Riera predicting goal rush against Crewe

Winger Albert Riera believes Liverpool will find their scoring touch soon as his side prepare for their third round Carling Cup clash against Crewe at Anfield.

The Reds have struggled in front of goal in the early part of the season with Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt both finding the net on only one occasion.

Robbie Keane is also without a goal since his £20.3million move from Tottenham but Riera, who joined from Espanyol earlier this month, is confident the floodgates will open in the near future, despite a goalless draw with Premier League newcomers Stoke at the weekend.

"It's only the beginning. It's a long season and we must be patient - I'm sure we will get better but the most important thing is how we finish the season,'' Riera said.

"The thing with Fernando and Robbie is every player has periods when they don't score - but they are fantastic players. The only problem is that the shots aren't going in for them at the moment, but I'm sure they will score a lot of goals.

"Stoke was a very difficult match for the forwards. Sometimes they had a line of nine men defending so it was hard to break through.

"We knew before the match it would be like that so it wasn't a surprise. We tried many times to score but it was one of those typical games where if you don't score quickly it becomes more and difficult because they just get more and more men behind the ball.''

Keane could be given a chance to break his duck against the Coca-Cola League One side but manager Rafael Benitez is set to rest Torres after the striker looked jaded against the Potters.

French teenager David Ngog is likely to partner Keane in attack with Benitez set to give several youngsters a chance to impress.

One player definitely in line to make his Anfield debut is Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri with first choice Jose Reina set to rested.

Reina has played every minute of the Reds' campaign so far and Benitez is keen to give the 25-year-old signed from Palmeiras in the summer a chance to prove himself.

"Normally, Diego will play in the Carling Cup - he is a fantastic professional who is learning all the time about English football,'' Benitez told the club's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"It's a different style to what he was used to in Brazil but I think he showed in pre-season that he can do everything well. He's a good goalkeeper and can challenge Pepe Reina.

"It's an important competition for us but it's also one which gives us the chance to use some different players.

"We have to be careful though. We want to win the game and go on to win the tournament so while we can use some of our youngsters, we need to make sure we get the team right for winning.''

Hughes reveals Robinho had doubts over move

Mark Hughes has conceded that Brazil star Robinho was "apprehensive'' about swapping Real Madrid for Manchester City.

Eyebrows were raised when City, bankrolled by an influx of cash from their new Abu Dhabi-based owners, outflanked Chelsea on transfer deadline day to secure the 24-year-old's signature.

And Hughes has admitted the club had to sell themselves to the player to persuade him to join a side who finished ninth - seven places below the Stamford Bridge club - last term.

"The move happened very quickly for him,'' said Hughes.

"The key to it was he was determined to leave Real Madrid. But I don't think it was a case of being convenient.

"We pitched to him, we said 'listen, this is where we need to go and we're going to bring in good players. We already have good players at our club and they will help you perform to a high standard'.

"Initially he showed signs of being apprehensive about the situation he found himself in but he's had great support from his Brazil colleagues here - Elano, Jo and Glauber Berti.

"That apprehension went very, very quickly.''

And the former Blackburn and Wales boss believes Robinho is now set to enjoy a fine career with City, where he will get the adulation he lacked at the Bernabeu.

"When he was at Madrid he wanted to play every week and felt he wasn't getting that chance. Maybe he felt he wasn't going to be loved as much as, obviously, he is here.''

Hughes central to Man City's lavish future

Manchester City's designate chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has outlined his plans to build a dynasty at Eastlands over the next 10 years - with Mark Hughes key to his vision of a golden era of sustained success.

The takeover of the club by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan and his Abu Dhabi United Group will be completed later today.

However the Middle East company have already stated their ambition by sanctioning the £32.5million British record signing of Robinho from Real Madrid.

Al Mubarak looked on as the Brazilian scored in the 6-0 victory against Portsmouth on Sunday and while City now have the financial muscle to compete with the best, he insists they are going to build from the ground up.

"We are genuine people and we want to develop this club in a sustainable manner,'' he told the club's official website. "Nothing rash is going to happen, we are not going to do crazy stuff.

"We will work with (executive chairman) Garry Cook and Mark. They call the shots and we are here to support to help build a sustainable club. Mark is as good as they get and we are backing him all the way. He makes the football decisions and we are here to learn.

"We want to hear from the fans and the community. We want to bring this club back to the community and to the fans. We are here as long-term investors, and it makes sense for us to build a dynasty. Between Mark and Garry, I think we have a dynasty in the making.

"With our backing, with the commitment we are going to make to the academy in the next 10 years there is going to be a tremendous period for Manchester City and for us. And I think we are going to have a blast doing it!''

Al Mubarak reiterated that the manager will have the final say on transfer dealings.

He said: "One thing I have made very clear to Mark is that any player he wants comes from him. I am not an expert. It is Mark who runs the club and Mark who makes the football decisions.

"We are here to support and make financial decisions, but we are not here to teach Mark or Garry what to do. They are the professionals, we trust them, we have confidence in them and we are going to support them.

"Mark is an honest man, he's a leader, he's tough and he is everything you would want in a head coach. We trust him, he's one of the gems we saw in this club once we came here.

"He will put a plan together to win trophies, but we will be patient. As long as it is being managed properly and the players are doing what they need to do, then it will take whatever it takes.''

Al Mubarak also met academy manager Jim Cassell and said: "That was one of my most enjoyable experiences. I have the highest confidence in him, we will be working a lot with him.

"We want to learn from the model that has been so successful here. My mandate from Sheikh Mansour was to spend as much time as I could with the academy, and I have promised him that's what I am going to do.

"I have promised him that I'll do what I can to ensure that this academy is the best not just in England, but in Europe.''

Al Mubarak added: "The watchwords are patient, committed, and long term. If you look at Sheikh Mansour's track record and Abu Dhabi's track record in general, they are always sensible investors, well regarded by everyone.''

Southgate eyes another win over Man United

Gareth Southgate is targeting success in this season's Carling Cup, starting with a win over Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight.

The Middlesbrough manager lifted the trophy back in 2004 when he skippered the club to their only major domestic honour.

Since then Boro have gone beyond round three twice in four attempts, going as far as the quarter-finals in 2005/06.

Southgate believes a run to the final is a possibility this season and pinpoints Portsmouth's progression to May's FA Cup final as the inspiration.

Pompey overcame Manchester United at Old Trafford on the way to Wembley and the Boro boss believes all successful cup runs include a tie against one of the 'big boys'.

He also points to his club's excellent record against the European champions in recent seasons.

"We have had some very good results at Old Trafford and some good performances and that would be the mindset again,'' he said.

"We don't fear going into any game, the confidence is still in the team to play, we know we are a threat on the break, we know we are a threat going forward and the shape of the team away from home.

"We've got to play as we did at Sunderland on Saturday and be prepared to keep the ball and attack Manchester United.''

Despite three defeats in their last four Premier League games, Southgate will not rest key players for tonight's tie with a view to keeping them fresh for Saturday's home game against West Brom.

He said: "It's an important competition, it's one we want to win.

"We've been given the toughest possible draw. It's a great draw for us as a club in terms of the profile of the game and the finance involved in it, but we now have to go there and try to beat them.

"The fact is you have to beat at least one of the big boys on the way to winning a cup competition,'' he added.

"Even Portsmouth, who maybe had good draws last year, had to beat United away to get to the final.

"If you look, most cup finalists have to win one big game on the way through.

"That's the challenge for us and in cup football anything can happen on the night.''

Whatever the outcome of tonight's match, Southgate recognises the huge gulf between his club and the champions.

The Reds can pull in more than 75,000 fans for every home match and their earnings from virtually guaranteed top-three Premier League finishes and continual European football puts them in a different financial league.

He said: "We go there tonight and one home game for them just in terms of ticket sales and size of crowd is something like three for us and that's what you've got to compete against.

"It's very difficult but that's the challenge we face.''