Benitez Not Feeling The Pressure

Two defeats in four days have once again brought Rafael Benitez's position under scrutiny, but the Liverpool manager insists he is not feeling the pressure.

Losses against Wigan and then Lille in the Europa League heightened the feeling of impending catastrophe at Anfield.

And with Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini's long-term future in serious doubt after his side's exit from the Champions League, speculation has already started linking Benitez with the Bernabeu post.

But the Spaniard is determined to prove his critics wrong by delivering his guarantee of fourth place in the Barclays Premier League and turning around a 1-0 deficit from their Europa League last-16, first leg.

It could be a pivotal week for the club as they face bottom side Portsmouth on Monday, host Lille in midweek and then travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford the following Sunday.

"I don't feel under pressure. I am disappointed for the season but we can still fight and still improve," Benitez said.

"Against Portsmouth we have to prove this determination and then afterwards against Lille.

"We know the season is not good enough. Every game will be important and the next one against Portsmouth is the most important as we try to get close to the top four.

"It is clear we cannot lose too many points so we have to start winning, beginning with this game.

"We know every game has to be like this but we have to have a good mentality to approach games in this way.

"Then we can go forward and start thinking about the Europa League when we have a 'cup final' against Lille. Every game in a knockout competition is like a final. That is the way."

Criticism began to mount after an inept first half against Wigan which was possibly the worst 45 minutes of Benitez's five-and-a-half-year reign.

Defeat in northern France was not as bad as some made out but it did not do much for the squad's battered confidence.

Benitez, however, accentuated the positives by insisting he saw signs which suggested his side could yet still pull their season out of the fire.

"We were improving in the last few games and we were stronger and defensively more solid and difficult to beat," the said.

"And then Wigan was a surprise for us but the reaction has been positive and hopefully we can carry on in this way.

"I think we saw we had some character (against Lille). To play against these type of teams who are quick, you could see we were strong.

"It was a good example of the way we want to play, not just the game, but the mentality, the attitude of the players.

"At Anfield, with the fans behind the players we will see a better reaction and the fans will see that.

"I am sure if we can play with this intensity we can beat anyone."

Midfielder Javier Mascherano insisted the players had put the Wigan defeat behind them and were fully focused on the task ahead.

"I think we had a very bad game, we didn't work in that game as hard as we can so maybe we deserved to lose," admitted the Argentina captain.

"The team was much better against Lille. Maybe we didn't play fantastic but we worked very hard.

"Now it has gone. We have forgotten about that and we have to look forward and not keep thinking about that (Wigan) game.

"Now we are thinking about the next game and we are thinking about playing the best game we can."

Mascherano Relishing Crucial Week

Javier Mascherano is confident Liverpool’s destiny remains in their own hands as they head into one of the biggest weeks of their season so far.

The Argentina midfielder reckons the Reds can bounce back from their recent disappointment with victory over Portsmouth on Monday night - a result that would set them up for crucial encounters with Lille and Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United.

"We created chances against Lille but we couldn't score," said Mascherano. "Hopefully we will take them at Anfield. It was a difficult pitch, it wasn't the best but it wasn't the best for them either. It's not an excuse. Now we just start thinking about Monday.

"We've got to think we can win these two games, to get through to the quarter-finals and also get three points to help us in the Premier League. It is going to be a very busy week, with Portsmouth, Lille and Manchester United.

"It's very important and we have to keep our focus. Everything is still in our hands. Of course it was so disappointing to lose. We had some chances but we have to have confidence that we can go through. We've done it before and can do it again."

Liverpool's Europa League hopes were dealt a blow after Eden Hazard's late goal gave Lille a first-leg advantage on Thursday night.

However, Mascherano feels the Reds showed a marked improvement on their Wigan showing in northern France and feels they can rectify their recent goal draught in front of their home crowd.

"We have had a look at ourselves," the Argentine midfielder explained.

"The match in Lille was totally different to Wigan. We know we didn't play well there or create chances. But at least against Lille we created a few chances and should really have scored.

"We have got to score against Portsmouth then we will play the game against Lille as a final. Our target is the same. To finish in the top four and to do well in the Europa League. We know if we play well then we can progress.

"Wigan was a very bad game and a very bad night. We didn't work in that game as hard as we can and we could not complain that we lost. Lille was completely different but still we need to improve."

He added: "(Lille) is a difficult feeling because we lost a game we did not deserve to lose," said Mascherano. "It was a very tight game but still we have a chance to come back in Anfield. I am confident that we can do it. It's half-time and we have chance to change it.

"It was a totally different game compared to Wigan. We were working very hard and we didn't deserve to lose but that is football. We conceded a foul and then a set piece."

Liverpool Hope Yossi Benayoun Will Be Fit To Face Portsmouth

Liverpool will monitor Yossi Benayoun’s fitness over the weekend in the hope he will be able to make an immediate return to action against Portsmouth.

The Israeli midfielder missed Thursday night’s Europa League defeat in Lille after he picked up a knock to his ankle during the 1-0 reverse at Wigan three days earlier.

It had been hoped Benayoun would make the trip to France but a fitness test at Melwood before the Reds flew out for the first leg of their round of 16 tie ruled him out.

He has since undergone intensive treatment and is responding well but boss Rafa Benitez will leave the decision on whether Benayoun features on Monday as late as possible.

Benayoun enjoyed a terrific start to the campaign but since damaging his hamstring in a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in November his form has ebbed and flowed.

Benitez, though, will be anxious to get him back in his starting line-up as Benayoun had been linking well with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres before this latest setback.

Maxi Rodriguez will also return to Liverpool’s squad after ineligibility ruled him out of the Lille game to give Benitez more options, as the club aim to get back into the top four.

If that is going to happen, much will depend on the form of Torres and Gerrard, who only had brief sightings of goal against Lille.

Torres, however, showed signs that he is not far from hitting top gear – his link play with Ryan Babel was excellent – and Benitez took great encouragement from his efforts.

It has been a difficult campaign for Torres, with injuries ruling him out for large chunks, but his manager is confident the Spaniard can end the campaign with a bang.

“There are signs Torres is coming back,” said Benitez. “He was working hard today and maybe his pace is coming back. There were still a lot of positives.

“The main thing for me was the team, but there were some individuals that were playing at the level that is expected of them.”

Fernando Torres: Signings More Important Than Qualifying For Champions League

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has declared that making four or five top class signings during the summer is more important for the Reds than qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

While El Nino still believes that Liverpool will secure the fourth and final Champions League place, he has identified the transfer market as key to the future success of the much decorated Merseyside club.

"It's too soon to talk, I sincerely believe we will finish fourth but for me qualifying for the Champions League isn't so important. What's really important is that the club makes a big effort in bringing in important players that exceed the quality of what we have," he told Spanish publication AS.

"We need four or five top players to compete, better than what we have here to make us all grit our teeth and try to keep our position. Without reinforcements for a team that finishes fourth, we will again be fighting for fourth next year.

"I want to fight for the Premier League, fight for the Champions League or UEFA [Europa League] but for this we need signings."

The former Atletico Madrid captain also stated his desire to remain at Anfield and stressed the importance of the arrival of new managing director Christian Purslow as a major step forward for the club's development.

"I still have this year and three more. I've left my home and it is clear that I owe Liverpool a lot and I'm very happy here, people treated me as if I were from here. Hopefully my future will be here, I think the club deserves to win again, but they themselves know that right now that's far away," he declared.

"Fans are worried that the players go, that's a problem when you start to be afraid that your players go because then you know that the club is not going forward, but I believe this is not going to be the case at the club. Since Christian Purslow arrived Liverpool have had an important boost, we signed a sponsorship deal to match that of Real Madrid, then things will go forward."

Kenny: Let's Put It Right

Kenny Dalglish believes Liverpool have a chance to make amends for one of the most frustrating performances of the season when they welcome Portsmouth to Anfield on Monday evening.

The Reds suffered a 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park in December and Dalglish feels that game will serve as a reminder to the players that they will need to be on top of their game if they are to gain three points.

"The game down at Fratton Park in December isn't a game we look back upon with any fondness, so if there are any misgivings there, then there's a real opportunity to put it right at Anfield on Monday," Dalglish told LFC Magazine.

"We've got our own reasons for wanting to be winning as many games as we possibly can. All the games at this stage of the season are particularly important."

Liverpool are still in contention for fourth spot, but Dalglish believes Rafa's men have to concentrate on their own game rather than worrying about other teams who also have their eye on Champions League football.

He said: "You can never predict how results are going to go and you cannot wait for someone else to do you a favour.

"You've got to do yourself a favour and then if someone helps you out a wee bit, you've got the maximum reward for what you have done.

"All we can do is concentrate on what we can do."

Dalglish also has sympathy for Pompey, who have recently gone in to administration and currently lie at the foot of the Barclays Premier League table.

He said: "I think you have to have sympathy for anybody in the situation they're in.

"It is commendable that against this background the team has got to the semi-final and maybe that will make it a little bit more attractive for someone to get them out of the plight they're in."

Despite Dalglish's empathy for the FA Cup semi-finalists he believes that will not be present at Anfield on Monday night.

"There's a lot of sympathy for them because of the position they're in, but next Monday we won't be showing any sympathy on the pitch." He added.

Kuyt Moves On Frm 'Off-Day'

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has written off Monday's Premier League horror show at Wigan as a one-off.

The Reds' season sank to a new low on Monday after an abject 45 minutes at the DW Stadium when it seemed the ability to pass the ball to each other had deserted even the most gifted players in the side.

That defeat was followed up by another loss against Lille in the Europa League on Thursday - though that was not entirely unexpected given the French side's formidable home record and boss Rafa Benitez declared himself happy with the improvement in performance after the game.

Now Kuyt has called on his team-mates to make up for their showing at Wigan when they face Portsmouth on Monday in their next league outing.

"Before Wigan, the last 10 [Premier League] games we had seven clean sheets and many games we won," he said.

"The only defeat we had suffered in the league was at Arsenal and it was getting better and better.

"Monday was just an off-day for every one of us. We were all very disappointed, most of all with ourselves.

"We have got to change that."

What will have to change are Liverpool's fortunes on a Monday night, when they have a poor record, for Pompey's trip to Anfield.

It is the beginning of a hugely significant seven days in the Reds' season.

After Portsmouth, the Barclays Premier League's bottom club whose troubles put Liverpool's stuttering campaign in perspective, they face a must-win Europa League second leg against Lille before travelling to Old Trafford on Sunday.

With fourth place in the league looking less achievable by the week, Europe may well provide Liverpool's only measure of success.

And Kuyt is confident they can overturn a 1-0 deficit at home to the French side.

"If you see the quality in this team, we should really beat them with more than one goal," said the Holland international.

"Obviously 1-0 in a European game is not the best result for us but this is what has happened.

"We have got to look forward. We can't think how difficult it will be - we know what happened to Real Madrid (who trailed 1-0 to Lyon in the Champions League and could only draw 1-1 at home to exit this week).

"We all watched that game and we have to be focused.

"Hopefully it will be a good night at Anfield and I think we've got a good chance to go through.

"We are disappointed but we are capable of turning it around.

"I am glad that this round is not decided in one game. We have a chance to put it right."

John Aldridge: Liverpool's Current Plight Is So Tough To Take

I feel so sorry for Liverpool fans at the moment and what’s happening is really tough to take.

There is something deeply wrong and the worry is it doesn’t look like it’s going to improve.

It was refreshing to hear Wigan chairman Dave Whelan speak out this week. He said Reds supporters deserve better and he’s spot on.

We can’t blame the owners for everything. I know their influence must hurt the likes of Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard deeply, but you can’t take that on to the pitch.

You have to fight but that spirit isn’t there and the lack of belief is a huge concern.

I hope I’m wrong but I can’t see us getting fourth place now.

Yes, we’ve got a favourable run-in but if you lose at Wigan then you’ve got problems.

We’ve got no goals in us. We’ve only scored than more two in a game once since September and that was against Unirea.

At times we’ve ground out results but we’ve not played well since we beat United in October.

To get fourth I think we’ll have to win all our home games and three of our last four away. Considering our poor away form that’s a tough ask.

The Lille game on Thursday was a slight improvement but we’re getting beaten far too easily.

We conceded a sloppy goal and for once Pepe Reina, who has been flawless this season, was to blame.

We’re still capable of getting through, but we’ll have to keep a clean sheet at Anfield.

Before that it’s Portsmouth at home on Monday and they are dangerous opponents. Everyone expects them to lose so there’s no pressure on them. They are going down and their players are playing for a move.

In Piquionne and Belhadj they have a couple of dangermen who will be available at a cut price in the summer.

We should look at them because that’s all we’ll be able to afford.

Liverpool Fans Target RBS In Email Campaign To Starve Owners

Liverpool supporters have begun a coordinated email campaign to the Royal Bank of Scotland warning of a product boycott if the taxpayer-owned bank provides a long-term extension to the club's £237m loans.

The bank confirmed there had been correspondence from fans but declined to expand on its nature. The business wire service Bloomberg reported that the bank's chief executive, Stephen Hester, has received hundreds of messages, each with a different individual's signature.

"It is my understanding that, if the refinancing deal is renegotiated beyond July 2010, then a campaign in protest against the Royal Bank of Scotland will take place which will include billboards with anti-RBS messages encouraging Liverpool fans to boycott RBS," the emails say. "As a British tax payer and a lifelong Liverpool fan, I can assure you that I am not happy that my hard-earned money is being used to pay for the purchase of Liverpool Football Club for George Gillett and Tom Hicks."

Although RBS did not express any opinion about the messages, the banking sector has always had concerns about the effect on retail operations of a fan backlash if institutions' corporate lending arms make life difficult for clubs. That did not appear to be the case, however, as fans were quiescent when Barclays made a stand over the stricken former Southampton owner, Southampton Leisure Holdings, closing off the club's overdraft and effectively pushing it into administration.

Paradoxically this time the pressure from Liverpool fans is for banks specifically to cause financial problems for the club. The campaign is an attempt to starve the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, of credit and, if the bank refuses to roll over the club's borrowings, it could precipitate a financial crisis at Anfield.

Few lenders are willing to offer new facilities in the current climate and Hicks and Gillett have so far shown no great enthusiasm for injecting their own equity.

Hicks last year suffered the indignity of defaulting on the $525m (£345m) debt in his Hicks Sports Group holding company, leading to the sale of the Texas Rangers franchise and much of its surrounding real estate to an investment group including the club's president, the former pitcher Nolan Ryan, in January.

Despite that successful transaction – reportedly worth £310m – Hicks's personal wealth is estimated to have slipped in the past 12 months. Forbes calculated in its most recent rich list that Hicks had lost his billionaire status over the course of the year, now being worth $950m. Liverpool are currently exploring the market's appetite for a £100m third-party investment.

Kelly: My Debt To Finnan

Steve Finnan returns to Anfield with Portsmouth on Monday night with one Liverpool player in particular eager to thank him for his valuable assistance.

Martin Kelly was coming through the ranks at the Academy when Finnan was part of Rafa's squad preparing for the glory that was Istanbul.

Despite his first team status, the Republic of Ireland international always made sure he had time to speak to the aspiring youngsters and help them in any way he could.

"I used to watch Steve closely when he played for us because he was so consistent and he is a great person off the pitch as well," Kelly told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"He was good to watch and he would always help everyone. If he saw you were shy he would come over and talk to you and make you feel like you belonged at the club.

"He is a great player and a great person to have around. He is still playing well for Portsmouth and Steve is still someone I look up to."

Kelly has also spoken of his respect for the Portsmouth players who, despite the well documented off-field problems, have reached the FA Cup semi-finals.

"I've got a great deal of respect for those players for getting on with their job and doing a good job for Portsmouth, he added.

"They have a great team spirit and it's great achievement to get to the semi-final.

"For us it's important to start winning again and we need to forget about Wigan and put that behind us.

"We've got two home games coming up and we need to concentrate on Portsmouth first and get the three points."

The 19-year-old joined the Academy at the age of seven after being spotted at the Alan Kennedy Soccer School and has made his first team breakthrough this season as a right-back. The Reds number 34 has played most of his football at Liverpool as a centre-half, but Benitez favours him as a full-back."I don't know what my best position is to be honest but this season I've been playing at right back and am enjoying it," he added.

"I played at centre half in a practice game in training the other day and it felt weird to be honest because I haven't played there for so long. I don't mind either position and I'm enjoying playing at right back.

"The boss plays me at right back in training and that's where I have played for the first team this season. I can also play at left back if the boss needs me and it doesn't make much difference for me. I will adapt for the team."

Kelly has also spoken about the challenge he faces to try and hold down a regular place in the first team at Anfield, and added: "When you get the chance you have to give your best and try and show the manager why he should keep you in the team.

"It is hard being a local lad because of the players that have been brought here so I have just got to keep working hard and show him I'm good enough to deserve a chance in the first team.

"I admire Glen Johnson a lot as he is England's best right-back so I can only learn from him every day and that can only be good for my game.

"I wouldn't swap this job for anything and it's brilliant training with the first team every day and learning so much off someone like Jamie Carragher."

Liverpool Keeping Close Eye On McLeish Contract Talks

Liverpool are monitoring Alex McLeish’s contract talks at Birmingham closely as Rafa Benitez continues to struggle.

Reds manager Benitez, 49, penned a lucrative new deal a year ago, committing him to the club until 2014.

But Liverpool face a battle to finish in the top four of the Premier League and lost the first leg of their last 16 Europa League tie at Lille 1-0 on Thursday.

Benitez still has the support of the club’s under-fire American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

But Brum boss Big ’Eck is in their contingency plans should Benitez quit or the season end in complete disaster.

The former Scotland and Rangers chief has guided Brum to eighth on a modest budget which has impressed the Anfield hierarchy.

He is in negotiations with new owner Carson Yeung and has a buy-out clause of just £1million in his contract, which expires in 18 months.

Real Madrid Make Liverpool Boss Rafael Benitez Their Top Target To Replace Manuel Pellegrini Following Champions League Exit

Real Madrid have made Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez the prime candidate to take over the reins of the club during the summer, according to The Sun.

The Spanish giants bowed out of the Champions League in the first knockout round for the sixth consecutive season, and the lack of success on the European stage will reportedly see current coach Manuel Pellegrini forced out of the club when the curtain comes down on this term.

The president of the White House, Florentino Perez, is consequently believed to have made Benitez the first-choice target for the summer, with Inter boss Jose Mourinho and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti also believed to be among the names being discussed if the Spaniard decides not to join the Madrid-based club.

An unnamed Real source is quoted as saying: "Rafa is the preferred choice. He is a Madrid man and his agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, has an excellent relationship with the club.

"Above all, though, his record in Europe is exceptional. The club want to return where they believe they belong - to be the No.1 team in Europe again. They believe Rafa is the man to make that happen."

Benitez used to be a coach at Real's academy, and has in the past indicated that he would like to return to Madrid someday.

Maxi Rodriguez: Settling In At Liverpool Has Been 'Easy'

Liverpool winger Maxi Rodriguez has revealed that he is enjoying his life on Merseyside following his January move from Atletico Madrid.

The Argentine is beginning to acclimatise to life in England now and finds that the city of Liverpool reminds him very much of his hometown of Rosario.

"I'm settling into life here very well," the 29-year-old told LFC Weekly.

"It has been a lot easier than I thought. Argentina and Spain are very similar - the language, the lifestyle - and for my whole life it is all I have known.

"I have spent a lot of time walking round the city getting lost. What I realised quite quickly is that Liverpool is quite similar to my home town Rosario.

"There is a lot of focus in Argentina on Buenos Aires because it is the capital, like there is with London in England. But like Liverpool, Rosario is a big city - an important football city - with two clubs and it is a place which has strong working class roots. That has made it easier for me to settle."

Rodriguez also finds the kind of passion which fuels footballing rivalries on Merseyside to be similar to what he has experienced back home.

"The derbies here and Argentina are very similar because there are more fans from both clubs in the stadium and the supporters are more vocal," he added.

"In Spain, there might only be a few hundred tickets available for away supporters, which means there doesn't seem to be as much passion inside the stadium. The derby between Liverpool and Everton last month was one of the best experiences of my career."

The winger is also helped by the fact that there are two fellow Argentines in Benitez's squad in Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insua.

"Every player in the squad - not just the Argentinians - gets on really well," Rodriguez explained.

"Each player from Argentina is from a different place in the country and we are different but good friends as well. Emiliano is from Buenos Aires, I am from Rosario and Javier is from San Lorenzo, which is only very small. You could probably fit its entire population inside this room.

"Javier also played for River Plate, and Newell's Old Boys are big rivals with them, so we have a bit of banter."

Liverpool Keeper David Martin Joins Derby County

Derby County have signed goalkeeper David Martin on a month's loan from Premier League side Liverpool.

The 24-year-old will go straight into the side for Saturday's game at Doncaster, with Stephen Bywater injured and Saul Deeney suspended.

Martin told BBC Radio Derby: "You have always got to expect the unexpected.

"I was training and I came into the training room and there was a phonecall saying Derby were interested, and I jumped at the chance."

Martin originally came through the youth ranks at MK Dons but signed for Liverpool in 2006, after impressive displays both for his club and various England youth sides.

He has been on loan at a number of clubs including Leicester, Leeds, Tranmere and Accrington Stanley.

"This season has been quite frustrating for me personally," added Martin.

"I have had a few loan clubs here and there but not really had many games. I am 24 now and I want to play."

Benitez Believes In Torres

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is backing striker Fernando Torres to end his European goal drought and fire his side into the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

The Spain international drew another blank in the 1-0 defeat in Lille on Thursday night, although that was partly due to the brilliance of goalkeeper Mickael Landreau.

He produced a superb low save from Torres' six-yard header just before half-time to keep the clean sheet which meant Eden Hazard's 85th-minute free-kick was enough to secure victory.

Torres' record in European competition is nowhere close to matching his domestic form, as in 30 appearances in the Champions and Europa League he has scored just 10 times.

He has not found the net in Europe since the 3-1 Champions League quarter-final defeat by Chelsea at Anfield on April 8.

And you have to go back to his debut season with Liverpool for his last goal on foreign soil - which was the Champions League last-16 second-leg winner against Inter Milan in the San Siro on March 11 2008.

That compares unfavourably with his incredible Barclays Premier League haul of 51 goals in 75 matches.

A knee operation in January sidelined him for six weeks and the 25-year-old is still not fully-match fit.

However, Benitez was pleased with Torres' performance in Lille and believes could well prove to be the key figure as they attempt to overturn a one-goal deficit when the French club visit Anfield next Thursday.

"It was really important to see Fernando fighting from the beginning because it sent a very good message to the other players," said the Liverpool manager.

"He was trying to win balls in the air, running and chasing defenders and for the rest of the team that was a good message and maybe he can be an inspiration too.

"The main thing is the attitude. Any player in our team has attitude and they are good players and they can play well like Fernando.

"He is a top-class player, he has a good attitude and he can score and be a problem for all defenders.

"At home normally you are attacking more and have more options and opportunities so for a striker it is easier.

"Statistically you have more chances. Away it is more difficult because sometimes you have to play on your own and your team-mates have to go and support you so it is different.

"He was doing well in Lille but it was difficult for him because they have pace, are comfortable in possession and going forward are a threat - so we had to defend.

"You cannot defend against a team with this pace too high because they will get men behind but you cannot defend too deep because they have ability.

"So for our defenders to defend and then go and support Fernando was not easy.

"Ryan was doing well, Kuyt was doing well, Gerrard was doing well, Lucas and Javier had to work very hard in defence."

Benitez also defended his star striker after yet another 90 minutes of frustration eventually resulted in him being booked for complaining once too often to referee Claus Bo Larsen.

"It is not easy for him. There were too many fouls and too many decisions," said the Spaniard.

"I don't want to talk too much about this because it wasn't the difference but with so many referees (the Europa League have two additional assistants at either end of the pitch) I think they should do better sometimes.

"We have plenty of them but they still make mistakes."

Benitez expects his team to have to do all the running in the return leg at Anfield as he believes Lille will be less offensively-minded with a 1-0 lead to protect.

"I think they will wait, try to play counter-attack because they know they have pace," he said.

"We know a clean sheet will be important for us but to score one, two or three goals will be necessary."

Eden Hazard: Lille Deserved To Beat Liverpool In The Europa League

Hazard believes that a similarly strong performance from LOSC in England could be enough to see them through, but he knows that the club from northern France cannot allow their level to drop.

Effervescent teenager Eden Hazard played a central role in Lille’s 1-0 Europa League success over Liverpool on Thursday evening, and the Belgian is of the opinion that les Dogues merited their victory.

Mickael Landreau had to be on good form in the home goal to repel a number of threatening moments from Rafael Benitez’s Reds, though LOSC had a number of opportunities themselves before Hazard’s late free-kick was missed by everyone, ending up in the net.

“We played our game, and we need to do the same thing in the return leg,” Hazard chirped after the game, according to Ligue 1’s official website. “Honestly, given what we showed in this match, we deserved to win. No matter what happens now, we pulled off something huge here tonight.”

LOSC have been bullish about their chances of scoring at Anfield, which would leave Liverpool requiring at least three goals to reach the last eight of the event.

Liverpool Boss Rafael Benitez Confident Of Europa League Comeback After Lille Defeat

Rafael Benitez is confident of his Liverpool side's ability to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of their Europa Leauge tie against Lille.

Eden Hazard grabbed the crucial goal for the French side, although despite the loss, the Reds' boss was pleased with the way his side reacted after Monday night's disappointing loss to Wigan Athletic.

"I think it was an improvement," he said.

"The reaction has been very positive. I am disappointed with the result, but really pleased with the effort of the players.

"I have confidence we can beat anyone on a good day at Anfield. I would be worried today if the players hadn't worked as hard as they have. The fans will play a part, they will push and will be behind the team.

"Lille are a good side, with good players and they are dangerous. We will play a difficult game at Anfield but have confidence we can beat them."

Benitez did admit that the result in France could have been better, commenting on the importance of getting an away goal in European competitions.

"When you play away in these knockout competitions, you have to score when you have chances," he added.

"In any competition it is important to try and score away, particularly in this one. It is a great advantage if you do. If not you have to be strong, but I think we were strong enough today.

"We had two or three situations, so that was a pity, but the reaction was good and we still have 90 minutes to play.

"Sometimes you play well and score an early goal - then you can manage the game. If we work as hard as we did today, we can beat anyone.

"The attitude of the players was fantastic. We were talking about not letting the fans down in terms of team effort and I think we did this.

"Every game is important for us now. We have to be ready to play Portsmouth and try to win. Then we have to look to the Europa League game, that is how it is when you are a top side playing in different competitions."

Asked about Fernando Torres' form, Benitez added: "He was working hard today. You can see he has his pace coming back. But the main thing was the team and the players played at the level you expect of them."

Why Kuyt Remains Confident

Dirk Kuyt remains confident Liverpool will reach the Europa League last eight despite a 1-0 first leg defeat in Lille on Thursday.

The Reds put in a much-improved display in France following the loss at Wigan before falling to a late goal from Eden Hazard.

Kuyt believes he and his teammates can now get the required result when Lille travel to Anfield next Thursday.

"Obviously 1-0 is not a great score for us but this is what has happened," said the Dutch international.

"We have got to look forward. We can't think how difficult it will be. We know what happened to Real Madrid. We all watched that game and we have to be focused.

"I'm sure it will be a good night at Anfield and I think we've got a good chance to go through. We are disappointed but we are capable of turning it around.

"It's really disappointing that we let them score with only five minutes to go but I am glad that this round is not decided in one game. We have a chance to put it right."

While Kuyt accepts the Wigan display was disappointing, he insists there is still plenty of confidence within the squad after a good start to 2010.

"Before Wigan, we had done well and kept many clean sheets," said the 29-year-old. "The only defeat we had suffered in the league was at Arsenal and it was getting better and better.

"Monday was just an off day. We were all very disappointed, most of all with ourselves. We have got to change that. We put a lot of effort in against Lille and created some chances.

"It wasn't the best game that we have played but I thought we put a lot more effort in.

"We controlled it defensively and until the goal, Lille didn't have many chances.

"We had the best chances and we should have scored with the ones that came our way. But we have got to try and keep pushing harder."

Liverpool Co-Owner Tom Hicks Loses Billionaire Status

Liverpool's co-owner Tom Hicks has lost his billionaire status, according to Forbes magazine's latest rich list. However, the Texan businessman was still ranked the 701st richest man in the world, with an estimated fortune of around $950m (£620m).

The American, who also owns the Dallas Stars ice hockey franchise, has already agreed a deal to sell the Texas Rangers baseball team for £310m. However, he appears in no hurry to offload his 50% share in Liverpool, despite increasing pressure from disillusioned supporter against the way he and his co-owner George Gillett have run the club.

"We all know about his problems with his sports clubs here in the US and over there in England," the Forbes senior editor, Matthew Miller, told the Liverpool Echo. "He has had some debt problems. He has only just missed the cut [to be classed as a billionaire]. We think he is a $900m-950m guy."

Hicks and Gillett owe Royal Bank of Scotland £237m and have been unable to raise the money needed to build the club's proposed stadium at Stanley Park. They looking to raise £100m through outside investment by the summer as RBS have requested they slash the amount of their debt.

Match Report: Lille 1 - 0 Liverpool

Lille winger Eden Hazard's late goal inflicted Liverpool's first defeat on French soil in six visits and left Rafael Benitez's side with an uphill battle to make the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

The visitors appeared to have survived a testing examination by Les Dogues only for Hazard, who had been a threat all night, to curl in an 85th-minute free-kick.

Despite being territorially dominated Liverpool had the best two chances with Ryan Babel shooting too close to Mickael Landreau and Fernando Torres' header being brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper in the first half.

However, the scoreline was no real surprise as The Mastiffs, as Lille are known, had scored in 20 of their previous 21 games at the Lille Metropole.

Their impressive record has seen them lose just once at home in Ligue 1 since the opening day of the season on August 9, with only one defeat in 17 home European fixtures.

For Liverpool - unbeaten in France since a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Monaco in November 2004 - it was the worst possible result coming so soon on the back of a woeful performance at Wigan on Monday.

Their difficult task was outlined to them in the first minute as Lille came out in no mood to admire their more illustrious opponents as Yohan Cabaye forced Jose Reina into a save within 38 seconds.

One of the most intriguing battles was between winger Hazard and Emiliano Insua, who was destroyed on a regular basis by Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia.

The 19-year-old Belgian struck an early blow by skipping past his opponent and drilling a cross through the six-yard area but no team-mate was close enough to take advantage.

Lille were more Arsenal than Wigan in their approach - despite their heavily-sanded patchy pitch - and passed the ball around with ease to often leave their opponents chasing shadows.

However, for all their possession they looked like they were missing top scorer Gervinho, the Ivorian who was sidelined by injury.

Bizarrely, Liverpool had the best two chances of the first half.

Babel should have given the visitors the lead in the 26th minute after a neat exchange with Torres but shot too close to Mickael Landreau and the goalkeeper deflected the effort with his legs.

Hazard was proving Lille's best outlet and his cross saw Pierre-Alain Frau deflect a shot over after being pressured by Jamie Carragher.

Gerrard responded with a dipping 35-yard strike just over Landreau's crossbar before, in the 41st minute, Landreau produced a brilliant low save to repel Torres' close-range header from Johnson's deep cross.

Hazard had the ball in the net soon after half-time but was flagged offside.

Liverpool at least began the second half better than they had the first and six minutes after the restart Lucas volleyed Torres' headed flick-on wide.

Lille, by contrast, had lost some of their attacking verve as they were drawn into a more attritional contest unsuited to their style.

On the hour Babel had a fierce shot parried away by Landreau, before Insua was booked for a foul on Hazard as he threatened to break away.

Five minutes later Reina allowed a long-range shot from Frau slip through his fingers but fortunately for the Liverpool goalkeeper it ballooned behind for a corner.

Torres was then booked for his persistent complaints to referee Claus Bo Larsen.

Cabaye drilled a dipping strike inches over Reina's crossbar before he was replaced by Stephane Dumont, with Albert Riera coming on for Babel with 17 minutes remaining.

Hazard went down in the area under Carragher's challenge with seven minutes to go but Larsen waved away protests.

However, a minute later the winger made sure when he curled in a free-kick which missed everyone in front of Reina, who could only watch as the ball crept into the far corner.

And it could have been far worse had substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's shot not hit the post and gone wide

Darby Set For Swindon

Skysports.com understands that Liverpool defender Stephen Darby is set to join Swindon on loan.

The 21-year-old full-back has been tipped to become a Reds star in the future and has already featured in the first team this season.

But manager Rafa Benitez is keen for the youngster to gain regular playing time for the remainder of the campaign and that would not be on offer at Anfield.

League One promotion hopefuls Swindon have therefore moved quickly as manager Danny Wilson aims to add what could prove decisive quality at a critical period.

It is understood that Darby is on his way to the County Ground for talks on Wednesday afternoon, with Swindon keen to reinforce their squad after taking only one point from their last three games.

The former England Under 19 international made his full Reds debut in the UEFA Champions League defeat to Fiorentina in December and marked the occasion with an error that demonstrated his naivety when gifting Alberto Gilardino the wining goal.

But Liverpool-born Darby made an impressive return to the first team in the initial FA Cup draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium.