Yossi Benayoun: We Can Get Out Of This Rut

Yossi Benayoun believes Liverpool have the talent and the belief to emerge from a mini slump which has seen them drop 14 points in their last ten league games.

Last night’s disappointing 1-1 draw at Wigan was Liverpool’s latest setback and and Rafa Benitez’s side have now dropped to third place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Manchester United, who also have a game in hand.

But a defiant Benayoun, who gave the Reds the lead with a coolly-taken first half strike, reckons hard work will take Liverpool back to the kind of form which took them to the top of the league earlier this season.

The Israeli said: “Of course we are disappointed, particularly because we were leading 1-0 with just a few minutes to go.

“All we can do is keep on working hard to try and turn things round.

“We have drawn our last four games in a row so we have to try and play better and also try to finish games off when we are winning 1-0.

“We have big players like Stevie, like Carra and like Torres and I am sure that we will turn things around because we have the quality to do so.

“We will do it, I am sure.”

Liverpool were again not at their best against Steve Bruce’s side and they paid a high price for their below-par performance when Mido equalised from the penalty spot with just seven minutes remaining.

Benayoun says a failure to kill teams off is currently costing Liverpool heavily and he knows that the Reds need to get back to winning ways immediately if they are to sustain their title challenge.

“Again we were ahead and we wanted to get a second but the goal didn’t come,” he added.

“We do have creative players and everyone tries to give 100%, but sometimes it is not enough.

“Again we had a little bit of luck go against us when Fernando’s header came back off the post and from one counter attack they have got a penalty – this is football sometimes, if you don’t get the second goal your opponents can always score towards the end.

“We expected to win these games and to be on top of the league but we have made things more difficult for ourselves.

“Man United are now top by two points and they also have a game in hand.

“Chelsea is a very important game for us and we have to start winning if we want to have a chance of winning the league.”

Month Of Misery Could Cost Liverpool The Premier League Title

Rafael Benitez will be glad to see the back of January. The problems off the pitch, the public spats with Sir Alex Ferguson and his board, his captain’s court appearance and his own contract problems have transferred on to it. The only team Liverpool have beaten this year are Preston, in the FA Cup.

Were it not for one moment of sheer lunacy from Brazilian midfielder Lucas, it would all have been very different. Ahead through Yossi Benayoun, Liverpool looked on course to wake oday level on points with Manchester United. At such moments are titles won and lost.

Where he should have stood his ground and shepherded Jason Koumas to the byline, Lucas stuck a leg out in the box. Phil Dowd blew his whistle, Mido duly converted the penalty. Two more points dropped, more ground lost, third in the league. A month ago, Liverpool had never been closer to their first championship for 19 years. Now it is as far away as ever.

Between now and Sunday, Benitez will hope to iron out as many of his problems as possible. Tom Hicks flies in to sort out the contract, Robbie Keane, restored to the bench but only allowed to play for eight minutes, will have stayed or gone. Then Chelsea, now ahead of Benitez’s side on goal difference and recovering their shattered confidence, visit Anfield. It never rains but it pours, and it is starting to show.

“It was a crazy game in the second half,” said Benitez. “We controlled the game in the first half and could have scored two or three –goals, but the second half we lost control and it was crazy. But I cannot control that craziness, so I am calm. It might be crazy against Chelsea on Sunday, I do not know. Maybe it will be crazy for years.”

Asked if he was referring to his players, Benitez insisted they were fine. He did not wish to comment on Wigan or the performance of referee Dowd. An oblique reference to Ferguson – “he has been here 22 years and you can see how things are” – suggests Rafa has either been watching the box set of Lost or was suggesting the nefarious hand of the Manchester United manager as explanation for his team’s shortcomings.

What craziness he meant is unclear, but Liverpool will need to get to the heart of the mystery before Chelsea arrive.

There is a lingering suspicion among the Anfield faithful that this will be a season of what ifs. What if Benitez had not launched his attack on Ferguson? What if his contract had been sorted out? What if Liverpool had one more goal threat?

Add to that a few more from the JJB. What if Benitez had replaced Fernando Torres, with 25 minutes to play, with Keane and not Albert Riera? What if he had brought him on for Benayoun? What if he had left Steven Gerrard on and introduced the Irishman when Wigan equalised? What if Liverpool did not look so nervous?

Nerves or not, they did enough to win this game. Wigan, decimated by injuries to Antonio Valencia, Chris Kirkland and Titus Bramble, as well as the sales of Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios, offered little. But the mark of champions is not winning when playing badly but finishing teams off. Liverpool do not, yet, have it in them.

The early signs were positive. Torres flicked a header against a post from Gerrard’s left-wing cross, and Benayoun would have tapped in had he not been too busy celebrating. From a Jamie Carragher long ball, Torres held off Paul Scharner, swivelled and sent a volley just wide. Only a last-ditch Mario Melchiot lunge stopped Torres converting Benayoun’s cut back. Ryan Babel fired straight at Mike Pollitt.

They got their reward through Benayoun, slipped through by a clever through ball from Javier Mascherano and rounding Pollitt to finish from the acutest of angles. Benayoun is not exactly a fans’ favourite at Anfield, but he has something which Riera, Dirk Kuyt and Babel sometimes lack: ideas.

That was exactly what Liverpool ran out of in the second half, one mazy run from Benayoun smothered by Pollitt apart. Wigan sensed their visitors’ nerves, their aimlessness, and they pounced. First, Lucas tripped Koumas and Mido drew the hosts level from 12 yards. Then substitute Hugo Rodallega rattled the bar with a 30-yard free kick.

“We had a right good go, like we always do,” said Bruce. “It’s been a difficult January, but that’s what happens at Wigan. We buy players like Hugo who dream of using this club as a platform to come and be a success in the Premier League like the other lads. But then the big boys come and nick your players. It happens. You have to be realistic.”

Bruce, though, did offer one crumb of comfort to his strained opposite number. “Titles aren’t won in January,” he added. Very true but Benitez may find they can be lost then.

Spirited Fightback Pleases Hughie McAuley

Liverpool under-18s coach Hughie McAuley praised his side’s character after they battled back to earn a point at home to Manchester City.

The Reds fell behind after just three minutes against the Premier Academy League leaders but levelled before the break courtesy of Lauri Dalla Valle’s goal.

Dalla Valle and Nathan Eccleston both had chances to win it in the second half, while at the other end the Reds were indebted to a couple of fine stops from goalkeeper Martin Hansen.

McAuley said: “We started slowly and paid the price when we conceded a bad goal. We had a free-kick on the edge of their area but they broke away and scored.

“We let them have too much possession early on and struggled to get control.

“We changed things around and pushed Nathan Eccleston further forward alongside Lauri. That helped us to get back in the game and after that we were more of a threat.

“We had some decent chances in the second half but we couldn’t put them away and to be fair our keeper also had to make some good saves.

“It could have gone either way and in the end a draw was probably a fair result.

“They beat us 4-1 earlier in the season but this time we were much better and the lads gave a good account of themselves.

“It’s the start of a big run of games for us as this Saturday it’s Everton away and then the FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea the following Thursday.”

The Reds had to play the final 10 minutes with 10 men after striker Eccleston was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.

“Nathan is always full of endeavour and I think the two challenges looked a lot worse than they were,” McAuley added.

“There was nothing malicious in either of them but in this day and age they were both bookable offences and I had no complaints.”

There was a recall to the Academy side for Swedish midfielder Astrit Ajdarevic, who returned to the club after a trial at Blackburn Rovers.

The 18-year-old has been told he won’t be offered a deal when his current contract expires this summer and is still looking for a new club.

McAuley said: “Astrit needed a game, but he’s going to find his opportunities limited here as we’ve got young lads like Michael Roberts and Alex Cooper in that position. They need games.

“The change of manager at Blackburn ended his opportunities there so he still needs to get himself sorted out. He’s probably going to be moving on before too long.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool reserves boss Gary Ablett is backing Spaniard Francisco Duran to bounce back from his latest injury setback.

The 20-year-old midfielder has been ruled out for six months with a cruciate ligament injury he suffered in training.

Duran has already had two separate spells on the sidelines with damage to his right knee since he signed from Malaga in January 2007.

Ablett said: “We’ve had some really bad news with Francisco damaging his cruciate, this time on his left knee.

“It was something really innocuous in training and as soon as he went down we saw the pain in his face and we feared the worst. He has had an operation and will be out for six months at least.

“Mentally, the boy is as strong a kid as you will ever meet in terms of what he’s been through, and we are all doing our best to keep the lad going.

“Fran is probably as technically a gifted a player as we have in the reserve squad and it’s unfortunate he’s had these injuries.”

Kraft Rubbishes Rumours Of £270m Liverpool Investment While Keane's Spurs Return Is Mooted

American billionaire Robert Kraft has no intention of bidding for a stake in Liverpool, despite reports that he was ready to offer £270million for George Gillett's 50 per cent share.

The paper and packaging tycoon was prepared to lend his expertise to Liverpool's new stadium plans, prior to Gillett and Tom Hicks assuming control, but has never expressed a wish to buy into the club.

Though linked yesterday with a move for Gillett's holding, he has always maintained he has enough to contend with, as owner of American football team New England Patriots and Major League Soccer's New England Revolution.

Robbie Keane's proposed move back to White Hart Lane on Monday night fell through because Tottenham flatly refused to include winger Aaron Lennon in any deal.

Sportsmail revealed how close Keane came to rejoining Tottenham after lengthy negotiations were called off, due to Rafa Benitez failing to land the player he asked for in part exchange.

Lennon was the target for the Liverpool manager, but Tottenham counterpart Harry Redknapp refused to sanction the winger's departure, much as he wanted Keane to help spearhead his side's fight to steer clear of relegation.

Keane's Liverpool future remains in doubt, but it now seems unlikely agreement could be reached with Tottenham before the January window shuts at 5pm on Monday.

Building New Career Child’s Play For Ex-Liverpool Star Rob Jones

Nearly a decade has past since Rob Jones’ world was turned upside down.

In the summer of 1999, the Liverpool defender was forced to hang up his boots after admitting defeat in his battle to overcome a serious knee injury.

At the age of 27 a player widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in Premier League history should have been in his prime, but instead he was facing up to life away from football.

It was a shattering blow for the boyhood Reds fan and one which took him a while to bounce back from.

“The first six months were really tough,” he said. “You never think something like that will happen to you and when I finished playing it was difficult to take.

“Some players in that position spend all their time down the pub and their life goes downhill. But I was lucky to have a good family behind me.

“My wife gave me a kick up the backside and told me to stop moping around.

“I soon realised it wasn’t the end of the world and there’s more to life than football. You have to get on with it and things have worked out well.”

Over the past decade Jones, who lives in Warrington, has made the transition from footballer to successful businessmen.

In 2001, together with wife Sue, he launched the Kids Academy Nursery Group and the company has gone from strength to strength.

“My wife had always been interested in childcare and after I finished playing she went to college to learn more about it,” he said.

“I went looking for properties and found one in Stockton Heath. Everything fell into place. We set up a nursery and it was very successful.

“We ended up selling that and with the money we were able to open more nurseries.

“We’ve now got four nursery schools and we’re also launching two adult care homes.

“At the start, I was hands on, but now my wife deals with the day to day running. I’m always there to help out but a lot of my time is spent looking after our three kids.”

Jones has also launched a comeback of sorts with the Liverpool Legends side.

“I’m off to Norway this weekend and it’s always great to see the lads again,” said the 37-year-old. “Manchester United are also sending a team over so it should be a good occasion.

“I try to get to the gym a few times a week to strengthen the knee and it’s been holding up okay. The games aren’t that competitive and I can just about manage half an hour each way. The knee swells up a bit, but it’s worth it.”

Jones enjoyed a remarkable rise up the ranks after Liverpool boss Graeme Souness spotted him playing for Crewe in October 1991.

He was signed for £300,000 and made his Reds debut 48 hours later in a goalless draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The following February he was handed his England bow against France and in May helped Liverpool clinch the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Sunderland at Wembley.

“It was an unbelievable time for me,” he said. “I remember playing for Crewe on the Wednesday and Souness was at the game with chief scout Tom Saunders.

“They were there to watch a lad called Steve Walters, who had played for England Schoolboys.

“Next thing, I got a phone call on the Thursday from Crewe boss Dario Gradi to say Souness wanted to see me at Melwood on Friday. I was shocked.

“That weekend I should have been playing Darlington away in the old Third Division, but instead I played for Liverpool at Old Trafford.

“In the space of a few months I went from Crewe to playing for Liverpool, England and winning the FA Cup.

“I had some great days in football but nothing beats the day I signed for Liverpool. I supported the club as a kid and my granddad, Bill, played for the club in the 1940s and 50s.

“To realise that dream was a massive achievement.”

Jones continued to be a regular after Roy Evans took over from Souness in 1994 and he played in the League Cup final victory over Bolton a year later.

However, his injury problems started to mount. Shin splints had kept him out of Euro 92 and he missed Euro 96 on home soil with a cracked vertebra.

The back injury sidelined him for most of the following season and when he returned he was plagued by a persistent knee problem.

The last of his 243 appearances for the Reds was at Chelsea in April 1998.

After his contract expired in 1999, he went on trial to West Ham, but after playing just one Intertoto Cup match he had to pack it in.

Jones said: “I didn’t want to finish and kept on trying, hoping the next operation would finally sort it.

“I gave up counting how many operations I had but in the end I had to accept it wasn’t to be.

“It was an injury to my patella tendon and the problem kept coming back.

“They can do amazing things with cruciates these days but this is an injury that surgeons still can’t seem to put right.

“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Owen Hargreaves have had the same problem. If it flares up they struggle to get the inflammation down and the knee just gets weaker and weaker.”

After retiring, Jones initially found it tough going back to Anfield, but recently his love for the Reds has been rekindled.

“I didn’t really go for a couple of years,” he revealed. “I just didn’t enjoy it. I loved playing but when I was there watching I always wished I was still out there.

“But my son Declan, who is seven, plays for a junior team and about 18 months ago he asked me to start taking him to matches.

“He’s seen a couple of my old games on LFC TV but I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet that I played for the club. He looks a bit confused when people stop me for an autograph because to him I’m just dad.

“I took him to the FA Cup game against Everton last weekend and now I get back to Anfield whenever I can. It’s always good to see old friends and catch up with people.”

Jones is happy with his lot and resists the temptation to wonder what might have been.

“It is weird to think it’s been 10 years since I played – at 37 some people are just coming to the end of their careers,” he added.

“These days I never look back. You’ve got to look on the bright side and I enjoyed my time at Liverpool. I achieved quite a lot in a short space of time and I’m proud of that.”

Andrea Dossena Aims To Prove He’s The Real Deal At Liverpool

The last time Liverpool faced Wigan, Andrea Dossena was endeavouring to convince Anfield regulars that he was worthy of a place in Rafa Benitez’s side.

Three months on, last night’s opponents was the same and so is the challenge facing the Italian defender who is yet to make Liverpool’s left back position his own.

A combination of the usual problems associated with settling into a new style of football in a new country, poor form and the odd niggling injury has left many questioning Dossena’s value to the Reds but the man himself is happy enough to allow his manager to determine when he does and doesn’t play.

“I feel good at the moment because I have now recovered from my injury and I want to play,” said the 28-year-old.

“But that will be up to the boss because he makes the decisions.”

With Emiliano Insua still away on international duty with the Argentina under-20s side, the Reds boss had a straight choice to make between Dossena and Brazilian Fabio Aurelio for the Reds left back spot in last night’s Premier League clash with Steve Bruce’s side.

As ever, Benitez is non-committal on whose name will feature on the team sheet he hands in at the JJB Stadium an hour before kick off but he is more than happy to allow the defensive duo to fight it out for a place in his own team.

“Emiliano had been doing well for us and I know people were saying that we were losing something with him going away.

“But we have a lot of confidence in Fabio and Andrea and both players can now compete for the position.”

In a bid to prove that he should win the battle, Dossena has been putting in extra hours at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground in the hope that it will help lift his levels of both fitness and form.

“Like every player, I always want to improve,” said the Italian international.

“To do this you must work hard every day in training and that is why I have been doing some extra work at Melwood.

“I want to improve my level and I think that things are getting better now.

“I have been doing extra running and work in the gym as well as other things that are open to all of the team. I have been staying after training to do this.

“Also, the manager has been helping me by focusing on the details which I need to improve.”

Last Sunday, Dossena enjoyed one of his best outings in a red shirt to date as he slotted in at full back with little fuss.

He was undoubtedly assisted by the fact that visitors Everton did not put too much pressure on Liverpool’s defence but equally the former Udinese man played his part in a team performance which was an improvement on recent displays against the Blues and Stoke.

As far as Dossena is concerned, the experience of being involved in a Merseyside derby at Anfield – even one that Liverpool failed to win – was “beautiful” and now he is hoping that the victory which evaded them against their neighbours will come at Wigan.

“We tried everything to get the win that everyone wanted so badly,” he said.

“We went forward every time we had the chance and we had a lot of shots but we were not able to get the winning goal.

“But this is the nature of football – sometimes you do not get the result that you deserve.

“It was a very beautiful occasion though and it is very special to be able to play in matches of this kind.

“The atmosphere was fantastic and it would only have been better for me if we had managed to win the game.

“Now we have to take the positives from the derby into our next game against Wigan.

Like everyone else at Anfield, Dossena is adamant that Liverpool’s forthcoming replay against the Blues must not become a distraction from their Premier League aspirations.

Having drawn their last three league games, the Reds have allowed Manchester United to take the initiative and Dossena knows Liverpool must now show their mettle if they are to maintain their challenge.

He added: “Because we have to play Everton again in a replay there will be a lot of talk about that game but we have other games before then and we must focus on them.

“Wigan will be tough opponents so we cannot be distracted from this challenge because it will become even more difficult for us if we are.

“We are Liverpool and we want to win – this is the same for every single game.”

Match Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. LiverpooL

Wednesday’s Premier League fixtures pit Wigan Athletic against Liverpool in a North West quasi-derby. The visitors will be hoping to keep pace at the top of the table, but the men from Greater Manchester have plenty to play for themselves.

Wigan’s decidedly unglamorous location, modest fanbase, disappointing home attendances, relative lack of history and uninspiring style have in recent years seen their name become synonymous with the undesirable side of English football. “Wigan on Wednesday night” has come to mean “a fixture not worth watching or attending” in the punters’ vernacular, while, “and now he might as well be playing for Wigan” succinctly sums up a once-promising player’s slide into obscurity.

The Latics have struck out on the right path toward changing that perception this season, however, as they have been one of the competition’s more refreshing performers. They sit seventh in the standings, albeit 10 points shy of fifth-placed Arsenal, and their manner of play hasn’t been nearly as hard on the eye as in previous years.

Central to that success have been midfielder Wilson Palacios and striker Emile Heskey. Unfortunately for Wigan, both have just joined other clubs. Palacios’ stellar form attracted interest from all over the country, with Tottenham Hotspur eventually landing the Honduran, while Heskey – whose contract was set to expire in the summer – moved to Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa.

Just how Wigan will cope with these losses remains to be seen, although they signed a batch of talented players capable of filling the void. The signing of young Ben Watson from Crystal Palace should boost their midfield, while Hugo Rodallega and Mido will provide some new options in an attack that has always needed an extra goal-threat.

Steve Bruce’s men come into this clash on the back of two consecutive defeats, following a run of four league wins on the trot. Furthermore, they have never beaten Liverpool. Still, they may take some confidence from the havoc they wreaked at Anfield earlier in the season.

Wigan’s visit to Merseyside in October nearly ended in disaster for the hosts. They conceded the lead twice through sloppy defending (combined with some Amr Zaki brilliance, it must be said) before Dirk Kuyt came to the rescue to clinch a nervy 3-2 win with a spectacularly unorthodox volley five minutes from full-time.

That victory was just one among a series of classic comebacks that put Liverpool on track for their first realistic title-chase of the Premier League era. However, after holding first place going into the New Year, those notorious mid-season wobbles are threatening to break out and shake the legs of their campaign.

Rafael Benitez’s men have not won a league game since their 5-1 mauling of Newcastle United at the end of December, and people are once more – if they ever stopped, that is – questioning whether they possess the mettle and the experience to keep touch with Manchester United going into the business end of the season.

The frustrating thing for the Reds is that their stumbles have come against unfancied opposition. Their record against the rest of the ‘Big Four’ this term is excellent – seven points from three games – but they have failed to beat Stoke City (twice), Hull City, Fulham and West Ham United. Their lone defeat came against a rock-bottom Tottenham Hotspur outfit.

So Wednesday’s skip across the historical county of Lancashire is undoubtedly a danger game for Liverpool. However, their record on the road this season – seven wins, three draws, one loss – could give them a lift as they head to the JJB.




FORM GUIDE

Wigan Athletic

Jan 17 Manchester City 1-0 Wigan Athletic (Premier League)
Jan 14 Manchester United 1-0 Wigan Athletic (Premier League)
Jan 11 Wigan Athletic 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Jan 02 Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Wigan Athletic (FA Cup)
Dec 28 Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Wigan Athletic (Premier League)

Liverpool

Jan 25 Liverpool 1-1 Everton (FA Cup)
Jan 19 Liverpool 1-1 Everton (Premier League)
Jan 10 Stoke City 0-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Jan 03 Preston North End 0-2 Liverpool (FA Cup)
Dec 28 Newcastle United 1-5 Liverpool (Premier League)




TEAM NEWS

Wigan Athletic

Heskey is gone and Palacios’ move to Spurs is signed and sealed, although he is still waiting on a work permit. Thus, there could be a debutant or two in the Wigan line-up. Watson, Rodallega and Mido are all expected to make the squad, and the latter may start alongside Zaki, his fellow Egyptian.

No suspensions for the Latics, although Paul Scharner carries four cautions.

Possible XI: Kirkland – Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa – Valencia, Cattermole, Brown, Taylor – Mido, Zaki

Liverpool

Xabi Alonso shrugged off a foot problem to play both games against Everton, while Alvaro Arbeloa returned from a hamstring injury on Sunday to make his first start of 2009. Daniel Agger has been troubled by a sore calf but could be available this week.

Possible XI: Reina – Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio – Alonso, Mascherano – Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera – Torres




PLAYERS TO WATCH

Amr Zaki caused all sorts of problems when Wigan last faced Liverpool, scoring twice amid a period of blistering early-season form. The Egyptian has got quieter as the weather has got colder, but he remains a serious threat to Pepe Reina’s goal.

At the other end, Fernando Torres should be particularly lively as he approaches full fitness after a lengthy lay-off. The Spaniard showed his creative abilities by setting up Steven Gerrard’s equaliser against the Toffees at the weekend, but he’ll be hungry to find the net himself.

Ian Rush: Liverpool Must Get Back To Business At Wigan

Liverpool can’t afford to dwell on the frustration of Sunday’s draw with Everton as it’s a massive week in the title race.

With a trip to Wigan tomorrow night followed by the home clash with Chelsea on Sunday it’s vital the Reds return to winning ways.

It’s not going to be easy at the JJB Stadium because Wigan are a difficult side to beat.

Their home form is good and they had the benefit of a weekend off, but I’ve got a feeling this could be a good time to play them.

They’ve been weakened by the sale of two of their best players with Wilson Palacios heading to Spurs and Emile Heskey to Aston Villa.

Liverpool have got to be positive and take the game to Wigan. We certainly need a bit more urgency in our play than we’ve shown recently.

With Manchester United taking on West Brom tonight we could find ourselves three points adrift and there is no more room for slip-ups.

After Wigan, preparations will start for the clash with Chelsea and that could be a key date in the chase for the Premier League crown.

I’ve heard people at Chelsea saying they have to beat Liverpool to stay in the race and I certainly believe if we can beat them then you can write off their title hopes.

Its roles reversed this season as in recent years it’s been Liverpool having to win games like this just to stay in contention.

Six points would be the perfect boost heading into the FA Cup replay at Goodison a week tomorrow.

Everton will fancy their chances of progressing after getting a draw at Anfield. I know they will have a few players back but I think playing away will suit Liverpool.

There’s no doubt we could have done without an extra game but I don’t think we did enough to beat Everton on Sunday.

Rafa Benitez said only one team wanted to win it, and I agree with that, but we always knew that would be the case.

The only teams that come to Anfield looking to win are Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal. All the rest set their stall out to get a draw and Everton got what they came for.

We’ve drawn far too many home games against teams we should be beating this season and this was another one for the list.

We knew all about the threat Everton would pose from set-pieces but our defending for their goal was poor.

You have to give Tim Cahill credit. He was clever going off the pitch and then timing his run right to get on the end of the corner, but defenders have got to be alive to situations like that.

That was a brief venture forward for the Blues who got men behind the ball and were very well organised.

It’s okay to say Everton were negative but the onus was on Liverpool to break them down and we didn’t do that.

Yes, we dominated possession and territory but too often the ball went sideways, enabling Everton to get back in position.

The ball needed to be played a lot quicker and too often the tempo of our play was too slow.

Steven Gerrard made a great run from midfield to get past Fernando Torres for the equaliser but there wasn’t enough of that going on.

We’ve Got To Kill Off Games, Warns Liverpool FC Striker Dirk Kuyt

It was a moment that encapsulated the shortcoming that is threatening Liverpool’s hopes of silverware this season.

Beating away at the Everton door for almost the entire second half, Rafael Benitez’s side, having found an equaliser through Steven Gerrard, could sense a winner.

Then the moment arrived, the visiting defence for once out of position as Gerrard fed the ball into the path of the unmarked Dirk Kuyt with only Tim Howard to beat.

He missed. And that has been a recurring theme for Liverpool of late, a failure to capitalise when the opportunity has arisen to either kill off a game or open up a gap at the top of the Premier League table.

Now the Anfield side find themselves having to wedge yet another Merseyside derby into an already demanding fixture schedule.

Indeed, having led the table during the Christmas period, successive league draws mean Liverpool will be playing catch-up on champions Manchester United when they travel to Wigan Athletic this evening.

Kuyt, of course, hasn’t been alone with his wayward finishing. And the Dutchman acknowledges Liverpool cannot afford to waste many more presentable opportunities if they are to end a 19-year championship drought.

“We know we have the ability to win every game, but sometimes you are unlucky,” he says. “Against Everton on Sunday we had two good chances late on to kill the game off, one of them fell to me and one came to Fernando.

“Sometimes it happens like this. Last Monday we conceded a goal in the closing minutes, and a few months before we were scoring goals in the last minutes. That’s football. We just have to keep on going. Maybe we need a lucky break, in recent games we have been unlucky and maybe we could be lucky in our next one.

“We’re still in the FA Cup, we’re still up at the top of the league and we’re still in the Champions League, so we have got to remain positive. We’re doing really well this season.

“But yes, we know that the failure to kill off teams is going to have to be addressed if we want to stay in contention for the title.”

Kuyt - No Confidence Crisis

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt insists confidence remains high in the squad despite three successive draws.

Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Everton ended all square, while the Reds have taken just two points from their last two Premier League matches allowing Manchester United to take over at the top of the table.

After scoring eight goals in two matches against Bolton and Newcastle after Christmas, Rafa Benitez's side have found the net just twice in three matches against Premier League opposition.

Both goals came from Steven Gerrard, and the rest of the squad are struggling to supplement their captain's efforts, with striker Fernando Torres still working his way back to full fitness after hamstring trouble.

However, Kuyt believes the situation is not as bad as some critics are making out.

"Confidence is okay. We know we have the ability to win every game but sometimes you are unlucky," said the Holland international.

"This is football. We just have to keep going and look forward.

"We dropped points that we didn't want to do - because if you are Liverpool you want to win every game - but there is no time to stand still and think about things.

"We showed against Everton we were the better team but sometimes we have to kill the game and we know we can.

"I'm sure it will come, it came before. Sometimes you are unlucky and the next time you will be lucky.

"We are still in the FA Cup, we are still near the top of the league and we are still in the Champions League so we are doing very well and we have to stay positive."

Liverpool meet seventh-placed Wigan on Wednesday knowing they face an equally tough test as they did against their Merseyside rivals at the weekend.

The Latics have just sold striker Emile Heskey to Aston Villa, as well as losing key midfielder Wilson Palacios to Tottenham, and Kuyt believes they will miss their target man.

"Heskey is a great player, an England international, so it will be a big loss for them but they still have some good players," he added.

"I think every game is difficult. We just have to believe in our own strength and we do that so we go for three points there.

"They have some good players and the manager (Steve Bruce) has done a really good job since he has come and we have respect for them."

Man Jailed Over Handling Goods Stolen From LFC Star Lucas Leiva's Home

A man was jailed for two-and-a-half years today for handling a haul of goods stolen from Premiership footballer Lucas Leiva.

Raiders took more than 150 items from the 22-year-old’s home in Woolton, Merseyside, while he was playing for Liverpool at Anfield on November 4 last year.

The haul included football shirts from his debut, a bronze Olympic medal and boots embossed with his name, along with computers, electrical equipment and a collection of jewellery and handbags belonging to Leiva’s girlfriend.

Unemployed Steven Jones, 21, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court today after admitting his part in the burglary.

Jones, who has extensive form for offences of dishonesty, admitted handling stolen goods and driving while disqualified.

Geoff Fryar, prosecuting, said: "The complainant in this case is the Liverpool footballer Lucas Leiva.

"His premises were burgled while he, his partner and friends were away from the property.

"The complainant was playing at Anfield and his partner was watching him.

"His partner returned home first and found the premises had been burgled.

"A ladder was used to get into the house through the bathroom.

"An untidy search was made and a large quantity of property was stolen.

"In excess of 150 sports items and valuable pieces of jewellery and three computers were taken.

"A great deal of it was sporting memorabilia with great sentimental value, such as a bronze Olympic medal, and a variety of football shirts which were of particular value to the complainant because they commemorated his debut games for Liverpool."

Mr Fryar said police searched the two homes Jones shared with his grandparents in Deansburn Road, Tuebrook, and with his parents in Lowerson Crescent, Clubmoor.

In both properties and inside Jones’s Vauxhall Vectra were stashes of the Reds midfielder’s belongings.

Leiva, who has played for his native Brazil, and his girlfriend later identified their property at a police station.

Jones, who had previously served 16 months at a young offenders’ institution, told police he was simply minding the items for men he refused to name.

Jones refused to answer detectives' questions initially but later claimed his paymasters allowed him to keep a PlayStation from the raid and a pair of the star's boots.

His barrister, Vincent Dean, said of his client: "He admits he would be instrumental in trying to dispose of it.

"The defendant expresses regret to the victim of this offence and for the trauma it must have caused.

"He was fully aware from the nature of the property of the burglary but wasn’t involved in it."

But the judge, Brian Lewis, said he did not believe Jones was merely minding the stolen goods.

He told him: "You came into possession of the overwhelming bulk of the property taken from that house.

"In my view, you weren’t simply minding that property because the property was divided at three separate locations.

"I have to decide how close you were to the burglars and I come to the conclusion you were close to them.

"It is inevitable you knew where it had come from.

"You knew perfectly well a large amount of money could be made from selling the electrical and designer items.

"You have a bad record for offences involving dishonesty."

Jones was jailed for two years for handling stolen goods and six months for driving while disqualified, the sentences to run consecutively.

He was also banned from driving for two years.

In 2007, James Birch, 20, of Tuebrook, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for burgling the homes of ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, defender Daniel Agger, England star Peter Crouch and former Reds striker Florent Sinama Pongolle.

The crimes were part of a series of raids on the homes of Liverpool and Everton FC aces during the last two years.

In December 2007 Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s mansion was broken into when he was away on Champions League duty but his wife, Alex Curran, was home.

And the homes of the club’s goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, and Holland forward Dirk Kuyt have also been targeted.

Itandje Desperate To Quit

Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje is desperate to leave Anfield.

The Reds' No.1 has never played a Premier League game since joining from Lens in 2007.

He has played in a handful of cup games, but he clearly has little future at Anfield.

Itandje is hopeful of finding a move soon, but is not sure if he will be able to leave before the transfer window closes.

"Do I want to leave? That is very clear," he told Aujourd'hui Sport.

"I want to get away from here.

"I got the green light from my officials but they have set amazing conditions. One or two clubs wanted me on loan this winter, but Liverpool refused asking for a definitive transfer.

"I have not played for six months so it is difficult to understand.

"I have never played a single Premier League match. And this season I didn't play in the cups either. Last season I had two bad matches in the cup."

Itandje revealed that Middlesbrough tried to sign him last summer, but the deal was not agreed.

"Last summer Middlesbrough wanted to sign me on loan and a few French clubs contacted me, but Liverpool refused.

"The officials absolutely wanted me to go to Galatasaray. Finally both clubs could not find any agreement and the deal fell through. So I found myself here against my will, just to train."

Spurs Offer Lennon In Swap Deal For Keane

Rafael Benitez is weighing up an offer from Tottenham Hotspur of Aaron Lennon or Jermaine Jenas plus cash in exchange for his disaffected striker Robbie Keane. In what would be one of the most remarkable transfers in recent history, Harry Redknapp would be prepared to let one of his two young English players leave in return for bringing Keane back to Spurs.

There are still many variables at play, the most important being whether Keane, 28, wants to move back to the club that he left for a deal worth around £20.3m in the summer. The deal would mean that Liverpool would not have to pay the remaining balance, estimated at £11m, due for Keane in the original transfer. The two clubs first raised the possibility on Monday night.

Keane is in the Liverpool squad for tonight's Premier League game against Wigan Athletic, although Benitez was evasive yesterday when asked whether he believed the Irishman had a future at Anfield. Keane is known to want to stay and fight for his place at the club but increasingly it would appear that Benitez is prepared to use him as a bargaining chip to bolster his squad as the title race warms up.

Redknapp has met with the Lyons striker Fred – short for Frederico Chaves Guedes – but the Brazilian, who is out of contract in the summer, is still only a secondary target after Keane. The 25-year-old has a decent goalscoring record but Keane would be Redknapp's first choice. The deal for Keane would be complicated even if the two clubs can agree on terms. It would rely upon Keane and either Lennon or Jenas being prepared to make the move.

Should Keane have wanted clarification on his future from Benitez, he will have been interested to know that the Liverpool manager was given five opportunities to dismiss any doubt over the striker's future yesterday but opted to leave the issue open-ended.

"Clearly he is our player and in the squad for tonight, and that's it," was all Benitez would say. When asked whether he wanted to sell him in this transfer window, Benitez said: "I want to see him scoring goals. I don't need to sell any players. We are in the title race, I want to keep all the players. We don't need to sell anyone."

That contrasted with Benitez's response when Manchester City's new owners' former figurehead, Sulaiman Al-Fahim, listed Fernando Torres among those players Sheikh Mansour al-Nahyan coveted, back in September. Benitez said yesterday: "We have had four or five approaches from different teams for players and the answer's been the same for them all – no. We want all our players. We don't want to sell. Robbie could be one of the ones we had an approach about, I won't say."

Lennon and Jenas had both been acquired by Tottenham on the basis that they fitted the club's former policy of buying young English talent. Lennon was bought from Leeds United by Frank Arnesen when he was the club's director of football for the budget price of £1m. The winger has interested Benitez before and he would be an appealing alternative to Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun on the right wing. Jenas is currently injured.

Keane was stunned to be told that David Ngog, the young French striker who is yet to start a league game, would replace him in the squad for Sunday's FA Cup derby with Everton. But Benitez insisted that he did not see fit to explain his thinking to Keane, one-to-one, at Liverpool's Melwood training ground. "I talk to all the players," Benitez said. "When you sign a player, the price doesn't matter. The main thing is just that they work hard like the rest. It was clear we had Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres, Gerrard playing as a second striker and also David Ngog, so we had lots of options if we needed to change.

"He [Keane] knows he can play better. Everyone knows he's better than the one we are watching on the pitch sometimes," the Liverpool manager said. "When you sign them you have to give them time. Some take longer than others. Some just need a month, others a year."

Benitez Issues Challenge To Keane

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has urged Robbie Keane to work hard and become an important player for the club.

The striker was left out of the squad that drew with Everton on Sunday, sparking speculation over his future, but is set to face Wigan on Wednesday.

Benitez said: "Robbie is maybe not playing at his best level.

"But he wants to fight for his position. To do that he must work hard and then if we consider he can give us something then we will use him."

Keane, 28, has not hit his best form since his £20.3m move from Tottenham in July 2008, taking 11 games to score his first league goal for the club and notching only seven goals in all competitions.

And after the Republic of Ireland international was rested on Sunday, reports suggested his career at Anfield was in jeopardy.

Tottenham are believed to be interested in re-signing Keane, while Manchester City and Newcastle have also been linked with a move for the forward.

But Benitez has insisted that no-one will be leaving the club during the January transfer window.

"A lot of clubs have been asking about some players, to buy or loan, but we have said we do not need to lose anyone, we do not need to sell anyone now," stated the Spaniard.

"We do not want to lose players now if we cannot replace those players later. We need all of them for the race for the title."

Liverpool are second in the Premier League table, three points behind leaders Manchester United, and the Anfield outfit are also involved in the Champions League and the FA Cup, while their rivals from Old Trafford are also in both competitions - and the final of the Carling Cup.

Benitez made it clear he will need to call on all his resources if his side are to maintain a challenge for all three trophies, while also suggesting that players must accept the need for rotation.

He added: "We have a lot of games to play in the coming weeks, in the league, Cup and Europe.

"We will need everyone. People may not always play but two weeks later we may have an injury and then we need them.

"Everyone, including Robbie, is training well. He has experience and hopefully he will be an important player for us.

"When Fernando Torres was injured, Robbie was working hard and doing well. If he can continue to do this we will not have any doubts over his quality.

"People are talking too much about Keane. It was just one decision about one player, he wasn't in the squad.

"He is expensive and high profile, yes, but Manchester United have bought plenty of players who cost £20m or more every single year. Sometimes more than one player but nothing is said about them being left out.

"If you want to be in a top side then you must have this mentality. You have to accept that some players will play and some will not.

"Robbie will be in the squad to face Wigan and if he can score goals then I will be happy."

Ian Rush: Robbie Keane Still Has A Role To Play At Liverpool

Robbie Keane will have been gutted to be left out of Sunday’s FA Cup tie.

For him to not even be named on the bench for such a big game was a real surprise and it will be interesting to see what happens over the coming weeks.

The manager makes the decisions and only Rafa Benitez knows the ins and outs of the situation. But the fact is you can’t keep leaving out a player who cost £20million.

You either have to play him or, if Benitez doesn’t rate him, then he has to get rid of him.

I really hope Robbie still has a future at the club. He’s a great player and I believe he can play a major part in our pursuit of trophies.

He’s just got to keep his head down and keep working hard in training. Hopefully he’ll get the chance to show what he can do at Wigan tonight.

Meanwhile, there is a Rush back looking for goals after my son signed for League of Wales side Newi Cefn Druids.

Jonathan is 19 and has come on as sub in their last couple of games.

It’s a good chance for him and he will learn a lot under joint managers Lee Jones, who played a few first team games for Liverpool in the mid-90s, and ex-Wrexham player Waynne Phillips.

Like me, Jonathan is a striker but that’s where the similarities end. He’s a big lad and at 6ft 4ins he’s more like Peter Crouch. I’m looking forward to watching him in action.

Benitez Drops Keane Hint

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has dropped a hint that he has received an approach for striker Robbie Keane.

The former Tottenham player has failed to live up to expectations since making a £20million move to Anfield in the summer and has been linked with a return to White Hart Lane.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that he is an admirer of the Republic of Ireland star, who is set to return to Liverpool's squad for Wednesday's trip to Wigan after being dropped for the FA Cup draw with Everton at the weekend.

Benitez dodged questions regarding Keane's future when asked on Tuesday, but the Reds boss has offered a clue that he has received an enquiry regarding the ex-Inter Milan and Leeds player.

The Spaniard said in The Daily Post: "We've had four or five approaches for players and the answer has been the same - 'no'.

"We want all our players. We don't want to sell. Robbie could be one of the ones we had an approach about, I won't say.

"Is Keane one? I'm not saying, you can guess yourselves.

"For me when you sign a player the main thing is not the price, the main thing is that they just keep working.

"Keane is back in the squad now, so we can stop talking about him and his future."

Speculation has also been rife that defender Daniel Agger could be leaving Liverpool as the Denmark international's contract negotiations drag on.

And Benitez has revealed that he has been holding talks with two players - possibly Keane and Agger - urging the duo to remain willing to help Liverpool's Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup challenge.

"I have been talking with two very important players recently, I made it very clear that we must focus only on games and think about how to win every single game," added the former Valencia boss.

"We have a fantastic opportunity, we can win three trophies and any one would be good for our fans and ourselves. We must try to be professional and concentrate only on games.

"The players are not affected by things off the field. When we talk it is about football, not about other problems

"The only way to change things is on the pitch, not just talking and talking and talking."

Liverpool Owner Tom Hicks: I'm Not Selling - I Want A New Partner Instead

Tom Hicks has confirmed that he is looking for a new partner to invest in Liverpool.

The Mirror revealed at the weekend that Anfield's American owner was desperately searching for fresh investment in the club, to allow him to buy out current partner George Gillett.

Hicks has approached six potential investors with a proposal to form a fresh business alliance to run Liverpool.

Reports had suggested that Kuwaiti billionaire Nasser al Kharafi had been looking to buy the club, but these were wildly inaccurate, and as our report stated, Hicks is refusing to sell his stake.

Instead, he said at a banquet in his native Dallas on Sunday night: "Don't believe everything you read. I'm not selling. I'm bringing in a new partner to buy out my current partner."

Meanwhile, Sunday's fourth-round FA Cup tie between Liverpool and Everton drew a record-breaking television audience to Setanta. The 1-1 draw audience peaked at 1,462,000.

Liverpool's Reina Makes Everton Favourites For Mersey Cup Replay

The Reds' goalkeeper is ruing a missed opportunity at Anfield, and fears that the Toffees may now have the edge in the FA Cup fourth round replay at Goodison Park next week.

Liverpool's Spanish goalkeeper feels that his side may now have handed the initiative to their opponents in their FA Cup fourth round tie with Everton.

The Reds' city rivals managed to come away from Anfield yesterday with their second 1-1 draw in a week at the venue, forcing a replay at their own home ground on February 4, and now Pepe Reina feels that Liverpool will have to be at their best to beat an indomitable Everton outfit on their own patch.

"The tie is still wide open and we trust ourselves to get through at their stadium," the Spaniard told today's Liverpool Echo.

"I suppose now the advantage is with them because next time they will play as the home team. But this will also mean that at least they will have to play a bit more forward than they did yesterday."

Despite Everton's alleged 'negative tactics', highlighted by manager Rafa Benitez yesterday in a display of what less charitable observers have termed 'sour grapes', the Toffees still managed to expose the Reds' ongoing deficiency at defending set-pieces, with Liverpool once again conceding from a dead-ball situation. Joleon Lescott headed home from close range for Everton's opening goal of the game after Tim Cahill had been given the freedom of the far post by Liverpool's markers.

"It is disappointing to concede another goal like this and it is clear that we do have to improve from set-pieces," Reina admitted.

"That is the main thing for us and the good thing for us is that we will have plenty of training sessions in which we can improve on these kind of things."

Martin Skrtel Happy to Stay At Liverpool And Fight For The Title

The Reds' Slovak defender has insisted that he's happy in England, and wants to help Liverpool to the title.

Martin Skrtel feels that Liverpool, despite their recent stuttering form that has seen them surrender their lead at the top of the table to Manchester United, still have all the ingredients in place to claim the Premier League crown.

The defender has also insisted that he is happy at Liverpool, despite rumours linking him with a return to Russian outfit Zenit St-Petersburg.

"The team has played nearly long enough as one and with one coach,” he told Sport Express.

"Beginners like me are rare there. However, in the past, Liverpool have sometimes been very good but, after the New Year, something has happened – injuries or some other problem.

"I think that this time everything will be different. We will fight for the title and win it.

"That is because of the fact that we play as a team, and because we have Gerrard and Torres. Last season was Fernando’s first in England, and he scored so many goals!!"

As for whether Reds skipper Steven Gerrard's recent arrest had affected the England midfielder, Skrtel asserted that it had not, and that the squad was focusing on football.

"No. Outwardly, at least, he has been quiet about it. It is not really discussed within the team," Skrtel added.

"A lot of things have been written on this subject, but we pay no attention."

As for a possible return to Russian football, Skrtel was fairly equivocal in ruling it out, claiming that he had never expressed dissatisfaction with life in Liverpool.

"I said that I have many friends at Zenit and that I was happy there, but that I'm now here, and I did not say I wanted to return," he explained.

"I never said that I hate Liverpool. That is a lie. He asked if I would say that I hated the city and I said, ‘Of course not’. I am happy here. Negative things are written about a lot of players here, mainly in the tabloids.”

"I have a contract for four years, but I like this team and would like to stay here for as long as possible and to win many trophies.

"I always wanted to play in England, but I never thought that I would come to a team as great as Liverpool. To go to Anfield is the dream of any player."

A key factor in his staying at Anfield would seem to be manager Rafa Benitez, with whom he draws a favourable comparison to his manager at Zenit, Dutchman Dick Advocaat.

"He loves football," the player continued. "He thinks about it 24 hours a day. When we leave, Rafa is still at the club, watching videos of our rivals’ games – in doing that, he reminds me of Dick.

"He is always wondering if we are happy and would like to do different things. In all aspects of the game, Rafa is open to suggestions and ideas. I like that."

Gerrard-Torres Double Act Is Ready To Inspire Liverpool Again, Says Benítez

Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, is banking on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to pull his side out of their worrying slide. The pair scored 53 goals between them last term but this season they have frequently been kept apart by the Spaniard's persistent injury problems.

However, Benítez believes his fellow Spaniard "is almost back to his best" and there was a glimpse of his talent in their FA Cup fourth-round draw with Everton to prove it. Torres's juggling act and backheel to send Gerrard through for the equaliser in the 1–1 draw was the high point of the 210th Merseyside derby.

Benítez knows he needs both his best players firing on all cylinders with Liverpool's season threatening to come off the rails. Liverpool have lost only two of 34 games this season and are unbeaten in their last 14, 11 of them in the Premier League. But six of those 11 have been draws and they have lost top spot to Manchester United.

"We know the understanding between both was crucial last season, it will be again this season now they are back together again," Benítez said. "In some games they can kill defenders with their skills. The goal they created was excellent against Everton in the Cup.

"The piece of skill from Torres to create the goal shows that he is getting very close to his best again. He showed that the understanding between him and Gerrard will be crucial for us for the rest of the season. What he did to send Gerrard away is something you do not see from many players. He certainly needed a good runner to get on the end of it.

"Fernando also needed to be aware of where Gerrard was, to see him and to find him with the ball. It was certainly something very special."

So far this term Gerrard has led the way in the scoring charts – his equaliser yesterday was his 15th of the campaign – while Torres has been restricted to six goals so far because of his injury problems.

Benítez also credited Gerrard for his focus after a recent court appearance. Another hearing is scheduled for 20 March. "Steven is such an important player. People have been asking a lot about him and how he is handling things, but on the pitch he is showing that he is focused only on showing how good he is."

Gerrard played down his own contribution in difficult circumstances – his two derby goals were separated by his court appearance on Friday to answer charges of assault and affray, which he denies.

He said: "It is not just my goals, I am pleased with my performances this week. I am a footballer and will focus on that, I will continue to show that."

Of his equaliser, Gerrard said: "The key was that piece of skill from Fernando Torres, which is what he is all about. He is not just a goalscorer, he has fantastic awareness. We can do without the replay, both sides probably feel the same, but if we play as well as we did in this game in the replay at Goodison Park, we will win."

Agger: The Ball Is In Liverpool's Court

Daniel Agger's long-term future at Liverpool has been under a cloud for quite some time.

Firstly, the emergence of Martin Skrtel has brought immense competition in central defence, combined with the apparent indestructibility of veteran stoppers Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.

But the main source of the 24-year-old's unrest at Anfield is the confusion surrounding his contract, which expires in the summer of 2010.

Agger entered discussions with the Reds last year, but no progress has been made in nearly three months and a move to AC Milan is looking likelier by the day.

"The ball is in Liverpool's court. I've not heard from them about this since the beginning of November," the Danish star told members of the press last night.

"There is no reason to have high expectations and to be honest, I have no idea if they want to sign a new deal."

Agger isn't the only one upset by this, as manager Rafael Benitez recently expressed his frustration at Liverpool's delay in offering a contract extension to the talented centre-half.

Mark Lawrenson: Rafa Benitez Frustrated? Now He Knows How That Feels

Rafael Benitez expressed his disappointment that the opposition didn’t do enough to win game – well, at least now he knows how it feels.

It’s a similar frustration that most Liverpool fans have felt this season when they have seen their team struggle to yet another draw.

So it’s a bit rich Benitez criticising someone for not going for it, as it’s not as if it’s something he has done a regular basis this season, is it?

Seriously, what did he expect Everton to do? Stick Anichebe and Cahill in a 4-4-2 and go for it? Everton were always going to sit back and soak up Liverpool’s pressure because that’s always going to be their best chance of staying in the tie.

And, let’s face it, after the success other teams have had at Anfield in applying that tactic this season, why would you play any other way?

Stoke, West Ham, Hull, Fulham. All came away with points because they put the onus on Liverpool to go at the and find a way through.

And the fact is, Liverpool weren’t good enough to do it.

So it concerns me that Benitez takes it so badly when a team comes to primarily defend (although to be fair, I don’t actually think Everton were too negative overall and at least, like Hull, they gave themselves a lead to sit on).

But what Benitez has to get used to is sides playing that way against him. It will be that way for the rest of the season and it’s not going to change.

So what does have to change is the lack of cutting edge in trying to finish these teams off.

It’s no good letting yourself get frustrated because you have way more possession but then fail to make it count. Just like Everton on Sunday, teams who come away form Anfield without getting beaten will see it as an excellent result and offer no apologies.

But the problem is that once again you come away from a game, as we did after the league meeting on the Monday, saying the same thing.

Everton get the praise for making the most of their shortage of players and for Liverpool you still dread the prospect of them being without Torres and Gerrard for any sustained amount of time.

Their link-up for the goal only confirms just how much their team need them and how much they would be missed if they had to go without them.

As outstanding as Lescott and Jagielka were in dealing with everything thrown at them, even they couldn’t cope with having to defend on the turn. Torres and Gerrard were too quick for them.

And those players also had the bravery to take a chance and make a decisive move to break a stubborn defence down.

That’s the kind of action Benitez needs to encourage more of and he’ll only do that by focusing on his own team’s shortcomings rather than what he sees as the opposition’s.

Liverpool's FA Cup Equaliser Adds To Man Utd's Injury Worries

Steven Gerrard’s FA Cup derby leveller for Liverpool on Monday may have unwittingly handed Manchester United a problem.

United are without 12 senior players for tonight’s Barclays Premier League trip to West Brom, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson to pick through his squad for a team of fit players.

Ferguson was hoping the situation might have eased in time United’s next league game against Everton – with both Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown tipped to be available after long-standing back and ankle problems respectively and Park Ji-sung on the brink of a comeback from a minor hamstring complaint.

But the Old Trafford encounter with David Moyes’s men will now be played 48 hours ahead of schedule – moving forward to Saturday January 31 from Monday February 2 to clear the way for Everton’s FA Cup replay with Liverpool on February 4.

It robs Ferdinand, Brown and Park, or anyone else among United’s walking wounded who might have had a chance of returning against Everton, of two extra days’ preparation.

The late change is part of a confusing February fixture list for United.

Their remaining outstanding game against Fulham - originally postponed in August because of the Red Devils’ presence in the European Super Cup - has been pencilled in for February 17. But that will be dependent on neither side requiring a fifth-round replay.

In addition, the Red Devils’ home match against Portsmouth on February 28 has been postponed because of their appearance in the Carling Cup Final the following day.

Liverpool Must Do Better, Insists Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso admits Liverpool will have to improve if they are to challenge for honours at the end of the season.

Monday’s 1-1 draw at home to Merseyside rivals Everton in the fourth round of the FA Cup was the club’s third successive share of the spoils.

The first two of those, against Stoke and then Everton last Monday, cost Rafael Benitez’s side top spot in the Barclays Premier League.

However, Alonso believes the players can work through their problems and get their campaign back on track.

“We have to keep going, that is the way we have to carry on if we are to have success this season,” he said. “Being critical of ourselves we need to improve in certain areas.

“The performance (against Everton) was better than Monday. We controlled the game much better.

“Of course we are not happy with the mistake we made (conceding the goal) but it was better.

“It was a good ball (from Fernando Torres for the goal) but we had a few more chances to score a second goal and it is something we have to work on and correct.”

Liverpool were undone by Tim Cahill at a set-piece for the second successive match as he escaped his marker to head Steven Pienaar’s corner into the path of Joleon Lescott who had only to divert it past Pepe Reina with his head from close range.

Cahill has been operating as a makeshift striker because of Everton’s injury crisis and Alonso knows he will remain a threat in the replay at Goodison Park a week on Wednesday.

“We are disappointed. We always expect to win home games but after they scored it was a difficult situation,” added the Spain midfielder.

“The team kept playing the same way and trying to score and we were unlucky.

“We know he (Cahill) is good in those situations and for the future we will have to get that right.

“We are confident we can go to Goodison and win. We don’t have to fear anyone. We respect them but you can’t fear anyone.”

Dirk Kuyt also reflected the mood of disappointment, coupled with determination to put it right and ensure a meeting with the winners of the Aston Villa v Doncaster Rovers replay.

He said: “We’re disappointed we haven’t won. We really wanted to win after what happened on Monday, and I thought we had the chances to kill the game but it didn’t happen for us. But we’ve got another chance in the replay.

“We don’t have fear, we’ve shown we can win at Goodison earlier this season, and we know that sometimes it’s easier for us to play away from home as it can give us much more space.

“You saw that Everton were playing very defensively. They are very tough to play against because they defend very well and had a lot of people behind the ball. Hopefully we can get more space in the replay.

“We don’t look at it as though the pressure is now off us a little going into the replay. The good thing from the game on Sunday is that we have another chance. We believe we can beat them.”

Coach Serves Up A Tactical Masterclass

It's not every day that a bunch of amateur players plying their trade in the Ormskirk and District Sunday League get a one-to-one session with a coach schooled in the 'Liverpool Way'.

But that's exactly what Maghull Community Association FC were treated to when Lucozade Sport provided them with a dream chance to be put through their paces by the Reds' Academy coach Stuart Gelling recently.

The non-league outfit won a competition to become one of 80 amateur side's across the country to take part in the Lucozade Sport Performance League and win a Barclays Premier League club-style sponsorship package for the season. And after being crowned the LSPL's team of the month, they were sent to Liverpool's youth base in Kirkby for a lesson in tactics.

"It was important that they enjoyed it and I think they did," said Gelling after a two hour session in which he instilled some added tactical nous into the Maghull players.

"It was nice to be able to share my experience with these lads, particularly as we all start out at amateur level somewhere along the line."

So what exactly did Gelling do to try and inspire improvement from a side already currently lying 25h in LSPL standings?

"Well, first of all I worked on defensive shape with them. This involved showing them where they should be in relation to the ball. We then developed it from there to their attacking play and how to play through a back four.

"I think it was great that they had the opportunity to come here. The Lucozade Sport Performance League is important because people who come to support Liverpool and other Premier League teams should feel part of the bigger picture.

"It's a pleasure to be involved with the project and be able to give something back to the supporters."

Maghull's bid to gain promotion to the Ormskirk and District League's Premier Division still remains on track despite a number of frustrating defeats over the past few games.

The Macca lie second in the table and with Gelling's advice now in their armoury, boss Neil Marten is confident the players can go on to reach new heights.

"We won a talkSport radio competition in the summer to play in the Lucozade Sport Performance League and receive all this top-flight support," he said when we asked him to explain his side's special appearance at the Academy.

"Fitness-wise the lads are already in good shape and they conduct themselves very well on and off the pitch. But I think the tactical pointers we have picked up from Stuart will give us a good idea of what to do and what not to do.

"The lads were dying to get up here and show what they can do. We've been doing okay in the league so far this year and hopefully this will give us the boost to go on and do even better in the second-half of the season."

Sami: Every Game Is A Must-Win Now

Sami Hyypia believes Liverpool can settle for nothing less than a win as they try to keep pace with the league leaders at the JJB on Wednesday night.

The Reds sit joint top with Manchester United with 16 fixtures remaining, though Alex Ferguson's men have a superior goal difference and a game in hand.

Both sides face tricky away trips this week, with United travelling to West Brom tonight before Liverpool meet Wigan.

All of the top teams have suffered shock results this season, but Hyypia believes it is getting to the stage where nothing less than a victory will do.

The 35-year-old told Liverpoolfc.tv: "If you want to be a champion you have to try to win every game. We are in second place, which makes it even more important."

Hyypia was on the bench when the Reds came from behind to beat Wigan 3-2 at Anfield earlier in the season.

He added: "Wigan played well that day. They passed the ball well and were very aggressive in the way they closed us down. That made it more difficult for us to play. But we showed character.

"You make your own luck - if you play well, you'll have luck on your side. And I think it evens itself out over the season."

Hyypia has made 16 appearances in all competitions this term, most of which in recent months.

The veteran admits it was hard watching from the sidelines at the start of the campaign before a combination of hard work and injuries got him back in the first XI.

"It was frustrating at the start of the season when I wasn't playing so much. Sometimes I was watching the games at home. Sometimes I wasn't in the squad," he said.

"Every player wants to play. Even at my age I enjoy playing each game.

"But I kept working hard, and when I got my chances on the pitch I tried to do the best I could. That's the only thing you can do.

"I'm happy now because I've played quite a lot recently. I am enjoying playing at the moment."

Another man fighting for one of two centre-back slots is Slovakian international Martin Skrtel.

The pair may be rivals, but the big Finn has nothing but respect for his young counterpart.

He said: "Martin showed when he came here a year ago that he was a quality player. He's aggressive, quick and comfortable on the ball as well. He is very easy to play alongside.

"I always try to talk to anyone playing in my position and help them improve their game if I can. Before every game we talk about a few things that might be important in the game and if that helps him then I am happy."

Liverpool's Crunch Week As Tom Hicks Arrives In Town

It is do-or-die time at Anfield, both on and off the pitch. After a month of contractual stalemates, boardroom wrangles, mooted sales, set-piece goals and dropped points, Liverpool now face one of the most critical weeks of their season.

The importance of the week is underlined by the expected presence of the club's co-owner, Tom Hicks, who will arrive on Merseyside ahead of Sunday's Premier League match with Chelsea.

Hicks is saddling up to ride to the rescue of manager Rafael Benitez, bearing promises to sort out a new long-term contract to tie him to the club until 2013 which would underline the American's own commitment to Liverpool.

That commitment was seemingly strengthened yesterday when sources at the Royal Bank of Scotland, with whom Hicks and his business partner George Gillett have a £350 million loan due for repayment or refinance in July, suggested the bank were not expecting any movement on the club's ownership until July.

Reports in Texas suggest that Hicks has reaffirmed his desire to remain involved with Liverpool, telling friends in Dallas they "shouldn't believe what they read" about his desire to sell up and that he was instead seeking investors who could buy out Gillett.

Such a deal is unlikely, with sources in the Gulf suggesting that any Arab buyer would want full control. Any hope of a deal with the Kuwaiti Al-Kharafi family seemingly ended when details of talks became public. Gillett, meanwhile, is unwilling to sell up unless Hicks does the same.

No doubt these issues will all be on the agenda when Hicks and Benitez meet, as well as the Spaniard's demand for full control over transfers, the sticking point in his contract talks. So too, possibly, will be Liverpool's stuttering form.

Benitez's side have beaten only Preston this month and face a daunting run of fixtures, taking in tomorrow's game at Wigan, the visit of Chelsea and the journey to Goodison Park for an FA Cup replay on Wednesday.

That this is a key week in shaping the nature of Liverpool's season is not lost on the players. Two derby draws with Everton have added to the doubts about their ability to compete on three fronts, but midfielder Xabi Alonso is confident the best is yet to come.

He said: "We had enough chances to score the second goal and that is something we have to correct. We have to keep on going as we have been this season but it is important to be critical of ourselves.

"We played better in the second game against Everton than in the first. We controlled the game on Sunday but we're not happy with the mistake we made for their goal. We never fear anyone, but we know we can improve in certain areas."

Reds Loan Out Strike Duo

Liverpool have allowed young duo Krisztian Nemeth and Craig Lindfield to leave the club on loan.

Hungarian striker Nemeth has joined Championship side Blackpool on loan for a month, while Lindfield has linked up with Accrington Stanley on loan until the end of the season.

Nemeth is highly rated at Anfield and helped the club's reserves win the title last season.

Lindfield, who has come through Liverpool's youth ranks, has enjoyed spells out on loan at Notts County, Chester and Bournemouth in the last few seasons.

Both players are well down the pecking order at Anfield and Reds boss Rafa Benitez is willing to loan them out so that they can get some valuable first-team experience under their belts.

Clubs To Offer Exit Route For Liverpool's Robbie Keane

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are considering offering Robbie Keane an escape route from Anfield – but Liverpool will not sanction a move across Stanley Park for the player.

With Everton in the market for a striker and Keane out of favour, speculation has been growing that David Moyes could be planning an audacious loan swoop for the Irish international whom he targeted during his time at White Hart Lane.

But Anfield chiefs would not allow such a high profile recent signing to join their rivals – and the Goodison Park outfit would also have to break their pay structure to afford any move.

A more likely destination for Keane remains Eastlands or a return to his former employers in north London.

Manchester City have yet to make a formal approach for Keane but club officials insist their interest is genuine.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp arrived at White Hart Lane after Keane’s £20million departure to Anfield and while he publicly claimed yesterday that he sees any move for the player as being unrealistic, he is likely to move if City make a bid.

Redknapp said: “I wouldn’t sit here and say I wouldn’t like to have Robbie Keane at my football club, I’d be a liar, but he belongs to Liverpool so it is not an option unfortunately.

“As a player and a person I have a lot of time for Robbie Keane. I think he’s fantastic.”

Boyhood Liverpool fan Keane’s dream move to Anfield has become something of a nightmare as he has completed 90 minutes in just five of his 27 appearances to date.

A lacklustre display in the Premier League derby encounter at Anfield eight days ago ended prematurely for the much-travelled frontman as he was hauled off by Rafael Benitez midway through the second half – the 18th time he has been substituted in 23 starts for the club.

Keane was not even included in Benitez’s 18-man squad for Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Everton with young French striker David Ngog preferred to him on the substitutes’ bench but speculation that he had stormed off following the decision is not true.

Benitez admitted in the post-match press conference that he had not spoken to Keane since he dropped him but this was because all players not included in the squad were given the day off and the 28-year-old was back in training with his team-mates yesterday.

Harry Redknapp Signals Interest In Robbie Keane

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has signed Carlo Cudicini and Pascal Chimbonda - and has put the ball in Liverpool’s court over Robbie Keane.

Cudicini has been given a free transfer from Chelsea and could make his debut against Stoke tomorrow evening as first-choice goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has a thigh strain.

Chimbonda was not registered in time to face Tony Pulis’ men in the Barclays Premier League clash at White Hart Lane, but he will be available at the weekend after following Jermain Defoe as the second player to rejoin Spurs this month.

Another who left Spurs in the last year was Robbie Keane, who has struggled to make an impact at Anfield and was not in the squad for the FA Cup clash against Everton at the weekend.

"I wouldn’t sit here and say I wouldn’t like to have Robbie Keane at my football club, I’d be a liar, but he belongs to Liverpool so it is not an option unfortunately," Redknapp said.

"As a player and a person I have a lot of time for Robbie Keane. I think he’s fantastic."

Keane’s omission fuelled concerns about his future, although Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has previously stated there will be no departures in the current transfer window.

Redknapp is in the market for another striker and has pursued Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones and is monitoring Fred’s situation at French side Lyon.

Match Report: LiverpooL 1 - 1 Everton

Steven Gerrard produced another stunning goal to force a Merseyside derby replay.

Liverpool and Everton will be sick of the sight of each other by the end of this marathon, with the replay on Wednesday, February 4 at Goodison Park.

These sides clashed in the Barclays Premier League last Monday with Gerrard - who else - belting in another cracker to secure a 1-1 draw.

Now with the forthcoming replay they will meet three times in 17 days, rekindling memories of the four-game cup saga they fought out over a fortnight in 1991, which Everton won in the end.

The Toffees will fancy themselves again, having produced a defiant defensive display here to go with their hard-earned league point on Monday.

Joleon Lescott gave them a first-half lead and only the combined brilliance of Fernando Torres and Gerrard denied them a famous victory.

Suggestions that Reds boss Rafael Benitez would under-value the tournament and make a string of changes were unfounded.

There was no Diego Cavalieri in goal, Jose Reina kept the position for his first FA Cup game since the 2006 final.

Elsewhere Liverpool went for more width than in the 1-1 league draw, Ryan Babel and Alvaro Arbeloa detailed to patrol the flanks while Javier Mascherano returned to midfield and Jamie Carragher to the centre of defence.

Liverpool were further boosted by the absence of the influential Mikel Arteta from the Blues ranks with bruised ribs.

The Reds had started slowly in the previous game and allowed Everton a foothold in the game they never relinquished, but today they set about stamping some early authority.

They pushed Everton back with sustained possession and after Steven Pienaar's theatrical collapse in the box under pressure from Arbeloa failed to win a penalty, it was Liverpool who were flooding forward.

But they found their attacking waves crashing against the usual formidable rocks in Everton's defence. Lescott and Phil Jagielka were outstanding as Leon Osman and Phil Neville toiled diligently in front of them.

Liverpool barely created a decent scoring chance in the opening half, and the first time Everton broke out they won a 27th-minute corner that produced a goal to stun the Kop.

From Liverpool's point of view it was yet another set-piece disaster. Tim Cahill, booked early on for deliberant handball, flicked on Pienaar's flag-kick and Lescott nodded past an exposed Reina.

Everton had two free headers in that set-play, and Lescott was totally unmarked six yards out.

From then until the break Everton defended deep, with great resilience and rendered Liverpool frustrated and chanceless.

Torres found Jagielka no less an obstacle than seven days earlier.

Xabi Alonso was booked for a foul on Pienaar and Carragher too on his way off at the break for dissent, having become increasingly annoyed with Everton's constant time-wasting.

It needed something special to break Everton's iron grip, and it came from Torres and Gerrard, combining to stunning effect after 54 minutes.

Torres juggled the ball and then produced a breathtaking back-heel to send the ball flying into Gerrard's path. The captain surged into the box and drilled a shot inside Tim Howard and the near post.

The American should have done far better, but he partly redeemed himself three minutes later with a miraculous save from another Gerrard drive as a revitalised Liverpool powered forward.

Everton sunk even deeper into defence now, 11 men behind the ball, and after 71 minutes they took off striker Victor Anichebe and sent on midfielder Dan Gosling.

Now with Cahill on his own up front, Everton had midfielders breaking from all angles, only heightened when Jack Rodwell took over from Segundo Castillo in central midfield.

It gave Liverpool a real problem. They were pushing forward, and liable to be caught out by quick midfielders if their concentration dropped at the back.

Pienaar was booked for a foul on Martin Skrtel, and Albert Riera came on for Babel. The action was now fast and very furious, with Dirk Kuyt wasting a good opportunity from 12 yards and Torres seeing a close-range shot deflected away by Lescott.

But Everton's defence stood firm, and forced a replay they fully deserved.

Peter Bills: Anfield Echoes Only The Background To Torres' Outrageous Skill

Somehow, some things in football ought to be beyond question. Sir Alex Ferguson will publicly question the credentials of any side within striking distance of his beloved United in the race for the Premiership title. And going to Liverpool ought to be dreaded by every player in the Barclays Premier League.

In days gone by, it was ever thus. A roar that greeted the combatants at the start of every match gradually built to a crescendo of sound along the Anfield Road that would scare old ladies hurrying home before the denouement.

Here, where the ghosts of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Ian St. John stroll in quiet moments, some opponents have been beaten even before they have emerged, knees ‘a trembling, from the tunnel above which hangs a sign with the dreaded words ‘This is Anfield’.

Yet truth to tell, a home record this season of six wins and an extraordinary five draws in 11 League matches at Anfield, and now another on Sunday in the F.A.Cup against Everton, suggests the ground that was once the most intimidating in all England has lost its venom. The fear factor seems no more among visitors to this green swathe amidst the Liverpool inner city suburbs.

But for a time on Sunday, during the FA Cup tie, the Anfield crowd reminded us of those halcyon days for the club. The roar came from the gut, tearing at nerves and inner control like a wild wind threatening the stability of any human being within its path.

True, it took a moment of sublime skill to light the blue touch paper in the old style. Fernando Torres’ exquisite moment of ball juggling on his chest followed by the most sublime, outrageous flick we are likely to see in Premiership football this season, created an explosion of sound that sent Steven Gerrard on his way to goal.

Perhaps Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard allowed the shot to slide tamely under his body because he was still mentally admiring Torres’ moment of genius. But whatever the reason, as the ball hit the back of the net and Gerrard wheeled away in triumph, Anfield exploded.

It brought to mind so many past times when the decibel level was a danger to human hearing. Too often of late, that roar has been muted, deadened by a series of tame, technically proficient but tepid performances.

Perhaps too this is a point Rafa Benitez is still to learn about English football. It is undeniable that so much overseas talent now lights up the English game, much of it possessing technical excellence to a high degree. But football in England never was and hopefully never will be a mirror image of so much of the technically immaculate and utterly boring stuff paraded for too long on the Continent. Such is the growing disinterest in that stuff that clubs like Juventus play often in grounds little more than half full.

What has always distinguished English football is the raw emotion, the speed, the hurly burly and the roar of closely confined crowds. For sure, at times it has left much to be desired in a technical sense yet even so, the excitement has more than compensated.

At Anfield on Sunday we saw glimpses of both: Torres’ superb skill and the roar of the crowd, the emotion that still makes football in England so special. Who can say one is more important than the other?

Benitez Explains Keane Omission

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed Robbie Keane did not miss the FA Cup tie with Everton through injury.

The Republic of Ireland captain has not yet established himself in the Liverpool team despite being the club's biggest signing last summer. He has been replaced in all but one of the 16 Premier League matches he has started this season.

He started the third round FA Cup tie against Preston earlier this month but he was not even among the substitutes for the fourth round match at Anfield, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Benitez picked teenager David Ngog as one of his substitutes instead, raising speculation about Keane's future with the club.

Benitez said: "Robbie Keane was not selected, we have a very good squad. He was not injured. He is working hard and that is the most important thing for me. I have not seen him but it is normal for every player to want to be in the squad.

"They want to be in the 11 starters so I expect him not to be happy. Ngog was in because he scored two goals for the reserves and we had Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel too. That was four strikers in the squad."

Busy Benitez Unfazed By Liverpool's FA Cup Replay

Rafa the gaffer believes his squad contains the depth of quality to cope with a previously unscheduled trip across Stanley Park.

With Liverpool battling against Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table and awaiting a mouthwatering Champions League tie with Real Madrid, the last thing they needed was an avoidable fixture added in.

Yet that is exactly the predicament they find themselves in, after Everton left Anfield on Sunday night with a share of the spoils for the second time in the space of a seven days.

Thus, the Reds will travel to Goodison Park on February 4 with the aim of booking a spot the FA Cup fifth round, just a few days after a cruch league game with Chelsea.

But Rafael Benitez is not overly concerned by this fixture pile-up, as he reckons his fringe players - such as Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Andrea Dossena - can do the job.

The Reds boss told the press, “We have a lot of games coming up but we have a big squad and we can manage it.

“We have good players who can come in and when you play so many games you need that.

“I made four changes today and it was a strong team because we want to progress.

“It would be better if these games were all finished on he day, with no replays, but that’s not how it is done.”