Liverpool squad travelling to Hungary

Rafael Benitez has taken an 18-man squad to Hungary for Liverpool's crunch Champions League tie with Debrecen.

Pepe Reina, Diego Cavalieri, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Emiliano Insua, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Andrea Dossena, Alberto Aquilani, Steven Gerrard, Yossi Benayoun, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, Jay Spearing, Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog.

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Liverpool wants Mascherano to forget Barca

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano's hopes of forcing a January move to Barcelona will end in frustration.

Rafa Benitez will not allow further disruption to his squad given the problems this season, says the News of the World.

Mascherano has been a shadow of his former self since a £30million deal fell through last summer.

Liverpool will review his future at the end of the season. Until then the Argentine is under orders to forget about a switch to the Nou Camp.

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Gerrard the saviour on mission to save the season

Liverpool set off today for their make-or-break Champions League showdown in Budapest with skipper Steven Gerrard insisting that they can still salvage their season.

The Reds, with one win in 10 games in all competitions, are seventh in the Barclays Premier League and face a Champions League exit on Tuesday when they face Hungarian champions Debrecen in Budapest.

Only a Liverpool win and a Lyon victory away to Fiorentina on the same night, will save the Reds from elimination at the group stage - the first time that will have happened under boss Rafael Benitez.

But Gerrard, who will almost certainly need another pain-killing injection in his groin to allow him to play in the Ferenc Puskas stadium, is confident that Liverpool's worrying season can be saved.

He said: "The mood in the camp is really good, although we know our position in the table isn't good enough.

"But we have faith in our ability. We know we can put things right."

He added: "It's been a frustrating few weeks because as soon as I was fit we had the international break. I've been desperate to play and can't wait to really get going properly again."

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Torres unlikely to be fit till Derby date

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is resigned to being without Fernando Torres for next week's Merseyside derby with Everton.

Torres is still struggling with a groin problem which has ruled him out of the last two games against Birmingham and Manchester City.
It was hoped with rest the Spanish international might be fit for the trip to Goodison Park, but Benitez expects his star striker to be missing for another ten days.

It means Torres is set to sit out Tuesday's crucial UEFA Champions League clash against Debrecen and then the meeting with Everton next weekend.

"Torres had a plan of fitness that would take three weeks working with the physios," Benitez told the Sunday Mirror.

"You can see he is improving all the time, but I would say that he is still maybe 10 days away from being right.

"The next few days will decide whether he will be fit for Everton, but at this moment there are no guarantees."

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Rafa plays Henry's hand ball card as challenge to Lyon

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has admitted he is hopeful Thierry Henry’s controversial handball in France’s World Cup qualifying win over the Republic of Ireland could help his team this week as they battle to stay in the Champions League.

The Reds take on Debrecen on Tuesday knowing if Fiorentina beat an already qualified Lyon, the Merseysiders will be knocked out of the competition.

However, Benitez has challenged Claude Puel’s side to help restore French football’s reputation by fielding a strong side and giving their all against the Italians.

“I don't know if the Henry incident will affect Lyon but it could be good for us. It will be difficult for them but they have quality and players who want to prove something,” he told the News of the World.

"If they want to show everyone in the world they are good professionals and want to win every game, it would be good.

"It could be something that works out positively for Liverpool. Their coach said they would try to win. He is a professional. I know Lyon have a good group of professionals and a good manager."

Yet the Spaniard also admitted his team could not afford to be distracted by results elsewhere and must make sure they win in Hungary first of all.

"We have to do our job. That is the key thing. We can talk about Lyon and Fiorentina but it is something we cannot control. For me, it is all about us winning against Debrecen,” he added.

"You cannot influence the other game. We have to concentrate on our job, win our game and then see what happens in the other match.

"If we talk too much about Fiorentina- Lyon, we may lose focus on our game. It would be bad if Lyon won and we didn't. So we have to do our job."

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Liverpool lining january bid for Ex-Red Devil

Ruud Van Nistelrooy is being lined up for a New Year move to Liverpool.

The Dutch striker is surplus to requirements at Real Madrid as he recovers from the latest of a series of injuries that have limited him to four appearances this season.

Anfield boss Rafa Benitez is looking at the possibility of taking the former Manchester United striker on loan until the end of the season as he aims to add firepower to his team.

Van Nistelrooy, 33, is also attracting interest from Tottenham and Manchester City as he nears fitness following a thigh problem.

But he would prefer a move to Anfield because he believes Liverpool will still be fighting for the Premier League title at the end of the season – and that would help him secure a place in Holland’s World Cup squad.

It’s a move that would send shock waves all the way to Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson believed he landed a huge psychological blow on Benitez when he persuaded former Liverpool striker Michael Owen to join United in the summer. Recruiting Van Nistelrooy would give the Merseysiders a big New Year lift as they look to get back into the title race.

Van Nistelrooy scored 95 goals in 150 appearances for United before moving to Spain three years ago in a £18million deal after falling out with Ferguson.

Real signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema last summer, while Van Nistelrooy is also behind Bernabeu golden boy Raul in the pecking order.

Benitez will be given a limited budget for signings in January – and a loan move for Van Nistelrooy is a big attraction.

Van Nistelrooy’s goal-scoring pedigree is impressive. In three seasons he has been the Champions League top marksman. He is currently the Champions League second highest scorer – only Raul has more.

As well as having World Cup aspirations Van Nistelrooy also needs to secure a long-term contract. His current agreement with Real expires next summer.

The other big attraction for Benitez is that Van Nistelrooy can operate as a solo striker in the way he currently deploys Fernando Torres.

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Rafa happy with after the draw

Rafael Benitez praised Liverpool's character and refused to criticise his side's performance, despite the Anfield club throwing away a 1-0 lead to record a fourth successive draw.

Benitez's side have won only one of their last ten games, a 2-0 victory over champions Manchester United, but the Spanish boss insisted his side had performed admirably after suffering with injury problems.

"We're a little bit disappointed, we had chances at the end.," Benitez told Sky Sports:But with the problems we had, making two substitutions in the first 18 minutes, to still come back we showed very good character. Until the last minute we were still pushing.

"The players worked so hard. You could see that even with a lot of problems we were winning and even though we conceded the first goal then the second, you could still see the character of the team.

"In the circumstances I thought we were very good.''

Benitez is hopeful of having a bolstered side for the crucial midweek Champions League clash with Debrecen despite today's injuries to Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel.

"Agger has five stitches and Babel has a problem with his ankle, but it's too early to say and we have to wait,'' Benitez said.

"I think it was important for Yossi Benayoun to come through today. On the bench was Albert Riera and hopefully (Glen) Johnson (will return). Maybe we'll have some more coming back.''

Benitez's City counterpart Mark Hughes insisted his side edged the contest.

"We're disappointed because I think we were the better team today,'' he told Sky Sports. "We showed great character to come from a goal down.

"We were in a winning position and that's the frustration for us at the moment, allowing those winning situations to go away from us. That's the disappointing thing. Really, Liverpool had not caused us too many problems.''

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One more disastrous draw at anfield

Liverpool proved they are not ready to be replaced in the top flight elite by Manchester City just yet as Yossi Benayoun's equaliser secured a draw at Anfield.

Mark Hughes' men from Eastlands arrived on Merseyside intent on proving they were top four material but they found a Liverpool side in defiant mood despite more injury problems.

Martin Skrtel put Liverpool in front but Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland sent City ahead before Benayoun equalised.

Despite the furore over Liverpool's use of a Belgrade clinic to get players fit for a key week of vital matches in Europe and the Premier League, all four of the men sent to Serbia for treatment failed to make the starting line-up.

Glen Johnson was not even on the bench, where Benayoun, Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio were initially named.

Liverpool had Steven Gerrard, Ryan Babel and Jamie Carragher, the latter after a ban, returning from the side that drew with Birmingham last time out.

Manchester City made one change from the side that were held at home by Burnley last time out, Nigel De Jong coming into the side in place of Carlos Tevez, who was a substitute.

Liverpool started well, Gerrard attacking the right flank of City's defence when the opportunity arose. The first chance came after five minutes from a free-kick following a Gareth Barry foul on Dirk Kuyt. Gerrard swung the set-piece in from the right, Daniel Agger flicked on and centre-back partner Skrtel saw a free header from the left brilliantly saved by Shay Givens.

Agger, though, was injured in the incident after clashing heads with Kolo Toure. The Danish international's legs buckled under him as he was receiving treatment and he was carried off suffering from concussion.

Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos was soon on as substitute, a reshuffle Liverpool did not need against the pace of Emmanuel Adebayor, with Craig Bellamy itching to run at Carragher on the left.

Soon Liverpool suffered more injury trouble. Babel was hurt in a collision with De Jong, and needed treatment on the line. Babel lasted only a couple of minutes more after his limping return and was replaced by Benayoun.

City were intent on containment and eventual control. De Jong effectively regained midfield possession to set in motion City's calm, thoughtful approach play.

Toure, suffering following an earlier tackle with Gerrard, was replaced at the break by Nedum Onuoha.

And Liverpool produced the lift the game needed with a goal after 49 minutes. Pablo Zabaleta had given away a needless free-kick for holding Ngog on the left, and when Gerrard swung the set-play into the box, Skrtel was there first in front of Adebayor to stab home from six yards.

City needed to up their game, and with the fire-power of Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz on the bench, they certainly had the ammunition.

They waited until the hour mark to withdraw Barry and send on Tevez, who instantly drew a booking for Lucas following a tangle on the half-way line.

City cranked up the pressure as Liverpool fell deeper, and they were level after 69 minutes. Bellamy's corner swirled into the box and it was Adebayor's turn to lose Skrtel this time, heading the ball down into the turf from where it bounced high into the top corner.

City struck again after 76 minutes when Tevez and Wright-Phillips worked well to create a chance for Stephen Ireland to flick the ball past Reina.

Liverpool's response came within 60 seconds. Ngog crossed from the right, the ball deflecting to Benayoun who forced it home from a couple of yards out.

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Rafa in favour of placenta treatment

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended the controversial use of a placenta-based treatment at a Serbian clinic to get four of his top players fit for a crucial week of fixtures.

Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera have all visited the Belgrade clinic run by physiotherapist Mariana Kovacevic, having previous been ruled out for up to a month with calf and hamstring injuries.

Following a massage with the placenta cream, all four have returned to full training and are in line for Saturday's vital home Premier League clash with Manchester City, with a Champions League trip to Hungary to face Debrecen on Tuesday and the Merseyside derby at Everton next Sunday.

Boss Benitez is desperate to salvage Liverpool's season and get them into the Champions League again next year, and he was prepared to try almost anything to get his top stars fit.

Benitez said: "We knew of other players at Premier League clubs who have been to Belgrade for treatment with this lady, and we were made aware that it was very effective. [Manchester City's] Pablo Zabaleta told Riera about it.

"She has been working for seven years with top-class sportsmen, not just footballers. So she has the experience.

"We felt it was a good opportunity to send some of our players. We sent two, Benayoun and Riera and they came back and started training straight away. So we decided to send two more, Johnson and Aurelio, and the same thing has happened. They have been training and all four will be in the squad against City.

"Arsenal's Robin van Persie went earlier, but now there are several more top players who are going to have treatment in the same way. City have sent two, (Vincent) Kompany and Zabaleta beforehand, and they were playing within days.

"There have been no injections, it is a placenta cream applied with a (massage) machine that creates waves of pressure."

He added: "We sent our players, and Van Persie was there. Kompany and Zabaleta have also been there, and we have been made aware of the success of this treatment over several years.

"Many top players have been going there for seven years, it has been successful and I believe it is safe.

"It is good for specific injuries, doctors have explained the treatment and the components of the cream that is used. We are happy with it.

"We checked it out when we became aware of the different players who had been there. I must admit we have been surprised with how well it has worked.

"It means we have players available and training that we expected to be out for several weeks. Can we guarantee that they are fully fit? We will see, but they have trained with the rest of the team for three days and they are OK."


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More Injury boost for The Reds

Rafa Benitez today revealed how four of his injured stars could be fit for Man City after flying to Serbia for 'special treatment'.

Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun were due to be out for another two weeks with hamstring problems but could now feature on Saturday after the much-publicised journey to eastern Europe.

Benitez was so pleased with the treatment they received that he sent Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson to Serbia for work on their muscle injuries.

All four players are now back in Merseyside and have taken part in full training sessions for the past two days.

Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "You know people have talked about them going to Serbia for special treatment and that's true. We had a lot of reports of international players going there, so we sent some players.

"They are now training so we will see if they can play. They have trained for the last two days.

"It has been good. There are other names from different teams who have been doing this treatment for seven years.

"It is a curative program for players with muscle injuries and it works well."

The major injury headache confronting Benitez before the international break has now almost cleared, with Steven Gerrard, David Ngog and Daniel Agger all passed fit for City.

Fernando Torres is the only senior star still in the treatment room.

Benitez added: "He is improving. He had a plan of two or three weeks, he's following this and improving."

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