MONDAY 18
	Harry boosted by Reds' missing big guns Harry Redknapp wants Spurs to be the beneficiaries of the cold snap when they face a Liverpool side without Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard. Spurs were due to face their rivals for a Champions League place earlier in the month but the match was postponed due to snow, with Gerrard and Torres then suffering injuries in the FA Cup defeat to Reading. Redknapp's own options have been bolstered by the return of Jamie O'Hara as the Premier League's transfer embargo for Portsmouth meant the midfielder could not re-register on loan at Fratton Park. "I'd be lying if I stood here and said that the absence of Gerrard and Torres won't matter," said Redknapp, ahead of the Wednesday evening fixture. "Of course, they are two world-class players, and they will miss them." (TEAMtalk) Rafa looks to add to squad Rafa Benitez admits he will try to further add to his squad in the transfer window although he is happy with the players he has at his disposal. The Liverpool boss has already brought in midfielder Maxi Rodriguez from Atletico Madrid last week but may now feel it necessary to bring in cover upfront after the news that Fernando Torres will be out for six weeks. The Reds were linked with a loan move for Kenwyne Jones on Monday but Sunderland have already stated that the front-man is not for sale. However Benitez knows funds are limited due to the club's poor financial situation and has been told that he must sell before he looks to buy. "We will see if we can do something more in the transfer window," he said. "If we cannot we will stick together for the next challenge. We have a good team, a good squad and not as bad as people think." (Sky Sports)  Kranjcar fires warning to Liverpool Niko Kranjcar says Tottenham will be looking to put some daylight between themselves and Liverpool on Wednesday in the battle for fourth place. The two teams meet at Anfield in midweek with Spurs occupying fourth spot, level on points with Manchester City and four ahead of Liverpool in seventh. Kranjcar, who has impressed since his cut-price move from Portsmouth in the summer, believes Spurs can go to Merseyside and bring back all three points. (TEAMtalk)  Cats rule out Jones-Babel swap talk Sunderland manager Steve Bruce insists he has no intention of sanctioning a swap deal involving Kenwyne Jones and Liverpool's Ryan Babel. Bruce is adamant the Black Cats will not be offloading key men during the January transfer window, despite speculation to the contrary. He claims reports regarding the future of Jones, who is believed to be a target for a number of Premier League clubs, are wide of the mark. Liverpool are one of those said to be keen on the Trinidad & Tobago striker with Rafa Benitez keen to cover the loss of Fernando Torres to injury. A deal involving Dutch winger Babel, who is unhappy at a lack of first-team opportunities at Anfield, has been mooted - but Bruce has made it clear he has no interest in discussing such an agreement. "The one thing I am trying to do is build the squad and build the squad to improve," he said. "The last thing I want to be doing is trade or anything like that." (TEAMtalk) Aurelio unimpressed by Mason Fabio Aurelio feels referee Lee Mason was partially responsible for costing Liverpool two points at Stoke. Brazilian full-back believes that Benitez's men were deserving of a morale-boosting success, after battling bravely against stubborn opposition, but insists referee Mason did all he could to deny them a welcome win. "We mentioned before the game that we just had to let the referee do his job and not speak to him because he has not been very good for us in the past," Aurelio said in the Liverpool Daily Post. "In the end, during the game, we had to push him on things because we could see a lot of decisions that should have been in our favour. "Speaking to Lucas, he said he has two clear penalties turned down. "There were a lot of decisions that the referee just didn't see. That's why we are so disappointed." (TEAMtalk) Torres surgery 'a success' Fernando Torres' knee surgeon believes the striker could be back in action inside six weeks. The Liverpool striker has gone under the knife in an effort to cure a niggling problem which has been plaguing him for some time. The hope is that the operation will rid the Spaniard of the ailment and allow him to rediscover full match fitness. Liverpool need that to be the case, with Torres vital to their plans going forward. Under-fire coach Rafa Benitez needs as many of his key men available as possible and will be desperate to welcome his countryman back into his first-team plans. That situation may be someway off at present, by the Reds boss will have welcomed news that that his most potent attacking weapon will be ready for the end of season run-in. Dr Ramon Cugat, the specialist who operated on Torres in a Barcelona hospital, has confirmed that the cartilage surgery has been a success and sees no reason why the fearsome frontman should not be back by the start of March. "The surgery was a success and, if there are no problems, Fernando will be okay in six weeks," he said in The Sun. (Sky Sports) Liverpool to fine Babel for Twitter rant FIFA 'hand' Henry a reprieve Liverpool attacker Ryan Babel will be fined for his Twitter outburst last week. The Daily Mail says Babel was yesterday told by Reds boss Rafa Benitez he would be fined for his Twitter outburst complaining about being left out of the squad for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Stoke. As an indication of his deteriorating relationship with Benitez, who called him ‘unprofessional’, Babel stormed away from Liverpool’s Melwood training ground after a stern rebuke from his manager. The player headed home but was contacted half-an-hour later with instructions to rejoin his team-mates for their warming down session. (tribalfootball.com) Benitez denies Gerrard bust up Rafael Benitez has thrown himself into crisis mode after Liverpool’s latest setback against Stoke but his ability to keep a sinking ship afloat cannot hide the fact they are bailing out water on the Anfield decks this morning. Benitez will defy speculation about his future by calling for an ‘us against the world’ mentality at the club’s Melwood training ground as he assesses another lead thrown away. Benitez, whose team now face Tottenham at Anfield on Wednesday, also moved quickly to dismiss rumours of a dressing-room fallout with captain Gerrard, who is reported to be considering a move to Real Madrid if Liverpool’s slump continues much longer. "It’s not true," insisted Benitez. "He was at the game in the stands to support the team. He wanted to show his commitment. He was in the dressing room with me and the rest of the players and staff." (Irish Examiner)
	SUNDAY 17
	Mascherano: We are cursed Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano thinks his team are cursed following their draw against Stoke on Saturday. The Reds were undone by a late equaliser from Robert Huth at the Britannia Stadium, having taken the lead through Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos in the 57th minute. In a week when they also crashed out of the FA Cup after a home defeat to Reading, Mascherano is beginning to feel like there is a spell on the Anfield club. "It seems like we are cursed in terms of injuries and letting in incredible goals in the last minutes of games," he said in The People. (Sky Sports)   Liverpool icon Aldridge keen to see Bolton skipper Davies at Anfield Liverpool icon John Aldridge has urged manager Rafa Benitez to move for Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Davies. Aldridge says Liverpool need a centre-forward to cover for injured ace Fernando Torres. He told the Liverpool Echo: "We have to get another striker in and if money is tight Benitez might have to be canny. "Someone like Kevin Davies from Bolton would do a job. He’s strong, can hold the ball up and put himself about a bit. We might have to sell (Ryan) Babel to strengthen but that wouldn’t be a bad thing." (tribalfootball.com) Beardsley backing for Benitez Former Anfield star Peter Beardsley believes Liverpool should stick by under-pressure manager Rafael Benitez. And he insists the Spanish boss, who has signed more than 100 players in his five years on Merseyside, is the best man for the job even if Liverpool do not finish in the top four at the end of the season. Beardsley puts most of Liverpool's woes this season down to injuries to their most influential players, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. Beardsley said: "He's (Benitez) signed a lot of players but look at most teams in the world. If they lost their stars then they would struggle. If you lost Rooney out of Manchester United's team they would struggle. "The criticism is a bit over the top. I would definitely stick with him. What have they got to lose? It's only going to be the same players I would imagine for whoever takes over anyway. I would give him to the summer definitely and beyond then because he has done a brilliant job at Liverpool." (TEAMtalk) Marseille turn to Liverpool winger Babel Olympique Marseille are interested in Liverpool winger Ryan Babel. The News of the World says Marseille are running out of patience in their bid to sign Alessandro Mancini and have considered Babel as an alternative option. (tribalfootball.com) Murphy: Rafa should go Danny Murphy feels Liverpool have gone backwards under Rafa Benitez since he left the club in 2004. The experienced midfielder, who is now on the books of Fulham, believes the time has come for sweeping changes to be made at Anfield if they are to set out on the road to recovery. The 32-year-old playmaker is of the opinion that in order for progress to be made, Benitez needs to be shown the door and a new manager brought in to help steady the ship. "If you ask me has the time for Liverpool come to look for a new manager then I have to say 'yes'," Murphy told the News of the World. (Sky Sports)
	SATURDAY 16
	Dirk: It feels like a defeat Dirk Kuyt reflected on Liverpool's last-gasp heartbreak at Stoke and admitted: "It feels like a defeat." Kuyt had a golden chance to win it for the Reds in the 95th minute but headed against the bar from close range. "It feels like a defeat," said the Dutchman. "We didn't play our best football but we were fighting for the right result and to concede in the last minute and then miss that chance at the end is unbelievable." (LFC Official Website)  Rafa feels Reds were robbed Rafa Benitez felt Liverpool were given a rough ride by the match officials during their 1-1 draw with Stoke. "I think that it was a difficult game. We showed great character," the Spaniard told Sky Sports. "The players were fantastic, you could see the fans were really happy with their efforts. "Two or three incidents could have changed everything, so 27,000 people in the stadium saw the incidents and three people in the stadium didn't." (Sky Sports)  Potters pile pressure on Rafa Liverpool's miserable week continued at Stoke as Robert Huth snatched a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw. A tame encounter at the Britannia Stadium saw the Reds offer a lacklustre response to their midweek cup exit to Reading, and Sotirios Kyrgiakos' opener never really looked like being enough to settle their nerves. (Sky Sports) Aquilani on the bench for Liverpool Liverpool's £20m man Alberto Aquilani is once again on the bench as Liverpool face a difficult task at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has made six changes to the side humiliated in the FA Cup by Reading. Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger were all injured, while Aquilani and Diego Cavalieri were dropped to the bench as Jose Reina, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Martin Skrtel, Javier Mascherano, Fabio Aurelio and David Ngog all return. Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Insua, Degen, Lucas, Mascherano, Aurelio, Kuyt, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Riera, Rodriquez, Spearing, Darby, Pacheco. Referee: Lee Mason. (BreakingNews.ie) Ancelotti supports Benitez Chelsea head coach Carlo Ancelotti has offered his support to Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez, who has come under pressure following a recent run of poor results. Ancelotti believes that the Spaniard will turn things around at Anfield, having locked horns with Benitez in two Champions League finals during his time in charge at AC Milan. The Italian told reporters: "It can happen that some things are not very good. Benitez did a fantastic job for Liverpool and won the Champions League in 2005, I remember. "He got to the final in 2007. He has done a fantastic job and he has the personality and the quality to do a good job in Liverpool. "I consider Benitez one of the best coaches in the world. Sometimes you have to have confidence in a coach, above all in a coach who has already done very well at the club. Benitez has done well at Liverpool." (sport.co.uk) Thor Zakariassen ©