Europa League Preview: Liverpool vs. Unirea Urziceni

Liverpool recommence their European campaign this week with a home clash against fellow Champions League dropouts Unirea Urziceni.

The Reds failed to make their way out of a group containing Fiorentina, Olympique Lyonnais and Hungarian underdogs Debrecen in the continent's blue-ribbon competition.

Thus, they now find themselves competing in the inaugural edition of the Europa League, although it remains to be seen exactly how much of a fight the men from Merseyside will put up.

Liverpool won the UEFA Cup three times, their last triumph coming in their treble-winning season of 2001-02, while manager Rafael Benitez claimed the trophy during his highly successful reign at Valencia.

However, with his side locked in a tight tussle for a top-four finish in the Premier League, it is expected that the Spanish tactician will prioritise domestic duties over Europe's second-tier tournament.

Nevertheless, the Anfield giants will head into this encounter as clear favourites, although Unirea proved in the Champions League that they are no easy beats.

The Romanian outfit were just a point shy of Stuttgart in Group G, and their victories over Rangers (2008 UEFA Cup finalists) and Sevilla (2006 and 2007 UEFA Cup winners) showed that they know how to handle themselves against seasoned opposition.

Unirea return from the winter break with Roni Levy at the helm, Dan Petrescu having quit the club to take up a post in Russia. The new gaffer has met both Liverpool and Benitez in European play as boss of Maccabi Haifa.


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Feb 10: Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Feb 6: Liverpool 1-0 Everton (Premier League)
Jan 30: Liverpool 2-0 Bolton Wanderers (Premier League)
Jan 26: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Jan 20: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)

Unirea Urziceni

Dec 12: Unirea 2-0 Iasi (Romanian League)
Dec 9: Stuttgart 3-1 Unirea (Champions League)
Dec 4: Ceahlaul 2-3 Unirea (Romanian League)
Nov 30: Unirea 2-0 Gloria (Romanian League)
Nov 24: Unirea 1-0 Sevilla (Champions League)


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Key attackers Fernando Torres (knee) and Yossi Benayoun (broken rib) are back in training but will not make the squad, while Jamie Carragher has been passed fit after limping out of last week's loss to Arsenal with a groin complaint. Star full-back Glen Johnson remains sidelined with knee trouble.

Last starting XI (vs. Arsenal): Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi, Ngog.

Unirea Urziceni

Levy's main concern is keeping his team intact for the return leg, as Iulian Apostol, Marius Bolasco, Pablo Brandan, George Galamaz and Ricardo Vilana are all one booking away from suspension.

Last starting XI (vs. Iasi): Arlauskis, Nicu, Maftei, Fernandes, Brandan, Semedo, Paduretu, Paraschiv, Frunza, Rusescu, Bilasco.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool - Dani Pacheco

The Barcelona youth product is one of many fringe dwellers expected to get a run throughout the course of this tie. Regarded by some as the most technically gifted player in the entire Liverpool squad, this is a kid all Kopites should keep an eye on.

Unirea Urziceni - Marius Bilasco

The 28-year-old was Unirea's star man in the Champions League group stage, putting in fine displays against Rangers and Stuttgart. Capable of playing both up top and on the flank, he is the sort of player who can exploit any lapses from a Liverpool side who may be more worried about this weekend's clash with Manchester City.

Liverpool FC Must Make A Statement Against Unirea Urziceni, Says Emilano Insua

Liverpool FC defender Emiliano Insua believes the Reds have to tackle the Europa League with the same mentality as the Champions League if they are to succeed.

Having failed to make it through the group stage for the first time in manager Rafa Benitez’s reign of almost six years, the Reds are facing up to the reality of UEFA’s second-tier competition.

Romanian opponents Unirea Urziceni also dropped out of the Champions League this season but their expectations on their first appearance among Europe’s elite will have been a lot lower than Liverpool FC’s.

But Insua insists Liverpool FC have to call on their vast European experience to get them through what will be an unfamiliar challenge for many of the squad.

"It is a bit strange to see Liverpool in the Europa League but we have to approach the game like we’re playing in the Champions League," said the Argentinian left-back.

"We want to win a trophy this season and the only one we can win is the Europa League because we are a bit far behind in the Premier League.

"It would be very nice for us. We have to leave the disappointment (of a Champions League exit) behind us and play the next game as best we can.

"I think Liverpool always has pressure in all competitions so we have to think we can win it and the first step will be on Thursday, which is a massive game we have to win."

The 21-year-old defender, who has emerged as Liverpool FC’s first-choice left-back this season, admits they have to make a statement against Unirea on Thursday.

"We have to go into the game with confidence and push them at Anfield and go for the win while also keeping them quiet," he said.

"It is a very important home game and we need to score some goals and not concede because away goals are very important."

Carragher Boost For Reds

Jamie Carragher has handed Liverpool an injury boost after being declared fit for Thursday's Europa League clash with Unirea Urziceni.

The Reds defender was expected Liverpool's Europa League clash after being forced off against Arsenal last week with a groin problem.

However, Carragher has recovered from the problem and has been able to take part in training this week.

Yossi Benayoun is also back in training after a month out with a rib injury and Reds boss Rafa Benitez will make a late decision on whether or not to use the Israeli against Unirea.

"Carra is training again and he will be available, which is very good news for us as he is an important player for us," said Benitez.

"Yossi is training with the team. He still has a problem with his rib but at least he is training. We will decide about him on Thursday."

Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson are both making progress on their returns to fitness from knee problems, but they are still a few weeks away from being available.

"Torres and Johnson are progressing and working with the fitness coach," added Benitez.

"They are very close but not available yet."

Benayoun To Be Held Back

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is unlikely to be risked for the visit of Unirea Urziceni in the Europa League.

The Israeli has not played since breaking a rib more than a month ago in the FA Cup defeat by Reading and, although he has been training with the squad, he may be held back for Sunday's match at Manchester City.

January signing Maxi Rodriguez is ineligible having already played in Europe for Atletico Madrid but defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos, currently serving a domestic suspension that rules him out of the trip to Eastlands, is available.

Midfielder Alberto Aquilani is back after missing last Wednesday's defeat at Arsenal through illness and, although striker Fernando Torres is recovering well from a knee operation, he is not yet close to a comeback.

Maxi Enjoying Reds Life

Liverpool new boy Maxi Rodriguez insists he is enjoying life at Anfield following his arrival last month.

Argentine ace Rodriguez joined Liverpool during the January transfer window on a free transfer after leaving Atletico Madrid.

Maxi has started Liverpool's last two matches and he believes he is getting used to the style of English football.

"It's going fantastic so far and I couldn't have hoped for better," Rodriguez told the club's official website. "It's so different to daily life in Madrid, but I think I am settling in and it's even better here than I expected it to be.

"Gradually as the weeks have gone by, I've been getting used to daily life in the city. I think it will be even better when I'm more settled.

"It's totally different here to the football in La Liga. Certainly you are aware of the fact it is a lot more physical, tougher and aggressive - they are the big differences.

"But wherever you play football in the world, you still play with a round ball, so you get used to it.

"What's more, I really like the competitive, physical aspect of the game. I think it suits my style and I'm enjoying it."

Rafael Benitez Dismisses Play-Off Idea

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has ridiculed the idea of a play-off for the final Champions League place, claiming clubs "will be playing until the end of the century".

Reports this week claimed the Premier League were looking into the prospect of having the sides from fourth to seventh face each other post-season to decide the remaining spot for Europe's elite club competition.

It is a scenario which could work both ways for Liverpool, who have consistently finished in the top four but have seen their stranglehold threatened by Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa this season.

But Benitez is keen for the team which deserves to finish fourth to get the final spot and not complicate the season even further.

"I have to agree with (Everton manager) David Moyes," said the Liverpool manager.

"He said what would it mean for a team like Tottenham if they finish fourth and, after a fantastic season, have to play a team who finishes seventh maybe 20 points behind just to keep the competition alive?

"To play three, maybe four fixtures, when you don't have time with international football - when will you play, how can you play these games and what does it mean for the team that finishes fourth?"

Benitez added: "Maybe we can do the same with the teams at the bottom of the table. If you finish fourth maybe you could play with the team who finished third from the bottom.

"Then during the whole season we can play 50 games and we don't have to rest so that will be fantastic.

"We can be in the office analysing the fixtures and creating different schedules and different things and the players will be injured.

"If we continue playing games we will end up playing three games a week - which is fantastic for the television companies.

"We are playing too much now. They were talking about the 39th game being played in Asia so if we now play the play-offs we will be playing until the end of the century."

The Champions League has been brought into more focus at Anfield this week as Liverpool conceded fourth spot to City last night and, having failed to qualify for the knock-out stages, face Unirea Urziceni in the much-maligned Europa League at Anfield tomorrow.

It is not an environment the five-time European champions are accustomed to but Benitez stressed as it was their only chance of winning silverware this season Uefas second-tier competition had to be taken seriously.

Liverpool have been installed as one of the favourites to win the cup but their Spanish manager said that did not put any extra pressure on his side.

But after a campaign which has already seen early exits from the Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League title race Benitez rejected suggestions failure to win a trophy would be seen as another crisis by critics.

"There are a lot of clubs in a worse position than us. They don't play European competition ever and it is not the end of the world for these clubs," he said.

"When you talk about Liverpool people talk about the history of the club but the history is not [currently] winning trophies.

"Since the Premier League the money has had a massive influence. You can see in the last years the teams which have won trophies are Chelsea and [Manchester] United - the teams with more wages than anyone.

"There is a relationship between this.

"We are a strong club and a top side who are famous in Europe but we need to keep competing and do our best against clubs who sometimes have more money available.

"When you talk about the Uefa Cup or Europa League now it is a massive competition and we have do our best and progress until the end.

"If we cannot it means maybe the teams are at this moment better than us and then we have to prepare the team for next year and be ready.

"That is life - you cannot win trophies every single year and especially with the economic conditions we have against the teams we have to compete against."

Marouane Fellaini Out For Six Months After Sotirios Kyrgiakos Tackle

Everton have been dealt a major injury setback after their influential midfielder Marouane Fellaini was ruled out for six months with ankle ligament damage.

The Belgium international, who has been in superb form of late, visited a specialist in London yesterday to assess the extent of the injury inflicted by Sotirios Kyrgiakos's two-footed challenge in the recent Merseyside derby.

Fellaini was carried off as a result of the foul that brought a straight red card for the Liverpool defender and had to delay his appointment with the specialist due to inflammation around the ankle.

His scheduled absence means the £15m club record signing will miss the remainder of this campaign, pre-season training, and will not be available until the start of next season.

The Everton manager, David Moyes, said: "He's not good. He's going to have an operation. He's got a similar injury to Robin van Persie and it's probably going to keep him out for six months."

Liverpool FC Will Give Europa League Best Shot - Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez today promised Liverpool will make the best of a difficult situation when they return to European action later this week.

In normal circumstances, the Reds’ boss would have been preparing his side for a Champions League clash this week but events before Christmas means they have had to lower their sights.

Benitez, though, is looking forward to Thursday night’s assignment against Unirea Urziceni and insists he is preparing for the Anfield clash without any pangs for the competition with which Liverpool have become accustomed in recent years.

This, of course, will be the first time Benitez has managed a side in UEFA’s secondary tournament since he guided Valencia to the title in 2004 but he is not turning his nose up at the opportunity.

He, for one, believes Liverpool can put some momentum behind their campaign with a successful push towards the final in Hamburg and will urge his squad to give it their all before they tackle the Romanians.

“It is always difficult but when you have been a manager for a while, with different teams, sometimes you were only playing once a week, trying to avoid relegation,” said Benitez.

“When you have experience, you know all about the different feelings.

"Clearly I would prefer to be fighting for the title or for the Champions League but you must accept the situation.

“You have to be positive and turn things in your favour. Now we have another opportunity (of playing in Europe) and we must try to keep playing better.

“We have got to keep progressing in the Europa League and aim to finish as high as we can in the Premier League.”

Liverpool are favourites in some areas to lift the trophy on May 12 but Benitez is quick to point out that task facing them is far from easy.

“There are still big clubs involved,” said Benitez. “If we can get through a couple of rounds, though, I’m sure the atmosphere will be really good because the fans want to see us winning trophies.”

Rafa Reveals Seville Advice

Rafa Benitez has been getting information on Europa League opponents Unirea Urziceni from Seville manager Manolo Jimenez.

Seville faced Unirea twice in the group stages this season, winning 2-0 at home before falling 1-0 in the return.

Benitez has spoken to their gaffer ahead of the Romanian champions' visit to Anfield on Thursday.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I was talking to some people at Seville, the manager. He was telling me some things about the team. The message is the same - they are well organised and have players with experience.

"I will try to win every game. People don't know the other team and it's not easy to see too much of them because they are not playing, so it will be tough. They have experience, some good players and they are well organised.

"It's important for everyone to understand that if you have an opportunity to win silverware, you have to be ready. It's a chance we have."

Rafael Benítez Wishes Liverpool Were Still 'Fighting' For Top Honours

Rafael Benítez has conceded disappointment with Liverpool's lack of "fight" in the Premier League title race and Champions League but says his side will be taking the Europa League seriously as they prepare for their first match in the competition, on Thursday.

In seasons gone by Liverpool would be preparing for a last-16 Champions League tie now, but instead they will face Unirea Urziceni of Romania at Anfield prior to a league encounter with Manchester City on Sunday.

"Clearly I would prefer to be fighting for the title or for the Champions League but you must accept the situation," said Benítez. "But you have to be positive and turn things in your favour. Now we have another opportunity [of playing in Europe] and we must try to keep playing better. We have got to keep progressing in the Europa League and aim to finish as high as we can in the Premier League."

Liverpool are among the favourites to reach the final in Hamburg on 12 May but Benítez remains cautious about his side's chances. "There are still big clubs involved," he said. "If we can get through a couple of rounds, though, I'm sure the atmosphere will be really good because the fans want to see us winning trophies."

Mark Lawrenson: Liverpool FC Must Prioritise Champions League Qualification

The full calamity of Liverpool’s early Champions League exit will really hit home this week when they make their first foray into the Europa League.

If there’s one consolation I suppose it represents a realistic chance to win a trophy this season.

But then again, those thoughts need to be put aside this week.

Because the game at Manchester City on Sunday could go a long way towards determining if Liverpool will be back in Europe’s number one club competition next year – and that has to take priority.

Winning trophies is traditionally the very reason why Liverpool Football Club exists. But you have to break with tradition once in a while.

Getting that top-four spot, and maintaining the revenue stream that comes with it, is vital.

Far more vital than winning the Europa League – a nice piece of silverware it may be but it won’t attract the type of players Rafael Benitez wants.

In fact, if there’s one thing that everyone at the club – from the Americans to the manager to Christian Purslow – is agreed on it’s that winning a cup this year won’t mean a jot if Liverpool are missing from the Champions League next season.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they should give up on the Europa League. In fact, I wouldn’t completely rule out them winning that AND finishing fourth. It’s just that each stage of it has to be taken on its merits.

Players have to be preserved for the trip to Eastlands to give Benitez the best opportunity he can to keep Manchester City at bay with a good result so Sunday.

He won’t get that by picking his strongest possible line-up to face Unirea Urziceni on Thursday and telling them to give it everything they’ve got.

I think a bit of tinkering might be in order and, in this case, nobody would argue.

The beauty of European knockout football is, of course, that you get two bites of the cherry and if a weakened line-up doesn’t get an ideal result in the first leg, there’s always a chance to make amends in Romania.

And if Liverpool do make progress and start to flourish in the league then they might get the opportunity to give the Europa League more attention later on.

After all, the further you go and closer to the final you get, the mindset can really start to focus on the silverware.

With Fernando Torres hopefully back in the groove towards the end of the season, it will only enhance the possibility of Benitez being able to commit himself on two fronts.

But in the last 32 of the Europa League, thoughts of going for glory in Hamburg are still too far away

But Manchester City away is too close for comfort – and has to be the most pressing concern.

Ian Rush: Stakes Are High In Liverpool FC's Fight For Champions League Spot

From suddenly having a chance of claiming third place it appears Liverpool are now back in a fight for fourth.

The seven-game unbeaten run had put us in a decent position ahead of the trip to The Emirates. But looking at it now, Liverpool probably needed to avoid defeat to have a realistic chance of clinching third place.

It was a decent enough performance against Arsenal and a draw would have been a fairer result.

I wouldn’t say Liverpool are playing great football but I’ve noticed a fighting spirit over the last few games. There is a bit of fight in them now, compared to earlier in the season. The players seem to know what’s expected of them.

It’s unfortunate they lost at Arsenal but Liverpool have a chance to turn it around against Manchester City.

City are on the same number of points as the Reds but have two games in hand.

If they win on Sunday, City will be in prime position to finish fourth. But if Liverpool win, it puts the pressure back on City.

People will often say they prefer points in the bag to games in hand.

It’s a crucial match for both clubs but Liverpool are used to this kind of situation. It’s all new to City, though, and we’ll have to see whether they can stand up to it.

The way they let Mark Hughes go is a sign of the pressure at the club now.

Roberto Mancini has come in to try and take them to the next level.

Although they rarely lost under Mark it was unfortunate for him that they drew too many games.

While that was only ever going to see City progress gradually, Mancini appears to try and take that extra step and go for the win.

Mancini seems happier to win three games and lose two than draw five.

They’re obviously looking to get points on the board and that’s why Mancini has been brought in, to turn one point into three.

Although they’ve lost a couple of games under Mancini, City have got a decent home record – winning four from five under the new manager – where they tend to go for it and attack more.

Against a good side, this can make them vulnerable at the back.

Liverpool specialise in picking off teams on the counter-attack and that’s how I see us getting something on Sunday.

Liverpool FC Come Into Focus As English Soccer Clubs Embrace Technological Revolution

Liverpool FC is leading the way as Sports Revolution installs a new generation of high-definition television (HDTV) networks in football stadia across the UK. The move follows Sports Revolution's acquisition of the trading assets of Sports TV, which had networks in 45 grounds in the English leagues.

Liverpool will have a concourse television network for the first time as part of major new investment. Boosted by a £2 million investment in new audio-visual equipment, Sports Revolution is now upgrading many of these grounds to HDTV systems. It is now the largest provider of match-day content to UK stadia, streaming material tailor-made for each club's advertisers and fans.

As well as upgrading clubs from their old Sports TV networks, such as Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane, Sports Revolution is also introducing its compelling TV service to grounds that have not previously had a concourse TV system, including Liverpool's Anfield.

Sports Revolution has equipped the famous 45,000-seater ground with 200 42" BEKO HDTV screens, and is streaming club and branded content on match days.

All content on the new Liverpool FC TV system is tailored to both the club and the specific match, with output concentrated into pre-match and half-time slots. Content is scheduled around commercial advertising spots, delivering value to the club and its partners.

Sports Revolution will use its software to distribute news, statistics and live score data supplied by the Press Association throughout the ground.

"For us, the most important thing is to offer a TV service that enhances the match day experience," said Ian Ayre, commercial Director for Liverpool Football Club. "We want it to add value for the fans, not only for the club commercially. The old model for this type of network tended to be a one-size-fits-all system, not sufficiently tailored to a particular club.

"The good thing about this solution is that Sports Revolution creates and streams content that engages our fans and fits it around our existing LFC TV channel. The result is a bespoke package that the fans enjoy and that advertisers and the club’s commercial stakeholders want to buy into. It is an excellent addition to our media inventory, using state-of-the art technology."

Sports Revolution is already the largest media rights owner in UK football stadia, bringing advertiser money into the game through exclusive media rights with 72 clubs across all the leagues, including 16 in the Premier League. It is also a major player in the sale of Premier League digital perimeter advertising space, and has a media planning consultancy expertise through its sister company, Sports Insight.

Sports Revolution commercial director Vange Kourentis said: "Many business models have failed in this area before, so we have focused on delivering a service that is club and fan focused, ensuring that we deliver an engaging product that fans enjoy and that advertisers and the club’s commercial stakeholders want to buy into. Clubs working with Sports Revolution have a lot to gain, not only in terms of new equipment, but new commercial opportunities surrounding a truly fan and club-centric model."

Tomkins: Youthful Promise

If you ever want to see the perfect example of how media reporting of football has changed in the past 40 years, consider the following.

In 1970, Liverpool lost 1-0 in the FA Cup to Watford. And yet given the extent of reporting back then, it will have received less hysterical coverage than one particular newspaper provided upon the exact same result four decades on.

The difference? This time it was the FA Youth Cup. Yes, one popular paper wrote a condemnation of the Reds' youth system based on one cup result. I don't think I've seen many things that have made me despair quite so much.

Never mind that the Reds progressed to three of the past four finals, or that the club, with a very young side, are on course for a second reserve championship in just three years; losing one game at U18 level apparently undoes all that. By 2020, can we expect big headlines when the U11s fail to win?

Youth football, much like pre-season friendlies, has been blown out of all proportion in recent years.

While I personally love watching the U18s and reserves on this website or the club's TV channel, it worries me that some get carried away with those who impress at what is a far inferior level to the first team.

I can fall into the trap too, such as thinking that Paul Anderson was set for stardom when he was named as a sub for the first-team aged 17. But the difference is, I respect the judgement of those making the decisions as to who is good enough, and fully understand that some experience arrested development.

This hit home to me a few weeks ago, when Liverpool decided to sell Christopher Buchtmann to Fulham. Having impressed last year as a 16-year-old for Liverpool and Germany, I, like many others, thought he was on course for the big time; but it was an opinion gleaned from precious little hard evidence.

When I spoke to Rafa Benítez back in October, we discussed many of the fledgling players at the club. Buchtmann was one I expected to hear good things about, but it was others who were praised. So it came as no major surprise to me to see him move on.

But because he'd received some attention, and looked promising in a few games, it became an outcry to let him go; never mind that he was not going to get into the reserve team at left-back for a good while, with the more-promising Chris Mavinga establishing himself at that level and looking a real thoroughbred.

When I wrote about my chat with Rafa, I mentioned that he'd stopped me to point out one very promising youngster who was passing by. I didn't mention the lad's name in the piece, because it's up to the boss to manage expectations around players. But I lost count of the people emailing me to beg "go on, who was it?” all of which I batted away.

Hype doesn't help the individual concerned; my point was that there is talent that Rafa feels optimistic about.

We need to remember the Freddy Adus, Sonny Pikes and Nii Lampteys of this world - real superstar kids who amounted to relatively little - rather than think everyone will be the next Messi, Fowler, Owen, Rooney, et al.

Players develop at different rates, but even the best 18-year-olds, unless they are truly sensational, offer no guarantee of making the grade. Players change and develop physically as they age, but success is as much a mental challenge as anything. And that's a side of it only those at the club can truly assess.

Years ago I wrote something along the lines of this:

It's one thing being a forward who is better than some of the best U18 centre-backs in England, and another entirely being better than the best U18s of the previous year as well, who are now gaining experience with the reserve teams and may have had a taste of senior action; and those of the year before, who might already be U21 internationals and regulars in the senior side; and those of the year before that, who are now in their 20s.

And so on; all the way through to the best U18s of a decade-or-so ago (such John Terry), who are now full internationals, and the best U18s of 15 years ago (Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand), who are the canny old pros who'll snuff a rookie out in an instant.

Yes, that hypothetical U18 striker can improve with experience, too. But he's going up several levels in terms of quality, and just as players successfully jumping from lower divisions are less common, so too are top youngsters succeeding quickly at the very best clubs.

Even with multicultural youth set-ups in England, the quality needed to break through is further highlighted by the fact that it's not just the best home-grown players from the English system they're up against, but the brightest U18s of the past 15 years from the French, German, Spanish, Italian, Argentine, Brazilian and other youth systems, who, once they've established themselves as senior players, are being brought to England as the finished article.

Take Craig Lindfield, an honest, hard-working Academy graduate with an eye for a goal at youth level (top-scoring in the club's 2006 success), and who scored in one pre-season friendly for the senior side. After this, I had lots of people asking me why Benítez won't give the lad a chance.

Yet despite turning 22 this year, Lindfield now plays his football at Macclesfield, near the foot of the lowest division. In many ways he's doing well; most youngsters don't even make it in the game at all. But despite some England U19 caps, he wasn't of the required standard. And as yet, even though he can still improve, he's only rated good enough for the 4th tier of professional football.

So when people badger me about why Daniel Pacheco isn't a regular yet, I advise them to be patient and appreciate the jump in class. Unlike Lindfield, Pacheco has really impressed in the reserves, and Rafa has spoken very positively about the lad this week, but it's not fair to treat youngsters like saviours; especially during a difficult campaign when the pressure is more intense.

As it is, few people realise that according to Opta, Liverpool have on average fielded the 2nd-youngest side in the Premier League this season. And as I've mentioned along similar lines over the past couple of years, much of that is down to a lack of 30-somethings in the starting XI.

Most weeks, Jamie Carragher, recently turned 32, stands alone in this regard, with Gerrard at 29; Hyypia and Voronin, both in their 30s, have moved on. New arrival Kyrgiakos is 30, and at times his experience has been vital.

Pepe Reina is still not yet at the peak for a goalkeeper (he's 12 years younger than Edwin van der Sar!), and Agger, Mascherano, Lucas, Aquilani, Torres, Johnson, Skrtel, N'Gog, Babel and Insua are all aged between 20 and 25. The average age of the best sides tends to be between 27 and 30.

While it's been a long time since a first-team regular emerged from the youth system at Liverpool (if you discount Insua, who was purchased as a 17-year-old; although Arsenal's similar purchases tend to be credited to their youth set-up), you only have to look at how many teenagers have played in very meaningful games for the Reds this season to see that there is promise.

Some are local lads, others are imports; but all have shown that they can hold their own at the level in the sink-or-swim introduction; even if it's another big step to finding the consistency once the initial adrenaline rush of the debut (and the high it brings for a few weeks) wears off.

(Poor Martin Kelly has had plenty of time to contemplate his excellent debut in October, having been injured ever since.)

It is only recently that the scouting system has been revamped, and made more professional. But overhauling a youth system can never bear instant fruit.

A problem has been simply not discovering enough English talent.

Connor Coady, Jack Robinson and Andre Wisdom all played for the national U17 side against France this weekend, so that may bode well; and even though, as seen with Lindfield, even England U19s can fail to make the final step, it can't hurt to have a strong crop in any younger age group.

Stephen Warnock aside, I can't think of one Academy player Benítez has discarded who has gone on to be a big success. If Liverpool had been shipping out star after potential star, I'd be concerned by his actions. But Potter, Welsh, Mellor, Otsemobor, Partridge, et al, are all lower league players; only Danny Guthrie has played a lot of games in the top division.

But even someone like Warnock possibly needed the chance to play regular football at a club where there was less pressure and scrutiny, in order to develop; a bit like Ryan Shawcross leaving Manchester United.

And while the comparison isn't entirely fair, Emiliano Insua was a full Argentine international at 20 (like Lucas with Brazil), while Warnock hadn't even played for Liverpool by the age of 22, at the point when Benítez arrived.

"Throw in the kids, we've got nothing to lose" is a great saying, until you throw in the kids, lose the game, and the kids lose confidence. Then those same people say "these kids are rubbish!”

Untested young players represent to fans a get-out-of-jail-free card. They cost nothing, and as with conspiracy theories, they are never better than before they've kicked a ball for the senior side, because those who say they should be in the team every week are yet to be proved wrong.

The important thing, however, is to keep their chances in perspective. It's not like breaking into a side in the '90s or before; big clubs now have 20+ full internationals, all of whom were the stars of their respective youth systems in the past.

But if the kids do get their chance, then please, please give them time to adjust. Expect too much too soon, and they will only let you down.

Academy Football: Liverpool Under-18s Left To Focus On The League

Liverpool Under-18s will look to put the disappointment of their FA Youth Cup exit behind them when they return to FA Premier Academy League action this weekend.

Rodolfo Borrell’s side were beaten by Watford in the fifth round at Anfield last week, but travel to take on Manchester City at Platt Lane this Saturday (kick-off 11am).

It has been a tough campaign for Liverpool so far and they have lost 10 of their 18 games in the Academy League, while the Youth Cup exit was the latest blow.

They sit seventh of 10 in the Group table, but the tightness of the division means they are only seven points behind leaders Blackburn.

Coach Borrell said: “We have been struggling the whole season with some very young lads. We have played well in some games, but not so in others. But we have to keep going.It was difficult since the first day I arrived. It wasn’t a team with balance, and a lot of them were born in 1993 and that is one or two years below many of the players and teams they face. But they should understand it is a unique opportunity that they have for them to fight to arrive at the top level.”

Liverpool skipper Conor Coady also captained England under-17s during their 1-1 draw with France on Saturday at the Algarve Tournament.

Team-mates Jack Robinson and Andre Wisdom also played in John Peacock’s side’s opening match of the four-team tournament.

They also played in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over the Ukraine on Sunday. England also take on hosts Portugal in their final match today.

We Can Dump Liverpool Out Of Europe, Says Unirea Chief

Liverpool have been warned they are not invincible in Thursday’s Europa League tie visit of Romania’s Unirea Urziceni.

Unirea boss Roni Levy came close to pulling off a miraculous victory last time he managed a side at Anfield back in 2006.

Liverpool needed an 87th-minute goal from Mark Gonzalez to see off Levy’s Maccabi Haifa to secure a 1-1 draw in the second leg of a Champions League qualifier and go through.

Like Liverpool, Unirea dropped into the competition after failing to progress through to the next round of the Champions League.

Israeli coach Levy, who recently replaced Dan Petrescu at the helm, reckons his side can give the Reds a rude awakening.

Levy said: “I know Liverpool well. As manager of Maccabi Haifa we nearly beat them – they can be beaten.”

Unirea president Mihai Stoica also believes his club can produce a shock.

He said: “I am confident that we can compete and achieve the success that we had earlier in the season.”

Rafa - City Game Not Decisive

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez claims the clash with Manchester City will not decide who finishes in the top four.

The Reds currently hold fourth spot, but City are level on points and have two games in hands on their Merseyside rivals.

Liverpool travel to Eastlands on Sunday and Benitez admits it is a massive game for his side, but the Spaniard is not looking too far forward.

"City have two games in hand, and that's important - but they have to win them," Benitez told the club's official website. "We just need to concentrate on the next game, which is against them and will be a massive game.

"Still I have the same idea - it will be a long race and we have to keep going.

"It's a very important game but even if we win we'll have to keep winning games."

Benitez added: "I was analysing (the fixture list) a little bit but not too much," he added. "With the experience we have we know to take one game at a time. You cannot waste too much time because you can't control other games.

"We have two or three very difficult games on paper but every game is tough in the Premier League.

"It's important to have all the squad available, not just because players like Torres and Yossi and Johnson are important - but also for the competition in each position."

Tevez Set To Miss Crunch Liverpool Clash After Partner's Pregnancy Hits Problems

Carlos Tevez is a doubt for next Sunday's Champions League crunch with Liverpool after making a trans-Atlantic mercy dash to Argentina to be by the side of his expecting partner.

Her pregnancy has run into problems just weeks before she is due to give birth and Manchester City have granted Tevez indefinite compassionate leave to be with her.

The Argentina striker jetted off from Manchester on Saturday and is not expected back for tomorrow's crunch league clash with Stoke at the Britannia.

Tevez could also miss City's showdown with Champions League rivals Liverpool at Eastlands on Sunday and the Blues have told him to take as much time as he needs.

City sorely missed their 19-goal top scorer in their disappointing 1-1 FA Cup draw against Stoke and boss Roberto Mancini said: "There is a family problem and I don't know how long he will stay.

"I don't think Carlos can come back for Tuesday. I don't think he can play. I hope he can recover some time. I hope so, but it's difficult."

Liverpool Given Champions League Lifeline

The Premier League is considering a proposal to introduce a play-off for the fourth Champions League place.

The top four currently enter the tournament but the new idea would mean the teams from fourth to seventh playing in a mini-knockout competition.

BBC sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar said the Premier League has been presented with "a number of ideas for altering the competition's format".

But there will be no changes for three years as the next TV deal is in place.

Farquhar added: "Any changes would need the agreement of 14 of the 20 clubs. But the League says there are many options and nothing has been decided."

The move is widely thought to be seen as a way of increasing competition in the Premier League because Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have filled the top four positions in five out of the past six seasons.

The proposal was raised at a meeting of all 20 clubs on 4 February and will be considered again when they next meet in April.

The top four in the Premier League is the same so far this season, although Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa are putting concerted pressure on Liverpool, who are fourth.

Two years ago the Premier League was widely condemned for a proposal to play a 39th game of the domestic season in Asia.

The Football Association, the sport's world governing body Fifa and European body Uefa all rejected the idea and the Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) condemned the proposal as being motivated by money, dubbing it Game 39.

A similar system to the idea of play-offs was introduced by the Dutch Eredivise in 2005-06, with teams finishing from second to ninth competing for a place in both the Champions League and what was then the Uefa Cup.

That idea was scrapped in 2008 for the Champions League, with teams finishing fifth to eighth now vying for a place in the rebranded Europa League.

Rafa Benitez Hails Javier Mascherano's Inspirational Qualities At Liverpool

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is delighted to have Javier Mascherano in his team, as he believes that the midfielder is an inspirational presence in the dressing-room.

Benitez feels that the Argentine is a born leader who can exert massive influence during games, driving on those around him.

"He is someone who has a very good character, he is very positive and can inspire those around him," Benitez told his club's official website.

"He is setting an example to the rest of the team. I am really pleased with the way all of them are playing at the minute but Javier Mascherano is a player who is doing really well for us.

"Look at the [Merseyside] derby. He played in a different position (right-back) but he still managed to have a massive impact and everyone can see there is a big difference in what he is doing now.

"At the beginning of the season it was very difficult for him. But now things have settled down and he is working very hard for the team.

"He is back to the Javier Mascherano that we signed. His commitment to the club is 100 per cent."

The Reds' gaffer is also hopeful that his side will be boosted soon by the return from injury of winger Albert Riera, who is looking good in training after shaking off a hamstring injury he sustained in December.

"Albert is an option on the left. It is important for us to have competition for each place," he added.

"He will improve. He needed to train some weeks in a row but he has come on again in the last month and you can see that in his training."

Reds Missed Out On England Forward

West Ham forward Carlton Cole has revealed that he rejected a number of advances from admiring clubs in the January transfer window.

Sport.co.uk understands that the clubs in question are believed to be Liverpool and Arsenal.

Although a number of reports suggest Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham Hotpsur were considering making an offer for the West Ham and England striker.

Reports suggest both leading Premier League clubs made bids in the region of £10 million for the front-man. The cash-strapped Hammers reportedly rejected the offers as they value the England star at £20 million, confirming they will only cash in on their talisman for big money.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was looking for a front-man in the January transfer window but decided not to pursue Carlton Cole after the club slapped a £20 million price tag on the player, and Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner made a rapid recovery from injury.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has also tracked the forward in the last year, and was eager to provide competition for Fernando Torres, and French youngster David Ngog. Benitez is understood to have made an enquiry regarding Cole, as well as looking closely at Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones.

However despite speculation, West Ham forward Carlton Cole has revealed he always wanted to stay and help the Upton Park club beat relegation:

Carlton Cole told SkySports.com: "My only priority is to get back to full fitness and do my best on the pitch. I wasn't in the least bit interested in entertaining offers, my only focus was and still is to do the best I can for West Ham for the rest of the season in the situation we are in.

"My only priority is to get back to full fitness and do my best on the pitch.

"There has been speculation about my future; however, I am not one to shirk my responsibility.

"I am looking forward to enjoying a good end to the season by producing some good performances to repay the Upton Park faithful."

Steve Morgan Reveals Liverpool FC Debt-Free Plan

Wolverhampton Wanderers owner Steve Morgan has claimed that Liverpool would have been debt-free if he had taken over the club.

The business magnate owned a 5% stake in the Reds before chairman David Moores agreed a leveraged buyout with George Gillett and Tom Hicks in 2007.

As a result of the Americans' reign, Liverpool have debts of £237 million with interest payments believed to currently stand at £30 million per annum - something which Redrow owner Morgan claims would never have happened if his 2004 takeover bid had been accepted by the Anfield board.

"I was going to put at the time up to £70 million investment into the club," he told Bloomberg.

"It would have been cash into the club. It would have pretty much reduced the debt and got the debt down to nil."

"If I'd have been there, there wouldn't have been that interest bill."

Under Morgan's stewardship, Wolves strolled to the Championship last year and are currently 15th in this season's Barclays Premier League and the 57-year-old is now targeting long-term stability for the Molineux outfit in the top flight.

He added: "Our plan this year and hopefully next is to establish ourselves in the Premier League and to build.

"But again, it's a step at a time. This year is about trying to establish ourselves and then to take the club forward."

Laudrup On LFC Talks

In an exclusive chat with Liverpoolfc.tv, Danish icon Michael Laudrup talks all things LFC, from the limitless potential of Daniel Agger through to his thoughts on where Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard rank amongst the best footballers on the planet.

The Barcelona and Real Madrid legend is regarded as one of the finest playmakers of his generation and could well have found himself amongst the top five players to have shook the Kop - had things turned out differently.

Here he explains why Agger is the key to Denmark's World Cup hopes, which Liverpool player he idolised as a youngster and whether the Reds can end the season on a high and secure that top four finish.

First of all, Michael, thank you for taking the time to talk to Liverpoolfc.tv.

No problem, it's a pleasure.

I suppose the best place to start would be with Daniel Agger, a player you know well...

Well I coached him at Brondby when I was manager a few years ago. He came directly from the youth team and you could see right from the beginning that he had great potential. He is very calm, very good with the ball and direct in the way he defends. We knew he would not be in the Danish league for too long, such was his undoubted quality. With that in mind, I wasn't surprised when he went to Liverpool and I think he did very well at first. I remember he scored the winner in the Champions League semi-final with Chelsea back in 2007. In the last year and a half he has been really unlucky with injuries and I think that is the only reason why he has not made an even greater impact in England.

You won the title with Brondby back in 2004-05. How big was Daniel's contribution?

Well, it was massive. Even though he was only very young, he played with great maturity. There was no doubt he had a big influence on our side. What surprised us was that he would tell his teammates where to go and help them through games. That was quite special at such a young age.

Just how good do you think he can become? Is he one of the best defenders in the world already?

If he can stay fit then I think he can definitely be one of the best central defenders in the game.

He's obviously a key player for Denmark? How important is it that he plays for your country in South Africa this summer?

He's hugely important, there's no question about that. He will be a key man that's for sure. The main players are people like Thomas Sorensen, Agger and Christian Poulsen. If they are fit then Denmark will have a good chance of progressing to the latter stages.

When Agger first arrived at Anfield, many supporters were quick to make comparisons with Alan Hansen? Do you think he has similar qualities?

I don't think it's worth me making comparisons. You are probably better placed than me to talk about that. What I do know is that Liverpool have had many great defenders in the past. Daniel is a very good player and if he can put his injury problems behind him and play at a high level in the next few years, then maybe you will be talking about him in the same breath. At the moment you are blessed with some very good central defenders. I think Carragher and Skrtel are very strong, so you have three very competitive players fighting for the two places.

Agger is closing in on his 100th appearance for Liverpool. It's a special landmark, but one that he maybe feels he could have reached sooner. Would you agree?

Yes, I think to play 100 times for a top club like Liverpool is something to be proud of. But I do agree, he will be frustrated that the injuries have restricted his appearances. Like I said before, it's important that he now goes on to enjoy a spell free from injury. He's only 25 and there is still much more to come from him. Ask any player in the world, even the greats - you can't hit top form if you have niggling injuries.

Do you still keep in touch with Daniel?

No, not really. I do see him from time to time and it's always nice to have a chat. He's a nice kid and the kind of person I like because he always keeps his feet on the ground. No matter what he achieves, he will always be the same.

So if he invited you to his pub in Denmark would you go along?

Ha, ha. Well, I've yet to receive the invitation! But seriously, it would be difficult because I live in Madrid now. Having said that, I'm coming to Liverpool in April for a legends tournament, so maybe he can invite me for a beer then!

Another Dane with Liverpool connections is of course Jan Molby. How good was he in his pomp?

Jan was a great player. He had fantastic technical ability and was very strong, with a good eye for a pass. He was a very important player but I think he would like to have played even more during his time at Liverpool. I saw him recently in Denmark and it is always great to see him because we grew up at the same time. We played together in the '84 European Championships and in the World Cup in Mexico two years later. We share some great memories.

Your careers were very different at club level, but you actually came close to signing for Liverpool at first, didn't you?

Yes, in 1983 I had the opportunity to sign for Liverpool. We actually agreed a deal and I came over with my father to talk to Liverpool's representatives. We agreed a three-year contract and went away thinking it was all done. But two weeks later they came back saying they wanted to offer me the same package, but for four years because I was still young and needed time to develop. I was disappointed because although nothing had been signed, we had an agreement. I decided not to join them and people thought I was crazy. This 19-year-old was turning down the great Liverpool. It wasn't really like that though. I just felt an agreement is an agreement and people should stick to what they decide. After that, I had other offers and went on to join Juventus. That's football for you.

You went on to play for the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, but never got to play at Anfield. Was that disappointing given the reputation it has for its famous atmosphere?

You know, it is really strange that I had such a long career and played in so many stadiums around the world - but never Anfield. I have been there though. I was there for the Champions League match against Barcelona about three years ago. You won 2-1 in the Camp Nou and then lost 1-0 at home. It was such an amazing atmosphere that night. I think the word special can be used too often to describe things, but there's no doubt, that is the only word I can think of for Anfield.

It's a shame that the incredible Barcelona side that you played in during the late 80s-early 90s didn't go head-to-head with Kenny Dalglish's team of the same era. Who do you think would have won?

Ha ha, I've never thought about it. It was a great team with fantastic players though. The likes of John Barnes and Peter Beardsley were at their peak back then. But that was how I always remember Liverpool. You have had so many great teams over the years. Growing up in Denmark as a kid, they were the games we saw on TV. Some of my favourites were Ray Kennedy, John Toshack and Kevin Keegan; but do you know who I really liked watching?

Kenny Dalglish?

No, he was a great player too - but I always enjoyed seeing Steve Heighway in action. He was very effective down the wing.

We have had some great players down the years and there are a few in the current team too. How highly do you rate Fernando Torres? Is he THE best striker in the world?

Well he's right up there. I think there are a lot of great strikers in Europe. In the Premier League you have Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba as well. Then you have the likes of David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sameul Eto'o. I don't know if you can identify one player as the best but he's definitely in that bracket with those guys. He's had some injuries recently but when he's on form he can be unplayable. Hopefully he will return soon and hit form for you at just the right time. He would then be ready for the World Cup too, which is the biggest stage of all.

Nando recently became the fastest player in LFC history to score 50 league goals. When you consider some of the great forwards we have had, how big an achievement is that?

It's a great record. Like you say, Liverpool have had some fantastic strikers in the past and so to be the quickest to that total is very impressive and shows what a great player he is.

And what about the skipper, Steven Gerrard? Do you like him as a player?

Of course. He has been the symbol of Liverpool for many years now. I don't think people can imagine a Liverpool team without Gerrard. It is like Raul at Real Madrid and Puyol at Barcelona. They are a rare breed, these types of players. He had the possibility to leave and couldn't - the club is in his blood.

We can't let you go without asking you about our current situation and the race for a top four finish. Do you expect the Reds to claim that final Champions League berth?

Up until Christmas it was a very difficult season for Liverpool. It was quite a big blow for you to go out of the Champions League so early. Fiorentina are a good team but not of the level of Liverpool. In the last few weeks results have been better. Okay, you lost at Arsenal in a close match but I think it is still possible for you to get fourth. For a club the size of Liverpool that is probably the minimum target and I think you will hope for better next year. With Torres coming back from injury I think you have a good chance.

Liverpool Players Face Pay Cut Over Champions League Failure

Should they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League, Liverpool's players will face a 5% drop in salary, according to the News of The World.

Liverpool players are granted performance related contracts, to provide an incentive for success. This includes a bonus for Champions League qualification and while the News of The World estimates that Liverpool will stand to lose at least £12million should they fail to qualify for next season's competition, the loss of player bonuses would save the club £2-3million in wages.

Since Rafa Benitez became Liverpool manager, the Anfield club has regarded Champions League football as a formality and players have been signed on the assumption that they will participate in Europe's premier club competition.

Liverpool find themselves embroiled in a tight battle for fourth place in the Premier League and face a crunch clash next week against rivals Manchester City.

Eriksson Keen To Become Liverpool Boss

Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson is interested in becoming the next Liverpool manager, should Rafa Benitez's Anfield reign end in the summer.

According to the News of the World, Eriksson covets the job of Liverpool manager. They quote a source as saying, "The job Sven really wants above all others is Liverpool. His track record stands up to scrutiny and he thinks he has a chance."

Eriksson left his job as Director of Football at Notts County last week and will reportedly receive a £2million pay off from the League Two club. However, the News of the World claims that the Swede joined Notts County in order to keep himself in the shop window for bigger English clubs, such as Liverpool.

The 62 year-old has not managed in the English top division since he was sacked as Manchester City manager in the summer of 2008. Benitez is under pressure at Anfield and there have been persistent rumours that he will take over as Juventus coach, particularly if he fails to guide Liverpool to Champions League football for next season.

Spain Want Torres To Rest

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has urged Fernando Torres to delay his return from injury with Liverpool.

Torres returned to training in midweek following a lay-off with a knee problem and is line to return for the clash with Wigan on March 8.

European champions Spain are amongst the favourites to take the Word Cup crown in July and 59-year-old Del Bosque insists his country's chances would improve by Torres being kept out of action.

The comments could anger Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, who has seen his talisman play just 21 times this season.

He has notched 12 goals during an injury-ravaged campaign that has seen the club struggle to hold on to the coveted fourth Champions League place.

Torres' recent battle with a groin problem was sustained whilst on international duty with Spain, reigniting the club versus country row that provides the backdrop to national team fixtures.

But del Bosque wants the 25-year-old to play less for the Merseysiders in an attempt to keep him in top condition for this summer's finals in South Africa.

He told the News of the World: "The fewer games Fernando plays for his club, the better it will be for us.

"We want him not to play too many games, to recover completely for the World Cup and have had some rest in between. We'd like him fresh for the tournament.

"That can only be good news for Spain. We hope Liverpool's loss will be our gain.

"Fernando Torres represents a crucial part of our squad."

Soto Proud Of Kop Song

Sotirios Kyrgiakos has spoken of his pride at having his name sung by the Kop.

The Greek defender's chant has popped up on several LFC forums and is sung to the tune of 'Oh Campione'.

It goes: "We thought his days were numbered, now he plays here every week. We can't pronounce his surname so we call him Nick the Greek. Oooh Kyrgiakos."

Kyrgiakos told LFC Weekly magazine: "I am extremely happy when I hear that fans of such a big team are singing my name.

"It's hard to describe my feelings at that moment. It's very encouraging for any footballer and one of the best things you can experience."

Celtic And Liverpool Hold Talks On Croker Clash

Liverpool and Celtic have been in talks to play in a high-profile friendly at Croke Park this summer, the Sunday Independent has learned.

They would possibly have been part of a four-team mini-tournament held at the ground and negotiations were at an advanced stage when Liverpool withdrew because Croke Park had not been confirmed as the venue. Speculation that Real Madrid or Barcelona were one of the other teams lined up was denied last week.

Sources close to Liverpool confirmed on Friday that they had agreed to play in the friendly but had withdrawn when they were told the venue was not definitely available. However, they added that the decision to withdraw was not irreversible.

The stadium director of Croke Park, Peter McKenna, told the Sunday Independent that they had been asked about hosting the game.

"We were approached with a view to staging a Celtic/Liverpool pre-season fixture and a number of other exhibition fixtures too. We made it quite clear to the respective agents and promoters who contacted us that we were not in a position to enter into discussions," he said.

The prospect of the game has not disappeared though, with the possibility that GAA Congress in mid-April will allow Central Council to make their own decisions about how the venue is used. Currently, they can only enter negotiations with the IRFU and the FAI.

"The only organisations we have been directed to deal with are the IRFU and FAI in an arrangement where Croke Park was offered until the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road is complete," McKenna added. "Any future change to this directive is a matter for the GAA's Annual Congress in April."

While many clubs will have their pre-season games already planned by then, Liverpool are known not to finalise their schedule until April, at which point Croke Park may be available.

With the World Cup taking place in South Africa and players like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard likely to be involved in the latter stages, the club are known to have ruled out a long-haul trip to Asia during pre-season so a game in Dublin would be ideal.

A number of promoters, not all of them Irish-based, are known to be pursuing games in GAA headquarters.

For the GAA, the possibility of having two clubs with strong Irish ties as the first British clubs to play at Croke Park would also be enticing.

Liverpool were once regular visitors to Ireland but the need to exploit marketing opportunities in Asia has seen a change of emphasis. A Liverpool XI comprised of youth players played in Dunmanway last August but a game with established stars facing a Celtic team that may even include Robbie Keane would be a sell-out.

It would be welcomed by the GAA, which is considering how to replace €36m in lost revenue from the soccer and rugby internationals, the last of which will take place at the end of March.

In the medium to long-term, they may be in a position to compete with the redeveloped Lansdowne Road as a venue for major finals in soccer and rugby, but a friendly involving two of the best supported clubs in the country would also be lucrative.

Lansdowne Road will not be available this summer as the first match planned in the new ground takes place on August 7 with Ireland playing Argentina four days later in the first soccer match.

"There is no way the first game in the Aviva will be anything other than rugby," a source close to the negotiations said last week.

The FAI would have to sanction any soccer match taking place in Ireland and while there might be concern at the competition Croke Park would provide, this is not seen as a difficulty by potential promoters of friendlies. It is a growing market in world football, although one expert believes they may have already reached saturation point.

"There are two pre-season tournaments in London, one at the Emirates and one at Wembley and this is probably too much. Dublin is a much smaller market."

Yet the possibility of playing at Croke Park is an incentive for many clubs, not just those who have strong Irish links.

The Real Madrid delegation that visited the stadium last year during the trip to Ireland which ended with a friendly against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium, are known to have been overwhelmed by the stadium and baffled why it wasn't available to them. That may be about to change as Croke Park has an opportunity to capitalise on the breaking down of the barriers.

Rafa: Why Maxi Will Improve

Rafa Benitez claims there is still a lot more to come from new boy Maxi Rodriguez.

The Argentina ace has put in several decent displays since signing from Atletico Madrid in January but is still finding his feet in English football.

Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I think he's doing well. For new players it's always difficult but he's giving to us some quality in possession and good movement, and he's working hard too.

"He will improve. The understanding of the other players will help with his play, and that will also make things better for us.

"He's okay now. He still needs to improve his English but he's having lessons. He also has Mascherano and Insua around, and they help him a little bit.

"You can see clearly that he's very happy - and we'll try to keep him as happy as we can."

Rodriguez was a starter when Liverpool beat Everton in a feisty Merseyside derby at the beginning of the month.

Benitez believes his latest signing performed admirably in the circumstances.

He said: "All new players when they see a game of this tempo are always a little bit surprised because they see the difference between this derby and derbies in other countries. But that's part of the adaptation."

LFC Trio Star For England Under 17

Academy star Conor Coady captained England U17s to a 1-1 draw against France on Saturday.

Fellow scholars Jack Robinson and Andre Wisdom also played 90 minutes.

The trio were among the shining lights of this year's FA Youth Cup run, which ended in disappointment at the fifth round stage last week.

England's next game in the Algarve Tournament is against Ukraine on Sunday.

Liverpool Face Journey Into Un-Known

Among the eight clubs that joined the Europa League in December were some of European football's more famous names.

Juventus, Marseille, Atletico Madrid and, of course, Liverpool had all dropped out of the Champions League and were ones to look out for in the last 32 draw.

With all due respect, Unirea Urziceni weren't.

Sounding a little like something nasty that might take a course of antibiotics and a couple of weeks to clear up, success has suddenly become infectious for the Romanian minnows.

Their rise from relative obscurity has been rapid.

Urziceni only won promotion to the third division for the first time in 2003, with promotion to the top flight coming three years later.

Indeed, when Liverpool last won the UEFA Cup, Unirea were a semi-professional outfit, struggling to make ends meet in the lower reaches of Romanian football.

Nine years on and they are reeling from the departure of the manager who guided them to an historic first ever Liga 1 title with which came passage into the Champions League.

Dan Petrescu is better known in England as the marauding right-back who won an FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup with Chelsea in the mid to late nineties.

In Romania, he is a national hero. He was one of their most celebrated players and was fast becoming one of his country's most sought after managers.

That's why his sudden departure just a week after Urziceni had been handed a dream tie against Liverpool in the knockout stages of the Europa League was greeted with shock and derision.

Derision at the club's board for not backing Petrescu, and shock at his chosen destination.

After guiding the unfashionable provincial club to a Romanian cup final and league title in the space of just three years, Petrescu handed in his notice to take the reins at Russian second division club, Kuban Krasnodar.

Despite finishing third in Champions League group G, just a point behind Stuttgart, who pipped Unirea to the last 16 courtesy of a 3-1 win over the Romanian's in the final group game, Petrescu was powerless to prevent the release of two of his best players, Tiberiu Balan and Dacian Varga.

Although the pair had only been loaned to Urziceni from FC Sportul Studentesc, the failure of the club to retain their services, or at least bring in ample replacements, angered Petrescu who saw his position as untenable.

Leading Urziceni out at Anfield instead next week will be a man who, like Petrescu, has been there before.

Roni Levy was manager of the Maccabi Haifa side that met Liverpool in the third qualifying round of the Champions League in 2006/07.

He will take heart from a narrow 2-1 defeat at Anfield ahead of an admirable 1-1 draw played at a neutral venue in Kiev due to political problems in Israel at the time.

Levy was handed an 18-month contract at Unirea in January worth a reported $600,000 and knows he has a job on his hands to maintain the momentum of the most successful era in the club's short history - they were only formed in 1954.

"It's a very big moment in my career and I know how big this challenge is and how difficult it will be because everyone will compare me to Dan Petrescu," said the Israeli.

"I hope we will be top at the end of the season."

Levy will be grateful that Petrescu left Urziceni in good shape.

After 17 games, the defending champions are second in the Liga 1 table, level on points with leaders CFR Cluj and third placed Steaua Bucharest.

With the three Bucharest clubs, Steaua, Rapid and Dinamo, traditionally the leading lights of Romanian football, Urziceni and Cluj are threatening the established order.

The title rivals meet today as the Liga 1 commences following a two-month winter break.

It is a meeting that symbolizes a power shift away from the tripartite of Bucharest clubs who between them had won 25 of the 26 league titles on offer since 1981 until Cluj muscled in the season before last.

The reason for the sudden change is quite simple. Money.

Like Cluj, Urziceni were taken over by a new sponsor eight years ago. What has followed has been a logical progression.

After entrepreneur and now club owner, Dumitru Bacsaru, gained ownership of the club in 2002 through his company Valahorum, it took just a year for Urziceni to gain promotion to the second division.

As well as attracting better quality and, of course, higher paid players, the club's Tineretului Stadium was developed and its capacity increased to 7,000 seats.

Although the venue is more than sufficient for a town of just 17,000 inhabitants it doesn't meet UEFA requirements.

As a result, Unirea play their European home games 15 miles away at the Steaua Stadium in Bucharest, which nomadic Reds fans will be pleased to know has a more accommodating 27,000 capacity.

Urziceni remain unbeaten there in Europe this season.

An impressive maiden Champions League campaign included a 4-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox but also a couple of 1-1 draws with Stuttgart and Rangers in Bucharest prior to a 1-0 win over Seville there, suggesting Unirea are no pushovers on home soil.

Of their most notable players, former Alaves wing-back Pablo Brandan was linked with a move to the Bundesliga in January but nothing transpired.

The Argentine is one of a clutch of South Americans at the club, another being holding midfielder, Ricardo Gomes of Brazil.

Urziceni captain George Galamaz joined from Dinamo Bucharest three years ago for a fee in the region of £1.5 million

It may not compare to the kind of figures we see in the Premier League but that won't prevent Urziceni believing they can prove their worth against Liverpool.

Dominic King: Liverpool FC Can’t Get Sidetracked By Europa League Adventure

A grand day out in Hamburg or an untroubled passage through to the end of the season in the Premier League?

They are the choices with which you are faced and, it must be stressed, this is an either/or situation; you can’t have one and top it up with the other.

In normal circumstances, the vast majority would opt for the former; nothing beats the feeling of being involved in a showpiece final nor can the emotions of winning a trophy be bettered.

Were Liverpool to go all the way in the Europa League, skipping through the rounds en route to a glorious conclusion in northern Germany, not one supporter would be complaining on the morning of May 13 – or would they?

Just say the weekend had seen Rafa Benitez’s side draw or lose at the KC Stadium, a result which meant they missed out on a place in the Champions League.

Suddenly the celebrations that you might have just started visualising will have become just that bit more muted; the harsh reality of modern football, sadly, means that clubs in Liverpool’s position need finance coming in just as much as trophies.

Having started to manoeuvre themselves into a position where it appeared they would firmly grip hold of fourth place, particularly after last Saturday’s victory over Everton, events in midweek have muddied the waters again.

There was, of course, plenty to like about certain aspects of Liverpool’s performance against Arsenal; they defended robustly and, in the main, stifled a side that usually plays with such dash.

Added to that were terrific performances from Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard – the captain is poised to spring into life any time soon – and the composed Daniel Agger, while the return of Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Yossi Benayoun is imminent.

Problem is, though, Manchester City – the side who, at this stage, look the most credible challengers for fourth spot – are now level on points with the Reds and have two games in hand; furthermore, they do not have any European fixtures to trouble them.

This, clearly, will be on Benitez’s mind when he starts his preparations for Thursday evening’s Anfield tussle with Unirea Urziceni – on one hand he will be desperate to give supporters who have had nothing tangible to celebrate since 2006 a trophy.

Yet, at the back of his mind, he will be conscious of the game which takes place less than 72 hours later at the City of Manchester Stadium, a meeting that could prove definitive in the race to reach the riches of the Champions League.

“There is nothing we can do about the Arsenal result now but the lads have got some time to reflect and be disappointed,” Gerrard noted earlier this week.

“We’ve got a very big league game coming up against Manchester City but if we play like we did against Arsenal, then I would really fancy us to beat them. You can see that in the way we have played in the last six or seven games, being so hard to beat.”

But with a game against Stoke City on Tuesday night, Roberto Mancini’s team could be three points ahead of Liverpool before the sides lock horns; the margins for error with which Benitez is dealing are decreasing dramatically.

Admittedly, City’s run in is far more complicated than the one Liverpool must negotiate; they have to travel to Stamford Bridge, the Emirates and Upton Park, aside from facing Manchester United, Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham at home.

Looking at things from this point, Liverpool’s descent to the finish line hardly presents the perils of the Hahnenkamm, the most difficult assignments being the trip to Old Trafford and home showdown with Chelsea; granted their tendency to hit form during this part of the season, you would expect them to amass plenty of points between now and May 9.

Complicating matters, however, is the Europa League. Provided they breeze past Unirea – as they should do – Lille or, most likely, Fenerbahce await.

In an ideal world, Lille will provide the opposition in the last 16, as a short hop to northern France would be far more attractive than four-and-a-half hours to Istanbul.

That said, nagging away in the back of everyone’s mind will be the question – do Liverpool have the squad to cope with fighting battles on two fronts?

Imagine, say, Torres pulls up lame chasing a pass that prevents him hassling and harrying Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic or Gerrard tweaks a groin trying to help Liverpool to get through to the last eight of a tournament that nobody really wanted to be in.

Yes, it would terrific for Liverpool to go all the way in the Europa League but, quite simply, it cannot detract from the main aim.

Benayoun Returns To Training

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has announced that Yossi Benayoun has returned to training as the midfielder steps up his recovery from a broken rib.

The Israeli had been a rival to goalkeeper Jose Reina as the Reds' Player of the Season in a troubled campaign prior to the injury, which he sustained in the FA Cup defeat to Reading on 13th January.

With Glen Johnson and Fernando Torres also on the sidelines, Benitez will therefore be keen to welcome Benayoun back into his plans as Liverpool chase a place in the UEFA Champions League.

But the Anfield boss will not be taking any risks with the 29-year-old and so it would appear that Thursday's Europa League home first leg against Unirea Urziceni and the crucial Premier League trip to Manchester City could come too soon.

"Yossi was training with the team," Benitez told Liverpool's official website. "Still we have to be careful with his rib, but he was training."

Benayoun was linked with a move Dynamo Moscow in the winter transfer window, but Liverpool refused to sell.

Kyrgiakos Relishing Battle

Sotirios Kyrgiakos believes he has adapted well to life at Liverpool and is relishing the physical nature of the English game.

The Greek defender has been one of the Reds' most consistent performers since his summer arrival from AEK Athens and has played a key role during the club's recent rise back into the top four.

Although the 30-year-old picked up his first red card in the fiery Merseyside derby clash with Everton last Saturday, he cannot wait to get back in the side and feels his spell at Rangers between 2004 and 2006 prepared him for the rough and tumble of Premier League football.

He told LFC magazine: "I didn't have too many problems adapting to football here because I had played in Scotland with Rangers.

"In Germany and Greece I did not have to be as physical because football isn't so aggressive.

"Anyway it's not all about aggression, that's not the most important thing. You have to want to go and win the ball. There is no point waiting for it to come to you, you have to go and get it."

Prior to the Liverpool derby, Kyrgiakos lost a tooth in the 2-0 victory over Bolton, but insists that will not stop him battling hard in the future.

"There are a lot of elbows flying in football here and the referee says no foul," he added. "That is part of football. It's tough and I like this side of the game."

Daniel Pacheco Close To Starting, Says Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez has placed Daniel Pacheco on red alert as he revealed the promising young striker is edging closer to a first-team start.

The 19-year-old has been attracting rave reviews for Liverpool reserves this season and there is a buzz of anticipation among supporters about his progress.

Pacheco is held in high regard at Anfield and showed flashes of promise in the two appearances he has made for the first team so far, against Fiorentina and Wolves.

More recently, Pacheco was on the bench in five of the Reds’ last seven fixtures .

“Dani is continuing to train with the first team,” said Benitez, who next game is against Unirea Urziceni at Anfield on Thursday night.

“When we let (Andriy) Voronin go (to Dynamo Moscow), we immediately brought Dani into the group and every day you can see that he is progressing. His training is good.

“Every day you are thinking about when you can play, he has been on the bench a lot and sometimes you are thinking when it might be right to put him on.

“He has game intelligence and we know that he can make a difference. He is still very young but we are pleased with him and he is doing well.”

Benitez signed Pacheco from Barcelona in the summer of 2007 and he has just signed a deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2012.

“It depends on the game but, clearly, if he continues to keep working as he has been doing, he will definitely gets his chance,” added Benitez, who is keeping his fingers crossed that Jamie Carragher will shake off a groin injury sustained in Wednesday’s defeat to Arsenal.

Liverpool Midfielder Alberto Aquilani Risks Missing World Cup Due To Lack Of Playing Time

Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani could fail to make Italy's final 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup, according to Calciomercato.it.

The player spent the first part of the season out with a serious ankle injury, and has since only made eight appearances in the Premier League and has yet to play a full match under coach Rafa Benitez, who seems to prefer Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, and Lucas in central midfield.

Having featured inconsistently for the English outfit after his £20 million move from Roma in the summer, the latest reports in Italy suggest he will be overlooked by coach Marcello Lippi for the upcoming friendly with Cameroon and potentially the World Cup as well if he does not become a regular at Anfield.

The 25-year-old missed the 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Wednesday, suffering from a virus. The player has 11 caps for the Azzurri in his career, scoring twice during that time.

Ryan Babel Can Still Play A Role For LIverpool FC

First came the instant control, then the subtle shift in direction to flummox an Arsenal defender before an explosive shot.

Ryan Babel’s moment of genuine quality deserved better than seeing his effort tipped on to the bar by Manuel Almunia but it caused supporters to shake their heads in disbelief as much as it did frustration.

Babel, of course, is Anfield’s greatest enigma, a player with all the gifts to become a giant; quick, strong, two good feet and capable of being a regular goal scorer.

Unfortunately, though, he has never put it together on a consistent basis and the fact that he does not have the work ethic of certain other team-mates ensures that Liverpool fans continue to view him with skepticisms.

It has been a wretched campaign for Babel, one that has been punctured with too many stories with him potentially leaving the club, ‘tweets’ about him being dropped from the squad and rows with Rafa Benitez.

Benitez, however, has held an olive branch out to him by using him in the last three games, as well as speaking positively about him.

With a clear focus, Babel has a platform to show his talent; the question is whether he wants to.

John Aldridge: David Ngog Needs Lessons At Finishing School To Help Liverpool FC

David Ngog might prove in time that he can master the art of being a centre-forward.

It is often a thankless task being asked to assume the role of a lone frontman and even when I was in the prime of my career, there were times when I found it hard going.

But we saw at Arsenal on Wednesday night that, once again, playing Ngog in that position does not really add anything to Liverpool’s team.

Rafa Benitez works with him every day, so he clearly sees things in him, but at the Emirates Stadium Ngog looked like a schoolboy playing in an adult’s match.

One thing you cannot fault him for his effort; he never stopped running or trying his hardest to help the team and, for that, he should be commended.

Unfortunately, though, in contests of great magnitude against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, effort alone is not good enough.

You need to have a clear head and be ruthless when opportunity knocks but, when Steven Gerrard sent him skipping through, Ngog was neither and Liverpool suffered accordingly.

Put it this way – had Fernando Torres been presented with the same chance, you would have invested your mortgage on him scoring; when Ngog was homing in on goal, he never convinced that he would score.

In my opinion, Dirk Kuyt should have started up front at The Emirates because he is vastly experienced and has scored a few goals recently but Rafa likes playing him in that role on the right.

Had the manager been able to invest in the squad during the January transfer window, maybe we would have had somebody with experience to take over from Ngog in Torres’ absence but that wasn’t the case.

Liverpool had a terrific chance to beat Arsenal on Wednesday, as the Gunners were as poor as I have seen them for a long time.

Without that killer instinct, however, things become more difficult. How it showed.

Glen: Kop Is Different Class

He may have represented six different teams during the course of his relatively short career so far, but Glen Johnson is in no doubt which set of fans have been the best to play for.

The 25-year-old had turned out for West Ham, Millwall, Chelsea and Portsmouth before joining Liverpool last summer, as well as featuring for England.

However, Johnson believes Kopites are a cut above anything else he's experienced.

"The fans are fantastic," he told Liverpoolfc.tv. "People say how good the Portsmouth fans are, and they are, but Liverpool fans are in a league of their own.

"When you walk out (at Anfield) and hear the fans singing the anthem, it helps.

"Every player is so proud to put on the shirt."

Johnson revealed on Friday he hopes to be back in training inside the next month - and the defender has two wishes for the remainder of 2009-10.

He said: "For Liverpool, I hope we win every single game until the end of the season.

"Personally, I need to get my knee straight, get it back to how it was, and try to get back into the team.

"Hopefully we can tick every box, finish in the top four and be happy."