Christian Poulsen ready to make an impact on Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Christian Poulsen admits he needs to play more matches with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard before he fully settles in but expects a busy schedule to help.

The Denmark international played his first game alongside the club's two biggest stars in Sunday's victory over West Brom, having previously featured in the two-legged Europa League play-off against Trabzonspor. He acknowledges being in a team with Torres and Gerrard involves certain requirements.

"I feel comfortable here. The match against West Brom was the first game with Fernando and the captain so you have to learn how they want the ball," he said.

"Fernando is a strong player and can do things at speed and can do things one against one.

"You also feel Steven and Fernando have a good eye for each other and you saw that against West Brom - I hope it will get even better."

Poulsen believes he too will improve given a run of matches in the first team.

"When I came here I had not played since the World Cup so I feel I need some time to get into the rhythm," added the 30-year-old, a summer arrival from Juventus.

"But last Thursday (in the second leg against Trabzonspor) I did better than in the first game.

"We have a lot of games so with Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani leaving we need quality players for the team because for the next six months we will have a game every four days."

Source: The Press Association

Ryan Giggs happy with state of Manchester United squad following return of Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Anderson

Ryan Giggs feels Manchester United's squad is looking in good shape with the impending return to first-team action of Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand played for the reserves on Wednesday night against Oldham, the first time the defender had been in action since he suffered a major knee ligament injury in a freak collision with Emile Heskey on day one of World Cup training with England in South Africa.

Anderson, who played 90 minutes in the Oldham game, and Gary Neville are also close to making their United comebacks after spells on the sidelines, and Giggs told www.manutd.com: "The squad is looking really strong. We've got Rio to come back in, Nev hasn't played yet, and Anderson is back too. So it's looking really good."

United confirmed that all of their senior players, apart from those out on loan, had been registered with the Premier League ahead of Wednesday's squad list deadline - including Owen Hargreaves, who has struggled for fitness over the last two years.

Giggs believes the number of players available to manager Sir Alex Ferguson may make team selection difficult, but is something United will feel the benefit of over the course of the campaign.

"It's a headache for the boss, but one he would rather have than to be struggling for players," Giggs said.

"We'll need everyone because it's a long season. The manager realises that."