Torres Wants Liverpool Captain Gerrard Alongside Him In Madrid

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres hopes Steven Gerrard will be fit enough to take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on 25 February.

In one of many mouth-watering ties coming up over the next few weeks, Liverpool travel to the Bernabeu to face the Spanish giants in the first leg of the second round of Europe’s premier club competition, with the return scheduled for Anfield a fortnight later.

Whilst Gerrard should have recovered from the torn hamstring he suffered in the FA Cup defeat at Everton in time for the Merseyside meet, Torres is hopeful the England international will also be available to feature in Spain.

"Steven’s a special player and a vital part of our team and we need him fit again soon," said Torres.

"We wish him the best and hope we can have him back as quick as possible - if it is in time for the UEFA Champions League game with Real Madrid even better."

Play Me Or I'll Leave, Agger Tells Liverpool

Liverpool's prospects of losing Daniel Agger for a cut-price fee this summer have increased after the defender said he will not sign a new contract unless his first-team chances improve under Rafael Benítez.

The Denmark international is entitled to buy out the final 12 months of his Anfield deal at the end of this season for around £2m. Agger's failure to sign a contract extension has previously been blamed on a lack of communication with the Liverpool hierarchy, a charge levelled by Benítez himself, along with the player's financial demands.

Now the 24-year-old admits limited appearances this season are also a factor in his reluctance to commit his future to the club, and that he is likely to seek pastures new should Benítez persist with his favoured central defensive pairing of Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel. "Let me be honest and admit that, if I don't play, then it's untenable and it can't go on like that," said the Dane.

Agger has only enjoyed a consistent run this season after Skrtel suffered a cruciate ligament injury at Manchester City in October. The £5.8m signing from Brondby was restricted to two starts in 12 matches before the City game as he returned from a metatarsal injury, and has started only once – at Portsmouth on Saturday – since Skrtel reclaimed his place against Stoke City on 10 January.

The frustrated defender added: "It's never fun as a footballer when you don't play every time. That's no secret. But that's my situation in the club right now; that he [Benítez] won't let me play. That's not my decision. The question now is whether this is the right thing for me, because I would like to play some football. But for now I have chosen to give it some time and give it a chance and fight for my spot in the team. I feel I'm good enough. For the same reason it's annoying that I don't play. I'll wait for the chance and then I will prove that I'm good enough. I'll show them - no doubt about that."

Agger also revealed he is prepared to leave a decision on his future until the summer, when he is eligible to exploit the Webster Ruling and buy-out his existing Liverpool contract. The defender, whose agent, Per Steffensen, has held talks with Milan over a possible move, said: "There is no dialogue on a new contract with the club. It seemed like Liverpool were eager to close this deal and sign a new contract but that proved to be wrong. For me it is OK to wait and see how things evolve in the summer. I believe that I am in a good position for negotiations and I wish for more time in the red jersey." José Reina, the Liverpool goalkeeper, has admitted Benítez's team cannot afford many more slip-ups if they are to sustain their challenge to Manchester United for the Premier League title. The Anfield club have kept their championship prospects alive with late victories over Chelsea and Portsmouth in their last two league outings, but the Spaniard believes there must be improvement on the home form that has produced five draws in 12 games this season.

"Every match is like a final now," said Reina. "We know we can't afford to drop many points, especially at home. There are big games coming every week and we have to be ready for them. As a footballer that's what you want. This is Liverpool and if you want to win trophies, then you have to be up for it all the time - and we are.

"I don't know why we drew all those matches earlier in the season.

Against Everton we were only three minutes away from winning the derby before they equalised. It's true we didn't create a lot of chances in those games and it was hard to find a winner. When that happens it can damage confidence and that sometimes affects you in the next game. But it isn't unusual. The season is nine months long so it's natural that at some stage you will not be at your best. Hopefully we have come through our worst moment and the next few months are going to be better."

We’ve Got To Be Like United – Carragher

Jamie carragher believes that Liverpool must continue to become more like Manchester United if they’re to win the Premier League title.

Earlier this season, Carragher’s Anfield team-mate, left winger, Albert Riera hit out at their great North West rivals by branding them ‘lucky’ because of their tendency to win games with late goals.

But while there’s not much love lost between Bootle-born Carragher and Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, the 31-year-old defender has a begrudging respect for United’s ability to secure the points in the closing stages of matches and believes that it is a vital commodity for his own team to possess if they’re to thwart the Red Devils from equalling Liverpool’s English record of 18 titles this term by breaking their own duck in the Premier League.

Liverpool have been developing a knack for late winners themselves this term and came from behind twice to defeat Portsmouth 3-2 at Fratton Park on Saturday, a result that ultimately cost Tony Adams his job.

Dirk Kuyt levelled on 85 minutes and Fernando Torres netted the winner on 90 minutes to temporarily lift Rafael Benitez’s side above United at the Premier League summit before their own 1-0 victory at West Ham on Sunday.

Coming just six days after Chelsea were felled at Anfield by two Torres goals in the final two minutes, it was the sixth time that Liverpool had won a game in the final five minutes this season and the third occasion they had struck the winner in the final minute, a statistic which pleases Carragher. He said: “It’s not just a one-off game, we’ve come from behind like that quite a bit this season.

“It’s something Manchester United have done a lot in the past to win titles and you’ve got to take your hat off to them because they’ve done it over the years and this season as well.

“It’s something we’ve not been too good at in recent years but we seem to have it in our locker this season and hopefully that will push us as close to the title as possible.”

Carragher added: “There’s nothing better when you think you’re going to lose a game and you come back and win – it knocks the stuffing out of the opposition and you just want the referee to blow the final whistle as soon as that goal goes in.

“We still had to defend a few high balls into the box (at Portsmouth) but you’ve got to keep your emotions in check as you’re so excited but you realise that the game still hasn’t finished but we were delighted when we got back in the dressing room.”

Following last Wednesday’s energy-sapping FA Cup replay defeat to Everton which went into extra time, Benitez made six changes for the trip to Fratton Park and going into last five minutes with Portsmouth leading 2-1, Liverpool faced the potential of ending the weekend five points adrift of United at the summit with the Red Devils also having a game in hand. However, Liverpool’s last-gasp win keeps them within touching distance of Ferguson’s men with the gap still just two points and with faltering Chelsea replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari with Guus Hiddink following their goalless draw at home to Hull City, the battle for the title looks like an increasingly two-horse race – unless improving Aston Villa can cause the biggest shock in Premier League history.

Carragher maintains that he has never given up on Liverpool’s title aspirations and with a crunch trip to Old Trafford just over a month away reckons his own side’s penchant for late winners will stand them in good stead.

He said: “We never thought our title hopes were dead and buried although we realised we were making things more difficult for ourselves but we’ve got the three points but United have got the game in hand so it’s up to them.

“We’ll only be able to tell in the coming months what effect these two late wins have had but it can only be positive because scoring goals late gives you a massive lift.”

Rafael - Reds Running Scared

Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart believes that Liverpool will be scared when the two sides meet each other in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

The Spanish giants face Liverpool in a clash between two of the most successful club sides in football history.

However, the Holland international thinks that Madrid will have a psychological advantage even before the first-leg kicks-off.

"We're Real Madrid, which is why I think Liverpool are frightened of us. We have great players. It's going to be a great tie," he told Spanish newspaper Marca.

"The team is working hard to be in perfect shape. We're anxious to do well in Europe, and if we end up as champions I will be capable of anything. I will do anything to win the Champions League."

The 26-year-old has recently been relegated to the Real Madrid substitutes' bench, but he does not think his form has deteriorated badly.

"Everything was going well at the beginning of the season. I had a great feeling. I don't think I was playing poorly, but I was benched for a few matches," he added.

"It's not easy to get used to being a reserve because I had been a starter throughout most of my career."

Van der Vaart moved from German side Hamburg to Madrid in the summer of 2008 and is hoping to stay at the Bernabeu for some time yet.

"I signed for five years, but I hope to be here many more years," he said.

"I want to be an important part of Real Madrid's history and win many titles. That's what I've always dreamed about."

Barcelona To Chase Liverpool Hitman Fernando Torres

According to a report in The Daily Mail, Barcelona could launch an ambitious summer campaign to bring Fernando Torres, a former Atletico Madrid forward, back to Spain. This has been echoed in Spain by Sport.

The Liverpool striker will be very much in the public eye in his homeland over the next few weeks. The striker is preparing for a friendly clash with England in Seville and also a Champions League knock-out tie against Real Madrid.

However, it was at the FIFA World Player of the Year dinner that Joan Laporta, the president of the Catalan giants, is alleged to have laid the groundwork for an end of season pursuit. Lionel Messi and Xavi are also said to have hobnobbed with the Euro 2008 winner.

Any deal is likely to be dependant on the future of Barca's current top scorer, Samuel Eto'o, which is looking decidedly unclear at present.

The Blaugrana are holding several rounds of meetings this month regarding their plans for next term and contract renewals have been on top of the agenda.

Along with ensuring that Victor Valdes, Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol are tied down to long-term deals, sorting out Eto'o is becoming a matter of priority.

While the free-scoring striker has a contract until the summer of 2010, Barcelona are not prepared to let that run down and to see him leave on a free transfer. Eto’o, however, does not appear to be in a rush to renew his deal.

"If Laporta and [technical secretary Txiki] Begiristain asked me to sit down and negotiate now, I would ask them not to distract me and that we can wait until the summer," Eto'o told La Vanguardia.

That will not have gone down well with either Begiristain or coach Josep Guardiola, both of whom are keen to have all their plans in place before the end of the current season.

Plans to cash in on Eto'o could be in place given his reluctance to talk, his expected wage demands and the fact that he could be away at the African Cup of Nations for six weeks of next season.

With that in mind, Sport believe that the names of David Villa and Karim Benzema have been superseded by an even more ambitious target: Torres is now the player that club want.

With the blessing of Guardiola and Laporta, Txiki Begiristain will now start to consider ways to force 'Pool into a sale.

It won't be easy, of course, but behind-the-scenes unrest at Anfield and a less-than-certain financial future could work in the favour of Barcelona.

Torres Planning Long Reds Stay

Fernando Torres has pledged his long-term future to Liverpool despite reports in Spain that Barcelona are weighing up a big-money move.

Speaking ahead of Spain's friendly with England on Wednesday, Torres insists he is happy to stay at Anfield and cannot imagine himself playing for "any other team".

He said: "I don't see myself playing for Real Madrid, or Barcelona or Chelsea or any other team.

"I see myself playing for Liverpool. I have a long contract and that's that."

Meanwhile, Torres is hopeful he is finally over the injury problems that have blighted his season so far.

"This year what I am more worried about are injuries," added Torres. "I have had many problems since last summer but I hope I will be okay now until the end of the season."

The 24-year-old is also wishing Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard a speedy recovery from his hamstring problem and hopes he could return to action for the Champions League clash with Real Madrid later this month.

"Hopefully Steven Gerrard will be okay too," said Torres. "He's a special player and a vital part of our team and we need him fit again soon.

"I don't know how long it will take for his leg to heal, but we wish him the best and hope we can have him back as quick as possible.

"If it is in time for the Champions League game with Real Madrid even better."

Agger - No Reds Deal

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger admits he is no closer to signing a new deal at Anfield.

Reports last weekend claimed Agger had agreed terms over a new long-term contract only for his agent to quickly rebuff the suggestion.

Agger, who has less than 18 months to run on his current contract, has confirmed he has not agreed a new deal and that he is ready to wait until the summer to sort out his future.

"There is no dialogue on a new contract with the club. It seemed like Liverpool were eager to close this deal and sign a new contract, but that proved to be wrong," Agger told Ekstra Bladet.

"For me it's ok to wait and see how things evolve in the summer. I believe that I am in a good position for negotiations and I wish for more time in the red jersey."

Agger is maintaining his focus on staying fit and playing regularly after seeing last season ravaged by injury because of a serious foot problem.

"I have more games in my body, and wish to fall into the rhythm.

"At this level you can't afford to make mistakes. I will only be judged when I am playing, regardless of how long you have been sidelined.

"I want to play every game but unfortunately that's not possible.

"But I am happy now that myself, Carragher and Skrtel all are fit. So now it's up to Rafa Benitez."

Spain Will Test Liverpool FC Manager's Patience On Torres

Rafael Benitez is heading for another club versus country row with Spain after coach Vicente Del Bosque insisted Fernando Torres could return to Liverpool “in better shape” after tonight’s friendly with England.

The Spanish coach insists he has not had a fall-out with Benitez over the striker, who has been visibly fatigued in recent weeks despite his return to goalscoring form.

Torres was taken off in the recent league game with Wigan and in extra time during the FA Cup exit to Everton last week.

On Saturday at Portsmouth he scored the winning goal, although he was only brought on for the final 14 minutes.

Liverpool manager Benitez has accepted that at least a 45-minute appearance in Seville is inevitable, but Del Bosque has hinted at giving Torres significantly more.

He said: “It might be good for Fernando Torres to play a lot of minutes and go back to Liverpool in better shape.

“You cannot make a decision in advance because then the game doesn’t go the way you expect.

“I know my starting 11 but it will depend on the match. You can’t say this or that person is going to play 40 or 45 minutes because you don’t know what is going to happen.”

Del Bosque is helped by the fact Liverpool have no game this weekend because they are not in the FA Cup, but Benitez will be concerned that his forward is further exposed to the risk of injury.

Captain Steven Gerrard will already be missing with a hamstring injury when they return to Premier League action at home to Manchester City a week on Sunday, and further injuries could leave them shorn of attacking options in a week when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League.

“There has been no conflict with Rafa Benitez,” Del Bosque said. “I have always had good contact with him and was in Villarreal earlier this season when Liverpool played a friendly there.

“There is a perfectly correct relationship with Liverpool. I spoke to him last Friday and of course we spoke about the players and their physical condition.”

Del Bosque added: “It was a perfectly cordial discussion and I would rather base my decision on what Rafa has said to me, not what has appeared in the press.”

Torres has already been injured while on international duty three times in his 18-month Liverpool career.

The last occasion came in a World Cup qualifier with Belgium, when he picked up a hamstring strain that eventually kept him out for the whole of December.

The 24-year-old made a scoring return to the Reds side as a substitute at Preston in the FA Cup on January 2, and he has since made seven appearances.

Benitez will also be monitoring Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Albert Riera and Pepe Reina, who are also in the Spain squad to take on England.

Dossena Settled At Anfield

Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena admits he is feeling more settled at Anfield after a difficult start to life in England.

Dossena struggled to make an impact at Liverpool following his arrival from Udinese last summer.

But the full-back believes he now understands more of what is required of him from Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

"In the first six months it was not easy for me because Italian football is very different from here," Dossena told Sky Sports News.

"Now I know what the boss Benitez wants from me."

Dossena insists Liverpool will fight until the end with Manchester United for the Premier League title.

The Reds sit in second spot two points behind leaders United, but Dossena says the squad will give their all to try and win the championship crown.

"United are a strong team, a good team, but we are Liverpool Football Club we want to win and we will try to win until the finish of the season.

"If at the finish of the season you win OK, but we want to stay there."

Liverpool Chief Exec Rick Parry Reveals 'Homegrown' Quota Being Considered By Premier League Clubs

Premier League clubs are considering a quota for a minimum number of ’homegrown’ players in their squads in a bid to stave off attempts to impose spending controls.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has revealed the 20 clubs discussed the move at a meeting last week and there was consensus over the general principle.

The move comes as the European Clubs’ Association, of which Parry is a board member, yesterday shelved a proposal for clubs in UEFA competitions to be limited to spending a maximum of 50% of their turnover on wages.

Clubs in the Champions League and UEFA Cup are already obliged to have eight homegrown players – of any nationality, but who have spent three years under the age of 21 at the club – in their 25- man squads.

Parry, speaking from Geneva in Switzerland said: “It was discussed at the Premier League last week after being put up by the Premier League board.

“We have not accepted a figure, just the principle that some minimum limit of homegrown players makes sense.

“For those of us competing in the Champions League we could introduce it now and it wouldn’t be an issue. Indeed the Premier League did produce an analysis which showed that actually a lot of the clubs would not have too much difficult complying.

“It will certainly be given more consideration, it’s a way off being decided but it was certainly a constructive discussion.”

The Football League have already agreed that from next season at least four out of the 16 players in matchday squads have to come through the ranks of clubs in England and Wales.

Other proposals being considered by the Premier League include giving financial incentives to clubs to use academy products, but the ’homegrown’ rule looks the most likely.

It will also allow clubs to argue they will bring more players through the ranks rather than spending big on established stars.

Parry said the Premier League’s discussions have come in response to pressure from the Government, UEFA president Michel Platini and FA chairman Lord Triesman for top- flight clubs to create a more level playing field and reduce debt.

He added: “We are aware that there is concern at Government and FA level and what we have to do is engage in that debate and be part of the solution.

“They want to see something, as does Michel Platini, so it’s about not being completely negative and isolationist about those ideas that do have merit and perhaps being in step with Europe rather than being completely out of step.”

The clubs will return to the issue at their summer meeting in June when a range of options on encouraging youth players will be put to chairmen.

A Premier League spokesman said: “There has been an ongoing discussion about raising the standards of youth development and progressing academy players but no definitive policy decision has been taken.”

Parry said that the 93 member clubs of the ECA who turned up for today’s general assembly viewed a 50% turnover-wages limit as a “blunt instrument”.

He said: “The debate on should we just have a simple 50% limit on turnover threw up all sorts of issues such as does that mean the big clubs stay big and the small ones never have a chance to catch up?

“Does it mean that clubs in countries with different tax regimes suffer?

“A lot of clubs felt it is a bit of a blunt instrument and maybe the debate over young players is a better approach.

“What we in England don’t want to see is a dumbing down and be penalised for the success we have achieved.”

Rafa Wary Of Villa Threat

Rafa Benitez is refusing to believe the Premier League title battle is a two-horse race between Manchester United and Liverpool.

United are leading the way two points ahead of Benitez's Reds, but Aston Villa sit just five points behind the leaders with managerless Chelsea a further two points adrift.

Villa have been the surprise package so far this season and Benitez admits Martin O'Neill's men could be involved in the chase for the Premier League crown.

"Aston Villa are in a good position," said Benitez. "I think it's too soon to say it's a two-horse race. We have to keep going and then maybe at the end it could be down to two teams.

"I'm not surprised Villa are doing well because they have good players. They are working really hard and are in a good position, and that makes motivation for each game easier.

"The important thing is we are still in a fantastic position. The character of the players at Portsmouth was very good and the way we came back showed we have the right mentality. We have done that so many times this season.

"We have more confidence now because we are winning. If we keep winning it will be easier to keep our focus and keep going to the end."

Benitez also expressed his shock at Luiz Felipe Scolari's sudden departure from Chelsea on Monday.

The Spaniard was sad to hear the Brazilian lose his position at Stamford Bridge after just seven months at the helm.

"I was really surprised and disappointed," added Benitez. "He is a nice man, a fantastic manager and a good professional."

Ian Rush: Rafa Benitez Had Perfect Response To Silence Liverpool's Critics

The vultures were circling the second Liverpool’s team-sheet was announced on Saturday night.

But Rafa had the perfect response with a massively important three points.

Like almost everybody else in the country, I was surprised when I saw so many influential names left on the substitutes’ bench.

I would be lying if I said otherwise.

But unlike perhaps plenty of pundits, I also had some sympathy with Rafa’s team selection, because I’ve been in exactly the same position as Fernando Torres.

I wasn’t sure about leaving Dirk Kuyt on the bench, because he looks like he could play about five matches every week and still not suffer.

But resting Torres was totally understandable.

He’s still feeling his way back from injury, he was clearly shattered on Wednesday night and the trip to Portsmouth came less than 72 hours later.

By introducing him when he did, Rafa ensured that Torres would be operating on a level playing field with the Portsmouth defenders.

Kenny Dalglish did exactly the same thing with me in the 1989 FA Cup final.

I’d been injured and had only made half a dozen substitute appearances before the cup final.

I thought I could start at Wembley.

I told Kenny I was fit.

I was desperate to kick-off against Everton, but he decided my energy levels weren’t up to what was required and left me on the bench.

In the end Kenny did the right thing.

If I’d started the match I probably wouldn’t have been able to do anything.

But when I came on my energy levels were at the same levels as the Everton defenders and I was able to make an impact.

It was the same with Torres at Portsmouth.

If he’d played from the start, when the Portsmouth defenders were fresh, he’d have been tired when the game started to open up in the last third and probably unable to take advantage of the opportunity which came his way.

As it was, he was sharp enough to find the opening and finish it in style just when it mattered the most.

It was good management, because the end result says so.

Just like Kenny got it right back in 1989.

Mark Lawrenson: Liverpool Still Needed Replacement For Misfiring Robbie Keane

I wrote here several times that I thought that Liverpool selling Robbie Keane in January would be the best thing.

But I meant for the player and the club.

And while Keane will no doubt be relieved to be back where he is loved and where the pressure is off, I don’t really see the benefit for Liverpool.

Because if you’re going to get rid of someone, you have to replace him.

This might sound wise after the event but I looked at Jo scoring two goals for Everton in their win over Bolton on Saturday and thought ‘well, why couldn’t Liverpool have taken a chance on him?’

Or at least a similar type of loan signing.

Okay, so he’s not played for ages and had looked a bit out of place at Manchester City – but that’s only the same situation Robbie Fowler was in three years ago.

But that didn’t matter because he was only brought in to boost the forward line for the final few months of the season.

I just think any striker would have done in these circumstances, where numbers are so low that David Ngog is starting on his own up front and even Andriy Voronin fancies it again.

Nothing against Ngog, but he’s untried and unknown. And that’s not ideal when you’re going for the league.

Keane didn’t have to be replaced by another £20million superstar, just a competent striker who can help take the burden off Fernando Torres.

Because the situation now is, we’re praying for Torres not to get injured between now and the end of the season.

He showed how vital he is with the winner at Portsmouth on Saturday. Take him out and you’re looking over at Manchester United. You’re looking for players to be able to provide you with what Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez and Berbatov do for them.

And then you realise how much Liverpool really do need Torres to keep on competing with them for this title.

Reds Look At Danish Starlet

Liverpool have handed a trial to highly-rated Danish winger Oliver Feldballe.

Feldballe currently plays for Odense and his performances have alerted Liverpool's coaching staff.

The 18-year-old, who has represented Denmark at Under 18 and Under 19 level, will train with Liverpool's first team so that Rafa Benitez can cast an eye over him.

Odense's head of development, Uffe Pedersen has confirmed the club are happy to let him link up with Liverpool and he believes Feldballe can establish himself as a big player in the future.

"We got an inquiry from Liverpool that they wish to see him in training and we have agreed to let him go there. He will be there for the rest of the week Pedersen told Bold.dk.

"Their philosophy is that they bring on a lot of players. If the players end up breaking through, there is a bigger chance that they will choose Liverpool as they already are familiar with the club.

"At the same time it is a good experience for our players to get away and try something new.

"He [Feldballe] is one of the biggest talents that we hope to use in the future."

Benitez Defends Liverpool FC Selection And Tactics

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez revealed his decision to make wholesale changes in personnel and tactics for his side’s dramatic late 3-2 win at Portsmouth was taken on the advice of the club’s medical staff.

Already without injured skipper Steven Gerrard and the suspended Lucas, Benitez started the game at Fratton Park with Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera, Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres all dropped to the substitutes bench.

Benitez said: “We were speaking to the medical staff who were treating the players, we spoke with the technical staff, with the fitness coach, with Sammy (Lee) and (Mauricio) Pellegrino and after we had a meeting and we decided on this team.

“It’s not easy to leave Torres or Alonso or Kuyt on the bench, it was a difficult decision, but sometimes you have to do this to be contenders until the end of the season.”

Benitez claimed he had faith in the rest of his squad, having given several of his fringe players an opportunity and declared he wanted to make a statement about the strength of his squad.

He said: “It was important to show this. We had players like Ngog, Babel, Benayoun working really hard and playing well and after we had the big names.

“So it was really good for the team because now we have more confidence and everybody will say maybe they can be there until the end of the season.”

However, with some of the players who came into the side failing to make an impact, Benitez had to rely on his more established stars coming off the bench to rescue the points although the Spaniard claimed he considered such possibilities before the game.
He said: “When you prepare you have an idea. The idea was to start with these players and see what will happen and we started really well so I thought we could win with them.

“We were playing very well. At the end we had some players who were really tired, you could see Arbeloa was really tired so we were thinking about substitutions.

“Ngog was also tired and he felt something so we thought okay we changed him.

“After we conceded the goal we needed more quality in the pass so Xabi Alonso was the second option. The last one was Torres because we were trying to win the game.”

Arguably Benitez’s most intriguing selection was the decision to hand a first Premier League start to striker David Ngog, but the Liverpool manager remains an admirer of the French teenager.

He said: “You can see he is a very good player. Clearly he has quality, he has talent.

“He needs to be strong to play in the Premier League, but his movement is really good and if the players around him can play well, he will play well too.”

Benitez also reshaped his defence by adopting a three centre-back system behind two wing-backs, but he rebuffed any suggestions that the system was a failure or that his continual use of zonal marking was costing the side unnecessary goals.

He said: “The use of a back three depends on the games.

“We needed to do it because we didn’t have too many fresh legs and we were trying to put players in good positions.

“If you look at corners and free-kicks normally we are doing the same as other teams. So everyone is conceding, it doesn’t really matter if it is man to man or zonal.

“It’s easy to talk but you can check, how many goals do you see that are scored in the Championship and the Premier League that are conceded man to man.”

Voronin Won't Get Liverpool Recall Despite Striker Crisis

Andrey Voronin has offered to return to Liverpool to ease their striker crisis.

And the Ukrainian misfit, on loan at Hertha Berlin, has cheekily claimed Liverpool have been in contact with him over the prospect.

Voronin was shipped out to the German club after just one season at Anfield and is in talks to make the move permanent.

But yesterday he claimed he could replace Robbie Keane, who returned to Spurs in the transfer window.

"I still have a contract at Liverpool and now Keane has been sold I could go back," said Voronin. "I was playing regularly at Anfield until they signed Keane, and with him gone, they don't have many strikers.

"I know my agent has talked with Liverpool and I could help them."

Yet far from talking to Voronin about a return, officials at Anfield explained they are trying to discuss his departure for good as they are still paying a big chunk of his wages.

Meanwhile, defender Martin Kelly has been given a contract extension to June 2011.

McAuley Eyes Albion Scalp

AS Liverpool under-18s continue to progress in the FA Youth Cup, they will now turn their attentions on getting back to winning ways in the FA Premier Academy League.

David Amoo’s goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 fifth round victory over Chelsea at Anfield last Thursday, but now they return to Academy League action this Saturday at West Brom.

Hugh McAuley’s side lost 3-2 to Everton on their last league outing and haven’t won for almost two months, due to the Christmas break and Youth Cup commitments, ironically against Albion at the Kirkby Academy in early December.

But they have progressed in the cup during that time and faced arguably their three toughest fixtures against Manchester United, North West league leaders Manchester City and neighbours Everton.

McAuley said: “The two games we have played in the league this year have been against two tough teams, but we have played really well in both. We drew with Manchester City and lost to Everton, although I thought we were the best team and it was a game we should have won.

“Performances have been good, if not results. But we go into the next game a team full of confidence after the win over Chelsea. We are playing some good stuff. We have shown good spirit and really good enthusiasm. We have no problem on that side of it and I am sure if we keep that up, results will come in the league.

“It is important we keep our consistency, enthusiasm and the right motivation.”

He added: “The game at the end of the week or the Youth Cup match are the situations where we judge our players particularly when we play the bigger clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Everton and also Arsenal in the Youth Cup last year. They tell where our players are and how far we are compared to those teams.”

Liverpool Warned Over Benitez

Liverpool have been warned it would be a massive mistake to allow Rafael Benitez to walk away from the club - by the man who let him leave Valencia.

Jesus Garcia Pitarch was Valencia's Sporting Director when Benitez quit the club for Anfield in 2004 after a disagreement over transfer policy.

And that same issue is reportedly now causing conflict between the Spaniard and Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry - with the manager's new contract still unsigned.

But Pitarch says Benitez must be backed by the Liverpool hierarchy after building a team that is finally challenging for the Premier League title.

"I think it would be a huge error if Liverpool allowed Benitez to leave," said Pitarch, who saw Benitez win two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup at Valencia.

"Rafa is a great manager, which he demonstrated with Valencia. I haven't been surprised he has had success at Liverpool.

"He is always ready for any challenge and I believe that Liverpool can win the title this season."

And Pitarch has revealed Benitez's methodical approach and analysis of opponents are the pillars of his success.

"He is a very methodical tactician," explained Pitarch, who is now Atletico Madrid's Sporting Director.

"He studies every aspect of a rival club in such detail and thinks of what they will do in any situation. That was his principal innovation at Valencia and now all clubs do the same."

Fernando Torres Defiant Over Liverpool's Title Hopes

'El Nino' reckons the Reds are still well and truly on course for their first English crown since 1990.

Liverpool are still hanging around in the title race, as their consecutive wins - against Chelsea and Portsmouth - see them sit just two points behind the Premier League leaders, Manchester United.

It was Fernando Torres' heroics which saw off Pompey and the Blues (and doomed Tony Adams and Luiz Felipe Scolari to the sack), as he struck late in both games to seal nervy wins for victories for the Reds.

Pundits have dubbed the Merseysiders' form since the turn of the year 'unconvincing'; but Torres, while admitting his have had some sticky moments, thinks that it as unfair label.

"We began very well and at the moment we're going through a period which isn't the best," he said on the club's official website.

"But we're not bad, maybe it's just that we're stifled by lesser teams who are happy with a draw. We are better against the big teams and we have to show that against Real Madrid.

"We're getting back players that have been absent with injury like me."

Torres believes it is all a matter of perspective. Liverpool might not be in tip-top touch, but they are in a far better position than they were this time last year.

"It all depends on how you look at things," the Spaniard continued. "You can be pessimistic and think we have been knocked out of the cup and that it was tough for us to win.

"Or you can think positively, which is what I do, and see that we are fighting for the league, which we're in the last 16 of the Champions League, that on the whole we are better than previous years.

"That's what I think."

Torres has endured an injury-riddled campaign, yet he boasts 11 goals so far this season.

Vicente Del Bosque Denies Rift With Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez

The La Furia Roja coach has dismissed suggestions that the Reds boss is unhappy with the number of Spanish players returning to their homeland for this Wednesday’s friendly.

Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez was reportedly left fuming again ahead of another week of international friendlies after four of his key players, including a fit but “tired” Fernando Torres, were called up to the Spanish national team to face England this Wednesday.

In the lead-up to the game, Spain coach, Vicente del Bosque has clarified that there are no issues between himself and Benitez in regards to the number of players leaving Anfield for Andalucia this week.

“It’s logical for each person to look after their own interest, but the national team must be put above everything else,” the 58-year-old said during an interview with Radio Marca program, ‘La Futboleria’.

“However, there has never been an instance where the players were forced to take part. We have sufficient players. He [Benitez] has not made any special requests not to take any of his players, and as such, the responsibility falls on me to make the decisions,” he added.

Del Bosque then went on clear the air once and for all, saying that the Reds gaffer was not at all upset with his players being called up.

“I spoke to him last Friday and he told me that what was published in the press is untrue. And I believe what he said,” he remarked.

Focusing on the game itself, Del Bosque is certain that Wednesday’s clash at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville will be a classic encounter.

“It will be an attractive game between two very big teams.

“They [England] have certainly improved a lot since the arrival of Fabio Capello. It won’t be easy to get a good result because both sides have a lot of great players and it will be very evenly matched,” he predicted.

Finally, ex-Real Madrid coach assured that his decision to call up young Barcelona midfielder, Sergio Busquets, will not be a once-off selection.

“We are preparing for the future with young players of this calibre.

“There are clubs who promote their youth players a bit too quickly and that is usually a bad decision, but in Barcelona’s case, it was the right thing to do,” he concluded.