Liverpool Close On Victor

Speculation is rife in Spain that Deportivo La Coruna winger Victor could be due to arrive on Merseyside for talks with Liverpool over the weekend.

Rafael Benitez has seen moves for Seville winger Daniel Alves, Atletico Madrid's Luciano Galletti and Benfica's Simao Sabrosa fail to materialise, prompting the Spaniard to switch to Sanchez del Amo Victor.

The player has been pulled out of the trip to Madrid for the weekend clash with Atletico and the former Real Madrid player, who has recently returned to fitness following a thigh injury, is expected on Sunday to discuss terms and undergo a medical.

A three-and-a-half-year deal is likely and Benitez will hope to wrap up the deal before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday.

Neville is a Dickhead

Gary Neville has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association.

The ManScum skipper attracted widespread attention with his stupid celebrations after Rio Ferdinand's undeservered last-gasp winner against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Neville ran fully 60 yards to launch a fist-pumping, badge-kissing reaction in front of the Liverpool fans.

The 30-year-old has until February 10 to respond, although as the case is not on the FA's new fast-track disciplinary process, it appears the worst he can expect is a heavy fine.

After failing to spot the incident during the game, referee Mike Riley has now viewed video footage and confirmed he would have booked the United man if he had seen what happened.

The FA have also been swayed by the concerns of Greater Manchester Police, which have been expressed both to United and officials at Soho Square.

Neville has received the support of the Professional Footballers' Association, while the full-back himself insisted he could not see what the problem was all about in his regular column in The Times. "You are caught up in the moment and, for a few seconds, yes, you do go bananas," he said.

The guy is such a dickhead, it has nothing to do with passion, if it was he would have run up to his own fans and gone mental, the fact that ran half the length of the field just to do it in from of the LFC fans, was inciting the crowd. If you ask me he should get a mandatory 1-match ban. He supposed to be the captain, what an example he is!

Liverpool defender Carragher thinks England squad member Neville went too far, telling the Liverpool Echo: "I think there's a line and Neville crossed it.

"I've heard people say it's justified because he gets a lot of stick from the Liverpool fans, but the truth is he gets the stick because he's been doing that for years. That's why it all started.

"I feel the same way about Liverpool as Neville does about Manchester United and from that point of view we're similar, but I don't act like that when we score against United.

"If I did, I'd expect United fans to give me the same amount of abuse."

The Greater Manchester Police have written to the Football Association to complain about the United skipper's antics.

WHAT A PRICK !

LFC Strengthen Defense

Denmark defender Daniel Agger is on the brink of joining Liverpool from Brondby.

It is understood a deal has been agreed in principle between the two clubs, subject to the 21-year-old passing a medical.

Agger was believed to be having that medical on Wednesday before completing his move to the European champions for an undisclosed fee.

The centre-half, who played in Denmark's 4-1 defeat of England in August, will become the second defender to join the Reds in January after the capture of Jan Kromkamp from Villarreal.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez tried to sign the centre-back last summer as cover for Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.

Agger is fit again after recovering from damaging knee ligaments during a training session at Brondby in September.

That halted his rapid progress with club and country, where he made an immediate impression during the World Cup qualifiers.

"Daniel has been a good solution in the centre of our defence," Denmark assistant coach Keld Bordinggaard said recently.

Denmark head coach Morten Olsen hailed Agger's imminent move to Anfield and said he believed the player was good enough to make a big impact.

Olsen said: "He is confident about what he can do at the moment - he still has something to learn and he has a good mentality and if he goes to Liverpool I can only say they will have a top-class player.

"He certainly has to play 25 games because only in that way will he become a better player, and he is only 21 so he is not a player for the bench.

"Of course he has got to accept he maybe cannot play in the first team in every game but I am sure he will show that he is a top-class player.

"(This is a good move) for Daniel Agger and for the Danish national team because the Premier League is a top-class league," Olsen told Sky Sports News.

Gunners Aid LFC

A scoreless draw at Highbury tonight has allowed LFC to stay within 4 points of ManScum, with two games in hand. It was a blow when LFC drew with Bolton yesterday as this seemed to delay LFC in taking over the #2 spot. It also ends a strong run for ManScum since failing in Europe. Let's hope that ManSum continue to slip back into their November/early December playing ways, and Chel$ki lose a few (although 11 pts may be too tall an order to overcome now.)

Reds Aces Absolved In Bolton Storm

Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Sissoko are in the clear after the Football Association confirmed they will take no action against the Liverpool duo despite controversial clashes during their Barclays Premiership clash at Bolton.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce was unhappy that Gerrard and Sissoko were not punished with even yellow cards after alleging the pair had stamped on his players in two separate incidents during the 2-2 draw at the Reebok yesterday.

However, referee Mark Clattenburg has confirmed in his match report that he saw both Gerrard's clash with Kevin Nolan and Sissoko's tackle on El-Hadji Diouf.

Under FIFA rules, the FA cannot take retrospective action against players using video evidence if the match official witnessed the incident at the time,

An FA spokesman said: "Referee Mark Clattenburg has confirmed to us that he saw both incidents during the game."

After the match, Bolton's El-Hadji Diouf taunted Jamie Carragher.

The former Anfield misfit accused Carragher of trying to wind him up and said his goal was the perfect response.

Diouf was also unhappy at the way Liverpool went about the game, especially in Carragher's case.

"Sometimes people don't like me on the pitch but I am a bad loser and I want to win every time," the Bolton striker told the Trotters' official website.

"The Liverpool match was a big game because we needed to react after Sunderland and Manchester United.

"I have a big character and I don't like it when someone is talking at me.

"I told Carragher to wait because I'm going to score and that's what I did."

Nolan was quick to support Gerrard and would not back any action taken against him for his challenge.

"I just think Steven's accidentally stamped on me," said Nolan.

"His full weight was on his leg so it hurt but it's just one of those things.

"I thought it might have been deliberate at the time because he hurt me.

"I wanted to have a look at it and I have now and I don't think there was anything in it.

"I don't think anything should happen to him now because it would not be deserved."

Gerrard was stunned by Allardyce's outburst.

"I'm very surprised he is trying to make an issue of it," he said.

"It was a complete accident - he fell into me. I am mates with Kevin Nolan. He's a good Scouser so why would I ever try to deliberately hurt him?

"We spoke at the end of the match. I wished him all the best for the rest of the season and the tackle wasn't even mentioned."

Carragher wanted clean sheet

Jamie Carragher admitted the failure to keep a ninth successive league clean sheet took the shine off Liverpool's derby success at Everton.

Peter Crouch, Steven Gerrard and Djibril Cisse got the goals which gave Rafael Benitez's men victory in the 202nd Merseyside derby.

But James Beattie netted for Everton just before half-time in a 3-1 win for the Reds - the first goal they have conceded in nine Barclays Premiership matches.

And Carragher told Sky Sports afterwards: "It's disappointing to concede just before half-time - we were expecting a battle in the second half but the third goal (by Cisse) killed the game.

"We are disappointed to concede because the aim before the game was to keep a clean sheet and we haven't done it."

The defender continued: "I know how much this game means - people talk about the Manchester United games but I think for me and Steven it's the biggest game of the season."

Liverpool are currently third, four points behind second-placed ManScum with two games in hand and 15 adrift of champions Chelsea. They can cut that lead to nine and overtake ManScum in the process if they win those two games.

Everton

It's the 202nd Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and Liverpool hope to continue their good form against an Everton side who have lost their last two matches 4-0.

A Milan Baros inspired Aston Villa saw them beat the Blues 4-0 on Boxing Day with the former Reds striker scoring twice. In the previous game Bolton beat Everton 4-0 at Goodison Park and in the previous game West Ham won there 2-1.

Last season at Goodison a Lee Carsley goal gave Everton a 1-0 win but Liverpool responded well in the return game at Anfield with a brilliant performance and a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Steven Gerrard and Luis Garcia.

In League meetings we are at number 173 today for this derby and the Reds lead those wins by 63-55.

Liverpool are on a great run of form winning eight successive Premiership games and equalling a club record for successive league clean sheets which dates back to 1923.

Liverpool players Pepe Reina, Peter Crouch and Momo Sissoko (who was suspended for the game against Newcastle) should make their Merseyside derby debuts.

Liverpool 2 - Newcastle 0

Liverpool gave their fans the perfect belated Christmas present as goals from Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch sealed a 2-0 home win over Newcastle to ruin Michael Owen's eagerly anticipated Anfield return.

In what was an impressive Boxing Day performance by the Reds, who showed no ill-effects from their recent grueling jaunt to Japan, Gerrard and Crouch struck in the first half to seal the points against a Newcastle side who were reduced to ten men in the second half when Lee Bowyer was sent off for a foul on Xabi Alonso.

Predictably, all the pre-match hype had surrounded former Red Owen's first appearance at Anfield since his move to Real Madrid in August 2004 but it was the current Liverpool stars whose praises were being sung loud and proud by the Kop at the end of this memorable festive fare.

The game began at a highly-charged tempo and Owen's first touch of the ball was met with a round of "good-natured" (WHAT!?) booing, followed by a jovial chorus of 'Where were you in Istanbul?'


It was his old club, however, who made the better start and, backed by a vociferous crowd, they went for the jugular from the first whistle. Only two minutes had elapsed when w surging run through the Newcastle defence by Fernando Morientes ended with Shay Given saving bravely.

Moments later the Irish keeper pulled off one of the saves of the season to deny Harry Kewell with a close-range volley and as the visitors struggled to clear Gerrard drove a low shot narrowly wide.

The Reds skipper seemed like a man on a mission during the early stages and it came as no surprise that his was the first name on the scoresheet shortly before the quarter hour mark. A cross from the right by Luis Garcia was played into Gerrard's path by a deft touch from Crouch and the inspirational captain did the rest, finding the top corner with a rasping right-foot drive.

Read the rest of LFC.TV's report here

Other Reports:
Sky Sports - Football 365 - Sporting Life - The Times

Owen Deserved Better

Michael Owen getting booed was definitely a disappointment. LFC fans are usually above all that. As for Owen stringing out LFC over his contract extension is concerned I always believed he was just trying to give Gerard Houllier and LFC every last chance to prove they could win something (ie the Prem, or at least the Champions League). He's a footballer before his a fan (as are 99.9% of the players out there) so he was looking out for either a better chance at silverware or more money (something he realistically thought he'd get both at Madrid). Don't forget the whole thing blew up in the last week of the transfer deadline, he was originally going to stay (Rafa had convinced him of that - at least in the short term.) I think he would've given Rafa a chance to prove LFC were something else. And if we had Owen, we wouldn't have had the same problems we had when we lost Cisse so early on. In fact we could well have had a far better start to the season or even a stab at the FA Cup and that, perhaps, would have convinced Owen so sign a new contract seeing Rafa vision - you can be sure he sees it now. As for putting people saying he was putting his place in the World Cup before LFC, it's more a case of putting the World Cup before Real (and for that every Englishman should be thankful). That's why he wanted to leave. He has always said that LFC was his first choice and Newcastle his second (something he even reiterated as a United player).

The money, however, was too much to justify buying him from LFC's point of view and Owen would have to practically play for free to make up the difference between what Newcastle and Liverpool were offering Madrid. Yes he could have told Madrid LFC or nothing, but that wouldn't have really forced their hand, they could still use him as a sub, rather than lose out on a big cheque.

I think he was desperate to come back, but again he freely admits that it would be wrong for Liverpool to have paid so much more for a player they had only sold just the year before. He knows that he made a colossal mistake going to Madrid, and doesn't need reminding of it. He was and is an absolute legend and an LFC great. He deserved a rousing ovation and would have got it from me if I had been there.

Hopefully when some true reds go to St Jame's Park they will give him the greeting all LFC legends derserve.

Next Game

Michael Owen returns to Anfield for the first time since leaving for Real Madrid last Summer. The Newcaster striker readily admits that he could well have return to Liverpool this summer, but that things didn't work out. Rafa Benitez has also said the although deal wasn't possble this year that the door is most certainly not shut and he would consider Owen in the future.

Benitez has put it in Jamie Carragher's hands to keep his close friend and former team mate at bay when the two sides meat on Boxing Day.

Michael Owen is bound to recieve a warm welcome by the majority of the KOP, famous for their love of their players both new and old, although there will be a number that still haven't forgiven him for the fact or even the way he left for Real Madrid. One things for sure only the travelling support will be cheering if he manages to score this Monday and Owen saysthat he has fond memories of his time at Liverpool but insists he will not feel "guilty or embarrassed" if he scores in front of the fans who once adored him - nor will he try to rub salt in the wounds.

"I remember a conversation with Jamie Carragher a while back when we saw a player looking downcast after scoring against his old club. I don't think either of us could understand that and, if I score, I will celebrate as joyfully as I did at West Ham United last Saturday...I won't shy away or feel guilty or embarrassed, but nor will I be running over to the Liverpool bench and sticking two fingers up."

Another player who is returning to his face his old club is midfielder Didi Hamann, who has reponded well to treatment after suffering injury to his knee following a horror tackle from Essien (Chel$ki) earilier this month. He is still expected to line up in Midfield while Momo Sissoko serves a one game ban.

Meanwhile Alan Shearer is hoping to break the club record of most goals scored by a Newcastle player. It is unlikely to come this Monday, however, as Liverpool's defence has only been breached once in the last 12 games.

Teams:
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Warnock, Traore, Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard, Hamann, Kewell, Cisse, Morientes, Crouch, Josemi, Sinama-Pongolle, Carson.

Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Carr, Ramage, Babayaro, Elliott, Boumsong, Bramble, Taylor, Faye, Emre, Solano, Luque, Ameobi, Bowyer, N'Zogbia, Clark, Brittain, Shearer, Owen, Chopra.

Rafa: Door still open for Owen

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has left the door open for Michael Owen to return to Anfield permanently one day.

The England striker, now at Newcastle, will on Boxing Day make his first appearance at Anfield since leaving to join Real Madrid in 2004.

He returned to the Premiership at the start of this season but joined Newcastle, not Liverpool, as his former club were priced out by United's £17million offer. Owen's exit from Liverpool came soon after Benitez's arrival. But the former Valencia coach insisted he had been keen to sign him this year and would still welcome him back in the future.

"Sure, why not?" he said. "He is a good player and good players are always interesting to other clubs."

Liverpool sold Owen, now 26, for a cut-price £8million plus Madrid reserve player Antonio Nunez and the Reds maintained they could not justify paying more than double that to re-capture their former golden boy.

"What is clear is that we tried to sign him and he knows we tried to sign him," said Benitez. "It is impossible if another club makes a bid of such big money. It is difficult to say we must spend that money on a player that one year before we sold for much less. "There were several reasons why it didn't happen in the summer: the price, the time, the decision of Michael and the fact that we already had good strikers at the club. All of these things together made it impossible to change the situation in such a short space of time."

"He had a good offer from a good team and he decided to go there. He is a good professional but we had to think about the club, because we already had good strikers and it was almost impossible. "I was talking with him, we tried to the end but he decided on Newcastle. We cannot change these things. "The only possibility was for him to say he didn't want to go to Newcastle. But he decide to go there, even up to the last day we tried. "I had permission from Real Madrid to talk to him and I did. But in the end he decided to go somewhere else. We couldn't do anything."

Owen had spoken out just the day before talking about the hectic few weeks leading up to the transfer deadline in the summer. "Looking back on those mad few weeks, the one thing that no one can say about me is that I was not up front and honest. I had narrowed it down to three options and, all the way through, I made it plain exactly where they stood. As I said at the time, Liverpool were my first choice, Newcastle my second. The third was staying at Real.

"I had to look after my England place and I had to look after myself. I would always prefer to be playing rather than twiddling my thumbs. The buzz from playing is irreplaceable. Every footballer wants to feel valued and I have had that in spades from the Newcastle people. "They understood why Liverpool was my first choice. I had spent more than a decade there and I did think I would be going back when I met Rick Parry and Benítez just before the transfer deadline.

"We had discussed the wages and all the nitty-gritty of a contract, so I have no doubts that their interest was genuine, whatever you may have heard. But it was difficult for them because they had sold me for £8.5million and were being asked to pay considerably more to take me back. They had to make their own financial decisions."

Reds International Roundup

Liverpool players didn't fair too well today in their various international World Cup Qualifying matches:

• Steven Gerrard & Jamie Carragher were part of the England team that suffered one of the most humiliating setbacks in their history as a David Healy goal earned Northern Ireland a shock 1-0 win in a World Cup qualifier in Belfast. On-loan LFC keeper Chris Kirkland was an unused sub on the bench, while Stephen Warnock failed to make the squad.
  England now trail Poland, who are top and 5 points clear with one more game played than England. The two team will meet in the final group game. England will need to beat Austria and Poland to qualify top, anything less will see England in a play-off spot (which is secure). Liverpool's Jersy Dudek is expected to have recovered from injury in time to play that final game.
  
  
• John Arne Riise was part of the Norway team that lost to Scotland, which has really blown apart the race for the second spot in Group 5.
  Norway are still in second spot, but now they lie a virtually insurmountable 5 points behind leaders Italy and in joint second with Slovenia, their victors today are a mere two points adrift and still in with a shout of making the play-offs. (England v Scotland anyone?)
  
  
• Xabi Alonso and his Spanish team were held to a 1-1 draw in Spain by Serbia and Montenegro. Jose "Pepe" Reina and Luis Garcia were on the bench, while Morientes pick-up an injury before the game and was unable to play.
  Group seven is wide open, where Spain now lie second behind today's adversaries, just two points adrift but also only 1 and 3 points clear of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Belgium (respectively), the later who they play next and must beat, before taking on minnows San Marino in the final group game.
  
  
• Sami Hyypia's Finland destroyed fellow Group One competitor 5-1, but a win by Old Boy Milan Baros' Czech Republic side have now made the unlikely now impossible as Finland have no chance of qualifying for next years finals.
  
  
• Djibril Cisse was a late second-half substitute for France as they beat unused substitute Steve Finnan's Republic of Ireland 1-0 in Dublin.
  France are should be all but through from Group four which they jointly lead with Switzerland (their next opponents), before facing Cyprus in their final group game. The Republic must hope that France win their next game while they dispose of Cyprus, to have any chance of qualifying by beating Switzerland in the final game. However, anything less than two wins by the Republic and two points by France will see Israel (who only have Group 4 whipping boys, the Faroe Islands to beat) qualify ahead of them, along with the Swiss.
  

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Most likely outcomes:

Group 1: Sami Hyypia's Finland are already out.
Group 4: Cisse's France should qualify from Group 4, either as automatic qualifiers or in the play-offs. Finnan's Republic of Ireland is a little more unsure, as long as France beat Switzerland, they should have a good chance of beating the Swiss on home soil.
Group 5: Should see Riise's Norway advance (most likely though the playoffs) as they only have two games against bottom teams Belarus and Moldova, Meanwhile Scotland and Slovenia must face each other in the final game, this after Slovenia have played Italy. For Scotland to qualify ahead of Norway, Norway would have to fail to win one of their two remaining games, while Slovenia would have to beat Italy and Scotland by greater goal margins than the Norwegians do in the final two games - both scenarios are extremely unlikely.
Group 6: England are assured at least a play-off spot, but will need to beat both Poland and Austria, to secure top spot and automatic qualification. Both games are at home and England will have a better than fair chance of going top after the final game.
Group 7: As long as they can overcome fellow challengers Belgium in their next game, Spain should qualify with their last game against lowly San Marino. Serbia and Montenegro home game to Bosnia-Herzegovina will determine whether they finish top or in a play-off spot.

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Predictions:

Group 1: No "Last Hurrah" World Cup for Sami.
Group 4: Cisse will sing from the top of the group.
Finnan will be spending his summer on the beach.
Group 5: A play-off spot for Riise.
Group 6: Gerrard, Carragher, Kirkland, Crouch and Warnock will top the group.
Jersey will hope for a easy play-off opponent.
Group 7: The class of Xabi, Garcia and Jose, should bring Spain to the top, but Serbian strength will break their hearts and send them to the play-offs.

Blessing or Blow?

Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes has been sidelined for up to two weeks by the injury he picked up in training.

The former Real Madrid man was forced to withdraw from the Spanish squad on Tuesday night after injuring his hamstring in the final training session before Spain face Serbia and Montenegro.

Tests by medical staff with the Spanish team confirmed that the 29-year-old Liverpool forward had sustained an injury to his left thigh.

In remarks reported on the www.marca.es website, team doctor Genaro Borras said: "We have done the relevant tests this morning and we have discovered that he is suffering a micro-rupture of the femoral biceps in the left leg.

"It's an injury that we estimate will sideline him for a period of between 10 days and a fortnight."

The Spaniard's hamstring injury puts Djibril Cisse firmly in the spotlight. Cisse had been said to complain that he was being touted around Europe in the transfer window, but manager Rafael Benitez dismissed those suggestions and now clearly expects him to knuckle down.

Benitez said: "Cisse knows what he has to do for us, work hard, try to score goals and stay fit all season. And not to let other things distract him.

"The rumours about Cisse were already going around long before we beat CSKA Moscow in the Super Cup last week, and he still managed to score two goals for us that night."

Now Cisse will get his chance to play as Liverpool's main frontman, probably alongside Peter Crouch, ironically the partnership which has so far this term looked Liverpool's most productive. And it's from this point of view a Liverpool fan would have to wonder whether Nando's injury is a blessing or a blow. Morrientes has still to convince Red fans that he is up to the job of leading their attack, something that Benitez himself has no doubt about. However, good displays from a prelonged exposure, say for 2 or 3 games, to a Crouch-Cisse partnership may be enough to convince Rafa to do what most fans think and not put all your hopes in the ageing ex-Madrid striker.

The height and awkwardness of the former Southampton man complimented the pace and movement of Cisse in previous games, while Morientes' form has been patchy to say the least this term.

It is anything but ideal for Benitez, who during the summer transfer window made some dramatic decisions about his strike force by selling last season's top scorer Milan Baros to Aston Villa, and sending youngster Anthony Le Tallec out on a season-long loan to Sunderland that cannot be reversed. He thenfailed in his bid to bring Owen back to Anfield when Newcastle's club-record bid blew Liverpool out of the transfer negotiations.

New striker Crouch, a £7million signing from Southampton, is at last available again after a hamstring injury and suspension ruled him out of the opening games of the season, but although he will be in the squad at Spurs he is hardly match-fit, while Florent Sinama-Pongolle has only just returned to action following his broken leg suffered last February in the Carling Cup at Spurs. Meanwhile, Neil Mellor, who was also nearly sold (to Sheffield United) before the transfer window shut, is still recovering from a shin operation.

All this brings Cisse firmly into the equation. He suffered an ankle injury for France in the win over the Faroe Islands at the weekend but will now find himself centre stage at Anfield in the coming weeks.

Everton Champions League

Solano pride at LFC link

Aston Villa winger Nolberto Solano is flattered to be a target for Liverpool, and has revealed he would jump at the chance of a move to Liverpool.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez is desperate to strengthen his right flank and enquired about the availability of Solano.

Reports had suggested that Benitez was hoping to tempt Villa into letting him have Solano as a makeweight in the Midlands club's bid to sign Milan Baros.

Villa are understood to have offered £6million for Baros, plus a further £500,000 in add-ons as manager David O'Leary is desperate to strengthen his strikeforce.

However, O'Leary has apparently been trumped by a bid of £8.5million from Lyon, with money burning a hole in the pockets of president Jean-Michael Aulas after the £24.4million departure of Michael Essien to Chelsea.

Although O'Leary is unaware of any offer from Liverpool for 30-year-old Solano, and Reds manager Rafael Benitez has conceded no bid has been made, the Peruvian has added fuel to the fire surrounding his future.

Villa manager David O'Leary gave the interest short shrift and insists Solano will not be leaving the club.

Solano has been an instrumental figure during his 18 months at Villa Park and the former Newcastle United man has not voiced a desire to leave.

But the 30-year-old concedes it is an honour to be wanted by Benitez, although he will leave a decision on his future in the hands of O'Leary.

"Anyone would be proud to be asked for by Benitez," said Solano.

"He is a coach that has won a lot with Valencia and now with Liverpool.

"But the decision does not depend on me, but the club, with whom I have a contract for the next year."

"It is fantastic when a big club comes in for a player," said Solano.

"Ask any player in the world if they would love to play for a big club, and everyone would love to.

"I won't say 'no, I don't want to go to Liverpool' because they are a big club who want to challenge to win titles, and any player would love to go to Liverpool.

"If you ask any player what they would do if a big club came in for them - Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool - everybody would love to go there."

Solano has less than a year remaining on his current contract, however, there has been no suggestion of Villa opening talks on a new deal, although O'Leary intimated yesterday the club were happy to wait until the turn of the year.

Solano, though, appears to be keeping his options open as he added in the Evening Mail: "I only have one more year left and as to whether I stay at Villa, nobody has said anything to me yet.

"To be honest, I just want to only play and we will see what happens. I do not have to renew my contract until the end of the season, until June probably.

"The club could go four or five months to decide what they want to do with me, whether to sign a contract or let me go somewhere.

"But for the moment I want to stay [in the Premier League] and to play here because the Premier League is very exciting for me. Everybody loves it right now.

"But it's not in my hands. It is down to the manager and the club. Of course, if I had the chance of another contract at Villa it would interest me.

"I was very pleased with this club when I moved here and you see the response when I still try to do my best for this club."

Though O'Leary is anxious to bring Baros to the club from Liverpool, he would be reluctant to allow Solano to head in the opposite direction, particularly as the Peruvian would be looked upon as the man to create chances for the Czech striker.

LFC v Sunderland Preview

Liverpool welcome newly promoted Sunderland to Anfield for the first home Premiership fixture of the season.

Mick McCarthy's side suffered disappointment in their first game as they went down 3-1 at home to a Danny Murphy inspired Charlton Athletic.

On loan Liverpool midfielder Anthony Le Tallec didn't feature against Charlton and was an unused substitute. Le Tallec won't figure at Anfield on Saturday as Premier League rules prevent him playing against his registered team.

Manager Mick McCarthy was dealt a bitter blow when it was confirmed that full-back Stephen Wright would be out of action for three months after suffering medial knee ligament damage in training.

Sunderland have suffered another injury blow with striker Kevin Kyle ruled out until the New Year after a second hip operation.

Wright misses out on a first return to Anfield since a £3million move three years ago and with left-back George McCartney just returning to full-time training, McCarthy will hand a Premiership debut to Nyron Nosworthy.

One of 10 newcomers to the squad, 24-year-old Nosworthy was signed on a free transfer from Gillingham and made his 200th career appearance as a substitute in last week's home defeat by Charlton.

"Stephen Wright will be a huge loss to us," said McCarthy. "His personality as well as his character around the place will be missed.

"He puts everything into his game and while it's disappointing for us, it's more disappointing for him after all the hard work he put in last season to get us into the Premiership."

Defender George McCartney and goalkeeper Ben Alnwick have resumed full-time training while utility defender Danny Collins is also making good progress.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is expected to field an unchanged side for the visit of the Black Cats.

Benitez still has long term injuries to Djimi Traore, Harry Kewell and Peter Crouch, and although Florent Sinama-Pongolle made his comeback from a knee problem in the reserves this week, it is unlikely he will be considered for first team action yet.

Jamie Carragher, who needed an injection in his mouth because of an infected tooth before he could play for England in midweek, is expected to play.

The last time Sunderland were at Anfield they were in turmoil and relegation was stirring them in the face. That was in November 2002 and Howard Wilkinson was in charge of the team. Liverpool had so many chances but no matter how many they created they just couldn't put the ball into the back of the net. Sunderland goalkeeper Jurgen Macho had the game of his life.


Prediction

Liverpool 3 - Sunderland 1


Teams:

Liverpool: (from) Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Whitbread, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Cisse, Sissoko, Gerrard, Hamann, Zenden, Alonso, Morientes, Baros, Carson, Riise, Potter.

Sunderland: (from) Davis, Nosworthy, Arca, Breen, Caldwell, Whitehead, Robinson, Welsh, Lawrence, Miller, Gray, Stead, Brown, Elliott, J Murphy, Piper.

Owen on verge of Liverpool return

The Times says Michael Owen's return to Liverpool is 'imminent' after 'his former club made official contact with Real Madrid.'

The papers adds, 'The transfer, expected to be for about £12 million, is likely to be financed by the departure from Anfield of Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros.'

Baros is set to join Aston Villa for £6.5m in the next week, while Cisse is an apparent target for Lyon. Their manager, Gerard Houllier, signed Cisse while at Pool, and has money to spend after the sale of Michael Essien.

Considering their lack of forward resources, Newcastle have also inevitably been linked with Cisse after admitting defeat in their pursuit of Owen.

Magpies still in the chase for Owen

Newcastle have not given up hope of landing Real Madrid striker Michael Owen but realise they cannot compete with Liverpool or Man Scum for his signature.

It is understood the 25-year-old has indicated he could be willing to make a move to St James' Park if neither the Manchester Buckaneers or his former employers make a move for him.

While no-one on Tyneside is getting carried away by the news, it at glimmer of hope as Graeme Souness' search for a striker continues.

Their interest in Owen is long-standing, and although they always knew the chances of landing him were slim there is greater optimism than there was at the start of the week when chairman Freddy Shepherd cancelled a planned trip to Madrid to step up the pursuit.

The encouraging development came a day after the Magpies confirmed they had pulled out of their attempt to sign Fenerbahce's Nicolas Anelka at the Turkish club's request, although there have been suggestions since that the Frenchman could yet agitate for a move himself.

But what is not in any doubt is that Newcastle have to move fast if they are to avoid leaving Alan Shearer, who celebrates his 35th birthday on Saturday 24 hours before his side's opening Barclays Premiership fixture at Arsenal, fighting alone.

Real chief wants Owen to stay

Real Madrid's sporting director Arrigo Sacchi insists he wants Michael Owen to stay at the club despite mounting speculation over a return to the Premiership.

Owen admitted last week he had held brief talks with a number of top English clubs following Real's double summer swoop for strikers Robinho and Julio Baptista.

But Sacchi told Madrid sports paper AS: "I hope he stays here because he will have the respect of the whole club as he is a fantastic person. On Sunday I congratulated him on his professionalism. He did everything to perfection."

Free Michael Shields Website

Funny how things happen. Within days of Michael being arrested and jailed in Bulgaria for someone elses crime, LFC have drawn CSK Sofia (a Bulgarian team) in the Champions League qualifyer.

Yesterday, Michael Shields Snr, the father of the young Reds fan, called on all Liverpool fans travelling to Sofia to behave if they want to help the campaign to free his son.

Although Miachel's prison cell is some 2,000 miles away from the stadium, he will be in many supporters minds.