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 »]

Hamburg, looking to regroup after suffering the loss of Rafael van der Vaart to Real Madrid, enquired about one of Liverpool’s squad players, but were scared off by Rafa Benitez’s ridiculous valuation. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Liverpool top gaf Rafael Benitez’s latest dippings into the transfer market have already caused quite a stir this summer. After the pandemonium that greeted the arrival of Fernando Torres last year, Rafa is looking to cement his untouchable status among the Anfield faithful by bringing in Gareth Barry – highly rated by both the Kopites and their influential captain Stevie Gerrard. Much will be pinned on their pair showing the glimpses of midfield dominance occasionally afforded to the England team as the Red’s strive to end their 18 years of Premier League heartache. However, it may be the signings that are NOT made which could shatter Liverpool’s silver vision.

As we look back to the last few seasons under Benitez’s guidance, Liverpool have failed to perform in one crucial area; the wings. Rafa has struggled to find suitable personnel to fit that vital position in his squad, and Liverpool have consequently suffered from a real lack of talent in width. With the torment that was Harry Kewell’s Anfield days finally at an end, we see few examples of real quality in those wide positions. Youngster Ryan Babel has desperately tried to fill that void, but his youth and experience is telling – seemingly being far more effective as an impact sub late on against tired legs. There is no doubting that he will go on to achieve great things, but it is too early for the Dutch wonder-kid to be the consistent creative dynamo that Liverpool need.

Talk of Silva joining Rafa at Anfield seems to have slowly died down, with the rumors of Rafa’s next targets after Barry’s farce of a transfer saga is finally resolved seeming to focus more on strengthening the defensive and forward positions. One has to question if Liverpool can truly mount a sustained challenge without proper investment into the wings?

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 »]

With rumours of an imminent move to Portsmouth/Aston Villa on the cards for Peter Crouch, COS looks at the career of Liverpool’s lankiest striker and asks, is Rafa an idiot to let such a prolific goalscorer leave?
[Read the rest of this entry »]