be looking for some natural width to help balance his side and provide ammunition for his strikers and he hopes he can persuade the London born former England Under 21 international into making a move to the Merseyside club.

The pint sized speed merchant arrived at Newcastle United in January and is valued at around £8m but could prove tricky to land given that he is just over six months into a three and a half year contract.

Referees' Body Backs Stuart Attwell Over Liverpool FC Goal Against Sunderland

Refereeing chiefs said Stuart Attwell was right to award Liverpool FC their controversial opening goal in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Sunderland.

The Professional Game Match Officials body, which provides match officials for all matches in the Premier League and Football League, issued a statement after Attwell faced criticism.

Attwell allowed Dirk Kuyt’s opening strike to count after ruling Michael Turner had taken a free-kick when he appeared to roll it back to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Fernando Torres nipped in, raced through on goal and played in Kuyt to score.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said at his press conference: "I’ve been in enough trouble so I don’t want to talk about it but you all witnessed it and he got it wrong."

However PGMO released a statement clarifying their view of the goal.

The statement read: "PGMO has reviewed the first goal scored between Liverpool and Sunderland and believe that the correct decisions were made.

"According to the Laws of the Game, having stopped the game for any infringement the referee is required to ’indicate the restart of the match’.

"In practice, in the majority of cases, referees indicate for the re-start by gesturing to players to take the kick. These gestures can be minimal. For the more important ’ceremonial’ free-kicks, which also involve control of the defensive wall, referees can indicate by using the whistle. However, there is no requirement by Law to use the whistle to make the indication.

"The ball is then in play when it is kicked and moves. So, in this case, the ball was in play as soon as it is kicked by a Sunderland player.

"Also, the Laws state that the free-kick must be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. Again, in this case, the referee correctly determined that the free-kick was played from the right place."

Pique Urges Torres To Leave

Gerard Pique claims Fernando Torres will be embarrassed having to play in the Europa League for Liverpool and has urged him to leave the club.

The Barcelona defender, who won the World Cup with the Reds striker, believes he needs to be winning trophies rather than settling for second best.

The former Manchester United player says the 26-year-old will have to leave the Anfield giants and seek success elsewhere.

Pique told the Daily Star Sunday: "There is no way this can go on for Nando. It's just impossible.

"I spoke with him before he committed to Liverpool and he told me he wanted to win things with Liverpool - but if the club didn't invest and show real intent, he would be forced to leave.

"It's really embarrassing for Nando to play in a team of that quality.

"You would not see Messi or Rooney playing in the Europa League - so there is no reason why Nando should be playing there.

"Along with David Villa, he is the best striker in the world.

"He needs to be winning things domestically like he does with Spain."

Pique completed a domestic treble with Barcelona last year and was a World Cup winner with Spain in South Africa this summer.

The defender claims Liverpool are not capable of winning trophies at the current time and has urged the striker to come and join him at Barcelona next season.

"Liverpool has shown already this season they are not capable of winning things - and that's it for him now," said Pique.

"Liverpool are really testing Nando's loyalty.

"For the last two seasons they have promised him they will challenge.

"They haven't delivered on it at all. The ownership of the club looks completely unstable.

"It doesn't look like the manager or the players have any faith in the club.

"There can be no questions when Nando leaves in the summer.

"Players of less quality would have left last summer.

"But he is a decent guy and believed it when they told him they would invest.

"I am not just saying this because I want him to join Barcelona.

"The truth is I don't know if he will.

"It might be Chelsea, it might be Real Madrid, it might be Barcelona.

"But I know he wants to join a club where he can win league titles and European Cups. I would love us to sign Nando in the summer."

Roy Hodgson Backs Fans’ Right To Protest Following Sunderland Draw

In Anfield’s stands, Liverpool’s fans shouted their defiance. Some 9,000 of them, according to Merseyside Police, remained in their seats long after referee Stuart Attwell had called time on another dispiriting afternoon to voice their displeasure at the continued ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

In his booth, George Sefton, the iconic voice of the club, seemed to offer tacit approval of the sit-in protest organised by Spirit of Shankly, the supporters’ union, instructing the demonstrators that stewards would be on hand to ensure order was maintained.

In the bowels of the stadium, the club’s manager, Roy Hodgson, sympathised with their cause. “You cannot criticise the fans for showing their displeasure about the ownership problem because, like ourselves, they want to see the club moving forward and not sort of stuck with owners who are trying to sell the club,” he said.

His thoughts were echoed by Steve Bruce, his Sunderland counterpart. “In my experience, it has always been the case that if it is unstable above you, with those who employ you, then it filters down,” he said, after watching his side earn a well-deserved point. “It is unbelievable, because this club has never had that sort of thing. It has been run properly. It is going to be a difficult time until it gets resolved.”

However, the most eloquent of the protests about the Hicks and Gillett regime, the clearest signal to the Royal Bank of Scotland why it should not countenance refinancing the £282 million debt laden on the club by its absentee landlords, came on the pitch. It was there in the listless display of Hodgson’s first-choice XI, even after Michael Turner — and, according to Bruce, Attwell — gifted Dirk Kuyt an opening goal mired in controversy, the defender insisting he had not taken the soft free-kick which released Fernando Torres to tee up the Dutchman.

All of Liverpool’s players are technically adept internationals with vast experience. Yet they seem uninspired, uncertain in their approach: Bruce’s observation that doubt at the top permeates right to the bottom writ large.

It came in the evident frustration of Torres and Steven Gerrard, whose delight at scoring an equaliser to cancel out Darren Bent’s two goals for Sunderland was almost equal to the fervour with which he celebrated his goal against Olympiakos in a Champions League group game in 2004 that put Liverpool on the road to winning the trophy.

And it also came in seeing Hodgson – a manager who won this job on his ability to work on limited resources, to get the best out of limited players, to find a way of helping underdogs bite the big beasts – continue to struggle to construct a team and to identify a tactic that will enable Liverpool to overpower their guests. Caught between evolution and revolution, he seems uncomfortable in his task. That mixed message manifests itself in Liverpool’s play.

Those fans pleading with the Americans to leave could not have hoped for a clearer illustration of the damage Hicks and Gillett, with their empty vows and wallets, have done. This ground holds no fears for visitors any more. This is not Anfield. Not as it was.

Roy Hopeful On Konchesky

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson expects left-back Paul Konchesky to miss the club's fixtures this week due to a hamstring strain.

The former Fulham defender sustained the blow making an innocuous sliding challenge in Saturday's controversial 2-2 draw with Sunderland.

Hodgson is unsure as to the severity of the injury, although he does not think the 29-year-old stopper will require a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

However, Hodgson does believe he will miss Thursday's Europa League clash at Utrecht and their weekend Premier League fixture with newly-promoted Blackpool.

"He's got a hamstring strain," Hodgson told the club's official website.

"I couldn't tell you exactly how bad it is yet.

"I don't think it's extremely bad but I certainly think it would rule him out for Thursday and next Sunday.

"Hopefully it won't be much more problematic."

Hodgson Shows Signs Of Mounting Stress At Struggling Liverpool

One virtue that helped Roy Hodgson to become Liverpool's manager was a level of common sense which appeared to have eluded his two predecessors. Where Gérard Houllier seemed to exude paranoia towards the end of his reign, using the amount of corners his side had earned in games as a gauge of their success, and Rafael Benítez obsessed over feuds with the Anfield hierarchy, Hodgson was seen to be a wise figure who would spread calm through a club in distress.

In that regard, his demeanour after this match was concerning. Hodgson was prickly in response to the questions put to him and in one instance spoke in a manner that was almost alarmingly confusing.

"I'm sorry but I cannot see the drama you want to make of that," he replied, when asked if this draw had been particularly disappointing given Liverpool's desire for a morale-boosting win following their defeat by Northampton Town in the Carling Cup. "This group of players were not involved in the Carling Cup, I've explained that a dozen times, I don't know how many times I've got to go back to the Carling Cup." But then he added this: "But you're right, it was a disappointing night [against Northampton] and that disappointment could have carried over today."

To suggest Hodgson is exhausted after a spell in charge of Liverpool that has seen them win one of seven domestic games, lose to a side who are 13th in League Two and continue to endure a draining saga over the ownership of the club is perhaps extreme, but as autumn takes its grip the beaming 62-year-old who walked into Anfield on a sun-drenched July day and spoke of his "honour" in taking over at the club seems to have vanished.

Maybe that was no surprise after a match in which he had seen his team start brightly but then lose rhythm and cohesion against opponents who would have won through goals from Darren Bent either side of half-time had it not been for an equalising header from Steven Gerrard on 64 minutes.

Hodgson claimed that the chances Liverpool created after that, most notably from Daniel Agger, meant they were "worth a point", but he was in a minority and more agreement could be found in his assessment that Liverpool remain well short of challenging for a top-four place.

"At the moment our major problem is dealing with expectations," he said. "There are a lot of new players [and] uncertainty over the ownership of the club and the minute you are not top of the table people are saying this is not good enough. That anxiety will play upon us but we cannot do more than we are doing."

A call for patience was also expressed by the forward Dirk Kuyt – "It's only a matter of time before we are playing at our level" – and with Fernando Torres gaining more match sharpness (if not more goals), Joe Cole able to bed into the team and Gerrard playing close to his best, Liverpool should improve. It is even possible that the boardroom dramas, which on Saturday prompted a sit-in protest by supporters, could be drawing to an end. The deadline for the American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to refinance their loans to the banks is approaching.

But even at this early stage, Liverpool need to find some momentum. This is now their worst start to a season since 1953-54 and Sunderland will feel that their plight should be worse, given their display and the manner in which they fell behind.

"A joke" is how Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, described Kuyt's fifth-minute opener, which came after Torres intercepted a backpass from Michael Turner to his goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet, which the referee, Stuart Attwell, deemed to be the free-kick that he had just awarded the visitors.

Sunderland broke out in a rage, claiming Turner was simply moving the ball into position so Mignolet could take the set piece himself. Attwell consulted with his assistant but still gave the goal.

"I watched the incident and it's crazy, the referee had his back to the play," said Bruce of the official. Attwell was defended by the Premier League but he already had a reputation soured by his awarding of an infamous Reading "ghost goal" against Watford in 2008.

Hodgson had his own grumblings against the 27-year-old but for him it was a day to be thankful for small mercies.

Fans Worried As Website Calls For 'Hooliganism'

Irish supporters of Liverpool are concerned over article seeking to 'put the frighteners on' owners.

Irish supporters of Liverpool Football Club (LFC) have reacted with concern to an article on a well-known UK fan website urging them to "get the baseball bats and ski masks ready" to "put the frightners [sic] on" the club's beleaguered American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The article, posted on the popular Koptalk website by its editor, Duncan Oldham, is accompanied by a picture of a man in a black balaclava and holding what appears to be a crowbar.

A spokesman for Merseyside police has confirmed it is examining the content of the article to establish if it involves any public order offences.

The up-for-sale club is currently at the centre of a longstanding takeover battle which has led to numerous peaceful protests staged by fans encouraging Hicks and Gillett to sell their shares.

But supporters' groups here said they in "no way condone" the calls in the article for "every passionate Red out there who has a 'set' and who is capable of donning a ski mask and waving a baseball bat in a menacing manner, to step up to put the frighteners on these two and everyone they associate with including any companies that support them".

"Disruption, especially to financial institutions, is what they are scared of. And on a personal level, there's nobody in the world who's [sic] arse wouldn't collapse if someone peered over their bed in the middle of the night armed with a Texas Rangers baseball bat or two," it states. "I won't sign petitions, I won't send emails to journalists who don't care, but I will get stuck in via other methods best not written about. I don't care if I get into trouble with my words… I mean it. I mean every single word."

Oldham also stressed that while he does not believe in "anyone getting physically hurt", he acknowledged that this was "tempting" but not acceptable.

"They can cling on for as long as they want but something will give and that's why I'm fairly relaxed and confident that I won't have to do three months inside for threatening behaviour," he wrote. "Seriously, it's time to scare the shit out of them… People have died for our club. People have had their ashes scattered at Anfield."

Sarah Higgins, committee member of Tallaght LFC supporters' club, said many Irish fans of the Premier league club have taken part in peaceful demonstrations against its owners. She noted that Koptalk is an influential LFC site among supporters. "No one can condone violence of this sort at all," she told the Sunday Tribune. "I don't think it's the right message to put out at all. An awful lot of people would not get behind us if we did what is being suggested."

John Curtin, secretary of Cork-based Buttevant international LFC supporters' club agreed. "I wouldn't condone it in any way. It is bringing a violent hooliganism aspect back into something that the English FA has been working to eradicate," he said. "I can't see how any Liverpool fan would like to see that carry-on."

Match Report: Liverpool 2 - 2 Sunderland

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard once again came to his side's rescue but it was referee Stuart Attwell at the centre of attention with an erratic display in Sunderland's 2-2 draw at Anfield.

The official, who awarded the infamous "ghost goal" in the Championship two years ago, allowed Dirk Kuyt's opening strike to count after ruling Michael Turner had taken a free-kick when he appeared to roll it back to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Darren Bent hit back with a penalty and a header either side of half-time before Gerrard nodded in Fernando Torres' near-post cross to salvage a point.

Reds manager Roy Hodgson had stressed his side should not be judged by the second-string's Carling Cup defeat to League Two Northampton in midweek but his first XI were almost as bad.

They were gifted one goal but managed to create little themselves and were again indebted to their inspirational captain for only briefly dragging them out of mediocrity.

Torres also played his part early on but cut an increasingly frustrated figure as Liverpool seemed to go backwards.

Only two minutes in he had the ball in the net after controlling Gerrard's free-kick on his chest and volleying in only to be denied by a very marginal offside decision.

His next intervention three minutes later had far more impact, although he was given a huge helping hand by Attwell.

When Sunderland were awarded a free-kick 10 yards inside their half Turner tapped the ball back towards Simon Mignolet, presumably intending for the goalkeeper to take it.

Torres turned to look at Attwell, who was in charge when Reading 'scored' at Watford on September 20 2008 despite the ball going yards wide of the post, who immediately waved play on.

Mignolet stood on the edge of his penalty area raising one arm aloft in the vain hope Torres would take pity but the 26-year-old was not in a sympathetic mood and rolled a pass for Kuyt, back in the side after a quicker-than-expected recovery from a shoulder injury, to slide a shot into the net.

Turner's challenge on the Spaniard in the 17th minute could have resulted in a penalty but, considering his earlier decision, the 27-year-old Attwell ignored appeals.

Everything seemed to be going in Liverpool's favour but, as been the case on several occasions already this season, they conspired to shoot themselves in the foot.

Gerrard's weak header back towards his own goal would have put Bent in had Jose Reina not dived feet-first to clear the danger.

If it was a warning to tighten up the Reds did not heed it as Attwell was called into action again in the 25th minute, although this time his decision was a little more straightforward as Ahmed Elmohamady's cross hit Christian Poulsen's arm.

Bent's penalty went under the Reina's body.

Things went from bad to worse as Paul Konchesky had to be replaced by makeshift left-back Daniel Agger before half-time and then Sunderland went ahead just after the interval.

Nedum Onuoha's right-wing cross was a good one but Glen Johnson was caught ball-watching the wrong side of Bent as the striker nipped in at the far post to head his side in front.

Even the usually reliable Reina was rattled, scuffing one clearance straight at Jordan Henderson who almost punished the error with a long-range shot.

Torres' temper was bubbling over and after diving in at Onuoha he was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after visibly showing dissent to Attwell.

Hodgson made a positive substitution by replacing defensive midfielder Poulsen with striker David Ngog, bringing Meireles inside and moving Kuyt out to the right.

But with the game seemingly drifting away from them, Liverpool's two star players dragged them back into the contest midway through the half.

Torres beat Bardsley close to the right touchline and swung over an inviting cross which Gerrard headed in at the near post.

The England midfielder was booked for catching Danny Welbeck in the face with his arm as they challenged for the ball as the atmosphere began to heat up.

Liverpool, at least, were now showing some desire and Ngog forced a low save out of Mignolet, Kuyt fired just wide, Turner cleared off the line from Ngog and Agger headed wide.

But the result did little to lift the growing feeling of discontent in and around the club and sit-in protest against unpopular American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett at the final whistle only highlighted problems yet to be overcome.

Konchesky Injury Latest

Paul Konchesky is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring strain in our 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday.

The left-back had to leave the field early in the first half against Steve Bruce's men - and Roy Hodgson now expects to be without him for the next two games at least.

The manager said: "He's got a hamstring strain. I couldn't tell you exactly how bad it is yet. I don't think it's extremely bad but I certainly think it would rule him out for Thursday and next Sunday.

"Hopefully it won't be much more problematic."

Gerrard To Retain England Captaincy

Steven Gerrard is set to claim the England captaincy from Rio Ferdinand on a permanent basis.

Ferdinand was forced to withdraw from England’s World Cup campaign in South Africa because of an ankle injury.

And that paved the way for Liverpool skipper Gerrard to lead his country.

Initially, England boss Fabio Capello insisted that Ferdinand would be restored to the role once he regained his fitness. But Ferdinand, who has been troubled by injuries and illness this season, is only just returning to club action with Manchester United.

In fact, Ferdinand has already lost the United captain’s armband to Nemanja Vidic.

And Gerrard has produced a couple of ­inspirational performances for England this season in back-to-back European Championship qualifying victories over Bulgaria and then Switzerland.

That has led Capello to confide in close friends that he will find it extremely difficult to justify relieving Gerrard of his duties, despite the potential return of Ferdinand for the game against Montenegro on Tuesday October 12.

Ferdinand’s confidence of being automatically restored to the role has not impressed Capello either, who believed players have to earn the right to wear the armband.

Ferdinand’s injury-ravaged days appeared to play a part in Ferguson’s decision to opt for Vidic as United skipper.

Ferguson said: “What we wanted was someone who was consistently available for us.

“Everyone recognizes Nemanja would always be there.

“He has been fit all season and you don’t leave him out of the team unless you are going to rest him.”

Hodgson Calls For End To Liverpool's "Ownership Problem"

Roy Hodgson called for an end to Liverpool's "ownership problem" on Saturday after his misfiring side was held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland at Anfield.

Gloom has enveloped Liverpool after an embarrassing League Cup defeat by League Two (fourth division) Northampton Town on Wednesday and last weekend's defeat by Manchester United. Saturday's result left the 18-times league champions languishing in 15th place.

Some 10,000 fans stayed behind at Anfield to protest against American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, and manager Hodgson said he sympathized with the supporters.

"I don't think anybody at the club wants anything but a solution to the ownership problem," Hodgson, whose side have managed just one win in six Premier League matches, said on the club's website (www.liverpoolfc.tv/).

"The fans here are very passionate and care an awful lot about this football club.

"You cannot criticize them for showing their displeasure about the situation, because like ourselves they want to see the club moving forward and not sort of stuck with owners who are trying to sell the club."

Gillett and Hicks put the debt-laden club up for sale in April but a prospective takeover by Chinese businessman Kenny Huang failed to materialize last month.

With uncertainty hanging over the club off the pitch and a playing squad that looks ill-equipped to break back into the top four of the Premier League, Hodgson faces a tough task and he called for patience on Saturday.

"It's quite simply the 'Rome wasn't built in a day' adage," Hodgson said after another scrappy performance. "There are lots of things I see in the game that I think we need to work on.

"We need to work more together; we have a lot of new players coming into team. We haven't had that much time with matches in the Europa League and the league.

"But I think that the more we work and the more the team plays together, the better we will become.

"These are games we all need to win, but the league is very, very tight. If we had won today we could have found ourselves in fourth or fifth place. I don't think we are playing like a team in fourth or fifth just yet, but that's how close the league is. There's not a lot between teams and it should be seen as how hard the Premier League is."

Liverpool Face Up To The Threat Of Administration As Crisis Deepens At Anfield

The sense of looming crisis threatening to engulf Liverpool deepened on Saturday as Roy Hodgson’s side stuttered to a 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Anfield and it emerged the Royal Bank of Scotland has not ruled out the possibility of Kop Holdings, the company which owns Liverpool, going into administration.

RBS holds the majority of the £282 million debt laden on to Liverpool by the club‘s current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and is due to call the loans in on October 15.

The bank, which is 84% government owned, introduced Martin Broughton as the club’s chairman and appointed Barclays Capital, the investment arm of the high street bank, to identify replacements for the Americans as owners in April.

That search has proved fruitless and, though managing director Christian Purslow suggested this week “a small number” of groups were conducting due diligence on the club’s accounts, it is believed no live bids are currently on the table.

Meanwhile, Hicks has explored a number of avenues that would allow him to refinance that debt but is yet to secure the necessary funding. He informed the club’s board last week that he was negotiating a deal with GSO Capital, an arm of the hedge fund Blackstone, but sources at the company have since insisted they are not intending to take the matter further.

That leaves RBS facing a choice as the deadline approaches between calling the loans in or offering Hicks and Gillett a short-term refinancing in order to continue the search for a buyer.

Should the bank opt for the former, it would put Kop Holdings at risk of going into administration, though Liverpool as a club is solvent. Though that would not automatically result in a nine-point penalty, as suffered by Portsmouth last season, Liverpool is the company’s only asset and, as such, the Premier League would be likely to examine the matter.

Such a prospect, even if it entailed a penalty which would all but end Liverpool’s season, though, is not as unappealing to the club‘s supporters as may have been assumed.

A poll conducted by Vizu for the supporters’ website anfieldroad.com revealed that 97.6 per cent of Liverpool’s fans believe administration is a better option for the future of the club than seeing Hicks and Gillett allowed to remain in control beyond October.

“We had the same two choices on the poll as the RBS decision makers will have next month,” said Jim Boardman of anfieldroad.com.

“Fans have chosen the uncertainty of a bank takeover and the real threat of administration over the depressing certainty of what would come from more time with Hicks and Gillett at the helm. The message to RBS in particular is clear: Do not refinance that debt.”

Thousands of supporters remained behind at Anfield after watching Steven Gerrard rescue a point for Hodgson’s side to voice their discontent at the Americans’ regime.

Further direct action has been planned by the supporters’ union Spirit of Shankly, including a march before next Sunday’s visit of Blackpool, to increase pressure on the owners and RBS.

Liverpool Campaign Out To Sabotage Hicks

Angry Liverpool fans have mounted a concerted campaign to sabotage co-owner Tom Hicks’ attempts to stay in control at Anfield.

Hicks has spent the last week in his native USA desperately trying to persuade major financial institutions like Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan to repay the £280million owed to the Royal Bank of Scotland by their October 15 deadline.

But Liverpool fans have flooded US media outlets and financial centres with e-mails outlining their disgust at Hicks’ attempts to cling on to power.

The fans have warned potential investors that their wrath will come down on those who are sympathetic to the hated Hicks. The American is prepared to buy out Liverpool partner George Gillett and hang on to the club in the hope he can sell for a huge profit. Unless he can raise the necessary cash to pay off the RBS then the club could fall into the hands of the bank.

The RBS would then have to swiftly find new owners - but at a knockdown price of £300m.

That is why all interested parties are holding off in the knowledge they could get it on the cheap.

Liverpool Sinking Towards Meltdown As Fans Went Fury

The corporate man at Anfield -- and there are a lot of them these days -- was getting worked up at half-time. He grabbed a minion on the stairs in the Main Stand. "Of all the days to be showing a great game of Benitez's, today is not the f***ing time." Sky were showing Liverpool's Champions League victory against Olympiakos which started Liverpool's improbable journey to Istanbul and this was not a day for a history lesson.

When Steven Gerrard celebrated his equalizer against Sunderland at Anfield yesterday, he did so with almost the same passion he had shown when he scored the crucial goal that put Liverpool into the knock-out stages six years ago. Liverpool's priorities have changed.

Liverpool has one win in six Premier League games this season but that is not their crisis. Exiting the Carling Cup at home to Northampton is not their crisis either. Roy Hodgson might have been going too far when he said afterwards that "I cannot see the drama" of that defeat but, equally, winning the Carling Cup and the FA Cup wouldn't solve Liverpool's problems.

At the end of the game, the PA announcer at Anfield announced that the club was aware that "supporters were planning to peacefully demonstrate in respect of the ownership situation" and asked the crowd not to behave in an uncontrolled manner. This was astonishing: the club was sanctioning a protest against the owners of the club.

In the corporate boxes and in the stand they chanted and turned to the Kop where thousands remained and sang, "They just care about money, they don't care about the fans, Liverpool Football Club is in the wrong hands."

The Liverpool players, on the field to warm down, did not know what to do. They had dropped more points and they were in the middle of a club sinking in every possible way. Carragher and Gerrard applauded the Kop as they jogged by but they were entitled to be confused.

In the city centre yesterday morning, the supporters' group, Spirit of Shankly, met to discuss their options as Liverpool teeter on the brink. They will protest but also they will look for fan ownership in the club.

Within weeks, Liverpool could be owned by the British taxpayer, in the form of the Royal Bank of Scotland, and they may also enter administration and face a nine-point penalty, which would leave them on minus points. Most Liverpool fans would probably prefer that option to the continued involvement of Hicks and Gillett.

They are said to be exploring ways of avoiding that penalty which would surely lead to a legal challenge from Liverpool's rivals. At the moment, that challenge is more likely to come from a relegation candidate than a Champions League side.

Liverpool is now astonishing for many reasons, few of them good. The club that has won the European Cup five times is now weeks away from meltdown. The destruction of England's most successful club is not Hodgson's fault. But he is not the man to create the illusion on the field that it's not happening.

Benitez's achievement in keeping Liverpool competitive while Hicks and Gillett destroyed the club for all but his final season is now looking even more remarkable as things enter a vital endgame.

Sunderland were the better team yesterday. Until he scored, Gerrard had been just another anonymous player for Liverpool, out-thought and out-played by Jordan Henderson

Liverpool's opening goal was bizarre. Sunderland's Michael Turner rolled the ball back to his goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, intending that he would take a free-kick. Instead he had already taken it. Torres took the ball and set up Dirk Kuyt. Sunderland came back when the dreadful Christian Poulsen handled the ball and then took the lead before Gerrard's equalizer.

"We're not playing like a fourth or fifth place side at the moment," Hodgson conceded. He then pointed to the strange results across the league as some justification for what had happened yesterday at Anfield. The problem is there was nothing strange about Liverpool's result.

Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs Sunderland

Both Liverpool and Sunderland will be looking forward to getting back to Premier League action on Saturday after suffering midweek defeats in the League Cup.

Liverpool was dumped out of the cup by League Two side Northampton Town on penalties, while Sunderland were knocked out of the competition by Premier League strugglers West Ham United.

It’s been a tough week for the Liverpool squad and their fans after defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United in the Premier League was followed by a humiliating midweek defeat on penalties to Northampton Town in the Carling Cup.

The Reds weren’t at their best against United but Roy Hodgson will take heart from the fight back from his side put up, although he will be concerned that his side conceded a third goal and that all three of United’s goals came from crosses.

Things didn’t get better on Wednesday night when the Cobblers knocked the Reds out of the League Cup. Despite making 11 changes Liverpool fans were expecting a victory but it wasn’t to be as they were outplayed by Northampton, who were deserving of their victory on penalties.

Reds fans will at least be buoyed by their record against Sunderland in the Premier League at Anfield and will hope the return of their more senior players sees an improved performance and a much needed victory.

Sunderland are on a bit of a high in the Premier League at the moment, following their victory over Manchester City, a strong performance against Wigan and their dramatic injury time equalizer against Arsenal.

Confidence was high at the Stadium of Light, but a surprise defeat to West Ham United in the League Cup will have dented that a little.

The form of Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan will be something Steve Bruce will be happy with — between them the strikers have bagged seven of the eight goals scored by the Black Cats this season. Bruce will be hoping his new look strike partnership continues to flourish as Sunderland go in search of their first victory at Anfield in the Premier League.

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Roy Hodgson is expected to recall his senior players for this match and that could mean 11 changes to the side beaten by Northampton Town.

Liverpool fans will be expecting to see Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres and Joe Cole back in the starting line-up and will hope they can turn around the Reds form.

Potential starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Konchesky; Cole, Poulsen, Meireles, Babel; Gerrard; Torres.

Sunderland

Steve Bruce played a full strength side for the Carling Cup defeat against West Ham so he may not make any changes to his starting line-up.

Captain Lee Cattermole will be available again after serving a one match suspension following his red card against Wigan, however Titus Bramble may not be involved following his recent arrest on suspicion of rape.

Potential starting XI: Mignolet; Onouha, Ferdinand, Bramble, Richardson; Henderson, Cattermole, Riveros, Malbranque; Bent, Gyan.

Roy Hodgson Confident That Liverpool Can Emerge Stronger From Current Problems

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has acknowledged that he is bitterly disappointed at his club's exit from the League Cup, but feels that it is too early in the season to become too downhearted.

Hodgson accepts that he and his players must take responsibility for the League Cup exit to Northampton Town but has urged fans not to lose faith in his regime.

"I've had many disappointments. You can't work at 35 years at the level I have without having disappointments," Hodgson told reporters.

"Any criticism which comes my way and the team's we have to accept because it is not acceptable to have a home game in the Carling Cup against a team several divisions below you and not come out with a victory.

"Wednesday was a really bad result for the club, it has knocked us backwards, and has put us in a situation where we are heavily criticized - perhaps rightly so."

Hodgson also adopted a more objective viewpoint when assessing the club's season so far, pointing out that there had been some positives to take from this campaign already.

"Everyone predicted the start of the season was going to be difficult looking at our program, players leaving and coming in and discussions about the future of the club," 62-year-old added.

"That is how it's proved to be. We've had some good moments - with five straight Europa League victories - but also some bad ones, like the [3-0] defeat at Manchester City and the one in the Carling Cup.

"It's been pretty much a mixed bag but we'll live through the bad moments and over the course of the season we'll do well.

"We are reading an awful lot into a bad result.

"If we'd had a positive result on Wednesday this would have been quite a positive press conference as people would have been talking about Manchester United (last weekend), how well we did in the second half, but all of that flies out of the window."

Fernando Torres 'To Submit Liverpool Transfer Request In January'

Fernando Torres is preparing to drop a bombshell on new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson in January by handing in a written transfer request, it has been suggested.

Torres is reportedly disgruntled at the Reds' manager's failure to bring in any more big-name signings since Joe Cole's arrival on a free transfer.

The signing of the ex-Chelsea star was thought to have been a watershed moment for the club in outbidding rival suitors Arsenal and Tottenham, with reports at the time claiming Cole had been offered £90,000 a week over four years at Anfield.

Shortly afterwards, Torres spoke out to commit his future to Liverpool - despite speculation that Manchester City and Chelsea were both preparing to break their transfer records to sign the Spanish international.

But the former Atletico Madrid striker is said to have had a rethink, with the Daily Star claiming he will demand to leave when the transfer window reopens.

Torres' form has been poor so far this season, with several factors - from exhaustion after the World Cup to fears of picking up more injuries - being blamed for his disappointing showings.

And it is said the 26-year-old believes a move away from Liverpool - where concerns over the club's financial position are overshadowing the team's performances - could rejuvenate his flagging club career.