Gerrard sees confidence returning to Reds

January 30, 2010

Steven Gerrard has urged Liverpool to take advantage of some home comforts and strengthen their chances of securing a top- four finish this season, starting with Saturday’s visit of struggling Bolton.

The encounter with Owen Coyle’s side is followed by the visit of Merseyside rivals Everton and Gerrard believes the brace of games at Anfield represent a wonderful chance for his team to turn up the pressure on Tottenham, who currently occupy the place above them that Rafa Benitez’s men covet so badly.

The mood around Benitez’s squad has been sombre in the wake of their disappointing goalless draw at Wolves in mid-week, when Liverpool dropped two more points and, more worryingly, hardly gave home goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann a save to make.

The point nevertheless enabled them to climb above Manchester City into fifth place and extended their unbeaten run to five league games.

Gerrard is convinced confidence is growing in the camp and that Liverpool have turned the corner following the damaging slump earlier in the season.

The England midfielder believes Liverpool would have buckled and been beaten in a similar sort of game earlier in the season to the one they experienced at Molinuex.

Now he has set his sights on re-igniting Liverpool’s chances of Champions League qualification, despite the fact leading scorer Fernando Torres remains sidelined.

Gerrard said: “We will keep fighting for that fourth spot. We’ve got a couple of home games coming up and, if we take maximum points, I’m sure we’ll edge into that top four.

“The important thing is that we are now playing better. We’ve turned the orner and we are a much more difficult team to beat now.

“We would probably have lost that (Wolves) game 1-0 a couple of months back. Confidence was certainly low a few weeks ago.

“The squad was suffering a lot of injuries and, when you are not getting the results you expect, it affects people’s confidence individually and as a group.

“But we’ve had a couple of encouraging results. Stoke away was a tough game and we got a point and the lads performed fantastically well against Tottenham.

“Confidence is slowly coming back and, once that confidence is back, results will follow. We are very confident we can eventually edge into that top four.”

Gerrard insists the pain of past failings this season is now driving his side towards success and he added: “There were a lot of people in the dressing room hurt at seeing us lying in seventh and eighth position in the Premier League and you learn a lot from these situations when times are hard.

“We have looked at each other and we wanted to put it right. The most important thing for me over the last four or five games has been the character and the desire the players have shown. Nobody is hiding and that’s a big positive.

“Everyone knows this team has been through a difficult period. But we have shown we can dig in and battle. We know results will improve.”

Bolton will arrive at Anfield in confident mood following their crucial mid-week win over fellow strugglers Burnley and Coyle, who is hoping to sign Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere on-loan in time for this game, said: “We are still very much a work in progress so no-one is getting carried away.

“We know this will be hugely difficult for us. When Liverpool are in full throttle Anfield can be a daunting arena.

“They’ve had a stop-start season but we have to recognise that when they are on top of their game Liverpool are a very good team.

“They have top quality players and are desperate to get back into that top four, so we are going to have to be very respectful. But we have to go there and be brave and take the game to them whenever we can.”

LIVERPOOL (AFP)

Tags: champions league, England, everton, Fernando Torres, home games, leading scorer, league games, Liverpool, manchester city, Marcus Hahnemann, maximum points, Merseyside, midfielder, orner, Owen Coyle, premier league, rafa benitez, rivals, slump, Steven Gerrard, tottenham, wolves

Benitez happy at Anfield

January 29, 2010

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has rebuffed speculation that he will be coach of Juventus next season. The Reds boss insists he is happy at Liverpool despite interest from the Turin-based club.

Juventus sacked Ciro Ferrara and appointed Alberto Zaccheroni until June. However, the club’s board look to secure a long-term replacement and Benitez has been heavily-linked.

The Liverpool boss says he is ‘proud’ to be linked with 27-time Italian champions but insists he is ‘really happy’ at Anfield.

“I am not here to talk about speculation because people talk too much,” said Benitez

“I am focused on preparing my team for the game against Bolton.

“I know they (Juventus) were interested, that is part of the game now in football but I am not ready to talk too much because I don’t want to lose my focus.

“When you are a manager and you have clubs asking you have to be proud because they are a top side in Europe but I am really happy here and want to do my job as best I can.”

Benitez’s future at Liverpool has been subject of constant speculation this season as the Reds lie in fifth place, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

Tags: Alberto Zaccheroni, anfield, Bolton, boss, coach, Europe, game, italian champions, job, Liverpool, rafa benitez, reds, s board, speculation, turin

Liverpool defender Skrtel demands winning run

January 26, 2010

Martin Skrtel has urged Liverpool to go on a long winning run as Rafa Benitez’s side look to strengthen their Champions League claims with a victory at struggling Wolves on Tuesday.

Uncertainty continues to surround the future of Reds manager Benitez as a result of Liverpool’s failings, with his team already eliminated from the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League.

After being humiliated by Reading in the FA Cup, Liverpool earned a battling draw at Stoke before beating Tottenham and Skrtel believes his side’s lack of domestic cup games will mean they are fresher than their closest rivals in the race for a top four finish.

Skrtel said: “I firmly believe that better times are ahead of us as up to present we have been far behind the pre-season objectives.

“The last two games against Stoke and Tottenham showed us that we are ready to do our best for the club. We would like to start a long winning run.

“In the Premier League we want to finish fourth in the worst case. Unlike our rivals, though, we will be playing fewer games, so we should be more relaxed and have more energy.

“I believe we will reach our objective of finishing within the top four. Also, we are still in the Europa League and will be trying to get as far as possible.”

One player hoping to be an integral part of Liverpool’s expected charge is Alberto Aquilani, who admits the pressure is still on him to justify his substantial price tag following a difficult start to his Anfield career after joining from AS Roma.

The Italian midfielder is expected to make another start at Wolves, despite the expected return of Steven Gerrard from a hamstring problem, although Benitez will still be without injured star striker Fernando Torres.

Aquilani said: “I know a lot has been said and written about me so far without me being able to prove my ability in matches. But soon, I believe that I will.

“I understand that people are still wondering whether I will be a good signing for Liverpool, but I need to be judged after I have played in a run of games. I feel a lot better about my fitness now, although it could still be higher.

“I am relaxed because I know I can do a lot better, and with time I know that will happen.”

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy rested several key players for the weekend’s 2-2 FA Cup draw with Crystal Palace and has no regrets despite the poor result.

McCarthy said: “I had no hesitation in making the changes. Of course I was thinking of the Liverpool game.

“With the team we played, any club in the Championship would be thrilled with that side.

“But I have to manage the squad for games and will do it again. We’ve got a draw in the FA Cup and it’s better than being out of the competition.”

Ronald Zubar was handed a rare start and is now hoping to retain his place against Liverpool.

He said: “Hopefully it will be enough to keep me in the team. Liverpool is a massive game, I’m working hard to try and be picked for it. The gaffer makes the decision and you have to respect it, but I’m happy with the way I played against Palace.

“It’s a good time to play Liverpool. They are not having a brilliant season and it’s important to play them at this moment in time.”

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AFP)

Tags: alberto aquilani, champions league, crystal palace, cup games, England, FA Cup, Fernando Torres, Liverpool, martin skrtel, mick mccarthy, midfielder, premier league, price tag, rafa benitez, reds manager, rivals, Roma, ronald zubar, star striker, Steven Gerrard, substantial price, tottenham, two games, wolves, worst case

Benitez: We were robbed

January 17, 2010

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez felt his side were given a hard time by the match officials during their 1-1 draw with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

The Reds were desperate to take maximum points from their away trip on Saturday, having crashed out of the FA Cup to Reading in midweek.

As their turbulent season now rests on their ability to secure a top four finish in the Premier League, they cannot afford to drop points unnecessarily.

Liverpool appeared destined to ease the pressure on their under-fire boss against the Potters, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos bundling them in front early in the second half.

However, a late leveller from Robert Huth, and a costly miss from Dirk Kuyt in the dying seconds, meant Benitez was forced to settle for a point at the final whistle.

“I think that it was a difficult game. We showed great character,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports.

“The players were fantastic, you could see the fans were really happy with their efforts.

“Two or three incidents could have changed everything, so 27,000 people in the stadium saw the incidents and three people in the stadium didn’t.”

The incidents Benitez refers to concern two penalty shouts from Liverpool which fell on deaf ears.

Lucas Leiva appeared to have been tripped by Danny Higginbotham during a turgid first half, while the Reds also felt they should have been awarded a spot-kick following the dramatic events which saw Kuyt hit the woodwork with the last kick of the game.

While, Benitez fended off all questions about the appeals after the game, he was clearly frustrated that both decisions went against his side.

“I will not talk about the incidents. They were so clear,” he said.

“I think we had chances in a very difficult game, against a very difficult team. It is not easy, they are very physical.

“We have five key players who were not here, so we are really pleased with the attitude and character from our players.

“Everyone was very disappointed, because we were very close, but you have to say congratulations in terms of the effort.”

Benitez also hailed those supporters who made the trip to Stoke and showed their support for their manager throughout the 90 minutes.

“The fans know this is a bad moment but they know the way to change things is to support the team,” he added.

Tags: britannia stadium, Danny Higginbotham, deaf ears, dirk kuyt, dramatic events, FA Cup, fire boss, leveller, Liverpool, Lucas Leiva, maximum points, midweek, potters, premier league, rafa benitez, robert huth, shouts, Sky Sports, Spaniard, Stoke City, turbulent season, woodwork

Liverpool have been here before, and a sacking may not be the answer

January 16, 2010

“For 25 years Liverpool were Britain’s most successful and consistent football club. For four of those years we were also the most successful club in Europe. No one has an automatic right to success but you can be sure we will all be doing everything in our power to achieve those levels again. We owe that both to our own supporters and our own history.”

The above quotation* is from the statement released by then Liverpool chairman David Moores following the resignation of Graeme Souness in January, 1994 after an embarrassing defeat to a second division club in a third round FA Cup replay.

Plus ça change, eh?

Liverpool have tried everything over the past 16 years to regain their status as England’s top club. They tried reviving the spirit of the Boot Room by appointing Roy Evans, looked outwards to the more technical and pragmatic Gerard Houllier and when that didn’t work out chose the coach with the best club track record they could find in Rafa Benitez, the man whose Valencia team had impressed management and senior players so much.

There have been successes along the way … the Houllier treble, Istanbul and a handful of other trophies but no league title since the days of Kenny Dalglish. Put simply, Liverpool are no closer to regaining their status as “Britain’s most successful and consistent football club” than when Souness waved farewell to Ray Houghton, Steve McMahon and Peter Beardsley and failed to bring in players with anything like the same quality.

So what next? Speculation is growing that the club may turn to Dalglish as an emergency short-term replacement for Benitez but Mssrs Hicks and Gillett would do well to consider whether a costly change would really help the club or just give the media another twist to a story they are telling with some relish.

Changing manager midway through the season rarely has much of a positive effect. There may be a case for it when the relationship between coach and players has broken down but there is no evidence of that at Anfield.

So Liverpool are out of the FA Cup? It is another knock to their self-esteem, another chance of a trophy gone and another missed opportunity to earn some extra income. But that does not alter the fact that success for Liverpool is all about claiming one of those places in the top four of the Premier League, and their seat at Europe’s top table for next season.

Liverpool have 18 remaining Premier League games to make up three places in the table and five points. Fact, as Rafa Benitez might say. That is all that matters and under Benitez Liverpool have a good record of putting together long winning runs. Just look at last season, when from the start of March they won 10 of their remaining 11 league games and ended up finishing second.

You might think the passion and panache with which Liverpool finished last season would earn Benitez enough credit to survive an FA Cup giant-killing.

Unless and until it becomes clear another run-in of the same sort is absolutely beyond them — and even if their injury-ravaged team fall flat against Stoke on Saturday — Liverpool should consider whether changing coach might be a very, very expensive mistake.

PHOTO: Liverpool’s Alberto Aquilani holds his face during their FA Cup defeat by Reading, Jan. 13, 2010. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Source

Tags: boot room, chairman david, gerard houllier, Gillett, graeme souness, Houghton, kenny dalglish, mssrs, Peter Beardsley, rafa benitez, relish, resignation, reviving the spirit, Roy Evans, steve mcmahon, successful club, treble, trophies

Birmingham ready ambitious bid for Babel

January 6, 2010

Birmingham City are ready to make an ambitious bid for Liverpool winger Ryan Babel. Reds boss Rafa Benitez is desperate to find a new club for the Holland international as he tries to raise funds for his January transfer plans.

The Sunday Express says Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is willing to offer £11 million to bring Babel to St Andrews.

Stoke City have also been linked with Babel this week. Stoke manager Tony Pulis is said to be a fan of Babel, who can give Stoke a huge boost in their battle for survival in the Premier League.

Babel moved to Liverpool from Ajax and was tipped to become a Premier League star. However, the Dutch striker did not live up to the hype and it seems that his days at Anfield are numbered.

Tags: Ajax, alex mcleish, anfield, birmingham city, boss, Holland, holland international, hype, Liverpool, premier league, rafa benitez, ryan babel, st andrews, Stoke City, striker, sunday express, survival, tony pulis

Benitez eyes January signings

January 2, 2010

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits he wants to sign new players in the January transfer window. The Reds have struggled this season with an inconsistent form and rumors have linked the club to a number of players.

Talks are understood to be taking place with Atletico Madrid midfielder Maxi Rodriguez. Meanwhile Benitez is also interested in Greece full-back Vasil Torosidis

Asked if he was considering signing a full-back, Benitez said, “Yes, we are working hard (on transfers) and trying to do our jobs, and we’ll see if we can do something.

“We are looking in the market but it’s not easy to find good players available because the majority of them are playing in top sides. But we are trying to find solutions if we can.”

Benitez may look to generate funds by offloading Andriy Voronin, Ryan Babel and Andrea Dossena, but he is wary of weakening his squad.

He added, “We have some good players who people are interested in because they’re not playing too many games for us, but we have to manage carefully.”

Other players linked with Liverpool are Galatasaray midfielder Arda Turan, Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic, Malaga defender Ivan Gonzalez and Crystal Palace youngster Victor Moses.

Tags: Andrea, andriy voronin, atletico madrid, crystal palace, dossena, greece, ivan gonzalez, jobs, Liverpool, many games, maxi rodriguez, midfielder, milan jovanovic, rafa benitez, reds, ryan babel, standard liege, youngster

City stars back me, insists Mancini

December 25, 2009

Roberto Mancini insists there has been no dressing room rebellion at Manchester City in response to his arrival as replacement for sacked boss Mark Hughes.

Mancini arrived at Eastlands on Monday following Hughes’s dismissal last weekend and reports in England claimed a number of senior players including Craig Bellamy and Shay Given had protested about the decision to City chief executive Garry Cook.

It has been suggested that Bellamy, Given and other players close to Hughes could ask to leave during the January transfer window.

But former Inter Milan coach Mancini claims he hasn’t had any complaints about his squad’s attitude in training this week.

“I thought the players trained very well. I think I have a good team and we have only one problem and that is many players injured,” Mancini said.

“I have a good relationship with the players. I appreciate some players are close to Mark but that is a good thing for a manager.

“When I go away from Manchester City in 15 years after five Premier League titles and four cups the players will have the same situation with me!”

Mancini also dismissed claims made by Cook this week that he had previously been approached by Liverpool when American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were considering the future of Reds manager Rafa Benitez.

“Liverpool never contacted me, absolutely. They have a good manager, Rafa is a good manager,” Mancini said.

Mancini set a target of finishing in the top four when he was unveiled as City boss on Monday and he believes he can match his achievements at Inter in the long run.

He won three Serie A titles with the San Siro club, helping Inter replace AC as the city’s dominant force. To do the same in Manchester would be quite an effort but Mancini is convinced it is possible.

“It depends (finishing in the top four) but I think so. It is important now we concentrate on Boxing Day’s game at home to Stoke and then after that one game at a time,” he said.

“I think I can do a job and my target, always, is to win. Inter Milan was a good job. I arrived there when they had not won in 18 years and after one year they won the cup and then after that the championship.

“I think I can do the same in Manchester but for this it is important that I work hard and I get to know the team fast.”

Mancini accepts it will take time for the players to adjust to his methods but hopes to have the team playing his way within a month.

“We must work out our defensive problem. A balance to the team is the most important situation but for this we must work every day,” he said.

“After three or four weeks it will be possible for them to adapt to my style.

“I hope the players play well on Saturday and understand my team talk.”

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: benitez liverpool, boxing day, CITY, city boss, city chief, craig bellamy, dominant force, dressing room, Garry Cook, George Gillett, good relationship, inter milan, league titles, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester city, Mark, Mark Hughes, Milan, premier league, rafa benitez, reds manager, roberto mancini, San, san siro, Shay Given, target, tom hicks

Benitez admits talks with Liverpool stars over slump

December 24, 2009

Rafa Benitez admits he has held talks with Liverpool’s stars in a bid to end his team’s dismal run.

The Reds, already knocked out of the Champions League, have won just four of their last 17 games and face an uphill battle to secure a top four finish in the Premier League.

They are currently eight points behind fourth placed Aston Villa and Benitez has come under fire for failing to build a squad capable of challenging for the title, while Spain striker Fernando Torres has conceded Liverpool will continue to struggle unless they sign several top players in January.

In response to the slump, Benitez has spoken with several key players to assess the team’s morale and discuss exactly how they can get back on track.

“I have spoken to several players, not just Gerrard and Torres. They are all determined to do well, but when we concede a goal now we lose any confidence that we have acquired,” Benitez said.

“That is my responsibility, to improve confidence. To do that I have to be positive, it is the only way. The message is very clear, we have quality in our squad and we must show that.

“We can win a run of games in a row, we have done that with these same players. That is the positive thought we must retain.

“We have talked about just why we are in this position. There were many ideas, but the main one was that Torres and Gerrard were not fit.

“They still have some problems, so we must manage them carefully over a period of so many games in such a short space of time. We virtually have to decide on them before every game.”

Benitez, who will be without the suspended Javier Mascherano against Wolves on Boxing Day, is hoping the hard work carried out on the training ground in the last week will reap its reward against Mick McCarthy’s men.

“The only way to change things is to keep working,” he said. “We have tried to relax the lads. On Tuesday we had a Christmas meal for all the staff and players, that was a very positive occasion.

“We have a good team spirit, the players know we must improve and they know the only way is to stick together.

“I must manage and control the anxiety of the players, and the anxiety of the fans.

“We know we have to change the situation, sooner rather than later. That is clear.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: boxing day, champions league, christmas meal, dismal run, Fernando Torres, gerrard, Javier Mascherano, lads, liverpool england, mick mccarthy, positive thought, premier league, rafa benitez, reds, short space, slump, striker, team spirit, uphill battle, wolves

Ten-man Liverpool hit a new low at Portsmouth

December 19, 2009

Liverpool’s miserable season hit a new low as Javier Mascherano was sent off in a 2-0 defeat at bottom of the table Portsmouth on Saturday.

Rafa Benitez’s side, who are already out of the Champions League, have won just four of their last 17 matches in all competitions and face a desperate fight to salvage a place in the Premier League’s top four.

The Reds, who are five points adrift of fourth place ahead of Saturday’s later games, fell behind in the 33rd minute when Algeria defender Nadir Belhadj lashed a ferocious shot past Jose Reina from a tight angle for his first goal of the season.

That strike was the 500th in the Premier League this season and Liverpool defender Daniel Agger should have added to that tally, but wasted his side’s best chance when he headed over from close range.

A dismal day for Liverpool got even worse when Argentine midfielder Mascherano was dismissed by referee Lee Mason for an ugly lunge on Tal Ben Haim just before half-time.

French striker Frederic Piquionne piled on the misery for Liverpool boss Benitez, who is certain to face more heavy criticism after this defeat, when he finished off a Kevin-Prince Boateng-inspired move in the 82nd minute.

Portsmouth, celebrating their second win under new manager Avram Grant, move level on points with second bottom West Ham, but remain behind the Hammers on goals scored.

LONDON (AFP)