Liverpool confront the most important 10 days of their season with the club’s ongoing boardroom crisis again grabbing centre stage in the build-up to Sunday’s crucial Merseyside derby.
A showdown with Everton will be followed by three games against Arsenal - two in the Champions League - which will stretch Liverpool to the limits.
With the repercussions of Javier Mascherano’s red-card tantrum at Old Trafford more than enough for boss Rafael Benitez to contend with, he was ambushed by co-owner George Gillett’s extraordinary claims that he has been the victim of death threats over his desire to sell his stake in the club.
As if facing their fired-up rivals from across Stanley Park was not enough of a challenge to overcome, once again an American owner has shown scant regard for timing.
Tom Hicks’ battle to fight off Dubai International Capital’s bid to buy the club dominated the last few months, and now on the eve of the 207th derby - one of the most important in history - Gillett’s astonishing claims from across the Atlantic threaten to deflect Liverpool’s concentration.
Benitez did his level best today to straight-bat probing questions.
He said: “I have been told about the comments (from George Gillett), but my response is to be really focused on the derby, that is all that I am concerned about.
“But if we win everything will be happier, particularly if it is against Everton.”
He added: “Whatever comments are made there is nothing I can do but concentrate on the game and prepare properly.
“I will just be thinking about Everton. I put it out of my mind by working on the games, analysing our opponents and I do not talk too much with anyone. All I want is to have 11 players fit for the game.”
He will be without Mascherano, serving an initial one-match ban for the red card against Manchester United, which has been followed by an FA charge for improper conduct, which the Argentina midfielder has admitted.
Mascherano has also been fined two weeks’ wages - donated to charity - and has requested a personal hearing in London next week despite the guilty plea.
He can expect another two matches added to that suspension, regardless of the work being put in by lawyers, to whom Benitez is no doubt grateful to pass on the problem.
Brazilian youngster Lucas can expect to be hurled into the cauldron of a Merseyside war in Mascherano’s place, with Benitez confident he can cope.
Benitez said: “Lucas can come in for Mascherano. He played well against Inter Milan, so why can he not play well against Everton? He can do the job.”
Liverpool, two points clear of fifth-placed Everton, dare not allow the Toffees to take anything away from Anfield.
With behaviour and respect at the top of the current agenda, a Merseyside derby could potentially be a fixture everyone at Anfield would rather have avoided.
But Benitez says: “We do not have problems as a club. People are talking about the number of red and yellow cards, but the players know how to behave.
“They know they must do things properly, they must challenge, but not foul. I have not felt the need to talk to the players about such disciplinary issues because we have a good record this season.
“We will approach the games from now on just like before. We will play with the heart and also the head.
“We do not need to change too many things. The behaviour of the team all season has been good, and just because it is a derby next does not mean things will be different.
“The key now and the message for everyone is to try to support our team and for the players to be good professionals.”
He added: “The game is really important for both clubs, with a position in the top four at stake. It may have more passion than before, if that is possible.
“There needs to be discipline, we have not had problems during the season and our behaviour has been very good.”
Benitez does not believe that a Liverpool win will end Everton’s challenge.
He says: “I do not think that if we win it will kill off Everton. They are winning a lot of games and they are near the top of the table. These games are different, exciting for everyone.
“We must continue winning games in succession regardless of the result, we have to keep going.”
A showdown with Everton will be followed by three games against Arsenal - two in the Champions League - which will stretch Liverpool to the limits.
With the repercussions of Javier Mascherano’s red-card tantrum at Old Trafford more than enough for boss Rafael Benitez to contend with, he was ambushed by co-owner George Gillett’s extraordinary claims that he has been the victim of death threats over his desire to sell his stake in the club.
As if facing their fired-up rivals from across Stanley Park was not enough of a challenge to overcome, once again an American owner has shown scant regard for timing.
Tom Hicks’ battle to fight off Dubai International Capital’s bid to buy the club dominated the last few months, and now on the eve of the 207th derby - one of the most important in history - Gillett’s astonishing claims from across the Atlantic threaten to deflect Liverpool’s concentration.
Benitez did his level best today to straight-bat probing questions.
He said: “I have been told about the comments (from George Gillett), but my response is to be really focused on the derby, that is all that I am concerned about.
“But if we win everything will be happier, particularly if it is against Everton.”
He added: “Whatever comments are made there is nothing I can do but concentrate on the game and prepare properly.
“I will just be thinking about Everton. I put it out of my mind by working on the games, analysing our opponents and I do not talk too much with anyone. All I want is to have 11 players fit for the game.”
He will be without Mascherano, serving an initial one-match ban for the red card against Manchester United, which has been followed by an FA charge for improper conduct, which the Argentina midfielder has admitted.
Mascherano has also been fined two weeks’ wages - donated to charity - and has requested a personal hearing in London next week despite the guilty plea.
He can expect another two matches added to that suspension, regardless of the work being put in by lawyers, to whom Benitez is no doubt grateful to pass on the problem.
Brazilian youngster Lucas can expect to be hurled into the cauldron of a Merseyside war in Mascherano’s place, with Benitez confident he can cope.
Benitez said: “Lucas can come in for Mascherano. He played well against Inter Milan, so why can he not play well against Everton? He can do the job.”
Liverpool, two points clear of fifth-placed Everton, dare not allow the Toffees to take anything away from Anfield.
With behaviour and respect at the top of the current agenda, a Merseyside derby could potentially be a fixture everyone at Anfield would rather have avoided.
But Benitez says: “We do not have problems as a club. People are talking about the number of red and yellow cards, but the players know how to behave.
“They know they must do things properly, they must challenge, but not foul. I have not felt the need to talk to the players about such disciplinary issues because we have a good record this season.
“We will approach the games from now on just like before. We will play with the heart and also the head.
“We do not need to change too many things. The behaviour of the team all season has been good, and just because it is a derby next does not mean things will be different.
“The key now and the message for everyone is to try to support our team and for the players to be good professionals.”
He added: “The game is really important for both clubs, with a position in the top four at stake. It may have more passion than before, if that is possible.
“There needs to be discipline, we have not had problems during the season and our behaviour has been very good.”
Benitez does not believe that a Liverpool win will end Everton’s challenge.
He says: “I do not think that if we win it will kill off Everton. They are winning a lot of games and they are near the top of the table. These games are different, exciting for everyone.
“We must continue winning games in succession regardless of the result, we have to keep going.”
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