Saturday, December 13, 2008

Stay First By New Year And We’re 80% There – Liverpool FC Boss Rafa Benitez


Upbeat Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool have an 80% chance of winning the league if they go into the New Year still top of the table.

The Anfield manager was responding to quotes attributed to him yesterday that stated his team could only lift the title if their main rivals “messed up”.

Benitez distanced himself from the report, and instead chose to talk up Liverpool’s chances of ending a title drought that stretches back to 1990.

Liverpool, who currently head second-placed Chelsea by a point after 16 games, have historically performed better in the second half of the season under the Spaniard.

After this afternoon’s visit of Hull City, the Anfield outfit travel to fellow title aspirants Arsenal on Sunday week before entertaining Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day followed by an away clash at Newcastle United two days later.

And Benitez is convinced his team have an excellent opportunity if they remain top after the Christmas period.

“The second half of the season is usually better for us so that is why I think we can win the title,” said the Liverpool manager. “There are important players who aren’t playing now and they could be good additions for us going for the title. We have a lot of confidence, if we can improve two or three things we will be up there.

“We are top of the table and we are doing well away, and have only made two mistakes at home. Clearly we have confidence because we have players of quality.

“If we are top of the table after the Christmas period, I think we will have an 80% chance of winning the title.

“We know if we finish that period still at the top we will have a lot more chance of winning it. And with people coming back, the second period will be even better for us.

“A month ago I was saying we needed to prove something, but we are proving to everyone that we can. You cannot make too many mistakes. But we are top, it would be stupid to say we couldn’t win the title.”

Of the alleged quotes, Benitez said: “The comments were from an interview with a French magazine. I was surprised to read what I was supposed to have said. But really not surprised, because everyone in Liverpool knows about this, it was not true.”

Benitez will again be without Fernando Torres for today’s clash against high-flying Hull. Torres, who is recovering from a hamstring problem, will visit a specialist in Barcelona for a second consultation on the injury.

And Benitez believes the striker has a chance of playing again this year.

“I spoke to Fernando this morning and he’s tired, but that is because he is working so hard and he is improving,” said the manager yesterday.

“It is physical more than anything because his mentality is very good. His rehab is going well and I’m not going to put a time on it, but I think it will be one or two weeks.

“It’s important to understand Fernando’s a very important player for us, a key player, because of his goals, the way he beats players and he is always a threat.

“Obviously it’s much better with him playing but we have other players. Ngog, Babel, Kuyt, Keane, they can all score goals too.”

Torres, who finished third in the Ballon d’Or earlier this month, was yesterday named on a five-man shortlist for FIFA’s World Player of the Year.

The striker has been nominated along with Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, AC Milan playmaker Kaka and Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Xavi for the award, the winner of which will be announced on January 12 in Zurich.

And Benitez said: “I am pleased he has been nominated, it is well deserved. To score 33 goals in your first season in England and then to win the European title with Spain shows his quality.

“There are some very good players also nominated, but I feel Fernando has a good chance.”

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