Rafa Benitez Forced To Rely On Steven Gerrard

Rafa Benitez will ignore concerns from the Professional Footballers' Association about the risk of player burn-out by starting Steven Gerrard nine times in 29 days as Liverpool battle to keep their season alive.

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA, has raised concerns at the demands placed on Gerrard and other England internationals.

Yet having lost three key players to injury over the past few days, Benitez ruled out resting his captain as Liverpool face a fight to stay in Europe and play catch-up with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Gerrard, whose busy schedule over the past three weeks has taken him to Moscow with England and Istanbul with his club, starts his seventh game in 22 days at Blackburn today.

Liverpool's influential midfielder is also needed for Tuesday's must-win Champions League game with Besiktas as well as the home league game with Fulham four days later.

Benitez wanted to rest his captain against Cardiff in the Carling Cup on Wednesday but was forced to rethink his plans with Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Jermaine Pennant all suffering injuries.

To play every minute of every game is not the best situation," Benitez said. "But one thing is clear – with Alonso on the pitch Gerrard is important. When we are without Alonso he is even more important. When Gerrard was not playing well, the team was not playing well. He has been playing much better in the last two or three games and hopefully he will continue that run."

Gerrard has scored in each of his last three appearances to take his tally for the season to four, and Benitez believes he can repeat his feat of two seasons ago, when he contributed 22 goals.

"I would like to see him carry on scoring because he clearly has confidence now and is playing at the level that is expected of him," he said.

The visit to Blackburn is another must-win game for Benitez. Mark Hughes' side start one place and one point above the visitors, yet a Liverpool victory will leave them just three points behind the losers of the clash between Arsenal and Manchester United.

"I was talking with some of my players the other day about the situation," Benitez said. "It's really important to be close to the top of the table. Ewood Park is always a difficult place to play. It's more difficult to play against them this time because Blackburn are not only a very physical team, they are also playing well.

"Mark Hughes is doing a very good job and the understanding between the players and the strikers is very good. As well as winning games they are playing good football. It will be a very tough game for us."

Sissoko: I Must Improve

Many Reds' fans have been getting on the back of defensive midfielder Mohamed Sissoko in recent weeks. But in an interview with LFC Magazine, the Mali international made clear that nobody is more disappointed with his recent performances than him.

"At the beginning of this season I felt I was doing well but since then I haven't been happy with my performances," said Sissoko, who scored his first goal for the Reds in August's 2-0 win away to Sunderland.

One moment that particularly upset Sissoko was the Champions League defeat at home to struggling Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille.

"I have gone over it in my head. It was a really bad moment for me. The manager put me in the team and I played very, very ****," said the midfielder, displaying an honesty that one can only admire. "I know we didn't play well as a team but it was my mistake that led to the goal.

"I also know that this happens in football. I look at that situation and realise I have learned something new about the game. The manager told me not to worry too much. He reminded me that every player makes mistakes, and that I am still young and I will learn from it."

Taking Benítez' words on board, the 22-year-old is determined to plough on and work on a return to the sterling performances fans know he is capable of. "I had some good moments at the start of my Liverpool career," remembers Sissoko fondly.

Few can forget his tireless efforts in the FA Cup Final of 2006, or the way in which he destroyed Barcelona's creative midfielders as the Reds earned a famous 2-1 victory at Camp Nou.

Javier Mascherano Attracts Barcelona

Liverpool face a serious battle to retain the services of Javier Mascherano after it emerged that Barcelona are determined to take the Argentina midfield player to the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

Mascherano joined Liverpool in January in an unusual lease arrangement, with the Merseyside club paying a loan fee not to West Ham United, his previous club, but to Media Sports Investment, the company that holds his “economic rights”. Under the terms of the midfield player’s 18-month loan, Liverpool can make the deal permanent by buying him outright from MSI for £17 million before June 30 next year, but their hopes of securing his services in the long term seem certain to come under threat from Barcelona.

Liverpool remain confident of their prospects of holding on to Mascherano, who has revived his career on Merseyside after a miserable spell at West Ham and who recently stated his desire to “stay for a long time”. But Barcelona could complicate the situation, having made their interest in the Argentina player known via a third party. A transfer to Spain was initially Mascherano’s preference before he made his ill-fated move to West Ham in August 2006.

Having recovered from the bruised foot he suffered in the closing stages of the 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal last weekend, Mascherano has an important role to play in the coming weeks - starting away to Blackburn Rovers this evening - particularly given the absence of Xabi Alonso. The Spain midfield player faces at least three weeks on the side-lines after breaking a metatarsal in his left foot, for the second time this season, against Arsenal.

But Rafael BenÍtez, the manager, can also call on Steven Gerrard, even though Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, has expressed concerns about the workload, with club and country, of England’s players. “With Xabi on the pitch, Gerrard is important,” BenÍtez said. “Without Xabi, he is even more important.”

Fernando Torres hopes to be back in action earlier than was first thought after making encouraging progress in his recovery from a groin injury.

“People were talking about three to four weeks, but it just depends on how the adductor evolves, so I’ve just got to hope it will be sooner than that,” the Spain forward said. “I’m getting better and working really hard with the physios. Let’s just hope I’ll be in perfect condition to play soon and that that will be an end to the injuries this season.”

EPL Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Liverpool

Quite recently Blackburn Rovers player Christopher Samba mildly chastised the media for not adequately highlighting his club’s awesome league form, something he regards as a dereliction of duty on the part of columnists.

Being 6'5" and nicknamed “King Kong” by his team-mates leads one to suggest that not many journalists will want to add their names to the giant defender’s offenders list; however, all politeness aside, the Congolese international does have a point.

For the size and resources of such a club, Rovers are riding an impressive streak of form. Currently lying 5th, one point more it should be mentioned than Saturday’s opponents Liverpool after the same amount of games, Rovers certainly have climbed the league largely unnoticed.

In fact you have to go back more than a month to September 23rd to find Blackburn’s last loss, a 0-1 home reverse against Portsmouth which remains their only defeat in 12 games.

Since then they have embarked on a seven-match winning run in all competitions. Throw in the little detail that they have held Arsenal and Chelsea to draws and you might be forgiven for thinking Blackburn’s run bears hallmarks of title-winning form.

Which is why manager Mark Hughes deserves plaudits for the manner in which he has combined Rover’s past robust nature with a proficiency in the last third, to lead his side to only a margin of goal-difference away from a Champions League spot.

In contrast Liverpool have paraded rather patchy form in all competitions, with routine wins coming after unexpected draws followed by the occasional shock defeat, all of which reveals a telling tale, one the Reds admit to themselves, in that they have yet to find their real rhythm.

Injuries, of course, haven’t helped, resulting in the crucial pairings down the spine of the team becoming unbalanced due to the continued absence of messrs Alonso, Agger, Mascherano and Torres.

Nonetheless, as much as Rafael Benitez concluded another week by dodging yet more arrows of criticism for his selections, rotations and tactics, it has gone rather overlooked in some quarters that the Reds officially have the best away record in the league. The home form may raise some eyebrows on Merseyside, but the travelling contingent can have no complaints from four wins and a draw on the road.

All of which leads quite nicely to suggest that Blackburn Rovers versus Liverpool at Ewood Park might just sneak in under the radar to become the fixture of the week.

Although Liverpool can be proud of their away form this season, they still will not look forward to entering Ewood Park with the home side in such buoyant mood, as Mark Hughes all too clearly outlines:

“We are in great heart at the moment. We’ve good players who believe no matter which team we play we can give teams a game. We play good football”

One crucial piece of the ‘final’ Liverpool jigsaw was believed to be found with the £23m summer purchase of Fernando Torres, who came with the promise of curing the Reds' lack of dexterity in front of goal.

Speak to Scousers and they will tell you a mixture of international call-ups, injuries, form and fitness have all curtailed his settling-in period. Fortunately for the men of Lancashire, goal-scoring worries rarely arise when South African Benni McCarthy is on the scene, and even former expert goal-scorer Alan Shearer has become a fan of last year’s £3m purchase:

“He is great coup for Mark Hughes, I am surprised other teams did not have a pop at McCarthy” – who could you possibly mean Shearer…maybe Chelsea, United or even Liverpool?

It is always entertaining to hear Plymouth’s outspoken manager Ian Holloway deliver his take on life’s proceedings, but this time he has touched on a contentious issue that arose in mid-week and one that shall be closely followed in the Premiership fixtures this weekend. The Bristolian was commenting on PFA chief Gordon Taylor’s warning, echoed by Phil Neville, that top England stars such as Steven Gerrard are already suffering burn-out from playing too much football:

“Personally I think that's absolute codswallop. I used to play Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday from the ages of 10-14.

“My heart bleeds for them - the richest burnt-out people I've ever met in my life. Your career's short - you've got to play as many games as you can.”

FORM GUIDE

Blackburn

31 Oct v Portsmouth (A) WON 1-2 (Carling Cup)
28 Oct v Tottenham (A) WON 1-2 (Prem)
20 Oct v Reading (H) WON 4-2 (Prem)
07 Oct v Birmingham (H) WON 2-1 (Prem)
04 Oct v Larissa (H) WON 2-1 (Uefa Cup)
29 Sept v Sunderland (A) WON 1-2 (Prem)

Liverpool

31 Oct v Cardiff (H) WON 2-1 (Carling Cup)
28 Oct v Arsenal (H) DREW 1-1 (Prem)
24 Oct v Besiktas (A) LOST 2-1 (CL)
20 Oct v Everton (A) WON 1-2 (Prem)
07 Oct v Tottenham (H) DREW 2-2 (Prem)
03 Oct v Marseille (H) LOST 0-1 (CL)

TEAM NEWS

Blackburn

Hughes lauded his battling midfielder, Aaron Mokoena, who although injured, continues to cover admirably in the absence of regular ‘defensive shield’ Robbie Savage.

Mokoena picked up his leg injury in the midweek Carling Cup victory over Portsmouth, as did David Bentley with his shin bruising. But both are expected to make the starting line-up.

Otherwise long-term injured Steven Reid and Jason Roberts join Savage as Rovers only absentees..

Squad: Friedel, Brown, Emerton, Nelsen, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Berner, Bentley, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Tugay, Mokoena, Rigters, Khizanishvili, Treacy.

Liverpool

Liverpool welcomes Fabio Aurelio, Alvaro Arbeloa and Javier Mascherano back from niggling injuries for the trip to Ewood Park.

The returning trio will provide much-needed steel for a tough away trip, whilst another in a long-line of ‘returns’ for much-maligned winger Harry Kewell is scheduled for tomorrow.

The rarely seen Australian did make an injury reoccurrence-free appearance in the midweek Carling Cup win, and his availability will at least give Benitez a further option in a depleted attack as Torres joins Agger and Alonso in the long-term treatment room.

Squad: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Gerrard, Sissoko, Mascherano, Lucas, Crouch, Kuyt, Voronin, Itandje, Kewell, Hobbs.

WATCH OUT FOR

Blackburn

Benni McCarthy. Compared against his blistering debut season for Rovers in which he scored 19 goals, McCarthy made a somewhat slow start second-time round. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the mooted big-money transfer to a ‘big-four’ club didn’t materialise.

Not that Hughes cares, for the player’s all-round ability and predatory instincts were back with a bang in midweek, leading his manager to officially announce the striker’s return to golden form just in time for the Liverpool showdown.

"I thought Benni McCarthy was absolutely magnificent.

"I took a lot of pleasure watching him. His retention of the ball and his work in tight areas was a joy to watch.

"He was always in there looking for scoring chances. He's back where he should be at."

Liverpool

Steven Gerrard. Although the midweek opposition was Championship side Cardiff, Gerrard, much like McCarthy, did display telling signs that he is somewhere near returning to his highest level of performance. Against Arsenal last week he was stood alongside Jamie Carragher as probably Liverpool’s best player. With a goal and an assist from midweek added to the “sweetly struck” blasted goal against the Gunners, perhaps Gerrard really is only a game away from exploding into the world-class star we know he is.

However, with the PFA chief stirring a hornet’s nest with comments about players suffering “burn-out”, and specifically pointing at Gerrard, then maybe a few more eyes may be on the England international looking intently for signs of wear and tear rather than a match-winning spectacle.

Rafa And Gerrard Back Leiva To Shine

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and manager Rafa Benitez have backed midfielder Lucas Leiva to shine at Anfield.

The 20-year-old arrived at Liverpool in the summer and has been slowly accruing pitch time since, most recently against Cardiff City in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

His midfield partner for the game, Steven Gerrard, has been impressed with how quickly the Brazilian has settled in England.

"He could have had the winner in the derby on his league debut and there aren't many players who can say that," he told the club’s official website.

"It is always difficult for new players to come on in the derby, especially when they're used to playing a different style of football in a different country. But Lucas came on and acquitted himself well.

"I've seen enough of him in training and in games to know that he has got a great future.

"He is only a young lad but once he picks up more experience and if he keeps on doing the right things in training and listening to the right people, then I'm sure he will go on to be a great player."

Lucas' appearances from the bench so far this season have also impressed boss Rafa Benitez, who revealed that fans can expect to see more and more of the Brazil international as the campaign progresses.

Benitez said: "He is the captain of the Brazilian under-21 team and he has already won a cap for the first team, so we knew all about his quality.

"It is not as if he was playing for one of the smaller countries. It is Brazil and it is really difficult for a player to play for such a big team at such a young age.

"So we were happy to sign him, and I am sure we will see more and more of him as the season goes on."

Benitez Expects Xabi Boost

Rafa Benitez is hoping Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso can return to action within two weeks.

Alonso made his comeback from six weeks out with a broken metatarsal against Arsenal on Sunday, only to suffer a new foot injury.

Liverpool confirmed earlier in the week that X-rays had shown a fracture to the Spaniard's fourth metatarsal and were unsure how long the player would be sidelined.

But, speaking after The Reds' 2-1 win over Cardiff City in the Carling Cup, Benitez revealed his expectation that Alonso would be available again in a fortnight.

"That's the idea we have," Benitez told Sky Sports News.

"So (Fernando) Torres and him, maybe (Daniel) Agger, can be fit in two weeks."

Steven Gerrard scored the winning goal against Cardiff, but Benitez admits his captain was not originally scheduled to play in the fourth-round tie.

The Liverpool boss said: "I would have wanted really to leave Steven out of the match, but we have too many injuries and Momo (Sissoko) was sick again, so he had to play.

"And in the end he was the one who scored the vital goal. Cardiff worked very hard and were always dangerous from set-pieces, and that is where their equaliser came from.

"But then Gerrard got through to score a typical goal. His form is coming back, as are his goals. That is three now in successive games."

Agger, Torres & Mascherano Latest

Rafa Benitez has been boosted by news Javier Mascherano is back in training after recovering from a knock sustained against Arsenal at the weekend.

The Liverpool boss is also hopeful of having Fernando Torres back in two weeks, slightly less than originally thought.

Benitez said: "It is the same problem as before with Fernando. Hopefully he can be fit in two weeks.

"We thought he was ready for the Arsenal game and during the match I asked him two or three times if he was okay because clearly he wasn't fit. He is not the sort of player who normally gets injuries and that's the reason he didn't feel what he had. That was the problem.

"Javier is okay. He trained today and so we've had good luck with him."

Meanwhile, Daniel Agger, who hasn't featured since Portsmouth on September 15, is still 10-16 days away from a return following a metatarsal break.

Benitez added: "He is continuing to progress but with this kind of injury he needs time. I think we need to wait another 10-16 days."

Liverpool are still waiting news on Xabi Alonso, who is due to see a specialist today.

Double Boost For Benitez

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is hopeful striker Fernando Torres will make a quicker-than-expected return from a thigh problem.

The club's record signing was withdrawn at half-time in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Arsenal - on his return after missing two matches with an adductor injury - and it was anticipated he would be out for a further three weeks.

However, Benitez believes the Spain international may return sooner.

"It is the same problem as before with Fernando. Hopefully he can be fit in two weeks," said the manager.

"We thought he was ready for the Arsenal game and during the match I asked him two or three times if he was okay because clearly he wasn't fit.

"He is not the sort of player who normally gets injuries and that's the reason he didn't feel what he had. That was the problem."

There was better news on Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, who hobbled through the closing stages of the draw against the Gunners with a bruised foot.

"Javier is okay. He trained today and so we've had good luck with him," Benitez added.

The Reds boss is still awaiting news on how long he will be without Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso, who is seeing a specialist about a broken metatarsal - his second of the season.

Centre-back Daniel Agger, who has not played since September 15 after also breaking a metatarsal, is still two weeks away from fitness.

"He is continuing to progress but with this kind of injury he needs time. I think we need to wait another 10-16 days," Benitez told the club's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

Aston Villa Linked With Record Bid For Liverpool’s Peter Crouch

According to widespread reports in England on Wednesday, Aston Villa are ready to break club record in their attempt to sign Liverpool striker Peter Crouch in January.

The Villans had signed attacker Ashley Young for club record £9.65 million from Watford during January this year.

Crouch, who has been a target for speculation since end of last season with Newcastle United linked to the England international, had been largely unsuccessful when he was with Villa from 2002-2004 scoring only six goals in 47 Premiership appearances.

He was then sold to Southampton, from where after a year he joined Liverpool.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has stressed time and again that Crouch firmly remains in his plans and he is not for sale.

Liverpool’s Carragher Tips Crouch To Step Up In Torres Absence

Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher has suggested Peter Crouch can step up to the challenge of replacing Reds’ record-signing Fernando Torres, who is out injured for three weeks.

Torres had made an instant impact after his switch to Anfield from Atletico Madrid in the summer. But an adductor injury, first in training for Spain recently, and then in the return to action against Arsenal, have laid him low.

Crouch, who has reportedly revealed his displeasure at not having enough opportunities this season after having been the top-scorer for the Reds last term, took the field in the second half against the Gunners as Torres was injured.

Carragher said in the Liverpool Daily Post: “Unfortunately we have picked up some more injuries. Torres will be a big loss, but Peter Crouch was excellent when he came on.”

Meanwhile Reds boss Rafa Benitez will learn the extent of Xabi Alonso’s metatarsal injury today, as the Spanish midfielder suffered the injury during his comeback against Arsenal after five weeks out with a similar injury.

Torres: I've Found My Mersey Paradise

Fernando Torres insists he has no intention of returning to Spain for a long time, after insisting he feels "comfortable" at Liverpool.

Torres quit Atletico Madrid - the club he had been at since the age of 11 - this summer to move to Anfield in a deal that reportedly cost the Reds a club-record £21million transfer fee.

It was a massive decision for the Spaniard to leave his hometown club, but now he is in England, the 23-year-old admits he cannot see himself going back to Spain at least until his six-year deal with Liverpool runs out.

"I am going to complete my contract with Liverpool at the very least. I am comfortable at this great club. Here you are respected as a great player," he said on Radio Marca.

"You are going to grounds with the feeling that you are going to win. I am not planning to return to Spain, neither now nor for many years.

"The support of the fans has been phenomenal. Here the people see you on the street and they greet you like a friend.

"In the stadia, when you are substituted at a rival ground, the public applauds you. It is certainly a different way of seeing football for me."

Torres, who has scored seven goals in 13 first-team appearances for Liverpool so far, is currently sidelined with an adductor injury he suffered against Arsenal at the weekend and is set to be out for around three weeks.

That could rule him out of Spain's potentially critical European Championship qualifier against Group F leaders Sweden on November 17.

Liverpool Boosted By Harry Kewell Return

Harry Kewell will make his belated return to the Liverpool first team for Wednesday’s Carling Cup clash against Cardiff.

The Australian winger has been sidelined since suffering a groin injury while playing for his country in the Asian Cup over the summer.

However, Kewell made a goalscoring return to action for the reserves at the weekend and now has the chance to prove he has a future on Merseyside following the summer acquisitions of Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun.

Liverpool are expected to rest several first-choice players, including goalkeeper Jose Reina, who has branded the injury crisis threatening to overwhelm the club's season as a "pain in the backside."

The Liverpool No 1 was dismayed to see his fellow Spaniards Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres sidelined after suffering recurrences of existing injuries in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, and says the setbacks could hardly have come at a worse time.

Liverpool must beat Besiktas at Anfield next week to survive in the Champions League and they cannot afford to lose any more ground to Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League title race.

Reina said: "The injuries are a big problem. We have had far too many in the last few months. Now we have another injury to Fernando and another to Xabi.

"When important players are recovering and coming back into the side and then they get injured again, it is always difficult."

Liverpool are still waiting to hear how long they will be without midfielder Alonso, who has suffered a metatarsal fracture, while Torres is expected to be out for three weeks with a torn adductor muscle.

The only consolation for under-pressure manager Rafael Benitez is that the foot injury suffered by Javier Mascherano on Sunday is not as serious as first feared.

Benitez, however, is already without winger Jermaine Pennant with a stress fracture of the shin, and first-choice centre-back Daniel Agger, who is still recovering from his own broken metatarsal.

The loss of Torres is probably the biggest blow to Benitez, though. The Spaniard had to be withdrawn at half-time on Sunday and Liverpool's cutting edge was significantly reduced as a result.

Peter Crouch is expected to make only his sixth start of the season on Wednesday and the England striker is desperate to make an impact.

He said: "I was pleased to get on against Arsenal, even though it wasn't in the circumstances I would have liked with Fernando getting injured. You always want your best players on the pitch and hopefully he won't be out for too long.

"From my point of view I haven't had too many chances this season and so I have to take them when they come along. It's going to be a long season, we have a big squad and everybody will get games at some point. I just know that whenever I play I have to perform.

"Players are greedy and they want to play every week but it's not possible. We know there could be anything up to 70 matches this season and we understand what the manager is trying to do."

Liverpool Tell Benítez League Title Is A Must

Liverpool's manager, Rafael Benítez, will have to guide his team to the Premier League title to justify the £40m the club invested in new players in the summer, according to the club's co-owner Tom Hicks.

Speaking 24 hours after Liverpool's prospects of qualifying for the knock-out stage of the Champions League were severely dented by a 2-1 defeat by Besiktas in Turkey, Hicks said the domestic trophy remained the club's priority. Benítez based his pre-season approach to the American owners of the club on a challenge for the Premier League title, impressing on them the need for more strength in depth if he were to mount a credible challenge to Manchester United and Chelsea.

Hicks and George Gillett acceded to his wishes, investing £26.5m in Fernando Torres and £11.5m on the Ajax winger Ryan Babel. Hicks pledged his support for a coach who has often seemed more at home in European competition than the domestic fray. But in comments that will increase the pressure on Benítez to deliver a title the club have not won for 17 years Hicks implied he and Gillett are expecting a swift return on their investment.

"One of the reasons we made the signings we did in the summer was to create the depth we now have. Rafa explained to George and me that is how you win the Prem, because you have to play every team twice," Hicks said. "We totally support Rafa, nobody wants to win more than Rafa. But I know when we committed the resources for signings in the summer the whole idea was to have a team that could compete for the Premier League. We've not had the depth previously to do that.

"This squad is good enough to win things. It should be winning things. If it doesn't we'll have to look at the circumstances and have a meeting at the end of the year to understand what happened. I don't want to predict failure, I want to predict success."

Benítez demanded extensive investment from Liverpool's new owners after May's defeat by Milan in the European Cup final, a second final appearance in three seasons that he claimed represented an over-achievement for the squad at his disposal. The Liverpool manager said dithering in the transfer market had cost the club major targets in recent seasons - including Daniel Alves at Seville, the former Benfica captain Simão Sabrosa and Florent Malouda this summer - and it was against this backdrop, plus an implied threat from the Spaniard that he would consider his future if finances were not forthcoming, that the Americans eventually acted.

Liverpool's struggles in Europe this season contrast with their success in winning the tournament in 2005 and reaching last year's final but Hicks acknowledged that the supporters crave the Premier League title.

"Our fans, I can tell from just talking to them, want to win the Premier League. They haven't won the top title in 17 years and I know their passions really are that they want to win the Premier League.

Hicks remains confident that Liverpool can qualify for the Champions League knockout round but said failure would not impact on current attempts to refinance the club. The Americans personally guaranteed a loan of £298m from the Royal Bank of Scotland to buy the club but a recent attempt to refinance the loan collapsed. Hicks said he was close to agreeing a deal and Champions League failure would not impact on negotiations.

"The package will be completed within 30 days, but I don't want to comment any further on the details," he said. "In terms of budgeting we've got it covered either way, and we've got our work cut out [to qualify]. If we didn't qualify, it would be terribly disappointing but I'm an optimist and I think we're going to win our next two at home and then we have a big match in Marseille. I think we can get out of the group," he said.

In Focus: Liverpool vs Arsenal

The cloak of caution usually hovers over Liverpool under Benitez but they'll throw the kitchen sink at Arsenal in the opening 20 minutes, allowing the visitors to hit them on the counter-attack.

The pace and interplay of Arsenal's front five will put Liverpool's once iron defence to the test and goals are to be expected. There were 18 in three matches in this fixture at Anfield last season; Arsenal winning twice, Liverpool just the once.

Liverpool's other strikers are slightly one-dimensional but 'El Nino' offers the complete package. Quick, dynamic and two-footed, his £26million transfer fee has been justified with seven goals in 11 games, though even he has not been immune to Rafael Benitez's rotating.

Torres missed the last two games with a thigh injury but should return here in what will be a huge test for William Gallas and Kolo Toure.

THE KEY BATTLES


Cesc Fabregas v Xabi Alonso

One of Fabregas's great assets is his ability to find pockets of space in congested midfields and deliver instant killer passes.

Alonso has more defensive responsibilities than his fellow Spaniard and will be expected to shield Liverpool's back four.

Alexander Hleb v Alvaro Arbeloa

No player epitomises Arsenal's progress better than Hleb. The Belarusian can go into his shell but when they are on song, he is at the heart of it, drifting inside to instigate clever moves with Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky. Arbeloa could be recalled to shadow him for the day.

Theo Walcott v Jamie Carragher

Super quick versus not-so-quick. Only one winner? Certainly not.

Walcott came of age on Tuesday but he is still very raw and Carragher has the nous and expertise to keep him in his cage. However, if Walcott manages to get one-on-one with Liverpool's defensive leader, there could be fireworks.

TEAM NEWS AT A GLANCE

Robin van Persie (knee) and Philippe Senderos (back) are missing for Arsenal. For Liverpool, Fernando Torres is set to return from injury and Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and Alvaro Arbeloa could also be back after lay-offs.

Reds Reveal New Stadium Cost

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has admitted that the projected cost of building a new stadium for the club has increased by at least £150million.

Hicks and fellow American George Gillett took over the club in March and have since revamped plans for a stadium to replace Anfield by August 2011.

Liverpool are hoping to receive the City Council's seal of approval for the new plans at a meeting on 5th November.

However, Hicks has revealed that the new stadium will now cost the Merseyside outfit "at least £400m" - a considerable increase on the initial estimate of £250m.

The stadium is planned to hold 60,000 supporters and will be designed to accommodate an additional 10,000 fans when permission is secured.

"Our fans are wonderful and over time we'll be able to give them the amenities, comfort and ease of getting tickets they have never had before," said Hicks.

Hicks, though, insists he and co-owner Gillett did not invest in Liverpool in order to gain financial profit.

"People get involved in sport mainly because they have a passion rather than for the money," Hicks added.

"There are far better investments I could make than buying a football team."

Benitez Feeling No Pressure

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has brushed off talk he is under pressure at Anfield.

There have been growing murmurs of discontent on Merseyside with the Reds having taken only one point from their opening three Champions League group games.

But speaking ahead of this weekend's visit of Arsenal, the Spaniard was unflustered.

When asked if he felt under pressure, Benitez said: "I don't think so, it's part of the job as a manager.

"Every week if you lose you will be under pressure, if you win then you are the best manager in the world. We just need to keep going."

Benitez is confident his side will bounce back to form against Arsenal at Anfield following Wednesday's shock defeat to Besiktas.

"When we played against Everton I said a derby would be a different game and it could be the same against a top side like Arsenal," added Benitez.

"They are top of the table now, but our team has confidence.

"The players are ready and for me they are playing better than before and we have a lot of positive news."

After European Loss, Liverpool Faces Inform Arsenal In Premier League

Liverpool has little time to recover from a devastating Champions League defeat, going straight into a Premier League showdown against an Arsenal side in its best run of form in years.

The two play at Anfield on Sunday after a contrasting week in Europe. Liverpool lost at Besiktas 2-1 on Wednesday and has only a point after three Champions League games.

Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 7-0 on Tuesday to equal the best-ever scoreline in the Champions League and keep a perfect record in Europe after three games.

The Gunners have won their last 12 games in all competitions and are unbeaten in the Premier League.

Even in 2003-04, when Arsenal went through the entire league season unbeaten, the Gunners' best sequence was 10 straight wins in all competitions.

Arsenal leads the Premier League with 25 points, followed by Manchester United with 23, Manchester City with 22 and Liverpool with 19. Arsenal has a game in hand on the two Manchester sides.

Liverpool hasn't lost in the league yet either, but any boost from beating crosstown rival Everton 2-1 last Saturday may have gone with the loss in Turkey.

"It was down as much to bad luck as anything else,'' Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said.”Everything we did could not make up for missing so many chances.

"But if we keep playing like we did here, we will win matches because we will certainly score more next time around if we play like that.''

Arsenal's players were clearly enjoying themselves as they demolished Slavia Prague, and the game brought two goals from Theo Walcott in his first start.

"Theo has proved we can believe it everyone in our squad,'' said Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

The only blemish to Arsenal's week was the attack by benched goalkeeper Jens Lehmann on manager Arsene Wenger.

The 37-year-old German international has not played for Arsenal since making a mistake against Blackburn in the Premier League on Aug. 19, although he has since recovered from an elbow injury.

He told German television on Tuesday that Wenger was humiliating him by leaving him out of the team and criticizing Manuel Almunia, who has been starting in his place.

Hicks Backing Benitez

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has given his support to manager Rafa Benitez following The Reds' disappointing UEFA Champions League campaign.

Wednesday's surprise 2-1 defeat to Besiktas means the Merseysiders are likely to need to win all three of their remaining group games to qualify for the knock-out stage.

Although Liverpool are unbeaten in The Premier League this season, Benitez's rotation policy has also come under renewed criticism - including Steven Gerrard's substitution in the Merseyside derby.

However, Hicks says the Spaniard's record in Europe speaks for itself and that he has no problem with the former Valencia man's policy of chopping and changing his squad.

"We back Rafa. He's the right manager. Rafa's rotation has been his policy for three years," the American businessman told Sky Sports News.

"Rafa's ability to coach and manage in the Champions League should be unquestioned.

"We had a disappointing loss because we got outplayed by the Turks.

"I think we have our work cut out, but yeah we can qualify. We have to win the next three games."

Liverpool Boss Rafael Benitez Believes His Reds Squad Still Can Qualify Despite Their 2-1 Loss To Besiktas In Champions League

Despite suffering a defeat at the hands of Besiktas, which resulted in the Reds sinking to the bottom of the Champions League Group A table, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has full confidence that his side they will reach the latter stages of the Champions League.

Presently the Anfield side have just one point after their 2-1 defeat and now will have to win their remaining three games in order to qualify.

"If we play like we did against Besiktas, we can win the final matches," said Liverpool boss Benitez.

"The players worked hard and you cannot blame them. The fans will be positive we can do it after seeing the game."

Liverpool, who are still unbeaten in the Premier League, went down by an own-goal when defender Sami Hyypia deflected Serdar Ozkan's shot into his own net.

Bobo went on to increase the score in the second half firing home the ball from close range.

Reds skipper Steven Gerrard got one goal to the credit of his side through a brilliant header as Liverpool pushed hard in the latter stages of the match.

Benitez added: "We had a lot of shots on target and shots off target. We controlled almost everything but made a big mistake in the first half."

Gerrard believes his manager is right and feels the Reds can still qualify from the group.

"We are pleased with how we played but disappointed with the result. We need to keep going and win the final three games and see what happens," he said.

"We need to take the positives and learn from our mistakes. We are capable of winning our final three games."

"It is the worst possible result. We had a mountain to climb but we have got an even bigger one to climb now.

"Mistakes happen as a result of misunderstandings but they put us under pressure."

Sissoko Desperate For Move To Juventus

Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko has expressed his regret at not moving to Juventus in the summer and is hoping they will reignite their interest in him during the January transfer window.

The Mali international rejected a move to the Bianconeri in the summer and instead opted to sign a new four-year contract at Anfield.

However Sissoko has struggled for form this season and Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano are all ahead of him in the central-midfield pecking order.

“I should have accepted a move to Juventus,” said a regretful Sissoko. “Not moving to Juve was a massive error on my part.”

The chances of a move to Turin may not be over though for the 22-year-old. Coach Claudio Ranieri’s big midfield acquisition in the summer, Tiago Mendes, has been a huge flop and has started just one Serie A game this season.

Ranieri knows Sissoko well during his time as Valencia boss and may be prepared to sell Tiago in January and replace him with the energetic Liverpool man.

Sissoko joined the Reds in 2005 and has since gone on to make more than 75 appearances for the club.