Birmingham central defender Matthew Upson is facing several months out of action to add to his side’s misery after they slid closer towards the Premiership relegation trapdoor.

Aston Villa 0 West Brom 0

Aston Villa 3 Port Vale 1

West Brom 1 Aston Villa 2

Aston Villa 4 Everton 0

David O’Leary insisted he has received no approach from Manchester United for Aston Villa’s fast emerging midfielder Steven Davis, who is close to signing a new contract.

ASTON VILLA manager David O’Leary is set to play Juan Pablo Angel in Sunday’s derby at Birmingham despite fears the striker will still be jetlagged.

Rafael Benitez will thrust Liverpool’s version of the odd couple -gangling Peter Crouch and flamboyant Frenchman Djibril Cisse – into a new-look front partnership at Tottenham.

Liverpool’s failure to re-sign Michael Owen has come back to haunt them with Fernando Morientes now facing several weeks on the sidelines.

DAVID O’LEARY’S striking options could receive a double boost heading into Aston Villa’s Premiership trip to Portsmouth tonight (7.45pm).

Aston Villa should complete the signing of Liverpool striker Milan Baros tomorrow after the Merseysiders finally decided to accept an offer of around £6m (€8.8m).

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, while preparing his squad for their first home league game of the season against newly-promoted Sunderland, accepts all the pre-match talk is about transfer market activity surrounding Milan Baros, Michael Owen and even Djibril Cisse.

MICHAEL OWEN can't stay in Spain. It's injuring his football health. Never mind that he was a prolific goal-scoring substitute at Madrid last season, he's clearly dropped further down the striking pecking order at the Bernabeu after the signings of Baptista and Robinho.

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary is remaining tight-lipped on the prospect of Liverpool striker Milan Baros moving to Villa Park.

Milan Baros is to be the pawn in a calculated game of bluff by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez ahead of the Champions League clash in Bulgaria on Wednesday.

Everton today confirmed they are interested in signing Milan Baros from Liverpool.

SCHALKE finance chief Josef Schnusenberg has claimed the club would struggle to meet Liverpool’s current demands for Czech Republic forward Milan Baros.

Schalke today pulled out of the race to sign Milan Baros from Liverpool.

Schalke finance chief Josef Schnusenberg has claimed the club would struggle to meet Liverpool’s current demands for Czech Republic forward Milan Baros.

SCHALKE will today tell Liverpool they want to take Milan Baros on loan for a year with a view to a permanent deal for the Czech Republic international.

Milan Baros’ agent has held talks with German club Schalke over the Liverpool striker’s future.

Rafael Benitez has made only one change from the squad that beat TNS 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League first qualifying round tie, with Spanish international Luis Garcia coming into the 18-man party in place of Milan Baros.

Paul Walker

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is not convinced Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final winner should have been allowed to stand.

Harry Kewell is a shock inclusion in Liverpool’s squad to face Chelsea tomorrow in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.

SAMI HYYPIA has delivered a damning verdict on the poor attitude which is wrecking Liverpool’s chances of Champions League football next season.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has suggested his former club Valencia may have been guilty of an illegal approach to Czech striker Milan Baros.

RAFAEL BENITEZ will tell striker Milan Baros to make up for the damage caused by his derby day red card by firing Liverpool to victory against the might of Juventus tonight in the Champions League.

Liverpool 2 Everton 1

RAFAEL BENITEZ admits he has suffered the most difficult week of his short time as Liverpool boss – but insists his decisions were for the good of the club.

FERNANDO MORIENTES is in line to make his debut against Manchester United tomorrow after completing his move from Real Madrid to Liverpool last night.

Liverpool will be without Harry Kewell for the visit of Premiership leaders Chelsea.

Champions League

STEVEN GERRARD insists he will not accept “second best” by crashing out of the Champions League and into the UEFA Cup.

Millwall 0 Liverpool 3

Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse admits he has struggled to settle at Anfield - but has told fans to be patient this season.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez faces difficult decisions for the tough Barclays Premiership game at Chelsea on Sunday as his side try to avoid a fourth successive away defeat.

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