It’s been a great week for the Reds.  Dominating in Europe (as always!), and a fantastic comeback against the money loaded Blues.  I read an article in the paper yesterday which made me laugh a bit.  It suggested that Mark Hughes was looking to strengthen his squad by capturing Santa Cruz and Warnock from Blackburn.  Now, these are two decent players don’t get me wrong, but just a month ago weren’t City touting around that they were going to buy Ronaldo, Torres, Kaka and anyone else in the top 10 elite list of players.  A bit of a comedown methinks!

Anyway, I’m glad to see Kuyt getting amongst the goals again.  He’s such a committed player and rather underrated by opposing fans. Let’s hope his scoring reign continues.

We’re just hearing today that Rafa hasn’t started talks over a new contract yet.  It seems that all the focus seemed to be on buying players in the Summer that the one mastermind had been forgotten.  The American’s has so far manage to bodge the proposed Stadium plans - lets hope that they get their arses in to gear now and secure Rafa for a long time to come!

I think Benitez has finally got the message that the best policy against pretty much any team is to attack.  In both the games against Utd and yesterday’s derby, he opposition had no reply to our quality.  What frustrates me is that he hasn’t tried this approach in the last few seasons.  We certainly have the quality of players tobeat any side in the world.  Long may it continue!

Everton is understandibly poor yesterday, although had they converted a very good chance in the opening few minutes it could have been a different game.  We played with great pace and purpose yesterday and always looked like winning.  Perhaps Everton fans will rue winding Torres up just after the break.  The guys’ sheer class.  On the flip side I’m starting to get a little worried about Keane.  Yes, the goals will come, but in this high pressure league you have to deliver now.  There’s only so long Rafa will wait before he’s ‘rotated’.  With Babel eager to get a game and in good form (when he does play!), now right be the time to play the Dutchman from the start.  He’ll give PSV a good test.

I am, however, still baffled over the sending off in the last quater.  Not sure what the Ref was looking at (and neither was anyone else).  It was a good time for it to happen however as it took the wind out of Everton’s sails.  All in all, it was a pretty perfect derby on yesterday, and indeed there was only every going to be one winner.

So tomorrow see’s the latest in the clash of Red and Blue.  As usual, both sides are talking up their chances, regretting previous weeks and looking forward to the weeks coming.  But really, have the Blue noses of Everton really got any hope?  After failing to sign any one of any note in the Summer, indeed David Moyes could barely sign his own contract during the summer, Everton are looking a pretty week squad these days.  Why on earth they let Andy Johnson go to Fulham I have no idea.  I’ve always rated Johnson, even in his limited opportunities in an England shirt, when he wasn’t playing right wing of course.  I would have loved to see him at Liverpool.

In contrast it looks as though Rafa has got somewhat of a selection headache.  But with Pennant and Agger both taking the plaudits in midweek, will Rafa use either of them this time out?  My feeling is no.  I can’t see Kuyt being replaced on the right side as these are the type of traditionally tight games he usually grabs a goal in. 

And Agger, class player as he is, I fear he’s likely to be again left of the bench as the form of both Carragher and Skrtel at the back is way too good at the moment.

It looks as though Rafa is finally settling down and applying some consistency to the team and that can only reap rewards.  I think we’ll have way to much for Everton tomorrow, but time will tell.  Come on you Reds!

I’ve been to quite a lot of the England home games recently.  The new Wembley looks magnificant btw, although £7 odd for a cold burger and chips is certainly to be avoided in the future!  Ok, so here’s my thoughts.  Under Sven, England were a pretty good side.  Yes, we didn’t play the most attractive football in the world, we’re not Brazil after all.  But, we always qualified for the major tournaments. 

Then, as per usual, the heightend expectation that the British press seems to build up near a major tournament suddendly brought the ship down.  Sven’s private antics were too regularily exposed and suddenly there was the call for an English manager all over again.  Ok, let’s look at this in perspective.  At the time, Sven rarely lost an important game - OK, in my opinion it was a huge mistake to take Walcott to the World Cup, and I’m sure Sven himself will admit that was his defining mistake.

The list of English managers touted around at the time were McClaren, Allardyce, Redknapp and Curbishley.  Allardyce, although being one of the hot favourites, had rarely even been in charge of Bolton in European competition, making him a poor choice for the England role.  Curbishley and Redknapp the same, although Harry would have been my choice from the four.  Instead the FA, in all their wisdom, chose a man who not 1 year previous was in charge of a side where supporters were running on to the pitch during games ripping up their season ticket and throwing it at him.  Enough said.  What followed was the outcome of peer pressure from the British tabloids in their call for an English manager.  I’m English myself by the way, but there’s no way I could agree with their choice (esspecially as he was the FA’s second choice too!).

Now we’ve got the experience of Fabio in charge I’m waiting to see the fruits of the harvest.  England has some great players but the team needs some structure to it; something that I think Fabio is addressing.  The last outing saw us rip apart a very good Croatia side - let’s hope the same desire is shown by Fabio’s men when we meet Kazakhstan.

It’s clear that the root of Liverpool’s problems over the past few years is having the players to put the ball in the back of the net.  Clearly Rafa has been experimenting with a host of names such as Kuyt, Babel, Baros, Cisse, Voronin, Torres, Crouch and others.   Sometimes you can look at a player of the course of say 6 months and wonder whether or not the desire is really there to stick the ball in the back of the net.  You wonder whether some players almost seem embarrased to give the ball a good old spanking and run down the line celebrating like its the greatest feeling of their life.

Clearly there are some exceptions to that comment.  I like Torres, Kuyt and esspecially Babel.  All three have the desire and hunger I think Rafa was looking for when he signed them.  Ok, Kuyt doesn’t get as many goals as he’d like, but he’s always there, always willing.  When Crouch was a red, there were times when he never looked hungry for goals, even though his scoring record was pretty good (when he got going!).

I’m happy with the team that Rafa has assembled for this campaign.  It’s got flare, class and desire all over the pitch.  At the back everyone looks determined to keep a clean sheet.  If you analyse the way Man Utd won the title last year you will see the desire and determination everyone of them put in during the 90 mins.  There were no soft challenges, no hopeful stabs towards goal and certainly no lack of ideas going forward.

So far, this is what we’re showing this year.  We just need to be more clinical.  With that we’ll certainly challenge this year.