Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs. Manchester City

Rafa Benitez heads into one of the most crucial phases in his Liverpool tenure as he searches for the elusive domestic title that has evaded the Spaniard since arriving on Merseyside.

The Mighty Reds sit eight points behind Manchester United and need to win against Manchester City to remain in touching distance of last year's champions. The Anfield outfit relinquished their league leading status as Manchester United began their amazing fourteen game clean-sheet run, which was ended by Blackburn after playing 1,334 without conceding a goal. Benitez will be eager to stay close to the Red Devils but will have a tricky tie in the shape of the unpredictable City.

The return to form of Fernando Torres comes as a relief to the Spanish gaffer who already off-loaded Robbie Keane in the January transfer window after the Irishman failed to impress as Torres’ strike partner.

With three goals from two games, El Nino's return to form might give the Liverpool the push they need to truly re-enter the title race. However, Benitez has several key injury concerns on his hands for this crucial encounter, especially with the tantalizing date with Real Madrid in the Champions League looming on the horizon.

Mark Hughes has been managing more off-the-field than on it in the last few weeks as he has had to deal with the Kaka debacle and two first-team player arrests, all while trying to shape and steer a side towards a successful run of results.

The former Blackburn manager has found nothing easy since arriving at Manchester City in the summer, yet simply finding himself still with a job after the Citizens' inconsistent run of form under immense media and boardroom pressure is impressive at this point of the campaign.

The Blues still find themselves in the hunt for silverware via the UEFA Cup, although they stammered slightly in midweek when they twice gave up the lead to allow FC Copenhagen to earn a draw in the first leg of the round of 32 clash.

The disappointing meltdown, coupled with their dismal performance against Portsmouth last weekend, will have Hughes desperate for a good result, but points may be hard to come by at Anfield this weekend. If the Citizens are to take anything away from it, they will have to be at their best.


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Liverpool 1-1 Everton (EA)
Wigan 1-1 Liverpool (EPL)
Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (EPL)
Everton 1-0 Liverpool (FA)
Portsmouth 2-3 Liverpool (EPL)

Manchester City

Man City 1-0 Wigan (EPL)
Man City 2-1 Newcastle (EPL)
Stoke 1-0 Man City (EPL)
Man City 1-0 Middlesbrough (EPL)
Portsmouth 2-0 Man City (EPL)


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Benitez will not be risking the hamstrung Steven Gerrard for this clash ahead of the Reds Champions League encounter with Madrid this Wednesday. But midfielder Lucas returns after serving his ban following his dismissal against Everton.

Xabi Alonso, on the other hand, will miss out as he serves his own one-match suspension.

Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres should find themselves in the starting line-up after coming on as subs against Portsmouth in the last round of the Premier League.

Manchester City

Shaun Wright-Phillips will serve the second of his three-match suspension, while Richard Dunne makes his first appearance back since his four-match ban for kicking out at Amr Zaki.

Micah Richards recovered to play against Copenhagen midweek after missing last weekend’s tussle with Portsmouth, and should be fit to start against Liverpool.

Both Nedum Onuoha and Vincent Kompany have impressed while deputising, yet with Dunne returning from suspension one will have to make way for the captain’s comeback.

Nigel De Jong should return to the starting line-up after not making the UEFA Cup squad list, while Gelson Fernandes remains out with a hamstring injury.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool

Fernando Torres has three goals in his last two games and has found his form at the right time. When it seemed injuries were going to get the better of the Spaniard this season, he has bounced back to show his true form and will lead the line as the Reds look to challenge for the Premier League title.

Manchester City

Feisty Welshman Craig Bellamy returns to Anfield, and to yet another one of his old clubs, as the striker looks to continue his impressive scoring run. He may not be the target man Hughes had in mind for the January window, yet his pace, finishing, and experience have earned City valuable points since his arrival.

Spanish Inquisition: Why Liverpool Should Fear Real Madrid

As two of the most successful and illustrious clubs in Europe prepare to lock horns, Goal.com’s KS Leong explores the reasons why Real Madrid have every right to believe that Liverpool are afraid of them.

Real Madrid vs. Liverpool. You’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve reached the showpiece final of this season’s Champions League. But we’re only in the first knockout stage and sadly, one of these two European superpowers will have to depart the tournament shortly.

These two sides have amassed 14 titles between them in the history of the competition, four of which have come in the last ten years alone. Yet, the Merengues and the Merseysiders have not met once since the tournament was re-branded the UEFA Champions League. In fact, you’d have to go all the way back to the 1981 European Cup final, which the Reds won 1-0, for their last ever competitive meeting.

It’s not too surprising, though, considering both clubs have had such contrasting fortunes over time. Madrid, after winning the title three times in a span of five years between 1998 and 2002, have never come close again to making another final.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have won it once, made two finals and one semi-final in the last four years since Rafa Benitez took charge of the Anfield hot-seat back in June 2004.

You can understand then why the Spaniards – from both camps, mind you – have been so anxious to build-up the contest by voicing their strong opinions and predictions for the match. Rafael van der Vaart lit the spark when he trumpeted that Liverpool have every reason to be afraid of Madrid.

But Reds goalkeeper, Pepe Reina responded by saying there’s absolutely nothing for his side to fear. In riposte, Blancos defenders, Pepe and Sergio Ramos boomed that they were optimistic of eliminating their English rivals, who retorted with their own show of confidence from Xabi Alonso and Reina again.

On paper, it would seem that there’s nothing to choose from between these two. But upon closer inspection, perhaps Madrid are the slight favourites. Perhaps Liverpool should be afraid.

If this encounter were to take place two months ago, the Red Army would not have hesitated to put their money and their mortgage on their Liverpool side going through to the quarter-finals. And the Madrid faithful probably would, too.

But things have changed dramatically since the turn of the year. Never mind that Benitez’s boys have been in sputtering form or that they have been struggling for consistency, Madrid have simply been in an irresistible hot streak. Nine wins in a row (ten in their last 11 games in all competitions), 25 goals scored, 10 of which came in the last game and a half, and more satisfyingly, conceding just four times.

Los Blancos may not be playing the kind of swashbuckling football to convince bookmakers to install them as favourites to win the competition, but they are getting there; and truth of the matter is that under new coach, Juande Ramos, they know how to grind out a sufficient result. Even more importantly, they know how to keep a clean sheet, which will be extremely crucial considering a single away goal could prove the difference between going home and going to the quarter-finals.

It’s not just the team collectively who have recovered their form. Individually, the players are also back to their very best, from Iker Casillas to Fabio Cannavaro to Arjen Robben and Raul. Confidence and morale will also be a huge factor and around the Bernabeu camp, there are bucket-loads of that to go around, especially after tonight’s 6-1 demolition of Real Betis.

Two months ago, while the English were busy contemplating calling up their bookies and putting their houses on the line, Madrid’s squad were in ruins, not unlike people’s mortgages.

Most of their players could barely string three games together without falling injured, while their key figures such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Mahamadou Diarra, Cannavaro, Pepe, Robben were dropping off like flies one after the other. At one point, they had more first-team players in the treatment room than they had in the dressing room.

But now, once again, things have improved significantly for the nine-time European champions. For some mystical, mysterious reason, the ‘Men in White’ are not getting injured as much under Juande as they did under Bernd Schuster. Even the Dutch Porcelain, Robben, managed to reel off seven straight games before picking up the most minor of niggles while on international duty two weeks ago.

The wing-wizard, who is in imperious form, will return in time to face Liverpool, as will midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Guti. But the Blancos are generally expected to be much fresher and fitter than their counterparts. While they’ve been playing one game a week for the last two-and-a-half months, the Reds have been busying themselves with FA Cup obligations and occasional midweek outings.

In short, Madrid have played only ten competitive matches since the conclusion of the Champions League group phase, compared to Liverpool’s 13 (inclusive of their clash with Manchester City on Sunday). It doesn’t help either that Steven Gerrard is carrying an injury while Fernando Torres is struggling with fitness.

The ‘White House’ could not have chosen a better candidate to replace Schuster to lead Madrid into the knock-out stage of the tournament. Juande Ramos is an expert when it comes to cup competitions and he might just be the right man to end the club’s Champions League jinx and guide them to the elusive ‘Number 10’.

In a space of just three years, the man from La Mancha won five various titles with Sevilla (two UEFA Cups, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa and UEFA Super Cup) before adding another to his résumé with Tottenham Hotspur (League Cup).

In sharp contrast, Schuster, despite guiding tiny Getafe to the 2006/07 Copa del Rey final prior to his Bernabeu switch, had a dismal track record with Madrid in cup games. There was the flop in the two-legged Supercopa against Juande’s Sevilla, the embarrassing exit in the early stages of the Copa two years in a row, and of course, last season’s disappointing elimination to Roma in this very stage of the Champions League, even though his side earned the advantage – for the first time in four years – of playing the pivotal second leg at home.

This could very well be tagged an ‘all-Spanish clash’. There’s a very high likelihood that Liverpool could have more Spanish players on the pitch than Madrid. Well, let’s just put it this way: there will be more Spaniards on the field than there will be Englishmen, even if you count Madrid’s newly appointed Anglo-Saxon groundsman.

But that fact in itself has little significance on the game. The key element here is that the Merseysiders have a distinct edge over their opponents thanks to the heavy Spanish influence in their squad. But Madrid have their own secret weapon. They have their own English contingent… or rather, ex-Premier League contingent.

Players like Gabriel Heinze, Lassana Diarra, Julien Faubert, Robben and coach, Juande himself, all have substantial knowledge of and insight into the English game, their mentality, their subtle tricks, their strengths and weaknesses, to nullify Liverpool’s advantage. Their presence will also come in handy in the return leg at Anfield where Rafa’s side will be playing with 12 men, including the Kop.

Madrid’s wretched form in this competition over the past half a decade has made them extremely hungry for glory. And after watching some of their closest continental rivals such as Barcelona, Milan and Manchester United succeed over the past few years, that hunger has turned into an obsession.

While it’s one thing not to win the Champions League or go all the way to the final, it’s quite another not to have progressed past the round of 16 four seasons in succession. For a club of Madrid’s stature and history, it’s nothing short of a catastrophe.

Liverpool will no doubt have their own burning ambitions to win Europe’s top prize for a sixth time, but there’s no denying that lifting their 19th domestic crown – and their first since 1990 – has become their very own obsession. This season, they have perhaps their best chance in a long, long while to put an end to that barren spell.

But for Madrid, having already won back-to-back league honours, they have an unfathomable desire to become the very first club to reach double digits in the Champions League trophy count. And besides, with La Liga still looking a tad out of reach, although they have now cut the gap down from 12 to seven points in a space of a week, this may be their best shot of major silverware this campaign. If they can pull off the double, even better.

Barca Fan Reina Is Desperate To Down Real As Keeper Counts Down To Bernabeu Clash

Jose Reina was a Barcelona fan as a boy, but that is not the only reason the Liverpool goalkeeper so desperately wants to finish on the winning side against Real Madrid next week.

Reina has never been on the winning side against Madrid at the Bernabeu.

He gets another chance on Wednesday when Liverpool face Madrid in the last-16 of this season's Champions League.

It will be Liverpool's first-ever visit to the Bernabeu for a competitive European match, but fans will be quick to point out that in the only previous meeting between the clubs, they ran out winners.

Alan Kennedy's goal in Paris won the European Cup Final for Liverpool on May 27th, 1981. What Liverpool would give for a repeat result on Wednesday to set them up nicely for the second-leg at Anfield on March 10.

But Liverpool could hardly have a tougher task next week. Madrid have not lost this year and caretaker boss Juande Ramos has made a genuine impact on a club who have been all-but blown away by Barcelona this season in La Liga.

Madrid are not going to retain their title this season, barring a miracle, but they will surely qualify for the Champions League next season.

That means the pressure is off them domestically, so a serious tilt at the Champions League is on the cards.

For Liverpool, the pressures are all home-grown. It will be interesting to see how boss Rafael Benitez's pitches this first leg with the Premier League crown still very much on their radar.

Reina, with 16 clean sheets already this season, desperately wants another as he seeks a first win at the famous stadium after five previous visits with Barcelona and Villarreal.

'I have yet to win in the Bernabeu,' he said. 'Two draws is the best I have managed.

'In many ways it is similar to Anfield, as a real tough place to get a result. That has always been the case.'

Reina grew up a Barcelona fan because his father Miguel was a goalkeeper at the Nou Camp before joining Atletico Madrid.

Reina said: "When my dad played against (Madrid) in the 60s and 70s it was the same story. So our job won't be easy, but we still know we can do it.'

Liverpool were very much written off when they went to Barcelona in 2006-07 on the way to the Athens final defeat by AC Milan.

But that day they won 2-1, with goals from Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise, with an unexpected attacking display.

So Liverpool know they can produce the unexpected in Spain.

'I was a Barcelona fan because it was my dad's team, so it would be really special for me to help eliminate Real from there Champions League,' Reina added.

'They are one of the world's greatest clubs, so defeat would be no shame. But we are not thinking like that, we will be doing our utmost to make sure that doesn't happen.

'And I am confident we will reach the quarter-finals. The competition has been very good for us in recent years, and we want that run to continue.

'Every player dreams about playing in the biggest games at the best grounds and this is certainly one of those.

'I have plenty of friends at Real, like Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas. We are all close, but that does not stop me wanting to make sure Liverpool go through to the next round.'

Barry Vow To Aston Villa

Gareth Barry is ready to commit his future to Aston Villa — IF they qualify for the Champions League.

The England midfielder is yet to sign a new deal at Villa amid fresh rumours of a summer move to Liverpool. But Barry, who wanted to make an £18million switch to Anfield at the start of the season, is prepared to snub the Reds’ renewed advances if Villa secure a top-four finish.

Barry, who turns 28 tomorrow, said: “There’s nowhere else I would want to be playing at the highest level. It’s easy for me to want Aston Villa to play Champions League football. It is also easy for me to give 100 per cent when I am playing for Villa — and to want them to finish as high as possible

“It has been great to be loyal to one club for all these years and have that good rapport with the fans. To play at the very top level is even better. The games are coming thick and fast now but I am looking forward to each one of them.

“I feel fresh because the manager has rotated the squad well.”

Lassana Diarra Sends Warning To Javier Mascherano Ahead Of Real Madrid vs. Liverpool

Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra has sent Liverpool's Javier Mascherano a note of caution ahead of the upcoming Champions League tie between the two clubs.

Both players are well-known for their battling qualities in the middle of the park, but the 23-year-old French international is confident he can come out on top.

The former Portsmouth midfielder, who completed his €22.3 million move to the Bernabeu in the January transfer window, has suggested he is ready to show the Spanish public a side to his game they are yet to experience.

"We have the same thing in our head, we don’t like losing," Diarra is quoted as saying in British tabloid The Sun.

"When two players like that face each other, sparks fly.

"I am new in Spain so I try to stay short of kicking someone. But against Liverpool, if I have the chance, maybe."

Benitez Wary Of City Threat

Rafael Benitez has refused to condemn Manchester City for their lavish spending.

The Spaniard also considers the Eastlands side as genuine threat to their Premier League aspirations, when the teams meet at Anfield.

It is the start of a ten-day spell that sees Liverpool play four matches which the Reds manager believes will make or break their campaign.

Steven Gerrard will miss the City game with his hamstring injury, and a judgement will be made on Monday as to whether he can travel to Spain for next week's Champions League tie with Real Madrid.

First up are an erratic City, who have spent over £100 million since the beginning of the season.

Benitez said: "I do not believe their money is changing the face of football, there are other teams who have spent big, big money this season too. There is not a massive difference."

He added: "They will be dangerous opponents. It is not just the money, it is the fact that they have high-quality players.

"This is a crucial time for us with games in quick succession that can make a massive difference to whether we will be fighting for trophies at the end of the season.

"At this stage, you can only think of taking three points and then seeing how your rivals do. We cannot influence what happens to other teams so we must concentrate on our own job and see whether someone else loses a match or two."

Liverpool Boss Rafa Benitez Stalls Signing A New Contract

Rafa Benitez has raised doubts about his long-term future at Liverpool by delaying signing a third contract offer.

Benitez stunned American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett by stalling on a new four-year deal which had been specially reworded to ensure he had full control over transfers and the youth academy.

Negotiations will not restart until after Wednesday's Champions League clash against Benitez's former club Real Madrid at the earliest.

The manager's stance will cast a new question mark over whether he will be at the club next season as he is clearly reluctant to commit his future while chief executive Rick Parry and Gillett remain in power.

The owners believe they have given enough concessions to accommodate Benitez's wishes and had wanted the deal signed by today's Premier League game against Manchester City.

But for the first time he is contemplating what alternatives are out there.

A source said: 'Rafa cannot carry on working unless the way the club is run changes.

'It has been extremely difficult for the past two years, he does not want four more years of the same. He feels he gets the blame for everything that goes wrong at Liverpool. It is him in the window while everyone else can hide.'

With Hicks and Benitez on one side and Gillett and Parry on the other, the impasse is likely to continue until someone resigns or is sacked.

Benitez hoped the fall-guy would be Parry, but it may be him, with Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan keeping a close eye on developments.

John Aldridge: Liverpool Must Put Man Utd Run Out Of Their Minds

The best thing that everyone at Liverpool could do over the next few weeks is to forget all about Manchester United.

It might be easier said than done given the rivalry between the two clubs and the fact that they are fighting it out at the top of the Premier League, but that is the message Rafa Benitez should be giving his players.

All Liverpool can do is worry about their own results. They won't have any say in how United get on until the two teams meet at Old Trafford on March 14, so there is no point in getting distracted by what they are doing.

In recent weeks United have built up a real head of steam and although it hurts us to say it they are top of the table on merit.

Liverpool's job now is to concentrate on their own form and nothing else and if they do that they will give themselves a chance of still being in with a shout towards the end of the season.

They have three games coming up against Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Sunderland and, make no mistake about it, each one of them is a must win.

It is absolutely imperative that Liverpool go into that clash at Old Trafford having picked up a maximum nine points from these fixtures, because if they fail to do so it will become increasingly difficult to see how they can overtake United.

At the moment it is hard to see United faltering, but the history of football is littered with examples of favourites coming unstuck when absolutely no-one expected them to.

In my own playing career it happened when I was part of the Liverpool team that lost to Wimbledon in the FA Cup final.

Anything can and often does happen in sport. That's why Liverpool must look to keep putting pressure on United. If they do that then they might just set a few nerves jangling at the other end of the East Lancs.

All you can ever do is win your own games and if your rivals slip up that's even better. You just have to do your own job and forget about everything else.

Will City play as Dr Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? Manchester City are Liverpool’s opponents at Anfield tonight but heaven knows which City team will actually turn up.

Will it be the one which demolished Portsmouth 6-0 at home in a wonderful displays of attacking football earlier this season?

Or will it be the one which was comfortably beaten by Portsmouth at Fratton Park last weekend?

City are so inconsistent at the moment it is untrue so all Liverpool followers will be hoping they don’t turn it on because if you look at their side they have clearly got quite a few players who can cause problems to any team.

Craig Bellamy is one obvious danger and seeing as he was let go by Liverpool after just a short spell at Anfield I’m sure he will feel he has something to prove to Rafa Benitez.

Robinho is a class act and can wreak havoc against any team in the world if he is in the mood but the problem for City has been that he doesn’t seem to have been in the mood often enough since he joined them.

But being a player who is used to operating on the big stage from his time with Real Madrid and his international experience with Brazil it could be that Anfield will bring out the best in him.

I’m not expecting it to be easy for Liverpool but the fact is they simply must find a way to win because it is vital that they take all three points.

Steven Gerrard Unfit For Liverpool's Manchester City Clash

Steven Gerrard will not be ready to play for Liverpool against Manchester City on Sunday, as he continues his recovery from the hamstring strain he suffered whilst on duty for the Reds in their Mersey derby FA Cup defeat to city rivals Everton.

Manager Rafael Benitez had indicated that the injury was caused by Gerrard being tired due to the unreasonable demands placed upon him, and many observers expressed concern about what might happen to Liverpool in his absence.

With the Reds' Champions League knock-out tie against Real Madrid taking place next week, the Spaniard will not risk Gerrard for the Lancashire derby with Manchester City. He is looking to the clash with the Spanish giants for his skipper's possible return.

"Steven will not be ready for this game," Benitez told the club's official website regarding the City match.

"We don't know if he'll be back for the game in midweek but clearly he will not be involved against City.

"He is improving but we cannot take any risks so he won't be in the squad."

Keirrison's Reds Link Played Down

Palmeiras have played down reports which have suggested striker Keirrison could be on his way to Liverpool.

The 20-year-old Brazilian has been the subject of speculation which has intimated a summer switch to Anfield could be on the cards.

Keirrison is regarded as one of the brightest emerging talents in South American football having finished top scorer in the Campeonato Brasileiro last season when he was with Coritiba.

Palmeiras' director of football, Toninho Cecilio, insists the striker - who has scored eight goals in only six appearances for his new team - will stay with the Verdao for the foreseeable future.

"I don't want to spend a lot of time talking about this Liverpool issue as it is not true," Cecilio said.

"There is nothing official and we were not consulted about this.

"We have an excellent relationship with Liverpool, who signed goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, and, if there was something, we will be the first to know about that.

"Instead, the intention of the Palmeiras board is to keep him here as long as possible here, before he continues his career in Europe."

Liverpool FC Boss Rafa Benitez: Man United Are Not 'Untouchables'

Rafael Benitez has emphasized Liverpool’s appetite for a title fight by declaring Manchester United are not “untouchables”.

But the Anfield manager accepts the next fortnight will determine whether his team can challenge the champions during the Premier League run-in.

Arsene Wenger caused a minor stir earlier this week when he declared United as “untouchables” shortly before they moved 15 points clear of his Arsenal side with their ninth successive Premier League victory on Wednesday when beating Fulham 3-0.

That result opened the gap between Sir Alex Ferguson’s men and second-placed Liverpool to five points, which could be stretched even further today with United hosting Blackburn Rovers before Manchester City visit Anfield tomorrow.

Benitez, though, believes United can still be overturned, especially as Liverpool have already beaten the Old Trafford outfit earlier this season.

And asked if United have an aura of ‘untouchables’, the Spaniard said: “I don’t think so. I can only talk about my team. We know they are a good team and we will have to play really well if we want to beat them, but we have won against them once this season already.

“In football now every game is so difficult that anything can happen. They will win more games than the other teams because clearly they are a good side. But to say you cannot beat them, I don’t think so.

“I don’t think there’s a danger teams will be intimidated by United. Everybody knows they are a good team, but it’s the same if a team plays Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool.

“When I was talking about facts, one fact is United are good team. I knew they could be winning games and they have very good players. Everybody knows that. When you go to Old Trafford, you know it’s going to be difficult and other teams could be worried about that.”

Liverpool Seeking To Improve Out Of The Blocks

One of the quirks of football’s rich past meant it was commonplace for the more resourceful supporter to sneak into game after half-time to catch a glimpse of their heroes without paying.

Fast forward to the present day, and there are many Anfield regulars who would probably be happy doing the same thing.

After all, the opening 45 minutes have not exactly proved a fertile period for Liverpool at home this season.

In 18 games at Anfield this season in all competitions, Rafael Benitez’s have led only four times at the interval, with only two of those occasions coming in the Premier League.

Indeed, Liverpool have netted only seven goals in the first half of their 12 home league games this season, a contributory factor in drawing five of those encounters.

Benitez’s side can begin altering that statistic when they entertain Manchester City tomorrow.

And the Spaniard admits: “Clearly, we need to improve. Look at the game against Portsmouth. I was watching the replay of the game and the commentators were talking too much about team changes and us being defensive, but we scored three goals.

“It’s better to score early on when we have plenty of possession. Against Portsmouth, we had control of the ball and were controlling the game in the first half.

“We’ve done that a lot this season, and it shows how important it is to score an early goal. It will make the game less stressful for the team and it will give the fans more confidence and be better for my heart.

“When you have quality players and are playing at home, then it’s much better to score first as it brings the other team out and their defence will play higher and you have more space to attack.”

Benitez adds: “A couple of years ago we were scoring the first goal and winning majority of these games. It’s difficult to explain why we aren’t doing that now.

“In football there are too many things that can change games. Maybe the other team is strong, or we can’t take out chances.

“Maybe it’s easier in the second half to score because the other team gets more tired, but we I can guarantee we try to score from the very first minute.”

By contrast to their first-half woes, Liverpool have developed a habit of snatching victories with late goals.

Both Chelsea and Portsmouth were beaten in recent weeks with last-minute strikes, and, earlier in the campaign, an injury-time Dirk Kuyt strike earned a 3-2 win at City from a game in which they were 2-0 down.

And Benitez accepts that ability to transform potential draws into wins must be retained for Liverpool to continue a realistic championship challenge.

“At the end of the season every game is very important,” he says. “You don’t want to lose points, but the other team could lose even more. You never know.

“But it’s clear the top sides don’t drop that many points. Every single game will be important. But the nearer you get to the end of the season, you cannot allow the gap to get too big.

“It’s better to be five points ahead than behind, but if you win games in a row then you can close that gap.

“Each week will be different. Games that are supposed to be easy might end up being difficult. I think every game will be difficult between now and the end of the season.

“But it doesn’t matter what people say, the most important thing is what you can do on the pitch.

Tomorrow’s visit of City would appear the ideal fixture for Liverpool top begin rectifying their home woes, with Mark Hughes having steered his side to just a single victory on the road this term, with four draws and seven defeats.

However, Benitez warns opposition players are always more motivated when visiting world famous stadiums like Anfield.

“You can analyse how teams perform away all season but it's different at Anfield,” he says. “Clearly Anfield is a window, especially for players with quality.

“They could show this more than in other stadiums. They have good players, players who can change games so it will be tough. The only thing will be whether we can score one or two goals in the first half.”

Meanwhile, Benitez has warned Hertha Berlin their efforts to sign Andriy Voronin on loan for another year are doomed for failure.

The Ukrainian, on a season-long loan at Hertha, shot his team to the top of the Bundesliga last week with both goals in a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich.

And Benitez says: “We are not surprised he is a very good player but always the first year in the Premier League is difficult and with the players that we have it was difficult for him to play every week.

“He is playing every game now, he is playing really well and the fans love him. He has confidence.

“He is our player and we are monitoring him. We have to decide at the end of the season. But they will not keep him on loan for another season. That cannot happen.”

Rafa - Crucial Fortnight

Rafa Benitez believes that the next two weeks could make or break Liverpool's chances of Premier League glory.

The Reds face testing games against Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Sunderland in the league, as well as a trip to the Bernabeu for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

Achieving success in these four games would then set them up for the home tie against Real Madrid, shortly followed by the crunch meeting at Manchester that could well decide the destination of the league title.

For the moment though, Benitez insists that his side must gain maximum points from the upcoming games in order to make the upheaval of United's lead a real possibility.

"It now depends on one or two weeks to see what happens. Everything can change in just a few days," said Benitez.

"This is a crucial time, we have four games in a few days and that can make a massive difference to whether we will be fighting for trophies at the end of the season.

"At this stage, you can only think of taking three points and then seeing how your rivals do. We cannot influence what happens to other teams so we must concentrate on our own job and see whether someone else loses a match or two."

Few expect that Sir Alex Ferguson's experienced side will surrender their commanding lead at the top, but Benitez remains convinced that the game at Old Trafford can be the key to the title - so long as his charges are still in touch with the champions when they take to the field on 14th March.

"If we win our games before we go to Old Trafford, and then we win, the gap will be just two and then we will wait to see how that affects the situation," the Spaniard added.

"It does not matter what other teams say about us being challengers or not, we just have to do our job and win our games.

"Five points is a significant lead. But it is not impossible."

Rafael Benitez Clueless Over New Liverpool Deal, Considers Aston Villa Title Challengers

The Liverpool gaffer revealed that he still does not know when he will sign a new contract, is focused on his own team, and warns of Villa's potential title charge.

Liverpool's seeming reluctance to offer manager Rafael Benitez the new contract that he desires has prompted endless speculation regarding the Spaniard's short-term future, as well as who could suitably replace the man who has led the club to two Champions League finals.

Benitez though remained cagey in a scheduled pre-match press conference when he questions were posed as to whether there was any news with regards to his contract.

"There is no news," he said. "I have to stay focused on football because we have many important games coming up. I don't know when [there will be any news], but we need to concentrate on football."

Liverpool's title rivals Manchester United have recently been dubbed as the "Untouchables," from Arsene Wenger, the man who groomed the "Invincibles," a team that went on a 49-game run without defeat.

Blackburn Rovers' boss Sam Allardyce who are Sir Alex Ferguson and United's weekend opposition, today intimated that the club are "formidable, not 'untouchable'," but Benitez has skirted the issue, by declaring that it is more beneficial for a team to focus on their own home, rather than admire the way another is decorated.

"We have to think about ourselves. We need to go and get three points in the next game, with no need to think about the other team. We just need to play well, win, and see what happens."

Many commentators have cited that the race for the Premier League crown will be competed between two thoroughbreds. But again, this is a sentiment that Benitez contests, as he feels Aston Villa could prove be worth a punt.

"Aston Villa are a team in a good position, as are Chelsea who are still in a good position. Anything can change.

"I think it was the same before. United are a good team and winning many games so you know you need to win as many games as you can but as I said, anything can change in one or two games time."

Liverpool host Manchester City this weekend.

Liverpool FC coach Mauricio Pellegrino: Never Mind The Gap - Just Close It

If, as expected, Liverpool go into Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester City eight points behind league leaders Manchester United there will be no shortage of doubters ready to write off their title hopes as an impossible dream.

But when you have been part of a team that clawed back an identical deficit to a Real Madrid side during the Galacticos era then you are surely entitled to believe that impossible is nothing.

Liverpool coach Mauricio Pellegrino looks back with great pride on the season when Valencia surprised everyone in Spain by reeling in the Real of Raul, Zidane and Beckham having lagged well behind them with three months of the campaign remaining.

Now he believes the Liverpool squad he helps train daily has both the characteristics and quality to ensure United will not be able to rest on their laurels even if they do give themselves an eight -point cushion.

"In football and in sport in general anything is possible," said the man who was described by Rafa Benitez as "a born winner" upon his return to Anfield in the summer.

"As long as your rivals do not have too many points with too few games left to play then of course they can still be caught – there are so many examples of this happening.

"When I was with Valencia as a player there was a time when we were eight points behind Real. This was in the 2003/04 season. We had won La Liga in 2001/02. This time we were behind and lots of people did not think we could catch them.

"But we went on a run in which we won seven games in a row and Real Madrid lost two or three games and we ended up being champions.

"We never gave up and we kept on believing in ourselves and because of this we were able to take advantage when the leaders did not win as many games as they had been expected to.

"We had a very strong team and we had confidence to keep going right up until the end and it paid off.

"In football you never know and things can change from one week to the next. With three points for a win gaps can be closed very quickly.

"If you look at the Premier League table the gap between Manchester United at the top and Aston Villa in third place is not so big.

"We still have chances, Villa still have chances and Chelsea in fourth still have chances.

"Our target now is to ensure that we get towards the end of the season with our chances still intact.

"Man United will be the favourites because they are the champions and they are at the top of the table but our team is having a good season and we will try to continue in this way.

"The team has confidence, the players have energy and they want to fight to the very end.

"We have tried from the very start to compete at the top of the table and we are doing that but we know that we can still improve some details.

"Some of the players are increasing their level and some of them are coming back from injuries so the future could be good."

The impending arrival of City brings similarly evocative, if more recent, memories for Pellegrino.

The last time the two sides met Liverpool staged one of the comebacks of this or any season to record a memorable victory after being two goals down.

And the 37-year-old believes the character they showed in that game is emblematic of what he sees in the squad all the time.

"Our squad has shown great character on many occasions this season," he said.

"If you go back to the first home game we were behind against Middlesbrough with only a few minutes remaining and we came back to win.

"It was similar in our last match against Portsmouth which we won 3-2 after being behind twice.

"The best example though is probably the win over Man City when we came back from two goals down away from home. That takes character and this means that we do not need to worry about pressure because the players have already proved that they can cope with it."

If Liverpool are to overhaul United then they must first deal with their Mancunian rivals and Pellegrino knows just how vital a win on Sunday could turn out to be.

"We have won our last two games so now we want to make it three," he said.

"Man City will be a tough opponent but we are confident that we can get the result that we are looking for.

"If we do win then we can look ahead to the Champions League game with Real Madrid with even more confidence and belief."

Having conquered Madrid once, Pellegrino now wants to do it again but it is United who occupy his thoughts most right now.

The similarities between United and Real are not lost on the Argentinian and now he wants Liverpool to do what Valencia did five years ago and show that even the hottest of favourites can be defeated.

"You can find comparisons because each country has powerful teams who the press is always pushing because they are expecting them to win the title," he said.

"We know this is the business but at the end it is eleven against eleven on the pitch and if you do your job well, with confidence and you play as a unit then this can be more powerful than the other things – the press or the money or the power.

"I trust in our players. It is an amazing squad to work with and they deserve to have a chance right up until the end because they have worked hard from the very first day.

"We are at a crucial stage in the season and the next month will decide if our possibilities will increase or decrease but, like I said, I believe in the Liverpool players."

Pepe Reina Dimisses Liverpool To Atletico Madrid Switch

Pepe Reina has dismissed speculation suggesting he is seeking a move to Atletico Madrid.

Reina’s father recently declared that the Liverpool keeper is desperate to seal a transfer to Atletico, but the 26-year-old insists he is happy at Anfield.

“It’s my father who made this declaration because he wants me to play for Atletico, but as far as I’m concerned, I don’t,” he said.

“If one day I was to think of moving back to Spanish football, Atletico would be my first option because it’s a club I have a lot of affection for.

“Nevertheless, saying that I want to move to Atletico right now is wrong because I’m happy at Liverpool.”

Technical Ability Will Give English Clubs The Edge In Champions League - Alan Hansen

New Football Pools pundit Alan Hansen talks exclusively to Goal.com about three of next week's Champions League clashes involving English clubs - and expects the Premier League representatives to have the edge over their continental opponents.

Alan Hansen was a colossus on the pitch for Liverpool and Scotland, becoming a true Anfield legend and collecting a host of medals in a glittering playing career. And since hanging up his boots he's become a giant of football punditry too, renowned for his forthright views and analyses which are eagerly anticipated by millions of viewers of BBC TV's Match of the Day every week.

Looking forward to the potential treats in store as Champions League action resumes on Tuesday and Wednesday, Alan Hansen spoke to Goal.com about the likely outcomes of three key matches...


Real Madrid v Liverpool

The Real Madrid v Liverpool clash is an absolutely massive match between two of the biggest clubs in world football. The Spanish champions are playing well at the moment but Liverpool have showed in the last 5 years or so that they can produce fantastic results in this competition.

The atmosphere for the 2nd leg at Anfield will simply be out of this world. The atmosphere for European nights is already superb but with Liverpool still in the title race and the level of opposition they are facing, it will take it up a notch or two. Usually Liverpool are only competing for this trophy at this time of the season so the fact they are still in with a chance of the Premier League too should add to the excitement of this game.

Let’s get it right, Real Madrid are truly formidable opposition but over two legs Liverpool are definitely strong enough to go through. You can only beat what is put in front of you and we all know Real Madrid have plenty of attacking threat but they are definitely vulnerable when they aren’t in possession of the ball. You can have the best attackers in the world but if you don’t play with a structure then you will suffer which has been the case of the Spaniards in this competition in recent years.

Real are not short of top class defenders, they possess the likes of Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro and Gabriel Heinze; but it’s not all about the back four, it’s about how they defend as a team and I think Rafa Benitez’s side could exploit that. Liverpool will be resolute in the first leg at the Bernabeu in front of a fanatical home crowd. I must admit that I envy the Liverpool players walking out on that pitch as despite numerous European games for the club I never played in that fantastic stadium.

You think of Real Madrid and you think of flamboyant attacking football. They’ve always had top players, I grew up watching the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano and Francisco Gento who were part of a truly great Real Madrid team. However, despite their style and size the Spanish champions have not won the Champions League for a while and are struggling to retain their domestic title, so Liverpool have a great chance in what promises to be a truly fantastic tie.


Inter v Manchester United

Having watched Inter in the Milan derby last week I did notice that they look a lot stronger under Jose Mourinho’s management. However, the way Manchester United are playing at the minute you have to fancy them to go through.

The thing about football is that one bad performance or one bad result can really upset a team to the extent where you don’t know where the next win is coming from. The problem for anyone facing Manchester United at the moment is that Sir Alex knows exactly what to expect so knows how to avoid complacency setting in. The fact that United have such a strong squad also helps the manager in that area as there is always someone ready to take another player's place in the side. This in turn keeps everyone on their toes.

The fact that Mourinho knows all about United will definitely help the Italians and we all know what a good tactician the Portuguese manager is. Then there’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he is a good forward but does not necessarily stand out for me as much as his reputation merits. The Swede looked big and strong in the Milan derby but the way United’s defence is currently performing, I don’t see him causing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic too many problems. For me, Sir Alex’s side should progress to the next round as they are without a doubt the form side.


Chelsea v Juventus

The Chelsea v Juventus encounter sees former manager Claudio Ranieri return to Stamford Bridge. The Italian side sit 2nd in Serie A but remain 9 points behind leaders Inter so are unlikely to win their domestic title. Chelsea have also been struggling but I still would expect them to progress from this tie.
Ranieri should get a good reception from the home crowd though his time in charge of the club was marred by his failure to win the Champions League when they really should have at least reached the final. During the semi-final defeat to Monaco, the Italian made some of the worst substitutions I have ever seen and ultimately it cost them. If he had managed to win the trophy he may well have still been in the job. Unfortunately his time in the Chelsea hot-seat will be remembered due to his numerous unnecessary changes. After all, he was nicknamed the ‘Tinker-man’.

Chelsea should have too much power and pace for Juventus but that doesn’t mean that the Blues are lacking in technical ability. The Premier League is often accused of lacking the technique of the Italian and Spanish sides. I have to disagree with that. You don’t get three English clubs reaching the last four of the Champions League as happened last season, if they don’t have plenty of technical ability.

On Chelsea and Hiddink...

The arrival of Guus Hiddink at Chelsea should have an immediate effect on the dressing room in terms of giving the players a lift. Obviously the Dutchman has an excellent track record as a coach which is why he was employed, but then again, so did Big Phil Scolari. One thing’s for certain - Hiddink will need to heal the obvious factions at the club, though once these factions appear it can be extremely hard to get the team spirit back.

We don’t know if Hiddink wants the job full-time or not but he has walked into a great job, they remain in contention for the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League so he has a great chance of picking up silverware. He also inherits a great set of players too, if he can get them playing for each other again then anything is possible.

It’s important that Hiddink recreates the ‘team’ ethic that Chelsea were renowned for and if he can mould the numerous individual talents into a unit then he could turn it around at the club.

Alonso Cautious Over Gerrard

Xabi Alonso has warned Liverpool not to rush Steven Gerrard back from injury into the team.

Gerrard has been pencilled in for a surprise return to the side for this weekend's clash with Manchester City after making a quicker than expected recovery from his hamstring problem.

Alonso, who will miss the meeting with City at Anfield on Sunday through suspension, is wary of rushing Gerrard back too soon in case he suffers a relapse of the injury.

"It is good to see Stevie coming back but we have to wait until he is 100 per cent," warned Alonso.

"It is not intelligent to rush him back. Whenever he feels okay he will be a big part of our squad again."

Alonso admits he will be a frustrated observer on Sunday after picking up five bookings this season.

"It is always frustrating to watch games from the stands but I have known for a while I was likely to miss a match at some point and it has to be this one on Sunday," added Alonso.

"The important thing is all our international players came back fit last week and we have all also had some time off.

"It is important to have some time to disconnect during the middle of the season and now we can look forward to the game with Manchester City, which is going to be very important for us if we want to challenge for the title.

"Hopefully it will not be as dramatic as our game at City when we were two goals down at half-time. We had to play with a lot of belief in that second half and score three goals, which eventually we managed.

"This time hopefully it will be more comfortable.

"But they are a good team even though they have not got the best of away records this season, so we know we will be in for a tough match."

Riise Compares Roma Captain Totti To Gerrard

Roma defender John Arne Riise talked about the Giallorossi's fanbase and made a comparison between Francesco Totti and his former team mate Steven Gerrard.

Roma defender John Arne Riise, who joined from Liverpool last summer, talked about the Giallorossi's passionate fanbase and in particular the Curva Sud section of the stadium, comparing it with the legendary Kop at Anfield.

"The fans in Italy and England both have enormous passion," he told asroma.no, "and the players have a lot of respect for the fans. The Curva Sud is like the Kop in Liverpool and I've thought more than once how lucky I am to play in two clubs which have such marvelous supporters.

"The atmosphere they create before the match is magical, and gives us a lot of energy before the kick-off. I can advise everyone to come and watch a game in Rome, they won't be disappointed."

He then went on to compare Roma captain Francesco Totti with his Liverpool counterpart Steven Gerrard.

"Totti is like Steven Gerrard in Liverpool, a fabulous player, and someone who has the respect of everyone, both from his team mates and his opponents," Riise continued. "I'm sure next year we will play in the Champions League and with the strength we are finding this season we will certainly go far this year too."

At the moment the Giallorossi are in sixth place with 40 points, two away from a Champions League spot. Next week they travel to north London to face Arsenal in the first leg of their last 16 tie in the Champions League.

With the final being held in Rome this year, they will have an extra motivation to go all the way this season.

Who Could Succeed Rafael Benitez At Liverpool?

As uncertainty mounts over Rafa the gaffer's long-term prospects at Anfield, Goal.com's Mike Maguire mulls over who could replace the Spaniard, should he leave.

Liverpool are in the midst of what could end up as their best season in decades. They may be out of the FA Cup and League Cup, but are maintaining a genuine push for the Premier League title and will face Real Madrid next week in the last 16 of the Champions League.

And yet, Rafael Benitez's future is in serious doubt.

The Spanish manager is presently embroiled in talks over a new contract, and he has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the slowness of the negotiation process.

Indeed, in a 'catch 22' of sorts, it is Benitez's desire to speed up the way things are done at Anfield that is causing the stall: he wants more control over transfers, but it is a privilege club co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett seem reluctant to grant.

The former Valencia coach's outspokenness on such matters has hardly helped, and he hinted in the press recently that he could leave in the summer if a deal is not struck by then - regardless of what the Reds achieve this season.

If that should be the case, who would be worthy of fashioning their own groove in the Anfield hot-seat? That is what we intend to find out. And in light of recent calls for British bosses to be given opportunities at top clubs, we've decided to focus primarily on home-grown candidates.

Martin O'Neill, Aston Villa

This man is the one most observers believe is ready to step up to a 'Big Four' job. Since taking over at Villa Park in 2006, O'Neill has transformed a relegation-threatened club into Champions League contenders - and this term, they're even an outside chance for the title.

The Ulsterman's CV reads very well indeed. In the early 1990s he took Wycombe Wanderers to the Football League for the first time in their history; they reached the old Second Division under his tenure. His Leicester City side won the League Cup twice, and they never finished outside the Premier League top ten during his reign. Then came the Celtic years, during which he re-established the Hoops as the best team in Scotland and led them into the Champions League.

Thus, with the Villans now battling for the UEFA Cup and sitting third in the league, O'Neill's credentials are there for all to see. Whether he is right for Liverpool, though, is up for debate. His recent spats with the club and Benitez over Gareth Barry aside, one must remember that he was part of the Nottingham Forest team who enjoyed a fierce rivalry with the Merseysiders during the late 1970s and '80s.

David Moyes, Everton

It might surprise some that the Scot had only held one managerial position - at Preston North End - before succeeding Walter Smith at Goodison Park in 2002. Not unlike O'Neill, he took a struggling side and led them back to Europe - most famously to the Champions League in 2005, beating the Reds to fourth place. The Toffees have managed a UEFA Cup spot in every season since, and they are expected to maintain that record this season.

If there is such a thing as a natural gaffer, Moyes is it. He set about attaining his coaching badges at just 22 years of age, so the vast majority of his playing career was spent preparing for life in the technical area. His exploits with a club whose results far outweigh their financial clout have impressed all and sundry, and some have even tipped him as the heir to Sir Alex Ferguson's throne at Old Trafford.

The top brass on the other side of Stanley Park, however, may hope the Glaswegian instead decides to follow in Kenny Dalglish's footsteps.

Steve Bruce, Wigan Athletic

Why are the top British candidates decidedly anti-Liverpool? As a member of the great Man United team of the mid-1990s, Bruce is another who would have to change his stripes to take the Reds' reins. Not all Kopites would be against such an appointment, though.

Football fans on Merseyside know quality when they see it, and there is an undercurrent of respect for this Manc on the coast of the Irish Sea. Only once have Benitez's men beaten a Bruce-managed side in league play, and that came in the controversial 3-2 thriller against Wigan Athletic earlier this season.

After ending his six-year stint at Birmingham City to steer the Latics clear of relegation last term, the 48-year-old assembled a team that currently sit seventh in the Premier League standings. However, the inability to keep star performers - such as Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey - at the JJB could drive him to a club with more spending power, should such an opportunity arise.

Sammy Lee, Liverpool (Assistant Manager)

Finally, a local lad. Lee's credentials in top-flight management may not read as well as those of the others on this list; his only job as the (little) big boss came at Bolton Wanderers, and that was a near-disastrous and short-lived stint in the wake of Sam Allardyce's exit.

However, there are many factors in his favour. He's a native Liverpudlian; he knows the club inside-out, having spent 11 trophy-filled years at the club as a player; since he replaced Paco Ayestaran as Benitez's right-hand man, the team's results have picked up noticeably; and his rapport with the Spanish players and staff is excellent, thanks to his years with Osasuna.

This appointment would be a throwback to the Boot Room era at Anfield, which effectively ended when Roy Evans left in the late '90s. Many of the more senior supporters would likely welcome him to the top job, but one can't help but think that his track record - or lack thereof, perhaps - might count against him.

Jose Mourinho, Inter

The one 'foreigner' in this motley crew, and unquestionably the most qualified of all the candidates. Everyone knows what he did at Chelsea: harnessed the power of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba & Co. to lead the Blues to back-to-back Premier League crowns, an FA Cup and a League Cup in three years.

Now in Italy, he's odds on to steer Inter to their fourth consecutive Scudetto, and yet his time in Serie A could come to an abrupt halt at season's end. His 'self-assured' attitude has put him offside with the local press, and failure to deliver the Champions League title could see him go the way of Roberto Mancini.

The Portuguese recently declared his desire to return to Stamford Bridge one day. However, in months prior, he stated that he would like to return to England - but not necessarily Chelsea. That led to speculation concerning Manchester City, United and Liverpool, where he was a top candidate to succeed Gerard Houllier before Benitez got the gig.

The Verdict

All these potential options, bar Lee, have endured some sort of feud with Rafa the gaffer or Liverpool. However, contrary to popular belief, leopards do change their spots from time to time. Matt Busby was an Anfield legend, after all...

First, the process of elimination. Lee, while all Kopites would love to see him lead the side to glory, hasn't the experience or perhaps even the capability to do the job. He's a brilliant No. 2, a great link between the manager and the players, but at the Reebok he clearly struggled to break away from that mould and establish his own persona as a manager.

Moyes is the next least likely. Face it, he's been at Everton around seven years now, and Merseyside rivalry is not as friendly as it once was. Gone are the days of the Nick Barmby and Peter Beardsley transfers - if Moyes crossed the picket-line, he'd be waking up with the severed head of a different animal on his pillow each morning.

Bruce is not quite as far-fetched, given his excellent record against the Reds, but O'Neill and Mourinho would have to be the frontrunners of this mob. And one thinks the fans would fancy the former. 'The Special One' is renowned for getting results without paying too much attention to style; the Villa boss, though, has constructed winning teams that are very good to watch. And the Kopites crave eye-pleasing yet very effective football.

However, 'MON' has never managed an elite European club. The step up is a big one, and one that many promising mid-table managers have failed to negotiate. Can he do the job, or is Mourinho the better bet?

Or should Hicks and Gillett just keep hold of Rafa Benitez while he still wants to be there?