Steven Gerrard PFA Player Of The Year Award, Says Rafael Benitez

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, believes Steven Gerrard should be named PFA player of the year. The team captain is has scored 21 goals this season to play a major part in the revival of Liverpool's title ambitions.

"For me Stevie is one of the best players in the world," Benitez said. "To say one is the best above anyone else is difficult because there are a lot of quality players about, but he is one of the best."

Benitez has also praised Gerrard, who is currently with the England squad for the forthcoming games with Slovakia and Ukraine, for his attitude to the game. "He has quality and always tries to improve in every training session," the Spaniard said. "That is very positive. You know when he is on the pitch you have more options to win."

Gerrard has claimed this week he would like to play for England in the 'second striker' role he has at Liverpool and Benitez argues that playing just behind Fernando Torres has seen his performances rise to even greater heights.

"He scored 23 goals one year and now he has 21 and can score more before the end of this season, so that is very positive for the team and also for him," Benitez said. "When Gerrard and Torres are together for us, the rest of the team has more confidence."

Gerrard Loyalty Impresses Liverpool FC Legend Rush

Liverpool legend Ian Rush has praised Steven Gerrard’s loyalty after the midfielder expressed his desire to stay at Anfield for the rest of his career.

Gerrard, 28, has two years left on his contract and revealed he would welcome the chance to sign a four-year extension.

Rush, Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer with 346 goals in 660 appearances, said: “It’s great for Liverpool and the supporters. Stevie is a fantastic player and the fact he wants to commit to the club is great news.

“He’s loyal and loyalty doesn’t seem to be in the game that much these days. He and Jamie Carragher are both loyal to Liverpool and it’s nice to see that. The supporters appreciate that as well.

“I’m not surprised because it’s a good time for Liverpool. If Gerrard commits long term it will give even more of a buzz to the place.”

Meanwhile, defender Alvaro Arbeloa would love nothing more than to beat Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in order to “take them down a peg or two”.

Rafa Benitez’s men will meet Barca if they overcome Chelsea in the last eight and the Catalans beat Bayern Munich and that would be a dream encounter for Arbeloa who graduated from Real Madrid’s youth academy.

“We’re not doing badly in the Premier League, we’re there waiting to see if Manchester United fall,” said the Spain defender.

“And in the Champions League we’re waiting to see if we meet Barca, to see if we take them down a peg or two.

“Barca are favourites in the competition as they are playing a marvellous game.

“It’s not going to be easy. First we have to beat Chelsea. Barca are a strong rival, but Chelsea will be a difficult obstacle and we have to be prepared.”

Liverpool Full Of Title Belief - Albert Riera

The Spaniard is convinced that the Reds can sneak the title but knows they'll virtually have to win every game from now on to do so.

Liverpool crushed Aston Villa 5-0 at Anfield last Sunday to move within striking distance of Manchester United. And with the pressure mounting on Sir Alex Ferguson's men, Reds winger Albert Riera says his side have renewed confidence in overhauling their bitter rivals by the time all is said and done this season.

"The feelings on the pitch are really well and we are in a great situation to fight, and when you are behind somebody I think the pressure is for the other team," boomed Riera on Sky Sports News.

"Of course we have to wait as they are still in front of us, but we have a lot of confidence in ourselves and really good feelings.

"They are one point in front of us and have to play one match more than us as well, but the next two months we have a lot of important matches in the Premier League and Champions League, matches with a lot of pressure and we will be there waiting that they will not win every single match.

"We have to win every single match and I promised a long time ago we would fight for the title and this is the promise we can do because to fight is compulsory and we will see at the end.

"We have a lot of confidence, a lot of good feelings and we will see what happens at the end of the season.

"Liverpool are playing really, really well in this moment," he added for emphasis, referring to the fact that their last three outings have resulted in staggering scorelines against Real Madrid, United and Villa.

"The season is really, really complicated and you have to play well. The reality is you have to play ten months at the highest level and sometimes it is very, very difficult.

"For example we started really well, we were on the top of the table. After December and January we had some problems making a lot of draws at home but not losing.

"I think we were just not playing really well and the other teams wanted to beat who was top of the table that we were before.

"Now we are in a different position, but in a great position to fight for the title.

"We are one point behind Manchester United and we are really confident that this is the most important time."

Boro Bait Taken As Rafa Benitez Back On Road To Glory

It may have fooled you, but of course I saw all this coming.

It was very obvious to me that, while succumbing to a desperately poor Middlesbrough side, we were just playing possum.

We might have laid it on a bit thick, St John’s Ambulance men being tempted to rush onto the pitch at times to resuscitate apparently lifeless players, but it worked: United put aside their steely ambition, opened up the picnic basket marked ‘complacency’, and gorged themselves on their own invincibility.

Now was the time for Rafa’s master plan.

Away went the straightjacket, the draft selections and the bits of paper carrying the life and times of Alex Ferguson.

Out came the mortar board, the first team and carefully-crafted dossiers on how to humble the alleged best teams in England and Europe.

A gentle warm-up against Sunderland, just to loosen the limbs and get into our stride.

And then the hounds were unleashed, led by Gerrard and Torres, to lay waste to opponents paralysed by fear and eventually slaughtered by ruthless execution. Obvious really.

It must be said we have been aided, according to certain sections of the press, by outrageous fortune. Real Madrid, despite coming off a domestic run of 10 wins in 11 games, were derided as the worst Real team in living memory. A worthless 4-0 victory then.

Next come Manchester United – champions of England, champions of Europe – their fans keep telling us, and on course for a quintuple of trophies according to the papers (every day).

But we catch them on a ‘bad day at the office’, several of their players who are apparently candidates for Footballer of the Year mysteriously suffering a catastrophic loss of form.

A 4-1 mauling this time. On then to Aston Villa, admittedly struggling for form but still with as many away wins as anybody in the league. They too are very poor, and so five more goals go in. It should be about now that even the dimmest journalist starts to spot a pattern emerging here.

Could it be that these teams perform badly because, perish the thought, they are being made to look poor?

Maybe Benitez is not cracking up after all; maybe this is a decent side, when key players are fit and rested? Nope, because that would spoil the easiest story to write on a quiet day. And if he was to sign a new contract.

Rafa could be forgiven a wry smile or two after the events of the last two weeks. Widely doubted and ridiculed, he’s emerged from his most trying period with his hand as strong as ever, his reputation as a master tactician enhanced and the apparent source of much of his ire, Rick Parry, vanquished.

Houdini-like, he’s wriggled free from his restraints and smuggled them onto Old Red Nose, who has now taken to issuing delusional statements from a secret bunker in Hogwarts: celebrating 4-1 defeats, claiming Wayne Rooney is a calm young man anxious to see free-kicks taken quickly, and setting his staff ludicrous tasks researching meaningless transfer information.

He’ll be talking to the TV broadcasters through a dummy next. Still, no doubt he’ll re-emerge when his team start winning again, proclaiming them as the greatest of all time, despite their petulant and childish reactions when they don’t get their own way, despite their lack of humility, despite their lack of graciousness in defeat.

But maybe, just maybe, they’ll be celebrating only two second-rate trophies at the end of the season, and the real double will be heading towards the Reds from Anfield. Obvious all along.

Skrtel - United Can Slip Up

Martin Skrtel believes Manchester United could crumble under the pressure as his Liverpool side gain momentum going into the title run-in.

When the two sides clashed at Old Trafford nearly two weeks ago Liverpool faced the prospect of falling ten points behind their rivals having played a game more.

But a 4-1 win for Rafa Benitez's side put them firmly back in the title race and after United dropped more points away at Fulham on Saturday, coupled with Liverpool's 5-0 win over Aston Villa, the gap at the top is now down to a point.

The Red Devils still have their game in hand but the 24-year-old defender, who will play against England in the friendly with Slovakia on Saturday, is confident that the league leaders can slip up again.

"I think yes, because there are eight games left or so," he told deniksport.cz.

"They are also in the UEFA Champions League. A lot of points are still up for grabs, and although they have a match against Portsmouth in hand, they will not have it easy against them.

"I just hope that we will stay in-form, they will slip-up and we will jump over them in the table."

Despite thumping Villa at Anfield on Sunday, Skrtel insists Martin O'Neill's top four hopefuls can spring a surprise when they visit United after the international break.

"It will not be an easy game for them. Aston Villa are still aiming for a Champions League spot and will not give them anything easy," he added.

"We will see. It would be great if they could play better than against us and steal a point or three from United."

The Slovakian international also expressed his delight that Benitez had finally signed a new contract, after expressing his view that he had improved as a player under the Spaniard.

"It is good for us players as well as for the fans and the whole club, because Benitez has done a great piece of work during his time at Liverpool," he explained.

"He is enormously popular here and I think that he is a coach of great qualities. He has also helped me personally.

"He has taught me a lot. Thanks to him we work a lot on tactics and game discipline. I have improved in both aspects."

Agger - Reds Need Help

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger accepts that the Premier League title is still Manchester United's to lose.

The Reds have closed to within one point of the Red Devils at the top of the table, but Sir Alex Ferguson's men still have a game in hand on their North West rivals.

A recent wobble by United has helped to rekindle interest in the battle for top-flight supremacy, with the race now expected to go down to the wire.

Many are now tipping Liverpool's momentum to carry them to glory, but Agger knows that their fate is the hands of others as they hope to take full advantage of any more slip-ups from the leaders.

"It will be hard, because we are still behind United," the Danish centre-half told Sporten.

"But as long as there are points to play for, we will be going for the trophy.

"It was good that we beat United recently (4-1 at Old Trafford), but it was almost just as important that they lost to Fulham (2-0) in their next game.

"That's what we needed, but we need more help from other teams if we are to win the title."

Benayoun Risks Rafa's Wrath

Yossi Benayoun will defy Liverpool's wishes by turning out for Israel in their 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

The midfielder has been out of action for the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, ruling him out of domestic duties.

However, the 28-year-old is desperate to skipper his country in their crucial clash with Greece on Saturday.

He admits that he is running the risk of further inflaming his current problem, but insists the opportunity to help Israel take another step on the road to South Africa justifies his decisions.

"I had a little problem with Liverpool," said Benayoun.

"They didn't really want me to come to Israel.

"But as long as I know I will be able to give 100 per cent I will play, even if it means risking my health.

"I've been going through intensive treatment in the last couple of weeks and I'm almost fully fit, but sometimes it's still painful.

"Missing out on Saturday's match would be the biggest disappointment of my career.

"I'm feeling much better now and I hope that in a day or two I will be able to train with the team.

"If that happens, I will be able to play. Two weeks' absence isn't that significant."

David Silva Is Liverpool FC Transfer Target

Rafa Benitez is weighing up a summer swoop for Spanish star David Silva.

The Reds boss has identified the Valencia man as one of his top transfer targets – but will only do business if the price is right.

Valencia have hit massive financial difficulties in recent months and are set to sell crown jewels Silva, David Villa and Raul Albiol in an effort to bring their debt of 450m Euros under control.

It is Silva who has caught Benitez’s eye though, with the Liverpool manager on the lookout for a versatile attacking player who can figure in a number of positions behind Fernando Torres as he looks to add strength in depth to his squad.

The 23-year-old certainly fits that bill and Liverpool have already made tentative enquiries about his availability.

They will only follow up their initial interest if Valencia are realistic about their valuation of a player who has won 21 caps for Spain.

Reports in Spain suggest the La Liga outfit are holding out for a fee in the region of £25m for Silva and with Barcelona and Juventus also both believed to be interested in snapping him up the battle for his services could be hard fought.

Liverpool are unlikely to be willing to pay that kind of asking price but Benitez will move fast it a compromise deal can be struck.

Reds chief scout Eduardo Macia – who took Silva to Valencia when the attacking midfielder was a teenager – was recently dispatched to Spain to check on Silva’s availability and was not discouraged by what he learned.

Silva was one of the stars of Spain’s victory at Euro 2008, operating in a left sided attacking role which allowed him to support Torres and Villa at every opportunity.

An ankle injury has stopped him from making as many appearances as would have been expected for Valencia this season.

But the midfielder returned to action in January and is currently training with the Spanish national squad ahead of this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Turkey in Madrid.

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano believes he is getting back to his best after struggling to reach top form earlier in the season. He said: “I think in the last two months I have been getting better and should be back to my best soon.”

Liverpool FC Boss Mulls Over Move For Raul Albiol

Rafael Benitez is contemplating a summer move for Valencia defender Raul Albiol – should Daniel Agger refuse to sign a new contract at Liverpool.

The Anfield manager has been assessing his centre-back options with Agger yet to commit his long-term future at the club.

And Spain international Albiol has emerged as a leading alternative, despite Valencia having slapped a prohibitive £18m price tag on the 23-year-old.

However, with his former employers a reported £400m in debt and desperate to raise funds, Benitez is confident the player could be captured for half the asking price.

While Valencia are desperate to hold on to crowd favourites David Villa and David Silva, the departure of Albiol would not cause a furore among the Mestalla faithful.

The defender was at Valencia while Benitez was in charge and climbed through the youth ranks under the guidance of Eduardo Macia, who is now chief scout at Anfield.

Benitez remains keen to keep Agger, but the longer the Dane’s new contract remains unsigned the less likely it is he will remain at Anfield beyond the summer, with his current deal expiring at the end of next season.

The Liverpool manager ended speculation over his own future by signing a new five-year deal, but Agger admits that will not affect his own decision.

“I’ll sign with the club, not with Benitez,” said Agger. “That’s something I must keep in mind.”

Italian duo AC Milan and Juventus are among several clubs tracking the Denmark international, who cost £5.6m from Brondby in January 2006.

Benitez continues to shape his squad for next season and is poised to offer Sami Hyypia a new 12-month deal in the summer after another impressive season from the 35-year-old.

And Jamie Carragher has hailed the Finland international veteran, who has proven an inspired signing since arriving from Willem II for £3m in May 1999.

“Sami’s been here nearly 10 years now and has always played a large portion of the season, hardly ever missing a game,” said Carragher.

“He rarely has a bad one either – and even on the times when he does, he never allows it to affect his form.

“He’s had his critics on a couple of occasions, but has always had the character to come through those periods.

“Top players always bounce back when they have suffered a knock – and Sami is one of those players.”

Hicks Plans Rangers Sale

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has confirmed that he is ready to sell part of his share in baseball team Texas Rangers.

Hicks, who holds a 95 per cent stake in the Rangers, co-owns the Anfield giants with George Gillett and has further sporting interests in NHL outfit Dallas Stars.

Hicks revealed his plans at Rangers' spring training camp and admitted he was also looking to sell minority shares in the Stars.

"I've been quietly looking for minority investors to come back into the ownership of the Rangers as a way to be prudent in a bad economy," he told Major League Baseball's official website.

"I'm doing the same thing with the Stars. At the end of the day, I'll still have 51-to-60 per cent of the ballclub and have new partners. That doesn't change anything.

"I own 95 per cent of the Rangers. I started out owning 55 per cent and over the past 10 years I've been slowly buying out partners that wanted to sell. There's no reason to own 95 per cent. There aren't many owners who own 95 per cent."

Earlier this week it was reported Gillett was considering selling some of his sporting assets, which also include the Montreal Canadiens NHL franchise.

Gillett later made it clear that despite assessing his assets, he had no plans to sell his stake in Liverpool.

Liverpool's Revolution Under Rafael Benitez

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's former assistant coach Paco Herrera revealed all about the revolutionary changes implemented by the Spaniard in his first five years at the Merseyside club.

Benitez, who has just signed up until 2014, has transformed Liverpool into one of Europe's most threatening teams. In the last fortnight alone they have closed Manchester United's seven-point lead to one, knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions league and put five goals past Aston Villa.

Hererra, who left Anfield to take over at Castellon, describes his former boss as a man who "lives football 24 hours a day" and revealed to the Sun what Benitez has achieved since 2004.

Creating a database of over 10,000 world players:
"Benitez does not leave any room for improvisation and he himself supervises everything. It's true he has a database with information on more than 10,000 players. It was when we started to sign up all the scouts. We started incorporating people from one country or another [and] as time went on Rafa proposed to create a personal database. That's where every day all the scouts are putting information on all the players they are watching - I would say it would be closer to 14,000 players."

Building a video room and ensuring access to footage from 12 top leagues around the world:
"There are big satellite dishes and contracts with two or three companies that make sure every month the club get all the videos from every country."

Transforming the Melwood training ground:
"Everything was created little by little - most of the things were done in the first two years. In the second year we started building a hotel of about 20 rooms. It was completed before I left so the players could concentrate there - above all before Champions League games. The players rest there in the training centre and they don't go to any other hotel. Benitez also created small hills in the training ground for the players to do resistance running."

Revolutionising the player's lifestyles:
"Dietary habits were changed from the outset. In general terms in the teams where the management staff were English the diet was not very careful. St the start the entire training ground - restaurant areas, areas with refrigerators where you can get energy drinks - as soon as Rafa arrived he banned everything he thought might be bad for the players. From that day food was meticulously studied. Now breakfast and lunch is made with commonsense for the good of an athlete."

Paco Herrera on Rafael Benitez and Liverpool:
"Everything is very detailed and thought through. Rafa lives football 24 hours a day. He has faith in his coaching staff and we had a great team. What they [Liverpool] value is the personality of Rafa. Professionals are respected there and Rafa is hugely respected. Bill Shankly is a myth for them - he is everything. but I think Rafa, in those five years at least, will match what they consider Shankly to be."

John Barnes: Liverpool Can Win All Their Remaining Games And Take Manchester United's Title

"Manchester United’s defeat at Fulham and Liverpool’s home thrashing of Aston Villa has certainly made the title race far more interesting," writes footballpools.com pundit John Barnes.

"Sir Alex Ferguson’s side still look in a good position to win the title, a point in front with their game in hand but after having a look at both team’s remaining fixtures, Liverpool have by far the easier run-in and really do have a great chance of winning the title.

"Prior to seeing the games left to play I would have strongly fancied United to take the title but they face a number of tough fixtures, though most of them are at Old Trafford. When you consider Liverpool’s run-in, only Arsenal at Anfield looks a tough one and when you consider the confidence Rafa’s side have gained from not losing to any of their big four this season, I can easily see Liverpool winning all their remaining games.

"I don’t think United are showing signs of blowing the title despite back-to-back defeats. The talk of indiscipline following three red cards in those games is rubbish too. Take the two sending-offs on Saturday, Paul Scholes handball on the line was a natural reaction and Wayne Rooney would be the same as he was against Fulham whether winning or not. So you can’t say the pressure has got to them, it’s just all come at once.

"A lot has been made of United’s lacking performance at Craven Cottage but you must give credit to Fulham who have shown they are a very good side at home. It also proves that none of the big boys are unbeatable and as I’ve said all along they’ll all drop points as on any day any Premier League side can beat another, such is the strength of the English top division.

"United still have to travel to Boro and Wigan who are both potential banana skins plus host local rivals City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa so will do well to take all the points in those games. I still see United dropping more points in the run-in, so it may well depend on whether Liverpool can win all their remaining matches to decide the destination of the Premier League title. Can Rafa’s side take maximum points from their remaining 8 league games? Looking at Liverpool’s remaining games, I believe they can."

Steven Gerrard Hopes To Emulate David Beckham's England Record

Liverpool and England forward Steve Gerrard has spoken today of the high admiration in which he holds AC Milan midfielder David Beckham, and of how he would like to attain a similar number of international caps as the former Manchester United legend.

Beckham will play his 109th game for the Three Lions, should he feature against Solvakia or Ukraine over the next week, and when asked today as to whether he would like to emulate such a record, the Liverpool skipper affirmed, as reported by Liverpool's official website, "Let's hope so. I hope I can stay around the set-up for a long time.

"I love playing for my country and being around the squad. I'm happy with my 70-odd caps but I've missed quite a few with injury, so hopefully I can add a few more in the future.

"It's an unbelievable record to have [David Beckham's record-equalling outfield cap haul]. Let's hope he does break it - he deserves it. He's been a fantastic servant to this country and I'd love to see him break the record."

Gerrard is also hoping to take the recent awesome form of his club side, who have demolished Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa over the last couple of weeks, into his performances for England over the coming days.

"I'm on a high. Things have been going really well at the club," he added.

"My last performance for England I was really happy with. I was under slight pressure before that game to put in a good performance and I thought I delivered that.

"I missed a few games with injury since then but I've found my form quickly after the latest hamstring injury and at the moment I'm full of confidence."

Ban Overturned: Villa Keeper Friedel Cleared To Face Manchester United And Maintain Record-Breaking Run

The red card Brad Friedel received against Liverpool has been wiped out - clearing the Aston Villa keeper to play against Manchester United after the international break.

An FA panel accepted the goalkeeper's appeal over his dismissal for a challenge on Fernando Torres, which led to a penalty at Anfield during Liverpool's 5-0 romp on Sunday.

Villa were already trailing 4-0 when Friedel was dismissed by Martin Atkinson for bringing down the Spain striker inside the area after 65 minutes.

However, the American argued he went for a 50-50 ball and had nowhere else to go after Torres got their first.

Suspension would have brought an end to the U.S. keeper's Barclays Premier League appearance record of 182 successive games.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill felt Friedel was trying to avoid Torres rather than bring the Spain striker down and will try to get referee Martin Atkinson’s decision overturned.

'I’ve seen the sending off from a better angle and, from Brad’s point of view, I don’t think he’s gone out and made a deliberate attempt to upend him,' said O’Neill.

'In fact, quite the opposite. When Torres touched the ball on, Brad realised he wasn’t going to get it and actually made himself smaller.

'The fact is that the referee interpreted it as a penalty and added the sending off on top of that.'

Arbeloa Jokes That Liverpool Will Knock Barcelona Down A Peg

Alvaro Arbeloa joked today that Liverpool will knock Barcelona down a peg if they meet them in the Champions League.

The defender was talking alongside his Spanish team-mate Xavi, who has been one of the key players for the Catalans this year.

He told AS that Liverpool are feeling good at the moment and they are ready to knock some of the stuffing out of Barcelona.

"We are very well at the moment. We will see if we can hunt down Manchester United in the Premier League and then see if we can cross paths with Barcelona," he mused.

"I have already said to Xavi that we will knock them down a few pegs because they are very high up."

Certainly the Catalans are one of the favourites for the tournament at the moment and Arbeloa acknowledges that they are a good side.

"For me, they are the favourites, I hope we face them. Everybody thinks that they are the ones playing the best. First we need to face a tough task in Chelsea [in the quarter-finals] and then it would be nice to play at the Camp Nou," he said.

Xavi responded in part to some of the comments made by his international team-mate, admitting that the compliments are welcome and that they are indeed playing well.

"They look at us and see we are very strong. As Arbeloa says, Barcelona are the team to beat, therefore we have to be humble, because even though we are in form, the season is long," he explained.

"We have chances in three competitions. One must go step by step in the Champions League because it is decided by details and we have strong opponents in Bayern. In the league and Copa del Rey we are well placed and we are grateful for the compliments."

Steven Gerrard Wants To Extend Liverpool FC Career

Steven Gerrard has revealed he has never been happier in his career than he is at the moment – and wants to prolong his Liverpool career.

The club captain has previously been on the verge of going elsewhere to fulfil ambitions but is determined to remain at Anfield well into his 30s.

Liverpool are still in the race for the Premier League title, closing the gap on leaders Manchester United to just one point after scoring nine goals in successive wins against the defending champions and Aston Villa.

Gerrard scored four times in those victories to ensure a career-best League total of 13 as he spearheads another chase for honours.

He said: "I’ve never been happier than I am at the moment throughout my career. I’m playing in a top team, I’m playing with world-class players and I believe in the manager that, going forward, we can be successful.

"It is important. I do want to be successful. I’m really happy at the club at the moment.

"I’ve got two years left on my contract and if there was a chance to extend that, I’m sure I’d do it."

WIth manager Rafael Benitez sealing a deal to keep him at the club for five more years last week, and Gerrard admits their relationship is getting stronger.

The 28-year-old has had cause for complaint in past seasons when he has been asked to operate in wider or deeper areas.

And although he is revelling in his current role just behind Fernando Torres, he now accepts his previous outlook to where he was being played was "selfish".

"My relationship with Rafa has got stronger and stronger as time’s gone by," Gerrard added. "Maybe when I was a bit younger I was a bit selfish. Thinking of myself a bit too much when he was playing me out of position.

"I should have maybe taken a deep breath and realised it was for the team. But, at the moment, he’s playing me in my favourite position, I’m captain, we’re winning.

"Things at the club are really good. For years and years, I’ve moaned about not being involved in a title race and being far away from the other teams.

"But, at the moment, I’m playing in a team that’s capable of beating anyone in the league."

Gerrard is, however, cautious about getting caught up in the euphoria surrounding Liverpool’s recent re-emergence as genuine contenders.

United still have a game in hand and, on an individual level, are far more adept and experienced at coping with the pressurised demands of the climax to a Premier League title race.

"There’s a good feeling around at the moment but it’s important not to get carried away," Gerrard said.

"Man United are still favourites. If they win their game in hand they’re four points ahead, which is a decent lead at this stage of the season with nine games to go.

"But confidence is high, the momentum is with us. We have to focus on what we’re doing and, if they have another slip-up, we have to capitalise on it."

Gerrard’s exceptional form has just brought more discussion with England about his best position.

And he said: "I would love nothing better than to be given the chance to play there for England to try to find that form."

Such a move by coach Fabio Capello would come at a cost to Wayne Rooney, who has previously been thought of as an automatic choice in the deeper attacking slot.

"Wayne Rooney can play anywhere," was Gerrard’s instant reaction when the potential problem was pointed out.

As Gerrard, David Beckham and Emile Heskey played little part in training yesterday and Peter Crouch was sent for a precautionary scan on a calf injury, it is highly possible Capello will be spared the task of solving the puzzling dilemma on Saturday.

In Belarus last October, Capello chose to start with Gerrard on the left, where Rooney has been slotted in by Sir Alex Ferguson over the years.

"The manager has explained clearly that he doesn’t want me as an out-and-out left winger," said Gerrard.

"He wants me to be free and to go into places where I can cause problems for defenders."

George Gillett: I Won't Sell My Liverpool FC Stake

George Gillett today insisted he is not preparing to sell his stake in Liverpool.

The Reds co-owner was left stunned when speculation surfaced suggesting he could be ready to auction his 50% share in Anfield.

Gillett has appointed financial advisers BMO Capital Markets to examine all his family’s investments across the globe and is believed to be in the market for a buyer for his Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team.

But he insists this is not the beginning of a process which would lead to him selling his stake in Liverpool.

“We have appointed advisers in different countries to assess our assets,” Gillett told the ECHO.

“We have engaged professionals who are doing some asset planning, it has nothing to do with any decisions to sell any assets.

“We may do some recapitalisation, but any links between what we are doing and the situation at Liverpool is incorrect.

“We have made no decision to sell.”

Canadiens president Pierre Boivin had said: “We’re talking about a very large range of firms and assets which are good companies.

“There is Liverpool, Nascar, the Canadiens and the Bell Centre. This could involve refinancing, the arrival of new investors or – purely and simply – the sale of certain assets.

“The process has been started but we're only at the beginning. We’re not hiding it; we’re going through a very difficult economic period.”

One scenario is that Gillett is trying to raise capital to pay off existing debts in the USA while also putting funds together to enable him to refinance his stake in Liverpool.

Gillett and Hicks are due to refinance the £350m debt they have built up on Liverpool in July and in the current economic climate it is unlikely any financial institution would agree to support such a loan unless secured by big personal guarantees.

With reports from the USA also indicating that Hicks is on the lookout for potential minority investors in the Dallas Stars ice hockey team it seems that Liverpool’s co-owners are covering their positions by making sure they have the necessary finance in place to ensure that being bought out on the cheap is not an option.

Last year, Gillett appointed leading investment bank Rothschild’s to hold talks with potential buyers while Hicks asked Merrill Lynch to do the same for him.

Despite interest from investment groups in Dubai, Kuwait and elsewhere no progress was made, primarily because the asking price – believed to be in the region of £500m – was deemed to be too high.

Daniel Agger: Rafa Benitez's New Deal Won't Influence My Liverpool Decision

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger was keen to stress that he will not automatically sign a new contract with the club just because Rafa Benitez did so.

Virtually immediately after putting pen to paper on his new five-year deal, Benitez said that it would be one of his top priorities to ensure that Agger, along with Dirk Kuyt, committed his long-term future to the club as well.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move away from Anfield in a season which has never quite kicked-off for him due to injury, with AC Milan the most high-profile and determined of his many admirers.

When commenting to Danish news agency Ritzau about Benitez's new deal, Agger said, "Congratulations to him. He has done it well. But I will not sign with Benitez but with the club. That is something that I have to keep in mind."

When pressed on whether the Spaniard's decision to stay on would have a direct bearing on his own future pertaining to a prospective new deal, the ex-Brondby standout responded, "I don't want to get involved in that discussion. But he was the one that brought me to the club."

The Real Reason Why Rafa Benitez Looked So Grumpy Following Liverpool’s Thrashing Of Aston Villa

What a couple of weeks for Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

First his nemesis Rick Parry resigns from his position as the club’s chief executive.

Then he sees his team puts four goals past Real Madrid, another four past Manchester United, and then five past Aston Villa in successive games.

And along the way he signs a fat new contract that will bring untold new riches to casa Benitez.

So why was he seen skulking around Anfield on Sunday afternoon muttering about how his reborn, rampant players hadn’t actually performed very well at all, and should in fact have scored more goals?

Could it be that Rafa doesn’t actually want Liverpool to win the Premier League?

Could it be that the Champions League is of such paramount importance in his mind that a tight, tense title run-in could actually jeopardise his side’s progress in Europe?

Nah, of course not. That really would be the behaviour of a man cracking up, right?

We Cracked Under The Pressure In 1997, But Rafa's Liverpool Are Equipped To Take It To The Wire This Time

The date was Sunday, April 6, 1997 and Liverpool were going for their first league championship in what had been a long seven years.

We were two weeks from playing Manchester United in what was scheduled as one of those classic 'title deciders', although Arsenal were also in the running. Through January, we had been the leaders, but United were the team ahead now. All we had to do was win games, stay close and hope they lost their nerve.

Instead, we lost at home to Coventry. Dion Dublin scored the winner (he reminded me of it when I met up with him at Anfield for Sky at the weekend). Coventry were in the bottom three but won 2-1 that day.

I can remember us being gripped by tension; the pressure of needing to win games, score free-kicks, make every chance count. The anxiety got to us. We were still good players, but those good players stopped playing. It feels like the prize is right in front of you, then it is gone.

Players suddenly make the wrong decisions. Goalkeepers will lose faith in their defenders, they will come for crosses when they should stay at home. Midfielders will try long passes when they should be short and simple as they will try to force openings.
Strikers will snatch at chances and miss when it might have been easier to score. Instead of penalties and free-kicks being given in your favour, they are given against you.

United won the league that year with 75 points, followed by Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool fourth, all on 68 points. The good news is that a sudden loss of form and momentum can be over as soon as it started. When you have players like Cristiano Ronaldo in your team, a moment of genius - when he's on top of his game - can end a bad run and start another good run.

Pressure changes you. Just like United now, we stopped playing with freedom and started playing with fear. In Sir Alex Ferguson's favour, nobody is better at reversing a poor run than a group that includes players like the immaculate Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes.

United are the modern-day masters of winning a league from here, though Liverpool certainly have the momentum now and are playing with confidence.

Steven Gerrard is the best player in the country and Xabi Alonso has also enjoyed a wonderful season. Now Javier Mascherano is back on his game.

I have been critical of Rafa Benitez, but he made the right choices against Aston Villa. He picked his best team, regardless of the fact that he had to make two changes from the side who won 4-1 at Old Trafford. If he does that for the run-in, Liverpool have a chance. It will be interesting to see if either team is distracted by the Champions League.

Benitez has been guilty of changing his team, moving Jamie Carragher to right back unnecessarily. Now he must be consistent in his selection, as well as hoping Gerrard and Fernando Torres return from this ill-timed international break injury free.

Sir Alex Ferguson won't be happy with the delay until United's next game, but at least it is against a Villa team in sharp decline.

There is still a great deal of football to play and Arsenal have to play both clubs, as well as Chelsea.

We have a title race again. So who will crack first?