Recent injury issues have led Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to admit: "We are thinking about finding more players and maybe we will have to look at this situation again" (The Sun). Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia are the latest casualties and even though Gabriel Paletta was allowed to leave, Rafa needs cover and fast - especially given the busy start to their campaign due to Champions League qualifiers.

Maybe only a loan signing is needed and rather than breaking the bank, a bit of clever scouting around the Premier League for a defender who is unhappy with his lot may be the best way to go. An emergency signing may have to be made to cope with a defensive crisis – who would Liverpool regulars suggest would be a good solution to the injury situation?

It appears that Brazilian striker Adriano could soon be on his way to the Premier League with reports that Manchester City and Manchester United are both homing in on the Inter Milan forward (various). Pretty unstoppable on his day, but mediocre on others, he’s sure to be an expensive purchase and more likely to be a loan deal as Inter Milan seem keen to palm him off on someone willing to bankroll his wage packet.

'Who would Liverpool regulars suggest would be a good solution to the injury situation?'


It is perhaps unwisely reported that Tottenham boss Martin Jol is "100 percent convinced" that Dimitar Berbatov will remain at White Hart Lane (various). Given the way the Dutchman has been treated by the board, it probably isn’t 100 percent certain he will stick around for more mistreatment at the hands of Daniel Levy and Co. But if he does, then I am sure Jol will be keen to keep the Bulgarian even if he hasn’t started this season anywhere near as well as he ended the last.

A host of clubs including Everton, Fulham, Manchester City and Derby are tussling for Celtic striker Kenny Miller (Daily Mirror). The former Rangers and Wolves star started only one of Gordon Strachan’s first four SPL games, and could be set to leave Scotland for a shot at the Premier League.

Miller has still found the net three times in the one-and-a-third games he has played in a Hoops shirt this term and that might make Strachan rethink his position on the 27-year-old Scottish international. I am sure Miller could do a good job for any of the sides mentioned but my hunch is that he is going nowhere, especially if the Bhoys make it past Spartak this week.

Aston Villa have offered £7m for Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker (The Times). The German international has always looked very solid to me - a giant of a man who seems to have time on the ball, even when he is surrounded by attackers. His acquisition would do wonders for Martin O’Neill’s side, who could do with his assured displays.

Mertesacker may see Champions League football as too big an incentive to consider leaving his Bundesliga side, so Villa and their fans will be rooting for Dynamo Zagreb tomorrow night and hoping that the defeat will leave the way open for the big man to move to the Midlands.

Big Sam Allardyce has been openly rejoicing the fact that he has removed the bad odour from St James Park, and before I get a call from the club’s cleaners, maybe I should let the boss explain. "It is very important for me as a manager for the dressing room to be the right dressing room. You know when there is a good one and you can smell a bad one. The fact that the smell is disappearing gives me great heart and hope for the future for Newcastle United."

Ok, so that clears that mess up, but it does make you wonder which of Sam’s departees he may be having a dig at. Take your pick from Olivier Bernard, Titus Bramble, Craig Moore, Antoine Sibierski, Scott Parker, Alan O'Brien and Kieron Dyer. Which one of these do Toon fans think stunk the most! I’ll keep my suggestions to myself on this one.