In April 2009, Holland coach Marco Van Basten criticised Rafael Benitez's handling of Ryan Babel, noting that the player had taken a step backward since his arrival at Anfield. This week, Babel himself has publicly stated he wants to leave. Has Babel failed or is Rafa Benitez to blame for not giving the player a consistent chance?

Tonights Liverpool team to face Leeds United: Cavalieri, Degen, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Aurelio, Spearing, Mascherano, Riera, Babel, Ngog. Subs: Reina, Gerrard, Torres, Skrtel, Voronin, Plessis, Johnson.

1-0 Torres 12'1-1 Geovanni 15'2-1 Torres 18'3-1 Torres 47'4-1 Gerrard 61'5-1 Babel 88'6-1 Babel 90'DISCLAIMER: Calcioplus non hosta alcun video pubblicato su di esso. Tutti i video pubblicati sono caricati da amanti di calcio su siti di video hosting come Youtube e Dailymotion ed ubicati dunque su siti esterni a Calcioplus.

Where would Tottenham Hotspur's second XI finish in the Premier League? You be the judge. I've got: Cudicini - Naughton (or Hutton), Dawson, Woodgate, Bale - Bentley, Jenas, Bostock, Kranjcar - Pavlyuchenko, Crouch.

Is that better than Liverpool's second XI: Diego - Degen, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Fabio Aurelio - Lucas, Plessis - Benayoun, Voronin, Babel - N'Gog?

I've been frustrated many times down the years at players not getting what I deem to be a fair crack in the first team. The last one was Yossi last season as shortly after a hat trick he was dumped back down to the bench. I can't say I have the same desire to see [...]
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Babels latest outburst is that he feels that Rafa has broken promises to give him more playing time, and he now wants to go out on loan to Ajax.
It's disappointing that Babel doesn't realise that he's responsible for his own actions, and that Rafa has been exceptionally patient with him. It's his own fault that he has repeatedly failed to take the opportunities given to him.

Aside from Babel having a cry that he's not getting any playing time and speculation that Aquilani might be closer to being fit than we thought, there's not a whole lot happening during the break. There is, however, a little news on the new kit sponsor. It's nothing new that Liverpool was looking for a shirt sponsor to replace Carlsberg that will bring more of the proverbial fat cash.

Not this again:

• Fabregas to Barcelona move in December?
  
• Chelsea is making Anelka mad.
  
• Babel wants an Ajax return.
  
• Gunners duo sign new deals.
  
• Ashley Cole pens new Blues deal.
  
• No Real Madrid deal, says Ribery.
  
• Zaki not returning to EPL?

There's no real surprises here, but it's interesting to note that Kelly got the nod over Degen for the group stages. Aside from that, it's business as usual and there's just 10 days left before we start our campaign.
Goalkeepers - Reina, Cavalieri, Martin
Defenders - Johnson, Agger, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Darby, Kelly, Dossena
Midfielders - Aquilani, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Benayoun, Babel, Spearing, Plessis
Forwards - Torres, Kuyt, Voronin, NGog, Amoo, Eccleston

After an extremely successful international break for our Red heroes, Premiership action returns for Liverpool as we face Burnley tomorrow in a clash that will surely raise some eyebrows... hopefully for the correct reasons! Over the past two weeks, Kuyt and Babel helped Holland automatically progress to the World Cup, Gerrard and Johnson were key [.

Great result for the club. It's games like this we had trouble with last season so it's nice to see that we haven't stumbled yet on lower table teams. Now, if we can beat those pesky ones in the top half of the table we will be doing great.

Even when we stomp a team by scoring four goals and keep a clean sheet, Rafa manages to say something to annoy the crap out of me.

The Liverpool team to face Debrecen at Anfield tonight: Reina, Insua, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Benayoun, Riera, Kuyt, Torres. Subs: Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Voronin, Babel, Cavalieri, Spearing, Mascherano.

Another three points and things look a lot brighter. Overall we controlled the game well and looked like we could create chances at will. The chance to really go to town and play some creative stuff was ruined by some defensive mistakes that once again put us under unnecessary pressure. Carra can't be a big fan [.

Jay Spearing and Kyrgiakos are among the changes to the Liverpool side for tonights match against Leeds at Elland road.
Gerrard and Torres are on the bench.
Team in full:
Cavalieri, Deggen, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Aurelio, Spearing, Mascherano, Riera, Babel, Ngog.
Subs:
Reina, Gerrard, Torres, Skrtel, Voronin, Plessis, Johnson
Match updates to follow.

This post is going up while I'm watching Dr. No, FYI...

• Ambrosini signs Milan extension.
  
• Chelsea ban a warning to others?
  
• Everyone after a Werder Brazilian?
  
• L.A. Galaxy seeking Thierry Henry?
  
• Ljungberg mum about EPL move.
  
• Liverpool not going to sell Babel.

Reina, Johnson, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Riera, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Degen, Dossena.

Dutchman was misquoted.

The Dutchman made a key contribution in Saturday's thrilling 3-2 victory at West Ham as he came off the bench to create the winner for Fernando Torres.

It was Babel's first league outing since the defeat to Aston Villa last month and now he is hungry for more.

Well I have got one out of two starting line ups up to now so lets see if I'm correct this time. Early news suggests the team will be as follows Cavalieri, Degen, Carra, Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Riera, Aurelio, Spearing, Mascherano, Babel and Ngog. Gerrard and Torres warm the bench. Rafa is obviously not underestimating the task and has eight [.

Cavalieri
Degen Carragher Kyrgiakos Dossena
Mascherano
Babel Spearing Aurelio Riera
Ngog
Goals:
Ngog 66'
Much harder work than it should have been, plus Liverpool needed a little bit of luck. But it was never going to be easy in front of 30,000+ Leeds fans, and no matter how awful the first half was, Liverpool finally got going – and got the goal – in the second.

Man, this daily feature has been running for a while:

• Babel denies wanting Liverpool exit.
  
• Barca prez demands Puyol and Marquez accept new deals.
  
• Nugent wants a permanent stay at Burnley.
  
• Deportivo after Dos Santos?
  
• Ronaldinho to retire? What?

Reina
Johnson Skrtel Carragher Insua
Lucas Gerrard
Benayoun Kuyt Riera
Torres
Goals:
Torres 12' 28' 47'
Geovanni 15'
Gerrard 61'
Babel 88' 90+1'
So much for struggling to beat the teams that just want a draw at Anfield. 13 goals put past Stoke, Burnley, and Hull – and Liverpool dropped points against Stoke and Hull last season.

It's getting difficult to find new ways to praise Fernando Torres. See here and here, among other sycophancy. The goals per game, the hat-tricks, the fact he can score any kind of goal, that he's only 25; I can go on and on. But there's little else to be written on how potent he is. So I got to thinking about the "supporting cast.

I feel this is the first time I am glad that the international break arrived. Although it did come after our win against Bolton, but it was not the usual break that usually breaks our momentum of winning games. This time it feels like it is a timely break, much needed to tighten a screw here and a screw there in strengtening the team.

Nice, I Like
Beginning next season, Premier League teams will be required to have 8 home-grown players out of a squad of 25, according to measures introduced today.
According to the league's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, "one of the benefits will be that it will help the England team," and it will give clubs an extra incentive to invest in youth.

2:45pm, live in the US on espn360.com. Supposedly, ESPN360 is the only US outlet. My internet provider doesn't get it. Most people I know don't get it. Super.
Setanta has US rights for Carling Cup too, but they're not showing a Tuesday game. Hopefully they'll be a stream somewhere.
Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 3-2 West Ham (a); 1-0 Debrecen (h); 4-0 Burnley (h)
Leeds: 4-1 Gillingham (h); 0-0 Southend (a); 2-0 Stockport (h)
Referee: Alan Wiley
Guess at a squad:
Cavalieri
Degen Skrtel Kyrgiakos Aurelio
Spearing Mascherano
Babel Voronin Riera
Ngog
Good luck guessing the right mix of reserves, youngsters, and senior players.

Liverpool v. Leeds, Elland Road

The power and glory of the Carling Cup returns for Liverpool fans, and what better way to start than at a side with a tortured past!

Leeds United do find themselves top of the League One table as of today's kick-off, but they've struggled to maintain form since Bernie Madoff took charge of their finances in 2001.

The Liverpool team to face Hull City at Anfield this afternoon. Reina, Insua, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Riera, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Mascherano, Ngog.

Torres on fire, helps Liverpool to a home win over Hull City with a hattrick. Babel, Gerrard and Riera score the others. Geovanni had scored for Hull.

Portsmouth Vs Liverpool Tickets Still Available!

1-0 Torres

1-1 Geovanni

2-1 Torres

3-1 Torres

4-1 Gerrard

5-1 Babel

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Torres is in find form for the Reds.

This should be an interesting match. You have to think, given Liverpool's Champions League pedigree, that they should not have much of a problem with Italian side Fiorentina.

I wouldn't be so sure.

Fiorentina are an impressive fourth place in the Serie A at this point in the season and have been playing some brilliant football despite losing Melo to Juventus during the summer.

I almost felt sorry for Hull City who we destroyed 6-1. A hat-trick from Torres, a wonder (did he mean it) goal from Gerrard, plus a brace from Babel. It's a great result, which leaves us with the best goal difference in the league.
Also we're only 3 points from the top of the table, thanks to Chelsea's shock defeat to Wigan.

As Liverpool transformed itself into an unstoppable juggernaut at the end of last season, one of the primary factors was the dazzling form of Yossi Benayoun. This season, it is crucial that someone else emerges from the pool of inconsistent and underachieving talent currently in the squad and follows in the little midfielder's footsteps.

2:45pm, live in the US on Setanta.
Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 6-1 Hull (h); 1-0 Leeds (a); 3-2 West Ham (a)
Fiorentina: 1-0 Livorno (a); 2-0 Sampdoria (h); 1-3 Roma (a)
Referee: Felix Brych (GER)
Guess at a squad:
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Carragher Insua
Lucas Gerrard
Benayoun Kuyt Riera
Torres
Sky Sports certainly threw a spanner in the works this morning, announcing that neither Benayoun nor Mascherano traveled to Italy because of an injury and illness respectively.

My how a 6 goal drubbing changes a man. That's not to say Rafa wasn't a manager full of happiness and teddy bears prior to the weekend; but I can assure you he's in a much better place right now.

We all saw the Hull City thrashing over the weekend. The goals from hat-trick from Torres and the added insurance from Gerrard and Babel made it a fun affair on Saturday afternoon.

My how a 6 goal drubbing changes a man. That's not to say Rafa wasn't a manager full of happiness and teddy bears prior to the weekend; but I can assure you he's in a much better place right now.

We all saw the Hull City thrashing over the weekend. The goals from hat-trick from Torres and the added insurance from Gerrard and Babel made it a fun affair on Saturday afternoon.

Tonights Lineup against Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the Champions League: Reina, Johnson, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Benayoun, Aurelio, Kuyt, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Riera, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Spearing, Plessis.