Owners in no mood to sell

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has refuted notions that the Anfield outfit are for sale, after reports in recent days heavily linked Saudi Arabian sports investment company F6 with buying a stake in the club.

Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud's company was alleged in the reports to have been given permission to carry out exclusive due dilligence with a view to buying the club. However, it now seems as though those procedures relate to other commercial activities rather than investing in a stake in the club itself.

According to The Press Association, Gillett stated that: "We had a marvellous meeting with them on Saturday and they were impressed with the club, but the academies in Saudi Arabia and North Africa and their possible involvement in NASCAR-type racing in the Middle East were the only items on the agenda.

"We have entered into a period of exclusive discussions regarding the possibility of introducing NASCAR-type racing to the Middle East, but the memorandum of understanding does not cover anything else."

F6's director of strategic investment, Barry Didato, also claimed that any investment in the club is not immediately imminent. It was also still unclear as to whether Gillett's co-owner Tom Hicks would be part of any deal, and just what Prince Faisal's ultimate stake at Anfield would be.

"As far as investment in Liverpool is concerned, that would be a long way off. A lot of people have jumped the gun and any possible investment would be several months away," Didato asserted.

"The agreement signed (at the weekend) leaves the door open for it (possible future investment in Liverpool), but that was certainly not the focus of it.

"George has a partner there and has his own issues to work through. Mr Hicks will also have his own issues and we are not sure what he wants to do.

"Another issue is the club's debt (of around £245million). Prince Faisal will not put forward investment capital to just clean up a balance sheet. He would only want to use money to take the club forward. It would be long-term money.

"His Highness is open to anything and is open to being a minority shareholder, but he has tremendous favourability towards the brand and institution of Liverpool [Football Club].

"His Highness would need to be invited by George and it would have to be at the right time for George. There would need to be a shared vision between all of the parties."

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Gerrard wants Liverpool to overcome the Italian nightmare

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has asserted that the Reds must use their trip to Chelsea on Sunday to provide a positive reaction to last night's Champions League defeat by Fiorentina.

Rafa Benitez's side were beaten 2-0 by the Italians, and Gerrard knows that they must return to their usual high quality in the capital at the weekend.

“It was a really disappointing night,” the England internatioinal acknowledged, speaking to The Liverpool Echo.

“We are disappointed with our first half performance. We just didn’t turn up and were second best all over the pitch. We deserved to go in behind.

“There was a reaction in the second half – without creating many clear-cut chances – but we lost the game in the first half tonight.

“We didn’t do what we usually do in Europe. We usually play with a high tempo, pass the ball well and play really well on the counterattack. Those things weren’t there tonight and it was all over the pitch – from front to back.

“Now we’ve got a massive game at Chelsea on Sunday. We have to get this result out of our system quickly and show a reaction at Stamford Bridge."

Lyon hammered Debrecen 4-0 in the other game in Liverpool's group last night, leaving the Reds in third place. Gerrard knows that a win in their encounter with the French outfit is vital.

"It’s wide open in this group and there is a lot of football still to be played," the midfielder added.

“It’s important now that we win our next home game against Lyon. If we win all our home games and try to pick up a couple of points in the last two away games then we will be fine."

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Liverpool out classed by Fiorentina

After a humbling 2-0 defeat by Fiorentina, Rafael Benitez has promised it will be a "very different" Liverpool side that faces Chelsea at the weekend before back-to-back Champions League clashes with Group E leaders Lyon determine their European hopes in coming weeks.

Liverpool also face Manchester United in a seven-match spell which includes the Chelsea game, the Lyon double-header and Arsenal away in the Carling Cup.
Viola Teenager Stevan Jovetic scored twice in a blistering first-half performance that left Liverpool shattered in Florence but manager Benitez said: "We now have Chelsea away at the weekend in an important Premier League game. I believe you will see a different Liverpool in that match, a totally different performance with a different mentality.

"Then we have Lyon home and away in this group, they are the leaders and it means we have to now win them both. We certainly will not be as bad again. If you make too many mistakes against such sides, you will be punished. It is very simple.

"Mentally we will have better days than this. We did improve, but we needed to score early in the second-half. We had the chances but we failed to take them."

He added: "In that first half we did not play well, there were too many mistakes and problems. We did improve, but it was not enough. Our mentality in that opening period was just not right, we were bad all over the pitch and I cannot really recall a performance like that. They were on top of us all the time, we played badly and they were just better than us."

Liverpool went behind when Jovetic exploited the offside law which does not penalise players who are not deemed to be interfering with play. Adrian Mutu had been in a clear offside position when Jovetic scampered clear to score.

Benitez said: "It is the new law, and another mistake by us. If a player is in such a position he is offside, and it makes it difficult for defenders who are distracted by him. But the law says the other player coming from deep is fine, he can go through. Just another error by us."

Jovetic took advantage of poor defending on the near post to claim his second, and Benitez was also critical of the tackling and pressing from his team.

He said: "I was not only disappointed with the challenging in midfield but all over the pitch.

"But they did not produce anything we did not expect. We had watched them, we knew about Jovetic, there was nothing new out there that surprised us. But we still played badly."

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli was delighted with his own team. The former Juventus player said: "We were fantastic, that is the best performance I have seen by a Fiorentina side in the four years I have been in charge. Liverpool did not play well, but that was because of the performance of my team. We were outstanding."

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Benitez confident against the Italians

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists there is nothing to fear in Europe this season as he takes his team to Florence to take on Fiorentina.

Benitez is looking to repeat Champions League glory in Bernabeu next May, five years after lifting the trophy in dramatic fashion against AC Milan.

And the Reds will take on a Fiorentina side in a dreadful run of European form, having won just one of their last 12 matches and none of their last five at home in which they have scored just three goals.

The Stadio Artemio Franchi holds few fears for Benitez and Liverpool look to secure back-to-back victories at the start of this season's campaign.

Benitez said: "The Champions League is a very different and difficult competition, but we have confidence we can beat anyone.

"The Champions League, if you start winning consistently, becomes massive. We got three points against Debrecen and if we can win against Fiorentina it will be a very good step forward. Because then we maybe have to win two more at home and that will be enough to qualify.''

Benitez was also confident that the 6-1 drubbing of Hull City would do nothing other than add further confidence to his side: "I think we can take this mentality into the Champions League, because the team is playing with confidence and scoring goals and playing good football.

"It is easy for the players and the staff to have the same mentality. I am sure it will be different because Fiorentina are a very organised team so it will be more difficult to play good football but we will try.

"Our form has a lot to do with [Fernando] Torres, obviously. In the last three games he has been outstanding. Torres can still improve, because he likes to learn. He is on fire at the moment and is a key player for us, but the Champions League is more difficult and he is aware of that.

"We are scoring more goals and not really worried that we have conceded a few more. Our aim is to score goals and win matches, keeping clean sheets is a bonus. This has been a very good goalscoring start to the season, I'm told the best for over 100 years at this club.

"But even if you score goals and also concede, then someone will see the negative of that.''

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Yossi and Masch not to be part of the Italian job

Liverpool will be without defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano and in-form winger Yossi Benayoun when they face Fiorentina in the Champions League in Italy on Tuesday evening.

Both missed training today. Mascherano is sick, while Benayoun suffered a leg injury in the Reds' 6-1 demolition of Hull City on Saturday.Neither have travelled with the squad to Florence.

Spanish winger Albert Riera may now retain his place in the starting line-up or Fabio Aurelio could be drafted in on the left-hand side of midfield should Benitez choose to adopt a more cautious approach.

Full squad: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres, Cavalieri, Aurelio, Dossena, Agger, Plessis, Voronin, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Riera, Spearing.

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Prince Faisal confirms Liverpool talks

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett is set to sell his stake in the Premier League club to Saudi Arabian sports investment firm F6, according to the company's managing director Gassim Hamidaddin.

Gillett and fellow American owner Tom Hicks have endured a troubled relationship since buying Liverpool in 2007 and with the club apparently struggling to raise finances the former is ready to sell at least a portion of his stake.

F6 official Hamidaddin told Reuters: "We have not reached a final agreement yet ... We are discussing how much 25% or 50% in Liverpool will be worth."

Saudi prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdullah al-Saud, who chairs F6, was at Anfield to watch Liverpool's 6-1 thrashing of Hull City on Saturday, and said after the match that he was "close" to buying a stake in the Reds. Prince Faisal said the deal could "be worth £200 million to £350 million" but Hamidaddin said these figures "were not 100 percent accurate".

Regardless of the final amount, if the deal goes through it would provide a huge cash boost for Liverpool. Lack of funds means plans to build a new stadium in Stanley Park have been shelved and manager Rafael Benitez has reportedly fallen out with the board over his transfer budget on more than one occasion.

Liverpool have sought to expand their brand in the Middle East with a series of academies and the George Gillett Group are said to have agreed a memorandum of understanding with F6 that included an option to invest in the club.

Hamidaddin said: "There was a clause in this agreement that opened the possibility of buying a stake in Liverpool."

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Priceless El-Nino insists Rafa

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed that some English clubs tried to buy Fernando Torres in the summer.

Torres terrorised the Hull City defence during Liverpool's thumping 6-1 win at Anfield, helping himself to a clinical hat-trick.

It brought Torres' tally to eight goals in seven Premier League games this season, and it was fourth treble in his Reds career since his arrival from Atletico Madrid.

Benitez revealed a couple of English clubs, believed to be Manchester City and Chelsea, sounded out Liverpool about the Spanish hit-man in the summer, but Benitez has warned any potential suitors they would be wasting their time in trying to prise Torres away from Anfield.

"How much is he worth?" said Benitez. "Well at least £70million, you would say.

"I'm not saying he's the best in the world because he is young and can get better, but of course he is one of the best, and he can still improve if he wants to.

"This year we had some agents acting for other English clubs who were coming to us asking about the price of Torres, with big, big figures, but we said that he's not for sale.

"I would say at this moment in time he is not for sale at any price."

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Liverpool preparing bid for Villa

The Premier League side are looking to add the prolific striker to their squad with a January swoop.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has urged the club's owners to make funds available in order to secure the transfer of David Villa from Spanish Primera Division side Valencia.

Villa was courted by both Barcelona and Real Madrid during the summer but while the Blaugrana eventually opted to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan, Los Blancos signed Karim Benzema from Lyon.

The Spanish international was thought to be devastated at failing to secure a move away from the Mestalla but now it seems that a move to the Premier League could be an option.

Former Valencia coach Rafael Benitez has earmarked Villa as the type of player who can take Liverpool to the next level and has approached George Gillett and Tom Hicks to provide him with a suitable transfer budget to secure a deal for the striker.

The Sunday People suggests that a fee in the region of €49m would be enough to persuade Valencia to part with their prized asset, who scored 28 goals in La Liga last season.

If the move were to go through, then it would unite the strikeforce of the Spanish national team as Fernando Torres currently plays in the Premier League for the Reds.

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Gillett in talks with sale of his stake to Saudi Royal Family

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett is in talks about selling a significant portion of his stake.

Gillett was in talks on Saturday night about selling a 25 per cent stake in the Anfield club to an Arab prince in a deal worth £125million.

He has met with Prince Khalid al-Faisal and members of the Saudi royal family about investment opportunities at Liverpool.

Discussions initially began about various commercial projects but quickly progressed into talks aimed at bringing the prince in as a co-owner to work alongside Gillett and his fellow American Tom Hicks.

Any share deal would require the blessing of Hicks before it could be rubber-stamped. And although Hicks is yet to meet personally with Prince Khalid, it is understood that the Texan is ready to welcome a new partner if the terms of the deal are right.

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Liverpool hit six past Hull

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres scored a brilliant hat-trick to blow away struggling Hull at Anfield.

The Spain striker scored twice in the first half either side of Geovanni's equaliser and added a third soon after the interval.

Captain Steven Gerrard scored a fourth just before the hour and substitute Ryan Babel added two late goals as Liverpool made it four league wins - including 16 goals - in succession.

But the day belonged to Torres, who took his tally for the season to eight in seven matches and an incredible 33 in 34 matches at Anfield.

This was also his fourth Liverpool hat-trick and the third he has scored in the Premier League.

The writing was on the wall for Hull, who have not won in their last nine away matches, from the 11th minute when Liverpool took the lead with a neat passing move and a clinical finish from Torres.

Dirk Kuyt and left-back Emiliano Insua combined to allow Albert Riera to cross to the near post where Torres shimmied past Ibrahima Sonko to coolly fire past Boaz Myhill.

This season Liverpool have leaked goals through defensive mistakes and another one cost them just four minutes later when Martin Skrtel's weak header dropped to Geovanni eight yards out and he volleyed home the equaliser.

The goal unsettled home side but Lucas should have done better in the 23rd minute when he tamely side-footed Insua's cross straight at Myhill from 15 yards.

But if there is one Liverpool player you can rely on to hit the target it is Torres and his individual brilliance put his side ahead again in the 28th minute.

Yossi Benayoun's incisive through-ball picked out the Spaniard's run into the penalty area but there was still plenty of work to do.

Torres cut back inside, beating Sonko, Myhill and then 18-year-old debutant Liam Cooper to poke home from close range.

Frailties were still apparent at the back, however, and twice Riera gave the ball away 10 yards outside his own penalty area only to be saved by Jamie Carragher and poor shooting from Kamil Ghilas.

Two minutes into the second half Torres scored his third, again with an assist from Benayoun.

He raced into the inside-right channel and, with everyone in the ground expecting him to shoot right-footed, he turned inside Sonko and fired through Paul McShane's legs and into the far corner.

Torres continued to terrorise the Hull defence and was only inches over the crossbar with a looping 58th-minute header from Skrtel's cross

On the hour Gerrard, who had been quiet by his standards, added a fourth when he curled a shot into the far corner from wide on the left wing after his original corner had only been half-cleared to Insua.

Hull then seemed to self-destruct with McShane, who had been having a running disagreement with Riera all afternoon, lucky not to be sent off after being booked for a clash with Carragher and then appearing to show dissent to referee Peter Walton.

With a Champions League clash away to Fiorentina on Tuesday, Torres departed to a standing ovation in the 68th minute as he was replaced by Babel with Gerrard following soon after.

By then the hard work had been done, although Babel had a point to prove and added a fifth by turning in Kuyt's right-wing cross late on.

The Dutchman scored a fortunate second in injury time when he deflected Riera's shot over Myhill.

But even the former Ajax forward would admit he is not in the class of Torres, who once again showed how intrinsically linked he is to Liverpool's ambitions.

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Dane back in training

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has reported defender Dan Agger is nearing a return.

"Daniel is training really well and improving," said the boss. "He has a specific programme with weights to strengthen his back. He is doing well and progressing but the main thing for him now is match fitness.

"We have to be careful with him and we have been talking with the doctor and the fitness coach Paco (De Miguel).

"We are hoping he could be back playing next week. When and where we still have to decide but we have the match against Fiorentina and also the reserves game on the same night.

"It will be very positive to have Daniel back."

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Gerrard unsure about getting into Management

Liverpool Skipper Steven Gerrard is unsure if he has the application to move into management.

But im sure if he does get into Management then he will be as good a manager as he is as a player.Everyone knows he is simply fab.

He told the Daily Mail: "People ask me what I would like to do after football and I’d love to be a manager, but then I wonder if I could ever be as good as those guys because it is 24/7, it’s their life, there is nothing else and I don’t think I could be crazy like that.

"I like to switch off after games. I’ve got two daughters. I like to play golf. I think of Rafa and in five years I have never had a conversation with him that was not about football; Capello the same. They fascinate me, those people.

"When I get talking to John Terry or Wayne Rooney, I am always asking about their managers, how they work, how they interact with the players. I’ll pull Gary Lewin, the England physiotherapist, and ask him about Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

"On Friday, I love getting home, sitting on the couch, turning Sky Sports News on and listening to all the interviews coming in from the training grounds, just to hear these characters talking about football. I don’t know if I could be that obsessed. Jamie Carragher, now he could, definitely."

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Rafa backs Carragher to hit top form

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has jumped to the defence of under-fire Reds defender Jamie Carragher

Carragher's form so far has come in for scrutiny after some below-par performances from Liverpool's defensive linchpin.

Liverpool have conceded nine goals in six Premier League matches and Carragher came in for criticism following last weekend's showing against West Ham.

Benitez insists he is happy with Carragher's form and stressed it was the whole side's responsibility to improve their defending.

"We have conceded some goals and he has made some mistakes but Carra is okay," said Benitez.

"It is a question of the team defending better, not just one or two players."

Liverpool face Hull City at Anfield on Saturday and Benitez is refusing to under-estimate the visitors despite their poor start to the campaign.

Hull earned a 2-2 draw at Liverpool last season, taking a two-goal lead before The Reds pegged them back and Benitez is not taking anything for granted against Phil Brown's struggling Tigers.

"We have to respect Hull because they were really good last year," added Benitez.

"The comeback against them last year showed our character but we cannot make mistakes at the beginning of the game."

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£20million Liverpool man on recovery route

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez hopes summer signing Alberto Aquilani's return from injury may 'go a bit faster' now the Italian has started running in his rehabilitation.

The former Roma player arrived at Anfield in August after Benitez paid £20million for a player viewed as an ideal replacement for Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid.

However, Aquilani, who has a reputation for being susceptible to injury, has yet to play this season as he was signed when recovering from an ankle operation.

Benitez, though, has confirmed that the Italy international has stepped up his rehabilitation by beginning running at the Reds' Melwood training ground.

The Liverpool boss has now hinted Aquilani could return ahead of schedule, telling the club's official website: "He's going forward, progressing and he started running. If that goes okay then everything will go a bit faster.

But Benitez has not set a timescale for Aquilani's comeback, despite reports that the midfielder could be ready to face Sunderland in mid-October.

"We have not set a target or any time, but he's doing well," said the Spaniard.

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Owen won't get a warm welcome at Anfield

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has warned Michael Owen that he could be in for a “cool reception” when he returns to Anfield as a Manchester United player on October 25.

“Our fans are usually brilliant with former players but he might get a cool reception,” Carragher said. “I can understand the fans’ point of view.

"He used to play for us and now he is at our big rivals. At the same time, Michael has got his own career to think about. He wants to play in the Champions League and get back into the World Cup squad.

"The move gives him that opportunity. It will upset some fans but that’s football.”

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Masch facing FA charge

Javier Mascherano could be facing a violent conduct charge from the Football Association after appearing to hit Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford on the back of the head with a swinging arm in Liverpool's 1-0 win in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.

Mascherano was pulled back by Beckford before a throw-in, but the Argentine was seen to spin and catch the Leeds man on the head with a forearm. Referee Alan Wiley took no action, despite appearing to have a clear view, but the FA could act.

If it is found Wiley did see the incident then no charges can be brought, but if the referee's report submitted to the governing body states he did not spot the blow, action can be taken on video evidence and Mascherano will face a charge of violent conduct and a likely three-game suspension.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez indicated he would defend any such charges. "I think it is just nothing," he said, explaining that Mascherano's indiscretion could not possibly be compared to the sort of bad tackles that frequently go unpunished.

Simon Grayson, the Leeds manager, said: "Mascherano's turned and put his arm up; it went a bit too high. I've looked at replays. I'm not saying it's malicious and I'm not saying it's not, you can't really tell. Some players have been sent off for that, some haven't, sometimes these things go your way, sometimes they don't."

Shortly after his altercation with Beckford, Mascherano helped create the winning goal for David N'Gog.

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Steven Gerrard : The Powerhouse

Adidas presents Zinedine Zidane in the graphic novel, “The Ultimate Search: The Powerhouse”

A journey is underway. One man seeks to bring together the most extraordinary players, from the finest teams, to compete at the highest level. His mission - to track down those that possess lightning footwork, booming power and pure elegance – The kind of players every team needs. To assemble the Ultimate Team Zizou must scour the globe – his destination, Liverpool. Borne of the city’s mean streets is a player with power cursing through him like a seismic wave. A veritable force of nature, and a leader of men: Steven Gerrard is The Powerhouse.

Read the exclusive episode illustrated by J.G. Jones, and follow the journey at http://cli.gs/1WsJAY


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Ngog saves Liverpool from defeat at Elland Road

David Ngog struck the only goal as a much-changed Liverpool side sneaked past a fired-up Leeds 1-0 in the Carling Cup tonight.

The Premier League giants were outplayed by the League One leaders for much of the third-round tie but Ngog netted against the run of play after 65 minutes.

Leeds spurned a number of chances as Elland Road enjoyed a big-game atmosphere once again, but a lack of composure in front of goal cost them. Striker Jermaine Beckford endured a particularly frustrating night as he missed several good chances and had a goal in the first half disallowed.

It was Liverpool's first visit to Leeds since their hosts were relegated from the top flight in 2004 but the atmosphere generated by the 38,168 crowd rekindled memories of a once intense rivalry. Leeds, looking upwards again after an unbeaten start to the season, played like they had a point to prove against a Liverpool side showing nine changes.

Jamie Carragher, who took over the captaincy, and Javier Mascherano were the only survivors from the Reds side which won at West Ham last weekend. Manager Rafael Benitez, however, had big guns Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson on the bench in case not all went according to plan.

It seemed a sensible insurance policy as for large parts Leeds, with Robert Snodgrass a constant danger on the right, exploited the unfamiliarity in the Liverpool ranks.

There was a huge roar inside the opening minutes when Beckford went down in the area but referee Alan Wiley gave nothing. Leeds were keen to attack and gave warning when Snodgrass broke free, although his cross was easily claimed by Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri.

Ngog, starting up front alone, then got into the game with a couple of breaks but saw a long-range shot after a neat turn blocked. Leeds then missed a glorious chance to take the lead when Snodgrass delivered a perfect cross but Michael Doyle headed wide from about eight yards.

The Yorkshire side had the ball in the net after 11 minutes when Beckford turned in Michalik's goalbound header from close range but Wiley ruled the striker offside. Luciano Becchio also tried his luck for Leeds but curled wide from 20 yards. Snodgrass caused further alarm in the Liverpool defence with another deep cross from a clever Beckford flick but Cavalieri just did enough to frustrate Becchio.

Ryan Babel, hoping to stake a claim for a regular place, created Liverpool's first serious chance after a run from deep but Shane Higgs dealt comfortably with his tame shot. And Albert Riera should have given Liverpool the lead on the stroke of half-time after meeting a Fabio Aurelio free-kick but Higgs saved his firm header.

The outstanding Snodgrass weaved his way into the Liverpool box soon after the restart but the visitors eventually managed to crowd him out. Leeds continued to look the most likely side but Liverpool youngster Jay Spearing got a shooting chance from a Riera lay-off, only to fire well over.

Beckford then raced on to a long bouncing ball but scuffed his shot when any firm contact might have beaten Cavalieri. The striker, who has hit six goals in the league this season, had another gilt-edged opportunity when Bradley Johnson crossed from the byline after 63 minutes but, after turning brilliantly, he sent his shot over.

Leeds paid the price as Liverpool went ahead two minutes later. Mascherano mis-hit a shot from the edge of the area but Ngog reacted quickly and seized on the ball to cooly tuck past Higgs.

Leeds tried to respond as Johnson controlled a Michalik long ball outside the area but shot straight at Cavalieri. Liverpool brought on Johnson and Gerrard in an attempt to see out the game but Leeds continued to push.

The Anfield clubl did break out again with Babel winning a free-kick on the edge of the area but Aurelio's shot was deflected wide. And Gerrard almost made doubly sure of victory as time ran down but fired into the side-netting and then straight at Cavalieri after powerful runs.

Benitez satisfied with Reds reward
After the match Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez felt his much-changed team were rewarded for their persistence.
The Spaniard said: "We worked hard and I feel we had our chances. We won with a lot of players not playing and I am really pleased with my team, with the squad. These kind of games are very important to keep the quality of character. I think it was a fantastic win for us.
"I think we showed today we can manage with different players and for the rest of the season it is important to know you have players who can come in."
Ngog played up front on his own and Benitez was pleased with his goal as he seized on a mishit Mascherano shot. Benitez said: "It was a great goal. He showed quality, very good movement. He was also fighting big lads, so I think he had a very positive game for the team."
Of Mascherano's clash with Beckford Benitez said his player "was turning around" while Leeds boss Simon Grayson also played it down.
Grayson said: "Mascherano had an arm that went and nicked Jermaine but sometimes they are not done for a reaction."
Grayson did feel his side were unlucky to have been denied a goal when Beckford's effort was ruled out for offside.
"I felt Jermaine was level with the centre-half for the goal but we are talking marginal errors at times," said Grayson. "I'm loathe to criticise but when you look he was level and the goal should have stood."
Grayson however was delighted with his players' performance which, in front of a lively 38,168 crowd, rekindled memories of Leeds' Premier League days.
"I'm hugely proud of them," Grayson said. "I thought they were excellent from start to finish. We certainly matched them and on another night we might have got the victory our performance deserved. We had good opportunities but over the course of it maybe did get the breaks we deserved."

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Aurelio & Dossena both looking to start

The Italian international hasn't started a game for the Reds yet this season but is hoping to change that when a much changed side play Leeds in the Carling Cup at Elland Road this evening.

Even Fabio Aurelio has set his sights on his first start of the 2009-10 season in tonight's Carling Cup clash at Leeds United.

"I am ready to play today, I am ready to play every game," said Dossena.

"The manager will decide who plays in every game but every player is ready to play every game.

"We are Liverpool, we try to win every competition, Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup, we try.

"If at the end of the year we get something then we are happy, but it is important for us to keep the mentality to win every game and every competition."

The Brazilian full-back, who returned to action with brief substitute appearances against Debrecen and West Ham, is delighted to be back in contention following his injury lay-off and is now hoping for a run out in the third round encounter at Elland road.

"I'm really happy to be back playing and to be part of the squad for matches again is great," he said.

"I hope to start at Leeds and I'm sure there will be opportunities in this game for players who haven’t been used in Premier League games much recently.

"Every opportunity you get you need to show something to the boss and I have to take this chance. Hopefully I can do my job and help us get through.

"We want to progress in every competition we’re involved in. The Carling Cup offers a possibility for us to win a trophy and we can't allow that chance to pass easily.

"It might not be the most prestigious competition but it's still very important to us and we want to go all the way."

Aurelio missed the whole of Liverpool's pre-season and the first five matches in the Barclays Premier League after picking up a knee injury while on holiday with his family in Brazil.

He admits it has been a frustrating period on the sidelines but is now eager to catch up for lost time.

"It has been a tough few months for me but at least I haven’t missed many games," he said.

"I've been training hard at Melwood and to finally get back out there on the pitch was a moment of happiness for me.

"My knee is fine now and I just need to build up my match fitness.
“I’m not yet back to the level I was at last season but the game against Leeds is a chance to get some more minutes under my belt.”

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Reina hails 'Nando' effect

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has paid tribute to the 'unbelievable' talents of his Anfield team-mate Fernando Torres.

The Spanish striker was at his awesome best over the weekend as he helped the Reds to a 3-2 victory over West Ham.

Torres bagged a brace at Upton Park, inspiring Rafa Benitez's side to a third consecutive success in the Premier League.

Reina was mightily impressed by his countryman's showing in the capital, but insists everyone at Anfield is aware of what the 25-year-old frontman is capable of.

"We knew Fernando would score," he told the Reds' official website.

"We all have 100 per cent confidence in him and we trust him always. He is always working hard for the team and he always creates space for the other players for them to score.

"His first goal was unbelievable. His turn was fantastic and he showed his quality."

Saturday's victory over the Hammers marked Reina's 150th league appearance for Liverpool, and the Spaniard hopes there are many more to come.

"I hope to play 150 more games for this club," he said.

"I'm very happy the team won and this is a special club. It's a pleasure and a privilege to play in front of the Kop and our wonderful supporters."

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Babel has no intentions of leaving Anfield

Ryan Babel has denied ever saying he was unhappy at Liverpool and insists he will stay to fight for his first-team place at Anfield.

It had been reported that, while on international duty with Holland, Babel had told reporters he was unhappy with life in Liverpool and wanted to m

But the Dutch striker stongly denies this and said: 'I didn't say any of those things.

'I did an interview in Holland and I don't know who in England got hold of it but it was the worst translation I have ever seen.

'It was like that when I was at Ajax and that isn't a problem for me. I didn't accuse the manager of anything. 'I heard about what was being reported when I was away with Holland. 'When I got back to Liverpool I went straight to the manager and told him it wasn't true. 'He accepted that and there is no problem. Now I just want to concentrate on playing.

'If I keep working hard then hopefully I can get some more minutes and in the end get a place back in the starting line-up.'

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More to come from El-Nino

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres says he hopes his two goals against West Ham on Saturday will inspire to go on a goalscoring run of form over the next few weeks.

Torres had looked tired and out-of-sorts in the early few games of this season, but hit back with a brace at Upton Park as the Reds beat the Hammers 3-2 in the Premier League.

He says, “I hope there will be many more goals. I know when I’m working hard they will arrive so I have to keep working hard all the time for the team.”

Torres also wanted to give his special thanks to substitute Ryan Babel who came on late to set up Torres’ second of the match, and Liverpool’s winner.

He added, “Everyone knows Ryan is a fantastic player.

“He played on the right wing and he gave me a fantastic cross which was easy for me to attack the ball and score. It is easy for a striker when the cross is as good as that.

“He is a player with quality who can do things like this, so without Ryan I couldn’t have scored. It’s thanks to him I could score the goal to win it for us.”

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Agger set to make his season debut

Liverpool are set to be boosted by the return of Daniel Agger for his first start of the season in Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at Leeds.

he highly-rated Danish international defender suffered a back problem which required surgery during pre-season and was expected to be missing for six weeks.

However, he has been back in training and was almost considered for a return within a month in Saturday's 3-2 win at West Ham.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez said on Friday that they were trying to protect him and did not want to rush him back into action too soon.

But, in order to gain him some match fitness, Agger is set to feature in the cup clash at Elland Road against the League One leaders.

Benitez is set to make several changes to his side with full-back Fabio Aurelio also standing by for his first start of the season after a knee problem.

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Kuyt declares the goal against West Ham belongs to Stevie

Dirk Kuyt says if he could, he would credit Liverpool’s second goal against West Ham to Steven Gerrard – not himself.

Kuyt was on the mark in front of goal to turn a powerful Gerrard header in at the far post to give the Reds the lead for the second time in the game – which they eventually went on to with 3-2.

Whether or not Gerrard’s header would have gone in without Kuyt’s touch is undecided, but Kuyt is giving full credit to the Reds skipper.

“I touched it but if it is possible I will give it to Steve,” he said.

“It was a great header from Stevie and I was there at the second post if the ball goes wide. I feel that I just touched it but if we can give it to Steve, I will be glad.

“For me, the most important thing is that we have won a few games in a row in the league now. For us, that is very important.

“Of course, as a player it is always good to score goals, especially for strikers, but once again I think Stevie deserved the goal more than me. Beside that, the other goals, it is always nice to be involved.”

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Gerrard rates Torres as Best in premier league

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes Fernando Torres remains the best striker in the Premier League after the Spaniard grabbed two in a 3-2 win over West Ham.

Torres' recent form has been questioned, but Torres was the difference between the two sides, scoring Liverpool's opener and then heading in the winner after West Ham had twice equalised.
"He's been playing okay to me,'' Gerrard told ESPN. "People are talking about it, but those are the standards he's set. He's scoring goals and he was on fire today with the two goals for us.''
Torres himself did not appear after the game as he was receiving treatment for a knock to his knee, but Gerrard insisted it was nothing serious.
The striker had put Liverpool ahead after 20 minutes, but West Ham soon pegged them back as Alessandro Diamanti fired in a penalty despite appearing to fall in the act.
Gerrard admitted he didn't see the incident clearly and also insisted Dirk Kuyt's goal should rightfully be his own.
"It was going in anyway,'' he said. "[Kuyt] scores enough goals, so I want it. I didn't have a good view of it [the penalty], I was at the other end. But the referee thinks it's right so we get on with it. We can enjoy tomorrow now. It was important we got our three points in the bag today as the sides above us are going to drop points.''

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Torres secures win for Liverpool at Upton Park

Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool held off a brave fightback from West Ham to earn a deserved victory in a five-goal thriller at Upton Park.

Torres put the Reds in front in the 19th minute with a fine solo goal before debutant Alessandro Diamanti equalised from the penalty spot. Dirk Kuyt' restored Liverpool's lead in the 40th minute but Carlton Cole levelled again a minute before the interval. It was the irrepressible Torres, though, who settled a pulsating contest when he headed home from close range in the 75th minute.

The victory, Liverpool's fourth successive win, lifted Rafael Benitez's side into third place in the Premier League and left West Ham in 14th.

The first half was full of incident and it was the home side who squandered a great chance to take the lead in the second minute. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher dithered over Glen Johnson's pass and let Zavon Hines in. The striker could not have asked for a simpler chance but although he beat Jose Reina, his shot hit the near post before the Spanish goalkeeper gratefully gathered the rebound.

Another Carragher mistake on the halfway line gave Cole room to run at the Liverpool goal but this time Martin Skrtel made an impressive saving challenge. Soon after, the home team had another chance, Cole bundling the ball to Hines from Julien Faubert's cross but the chance came too quickly and Hines' connection was minimal.

Torres, meanwhile, acrobatically volleyed wide after 17 minutes before opening the scoring three minutes later. The Spaniard broke down the left flank, bamboozled James Tomkins and poked home at the near post.Torres was proving a real thorn in West Ham's side and was confident enough to try his luck from 30 yards in the 26th minute but his shot was far too high and failed to trouble Green.

West Ham's woes continued moments later when Valon Behrami was forced out of the action through injury and replaced by Radoslav Kovac. It was the second enforced change for Gianfranco Zola's side who lost Matthew Upson earlier in the first half.

But the home side were back in the game in the 28th minute when referee Andre Marriner adjudged that Hines had been pushed by Carragher in the box.Alessandro Diamanti stepped-up to take the penalty and even though he put the ball into the net, the striker appeared to slip as he connected with the ball and touched it twice. Angry Liverpool players protested that the penalty should be ruled out as Diamanti had touched the ball more than once but Marriner rejected their protests.

The Anfield club went back in front five minutes before the end of an eventful opening 45 minutes. An outswinging corner from Yossi Benayoun was headed towards the far post by Steven Gerrard only for Kuyt to stick out a foot and poke the ball into the corner of the net in the 40th minute.

But a minute before the half-time whistle, England striker Cole rose highest in the six-yard box to meet Mark Noble's corner and head the Hammers level for the second time in the game.

In the second-half, the Hammers were inches from scoring when debutant Diamanti sent an inswinging corner into the Liverpool six-yard box, but Reina tipped the ball out with Seb Hines waiting behind him to pounce.

Liverpool replaced goalscorer Kuyt with Ryan Babel on the hour as the Merseysiders searched for a winner.A fabulous run into the West Ham penalty area by Benayoun almost brought Liverpool a third but the home defence cleared the ball at the last hurdle.

Kieron Dyer, on for Diamanti, made a superb run deep into the Liverpool half in the 68th minute but he could not supply the final ball to put Cole clea and Liverpool's Babel tried his luck from 25 yards but his accuracy was found wanting as the ball went high over the bar and into the crowd.

But the Reds clinched the game in the 75th minute when Babel's cross was headed into the corner of the net by Torres from eight yards.

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Rafa wants more from Masch

Rafael Benítez has told Javier Mascherano he must overcome his problems in Argentina to restore his credentials as a world-class holding midfielder and to receive a new long-term contract from Liverpool.

The 25-year-old is expected to return to the Liverpool side at his former club West Ham United this evening, having missed last weekend's 4-0 defeat of Burnley with a pelvic injury and been among the substitutes in the Champions League victory over Debrecen. For the first time since joining Liverpool on loan in January 2007, Mascherano's status as an automatic choice, or as close to one as Benítez will allow at Anfield, is under threat amid an indifferent start to the season.

Mascherano's dip in form follows a trying summer that involved repeated links with a move to Barcelona – who ultimately made no bid for the midfielder – his wife returning to Argentina to give birth to their second child and, most recently, his national team's alarming results under Diego Maradona.

Benítez admits the prospect of failing to qualify for South Africa 2010 is weighing heavily on the Argentina captain but is adamant Mascherano will recapture the form that persuaded Liverpool to turn his loan deal into a long-term £18m transfer last February. "When you are not winning while playing for a big country like Argentina, you have to be worried," said the Liverpool manager. "But Javier is a player with experience so he will focus his mind and start thinking about Liverpool. He is the captain so he will be really worried because in Argentina, they live and breathe football, so as captain it will be a worry for him."

As for Mascherano's personal difficulties, Benítez stated bluntly: "The main thing for me is that he is a professional. He has been in London and he has been in Liverpool and I think he was very happy in Liverpool, so if we can win some games then I think it will be easier for a professional to be happy."

Barcelona flirted with the prospect of signing Mascherano again this week when the club's technical secretary, Txiki Begiristain, claimed the Liverpool midfielder and Arsenal's Cesc Fábregas both featured on their transfer list for 2010. Despite frequent public pronouncements about Mascherano in the summer, the European champions failed to follow their interest with an official offer to Liverpool and Benítez suspects electioneering at Camp Nou may be behind their latest move.

"The top sides are always interested in top players, this is normal, but he has a contract and we want to keep him," Benítez said. "I told Txiki Begiristain before that we wanted to keep him and he knows my opinion."

Liverpool officials suspected Mascherano's interest in Barcelona this summer was also a means to improving the four-and-a-half year contract he signed at Anfield only last year. And Benítez admits Liverpool will have to see an improvement in the midfielder's form before any contract negotiations begin.

The Liverpool manager added: "He has two more years [after this season] and we would like to keep him. If we need to talk to him we will do it but he has enough time and he has to play at the level that he was before and we will be pleased with him. I had a conversation with him recently about how important it was for him to come here. Now he is the captain of Argentina thanks to Liverpool, that is very important and for us to have the best from Mascherano is really important if we want to win more games."

Benítez insists the Argentinian has responded impressively in training this week and, with Liverpool likely to return to two holding midfielders away from home this evening, insists Mascherano remains a major influence on Anfield fortunes. "He is a key player for us and he will be a key player for us during the season," the Spaniard said. "I think he is working very hard and in one or two games he was playing well but the team was not doing really well in the other two. It's more the team than just one player."

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Fergie claims Liverpool bigger rivals than city

Manchester City may have spent £120million on new players, but Sir Alex Ferguson will always regard Liverpool as Manchester United’s true local rivals.

Not since 1968, when United won the European Cup and City finished top of the old First Division, have Manchester’s two giants met on anything like an equal footing. But the pair go head-to-head at Old Trafford tomorrow with far more than bragging rights at stake.

United are looking for victory to enhance their chances of landing a record fourth consecutive title, while City bid to extend a four-match winning streak that will raise optimism about a sustained championship challenge.

However, while Ferguson is aware of the threat, after 23 years of dominance over City his natural instinct remains to view the threat from Merseyside as more acute.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so,” replied Ferguson when asked whether the derby could one day be bigger than those titanic tussles with Liverpool.

“To me Liverpool will always be the derby game. It is just because of the history. When I came here they were the kingpins of England. They had won four European Cups and quite a few league titles.

“My aim was to do well against them and to try and turn that round. It is hard for me to go against that history.”

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Hicks optimistic about new stadium

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks says too much money has already been spent for the team's proposed new stadium not to be eventually built.

Hicks believes replacing the outdated Anfield due to its 45,000 limited capacity and restricted commercial possibilities is central to cementing the Reds' status as one of the world's top football clubs.

Construction on the new site was frozen in August 2008 just before the world sank into a deep economic depression, and Hicks acknowledges he doesn't know when the stadium will be completed.

'When we get to the point where the global market settles down and we bring pieces together to finance the stadium (then we can again start building),' Hicks said.

'It's certainly not anything we have changed our mind on. I don't know about the dates because of the global financial markets, but I know the markets will settle down and get better.

'I'm an optimist. I've been through lots of cycles, although none as severe as this in my lifetime. It's a dynamic world.'

Hicks is believed to have had financiers scouring the world for minority investors to help fund the stadium for the past year.

After buying Liverpool in 2007 with George Gillett Jr., Hicks wrote off 10 million pounds by ditching existing plans to replace the crumbling Anfield so architects from his native Texas could design a more spectacular stadium in the adjacent Stanley Park.

The subsequent economic downturn forced the new vision to be scaled down but it will still hold 15,000 more seats than Anfield, which has few amenities to generate extra revenue.

'We have spent a lot of money and we have a fully designed stadium,' Hicks said. 'We have every permit in place, all the city councils' approvals, the judicial reviews on a national basis - everything is done. That's a great asset to have just to wait for the markets to open up and be able to do anything. Certainly it will happen.'

Liverpool's financial situation was boosted this week by a new primary sponsorship deal with British bank Standard Chartered that will start before next season. Hicks expects that deal, along with a new one with Carlsberg, to generate 26 million pounds a year.

Hicks says the new stadium will attract global interest in naming rights and help the Reds in their rivalry with Manchester United, which beat them to the Premier League title by four points last year to match their record haul of 18 English championships.

'We think that the stadium is one of the biggest opportunities for Liverpool to be truly one of the top clubs in the world,' Hicks said.

'Liverpool was a famous club around many parts of the world before Manchester United became strong in the last 20 years, and that's a heritage we want to build on and try to get to be as strong as possible. The club's in the best shape in many, many years.

'(Manager) Rafa (Benitez) has put together an outstanding group of players over the last two or three years. We can always have more, but I think we're doing very well and I think we will have great success on the pitch this year.

'Transactions like this week's new sponsorship agreement can only help to give us the resources to compete right there with the other big guys in the world.'

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African cup of nations to be in favour of Liverpool according to skipper

Steven Gerrard believes that the Africa Cup of Nations early next year could have a major impact on who wins the Barclays Premier League title, and work in Liverpool's favour.
The Reds do not have any African players amongst their front-line stars, while many of their title rivals will lose players for three weeks in January when the tournament is played in Angola.

Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal all have key players who could be involved between January 10-31

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti will be without Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou, while Manchester City chief Mark Hughes will miss the services of summer signings Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.
Arsenal could be without duo Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue for their showdown with Manchester United on January 30.

'Everyone will have blips and some of the teams lose important players with the African Nations,' Gerrard told the club's official website.
'It's a long season, there are a lot of games and a lot football to be played yet.
'Chelsea, Tottenham and City have got off to good starts but there is a long way to go before you start predicting who will be up there at the end.'


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Rafa on injuries and comebacks

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed he will not take any risks with star centre-back Daniel Agger as he closes in on full match fitness.

The Denmark international is close to returning to action after undergoing a minor back operation last month.

Agger has yet to feature this season due to the problem, but Benitez believes the central defender could be back in action next week.

Liverpool's injury problems are easing with Fabio Aurelio making his first appearance of the campaign as a late substitute against Debrecen in midweek and other long-term absentee Alberto Aquilani set to start training in the next few weeks.

"Aurelio is now ready for a comeback, Mascherano is also over his problem while Danny Agger is very close to a return and (Alberto) Aquilani is also getting close to being involved in full training," said Benitez.

"When the majority of our squad are fit, we can manage games with more confidence.
"Agger is a risk, he could play now, but he has been out for a long time and we have to be careful with him. But I believe that next week he could be available."

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Gerrard warning to rivals

Steven Gerrard insists there is still a lot more to come from Liverpool this season.

The Anfield men face West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday intent on stretching their current run to four successive victories.

"We are finding our form," Gerrard said. "Last weekend we felt that in the victory over Burnley we started to click into form. That performance was much more like what we are looking for."

Liverpool expect to have Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio back in the side, while midfielder Javier Mascherano has now recovered from a pelvic problem and is expected to play against his former club.

Skipper Gerrard believes Liverpool are starting to run into form and he is aiming for a repeat of last season's 3-0 win in east London that included a double from the England midfielder.

"There is a lot more to come from us this season," he added. "We are improving with every game, and the goals are being shared around. Yossi Benayoun got a hat-trick against Burnley, Dirk Kuyt is always capable of scoring while I believe that Fernando Torres is the best striker in Europe.

"If we create chances we have plenty of players capable of putting the ball into the net, and that makes it hard for anyone playing against us. They just cannot keep one or two players quiet, because we have dangerous players all over the pitch."

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Liverpool escape with narrow victory over Debrecen

Dirk Kuyt's 12th goal in 35 Champions League games for Liverpool saw the Anfield men claim an opening Group E victory but there was nothing to suggest a Madrid final in May is on the cards.

The Dutchman is now Liverpool's third-highest scorer in this competition and they were more than thankful for his eventual winner in the final seconds of the first half.

The Hungarian champions did their best, while Liverpool were some way short of their peak.

Rafael Benitez took charge of his 300th Liverpool match as the Reds produced their 100th victory in this competition - their first was 45 years ago - but the Spaniard would have wanted a better display than this to mark a little piece of Liverpool history.

This was Debrecen's debut in the group stages but if they cannot improve on this showing they may well not win a point.

Liverpool kept faith with the side that had produced their best performance on Saturday in beating Burnley 4-0, with Fabio Aurelio on the bench for his first involvement of the season following a knee injury.

But they were sluggish and uninspired and it took them an awfully long time in the first period to get some reward for their total domination.

In fact there were barely a couple of seconds left in the half to restart the match when Kuyt forced the ball home after Vukasin Poleksic had palmed out a Fernando Torres drive.

Before that it had been one-way traffic towards the Hungarian champions' goal.

Such was the general wastefulness, even Steven Gerrard was squandering chances regularly. Three efforts sailed wide, a header dropped over the crossbar and a low drive flashed inches wide.

Albert Riera was equally at fault. Three times he was put away, and on each occasion Poleksic got a hand on the efforts.

Gerrard even found himself booked for taking a free-kick too quickly by Portuguese official Pedro Proenca, who had clearly pointed to his whistle telling the Liverpool skipper to wait.

It was unnecessary, and could come back to haunt the England star as the competition progresses and suspensions become damaging.

And so it went on. The nearest Liverpool came before Kuyt's strike was after 30 minutes when Norbert Meszaros kicked off the line from the Dutchman after another Poleksic save from Riera.

The only time Jose Reina was called into action was to touch over a 20-yard effort from Meszaros.

Liverpool improved after the break, which was not difficult, and Gerrard smashed a swerving 25-yarder against the crossbar before Yossi Benayoun went on a brilliant run past a string of defenders before forcing Poleksic into a fumbling save at the foot of the near post.

Lucas, having another fine game in midfield, saw a powerful header flash wide but Liverpool were seemingly playing with a belief that one goal was enough.

But that is a dangerous policy, and Debrecen caused some worrying moments towards the end as they almost took advantage of a succession of set-plays.

Ryan Babel came on with 10 minutes left for Riera, his first appearance since yet another outburst over his lack of matches, and he produced one clever juggling act to fire just wide.

But Adamo Coulibaly, Debrecen's French frontman, almost punished Liverpool by forcing his way through and stabbing a shot wide after 82 minutes.

That Liverpool sent on the defensive Javier Mascherano for the inventive Benayoun with three minutes left, and then Aurelio for Kuyt in injury time, said everything about Benitez's concerns and frustrations about what he was watching.

He certainly could not afford to see a couple of points thrown away by a piece of sloppy defending and there were certainly a few of those.

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Rafa gunning for Champions League Final

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is hoping to get his side's Champions League campaign off to a positive start tonight against Hungarian outfit Debrecen, and feels that, if they approach things carefully and rationally, his team should be able to reach the final of this season's competition.

"It is always important to take three points in every game, but especially when you are at home. People will say we are favourites so we will have to handle the situation because to start well in this competition is really important," he told reporters at a press conference yesterday.

"The Champions League is always a massive competition for us. We are really pleased to be in it again and want to be involved as much as we can. It will be difficult but we will try to get the points we need to qualify early, so we can manage things in a different way. If it is possible, we would like to get to the final again.

"We approach every game in every competition trying to win. It has to be like this for a top side like Liverpool. It is easy to say what it is for the fans: the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup.

"If you want to put them in an order, then it's okay to say that order. But if you asked me if I would be disappointed if we won the Champions League and not the Premier League, then I would say I want to win both! It is always important to win trophies. We know we have been close in the past and we want to be there again this season."

As for tonight's opponents, Benitez acknowledges that he did not know much about them, but careful scouting has revealed that the Hungarians definitely have potential, though it remians to be seen just how they will fare against a top side like the Reds.

"We did not know too much, that is obvious, but we have been working hard, sending scouts to watch them and we have a lot of information now," he added.

"They have a very good striker with pace and a second striker with good ability. The wingers and the full-backs join the attack really well and the midfield have a lot of energy. We will have to see what they are like against a top side like Liverpool to know what their real level is.

"In this case it is more difficult because we don't know their players. Our staff are working hard and watching videos but the players don't need to see too much. I think it is obvious that the main thing for us is how we do. If we do well then we can beat anyone. The priority will be to play at our level and show the opposition respect. I think our players will know how to analyse the key situations in the game after the first 15-20 minutes.

"The players are excited. We know the Champions League is a massive trophy and that it is important to get three points from the first match."

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Gerrard the greatest ever in Liverpool history

Fernando Torres hailed Steven Gerrard the ‘greatest player in the world’ and insists: Liverpool would be lost without him.

He believes their inspirational skipper is ‘irreplaceable’ and has vowed to help land him a long overdue first ever Premiership winners medal - and the World Player of the Year Award.

Torres insists Gerrard is the heartbeat of the club and the key factor behind their European and domestic ambitions.

He said: “He is without doubt the greatest player I have ever played with. He has everything.

“At Liverpool, he is irreplaceable. Every big club has a standard bearer, a home-grown talent, someone with a lifelong commitment to the cause.

“People come and go but he’s always there. It’s him and ten others. He’s everything to the side. That’s Steven Gerrard at Liverpool. I can’t even begin to imagine the place without him.

“He’s got it all as a footballer too: personality, consistency, stature, control, power, strength, aggression, intensity, he never goes missing... he can play everywhere and he can play in every way. Wherever you put him, he performs. He scores goals, works hard, he’s quick, he’s tireless. He’s a born leader and the most consistent player in the world.

“The only thing missing from CV is the Premier League title and an international award like the Ballon d’Or or the FIFA World Player and I’m sure he’ll win one of those soon. There’s no doubt he deserves to. Any coach would want him in their side. “

Torres is the new Kop idol but he believes Gerrard will eventually be recognised as Liverpool’s greatest ever player – and he claims he models himself on the captain.

He revealed his admiration for Gerrard in his autobiography, ‘Torres: El Nino’ serialised this week by The Mirror.

Torres adds: “One day he’ll be recognised as one of the greatest players in the club’s history. And don’t forget, he’s Liverpool through and through too: a local lad who came up through the ranks. That fact makes his achievements all the more impressive to me. For any Scouser to get into the Liverpool first team is extremely difficult.

“Youth teamers learn from the first team players whom they look up to; they get immersed in the values of the clubs and the footballers who represent it over the years. Maybe that’s why Steve and Carra haven’t had to tell me what Liverpool stands for; I can see it in their game.

“Steve doesn’t need to scream and shout on the pitch to be a leader. He leads by example, by the way he plays – the way he’s had bred into him for years.

“Our captains are symbols of the club; they supported the team as kids, they sweated for the cause for years in the Academy, fighting to make it, they’ve put up with the pressure of playing for their future with the Reserves, they’ve made it to the first team and worn the armband at Anfield.

“I have tried to absorb everything I can from the club and the city, to understand exactly where I am and that’s because of them. If there is one thing that inspires me about (Jamie) Carragher and Gerrard, one thing that stands out as the key to the way they play, it is their commitment to the cause.”

Gerrard and Jamie Carragher went out of their way to greet Torres, sending him text messages within hours of him joining and helping him to settle in at Anfield – they remain on his phone to this day.

He added: “I really noticed that in training: Gerrard and Carragher for example, are always the first to do each exercise and their attitude provides a model to follow. Their enthusiasm is contagious; their approach brings the intensity and dedication necessary to everything we do. If they give everything then you have no choice but to give everything too.

“I admire Steven Gerrard because I know how much pressure he has to live with every day. Everyone’s talking about him all the time – in the dressing room, in the bars, in the stadium. From my own experience, I know how difficult it is to keep everyone happy, but the pressure he’s under is on a different level to anything I ever had to live with because Liverpool is such a huge club.

“When you’re captain, you know everyone is talking about you. You can feel it, especially when things go badly. Everything that Gerrard has to face every single day, and the expectations that surround him, make the way he handles the pressure even more impressive. He is always under the microscope and people always expect him to be a leader, to lift the team all on his own.

“He is an example to everyone who ever finds themselves in that situation. It’s incredible what he has to put up with and how much there is going on around him every single day.

“I would love to be a captain somewhere some day because I think I’ve had the best possible role model in Steven Gerrard."

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Liverpool the most famous club in the world

Liverpool chief Christian Purslow turned up the heat on Manchester United after announcing their world record shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered.

"I'm not embarrassed to say this - we are Liverpool. The most famous club in the world," declared Purslow.

"We have seen many measures that suggest we are the most popular club in the world. Our website has more clicks every day than any other football website.

"It is this huge following for our football club that has ultimately made this shirt deal possible.

"I want us to be the best football team in the world and there is a pretty clear link between being the best team and having the best performance off the field.

"That has not been our position, historically. But there is no reason why, going forward, we cannot be the biggest, best-run and most commercially successful football club in the world."

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Rafa to get more transfer funds next summer

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has been promised a bigger transfer kitty next year as a result of the club's new sponsorship deal.

The Reds have announced an £80million four-year sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered Bank which will come into place next season.

And Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow has confirmed the deal will enable the club to offer Benitez more transfer funds next summer.

"The fans will ask, of course, whether the money will stay within the club and they'll be pleased to know the revenue, profits and income is the club's," said Purslow.

"It stays in the club, and our job is to support the team so we'll invest a sensible amount in our wage bill and a sensible level of profits in our transfers.

"As you drive your revenues forward, you try to generate profits and those profits will be used to invest in the future of the club, which, in football speak, often means buying players.

"From next summer, one of our key [income] lines, the revenue line, will be substantially increased as a function of this commercial agreement, so a normal ratio of that will go to the wage bill and my ability to support Rafa in the transfer market will be hugely enhanced.

"We want to be the best football team in the world and there is a pretty clear link between that and having the best performance off the field."

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Official : Standard Chartered to replace Carlsberg

Liverpool Football Club have confirmed the biggest commercial deal in the club’s history with the news that London based banking giants Standard Chartered will become the new shirt sponsors from the 2010/11 season.

After a 17-year long association with Danish brewers Carlsberg, Liverpool have agreed a four year deal with Standard Chartered reported to be worth £20million per season to the club.

The deal was revealed by The Times newspaper on Friday night but the club also confirmed the news last night with a statement on their official web site.

Managing Director Christian Purslow said on the deal, “I am tremendously excited. It’s a hugely important day in the history of Liverpool Football Club.

“This is the largest commercial agreement we have ever entered into. To have attracted a partner of the calibre of Standard Chartered Bank says everything about where we are trying to take this football club.

“Standard Chartered are one of the world’s leading banks. They’re a global company, as we are, and their aspiration to be the best bank in the world matches our aspiration to be the best at what we do.

“I hope this tells everyone, especially our fans, what we are trying to do with this football club in the future.”

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Gaffer confident of Masch for Champions League clash

Rafa Benitez is confident that Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano will be fit for the start of Liverpool’s Champions League campaign.

Mascherano was missing as his side demolished Burnley 4-0 at Anfield on Saturday, with his replacement Yossi Benayoun scoring the third hat-trick of his Liverpool career.

But Benitez expects Mascherano to be available for Wednesday’s game against Hungarian side Debrecen at Anfield after the midfielder was given special permission to remain in South America for treatment.

Mascherano suffered a pelvis injury playing for Argentina in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat against Paraguay on Wednesday.

“He wil be back here tomorrow (Sunday),” said Benitez after his side recorded back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time this season.

“It’s not serious. He has had some problems and he’s been doing some tests over there.

“We gave him permission to stay there but he is coming back.”

If Mascherano is fit to play on Wednesday then Benitez faces something of a selection dilemma after Benayoun’s dazzling display.

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Liverpool thrash Burnley

Liverpool's season is firmly back on track after a Yossi Benayoun hat-trick helped them to a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Burnley.

The top-flight new boys had started the season so well with wins over Manchester United and Everton but have now suffered successive defeats at Chelsea and now Liverpool - conceding seven in the process.

They could not live with a vibrant Liverpool, who kept up an impressive high tempo throughout and are slowly wiping away the memory of those two early league defeats to Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Benayoun scored his first from the edge of the box, and saw his shot parried by the overworked Brian Jensen for Dirk Kuyt to add the second before the break.

Steven Gerrard's pass set up Benayoun for his second, a close-range tap-in, before the Israeli was sent clear by substitute Andriy Voronin for his third and Liverpool's fourth.

Rafael Benitez made two changes from the side which won at Bolton a fortnight ago, with Martin Skrtel returning to central defence in place of Greece international Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

With Javier Mascherano suffering a muscle injury while on international duty with Argentina and not arriving back until late Friday, Benayoun came into the side.

And what a tremendous impact he made, with a goal and a display of running power that Burnley never came to terms with.

The Clarets, in their first league visit to Anfield for 33 years, retained the side that lost at Chelsea last time out, with new loan signing David Nugent - a former Liverpool trainee - on the bench.

The absence of Mascherano meant that Steven Gerrard played in a much deeper role, alongside Lucas in the centre of midfield, with Benayoun and Kuyt left to play just behind Fernando Torres.

Burnley started brightly with Martin Paterson firing wide from the edge of the box, while Kuyt produced a low shot at the other end that produced the first of many saves by Jensen.

Liverpool slowly built up possession, moving the ball quickly and Torres saw a curling 20-yard shot clear the far post.

But Burnley had Steven Fletcher and Paterson interchanging positions up front and the visitors were quick and dangerous on the break.

Liverpool's best early chance came when Emiliano Insua's chip was headed a foot wide by Benayoun, the beginning of a purple patch from the 29-year-old.

The lively Israel captain broke the deadlock with a gem of a goal after 27 minutes.

He surged from midfield, turned away from Graham Alexander and moved into the box to fire across Jensen and into the bottom corner.

Benayoun almost added another a minute later when he met Albert Riera's cross with a low header that Jensen blocked, the Burnley goalkeeper also keeping out Kuyt's follow-up.

Jensen had to keep out drives from Benayoun and Lucas before Paterson forced his way past Gerrard to unleash a rising drive that was held by Jose Reina.

But Liverpool went further ahead after 40 minutes with a dynamic five-man break from defence.

Torres and Insua combined to set up Benayoun for a 20-yard shot that Jensen blocked, but only as far as Kuyt who clipped home from five yards.

The increasingly busy Jensen had to produce the save of the half to keep out a Gerrard 20-yard drive before the break.

Liverpool kept up their assault after the interval with Riera seeing two efforts blocked while Jensen saved from a Kuyt flick.

Stephen Jordan was booked for a block on Torres before Burnley sent on Chris Eagles to replace Robbie Blake.

Torres was starting to stretch a tiring Burnley defence by now and only Tyrone Mears' fine saving tackle stopped the Spaniard in full flow.

But after 61 minutes Torres' pass played in a fiercely determined Gerrard, who battered his way past two men in the box to find Benayoun on the far post for a tap-in.

Liverpool sent on Swiss defender Philipp Degen for Glen Johnson and Voronin for the hard-running Kuyt, the game well won by now, and Burnley responded by giving Nugent his debut for Paterson.

Benayoun had an effort ruled out for offside and Gerrard forced his way through again to hit a post, before David Ngog took over from Torres.

There was still time for Benayoun to secure his hat-trick after 81 minutes. Voronin's pass sent him clear in the box - played onside by Jordan - and he side-footed the ball past an exposed Jensen.

Eagles was booked for a foul on Benayoun, Jensen saved again from Gerrard and Voronin missed when clear, with Burnley just wanting it all to end.

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