Liverpol boss Rafa Benetiz last night told the media that if superstar Spaniard Fernando Torres was not injured as much as he has been this season, then Liverpool would not have slipped so far behind Premiership leaders Manchester United:

The worst thing has been the injuries to Torres. Maybe if Torres had not been injured so much things would be different.

He has been our main striker and scored a lot of goals for us last season. And this season could have been totally different with him.

With the former Valencia manager pointing out this very obvious fact, is he admitted that he has made mistakes this season, mainly in the shape of not getting the best out of Robbie Keane and his teams inability to convert chances? [Read the rest of this entry »]

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez decided to wind journalists up last night after the Reds beat Lazio 1-0 in a friendly, by announcing the club were on the verge of signing a major target.

Of course, everyone knew he meant Gareth Barry, but he refused to name the Aston Villa midfielder.

Although Villa boss Martin O’Neill conceded last week that Barry might leave, it’s always been rumoured that a proposed fee of £18m was the sticking point.

“The situation is not a question of money,” Benitez told reporters.

“He is English and can play three different positions, but I am talking about someone who can play on the left…I am talking about one player, but I won’t say the name.”

This has to be Barry, 27, who can play central midfield, on the left and left-back.

It’s been touted that midfield maestro Xabi Alonso will have to make way for Barry, funding Benitez’s forays into the transfer market. But from what Benitez said last night, the EURO 2008 winner and firm fans favourite looks set to stay.

“We have a good player (Alonso) and we have another good player coming in soon,” gushed Benitez.
“We can improve the squad, so we will try to do that. We will bring in one more player if we can.
“I do not know when but clearly we have problems on the left, Kewell has gone, Aurelio is injured and Leto cannot get a work permit.
“Who comes in? It could be another left-sided player rather than a central midfielder.
“Maybe he can play in three different positions, that is a positive thing. I am talking about one player, but I won’t say the name.” (Source: BBC)

Ordinarily it’s a 5-nil victory that sends the manager delirious, not a dull encounter in a pre-season friendly. Gareth Barry as a creative, forward-thinking left-back or left-winger? Er, no, Rafa. What was in your pre-match paella?

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[Read the rest of this entry »]

In addition to Gareth Barry, there’s lots of speculation over Rafa Benitez’s supposed transfer targets. However, one player that the Spaniard was definitely interested in bringing to Anfield was none other than [Read the rest of this entry »]

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Harry Redknapp is just about to pounce in the transfer market by the looks of things [Read the rest of this entry »]

With Liverpool players expected back in training on July 7, manager Rafa Benitez will continue to put things in place for the coming season.

This week, a number of deals could well be sorted.
[Read the rest of this entry »]

If money was no object, then the tabloids would have you believe that £300m could be invested in new arrivals at Anfield. However, this target could apparently only need a little persuading to become a feared strike partner for El Nino!
[Read the rest of this entry »]