REDS EAGER TO QUALIFY TONIGHT

RAFA Benitez has told of his eagerness to ensure qualification for the knockout stages in the Champions League, with a win against Marseille at Anfield tonight.

Liverpool will guarantee a place in the next stage of the premier club competition should they beat the French side tonight, although a draw could also see them qualify should Atletico Madrid avoid defeat against PSV in the other group D fixture.

Benitez said; "When you are a top side you have four competitions to compete in
so it can be difficult to concentrate in all of them but the Champions
League and Premier League are massive. Hopefully we can qualify and then we can concentrate on the Premier League".

The Reds are boosted by the return of Steven Gerrard after he missed the Fulham game last weekend with a groin strain;"He was training this morning so I think that he will be fit for Marseille. I don't know if he can play 90 minutes, that depends on his fitness, but he can start if we want to use him", Rafa added.

This means there could be a re-union of the deadly duo, Torres and Gerrard, who conquered so many defences last season with their relentless teamwork. A prospect which El Nino is keen to rekindle;"I wanted to play for a club like Liverpool, where I could learn from players like Steven Gerrard, who I have always respected as a player and a leader," the striker said.

"A captain in England must lead by example. Steve Gerrard is someone everyone wants to be like – always the first at training, it is he who grafts the hardest in each exercise, who sacrifices himself during each match", he added.

Tonights game will be Rafa Benitez's 66th European game in charge of Liverpool taking him past Bill Shankley's Liverpool record.

TRAWK Prediction: 3-0

Liverpool Key Man: Steven Gerrard; Should captain fantastic start, his partnership with Torres will be key to getting the result we are expecting.

BENITEZ WANTS TO STAY AT ANFIELD FOR 20 YEARS

RAFAEL Benitez has shown Liverpool his true colours by saying that he isn't going anywhere, and would sign a 20 year contract if he could.

The Spaniard confirmed he had spoken to Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks, speaking on behalf of George Gillette aswell, in which the discussion of a contract extention was the forefront of the conversation.

Benitez said: "I received a phone call from Tom Hicks on behalf of George Gillett also. They are talking about a meeting with my advisors and a contract extension. This is very positive news".

This comes after much recent speculation over Rafa's future among media rumour mills, and with there only being 18 months left on his contract, which he signed in 2004.

Another rumour which seemed to be gathering pace, was that of a player exodus should Benitez be sacked. Players including, Torres, Mascherano, Gerrard, Reina and Alonso where rumoured to be ready to walk out on the club according to various media sources.

But all that should now be behind the club as Benitez looks set to extend his Anfield career. Although probably not as long as Rafa woud be willing to commit. The former Valencia manager told liverpoolfc.tv; "For me it's easy. I want to stay here - I am where I want to be. It's very simple.

"I want to stay here for a long time. Clearly I would like to be here when the new stadium opens. The other day I was joking that if they offered me a 20-year contract I'd be really pleased."

This will be welcome news to all Kopites as Liverpool look to keep the pressure on Chelsea at the to of the table, as they take on West Brom at Anfield, live on Setanta Sports. KO 5:30


YNWA...

LIVERPOOL SCENES

Here are some great scenes Liverpool Football Club has to offer

TORRES FIT FOR MADRID CLASH

RAFAEL Benitez has revealed, Fernando Torres should be able to feature against his former club Atletico Madrid in tomorrows Champions League tie.

Torres who has missed five games since injuring his hamstring playing for Spain, is more than likely to get a place on the bench, as the reds look to go three points clear of the top of group D and put themselves on the brink of qualification for the knock out stages.

"I would say he has a 70 per cent chance of featuring in the game", Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv.

"Fernando has been working really, really hard and doing good work with the physios".

El Nino will be assessed later on today to decide whether he is fit enough to make the bench.

"He trained yesterday and will train again today and then we will see", Benitez added.

Rafa also admitted how much this means to Torres, with it being his former employers and the impact he had there. Torres was mde the youngest captain in Atletico's history at the age of 19 due to his ability and popularity with the fans and fellow players. Although that burden was one of the reasons for him quitting the Vicente Calderon in 2007 and persuing a career in L4.

"Atletico Madrid was his first club and now he is with Liverpool - two big clubs with lots of fans who love him, so this is massive for him." Benitez admitted.

Liverpool will look to bounce back from their first Premier League defeat against Tottenham on Sunday with a big home win against Madrid who sit joint on points with the reds in group D.

TRAWK Atletico man to watch; Sergio Aguero; a true talent who has replaced Torres as the fas favourite in the capital, and a real prospect for the future at just 20 years old, will cause any defence problems.

TRAWK Liverpool key player; All eyes will be on Torres should he feature, and a big performance from him would be the perfect healing touch we need after Sunday's loss.

TRAWK Prediction: 2-1; A close game but the Champions League night atmosphere at Anfield will take its toll on Madrid and see the boys go three points clear at the top.


YNWA...

REDS UNBEATEN RECORD ENDED AT SPURS

A last minute Roman Pavlyuchenko goal continued Harry Redknapp's honeymoon period at Tottenham and ended Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season, knocking them off the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool took the lead after three minutes when Dirk Kuyt crashed the ball into the roof of the net past Gomes from a tight angle. But after Jamie Carragher turned a Spurs corner past Reina. Redknapp's men sensed a huge scalp, and duly delivered. After a brilliant save from Reina from a Bentley shot, Bent cut the ball back for Pavlyuchenko to steer it home form four yards and sent 90% of White Hart Lane into to hysteria.

Liverpool made the perfect start to the game when Robbie Keane, returning to the Lane, turned the ball inside for Kuyt to lash the ball past the helpless Gomes into the roof of the net, from the corner of the six yard box.

Tottenham turned the pressure onto the reds but could not find a break through as they ended to half frustrated and 1-0 down.

It wasn't long until Liverpool nearly doubled their lead, as a gerrard shot was deflected off Ledley King's arm and Gomes tipped the ball onto the post. There was nothing Gomes could do but watch as Kuyt stretched to meet an Arbeloa cross, but could only put the ball just over.

To pile on the frustration even more for Liverpool Gerrard then struck the bar. Gomes continued his shakey form by under hitting a pass past Keane to King. The former Spurs man got to the ball before King sliding it to Gerrad on the right of the area, and his lovely waited chip curled over Gomes and onto the bar.

This was a sign for Spurs to pounce, and on 70 minutes, Carragher, usually a rock in the defence was unlucky to catch the ball the wrong way, in challenging King to head it the far corner of the goal past Reina.

The game opened up from then on and both sides could have knicked all three points but it was Tottenham who grabbed the winner. Bentley shot form the left side of the area which Reina did well to stop, but Darren Bent collected the ball on the by-line and cut back to a waiting Pavlyuchenko to turn the ball home from close range, to give Redknapp his second win in charge.

This is a big blow for Liverpool who now lie second in the table behind Chelsea who destroyed Sunderland 5-0 today. But no doubt with Torres likely to feature against Atletico Madrid, that will provide a big boost to keep Liverpool on the trail for the league.

YNWA...

TORRES RETURN

With the return of El Nino iminent, here are the best bits from last season which saw him break record after record, enjoy....




YNWA...

REDS SHOW TRUE GRIT AGAINST POMPEY

AFTER the heroics against Chelsea on Sunday, it was important and perhaps just as difficult to take the tree points against a Portsmouth side under new reigns in Tony Adams.

Just as many predicted, it was a tight game, with Portsmouth clearly going for a 0-0 scoreline, with the decision to leave Defoe on the bench. But when the game is tight, you need your big players, your game winners, in this case we needed captain fantastic to keep us ahead of the chasing pack at the Premier League summit.

Gerrard delivered what Portsmouth had coming the entire match by drilling home a penalty after a comical superman handball from Papa Bouba Diop. Ther where no arguments for the awarding of the penalty as any protests would have been as embarrasing as the handball itself given the nature of it.

Stevie G slotted past James, who dove the right way, but couldn't get his hand to it, and with 15 minutes remaining, Liverpool soaked up the last of the Pompey attacks to take what was a very important three points.

The tricky games for Liverpool don't stop, as a trip to Spurs at the weekend (live on Setanta - 17:30) will provide yet another audition for Benitez and his men for the role of Champions. With the North Londoners fresh off a big result against rivals Arsenal, the confidence will be high especially under new manager Harry Redknapp.

Although the exertions midweekd against the Gunners could prove vital as Benitez proved his rotation policy by changing four players form the win against Chelsea. Mascherano, Agger, Keane and Riera were all rested and are all sure to start against Spurs, so don't be surprised if those are the players to prove the difference.

Oh, and if that Torres lad makes an appearance im sure it won't do us any harm.

YNWA....