It is a little glib to suggest that Liverpool have a one-man strike force in Fernando Torres.

It seems almost beyond dispute, though, that whenever the Spaniard is unavailable Liverpool look ill equipped to challenge for the title, a situation hardly helped by the sales of Xabi Alonso, Robbie Keane and Alvaro Arbeloa in the past year.

I realise this could come across as heresy to Liverpool fans, but might the answer be to sell Torres too?

Torres is, without question, an exceptional player but he is not irreplaceable. Liverpool have won nothing with the Spaniard in attack because they simply do not have the same in-depth quality that Chelsea and Manchester United can boast.

If Cristiano Ronaldo was worth 80 million when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid, Torres should command a similar figure.

With that money Liverpool could buy three, maybe four, top drawer players who would give their squad more balance. Valencia striker David Villa would cost around 30 million and would be a handy replacement for Torres, as would Atletico Madrid’s Argentine frontman Sergio Aguero. Either, or both of them, would leave manager Rafael Benitez enough left over to strengthen in other areas.

Villa’s team mate David Silva would add some creativity in Liverpool’s midfield as would Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield spark Luca Modric or his team mate Aaron Lennon, if they could be prised away.

With Liverpool’s debts unlikely to ease any time soon, Benitez will probably need to sell before bringing in new blood but few of their current squad, apart from Torres, Gerrard and midfield anchor Javier Mascherano, would raise the kind of money that they would require for a major squad overhaul.

Selling Torres might be the one step back Liverpool need to take in order to take two forward because at present they appear to be getting left behind.

PHOTO: Fernando Torres looks on during their Champions League soccer match against Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence September 29, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

Newcastle United fans have put up with a lot over the years but selling “naming rights” for James’ Park might be the final straw for some fans.

At 10pm on Tuesday the club announced that Chris Hughton would be made full-time manager and that owner Mike Ashley would no longer be selling and instead would inject 20 million pounds this week.

Slipped in among the back-slapping was the news that the club would welcome bids for the naming rights of the ground the club has occupied with pride since 1892.

Newcastle fans have had years of fun abusing Sunderland for what they consider the pretentious “Stadium of Light” which replaced Roker Park 12 years ago and now their fiercest rivals are poised to return the favour when one of the most famous and atmospheric grounds in the country becomes an advert.

Supporters have become less sensitive about names of new or rebuilt stadiums since the days when Millwall’s Den was imaginatively named “The New Den” and selling the naming rights to a new ground, such as the Emirates Stadium, is no longer that controversial.

Slapping a new name on an established ground, however, is another matter entirely.

Manchester United, never slow to miss a commercial opportunity, would surely never consider losing “Old Trafford” even though the sort of fee they could command for such a deal would dwarf anything Newcastle could hope to raise.

Imagine Liverpool’s players trotting down the tunnel and reaching up to pat a sign reading “This is the ACME Co Stadium”, with the world-famous Anfield relegated to the club museum.

Such decisions are exactly why Ashley is so disliked and distrusted by the rank and file Newcastle fans, something that cannot be changed by donning a replica shirt and downing a few pints amongst them.

The forum of the city’s Evening Chronicle newspaper website was overflowing with comments from angry fans on Wednesday.

Though some fans said it was not a major issue and that the money would be welcome, the overall feeling was very opposed. “Magpie5uk” led the way with the following heartfelt pros:

“This completely detached buffoon has to be stopped. He is unscrupulous, and will not stop until he has taken everything that not only fans, but people of Newcastle in general, appreciate. He is systematically destroying everything that means anything to the fans.
For instance:
1…Our Premier League Status.
2…Our top players.
3…Kevin Keegan.
4…Alan Shearer.
5…Our dignity.
6…Our humility.
7…Our enjoyment of Saturday Afternoons.
8…(AND POSSIBLY THE WORST OF ALL!) Our heritage, with this DISGRACEFUL decision to sell the name of the ground!!!
This man MUST be stopped!!”

PHOTO: Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley (C) at St James’ Park, Feb 1, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

Maintaining the strength in depth to cope with injury crises is as crucial for the management of a top-class team as it is difficult to master, writes William James.

The recent experience of England's rugby team is testament to this after being forced to pick a squad without twelve regular members.

Similarly just 10 games into soccer's Premier League season, managers of the big four clubs have been forced to field reserves. Liverpool handed big-game debuts to Daniel Ayala and Jay Spearing, while injuries forced Arsenal to thrust goalkeeper Vito Mannone into the Champions League spotlight.

The challenge for any team is to keep a pool of talent bubbling underneath the first team that is both able and experienced enough to step up to the next level. Teams invest vast amounts into scouting young talent, but experience is harder to buy.

Managing the gulf between the first team and the reserves is key to ensuring the consistency that brings league titles and secures international trophies. What this soccer season has shown already is that this issue warrants much greater attention.

Second-string teams competing in football's reserve leagues are given over largely to youth and those returning from injury, while more senior players lose match sharpness bench-sitting for the first team.

The loan deals that provide young players with the experience to slot back into first team action are too inflexible to work; lower-league sides demand season-long loans and control over players.

The result is young talent floundering in reserve leagues or stranded out on loan without a route back to their parent club when first-team opportunities arise.

At international level the balance of reserve squads is again tipped in the favour of youth to the detriment of the senior game. Despite England's rugby team missing over twelve players through injury, only three of the replacements that have been announced were drawn from the England Saxons, the notional reserve team.

The less said about football's England B team the better; without fixtures or a defined role it has been supplanted entirely by the Under-21 setup.

The standard of domestic cricket is often derided, but the sport is the best British example of a functioning reserve system working hand in hand with the national team.

England Lions, the squad below the test team, gave Jonathan Trott the chance to step up and perform on a stage that propelled him into the senior team for the final Ashes test. At the age of 28 he had the right mixture of experience and ability, and seized the chance he was given to perform.

Graham Onions is another who, aged 26, successfully made the transition earlier this year.

Forcing youngsters to sink or swim under the gaze of the world's television cameras is rarely successful and often damaging to both the player and the team.

Those determining the structure of national and domestic squads should take note; youth and talent is essential in the long term, but so is managing a pool of players beneath the first team who are ready to contribute when needed.

England's Jonathan Trott celebrates reaching his century against Australia during the fifth Ashes cricket test match at the Oval in London August 22, 2009. REUTERS/Philip Brown

So it was an even worse week than usual. Ok, there were some surprise results but generally it was pitiful, some panelists only picked up one point and even most of our outside contributors struggled despite showing us up in recent weeks.

On behalf of all of us, I’d like to point out that the Premier League is more evenly balanced than it has been for a while (see Kevin’s blog) so we have a slight excuse….

Mitch Phillips was the only one to come out of the weekend with any credit, leaping into second spot after getting two scores bang on including West Ham 2-2 Arsenal, which sadly for the rest of us was a double-pointer.

To avoid a plethora of emails from Mitch and to keep it tight at the top, we will let his prediction of a draw in Wolves v Villa stand despite him sending in his entry after the match had started!

Here are the updated scores:

Reuters Soccer Blog panel: Patrick Johnston 92, Mitch Phillips 81, Paul Radford 79, Simon Evans 71, Mike Collett 70, Kevin Fylan 66, Miles Evans 63, Julien Pretot 59, Mark Meadows 50, Asia Sports Desk 48, Neil Maidment 44, Justin Palmer 36, Martyn Herman 10, Soxley (newbie) 2

Mark Meadows

(more…)

A game between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of football’s great fixtures and it has recently been given additional spice by a number of clashes between the managers.

Much has been said and written about the verbal jousting between Rafael Benitez and Alex Ferguson and at the moment the Scot is losing both on and off the field.

Ferguson is by far the most successful manager in the Premier League but Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool suggests he is now helpless and out of ideas when he crosses swords with his Spanish opponent, who was calm and collected before the game.

Ferguson said after the match there was a “wounded animal aspect to the game” given Liverpool’s recent poor run but their victory may also have been the result of a growing confidence among Benitez’s side when it comes to meeting United. 

After losing 4-1 at home to Liverpool last season, United needed a different approach when visiting Anfield on Sunday but their display was a case of déjà vu.

The game was won by Liverpool’s team effort, by the passionate Anfield crowd but also by Benitez’s ability to rediscover United’s weaknesses (Rio Ferdinand?).

PHOTO: Liverpool’s manager Rafa Benitez (L) and his Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson gesture during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, October 25, 2009. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool has again exposed the chinks in the Premier League champions’ armour, notably their defensive frailties against top level opposition.

While United overcame Rio Ferdinand’s howler in a 4-3 win over City in the Manchester derby, the England centre back’s lack of pace and cutting edge cost Alex Ferguson’s side dearly against Liverpool.

The ease with which a half-fit Fernando Torres got away from Ferdinand to score Liverpool’s opening goal will have raised not only Ferguson’s eyebrows, but also given Fabio Capello a headache.

Is Ferdinand, who has looked completely at sea in the heart of United’s defence this season and had a nightmare of a game in England’s 1-0 defeat by Ukraine, going through just a temporary loss of form or are his best days behind him?

Ferguson has no world class cover for Ferdinand in his squad and his decision to let Gerard Pique return to Barcelona after United’s 2008 Champions League triumph might come back to haunt him. That is if it hasn’t already…Pique stopped United from taking the lead in the 2009 final while Ferdinand was at fault for Barcelona’s second goal in the 2-0 defeat by the Spanish champions.

England’s potential rivals in the 2010 World Cup will also be rubbing their hands over Ferdinand becoming a liability and while Capello must hope he rediscovers his form, the Italian might also want to consider an alternative partner to John Terry in the centre of England’s defence.

PHOTO: Liverpool’s Fernando Torres (front) outmuscles Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand to score during their English Premier League match at Anfield, Oct 25, 2009. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Liverpool’s run of four straight defeats has generated a lot of discussion about what has gone wrong, but precious little about how to put it right, aside from the suggestion that it might be nice to see Kenny Dalglish back in the dugout.

So let’s leave aside for a moment Rafa’s handling of big players and whether he should have kept hold of Sami Hyypia and Xabi Alonso, and consider what the club’s next moves should be.

As many have noted, without Fernando Torres they look impossibly ordinary in attack, and when Andriy Voronin was brought on with a few minutes to go against Lyon it seemed to many fans an indictment of the Spanish coach’s transfer dealings.

Certainly Liverpool could do with another top class forward but with money short the chances of them landing David Villa or someone similar in the transfer window are remote. And in any case, I’m not sure pitching in a player like Villa at the halfway stage of the season would provide the answer.

What Liverpool really need is a player with a touch of gravitas, the sort of performer who can command respect from team mates and opponents alike, can put his foot on the ball, weigh up the options and give players around him a lift.

Arguably the best signing Gerard Houllier made, apart from Hyppia, was Gary McAllister. The Scot was 35 when he moved to Anfield yet he still had a profound effect on the team, playing an instrumental role in the run to the Cup treble of 2000-01 and, more importantly, the club’s first qualification for the Champions League.

How Benitez could do with a player cut from the same cloth. But where should he turn?

David Beckham might have been a solution — well, Michael Owen did sign for United, after all – but the England man seems set for another stint with AC Milan.

He is no McAllister, but in the absence of such a player Liverpool might consider making a bid for Rafael van der Vaart, a player with the same sort of quality on the ball and the experience of leading a team during his time at Hamburg SV.

He is currently warming the bench at Real Madrid and might jump at a chance to show what he can do in the Premier League.

But if not the Dutchman, who would you suggest? They certainly need to find inspiration from somewhere, as they contemplate the possibility of falling 10 points behind Manchester United on Sunday.

TUESDAY UPDATE:

The scores are in and it hasn’t been quite as bad a week as usual for most of the Reuters Panel. Still, we’re not tearing up any trees, as the big man would have said, so still plenty of chance to make us look like fools. Here’s the updated table:

Reuters Soccer Blog panel: Patrick Johnston 89, Paul Radford 77, Simon Evans 71 (shocker), Kevin Fylan 65, Mike Collett 64 (outstanding performance), Mitch Phillips 62 (another shocker), Miles Evans 60, Julien Pretot 57, Neil Maidment 43, Mark Meadows 42, Justin Palmer 36, Asia Sports Desk 35, Martyn Herman 7

Don’t forget to let us know your scores in the comments section, if you haven’t done so already. Remember: five points for getting the score on the nose; one point for the right result but wrong score.

Kevin Fylan

- - - -

If you are suffering a post-World Cup qualification hangover then fear not, the Reuters Soccer Blog Premier League predictions contest is back!

While Diego Maradona was sliding on his belly, our panel of so called experts were licking their wounds after a distinctly average few weeks with one notable exception.

Patrick Johnston had a stormer last time out to jump to the top of the standings. But like everything in football, controversy is never far away.

His stunning performance prompted Asia Sports Desk to sign Patrick in a multi-million pound transfer, leaving the predictions league referees with a real quandary.

When he goes off to work in Singapore, do we allow him to continue as an individual panel member or should he be consumed by Asia Sports Desk’s combined team?

Bottom side Asia are hoping they can steal his points but as yet no decision has been taken.

With some tough matches to call this weekend, Asia could well find themselves further adrift although bonus points will be awarded if their prediction that Burnley will have two players sent off in Sunday’s derby at Blackburn Rovers comes true.

Former contest leader Simon Evans and I are from East Lancashire and we know how niggly a Blackburn-Burnley derby can get…on and off the pitch.

So while maid streaks ahead among our outside contributors, here are the running scores for the panel with this weekend’s matches and predictions underneath. Please have a go yourself in the comments and let us know how you are doing.

Reuters Soccer Blog panel: Patrick Johnston 76, Simon Evans 68, Paul Radford 63, Mitch Phillips 59, Kevin Fylan 56, Mike Collett 50, Julien Pretot 48, Miles Evans 47, Neil Maidment 43, Mark Meadows 38, Justin Palmer 36, Asia Sports Desk 28

Saturday
Aston Villa v Chelsea: Patrick Johnston 1-1, Simon Evans 1-1, Paul Radford 1-2, Mitch Phillips 1-2, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Mike Collett 0-2, Julien Pretot 1-3, Miles Evans 1-2, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 0-1, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Martyn Herman (very late new entrant) 1-2

Arsenal v Birmingham City: Patrick Johnston 3-1, Simon Evans 3-0, Paul Radford 4-0, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Kevin Fylan 3-0, Mike Collett 3-1, Julien Pretot 3-0, Miles Evans 2-0, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 3-0, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 4-1, Martyn Herman 4-0

Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patrick Johnston 3-1, Simon Evans 2-0, Paul Radford 2-0, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Kevin Fylan 2-0, Mike Collett 2-0, Julien Pretot 1-0, Miles Evans 4-0, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 1-0, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 2-0, Martyn Herman 1-0

Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Simon Evans 3-1, Paul Radford 2-0, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Kevin Fylan 2-1, Mike Collett 3-0, Julien Pretot 4-1, Miles Evans 1-0, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 1-0, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 4-0, Martyn Herman 3-1

Portsmouth v Tottenham Hotspur: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Simon Evans 1-1, Paul Radford 1-2, Mitch Phillips 0-2, Kevin Fylan 0-2, Mike Collett 0-1, Julien Pretot 1-2, Miles Evans 2-2, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 1-3, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 0-1, Martyn Herman 1-1

Stoke City v West Ham United: Patrick Johnston 1-0, Simon Evans 2-2, Paul Radford 2-1, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Kevin Fylan 2-0, Mike Collett 2-1, Julien Pretot 1-0, Miles Evans 1-0, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 1-2, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 2-0, Martyn Herman 2-1

Sunderland v Liverpool: Patrick Johnston 1-1, Simon Evans 0-2, Paul Radford 2-0, Mitch Phillips 0-2, Kevin Fylan 3-0, Mike Collett 0-0, Julien Pretot 2-3, Miles Evans 1-1, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 1-1, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 1-2, Martyn Herman 0-1

Sunday
Blackburn Rovers v Burnley: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Simon Evans 1-2, Paul Radford 1-1, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Kevin Fylan 0-0, Mike Collett 2-0, Julien Pretot 2-0, Miles Evans 1-3, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 1-1, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 2-0 (Burnley down to nine men), Martyn Herman 2-2

Wigan Athletic v Manchester City: Patrick Johnston 1-3, Simon Evans 0-1, Paul Radford 1-3, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Kevin Fylan 2-0, Mike Collett 1-1, Julien Pretot 1-2, Miles Evans 1-1, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 0-2, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 2-2, Martyn Herman 0-2

Monday
Fulham v Hull City: Patrick Johnston 3-0, Simon Evans 3-0, Paul Radford 1-0, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Kevin Fylan, Mike Collett 2-1, Julien Pretot 1-1, Miles Evans 2-0, Neil Maidment, Mark Meadows 1-0, Justin Palmer, Asia Sports Desk 3-1, Martyn Herman 0-0

PHOTO: A fan sits in the stands at Turf Moor stadium ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Everton in Burnley August 23, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

The Ballon d’Or shortlist was announced on Sunday, but what about the Ballon de Plage? Liverpool’s inflatable nemesis must surely get a category of its own in the end-of-season awards.

Sunderland’s absurd winning goal at the Stadium of Light was symbolic not just of Liverpool’s woes but of a season that just keeps rattling along in ever more gloriously unpredictable style.

Here are a few reasons why this might just be the best Premier League season ever, or at least for quite a while.

1. Big Four? What Big Four? The worst thing about the Premier League, everyone said before the start of the season, was that you could always predict the top four. I wouldn’t put much money on it being the same old same old this time. Liverpool look especially vulnerable after losing four games already this season but the others have had their unconvincing moments as well.

2. Vaulting ambitions. Manchester City have serious aspirations to make the Champions League and there are a few others hoping to join them. Tottenham look to have a new confidence about them after spending a lot of money, and most of it wisely, and Aston Villa have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea.

3. Goals galore. Arsenal have scored 27 goals, conceding 11, in eight games and they are only fourth. Liverpool, for all the problems that have seen them slip to eighth place, have bagged 22, while conceding 13. At the same stage last season, Arsenal had scored 16 and conceded six, while Liverpool, top at the time, had scored 14 and conceded six.

4. Greatest. Upset. Ever. Burnley beating Manchester United 1-0 at Turf Moor in their first home game back in the top flight in 33 years. Who would have predicted that?

5. Hardly any draws. When England’s league introduced three points for a win back in 1981 the idea was it would inspire a lot more risk-taking by teams. It was slow to catch on elsewhere but eventually the rest of the world came round and 28 years on we are seeing the benefit. This year, we’ve had 10 draws. At the same stage last year (more or less) we’d had 19 of them. 

6. Wigan Athletic. And Sunderland. And Stoke City. And Burnley (again). Roberto Martinez is back at Wigan, now as coach, and he’s stuck with the ball-playing philosophy. It hasn’t been totally successful — just look at the Hull defeat — but they have beaten Chelsea and are winning a lot of admirers. Sunderland can point to even better results, reward for playing two up front even against the best, while Stoke continue to be utterly fearless at home and Burnley like to pass it as well.

So what do you think? Best. Premier League. Ever? Let us know in the comments.

Oh, almost forgot. Reason number 7. We now know what happened to Nena’s 100th red balloon. (Or beachball, if you prefer). Altogether now… “Hast Du etwas Zeit fuer mich/Dann singe Ich ein Lied fuer Dich/Von 99 Luftballons…”

PHOTO: Sunderland’s Darren Bent (R) shoots to score against Liverpool, October 17, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

Manchester United have a rich tradition of developing precocious young talents and relying on them to do a job that could be considered beyond their years.

But despite a squad packed to the rafters with players under the age of 25, United fans are hailing the evergreen talents of a 35-year-old left winger and eagerly anticipating the return of a reliable Dutch keeper three years his senior.

The two men could be crucial to their hopes of a fourth consecutive Premier League crown.

Ryan Giggs has arguably been United’s best player this season, while Edwin van der Sar will be welcomed back by many fans who have been less-than impressed by England keeper Ben Foster’s start to the campaign.

Following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, a World-Player-of-the-Year-sized hole has been left in the United set-up. The Portuguese wizard made a habit of conjuring goals from nothing and rescuing points that had long-since been given up.

While Wayne Rooney has done his bit to plug the goal-scoring gap, netting seven times in United’s early season skirmishes, it is Giggs who has stepped up to the plate when the Red Devils have found themselves in trouble.

He may not have the scorching pace of his youth - that departed long ago - but he still retains that precious ability to change a game.

Already this season, in matches against Tottenham, Stoke and Wolfsburg, where he grabbed his 150th goal for the club, the Welshman has hauled his side out of danger with crucial goals and important assists.

There were times last season when some United fans were suggesting he was past his best and should step aside, but the dissenting voices have now slipped back into the woodwork and been replaced by near universal admiration.

At the other end of the pitch, United have conceded goals at a rate that will undoubtedly have bothered Sir Alex Ferguson, as demanding a manager as they come.

Foster has been heir apparent to Van der Sar since a successful loan spell at Vicarage Road thrust him into the limelight, but United fans remain unconvinced he will claim the role long-term. One United blogger suggests it is possible he could be shipped out of Old Trafford all together before long.

England fans worried by the lack of an obvious successor to David James will hope Foster’s recent mistakes are little more than a hiccup and a good run of form in the run-up to this summer’s World Cup will see him book a place in the England squad.

Whether or not his place on the plane to South Africa is deserved or just an indictment of England’s current crop of keepers, only time will tell.

And if Giggs and Van der Sar are anything to go by, he will have plenty of time to prove his doubters wrong.

PHOTO: Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs gestures during a training session at the club’s Carrington training complex in Manchester, September 29, 2009. REUTERS/Phil Noble