Benitez Challenges Babel And Riera

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has challenged troubled stars Ryan Babel and Albert Riera to prove they have a Liverpool future.

The pair have both expressed a disappointment that they have not had more chances to impress in the first team this season.

Babel has openly questioned the Liverpool manager's selection decisions, and suggested he wants to go on loan to Ajax in January to improve his chances of playing for Holland in the World Cup finals next summer.

Babel even went to the extent of claiming that promises had been broken by Liverpool over the amount of first-team opportunities he would have this season.

Babel was initially axed by Holland from the squad preparing to face Japan at the weekend and then Scotland on Wednesday.

He was only recalled after injury problems, and then expressed his fears that his inactivity at Liverpool would affect his chances of going to the finals with Holland - who qualified at the weekend - next summer.

But Benitez is unmoved by the pairs' concerns.

He said: "Albert and Ryan both want to play. They play in the same position and so have to compete with each other, which is good for us.

"The message is very simple. On the pitch all of the players have to prove something.

"Ryan knows he cannot go now, so he has to impress. He is a good player and we know he has talent. It's important for us to talk with him and see how he progresses over these months.

"With the World Cup at the end of the season the majority of our players will want to impress and if they do well in each training session they will have more chances."

Ryan Babel Must Play More For Liverpool - Bert van Marwijk

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has to force himself into a regular first team spot at Anfield, according to Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk, or his chances of representing his country at next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa will disappear.

The powerful winger has only impressed fitfully during his time on Merseyside so far, though many feel that Reds manager Rafa Benitez has not necessarily given the Dutchman as much opportunity as he perhaps should have, and Van Marwijk has affirmed that he needs his international players to be performing as regularly as possible for their clubs in order to put themselves properly in the frame for Holland.

Babel was originally left out of the squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Scotland at Hampden Park on Wednesday night, having only been called up as a late replacement, and more time on the pitch at Anfield is what is needed for the player to be a regular for the Oranje.

"You have to be top at every level. It's good when their players play at a level that is as high as possible," he told Sky Sports News. "When you play three games in half a year, you can't have your normal level."

As for whether Babel should perhaps look for another club, Van Marwijk dropped a broad hint that it would perhaps be a good idea, adding, laconically: "They [players] have to make their own decisions, but they know what I mean."

As for Wednesday night's game in Glasgow, when a Scotland victory would reignite improbable dreams of World Cup qualification for the men in dark blue, Van Marwijk asserted that his side would be giving it their best and not merely turning up despite having already confirmed their presence in South Africa next summer with a 100 per cent record to date in the qualifiers.

"I play always with my strongest team. When we come, we try to win," he concluded.

Torres: Lack Of Funds Could Hinder Liverpool's Title Chances

Fernando Torres admits he fears the spending power of Liverpool's Premier League rivals could scupper the Anfield club's title hopes.

Manchester City spent a massive £120million during the summer and, although Chelsea and champions Manchester United were more circumspect, Torres fears Liverpool could be left behind.

The Anfield club spent over £35million on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani this summer but recouped most of that with the £30m sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid.

There were also regular rumours of friction between boss Rafael Benitez and the club's American owners over transfer budgets and Torres admits money is a major issue in the title race.

'I think we are close to getting a trophy but it's very difficult,' said the striker.

'In football at the moment, unfortunately money is really important.

'Clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City have a lot of money to spend on good players,' he told the Liverpool Echo.

'That's not the way at Liverpool so we have to try to improve.

'If we are going to get the opportunity to win a trophy we have to do things better than ever. We are ready for the challenge.'

Fernando Torres: Liverpool Fans Love Me Like Steven Gerrard

Fernando Torres could not be happier on Merseyside, citing the predominantly working-class background of the city of Liverpool as one of the reasons he feels so at home in the north west.

"The people are so nice and polite here, and have a lot of respect for players when you are away from the pitch,” he told The Liverpool Echo. “That is one of the main things for me. In Spain it was difficult for me to go to restaurants or just walk in the street with my friends.

“Now I can do these things and go to the park, walk my dogs and go out for dinner. It’s a really working-class city and I like that because I was born in a working-class part of Spain. The people work all week and they go to the ground each weekend to enjoy the team. On the Monday they are working hard again just so they can see their team on the weekend.

“It’s really special to see [Liverpool] supporters with my name on their shirt. I can understand why they would wear a Stevie G or Carra shirt because they are from Liverpool.

“I only came here two years ago as a foreign player but they love me like Stevie [Gerrard] or Carra [Jamie Carragher]. That’s amazing and I have to say thank you to them for that."

Torres also believes that it will not be long before Liverpool are picking up another trophy, and that the Premier League title is not far from their grasp.

Sammy Lee Sure Of Liverpool Success For Glen Johnson

Liverpool's assistant manager has spoken out in praise of full-back Glen Johnson, and believes the England international has made a great start to his Anfield career after his summer switch from Portsmouth.

The 25-year-old has bagged two goals in four games so far for the Reds and, despite some observers expressing reservations about the former Chelsea man's defensive capabilities, Lee thinks that he has definitely improved Rafa Benitez's team.

"Glen is a quality player in a quality team and I think he has added something to us," the coach told the club's official website.

"What we try to do in each and every area and department is recruit quality and we feel we have done with Glen.

"He has come here and has been willing to listen and learn. For someone who is already an established England international that's great and long may it continue."

The Reds are set to welcome Fabio Aurelio back from injury soon, adding further depth in the full-back positions, and Lee feels that the Brazilian's return will be almost like the arrival at the club of a new player.

"Fabio will be like a new signing for us," Lee added.

"He wasn't available for pre-season, but he's coming back and hopefully we'll have him chomping at the bit and competing for a place very shortly.

"Any team likes to have all of their players available. That brings its own problems of course because you have to pick a team from them, but we would prefer to have that problem than a situation where players are out injured

"Rafa has said on many occasions he is confident with the squad we have and we feel we can mount a challenge on all fronts."

Tom Hicks: Liverpool Won’t See A Penny Of Rangers Sale

American businessman Tom Hicks, the co-owner of English soccer club Liverpool, says the team will not receive increased investment after he sells his Texas Rangers Major League baseball franchise.

More specifically, the proceeds of the sale - certain to be over US$500 million - will not go towards the financing of the club's proposed new stadium in Stanley Park, which is unlikely to be ready much before 2018.

"Rangers and Liverpool are totally separate investments, so there is no connection," said Hicks. "Liverpool will obtain stadium financing when the financial market opens back up. We have all of our permits and will be ready when the market is ready."

Hicks' co-owner at Liverpool, George Gillett, is also set for a major windfall from the sale of one of his sports properties, the Montreal Canadiens.

Manchester City And Spurs Are No Threat To Us, Insists Liverpool Defender Jamie Carragher

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists the Anfield club are not worried about the threat posed by Manchester City and Spurs.

Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp have guided their side's to 100 percent starts - with many tipping the the early-season pacesetters to break into the top four.

But the Reds stalwart says Liverpool are not contemplating losing their Champions League spot - but fully focused on winning the Barclays Premier League title.

He said: 'There are other teams who could get into the top four this year – but hopefully not at our expense.

'We’re not thinking about that, though, we’re just thinking about the title and not about fourth place.

'A couple of teams have jumped out so far. We’ve already played Tottenham and Aston Villa and of course Manchester City are the side a lot of people are talking about, but if we start playing the way we can then I’m sure we’ll be right up there.

'We’ve only played four games and if we go on to have a successful season then we’ll play more than 60 matches, so it’s a long season and there’s still a long way to go.

'We’ve not had the best of starts but hopefully we’ll soon start coming into our own.

'We’ve got Burnley up next and they’ve been a great story so far, beating two of last year’s top five in Manchester United and Everton.

'Owen Coyle has done a great job with them so we know it’s going to be a difficult game.'

Xabi Alonso Reveals Frosty Relationship With Rafa Benitez

Xabi Alonso claims manager Rafa Benitez showed him little affection during his time at Liverpool.

The Spain midfielder left Anfield in the summer to join Real Madrid in a £30m deal despite an outstanding season in the Reds midfield last term.

Benitez came close to selling Alonso to Juventus last summer as the Liverpool boss tried to pave the way for long-term target Gareth Barry.

And the former Real Sociedad man told Champions Magazine: 'Every now and again a player would appreciate a bit more closeness, a pat on the back, but Rafa is not that kind of guy.'

Alonso married earlier this summer - but Benitez failed to make the guest list for his big day.

He explained: 'I invited friends, I guess it's fair to say. Rafa and I always had a very professional relationship, yet there are a lot of urban myths about what we went through. It wasn't so bad.'

Nevertheless, Alonso admits Benitez helped nurture his talents during his time on Merseyside.

'He told me to keep a balance. You are not a genius when things go very well but neither a disaster when things go wrong. His style is what has made him what he is.

'I am starting a new era and I will be eternally grateful to Liverpool because they are a very special institution. I jumped into the pool of their history and philosophy.

'I got involved in the city and loved living in the centre. I have grown as a person and as a player. When I joined it was a new project and I was also starting out in this game.

'I left Spain at 22 and became something of a sponge, absorbing everything and trying to find out about the new country, its society and daily lives.

'I listened to people, talked to strangers, looked around.

'You have to have an open mind to respect their traditions. That helped me understand what was expected of me and the team.

'Plus, the experience of playing among the elite of Europe, fighting for titles, that has matured me after five unforgettable years.'

Pepe Reina Unfazed By Liverpool's Stuttering Start To Season

Pepe Reina has shrugged off Liverpool’s poor start to the season and is adamant that a run of strong form will return the Merseyside club back to where they belong: the top-end of the table.

"It is not normal for Liverpool to open the season with two defeats from three games," the goalkeeper said, according to the club's official website.

"But it's still early days and in a few weeks time, we may have a run of wins behind us and the bad results will be forgotten about.”

The goalkeeper perhaps had Manchester United’s notoriously slow starts in mind, when insisting that poor starts to a season were not necessarily an indication of how a team will finish.

"If a team is going to suffer from bad form, it's better for it to be at the start of the season because there is a lot more time to recover. Many clubs have proven that over the years and gone on to achieve great things at the end of the campaign," Reina said.

"There is a lot of pessimism about our chances this season from the media at the moment, but we are the only people who can prove them wrong.

"We still have confidence as a squad and we have to put trust in each other - just like we did last season."

Liverpool WILL Build A New Stadium, Promises Tom Hicks

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has vowed that the club will build a new stadium – but has said that the move will not be financed by the £450million he is set to bank from the sale of baseball club Texas Rangers.

Hicks and business partner George Gillett have been unable to raise the £500m it will cost to fund the development of a 60,000-capacity home for the Reds at Stanley Park because of the credit crunch.

There have been reports in the United States that Hicks has now entered into negotiations with six potential buyers for the Rangers – and that Liverpool will benefit from the windfall.

But Hicks said: “Rangers and Liverpool are totally separate investments, so there is no connection.

“I do plan to keep a significant participation in the Rangers. We are close to winning our division. I want to finish what we have started.

“Liverpool will obtain stadium financing when the financial market opens back up. We have all of our permits and will be ready when the market is ready.”

Liverpool’s new managing director Christian Purslow admitted last week that the club hope to have the stadium completed in time for 2018 – should England’s World Cup bid be successful.

That is six years behind the original schedule set when Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool three years ago.

The American pair have been criticised for failing to provide the finance for the stadium and for manager Rafa Benitez to build a championship-winning team.

But Purslow’s portfolio is to develop new commercial streams – and he is in talks with several interested companies about a £15m-a-year kit sponsorship deal.

Hicks added: “Christian Purslow is working hard. Liverpool’s new management focus is producing great new commercial results that will become known in due time.”

Arbeloa - Xabi Loss Costly

Alvaro Arbeloa has questioned his former club Liverpool's title credentials after selling Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid this summer.

Arbeloa made the switch from Anfield to the Bernabeu in July, with Alonso following the same path just a week later for a fee believed to be in the region of £28million.

The Spanish international midfielder has since admitted that he wanted to leave Merseyside as soon as manager Rafa Benitez tried to replace him with Gareth Barry last summer.

Benitez has come in for flack for selling arguably his best performer last season, a suggestion only intensified after the Reds lost two of their opening three games, and Arbeloa admits that the decision to sell Alonso could prove costly.

"The thing I always say about Xabi is that he may not be a match-winner, but he does win you titles," the defender told The People.

"He brings so much balance and order to a team, and it is impossible to over-estimate how important a player he is."

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard Knows England Must Improve Against Croatia

England warmed up for their World Cup qualifying clash with Croatia with a comfortable, if somewhat uninspiring, 2-1 win over Slovenia on Saturday, and Steven Gerrard is well aware that they must improve if they are to seal their place in South Africa at Wembley on Wednesday night.

The Liverpool man is delighted that the Three Lions have developed a winning habit under Fabio Capello's astute management, but knows that England will have to be at their very best against the Croats, who have enough quality to fully exploit any lapse in concentration.

"It's important to get in the habit of winning," he told Sky Sports News.

"It was good preparation [against Slovenia]. It was a good test for Wednesday night.

"I'm sure it'll be a lot more difficult on Wednesday and we'll need to raise it a little bit.

"But hopefully we can get that win that we need to take us to the World Cup and there's no extra motivation [needed] going into a game."

Capello - No Problem With Glen

Fabio Capello has backed Glen Johnson's defensive capabilities amid criticism of the Liverpool man's preference to bomb forward rather than defend.

The buccaneering right-back has enjoyed a brilliant start to his new career at Anfield and has been arguably the club's standout performer to date since his big-money move from Portsmouth.

But while his attacking prowess cannot be disputed, there has been reservations raised with regards his ability to defend.

In Saturday's international friendly defeat of Slovenia much of the visitor's attacking threat came down the flank Johnson was supposed to be patrolling.

Capello, though, insists Johnson is not England's weak link ahead of Wednesday's crunch clash against Croatia.

"Don't worry. I have no problem with Glen Johnson," urged the Italian.

Opposite number Matjaz Kek had a different view and he admits Slovenia were confident of exposing Johnson's inclination to go forward at every opportunity.

"Glen Johnson is a very dangerous player," he said.

"Stopping him was very important. But when you play in such an offensive way it leaves a lot of space behind.

"I have seen England two or three times. I knew we could get to the goal on that side."

Right-back Left Out Of Champions League Squad

Kop flop Philipp Degen has been dumped from Liverpool's Champions League campaign.

The injury-prone right-back is not in the provisional 28-man squad submitted to UEFA in midweek.

The Swiss international has so far, in his 157-minute first-team career, cost the Reds £15,000 per minute.

Degen, 26, signed a four-year £37,000-a- week deal and also got a £400,000 signing on fee when he joined in 2008 on a Bosman transfer from Borussia Dortmund.

Since then, Degen has broken ribs and a foot, making just two Carling Cup appearances.

Boss Rafa Benitez was unable to sell him over the summer.

Benitez has named emerging Academy youngsters Nathan Eccleston, David Amoo and Martin Kelly in his list, ensuring Liverpool fulfill UEFA quotas for home-grown talent.

Keeper Happy With New Deal

Peter Gulacsi is hoping his new Liverpool contract will prove to be a stepping stone towards the Reds' first-team.

The 19-year-old goalkeeper put pen to paper on a new deal last month that will keep him at Anfield until 2013.

Gulacsi is delighted to have committed his future to the club and, having been named as a substitute for last weekend's Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton, admits his long-term ambition is to establish himself in Liverpool's first-team setup.

"I am very pleased to have signed a new deal," the Hungarian told Liverpoolfc.tv. "I came here two years ago and to join a big club like Liverpool was a big thing in my life.

"During those two years I have tried to do my best. Signing this contract is the next step and hopefully I can achieve something here.

"Staying here for four more years is fantastic for me and it's a great opportunity to improve more, develop and maybe one day break into the first-team.

"Everybody who is here has the same ambition and wants to play for the first-team.

"Of course, it is a long way off for me and there is a lot of hard work to be done, but you always have to focus on what you want to achieve and my biggest target is to play for the first-team. I know it won't be easy, but now I have the time and the opportunity to get there.

"I realised when I first arrived here what Liverpool Football Club is all about and how fantastic the fans are. I think it is the best club in the world and it is a great feeling to be a part of it."

Gulacsi originally arrived at Anfield in a loan deal from MTK Hungaria in 2007 - and the Reds quickly made the transfer permanent after the 'keeper excelled in the reserves' treble-winning campaign of 07-08.

After spending the latter part of last season on loan at Hereford United, the custodian was included in the first-team squad for the trips to Switzerland and Asia.

He made a total of five appearances for the Reds over the summer and had the opportunity to work side-by-side with Pepe Reina on a daily basis.

"It was much different to what I had experienced before," he revealed.

"I played a few games for Hereford on loan last season and the Hungarian national team, but playing for the first-team was a whole new experience.

"It was new to me playing in front of a big crowd with a quicker tempo and it wasn't easy, but I learned a lot from those pre-season games.

"Working with Pepe Reina was a good opportunity for me to see how he does things and it is really good for me to learn from him."

Reds Name Champions League Squad

Liverpool have named a 28-man squad for the Champions League group stage.

The Reds will kick off their European campaign at home to Debreceni VSC on September 16 before travelling to Italy to face Fiorentina.

A double header with Lyon will then follow ahead of a trip to Debreceni VSC. The group fixtures are concluded at home to Fiorentina on December 9.

Goalkeepers:

Diego Cavalieri, Pepe Reina, David Martin.

Defenders:

Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Emiliano Insua, Jamie Carragher, Stephen Darby, Martin Kelly, Martin Skrtel, Andrea Dossena.

Midfielders:

Alberto Aquilani, Steven Gerrard, Yossi Benayoun, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, Jay Spearing, Damien Plessis, Albert Riera.

Forwards:

Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel, David Ngog, David Amoo, Nathan Eccleston.

Jamie Carragher: Liverpool Focus Is On Title, Not Fourth Spot

The impressive start of Tottenham Hotspur, the riches of Manchester City, and the grit and resilience of neighbours Everton, are of no interest to Jamie Carragher, who is focused solely on Liverpool's title push and not on any potential top four usurper.

"There are other teams who could get into the top four this year - but hopefully not at our expense," the former England international informed the club's official website.

"We're not thinking about that, though, we're just thinking about the title and not about fourth place.

"A couple of teams have jumped out so far," noted Carragher.

"We've already played Tottenham and Aston Villa and of course Manchester City are the side a lot of people are talking about, but if we start playing the way we can then I'm sure we'll be right up there.

"We've only played four games and if we go on to have a successful season then we'll play more than 60 matches, so it's a long season and there's still a long way to go."

The sturdy defender also offered words of warning to his team-mates about Premier League new-boys Burnley, who he feels are capable of further upsets.

"We've not had the best of starts but hopefully we'll soon start coming into our own," the 31-year-old added.

"We've got Burnley up next and they've been a great story so far, beating two of last year's top five in Manchester United and Everton. Owen Coyle has done a great job with them so we know it's going to be a difficult game."

I Will Prove My Worth To Liverpool - Alberto Aquilani

Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has proclaimed that he will prove his worth to the club with stellar performances once he is fully fit.

The former Roma player is currently recovering from a surgery on his ankle.

"I know Liverpool have spent millions on signing me but I'm here to prove I'm worth it," Aquilani told the club's official website.

The ex-Giallorossi discussed the Premier League and the attacking style of play that is employed in the English top-flight, but stopped short of calling it the best league in the world.

"It's very good fun watching it, mostly because the matches are never over, and even if you are leading by two or three goals, you still keep attacking," he said.

"I can't say if it is the best football in Europe, but for sure it's the most spectacular, dynamic and challenging.

"And the stadiums, every time I played there, they are beautiful and all have a terrific atmosphere."

The 25-year-old hailed club captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres, believing that they will have a positive impact on his game.

"There are champions at this club, such as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, who can make the difference at any moment and inspire the team," he remarked.

"I'm thrilled to play alongside them also because I'm sure they will be able to improve my game."

When quizzed as to whether playing in England would affect his chances of being selected to represent Italy in the World Cup, the player explained that where he plies his trade is not what Azzurri boss Marcello Lippi will be looking at when considering his options.

"I don't think I have more or less chance in the Premier League than in Serie A," he elaborated.

"I'm confident I can deliver and then it's all up to me. All the rest will follow, because only on the pitch can you give a good account of yourself."

Riera Plays Down Rafa Row

Liverpool winger Albert Riera has dismissed rumours that his future at Anfield is in doubt by playing down a bust-up with boss Rafa Benitez.

Summer speculation had linked the Spain international with a move to Barcelona, and he has since struggled to earn a regular place in the Reds' first team.

Riera held talks with Benitez regarding his role at Liverpool after only being named a substitute in the defeat at Tottenham at the start of the Premier League season.

The former Espanyol star admits he is unhappy at being left out of the starting XI and that he rowed with his boss, but he insists the incident is nothing personal.

"I didn't play the first game because I started training late after the Confederations Cup, like Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres," said Riera.

"I was angry and had a flare-up at Benitez, but the day I don't get angry for being a substitute I will retire."

Despite the bust-up, Riera insists he has nothing but respect for his manager.

"Benitez is a special coach who defends his own. I know he is with me, because he said so," he added.

John Aldridge: International Break Helps Liverpool FC Regroup

Six points out of 12 certainly isn’t the start we were hoping for and there is plenty of room for improvement.

We’re going to have to be exceptional against the top teams if we’re going to put ourselves in the frame for the title.

Sometimes you want the matches to keep coming but I think the international break will be a big help.

I know players are off playing for their countries but it gives everyone a couple of weeks respite and the chance to regroup.

It also gives some of the injured players a chance to get themselves right. By the time we play Burnley next weekend Fabio Aurelio should be back available, Martin Skrtel will hopefully be 100% and Daniel Agger won’t be too far away.

When those three are back plus Alberto Aquilani the squad will be looking stronger.