We Are Failing Liverpool, Says Daniel Agger

Daniel Agger has admitted the current Liverpool squad is letting the club down.

The Denmark defender was part of the side that lost 2-0 to Portsmouth on Saturday, a result that saw the club slip to eighth in the Premier League table. Agger has called on the players to take responsibility for their poor performances.

"We are extremely disappointed and we know that it simply isn't good enough for this club," he said. "We have got to change this. It didn't happen against Portsmouth but we can't let it go on any further."

Agger says only a run of victories can halt the slide. "Why is this happening? It's a bit of everything I suppose but we have got to try to get some confidence from somewhere soon," he added. "You get that by winning games but we are not doing that.

"It's a fight every game for this club. Every game we need to focus and need to make sure we get three points. It's a question of sticking together and we need to do that now more than ever."

Liverpool Should Take Chance To Cash In On Steven Gerrard

It is all very well, in discussing Liverpool’s woes, to invoke the spirit of Shankly. But how do you define it? You can make a start by listening to 73 minutes and 30 seconds of the great man giving his thoughts to John Roberts, the journalist with whom he collaborated on his autobiography two years after retiring as manager in 1974.

Order the CD — The Amazing Bill Shankly — for £9.99 and I doubt that you will find a better distillation of the spirit that was to make Anfield a fortress than this, delivered in Shankly’s machine-gun Ayrshire tones:

“Now I want one thing. I want loyalty. I don’t want anybody to be carrying stories about anybody else. If somebody comes to me with a story — I warn you about this — whoever you’re telling it about won’t be the one who goes. It’ll be you.

“You’ll go — out! I don’t care if you’ve been here 15 year [sic]. I want everybody to be loyal to each other. And to do everything you do for Liverpool Football Club. And we’ll all get together. And that will make strength . . . And maybe one day we’ll get players as well!”

The last bit may or may not have been a joke (as in “people say football’s more important than life and death . . .”) but everything else was as clear and inspiring as on the day he had addressed the staff and players of a run-down Liverpool in 1959.

This was how Shankly persuaded players with big egos such as Emlyn Hughes and Kevin Keegan to muck in with more modest souls such as Ian Callaghan, Ron Yeats and Chris Lawler and produce the institution that his erstwhile assistant and successor, Bob Paisley, developed into the most successful in Europe.

On Saturday morning I listened to Shankly and on Saturday night I heard Rafael Benítez, who has the job Shankly took half a century ago, respond to the 2-0 defeat away to Portsmouth with this gobbet of cheap sarcasm: “The referee was perfect.” Liverpool have become the opposite of Shankly’s raw material. They have got some players all right — some of the world’s best in their positions, in the cases of Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and arguably Javier Mascherano and Pepe Reina — but a fading spirit.

To envisage their qualifying for next season’s Champions League now is difficult and, although the time has come for change, the obvious course of replacing Benítez as manager should be neglected, at least for the time being, in favour of imagining what a successor to him could be offered. The cupboard is bare. There is only what lies on the table. Or lies eighth in the table , a point above Fulham, who have a match in hand.

This is because the strategy of surrounding Gerrard with players he respects is failing and the Benítez regime is going down with it.

Because the American owners’ priority is repaying loans, there is little money for more new players to provide for either Benítez or a new manager. It must be raised through sales and here Liverpool are fortunate, for the unthinkable is becoming the inevitable. Gerrard will turn 30 in May. He is approaching his sell-by date and, if Liverpool are truly to face at least 18 months out of the Champions League with no plausible prospect of a return after that, he will probably be among the first to admit it.

Already Mascherano wants to go; talk of Barcelona has turned his head. No one, surely, would blame Torres for wanting to stay at the top level. And in these circumstances Gerrard, too, could leave with no hard feelings on either side, which would not have been the case when he almost joined José Mourinho’s Chelsea.

These three players might raise more than £100 million if sold at a time of Liverpool’s choosing and even today you can build a competitive squad for that. So long as you have a manager who can build a spirit; Aston Villa and Fulham, among others, have proved it.

The argument for keeping Gerrard is fiercely emotional. He has a great talent and a genuine love of the club and, when you think of deeds on which Roy Of The Rovers might have been modelled — the late goals against Olympiacos and West Ham United in the FA Cup Final, the start of the fightback to win the 2005 Champions League final against Milan (even, if to listen so some accounts of his heroism that night you might think he had also scored the goals ascribed to Xabi Alonso and Vladimir Smicer, made Jamie Carragher’s vital tackle on Andriy Shevchenko and deputised for Jerzy Dudek during the penalty shoot-out) — the notion of his wearing another shirt is hard to countenance.

But Liverpool can no longer afford such a captain. They can no longer afford a prima donna whose unquestioned brilliance increasingly seems to embarrass and constrain some of those around him.

Shankly would remember Johnny Haynes. He was one of the greatest English midfield players and he spent his entire career with Fulham. He was a better passer than Gerrard and, though nowhere near as quick, scored as many goals.

Yet in all the time he was with Fulham they never had a side as good as today’s because at Fulham today there is something — just something — of the spirit of Shankly.

Alberto Aquilani Purchase Exposes Rafael Benitez's Transfer Market Folly

By a cruel irony, the midfielder who could have saved Liverpool from their recent defeat at Anfield by Arsenal, and so much else, was watching from the stand, while his supposed deputy struggled on the field as a substitute. Xabi Alonso, the Spanish international sold expensively last summer to Real Madrid, had been the inspiration of the Liverpool midfield, much admired by the local hero, Steven Gerrard. He clashed, however, with Rafael Benitez, his fellow Spaniard, Liverpool's increasingly controversial manager, and Benitez rashly sold him. In his place he signed, for another large fee, the Italian international midfielder Alberto Aquilani and has surely lived to regret it.

Whether or not a fully fit Aquilani, who arrived from Roma, could have emulated Alonso, with his superb through passing, and long-range shooting, who can say? The fact is that given his dire record of constant injury, seemingly ignored by Benitez, it was never likely. And this season, all too predictably, Aquilani has been a casualty for weeks on end, eventually and recently brought back, far short of proper match practice. He is beyond doubt a talented player, but surely a manager as experienced as Benitez must have seen the risk he was taking.

For me, however, Benitez's reputation has long been inflated. Far from emerging from Liverpool's amazing three-goal recovery in that European Cup Final against AC Milan, in Istanbul, as a hero, I felt it was largely his fault, letting Kaka run wild and free in the first half, that his team went 3-0 down.

Plainly, he need not worry about the sack since, having recently given him a massive new contract, it would cost Liverpool £20 million to get rid of him! Nor was Aquilani's the only transfer to perplex one. What, last summer, possessed him to buy that swift striker Robbie Keane, again at vast expense, from Spurs, when he had plenty of talent up front? It didn't work and in no time at all, Keane was back at White Hart Lane. One must say, though, that when beaten at Anfield by an Arsenal team galvanised by Arsene Wenger's half time team tirade, Liverpool should certainly have had a first-half penalty, when William Gallas brought down Gerrard.

Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez: No Problem With Jamie Carragher Contract Talks

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has quashed speculation that the Reds are having problems with regard to offering a new contract for defender Jamie Carragher.

There were suggestions that the Kop hero - who turns 32 next month - might not be offered a new contact when his current deal runs out in 2011, but the Spaniard insists otherwise.

"I read an interview with him yesterday and I was surprised because he didn't ask for a new contract," Benitez told the club's official website.

"He has 18 months still on his contract. He is clever and knows we analyse things differently when players are over 30 years old. But we are really pleased with him. I don't see any problem if he continues to play at the same level.

"He is someone who trains at 100 per cent. That is very good for the mentality of the team. He is also someone who can set an example.

"I have a fantastic relationship with him and his agent. Everything is okay so we don't have any problems."

Javier Mascherano To Spend Suspension Recovering From Knee Injury

The Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano will be able to use his four-match suspension over the festive period to recover from a knee problem. The Argentina captain sustained an injury in the tackle on Tal Ben Haim which earned him a red card in the 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday.

As he has already served a ban this season, Mascherano will be forced to sit out four matches, meaning he will miss fixtures against Wolves, Aston Villa, the FA Cup third-round tie at Reading and the league meeting with Tottenham on 10 January.

However, the club believes his injury would have sidelined him for at least that long any way. "The player had a scan which confirmed the medical team's initial diagnosis that he suffered a medial ligament sprain in his left knee," a club spokesman said. "He is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks."

Rafa Benitez Still Confident Of Champions League Qualication

Manager Rafael Benitez insists Saturday’s miserable 2-0 defeat at bottom club Portsmouth hasn’t shaken his belief that Liverpool will qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Javier Mascherano was sent off as they crashed to a seventh league reverse of the campaign.

Liverpool now find themselves seventh in the Premier League, eight points off fourth placed Aston Villa, ahead of the hectic festive period.

Benitez is confident they will re-ignite their push for a top four finish when they entertain Wolves on Boxing Day before travelling to Villa three days later.

“We always knew the battle for fourth would be difficult but we know we can play well,” Benitez said.

“We know we have the quality, it’s just a question of belief. When the players have a run of games together we will improve.

“It’s tough when you have just lost and really disappointing, but if you analyse the game against Portsmouth carefully in the first half we had plenty of possession and were in control of the game.

“We started the game with real intensity but made a mistake for their first goal and paid for it. We have to defend better.”

Benitez was fuming at referee Lee Mason’s decision to send off Mascherano for his tackle on Tal Ben Haim just before the break. The Argentinean came off second best in the challenge and damaged medial knee ligaments.

“After the sending off everything changed,” Benitez said.

“I have my opinion about the sending off, it’s very clear. But the referee was perfect. He didn’t make any mistakes.

“Now Javier is injured and I will say again the referee didn’t make any mistakes. He was perfect. I have seen the replay, for me it is not a sending off, but anyway, perfect.

“With only 10 players in the second half it was always going to be difficult.

“We had to go forward and leave spaces which meant they could play on the counter attack. It was really difficult for us.

“We were making some mistakes with our passing and were anxious.

“Everybody has to be disappointed but we have to stick together and be ready for the next game. We must try to get three points and see what happens after that.”

Benitez revealed Alberto Aquilani missed the trip to the south east with a calf injury. The Italian is still waiting to make his first league start following his £20million summer move from Roma.

“Aquilani couldn’t train on Friday but it is not serious so he will be okay for next week,” he added.

Liverpool have confirmed Mascherano will serve a four-match ban after his sending-off at Fratton Park.

The Argentina captain was shown a straight red card by referee Mason and now faces his second suspension of the season.

Mascherano will miss the forthcoming fixtures against Wolves, Aston Villa, the FA Cup third round tie at Reading and the league clash with Tottenham on January 10.

However, his participation in at least some of those games would have been in doubt anyway as he had to be helped off the field having been shown the red card and is believed to have sustained medial knee ligament damage.

The absence of the Argentinian, who was just starting to rediscover his form, will be a huge blow to Benitez.

Rafa Benitez Isolated By Liverpool Fans

Two thousand Liverpool fans who left home in the early hours and braved icy roads or frozen rails to follow their team delivered a damning silent verdict.

Followers of almost any other club would have booed and chanted for the manager’s head. But they are slow to turn on their own on Merseyside.

So at the start of the second half, with their side a goal down to the league’s bottom team, they sang: “You’ll never walk alone.” It was a defiant show of faith by supporters who know what support means.

But then, long before the finish of a half in which Liverpool were ill-disciplined and wretchedly short of quality, hundreds of those same supporters quietly slouched away.

“Walk o-on, walk o-on” became walk out. There were no angry shouts but the empty seats they left behind were far more eloquent.

Rafa Benitez might have convinced himself Liverpool were in control before Javier Mascherano’s sending off and that the red card was unfair, but should not convince anyone else.

Against a team who have lost six home games, Benitez’s tactics were sterile and cautious, as they often are. A full-back, the bleakly ungifted Andrea Dossena, was stationed on the left of a midfield that had two holding players: Mascherano and Lucas. On the right, Dirk Kuyt toiled earnestly but with no invention.

Ah, but never mind, Fernando Torres was the lone out-and-out striker and good old Stevie G was buzzing around off him, so everything would be all right, wouldn’t it? No. Portsmouth’s Avram Grant had a strategy.

When he was Chelsea manager, Grant did not lose any of his five games against Benitez and engineered a Champions League semi-final victory.

This time, Grant devoted much of the preparation to telling Portsmouth they were good enough to get at Liverpool. He showed them recordings of positive moments in their defeat by Chelsea.

Then he told Michael Brown to nullify Gerrard and leave Torres so outnumbered that he became frustrated.

And although Liverpool had plenty of possession, they looked blunt long before they were torn open by the string of passes which led to the first goal and long before Mascherano was dismissed.

Then in the second half, Glen Johnson’s cavalier enthusiasm for attacking meant Jamie Carragher had to fill in at right-back so often he was not able to properly supplement the flailing Daniel Agger in the middle.

Left-back Emiliano Insua looked worse than Dossena – and there can be no crueller criticism. It was Carragher’s 600th appearance and one felt sorry for him as he looked in vain for forward options.

But above all else, one felt sympathy for those stoic but forlorn Liverpool supporters. They deserve so much better than what Benitez’s assortment of average players were able to produce.

Ben Haim Makes Torres Claim

Tal Ben Haim has accused Fernando Torres of leading with his elbow when challenging him in Portsmouth's win over Liverpool on Saturday.

The Israeli centre-half enjoyed a fine game in helping his side keep a clean sheet but was in the wars, as first Javier Mascherano was red carded for a crunching tackle on him, before Torres appeared to catch him with an elbow.

Ben Haim admitted he had to stay calm to protect the lead against Rafa Benitez's men and boost his side's hopes of Premier League survival.

"I thought he came with the elbow," he conceded.

The former Chelsea player insists Avram Grant's men had the last laugh by earning their valuable win.

"At the end of the day this challenge and other challenges are not important," he said.

"In the game there are many challenges that you could say maybe it's yellow or maybe it's red. It's part of the game and you need to continue playing.

"I don't pay much attention to that stuff because after that immediately you have to be focused and you don't want to make stupid challenges to get yourself sent off and leave your team-mates a man down. You need to control yourself. It was good for me to be like that."

Ben Haim was also involved in the tackle that led to Mascherano getting a straight red card in the first half, which Benitez felt changed the game.

"I thought that it was a good decision by the referee," he said.

"Especially as I moved the ball when he came. It's part of the game so you have to take it."

Ian Rush: Liverpool Should Buy Real Madrid Striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy In January

Liverpool legend Ian Rush believes that the club must bolster their strike force by bringing in Ruud van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid in January.

The Reds have been found lacking in the attacking department, with no proven hitman to replace or partner Fernando Torres up front apart from the inexperienced David Ngog.

While Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt both have the capability to play as a forward, Rafael Benitez has preferred to play them primarily on the flanks.

With the exit of Robbie Keane last season, Rush now insists that the Merseysiders will have to strengthen their front line with someone like Van Nistelrooy.

The 33-year-old is widely expected to leave Los Blancos in the upcoming transfer window.

"Sometimes Torres needs a break, and if Rafa has only one wish in the transfer window, I hope it’s a top-class striker," Rush told The Mirror.

"I would love to see him bring in someone like Van Nistelrooy, a proven goalscorer with experience at the highest level."

The Dutchman had a sensational five-year spell with Manchester United, scoring 150 goals in all competitions.

And despite the fact 'RVN' is a former Old Trafford hero, Rush believes that the fans will have no trouble taking to the striker.

He said: "World-class predators like him don’t become available every day of the week, and it doesn’t bother me where he’s played before - all it would take is a couple of goals and the supporters would take to him in a flash."

Liverpool's Fernando Torres Is £60m Chelsea Target

Fernando Torres is a £60million target for Chelsea.

There is a growing belief among Europe's richest and most powerful clubs that a season of Liverpool failure will force Torres - and his advisers - to review the player's career.

Torres has publicly insisted he is committed to the Anfield cause and does not want to create any issues that could destabilise Rafa Benitez's managerial authority.

But the Liverpool hierarchy is aware that if their struggling team fails to qualify for the Champions League, hanging on to Torres could become a major issue.

And Torres will quickly be made aware of alternatives homes where he can play at the highest level of the club game.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is a huge admirer of Torres and the 25 -year-old Spaniard is the man the Blues boss wants to bolster his strike force.

Ancelotti has been repeatedly linked with a £45m move for Atletico Madrid's 21-year-old Argentine Sergio Aguero.

But the Italian boss stressed after the 3-3 draw with Everton eight days ago that "100 per cent" he will not be involved in any player recruitment during the January transfer window.

Unless he's forced into a strategic review, that suggests Ancelotti will seek to strengthen his squad next summer - and Torres will be at the top of his wanted list.

Last summer Benitez rejected an approach from Manchester City before the cash-rich Eastlands club could get a £50m offer off the ground.

Benitez has acknowledged: "Fernando is one of the best strikers in the game and, at his age, can only get better.

"Every major side would want him in their team."

Chelsea accept their much derided attempt to break even by 2010 has now been put on the back burner. Any attempt to lure Torres to Stamford Bridge will force owner Roman Abramovich into the kind of investment he was committed to around five years ago.

Any bid for Torres will shatter the Chelsea club record of £32m paid to AC Milan for Andrey Schevchenko.

Despite the stuttering form displayed by his team Torres has emerged as an Anfield hero in the 29 months since his £26.5m recruitment from Atletico Madrid.

Boss Benitez has worked on finding the best attacking set-up to bring the best out of his master marksman. The likes of Robbie Keane and Fernando Morientes were tried and discarded while Dirk Kuyt has ended up operating as a wide attacker.

In effect, Liverpool's most effective strike force comes when skipper Steven Gerrard operates in a withdrawn role behind Torres.

The acclaimed duo has immense professional respect for each other. In troubled times they have been the players who have consistently met the exacting standards expected at the club.

The potential loss of Torres would spark a massive outcry on Merseyside. The striker signed a new contract worth £5.5m a-year in May.

He still had four years remaining on the contract he signed on his arrival from Atletico but Liverpool felt the new, extended deal reflected the player's status as "one of the world's top strikers."

The current agreement runs to 2013 with an option for the deal to be extended to 2014.

One obstacle to Chelsea's chances is the ongoing Gael Kakuta affair.

Chelsea have appealed against a two-transfer-window ban imposed after they were found guilty of enticing the youngster to break his contract with FC Lens.

Liverpool Make Shock Move For Moses

Liverpool have joined the race for Crystal Palace ace Victor Moses.

The 19-year-old midfielder is in blistering form and scored against Barnsley on Saturday with a wonderful overhead kick.

Spurs, Hoffenheim and Barcelona are keen on Moses but the Reds reckon they can land him for £5million.

The foreign clubs have already made their intentions known to Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock but they are set to be disappointed.

It is understood Moses does not want to leave England so early in his career, while Tottenham are keeping tabs on the youngster.

Warnock admits he is fighting a losing battle to keep Moses at Selhurst Park - but he will hold out for as much money as possible to help the cash-strapped Eagles recoup some cash.

Tottenham seemed to be in pole position to land Moses but Harry Redknapp claims he needs to sell before he can buy. He may have trouble shipping out the right players, meaning Spurs are now behind Liverpool in the chase for Moses.

Money is also tight at Anfield but Rafael Benitez is confident he can raise £5million to capture Moses.

He has been told there is a limited amount of money to spend in January and the Spaniard is set to launch his bid for the starlet as he is keen to build for the future on Merseyside.

Gary Lineker: 12 Months Of Tears, Rants... And Possibly The Worst £20m Ever Spent On A Player

What was your football highlight of 2009? Being a Leicester City fan, nothing could top promotion back to the Championship for me but elsewhere we had 12 months of tears and laughter, cheating, rants and the world's first £80million player.

It's a time to look back and reflect on the best and worst of what has happened. Stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres have graced 2009 but my player of the year is Wayne Rooney, who has grown from world-class talent to the talismanic leader of Manchester United and England.

United were always going to be weakened by Ronaldo going to Real Madrid but the way Rooney has thrived on the extra responsibility has been stunning. He has to be the chief goalscorer and shirt-seller at Old Trafford now. And so far he hasn't put a foot wrong.

It struck me how special he is when I went to Stamford Bridge earlier this season to see Chelsea play United. There were outstanding players on both teams but even in that company Rooney stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Besides winning a third Premier League title in a row, he scored 29 times for club and country in 2009, a great record for a player who offers more than just goals.

If he delivers at the World Cup, we'll be talking about him as the greatest English player of all-time alongside Tom Finney and Bobby Charlton.

Talking of England, Fabio Capello gets my vote as manager of the year, for getting to the World Cup without any palpitations and putting us in a position where we could win it. That is a huge turnaround for a team that didn't qualify for Euro 2008.

Capello has brought discipline to the set-up and given the players confidence. It might be a surprise that Premier League stars can lack self-belief but that was the case with England pre-Capello.

The highlight was the 5-1 win against Croatia in September. Significantly, Steve Gerrard and Frank Lampard scored twice each - at one stage people didn't think they could play in the same team.

The year was mind-boggling for the money spent on transfers. Manchester City spent £135m, Real Madrid beat that on just two players, Ronaldo and Kaka.

The best business was done in January, however, when Tottenham paid £15m to Portsmouth for Jermain Defoe. Always a good striker, Defoe has become lethal in the last 12 months, improving tremendously in his penalty box awareness. The buy of the year in my view. He's worked with former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright and that shows he is prepared to listen and learn.

Defoe is at the stage now where I would love to see him play with Wayne as the No 1 strike partnership for England. My instinct says that they would be brilliant together. Over to you, Fabio.

Alberto Aquilani cost more than Defoe - but you wouldn't have realised it from his appearances this season. At a reported £20m, he's got to be the worst buy. He was meant to replace Alonso but spent the first three months injured and hasn't been pushed into the team by Rafa Benitez now that he is fit. It suggests the Liverpool boss is not confident about his ability to fit into the English game.

Benitez came up with the best soundbite of the year. But, although funny, it ended up rebounding on Liverpool. His line, 'I want to talk about facts', while ranting about Sir Alex Ferguson in January was great entertainment.

But the timing was strange - Liverpool were top of the table and Benitez didn't have to say anything at all. The next day his side were held by Stoke and never recovered the title initiative.

At least Liverpool had a reasonable season, Newcastle's relegation was a huge shock. The turmoil off the field finally cost them on it.

Best goal of the year came last weekend by Wigan's Maynor Figueroa against Stoke. To score from inside your own half is not easy – even Pele managed to miss from there. Figueroa's shot could not have been struck more sweetly.

We have all the Premier League games on a Saturday coming in on a live feed at the BBC. One of the biggest reactions from those of us watching in 2009 wasn't for a goal but for Jimmy Bullard's goal celebration against Manchester City.

His impression of a finger-wagging Hull boss Phil Brown had everyone bursting out with spontaneous laughter and applause. As Alan Shearer said later, it wasn't just the best goal celebration of the year but maybe of all-time.

On the negative side, Thierry Henry became the biggest villain of the year when his handball sent France rather than the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup. The striker has built a fantastic reputation and it was shattered in a moment.

I just wish the culture in football would have allowed the referee to ask him outright if he'd handled. I am sure Henry would have been honest if put on the spot and all the bitter recriminations since could have been avoided.

Most sadly of all, we lost one of my greatest role models and inspirations in football this year when Sir Bobby Robson died in July after a long battle against cancer.

It was so fitting that his funeral service in Durham turned into the greatest football gathering of the year, where I was able to catch up with former Italia 90 team-mates Peter Beardsley and Paul Gascoigne and two of my former team-mates from Barcelona, Jose Alexanco and Txiki Begiristain.

Bobby's passing meant 2009 was a bittersweet year for football. Rooney could make 2010 really special.

Liverpool's Tom Hicks Tells Jurgen Klinsmann: You Will Never Manage Reds

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has told Jurgen Klinsmann he will NEVER manage Liverpool.

The Anfield hierarchy have been stunned by the German's recent attempts to undermine Rafa Benitez and offer himself up as the perfect replacement.

Klinsmann, who was sounded out about succeeding Benitez two years ago when the Spaniard was embroiled in a dispute with the club's two American owners, gave a damning assessment of Liverpool's team on a Champions League television show.

He followed that up with a newspaper interview in Germany in which he claimed he could be Anfield-bound next summer.

And when Sunday Mirror Sport asked Hicks whether Klinsmann would ever be considered as a future Liverpool manager, his reply was an emphatic: "Never."

Hicks added: "I don't know what his (Klinsmann's) motives are."

Benitez, who is less than 12 months into a five-year contract, has been told he has the full support of Liverpool's owners despite an early Champions League exit and seven Premier League defeats this season.

Klinsmann, 45, forged himself a reputation as one of the game's best up-and-coming coaches when he took Germany to the 2006 World Cup semi-finals.

He was an advocate of attacking football and his personality and communication skills helped him become a popular global figure.

The following year, with Benitez's future in doubt following a power struggle with Liverpool's then chief executive Rick Parry, he was approached by Gillett as a possible replacement.

Klinsmann met with Gillett, Hicks and Parry in the United States but, once the crisis at Anfield had ended, he was appointed coach of Bayern Munich.

His reign in Bavaria lasted less than a season and Benitez has since viewed his attempts to undermine him at Liverpool with as much amusement as derision given the way he was dumped by Bayern.

Reds Need To Revise Targets - Rafa

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez tellingly spoke of the need to "change your targets" after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

The Spaniard may well have been talking about shifting focus to the Boxing Day clash against Wolves but following the performance at Fratton Park, the comment could easily apply to Liverpool's season.

Goals from Nadir Belhadj and Frederic Piquionne, either side of Javier Mascherano's dismissal, made Liverpool look every inch the Europa League team they currently are.

This came days after Benitez offered guarantees of a top-four finish in the Premier League with the right approach.

"We have to start working this week, preparing the next game," he said.

"You have to change your targets and think about one game at a time. That is the only way. We know we have to work harder now."

Anfield legend Alan Hansen, in his role as a BBC pundit, suggested the pressure was on Benitez to deliver and that the club would not make any knee-jerk reaction during the season.

Hansen was also critical of Liverpool's performance at Pompey, regardless of referee Lee Mason's decision to dismiss Mascherano for a lunge at Tal Ben Haim.

Last season Benitez's outburst aimed at Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson, when he kept repeating "facts", was criticised as counter-productive - this time he continually described Mason as "perfect".

For a flavour of his reaction, Benitez said: "The referee was perfect. He didn't make any mistakes. He was perfect in giving fouls to (Fernando) Torres, he was perfect in everything. He was perfect."

Benitez, however, did claim the sending off just before half-time changed the game.

"The 10 players were working very hard," he said.

"Credit to them, they were in the game. They (Portsmouth) were playing counter-attack and with the pace up front it's not easy."

Belhadj's goal came after a poor header from former Pompey right-back Glen Johnson, while Piquionne span around Jamie Carragher before finishing, ruining the Liverpool centre-back's 600th appearance for the club.

"You have to be disappointed when you concede goals," Benitez added.

At least Benitez has £20million summer signing Alberto Aquilani back for the Christmas period after missing the Pompey trip with a calf problem.

"He has a kick in his calf and he didn't train properly," Benitez said.

"He is not serious so he will be okay for next week but he couldn't be here."

Javier Mascherano Will Serve Four-Game Ban After Portsmouth Dismissal

Liverpool's Javier Mascherano is shown a red card by the referee Lee Mason at Portsmouth, an offence that has landed the Argentina captain a four-match ban.

Liverpool have confirmed that Javier Mascherano will serve a four-match ban after his sending-off at Fratton Park. The Argentina captain was shown a straight red card by the referee Lee Mason and now faces a second suspension of the season.

Mascherano will miss the fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, the FA Cup third-round tie at Reading and the league match against Tottenham Hotspur on 10 January.

However, his participation in at least some of those games would have been in doubt anyway as he had to be helped off the field having been show the red card and is believed to have sustained medial knee-ligament damage.

The absence of the Argentinian, who was just starting to rediscover his form, will be a huge blow to the manager, Rafael Benítez.

It means the Liverpool manager must decide whether to drop Steven Gerrard back from his attacking role just behind Fernando Torres or play the £20m summer signing Alberto Aquilani, whom he has been holding back because of concerns about his fitness.

Liverpool Boss Rafael Benitez Is Tipped For The Chop After Defeat At Portsmouth

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is now 9/1 to lose his job before the turn of the year, thanks to his side's 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday.

Manager Benitez, who this week "guaranteed" that his side will finish fourth in the Premier League, is a front-runner to be fired, after five years in the hot seat at Anfield.

Bookmakers William Hill are also offering 13/8 that Liverpool will finish in the top four and 4/9 that they will not after their 2-0 defeat at bottom-of-the-table Pompey.

"Rafa's guarantee has a hollow ring to it after the defeat by Portsmouth," William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe told sportinglife.com.

"We are now offering just 7/1 that Liverpool finish in the bottom half of the table," he added.

Match Report: Portsmouth 2 - 0 Liverpool

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez suffered a disastrous trip to Portsmouth after Javier Mascherano was dismissed during a miserable defeat at Fratton Park.

Pompey's victory, with the goals coming from Nadir Belhadj and Frederic Piquionne, will ignite hope of survival in the Barclays Premier League.

However, Liverpool chances of finishing in the top four are uncertain - they missed a chance to record back-to-back league wins for the first time since September.

It means Avram Grant maintains his unbeaten record against Benitez after recording two wins and two draws during his time at Chelsea in the 2008 season.

Back then he ended the Spaniard's Champions League hopes at the semi-final stage - this time he has dented their chances of even qualifying for the competition.

Benitez was furious with Lee Mason, who sent two Liverpool players off during the defeat to Fulham earlier in the season, for his straight red for Mascherano, who will now miss four games through suspension.

The defeat also meant there was no celebration to mark Jamie Carragher's 600th appearance for Liverpool - until Belhadj's strike he would not have enjoyed an easier 30 minutes in his previous 599.

In truth, both sides needed time to find their a footing in a game played under tricky conditions. The match was able to go ahead due to the pitch being covered during the week, although there were traces of snow on the shaded areas of the turf meaning passing was sometimes hindered.

Benitez was boosted by the return of Fernando Torres after the Spain striker rested his troublesome groin in the midweek win over Wigan - but he was limited to half-chances.

Torres had a sight of goal early on but Hermann Hreidarsson was back in time - his sliced clearance could have gone anywhere but ended up in Asmir Begovic's hands.

Torres then got closer midway through the half after collecting a pass from Andrea Dossena and curling just over the bar, then he was inches from Steven Gerrard's cross.

Dossena's selection was a curious decision, especially with Yossi Benayoun relegated to the bench and Ryan Babel back after an ankle complaint.

And any plans Benitez had of his changes ensuring a simple victory were blown away just after the half-hour mark when Pompey took the lead.

Belhadj started the move himself by nutmegging Emiliano Insua to set up the attack. When the ball was cleared, Kevin-Prince Boateng forced Pepe Reina into a save with a powerful volley, former Pompey full-back Glen Johnson cleared the ball only as far as Belhadj and the Algerian lashed in at the near post.

Belhadj has been out of favour under Grant, this was his first game since October and resulted in his first goal of the campaign.

Daniel Agger should have levelled before the break. Gerrard's free-kick found him unmarked but the centre-back headed over from close range.

To make matters worse, then came Mascherano's dismissal.

The Argentina midfielder recklessly crashed into Tal Ben Haim, although his feet did not leave the ground. Nevertheless, Mason consulted the fourth official before giving a straight red card.

It was a decision that infuriated Benitez, who had chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" aimed at him from home fans.

Benitez made his move eight minutes after the break, introducing Benayoun for Dossena to the delight of Liverpool fans, many of whom had set off at unsociable hours for the lunchtime kick-off.

Michael Brown made himself busy in midfield, winding up his opponents. When Torres snapped and fouled the Pompey skipper it earned the striker a yellow card, then the striker may have been fortunate to stay on the pitch when he led with his arm in a challenge on Ben Haim.

Johnson also earned a booking for tripping Jamie O'Hara when the on-loan Tottenham midfielder robbed him deep in Liverpool territory.

Begovic needed to be at his sharpest to deny Gerrard after the England midfielder's shot struck Brown and Hreidarsson. The Pompey goalkeeper was falling the wrong way but managed to palm the ball away.

Piquionne doubled the lead with eight minutes remaining, latching onto Boateng's cross, spinning around Carragher and finishing crisply.

Rafa Benitez: Javier Mascherano Dismissal Cost Liverpool FC Dear At Portsmouth

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes the first-half dismissal of Javier Mascherano signalled the beginning of the end for his side as they fell to a 2-0 loss at Portsmouth today.

The Argentinian midfielder saw red shortly before the interval after recklessly crashing into Tal Ben Haim, although his feet did not leave the ground.

Liverpool were already trailing to a Nadir Belhadj goal when they were reduced to 10 men and Frederic Piquionne added another late on to complete the scoring.

Benitez said: “If you analyse the first half we were doing well, even with their goal but then came the Mascherano incident.

“We were a good team in the first half and the sending off changed everything.

“We had some chances, we should have scored, we were controlling the game and everything changed with Mascherano.

“Now we have to hope we can win our next game.”

Pompey’s victory will ignite hope of survival in the Barclays Premier League.

The result also means Avram Grant maintains his unbeaten record against Benitez after posting two wins and two draws during his time at Chelsea in the 2008 season.

Grant was thrilled to claim the scalp of Liverpool having narrowly missed out to leaders Chelsea in midweek.

“Today we played like a team,” he said.

“From game to game we are playing better and today we deserved the win.

“We played on Wednesday against a team in first place at home, and we showed ourselves if we can do things well at the bottom of the table we can still surprise the other team, and today it went well.”

Pompey midfielder Michael Brown added: “We’ve been playing well in general. It was a fantastic result for us.

“It’s a matter of getting some points and three points is fantastic against a strong Liverpool team with a lot of talent. It’s an enjoyable day for us.”

Rafa Benitez Putting Faith In Liverpool FC Defender Glen Johnson

There is an irony attached to Rafa Benitez’s signing of Glen Johnson, if you are willing to believe the chatter in some parts.

It goes like this. The manager who is more preoccupied with defending and making sure the back of his team is in order actually weakened his rearguard by selling a player who could occupy a number of positions for someone who struggles to do his main job.

Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth. Yet ever since he played for England in Ukraine on October 10, Johnson has found his positional sense and ability to help Liverpool keep clean sheets called into question.

Never was that more apparent than after last Sunday’s alarming 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal as Johnson put through his own net to give Arsene Wenger’s side a route back into the game before having his pocket picked by Arshavin for their winner.

Every player, at some point in their career, experiences a 45 minute spell when nothing goes right, but for there to be suggestions that Johnson has struggled since swapping Portsmouth for Liverpool in the summer would be grossly unfair.

Fast, skilful and decisive in the tackle, Johnson has made an assured start to life on Merseyside; yes, there has been the odd lapse, but ask Benitez about the man he bought to replace Alvaro Arbeloa and you are left in doubt about the manager’s views.

Having shaken off the problem which forced him to miss Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Wigan, Johnson will take his place alongside Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio at a ground he knows well.

An FA Cup-winner during his time on the south coast, Johnson is sure to get a good reception at Fratton Park, but all Benitez is bothered about is the 25-year-old making a key contribution to another Liverpool win.

“When we looked at Glen, we knew we were signing an attacking full-back,” Benitez explained. “Everybody knows he is really good going forward but, at the same time, we know he can improve in defence.

“It’s too early to talk about how he has done for us so far, but we have seen him take good positions on the pitch and he does well in certain situations; sometimes he makes a mistake, but generally he is doing very well.

“But he has an attacking mentality and that is good. He is improving and he will keep improving; it is all a question of time, but, clearly, we know he is going to be a good player for Liverpool.

“Last Sunday was just a bit of bad luck. First the cross took a deflection off Fabio then another off Carra and it was really difficult for him to get out of the way; but the main thing always for me is the reaction.

“This week we have watched Glen and he has been very good. He has a good mentality and he is keen to learn; at this moment he is showing that he can become a key player for us for a long time. He just needs to keep improving the little details.”

What will help him achieve that aim is if Benitez can get Carragher, Agger and Aurelio alongside Johnson on a regular basis – it is no surprise Liverpool have conceded more goals this season than usual, given how much shuffling the manager has had to do.

Agger and Aurelio may have had more injuries than most, but Johnson has suffered his fair share and Benitez is hoping the former Chelsea and West Ham can put those niggles behind him to play one week after another.

“The injuries have been very important,” said Benitez. “Glen has had problems, but we have also had other problems with too many players having injuries at the same time and they (the back four) haven’t been able to play together regularly for a while.

“But if we can change that, I think it will be much easier because the understanding between defenders is very important. Glen was Portsmouth’s best player last season and I’m sure he will get a good reception.”

Johnson was in opposition back in February when Liverpool staged one of their most dramatic comebacks of the season, scoring twice in the last five minutes to snatch a 3-2 win when it seemed like they were going to return empty-handed.

“We showed there last year that we have got a very good mentality,” said Benitez. “We were able to win a lot of games at the end and we have shown we can do it; the mentality we are looking for now is this one.

“When you have some problems you have to show character and I think the players are ready. Hopefully we can play well and we will not need to win in the last minute, but if we have to that’s fine, too. We have got to keep the momentum going.

“We needed to win on Wednesday and that was the main thing. We had a situation with which I was furious – it should have been a free-kick when Pepe Reina was trying to catch the ball but the referee allowed them to play on and they hit the bar.

“I was really disappointed because it would have meant us having to score another goal when we were nervous. But still the performance was good.”

Carra Keen To Emulate Giggs

Jamie Carragher hopes to remain a key part of Liverpool's plans for several years to come.

The defender will make his 600th appearance for the Reds when they travel to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth on Saturday lunchtime, having made his debut as a teenager back in 1997.

Carragher, now 31, has already admitted he would rather leave Liverpool than stay with his hometown side beyond his best years.

However, he believes he can continue playing to a high level for some time if he is managed carefully like Ryan Giggs has been at Manchester United.

The Welshman is no longer a permanent fixture in the Red Devils starting XI but he is enjoying some of the best form of his career.

"I'd like to do what Giggs has done. Alex Ferguson is very clever in deciding when he plays. I could do that role one day," Carragher said in The Sun.

"It's a little bit different at centre-back where managers do not like to rotate it as much but it is a position where there isn't a tremendous amount of running, so it can work both ways.

"Either way, I'd like to think I'd be capable of playing 25-30 games for Liverpool a season at the age of 34 or 35."

Carragher received criticism for his performances during the early part of the season but he has learned to deal with the pressure.

"I've got 18 months left on my contract so I'd like to be playing regularly next season," he added.

"I could finish this season on 620-625 games. Then, hopefully, play another 40-odd next season taking me to second in the list.

"It would make me happy. It will prove that I've been up for the fight for a long time.

"I've not been playing as bad as has been made out.

"Liverpool is a great club to be at when everything is going well but when we're struggling, it's a very difficult place to be.

"That's why I'm still here after 15 seasons - I can take the flak."

David Ngog Is Looking The Ideal Second Striker For Liverpool FC

Statistics can be made to say anything you want so here’s one to mull over; at this stage of last season, Liverpool’s second striker had scored four goals this year the total is six.

When Robbie Keane arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2008, with many lauding him as perhaps the final piece in the jigsaw, the promise was of him forming a devastating partnership with Fernando Torres that would fire Liverpool to the title.

As you can see from the figures above, though, the reality was somewhat different, as Keane failed to get to grips with Liverpool’s style of play and never looked capable of dovetailing to any great effect with Torres.

Yes, there were a couple of assists a delightful cross at Goodison Park, for instance, which Torres smashed in to give the Reds a crucial lead but nothing to ever suggest he was capable of filling the legendary number seven shirt.

True, his effort could not be faulted but the running stood for little as, more often than not, he looked incapable of doing the one thing Rafa Benitez brought him to the club for ie. scoring a considerable number of goals.

That he went into the Christmas period with just four strikes to his name said everything about the effect he had and it is not being unfair to say that an experienced international should have had double the tally.

Now contrast that with David Ngog. When it became apparent the young Frenchman who arrived at Anfield a month after Keane would start this campaign as Torres back-up, there were groans of frustration among Liverpudlians, who feared the worst.

It is no secret that Benitez wanted to sign a second striker in the summer and had the goalposts not been moved, there is reason to believe Stevan Jovetic, Fiorentina’s gifted Serbian star would have ended up at Anfield.

You may understand, then, why Benitez glowered more than he has ever done during a game, when Jovetic scored twice at Stadio Artemio Franchi in September to put Liverpool on the road to Champions League oblivion.

Would Jovetic have made a difference during the time Torres spent fighting to overcome his nagging groin problem? That is open to debate. What we do know, however, is Ngog has slowly started to come of age in the last couple of months.

He has taken his chances and it is very important for him, noted Javier Mascherano. As a footballer it is not easy to play all the time if people are expecting David to do the same job that Fernando does.

That is not possible. He is under pressure all the time. But quietly he is doing a good job. When he has had to play, he has scored goals. He is trying to do the right thing and he is doing well for the manager.

Ngog does not yet have the physical strength or stamina to cope with the intensity of 90 minutes of Premier League combat once every three or four days but, as he is only 20, that will come with time.

For the moment, however, his efforts have been more than sufficient and what has impressed most of all is that the vast majority of his goals in the last couple of months have been all significant not token strikes at the end of games that have already been decided.

His effort at Leeds secured Liverpool’s passage into the next round of the Carling Cup, he showed composure to put Manchester United out of their misery, came up trumps in Debrecen and showed a poachers instinct against Wigan on Wednesday.

Of course, brows were furrowed with the way he won a penalty against Birmingham City but the young Frenchman will not make that mistake again; he is learning all the time and working with Torres can only be to his benefit.

Something that could not be said for Keane who would have thought the young man who cost 13 times less than him would go on to have an infinitely more successful Anfield career?

John Aldridge: It’s Vital That Liverpool FC Go Fourth And Conquer

Portsmouth have been written off as relegation certainties already but I wouldn’t be so quick to condemn them to the drop.

With that in mind, Liverpool face a huge task this afternoon on the south coast at one of the most atmospheric, noisy stadiums in the country. Coming away from Fratton Park will prove easier said than done.

Though we managed to get back to winning ways against Wigan, I didn’t see any signs of confidence being restored and its a good job Charles NZogbia’s goal didn’t come five minutes earlier as the jitters would have well and truly set in.

Still, the victory was gratefully received and Rafa Benitez has got to start Fernando Torres this lunchtime to improve our chances of securing back-to-back wins for the first time in the league since September.

But if we can see off Portsmouth no easy task when you consider that Avram Grant has managed to get some improvement out of them and they acquitted themselves well at Chelsea then I think you will see a real difference.

Hopefully we would then be able to see off Wolves without too much fuss. It would be nice if my old mate Mick McCarthy brought the reserves again, or is he now too much of a Manchester United fan? We could then go into the Aston Villa game on a high.

The Reds cannot allow Villa to sneak too far away, as they are riding on the crest of a wave after beating Manchester United and Sunderland, and are probably the side who will come closest to getting into the top four.

Fortunately, given how badly we have played, we are not too far off fourth spot but we are miles behind in the race for the title and that goes to show that wool has been pulled over our eyes in terms of what we are fighting for.

All we wanted from this season was to challenge for the title, but that is not to be as things stand. We have to make the best of a bad situation and ensure we have Champions League football to look forward to next year its the least we expect.

Liverpool's Rafael Benitez Attacks Premier League For Fixture Failure

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has weighed into the fixture debate, criticizing the Premier League for handing his men a congested schedule.

Benitez joins both Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson in attacking the Premier League's fixture list that has the Reds playing Wigan Athletic on Wednesday night, before travelling to battle Portsmouth the following afternoon.

He is frustrated for fans who wish to attend both matches as they would most likely have to take the train to Fratton Park from Lime Street Station at no later than 6:45 am for a nine and a half hour return journey, during one of the busiest weeks of the year.

Telling the The Guardian: "It is the worst time to travel and it is something the authorities have to consider because a lot of fans will be on the road and maybe it will be snowing."

"But it is something that is very easy to change.

The Spaniard, who has already formally protested about the fixtures and match scheduling to the Premier League, says that he has a solution to the problem.

"My idea is simple, you draw the fixtures at the start of the season and you mirror it in the second half as they do in Spain. It would be a level playing field.

"In Spain they have the same number of teams in La Liga as they do in the Premier League, the same television rights issues and the same press. They can do it in Spain and the rest of Europe where the games are strictly home, away, home, away. I don't know why they cannot do that in England," he said.

Lucas Leiva Remains Confident Of Liverpool's Top Four Hopes

Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva has reiterated his hopes for a top four finish, despite the team struggling.

The Merseysiders remedied falling to a sixth Premier League defeat of the season last weekend by triumphing with a 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic on Wednesday, and the win has restored confidence in the Reds camp as burgeoning.

"We could feel the taste of victory again in midweek which was really important after the defeat by Arsenal," Lucas informed the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"It was an important win for us as we want to be as close as possible to the top four.

"We have to fight for every point and each game left for us will be like a final for the rest of the season.

"We are working really hard and hopefully the second part of the season will be even better.

"We have to think about each game and win some games in a row.

"That will give us a lot of confidence and I have confidence we will finish in the top-four."

Liverpool are currently sixth; five points behind Aston Villa in fourth.

Match Preview: Portsmouth vs. Liverpool

Pressure has become the key word for Liverpool in the past month, Jamie Carragher has even turned to the man upstairs, but Portsmouth are in a significantly worse situation as the pair prepare to meet this weekend.

Ahead of Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at Fratton Park, it is difficult to imagine two sides in the Premier League whose seasons have drifted so badly off course since the beginning of the campaign.

In truth, financially-stricken Pompey already appeared in dire straights in the summer and since that time they have managed to get through three owners and two managers, with current boss Avram Grant replacing Paul Hart.

Rafa Benitez's Liverpool, meanwhile, are not involved in Friday's draw for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages and they sit sixth in the table only on goal difference, five points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Every match for the Reds now almost takes on a must-win status and Carragher, who is set to make his 600th appearance for Liverpool, has therefore resorted to praying to God for a reward at the end of the season.

Grant has only one win since succeeding the sacked Hart, a recent appointment at Queens Park Rangers, in November but he has overseen a marked improvement in performances of the league's bottom club.

If West Ham lose to Chelsea on Sunday, Pompey could climb the division and their boss will be desperate for three points against a club he earned a UEFA Champions League semi-final win against when in charge at Stamford Bridge in 2008.

Last season's meeting was an epic as Liverpool grabbed a late victory on the South Coast and Pompey, who lost at Chelsea in midweek, will want to avoid a repeat, with their cause boosted by the return from suspension of Younes Kaboul.

Kevin-Prince Boateng and ex-Liverpool defender Steve Finnan both overcame viruses to start against Chelsea and should keep their places.

Liverpool are set to restore Fernando Torres to their first XI after the Spaniard was rested on the bench before essentially turning matchwinner in the 2-1 midweek victory over Wigan at Anfield.

Full-back Glen Johnson is fit to face his former club after he missed Wednesday's match with a hamstring problem.

Winger Albert Riera still has a hamstring injury and is not available, but Ryan Babel returns to the squad after an ankle complaint.


Possible starting XIs

Portsmouth: James, Ben-Haim, Kaboul, Wilson, Hreidarsson, Piquionne, Yebda, Boateng, Brown, O'Hara, Dindane.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Aurelio, Gerrard, Torres.

Mascherano Coping With Pressure

Liverpool's Javier Mascherano is using the tense experience of only narrowly qualifying for the World Cup with Argentina to deal with pressure at club level.

The midfielder just reached next summer's international finals in South Africa after a nerve-shredding qualifying campaign with his country.

Mascherano is therefore using that experience to deal with the expectation as Liverpool struggle to meet the minimum target of a place in the Premier League's top four.

Rafa Benitez's Reds recorded only their third win in 10 league games to move sixth in the table with a victory over Wigan in midweek and the 25-year-old hopes for more ahead of Saturday lunchtime's trip to Portsmouth.

"We were talking about this (Argentina's struggles) and it has been good for me to have that experience," said Mascherano in the Daily Mirror.

"The pressure with Argentina to get them into the World Cup was worse. Not because it is my country and Liverpool is my club, but because here you have a little bit more time to do the right things.

"We know that we have to keep winning if we want to be in the top four, but we have a game every week to do that.

"With Argentina, I would go for two games then have three or four months to wait for the next one to put things right."

Mascherano also has high praise for David Ngog as the young striker continues to impress in his development this season after scoring the opener in the 2-1 win over Wigan when starting ahead of the rested Fernando Torres.

"David has taken his chances really well and it is very important for him," said Mascherano.

"It's not easy to play all the time if people are expecting David to do the same job Fernando does.

"That is just not possible, so he is under pressure all the time. But quietly he is doing a good job.

"When he has had to play, he has scored goals. He is trying to do the right thing and he is doing well for us and the manager."

Dalglish - Reds Respect Unirea

Kenny Dalglish insists Liverpool will not be under-estimating Unirea Urziceni after being pitted against the Romanians in the Europa League.

The Reds, like Unirea, dropped into the Europa League after failing to progress from the group stage of the Champions League.

Unirea finished third in Group G and picked up a memorable win over Rangers at Ibrox in the group.

Dalglish admitted Reds boss Rafa Benitez is likely to speak to Rangers counterpart Walter Smith to get the lowdown on their opponents.

"I think they got eight points in their Champions League group which included Rangers, Sevilla and Stuttgart so that's a decent number of points," Dalglish told Sky Sports News.

"Obviously there is plenty of coverage now, it's not as if you're going to get a team that won't have been on television so there's plenty of tape there for Rafa (Benitez) to have a look at.

"And also there's a phone call up the road to Walter Smith at Rangers, I'm sure he'll be happy to disclose any information he's got on them.

"It will be a difficult game. They go on a break until March now but whether the rest helps them or hinders them remains to be seen."

Liverpool could face a return to Istanbul, scene of their famous Champions League success of 2005, in the last 16 if they overcome Unirea with Fenerbahce or Lille waiting in the next round.

Dalglish admits the club would relish a return to Turkey, but insists they are not thinking too far ahead of themselves.

"We've got happy memories of Istanbul," added Dalglish. "But we've got to pay Unirea the respect they deserve."

Former Reds boss Dalglish conceded Liverpool would rather be still in the Champions League, but insisted they will be going all out to win the Europa League.

"We'd rather be in the Champions League," noted Dalglish.

"But we'll give it as good a go to win it, as we would the Champions League, I don't think the boys will let anyone down."

Rafa Targets Euro Success

Rafa Benitez has set his sights on claiming Europa League glory after Liverpool was drawn against Unirea Urziceni.

The Reds saw their UEFA Champions League hopes ended at the group stage and must now make do with the consolation of Europe's second-tier tournament.

Benitez knows his side faces a tough task against the Romanian champions, who have also been parachuted into the competition after finishing third in their Champions League group.

Anfield boss Benitez will not treat the Europa League as a distraction and will do his homework on the side who are managed by former Chelsea midfielder Dan Petrescu.

"For me it is too early [to talk about it] because we know we will play in February so we have plenty of time to prepare and learn about the other team," said the Spaniard.

"It will be tough. Unirea won the league in their country and were in a tough group with Sevilla and Stuttgart - I have some friends in Sevilla so maybe I'll be in touch with them.

"But it is important to have an option to win any trophy. The Europa League is different to the Champions League but there are some good teams in it.

"We have to progress if we can and then it is an opportunity to win a trophy and we will try to do it."

Liverpool, as an unseeded team after their poor Champions League display, will play the first leg at home on 18th February before travelling to Romania the following week.

"We would prefer to play the second game at home but we have to be ready. It will be interesting," added Benitez.

Carragher Reveals England Approach

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has revealed he turned down an invitation from Fabio Capello to return to the England set-up.

Carragher, 31, won 34 caps for his country but announced his international retirement in the summer of 2007.

However, with encouragement from club captain Steven Gerrard he initially agreed to meet Capello's assistant Franco Baldini, but changed his mind at the last moment.

Carragher told The Times: "I was supposed to meet Franco Baldini for a chat a year ago and at the last minute I pulled out.

"It was more out of courtesy that I was going to do it. Stevie had mentioned it to me a couple of times, so I agreed to the meeting, but at the last minute I just didn't want to do it.

"I don't think my situation would change if I got back in the squad. John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are first choice and they are two of the best central defenders in the world.

"Maybe I would have won 10 more caps over the last couple of years because Rio and John have missed a few games, but you couldn't ask for a better centre-half pairing than those two going into the World Cup."

Carragher also said he would rather leave Liverpool than play for them when he is past his best.

"I wouldn't want to get to 34 or 35 with Liverpool and have people thinking, 'He's well gone."' he added.

"So I do think about whether it would be better to go while I'm still at a decent level and play out my days at another club.

"I do worry about maybe playing in big games for Liverpool and perhaps costing the side, and I also think about not playing every week and whether I could do that.

"Over the next year or two I'll probably have a decision to make. I'd love to stay at Liverpool - that's what I want to do - but there are different things that I think about that may compromise that."

Reds Promise £15m To Redevelop Anfield

Liverpool have insisted they are willing to invest the estimated £15m it would take to upgrade Anfield to a World Cup venue for 2018 or 2022 should the club not get their proposed new stadium off the ground in time.

The Football Association asked the city's bid team to include Anfield as a back-up option in case the proposed new stadium at Stanley Park does not materialise.

There have been doubts in some quarters in the city about the club's willingness to commit to the overhaul of car parking, corporate facilities and seating needed, when only a brand new stadium would enable the club to earn as much match-day revenue as Manchester United and Arsenal. But a senior Liverpool source said the investment would be made if necessary.

The FA said that the city's bid included undertakings committing Liverpool financially to such work on Anfield if the stadium were called upon.

Liverpool are anticipating having the new stadium in place, though. The key to that is the pursuit of investors which has been under way for several months with the aim of raising at least £100m by selling a 25 per cent share of the club to one or a number of equity holders.

The idea of having a number rather than just a single investor – a model resembling the institutional shareholders of a public company who are consulted at an AGM but are otherwise at arm's length to let the business develop under its management – has its attractions.

On the football front, Javier Mascherano, whose contribution in the 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic underlined his emergence back into form, has admitted that Liverpool's season is heavily dependent on the fitness of Fernando Torres. "It is so important for us that Fernando stays fit," he said. "We know that we can win games when he is not playing but, equally, when he is on the pitch you can see the respect that other teams give him."

The Argentine said he and manager Rafael Benitez had discussed Argentina's ultimately successful battle to qualify for the World Cup as a way of approaching Liverpool's struggle. "We have spoken a lot about that situation," he said. "The pressure with Argentina to put them in the World Cup was worse; not because it is my country and Liverpool is my club. Here you have a little bit more time to do the right things."

Jamie Carragher Is A Liverpool Legend - Steve McManaman

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is set to mark another career milestone at the weekend when the Reds travel south to face Portsmouth on Saturday.

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman, who came through the Anfield academy system like Carragher, has paid warm tribute to the defender.

Carragher's leadership and versatility are just two of his fine qualities as a player, according to his former team-mate.

"My first real memory of Carra came from when he was playing in the team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1996," McManaman told the Reds' official website.

"I used to go with Jamie [Redknapp] and Robbie [Fowler] a lot to watch them and he always stood out, particularly in one game at West Ham.

"He was a great character - with that voice you could hear him coming from a mile away - but it was extra special for me and Robbie to see him come through, as it was another good young local lad.

"Over my period in the team, he must have played in four or five different positions but his attitude was impeccable; he was so determined that it didn't matter whether he played right-back, left-back or wherever.

"He was always eager to learn but, equally, Carra was never afraid to mix it with the older lads and he would put himself about in training - people always talk about his tackling but I wouldn't know about that; he was never quick enough to catch me!

"You sometimes wonder how hard it is going to be for a young, local lad coming into the team and whether the crowd will accept them; sometimes the pressure to succeed can be too much but with Carra it was never going to be an issue. It didn't bother him at all."

And McManaman feels that to play in such a massive total of games for one club is a special achievement in the modern game.

"To get to 600 games in this day and age is an outstanding achievement," he added.

"It shows how well he has looked after himself and why he has been at the top of his profession for such a long time - that he can still play three times a week is a testament to his ability.

"Carra has been a wonderful player for Liverpool, an absolute superstar and I've no doubt whatsoever there will be many more games to come in the future; he's as important to this team now as he's ever been."

Rafa Benitez Confident Liverpool's System Will Create Goals

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will not be changing his tactics for this weekend's Premier League trip to Portsmouth.

The Spaniard also confirmed that striker Fernando Torres is likely to start on the south coast.

"With this system we have scored a lot of goals in the last three years so the system is good for us with the players we have," Benitez said, according to Press Association Sport.

"Sometimes you need to change things if it is necessary but at this moment I think it is good for us.

"We have to manage Torres carefully and I think he will be ready to face Portsmouth."

David Ngog has been an effective deputy for Torres in recent games and Benitez feels the 20-year-old Frenchman has the ability to function as a lone striker.

"Ngog has very good movement. He is always in a very good position and his running supports the midfielders going forward, so I think he has enough quality," he explained.

"Ngog did well [against Wigan Athletic in midweek]. I am really pleased with him because he is scoring goals."

Benitez also hailed the recent form of midfielder Javier Mascherano.

"Javier is doing well. He is working very hard and you can see on the pitch that it is the Javier we knew we had," said the Reds manager.

"He is doing better but I still think he can improve. He is working hard and is an inspiration for the other players.

"Everyone knows he is a key player for us."

Carra Milestone Momentous - Rafa

Rafael Benitez believes players like Jamie Carragher are part of a dying breed as the defender prepares to make his 600th Liverpool appearance.

The Bootle-born centre-back is set to reach the milestone for the club he joined as a schoolboy at Portsmouth on Saturday.

Carragher worked his way through the academy and an apprenticeship to make his debut on January 8 1997.

But with football having gone global in the intervening years, Benitez believes Carragher's achievements will be almost impossible to replicate.

"Maybe someone will do it but it will be very difficult. Now there is too much money around the world in football," said Liverpool manager Benitez.

"If you have a good player, normally someone will make a good offer and the agents have too much power.

"Modern football is more difficult so 600 games in a top side for a local player is a massive achievement."

Benitez has overhauled the academy at Liverpool in the hope the club can unearth more local prospects who can follow in the footsteps of Carragher - who is already the club's European appearance record holder - and captain Steven Gerrard.

He believes having home-grown, talented players is an addition bonus.

"For me as a manager - for any manager - to have local players coming through the system is easier and better but it is more difficult in modern football," he added.

"You have a lot of scouts watching games but it would be really good for us."

Benitez paid tribute to Carragher, who has played in both full-back positions and also as a defensive midfielder during his Liverpool career, for reaching the 600-game mark.

In doing so, he will become only the ninth Liverpool player to reach the appearance milestone.

"I think it is amazing. At this time with modern football, to play 600 times for the same team and be a local player is a fantastic achievement," said the Spaniard.

"He is a very good example for the younger players. He trains 100% in every session and that is good for the mentality of the team.

"Carra has a strong character, passion, he likes to win every game, and that is the type of player you are looking for.

"The last five and a half years have been really good. He was playing as a left-back, right-back and now he has settled down as a centre-back.

"He knows he can help the others and is always talking. That is now one of his main strengths as he can organise the defence.

"He has improved his game and, because he is a centre-back, he has time and he will play for a long time."

The 31-year-old Carragher has 18 months left on his current contract and, in an interview on Friday, said the club had not yet offered him a new deal.

However, Benitez played down the comments, insisting there was no issue between him and the player.

"He has 18 months left on his contract and he is clever; he knows that when a player is over 30 you have to manage them in a different way than when you sign a player who is 20 years old," said Benitez.

"I don't see any problem if he continues to play at the same level and we will talk about this in the future as we have a fantastic relationship with him and his agent.

"He is taking care of himself, he is a very good professional, and I think he can play a lot of years."

Benitez also thinks Carragher will make a good coach and, possibly, even manage Liverpool one day.

"He knows the game. We talk about football all the time and he is someone you have to listen to," said the current Reds boss.

"He is doing some practice in the academy, so I think he will be a manager - hopefully not the Liverpool manager in the next four or five years but in the future."

While much of the focus has been on Carragher's landmark appearance, Benitez has been concentrating on planning for victory at bottom side Portsmouth to maintain the momentum created by Wednesday's win over Wigan.

He has former Pompey full-back Glen Johnson back after injury and winger Ryan Babel returning following an ankle problem.

"Portsmouth is a tricky game because it is a Saturday early kick-off," said the Spaniard.

"They have had problems but now with Avram Grant they have a manager with experience and they did well against Chelsea (in a 2-1 midweek defeat)."

Reds Could Face Tricky Tie

Liverpool face the prospect of potentially tough opponents in their first experience of the Europa League after UEFA confirmed they will not be seeded for Friday's knockout stage draw.

Poor goal difference in the Champions League groups means Rafael Benitez's side miss out on being among the 16 top seeds for the new-look competition, which replaced the UEFA Cup.

It means Liverpool, along with Everton and Fulham who are also unseeded, may have to play strong teams including a trio from Germany - last season's UEFA Cup runners-up Wolfsburg and Hamburg - as well as Italian giants Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine and Turkish club Galatasaray.

A UEFA spokesman said: "Liverpool will not be one of the seeded teams.

"The top seeds are the 12 group winners from the Europa League and the best four third-placed sides from the Champions League.

"Among the clubs dropping down from the Champions League, Juventus and Unirea Urziceni won more points than Liverpool, while Marseille and Wolfsburg had a better goal difference."

The seeded teams are also given the advantage of playing the second leg at home.

The round of 32 starts on February 16 with the final in Hamburg on May 12.

Rafa Benitez: We Must Build On Wigan Win

Rafael Benitez believes last night’s 2-1 victory over Wigan at Anfield will help restore his players’ confidence.

Goals from David Ngog and Fernando Torres lifted Liverpool up to sixth in the Premier League and they are now five points adrift of fourth placed Aston Villa.

Benitez has urged his side to build on the club’s first home win since late October when they travel to struggling Portsmouth on Saturday.

“It was very important to win tonight, and there were a lot of positives,” he said.

“We knew we had to win and it doesn't matter that we could have scored more – at the end of the day its three points.

"We got the victory, now we can relax a bit and be ready for the next one.

"The main thing for us now is winning a few in the row.

“We have to start with the next one, Portsmouth, and then we can talk of winning three.”

Benitez was delighted with the efforts of his two strikers with Ngog opening the scoring in the first half before Torres came off the bench to settle the contest late on.

Torres was making his 100th appearance for Liverpool and his close range finish took his goal tally to an impressive 61.

"It’s a fantastic achievement by Torres,” Benitez said.

“He was really tired after the last game, but I wanted to put him on at the end.

"Torres was not training for a month, and I wanted to protect him and if necessary not play him. But I think he will be ready for Portsmouth.

“As for Ngog he is improving and did really well too. He's a good option for us now if Torres can't play.”

Javier Mascherano was crucial to Liverpool’s triumph with a tireless performance in the centre of midfield.

Benitez said: “Javier is doing well, working really hard. He's the Javier we knew we had and he's doing better now, although he can still improve.

“He's an inspiration for the other players. Everyone knows he is a key player for us.”

The manager admitted it was vital Liverpool marked the 50th anniversary celebrations of Bill Shankly’s arrival with maximum points.

Legends from the club’s great sides of the 1960s and 1970s were out in force at Anfield last night to celebrate the Scot’s legacy.

They formed a guard of honour to applaud the current players on before the start and were introduced to the crowd on the pitch at half-time.

"I think everyone here knows how important Bill Shankly was for the club,” Benitez added.

“He's a legend and to see all the former players around tonight was fantastic.

“In a top side it's always difficult because usually you've won trophies and this club is one of the biggest in the world.

“We talk of having to win here but I prefer that to fighting against relegation.”

Torres Backed By Mascherano

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has paid tribute to team-mate Fernando Torres.

The Spaniard returned from a one-month lay-off in the weekend defeat to Arsenal before starting Wednesday's clash with Wigan on the substitutes' bench.

He came on to score the second goal in a 2-1 victory and Mascherano is delighted to have him back.

Mascherano is confident the Reds can enjoy a successful second half to the season if Torres and talismanic captain Gerrard both steer clear of injuries.

"It is so important for us that Fernando stays fit," the Argentine told Liverpool's official website.

"We know that we can win games when he is not playing but, equally, when he is on the pitch, you can see the respect that other teams give him.

"He causes them so many problems. With Fernando and Stevie (Gerrard) on the pitch, we know that there is always a chance something special can happen.

"It is so good for our team and the confidence they give us. When they are not in the squad, others have to do their job and David Ngog has been doing his job really well.

"But the key players are the key players and you cannot change that. We need to keep the key players fit for the rest of the season."

Liverpool is currently sixth in the Premier League table and Mascherano recognizes the significance of getting another good result against Portsmouth this Saturday.

"The most important thing was to win because we needed it," said Mascherano regarding the Wigan match.

"We want to play better and improve, so it is important that we keep going.

"We will see if we can win at Portsmouth and if we can do that, it will be three amazing points.

"There has been a little bit of pressure but top players have that all the time.

"We cannot forget that Stevie and Fernando have been coming back from injury and it is important to have them in the squad as they are important for us."

Kuyt Keen To Push On

Dirk Kuyt has urged Liverpool to build on their victory over Wigan and go on a winning run.

The Reds suffered a disappointing defeat at home to Arsenal on Sunday before bouncing back with three points in midweek.

Rafael Benitez's men showed glimpses of their best form as they overcame the Latics 2-1 thanks to goals for David Ngog and Fernando Torres.

Kuyt was pleased with the result and performance and has called for more of the same in Saturday's away game against Portsmouth.

"It's a really important win. We showed we wanted to win and played good football for most of the game," the Dutchman told Liverpool's official website.

"Maybe we could have scored a few more goals, and we are disappointed to have conceded, but the most important thing is winning and that's what we did.

"A victory will always lift confidence, but we live from game to game now and we just needed to make sure we beat Wigan.

"We can enjoy this result, and then we have to do the same again on Saturday and try to start a winning run of form."

Kuyt admits Liverpool cannot afford to look too far ahead as they strive to climb the table from their current position of sixth.

"We just wanted to win against Wigan and then take it from there," he explained.

"The situation for us now is to look from game to game, so we are very happy to have got the three points and now we can't wait to play again this weekend.

"For us, every game is very important, so in that respect nothing has changed, but we need a couple of victories and we definitely want another three points against Portsmouth."

Kuyt also praised the display of Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland after twice being denied by brilliant saves from the former Liverpool man.

"Kirky is a very good goalkeeper and he made two great saves from me," said Kuyt.

"I was unlucky not to score, but winning the game was the most important thing."

Fernando Torres Must Take It Easy, Says Rafa Benitez

Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez is handling Fernando Torres' comeback from injury carefully as he intends to get the best out of his star striker over the coming months.

The Spain international was left on the bench for Wednesday night's 2-1 victory over Wigan, although his 64th appearance, off the bench, proved to be timely as he scored the crucial second goal 14 minutes later.

Torres' scrambled home his 61st Liverpool goal on his 100th appearance for the club after David Ngog had put his side ahead with a glancing 10th-minute header. Charles N'Zogbia's injury-time consolation caused some concern but the Reds held on for only their fourth win in 16 matches and just their second at Anfield since September 26.

"I wanted to keep him back because he was really tired after the last game (Sunday's defeat to Arsenal)," said the manager.

"I told him I wanted to protect him and it would be good for me to play him at the end and he was good too. I think he will be ready for Portsmouth."

Benitez admitted victory was the most important thing on an emotional night when the club marked the 50th anniversary of legendary boss Bill Shankly's first game in charge with a host of former stars were paraded at half-time.

"It was very important to win, to get three points, with a lot of positives," said Benitez.

"It does not matter if we couldn't score more goals and be more relaxed in the second half but, at the end of the day, three points is key.

"We needed to get these three points and be ready for the next game. We are thinking about one game at a time so now Portsmouth (on Saturday) is the target."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez's side have now won only two of their last 10 matches and are just two points clear of the relegation zone, having conceded the most goals in the Premier League with 17 in their last four away games.

Martinez said: "I have mixed feelings. The first goal is really soft for our standards, it was a lapse in concentration. When you come to places like Anfield if you do that you are going to make things very difficult for yourself."