MAY 6
Parry: No hurry on Gerrard contract

By Mike McGrath - PA Sport

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry wants to be competing for the Premiership but insists there is no rush for Steven Gerrard to commit his career to the club and lead the charge.

Rafael Benitez's men will play in the Champions League final later this month but Parry admits there will need to be strengthening if they are to also compete domestically.

Benitez is expecting to bolster his squad and build a team around Gerrard, who is in negotiations over a new contract to keep him at the club for his entire career.

"We're as keen as ever," said Parry on BBC Five Live's Sportsweek. "It's always been our aim to keep Steven at the club for the rest of his career. In no way has that diminished.

"He's ambitious and wants us to be winning trophies so the more successful we are and the more finals we are in, the happier he will be in the long term.

"We're not putting a timescale on it. We're keen to do it, he's keen to do it and it will get done. What we're focusing on now is the final."

Liverpool have the chance to win two Champions League titles in three years but they slipped behind the pace in the Premiership and are 21 points behind leaders Manchester United going into the final week of the season.

Parry hopes to be competing at the summit soon, adding: "It's where we and our supporters want to be. We will continue to strive for the title.

"We have improved the squad year on year, clearly again we've fallen a little short and are not quite there.

"We will continue to try to strengthen. It's not about big names or small names, it's about players to improve the squad, it's all about quality."

Liverpool face AC Milan in the Champions League final in Athens, a repeat of the 2005 final when Benitez's men famously came from 3-0 behind to win on penalties.

"We have a better team and a stronger squad than 2005," said Parry. "That win will never leave the memories of those who were there but it's a different game. Our initial aim is not to be 3-0 down at half-time this time."

Their run to the final has been part of an auspicious start to the reign of new American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who Parry believes are realising what they have bought into.

"I think they understood the passion and the atmosphere before they took over, but if they didn't then they certainly do now," he said. "They feel it and believe it as much as possible."

APRIL 16
Reds stars set to sign

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Liverpool hope to tie up the spine of Rafa Benitez’s side on new long-term contracts by the end of next week.

Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have all made progress in negotiations – overseen by Foster Gillett and Rick Parry – over the last few days to renew their terms at the club.

And the Reds hope to conclude talks sooner rather than later as the new owners take their first significant steps to protecting the key elements of Benitez’s squad.

It’s no secret Reina, Gerrard and Carragher will happily renew deals, but there is increasing confidence Alonso will join them, fending off keen interest from La Liga clubs such as Barcelona.

Alonso said last week he expected to wait until the summer before discussing a deal, but Benitez is determined to keep the midfielder who he sees as a pivotal part of his plans and hopes to sort his situation much sooner.

Liverpool now hope a series of positive announcements on the contracts of these players will follow imminently.

Benitez recently told owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks that while it’s important to invest in new players, of even greater urgency was safeguarding those already at the club.

Under new UEFA regulations, many players with only two years left on their deals are able to buy themselves out of the remainder of their contracts, significantly reducing their value unless they’re kept on longer-term agreements.

APRIL 5
Rafa in a hurry to tie up Reds deals

TEAMtalk

Rafael Benitez wants new contracts sorted out for his top Liverpool stars before the end of the current season.

The Reds boss is aware of interest in Anfield's finest performers and has already discussed the situation with new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Top of Benitez's list are skipper Steven Gerrard, Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso and key defender Jamie Carragher.

It was initially believed that Benitez saw solving the contract problems as a major job for the summer to be completed by the beginning of next season.

But now the Reds chief has indicated he wants players to sign on the dotted line before the current campaign is concluded, which Liverpool fans hope will be in a Champions League final in Athens on May 23.

It is the urgency on Benitez's part to complete the deals that is something of a surprise.

The Spaniard clearly wants the current squad satisfied before he starts his summer spending spree, having been promised substantial funds by the new owners although his only words on the subject at present are: "We are talking now to the players."

But now the 47-year-old is in a hurry to make sure Gerrard and Carragher - the local boys at the heart of his side - are tied down to new deals sooner rather than later.

Under new FIFA rules, players can buy themselves out of the final year of their contracts, and that could see Alonso being free to leave in the summer and Gerrard and Carragher in the next two years.

Other players are also likely to be involved in new discussions, including goalkeeper Jose Reina.

Reina said on Thursday in a Liverpool Echo interview: "We will be speaking to the new owners over the next few days, but I've said many times now I'm really happy at Liverpool and I want to extend my contract.

"The key for any growing team is not only to improve with new players, but also to make sure the key players and the spine of the side stays together. Then you can build an even stronger team around this. That spine is here at Liverpool.

"The project will be to build a team which is massive and can win many things. The new owners have said before they make transfers they first of all want to prepare new deals.

"Then I'm sure they will think about the summer. At this moment, the future looks brilliant. I've not met the owners yet, but I'm sure it will happen soon."

Benitez is also preparing his summer shopping list, and significantly he did not rule out a move for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, who this week has gone on record as saying he would love to play alongside Gerrard.

Benitez's reaction was: "Samuel is very clever, normally everyone wants to play alongside Steven (Gerrard) or Xabi (Alonso). But we can talk about players in the next few months.

"But Samuel Eto'o is a good player, and so is Stevie. It would be normal they would want to play together. But it is just speculation, at the moment it means nothing."

APRIL 5
Reina: We must keep key players

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Pepe Reina believes the first priority of Liverpool’s new owners will be
to protect the ‘spine’ of a side which can inspire an exciting new era of success.

Manager Rafa Benitez has already urged George Gillett and Tom Hicks to act swiftly to renew the contracts of players like Reina, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso.

Reina was linked with a return to La Liga earlier this season, but has stated emphatically he wants to stay on Merseyside.

He says he expects contract talks to start imminently and is also keen for other key members of the team to be handed fresh terms.

“We will be speaking to the new owners over the next few days, but I’ve said many times now I’m really happy at Liverpool and I want to extend my contract,” explained Reina.

“The key for any growing team is not only to improve with new players, but also to make sure the key players and the spine of the side stays together. Then you can build an even stronger team around this. That spine is here at Liverpool.

“The project will be to build a team which is massive and can win many things. The new owners have said before they make transfers they first of all want to prepare new deals. Then I’m sure they will think about the summer. At this moment, the future looks brilliant.

“I’ve not met the owners yet, but I’m sure it will happen soon.”

APRIL 4
Gillett: Boss will get funds to compete

Liverpool Echo

New Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has refused to speculate on the transfer kitty available to manager Rafael Benitez in the summer but he has promised to back his Spanish coach.

Reports claimed Benitez would be handed £40m by Gillett and fellow co-owner Tom Hicks, who were in Holland last night to witness the Reds' impressive 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg victory over PSV Eindhoven.

Since assuming official control of the club the American duo have seen Liverpool demolish Arsenal 4-1 in the Premiership at the weekend and virtually book their place in the last four of Europe's elite club competition.

However, despite those results Gillett is aware Benitez needs huge financial backing if the club are to compete in the Premiership and on the continent.

"Rafa has been very good about his plan but we won't discuss that publicly," said Gillett. "We believe in building a winning tradition and that means building something for the long term so we can be successful."

The American duo have been going over the plans for the club's new 60,000-seater stadium in Stanley Park to ascertain whether extending it would be aviable option.

However, Gillett denied they were trying to compete with arch-rivals Manchester United, whose Old Trafford ground holds 76,000, and instead pointed to the economic impact of Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium with its increased capacity.

"I think we have to be economically competitive it is not to be larger than Old Trafford or smaller than Old Trafford," he said.

"Arsenal have set a new standard on game-day revenue - they set a new standard on quality and revenue.

"We want to be competitive. We don't want to fall behind."

MARCH 29
Rafa: We have our work cut out

By Carl Markham - PA Sport

New American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks may have completed their takeover of Liverpool this week but manager Rafael Benitez has stressed the club need to do much more if they are to become genuine title contenders.

On Tuesday the US duo announced they had acquired more than 98% of shares in just eight weeks to be able to take the club into private ownership.

They have promised to back Benitez in the transfer market and the Spaniard accepted he needed to make improvements to his squad, who are currently 21 points behind Barclays Premiership leaders Manchester United.

"I said before when we started this season that I was happy because we had a better squad than last season," said Benitez, who still has his sights set on repeating his 2005 Champions League success with the Reds with a quarter-final against PSV Eindhoven to come next month.

"I think that it is true that you always want to improve; maybe you think you are better but also the other teams are improving.

"We are close but I think we need to do more things if we want to be closer and if we want to be contenders."

On the effect of the Americans' takeover, Benitez added: "I think it's very positive.

"I hope that they will try to do the best for the club because when you want to buy a club and you want to invest big money it means that you want to be successful and that you want to win everything.

"I think that can be really good for us. If everything is going in the right direction I think it can be a very good time for all of the people involved."

Benitez is central to those future plans, having dismissed speculation he could be set for a return to La Liga when Real Madrid reportedly put him top of their wanted list to replace current coach Fabio Capello.

Having sought reassurances from the new owners - with the pair set to meet the manager at the weekend's crunch match against Arsenal at Anfield - Benitez again re-iterated his desire to stay at Anfield and work with the American tycoons to make the Reds a genuine force in English football again.

"I am really happy here and everything is okay and I think it can be a very good opportunity for doing something for the [Liverpool] history," he told the League Managers' Association's website, www.leaguemanagers.com.

FEBRUARY 23
Reds ready to unleash Mascherano

By Paul Walker - PA Sport

Rafael Benitez believes that he can give Javier Mascherano a platform to prove to a doubting English public that he is a great player.

Liverpool finally received Premier League permission to complete the deal to sign the Argentinian while they were in Barcelona this week.

He was an unused substitute in the Nou Camp as Liverpool produced one of the best European results in their history in beating Barca 2-1 in the Champions League.

And there is every chance that the midfielder will be involved in some capacity against Sheffield United at Anfield on Saturday.

Benitez is certain the 24 year-old's move to Anfield will be a success. He said: "He plays for one of the best national teams in the world, he needs to play, which he wasn't at West Ham.

"Maybe the first six months in England was difficult because of the language. But he has spent six months learning English and he is with us with Spanish staff and players, I feel we will see the best of him now.

"He now knows more about the Premier League and he can progress here."

Benitez added: "He has character and experience, he played in the World Cup and has been watched by a lot of big clubs. Now he will have the chance to show people in England he is a good player.

"He has not played for a long time, but he is fit and has been training with us for a few weeks. All he needs is match fitness now.

"He has quality and a good mentality, now he can speak English better and understand the difficulties of the Premiership. He will be ready soon."

Mascherano played only seven times for West Ham after arriving on the last day of the summer transfer window with countryman Carlos Tevez.

But while Tevez has had regular outings with the Hammers, Mascherano was not in the plans of either previous boss Alan Pardew or current manager Alan Curbishley.

And Mascherano believes he can produce his best form at Anfield, saying: "I want to do my work and show that I still have the same ambitions as when I arrived in England. Rafa Benitez gave me a lot of confidence from the first moment that I spoke with him.

"Now a new page starts in my career and I want to again be the player that I was some time ago and fight for a place at Liverpool.

"I want to give my best to this club, who made such a big effort to have me in the squad. I want to work very hard for Liverpool and for myself to win a place again in the Argentinian national team."

Benitez explains: "With Mascherano we have another option, he is a player with experience and is a very good character and is competitive. It will be good to create competition among the players.

"He has not been playing for a long time but I have confidence in him because he has character.

"I remember at Valencia I signed players and people said 'but he is not playing'. But the other players were working harder and we won the league.

People questioned me bringing in Mauricio Pellegrino, but he is a winner and put Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia under pressure. In the end, if the player is the right one and has the right mentality, it is positive for the team.

"Maybe he struggled with the style of play when he first arrived. But we are talking about a player who was at the World Cup and with River Plate and Corinthians, top sides in Argentina and Brazil. I think he will be a good player for us."

FEBRUARY 19
Benitez wants youngsters
to be his Liverpool legacy

By Ian Doyle - Liverpool Daily Post

When George Gillett and Tom Hicks breezed into Anfield earlier this month, the prospect of leaving a “legacy” was central to the charm offensive of Liverpool’s new American owners.

For Rafael Benitez, however, ensuring a prosperous future at the club has been a significant focus of his tenure since arriving on Merseyside in the summer of 2004.

It didn’t take long for the Spaniard to determine there was a worrying shortfall in youthful talent capable of breaking into the first-team ranks.

With Liverpool having this week won through to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in defence of the trophy they won last year, it would appear that, at under-18 level at least, there are now reasons for encouragement.

But the performance of Arsenal’s reserves in the infamous Carling Cup defeat last month, even if four goals of the Gunners’ six goals that night were netted by a Brazilian international valued at £20million, demonstrated the gap Liverpool have yet to bridge.

That there is such a difference comes down to one thing – money.

While Liverpool’s scouting department have traipsed around the world in search of promising players, it has been the likes of Arsenal that, fortified by greater backing, have been able to pick off the cream of young talent.

Theo Walcott, Denilson and Vassiriki Diaby, who all appeared in that 6-3 win and whose combined initial transfer fees reach at least £12million, were players tracked by Liverpool only for Benitez to have to step aside as the asking price increased.

Instead, the lack of comparative spending power has forced the Spaniard and his scouting staff to utilise their ingenuity and opportunism to broker deals.

Benitez has so far signed 17 players during his reign with a view to strengthening the reserve team, with more set to arrive in the coming months.

In January’s transfer window alone, six youngsters stepped in at Anfield: Dutch striker Jordy Brouwer, Italian goalkeeper Daniele Padelli, Sweden’s Astrit Ajdarevic, Spanish midfielder Francis Duran, Argentine defender Emiliano Insua and Paraguayan Ronald Huth.

A mixture of loan deals and cheap purchases, the outlay on the half dozen probably wouldn’t buy half a Walcott.

But Benitez insists that even if only one of that batch emerges as a first-team squad member, it will have been a worthwhile venture.

“When you sign a young player, sometimes it is a gamble,” he admits.

“If we don’t have big money we can’t spend £4million on a young player, so we have to look at other players with quality.

“The reserve team are playing really well at the moment. They aren’t winning many games because they are too young for that league.

“But it is a better team in terms of the football they play and the possibilities of breaking into the first team than two years ago.

“Some of the players are 17 or 18 years old, and it is too soon for them. We need to keep them in the reserves. We have enough quality now for one or two players to come through each year.”

Of course, the landscape is now poised to change with the arrival of Liverpool’s new American owners, who spoke enthusiastically about the importance of a strong youth set-up and are almost certain to provide Benitez improved backing in bolstering his reserves.

But splashing the cash on teenagers is no guarantee of success, as Liverpool have discovered with the supposed ‘French Gems’, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Anthony Le Tallec, bought for a combined total of £6m by Gerard Houllier in 2002 but out of the picture under Benitez.

Le Tallec is currently spending the season on loan at Sochaux after having been at Sunderland last year and has little chance of a future at Anfield.

And although Sinama-Pongolle is enjoying greater success at Recreativo de Huelva in Spain, he is likely to make the move permanent if the La Liga side can raise the finances.

While that experience acts as a warning for Benitez as he continues rebuilding Liverpool’s youth ranks, the Spaniard is confident his current policy of stockpiling affordable young talent will pay dividends in the near future.

He adds: “Sometimes the scouts can find a player who is top class and isn’t too expensive, and you have to see how they adapt.

“But if you sign five players for maybe £1m and only one of them progresses to the first team, then it is worth the gamble.

“If we can keep doing that for three, four years, then I’m sure there will be one or two players for the first team every year.”

That’s the kind of legacy Gillett, Hicks and Benitez would all agree is worth pursuing.

FEBRUARY 1
Reds new boy relishes battle

By Paul Walker - PA Sport

Liverpool's latest Spanish import Alvaro Arbeloa claims he is not frightened of the challenge of trying to catch both Manchester United and Chelsea at the head of the Premier League.

The 24 year-old full-back, signed for £2.5million from Deportivo La Coruna on deadline day and set to be plunged straight into Saturday's Merseyside derby at home to Everton, cannot wait to get stuck into his new job.

Former Real Madrid reserves' skipper Arbeloa becomes the 10th Spanish-speaking member of the Anfield playing staff, and Javier Mascherano will make that 11.

The defender, who was unveiled on Thursday by the club, along with 18 year-old Francis Duran, a midfielder from Malaga, relishes the chance of an immediate challenge to the Premiership's two.

Arbeloa said: "I have joined to try to become a key player and we are not that far behind Chelsea and Manchester United, so that is still possible this season, and I am not scared of the task ahead.

"I will enjoy working with the great players in the Liverpool dressing room, and to learn from them.

"It is an important step in my career to come here, the players in Spain talk a lot about what they see of the English game on TV and the pace and skill shown.

"That is what I have to learn. The game is much faster than in Spain, and I am looking forward to coming to terms with that.

"I do not feel it will be too much of a problem. There is speed and also a more physical game, but maybe that will help me as a defender because more tackles are allowed here that would be penalised in Spain.

"And I am also looking forward to the derby. I have experienced such games in Spain and I know how important they are to the people and the city.

"This is a unique opportunity. It feels great to join a club with such history and fantastic support and superb players and a very good manager.

"Rafa made a great reputation for himself in Spain and the team he put together at Valencia. Coming to work for him is wonderful for me because I believe it will make me a better player.

"In Spain, Liverpool is known as the biggest and best club in England and that is because of the history and the trophies won in the past. This has been added to by what Rafa has achieved here.

"And of course there a lot of Spanish players in the ranks now, so that will help me."

JANUARY 30
Liverpool snap up Depor defender

Eurosport

Liverpool have continued their flurry of activity ahead of Wednesday night's transfer deadline by setting up the signing of Deportivo La Coruna defender Alvaro Arbeloa.

With Rafa Benitez targeting three signings over the next couple of days, the centre back is travelling to Merseyside to undergo a medical.

Malaga's Francis Duran has agreed to his switch to Anfield and Javier Mascherano looks likely to obtain permission from FIFA to arrive from West Ham.

Benitez has looked to his homeland again to swoop for Arbeloa after thrashing out a deal with Depor.

"The club has got a very good investment," declared coach Joaquin Caparros in confirming the transfer.

Real Madrid are entitled to 50 percent of the profit on the money earned on the 24-year-old, who has made 14 appearances this term, after he started his career with the capital club.

Arbeloa is at home at centre half or right back.

"I'm as surprised as anyone," he said. "It looks like a good move for me and Depor - especially as they are going to get double what they paid for me."

JANUARY 30
Rafa's hungry like a wolf for Duran

TEAMtalk

Liverpool are set to acquire the services of promising Spanish midfielder Francis Duran from Second Division team Malaga.

The 18-year-old will travel to Liverpool on Tuesday and is expected to sign a professional contract with the Reds, according to the Spanish media.

Francis made his debut with Malaga's first team earlier this month but does not have a professional contract with the Andalucian outfit.

Instead, the midfielder has caught Liverpool's attention with a series of superb displays for their youth side.

Francis has been a target of Primera Liga side Real Zaragoza but Liverpool appear to have beaten them to the punch.

"It's a unique opportunity and I couldn't let it go by," Francis told the Spanish press.

JANUARY 12
Rafa spells out Reds' priorities

TEAMtalk

Rafael Benitez has come out fighting after the worst week of his Liverpool career by insisting domestic cups are not his priority.

The Liverpool chief will have all his big guns back for the Premiership game at bottom club Watford, and makes it clear his team selection against Arsenal in the Carling Cup was deliberate to underline his true priorities.

Benitez said: "You always need to know what is more important for your club. If you want to sign top players you need the money from Europe and the Premier League, not from the Carling Cup.

"You only get this money by finishing in the top four, we can only be focused on the really important competitions.

"I must take the responsibility and make the decisions. How many players can we risk being injured like Momo Sissoko and Luis Garcia have been?

"I have to decide. My priority is not to win the Carling Cup, I will not put the Premier League and Champions League second to that competition."

Defeat to Arsenal twice in four days in the FA Cup and Carling Cup has even seen bookies slash the odds on Benitez leaving from 50-1 to 16-1, but Liverpool dismiss any such suggestion as nonsense.

Benitez is defiant over the criticism and maintains his achievements in 31 months at Anfield stand up to close scrutiny.

He added: "It has been a bad week, with everything changing as far as the cups are concerned, but we are positive.

"It is clear we are third in the Premier League and in the last 16 of the Champions League. It is a good situation and I accept it could be better had we won one or two of the last games, but are really focused on the Premiership and Champions League.

"I feel some of the criticism has been over the top, but you expect critics to say these things.

"I want to clarify that I have no problems with the board, they want the best for the club and so do I. We are trying to improve and how to do it, we are talking every week and I believe going in the right direction.

"The board, chairman, chief executive Rick Parry and me all feel the same way. That's why we are talking to new investors, that is why they brought me here. Liverpool have gone 17 years without the title, so tell me what is my priority?"

Benitez will be without Luis Garcia (knee ligaments) now for the rest of the season after sustaining his injury on Tuesday.

He said: "It is important to have a good memory. This club has not won the league for 17 years, we need to improve. The last manager couldn't do it and we are all trying to improve and move in the right direction.

"But I cannot see many clubs who have won four trophies in two seasons, including the Champions League. As a manager you must have the big picture and know what is the most important thing.

"And that's the Premier League and Champions League. If you finish in the top four and progress in the Champions League you will have more money to sign top-class players.

"We will play Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona in one month and these are the more important games. We need all our players available for these games."

He added: "The cups are also important, but with the squad we have maybe we cannot compete for all four competitions. I must have priorities.

"The Premier League is the future of the club. Two seasons ago we lost at Burnley in the FA Cup and everyone was saying how bad the team was, then we won the Champions League four months later.

"That meant we had the money to sign Sissoko, (Bolo) Zenden, (Peter) Crouch. That was the most important thing for the future of the club.

"As a manager I have the responsibility to look at the bigger picture. All I know is that we have a better chance of that with all our senior players fit.

"Sometimes people forget we are third in the Premier League, ahead of Arsenal. We have a clear idea what is more important for the future of the club, and it is not the Carling Cup. It is the Premier League and the Champions League."

JANUARY 12
Benitez: There is no split

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Rafa Benitez has insisted he and his board are at one on how to take Liverpool forward, angrily refuting suggestions of a split in the aftermath of Tuesday's midweek cup exit.

The Anfield boss has launched another ferocious defence of his reign, while praising the club's hierarchy for their ambitious plans to ensure he has the resources required to bring more honours to Merseyside.

Benitez said today: "I'm really disappointed in the way things have been presented and misinterpreted since yesterday morning.

"I have no problem with my board. This club is going in the right direction, and I was brought here to improve our situation.

"We have done this in two years by winning big trophies, winning more Premiership points than we've had for 17 years and bringing in players whose value has doubled.

"Three years ago we had players like Diouf and Cheyrou who we couldn't sell. Look at the value of their replacements compared to he price we paid for them.

"The board brought me to win the Premiership, not to get to the semi-final of the Carling Cup. My relationship with them is fantastic and they have been doing their best for a long time to help bring more success. Rick Parry and the Chairman want the best for Liverpool, as we all do.

"That's why they are talking to new investors and that's why they brought me here. Why are they doing this? To help build a new stadium and to buy top class players in the future.

"Liverpool have been 17 years without winning the Premiership, so tell me what's our main priority?" he added. "Nobody wants to lose.

It's disappointing we lost, and more disappointing how we lost, but we have to look at our squad and set priorities. We have shown how much we are progressing and people who analyse the whole situation understand.

"The future of Liverpool is not the semi-final of the Carling Cup, it is challenging for the Premiership and Champions League. The Carling Cup is always a good option, but it is not the biggest priority.

"People talked about the team selection because they have no understanding of the whole situation. We need to finish in the top four to qualify for the Champions League and buy more top players. We have Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona to come here soon. Those games are more important.

"We will make mistakes, but when you look at the bigger picture you can see how much progress has been made."

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Argentinian left winger Sebastian Leto, who joins at the end of the season.

The club has completed three deals, with Emiliano Insua and Italian keeper Daniele Padelli joining.

In a hectic few days, the Lucas Neill and Javier Mascherano sagas are close to a successful conclusion after a long chase.

JANUARY 11
Rafa demands more money

By Graeme Bailey - Sky Sports

Rafa Benitez has called on the Anfield board to back him with more money and to move quicker in the transfer market.

The Liverpool boss has taken the unusual move to condemn his club's own actions in the transfer market as he feels The Reds are missing out on some top talent.

Benitez was speaking after seeing Arsenal's second string tear his own reserves apart on Tuesday as they cruised to a 6-3 victory.

"If Arsenal can play nine reserves and score six at Anfield, people should be asking why," said Benitez.

"It's not because of one game, it's because of many reasons.

"There is a lesson for the whole of our club. That lesson is that if you want to compete at the top level you must be able to spend a lot of money - not only on your first team but on the young players and the reserves.

"My scouting department has done an excellent job but sometimes we go too slowly as a club to make signings we need.

"We need to work quickly. And when we do, there is not a lot of money. Arsenal spent £4million on Abou Diaby, £4million on Denilson, £8million on Theo Walcott and Julio Baptista is a £22million player.

"We had seven players with first-team experience and still we could not win."

Benitez did confirm the club were in the process of tying up deals for Sampdoria's Danielle Padelli and James McCarthy of Hamilton.

"We are signing a young Italian goalkeeper on loan with an option for longer," said Benitez.

"We have also been working for many weeks to sign James McCarthy, a young Scot [from Hamilton Academicals].

"These are deals we are doing because we want to build for the future. But without spending money it is difficult.

"Arsenal have two or three players, for example, who we were monitoring but couldn't sign because we didn't have enough money."

Thor Zakariassen ©