Grant In Line For Kop Abuse

Liverpool are unlikely to report Avram Grant to the Premier League over the Chelsea coach's alleged attempt to tap up Steven Gerrard. Liverpool are known to be irritated by Grant's remarks about their captain, including the phrase "if you can bring him to me, I will be happy", but are likely to rise above a controversy of Grant's making.

The Israeli will receive some reaction from Anfield. Gerrard's manager, Rafa Benitez, will respond to Grant's covetous comments at lunch-time today when he looks forward to tomorrow's Champions League semi-final first leg with Chelsea. Grant can expect an even more ribald response from the Kop, who will also be busy directing their venom at co-owner Tom Hicks. The American is expected to make a rare visit to Anfield.

Liverpool have been down this road with Chelsea before. Gerrard was linked with move to the Bridge in 2004 and in 2005. Jose Mourinho was a huge admirer of Gerrard, and so is his successor as Chelsea manager.

"Gerrard is a great player and a great person," said Grant. "For me, he is the player of the year in England, and maybe in Europe, because of the influence he has on the team. I like him very much as a player and I know him. He is a nice guy and an example to others. He plays against me but he is still my favourite player. If you can bring him to me, I will be happy."

Even with so much chaos in the Anfield boardroom, and Liverpool again failing to bring home the leauge title, Gerrard is unlikely to crave a move to Chelsea as he is settled on his native Merseyside.

Liverpool's captain is expected to start against Chelsea despite missing Saturday's win at Fulham with a neck problem sustained heading balls in training. "The player will say he wants to play, but there's an easy way of finding out whether he's fit," said Benitez. "I will come up and tap him on the left shoulder and if he turns to face me without any pain, we will know he can play. Hopefully he will score with another header on Tuesday."

Sami Hyypia and Javier Mascherano have shaken off knocks, and Liverpool are expected to line up: Reina; Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio; Mascherano, Alonso; Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel; Torres.

Rafael Benitez Has Liverpool Ready To Roll

Avram Grant has every right to look worried. Of all the unnerving prospects the Chelsea manager is facing ahead of tomorrow night's Champions League semi-final at Anfield, the sight of a relaxed Rafael Benitez laughing and joking must be the scariest of all. Liverpool's serial worrier suddenly has the air of a man who knows he has the measure of his opponent.

Europe is his chosen specialist subject, and the question of how to beat Chelsea in the Champions League is one he has got right every time so far. Brushing aside Fulham with their shadow squad on Saturday all but guaranteed Liverpool's participation in next season's competition, and Benitez responded with a disarming stand-up routine of wisecracks that contrasted sharply with Grant's recent morose mumblings.

Asked if he saw any differences from the Chelsea team that Liverpool knocked out at the same stage of last season's Champions League, Benitez replied: "Only in the press conferences. You miss Jose Mourinho, but not me. At the end of the day the players will be the key more than the managers. We are just important to say something. But the best thing for a manager to do is not create any mess, so the players can just play."

Liverpool's owners have created enough mess for one club already, but whatever the risk of his alliance with Tom Hicks, Benitez appears to be relishing the prospect of another strategic summit with Chelsea. "We want this game to be a Champions League game, not a Premier League game. We want that in our minds, playing the Champions League style," he added. In other words, he wants to face Chelsea on his own terms.

Resting seven of tomorrow's likely line-up while easing eight points clear of fifth-placed Everton in the race for the fourth enabled Benitez to beat Fulham on his terms. The huge Liverpool following greeted the occasional touch-line warm-up routines of substitute Fernando Torres as loudly as the two goals that Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch fired past a hapless Kasey Keller. The fans, like the manager, had their minds on other things. It was soon clear that Liverpool's second string would have too much punch and power for a fading Fulham.

Maybe the minds of many home supporters were more concerned with the credit crunch and falling house prices. Friendly suburban Fulham have looked a little too friendly for the Premier League this season. There were no passionate protests or tears at the end of a game that left them staring relegation in the face. The big worry is that a team who try to play attractive passing football could lack the muscle for a quick return to the top-flight.

After the match, manager Roy Hodgson admitted: "People regard a sign of fighting spirit as players flying round the field smashing into others and knocking them over. We are not that kind of team."

Two of Fulham's three remaining games are away from home, and they need to win them all. A better goalkeeper might have stopped both of the Liverpool goals, and Brede Hangeland and Danny Murphy wasted good chances at pivotal moments, but the core of the team in front of Keller lacked the necessary pace and power to hurt Liverpool. Benitez was barely out of the seat in his dug-out.

He voices a diplomatic public respect for Grant but that perhaps masks a hunch that he can outwit his opposite number in the coming week and record a third semi-final success over Chelsea in four years.

"I watched them at Everton on Thursday and they were playing more or less the same," Benitez said. "Avram is doing his job. I respect him because he is being correct. But, as I've said before, the key to them is Abramovich." Are you listening, Mr. Hicks?

Liverpool Chase £8m Swiss Star

Liverpool face a fierce battle with Manchester City to sign Swiss ace Gokhan Inler.

The Udinese midfielder, 23, has been a revelation in Serie A this season and has been watched by a host of Premier League clubs, most notably Liverpool and Manchester City.

And club president Giampaolo Pozzo said: "Many clubs have asked about him but a couple from England are particularly keen. But we would want at least £8million for him because he has been brilliant this season."

City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is desperate to bolster his squad but faces competition from the Kop.

Rafael Benitez Is Wary Of Home Tie

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has admitted that the loss of the "Anfield effect" could dent his side's chances of defeating Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final.

For the third time in four seasons Liverpool, who have doubts over the fitness of captain Steven Gerrard, must beat Chelsea to reach the European Cup final. But whereas Liverpool played at home in the second leg of the two previous encounters, this time they know they must make the most of home advantage tomorrow night ahead of next week's second leg at Stamford Bridge.

"It could be different to last year," Benitez said. "The key has been Anfield in the last year. Against Arsenal you could see a big difference. But we will try and do something important in the first game and the second will be easier.

"With Chelsea you need to score some goals and don't concede. Not conceding is important because they'll have chances.

"Chelsea have a better balance and are stronger in defence. They are not as offensive as Arsenal but stronger in defence. The challenge for us is hard. The difference now is we are in the semi-finals so it will be difficult."

Benitez added that Chelsea were just as formidable under Avram Grant as they were under Jose Mourinho.

"I haven't seen much difference to the team we beat last year," he said. "I have said, Avram is doing a good job."

According to Mourinho, Liverpool face the greater pressure going into the match. "Liverpool have to win at least a cup. If they don't, their season will be a failure."

Reds Banking On Hicks And Parry

Liverpool officials are hoping the feud between the club's co-owner Tom Hicks and chief executive Rick Parry will not affect the women's team.

The female Reds get backing of about £100,000 a year thanks in no small part to Parry, who has also sanctioned an Anfield match on May 10 when Northern Ireland ladies play Liverpool with proceeds going to the Women Against Lung Cancer campaign.

"We are just getting on with our own thing and, at the moment, it's planned to increase our budget next year," said the secretary Jane Campbell.

The manager, David Bradley, whose team lost 4-1 at Watford yesterday, said: "The extra funding we are due next season will mean we'll be able to put players on contracts for the first time and that will help us to compete more with the likes of Arsenal and Everton."

Arsenal's 2-0 win against Bristol Academy and Everton's 2-2 draw with Birmingham City means the Gunners can clinch the league title for a record fifth consecutive season when they entertain Chelsea on Thursday.

Nottingham Forest will be promoted following their 5-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday, a result that saw them complete the Northern Division season undefeated.

Kuyt Happy With Wide Role

Dirk Kuyt says he is happy to play in any position for Liverpool so long as he is able to help the team win trophies.

The Dutchman arrived in England with a reputation as an old fashioned centre-forward, but Rafael Benitez has been using him on the right recently as he settles on a winning formation that uses Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard as the central attacking threat.

But while many had felt it was a makeshift position for Kuyt, he insists he has plenty of experience playing out wide.

"I don't really like to be put in any specific bracket - a right midfielder, right winger, striker or second striker," he told the club's official website.

"I've probably got a bit of all these positions within my game. I can play as a striker, a second striker or on the right or on the left.

"Whatever that may be, I just like to do it my own way.

"But playing on the right is not exactly new to me. I've played there for two years in the Dutch national team and also for a year and a half when I started out at Utrecht.

"I know what to do out there, so it's not like I'm just learning the job."

Kuyt insists he is happy with the way he has played since his role was changed, but he knows it is the overall performance of the team that wins competitions.

"I'm quite happy with my performances since I've been out there. I've scored a few goals as well as provided assists and so I feel it's going well.

"No matter where I play, I like to work really hard for the team with the same main target of helping us win as many games as possible. That is what it is all about.

"It's a team sport and you win things together. That's what I like about football."

Fulham 0 - 2 LiverpooL

Fulham's survival hopes were virtually finished off by goals from Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch as Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez again sent out a virtual reserve side at Craven Cottage.

Benitez risked the wrath of Fulham's relegation rivals by fielding another weakened Liverpool team in west London - a gift which Fulham snapped up almost a year ago with a 1-0 win that ultimately saved them from the drop.

This time the Spaniard made eight changes but once Liverpool had seen off Fulham's inevitable early flurry and taken a 16th-minute lead through a cracking finish by Pennant they always looked likely to justify their manager's decision.

Pennant, who broke a leg in October, scored his second goal in 16 starts this season from a smart pass by Steven Gerrard's replacement Lucas Leiva and Fulham, for all their commitment and sweat, could have done with a little of that power in front of goal.

With Javier Mascherano, Martin Skrtel, Sami Hyypia, Peter Crouch, Andriy Voronin and Pennant, who was jeered mercilessly by the Craven Cottage crowd after winning an early free kick against Clint Dempsey, it was still a Liverpool line-up that could equal the strength of many of their Premier League opponents.

Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres were on the bench but Carragher replaced Sami Hyypia at half-time and Xabi Alonso also came on in midfield.

Skipper Brian McBride recovered quickly from an early knock before Dempsey's determined progress down the left was halted by a crude challenge by Mascherano.

Jimmy Bullard swung in a testing free kick that curled into the six-yard box but keeper Jose Reina collected impressively.

Hyypia and Skrtel had their work cut out with timely interceptions as Fulham found width and movement for Simon Davies and Dempsey to provide a stream of crosses into the box but Fulham were almost caught out by their former right back Steve Finnan's run and cross in the 14th minute.

Defender Paul Stalteri did just enough to put off the towering Crouch who put his header just wide of the mark.

And three minutes later they paid the price for not picking up Leiva in midfield when he ran on to Voronin's pass and provided the perfect lay-off for Pennant to drill a thundering right-foot shot high inside keeper Kasey Keller's left-hand post.

As Fulham's early fire faded, Crouch was close to a second Liverpool goal when he just failed to convert a Pennant cross and the closest Fulham came to equalising before the break was Brede Hangeland's off-target header from another Bullard free kick.

Liverpool looked composed and comfortable throughout the second half even though Reina was left grasping thin air by a Davies cross from the left and a Dempsey snap-shot which both finished wide of the mark.

Russian striker Voronin lifted an overhead kick just too high from a Pennant corner as Liverpool looked for the killer second goal and Yossi Benayoun, enduring a patchy personal performance, twice finished off target from Pennant's assists.

With 20 minutes to go Dempsey's header from a David Healy cross finished just wide but seconds later Crouch sealed the points for Liverpool with a low finish from a Pennant pass which veteran keeper Keller will kick himself for not keeping out.

The ball, well struck though it was, appeared to go clean through the goalkeeper's grasp.

Danny Murphy missed a chance to put Fulham back in for a late shout when he fired his shot at Reina's legs when presented with a clear opening by the classy Bullard's pass.

Grant Admires Gerrard

Avram Grant admits he would love to take Steven Gerrard to Chelsea after revealing his admiration for the Liverpool captain.

The Chelsea manager is preparing to face Gerrard and Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Anfield on Tuesday in what could be a key match for his future at Stamford Bridge.

However, the Israeli has turned the spotlight on Gerrard and claims the impact the 27-year-old has on the Merseyside team makes him the best player in England if not in Europe.

Grant said: "Gerrard is a great player and a great person.

"For me, he is the player of the year in England, and maybe in Europe, because of the influence he has on the team.

"I like him very much as a player and I know him.

"He is a nice guy and an example to others.

"He plays against me but he is still my favourite player."

Chelsea have previously tried to sign Gerrard and Grant added: "If you can bring him to me, I will be happy."

Torres Ready For Biggest Test Yet

Fernando Torres has admitted that reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League with Liverpool represents the pinnacle of his career.

The Reds are due to take on Chelsea in the first leg of their last four contest on Tuesday, and Torres feels that the games against the Blues are the biggest he has ever been involved in.

The Spanish striker will once again carry the weight of expectation in front of goal for the Reds at Anfield, but having already notched on 30 occasions this season he insists that he does feel under any added pressure.

"The emotion I felt after the Arsenal game (in the quarter-finals) was very, very strong. I have never felt like that before," Torres told the News of the World. "I was almost in tears at the end of the match when they crowd were singing.

"If that was a quarter-final, I can't imagine what it will be like playing Chelsea.

"Without doubt, these are the biggest matches of my career.

"I know football means so much and can give everyone strong feelings but it's still a new experience for me.

"I scored my first important Liverpool goal against Chelsea, and I want to do it again on Tuesday.

"That goal gave me confidence to believe I could score in the big matches."

Much has been made of Rafael Benitez's early season rotation which saw Torres frequently left out of the side.

However, the Spaniard believes that the rest has allowed him to remain fresh until the end of the current campaign.

"People ask me if I am getting tired now because I am coming to the end of my first season in England," he said. "Of course it is a hard league but I do not feel tired at all.

"When you are scoring goals and the team is winning games, you have more energy.

"It is only when the team is struggling and you are not playing well or scoring goals, that you don't feel your best.

"My legs are in good shape and my heart is ready for the matches to come."

Reds Waiting On Gerrard Fitness

Rafa Benitez will know if Steven Gerrard is fit for Liverpool's battle with Chelsea if the player looks him in the eye and gives him the nod.

Gerrard, the English heartbeat of the Liverpool team, remains a doubt with a painful neck injury for the first leg of the "all-English" semi-final in which Liverpool attempt to knock out their bitter rivals for a third time in five years.

And Liverpool boss Benitez is trying hard to hide his concern beneath a smile and a few jokes - not the Spaniard's usual public style.

But this, apparently, is the Benitez mood at the moment - despite being caught in the crossfire of the damaging feud between the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett which is rocking Anfield.

Dependent on how the feud works out, Benitez could still be on his way at the end of the season, especially after the much-publicised "secret" meeting between Hicks, Gillett, chief executive Rick Parry and former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann earlier this season.

But Benitez, who insists he loves being at Liverpool and wants to stay, must be comforted by the knowledge he could probably have the pick of Europe's top clubs should he be back on the jobs market in the summer.

He had talks with Liverpool officials last week and claims: "Things seem a little better now but really we have been talking too long about these matters and I want to concentrate on football if it is possible."

And after the little matter of sending out a shadow side to defeat relegation-haunted Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage to practically ensure a fourth place finish in the Premier League, Benitez's football focus shifted firmly to Tuesday night's dust-up with Chelsea.

He has declared that centre-back Sami Hyypia will be fit to play despite coming off at Fulham with a head injury at half-time. And so will dominating midfielder Javier Mascherano even though he "is feeling several injuries" after a bone-crunching series of confrontations at Craven Cottage.

But being without Gerrard for such an encounter with Chelsea is almost unthinkable and Benitez admitted: "With a neck injury you never really know. We've had problems like this with a few players before and they did not play.

"I'll talk to the doctor and we will decide if he can play. If you ask the player he will say yes, of course, but Steven wanted to play against Fulham and he couldn't because when I talked to him his neck wouldn't let him look me.

"He is a bit better now than when he did it in training. We were doing patterns of play and crossing - and every cross seemed to go to him. He was heading the ball so much and after a while he couldn't move his head any more."

Even without Gerrard and £25million striker Fernando Torres, Liverpool won at a canter and Benitez said: "It's clear that the the squad is stronger this year than before, I have been saying this for the whole season.

"But I won't say we've got any psychological edge on Chelsea going into Tuesday night's game.

"They are aware we are a good team and that I would rest some players (against Fulham) but they have had a few extra days to rest and have great qualities, too.

"Clearly, I think we go into it fairly even. Chelsea were in the final of the Carling Cup, they are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and they are still in the race for the (Premier League) title. We have a lot of respect for them.

"The players will be the key to the result, more so than the managers. I don't often feel under pressure - and if I do have problems then I think about people who, in general life, are in worse positions than us."

Benitez claims his team's task will be made no easier against Chelsea's much-maligned new boss Avram Grant.

He said: "I don't think Chelsea under Grant are much different than Chelsea with (Jose) Mourinho - except maybe at a press conference.

"I saw them play Everton on Thursday night and they looked pretty much the same as always."

He added: "When you talk about Champions League or cup competitions it is just one-off games and perhaps the manager can do something with tactics or the style of football to make a difference.

"But when you talk about a competition that lasts nine months you need a big squad and maybe Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are a little bit better than us there.

"Grant is doing his job well if you look at their results, but for me Roman Abramovich has always been the key for Chelsea.

"At the end of the day the key players can be a massive difference in games like Tuesday's game but also the whole team has to work very hard."

Unwanted Pennant To Sign For Newcastle

Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is set to leave the Anfield club and move to Newcastle United where manager Kevin Keegan is said to be keen to sign the 25 year old.

Pennant, who scored and set up a goal in yesterday’s 2-0 victory for Liverpool over Fulham at Craven Cottage has become a bit-part player at Anfield, starting only 13 league games this season. His goal yesterday was his first in the league this season and only his third league goal for the club.

The former Birmingham City and Arsenal player has had a turbulent career both on and off the field but was looking to put that behind him when he signed for Liverpool in July 2006 for a fee close to £7million.

The extracurricular problems seem to have disappeard for good, but his Anfield career has never really taken off due to a combination of injuries, poor form and a raft of other midfielders being brought into the club.

More recently Pennant has found his place in the team taken by striker Dirk Kuyt who manager Rafael Benitez now appears to favour in that role and it seems that his future now lies away from Liverpool.

This has alerted Newcastle to his situation and Kevin Keegan would be keen to sign a wide player with pace and an attacking mindset to add some goals to his midfield for next season.

It is understood that the player himself is keen on the move, and will willingly put pen to paper if the Tynesiide club can reach an agreement with Liverpool.

Rafa Could Sue Warnock

Rafa Benitez is considering legal action after Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock publicly questioned the Liverpool manager's integrity.

The Eagles boss was unhappy at Benitez at the back end of last season after he fielded a weakened Reds team that lost 1-0 at Fulham.

The result helped the Cottagers stay up at the expense of Sheffield United, who Warnock was in charge of last season.

Benitez made a host of changes for Saturday's game at Craven Cottage, prompting the Eagles manager to claim he gets off-field benefits from Harrods for his team selections.

However, the comments failed to amuse the former Valencia boss, who is now planning on having a word with his lawyer.

"Somebody told me [about Warnock's comments]," he said.

"We knew he was bad as a manager and prehistoric, but we didn't know he was a person like this.

"I will speak to my lawyer. We don't need to waste time with him."

Rafa Benitez Says One Summer Signing Has Already Been Completed

Rafa Benitez has confirmed that he has started Liverpool's recruitment drive for next season as he seeks the calibre of players necessary to mount a title challenge.

The 48-year-old revealed that a deal had been completed for one player for next season but only gave a few hints as to identity of the signing.

“We are working on trying to improve the squad for next season,” Benitez added.

“We have some movements for next season, so we will continue trying to do the same.

“We have some signings for the next season done. They are senior players for the first team and young players for the first team and reserve team.

“Two of them are really close, young players, and one senior player is done. He talks good English, but is not English.”

Benitez has also been linked with England stars Gareth Barry and David Bentley.

Rafael Benitez Thriving In Anfield Tug-Of-War

Rafael Benitez wore a training top to his press conference on Friday, supped from a bottle of water and beamed through the difficult questions. He succeeded in giving the two impressions he wanted to. Here was a humble employee, fresh from his practice-ground work, happy with his lot. It was a good week for Benitez. He celebrated his 48th birthday on Wednesday by taking some Spanish journalists for a bite in West Kirby. Liverpool supporters kept approaching the table. “They were coming up and saying, ‘Come on, Rafa’,” the manager smiled.

A good week for Benitez? Those unfamiliar with Anfield politics might have imagined not. After all, Liverpool’s boardroom has brought to mind TV writer Phil Redmond’s description of the City of Culture steering company, wracked by infighting before he arrived to clean things up. “It was like a scouse wedding,” Redmond said. It had been supposed that Benitez would despair about the off-field manoeuvring which saw one owner, Tom Hicks, call for the resignation of Rick Parry, the chief executive, and the other owner, George Gillett, purport to be above all the “washing of dirty linen in public” – while, very publicly, telling Hicks to shut up. Far from it. Issues such as transfer policy and his own future are now being aired which Benitez has wanted dealt with for some time – and the answers all sides are giving appear to favour the Spaniard.

Put simply, the battle for Anfield has become a popularity contest where only Benitez can hand out the prize. Hicks needs to boost his standing, in order to counter what he sees as a campaign of spin against him, and meet parallel objectives. He is trying to raise money to buy out Gillett and wants to show investors that he knows what he accuses Parry of being ignorant of – what Liverpool FC needs. If he succeeds, the club’s new sole owner will at the very least have to reduce fans’ disdain to the point he can actually visit Merseyside, something he feels unsafe doing right now. The key to both is demonstrating backing for Benitez. If the status quo remains (Gillett has stopped even pretending he will try and buy out Hicks) and the Americans, with their 50%-50% shares continue to cancel each other out, somebody is going to have to run Liverpool. That might have been Parry but, now, sullied by Hicks’s revelation that he took part in the approach to Jurgen Klinsmann, and wounded by Hicks’s arguments about the shortcomings of his commercial strategy – backed by business experts and one of the few issues fans agree with Hicks on – the chief executive is compromised. So who else would emerge as the dominant figure but Benitez?

If Hicks is forced to sell to Dubai International Capital (DIC), who already have an agreement to buy from Gillett, the Arab investors would need to start on the right footing with supporters and would require Benitez’s patronage. Why should he give it unless DIC support him as much as Hicks? If Hicks says he would extend Benitez’s contract by a year, DIC must offer the same. If Hicks would allow Benitez to make a further round of big signings, so must DIC. It is understood, incidentally, that DIC would have little problem with either of these. The final scenario is that Benitez gets offered another of the best managerial jobs in Europe this summer. He now knows he could walk away from Anfield with nobody blaming him.

Benitez has fought political battles at most clubs he has managed and always won. He is not only good at plotting football tactics. Explaining his good mood, he mentioned having just tied up deals to bring three players – one senior, two youth – to Liverpool next season. He had complained to Hicks and Gillett that his poor relationship with Parry was fouling up transfers. “Since Sunday, we (the club) have progressed,” Benitez smiled, suggesting he is now in total control of signings.

Let the others fight and damage each other, and build your empire in the meantime. The strategy seems sound as long as the team keeps winning – and there is evident confidence they will against Chelsea in the Champions League. Has Klinsmann been in touch, in the spirit of solidarity as a fellow manager? “For preparing the game against Fulham or Chelsea?” Benitez cackled. “No.”

Rafa sure to come out smiling . . .

Whichever way the Anfield power struggle is to settle, it seems manager Rafa Benitez, inset, will be happy

Scenario One: Tom Hicks buys out George Gillett and assumes total control. ‘I would give Rafa a contract extension. It’s time for Liverpool to have one strong owner that can give Rafa the support he needs to win trophies.’

Scenario Two: DIC take over the club. The Arab investors want to show they care about Liverpool FC more than Tom Hicks and know what Koppites want. That means keeping Benitez.

Scenario Three: Stalemate between Hicks and Gillett remains, no DIC buy-out. With nobody above him able to wield power and take Liverpool forward, it falls to Benitez. Rick Parry, with whom he has a flawed working relationship, no longer has the authority to challenge him.

Scenario Four: Real Madrid/Inter Milan/ Barcelona/Juventus offer Benitez a job. Rafa could walk away from Anfield with his head held high. Who would now blame him after all this season’s infighting?

Premier League Preview: Fulham vs. LiverpooL

Liverpool look almost certain to pip Merseyside rivals Everton to the final Champions League place after Everton’s defeat to Chelsea on Thursday evening. Chelsea return to the city for the midweek Champions League semi-final, and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will surely have one eye on that game when he selects his side for this game at battling Fulham.

Benitez has managed to guide his side to a run of one defeat in thirteen, despite the club being in the news for all the wrong reason recently. The Spanish boss is one step away from a third Champions League final in four seasons but rumours persist that he may leave the club in the summer because he is sick and tired of all the power struggles that have kept the club in the news in the last few months.

Benitez was criticised strongly for choosing a weakened side last season at Craven Cottage, but he has his own club to think of, and do not be surprised if he again sends a second string to the Cottage. Gerrard, Torres and Mascherano among others can expect to sit this one out, but Liverpool will still beb ale to send out a side that is capable of beating Fulham.

Depending on the attitude of the Liverpool players, this game could go either way. Fulham may want it more, and that desire could overcome the difference in quality but with players such as Crouch, Benayoun and ex Fulham right back Finnan having to stake a claim for a more regular place in the Liverpool side, The Reds could effectively send the home side down.

Fulham gave themselves a fighting chance of retaining there Premier League status when they finally picked up three points away from the Cottage with the impressive 2-0 win at Reading last weekend. That win ending a run of 33 games without taking maximum points in the League on their travels, and rekindled the Cottagers' belief that they can still be playing top flight football next term.

That victory means the Cottagers are now four points from safety, although the run in has been quite kind to Roy Hodgson’s men. Fulham’s remaining fixtures start with this game against a Liverpool side that have been defeated here on each of their previous two visits.

Last season Benitez was criticised for sending a second string side to Craven Cottage ahead of the Champions League final, where Clint Dempsey’s winner virtually secured Fulham’s Premier League safety. Following Everton’s defeat to Chelsea, which virtually assures Liverpool of fourth place, The Reds may once again rest some regulars as they will undoubtedly be focusing on the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea in midweek.

A repeat of that win could set Fulham up for a run-in that sees them take on out of form Manchester City, fellow strugglers Birmingham and then Portsmouth on the last day, before the South Coast play in the FA Cup Final, all winnable games for a side that have improved there form since Hodgson took over from Lawrie Sanchez.


FORM GUIDE

Fulham

Reading - Fulham 0 - 2 12/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham - Sunderland 1 - 3 05/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Fulham 2 - 2 29/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Newcastle - Fulham 2 - 0 22/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham - Everton 1 - 0 16/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Blackburn - Fulham 1 - 1 08/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool

Liverpool - Blackburn 3 - 1 13/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Arsenal 4 - 2 08/04/2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Arsenal - Liverpool 1 - 1 05/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal - Liverpool 1 - 1 02/04/2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Liverpool - Everton 1 - 0 30/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Man Utd. - Liverpool 3 - 0 23/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE


TEAM NEWS

Fulham

Powerful American forward Eddie Johnson is doubtful through illness, and experienced Finnish internationals Anti Niemi (achilles) and Jari Litmanen (groin) will definitely not feature. Squad players Ian Pearce (ankle), Chrius Baird (knee), Aleksei Smertin (leg), Philippe Christanval (leg) and Simon Elliot (Achilles) are also sidelined for the home side.

Liverpool

Rafa’s rotation policy keeps his squad fresh, and the only players that are injured for the Red’s boss are reserve wingers Harry Kewell (hamstring) and Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) as well as classy Danish central defender Daniel Agger (foot operation). With fourth place almost sewn up, expect Benitez to shuffle his pack ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea next week.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fulham - Jimmy Bullard has returned from a horrendous injury lay-off and his prompting from midfield has inspired Fulham to some excellent results in recent months. Superb free-kicks against Villa and Blackburn show the technique that Bullard possesses and he will have to be at his energetic best if Fulham are to surprise the Reds once more at Craven Cottage this weekend.

Liverpool - Peter Crouch may get another run out on Saturday with Fernando Torres expected to be rested ahead of the Champions League semi. The tall England striker never lets his club or his country down, and he will hope to impress Benitez sufficiently to be rewarded with an extended run in the Liverpool side, although it appears unlikely that he will play in midweek, as Benitez seems to have settled on a 4-2-3-1 formation for his key games.

DIC Enter Liverpool Ownership Battle

Dubai International Capital are preparing to buy out George Gillett’s stake to seize co-ownership of Liverpool, in a long-sighted attempt to oust Gillett’s antagonistic business partner Tom Hicks.

Boardroom relations at Anfield have capitulated to the point of name-calling and gossiping over the last few weeks, as Hicks has amped up his attempts to exercise executive control of the club.

The Texan asked for Rick Parry to step down as Liverpool CEO last week, claiming he has been a ‘disaster’ who has let the Reds slip inexcusably far behind the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea on the commercial front.

But DIC are undeterred by the American’s antics, and await only the expiration of pre-emption rights that currently bar the sale of Gillett’s majority before they swoop in take a 50 per cent stake in the Merseyside giants.

It is believed the Arab firm will then attempt to implement a long-term plan to ease Hicks out of the club, which will involve providing significant funds for Liverpool’s new stadium at Stanley Park and then asking Hicks to do the same – a challenge they believe the American will be unable to match.

But Hicks is refusing to let DIC walk into the club without a fight. He has outlined a plan that involves buying out Gillett’s share – despite Gillett’s insistence that he would never sell to Hicks – and thus seizing sole ownership of the club, a venture that he hopes will be financially backed by a host of minority shareholders.

Meanwhile, Hicks has attempted sully the reputations of Parry and Gillett in an attempt to lure Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez into the fray, yesterday claimed that Parry had spent “three or four hours” in a private discussion with Jurgen Klinsmann, who was interviewed as a possible replacement for Benitez amid disagreements over Liverpool’s transfer policy.

However, Rafa has remained silent on the matter and the Liverpool fans seem to have wholly rejected Hicks’ approach and sided with Gillett and DIC, with many rally groups and petitions forming directed at ousting the Texas Rangers owner.

But even if DIC do succeed in taking part-control of the club, it will take time before they can attempt to fully overthrow Hicks. Hence, with no clear and immediate resolution in sight, it is possible that Benitez may choose to leave Merseyside at the end of the season – although a second Champions League triumph may sway him to stay, should it occur.

Liverpool May Have To Sell Torres And Babel

Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel could be forced out of Liverpool unless the club can prove they can repay a huge loan that they took out in order to help secure the transfers of the duo.

In an unusual move, the Anfield-based outfit borrowed money to sign Torres from Atletico de Madrid and then refinanced that debt in January, at the same time as they obtained a refinancing package of £350 million (€442m).

According to The Times, the smaller refinancing package helped buy Ryan Babel from Ajax and was an 18-month agreement with interest of nine percent, equating to around £2.8 million a year (€3.5m).

A letter of credit was signed whereby Liverpool agreed to pay that fee back at the end of the period, but should the club be unable to do so then banks could force them to sell the two players that they bought with the money.

Premier League clubs usually do deals that are funded by the huge television income in England and the Reds are playing a dangerous game already as the £350 million loan is set to cost them £30 million (€38m) per year in interest alone.

The news comes at a time when Liverpool are being rocked by the continuous public disagreements between the club's two American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The pair are at loggerheads with both describing their relationship as unworkable and that has meant that any forward planning has been stopped while their differences are sorted out.

On the pitch, Rafa Benítez is managing to keep the club on a track as they have qualified for the Champions League semi finals and look set to finish in the top four of the Premier League.

Torres: I Can't Imagine LiverpooL Without Benitez

Fernando Torres says he cannot imagine Liverpool without Rafael Benitez.

Boardroom quarrels at the club have led to speculation about the Spanish manager's future, but his star striker insists the former Valencia boss must remain at the helm.

Speaking to Eurosport, Torres said:

"I have learned a lot with [Benitez], he is someone with whom you can learn a great deal.

"He has a lot of experience in football and a great CV, and we all hope to do better for him. And I have to thank him because he helped me take the first step.

"I don't know about [rumours Benitez will be sacked]. I know that everything is magnificent here, and you can interpret that in whatever way you want. But for the moment I can't see Liverpool without Benitez."

Torres went on to discuss his remarkable first season on Merseyside, thanking his team mates and the fans for making it easy for him to adjust to life at Anfield.

He said:

"I am experiencing some very good moments. When I signed for Liverpool, it was to experience moments like that.

"But I just thought that I would need more time; that it would take some time to adapt. I didn't think I would get there quickly, and luckily everything has worked in the first year, and I have profited from that.

"When I signed here, I knew that people expected a lot from me. The club paid a lot of money, it was a big investment. I knew the requirements that people would have; the spectators, my team-mates and the manager.

"But I have to say that everybody helped me. When you arrive at a club and everyone does all they can for you to integrate, to make the transition easier on and off the pitch, it's not so hard.

"I have to thank Pepe, who helped me a lot, all my compatriots and the coach who is also Spanish, and who has been important for me.

"Above all, the love of the people from the first day. I was lucky enough to score at Anfield in my first game, and from that day the fans were behind me, and that still continues today."

The Spain striker also suggested that the faster football and slower way of life have been factors in his success.

"I think the main difference is the speed. It is a very quick style of football, with a high tempo. There are few interruptions.

"Maybe there is not as much tactical work as matches in Spain, including matches between the 'Big Four'. And that allows you more space, to play quickly with players who know how to take advantage of that space and who can give me scoring chances.

"It's a much calmer life. People respect your private life a lot, they don't hassle you in public places. It is a totally normal life - or nearly normal."

"You can think about football when you need to, and you can go to a shopping centre knowing that you can walk around peacefully. At the end of the day, football is your job and you can concentrate on it more easily."

Benitez Intends To Stay At Liverpool

Rafael Benitez has reiterated his determination to stay at Liverpool despite the boardroom fight between the club's two owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

"At this moment I have two years on my contract. I am really pleased and happy here and want to stay," he told reporters on Friday.

American co-owners Hicks and Gillett each own 50 percent of the club, winners of five European Cups and 18 League Championships, as a result of their 219 million pounds ($441 million) take over in Feb. 2007.

But they are no longer talking and Hicks's attempts to force Gillett to sell his share to the Texan have fallen flat.

Hicks blocked a move by Dubai International Capital (DIC) to buy Liverpool in a 400 million pound takeover last month and has called for Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry to be sacked.

In return, Gillett has responded by backing Parry and added to the mudslinging by launching an attack on Hicks.

The latest war of words comes just days before Liverpool's Champions League semi-final tie with Chelsea, with Benitez likely to court more controversy with his team selection for Saturday's Premier League game at Fulham.

A win for Liverpool would edge them to within a point of securing a Champions League spot for next season, but the Spaniard will consider resting players with Tuesday's Champions League game in mind.

Captain Steven Gerrard is unlikely to play.

A year ago, Benitez sent out a virtual reserve team for the penultimate game of the season as he rested players ahead of the Champions League final against AC Milan.

They were beaten 1-0 by a Fulham side that needed victory to stay in the Premier League.

The move angered then Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock, whose team were relegated eight days later.

"My idea is to use a team that will win," Benitez said. "I will pick a strong team for winning because we want to guarantee fourth position as soon as possible.

"We will be eight points ahead of Everton if we can do it. After that we would need one more point and we want to do it as soon as possible because we want to be thinking about the Champions League."

Rafa Defends Team Selection Policy

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will keep Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Chelsea in mind when he picks his starting eleven for Saturday’s Premier League match at Fulham, despite pleas from Bolton boss Gary Megson to field his strongest line-up.

The Bolton manager is echoing calls similar to those of Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock a year ago, who was upset that a weakened Liverpool team lost to Fulham late on in the season.

Megson wants a Liverpool victory at against relegation rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday to ease his side’s relegation worries.

But Benitez insists his mind is focussed only on what’s best for his team, and that includes European commitments. He said, “I will be thinking a little about Chelsea. I have players I don’t want to risk and I’ve enough quality in the squad to win at Fulham.”

Benitez also recalled the criticisms of a year ago when Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League and Fulham stayed up, defending his actions.

He added, “I know there was criticism last season when we did something similar at Fulham, coming from Sheffield United.

“But what did they do in their last game? They lost. So I feel it is sometimes better to look to yourself and what you do.

“Teams have 38 games to play each season, that is enough. So you are responsible for your own luck.”

The Spaniard also criticised Megson’s ordacity to request such a thing, reminding the press, “What did Bolton do in the Uefa Cup with their team selection? They left players out.

“I will use the players I believe will be good enough to win this game, and the next one and the next one. I believe 38 games is enough to be successful or not.

“Look at what all the teams in the middle of the table have been doing recently.

“They have been using different players, young players, and they have been preparing for the future.”

Liverpool take on Fulham at Craven Cottage in the league Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is 3pm.