Rafa: Well done boys
Rafa Benitez offered his congratulations to the club's under-18s after they reached their second successive FA Youth Cup final.
The Spaniard was at Anfield to watch the youngsters beat Newcastle 3-1 in the second-leg of an action-packed semi to secure a 7-3 aggregate win.
"I want to congratulate all the lads for tremendous performances over the two legs against Newcastle," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv.
"It is a great achievement for them to reach a second successive final and I want to wish them all the best against Arsenal or Manchester United."
(LFC Official Website)

Reds in Youth Cup Final again
Liverpool Under-18s are in their second successive FA Youth Cup final following a dramatic night of football at Anfield played out in front of a delighted Rafa Benitez.
The young Reds came from behind to beat Newcastle 3-1 on the night, 7-3 on aggregate, thanks to a Craig Lindfield brace and a late scorcher from Jimmy Ryan.
Both sides had a man sent off in a fiery encounter, Astrit Ajdarevic receiving a straight red for the hosts following a dubious challenge early in the second half.
The holders will now battle it out against Manchester United or Arsenal as they seek to become only the fifth team to retain the trophy since its inception in 1953.
Arsenal or United await the Reds in a two-leg final, with the Gunners currently holding a 1-0 lead going into the second leg at Old Trafford.
Liverpool Under-18s: Hansen, Darby (Kelly 84), Burns, Spearing (capt), Threlfall, Barnett, Ryan, Ajdarevic, Lindfield (Scott 89), Flynn, Putterill (Irwin 81).
(LFC Official Website)

Silva: Reds meeting will decide third
Brazilian star Gilberto Silva accepts that the next time he is back in Liverpool, the outcome will decide who finishes third in the Barclays Premiership.
The 30-year-old captained Arsenal in their last-ditch defeat in the snow at Everton on Sunday and admits the Gunners will be fighting to hold on to third place when they return to Merseyside at Anfield in a fortnight.
The clash with Liverpool, a lunchtime showdown on March 31, will be the next match for both the Gunners and Rafael Benitez's side.
"What we must do now is concentrate on our next game which will be at Liverpool. We need to have that in our mind and we know we need to do much better there than we did at Everton.
"The next game now is the most important. At Liverpool the outcome will be decisive over who finishes third. We know that at Liverpool it is always hard, and we need to keep our shape as a side and we cannot afford to lose our concentration like we have done in a few important games recently."
(PA Sport)
 
Midfielder injury blow
Liverpool midfielder Francisco Duran has been ruled out of action for five to six months with a cruciate ligament injury.
The Spanish youth international picked up the injury in only his second reserve team game during the 1-0 defeat away at Middlesbrough on March 7.
It is a blow for the former Malaga player who only joined Liverpool in January.
(LFC Official Website)

Carragher: We're playing catch-up
Jamie Carragher admitted Liverpool are currently "a level behind" Manchester United and Chelsea - but he hopes the gap can be bridged with the players who will be brought in during the summer.
The England defender believes the Reds are capable of matching the best in one-off or two-legged situations as demonstrated by their run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
But he accepts that over a 10-month season, the Merseysiders are playing catch-up in terms of competing with the top two in the Barclays Premiership.
An uninspiring goalless draw at Aston Villa yesterday leaves Rafael Benitez's side scrapping it out with Arsenal for third spot.
"The league is a long hard slog and something we've got to look to improve. We didn't make a great start to this season and the year before was the same.
"We are just a level behind the top two at the moment. It's something we want to bridge over the summer. It's up to the manager and the coaching staff to see which direction they want to go in."
(PA Sport)

LFC stadium delay ‘won’t affect revamp of area’
One of the developers transforming the Anfield area of Liverpool said the possible delay to the building of Liverpool Football Club’s new stadium would not affect their regeneration plans.
Haslam Homes, which is responsible for the housing renewal programme in Anfield and Breckfield said there was an element of flexibility in their plan.
A radical change in the design could mean a new planning application would have to be submitted to Liverpool City Council and there are fears that regeneration projects linked to the stadium could also be held up.
However, Tim Wray, managing director of developer Haslam Homes, told the Daily Post the issue would not affect its own scheme.
“It won’t affect our plan,” he said. “If it comes on in year one or two it will make little difference. We can develop around it."
(Liverpool Daily Post)  

Momo won't change
Momo Sissoko won't change his tough tackling displays.
Despite missing the first leg against PSV Eindhoven through suspension and being only one yellow card away from a domestic suspension Momo Sissoko says he won't stop flying into challenges.
"I've picked up a lot of yellow cards in England and have had some trouble with referees," said the Mali international.
"But part of my game is to make the tackles, that is why the manager bought me and I don't think he wants me to change.
"I am aware of the comparisons to Patrick Vieira. I am flattered by the comparisons and maybe one day people will say that the comparisons were valid."
(LFC Online)

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