Liverpool: Agger to return vs Middlesbrough

Daniel Agger is at last set to feature for Liverpool against Middlesbrough

Daniel Agger is set to feature in some part today for Liverpool, most probably on the bench. Despite Liverpool having defensive a major defensive problem, with Jamie Carragher suspended and Martin Skrtel are reluctant to risk Agger. Most likely Arbeloa and Hyppia will be the central defensive pairing.

Up front it's likely Liverpool's strike pairing will be Kuyt and Torres, despite every football fan in the country thinking Crouch would make a better partner and score more goals! In midfield its also coming to crunch time for Rafael Benitez. Will he bite the bullet and put Alonso back in and Steven Gerrard wide right? Surely Liverpool's top three midfielders are Alonso, Gerrard and Mascherano?

For the trip down to Liverpool, Middlesbrough have David Wheater back from a ban, while late checks will be made on Roberth Huth and Tuncay Sanli. Huth missed the FA Cup tie at Sheffield United with a foot injury and Tuncay is training again after hamstring trouble.

Alves set for Middlesbrough despite dispute

Southgate confident deal for Alves will remain despite AZ Alkmaar dispute

Gareth Southgate is confident there is no case to answer despite AZ Alkmaar's claims of a pre-contract agreement with Alfonso Alves, the Heerenveen player, who signed a four and a half year deal with Middlesbrough on Thursday. Alkmaar say they will take their case to Fifa, despite the Dutch FA already ruling that the agreement is invalid.

Alves, reportedly signed for a £12m fee, completely refutes the claim, and Southgate said: "The only thing that can happen is there could be compensation between Heerenveen and Alkmaar."

Of more concern to Southgate is the fact that the player is unlikely to be available for Sunday's Tyne-Tees derby against Newcastle at St James' Park. The player spent most of Friday queuing for a UK visa at the British Embassy in Amsterdam and it is doubtful his visa will clear in time.

Premier League Results: Middlesbrough 1-1 Liverpool

Talk of title laughable as Torres keeps Liverpool in the top four

Liverpool's Premier League title hopes in all reality vanished about five games ago, but any lingering hopes were surely extinguished in this lacklustre draw. Yet again a moment of individual brilliance from Fernando Torres got Liverpool something from this game, his spectacular 70th minute drive rescuing a point for the Merseysiders.

Liverpool really are now playing like a team who knows it's manager has no future. The constant speculation, which has never really been dispelled by those at the top at Anfield, is undermining Rafael Benitez's reign. Death of a thousand cuts or dead man walking? Either way the season is unravelling and quick for Liverpool - if they don't start winning soon, the top four will become a struggle, let alone anything else.

For the first 70 minutes of this game and in the first half especially, Liverpool were outfought and simply didn't create anything. Benayoun, Voronin, Torres and Gerrard were all anonymous. It was only after Torres's goal that Liverpool came to life, and by the end Middlesbrough were hanging on. Liverpool fans can only wonder why it took so long for them to attack with urgency against a side they could clearly beat.

Clearly performances like this are simply not good enough to keep Rafa in his job and he knows it.

Premiership Round-up

After the Carling Cup attention turns back to the main game - the Premier League. Theres some massive games this weekend and personally I cant wait. See old Fergie has written off Chelsea and Liverpool. Not sure you can do that just yet but both have some sorting out to do whilst still holding onto the leaders. Chelsea need to settle down to the new manager which may take a while but at the end of the day they have such great players with a great will to win. Liverpool are suffering from too many injuries to key players and Rafa Benitez's dreaded rotations. The Blackburn game is a massive game for them even at this early stage. Lose and they'll be considered out the race in November.

Of the other games away to Boro looks a tough one for Ramos whilst Newcastle vs Portsmouth I think just might provide Big Sam with some more misery. Everton vs Birmingham doesnt exactly promise a mass of entertaining football whilst Derby look set for more misery at Villa.

Bring it on!!