STEVEN GERRARD: I'M READY IF ENGLAND NEED ME

STEVEN GERRARD will answer England's call if manager Fabio Capello selects the Liverpool skipper for the vital European Championship qualifier against Montenegro on Friday night.
Capello was on Merseyside to watch Gerrard take another step towards full fitness following six months out in the aftermath of a groin operation.Although the player admits that he is short of match fitness his love for the Three Lions will see him make the trip to the Balkans if Capello gives him the nod in the squad announced tonight.Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has already called for common sense from England, believing that the Montenegro game has come too soon for the inspirational midfielder.But Capello believes he should make the final decision on the 31-year-old when it comes to England duty.He is planning to talk to Gerrard, stating: “He can tell me if he is not fit or if he can play. It is really important that the player tells me.“We have some problems in midfield. For this reason we need to be careful. Some players can stay on the bench, or come on at half-time, not all the game.“I want to speak with Steve. If he decides ‘yes, I can’, he will be with us. If he says he can’t, he will stay at home.”Gerrard, who played another 23 minutes as a substitute in yesterday’s 2-0 win over Liverpool, will never turn his back on his country.If Capello gives him the go-ahead, he will report for international duty.

Dalglish hails victorious Reds on Derby day

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish was delighted to claim victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby.
However, he admits that he does not know whether they would have claimed their 2-0 win had it not been for Jack Rodwell's early dismissal.
Rodwell's red card looked incredibly harsh on the Evertonmidfielder, and Liverpool took advantage of the extra man with second-half goals from Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez giving them the win.
"Up until they lost a man it was even, Luis had a chance they went up the park and I think a header with Pepe's great save," he told Sky Sports.
"We are delighted with the result, whether we would have won if they had 11, I don't know.
"There isn't much between the teams and sometimes the numerical advantage works in your favour, sometimes it goes against you, but they will be disappointed to lose the game but I don't think Moysie will be disappointed with the attitude and effort his team put in, but it was difficult and hot out there and we kept moving the ball and had patience."
Asked about the sending off and Dalglish admitted he was not bothered by referee Martin Atkinson's decision following Rodwell's challenge on Suarez.
"I haven't seen it and don't intend to," he said, insisting he was delighted with the attitude his players showed after the red card.
"I think they were very professional, when you play against 10 it is easy to lose your concentration and easy to be complacent and I don't think they did either of those and did well."
The Liverpool chief was quick to pay tribute to Andy Carroll - who he labelled as his Man of the Match - after he grabbed his first league goal of the season.
Andy is off the mark with a league goal which is great for us and Luis gets another one, it is good for us and for me I thought the best player was Carroll," he said.
Dalglish insisted that any talking points surrounding Carroll are only an issue according to the media.
"I don't think confidence is the problem with Andy, I think the problem with Andy Carroll is the media - so just let the boy live a bit.
"People talk about his way of life but nobody knows what it is so how can they accuse him? His stats in training are better than most - but perhaps they should be authors as they have vivid imagination.
"His price tag is irrelevant - he is every bit as important to us as wee Jay [Spearing], Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher - who cost us nothing - so forget about money.
"The goal is good but he has nothing to prove to us."

Chelsea's Fernando Torres wants goal against Liverpool

Chelsea's new £50m signing Fernando Torres has said it would be "destiny" to score against former club Liverpool when the teams meet on Sunday.
By coincidence, the Spaniard could make his debut for the Blues against the side he left on Monday.
The 26-year-old striker has not asked to be left out of the Premier League clash and stated: "It is like destiny."
He admitted: "It is not perfect but if I have the chance to play, I will do my best and hopefully I can score."
Torres' departure from Anfield, where he spent the best part of four years, was greeted with anger by many fans, some of whom burnt replica shirts bearing their former hero's name.
But the player stressed: "I only have good words about Liverpool. They made me a top player and gave me the chance to play at the top level.
"I will never say anything bad about Liverpool. I have been very happy there but now the history is different and I am playing for Chelsea."
Torres, who scored 81 goals during his spell on Merseyside, risked further annoying fans of his former club when he told Chelsea TV: "I am joining a team that is at the top level. There is not another level after Chelsea.
"I am joining with big names like [John] Terry, [Frank] Lampard, [Didier] Drogba and [Nicolas] Anelka and I can be part of this great team."
Torres admitted he had not yet met up with the Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti but said: "I wanted to join because Chelsea always have shown a big respect for me.
"They really want me and it is important when you have the support of the people in the club, and the support of the fans who always showed respect to me when I came to Stamford Bridge and at Anfield.
"Now I am very happy to be a Chelsea player."
Fans of the Stamford Bridge outfit will be relieved not to have Torres lining up against them for once, after he proved to be a thorn in their side with seven goals against them while playing for Liverpool.
The striker added: "I have good memories and bad memories of games against Chelsea. All the goals are good memories because all of them are special.
"If they are happy as well because I am not going to score any more against them then it is good."

Fernando Torres for £95m! Chelsea owner Roman's amazing deal to land Liverpool superstar

Chelsea will try to push through the signing of Fernando Torres on Monday with a stunning £95million transfer package they believe will trigger an escape clause in the Liverpool striker’s contract.
Roman Abramovich is ready to commit the staggering sum to secure the service of Torres, with £50m needed to activate the clause they are now confident exists.
A further £45m will be guaranteed to the 26-year-old in a five-year deal that would see him earn £175,000 a week

Anelka not keen on Reds move

Nicolas Anelka is not keen on a move to Liverpool as part of any deal for Fernando Torres.
Anelka has been mentioned as a possible makeweight in the deal to take Torres from Liverpool to Chelsea.
Liverpool rejected a bid for Torres from Chelsea last week and the player has subsequently handed in a transfer request as he looks to leave Anfield before the close of the transfer window.
Chelsea are believed to be ready to come back with another bid for Torres and could offer a player in part-exchange.
Reports have suggested Liverpool have asked for Anelka, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at Anfield in 2002, as part of any deal for Torres.
The Reds are reluctant to lose Torres and want a ready-made replacement for the Spaniard if they decide to let him leave before the transfer window slams shut.
Anelka, who is Chelsea's top scorer this season, is not believed to be keen on making a return to Liverpool.
The Frenchman is understood to be happy and settled at Stamford Bridge and is prepared to fight for his place in Carlo Ancelotti's plans.
The news could force Chelsea to make a straight cash offer for Torres with reports suggested Liverpool want £50million for the former Atletico Madrid man.