Given the rate at which players are being linked with moves away from Liverpool, it would be easy to assume the Anfield outfit were struggling to avoid the drop rather than being a point clear at the top of the Premier League.
And a puzzled Rafael Benitez has just two words for those growing restless among his squad: Vladimir Smicer.
Both Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun have recently expressed their growing frustration at bit-part roles, while the future of Daniel Agger is far from certain with contract talks still ongoing and Real Madrid lying in wait.
Babel, desperate for first-team action, even went as far as to encourage Benitez to allow him to return back to Ajax on loan for the remainder of the season.
With Liverpool enjoying their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign and safely through as group winners to the knockout stages of the Champions League, the last thing Benitez expects is players wanting out.
And the Spaniard cites Smicer as an example of how every squad member can prove valuable.
During Benitez’s debut Anfield campaign in 2004-05, Smicer had made just 15 previous appearances – only two of which were starts – during the season when he replaced an injured Harry Kewell in the Champions League final.
The Czech schemer went on to score in both the game and the penalty shoot-out to help Liverpool win the European Cup and etch his name in the annals of Anfield folklore.
And Benitez says: “My players will all get chances, they know they will play in important games for us. I always use the example of Smicer. He wasn’t playing but ended up scoring in the Champions League final.
“We may have players who aren’t playing too many games for us at the moment, but in the end they could be crucial for us.
“It is just a question of them having to keep working hard. You usually have a few injuries, so everyone will be involved.
“But I can guarantee the atmosphere is really good and the mood is really positive. If the players respect the rules and each other there is not a problem.
“They understand the rules, they understand our way. How can you prove you are good enough to be playing? By working harder.”
Benayoun has started Liverpool’s last two league games, while Babel was a goalscorer in Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League win at PSV Eindhoven.
And Benitez admits: “It is more difficult for the players who are not playing. Ryan Babel has been linked with a move away, but it was Ajax who approached me.
“They were selling (Klaas Jan) Huntelaar and wanted Ryan on loan, and I said no. He will stay with us; he can be a very important player for the rest of the season.
“The problem Babel has is the form of Albert Riera. If it was the other way around, Riera would have a problem. But that is what it is like at the very top.”
Liverpool will aim to maintain their lead over second-placed Chelsea when they take on surprise package Hull City at Anfield this afternoon.
Only the top two and Everton can boast an away record better than Phil Brown’s sixth-placed side, who have already won at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and went down fighting to a 4-3 defeat at Manchester United last month.
Hull have never beaten Liverpool in 12 previous meetings, with the last league encounter at Anfield, in the old Division Two back in 1959, ending in a 5-3 home win.
And Benitez says: “They have a good mentality, they try to get forward and score and aren’t scared of the name of the other team.
“They’ve been scoring goals against Man United, Arsenal and Tottenham. It will be difficult but we know we have enough in the team, in the squad, to beat anyone.
“If we play well and create chances we have to take them, but also have to be patient.”
Patience is something Liverpool supporters have had to show with Andrea Dossena. By his own admission, the left-back has struggled to adapt to the English game since his £7m summer arrival from Udinese.
However, the Italian posted noticeably improved performances against West Ham United and PSV in the last fortnight.
And Dossena believes the upturn has been a result of staying behind at Melwood to put in the extra hours on the training ground to help his game.
“I have asked to work even harder because I want to find my best form,” he says. “I have been doing extra running and work in the gym as well as other things that are open to all of the team. I have been staying after training to do this.
“Working with Rafa Benitez has been very good. He focuses on the details, which helps you to improve.
“Every day he gives you advice, and also during the match. He does this with every player.”
Dossena adds: “It has not been easy at the beginning but I think things are better now.
“It’s very different from Italian football but I am getting used to it.
“The game is less physical there. There is more pressure when you are on the ball in England. And another thing is that the pitches are always wetter here!
“I would like to improve defensively. I am only just starting to reach my best level and I hope fans will see that soon.”
Dossena is likely to continue at left-back with Fabio Aurelio having only just returned to training after a calf problem. Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, all rested in midweek, will come back into contention.
And a puzzled Rafael Benitez has just two words for those growing restless among his squad: Vladimir Smicer.
Both Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun have recently expressed their growing frustration at bit-part roles, while the future of Daniel Agger is far from certain with contract talks still ongoing and Real Madrid lying in wait.
Babel, desperate for first-team action, even went as far as to encourage Benitez to allow him to return back to Ajax on loan for the remainder of the season.
With Liverpool enjoying their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign and safely through as group winners to the knockout stages of the Champions League, the last thing Benitez expects is players wanting out.
And the Spaniard cites Smicer as an example of how every squad member can prove valuable.
During Benitez’s debut Anfield campaign in 2004-05, Smicer had made just 15 previous appearances – only two of which were starts – during the season when he replaced an injured Harry Kewell in the Champions League final.
The Czech schemer went on to score in both the game and the penalty shoot-out to help Liverpool win the European Cup and etch his name in the annals of Anfield folklore.
And Benitez says: “My players will all get chances, they know they will play in important games for us. I always use the example of Smicer. He wasn’t playing but ended up scoring in the Champions League final.
“We may have players who aren’t playing too many games for us at the moment, but in the end they could be crucial for us.
“It is just a question of them having to keep working hard. You usually have a few injuries, so everyone will be involved.
“But I can guarantee the atmosphere is really good and the mood is really positive. If the players respect the rules and each other there is not a problem.
“They understand the rules, they understand our way. How can you prove you are good enough to be playing? By working harder.”
Benayoun has started Liverpool’s last two league games, while Babel was a goalscorer in Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League win at PSV Eindhoven.
And Benitez admits: “It is more difficult for the players who are not playing. Ryan Babel has been linked with a move away, but it was Ajax who approached me.
“They were selling (Klaas Jan) Huntelaar and wanted Ryan on loan, and I said no. He will stay with us; he can be a very important player for the rest of the season.
“The problem Babel has is the form of Albert Riera. If it was the other way around, Riera would have a problem. But that is what it is like at the very top.”
Liverpool will aim to maintain their lead over second-placed Chelsea when they take on surprise package Hull City at Anfield this afternoon.
Only the top two and Everton can boast an away record better than Phil Brown’s sixth-placed side, who have already won at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and went down fighting to a 4-3 defeat at Manchester United last month.
Hull have never beaten Liverpool in 12 previous meetings, with the last league encounter at Anfield, in the old Division Two back in 1959, ending in a 5-3 home win.
And Benitez says: “They have a good mentality, they try to get forward and score and aren’t scared of the name of the other team.
“They’ve been scoring goals against Man United, Arsenal and Tottenham. It will be difficult but we know we have enough in the team, in the squad, to beat anyone.
“If we play well and create chances we have to take them, but also have to be patient.”
Patience is something Liverpool supporters have had to show with Andrea Dossena. By his own admission, the left-back has struggled to adapt to the English game since his £7m summer arrival from Udinese.
However, the Italian posted noticeably improved performances against West Ham United and PSV in the last fortnight.
And Dossena believes the upturn has been a result of staying behind at Melwood to put in the extra hours on the training ground to help his game.
“I have asked to work even harder because I want to find my best form,” he says. “I have been doing extra running and work in the gym as well as other things that are open to all of the team. I have been staying after training to do this.
“Working with Rafa Benitez has been very good. He focuses on the details, which helps you to improve.
“Every day he gives you advice, and also during the match. He does this with every player.”
Dossena adds: “It has not been easy at the beginning but I think things are better now.
“It’s very different from Italian football but I am getting used to it.
“The game is less physical there. There is more pressure when you are on the ball in England. And another thing is that the pitches are always wetter here!
“I would like to improve defensively. I am only just starting to reach my best level and I hope fans will see that soon.”
Dossena is likely to continue at left-back with Fabio Aurelio having only just returned to training after a calf problem. Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, all rested in midweek, will come back into contention.
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