Why Kuyt Remains Confident

Dirk Kuyt remains confident Liverpool will reach the Europa League last eight despite a 1-0 first leg defeat in Lille on Thursday.

The Reds put in a much-improved display in France following the loss at Wigan before falling to a late goal from Eden Hazard.

Kuyt believes he and his teammates can now get the required result when Lille travel to Anfield next Thursday.

"Obviously 1-0 is not a great score for us but this is what has happened," said the Dutch international.

"We have got to look forward. We can't think how difficult it will be. We know what happened to Real Madrid. We all watched that game and we have to be focused.

"I'm sure it will be a good night at Anfield and I think we've got a good chance to go through. We are disappointed but we are capable of turning it around.

"It's really disappointing that we let them score with only five minutes to go but I am glad that this round is not decided in one game. We have a chance to put it right."

While Kuyt accepts the Wigan display was disappointing, he insists there is still plenty of confidence within the squad after a good start to 2010.

"Before Wigan, we had done well and kept many clean sheets," said the 29-year-old. "The only defeat we had suffered in the league was at Arsenal and it was getting better and better.

"Monday was just an off day. We were all very disappointed, most of all with ourselves. We have got to change that. We put a lot of effort in against Lille and created some chances.

"It wasn't the best game that we have played but I thought we put a lot more effort in.

"We controlled it defensively and until the goal, Lille didn't have many chances.

"We had the best chances and we should have scored with the ones that came our way. But we have got to try and keep pushing harder."

Liverpool Co-Owner Tom Hicks Loses Billionaire Status

Liverpool's co-owner Tom Hicks has lost his billionaire status, according to Forbes magazine's latest rich list. However, the Texan businessman was still ranked the 701st richest man in the world, with an estimated fortune of around $950m (£620m).

The American, who also owns the Dallas Stars ice hockey franchise, has already agreed a deal to sell the Texas Rangers baseball team for £310m. However, he appears in no hurry to offload his 50% share in Liverpool, despite increasing pressure from disillusioned supporter against the way he and his co-owner George Gillett have run the club.

"We all know about his problems with his sports clubs here in the US and over there in England," the Forbes senior editor, Matthew Miller, told the Liverpool Echo. "He has had some debt problems. He has only just missed the cut [to be classed as a billionaire]. We think he is a $900m-950m guy."

Hicks and Gillett owe Royal Bank of Scotland £237m and have been unable to raise the money needed to build the club's proposed stadium at Stanley Park. They looking to raise £100m through outside investment by the summer as RBS have requested they slash the amount of their debt.

Match Report: Lille 1 - 0 Liverpool

Lille winger Eden Hazard's late goal inflicted Liverpool's first defeat on French soil in six visits and left Rafael Benitez's side with an uphill battle to make the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

The visitors appeared to have survived a testing examination by Les Dogues only for Hazard, who had been a threat all night, to curl in an 85th-minute free-kick.

Despite being territorially dominated Liverpool had the best two chances with Ryan Babel shooting too close to Mickael Landreau and Fernando Torres' header being brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper in the first half.

However, the scoreline was no real surprise as The Mastiffs, as Lille are known, had scored in 20 of their previous 21 games at the Lille Metropole.

Their impressive record has seen them lose just once at home in Ligue 1 since the opening day of the season on August 9, with only one defeat in 17 home European fixtures.

For Liverpool - unbeaten in France since a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Monaco in November 2004 - it was the worst possible result coming so soon on the back of a woeful performance at Wigan on Monday.

Their difficult task was outlined to them in the first minute as Lille came out in no mood to admire their more illustrious opponents as Yohan Cabaye forced Jose Reina into a save within 38 seconds.

One of the most intriguing battles was between winger Hazard and Emiliano Insua, who was destroyed on a regular basis by Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia.

The 19-year-old Belgian struck an early blow by skipping past his opponent and drilling a cross through the six-yard area but no team-mate was close enough to take advantage.

Lille were more Arsenal than Wigan in their approach - despite their heavily-sanded patchy pitch - and passed the ball around with ease to often leave their opponents chasing shadows.

However, for all their possession they looked like they were missing top scorer Gervinho, the Ivorian who was sidelined by injury.

Bizarrely, Liverpool had the best two chances of the first half.

Babel should have given the visitors the lead in the 26th minute after a neat exchange with Torres but shot too close to Mickael Landreau and the goalkeeper deflected the effort with his legs.

Hazard was proving Lille's best outlet and his cross saw Pierre-Alain Frau deflect a shot over after being pressured by Jamie Carragher.

Gerrard responded with a dipping 35-yard strike just over Landreau's crossbar before, in the 41st minute, Landreau produced a brilliant low save to repel Torres' close-range header from Johnson's deep cross.

Hazard had the ball in the net soon after half-time but was flagged offside.

Liverpool at least began the second half better than they had the first and six minutes after the restart Lucas volleyed Torres' headed flick-on wide.

Lille, by contrast, had lost some of their attacking verve as they were drawn into a more attritional contest unsuited to their style.

On the hour Babel had a fierce shot parried away by Landreau, before Insua was booked for a foul on Hazard as he threatened to break away.

Five minutes later Reina allowed a long-range shot from Frau slip through his fingers but fortunately for the Liverpool goalkeeper it ballooned behind for a corner.

Torres was then booked for his persistent complaints to referee Claus Bo Larsen.

Cabaye drilled a dipping strike inches over Reina's crossbar before he was replaced by Stephane Dumont, with Albert Riera coming on for Babel with 17 minutes remaining.

Hazard went down in the area under Carragher's challenge with seven minutes to go but Larsen waved away protests.

However, a minute later the winger made sure when he curled in a free-kick which missed everyone in front of Reina, who could only watch as the ball crept into the far corner.

And it could have been far worse had substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's shot not hit the post and gone wide

Darby Set For Swindon

Skysports.com understands that Liverpool defender Stephen Darby is set to join Swindon on loan.

The 21-year-old full-back has been tipped to become a Reds star in the future and has already featured in the first team this season.

But manager Rafa Benitez is keen for the youngster to gain regular playing time for the remainder of the campaign and that would not be on offer at Anfield.

League One promotion hopefuls Swindon have therefore moved quickly as manager Danny Wilson aims to add what could prove decisive quality at a critical period.

It is understood that Darby is on his way to the County Ground for talks on Wednesday afternoon, with Swindon keen to reinforce their squad after taking only one point from their last three games.

The former England Under 19 international made his full Reds debut in the UEFA Champions League defeat to Fiorentina in December and marked the occasion with an error that demonstrated his naivety when gifting Alberto Gilardino the wining goal.

But Liverpool-born Darby made an impressive return to the first team in the initial FA Cup draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Skrtel Hopes For Injury Boost

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is hoping to make an early return from injury after reporting that he is in a better state of health.

The Slovakia international is recovering from a broken metatarsal in his right foot he suffered in the Europa League win away to Unirea Urziceni last month.

The injury was initially expected to rule the 25-year-old out for two months and he has been undergoing intensive treatment at the Reds' training ground.

And Skrtel's recovery is going so well that his lay-off could be cut, providing a boost for both Liverpool and Slovakia ahead of their first-ever World Cup appearance this summer.

"I must say, I'm in a better state of health now," he said on his official website, martinskrtel.sk.

"I have been undergoing regular treatment on the injury at our Melwood training centre, along with getting massages and doing various exercises so that the muscles in my foot don't weaken.

"The foot is not swollen any more and it doesn't hurt as much as before. Naturally, I still have to use the crutches but on Thursday I went for a check scan which will determine how the treatment process will continue."

Boss Pleased With Aqua Desire

Rafael Benitez has hinted Alberto Aquilani's encouraging cameo performance at Wigan has pushed him into contention for more action against Lille.

The Italian midfielder played the final 20 minutes at the DW Stadium on Monday, and the boss admits he has been impressed with his determination to make an impact at Anfield.

"He had more mobility and he was trying to be involved when he played at Wigan," said Benitez. "The team was working harder when he came on and Alberto was trying to help dictate play. They had pushed a little bit deep and we had more time in possession.

"He is in our thoughts. We have to analyse carefully each decision we make about each player. We need people with energy and we need people with desire. If they show this on the pitch and in training, we will think about them more.

"The problem we have with him, though, is match fitness. He has got to play some games in a row and we have had conversations about this. He wants to be playing but the situation of the team does not allow you if he doesn't have that match fitness.

"You have got to be cautious with it. The other day (at Wigan) we thought it would be a good opportunity for him. When he got on, you could see his desire. He wanted to be involved and he wanted to help us."

Aquilani endured a difficult start to his Anfield career after injury sidelined him until October, meaning he has made just 16 appearances so far for Liverpool.

Benitez is confident, though, that the experience the midfielder has gained this season will stand him in good stead for next campaign.

However, the Spaniard insists Aquilani still has an important role to play in the remainder of 2009-10.

He added: "If Alberto has time (to develop), it will be different next season. We know this. But we cannot wait for next season. If he can give us something, we have to use him now. We will monitor him in every training session to see what he can do.

"We are looking for positives from him all the time. If he shows it all the time, we will play him. He is desperate to help. He wants to play and he wants to do well. But the only way to do that is to train really well and make sure he is available."

Benitez Calls Anfield Crisis Meeting

Rafa Benitez has called a crisis meeting of his players in an attempt to stamp out the discord that threatens the very fabric of the club.

The Liverpool manager believes the next three months are crucial not just for his side’s season, but also for the long-term future of the club, given how much is at stake financially.

But in recent weeks, the Spanish coach has been dismayed by what he sees as “negative body language” from his players, which he reckons is sending out the wrong message at a time when they must all stick together.

The frustration amongst certain senior players has been visible in many matches this season, with the likes of skipper Steven Gerrard, star striker Fernando Torres, and senior pros Javier Mascherano, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher all venting their anger at poor performances at different times.

And while Benitez fully understands that frustration, he brought all his players together after the painful defeat at Wigan, to stress that the body language has to be much more positive as they strive to portray a united front.

“I don’t like players showing disappointment with body language, it’s not positive but each player is different. Now though, it is important to show leadership and bring people on board,” the Reds boss explained.

“It is important to show the right approach to your team-mates in this situation, and when we spoke we have said we want to improve this.

“Of course, it depends on each player and on the situation. Watching highlights yesterday I could see the keeper blaming the defenders and the defenders blaming the keeper, and sometimes that is part of the game.

“But if you see these things too much it means you are making too many mistakes, and we have said that we have to bring all the people on board.”

The in-fighting at Anfield is clearly a result of the turmoil that surrounds the club in what has been a desperately disappointing and difficult season.

Fingers have often been pointed in matches, with even a hint of a lack of trust between the players creeping in, and also a sign that the likes of Torres is beginning to feel a powerful sense of frustration in matches.

The Spanish striker was booked when his anger spilled over at the end of the Wigan game, and Gerrard too was booked when he lost his cool as the game looked to be slipping away.

But Benitez knows there is too much at stake for the players to start squabbling amongst themselves, and he has asked for calm as he looks at the bigger picture in what is a hugely important three months for Liverpool.

“Look, it is always easier when things are going well. Now we have made some mistakes, but if we cannot improve playing better football, then the only way you can win is by having everyone together,” he said.

“One thing we spoke about yesterday was committing fouls at the end of the game. We have to keep calm and play better football instead losing our cool and fouling.

“That is something we have to improve and the only way is to explain to them, analyse and try to control it for the next game.”

Failure to qualify for the Champions League is almost inconceivable, and Benitez recognised this, when he said: “I agree this could be a crucial period that may determine the future of the club.

“We talk about investors, we talk about the new stadium; we talk about all these same things for maybe one or two years now. Everybody is waiting for something to happen and expecting something to happen. The main thing for me is to try and concentrate on the football and get the best out of the players.

“That's something I can do, and something I have to do for the fans and the club. Inside the club, at the top they have a responsibility and we will try to do out best – that is what we all must do now, in the best interests of the club.”

McMahon Lauds Lauri

John McMahon believes there is a lot more to come from Lauri Dalla Valle in a red shirt after the Finnish starlet netted his first goal for the reserves in the Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final win over Tranmere Rovers.

The Academy hot-shot scored from a seemingly impossible angle to give the Reds the lead on Wednesday, and they went on to win 3-0 courtesy of a strike from David Amoo and an own goal.

Dalla Valle was making his first start of the season for the second string and he impressed during the 90 minutes.

"I am really pleased for Lauri and he took his goal really well," McMahon told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"It was always the plan to introduce him slowly into the reserve team set-up this season and I was pleased with his contribution. Lauri is a natural finisher and he has got that uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time."

The reserve team boss was also delighted to see Francisco Duran make his first appearance since November 2008 when the Spaniard came on as a 73rd minute substitute in front of the watching Rafa Benitez and Sammy Lee.

The former Malaga midfielder has battled back from three cruciate ligament operations - two on his right knee and one on his left.

"It has been a horrific time for Francis with the injuries but he has worked so hard and showed some good things in training," said McMahon.

"It's always good for the lads when they see the boss and Sammy watching them and it's the next stage of these players' development to try and impress them and push into the first team squad."

One of those players trying to impress again is Jay Spearing who captained the side against Tranmere.

"Jay always gives everything for this club," he said.

"He has that great mentality as a person and player. He has infectious enthusiasm and he is a pleasure to work with."

Sam Allardyce Rekindles Row With Rafael Benítez

Sam Allardyce claims Rafa Benítez's criticism of him is a cover-up for how bad Liverpool are and claims the Reds have all but blown their chance of finishing in the top four.

Benítez last week mocked Allardyce's behaviour and Blackburn's style after their match at Anfield, suggesting that the European champions Barcelona were going to model themselves on Rovers: "He is a model for football all around the world. I am sure he is a model for behaviour and for kids all around the world. I am sure Barcelona are thinking of copying this style now too."

But the Blackburn manager has hit back by claiming he has managed to get under the skin of Benítez and that his Liverpool counterpart was just covering up for how badly his team played despite the Reds' 2-1 win.

"It was a good cover-up by Rafa because he knows how bad his side were and that was repeated against Wigan on Monday night," said Allardyce. "He's got personal with it for many, many years now. That's why I don't like him and the feeling is probably mutual. I don't get personal with him; I get into him and under his skin, yes, but that's all part of the game.

"The tit for tat between me and Rafa will probably go on until one of us is no longer a Premier League manager. I've managed to psyche out one or two here and there and that's how the Premier League has evolved over the last 20 years. But no, Pep Guardiola has not been in touch yet."

He also believes Liverpool's result at Wigan leaves Benítez's side unlikely to finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League.

He added: "The last time one of the big four didn't finish in the top four it was Liverpool – Everton got that spot – and I think this time it looks pretty difficult having lost against Wigan. They are having to rely on other teams slipping up now.

"They have a wealth of experience and that may be a telling factor when the nerve ends start jangling. We saw what happened to Tottenham a few years ago with the famous 'poisoned lasagne' scenario – which was obviously never the case – and they let it slip.

"But I think it might be more difficult for Liverpool this time around because there are more teams involved. There's Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham in there and if Everton keep rolling on you might be surprised to see them making a late run."

Liverpool Fans Threaten Royal Bank of Scotland Boycott Over Reds Finance Deal

A group of Liverpool fans are threatening to boycott the Royal Bank of Scotland if it extends its refinancing deal with the club.

Liverpool FC co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have until July 24 to repay the remaining £237million borrowed from RBS and American investment bank Wachovia that they have leveraged against the club's assets.

Despite pledges to the contrary, Hicks and Gillett have set a total of £350million worth of debt against the club that was around £44million in the red when they took control from David Moores in February 2007.

Now, some Reds fans are urging the bank to call in the debt this summer in the hope it will force the Americans to sell the club.

An e-mail addressed directly to RBS chief executive officer, Stephen Hester, has been replicated and signed by individual Liverpool fans, angry at the bank's involvement.

The e-mail has also been copied to other senior figures at the bank and Liverpool FC, including Hicks and Gillett, plus city council leader Warren Bradley.

It reads: "Having reviewed the company accounts in relation to Liverpool Football Club and Parent Company Kop Football Ltd, of which there is approximately £237m worth of debt; it is clear that the business model operated by the current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett is unsustainable.

"Whilst I appreciate that any refinancing package deal is a confidential matter between the Royal Bank of Scotland and the current owners of Liverpool Football Club, it is also a very personal issue for many Liverpool supporters around the world.

"There is an ever increasing sense of anger and resentment towards the owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, which is likely to turn towards RBS if the refinancing deal is extended in the coming months.

"It is my understanding that if the refinancing deal is renegotiated beyond July 2010, then a campaign in protest against the Royal Bank of Scotland will take place which will include billboards with anti-RBS messages encouraging Liverpool Fans to Boycott RBS in a similar manner to the Boycott of the Sun Newspaper.

"We as supporters of Liverpool Football Club are effectively paying the loan repayments for Hicks and Gillett, and as taxpayers have a "controlling stake" in RBS. We should therefore have a say in where our money is being invested.

"The ball is firmly in your court."

Links to a website supporting a campaign to boycott The Sun are included in the e-mail as well as a link to the Liverpool Supporters Union, Spirit of Shankly, website.

Spirit of Shankly have previously threatened similar action against the Royal Bank of Scotland when Hicks and Gillett secured a £350m refinancing package in January 2008, a move which saddled Liverpool with annual interest payments of £30m.

However, although some of the fans behind the latest campaign are members of Spirit of Shankly, SOS says this latest move to oust Hicks and Gillett is not official union action.

An SOS spokesperson told the Echo: "Whilst we appreciate the intent behind this action it is not something the recent AGM or management committee have considered."

Hicks and Gillett have successfully sought several repayment extensions from RBS and Wachovia.

In January 2009 they exercised terms under the loan agreement to extend it for a further six months until July 24 that year. After that, further extensions were thought to be unlikely.

Instead, the Americans again refinanced with RBS and Wachovia, granting themselves a further 12 months to July 24 2010 to repay the debt.

Following concerns expressed by club accountant, KPMG, about Liverpool's ability to operate efficiently with such a burden of debt, a condition was written into the latest agreement that £60m in equity must be provided to reduce Liverpool's outstanding liabilities to around £250m.

That was achieved last year but the banks are known to have put pressure on Hicks and Gillett to attract third party investment to the club.

Investment banks Rothschild and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have been brought in to help with the search, while Liverpool managing director, Christian Purslow, is looking to bring in £100m of investment before the July deadline.

Why Rafael Benítez Is Still The Right Man For Liverpool

It is only natural for supporters to get frustrated when their club is going through a bad spell, and finger-pointing is always going to occur, especially when one of the top clubs in Europe is having such a torrid season.

But Liverpool fans shouldn’t be blaming their side’s poor form on Rafael Benítez, in fact if anyone’s the man to get the team out of this bad run, it’s him.

The defeat at Wigan Athletic on Monday night was the final straw for many Liverpool supporters. Despite sticking behind the manager through thick and thin over the last five years, a limp and lifeless performance against one of the League’s strugglers was a step too far for even some of the most staunch backers of the Spanish boss.

As with last season, many feel the bad result at the DW Stadium put an end to Liverpool’s domestic ambitions; last season it was finishing top, this season it is to finish a lowly fourth.

An ever-increasing percentage of Liverpool’s support is calling for the manager’s head, but it’s time for these fans to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Since Benítez’s arrival at Anfield in 2004, Liverpool have qualified for Europe’s top competition year-on-year, an accomplishment never achieved by any Liverpool manager before him. Up until this season, the earliest Liverpool were ever knocked out of the competition under Benítez was the first knockout round, to Benfica in 2006. Over the last five years, the Spanish boss has taken his side to two Champions League finals, one semi-final, one quarter-final and one last-16 knockout round — a record most of the top managers in Europe would be proud of.

Whilst many Liverpool fans will suggest that the League should be the main target, the back-to-back qualifications for the Champions League demonstrate how much their domestic form has improved under Benítez, finishing in the top four in four of the five seasons. The only season Liverpool failed to finish in the top four was the one in which they won their fifth European Cup in Istanbul.

The quality of the team itself is another major issue at Anfield, which many say is lacking strength-in-depth and relies too heavily on two key players, Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard. It should be evident to anyone who has any knowledge of the game that Liverpool do lack depth, but when the manager has been forced to sell in order to buy for most of the last three seasons, it is something of an inevitability. A prime example is the sale of Craig Bellamy to help fund the Fernando Torres deal. Despite the Spaniard being a much better player, Liverpool could now certainly do with Bellamy as a back-up.

The other major thorn in the side of Benítez is the club’s owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The two Americans have seemingly done everything in their power to hinder the manager’s attempts to improve the squad to challenge for the title in recent years. Whether that be not giving him the financial backing to bring in Gareth Barry, or going behind his back to discuss the manager’s position with Jürgen Klinsmann.

It would be fair to say that outside of Fratton Park, Benítez endures the worst working conditions of any manager in the Premier League. He has had his authority undermined on a number of occasions and has seen money from the sale of players being used to help finance the crippling debts placed on the club by its current owners.

Yes, Benítez can and does make mistakes and yes, it’s happened more often than usual this season. But the implications of him being removed from his post are unthinkable. Say what you like about the prestige of the Liverpool manager’s job, when you have no money to spend and are expected to win the League, no world-class manager would look twice at the position.

And that’s the problem Liverpool face. It would be close to impossible to find a manager with anywhere near Benítez’s vast experience who would go anywhere near the job.

Some of the short-term problems on the pitch may rightly be laid at the door of the manager, but if you want to find Liverpool’s long-term problem look no further than Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Europa League Preview: Lille vs Liverpool

The Europa League round of 16 gets underway with Lille and Liverpool facing off for the first time ever in competitive play.

The French outfit does, however, have plenty of experience against English opposition - namely Manchester United - against whom they have played six times with a record of one win, three draws and two losses.

Les Dogues' home record in Europe is impressive; they have lost just once in their last 16 encounters on their own patch and have won five of their last six Europa League clashes at the Lille Metropole, their most recent being a 2-1 win over Fenerbahce in the previous round.

In Ligue 1, meanwhile, the team from Nord-Pas de Calais presently sits just outside the European places in fifth, their form having tapered off somewhat after a winning streak that lasted from November to the middle of January.

Still, Lille are faring better domestically than Liverpool, whose loss to Wigan Athletic on Monday has left them languishing behind Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

But the Reds can take heart from their last outing in the Europa League, in which they dispatched Unirea Urziceni 3-1 in Romania to claim the tie 4-1 on aggregate.

That result is indicative of the Merseyside giants' away form in continental competition, as they have lost only once - a 2-0 defeat at Fiorentina - in their last 10 road trips.


FORM GUIDE

Lille

Mar 6: St-Etienne 1-1 Lille (Ligue 1)
Feb 28: Lille 1-2 Auxerre (Ligue 1)
Feb 25: Fenerbahce 1-1 Lille (Europa League)
Feb 21: Rennes 1-2 Lille (Ligue 1)
Feb 18: Lille 2-1 Fenerbahce (Europa League)

Liverpool

Mar 8: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Feb 28: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
Feb 25: Unirea Urziceni 1-3 Liverpool (Europa League)
Feb 21: Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Feb 18: Liverpool 1-0 Unirea Urziceni (Europa League)


TEAM NEWS

Lille

The French side has been without star striker Gervinho (knee) and deep-lying playmaker Mathieu Debuchy (broken ribs) since their win over Rennes last month, while Tulio de Melo recently returned to Brazil for surgery on a torn meniscus.

Last starting XI (vs. St-Etienne): Landreau, Beria, Ricardo Costa, Chedjou, Emerson Conceicao, Balmont, Mavuba, Cabaye, Hazard, Frau, Dumont.

Liverpool

Rafael Benitez's main concern is in defence, with Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio sidelined while Daniel Agger remains in doubt with a knee knock.

Right-back Glen Johnson is available once more, however, having made his return off the bench at Wigan.

Last starting XI (vs. Wigan Athletic): Reina, Mascherano, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Maxi, Gerrard, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lille - Eden Hazard

The Belgian teen - the reigning Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year - is one of the continent's hottest prospects. Lightning quick with tricks aplenty, he'll hardly get a better chance to impress his (allegedly numerous) English suitors.

Liverpool - Alberto Aquilani

Still on the fringes after his summer move from Roma, the Italian's second-half cameo on Monday was one of precious few positives on what was otherwise a horrendous night for the Reds. His class is undoubted, and the travelling Kopites will be hoping they see some of it here.

Uefa Partners Welcome Champions League Changes But Lament Liverpool Exit

Some of Uefa’s most influential commercial partners are delighted with the changes made to the scheduling of this year’s Champions League, according to the World Football Insider.

For this year’s tournament, Uefa has spread the tournament’s second round over eight matchdays instead of four and moved the final from Wednesday evening to late Saturday afternoon. May’s final at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid will be preceded by a week-long celebration of soccer, including the inaugural Uefa Women’s Champions League final.

Uefa marketing manager Gabrielle Saubran said that the governing body had looked to other sports for ideas on how to promote its showpiece final, but added: “We will monitor it. We will see if it meets the expectations of our sponsors, broadcasters and fans, but it’s something we want to do in the future.”

Both Niall Sloane, head of sport at British Champions League broadcaster ITV, and Paul Meulenjijk, head of sponsorship at long-term partner Mastercard, found it easy to see the benefits offered by the new format.

Sloane, speaking at last week’s Soccerex European Forum in Manchester, credited Uefa with showing “a flexibility and willingness to work with broadcasters that is not always present in other sports associations and indeed football bodies.” However, he admitted that the disappointing showing of English club Liverpool had been a minor setback for UK broadcasters, saying: “The extension of the round of sixteen from four match nights… would have been even better for ITV and [UK broadcast partners] Sky to see Liverpool get through to get significant domestic interest every [match] night. But even so I think the idea is right and it should work very well for us.”

For Meulenjijk, the change to the date of the final creates new challenges, with the earlier weekend kick-off likely to neccessiatate a greater focus on an Asian television audience and cause a change in the European viewing demographic. Ultimately, though, he was broadly optimistic. He said: “The final is now on a Saturday and that allows us to look at it from a different angle as well. During the week we can take people out, but [on a Saturday] it’s a family event – kids can come at weekends and it’s a lot easier to do that. From that perspective it’s a welcome change.”

Arsenal and Bayern Munich became the first teams to qualify from the expanded second round last night. 11,000 tickets for this year’s final went on general sale this week via the Uefa website, uefa.com. Uefa are keen to encourage families to attend the game, and have introduced youth packages comprising a ticket for a child and an accompanying adult.

Rafael Benitez Desperate To See The 'Real Liverpool' In Lille

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez wants his team to show their true ability when they travel to Lille in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The Reds go into the game on the back of a dispiriting 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic on Monday night and Benitez was frustrated that his team did not manage to fire in the way that they have been doing recently.

However, the Spaniard is confident that the result at the DW Stadium was merely a blip and his men will be back to winning ways again soon.

"In the last five to 10 games [before Wigan] we were showing real character and you could see everyone was working really hard, helping each other and working together to try and get results," the Spaniard informed reporters at a press conference at the Reds' Melwood training ground.

"It was a surprise the other day, but hopefully it was just a blip and we will see the real Liverpool on Thursday."

Benitez does know though that the defeat to the Latics make reaching the top four of the Premier League that bit harder this season.

"It was really difficult before and will be more difficult now, so we know we cannot make too many mistakes," he acknowledged.

"We have to carry on and try to get three points in the next league game against Portsmouth. But first we have the Europa League."

The Spaniard does see the game in France as a real opportunity to put things right, however.

"It is very clear this is an opportunity for us to do things right, try to get a good result and be ready for the next game," he affirmed.

"In football sometimes you prefer to have some time to rest, but now I think it is better to play games quickly."

Yossi Benayoun Faces Liverpool FC Europa League Fitness Deadline

Yossi Benayoun must prove his wellbeing in training today to stand any chance of being involved in Liverpool’s crucial Europa League tie with Lille.

The Israeli midfielder picked up a knock to his ankle during Monday night’s 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic and was unable to take part in yesterday’s warm down session.

He will be monitored closely at Melwood today – and will have further treatment – before boss Rafa Benitez decides whether to include him in his travelling party.

Benitez is already without Maxi Rodriguez (ineligible) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) for the round of 16 clash and is considering making several changes to his starting line-up.

Not surprisingly, Benitez is still livid about the performance at the DW Stadium that has dented Liverpool’s hopes of a top four finish and is demanding a reaction in France.

“We were poor in the first half but we improved a little in the second,” said Benitez, who has Daniel Agger available again after he was ruled out of the Wigan game with illness.

“The positive for me is that we showed a better attitude and some character in the second half at Wigan and we have show it again in the Europa League.”

As Liverpool had only lost one Premier League game in 2010 and had show gradual signs of improvement, Monday’s display took Benitez completely by surprise.

But, as he points out, there is no point dwelling on the disappointment and he has urged his players to show the spirit that had put their campaign back on track.

“We had done well in the last 10 games and showed in games against Stoke, Blackburn and Bolton that we knew how to battle,” said the manager.

“We have just got to make sure we move forward quickly. It was always going to be difficult to qualify for the Champions League and it is even more difficult now.

“We just have to carry on and make sure that we are ready to get three points in our next game against Portsmouth.

“Sometimes in football it is better to rest but it is good that we have got a game so quickly; we will stick together and work hard.”

No Reds Bid For Stephens

Swindon Town's promising young goalkeeper Jamie Stephens looks set to stay with the League One club, after Liverpool failed to follow up their interest.

The 16-year-old enjoyed a trial spell with the Anfield club, but has since returned and the Robins have not been contacted by the Premier League outfit since.

Swindon boss Danny Wilson has told skysports.com that the youngster has all the credentials to be a top class stopper.

"He has got a lot potential, as a lot of young lads have, with his age and size he ticks a lot of boxes," he said.

"Whether he can realise that potential in the long-run remains to be seen, but we rate him very highly for a boy so young and hopefully we can nurture that talent so that he becomes a great professional footballer.

"He went up for the experience more than anything, but he has come back and really enjoyed himself.

"We wanted him to go up and get a taste for what it is like at a top club like Liverpool then come back and get his head down again.

"He has done just that and as far as we are concerned nothing else will happen in terms of Liverpool coming in for him, but time will tell."

The Robins slipped to their second consecutive defeat on Tuesday night at play-off rivals MK Dons and Wilson insists there was no room for sentiment against one of his former clubs.

"There is no sentiment for me because it is a totally different club from the one I left. There has been a mass change in personnel since I was there and I think there are only two people that remain from my time there.

"Things have progressed very quickly for them and they have done very well, so there is a professional respect there as there always is when going back to one of your former clubs, but it has changed a lot."

Liverpool Legend Ian Rush Urges Rafael Benitez's Team To Stop Sulking

Liverpool striking legend Ian Rush believes that Rafael Benitez's team need to take a hard look at themselves after the disappointment of losing at Wigan Athletic on Monday night.

The Reds conceded valuable ground in the fight for a fourth-placed finish in this season's Premeir League, and Rush feels that the answers to the current problems lie within the players' minds.

"Liverpool managed a feat on Monday that many would have thought impossible – they lost twice on the same night," Rush told The Liverpool Echo.

"If it was not bad enough seeing Wigan Athletic take three precious points, the defeat at the DW Stadium effectively saw us relinquish pole position in the race for the Champions League; things, from this moment, are going to be exceptionally hard.

"How, then, does Rafa Benitez turn the tide? He has got to do everything in his power to lift the squad, as if they are starting to feel sorry for themselves, they really won’t finish fourth – teams that sulk head in only one direction.

"I still believe there is sufficient talent at Anfield to get us out of this tight spot and maybe we need to get into the mindset where teams worry about us, rather than us worrying about keeping things tight.

"Should we start showing a bit more adventure going forward and the players have just got to roll their sleeves up, work hard and believe they can do it."

Rush does feel that the return of England full-back Glen Johnson to action was one of the few positives to be taken from the defeat at the DW Stadium.

The Welshman believes that Johnson will add more thrust and dynamism to the Reds' right flank.

"He will give Liverpool’s attack an edge and there is no doubt we have missed his drive down the right flank," Rush added.

"Johnson gets in a lot of crosses and shots and is able to produce great moments of skill, as we saw at the beginning of the season. Hopefully we’ll see it at the end, too."

Whelan Critical Of Reds' Owners

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan feels Liverpool fans are being short-changed by their American owners.

The Latics secured their first-ever Premier League win over the Reds on Monday thanks to Hugo Rodallega's first-half goal.

Liverpool produced one of their worst performances in recent times at the DW Stadium, with numerous passes going astray while Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland went untested throughout.

Whelan believes the Merseysiders, who were expected to challenge for honours this season, are in a mess and that American owners George Gillet and Tom Hicks do not feel the passion of the supporters.

"The big sympathy I have is for the Liverpool supporters because they are a fantastic lot," he told Sky Sports News.

"Liverpool are in a mess. The owners, being American, I don't think they feel what we (British club owners) feel.

"I'm really, really sorry for their supporters. We went to Anfield earlier in the season and there's absolutely no atmosphere and no heart at all at present.

"The supporters feel that and I think the players are starting to feel it."

Dalla Valle Fires Reds Into Final

Lauri Dalla Valle was on the mark as Liverpool Reserves reached the final of the Liverpool Senior Cup after a 3-0 win over Tranmere Rovers at the Kirkby Academy on Wednesday afternoon.

The Finnish starlet was making his first start of the season for the second string and he netted after 42 minutes with an excellent finish from a seemingly impossible angle.

The move was instigated by Damien Plessis when his astute pass sent Alex Kacaniklic racing away down the left. His cross found David Amoo whose strike was well saved by Joe Collister, but Dalla Valle was quickest to react and the No.9 netted.

David Amoo and an own goal completed the scoring for John McMahon's side in the second half against a Tranmere side that finished the game with 10 men.

Another great boost for the squad was the return of Spanish starlet Francisco Duran also made his first appearance since November 2008, when he came on as a 73rd minute replacement for Chris Mavinga.

The former Malaga midfielder has battled back from three cruciate ligament operations - two on his right knee and one on his left.

Also back from injury were Nikola Saric and Gerardo Bruna who both enjoyed 45 minute run-outs.

The Liverpool Senior Cup holders will now face Everton or Skelmersdale in the final.

After four games postponed, John McMahon's side were playing their first game since February 1, and they were being watched by Rafael Benitez and Sammy Lee before the pair headed to John Lennon airport for their flight to Lille.

Reds heroes Kenny Dalglish and Phil Thompson were also in attendance.

For McMahon it was a match of sentimental value as he spent eight years at Prenton Park having been brought to the Wirral club by Kop hero John Aldridge, and also had a spell as caretaker manager of Tranmere.

Rovers fielded former Liverpool FA Youth Cup winner Charlie Barnett in midfield and had the experienced Chris McCready alongside the returning Ash Taylor in defence.

Playing on a superb playing surface at the Kirkby Academy, Liverpool quickly got into their stride with skipper Jay Spearing spraying some great passes around the field.

David Amoo and Alex Kacaniklic were always dangerous down the wings but the final ball and some good defending from Shaun Garnett's side was proving a tough barrier to break down.

The Reds went close when Spearing's clever header from a corner was hacked away in the six-yard box, but persistence was the key and the breakthrough came on 42 minutes when Dalla Valle pounced.

The second half started in dramatic circumstances when Tranmere were reduced to 10 men three minutes after the restart. Aaron Cresswell was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Steven Irwin.

The Reds then nearly doubled their lead when Collister produced a great save on the stretch to deny Kacaniklic, and Bruna could only put the rebound wide.

Collister was called into the action again on the hour mark when he kept out Spearing's rasping low drive which seemed destined for the net.

However, McMahon's side weren't to be denied and Amoo made it 2-0 with a low finish from the edge of the box.

Dalla Valle could have made it 3-0 but slotted wide after a great move involving Bruna and Kacaniklic. However, the third goal duly arrived courtesy of a Tranmere boot when the Finn combined with Spearing whose cross was deflected into the net.

Overall, it was an excellent display from McMahon's side and Dalla Valle will take a lot of confidence after netting his first goal for the reserves.

Rafael Benitez: Pepe Reina's Passion Make Him The Perfect Leader For Liverpool

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has praised the leadership skills of his goalkeeper Pepe Reina, asserting that the Spanish shot-stopper sets a fine on-field example to his team-mates.

Reina's passion for the club is that of a supporter, Benitez asserts, and that level of enthusiasm can only have a positive effect on the shot-stopper's team-mates.

"Pepe is the man closest to the fans on the pitch," the coach told the Reds' official website.

"He listens to what they are saying and he knows what they are thinking and you can see the passion he has in the way he plays and the way he directs things.

"He is a fantastic character and he is proud to be here. He has a strong mentality and you can see that in the way he is in the dressing room and around the training ground. He is someone who always wants the best for this team.

"I think he has been playing really well and we are pleased with him. He is a top goalkeeper and has broken a lot of records since we signed him from Villarreal. We are delighted he is with us."

Reina, 27, is reportedly closing in on signing a new deal to extend his stay at Anfield and Benitez can only see him improving as time passes.

"Pepe will continue to get better," the Reds boss added.

"When you talk about goalkeepers who play for top teams, they don't tend to have that much to do during games.

"What sets them apart is being able to make important saves after they have not been busy and we have seen Pepe do that lots of times."

Dalglish Leading Famous Four In Race To Succeed Benitez

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is under intense pressure at Anfield after the Reds lost 1-0 at the DW stadium thanks to a goal form Wigan Athletic forward Hugo Rodallega.

The future of Benitez has been called into question ever since Liverpool were knocked out the Champions League and were ruled out of the race for the Premier League crown. Fans and pundits have criticised the transfer policy of the Spaniard, replacing Xabi Alonso with lightweight £20 million Italian midfielder Alberto Aquillani, who has barely featured for Liverpool this campaign.

The boardroom unrest has also unsettled proceedings this campaign, with Benitez being linked with the managerial position at Italian Serie A giants Juventus, with the Spaniard refusing to rule out a move to Turin this summer.

Odds on the successor of Benitez at Liverpool have been slashed overnight with Kenny Dalglish the favourite at 11/4, Jose Mourinho, who is rumoured to be unsettled at Inter Milan at 7/2, and former Tottenham striker and German coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The German was rumoured to have been offered the job in late 2007, early 2008, with American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks offering the former German legend a detailed package.

The latest candidate tipped to be a contender to succeed Benitez at Liverpool is the number 1 candidate for the France job, and current Bordeaux boss, Laurent Blanc. Blanc has guided Bordeaux to the French Ligue 1 title and the knockout phases of the Champions League, while also finishing above Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, and Marseille manager Didier Deschamps.

Ryan Babel Insists Liverpool Are Still Fighting For Fourth Place In Premier League

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel insists that the Reds will not give up in their bid to claim fourth place in the Premier League, despite Monday evening's disappointing defeat at Wigan Athletic.

The 1-0 defeat was the Merseysiders' first ever loss to the Latics, and leaves Rafael Benitez's men in sixth place, a point behind Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, both of whom have games in hand.

Benitez has questioned his team's mentality after the defeat, but Babel insists that there is still plenty of fighting spirit in the squad.

"We definitely still have faith we can get fourth place. It will be harder and it's important to get three points in every game, as it was before Wigan. That's why it is so disappointing to have lost," the Dutchman told his club's official website.

"It is frustrating that we had built up some confidence by winning games, but one game can spoil the confidence.

"The disappointment is very big for everybody, but we have to start again."

Babel did acknowledge that Liverpool had made things hard for themselves at the DW Stadium, though.

"I think we made it difficult for ourselves. In the first half especially, there was space to play football but we failed to do it," he added.

"Then they scored and it was difficult because they were staying behind the ball. In any away game it is hard to score two goals."

And the Dutch forward admits that some serious analysis will be needed ahead of the Reds' next game, the first leg of a Europa League tie against Lille on Thursday.

"We will analyse the game and then we will know what his thoughts are," he said of manager Benitez.

"We have another important game on Thursday, so we have to be ready and prepared.

"We cannot be disappointed for too long. We will analyse and watch videos, like we always do, and I am sure we will be good for the game."

Sterling On The Mark In Mini Derby

Raheem Sterling scored on his debut as Liverpool Under-18s produced a stunning second-half fightback to beat 10-man Everton 4-3 on Tuesday afternoon.

The Reds recovered from a 2-0 deficit to see off their Blue rivals, with the former QPR teenager enjoying a dream start for the club.

Michael Roberts (penalty), Krisztian Adorjan and Craig Roddan (penalty) were the other scorers as the away side made their numerical advantage count, following the 46th minute sending off of Toffees defender Shane Duffy.

It was an afternoon to savour for boss Rodolfo Borrell, who dedicated the victory to first-team manager Rafael Benitez.

"It is a nice victory for me, but especially for the fans and the club," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"I am also happy for Rafael Benitez, as he invests a lot of time in the club and the Academy.

"He made a bold move to bring me and the rest of my staff to Liverpool, so it's nice to be able to win this sort of match for him."

Reflecting on a rollercoaster 90 minutes, Borrell admitted his side were almost made to pay for some poor defending.

"We cannot concede such sloppy goals," he said. "If you concede so easily then normally you lose the match."

The Reds coach also had some words of encouragement for debutant Sterling, but was keen to stress that it was a team performance that saw Liverpool come away with the three points.

"I was pleased with Raheem's contribution and that he scored on his debut. He is quick and skilful but still only young. He can improve tactically and has a long way to go, but he is a great signing for this football club.

"He was one of a number of good individual peformances, but the main thing was how well the team did as a whole. That is what matters most and they all contributed to a deserved triumph."

Yossi Misses Training

Yossi Benayoun is a doubt for the trip to Lille after sustaining an ankle injury in the 1-0 defeat to Wigan on Monday.

The Israel international missed training today and Rafa Benitez must now decide whether to include him in the party which will travel to France for Thursday's Europa League last 16 clash.

Meanwhile, Daniel Agger should make the trip after recovering from a sickness bug which ruled him out of Wigan.

Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We had some problems with Agger. He was sick and lost some weight. We had to be careful with him but he's training now so hopefully will be okay.

"Benayoun had a problem with his ankle. We have to see - we have one more day. He wasn't training today so we have to decide."

One plus for Benitez on Monday night was the return as a substitute of Glen Johnson.

The gaffer added: "It was the only positive. To have another body and another player. He can be an important player for us for the rest of the season.

"It was clear he still hasn't got the match fitness but at least he showed his quality. He was going forward and it's a different option in the side."

Wigan Defeat Is Lowest Moment Of A Wretched Season

Liverpool's hopes of securing a top-four finish this season are hanging by a thread after Rafael Benitez's blundering side served up the worst performance in a season of strong contenders.

Most had guessed that Liverpool's abject surrender at crisis-ridden Portsmouth in December or their FA Cup humiliation to Reading in January would be the nadir of a season in which Benitez's furrowed brow and disbelieving stare have become part of the Anfield furniture, but this surrender to a superbly energetic and completely deserving Wigan Athletic side must surely rank as a new low.

Liverpool were, in a word, pathetic. Their supporters may point out that on another night Fernando Torres may have had a hat-trick, having spurned a succession of presentable chances either side of half-time, but to do so is to ignore the bigger issues which are blighting the Reds' season.

Torres' evening mirrored Liverpool's, early rustiness quickly turned into downright ineptitude, and ended in petulance. For the second league game in three, Liverpool collected five bookings. They can expect a letter from the FA for their disciplinary issues, but they should be receiving another for their performance. If that wasn't 'bringing the game into disrepute', then nothing is.

Wigan, by contrast, were everything you would expect from a side battling relegation in front of their own fans. Roberto Martinez can be rightly proud of his struggling side, who matched their illustrious guests from the first minute, and who were excellent value for their victory - their first ever against their Merseyside visitors, and only their second ever against a 'Big Four' club. But for his countryman Benitez, the aftermath will cast a far harsher light.

Benitez was angered by Blackburn Rovers' perceived spoiling tactics at Anfield last weekend, with some justification, but he can have no such complaints about Martinez's charges, who achieved their goals through smart passing, intelligent movement and a well-crafted Hugo Rodallega goal. In short, they produced the kind of display that a side chasing Champions League football should be able to muster, even away from home.

That Liverpool couldn't, that they failed to force Chris Kirkland into getting his knees dirty, that it took more than an hour, and the introduction of Alberto Aquilani, for them to string any sort of cohesive passing move together, will sicken their supporters, who travelled to Lancashire with optimism ahead of a testing Europa League trip to Lille.

A run of one defeat in 10 league games had reignited hope that spring would prove to be Red after a desperately blue winter, but it seems that little has changed at Anfield, despite constant reassurances from inside the camp. Turning corners every week will only lead you back to where you started, after all.

They have already surrendered the initiative in the race for fourth - Tottenham and Manchester City remain a point clear, having played less games, whilst Aston Villa now boast three games in hand - and even a favourable run of fixtures offers few guarantees between now and May.

Benitez bristled after the game when asked about his side's shortcomings, offering only sombre responses to inevitable questions. It was probably for the best - if he had gone into detail about this display we would probably still be waiting for him to finish.

Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez Denies Any Knowledge Of Steven Gerrard's Offensive Gesture During Wigan Athletic Match

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez maintains that he did not see skipper Steven Gerrard produce any offensive gestures or hand signals during the match against Wigan Athletic, insisting he was not in a position to see the events that unfolded on the pitch.

In a match that saw the Reds produce a lacklustre performance, a lone strike from Hugo Rodallega was enough to give the Latics a major boost in their battle against relegation.

Towards the end of the encounter, Gerrard was booked for a foul, and the skipper appeared to make an offensive two fingered gesture while hurling a mouthful towards referee Andre Marriner.

"I don't know if Steven did anything or not, because it was too far away to see," Benitez said, according to the Daily Mail.

Although the man in charge did not take note of the incident at the time, it is speculated that the Kop favourite could be sanctioned by the authorities for his actions on Monday night.

Steven Gerrard Could Face FA Probe

Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard could face an FA investigation after he appeared to flash a V-sign at referee Andre Marriner during his side’s 1-0 defeat at Wigan on Monday night.

The England midfielder was booked in the 81st minute of the Barclays Premier League clash at the DW Stadium following a robust challenge from behind on James McCarthy, and replays of the incident suggested that Gerrard had gestured towards Marriner as well as mouthing an obscenity at the official.

Marriner did not notice the gesture but the FA may decide that Gerrard, who captained England in their 3-1 friendly victory over Egypt last week, has a case to answer.

Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez, speaking after the game, insisted he had not seen the incident.

"I don’t know, I was too far away," he said.

Rafael Benítez: Liverpool 'Played Without Intelligence'

Rafael Benítez cut a dejected figure as Liverpool's Champions League ambitions suffered a serious setback with a 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic last night, though he mustered enough venom to condemn his players for the attitude and lack of character they displayed at the DW Stadium. "We didn't show the right attitude and even though we worked harder in the second half, we played without game intelligence," complained the Liverpool manager.

Wigan's first ever league win over Liverpool has left the Anfield club in a precarious position. Hugo Rodallega's first-half goal gave Roberto Martínez's side a major fillip in their bid to avoid relegation, but Wigan's emotions were in stark contrast to Benítez.

The Liverpool manager added: "We didn't do anything in the first half. The attitude was much better in the second half but it wasn't enough. It is difficult to explain because we prepared for the game properly. We knew Wigan would play in this way but there were too many things from us that I cannot understand."

Liverpool had five players booked on the night and Steven Gerrard was pictured raising two fingers after he was shown a yellow card for a foul on the impressive 19-year-old, James McCarthy. Liverpool later denied the gesture was intended to be offensive or was directed at the match referee, Andre Marriner.

"We have to keep going for fourth place," added Benítez, who had described this fixture as a must-win before kick-off. "That is all we can do. You can have good and bad times but we had to do better tonight on what was a crucial moment."

Liverpool FC: Hicks’ Sale Plans Hit A Snag

Reports in America suggest the sale of Liverpool FC co-owner Tom Hicks' Texas Rangers MLB franchise, thought to be a done deal, may have hit a snag.

SportsBusiness Journal sources have indicated that MLB officials last week informed the team’s creditors that there would be delays in responding to the lenders’ concerns about the deal.

Liverpool co-owner Hicks wrapped up a deal worth some US$500 million at the end of January. Much to the chagrin of Liverpool fans, none of that cash was injected into the English Premier League team.

Now, it seems, the true complexities of the Texas Rangers sale are slowly emerging, with lenders and lawsuits revolving around Hicks but spilling over into the ownership transfer process itself. It remains unclear as to how much of the cash from the sale Hicks will see.

Chuck Greenberg, the lawyer at the centre of the buyout group, is still confident that the deal will be finalised by his self-imposed 1st April deadline. "We've had delays, not of our making," he said, "but you deal with it and move on. Nothing yet has knocked us off the 1st April date. What's best for us, for Tom, and for the team, is to finally get this thing done."

Hicks, meanwhile, was handed a boost last week as it was revealed that Liverpool's revenues, despite the owners' well-documented troubles, have been boosted by almost €10 million.

The English Premier League side recently handed lucrative contract extensions to Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Pepe Reina.

Match Report: Wigan 1 - 0 Liverpool

Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega's eighth Barclays Premier League goal of the season put a huge dent in Liverpool's top-four aspirations at the DW Stadium.

The Colombia international volleyed home Emmerson Boyce's 35th-minute cross after Dirk Kuyt had needlessly given away possession close to his own penalty area.

Liverpool showed little of the quality required for a place in the Champions League once Fernando Torres had hit a post in the eighth minute and the Latics were well worth their victory.

It was Wigan's first Premier League win over Liverpool and only their second over one of the so-called 'big four' - the other coming at home to Chelsea earlier this season.

That ended a run of seven league matches without a victory and lifted them four points clear of the relegation zone.

And while it was only sixth-placed Liverpool's second defeat in 11 games it could have done irreparable damage to their chances of finishing fourth as they have now played more games than all of their rivals.

Rafael Benitez's side's problems are clear to see as this was the sixth time in their last eight away league matches they have failed to score.

The closest they came in this game was when Torres hit the outside of the upright after Maxi Rodriguez's header from Steven Gerrard's corner dropped to him at the far post.

But Wigan quickly grew in confidence and Marcelo Moreno was only inches from connecting with a driven cross through the six-yard area by Charles N'Zogbia, who was causing left-back Emiliano Insua plenty of problems.

Rodallega curled over a 20-yard free-kick after being fouled by Lucas Leiva while Insua's difficulties against N'Zogbia continued as he was booked for bringing down his opponent in the centre-circle.

Gerrard could have opened the scoring in the 26th minute after good link play between Rodriguez, Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun but the England international's first shot was blocked by Paul Scharner and although he quickly recovered he could not hit the target with the follow-up.

Lucas was next to be booked for tripping Titus Bramble and Sotirios Kyrgiakos was also cautioned for cynically blocking off Scharner.

Liverpool were struggling to find any sort of rhythm and their alarming tendency to give the ball away proved expensive in the 35th minute.

Kuyt, deep position on the left, rolled the ball aimlessly to Boyce who instantly fired a cross to the far post where Rodallega poked home.

It was the first time the Reds had conceded in the opening 45 minutes of a league match for 11 games.

Bramble was then booked for clattering into the back of Torres, who headed over Rodriguez's cross from six yards just before half-time.

Within 42 seconds of the second half kicking-off Mascherano had to be quick to block Rodallega's shot.

At the other end Torres, unusually for him, failed to hit the target from Rodriguez's cut-back.

Ten minutes into the half Johnson replaced Lucas, with Mascherano returning to his favoured central midfield.

Liverpool almost gifted Wigan a second as Jose Reina came out to claim a through-ball only for Carragher to knock it past him and then smashed his clearance into Moreno.

The ball looped towards the goal only for Kyrgiakos to get back to head over his own crossbar.

However, Liverpool were not getting any better and Torres' ambitious 25-yard volley summed things up when it went out for a throw close to the right corner flag.

Wigan should have had a second in the 73rd minute when Rodallega's pass put N'Zogbia through but his shot was partially stopped by Reina and Johnson scrambled the ball out at the far post under pressure from Scharner.

Moments later Torres' volley from Kuyt's header down rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

Liverpool's frustrations boiled over as first the Spain international was booked after chasing Boyce half the length of the pitch to bring him down and then Gerrard was then cautioned for diving in on McCarthy, despite appearing to win the ball.

A sign of Liverpool's desperation could been seen in the five minutes of injury time when Kyrgiakos went to play up front.

It typified a night when the Reds' short-comings this season were laid bare by an industrious but by no means brilliant Wigan side.

Degen: I'm Still Dreaming

Philipp Degen has not given up hope of starring in this summer's World Cup despite his omission from the latest Switzerland squad.

The right-back helped the Swiss reach the last 16 in 2006 and is desperate for another chance to play on football's biggest stage.

Degen was not part of the squad which lost 3-1 to Uruguay this week but aims to do everything he can to impress manager Ottmar Hitzfeld between now and the end of the season.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I think everyone is looking forward to the World Cup but for me right now what's important is being here and playing here. The news will come in May and I hope I'll be going to the World Cup.

"I played all the games in 2006 when we were very successful. We got knocked out on penalties to Ukraine when we could have got to the quarter-finals. That was very sad for us.

"Now we have another chance. Our group is very difficult but our chances are alive. We have to try our best."

Switzerland will meet Spain in the group stages - setting up a potential clash between Degen and clubmates Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Albert Riera.

The defender thinks the trio are among a host of Liverpool players who could return to Melwood with World Cup medals.

"I think Spain are the number one team. If they don't get the title then they're doing something wrong," said Degen.

"But England also have a chance. Apart from Brazil and Spain they have one of the best squads. You have to see that.

"With the people they have in the squad and their ages - when are they going to have a better chance? For me, this is absolutely one of the best squads England have had for a long time. They have very good players.

"England, Brazil and especially Spain - these teams have to be at the top. Germany can also pull a surprise, and Argentina have good players but they have some problems."

Rafael Benítez Assures Alberto Aquilani He Is Not Forgotten

Rafael Benítez has assured Alberto Aquilani that he is not the forgotten man of Liverpool despite having to sacrifice the Italian's adjustment to English football in the race for a critical place in next season's Champions League.

Aquilani, the club's £18m signing last summer, should again find himself on the substitutes' bench with Lucas and Javier Mascherano preferred in central midfield against Wigan. The Italy international has endured a frustrating first season at Anfield with his debut delayed by an ankle injury and then Liverpool's poor form affording Benítez little leeway in his efforts to blood Aquilani.

The Liverpool manager has explained his predicament to the 25-year-old, who has started only seven games since his arrival from Roma and completed 90 minutes only once, and says the midfielder accepts that a top-four finish takes precedence over personal trials.

Benítez said: "When you have been injured for a while it's not easy for a player. Then, when you are available and the team isn't doing well, it makes it even more difficult. You have to decide if you can afford to give him two or three games when you know he's maybe not at the level he could be, so you could end up losing some of them.

"Alberto isn't stupid. He knows the priority now has to be the team and what's best for that. All he can do is keep training and make sure he is ready when we need him. But as I said, the most important thing we have to think of is the team, not one player."

Meanwhile, England right-back Glen Johnson is in contention for his first appearance of the year. He has not played since the 1-0 away win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on 29 December, where he was substituted after 89 minutes just before Fernando Torres scored. Benítez, though, admitted the relaid pitch at the DW Stadium will not influence his thinking of starting Torres or, by contrast, omitting Aquilani.

He added: "When I didn't play Alberto at Wolves it wasn't to do with the state of their pitch, it was because of the kind of game and because others were available, which meant we could manage in a different way. So whether I play him at Wigan or not isn't a decision that will be determined by the pitch.

"But we have had a conversation about things and he knows the situation. Alberto is a very good professional, who was a big name in Italy and wants to show his quality here. When you're like that but cannot play for three or four months and then you're available but can't play because the team is maybe doing really well or has problems, it's a difficult situation for any professional."

The Liverpool manager said Mascherano is now focused on his Anfield career after having his head turned by interest from Barcelona last summer, and expects the Argentina captain and the Spanish goalkeeper José Reina to commit to long-term contracts before the end of this season.

"I am 100% certain that Pepe will stay with us and I'm really confident Javier will too – both for a long time," said Benítez.

"I've spoken to Javier about what's going on and, while it wasn't easy when you have a top side like Barcelona asking about you, he's really focused now. I have confidence both will be sorted out sooner rather than later."

Javier Mascherano Shows He’ll Play Anywhere At Liverpool For Rafael Benitez

Rafa Benitez rarely tells stories about incidents that happen on the training ground or in the privacy of his plush Melwood office.

While some cannot stop themselves talking about how a certain player conjured up a moment of exquisite ability in practice, Benitez prefers to keep his own counsel, feeling there is no need to let the world in on incidents that happen behind closed doors.
Where Javier Mascherano is concerned, however, Liverpool’s manager has been moved to take a break from what is his norm following the midfielder’s exceptional performance as an auxiliary right-back in the win over Blackburn Rovers last week.

The tale goes like this. With Martin Skrtel injured and Sotirios Kyrgiakos serving a ban, Benitez was faced with a big dilemma heading in to that particular contest around who would patrol the flank given that Jamie Carragher was needed in the middle.

Pitching Glen Johnson back into battle was out of question, due to his lack of match practice and training, but Philipp Degen was an option, so too Martin Kelly, who had made his return to action as a substitute against Unirea Urziceni.

Yet after much deliberation with his backroom staff, Benitez kept returning to the subject of Mascherano, who had played out of his skin in the role when circumstances required he move there during a breathless success over Everton last month.

Asking a player to move from his comfort zone, though, is no easy task these days and when Benitez beckoned the midfield dynamo in to his room, he was unsure how Mascherano would take the news but 30 seconds later, the answer told him everything he knew all along.

“Before the game against Blackburn, we were having a conversation and talking about who to play at right-back,” said Benitez, taking up the story. “We knew Carra had to play as a centre-back, as Soto was suspended and (Martin) Skrtel had suffered an injury.

“So we decided to talk with Javier. I took him in to my office and I said ‘listen, we are thinking about playing you as a right-back. He just turned around and said ‘fine’. We finished the conversation there and then. He was just so pleased to help.

The attitude was fantastic. He just said ‘yes’ straight away, no problem and away he went. That is not his position. But he played really well and his commitment was fantastic. I am so happy with this attitude.”

No wonder, then, more talks have taken place in Benitez’s office during the past seven days, this time relating to Mascherano’s future; a new deal has been thrashed out, which would tie the 25-year-old to Anfield until 2014, and a successful outcome is anticipated.

While his form and commitment to Anfield was rightly called into question at the start of the campaign, when Barcelona’s vigorous pursuit of his signature proved disruptive, in the past six months only Pepe Reina and Carragher have matched his consistency.

With the pursuit of a Champions League place taking Liverpool to Wigan Athletic, Mascherano will again be required to play a key role but, as the treatment room has been cleared and a suspension over, on this occasion it will be in a more familiar role.

It will, inevitably, be a busy week for Mascherano as, after the skirmish at the DW Stadium, tomorrow attentions will turn to the round of 16 Europa League first leg clash with Lille and a short hop to northern France. Such a short turnaround between games is far from ideal but Mascherano would much prefer to have this kind of schedule rather than just flitting from week to week, concentrating simply on domestic affairs.

So before attentions turn to Lille, Wigan must be beaten to keep the momentum building behind the charge to the top four and Mascherano feels the return to form of influential figures Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will ultimately prove decisive.

“It was very important for everyone at the club that we got through the last round,” said Mascherano. “Now we are thinking about the Premier League and we have got to make sure we keep on improving and keep winning before we play in Europe again.

“If you ask the players, the majority will say the same. We want to play as many games as we can and we will try to continue in Europe as long as we can, as we are all desperate to arrive at the final. To do that would be great for us.

“We have to keep switching in between targets and this is another important game for us. We have got to try and win. The more we keep doing that, the more we will put pressure on the other teams around us and get back into the top four.

“We have started scoring goals again and it is giving the players confidence to go forward. We have been defending well but it’s important for the team that we add goals to what we have been doing at the back.

“The signs have been good but we have got to continue and keep improving if we can. We have a duty to give the forward players service. It’s like Stevie. He has been breaking records recently and we hope he can keep playing unbelievable for himself and the team.”

As Skrtel won’t play until the middle of April and Daniel Agger’s participation is threatened by injury, Benitez is likely to ask Sotirios Kyrgiakos to assume the role he was filling with aplomb before his sending off in the Anfield derby on February 6.

“Soto started really well,” Benitez pointed out. “He couldn’t play too many games when he first arrived because Carra, Skrtel and Agger were all available. We brought him here because he was really good in the air and he showed that against Bolton.

“He is a fantastic professional and very good lad. He is always ready, keen to learn but I was surprised when he came in because I thought his English would be better, as he played in Scotland but he said to me ‘I couldn’t understand any words!’

“But I’m really pleased with him now and hopefully he can play more games.”

Danny: I'll Be Geordie Gerrard

Danny Guthrie has set his sights on becoming Newcastle’s answer to Steven Gerrard.

The former Reds midfielder hit a double in the Magpies' 6-1 rout of Barnsley at the weekend and admits he would love to go on and have the same sort of impact as the man he rates as Europe's finest.

Guthrie said: "I've been at Liverpool with Gerrard, and, for me, he's the best central midfielder in Europe.

"You can only learn good things from him and I'd like to think that's come into my game. You see him every day, and how he handles himself. He's a top lad, and it was all good experience.

"When I was growing up there was Scholes, Keane and Vieira.

"As I got a bit older there was Lampard and Gerrard.

"It was great to work with him and hopefully that can benefit me and Newcastle United."

Rafael Benitez Must Strive To Keep Jamie Carragher At Anfield

Rafael Benitez can’t have seen this one coming, surely? After months spent watching the world debate the futures of Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres, he can now expect a raft of questions about one of the pillars of his Liverpool side, Jamie Carragher.

The mere thought of the Reds parting company with such a symbolic figure seems inherently absurd, but the summer promises to be an interesting one at Anfield, whether they finish in the Premier League's top four or not.
Carragher’s comments dominated the weekend’s papers, with the 32-year-old confirming that he would entertain the idea of leaving Liverpool, should the club fail to offer him the first-team football he requires.

"The club will give me a new contract if they want to," he said, "If not it doesn’t matter, I’ll still play my best and if I have to move I’ll move, no problem. It wouldn’t bother me.”

This was not your typical, money-based plea for a new contract. Indeed, nor is it the first time the Bootle-born defender has hinted at a future away from Anfield. His autobiography contained a more candid assessment.

“I hate missing games, no matter what the occasion,” he wrote back in 2008, “I have no respect for those who have built a reputation at a big club by settling for being a bit-part player.

“If I’m not a regular in the side – and I hope that is many years away – I will move on. There are those who advise you to quit at the top, but I disagree. I’d love to finish my career at Anfield, but if the time comes to consider another Premier League club, or a competitive Championship one, then I will do it.”

The message then was the same as it is now; if Carragher is not to be a regular at Liverpool, he will not think twice about seeking first team football elsewhere. It is refreshingly honest, in an age where many players would gladly accept a reduction in hours for an increase in wage. But Carragher’s defiant stance means Benitez must assess his options carefully before making his next move.

Carragher’s contract at Anfield – worth around £80,000 per week – will have a year left to run in the summer. And having witnessed Michael Owen – home-grown and with a worldwide reputation – depart the club for a paltry fee in 2005, Liverpool will be well aware of the perils of dealing with players approaching the end of their contracts.

And having witnessed the efforts made to tie the likes of Torres, Pepe Reina, Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard to lucrative long-term deals, Carragher is entitled to wonder why the powers-that-be at Anfield have not been as eager to beat a way to his door.

The Reds, unlike Arsenal or Manchester United for example, do not operate a strict policy when dealing with new deals for players over the age of 30, so any decision on the defender’s future should be made on its merits.

A similar decision was made with Sami Hyypia, who left the club to join Bayer Leverkusen after rejecting a contract extension last summer. Now Benitez must decide whether, at 32, Carragher is still an automatic choice at Anfield.

And, as with all decisions to be made at Liverpool this summer, financial factors are bound to come into play.

For example, how much would it cost Benitez to replace a player of Carragher’s stature and experience? Despite some high profile mistakes this season – including a nightmare at West Ham and a dismissal at Fulham – his form has recovered sufficiently to make him a key player in the Reds’ recent defensive revival – which has seen them concede just three goals in ten league games . And this even allowing for an unscheduled stint at full-back in the absence of Glen Johnson.

Simon Kjaer, the towering Palermo centre-back, has this week been keen to fuel speculation that he is set for a summer switch to Merseyside, but is likely to cost in excess of £10 million, and attract the attention of plenty of other, more fiscally able clubs. The Dane might be keen on linking up with international colleague Daniel Agger, but money still talks, and Liverpool’s bank balance is speaking more softly than most at the moment.

Both Agger and Martin Skrtel have shown signs of promise as a partnership recently – despite similarly slow starts – but with just Greek veteran Sotirios Kyrgiakos as senior cover, Carragher remains a vital part of Benitez's squad, both in terms of numbers and quality.

Additionally, Carragher offers the kind of leadership and organisational qualities courted by just about every other club. Pace may never have been a strong suit for the Bootle boy, but communication, positional intelligence and timing in the tackle certainly are, as Carragher himself noted "whenever there is a big game, I'm there."

How Manchester City, for example, would love a defender of his ilk as they challenge the Reds for a top-four berth, (ironically, they had one in Richard Dunne, before they allowed him to leave and become part of the meanest back-line in the Premier League at Aston Villa).

Carragher has proven over the last three months, both at right-back – a position he is known to despise – and in his favoured central role, that he still has plenty to offer Liverpool. Benitez must now convince Carragher that Liverpool has enough to offer him.

And if he doesn’t, then one suspect it will be Liverpool’s, not Carragher’s, loss.

Rafa Benitez: Liverpool FC Must Improve Away Form To Reach Champions League

Rafa Benitez yesterday called for a dramatic improvement in Liverpool’s away form as they seek a first win on their travels in more than two months.

The Reds have won four of their 14 Premier League games away from Anfield – the last was at Aston Villa on December 29 – and have only taken 18 points from a possible 42.

At this stage of last season, Liverpool’s victory total was eight and their outstanding form on the road was the reason they were able to push for the title.

But if they are going to clamber back into a Champions League spot this season, Benitez knows it is vital Liverpool start making up for lost time.

That’s why Benitez is demanding Liverpool leave Wigan Athletic with nothing less than three points and a place back in the top four.

“I have been checking the numbers from where we were last season and you can see that we were much better away from home,” said Liverpool’s manager.

“We have got to improve and that is very clear. But we have got an opportunity tonight and we have got to try and take it. We need to change our record.

“You have to keep a good balance between what you are doing at home and what you are doing away. Recently we’ve been quite good at home but away it has not been so good.”

Benitez, though, believes the return to fitness of key trio Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun will dramatically improve Liverpool’s prospects.

“You want to play nice football and you have an idea of what you want to do,” said Benitez. “But to do that, you need players with quality. When you talk about the players who have been missing – Yossi, Fernando, Fabio Aurelio, Stevie, Glen Johnson – you can see what effect it has had.

“But now we have these players coming back. That is going to be a big boost for us and I know that we can start to play a little bit better.”

Liverpool have not lost to Wigan since the Latics were promoted to the top flight in 2005.

Wigan’s form has been hugely inconsistent and they are in danger of being sucked into the relegation zone but Benitez is taking nothing for granted.

“Wigan try to play nice football and they have got some strong players,” Benitez pointed out.

“It is going to be difficult for us but we have more confidence. We are strong in defence, we are scoring goals and are in a good moment.”

Former Liverpool Defender Phil Thompson Admits He Was Wrong About Fernando Torres

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has acknowledged that he couldn't have been more wrong about Fernando Torres after doubting the Spaniard's quality when he first arrived in England.

The former Reds defender admits that he wondered whether the striker would be able to adjust to the pressure of the Premier League after his time in La Liga.

"If I was to say I knew he'd be a superstar I'd be a liar," Thompson told the Reds' official website.

"He'd carried Atletico Madrid but they'd always been in the shadow of Real, so you wondered just how good he really was. And we've seen so many falter in the Premier League.

"But you look at him and he ticks every box. He scores headed goals - great; goals from outside the box - great; goals from inside the box - great; he goes past people for fun - great."

It is not just the Spaniard's skills which impress Thompson though. The former centre-back is also a fan of the way in which Torres conducts himself on the pitch.

"This guy is the complete package - and he plays the game in the right way," he added.

"Am I glad he's at Liverpool Football Club! He's still young and he's still going to score goals."