Riise Quiet On Toon Talk

Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has refused to comment on speculation linking him with a summer move to Newcastle, according to the player's representative.

The Norwegian international, who is also capable of playing in midfield, has fallen out of favour at Anfield this season with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez preferring the pairing of Fabio Aurelio and Ryan Babel on the Reds' left-hand side.

However, Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan is rumoured to be an admirer of Riise, who joined Liverpool from Monaco in 2001 for £4.6million.

Keegan is understood to be keen to bolster his shaky defence in the summer after shipping 57 goals so far this term.

However, Riise's representative - Jan Kvalheim - insists the 27-year-old, who has also been linked with a move to Aston Villa, will not add weight to the speculation.

"This is just speculation and John Arne will not comment on this," Kvalheim told the Dagbladet website.

Xavi And Javier Ready To Lock Down United

Xabi Alonso hailed Rafa Benitez's latest tactical reshuffle and claimed one of its less spectacular spin-offs could prove the key to stifling Manchester United's title charge on Sunday.

Goals have been flowing since Benitez unleashed Steven Gerrard in an attacking role just behind Fernando Torres. This has helped resurgent Liverpool score 15 times in their last five Barclays Premier League games.

But as the title race approaches its most momentous 24 hours so far, with Chelsea facing Arsenal soon after Liverpool go to Old Trafford, Alonso described how his new role alongside Javier Mascherano could be just as influential in maintaining his side's recent revival.

Torres and Gerrard have proved a potent force up front but the way Alonso and Mascherano drop anchor behind them may have just as big a say in the outcome of one of the season's biggest clashes, according to the Spain midfielder.

'I am enjoying the partnership with Javier and feel it is working really well,' he said. 'Javier has so many great qualities that bring so much to the way we play. He holds his position really well, is very strong physically when he is challenging another player and is a great team player.

'It is new for us, playing together like this, but we are managing the situation quite well and building up a good understanding that should get even better as we go along.'

Alonso: Torres Loves The Big Stage

Xabi Alonso believes Fernando Torres can realise his full potential at Liverpool after being stifled by the goldfish bowl at Atletico Madrid.

Torres is enjoying a dream maiden season in the Barclays Premier League following his £20million-plus summer switch from the Spanish capital.

His winner against Reading on Saturday made him the first Reds player to score 20 league goals in a season since Robbie Fowler 12 years previously.

Club and international team-mate Alonso thinks the striker is getting better and better, and doubts whether he could have made such progress had he remained at his boyhood club.

"Fernando has improved,'' Alonso said on liverpoolfc.tv.”He has got rid of the pressure he had at Atletico Madrid.

"He is feeling really comfortable playing with his team-mates at Liverpool and because of this he is getting better and better each day, which is good news for the team.

"He has settled into the Premier League very quickly and that is encouraging because it can be difficult coming into a new league.

"He has shown he is not afraid of the physical contact here, with defenders trying to put him off, and that is really important.''

Reds boss Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can still have an impact on the Premier League title race - and he is happy with them being forgotten for now.

Benitez's men are eight points behind the pace but still have Manchester United and Arsenal to play before the end of the campaign.

"How near we finish to the top now will be interesting,'' Benitez said.”We have been criticised this season, but let us see where we are in three or four weeks.

"We have important games and if we win them we will be a lot closer. If we can beat Manchester United we will be closer to the top, and that will give us more confidence.

"If we beat Everton after that then we will be closer still. Maybe, maybe we can be closer if we do not talk too much about it.

"Do we have a point to prove? Maybe, but only if we can keep winning three points.

We All Fear Special Fernando Torres, Admits Messi

Barcelona star Lionel Messi admits Liverpool’s Champions League rivals fear the “special” talent of Fernando Torres.

The Spaniard has been a major success since arriving at Anfield from Atletico Madrid in the summer, his weekend winner against Reading taking his season’s tally to 27 goals in 36 games.

Following last week’s draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, Barcelona and Liverpool cannot meet in the Champions League until the final in Moscow on May 21.

And Messi has pinpointed Torres, who scored the only goal of Liverpool’s triumph at Inter Milan last week, as a major threat.

“Manchester United are very good and Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player who I watch a lot,” said Messi. “The other top English teams – Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool – are capable of success too, because they have special players like Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres.

“The best Premier League clubs also have the experience of doing well in the Champions League.”

Torres has also been backed by compatriot and Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso.

“Fernando has improved,” said the midfielder. “He has got rid of the pressure he had at Atletico Madrid. He is feeling really comfortable playing with his team-mates at Liverpool and because of this he is getting better and better each day, which is good news for the team.

“He has settled into the Premier League very quickly and that is encouraging because it can be difficult coming into a new league.

“He has shown he is not afraid of the physical contact here, with defenders trying to put him off, and that is really important.”

Liverpool take on Arsenal in an all-English quarter-final tie next month, while Barcelona face off against German underdogs Schalke.

Before then, Rafael Benitez’s side have a pair of crucial Premier League outings against local rivals Manchester United and Everton as they strive to ensure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification for next season.

The Anfield outfit visit United on Sunday hoping to improve on a record under Benitez of drawing one and losing six of their previous seven league meetings against United. No Liverpool player has scored during those games, but having accrued seven straight victories, Alonso believes Benitez’s side are in good shape to end that duck.

“We are in a good moment, playing well and scoring goals, and now we have to think of the next game against Man United,” said the midfielder.

“It is going to be a big game, playing at Old Trafford, we know their qualities but we are really looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Lucas Leiva has jumped to the defence of Benitez’s rotation policy – and believes it has helped him settle in at Anfield.

The young Brazilian midfielder has enjoyed an encouraging first season since arriving from homeland club Gremio for £6million.

And Lucas said: “I must admit I suffered a bit when I first came to England. But then I realised that there was nothing to be intimidated by, everybody had two legs, we were all equal.

“I managed to get over this when I realised what I had already achieved. I had done big things like being selected for Brazil. Now, I have settled in and everyone has treated me well since I arrived. The manager, Rafa Benitez, has a philosophy whereby he likes to rotate, sometimes four players from game to game. And this has worked to my advantage.”

Liverpool FC Will Determine Outcome Of Premier League Race, Says Rafa Benitez

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can still have an impact on the Barclays Premier League title race - and he is happy with them being forgotten for now.

Benitez’s men are eight points behind the pace but still have Manchester United and Arsenal to play before the end of the campaign.

“How near we finish to the top now will be interesting,” the Reds boss told liverpoolfc.tv. “We have been criticised this season, but let us see where we are in three or four weeks.

“We have important games and if we win them we will be a lot closer. If we can beat Manchester United we will be closer to the top, and that will give us more confidence.

“If we beat Everton after that then we will be closer still. Maybe, maybe we can be closer if we do not talk too much about it.

“Do we have a point to prove? Maybe, but only if we can keep winning three points.”

Midfielder Xabi Alonso is also confident, particularly with striker Fernando Torres in good form.

“Fernando has improved,” Alonso said. “He has got rid of the pressure he had at Atletico Madrid.

“He is feeling really comfortable playing with his team-mates at Liverpool and because of this he is getting better and better each day, which is good news for the team.

“He has settled into the Premier League very quickly and that is encouraging because it can be difficult coming into a new league.

“He has shown he is not afraid of the physical contact here, with defenders trying to put him off, and that is really important.”

MARK LAWRENSON: Demoralised Arsenal Perfect Foe For Liverpool

AS each game passes, the feeling that Liverpool got a kind Champions League draw just gets stronger.

That’s what Arsenal is at the moment. Talk about there for the taking.

It’s the mentality there. I’m just not sure some of the players have it, certainly not the type you need to win leagues and European Cups.

They have had nothing but problems since the spat between Adebayor and Bendtner in the Carling Cup semi- final with Spurs.

Two players making it so obvious they don’t like each other is exposing inner weakness – and it’s hardly stopped since.

They went to Old Trafford in the FA Cup and didn’t play, then they went to pieces after Eduardo’s injury.

None more so than William Gallas, the captain and man who should have been pulling them up by their bootlaces – not staring down at his own and blubbing uncontrollably.

The feeble draws they have suffered since then proves they haven’t got a string enough mentality.

So you don’t need me to speculate about how a second leg at Anfield on a European Cup night will affect them...

Rafa Benitez Reveals Fears For International Liverpool Stars Ahead Of Derby

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hit out at an international schedule which will see several of his players travelling around the world just days before the Merseyside derby.

A 2-1 victory over Reading at Anfield on Saturday, coupled with Everton’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday has seen Liverpool edge three points ahead of their neighbours in the battle to secure the final Champions League qualification spot.

However, Benitez is seething over the prospect of sweating on the return of many of his star performers barely 48 hours before they lock horns with David Moyes’s side on March 30.

Like many Premier League managers, Benitez is frustrated by having to release his big names for effectively meaningless international friendly fixtures at a crucial stage of the season.

Benitez, who was without Fernando Torres for the trip to Chelsea this season after the striker was injured while playing for Spain, is particularly galled at in-form midfielder Javier Mascherano having to travel to Egypt with Argentina.

The 23-year-old, who completed his £18million move to Anfield earlier this month, has been one of Liverpool’s stellar performers in recent weeks and his combative style seems ideally suited to the upcoming derby tussle which could make or break either of the Mersey clubs’ hopes of sealing a place in European football’s elite club tournament next season.

A sarcastic Benitez said: “I’m really, really happy that Mascherano will go to Egypt to play a friendly – things like that you can’t understand. But the rules are rules, so the players must go.

“It’s the same problem for all the top sides. Normally the best players are in the top sides and they are playing Champions League or for the title. We’ve been talking about this 100 times.

“You can’t speak to the coach. You can say ‘be careful’ but they are thinking about themselves, and it makes it very difficult.”

Including the internationals, Liverpool face six games in 16 games, starting with a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday before the derby a week later and a hat- trick of clashes against Arsenal. Having opened up a three-point advantage over Everton, Liverpool will be eager to maintain the gap this weekend when they face a trip to Old Trafford to face the champions.

Rafael Benitez’s side have not won any of their last seven Premier League meetings against Manchester United, a run which has included six defeats, but Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio is convinced Liverpool can continue their run of seven straight wins by stunning Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges.

He said: “For sure it will be the real test of where we are at the moment.

“It is a really important game for us, and we must gain points.

“We know against top teams anything can happen but we need to be strong enough to go into these games with confidence.

“Or course playing in Old Trafford is really difficult but we have to believe that we can go and win also. And if we keep doing our job as we are, we will be much closer at the end of the season.”

Aurelio added: “When you get good results, the team starts to believe a bit more. We are in the quarter- finals of the Champions League again and it is really important for the confidence.

“But to be in it next season we have to finish fourth so we cannot forget the Premier League. We need to keep working harder in both competitions.”

Aurelio, who netted his first goal for Liverpool against Bolton earlier this month, is delighted that his fellow South American Mascherano also broke his scoring duck against Reading on Saturday.

He said: “Javier has been having a great season, working really well for the team and deserved to have a great moment like the one on Saturday. Everyone was happy for him.”

MARK LAWRENSON: Will The Mersey Derby Be Advantage Liverpool?

It seems at first glance that the pivotal weekend in the Merseyside battle to get into the top four has just passed.

And given what happened, you have to say it’s advantage Liverpool.

They are on a great run while you always had the feeling Everton’s own superb sequence of results would come to an end at some time.

The fact that they were so short of players at Fulham shows how much the season could be catching up with them and also suggests they’re not really getting the luck or run of the ball Liverpool are enjoying at the moment.

If that game at Craven Cottage was six weeks ago, you feel Everton would have won it, even with their awful record there.

Now things aren’t going their way – they’re going Liverpool’s. And yet.

I get the feeling all that could change again and that’s why I think David Moyes is dead right to insist his team can still break into that elite top bracket.

For starters, it can easily all swing back in Everton’s favour this weekend.

Just for a change, they won’t have the pressure of playing catch-up and they can shift it on to Liverpool instead by beating West Ham.

For Liverpool, going to the leaders away from home is always a tough ask, especially given their recent record.

You get the feeling a draw there would be a result they would take now.

But beyond this week comes the indication that Liverpool still have it all to do to keep Everton at bay.

Doing that at Anfield won’t be easy in the derby – but after that comes the massive triple header against Arsenal.

That period will be defining because it’s the time Liverpool really have to deliver results, rather than just breeze through the bunch of undoubtedly easier fixtures they’ve had over the past month.

And at the same time, whatever Liverpool do, Moyes has to stick to his belief that it’s what his side achieves that will determine their campaign.

And that’s why it’s vital he rallies round his troops and reminds them how they got in this situation in the first place.

Moyes can’t change his team at the moment given the injury situation so he has to look at the men he has got and get them up again following a hard week.

And although he knows that seven days don’t decide a season and it’s how he utilises this coming week that will be key to them engineering another resurgence.

This is a rare week in which Everton have no midweek games – the perfect time for a couple of days off.

Get them refreshed, get them rested and, most importantly, wrap them in cotton wool before the injury situation gets worse. It will make all the difference.

Then I reckon they will be ready to go on another run and stay well in contention in that race for fourth place.

Over the past weekend, Liverpool took a significant step towards it – but that doesn’t make next week’s derby any less intriguing.

It’s still set to go to the wire.

Mascherano: Scoring Was So Very Special

Midfielder Javier Mascherano has admitted that the delight of scoring his first Liverpool goal sent him ‘crazy’.

The Argentina international had only netted once in his previous 111 senior matches and that came for River Plate in Argentina before he went on to turn out for Corinthians in Brazil and both West Ham and Liverpool in the Premier League.

However, the 23-year-old broke his Anfield duck in spectacular style with a stunning 20-yard effort in front of the Kop against Reading on Saturday.

He said: “It was an incredible moment.

“I had not scored a goal since I was at River Plate, so to score one for Liverpool – and in front of the Kop as well – was really special.

“I cannot really describe the feeling but I know I celebrated like I had gone crazy. Some of the lads in the dressing room said I was like Inzaghi in the Champions League final!

“It just meant so much to me and it was important also for the team because we had just gone a goal behind.”

However, Mascherano has warned Liverpool fans not to expect regular goals from him now that he has registered his first effort.

The £18million signing, is reckoned by manager Rafael Benitez to be the best holding midfielder in the world and the Spaniard insisted that he wants to see the player get into more scoring positions around the edge of the box.

Regarding Benitez’s challenge, Mascherano said: “I think the manager was joking.

“It would be nice to score more goals but I don’t think there are many holding midfielders who score lots of goals.

“In this position you have to play deep and try to keep the balance of the team and that is the most important thing for me.

“I will try to score more goals but I know that I have to do my own job first.”

Benitez is now preparing his side for five crucial games that will define Liverpool’s season.

He said: “We now have a very tough spell. Everyone kept saying that because of that we had to win our three home league games with West Ham, Newcastle and now Reading. We have now done that.

“Now we have really difficult games and we needed these seven wins beforehand.

“Now we have five very hard games, three with Arsenal plus Everton and Manchester United away next week. We will only think of each one as it arrives, you cannot start to worry about what is ahead.”

He added: “The first one is the most important. If we can keep our momentum then it will be easier going into the second one. We must not waste our time thinking too far ahead.

“We started the season playing well, winning a lot of games, scoring plenty of goals and we were unbeaten in the league until December.

“Still we have only lost three league games, our problem has been drawing too many and we are aware of that.

“If we had won just three of those drawn matches things would be very different.”

Liverpool are now eight points behind leaders Manchester United, who they meet on Sunday at Old Trafford.

Benitez said: “How near we finish to the top now will be interesting. We have been criticised this season, but let us see where we are in three or four weeks.

“We have important games and if we win them we will be a lot closer. If we can beat Manchester United we will be closer to the top, and that will give us more confidence.

“If we beat Everton after that then we will be closer still. Maybe, maybe we can be closer if we do not talk too much about it.

“Do we have a point to prove? Maybe, but only if we can keep winning three points.”

Liverpool Fans Form A Club In Their Price Range

Supporters of Premier League giants Liverpool, many of whom are no longer able to afford to watch their heroes, have formed a breakaway club.

AFC Liverpool are the latest 'fans' club to emerge following the successful launches of AFC Wimbledon in 2002 and FC United of Manchester three years later.

AFC Liverpool, however, is distinct from the other two in so far as in Wimbledon's case the supporters were implacably opposed to the relocation of their club, and followers of Manchester United were implacably opposed to the purchase of the club by the Glazer family. In Liverpool's case it is primarily a question of money.

The new club's spokesman Alun Parry explained: "This has nothing to do with the ownership issue, it's about affordability. I've been going to Anfield since the late Seventies when I was six years old. A season ticket in the Kop cost £45 in 1985, today it's £650, which I know is a lot cheaper than some other Premier League clubs, but in inflation terms Eighties prices should equate to £98 today.

"We aren't blaming the club, we realise they have no choice, but the sad fact is that a whole community is being denied the opportunity to grow up in the 'match-going' culture. The average age of a Premier League supporter is now 43. At a recent game I spotted only two children, so kids who can't afford to go are forced to learn what it means to support a club from one source - television."

AFC Liverpool will be run along the same lines as other supporter-owned clubs. Everyone can buy into it and get an equal vote. Like AFC Wimbledon and FC United, the new club will be a non-profit organisation.

Parry said: "Far from wishing to be estranged from the club, we are hoping that Liverpool will look upon us as a little brother."

So far AFC Liverpool have acquired more than 200 members, however up to 1,000 emails have been received supporting the idea.

The club have applied to the Vodkat North West Counties League Division Two to enter a team for the start of the 2008-09 season. Last week AFC Liverpool released an advert seeking a manager for the new non-League club, applications for which will close on March 31. They have also put out a call for players and, according to Parry, there has been a huge response.

"We are planning to launch a youth system with FA qualified coaches which will be of benefit to the community and to further the aims of AFC Liverpool," he said.

There are plenty of non-League clubs in the North West who would dearly love the extra revenue but as Parry explained: "By creating a team with an explicit LFC identity it gives us a club that we can collectively own and have a reason to support.

"If there are any ex-Reds out there who would like to manage us or play for us, we would be delighted."

Beware The Top Striker In Europe, Warns Carragher

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes his side’s rivals will feel the force of Europe’s ‘stand-out’ striker Fernando Torres in the five crunch fixtures to be played over the coming month.

In Saturday’s 2-1 comeback victory over Reading at Anfield, Torres became the first Liverpool player to net 20 Premier League goals in a season since Robbie Fowler 12 years ago.

Steve Coppell’s side took a shock fifth minute lead through Marek Matejovsky but the hosts hit back to record a seventh straight win goals from Javier Mascherano, who hit his first strike for the club on 19 minutes, and Torres on 48 minutes.

The victory puts Liverpool in good stead for a crucial period of games over the next four weeks as they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday before hosting Everton in the derby a week later and then going on to play a hat-trick of games against Arsenal in the space of seven days with a Premier League meeting sandwiched between the sides’ Champions League quarter-finals clashes.

Carragher believes that Torres can prove to be vital weapon for Liverpool in these games as the striker, who has netted nine times in his last six outings, is now showing his best form after failing to make much of an impact in the corresponding fixtures against the same opposition earlier in the campaign.

He said: “Against Man United we didn’t really make the most of Fernando, he didn’t play against Everton and he came off injured at half-time against Arsenal. He hasn’t really played against them.

“I am sure they all watch Match of the Day and see each week what damage he has been causing and they will be well aware of him.

“Of course, it’s different in a game. He is going to be facing top defenders and they will relish showing what they can do, just as he will relish showing them.

“He’s on fire at the moment. He is the stand-out striker in European football right now and looks like he has got the lot.

“The header he scored today, you probably wouldn’t expect off a pacey striker. But I was stood right behind him and it was some header.

“It has been a long time since Robbie Fowler got 20 league goals and for Fernando to be the first player since then to do it shows he is a special player.”

Carragher acknowledges that the following month could either make or break Liverpool’s season given the importance of the matches and nature of the opposition.

He said: “It can go two ways. If we win the majority of these games we can hopefully go on and have a fantastic season. Or it can go the other way and it is doom and gloom again.

“That’s the stage of the season we are up to. Every game is important for every team, not just us. Sir Alex Ferguson says March and April are the months that prove decisive in terms of what you are going for and I think that’s going to be the case.

“We have Man United, Everton and then Arsenal three times so those five games are absolutely massive.

“I relish these games though. This is what you are in the game for. If you are going to win trophies you have to win big games and beat big games.”

A seventh straight win on Saturday ensured that Liverpool remain in pole position for fourth place but after their impressive 1-0 success in the San Siro four days earlier, Carragher admitted it was a different kind of test for his team.

He said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game. Reading are fighting for their lives and coming off the back of a Champions League game is always tough.

“To go 1-0 down and come back to win 2-1 is a great result really. I know everyone would expect us to win, but we showed a bit of character. We realise we haven’t played great, but the result was the most important thing.”

Rafa Benitez Insists Liverpool Aren’t Depending Too Much On Fernando Torres

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists that his side are not over-reliant on Fernando Torres’s goals after the Spaniard became the first player at the club to net 20 times in a Premier League season since Robbie Fowler in 1995/96.

The 23-year-old’s 48th-minute winner against Reading was his ninth goal in his last six games but Benitez, who is keeping his fingers crossed over the player who overcame a foot injury in the first half, remains confident that he possesses several other attacking threats if anything happened to his record signing.

He said: “We are not too reliant on Torres. People were asking why do you change, why do you rotate? You do it to try to keep the players fresh and clear of injury.

“So now when you have one week or three or four days in this case, you can use the players.

“But you must be thinking about the next games and three games in six days or six games in 16 days, all of them with very high tempo and demanding a lot physically from the players. We need to think about each game.

“We have also Kuyt, Crouch and Voronin, three strikers who can score goals. Today we have Babel, Kuyt, Gerrard and Torres and all of them are offensive, all of them have chances in every game.

“If you don’t have one player, you must use another player, so I think we have enough quality.”

Benitez was delighted that Torres has broken the 20-goal barrier but also paid tribute to his other forwards, Dutch pair Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt, who are operating in wide areas in Liverpool’s current 4-2-3-1 formation.

He said: “It was important for Torres and also for us.

“Everyone was talking about the money we spent, but it’s funny because everyone says ‘fantastic signing’ and then when you don’t spend money on a player and he’s free and it’s not working, they say ‘really bad signing.’

“Why? Because he was free. In this case, he was expensive and now he’s really good. When you have more money, it’s easier to sign better players.

“If Kuyt plays as a striker, he can score goals. It’s the same with Babel. But for the balance of the team, it’s very positive because they are working very hard for the team. That’s the most important thing.”

Following their shock FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Barnsley, Liverpool have recovered to win seven straight games and with five crucial fixtures over the coming month against Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal (three times), Benitez admits that motivating his players is easier when they’re on a run like this.

He said: “The team is playing well. We had two or three games that we drew at home that we could have won.

“There’s just a chance that you don’t score or that they score. If they don’t score in those games, that’s the difference.

“Today if they scored in the end, people would be saying ‘Good game, lots of chances, but ...’ But now because we are winning we have more confidence.

“Thinking about these games, it’s clear that we have a lot of confidence now. The mood in the dressing room is very good and the mentality of the players is very positive.”

Sky Sports Under Fire For "Anti Liverpool FC Bias"

Sky Sports was under fire last night over claims the broadcaster was biased in its commentary of Liverpool's Champions League victory over Inter Milan.

A legion of angry fans have accused top pundit Andy Gray of favouring the Italian champions over the British club with his comments.

Now Reds supporters are threatening a boycott of the broadcasting giant unless ex Everton star Gray is removed from the commentary team for their club's televised games.

The ₤20,0000-a-week Scottish pundit incensed Kop fans by branding the sending off of Inter midfielder Nicolas Burdisso "shocking", claiming Liverpool star Lucas commited the foul.

And he got their backs up further by appearing to sound down when Fernando Torres bagged the goal that killed the tie and sent his team into the last 16. Gray said: "It's game over I guess."

Season ticket holder Carl Rittenburg stormed: "I pay £48 per month so I can watch Liverpool's matches on Sky but I'll stop my subscription if they continue to let Andy Gray commentate.

"The man knows his stuff but he is so anti-Liverpool it's shocking and that was clearly evident during the Inter Milan game when he slated us at every chance.

"Gray seemed really annoyed when the Inter guy was sent off - he did nothing but go on about it all game.

"Yet he was calling for Liverpool players to get booked at the end of the match.

"Even when Torres scored the winner - that saw another British side through to the quarter finals - he sounded disappointed. It was like he wanted the Italians to win.

"We're not asking for bias towards Liverpool - were just asking for a fair commentary.

"But in having Gray to cover our games we're not getting that from Sky.

Kop fan Peter Stenton said: "As viewers we pay Sky for a service and a fair commentary when we watch live football - and in most cases that's we get.

"But it seems every time Andy Gray covers Liverpool games out team is given a verbal demolition."

Rita Walsh, 40, said: "I was so disgusted with the one-sided commentary during the game I wrote a letter to Sky to complain.

"Sky Sports has an obligation to provide fair and accurate coverage but in allowing Andy Gray to commentate on liverpool games it is falling woefully short."

Liverpool fans' revolt against Glasgow-born Gray, 53, has been simmering since he was signed up by Sky in 1990.

One Kopite has even set up a facebook group calling for the former nand Aston Villa striker to be taken off Liverpool games.

Scouser Alex Parkin, 28, said: "I set up the group to get Gray off our games.

"If Sky don't take him off then I'll seriously be thinking about scrapping my subscription in protest."

It's not the first time Liverpool fans have revolted against a broadcaster.

In November last year angry supporters called for a boycott of Eastenders after the show linked the HIllsborough disaster to hooliganism.

Campaigners for the 96 dead fans received an apology from the BBC after a character appeared to blame fans for the tragedy.

Sky Sports refused to comment.

Liverpool FC Stadium: Club Looks For Quick Decision

Liverpool FC’s third stadium design is now being scrutinised by town hall planners.

The proposal, revealed by the Liverpool Daily Post in January, was drawn up by Dallas-based architects HKS after the club’s American owners decided the previous idea was too expensive.

Because of a technicality, the Reds were allowed to submit an amended version of their second planning application, which was approved by councillors late last year.

In theory, it should take council officials less time to assess than an entirely new document, speeding up the planning process.

But no date has yet been set for the planning committee to meet and discuss the proposal for a 60,000-seater stadium at Stanley Park.

Liverpool are confident the scheme will be backed by councillors, as the previous two ideas were both given the green light.

A council spokesman said: “An amended application has been submitted because the decision notice from the previous one had not been formalised.”

Community leaders today called on city bosses to demand Liverpool draw up a full planning application.

Liberal councillor Steve Radford, who has campaigned for years against the principle of letting the club build on Stanley Park, said: “I believe it is unacceptable that this scheme is treated as an amended application.

“I am concerned we will not see the same level of consultation as we did previously.”

But the council today insisted more than 11,500 households would be asked for their views on the stadium proposal over a three-week period.

A spokesman also said objections raised when the previous plan was approved by councillors would be passed onto the planning committee again when it eventually meets.

The new design incorporates the 18,500-capacity stand-alone Kop, which Mr Hicks had insisted was crucial to his plans.

There is also room for extra seats to be added at a later date, although this would need council approval

Rafa Is The Best, Gushes Kuyt

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has hailed Rafael Benitez has the best manager he's ever had and vows to return to the form that saw him touted as a hot prospect when he signed for the Reds.

Since arriving at Anfield the Dutchman had a few problems settling in his first season, not aided by the fact Liverpool, by and large, did not have a good time of it in 2006/07. This was of course despite making the Champions League final, in which Kuyt scored a late consolation goal.

This season began following the death of his father due to cancer, and the hard-working striker has on numerous occasions explained just how much that has affected his game, with his dad being his biggest fan and friend in the footballing world up until his passing.

Mental Problems

Though it can be argued that Kuyt's problems have not been aided by his manager's reluctance to play him in his natural role — and indeed having essentially replaced him with another lead striker in Fernando Torres this summer — the 27-year-old remains optimistic of turning things around for the Reds now he has gotten past the worst of the grieving process.

"You always give your best as a player but sometimes you can have problems mentally," explained the former Feyenoord man.

"It was difficult to concentrate on football after my father died but I feel it is all behind me now. Sometimes things just need time for you to recover.

"People don't know what is happening with players behind the scenes. Everybody knows I have had a hard time privately, and I am just coming out of it."

Stronger

The Dutch international believes he has improved in recent weeks and only seeks to strengthen his resolve as a footballer and as a person when faced with adversity.

"I've played better in the past few games," declared Kuyt. "I have scored a few important goals and I have provided a few assists.

"It was the first time anything like this had happened to me and it has made me only stronger. Now I feel much better than a few months ago, I want to carry on and show I am a good player."

The Best I've Had

Kuyt has been a regular fixture in the Reds' starting line-up during their seven match unbeaten run. Though he has not been playing the role that saw him net an obscene 83 goals in 122 games in his time at Feyenoord, he did score one crucial if not slightly deflected goal at the death against Internazionale in the Champions League.

The striker is now hoping to repay the faith boss Benitez has shown in him by taking his side all the way in the Champions League, as he of course arrived after their 2005 success in Istanbul, only in time for the heartbreak of Athens 2007.

"It would be really special to repay him by winning the Champions League," mused the Dutchman.

"He is a really great manager. In the period when it was hard for me, when I had some problems, he was there for me.

"That he cared what happened to me outside the pitch means a lot. He is the best manager I've had.

"Playing football has been like a medicine for me. When you play great games, such as against Inter Milan in the Champions League, you can devote all your energy to what happens on the pitch.

"Hopefully, I can keep going like this and we can do well in the league and Champions League. We lost the final last year, we definitely want to be there again this time."

While Liverpool are left in the ever-familiar position of chasing club football's ultimate prize as their only chance of silverware this season, Kuyt maintains the importance of a push for fourth place, which of course guarantees qualification to the competition next season.

Their cause was greatly aided when Fernando Torres netted a winner in a nervy performance against Reading this weekend, while such luck deserted cross-town rivals Everton — who lost 1-0 at Fulham — as they are also battling for fourth.

Kuyt is now eyeing Manchester United and a win over Liverpool's historic rivals, given the Reds' distinct lack of luck against the Premier League leaders in recent fixtures.

Several times in the past few seasons the Reds have bested the Red Devils only to come out on the losing side, something Kuyt is eager to change this time around.

"We were a bit unlucky in our recent games against United, so hopefully we will get that luck this time," he said.

"It is unbelievable. We deserved something more from those games.

"I think when you are at Liverpool you want to win every game, and especially against Man United. It is a really big game coming up and we really want to show we can beat them.

"United have a quality team. Only in the past six or seven games have we shown it."

LiverpooL 2 - 1 Reading

Liverpool were made to fight all the way by a belligerent Reading outfit but it was Fernando Torres again who secured the points and a firm grip on fourth place.

Torres became the first Liverpool player to score 20 league goals in a season since Robbie Fowler in the 1995-96 campaign.

It was his 27th of the term and his ninth in seven matches but that did not really tell the full story of this fierce clash.

Reading gave everything, fought for every ball and subjected Liverpool to a searching aerial examination in a frantic conclusion.

The visitors led after five minutes thanks to a stunning 20-yard strike from Marek Matejovsky and it took an equally stunning Javier Mascherano equalizer to get Liverpool back into the match.

Torres had a quiet game by his standards but he punished Reading with a header soon after the break, about the only time he was left unattended all afternoon.

From then on Reading fought for an equalizer, and somehow Liverpool - after their midweek Champions League heroics in Milan - clung on for their seventh successive victory.

Liverpool made two changes from the side that beat Inter Milan in the San Siro with Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa returning, with Sami Hyypia and Lucas Leiva making way.

Reading, having pulled themselves marginally away from the relegation battle with two successive wins, were unchanged from the side that beat Manchester City last weekend as they went in search of their first victory at Anfield.

Alonso saw an early shot deflected into Marcus Hahnemann's arms while Ryan Babel and Torres both looked confident and dangerous.

But Reading stunned their hosts with an exceptional goal after a free-kick wide on the left for Arbeloa's foul on Stephen Hunt.

John Oster guided the ball across the edge of the penalty area and the unmarked Matejovsky smashed a swerving volley into the top corner off the crossbar with Jose Reina motionless.

Liverpool's response was a fine ball from Gerrard that sent Torres away but Hahnemann rushed from his line to make a fine block on the edge of the box.

It was going to take something special to match Matejovsky's effort and it came from Mascherano, only the second goal of his first-team career with Corinthians, River Plate, West Ham and now Liverpool.

The Argentina international gained possession 40 yards out and surged forward to lash the ball high past Hahnemann into the top right-hand corner.

Liverpool almost scored again when Mascherano's sweeping ball out to Babel set the Dutch youngster moving and he cut in before lashing an angled drive that Hahnemann beat away.

Babel's diving header from Gerrard's cross a minute later was rightly ruled out for offside before Dirk Kuyt hooked over Arbeloa's cross on the turn.

But Reading were competitive and aggressive and the pace of Kevin Doyle and the spiky involvement of Hunt always had the Berkshire side in the game.

Alonso, from 30 yards, almost put Liverpool ahead a minute from the break but the hosts struck soon after half-time.

Torres was brought down out on the left after 48 minutes and when Gerrard lifted the free-kick into the box the Spain striker rose unchallenged to head down and wide of Hahnemann.

Kuyt headed just over from Fabio Aurelio's cross before Hunt, not surprisingly, got himself booked for yet another foul on Arbeloa.

Torres' crossfield ball sent Babel away on the left and the winger side-stepped three defenders before blasting his shot over the top.

Reading then took off Long, sending on Dave Kitson after 63 minutes. The Irish striker was far from impressed, hurling his shirt onto the track before being reprimanded by a clearly angry Reading boss Steve Coppell for his action.

Hahnemann then saved well to beat out an Aurelio drive with Torres heading the rebound just wide.

Andre Bikey was next into the book for a foul on Gerrard and the Cameroon international became involved in a heated exchange with the Liverpool captain and referee Andre Marriner before the yellow card was shown.

Cisse was booked for a foul on Torres after 87 minutes before Alonso fired over from a Riise pass.

Reading threw everything forward and there was loud appeals for a penalty when Gerrard charged down a Kitson shot in injury-time but Liverpool held on.



Teams


Liverpool Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Alonso,Mascherano, Kuyt (Benayoun 80), Gerrard (Hyypia 90),Babel (Riise 83), Torres.


Subs Not Used: Itandje, Crouch.


Goals: Mascherano 19, Torres 48.


Reading Hahnemann, Rosenior, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Shorey,Oster (Kebe 72), Harper, Matejovsky (Cisse 74), Hunt, Doyle,Long (Kitson 63).


Subs Not Used: Federici, Sonko.


Booked: Hunt, Ingimarsson, Matejovsky, Bikey, Cisse.


Goals: Matejovsky 5.


Att: 43,524


Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Fernando Torres Takes 20-goal Salute

The Kop calls him “Monster” as in “Monster Masch”. Javier Mascherano is a beast of a talent and one reason Liverpool are looking frightening again.

Rafael Benitez’s side have rediscovered form too late to challenge for the Premier League but they are timing their renaissance perfectly for their European ambitions.

Mascherano, massive in the San Siro on Tuesday, loomed once more yesterday in a victory that was never quite comfortable because of Liverpool’s inability to score a third goal. The two they did get were, however, remarkable. With his second-half winner, Fernando Torres became his club’s first player since Robbie Fowler in 1995-96 to score 20 goals in a league season.

With his first-half equaliser, Mascherano was equally historic. Even Jamie Carragher had a better strike-rate than the Argentine until he rattled one in from 20 yards for his maiden goal for Liverpool. It was only the second at club level in his entire career.

His compatriot, Javier Zanetti, reacted irritably to suggestions Internazionale were eliminated from the Champions League by a side with just two world-class footballers, Torres and Steven Gerrard. What about Mascherano? Zanetti said. Jose Reina and — as a penalty box defender — Jamie Carragher could be added to the list and Xabi Alonso has his world-class days. Alonso was restored to the starting XI after falling out with Benitez and played better than for months.

Steve Coppell was rewarded for selecting Marek Matejovsky, despite trouble created by an interview in which the Czech said his manager “does nothing during training”.

Forgiveness played its part in a game not easy to forget. Matejovsky set it up nicely with his gorgeous opening goal, spurring Liverpool to respond with fluent, thrilling football, driven by their five-star midfield. The second period could not compete for intrigue once Torres gave Liverpool the lead and yet there was almost a twist when, in stoppage time, Gerrard threw himself in front of a shot from Reading substitute Dave Kitson and the ball struck his arm. Andre Marriner ignored calls for a penalty: Gerrard had not intentionally handled but by using his whole body as a barrier, was it entirely accidental the ball struck his arm? “They’ve either all got to be given or none given,” said Coppell, rightly pointing out the lack of consistency in how referees view such situations.

Few pass as sensibly and subtly as Alonso and the Spaniard was integral to Liverpool’s quick and varied movement. Reading would have buckled just a few weeks ago but consecutive wins had given Coppell’s players assurance and they kept their shape and kept a foothold in the game. Matejovsky’s fifth-minute goal was eye-popping. Coppell said he had been working on making his team less predictable at set-pieces and Liverpool had expected John Oster to cross into the box rather than float a free kick towards the far corner of the area.

Nobody could have known how well Matejovsky would catch his volley, a missile that careered off the woodwork and landed in a startled Reina’s net.

Liverpool recovered quickly. Alonso skimmed the bar, Gerrard volleyed close and Torres had gone through on Marcus Hahnemann, forcing a save. Then a lovely sequence of passing brought Mascherano into play and, dropping a shoulder, he burst past Stephen Hunt and thrashed a shot beyond Hahnemann before roaring his celebrations to the Kop. Mascherano gave a true allrounder’s performance involving long and short passing, pneumatic-drill tackling and his new-found goal threat.

Yet Reading could not be discounted and used the ball well on the few occasions they were allowed to enjoy it. Shane Long spurned a chance to play Oster through and threw his shirt at the dugout when substituted. Coppell excused his petulance, saying Long was angry at the refereeing, but said: “I’ve told him I never want to see that again.”

After competing so manfully, it was odd for them to gift Liverpool the winner. Liam Rosenior fouled Torres and Gerrard found his striker with a floated free kick. Andre Bikey and Ivor Ingimarsson did nothing to prevent the world’s deadliest striker on current form from jumping cleanly and getting in a header. Torres powered the ball past Hahnemann unerringly for his 27th strike of the season and 20th in 20 Anfield appearances.

George Gillett "Enjoying" Being Involved At Liverpool

George Gillett today claimed the weakness of the US dollar in international currency markets is making it difficult for him to invest in Liverpool.

Liverpool's co-owner told journalists at the IMG World Congress of Sports that the slump in the dollar has left him frustrated.

He said: "We've invested internationally with Liverpool and with Montreal in Canada, and it's had a very positive effect on both of them from the standpoint of strengthening the value.

"On the other hand, it's made it more difficult in terms of investing in those businesses because the dollar is really tremendously weak compared to where we started. It just costs us more to send money to those franchises, those businesses."

Gillett – who also owns the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team and the Evernham Motorsports NASCAR team, also insisted that despite the ongoing controversy of his co-ownership of the club with Tom Hicks, he is still enjoying being associated with one of the biggest names in world sport.

"I'm really enjoying all three teams, but for different reasons. In Liverpool, it's a long distance away and there's been a fair amount of controversy over there.

"In spite of that, the boys are playing very well and I'm proud of them."

Fernando Torres: My Delight At Getting A Liverpool Song

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres admits he is thoroughly enjoying the praise from the club’s supporters in what has been a prolific first season at Anfield.

The Spain international left home-town club Atletico Madrid for Liverpool in a £20million-plus deal last summer, and he has quickly won a place in the hearts of the Reds fans with a phenomenal return of 26 goals in 35 appearances so far.

“I feel very wanted, every game I notice it more, like when the fans chant your name against Inter in the Champions League,” the 23-year-old told Spanish radio station Punto Radio.

Torres was also a hero at Atletico, where he came through the youth ranks and was named as club captain at the age of only 19

However, despite scoring 82 goals in 214 league games for the Rojiblancos he could not bring the club any silverware, and made the decision to leave for England at the end of last season.

Torres added: “They are feelings that I had at Atleti, but to experience them away from your home is even more special and different because I have not had close bonds with the club since I was little.”

Torres Delight At Support

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres admits he is loving life at Anfield.

The Spanish striker has became an instant Kop favourite with 26 goals in his 35 appearances so far this season.

The Spain international left home-town club Atletico Madrid for Liverpool in a £20million-plus deal last summer.


"I feel very wanted, every game I notice it more, like when the fans chant your name against Inter in the Champions League," the 23-year-old told Spanish radio station Punto Radio.

Torres was also a hero at Atletico, where he came through the youth ranks and was named as club captain at the age of only 19

However, despite scoring 82 goals in 214 league games for the Rojiblancos he could not bring the club any silverware, and made the decision to leave for England at the end of last season.

Torres added: "They are feelings that I had at Atleti, but to experience them away from your home is even more special and different because I have not had close bonds with the club since I was little."