SEPTEMBER 28
Parry: Future is bright

By Paul Hassall - LFC Official Website

Rick Parry is optimistic Liverpool can make a serious challenge for the Premier League title this season.

The Reds Chief Executive has been impressed by the start the side have made to the new campaign and believes the arrival of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, coupled with the summer additions to Rafa Benitez's squad, has created a real feel-good factor around Anfield.

"I think there is more excitement and belief around the club now with everything that has gone on at the club," said Parry.

"Expectation levels are always high and always will be, and rightly so.

"But there is a difference and a belief, that we and the supporters share, that maybe this can be the year. There will be no foolish predictions because that is not our style, but the main thing for us to try to ensure that we are in contention for the Premier League and not out of the running by Christmas.

"We are happy with the business that we did over the summer and the backing provided by our new owners. The backing in the summer has been phenomenal and nobody could question that.

"We felt, when we decided to go with them (Hicks and Gillett), that they shared our passion on the pitch and genuinely wanted to see results on the pitch. They have definitely put their money where their mouths are during the summer and it’s been a case of so far, so good. We are excited with the start that we have made and we are optimistic."

SEPTEMBER 25
Benitez playing dangerous game

By Phil McNulty - BBC Sport Online

Rafael Benitez gave Liverpool owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks the rough end of his tongue in a sore-headed rant after the Champions League defeat against AC Milan.

He wanted action. He wanted it now. He wanted world-class players. He wanted them now.

Listen to this: "There are two or three things, issues that we need to resolve right now. I’m tired of talking, talking. We talk and talk but we never finish.

“I am worried about talking to players, for one or two months or even six months, and then losing them. I want things to be done."

And things were done, lots of them - particularly the huge financial outlay of £20m-plus on Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres.

The arrival of a player coveted by every major club in Europe was a coup for Benitez and a public statement of intent from Gillett and Hicks.

Torres was also their answer to Benitez's demands for action. They had delivered and now it was up to the manager.

Now, as they learn the subtle nuances of English football, Hicks and Gillett may be tempted to ask a question of their own.

And it is a question also being asked by thousands of mystified Liverpool fans.

Namely, why is Liverpool's most expensive player, someone who has settled brilliantly in the Premier League, parked in the dug-out while lesser colleagues struggle to unlock the likes of Portsmouth and Birmingham?

Rotation has been a constant back-drop to Benitez's Anfield reign - but trophies have provided the perfect shield to criticism.

Benitez can slap his record on the table as an answer, but Liverpool will not win the title they crave if there are too many more repeats of Saturday's guileless showing against Birmingham.

Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin, both admirable, got the nod against Birmingham, but their lack of effect only under-scored Torres' absence.

Benitez said: "I wanted players who could operate between the lines. There wasn’t the space for Torres to operate in."

Mystifying - and whatever Benitez may say, a serious error.

Torres works hard, has strength, pace, scores goals and buys into Liverpool's team ethic.

He is world-class. And if there is no space, world-class players either find it or create it.

In other words, Liverpool's best bet for a goal against Birmingham was Torres.

Don't, however, expect a change of tack Benitez, a man whose stubborness is as strong a characteristic as his tactical attention to detail.

In fact, it is a sign of Benitez's refusal to listen to outside influences that Torres is a surprise inclusion in Liverpool's squad to face Reading in the Carling Cup.

Benitez has a conviction that he is always right, which can be a huge strength but also a weakness.

He would do well to admit he got it wrong on against Birmingham and use the lessons of Saturday for battles ahead.

Kuyt and Voronin may work hard, but the folly of Benitez's ploy against Birmingam was exposed with the arrival of Torres, who almost scored with a brilliant bicycle kick then created a chance which Peter Crouch missed.

Torres was easily the game's most accomplished attacker in his 30 minutes on view, making a nonsense of theories about working hard and getting options "between the lines."

The Spaniard is the player who can make the difference between the sterile, frustrating, tame draws that have cost Liverpool in the past and the victories that can mean a title challenge.

Torres is too modest to kick up his own fuss, but plenty of Liverpool fans are doing it on his behalf at the moment.

Benitez is tired of the questions about his rotation policy - but they won't go away in the face of such obviously questionable selections.

Of course, we shouldn't bank against Benitez confounding us all and utilising Torres to perfection as he finally returns the title to Anfield for the first time in 18 years.

But if he doesn't, this time Benitez will be wasting his breath deflecting blame on to anybody but himself.

AUGUST 9
New men key to title bid

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

It's often said you should be careful what you wish for.

As he considers the progress of his club since his warnings on the pivotal morning of May 24, Rafa Benitez may beg to differ.

Benitez used the aftermath of Champions League defeat to demand investment in his squad and a restructure of Liverpool at every level.

With £50m spent, and a new commercial and Academy director in place, Benitez may feel his requests were partially granted.

If he and his followers can shake the genie out of the bottle for one more wish on the eve of a new season, the object of their desire is obvious: A Premiership title.

The political battles won over the last three months pale in comparison when the scale of the task wrestling the championship from Manchester United is considered.

As usual, most of the predictions are being made on Benitez’s behalf. He’s studiously avoiding saying his side can win the league, and equally reluctant to calm expectations by saying they won’t.

The distinction between a Premiership win and title challenge is significant. Benitez accepts Liverpool should be a contender, but stops short of accepting the view they’ve now spent enough to guarantee future success.

“I read one article where a journalist said because we have spent big money we must now win the title,” said Benitez.

“On the same page, the same person said Manchester United have spent more money than any side and were still the favourites, and Chelsea were behind them as second favourites. We know people will put us under more pressure now, but we also know that the others teams have been better than us for a lot of years. We want to try harder to make this different, but we know how difficult it will be.

“Just because we have spent more money than before, it does not make us favourites.

“We need to analyse situations properly. The reality we know is we have a side to score more goals, play good football and win more games. I look at the squad of United and see their quality, and Chelsea built a team over five or six years spending hundreds of millions. They no longer need to spend at the same level each summer.

“What we have achieved this summer is to ensure we won’t need to buy many players every year. We’ve bought young players with quality who will improve us. We will add to this every summer, but we are happy at this moment and believe we can try to win every trophy, even though we recognise others can do the same.

“We are a good team, but the league will be as difficult as normal. The new players have settled quickly, but we will see when they play the games.”

Liverpool’s failings last season are well documented.

A poor start and unimpressive away form undermined a formidable home record. European progression swiftly became the main aspiration as the leaders argued among themselves.

“Top sides try to win every competition and every game and the order of priority is clear,” said Benitez.

“First it’s the Premiership, then the Champions League, then the FA Cup and league cup.

“This is the same for all the big clubs. Of course, during the course of the season, each competition can become a better option than the other, but at this moment it’s clear the Premiership comes first for every club.

“When I think back to last season there are differences between then and now, and the main and most important one is we have a better squad.

“When you ask me who each week who will play as a striker, my answer will always be it could be Crouch, Torres, Voronin or Kuyt because all of them are good.

“It’s the same in midfield with Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Mascherano and Leiva. All my options are really good and we can use many different players and have a strong side.

“You can see we have more pace and quality. Away from home, especially, we have a lot more options.”

It’s hard to believe Benitez is now beginning his fourth season.

Year four was where it all went wrong for Gerard Houllier, while patience was so thin in the summer of 1998, Roy Evans was told at the end of his fourth full season he was now joint-manager.

There are those who’ll justifiably view this as a watershed campaign for the Spanish manager, but there’s a sense at Anfield the platform is now in place for sustained success and it’s inconceivable he’ll suffer as spectacularly as his predecessors.

“In four years we’ve done a lot of good things and we’ve also made some mistakes,” admits Benitez.

“Every season we improve bit by bit and now we have a lot more of the players we wanted. Is it enough? Only games will show us.

“I know the team is sharper now than one year ago at this stage. Now we just want to start well. If you get good results in your first few games it has a knock-on effect and that’s what we’re looking for.”

JULY 30
Parry: We won't stand still in market

By Mark Platt - LFC Official Website

Rick Parry admited excitement is high at Anfield ahead of the new season and revealed the club's spending may not yet be over.

As he returned with the squad from Hong Kong on Sunday morning, the Reds chief executive spoke of his satisfaction at the way the summer has evolved in terms of new signings and insisted Liverpool will always be in the market for quality players.

"There's always a lot expectation but there's definitely a special buzz about the up coming season. We're all excited with the new signings we've made and genuinely happy with what we've done," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"It was important to get them in as early as possible so that Rafa could have more time working with them. Bringing players in on the last day of the transfer window is never ideal. It was good for our new players to have been involved in the training camp out in Switzerland and then in Hong Kong.

"That doesn't mean to say we'll now be standing still. A lot of clubs have spent significant amounts of money this summer, like Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea. Then there's a number of other clubs who've recently also had new investors, such as Newcastle, and there's still a long way to go before the end of the transfer window.

"If a player becomes available and he's the right player for this club then yes we will be interested."

JULY 28
Rafa’s focus has to be on league

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Over the course of the next nine months there’ll be several new banners erected on The Kop.

Sadly, it’s one hoisted above the Stretford End at Old Trafford which says more about Liverpool’s current position in English football.

“17 years and counting,” it reads. We all know what it’s referring to.

The United fans gleefully add a digit every time their fiercest rivals come to town.

The fact this will be accompanied by their own proclamation of ‘champions’ will twist the knife even further.

They’re adept at exposing Liverpool’s insecurities because for 25 years they occupied the same territory.

Liverpool fans have a well rehearsed provocative comeback focusing on European Cup wins, but privately they know this isn’t a wholly satisfactory response.

It’s the title that matters most and the wait since 1990 has gone from being excruciating to infuriating to plain humiliating during the course of the last two decades.

Only when their captain lifts the Premier League trophy, and a sheepish crew of United stewards are forced to remove the offending banner from their stadium, can Liverpudlians reclaim the upper hand.

Each August arrives with the same question: Will this, finally, be the year the drought ends?

As in previous years, the honest answer is no.

Having appeared to have closed the gap 12 months ago, Liverpool lost far too much ground to United last season.

Even though many fans head into the season with stars and stripes in their eyes, expecting Rafa Benitez to turn a modest, generally disappointing league campaign into a title winning one is too much.

United have spent equal amounts on world class youngsters, while Chelsea are sure to be hurt and determined having lost their crown last May.

Arsenal head into the campaign for the first time under Arsene Wenger as rank outsiders. Given the pedigree of his youthful squad, that may make them more dangerous than ever.

What will be anticipated – or should that be demanded – is an Anfield title challenge. Not necessarily a victory, but the promise of a much improved run with plentiful evidence to suggest there’s more to come in the seasons ahead.

The squad Benitez has assembled over the summer should not only equip Liverpool to put more pressure on United and Chelsea, its put a foundation in place for more consistent performances year upon year.

Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel are young, ambitious and hungry.

When added to the spine of a team which, on its day, can look formidable in every department, Benitez has the right to expect a possible 20 point improvement on last season.

The realistic target for Liverpool must be a minimum of 80 points from the campaign.

If they achieve this, and can take points from their closest rivals, they know they’ll be contenders.

The areas of improvement are easily recognisable.

Liverpool need to make a better start than in recent years, and the away form which deteriorated horribly last season must be radically improved.

The Reds suffered just one league defeat at Anfield – and that was undeserved in the last minute to United.

But the boldness so often seen on their own territory was absent on the road.

For three seasons, Benitez has managed too many players he didn’t trust. Tinkering with the line-up wasn’t merely a consequence of changing for changing sake, but a reflection the boss was more concerned about what opponents could do to his side than confidence his own players could hurt the opponent.

Now his squad is absolutely his own, it’s hoped Benitez will go for the jugular away from home far more.

The age old theory about ‘letting the opposition worry about stopping us rather than the other way around’ is surely the key to a title challenge.

This mantra was certainly pivotal to United’s success last year.

Benitez’s reign so far has witnessed some of the most celebrated victories in Anfield history.

But his greatest successes have always defied rather than lived up to expectations.

When charged with pricking the egos of Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United in one-off cup games, his tactical expertise has been unrivalled.

Strangely, it’s when the odds have appeared to be more favourable to his side – especially away to mid-table, mediocre Premier League teams - the cunning Spaniard has been frustrated.

If a summer of heavy spending in the transfer market can remedy this fault, Liverpool can expect to be a formidable force in the title race.

If they don’t, the comparisons with previous watershed seasons under the reign of Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier will be difficult to ignore.

And that pesky banner at the Stretford End will remain in place for an 18th, miserable year.

JULY 25
Will Fernando Torres be ‘The One’?

By Stephen Kelly - Liverpool Daily Post

Money can’t buy you love. It can’t even buy a quality striker nowadays.

After weeks of ill-disguised stroppiness Rafa finally got his big-name signing, albeit with money raised by discarding other strikers and at a price still well below that of the blank-happy Shevchenko.

We’re nearing the end of a profligate decade, one that’s seen huge amounts spent on Heskey, Diouf, Cisse and Kuyt.

Add all those other bargains like Morientes, Crouch and Bellamy, and still we await The New Owen.

I’d settle for another Collymore at this point. It remains to be seen whether Torres can break this increasingly mouldy mould.

Pre-season games are boring. I’ve never had the urge to visit Melwood, so the thought of watching glorified training sessions is similarly unappetising.

They’re also a pretty useless barometer. I once saw us slam seven past Tranmere and predicted a bright red future for Paul Stewart.

Instead, oblivion beckoned. Well, Sunderland.

Some of us dispute the theory that a rapidly thinning chequebook cures all ills, so an outbreak of vigorous head shaking greeted the news of Torres’ arrival.

It’s actually a win-win situation. If he can hit the target regularly the cherished ‘Title Challenge’ will cease to be an illusion.

There is also the notion that Rafa’s caution, particularly away from home, will be abandoned to make his shiny new toy look good. That would help loosen the purse strings further still.

Yet what if he becomes the latest damp squib? Is it possible we could revert back to what once was the Liverpool Way after a decade-plus of trying to bury our striker problems under a mountain of crisp fivers?

The irony of Voronin making the more impressive beginning is a delicious one, but memories of Prenton Park will stifle any attempt to play Nostradamus in this household.

Left-back puzzle

I'll resist the urge to rant about Alex Ferguson's refusal to do business with Liverpool. We'd be exactly the same if the boot were on the other foot.

Though Gabriel Heinze may turn like a tanker in treacle he's still an improvement on what we've got and it stands to reason that Ferguson doesn't want us to be stronger.

Even in the years of our domination, left-back was always an enigmatic position anyway. There was Joey Jones, bless him, and Alan Kennedy.

Beglin's career was cruelly cut short, and any success since (however fleeting) has come curiously from the right-footed likes of Nicol, Jones or Carragher.

All of whom let's face it could have played in goal and still done a decent job. The less said about Ziege the better.

We've never really worked out where to put Riise for the good of the team. Unkind souls often suggest "the bench", and it was a shame Aurelio suffered a bad injury when he had begun to impress.

Given the recent history of this position, maybe we should try another 'rightie' for a while. Arbeloa, perhaps? Not many players keep Messi quiet.

JULY 23
Gerrard confident over Benitez signings

By Nick Briggs - PA Sport, Hong Kong

Skipper Steven Gerrard is confident Rafael Benitez's summer spending spree will see Liverpool mount a concerted title challenge this season.

Backed by the funds of new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, Benitez has spent a considerable amount of money in bringing Spain striker Fernando Torres, Dutch starlet Ryan Babel and West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun to Anfield over the summer in a bid to bridge the gap to Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Reds have trailed the Premier League's top two by some distance in the previous two campaigns and while Gerrard was not naive enough to predict the Merseyside club would end their 18-year wait for England's top prize by the end of the season, the 27-year-old does not expect a repeat of the last campaign when they finished 21 points behind champions United.

"I'm really pleased with the standard of players the manager has brought in," said Gerrard.

"I think he has brought in quality players, big name players who can help.

"I think it would be stupid of me to sit here and make promises to the supporters that we're going to do this and we're going to do that but what I can say is we'll have a right good go and work hard.

"We don't feel as if we're too far away from the other big clubs in the league and we feel if the current players dig in a bit and work a bit harder we can get involved in the title race.

"Playing for Liverpool Football Club, it's all about winning trophies and this summer's no different.

"The squad has improved, the manager has been backed with good money and he's spent it well and now it's time for the players to deliver. The Premier League, that's the one. That's our main priority."

Liverpool's new signings will be in action when they face Hong Kong side South China on Tuesday night as the Barclays Asia Trophy gets under way and Torres in particular will be crucial to Liverpool's title aspirations for the coming season.

The 23-year-old arrives from Atletico Madrid with a big reputation and will need to adapt to the more physical nature of the Premier League better than compatriot Fernando Morientes did during his ill-fated Anfield spell.

However, Gerrard is in no doubt Benitez has captured a world-class player who has the potential to become a Kop idol.

"I think I knew how good he was before we signed him," he added.

"I watch a lot of Spanish football and he played well at the World Cup but what's impressed me that he's not come in as a star name.

"He's come to work hard and the players are excited to have him alongside us. He's the kind of player we need and hopefully he'll be our big name that scores a lot of goals for us.

"I think he's coming into a really good team with players who will help him settle in, quality players who'll set up goals for him.

"I can't see him having any problems settling in and achieving what he wants to achieve."

United in particular have spent big in an effort to retain their crown but with an influx of foreign investors to the Premier League, this summer has seen plenty of other clubs strengthen their ranks.

And while the Red Devils and Chelsea may have had it all their own way in recent times, Gerrard believes this season will prove to be more competitive than ever.

"It's going to be a difficult title race," he said.

"Like us, Chelsea are upset losing the title to Manchester United, Arsenal's young players are more experienced so I'm sure they'll want a better go than last year and sides below us are strengthening as well so it'll be a tough title race this year. I think more teams will get involved."

Gerrard also praised Gillette and Hicks for delivering on the promises they made before taking control of the club.

"It's a really exciting time for the club," he said.

"We have new owners in charge and they've put the money on the table.

"They said they'd sort the new stadium out, give new contracts to current players and strengthen the squad and that's what they've done."

One of those players was Steve Finnan after the Republic of Ireland full-back agreed a new three-year contract to extend his stay at Anfield.

JULY 19
Benitez: New signings have raised standard

By James Carroll - Shankly Gates

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes that his summer signings have raised the standard of the Reds' squad.

Nearly £40m has been spent on bringing Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin to Anfield and Benitez says that the fierce competition for places is having a positive effect on the player's pre-season preparations.

He said: "I've said many times my idea at Liverpool was to build a squad with at least two good players for each position.

"What's important is that the standard of all these players is now very high. That's the key for me. Over the course of eight or nine months of the season we will have injuries and suspensions, but when everyone is fit you will see all the players working very hard to be at their best for every game. That means the quality across the whole squad improves. Maybe you can see already how hard the players are working.

"It's too soon to start talking about what players will do this season, but you can see we have players such as Pennant and Benayoun who have the ability to change a game.

"We know they have the ability to do things on the pitch which others cannot and the key is to see them always trying to make a difference on the pitch. Already a lot of our players are showing their quality.

"But we must be careful when talking about these games. People should remember the players have still trained on the same day as they've played in the matches so they are not at their level yet.

"We have seen a lot of positive play already. It's good for us we are scoring goals and creating a lot of chances, but it's normal the balance between our defence and attack isn't what it should be yet. On Tuesday, it was also a very physical game with a good tempo."

JULY 13
Rafa: Money can't buy me the title

TEAMtalk

Rafael Benitez admits Liverpool's £37million summer spending spree may not be enough to wrest the Premier League title from Manchester United.

Benitez with two of his new signings - Babel and Benayoun.
(Photo: Shankly Gates)

With Holland forward Ryan Babel arriving for £11.5million from Ajax and midfielder Yossi Benayoun recruited from West Ham on Thursday for about £5million, the Spanish coach has underlined his ambition.

The duo followed club-record £20million signing Fernando Torres to Anfield within the space of a week and while Benitez is excited about what the future holds, he sounded a note of caution.

"I feel we are going in the right direction. If you look at the value of the squad three years ago and its value now, the squad is much better," he said.

"I don't know, however, if it will be enough for winning the title. Manchester United won the title and are spending more money than anyone.

"Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are also spending lots of money but at least we are competing with these teams in the market and that is important.

"We needed to go one step, maybe two steps at a time, but in fact we are going a little bit faster than anticipated."

Benitez knows expectations will be high at Anfield because of the money he has invested in new players - striker Andriy Voronin has also checked in after finishing his contract at Bayer Leverkusen.

But the Spaniard said: "I prefer to have pressure as that brings on competition.

"We have some young players, who will improve playing good football and winning games.

"We're really pleased with the squad as I feel it has enough balance.

"You always want two players in each position and we are now really close to this situation."

JULY 13
Torres: A working class hero
is all that I want to be

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

To some players, signing for Liverpool represents the summit of their ambition.

Too many of the club’s most recent record signings have seen a lucrative Anfield contract primarily as          (Photo: LFC Official Website)

a passport to fame and fortune, bringing their years of toil elsewhere to an end while they reap the rewards of their newly acquired reputation.

The compulsion to continue to improve as a player, or put in the extra hours to inspire their side to glory, has often appeared secondary to living off the status of being a Liverpool player.

It comes as a refreshing relief that the latest multi-million pound recruit, Fernando Torres, breaks this trend.

Torres has left his iconic standing in Madrid, where he could have stayed a local hero for the rest of his career, to start from scratch and test himself on Merseyside.

When asked if he felt joining Liverpool for such a massive fee was evidence enough that he’s already proved his credentials at the highest level, the reaction is joyously humble.

“If I had the idea I’d already be a success just by joining Liverpool, I wouldn’t have come,” says the 23-year-old.

“To achieve the level the people here demand of me I know I will have to work hard all the time.

“To hit this level I must be focused completely on my football. I could have stayed where I was comfortable, but what attracted me to Liverpool is it’s a working team.

“The gaffer has put a mentality into the team that means everyone must work hard for success.

“This is known to be a key characteristic of Benitez’s side and I like this.

“I also like that Liverpool is a working class area with supporters who I believe are similar to those of Atletico, who appreciate and respect hard work.

“At this kind of club, there is usually a special bond between the players and the supporters. It means there is a different spirit about the city and the club compared to some others.

“Although the players have told me about the mentality of the Liverpool people, and how the fans are, I don’t think this is something which can be explained in words.

“It is only something I can understand when I play my first game at Anfield against Chelsea. Then I will fully know about the relationship between the Liverpool supporters and the players.”

Torres revealed on his arrival he had no interest in leaving Atletico for any other club than Liverpool.

That’s partly, he says, due to the obvious Spanish connections.

But he also admits the hunger he could sense at a club seeking its first title in 18 years appealed to his sentiments.

“I know how much everyone at Liverpool want to win the title because it’s been many years since the club has done it,” he said.

“But with the squad we have right now I’m sure we can compete for all the trophies.

“Unfortunately, Atletico isn’t at the level it should be given the size of the club and its history. I hoped to reach certain targets and achieve ambitions with Atletico but it wasn’t possible.

“Liverpool are always competing for the league or Champions League and I feel I needed to take this step to compete against the best players in the world.

“After being in two Champions League finals in three years, Liverpool has the respect it deserves so it’s not difficult to understand why I would want to come here.

“There were other factors in my decision, of course. Having a Spanish manager and other Spanish players who’ve told me about the club makes it better for me, but mainly I want to compete for important trophies.”

There’s no doubt Torres has left a comfort zone in Spain where, despite tremendous pressures on young shoulders, he could do no wrong in the eyes of Atletico fans.

One senses he’s relishing the challenge of winning over supporters who’ll cast their own judgement in the months to come.

“Every club has its own identity and players who are icons, but it takes time, good performance and good results to earn respect,” he says.

“I understand that Liverpool has Carra and Steven Gerrard who have that link with the supporters because they’ve been here and great players for a long time.

“At Atletico, I was young and a supporter of the club so I had a similar relationship with the fans, but I recognise to achieve the same here will only be possible with hard work. I can promise I will try my best.

“Everything has been perfect so far. I’ve only had a small opportunity to walk around the city but the reception towards me has been very warm, which instantly makes me feel comfortable.

“I’ve been amazed by the club because already I see the big difference in the organisation of the English and Spanish clubs in terms of the attention shown to the players.

“It makes me realise there is still a lot to learn in Spain. I would like to thank everyone for making me feel so welcome.”

Torres will miss out on a debut at Crewe tomorrow, but should be fit to face Werder Bremen in Switzerland on Tuesday.

“I’m looking forward to wearing the number nine shirt for the first time,” he said.

“I know what this number means at Liverpool and those who’ve worn it. It brings a lot of responsibility, but I will be proud to wear it.

“I’m particularly looking forward to wearing it at Anfield.”

JULY 13
Avi Cohen's advice convinces
Yossi Benayoun over Liverpool move

By James Pearce - Liverpool Echo

When Yossi Benayoun was told of Liverpool's interest, he knew exactly where to turn for advice.

The 27-year-old Israel international had been offered a lucrative new contract by West Ham who were desperate to keep him at Upton Park.

But the lure of Champions League football and the chance to play under Rafa Benitez swayed him towards                              (Photo: Shankly Gates)
a new challenge and any lingering doubts were soon dispelled by a phone call to his homeland.

Benayoun got in touch with former Liverpool defender Avi Cohen, who was the first Israeli to ever play for the Reds.

Cohen is now chairman of the Israel Professional Footballers Association and the 50-year-old was only too happy to steer Benayoun in the right direction.

"In my job as chairman of the PFA I'm in touch with all the top Israeli players regularly," Cohen said.

"Yossi rang me recently, said that Liverpool were interested in him and asked me what I thought he should do.

"He knew I used to play for the club and I told him 'listen, do not even hesitate. When Liverpool ask you to sign you just sign'.

"I said that even if he was offered less money than he was earning at West Ham it didn't matter.

"This is a great opportunity and chances like this don't come around very often.

"He was very happy when I spoke to him and I know he is really looking forward to proving himself.

"He comes from a very poor neighbourhood in the south of Israel and now by signing for Liverpool he has really reached the top – this is a Cinderella story."

Benayoun will become the third Israeli to play for the Reds, following in the footsteps of Cohen and striker Ronny Rosenthal.

The omens are good. Both his predecessors played in title-winning Liverpool teams and Cohen believes the attacking midfielder has the qualities to help the Reds challenge for the Premiership.

"Yossi is the captain of Israel and the star of the national team," he said. "He has played very well for West Ham and has shown he has got the ability and talent to perform at the highest level.

"Yossi is very skilful and clever. He is good at being able to spot the right pass to play.

"Liverpool have been looking for someone like him and I'm sure he will be a great success.

"He can play as a striker or out wide and I think he will suit Liverpool's style of play very well.

"His move to Liverpool is big news here in Israel and everyone has been talking about it. He is a star here but this is his chance to become a big name around the world."

Cohen expects Benayoun's spell at Anfield to be more illustrious than his own.

He was signed by Bob Paisley for £200,000 from Maccabi Tel Aviv in May 1979 but struggled to establish himself as a regular.

The highlight of his 23 appearances was the final game of the 1979-80 season when the Reds clinched the title with a 4-1 win over Aston Villa at Anfield.

The defender scored an own goal in front of the Kop but made amends by restoring the Reds' lead after the break.

Finding himself behind Alan Kennedy and Richard Money in the pecking order, Cohen was released in 1981 and returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Six years later he had a brief spell under Graeme Souness at Rangers before ending his career at Maccabi Netanya.

Now living just outside Tel Aviv, he is busy working for the Israeli PFA but retains strong links with the Reds.

"I've been in the job for two years now and it's a big challenge," he said.

"I still keep in touch with a number of my old Liverpool team-mates and recently I spoke to Sammy Lee.

"Playing for Liverpool was a great time in my life – we won the league and I was still there when we won the European Cup against Real Madrid.

"I went back to Anfield for the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea last season. I took my kids with me and it was wonderful showing them where I used to play. They were amazed by the atmosphere.

"Liverpool as a club hasn't changed since I played there – it's still the greatest in the world.

"They've won so many trophies and now with the new investment in the team I'm looking forward to watching them get even better.”

JULY 12
Liverpool signing Babel is the new Henry

By John Edwards - Daily Mail

It may sound a bit steep for a 20-year old still making his way in the game, but Marco van Basten, no less, is adamant Liverpool have acquired another Thierry Henry with their £11.5million outlay on Ryan Babel.

The Dutch league might have lost some of the sheen that was still dazzling foreign visitors as recently as the 1995-96 season, when Howard Wilkinson's Leeds United were turfed out of the UEFA Cup by an 8-3 aggregate score that by no means flattered an unstoppable PSV Eindhoven.

Babel is clearly in a league of his own, though, judging by the accolade he brings with him from Ajax to Anfield and the person who gave it to him.

For all Holland's renown for producing world-beaters up front, current national coach Van Basten stands comparison with the best and will always be remembered for the stunning volley from a seemingly impossible angle that left Russia's keeper Rinat Dassayev grasping at air in the 1988 European Championship final in Munich.

The vision that made him one of the eminent members of a multi-talented AC Milan side now extends to spotting talent for his home country and he had no doubts about Babel's pedigree.

"He has all the potential to become the next Thierry Henry," he said. "The pace, movement, finishing, feel for the game — it's all there. If he keeps developing and improving there is no saying what he might achieve in the game."

Babel could scarcely have wished for more lavish praise and it was no hasty appraisal, either.

Delivered in the build-up to last summer's World Cup finals after naming the Ajax flyer in his Holland squad, Van Basten based his view on no fewer than four years' worth of tuition and careful evaluation.

After suffering the heartbreak of rejection as a starry-eyed 10-year-old, Babel was taken on by his home club 12 months later and soon began to stand out, even in Ajax's academy.

By 15, with his first professional contract still three years away, he was terrorising defences to such a degree that first-team coach Ronald Koeman was summoned.

As he stood by the side of the pitch and marvelled at the local kid with the Henry looks and pace to match, Koeman quickly concluded that he had found the perfect pupil for his friend Van Basten's fledgling skills as a coach.

His coaching badges newly attained and with one eye already trained on moving into management, Van Basten needed little persuading to aid Babel's rapid development.

He began a series of one-to-one training sessions that accelerated his teenage prodigy's advance towards a first-team spot at the Amsterdam ArenA.

It duly arrived two months after Babel's 17th birthday, when he helped Ajax to a 4-0 win over Den Haag with a performance that set the tone for spectacular debuts.

Barely 13 months later, he earned his first Holland cap, as substitute for Arjen Robben, and became his country's youngest goalscorer for 68 years by rounding off a 2-0 win in Romania.

Five months short of his 21st birthday, he has already made 14 senior appearances, but his match-winning exploits at this summer's European Under 21s really announced him to English audiences.

Some onlookers from these shores were already familiar with what he had to offer, judging by mounting transfer speculation which at one stage portrayed him as a near certainty to replace Henry at Arsenal.

The conjecture evidently reached Babel's ears and his response may prove a source of embarrassment when he is soon paraded as Liverpool's latest big-money signing.

"If I got the chance, one day, to train with Arsene Wenger, it would be a dream come true," he gushed. "From when I was young, I always supported Arsenal. I like their style, everything about them."

It may raise a few eyebrows in and around Anfield, but Liverpool followers will forgive anything for the chance to end an 18-year wait for a League title.

All it needs is for Babel to start proving the Henry comparisons were well founded and the verbal indiscretion and mindboggling £2.5m pay-off from Ajax — his cut of the transfer fee — will count for nothing.

He is clearly in the mood, saying: "I think the Premiership is maybe the best league in the world. The standard is so high, but I believe I am ready to test myself in it."

JULY 12
Benayoun completes Anfield move

Football 365

West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun has completed his move to Liverpool, signing a four-year deal with the Anfield club.

Benayoun completed his protracted transfer by committing himself to the club until 2011.

The two Barclays Premier League clubs spent several weeks haggling over the value of the 27-year-old, who had held off signing a new contract at Upton Park once he learned of Liverpool's interest.

However, a fee - believed to be £5million - was finally agreed on Wednesday and the formalities of the deal were completed with the player on Thursday.

Manager Rafael Benitez has been looking to add more creativity to his side and, having sold Luis Garcia, viewed Benayoun as an ideal replacement.

"I first saw him play for Racing Santander in La Liga when he was a really good player, but when he first came to England we were watching to be sure he could adapt to a different style of football," Benitez said of the Israel international.

"It's clear he's done this very well at West Ham. Liverpool fans will remember how he played in the (2006) FA Cup final against us when he was outstanding.

"We thought then this was a player who is capable of stepping up to a higher level."

Benitez revealed that once the player was made aware of Liverpool's interest he needed no persuading to move to Anfield.

"He was offered a big new contract at West Ham and received offers from a lot of other clubs offering him more money but Yossi's message was always the same," Benitez told the club's website.

"He said he was desperate to only join Liverpool because this was his dream. When Rick (Parry, chief executive), the Americans (co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks) and I spoke about the player, we all agreed this is the kind of attitude we and our supporters really like.

"When you have quality players with his ability showing so much passion to play for your club, it's really good for the team."

Benitez has been busy in the transfer market earlier than usual this summer as he tries to assemble a squad capable of making a sustained challenge for the Premier League title.

Having agreed a deal for forward Andriy Voronin, he broke the club's transfer record to bring Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres to Anfield for £20million and the arrival of Benayoun and young Dutch winger Ryan Babel will almost complete his spending.

The Spaniard continues to be linked with Manchester United's Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze.

JULY 12
Liverpool agree £11.5 million Babel fee

The Times

Liverpool have agreed an £11.5 million fee for Ryan Babel,
the Ajax winger.

A statement on the Dutch club's website said: "The attacker [Babel], who had a contract at Ajax up to July 1 2010, has signed an agreement for five years.”

Babel, who has also been a transfer target for Arsenal, was a member of the Netherlands team that won the under-21 European Championships on home soil in June.

He made his full international debut against Romania in 2005 and has scored four goals in 14 appearances for his country.

The 20-year-old, a product of the Amsterdam club's famed academy, made his Ajax debut aged 17. He had said he was happy to spend another season in the Dutch Eredivisie, but also that he was looking forward to testing himself in the Premiership at some stage.

"I think it's maybe the best league," said Babel. "It's a very high level and there is good football."

Babel would be the third major signing for the Merseyside club this summer, following the arrivals of Fernando Torres in a £20.2 million switch from Atletico Madrid and Andriy Voronin on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.

JULY 11
Benayoun excites Benitez

By Ken Gaunt - PA Sport

Rafael Benitez believes Yossi Benayoun will be an ideal replacement for Luis Garcia as he is desperate to play
for Liverpool.

The Israel midfielder is set to secure a deal at Anfield after a fee, believed to be £5million, was agreed with West Ham.

He could be joined by £10million-rated Ryan Babel in a remarkable double swoop after Ajax gave Liverpool permission to talk to the player.

Holland Under-21 winger Babel is reportedly on his way to Merseyside for a medical.

Benayoun comes with the right credentials, according to Benitez, who sees similarities with Garcia now at Atletico Madrid.

"Maybe Luis is a player who scores more goals and Benayoun tends to make more assists," Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.

"Like Luis, he is a very technical, clever player with a lot of game intelligence.

"He can also play in many positions, giving us a different option for the team.

"He was offered a big new contract at West Ham and received offers from a lot of other clubs offering him more money.

"But Yossi's message was always the same. He said he was desperate to only join Liverpool because this was his dream.

"When you have quality players with his ability showing so much passion to play for your club, it's really good for the team."

Liverpool have already stated their ambition this summer by signing former Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen strikers Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.

The club's co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are delighted at the way the squad is being improved.

Hicks, owner of Major League Baseball franchise Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars National Hockey League side, told Sky Sports News: "Rafa has done a great job.

"We talked to him about a plan and it has gone pretty much how we agreed it would go.

"The first was to get existing core players on our team to sign extensions, it was critical to get those guys locked up.

"Then we started with process of getting new players in. I wouldn't rule Rafa out for one more [transfer]. I know the team is going to be a better team.

"Part of the plan Rafa explained was that we needed to have more depth as it is a long season, particularly in the Premier League.

"He explained to George and me that we were able to compete better in the Champions League because of the format than we were in the nine to 10 months of the Premier League.

"We tried to add to that depth and I think we have."

Benayoun and Babel will increase manager Benitez's creative options in midfield.

Benayoun moved to England from Spanish side Racing Santander for £2.5million in 2005 and scored eight goals in 72 games for the club.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said: "We've agreed the fee with West Ham for Yossi Benayoun.

"We're not quite there with Ryan Babel yet but we've now been given permission by Ajax to talk to the player.

"We hope to reach an agreement with Ajax very shortly."

JULY 11
Thommo: Benitez still building

By Gareth Bourne - Sky Sports

People will argue that after splashing £20m on Fernando Torres this summer the pressure is on Rafa Benitez to deliver the title to Liverpool.

But it is difficult to expect the likes of Fernando Torres to fire the Reds to glory in his first year in English football as we have seen in the past with Didier Drogba at Chelsea.

This is the first time since Benitez arrived at Anfield that he has been able to spend like Manchester United and Chelsea on big players.

Yes he has spent a lot in his three years at the club but this is the first time he has been able to go out and spend £20m+ on one player.

As Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho will know having that type of money to spend brings its own pressures and Rafa will have to deal with that.

After reaching the Champions League final for the second time in three years this season was always going to be a big one but with the investment from the new owners Rafa has to deliver.

I know from my own time at Liverpool with Gerard Houllier the pressure comes on after three or four years and all of a sudden everybody is expecting you to take the next step.

Yet I believe that if Liverpool are to end their 17 year wait for the League title they need to sign more established world class players like Torres.

Ajax's Ryan Babel is a highly promising youngster, while Yossi Benayoun and Gabi Heinze (if he signs) are quality if not world beating players.

But Rafa must look at United's summer spending and realise how high the bar has been raised, with Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and maybe Carlos Tevez all major additions to the champions squad.

Fernando Torres is a fantastic player but it is going to take him a year to settle into English football and at 23 he can't be expected to carry Liverpool on his own.

If the board can give Rafa further funds to go out and entice another couple of 'marquee players' to Anfield then I will be more convinced at their chances of capturing the Premiership title.

Lets not forget that Liverpool finished last year 21 points behind United, who have strengthened heavily again, and 15 behind Chelsea who have made some shrewd free transfer signings as well as adding Florence Malouda to their ranks.

Rafa's primary objective must be to close that gap on the top two and ensure that Liverpool can compete and push hard for the title all season and not be left behind after just 10 games.

Benitez knows the Premiership is the Holy Grail for Liverpool and their fans and with a bit more backing and a bit more time he will get there, just maybe not this year.

JULY 11
Torres signing excites Gerrard

By Al Campbell - LFC Online

The signing of Fernando Torres is a statement of intent believes Steven Gerrard.

The £20m signing of Torres from Athletico Madrid shows Liverpool are ready to make a serious title challenge believes Steven Gerrard.

"Torres has all the attributes to become firmly established as world class. Some of the other players we're being linked with excite me too. It's great to see us looking at young, hungry players with their best years ahead of them," said the Reds' captain.

"Since I've been in the first team I can't remember us making such a major statement of intent in the transfer market as this.

"In recent years it's only really been Manchester United and Chelsea buying players around the £20m mark, so it's great to see us able to compete for players of that kind of value.

"The Liverpool board has always backed the manager and we've invested heavily over the years. Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier spent a lot of money, but we've all been looking for that extra step to close the gap and attract the kind of players United and Chelsea are able to afford.

"This is the first summer in a long time we've been able to do that. I'll bet players and fans from other clubs have been looking at us and thinking: 'Aye, aye, Liverpool are making a move for some of the big boys now.'

"That's what's so exciting. When the American owners took over they talked about three stages. The first was proceeding with the new stadium, which they're doing. Then they wanted to secure the key players on long-term contracts, which they've done.

"Stage three is all about spending money on the players to make us compete for the Premiership, which has now started.

"We're looking in great shape, not only going into this season, but for the next few years."

JULY 7
Gerrard: Americans can make us great

Sporting Life

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes the club is heading in a new direction and the finances made available by American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks can make
the Reds "a great team".

Manager Rafael Benitez completed the club-record signing of striker Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid this week and is targeting further signings as he seeks to break the Premier League stranglehold of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Gerrard praised Gillett and Hicks for backing Benitez financially, believing they have set the club on the way to restoring former glories.

The England midfielder described the American duo as "classy guys with sharp business minds".

"By handing Benitez the finance to strengthen, we can go from a good team to a great team," Gerrard writes in the paperback update of his autobiography out next week, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The 27-year-old also hailed Benitez as an "outstanding" manager, although he admitted he was surprised by some of his tactical decisions in the 2-1 Champions League final defeat to AC Milan in Athens - not least leaving it late to bring on striker Peter Crouch.

"Rafa came up with the right game-plan in Athens," said Gerrard, referring to the manager's decision to swamp Milan's midfield with a 4-5-1 formation.

"In the second half (with Liverpool losing 1-0), I expected some subs sharpish.

"I trust Rafa. The manager clearly had belief in the players who were on, but I was surprised Crouchy did not come on earlier. Not just Crouchy, any sub. We needed something different."

Thor Zakariassen ©