LET'S hear it for Benitez the master tactician and king of all Europe - except Barnsley


WHAT is going on with Graeme Souness' hair?


UEFA Cup meltdown for Ramos and Moyes

Liverpool were exceptional. Yes, poor red cards in both legs helped but, against the leading team in Serie A, they controlled both games and in Fernando Torres, they have a young man who is a special talent when he stays on his feet – that's 26 goals in his debut season now.

• Yesterday's HATCHET MAN

There is a theory in football that Liverpool finish in Europe stronger than the other English teams as a direct result of Benitez's rotation system in the Premier League.

Scroll down for more

We'll see, they are certainly getting up a head of steam at the moment.

Personally, I'd prefer a manager who can finish higher than fourth but let's give him some credit for another expertly masterminded European victory and who would want to face Liverpool in the next round? They are the team to avoid.

••••••

The last four of the Champions League and you've got to fancy your chances against Schalke, Fenerbahce or Roma. Good sides, but well beatable (though a trip to Turkey would be tasty).

So it's Barcelona versus the Premier League for the trophy then. Bring it on.

••••••

Michel Platini was a gifted midfielder, the playmaker from the French dream factory, but now he must save the game as Europe's top administrator.

The Inter Milan team who played against Liverpool had no Italian players in the starting 11.

They are the Arsenal of the San Siro. The best team in Serie A and top of their league (like Arsenal), without any domestic players (like Arsenal) but this is not how it should be.

A quota system is required, one that demands each match-day 16 has at least five home-grown players, or – even tougher - five domestically qualified players.

The problem is that it over-inflates the value of domestic players and the Premier League would not have four clubs in the last eight of the Champions League if this was the rule.

The clubs would not vote for it, so it must be enforced with strong leadership and an eye on the bigger picture. Over to you, Michel.

••••••

Graeme Souness was a real-life Hatchet Man and not someone you would fancy meeting in a 50-50 for a loose ball, but what was going on with his hair last night?

Scroll down for more

Regular Sky viewers might have been reaching for their TV controller. Maybe it was the studio lighting. Or, perhaps, the player Liverpool team-mates called Charlie (because of his liking for champagne) has been tinkering up top.

The future is bright ... the future is hair dye.

••••••

Jamie Carragher played in his 100th European game for Liverpool away to Inter, the first player in their illustrious European history to have achieved such a feat.

Congratulations to one of the true heroes of the modern game; a loyal, committed home-grown player. We need more of his kind.

••••••

Nicolas Burdisso was sent off against Liverpool (unfairly) playing in his first game for Inter after a six-game suspension for his part in one of modern football's best fight scenes ... this one is not for the faint-hearted.

Click below to watch it

••••••

After the sunshine comes the rain. Four teams through in the big cup, now three to go out in the little one. Sorry, but I can't see any way back in the UEFA Cup for Everton, Tottenham and Bolton.

At least it would bring an end to the Thursday night games and so many matches being switched to a Sunday. Whatever happened to those Saturday 3pm kick-offs?

••••••

There is a wicked theory doing the rounds that Frank Lampard is a spent force. The rumour factory says that Chelsea have asked agents to find a foreign club who would sign him.

Is this good management or more kamikaze decision-making at the Bridge?

••••••

Thierry Henry is unhappy in Spain, according to Robert Pires. Beware of buying players on past reputations. Could he really still hack it in the Premier League?

••••••

Why are the FA only writing to Sir Fergie "for his views"? We had his views after the Portsmouth game.

Charge him quickly, support the officials and get on with it. If this is another carpet-sweeping exercise, Hatchet is watching.

••••••

It's an old question, but we're still looking for a satisfactory answer.

Can anyone work out exactly why there are only two black managers in English football and none in the history of the Premier League?