As if Liverpool needed more of reason to be upset, the beach ball incident at Sunderland has ruined their Premier League season. The Telegraph's Duncan White says Rafael Benítez sees opportunity in the midst of disaster:

''Having lost five games already this season with Saturday’s insipid surrender to Sunderland, the Liverpool manager knows he needs to put his side back on to the front foot, to regain the momentum they built up in the second half of last season.

''Beating Lyon and Manchester United at Anfield is their opportunity to do that, to make Liverpool a side to be feared again and dissipate the sense of impending crisis. This is not a club that accepts losing three games on the spin.''

Meanwhile, The Times' Ian Hawkey says they have something else to worry about on the horizon. Lyon's Bosnian star Miralem Pjanic.

''Two and a half weeks ago, just as Liverpool’s autumn in the Champions League was being made uncomfortable by a teenager from Montenegro in Florence, a warning was being prepared in Hungary that their difficulties may not end there. While Stevan Jovetic delights Tuscans and many others across Serie A, Miralem Pjanic is developing a similar reputation in France.

''Fiorentina, buoyed by the defeat of Liverpool, meet bottom-of- the-table Debrecen twice at the same time. What looked a tame grouping for the English team when the draw was made now has a menace about it.''

And the same paper also has a squad for Fabio Capello to pick if he's a little tired himself. Oh, but it doesn't include a certain Mr Beckham. Jonathan Northcroft tells us:

''The best managers often see football simply and Capello has an uncluttered view of what makes a winning team. You seldom hear him float grand technical concepts or airy theories. Success comes from nothing more complicated than having a “good group”, “spirit”, “luck”, knowing the coach’s tactical plans and being in the right physical shape.''

So where is this leading? Fitness is the key thing? Well, actually he reckons that Premier League players have more to do than anyone, so despite having the Best League in the World TM, we're actually at a disadvantage.

''Sports science data proves what the naked eye leads you to expect: that the Premier League - where all but one of Capello’s men perform - is the world’s most physically demanding domestic competition... If you want to give yourself the best chance of being tired or injured by May, play in the Premier League.''