Carlos Tevez has admitted he would love to sign a long-term contract at Manchester United.

The Argentina international is technically still on loan at the Red Devils, with that agreement set to reach a conclusion at the end of the current campaign.

United are keen to tie the powerful front-man down on a permanent basis, with a £30million transfer believed to have been discussed with the South American's representatives.

It is obvious why Sir Alex Ferguson is so keen to retain the services of the former Boca Juniors man, as a fine debut season last year has been followed by an impressive start to the current campaign.

Tevez currently represents the reigning Premier League champions' most potent attacking threat and is hoping his continued adaptation to life in England will be suitably rewarded.

Wonderful

"From the first moment I came here I would have loved to sign a long-term contract," he said.

"Last year was a very happy season and it would be wonderful if the chairman put a long-term contract in front of me.

"If he did that I would sign it without a doubt."

Big boost

Tevez formed a formidable three-pronged strike force with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney last season, but has seen that understanding broken by the winger's summer ankle surgery.

The Portuguese superstar is in line to make his eagerly anticipated return to action in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League opener against Villarreal, and Tevez is delighted to see his mercurial team-mate back in the fold.

"Cristiano is a massive player for us," said the Argentina forward.

"It is like having an extra player when he is there.

"He is such a danger to our opponents. It will be a big boost to have him back."

After seeing Rafa Benitez celebrate a first Premier League win over Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson was also forced to admit after the final whistle that Michael Carrick is expected to miss Wednesday’s Champions League opener with Villarreal.

The England midfielder sustained an ankle injury in the first half of a 2-1 defeat at Anfield as a challenge with Liverpool’s Yossi Benayoun left him limping and he subsequently had to have his foot placed in a temporary cast.

Medical examinations have confirmed that nothing has been broken but Carrick will still likely be missing on Wednesday when Spanish side Villarreal come to Old Trafford.

"It’s not serious. We’ve had an X-ray and nothing is broken," Ferguson told MUTV.

"There was a hard tackle on him and we’ll probably have a better assessment over the weekend, but I don’t think he’ll be ready for Wednesday.”

Reflecting on the game itself, Ferguson did not hold back in a scathing assessment of his side’s display, particularly regarding the two goals they conceded – an own goal from Wes Brown and a second-half strike from Ryan Babel.

“My overall view of the match is that Liverpool were the far better team,” Ferguson added. “They tackled us, got about us and harassed us, forcing us to make mistakes, and we didn’t cope with that well. That was the source of our defeat.

“But the two goals we lost were absolute shockers; the defending was very, very poor. People will think they are watching a Conference side when they see the highlights.

“Apart from Rio Ferdinand, we did not have one good performance on the pitch. We were out-thought.”

While Ferguson had no arguments about a red card shown to Nemanja Vidic for a second booking in the final minutes, the Scot was unhappy that Liverpool’s centre backs were not treated in a similar fashion.

“I’ve seen it and he led with his elbow,” Ferguson admitted. “But [Jamie] Carragher and [Martin] Skrtel used their elbows in every aerial challenge in the game and there were no fouls given against them.

“We had three players booked and one sent off and I don’t think that’s a reflection of United being a dirty team.”

Liverpool's Slovak defender Martin Skrtel has followed up manager Rafa Benitez's barbed comments over the price of Dimitar Berbatov, by stating that he is an easy target to contain.

It seemed that the 'clash of the cash' at the City of Manchester Stadium had been attracting all the headlines this week, but Rafa Benitez's midweek mind-games ensured the pendulum swung some column inches Anfield's way as the Liverpool boss chastised the manner in which Sir Alex Ferguson spends, spends, spends.

Rafa's £6.75million signing from Zenit St Petersburg has followed suit and has claimed that Dimitar Berbatov's £30.75million + a one year loan player is an extortionate pricetag for the Bulgarian international.

"I played against Berbatov at White Hart Lane last May and we not only won but kept him fairly quiet," Skrtel is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying.

"That doesn't mean the same will necessarily happen this time... [but] I wouldn't swap Fernando for anyone, because I have seen more than enough of him over the past year to know he is the best striker in the Premier League. There are plenty of good ones, Berbatov included, but Nando [Torres] is top of the pile."

"I'm just grateful I don't have to face him in matches," the Slovak international said. "It is bad enough on the training pitch. You would struggle to find a striker anywhere who has so many attributes. Pace, strength, technique - it's all there."

"And he can finish from any distance or angle. He is always liable to come up with something different or produce a moment of brilliance that settles a game - so often, you just don't see it coming," the 23-year old concluded.

The striker, signed from Tottenham over the summer, will make his debut against Liverpool today at Anfield and Queiroz admitted he felt the Bulgarian would do well at United.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Queiroz, now managing the Portuguese national side, even suggested that Berbatov could provide the same impact at Old Trafford that Ruud van Nistelrooy did.

“He is a killer. I am convinced he will be a success at Manchester United,” admitted the former United man before adding, “I think he is United’s new Van Nistelrooy and if he comes into his own, it is feasible that the team can improve on last season.”

Sir Alex Ferguson’s former right hand man, also revealed that the prospect of Berbatov linking up with Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, could mean that United possess the most dangerous attack in football.

“I think Alex will play Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov all in the same team,” insisted the former United number two, “And if this system functions as he hopes, it will make Manchester United’s the most dangerous attack in the world.”

Queiroz also confessed that United had been interested in signing the Bulgarian for a number of years and that he and Ferguson had frequently discussed bringing him to Old Trafford.

“Berbatov was always on our list of possible players that we wanted to bring to United,” revealed the Portuguese coach, “He was on it for about five years. He was always an option and never forgotten.”

The former United man also explained what made Berbatov so attractive to Ferguson. He concluded: “Myself and Alex talked about him a lot and Alex always liked him. He liked this attitude and what he offered as a player.”