RAFA TO RING CHANGES FOR PSV

RAFA Benitez is set to announce a host of changes for Liverpool's final group game of the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven

With just top spot to decide, Liverpool will still want to finish with a win against the dutch outfit who they beat 3-1 at Anfield in October. With Atletico Madrid top by a goal, there really is everything to play for.

However, in light of early qualification in the premier club competition and a tough Christmas period coming up, giving some of the fringe players a run out and chance to prove themselves may benefit the likes of Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano and allow them to be fresh for the hectic schedule approaching.

With this being the most promising season for years. Fresh legs when possible is a sensible decision by Benitez and will also allow some of the others e.g. Babel, Lucas and possibly most importantly Keane, who was dropped for Liverpool's 3-1 win at Blackburn at the weekend.

Benitez has issued a hands off warning to anyone hoping to lure Keane away from Anfield, saying the Irish man is going to be given time to find his form like everyone else.


TRAWK PREDICTION: 0-1; Will be close but i think our quality will show through and take three points.


PSV MAN TO WATCH: AMRABAT; Has impressed as a substitute lately and his pace and direct play, could cause problems on their home turf


LIVEROOL KEY MAN: AGGER; likely to play after sitting out the last two games and his pace will be key, to keep out PSV's speed demons up front.

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MONDAY RUMOUR MILL

BIGGEST rumours of this week...

• Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is reported to be willing to off Aaron Lennon, Jamie O'Hara and £5m to lure Robbie Keane back to White Hart Lane. (THE DAILY MIRROR)
  

Keane, who joined in the summer for £20m has failed to find the form which made him such hot property last season, and more and more news sources are linking him with a cut price move back to North London as Benitez looks to cut his losses.

Should Rafa keep faith in the Irish man and give more time?

I feel it is partly down to the position he is being played in. With Torres out, Kean has been deployed as a loan striker. But if you look at where he played when at Tottenham, he roamed up front along side a big man (Berbatov) , who he could link up with via flick-ons and clever movement.

Surely he and Torres just need a few more games together in order to develop a partnership as they have only played a short amount of time in each others company before El Nino was injured.

It is no secret of Keanes desire to make his career at Liverpool a success, and his work rate in games is clear evidence, as well as his frustration at being substitued every game.

• Dubai investment group end Liverpool interest (THE TIMES)
  

After two years attempting to strike a deal with the Gillette and Hicks, the investment arm of the Dubai Royal family have ended their £500m chase of the Premier League leaders.

Is this a big blow?

It is public knowledge that Hicks and Gillette do not get on, and in recent months, that bickering has involved Benitez, which has surely got to have some effect on the players. This can only be bad news for the club, and with the credit crunch seemingly taking its toll on the American's bank balance, selling would be in the best interests of both parties.

Due to the recent failings in the stock markets, the £300m loan taken out by the millionaire tycoons, has to be paid back by January unless they are granted a six month extension.

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REDS STAY TOP AFTER WIN

LIVERPOOL remain top of the Barclays Premier League after a 3-1 win away to Blackburn to pile the pressure on Paul Ince.

Goals from Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard was enough to seal a 3-1 victory with Roque Santa Cruz grabbing Blackburn's goal. It was a huge relief for The Reds after another goalless draw was getting closer.

It was nearly a completely different story however, when midway through the first half Pepe Reina made a fantastic save from Morten Gamst Pedersen's 30 yard effort to push it on the bar.

It took until the 69th minute for Liverpool to break through the Blackburn defence, when Dirk Kuyt's cut back was steered home by Alonso from the edge of the area much to the clear relief of the rest of the team and fans.

Once the deadlock had been broken Rovers had to come out to try and find an equaliser, which left gaps at the back. Yossi Benayoun saw his chance to double the lead on 79 minutes, when he took on former Red Stephen Warnock and drove the ball past Paul Robinson from a tight angle.

Blackburn got a goal back on 86 minutes when a short corner wasn't picked up on quick enough and Keith Andrews' cross was flicked on and met at the far post by Santa Cruz to head home from close range.

Any nerves Liverpool had about letting a two goal lead slip where soon diminished when Robinson cleared just ahead of Nabil El Zhar, but with the former England number one on the floor, the ball fell to Albert Riera who unselficially squared to Gerrard who steadied himself and steered the ball in from 20 yards to seal the win.

This win means Blackburn haven't won in their last 1o games, piling yet more pressure on Paul Ince. He came out in the press on Friday saying new managers need more time to bed into the job, and he'll be hoping his words are taken notice of after another failure to win.

It was a nervy game but to see three goals go in away from home will be a massive relief to all Kopites. Attentions turn to the Champions League now, with Liverpool travelling to PSV in the hope of securing top spot in Group D after already qualifying for the knock out stages.

TRAWK Man Of The Match: Pepe Reina; made a fantastic save to keep it at 0-0 in the first half and was his usual reliable self.

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TORRES ON COURSE FOR ARSENAL RETURN

AFTER news that Fernando Torres could be out for even longer than first thought up until new year, Rafa Benitez has said he is on course in his rehabilitation and could be back sooner rather than later.


Benitez is hopeful El Nino could be fit for the clash at the Emirates on the 21st December against Arsenal, but insisted Torres will not be rushed: "Fernando is progressing and improving so hopefully he will be back sooner rather than later", he told liverpoolfc.tv

Its the 5th time the Spanish striker has picked up this injury in 18 months, and Benitez is keen for it to be solved once and for all: "It's just a question of waiting and not pressuring the player. I was with him today and he was okay", he continued.

With games against Blackburn and Hull coming up before the Arsenal game, it is vital Liverpool keep themselves at the top of the table, for when Torres returns and hopefully a return to form for him and the rest of the team kicks in.

Benitez also confirmed Torres met with a specialist in Spain, in what was a very productive assessment in which all parties agreed on the diagnosis: "It was just to confirm our diagnosis was right and that is the case. The injury was a relapse of the one he had before.

"The specialist has known Torres for a long time and he also has a good relationship with our physios who are working hard with him.

"We are really pleased because we know the problem and now we can find a solution. We know we have to work hard on it and I think he'll be okay." Benitez said.

BLACKBURN ROVERS V LIVERPOOL

LIVERPOOL this weekend make the short trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn, hoping to put a frustrating goaless draw with Fulham behind them and keep up the pace at the summit of the Premier League

The Reds will face a tough task however as a couple of old faces will be greeting them. Hard tackling academy graduate Stephen Warnock and former midfield general Paul Ince will be looking to halt Liverpool's title charge on Saturday.

Ince is looking to turn round a slump in form which has seen them win only one of the last six games in all competitions. Rovers lie 19th in the table making them even more desperate for a win. They come off a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Man United where they gave a taste of their attacking prowess and defensive frailties.

Benitez is liekly to stick with a similar team which where frsutrated to death by Fulham on Monday, with Agger in line to make a return alongside Carragher.

The only absentee's being Fabio Aurelio and Fernando Torres who is likely to be out until the Newcastle game on the 28th December with his troubelsome hamstring injury.

Last seasons fixture, saw the first goalless draw between the two sides in 61 years. But Liverpool will be looking for their 50th league win against Blackburn in 121 meetings. With The Reds only losing one of the last nine meetings.

TRAWK PREDICTION: 1-2: A close game but Liverpool's dominance to show in order to get the win to keep them top of the league and keep the pressure on Chelsea and the chasing pack.

BLACKBURN MAN TO WATCH: ROQUE SANTA CRUZ; Hasn't scored as many as he would like this season but is always a danger with plenty of quality in the air and with the ball at his feet.

LIVERPOOL KEY MAN: ROBBIE KEANE; Needs to find his goalscoring form and a good performance from him could relieve the pressure on others with the absence of Torres.

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