Rafa Benitez: Manchester United Are Favourites For Europe

Much has been made about Chelsea and Liverpool's re-acquaintance in the Champions League - their fifth successive meeting in continental competition - but Reds boss Rafael Benitez was keen to stress that the draw could have been kinder to them.

The Spaniard also offered clarity over his new long-term Liverpool contract.

"It will be difficult for both sides," Benitez said at a press conference today. "We've played each other so many times, sometimes its advantageous, sometimes its not.

"Villarreal, and FC Porto are good sides, but to draw against a team like Chelsea is tough," he warned. "Clearly Manchester United are favourites."

Regarding the news that UEFA are set to acquiesce to Liverpool's request of moving a Champions League tie so that it will not lie on their 20th anniversary commemorations, Benitez added, "We were trying to avoid the Hillsborough date for what it means for the club and the fans, but we are pleased with the decision."

He also clarified the complexities over his new contract, "I think every press conference for the past three months I have answered a question about this. There were uncertainties to sort out, those were the key, we had to clarify these.

"I am pleased with the answer. I have the same control that I had before with regard to transfers," he said.

Liverpool Co-Owner Tom Hicks Insists New Anfield Will Happen

Liverpool FC co-owner Tom Hicks insists new Anfield will happen – telling fans “we’re going to build that sucker”.

But the Texan was unable to say exactly when the new stadium would be ready.

He blamed delays on the closure of the world’s money markets.

The Americans need £400 million even to restart building work in Stanley Park.

Hicks has hinted at his ability to get cash together – claiming he will be at Liverpool for as long as Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard’s new five-year deal keeps him at the club until 2014.

But for Hicks and co-owner George Gillett to stay in control they must re-finance £300m of loans in July.

Hicks could replace Gillett, thought to want to sell his stake, although he hinted his fellow American could stay.

He insisted the world’s financial markets would reopen and the pair would get the money.

“The stadium is very much something we plan to do. It is not being mothballed, it is going to happen.”

But fan groups have hit out at “more broken promises” from Hicks and Gillett, calling them “naive” to think Benitez’s new deal will win over supporters.

Last August the club said the new 60,000 stadium would be ready for 2012/13 – a year delay on previous dates.

When Hicks and George Gillett bought Liverpool two years ago they promised to start work within 60 days.

The club and the city council are yet to sign an agreed 999-year lease on Stanley Park.

Council leader Warren Bradley has warned the club to “sort itself out” or face losing the right to build on the park.

Chair of Liverpool’s Supporters’ Club Richard Pedder said: “I don’t believe a word Hicks says. He won’t be here as long as Rafa.

“I believe he’ll be forced to leave in July and it will be a hat-trick of success for Liverpool FC.”

Anfield councillor Brian Dowling said: “The people of Anfield deserve better than what they’re getting.

“Hicks living in his big house in America has no idea what it’s like for people in Anfield.”

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks Never Doubted Rafael Benitez Would Stay

Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, says he never doubted that Rafael Benitez would commit his long-term future to the club.

The Liverpool manager ended months of bitter wrangling over his future by signing a new contract last night that will keep him at Anfield until 2014. Internal politics had led to doubts about his position at the club but Hicks believes there was never a real possibility of him leaving.

"I was never worried we would lose Rafa Benitez," Hicks said. Hicks added: "These things are complicated. A five-year contract is complicated, so I'm just relieved we finally got it done. Rafa has such a passion for Liverpool. I looked him in the eyes and I knew he'd sign.

"From the supporters' point of view, to have it done on top of such a great week on the pitch is great."

Hicks played down long-running reports that the delay was down to a power struggle - and in particular wrangling over transfer policy.

"That was in the media but it was never really true," he said. "I sat down with Rafa a couple of months ago and he made it very clear that he knows a manager can't have control over transfer budget.

"He has had his frustrations over the last five years and those are well chronicled but he will make the recommendations about which players we sign and the new CEO, the owners and the board will make the final financial commitment. And that is the way it needs to be."

The American is happy with the Reds' improvement in the Premier League and added: "We have a chance to catch Manchester United. It's not a great chance, but it's a chance."

Hicks said the club would continue to back Benitez in the transfer market. "We have signed Martin Skrtel, Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun. We even signed Robbie Keane. But that didn't work out."

"I sat down with Rafa a couple of months ago and he made it very clear that he knows a manager can't have control over transfer budget," he said. "He has had his frustrations over the last five years and those are well chronicled but he will make the recommendations about which players we sign and the new CEO, the owners and the board will make the final financial commitment. And that is the way it needs to be."

Hicks dismissed the idea that the club was imminently going to be sold to businessmen in the middle-east and reaffirmed his commitment to staying at Anfield.

"I'm going to be here the next five years, Rafa will be here for five years," he said. "I think George will be here for the next five years, though I can't answer for him. We all want to be here for the new stadium."

Liverpool Meet Chelsea In Champions League Quarter-Finals

Liverpool and Chelsea will renew their Champions League rivalry after being drawn together in the quarter-finals today.

The Premier League sides have played each other five times in the past five seasons of the competition, most recently in the semi-finals last year when Chelsea won 4-3 on aggregate.

Manchester United, the holders, are likely to be happy with their draw against FC Porto, the Portuguese champions. Arsenal will play Villarreal, the Spanish club who finished fourth in La Liga.

The other tie pitches Barcelona, the joint favourites with United, against Bayern Munich. The draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland.


Quarter-final draw

Villarreal v Arsenal

Manchester United v Porto

Liverpool v Chelsea

Barcelona v Bayern Munich

Ties to be played on 7/8 April and 14/15 April.


Semi-final draw

Manchester United or Porto v Villarreal or Arsenal

Barcelona or Bayern Munich v Liverpool or Chelsea

Ties to be played on 28-29 April and 5-6 May.

Liverpool's Transfer Targets And Sales Now Rafa Benitez Has Signed On

After Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez ended speculation over his future in signing a four-year contract extension worth around £20 million that will keep him at Anfield until 2014. Telegraph Sport looks at five possible transfer targets and players on the way out.


FIVE OUT

Jermaine Pennant (Free)

The former Arsenal and Birmingham winger, currently on loan at Portsmouth, will not have his contract renewed after falling out with Benitez, with the manager concerned by his attitude in training.

Andriy Voronin (£2-3 million)

A flop in the Premier League, the Ukrainian has been in sparkling form since joining Hertha Berlin on loan. The Bundesliga remains his most likely destination, and Hertha his preferred move, should the Germans be able to find the cash.

Andrea Dossena (£4 million)

After early struggles at Anfield, Dossena’s two goals in two games suggest he is starting to find his feet, albeit as a left-winger and not a left-back. Benitez may be tempted to cash in, though, if a suitable offer from Italy arrives, with Juventus and Roma interested.

Philipp Degen (£1 million)

The Swiss full-back has featured just twice since his move from Borussia Dortmund after a succession of injuries. Benitez will surely move him on if he can find a buyer willing to take the risk.

Sami Hyypia (Free)

Benitez would be loathe to lose the former club captain, who proved at Old Trafford that he is more than capable of filling the breach when required. But the Finn, whose contract expires at the end of the season, may decide he wants one more year of playing regularly before hanging up his boots.


FIVE IN

Glen Johnson (Portsmouth, £8 million)

Liverpool’s most obvious weakness is at right back, where there is no natural cover for Alvaro Arbeloa. Johnson, an England international, would provide a more attacking alternative and is likely to be available as Portsmouth look to ease their financial concerns.

David Wheater (Middlesbrough, £5 million)

Should the ever-reliable Sami Hyypia leave, Benitez is likely to look at the Middlesbrough man as a young, English replacement. The Spaniard knows he has to boost his English contingent to meet UEFA regulations and, should Boro be relegated, Wheater would be an economic option.

Aaron Lennon (Tottenham, £10 million)

Benitez tried to include the wide man as part of the Robbie Keane deal but Harry Redknapp was unwilling to budge. There are suggestions that Liverpool may go back in the summer as Benitez tries to add natural width to a team which struggles to break down compact opponents.

Michael Mancienne (Chelsea, £4 million)

The England under-21 international has struggled to break in to Chelsea’s side and Benitez, on the lookout for English players, would be tempted to bring in a defender equally comfortable at centre back or full back.

Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, £15 million)

If Aston Villa fail to reach the Champions League, Barry may decide that he has to make the move he was dissuaded from last season. Benitez may choose to go back for the man who, ultimately, cost Rick Parry his job and is still keen on his dynamism and versatility.

Rafa Benitez: Pepe Reina Is The 'Complete Goalkeeper'

RAFA Benitez today hailed the “complete” Pepe Reina as he looks to break one of the club’s longest standing goalkeeping records.

Reina needs just one clean sheet to clock up a century of shut-outs and should he reach the landmark in his next three games he will eclipse a record set by the great Ray Clemence more than three decades ago.

Reds legend Clemence reached his century of clean sheets after 200 games, while Reina’s current total is 99 after 196.

Benitez is hoping that the keeper he brought to Anfield almost four years ago in a £6m deal with Villarreal can make another mark in Liverpool’s history books by getting the clean sheet he needs – perhaps even in Sunday’s home game with Aston Villa.

Though the Reds boss admits that Reina has needed the help of his team mates to be in with a shout of breaking Clemence’s record he insists the individual standards the Spanish international has set himself are the main factor behind his ongoing success.

“Clearly the team is defending well as a team,” said Benitez.

“I can remember a lot of situations when Pepe was one versus one with a striker and he has made some fantastic saves so I think that he deserves this record if he can break it because he is a very good goalkeeper.

“Hopefully it will happen this weekend because if it does it will mean that we have a better chance of winning.”

Reina’s shot stopping abilities and command of his own area have put him within touching distance of Clemence’s milestone, and Benitez is equally impressed by his ability to make things happen at the other end of the pitch.

Last week at Old Trafford, Reina’s distribution with his feet was one of the key factors behind Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Man United and his manager is keen to underline his knack of launching swift counter attacks once he takes possession of the ball – qualities which he believes make him a complete goalkeeper.

“I think that Pepe is a fantastic goalkeeper with a great character,” he added.

“He is very positive and he is very offensive in his play and that is very important when you talk about a goalkeeper because it means he is always looking to launch a counter attack.

“He also makes great saves and remains calm at the most important moments.

“For me he is a very good goalkeeper and he is very complete.”

Rafa To Shift Focus To Title Race

Rafa Benitez is pleased his contract dispute is now a thing of the past so his Liverpool team can concentrate on the title race.

Their first opportunity to build on last weekend's outstanding victory at Manchester United will be when Aston Villa, who are still fighting for a Champions League spot, visit Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool are unlikely to have midfielder Xabi Alonso back after the Spain international missed the Old Trafford triumph with an ankle injury.

Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa, who injured his hamstring in the warm-up for that match, should play, but midfielder Yossi Benayoun is unlikely to be involved because of a knee problem. Fernando Torres, who battled through the Manchester United match with an ankle injury, will be fit.

Benitez believes everyone can now concentrate on the challenge of catching United at the top of the table.

He said: "I am really, really pleased. We have been talking about things for a long time, so it is good that it's been finalised and we can finish with the talks. Now we can start working with everything sorted."

He added: "It was a distraction in every single press conference because I was asked the same question. I was trying to concentrate on football and I think we were doing well."

Rafa Benitez Walking In Footsteps Of Anfield Giant Bill Shankly

For a player whose reputation was made as a title-winning rottweiler with Everton, Johnny Morrissey holds a significant place in Liverpool Football Club’s emergence as a footballing super power.

It was as a result of his controversial transfer in 1962 that Bill Shankly became the Anfield autocrat who founded a footballing empire.

And that experience has a relevance with what’s gone on at Anfield this week.

But first, a history lesson. In 1962 Morrissey was sold to deadly rivals Everton, without Bill Shankly’s knowledge.

Shankly was incandescent with rage.

So outraged was he by the slight to his authority that he hastily typed out his resignation.

If it was the moment Liverpool came closest to losing their trophy winning creator, it was also the moment he gained full control of Liverpool Football Club.

Historically, the buying and selling of footballers at Liverpool had been carried out by directors.

And that rankled with a man who was, perhaps, the original footballing control freak.

A dog-eared copy of Shankly’s autobiography sits on my bookshelf at home.

His philosophy is always refreshingly simple and direct.

And the battles he endured with the hierarchy at Anfield are illuminating.

“I used to fight and argue and fight and argue and fight and argue until I thought ‘Is it all worthwhile, all this fighting and arguing?” he wrote.

“It is bad enough fighting against the opposition to win points, but the internal fights to make people realise what we were working for took me close to leaving many times.”

Then he added his own managerial philosophy which – short of the words ‘this is my idea’ – might have come from Rafael Benitez himself.

“The manager is his own man,” he declared. “When he goes to a club he takes charge of the players and it is up to him to recommend the players to be bought and the players to be sold.

“If a manager is weak and makes mistakes then he will lose his authority and be kicked out.

“But even good managers have difficulties when they come up against businessmen with set ideas about how a club should be run.”

For Shankly, the Morrissey transfer was clearly a turning point.

After bashing out his resignation on the battered old typewriter which sat on his Melwood desk, he stormed out – and bumped into coaches Bob Paisley and Tom Bush.

Tom Bush’s son, Alan, recalled: “Bill told them he had resigned and they were shocked.

“They made him go back into the club and they persuaded him not to resign. My father removed the letter and destroyed it.

“They then spoke to the club secretary the following day, and TV Williams effectively relinquished his power. He never bought or sold another player.

“That was the moment that managers began really to manage, and it was because of the stand that Bill took.”

Shankly’s intentions that day were undoubtedly sincere.

But, maybe, just maybe, the master manipulator also spotted a way to gain the control of the club he felt was necessary to mould it in the way he saw fit.

Fast forward 47 years – and for Johnny Morrissey, read Gareth Barry.

Rafa Benitez wanted the Aston Villa skipper almost as badly as Shankly wanted Morrissey.

But behind the scenes machinations meant he ended up with Robbie Keane.

The Liverpool manager now has a computer screen rather than a typewriter on his Melwood desk, but while Benitez didn’t rush and rattle out an e-mail offering his instant resignation, he did the next best thing. He had a contract offer on his table. But he stalled, and stalled, then stalled some more – whilst demanding the control he feels is necessary to mould the club into a trophy winning vehicle.

Signing his contract this week suggests he now has the control of the club he desires.

He will control who is bought, he will dictate to the youth academy and he will decide who is sold – and that is how it should be with any successful football club.

Can he achieve the success of the deified Bill Shankly?

That’s highly unlikely, but there can be no excuses any more, and that’s just how Rafa Benitez wants it.

If Gareth Barry never kicks a ball for Liverpool Football Club, he might still have played a major part in their future.

Rafa Benitez: I Signed New Liverpool Deal For My Family & The Fans

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez signed a new five year contract with the club recently and revealed that his family life was a key factor in him deciding to remain on Merseyside.

"I am really pleased for me, for my family and hopefully for the fans," Benitez told The Liverpool Echo.

"It was a very easy decision for me to take because I only ever wanted to stay at this football club."

He went on to state that he was now hoping the saga of his new contract could be put behind the club, and that thoughts could now turn to the future with fresh optimism.

"We want to improve in all departments – the squad, the mentality – everything that we possibly can," he explained.

"For me and for my family it has been a fantastic week. My idea is always to win trophies, not just games.

"But to beat Real Madrid and Manchester United and then sign the contract makes this a perfect week. But now we must look ahead, not back.

"We must look to continue the work we have done and keep on trying to improve, because maybe then we can have even better weeks. My message to the fans is very clear – it is because of them that I am signing this contract. This is a fantastic club with fantastic fans – it is as simple as that."

And those fans were another compelling reason to stay, the Spaniard asserted, continuing, "Last week I met with a supporter who carries a flag to every game. The flag has a picture of me on it and the Spanish phrase ‘siempre es possible’ and it is flown at all our home games.

"I saw it at the Bernabeu also when we played Real Madrid and I met the supporter who owns the flag at Melwood last week.

"It was really funny because he was telling me ‘you must sign’ and saying ‘I hope it is for ten years' but then he was changing his mind ‘no, no twenty years’.

"It was really funny but it also showed the incredible passion of the Liverpool fans and the support that they give to their manager. I also remember the Porto game last season when the fans demonstrated for me. That is something I will never forget."

As for whether there had ever been any realistic chance of his departing Merseyside, Benitez insisted that it had only been very slight, even though he found the situation frustrating at times.

He added, "Because of the uncertainty it was a difficult time. The conversations went on for a long time and because of that I was a bit worried. But I never thought of leaving and in the end it has all been sorted out thanks to the hard work of everyone involved.

"From the very beginning everyone knew that I wanted to stay here. But it took a bit longer for everything to be concluded because there were certain issues that we needed clarified."

Now that his contract has been inked, the manager concluded by stating his next immediate intention, he said, "My priority now is to do the deals for my staff and for the players who will be important for this club in the future."

Diego Simeone Advises Inter To Sign Javier Mascherano

Former Inter star Diego Simeone travelled to Milan this week to take a closer look at Jose Mourinho’s coaching methods. He believes that, if the Milan club were to bolster their midfield, they should look no further than Liverpool man Javier Mascherano.

“I think Inter should keep hold of the midfielders they already have in the squad because they are excellent,” Simeone said to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“But if they really have to get one, I would pour all my efforts into capturing Mascherano. He can do everything and he is world-class.

“Moreover, I want to advise all the Serie A clubs not to miss out on [Carlos] Tevez. He is a complete striker, has a great personality and is a true professional.”

Inter are in the driving seat to retain the Serie A title this term but have once again flopped in Europe, crashing out of the competition at the hands of Manchester United.

“I adore this club because it was the most important in my footballing career,” enthused the ex-River Plate boss.

“They have won the Scudetto for three years on the trot and are firmly top of the table this season.

“As for the Champions League, they were not knocked out by a small team. It is very tough to overcome English sides at the moment because they have improved a great deal thanks to foreign players and coaches.”

Soccer-Assault Charge Against Gerrard Dropped

Prosecutors dropped accusations of assault against England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard on Friday but the player will still face a charge of affray over a bar brawl.

The Liverpool captain was arrested in the early hours of Dec. 29 after police were called to the Lounge Bar nightclub in Southport, north of Liverpool in northwest England.

Company director Marcus McGee, 34, required hospital treatment after receiving facial injuries in the incident.

At North Sefton magistrates’ court on Friday, Gerrard, 28, was told he would no longer face a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm, the Press Association reported.

Prosecutor Nick Evans said after a review of the evidence it had been decided that Gerrard and the other six men accused of involvement in the brawl would only face lesser charges of affray.

The case was committed to Liverpool Crown Court for a hearing on April 3. Gerrard has not yet formally entered a plea but has said he intends to deny wrongdoing.

The incident occurred following Gerrard's man-of-the-match performance in a 5-1 win over Newcastle United in which he had scored twice.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has said the club are fully behind Gerrard whose court appearance comes the day before a Premier League game against Aston Villa.

Swedes Confirm Reds Starlet Move

Djurgardens have confirmed Liverpool starlet Robbie Threlfall is poised to join the club on loan.

As exclusively revealed by skysports.com earlier this week talented defender Threlfall is set to join the Swedes on loan as he searches for regular first-team action.

The 20-year-old has been given permission by Liverpool to fly out to the club's Portuguese training camp as the Swedes continue preparations for their new season.

Threlfall is regarded as one of the brightest prospects to come through the ranks at Liverpool having helped the club win the FA Youth Cup twice in recent seasons.

The left-back has yet to make his first-team debut for Liverpool, but Reds boss Rafa Benitez is keen to loan him out so that he can pick up some much-needed first-team experience.

"We hope to have him down as quickly as possible to train in Portugal," DIF's chief of communications Jonas Riedel told FotbollsExpressen.se.

Steven Gerrard Selling His Car On Auto Trader Website

Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool and England footballer, is selling his car on the Auto Trader website.

His decision to steer clear of glitzy showrooms and instead place an advertisement on the internet means any "ordinary" fan with £52,990 to spare could snap up a celebrity bargain.

Gerrard's 3.6 litre Range Rover Vogue boasts a host of extras and the number eight - the player's shirt number - hand-stitched into each of the leather armrests.

The 28-year-old Liverpool captain is thought to have paid £61,000 for the V8 diesel just over a year ago.

But he then spent another £22,000 on such extras as alloy wheels, a £1,880 DVD system and £700 wool rugs.

He and his wife, Alex Curran, 26, have clocked up nearly 20,000 miles in the car.

A club source said: "This is the dream car for any Liverpool fan. It's a collector's item."

The source added: "It's a snip compared to what he paid. I can't see it being on the market for too long."

Assuming he gets a buyer this will be the second Range Rover Gerrard has sold through Auto Trader.

Last year he posted his old Sport HST on the site, with an asking price of £46,490.

His previous cars have included a Bentley Continental GT, an Aston Martin Vanquish and a Ferrari.

Benitez Victorious As He Signs New Liverpool Deal

Rafael Benitez committed himself to Liverpool for the long-term last night, signing a new five-year contract which represents a victory in his battle to wield greater power at the club.

The Spaniard has been at odds since January with the club's owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, demanding greater control over football issues including his transfer budget and the club's Academy. Benitez will by no means secure carte blanche to spend without his board's sanction. "Transfers will still be handled by the new CEO and owners, based on Rafa's recommendations," one executive familiar with the contract talks said last night. But the balance of power has clearly swung towards him and away from the chief executive's office – where incumbent Rick Parry's departure was announced last month. The exit of Parry may have helped secure 48-year-old Benitez's signature on a deal worth over £4m a year which should keep him at Anfield until June 2014 and extend his career at the club to a decade, should he see it out.

"My heart is with Liverpool Football Club, so I'm delighted to sign this new deal," said Benitez, who arrived from Valencia in the summer of 2004. "I love the club, the fans and the city and with a club like this and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying. I always made clear I wanted to be here for a long time and when I complete my new contract it will mean I have spent over a decade in Liverpool. The club is greatly respected around the world due to its incredible history and tremendous heritage. It is my aim to uphold those values and help create a new chapter in our history."

Though Hicks and Gillett believe in a chief executive holding the kind of powers David Gill enjoys at Manchester United, they were persuaded by Randy Lerner at Aston Villa that a deal allowing Benitez similar control to Martin O'Neill could work.

Amid the threat of Real Madrid seeking Benitez this summer, the Americans needed to retain a world-renowned manager to maintain the optimum financial value of a club for whom they seek investors. Hence a salary which takes Benitez from his current £3m-a-year wage to something like the figures commanded by Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger.

It is an outcome which seemed highly unlikely in October 2007 when Hicks and Gillett, antagonised by Benitez's response to their demands that he work through Parry and dubious about his capabilities, sought out Jürgen Klinsmann as a possible successor. Hicks has since had a rapprochement with Benitez but the relationships with Parry and Benitez were damaged fatally.

Parry's announced departure does not seem to have lifted Benitez's mood of late. Even 10 days ago, before the home leg of Liverpool's Champions League tie with Real Madrid, he did not seem to be in high spirits and he is yet to express much pleasure at the prospect of working with a new chief executive. But the wins over Real and Manchester United have since cemented Benitez as the most serious challenger to Ferguson since Jose Mourinho's star began to wane. The new contract also paves the way to new deals for Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio, whose own contract talks had been on hold pending uncertainties about the manager's future being resolved.

Benitez hinted on the day Parry announced his departure that a new deal was dependent on him being granted the security of knowing who the future owners of the club might be. That appeared to be an impossible request, considering the uncertainty still surrounding the finances of the club and the Americans' as-yet putative search for buyers in the Middle East. Some assurances may have been given but Benitez, who has always insisted that the length of the contract and remuneration were not issues, appears to have concluded that the departure of Parry, bringing him the kind of autonomy he has been looking for, is enough.

Hicks, who has been actively courting a consortium including the Kuwaiti Al-Kharafi family to secure new invest in the club, said last night: "It is wonderful news that Rafa has made a long-term commitment to the football club. He has been responsible for the great progress we have made. I know he will continue to build on his achievements as he has a tremendous hunger and desire to bring more success to the club – success our fans and everyone connected with the club deserves."

Gillett, the more likely of the American pair to sell up, added: "With Rafa continuing to manage the team, we can look forward to more great football and success on the pitch. He has special abilities and qualities which are admired here at the club and around the world. Coming after our excellent wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United, this gives us great momentum going into the final stages of the season."

Ex-Liverpool Manager Kenny Dalglish Overjoyed With Rafa Benitez Contract

Kenny Dalglish was overjoyed to hear the news that Rafael Benitez had penned a new five-year deal with Liverpool, and he insisted that, in light of this week's results, the timing was perfect.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv, Dalglish said, "We've just had two great results against Real Madrid and Manchester United and now the manager - the man we all believe is the right man for the job - has signed his contract. It's fantastic news at the end of a magnificent week.

"I think the timing of this is brilliant for everyone. It allows Rafa plenty of time to prepare for next season, to identify new players he may want to bring into the club and to look at any other changes he may want to make.

"If we'd gone into the summer with his future still undecided then it would have been difficult to make those sort of plans. Now that it's all sorted everyone can settle down and I don't think any Liverpool fan could possibly be any happier at this moment in time."

However, Dalglish stressed that the club's focus must now switch wholly and immediately to on-field affairs as they continue their pursuit of Man United in the Premier League.

"It's been a very positive week for everyone connected with the club, but let's hope it's just the first of a number of positive weeks before the end of the season," continued the Scot.

"This season isn't finished yet and it's by no means a foregone conclusion that Manchester United are going to win the league. We gave them a fright at the weekend so the title race is open again, and then on Friday we'll wait to see who we draw in the Champions League. There are still lots to play for and lots to be excited about.

"As Liverpool fans, I think we're just all really happy right now that the boys are performing very well and that Rafa has ended all the speculation about his future by signing his new deal. It's great news."

Benitez To Turn Attention To Players

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's new five-year contract is likely to spark a rush of new deals for several of the club's top stars.

The Spaniard ended months of bitter wrangling over his future by signing a new contract on Wednesday night that will keep him at Anfield until 2014.

But, while Benitez has been in protracted negotiations with co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, many of his top stars have put their own futures on hold.

Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt admits he was advised to wait until Benitez's own deal had been concluded before opening negotiations over his new deal.

And Danish defender Daniel Agger's new contract seemed to have stalled some weeks ago.

There could also be likely new deals for striker Fernando Torres, skipper Steven Gerrard and goalkeeper Jose Reina.

The stability Benitez's own deal will bring to Anfield should also trigger similar commitments from several players, some of whom had privately intimated they would consider their futures if the Spaniard left.

Benitez now has control over the club's transfer budget - one of the concessions he insisted on in his new deal - and that should allow him to secure the long-term futures of several star names.

And he will almost certainly now make another bid this summer to bring Aston Villa's Gareth Barry to Liverpool, having failed to sign the England midfielder last summer after weeks of acrimony with Villa chief Martin O'Neill.

Benitez will now be able to plan Liverpool's future in the long term, and said after signing the new deal: "My heart is with Liverpool, so I'm delighted to sign this new deal.

"I love the club, the fans and the city and, with a club like this and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying.

"I always made clear I wanted to be here for a long time and, when I complete my new contract, it will mean I have spent over a decade in Liverpool.

"The club is greatly respected around the world due to its incredible history and tremendous heritage.

"It is my aim to uphold those values and help create a new chapter in our history. Throughout this process, I would like to thank the owners for their hard work in finalising the deal.

"All of us at the club want the same thing, which is to be successful by winning major trophies."

The completion of contract talks with Benitez is the third major boost for Liverpool fans in recent days, coming after wins against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League.

The 4-1 win at Old Trafford saw Benitez achieve 100 league wins in the third fastest period of time for a Liverpool manager, surpassing Bill Shankly.

Babel Eyeing A Trip To Rome

Ryan Babel has set his sights on a dream appearance in this season's Champions League final in Rome.

The Reds winger enjoyed an impressive display in Liverpool's last outing in the competition during the 4-0 rout of Real Madrid and admits he would love to cap the campaign by showcasing his talents on club football's biggest stage.

"It would be my first time if we went all the way. For a player of my age it would be a dream come true," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"If you want to win the Champions League you have to play them all to be the best, so it doesn't matter who we get in the draw.

"I think we have built a good reputation through some very good performances, so let's see what happens and how the other teams respond if they draw us."

Gamblers Back Manchester United To Meet Liverpool In Champions League

British bookmakers have indicated that they have received a flurry of activity from gamblers who believe Manchester United will be paired with Liverpool in the semi-final of the Champions League.

British-based bookmakers William Hill have announced today that many of their punters are backing a Manchester United - Liverpool semi-final in the Champions League. This follows the English clean-sweep in the round of 16 and the Reds' humbling of United in their recent fixture at Old Trafford.

The bookies also added that Liverpool are the popular choice at present to go all the way in the competition and bring yet another Champions League trophy to the bulging cabinet at Anfield.

Graham Sharpe, a spokesperson for William Hill, is quoted by The Mirror as saying, "Whether they want to bet on the coincidence of United and Liverpool being drawn together after their recent Premier League game, or on the conspiracy theory that some way will be found to keep the Premier League clubs together to lessen the chances of one or two of them reaching the final, is difficult to say, but that's definitely the way punters are thinking."

The odds of a United and Liverpool semi-final are 13/2.

For the Merseyside outfit to win the tournament outright, the price currently offered is 4/1.

There are eight teams left in the current stage of the competition: Arsenal; Barcelona; Chelsea; Bayern; Porto; Liverpool; Manchester United; and Villarreal.

Anfield The Key To Barry's Destiny

Martin O’Neill needs a win at in-form Liverpool to have a chance of keeping Gareth Barry at Aston Villa.

Villa’s current slump has seen them drop out of the Champions League qualifying places and without top European football next season, Barry is likely to leave.

He was close to quitting Villa for Liverpool last summer, but Rafa Benitez was not allowed to increase his £18million offer and O’Neill managed to keep Barry despite a furious row with him.

That has been patched up and Barry has been in impressive form. He pledged to stay with Villa until the end of the season, but left his options open after that.

Villa boss O’Neill is convinced that if his side get into the Champions League, Barry will stay, but that Premier League football will not be enough.

Villa have not won a Premier League game since the beginning of February, losing three times and taking only one point to allow Arsenal to overtake them in fourth place.

O’Neill has banned Barry and former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey from talking before the game at Anfield but after Sunday’s home defeat by Spurs, Barry said: “The defeat was another big blow to our season. There are nine games to go and the advantage definitely lies with Arsenal.

“Arsenal will have been watching, realising that. Nine games to go, level on points, but we are low on confidence. However, we are one game away from a good performance and turning it around again so we cannot worry about it too much. We have to be positive.

“We have two tough fixtures coming up and if we deliver a performance of the season in one of them, it could catapult us to a good finish.”

Albert Riera Would Rather Liverpool Didn't Play Barcelona

Liverpool winger Albert Riera is delighted that his team have seen off one Primera Division giant this season, but would rather not face Real Madrid's great rivals from Catalunya, Barcelona, as the Merseysiders look to reach yet another Champions League final.

Rafa Benitez's men battered los Blancos 4-0 at Anfield last week, triumphing 5-0 on aggregate in the tie, and one might expect such form to create a bullish, confident attitude in the Liverpool camp, a feeling of being able to beat anybody.

Riera, however, is a little more circumspect, and would rather the draw didn't set up a match-up with the Spanish league leaders.

"In these kind of matches you can never say that one team is the favourite," the winger told The Liverpool Echo.

"In the last round we played Real Madrid and a lot of people were saying that they were the best in the world because in their previous ten games they had won eight or nine of them and they had been playing really well also.

"But Liverpool played a really good match against them and were able to beat them."

The Catalans, though, are at a higher level than their counterparts in Madrid, Riera believes, adding, "Barcelona are playing unbelievably well this year – their football is really good and I think people are expecting a lot from them and perhaps expecting them to win four or five nil in every game.

"It is not possible to keep this kind of level for a whole year though, but they are a team who I would prefer not to get in the Champions League draw."

Benayoun Calls Off Mission To Moscow After Rafa Talks Israeli Into Staying At Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun agreed personal terms with Spartak Moscow in the January transfer window - before being talked into staying at Liverpool by Rafa Benitez.

The 28-year-old Israel international was on the brink of moving to Russia when he changed his mind after he was promised more first team football at Anfield.

'Benayoun was our prime target in the winter transfer window,' revealed Spartak general director Valery Karpin yesterday.

'We needed a creative attacking midfielder of his calibre in our squad. He was ready to come and play for Spartak but in the end Benitez did not let him leave Liverpool.'

After the deal fell through, Spartak manager Michael Laudrup turned to Brazil international Alex Meschini, who was bought from Porto Alegre-based club Internacional for £4.35million.

We’re Up For Aston Villa Test - Liverpool FC Star Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt believes Liverpool are ready to turn up the heat in the race for the Premier League title.

Saturday’s stunning 4-1 victory over Manchester United cut the gap at the top to four points and followed hot on the heels of the Reds’ comprehensive demolition of Real Madrid.

The Dutchman admits confidence is sky high in Rafa Benitez’s squad as they prepare for this Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa at Anfield.

And Kuyt insists the Reds now have the belief to go on and win their remaining nine league games.

“The result was a huge lift to the players,” Kuyt said.

“It will still be very difficult to catch United. If they win their game in hand it’ll be seven points, but all we can do is win our own games.

“We are very proud of beating Real Madrid twice and also beating Manchester United away.

“It was an incredible week. We got two very good results against two of the best teams in Europe.

“We enjoyed it and hopefully we can take this form into our next game against Aston Villa.”

United return to action at Fulham on Saturday and Kuyt believes they could find it tough to get over their mauling at the hands of the Reds.

“They have to struggle now and hopefully they will do after that result,” he added.

“We beat them 4-1 so they’re not so happy – let’s hope they take this into the next game.”

Lucas Rejects Reds Rumours

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has dismissed talk that he was considering his future at the club.

Reports emanating from his native Brazil suggested Lucas could seek a move away from Liverpool if he is not playing on a regular basis at Anfield.

However, the Brazilian international has moved to clear up the rumours and insists he is happy at Liverpool.

"I've got three more years to go on my contract and I'm really happy here," Lucas told the club's official website. "My girlfriend is happy in Liverpool and everybody at the club is supporting me. I have never thought about leaving."

Lucas is determined to prove himself at Anfield after coming under fire from some fans this season.

The 22-year-old enjoyed arguably his best performance of the campaign as he replaced Xabi Alonso in midfield for Saturday's 4-1 success over Manchester United.

Lucas believes he is improving as a player and he is hoping to earn the trust of every Liverpool fan by establishing himself as a key player in Rafa Benitez's side.

"I think I'm improving and I have more confidence every day," added Lucas. "The team is playing well too, which also helps. Everyone is on fire - all these things help me.

"I don't think about what some of the people say. I have to concentrate on the team. Rafa always gives me a lot of confidence.

"I know some people don't trust me yet but I will try to show them my quality, and I think I've now started doing that.

"When you have games in a row you get more confidence. You get some rhythm. It is more difficult when you play just one or two games a month but I have to work hard, try to improve every day and try to get to my best level."

Why Mascherano, Not Torres, Is The Real Benítez Masterstroke

Not often does the person sitting at home see more than the spectator in the stadium, but it happened on Saturday when Liverpool beat Manchester United at Old Trafford. A couple of minutes before the kick-off, while the television camera was lingering on the teams lining up in the tunnel, something happened that gave a fascinating portent of the upset to come.

We had just learnt that Alvaro Arbeloa, the Liverpool right-back, had tweaked a hamstring during the warm-up and would not be playing. Rafael Benítez had reconfigured his defence, moving Jamie Carragher from centre-back to fill Arbeloa's position and bringing in Sami Hyypia alongside Martin Skrtel. In the light of the lengthy preparations that would have gone into a fixture of this magnitude – not the match of the season, perhaps, but a very important one to both sides – this represented a serious adjustment.

What the roving camera in the Old Trafford tunnel showed was a little huddle at the rear of the Liverpool line. At the centre of a group of defenders Javier Mascherano was delivering an impassioned speech, complete with heated gesticulations. It was the sort of thing one might have expected to see from Steven Gerrard, the team captain, or from the vastly experienced Hyypia, his predecessor. Two hours later, however, Mascherano had given a display confirming my belief that he rivals Claude Makelele as the best exponent in modern British football of an art to which, even now, too little importance is attached.

Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who ran the United defence ragged and scored a goal apiece, won the battle of the headlines. But it was Mascherano who carved out the space and time in which they could play, as he had done the previous Tuesday night when Liverpool produced the second of their great performances of the season in routing Real Madrid. The first of those great performances came at Stamford Bridge in October, when Liverpool's midfield squeezed the life out of Chelsea and ended the west London club's run of 86 home league matches without defeat. The third came, of course, on Saturday – when, significantly, United took the field without an equivalent player. Mascherano's excellence was a thread running through all three games.

I first saw him in 2004, when he was 20 years old and winning an Olympic gold medal with an Argentina squad including Carlos Tevez and Gabriel Heinze. No one in Britain pays much attention to the Olympic football tournament, for the simple and patently inadequate reason that there are no British representatives. Other nations, however, take it extremely seriously, making it a good opportunity to see young talent on the way up. In Athens, Mascherano, who had made his senior debut for River Plate less than a year earlier, sat in front of the defence and controlled the traffic with a calmness and technical excellence reminiscent of Barcelona's Pep Guardiola.

Four years later in Beijing he was doing much the same thing, this time as an over-age player in a squad including Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero. The impression was the same, and so was the result: another gold medal for a man who by this time had moved from River Plate to Corinthians in Brazil and thence to England, first to West Ham – where Alan Pardew saw fit to give him only seven appearances in half a season – before finding a home at Anfield.

Most people would probably claim that Torres is the best of Benítez's many expensive acquisitions, and the coltish striker is undoubtedly a wonderfully compelling performer who adds a sense of possibility to any match in which he takes part. But my choice would be Mascherano, a player who rose above a set of tangled transfer dealings and above the inability of his first English club to understand exactly what it is that he adds to a team. Benítez could see what Pardew failed to spot, and spent £18m on a player whose contribution is proving to be priceless.

In the absence of Xabi Alonso, his usual partner at the base of midfield, Mascherano's tackles, his interceptions and his distribution laid the solid foundation for Saturday's tumultuous victory. His competitiveness and his footballing intelligence were on full view as he fetched and harried with marvellous humility and unfailing relevance. Nobody writes poems about such players, but they should.

Rotating Rafa Will Pay For Not Running Liverpool The Bob Paisley Way

Thirty years ago, when Liverpool won their 11th league title under Bob Paisley, the most successful manager in the history of the club, they achieved it using 15 players.

Four of them (Ray Clemence, Kenny Dalglish, Ray Kennedy and Phil Neal) played all 42 league games in a season when they lost just four times in the league, scoring 85 goals and conceding just 16.

Of those 15 players, some barely got a look in as Paisley sent out the same team, winning the league in old money by eight points.

Super sub David Fairclough made just 10 appearances and Sammy Lee, now back at Anfield as a coach, two.

Squad rotation had not been invented back then and the idea of Liverpool employing nearly 70 professional footballers in order to choose seven for the substitutes' bench would have been absurd.

Despite an early exit from the European Cup (knocked out by Nottingham Forest in the first round), they played 54 competitive matches (42 in the league, seven in the FA Cup, two in the European Super Cup, and one in the League Cup) using only 16 players. Of those, Sammy Lee and goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic made just one start each.

To put Liverpool's achievements under Paisley into context, a season when they also lost an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United after a replay, the maximum number of games they will play this season is 58.

There was no such thing as fixture congestion, with five friendlies arranged during the season against Saudi Arabia (where Dalglish scored the only goal), Swansea City at Anfield, Werder Bremen, Bangor and Borussia Moenchengladbach.

When Paisley retired in 1983, he had captured six league titles and three European Cups, boasting a 56 per cent win record that was the envy of modern football.

Today, Rafael Benitez complains that Liverpool do not have the resources to compete with Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Why then, does he argue for 11 substitutes instead of seven, something that will only benefit the club with the biggest pull.

According to Benitez, who incidentally has the same 56 per cent win record at Anfield as Paisley, Liverpool's best XI can match United's best XI, a statement given credence with their fabulous 4-1 victory at Old Trafford last Saturday.

One of the problems is that Benitez rarely plays his best team, making 90 changes in just 29 league games this season. He will inevitably reach a century before the close of play.

Since he arrived in English football, Benitez has used 30 players in the Premier League in 2004/05, 24 in 2005/06, 29 in 2006/07, 28 in 2007/08 and 23 so far this season.

He has kept the same team just twice in the league this season, for games against Stoke and Everton in January, just as Liverpool's title challenge was beginning to fade.

Hardly the model of consistency.

The majority of the 60 odd professionals will never get a look in at Anfield, not nearly good enough for a team still waiting for their first league title since 1990.

Benitez complains that they cannot compete with United, the team who spent £30m on Dimitar Berbatov last summer as Sir Alex Ferguson made improvements to a team who were already champions at home and abroad.

Those constraints did not stop Benitez spending £24m on Fernando Torres, hailed the best striker in the world by Steven Gerrard last weekend, or £17m on Robbie Keane.

United spent £12.5m on Cristiano Ronaldo when they signed him from Sporting and he went on to become the best player in the world.

In previous eras, under the old boot room mentality of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Dalglish, the league was always the bread and butter, with the belief that if they are consistent over 42 matches other trophies will follow.

When Dalglish was asked why Liverpool were so consistent, he replied: 'Because we are playing better more often.'

They were unstoppable. One impressive win in the Premier League against United last weekend and now there is talk again of Liverpool catching them.

Before last week's game, Gerrard claimed that if he only won one more trophy in his career, then he would willingly sacrifice all his medals for the league title.

Jamie Carragher, scandalously sent to play right back at times this season because of injuries, speaks in similar vein: 'It is time we won it.'

That will never happen, not while Benitez continues to change his team according to the opposition. There is no continuity at the club, with frequent changes another accident waiting to happen, as they were when they lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough on Feb 28.

In times gone by, Liverpool allowed the opposition to worry about them, picking the strongest available team and winning league titles year in, year out. Under Benitez that is no longer the case.

It has certainly been a good week for Liverpool's manager, earning the right to have another crack at it again next season following the 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the Champions League and a spectacular win at Old Trafford.

They have a world class training facility at Melwood, a trophy cabinet that is envy of most clubs in Europe and a team that is capable of winning big matches.

United have the greater financial resources, but the traditions and history of Liverpool should still count for something.

Sir Dave Richards Backs Liverpool's Plea On Hillsborough Anniversary

Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards has thrown his weight behind Liverpool's call to avoid playing a Champions League game on the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Richards, who was at the ill-fated semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday's ground on April 15, 1989, presented a simple but compelling case as to why Liverpool should be allowed to concentrate on commemoration rather than competing for a semi-final berth.

"Liverpool shouldn't be playing on the anniversary of Hillsborough out of respect, more than anything, for the people that died, and we should keep that respect in football," said the former Wednesday chairman.

"Being involved with Sheffield Wednesday for a lot of years it has been a big thing in my life. I was at the game and I don't think that anyone will ever forget what happened that day.

"I was on the pitch. I had two doctors as my guests at the game and we all went down on to the pitch. It was very difficult and it took a long time to get over what happened but that tragedy drove me on to try to make things better."

He added: "I was an ordinary fan and came on to the Wednesday board the following June. It was a turning point for me because I became involved in football because of the Hillsborough disaster.

"It was a major turning point for the game in general thanks to Lord Justice Taylor with all-seater stadia and the way we come in and go out of grounds. It's a very significant date. A lot of great things have happened since and we have to do what we can to remember that."

The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals will be staged in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, and the presence of four English clubs in the last eight is the source of immense pride for Richards.

"I feel terrifically proud because I'm also chairman of the European leagues," said Richards. "It's a fantastic achievement and we do take a bit of stick about our teams dominating Europe but it's a terrific accolade for English football."

Richards spoke after handing over a £30,000 donation of behalf of the Premier League to the Sunderland AFC Foundation for their work at the 'Barclays Spaces for Sport' site, the Washington Millennium Centre, Tyne and Wear.

Andrea Dossena: I Will Discuss My Liverpool Future With Benitez

Andrea Dossena has certainly been a positive influence for Liverpool. In two substitute appearances against Real Madrid and Manchester United, he scored two well-taken goals, making his presence known at the club after an anonymous beginning to his career in England following his transfer from Udinese.

"After a difficult start, now I am doing well here,” he told UEFA’s official website. “I will discuss my future with [manager Rafael] Benitez and with the club - then we'll see.

"My goals in Madrid and Manchester? They are just rewards for the sacrifices I made during a difficult first season. It has not been easy to get into this team. However, I always trained hard, even in difficult times."

Despite his willingness to stay on with the Reds, the 27-year-old would not rule out a return to Italy.

"I have a three year contract and I'm fine,” he said. “Of course, I think about my own country, you can never say never.”

Dossena will be hoping for a call from Italian national team coach Marcello Lippi as he aims to be included in the squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers at the end of the month.

Liverpool & Manchester City Eyeing Chelsea's Michael Mancienne

Premier League duo Liverpool and Manchester City are keeping tabs on Michael Mancienne's situation at Chelsea, according to a report in The Times.

The versatile defender's contract is set to expire at the end of next season but it is suggested that he may be open to a move away from the west London club this summer.

Although the England Under-21 international is due to begin contract negotiations with the Blues, it is thought that he is becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of first-team playing time.

Therefore, the 6ft defender might take notice of any offers from Liverpool or Manchester City at the end of this season should they promise to give him regular first-team football.

Having returned to Chelsea from a loan spell at Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he made 10 appearances earlier this season, Mancienne has played four times for the Blues since February 14.

Torres Has Pushed Gerrard To Another Level

Former Liverpool player Gary McAllister has backed Zinedine Zidane’s claims that Steven Gerrard is the best player in the world at the moment.

The Scot, who won the UEFA Cup, League Cup and FA Cup the sensational 2000-2001 season made clear his admiration for the England international and hinted that the arrival of Fernando Torres has pushed Gerrard to become an even better midfielder.

Speaking to liverpoolfc.tv, McAllister stated, “Someone like Lionel Messi at Barcelona can put together wonderful pieces of skill, there is no doubt about that.

"Steven is a different type of player, but I don't think there is anyone who influences their team more than him. Or the players around him for that matter.

"He drives the team forward and you've seen that again with his performances over the last week. He has been phenomenal. I read what Zidane said and it's hard to disagree.

"There is still plenty of improving in him because he never settles for what he has got. He's not 30 for another year and a bit and, with the hunger he has, he will keep pushing himself – and Liverpool."

"I definitely think the arrival of Fernando Torres at Liverpool has elevated Steven's game again.

"Their partnership and understanding has been there from day one and you can tell by watching them when they are on the pitch together just how much they like partnering each other. A lot of the time their first instinct is to look for one another and that underlines the trust they have.

"The phrase 'world class' is bandied about too often nowadays, but you would have to say those two are.

"Steven has been given licence to roam but his best work still comes from central areas. There was the debate about where he was playing a couple of seasons ago and people don't mention it now.

"But the penalty he won at Old Trafford came because he broke forward from a central role, not from out wide."

Keane: Rafa And I Did Not Suit Each Other

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane reckons he would have become a better player at Liverpool if Rafael Benitez had not been the manager.

Keane endured a torrid time on Merseyside following his switch from Spurs last summer and moved back to White Hart Lane after finding himself surplus to requirements at Anfield.

Keane regularly found himself on the substitute’s bench and failed to score enough to justify claims for a first team place under Benitez.

He eventually re-joined Tottenham in the January transfer window and has scored two goals in his last three games for Harry Redknapp's side.

And Keane reckons he would have enjoyed a better time at Liverpool if there was a different manager in charge.

"I do believe with a different manager it would have worked for me," Keane told Icon magazine.

"Different managers have different methods and some have different ideas than those you are used to or believe in."

"People have their own opinions of Benitez. I have nothing against him and will leave people to make their own minds up about him.

"When you've been around for a while as a player, all you want is a bit of respect and to be treated the way you feel you deserve to be."

Liverpool Begin Hunt For Rick Parry's Successor

Several firms will be consulted including Paul Nolan, whose company identified new Football Association chief executive Ian Watmore, and Simon Cummins, of Odgers, who has been involved in several high-profile sports appointments in recent years.

Gillett's hands-on involvement in the process is a clear indication that, like co-owner Tom Hicks, he is planning to remain involved with the club in the medium term.

Both owners have been involved in discussions with potential investors in recent months but the depth of the recession has prompted a growing acknowledgement that an imminent sale of either man's stake in the club is unlikely.

Gillett rejected a recent attempt by Kuwaiti investors the Al-Kharafi family to secure his stake at a knock-down price, and he is understood to remain committed to the club. Relations with Hicks are also said to have improved significantly in recent weeks and the pair will work together on the chief executive appointment.

With a measure of equilibrium in the boardroom, the most destabilising influence at Anfield is Rafael Benitez and his failure to sign a new contract. The owners have met all his demands and the contract has been redrafted at least eight times, but still he refuses to sign.

With every day that passes the suspicion grows that the Spaniard is stalling in anticipation of an offer from Real Madrid, and will use the uncertainty over Liverpool's future ownership as an excuse should he decide to walk.

Cruyff: Everyone Now Fears Liverpool

Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has admitted the club would fear facing Liverpool in the Champions League after their exploits this week.

Liverpool’s season had been threatening to end in disappointment after some disappointing results, but last week’s 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid was followed by a 4-1 victory over Manchester United and there is now a renewed sense of optimism at Anfield.
Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness admitted recently that he felt Liverpool were the team to avoid in the quarter-finals, and Cruyff has now said that no one will want to be drawn against Rafa Benitez’s side.

“For sure, many of those who feared playing against Manchester [United] don’t want to face Liverpool from now on because of the way their demolished Madrid and then hammered United,” he wrote in his blog for El Periodico.

“They were two convincing and prestigious victories, but each was different.

“Against Madrid, Liverpool went on the pitch to attack and press them. Against Manchester, they went shoulder to shoulder and the game finally turned their way thanks to one incident: Vidic’s dismissal and the direct free-kick.

“Against Manchester United, Benitez felt comfortable with a more defensive team that was always together so that they could intercept the ball and play fast on the break.”

However, while Cruyff is particularly keen to avoid Liverpool, he admits there could be serious problems whoever they face.

“Playing against Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea won’t be easy, especially since Hiddink arrived,” he said.

“Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Porto are put in the ‘if we play them, we go through for sure’ box, but we should be careful of this idea in the dressing room, because no second-rate clubs are remaining.”

Benitez Hails Liverpool As 'Best In Europe'

The Spaniard believes that recent giant-killing results, together with his side's track-record in the Champions League, prove that Liverpool are the best of the best.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is not fazed by the fact that the Premier League crown, Champions League trophy, and FIFA World Club championship are all proudly on display in Manchester United's trophy cabinet.

The FIFA World Player of the Year and individual accolade accumulator - Cristiano Ronaldo - is also on the books there, yet Benitez believes his Liverpool side are the "best in Europe" following his club's 4-1 mauling of United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Despite Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo opening the scoring in favour of the Mancunians, Liverpool pegged United back through a flurry of goals from Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Fabio Aurelio, and Andrea Dossena.

The win capped a triumphant week for Benitez's men as they also slayed Spanish heavyweight opposition Real Madrid by four goals to nil and, had it not been for Iker Casillas, the scoreline could have been even more emphatic.

Given the Reds' track record in the Champions League - they have made two finals in the past five years, winning it on one of those occasions to add to the club's previous four triumphs - Benitez believes it is his side, not Sir Alex Ferguson's, who can claim to be the cream of the crop on the continent.

He is quoted by The Sun as saying, "I believe Liverpool have been the best team in Europe for the last five years. We have beaten Real Madrid and Manchester United in the same week - if we can beat them, we can beat anybody."

Talismanic captain Steven Gerrard is hoping that other sides will take heed from the manner in which Liverpool overcame Manchester United.

Gerrard said, "We will need a little bit of luck along the way but hopefully that gives teams that are going to play against Manchester United a bit of belief that they can be beaten."

Manchester United's heavy defeat against Liverpool was the worst inflicted upon them at Old Trafford by their north-west rivals since the 1930s.

Uefa Looks To Avoid Liverpool FC Clash On Hillsborough Anniversary

Michel Platini has promised Liverpool that Uefa are keen to avoid forcing the club to play the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

The anniversary falls on April 15, which is one of the two dates set aside for the second legs of the quarter-finals, the other being the previous day.

Uefa president Platini has not guaranteed Liverpool will not be asked to play on April 15 but said European’s governing body would “do our utmost” to avoid the scenario.

Uefa yesterday issued a statement reacting to reports claiming they had rejected an appeal by Liverpool to avoid playing on the anniversary date.

Platini said: “We are aware of the huge significance of the April 15 date for Liverpool FC and their fans, and that is why we will do our utmost to make sure the club does not have to play on that day.

“I have been in regular correspondence with Liverpool FC for some time now and fully sympathise with the club’s feelings as to the importance of respecting the date of April 15 for those who lost their lives at Hillsborough.

“This being the 20th anniversary of that tragic disaster in 1989 makes it even more relevant and we will take this into account.”

The Champions League quarter-final draw takes place on Friday.

Alan Hansen's Column

Liverpool's magnificent victory at Old Trafford may not have totally turned the tide of the Premier League title race - but it has achieved a major objective of at least making Manchester United think.

It was a result and, just as significantly, a performance that will give everybody at Liverpool total belief in what manager Rafael Benitez is doing and huge optimism that the club is genuinely moving forward.

The title is still Manchester United's to lose and they remain overwhelming favourites. We must not forget how well they have played this season before Saturday, so to suggest one defeat is suddenly going to send them off the rails is nonsense.

From the point of view of United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson, there will be a mixture of emotions contained within what will be an uneasy week of inactivity for the side chasing an historic quintuple.

They are lucky that they have some recovery time because they have looked a little weary in their last couple of games but they are also unlucky in that after a defeat on such a scale, you want to get out there as quickly as possible to try to put it right.

If United beat Fulham in their next game everything goes away but if they do not - and I am only speaking from experience - then we all know things can change quickly in big-time football. United, however, are still right there in pole position, with the smart money going on them to retain their crown.

As I said, Liverpool's win hardly balances the title on a knife-edge but if you are chasing the leaders all you can do is keep putting pressure on them and they did that in the most emphatic fashion imaginable on Saturday.

It was a triumph for Benitez - as was the 4-0 victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League - and let me tell you no-one will want to draw Liverpool in that competition. These games also illustrated that Liverpool are at their best, their most formidable, when they impose themselves on opposition rather than wait to see what they do first.

And in Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, Liverpool had two truly world-class performers delivering at the highest level. Liverpool have really missed them in their injury absences this season.

The truly outstanding performers in any team are missed when they can score a crucial goal or play a killer pass that changes a game but when those two players also have the lightning pace that Torres and Gerrard provide, then that increases the problems.

When you look at the great players English football has produced, I think many people are now realising just how good Gerrard is and Saturday was simply another demonstration of that fact.

Gerrard has been an unbelievable player for Liverpool for five or six years now, almost a one-man team at times. It is not only his ability and consistency, it is his priceless knack of winning and saving matches and the sheer energy he puts into every game.

Torres is also a fantastic footballer but when you are starting with any player at Liverpool there is only one - and that is Gerrard every time.

What we saw from Torres at Old Trafford was a superb example of the striker's art and how even the world's best defenders can be unsettled by the speed of thought and limb that he can produce. In this instance, Nemanja Vidic was the unfortunate man to suffer.

Just like my old colleague Ian Rush used to do, Torres forces defenders into mistakes and you are talking about a world-class player here in Vidic.

Liverpool's equaliser was a case in point. Vidic normally just goes and eats everything up, gets every ball but the presence of Torres made him think for a split second about how he would deal with a speculative long clearance. It was a fatal hesitation and Torres pounced to score a crucial goal.

Vidic started to think about what he was doing instead of just doing it - and as a former defender I sympathise with him because I know exactly how he feels.

You start watching the man instead of the ball, wondering where he is and what he is going to do. It affects your decision-making and this was what Torres and Liverpool exploited so ruthlessly.

Rush used to do it to me in training all the time. I would be looking at him rather than the ball - it has a psychological as well as footballing affect on your game because suddenly the seeds of doubt have been planted in your mind.

Chelsea also took advantage of Liverpool beating United, with their win against Manchester City on Sunday putting them back into second place and, just like Liverpool, they will still harbour hopes of winning the title.

Coach Guus Hiddink has got them back doing what they do best. They are very methodical, very well-disciplined and well-marshalled. They have got Ricardo Carvalho back in central defence and the return of Michael Essien is huge for them.

The race for fourth place has now switched back in Arsenal's favour after they beat Blackburn and Aston Villa lost at home to Tottenham.

One of the main talking points of Villa's defeat was the fact that striker Gabriel Agbonlahor was booed by some of his own fans when he was substituted in the second half. Martin O'Neill has publicly declared his unhappiness about the incident and I have to say I sympathise totally with both manager and player.

It is not just the fact Agbonlahor got stick that is disappointing, it is the irony that he has played such a major part in getting them where they are in the Premier League.

He has looked a little jaded recently but he worked tirelessly in the early months of the season to try to keep Villa's bid for a Champions League place on track.

I think it is very harsh but is a symptom of the fact that when you give any football fans a taste of success they want more. It becomes like a drug to them and they become frustrated when things do not go as they wish.

O'Neill will be lifting Agbonlahor and his players after a disappointing spell. He has done a magnificent job at Villa Park and if there is a manager who can rally that team, it is Martin.

I would have to say, though, that I fancy Arsenal to clinch that fourth Champions League place now because they are starting to play well and get big players back.

Hyypia: 'Liverpool FC Still Believe The Title Can Be Ours'

Sami Hyypia believes Liverpool would have thrown in the towel if they didn’t believe they could still win the title.

The Anfield outfit breathed new life into the championship race with their emphatic 4-1 win at leaders Manchester United over the weekend.

Despite the defeat, United hold a healthy four-point advantage over both second-placed Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand.

With Rafael Benitez’s side having only nine Premier League games left, time is running out to overhaul the champions. But Hyypia is convinced nobody in the Liverpool squad will surrender their title dream until it is mathematically impossible.

“We needed to win this game and we did,” said the 35-year-old. “Everyone is happy with the result and I’m sure a few of the other teams will be happy too.

“But United are still four points ahead with a game in hand. It’s going to be difficult to think about the title but we’ll keep fighting until the end and see what happens.

“We can’t control how they do so we just need to concentrate on ourselves and hope they drop some points.

“If we didn’t believe then we might as well stop the season now. You have to believe you still have a chance. We have to do our best and win our games, and maybe Man United will drop points in some of their games and we can take advantage.”

Hyypia was a star performer on Saturday despite revealing he had just 60 seconds to prepare for Liverpool’s biggest game of the season.

An injury to Alvaro Arbeloa in the warm-up at Old Trafford has prompted Benitez into an emergency reshuffle with Jamie Carragher moving across to right-back and Hyypia coming in to partner Martin Skrtel at centre-back.

And Hyypia added: “Five minutes before kick-off I did not know that I would be playing but the manager made the decision that I would start one minute before we came out because Arbeloa had a problem with his hamstring.

“He felt it in the warm up and they said to me to be ready because maybe I would have to go on but I hadn’t really done a good warm up and I was wondering how the first few minutes would go.

“But I got into the game quite quickly and it was okay after that.”

Liverpool’s historic win at Old Trafford – their biggest win at United since 1936 – came just four days after Real Madrid were thrashed 4-0 in the Champions League.

And Hyypia admits he has not experienced as enjoyable a week since the FA Cup and Uefa Cup were won eight years ago.

“It’s been a good week,” said the veteran, who arrived at Anfield in 1999. “I can’t think of a week like this since in 2001 when we won a few cups in one week.”

Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, whose calf problem ruled him out at the weekend, are both expected to be available for Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa.

Manchester United Are In Danger Of Blowing Title Race, Says Liverpool Legend Phil Thompson

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson believes that Manchester United are in real danger of blowing the title.

The former Anfield No.2 says Liverpool can still win the Premier League after their thumping win at Old Trafford showed United have "chinks in their armour".

Thompson insists United have no chance of winning the Quintuple and says Liverpool have an easier run-in, giving Rafa Benitez a genuine chance of clawing back Sir Alex Ferguson's lead at the top.

Thompson said: "It was comfortable. Sir Alex was right when he said it was not a 4-1 defeat, it wasn't - maybe it was only 3-1.

"Liverpool have had two wins over United and beaten Chelsea. It's been fantastic and now we just have to get our home form sorted out.

"But it gives not only Liverpool the chance to say 'we have got a small chance of winning the title' but everybody else as well because Manchester United look as though they are cracking up. You look at it from a professional point of view and it was the things that happened in the Inter Milan game.

"Defensively, United have been so strong but there were chinks in the armour in midweek against Inter and I think those frailties were there then and that's what sets doubts.

"That maybe leaves you thinking 'well, maybe these things add up' and Sir Alex will have been looking at that and Liverpool took full advantage.

"They were hot. There was a love - in with Fernando Torres.

"Manchester United are an excellent side but just looking at what's happened in the past week gives a glimmer of hope to, dare I say it, Chelsea, and definitely Liverpool.

"We've got Aston Villa next week then after that the last eight games are extremely kind to Liverpool.

"Yes, we've got Arsenal at home but it's fantastic and if things can just change a little, Liverpool can win their games and take advantage.

"But it's those home games against the lesser teams - Liverpool have got to take advantage.

"When the teams see the 'This is Anfield' sign, they should know that they are going to be put under pressure from the first second, let alone the first minute, and that's what they have got to do."

Thompson has called on Liverpool boss Benitez to sign a new contract after weeks of stalling and he claims that boost could push his former club over the finishing line.

Thompson told talk-SPORT: "I've said it for quite a while but it would be extremely difficult for United to win them all.

"I don't think you can win all five and that's not with my red nose on.

"It will be a tall order for Liverpool now but that's why they had to win at Old Trafford and it's given them a glimmer of hope.

Manchester United are still in the box seat and it's theirs to lose.

"But Rafa has had a fantastic week and wouldn't it be great if, seven days on from the win over Real Madrid, for him to sign his contract.

"I think and I hope that he will sign. But he should get it done and let common sense prevail.

"Yes, it's his contract but this is Liverpool Football Club and he needs to do it ASAP."

Spearing Set For Contract Talks

Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing is to hold discussions at Anfield regarding a contract extension, skysports.com understands.

The 20-year-old impressed as a second-half substitute in last week's thrashing of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, offering a sign of his potential.

And that form is thought to have made manager Rafa Benitez keen to secure Spearing's long-term future.

The youngster made his competitive first-team debut in December 2008, coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 Champions League win against PSV Eindhoven.

Spearing was the captain of the Liverpool Under-18 side who won the FA Youth Cup in 2007.

Lucas Ponders Liverpool Departure

Brazilian Lucas Leiva admits he might not be able to continue being a squad player at Liverpool as he wants his international place back.

The 22-year-old midfielder is very highly regarded in his homeland and already has three full caps to his name.

But his displays for Liverpool have not endeared him to the Anfield faithful and many do not consider him to be capable of competing with the likes of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano for a central midfield berth.

Whilst Rafa Benitez looks to have a great deal of faith in the former Gremio star, the player himself admits he cannot afford to be kicking his heels on the sidelines if he wants to cement his place in Dunga's Brazil squad.

"I think I have played a lot, but the competition for places here is very high," he told Folha online. "The situation doesn't really worry me, but my objective has always been to play in order to make sure I am back with the national side.

"Once the season is over, I will have to see what is the best option for me.

"It is the World Cup next year and I will have to push to get this chance and you have to be playing to get called up."

Lucas has seen himself drop out of Brazil squad and he admits he does not know why Dunga axed him.

"I can't really explain what happened, but Dunga makes his own decisions," he said. "I was in the squad in the last four World Cup qualifiers and played against Bolivia, when the team didn't play well.

"I believe that I'm part of a list of 30 or 40 players, but I'm out of the 22-men squad."

Liverpool's Adam Pepper Nets Xabi Alonso-Style Goal

Adam Pepper'S lob from the half-way line was only enough to earn Liverpool under-18s a point as they drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday.

Captain Joe Kennedy had leveled for Liverpool level after Blackburn had taken the lead. Then 17-year-old midfielder Pepper put Hugh McAuley's side 2-1 ahead on 55 minutes with a Xabi Alonso-style effort that deserved to be a match-winning strike. Sadly Blackburn hit back to earn a point.

Blackburn took the lead on 35 minutes when Michael Hall fired in after a quick breakaway.

Three minutes after the break, though, Kennedy came in at the back post to head in the equaliser from Pepper's corner. And soon after McAuley's side took the lead when the Liverpool-born Pepper scored his superb effort to deceive the keeper with a lob from around 45 yards.

But on 64 minutes Rovers equalised when Tom Hitchcock pounced to score.

McAuley felt his side should have won, but he said: "It was a good game and a good performance. It was a decent game of football because I thought they played well also.

"We were 1-0 down but came back and led. The goals were two individual mistakes and that cost us the result. It was a game we should have won. We had a lot of the possession and created some decent chances."

Liverpool will look to return to winning ways at Leeds United this Saturday (kick-off 11am) and will play Birmingham City in the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup. Birmingham went through courtesy of a 1-0 win at St Andrews last night.

The first leg will be at Anfield with the second leg in Birmingham, but not dates have been finalised.

The other two-legged semi-final will see holders Manchester City take on six-time winners Arsenal, with the first leg at Eastlands tomorrow.

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Hansen; Scott, Wisdom, Kennedy, Buchtmann; Amoo, Roberts, Pepper, Ince; Eccleston, Clair (Robinson 66). Subs: Cooper, Chamberlain, Roberts-Nurse.