Steven Gerrard Hails Liverpool FC’s Never-Say-Die Attitude

STEVEN GERRARD hailed Liverpool’s never-say-die attitude after his injury time penalty rescued a point against Atletico Madrid last night.

The captain was brought down by Luis Perea and converted the spot-kick just as Liverpool were poised for their first home defeat of the campaign.

But once again they produced another late fightback to leave them joint top with the Spaniards of their Champions League group and still in prime position to qualify for the knockout stages.

PSV Eindhoven failed to apply pressure on the Anfield outfit as they lost to Marseille and Gerrard said: “That was a big point for us. We showed a lot of character and that keeps us joint top of the group so now we move on. We controlled the game in the first half but credit to Atletico. We had to raise our again, which we did, and we controlled them in the second half so it was a deserved point.”

Swedish referee Martin Hansson had to consult his assistant in awarding the decisive penalty as he took his time over the decision.

It prompted furious protests from Atletico’s players, who were on the verge of a win that would have secured their place in the last 16 with two group games still to go.

But Gerrard said: “I got to the ball first and was caught. If that happened outside the area it would definitely have been a free-kick so a penalty was the right decision.”

Manager Rafael Benitez agreed, especially as Perea got away with a handball early in the second half. He said: “That was a clear penalty so we deserved the break to get us back in the game.

“We have that fighting spirit and it’s important that we keep it going, because that is what gets you results.

“We have come from behind five or six times this season but we do have problems. You still have to take your chances because at the weekend we missed some as well, and that is often the difference.”

Benitez also admitted his disappointment that his team still has work to do to make the next round when they could have assured their qualification with a win in either of their two games with Atletico.

Simao denied them victory in Madrid with a late equaliser two weeks ago and Maxi Rodriguez stalled their progress when he struck in the first half last night. Benitez added: “We have to be disappointed because we talked before about winning the game and how important that would be for us. But we have one more point than we had before we started so that is also positive.

“Atletico and ourselves are still in a fantastic position.”

Benitez revealed that Fernando Torres was close to making his comeback after a lay-off with hamstring injury.

However, he decided not to risk including the Spanish striker in the squad, but is confident he can be fit in time for the visit of West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid manager Javier Aguirre refused to attack referee Hansson for the late penalty decision which cost his side victory.

He said: “I was a long way from the incident so I could not see properly. But how things change in one minute of football.

“We were in the last 16 and Marseille had beaten PSV, and then we concede a penalty and it is snatched away, but we just have to keep on fighting.

“But I was still very happy with the team effort and the way we worked as a group, maybe we did not get the win we deserved.

“But one point will help us, we have regained great self-esteem, we are recovering from damaging defeats in our league form and this was still an excellent performance.”

Proof That Liverpool Need The Fernando Torres Spark

WHEN the opposing supporters are sporting your name and number on their shirts and they’re as disappointed as their rival fans at your absence, you know you’ve made it.

And the fact that Fernando Torres failed to make last night’s reunion with his former employers was as big a blow to expectation and anticipation as the failure of Diego Maradona to grace Anfield with his presence.

Torres is indeed a big miss. For both the travelling hordes who idolised him for so many years and those who have inherited that hero-worship.

The key difference is, Liverpool’s anguish over his absence goes way beyond last night. The reason Liverpool were so keen to get qualification sewn up was so they could keep key players fresh for resuming their title challenge.

In fact, the only reason there was so much at stake last night was because a lack of a clinical and ruthless finisher cost them victory in Madrid two weeks ago.

It also cost them their unbeaten league record at the weekend, when for most of the game they made Spurs look like the bottom-of-the-table side they are and inexplicably failed to cast them further adrift.

With Torres around, it’s safe to say that wouldn’t have happened – and they might not have had to rely on an injury-time penalty to rescue a point last night either.

When the 24-year-old limped out of Spain’s game with Belgium last month, his club wasn’t just losing its star striker but a star striker bang in form.

His hot streak – that had yielded four goals from his last two Premier League – was frustratingly suspended in mid-air. The fact Liverpool’s ambitions haven’t yet suffered a similar fate since is testament to the players Benitez has at his disposal. They are still well placed in the league and should still sail through to the knockout stages if the evidence of earlier meetings with Marseille and PSV Eindhoven is anything to go by.

But this can’t go on for much longer, even if Liverpool’s run of games over the next month looks more like a Christmas list than a fixture list.

Last night’s struggles to break Atletico down weren’t confined to having nobody in the six-yard area to tap into an open goal. It was the lack of someone with the ability to make something happen out of nothing when it’s all as flat as a dud firework.

The early stages of last night’s encounter were just that, with the visitors diligently sticking to their defensive duties, sitting back and waiting for the counter-attacks to present themselves.

It worked to perfection when right-back Antonio Lopez’s sublime control led to Maxi Rodriguez’s opening goal and in terms of the tactical pattern of the game that only made Liverpool’s task of breaking their opponents down even harder.

Robbie Keane, as he did in the first game, perhaps best summed up the cutting edge missing in the absence of Torres when he found himself clean through on goalkeeper Franco but, as he did a fortnight ago, opted for the over-elaborate when just a straightforward blast at goal would have done.

The chronic lack of invention was such that many in the Kop must have wished they were cheering Luis Garcia’s touchline warm-up in anticipation of him entering the fray in a red shirt rather than a blue one.

His impact on European nights has clearly not been forgotten and it could certainly have come in useful on this particular one.

But it’s Torres’s return that is really longed for, which is little wonder given that Daniel Agger looked the most likely outlet for an equaliser for much of the second half.

His comeback is now more than a week overdue based on the original prognosis but it is worth remembering there have been times during his spell on the sidelines when the message from his team-mates has appeared to be: “Take your time, there’s no rush.”

Dirk Kuyt filled the void admirably with his double strike Wigan, while the whole team did likewise with their compelling performance at Stamford Bridge.

But the Dutchman can’t be expected to sustain the kind of strike rate that Torres has delivered since bursting on to the English football scene and it’s clear Benitez’s squad can’t sustain a successful campaign while he’s spending games closer to his girlfriend than his fellow strikers.

Although one of the biggest problems now is that there aren’t too many of them about. David Ngog is one for the future rather than the current unforgiving deep end of a vital Champions League game.

In the final analysis of it, defeat may have been avoided. But nobody can swerve the fact that the extra rehabilitation time that has denied Torres a reunion with his old pals had better start coming to fruition.

Because right now a reunion with his current team-mates is far more urgent.

Maradona Plans To Make Liverpool's Mascherano His New Captain

Diego Maradona wasted little time putting his stamp on the Argentina national team, confirming he wants Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano to be his new skipper.

Maradona, 48, made the announcement just hours after he was formally confirmed as Argentina coach, succeeding Alfio Basile who stood down on October 16.

Maradona's first game in charge will be against Scotland at Hampden Park on November 19, and the new man has in the main stayed loyal to the group of players assembled under Basile.

However, two high-profile players did miss out on a place in Maradona's inaugural 20-man selection, with Internazionale midfielder Esteban Cambiasso and Getafe goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri failing to get the nod.

Maradona's wish to make Mascherano his captain appears to be his strongest statement of intent, with the combative 24-year-old set to wrest the armband from the vastly experienced Javier Zanetti.

Mascherano last week said he did not have the charisma to be captain of his country, but Maradona said: "I want Mascherano to be my captain because I believe he is the Argentinian player who is closest to the idea I have about the Argentinian shirt - sweat for it, sacrifice for it, being a professional, being close to the team-mate.

'I will convince him. He will be my captain.'

Star playmaker Lionel Messi has not been called up due to an agreement between the Argentinian Football Association and Barcelona president Joan Laporta, after the Spanish giants released him to play the Olympic Games in Beijing earlier this year.

'Messi is not in the list out of respect to Barcelona,' Maradona continued.

'When we met [AFA president Julio] Grondona, the verbal agreement was already set.

'Laporta was a gentleman by letting him play the Olympic Games so we decided to let him stay in Barcelona for this match. If Barcelona finally let him play, he will be included in the list.'

Maradona added that he will not be taking the friendly against the Scots lightly.

'In my national team, there are no friendly matches,' he insisted. 'They are international games and we must defend the shirt.'

Mascherano will be joined in Maradona's first squad by Newcastle pair Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez and Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez.

Match Preview: LiverpooL vs. Atletico Madrid

A fortnight ago, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez retuned to his home town as the Reds took on Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón, which was freed up for the contest despite concerns over crowd behaviour.

It wasn't exactly a classic, but both sides got what they wanted from the fixture in the end. Robbie Keane scored after 14 minutes despite hints of offside, but Simão Sabrosa – a player Benitez is a known admirer of – drove a low shot past Pepe Reina inside the last ten minutes.

The point leaves both sides sitting pretty in Group D ahead of the return leg in Liverpool...on paper at least. If Dutch side PSV Eindhoven were to beat Marseille in the other fixture, any loser in this game would all of a sudden be under massive pressure – just one point ahead in second with two games to go.

Since the last Champions League game much has been made of Liverpool's blossoming Premier League title challenge.

Before the first Atletico clash, they edged back-to-back games against upstarts Manchester City and Wigan, both to the tune of 3-2. Then, Benitez's troops completed Mission Improbable, beating Chelsea at The Fortress, AKA Stamford Bridge. A hard-fought win over Portsmouth followed and many started thinking that this Liverpool side could be for real.

Indeed, normally coy Rafa started to discuss his side's surge to the league summit with enthusiasm and confidence. He admitted that he was planning to 'lead from the front' and was oozing something of a 'told you so' attitude as the chip started to remove itself from his shoulder after several seasons of piloting an also-ran operation.

Then came the Tottenham acid test. Harry Redknapp's revitalised Spurs had shown Arsenal what they were made of, coming back to draw 4-4. However, even with that warning shot, the Reds couldn't fare any better and were beaten 2-1. It was very telling. Dirk Kuyt scored after three minutes, but Rafa's falterers missed a ridiculous amount of chances and allowed Spurs to steal their points.

One game on, Liverpool need to show that they're unflappable. Second in the Premiership only on goal difference, five time European Champions – they should cruise this one, right?

As for Atleti, Simão's strike in the first game probably kept his boss Javier Aguirre in his job. Simão's brace in their next game in Villarreal's El Madrigal, where they scored two late goals to draw 4-4 with the Yellow Submarine, made it that little bit safer.

An unconvincing win in the Copa del Ray followed. Diego Forlan gave Atleti an undeserved lead over Segunda División B outfit Orihuela just before the break and, although they did improve after the interval, Atleti failed to kill off the 'Skorpion' fully and still have a little work to do in the second leg.

Then came Real Mallorca and, finally, the performance Atleti were waiting for from the man they were waiting for – Sergio Agüero. Komeback kid Kun bagged a first half brace and looked pretty sharp in shrugging off the Balearic outfit, who were in dazzling form beforehand.

Boss Aguirre sees signs of improvement, but admits that his side are still wounded.

Relishing being up to sixth, he said, "We've come out of the intensive care unit, but we are still in hospital. We had gone four weeks without winning and we're aware that we have to improve."

On half-fit talisman Agüero, he warned, "He's still a couple of weeks away. I'm taking him to Liverpool, but we aren't reliant on him."

Maybe not, but like Liverpool superstar Fernando Torres, who's similarly unfit, few would disagree that having Kun in the starting XI would be a massive confidence boost.

Aguirre himself will be keeping a low profile on the night, as he begins a two match ban.

Atleti are travelling to Anfield, where the Reds have won eight of ten at home, losing none. In comparison, the Spanish side have won four of ten on the road, conceding ten in their last two Liga outings. However, Atleti have failed to score on just one of those away days, although it was the Champions League trip to Schalke.

Liverpool are three goals from scoring their 300th strike in the elite competition. However, they've not beaten a Spanish club in five attempts. Atleti's record in England includes one win – against Leicester of all teams – three draws and two losses.


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Nov 01, 2008 Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool EPL

Oct 29, 2008 Liverpool 1-0 Portsmouth EPL

Oct 26, 2008 Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool EPL

Oct 22, 2008 Atletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool CL

Oct 18, 2008 Liverpool 3-2 Wigan EPL

Oct 05, 2008 Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool EPL

Atlético

Nov 01, 2008 Atletico 2-0 RCD Mallorca Primera

Oct 29, 2008 Orihuela 0-1 Atletico Copa

Oct 26, 2008 Villarreal 4-4 Atletico Madrid Primera

Oct 22, 2008 Atletico 1-1 Liverpool CL

Oct 18, 2008 Atletico 1-2 Real Madrid Primera

Oct 04, 2008 Barcelona 6-1 Atletico Primera


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

The big fitness sweat, of course, is over the fitness of striker Fernando Torres, who has a 70% chance of recovering from his hamstring injury to feature against his former side, according to Benitez.

Otherwise, the decks are more or less clear.

Atlético

Luis García and Florent Sinama Pongolle would enjoy running out against their former employers on Merseyside.

However, the main news concerns the aforementioned Argentine Agüero, who has been strongly tipped to start despite Aguirre's public reservations.

'Keeper Gregory Coupet is back in the squad after injury. However, a pair of defenders in the shape of Giourkas Seitaridis and the influential Tomas Ujfalusi are out.

Diego Forlán will be relishing the “very special” trip, with the brace he scored for Manchester United at Anfield in 2002 sure to be in his mind.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool

The Atleti camp has Fernando Torres firmly in mind when they contemplate the mission ahead. Boss Aguirre asserted, "I want him to be 100% fit and playing against us, as I want us to be challenged by the very best."

Former Red Luis García added: "When I was here we did not have player like Torres. He's given Liverpool that extra dimension and made them a better team."

Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard are also match-winners, but all eyes will be on El Niño, whether he plays ninety minutes or six.

Atlético

Agüero starting would be a massive boost, but he can't be fit enough to dominate throughout. A man who can do that, however, is Simão Sabrosa.

The man will not give up and, as Spurs showed at the weekend, the Reds often struggle to kill off plucky sides like the one Simão will inspire.

Fitness Comes First For Fernando As Rafa Reveals 'Liverpool Have Not Missed Torres'

Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool have not missed Fernando Torres and is refusing to gamble on his fitness against Atletico Madrid tonight.

The manager will wait until after training today before deciding whether the striker will return from a five-game lay-off with a hamstring injury to face his former club at Anfield.

Torres is desperate to play, having missed the trip back to Atletico a fortnight ago when the sides drew 1-1 in the Group D match.

Despite Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham, which cost Liverpool top spot in the Premier League, Benitez insists Torres will only play if he is fully fit.

'We do not have to rush Torres back,' said the manager. 'He is a fantastic player, he can change games, but we have been playing so well we have not missed him.

'If he is confident and wants to play, he will play. If he is not ready then we will not take a risk.'

Benitez is confident his side can win tonight, which will see them through to the last 16 of the Champions League providing PSV Eindhoven lose in Marseille.

'We have nothing to prove, the main thing now is to just concentrate on what we know is right,' said the Reds boss. 'Since we drew in Madrid, they have drawn 4-4 with Villarreal and beaten Mallorca 2-0, with Sergio Aguero returning to score twice.

'Madrid are doing well but they do have problems. Their strengths and weakness are the same, but they do have Aguero back and he is a very good player.'

Luis Garcia Relishing Return

Former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia is looking forward to walking out at Anfield again - only this time in the colours of Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish club arrived on Merseyside on Monday ahead of their Champions League D clash with Rafael Benitez's side and Luis Garcia was immediately in familiar territory.

"This will be a special game for me personally, but it should be for anyone playing here at this stadium with such a fantastic atmosphere," he said.

"I spent several years here and enjoyed the time - it is a special occasion for me.

"I even had a big reception at the airport. I have had messages of goodwill from fans, letters and emails. It is great to come back and see these people again.

"A special part in my heart will always be with these people at this club and in this city.

"I still remember a lot of people from when I was here, fans and players."

The match could also see another reunion with Liverpool's former Atletico hero Fernando Torres poised to make a return from a hamstring injury.

Benitez said he will leave it to the player to make the final decision after training later today but Madrid boss Javier Aguirre insists he wants to see the player on the pitch facing his side.

He said: "We are aware that he has been injured, but I want him to be 100% fit and playing against us, I want us to be challenged by the very best."

The Mexican coach, now three years into his spell in Madrid, is conscious there could be a backlash from the hosts after they lost their unbeaten record for the season at Tottenham on Saturday.

He said: "They could well be angry. We will see, but they did not deserve to lose at Spurs. If you watched the game, you will understand. They should have won and had the best chances."

Aguirre has 20-year-old Argentina star Sergio Aguero back in the squad, after the highly-rated striker was only a half-time substitute in the 1-1 draw between these sides in Madrid a fortnight ago.

Aguero scored twice at the weekend in the 2-0 win over Mallorca, and he has been linked with a £30million move to Manchester City in January.

But Aguirre said: "He is very happy here, he is still a young lad and young player and because of that I know he will be with us for many years, despite the amounts of money I hear being mentioned for him."

Simao: Anfield Is Special

Simao Sabrosa admits he is relishing the prospect of playing on another European night at Anfield.

The Atletico Madrid winger scored a sublime goal for Benfica as the Portuguese outfit knocked the Reds out of the tournament back in 2006, and he is hopeful he can help produce a repeat when Group D's top two lock horns tonight.

"It is clear that this is a special stadium," he said. "Everyone knows the mystique that Anfield has but, above all, we want to win.

"It would be a very important victory for Atletico, because we'd practically be into the knockout round. We are having a great campaign and we want to continue on the same line."

Simao's sentiments are echoed by his coach Javier Aguirre who is hoping his side can overcome the Anfield factor and inflict a second successive defeat on Liverpool.

"The one thing we can learn from that game (Spurs) is that every football match lasts 90 minutes and I have to admit that they (Liverpool) did not deserve to lose that game," he said.

"But these things happen sometimes and I hope that we can take advantage of their slip-up and inflict more damage on them."

He added: "The crowd brings an extra level of sensation and intensity to the game and it will be a different feeling for us.

"But once the whistle goes, it’s eleven against eleven. The fans will show their support, but they won’t be playing".

Torres Should Win European Player Of The year Ahead Of Ronaldo, Says Rafa

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says fit-again striker Fernando Torres should be named this year's Ballon D'Or winner.

Torres, who scored Spain's winner in the Euro 2008 final and 24 league goals in his debut season in England, trails Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Barcelona's Lionel Messi among the favourites for the December 2 gong formerly known as the European Player of the Year award.

'Fernando would be my selection,' Benitez said.

'He has scored a lot of goals and won the Euros with Spain. Ronaldo is also a very good player but I choose Fernando.'

Torres should return to the Liverpool starting line-up against his former club Atletico Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League Group D match at Anfield.

He has been out of action for three weeks after picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty.

'He's 70 per cent fit. We have to train tomorrow and I will talk to him,' Benitez said.

'He was training, but not a hard training session. He was doing almost everything. It's a decision between him and me.

'It depends in the confidence of the player. If the player is confident you can take a risk, if not you have to wait.

'Clearly he would like to be play against Atletico Madrid to show he is a very good player. He has a very good relationship with the players and the club.'

Liverpool currently top the group, level on seven points with Atletico. PSV Eindhoven, who play pointless Olympique Marseille on Tuesday, are third with three points.

Dirk Kuyt Eager To Be Part Of An Anfield Success Story

His honesty is such that he commands the complete trust of his manager. So when Dirk Kuyt senses a subtle change in mood around Anfield, it’s worth taking note.

The Liverpool striker has been at the heart of an encouraging start to the campaign for Rafael Benitez’s side that was checked only by an unlikely defeat at Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

That setback, though, has not altered Kuyt’s opinion that the Anfield outfit are on the verge of a renaissance of which he wants to remain very much part.

The 28-year-old has entered the final two years of his contract, with Benitez yesterday revealing talks will soon begin concerning a new deal.

And Kuyt has no intention of missing out on what he believes could be a trophy-laden future for Liverpool.

“I am enjoying every day here,” he says. “I knew it was a big club before I came here but now I know it is one of the biggest clubs in Europe and the world.

“My intention is to stay here for as long as possible. Hopefully the contract will come in the next couple of months. In football, you know the decision will be made before you enter the last year of your contract – but I definitely want to stay.

“I have been here now for three years and it is a great joy to play with so many great players.

“I am now in my third year, Torres is in his second and you have players like Gerrard, Carragher, Reina and Alonso that have been playing together for a while now.

“Fernando did very well last season but when you are at a club for a second season you feel even more settled in.

“In the time I have been here the team has been getting stronger and I still have the feeling we are getting stronger by the day. Hopefully, I will win trophies at Liverpool.”

Kuyt will again be on the right wing for this evening’s Champions League group game against Atletico Madrid, with Liverpool hoping to show they can bounce back from letting slip the Dutchman’s early opener at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

And Kuyt believes Benitez’s side have the mental resolve to avoid any adverse reaction to their first defeat since April.

“Everyone was disappointed with the result, especially as we were playing really well,” he says. “We had a lot of chances to kill the game and we didn’t do that. We were doing really well at the start of the season.

“We’ve still got the confidence and belief and even though we lost on Saturday we showed that we have the quality.

“I don’t think we have got anything to worry about. It becomes a worry if you are not playing well and you are losing.

“You have to make sure in the future that we take our chances and win those kind of games. We still have the feeling that it will be really difficult for teams to beat us. People are saying that how we do in the next game will be important now.

“But for us I don’t think anything has changed much.”

Kuyt, described by Benitez as “a player you can trust 100%,” has become a favourite with supporters who appreciate his relentless hard work and happy knack for chipping in with important goals.

The forward can claim a remarkable feat of having scored in every round of the Champions League and, having scored 10 goals in his last 17 games in the competition, will draw level with Kenny Dalglish in the club’s overall European goalscorers with another tonight.

While prospering abroad, Kuyt found goals more difficult to come by last season in the Premier League as his form suffered following the death of his father.

His last-gasp winner at Manchester City was his first league strike in 10 months but, as Liverpool’s top scorer this season with six goals, Kuyt is repaying the unshakeable faith shown in him by Benitez.

“As everyone knows, I had a really hard period at the beginning of last season with the loss of my dad and it is more difficult when you are in a different country,” he says.

“But lots of people helped me – my family, my friends and my team-mates and the people here at Liverpool.

“It’s important for a player to have the confidence of a manager. It’s always good when a manager says these things in public.

“I think he believes in my qualities and strengths and what I can do for the team – they know I am always going to be there for the full 90 minutes.

“When I am playing on the right I obviously know there are less chances to score but it doesn’t matter what position I play in.

“I am enjoying it on the right and I was enjoying it when I played up front against Portsmouth, Wigan and Man United. I will go wherever the manager needs me. I just want to play as often as possible.”

Kuyt adds: “I am not bothered about any criticism because that’s part of the game. The most important thing is when your manager and team-mates believe in you.

“They were always there through the difficult times and that’s what makes you stronger when you come back.

“I am feeling really well at the moment. I am playing in a different position on the right but I am enjoying it.

“I am now enjoying my football and am being involved in important moments and helping set up important goals.

“I have also scored some important goals myself and I want to keep on doing that. But for me the most important thing is to be giving my best for the team.”

Liverpool Will Move On From Tottenham Blip

All great sides have to lose games – but what makes them great is the way they react. But I think the overall public reaction to Liverpool’s first loss of the season already says a lot about the progress they are making this season.

In past years, they would have gone to somewhere like Tottenham and we’d be pulling them apart.

Maybe Rafael Benitez would have been questioned for his team selection. Maybe we would have been slating the players for not performing or bemoaning their lack of consistency.

And we would certainly have been writing Liverpool off as genuine title challengers for another year.

Not this time. It says everything about this current Liverpool side that the general consensus seems to be ‘let’s forget it and move on’.

For a start, you can’t blame the players for the defeat at Spurs. They absolutely battered them and if that game had finished 4-0 nobody would have batted an eyelid.

On Match of the Day I said Liverpool created enough chances to have won three games, never mind one, so you certainly wouldn’t criticise them after such a dominant performance. It was just one of those days when the ball would not go in.

As for Benitez, there’s not much he could have done really, is there? Mangers don’t miss the chances. Managers aren’t responsible for balls hitting posts and crossbars or indeed for Xabi Alonso missing free headers.

There was an eight-minute spell at the start of the second half when Liverpool had four great chances to make it 2-0 and that would have killed the game off, and if Fernando Torres had been fit it surely would have been.

But Benitez picked pretty much his best side and they played well, so what more could he do? How can you legislate for Jamie Carragher heading into his own net of all things?

The only worry for me overall was perhaps the performance of Pepe Reina, who seemed to want to come for everything but didn’t make it. But we all know any lapse in his form will only ever be temporary.

And that’s what Liverpool need to ensure Saturday was. Just a blip.

The best thing for them now is to have a game straight away.

If they can get back to winning ways tonight against Atletico Madrid and beat West Brom on Saturday then Tottenham is well and truly out of their system. Ancient history.

A bit like how the home defeat to Liverpool is to Chelsea.

They bounced straight back in midweek by beating Hull 3-0 then they hit five past Sunderland on Saturday.

I would also draw parallels with Manchester United’s experience at Everton. They could have been four or five by the early stages of the second half but, similar to Liverpool, they lost their way and in the end dropped some vital points. But it didn’t affect them. They easily beat West Ham then put four past Hull City to get themselves right back on track following a disappointing weekend.

Liverpool have already beaten United and Chelsea this season – now they have to match them again and respond to a bad result in the best way possible.

The fact that everyone seems to believe they can shows how much Benitez’s side have changed opinions so far this season.

Liverpool Reserves 1 - 2 Manchester City Reserves

LIVERPOOL Reserves slumped to a fourth defeat in a row as Manchester City the Halliwell Jones Stadium in the FA Premier Reserve League Northern Section last night.

The visitors went ahead on nine minutes when Marshall capitalised on a poor clearance from Damien Plessis and drilled in a low 18-yard shot.

Liverpool rallied and Nabil El Zhar was denied by the keeper after a neat pass by Dani Pacheco. The Moroccan fared better three minutes before the break when he scored with a fabulous individual effort, jinking away from several defenders before firing a shot into the bottom corner.

Liverpool’s joy was short-lived however, as City regained the lead through Benjani almost immediately. The experienced front-man netted at the second attempt after Peter Gulacsi had made a good save.

Liverpool never really looked like finding a way through, although Jordy Brouwer went close when he was put clean through by Ronald Huth but shot straight at the keeper.

City had chances to wrap the game up, but Gulacsi made some excellent saves to keep the score down.

LIVERPOOL RESERVES: Gulacsi, Darby, Insua, Ayala (San Jose 71), Huth, Plessis, El Zhar, Spearing (Weijl 71), Brouwer, Pacheco (Simon 81), Bruna. Subs: Bouzanis, Irwin.

MANCHESTER CITY RESERVES: Johansen, Logan, M Ball (Poole 46), Mee, McDonald, Clayton, Weiss, Marshall, Vassell (Williamson 46), Benjani (Daly 46), McDermott. Subs: Hartley, Kay.

Rafael Benitez Keen For Dirk Kuyt And Daniel Agger To Sign New Liverpool Deals

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has called on the club's board to offer Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt new long-term contracts.

Both players have 18 months to run on their contracts and while Benitez, whose contract expires at the same time, says it is time the Anfield club secured both players' futures.

"Agger is very close and he is talking with the club," Benitez said. "There is no news yet with Kuyt but he is another player that I would like to get done as soon as possible. They have to be done before the new year.

"In each team you need people with quality, that work hard and with a good character.

"I want to do it as soon as possible because it is better for them and better for the club."

Kuyt is eager to ensure that he is a part of any future success at Anfield.

“I’m really happy here and I want to stay, but so far there has been no talk of a new contract,” he said. “Hopefully that will come in the next few months.”

Gillett Admits To Feeling 'Embarrassed' Over Liverpool

With his appetite for remaining as Liverpool's co-owner in serious doubt, George Gillett has revealed ambitions to invest in other sports, with India seemingly now a source of interest to him.

Gillett has taken several trips to India and any investment there would come on top of his entry this month into the race to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Montreal, Canada.

The 70-year-old did not say how long he intends to remain at Anfield, with or without co-owner Tom Hicks. "You feel a responsibility and an embarrassment on occasions when you haven't provided all you might have," Gillett said. "There's a level of embarrassment and you want to correct it quickly."

Gillett said that the financial crisis is affecting his sports interests. "All the sports teams I know of are re-examining all of their futures." He claimed that his sports franchises do not necessarily need big-money superstars.

"We now have [clubs] that will be successful in the long run, that can compete for the championship every year and don't depend on buying high-priced players every year," he said.

Liverpool Must Sort Out Contracts Or Lose Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez fears history could repeat itself if Liverpool's owners fail to secure his future.

The Reds are facing the prospect of losing a man who stands just third behind Kenny Dalglish and Bob Paisley in an exclusive Sunday Mirror-PowerTable analysis of Anfield's managerial greats.

But unless American pair Tom Hicks and George Gillett deliver the new contract that Benitez craves after claiming to have healed the boardroom rift that tore the club apart last season, then the Spaniard could feel forced into making the kind of heartbreaking decision that saw him quit Valencia for Liverpool in the summer of 2004.

Just weeks after leading Valencia to a second La Liga title and the UEFA Cup, Benitez walked out on the final year of his Mestalla contract after becoming disillusioned by a string of broken promises.

He said: "I left Valencia because there were problems with my contract and other situations that meant I decided to leave.

"It wasn't my idea to leave because I had a list of names in place that would have improved the team. I believe Valencia would have gone on to win more trophies."

Benitez's patience had been tested the previous summer when the Spanish club refused to take up agreements he had secured to sign the then-unknown quartet of Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Ricardo Quaresma.

He finally walked away after leading Valencia to the finest hour in their history because they had failed to keep promises about a new deal.

Benitez's fate has turned full circle, with Liverpool's American owners yet to make contact about extending a contract that now has just 18 months to run.

"I spoke with George Gillett in London last week, but there was nothing about a new contract," Benitez revealed.

"That is OK because I want to concentrate on football.

But if the owners ask to talk about a new contract that would be good also.

"If not, I will continue to do my job for as long as I can and then we will see. I really want to stay at Liverpool and hopefully in the future the squad will be even better.

"I would like to be here a long time, so I am waiting. After improving the squad for the last five years I know we are very, very close to having a fantastic team and I want to be part of their future.

"I am also sure that this Liverpool team, with the staff I have also, will get better every year.

"The contract situation does not put me under more pressure to win either the title or the Champions League because in my mind I am just thinking about winning every game.

"I think we are close to having the team I want, but if I start thinking, 'We have to win this trophy' it is possible to lose focus."

It's ironic that Benitez will face his one-time Valencia nemesis Jesus Garcia Pitarch this week. Pitarch, the sporting director who was blamed for Benitez's departure four years ago, now holds the same position with Atletico Madrid, who arrive at Anfield on Tuesday.

During the week, Gillett (left) claimed his relationship with Hicks has improved. And Benitez said: "I have heard that the relationship between Liverpool's owners is better and that's good for the club.

"It is the same with me and Pitarch. We had our problems but they are solved."

Agger Happy To Be Back

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has spoken of his relief at finally being back in the Liverpool fold after a year out injured.

The Liverpool centre back has been plagued by injuries for the past 12 months and has finally managed to free himself of those problems and gain match fitness once more.

He has also managed to secure a place in the Liverpool side, but this was only due to the horrific injury suffered by fellow defender Martin Skrtel.

Speaking to kop-tv.com, Agger said, "It’s never easy to get into the team when you have a squad like we have at Liverpool.

"Things have been very hard for me after the best part of a year out and then missing out at the start of the season. I’m glad to put the last 12 months behind me.

"But being left out of the team after a long time out is just part of football. Now I want to show the fans what I can do again.

"It feels good to get back out there and I feel I’ve had some good games against Crewe in the Carling Cup and Wigan [Athletic] in the league."

Despite this, Agger knows that he will have to work harder to obtain full match fitness.

"I found it hard coming back into the team for the Wigan match. I was very tired early in the second half and could really feel that I hadn’t for a long time," he continued.

"There’s being fit and then there is match fitness - there is a big difference between the two and you can only obtain match fitness by playing in many games.

"Although I want to impress everyone again, I know I have to just play my own game. If the way you play is good enough then you will be in the team and hopefully I can get a good run now.”

"It feels good to be back."

Reds Ready - Dalglish

Kenny Dalglish believes Liverpool have got what it takes to win the Premier League.

The man who won eight league titles as both a player and manager at Anfield says Rafa Benitez's side may have been knocked off top spot by Chelsea, but can still go all the way this season.

He admits that the Blues superior firepower is something Liverpool will have to compete with in the transfer window and that champions Manchester United are a "fantastic side", but is convinced the current Reds crop have it what it takes to end an 18-year wait for the league title.

Dalglish was at the helm the last time Liverpool ruled the land and told Goals on Sunday that this season it is a case of so far, so good.

"I would go for Liverpool, but Man United are a fantastic side," he told Goals on Sunday. "But it doesn't matter what number title Man United are going for, Liverpool can only look after themselves.

"If they have got ambitions of winning the championship - which they have - they have got to beat Man United and they have got to beat Chelsea. And they've done that.

"They've beaten them twice, so they've got a lot more points from the top two teams than they did last year.

"For me, I think they've got enough to hang on, but it's whether they can get over the line or not. I think it's going to be really tight.

"Chelsea are a fantastic team. They looked really ordinary against Liverpool but as we saw yesterday, they're a fantastic team and they've got a huge goal difference. Between them and Liverpool that could be vital at the end of the season. They do have a greater goalscoring threart than Liverpool."

Dalglish hailed Robbie Keane as a "big, big signing" in the summer and backed him and Fernando Torres to form the sort of partnership he and fellow Goals on Sunday guest Ian Rush enjoyed during the club's most succesful period.

Torres was missing as Liverpool lost their first league game of the season at Tottenham on Saturday and with Keane still struggling, their former boss expects Benitez to reinforce his frontline in the New Year.

But, he believes they have the defensive durabilty to finish the season as champions.

"I think they need to start looking at scoring goals and that's something for the January transfer window," he said.

"But the good thing about Liverpool this year - and it happened in the first half at Tottenham until they maybe took their foot off the gas a wee bit - is they're winning a lot more possession in the opposition's half. They're pressing them a lot higher up the pitch.

"When they do that Liverpool are a real threat and it really gets the crowd going when they close down in the other half of the pitch, especially at home. And they are good enough to do that.

"(Jamie) Carragher and (Daniel) Agger are good enough to go one-on-one at the back and they can close down higher up the pitch.

"Man United have been the better team, simple as that. But Rafa has won the European Cup, he's got to another final and lost that and Gerard Houllier won the UEFA Cup and something like five other trophies, so they have had relative success.

"But they've not won the championship and that's the thing they are all craving - and Rushy and I are the same!"

Torres Set For Reds Return

Rafa Benitez is hoping Fernando Torres will be fit to return to the Liverpool team against his former club Atletico Madrid.

Torres has missed the Reds' last five matches after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty with Spain last month.

He failed to recover in time to take a place on the bench in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham, but could be involved in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Liverpool welcome Atletico to Anfield and Benitez is keen to have Torres back in his plans after his attack stuttered in recent games.

"Hopefully he will be ready," said Benitez on the club's official website.

"If he cannot start the game then he will be on the bench if everything is okay.

"Clearly when you have a striker with the quality and potential of Torres, and he is available, it's a very good option.

"We have an important match against Atletico Madrid and having Fernando starting or on the bench is a good option for us.

"Clearly he really wants to play as he hasn't played for a while. And he was very frustrated not to play in the first game against them."

Alex Ferguson Wary Of Liverpool's Real Push For Title

THE last time Alex Ferguson wanted Liverpool to win any game it was only because Manchester United's title hopes were resting on it.

On the final day of the 1994/95 season Fergie was relying on a favour from Liverpool to stand any chance of guiding United to the championship.

A win for the Reds against Blackburn at Anfield would have been enough to hand the title to United as long as they kept their side of the bargain by beating West Ham at Upton Park.

In the days leading up to Sky's original "Super Sunday" Ferguson kept banging on to the press about Liverpool having to do right by the competition by doing their level best to inflict defeat on Blackburn - even though there was nothing riding on the outcome for Roy Evans' side and Rovers were managed by Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool won the game but, thankfully, United could only draw theirs. Blackburn were crowned champions and Liverpool's honour was left intact.

More than 13 years have passed since then but at the start of this week Ferguson was again delighted to see Liverpool win a game – or so he said.

"That was the result I wanted," insisted the United boss and with those six words he basically admitted for the first time in far too long that Liverpool are a genuine threat.

Ferguson only ever says nice things about teams that don't concern him, that's the nature of the beast.

In the weird and wonderful world of Premier League mind games, put downs are seen as an effective way of gaining a psychological advantage over your rivals and Ferguson has used them time and time again.

The year after Blackburn pipped his team to the post, Newcastle were United's big rivals in the title race and as the pair edged closer to the finishing line Ferguson indulged in the kind of mind games which have become his trademark.

With Newcastle set to meet Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, Ferguson told the media he doubted Frank Clark's team would make the same kind of effort against the Magpies as they would if they were facing his own.

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan exploded with his infamous "I'd love it" rant, Newcastle went on to only draw with Forest and the title was Old Trafford bound. Easy.

Ferguson is not stupid, he knows full well that given the way Liverpool have started this season that they have their best chance of mounting a genuine title challenge in years.

He also knows that were they to go all the way his hopes of "knocking them off their perch" as England's most successful club before he retires would be put in serious jeopardy.

That's why the mind games have already begun.

And Liverpool should take his insistence that a victory by the club he still regards as United's biggest rivals was the result he wanted as the biggest backhanded compliment they could ever receive.

A draw at Stamford Bridge would have suited Ferguson down to the ground because United going eight points behind Liverpool has never and will never be viewed as a good thing at Old Trafford.

It remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool have got what it takes to go the distance in this season's title race but one thing's for sure – Ferguson is already worried that they can and it's doubtful in the extreme that he will "want" them to win any more games in the coming months.

Benitez: Liverpool FC Have To Bounce Back After Tottenham Defeat

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez believes that his side must follow Chelsea’s example by showing the character to bounce back after a first Premier League defeat of the season.

A shock last-minute 2-1 defeat to bottom club Tottenham on Saturday saw Liverpool surrender both the last unbeaten record in the Premier League and first place in the table as Chelsea returned to the summit on goal difference.

Liverpool had taken the lead through Dirk Kuyt in the second minute and dominated proceedings for long periods – hitting the Tottenham woodwork on three occasions when leading 1-0.

However, a Jamie Carragher own goal gifted the hosts an unlikely equaliser and substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko snatched victory for Harry Redknapp’s side in the final minute.

The loss came just six days after Liverpool had climbed to top spot in the capital courtesy of a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge which ended Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten home record.

Since then, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side have recovered to win 3-0 at Hull City in midweek and then crush Sunderland 5-0 on Saturday, to reclaim pole position thanks to a goal difference of plus 23 which is 15 better than Liverpool’s current total of 8.

Benitez believes that his own team must now follow their title rivals’ example by showing the mental strength to immediately recover from their setback.

He said: “Chelsea have shown that they’re a good team and we have to show the same. We have to show the same character now.

“It’s football – sometimes you can win, you can lose but after this last game we don’t need to be worried about the performance of the team, their character or quality.

“The key is to keep the confidence in the team and keep working as hard as we did against Tottenham and we will be there.”

Liverpool were on top for such long periods at White Hart Lane with Steven Gerrard striking the crossbar, a Darren Bent miss-clearance hitting an upright and Xabi Alonso missing a golden opportunity with a free header. Benitez was at a loss to try and explain where it all went wrong.

He said: “It’s not easy for me to define where the turning point was in Spanish – and it’s even more difficult in English!

“We were so dominant. We were controlling the game, we were controlling everything. It was a surprise. At half time we were talking about how we needed to score a second goal to finish the game.

“It’s really difficult to explain how we conceded two goals and lost this game.

“Harry said ‘Sometimes you need luck’ and I agree with him.

“I have had some experience here in England of playing well, creating chances and conceding goals in the last minute but that’s the Premier League.

“It’s very difficult to win every game now because some of the other teams are really good.”

However, after a collection of dropped points, mostly from a series of home draws in games they dominated, prevented any serious title challenge from Liverpool last season, the Spaniard emphasised how important it is to be clinical in front of goal.

He said: “We could see that the team is really good, the players have quality and the mentality is good but sometimes it’s the last pass. Taking your chances is the key mentality for winning titles.

“I think we have a good mentality but we still need to take our chances.

“We’ve been winning without Fernando (Torres). We know when we have Fernando we have another option which is different.

“But (Robbie) Keane was doing well with Gerrard and after that (Ryan) Babel with Kuyt – it was always a threat.

“You cannot talk about Torres because the rest of the players were doing so well it would not be fair.

“Clearly when you have a striker with the quality and potential of Torres he will be a good addition for us.”

Benitez’s big summer recruit, £20m striker Keane emerged from his first return to White Hart Lane still waiting to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool having been withdrawn midway through the second half but the striker laid on Kuyt’s opener.

“Robbie was okay. He was doing a good job keeping the centre-back busy and Gerrard had space so he was doing his job properly”, said Benitez.

“I was thinking about changing things (by substituting Keane) because we were so dominant I wanted to control the pace more. They were attacking and they were high but Babel has pace.”

Dossena Should Be Left Behind, Not Left-Back

TO describe that result as a disappointment is the understatement of the century.

Early goal by Kuyt and then total dominance, enough chances to win two matches but eventually the same old problem rears its head again.

We dominate a game but fail to capitalise.

Chelsea had responded to our victory there last week with two resounding wins.

We won with a penalty during the week and then on Saturday blow a lead against the team that’s bottom of the table.

Carragher had a rare off day but maybe he has to spend too much of his time compensating for Dossena at left back.

Left back? He should be left behind. An old joke I know but the Italian continually fails to impress.

He could have done more to stop Bent’s cross for Spurs’ winner and looks permanently a yard off the pace.

Reina too looked a bundle of nerves. Rafa usually manages to change a game with his subs but on this occasion we just got worse.

Riera and Keane went off and Babel and Benayoun did little. We miss a Crouch-type player up front in games like these and in conditions like that.

All Spurs did was pick up the pace and look for opportunities to whip the ball into the box and eventually they got lucky. We didn’t.

We are off the top now and Chelsea’s goal difference is already nearly three times better than ours.

That statistic alone demonstrates the problem.

We need Torres back yes, but we also need more options up front.