RAFA: POINT WAS PROBABLY RIGHT

Rafa Benitez admitted both sides could have walked away with all three points after the goalless draw at Fratton Park on Saturday lunchtime.


The Spaniard made four changes from the Derby demolition, with skipper Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres consigned to the bench after featuring heavily for their countries in midweek.

The Reds threatened without their influential duo but had a Pepe Reina penalty save – as well as glaring misses from John Utaka and Sulley Muntari – to thank for a clean sheet at the other end.

Benitez said: "After an international break it is very difficult to pick the team because you don't have any time to train with the players.

"Mascherano, for example, was in Australia playing in a very important friendly!

"In the first half I thought we were the better team and controlled the game. In the second half it was very open and we both had very good chances. We could have won it, they could have won it. In my opinion we deserved at least a point.

"They had a couple of clear chances but they were from our mistakes and not from open play. I think we were better than them in the first half and were controlling the game. Our substitutes came on in the second half and helped us, it was just a pity we couldn't score.

"I'm not sure if it was a penalty for them or not, certainly for this country it looked a harsh decision. But it's okay, I'm not going to complain about that."

REDS HELD AT FRATTON PARK

PORTSMOUTH 0 - 0 LIVERPOOL
Saturday 15 September 2007 12:45 , Barclays Premier League

Liverpool have maintained their unbeaten start to the season following a goalless draw at Fratton Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Both sides had glorious chances to clinch the three points, most notably a Kanu penalty saved superbly by Pepe Reina in the first half.

The result means the Reds have not conceded in 388 minutes of football.

Liverpool went into the game with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres on the bench, while Peter Crouch got his first league start of the season against his former club.

It took Rafa Benitez's starting XI just four minutes to test old boy David James, who was presented with Pompey's player of the season award for 2006-07 prior to kick-off. His pride almost turned to embarrassment when Yossi Benayoun hit a surprise shot from the left-hand side of the box. Fortunately for the fervent Fratton Faithful, their man between the sticks just managed to get down in time.

Seven minutes later Xabi Alonso skied a 30-yard effort following some nice football from Jermaine Pennant, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin. The latter was impressive from the off.

It was a sublime piece of skill from the Ukrainian that set up Crouch for a half chance on the quarter-hour mark. A minute later Crouch again tested James with a low shot but the Reds were failing to make their early pressure pay.

Inevitably, Pompey started to get into the game. It may have taken them 24 minutes to worry Pepe Reina, but worry him they certainly did. Benjani cut inside from the right, slid his way into the box, then unleashed a fierce drive which was made even trickier to deal with thanks to a deflection from Alvaro Arbeloa. Fortunately, Reina had his wits about him.

He needed to be at his best once more shortly after when Arbeloa was adjudged to have pulled Kanu's shirt in the box. Mike Riley didn't see it but the linesman raised his flag and the Nigerian striker grabbed the ball ready for the spot kick.

Alonso's protests - which earned him a yellow card - delayed its taking, but Reina's save was worth waiting for - for the travelling Kop, at least.

Liverpool came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half. Well you would, wouldn't you, after sharing an orange with Messrs Gerrard, Torres, Hyypia and Babel ? all itching to get on.

If today's fixture had been a five-a-side between the two benches, it would have been 10-0 to the visitors by now.

Within 35 seconds of the restart Crouch had volleyed narrowly over after a fine cross from Steve Finnan. Within the blink of an eye the big man was in the box again only to be out-muscled by Portsmouth skipper Sol Campbell.

Then it was Voronin's turn to threaten. Liverpool's new number 10 carved a wonderful opportunity for himself on 54 minutes but was denied by the bar.

Not that Pompey were simply accepting their fate. Indeed, they could and perhaps should have gone ahead when John Utaka missed with aplomb from inside the six-yard box.

Enter Fernando Torres, who had half an hour to seal the three points. Within half a minute his tidy footwork earned a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Yossi Benayoun claimed the ball but his curler failed to test James.

Nine minutes later the Spaniard had a glorious chance to open the scoring after being fed through by Gerrard, just on for Jermaine Pennant. Sadly, Torres hit his left-footed shot well over.

He nearly made up for it with five minutes to go with some sterling work down the left but his cross was just a mite too strong for the in-coming Voronin.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher (captain), Agger, Finnan, Benayoun, Alonso, Sissoko, Pennant, Crouch, Voronin. Subs - Hyypia, Babel, Torres, Gerrard, Itandje

Portsmouth: James, Hreidarsson, Campbell (captain), Distin, Johnson, Muntari, Davis, Diop, Utaka, Mwaruwari, . Subs - Pamarot, Ashdown, Kranjcar, Nugent, Taylor

Referee: Mike Riley

Conditions: Mild

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Pepe Reina

Breakdown

11:46 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Portsmouth get the game underway
4 mins : Benayoun fires in a low drive which James does well to turn away to safety. First shot of the game
6 mins : Voronin fires in a cross from the left which is well defended
8 mins : Liverpool find space in the area but Voronin and Benayouncan't combine effectively and the opening is gone
10 mins : Alonso drives a long range drive well over James' goal
15 mins : Sissoko is challenged from behind as Liverpool win a free kick. Not much has happened so far
17 mins : First chance of the game as Sissoko finds Crouch and the striker forces a good save from James at his near post
20 mins : Kanu wins a flick on inside the area but the ball rolls harmlessly out of play
22 mins : Alonso's free kick from the edge of the area is driven disappointingly into the Pompey wall
24 mins : Benjani is presented with the ball on the right of the area but his shot is deflected behind for a corner
27 mins : Utaka charges down the left and his attempted cross is blocked for another corner
29 mins : First Booking: Papa Bouba Diop: Booked for catching Benayoun in the face during an aerial challenge
31 mins : Kanu misses from the penalty spot as Reina dives to his right to make a smart stop
36 mins : Liverpool win another free kick on the edge of the box and have another chance of a shot at goal
33 mins : First Booking: Xabi Alonso:
38 mins : Agger tries to reach the floated free kick at the far post but is unable to do so
39 mins : Another poor free kick from Alonso as he smashes a free kick into the wall
41 mins : Voronin lucky to escape a yellow card after a rash challenge in the middle of the field on Johnson
42 mins : Davis extends Reina with a drive from the angle of the area which is comfortably stopped
45 mins : One extra minute to be played
12:33 GMT : Half Time Reached
12:49 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool get the second period underway with Rafa making no changes at the break
47 mins : Almost a great start to the half as Crouch volleys just over from Pennant's cross
51 mins : Sissoko and Hreidarsson square up to each other but the ref takes no action. The game hasn't improved
52 mins : The ball falls kindly to Utaka in the area but he smashes the ball wide with a gaping goal to aim for
54 mins : Liverpool's best chance of the game as Voronin controls the ball on his chest before volleying against the top of the bar
56 mins : Sissoko volleys a shot goalwards but James makes an easy save. Signs that we're stepping up our tempo now
57 mins : Good defending from Muntari but he then disappears over the hoardings after beating Pennant to the ball
62 mins : Substitution: Fernando Torres for Peter Crouch:
64 mins : First Booking: Glen Johnson:
65 mins : Benayoun bends a free kick wide of target from the edge of the area
67 mins : Substitution: Steven Gerrard for Jermaine Pennant:
68 mins : Substitution: Niko Kranjcar for Benjani Mwaruwari:
69 mins : The two subs combine as Gerrard frees Torres in the area but the Spaniard blazes over from an acute angle
74 mins : Another good chance for Pompey as Muntari blasts Kanu's pass wide of the goal
76 mins : First Booking: Momo Sissoko:
77 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Xabi Alonso:
85 mins : Great work from Torres on the left and his cross to the far post almost finds Voronin who is inches away from tapping the ball home
88 mins : Finnan needs treatment after going down in the area. Looks like he'll be fine
90 mins : The Reds have a chance to snatch it at the end but Benayoun wastes possession and the chance is gone
90 mins : First Booking: Sean Davis:
13:38 GMT : Match Over

PENALTY SAVE KEEPS REDS LEVEL AT BREAK

A superb penalty save from Pepe Reina has left the scores goalless going into half time at Fratton Park.


The Reds had the better of the opening exchanges but Harry Redknapp's side began to dominate as the half wore on.

They were awarded a penalty on the half-hour mark after Alvaro Arbeloa was adjudged to have pulled Kanu's shirt.

However, the Nigerian was unable to find a way past Liverpool's Spanish stopper.

CROUCH STARTS AND IT'S CAPTAIN CARRA

Peter Crouch will partner Andriy Voronin in his first league start of the season at Fratton Park this lunchtime.

Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher returns to the starting XI after recovering from a broken rib and will captain the side. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, both of whom featured heavily for their countries in midweek, are among the subs. The Reds team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Sissoko, Alonso, Benayoun, Pennant, Crouch, Voronin. Subs: Itandje, Hyypia, Torres, Gerrard, Babel.

RAFA: LET'S PROVE WE'RE TITLE CONTENDERS

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool will announce themselves as genuine title challengers this season if they pick up three points at Portsmouth this afternoon.


The Reds start the weekend at the top of the league table but Benitez knows a tough test awaits his side on the south coast, especially as he's been without the majority of his players for the last two weeks.

While victory at Fratton Park will consolidate the Reds' position in first place, Benitez insists it will also serve as a notice to the rest of the country that his team are to be taken seriously in this year's race.

"Portsmouth are a difficult team to play against," he said. "They have a manager and players with experience, they know how to control games, they have quality and always have confidence playing at home where their supporters are very good for them.

"This type of game, after an international break and being unable to train properly, if we can beat them then people might be able to talk about Liverpool as a title contender, and maybe I would agree with them.

"If we cannot win, we just need to keep working and try and be ready for the next game. If we win then it will be a boost for everyone here.

"We were talking during pre-season about the quality of the squad, and in the last few games playing without Gerrard and Carragher we still showed character and quality. That's the best thing about us this year.

"We can use different players and can win, and we can lose key players and continue winning."

READ OUR EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH RAFA

Rafa Benitez takes five minutes to chat to the club's official website ahead of this lunchtime's visit to Fratton Park.


How happy are you with the start your side has made to the season?

Everything's been okay so far this year. We have more quality in the squad. We are winning and everyone has confidence, so we are happy. But we've learned from previous seasons that we must take one game at a time.

Do you think you've learned from mistakes made last season, and that's why you've made such a good start to this campaign?

For me it's more about the quality of the players. The players we had before had experience but now we have experience and more players with quality who can change games. We've tried to find wingers and strikers with pace – we have those, and also more players with different qualities.

Next up this lunchtime are Portsmouth. How tough a fixture is this?

They are a good team with experienced players who know what to do during any game. They have quality and also work very hard, so they're a very difficult team to play against – especially away because the atmosphere in their stadium is very good.

What do you make of the job Harry Redknapp is doing?

He's a manager with experience who is good at selecting players. The players know what he expects from them. I think the understanding between Harry and his players is very good.

You gained just a point from Pompey last season, and then lost in Hong Kong – are they a bit of a bogey team for you?

As I said before, they know what to do and how to control games. But we used to talk about Birmingham as a bogey team and then we played them in the cup and everything changed. We have confidence and if we play well we can beat anyone.

Is this the type of game you need to win if you are going to be serious title contenders?

It's clear that if you want to stay at the top of the table you must win nearly all of your games. We will try to do that even though we know it will be difficult. The type of games like we have this weekend are really important for the confidence of the team. If we can win here we will still be at the top of the table, everybody will be happy and we will be ready going into the next game.

Jamie Carragher is expected to return – that's a real boost, isn't it?

Yes. I think it's important to have the centre-backs fit, but in this case it's not just the player and his position, it's also the character he has. We want all the players available, but especially players like Carra because he has the kind of mentality which helps other players. I knew he was good before I arrived because my Valencia team had played against Liverpool. I knew all the players but it was clear watching him with his teammates how important he was. He has passion, which adds something to the team in every game and every training session.

Steven Gerrard has also had a few injury worries. What were your feelings seeing him come through 90 minutes for England on Wednesday?

He was okay. I was talking with him, and also the doctors were talking. Everything was under control. Now we will see with our doctor what the situation is and how we can use him.

Were you disappointed he wasn't brought off earlier, as England had a comfortable lead?

You have to have a lot of respect for other managers. I don't want to say too much. I was talking to Steven before and I gave my congratulations to Steve McClaren and also the country because this result was important for them.

Would it be too much to ask of him to play 90 minutes today after the couple of weeks he's had?

We knew things could be like this. You can never be happy to look around the world and see your players playing 90 minutes in every game, but you cannot change the situation. Hopefully he can play against Portsmouth and if he can score a good goal, fantastic.

A lot of your players seemed to play 90 minutes on Wednesday – do you just put that down to bad luck?

No, it's good luck because it means you have very good players. It's something I've said 100 times, but if they played on Tuesday it would be a lot easier. Why not? Or maybe if you have enough players in a country, you could rotate, eh!

And Daniel Agger – is he okay after coming off with just 28 minutes gone for Denmark?

I think it was because he had yellow cards and the manager wanted to have him available for the game against Spain. I talked to him because I was also surprised he came off, but the manager had explained things to him.

When you're selecting your team for this afternoon, how much notice do you take of who has played a full game on Wednesday?

You need to analyse each player because it's not the same playing 90 minutes at home or away as a defender to playing 90 minutes home or away as a striker. It might be that you're a striker but you've only been involved in two or three counter attacks.

Finally, this game could provide another opportunity for Fernando Torres to add to his goals tally. He already has three – have you been surprised by the impact he's made so early on?

I was talking with him before we signed him and I knew about his physical strengths and his mentality, so I'm not surprised. I was expecting something like what has happened, but really it is still too early to judge. We need to wait and see what's happening in one or two months.

He must be feeling confident right now?

Yes. It's important for the strikers to have confidence and score goals. You can see also with Voronin. You must be pleased, but you also have to make sure they keep working hard because it may not always be as easy as they think. They will see difficult central defenders.

TOO EARLY TO BE DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

It's tremendous to see us at the top of the Barclays Premier League table, but it is far too early to be drawing any conclusions.


We have endured a few seasons when people have dismissed our title aspirations in September.

In the same way that it was ridiculous to write us off in that situation, it is equally ludicrous to try and paint a meaningful picture based on our present position.

It's far too early, highlighted by the way Manchester United have moved back up the table after a couple of wins. All you can say is that we would much prefer to be in our present situation with the opportunity to drive forward in the weeks ahead.

Some fans have been suggesting that this is our strongest squad since the Eighties and I would not argue with that, but it is impossible to compare the teams and the eras.

We won six Championships in that decade, two European Cups, two FA Cups and four League Cups. We've won one European Cup, one UEFA Cup, one FA Cup, one League Cup and two European Super Cups in the current decade.

Yes, the Eighties was a glittering era for our club and we dominated the top flight, but the game has changed so much. It makes any meaningful comparisons almost impossible.

What I will say is that we have more strength in depth than I can ever remember. There is no doubt about that.

Rafa has been strengthening year by year and the squad is the strongest it has ever been in my time here.

It's great that everyone is buzzing and that the expectations are high. Only time will tell if we are strong enough to bring the title back to Anfield, but it remains our number one aim.

As you try to assess it, all you can say is that we have never had so many players staking a first team claim. That is not falling into the trap of saying our starting XI is better than it has ever been.

It's just a simple observation about the depth of the squad and the competition for places. We have that strength now which is something we have possibly lacked and it will help us on all fronts.

I've mentioned the Premier League. It's obvious that the Champions League is also a very different competition with so many more rounds and games to play. To have any chance you need 22/23 top class first team contenders and we are close to that.

We will never return to the days when 14 or 15 players would be enough to win the league title as was the case in the Eighties when heroes like Hansen, Dalglish, Rush and Souness were leading the charge.

Again, it reinforces my point about being unable to make a meaningful comparison between the decades. We will never forget the stars of the Sixties, Seventies and the Eighties. They are part of the fabric of our great club.

Massive foundations were built under Bill Shankly in the Sixties with the likes of Ron Yeats, Ian St. John and Roger Hunt. Bob Paisley's teams with the Kevin Keegans, Tommy Smiths, Ray Clemences and the rest expanded our European Cup dreams in the Seventies. After Joe Fagan's short but glorious spell in charge, Kenny Dalglish inspired the Eighties and people will never forget the quality behind it all.

But the Premier League, with all its investment, is a whole new ball game and the Champions League has moved on.

It's why I'm delighted that our fans are so excited about the current team. We have brought in players of genuine quality like Fernando Torres and now we have to ensure we fulfil our dreams. There are no guarantees, but we have given ourselves a tremendous launch pad.

The concept of opening up the Champions League to domestic Cup winners across Europe is fundamentally flawed. My personal view is neither here nor there. The Premier League's stance was made perfectly clear to UEFA recently when Michel Platini unveiled UEFA's plan to give one of England's Champions League slots to the winners of the FA Cup.

It doesn't make sense to hand a place to a club based on a knockout competition, almost a one-off, when other clubs have shown quality over a full league season to get in the top four. We'll see what happens this week when all the European clubs meet, but we have stated our position and it's not just a case of the big clubs using their muscle.

Whether people like it or not and whatever the purist view, the big clubs in the Champions League drive more commercial income and this could suit many of the smaller clubs because of the eventual share.

While I disagree with Platini's Champions League plans, I definitely welcome his comments about last season's Athens final and his statement of intent for the future.

UEFA are ready to select a larger ground for the final with a minimum capacity and they are also reviewing the allocation to the competing finalists.

It's sad that something like Athens had to happen to change the situation, but at least some good has come out of the fiasco. It appears that UEFA have learned the lessons at last and credit to Platini for doing something about it.

RAFA HOPING GERRARD CAN FACE POMPEY

Rafael Benitez is hopeful that captain Steven Gerrard will be fit to face Portsmouth despite him playing the full 90 minutes for England against Russia on Wednesday night.

The Reds captain hasn't pulled on the Liverpool shirt since the 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield on August 19th, but he came through the two England matches without any further reaction to his broken toe.

"I might not be really happy to see my players going all around the world, playing 90 minutes in every game, but because you cannot change the situation you need to see how the player is afterwards and hopefully Stevie can play against Portsmouth," commented Benitez.

"I was disappointed he played the full 90 minutes but we must have a lot of respect for managers and in this case I don' t want to say too much. I said congratulations to Stevie and congratulations to Steve McClaren and the country, but we knew it could be like this.

"We knew he was going with the national team and we needed to accept the situation. We need to analyse every player, because it is not the same for each one.

"It's not the same for a centre-back to play 90 minutes as it is for, say, a striker. It's also different if the player is playing for a team using an attacking game or a counter-attacking game.

"The physical demands are different and we analyse each one, talk with the doctor and talk with the fitness coach, Paco De Miguel, and make a decision.

"It's good for us to have so many players away because it means we have very good players, but it's bad because you would like to see them play some games, but not every game."

TORRES TO BE OUR TOP SCORER THIS SEASON

Fernando Torres will finish this season as Liverpool's top goalscorer according to the fans in an exclusive vote on this website.


The Spanish striker was a clear winner as 85 per cent of you voted for him to be our top scorer this season. Torres was followed by Andriy Voronin (seven per cent) and Dirk Kuyt (three per cent) while Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch both had two per cent of the votes.

Last season Crouch was top scorer with 18 goals while the year before saw Gerrard net 23 goals from midfield. The last Liverpool striker to net 20 goals or more in a season was Michael Owen with 28 in the 2002-2003 campaign.

PORTSMOUTH V LIVERPOOL: STAT ATTACK

All the relevant stats, facts and figures ahead of Liverpool's Barclays Premier League trip to Portsmouth with official LFC statistician Ged Rea.

PORTSMOUTH v LIVERPOOL

Overall League Record: Liverpool 21 wins, Portsmouth 19 wins, 14 draws.

At Portsmouth: Liverpool 8 wins, Portsmouth 15 wins, 4 draws.

Liverpool failed to beat Portsmouth in the two league meetings last season.

Following a goalless draw at Anfield in December the Reds went down 2-1 at Fratton Park at the end of April. Emiliano Insua made his debut while Jerzy Dudek made his last appearance in a Reds shirt. Sami Hyypia, captaining the side in his 400th game, scored a consolation after Benjani and Niko Kranjcar had scored in the first half.

There have been four hat-tricks scored by Liverpool against Portsmouth in league games. The last was by Jack Balmer in 1946 in a 3-0 win at Anfield.

No Liverpool player has scored a hat-trick at Fratton Park.

The Reds heaviest defeat at Fratton Park came in September 1932 when they lost 6-2.

Liverpool's biggest victories came in 1951-52, 1952-53 and 2005-06 when they won 3-1.

The Reds 2-0 win in the 1987-88 season is the only time they've prevented Pompey from scoring at Fratton Park since 1928. This represents one clean sheet in the last 25 trips to the South Coast.

The Reds have failed to score in only one of their last 13 visits.

Peter Crouch missed a penalty against Portsmouth at Anfield two last seasons ago. He has scored in 25 games for Liverpool in which the Reds have won 24 and drawn one.

John Arne Riise scored his first league goal for the Reds on this day six years ago in a 3-1 Derby victory at Goodison.

Andriy Voronin has scored in three successive appearances for the Reds.

Alvaro Arbeloa is the only outfield player to play every minute of Liverpool's season so far.

A win today will give Liverpool 13 points and would be their best ever start to a Premier League season after five games.

If the Reds score it will be the first time since 2002 that they have scored in each of their opening five games.

They are the only top flight team this season not to concede a league goal from open play - the two goals scored against them have both come from penalties.

They have yet to concede a goal prior to the 62nd minute of a game this season.

Liverpool are already six points better off (ten points from four games) than at this stage last season.

They are the only Premier League team to score the first goal in every game they have played this season.

So far in this campaign they have scored 16 goals in six games in all competitions. Last season it took them 11 games to reach that figure.
Fratton Park has never witnessed a goalless draw between the sides.

David James has kept 143 clean sheets in the Premiership but none this season. 72 of those were kept during his time at Anfield.

He is the only goalkeeper still plying his trade in the Premier League who played in the inaugural season in 1992/93.

Should he play this will be his 137th consecutive Premiership appearance (with Portsmouth and his previous club Manchester City).

Kanu has scored 49 career league goals in this country for Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth.

Portsmouth last season recorded their highest league finish in 52 years when finishing 9th.

Only three visiting teams left Fratton Park with all three points last season-Bolton, Charlton and Chelsea.

Pompey have conceded eight goals from their opening five league games. Last season they held out until match six before letting in their first.

They are the only team to concede the first goal in every Premier League game they have played.

Should Liverpool win today it will be the first time since February 2005 that Portsmouth have lost three in a row in the league.

Their opening five games have seen them draw at Derby and at home to Manchester United before beating Bolton at Fratton Park. Since then defeats at Chelsea and Arsenal have followed.

Current League Positions:

Liverpool: Pld 4 W 3 D 1 L 0 Goals For 11 Against 2 Points 10. Position: 1st.

Portsmouth: Pld 5 W 1 D 2 L 2 Goals For 7 Against 8 Points 5. Position: 13th.

Current leading scorers: (League in brackets)

Liverpool: Torres 3 (3), Voronin 3 (2), Alonso 2 (2), Kuyt 2 (0), Babel 1 (1), Crouch 1 (0), Gerrard 1 (1), Hyypia 1 (0), Sissoko 1 (1), own goals 1 (1).

Portsmouth: Benjani 2 (2), Kanu 2 (2), Pamarot 2 (0), Utaka 2 (2), Taylor 1 (1), Nugent 1 (0).

IT'S OFFICIAL: TORRES AND KUYT OUR BEST STRIKE DUO

It's official: Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt are our best strike partnership according to the fans on this website.


We set up a vote to get you, the supporters, to put yourselves in Rafa's shoes and select what you think is our best strike partnership.

Torres and Kuyt won the poll with 57 per cent of the votes, while the Torres and Andriy Voronin partnership came in second with 31 per cent.
A front two of Torres and Peter Crouch came in third with nine per cent.

RAFA FRUSTRATED WITH FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Rafael Benitez has insisted he will seek talks with the Premier League over a fixture schedule which he feels could scupper Liverpool's title challenge.

The Liverpool manager is unhappy his side are being asked to kick off at Saturday lunchtime immediately after each of the four international breaks this season.

After facing Sunderland just three days after the last break, the Reds are now preparing for the long trip to Portsmouth for another 12.45pm kick-off this weekend.

Benitez's frustration is further fuelled by the fact his side must take on Everton and Newcastle on Saturday lunchtimes after the next two international breaks in October and Novemnber.

The Spaniard has long argued the fixture schedule is weighted against his club - and now he's ready to speak with the authorities over the issue.

He said: "I will talk with the Premier League about this. They will know my idea. The numbers are clear. We will check if someone can hear us.

"I don't know if we can change things, but we will try. We'll try and speak to them as soon as possible.

"I need to speak with Rick Parry and we will analyse how to progress with this situation. But once people see the numbers, it will be easier to explain.

"I am really disappointed with the fixtures that we have because it is more difficult in England. The players arrive back on Thursday evening and the only thing you can do with some of them is just to run a bit and send them home.

"Friday morning you will have a light training session and you will travel to Portsmouth. For me it's impossible to prepare the team properly."

RAFA: JAMIE'S CHARACTER IS VITAL

Rafa Benitez admits he couldn't put a price on the contribution of Jamie Carragher as the centre-back prepares to make his comeback from a broken rib.

Carragher is expected to return for Saturday's trip to Portsmouth after three weeks on the sidelines.

Liverpool might have recorded two victories in his absence, but Benitez is in no doubt about the value of his vice-captain.

"I think it's important to have the centre-backs fit, but in this case it's not just the player and his position, it's also the character he has," said the Spaniard.

"We want all the players available, but especially players like Carra because he has the kind of mentality which helps other players.

"I knew he was good before I arrived because my Valencia team had played against Liverpool. I knew all the players but it was clear watching him with his teammates how important he was.

"He has passion, which adds something to the team in every game and every training session."

BOSS: WE CAN'T AFFORD SLIP UPS

Rafa Benitez believes his players need to have a "must win" mentality if they are to maintain their position at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

The Spaniard thinks his side will have to claim three points from the bulk of their games this season if they are to clinch their first league title since 1990.

"It's clear that if you want to stay at the top of the table you must win nearly all of your games," said Benitez.

"We will try to do that even though we know it will be difficult. The type of games like we have this weekend are really important for the confidence of the team.

"If we can win here we will still be at the top of the table, everybody will be happy and we will be ready going into the next game.

"We have made a good start. Confidence is great – all the players are feeling like that, so we can play and win. But we must take one game at a time and not think too much about the future."

Liverpool have claimed 10 points from a possible 12 in the league so far, but Benitez knows his team will have to be on top form to maintain their unbeaten start at Fratton Park.

He said: "Portsmouth are a good team with an experienced manager. Their players know what to do. They can control games. We know they are very tough to play against from when we faced them in Hong Kong.
"They have some new signings who are playing really well. John Utaka is doing a good job right now and Kanu and Benjani are dangerous also."
Meanwhile, Benitez revealed that Steve Finnan, who pulled out of international duty through injury last week, will train with the first team this afternoon as he steps up his bid to face Portsmouth.

TOMKINS: RETHINKING OUR JUDGEMENTS

Emile Heskey's recall to the England line-up made me think about the process that sees us declare that a Liverpool player is a 'failure'.

The successes are usually easy to judge. But someone like Heskey epitomises the grey area in the middle, where fans will often disagree. Perhaps these are the players who had some great moments but lacked consistency, or didn't quite punch their weight –– both of which seem true in the big striker's case.

Only the signing of Fernando Torres has excited more than that of Heskey in March 2000. But even the arrival of Torres this summer was couched with slight concerns about how he'd adapt to English football, in the initial months particularly; concerns that thankfully now seem redundant. Heskey, however, just seemed totally perfect at the time: so much power, so much potential, and a natural foil, as a big, strong forward, for either Owen or Fowler. Now in a much better team, he seemed certain to flourish.

Heskey's first full season was a success: 22 goals, three trophies won, and a first Champions League qualification since the name changed from the European Cup. But Heskey's goals dried up in the last 10 games of his inaugural campaign, as each contest became 'must-win', suggesting that he was not the best in high-pressure situations. And I found myself already turning against him at that time.

I feel I made the mistake of backing my favourite player –– Robbie Fowler –– over the man who formed a more natural partnership with Owen (who, at the time, as European Footballer of the Year, was the main man on merit).

As an individual, Fowler's ability was as good as anyone I'd seen, and I wanted to see his name on the team-sheet alongside Owen's. While he and Owen were intelligent enough to play together, I struggled to accept that Heskey and Owen were the partnership that caused defences a greater range of problems, as well as being more suited to the tactics Gérard Houllier deployed at the time.

But then, paradoxically, those tactics were also what worked against Liverpool and Heskey. With Owen and Heskey often isolated way ahead of the midfield, and with a lack of players operating between the lines who could support them, it fell onto their shoulders to score the majority of goals. Owen got his share, but Heskey fell short.

Compare the goals scored from open play by Steven Gerrard and Luis Garcia in the last three seasons, to the totals of the midfielders under Houllier, and you'll see a big difference.

Danny Murphy and Gary McAllister, aided by penalties and free-kicks, scored a few, but midfielders didn't get into goalscoring positions as often, particularly after 2000/01. In his six seasons under Houllier, Gerrard scored 28 goals in all competitions; in the three subsequent seasons he's registered 48, the vast majority from open play. Luis Garcia got 30 in two-and-a-half seasons, all from open play.

Of course, everyone is aware that the strikers in general weren't scoring as many under Benítez –- although this season it finally looks like a balance unseen for almost 20 years is in place, with goals flowing from all areas of the team. This is what the manager has been working towards.

Perhaps my confusion over Heskey six years ago was made greater by Fowler popping up with goals in two semi-finals, two finals, and a brace in the 'final final' at Charlton. When it mattered most, Fowler seemed to deliver. But Heskey had played his part in making those achievements possible.

By 2003 I'd developed an irrational aversion to Heskey. It wasn't a happy time for me, and I needed someone to vent my frustrations on.

With hindsight, I was far too harsh on him. Having said that, I do still feel that the summer of 2004 required serious action at Liverpool, and after four seasons, it seemed that Heskey heading for the exit was essential, given that a title challenge was only getting further away. As it happened, a managerial change would take the club in a new direction anyway.

Ironically, by the end of Benítez's first season I felt Heskey was the type of player we missed, particularly away from home in the Premiership: someone big and strong who could hold up the ball for the attacking midfielders, and also use his pace on the counter-attack. In a different system, Heskey might have proved a bigger success.

Had Liverpool won a league title with Heskey, even if he didn't score a single goal, then anyone who doubted him (including me) would have been missing the point. As a more extreme example, is a striker fails to score in 100 games for a club, but all 100 games are won, a flop or a runaway success? After all, winning every game with him in the side can't be a coincidence, can it?

This week Steven Gerrard dubbed Heskey a "players' player", and I think Liverpool now have another in Dirk Kuyt. Some players oil the wheels for others. Kuyt didn't score in the Champions League last season until the very last minute of the final, but there's no doubt in my mind he played a massive part in getting the team there. This season his selflessness and clever movement will help Torres shine.

Perhaps a few years ago I would have fixated on Kuyt's goalscoring record, in the way I did with Heskey's, but for me Kuyt and Torres are a partnership that will win the Reds a lot of games, and ultimately that is all that matters.

It's how the team does, rather than just the individual. Djibril Cissé scored 19 goals in his final season at Liverpool, despite a lot of time in midfield –– hardly the record of a 'flop'. But too often he seemed at odds with the team's tactics and the ethos of working hard. Fernando Morientes, meanwhile, struggled to score goals, but more often than not the team won when he was playing.

You could argue that each was therefore a success; but there's also evidence to suggest each was actually a failure. Sometimes it's not enough to satisfy us by being quietly effective if we expect fireworks from a player, and that can confuse matters. If we expect Sissoko to pass like Alonso, we're setting ourselves up to be disappointed.

Obviously, like all fans, I have my favourite players. But for the first time since I can remember, there is no-one in the squad whose inclusion in the team would make me think 'Hmmm, I'm not sure about this...'. I didn't have a massive problem with players like Bolo Zenden and Stephen Warnock, but at times they didn't fill me with confidence, either. They weren't bad players, but neither found his niche in the side.

Then there was Josemi, who I felt was a potential world-beater in his first six weeks in England, but who from then on had me pulling out what little hair I had left. Perhaps the true Josemi is neither a world-beater nor the poor player he ended up appearing, but confidence (or a lack of it) does strange things to players.

Indeed, confidence, and the psychological side of the game, was the biggest hurdle that Heskey ultimately couldn't overcome. Had he possessed genuine self-belief he could have been an all-time great. But while players can develop and improve over time, not many can reverse their natural character to a significant degree.

While I do think you can achieve the ultimate success with players like Heskey, depending on the balance of your team, if you have a player like Torres –– who will do the same kind of selfless things for the team, but who attacks with much greater ability and belief –– then your chances are better. And perhaps that's the key.

Each season Benítez has added at least two or three gems, to the point where the squad now has a frightening look to it. At the same time, he has offloaded plenty of players who either had enough redeeming qualities, or who had started to produce some fine form (or merely discovered their confidence), that you could have made a case for keeping them.

Biscan, Warnock, Cissé, Smicer, Fowler, Kromkamp, Baros, Zenden, Hamann, Sinama-Pongolle, Gonzalez, as well as Henchoz and Murphy: none of them lacked talent, and each had their moments (or more), but Benítez replaced them with superior (and/or younger) alternatives when some other managers might have settled for what they offer.

I think it's too easy to label a struggling player a flop, or turn against him. You can end up painting yourself into a corner, where you then refuse to acknowledge his true abilities. I've seen people do it with Jermaine Pennant, with their minds made up after an inauspicious start to his Liverpool career; even now they still refuse to give him his dues. But it's a manager's prerogative to persevere with those he has faith in, particularly if he has high standards he believes the player can match.

The worst thing as a fan is to end up wanting to see players fail just to prove yourself right. That's not a good place to be.

Click here to visit Paul Tomkins' official website>>

CARRA FIT FOR POMPEY TRIP

Jamie Carragher has won his battle to be fit for Liverpool's clash at Portsmouth at the weekend.


The Liverpool defender has overcome his broken rib injury and has trained normally with his team-mates at Melwood this week.

He is expected to go straight back into the side for Saturday lunchtime's game at Fratton Park when the Reds will be looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table.

"Carragher has been training normally with the rest of the players who’ve been here all week," said Benitez. "He is okay and I think he will be available this weekend, which is good news for us.

"Fabio Aurelio is now getting closer to the squad after playing 45 minutes for the reserves. Harry Kewell is also running again and is nearer to fitness.

"Today, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the safe return of all our internationals. It's not going to be easy for us to travel to Portsmouth tomorrow to play without one training session.

"All you can ask the players to do when they return is some running, so it's always a difficult time."

Benitez suffered a scare when Daniel Agger was substituted after 28 minutes of Denmark's international against Liechtenstein last night.

However, the Dane was only subbed because he is one yellow card away from a suspension and his country's next fixture is against Spain.

TORRES AND RIISE ON TARGET FOR COUNTRIES

Fernando Torres was on target during Spain's 2-0 Euro qualifying victory over Latvia on Wednesday.


The striker was one of eight senior Reds involved in international action last night.

Over in Norway, John Arne Riise hit the back of the net during a 2-2 draw with Greece.

Ryan Babel played 76 minutes of Holland's 1-0 defeat of Albania before being replaced by Dirk Kuyt.

Daniel Agger was withdrawn after 28 minutes of Denmark's 4-0 victory over Liechtenstein.

Finnish international Sami Hyypia had a full outing in a bore draw against Poland, while Andriy Voronin came on after 60 minutes of Ukraine's 2-1 defeat to Italy.

Steven Gerrard played 90 minutes for England against Russia but Peter Crouch had to settle for a late cameo after Steve McClaren's decision to stick with Emile Heskey.

Meanwhile, on Monday night Javier Mascherano started for Argentina in a 1-0 friendly victory Down Under.

DIRK TAKES ANDRIY LEAD

Dirk Kuyt has revealed how he has taken the lead in helping new boy Andriy Voronin adapt to life in England.


The Dutch international dusted down his German dictionary to act as a translator when Voronin first arrived at Melwood this summer.

"For Andriy, the language barrier was quite a big problem initially, so I dusted off the old German that I learned in school and did what I could to make him feel at home," Kuyt told LFC Magazine.

"It was a long time since I'd used my German, and I was a little bit rusty to tell you the truth. I could understand what he was saying to me and I could pass it on, but it was a bit harder for me to speak back to him. I'm sure what I was telling him wasn't always what I wanted to!"

While the language barrier was initially a problem, Voronin has had no problems settling in on the pitch.

He's already bagged himself three goals, including a 25-yard screamer against Toulouse.

Kuyt for one hasn't been surprised: "I used to watch a lot of Bundesliga action and he was always one of the players who stood out, for me.

"He had a lot of quality, a great touch and worked hard for the team. I'm sure he has a big future ahead of him at Liverpool."

PARRY CONFIRMS CUP PLAN OPPOSITION

Rick Parry has confirmed the club's opposition to plans for FA Cup winners to get a Champions League spot.



UEFA president Michel Platini is behind the proposal, which would see only the top three from the Barclays Premier League enter Europe's premier competition.

Parry said: "Contrary to the claim only Liverpool and Manchester United oppose this in England, all the Premier League clubs at the UEFA meeting did so, and this position is supported by the Premier League itself.

"It's not a question of self-interest by the big clubs, because if you look at the recent FA Cup winners, all were in the top four. It's just more of a lottery in the cup.

"There's a strong feeling the Champions League place should be based on Premier League performance.

"Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle all feel the same way."

YOUNGSTER EXTENDS SHREWS LOAN

Young Academy midfielder Jimmy Ryan has extended his loan spell at League Two side Shrewsbury Town for a further four weeks.



The Liverpool youngster, who was part of the victorious FA Youth Cup winning team last season, wasn't one of the players chosen to move up to Melwood in the summer and he is now registered as a third year Academy player with the option of looking for a new club.

So far he has made three appearances for the Shrews since signing for them on loan at the start of the season.

WATCH FABIO'S RETURN TO ACTION

Fabio Aurelio made a welcome return to action as a strong Liverpool XI beat Crewe Alexandra 2-1 at the Academy on Wednesday afternoon. Watch extended highlights now online.

The Brazilian left back played 45 minutes of the friendly alongside a host of first-teamers.

The friendly, organised in part to keep those not involved in international action sharp, featured two Liverpool teams. In the first half Aurelio was joined by the likes of Jermaine Pennant, Yossi Benayoun, Momo Sissoko, Alvaro Arbeloa, Lucas Leiva and Sebastian Leto while Xabi Alonso played in an experimental role at centre half.

The second half featured Gary Ablett's reserve team including the likes of French new boy Damien Plessis and Spanish scholar Daniel Pachecho.
Alonso opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Pennant was fouled and although Luke Danville equalised for Crewe, substitute Ray Putterill netted a second half winner from close range.

To watch the highlights click here>>

TORRES LOVING RAFA'S REGIME

Fernando Torres has revealed how a personalised training programme designed by Rafa Benitez is helping him take the Barclays Premier League by storm.


The Spaniard has been delighted with the start he's made to life in England, something he puts down in no small part to the regime at Melwood.

He explained: "Depending on his position outfield, each player has his own personalised training programme.

"The type of training also depends on the strengths and weaknesses of your next rival. We all practise movements you might need to use in your position during the course of a game.

"If you have worked on specific moves 15 or 20 times, and you then use them out on the pitch, then you are more likely to improve."

Torres, who arrived from Atletico Madrid for a record fee in July, also revealed how he's relishing Liverpool's style of football.

"At Atletico I was more involved in the middle of the park and I had to drop deep to look for the ball before even thinking of attacking the rival's box," said the 23-year-old.

"At Liverpool we have players in the middle of the park who take care of that job, because here each player has a defined role within the team.

"Maybe that is one of the reasons why playing football in England benefits my game. We play a more direct football, it is also quick with plenty of counter-attacks and you also have extra support from people making late runs.

"I feel liberated and am enjoying myself like when I first arrived at Atletico. I did not expect to receive so much help with settling in.

"Everything is working out fine, though I am still quite a way off from completely settling in. We are finding our feet; looking for a house, for a car - though the goals and victories make everything a lot easier."

Torres was talking to his own official website - which you can visit by clicking here>>

ENGLAND COACH: STEVIE IS OUR INSPIRATION

Steve McClaren has told Steven Gerrard to drive England another step closer to Euro 2008 by inspiring his country to victory over Russia tonight.


The England coach will again employ Gerrard in an advanced central midfield role, allowing the Reds' skipper to influence the Wembley showdown from his favoured position.

Having won many of his caps as the holding midfielder in the team, McClaren admits Gerrard is now relishing the new challenge of replicating his club form at international level.

"We have given Steven Gerrard the freedom to go and be an inspiration and to give us what he gives Liverpool week in week out," McClaren said. "And I think he's delivering that.

"Sometimes you have to make brave decisions and we just felt it was a decision we had to make.

"I don't think he's ever been wasted. He's always been a top player wherever he's played. But I just think he gives more to our team playing in the middle.

"I have just tried to get the best out of him. I think that's the key to what we are all trying to do, to get inside the person and put him on the pitch where's he's most comfortable and where he'll give his best performance.

"Steven was given the opportunity and he has relished it and taken it. It didn't happen by chance, things evolve.

"When you see Stevie G play and train he is the one player that is a great passer, can unlock doors, can win a game in a split second. And they are key players in anybody's team."

CROUCH HOPING FOR ENGLAND RECALL

Peter Crouch could return to the England line-up for this evening's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia at Wembley.


The Liverpool striker was suspended for the weekend visit of Israel, when Emile Heskey stepped in to partner Michael Owen in attack.

But with Crouch now available again, coach Steve McClaren admits he has a selection dilemma on his hands ahead of the Group E showdown with Guus Hiddinks's men.

"Peter is a big player for us," said McClaren. "He scores goals and it is great to have that option coming back.

"It is a different challenge, a tougher challenge and we have looked at one or two things and tried one or two things. But I will confirm the team at lunchtime."

Steven Gerrard is a certain starter in the centre of midfield after suffering no reaction to his recent toe injury.

NET YOUR TICKET FOR SHANKLY STORY

The fascinating life story of Liverpool football legend Bill Shankly will be revealed by some of his own players at a special event.


The Bill Shankly Story will be performed at Crosby Civic Hall on Friday, September 21, at 8pm, by former players of the Liverpool FC manager, as well as an actor and a broadcaster.

Ian St John, Ron Yeats and Chris Lawler were all footballers during Shankly's Anfield reign and will star in the show, which documents his life from his Scottish roots through his playing career to his remarkable managerial period with anecdotes and stories from the former players.

Renowned actor Kenneth Cope, of Randall & Hopkirk Deceased fame, will narrate the event, which has been written by local broadcaster and author John Keith, who will articulate Shankly's words.

The performance is a highlight of the Sefton's Festival of Literature, which forms part of the borough's Express Sefton! initiative to celebrate Capital of Culture 2008.

Ron Yeats said: "Bill Shankly was an amazing man and I was proud to play for him. He was very funny and there are so many stories to tell.

"The show was performed at Bootle Town Hall last year and it was very successful. We're pleased that we will be taking part in the Sefton Festival of Literature and this event is a must for anyone with an interest in history, theatre and of course, football."

Books and memorabilia will be available on the night, and members of the audience will have the chance to talk to the football legends.

In October, the cast will be heading to Norway to perform the Bill Shankly Story at a festival in Oslo as part of a link with the Norweigian Liverpool FC supporters club.

Tickets cost £10 and are available by calling 01704-540011, logging onto www.seftonarts.co.uk or calling into Southport Arts Centre box office.

MEET THE LFC TV PRESENTERS: PETER MCDOWALL

His voice has been a familiar sound on Merseyside radio for the past few years – but LFC TV's latest signing is now eagerly relishing the opportunity to transfer his skills to television as one of the lead presenters on the club's new channel.

With a background steeped in the footballing traditions of the city, 29-year-old Peter McDowall is well versed in dealing with the men who matter at Anfield and delivering the latest breaking news to the city's football mad public.

And now, having chosen to leave his high profile presenting role at Radio City for a new challenge with LFC TV, he's looking forward to enjoying a long and successful career working for British football's most decorated club.
"When Liverpool come calling you just don't say no," said Peter. "Working in television is something I've always had in my mind as something I'd like to do and a challenge like this doesn't come along every day. I'm not new to broadcasting, I've been working at the top end of radio for the last five or six years and been part of award winning teams.

"I've commentated for TV for three years and so have an understanding of how television works. Presenting on TV is a new skill for me but it's one I'm confident I can do well at.

"I feel an overwhelming sense of pride at being involved right from the start at LFC TV because it is such an exciting time for everyone involved.

"If the fans could get the chance to look around the studios and see the plans that are in place for the channel then they would be as blown away as I was when I first came here. The whole set-up just oozes class and the people working here are so schooled in the club and know what the fans want to see and hear. That's why this is going to be a big success."

Peter graduated as a broadcast journalist from Liverpool John Moores University before joining local radio station Marcher Sound in 2001.

The following year he moved to Radio City where his position evolved over time to become deputy news editor and then the main anchorman for the station's football coverage, which included leading the presenting team live from Athens at last season's Champions League final.

"Athens was a brilliant experience," he says. "Going on trips like that is what the job is all about really but this one was different because there was a big news event taking place alongside the sporting side of things.

"We were jammed in the crush before the game and didn't get to our seats until just before the kick off. We went through so much trouble just to get into the stadium. Eventually I saw a cameraman from SKY and pleaded with him to tell me how to get in – he just pointed to a steward and from there I was able to convince him to open the doors for us.

"Anchoring the coverage from Athens is definitely the biggest thing I have done in my career so far because we knew there were going to be so many people listening and overall I thought we did a good job."

Regular listeners to Radio City's Saturday sports coverage will also have heard Peter hosting the popular Terrace Talk programme, a radio style football fanzine encouraging fans to debate the game's latest hot topics with pundits and experts alike.

"We started that show with a blank canvas but we quickly realised that the programmes which do well on radio are talk based where the fans can have their say," he said. "The fans want to hear honest views and get involved in an honest debate.

"The listening figures are fantastic and we know former players and even current players regularly tune in.

"In fact one of the things I'm most looking forward to at LFC TV is continuing the relationship I have with the ex-players. The legends from years gone by who are going to be regulars in our studios are the ones I idolised as a kid. The likes of John Aldridge, Ronnie Whelan and John Barnes were my heroes and so to be working with them now for the club is a brilliant prospect for me.

"I'm also excited about getting closer to the current players because, of course, with this being the club's own channel we'll be at Melwood on a daily basis.

"There'll be a talk show several nights a week called 'This is Anfield' which will be similar to 'Terrace Talk' in that it will allow fans to air their views. Liverpool fans, more than any others, want to talk football, whether it be about the games, the players or the latest rumours. The new co-Chairmen, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, seem keen on engaging the fans in conversation and making them part of the debate and this show fits that brief exactly. Of course, there's also a manager who is absolutely adored by the red half of the city.

"I think the fans will love the channel because they won't have seen anything like it before. We'll take them behind the scenes of the club at what is probably the most exciting time we have known here for many years.

"Rafa's squad has evolved over the last couple of seasons into one which is probably going to challenge for the title this time around and it would be fantastic if the team could finish the season on top of the league at the end of our first year on air."

Tomorrow: Meet another member of the LFC TV presenting team.

LFC TV launches on September 20 on Setanta Sports.

Click here for more information on how you can receive the club's dedicated channel>>

CELEBRITY KOP CLUB: DEREK ACORAH

Welcome to Celebrity Kop Club, a unique band of Reds who've risen to fame with hope in their hearts and a Liver Bird on their chest. The next inductee is a TV psychic who once played for Liverpool. Well, a few games for the reserves, but still...



So, you're one of the country's top psychics. And you're a Liverpool fan. Yet you didn't think to warn Djimi Traore about tripping over himself before that own goal against Burnley?

Didn't it occur to you to have a word in the ear of Ronny Rosenthal in 1992, tell him to just roll it in? Or how about Michael Owen? Surely he would never have left if he knew the Reds would lift the European Cup 12 months later?

"You have to leave it at home – that's what Shanks told me," says former Most Haunted presenter Derek Acorah, who was an apprentice under the great man in the late 1960s.

If a dressing down from Bill Shankly doesn't stop you applying your psychic powers in the football world, nothing will.

But how did the topic arise in the first place? Well, it followed a players' lunch after training one day when Acorah warned the late Emlyn Hughes to be careful when he picked up his new car the next day.

Naturally, Hughes called him a weirdo and that was that. Until the charismatic defender turned up late for training the following day, that is.

Acorah takes up the story: "When he eventually got there it didn't take a minute to get round that he'd smashed the car up and it was a write off.

"Shanks got me in to the office and said, 'Son, where did you get all this from? You leave that at home, you just bring your boots here and play football.'"

From that day on, he has kept his premonitions to himself. Unless he's in a dark cellar, of course.

So, what of Acorah's Anfield career? What position did he play? And how many cups did he win?

Well, he was an inside forward (attacking midfielder) who never actually played a first-team game. After being released by Liverpool he was snapped up by Wrexham. However, he stayed at the Racecourse Ground less than a year before emigrating to Australia, where he wound down his playing career and tried his hand at coaching.

"It was heart-wrenching to be released from Liverpool," admits the 57-year-old. "But to this day I look back and think it was the greatest experience of my life, those few years, because I was under the great man."

Oh well, at least he saw the end of his Reds career coming, eh. No really, he did.

"My grandma was my mentor," recalls Acorah, who returned to England after a few years Down Under and now lives with his wife Gwen in Southport. "She actually predicted that I'd play for Liverpool! She said I would go so long and then I would transfer over into the true thing I was meant to do. I was developing as a psychic naturally even in my days of training and playing football."

The prophecy is made even spookier by the revelation that young Derek wasn't even a Red at the time - he was brought up as an Evertonian!

"Our house was full of Blues and I was indoctrinated into that. I used to be taken over to Goodison Park to watch them from the boys' pen.

"Then I found out there were a couple of scouts interested and I got approached from Liverpool and asked to come to training on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
"After a short space of time, quietly, and I quote quietly, my leanings started to change, but I wouldn't tell my dad or my uncles! I carried on going to the Everton games but really didn't have the heart for that anymore. By the time I signed for Liverpool as an apprentice pro I was a full-blooded Red.

"My dad had to come here and meet Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley and go into that trophy room, biting his lip, to countersign my apprenticeship.

"I always remember something: Bob Paisley came up to my dad and said, 'Would you like a drink, Fred?' My Dad said, 'Ah, yes!' He was thinking he'd get a tot of whisky, but Bob Paisley came through with a cup of coffee. My dad just said, 'That's typical!'"

Acorah used to wear the numbers eight or 10 on his back – not that he was allowed to be precious about it. Once, early in his playing days, he was ordered to hand over the number eight shirt to a young trialist from Scotland.

"It was the A-side against Man City at Melwood and I asked the boss for eight because I'd worn it for a couple of weeks," remembers the medium.

"He said to me, 'No son, we've got a young lad here who's got to wear that.' That was Kenny Dalglish! He only played a couple of games and then shot back to Scotland, but of course you saw what happened with him later - they had to buy him and bring him back."

Having carved out a successful career writing about and presenting shows on all things spiritual, Acorah doesn't lose any sleep over what might have been at Anfield. He's not a bitter (former) Blue.

In fact, he reckons his love for the Reds is as strong as ever in the Benitez era.

"It will never stop," he declares with pride. "I still get to Anfield, though not as much as I'd like. Ideally, I'd like to have a season ticket if that was possible but my schedule is just so hectic and has been for the last seven years now. So believe me, when I do get the chance I savour it."

Who else is in Celebrity Kop Club?

Chris De Burgh>>

John Power>>

Sue Johnston>>

DJ Spoony>>

John Bishop>>

Euan Blair>>

Dr Karl Kennedy>>

Les Dennis>>

Neville Skelly>>

Stan Boardman>>

Dean Martin and JFK>>