Match Preview: Manchester United vs Liverpool

There may be a sizeable gap between the two in the Premier League table, but all that will count for naught when Manchester United host Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men are on track for a 19th league title, and their Merseyside foes will be desperate to prevent that in any way they can as they look to maintain their status as England's most successful club.

And while Rafael Benitez and his charges have had precious little to smile about this season, they know that they are capable of not only beating, but humiliating their North West rivals.

Indeed, United have lost each of their last three encounters with Liverpool, the lowest of the lowlights being a 4-1 drubbing at Old Trafford this time last year.

That clash was a genuine title fight in and of itself, with the result launching the Scousers back into contention - although they would eventually fall four points short of their noisy neighbours.

That element is altogether absent from this clash, with 'Pool battling just to stay in the hunt for Champions League qualification while United sit top of the table.

But while their goals may differ now, the gap in points tallies doesn't diminish the fact that this the biggest and most fiercely fought fixture on the English calendar.

And it may be difficult to tell the home and away fans apart, given their shared fondness for banners adorned with the phrase 'YANKS OUT!'...


FORM GUIDE

Manchester United

Mar 14: Man United 3-0 Fulham (Premier League)
Mar 10: Man United 4-0 Milan (Champions League)
Mar 6: Wolverhampton 0-1 Man United (Premier League)
Feb 28: Aston Villa 1-2 Man United (League Cup)
Feb 23: Man United 3-0 West Ham (Premier League)

Liverpool

Mar 18: Liverpool 3-0 Lille (Europa League)
Mar 15: Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Mar 11: Lille 1-0 Liverpool (Europa League)
Mar 8: Wigan 1-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Feb 28: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn (Premier League)


TEAM NEWS

Manchester United

Ryan Giggs will be available for selection after missing the Red Devils' last seven games with a broken arm. Jonny Evans and Rafael da Silva have also returned to training.

The travelling supporters will be denied the opportunity to heap scorn upon Michael Owen, as a hamstring injury means the former Kop favourite will play no further part this season.

Anderson, Wes Brown, Owen Hargreaves and John O'Shea are also sidelined.

Last starting XI (vs. Fulham): Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney.

Liverpool

Fabio Aurelio was one of United's tormentors this time last year, and the Brazilian free-kick specialist could make the matchday squad pending a late fitness test. Martin Skrtel, though, remains laid up with a metatarsal injury.

Albert Riera's midweek outburst has seen him frozen out of the club, meaning the left-wing berth will go to any of Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun or Maxi Rodriguez - although many have called for the Argentine to play in place of Dirk Kuyt on the right after his impressive outing against Pompey.

Alberto Aquilani also starred on Monday night, but a stomach bug kept the Italian playmaker out of the Lille clash and he remains a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford.

Last starting XI (vs. Lille): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Torres.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester United - Wayne Rooney

Quite simply in the form his life. The Everton old boy has 25 goals in 28 Premier League appearances, and he will be determined to add to that tally as he leads the line against his blood foes. Moreover, his newfound aerial dominance will test a Reds defence which has often faltered against good crossing and set pieces.

Liverpool - Fernando Torres

His season may have been blighted by injury, but the Spaniard's stats are no less impressive than Rooney's - 15 league goals from just 19 appearances. Even short of match fitness, 'El Nino' was majestic against Lille and Portsmouth and will be sure to give his favourite whipping boy, Nemanja Vidic, a torrid old time.

Reds Look To Derail United's Ambitions

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may not publicly admit it but he would take great delight in having a hand in preventing Manchester United securing a record-breaking 19th league title this season.

The two north-west rivals are currently locked on 18 apiece but, sadly for the Merseysiders, their last championship came 20 years ago.

In the intervening two decades their arch-enemies have rapidly caught them up and are currently in a three-way battle with Chelsea and Arsenal as they seek to win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League crown.

Liverpool, by contrast, are scrapping for fourth place with Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa and it says much for the current malaise at Anfield that denying United another success ranks high on their list of ambitions in the remainder of the campaign.

They do have a Europa League quarter-final against Benfica to look forward to but home really is where the heart is for Liverpool fans who desperately crave another title.

Benitez, wisely, chose not to leave himself open to criticism for taking more interest in a spoiling role than dealing with Liverpool's deficiencies but he knows the significance of United usurping his club's history.

"I think for all our fans it would be really good [to stop United]," said the Spaniard.

"The rivalry between both teams is massive but for me, as a professional, I will keep my feelings inside.

"These games between United and Liverpool are more or less the same for both - it doesn't matter about the position in the table because both want to win so the pressure will be on both sides.

"As a manager you want to win against any club but especially against top sides.

"We need to win because we want to be in the top four."

Forward Dirk Kuyt was more forthcoming with his feelings, admitting: "No-one here at Liverpool wants to see them winning another league title but the main thing for us is to win our own games."

Benitez broke his Old Trafford duck last season with the stunning 4-1 victory over United, the second of three successive wins over Sir Alex Ferguson's side - all of which have resulted in defender Nemanja Vidic being sent off.

However, the Liverpool manager - like his United counterpart - does not believe that result will have any bearing on Sunday’s encounter.

"It is another game, another season so we have to approach it as another challenge," said Benitez, who will give a late fitness test to midfielder Alberto Aquilani after the Italian missed the Europa League victory over Lille with a sickness bug.

"Maybe they will think if we don't play well they can beat us but they have experience and will approach the game as they usually do.

"I don't think they will be thinking too much about the past.

"Last year was a very important and amazing game for us. It was the first victory there for me but it is another year and another challenge and we have to concentrate on this game."

Liverpool at least head into the match on the back of two successive victories, 4-1 over Portsmouth and 3-0 against Lille, in the last six days.

That has provided a much-needed boost to the players' flagging spirits, as has the form of striker Fernando Torres.

The Spain international, celebrating his 26th birthday today, now has 17 goals in 27 appearances of an injury-hit season and has scored in his last two matches against United.

"In terms of the week, we've had two good wins and people have more confidence so we will move forward and be ready for the next game," said Benitez.

"We played really well on Monday and Thursday was a good game and hopefully we can get a result at Old Trafford.

"If we stick together we can beat anyone. Old Trafford will be difficult but we will try.

"If we can work like we did against Lille and we have a game plan it will be the small details that make the difference."

Benitez has been left to bemoan his bad luck in terms of injuries this season, particularly to Torres.

The striker missed five weeks after a knee operation in January but had struggled with a hernia problem prior to that.

Had he been fit for the entire season Benitez believes Liverpool would have been close to replicating their record haul of last season when they amassed 86 points in running United a close second.

"The gap would be reduced - how much I don't know - but Torres fit and scoring would have been a big difference," said the Reds boss.

Babel Eyes Dazzling Finale

Ryan Babel is determined to maintain his recent resurgence and repay the Liverpool supporters with a series of dazzling displays.

The Dutch forward has shown glimpses of the form that had many tipping him as a star of the future in recent weeks and is confident his approach will give the Kop more reason to cheer.

"For any player, if you are given games to show what you can do, it's a good thing and also for me," he said.

"I hope I can show more of this and hopefully give something back to the supporters.

"Slowly you regain confidence when you play a number of games so hopefully I can show what I can do.

"They expect me to always dribble or take men on. It's not always possible but I try it as much as I can because that's what I want to do as well."

"Hopefully if I can show more of this in the future I will be very pleased."

The Holland international still has one eye on this summer's World Cup and is hopeful some top performances with Liverpool will earn him a place in his country's squad.

He added: "I'm happy that I could start again [on Thursday]. I think I'm very pleased with the team performance.

"If I play a lot of games then maybe I have a good chance to go to the World Cup."

Rafael Benitez: I Wouldn't Swap Fernando Torres For Wayne Rooney

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has insisted he would not swap Fernando Torres for anybody, not even Wayne Rooney.

Manchester United's Scouse star has shot through the stratosphere with 32 goals already this season, a return which has led some pundits to dub him the best striker in the world.

However, Torres has reminded everyone of his claim to such a titile since returning from injury last month, with doubles against both Portsmouth and Lille during the week.

And while Benitez acknowledged Rooney's obvious quality, he was confident there is no-one he'd rather have leading the Reds' line than 'El Nino'.

“I don’t think I would swap Fernando [Torres] for anyone, not even [Wayne] Rooney, not really. Fernando is a fantastic player, so is Rooney too,” the Spaniard told a press conference.

“There’s no doubt Rooney is very, very good. But Fernando is our player, the fans love him and we want to keep him for a very long time.

“He has something that is very important. These players make the difference in these big games, and for us, Fernando is very important.

“If he had been fit all this season, then the gap to the top would have been smaller, that is clear. If Fernando is fit, he’d score in a lot of games.”

Torres and Rooney will duel this Sunday as Liverpool visit Old Trafford hoping to make it four wins on the trot against United.

The Reds may not be enjoying the finest of seasons, as symbolised by Steven Gerrard's unusually indifferent form throughout, but Benitez knows his big guns are capable of blowing away even the toughest opponents.

“We know we can match any team. We have players like Torres and [Steven] Gerrard - if they are fully fit they can change games and win games,” he added.

“Gerrard loves playing [Manchester] United and I think Torres does too. The top class players want to play against the top sides and against other top class players.

“Both will enjoy it hopefully and it will be a challenge for them.”

Reina Holds No Reds Regrets

Jose Reina has denied Liverpool are a 'sinking ship' and insists he will not regret extending his contract.

The highly-rated goalkeeper agreed a new four-year extension at Anfield earlier in the month, meaning the 27-year-old Spanish international has committed his best years to the Merseyside outfit.

Europe's elite, including Reina's former employers Barcelona, had reportedly been keeping tabs on the talented shot-stopper in case he wanted to jump the 'sinking ship' - in the words of team-mate Albert Riera.

But the former Villarreal number one stands by his decision to remain at Liverpool for the next six years.

"I am really proud and really lucky to be here," said Reina, who will be charged with the task of halting Wayne Rooney when Manchester United host Liverpool on Sunday, a game live on Sky Sports.

"I felt wanted from the beginning and these kind of things are personal. My mind is clear, my decision is taken and I have no regrets at all.

"It is nice to hear that other teams want me. But I am not thinking about leaving Liverpool at all. This is the right club for me.

"I don't see it as a sacrifice, signing for so long, and it doesn't make any difference to me if some people are saying I could have had my pick of clubs across Europe.

"I have talked it through with my wife and we don't see any better place to go. It is personal as well as professional. The education of my child is another factor and I feel it would be brilliant for my kids to grow up speaking two languages.

"I want them to speak English as well as Spanish and if it turns out to be with a Scouse accent, I will still be proud of them!"

Reina accepts that Liverpool have endured a miserable campaign thus far, with expectations of ending a 20-year wait for the domestic title not reached in a season that could see the Reds finishing outside the top four and missing out on a coveted UEFA Champions League place.

But the Reds shot-stopper responded to comments by team-mate and compatriot Riera that manager Rafa Benitez is not prepared to change a losing side by insisting the rest of the camp are dedicated to the cause.

"We always want the best for the supporters and to deliver trophies for them. But even when we are not, they are always behind the team and that is priceless," he said.

"All of us want to win trophies but sometimes that is not the case, and you cannot throw in the towel. It has been a long wait for the fans, 20 years without a league title, and I would just love to be here when and if it happens."

Exclusive: Buyout Tycoon Lined Up For Liverpool Bid

I have learned that John Muse, the American private equity tycoon, is to play a leading role in an offer to buy a 40 per cent stake in Liverpool Football Club.

Muse has been lined up to co-invest alongside Rhone Capital, a US investment firm which last week tabled the first formal proposal to inject new funds into the Premier League club.

What I'm not clear about is how much money Muse, who is now chairman of HM Capital Partners, another private equity group, would invest under the Rhone proposal, which would see it paying about £110m in exchange for a 40 per cent stake.

The news is nonetheless significant because Muse was one of the founders of Hicks Muse Tate & Furst, the buyout firm where Tom Hicks, one of Liverpool's current co-owners, also made his name and fortune.

Hicks and Muse are said by people who know them to have had an at times uneasy relationship, although it seems logical to assume that they are on decent terms now.

After all, Hicks and George Gillett, the current shareholders, will continue to collectively own a majority of the equity in the club even if the terms of Rhone's bid would hand it effective control.

Christian Purslow, the highly-regarded managing director of Liverpool, has set an Easter deadline for serious offers. There has been plenty of speculative interest from around the world but I'd be surprised if there were more than three concrete proposals for Purslow to consider at that stage.

Liverpool had some decent news last night when they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, suggesting they may yet salvage some silverware from a dismal season. Whether the news off the pitch during the next two months remains unclear.

Rhone and Muse both declined to comment today.

The Genius Of Yossi Benayoun

It didn’t take long for Liverpool’s no. 15 to eclipse cult hero Ronny Rosenthal as the club’s greatest ever Israeli player. Benayoun, or “Benny Noon” as David Pleat insists on calling him (the clue’s in the letters David) proved to be one of Rafael Benitez’s more prudent signings when signed from West Ham for £5m in 2007.

Yet recent speculation has linked the Israeli captain with a move away from Merseyside. Liverpool had already rejected a £5m offer from Olympiakos in January, before sources within Dynamo Moscow claimed Benayoun to have agreed terms with the Russian club in preparation for an Anfield exit in the summer. If he does leave for pastures new, he will be sorely missed. Sport.co.uk has a look at some of the reasons why.

1.) Vision – An intelligent player, Benayoun has great positional sense, times his runs well and hits the right channels. Most threatening towards the end of a game when defenders begin to tire, Benayoun is regularly introduced from the bench by Liverpool coach Benitez and on occasion has completely torn teams apart.

2.) Touch – Benayoun has great feet, his touch is flawless and he has the ability and the confidence to run at defences with the ball at his feet. In the absence of Gerrard and Torres, it is always Benayoun who is often singled out by opposition managers as Liverpool’s major threat.

3.) Work rate – Unlike a lot of wingers who have a tendency to go missing in games, Benayoun is a wide player who has the dedication to track back and support his full-back. He never shrinks away from making tackles, occasionally conceding free-kicks in dangerous areas in doing so, but you can’t fault his enthusiasm.

4.) Goals – When it comes to these Liverpool have a tendency to over-rely on lone striker Fernando Torres. Benayoun has stepped up along with the likes of Gerrard and Kuyt over the last couple of seasons to ensure the goals keep coming. The Israeli notched hat-tricks at Anfield in this season’s comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Burnley as well as 8-0 drubbing of Besiktas last campaign.

5.) Big game player – It’s all very well scoring when your team’s playing well, but Benayoun has hit his fair share of crucial goals in his time at Liverpool as well. His pivotal strike at the Bernabeu to give Liverpool the upper hand against Real Madrid in the Champions League won’t be forgotten in a hurry. Nor will his injury-time winner at Fulham about this time last season which gave the Reds renewed hope of winning the title. That goal prompted scenes of jubilation among the travelling support and Liverpool fans should keep their fingers crossed there are more of these to come.

Alan Smith: Albert Riera Fall-Out Shows Rafael Benitez Man-Management Style Needs Tweak

Take a look at this quote: "People expect more from me and it's not easy. But they are also not doing what they said they were going to ... I can have a spectacular game but nobody guarantees me I will be starting the next match. It shatters your confidence ... He [the manager] can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes."

Now compare it with this one: "I have been here two years and I know how he is. He has never sorted out a situation with a player by talking with him... If I'm doing something badly and you are my boss, and you value me, then you are going to come and tell me what I have to do to play again. This is what hurts me. His dialogue with the players is practically nil."

The first quote comes from Nani earlier this season when the Portuguese winger couldn't hold down a place at Manchester United. The second comes from Liverpool's Albert Riera after the Spaniard's frustration boiled over this week.

Both complaints are borne from a lack of match action but they also reveal the inherent differences between the respective methods of Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafael Benítez.

Because while Ferguson will slaughter you in front of everyone, he will also lavish praise when it's deserved. Not only that, the United manager will show compassion and patience if he believes someone harbours genuine promise.

He has proved this with Nani, an underachieving show pony for much of his time at Old Trafford but now starting to emerge as a proper player.

Benítez, on the other hand, struggles when it comes to showing his human side. Unlike Ferguson, he just can't bring himself to put a kindly arm around the shoulder when circumstances demand a lighter touch. Without doubt, his man-management skills could do with a tweak.

Among other things, that's what separates the two. That's why Nani has turned into a force for United, while Xabi Alonso got the hump with Benítez and left, and why Riera will probably end up leaving, too.

It might also have a bearing on why, going into Sunday's clash, 15 points separate United and Liverpool.

Gerrard Serves Torres Warning

Steven Gerrard today sent out an ominous warning to teams across the continent by declaring in-form Fernando Torres is only going to improve over the rest of the season.

With Liverpool chasing a top four Premier League finish and success in the Europa League, the return to form and fitness of the Spanish striker has come as a timely boost for the Reds, who travel to Manchester United at the weekend on the back of two morale boosting victories.

Despite enduring an injury ravaged campaign, Torres' double last night took his total for the season so far to 17 in 27 matches - and his skipper insists there is still more to come.

"There is lot more to come from Fernando in a Liverpool shirt, believe me," said Gerrard. "He had been out a long time so it was only natural that it was going to take him a few games to find his rhythm but he is closing in on that now and it is fantastic for the team.

"If we can keep him fit and firing, we'll have a really big chance of achieving what we want to and you could see against Lille that he is looking sharp. The goals will have done him the world of good.

"He is world class, it's as simple as that. When he is playing like that, it doesn't just give the crowd a lift. It lifts us and it causes the players he comes up against to think twice about how they deal with him. He's finding form at just the right time."

After successfully overturning a 1-0 first leg deficit to secure their place in today's quarter-final draw, Liverpool are now focusing their attentions on Sunday's Old Trafford showdown.

"We just wanted to carry on from Portsmouth and play some good football," added Gerrard. "Lille were a very good team but everyone has chipped in.

"Now we have to look at Manchester United. Every time you go to Old Trafford, you expect a tough game but we are going in on the back of two good performances.

"This will be a completely different game. They are the league leaders but we will give it a really good go."

Mascherano: Duo Can Stun United

Javier Mascherano has backed Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to inspire another famous win at Old Trafford after the duo fired Liverpool into the Europa League last eight on Thursday.

Gerrard opened the scoring against Lille with an early penalty before Torres hit a brace to take his tally for an injury-hit season to 17.

The Reds have now recorded consecutive victories following a disappointing reverse at Wigan and the first leg loss in Lille.

Mascherano believes the return to form of Torres has been key to turning things around ahead of Sunday's trip to United.

"Not too much has changed," he told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Maybe we are more clinical than before and Fernando is back.

"Everyone knows his partnership with Stevie is really good for us and now we can look forward to a very important game on Sunday. We'll try to win for us, for the supporters and the club.

"We still have to improve and we can improve. The good thing against Lille was not conceding any goals, another clean sheet for Pepe."

Liverpool have won their last three games against Alex Ferguson's men, including an unforgettable 4-1 triumph in Manchester last season.

"1-0 would be enough this time!" said Mascherano. "We know we'll get a really difficult game because they're playing well, but it's a different game to the others because it's a derby.

"We'll need to show character and stay calm."

Rafael Benitez Wary Of Liverpool's 'Tough' Europa League Draw Against Benfica

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned his team that Benfica will be a tough team to beat, after the two sides were drawn together in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

The two teams last met each other in 2006, during the first knockout round of the Champions League, where the Portuguese side triumphed in both legs of a 3-0 aggregate victory.

Four years on, Benitez believes the Portuguese side will still pose a strong challenge.

"We know they are a good team and of course we have played them before in the Champions League," he told the club's website.

"They are a massive club with a lot of support from their fans and it will be a tough game.

"They are top of the table and playing really well at the moment. I know a number of their players well — [Pablo] Aimar, [Javier] Saviola, [Luis] Garcia — so we know they have a lot of quality."

If Liverpool beat Benfica, they will face either Atletico Madrid or Valencia in the semi-finals of the competition and Benitez believes that hosting the second leg at Anfield will increase the Reds' chances of going through to play either Spanish side.

"It's always important that the second leg is at home in front of our fans," he said.

"We know we have to perform away and then play well at home. We have the confidence to do that and are looking forward to the games."

Agger: We Can Beat Anyone

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger insists the players fully believe they can win the Europa League and go into their quarter-final against Benfica with no fear.

A 3-0 win over Lille at Anfield on Thursday night took the Reds through 3-1 on aggregate and set up a last-eight meeting with the Portuguese Liga leaders.

Manager Rafael Benitez's former club Valencia or Fernando Torres' previous employers Atletico Madrid await the winners in the semi-finals but Agger said they were not worried by any side.

"This is the last trophy we can win so we have to give everything we can to win it," said the Denmark international.

"We have to show it on the pitch and I think we did against Lille.

"If you have to win a tournament like this one you should beat them all."

Midfielder Javier Mascherano echoed Agger's comments, saying: "All the teams in there have showed why they are at this stage.

"Any team from now until the end will be difficult. If we want to be in the final we need to continue improving and try to take another step up."

Liverpool's match against Lille on Thursday night pulled in the biggest ratings for television channel Five in the last five years, with 4million tuning in at its peak.

Benitez will be pleased to be playing the first leg in Lisbon's Stadium of Light on April 1 as it means they have home advantage for the all-important second leg.

Midfielder Lucas Leiva believes the Anfield experience can play a big part in their European future, as it has done in the past and did do against Lille when the side turned around a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

"We know the competition is important and we have to keep going," said the Brazil international.

"Everyone knows Anfield is a difficult place to come and play but you can see the example of Fulham (who beat Juventus 4-1 to reverse a 3-1 first-leg scoreline) - each game is different and we just have to believe."

Aquilani Starting To Settle

Alberto Aquilani's agent feels his client is starting to feel more at home in the Premier League.

The Italian joined Liverpool in a big-money move from Roma last summer, charged with the task of filling the creative void created by Xabi Alonso's departure to Real Madrid.

An injury carried with him from his time in Serie A kept him on the sidelines for the opening stages of the season, allowing others to stake a claim for a regular starting berth.

He then struggled to force his way into Rafa Benitez's plans, with the Spaniard seemingly reluctant to throw the talented 25-year-old into action.

However, Aquilani has caught the eye of late and bagged his first Liverpool goal in Monday's 4-1 demolition of Portsmouth.

He missed the Europa League victory over Lille on Thursday with a virus, but his representative insists that is nothing to worry about and is backing Aquilani to be back to his best over the coming weeks.

"Alberto has had quite an ordeal with his ankle, and has had a series of injuries, but he is returning to the player we all know he is," Franco Zavaglia told tuttomercatoweb.

"It is clear that a player like him appeals to many clubs, but he is happy in England and I think Liverpool have no desire to get rid of him any time soon."

Albert Riera: I'm Not Looking For Trouble With Rafael Benitez

Liverpool winger Albert Riera has tried to underplay his harsh analysis of manager Rafael Benitez to the Spanish media.

The former Espanyol midfielder played a significant part in the Reds' rise in almost claiming the Premier League title last season, only to be pipped to the title by Manchester United.

In comparison to his exploits last term, the Spaniard has barely been given a run out on the pitch this time around. And his recent views on the club, branding the Reds as a "sinking ship" did not go down well with the Anfield faithful.

"I do not want to make trouble with the manager," Riera said, according to the Press Association.

"I am not interested in making Rafa my enemy in the slightest, quite the opposite, but ultimately it is about playing, and if I am not, we have to talk about why not.

"We have not had any talk about why it is.

"I played all of last year, and sometimes if I did not play so well in one game, I would still play the next week. But this season I have not played at all.

"I believe in these situations it is better to talk about it and try to fix it, or at least make sure everyone knows where they stand. I have no problem talking to people."

Despite previously hinting of an imminent departure, the 27-year-old maintains that he is willing to remain at the club if regular appearances are in the offing.

"I am delighted to play for Liverpool and if I was playing, I would love to stay, because it is a brilliant place to play football," added Riera.

"But if I am not playing I have no chance of going to the World Cup, so I am trying to solve the problem so I at least have a small chance."

The 27-year-old has reportedly been docked two weeks wages for his strong comments.

It is also believed that the player has been told not to return to training before Monday, which appears to be a pre-emptive measure to ensure that the blockbuster game against Manchester United on Sunday does not have any unwanted distractions.

"The timing was not the best for the team and we will deal with this internally," said Benitez, when quizzed regarding the fractured relationship with the player.

Rafael Benítez Banishes Vocal Albert Riera

Albert Riera has been suspended and put up for sale by Liverpool after his criticism of Rafael Benítez.

The winger was dropped from the Liverpool squad for Thursday night’s Europa League game at home to Lille and told not to return to training until Monday, meaning that he will also miss the Barclays Premier League match away to Manchester United on Sunday.

Riera could leave Anfield in weeks, with an immediate move to CSKA Moscow or Spartak Moscow, who are tracking the 27-year-old, a distinct possibility. The transfer window in Russia has been extended until April 8.

Riera, who joined Liverpool from Espanyol in September 2008 for £8 million, has had a fraught relationship with Benítez for several months and his frustrations came to a head on Wednesday.

He gave an interview to Radio Marca in which he accused the Liverpool manager of giving him the silent treatment, claimed that he was being left out of the team for personal reasons and stated that Benítez’s brand of football is not good enough to earn him the Real Madrid job.

The Spain winger’s withering attack on his manager has also earned him a club fine of two weeks’ wages, but, more significantly, it has signalled the imminent end of his Anfield career, especially if either of the Moscow clubs are willing to match Liverpool’s £8 million valuation.

Riera has been a bit-part figure in Benítez’s squad this season, with a combination of injury problems and poor form costing him a regular starting place. The fact that his outburst came on the eve of Thursday night’s crucial Europa League match meant that Benítez felt he had no choice but to omit him from his plans for the game.

It is not the first time that the pair have been at loggerheads, nor is it the first time that Riera has been fined for his behaviour.

This season he was reprimanded after a training-ground altercation with a promising reserve-team player in which Riera reacted violently to the teenager. The incident incensed Benítez and convinced him that he would have no choice but to sell the Majorca-born winger at the end of this campaign.

His departure date is now likely to have been brought forward and will be confirmed if either of the Moscow clubs are willing to match Liverpool’s £8 million valuation of a player who, until of late, has been a regular in the Spain squad.

Albert Riera Training Ground Bust-Up With Liverpool Youngster Meant Radio Outburst Was Final Straw

Albert Riera’s Liverpool career could be over within weeks after he was suspended by the club following his astonishing verbal attack on Rafa Benitez.

The Reds winger has been told to stay away from Melwood until Monday after giving an interview to Spanish radio station Marca, in which he criticised Benitez’s preferred style of play and the lack of chances he has been afforded this season.

That outburst was the final straw for an enraged Benitez, as Riera was recently involved in a training ground bust-up with an unnamed young member of Liverpool’s squad that appalled witnesses to the incident.

Riera is understood to have landed at least one blow on the youngster.

The Spain international’s attitude has been poor for weeks in training and he has hardly figured in the squad since a desperate personal performance in the 1-0 win over Unirea Urziceni last month.

Riera was not at Anfield on Thursday night, as Liverpool booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Lille.

He has also been heavily fined for his comments and it is now inevitable that he will be jettisoned from Anfield, the only question is when he will be gone.

Match Report: Liverpool 3 - 0 Lille

Liverpool kept alive their hopes of silverware this season with a 3-0 victory over Lille at Anfield to win their Europa League last-16 tie 3-1 on aggregate.

Captain Steven Gerrard's ninth-minute penalty gave them the ideal start, after Lucas Leiva had been fouled.

Fernando Torres then struck twice in the second half - his first European goals for more than 11 months - to put his side into the quarter-finals.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg an early Liverpool goal was essential to ease the pressure and, watched by Argentina coach Diego Maradona, they produced just that.

The much-maligned Lucas, returning to the side because of Alberto Aquilani's illness, dribbled into the area and produced a tidy piece of skill to go past Adil Rami and draw the foul.

Referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed to the spot and Gerrard confidently fired home to level things up on aggregate.

Torres had two half-chances to double the lead in the next five minutes as first he cut in from the right at pace only to see his near-post shot deflected wide before then lofting a shot over from Javier Mascherano's free-kick.

Despite going behind Lille still looked like they could be a danger on the counter-attack with Eden Hazard, goalscorer a week ago, and Ludovic Obraniak posing a threat from the flanks.

But right-back Glen Johnson was getting forward at every opportunity and when he found himself in the penalty area he hit a left-foot volley straight at goalkeeper Mickael Landreau.

Daniel Agger's glancing header from Gerrard's inswinging 31st-minute corner was eventually stopped by Landreau on the goalline after the ball got stuck between Dirk Kuyt and Franck Beria.

Lucas, having his best spell for some time, then shot straight at the goalkeeper from 20 yards.

A minute later Hazard burst past Agger and Johnson into the area and had only Jose Reina to beat but the goalkeeper stood tall and the shot deflected behind off his head.

Five minutes before half-time Torres headed Kuyt's hanging cross back across goal but wide of the post.

Lille came out after the break with more purpose and Jamie Carragher produced a perfectly-timed tackle to deny Rio Mavuba three minutes into the second half.

But a minute later Liverpool seized control of the tie with an expert piece of finishing from Torres.

Ryan Babel hooked a ball out of defence with his right foot which looked more like a clearance than a pass but Rami, who had been given a torrid time by Torres, misjudged the bounce of the ball and it ballooned over him.

The Spain striker did not need a second invitation and he sped towards goal before dinking a shot past Landreau with the outside of his right foot.

It was the first time he had scored in European competition since his goal at Anfield in the 3-1 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Chelsea on April 8.

Torres then drilled a shot just wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

Liverpool's advantage was only a slender one and that fragility was almost exposed in the 73rd minute when Obraniak's free-kick picked out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the far post only for the substitute to bundle his shot into the ground and over the crossbar.

As the tie entered its final throes the anxiety began to grow as Liverpool were unsure whether to try to hold their lead or finish Lille off with a third goal.

It almost came when Kuyt's long-range strike was batted behind by Landreau.

But all the pressure was released when Torres followed up a rebound from Gerrard's shot to score his second a minute before time and his fourth in his last two.

It secured a second victory in an important week, with Manchester United to come at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Reina: My Title Desire

Pepe Reina has revealed how a burning desire to help Liverpool land the Barclays Premier League title made a decision to commit his future to the club an easy one.

The custodian, who confirmed on Wednesday he is close to agreeing a new deal with the Reds, is optimistic the experience of a difficult 2009-10 campaign can help Rafael Benitez's side in the long run.

And Reina admits he would love nothing more than to lead Liverpool to a 19th league title.

"The club has been good to me and I am grateful," said the Spain stopper. "My family believes there is no better place to be than here and that's why we'll be here a bit longer - much longer.

"There is nothing I feel more excited about than the chance of winning the league once with Liverpool. That would be a dream and hopefully in a short period it will come true.

"I hope we will build something good from the weak moments we have had this season.

"A proper team, a strong team has to do that and Liverpool is a strong team."

He added: "This is the only trophy we can lift and it is massively important to us. Winning a trophy is always good, no matter how your season has been.

"We know this season hasn't been good enough and we can do better. Everybody knows that. But as long as we have the possibility to win a trophy, that is the main thing. The target was to fight for the title but right from the beginning we did not do well."

Torres Named As Chelsea's Number One Target

Fernando Torres is being touted as Chelsea's number one transfer target as Fleet Street predicts a comprehensive revamp of the club's first-team squad following their ignominious Champions League exit.

Though some reports have suggested that the position of Carlo Ancelotti is under threat after Tuesday night's defeat to Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, the general consensus is that Roman Abramovich will keep faith with the Italian and re-open his chequebook to fund a lavish spending spree.

'Ancelotti may thus be able to consider moves for long-standing targets such as Fernando Torres, Franck Ribéry or Sergio Agüero,' reports The Guardian. 'Torres is emerging as the club's principal target and the Spanish striker's future at Liverpool could be decided by the level of investment attracted to his club in the next few months.'

A concurring Daily Mirror also declares that 'Ancelotti wants to build a "dream team" front pair of Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres next season. Chelsea's wish-list is headed by Liverpool superstar Torres, with the Blues ready to table a £50million bid if they see any signs the Spaniard wants to leave Anfield.

'Chelsea know that Manchester City, who can outbid the Stamford Bridge side, have also targeted Torres, especially after his recent admission that he would not automatically go back to Spain if he decides to quit Liverpool.'

Chelsea have spent relatively little in recent years, with the club committed to the goal of breaking even. However, their early exit from the Champions League is expected to result in that austerity coming to an expensive end.

The Sun quotes a 'senior Chelsea source' declaring: "Carlo has the full backing of Roman and that will mean the kind of money being spent this summer that we haven't seen since Mourinho was in charge.

"Roman believes Carlo is the right man and will give him exactly what he needs to rebuild the team.

"This squad has gone a bit stale and needs to have some fresh blood."

To make room for the new additions, a number of current squad members are predicted to depart.

'Joe Cole will be the first to pay the price for a new attitude because the club are determined not to cave in to his wage demands,' declares The Times. 'The England midfield player is likely to be followed out of the door by Deco, Paulo Ferreira, Hilário and even Ricardo Carvalho.'

'Funds could be raised by moving players on with the likes of Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Juliano Belletti and even Salomon Kalou potentially made available,' adds The Guardian. 'The owner's desire to reinvigorate the squad could also have implications for contract negotiations with Joe Cole and Michael Ballack, whose deals expire at the end of the season, and possibly Nicolas Anelka, who is contracted until 2011.'

And the list of players Fleet Streets believes could be on their way to Stamford Bridge is considerable. A trawl through the backpages finds the club linked with, among others, Torres, Ribery, Agüero, David Villa, Giampaolo Pazzini, Simon Kjaer, Moussa Dembele, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sergio Asenjo.

Riera Launches Rafa Attack

Liverpool winger Albert Riera has hit out at Reds boss Rafa Benitez over a lack of communication with his struggling squad.

The Anfield outfit have endured a miserable season and their only remaining hopes of silverware hang in the balance as they bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit at home against Lille in the second leg of their Europa League last 16 clash on Thursday night.

Spain international Riera has made just two appearances for Liverpool since January, both of which came in Europe's second tier competition, and he is becoming frustrated by his lack of action.

The 27-year-old, an £8million signing from Espanyol in 2008, does not understand why he is out of the picture and is eager for more action to secure a place in Spain's World Cup squad.

He told Radio Marca: "When the coach says nothing to you and you are well, with no physical problems and training well, you cannot help but think it must be something personal.

"If I'm doing something badly and you are my boss, and you value me, then you are going to come and tell me what I have to do to play again. This is what hurts me.

"You see that the team is not doing well and there are no changes. It's a little frustrating because you see that you can help.

"I've been here two years and I know how he (Benitez) is. He's never sorted out a situation with a player by talking with him. He thinks he's in charge and everything else falls on deaf ears.

"His dialogue with the players is practically nil."

Regarding his future, Riera knows his hopes of featuring at South Africa in the summer depend on him playing first-team football.

"I would like to be here for the rest of my career, but players live to play. My objective is to go to the World Cup and for this I have to play," he said.

"Right now the only market open is the Russian one, I have offers from two teams and, looking at my situation, that has made me reflect a lot."