Rafa Benitez[Coach]

[GloriousReds]

Rafael Benitez today called upon his side to recapture the form that saw them top the Barclays Premier League prior to the international break.
The Reds have not won since the 6-0 rout of Derby County three weeks ago and Benitez is keen to rectify that by putting the draws at Portsmouth and Porto behind them with a victory at home to Birmingham City tomorrow.

"We need to get back to playing good football, passing the ball well, creating chances and scoring goals as we were doing before the international break," said Benitez.

"You know my ideas as to why it's difficult for players to keep the same level after the internationals.

"I knew this would be a very dangerous time for us.

"I can talk about this another 400 times, but now we must focus on what we can do for ourselves.

"The positive news is we are still unbeaten and our idea is continue the momentum we have created for as long as possible.

"I know Birmingham will be a strong opponent. They have a lot of experience and their manager knows Liverpool very well.”

[GloriousReds]

well rafa, maybe if you didnt rotate all the time we could conitnue our momentum!!!!

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss hopeful over Xabi, Agger injuries

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed Dan Agger and Xabi Alonso could be available for the derby against Everton.

The pair both broke metatarsals last month on international duty ahead of the opening Champions League game in Porto, and were both told it could be six weeks before they are fit again.

Benitez has been cagey on the issue of their return, and said: "Agger and Alonso are still not ready. We said six weeks for them to be out and it is getting close to that by the time the international break is over.

"We will now have a two-week break for the internationals and we will see how they are after that.

"But even after that, it may not be quite the time. It could be another week or so before they can be considered after that."

But Alonso, who has been badly missed in midfield, is ahead of schedule.

Said Benitez: "We've got to be careful and we'll have to wait and see about Xabi.

"I think he has a better chance than Agger of being back next week.

"It is too early to say anything at the moment. They are both progressing well but I'll need to speak with the physio and the doctors next week before we know what the situation is."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Benitez urges Liverpool fans to stay calm

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has urged fans not to panic after recent poor performances.

Benitez insists: "This is not a time for being negative, it is a time for being positive."

But he admits that confidence is low among his squad following the 2-2 home draw with Tottenham at the weekend, coming straight after a home European defeat by Marseille.


But Benitez maintains: "We are still unbeaten in the league, qualification for the Champions League depends on that and we are still also in the Carling Cup.

"We are in a better position than last year. In the Premier League we have five more points than at this stage last season, we are closer to the top of the table and with one game in hand.

"We just have to get our confidence back because we have lost it at the moment."

He added: "At the start of the season we were playing well, with confidence and scoring goals. Now we just need to keep working hard.

"It is difficult with so many players away on international duty but we have spoken to the ones who are here and tried to analyse what has been going wrong.

"The Tottenham game was a couple of days ago now so I am still extremely disappointed with the result. We know why we did not win and that is because we didn't take our chances and then conceded two goals.

"It is difficult with the players being away but we just have to manage. We have no control over what they do for the next couple of weeks. I just hope they don't come back with any injury problems."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool legend Rush: No need to panic

Liverpool legend Ian Rush insists there's no need for concern as Rafa Benitez's team struggles for form.

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"I'm a great believer in judging everything at the end of the season - not now - and that is still an awfully long way off," Rush told liverpoolfc.tv.

"There are highs and lows ahead for plenty of teams, not just Liverpool.

"There are also plenty of important Premier League points still to play for and the Reds will have big opportunities still to get back to the top and make that title challenge we all want to see.

"In my experience, the main thing everyone at Anfield must do is just stick together as one."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez unhappy with international week

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has bemoaned the timing of the latest international break.

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Liverpool went into the last two week gap in the fixture list with a 6-0 defeat of Derby and a 4-0 Champions League stroll against Toulouse.

This latest break, however, follows back-to-back home disappointments against Marseille and Spurs.

And just when he wants to get amongst his players and analyse the problems they have encountered, the Reds coach has 11 senior players away on international duty with their countries. Benitez told the Liverpool Echo: "Is it a nightmare? Yes it is a bit.

"In the last international break we were top of the league, now we are saying maybe the break is good for us.

"But we cannot train with the players, we cannot control what they are doing, we just have to cross our fingers and wait.

"It's difficult when you have a lot of players away. You cannot control them, then you have important games and maybe you will have problems.

"We cannot do much. The players left behind trained with the reserves today and they played head-tennis."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool Benitez determined to land Roma's Mancini

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is determined to win the race for Roma wing dazzler Amantino Mancini.

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The Mirror says Benitez is still keen on Mancini, despite having an offer for the right-sided midfielder rejected in the summer.

The Brazil international has since fallen out with Roma coach Luciano Spalleti in spectacular style and his agent, Gilmar Veloz, has been instructed to find him a new club during the transfer window.

Liverpool will face competition from Lyon for Mancini - but they can offer bigger wages. Benitez will be prepared to pay around £8m to land the 27-year old South American.

***

[GloriousReds]

The international break is the best thing that could have possibly happened for Liverpool!

[GloriousReds]

And Mancini would be an amazing signing!

[D. Stankovic]

Originally Posted by GloriousReds

The international break is the best thing that could have possibly happened for Liverpool!

You read my mind.

[Amo-te Benfica]

Well things have got worse now with the news that Fernando Torres will miss the Merseyside Derby.

[Freddy Adu]

Benitez insists Liverpool won't "fall apart"

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is determined not to let their campaign "fall apart".

The Reds turned in two dreadful home displays last week and many fans and former players have started to question their title credentials.

But Benitez said: "This isn't a time for being negative, it's a time for being positive. We know we haven't played well.

"But you can't accept that you will be bad and let everything fall apart. You have to work hard to try and recover."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez welcomes Kewell back to training

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez expects Harry Kewell to join full-scale training next week.

The Australia midfielder has not kicked a ball for the Anfield club this season after picking up a groin injury while playing for his country in the Asian Cup in the summer.

Benitez told Liverpool's official website: "Harry has been working really hard with the physios and next week he could be training or running with the rest of the first team.

"Harry is very important for us. A player with pace and ability who can score goals is always going to be important.

"It's clear he's someone with great quality and experience and we need these kind of players for the rest of the season."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss accepts Torres injury risk

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez refuses to complain after Fernando Torres declared himself available for Spain in tomorrow's Euro2008 qualifier against Denmark, despite aggravating an ankle injury.

The Liverpool striker was restricted to just a light training session with his international team-mates earlier in the week, but he is expected to figure in Spain's crucial clash with Denmark on Saturday.

Benitez, who wants the player fit for his first Mersey derby at Everton on Saturday week, added: "It is a risk but I know he wants to play because they have such an important game for Spain."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez wants £12M for Crouch

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is putting Peter Crouch up for sale.

The Mirror says Benitez wants £12million for Crouch, with Portsmouth and Manchester City leading the race.

Liverpool boss Benitez will hold out for the huge fee - and �5m profit - as he prepares to sell the England ace in the transfer window.

The valuation shows Benitez does not want to see Crouch, 26, go - but will sell if he has cash for a replacement striker.

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[Freddy Adu]

Everton's Stubbs slams Liverpool: Take a look at yourselves

Everton defender Alan Stubbs has turned up the heat on Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez ahead of next week's Merseyside derby.

After being written off by Benitez as a "small club", Stubbs is suitably motivated for the occasion.

"Of course the derby means as much to Liverpool as it does to Everton," said the centre-half, who knows any repeat of last season's big Goodison win will heap pressure on Benitez, whose rotation policy is under the microscope after a worrying run of only two wins in seven games.

"If it doesn't, they have a big old problem. If you're not really that bothered about winning against your local rivals, maybe you should be looking at yourself.

"We don't see ourselves as a small club, not at all. If they feel they are that much bigger than us, they should have been getting better results. Like winning the League. When you spend that much money, £40-50 million, you would expect to be closer than they have been. That's what Liverpool fans would say if you asked them. We beat them 3-0 - and you don't get a result like that by luck."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Everton's Stubbs: Liverpool fans upset with Benitez

Everton defender Alan Stubbs has slammed Rafa Benitez's rotation policy at Liverpool.

"I do think (Manchester) United will win it and Arsenal will be the serious challengers this year," said Stubbs. "United are already right up there without having hit top form yet. Arsenal used to rely on Thierry Henry too much. Without him the onus is on the young players and they have been inspired by that.

"The thing about Liverpool is that I don't know if he (Benitez) has found his best team. I don't know if he has found the balance he's looking for. He keeps saying he will pick players who are looking good in training. I think sometimes you get training-ground players who don't do it in a game. And sometimes you get players who aren't good in training but are much better in a match situation.

"Benitez has done a good job since he arrived but a lot of Liverpool fans are getting disgruntled. They want to be challenging but have seen them getting draws at home to teams they think they should be beating because he has been resting players. I hope he picks the wrong team against us although for me, in Steven Gerrard they have the best midfielder in the world."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool's Benitez confident Sissoko will bounce back

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has backed struggling midfielder Mohamed Sissoko to bounce back from his poor recent run of form.

The Mali international's disappointing displays have coincided with the Reds' own dismal recent performances, but Benitez is happy with the player's determination to battle back to his best.

"I see he is giving everything to play well," the former Valencia coach told Liverpool's official website.

"For our supporters that is the first thing any player must do.

"Momo was a key player when we won 82 points in the Premier League. Now we need to give him time to allow him to regain his confidence.

"I spoke to him after the Marseille game and said 'keep going.' He knows how I work because I managed him when he was 18 at Valencia, where he won the league and UEFA Cup with me.

"He knows I have a lot of confidence in him. I will push him and I will try to improve him."

***

[Freddy Adu]

Benitez urges Liverpool players to stick together

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has called on his players to stick together as they bid to shake-off their recent form slump.

"Football is a sport of the group, so we win and lose as a team," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv.

"I was really disappointed and angry after we lost to Marseille, but being angry doesn't change anything.

"You have to analyse why we've played so bad some days and why we were so good at the beginning of the season.

"To play for Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger you need a special mentality and it's the same for us.

"At Liverpool players know they must have quality, must work hard and have a strong mentality. That's the only way to win trophies."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez: Torres knows importance of derby

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remains hopeful that Fernando Torres will be fit for tomorrow's derby against Everton.

The Spain striker sustained an adductor injury last weekend while on international duty but after returning to Merseyside early his progress has been good.

"Yesterday he was training with the ball and the physios. Hopefully today he will be better and then we have another day so we will wait and see," said Benitez.

"I need to decide if he is really fit or will be a risk. In this case maybe it is not a risk."

The Liverpool boss said he had spoken to Torres about the significance of a match against their neighbours from across Stanley Park and had tried to relate it to the player's experience in his homeland with Atletico Madrid.

"I was talking to Torres about this because if you live in Madrid it (a derby) is very similar," he said.

"It is not the same because it is more physical but the atmosphere in Spain is very similar."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez eager to pick up Gerrard after England setback

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says he'll speak with captain Steven Gerrard after his disappointing performance for England in midweek.

Gerrard fluffed a sitter that would have put England 2-0 up against Russia and on the way to the Euro 2008 finals.

Liverpool face rivals Everton tomorrow and boss Benitez said: "For sure, I will speak with him and I will see how his mentality is. But I think he will be OK.

"Steven has experience and character. If he has another chance like that, I am sure he will score.

"All the players need help at times but Steven has enough strength of character to pull through."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez accepts tactical criticism

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez accepts criticism over his tactics this season.

Many critics have pointed to the Spaniard's infamous rotation policy for having caused a number of disjointed performances, while an international break immediately after that Derby victory certainly cost them momentum.

And while it has been noted Liverpool's difficult period appears to have coincided with the departure of fitness coach and assistant manager Pako Ayesteran, Benitez stressed the only person responsible was himself.

"The problem is a tactical problem and it is my problem," said Benitez, who after this recent international break now has to get his side ready for a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Saturday.

"Confidence (of the squad) is also an issue but not the physical condition of the players. We are running more and faster than before."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez: I'd haul off Gerrard again

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says he won't hesitate to haul Steven Gerrard off again after his controversial decision in Saturday's win at Everton.

"Normally you can understand the reaction because it's a derby and it was special," said Benitez in a press conference broadcast on Sky Sports News.

"Stevie is a key player and I think everything will be the same, in terms of if I need to use him I will use him for sure, and if I need to replace him he knows that it's thinking about the best for the team.

"After talking to him he knows my idea. As a manager you need to make decisions in the moment.

"In this case Lucas Leiva was a big part of the victory, so I think that everything was okay."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool's Carragher admits he couldn't handle rotation

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher he's happy to have avoided being part of manager Rafa Benitez's rotation policy.

"I don't think I'd like it too much if I was getting chopped and changed. Players want to play every week," said Carra.

"Touch wood, I do that and hopefully that will continue."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez gushing in Gerrard praise

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is delighted with the form of skipper Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard has complained in the past that Benitez rarely offers him praise, but the gaffer gushed yesterday: "Stevie's form has been much better over the past few games and I hope that will continue over the next few.

"He is scoring and lifting the team and everyone knows how important he is to us.

"When he was not playing well, the team were not playing well. Now he is showing his many qualities and you can see the team are playing much better. That tells you what he gives us.

"I would like to give him a rest, because using him for every minute of every game is not the best situation. He is fit now, so it is not a problem. But keeping him fit for the entire season is the concern.

"He must play at the moment, because of injuries and illness, particularly with Xabi Alonso missing. I always feel Stevie is important to us when Xabi is playing. When Xabi is not, he becomes even more important."

[Brasil]

Written by: AFP

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, shouts instructions during a Premier League match in August 2007. Liverpool will host Fulham and are looking to claim their first league victory at Anfield since a 6-0 thrashing of Derby on September 1. LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - With an 8-0 Anfield victory against Besiktas still fresh in the memory, it would seem an odd time for Liverpool's home form to be called into question. But with Rafael Benitez's team set to host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, the Merseyside club will be aiming to claim their first home league victory since a 6-0 thrashing of Derby on September 1. In the four league games staged at Anfield since that emphatic victory Liverpool have claimed just four points from a possible 12 after drawing with Chelsea, Birmingham, Tottenham and Arsenal. And with Arsenal and Manchester United beginning to pull clear of the chasing pack at the top of the table, Benitez admits Liverpool can ill-afford to drop more points against Fulham. Benitez said: "We cannot continue to draw games at home in the league. We must start winning now. If we want to get as close as possible to the top of the table, we have to win more often at Anfield. "If you analyse the games we have drawn, the difference on each occasion has just been one goal and it could be the difference between where we are now and maybe being second in the table. "We need to be as good at Anfield as we have been away from home and that needs to start against Fulham on Saturday." Liverpool's Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio has challenged his team-mates to forget all about the record-breaking Champions League victory over Besiktas and focus on domestic priorities. Aurelio said: "We did play very well against Besiktas and we can take a lot of confidence from that, but in football the most important game is the next one and for us that means Fulham on Saturday, so we must now concentrate on that. "When you have a result like the one on Tuesday night you have to take it in your stride and not get carried away because we have many important games coming up in the Premier League and in the Champions League and we cannot afford to be distracted. "We have had a lot of draws in the Premier League and our form at home has not been as good as we would have liked." Fulham travel to Anfield still searching for their first away victory of the season and manager Lawrie Sanchez admits that the key for his team will be their ability to compete for the entire 90 minutes. Sanchez said: "We're a top seven team for 80 minutes and if we can lock off those last ten minutes we'd be a top seven team now. "It's a bit like riding a bike to a certain extent. There's a falling off period between having stabilisers and being able to do it. Once you've done it, you wonder why you ever needed stabilisers. "Because of the learning process that goes on and the new team shape we've put together, the group of players as a team haven't learnt to get over the last 10 minutes. "But last Saturday against Reading was hopefully the first of many. The very fact the after 80 minutes we put ourselves into such great situations show we're a decent team."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool's Benitez hails super Torres

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits Fernando Torres has given him a selection dilemma after his superb goal in their 2-0 defeat of Fulham of Anfield.

Injury-hit Torres came off the bench in the closing stages to achieve the breakthrough against a defiant Fulham, who had withstood everything Liverpool could throw at them.

But Torres, playing only his second league game in five weeks, scored a superb opener, with Steven Gerrard clinching the 2-0 win with a late penalty.

Benitez said: "It is good he is back fit, now I have the sort of problems I like with several fit strikers to choose from.

"It was important for Torres to be back and important that he can score goals like that.

"At the end I said well done to them all, not just Torres, his job is to score goals."

Benitez had kept an unchanged side for the first time this season following the 8-0 win over Besiktas in the Champions League on Tuesday.

He said: "I felt it was right to give a side who score eight another chance, but you could see some were tired at the end, so I had to make changes. Would I do it again? Only if they score another eight goals."

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez said: "I felt we were heading for a point, and so I think did 43,000 other people.

"But Liverpool brought a bit of talent off the bench and it changed the game. I actually felt that Torres mishit his final shot, and that is what confused Hughes and Niemi. It was a soft goal in the end to concede.

"As for the penalty, I don't believe it was in the box, it wasn't a penalty.

"I felt we had kept them quiet, restricted them to shots from outside the box in the first half.

"It wasn't working for them. That is why they brought on three substitutes. One at £25million, one at £11million and one at £5million. I think there should be a cap on the price of players you can bring on, maybe no more than £20million of players."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez happy to have Kewell available

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says a fit-again Harry Kewell is important to their ambitions this season.

He told liverpoolfc.tv: "It was important for me to see Fabio Aurelio, Alvaro Arbeloa and Harry Kewell coming back, as it gives you more options and you can select players with different qualities.

"Harry is a player who can beat players and score goals and he can also win the ball in the air, as he did against Blackburn with the last ball that gave Kuyt a chance. So it is always important to see players coming back into the side."

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool boss Benitez wants £10M Garay deal in January

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is considering a £10 million January bid for Racing Santander defender Ezequiel Garay.

The Guardian says Benitez has been searching for a central defender who can also operate at full-back since Heinze was prevented from making the journey from Old Trafford to Anfield by a Premier League arbitration panel in August.

He has his sights on the £10m-rated Garay, who was linked with United this year, and is contemplating meeting Santander's asking price when the transfer window reopens. Garay, who turned 21 last month, joined the Spanish club from Newell's Old Boys two years ago and won his first - and so far only - cap for Argentina in a friendly against Norway in August.

A centre-half who can also perform at right-back, Garay would initially provide much-needed cover for a Liverpool defence which has wavered at times without the injured Daniel Agger.

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool's Benitez prepared to sell Carson to Villa

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez concedes he will not stand in Scott Carson's way should he wish to make his loan move to Aston Villa permanent.

Benitez has always maintained that Jose Reina is his first choice and with this in mind, is ready to let Carson quit Anfield.

A deal is in place for Carson's loan move to turn into a permanent arrangement, at a figure thought to be in the region of £10million, and it does now look as though his future lies away from Merseyside.

"You can understand that he wants to play. He knows Pepe Reina is top class and that it will be difficult for him to play here," said Benitez on the club's official website.

"Scott is a good professional and a nice boy. This is a crucial time in his career and he needs to play. At the moment we are concentrating on our own team and our own competitions, but Villa can decide if they want to keep the player.

"At the moment we have Pepe, Charles Itandje and David Martin as goalkeepers so we can manage the situation okay."