You'll Never Walk Alone

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is to undergo minor surgery after being taken to hospital suffering from kidney stones.

The problem is not serious and the Spaniard is expected to be back at work before the end of the week.

The news comes just days after his Chelsea counterpart Luiz Felipe Scolari revealed he had been suffering from the same complaint.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "Rafa was admitted to hospital last night after suffering problems with a kidney stone.

"He will undergo a minor operation this afternoon and is expected to return to work within two or three days.

"He remains in good spirits and everyone at Liverpool wishes him a very speedy recovery."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez hopes Fernando Torres will be back in action in a fortnight - but doesn't want to "put pressure on him".The Spanish striker is due for another consultation over his hamstring problem with Spanish specialist Ramon Cugat in Barcelona, and expects the all-clear to resume full training.

Benitez said: "I have been talking to Fernando today, and he is much better. But how long before he returns, I don't know.

"He is in light training. It could be one or two weeks, but I don't want to put pressure on him."

Benitez also revealed his delight with Torres' nomination for the World Player of the Year award.

"I am pleased he has been nominated for the World Player of the Year award - it is well deserved. To score 33 goals in your first season in England and then to win the European title with Spain shows his quality.

"There are some very good players also nominated, but I feel Fernando has a good chance.

"Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo is also nominated - and he is a very good player, too. It could be him; it could be Torres - but I will always support Fernando.

"It is very positive for him and for us. He was doing very well, and his record last season is a massive achievement."

Benitez has again dismissed claims that Daniel Agger could be going to AC Milan, while explaining the midweek revelation of Ajax's interest in Ryan Babel.

He said: "It is more difficult for the players who are not playing. Ryan Babel has been linked with a move away, but it was Ajax who approached me.

"They were selling (Klaas Jan) Hunterlaar and wanted Ryan on loan, and I said no. He will stay with us; he can be a very important player for the rest of the season.

"The problem Babel has is the form of Albert Riera. If it was the other way around, Riera would have a problem. But that is what it is like at the very top."

Liverpool's big guns will return for Saturday's home game with Hull after being rested for the midweek Champions League win in Eindhoven.Skipper Steven Gerrard, midfielder Xabi Alonso, goalkeeper Jose Reina and forward Dirk Kuyt are all expected to face the Yorkshire club.

Liverpool hope that Fernando Torres will be back in a fortnight as he progresses with rehabilitation for a hamstring injury.

Full-back Fabio Aurelio is back in training after missing three games with a calf problem, but will not be involved on Saturday.

Reds (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Alonso, Riera, Kuyt, Keane, Ngog, Cavalieri, Insua, El Zhar.

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has said he is "not interested" in becoming Sunderland's new boss.

The Frenchman is one of several high-profile candidates to have been linked with the job since Roy Keane's resignation last week.

But the current technical director of the French Football Federation has confirmed he is not looking to return to the Premier League.

He also revealed he had not been contacted by Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn about the Stadium of Light vacancy.

Houllier told Canal Plus: "No, I'm not interested. And I haven't been contacted directly."

Houllier was second-favourite with the bookmakers to succeed Keane, with Sam Allardyce the leading contender.

Allardyce has expressed an interest in taking on the role, although Phil Brown and former manager Peter Reid have ruled out the job.

Ricky Sbragia is currently the caretaker manager and will hope to end a run of three straight defeats against fellow strugglers West Brom on Saturday.

Robbie Keane has left no-one in any doubt that he intends to prove himself at Liverpool.

The £20million Irish striker went into Liverpool's final Champions League group match with a huge question mark over his future at the club amid reports he could return to Tottenham in the January transfer window.

And boss Rafael Benitez found himself having to tell the player that he would not be sold in the new year after a difficult few months trying to acclimatise himself at Anfield.

But after a much-improved performance in the comfortable 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Philips stadion on Tuesday, Keane was significantly only prepared to discuss his long-term aims at the club.

He said: "I am happy with my own performance, I was delighted to play in a position that I like, just off the striker.

"It meant that I was always involved, and I got an assist with the third goal. Yes, I like scoring, but I always like helping others get their goals too.

"My confidence has not been affected by things that have been said about me, things like that never get me down.

"I am confident that I will score a lot of goals for this club, I am not worried about the way things have gone, there is a lot more to come from me.

"Some players would let their heads go down and they would be crying, but I am too strong for that.

"I have only been here a few months, and it takes time to settle, so it is too early to judge me now.

"I am always confident in own ability, I have scored a lot of goals in the past, and that ability doesn't go away just like that.

"But I accept that at club like Liverpool, as a striker you are judged on the goals you score. I love scoring goals, but I also love being involved.

"I am just as pleased with assists so I will carry on doing that and it will be fine."

Liverpool won Group D of the Champions League with a 3-1 victory at PSV Eindhoven thanks to goals from Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David N'Gog.

The under-strength Premier League side had already qualified for the last 16 but their win and Atletico Madrid's goalless draw at Marseille ensured top seeding for the knockout phase.

Marseille qualify for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup after their point condemned PSV to bottom slot.

Rafael Benitez's team controlled the match with PSV's 36th-minute opener coming against the run of play.

The Reds levelled just before the break and the pulled away in the second half to give them a two-point advantage over Atletico, who had also previously sealed their passage.

While the English visitors were more dangerous, the two best chances of the first half did fall to the Dutch side.

The first opportunity saw Timmy Simons force a nervous parry from Diego Cavalieri with a 15th-minute long-range shot, and the second went in 21 minutes later.

PSV were awarded a corner that Liverpool disputed and Javier Mascherano made a mess of his defensive header, which bounced off the chest of Carlos Salcido and dropped to Danko Lazovic to finish from close range.

The opener was against the run of play but Liverpool - despite having nothing of note to play for - continued to push forward.

Their positive attitude reaped dividends deep into first-half injury time.

First the unmarked N'Gog headed straight at Andreas Isaksson and next the hosts switched off to allow a Lucas Leiva free-kick to find Babel, who glanced a header in off the outstretched palm of Isaksson for 1-1.

The second half was Liverpool's, with Robbie Keane impressive with his movement and link-up play but unlucky not to be given the service that he afforded the wasteful Babel, Lucas and N'Gog.

Eventually the pressure told when Riera smashed an unstoppable effort from outside the area that left Isaksson floundering midway through the second 45.

N'Gog ended PSV's hopes of UEFA Cup football soon afterwards when he raced onto an excellent Keane through ball and fired low under the Sweden keeper to extend the lead.

Lucas, N'Gog and Keane had further chances to rub salt into the home side's wounds but it finished 3-1.

Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

Marseille sealed their passage into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup with a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid at Stade Velodrome.

The match was dominated by non-football matters after Marseille fan Santos Mirasierra was sentenced to three and a half years' prison by a Spanish court for his part in crowd trouble in the reverse fixture in Madrid.

Home fans showed their support for Mirasierra with banners and t-shirts but there were no reports of violence.

The hosts had the better chances but were unable to beat Atletico's French goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, who denied Ronald Zubar, Hatem Ben Arfa, Karim Ziani, Taye Taiwo and Boudewijn Zenden.

L'OM had the greater need to win but that diminished when news of Liverpool's controlled display over PSV came through and they were content to play out a goalless draw.

Robbie Keane is set to be recalled for Liverpool's final Champions League Group D clash at PSV Eindhoven.

The Irishman has struggled for form since his big-money summer move to Anfield and was left on the bench for the Reds' weekend win over Blackburn.

But the £20 million man was included in the party of 18 that travelled to Holland and is likely to get the nod to start with Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt having stayed at home.

Torres is still sidelined with a hamstring problem while Kuyt was left behind in Liverpool to enjoy some rest.

Fabio Aurelio (calf) is also out while Sami Hyypia is not registered with UEFA for the group matches.

PSV boss Huub Stevens has a doubt over Danny Koevermans (hamstring) while midfielder Ibrahim Afellay is struggling with an ankle injury.