Javier Mascherano Reveals Crisis Talks Ahead Of Manchester United Showdown As Under-Fire Rafa Benitez Fights To Save His Job

Javier Mascherano has revealed that Liverpool will hold crisis talks as Rafa Benitez attempts to save his job ahead of the crunch clash with arch rivals Manchester United.

The Reds boss is under intense pressure after four straight defeats threaten to extinguish their dream of winning the Champions League and Barclays Premier League.

Tuesday's 2-1 loss at home to Lyon leaves Benitez battling to avoid the axe and Mascherano insists they must reverse the damage before it is too late.

'Rafa didn't say anything after the game, he didn't want to talk because everyone is disappointed,' revealed Mascherano.

'But I think on Wednesday we will talk a lot. We need to talk and we need to see all the mistakes we have done and try not to repeat them against United.'

The match against United at Anfield on Sunday is expected to ultimately decide Benitez's future. Defeat against their old foes would leave the Spaniard facing the axe.

However, Mascherano has attempted to shift the spotlight away from his manager by claiming that the players are to blame for Liverpool's woes.

'It's not the manager's fault. It's the players' responsibility,' he added. 'The manager can say how to play but on the pitch it's down to us. We were not intelligent.

'We are very disappointed as it was important for us to win. We lost, so we know we are in a difficult situation.

'We are a team that was doing well last season but we have got to keep going, we have to keep working really hard and we have got to try to win the next game.

'United will be a massive test for us. It is all about confidence. When you have confidence you can do everything but we know the team is not playing well.

'Maybe a lot of players are not in the best form and it is difficult for the team and we are losing more confidence with these results.

'The supporters come to watch Liverpool win and it would be great for us if we could give them a victory on Sunday.

'In football, you never know what will happen but we can't afford to think about what has happened in the past. All we can think about is the future and we need to beat United.'

Liverpool could be without star duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard for the United showdown. Gerrard limped off after just 25 minutes against Lyon after aggravating his groin injury.

Johnson Confident Of Being Fit To Face Man Utd

Glen Johnson is confident of being fit for Liverpool's Sunday showdown with Manchester United despite missing their Champions League defeat to Lyon on Tuesday night.

The right back withdrew just hours before Rafa Benitez's side lost their fourth game in a row - their worst run since 1987. The Spaniard must now face the champions with disgruntled fans making noises about his future.

Having a fit Johnson at his disposal would be a major boost for the Liverpool boss, who fielded 20-year-old Martin Kelly at right back against Lyon.

And the England international is sure he can shake off his groin injury before United visit Anfield.

"It is a lot better today, I think I will be alright for Sunday," Johnson said. "We haven't tested it today, just soft tissue work and massage, but it seems a lot freer than it did yesterday."

The big-money signing from Portsmouth also thinks Fernando Torres has a chance of making the game, but he is less sure whether skipper Steven Gerrard will be fit after he was forced off after 25 minutes with a recurrence of an abductor problem. He said: "I think Nando might be alright for Sunday, but I am not too sure about Stevie."

Manchester United Will Face Liverpool FC Backlash, Says Jamie Carragher

Liverpool FC defender Jamie Carragher has warned champions Manchester United that they will be facing a wounded animal at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool FC host their biggest rivals fresh from a Champions League disaster against Lyon last night, their fourth defeat on the trot and sixth of the season.

Defender Carragher, who took over as captain when Steven Gerrard limped off in the 2-1 defeat against the French league leaders, said: "Beating Manchester United could be just the boost we need, we always bounce back because that us what we are about.

"We’ve got a lot of fight and character and will want to show that against United, particularly after what happened against Lyon.

"We’re going through a tough patch but we’ve been through them before and we’ll bounce back, there’s no doubt about that.

"It’s always a great game against United, and that could be what we need - if we win it will give everyone a massive lift."

Teenager Martin Kelly, who made his full debut against Lyon in Glen Johnson’s injury-absence, agrees.

"If we can beat United, it will give everybody a lift," he said.

"I was pleased with my debut, but everyone was disappointed about the result.

"It was a cruel way to lose like that right at the end, I was off injured by then and watching on the TV and I didn’t feel they were going to score again after their equaliser.

"I enjoyed the occasion even if I had to come off. But it was just one game for me, I want to be playing at this level every week. That’s the aim now.

"Now we just have to look forward to Sunday’s game with Manchester United and try to put things right.

"It is all about working hard as a team now to pull ourselves out of this."

He added: "It was not difficult coming into the side, even if they had not been doing too well. There were top players around me and they all helped me settle.

"I picked up an injury towards the bottom of my left leg. I could not sprint properly so I had to come off, the medical people have had a look at it and I hope I will be okay to be considered for Sunday."

Graeme Souness Launches Scathing Attack On Liverpool Boss Rafael Benitez

Graeme Souness has launched a scathing attack on manager Rafael Benitez as Liverpool's season goes from bad to worse.

The Reds lost their fourth match in a row for the first time in 22 years after slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Lyon in the Champions League.

And club legend Souness has no doubt that the fault lies with Benitez.

"It's no good turning round and saying there wasn't enough money in the summer. What about the previous years?" Souness said on Sky Sports.

"If you have been there for five years you have had the chance to build your own club. It's no good pointing to being without your best two players."

Souness hailed the Anfield faithful for their unwavering support, but insisted that his beloved club were over-reliant on stars Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

"Out of the big clubs Liverpool is the best at home at a time like this. The supporters are understanding. They give you a chance far more than any other club in this country.

“They are a footballing crowd, but without their top two men the team looked a very ordinary side.

"There was no spark. It just wasn't there. It was plod, plod, plod. Without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres there was no imagination.

"The criticism aimed at Rafa [Benitez] would be that he had signed 67 players and if you are missing two or three you don't look anything like a team that can win big games in the Champions League or the other Premier League contenders."

Anfield Legend: Get Behind The Manager And The Players

Liverpool legend Ian Rush has urged the club’s supporters to get behind Rafa Benitez and the team. The former prolific Anfield marksman claims it would be wrong to sack the Spaniard at this stage in the season, and instead urged the current squad to step up and drag the club out of its current crisis.

Defeats against Fiorentina, Chelsea, Sunderland, and Lyon leave the club in their worst run of form for 22-years, yet Rush suggests a victory against Manchester United on Sunday could change everything.

Rush told Sky Sports News: “The time is not right now,”

“You need to get behind the manager - and the players as well. I'm sure the supporters will do on Sunday.”

“It's up to the players to respond.”

“The manager can only pick a team and it's up to the players to respond on the pitch against Manchester United.”

“There will be a good atmosphere against Manchester United. Yeah, okay we lost against Lyon so maybe the atmosphere will not be quite what was expected, but we can still qualify for the second phase of the Champions League.”

“We've got to get behind everyone. For me that's what makes Liverpool such a special club.”

Rush suggested that players other than Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres need to stand up and be counted, and make the manager’s job of selecting the team harder.

He said: “The players that come in have got to do the job, it's as simple as that,”

“They've got to make the manager's job hard to pick the next team.”

“At the moment, when Torres, Gerrard and Johnson are fit they're straight in. That's because maybe the players that have come in haven't quite done the job to win games.”

“It would be lovely for Liverpool to have beaten Lyon, then come the game against Manchester United, the manager could say 'What team do I pick? Everyone's playing well.’”

“At the moment I think the team's picking itself.

How Rafa Benitez Lost The Trust Of Liverpool Fans For Good

The boos that echoed round Anfield tolled the knell of Rafa Benitez' rapidly parting Liverpool day.

It was not just the defeat by Lyons that raised the spectre, more the angry reaction of many Reds fans to the decision to replace Yossi Benayoun with Ukrainian flop Andriy Voronin.

With Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson now joining Fernando Torres as major doubts for Sunday's make or break home game with Manchester United, Benitez knows he is on the rack.

But while the Spaniard may believe that events outside his control are conspiring against him, the seeds of Benitez' downfall were sown by himself nine months ago - and given extra encouragement to grow by one catastrophically wrong transfer decision in the summer.

On January 9, Liverpool were in prime position to finally win back the crown that has been out of their grasp since 1990.

A Steven Gerrard-inspired 5-1 thumping of Newcastle meant Liverpool began 2009 two points clear of the rest despite a catalogue of dropped points on home soil against the likes of Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull.

Benitez had been increasingly angered by the behaviour of arch-rival Sir Alex Ferguson, who had assume the role of his personal bete noir since Chelsea sacked Portuguese braggart Jose Mourinho and, believing himself in a position of strength, decided to go on the offensive.

It was, without question, the biggest mistake he could have made. What Benitez said was, in the main, not only justified but also accurate.

Fergie does get away with more than any other manager. Always has, always will. Referees, the Premier League, the FA - let alone the media - are terrified by him and he plays on those insecurities to ensure he gets what he wants by blast and bluster.

But saying it so publicly, calling it on with a man who would never be shy of fighting back, and who knew his own players would not wilt under the pressure of the title run-in, left Benitez' own players harbouring doubts.

If the manager could not keep calm from a position of strength, one or two of them ventured privately, how would he react when it started to get twitchy, as it always does?

What followed was almost inevitable, successive draws against Stoke, Everton and Wigan that saw Liverpool tumble to third, five more costly points dropped against Manchester City and doomed Middlesbrough the following month, the championship slipped from their grasp in the space of just seven games.

Even then, as Benitez and his players ruefully know, it might have changed after they thumped United at Old Trafford, only for the gods - and referees - to come to Fergie's aid: the extra minutes against Aston Villa which allowed Federico Macheda to emerge from nowhere and, most infamously, Howard Webb's shocker against Spurs that was the pivotal moment of the entire campaign.

For Liverpool and Benitez, just four points adrift in the final reckoning, it should have been the launchpad for the coming campaign, with all their rivals under clouds.

United had to cope with life after Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as the absence of Carlos Tevez; Chelsea, under new management again, with an ageing team; Arsenal having lost Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.

All Benitez needed to do, surely, was hold things together, add a couple of new faces, keep a steady hand on the tiller. Instead, he sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, taking the £30m and spending most of it in Alberto Aquilani, who may make his Liverpool debut for the successor to the man who bought him.

Alonso provided balance and security, the ability to win the ball and play an early pass. By contrast, Javier Mascherano appears to be pining for the move to Barcelona that did not materialise, while the manager's faith in Lucas Leiva seems increasingly unfathomable with every passing week.

So it comes to this. Twelve matches in the competitions that count. Six defeats.

Under the financial "masterplan" drafted by those footballing giants Tom Hicks and George Gillett, the Liverpool manager was only supposed to spend £20m per year for the next five seasons.

But that was predicated on a guarantee of Champions League football into the knockout stages, and the £30m that produces annually.

Suddenly, on the verge of group stage elimination, this year's income stream will be cut. Failure to make the top four - and if it becomes five defeats out of 10 in the league on Sunday, while City, Villa and Spurs keep on winning, that becomes a genuine possibility - and the drama does indeed become a crisis.

In Rafa we trust? Not any more, it seems. Those boos told the story and the truth.

Liverpool Must Win Remaining Games To Qualify - Benitez

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said his side must win their remaining three group games if the five-time European champions are to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

A 2-1 home defeat by Olympique Lyon on Tuesday left Liverpool third in Group E after three games, six points behind leaders Lyon and three behind second-placed Fiorentina.

Frustrated supporters turned on Benitez at Anfield after a fourth successive defeat in all competitions, Liverpool's worst run for 22 years.

On a bad night for the Premier League club, captain Steven Gerrard lasted just 24 minutes in his comeback game from injury before he limped off.

The England midfielder is now a major doubt for Sunday's home game with Premier League leaders Manchester United, a match Liverpool have to win if they are to maintain a realistic chance of challenging for the title.

"I think it is something we are going to have to do," said Benitez, when asked if Liverpool would have to win their remaining three group games to stay in the Champions League.

Benitez takes his side to Lyon on Nov. 4 before facing Hungarian side Debrecen away on Nov. 24. They round off the group campaign at home to Fiorentina on Dec. 9.

"I wanted to use some fresh legs," Benitez explained after his decision to replace goalscorer Yossi Benayoun with Andriy Voronin was met by a chorus of boos from supporters.

"The fans know Yossi is a good player but he was a little bit tired.

"It's a really disappointing outcome.

"We had too many problems before the game with injuries.

"But we still managed to take the lead and we still managed to create chances."

Benitez refused to rule out Gerrard for Sunday's game with United but Spanish striker Fernando Torres has missed the last two games and remains doubtful.

"We need to lift ourselves for Sunday, it's something we have to do," added Benitez.

"We have to push the players and have to keep going. Had we taken our chances against Lyon then things would have been different."

Rafa Benitez Stands By Steven Gerrard Selection

Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez insists he did not take an unwise gamble on Steven Gerrard's fitness in the 2-1 Champions League defeat at home to Lyon.

The Liverpool FC manager believes too that the Reds can still reach the last 16, despite having only three points from three Group E matches so far. The loss of Gerrard after just 25 minutes with a recurrence of his groin injury was a savage blow, with Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson both also sidelined.

Benitez said: "It was not a gamble to play Gerrard. He wanted to play and had trained normally for two games."

He added: "He was given the all-clear by the doctor, and what happened was just bad luck. He felt something wrong in his groin, and it was wise to come off."

Benitez will oversee a succession of scans for his injured stars before being able to start preparation for Sunday's visit of Premier League champions Manchester United.

Liverpool have staged miracle survivals in the group stages of Europe before - and will need another one now.

Benitez recalled: "We have come back before - and we can do it again.

"We now must be ready for the next match. I have confidence that we have the quality to overcome these problems.

"We have to push players now, to keep working and to maintain our confidence. We just had too many problems before and during the game. Losing Glen Johnson before the match, and then Gerrard and Martin Kelly during the match, was just too much to contend with.

"It was a difficult game with all our problems, and we had done well to be leading at the break. Then we had two or three chances soon after the interval."

Bitter-Sweet Debut For Kelly

Martin Kelly admitted his first Liverpool start in the defeat by Lyon left a sour taste in his mouth.

The former Academy talent was thrown into the starting line-up for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash following an injury to regular right-back Glen Johnson.

The England Under-20 international capped his full debut with an encouraging display until the 19-year-old picked up an injury in the second half and was substituted.

And Kelly confessed to mixed emotions on a night that saw his side slump to their second reverse in Group E and now face an uphill struggle to secure qualification to the last 16.

"I was happy to make my debut and the fans were fantastic with me but it was just disappointing with the final result," he told the club's official website.

"The lads were frustrated in the dressing room and it was tough to take losing right at the end.

"It was a cruel way to lose the game because I didn't think they looked like scoring in the second half to be honest.

"I thought we deserved to win and it was a frustrating night for us.

"Everyone is disappointed but we've got a game on Sunday against Manchester United and we need to put it right."

Kelly came close to opening his Liverpool account at the Kop end when he failed to connect with Fabio Aurelio's cross before Yossi Benayoun bailed him out with a composed finish.

And the teenage full-back is now intent on building from his first start in Reds colours.

"I was happy to see Yossi score because I would have probably got slated at half-time for missing the chance," he added.

"I will take a lot of confidence from starting my first game for Liverpool but in football you are only as good as your last game.

"I've just got to keep working hard and put performances in week in, week out, and not just for one game."

M'Bokani Attracts Interest

A host of Premier League clubs are said to be chasing Standard Liege striker Dieumerci M'Bokani, according to reports in Belgium.

The Congo international has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the past while Blackburn, Liverpool and Arsenal are all said to be monitoring his progress.

The 23-year-old has been prolific during his time at Standard with 32 goals in 62 league games but this season has seen M'Bokani struggle in front of goal.

The former Anderlecht front man admits to being unsettled in Belgium and has hinted at a January move away from Standard.

"I am not having a good start to the season," he told skysports.com.

"From 12 games I've only scored three goals so far. I am not happy. As for moving, why not? It depends on all parties so let's wait and see."

Aurelio - Blame Us Not Rafa

Fabio Aurelio believes the team and not Rafa Benitez should take the slack for Liverpool's worst run in 22 years.

The Reds are in the midst of a crisis following Tuesday's home defeat by Lyon in the UEFA Champions League which condemned them to their fourth successive defeat in all competitions.

Wednesday's aftermath has seen question marks raised over the future of Benitez and the Spanish tactician will have to mastermind another European fightback to keep the Reds' Champions League hopes alive.

And Aurelio insists the players are ready to do just that as he targets maximum points from the rest of their games in Group E.

"We must concentrate on winning our final three games in Europe, pressure is building on us," the defender said.

"But the players know that we are the only people who can change what is going wrong.

"We know what we have to do. We have to change the feeling that we are not a strong team now, especially after what we achieved last season."

Match Report: Liverpool 1 - 2 Lyon

Liverpool have plenty of work to do to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase after they lost 2-1 at home to Group E leaders Lyon.

Yossi Benayoun put the hosts ahead in the 41st minute only for substitute Maxime Gonalans to head home a corner 18 minutes from the end and Cesar Delgado snatch the winner in added time.

More worryingly for manager Rafael Benitez ahead of the weekend visit of Manchester United was the sight of captain Steven Gerrard limping off midway through the first half with a recurrence of his groin injury.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard returned for the Champions League encounter against Lyon at Anfield but the surprise selection was teenage defender Martin Kelly.

The 19-year-old replaced England right-back Glen Johnson, who had a groin injury, for his maiden start and first appearance of the season.

Kelly's previous first-team experience amounted to eight minutes as a substitute at PSV Eindhoven last December.

His inclusion and Gerrard's return from a groin problem were among five changes from the side which lost at Sunderland on Saturday, with midfielder Javier Mascherano, striker David Ngog and Emiliano Insua also drafted in.

The French side, top of Ligue 1 and having won both their matches in the Champions League so far, fielded an experienced side which included the likes of Kim Kallstrom, Jeremy Toulalan, Lisandro Lopez and Sidney Govou.

Kelly, born in nearby Whiston and a product of the Liverpool academy, was given an early touch of the ball from kick-off to settle his nerves.

Inevitably Gerrard had the first shot of the game, from the inside-left position, but it was deflected into the side-netting.

Lyon were enjoying more possession than most visiting teams to Anfield and would have gone ahead in the 10th minute had it not been for Jose Reina.

Left-back Aly Cissokho crossed to the far post where Lisandro's powerful downward header was brilliantly parried away by the Spain goalkeeper.

Liverpool had the ball in the net in the 15th minute only for Dirk Kuyt's header from Gerrard's pin-point cross to be flagged offside.

Midway through the first half the hosts suffered a major blow when Gerrard was forced off through injury and had to be replaced by Fabio Aurelio.

The substitution - a precautionary measure with Manchester United visiting at the weekend - meant a reshuffle of the attacking midfielders with Kuyt moving into the centre and Yossi Benayoun switching to the right to accommodate Aurelio.

Kuyt flashed a volley wide after 30 minutes before a trip on the Dutchman by Cris resulted in the Lyon defender receiving lengthy treatment for a bang on the head and a yellow card for his pains.

Six minutes later Kuyt had a shot charged down by Cissokho and Ngog's close-range follow-up was saved by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

At the other end a stretching Govou volleyed over Kallstrom's deep cross.

Four minutes before the interval Liverpool took the lead with a move which started at the back with Jamie Carragher winning a crunching tackle.

The ball was quickly transferred to the left wing where Aurelio crossed and, although Ngog missed it and Lucas and Kelly got in each other's way, Benayoun was on hand to fire home.

Problems worsened for Lyon with Cris immediately departing on a stretcher.

Aurelio should have doubled the lead from Kelly's far-post cross but Lloris brilliantly parried over.

Lyon were first to show in the second half, right-back Anthony Reveillere firing over after Govou's cross was half-cleared.

Govou's late challenge on Insua earned the Lyon captain a booking and Liverpool a free-kick close to the corner flag.

Aurelio's delivery was not dealt with convincingly and when Kuyt crossed the ball back in Benayoun headed wide.

Ngog should have done better in the 58th minute when he chested down Kelly's right-wing cross but stabbed wide from 12 yards.

Kuyt, however, was unlucky when he out-jumped Reveillere to head inside the post only for Lloris to palm the ball around the upright.

France striker Bafetimbi Gomis replaced Ederson just after the hour in an attempt to give Lyon a greater presence up front.

Lyon's pressure was increasing and it eventually told in the 72nd minute from a set-piece, a perceived weakness of Liverpool's.

Reina tipped on a right-wing corner and then made a reaction double save from Toulalan and a point-blank Govou header but Maxime Gonalans - the first-half replacement for Cris - was on hand to nod home.

Kelly then limped off injured which resulted in a reorganisation in defence with Carragher moving out to right-back and Martin Skrtel coming on to partner Daniel Agger in the centre.

Andriy Voronin was sent on for Benayoun with six minutes to go, much to the displeasure of an increasingly frustrated Anfield crowd.

Anxiety on the pitch increased as Liverpool passes went astray with alarming regularity.

And in the first minute of added time a quick counter-attack down the right saw Govou fire a cross through the six-yard area, where another substitute Cesar Delgado converted at the far post.

The result gives Benitez many issues to address ahead of United's arrival on Sunday.

Has The Time Come For Kenny Dalglish To Replace Rafa Benitez At Liverpool?

I don't know whether Rafa Benitez has had the time to study Shakespeare but if so he may be pondering on the words of Brutus in Julius Caesar.

There is, indeed, a tide in the affairs of man - and for Benitez that tide appears to have turned against him.

After starting what Jamie Carragher declared would be a "massive week" with the already-infamous "beach ball" defeat at Sunderland, the pressure really is on the Spaniard tonight, especially with Fernando Torres definitely missing against Lyons.

Even a victory over the French side would be little more than a temporary balm if Anfield plays host to a Manchester United party on Sunday, while a fourth straight loss, meaning Liverpool head into the weekend showdown under real strain, could prove the beginning of the end for Rafa the Gaffer.

It does not take a genius to see that something is wrong at Liverpool, seemingly intent on turning into the Graeme Hick of the Premier League - flat track bullies who can dismiss the likes of Burnley, Stoke and Hull as if swatting away flies, but crumble against sides that have more about them.

Four defeats in nine games is not quite fatal yet - even if a fifth would make that seem even more the case - but what it does is send out signals to any opponents that there is a mental vulnerability that can be exposed.

Benitez himself, in a wide-ranging but deeply worrying pre-match analysis yesterday, touched upon all the problems that are besetting his side.

There is no denying that his complaints about the contribution of "senior players" - taken, by the players themselves, to mean Carragher and Steven Gerrard - after the home defeat by Aston Villa was a huge and needless own goal.

And where Benitez was arguably right to suggest his squad need to rediscover the esprit de corps that allowed them to find so many late winners last term, his gripes about the "nutritional" excesses of those players he deems as slaves to carbonated drinks were again self-defeating.

It is under pressure, under scrutiny, that the great managers do prove their greatness.

Benitez himself, albeit thanks to the superhuman and talismanic efforts of Gerrard, got out of a similar scrape in December 2004, the season which ieded with his finest Liverpool moment amid the bedlam of Istanbul.

But nearly five years on from that remarkable night against Olympiacos Liverpool look arguably as far away from regaining the title that was theirs by right for the best part of two decades until 1990.

Benitez cannot afford to fight any more unnecessary battles, not when the conflict seems more about himself and proving his own power than in getting his players to perform for him.

So far Anfield, rightly, seems to be behind the Spaniard, offering him a bulwark against any knee-jerk reactions from the increasingly despised - and, it appears, increasingly distanced - ownership duo of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

But what happens if the worst does come to pass this evening and on Sunday? Does Benitez want to ride it out, to show he does have what it takes, that his way is the right way?

There are no guarantees of that. Tonight does not, quite, represent make or break. But it could, indeed, presage what may follow.

And for those who would counter by pointing out that Benitez would have to be replaced, at least on a temporary basis, by somebody who understands the club and the fans and who possesses the personality to hold it all together, then perhaps the presence of a certain Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish MBE might become important.

Manchester United Fans To Be Searched For Beach Balls At Liverpool

Manchester United fans travelling to Anfield to watch their team play Liverpool at the weekend will be searched as normal as stewards look for beach balls.

Red Liverpool beach balls have sold out from the Anfield club shop, with staff suspecting United fans are snapping them up as they plan a 'tribute' to the goal Darren Bent scored for Sunderland against the Reds at the weekend.

Bent's effort deflected off a red beach ball and past Pepe Reina into the net for the game's only goal at the Stadium of Light.

The beach ball had been thrown onto the pitch by a Liverpool fan. Although the goal should not have stood, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been philosophical about what happened claiming that his club do not want to change things.

"It will be the normal search policy," a Liverpool spokesperson told The Sporting Life.

Any beach balls found on supporters will be confiscated.

Palermo Defender Simon Kjaer Drops Liverpool Hint

Palermo centre-back Simon Kjaer has dropped yet another strong hint that he could leave Sicily next year.

The 20-year-old has impressed in Serie A after joining the Rosanero in the summer of 2008 and has been frequently linked with Turin giants Juventus, but he has confessed that English giants Liverpool might be his first choice.

“I am only thinking of the World Cup at the moment and then we’ll see,” the defender told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“However, it is true that my family and I support Liverpool, but the transfer market has nothing to do with it.”

Denmark qualified for next summer’s showpiece event in South Africa at the expense of Scandinavian rivals Sweden, as Kjaer kept Zlatan Ibrahimovic at bay in a crucial 1-0 victory.

“It was a great satisfaction,” he mused.

“Zlatan is really strong in the air and is so tall that you can’t keep up with him and you need to anticipate him.

“As for the World Cup, I hope to play alongside [Daniel] Agger as he is my idol. But I first need to play 35 more games at the highest level this term.”

Rafael Benitez Offers His Support For Demoted Official Mike Jones Over Beach Ball Goal

Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, has again passed up the opportunity to criticise Mike Jones, the referee who failed to rule out Sunderland’s winning goal against the Merseyside club on Saturday. Darren Bent’s shot found the net via a deflection off a beach ball that had been thrown onto the pitch.

Jones was yesterday demoted from Barclays Premier League duties for the forthcoming weekend after his failure to implement the Fifa law which stipulates that games should be stopped in the event of any outside interference. The official will take charge of the Coca-Cola Championship fixture at London Road between Peterborough United and Scunthorpe United.

Jones has been heavily criticised by Graham Poll, Dermot Gallagher and Jeff Winter, his former colleagues, but Benítez, although still surprised at the error, has taken a different tack, choosing to offer the referee his support. The Spaniard also ruled out any possibility of Liverpool asking for the match to be replayed.

“The situation is that we cannot change this,” Benítez said. “I think that the rule is very clear. Everybody knows and all the experts agree that the goal had to be disallowed but we cannot do anything now so we have to move forward.

“I don’t know if he didn’t know about the rule, maybe he couldn’t see. Anyway I think that it is better to move on. I think the referees and Keith Hackett [the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd] know that a mistake has been made, but I do not want to criticise. He is a young referee and there are not too many referees around the world, so if you have someone who has a passion and wants to be a good referee, then the best thing to do is to just move on.

“I said after the game that we did not play well because I did not want to use the incident as an excuse. It was an important situation because, with the problems that we had, to start the game by going a goal behind was not the best situation for us.

“But still it is something that you have to forget and to think only about what you can influence now, like this Champions League game [against Lyons at Anfield this evening]. A lot of people are saying that the game should be replayed but we will not be asking for this.”

Pepe Reina Admits His Eyes Were On Beach Ball During Sunderland Loss

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has admitted he was focused on the inflatable beach ball during Saturday's loss to Sunderland having lost sight of the real match ball.

Darren Bent's winning goal, which deflected off a ball thrown onto the pitch by a fan, was allowed to stand by referee Mike Jones which meant Liverpool slumped to their third consecutive loss and fourth of the season.

Despite understanding the Premier League's decision not to replay the match, Reina said Jones had made a "serious mistake" as it is ultimately the match official's job to know the rules of the game inside out.

"It was such bad luck. I lost sight of the official ball and stayed on the red one," Reina told a Spanish radio station. "When he shot, it startled me and I went for the red ball instinctively as it was the closest to me and the other went past me. It all happened very quickly.

"This had never happened before in my life. I didn't know what to do. A lot of things were going through my head but I honestly thought that the goal would stand and no one was going to disallow it.

"We didn't know the rule because otherwise we would have protested. But that's what makes the mistake of the ref even more grave. We didn't know it because it's not our job.

"I agree the game should not be replayed, but it must be recognised that the error is serious."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez concurred with his goalkeeper's view and said the club would not be petitioning the FA for a replay.

"The rules are very clear and a lot of people are saying the game should be replayed, but we will not be asking for this," he said.

Reds Consider Aquilani Action

Alberto Aquilani could make his first playing appearance in a Liverpool shirt on Wednesday night in a reserve team outing.

The £20million summer signing from Roma is still to feature for the Reds this term as he continues to work his way back to full fitness following a summer knee operation.

Italy international Aquilani, who manager Rafa Benitez believes can provide the creativity the Reds have been missing since the departure of Xabi Alonso, has been in full training for over a week.

Benitez is considering giving the 25-year-old attacking midfielder a short outing during the second string encounter with Sunderland at Tranmere's Prenton Park.

But even if Aquilani does make a cameo appearance on Wednesday, he is highly unlikely to be considered for a first-team debut against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

Rafa Benitez To Battle With Jose Mourinho Over Young Gabon Defender Bruno Ecuele Manga

Liverpool and Inter Milan are in the hunt for highly-rated Gabon central defender Bruno Ecuele Manga.

Manga, 21, plays his club football for Angers in France's Ligue 2. He has scored twice in nine international appearances.

The Reds have suffered three defeats in a row, leading critics to ask questions about the form of long-time defensive lynchpin Jamie Carragher. And the signs are that Benitez is looking for reinforcements.

Manga revealed: 'I am flattered to be linked with prestigious clubs like those two big teams in Europe.

'The two managers are legends of the game, they have won leagues and European cups, so let me dream to work under their guidance.'

When asked which club he would prefer to join, Manga said: 'Who am I to choose? It is good to hear interest from two big teams but I need to work hard and the future will decide.'

Financial Fears Grow For Struggling Liverpool

City insiders close to attempted takeover bids for Liverpool have told ESPN Soccernet that failure to qualify for the Champions League could result in meltdown at Anfield.

The disturbing analysis emphasises the enormous importance of Liverpool's forthcoming double-header at Anfield, starting on Tuesday night against Champions League Group E leaders Lyon, followed by the visit on Sunday of Premier League champions Manchester United.

Liverpool have slipped down to eighth in the Premier League and are keen to win against Lyon to restore their credibility within their group and increase their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

A City source said: "The Champions League has become so important to all the top clubs, notably those with big debts, and that includes Manchester United and Arsenal as well as Liverpool, but at the moment, the focus is very much on Liverpool as it looks as though Manchester United and Arsenal will continue in the Champions League next season. The same cannot be guaranteed with Liverpool. The stakes really couldn't be higher for them.

"The Champions League generates £30 million for clubs like Liverpool, and that can account for virtually the amount of interest that they need to pay back to the banks each year. The bottom line for a club like Liverpool is that they need to be in the Champions League each season. It's as simple as that, and no-one at the club is going to sleep easy with the team slipping down to eighth place in the table."

Liverpool's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks refinanced their debts with the Royal Bank of Scotland in July for another year, but would never have envisaged their team sliding down the league so early in the season.

The repercussions for Liverpool failing to qualify for next season's Champions League are thought-provoking, to say the least. At worst the consequences are catastrophic.

Would it mean selling prize assets like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to pay for the shortfall in Champions League revenue??

Would it mean the end of Rafa Benitez?

Would it mean the Royal Bank of Scotland taking control of the club?

Would it leave the club wide open to a quick takeover bid?

At the moment, a possible takeover of Liverpool has been laboriously slow, with three near misses from a variety of Middle Eastern Sheikhs, Princes and investors. But there seems little doubt that the most testing and turbulent times are rapidly approaching.

The search has been relentless to bring new investment into Anfield. Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett has denied, though, that Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah is close to purchasing a stake in the Anfield club.

The American pair of Gillett and Tom Hicks recently issued a joint statement, which read: "The owners have jointly retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to evaluate the possibility of new investors injecting equity into LFC. However, the process is at an early stage, there is no agreement with any party and reports to the contrary are wholly inaccurate."

The next six days will fashion much of what happens both on and off the field at Anfield. Two games at Anfield, against Lyon in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League could point to a troubled rest of the season, and even a die-hard Liverpool man such as Alan Hansen has conceded as much. The stakes couldn't be higher for the players, manager Benitez, and their dedicated supporters.