Rafa Benitez today claimed Xabi Alonso’s quality is making him a marked man for Liverpool’s Premier League opponents – as the Reds boss prepares to do without the services of his midfield playmaker at West Ham.
An ankle injury has forced Alonso out of Liverpool’s clash with the Hammers this evening, meaning the Reds boss will have to make at least one enforced change to his starting lineup.
The Spanish midfielder has failed to recover from the knock picked up following a dangerous lunge by Newcastle’s Joey Barton last weekend.
Though Benitez has refused to publicly criticise Barton for the challenge he believes the fact that the Newcastle man became the sixth player this season to be sent off for a foul on Alonso suggests a pattern is clearly emerging.
“I think it is because he is a holding midfielder with quality and all the other teams know that if they push him and put him under pressure it will be more difficult for us,” said Benitez.
“That is the only reason for me. It is not because he is aggressive or has bad behaviour on the pitch or anything like that.
“It’s just because he has quality.
In the absence of Alonso, Lucas Leiva is set to return to Liverpool’s starting line up alongside Javier Mascherano who has recovered from a twisted ankle.
Fernando Torres has been passed fit to rejoin the Reds squad after missing the 3-0 win over Newcastle with a tight hamstring and is expected to start the game.
Benitez has told his players that they must grasp the opportunity to take all three points and return to the top of the Premier League and crank up the pressure on title rivals Man United who do not play until tomorrow when they face Man City.
He said: “I think everyone knows now that it is very close at the top of the league but that it will be very tough for us to finish top.
“But all we can do is do our job, enjoy the moment if we are in a good position in the league and keep on going because it is the only way.
“We have to get three points and then wait. We are doing the right things because we are winning our games and I think that every single week is an opportunity for us.
“We have to do our job and then we will see what happens.
“It could be a difficult game for United this weekend because it is a derby and anything can happen but we also know that United are a good team with good players.
“Like I said, all we can do is win our game and if we can go top at this stage of the season that would be very positive. Then afterwards we will see.”
An ankle injury has forced Alonso out of Liverpool’s clash with the Hammers this evening, meaning the Reds boss will have to make at least one enforced change to his starting lineup.
The Spanish midfielder has failed to recover from the knock picked up following a dangerous lunge by Newcastle’s Joey Barton last weekend.
Though Benitez has refused to publicly criticise Barton for the challenge he believes the fact that the Newcastle man became the sixth player this season to be sent off for a foul on Alonso suggests a pattern is clearly emerging.
“I think it is because he is a holding midfielder with quality and all the other teams know that if they push him and put him under pressure it will be more difficult for us,” said Benitez.
“That is the only reason for me. It is not because he is aggressive or has bad behaviour on the pitch or anything like that.
“It’s just because he has quality.
In the absence of Alonso, Lucas Leiva is set to return to Liverpool’s starting line up alongside Javier Mascherano who has recovered from a twisted ankle.
Fernando Torres has been passed fit to rejoin the Reds squad after missing the 3-0 win over Newcastle with a tight hamstring and is expected to start the game.
Benitez has told his players that they must grasp the opportunity to take all three points and return to the top of the Premier League and crank up the pressure on title rivals Man United who do not play until tomorrow when they face Man City.
He said: “I think everyone knows now that it is very close at the top of the league but that it will be very tough for us to finish top.
“But all we can do is do our job, enjoy the moment if we are in a good position in the league and keep on going because it is the only way.
“We have to get three points and then wait. We are doing the right things because we are winning our games and I think that every single week is an opportunity for us.
“We have to do our job and then we will see what happens.
“It could be a difficult game for United this weekend because it is a derby and anything can happen but we also know that United are a good team with good players.
“Like I said, all we can do is win our game and if we can go top at this stage of the season that would be very positive. Then afterwards we will see.”
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