SATURDAY 6
	Moyes wanted derby point Everton manager David Moyes felt his side deserved to take something from the 213th Merseyside derby with Liverpool at Anfield. Moyes felt both red cards were fully justified and bemoaned his side's lack of creativity, although felt they were worthy of a point. He said: "I think there have been lots of derbies very similar; quite feisty and that's why fans like them because they sometimes have a little bit extra in them. "The first sending-off (Kyrgiakos) was a two-footed tackle, both feet off the ground. Fellaini has been for an X-ray but we think it is clear, which is good news. "I've no complaints about Steven's sending-off as there was a tackle earlier in the game where he might have been fortunate to stay on. "I thought we certainly didn't deserve to lose the game. We might not have deserved to win it but we shouldn't have lost it. (Sky Sports) Rafa revels in vital win Rafa Benitez applauded Liverpool's 'massive' victory following their derby success against Everton. The Reds were reduced to 10 men when Sotirios Kyrgiakos was sent off for a foul on Marouane Fellaini before half-time but they stayed strong to cope with the numerical disadvantage. Dirk Kuyt then headed home the only goal of a fiercely-contested encounter before Steven Pienaar's late dismissal meant Everton also finished without their full complement of players. The result boosted Liverpool's chances of securing fourth place and Benitez was delighted with the three points. "It was massive for us. To win in a derby is really important - to win in a derby with 10 players at Anfield is more important," said Benitez. "I was really pleased for the players and the fans because everyone was working so hard that I think at the end we deserved to win. (Sky Sports) Gerrard highlights Liverpool passion Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard paid tribute to his side's commitment after they beat Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside derby at Anfield. Gerrard told Sky Sports 1: "That is what derbies are all about. There was passion, commitment and fight. We beat a very good Everton side today with 10-men and we should enjoy this result. "We played some good football and had a great attitude, sticking together. We knew we would be up against it at times and if we had the chance at a set-piece we could grab a goal." (TEAMtalk) Deadly Dirk seals derby glory Dirk Kuyt headed 10-man Liverpool to victory in a fiery 213th Merseyside derby clash with Everton at Anfield. The Dutchman was on hand to nod home Steven Gerrard's precise corner from close range in the 55th minute of a blood-and-thunder encounter, with Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard at fault. The Reds were reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute when defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini were involved in a crunching challenge. Greek defender Kyrgiakos went in two-footed, while Fellaini was far from blameless as he caught his opponent high on the leg, but it was only the Reds defender who was dismissed. Fellaini was unable to continue, with Mikel Arteta coming on in his place, but Everton failed to take advantage of their numerical advantage and struggled to create any meaningful openings. Referee Martin Atkinson dished out his second red card of the game in the dying seconds as Steven Pienaar, who had earlier been booked for a heavy challenge on Javier Mascherano, saw red for jumping into Gerrard. Liverpool have now gone seven Premier League matches without defeat, keeping six clean sheets in the process. By contrast, Everton's nine-match unbeaten run came to an end. The last team to beat them before today had been Liverpool at Goodison in late November and they have now won just two of the last 21 league derbies. (Sky Sports) Rafa confident of Jovanovic swoop Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is confident of securing the signature of Serbia international striker Milan Jovanovic for next season. The 28-year-old is out of contract in the summer and early reports suggested the Reds had already secured him on a pre-contract. Benitez, though, says the club are yet to agree terms with the Standard Liege frontman, although he is hopeful a deal can be reached. "Nothing is sorted yet, but I'm confident it will be," confirmed Benitez. Liverpool face stiff competition for Jovanovic's signature after Standard confirmed Juventus and AC Milan are also in the hunt for his signature. "I wish Jovanovic all the best," confirmed Standard's vice-president Luciano D'Onorfio. "He always did his best for the club. "AC Milan, Juventus and Liverpool want him. The choice is up to him. I play no role in his decision." (TEAMtalk) Liverpool v Everton – Agger and Maxi start Alberto Aquilani, Albert Riera and Martin Skrtel all drop to the bench to make way for the three changes Rafa Benitez has made to the starting line-up for the latest derby. Daniel Agger returns to the back four where Jamie Carragher again starts at right-back, Lucas returns to the midfield alongside Mascherano. Maxi Rodriguez also starts, presumably helping Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard support David Ngog up front. Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi, Ngog Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Riera, Aurelio, Babel, Degen, Skrtel (Anfield Road.com) Rafa backs Aquilani Rafael Benitez is confident Alberto Aquilani can cope with the pressures of playing in the Merseyside derby. Should Aquilani start against Everton today, then no doubt the Blues will try and kick him out of the game. However, Benitez has faith in his £20m signing to cope with the derby. "We have been talking with all of the players and he knows this is a massive game with a lot of passion," said the boss. "Always when you play in a derby it is a good experience, but here in England it is always different. The league is different and the Merseyside derby is the most difficult one, but I think it will be a great experience for him." (LFC Online) Gerrard named vice-captain Steven Gerrard has been named as England's vice-captain. The Liverpool midfielder was handed the role after coach Fabio Capello withdrew the armband from Chelsea's John Terry. Capello confirmed: "When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice-captain and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision." Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been installed as the skipper of the Three Lions. (LFC Official Website)
	FRIDAY 5
	Aurelio in line for Reds return Liverpool should have Fabio Aurelio available again for the 213th Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield on Saturday. Aurelio has missed the last three matches with a calf problem but should be in the squad for the big game, which kicks off at 12.45pm. Liverpool are still without Fernando Torres (knee), Yossi Benayoun (rib) and Glen Johnson (hamstring), all of whom are still some way off full fitness. Reds (from): Reina, Skrtel, Agger, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Aquilani, Gerrard, Lucas, Rodriguez, Riera, Ngog, Kuyt, Cavalieri, Pacheco, Spearing, Darby, Babel, Aurelio, Degen. (TEAMtalk) Leon Osman: Everton in form to beat Liverpool Everton midfielder Leon Osman believes they are playing well enough to end their 10-year run without a victory at Anfield in the Merseyside derby. The Toffees last beat the Reds on their home ground in September 1999. Osman, 28, told BBC Radio Merseyside: "We're playing well and we believe in each other and we're winning games at the minute. "We should, as a team, take each game as it comes and go there this time and win the game." Everton are unbeaten in nine Premier League games since November's defeat by Liverpool at Goodison Park - a run which has seen them draw at Chelsea and Arsenal. He added: "People weren't expecting us to get a result at Chelsea and it was the same at Arsenal and we should have won. "We want to go one better now and try and turn those draws into a victory. "There'll be times when we'll get opportunities in the game and we've got to make sure we take them and keep it tight at the back as well. "We've shown this season we can go to places and get results." (BBC Sport Online) Rafa ready for crucial phase Rafael Benitez has called on his Liverpool players to kick-off the most 'crucial phase' of their season with a victory over Everton in Saturday's 213th Merseyside derby. The Reds will also face Arsenal and Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League in February, with the boss admitting the next few weeks could be key in deciding the outcome of the campaign. "We want to make sure we get back into the top four and this is the first opportunity to try and do that," said Benitez. "Our aim is to keep the players playing with more confidence. After Everton, we have Arsenal and that will be another big challenge. But it will be much easier if we have got the right result against Everton and another three points. "I've spoken with the players and we have been analysing what we have (in terms of games) until the end of the season and this is the most crucial phase. "To get a win against Everton and to see the team continue their unbeaten run would give everyone big hope for the rest of the season." (LFC Official Website) Reina relishing derby challenge Pepe Reina is looking forward to Saturday's game against Everton, and insists that Liverpool will be determined to claim three points from the Anfield fixture. "It is a big match and we know that but we play at home once again and we know the supporters will be right behind us," said the Reds' keeper. "Our target is to beat Everton, that is the only one at the moment. We cannot think any further ahead than that because we are not in the same situation as last season when we were fighting for the title. "At the moment, to prevent more pressure on us than we already have, we have to keep winning and stay focused on the next game only. You can talk about improving and this and that but at the end of the day you have to win. It is all about winning." (LFC Online) Liverpool FC net £1.5m for Bulgarian keeper Nikolay Mihaylov Liverpool have banked £1.5million from the sale of goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov to FC Twente. The 21-year-old Bulgarian arrived at Anfield from Levski Sofia in 2007 but never made a first team appearance for the Reds. He has been sent out on loan to Dutch outfit Twente for the past three seasons and now the move has been made permanent. Former England coach Steve McClaren, who is boss of the Eredivisie joint leaders, sees Mihaylov as the perfect long-term replacement for veteran Sander Boschker. The sale of Mihaylov means the Reds banked over £6million during the January transfer window with Andriy Voronin and Andrea Dossena also moving on. None of it was spent on strengthening the squad with Maxi Rodriguez, who was snapped up on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid, the only new arrival. (Liverpool Echo)
	THURSDAY 4
	Hicks ponders sale of Dallas Stars Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is looking into the possibility of selling his NHL ice hockey team the Dallas Stars. The Hicks Sports Group (HSG) confirmed Galatioto Sports Partners have been retained to examine the possibility of securing new investors or selling a majority stake in the franchise. Last month, HSG announced they had reached a definitive agreement to sell Major League Baseball side the Texas Rangers for about £360million. It appears Hicks is trying to re-organise his finances on a major scale but what this latest announcement means for Liverpool remains to be seen. (TEAMtalk) Kuyt feeling the pressure Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt admits that he has felt the burden of responsibility to carry the club forward in the injury-enforced absences of many of his team-mates. The Reds have been without Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson for several games, while captain Steven Gerrard has only recently returned from a latest fitness setback in a troubled campaign. However, Rafa Benitez's team are preparing for Saturday's Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield boasting a six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League that has kept their quest for the UEFA Champions League alive. Kuyt has had to fill in for star striker Torres and has scored three goals in as many games to leave him one away from his 50th for Liverpool, but the Dutchman has felt the pressure. "Of course you feel a responsibility. Everyone in the team feels a responsibility and it is very hard when you are missing your best players," he said. (Sky Sports)  Jovanovic has signed nothing The agent of Milan Jovanovic claims his client is not on the verge of signing a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool. Reports earlier in the week had suggested that the Serbian playmaker was close to committing his future to the Reds and was expected to form part of Rafa Benitez's squad in 2010/11. However, it has now emerged that such a deal has not been put in place, with the Standard Liege forward yet to decide where his next move will take him. Jovanovic has plenty of avenues to explore, with numerous clubs monitoring his situation. Liverpool had hoped to beat the rush for his signature by reaching an agreement in January, but could be about to see those efforts come to nothing. "There are many possibilities," Jovanovic's agent Zoran Stojadinovic told Superdeporte. "The situation will be resolved soon, but he has not signed for any club as yet." It is believed that Spanish giants Valencia have edged ahead in the race to land Jovanovic, with Stojadinovic admitting that discussions with the Primera Liga outfit are 'very advanced'. However, there are plenty of other sides still in the frame and nothing has been ruled out as yet. "There is plenty of interest from Spain," added Stojadinovic. "But there are also a number of clubs from across Europe that remain keen." (Sky Sports) Benitez offers backing to Babel Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes that forward Ryan Babel can shine at Anfield now that the transfer window is closed. Babel's future at Liverpool was the subject of intense speculation during the January transfer window with Birmingham having a couple of bids rejected for the Dutchman. Benitez believes Babel's form was affected by the speculation and he now feels the former Ajax man can show his true ability for the rest of the campaign. "If we play without the speculation surrounding Ryan Babel then I am sure it will be easier for him to focus and for me to play him," explained Benitez. "So I think we will be better in attack and the team will be better." Benitez also revealed that Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson are not expected to return to action until March at the earliest. "Glen is still progressing," added Benitez. "It's looking like he will be back in another three or four weeks. When he was first ruled out, it looked like he would be out for two months and it has been a month so far. "Fernando is progressing too. Hopefully he will be back in the same time, while Yossi [Benayoun] could return in two weeks." (TEAMtalk) Sammy: Why our derby is special Sammy Lee insists the Merseyside derby is still one of the most special fixtures in the football calendar. Having experienced the occasion as a player and coach Lee is well qualified to give an assessment on the big game, and he feels the derby is the one that gets the whole of Merseyside talking. "It is a special game for everyone and you always want to be involved in the derby - whether it be as a coach, player or supporter," Lee told Liverpoolfc.tv. "I always say every game has its own importance and degree of difficulty, but because it's our next game, this is a vital and massive game for us. "The fact that it's the derby against our local rivals, who are in a good run of form, makes it a very difficult game. "It will be a very competitive and tense affair and we will be giving everything we have possibly got to get the three points. "It's a very big game and one that everyone looks forward to. "Form normally goes out of the window in the derby and it's about who handles the pressure and intensity on the day. Hopefully that will be us." (LFC Official Website)   Thor Zakariassen ©