The title kind of says it. The papers are now on it again, with the January transfer window closing in. What I would ike for Christmas? Well, I will tell you some other day, today I will just give you the latest transfer rumours – in and out.

“Out” first.

Yossi Benayoun has lost his position in the team now as Albert Riera, who Rafael Benítez brought to the club on the very last transfer day this summer, has shown great potential. Benayoun spoke after a game with his national team Israel about whether or not to stay in Liverpool due to the very small amount of starts and he answered he might want to change if not the situation is changed. His own words, translated into English of course, to an Israeli TV reporter: “If the situation remains the same over the next few months, and I’m not getting more time in the middle, I will not want to continue as a Liverpool player.” Too bad you feel like this, Benayoun, but I like your skills and hope you remain at least this season out – you will be needed as the Champions League and the Premier League run more every one and another day.

One of the more inprobable news: Javier Mascherano, also known as Monster Mash, is said to be on Lazio’s wishing list. Lazio’s manager Delio Rossi is said to be keen to strengthen his team’s midfield and that the new Argentinian captain (under the command of Diego Maradona in the Argentinian national team) would be a good player. Whether or not Mascherano is very much suited or not for the Serie A is something I feel split about. On the one hand, he might get more offensive duties as the Serie A is more tactics and more build-up, but on the other hand I think his style of play might be unsuitable for the tons of divers that play in Italy… The best solution would simply be to let Mascherano stay in Liverpool.

Another startling rumour is that Ryan Babel is watched by Real Madrid and that Bernd Schuster would like to compensate the loss of Ruud van Nistelrooy (injury) by our speedy winger/forward. However, Babel has said he wants to remain at Anfield and I hope he does. A bid of £15 million might be tempting, but Babel will surely outgrow that figure if he just picks out his great potential. Rafa has said Babel will get more time before he is thrown into more games, and that his main position will be as a striker in the future. However, I do not agree upon that. Ilike to see Babel run along a wing, and even though everbody seems to see a new Thierry Henry in him, I doubt it. What I see, is a great, future, Liverpool winger who will provide Fernando Torres up front with great crosses for many years forward!

Now, rumours of players going in.

Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona, is maybe as unlikely to be on his way to Liverpool as Ryan Babel is going to Real Madrid. Xavi is said to be unhappy with his contract, where he earns less than e.g. Lionel Messis, Carles Puyol, and Thierry Henry. However, he is a Catalan and I think he will stay and fight for his place, even though the likes of Yaya Touré have been outrivaling the Spanish genius. Arsenal are also said to be monitoring the sitauation, and we will see what happens. But, as I have said, it is very unlikely that such a deal ever would be made, and since we have three of the world’s absolute best central midfielders in Mascherano, Steven Gerrard, and Xabi Alonso I do not think we need Xavi.

Bayern Munich’s talent Lukas Podolski has been watching Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni start game after game after game in one and a half season now, and is not delighted with the situation. He has only started four games this season so far, and the German-Polish striker has stated that “I have made my mind up that I would like to leave the club in the winter.” Personally, I have seen Podolski several times in the German national team (the World Cup in 2006, and the Euros this year) and he has impressed me. His speed, technique, and his adorable left foot would be nice to see in our Red shirt. But, he might be a bit overrated since he cannot take a place in Bayern’s squad and I am not very sure that Rafa would have any interest in Podolski – but I would like this deal to be sealed. Having Fernando Torres beside this guy would be wonderful! Two promising, and speedy players that have experience from the absolute top football, but who still can develop.  What about writing this striking line in January: Torres-Podolski?

 The Spanish central defender/defensive midfielder Raul Albiol is said to be watched by both Arsenal and Liverpool. He has really established himself this season in Valencia, and the 23-year-old is one of the more promising Spanish defenders, and the probable heir to Puyol in the national team. This is to me not very tempting, even though it is a vary skillful defender. We already have three world-class central defenders in Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, and Martin Skrtel, and with Skrtel eyeing for a Dember return, I see no reason to sign Albiol (who would have a very high price tag set on him).

 As I have reported some weeks ago, the Brazilian forward Keirrison is on his way to Europe, and maybe Anfield. The 19-year-old striker, currently playing for the Brazilian team Coritiba) has asked for a transfer to Europe and has said: “My dream is to play and to triumph in Europe. I am working to achieve this goal every day.” K9, as he is called, born in 1988, is probably at least leaving Brazil, having the president of Coritiba for Coritiba saying: “Keirrison will not play in Brazil next season and that is for certain.”

Of course, the vast majority of these rumours are not true. I do not even really think any of them, but the Keirrison deal, might even be based upon real interest. The Benayoun deal was on the way prior to this season, with e.g. Ajax lurking, and now he is said to be on his way out again. Xavi, then? No, that is a deal making no sense. Babel? No, he is in Rafa’s future plans, believe me. Albiol? No, Valencia would never let him go. Mascherano? No, too expensive for Lazio. Also, I have heard about some Skrtel rimour, that he is unhappy in Liverpool – but his has been denied so I will not even make a big deal out of it!

Well, then, so long! Keep yourself updated and please follow my blog – you will not regret it.

Note that it is, today, ten years ago Stevie G made his debut for us, against Blackburn Rovers back in 1999. Liverpool won, 2-0, after goals from Michael Owen and Paul Ince.

Martin Skrtel seems to be healing all right from the nasty injury he got in the Everton game, on September 27th. His twisted knee is now better, and he says: “I will be the same player when I am fully fit again. I will make tackles like I always have and will stand up physically to the challenges that I face. It will take me a few games to get back to the level that I was at before the injury, that is only natural. But I won’t be a different player when I come back – I won’t allow that to happen.”

  or ?

He was in such good form before the injury, that my personal favourite in our defensive line Daniel Agger was kept on the bench or on the stand for very long! My absolute dream now when Sktrel comes back that Jamie Carragher maybe would play right-back, Agger and Skrtel in the centre, and our for the moment maybe best player – Alvaro Arbeloa to the left. However, losing Carragher’s dominance in the central area might be a bigger loss than playing Fabio Aurelio or Andrea Dossena to the left?

Speaking of which, Aurelio is injured for the 1000nd time. He was substituted in half-time at Anfield against Marseille, Wednesday. He has a strain in his left leg (I do now know what part of it though) and will be away at least a couple of weeks.

As is Fernando Torres, who once again is injured (seems like a frigthening sizzler in the squad right now…), will also miss out on at least a couple of weeks, maybe three or up to a month depending on how well he heals. So, against West Ham United, Monday, and Blackburn, Saturday, and PSV Eindhoven, next-next Tuesday both Aurelio and Torres will miss. Skrtel will probably be back in time to help and unburden the workload in December, around Christmas and New Year when the pressure is the worst for the Premier League teams. He will be welcomed, even though he might not be a 100% match fit.

Oh, yes! Liverpool are now heading for the eight-finals! Liverpool did what was expected from them yesterday, and beat Marseille at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard was back from injury, and he led the way decently. Xabi Alonso was not as dominant as he use to be these days. Daniel Agger has really grown and recovered from the unfitness due to his long absence from football. Liverpool dominated the first part of the first half, with Fernando Torres looking good. Dirk Kuyt was a bit shy on his right flank, but Albert Riera had a couple of nice touches. Alvaro Arbeloa was steady – a real bargain when Rafael Benítez took him here from Deportivo La Coruna (Spain). Liverpool had a real grip, and took the lead through Steven Gerrard who headed his 30ieth European goal into the net in the 23rd minute.

 Grabbing the three points – this man made the difference.

 However, Liverpool lost ground in the end of the first half. Hatem Ben Arfa and Mamadou Niang up front for Olympique Marseille looked in form, but a strong midfield display from The Reds kept the real OM chances away.

In the second half nothing particular happened, but a fantastic save from José Reina on a freekick, hit from his left side. Niang had a couple of chances, but managed to miss them all. Javier Mascherano and Mathiue Valbuena had a minor fight going on, which resulted in a yellow card each – right decision from the referee Olegario Benquerence, from Portugal.

Let us hope we get a really shitty team now, so that we can advance easily and still focus on the Premier League!

What are you pointing at? The final?

 However, do not forget the last group stage game, against PSV Eindhoven. Rafa will probably use the reserve players and the back-ups instead of the stars. Would like to see Ryan Babel and Emiliano Insua (yes! not Dossena, he got some minutes yesterday and did not show anything worth his 8 million pounds…), and why not Daniel Pacheco? Saw him a bit in pre-season and liked what I saw – or is he too young?

Well, bye for now. You will hear from me later,  as you know we play West Ham United at Monday, the 1st of December.

Just a little correction, from yesterday! Of course we won 2-1 in the away game, not 2-0. Lorik Cana scored the opening goal. Here, a little compilation from the last game:

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/__avZAEici8" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

The squad: Reina; Arbeloa, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher; Alonso, Mascherano; Kuyt, Riera, Gerrard; Torres. Note that Rafael Benítez  once again puts new Italian Andrea Dossena on the bench, which I support to 100% – not a personal favourite, Dossena. A little bit startled actually, that neither Ryan Babel nor Yossi Benayoun get to start, I had hoped to see them in the first XI.

Note that young Martin Kelly is in the squad. Born in 1990 (May, I think) he gets a chance in the first-team in the Champions League. But he will not probably get a start, since you not very often substitute your central defenders. But would be nice to see a youngster take a place in the first-team, maybe the heir to Carragher?

Scored twice last time – again, perhaps?

Would love to see Steven Gerrard, who is back from injury, score, or to see Fernando Torres really start producing again. Xabi Alonso key player in the build-up of play, before Gerrard gets it really going higher up in the pitch. Daniel Agger has grown as he has got more matches, and I am not afraid of when Jamie Carragher ends his carrier. Albert Riera gets yet another start – you go, man!

Tomorrow, 19.45 GMT (I think) – Liverpool-Marseille, Anfield. We won comfortably 2-0 away, two goals from our lovely skipper Steven Gerrard, who actually is back from injury now and probably will start tomorrow. We noticed his absence against Fulham, and he will bring a lot of energy into a toughly matched Liverpool side.

 Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso in training session the day before the game.

 My starting XI: Reina; Arbeloa, Agger, Carragher, Insua; Babel, Benayoun, Alonso, Gerrard; Keane, Torres. Testing Emiliano Insua, our young Argentinian, since neither Fabio Aurelio nor Andrea Dossena actually have impressed me. Javier Mascherano gets to rest, together with Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera. Going for Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres up front, Torres who scored a nice goal against Marseille last season in the Champions League. Alvaro Arbeloa continues, his best season in Liverpool so far! Unlike the left-back position where we have not had a decent player for years, and I think Rafael Benítez has to start looking for one to strengthen the squad in January’s transfer window. Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel have both been too much on the bench this season, and even if Benayoun has made some complaints in the press I would like to see if he is prepared to still fight for a place! Babel is our greatest talent, together with Lucas Leiva, and I hope he will get more games before he stops to develop.

My guess, Liverpool wins 2-0. Let us say Gerrard and Babel scores!

Hello! Nothing really special today (a bit disappointed over the Fulham draw but can get over it).

Found this shirt model, which was one of the rumoured ones to be this year’s and next year’s model, but we got another one as you have seen. Think this  looks very good though, and perhaps something similar will be chosen for the seasons 10/11. Frankly, I love this one! Great white cuts in the red colours, with nice wiggly strips and a big Liverbird close to the heart (where, if it would have been real the Liverpool logo would have been).

Is the model we have now more good-looking than this one? I do not think so, what do you think?