Riise Quiet On Toon Talk

Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has refused to comment on speculation linking him with a summer move to Newcastle, according to the player's representative.

The Norwegian international, who is also capable of playing in midfield, has fallen out of favour at Anfield this season with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez preferring the pairing of Fabio Aurelio and Ryan Babel on the Reds' left-hand side.

However, Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan is rumoured to be an admirer of Riise, who joined Liverpool from Monaco in 2001 for £4.6million.

Keegan is understood to be keen to bolster his shaky defence in the summer after shipping 57 goals so far this term.

However, Riise's representative - Jan Kvalheim - insists the 27-year-old, who has also been linked with a move to Aston Villa, will not add weight to the speculation.

"This is just speculation and John Arne will not comment on this," Kvalheim told the Dagbladet website.

Xavi And Javier Ready To Lock Down United

Xabi Alonso hailed Rafa Benitez's latest tactical reshuffle and claimed one of its less spectacular spin-offs could prove the key to stifling Manchester United's title charge on Sunday.

Goals have been flowing since Benitez unleashed Steven Gerrard in an attacking role just behind Fernando Torres. This has helped resurgent Liverpool score 15 times in their last five Barclays Premier League games.

But as the title race approaches its most momentous 24 hours so far, with Chelsea facing Arsenal soon after Liverpool go to Old Trafford, Alonso described how his new role alongside Javier Mascherano could be just as influential in maintaining his side's recent revival.

Torres and Gerrard have proved a potent force up front but the way Alonso and Mascherano drop anchor behind them may have just as big a say in the outcome of one of the season's biggest clashes, according to the Spain midfielder.

'I am enjoying the partnership with Javier and feel it is working really well,' he said. 'Javier has so many great qualities that bring so much to the way we play. He holds his position really well, is very strong physically when he is challenging another player and is a great team player.

'It is new for us, playing together like this, but we are managing the situation quite well and building up a good understanding that should get even better as we go along.'

Alonso: Torres Loves The Big Stage

Xabi Alonso believes Fernando Torres can realise his full potential at Liverpool after being stifled by the goldfish bowl at Atletico Madrid.

Torres is enjoying a dream maiden season in the Barclays Premier League following his £20million-plus summer switch from the Spanish capital.

His winner against Reading on Saturday made him the first Reds player to score 20 league goals in a season since Robbie Fowler 12 years previously.

Club and international team-mate Alonso thinks the striker is getting better and better, and doubts whether he could have made such progress had he remained at his boyhood club.

"Fernando has improved,'' Alonso said on liverpoolfc.tv.”He has got rid of the pressure he had at Atletico Madrid.

"He is feeling really comfortable playing with his team-mates at Liverpool and because of this he is getting better and better each day, which is good news for the team.

"He has settled into the Premier League very quickly and that is encouraging because it can be difficult coming into a new league.

"He has shown he is not afraid of the physical contact here, with defenders trying to put him off, and that is really important.''

Reds boss Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can still have an impact on the Premier League title race - and he is happy with them being forgotten for now.

Benitez's men are eight points behind the pace but still have Manchester United and Arsenal to play before the end of the campaign.

"How near we finish to the top now will be interesting,'' Benitez said.”We have been criticised this season, but let us see where we are in three or four weeks.

"We have important games and if we win them we will be a lot closer. If we can beat Manchester United we will be closer to the top, and that will give us more confidence.

"If we beat Everton after that then we will be closer still. Maybe, maybe we can be closer if we do not talk too much about it.

"Do we have a point to prove? Maybe, but only if we can keep winning three points.

We All Fear Special Fernando Torres, Admits Messi

Barcelona star Lionel Messi admits Liverpool’s Champions League rivals fear the “special” talent of Fernando Torres.

The Spaniard has been a major success since arriving at Anfield from Atletico Madrid in the summer, his weekend winner against Reading taking his season’s tally to 27 goals in 36 games.

Following last week’s draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, Barcelona and Liverpool cannot meet in the Champions League until the final in Moscow on May 21.

And Messi has pinpointed Torres, who scored the only goal of Liverpool’s triumph at Inter Milan last week, as a major threat.

“Manchester United are very good and Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player who I watch a lot,” said Messi. “The other top English teams – Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool – are capable of success too, because they have special players like Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres.

“The best Premier League clubs also have the experience of doing well in the Champions League.”

Torres has also been backed by compatriot and Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso.

“Fernando has improved,” said the midfielder. “He has got rid of the pressure he had at Atletico Madrid. He is feeling really comfortable playing with his team-mates at Liverpool and because of this he is getting better and better each day, which is good news for the team.

“He has settled into the Premier League very quickly and that is encouraging because it can be difficult coming into a new league.

“He has shown he is not afraid of the physical contact here, with defenders trying to put him off, and that is really important.”

Liverpool take on Arsenal in an all-English quarter-final tie next month, while Barcelona face off against German underdogs Schalke.

Before then, Rafael Benitez’s side have a pair of crucial Premier League outings against local rivals Manchester United and Everton as they strive to ensure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification for next season.

The Anfield outfit visit United on Sunday hoping to improve on a record under Benitez of drawing one and losing six of their previous seven league meetings against United. No Liverpool player has scored during those games, but having accrued seven straight victories, Alonso believes Benitez’s side are in good shape to end that duck.

“We are in a good moment, playing well and scoring goals, and now we have to think of the next game against Man United,” said the midfielder.

“It is going to be a big game, playing at Old Trafford, we know their qualities but we are really looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Lucas Leiva has jumped to the defence of Benitez’s rotation policy – and believes it has helped him settle in at Anfield.

The young Brazilian midfielder has enjoyed an encouraging first season since arriving from homeland club Gremio for £6million.

And Lucas said: “I must admit I suffered a bit when I first came to England. But then I realised that there was nothing to be intimidated by, everybody had two legs, we were all equal.

“I managed to get over this when I realised what I had already achieved. I had done big things like being selected for Brazil. Now, I have settled in and everyone has treated me well since I arrived. The manager, Rafa Benitez, has a philosophy whereby he likes to rotate, sometimes four players from game to game. And this has worked to my advantage.”

Liverpool FC Will Determine Outcome Of Premier League Race, Says Rafa Benitez

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can still have an impact on the Barclays Premier League title race - and he is happy with them being forgotten for now.

Benitez’s men are eight points behind the pace but still have Manchester United and Arsenal to play before the end of the campaign.

“How near we finish to the top now will be interesting,” the Reds boss told liverpoolfc.tv. “We have been criticised this season, but let us see where we are in three or four weeks.

“We have important games and if we win them we will be a lot closer. If we can beat Manchester United we will be closer to the top, and that will give us more confidence.

“If we beat Everton after that then we will be closer still. Maybe, maybe we can be closer if we do not talk too much about it.

“Do we have a point to prove? Maybe, but only if we can keep winning three points.”

Midfielder Xabi Alonso is also confident, particularly with striker Fernando Torres in good form.

“Fernando has improved,” Alonso said. “He has got rid of the pressure he had at Atletico Madrid.

“He is feeling really comfortable playing with his team-mates at Liverpool and because of this he is getting better and better each day, which is good news for the team.

“He has settled into the Premier League very quickly and that is encouraging because it can be difficult coming into a new league.

“He has shown he is not afraid of the physical contact here, with defenders trying to put him off, and that is really important.”