You'll Never Walk Alone

Rafael Benitez is delighted with the progress Liverpool have made so far this season and wants them to continue it against West Ham on Monday.With Steven Gerrard talking of his "hunger" for the league title and Benitez close to agreeing a new contract, the Hammers could find this is not the time to be trying to end a 45-year wait for a win at Anfield.

West Ham travel to Merseyside facing a relegation fight themselves and without a win at Anfield since Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters' scored in 1963 - when the Beatles' 'She Loves You' was top of the charts.

They will not find much love from the Merseysiders this time around.

With Liverpool already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, Benitez now wants his side to concentrate hard on cementing their position in the race for the Premier League title.

He said: "We have qualified for the next stage in Europe, now we have three months to concentrate on the league. We have only lost once in the Premier League this season and we must make sure we continue that level of form."

Benitez, believed to be close to a new deal at the club after further talks in recent days between the manager's agent and club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, knows a run of indifferent Liverpool performances must come to an end.

A poor display in their last home league game allowed Fulham to claim a 0-0 draw, and the midweek victory over Marseille in Europe was hardly convincing.

Now Liverpool have a run of nine league games before title rivals Chelsea visit Anfield on February 1, in which they should only be troubled when they travel to Arsenal this month and face Everton at home on January 19.

The rest of that run, starting with the Hammers, includes matches with Blackburn, Hull, Bolton, Newcastle, Stoke and Wigan.

If Liverpool are to be considered genuine contenders, there can be no slip-ups in such matches.

Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa underlines the desire not to allow supposed lesser sides to get anything at Anfield, as Stoke did with a 0-0 draw back in September before Fulham achieved the same result a week ago.

Arbeloa said: "We know we have to improve at Anfield in the league. The draw with Fulham was very frustrating, and we did the same against Stoke. You must win your home games if you want to win the title.

"We cannot continue to make mistakes at Anfield, we must find a solution to the way teams come to defend here.

"We lost two points against Fulham in our last home league game, which annoyed us. So we know we must put that right as soon as possible."

Liverpool will be without striker Fernando Torres with a hamstring problem and defender Fabio Aurelio, who has a calf injury. Robbie Keane and Andrea Dossena are expected to come into the side.

The match will mark Gerrard's 10-year anniversary since his first-team debut, when he came on as substitute against Blackburn on November 29, 1998.

Gerrard said: "We have got another important game coming up against West Ham and that is what I'm focusing on now.

"It's also important that we try to improve on our performance against Fulham and try to take all three points. Every game is crucial.

"The anniversary means a lot to me. It has been a special week and I have been having to pinch myself because I've been living this dream since I first pulled on a red shirt.

"The 10 years seem to have gone by in a flash but there's an old saying that time flies when you are having fun and that is exactly what I've had.

"It has been the best 10 years of my life and hopefully that will continue for many years to come. If anything, I am actually more hungry than ever before.

"I am.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola would rather have former Chelsea team-mates Frank Lampard and John Terry in his team than Steven Gerrard.Zola's side will come up against Gerrard at Anfield on Monday evening as the 28-year-old celebrates a decade in the Premier League.

Gerrard is often compared with Lampard - particularly when it comes to the national side - but Zola is in no doubt which of the two England midfielders he would want to play in his team.

"I'm very divided but I'd have to have John Terry and Frank Lampard, no disrespect to anyone else," said the former Blues striker.

"I know them very well and they were fantastic players for Chelsea.

"Frank Lampard is an excellent player because he can defend, he can clear, he can help the team to create and he can finish it.

"He's a fantastic player to have in your team. He's excellent and also scores important goals in important matches. The same goes for Gerrard."

The 13th-placed Hammers have not won at Anfield since September 1963 and have a daunting task to beat Rafa Benitez's side, who are joint top with Chelsea.

The Reds' attack will be blunted by the absence of Fernando Torres, but Zola believes Liverpool have equally dangerous players who can step in.

The 42-year-old Italian, known for his creative flair as a player, admits defence will take priority at Anfield but said they would not be sacrificing their usual attacking style too much.

"Torres is a very important player for them," Zola added.

"I don't know whether they'll change the way they play but he is important for them.

"Liverpool have a big, big squad so if Torres doesn't play they can play (Robbie) Keane or (Ryan) Babel. So they'll still be a threat for us.

"They've got enough options to cause us problems so obviously we're going to try to stop them and play our game.

"They haven't lost at home yet so it's a huge challenge but the reward will be huge if we win.

"When you are a footballer you get so up for these big games. Plus it's going to be on television so it's huge for them.

"We are going to play our match the way we normally play. We're not a team that can go there and sit back and wait and wait.

"We have different qualities but obviously our defensive side is going to be vital. When you play a side better than you, you have to look after the defensive side of the game and that's what we've been focusing on this week.

"But we're not going to be sitting waiting for something to happen."

Liverpool plan a total overhaul of Fernando Torres's medical care to try to discover the reason for his fifth hamstring injury in 16 months.

The Spanish striker broke down again during Wednesday's Champions League victory over Marseille.

Scans have revealed a repetition of the injury that could rule him out for three weeks, the December 21 trip to Arsenal being the tentative target for his comeback.

Torres has had three similar injuries on international duty, and two now with Liverpool, in the 16 months since his arrival at Anfield from Atletico Madrid.

Boss Rafael Benitez reveals Torres has no history of such an injury in Spain, which further deepens the concerns over his fitness.

He said: "Fernando had no such muscle or hamstring problems while with Atletico Madrid."

But as former Liverpool star Michael Owen knows all too well, hamstring injuries can dog you for the rest of your career once they have taken hold.

And now the 24-year-old striker has voiced his own concerns at the problem. He said: "I am a little disappointed, but all I can do is move forward.

"It is worrying me because it has happened a few times. After this latest injury the important thing is to recover without rushing a comeback date and trying to make sure it does not happen again."

Torres will miss Monday's game at home to West Ham, and could also be sidelined for matches against Blackburn, PSV Eindhoven and Hull.

Benitez said: "We are very disappointed with the situation. We have to analyse why it has happened. We have been working with prevention exercises in the past, and still we have the same problem.

"We were taking time with him, he wasn't being rushed back. The time and training was all under control, as was all the exercises.

"We now have to analyse why it has happened again. The doctor and the physio were both working very hard with Fernando and they are both first-class, but now it is the same situation.

"We will now not be taking any risks with his comeback. If he is fit then he will play, if he is not fit then he won't, it is simple."

He added: "We were working very hard with prevention exercises, and that was after the first couple of times that it happened.

"But it has happened again. He played in the Carling Cup and was not sharp, but he was sharp in training and little by little he was put under pressure."

Torres had short spells against West Brom, Tottenham and Bolton, plus a substitute appearance for Spain against Chile. Then he played two full games and broke down again.

Benitez said: "Everything was under control. But maybe against Marseille he was tired towards the end of the match and that is when it happened again. He went on a sprint and pulled something.

"Now we will have to start all over again to try to solve this problem.

"Because it has happened again and again we must analyse the small things. Maybe the way you walk, maybe your footwear or the exercises you do.

"I have talked to Fernando looking for a solution, and also with the doctor and physio staff. We must solve this, it is not a serious injury, more one that is difficult to cure."

Robbie Keane will now get an extended opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place, having been substitute against Marseille to facilitate Torres' comeback.

Liverpool have also lost full-back Fabio Aurelio with a calf injury, and Italian defender Andreas Dossena should step in against the Hammers.

UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Marseille after Liverpool's Steven Gerrard was hit by a cigarette lighter during the sides' Champions League meeting on Wednesday.

European soccer's governing body said on Friday that the French club would be charged with the throwing of missiles by their supporters at the next meeting of UEFA's disciplinary body on December 11.

Gerrard scored the only goal of Liverpool's 1-0 Group D victory to send them into the competition's knockout stages.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will be out of action for up to three weeks with a hamstring strain.

The Spain international, who was also sidelined for three weeks in October with a similar problem, picked up the injury in the 1-0 Champions League victory against French side Marseille at Anfield.

"Fernando has a strain in his right hamstring and will be out of action for between two and three weeks," a spokesman said on the club website after the player underwent a scan.

Torres, who scored Spain's winner in the Euro 2008 final, is Liverpool's joint top scorer in the league this season with five goals.

The club will also be without Brazilian left back Fabio Aurelio, who suffered a calf strain and is expected to be out for two weeks.

Liverpool are level with Premier League leaders Chelsea on 33 points but with an inferior goal difference ahead of the weekend's programme.

They host West Ham United on Monday.

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Steven Gerrard celebrated his return from injury by firing Liverpool into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Marseille here on Wednesday.

The Liverpool captain's first-half header from Xabi Alonso's cross proved enough to secure a victory over opponents who deserved better from a display every bit as spirited as the one that had seen them become the first French club to win at Anfield 13 months ago.

"We'll have a few regrets because we had chances up to the last minute but the only thing that makes me unhappy was the result," said Marseille coach Erik Gerets.

"I was quite happy with the performance. For the first time in a long time, we played as a unit and with the kind of desire that everyone said we were missing."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted his side had lived dangerously at times. "It was a strange game. We were controlling the game and then we scored and they started to attack us.

"We were trying to play on the counter attack with Fernando Torres but our final ball was never good enough to hurt them. The game was too open against a team with pace and ability. But the important thing is we won and we are qualified."

Ultimately it was the sloppy marking that allowed Gerrard to claim his fifth goal in as many games in this season's competition that snuffed out Marseille's last chance of progress to the last 16.

But Gerets' men could also count themselves unfortunate not to have enjoyed the breaks that would have enabled them to capitalise on a string of good chances as they put Liverpool under intense pressure after the interval.

It was a night of milestones for Benitez. His 66th European match in charge of the club eclipsed Bill Shankly's record while a 39th victory on the European stage saw him draw level with Bob Paisley on that count.

The Spaniard, though, could scarcely have been satisfied with another lacklustre display from his side which, even with Gerrard returning at the expense of Robbie Keane, lacked the attacking intensity he had promised in the wake of Saturday's sluggish display against Fulham.

Marseille were fortunate not to be punished in the opening minutes when Dirk Kuyt charged down Taye Taiwo's attempted clearance, the Dutchman failing to pick out Torres with his cross, and Daniel Agger's long-range strike required Steve Mandanda to make his first save of the evening.

More than 20 minutes had elapsed before the visitors' goalkeeper was called into serious action however and he did well to block Kuyt's header at close range after Torres had skipped past Vitorino Hilton on the right of the box.

Marseille failed to clear their lines and they paid the price less than a minute later after Alvaro Arbeloa sent Alonso overlapping down the right.

The Spanish midfielder's first-time cross was struck with his customary precision over a Marseille defence that had neglected to pick up Gerrard lurking beyond the back post.

Unchecked, the England midfielder was able to advance to the edge of the six-yard area before powering a header past Mandanda's right hand.

Marseille's best moment of the opening period came ten minutes before the break, when Taye Taiwo's skidding freekick forced Jose Reina to get down smartly at his left-hand post.

Liverpool's goalkeeper appeared less accomplished as he flapped at the resulting corner and was relieved to see Ronald Zubar head wide from a tight angle.

A rare right foot effort from Albert Riera drew another stop from Mandanda in first-half stoppage time.

But Liverpool were far from comfortable and could count themselves fortunate that Mamadou Niang's boot swiped at clean air when the Marseille striker got clear in the penalty area shortly after the restart.

Minutes later, the Senegal striker turned Jamie Carragher 40 yards out but, with a clear run at goal, opted to shoot too early and his effort failed to trouble Reina.

The trickery of Hatem Ben Arfa on the right was also giving Liverpool problems and the France midfielder came agonisingly close to equalising midway through the half with a beautifully struck free-kick from the corner of the box that drew an equally pleasing fingertips save from Reina.

A slip by Agger then presented Niang with a sight of goal but the Danish defender's blushes were spared by substitute Andrea Dossena, who threw his body into the line of fire for an important block on what was to prove Marseille's last clear-cut chance of an equaliser.

Fernando Torres has claimed the Premier League is "way ahead" of La Liga, a season and a half after joining Liverpool from Atletico Madrid.

The Spain striker took the Premier League by storm last season following his big-money move from Atletico in the summer of 2007, scoring 24 goals in his debut campaign for the Reds.

Although his second season at Anfield has been affected by some nagging injuries, Torres insists he is completely at home in England.

"It isn't easy to adapt but once you have, you would have trouble wanting to play anywhere else," said the 24-year-old, who scored Spain's winner in last summer's Euro 2008 final against Germany.

"The Premier League is way ahead of the Spanish league.

"You go to play away at a team in the relegation zone and you find yourself playing on a perfect pitch, with the stands full to bursting and opponents who are there to play football.

"And even if they lose, the crowd are going to cheer them on until the death. You only see this in British football."

Torres added: "The club is a symbol of a city which fought to stay alive.

"Everyone is proud of the team. Players want to come here because they know that Liverpool is a truly great club.

"Anfield is the most English of all the grounds - people live and breath football there.

"With just 45,000 fans there, that roar they give makes you think you have wings on your feet."

Torres completed his move to Liverpool in July last year, a month-and-a-half after they had been defeated by AC Milan in the final of the Champions League.

The striker revealed he was approached by Liverpool coach and fellow Spaniard Rafael Benitez just after that match, but he had trouble believing it was not a hoax call.

"Rafa Benitez phoned me on my mobile," Torres recalled.

"At the start, I was asking myself if this was some person imitating him. So I called (Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe) Reina to make sure it really was Rafa's number.

"Then after that, I didn't have to think for long. I knew that was the call I had been waiting for."

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel is desperate for more first-team opportunities at Anfield - but insists he is not thinking about leaving the club.Rafael Benitez has rotated his squad less often recently, meaning fringe players like Babel are getting fewer starts.

"The rotation system is a thing of the past and I'm one of the victims of that," the 21-year-old told Dutch magazine Sportweek.

"The team is winning a lot, so you don't alter things just like that.

"Each season has about 60 games. 'I must work hard and wait for my chance,' is what you hear, but I've shown enough patience. I want to play.

"You get better and develop when you play. On the bench, nothing happens. Of course I'm disappointed when I don't play, that seems clear to me."

The Holland international has no intention of quitting Anfield, though.

"I don't want to go," he said. "My contract runs until 2012. I don't give up that easily."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has told his players to focus on Wednesday's Champions League clash against Marseille and forget the frustrating draw with Fulham.

The Reds missed the chance to go three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League at the weekend after failing to break down the resilient Cottagers at Anfield.

But the squad have no time to dwell on lost opportunities as they are back in European action in midweek.

A victory over the French visitors - shock 1-0 winners on Merseyside last season - would secure a place in the knockout stage with one Group D match still to play.

They would even go through with a draw on Wednesday if PSV Eindhoven fail to beat Atletico Madrid on the same night.

Ensuring qualification with a match to spare would allow Benitez to rest players and therefore assist their Premier League challenge.

So although the manager said they must learn lessons from the Fulham result, the performance must be forgotten.

"We are disappointed about Saturday but we cannot talk about past games now," said Benitez.

"We have to think about making mistakes and analyse why and find solutions for the next game.

"We are frustrated, really frustrated. How can we change that now? We have to analyse and talk to the players about the mistakes and try to change for the next game."

Defender Jamie Carragher admitted the players have to accept they will encounter some frustrating times at home but they have to learn how to deal with them and ensure it does not have a knock-on effect.

"Pretty much every team that comes to Anfield plays counter-attacking football and we can't complain about that, especially as we've done the same thing in many big away games in Europe," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"We've just got to adapt to it and overcome it because if we want to challenge for the title that is something we're going to have to do."

Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa added: "We need to make sure we put this behind us by beating Marseille so that we qualify for the next round."

Captain Steven Gerrard is expected to return against the French club, having been sorely missed against Fulham after failing to recover fully from the groin injury which also kept him out of England's victory over Germany in Berlin last week.

Benitez hopes the midfielder can quickly strike up the partnership with Fernando Torres which was so successful last season when the pair scoring more than 50 goals between them.

Injuries to both players have prevented that combination blossoming again this campaign but the Liverpool boss believes it is only a matter of time before they click.

"Last season it was clear to see that the understanding between Torres and Gerrard was really good and there have been signs this year that it is getting better," Benitez told the club's website, liverpoolfc.tv.

"Torres is back again after being injured and we hope that Gerrard will be fit enough to face Marseille.

"As a manager I don't like to single out players but Gerrard and Torres have scored something like 54 goals between them since they began playing together, so it is clear that they are both very important to us."

Michael Ballack believes the Premier League title fight remains a two-horse race between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Liverpool may well be level on points with the Blues, with United eight adrift with a game in hand, but Ballack reckons they remain "a club for the Champions League".

All three clubs were held to goalless draws at the weekend, while Arsenal - who are also considered part of the 'Big Four' - slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City to fall out of the top four in the table.

Ballack told The Sun: "It's always the big four that everyone speaks about but I think it's still about Chelsea and Man U.

"Arsenal are already behind which makes it very difficult for them.

"Liverpool are very good at this moment but for me they are always a club for the Champions League, partly because they can put all their focus on one or two matches.

"But when you look at results and squads over the past couple of seasons as a whole, I think us and Man U are just a little bit stronger."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez would never accept that one man makes a team, even if that man is the inspirational Steven Gerrard.But the Liverpool manager, after witnessing Satutrday's limp 0-0 home draw with Fulham, was relieved to be able to reveal his skipper should be back in the starting line-up for Wednesday's Champions League home clash with Marseille.

It was clearly not palatable to consider the prospect of Gerrard's torn groin muscle leaving the club's inspiration again sitting in the directors' box.

Gerrard shuffled with frustration along with the rest of Liverpool's faithful as a team still unbeaten in the league at home in 2008 failed to see off a defiant Fulham.

That muscle injury has caused substantial damage in a matter of days, leaving Liverpool's relationship with the Football Association and the England set-up at best chilly.

Then, without Gerrard, Liverpool wasted the chane to go top. Chelsea and Manchester United also drew, so the only real losers were Arsenal whose defeat at Manchester City leaves them outside the top four and 10 points behind the leaders.

It should have been more because even an off-key Liverpool had enough chances to have buried Fulham.

Robbie Keane missed a sitter - it seems to happen every week now - while Dirk Kuyt failed twice from good positions.

The view afterwards from the Reds camp was that they should be able to win without Gerrard.

Full-back Fabio Aurelio said: "We have played for two months without Fernando Torres, and that is a big loss, but managed to win matches.

"We were able to handle it. And we should be able to do the same without Steven.

"Of course he is a fine player. He is approaching 10 years since his debut and he is very important for us.

"I have only been with him at Liverpool for a couple of years, but I know full well what he means to the club.

"I see him working every day in training, I see him leading the side on the pitch, and he is very, very special.

"But again we should not use as an excuse the fact that he was not playing against Fulham. It is too easy a thing to say.

"We have won games without Steven before, and we have good enough players to come into the side when he is not playing and still be able to win games."

Aurelio added: "Any side in the world would miss a player of Steven's ability and leadership. That is obvious.

"But we are finding teams now coming to Anfield and playing like Fulham did. They did not really have many chances, but tems now defend deep and in numbers.

"It is difficult to break down, but we should be able to do that with the players we have, with or without Steven."

Benitez supported that view and insisted his players must take collective responsibility.

He said: "We will always miss a player of Stevie's ability, but we did not beat Fulham because five or so players were all off form together.

"You cannot win games when that happens. He would have made a difference, yes, but it should not be an excuse.

"He is training now and I would expect that he would be fit to play against Marseille on Wednesday."

Benitez added: "It was a bad day, we did not have enough energy and we did not pass the ball well enough.

"We had a situation when maybe five players were well below their best. The players who had been away with their countries looked tired.

"I know the crowd were calling for Xabi Alonso to come on, but he had played 90 minutes for Spain and we needed fresh legs.

"When he did come on Fulham pressurised him straight away. One man does not make that much difference in such circumstances, when so many other players are off form you cannot

A lacklustre Liverpool failed to exploit Chelsea's inability to beat Newcastle after they were held to a goalless Premier League draw by Fulham at Anfield.
A poor match mirrored Chelsea's own bore-draw with the Magpies and Liverpool stay second, behind Chelsea on goal-difference.

Liverpool lacked the injured Steven Gerrard and left Xabi Alonso on the bench and, as a result, were strangely subdued going forward.

Apart from Mark Schwarzer's superb save from Robbie Keane after the ball kindly deflected into the path of the Irishman off strike partner Fernando Torres, the hosts barely troubled the Cottagers with Keane in particular looking sluggish and Torres's keen running not matched by his shooting.

Keane's chance aside, the first half was Fulham's in terms of opportunities.

Andrew Johnson poked weakly at Reina when put through following a corner, while Jimmy Bullard forced consecutive saves from Pepe Reina, first with a sweet strike from the edge of the box and then with the subsequent corner.

Liverpool started the second half with more vigour and Torres forced Schwarzer to tip the ball behind after a smart run inside from the left wing.

The corner that followed caused the visitors some problems, although Dirk Kuyt could not convert at the far post.

The Dutchman had a superb chance to put his side ahead on 70 minutes when, after a good move that involved Alvaro Arbeloa and Albert Riera, he angled a rising drive to the top-right corner only to be denied by an excellent stop from Schwarzer.

Alonso was introduced for the sluggish Javier Mascherano and the Reds immediately upped the ante.

Kuyt, who started the match on the right wing, adopted a more advanced role and popped up on the left to send a shot flashing inches over the top right corner.

Liverpool started to control the game, as Ryan Babel came on and immediately sent a low drive just wide after leaving Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil for dead.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez surprisingly brought Kuyt off for young Frenchman Nabil El-Zhar, a relatively defensive move that tightened their formation but reduced their impact going forward.

Fabio Aurelio sent a low volley wide after Fulham failed to fully clear a corner and Alonso summed the match up when he sent a shot from the edge of the box into row Z.

Torres could have won it in the final minute but his shot was deflected over for a corner, and Fulham ran the clock down to hold on for an excellent draw that puts them ninth.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has told the club he wants to sign a new contract when his current deal ends and intends stay at the club for the rest of his career.

Gerrard made the announcement as he approaches the 10-year anniversary of his Liverpool debut next week.

Currently injured with a groin muscle tear and out of Saturday's home league match with Fulham, Gerrard's comments come on the same day as manager Rafael Benitez tipped the 28 year-old as the man who could one day replace him as manager.

Gerrard is back in light training and battling to be fit for Wednesday's Champions League home clash with Marseille but his clear indication he never wants to leave Anfield will delight the club's fans.

"I do not know what is going to happen over the next 10 years but certainly for the next five or six I hope I am playing in Liverpool's first team," he said.

"I have two and a half years left on my contract and hopefully I will sign another one and stay for the remainder of my career.

"We will have to wait and see about management but I certainly want to get my qualifications to enable me to coach and manage. Then I will have to decide what I want to do."

He added: "Whether I will be interested in the Gary Ablett (reserve coach) type role, the Sammy Lee (assistant manager) role or the Rafa Benitez role, I do not know.

"I just want to get all my badges and then we will see. But I have a lot more football to play before we get to that stage and that is what I want to focus on at the moment.

"All I can say at this stage is the last 10 years have been the best of my life. I have lived the dream doing something I have always wanted to do and if my working life carries on being with Liverpool then I will be very happy."

On his 10 years in the first team, Gerrard, speaking in a liverpoolfc.tv interview, said: "It is hard to believe I have been in the first team for so long because the time has just flown by.

"I am very proud to be able to say I have played for the first team for 10 years. If someone had said all those years ago that I would go on to be captain and lift the European Cup, then I wouldn't have believed them.

"But I have had to work very hard to get to where I am and to win trophies both on a personal level and as part of the team.

"Looking back, I have had some unbelievable highs playing for this team but I have had some lows as well. It is the lows that have helped drive me on.

"It is disappointing to lose games or to be sent off, but those experiences have helped me achieve the highs."

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham.

The midfielder missed England's friendly against Germany in midweek after picking up a groin injury during last weekend's win over Bolton.

Having completed 90 minutes at the Reebok Stadium last Saturday, his subsequent withdrawal from Fabio Capello's squad had raised questions as to the authenticity of his injury.

Despite Liverpool's medical staff having ruled out Gerrard for the friendly international in Berlin, Capello ordered him to report for duty at England's Hertfordshire base.

But once there, national team doctors confirmed Gerrard's injury was genuine and sent him back to Merseyside to recuperate.

According to reports, the 28-year-old has just a 50-50 chance of recovering in time to face Marseille in the Champions League next week, further vindicating his absence from the England game.

Benitez had claimed earlier that Gerrard "would be out for between seven and 10 days".

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has been hailed as the "the closest thing I have seen to Alan Hansen" by former team-mate Craig Bellamy.Wales captain Bellamy crossed swords with the Danish centre-half in Copenhagen on Wednesday.

Bellamy came out trumps in the clash with 23-year-old Agger, netting the second-half winner in a friendly international against Denmark.

And in a week when it was being suggested that Agger's defensive rival Martin Skrtel was unhappy with life out of the side at Anfield, Bellamy underlined how tough the competition for places is now for the title chasers.

Bellamy, a lifelong Liverpool fan who achieved his ultimate career ambition when he had a year with the club after a £6million move from Blackburn in July 2006, rates Agger highly and understands the battle for a first-team shirt between the Dane and Skrtel.

Bellamy said: "Agger is outstanding. I have watched Liverpool a lot over the years and for me Agger is the closest thing I have seen to Alan Hansen.

"That's the best compliment I can give him. When he gets possession he can move confidently into midfield, he joins in the passing.

"He is comfortable on the ball and has really impressed me. I liked him a lot as a person, he is down-to-earth and level-headed.

"Nothing fazes him, nothing gets on top of him, he is an outstanding player."

Liverpool bought Skrtel last January because of the continued injury problems that had kept out Agger for months.

Bellamy said: "Agger was injured and that cost him his place to Martin Skrtel. Even when he was fit again he could not get back into the side, but at a place like Liverpool you have to earn the right to play.

"He had to bide his time and although it was bad luck for Skrtel when he got injured, Daniel has got his chance again.

"The same will happen when Skrtel is fit again. He will find it hard to get back into the team because Daniel is playing so well.

"The roles will be reversed. But that does not surprise me at a top club where the best players do hold down their places in the side."

There was a spell earlier in the season when Agger could not fight his way back into the side after injury with Skrtel then the man in possession of the shirt.

And that prompted claims from his homeland that he was not happy sitting on the substitutes' bench.

Now the roles are reversed with Skrtel recovering from a serious knee injury amid suggestions that he fancied a move back to Zenit St Petersburg.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez denies there is a problem, saying: "These are the sort of things you hear about during international breaks.

"But I was only talking to Martin earlier this week, and he is clearly happy at the club."

And the real battle for a centre-back place could begin again in earnest earlier than expected. Skrtel's progress following his operation has been impressive enough to suggest he could be back in action for the Christmas programme.

Skrtel said: "It will be difficult to get back into the team, but I am working hard and I will do my best to impress the coach and fight for my place.

"I have not been saying that I am unhappy here, or that I don't like Liverpool. Or that I want to go back to Zenit, I want to put the records straight."

Diego Maradona has guaranteed Javier Mascherano his place in the Argentina team, but added that all 10 other starting spots are up for grabs.Maradona, who took charge of his first game on Wednesday night as the Albicelestes beat Scotland 1-0 in Glasgow, has handed the captain's armband to Liverpool midfielder Mascherano.

He then told Radio La Red that Mascherano is the only player who can be sure of his place in the team.

"Taking Mascherano aside, nobody has a place secured in my team," he said. "It doesn't matter what his name is."

Maradona also praised Javier Zanetti for his reaction to losing the captaincy.

"He proved he is a gentleman, he wants to go forward and keep playing," Maradona said.

Gabriel Heinze also impressed Maradona with his attitude.

"Heinze is like a bull," he said. "At this moment we need players like him. The whole team had no fight. The ones on the bench were as happy as the starters."

Simon Davies has revealed his delight at Fulham's improved home form this season, and believes the Cottagers can 'nick a point' at Liverpool.Last weekend's 2-1 victory over Tottenham at Craven Cottage was Fulham's second consecutive victory and their fifth home win of the season - the same number the Cottagers managed in the whole of last season.

"It's good that we're maintaining our home form," Davies told the club's official website. "Last year our home form wasn't good enough and it put us in trouble and we were very lucky to get out of it in the end. It's something that we really wanted to work on and so far this season we've had some great results at the Cottage.

"Everyone worked really hard last weekend and it was a good performance throughout the team. That's the effort you've got to put in to get a result against a team like Tottenham."

They have yet to win away however, a statistic that does not bode well ahead of this weekend's trip to Anfield. But Davies insists that he and his team-mates go into the game in positive mood.

"It's going to be a tough test but we've had back-to-back wins so we'll go and give it a really good go. The atmosphere is a bit different from anywhere else and the boys can go there and enjoy it now.

"A lot of teams have been close to getting something this year at Anfield so we'll give it our best shot. The beauty is that we've had a couple of wins so we're not desperate so if we can earn a point or nick a win then it'll be all the better for us."

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun has stated that he is prepared to leave Anfield in order to find regular first-team football.

Benayoun has had a frustrating time this season and has had to make do with a place on the bench, starting just two of the last 10 games.

The Israeli signed from West Ham in the summer of 2007 and recorded an impressive 11 goals and 10 assists in his first season at the club.

The midfielder is currently away on international duty, where he is preparing to face the Ivory Coast, but he admits he has thought about a move away from Anfield.

He told The Sun: "The fact that I'm not involved and always come on as a sub tells you something. Even if it's Liverpool, if I don't get to play in the next few months I will not want to be here.

"I enjoy my time in England but maybe it is time to learn a new language, maybe Italian, French or Russian.

"When I came here it wasn't so I could tell everyone, 'Hey I play for Liverpool'.

"My purpose was to prove myself, and in the first year I think I did. I understand that I am at one of the biggest clubs in the world and that this year there are better players."

One of Benayoun's rare starts came in the 2-1 win over rivals Manchester United at Anfield but the 28-year-old found himself back on the bench for the following game.

"After our win over Manchester United I lost my place. Everyone wants to play and it is no fun sitting on the bench or playing just a few minutes.

"I'm part of the rotation but I hope in the next few months it will change."

Age does not seem to have dimmed Sir Alex Ferguson's anger. On the contrary, he has matured into one of the grumpiest old men imaginable.

Just yesterday he received a two-match touchline ban for coating referee Mike Dean in phlegm and spittle after Manchester United beat Hull.

And his face could turn a deeper shade of purple when he finds out what Liverpool have got up their sleeve.

You may remember last year, when United went out of their way not to sell Gabriel Heinze to their North-West rivals, off-loading him to Real Madrid instead.

Rafa Benitez has tried to fill the gap at left-back with several players, most recently Andrea Dossena, and all have been rubbish.

Real Madrid are in a state of civil war, with their players looking to jump ship like sailors on an oil tanker in Somali waters.

Consequently, Benitez has switched to his original target and is out to liberate Heinze from his Bernabeu hell. Or something.

Whatever, Fergie's reaction should be worth watching if Liverpool manage to move the Argentinian back into his old house in Cheshire.

Giovanni Trapattoni rates Shay Given. He has made him Republic of Ireland captain and reckons he is as good as Gianluigi Buffon.

Good news for Newcastle, right? Well, no. Trap has once again been singing Given's praises to Italy's big guns.

Milan are known to be in the market for a keeper, and Given might be keeping David Beckham company in the new year if the Serie A giants stump up £8m.

Yossi Benayoun is wanted by Spartak Moscow, Manchester City and Ajax, and Liverpool could let him leave for £6m.

Bad news for City, though - he wants to learn a new language and Mancunian doesn't count. Italian, French and Russian do. Russian, in this case, meaning roubles.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is a massive Bangles fan. How else to explain his pursuit of a third Egyptian - Al Alhy's Emad Meteb, who nearly signed for Everton in the summer?

Other Egyptians who could be on the move are Hosny Abd-Rabbo and Ahmed El-Muhammadi, both of whom could sample the unique delights of a trial at Blackburn Rovers.

Fulham and West Bromwich Albion are on the trail of Lech Poznan's Bosnian international midfielder Semir Stelic, who can be procured for £1.6m.

Rafael Benitez expects Robbie Keane to be fit for the clash with Fulham, but says it is too early to know if Steven Gerrard will be available.Keane was forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad to face Poland after sustaining a shoulder injury in last weekend's win over Bolton.

Benitez insists the injury is not serious and admits his withdrawal from international duty was more of a precaution.

"Robbie Keane's injury is not serious," Benitez told the club's official website. "He had a problem but [withdrawing from the international duty] was just a case of prevention. I think he will be okay."

Gerrard is expected to be sidelined for between seven to 10 days with a groin problem, which forced him to pull out of the England squad to tackle Germany.

Benitez is unsure when Gerrard will be available for action, but it is expected he will miss the Fulham clash and return for next week's Champions League tie with Marseille.

"Steven had a scan and he will be out for seven to ten days, depending on how he progresses," added Benitez.

"He could be back for the Marseille game but each player is different. We have to start working with him and see how he does."

Benitez also revealed that he had spoken with the medical staff of the Spanish national team in an attempt to prevent further injuries for Fernando Torres.

Torres has only recently returned to action after picking up a hamstring strain on international duty and Benitez is keen to avoid a recurrence this week.

"We have spoken to the Spanish medical staff and they know our idea and we know that they will take care of him. They know it could be a small risk so they will try to protect him," concluded Benitez.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez expects Robbie Keane to be fit for this weekend's clash with Fulham, but says it is too early to know if Steven Gerrard will be available.

Keane was forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad to face Poland after sustaining a shoulder injury in last weekend's win over Bolton.

Benitez insists the injury is not serious and admits his withdrawal from international duty was more of a precaution.

"Robbie Keane's injury is not serious," Benitez told the club's official website. "He had a problem but [withdrawing from the international duty] was just a case of prevention. I think he will be okay."

Gerrard is expected to be sidelined for between seven to ten days with a groin problem, which forced him to pull out of the England squad to tackle Germany.

Benitez is unsure when Gerrard will be available for action, but it is expected he will miss the Fulham clash and return for next week's UEFA Champions League tie with Marseille.

"Steven had a scan and he will be out for seven to ten days, depending on how he progresses," added Benitez.


"He could be back for the Marseille game but each player is different. We have to start working with him and see how he does."


Benitez also revealed that he had spoken with the medical staff of the Spanish national team in an attempt to prevent further injuries for Fernando Torres.

Torres has only recently returned to action after picking up a hamstring strain on international duty and Benitez is keen to avoid a recurrence this week.


"We have spoken to the Spanish medical staff and they know our idea and we know that they will take care of him. They know it could be a small risk so they will try to protect him," concluded Benitez.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is confident his side's away form will improve now they have found their scoring touch.Hodgson's men recorded their second consecutive home win on Saturday, beating a rejuvenated Tottenham side 2-1 to move up to 10th place in the table, but they have yet to win away from Craven Cottage and face a tough test in high-flying Liverpool at the weekend.

Fulham have scored 12 times this season but only two goals have been on the road. Hodgson, though, is upbeat.

"You need people scoring goals," he said. "At the beginning, we were not scoring goals and now we are beginning to get two a game and if we continue that goalscoring prowess I am sure we will get away wins.

"What luck we have had has been at home. Away from home, luck has deserted us.

"Opposing managers will often say we have been unlucky and deserved more from the game. In this league away wins are hard to come by."

On Saturday's performance, Hodgson added: "I think the balance was right.

"We have had games when we have played attacking football and others where it is backs-to-the-wall defending.

"In terms of the game as a whole there were not many hopeful balls."

Rafa Benitez has warned his Liverpool squad that no-one is assured of a place in his side.

The Spaniard is renowned for his rotation policy, but appears to have curbed that habit of late.

With that in mind, he insists that he will resist the temptation to make sweeping changes to a successful side.

That means no place at present for striker Fernando Torres, who has only recently returned from injury.

Last season's top scorer was left on the bench for the Reds' 2-0 win at Bolton on Saturday, only joining the action as a 59th minute substitute.

Benitez believes no player should ever take their place for granted, and insists he will not be altering his stance in the future.

"The players have to compete for their positions in the side, be it Torres or anyone else," he said.

"Torres has to improve, if he does and he is fit then I will decide what to do, although I expect to be criticised.

"I did not have to explain to Fernando why he was not playing, it was very clear. The team had been playing well and he has to compete for his position.

"He played well when he came on, but then other players who come on as substitute also did well, not just him.

"That is the key if you want to have a winning mentality and a winning squad."

Meanwhile, Benitez also aired his frustration at the fact that Torres has now joined up with the Spain squad ahead of their friendly against Chile on Wednesday, despite lacking match fitness.

"Torres will join up with Spain. I am not happy, but I cannot do anything about it. We are talking to international managers and asking them to protect our players," he added.

"We have asked that the Spanish set-up does not take any chances, that they protect the player."

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has insisted that the Reds are enjoying the pressure of the title race as they go head to head with Chelsea.

The Anfield club are level on points with the Blues at the top of the Premier League table and have only been defeated by Tottenham this season.

Alonso has been in sparkling form and produced another excellent performance in the 2-0 victory over Bolton on Saturday.

The Spain midfielder is relishing the challenge of trying to help Liverpool lift the title but is focusing only on the next match against Fulham.

"The pressure is always there, you're professional," Alonso told the club's official website.

"I've been at Liverpool for a while and it's nice to have the pressure of being at the top of the table.

"We don't have to obsess about being top of the table, we have to obsess about each individual game.

"Now the job is done against Bolton and some of us will go off and think about an international and as soon as we are back we have to be thinking about Fulham at home."

Liverpool have made their best ever start to a Premier League campaign but Alonso feels there is still room for improvement.

He said: "There are still a few things, but that is normal because the other sides have good teams as well.

"We try to have control in all areas of the game - that is something we're working on - but other things are working quite well.

"As we improve as a team, each individual player will benefit from that improvement.

"I'm happy with the team and myself as well. As long as the team continues in this way and in this position I'm very happy."

Alonso added: "Overall the team is looking quite good in attack and defence. Of course we still think we can improve, but we are keeping the ball well, and working well together.

"It's important whoever is playing that the team keeps the same identity and have the same ideas."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has warned striker Fernando Torres he cannot expect a guaranteed place in the starting line-up.
The Spain international was left on the bench and openly criticised by his manager ahead of Liverpool's 2-0 Premier League win at Bolton.

Benitez had hauled off Torres after an insipid performance in the embarrassing Carling Cup defeat by Spurs in midweek, although the former Atletico Madrid man is returning from injury.

The Anfield chief publicly condemned Torres for a "bad" display at White Hart Lane, and blamed the senior players for letting down the youngsters.

Torres was given 31 minutes to impress at the end of the victory over Bolton and did not disappoint.

He created a sitter which Steven Gerrard missed, and also hit the post and was thwarted by Jussi Jaaskelainen when the Liverpool skipper had put him clean through.

Torres also provided a sublime pass to set up Gerrard's header to clinch the game after Dirk Kuyt headed Liverpool ahead in the first-half.

Despite his lively display, though, the message from Benitez was clear - not even one of Europe's best strikers is sure of a place.

Benitez said: "The players have to compete for their positions in the side, be it Torres or anyone else.

"Torres has to improve, if he does and he is fit then I will decide what to do, although I expect to be criticised.

"I did not have to explain to Fernando why he was not playing, it was very clear. The team had been playing well and he has to compete for his position.

"He played well when he came on, but then other players who come on as substitute also did well, not just him.

"That is the key if you want to have a winning mentality and a winning squad."

Torres will now join up with the Spain squad this week, having played just 105 minutes of football in nearly five weeks since he was injured on international duty.

Benitez said: "Torres will join up with Spain. I am not happy, but I cannot do anything about it. We are talking to international managers and asking them to protect our players.

"We have asked that the Spanish set-up does not take any chances, that they protect the player."

Liverpool went top of the Premier League table for several hours after beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium.


Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard both scored to send the visitors three points clear of Chelsea, although the West London side later thumped West Brom to reclaim top spot.

Liverpool put together a 20-pass move midway through the first half as they probed from right to left searching for an opening which culminated with Fabio Aurelio's cross being met by Kuyt at the far post, the Dutchman nodding a header back across goal and past Jussi Jaaskelainen for his sixth of the season.

Gerrard doubled the lead with 15 minutes to go. Substitute Fernando Torres lost Andy O'Brien with a neat turn at the byline and his cross was glanced in by the Liverpool captain to put the match beyond doubt.

Liverpool's lead in the first half was well-deserved, but Bolton had the ball in the back of the net just before half-time.

Gavin McCann's corner was headed in by defender Gary Cahill, but referee Rob Styles had already blown his whistle for Kevin Nolan's obstruction of Liverpool keeper Jose Reina.

Liverpool began the match with Torres on the bench, despite the Spaniard starting in the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Tottenham.

Lone striker Robbie Keane missed a clear chance to double Liverpool's lead two minutes after Kuyt's goal, but the Irishman somehow managed to miss a ball played across the six-yard box.

Torres replaced Keane on the hour mark, and within moments he was fed down the right channel by Xabi Alonso, and his ball across goal was met by Steven Gerrard, but the Liverpool captain failed to steer a shot past Jaaskelainen as he slid in.

Bolton were made to look second best for much of the match, but Liverpool's misses kept them in the game until Gerrard scored the second.

In the first half, McCann lifted a ball over the Liverpool defence for Johan Elmander. The ball sat up nicely for the Swedish striker - who has not scored since the opening day of the season - and his well-struck half-volley was saved at the near post by Jose Reina.

Ricardo Gardner came on for Fabrice Muamba at half time, but he may wish he had stayed on the bench as he was guilty of missing two excellent chances.

Five minutes after coming on he found himself one-on-one with Reina. The Jamaican took the ball around the Spanish keeper but his left-footed shot struck his standing leg and went out for a goal kick. Running back to guard the empty net, defender Daniel Agger slid into the post and kneed himself in the face, knocking out one of his own teeth in the process.

Then, five minutes from time, Gardner again found himself in front of Reina, but this time he lifted an effort over the onrushing keeper but also well over the bar.

Rafael Benitez feels it was too early to use Liverpool academy players at Tottenham in midweek, but is ready to field Stephen Darby at Bolton.Benitez has defended his decision not to use the club's youngsters in the midweek Carling Cup loss.

The Liverpool boss fielded a raft of overseas fringe players for Wednesday's 4-2 defeat at White Hart Lane, meaning there was no space in the starting XI for any of the club's youth system players.

However, Liverpool-born Darby did at least make an appearance from the bench against Spurs, and the 20-year-old right-back is now in line to make his Premier Lague bow in Saturday's early kick-off at the Reebok Stadium, with Alvaro Arbeloa suspended and Philipp Degen sidelined with a fractured metatarsal that could keep him out for two months.

Darby's likely inclusion in the Reds' line-up will be a timely riposte to those who have criticised Benitez for not nurturing young, English talent, and the Spaniard insists academy players have a future at Anfield.

Benitez said: "Our young players will need more time. [Against Spurs] I decided to use the other members of the squad rather than very young players, mainly because the seniors needed to play matches.

"I have to think about having senior men ready to play in the Premier League as the season progresses. I was also concerned that we were playing against a Spurs side who have been doing very well, maybe it was not the game for teenagers.

"We used senior squad players and they did not play well. Fernando Torres played 55 minutes and did not play well, if the big names do not perform then you cannot blame the young players.

"We have good young players, the future for the club is brilliant. We have good, young, local players and they are working well."

Benitez bridled at suggestions his tactics were in contrast to those of Arsenal, whose team of academy products swept aside Wigan in the same competition on Tuesday.

"Do not compare us with Arsenal," he said.

"They have been paying big, big money for young players for all the time that Arsene Wenger has been there.

"It is not about the age of players, it is about quality. Sometimes you have to pay big money for the best young players around, and that is what Arsenal have done.

"But Arsenal were being criticised only recently for using too many inexperienced youngsters. Then they beat Manchester United and Wigan and everyone says they are fantastic.

"It is important to be calm, look to the long term, and see the bigger picture."

Benitez added: "If you had to choose between local players or foreign players of the same ability, that is easy, you would go with the local boys because they have more passion.

"You have to talk about quality first. I would be really pleased with five Carraghers and five Gerrards, that would be wonderful.

"But Arsenal have been working for 12 years or more bringing in young foreign players. Everyone was criticising them, and now because they have two or three good English players coming through, the attitude has changed.

"But for 12 years or so they have been bringing in foreign players. Why? Because it is a question of quality. I understand that. My view is that the academy system is not producing enough good players all around the country. That is a fact."

Benitez - who was named Manager of the Month for October - will have all his big-name stars back at the Reebok.

Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Keane and Albert Riera will all feature in the squad.

Benitez added that using Darby in his starting XI this weekend should not be viewed

Daniel Agger has demanded improvement from Liverpool as they look to sustain their Barclays Premier League title challenge with victory at Bolton on Saturday.

Centre-back Agger was the only player retained in the starting XI for the midweek Carling Cup defeat against Tottenham where Rafael Benitez's under-par second string made his squad look lightweight and lacking depth.

Benitez will recall his first-choice players for the trip to the Reebok Stadium, with Agger hoping there will be no hangover from White Hart Lane.

The 23-year-old Denmark international feels standards must be higher if Benitez needs to call on his squad players again.

"We definitely have to do better," he said. "Bolton are a physical and strong team so it will be a tough match for us, but we are focused on making improvements in every area."

The 4-2 defeat allows Benitez to prioritise the Premier League and Champions League - and Agger feels there should be lessons learned from the defeat to Spurs as well.

"We can't take many positives from that game," said Agger.

"I think it's easy to say that when you let the opposition score four goals, you won't win the game.

"Our team performance was just not good enough. We were far from strong enough and we have to do better.

"But now we will think about improving against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday - that is all we can do.

"We take every game as it comes and must play a lot better than how we performed against Tottenham."

Fernando Torres returned from his hamstring tear against Spurs, and he is relishing a return to action to link up with fellow Spaniard Albert Riera, who was signed from Espanyol to provide genuine width.

"He's a different player to what we've had because he is a real winger," Torres told the LFC Magazine. "On the right we have Jermaine Pennant and now on the left we have Albert.

"He is capable of going on the outside or coming inside. He can dribble and cross - he is a complete player. He is really important to the team already.

"As a striker, it is great to have someone who can cross the ball so well.

"Having him in the team should create more space for the other forwards because defenders need to watch Albert. That should help the rest of us get more opportunities."

LONDON (AFP) - Rafa Benitez insisted his ambitions for Liverpool stretch further than the League Cup after seeing his makeshift side thrashed 4-2 at Tottenham in the fourth round.

The Spaniard made 10 changes to the team which had flattened West Bromwich Albion the previous weekend, handing rare starts to the likes of Daniel Ngog, Damien Plessis and Lucas, but the policy backfired as Spurs ran riot at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

The hosts and League Cup holders cruised to victory thanks to two goals apiece from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Fraizer Campbell, and while Liverpool mounted a fight-back of sorts after half-time, they were still well beaten.

It was a meek way for Liverpool's interest in this tournament - which they have won more regularly than any other side - to end but Benitez, while quietly fuming at the manner of his team's performance, maintained his priority remains the Premier League and Champions League.

"You have to use the players in this competition," he said. "You can't play all the players every game - people need to rest. The guys we picked are internationals, they have quality but we didn't play well.

"When you have two or three not playing well, it's hard for the others to keep their levels high. But the youngsters need to play more games like this, win some and lose them, and gain experience that way.

"I am very disappointed with the result and how we played but if the team goes to Bolton on Saturday in the league and wins, we will be at the top of the table and everyone will be talking about our priorities, which are the league and the Champions League."

The only bright point of an otherwise forgettable night for Benitez was a 55-minute cameo from Fernando Torres.

The Spanish striker was making his first appearance since October 5 after shaking off a hamstring injury and, while his performance did not suggest a striker fully match fit, at least he emerged unscathed.

Liverpool's capitulation began in the 37th minute, when Campbell scampered to the by-line and cut back to the unmarked Pavlyuchenko, who drilled through Diego Cavalieri's legs.

Campbell then swaggered into centre-stage himself, capitalising on confusion between Andrea Dossena and Cavalieri to collect Jamie O'Hara's lofted ball and casually roll it home, and then nodding in the midfielder's cross after being left inexplicably unmarked.

The defending was equally chaotic after the interval, although Spurs did their best to share the mistakes around.

Two Ryan Babel corners led to two identikit goals - the first headed in by Plessis in the 48th minute, the other by Sami Hyypia in the 63rd - while sandwiched in between was another routine strike for Pavlyuchenko, who converted Didier Zokora's cross from close range.

For Harry Redknapp, this thumping win maintained the momentum generated by his appointment last month.

Redknapp, who has appointed former Spurs and England forward Les Ferdinand as a part-time striking coach, was delighted at his team's display but insisted avoiding relegation remains his top priority.

"I should get out now - I've taken the club as far as I can!" Redknapp joked. "You have to enjoy the moment because we will have our ups and downs as the season goes on.

"This was great and it's nice to win, but Fulham away on Saturday is a massive game for me now - we need points to get up that table. I know how tight it will be this year and I think you'll need 40 points to be safe. We just have to keep the run going as long as we can."

Redknapp also confirmed that goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, stretchered off here with an oxygen mask strapped to his face after being clattered by Philipp Degen, will be fit for the trip to Fulham.

Tottenham's recent revival under Harry Redknapp continued with a 4-2 win over Liverpool in an exhilarating Carling Cup fourth round tie at White Hart Lane.

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Fraizer Campbell both netted twice as the holders booked a place in the quarter-finals in a match that was littered with defensive errors.

Damien Plessis and Sami Hyypia replied for a much-weakened Liverpool side, before Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was carried off with a head injury.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez opted to make wholesale changes to the side that beat West Brom at the weekend with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Robbie Keane rested, while Fernando Torres returned to the starting line-up from his hamstring tear.

But it was two less celebrated strikers who lit up the night, Campbell and Pavlyuchenko making the most of playing up front together in the absence of the rested Darren Bent and Luka Modric, both of whom started on the bench.

The pair effectively settled the match during a blistering seven-minute burst just before the half-time whistle, a period that saw the hosts net three times and Liverpool fall apart.

Pavlyuchenko opened the scoring on 38 minutes, firing a hard, low drive past Diego Cavalieri after Campbell's pull back from the by-line had found the Russian on the penalty spot.

Seconds later Jamie O'Hara could have made it two, but Cavalieri was alert enough to make a smart stop to keep out his low drive.

Campbell then proved his proficiency in front of goal, nipping in ahead of Cavalieri and Andrea Dossena to control the ball on his chest before turning and coolly slotting into an empty net.

And less than three minutes later, Campbell had his second and Spurs' third of the night, heading Aaron Lennon's cross from a standing position back across Cavalieri and into the far corner of the net.

While the strike duo's finishing was exemplary, defensive frailty played a part in all three goals: Sami Hyypia was too easily beaten by Aaron Lennon to cross for Campbell, who was left entirely unmarked, for the opener; Cavalieri and Dossena failed to communicate and took each other out for the second; and Liverpool gave away possession to start the move that led to the third.

Three-nil down at half-time was bad enough, but the truth was that it could have been much worse for the visitors had Pavlyuchenko not glanced a header wide of the mark early on or Dan Agger not denied Lennon a certain goal with a splendid sliding block on 19 minutes.

Liverpool rallied after the break and pulled a goal back on 49 minutes, Plessis heading home from a corner after Gomes once again showed how badly he lacks confidence and form.

The Brazilian came off his line to claim the ball before furiously backpeddling once he realised he was not going to get anywhere near it. The young Frenchman was allowed to head into what was effectively an unguarded net.

The goal briefly lit a flame of hope for the visitors, but Spurs soon found a way through the porous Liverpool back line to net a fourth goal

This time the breakthrough could not be blamed on poor Liverpool defending, just a good old fashioned strong run from midfield by Didier Zokora who got to the by-line before centring for Pavlyuchenko to side foot home.

Yet more flapping from Gomes - who was later stretchered off with a head injury following a collision with Philipp Degen - saw Hyypia pull another goal back with a header from a corner on 62 minutes.

The goalkeeper's indecision, as it has done already this season, could have cost Spurs dearly; Liverpool had a big penalty shout turned down by Mike Riley when Degen upended Gareth Bale in the box with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

Replays showed a penalty kick should have been awarded, but a tense final ending to the game, which was extended by nine minutes as a result of Gomes's injury, was avoided.

As it was, Spurs closed out the game without any further problems as Redknapp's presence at the club continues to make a difference.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has expressed his satisfaction with life at Anfield and insisted he has no plans to "abandon" the club.The Spanish star has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City in recent months, but Torres has always maintained his happiness with how things are going at Liverpool.

The club's off-field issues have led to strong speculation that they could sell Torres - but the 24-year-old says he does not want to play his football anywhere else.

"I have no plans to go anywhere, not back to Spain, not to Italy, not to another English club," he told the Daily Star.

"I read a lot of things last summer but I was at the European Championships and I did not want any distractions."

Chelsea were strongly linked in the summer, but Torres says he paid little attention to the speculation.

"I don't know if they (Chelsea) spoke with the club or with my agent," he continued.

"But in any case even if there was something in it, nothing was ever going to make me abandon Liverpool."

Torres insists that Liverpool was the 'perfect' move for him.

"It was the perfect opportunity for me," he said.

"Spanish team-mates, a Spanish manager who believed in me, and a great captain who is also one of the best players in the world.

"Liverpool have every ingredient for me to develop as a player."

He also hailed the influence of coach Rafa Benitez.

"He is the best coach I have ever had without doubt," he beamed.

"I think he is totally focused on football all day long.

"He concerns himself with every last detail, things that as a player you would never normally even think about like a movement half a metre to one side that would give you the chance to score a goal.

"He is a coach that you can learn from and that any player would love to have because he gets every last drop of ability out of you."

Liverpool have made a great start to their Premier League campaign this season, including wins over Manchester United and Chelsea, and Torres admits he can sense the fans want the title.

"When I arrived everyone talked about the league," he said.

"We have won it 18 times and Manchester United 17, if they win it this season then they draw level and the fans don't want that.

"I think 90 per cent of Liverpool fans would prefer the league.

"The rivalry between the two sides is so intense, it is like Barca and Madrid or even stronger."

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can march into the Carling Cup quarter-finals with a revenge win at Spurs because he has players desperate to prove themselves.

Benitez will make wholesale changes for the fourth-round tie at White Hart Lane, scene of the Reds' only defeat this season when Spurs fought back to claim a late 2-1 victory.

The bulk of that side will not be on show on Wednesday, although Benitez is considering using Fernando Torres from the start.

Torres played for the final 19 minutes of Saturday's 3-0 win over West Brom after a six-game absence with a hamstring injury.

The likes of Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano, Daniel Agger and Albert Riera are not expected to figure but Benitez insists Liverpool can force their way into the last eight.

He said: "We have enough players in the squad waiting for their chance to impress, it will be important for them to grab this opportunity.

"And when the team is playing well it is easier to change players and retain the system.

"I believe we can still continue to play well and to keep winning regardless of the players we use."

Benitez will probably bring in goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, defenders Sami Hyypia and Andreas Dossena, midfielders Yossi Benayoun, Jermaine Pennant, Lucas, Nabil El Zhar and Ryan Babel.

Robbie Keane may get a chance to play again at his former club, possibly alongside Torres, while youngsters Jay Spearing, David Ngog, Emiliano Insua and Damien Plessis could be involved.

Benitez added: "We want to win every game but this is another competition and we have several players who are tired after some difficult weeks so we rest some and change a few.

"But we have a good squad so we will try to win with different players.

"We may well use Torres from the start. It is a decision I will take on the day after seeing how he has done during training."

The league defeat at Spurs earlier this month still rankles with Benitez, and he will be looking for his much-changed side to gain revenge.

He said: "We were very much on top and looking a good team, but in football you can play really well and lose while on other occasions you can play badly and still win.

"That was the case last time. We played well and lost. It was more a case that we lost the game rather than them winning it.

"But Spurs have done well. When you are at the bottom and start winning, the confidence comes back. They have good players and finished fifth twice a few years back."

Israel midfielder Benayoun already has his eyes on a Wembley appearance and a winners' medal.

He said: "We have a cup game we know we can win and want to win. We want to win all the competitions, do not doubt that.

"We want to win at Spurs, especially having lost there in the league.

"And for the other players in the squad it is a chance to show what we can do.

"We want to win the game and go on to win the Carling Cup, whoever is in the side. It is important for us.

"There's a little bit of revenge maybe. The league game at Spurs was one of our best performances of the season and we lost at the end.

"We know we are a better team than that and we have a team who can win at Spurs."

Benayoun admits he is impressed by the job new Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has done, adding: "I have been a little surprised by what Harry Redknapp has done, he changed them almost in a few days.

"He deserves the credit and is a good manager and a good person. I wish him all the best, but only after Wednesday."

Harry Redknapp admits Tottenham will lose their grip on the Carling Cup if there is a repeat of their performance against Liverpool during his first week in charge at White Hart Lane.

Spurs could have been dead and buried against Rafael Benitez's men when they met in the Premier League, only for Jamie Carragher's own goal and a last-ditch winner from Roman Pavlyuchenko to give them a 2-1 victory.

Redknapp's magic touch has been credited with Spurs going unbeaten since their change of manager - and defending the Carling Cup is the next task, with Liverpool their opponents in the fourth round.

"We played Liverpool and beat them but let's face it, they murdered us," Redknapp said.

Redknapp has Benoit Assou-Ekotto suspended and Ledley King in need of rest, and he has the option of involving fringe players such as Paul Stalteri, Ricardo Rocha, Adel Taarabt, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Hossam Ghaly.

A full-strength team was picked for the UEFA Cup clash against Dinamo Zagreb last week and balanced against the defence of a trophy, Redknapp is understood to be keen to keep his whole squad involved in first-team duties.

"All the players are in the dressing room after the games, delighted that we have won," Redknapp said. "I have not isolated any of them. They are part of it. And that is how I want to keep it."

Rocha has felt the difference, and the Portuguese defender said: "Redknapp is a great coach, very communicative and everyone is motivated to show what they can do."

Another factor in Redknapp's possible starting XI is the tight bottom half of the Premier League, with three points separating West Brom at the foot and 10th-placed Fulham, who they face at the weekend.

"The only thing that is important at this moment in time is retaining our Premier League status because we are still very much in trouble along with lots of other clubs and no one is getting carried away here," said assistant boss Kevin Bond on skysports.com.

Against Liverpool last time out, Redknapp's magic touch was almost undermined by errors from goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Redknapp has spoken to Gomes about the selection process for claiming crosses, and the Spurs boss has backed the Brazilian to make a marked improvement over the coming games.

"He did all right against Manchester City (at the weekend)," said Redknapp. "He has just got to settle in and understand what is required in England.

"When you talk to people about him, they talk highly of his qualities. Tony Adams did when he returned from Holland. Gomes took PSV to the semi-finals of the Champions League almost single-handedly, by all accounts.

"He was that good. It is a game of confidence and he has had one or two iffy days. Hopefully now his confidence will start to grow and we will see what he can do."

Redknapp is not expected to make radical changes in the January transfer window.

Andrei Arshavin, a Spurs target in the summer, has been linked with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while Vagner Love has committed himself to CSKA Moscow.

The striker said: "My contract with CSKA has three years to run. I am going to defend their interests at least until then."

(reopens) One striker Redknapp is expected to look at against Liverpool is Fraizer Campbell, who is on loan from Manchester United.

Redknapp said: "I'm going to make one or two changes. One or two of the lads will get a chance because they are good players but it will still be a good team.

"I need to see the likes of Fraizer Campbell. I've seen nothing of him but he's looked terrific in training.

"When he came on the other night in the UEFA Cup game he was lively and a real prospect. Hull offered £7million to Manchester United so he's definitely not a bad player."

Rafael Benitez has confirmed Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane will both be rested for Liverpool's Carling Cup fourth-round tie at Tottenham.And he has intimated Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso could also be left out.

Benitez's decision means Keane will not be able to face his former club, having left Spurs for Liverpool during the summer in a £20million move.

Benitez had made it clear he would rest several senior players - some of whom have played six games in 18 days - for the game at White Hart Lane, but has only now confirmed exactly who they will be.

Benitez said: "Gerrard will not be in the squad and neither will Keane.

"It is always difficult to play so many games in a row and you have to change some players depending on the competition. The majority of them can play games in a row but some need to be taken care of.

"Gerrard is one of them at this moment. Dirk Kuyt is another who has played almost every game. Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher and Robbie Keane are the same.

"You also have to consider that some of these players have played internationals this season too. I believe Keane has played 23 games already.

"We will use players who haven't played every game. I have confidence in them because they are all internationals.

"It is always important to win trophies and this is an opportunity to do that. You must always be ready in every competition.

"People talk about big names playing but it is more important to talk about good players and we will have good players playing in the Carling Cup."

One big name not needing a rest is Fernando Torres, who requires match practice after missing six games with a hamstring tear.

The Spanish ace will travel to White Hart Lane and may even start against Harry Redknapp's men.

Benitez said: "He will be in the squad and hopefully he can play. He could start.

"It is an important competition for us. We have players who are not always involved but have enough quality. They need games for match fitness because they could be needed later in the season."

Rafael Benitez has warned Liverpool fans about gloating too soon over the Anfield side's eight point lead over champions Manchester United.

For many Anfield fans, such an advantage over their greatest rivals with the season almost a third over, is cause for celebration.

But boss Benitez said: "I don't think I will be celebrating until the gap is 20 points."

The end product of a weekend of frantic action at the top of the Barclays Premier League is that Manchester United sit eight points behind leaders Chelsea and second placed Liverpool - who have a whopping 14-goal difference deficit to make up on the west Londoners.

Both clubs are on 29 points, with United's defeat away to Arsenal leaving them in fourth spot.

Benitez said: "We were aware before we played West Brom on Saturday that Manchester United had lost, but it was not something that we allowed to effect how we played.

"If you spend the whole time with a calculator considering what others are doing, it will drive you crazy.

"You must concentrate on what you are doing. United may be trailing us, but we are not looking at what they are doing, only ourselves."

Liverpool were top after the 3-0 win over West Brom for just 24 hours before Chelsea regained the leadership after a 2-0 win at Blackburn.

Benitez, who welcomed back striker Fernando Torres after a hamstring injury, said: "Manchester United still have a game in hand and the ability to make up points in just two other games is not that difficult for them.

"When the gap is 20 points, then I will relax. But with just this small difference all I can say is we must keep going all the time and not think about what other teams are doing."

He added: "We have confidence and are playing well, so we know we can be up there at the top. We know it is a long race and must keep going.

"It is still too soon to be thinking in those terms about other teams. There are too many games, in league and cups, and many things can happen.

"But things are very positive. We were top before and we wanted to be top again. The win over West Brom put us back up at the top and we must continue to put pressure on our rivals.

"We are playing well, scoring goals, but it could be better even though we are pleased."

Benitez is expected to rest several senior men for Wednesday's Carling Cup trip to face revitalised Spurs at White Hart Lane.

It seems certain that skipper Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano and keeper Jose Reina will be rested.

Diego Cavalieri, Jermaine Pennant, Lucas, Nabil El Zhar, Andrea Dossena, Ryan Babel, David Ngog and Sami Hyypia are expected to figure in north London.

On Gerrard, Benitez said: "Stevie needs a bit of rest," the Anfield boss told Liverpool's official website.

"He was injured during the international break and it is important to try and keep players fit all the time.

"It is clear that Stevie is a bit tired at the moment."

Benitez will make a late decision on whether Torres continues his comeback with a place in the starting line-up against Harry Redknapp's men.

Benitez said: "He needs games, but we will assess the situation only after a couple more training sessions."

But it is clear that Benitez is keen to re-form the partnership between Torres and Robbie Keane, who scored his first league goals for the club in the win over West Brom.

Whether Keane will be involved from the start against his former club is also debatable, with Babel and Ngog likely to figure up front.

But Benitez said: "It was good to see Keane scoring, and then to have Torres back on the pitch.

"The understanding will be good again, and if they both continue to work hard they will be very dangerous for any opponent."

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has agreed to captain Argentina under new coach Diego Maradona.

"I've convinced him," Maradona told Radio La Red after returning from a six-day trip to Europe during which he visited a number of his top players.

"I explained to him what I thought about him and told him what I thought he could give the team."

Mascherano, 24, initially said he did not feel ready to take on the responsibility.

Maradona is also hoping to make former defender Oscar Ruggeri his assistant despite media reports of opposition from Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona.

"I don't think Oscar's impossible," said Maradona.

The choice of his assistant has already become a hot topic.

At one stage Maradona said Jose Luis Brown and Sergio Batista, team-mates from the 1986 World Cup-winning side, would take on the role. But he then changed his mind, saying the decision was not final.

Ruggeri's recent coaching record would make him a controversial choice.

He resigned at Mexico's Tecos UAG after losing his first six games in 2003, then took charge of Independiente in his homeland before resigning four months later after being jeered and insulted by fans at a home game.

In 2004 he went to Spanish second division club Elche but was fired after 20 games. He returned to Mexico and joined America, the country's richest club, and this time lasted six matches.

Ruggeri's last coaching job was with San Lorenzo in 2006 where he was again fired after poor results including a 7-1 home defeat by Boca Juniors.

Martin O'Neill insists Aston Villa will not look to cash in on Gareth Barry, despite fears he could leave in a cut-price deal in the summer.Barry almost joined Liverpool in an £18million deal in the summer and Villa feel there will be renewed interest in the England international come the next transfer window, with Arsenal and Tottenham expected to join the race.

The continued presence of Barry has helped Villa to fifth place in the Premier League and an impressive start to their UEFA Cup campaign.

Should Villa hang on to Barry for the rest of the season then he could buy out the remaining year of his contract for just £2million next summer.

And O'Neill maintains that is a risk the club is willing to take.

"Cashing in on Gareth has never been a big concern - it certainly wasn't in the summer for the owner of this club," O'Neill told the Daily Star Sunday.

"If it had been we'd have taken a cut price for him then.

"I don't know if our success this season is having any effect on Gareth's future here. We'll take it through to the window and see what develops.

"I couldn't tell you for certain how he feels because I haven't spoken to him about it.

"But there is time enough to think about it after Christmas.

"He is playing very well and has bounced back from the disappointment of what went on in the summer.

"I don't know where we stand politically on players buying out contracts. But if Gareth doesn't sign a new deal he will have one year left to run after this season."