Aurelio On Reds Comeback Trail

Liverpool's Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio has come through his first run-out since April following a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Aurelio played the first-half of a reserve match against Crewe, which Liverpool won 2-1.

Aurelio, who sustained the injury in the first leg of last season's Champions League quarter-final at PSV Eindhoven, came through 45 minutes to suggest his return to the fold is imminent.

Saturday's Premier League trip to Portsmouth is likely to come too soon but boss Rafael Benitez will be keen to have Aurelio back to full fitness to provide cover, especially after he missed out on signing Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United at the end of the transfer window.

Liverpool To Retain Pako On Gardening Leave

Liverpool are in the process of thrashing out a release deal for Rafa Benitez's assistant coach Pako Ayesteran. However, with other Premier League sides set to offer a deal to the Spaniard, Liverpool are set to hold onto him as long as they can - even to the extent of offering him 'gardening leave'...

Liverpool are retaining assistant manager Pako Ayesteran on gardening leave as club and coach alike thrash out a resignation process for the coach.

'Gardening leave' is generally used by employers seeking to fulfil their contractual notice period to their employees but also instructing them to stay away from the premises.

This can have the effect of giving the outgoing employee some time off, or some time to look for a new job. In this instance, though, it is to prevent Pako from signing on with another club.

Liverpool are reportedly concerned that Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in landing the 44 year old, renowned for his physical coaching expertise, and are set to make it difficult for them to do so.

It was announced at the end of August that Pako, long-standing confidant and assistant to Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez would leave to forge his own path, the English tabloids speculating over a breakdown in communication between the two.

Benitez would not elaborate on why Pako, who had followed him from Tenerife to Valencia and finally to Anfield, had opted to leave his post.

Barcelona Wonderkid Has Liverpool On Alert

Barcelona fear that Mexican Giovani dos Santos will join Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea in the New Year because the 18-year-old has hired Pini Zahavi as his new agent.

United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all keeping close tabs on the skilful attacking midfielder — touted as a successor to Ronaldinho at the Nou Camp — who made his debut for Mexico against Panama recently.

Giovani, who starred in Mexico's Under-17 World Cup win in 2005, is under contract at Barca until 2008 and has a buy-out clause of around £10 million. But because he signed his contract before he turned 18 and was not officially an adult, his deal may not be legally enforceable.

Zahavi, who fixed Roman Abramovich's deal to buy Chelsea and who has negotiated many transfers for United, will act for Giovani in November.

Zahavi said: "Until then I will not speak to anyone about him. There has been no contact with English clubs. But obviously Giovani is a diamond of world football. He has a contract until 2008 but he signed when he was under 18, so you can look at that how you wish."

Barca fear that Zahavi's links with Abramovich and Sir Alex Ferguson mean they may have to break their budget to keep him.

Dos Santos, son of former Brazilian player Zizinho, has a European Union passport and will not require a work permit.

Liverpool Target Cagliari's Foggia

According to the 'News of the World', the Reds want to sign the talented Rossoblu midfielder for a sum of around 18 million Euros.

Pasquale Foggia has caught the eye of various clubs, both in Italy and abroad, thanks to some excellent performances and his prolific goal scoring record which saw him already net three goals in Serie A from two matches played.

Liverpool are ready to pay 18 million Euros to buy the 24-year-old Italian midfielder who just received his first call-up for the Azzurri's squad following the first two positive matchdays in Serie A.

The main problem for the Reds is that the player is currently on loan at Cagliari from Lazio, and neither club has any intention of losing the midfielder in January.

The Sardinian side have the option of buying the player at the end of the season, whereas the Biancocelesti see him as the ideal player for the future, therefore a January transfer to Liverpool seems highly unlikely.

However, the 18 million Euro price tag might convince both President Cellino (Cagliari) and President Lotito (Lazio) that selling Foggia in summer would be the best choice.

Atletico Linked With Reina

Atletico Madrid are reported to have set their sights on luring Jose Reina away from Liverpool and back to La Liga.

Spanish daily AS claims Atletico have made the former Villarreal goalkeeper one of their top transfer targets.

Atletico are searching for a new goalkeeper with Leo Franco failing to perform on a consistent basis and Christian Abbiati only being on loan until the end of the season.

The capital club are believed to have sounded out Reina's representatives to find out if the keeper would be interested in a move back to Spain.

However, Liverpool are unlikely to entertain any move for Reina who is firmly established as the No 1 at Anfield.

Reina has previously expressed his happiness at Anfield and he signed a new deal earlier in the summer to keep him at the club until 2012.

Riise: We've Got The Best

John Arne Riise has hailed Liverpool's new owners for bringing 'the best of the best' to the club.

Riise believes the Reds are in the most exciting period in their recent history – something he puts largely down to co-chairman Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"This is the most exciting period during my time with Liverpool," the Norwegian told LFC Magazine. "Not just because of the players but also the plans for the new stadium and the new owners, too.

"We've got the best of the best here. We have one of the best managers in the world, one of the best stadiums on the way, great new owners and fantastic players.

"We've been able to go out and buy more expensive players than ever before thanks to the new owners. Players like Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun; those are the kind of players we need to take this club forward."

Riise, who has made 309 appearances since arriving on Merseyside in 2001, also admits to being impressed with his American bosses on a personal level.

He said: "I totally respect our new owners and what they are trying to do here. It seems like they care about the people and the club, and us players.

"Following the Barcelona game last season, they were giving us all a hug and a pat on the back. It was the same in Athens when we lost. That is great and tells us we have some great people around us."

Riise is currently with the Norway squad ahead of Euro qualifiers against Greece and Moldova.

Voronin: Rafa Is Right To Rotate

Andriy Voronin has insisted that Liverpool's excellent start to the season justifies Rafael Benitez's squad rotation policy.

The Reds are currently top of the Premier League, following their 6-0 thrashing of Derby County.

The Spanish tactician is famous for tinkering, but after a summer of several transfers, Benitez now seems content with the options available to him.

The Ukrainian has made four appearances so far this season, two of those off the bench, but Voronin believes their unbeaten start to the campaign is down to the astuteness of Benitez.

"When I signed, Rafa told me that I should be prepared to be rotated," Voronin told the club's official website.

"Liverpool have a 23-player squad, and 20 of them are national-team players.

"Everyone wants to play and everyone knows how to play. But the coach is doing the right thing by giving us rests.

"He wants us to play 50 or 60 games at the highest level per season, not 20.

"This is why over the last five games our squad has been changed four times. The results show that Benitez is right."

Rafa Alerted To Taylor's New Contract Rejection

LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez has been placed on red alert after Newcastle centre-half Steven Taylor turned down the offer of a new five-year contract at St James' Park.

Taylor, who is the most successful player to have emerged from Newcastle's Academy in the best part of a decade, was in Montenegro last night captaining England Under-21s.

But, in his absence, his father and representative, Alf, confirmed the defender had rejected an offer that was described as "disappointing".

That news has been greeted with interest at Anfield, where Benitez has long coveted arguably the most promising young centre-half in the English game.

And while the Liverpool manager opted not to make a formal offer for Taylor's services during the summer transfer window, sources on Merseyside suggest he will attempt to sign the North-Easterner if the current impasse is not resolved by January 1.

With Sami Hyypia approaching retirement, Benitez is understood to regard Taylor as an ideal back-up to his preferred defensive partnership of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger.

Taylor's current Magpies contract runs to 2009 but, after making 44 senior starts last season, the 21-year-old is looking to secure an improved deal.

James Milner and Charles N'Zogbia have both re-negotiated pre-existing deals recently, and Taylor had been hoping to follow suit.

But while he insists he has no intention of leaving Newcastle, he is clearly frustrated at the club's unwillingness to meet his demands.

"I only hope they are not trying to force Steven out," said his father, Alf.

"He loves Newcastle United and it is the only club he wants to play for, but he is most disappointed at what they are offering."

Taylor is currently one of the lowest-paid first-team players on Newcastle's books.

While summer signing Abdoulaye Faye is understood to be earning around £30,000-a-week after completing a summer move from Bolton, Taylor is believed to be commanding less than a third of that figure despite earning a call-up to Steve McClaren's senior England squad last month.

"Fans seeing the likes of Albert Luque and Jean-Alain Boumsong coming into the club with massive wages must think Steven is on big bucks, but that is not the case," added Taylor senior.

"He is not playing for Newcastle for the money, but because he loves football and the club.

"But having said that, it is a short career and the financial aspect is still important.

"Fortunately, while he is disappointed, Steven has never - nor ever will - let it affect his performance on the field.

"He is a local lad who only wants to play for his local team.

"But perhaps that is why his contract offer is not in the same category as those players who are coming in from all over the place.

"Yet I do not see this being a problem at Liverpool with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher."

Taylor was not the only Newcastle player on Under-21 duty last night, as Charles N'Zogbia was making his bow for France's junior side against Wales in Grenoble.

The versatile left-footer has been rewarded with a lucrative deal after his impressive start to the new season and, while France are hardly short of talent on the international stage, he is already eyeing a promotion to Raymond Domenech's senior squad.

Gerrard Declares Himself Fit For England

Steven Gerrard is winning his battle to be fit for Saturday’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel and has told Steve McClaren to count him in when he announces his team to the players today. The Liverpool captain is also more confident he will be able to figure against Russia on Wednesday as well.

The question of whether Gerrard will need a painkilling injection to play against Israel remains open, although it is more likely that he will need something to get him through the game. Nevertheless, he is still hopeful that the hairline fracture to a toe on his right foot will not prevent him playing in the second vital game against Guus Hiddink's Russia on Wednesday. It had been previously thought that playing him tomorrow would preclude him from the second game.

The news about Gerrard is a significant boost for McClaren who has already lost Frank Lampard for the Israel game and moved yesterday to allay the doubts over Owen Hargreaves' fitness. The Manchester United midfielder missed training on Tuesday and was, like the rest of the squad, given Thursday off. The Football Association said that it was common practice for the squad to have one day of rest in the build-up to an international double-header.

Gerrard's inclusion will not please Rafael Benitez, but McClaren has said right from the start of the week that it is a decision that will ultimately rest with the player himself. The 27-year-old has always been philosophical about the decision himself and would never play if he thought he was putting himself in danger of serious long-term damage. Having done some light training on Wednesday he now believes he is in a position to play his first match since Liverpool faced Chelsea on 19 August.

While the players took the day off yesterday, McClaren convened a meeting of his coaches to discuss the team that will play tomorrow. As has been his practice as England manager, he will leave it until today to make the final decision – the most crucial of which being his choice of goalkeeper. McClaren sees it as a straight choice between Paul Robinson and David James despite Scott Carson's recent impressive form for Aston Villa.

On the right side of midfield Shaun Wright-Phillips is expected to be selected ahead of David Bentley. The Chelsea man's recent form would give him the edge over Bentley who, while impressing in training, has not played for the senior England team and, as such, is viewed as something of a risk in such an important match.

McClaren played down the significance of Hargreaves missing training on Wednesday and said that a scan had revealed only a "small problem" with his thigh that he was hopeful would clear. "The thigh problem is not related to the tendonitis Owen has been suffering with in his knee," he said. "We're still hoping he will be available for Saturday, and he is definitely not ruled out.

"We'll give Owen as much time as we can before making a decision. He's a determined character and we know that he really wants to play. Naturally, we won't take any unnecessary risks with him though."

As for his strikers, McClaren is leaning towards the inclusion of Andy Johnson – who has figured more prominently alongside Michael Owen in recent training sessions – than Emile Heskey. Once again that is a decision that McClaren will finalise this morning although he has not ruled out a late change to a different system. Heskey said yesterday that he had enjoyed his return to the England squad. "It's good, I'm enjoying every minute of it," he said. "The lads have taken me in well again, so I'm enjoying it. I wasn't expecting it to be honest. I was on my way home from the [Newcastle v Wigan] game and I got the call. I was a bit surprised, but delighted as well.

"We've got a new manager, he was No 2 at the time, and we've got a lot of younger players. I'd never given up hope, but you know the situation with the national team, we've got so many good players coming through at the minute so he's got to pick from a lot.

"I'm that sort of player, unselfish who'll try my hardest and I think a lot of people see that in me. It's always been a joy playing alongside Michael. I've played with Michael since England under-18s so we kind of gelled then and it's taken itself through most of my career. It's been a joy to play with him, he's a brilliant player."

In contrast to England's long injury list, Israel have only one seriously doubt, although he is a significant one. Argentinian-born striker Roberto Colautti, Israel's top scorer with six goals in the campaign, looks like being replaced by Yaniv Katan. With an experienced back line, Israel will rely mainly on a solid defensive performance with Dudu Aouate of Deportivo Coruna in goal behind Tal Ben Haim of Chelsea and Beitar Jerusalem's Shimon Gershon in central defence. Arik Benado, who normally plays in central defence, will move up to a defensive midfield position, a role he played against England in March.

Rafa Has Made Me Stronger - Babel

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has revealed how Rafa Benitez has worked with him to solve problems on and off the pitch.

New Liverpool signing Ryan Babel admitted that he has always been susceptible to pressure from the crowd, and struggled to handle fans turning against him.

That seems to be a thing of the past, though, thanks to Rafa Benitez.

"Rafa knows everything about me, down to the fine details," the Dutchman said. "Not just about my style of play, but my character too.

"He told me he had watched me play in an away game for Ajax, and it had struck him how easily I was influenced by the crowd.

"He saw how I was struggling when the fans turned against me.

"He could tell from my body language - I had unknowingly let my shoulders drop.

"But he told me that the abuse ought to make me stronger, saying the more the opposing fans swore at me, the more afraid of me they were."

Mascherano Hails 'Saviour' Rafa

Liverpool ace Javier Mascherano has thanked Rafa Benitez for 'saving his career' after the Reds boss rescued him from his West Ham nightmare.

The Argentina midfielder endured a miserable spell with the Hammers during the first half of last season, before Benitez swooped to bring him to Anfield in the January transfer window.

Mascherano has been a revelation since his arrival on Merseyside and he has put his success down to Benitez's influence.

"Rafa saved my career when came for me at West Ham where I was not playing," said Mascherano.

"He came to see me in London and told me that he needed me.

"In that moment Benitez said to me that I could play in a good team like Liverpool. I really couldn't believe it as I wasn't playing at West Ham and he came to offer to me to play at Liverpool.

"In the beginning I had some problems for getting adapted to English football.

"I had arrived at West Ham, another country and even without knowing the language, a different culture, everything was very difficult. I even knew that I was not going to play each time I went to a training session.

"Now I am in one of the most important teams of the world and I really feel good.

"I speak with Benitez and everything is much more easier. Rafa saved my career."

No New No 2 For Rafael Benitez

Ayestaran has not yet officially left the club but has had a major fall-out with the man he has sat beside for 11 years with Tenerife, Valencia and now Liverpool.

The Premier League leaders are in discussion over the termination of Ayestaran's contract and an announcement is expected this week.

Benitez said: "It was a great week, we scored four and six in front of our own fans and that makes me happy. But on a personal basis I am disappointed with what's happened. He [Ayestaran] is talking to the club, but the situation will not change."

Sources at Anfield do not expect Benitez to appoint a successor. The situation came to a head during training last week at Melwood, and Ayestaran was immediately sent on leave and was not at Anfield on Saturday for the 6-0 win over Derby.

Now it is believed Benitez will take a more hands-on role in training with first-team coach Alex Miller assuming greater responsibility. Ayestaran's fitness work will be absorbed by the two fitness coaches Paco de Miguel and Antonio Gomez. Liverpool have also imported a new goalkeeping coach in Xavi Valero, who had a spell as Wrexham's keeper.

Ayestaran was in sole control of team administration and fitness training, but during the summer Benitez changed some of the training regimes in an attempt to avoid another sluggish start to the season.

I'll Take Your Golden Boot - Torres Warns Drogba

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has warned Didier Drogba that he will not walk way with the golden boot as easy as he did last season.

Drogba notched 20 goals last season to claim the prize, but Torres believes he can scoop the award ahead of Drogba and the rest of the Premier League's top strikers in his first season in the Premier League.

"I am happy with my work at Liverpool," Torres told the Daily Star. "But really I warn the fans they have only seen 60 per cent of the real Torres.

"To be the top scorer in the Premier League will not be easy, but in the first few weeks I have shown it will not be a parade for Drogba to repeat his success of last season."

Torres scored twice in Liverpool's 6-0 win over Derby on Saturday, to take his Premier League tally to three.

"On Saturday I realised how to be a hero at Anfield," Torres added. "The people were happy with my goals and it was a sensational experience.

"I am not obsessed with the number of goals I score this season and at the moment I am still a nobody in the Premier League.

"My challenge is to triumph in Liverpool and become the best striker in the club's history.

"I know that this will be difficult, but I am prepared for the adventure."

Momo Underlines Reds Commitment

Momo Sissoko has revealed he was offered the chance to join Juventus in the summer, but rejected the move because Liverpool are a bigger club.

The powerful Malian faces tough competition to secure a spot in Rafa Benitez's midfield this season with Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano all rivals for a place in central midfield.

Juventus were eager to bring in Sissoko after bidding £10million but while the 22-year-old's representatives engaged in discussions with the Turin giants, Sissoko insists his heart always remained on Merseyside.

While accepting he will have to be at his best to win playing time, Sissoko is more than content at Anfield.

"I believed that Liverpool are a much bigger club than Juventus and decided not to speak to them any longer," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"I'm a Liverpool player and I want to show to the people here, to everyone, that I'm already at a big club.

"I'm happy to be in Liverpool. I did want to stay despite the interest. That's why I signed a new contract.

"There are five midfielders for two positions. I'm happy in Liverpool and I want to play for the club as long as I can."

LiverpooL 6 - 0 Derby County

Liverpool made it 10 home goals in a week to underline the belief at Anfield that they are genuine Premier League title contenders.

They followed up the four they put past Toulouse in the Champions League on Tuesday with six unanswered goals to crush Derby.

Spaniards Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso grabbed two each, Ryan Babel netted his first for the club and substitute Andriy Voronin also got onto the scoresheet.

It is the first time Liverpool have led the top flight for five years and their best start to a league season since 1998.

You had to feel sorry for Derby. Fresh up from the Championship, they simply could not cope with the variety, pace and skill Liverpool possessed - or indeed the pots of money that has seen boss Rafael Benitez build his squad.

Benitez made five changes from the side that beat Toulouse in midweek, with Peter Crouch not even on the bench and Dirk Kuyt and Torres being paired up front.

Derby duo Claude Davis and Tyrone Mears both passed fitness tests for the Premier League's bottom club, but Dean Leacock missed out with a toe problem.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher watched from the directors' box, as both were still injured for Liverpool, who recalled Steve Finnan, Alonso, Jermaine Pennant and Babel along with Torres.

Without Paco Ayestaran - his assistant for 11 years at three clubs - alongside him, Benitez watched his team start with confidence and cruise through the game.

Ayestaran has shocked the Liverpool backroom by deciding he wants to leave, after what is believed to be several recent differences with Benitez.

How this affects the smooth running of Liverpool long term remains to be seen, but the players set about finding the gaps in Derby's rearguard with single-minded determination.

Daniel Agger saw a 25-yard shot clip Bob Malcolm and force Stephen Bywater into a flying save. The goalkeeper was in action again when he fielded Torres' header powered in from Pennant's cross.

Mears ventured forward to blast a 20-yard shot over the bar, and Stephen Pearson wasted possession after robbing Javier Mascherano and chasing 40 yards before a poor pass let Liverpool off the hook.

But that was about it from Derby in the first period as they became increasingly occupied by the Red tide coming their way.

Kuyt cracked a 25-yard shot just over the angle and Mascherano saw a long-range effort skim the far post.

Derby were battling hard, trying to restrict the space in front of their defence, but it was becoming increasingly difficult and Mears was warned by referee Alan Wiley for a succession of fouls.

After one on Pennant, Alonso took the free-kick 35 yards out on the left. As his low drive swerved into the box Kuyt ran across Bywater's line of vision and the ball nestled in the back of the net.

Kuyt should have made it two when Pennant raced away on the left to lift in a cross for the unmarked Dutchman to head over from eight yards.

Two minutes later Pennant's pace and skill severely embarrassed Malcolm and, from yet another cross, Kuyt was there again to lift his effort over the bar.

Liverpool were pouring forward now, and after one sustained run from Finnan, the cross was controlled superbly by Torres before the striker cracked his effort over the top.

Derby were praying now to get to the break without further damage but they were to be disappointed. The second goal came in first-half injury-time when Pennant set up Babel, who side-stepped two diving defenders before belting in his first goal for the club.

The second period started just as ominously for Derby. Pennant, Torres and Kuyt combined to set up Alonso from 10 yards, but the Spaniard lifted his effort into the Kop.

The third was not long coming. Mascherano dispossessed a dithering Malcolm 30 yards out and pushed the ball to Torres. The Spaniard then took on a beat three defenders in a run across the box before burying his shot into the bottom corner on 56 minutes.

Three minutes later the hapless Malcolm was withdrawn to save him further punishment, and Gary Teale came on.

Liverpool were playing at such a pace and with outstanding control, Derby just could not handle it and continually gave the ball away or made forced errors.

Liverpool's response was to take off the excellent Pennant, to a rousing ovation, with Yossi Benayoun coming on. Derby then took off Mohammed Camara - another defender out of his depth - and replaced him with James McEveley.

Andy Griffin was booked for pulling back Torres on 65 minutes, with the Liverpool attacks incessant. The fourth came on 69 minutes when Babel crossed from the right, Benayoun's effort was blocked and Alonso placed an 18-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Next on was Andriy Voronin in place of Babel and virtually his first touch produced the fifth. Kuyt surged into the box on the right and fired in an angled shot that Bywater could only push out for the Ukrainian to force home from a couple of yards.

It got worse for Derby a minute later when a poor back-pass by Andy Todd was snapped up by Torres, who rounded Bywater to run the ball into an empty net.

Mohamed Sissoko came on for Mascherano between the fifth and sixth goals, Darren Moore being sent on by Derby for Griffin on 80 minutes, and Derby survived without any further damage.

Preview: LiverpooL vs Derby County

A midweek Champions League masterclass versus Toulouse saw Liverpool progress to the group stages on a 5-0 aggregate scoreline. With Crouch opening the scoring in 19th minute and Hyypia doubling it up on the 49th, it was left to Kuyt to add the finishing touches with a quick brace just before the final whistle: nice stuff from a squad that have shown their quality in depth so early in the season.

Rafa must be well pleased that his striking options are getting off the mark with each week that passes, plus his defence have kept 3 out of 5 clean sheets, although it really should be 4 as the Chelsea penalty was a big mistake.

Pity that Carragher got injured against Sunderland as he is so integral to the back-line, but having said that they managed well enough against Toulouse. Another key player out is Steven Gerrard with a niggling hairline fracture. Again, Liverpool have not dropped the pace in his absence and indeed there is a case to be made for him not automatically getting back into the squad when fully recovered. The saying goes “If it ain't broke, don't mend it"...I wonder if Rafa is familiar with it? Probably not, and anyway, he's too busy stroking his lovely goatee, and modeling himself on The Rock's character in the movie 'Be Cool’: Eliot Wilhem.... Rafa can do the eyebrow raise!.. oh yes.

With Derby stuttering to their EPL start the Anfield faithful will be expecting nothing other than 3 points and a clean sheet. And why not? Liverpool have been moving the ball around very well, very confidently, and the added creativity that Rafa sourced with the likes of Babel, Torres and Voronin, has shown its worth already.

Competition for starting places is toughening up and the frontline are all worth a start, while midfield and defence cannot be guaranteed either. All of which makes for a brilliant time to be a Liverpool supporter and, for once, to genuinely consider the EPL title heading to Anfield's already bulging silverware cabinet. The Rafa-revolution is upon us!


Billy's Getting Rammed

Losing to Blackpool (14th,The Championship) 6-7 on penalties, midweek in the Carling Cup ....you've got to be struggling to write the Saturday pep talk? Surely?

If it wasn't bad enough to be sitting bottom after 4 games and only taking 1 point from 12, then walking off the pitch the other night and knowing you're going to be traveling to Anfield to face a seriously in-form Liverpool squad...well, that pretty much pushes it over the edge into NIGHTMARE territory. Walls crawling with snakes, spiders from Mars, and a never-ending loop of the Spurs game.

There is always speculation in the paper about Derby's coming and goings of late, and this week has been no different. Is Earnshaw off to Charlton? Is David Nugent moving from Portsmouth to join them? Are Celtic considering allowing a move for Miller? Busy days, busy nights. As yet nothing has been confirmed but it certainly leaves you with the impression that this is one unsettled club.

Derby are simply lack the quality to cope with the Premiership just now. More new signings may yet help them, but it's not looking good. Young talent such as Giles Barnes won't be allowed to stay if the right cash comes in because it would be madness to assume that he alone will decide their fate... so of course the board will take the cash - if it's full of the right amount of decimal points, that is.

Tottenham really went to town early doors against them, but they did show battling qualities vs Manchester City and Pompey, so it's not a complete loss, more a case of getting a break to give them a boost and a breather from all this relegation talk ...and all before the first month is over!


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool
Aug 28th vs Toulouse (H) WON 4-0 (UEFA CL)
Aug 25th vs Sunderland (A) WON 2-0 (PREM)
Aug 19th vs Chelsea (H) DREW 1-1 (PREM)
Aug 15th vs Toulouse (A) WON 1-0 (UEFA CL)
Aug 11th vs Aston Villa (A) Won 2-1 (PREM)

Derby
Aug 28th vs Blackpool (H) DREW 1-1 (CARLING CUP , lost 6-7 pens)
Aug 25th vs Birmingham City (H) LOST 2-1 (Prem)
Aug 18th vs Tottenham (A) LOST 4-0 (PREM)
Aug 15th vs Man City (A) LOST 1-0 (PREM)
Aug 11th vs Portsmouth (H) DREW 2-2 (PREM)


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool: Steven Gerrard is doubtful as Benitez doesn't want to rush him back. Jamie Carragher suffered a broken rib and collapsed lung against Sunderland, and don't have a return date yet. Aurelio is still sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Squad from : Reina, Finnan, Agger, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Riise, Pennant, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Benayoun, Sissoko, Voronin, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Babel, Itandje



Derby: Mears (D) and Barnes (M) are still on the injured list but are expected back in September. At the time of writing there was no further injury news.

Squad from: Bywater, Edworthy, Todd, Moore, Camara, Fagan, Oakley, Jones, Pearson, Howard, Earnshaw, Price, Leacock, McEveley, Griffin, Lewis, Feilhaber



PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool: Fernando Torres has a great opportunity against Derby to really show everyone what he can do. In La Liga he had the pacy wingers to feed him in and Liverpool can do the same if the team selection is suited to his style. He has the pace to arrive late, and also to drift out to pick up the ball. Feed him good crosses and give him space to run into and he's your man. Derby are definitely vulnerable to a team with width and pace and players willing to run straight at them, but more importantly a deliverer of a great ball will be their undoing. This could be the Torres Show if it all goes to plan.

Derby: Matt Oakley has scored twice so far, and players and fans alike must be so grateful for that as their strikers appear to be AWOL come Saturday afternoon. He made his Premier League debut back in 1995 vs Liverpool so there are happy memories for him along the way. Oakley is a creative player and Derby will need his vision and experience to avoid an onslaught.


PREDICTION

It's almost impossible to find a form line that could be held up to scrutiny in favour of Derby taking even a point from this game, so I'll opt for the obvious and genuinely most likely outcome - Liverpool to win, and keep a clean sheet.

Liverpool 3 - 0 Derby

Liverpool In For Boumsong

Italian sports daily Tuttosport claims that Liverpool are set to make a surprise move for out-of-favour Juventus stopper Jean-Alain Boumsong.

Tuttosport has claimed that Liverpool are set to pounce for Juventus stopper Jean-Alain Boumsong.

The French international centre-back is out of favour at the Old Lady and, with the arrival of the likes of Jorge Andrade over the summer, his prospects in the first team are limited at best.

Recently, Boumsong has been linked with clubs ranging from Barcelona to Lyon. Predictably, none of the rumours have as yet come to fruition.

Boumsong himself has recently claimed that he forsees a stay at Juventus, saying, "I have Juve on my mind, ready to start the new season. I'm ready to work and looking forward to enjoying time on the pitch.

"There is a 99% chance that I will be at Juve after August 31."

But Tuttosport insisted that Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to look to the ex-Newcastle United defender to play stopgap after the injury to Jamie Carragher.

Neither club has confirmed the news at this time.

Champions League Final Draw

UEFA Champions League holders AC Milan will begin their trophy defence against fellow European title-winners SL Benfica and Celtic FC as well as FC Shakhtar Donetsk after the group stage draw was made at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The 32 teams were split into eight sections of four and while Milan were joined by Benfica and Celtic in Group D, last season's runners-up Liverpool FC must also play two former European champions, meeting FC Porto and Olympique de Marseille along with Beşiktaş JK in Group A. PFC CSKA Moskva, hoping to reach the final in their home city, will take on Group G rivals FC Internazionale Milano, PSV Eindhoven and Fenerbahçe SK.

One place in the group stage is yet to be filled, as the second leg of AEK Athens FC's third qualifying round tie with Sevilla FC was postponed to Monday 3 September due to the death of the Spanish club's midfielder Antonio Puerta on Tuesday. The eventual winners will play in Group H against Arsenal FC, FC Steaua Bucureşti and SK Slavia Praha, newcomers to this stage.

The group stage fixtures will be played on 18/19 September, 2/3 October, 23/24 October, 6/7 November, 27/28 November and 11/12 December, though Milan's last game will be on 4 December due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. The winners and runners-up from each pool will progress to the first knockout round in the spring, with the final set for Moscow on 21 May. Teams finishing third in each section will have the consolation of going into the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage:

Group A:
Liverpool FC (ENG), FC Porto (POR), Olympique de Marseille (FRA), Beşiktaş JK (TUR)

Group B:
Chelsea FC (ENG), Valencia CF (ESP), FC Schalke 04 (GER), Rosenborg BK (NOR)

Group C:
Real Madrid CF (ESP), Werder Bremen (GER), SS Lazio (ITA), Olympiacos CFP (GRE)

Group D:
AC Milan (ITA), SL Benfica (POR), Celtic FC (SCO), FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

Group E:
FC Barcelona (ESP), Olympique Lyonnais (FRA), VfB Stuttgart (GER), Rangers FC (SCO)

Group F:
Manchester United FC (ENG), AS Roma (ITA), Sporting Lisbon (POR), FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)

Group G:
Inter Milan (ITA), PSV Eindhoven (NED), PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS), Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)

Group H:
Arsenal FC (ENG), FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU), SK Slavia Praha (CZE), Sevilla FC (ESP) / AEK Athens FC (GRE)

Benitez Happy With Options

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was delighted with his side's 4-0 Champions League thumping of Toulouse at Anfield, which he says emphasised the strength he now has in his squad.

The Reds welcomed the French side to Anfield with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, and had to complete the job of making the group stages of the Champions League without Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

However, they never looked like being troubled and goals from Peter Crouch, Sami Hyypia and a late Dirk Kuyt double saw last season's European Cup finalists safely into the last 32 of this year's competition.

Benitez made seven changes to the side that started the 2-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday, with Crouch starting just his second game of the season alongside Kuyt, both of whom got off the mark for the season.

With Yossi Benayoun also looking in good touch and young South Americans Sebastian Leto and Lucas Leiva making their debuts, Benitez is delighted with the strength of his squad.

"I was very pleased with the performance, we played well and you can see the competition now for places with players working to impress right to the end," said Benitez.

"I know Peter Crouch has been out of the last two games and he has now scored eight in his last 10 games in Europe.

"But if the team keeps winning and everyone else scores goals as well, I will be happy.

"I was able to bring in Benayoun, Leto and Lucas for this game and they all did well."

Benitez has long been looking to have a big squad of quality players and he now believes he has good options in every position.

"You can see the quality in every position. I have two players to choose from now for every place and the players know that," added Benitez.

"I now do not need to talk a lot about one or two star players all the time, I have players everywhere who want to play and have the ability to play."

Despite his side's dominance, Benitez was not happy with some sloppy aspects of play in such an important match for the club.

"I was a little bit worried in the first half because we kept giving the ball away and they caused problems on the counter attack," he added.

"We needed to be awake and alert and needed the second goal to kill the game off and then we started enjoying our football.

"It is important to be in the group stage. These kind of games you must treat with caution and now I'm pleased to be looking forward to see the draw and see how far we can go."

As Anfield paid its tribute to murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones before the game, Benitez insisted that football was very much overshadowed.

Benitez hugged the boy's mother Melanie before the match and shook the hand of father Steve and elder son Owen, 17.

Along with the tragedy in Liverpool, Benitez was also shaken by the sudden death of Sevilla's Antonio Puerta after he collapsed during a game at the weekend.

"Football must take a back seat when such tragedies happen. It was very emotional for me and all you can do at this point is offer your respect and support."

Champions League: LiverpooL 4 - 0 Toulouse

Liverpool eased themselves into the Champions League group stages with a 4-0 home win over Toulouse, putting the Reds through 5-0 on aggregate.

On the 800th anniversary of the city the Reds claimed their 50th home European Cup win - plus £12million into the bargain - and it was never easier.

Without Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, they still outplayed an uninspired French side to reach the last 32 of the competition.

Liverpool shuffled their pack again and still produced a side that played fluent, quick-passing football that Toulouse never matched.

Peter Crouch, left out of the last two matches, returned to score after just 19 minutes and captain for the night Sami Hyypia made light of a broken nose to head home the second just after the break.

Dirk Kuyt gained his reward with the third after 87 minutes, drilling a shot in off the far post, and he added a fourth in injury time.

Hyypia captained the side as Javier Mascherano and Mohamed Sissoko were paired in central midfield with Argentinian winger Sebastian Leto making his debut on the left.

Crouch and Yossi Benayoun also both returned to the starting line-up to good effect.

Before the match moving tributes were paid to murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones, with his parents standing on the touchline as both Everton and Liverpool's theme tunes - Z Cars and You'll Never Walk Alone - were played.

However, last season's beaten finalists had to put all the emotion aside as they went about their job of trying to finish the tie and they set about the French with quick passing and movement.

Benayoun's enthusiasm, pace and skill was at the centre of most of Liverpool's attacks and the opening goal came after when Benayoun worked to get Kuyt into space on the right and his far-post cross was turned in by Crouch's outstretched right leg.

The French started to make chances and Andre Gignac got through on the right when only a fine block from Alvaro Arbeloa halted the surge.

Crouch should have scored again two minutes later when Benayoun popped up on the left and lifted in a cross that the tall striker rose to meet from six yards but planted his header over the crossbar.

Benayoun again was the creator for Kuyt, setting up the Dutchman for a low drive that flashed inches wide of a post. Toulouse responded with a header from Pantxi Sirieix that dropped a yard wide.

Crouch continued his wasteful ways when Arbeloa swung over another cross, again heading over, while Kuyt was next to miss with a header from another Benayoun cross.

Mascherano's powerful run to win a corner on the right set up Liverpool for their second after 49 minutes.

And it came from Hyypia's head as he stood unmarked eight yards out to power home a Benayoun corner.

Toulouse looked disheartened by now but they sent on striker Bryan Bergougnoux for Gignac after 54 minutes but up to that point the French side had barely offered a serious threat and were being thoroughly outplayed.

After 68 minutes Benitez sent on another of his South American imports, youngster Lucas Leiva for his debut, with the £5million Brazilian replacing Sissoko.

Kuyt saw one header bounce wide before almost adding a third after 74 minutes.

He drove in from the right and saw his shot hit Mauro Cetto and deflect onto the crossbar and over. A minute Later Ryan Babel replaced Leto.

Toulouse then took off Achille Emana, sending on Fabio Felix, but Liverpool were all but home by now.

Crouch, with some clever juggling from a John Arne Riise cross, lifted another chance just over the top.

Steve Finnan took over from Daniel Agger for the final minutes, while Moussa Sissoko replaced the injured Jeremy Mathieu.

Kuyt gained his reward for a night of constant running by drilling home the third off the far post after 87 minutes, and then forcing in his second in injury time.