History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

TORRES: I WILL FIRE LIVERPOOL TO DERBY DELIGHT

Fernando Torres has urged his Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to play him for a full 90 minutes against Everton - as he believes he can fire the Reds to victory in the Merseyside derby on Monday.

Spain's Euro 2008 final match-winner has been struggling to shake off a hamstring injury and last played a whole game in November.

But the former Atletico Madrid hotshot wants to help Liverpool to prove that they are the best side in the city, in a game that is "more than a football match".

"I am well up for playing from the first minute after recovering from the hamstring injury," said the 24-year-old, who scored the winner in the same fixture last year and netted 33 in his first season in England. "But it is the manager who decides who plays.

"I already know what the atmosphere will be like having played in the Anfield game last year and it has the same feel of the Atletico-Real derby in Madrid.

"It is lived in the streets throughout the week and for us it is more than a football match. It is important for us to win for the fans and so we continue leading the Premier League."

While Benitez's team are second / first in the table after Manchester United won / drew / lost at Bolton, David Moyes' Everton are also riding high in sixth. Midfielder Mikel Arteta has been in sparkling form for the Toffees - but Torres thinks it would be wrong to just focus on his countryman.

"Both teams are doing well at the moment, so that will add extra excitement and emotion to the game," Torros continued. "It is necessary to demonstrate that we are the rightful leaders and win every match.

"But to win against Everton, our eternal rivals, would give us a great morale boost. We must play with our heads because this type of match can be complicated from the first moment to the last.

"It would be an error to think that the Everton's only threat is Mikel Arteta. The truth is that the Spaniard is playing very well at the moment, but the Toffees have many other attacking options that we will have to be careful about."

Labels: David Moyes, Everton, Fernando Torres, Liverpool, Mikel Arteta, Rafael Benitez

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:42 pm | Permalink | Comments

EVERTON LOOK TO REKINDLE MOUTINHO DEAL

David Moyes will relaunch a bid to sign Sporting Lisbon star João Moutinho, according to the Portuguese media.

The diminutive 22-year-old playmaker was chased by Moyes throughout the summer, but Sporting's valuation for the player - £15m - was too much for Everton's liking.

But now Moutinho, who has 19 caps for his country, has admitted he could move in the January transfer market, and would like to play in the Premier League.

Moyes is believed to be negotiating a deal that would see Moutinho move to Goodison Park initially on loan, as the club have limited funds at the moment.

Labels: David Moyes, Everton, Joao Moutinho, Sporting Lisbon

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:40 pm | Permalink | Comments

EVERTON CLOSE IN ON RACING SANTANDER "STAR"

David Moyes has been warned he will not be able to get Racing Santander's star striker Mohammed Tchité on the cheap.

The Burundi-born forward has been linked with an £8m move to Everton, but Santander chairman Francisco Pernia is determined to fight to keep hold of the 24-year-old.

Tchité, who scored a match-winning hat-trick over high-flying Valencia in La Liga in November, is believed to be wanted by a number of clubs as well as Everton.

He joined Racing in summer 2007 after scoring 21 goals in 30 games for Belgian giants Anderlecht.

And Pernia said: "Tchité is a star for Racing and is loved by the fans here.

"He is a player that many teams want, though I have not yet received anything in writing.

"But he is a mainstay and will not leave Racing unless there is a significant amount received."

Labels: David Moyes, Everton, La Liga, Mohammed Tchité, Racing Santander

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:52 pm | Permalink | Comments