IT WASN’T long before the cold, bracing slap of reality intruded on Shamrock Rovers’ fairytale night in Tallaght.

SOME of the biggest names in world football could be on their way to Tallaght with Juventus.

Juventus 3 Fulham 1

JUVENTUS forward Alessandro Del Piero says his side will need to produce the perfect game to knock Chelsea out of the Champions League tonight.

Chelsea 1 Juventus 0

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is confident the club will complete the permanent transfer of Javier Mascherano as they prepare for their Premier League clash against his former club West Ham.

Juventus has today confirmed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko believes he could complete a move to Juventus by the end of this week.

IT HAS become something of a tradition that Middlesbrough save their best for the Premier League’s major movers and shakers.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez reports the Reds are awaiting the “right club and the right offer” for Mohamed Sissoko.

Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has revealed he is “very close” to joining Juventus.

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has admitted he is keen on Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

Jamie Carragher has hailed Spanish ace Fernando Torres as one of the world's greatest strikers.

Stand-in England skipper Steven Gerrard was handed a chance to soothe his Euro 2008 misery when he was named in the starting line-up for Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez resisted the opportunity to name Peter Crouch in his starting line-up against Blackburn with the England striker left on the bench at Ewood Park today.

Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool have to sort out their worrying home form if they are to get their season firing again.

Besiktas 2 Liverpool 1

Liverpool’s obvious need to win their Champions League group A clash in the Inonu Stadium on the banks of the Bosphorus was underlined by the inclusion of two wingers – Ryan Babel and Jermaine Pennant – in boss Rafael Benitez’s starting line-up.

Everton 1 Liverpool 2

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed he has held talks with midfielder Mohamed Sissoko and urged him to battle for his place in the side.

Rafael Benitez has dismissed claims that Liverpool’s dip in form is a result of the club’s recent internal management changes.

RAFAEL BENITEZ has demanded his stunned Liverpool stars “show their character” in a spell of matches that could define their season.

Liverpool 0 Marseille 1

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is facing up to the first serious test of the Anfield club’s unbeaten season after key players Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso were ruled out with injuries.

Scans on Liverpool pair Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso have confirmed that both have broken metatarsals picked up on international duty and could be out for six weeks.

Liverpool have Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio back in their squad for the first time this season but full-back John Arne Riise misses the Champions League trip to Porto.

ROY KEANE never said it was going to be easy but a fiercely proud individual whose football career became synonymous with on-field success is suddenly facing up to the harsh realities of Premiership management.

Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is expected to have treatment today at the club’s Melwood training ground following a worrying ankle injury picked up in his side’s Champions League qualifier.

Toulouse 0 Liverpool 1

Feyenoord 1 Liverpool 1

Liverpool 2 Shanghai Shenhua 0

LIVERPOOL defender Steve Finnan has welcomed extra competition for places at Anfield after committing himself to the club for the rest of his career.

Liverpool defender and Irish international Steve Finnan has welcomed extra competition for places at Anfield after committing himself to the club for the rest of his career.

Rafael Benitez believes he is on the brink of the major signings, including Fernando Torres, that he needs to boost Liverpool’s squad ahead of the new Barclays Premier League season.

MOHAMED SISSOKO has become the latest player to pledge his future to Liverpool after signing a new four-year contract.

Mohamed Sissoko has become the latest player to pledge his future to Liverpool after signing a new four-year contract.

Liverpool today added Xabi Alonso to their growing list of players who have signed new contracts this week.

Liverpool will give Bolo Zenden a fitness test later today to determine whether he can figure in tomorrow’s Champions League Final against AC Milan.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that goalkeeper Jose Reina is fit for next week's Champions League final against AC Milan.

Robbie Fowler will bring the curtain down on his Liverpool career on Sunday, but goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek will almost certainly be denied the chance to play in one final game for the club.

Robbie Fowler and Jerzy Dudek expect to bring the curtain down on their Liverpool careers against Charlton at Anfield on Sunday, with their contracts running out.

Peter Crouch insists Liverpool are in the mood to repeat their Champions League semi-final humbling of Chelsea.

Liverpool warmed up nicely for the Champions League as they took a firm grip on third place in the Barclays Premiership.