Morientes to go in at deep end

Rafael Benitez intends to give Fernando Morientes a baptism of fire in English football by throwing him into Saturday's clash with Manchester United.

Liverpool today agreed a deal with Real Madrid worth £ 6.3million, subject to the striker passing a medical. It comes after more than a fortnight of negotiations with the Spanish club and Liverpool should be able to register him in time for the game at Anfield.

Manager Benitez, frustrated the transfer has taken so long, is desperate to field a new, experienced target man in the absence of the injured Djibril Cisse.

Whether the 28-year-old will be fit enough to complete the inevitably frantic and fierce game against United remains to be seen as his first-team opportunities with Madrid have been limited this season.

But Benitez said: "We will use the player as soon as possible. I am not sure of the rules in this country but we will try to register him for Saturday.

"It is something we have been working on for weeks."

Negotiations looked to have been complicated by late interest from French club Lyon and Madrid's attempt to gain a first option on Steven Gerrard whenever he leaves Liverpool.