Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs. Aston Villa

Liverpool are feeling pretty darn pleased with themselves at the minute - and well they should, considering they put four goals past Manchester United last Saturday to launch themselves back into the Premier League title race. The gap at the top is now just four points, although the Red Devils have a game in hand and Rafael Benitez's men sit in third place due to Chelsea's superior goal difference.

It was the perfect end to a week that saw the Reds trounce Real Madrid to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will meet Guus Hiddink's Blues, but the Anfield boss - who penned a new five-year deal in midweek - knows that his side cannot afford to drop any more points in the run home.

Benitez said, “Realistically, we have to win all of our games. But part of winning the war is winning football matches. We have more belief and more confidence now. It will be difficult but we can do it.”

This weekend, the Mersey men come up against a flailing Aston Villa side determined to rediscover their best form - and a team against which they could only manage a 0-0 draw back in September. Clearly, they must manage a better return this time around.

While the Reds were the Premier League frontrunners at the turn of the year, so were Villa the dark horse to challenge for the title. However, since storming into a seemingly sealed top-four position, things have taken a nasty turn for the West Midlands club.

Suddenly, after a run of just one win in their last six league games, Martin O'Neill's men find themselves in fifth spot, shunted out of the Champions League places by a resurgent Arsenal. They have scored just five times during that stretch, and much of the blame has fallen on the misfiring Gabriel Agbonlahor - although the young striker expects to find his scoring touch again sooner rather than later.

“If you look at last season, I went through a similar run and ended up in double figures. The goals will come. They always do. I am not worried at all,” Agbonlahor said.

Nevertheless, the England hopeful and his fellow attackers could be hard pressed against a Liverpool defence that conceded just once against Real Madrid and Man United over the course of three games. But it just may be that they have to gain some sort of result on Merseyside if they wish to keep their CL dreams alive.


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Mar 14 Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool (Premier League)
Mar 10 Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid (Champions League)
Mar 03 Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Feb 28 Middlesbrough 2-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Feb 25 Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool (Champions League)

Aston Villa

Mar 15 Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Mar 04 Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Mar 01 Aston Villa 2-2 Stoke City (Premier League)
Feb 26 CSKA Moscow 2-0 Aston Villa (UEFA Cup)
Feb 21 Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea (Premier League)


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Only good news for Benitez, as Alvaro Arbeloa (hamstring) and Xabi Alonso (ankle) - both of whom missed the 4-1 win at Old Trafford - are in with a real chance of starting this weekend. Yossi Benayoun, another hamstring victim, has also returned to training and could be available. Daniel Agger, too, is back in the fold.

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

Possible XI: Reina - Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio - Alonso, Mascherano - Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera - Torres

Aston Villa

A selection dilemma for O'Neill, as John Carew is nearing full fitness after a back injury and may force either Agbonlahor or Emile Heskey to the bench. Steve Sidwell is also in contention, while long-term absentee Wilfred Bouma - who hasn't played since having his ankle broken in pre-season - has been included on the roster.

Aston Villa squad: Friedel, Guzan, Reo-Coker, L. Young, Knight, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Bouma, Milner, Gardner, Petrov, Barry, Sidwell, Salifou, A. Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Heskey, Delfouneso, Harewood.

Possible XI: Friedel - Reo-Coker, Davies, Knight, L. Young - Milner, Barry, Petrov, A. Young - Carew, Agbonlahor


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool

The Villa Park faithful didn't see the best of Fernando Torres earlier in the season, as he limped off with a hamstring strain in the first half of that stalemate. The Spaniard has scored in each of his last two outings - against Real Madrid and Man United, no less - and should cause the Villans' rearguard all manner of problems.

Aston Villa

If there is one player in the Birmingham club's squad who is capable of flummoxing the Reds' rearguard, it is Ashley Young. His last visit to Merseyside saw him almost single-handedly lead his side to a thrilling victory over Everton (with a little help from Phil Jagielka), and he may fancy himself against either an ageing Jamie Carragher or a not-quite-right Arbeloa on the flank.

Liverpool Are Obsessed With Winning Premier League

Steven Gerrard has admitted he is desperate to win the Premier League and would rather claim domestic glory that pick up another Champions League title.

Liverpool have hit a hot run of form, thrashing Real Madrid and Manchester United in succession, and entertain Aston Villa today hoping for a win that would close the gap at the top of the league table.

Defeats for both United and Chelsea yesterday mean that a victory at Anfield this afternoon would see Rafael Benitez’s men move to within a point of leaders United.

And speaking to the News of the World, Gerrard has insisted that having gone 19 years without a league title the Anfield outfit can think about little else.

“There is an obsession with the league here and there always will be until we win it, but it can be a healthy one,” he explained.

"We all think about it all the time. I know it's something I'll be thinking about until we finally do it.

“That's why I’ll always put the league before the Champions League. I’m sure every Liverpool fan will say exactly the same.”

Last weekend’s 4-1 win over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side has breathed new life into the title race, and Gerrard admitted that the Merseysiders were buzzing.

“I sense everyone is really looking forward to every game between now and the end of the season. There’s a buzz around here I can’t remember for a long, long time,” he confessed.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather be in United’s position than ours, but now people aren’t expecting us to win the league it could have worked to our advantage.”

The 28-year-old also insisted that confidence was high at Anfield and the club were aiming to win all of their remaining games and pile the pressure on the leaders.

"I get the feeling there’s a confidence around Liverpool with everyone just wanting to give everything for the last nine league games,” he admitted.

“We can do no more than try to win every match. It still might not be enough, but at least we can make sure United have to work hard to win this title and keep breathing down their necks.”

Reina Set To Beat Liverpool FC Clean Sheet Record

Rafa Benitez has hailed the “complete” Pepe Reina as he looks to break one of the club’s longest standing goalkeeping records.

Reina needs just one clean sheet to clock up a century of shut-outs and should he reach the landmark in his next three games he will eclipse a record set by the great Ray Clemence more than three decades ago.

Reds legend Clemence reached his century of clean sheets after 200 games, while Reina’s current total is 99 after 196.

Benitez is hoping that the keeper he brought to Anfield almost four years ago in a £6m deal with Villarreal can make another mark in Liverpool’s history books by getting the clean sheet he needs – perhaps even in tonight’s home game with Aston Villa.

“Clearly the team is defending well as a team,” said Benitez.

“I can remember a lot of situations when Pepe was one versus one with a striker and he has made some fantastic saves so I think that he deserves this record if he can break it because he is a very good goalkeeper.

“Hopefully it will happen this weekend because if it does it will mean that we have a better chance of winning.”

“I think that Pepe is a fantastic goalkeeper with a great character,” he added.

“He is very positive and he is very offensive in his play and that is very important when you talk about a goalkeeper because it means he is always looking to launch a counter attack.”

Fernando Torres Targets Liverpool Goal Record

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has set a target to beat a goal scoring record that has stood for 103 years, by becoming the first Reds player since Jack Parkinson in 1906 to score 35 goals in 50 league games if he scores twice against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Spain international was one of the scorers against Manchester United last weekend in the massive 4-1 win at Old Trafford, which led to the title race being back on for the Reds.

Manager Rafael Benitez has praised his striker and captain Steven Gerrard for their contribution to the Reds' season so far.

Speaking to Football365.com, Benitez said, "People talk about them as two strikers these days. How many will they score? Certainly more goals than anyone else we have.

"They are fantastic players, very important for us, so for us to see Torres and Gerrard maybe scoring 20 goals each every season would be a massive boost.

"We need them and we know the team is better when they play together."

The pair scored an astonishing 54 goals between them last season, but that has nearly halved this year to 29, with both players suffering injuries this term.

However, despite the slow stop start season, Torres has endured says he is now relishing the rest of the season and hopes to bag more important goals for the Reds.

"People seem to be marking me tighter and getting closer to me than last season, but that is only normal.

"After last season, they are more aware of me and how I like to play. They know how me, and Steven, like to play, passing the ball between us.

"Unfortunately, we have not been able to play together as much as we would have liked this season because of injury. But when we do, it is up to us to adapt to overcome whatever is put in front of us.

"We have had a lot of league draws this season, too many at home, but in general the opposition's approach to us seems to be different to last season.

"We have been up near the top of the table for a long time, so a draw against Liverpool is like a victory for some teams.

"That is why it has sometimes been difficult for us to play well at home. Teams just come to Anfield to defend, we know this and we have to improve at home when teams play like this against us.

"We have drawn six home league games, which is not normal for a team in our position in the league, but that is the nature of the Premier League."

Liverpool boss Benitez now feels that thanks to their 4-1 triumph over bitter rivals United, the club are now back in the title race.

"I know how much winning at Manchester United means to our fans. You only had to be on the motorway coming home with them last weekend to realise that.

"But we must put that result behind us now and concentrate on winning against Villa.

"We are four points behind Manchester United and they have a game in hand, so only by winning every game we have left can we have a say in the title race."

Liverpool currently sit in third place going into the crunch match against Villa on Sunday, hoping to make up even more ground on United.

Agger And Kuyt Set For New Liverpool Deals

The Liverpool duo of Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt are reportedly set to be offered new deals at the club, in order to secure their Anfield futures.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, Rafael Benitez, having committed his own future to the club, is now intent on encouraging his most essential stars to do the same.

The newspaper reports that Benitez is confident that Kuyt, along with the two full-backs Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa, will extend their deals shortly and he is also hoping that Agger will choose to stay.

The Dane has been linked with a move away from Anfield this season, with AC Milan reportedly interested in signing the defender in the January transfer window.

However, that deal appeared to fall through and Agger remains on Merseyside, although he has struggled to force his way back into the starting line-up due to the good form of Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel.

Yet Benitez appears confident that Agger can be persuaded that his future lies at Liverpool and revealed that he has spoken with the player and received positive feedback.

“Agger has been injured. He knows that he's a player that I have a lot of confidence in,” explained the Spaniard.

“My conversation with him was very positive.

“He knows my ideas and he knows if he's not playing well, he will have problems and if he's injured he can't play but if he's fit he will have the same chance as the others or maybe more.”

Agger signed for the Reds from Brondby in 2006, but has managed only ten league starts for Liverpool this season.

Benitez also admitted that the cost of having to find replacements, should any of these players decide to leave Anfield, was prohibitive.

“We've already started talking, so hopefully it will be done sooner rather than later. If you have to go to the market to sign players of this level, you know you have to spend a lot of money."

Liverpool Is Land Of The Free Agents

Fabio Aurelio was smiling – and not just because after the grey slog of a Mersey winter, last week’s weather felt a bit more Brazilian. Thursday was a particularly good day at training. The sun shone and the session began with Rafael Benitez making a speech. After months of will-he-won’t-he, Benitez had agreed to an extension of his contract. He gathered his squad “and said thank you to everyone because at the end of the day he knows what players do on the pitch makes the difference between whether a coach will stay or leave. It’s good for him, good for the club, good for us,” Aurelio said.

“He’s shown he’s getting better [in England] every season and this is a good moment to give him the opportunity to even get bigger. He lives for football and that’s what makes the difference between him and other coaches.”

Aurelio knows Liverpool’s manager better than most, having spent three seasons with him at Valencia and then having been at Anfield since 2006. Both are keen to extend their association. Like Dirk Kuyt, Alvaro Arbeloa and Daniel Agger, Aurelio is a free agent next summer. With his own future settled, Benitez wants to tie up new deals for all four as quickly as possible. “If the club and the boss are happy with my work, for sure I’ll be happy to continue, so it should not be complicated,” Aurelio said.

“I had one talk with the boss at the beginning of the season but he was telling us he would like us to wait until he decided his situation before talking to the players who were finishing contracts. Now he’s staying, it should be easier. But, honestly, I haven’t been thinking about it. I’m very happy in the moment I am in now.”

No wonder. The Brazilian is enjoying the sort of prolonged good health and form for which he has yearned since 2003. Then, having helped Valencia to the first of Benitez’s two Spanish league titles in 2001-02 and scored a remarkable 10 goals while playing largely at left-back, the following season, a knee injury put him out of football for 18 months.

Knocks continued to afflict him but at last looks the player Benitez promised when he signed. “He can cross the ball superbly and he is maybe a better passer of the ball than Xabi Alonso,” said the manager three summers ago. “People will say, ‘Oh really?’ But you will see the quality of his left foot. At set-pieces he is fantastic.”

Edwin van der Sar discovered this last Saturday. Aurelio was one of the main protagonists in Liverpool’s destruction of Manchester United, quelling Cristiano Ronaldo with his canny and nimble defending before scoring with a free kick placed so expertly that Van der Sar did not even dive to try to stop it. Aurelio describes himself as “quite quiet, I don’t talk a lot on the pitch”, but celebrated his strike without inhibition. “Oh yeah,” he blushed. “I was excited. We knew that goal [making it 3-1] killed the game off in our favour. The moment you strike a free kick you know whether you’ve hit it well or not and when you see the keeper doesn’t even move and it’s going in the net, you feel even better.”

He is not the first Brazilian with dead-ball skills [“I think you have to have more or less a good touch” he said by way of explaining this national trait] but his were honed in a quirky milieu. His mentor was Rogerio Ceni, goalkeeper for Aurelio’s first club, Sao Paolo, who not only takes free kicks but has scored almost 50 of them in his career.

“He’s the world record holder for goals as a keeper [with 83] and he kicks really well,” said Aurelio. “As a kid I took free kicks but I didn’t practise. Then, when I was 17 and joined the first team of Sao Paolo, I saw that every day Ceni was practising free kicks and I joined him. I kept it going at Valencia and now here. If you practise 30 free kicks three times a week, the percentage you score in games will be higher.”

Of players who have scored more than once directly from free kicks in this season’s Premier League, Aurelio’s conversion rate is the highest. “I’d like to score more goals for Liverpool and I hope now I’ll have more opportunities to take free kicks. Maybe next time [Steven] Gerrard will be more likely to give me a chance,” he said, laughing, his indignation lighthearted.

Aurelio dreams of claiming what once belonged to another free kick specialist, Roberto Carlos: Brazil’s left-back slot. Aurelio played 42 times for his country at youth and Olympic levels but suffered his serious knee injury days after a first call-up to the full Brazil squad. He was close to being selected again in 2006-07 but damaged his achilles. Now he is receiving hints that he is again being considered for the Selecao.

“They say left-back is not a position which is closed and there’s a Confederations Cup at the end of the season so it would be a good time to get involved. It’s a big frustration I got injured before and I’d like to have at least one chance. I think I could take my opportunity.” The quiet man has quiet belief.

“I’m not as strong as he was physically but, technically, I could be better,” said Aurelio when comparing himself to Carlos. His conviction extends to his team. Valencia’s 2001-02 title was secured after the team came from a long way back to overtake Real Madrid and Aurelio feels Liverpool are capable of doing a similar job against United, who slipped up again with a 2-0 defeat at Fulham yesterday.

“It’s more difficult because United have not been conceding a lot of points like Madrid did that season but if we win all our games we’ll have a chance of them making some mistakes and of winning the league,” he said. “We have had many games when we were losing and got a result, but because we had a good week last week, we’re not the best team in the world. If we lose against Villa, everyone forgets about beating United.”

A sad anniversary has just passed. In 2000 Aurelio’s father, Mario, was killed in a car crash. “It happened on March 8. I miss him for sure. I had just got married, in January 2000, and he died two days before his birthday. That summer I went to the Olympics and then moved to Spain. So everything you do you start to think, ‘If my dad had been there to see that . . . ’,” he said.

Aurelio’s father worked in a plastics factory in Sao Carlos, the small industrial city in Sao Paolo state where Fabio grew up, and abandoned a promising football career to provide for Aurelio, his mother, Neide, and his sister – who is married to the Real Betis midfielder Edu.

“My family had food. Most people where I’m from don’t have food. But we weren’t in a good situation. Football brings me a much better condition for me and my family,” Aurelio said. “When I signed my first contract with Sao Paolo at 17 I got my first car and at the same time I gave a car to my father. He’d never had a car. I helped buy my parents a house. But these were just small things. Never can we pay back what our parents do for us.”

His family is his world. Settled in the village suburb of Woolton in south Liverpool, his great pleasures are his wife Elaine’s cooking, and taking his son, Fabio, and daughter, Victoria, to the cinema. “The last films we saw were Hotel for Dogs and Bolt. That was in 3D and the kids loved it,” he said.

“Valencia’s similar to Brazil . . . the weather, the food . . . and everyone I told about moving to Liverpool said, ‘You’re crazy’. I didn’t expect to feel so comfortable here.

“The problem is my kids know more about English. They say, ‘Daddy, read for me’. I start and they correct. ‘Don’t pronounce it like that ’.”

Aurelio’s English, for the record, is actually very good. And his left foot, just as Benitez promised long ago, is starting to prove most articulate too.

Liverpool Failed In Late Andrey Arshavin Bid

Both Liverpool and Manchester City failed in late bids to sign Andrey Arshavin, according to a report in the News of the World.

The Russian joined Arsenal from Zenit St Petersburg in January, yet according to the British tabloid, both Rafael Benitez and Mark Hughes attempted to sign the playmaker.

The paper claims that Arshavin turned down a move to Eastlands, a week before signing for Arsenal.

However, they also reveal that Liverpool wanted to move for the 27-year-old but were delayed by having to deal with Robbie Keane’s transfer back to Tottenham Hotspur.

The tabloid quotes a ‘source close to the deal’ as stating that the Reds may have been able to snare Arshavin, if only they had not delayed talks because of the Keane affair.

“It could have been a different story if Liverpool hadn't waited so long,” says the paper’s source.

“As it was, he had already virtually signed for Arsenal when they made their interest known.”

Keane then returned to Spurs, less than six months after arriving at Anfield in January, whilst Arshavin signed for the Gunners.

The Russian has sparkled in recent weeks and has been instrumental in helping Arsene Wenger’s men to return to their best form.

Arshavin played a full part in yesterday’s 3-1 win over Newcastle United, and picked up his first Gunners goal earlier this month in the 4-0 demolition of Blackburn Rovers.

O'Neill Circles The Wagons Around Barry With Big Prize Slipping Away

Martin O’Neill is ready to fight Rafa Benitez over Gareth Barry if Liverpool renew their £18million interest in him this summer.

Benitez had to pull out of the deal seven months ago when he could not raise the money but now, with a new lengthy contract and £30m to spend, he is expected to be back. If Barry stars tomorrow at Anfield and Villa end Liverpool’s sensational run of results, it will only encourage Benitez to make another bid.

But O’Neill will not give up without a fight. If Villa can win a place in the Champions League next season – another reason why they need to end a run of four Premier League games without a victory – O’Neill believes Barry will stay. But he has not given up hope of Barry hanging around even if Villa only have the Premier League to play in.

“Benitez could be back for Barry now it looks as if he’s got some money to spend,” said O’Neill. “I don’t know what Liverpool are thinking and it’s not my concern at this minute.

“In the summertime, if we qualify for the Champions League, then there would be a decent chance Barry would stay. That’s what he has said.

My stance has not changed. If we didn’t make it, the chance for him to go and play in the Champions League is not something I would begrudge him.

“Liverpool might come in: Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea – I assume Barry would want to stay in this country. Only four clubs can play in the Champions League, so there’s a limited choice.” Barry has enjoyed his football this season and has won the fans over again after angering them by saying he wanted to go to Liverpool. And O’Neill admitted: “We’d love to keep Barry at Aston Villa.”

Steven Gerrard against Barry in midfield could be key to whether Liverpool can follow on from their four-goal wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United. “Barry is a very capable player,” said O’Neill. “We are capable of going to Anfield and getting a result.”

O’Neill fell out with Benitez when he attempted to buy Barry and although he says the row is forgotten, the relationship is still cool. “I’ve got the utmost respect for the coaches who are doing it,” said O’Neill.

“Benitez has won the Champions League with Liverpool and done exceptionally well with Valencia. I’m not constantly on the phone to Benitez, but the relationship is fine. It’s gone.”

But not totally forgotten, though? “You may be right.”

Aston Villa Defender Curties Davies Hails Jamie Carragher

Ahead of this weekend's Merseyside tussle with the Reds, the Villa centre-back has nothing but praise for one of his opponents.

Aston Villa centre-back Curtis Davies has today spoken of his admiration for Liverpool's iconic stalwart Jamie Carragher, whom the Villan feels offers real inspiration to younger players for his hard work and inspirational attitude to the game.

"He started as a full-back and played for Liverpool very early on his career, which was a massive achievement," Davies told The Birmingham Post.

"As he’s got older, he’s moved to centre-half. A lot of people say that small centre-halves are likely to struggle in the top flight, but he’s one of the toughest in the business.

"He’s like a rash. When someone takes him on one-on-one, there’s no-one better. When he wins the ball, he doesn’t just get rid of it either. He uses it sensibly."

And Carragher's devotion to the Reds is also something Davies finds worthy of comment, believing that his local 'scouse' roots are a central driving force behind the Liverpool man's high quality performances.

"A thing that comes across every week too is that it means a lot to him to play for his home-town club," Davies added.

"He is very passionate. I think that’s the way they are bred in Liverpool. They are football-crazy and kids love playing on the streets so I am sure it was a dream come true for Jamie to play for Liverpool."

Martin Skrtel Proving To Be Another Fine Rafael Benitez Signing

It is business as usual at Liverpool's Melwood training ground. Jamie Carragher breezes in to have a quick word with Ann, the receptionist, as Sammy Lee busies himself at the top of the stairs.

Meanwhile, Brian Hall, a former player from the 1970s but now the club's PR manager, accompanies a small group having a look around.

Nothing untoward here. Nothing to suggest Liverpool had just enjoyed a fantastic week, one that might well affect the next few years.

On the pitch, Real Madrid had been slain in the Champions League before Manchester United met a similar fate on their own patch. A few days later we hear Rafael Benitez has finally signed a new contract to end all the speculation.

It would be difficult to imagine a more healthy set of circumstances just as the season approaches its thrilling climax. Typically, though, no one was getting overexcited in this part of Liverpool, where counting chickens has never caught on.

The players, for instance, had come in earlier than usual to undergo a few tests with the medical staff. Gauging body fat was one, which was never likely to trouble the club's Slovakian centre-half, Martin Skrtel, who comes around the corner looking super-fit.

"It has been one of the best weeks in my career," Skrtel says straight away, his close-cropped hair topping a powerful 6ft 4in frame. "They were fantastic results for everyone. Before the game at Old Trafford the manager and all the players said this was our last chance to stay in the title race. We knew we had to win and I think we were better than them."

In the wake of those stirring results, much has been said – and rightly so – about the indispensable influence of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Skrtel, however, has also played a key part by forging a strong bond with Jamie Carragher.

In fact, with Daniel Agger injured and Sami Hyypia used more sparingly these days, the 24-year-old has impressively answered the call since returning from a bad knee injury at the end of December. Strong, aggressive, good in the air, the lad looks excellent value for the £6.5 million Benitez paid Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008. Not surprisingly, Skrtel is pleased his manager has committed to a new contract.

"Rafa signing is perfect for us, perfect for the club," he says. "It's good for everyone that we know he's staying for a long time now. He brought me here and he has improved me as a player. When I arrived I hadn't been playing because it was the winter break in Russia, but Rafa gave me a chance straight away and since then he has brought my level up a lot."

Yet Skrtel rolls his eyes and smiles when I mention his full debut, a topsy-turvy FA Cup tie against Havant and Waterlooville. The new boy, in truth, had a bit of a nightmare.

"No, it wasn't a good game for me. It was my first game at Anfield and I was a little nervous. But Rafa kept with me for the next game against Sunderland and from then on it got better and better."

Skrtel was brought up in Raztocno, a small village two hours outside the Slovakian capital, Bratislava. Useful at ice hockey as a boy, he concentrated on football from the age of 10, though he took a few years to settle down in defence.

"I always played left wing or as a striker. But when I was 16 and playing for the Slovakia youth team our centre-backs were injured and suspended, so the manager asked if I could play there. I said I would try but I'd never done it before."

He was obviously pretty good because after a spell at Trencin, Skrtel left home at 19 to join Zenit. "That was very hard," he confirms. "Going from a small club and small city like Trencin to a big city like St Petersburg where five million people live – everything was new for me. I had to learn a lot of new things – a new language, a new style of football. Everything was totally different to Slovakia."

After falling out with his first manager, Dick Advocaat arrived to lend some belief and the youngster's performances soon started turning heads. Eventually, a host of clubs were keen on a player seemingly ready-made for the tough environs of the Premier League.

"I'm a centre-back so I have to be strong – win every header and tackle if I can. That's how I like it. When I was younger I'd pick up a lot of yellow cards but in our first meeting Rafa told me to be careful in England because it is easy to get booked. Now I try to play strong but without the fouls."

It is a successful approach that is going to be crucial over the next few weeks, seeing as Aston Villa's visit tomorrow kicks off a decisive run encompassing yet another Champions League clash with Chelsea.

Next Saturday, what's more, Skrtel lines up against England in a Wembley friendly, though the serious stuff starts the following Wednesday for a country topping its World Cup qualifying group.

"We play the Czech Republic," he explains. "That is a huge game. It's like Liverpool v Everton – a real derby. A lot of Czech people think they are better than us Slovaks. Before Czechoslovakia was broken up, there were 10 million Czechs in the country and only five million of us. Because of that they thought they were better."

Sounds a proper grudge match. Skrtel certainly isn't short of challenges just now.

Benitez Sums Don't Add Up, Says Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson underlined the way that Rafael Benitez has emerged as a potential nemesis yesterday by pulling apart the Spaniard's characterisation of Liverpool as a "little club" and accusing him of flawed mathematics in his claim that United had spent £100m more on players in his era at Anfield. "I was amazed when I saw that," Ferguson said of Benitez's claims, made after Liverpool's 4-1 win at Old Trafford. "I talked to some of the people in the sports technology department and said: 'Check that out'. I am sure I have not spent that much."

Ferguson has a point. The substantial question mark about Benitez surrounds his turnover of players and he has actually spent over £170m gross on players since he arrived at Anfield in 2004, against the £164m Ferguson has laid out on his 18 acquisitions.
Cutting straight to a perceived weakness in Benitez, he ridiculed the number of players the Spaniard has brought in – "The most amazing fact about them is that they have used 60 players in the reserves this season," he said and threw in another grenade on the issue of Benitez's foreign contingent and the absence of players developed by Liverpool's Academy.

"We have signed 18 players in the last five years. Eight of them are young players," Ferguson said. "We like to do develop our young players but other clubs are maybe different. Rafa has a different philosophy from me about producing players. But I worked out that in the last five years Liverpool have spent £24m more than Manchester United." Ferguson's attempt to deconstruct the idea of Liverpool as the poor relation included this prediction: "You will see Rafa produce an incredible spending spree – that is an absolute certainty now he has signed a new contract. They talk of a recession but there will not be one at Liverpool. He is well ahead of us in spending in the last five years. You can expect a big spending splurge at Liverpool."

That seems highly unlikely. Liverpool's owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks face uncertainty over whether the loans they took out to buy the club will be refinanced in July. Benitez might have spent more to date but the events of last summer – United laying out £30m on Dimitar Berbatov without needing to recoup cash from players' sales; Benitez having to offload players like John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch in order to purchase Robbie Keane – showed a gulf. It may be much the same this summer.

Benítez Quick To Give Liverpool Underdog Tag Against Chelsea

The unstinting wave of optimism that has surrounded Liverpool over the past two weeks seemed to have been turned back yesterday following a Champions League quarter-final draw which left Rafael Benítez struggling to find a positive.

For a fifth successive campaign, Liverpool will meet Chelsea and, despite completing a Premier League double over their rivals this season and the recent stunning successes against Real Madrid and Manchester United, Benítez declared his team distant underdogs.

Not even the recent announcement of the Spaniard's new contract, and his pledge yesterday that he is committed to the club whatever the status of their ownership, could improve Benítez's mood following the news that he must once more face Chelsea. "I don't see any advantage and I don't think we are favourites," said the Liverpool manager after learning that his side would have to play the first leg at home against the team that eliminated them at the semi-final stage last season.

"Chelsea are a good team and they are in form at the moment. For me it is always worse when you play the first leg at home and then the second leg away."

Although he is unwilling to admit it publicly, Benítez must be growing a little weary of facing Chelsea. Next month's two-leg contest will be the 23rd and 24th occasions the teams have met since the Spaniard breezed into Anfield in the ­summer of 2004.

The two most recent meetings have ended in 1-0 and 2-0 victories for Benítez on the Premier League stage, results he insists will have as little bearing on the European tie as the result of last season's semi-final when Chelsea won 4-3 on aggregate. "It's a different season and some of the players are different," he said. "It will be similar in terms of the rivalry between both teams – but totally different."

Before the first leg Anfield on 8 April, Liverpool face difficult league games, at Aston Villa on Sunday and Fulham, as they look to keep alive their faint title aspirations.

At least with his contract saga resolved, Benítez is hoping the feel-good factor around Anfield following recent events, on and off the field, continues on the pitch against Villa, with the manager moving quickly to quash rumours that his new five-year contract includes a get-out clause should Liverpool's co-owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, leave.

"That's not the case. I have signed because I am 100% committed to Liverpool," Benítez said. "Both have told me that they want the best for the club. For me, that's enough.

"I have signed the contract because I know we can improve. I will keep contact and have a very good relationship with the owners. It doesn't matter who is there because I will try to do my best to control the football operation."

Meanwhile, there were sighs of relief at Anfield and at Uefa's headquarters in Nyon after the logistics of the draw made it possible for Liverpool to avoid having to play on 15 April, the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. The Liverpool officials, players and fans had appealed to Uefa to avoid scheduling their Champions League quarter-final on that date.

Uefa president Michel Platini had been wary of creating a precedent by guaranteeing Liverpool that their tie would not be scheduled for April 15 but behind the scenes officials promised to do all they could to avoid the possibility. Liverpool chief executive, Rick Parry, said: "It's massively important and I'm delighted that's the outcome. It's a huge issue for the club and the fans and I'm pleased Uefa has recognised that."There had been concern at the prospect of a minority of fans engaging in unsavoury chanting if Manchester United and Liverpool were to meet around the time of the anniversary.

And while unpleasant Hillsborough-related chants have also been heard at Stamford Bridge on odd occasions during the many recent meetings of the teams, Parry said he was confident it would not be a problem when the two teams played on 14 April.

"I'm certainly hoping that's not going to be an issue," he said. "The key for us was the date and that's a good outcome."

Rafael Benitez Looks To See Off Chelsea Again

There are two sides to Rafael Benítez: the one that still seems to have trouble motivating his players for matches against lowly teams such as Stoke City and Middlesbrough, and the one seen yesterday.

Benítez momentarily let slip during a lengthy discourse that the Champions League was the “most important” trophy in his eyes, but while that may frustrate some at the club for whom the Barclays Premier League title remains the most precious prize, one can hardly criticise the Liverpool manager for the natural affinity he has with European football’s premier club competition.

Benítez has the kind of authority in the Champions League that Sir Alex Ferguson, his Manchester United counterpart, has established in the Premier League and as he looked ahead to a quarter-final against Chelsea next month that will bring the teams together for an unprecedented fifth successive season in Europe — Juventus and Deportivo La Coruña met four times between 2001 and 2004 — the air of calm surrounding the Spaniard was pointed.

It was almost easy to forget for a moment that Liverpool have a crucial league game at home to Aston Villa tomorrow, when the Merseyside club will hope to maintain the pressure on United, the leaders, after their remarkable 4-1 win at Old Trafford last weekend, but Benítez was far more comfortable and confident discussing Chelsea than Villa, which might help to explain why his team often take their eye off the ball domestically but never in Europe.

Chelsea finally exacted revenge on Liverpool last season for two previous defeats at the semi-final stage in 2005 and 2007, a 4-3 aggregate success enough to secure them a place in the final against United in Moscow, but Benítez dismissed claims that that result could hand Guus Hiddink’s team a psychological advantage.

He also brushed off suggestions that the first leg being at Anfield on April 8 and the second leg at Stamford Bridge six days later plays into Chelsea’s hands. Nor does it matter that he is coming up against Hiddink, who has won the European Cup with PSV Eindhoven. When it comes to Europe, Benítez has absolute faith in his abilities and those of his team, and while he did not say it, he knows that Chelsea will be the more fearful.

“The league depends on United — it will be difficult but not impossible [to win] — but to win the Champions League again would be massive,” Benítez said. “It means a lot to win trophies but maybe to win the Champions League is the most important.

“I don’t think we are favourites. I don’t see either club having an advantage. Chelsea are a very good team that are in form again and it will be tough for both teams. They are playing with more confidence [under Hiddink].

“The Champions League is in our own hands. It depends on us. That’s a massive difference to the league situation, but it will still be very difficult. You can’t change the draw now, but our side of it is more difficult. If we get through, Barcelona or Bayern Munich will be difficult and then there’s the final itself, but do I want to be in the same situation in the next five years? If we keep playing them in the final stages of the Champions League, then I will be happy, as it means we have reached that far.”

Having finally ended speculation about his future by signing a new five-year contract this week, Benítez is clearly looking to the long term. One of the sticking points had been his demand for Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr., the Liverpool owners, to provide him with guarantees about the future ownership of the club, but while they were unable to do that, the Spaniard is adamant that there is no clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if the owners changed.

“There’s no get-out clause,” he said. “I’ve signed the contract because I am 100 per cent committed to the club. Both owners signed my contract and said they want the best for the club and for me that’s enough.” Chelsea beware.

Rafa Benitez: Manchester United Are Favourites For Europe

Much has been made about Chelsea and Liverpool's re-acquaintance in the Champions League - their fifth successive meeting in continental competition - but Reds boss Rafael Benitez was keen to stress that the draw could have been kinder to them.

The Spaniard also offered clarity over his new long-term Liverpool contract.

"It will be difficult for both sides," Benitez said at a press conference today. "We've played each other so many times, sometimes its advantageous, sometimes its not.

"Villarreal, and FC Porto are good sides, but to draw against a team like Chelsea is tough," he warned. "Clearly Manchester United are favourites."

Regarding the news that UEFA are set to acquiesce to Liverpool's request of moving a Champions League tie so that it will not lie on their 20th anniversary commemorations, Benitez added, "We were trying to avoid the Hillsborough date for what it means for the club and the fans, but we are pleased with the decision."

He also clarified the complexities over his new contract, "I think every press conference for the past three months I have answered a question about this. There were uncertainties to sort out, those were the key, we had to clarify these.

"I am pleased with the answer. I have the same control that I had before with regard to transfers," he said.

Liverpool Co-Owner Tom Hicks Insists New Anfield Will Happen

Liverpool FC co-owner Tom Hicks insists new Anfield will happen – telling fans “we’re going to build that sucker”.

But the Texan was unable to say exactly when the new stadium would be ready.

He blamed delays on the closure of the world’s money markets.

The Americans need £400 million even to restart building work in Stanley Park.

Hicks has hinted at his ability to get cash together – claiming he will be at Liverpool for as long as Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard’s new five-year deal keeps him at the club until 2014.

But for Hicks and co-owner George Gillett to stay in control they must re-finance £300m of loans in July.

Hicks could replace Gillett, thought to want to sell his stake, although he hinted his fellow American could stay.

He insisted the world’s financial markets would reopen and the pair would get the money.

“The stadium is very much something we plan to do. It is not being mothballed, it is going to happen.”

But fan groups have hit out at “more broken promises” from Hicks and Gillett, calling them “naive” to think Benitez’s new deal will win over supporters.

Last August the club said the new 60,000 stadium would be ready for 2012/13 – a year delay on previous dates.

When Hicks and George Gillett bought Liverpool two years ago they promised to start work within 60 days.

The club and the city council are yet to sign an agreed 999-year lease on Stanley Park.

Council leader Warren Bradley has warned the club to “sort itself out” or face losing the right to build on the park.

Chair of Liverpool’s Supporters’ Club Richard Pedder said: “I don’t believe a word Hicks says. He won’t be here as long as Rafa.

“I believe he’ll be forced to leave in July and it will be a hat-trick of success for Liverpool FC.”

Anfield councillor Brian Dowling said: “The people of Anfield deserve better than what they’re getting.

“Hicks living in his big house in America has no idea what it’s like for people in Anfield.”

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks Never Doubted Rafael Benitez Would Stay

Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, says he never doubted that Rafael Benitez would commit his long-term future to the club.

The Liverpool manager ended months of bitter wrangling over his future by signing a new contract last night that will keep him at Anfield until 2014. Internal politics had led to doubts about his position at the club but Hicks believes there was never a real possibility of him leaving.

"I was never worried we would lose Rafa Benitez," Hicks said. Hicks added: "These things are complicated. A five-year contract is complicated, so I'm just relieved we finally got it done. Rafa has such a passion for Liverpool. I looked him in the eyes and I knew he'd sign.

"From the supporters' point of view, to have it done on top of such a great week on the pitch is great."

Hicks played down long-running reports that the delay was down to a power struggle - and in particular wrangling over transfer policy.

"That was in the media but it was never really true," he said. "I sat down with Rafa a couple of months ago and he made it very clear that he knows a manager can't have control over transfer budget.

"He has had his frustrations over the last five years and those are well chronicled but he will make the recommendations about which players we sign and the new CEO, the owners and the board will make the final financial commitment. And that is the way it needs to be."

The American is happy with the Reds' improvement in the Premier League and added: "We have a chance to catch Manchester United. It's not a great chance, but it's a chance."

Hicks said the club would continue to back Benitez in the transfer market. "We have signed Martin Skrtel, Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun. We even signed Robbie Keane. But that didn't work out."

"I sat down with Rafa a couple of months ago and he made it very clear that he knows a manager can't have control over transfer budget," he said. "He has had his frustrations over the last five years and those are well chronicled but he will make the recommendations about which players we sign and the new CEO, the owners and the board will make the final financial commitment. And that is the way it needs to be."

Hicks dismissed the idea that the club was imminently going to be sold to businessmen in the middle-east and reaffirmed his commitment to staying at Anfield.

"I'm going to be here the next five years, Rafa will be here for five years," he said. "I think George will be here for the next five years, though I can't answer for him. We all want to be here for the new stadium."

Liverpool Meet Chelsea In Champions League Quarter-Finals

Liverpool and Chelsea will renew their Champions League rivalry after being drawn together in the quarter-finals today.

The Premier League sides have played each other five times in the past five seasons of the competition, most recently in the semi-finals last year when Chelsea won 4-3 on aggregate.

Manchester United, the holders, are likely to be happy with their draw against FC Porto, the Portuguese champions. Arsenal will play Villarreal, the Spanish club who finished fourth in La Liga.

The other tie pitches Barcelona, the joint favourites with United, against Bayern Munich. The draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland.


Quarter-final draw

Villarreal v Arsenal

Manchester United v Porto

Liverpool v Chelsea

Barcelona v Bayern Munich

Ties to be played on 7/8 April and 14/15 April.


Semi-final draw

Manchester United or Porto v Villarreal or Arsenal

Barcelona or Bayern Munich v Liverpool or Chelsea

Ties to be played on 28-29 April and 5-6 May.

Liverpool's Transfer Targets And Sales Now Rafa Benitez Has Signed On

After Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez ended speculation over his future in signing a four-year contract extension worth around £20 million that will keep him at Anfield until 2014. Telegraph Sport looks at five possible transfer targets and players on the way out.


FIVE OUT

Jermaine Pennant (Free)

The former Arsenal and Birmingham winger, currently on loan at Portsmouth, will not have his contract renewed after falling out with Benitez, with the manager concerned by his attitude in training.

Andriy Voronin (£2-3 million)

A flop in the Premier League, the Ukrainian has been in sparkling form since joining Hertha Berlin on loan. The Bundesliga remains his most likely destination, and Hertha his preferred move, should the Germans be able to find the cash.

Andrea Dossena (£4 million)

After early struggles at Anfield, Dossena’s two goals in two games suggest he is starting to find his feet, albeit as a left-winger and not a left-back. Benitez may be tempted to cash in, though, if a suitable offer from Italy arrives, with Juventus and Roma interested.

Philipp Degen (£1 million)

The Swiss full-back has featured just twice since his move from Borussia Dortmund after a succession of injuries. Benitez will surely move him on if he can find a buyer willing to take the risk.

Sami Hyypia (Free)

Benitez would be loathe to lose the former club captain, who proved at Old Trafford that he is more than capable of filling the breach when required. But the Finn, whose contract expires at the end of the season, may decide he wants one more year of playing regularly before hanging up his boots.


FIVE IN

Glen Johnson (Portsmouth, £8 million)

Liverpool’s most obvious weakness is at right back, where there is no natural cover for Alvaro Arbeloa. Johnson, an England international, would provide a more attacking alternative and is likely to be available as Portsmouth look to ease their financial concerns.

David Wheater (Middlesbrough, £5 million)

Should the ever-reliable Sami Hyypia leave, Benitez is likely to look at the Middlesbrough man as a young, English replacement. The Spaniard knows he has to boost his English contingent to meet UEFA regulations and, should Boro be relegated, Wheater would be an economic option.

Aaron Lennon (Tottenham, £10 million)

Benitez tried to include the wide man as part of the Robbie Keane deal but Harry Redknapp was unwilling to budge. There are suggestions that Liverpool may go back in the summer as Benitez tries to add natural width to a team which struggles to break down compact opponents.

Michael Mancienne (Chelsea, £4 million)

The England under-21 international has struggled to break in to Chelsea’s side and Benitez, on the lookout for English players, would be tempted to bring in a defender equally comfortable at centre back or full back.

Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, £15 million)

If Aston Villa fail to reach the Champions League, Barry may decide that he has to make the move he was dissuaded from last season. Benitez may choose to go back for the man who, ultimately, cost Rick Parry his job and is still keen on his dynamism and versatility.

Rafa Benitez: Pepe Reina Is The 'Complete Goalkeeper'

RAFA Benitez today hailed the “complete” Pepe Reina as he looks to break one of the club’s longest standing goalkeeping records.

Reina needs just one clean sheet to clock up a century of shut-outs and should he reach the landmark in his next three games he will eclipse a record set by the great Ray Clemence more than three decades ago.

Reds legend Clemence reached his century of clean sheets after 200 games, while Reina’s current total is 99 after 196.

Benitez is hoping that the keeper he brought to Anfield almost four years ago in a £6m deal with Villarreal can make another mark in Liverpool’s history books by getting the clean sheet he needs – perhaps even in Sunday’s home game with Aston Villa.

Though the Reds boss admits that Reina has needed the help of his team mates to be in with a shout of breaking Clemence’s record he insists the individual standards the Spanish international has set himself are the main factor behind his ongoing success.

“Clearly the team is defending well as a team,” said Benitez.

“I can remember a lot of situations when Pepe was one versus one with a striker and he has made some fantastic saves so I think that he deserves this record if he can break it because he is a very good goalkeeper.

“Hopefully it will happen this weekend because if it does it will mean that we have a better chance of winning.”

Reina’s shot stopping abilities and command of his own area have put him within touching distance of Clemence’s milestone, and Benitez is equally impressed by his ability to make things happen at the other end of the pitch.

Last week at Old Trafford, Reina’s distribution with his feet was one of the key factors behind Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Man United and his manager is keen to underline his knack of launching swift counter attacks once he takes possession of the ball – qualities which he believes make him a complete goalkeeper.

“I think that Pepe is a fantastic goalkeeper with a great character,” he added.

“He is very positive and he is very offensive in his play and that is very important when you talk about a goalkeeper because it means he is always looking to launch a counter attack.

“He also makes great saves and remains calm at the most important moments.

“For me he is a very good goalkeeper and he is very complete.”

Rafa To Shift Focus To Title Race

Rafa Benitez is pleased his contract dispute is now a thing of the past so his Liverpool team can concentrate on the title race.

Their first opportunity to build on last weekend's outstanding victory at Manchester United will be when Aston Villa, who are still fighting for a Champions League spot, visit Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool are unlikely to have midfielder Xabi Alonso back after the Spain international missed the Old Trafford triumph with an ankle injury.

Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa, who injured his hamstring in the warm-up for that match, should play, but midfielder Yossi Benayoun is unlikely to be involved because of a knee problem. Fernando Torres, who battled through the Manchester United match with an ankle injury, will be fit.

Benitez believes everyone can now concentrate on the challenge of catching United at the top of the table.

He said: "I am really, really pleased. We have been talking about things for a long time, so it is good that it's been finalised and we can finish with the talks. Now we can start working with everything sorted."

He added: "It was a distraction in every single press conference because I was asked the same question. I was trying to concentrate on football and I think we were doing well."