Rafa Benitez Dismissed Fears Of Euro Fix

Rafa Benitez dismissed fears of a French conspiracy wrecking his Champions League hopes as he chases the miracle that will keep Liverpool alive in the competition.

Liverpool must beat Debrecen here and then bank on Lyon denying Fiorentina a home victory in Group E’s other game to ensure there is something riding on the final match with the Italians at Anfield on December 9.

Lyon have already reached the knockout stages and it was put to Benitez that his team’s recent impressive record in the competition means the French side would prefer seeing Liverpool dumped out so they could not meet them again in the knockout rounds.

But Benitez claimed he is not concerned about Lyon, who scored last-minute goals in a 2-1 win and a 1-1 stalemate in their group games with Liverpool, colluding with the Italians.

“I don’t think that will be how they are thinking. They will want to finish at the top of the group,” he said.

“They are good professionals. When you qualify first it can be an advantage in terms of which team you draw, but also for the confidence of the team.

“Lyon will try to win. They have quality and they play good counter-attack football, so we will see. I am confident they will do it.”

Liverpool have twice found themselves cornered at the group stages, in 2005 and 2007, when they needed to win their last three matches to keep alive Benitez’s record of never having stumbled at this stage.

Their destiny is not in their own hands, however, and for that reason Benitez added that reaching the knockout stages again would emulate his best escape acts.

He said: “To win 8-0 against Besiktas, 4-1 against Porto and 4-0 against Marseille was really good and, if we can do it again, it will be as important.”

There's Always The Europa League For Liverpool - Jamie Carragher

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that all is not lost if the Merseyside club fail to reach the last 16 in the Champions League.

The Reds' vice-captain believes that should his side - currently third in Group E - bow out early, they will accept the cards that fate has dealt them and concentrate on winning the Europa League.

"If we don’t make it through [to the Champions League knock-out stage], then we have to accept it and move on," Carragher is quoted on FIFA.com as saying.

"Stevie Gerrard and myself won what was the UEFA Cup [now Europa League] back in 2001 and it was a great moment. It is still a chance to win silverware and there are some great teams in that competition.

"Benfica looked really strong against Everton, and Valencia are in it too. Obviously, we are all still hoping we are in the Champions League."

The Premier League outfit must secure all three points in Hungary and hope that Fiorentina drop points against Olympique Lyonnais at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

"The hardest thing is our destiny isn’t in our own hands," Carragher continued.

"When we have been in situations like this before, we have been able to sort it out ourselves. We have to concentrate on our own game and hopefully things will go our way. We have to look after ourselves and get the three points. We just have to concentrate on what we can affect and make sure we do our job.

"Nobody is thinking about the other game yet because we have to make sure we win first. There would be nothing worse than Lyon doing us a favour and we haven’t managed to get the win we need."

Ryan Babel Will Quit Liverpool FC Unless Rafa Benitez Picks Him

Liverpool FC winger Ryan Babel wants winter talks with boss Rafa Benitez - and is vowing to leave unless he plays more games.

The Holland international is unhappy with the limited number of matches he has started with the Anfield club since his £11.5million move from Ajax in the summer of 2007.

Babel explained: "I have tried to talk to the manager but it isn’t of any use. I couldn’t really do anything with the feedback Benitez gave me.

"We have agreed to look at my situation in the winter. If there’s no improvement then, I have to be honest, I want to be somewhere else.

"I don’t play a lot so I can’t be happy and I can’t cheer out loud. Sometimes I wonder how long I can sustain it but I will fight for my position - what else can I do?"

Babel scored an impressive long-range goal for Liverpool FC in their last Champions League match, the 1-1 draw at Lyon.

However, on tonight’s must-win match against Debrecen he spoke of his frustration at failing to make more of an impact with the club.

He continued: "Isn’t it unbelievable that in my first year I got chosen as Talent of the Year? And a season later I hardly play and without getting a proper chance."

Babel, who represented Holland in Beijing last summer, added: "I don’t know if it has anything to do with my little trip to the Olympics. I know the manager wanted me to stay."

However, he does not think Benitez has a grudge against him.

Babel explained: "I really don’t believe he is trying to get back at me. Every time me or my agent (Willie Haatrecht) have a chat with him he stresses I can’t leave and he believes in me. We have to trust he is telling the truth. Saying it is different to showing it."

Babel has confidence in his own ability and still believes he can make the right impression in a Liverpool FC shirt.

He added: "I have shown I can do it plenty of times. I know I could be further in my career but if nobody helps you, if they don’t make it easier for you, then it is difficult."

Yossi Benayoun Delighted With Rapid Recovery

Liverpool will seek a miracle cure for their Champions League campaign this evening – as Yossi Benayoun praised the radical doctor that has given him the chance of helping the Anfield cause.

Rafael Benitez’s side take on Hungarian champions Debrecen in the 69,000-capacity Ferenc Puskas Stadium with their European challenge on a knife edge.

Liverpool must beat the Group E whipping boys and pray Lyon do them a favour in Italy against Fiorentina.

While Glen Johnson is expected to be available after missing the weekend draw with Manchester City because of a calf problem, Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Albert Riera are all absent.

But Benayoun was among the party that flew to Budapest after a remarkable recovery from the hamstring tear he suffered against Birmingham City earlier this month.

The Israeli was expected to be sidelined for up to five weeks but was fit enough to score Liverpool’s equaliser as a substitute on Saturday after visiting radical therapist Mariana Kovacevic.

And the midfielder has revealed the Belgrade doctor - who also treated Johnson, Riera and Fabio Aurelio last week – used the placenta of a woman and not a horse to help cure his ailment.

“I have seen so many stories about the treatment on my hamstring, but, for me, there were never any worries,” said Benayoun. “There were no animal parts used and no injections.

“The doctor has treated a lot of players and seems to be held in very high regard.

“She explained everything to me beforehand and told me she would be using fluid from a placenta that had come from a woman.

“Nothing went into the muscle itself. It was just a case of massaging the liquid on to the skin around the affected area and letting it get to work.

“It meant I was able to play again and help the team within a fortnight of suffering the injury.

“When I felt the hamstring go, against Birmingham, and signalled to the bench that I couldn’t carry on, I never envisaged being back on the pitch so soon. I have to be happy with that, and it shows what can be done with this treatment.”

Benayoun will now compete with Aurelio for a starting role this evening as Liverpool aim to conjure another Champions League escape act.

“It was clear I was not ready to start against Manchester City, and it was unfortunate I had to go on so early, after those injuries to Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel,” said Benayoun, a 19th-minute substitute at the weekend.

“If I can play a part in Hungary, great. It is always a good feeling when your coach wants you in the team, and I desperately want to contribute anything I can to try and help us qualify from the group.

“But I can’t see myself playing the full 90 minutes. I don’t believe that is a realistic aim after missing so much training.

“Everyone in the squad knows my condition and how I’m still trying to get my fitness back, but I will do the best I can.

“This is an important phase for the team and, of course, the manager. We have had one or two disappointments since the start of the season, but he has proved his worth many times over the years, and I don’t believe he is about to leave.

“We just need a bit of luck, with injuries off the field and the bounce of the ball on it, and everything will change for us.”

Purslow The Catalyst As Liverpool Look To Enter The Big Leagues

Compared to clubs like United and Real Madrid over the years, Liverpool has failed to capitalise on their markets abroad. Although they have millions of supporters around the world, the Merseyside club has lagged behind financially because it has lacked the business acumen to tap into the lucrative markets in Asia. Although the Reds have toured the Far East on many occasions, the lack of marketing and sponsorship from such areas was to plain to all to see. Combined with his apparent falling out with Rafa Benitez, this failure to capitalise financially in highly lucrative areas was one of the main reasons Rick Parry resigned as Chief Executive at the end of last season.

In a very public interview, Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks expressed this very concern about Rick Parry’s abilities as a business manager, and contributed to the long serving Chief Executive’s departure. The arrival of Christian Purslow as Managing Director was a clear sign of the direction that both the co-owners and the Liverpool board wanted the club to go in. With the naming of the Chief Executive being delayed for the immediate future, Purslow has the full reins to begin tapping into these unopened pots of gold. As always with the American owners, an air of cynicism will cloud these attempts as it will be seen to be just another way to squeeze every ounce of profit out of the club.

To some extent there is truth in this, the debt on the club has to be repaid somehow and this will be a profitable way of doing this. However there is no doubt that Liverpool Football Club could be produce far more financially. Its large fan base around the world could finance not only the debt, but also the new ground and the ability to produce funds to not only buy players, but to keep many players that are already on board. As most Liverpool fans are fully aware, despite the fact that the club is struggling in the league at the moment, there will be little money to spend in January. Of course we could demand the American owners to empty their pockets for cash, but we know that is not going to happen. Even if we did, it is not a sustainable business model to keep a football club afloat in the long term and see continued success in the future.

The answer is expansion abroad, and this is where the role of Christian Purslow comes in. Purslow has a background in private equity, a financier unlike Parry, but he also has links in football. He is a friend of Kenny Dalglish and he also speaks fluent Spanish which means he has struck up a very good relationship with Rafa Benitez. His job has been to open avenues of revenue around the world, and he has made an immediate impact in this area.

I believe the most significant development of the season for Liverpool, both off and on the pitch is the signing of the new sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered bank. A 20million a season four year deal with the London/Hong Kong based bank which matches, if not slightly exceeds the deal Manchester United made with Aon. It is intended to extend the global reach of Liverpool. Purslow stated Standard’s operations around the round will be crucial to that:

“We have a long-term plan to increase the family of Liverpool fans, Many branches in these countries will effectively be a shop window for Liverpool Football Club and a means of attracting more supporters to the cause.”

It is the biggest sponsorship in club’s history. If it sets the precedent for other deals that Liverpool are involved in; the future will look bright both on the field and off the field for the club. It could bring in an era of prosperity to allow Liverpool to compete financially in the transfer market with Manchester United and Real Madrid, and consequently lead to an era of prosperity on the pitch with Benitez as the manager. As Purslow said:

“As you drive your revenues forward, you try to generate profits and those profits will be used to invest in the future of the club, which, in football speak, often means buying players. From next summer, one of our key [income] lines, the revenue line, will be substantially increased as a function of this commercial agreement, so a normal ratio of that will go to the wage bill and my ability to support Rafa in the transfer market will be hugely enhanced. We want to be the best football team in the world and there is a pretty clear link between that and having the best performance off the field.”

In another interview, before the Manchester United game, Purslow expressed that his plans for the club included a long stay for Benitez:

“Liverpool Football Club is on a long-term journey and that journey is to be the most successful club, firstly in our country and secondly in the world and you don’t do that by worrying about short-term results. You do that by having long-term plans centring on the people and the strategy. Rafa Benitez is absolutely central to that plan.”

If that journey is completed, Liverpool will be one of, if not the biggest in the world, financially as well as on the pitch.

Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger Feels Sorry For Liverpool

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he can sympathise with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez's current plight, and believes that the Merseysiders have been the victims of some bad luck this season.

Liverpool travel to Debrecen this week facing elimination from the Champions League. The Frenchman does not think the Anfield outfit's fans deserve to see their club in such a precarious situation.

"I have a huge sympathy for Liverpool," he told the Gunners' official website.

"I can elaborate because first of all it is a hugely historical club.

"And I have a massive respect for their fans who, for me, have always been outstanding."

Wenger feels that those fans have become a little quieter than usual in recent weeks, as the pressure of an extended run of poor form has made everyone at Anfield much more anxious than usual.

"I must say I watched a little bit of the [2-2 draw at home to] Manchester City and their fans looked to be a little bit affected by fear as well because it was the first time I saw them a bit quiet," he added.

"As well, I feel Liverpool have been a little bit unlucky in the last six weeks; they do not get from the games what they deserve."

Benitez's Time Is Up - Berger

Former Liverpool winger Patrik Berger insists "time is up" for Rafael Benitez as Liverpool manager.

The Spaniard has come under pressure for much of this season, with the team 13 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea and in severe danger of failing to progress from Champions League Group E.

Benitez's transfer policy has also frequently raised eyebrows, with Berger alluding to a lack of quality throughout the squad.

And the former Czech Republic international told BBC Radio 5 live: "He did ever so well for Liverpool but in my opinion, for him time is up and they should change their manager as soon as possible.

"He has spent so much money over the years - he did have success a few years ago but right now, for me, Liverpool do not look a side who can win either the Premier League or Champions League."

Injuries have hampered the Reds for much of the current campaign, but Berger believes Benitez is lacking options having allowed several big-name players to leave Anfield.

"In my opinion, Liverpool is not as strong as they were last year or the year before," he continued.

"If they have all the top players fit, the starting XI is very strong - but as soon as they lose two or three, they don't really have the same quality as when they had Craig Bellamy, Peter Crouch or Robbie Keane on the bench.

"They really rely on the starting XI, if they get a few injuries they are struggling. If they don't have a Steven Gerrard or (Fernando) Torres up front they really look, to me, an average side."

Match Preview: Debrecen vs. Liverpool

Liverpool travel to Budapest knowing that a victory over the Hungarian champions Debrecen may not be enough to secure their progression from Group E to the Champions League knock-out stages, and will no doubt be listening intensely to any news from the match between Fiorentina and Lyon.

Rafa Benitez’s side only managed an unconvincing 1-0 victory against Debrecen at Anfield, in a match in which the Hungarian champions showed glimpses of a potential threat.

As is common-knowledge amongst followers of Champions League, it is these away ties against the lesser-known European sides which can catch the elite sides off-guard, not to mention a team that has only mustered one victory in their last ten matches.


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
Liverpool 2-2 Birmingham City
Lyon 1-1 Liverpool (Champions League)
Fulham 3-1 Liverpool
Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (League Cup)

Debrecen - Champions League results

Fiorentina 5-2 Debrecen
Debrecen 3-4 Fiorentina
Debrecen 0-4 Lyon
Liverpool 1-0 Debrecen
Debrecen 2-0 Levski Sofia (Qualifier)


TEAM NEWS

Debrecen

Manager András Herczeg will be hoping his Debrecen side can impress during their final home match of this season’s Champions League campaign, and in light of Liverpool’s current form, may even be contemplating victory.

Starting XI from last league Champions League match: Pantics, Komlosi, Szelesi, Leandro, Bodnar, Laczko, Ramos, Varga, Fodor, Czvitkovics, Rudolf.

Liverpool

Disastrous form aside, the other my ingredient to Liverpool’s tepid start to the season has been the severity of their injury list.

With Ryan Babel having joined Fernando Torres and Albert Riera on Liverpool's injury list, Rafa Benitez faces some big decisions in terms of selection – albeit with limited options.

The Spanish boss will also be without defenders Glen Johnson (Calf Strain) and Daniel Agger (Concussion) for Tuesday match.

Fortunately, and perhaps decisively for Liverpool, is that captain fantastic Steven Gerrard is fit to play in Budapest, and he excels when the chips are down.

Starting XI from last match: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Mascerano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Ngog.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Debrecen – Peter Czvitkovics

The Hungarian midfielder was one of Debrecen’s more impressive players during the contest at Anfield in September, and Liverpool will need to be aware of his set piece deliveries and ambitious shooting.

Donning the number 77 shirt, Czvitkovics is not short on confidence, and with the Debrecen support behind him, the Hungarian international could be prove to be a damaging threat to Benitez’s side.

Liverpool – Steven Gerrard

Whenever the phoenix rises from the ashes for Liverpool, it generally resembles their invaluable captain. Steven Gerrard may not be 100% fit for this Champions League fixture, but rest assured that whilst he is on the pitch he’ll run his heart out for his side.

A more than capable match winner, a more than experience head, don’t be surprised if once again it is Gerrard that comes to Liverpool’s rescue.

Red Letter Day

Liverpool Football Club should not be in a position of hoping for a favour from Lyon or a bad day at the office from Fiorentina to keep them alive in the Champions League.

But that is exactly where Rafa Benitez and his team find themselves ahead of their game in Hungary - a home win for the Italians in Florence will put Liverpool out regardless of their result at Debrecen.

Even in their current state, you would hope Liverpool have enough to keep their part of the bargain on Tuesday night - though there are no guarantees just now.

Fernando Torres will be missing again, but the real concerns for Benitez are at the other end of the pitch, where he has been unable to field a settled defence all season.

Liverpool have been all over the place at the back, and while injuries are a mitigating circumstance they simply have to apply the work they are doing in training properly when it comes to matches.

You can argue about zonal marking being a good or bad idea, but if that is your preferred system you just have to work harder and harder to make sure it is successful. And it did not work at the weekend when Emmanuel Adebayor was left unmarked to score for Manchester City.

As long as goals like that keep going in there will always be a doubt in your mind about Liverpool's ability to see out games - look what happened in Lyon last time, when the home side were battered all game but still managed to kick Liverpool where it hurts right at the end.

Just as important to Liverpool tomorrow is Lyon's progress at Fiorentina. Their players are professionals, and let's hope they go about it in the right manner even though their team is already through.

You would hope that the integrity of the game will shine through, especially after the debacle we saw with the French national side's World Cup qualifier.

THOMMO'S CALL: Liverpool have a legendary reputation for doing things the hard way in this competition, and I still think qualification could happen. I'm going for a Reds win in Hungary and a draw for Lyon at Fiorentina, which would leave Liverpool needing to beat the Italians by three goals in their final game. What a great night at Anfield that would be!

Liverpool's Injury Worries Continue As Ryan Babel Ruled Out

Ryan Babel has been ruled out of Liverpool's Champions League Group E match with Debrecen in Hungary tomorrow. The Dutch striker has failed to recover after twisting his ankle in Saturday's draw with Manchester City. Striker Fernando Torres will also play no part following his groin problem but may be fit to face Everton on Sunday.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, who were struggling with injuries at the end of the 2-2 draw with City, are in Liverpool's 18-man squad that travelled to Budapest today.

Glen Johnson, who missed the City game with a calf problem, was also in the party, while Albert Riera's hamstring injury meant he was left behind for further treatment. Daniel Agger has recovered from the head injury he sustained on Saturday.

Fiorentina's Poor Record Against Lyon Offers Hope To Liverpool

Liverpool's Champions League fate may be out of their hands but that is not to say it has already been decided. Fiorentina would need to beat Lyon at Stadio Artemio Franchi tomorrow night to be sure of reaching the knock-out stage at the Premier League side's expense and, if recent history is anything to go by, that is certainly not a foregone conclusion.

After being drawn in the same group last year, Fiorentina and Lyon have faced each other three times in this competition over the past 15 months, and so far the Italians' record reads: drawn one, lost two. When the two sides met in Florence in the fifth game of the group stage last season Fiorentina knew they needed a win to have any hopes of reaching the knock-out stages. They lost 2-1.

That was with something approaching a full-strength side, a luxury that the Fiorentina manager, Cesare Prandelli, has already acknowledged he will not have at his disposal tomorrow night. The former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu, who tore the meniscus in his knee earlier this month, was ruled out of this game by his manager on Sunday, as was his most likely replacement, Stevan Jovetic – the scorer of both Fiorentina's goals against Liverpool in September – though the latter has since trained and still hopes to be involved. The centre-back Alessandro Gamberini is also out injured.

"We are better than last season, this squad has matured a great deal," said the Fiorentina captain, Dario Dainelli, when reminded of last year's defeat to Lyon. But in the league, at least, there has been scant evidence of improvement.

After a 3-2 defeat to newly-promoted Parma on Saturday, Fiorentina sit sixth, two points worse off than they were at the corresponding point last term. Many fans are frustrated at the club's failure to reinvest more than a fraction of the €20.5m they received when selling Felipe Melo to Juventus in the summer. A defence that had already given up five goals in two Champions League games against Debrecen was opened up far too easily by Parma, and Prandelli will be all too aware that Lyon have scored at least once in every Champions League game they have played since the 2007-08 season. That puts a lot of pressure on Gilardino – sent off in the first leg for what was ruled to be an elbow on Jérémy Toulalan – who is likely to play alone up front in the absence of Mutu and Jovetic.

Lyon, however, have injuries of their own to contend with, and are likely to be without midfielders Maxime Gonalons and Toulalan, full-backs Anthony Réveillère and François Clerc and centre-back Mathieu Bodmer. Although they sit third in Ligue 1, Claude Puel's side are also coming off a disappointing result, having conceded a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with a last-placed Grenoble team who had previously claimed one point from 12 games.

The French side has already qualified but their captain Cris insisted that did not mean they would take their foot off the pedal tomorrow. "The objective was to qualify, now we have the chance to get first place," said Cris. "It will be hard because Fiorentina want to book their place. We're expecting a very physical match."

Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard Raring To Go Against Debrecen

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard cannot wait to have a go against Debrecen and salvage a season that has gone awry for his club.

The Reds have registered only one victory in their last ten outings in all competitions and are on the brink of bowing out of the Champions League, ahead of Tuesday's trip to Hungary.

"The mood in the camp is really good, although we know our position in the table isn't good enough," Gerrard is quoted by the Press Association as saying.

"But we have faith in our ability. We know we can put things right.

"It's been a frustrating few weeks because as soon as I was fit we had the international break. I've been desperate to play and can't wait to really get going properly again."

Only a win for Liverpool and a loss for Fiorentina against Olympique Lyonnais will ensure that the Merseysiders have their fate in their own hands.

Liverpool Can Make The Champions League Knock-Out Stage - Martin Skrtel

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel believes that the Reds can make it through to the knock-out phase in the Champions League.

The Merseyside club do not have their fate in their own hands at the moment, as a win against Debrecen will have to be followed by a victory for Olympique Lyonnais away at Fiorentina to ensure that Rafael Benitez's charges remain in the running to reach the last 16.

Should the aforementioned outcomes come to pass, the Anfield outfit would still need to beat the Viola in the final game of the group stage in order to progress.

"We now have a big game coming up on Tuesday, and we have to forget about the [Manchester] City result [2-2 draw] and start thinking about Debrecen because it is a game we have to win," said Skrtel, according to the Press Association.

"I am looking forward to it and I will give my all to try and help us get a good result. We believe we can get to the last 16."

The Slovakia international scored his first goal in a red jersey in Saturday's stalemate at Anfield.

"I was very happy to score my first goal for Liverpool at the weekend," he said.

"I have been waiting a long time for it, so it was a good moment for me.

"I am in my third season here and hadn't managed to score until Saturday, but I hope this is the first of many.

"But we were frustrated to have drawn again and we are not happy because of that. But there is nothing we can do about the result now and we have to look forward to the next game and try to win."

Burnley And Liverpool Fans Outperforming Teams In Premier League

English soccer clubs Burnley and Liverpool may be some distance from the top of the Premier League table, but the two clubs' fans top the 'Behaviour of the Public' Fair Play League, putting them in line for a lucrative windfall.

£20,000 will be paid to the official supporters' club of the team that tops the table at the end of the season. A maximum of ten points per match are awarded for fan behaviour by match delegates.

Burnley and Liverpool fans have seen mixed fortunes on the pitch for their teams. Just three points separates seventh-place Liverpool from Burnley, in tenth, but the latter are likely to be far more satisfied in a season in which Burnley were expected to battle relegation and Liverpool to challenge for the title.

Back in the Behaviour of the Public table, Sunderland are the closest club behind second-place Liverpool, while Bolton Wanderers sit bottom of the table.

Benitez Hails Progress Liverpool Have Made Under His Guidance

Rafa Benitez, the coach of English soccer club Liverpool, has hailed the progress the club has made both on and off the pitch during the last five years.

Benitez and the club's owners, American businessmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have all faced criticism at various times for the club's failure to challenge effectively for the Premier League title. The current season has thrown up its own challenges; Benitez was speaking before the weekend's draw with Manchester City, which left the club seventh in the table after just one win in six Premier League games.

However, Benitez, who won the Champions League with the club in 2005 and reached the final again in 2007, insists the club is progressing. "There is a massive difference between five years ago and now," he told The Times newspaper. "The name of the club round the world is at the same level as it was in the 1980s. It's a fantastic achievement. Everybody talks about Liverpool in a good way. And we will get better."

The club's good reputation is showing on the balance sheet, with a record shirt sponsorship with Standard Chartered agreed this summer, and followed by a string of other lucrative commercial deals.

Benitez also dismissed fears for the current season, saying: "People are worried. But the team will improve. When we have key players on the pitch we are as good as anyone. We have proved this in the past."

Rafael Benitez 'Manipulates' Liverpool Fans To Hide The Fact His Team Are Going Nowhere, Blasts Anfield Legend Jamie Redknapp

Former Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp has questioned Rafael Benitez's management and claims that he manipulates the club's fans.

On the eve of Liverpool's crunch Champions League showdown in Hungary against Debrecen - where they could fail to reach the last 16 for the first time under Benitez - Redknapp offered a wide-ranging criticism of the Anfield boss.

Redknapp believes Benitez should abandon the controversial zonal marking system and questioned whether Fernando Torres will want to stay if Liverpool are only in the Europa League next season.

Redknapp, who played more than 300 games for the club between 1991 and 2002, said:

'They have won one in 10 now and fans will be thinking. They are firmly behind him, though, he manipulates the fans, he gets them how he wants them.

'But there comes a time, if they go out of Europe this week and then lose at Everton, that the fans are swayed and will say that we have to look at him now.

'That team is not really going anywhere. The problem you will get is that will Fernando Torres want to play in the Europa League? I don't think so.

'If they don't get into the top four at the end of this season, it will be a major problem.

'You have huge problems going on behind the scenes with the owners, but it is too easy to blame that. On the pitch the players are not playing well enough, that's a fact.'

On Liverpool's defensive problems, Redknapp was equally damning.

He added: 'A few years ago zonal marking was the best format because they were one of the best defenders from set pieces.

'But the reason for that was that they had Peter Crouch and Sami Hyypia, two guys who are 6ft 5in plus.

'It doesn't matter how you defend when the ball comes in, zonal or man to man, they will clear it.

'Now you have a situation where people are not taking responsibility.

'You might have to turn round and say that zonal isn't working, let's go man for man.

'At the moment he is giving players excuses, teams look at it and think they will score against Liverpool.'

Debrecen Can Deal Liverpool A Knockout Blow

French fair play could help keep Liverpool's Champions League hopes alive when they take on Debrecen in Hungary Tuesday.

Five times champions Liverpool must win to have any hope of reaching the last 16 but they also need France's Olympique Lyon, who are already through, not to lose against Fiorentina in Italy.

Lyon have 10 points from four matches in Group E, Fiorentina are on nine and Liverpool four.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez suggested last week's World Cup qualifying furore, with France beating Ireland after Thierry Henry handled the ball before the crucial goal, could help his side's position.

"I don't know if the Henry incident will affect Lyon, but it could be good for us," British Sunday newspapers quoted the Spaniard as saying.

"If they want to show everyone in the world they are good professionals and want to win every game, it would be good," he added.

"It could be something that works out positively for Liverpool. Their coach said they would try to win. He is a professional. I know Lyon have a good group of professionals and a good manager."

Unless Liverpool overcome Debrecen, a side that have yet to score a point in Group E while conceding more goals (14) than anyone else in the competition, the Premier League side can forget about going any further.

Lyon and Fiorentina both put four goals past them in their away matches but Liverpool have won just once in their last 10 games and managed only a 1-0 victory over the Hungarians at Anfield.

Sunday's 2-2 domestic draw at home to Manchester City only added to Benitez's headache with Danish defender Daniel Agger needing five stitches for a head wound while Ryan Babel limped off with an ankle injury.

Liverpool, who can ill afford to miss out on the lucrative final stages, are already without key striker Fernando Torres but are confident England full-back Glen Johnson will have recovered from a calf injury by Tuesday.

Israeli Yossi Benayoun, who came back from a hamstring injury to score the equaliser Sunday, should also be fit while Benitez refused to rule out Babel and Agger.

Debrecen manager Andras Herczeg will be without key player Leandro, who is suffering from a partially torn knee ligament and could be out for a month or two. Either Zsolt Laczko or Marcell Fodor is likely to take the left back's position.

Norbert Meszaros had recovered from a groin injury but forward Robert Feczesin is still injured. Montenegro keeper Vukasin Poleksic was rested for Friday's 2-1 away win at Honved but should start.

Fernando Torres Absent From Budapest

Liverpool will try to keep their Champions League hopes alive without Fernando Torres.

The Spanish striker will again be absent when Liverpool head to Budapest today for the must win tie with Debrecen.

Torres is to continue his rehabilitation from a hernia problem on Merseyside and misses the game Liverpool have to win to have any chance to stay in the competition.

Kop boss Rafa Benitez also needs Fiorentina to be denied a home victory by Lyon, who has already qualified from Group E.

“We thought it would be two or three weeks for Fernando and he’s only about 12 or 13 days into that, so there is no point in him going,” said Benitez.

Skrtel Pleased To Score First Ever Liverpool Goal

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel was happy to break his scoring duck in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

It was Skrtel's first for Liverpool in 65 appearances, but the final outcome of the contest ensured it was a bittersweet afternoon for the Slovakian.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I was very happy to score my first goal for Liverpool. I have been waiting a long time for it, so it was a good moment for me.

"I am in my third season here and hadn't managed to score until today, but I hope this is the first of many more.

"But we are frustrated to have drawn again because we wanted to win. We couldn't in the end, and we are not happy because of this.

"There is nothing we can do about the result now and we have to look forward to the next game and try to win."

Liverpool Eye January Loan Move For Ruud Van Nistelrooy

The Dutchman has spoken recently of his desire to leave the Bernabeu, unless he can force his way back into the first team, as he wants to play his way back into the Dutch squad for next summer’s World Cup.

Yet with Real now possessing a glittering array of attacking talents, that looks unlikely meaning he could be set for a move in January, with Liverpool reportedly interested in signing the 33-year-old.

The tabloid claims manager Rafael Benitez is keen to add an extra striker to the ranks, and could take the Dutchman on loan until the end of the season.

The report adds that whilst both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are also interested in the Real man, he would prefer a move to Anfield, despite his strong connections with Manchester United.

The Dutch ace enjoyed phenomenal success in his five years Old Trafford, winning a Premier League and FA Cup and bagging 150 goals in 219 for the Red Devils.