Rafa Avoids Tevez Talk

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has played down speculation linking the club with a move for Carlos Tevez.

Tevez is coming to the end of a two-year loan at fierce rivals Manchester United, and with the league leaders still to secure a deal for the Argentinean, Liverpool have emerged as potential suitors for the former Boca Juniors star.

The Reds are widely believed to be in the market for a new striker following the departure of Robbie Keane in January - although Benitez insists that no firm targets have yet been drawn up.

"It is too early [to talk about individual players]. Summer is too far," said the Spaniard.

"We are not talking about players because now we are focused on the league."

Benitez has been linked with the 25-year-old before, having forged a strong relationship with his representative Kia Joorabchian during the negotiations to take Javier Mascherano to Liverpool in 2007.

And with Liverpool needing only to correspond with Joorabchian and not Manchester United, the club would be able to avoid the same acrimony that has greeted previous attempts to snare players from Old Trafford.

Benitez Denies United Jibe

Rafael Benitez has denied reports claiming he thinks Liverpool are better than Manchester United.

Benitez was quoted on Friday insisting the Reds were a better team than the Old Trafford and he was the only one willing to stand up to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Those comments sparked a reaction from United boss Ferguson in his press conference, but Benitez has since refuted the reports.

"It is not true," Benitez told Sky Sports News. "I did not say this.

"It was a normal conversation with a good journalist and then has been twisted a little bit.

"We are really focused and do not want to lose our concentration."

But Benitez did warn Manchester United that his team is ready to pounce upon any mistake they make in the title run-in.

United returned to the top of the Premier League with victory over Portsmouth in midweek and now have a three point advantage with a match in hand.

Both clubs have slipped up in recent weeks - Liverpool's 4-4 draw against Arsenal on Tuesday the latest - but Benitez is confident his side will push their north-west neighbours right to the end of the season.

"Clearly it was difficult before (the Arsenal game) and now it will be more difficult but we will keep going," he said.

"We have confidence we can win our games and United will make a mistake so we have to be ready and hopefully we will see a mistake and it will be very close.

"It is football and you never know what can happen. If we win and they (United) cannot then again we will be talking about the title race.

"It is important to keep going and keep the belief."

The Spaniard hopes his players do not lose their focus when they take on Hull at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

Liverpool's last two matches - the Champions League exit to Chelsea and Tuesday's league clash at home to Arsenal - have both finished 4-4.

That is a most un-Benitez-like scoreline and he admitted certain events in midweek left him frustrated and even angry.

He will underline to his squad they cannot continue with the win-at-all costs mentality and forget their responsibilities to the team.

Benitez is a meticulous planner and each player is given a detailed job - specific to the opponents they are facing - to do before each match.

Those instructions were not carried out against the Gunners and Benitez intends to drum into his squad the importance of keeping their heads during the match.

"The first three goals against Arsenal were individual mistakes, you cannot blame the team you can talk about one player," he added.

"The last one was a team mistake so we have to do better defending a corner when we are attacking.

"I was really disappointed. We have been practising for years how to defend this situation and I was shouting at one or two players.

"We had the [pre-match] report and it said be careful with Theo Walcott at corners because he can start the counter-attack.

"It was so clear, they (the players) knew, and we made a mistake.

"In this case it was because they wanted to score and they were losing their position.

"They realise there was a mistake so next time it will be different.

"It (an attacking attitude) is good in open play but when you talk about set-pieces everyone has responsibilities and we have to be careful with these things

Kenny Dalglish In Talks With Rafa Benitez Over Liverpool FC Role

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has spoken to club legend Kenny Dalglish about a return to Anfield but a role for the Scot has yet to be finalised.

Dalglish, voted the Reds greatest player, has already voiced his desire to help his former club and it has been suggested he would be brought in to become involved in youth development.

Benitez is optimistic he can work with the 58-year-old, who had a 14-year spell at Liverpool before quitting as manager in 1991.

It is true I was talking Kenny and the conversation was really positive, said Benitez.

He wants to help any way he can and we will talk in the future.

The conversations are there. I am really pleased and I think he is really pleased too.

Wolves To Land Reds Starlet

Wolves are poised to sign former Liverpool youngster Jack Metcalf, skysports.com understands.

Metcalf linked up with Premier League-bound Wolves earlier this month on trial after leaving Liverpool's Academy.

The talented defender is thought to have impressed the Wolves coaching staff during his time at Molineux and they are ready to offer him a deal at the club.

The 17-year-old came through the ranks at Liverpool and has featured for the reserves and the youth team this season in the FA Youth Cup.

A host of clubs expressed an interest in signing Metcalf after he left Anfield, but Wolves have won the race for his signature.

Allardyce Angered By Lee

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has told Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee that there was no need to become involved in his dispute with Rafa Benitez.

Last week Allardyce joined forces with Manchester United chief Sir Alex Ferguson in accusing Reds leader Benitez of failing to show respect to rivals.

The accusation came as a result of hand gestures made by the former Valencia manager during Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Rovers on 11th April.

Benitez chose not to respond to the allegation but on Monday his right-hand man, Lee, defended the event and described Allardyce and Ferguson's comments as 'quite sad'.

And Allardyce has been upset by the opinion of his former Bolton No.2, telling Sky Sports News: "There was no need for Sammy to get involved.

"It wasn't a situation I was going to get him involved in. It was a situation that was between me and Rafa Benitez.

"If anyone should have spoken, it should have been Rafa Benitez and not Sammy Lee."

Allardyce, who is fighting a Premier League relegation battle with Rovers, has also rubbished Lee's claims that he did not attempt to confront Benitez immediately after the heavy setback at Anfield.

"My situation was that, as I repeat there was the situation to speak to him in his room and he wasn't there," he concluded.

Hobbs Makes Switch From Liverpool To Leicester Permanent

Newly-crowned League One champions Leicester City, who will be playing their football in the Championship next season, have completed the signing from Liverpool of defender Jack Hobbs on a four-year contract.

Hobbs, 20, has been on loan to Leicester all season but has now joined the Foxes on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my season with the club and I am absolutely delighted to make the move permanent," Hobbs was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

He had joined Liverpool as a 17-year-old after having played a mere three minutes of professional football for Lincoln City.

He said of newly-promoted Leicester, "This is a massive club and I believe we can go all the way to the Premier League. That's one of the reasons why I have committed to signing a four-year deal.

"I couldn't be happier here. Leicester have shown great faith in me and instilled me with great confidence. I really am over the moon."

John Barnes Hails Rafa Benitez For Closing Man United Gap

Liverpool legend John Barnes has hailed the progress of Rafael Benitez’s side this season even if they fail to win the Barclays Premier League title.

Liverpool’s recent quarter- final elimination from the Champions League by Chelsea left them focusing solely on overhauling leaders Manchester United.

The 4-4 draw with Arsenal allowed Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to stretch their lead to three points with a game in hand after their 2-0 win over Portsmouth last night.

But former England winger Barnes insists even pushing United close represents real progress. "They can now throw all their eggs into one basket, the league," Barnes said. "They have had a fantastic season even if they don’t win the league. To be pushing United this close after being 20 points behind them in recent years shows they have come a long way.

"For me, if they won the Champions League but were 20-25 points off Manchester United as they have been, I’m not interested in that.

"I’m interested in them winning the league or pushing them (United) close to show they are the best or, if not the best, very close to being the best team in the country."

Pepe Reina Calls For Liverpool To Tighten Up Defensively

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has suggested that their recent defensive frailties could cost them the chance of winning the Premier League title this season.

The Reds have received plenty of plaudits for their attacking play of late after scoring a magnificent 27 goals in their last eight fixtures.

However, at the other end of the pitch they have not been so spectacular, shipping 11 goals in their previous four outings.

The 13-time capped Spanish international admits he has been pleased to see his team-mates do so well when going forward, but has warned them not to neglect their defensive duties.

"We have never had a run like this - conceding 11 goals in four games," Reina told the club's official website.

"We are scoring a lot of goals but we have to try and improve in defence. Scoring goals is the most difficult thing in football but now we must sort some of the problems we're having in defence.

"We've always had the balance between attack and defence. That's why we're always there in the Champions League and cup competitions, because we are a team with balance. We have to get back to this way."

The former Barcelona and Villarreal man has also refused to rule out the possibility of winning the Premier League despite falling three points behind leaders Manchester United in the table.

"We knew it would be difficult for United to drop points in two games, and now it's even harder because they have to lose those games. But we have to still believe and keep going until the end," he explained.

"It's not worth looking at the fixture list. All we can do is win our games, so we don't look at United's fixtures. We just have to do our job and win our five remaining games.

"This club has been many, many years without being in this position going into the last five games. To be involved at this stage is beautiful, but to win the league would be massive, so we have to give our all."

Ryan Babel: I Must Start Regularly For Liverpool Next Season

Ryan Babel has hinted that he may well be considered as an expensive flop should he fail to become a regular name in the Liverpool starting XI from next season onwards.

The 30-time capped Netherlands international has made 88 appearances for the Reds since signing from Dutch giants Ajax for around €12.7 million (£11.5m) in 2007, however, 46 of those have come from the substitutes bench.

The versatile forward has said that he does not regret his move to Anfield, insisting he has developed as a player during his time with the Merseyside outfit, but he knows that the time has come for him to start proving that.

"In December I’ll be 23. When you reach that you aren’t a potential talent anymore," Babel is quoted as saying by The Sun.

"Next season age isn’t an excuse any more.

"My goal this season was to be in the starting line-up but they brought in another left forward. But I have patience, I work hard and I have to show I’ve earned the right to be picked.

"What I have learned in 18 months at Liverpool would have taken four years at Ajax. There are times when it isn’t going as well as I hoped but I see it as a test and it can only make me stronger."

Liverpool Enter Race For Manchester United's Carlos Tevez

According to a report in the British broadsheet The Times, Liverpool are preparing a bid for Carlos Tevez, whose loan deal at Manchester United is set to expire at the end of the season.

It seems that the Argentina international striker has resigned himself to departing Old Trafford this summer, after he revealed that he was frustrated by the lack of playing time he had been afforded this season.

Furthermore, the Red Devils appear to have shown reluctance to take up the offer put forward to them to acquire the economic rights of 'El Apache' from his owners.

However, it is claimed that United manager Alex Ferguson does want to keep hold of the 25-year-old and may urge the club to pay the alleged €24.5 million (£22m) they have been quoted.

Tevez has stated that he has several options should he decide to leave the European champions, and it is thought that as well as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Inter are all keen to add him to their squads.

However, should the former Boca Juniors and Corinthians star opt to pursue a career away from Old Trafford, it is said that the club looking to land him will have to pay more than the figure Man United would.

Hughie McAuley Wants His Young Reds To Keep Blues Out Of Cup-Tie

Liverpool Academy coach Hughie McAuley says his side still have it all to do if they are to reach the final of the FA Youth Cup.

Holding a 3-0 lead over Birmingham City from the first leg, McAuley’s Under-18 side go into tomorrow evening’s deciding tie with a clear advantage but the boss is dismissing their ‘favourites’ tag.

Instead McAuley is demanding his young stars continue to practice the simple side of football as they look to secure a place in the final against Arsenal who beat Manchester City this week.

The Reds’ cause was helped in last week’s convincing win at St Andrews with a double strike from Finnish ace Lauri Dalla Valle and one from David Amoo, a player who has already featured in Gary Ablett’s reserve team set-up.

McAuley said: “The first half display was very, very good. It was 3-0 by half-time but in the second half it was not quite at the same tempo.

“That is certainly a normal reaction for many teams, including the top sides, but at the same time it is still not good enough, though we have got to be happy with the final scoreline.

“We have just got to repeat the scoreline on Friday and do the right things, that is the message to the players – basically it is only half-time in the game and we have to play again, keep the ball down and make Birmingham work.

“We have to put them under pressure because I am sure they will do the same to us.

“Hopefully we can create chances to score goals as well as keeping our shape to defend well – we have just got to play our normal game, that is the simple message.

“In the first leg it was a great all round team effort from everybody but naturally the stand out players included Joe Kennedy and David Amoo but more importantly we have the same squad available for tomorrow night which is pleasing.”

As much as cup success would delight McAuley, he continues to insist he true goal at Liverpool’s Academy is to help his fledgling stars move into the reserve and first team set-ups at Melwood.

He added: “My main objective, long term, is always to try and get these players to Melwood. We always try and create a winning mentality at the club but we also aware we are trying to build the experience of these young lads and accept that we have to take results as they come.”

Kenny Dalglish To Stage Anfield Game In Memory Of Hillsborough Victims

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish is to take the lead in staging a charity match at Anfield next month to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster.

The game – involving legends from the Reds' illustrious past and an all-star celebrity team – will be played on the night of Thursday, May 14.

It is being staged by Dalglish and Liverpool FC in aid of the Marina Dalglish appeal, raising funds for a new radiotherapy unit at University Hospital, Aintree, while also remembering the Hillsborough 96.

The plan announced today includes a permanent memorial to the Leppings Lane victims at the Fazakerley hospital.

The Hillsborough Family Support Group has supported Marina Dalglish’s charity for the past few years, raising money through golf days with the support of her husband.

Details of the line ups will be announced at a press conference at Anfield next week. Tickets go on sale from Tuesday, April 28.

Dalglish, who is wanted back at Anfield by Reds boss Rafa Benitez as the ECHO revealed last week, said today: "This is a match we have been talking about staging for a while and it's brilliant we can now confirm it."

"The players who will be involved are all really keen to come together again and play for the fans who offered such support through the time of the Hillsborough disaster. I am sure it will be a great occasion with all of the money going towards the building of a badly-needed Radiotherapy facility on this side of the water."

Marina, who launched her charity after being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, said: "We are looking to raise money for the Radiotherapy Unit.

“But we are also looking at different ideas for the setting up a memorial for the Hillsborough families somewhere in the hospital.

"The Hillsborough Family Support Group has been really helpful to us over the years.

“So it's nice for us to be able to stage this game in memory of those who lost their lives 20 years ago."

Calum Woods Profits From Leaving Liverpool

It was the summer of 2006 when Calum Woods decided his career needed a new direction. For a boy who had grown up in the shadow of Anfield, leaving Liverpool the city was almost as hard as leaving Liverpool FC.

At one point, the Melwood training ground rivalled John Lennon Airport for departures. Players left daily, as Rafael Benítez offloaded 24 in a frenetic pre-season. Blink and you would almost have missed Woods. He had plenty of prestigious company, with Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes, Scott Carson and Dietmar Hamman among those making an exit.

Rather than stay in his comfort zone of the north-west of England, Woods opted for a fresh start in Scotland. The young defender convinced Dunfermline Athletic that his football education at Liverpool's youth academy would make him a potential first-team player far quicker than if he had remained at Anfield.

Now, aged 22, he is on the verge of an appearance in the Homecoming Scottish Cup final if Dunfermline can overcome Falkirk in Sunday's semi-final at Hampden Park and Coca-Cola Championship clubs are tracking the pacy right-back. Woods was named the man of the match in Dunfermline's quarter-final replay triumph over Aberdeen by the Sky Television analyst, Davie Provan, which is quite an endorsement from a man who was a winger for Celtic and Scotland.

Many of the players who accompanied Woods though Liverpool's youth academy have dropped off the football radar in the three years that the young Scouser has been at East End Park. “Not many from my age group are still playing professionally,” Woods said. “There are only a couple. Lee Peltier is at Yeovil Town and Danny Guthrie is now at Newcastle United. The others packed it in.”

Woods's problem was not unique. Liverpool currently have 16 players out on loan, including Andrei Voronin, one of the top scorers in the Bundesliga with Hertha Berlin. “Liverpool are such a big club now that they can buy any top-class player they want, so it is harder for the players from the youth set-up to get noticed,” Woods said. “It's hard to even get a game for the reserve team.

“I saw the youth team on television last week and they had Tom Ince, whose dad, Paul, played for Liverpool when I was a kid. Even the youth academy attracts the best players from all round Europe now. It is an unbelievable set-up. I signed for Liverpool when I was ten and left when I was 19 and it was really special. It made my dad proud because he's a Liverpool fan.

“We lived in Anfield, close to the ground. Every kid from round there wants to play for Liverpool and I don't think the fact that the first team, or even the reserves, is full of foreign stars will put local youngsters off. They will still believe they can make it and come through the ranks like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have done. Michael Owen was my hero when I was a kid and he came through the Liverpool system.”

Woods has made more than 70 first-team appearances for Dunfermline and one of those would have included the 2007 Scottish Cup final if he had not been dropped from the squad by Stephen Kenny, the then-manager. “I did not discover I was out until the manager named the side and the substitutes in the hotel on the morning that we played Celtic,” Woods said.

“I did not think I would be in the starting line-up but I had played a few games in the cup run, including the round where we knocked out Rangers, and I was hoping to get on the bench. It was not a good experience but hopefully we can get to the final again and this time I will play.” Jim McIntyre, the Dunfermline manager, was so impressed with Woods's progress that he gave the right-back a new two-year contract earlier in the season.

He has lived in the Fife town for three years and if the accent is still more Stanley Park than East End Park, Woods understands how much another appearance in the final would mean to the club and its supporters after another season's exile in the Irn-Bru first division.

“We've missed out on promotion, so it would help the club's finances if we got to the final,” he said. “This is a great club to learn your trade. I really enjoy being here and I have been given the sort of first-team experience I would not get at Liverpool.”

A return to England would save Woods senior from clocking up the sort of mileage on the M6 that would put a trucker to shame. “My dad drives up to all my games,” Woods said. “Even though he has a Liverpool season ticket, he will be at Hampden with my mum. If he had to choose between coming to see me or Liverpool win the league, it would be me.”

Liverpool Should Sign Lionel Messi - Jan Molby

Jan Molby would sign Lionel Messi for Liverpool if the Reds were able to bring in any players in the world and would also take Samuel Eto'o from Barcelona while he was at it.

The great Dane, who made 218 appearances for the club in a 12-stay at Anfield, believes that the two Blaugrana stars are the best in the world at the moment.

Messi would be Molby's first choice if he could capture anyone to bolster the Liverpool ranks, while he feels that Eto'o up front with Fernando Torres would be incredible.

"I would start with Lionel Messi from Barcelona," he told the Merseyside club's official website. “He is simply sensational and the nearest thing we've seen to Diego Maradona. The way he plays, his awareness, first touch and ability to score goals is fantastic.

"The other one would be a team-mate of his and someone I've always been a fan of - Samuel Eto'o. I think he's a brilliant player who's back on song now, scoring goals for fun.

"Can you imagine Eto'o and Torres together upfront? It would be a defender's nightmare!"

While promoting the two Barca stars, Molby stated that he feels the club already have the best striker in the Premier League in the form of Torres.

"He's probably the best striker in the league,” he enthused. “The likes of [Arsenal’s] Emmanuel Adebayor and [Chelsea’s] Didier Drogba spring to mind as well, but they can sulk from time to time and Torres doesn't appear to have that in his make-up.

"He's a worker and just gets on with job. I think that's what puts him top of the pile.

"We knew how good he was from last season and it's fantastic to see him continue that form this campaign. Although his season has been a bit stop-start, the fact he has still been able to get goals is remarkable.

"There's no doubt in my mind he should be looking to get somewhere between 25-30 goals every season."

Why Sky Sports Needs Pundits Like Steven Gerrard Every Week

During Liverpool's eight goal thriller with Arsenal the Sky Sports commentator came out with something that made my ears prick up as I struggled to stay on the edge of my seat.

"I don't care what anybody says, you don't get games like this anywhere else in the world. That's why the world's broadcasters come to us."

I think Martin means that English football is so entertaining that every TV network in the world wants to buy rights from the Premier League.

They do, too. I remember waking up in Peru, switching on the telly and watching Southampton against Arsenal a few years ago.

I love South America and every time I go I end up watching some Premier League game or other on ESPN. My name's John and I'm a football-aholic.

Another time I went to Argentina, I went to see Boca Juniors play and it was a sensational experience. The game was a bit slow-quick-slow and it even made Juan Sebastian Veron look good in the match that I saw.

I've been fortunate enough to have seen games all over Europe. And I admit it. I'd love to be a purist and go on about the virtues of continental football, but English football is my number one.

It's fast, physical, there's goals and amazing drama like we saw in Liverpool's 4-4 draw with Arsenal - which takes me back to Martin Tyler.

My first thought when I heard Tyler say "us" was that the world's broadcasters come to Sky to buy their rights. I'm still not convinced that's what he didn't mean to say, either.

It should be the dog wagging the tail. But, in reality, it's the other way round. Sky pulls the Premier League's lead and Richard Scudamore comes running.

I'll declare an interest here. I do a lot of work for Setanta. But I think their presence has been healthy and has given Sky a kick up the backside.

Their coverage is excellent. Jon Champion and Craig Burley are a very good double act. They have also had some good pundits this season, Harry Redknapp for one.

Redknapp slaughtering England and Fabio Capello after the Czech game last August made for great television, whatever you think of his views.

Match of the Day has played a blinder getting rid of Alan Shearer for a few months. Give me Lee Dixon any day. At least he says it how he sees it without fear of upsetting old mates or anyone in the game.

No wonder he hasn't got the balls to drop a misfiring Michael Owen. He never even had the guts to put his head above the parapet to slag anyone off when he was a pundit.

But Sky have this habit of choosing their studio pundits to sit alongside the ultra smooth Richard Keys and excellent Jamie Redknapp based on a tenuous link with one of the two clubs he used to play for.

On Tuesday night, they surpassed themselves by having injured Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in the studio.

Gerrard was excellent, eloquent and unmissable. He gave good insight from the heart and was honest.

But what is the point of having Dion Dublin in for Manchester United games? I just don't get it.

At the risk of sounding like Sam Allardyce when it comes to Rafa Benitez and foreign managers and being a little Englander, I will also never understand why you have pundits who don't make sense.

Peter Schmeichel was so bad that the BBC had no option but to get rid of him and his bizarre version of Denglish.

The same goes for Ruud Gullit. In a discussion after the Liverpool v Chelsea game and a debate over whether Benitez should have been more cautious, Gullit had Keys completely bemused with the following statement.

"Because he didn't get his most important players on the ball so what do you want then you have to take one a little bit more back, and he did, but by then it was already too late." My thoughts exactly, Ruud.

Sadly we don't get enough Clive Tyldesley on the telly as, in my humble opinion, he's the best commentator with Champion best newcomer, even though he's been around for years.

Sky does rule the roost because they can show amazing games like Liverpool v Arsenal.

But we also need better pundits and studio analysis. Gerrard was a breath of fresh air and brilliant. Sky needs his ilk on a regular basis.

Dalglish Would Welcome A Return To Anfield

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has admitted he would love a return to the club he served so well as a player and a manager.

Speculation at the weekend suggested the 58-year-old Scot was to be brought in to oversee youth development at the club.

Although Dalglish, who had a 14-year spell at Anfield before quitting as manager in 1991, said he had little knowledge of any possible approach, but stressed he would be happy to help out.

"I was as far removed from the weekend's speculation about me returning to a role at Liverpool Football Club as it was possible to be, but that's not to say the Sunday paper stories and TV debate escaped me," he told LFC Magazine.

"All I can say at the moment is what I've said many times; if I can help Liverpool Football Club in any way, shape or form then I'm in. That's not a new revelation.

"If I can be of help to the club I love in any capacity then I'm more than happy to play any part that I can.

"If the manager (Rafael Benitez] or the people running the club think there's a role for me then I'll fill it happily. Similarly, if the club think the best thing for the club is for me to stay out of the way then I'm not going to take offence at that either.

"At the moment there's not much more that I can say other than that if and when there's anything to say to the supporters – the people who keep this club alive – then they will be the first to know."

Former Liverpool and England winger John Barnes, who won two league titles under Dalglish's leadership at Anfield, said his former manager would be an inspiration to everyone. "He would bring togetherness to the club which can only enhance the current feel-good factor in a similar way to that of Alan Shearer's return to Newcastle," said the former Celtic manager.

"Kenny is revered like few others at Anfield after being voted the best player ever to play for Liverpool, as well as leading the club to their last league title (in 1990] and would be welcomed back into the fold by all the fans who still sing his name.

"If he is to work with the academy, then who better than Kenny to inspire the next generation of Anfield kids?"

Rafael Benitez Delighted With Liverpool's Goal Scoring Form

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes his side have finally moved into top gear when going forward in search of goals.

Since their 4-0 thrashing of Spanish giants Real Madrid on March 10, the Reds have only failed to score four goals or more in a single match on two occassions.

Although defensively they have not been as solid as they were at the beginning of the season, conceding 11 goals in their last three fixtures, they have thumped in 27 goals during their previous eight games.

The Spaniard believes the only key to their good record in front of goal is players hitting top form and beginning to realise their potential.

"There is not really a change of emphasis. The understanding between the players is better," Benitez told The Daily Post.

"This week we were talking in training sessions and we could see the team were playing with a lot of confidence.

"We didn’t need to say anything because they knew what to do. Because we have been practising so many times during the season the players know now what to do.

"For me we have the same mentality, the difference now is we play better. We have more confidence and we can score more goals.

"If we can keep [Fernando] Torres fit it will be much better and you can see [Yossi] Benayoun is on fire."

Dirk Kuyt: Liverpool Need A Miracle' To Overhaul Man Utd In Race For Title

Liverpool need "a miracle" if they are to end their 19-year wait for a League championship, according to striker Dirk Kuyt.

Prior to the dramatic 4-4 draw with Arsenal at Anfield on Tuesday, the message emanating from Merseyside was that, whatever Manchester United achieved in the title run-in, Liverpool had to be perfect to stand any chance of dethroning the champions.

Andrei Arshavin's four-goal intervention, though, coupled with some kamikaze defending, ended that ambition

With just five games left, Liverpool know their chances are running out and, while Kuyt insists that they will not stop believing until United are mathematically out of their reach, he admits they will fight on more in hope than expectation.

He said: "It is harder after the Arsenal match, because we knew before the match that we needed to win to keep the pressure on. But at least we got a point, rather than losing, and now we have to keep on fighting until the very end.

"We have to hope for a miracle now as it has become more difficult than it already was, but against Arsenal we proved we are a team that has not given up and we will never give up. So let's hope a miracle can happen.

"It will be hard but as long we win our remaining games then maybe they will struggle. It may be that they must lose twice for us to catch them, but that can happen. It is important that we took a point, because otherwise maybe that would have been impossible."

Milan Boss Carlo Ancelotti Can't See Steven Gerrard Leaving Liverpool

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti showed himself to be highly sceptical of the possibility of seeing Liverpool star Steven Gerrard in a red-and-black jersey next season.

Liverpool's 'Captain Fantastic' has been linked to the Italian giants on and off for several years already, and his name has been brandished about again with increased intensity of late as Milan look to build a team capable of restoring their status as a dominant force in European football.

"I think Steven Gerrard is an outstanding player but I doubt that he'd leave Liverpool," Ancelotti said in a recent interview with Hungarian sports daily Nemzeti Sport in response to the new batch of rumours.

"We're eyeing many players but it would be too soon to mention any names before the end of the season."

Milan's own golden boy, Kaka, recently went on record as saying that if it were up to him, he would sign Gerrard above any other player.

Liverpool FC Must Rediscover Their Discipline To Stay In Race

There is a school of thought that suggests before a team can win a championship, they first have to lose one.

But it will be of little consolation to Rafael Benitez’s side right now that the lessons being learned in their quest for a first Premier League title since 1990 will stand them in good stead for future years.

Tuesday’s remarkable 4-4 draw against Arsenal dealt a damaging blow to Liverpool’s championship challenge in a manner that perhaps encapsulated their league campaign.

Here was a game in which Liverpool were vibrant going forward, created numerous chances but ultimately paid for not taking enough of them. A game at Anfield that should have been won but ended in an unnecessary draw. A game in which Benitez was without one of his most talismanic performers – this time Steven Gerrard – through injury.

There were glum faces among the home support at the final whistle. But given the rollercoaster nature of an engrossing scrap for the title, the only guarantee over the final month of the campaign is there will be further twists and turns to come.

Having twice led Valencia to the Spanish crown, Benitez knows exactly what to expect, and reassured his players in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s match to retain their confidence and ensure they capitalise on any United slip-ups.

But they will need to reprise the disciplined, controlled performances of earlier in the campaign rather than continue in the dramatic, carefree way that is gathering new friends if not silverware.

Witness Arsenal’s fourth goal, substitute Theo Walcott racing away on the counter-attack to feed Andrey Arshavin for a simple finish after Liverpool had criminally left only person back in defence in pursuit of a winner.

A Benitez side just doesn’t concede goals like that. It was evidence the Anfield outfit are currently playing more with their hearts and their heads, a situation the manager is always keen to avoid if possible.

Of course, such passion play isn’t always a bad thing, and allied to an unshakeable self-belief it helped Liverpool threaten a remarkable Champions League comeback at Chelsea and come from 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3 down to earn what could prove a vital point against Arsenal.

But Benitez would sooner his team had not put themselves in that position in the first place.

Suddenly, Liverpool are the great entertainers, United the pragmatic, dour results machine.

Benitez’s side have scored 27 goals in their last eight games, a run that started with the ruthless Champions League demolition of Real Madrid.

That, though, has come at the cost of defensive solidity, with a rearguard that had conceded only 11 goals in their previous 16 games having leaked the same amount in their last four.

Why the sudden change? Yes, Benitez has loosened the shackles a touch, and their attacking players are approaching peak form at the right time.

But the results, and the type of individual mistake that gifted Arshavin his first three goals on Tuesday, betray inevitable nerves at this stage of the season and the desperation to claim the club’s first title in 19 years and prevent United from drawing level with Liverpool on 18 championships.

Much emphasis has been made of the possible impact of the war of words between Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Yet mind games don’t win the title – it’s the strength of mind of the players in coping with the pressure and expectation during the run-in that makes the difference. United have that quality in abundance – Liverpool, by and large, do not. Yet.

With games against Hull City, Newcastle United, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur to come, there’s no way Benitez’s side will throw in the towel.