[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sinama stars in Madrid

Liverpool's loan star Florent Sinama-Pongolle stunned Real Madrid in the Bernabeu Stadium last night - and is now paving the way for a permanent Anfield exit next season.

The French striker has been in fine form since being sent on a season loan to unfancied Recreativo de Huelvo.

He outwitted Ballon D'or winner Fabio Cannavaro to score his sixth in nine starts in an historic 3-0 away win for the Spanish minnows, who currently lie a surprising seventh in La Liga.

Recreativo have an option to buy the striker if they can meet Liverpool's asking price, but Sinama's exploits are sure to be alerting others to his quality.

His long-term Liverpool future is clearly in the balance, but manager Rafa Benitez is well aware of the youngster's impact.

"We have scouts watching all our loan players and we know Sinama is playing very well in Spain," said Benitez today.

"We are analysing every game our loan players are involved in and know exactly what each is doing.

"Djibril Cisse is also back playing again, and we are monitoring all of them closely because we realise they are still our players.

"It's far too early to say what's going to happen in the future.

"We have a loan deal which keeps Sinama at Recreativo for the season. After this, they will either use an option to sign the player or he will come back.

"It's not clear at this moment whether they would have enough money to be able to buy the player."

Sinama joined Liverpool in 2002 as part of a £7m joint deal with Anthony Le Tallec.

The duo never fulfilled their promise on Merseyside, but Sinama was always the more talented of the two.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's interest in Lucas Neill remains on hold.

There has been no approach from Liverpool to Blackburn since a last ditch attempt to secure a deal collapsed in August.

It would appear any prospect of a transfer rests largely with how much the player insists on a move.

Neill has made it clear in the past he would relish a switch to Anfield, but having already refused to pay £2m for a player out of contract in the summer, the Reds are unlikely to pay anywhere near that fee to secure his services now.

Meanwhile, Steven Warnock returned to action last night as Liverpool reserves crashed to a 1-0 defeat to Bolton.

And the club's reigning FA Youth Cup holders have been drawn at home to Chelsea in the fourth round of the competition.

Source: http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk