Match Preview: Wigan vs. Liverpool

Wigan will hope that a change of playing surface brings with it a change of fortunes when top-four chasing Liverpool visit the DW Stadium and some newly-laid turf on Monday night.

Wigan were forced to act after seeing their pitch begin to resemble a quagmire that inhibited their passing game. With Rafael Benitez sarcastically claiming Barcelona would be envious of Blackburn's style in a stormy clash between the two sides recently, the Liverpool boss will no doubt welcome the chance to challenge his fellow Spaniard, Roberto Martinez, to a contest of artistic impression on a surface fit for purpose.

Indeed, Martinez is beginning to resemble Tony Mowbray in his unyielding approach to the beautiful game. West Brom, of course, were relegated when sticking to their aesthetic principles last season and Wigan are on a downwards trajectory themselves, having won only one league game since November.

Whether consciously or not, Liverpool's own predicament has resulted in Benitez's team abandoning any such aspirations of silky football and as the battle for fourth has become ever more intense, their football has become more pragmatic. The return of Fernando Torres could correct that trend, however.

Wigan player in focus: James McCarthy. The young midfielder made his international debut for Republic of Ireland against Brazil last week and is beginning to blossom into the talent that so many anticipated. Indeed, McCarthy actually turned down a £1 million move to Liverpool when impressing a number of scouts as a 16-year-old at Hamilton in 2007. After starting Wigan's past eight league games, Ireland's next big hope could be the key to unlocking the visiting defence.

Liverpool player in focus: Steven Gerrard. So often Liverpool's inspiration, Gerrard is in the midst of an unusually mediocre season and has scored only eight goals in all competitions. While he failed to impress for England against Egypt on Wednesday night, Gerrard has scored in back-to-back games for Liverpool, against Unirea Urziceni and Blackburn, and will hope his mini-revival continues on Monday night.

Key Battle: Hugo Rodallega v Sotirios Kyrgiakos. The Colombian striker is arguably Wigan's most effective player and has troubled many a Premier League defender this season. He is without a goal in 12 games, but with his physical attributes remains a real threat and Wigan will focus their attacking play around his big frame. Kyrgiakos has impressed of late but if he affords Rodallega any time or space, Liverpool could be punished.

Tactics: The key tactical decision for Martinez will be whether to start with two strikers up front. That is Wigan's default setting at the DW Stadium and served them well when beating Chelsea, but a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham may see the Spaniard questioning the wisdom of such an attacking approach. Liverpool will field just one striker in Fernando Torres, with three men spread across the pitch in support. If Daniel Agger is not fit, then Jamie Carragher will move into the centre and Javier Mascherano will need to drop into right-back, meaning Gerrard will play in a withdrawn midfield role and Dirk Kuyt will play in behind Torres. If Liverpool can interrupt Wigan's passing game and get a grip on midfield, they will be well placed to exploit space on the counter-attack.

Quotes: Titus Bramble looks forward to a change of playing surface: "The old pitch was doing no one any good. It might have looked bad from the sidelines, but I promise you it was much worse to play on - absolutely terrible. The new pitch should help, and will hopefully suit our passing game."

Lucas on overcoming some early difficulties at Liverpool: "I've learned a lot more about myself and become a stronger person and player. It made me desperate to prove people wrong. There have been times when I thought I may have made the wrong decision but now I am sure that I have made the right one."

In the news: Martinez may have accused Liam Ridgewell of making a "leg-breaking challenge" on McCarthy in the club's previous Premier League outing, but the Wigan boss is pleased the Birmingham defender avoided punishment from the FA as he is no fan of retrospective action. "What you need is the punishment for the action to be handed out in the game," Martinez told the Wigan Evening Post. "It would have been ridiculous to look back at it now and punish the team by taking out one of their best players for a game against another team who could be fighting for the same aim that we are. That would make Birmingham weaker for a game against a team who might be one of our rivals, and the whole thing would make no sense to me at all."

Wigan team news: McCarthy was on the receiving end of a firm challenge from Birmingham's Ridgewell in the club's last Premier League game but was fine to feature during the international break. Martinez is therefore likely to have a fully-fit squad at his disposal.

Liverpool team news: Fernando Torres has returned to action and played 45 minutes for Spain on Wednesday, but Liverpool have renewed selection problems in defence. Glen Johnson is fit again but has not played since December due to a knee problem, while Martin Skrtel (broken toe) could miss as much as eight weeks. Fabio Aurelio is also sidelined for three weeks with a muscle problem, meaning Emiliano Insua will come back in to the side, but Benitez is hopeful Daniel Agger will overcome a knee injury to feature and Sotirios Kyrgiakos returns from suspension.

Probable Wigan team (4-4-2): Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Diame, Thomas, McCarthy, Rodallega, Moreno.

Probable Liverpool team (4-2-3-1): Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun, Torres.

Martinez: Fourth Is Reds' To Lose

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes fourth place in the Barclays Premier League is Liverpool's to throw away.

The Reds travel to the DW Stadium on Monday night looking for a victory that will take them back above Tottenham and Manchester City into the much-coveted final Champions League spot.

With Aston Villa also still very much in the running, the battle for fourth looks set to go right down to the wire, but Martinez feels that, having qualified for Europe's premier club competition so many times before, Liverpool's know-how should ultimately give them the edge over their rivals.

"They have got great experience in trying to achieve the aim they are looking for and, whoever is going to have that composure and calmness in the next 10 or 11 games, which they have got, it's going to make a big difference," Martinez said.

"Looking at the Liverpool squad and the other squads around them, that position is theirs to lose.

"Looking at the quality of their individuals, you are talking about world-class players, and the experience and know-how of those players, playing together for a long time, and the knowledge of their manager - I think it is for Liverpool to lose, the fourth spot."

A host of disappointing results has made it a testing season for Reds boss Rafael Benitez and he seemed to increase the pressure on himself midway through the campaign when he gave a "guarantee" his team would finish in the top four.

Martinez, meanwhile, is having to deal with the stresses of a relegation dogfight at the other end of the Premier League table, and the Latics boss can see similarities between his own position and that of his fellow Spaniard.

"Every football club has different expectations and, in that respect, you have the same pressure to achieve that aim," Martinez said.

"We all know Liverpool is a glamorous football club, it's got a great history and that brings added expectation. In that way, it is always going to be very demanding.

"But, in our situation, we have been through a huge transitional period in terms of the way to play and the way to try to win football games.

"Wigan are in a position now where we have to be successful in our aim of staying in the Premier League to allow us to go onto another level.

"I'm sure, at Liverpool, in a way, they are fighting for the same aim - to try to get into that Champions League spot but then making sure that they can progress onto a different level next campaign.

"It's going to be a game where, for different reasons, the importance of the points is huge. It is vital for both sides that they are on top of their game."

Wigan are without a win in their last seven league outings but, having seen Chelsea defeated 3-1 at the DW Stadium back in September, Martinez believes his side are capable of producing a result tomorrow night.

"We all know about Liverpool's quality and players and how strong they are as a team, and we'll have to be at our best," Martinez added.

"But we are playing at home, we have done it against Chelsea before and we need to make sure we feel confident about ourselves and take advantage of playing a home game."

Wigan Won't Be Easy, Warns Benitez

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will warn his players against complacency when they face Wigan on Monday night by pointing to December's defeat at Portsmouth.

Having beaten the Latics three days previously, the Reds travelled to Fratton Park to face the Barclays Premier League's bottom side only to be beaten 2-0.

Liverpool have lost just once since then - at Arsenal - to haul themselves back into the race for Champions League qualification.

A win at the DW Stadium on Monday would lift them back into fourth as FA Cup action means none of their major rivals have league fixtures this weekend.

At the other end of the table Wigan are embroiled in a relegation battle after just one win in 13 matches, but Benitez is wary of reading too much into that statistic.

"In the Premier League you don't have too many easy games. Wigan are a club fighting for relegation so it will be very difficult for us," said the Spaniard.

"Because Wigan are at the bottom of the table people will say 'You have to win this game', but we know it is not just this one.

"It will be Portsmouth, United or someone else so we have to be ready for every game.

"If you analyse the position in the table you maybe say it is easy, but we have the experience of [going to] Portsmouth so we know we have to be ready and concentrate for this game and be really focused.

"You never know. Sometimes there is more determination in a team fighting against relegation but maybe they will be more anxious and will make more mistakes, it depends on the character of the players.

"It also depends how the game is going. If we score early on I am sure they will be under pressure but if they have more determination it will be more difficult."

Nothing less than a victory at Wigan will suffice, however, as Liverpool would then have played one more match than Tottenham - whom they would have a two-point advantage over - two more than Manchester City and three more than Aston Villa.

Benitez feels there are plenty more twists and turns to come, but knows Liverpool have to take care of their own issues first and foremost.

"We have to see the situation in the table every week because you cannot change what other teams do," he said.

"It depends on the other teams too. No-one was expecting the top teams to lose so many games.

"Last season we lost just two and couldn't win the title. This year teams are losing four or five games so you do not know.

"The main thing for us is to concentrate on our games and try to win every one.

"It is very clear you cannot lose too many games or points so you more or less have to win every game if you want to be sure you will be there.

"You can see Tottenham are doing well, Aston Villa are doing well and City are doing well so we need be sure that we cannot make any mistakes and need to keep working until maybe the last game.

"There is not more pressure, it is something you have to accept when you are a top side.

"Last year we were fighting to be first. It was different, but more or less the same.

"The only thing different is you have three more teams now and it is always more difficult because everyone can win."

Injury-Prone Aurelio Set To Go

Fabio Aurelio is unlikely to extend his Liverpool stay following his latest injury setback.

The Brazilian is sidelined with a thigh problem and is out of contract in the summer.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez admits he is concerned by the fitness issues that have dogged the defender as recurring problems make it difficult for him to justify sanctioning a new deal.

"We have to analyse the situation because he's had too many injuries," said Benitez.

"If he comes back early we can look at it again."

However, Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano are both on the brink of signing new contracts.

"Mascherano realises the club is going forward. With Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard also committed here, the future is good," added Benitez.

Torres Kops Bumper Liverpool Deal

Fernando Torres will be offered the chance to become 'the face of Liverpool' to fend off mega bids from Manchester City and Barcelona.

The Merseysiders are in talks with the striker's advisors to massively enhance Torres' commercial earnings as they try to kill off speculation about his future.

Torres signed a £100k a week four year deal last summer, but the terms will be made much more lucrative following this summer's World Cup.

Liverpool want to provide substantially greater rewards on Torres' image rights as he's marketed as a Kop icon around the world.

It would be the most profitable player specific commercial deal in Anfield history, recognising Torres' hero status as critical to Liverpool's enduring global popularity.

Liverpool know they can't compete with the kind of wages City are prepared to offer the 25-year-old, which is why they've devised a similar strategy to that Manchester United are adopting to retain Wayne Rooney.

The Kop's commercial profits have been on the rise in recent seasons, and it's the fame and pulling power of Anfield which will allow the club to maximise Torres' financial rewards.

Although the club is confident Torres won't quit Liverpool as early as this summer, they're braced for massive bids, especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Manchester City's hopes of luring the striker have always looked slim regardless of their wealth, but Barcelona have also recently registered an interest.

Chelsea also tried to sign Torres last summer and Liverpool know they face a serious battle to keep the player if they don't get their act together on and off the pitch.

Torres is known to have been anxious for reassurances about the direction of the club following a disappointing season, but Liverpool hope their proposals prove that any suggestion they'd cash in on the player are ill-founded.

There have been fears the cash problems of co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr would make them vulnerable to £80m offers, but their joint reign is entering its final months.

They know it's in the club's interest to keep their most prized asset on Merseyside as it makes Liverpool more attractive to investors.

The talks with Torres' advisors underline the determination to not only resist all bids, but to ensure that financially he'll be rewarded as handsomely at Anfield as anywhere else.

Big Sam Hits Back In Rafa Row

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has hit back at Rafa Benitez in a war of words following Liverpool's recent victory over Rovers.

The Reds manager was caustic in his assessment of Rovers' performance after Liverpool struggled to a 2-1 win at Anfield last weekend.

But Allardyce, who has never seen eye to eye with Benitez since the Reds tactician came to England in 2004, believes the Spaniard personally criticised him to deflect attention away from his own team.

Allardyce told The Mail on Sunday: "Blackburn's performance was the best any of my teams have played there.

"Benitez knows his team played poorly and were lucky to get a win so he deflected any criticism by personally criticising me.

"That covered the true facts that we had better opportunities than them and came extremely close to beating what is supposed to be an outstanding Liverpool team.

"Being able to wind up a manager is satisfying, even if it doesn't quite work your way in terms of results."

He continued: "It just galls him that we make things difficult for him when he plays against my teams.

"There's no love lost between us.

"The truth is Liverpool are having to dig out results when they are not playing well.

"They didn't particularly earn the win last week but they dug it out.

"My reputation has been a perception for some time rather than a reality.

"It's a great shame for the Blackburn players because it's not their fault the manager is tagged by a so-called long-ball style.

"It's just not factual."

Jamie Carragher Looking Assurance Of Starting Role Before Signing New Deal

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher wants to make sure his spot in the Rafa Benitez’ starting XI is secure before he inks a new deal with his hometown team, according to the Daily Mail.

The 32-year-old centre-back, who has performed well while filling in at right back for the injured Glen Johnson, has one year left on his current deal.

Benitez spoke of his centre-back’s contract situation, saying: “'I told Carra that he's been fit and doing well this season so we will see.”

“It is not the same for players who are over 30 than a player who is 25.”

The England international has made 424 appearances for Liverpool since 1996, winning the Champions League in 2004-05.

Benitez has stressed patience with Carragher, saying: “We will wait and Carra is fine with the situation. I think he prefers it.”

Jamie Carragher Would Have No Difficulty Leaving Liverpool

Jamie Carragher says he will have no difficulty leaving Liverpool if the club where he has spent his whole career chooses not to extend his contract, which expires at the end of next season.

"The club will give me a new contract if they want to," he told the Sunday Times. "If not, it doesn't matter, I'll still play my best and if I have to move then I'll move, no problem. It wouldn't bother me."

The 32-year-old defender would like to stay at Anfield but said his decision to retire from England duty in 2007 showed he was not afraid of bold decisions.

"I made the England decision quickly and didn't dwell on it and I'm not scared of making big decisions. It's a club thing. It's down to them. I'll keep playing and see where it takes me."

Liverpool's manager, Rafael Benítez, said there are no talks planned with the defender. "We're happy to wait," the Spaniard said. "When you talk about players over 30 it's not the same as those who are 25 or goalkeepers, who will have a long-term contract. With Carra, we will wait and see."

John Aldridge: Winning Is All That Matters For Liverpool At The Moment

During the days when I was playing, Wimbledon used to get some ferocious criticism for the direct style they favoured.

Games were never pretty but at least you knew what was in store and you would try to find a way of coping with it. Last Sunday, though, I watched a team play possible the most amount of long balls I have ever seen.

It was ridiculous how many set plays Blackburn launched into Liverpool’s penalty area and it was only when a subtle switch was made that saw Fernando Torres put pressure on Paul Robinson that we could deal with it.

When David Ngog came on, however, he stopped doing the kind of closing down that Torres had been doing and that was why we were left to deal with an onslaught in the final minutes.

Happily, we came out on top and that, in the grand scheme of things, was all that mattered.

I don’t expect the Reds to have to contest another war of attrition on Monday night, as Wigan Athletic are a side that like to play football, but with the DW Stadium just having a new pitch laid, I’m not sure it will suit our passing.

If that is the case, it’s imperative we get the ball up the field as quickly as possible to Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun to put as much pressure as we possibly can on a Wigan side that is threatened by relegation.

To qualify for the Champions League, Liverpool are going to have to win on the road as well as at home and we simply haven’t been successful as much as we should have been away from Anfield.

Fortunately, we have a good chance to rectify that and it would be a real fillip if Liverpool can win at Wigan and see off Portsmouth, as it would make a massive difference going into the Manchester United game.

But before we think about the trip to Old Trafford, we need a big result in another part of Greater Manchester – fingers crossed we’ll get it.

Maxi Rodriquez Getting Up To Speed With Premier League Pace At Liverpool

It has, on more than one occasion, looked as if things have been happening far too fast for Maxi Rodriguez.

Signed from Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window, he was thrust into Liverpool’s squad during a time when they were struggling for form and needed to fight their way out of a tight spot.

For someone whom Rafa Benitez described as being a “great technician” when unveiling him at Melwood, the agricultural style favoured by Stoke City – the side who provided the opposition for his debut – would have come as a big surprise.

Nowhere near as much as a shock, though, as a bitingly cold night in Wolverhampton, when the Argentine midfielder appeared frozen to the core and unable to move during a bore draw, or the helter-skelter of a Merseyside derby.

The last named game, in particular, was a real eye opener for the pint-sized Rodriguez who looked as if he was trying to cross the M6 in rush hour; he knew what he wanted to do but, in the madness, simply didn’t know how to do it.

There is reason for thinking, however, that all of a sudden the penny is beginning to drop; Rodriguez might have took another buffeting at the hands of Blackburn’s hulking defenders last Sunday but it was, without doubt, his best effort in a red shirt to date.

No matter that Pascal Chimbonda left an imprint of his boost in Rodriguez’s midriff or that he took several whacks from Martin Olsson, Rodriguez battled on to play a key role in an important 2-1 win. Indeed, he was responsible for setting up the clinching goal.

His display was enough to get Benitez nodding enthusiastically yesterday when, ahead of Monday night’s trip to Wigan Athletic, the manager was asked for an assessment of Rodriguez’s early progress.

Rodriguez might have some way to go to reach the levels that made him such an influential cog in the wheel for Atletico and Argentina but the more he sets up goals as he did for Fernando Torres six days ago, the quicker Benitez feels he will get there.

“I agree that last week was his best performance,” said Benitez, who has challenged his side to go relentlessly through the gears in the final 10 games as their quest for a Champions League spot intensifies.

“It is important for us to have a player who can keep the ball and understand the game and he knows what it means to play in the Premier League now. He knows all about the challenges!

“We have spoken a lot about the tempo of the Premier League and, in particular, the derby. It was very quick. But he knows now. He feels much better and he realises what it is all about, the tackles and everything else.

“Maxi is learning all the time and the main thing I see is that he is very keen to learn. He has got quality, he has experience and you can see that he is a very good professional. Little by little, he will give more and more to us.”

Little by little is how Benitez was hoping to bring Glen Johnson back into his starting line-up but the manager’s hand could be forced at the DW Stadium, given the fitness concerns surrounding Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

Skrtel, of course, is out with a broken metatarsal and will not play again until the middle of April at the earliest, while Agger – who left Anfield last weekend on crutches after damaging his knee – is facing a race to be fit to face Wigan.

Should he miss out, Benitez would have the option of pairing Jamie Carragher and Sotirios Kyrgiakos – available after serving a three-match ban – in the centre of his defence and he could persist with Javier Mascherano as makeshift right-back.

Yet the temptation is there for Benitez to thrust Johnson back into the side for the first time since the 1-0 victory at Aston Villa December 29 – the last time Liverpool won away from Anfield.

Johnson has looked awesome in spells this season but, due to a succession of niggling fitness issues, there have been other times when he has looked considerably off the pace, such as on his return to former club Portsmouth.

Benitez remains in no doubt that Johnson will become a huge success for both Liverpool and England thanks to his outstanding natural talent and eagerness to learn and show those qualities on the training pitches at Melwood.

And that’s why Benitez is tempted to give Johnson the nod at Wigan; his influence on the right has been missed and he is looking to unleash him to enhance Liverpool’s prospects of snatching three points.

“Glen is doing well and I will have to consider if he is going to be in the squad,” said Benitez. “It has been difficult for him this season. He arrived here as a new player with quality but he has not always played.

“We have missed him because he is very good going forward.

“We knew that we needed to improve his defending but when you have these injuries, you cannot spend time together on the pitch with the coaches.

“That makes it more difficult.

“But we know he has got great quality. He is going to make a difference going forward but I felt he was starting to improve his defending before he got injured. But, hopefully, he will be okay from now and he will be a good addition for us.

“We don’t want to take any risks with him but when you have a player of Glen’s quality coming back in, you have to think about it. We have a few more training sessions before we face Wigan, so we will see.”

Rafa Benitez Confident Javier Mascherano Will Stay At Liverpool

Rafa Benitez has confidently declared how he expects Javier Mascherano to follow Pepe Reina’s lead and commit his future to Liverpool.

The Reds midfielder has been offered a two-year extension to his current contract but, effectively, it amounts to a new four-year deal which would expire in 2014.

Mascherano’s future has been the source of some debate for most of the season, particularly as Barcelona vigorously pursued his signature last summer.

Liverpool officials, though, have been in constant dialogue with Mascherano’s advisors and the latest talks, which took place on Thursday, were very positive.

It has left Benitez bullish that Mascherano will become the latest key figure in his squad – after Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger – to commit his future to Anfield.

“He is more focused and I know he is happier,” said Benitez. “I have spoken with his agent and now Javier wants to improve and he wants to push us into the top four.

“The approach (to contract talks) is good and he is happy. He is one of the best. He is captain of Argentina, one of the best teams in the world.

“The conversations we have had were very positive. The first thing is the player. He has really settled down now. Then there is the agent.

“He’s been very good when we have dealt with him in the past. Everyone knew that some clubs were interested in Javier but, talking with us, it was always fine.

“Will a deal be struck by the end of the season? I think so. I’m sure we will have (good) news about Javier and Pepe very soon.

“That will be very positive for the future. When I say 100 per cent (about Reina), that is because I know.”

As revealed in the ECHO on Tuesday, Reina has agreed a new, long-term deal and only the formalities of putting pen to paper remain before it will be officially announced.

Signed from Villarreal in the summer of 2005, Reina rates as one of Benitez’s best pieces of business in the transfer market and is a hugely popular figure at the club.

He is also one of the best keepers in the world and Benitez says evidence of that came with his spectacular stop from Christopher Samba in last Sunday’s win over Blackburn.

“Pepe is a key player and everything is fine,” said Benitez, whose side face Wigan Athletic on Monday. “There are no problems with either him or Javier. Pepe is a great character with great passion.

“When you talk about a goalkeeper in a top side, normally he doesn’t have too many things to do during a game. The save he made against Blackburn shows you his level.

“I remember when he came here, people said to me ‘for England maybe he is not the best’ but, for me, he is the best in England. We want to keep him for a long time.”

Johnson Set For Reds Return

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is set to receive an injury boost with the news that Glen Johnson is poised to return to action next week.

The England international has not played since December after suffering a knee injury against Aston Villa and could make his comeback against Wigan on Monday.

With Johnson returning to action and star striker Fernando Torres finding his feet after a long absence, Benitez is bullish about Liverpool's chances of claiming fourth place.

He said: "He trained on Friday. It was a full training session and I think he will be okay to go in the squad for Wigan.

"The players we have coming back now can have an influence on the run-in."

Torres scored on his first start of 2010 against Blackburn last week and featured as a substitute in Spain's 2-0 win over France on Wednesday.

Benitez is relieved to have his star striker back in action, adding: "Torres played 45 minutes for Spain and 25 minutes in a game here and he was fine."

Liverpool FC Starlet Eyes Athletic Bilbao Switch

Mikel San José is hoping to secure a permanent move to Athletic Bilbao after rejoining his former club last summer on loan from Liverpool.

The defender was signed by Rafael Benitez for £270,000 in summer 2007 after helping Spain to glory in the UEFA Under-19 Championship but found himself back in his homeland less than two years later.

Now 20, San José has expressed his wish to remain with Los Leones on a permanent basis after establishing himself in first team following injuries to Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora and Aitor Ocio.

He said: "At the moment I'm not concerning myself with this topic - there are people who are aware of the situation and I'm focused on playing," he revealed.

"What happens, happens. I'm happy here and, if it's possible, I would like to stay here.

"Things have changed a lot since I first came here. When I wasn't playing I was still happy and now I am enjoying more minutes. There's nothing that would make staying here a bad option."

Should Bilbao agree to secure the Pamplona-born player's services on a permanent contract, they would have to pay €9 million, inkeeping with a clause in the loan agreement reached with the Reds.

Aquilani Is Happy At Liverpool

Alberto Aquilani is happy at Liverpool despite making just four starting Premier League appearances in his first season at Anfield.

The 25-year-old midfielder joined the English outfit in a £17m transfer from hometown club Roma last summer.

He didn't make his Premier League debut for Liverpool until November 9 after struggling with injury since his move.

Franco Zavaglia, the player's agent, told Tutto Mercato Web: “Alberto made a decision of a lifetime.

“He is fine at Liverpool and next year will be the most important for him.”

There have been rumours that Aquilani might return to Roma on loan next season if his first team prospects don't improve.

Aquilani was expected to fill the gap left by Xabi Alonso even though he is a completely different player to the Spanish international.

Torres Going Extra Mile

Rafael Benitez today revealed how Fernando Torres has been reporting for work on days off to ensure he returns to full fitness as soon as possible.

The Reds' squad were given time off after the midweek round of internationals, in which Torres played the second half for Spain against France in Paris.

But such is his desire to rediscover his clinical sharpness sooner rather than later after weeks out with a knee injury, Torres arrived at Melwood for additional work in the gym.

"We still we have some good players around but Fernando is a key player for us, the same as Steven Gerrard," said Benitez.

"Fernando can score goals on his own so hopefully he will be okay.

"He was training yesterday - even though we had a day off - so that means he wants to improve and wants to be physically well so that is also good news for us.

"Fernando is not fully match-fit, not really. One week ago he was not fully fit for games and he cannot be in one week - it is not a miracle.

"He has to keep working and he has spent some time in the gym and he can be better every week.

"I could say to you he is 50% and then he scores three against Wigan. He is improving but it is a question of games.

"Sometimes it is not just your match fitness, it is if you can play well or be in the right position to score the winning goal.

"Then everything changes. It is not just a physical aspect."

Jose Reina Agrees To New Deal At Liverpool

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina is the best in the Barclays Premier League, according to manager Rafael Benitez, which is why he is delighted the Spaniard has agreed to a contract extension at Anfield.

The 27-year Spain international has committed to a new deal to ward off interest from a number of Europe's top clubs.

Reina has been Liverpool's player of the season and, with 12 clean sheets, is in the running for the league's Golden Glove award with injured Chelsea rival Petr Cech.

"We are really pleased because I remember at the beginning people said 'for England, in the air, he is not the best'," said Benitez.

"He is the best in England, miles away from the others, and we are really pleased to keep him here for a long time.

"He is always organising the defenders and is more than a keeper.

"Sometimes the style of goalkeepers is for them to be really good in the six-yard box, Pepe is really good in the 18-yard box."

Benitez said Reina's performance in last Sunday's 2-1 victory over Blackburn, when he made a brilliant stoppage-time save from Chris Samba's goalbound header, illustrated his class.

"When you talk about a goalkeeper in a top side he normally doesn't have much to do," he added.

"To be involved in this game especially at the end and the save shows the level of the player."

Reina has agreed to sign a new deal, while Benitez is confident midfielder Javier Mascherano will also extend his stay.

"Pepe is a key player and it is 100% he will continue with us," said the Reds boss.

"Since he came from Villarreal always he has shown his character and his passion, his commitment with the club."

Benitez, stressing the word know, added: "Now I know 100% that he will continue with us."

When asked whether Mascherano, who was linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer, would follow suit the Spaniard added: "Everything is very close and no problems.

"I was talking with Mascherano and his agent the other day and it is true Javier is happier.

"The agent had been really good when we were talking in the past and the conversations were very positive.

"When you talk with Javier he is very settled and happy.

"Everyone knew about some clubs (being interested in him) but talking with us he was fine."

Asked if a deal would be struck before the end of the season the Spaniard said: "I think so."

Liverpool FC One Of The World’s Great Sporting Brands

Liverpool has been urged to remain true to their heritage in order for the club to increase their brand around the world.

Simon Middleton, a brand strategy expert and author of the best selling book “Build A Brand in 30 days”, is in no doubt that Liverpool are in a far healthier position now compared to where they were when last winning the league championship in 1990.

Though there has been criticism in the past that Liverpool have missed opportunities to bolster revenue and fears that the failure to bring in silverware might impact on their ability to compete on and off the field, Middleton sees things differently.

He says history stands for so much when it comes to promoting a brand and, thanks to all the drama Liverpool have experienced and the trophies they have won, Middleton is in no doubt the Anfield brand will continue to flourish.

“Liverpool FC, even to a football outsider, is not only one of the great brands of British football, but one of the world’s great sporting brands in any category,” he said.

“I think Liverpool have achieved this by embodying the four principles of branding, which all great brands have in common – being authentic, being distinctive, being compelling and being excellent.

“Being authentic means being true to who you are and not pretending to be something else.

“It's to do with roots, heritage, a sense of place and values: and Liverpool have these qualities in abundance.

“Being distinctive means telling your own story, not imitating, offering an experience that is qualitatively different to competitors. In a world of sameness, Liverpool FC, like the city itself, retains its true distinctiveness.

“Being compelling means offering an emotional impact, coupled with a sense of narrative, even of myth. Liverpool has that too, arguably more than any other club. And being excellent speaks for itself.

“You can claim all the other things, but you have to actually be excellent to be a great brand. Liverpool is clearly that too... the most successful club on the pitch in British football history.

“And the wonderful thing about great sporting heritage is that if you have decades of success then a few seasons of more modest results, whilst disappointing for supporters, do not undo the magic of the brand.”

But how does Liverpool continue to improve their brand while the club remains in a period of uncertainty under the ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett?

“My recommendation would be for Liverpool to always be authentic, distinctive, compelling and excellent – and to focus on those things rather than the brand pecking order,” said Middleton.

“That way they will continue to be the great brand they have been since the concept of branding was even invented.”

While Manchester City and Chelsea are investing billions to become global entities, Middleton feels they will continue to play second fiddle to Liverpool because neither club has a dramatic history, one that strikes a chord with fans around the world.

“Brand is about meaning,” he explained. “About making powerful meanings that resonate in hearts, minds and imaginations. So becoming a bigger brand for Liverpool – and to be long-term sustainable – means strengthening that meaning around the world.”

Middleton, who has helped Barclays, Deloitte, British Airways and sandwich-chain Pret A Manger improve their brands, has watched the Premier League’s brand mushroom in the last decade but he has warned that there is a danger of it being damaged.

“Clearly Premier League football is huge in every sense,” he said.

“But I also think it is vulnerable. The behaviour of some high profile players threatens the brand of football. The billionaire owners. The proportion of foreign players.

“The perception of success being something that is bought and sold, and achievable simply through money. All these things undermine the brand of football itself in the long term, and I think they go against the spirit of what Liverpool FC is about.”

Liverpool FC Commercial Team In Winning Form As Turnover Rises

Cast your mind back to when Liverpool were last crowned champions of England in 1990 and picture the way Anfield looked.

Many will have no trouble remembering the stadium, with its three fairly primitive, single-tiered stands and a standing Kop, but try and recall some of the names on the advertising boards that flanked the playing surface.

You would see companies such as Rumbelows, Martin Dawes and All Man Kind, businesses all within the locality, alongside that of the then club sponsor Candy, an Italian firm that manufactured fridges and washing machines in Bromborough.

None of the first named ever had pretensions of being global entities but that didn’t matter. Liverpool – the first club in England ever to have sponsored shirts when a deal was struck with Hitachi in the late 70s – did well financially from them.

What’s more, they were the perfect fit for the era; they were local and their product would have been familiar with the vast majority of match-goers. Football back then, though, was not anywhere near as driven by finance as it is now.

Of course, Liverpool were known around the world and had a big following, not least because of their exploits in winning four European Cups in seven years, but any day-trippers to Anfield came largely by ferry from Ireland. That’s why the club shop, which was situated just behind the Main Stand, was adequate for servicing the needs of supporters; it was small but all it really needed to stock were replica kits, posters and knick-knacks, such as key rings, badges and pens.

Fast-forward to the present day and the Anfield you now see has been revolutionised from what it was back then; Liverpool are no longer just a football club but more a global brand.

“As a club, our aim is to be at the top and competing on a level playing field with our competitors,” said Liverpool’s commercial director Ian Ayre. “We have got to win on the pitch as much as we can.

“But we have also got to generate as much money as our peers to generate funds to give us the opportunity to compete for the best players. That is why you have got to follow the market.”

Now the advertising boards are littered with some of the biggest companies in the world, the stadium – while still not big enough to service the club’s needs – has been transformed and the money being brought in dwarfs the totals of 20 years ago.

Look, for instance, at the record-breaking deal that was struck last September; even as champions, Liverpool in 1990 could not have dreamed of negotiating a figure of £80m to let Standard Chartered Bank put their names on the front of that famous Red shirt.

The catalyst for change, undoubtedly, was the advent of Sky Television; the money they started pumping into football in return for beaming pictures of the Premier League all around the world, opened up many opportunities for clubs.

Aside from that, the influx of foreign players has increased the interest for supporters in different countries and the ease with which you can travel nowadays, both domestically and internationally, has helped increase Liverpool’s appeal.

“International fans make a huge contribution to the club,” said Ayre. “We convince them that we are the best in the world, so it would be wrong to deny them a chance to see us; that is why we have tours to the Far East, to give them the ability to see us play.

“Chelsea and Manchester United go to the Far East and make money, so you can either do it or not. But commercially we have a great opportunity to do well there, as we have a growing army of international fans.”

There have been times in the past when criticism of the club in terms of marketing and ability to bring in revenue has been justified – that the official store was shut the day after the heroics of Istanbul still beggars belief – but they are clearly making up for lost time.

Perhaps the best example of that is the fact Liverpool now has more retail floor space in this city (35,500 square feet), thanks largely to the superstores in Liverpool One and Williamson Square, than Manchester United have in Manchester.

Meanwhile, the club’s official website experiences higher numbers of visitors every day than all its rivals and Liverpool comfortably sell more Adidas shirts than that company’s three other “big guns” AC Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea.

Clearly, then, the Liverpool of 1990 cannot stand comparison with the Liverpool of 2010 and while the past two decades have not seen the kind of success many wished for, it’s possible to argue that the club’s brand has never been bigger or more popular.

Aside from Adidas and Carlsberg, who have had their names on the front of Liverpool’s shirt since 1992, there are a further 11 official partners, including Thomas Cook Sports, the Bank of America and Turespana.

But while improving the brand continues to be imperative, it will not be done at all costs; the tradition and reputation Liverpool have built up over the years must also be safeguarded; they are, after all, a football club first and foremost.

“The Liverpool Way strikes a chord with people and particularly in Asia,” said Kirkdale-born and lifelong Liverpool fan Ayre, who – having lived and worked in Malaysia, Hong Kong and China – is better placed than most to offer an opinion.

“If we ever get beaten by a really good team, you know the Kop will stand up and applaud the winners. We have never come across as arrogant and respect is a huge thing in the Asian culture.

“Standard Chartered have the right attitude and we could imagine from our first meeting with them having a successful partnership together. Of course, it is a real challenge trying to make progress yet keep with tradition.

“For every person that rings me up and say that it is about time Liverpool were able to do more commercially around the world, you will get another one asking why we are giving tickets to our sponsors.

“But, hopefully, we are moving on the right lines.”

Liverpool Have Little Room For Error In The Premier League - Rafael Benitez

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has admitted that his side cannot afford to slip up any more than they have already this season, if they are to achieve a run in the Champions League next season.

The Reds' top-four credentials have been called into question this term, with evidence in the form of a tight race for fourth place along with Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Despite having lost just once in their last 10 games in all competitions, the scrappy goalless draw at Eastlands followed by a less than dominating performance against Blackburn Rovers at Anfield has induced Rafa to bellow a rallying cry.

"Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa will be very dangerous so we cannot make many mistakes," said Benitez, according to The Daily Mail.

"We know last year was really good in terms of points in the league [as Liverpool collected 86] and now we are in a different and more difficult situation because the expectations were very high.

"It is really difficult because we have three or four teams really close."

Performances apart, the Reds have been getting the right results after a dreary start to the season that saw them bow out of the Champions League and both domestic Cup competitions at an early stage.

"We have to keep this momentum and prove, show everyone else, we are good enough," he added. "I prefer to be positive and we will play well and continue to win."

McLeish Linked With Replacing Rafa At Liverpool

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish is the shock name being mentioned within boardrooms of the Premier League as a potential candidate for the Liverpool manager's job, should Rafa Benitez be lured away from Anfield by Juventus in the summer.

McLeish has built a formidable reputation for his achievements in solidifying the Premier League status of the Midlands club and word is that he can be prised away for a relatively cheap compensation because of his contract terms at St Andrew's.

While a move for Jose Mourinho has been mooted, it's thought the Portuguese coach's huge personal price tag would be difficult for Liverpool to be match, with McLeish's wage demands likely to better fit Liverpool's budget.

In addition, any move for the Inter Milan boss, presently earmarked for Manchester City if they change managers in the summer, would require a massive transfer budget.

McLeish is one of Sir Alex Ferguson's apprentices, and the pair struck up a perfect manager-captain relationship at Aberdeen, when Sir Alex was making a big impression at the beginning of his managerial career.

A Premier League chairman told Soccernet: "There has been mention of McLeish and Liverpool, but who knows how strong it might be. I would put it no more than 50-50, you never know.

"It is easy to see why a club like Liverpool would be interested [in McLesih] if Rafa Benitez did leave in the summer, as its common knowledge that Juventus have been showing interest in him."