Liverpool could face a legal battle with the city`s council as a row over the club`s famous Liver Bird badge continues to ruffle feathers at Anfield.

Liverpool striker Robbie Keane will miss the Republic of Ireland`s friendly against Poland at Croke Park on Wednesday with a shoulder injury.

Keane met up with Giovanni Trapattoni`s squad on Sunday ahead of the game at Croke Park on Wednesday but was forced to return to Merseyside for treatment on the problem.

Steven Gerrard has pulled out of England`s friendly against Germany on Wednesday after tearing a leg muscle in Liverpool`s win over Bolton.

Gerrard has been ruled out for seven to 10 days, but could return in time for Liverpool`s next game against Fulham at Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton said: `Steven picked up an injury in Saturday`s game at Bolton.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned Fernando Torres that he is ready to leave the Spain striker on the bench if it helps his team`s title challenge.

Benitez is unhappy with Torres`s slow return from a hamstring injury and his disappointing display in last week`s League Cup defeat at Tottenham.

LONDON, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on Thursday helped unveil a programme of events in Liverpool next year, when it will be European Capital of Culture.

McCartney, who performed alongside Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison in the world-famous band, said he was proud of the accolade for his home town.

'I'm very excited about Liverpool being the European Capital of Culture in 2008,' he said. 'I'm very proud of the city and I look forward to welcoming you all and showing you a good time. It's going to be a great year.'

DIVONNE-Lesotho-BAINS, France, July 27, 2007 (AFP) - Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden said on Friday he had no regrets moving from Liverpool to mediterranean giants Marseille.

'It is an important decision because it is a team that plays every year with the intention of winning something which is the same ambition as my own,' said Zenden one week before the 2007-2008 French season commences.

'What also appealed to me was that Marseille is a very popular team in France and Europe.'

HONG KONG, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool will be at full strength for the Asia Trophy final after record signing Fernando Torres was given permission to play and Steven Gerrard recovered from injury, their coach said on Thursday.

Rafael Benitez said Torres and Dutch forward Ryan Babel had international clearance for Friday`s match against Portsmouth after a bureaucratic bungle ruled them out of the semi-final.

'Torres and Babel have been cleared and have permission to play,' Benitez said, adding that England star Gerrard had recovered from a stomach problem.

HONG KONG, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool striker Peter Crouch on Thursday said he was confident of playing a key role this season despite intense new competition for places.

The lofty England man said he has been assured he is in the thoughts of coach Rafael Benitez, who has strengthened his front line with record signing Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin.

'It was the same last year. When new strikers come in people automatically think where does this leave the strikers already at the club,' Crouch said ahead of the Asia Trophy final here.

HONG KONG, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez refused to be drawn into a new dispute with Jose Mourinho on Thursday after the latest verbal salvo from the Chelsea boss.

Mourinho raised the stakes ahead of their August 19 Premiership clash when he said the big-spending Benitez was under pressure to deliver Liverpool`s first league title in 17 years.

But Benitez preferred to focus on Friday`s Asia Trophy final against Portsmouth, offering a temporary respite in the long-running feud.

HONG KONG, July 24, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez on Tuesday said he was mystified by Manchester United`s anger over moves to sign defender Gabriel Heinze.

Benitez said he did not know why United boss Alex Ferguson had questioned whether the want-away Argentine`s agent had acted properly in his contacts with Liverpool.

'We made an offer, they rejected the offer. Everybody knows all round the world what the situation is.'

Ferguson earlier expressed anger at Heinze`s agent and again vowed to block any move by the defender to United`s arch-rivals.

LIVERPOOL, July 24, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool find themselves in a familiar position as everyone`s outside bet to win the Premiership this season, but the club`s stars are fed up of talking a good game.

Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard are the heart of Rafa Benitez`s side and no-one is more desperate to end Liverpool`s 17-year wait for a league title more than those two homegrown players.

MACAU, July 24, 2007 (AFP) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has expressed anger at the conduct of Gabriel Heinze`s agent and again vowed to block any move by Liverpool for the Argentinian defender.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez said Tuesday a legal team has been mobilised after United rejected a six-million-pound bid for the 29-year-old.

But Ferguson repeated his determination that Heinze will not be allowed to move to his bitter rivals.

HONG KONG, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez on Monday said he would impose a strict nightclub ban on his players during their visit to renowned party capital Hong Kong.

Benitez said his team were deadly serious about winning the pre-season Asia Trophy, also featuring Portsmouth, Fulham and South China, ruling out any visits to the city`s pulsating bar districts.

'We are a serious team. We want to prepare for the games properly. We were training this morning and we want to be ready for the matches,' said Benitez.

HONG KONG, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool star Steven Gerrard on Monday predicted a wide-open Premier League season with several teams challenging for the title.

Liverpool and Manchester United have both splashed out on summer signings while Chelsea and Arsenal remain dangerous, he said.

'You expect all the big clubs to make signings and there`s also clubs that finished below us that are making big signings,' said Gerrard, here for the Asia Trophy tournament.

HONG KONG, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez on Monday said the club`s lawyers were working on ways to prise defender Gabriel Heinze away from Manchester United.

Benitez said the legal team had been mobilised after United rejected a reported six-million-pound bid for the 29-year-old Argentine.

'Now the lawyers are working on it so we need to wait,' Benitez said ahead of the Asia Trophy tournament here.

'He`s a player we like, he`s a very good player. Too bad they don`t want him to leave and go with us.'

LONDON, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - Liverpool`s Republic of Ireland defender Steve Finnan has been handed a new three-year contract and is expected to sign the deal on return from the Reds` tour of Asia.

Finnan, 31, was signed from Fulham by former boss Gerard Houllier four years ago but has remained a first choice under the Frenchman`s successor Rafael Benitez.

He has gone on to play 182 games for the Anfield club and was part of the teams that won the Champions League in 2005 and FA Cup a year later.

HONG KONG, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - Record Liverpool signing Fernando Torres on Monday said he hoped his big-money move would make him famous around the globe.

Torres said he was enjoying working with world-renowned players like Steven Gerrard after leaving Atletico Madrid in a 20-million-pound deal.

'I have a lot of respect for the players, they`re very well known around the world,' said Torres, who grabbed 91 goals in 243 appearances for Atletico.