Hicks To Use Benítez As Pawn In Anfield Power Struggle

Tom Hicks is considering raising the stakes in the Liverpool power struggle by asking his co-owner George Gillett to place on record whether Rafael Benítez features in his long-term plans for Anfield.

The Liverpool manager has been in frequent email contact with the Americans since Hicks demanded the resignation of Rick Parry last week and revealed, to the alleged surprise of Benítez, that the chief executive had been present at a meeting with the manager's potential successor, the now Bayern Munich-bound Jürgen Klinsmann. Benítez has sought an explanation of Parry's role at the meeting in New York last November and will decide on his own position at the culmination of the club's Champions League campaign.

Benítez and Parry attended a memorial service at Anfield yesterday to commemorate the 96 supporters who died at Hillsborough and, though the chief executive has declared his willingness to discuss the issue with the manager, the rival factions at Liverpool honoured an agreement not to detract from the 19th anniversary of the disaster with further public debate. Hicks, however, intends to intensify efforts to oust Parry and secure majority control of Liverpool by pressuring Gillett to reveal his views on Benítez's continued presence at Anfield. The Spaniard, unsurprisingly, also wants clarification on the matter from the co-chairman before the ownership saga is resolved.

Thus far only Hicks has stated that Benítez will remain in charge should he gain control of Liverpool, and he is believed to be willing to give the manager the greater influence over transfers that he wants should his bid for control succeed. Gillett, by contrast, has offered support only for Parry since Hicks asked him to resign less than 48 hours after the club's Champions League quarter-final defeat of Arsenal and has remained silent on the manager's position were he to purchase Hicks's stake in Liverpool.

Both Benítez and Hicks are acutely aware of the manager's popularity at Anfield and how divisive it would be to Gillett's bid for control, or attempt to sell his share to Dubai International Capital, should his support for Parry come at the expense of the Spaniard. Hicks could formally request Gillett's approval for the chief executive's departure at boardroom level and is also due to appear on television today to reiterate his opposition to Parry, although it is understood Hicks gave the interview earlier this week on the condition it would be aired after the anniversary of Hillsborough.

Tom Hicks Set To Speak Out About Liverpool On TV

Liverpool are bracing themselves for the next saga in their boardroom war when Tom Hicks goes public on the current fallout once again today.

The Anfield co-owner was set to record a television interview last night which is being withheld for broadcast later today.

But the Texan’s recent track record of not holding back in his criticisms of fellow owner George Gillett or chief executive Rick Parry suggests more grenades in the battle for power will be thrown out into the open.

Hicks has already demanded Parry’s resignation in the past week, berating the club’s marketing record under his leadership as well as criticising him for not making it clear to manager Rafael Benitez that he attended a meeting with former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

That development forced Benitez to demand a meeting with Parry to clarify his position.

Hicks’s latest public statement will come just hours after the memorial service held to commemorate the19th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, on a day when the in-fighting was put to one side.

Parry and Benitez did meet briefly before the service and sat three seats apart in the stands but the manager emphasised the importance of not letting anything overshadow the tribute to the 96 supporters who lost their lives in the 1989 tragedy.

“This is obviously an important day of the year for everybody connected with our club,” said Benitez yesterday.

“We must take time to remember those who lost their lives at Hillsborough and to be with their families and friends. We must give them our support and show that we are thinking of them.

“It’s important we pay our respects.”

Carragher In Awe Of Torres

Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher has waxed lyrical about the club's Spanish sensation Fernando Torres, proclaiming him to be "the stand out striker in world football".

“El Nino” has set the Premiership alight since signing from Atletico Madrid last summer for a club-record £23m fee, but the money seems to have been well spent as the striker has already scored 30 in all competitions is well placed to beat Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of 23 goals scored in his first Premier League season.

"For me, Fernando is probably the stand out striker in world football and I'm just delighted that he's in a Liverpool shirt," said Carragher, who certainly knows a thing or two about what makes a world-class striker.

"To get 30 goals in your first season is a fantastic achievement and hopefully he can go on and get a few more goals this season.

"People said he didn't have his best game against Blackburn but he scored another important goal and that's his job," he added.

Carragher went on to echo his boss's calls for full focus on the next match against Fulham, despite the fact that the first-leg of the Champions League clash with Chelsea is looming large.

"We've got to concentrate on the Fulham game first," Carragher continued. "We can't afford to look ahead to games in the future.

"If we were to take our eye off the game against Fulham we could end up losing that and maybe losing a bit of confidence for when we do play Chelsea."

Benitez: Fourth Place A Priority

Liverpool have the little matter of a Champions League semi-final against habitual Euro-rivals Chelsea next week, but manager Rafa Benitez is unequivocal: securing fourth spot in the Premier League is the first priority.

Rafa Benitez insists that it is essential for Liverpool to clinch fourth place in the Premier League before his side go into their European showdown with Chelsea next Tuesday.

Liverpool are involved in a scrap with neighbours Everton for fourth place, which would also guarantee qualification for next season's Champions League.

But the Reds are also due to face Chelsea in the semi-finals of this year's Champions League, with the first leg at Anfield on 22nd April, and the return at Stamford Bridge the following week.

Benitez wants his squad to be able to focus fully on Chelsea after the weekend by reinforcing their hold on fourth spot. That means taking three points off struggling Fulham on Saturday.

"It's really important," Benitez told Liverpool's official website when asked about the significance of nailing down fourth place in the table.

"If we can guarantee the fourth position then it will be much better for us and we can focus on the Champions League.

"If we cannot then, okay, we need to use the squad and try to be strong in both competitions."

Liverpool currently hold a five-point advantage over their Merseyside rivals Everton, and a victory against Fulham would all but guarantee the Reds fourth place if the Toffees lose at home to Chelsea on Thursday.

Notorious for his rotation policy, Benitez admits he may be forced to use all members of his squad in order to achieve his aim.

"We will analyse our team and see how the players are," added Benitez. "We will also analyse Fulham.

"We will think about Chelsea but for us to be in the top four is really important and we will have enough energy to play against Chelsea on Tuesday."

Former Liverpool Chairman Moores 'Heartbroken' And 'Let Down' By American Owners

Liverpool's former chairman says he is heartbroken and feels let down by the Americans who bought the club from him last year.

David Moores, who retains his seat on the board, said Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. misled him about not burdening the Reds with debt and warned that their feud risks turning English soccer's most decorated club into a laughing stock.

Breaking a year-long silence, Moores said he was enraged when the Anfield civil war intensified Thursday with Hicks demanding the resignation of long-serving chief executive Rick Parry.

Gillett came out in support of Parry, widening the public rift between the co-owners.

"It's heartbreaking. I'm almost lost for words about the damage that's being done to the club at the present time," Moores was quoted as telling Saturday's edition of the Liverpool Echo.

"I do feel let down. With everything that's going on, I have to feel let down. This is not how I foresaw it and I'm sure it's not how the fans foresaw it.

"If I could have afforded to take the club forward I would have done, but I couldn't. I didn't have the sort of money you need for a new stadium and 30-40 million pounds a year for new players.

"So I had no option. I would love to still be in charge but I would have held the club back."

Moores sold his controlling 51 percent stake in the club to the duo before last February and the club's remaining shareholders later sold their stock.

"They talked about putting the money in and the new stadium and having no debt on the club," he said. "At the time I think we all felt it would be a good deal but it's not all materialized."

Gillett and Hicks bought Liverpool for £218.9 million in March 2007, which included an agreement to pay off about £45m of debt and a pledge to build and finance a 60,000-seat stadium.

When the loan used to buy Liverpool was refinanced in January, the club was burdened with debt topping £105m.

Gillett wants to sell his 50 percent stake to an oil-rich Dubai consortium, but Hicks has threatened to veto the deal because he wants overall control. Dubai International Capital has been unsettled by the uncertainty and has halted talks for now.

"It needs to be resolved as quickly as possible," Moores said. "The two owners don't agree on a way forward and unity is essential.

"They have got to stop thinking of themselves and start thinking of the club, its values, its traditions and its heritage. They have to do what is best for the club and get it sorted as quickly as possible because what is happening at the moment is not doing it any good."

The strife is distracting attention from the bid to capture a sixth European Cup.

Liverpool beat Arsenal 5-3 on aggregate Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the third time in four years.

"We should now be focusing on continuity, stability and working our socks off towards enjoying what will hopefully be a super night in Moscow," for the Champions League final, Moores said.

"But when things are played out like they are at present, it virtually makes the club a laughing stock and that's not acceptable."

Parry Insists Liverpool Will Patch It Up With Boss Rafa Benitez

Rick Parry stepped in as peacemaker yesterday after it emerged that Liverpool made two attempts to install Jurgen Klinsmann as their new manager.

A seething Rafa Benitez demanded answers from the Anfield board after learning over the weekend that Parry had been involved in one of the clandestine get-togethers with the former Germany coach.

Although clearly taken aback at becoming embroiled in an escalating war of words among Anfield's hierarchy, Liverpool's embattled chief executive attempted to take the sting out of the latest fall-out by promising Benitez clear-the-air talks in the next few days.

Parry's priority is attending today's memorial service to mark the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, but he intends trying to patch up his differences with Benitez at the earliest opportunity, saying: "I am more than happy to sit down and talk to Rafa about this."

Although there have been calls from co-owner Tom Hicks for Parry to stand down, Benitez could be on dangerous ground after questioning the former Premier League chief's conduct in an angry outburst after Sunday's 3-1 win over Blackburn.

Several well-placed Anfield observers are adamant Benitez would have been dismissed by now but for another outstanding European campaign which appeased George Gillett and, in particular, Hicks.

With doubts persisting about Hicks's financial muscle to take full control and Gillett thought to be exploring ways of raising the necessary funds for a buy-out of his own, Benitez could find his confrontational approach rebounding on him.

After admitting that the former Valencia manager had almost talked himself out of a job earlier in the season, Hicks now appears to have formed a solid alliance with him, possibly influenced by the popular Spaniard's standing with fans.

Hicks and his son, Tom Junior, are in a minority on the board, though, and Benitez may have left himself vulnerable by seeming to side with them and by taking on Parry in such public fashion.

Even so, Benitez's mood will not be helped by the revelation that Parry, Hicks, Gillett and other board members had already sounded out Klinsmann when they convened at the new Bayern Munich manager's holiday home in California last November.

The Liverpool boss claimed he had been undermined by the development and demanded clarification from the board about where he stood and why details of the initial meeting had been kept from him. It is understood he may even have fired off emails to Hicks and Gillett on Sunday night, underlining his displeasure.

Rumours are gathering pace that he could be on borrowed time, but there is another scenario. As he approaches his 48th birthday tomorrow, Benitez may yet beat his paymasters to the punch by walking away.

Benitez has form for packing up and leaving whenever boardroom conflict threatens to cramp his style and the outsmarting of Inter Milan's Roberto Mancini and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger will have sent his stock soaring in Italy and his native Spain.

Just as he quit Valencia in despair over a perceived lack of transfer backing, so his exasperated tone on Sunday hinted at a resignation that had nothing to do with calls for Parry's head.

Valencia are ready to welcome Benitez back after one or two significant boardroom changes and Atletico Madrid are also monitoring his availability.

Both Milan clubs are considering a change of manager, but it is the thought of Atletico winning the chase that will send a shudder through Fernando Torres.

Seeing Benitez take charge of his old club would be unbearable for the Spain striker.

"I think and hope Rafa is going to be at Liverpool for a long time," said Torres. "He is backed by the players and fans and his record is there for all to see."

Benitez And Parry Hold Brief Talks As Anfield Rows Continue To Rumble On

The futures of Rafael Benitez and Rick Parry remain in doubt after the two held a brief meeting prior to Tuesday's Hillsborough memorial service.

Benitez was furious when co-owner Tom Hicks revealed Parry was present at a meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann, a possible replacement for the Liverpool manager. Hicks has demanded the resignation of Parry but George Gillett, Hicks' feuding business partner, has backed the chief executive.

Benitez and Parry discussed the situation in private before the Anfield service on the 19th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, which cost 96 Liverpool fans their lives. They sat a few seats apart at the service. Neither man commented.

Benitez, who led the first-team squad at the service, said: 'This is obviously an important day of the year for everybody connected with our club. We must take time to remember those who lost their lives at Hillsborough. We must give them our support and show that we are thinking of them.'

Hicks is certain to stir up more controversy today when he gives an interview to Sky TV.

Meanwhile, Bolton manager Gary Megson has urged Benitez to pick his best side to face Bolton's rivals Fulham and Birmingham. Benitez was criticised, particularly by Sheffield United's then manager Neil Warnock, when he rested players last May and lost 1-0 to relegation-haunted Fulham.

Liverpool travel to Fulham again on Saturday and visit Birmingham seven days later. Megson said: 'Liverpool are going to have a massive say in which teams go down. We would hope that Rafa Benitez will retain the integrity of the Premier League with his squad selection.'

Parry To Play Peacemaker With Rafa

Liverpool chief executive is keen to patch things up between himself and club manager Rafael Benitez, following recent rumours the two were at odds over the Jurgen Klinsmann debacle.

The ongoing war of words behind the scenes at Anfield is gravely compromising the prestigious club's integrity, but the owners, the manager and the chief executive are deeply embroiled in a saga that does not look like ending any time soon.

The latest developments have come with co-owner Tom Hicks asking chief executive Rick Parry to resign due to what he deemed incompetence in his position.

Parry refused, and looks unlikely to walk, as he has the backing of fellow co-owner Gillett - who is currently at odds with his business partner - as well as former owner and board member David Moores.

However, Rafa Benitez's influence could yet prove pivotal. It is rumoured the Spanish tactician is disillusioned with Parry's involvement in the saga that saw the club hold a meeting with German legend Jurgen Klinsmann, presumably with a view to lining him up as Rafa's replacement.

Parry, though, is intent on maintaining good relations with Benitez, who said yesterday he would be demanding answers as soon as possible regarding many of the recent revelations in the press.

Attending a memorial status on Monday for the Hillsborough disaster, Parry was quoted as saying: "I am more than happy to sit down and talk to Rafa about this."

However, Rafa's alleged displeasure with Parry could put his job under threat once more. With the drama seemingly endless and the majority of the board in favour of Parry, should Benitez be unable to resolve his issues with the chief executive or simply lose his patience with the unstable ownership, the Champions League winning manager could leave.

There are several European clubs who may be looking for a new manager this summer, and while the Special One, Jose Mourinho has been linked with so many of them, Benitez could be an equally attractive candidate in some quarters.

Both Milan clubs have had issues with their respective coaches, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have had coaching issues, though the latter club look far more likely to make a change this summer. Also, Rafa's old club Valencia are in some degree of turmoil despite being in the Copa del Rey final against Getafe on Wednesday.

Liverpool star striker Fernando Torres - a Madrid native, like his manager - is hopeful and optimistic that his boss will be going nowhere.

"I think and hope Rafa is going to be at Liverpool for a long time," he declared. "He is backed by the players and fans and his record is there for all to see."

Rafael Benitez Hopes To Claim More Ammunition From Europe

Rafael BenÍtez is expected to make a decision on his future once Liverpool’s Champions League campaign and last hope of silverware this season comes to an end. The manager believes that the situation at Anfield is becoming increasingly unworkable as the civil war that has engulfed the club shows no signs of abating.

Despite the bitter boardroom ructions, Liverpool have impressed on the pitch, progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League and assuming pole position in the fight for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League, but BenÍtez is deeply concerned that the off-field troubles could extend into the summer and wreak havoc with preseason plans.

With the “first refusal” agreement between the club’s co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, which stipulates that one must offer the other the chance to purchase his 50 per cent stake before selling to a third party and vice versa, not due to expire until the end of next month, and with Rick Parry, the chief executive, refusing to bow to Hicks’s demands that he resign, BenÍtez sees no immediate end to the crossfire tearing the club apart.

While his position is by no means assured even if he does opt to stay on, BenÍtez is aware that there would be no shortage of potential suitors at the end of the season - Barcelona and Inter Milan are expected to change managers - and that a second Champions League victory in four years would do his prospects no harm.

Although BenÍtez is in a significantly stronger position than before Christmas, when it emerged that the Liverpool owners had met Jürgen Klinsmann about the possibility of the former Germany coach taking over as manager, Dubai International Capital, the Arab investment consortium, may choose to appoint its own man should it win control at Anfield. Hicks’s support for the Spaniard is viewed by some within the club as little more than a smokescreen with which to curry favour among fans.

BenÍtez believes that he has been undermined on one too many occasions after it emerged yesterday that the club had held two meetings with Klinsmann behind his back.

The first was in New York and attended by Hicks, Gillett, Parry and other members of the Liverpool board, while the second took place at Hicks’s holiday home in California during Thanksgiving weekend in November, when Parry was not present.

Although aware that Gillett and Hicks had met Klinsmann, who takes charge of Bayern Munich on July 1, BenÍtez reacted with disgust on Sunday to the news that Parry had attended one of the meetings, claiming that it further undermined his position and demanding immediate clear-the-air talks with the board.

There were suggestions that BenÍtez exchanged e-mails with Gillett and Hicks on Sunday, but while Parry said yesterday that he would be “more than happy to sit down and talk with Rafa about this”, it is unclear whether any discussions have been held between the two. Parry and BenÍtez are expected to attend a memorial service today to mark the 19th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

With the Liverpool players and about 3,000 supporters also likely to be in attendance to remember the 96 people killed in the tragedy, respect should be restored for a day at least, although the war of words may resume tomorrow when Sky Sports televises an interview with Hicks.

Neither Hicks nor Gillett, who will continue to stand by Parry despite his partner’s claims that he will make a “formal request” to his fellow American to terminate the chief executive’s contract, are expected to attend the memorial service.

Although Fernando Torres, the Liverpool striker, expressed confidence yesterday that BenÍtez would be at the club “for a long time”, Ladbrokes were offering even money on the manager not being in charge at the start of next season, while the bookmakers could not separate BenÍtez and Parry with odds of 5-6 on who might go first.

The irony for BenÍtez is that he joined Liverpool primarily to get away from the boardroom problems he encountered at Valencia, but as things stand, a return to Spain may prove to be the most appealing option.

Torres Has Ruud Target In His Sights

Fernando Torres has revealed that he has already reached the target he set himself for his debut season in English football.

On Sunday against Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool's 24-year-old Spanish international scored to take his season's total to 30 goals in all competitions - including 22 in the Premier League - in his Anfield campaign following his move from Atletico Madrid last summer.

With four games left in the Premier League, Torres could also set the record for the highest goals tally by a newcomer.

That is currently held be former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored 23 Premier League goals in his debut season for the Red Devils.

"It is what I was dreaming for. I expected it to take more time. Achieving all that in the first season is amazing," Torres told Liverpool's official website.

"The team have been working very well and helped me a lot.

"Settling has been very easy and you can see it on the pitch. I have been helped with everything.

"Every player feels important thanks to the fans, from Pepe [Reina, the Liverpool keeper] to the strikers, because they sing their names and support them.

"I am proud and want to beat every record I can. I feel important in the team. The game against Chelsea gave me confidence to carry on.

"I have never scored 30 goals in a season in my career and I have made it here. It has been helped by the team's style of football."

Fernando Torres Dreaming Of Barcelona Final

Fernando Torres admits he would love to face Barcelona in the final of this season's Champions League.

While Manchester United and Barcelona meet in one semi-final, Liverpool meet Chelsea — in a repeat of their 2005 and 2007 semi-final — with only Avram Grant's men standing between the Merseysiders and a place in the final in Moscow on May 21.

While Torres, who has scored 30 goals in an outstanding debut season at Anfield, is cautious about looking too far ahead, he is already dreaming of the final.

"We want to get to the final and it would be great to face Barcelona," he said. "Here the people want to face Manchester [United], but first we've got to get past the semi-final against Chelsea, which won't be easy."

The former Atletico Madrid forward has been a revelation in his first season in the Premier League, and he insists the competition in England has been more intense than the Spanish league.

He added: "I think that the difference between the two leagues are the top teams. I think the top four in England are above the top four in Spain, especially in terms of consistency, but the rest of the teams in Spain are better, there's more quality.

"But here every set of supporters cheers for their team and at Anfield the atmosphere is exceptional. Even when you drop important points at home, they don't stop supporting you."

Reds' Kewell Cool On Juve Link

Harry Kewell's agent has rejected claims the Liverpool winger is ready to agree a summer move to Italian giants Juventus.

The Australian is out of contract at the end of the season and, with the Reds unlikely to offer him a new deal, the former Leeds man seems certain to move on.

Juve, Sunderland and Celtic have all been mentioned as possible suitors for the 29-year-old, but the player's adviser denies a deal is close to being agreed.

'I have not spoken to anyone yet regarding a possible Bosman move for Harry,' Bernie Mandic explained.

'Harry has not spoken to anyone and there have been no discussions with anyone from Juventus.

'We are basically waiting and seeing how things go for the rest of the season. There is no need to rush into anything for Harry and we will see what Liverpool say.'

Injuries have restricted Kewell to just 108 starts in five years at Anfield, however he is currently fit but out of favour under Rafa Benitez.

However, Mandic insists his client will not struggle for work if he is allowed to leave the club as a Bosman free transfer in the summer.

'If Harry does become a Bosman I think there will be no shortage of clubs interested as Harry has shown over the years what a great player he is,' he added.

Hillsborough: Liverpool FC To Play Celtic FC In Benefit Match At Anfield

The Liverpool FC and Celtic FC teams that played days after the Hillsborough tragedy will play a benefit match at Anfield on the 20th anniversary of the disaster.

Phil Hammond, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, announced the decision during today’s memorial service held in The Kop.

He said: "The money raised will be split between HFSG and Marina Dalgleish Cancer Unit Appeal and will be played on, or about, April 19 next year."

He said the fixture would feature as many of the 1989 first teams of both clubs as possible.

About 6,000 fans applauded the announcement which came at the end of an emotional service.

Former player Brian Hall gave a reading from St Paul's letter to the Romans and Gary Ablett read 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 51-57.

Rafa Eyes City's Johnson

Rafa Benitez is preparing to launch a ₤12 million summer bid for Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson.

The Liverpool boss has attempted to capture the 20-year-old twice before, and this latest effort comes despite the boardroom turmoil at Anfield that sees Benitez’s post less than 100 per cent secure.

Talks are already underway with City, and Johnson is reportedly excited about the prospect of a move to Merseyside as negotiations move towards the final stages.

Benitez initially intended to lure the England Under-21 international away from Eastlands in a January swap involving Peter Crouch. But the move was halted as Johnson underwent surgery on his groin, and as Portsmouth have since expressed interest in Crouch, Benitez will try to secure Johnson’s services regardless of whether a swap deal is agreed.

Johnson has three years remaining on his contract with City, and the club will offer him an improved deal in an attempt to keep him. But he is keen to leave for Liverpool and the promise of European football, to fight for his place alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

Benayoun Urges Reds To Stay Focused

Israel international Yossi Benayoun has warned his team-mates at Liverpool not to take their eye of the prize in the quest for fourth position.

The creative midfielder insists that although the Reds are in the driving seat to finish fourth ahead of Everton, any slip-ups could easily allow their Merseyside rivals to take advantage.

"We have a good advantage because we have more points and a better goal difference," the Israeli midfielder told the club's official website.

"But there are still 12 points to be played for, so we have to make sure we do not lose concentration because if we do Everton could close the gap.

"It is obviously important for the club to finish as high up the league as possible.

"We want to play in the Champions League because it is a competition we enjoy and to do that you have to make sure you finish in the top four.

"In the last few weeks we have played really well in the league and, apart from the game against Man United, we have had some good results.

"But now we have to keep our good form going because there are no easy games in the Premier League."

Premier League Preview: LiverpooL vs. Blackburn

What a month it has been for Liverpool Football Club. When given the tough task of facing Manchester United, Everton and then Arsenal three times in a row within a short space of time, Reds fans must really have feared for their misfiring side.

And with the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United with Mascherano’s sending off ringing in their ears, the team went into the Everton game knowing that only a win would do in order to stay in pole position for that vitally important fourth and final Champions League spot.

Having managed to beat their local rivals, Benitez’s heroes approached the trilogy of Arsenal games in quite confident yet cautious fashion. A 1-1 away draw for the first leg in the Champions League tilted the fixture in Liverpool’s side, especially with Dirk Kuyt’s away goal. Yet now, both sides then had to battle it out again, this time for Premier League points.

The League game was also at the Emirates and many will have expected Arsenal to give it more of a go, seeing as Liverpool would be encouraged to have both eyes on the Champions League. However, Benitez shuffled his pack, gave a debut to Damien Plessis and even started the lanky forward Peter Crouch.

With so many changes and much confusion, the England forward managed to give Liverpool the lead with an impressive goal, to add to the hat-trick he scored against Wenger’s side last year. Arsenal did equalize, but any hopes of winning the title were now fading away. With this in mind, it would be sensible to say the Champions League game would now be the most important fixture in both sides season. After all, neither of these clubs were now realistically going to win the league. With the tie poised at 1-1, battle was ready to commence once again at Anfield.

It must be said, the third game between these sides was a real treat, and possibly the best I have witnessed for a long time. Arsenal started the better, with fluent passing and good build-up. Little surprise then to see them score the first goal, Diaby the man to slot the ball past a troubled Pepe Reina.

All of a sudden, the tie was in Arsenal’s favour. Rubbish defending at the back produced a Liverpool equalizer. Sami Hyypia showing why he is still an important member of the side, with a powerful header into the corner of the net. At half time it seemed, this game was going to extra time.

You may wonder why Fernando Torres has not been mentioned thus far? Well, as with all exceptional players, many of them have reasonably rotten games, but one moment of magic gives them all the glory. This was the case with ‘El Nino’ as they call him.

Just on the side of the box, he turned and shot all in one split-second. Almunia was helpless, the Reds seemed to be going through. Arsenal knew that a second goal from them would see them through to the semis on away goals, and Theo Walcott produced a dashing run from his own half to set up another world-class player Adebayor, to easily poke the ball into the back of Liverpool’s net.

With seven minutes to go, it was time for the Anfield crowd to have it’s say. Enter the scene Ryan Babel, a young Dutchman who promises to be so good in the future. When he dashed forward and was brought down in the box, the whole of the Kop screamed ‘penalty’ and it was given.

Very similar to the spot-kick that should have been awarded against the Reds only a week ago, captain marvel Steven Gerrard banged the ball in the back of the net to mark yet another incredible night at Anfield. And when it seemed all over, Ryan Babel sprinted forward, out-muscled Fabregas and scored another goal to send the Reds through 5-3 on aggregate.
The game was a beauty and ensures that Liverpool will meet Chelsea yet again in the semi finals of the competition for the third time in four years. Could it be third time lucky for the Blues, or can Anfield’s magic send Liverpool in search of a sixth Champions League crown? All remains to be seen.

But for now, there is a battle for fourth spot in the league still taking place. Liverpool may be three points ahead of Everton and have a much better goal difference, but a little slip-up could have major consequences. With Blackburn up against the Reds, they will have to work their socks off in order to get any sort of result.

Rovers dream of entering UEFA Cup football next season via the Intertoto competition could well be ended with defeat here. Mark Hughes' men are five points behind sixth-placed Pompey and have only five games to narrow that points gap. Rovers began the season well, just like Liverpool to some extent. But then they slipped and have never really got back to their best since.

We have seen the best of Bentley and Santa Cruz at times this year but the rest of the team aren’t shining as much as they need to in order to deserve a place in Europe. For one, the defence is blighted by injuries and suspensions. With such a problem, no wonder Rovers have started to concede more goals. Blackburn are quite a strong, aggressive, physical side and indeed this does help them to beat fluent, attacking teams; however this is not their only aspect to their game.

Hughes has built a squad full of his own players with attacking flair and on their day, the likes of Pedersen and McCarthy can really hit top gear and out-play sides. Such a performance will be needed against the confident Kopites.

Realistically, Rovers' aim for this season will probably have been to finish in the top six as well as go on a good run in the cup competitions. None of this has happened so it is quite a disappointing campaign for Blackburn. But a last gasp sixth spot finish could ensure that the mood remains positive around Ewood Park. One thing is for sure, Rovers will have to beat Liverpool if they want to achieve this goal.

FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Apr 8 v Arsenal (H) WON 4-2 (CL QF 2L)

Apr 5 v Arsenal (A) DRAW 1-1 (Prem)

Apr 2 v Arsenal (A) DRAW 1-1 (CL QF 1L)

Mar 30 v Everton (H) WON 1-0 (Prem)

Mar 23 v Man Utd (A) LOST 3-0 (Prem)

Mar 15 v Reading (H) WON 2-1 (Prem)

Blackburn Rovers

Apr 5 v Tottenham (H) DRAW 1-1 (Prem)

Mar 29 v Reading (A) DRAW 0-0 (Prem)

Mar 22 v Wigan (H) WON 3-1 (Prem)

Mar 15 v West Ham (A) LOST 2-1 (Prem)

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Anchorman Javier Mascherano is missing from the Reds squad due to increased suspension. The Argentinian did appeal against his lengthened ban however failed and will miss his third and final game. Long-term injuries include Dane Daniel Agger, the young centre-back will not appear again until next season, however his position is covered with Hyypia, Carragher and Skrtel all ready to step in. Wingers Kewell and Pennant both have hamstring problems, but the rest of the squad should be fine. Benitez is likely to convert back to his favourable 4-2-3-1 formation given the success it has brought him in the past couple of months.

Liverpool squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Babel, Benayoun, Alonso, Gerrard, Lucas, Crouch, Torres, Voronin, Kuyt, Itandje.

Blackburn

Rovers pair Dunn and Roberts will have late fitness tests to confirm whether they can take part in this crunch clash. Steven Reid should retain his place despite being substituted against Spurs with cramp last time out.

Blackburn squad: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Roberts, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Vogel, Mokoena, Tugay, Brown.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lucas may not be the obvious choice for a player to watch in Liverpool’s squad, especially with the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard around. However, the Brazilian midfielder can easily slip into Mascherano’s role and his distribution is excellent. He is one for the future, but his thinking is quite ahead of the rest of the opposition and he could perhaps change the game here.

David Bentley has come out about gambling problems which nearly ruined his football career, speaking earlier this week. His mind is fully on football now though and the England international is in sparkling form for Blackburn. He is the biggest threat in the side and Liverpool will be keeping tabs on him.

Hicks Slams 'Arrogant' Parry

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has explained his decision to call for chief executive Rick Parry's resignation, slamming his 'arrogance' and 'inability to manage an organisation'.

The Anfield club has found itself in the headlines for the wrong reasons again in recent days, as the conflict between co-owners Hicks and George Gillett escalates.

The latest twist to the boardroom wrangling came on Thursday when Hicks issued a letter to Parry calling for him to step down.

And in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, the American businessman has hit out at Parry's tenure, while outlining his plans to install a replacement as early as next month.

Hicks said: "Rick Parry has been Liverpool's CEO for 10 years and we haven't won a league championship under his leadership.

"Our commercial revenues have not kept up with other top clubs during that time, which has made it very difficult to compete for the Premier League.

"After watching him operate, I came to the conclusion it was time to ask him to resign, due to his inability to manage an organisation, his seemingly arrogant attitude to our supporters and his lack of communication with [manager] Rafa (Benitez).

"I reached my decision a few weeks ago but waited until after the games against Everton and Arsenal. It is important to try to have a new CEO in place by May so we can begin working with Rafa on player transfers."

But Parry has strongly defended his work on Merseyside, saying: "I stand by my track record in English football and as chief executive of Liverpool Football club.

"It would be inappropriate for me to comment in detail on these allegations - that should be a matter for the Liverpool board.

"In fact, I would welcome an opportunity to discuss these matters with our co-owners and board colleagues.

"This continuous airing of issues in the media is clearly not helpful at this crucial stage of our season."

Hicks Leaked Info To Klinsmann, Rafa Furious

Rafa Benitez will reportedly confront Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks after it came to light that the American has maintained contact with Jurgen Klinsmann.

It is believed that Klinsmann’s representatives contacted Liverpool in order to warn them that the ex-Germany striker had got wind of Benitez’s transfer schemes.

The Merseyside club were shocked when they discovered that someone had supposedly sought Klinsmann’s opinion regarding at least one possible target they had been tracking.

This information will surely infuriate Rafa Benitez, who has been alerting Hicks via private emails of his transfer plans as Liverpool prepare to launch into the summer market, and he will want an explanation as to why the former Tottenham star had been contacted at all.

Klinsmann was interviewed in November as a candidate to succeed Benitez, who was in the midst of a public dispute with Hicks and his policies at the time.

Now Klinsmann is in line to take the reigns from Ottmar Hitzfeld next season at Bayern Munich, and information of this sort being leaked to one of Liverpool’s stronger competitors in the transfer market could be very damaging to the Reds’ hopes of securing their preferred targets this summer.

It has been a turbulent week at Anfield, after Hicks asked Liverpool CEO Rick Parry to resign, sending shockwaves through Merseyside amid the celebrations of Tuesday’s thrilling Champions League victory over Arsenal.

This is just the latest development in Hicks’ attempt to secure sole executive control of the club, following his falling out with co-owner George Gillett and his deflections of Dubai Investment Capital’s efforts to mount a takeover bid.

Benitez refused to comment on the matter ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Blackburn Rovers at Anfield today.

Despite a substandard patch of league form that sees his side occupying fourth spot in the table, Benitez has won over many sceptical fans in recent months due to Liverpool’s continued dominance in Europe, as they prepare to face Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals in two weeks’ time.

Many of Rafa’s supporters are adamant that he should distance himself from Hicks’ regime, as most Liverpool fans seem to prefer the prospect of Gillett selling his majority stake in the club to DIC.

Liverpool Needs To Be Run By The Fans

Liverpool Football Club was once the very model of how a club should be run. It was fierce, secretive and pure - like a cross between the KGB and a nunnery - generous with its friends, implacable with its opponents. It delivered winning teams with a minimum of fuss, and its driving ambition forced it on to become (as it remains) the most successful club in the history of English football.

Now it looks more like an episode of Coronation Street. Those within the club bicker openly like garrulous fishwives on a pavement. With ownership split between two Americans who, we understand, no longer speak to each other except through lawyers, the plot is acted out in a kind of schizoid fantasy land.

All this in the few days following another epic European Championship victory at Anfield, as Liverpool defeated Arsenal to qualify for the semi-final of the most prestigious club competition in the world.

Clubs like Liverpool - and there are many others - feel like family to those who love and support them. The biggest may have 'international brands', which accounts for their attraction to multinational investors; but at heart the 'brand' is their fans and the history of their club. It can never really belong to anyone else.

It was that fundamental recognition of where true ownership lies that drove me to launch the Share Liverpool FC project. It struck me that the 'social sporting' club ownership model, made famous by clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, would be eminently appropriate for a club like LFC.

Why not encourage the fans to buy the club? It has a huge fan base, sustained by one of the most intense relationships in the game. You only had to witness what happened at Anfield last Tuesday night to realise that this is a truly 'special relationship' between team and crowd. Why not at least ask the question: 'Is anyone out there interested?'

I asked friends at a design company called NavyBlue to put a website together quickly and held a press conference to announce the scheme. The sheer number of hits crashed the shareliverpoolfc.com website in seven minutes, at a thousand hits per second. It became clear very quickly that there is a huge appetite out there for this idea.

It's fairly simple in structure. Become a member/single shareholder of Share Liverpool FC with the purchase of a one-off £5,000 share. We'll all put our money together and buy the club. We probably need around 100,000 members out of the estimated 20 million Liverpool fans at home and abroad. Within a month, over 20,000 fans indicated their enthusiasm for the project. Our aim is to take over the club and elect an executive board to run it for a four-year term.

If they're no good, you vote them out next time. There will also be a 'fan parliament' of 100 representatives, also elected by the members, which will act as a sounding board for the executive - just as a similar assembly does at Barcelona. Then we can get on with running a successful football club with a real 'community' commitment. The fee for this column has gone to the Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton, Liverpool.

Babel: I Want To Be The New Henry

Ryan Babel is hopeful that he will one day emulate Thierry Henry and make a permanent transition from winger to feared centred forward.

The Holland international admits he studied the Frenchman's style of play from an early age and is confident he can continue to improve to his game to the sort of level that saw Henry establish a reputation as one the best strikers in the world.

"Henry is an idol for me," said Babel.

"I used to watch a lot of him on TV because he plays upfront and I like to look at how he plays and what kind of decisions he makes at key moments.

"Like me, he started also as a winger before he joined Arsenal and it was unfortunate he left for Spain the year I arrived.

"Benitez knows I like to play upfront, though, and hopefully one day he will give me the chance to play there and for me to focus on my favourite position.

"I'm trying to do the same as Henry by moving from winger to play inside. I try to improve my game so hopefully one day I'll be the same or maybe even better than the level Henry reached.

"I hope to give the manager another choice upfront and even after training I spend half an hour practising something extra such as my finishing or control to reach that level."

Babel made a stunning impact when he appeared as a late substitute in the 4-2 Champions League win over Arsenal in midweek and admits that while the Reds are determined to finish in the top four, the chance to conquer Europe remains their number one goal.

"Our focus is on the Champions League," he continued. "The title's not possible and we must try to end up in the top four instead. It's disappointing as a lot of people expected a great deal of Liverpool this year but we haven't improved on the last few years.

"If we win the Champions League though, then for a lot of fans the season would be good. But if at the end we have nothing it would be very disappointing."