Match Report: LiverpooL 2 - 0 Chelsea

Fernando Torres scored his first goals since October to keep Liverpool's title dreams alive.

Rafael Benitez's side still trail Manchester United by two points having played a game more, but remain in the hunt after eventually overcoming stubborn Chelsea resistance.

Chelsea had Frank Lampard sent off in the second half and from then on Liverpool pounded away in search of the winner.

And Torres struck with a near-post header and a simple tap-in in the final minutes.

Liverpool made three changes from the side which drew at Wigan in midweek, with Albert Riera, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso returning in place of Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel and Lucas.

Striker Robbie Keane was omitted from the 18-man squad, with teenage striker David Ngog on the bench.

Chelsea fielded the same side which beat Middlesbrough 2-0 in midweek, with Salomon Kalou passed fit.

Keane did not attend Anfield the last time he was left out of a squad, but was all smiles going into the home dressing room this time, and sat in the directors' box later.

But suggestions that he is on his way out of the club cannot be discounted and there was plenty of interest in the other goings on in the stands before the game, with co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks sitting well apart in the front row of the directors' box.

The pair will be re-opening talks with Benitez over his new contract and attend a board meeting together tomorrow.

On the pitch the game started in swirling snow, with Steven Gerrard surging around midfield as Liverpool took the game to Chelsea.

Alonso forced the first save from Petr Cech after 11 minutes, seeing a 20-yarder tipped over. Then Javier Mascherano fired in a low 30-yarder that Cech parried away, with no Liverpool man nearby to take advantage.

The midfield battle started to get tasty with tackles flying in. Mascherano was booked for flattening John Obi Mikel and soon after Cole was cautioned for a foul on Dirk Kuyt.

Torres and Riera both tested Chelsea with their direct running, but it was a very tight contest.

Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard were quick to support Nicolas Anelka, putting Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel under severe pressure.

After 41 minutes Riera fired in a fierce drive that was again pushed out by Cech, with Cole slicing the ball narrowly wide of the post as he cleared.

The second period was just a minute old when Alonso was cautioned for a foul on Kalou and Mikel was soon to be in referee Mike Riley's book for a foul on Alvaro Arbeloa.

Liverpool were attacking the Kop end now, and Gerrard, despite the bitter cold, was warming to his task. One run produced a corner, with Kuyt hooking wide while off balance. Then Torres saw a shot blocked by Terry.

Then on the hour Lampard was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Alonso. He connected with the ball, but also the Spaniard's ankle, and referee Riley reacted instantly.

John Terry was booked for protesting and Chelsea will rightly point out that Gerrard was only warned for a similar tackle a few minutes earlier.

Alex then deflected an Alonso drive onto the bar as Liverpool sought to claim the advantage.

On 69 minutes, Chelsea sent on Deco and Didier Drogba for Florent Malouda and Anelka.

Gerrard was booked for diving as Liverpool cranked up the pressure, with Torres having a shot hooked away by Kalou.

Benayoun then replaced Riera after 74 minutes, Liverpool searching for some invention to unlock Chelsea's rearguard. It almost came when Benayoun tested Cech from 20 yards before hooking another effort inches over.

Babel replaced Mascherano after 83 minutes and Chelsea sent on Miroslav Stoch for Kalou soon after.

And with two minutes left, Liverpool grabbed the lead with Torres' first goal in front of the Kop this season.

He arrowed a near-post header past Cech from a cross from Fabio Aurelio.

In injury-time Benayoun got away in the box after Cole failed to control and Torres fired home from eight yards.

Liverpool Were Better Than Chelsea, Admits Scolari

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted that Liverpool deserved their win against Chelsea at Anfield, but also revealed he felt the referee had made a mistake sending off Frank Lampard.

Lampard saw red in the second half for a foul on Xabi Alonso and speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Scolari insisted the red card had changed the game.

“I think the result it’s after what’s happened with Lampard. It’s normal because they have more possession, they have more quality, they arrive more in front of our goal, but until then no,” he said.

Scolari then went on to reveal his side would be appealing the decision and insisted the referee had made a mistake.

The Blues’ boss explained: “If it’s possible I want the referee to look at this situation on the television and maybe he will change the red card for Lampard because as I look on television it’s a foul for the other player [Alonso] not for Lampard.”

The Brazilian also insisted that he could not understand why the referee had decided to brandish the red card: “No I don’t understand. But maybe now, after, when he looks on television at what’s happened, maybe he will understand he is wrong, he will change the red card and maybe in the next game Lampard can play.”

After being reduced to 10 men, Chelsea struggled against a dominant Liverpool side who eventually prevailed courtesy of two late Fernando Torres goals.

Scolari admitted that Liverpool had controlled the game and that they had deserved the win that takes them three points clear of the Blues in second place.

“After this they are the owner of the pitch and they scored two goals,” he said before adding, “I think Liverpool are better than us, all of the game.”

The defeat puts a serious dent in Chelsea’s title aspiration but Scolari insisted his players would not give up yet. He concluded: “We need to look again, we need to try again, because we have many games. But we are behind now, two clubs Manchester and Liverpool, and it’s more difficult than before but we need to fight until the last game.”

Kuwait Billionaires Are Still In Anfield Talks

Liverpool are still locked in talks about selling the club to the Al-Kharafi family in Kuwait, despite reports that the secretive Middle East dynasty were no longer interested in Anfield.

Instead, Kuwaiti representatives saw Liverpool beat 10-man Chelsea at Anfield and they are continuing negotiations with warring owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, having conducted their due diligence studies of the club’s troubled finances over the past few weeks.

Hicks’ main allies at Liverpool, commercial director Ian Ayre and finance boss Phil Nash, have been in Kuwait making presentations to the Al-Kharafis, whose patriarch Nasser has delegated nephew Rafed, a Liverpool fan, to be chief negotiator.

It is understood the Al-Kharafi family want the majority stake, with Gillett being bought out and Hicks keeping a reduced percentage.

The full price would be about £300million but that would also mean picking up debts of £350m.

Liverpool will be wary after the Al-Kharafi clan terminated talks last July without explanation.

The contract was ready to sign and all that needed to be done was to settle periphery issues.
Hicks was furious after five months of negotiations conducted under the football radar.

Equally upset at their wasted work costing them millions were Al-Kharafi’s UK financial advisers, understood to be football stockbrokers Seymour Pierce.

But the Kuwait billionaires haven’t gone away, although agreeing anything between Hicks and Gillett is problematic.

Rafael Benitez Has Clear Mind Despite Anfield Turmoil

It is not known whether Rafael Benítez is a fan of Shakespeare — you suspect not — but, amid all the headlines about whether the Liverpool manager is “cracking up”, it is that line from Hamlet, delivered sotto voce by Polonius, that keeps coming to mind.

Benítez may have behaved curiously of late, but to dismiss his actions as those of a swirling, raging madman is to miss the point entirely. Whether it is waging war on Sir Alex Ferguson, dropping Robbie Keane or publicising a contract dispute with the club’s owners, the one thing that Benítez can never be accused of is failing to engage his brain. If his detractors can accuse him of one thing, it is of thinking too much, although Liverpool’s position in the Barclays Premier League table, enriched by yesterday’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea, hardly puts them down as a classic case of paralysis by analysis.

The Liverpool manager is no Hamlet, driven to madness by a desire for revenge. He is no King Lear, stripped of his dignity as he descends slowly into insanity. Benítez would probably prefer to regard himself as King Henry V, a man notable for military genius, a powerful leader whose air of nobility concealed a devilish, scheming side to his character.

Should Liverpool fail to win the Premier League — and even in the heady days of November and December they were never regarded as anything like favourites — many of the inquests will focus on January 9, the day when Benítez “lost the plot”.

Except that he did not. The tirade against Ferguson, accusing him of holding undue influence over referees, was calculated in the extreme. Benítez had armed himself with the relevant statistics and assured himself that he was on safe ground before proceeding to deliver his thoughts in a methodical manner. As these things go, it was as far removed from Kevin Keegan’s infamous “I’d love it” rant as can be imaginable.

Yet the perception of a manager “cracking up” in the heat of the title race is too much for some to resist, particularly when Ferguson is on the other end of the equation. Now that Benítez is off the critical list, however briefly, the spotlight will be shone ever more intensely into the eyeballs of Luiz Felipe Scolari as we — media, supporters, perhaps even his players — look for signs that he, too, has lost the plot. Then there is Arsène Wenger, another who has dared to show signs of fallibility. And that is before we look farther down the league at managers such as Mark Hughes, Tony Adams and Joe Kinnear, the ones really under pressure.

If Benítez had gone mad, he would probably have cause, given the absurdity of life at Liverpool over the two years since the Hicks-Gillett takeover. The co-chairmen sat in the Anfield directors’ box for the first time in 14 months yesterday, but, grown up as ever, insisted on being seated more than a dozen places apart, not exchanging so much as a glance. It has become a basket-case of a club — not quite in the Newcastle United class, but unravelling at such a rate that it has taken quite a feat of management to keep the team on some kind of even keel.

Nor is the handling of Keane the sign of a manager who has taken leave of his senses. Keane has been treated shabbily, left to feel a pawn in a political battle between Benítez and the board, but he is not the victim of muddled thinking. Benítez simply does not view him as a player deserving of a starting place at present or as a player who can change a game as a substitute, so he prefers David Ngog, a raw French teenager of 19, who is perceived to have the pace to stretch opposition defences in the closing stages of matches. Some would cite Keane’s price tag as a reason why he should be on the bench, even if only for the sake of his confidence. Benítez, who spends as long contemplating his substitutes as his starting line-up, would disagree.

If there is a frustration for Liverpool supporters, it is that there is too much method, a tendency to over-complicate things rather than get by on instinct. It was put to Benítez on Friday that Steven Gerrard, more than any player, remains a match winner even when seemingly dead on his feet and that, whatever his condition, he would never have been substituted by Ferguson under such circumstances (in the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic on Wednesday).

They were valid points. But Benítez never has been a manager like Ferguson and never will be. Asking him to manage by instinct, rather than by analysis, would be like asking Ferguson to do the reverse. You would lose many of the qualities that have made him successful, which, in the case of Benítez, are self-assurance, clarity of thought and tactical genius — the things you associate with madness.

Jose Bosingwa Faces FA Hot Water After Yossi Benayoun Incident

Luis Felipe Scolari has conceded that Jose Bosingwa could be in trouble with the Football Association after a bizarre incident near the end when he put his foot into the back of Yossi Benayoun and pushed the Liverpool man off the pitch.

The incident was not punished by referee Mike Riley and the FA are certain to review video evidence if Riley acknowledges he missed the offence.

Now Scolari wants to see video evidence used to clear Frank Lampard as well, who was given a red card by Riley as Chelsea lost 2-0 at Anfield.

He said: "Liverpool had more possession overall, but once Lampard was sent off they had more chances and got into our box much more.

"I do not want to criticise the referee, all I ask is that he looks at the video with the men from the FA. If they agree that Lampard did not commit a foul for his red card, maybe they will change the decision.

"What Bosingwa did was not correct, he made a mistake. But if he is punished when the FA look at the video, maybe they will change the decision over Lampard.

"When he was sent off it changed the game for us one million per cent. We lost the middle and did not have the ball.

"They created more chances and had more possession. And they were able to score the goals after that decision.

"I have not spoken to the referee, it was his decision. I hope though that he will look at the TV and see that he should change the decision."

Scolari also insisted that he was not feeling any pressure on his future.

Following the defeat, he said: “We were not good today. Liverpool were better than us all game. They had two or three more chances than us before the sending off and, OK, afterwards they had more because they had more players.

“The title is more difficult now, obviously. But there are many games left and we have to keep going until the very last game. I have confidence in the squad we have.”

Gerard Houllier Regrets Snubbing Nicolas Anelka At Liverpool

Gerard Houllier admits he made a mistake showing Nicolas Anelka the door at Liverpool.

Anelka, currently the Premier League's leading scorer, returns with Chelsea today to the ground he once dreamed of making his own.

Now former Anfield boss Houllier has lifted the lid on why he snubbed a striker whose gifts he admired.

The decision, which badly shook Anelka, was a response to alleged dirty tricks from his agent brothers Claude and Didier.

Houllier said: "I think it was a mistake on my part because I should have should have carried on regardless.

"I thought, right to the end, I was going to sign him, but then I didn't feel the thing was right.

"I did not like the fact that, while he was at Liverpool with a purchase option to play for us, his brothers had tried to contact other clubs to sell him. I did not think that was fair play."

Houllier owned up to his blunder in a DVD devoted to Anelka's career.

It also features Steven Gerrard, who says: "Anelka is the type of player you want on your team rather than playing against you."

Liverpool To Rescue Javier Saviola From Real Madrid

Reports in the English press declare that Liverpool will attempt to sign Javier Saviola on-loan from Real Madrid, most probably as a temporary replacement for Robbie Keane.

Word has it that the Anfield giants have agreed to sell Keane, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur in a big-money move only last year, back to the Lilywhites.

That would leave a noticeable hole in Rafael Benitez's forward line - or an empty space on the bench, at least - and the Spanish tactician supposedly wants Saviola to fill the void for the time being.

The Argentine striker has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs this winter, as he has become openly frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities at the Bernabeu.

Portsmouth were favourites to sign the former Barcelona star, but instead opted for Greek international Theofanis Gekas, while Everton's reported interest has amounted to nothing as yet.

It is uncertain whether Saviola would fancy a move to Liverpool, as his need for playing time may outweigh the allure of joining another one of Europe's powerhouse clubs.

Joe Kinnear: Newcastle Want Sami Hyypia, Liverpool Won't Sell

Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has revealed he attempted to sign Sami Hyypia from Liverpool, but to no avail.

The Finnish centre-back has been at Anfield since 1999 and is regarded as one of the club's greatest ever defenders. In recent seasons, however, his starting chances have been lessened by the emergence of Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

Nevertheless, Rafael Benitez clearly still sees the 35-year-old as a valuable commodity, as the Toon are now turning their gaze elsewhere as they seek a wise head for their fragile defence.

Kinnear told Sky Sports, "I tried for one centre-half, but got knocked back. Liverpool weren't prepared to let Hyypia out.

"I want to get somebody with experience because of the position we are in. We have a very young back four and I just want somebody who is a good organiser."

Sunderland have also been linked with Hyypia, but they are unlikely to pursue their interest following the arrival of Tal Ben-Haim from Manchester City.

Benitez In The Dark As Liverpool And Spurs Are Locked In Talks Over Keane's Return To White Hart Lane

Tottenham and Liverpool spent the eve of transfer deadline day locked in talks to take Robbie Keane back to White Hart Lane.

Spurs were thought to have made a bid of £10million to re-sign the striker, whom they sold to the Reds for £20.3million just six months earlier.

Liverpool rejected the offer but were happy to continue talks on an improved bid following their 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

Speculation has been rife over the weekend that the 28-year-old would be about to end his Anfield misery, intensified when Keane was left out of the squad all together for the visit of Chelsea.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is keen to add another striker before the transfer deadline at 5pm on Monday, particularly since losing Jermaine Defoe for several weeks with a foot injury.

Benitez would not put up too much resistance should Tottenham meet the club's valuation, but, when asked after defeat to Chelsea if Keane would remain beyond the deadline, he said: I think Robbie Keane will be here when the transfer window shuts.

'He was left out because we were considering all our good players and who we needed for this game. It was only a decision based on this match and our requirements.'

But Benitez appeared to be in the dark about the new talks with Tottenham. He said: 'I have not seen any new offers, I don't know whether the club have had any offers.

'I have spoken to Robbie, he was there in the dressing room beforehand, and we also spoke afterwards and we were just talking about the game.

'He was pleased because the team had won. He is part of my squad, I would expect him to be in my Champions League squad.

'Everything is if, if, if. He is here, he is our player. That's it.'

Other than Defoe, Pascal Chimbonda has returned to White Hart Lane in this transfer window, moving back from Sunderland about six months after leaving Tottenham.

Liverpool Want Aaron Lennon In Exchange For Robbie Keane

According to reports in the British press, Liverpool striker Robbie Keane could be on his way back to former club Tottenham Hotspur after only half-a-season at Anfield.

The Reds paid around £20 million for the Republic of Ireland international in July 2008 but he has struggled to make an impact during his 28 appearances, scoring just seven goals.

Amid reports that Spurs had enquired about the availability of the 28-year-old, who was not even on the substitutes bench for yesterday's crunch tie with Chelsea, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was quoted by Sky Sports as saying, "I think Robbie Keane will be here when the transfer window shuts.

"He was left out because we were considering all our good players and who we needed for this game. It was only a decision based on this match and our requirements."

However, it has since been claimed that the 5ft 8in forward could be on his way back to White Hart Lane in a £15m deal, with Liverpool considering signing Real Madrid striker Javier Saviola as a replacement.

A report in the British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that the switch is on the cards, as long as Tottenham agree to let Aaron Lennon move to Liverpool in exchange.

Apparently, the idea of the swap was brought up last week but Spurs boss Harry Redknapp turned it down straight away.

It remains to be seen whether the north London club will give in to the Merseyside outfit's demands, especially as they are keen to bring in cover for the injured Jermaine Defoe.

Liverpool Reject £15m Spurs Offer For Robbie Keane

Liverpool on Sunday night rejected a £15 million offer from Tottenham to take striker Robbie Keane back to White Hart Lane.

Although Anfield sources said they would consider selling the player if Spurs increased their offer considerably, Rafael Benitez's confidence that Keane will remain a Liverpool player after the 5pm transfer window closes this evening looks well placed.

The Republic of Ireland international's future has been the subject of intense speculation for weeks now. He played only eight minutes of Liverpool's three key games last week and did not even merit a place on the bench for last Monday's Mersey derby or Sunday's 2-0 win over Chelsea.

Manchester City are also believed to be monitoring the situation in the hope of tempting the boyhood Liverpool fan away from Anfield just six months after he arrived.

However, any move appears unlikely, given the lack of time available to Liverpool to bring in a replacement, and Benitez said he expected to have Keane available for Wednesday's FA Cup replay at Goodison Park. He said: "I think he will be here at the end of the month, yes. I spoke with him about the game before, not about his future, and he is OK."

Unlike last Monday's match, Keane attended Sunday's game, politely applauding Fernando Torres's double salvo and leaving his seat just before the final whistle.

He was joined in the stands by the club's co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the first time the two Americans have come face-to-face since August and their first trip to Anfield since December 2007.

Both sat, accompanied by their families, in the directors' box, separated by around a dozen seats. They will meet Benitez and the club's chief executive Rick Parry this week and are believed to be ready to offer the Spaniard a four-year deal worth around £20 million, complete with full control over the club's transfers.

Under the latest terms to be drawn up, Parry will be given a brief more concerned with the club's commercial activity. Beating Chelsea has not been Benitez's only significant victory this week.

The former Valencia manager did not comment on his contract, insisting he was focused solely on enjoying a win which reignites Liverpool's title challenge.

He said: "It is always important to win, regardless of who is sitting in the crowd. We deserved to win.

"I haven't seen the replay of the red card, but I am sure that it was not a foul by Xabi Alonso, if that is what [the Chelsea manager] Luiz Felipe Scolari is saying.

"Before, we were in a good position in the title race. Now we are in a better position. But that can change almost every day, so what you have to do is make sure that you always win."

That task will be made easier by the return to form of Torres. His two goals on Sunday were the Spanish international's first at Anfield since May.

He said: "It was a fantastic night for me. Two goals against Chelsea, the first since the injury, and winning an important game.

"Winning will bring back confidence, of course, after so many draws. But there are many games still left and we have to keep on working right until the end."

Match Preview: Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Liverpool host Chelsea in a certified humdinger, with only goal difference separating the two title hopefuls. The visitors are lusting for revenge, but the hosts will be happy with victory of any sort.

With Manchester United’s surge to the top of the table, Liverpool have slipped suddenly to third place after carrying the lead into the New Year. Their form this month has been as average as the Red Devils’ has been electric, as they have yet to claim a single Premier League win in 2009.

Rafael Benitez’s men were on-course to rack up three points in midweek, until Lucas Leiva’s flailing foot felled Jason Koumas to gift Wigan Athletic a late equaliser from the penalty spot. It ended 1-1 at the JJB, and the Reds’ title tilt seems to be faltering fast. The manager is feeling the pressure, too, judging by his baffling post-match comments.

Thus, Sunday’s clash against Chelsea takes on extra significance, as defeat would see the Merseyside giants essentially drop out of the leading pack. It would also see them lose their unbeaten record against the rest of the ‘Big Four’ this season, a run which began with quite an important result in west London earlier in the campaign.

Stamford Bridge came tumbling down when Liverpool plundered a 1-0 win in October. It was the Blues’ first league loss at home since 2004, and a result which put the Scousers atop the table at their hosts’ expense.

From then on, the two teams intermittently stole pole position from each other for the first half of the season. But now both are on level pegging points-wise and hoping to oust United from their newly reclaimed perch, and Chelsea look the more likely to do it.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side are on the recovery trail after a near-disastrous holiday slump. Their 2-0 win against Middlesbrough on Wednesday was encouraging, and what better time to exact revenge on the Reds than when they (Liverpool) are enduring a malaise of their own?


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Jan 28 Wigan Athletic 1-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Jan 25 Liverpool 1-1 Everton (FA Cup)
Jan 19 Liverpool 1-1 Everton (Premier League)
Jan 10 Stoke City 0-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Jan 03 Preston North End 0-2 Liverpool (FA Cup)

Chelsea

Jan 28 Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough (Premier League)
Jan 24 Chelsea 3-1 Ipswich Town (FA Cup)
Jan 17 Chelsea 2-1 Stoke City (Premier League)
Jan 14 Southend United 1-4 Chelsea (FA Cup)
Jan 11 Manchester United 3-0 Chelsea (Premier League)


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Alvaro Arbeloa is still under an injury cloud, but the Spanish full-back is in the squad and could feature, but Jamie Carragher could slot in at right-back instead. Philipp Degen remains a long-term absentee.

Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt are all expected to reclaim their first-team spots after being rested for the stalemate in Wigan. That means Lucas, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel should return to the bench. Daniel Agger has shaken off a calf problem and is back in contention.

Liverpool squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Agger, Hyypia, Carragher, Dossena, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Alonso, Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Riera, Torres, Kuyt, Keane, Cavalieri.

Chelsea

Ricardo Carvalho will be left at home for the trip to the North West, as the Portuguese defender continues to battle a hamstring problem. Michael Essien is still recovering from a knee problem picked up last year, while Joe Cole is out for the season.

On the bright side, Salomon Kalou – who scored both goals against Boro – has been declared fit despite pulling up sore after the clash with the Teessiders.

Chelsea squad: Cech, Hilario, Taylor, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Mancienne, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, Deco, Kalou, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka, Stoch, Belletti.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

It was Xabi Alonso who did the damage in the reverse fixture, with his deflected strike, and the in-form Basque star could be crucial again. His composure and intelligence was sorely missed in midweek, as was his passing range. If Liverpool want to make use of their possession, this man must start.

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard will be attempting to drive Chelsea forward from the centre of the pitch. The England man is having another superb season, and yet some have criticised his influence – or lack thereof – in the really big games. Time for ‘Super Frank’ to stand up and be counted.

Kuyt Has Big Phil Raving

Big Phil Scolari or Rafa Benitez, who is feeling the most pressure? That is the question doing the rounds of football at the moment.

The Liverpool manager has had a fair go at ­losing the plot, what with his rant about Sir Alex Ferguson and the pressure he has put on referees, as well as his pop at officials after saying the ­second half against Wigan in midweek was “crazy”.

Then there is his refusal to confirm that Robbie Keane has a future at Liverpool.

But as Scolari and Benitez prepare to square up at Anfield for tomorrow’s massive Premier League clash, the Brazilian is running his Spanish counterpart close for bizarre outbursts.

After his own attack on officials, Scolari ­yesterday named who he thought was the most dangerous player in the Liverpool team.

Most people would expect him to say Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres – but, no, the Blues boss went for Dirk Kuyt.

Yes, the hard-working Dutch striker who has been converted into a right midfielder by Benitez because he does not score enough goals.

Scolari was full of praise for Gerrard and understood why he was asked: “If you stop Gerrard, do you stop Liverpool?”

However, Scolari had another name up his sleeve, saying: “They have one player who I like so much and nobody has mentioned his name yet. It is not Gerrard or Torres.

“No, it is Dirk Kuyt from Holland. When he was playing for Holland and I was the manager of Portugal, I used to think to myself, ‘Please don’t play him.’

“And if they didn’t, then, it was a huge relief. He’s a fantastic player and very dangerous. He works so hard.”

In lots of ways the point Scolari was actually trying to make is that Chelsea cannot afford to think of Liverpool as a one-man team.

He was either slightly deluded or playing his own version of Fergie’s mind games, because that is exactly what Liverpool have been in recent weeks, with skipper Gerrard pulling the strings.

Scolari knows this but would not admit it. When asked if Chelsea must ­stifle Gerrard to succeed this weekend, he said: “And Torres? And Riera? And Mascherano? That’s like saying my team is all about Lampard.

“They have fantastic players, the same as us. Gerrard is a fantastic ­player, one of the best in his position. Look, in England we have two players in this position – No.8 or No.10 – and you won’t find any better elsewhere in the world.

“Gerrard and Lampard are the best in this position. It’s not only Gerrard, though, that we have to beware. Okay, he’s fantastic because he scores, marks, dribbles, crosses. He’s the complete player.

“But the other players together help him to make this. I’m thinking about the complete Liverpool.”

This is a huge challenge for Chelsea, who so far this season have only taken one point from 12 off the other sides that make up the so-called Big Four.

That came at home against Manchester United, with the Blues having lost to Arsenal and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge and been thumped at Old Trafford 3-0 earlier this month.

Two wins on the trot in the league, including Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, have helped Chelsea rise to ­second place, but Scolari knows that this could be a watershed game in their title challenge with United.

He added: “A win would be very good for us. We started the Boro game under pressure because we were in fourth position.

“Villa had won and the other teams were in front of us. For confidence it’s very good, but we know we are behind United and together with Liverpool. We are not better than these two teams, but for confidence it’s very good.

“We’ve played better than before in the last four or five games.

“We’ve won games, played better than before and have had more heart in these games.”

Scolari knows that if his team does beat Liverpool, he will be the next target for Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games.

But the Chelsea manager remains defiant, warning: “He (Fergie) works very hard, is very good and he has mental ideas about this and that.

“However, don’t forget that we have a good team. That’s more important than A, B or C names. We have a good team.”

And they will need to show that at Anfield, for talk is cheap.

Alonso Looks Back To The Battle Of Stamford Bridge As Reds Prepare For Crunch Clash

Xabi Alonso feels of Liverpool's remarkable win at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season has been all but forgotten because of the controversy surrounding the Anfield club's faltering title bid.

Liverpool ended Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home record in the Barclays Premier League back in October, and Alonso 'scored' the winner.

That goal has subsequently been credited as an own-goal to Jose Bosingwa by the dubious goals panel, but Alonso is still credited with the effort in Liverpool's own records. And that will not change.

Now Liverpool are aiming for a notable double over the west Londoners, which would be only their third League win over Chelsea in boss Rafael Benitez's reign at Anfield.

The clash is already being built up as a make-or-break game for Liverpool in their title challenge, having drawn seven of their last 11 League games and slipped to third place behind champions Manchester United and Chelsea.

But Alonso, rested at Wigan in midweek, believes that Liverpool have shown this season they can match the top sides.

That win at Chelsea, the victory over United and a draw at Arsenal back up his view.

Alonso said: "We've had some good results against the top teams this season, people should not forget how we won at Chelsea.

'Hopefully now in the second part of the campaign we can do it again and record more good results against our main rivals.'

With a trip to United coming up on March 14 and a home game with Arsenal on April 18 - plus the visit of fourth-placed Aston Villa to Anfield on March 21 - Liverpool cannot afford any more slip-ups.

And their current position, two points behind United and below Chelsea on goal difference, leaves no margin for error now.

Alonso said: 'If we can beat the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United again, that should give us a good chance of staying near the top and challenging for the title.

'These are important games. By beating our main rivals we can bring ourselves closer to the title than we have been for many seasons.

'Winning these games tells us that we can come face to face with anyone and win.'

Liverpool may well be on an unbeaten run of 15 games now, but the amount of draws in that run has given United - with a game in hand - the chance to surge to the top of the table.

But Alonso recalls the win at Chelsea to give himself confidence for the increasingly difficult task ahead.

He said: 'We were really pleased with how we played there and the win gave us a big confidence boost to take on into the season. Another win like that will again really boost us as we approach the run-in.'

And he still believes the winning goal that day should be credited to him.

He said: 'It probably wasn't the best goal I'll ever score, but it helped bring us three points and that is the main thing.

'It gave us what was our first really big result of the season, and we fully deserved it. I always felt, though, that it was my goal.'

Alonso, Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera - all rested to the bench for the 1-1 draw at Wigan on Wednesday - will return to the side.

And despite the controversy of the past month and Liverpool's problems on and off the pitch, Benitez insists he does not feel under pressure.

He said: 'I do not feel any extra pressure. I am pleased to be where we are because trying to avoid relegation is not nice.

'We are close to the top, we have improved the squad, and if we can beat Chelsea people will say we are back in the title race.

'We know our players, we speak to them every day and we know the decisions to make. And thanks to those decisions we are eight points better than at this stage last season.

'This has always been a must-win game. As they all are. After my comments about Mr. Ferguson we still knew we had to win at Stoke, those words didn't change anything on the pitch.

'The same applies to other games this month that have followed some controversy.

'Every point is important, it doesn't matter what is being said off the pitch. This season we are in a much better position than before.'

And if Liverpool do win on Sunday, they will see it as an omen.

It will be their first League double over Chelsea since the 1989-90 season - the last time Liverpool lifted the title.

Kuyt - Chelsea Is A Must-Win

Dirk Kuyt admits Liverpool must beat Chelsea and clinch their first Premier League win of 2009 if they are to challenge for the title.

Liverpool's only victory since the New Year has been the FA Cup third round success at Preston.

And after league draws with Stoke, Everton and Wigan the Reds have slipped from top spot into third behind Chelsea, with both sides now chasing defending champions and league leaders Manchester United - who also have a game in hand on their rivals.

But the Dutchman believes they should not be written-off just yet as long as they can recreate the same performance which saw them end the Blues' unbeaten home run last October.

"We have just got to win this game now and show we can beat our big rivals again," reports the Daily Star.

"We've done it once and of course we know that would send out a message to everyone - but we are out to win every game.

"We have had too many draws at the start of the second half to the season, and now the only message we can send out is by beating Chelsea.

"It's a big team, a big game, and we just need to win it."

The 28-year-old forward also believes fit-again striker Fernando Torres is close to recreating the form which saw him bag 29 goals last year having recovered from a hamstring injury.

"You can see every week how he is getting better. It is only a matter of time before he's back scoring goals for us again," Kuyt added.

Alvaro Arbeloa: Liverpool Will Thrive Under Pressure

The Reds' returning full-back loves the intensity of the title fight, and wants nothing but victory in today's crunch clash.

Liverpool have slipped from first to third in the Premier League standings since the turn of the year, and some pundits reckons their title tilt is on its last legs.

But Alvaro Arbeloa is reveling in the Reds' current situation, and he insists all of his team-mates feel the same way.

"It's really nice to feel the pressure of fighting for a title," the 26-year-old told the club's official website.

"This is why I came to Liverpool. Every player here wants to fight for the title, to feel this pressure and to play in massive games."

Liverpool take on Chelsea today in a contest which could make or break either side's campaign as only goal difference separates them in third and second respectively.

Arbeloa continued, "Sunday is massive for both teams. A draw is not enough for us - and not enough for them. We play at home and we have to win.

"It will be important after the last few weeks if we win and show people that we can beat a really good side. It will be good for us, the supporters and the media. This game can change everything."

Arbeloa has been battling a few niggling injuries over the past few weeks, but he has been named in the squad and could start at Anfield this afternoon.

Manchester City Eyeing Liverpool's Rafa Benitez As Their New Manager

Rafa Benitez is a shock target for Manchester City - with the club's Abu Dhabi backers watching his Liverpool contract stand-off closely.

City's multi-billionaire Arab owners are lining up a big-name manager as they consider sacking Mark Hughes, under more pressure after City's shock 1-0 defeat by ten-man Stoke yesterday.

Their interest comes after Benitez halted his contract talks. He wants full control over Liverpool's transfer dealings in his power struggle with chief executive Rick Parry.

The link to City will be a bombshell to Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who arrived on Merseyside last night ahead of today's key title battle with Chelsea.

Benitez claimed last night that he "didn't know" if he would walk away from Anfield when his contract expires in 16 months.

People Sport understands Benitez is one of THREE managers under review by City's owners.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho and Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari are the others on City's list.

The scrutiny of Benitez will cause more turmoil at Anfield with warring coowners Hicks and Gillett set to lock horns again this week over Parry's future.

Both owners will be in the Anfield directors' box this afternoon - albeit seated apart - for the first time in 18 months.

In the coming days they must decide whether to back Benitez to the hilt by getting rid of Parry.

The Spaniard blames Parry for a series of transfer blunders, including the £20.3million purchase of Robbie Keane last summer.

The Reds gaffer believed he could have signed Keane for around £10m - leaving funds to land Aston Villa's Gareth Barry for £18m.

Hicks arrived on Merseyside last Sunday in a bid to convince Benitez to sign the five-year deal on offer.

He and his son, Tom Jr., back the boss 100 per cent, while Gillett and his son, Foster, have faith in Parry.

It will come to a head at a meeting this week, with ex-chairman David Moores expected to have the casting vote over Parry's fate.

Benitez has been accused of losing the plot since his outburst against Sir Alex Ferguson last month, his team have fallen from the Premier League summit and skipper Steven Gerrard is facing a charge of assault and affray.

As he defended his five-year Anfield reign, Benitez played down talk of a first League title in 19 years.

He said: "How long did it take Alex Ferguson to win the league? Seven years. The Champions League? Thirteen years."

But with City's mega-rich owners considering giving untold transfer riches as the new ruler of Eastlands, the question is: Has the time come for Benitez to walk away from his Kop wars?

I Didn't Even Sanction The £20m Transfer In The First Place, Admits Angry Benitez

Robbie Keane is on the verge of a £15million return to Tottenham after being ditched by Rafael Benitez for Liverpool's most important game of the season against Chelsea today.

Benitez, who has also won important contract concessions from the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, effectively ended Keane's six-month Anfield career yesterday when he left the mercurial striker out of his squad to face Luiz Felipe Scolari's side.

Liverpool must win today if they are to stay in the race for their first League title since 1990. But the omission of Keane, 28, prompted Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, reeling from the loss of Jermaine Defoe for several weeks with a foot injury, to move fast to secure the Irishman as a replacement

Keane, the Republic of Ireland captain, scored 107 goals for the White Hart Lane club between 2002-2008 and although he upset some fans with the manner of his departure for Anfield last July, most are likely to welcome him back.

Spurs, lying 14th after a 3-2 defeat at Bolton yesterday, are unwilling to repay the full £20.3m they received from Liverpool, but the clubs are likely to agree a fee before Monday's 5pm transfer deadline.

The departure of Keane from Anfield is a significant victory for Benitez in the power battle that has threatened to derail Liverpool's title ambitions this season. Benitez was unhappy that Liverpool paid the full blocking his £18m move for Aston Villa's England midfielder Gareth Barry.

Keane has scored only seven goals in 28 games for Liverpool and publicly showed dissent whenever substituted by Benitez, whose preferred attack is Fernando Torres, supported by Steven Gerrard.

The Keane issue was one of the reasons Benitez demanded authority over chief executive Rick Parry in choosing how Liverpool spend their money in the transfer market. Both owners are in England for the Chelsea game and hope to sort out Benitez's contract concerns so he can agree a new four-year deal before they return to America.

Hicks met Benitez for lunch yesterday and the Liverpool manager is expected to meet both owners once Gillett arrives on Merseyside this morning.

The Americans, who have been split on several issues, have joined forces to try to secure Benitez's signature. One of the most significant changes on the new deal offered to Benitez is that he will now report to the owners on transfers.

A source said: 'There has been a lot of communication between the owners and Benitez in the past 72 hours. Some changes have been made to the original contract offer and there is a hope that Benitez will agree to it. The idea is for him to be in charge of football matters, and leave Rick Parry to do the commercial side.

'If Manchester United were in the market for two players who cost the same money, the board would let Sir Alex Ferguson choose which one he needed the most - the same applies for Arsene Wenger and David Moyes. The owners understand Rafa should be given the same deal.'

Keane, a boyhood Liverpool fan, will be distraught at having to leave but has been unhappy at the deploying role he has been asked to play. Benitez indicated last night that he had not sanctioned paying £20m for Keane, insisting: 'The club spent it.'

He is apparently indifferent as to whether Keane attends today's game, saying: 'It's a day off for the players not in the squad. We don't insist they come to the game.'

Redknapp Hits Back At Rafa

Harry Redknapp has insisted he did nothing wrong by commenting on his admiration for Liverpool striker Robbie Keane.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez stated on Friday that he was not happy with Tottenham following remarks Redknapp had made earlier in the week.

The Spurs boss revealed that he thought Republic of Ireland international Keane was a 'fantastic player'.

Keane left White Hart Lane to join Liverpool last summer but there has been speculation about his future and a possible return to the London club.

Benitez has regularly left Keane out of his starting line-up in recent weeks but Redknapp maintains that he had no intention of unsettling the player with his comments.

Redknapp is adamant that he never expressed an interest in signing Keane and has accused Benitez of overreacting.

"The comments I made, there was absolutely nothing wrong with them," said Redknapp.

"I don't know why the manager of Liverpool gets upset about everything - it is strange.

"I said Robbie is a terrific player and a good lad but he belongs to Liverpool so it's not a possibility.

"It's crazy. I never mentioned I was interested in him. It was never a goer really."

Tony Barrett: Facts To Prove All Is Not Lost For Liverpool Boss Rafa Benitez

Back in 1992, Elizabeth II made the annual Queen's speech notable for once by describing the year as her "annus horribilis".

For those of us whose grasp of Latin is only marginally better than our understanding of Aramaic, it didn't mean much, apart from the fact that it seemed a couple of divorces in the family and a house fire at Windsor Castle had darkened her majesty's mood.

Rafa Benitez – a man who can speak four languages, four of them directly derived from Latin – knew exactly what she meant and after the start he's made to 2009 he knows this year could end up being as horrible as Liz's was if every month turns out as bad as January.

In the first month of the year, the Reds boss has seen his team fail to win a league game and lose top spot to Manchester United; had his sanity questioned by all and sundry; had a third operation to cure him of painful kidney stones; seen his captain attend court and has had to cope with the knowledge that his outburst against Alex Ferguson has inspired his great rival instead of unsettling him.

December had been so positive, with 2008 ending on the high with the thrashing of Newcastle which was so impressive it even led to some of the Spaniard's biggest critics changing their tune and backing Liverpool for the title.

But, within 31 days of that magnificent performance in the north east, their hopes had been written off as everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong, while United went on their annual winning spree.

Liverpool have lost momentum and some belief during January. Their manager has made some mistakes, with the timing of his tirade against United and the substitution of Steven Gerrard at Wigan being the most obvious.

Despite what some would have you believe, though, Benitez has not lost the plot.

He is the same manager who took Liverpool to the Premier League summit and who presided over the statistical improvement which made 2008 the best year, points wise, that the Reds have had since he took over the Anfield hot seat.

Like every other manager, Benitez is not above criticism and there has been plenty to criticise in the last four weeks as Liverpool have run out of steam quicker than Meatloaf running a marathon.

But sometimes disappointment can cloud perspective and there are certain facts, to use Benitez's favourite word, that suggest all is not yet lost.

Going into February, Liverpool have still lost just one league game all season; are currently eight points better off than they were at the same stage of last season; their current tally of 48 points after 23 games has only been bettered by three Liverpool teams since three points for a win was introduced in 1981.

In some ways, Benitez is paying for raising expectations. Had Liverpool had a bad November but recovered to get within two points of the leaders hopes would today be high.

But a bad January on the back of five promising months means understandable disappointment, and the voicing of fears the plug may be about to be pulled on another title bid.

Strangely, the first month of last year wasn't any better, as Liverpool also failed to win a league game. And, like at Wigan on Wednesday, they ended January with points being dropped, thanks to another late penalty – at West Ham.

But things did get better in the months that followed, with the Reds picking up 36 points out of the 45 available to them.

Benitez will therefore be hoping that the form his team showed in February, March, April and May 2008 will be repeated this year. Should it be so, 2009 could yet turn out to be Liverpool's annus mirabilis.

Meanwhile, Jermaine Pennant claimed Liverpool's Spanish manager turned against him because of his nationality, an interesting way for Pennant to explain away his own inability to nail down a regular place for the Reds this season.

His Englishness did not go against him when Benitez decided to shell out £6.7m (that's English pounds not Euros, Jermaine) to bring him to Anfield from Birmingham in the summer of 2006.

Nor was it a problem when Pennant started a European Cup final against AC Milan, one of 75 appearances he made for the Reds in his first two seasons at the club.

Everyone has their own idea about why Pennant fell out of favour so dramatically with his manager, with theories ranging from his ongoing struggles with punctuality to his inability to influence matches.

I have my own theory and no, it doesn't have anything to do with that infamous picture of the 26-year-old swigging from a Jack Daniels bottle.

The truth lies in statistics and the one which damns Pennant's disappointing spell with Liverpool most tells us that he scored just three goals in his time at Anfield.

It is the fact that he failed to do this to any great effect, and not his nationality, which made him surplus to requirements at Liverpool at a time when their manager is actively pursuing home-grown players.

He only has himself to blame.