Match Report: Wigan 1 - 0 Liverpool

Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega's eighth Barclays Premier League goal of the season put a huge dent in Liverpool's top-four aspirations at the DW Stadium.

The Colombia international volleyed home Emmerson Boyce's 35th-minute cross after Dirk Kuyt had needlessly given away possession close to his own penalty area.

Liverpool showed little of the quality required for a place in the Champions League once Fernando Torres had hit a post in the eighth minute and the Latics were well worth their victory.

It was Wigan's first Premier League win over Liverpool and only their second over one of the so-called 'big four' - the other coming at home to Chelsea earlier this season.

That ended a run of seven league matches without a victory and lifted them four points clear of the relegation zone.

And while it was only sixth-placed Liverpool's second defeat in 11 games it could have done irreparable damage to their chances of finishing fourth as they have now played more games than all of their rivals.

Rafael Benitez's side's problems are clear to see as this was the sixth time in their last eight away league matches they have failed to score.

The closest they came in this game was when Torres hit the outside of the upright after Maxi Rodriguez's header from Steven Gerrard's corner dropped to him at the far post.

But Wigan quickly grew in confidence and Marcelo Moreno was only inches from connecting with a driven cross through the six-yard area by Charles N'Zogbia, who was causing left-back Emiliano Insua plenty of problems.

Rodallega curled over a 20-yard free-kick after being fouled by Lucas Leiva while Insua's difficulties against N'Zogbia continued as he was booked for bringing down his opponent in the centre-circle.

Gerrard could have opened the scoring in the 26th minute after good link play between Rodriguez, Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun but the England international's first shot was blocked by Paul Scharner and although he quickly recovered he could not hit the target with the follow-up.

Lucas was next to be booked for tripping Titus Bramble and Sotirios Kyrgiakos was also cautioned for cynically blocking off Scharner.

Liverpool were struggling to find any sort of rhythm and their alarming tendency to give the ball away proved expensive in the 35th minute.

Kuyt, deep position on the left, rolled the ball aimlessly to Boyce who instantly fired a cross to the far post where Rodallega poked home.

It was the first time the Reds had conceded in the opening 45 minutes of a league match for 11 games.

Bramble was then booked for clattering into the back of Torres, who headed over Rodriguez's cross from six yards just before half-time.

Within 42 seconds of the second half kicking-off Mascherano had to be quick to block Rodallega's shot.

At the other end Torres, unusually for him, failed to hit the target from Rodriguez's cut-back.

Ten minutes into the half Johnson replaced Lucas, with Mascherano returning to his favoured central midfield.

Liverpool almost gifted Wigan a second as Jose Reina came out to claim a through-ball only for Carragher to knock it past him and then smashed his clearance into Moreno.

The ball looped towards the goal only for Kyrgiakos to get back to head over his own crossbar.

However, Liverpool were not getting any better and Torres' ambitious 25-yard volley summed things up when it went out for a throw close to the right corner flag.

Wigan should have had a second in the 73rd minute when Rodallega's pass put N'Zogbia through but his shot was partially stopped by Reina and Johnson scrambled the ball out at the far post under pressure from Scharner.

Moments later Torres' volley from Kuyt's header down rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

Liverpool's frustrations boiled over as first the Spain international was booked after chasing Boyce half the length of the pitch to bring him down and then Gerrard was then cautioned for diving in on McCarthy, despite appearing to win the ball.

A sign of Liverpool's desperation could been seen in the five minutes of injury time when Kyrgiakos went to play up front.

It typified a night when the Reds' short-comings this season were laid bare by an industrious but by no means brilliant Wigan side.

Degen: I'm Still Dreaming

Philipp Degen has not given up hope of starring in this summer's World Cup despite his omission from the latest Switzerland squad.

The right-back helped the Swiss reach the last 16 in 2006 and is desperate for another chance to play on football's biggest stage.

Degen was not part of the squad which lost 3-1 to Uruguay this week but aims to do everything he can to impress manager Ottmar Hitzfeld between now and the end of the season.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I think everyone is looking forward to the World Cup but for me right now what's important is being here and playing here. The news will come in May and I hope I'll be going to the World Cup.

"I played all the games in 2006 when we were very successful. We got knocked out on penalties to Ukraine when we could have got to the quarter-finals. That was very sad for us.

"Now we have another chance. Our group is very difficult but our chances are alive. We have to try our best."

Switzerland will meet Spain in the group stages - setting up a potential clash between Degen and clubmates Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Albert Riera.

The defender thinks the trio are among a host of Liverpool players who could return to Melwood with World Cup medals.

"I think Spain are the number one team. If they don't get the title then they're doing something wrong," said Degen.

"But England also have a chance. Apart from Brazil and Spain they have one of the best squads. You have to see that.

"With the people they have in the squad and their ages - when are they going to have a better chance? For me, this is absolutely one of the best squads England have had for a long time. They have very good players.

"England, Brazil and especially Spain - these teams have to be at the top. Germany can also pull a surprise, and Argentina have good players but they have some problems."

Rafael Benítez Assures Alberto Aquilani He Is Not Forgotten

Rafael Benítez has assured Alberto Aquilani that he is not the forgotten man of Liverpool despite having to sacrifice the Italian's adjustment to English football in the race for a critical place in next season's Champions League.

Aquilani, the club's £18m signing last summer, should again find himself on the substitutes' bench with Lucas and Javier Mascherano preferred in central midfield against Wigan. The Italy international has endured a frustrating first season at Anfield with his debut delayed by an ankle injury and then Liverpool's poor form affording Benítez little leeway in his efforts to blood Aquilani.

The Liverpool manager has explained his predicament to the 25-year-old, who has started only seven games since his arrival from Roma and completed 90 minutes only once, and says the midfielder accepts that a top-four finish takes precedence over personal trials.

Benítez said: "When you have been injured for a while it's not easy for a player. Then, when you are available and the team isn't doing well, it makes it even more difficult. You have to decide if you can afford to give him two or three games when you know he's maybe not at the level he could be, so you could end up losing some of them.

"Alberto isn't stupid. He knows the priority now has to be the team and what's best for that. All he can do is keep training and make sure he is ready when we need him. But as I said, the most important thing we have to think of is the team, not one player."

Meanwhile, England right-back Glen Johnson is in contention for his first appearance of the year. He has not played since the 1-0 away win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on 29 December, where he was substituted after 89 minutes just before Fernando Torres scored. Benítez, though, admitted the relaid pitch at the DW Stadium will not influence his thinking of starting Torres or, by contrast, omitting Aquilani.

He added: "When I didn't play Alberto at Wolves it wasn't to do with the state of their pitch, it was because of the kind of game and because others were available, which meant we could manage in a different way. So whether I play him at Wigan or not isn't a decision that will be determined by the pitch.

"But we have had a conversation about things and he knows the situation. Alberto is a very good professional, who was a big name in Italy and wants to show his quality here. When you're like that but cannot play for three or four months and then you're available but can't play because the team is maybe doing really well or has problems, it's a difficult situation for any professional."

The Liverpool manager said Mascherano is now focused on his Anfield career after having his head turned by interest from Barcelona last summer, and expects the Argentina captain and the Spanish goalkeeper José Reina to commit to long-term contracts before the end of this season.

"I am 100% certain that Pepe will stay with us and I'm really confident Javier will too – both for a long time," said Benítez.

"I've spoken to Javier about what's going on and, while it wasn't easy when you have a top side like Barcelona asking about you, he's really focused now. I have confidence both will be sorted out sooner rather than later."

Javier Mascherano Shows He’ll Play Anywhere At Liverpool For Rafael Benitez

Rafa Benitez rarely tells stories about incidents that happen on the training ground or in the privacy of his plush Melwood office.

While some cannot stop themselves talking about how a certain player conjured up a moment of exquisite ability in practice, Benitez prefers to keep his own counsel, feeling there is no need to let the world in on incidents that happen behind closed doors.
Where Javier Mascherano is concerned, however, Liverpool’s manager has been moved to take a break from what is his norm following the midfielder’s exceptional performance as an auxiliary right-back in the win over Blackburn Rovers last week.

The tale goes like this. With Martin Skrtel injured and Sotirios Kyrgiakos serving a ban, Benitez was faced with a big dilemma heading in to that particular contest around who would patrol the flank given that Jamie Carragher was needed in the middle.

Pitching Glen Johnson back into battle was out of question, due to his lack of match practice and training, but Philipp Degen was an option, so too Martin Kelly, who had made his return to action as a substitute against Unirea Urziceni.

Yet after much deliberation with his backroom staff, Benitez kept returning to the subject of Mascherano, who had played out of his skin in the role when circumstances required he move there during a breathless success over Everton last month.

Asking a player to move from his comfort zone, though, is no easy task these days and when Benitez beckoned the midfield dynamo in to his room, he was unsure how Mascherano would take the news but 30 seconds later, the answer told him everything he knew all along.

“Before the game against Blackburn, we were having a conversation and talking about who to play at right-back,” said Benitez, taking up the story. “We knew Carra had to play as a centre-back, as Soto was suspended and (Martin) Skrtel had suffered an injury.

“So we decided to talk with Javier. I took him in to my office and I said ‘listen, we are thinking about playing you as a right-back. He just turned around and said ‘fine’. We finished the conversation there and then. He was just so pleased to help.

The attitude was fantastic. He just said ‘yes’ straight away, no problem and away he went. That is not his position. But he played really well and his commitment was fantastic. I am so happy with this attitude.”

No wonder, then, more talks have taken place in Benitez’s office during the past seven days, this time relating to Mascherano’s future; a new deal has been thrashed out, which would tie the 25-year-old to Anfield until 2014, and a successful outcome is anticipated.

While his form and commitment to Anfield was rightly called into question at the start of the campaign, when Barcelona’s vigorous pursuit of his signature proved disruptive, in the past six months only Pepe Reina and Carragher have matched his consistency.

With the pursuit of a Champions League place taking Liverpool to Wigan Athletic, Mascherano will again be required to play a key role but, as the treatment room has been cleared and a suspension over, on this occasion it will be in a more familiar role.

It will, inevitably, be a busy week for Mascherano as, after the skirmish at the DW Stadium, tomorrow attentions will turn to the round of 16 Europa League first leg clash with Lille and a short hop to northern France. Such a short turnaround between games is far from ideal but Mascherano would much prefer to have this kind of schedule rather than just flitting from week to week, concentrating simply on domestic affairs.

So before attentions turn to Lille, Wigan must be beaten to keep the momentum building behind the charge to the top four and Mascherano feels the return to form of influential figures Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will ultimately prove decisive.

“It was very important for everyone at the club that we got through the last round,” said Mascherano. “Now we are thinking about the Premier League and we have got to make sure we keep on improving and keep winning before we play in Europe again.

“If you ask the players, the majority will say the same. We want to play as many games as we can and we will try to continue in Europe as long as we can, as we are all desperate to arrive at the final. To do that would be great for us.

“We have to keep switching in between targets and this is another important game for us. We have got to try and win. The more we keep doing that, the more we will put pressure on the other teams around us and get back into the top four.

“We have started scoring goals again and it is giving the players confidence to go forward. We have been defending well but it’s important for the team that we add goals to what we have been doing at the back.

“The signs have been good but we have got to continue and keep improving if we can. We have a duty to give the forward players service. It’s like Stevie. He has been breaking records recently and we hope he can keep playing unbelievable for himself and the team.”

As Skrtel won’t play until the middle of April and Daniel Agger’s participation is threatened by injury, Benitez is likely to ask Sotirios Kyrgiakos to assume the role he was filling with aplomb before his sending off in the Anfield derby on February 6.

“Soto started really well,” Benitez pointed out. “He couldn’t play too many games when he first arrived because Carra, Skrtel and Agger were all available. We brought him here because he was really good in the air and he showed that against Bolton.

“He is a fantastic professional and very good lad. He is always ready, keen to learn but I was surprised when he came in because I thought his English would be better, as he played in Scotland but he said to me ‘I couldn’t understand any words!’

“But I’m really pleased with him now and hopefully he can play more games.”

Danny: I'll Be Geordie Gerrard

Danny Guthrie has set his sights on becoming Newcastle’s answer to Steven Gerrard.

The former Reds midfielder hit a double in the Magpies' 6-1 rout of Barnsley at the weekend and admits he would love to go on and have the same sort of impact as the man he rates as Europe's finest.

Guthrie said: "I've been at Liverpool with Gerrard, and, for me, he's the best central midfielder in Europe.

"You can only learn good things from him and I'd like to think that's come into my game. You see him every day, and how he handles himself. He's a top lad, and it was all good experience.

"When I was growing up there was Scholes, Keane and Vieira.

"As I got a bit older there was Lampard and Gerrard.

"It was great to work with him and hopefully that can benefit me and Newcastle United."

Rafael Benitez Must Strive To Keep Jamie Carragher At Anfield

Rafael Benitez can’t have seen this one coming, surely? After months spent watching the world debate the futures of Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres, he can now expect a raft of questions about one of the pillars of his Liverpool side, Jamie Carragher.

The mere thought of the Reds parting company with such a symbolic figure seems inherently absurd, but the summer promises to be an interesting one at Anfield, whether they finish in the Premier League's top four or not.
Carragher’s comments dominated the weekend’s papers, with the 32-year-old confirming that he would entertain the idea of leaving Liverpool, should the club fail to offer him the first-team football he requires.

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

This was not your typical, money-based plea for a new contract. Indeed, nor is it the first time the Bootle-born defender has hinted at a future away from Anfield. His autobiography contained a more candid assessment.

“I hate missing games, no matter what the occasion,” he wrote back in 2008, “I have no respect for those who have built a reputation at a big club by settling for being a bit-part player.

“If I’m not a regular in the side – and I hope that is many years away – I will move on. There are those who advise you to quit at the top, but I disagree. I’d love to finish my career at Anfield, but if the time comes to consider another Premier League club, or a competitive Championship one, then I will do it.”

The message then was the same as it is now; if Carragher is not to be a regular at Liverpool, he will not think twice about seeking first team football elsewhere. It is refreshingly honest, in an age where many players would gladly accept a reduction in hours for an increase in wage. But Carragher’s defiant stance means Benitez must assess his options carefully before making his next move.

Carragher’s contract at Anfield – worth around £80,000 per week – will have a year left to run in the summer. And having witnessed Michael Owen – home-grown and with a worldwide reputation – depart the club for a paltry fee in 2005, Liverpool will be well aware of the perils of dealing with players approaching the end of their contracts.

And having witnessed the efforts made to tie the likes of Torres, Pepe Reina, Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard to lucrative long-term deals, Carragher is entitled to wonder why the powers-that-be at Anfield have not been as eager to beat a way to his door.

The Reds, unlike Arsenal or Manchester United for example, do not operate a strict policy when dealing with new deals for players over the age of 30, so any decision on the defender’s future should be made on its merits.

A similar decision was made with Sami Hyypia, who left the club to join Bayer Leverkusen after rejecting a contract extension last summer. Now Benitez must decide whether, at 32, Carragher is still an automatic choice at Anfield.

And, as with all decisions to be made at Liverpool this summer, financial factors are bound to come into play.

For example, how much would it cost Benitez to replace a player of Carragher’s stature and experience? Despite some high profile mistakes this season – including a nightmare at West Ham and a dismissal at Fulham – his form has recovered sufficiently to make him a key player in the Reds’ recent defensive revival – which has seen them concede just three goals in ten league games . And this even allowing for an unscheduled stint at full-back in the absence of Glen Johnson.

Simon Kjaer, the towering Palermo centre-back, has this week been keen to fuel speculation that he is set for a summer switch to Merseyside, but is likely to cost in excess of £10 million, and attract the attention of plenty of other, more fiscally able clubs. The Dane might be keen on linking up with international colleague Daniel Agger, but money still talks, and Liverpool’s bank balance is speaking more softly than most at the moment.

Both Agger and Martin Skrtel have shown signs of promise as a partnership recently – despite similarly slow starts – but with just Greek veteran Sotirios Kyrgiakos as senior cover, Carragher remains a vital part of Benitez's squad, both in terms of numbers and quality.

Additionally, Carragher offers the kind of leadership and organisational qualities courted by just about every other club. Pace may never have been a strong suit for the Bootle boy, but communication, positional intelligence and timing in the tackle certainly are, as Carragher himself noted "whenever there is a big game, I'm there."

How Manchester City, for example, would love a defender of his ilk as they challenge the Reds for a top-four berth, (ironically, they had one in Richard Dunne, before they allowed him to leave and become part of the meanest back-line in the Premier League at Aston Villa).

Carragher has proven over the last three months, both at right-back – a position he is known to despise – and in his favoured central role, that he still has plenty to offer Liverpool. Benitez must now convince Carragher that Liverpool has enough to offer him.

And if he doesn’t, then one suspect it will be Liverpool’s, not Carragher’s, loss.

Rafa Benitez: Liverpool FC Must Improve Away Form To Reach Champions League

Rafa Benitez yesterday called for a dramatic improvement in Liverpool’s away form as they seek a first win on their travels in more than two months.

The Reds have won four of their 14 Premier League games away from Anfield – the last was at Aston Villa on December 29 – and have only taken 18 points from a possible 42.

At this stage of last season, Liverpool’s victory total was eight and their outstanding form on the road was the reason they were able to push for the title.

But if they are going to clamber back into a Champions League spot this season, Benitez knows it is vital Liverpool start making up for lost time.

That’s why Benitez is demanding Liverpool leave Wigan Athletic with nothing less than three points and a place back in the top four.

“I have been checking the numbers from where we were last season and you can see that we were much better away from home,” said Liverpool’s manager.

“We have got to improve and that is very clear. But we have got an opportunity tonight and we have got to try and take it. We need to change our record.

“You have to keep a good balance between what you are doing at home and what you are doing away. Recently we’ve been quite good at home but away it has not been so good.”

Benitez, though, believes the return to fitness of key trio Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun will dramatically improve Liverpool’s prospects.

“You want to play nice football and you have an idea of what you want to do,” said Benitez. “But to do that, you need players with quality. When you talk about the players who have been missing – Yossi, Fernando, Fabio Aurelio, Stevie, Glen Johnson – you can see what effect it has had.

“But now we have these players coming back. That is going to be a big boost for us and I know that we can start to play a little bit better.”

Liverpool have not lost to Wigan since the Latics were promoted to the top flight in 2005.

Wigan’s form has been hugely inconsistent and they are in danger of being sucked into the relegation zone but Benitez is taking nothing for granted.

“Wigan try to play nice football and they have got some strong players,” Benitez pointed out.

“It is going to be difficult for us but we have more confidence. We are strong in defence, we are scoring goals and are in a good moment.”

Former Liverpool Defender Phil Thompson Admits He Was Wrong About Fernando Torres

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has acknowledged that he couldn't have been more wrong about Fernando Torres after doubting the Spaniard's quality when he first arrived in England.

The former Reds defender admits that he wondered whether the striker would be able to adjust to the pressure of the Premier League after his time in La Liga.

"If I was to say I knew he'd be a superstar I'd be a liar," Thompson told the Reds' official website.

"He'd carried Atletico Madrid but they'd always been in the shadow of Real, so you wondered just how good he really was. And we've seen so many falter in the Premier League.

"But you look at him and he ticks every box. He scores headed goals - great; goals from outside the box - great; goals from inside the box - great; he goes past people for fun - great."

It is not just the Spaniard's skills which impress Thompson though. The former centre-back is also a fan of the way in which Torres conducts himself on the pitch.

"This guy is the complete package - and he plays the game in the right way," he added.

"Am I glad he's at Liverpool Football Club! He's still young and he's still going to score goals."

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."