Dep la Coruna v Liverpool: Rafael Benitez returned to his homeland last night but, with his thoughts awhirl over events back on Merseyside, the exile appeared distracted as he set foot on Spanish soil. Djibril Cisse's broken leg has left Liverpool gummy and the manager desperately in search of new bite once the winter transfer window reopens in January.
The scouts have been dispatched, the aim to find a striker young, cheap and prolific enough to ensure Benitez's side continue to develop in their record signing's anticipated 10-month absence.
"If we find someone of the right quality who is not expensive, we will sign him," said the Spaniard, his thoughts momentarily deflected from this evening's Champions League contest against Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor.
Benitez would ideally aim to lure Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes, a player he hoped to sign in exchange for Michael Owen back in August. UEFA has confirmed that Morientes can move abroad for a second time in 12 months, given that his spell in France with Monaco last season was on loan, though negotiating with Real mid-season is notoriously problematic.
Instead, the Liverpool scouts were at Real Zaragoza on Sunday watching the 22-year-old David Villa score twice against Sevilla.
The under-21 international may be too similar to Milan Baros but he has pace and ability and privately would relish the challenge on offer at Anfield. "But nobody has told me anything," he said. "I'm contracted until 2008 and, until anyone tells me otherwise, I'll keep playing for Real Zaragoza."
Benitez visited Cisse in hospital on Monday and found the Frenchman in good spirits. "Djibril had a good mentality when I saw him. He said he wanted to be back before the end of the season. We will see how his rehabilitation goes."
In the meantime, the manager must conjure an attack from Baros, Luis Garcia, Harry Kewell, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor to tackle a Deportivo side who have kept 10 clean sheets in their past 12 European home games.
Even with Cisse, Liverpool were scoreless at Anfield a fortnight ago. The time has come - yet again, it seems - for Kewell to prove his qualities more consistently, though he may start on the bench.
Lose in Galicia and Liverpool may limp towards the last two group games bottom of their mini-league; win and they will be rejuvenated. Their approach will hinge upon whether Xabi Alonso recovers from a calf strain to play. "I think we've got a special player in Alonso," said Jamie Carragher. "He could get in any team in the league."
Carragher will have to stiffen the side's occasionally rickety defence to keep out Diego Tristan. "He (Tristan) is a fantastic player," said Benitez. "He will play because Deportivo are looking to solve their goalscoring problems."
Benitez has his own worries on that front and failure tonight could have repercussions on the money he has available to replace Cisse when the transfer window reopens.
Luis Garcia believes they will meet a very different Deportivo in their own intimidating Estadio Riazor. "Deportivo's forwards can do a lot of damage at any time - especially on their own ground. It will be different from how they played at Anfield, they will not sit back this time. They are a team of great speed so we will have to be very alert if we want a positive result. They are a very difficult team, but what they didn't show at Anfield was their attacking flair and pace and that is what we must be aware of for this game."
The list of European giants who have perished at the Riazor confirms this. Juventus have lost there three times, Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven twice each while Galatasaray, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and AC Milan have all left empty handed.
PROBABLE LNE-UPS
DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA (4-2-3-1): Molina; Hector, Cesar, Andrade, Capdevila; Duscher, Sergio; Victor, Valeron, Luque; Tristan.
LIVERPOOL (4-4-1-1): Kirkland; Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore; Finnan, Xabi Alonso, Hamann, Riise; Luis Garcia; Baros.
Referee: W Stark (Germany).
