However, even that scenario  could be compromised with  Manchester City believed to  be close  to agreeing a deal  with Barcelona for Toure,  who is brother of Eastlands  centre-back Kolo.

Meanwhile, Ryan Babel  admits he is finding it  difficult to cope with his  “super-sub” tag but  remains  convinced he is good enough  to be in Rafael Benitez’s  starting line-up.

Babel’s goal in the 1-1  Champions League  draw against Lyon  earlier this month was his  12th  from the bench.

Only David  Fairclough, the  original super-sub,  has scored more  goals as substitute  for  Liverpool.

And Babel said:  “To be a super-sub  is mentally hard.  The Liverpool fans are  happy with me as  a  substitute, but I didn’t get a  chance yet as starter. I have  never played three matches in  a row  from the start.

“It’s clear I have enough  qualities to be in the starting  XI of Liverpool, but when you  never get  a real chance it’s  getting difficult.

“I’m not the type of player  who gives up. Benitez told  me he sees me as a starter  in the Liverpool  XI in the  future. At this time I still  believe him.

“But to be  underestimated is my  biggest motivation. I  will take revenge in  different ways.”

David Ngog has  handed Liverpool  fitness worry after  being sent for scans on  a suspected  broken  nose suffered while  training with the  France Under-21 squad.

However, the damage  is unlikely to threaten  his involvement for  Saturday’s Premier  League  visit of  Manchester City.