Benitez Convinced Liverpool Can Lift Title

Liverpool have cashed in on midfielder Xabi Alonso and their lack of financial muscle means they have been unable to compete for stellar signings like Valencia striker David Villa.

However, manager Rafa Benitez remains convinced he can end a three-season trophy drought at Anfield and deliver the prize the fans crave the most.

Next May will represent the 20th anniversary since the Merseyside club last won the league title, far too long for a team of Liverpool's traditions.

They lost only two league games last season yet were still forced to settle for runners-up spot.

"We are strong enough to beat anyone but we need to be consistent," said Benitez as he prepared for his sixth season in charge at Anfield.

"We got 86 points last season, a record for the club in the Premier League, but we still need to improve. We have a lot of confidence."

Consistency will be the key for Liverpool. Despite losing two fewer games than champions Manchester United, it was too many home draws that did for them last season and Benitez knows they cannot afford a repeat.

Their transfer budget is dwarfed by United, Manchester City and Chelsea but Benitez appears to have made two shrewd investments, full back Glen Johnson from Portsmouth and midfielder Alberto Aquilani from AS Roma.

Aquilani, once he has recovered from a damaged ankle, does though face a tough challenge to fill the void left by the £30m sale of Alonso to Real Madrid.

Liverpool's title hopes may also rest on Benitez concentrating on his side instead of allowing himself to become distracted by United.

The Anfield club's 2008-09 season seemed to suffer after Benitez launched an outspoken attack on Alex Ferguson in January, saying United's manager was above punishment by soccer's governing bodies.

That sparked a bitter war of words between the pair and it was Ferguson who enjoyed the last laugh by clinching the title for the third successive season.

The fitness of England midfielder Steven Gerrard and Spain striker Fernando Torres is also key to Liverpool's ambitions.

Injuries meant the pair started only 14 Premier League matches together last season.

If Gerrard and Torres stay fit, Liverpool's long wait for the title could soon be over.

Martin Skrtel Returns To Action For Liverpool FC

LIVERPOOL have received a major boost ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham after defender Martin Skrtel made a successful return to action.

The 24-year-old Slovakian has been sidelined since he suffered a hamstring injury in the friendly against Thailand three weeks ago.

However, Skrtel has now resumed full training and he played in a behind closed doors friendly against Oldham at the Academy in Kirkby yesterday.

He came through unscathed as goals from Lucas and Daniel Ayala secured the Reds a 2-0 victory.

Among the interested spectators was new £20million signing Alberto Aquilani, who watched the game alongside Rafa Benitez.

Skrtel is now expected to line up alongside Jamie Carragher at White Hart Lane with Daniel Agger likely to need more time to recover from a back problem.

The former Zenit St Petersburg defender is determined to end the club’s long wait for the Premier League crown.

“Last season we beat Man United home and away, beat Chelsea home and away and drew with Arsenal home and away,” Skrtel said.

“Our problem was dropping points against the other teams like Stoke home and away, West Ham and Hull at Anfield.

“This season we have to try and improve these small details. If we can do that while still beating the top teams, we’ll be even better this time.”

Meanwhile, Benitez was keeping his fingers crossed that his players returned to Melwood today in good shape after international duty.

Fernando Torres and Albert Riera were both on target as Spain rallied from 2-0 down at the interval to win their friendly in Macedonia 3-2.

Torres’ header started the fightback and Riera got the winner as the Spanish netted three times in four minutes.

Torres and keeper Pepe Reina both started the game. Torres played 64 minutes and Reina made way for Diego Lopez two minutes later, while Riera was a second half substitute.

Glen Johnson played the full 90 minutes in England’s 2-2 draw with Holland.

Dirk Kuyt scored for the Dutch early on and Ryan Babel came on after the break.

Javier Mascherano skippered Argentina to a 3-2 win over Russia in Moscow and Yossi Benayoun played 55 minutes of Israel’s 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland.

Jamie Carragher Set To Be Fit For Spurs Clash

Liverpool’s centre-back crisis has eased ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener at Tottenham.

Jamie Carragher is making good progress after twisting his ankle in last Saturday's 2-1 friendly defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Carragher is expected to play at White Hart Lane and the Reds are confident he will have an experienced defender alongside him.

Martin Skrtel has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in the friendly against Thailand on July 2, while Agger has been hampered by a back problem during pre-season.

However, Rafa Benitez is hopeful either Skrtel or Agger will prove their fitness in time to face Spurs.

Carragher's injury left Martin Kelly, Daniel Ayala and Mikel San Jose as the Reds' only fit centre-halves and increased the need to bring in cover.

Benitez was keen on a move for Hull City's Michael Turner but has been weighing up other options after the Tigers asked £11m.

Aquilani Must Wait For Liverpool Debut

Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has spoken of his pride at wearing the same colours as Steven Gerrard.

Aquilani was presented to the media today after arriving from Roma for a fee reported to be about £15million.

He was keen to point out he is a long-term admirer of Gerrard's qualities.

Aquilani said: "Even before coming to Liverpool, I thought Steven Gerrard was the strongest midfielder in the world.

"I will be very proud to play alongside him and hope I can learn from his game.

"I am looking forward to playing in the same team with players of that kind.

"Liverpool have had good players for a number of years and I have always liked their system of play."

Aquilani and Gerrard have something in common apart from being midfielders - they are both injured.

Gerrard remains doubtful for the match against Tottenham on Sunday with a groin injury, which forced him to miss England's 2-2 draw against Holland.

Manager Rafael Benitez is closely monitoring his talisman's progress and said: "I am not sure about Steven. I was really pleased he was pulled out of the squad as a precaution.

"You could see there were six substitutions in the game, so Fabio Capello was doing great for the players.

"As our game is on the Sunday, then maybe Steven will have a chance. If it was on Saturday it would be more difficult."

Aquilani arrived at Anfield with an ankle injury, which Benitez knew about. It means he will not make his debut for several weeks.

However the Italian believes Liverpool have already got to the root of the problem and come up with a long-term solution.

He said: "At Roma my worries were linked with injury. But when I came to Liverpool, the doctor highlighted exactly the problem I have.

"We now have a very good picture and I hope it will be solved so that I will not be absent again.

"It is a shame I cannot play straight away but it is important to get better, then play well. I am focusing on that."

Despite his setback, Aquilani is not concerned about the physical aspect of England's top flight.

He said: "I cannot wait to be involved as it is a different type of league to the one in Italy and a difficult level to play in. I am very excited about what lies ahead.

"This is a very important occasion for me as I am joining a big club with a rich history.

"While this is one of the best leagues in the world, Liverpool have to be one of the main candidates for winning the title."

Aquilani has replaced Xabi Alonso at Anfield and added: "He was very important player at this club.

"But I am not his natural substitute as I do not have the same characteristics as him.

"I have different style in that I like to move around and not stay in the same place."

Benitez Backs Aquilani To Shine

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists new signing Alberto Aquilani will prove to be a shrewd acquisition.

The Italy international has joined the Reds in a £15million switch from Roma, but is currently sidelined with an ankle problem.

The 25-year-old has been hampered by injuries for the past two seasons, with his first-team outings severely limited as a result.

His lack of action has led to fears that his body is unable to withstand the rigours of top level football.

Benitez, though, is adamant that is not the case, claiming Aquilani has just been unfortunate to pick up a few niggling knocks.

"If Aquilani was in a normal market he would cost £25-30m but because of the operation he had on his ankle he was a bit cheaper," the Spanish coach explained in the Daily Mirror.

"We have to wait for a month for him to be fit but he is a player we are signing for five years, not for five matches.

"He had a bad tackle and an operation and that's normal he missed matches. It would have been the same with (Fernando) Torres or (Steven) Gerrard. That is why I don't think his signing is a gamble.

"I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing."

Aquilani has been brought in to help plug the gap created by Xabi Alonso's departure to Real Madrid.

Benitez admits he was reluctant to part with the Spanish schemer, but believes he has found an able replacement.

"We couldn't change the situation of Alonso," he added.

"He decided to go, we had to progress. You have to mange in the best way you can.

"Alberto is now under the control of our medical staff because he had been going to different people. He has the quality to settle down in England."

Aquilani - I Am Not Like Alonso

Liverpool new boy Alberto Aquilani insists he does not want to be compared to Xabi Alonso at Anfield.

Aquilani has been brought in from Roma to help fill the void left by Alonso's departure to Real Madrid.

The Italian international, who will miss the start of the season as he recovers from ankle surgery, says he is not a direct replacement for Alonso as he has a different style of play than the Spaniard.

"He was a very important player at this club," said Aquilani as he was unveiled at Anfield.

"But I am not his natural substitute as I do not have the same characteristics as him.

"I have a different style in that I like to move around and not stay in the same place."

Aquilani is not expected to make his debut for Liverpool until October because of his injury, but the midfielder is confident of making a speedy return as the Reds medical staff have got to the root of the injury.

"At Roma my worries were linked with injury. But when I came to Liverpool, the doctor highlighted exactly the problem I have," added Aquilani.

"We now have a very good picture and I hope it will be solved so that I will not be absent again.

"It is a shame I cannot play straight away but it is important to get better, then play well. I am focusing on that."

There have been fears that Aquilani could struggle to cope with the physical demands of the English game, but the 26-year-old is sure he will adapt to the rigors of the Premier League.

"I cannot wait to be involved as it is a different type of league to the one in Italy and a difficult level to play in. I am very excited about what lies ahead," noted Aquilani.

"This is a very important occasion for me as I am joining a big club with a rich history.

"While this is one of the best leagues in the world, Liverpool have to be one of the main candidates for winning the title."

Aquilani is excited about the prospect of playing alongside Reds skipper Steven Gerrard who he describes as the best midfielder in the world.

"Even before coming to Liverpool, I thought Steven Gerrard was the strongest midfielder in the world," said Aquilani.

"I will be very proud to play alongside him and hope I can learn from his game.

"I am looking forward to playing in the same team with players of that kind.

"Liverpool have had good players for a number of years and I have always liked their system of play."

Hertha Want To Loan Liverpool Forward Andriy Voronin For Another Season

According to a report in German newspaper Bild, Bundesliga outfit Hertha are keen to sign Liverpool attacker Andriy Voronin on another one-year loan deal.

The Ukrainian forward played on loan for the Berlin outfit last term, and quickly developed into a key player. Voronin was the club's top scorer, netting 11 goals.

Hertha were keen to land Voronin on a permanent deal following his outstanding performances, but they were unable to meet Liverpool's €4 million asking price, and the Ukrainian therefore returned to England.

The striker is keen to fight for his place with the Reds, but it doesn't look like he will get regular first team action. He may now opt to return to Berlin after all. Hertha's sporting director, Michael Preetz, has reportedly already contacted Liverpool to discuss a possible transfer.

The Berlin side are desperate to land a new attacker in the upcoming days, largely due to the departures of Marko Pantelic and Amine Chermiti. Brazilian forward Raffael is the only experienced striker at Hertha at the moment.

Tommy Smith Concerned As Liverpool Injuries Mount

Tommy Smith is worried that his former club Liverpool, with whom he excelled as a central defender under the management of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley in the 1960s and '70s, are facing a defensive injury crisis ahead the beginning of the new Premier League season.

Smith also feels that that a general lack of experience amongst the Reds' current defenders could be a cause for concern over the coming campaign.

Before a ball is kicked, we’ve got an injury crisis in the defence, with Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel all battling to recover from knocks," he told The Liverpool Echo.


"With Sami Hyypia gone, and with Glen Johnson and Emiliano Insua still settling in to full-back roles, I feel concerned over the defensive side.

"I was at the Atletico Madrid match and while I know it was only a friendly, the young lads at centre-back did get exposed once Jamie went off.

"I’m sure Jamie will be out there at White Hart Lane, but it would be good to see one other first choice centre-back alongside him, because we need to get off to a good start and keep a clean sheet."

The midfield area could also provide some cause for anxiety, Smith feels, with the departure of Xabi Alonso leaving the Reds short of quality, with Alberto Aquilani still to recover from injury and not set to appear for the Reds for at least another month, possibly longer.

"I was pleased to see Lucas having a good game against the Spaniards at the weekend but for me too many of the men in red looked short of fitness and form so close to the start of the season," he added.

"Add in Alonso’s departure – and the fact that his replacement Alberto Aquilani is not fit yet – and we’ve got a lot to put right very quickly in my book.

"Aquilani is clearly a class player from what we hear but the fact we have paid so much for someone who is two months away from being ready, is another big worry for me.

"I know medical science has come on so much that everyone must be very confident he will recover. But I just hope there is a clause in that £20m deal which allows us to get our money back – or most of it – if he does continue to have problems.

"The sooner we see him the better, because Alonso was a very important player for us and we can’t afford to miss his influence for long."

Liverpool Midfielder Riera Dedicates Goal To Late Daniel Jarque

Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera has dedicated his international strike for Spain this week to the memory of the late Espanyol player Daniel Jarque.

Jarque, a former team-mate of Riera's at the Catalan outfit, passed away unexpectedly after suffering a heart attack after a training session. He was just 26 years old.

Spain has been in mourning this week as the nation pays it's last respects to the centre-back.

The Liverpool winger scored in Spain's 3-2 victory over Macedonia on Wednesday night and told the Reds' official website, "My goal is for Dani, for his family, and for everyone associated with Espanyol.

"It was a goal that meant a lot, over and above the result. For me it was very important due to the desire that I had to score in this game. I can assure that this goal came from the soul.

"I wasn't only thinking [about scoring], but that's that I was hoping for. I've thought a lot about Dani and about scoring a goal for him."

The entire national squad paid their respect to Jarque before the friendly by donning shirts bearing Jarque's name and squad number prior to a minute's applause in his honour.

The defender's tragic death came just one month after he had been named captain for the upcoming season.

Benitez: We Couldn't Change The Situation Of Alonso

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed he had little choice but to sell Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, because the 27-year-old Spaniard wanted to leave the club.

The former Valencia coach did however assure Liverpool fans that new signing Alberto Aquilani will prove a huge hit at Anfield.

Benitez told the Daily Mirror: “We couldn't change the situation of Alonso,”

“He decided to go, we had to progress.”

“You have to manage in the best way you can.”

Although he could do little about Alonso’s departure other than get best possible deal for Liverpool, Benitez is delighted to have signed Roma midfielder Aquilani.

He said: “If Aquilani was in a normal market he could cost £25-30m but because of the operation he has on his ankle he was a bit cheaper,”

“We have to wait for a month for him to be fit, but he is a player we are signing for five years not for five matches.”

“He had a bad tackle and an operation and that's normal he missed matches.”

“It would be the same with Torres or Gerrard. That is why I don't think his signing is a gamble.”

“I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing.”