Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes the evolution of Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson are prime examples of the strides being made at Anfield.

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke has confirmed goalkeeper Ben Foster is poised to end his international exile following a near two-year absence.

Wayne Rooney insists England need to improve on their performance during last night's 1-1 draw with Poland in Warsaw to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

Graham Taylor today accused Roy Hodgson of getting his tactics wrong in England’s European Championship defeat to Italy.

NOLAN and Barton.

Liverpool have made comebacks something of a trademark in recent seasons and manager Rafael Benitez is confident his side can turn things around having lost their Europa League semi-final first leg 1-0 to Atletico Madrid.

CARLOS TEVEZ remains AWOL in Argentina and the brutal truth of an increasingly difficult period in Manchester City’s season is that if the Argentina international forward was watching the contest in his homeland, he will have seen little incentive for making a swift return.

THE future of Rafa Benitez still dominates life at Anfield, as it has so often over the past half-decade, making the rare appearance of co-owner Tom Hicks at the game on Saturday all the more intriguing.

THEY paid tribute to Bill Shankly at Anfield last night in their tens of thousands and, while the current Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is still some way short of having the same impact on Merseyside as the legendary Scotsman, goals from David N’gog and Fernando Torres at least ensured a victory over Wigan and an end to recent miseries, for the moment at least.

Fernando Torres admits he has fallen in love with Liverpool and English football.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy. He casts his eye over your comments and gives his own critical analysis of the goings on throughout the world of football.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy. He casts his eye over your comments and gives his own critical analysis of the goings on throughout the world of football.

LIVERPOOL might be as far from the title as ever after another season of domestic frustration, but at least Rafael Benitez can boast the Premier League’s champion striker.

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey likes a good argument when he hears it, and he’s got strong views of his own. Today, and every Tuesday, he will be acting as referee on your opinions on the Premiership. Let him know what you think and he’ll argue the toss with you. We’ll be offering a free sports prize to the star contribution each week.

Croke Park's financial controller is swapping his account books for walking boots in a bid to raise money for Concern - and has put his connections to good use by compiling an impressive list of sports items for an online auction.

Liverpool fans were making the trek back to England today after seeing their dream of a sixth European crown dashed 2-1 by AC Milan in the Champions League final in Athens.

PROVIDED the proposed €670m Maktoum takeover goes through, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez should have the pick of the world’s available players in next month’s transfer window.

Sven-Goran Eriksson admits player power and a glorious World Cup win will not be enough to spark a u-turn on his England future.

Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0

David Beckham was back in full training with England today as Steven Gerrard continued his recovery programme in a bid to be ready for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Wales.

Liverpool midfielder John Welsh has joined Coca-Cola Championship outfit Hull on a season-long loan.

Liverpool midfielder Boudewijn Zenden has blamed Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb for his decision to leave Teesside.

Liverpool 2 Juventus 1

Liverpool captain Steve Gerrard has written off his side’s chances of winning the Champions League this season.

LIVERPOOL are “reasonably optimistic” that Michael Owen will sign a new long-term contract after captain Steve Gerrard pledged his future to the club.

Rio Ferdinand was one of three England players to miss training in La Manga as the FA insisted the defender's fitness had not been risked against South Africa.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted he has been surprised by Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier’s public criticism of out-of-sorts midfielder Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool’s Vladimir Smicer claims winning the Barclaycard Premiership or the Champions League would make up for missing out on this summer’s World Cup finals with the Czech Republic.

Arsenal 1 Liverpool 0

John Arne Riise has equalised for Liverpool on Nicolas Anelka's return to Highbury.

Fredrik Ljungberg has put Arsenal into the lead on Nicolas Anelka's return to Highbury.

Sven-Goran Eriksson will warn striker Alan Smith to control his temperament if he is called into the England squad tomorrow - but will not attempt to remove all the aggression from the heart of his game.

Steve Gerrard's injury curse struck again as the midfielder was forced to pull out of the England squad ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Albania.

Sven-Goran Eriksson names his first England squad today, with perilously little time in which to make his mark before next week's friendly against Spain.