Liverpool Can't Rush Steven Gerrard’s Recovery - Fernando Torres

Liverpool managed to survive - thrive even - without Fernando Torres while he was out with a hamstring problem. It's taking some time to get him back to full fitness, although he did look sharp for an hour of Spain's 2-0 win over England in midweek.

Reds skipper Steven Gerrard missed that game because he's also suffering with a gammy hamstring. However, 'El Nino' is less confident about his side’s ability to cope without their midfield talisman.

Nevertheless, he doesn't want the Anfield club to force Gerrard's recovery ahead of schedule.

"Stevie doesn't have a substitute at Liverpool," he is quoted by ESPN has having admitted. "It's his name [that is] first on the team-sheet then ten others [follow].

"Stevie is the lad every great side has - our leader, the one-club man.

"Still, I know from experience that hamstring problems are risky. If you get one, there's nothing you can do but let it repair."

Liverpool have a massive Champions League clash coming up against Real Madrid and are looking to stay in touch in terms of the Premier League title race. ‘Stevie G’ and Torres were starting to operate well as a tandem again, however, boss Rafael Benitez will have to wait longer to have his two top men playing together at full fitness.

Liverpool Stopper Daniel Agger Admits Manchester United Are 'Scary'

Daniel Agger has been astounded by the Red Devils’ consistency and, as a result, he is aware that Liverpool have to stop dropping so many points.

Liverpool's Danish defender Daniel Agger has taken enough time out from pondering his murky Anfield future to notice that Manchester United are steaming ahead at the top of the Premier League.

The Red Devils are on a mind-boggling run of clean sheets and have been virtually unstoppable since Christmas, enjoying the kind of surge that Sir Alex Ferguson promised.

Agger told Ekstra Bladet, "I take my hat off to United. They have shown scary strength and have many strings to play on.

"They are the most stable [team in the league] and they win [many of] their close games."

Liverpool's visit to Old Trafford on March 14 could prove a pivotal fixture in the title race. Agger has already pinpointed this but has urged his team-mates to improve upon recent results in the meantime.

"If we want to keep our chances for the trophy alive we can't draw in so many games,” he asserted.

"Manchester United could be five points ahead of us if they win next Wednesday's game against Fulham.

"Because of that, we will have to beat them at Old Trafford."

Liverpool FC Need To Keep Heat On Man United

Pepe Reina believes Liverpool cannot afford to fall too far behind Manchester United ahead of the crunch clash between the pair next month.

Rafael Benitez’s side face the champions at Old Trafford on March 14 for a meeting that could go some way towards determining the destiny of this season’s Premier League crown.

United currently lead their second-placed opponents by two points with the added luxury of a game in hand.

Liverpool have kept pace with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in recent weeks with late winners against Chelsea and at Portsmouth.

And goalkeeper Reina admits it is imperative United are not allowed to extend the gap ahead of the forthcoming Old Trafford showdown.

“All we can do is concentrate on our own game, keep getting good results and then try to take points from them when we go to Old Trafford next month,” said the Spain international.

“Fernando Torres said recently we have to be close to them when that match comes along, and I agree with that.

“That might mean being just a point or two behind them, although obviously it would be even better if we were top.”

Reina added: “Whatever happens, we have to go into that game still with a chance of winning the league.”

Meanwhile, Fabio Aurelio believes that while Benitez’s selection policy has caused consternation among some critics recently, it has the favour of his players.

Benitez was panned by a section of pundits last week for his starting line-up against Portsmouth, despite the fact Liverpool won 3-2.

And Aurelio said: “The boss had problems in Spain, too, with people saying he makes too many changes.

“But he is just the same now. I have been with him a long time so I know his methods are like that. He always does what is best for the team.

“He has a personality which doesn’t mind what people think, which is good for the team.

“We can fight for the title, and we can win the title.

“If we do then the boss will be the best coach ever. But if he doesn’t people will try to say it is because of squad rotation.”

The defender added: “The results in football are always the important thing and we got a good result at Portsmouth. We were very happy with the result.

“People don’t understand the changes that he made, but he knows how the players are feeling. He knows who is tired and who is not, and he knows how to use his squad.

“We know when he selects his team for a game, it will be the best players at that moment to do the job. We are with him.”

Liverpool Stopper Is 'Crazy' For Atletico Switch

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is ‘crazy’ about playing for Atletico Madrid and could join the club in the near future – if his dad gets his own way. Miguel Reina, Pepe's father, spent seven years at the Madrid outfit between 1973 and 1980 and is sure that his son would jump at the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.

Speaking to Radio Marca, Reina senior claimed:

"My son has seen the red and white colours since he was small and he would love to play for Atletico. This weekend I am going to see him and I will talk to him about it.

"Pepe is crazy about playing for Atletico and I will try to convince him so that he does it as soon as possible."

With Liverpool flying high in the Premier League and without any suitable replacements it would appear that any move in the summer is unlikely. Leo Franco and Gregory Coupet are the two current keepers at the Vicente Calderon but both have been criticised for their error-strewn performances.

David Prentice: Critics Of Liverpool Boss Rafa Benitez Are Missing The Target

“THE smug look on Rafa Benitez’s face said it all.

“No sign of relief that he had just dodged an embarrassing defeat.

“No hint of contrition that he might have got it wrong ... No glimmer of sympathy for Portsmouth ... Benitez gambled... Benitez got away with it ... etc etc etc.”

I reckon you’ve got the idea. That was just one Monday morning report of Liverpool’s last gasp win at Pompey. But it was a common theme.

In case you’re unsure, Liverpool did actually win at Portsmouth. They did go back to the top of the table.

But you’d never have guessed from the way Rafa Benitez was mauled by the media afterwards.

The manner in which the Reds’ title prospects were dismissed by TV pundit Tim Sherwood was bordering on the contemptuous.

Actually, forget the bordering on, it was contemptuous bordering on insulting.

It was perhaps a little easier to understand the Sunday newspaper reports. A tea-time kick-off means those assessments will have been written with the match in progress.

Liverpool were losing with six minutes to go, and even the Echo’s Chief Sports Writer can’t turn a 1,000 word report round in 360 seconds.

The Monday men had no such worries.

But most reports still sneered, still poked fun and still claimed Benitez got lucky.

But to do so conveniently avoided the facts.

Liverpool forced twice as many corners as the home side – not a guaranteed indicator of dominance in a match, but a reasonable one.

Attempts on goal? Liverpool 15 Portsmouth 9. On target? Again in Liverpool’s favour. Possession? Comfortably Liverpool’s.

Clearly this was no smash and grab raid, regardless of the lateness of the strikes.

So why the negativity?

It appears to have become a growing trend this season – from people with entrenched views and mindsets.

Every time Liverpool concede a goal from a set piece, it’s because of zonal marking, and analysis instantly begins of Liverpool’s defensive frailties.

Yet zonal marking has been in place at Anfield for four years – and Pepe Reina has won the Premier League’s Golden Gloves award in three of them.

Then there’s the attacking focus.

Saturday night’s TV analysis focused on the number of times Liverpool’s strikers spent outside the penalty area.

The same attacking system which scored three goals and has outscored Manchester United this season.

Imagine the reaction if Liverpool had just won eight of their last 11 matches 1-0.

It wouldn’t be a celebration of goalkeeping excellence, it would more likely be how Benitez was boring his way to the title.

There is no doubt that the political in-fighting, the ill-timed outbursts and the bizarre transfer policy have made criticising Liverpool the journalistic equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel this season.

But this time, at least, the critics have missed the target.

Dalglish: Benitez Is A Tactical Maestro

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has spoken out about the perceived criticism of Rafael Benitez and claimed that the Spaniard continues to make correct decisions when it really matters.

Liverpool came from behind against Portsmouth to secure three vital points with Fernando Torres coming off the bench to score the winner in injury time. Despite the win, fans and pundits were quick to question the decision to leave the influential hitman on the bench for so long.

Benitez’s decision to rotate his Anfield squad has often been the subject of intense controversy but Dalglish believes that the decision to rest key players such as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard is always done with the best intentions at heart.

Speaking to LFC magazine, Dalglish made clear:

"To be fair to Rafa Benitez, in the face of yet more ridiculous nonsense, I think the formation he chose to play at Fratton Park was excellent.

"Everyone looked happy with their role in the team and when that happens you've always got a chance."

"The one thing people seem to be missing with Rafa's selection is the influence it had on Portsmouth.

"I don't know how much work Rafa was able to do with the players with this idea in mind, but by the time the players kicked off on Saturday night they all knew what it was they were supposed to be doing.

"In contrast, Pompey didn't have a clue and were taken off guard. Imagine you were Tony Adams and you saw that team - you've spent all week working on a formation and then you're up against something new and unexpected.

"If we'd taken our chances then Rafa's decision would rightly have been hailed a masterstroke. It took Pompey an hour and a sub before they got into the game.

"The two goals they got were avoidable but there was little the boss could do from the touchline to prevent those.

"The media are hailing it as a lucky result. Even if he'd picked the team they clearly believed to be the best, would we still not have needed a wee bit of luck?

"Of course we'd still have needed a slice of luck, but would anyone really argue that we didn't deserve to win that game? I don't think so!"

Rafa Benitez Only Does What Is Best For Liverpool - Fabio Aurelio

Fabio Aurelio and Rafa Benitez go back a long way. So when the Reds boss is criticised for sending out unfamiliar starting line-ups, the Brazilian smiles and shrugs, because he’s seen it all before.

The intensity of the outcry at Benitez’s decision to leave Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso on the subs bench at Portsmouth last weekend was strange, especially as Liverpool actually won the match.

The decision to use Aurelio in central midfield also raised eyebrows – but a polished performance, capped by a crucial goal, suggested the Reds boss got it right.

“The boss had problems in Spain, too, with people saying he makes too many changes,” smiled Aurelio.

“But he is just the same now. I have been with him a long time so I know his methods are like that. He always does what is best for the team.

“He has a personality which doesn’t mind what people think, which is good for the team.

“We can fight for the title, and we can win the title. If we do then the boss will be the best coach ever. But if he doesn’t people will try to say it is because of squad rotation.

“The results in football are always the important thing and we got a good result at Portsmouth. We were very happy with the result.

“People don’t understand the changes that he made, but he knows how the players are feeling. He knows who is tired and who is not, and he knows how to use his squad.

“We know when he selects his team for a game, it will be the best players at that moment to do the job. We are with him.

“If we had lost the game it would have been a terrible two weeks to be here, with no game. But we did a job and won the game and put ourselves in a very good position.”

Aurelio admits, however, that he is bemused by the level of analysis of Liverpool’s team changes.

“It is the same with the other big teams. They all have big squads with good players, so I don’t understand it,” he added.

“We are in a good position in the title race and are in a good position in the Champions League as well, so maybe it’s people trying to find weak points to try to stop us or create trouble. But we are used to it.

“We had our job to do and we had to be focused on that and not what people were talking about.”

The job Aurelio had to do was very different to the role he has filled since he arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2006.

A left-back or occasional left midfielder, injuries and suspension left him having to reprise the central midfield role he sometimes filled at Valencia.

“I felt okay because it was a good game,” he explained. “The circumstances weren’t great, but we had a lot of space to try and play, especially in the first half.

“It is very different playing in the centre. I had a few problems because when you play full-back you always receive the ball while you are facing the game, but in midfield you don’t know what is around you so it is difficult.

“But I was ready to do it for the needs of the club and the team and we won the match.

“I think I did quite well, especially in the first half. The second half was more difficult and I was drifting back more and more to my natural position, but it was not bad.

“We have some great midfield players here at Liverpool so I think it won’t be necessary to play there again!”

Regarded as a free-kick specialist, Aurelio was also thrilled to open his goals account for the season – even though he admits his equalising strike at Fratton Park was hit and hope.

“You can’t see a hole there when you are going to strike the ball,” he added. “Everyone was lining up on the goal line so you just try to kick it as hard as you can and say ‘Please God, make way for the ball!’ ”

The ball flew just inside the goalpost and gave Liverpool a platform to try and build on.

That platform was quickly demolished by Herman Hreidarsson’s header, but the Reds came again and the 3-2 victory was a huge morale booster for the injury-depleted squad.

“We are confident and we think that we can fight for the title,” Aurelio added. “At the same time we know that it is a long race.

“The United game is like a final for us and we will have to get the points and see what United do after that.”