MAY 30
Gerrard wants Barry at Liverpool

BBC Sport Online

Steven Gerrard has said he is "desperate" for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry to join him at Liverpool.

Barry, who is expected to lead England against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday, will talk about his future after he returns from international duty.

"I want Gareth Barry to become a Liverpool player. I am desperate for us to sign him," said Gerrard.

"He's a good player. I want Liverpool to be as strong as possible and Gareth Barry will certainly make us stronger."

Gerrard's comments are likely to rile Villa manager Martin O'Neill who has already criticised Liverpool's handling of the situation.

O'Neill is determined to keep hold of his captain and earlier this month claimed Liverpool's £10m cash plus player bid undervalued the midfielder.

But Gerrard, a good friend of the 27-year-old, believed Barry, who has two years remaining on his contract, needed to play Champions League football.

"Gareth Barry is someone who will improve Liverpool. We can't be disrespectful to Villa. He is still their player and we will see what happens," said Gerrard.

"Naturally, they are going to try and keep hold of him, and rightly so because he is one of their star men. He has been a fantastic servant for them over many years.

"I know all about Gareth, I am good friends with him off the pitch and I am desperate for us to sign him.

"You talk about improving the team, the starting XI and the squad, and Gareth will certainly help Liverpool to become a better team.

"It is easy to play with good players. I've been asked a lot of questions this season about Fernando Torres and the simple answer is 'it's easier playing with quality players' - and Gareth comes into that category."

Barry has only ever played for Villa and is due a testimonial, having signed professional forms with the club in February 1998.

Gerrard added: "I am sure Gareth will find it hard to leave Villa. He has been fantastic for them but, in football, sometimes opportunities come along where you can better your career.

"I think Gareth is 27 now and he needs to play Champions League football. In my opinion, he needs that now.

"I've enjoyed playing with him for England. He is quite an easy player to play with. He keeps it simple, he is easy to read and I certainly enjoy playing with him because I've got a good relationship on and off the pitch."

MAY 27
MARK LAWRENSON:
Liverpool mut ditch defensive
zonal system and get physical

Liverpool Daily Post

Rafael benitez can search the globe for solutions to his defensive problems this summer all he wants. But if he wants to cut down on the number of goals his team conceded from set-pieces last season then it’s not individuals he should be concerned with – it’s tactics.

Liverpool employ a zonal system, which has generally worked just fine during Benitez’s reign.

But once teams know you are going to set up like that, they work out ways of getting an extra man off to capitalise if the ball goes loose in the area.

From Benitez’s own analysis, Liverpool conceded 10 goals more from set plays than they did in the previous campaign and that is a worrying statistic.

One which suggests that something somewhere clearly isn’t working.

And while it’s plain to see that Benitez needs to fork out for some full-backs in the transfer window, it’s not as if wholesale changes to personnel throughout his defence are required.

In fact, centre-back is the one area in which you would you say there’s definitely no need to bring in reinforcements.

Certainly not as a matter of urgency anyway.

Martin Skrtel came in in January and did alright, Daniel Agger will be coming back next year, while Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia provide the experience to mix with the youth.

It looks like a strong unit, yet this is the area most responsible for avoiding the sort of goals Liverpool let in so frequently last season.

The players are more than capable of sorting that out themselves but Benitez might have to consider a change of tactics to make it happen.

And bringing in man-marking would be the ideal way to do that in my view. When the opposition has a free-kick, you’re responsible for one man and you need to stop him getting away.

I believe that’s still the most effective method of defending in the modern era, perhaps even more so considering what defenders can get away with in their own penalty area these days – you’re allowed to virtually grab hold of people.

Being more ruthless and bloody-minded in this way could be key to preventing those set-pieces resulting in goals and be worth an extra 10 or 12 points throughout the campaign.

There’s nothing wrong with the zonal system in open play, where you can pass players on to each other when the opposition has got the ball.

Having someone like Javier Mascherano and another player in a deeper midfield role in front of the defence works very well. It’s why so few teams get beyond Liverpool in open play, particularly down the middle.

But the central defenders are more than good enough and disciplined enough to pinpoint their man at a dead-ball situation and deal with it.

That didn’t happen enough last season but that’s no reason for Benitez to use any of his transfer budget on a new set of centre-backs.

The ones he has are fine – they just need to get a bit more physical.

MAY 26
Benitez wary of title talk

Sporting Life

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has played down his side's chances of winning the Premier League next season, describing the title as "an option".

The Reds finished fourth in the season just ended, 11 points behind champions Manchester United.

Their last league title came back in 1990 but Benitez did not sound overly confident of ending that depressing streak in 2008/2009.

"It is an option, for sure," he told the club's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"We know our weaknesses and our strengths. We know where we need to improve, so we'll try to build a new team looking at these things.

"It's more difficult than in Spain because the top sides spend big, big money. We will try to do our best and the key for me is to not talk about the title.

"The key is to be near the top, to be contenders. If we stay close then I think we are capable of doing it.

"It's more difficult because after two years of Chelsea winning the league and spending big money, United needed to do the same.

"They started spending big money and Arsenal were also spending big money on young players. We are trying to do the same but because they (Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal) are continuing to spend big money, it makes it more difficult to catch up.

"You also see Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham and Everton spending money and having strong teams. It's not easy to be in the top four and be contenders but because we have a young squad we can try again."

MAY 24
Benitez to keep on spending

Sporting Life

Rafa Benitez admits Liverpool must keep on spending if they are to mount a realistic title tilt next season.

Although Liverpool finished nearer to champions Manchester United this season than the previous campaign, Benitez will be well aware his side never looked likely to challenge for top spot.

Benitez and his captain Steven Gerrard have both called for a busy summer of spending at Anfield and in highlighting Chelsea's £16.2million capture of Porto right-back Jose Bosingwa, the Reds boss accepts the chequebook needs to come out.

"Every year you must improve a lot because the other teams are doing the same," he told the club's official website.

"I think Chelsea have just spent £16million on a right-back, even though they got to the (Champions League) final.

"This year we have improved a lot. We signed two or three really good players, and also players who've been good for the club."

Liverpool's season has been played out against an unsettling backdrop of boardroom wranglings and rumours of Benitez being axed.

The Spaniard concedes it has been a difficult campaign on Merseyside but he remains confident the club has made strides to narrow the gap on their Premier League rivals.

"Yes, it's clearly been difficult, special and different, but at the end of the day we tried to manage.

"It's not a perfect season because you need to win trophies but it's not bad because we finished in the top four in the Premier League and Europe.

"Not the best, but not as bad as it could be."

MAY 23
Benitez pinpoints loss of Agger

By Adam Marshall - Setanta Sports

Rafa Benitez feels the loss of Daniel Agger to injury had
a crucial effect on Liverpool's Premier League aspirations this season.

The Reds boss is concerned at the number of goals his team conceded from set pieces and will be hoping the Danish defender comes back from his injury lay-off better than ever.

On reflection, the Spanish coach feels his squad is in a better shape than this time last year although he is still keen to make additions during the close season.

"The squad is better and we have a better team," Benitez told LFC TV in an exclusive interview.

"Especially in the last three months, the understanding between the players was really good, we were winning games and scoring goals.

"We nearly got to the final of the Champions League.

"This year we have improved a lot. We signed two or three really good players, and also players who've been good for the squad. Every year you must improve a lot because the other teams are doing the same. I think Chelsea have just spent £16million on a right full back even though they got to the final."

When asked if he regretted missing out on Gabriel Heinze, who joined Real Madrid instead, he said: "Yes, I think so [that the lack of defensive cover cost us].

"We conceded goals at the end of games and drew. The centre backs, Carra [Jamie Carragher] and Sami [Hyypia], were playing too many games.

"Sometimes Jack Hobbs or Alvaro Arbeloa played but we clearly missed Agger. Agger is a centre back who can play the ball, he is a threat to the opposition.

"We have a lot of good players and we also have some really good young players. This is important. I think we have the spine of the team next season and now we need to add players in certain positions.

"We have analysed a lot of things this year. For example, we have conceded a lot of goals from set pieces. We need to understand why because last season we conceded six, now it's 16, yet we're doing more or less the same things.

"We can improve in this area. We also need to keep the team scoring in open play while at the same time improving a little bit in defence. We have been really good in defence for three of four years, but I think we need to improve a little bit if we want to be at the top of the table."

Benitez feels the Premier League title is always going to be hard to win because of the intense competition and money spent by the biggest clubs but is already confident ahead of next season.

"It's more difficult because after two years of Chelsea winning the league and spending big money, United needed to do the same," he said.

"They started spending big money, and Arsenal were also spending big money on young players. We are trying to do the same but because they are continuing to spend big money, it makes it more difficult to catch up.

"You also see Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham and Everton spending money and having strong teams. It's not easy to be in the top four and be contenders but, because we have a young squad, we can try again.

"Clearly it's more difficult than in Spain because the top sides spend big, big money. We will try to do our best and the key for me is to not talk about the title. The key is to be near the top, to be contenders. If we stay close then I think we are capable of doing it."

MAY 20
Sammy: Reds on the right tracks

TEAMtalk

New Liverpool assistant boss Sammy Lee insists the Reds are already "close" to a title-challenging team as they look to next season.

Rafael Benitez started his summer of change with the acquisition of defender Philipp Degen on Tuesday.

The Anfield chief confirmed the Switzerland right-back will sign for the club on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund when his contract with the Bundesliga club expires on July 1.

And Benitez's next move could be to try to bring Udinese defender Andrea Dossena to the club for a fee of around £8million.

Dossena, a left-back, has been omitted from Italy's squad for the European Championship finals next month, having made his debut for his country last November against South Africa.

But Benitez has been trailing the 26-year-old, despite the fact he signed a new four-year contract only recently.

Benitez is still awaiting progress on his bid to sign Aston Villa's skipper Gareth Barry, but with Villa boss Martin O'Neill attending Tommy Burns' funeral in Glasgow on Tuesday, anything further on that front has been put on hold.

And Lee, who rejoined the club's coaching staff on Friday, insists Liverpool are not far away from being genuine contenders.

He said: "This club has made great strides over recent years. People ask when are we going to win the league, and there is no doubt about it, that is the one the fans want.

"Liverpool will always aim to be number one, you do not aim for anything else at this football club.

"I do not think we are very far away from a title-challenging side. People may say differently, but I do not think so.

"It is fine lines in certain games, little things here and there. We are not far away."

He added: "Everyone wants the title, everyone at this club, not just Sammy Lee. Everyone who supports this club knows exactly what we want and that is what we are aiming for.

"We do not aim for anything less than the top spot. We have not had it for a while, granted, but to aim for anything less would be doing this club a disservice.

"I can say that everyone here has been and is looking forward to getting that number one spot."

MAY 20
Degen heads for Anfield

By Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo

Philipp Degen (pictured) will become
a Liverpool player when he signs
a contract with
the club on July 1.

The Swiss international right-back has been a long-term target of Reds boss Rafa Benitez, who is delighted to have got his man on a Bosman free transfer. 
Degen is rated as one of the best players to emerge from Switzerland in recent years, although his progress stalled following a move to Borussia Dortmund from Basel in 2005.

Injuries and a loss of form have restricted his first team opportunities at the Bundesliga outfit over the last 12 months and the 25-year-old will look upon his move to Anfield as a chance to resurrect what was a hugely promising career.

Benitez, who was aware of Degen’s promise when he was manager of Valencia, is delighted to have snared the defender and believes he can make a positive difference to the Liverpool squad.

“Philipp is still young but has gained great experience from playing in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and on the international stage with Switzerland,” he said.

“He also played in the Champions League during his time with Basel and so is used to top level football.

“He is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality.

“His strength is going forward and I am confident he will prove to be a quality addition to our squad.”

Benitez added: “Sometimes you can find these players on the market.

“When you find a player like him who costs no money it means you can use money for improving other parts of the squad.

“He is a good signing, a player of potential, who can help us improve in the wide areas.”

Degen’s imminent arrival further reduces the chances of Liverpool landing long-time target Daniel Alves.

The Brazilian yesterday admitted the time has come for him to depart Sevilla – but Anfield is unlikely to be his destination.

MAY 18
Gerrard calls for Rafa backing

LFC Official Website

Steven Gerrard today called for Rafael Benitez to receive full backing in the transfer market this summer to give the Reds a chance of challenging for next season's Premier League crown.

The skipper is frustrated that Liverpool once again failed to get involved in the race for top spot this season - but he believes the club are only "two or three top-class additions" away from emerging as a genuine championship force.

"It hurts more and more when we get to November or December every season and have to accept we're out of the title race again," he said.

"Every year seems to be following the same routine. The manager asks for more support in the transfer market in January, while we're all saying to ourselves this should have happened the previous summer.

"The time to act is now, not in January when we're already too far behind. Look at Chelsea. A day after they've lost the league, what do they do? They spend £16 million on a full-back.

"That's the kind of ruthless approach to transfers the Liverpool fans and players want to see, making the signings the manager wants.

"The manager knows where we need to strengthen and the players and fans have faith in Rafa - but he needs the backing to act on his plans.

"There's no point us waiting all summer again and then possibly missing out on the players we need.

"If we do that we'll just end up going through the same experience as previous years.

"The only way to achieve this is to give the manager the kind of backing which gives us a chance. You only get better when you improve the quality in the squad.

"Everyone can see we've got a lot of very good players here. I honestly don't believe we're that far off if we can make two or three top-class additions.

"The spine of the side is definitely there. But we know United and Chelsea are going to go out and spend millions again this summer.

"You can see what Fernando Torres added to our team this season. He made a big difference.

"No one is saying we should be spending that kind of money on every player we sign, but if we're going to mount a serious challenge for the title we have to bring in proven quality.

"I'm not just talking or thinking as a player here, but as a fan. This isn't just about what I feel, but about what the fans, the players and everyone who loves the club wants.

"Our supporters deserve more of a challenge than we've put up - but they also need to feel we've a realistic chance of competing.

"Like all of us, they'll be watching what's happening at the club over the summer very carefully.

"They'll be reading the papers every day to find out what's going on, and desperate to feel positive about the future.

"I've always seen summer as a really important period because that's when all the planning gets done.

"League titles aren't just won on the pitch from one week to the next, they're won by managers planning ahead and assembling squads which can cope with the demands of English and European football.

"We have to be doing everything in our power over the next few weeks to prevent another disappointing season."

He added: "I've won every major honour at Liverpool except one. It hurts more and more not only to have never won the league, but to have never really gone close.

"It would be bad enough if we only narrowly missed out on the title, but we've never got to March or April recently and thought we were in contention.

"That's what we want more than anything at Anfield, but we'll only achieve that when everyone is working together for the same goal.

"I watched United last week and as a Liverpool fan it killed me to see them win the league again.

"They deserved to win it and I have the utmost respect for their achievement, but we've got to do everything we can to get it off them next season."

MAY 14
Tommy Smith:
Liverpool need to be
more adventurous

By Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo

My big wish for Liverpool when the hunt for honours begins next August is simple: Be more positive.

In trying to assess this season for the club, I have come up with as many negatives as positives.

I’m not trying to be churlish. But there is no getting away from the fact that the season was trophy-less, and therefore a big disappointment.

On the one hand, you have Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard; on the other, several players who under-achieved.

There’s the excellent defence – and yet an attack which often only boasted one striker, albeit a quality one.

There’s the greater number of points – 76 compared to last year’s 68 – but a fourth placed finish when last year we were third.

There’s the fine finish to the league season; but midway through, a lack of consistency which proved costly.

There’s the fewer losses, four to 2007’s 10, but a greater number of draws which undermined the title challenge.

There’s the memorable wins, particularly the Arsenal Champions League tie at Anfield; but losses to Manchester United in the league and Chelsea in the European Cup semi-final.

What stood out was that United won the title, and deserved to, because they had a flamboyancy about their play, whereas the Reds were more cautious.

The overall feeling is the squad is still not good enough – and Rafa Benitez knows it. That’s why I want him to buy players who will be more positive and excite the fans.

There is nothing better than an attacking team. United are, Liverpool are not. There is too much caution to their play.

Torres has been magnificent and Steven Gerrard has also had a tremendous season, doing what he has been asked to do. But centre midfield is still his best position to dictate from, while he has fulfilled several roles this season, including a second spearhead behind the Spaniard – he and the skipper are my Joint Anfield Players of the Season.

If we can get someone even half as good as Torres we would be a far better team.

When I look back at TV clips of old games you always see goals created by players getting down the byline. Football may have changed, but goals are still scored from those crosses, but we do not do that very often, possibly due to the quality of our wide players.

The Reds finished in the top four again, which is great, and the manager deserves praise for bringing a world class striker to Anfield.

As a defender, I felt sorry for John Arne Riise in conceding that late own goal to Chelsea but, in the end, it cost us another Champions League final.

It wasn’t a successful season, but a learning one.

Peter Crouch has had limited chances this season, but it seems that Rafa Benitez will cash in on him during the summer to raise funds for new signings.

But three other players I feel the Reds could cash in on are Jermaine Pennant, a big disappointment; Xabi Alonso (even bigger, in light of how good he was a few seasons back) and Lucas – not the most industrious midfielder I have seen.

Ryan Babel still does not impress consistently, but I feel he has the makings if he can become more consistent.

My other wish for the summer is that the Americans bail out. The co-owners don’t like each other and don’t really love or understand the game, or what Liverpool FC is about.

Between them they are trying to rip the heart out of the club and the quicker they sell out the quicker we can get back to the importance of what’s going on on the park.

MAY 13
Gerrard: It's time to go for title

TEAMtalk

Steven Gerrard is unhappy to have ended the season without
a trophy - and wants Liverpool to spend big this summer
to challenge for the title.

Gerrard says he has the belief that Rafael Benitez can deliver the championship to Liverpool for the first time since 1990.

But the Reds skipper maintains that Benitez must have help from the board in the transfer market to make Liverpool stronger.

Gerrard has just witnessed Manchester United win their 10th Premier League crown and take their overall title haul to 17, just one short of Liverpool's all-time record.

Liverpool finished 11 points adrift of United, and have just completed their second successive trophyless season under Benitez.

Gerrard told the club's website: "Other teams are going to strengthen and become better sides, so it is important we do the same.

"There is a lot of money in the league - teams and squads will become stronger in the summer. It's important we do not fall away, we want to stay up there with the best.

"To keep doing well in the league and Europe we need to strengthen the squad, there is no doubt about that."

Liverpool were forced last week to dismiss as "fantasy" that there had been a bid from Inter Milan for their captain, and likewise on Tuesday have dismissed out of hand claims from a Spanish radio station that Chelsea had tried to sign Fernando Torres for £40million.

Gerrard is more concerned with Benitez's transfer market activity, saying: "I don't know much about Rafa's transfer plans. He doesn't call me in and tell me names.

"But he does assure me and the other players that if anyone becomes available who would strengthen the side, then he will go out and buy them. It's important Rafa gets the right backing above him as well.

"Obviously I have to be careful that I don't send expectations through the roof again, but for me I am desperate for it (a title challenge). I believe in this team and this manager, and believe we can make it happen.

"We need help and new players, and the manager needs help from the board to make these signings happen and make us stronger. I do expect us to be involved next season."

He added: "This is a tough league to win. We are strengthening all the time, working as hard as any other team.

"But sometimes you have to realise there are other sides that are as good as us who are strengthening and working hard as well. They want it just as much as us.

"But it has been a long time for this club (since winning the league), so we all maybe need to give that extra five or 10 per cent.

"It's difficult to say how many world-class players we need. You look at the points difference and over the last few years we have made it smaller.

"Playing against the Arsenals and Chelsea, it has been close. We are giving them good games which are tight and get decided on small details.

"If we can make the team a little bit stronger, have a few more options and match-winners, and make the team a tiny bit better defensively, we can do it."

And Gerrard has revealed his bitter disappointment that Liverpool fell away in the title race in the recently completed season.

He said: "Silly results against teams we should be beating cost us. Look at Reading away, where we were beaten 3-1. There were a couple of silly draws at home against sides you need to perform perfectly against and take maximum points from.

"You can be involved in the title race and even win it without beating the top three home and away. You don't have to take maximum points from them as long as you perform perfectly against the others, but we haven't done that. We dropped stupid points.

"We know we are capable of going on consistent runs and beating anyone. We started off that way, expectations were high. We thought this season we were going to be a lot closer, so now we need to learn from our mistakes.

"I thought we would have been involved in a title race come March or April but unfortunately we were out of it."

On his own future, Gerrard said: "I'm happy here and enjoying my football. Obviously I am not happy ending the season without a trophy because I am a winner and that is what I play the game for.

"I like finishing the season having a trophy or cup final to look back on and seeing I've achieved something.

"The experiences I've had at this club in Istanbul, Cardiff and so on - I want these again because I've enjoyed them so much."

MAY 13
Rush: Title assault
must be next priority

By Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo

Liverpool's season is a difficult one to assess because although there has been progress on the pitch we still ended up without any silverware and that is a disappointment.

At the start of every season trophies are the priority at Anfield. They always have been and always will be.

That means the standard that the club sets for itself is incredibly high because there are only four trophies available each season, and it’s hard to keep on winning cups all the time.

But when your history is built on success you have no choice but to live up to those standards. When you fall short it has to be a disappointment.

Not being in the title race in the last few weeks of the campaign is a let down, especially when you see Manchester United and Chelsea battling away on the last day.

Liverpool have fallen short in the league and that is something which will need to be put right next season.

Having said that, it’s clear that there has been progress on the pitch and Liverpool are undoubtedly a better side now than we were last year.

Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and Martin Skrtel have all been added to the mix and they’ve all done well.

They have helped the team develop and improve, but now we have to go to another level.

For me, Torres has been the player of the year for Liverpool and the moment he scored his first goal in a red shirt against Chelsea was the highlight of the season.

At that point every Liverpool fan knew they were watching someone special and he has done nothing to disprove that notion ever since.

The only other highlight to rival that one was the victory over Arsenal in the Champions League because that was another great night and it was a privilege to be there.

The disappointments were the way we lost so easily at United in the league and the ongoing problems off the pitch.

Unless the owners get their act together and solve these problems before the start of next season the situation will only get worse.

For the good of the club things have to be sorted out . If they are, and if the manager is given the backing in the transfer market, then I believe Liverpool can have a real go at the title next year.

If that happens then this season will not have been wasted because the progress that has been made during the last 12 months will pay dividends.

Threat to record can be great incentive

Manchester United have been the best team in the country over this season and they fully deserve to be crowned champions.

That means they are on 17 league titles now, just one behind Liverpool, and that should fire everyone up at Anfield to try and preserve the club’s proud record.

The club should be prepared to fight because it is really important that we continue to be regarded as the most successful club in the country.

That record has been built up over decades of hard work and doing things the right way and it has to be preserved.

No-one has the divine right to win the title. You have to earn that right and that’s what Liverpool have done in the past and need to do again.

This time, United have been pushed all the way by Chelsea. It was a tight finish and could have gone either way.

But United did enough on the last day and that makes them worthy champions.

From a Liverpool point of view, we have to be on their shoulders next season and we have to be involved in the title race as it goes into the final straight.

That is the challenge for everyone at the club and what greater motivation do you need than preserving one of the proudest records in football?

Sammy fits the bill for coaching role

The departure of Alex Miller has opened up a position on Liverpool’s coaching staff and I can think of no better person to fill it than Sammy Lee.

Sammy is one of those people who lives and breathes Liverpool. He grew up supporting the team, went on to play for them and then ended up coaching them as well.

Throughout his Anfield career he represented the club with pride and would be the perfect back up to Rafa Benitez.

Sammy’s coaching credentials are beyond question and I’m sure the Liverpool players would enjoy working with him again because his enthusiasm is infectious.

And he would also tick all the right boxes as far as the fans are concerned because they know he is one of them and has the best interests of the club at heart.

His name has already been mentioned as a potential assistant to Rafa and I really hope that happens because it would be a fantastic move by the club.

MAY 8
Benitez drops hint on boardroom battle

By Paul Walker - PA Sport

Rafael Benitez has made it clear that he wants Liverpool's owners to "work quickly" in the transfer market as he plans for a summer of upheaval at Anfield.

And the Liverpool boss also claimed that a "final solution" was close in the battle for boardroom control.

Benitez's stance came on the day that he lost first-team coach Alex Miller to a managerial job in Japan, slapped a £15million price tag on Peter Crouch and confirmed that Harry Kewell would be released at the end of the season after rejecting a new contract on less money.

Former Liverpool assistant Sammy Lee, sacked earlier this season as boss of Bolton, is an early front-runner to replace Miller.

Benitez also revealed he had held "private" talks with Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill over Gareth Barry's future - Liverpool had a £10million bid rejected last week - while confirming that he would discuss John Arne Riise's future if a good enough offer was received.

But it is Benitez's proactive stance on the club's future that will raise eyebrows.

He said: "All I can add about the boardroom situation is that I am in contact with both of them (co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett) and we are trying to progress with different issues that we have.

"I do not know exactly everything about shares, but in terms of what is my responsibility, we are progressing and I am doing my job.

"Everybody knows the club needs to be well organised and everybody knows what they have to do. Who will be in charge? Maybe the final solution will be soon."

Benitez added: "We work like I did before. If I have any ideas about signing players I tell them, the owners, and also Rick Parry (chief executive), and if they say yes then we progress.

"Normally I do not ask about difficult things, normally they say yes, both of them say yes.

"I want transfer business to be done as quickly as possible. If you sign a player at the end of July you do not have much time, it is better to sign players as quickly as possible.

"How many we sign depends on the market. We have offers (in) for some players, maybe we can sell as well as buy. I am really pleased and happy with the squad, maybe we need to bring in two or three new players, but if we need to sell then we will buy new players."

Benitez was clearly determined to show he is keeping his side of the bargain struck last month with the owners about the future.

He said: "We are working hard to get closer to our targets. We need to wait but I will try to talk to the owners, I will try to talk with Rick Parry and if we have the green light we will progress with our targets."

And Benitez was also quick to underline his position over Barry, Crouch and Riise.

"Martin O'Neill is clear about the situation and we have agreed to wait until the end of the season," he added.

"He was telling everyone (about our offer), but we are willing to wait and we will try to talk again about the possibilities.

"I was talking privately with Martin before (the offer) and he knows our ideas, clearly.

"Harry has talked with his agent and we were trying to reach an agreement, but we could not get that so he will be released at the end of the season.

"Riise has one year more on his contract. He is not playing at the moment but he knows that if we receive an offer that is good for him and good for us, okay, we will talk.

"But at this moment he is our player. I am really pleased with him because he is a fantastic professional."

On Crouch, Benitez revealed an irritation with the situation, saying: "We offered Peter a new contract.

"Nobody was talking about him when we signed him from Southampton and then everyone was criticising him because he was not scoring goals.

"But I supported him. Now he wants to play every week. We know that Portsmouth are always in the media, talking, every time. But we have had no official offers, just talking.

"But if we receive an offer, £15million or more would be reasonable, I want the best for Crouch and the best for my club.

"I talked to him before and I have talked to him two days ago. He knows my position and I know his position, we are professionals we want the best for each of us.

"But now he is a different player, he is a big name. For the last month we have heard that he wants to play, he wants to leave and that there are other clubs who would like to sign him.

"We will now wait and see whether there are any offers. Then we will talk with him. Clearly we would want a big price."

MAY 8
Gerrard: Now owners must back Rafa

By Ben Blackmore - Setanta Sports

Steven Gerrard has called on Liverpool’s owners to cut out the off-field unrest, because he senses Rafa Benitez is closing in on The Premier League title.

Liverpool’s exit to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final means Gerrard has now gone two seasons without lifting silverware, but he is adamant The Reds are on the verge of something big.

Benitez admitted earlier in the season that the Liverpool skipper is aware of his summer transfer targets, and Gerrard called on the owners to make sure the Spaniard gets his men.

“I can see that the team is getting stronger and stronger and I can see that we are going forward. I feel that we are getting closer and I really believe that,” Gerrard told the club’s official website.

“We always say this every year, but it will be an important summer because we need to keep the momentum. The manager’s signings will be important as they always are.

“We are a young team with a lot of promise and if the manager can get the right support then we could take an important step forward.

“I don’t want to get into the politics of it all, but the manager knows what he needs, and we all know that we do have the chance this summer to go to that next level.

“The boss is on record as saying he wants some players, and if we get some of the ones he wants then if they can have the same impact that guys like Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel and Ryan Babel have had this year we’ll have taken a step forward.”

And while Arsenal currently have problems holding onto key players right now, Gerrard has reassured Liverpool fans he will never leave.

“I think there is a hell of a lot more to come from us.

“I can’t see myself ever leaving Liverpool now, and what I would dearly love is to lead this club to the next level that I believe we are capable of reaching.”

MAY 7
Wide men are needed
to fire Liverpool title challenge

By Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo

The ownership battle, the need to improve the squad, the importance of a trophy next season - it's going to be a more interesting summer than normal at Anfield.

But, inevitably, the strengthening of the team in a bid to match the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea and mount a serious title challenge will be Rafa Benitez’s number one priority.

The gap may have closed a little between the Reds and top spot, compared to other seasons, but the difference once again has been the results against their big rivals.

I went to see the game at Old Trafford and, at best, you could describe Liverpool’s performance as “awful”. Results must improve next season against United, Chelsea and Arsenal if the long-awaited title challenge is to materialise.

The spine of the team has quality – Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Sami Hyypia, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres.

But we still lack the necessary class at full-back, wide players with the ability to run defences ragged and produce telling crosses, and a world class partner for Torres.

In effect, between three and five new players with the pedigree to be able to go straight into the team.

Too much of the burden in midfield has been placed on Steven Gerrard this season. Not only has the skipper been action man around the pitch, but he has also provided the goals to back up Torres’ superb haul. But he can’t do it all, and Benitez will be aware of that.

It looks likely that Peter Crouch, John Arne Riise and Jermaine Pennant will be on their way, and Xabi Alonso could join them. Without doubt his form has suffered over the past two seasons and his influence on matches is more and more diluted.

Because of the lack of quality down the wings and service to him, Torres has had to work far harder than most other Premier League strikers to get his goals. On many occasions, it has been his sheer determination and class finishing that has produced something out of nothing.

It’s the second season the Reds have been trophy-less and the major disappointments have to be our indifferent league form in the middle of the season and our exit from the FA Cup.

The Chelsea result last week was a major blow, too, because I was confident the Reds would make it to Moscow. But all these setbacks must provide a renewed determination to create a team that can rival the others.

The one match that really stands out for me was the epic second leg against the Gunners at Anfield. That had everything – goals, drama and, above all, the win that must become a norm against their like.

Benitez will be frustrated some of his players haven’t measured up, but he will hopefully put that right with his summer additions.

Sadly, the ownership crisis casts a shadow over our great club. The Americans may understand money but they don’t understand football, and the way affairs have been conducted in the glare of publicity has been disgraceful.

I just wish Tom Hicks and George Gillett would accept that the whole affair has been damaging to Liverpool FC and work out a solution that could get the club out of this sorry mess.

MAY 6
COMMENT: Barry is fine but
Benitez needs match-winners

By Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool Daily Post

It's not that Gareth Barry isn’t a good player and wouldn’t be a decent addition to Liverpool’s squad.

But he’s not the sort of player Liverpool urgently need to address the shortcomings that have added up to a disappointing season.

The most significant aspect of the pursuit of Barry is that it would appear to signal the end of Xabi Alonso.

I can’t really see any other reason for buying the Aston Villa captain, because would Barry necessarily have more impact than Alonso? I think that would just be like for like.

Alonso has fallen prey to the circumstances that often affect foreign players, especially ones who have a great first season and become such a big player for their team, as he undoubtedly did.

He isn’t the central focus any more and with his partner having a baby this season, a move back home to Spain seems more attractive to him all the time.

With Javier Mascherano in the midfield now, Alonso seems to have a lot of his work done for him and I wouldn’t be surprised if he felt a bit sidelined now. Maybe a little bit surplus after initially being the creative hub of the side.

Combine that with his personal circumstances and I think it’s an easy way out for him now – and I’m sure Barry would find it easy to slot into that role.

He also has the added advantage of being able to drift to the left and provide an extra outlet there if necessary.

Which is all very well – but what Rafael Benitez really needs more of is match-winners. And as valuable an addition as Barry could be, I don’t see him as one of those.

As well as new signings, Benitez needs the likes of Ryan Babel to come through for him, because at the moment it’s only Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard you can rely on to produce the moments that change the big games.

I feel that’s what ultimately cost them against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final last week.

As I feared, Gerrard couldn’t get free from Claude Makelele and that’s a big problem when there aren’t players who can make a similar impact.

Chelsea are one of those teams who are so good in defence they don’t give you anything, you have to work extremely hard to get anywhere against them. You need that extra but of class and invention and it was all too rare when it mattered.

It all reflected the problems Benitez seems to face every year now. He has a good side easily good enough for the top four, but stripped to the bare bones they are a bit short of what it takes to compete consistently at Chelsea and Manchester United’s level.

And against those teams you get caught out if the squad isn’t good enough. This is something Benitez already knows, but I just think it emphasises the gulf that exists between teams at all levels of English football now. You’ve got your bottom eight, next eight then the top four – and even within that there’s still a long way to go to get from four to one.

That’s why you’ve got to have more than a couple of match-winners. If he had as many as Manchester United, for example, it wouldn’t matter if he left players out early on in the season to keep them fresh for the run-in.

That wouldn’t affect results and it would keep Liverpool in contention for the title when his top players would be sufficiently rested to keep up the challenge.

But at the moment rotating the squad in the early stages of the season doesn’t work. The quantity is fine but the quality is a different issue. At the moment Gareth Barry isn’t the answer to that – so it’s up to Benitez’s bosses to help him find plenty more this summer.

Mark Lawrenson was talking to Nick Smith

MAY 5
Rafa: Expect signings this month

By Chet Winter - Goal.com

After another trophyless season for Liverpool - the height of disappointment being another fourth place finish and elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Barnsley - Rafa Benitez is once again looking to strengthen his squad.

Areas that may be strengthened are the the wings and full-backs, Gareth Barry, David Bentley and Schalke's Rafinha and Eric Abidal are just some of the names recently linked with the Reds.

An offer has been made for Barry - Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was far from impressed with it - and while Benitez is not naming names just yet, he is confident that, after positive talks with under-fire chief executive Rick Parry, some signings will be made soon - very soon.

"We aren’t working on signing new players in June or July - but to sign them in May if that is possible," revealed the Spaniard.

“We will not be waiting until August to sign players. I think we will do things well before. Perhaps you will see some evidence in a few weeks.”

“It will help me if the signings of new players are done early. It needs to be as soon as possible really, because then you know the situation and you can control the pre-season.

"Rick (Parry) knows the necessity of early deals. Our conservation the other day was very positive.

“We are trying to fix the targets and progress. He knows that we want to sign the players right now.”

After much speculation over the boss' future in light of the troubles off the pitch at Anfield, he has moved to reassure Kopites he is happy at the club, praising the supporters and continuing to look toward the future.

The former Valencia boss insisted he was happy with a fourth place finish, despite the disappointment of many fans, and that it was testament to the strength of the league.

"The supporters have been fantastic all season for the team, the club and especially for me," said Benitez.

"I will now be planning and preparing for next season. We will go to Switzerland as usual in pre-season to play some friendlies.

"I am really, really pleased to be here. The fans have been fantastic for me and the team.

"During the summer we will try to improve the squad. We are still not taking our chances, so that is something that we will try to improve.

"Sunday was our last home game, so it was important to say 'thank you' to the fans, but the way to do that was with a win. To hear them every week with their fantastic support makes me proud to be here.

"I am pleased with fourth, but we want to be higher. But people must not forget that the top two are the top two in Europe as well and will spend a lot of money in the summer.

"Chelsea and Manchester United are at the top of Europe, so to be in the top four in England is very, very difficult. To be there, or to qualify for the Champions League for four years, is hard to achieve.

"We will always try to be contenders. But talking about it does not change things.

"The key now is to sign the right players, and to improve the squad. I do not really know what I have to spend, but it is not a question of money, it is spending the right money on the right players. You do not always have to spend big money."

With signings expected, departures will follow. John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant were absent from the lap of honour, with Benitez explaining that as they were not in the squad for the game, they did not attend and that it meant nothing more than that.

"They were not in the squad, so they had freedom to do what they want," said Rafa. "Sometimes players who are not in the squad do not come to the ground."

MAY 3
Cheque-out time
for Kewell at Anfield

By Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo

Coleen Mcloughlin took a lot of stick recently when it emerged that she describes herself as a journalist on her passport, no doubt inspired by the thought “If Kelvin McKenzie can do it, why can’t I?”

But surely her audacity pales into insignificance when compared to that of Harry Kewell, whom passport officials around the world are being led to believe is a professional footballer.

His estimated £13m personal fortune, which saw him feature in The Sunday Times Rich List, certainly suggests he is making a living from the game.

But if you were to ask any Liverpool fan if Kewell has done anything over the last five years to earn such a fortune, the answer would probably be no.

On Tuesday morning, Kewell turned up at Melwood in a top of the range Bentley just as the rest of the Liverpool squad departed for the following night’s Champions League clash with Chelsea.

So, in a sense, the Australian had at least turned up for work.

Well, his place of work anyway.

It is hard to recall the last time he was considered a genuine Liverpool player – and that is why the vast wealth he has accumulated sticks in the craw of every Liverpool supporter.

When Kewell leaves Anfield in the summer he will take his fortune with him – not to mention a European Cup winners medal – but he will also depart with the stigma of being viewed by many as the kind of footballer who embodies what is wrong with the modern game.

Injuries have taken their toll – and there’s precious little he could have done about that – but on the rare occasions when Kewell’s body has been willing it has often seemed that his mind was not.

The Anfield exit door is now opening for him and the saddest indictment of all is that, in an age when talented wingers are rare, no-one will be sad to see Kewell leave.

MAY 3
Backs to the future for
Liverpool FC in hunt for star quality

By Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo

If only, is a term which is only ever uttered in defeat, and in the aftermath of Wednesday night’s Champions League exit at the hands of Chelsea, Liverpool were left with nothing more than a whole host of if onlys.

If only John Arne Riise had a right foot.

If only Rafa Benitez’s attempt at pre-match mind games had not backfired so dramatically by transforming Didier Drogba from a serial diver to a serial killer.

If only Fabio Aurelio’s injury curse had not struck again at the most inopportune of moments.

If only Martin Skrtel had not succumbed to a knock to his knee and left the battlefield behind.

If only, if only, if only.

The fact is, Liverpool fell short in Europe because, as is the case in the Premiership, they do not have the squad to cope when the going gets really tough.

Weaknesses in both full-back positions have been apparent all season long with Riise, in particular, being no more than an accident waiting to happen for far too long.

Contrast Liverpool’s full-backs with those at their fellow English Champions League semi-finalists and the gulf in quality verges on the gargantuan.

Since marshalling Lionel Messi superbly on his Liverpool debut, Alvaro Arbeloa has done little to convince that he has a long term future at Anfield.

Steve Finnan has been an excellent servant to the club since joining from Fulham five years ago, but the Irishman is now out of favour with Benitez having failed to convince when called upon this season.

On the opposite flank, Riise’s form has bordered on the abject for so long that you have to really dredge the memory banks to recall what it was that made him a fans’ favourite in his early years with Liverpool.

And, though technically gifted, Aurelio cannot be relied upon to play week in, week out, simply because his body cannot stand up to such rigours.

Between them, Liverpool’s four full-backs cost a grand total of £9.5m or, to put it in starker terms, around half of what Manchester United and Chelsea paid for their midweek right backs.

Michael Essien and Owen Hargreaves might both be central midfielders by trade but their quality levels and sheer versatility allows them to slot in on the right side of defence without undermining their teams in other departments.

Both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher could do a better job at right back than those who have spent much of the season there for Liverpool, but if either of them were shifted from their usual slots it would leave the Reds short in other key areas.

And, anyway, what’s the point of taking two of your best players out of their preferred positions just to make up for the shortcomings of others?

The solution to this problem does not lie within the current Liverpool squad, it lies elsewhere, and that is why when Benitez goes shopping this summer a pair of top quality full-backs must be at the top of his list.

A deal to sign Swiss international right back Philipp Degen is all but concluded, but whether or not he is the man to take Liverpool forward has to be open to question.

Injuries have taken their toll on Degen’s ability to become a first team regular at Borussia Dortmund and his CV does not exactly glitter.

In his early years as a professional, scouts flocked to see him play for the Swiss Under-21s and when Dortmund won the race for his signature it was considered quite a coup.

But Degen’s potential remains unfulfilled and his signing is a risk if Benitez considers him any more than a useful auxiliary member of his squad.

Liverpool are not far away from United and Chelsea. If you look at the spines of all three sides, Benitez’s stands comparison with pretty much anything Alex Ferguson and Avram Grant can select.

Pepe Reina, Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger (when fit), Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres is a formidable backbone and gives the Reds boss something tangible to build upon.

But unless their quality is matched on the flanks, “if only” will be Liverpool’s mantra for some time to come.

MAY 1
Rafa turns thoughts to Reds future

TEAMtalk

Rafael Benitez marched away from Stamford Bridge after Liverpool's Champions League failure with a blue-print for
the future in his mind.

The Liverpool manager knows his squad is not good enough to challenge for the title and the Champions League.

The Anfield club's season came to a crashing end in west London as they failed to stop Chelsea's march to Moscow in three weeks' time.

Co-owner Tom Hicks went into the devastated Liverpool dressing room after the 4-3 aggregate defeat to offer encouragement, and Benitez revealed they had "more positive talks about the future."

Estranged owner George Gillett was not there again, ostensibly for health reasons while Dubai International Capital's representatives also declined to accept invitations to sit in the Chelsea directors' box.

The reason that the Gillett-DIC camp in the war for control of the club opted for a back seat this time after attending the first-leg, was, said a source: "So as they wouldn't be a distraction at such an important game."

But that will not last much longer as the continued battle for control of the club hots up over the summer, with Gillett still expected to sell his 50% stake at some stage to the Dubai organisation.

Where that leaves Hicks and his plans for the new stadium and an improved squad is anyone's guess, but Benitez's position is rock-solid in all this and he has a clear mandate for the future from all sides.

And he will use it. The likes of John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant, Steve Finnan and Harry Kewell are likely to be sold. And Xabi Alonso's future is also in doubt with continued speculation that he will return to Spain.

Benitez has been told he must sell as well as buy this summer, and there is a long list of potential arrivals at Anfield, including Gareth Barry and David Bentley. Barry's arrival could hasten Alonso's exit.

Benitez is also believed to have tied up the free transfer of Swiss international full-back Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund, while 23-year-old Athletic Bilbao central defender Fernando Amorebieta is also under scrutiny.

Benitez said: "Clearly now we have to start thinking about the future. We must improve and we will add quality to the squad.

"We have two more games in the Premier League to go and obviously we will try to win them both to give our season a good ending.

"But we will be looking at the squad and preparing for next season. You can see we are closer to the top but we still need three or four new players.

"We need to keep working, our scouting department is certainly doing that. We have two more games and will try to win them and then improve the squad for next season.

"Tom Hicks came into the dressing room and said 'good effort, good job and we were unlucky'. He was very positive."

Thor Zakariassen ©