Torres is more scary than Ron

By PHIL THOMAS
Published: Today

RAFA BENITEZ believes Old Trafford is about to witness the toughest job in football.
And he does not mean stopping Cristiano Ronaldo!
The Manchester United superstar’s midweek double edged him past George Best to a club record 33 goals in a season from a winger.
Yet down the M62, Liverpool have their own golden boy in Fernando Torres, who is in the form of his life at the moment.
And Kop boss Benitez reckons United face as huge a task in shackling the Spaniard as his own side do in keeping Ronaldo quiet.
He insisted: “The key to stopping Ronaldo? Maybe the key is stopping Torres.
“Of course we know that Ronaldo is in form but Fernando is too.
“The understanding between players, especially those up front, is always important.
Ferguson demanded
“Fernando and Steven Gerrard are playing well, scoring goals and the team is getting the benefit. So the difficulty for teams is stopping both.”
Torres, a club record £21.5million summer buy from Atletico Madrid, has so far blasted 27 goals in all competitions.
Yet his manager is convinced the Anfield hitman, 24 yesterday, will be even deadlier over the coming years.
Benitez added: “Fernando is already a very good player and only young. So though he is playing really well, he can also do better in the future.”
Before Wednesday’s win over Bolton, United boss Alex Ferguson demanded more protection from officials for the likes of Ronaldo.
Steve Bennett is the referee with the job of keeping tabs on Sunday on what is traditionally a tinder-box clash between the two deadly rivals.
Yet Benitez has no fears about Bennett proving up to the task.
He added: “Ferguson was talking about protecting Ronaldo. But it’s just as important to protect the likes of Torres, Gerrard and all the top players.”

Torres has silenced the doubters and made scoring simple

By JOHN EDWARDS
Last updated at 21:04pm on 20th March 2008

Fernando Torres will be the usual study of concentration when he steps out against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
A fixed look will suggest nothing matters beyond adding to his 20 Barclays Premier League goals and taking Liverpool a step nearer fourth place and another Champions League mission.

Behind the steely exterior, though, a purely personal motive may well be jostling for position and urging him on in his efforts to dent the title aspirations of Liverpool's most bitter rivals.
Last summer, before Torres received his first call from Rafa Benitez while out walking his dogs in Madrid, United and Chelsea were both in dialogue with intermediaries about meeting Atletico Madrid's asking price.
Atletico chief Miguel Angel Gil wanted 24 million euros up front, rising to 30 million, ideally with a player thrown in. Tempted though they were, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho both arrived at the same conclusion. 'El Nino' had lots of attributes, but finishing wasn't one of them.
He was too erratic with the posts in his sights, and would not score enough goals, especially against Premier League defences who were not only tight but tough as teak. Both managers thought long and hard but came back with the same answer. Not interested. Not at that price.
Nine months on, both would surely conclude that for once their judgment may have been flawed after one of the most spectacular debut seasons by an overseas signing. El Nino is Spanish for The Kid, and Liverpool's £21million record buy has made scoring look child's play, even in a league reputed to be the best in the world.
The Spain striker, 24 yesterday, goes into Sunday's showdown as Liverpool's first 20-goal marksman in the League since Robbie Fowler 12 years ago. He is a genuine contender for the Golden Boot after moving into fourth place behind Ajax's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (28 League goals), United's Cristiano Ronaldo (27) and Sevilla's Luis Fabiano (22).
He is in his element at Anfield, thriving on the service from midfield and the flanks and revelling in Rafa Benitez's recent decision to move Steven Gerrard forward into a new, advanced role. If Benitez deserves credit for his perception, though, Torres can be as thankful for his persistence.
Torres recalled how the Liverpool manager stepped in while others held back and revealed how he almost jeopardised his dream move by ignoring his fellow Spaniard's initial call. The striker also provided an insight into his recent prolific form by admitting it was down to escaping the shackles of carrying his home club on his own.
"We had been among the European places all last season but lost out on the final day," he said. "I was so wrapped up in what had happened, I almost missed the chance to speak to Rafa. I just wanted to get away from it all and I remember taking my dogs for a long walk near home.
"While we were out my mobile rang and I saw it was a foreign number. I was still lost in my thoughts and had no interest in finding out who it was. It rang again the next day and I answered this time. When I heard Rafa's voice and what he was saying, I froze. I had no inkling he wanted to speak to me and it turned out it was his call I had ignored.
"He wasted no time explaining his plans and ideas. I listened intently and quickly decided it was not just any offer. It was an opportunity to join a great club with a great tradition and it was too good to miss. I told him he should speak to Miguel Angel Gil but added that if it was fine by the clubs it was fine by me.
"Atleti had always been my life, but the time was right. Joining Liverpool was not just a privilege, it was a relief. The last few years at Atleti were difficult. I might not have felt it at the time because I was so preoccupied with trying to drive them on to better things but there was pressure. Plenty, when I think back.
"At Liverpool the pressure is shared by a lot of players, not heaped on one. We have lost so few games, too. Here you grow used to winning. It becomes second nature and I had forgotten what that felt like."
Ferguson may have had his doubts but Torres could claim he has always had an eye for an opening, after hurling his parents' savings through one at just two years old.
Looking back on his childhood days in a working-class suburb of Madrid and reflecting on how they helped shape his future, he said: "For some reason, I had a habit of throwing things out of the window at home," he said. "It was just unfortunate that one day I grabbed hold of a model truck my parents had been using as a money box. It was full of cash but out it went. No-one realised until much later and by then it had gone. They weren't too pleased at the time but it has become one of their favourite anecdotes.
"I was six when I first started kicking a ball around. My brother used to take me out on to the street and I would always be in goal. One day, a shot smacked me in the mouth and knocked a couple of teeth out. It was a great save but as I looked at them on the ground, I thought: 'That's it'. From then on I was only interested in scoring goals rather than stopping them.
"My grandad talked about nothing but Atleti and playing for them was always the ultimate aim. I grew up as a fan, so I lived the dream there. But all my attention is on Liverpool now. I have already met Kenny Dalglish and Robbie Fowler and heard them explain what the club means to everyone here. Trying to follow in their footsteps is a beautiful and emotional challenge for me."

Rafael Benitez may be forced to rotate for Liverpool's crucial matches

James Ducker

Liverpool’s recent unbeaten run may have coincided with Rafael Benítez breaking from his infamous rotation policy, but Jamie Carragher believes that the manager will revert to his tried and trusted methods during a gruelling three-week period that could make or break the team’s season.
Since their humiliating exit at the hands of Barnsley in the FA Cup fifth round last month, Liverpool have won their past seven matches in all competitions, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals and regaining fourth place in the Barclays Premier League in the process.
Benítez has made 16 changes to his line-ups during that time at an average of a little less than 2.29 changes per match, but with Manchester United to play at Old Trafford on Sunday in the first of five mouthwatering fixtures over a 17-day period — not to mention next week’s international schedule — Carragher is adamant that the Spaniard will soon be ringing the changes once again.
“The manager takes a lot of criticism [for his rotation policy], but over the last few weeks we haven’t been changing too much as there hasn’t been as many games,” the defender said. “But with these five games coming up, plus the international games, I’m sure there might be a few changes. At this time of the season there are maybe a few tired legs and things just need freshening up every now and again.”
Benítez will lose many of his senior squad to international duty after the match against United, with the Liverpool manager particularly irked that Javier Mascherano, the midfield player, must travel to Cairo for Argentina’s friendly against Egypt on Wednesday, four days before a Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield that is likely to have a huge bearing on the fight for fourth place in the Premier League.
Liverpool will then face Arsenal three times in seven days, with their league meeting at the Emirates Stadium on April 5 sandwiched between their two-leg Champions League quarter-final, and John Arne Riise is adamant that the club can maintain their fine form.
“These next couple of weeks are going to be unbelievable,” the defender said. “We are playing top games against top teams, but we are looking strong at the moment and so we can’t wait for the matches to come around. There’s still a lot to play for as we look to secure fourth place and keep going in the Champions League. That’s our one chance to win a trophy this season and we want to take it.
“The disappointing thing from our point of view is that we should have been up there fighting for the title. You won’t believe how disappointed we are with some of the points we have thrown away this season, especially at home.
“We’ve closed the gap on the top teams of late, but we still need three teams to mess up if we’re going to get back in the title race. For now, I think we have to look to finish fourth and that’s why the derby next weekend is going to be crucial.”
Riise believes that the form of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who has 27 goals to his name in his debut season at the club, will be vital. “Gerrard and Torres have a partnership like I’ve never seen before,” Riise said. “The two of them are in unbelievable form at the moment, both looking strong and both scoring goals.
“Torres has needed no time at all [to settle in English football]. United will definitely be worried about us because we’re the form side at the moment.”
Torres is confident that he can maintain a spree in which he has found the net nine times in Liverpool’s past six matches. “I hope to score many more goals for Liverpool this season,” the Spain striker said. “ I’ve been having a good year so far and I’m hoping the team can continue our good run of results until the end of the season.”

TORRES TARGETS MORE GOALS

By Lewis Rutledge

Fernando Torres has warned Liverpool's Premier League rivals he intends to keep up his scintillating form for the rest of the season.
The Spaniard has scored nine goals in his last six games, including hat-tricks against Middlesbrough and West Ham at Anfield, to take his total for the season to 20 in the league and 27 in total.
Torres has been the inspiration for a terrific run of results, with Liverpool winning their last seven games in all competitions.
That has allowed Rafa Benitez's side to advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and claw their way back to the fringes of the title race.
And Torres wants to continue to fire Liverpool to success over the next two months, telling the club's official website: "I hope to score many more goals for Liverpool this season.
"Fortunately for me, I've been having a good year so far and I'm hoping the team can continue our good run of results right up until the end of the season."
Torres is delighted with the way he is playing but has also paid tribute to the contribution of his team-mates.
He explained: "I'm especially happy as it's happened in a country outside my own, and I think that makes success harder to achieve.
"What I do know is that I'm going to be here at Liverpool for a while, so I'm hoping this will be the first of many awards I can win."
Asked what his personal highlight was, Torres stated: "It would have to be my hat-trick against Middlesbrough.
"I had never scored three goals in one game before I joined Liverpool, even in all my time with Atletico Madrid, so it was a great moment in my season and my career as a whole.
"We've been on a really good run as a team, and it's not just me who's been scoring - the goals are being shared around. It's easier to score goals and play well yourself when everyone is on form, and the team did that last month."

Liverpool have have steel and style to beat Manchester United

Mar 18 2008
by Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL are on a fantastic run of form at the moment, having won their last seven games – but their trip to Old Trafford on Sunday is the biggest test so far.
Manchester United are going for the title and they have some wonderful players, particularly in attack.
But I honestly believe Liverpool can go there and win because I think they are playing well enough to beat any team in this country and the rest of Europe at the moment.
This is no disrespect to United, who have set the standards for others to live up to for some time now and they remain the team to beat in this country.
Getting a positive result against them will be as tough as ever, particularly with them battling for the title, but Liverpool are playing so well at the moment they should go there with confidence that they can beat them.
Liverpool have taken 22 points from their last eight league games which makes them the form team in the country, and against Reading on Saturday they showed that they have the ability to grind out wins when they are not at their best, which is a really good quality to have.
More and more people are beginning to acknowledge the fact that the spine of this Liverpool side is one of the best around.
From Pepe Reina in goal right through to Fernando Torres in attack there is steel and there is style.
And if they can keep a clean sheet in defence, there is every chance of Steven Gerrard or Torres grabbing a goal at the other end.
It won’t be easy to beat United, and Liverpool will have to be at their best to stand any chance of doing so.
But if they go to Old Trafford with the belief that they can win, then I can see no reason why this won’t happen.

The Argentinian affair: Rafa's remarkable wooing of Mascherano

How Liverpool's manager won the heart and mind of a World Cup star.

Independent.co.uk Web
By Jason Burt

Sunday, 4 February 2007

A few weeks ago Javier Mascherano had dec-ided to try to end the madness of his short, surreal career at West Ham United and join Juventus. Even though the Italian club, given their own dramatic travails, could hardly be described as a bastion of sanity, they appeared an attrac-tive haven for the miserable young Argentinian midfielder - and perhaps one more suited to his style of play. The Old Lady had charmed El Jefe (The Chief).
Then Mascherano received a knock on the door of his apartment in London's Docklands. It was Rafael Benitez. The Liverpool manager turned up unannounced and wanted to know why Mascherano had chosen the Stadio Delle Alpi ahead of Anfield. Over the next four hours Benitez talked to Mascherano as no coach had talked to him before, and the 22-year-old was utterly mesmerised. He also changed his mind. He would now try to join Liverpool.
During the conversation Benitez had sat leaning over the coffee table and enthusiastically using the decorative stones placed on it to represent Liverpool players, just as a father might improvise with salt and pepper pots to explain the game to his son. Benitez told Mascherano exactly where he fitted into the Liverpool team - apparently alongside Xabi Alonso, holding in the centre of midfield, with Steven Gerrard on the right.
It is a story that suggested the nightmare would turn into a fairytale for Mascherano. But that would be far too simple an outcome for the extraordinary saga that started last August, on the final day of the summer transfer window, when it was announced that Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, two of the hottest talents in world football, had joined West Ham. And without a transfer fee being paid.
No one could quite believe it. West Ham crowed how they had beaten off other clubs for the signatures, but it soon became apparent that no one else would have accepted the prohibitive terms under which the two players had arrived in England. Those terms have dogged proceedings ever since.
On another deadline day, the end of the January window last Wednesday, Kia Joorabchian, the Argentinians' mentor and the man who appears to control their "economic rights", was pacing his executive box at the Emirates Stadium. On the pitch, Arsenal were playing Tottenham Hotspur for a place in the League Cup final. Off it, Joorabchian was waiting for the mobile call to tell him that the Premier League had ratified the paperwork to allow Mascherano to move. It didn't come.
The documents were signed and delivered but Joorabchian, the 35-year-old Anglo-Iranian entrepreneur who had fronted a bid to buy West Ham and is looking to acquire another Premiership club, was told nothing would be agreed until the player's contract was scrutinised the following day. Such is the mad sequence of events that when Joorabchian asked where Mascherano, who he had hoped to sell for 25m euros (£16.5m) but is moving on an 18-month "loan", should report for training the next day - West Ham or Liver- pool - nobody knew the answer.
His frustration was compounded because the Premier League had written to Fifa for dispensation of their rules so that Mascherano could move to a third club within a season. Fifa had waited until the evening before the transfer window closed to grant this, partly because they did not want to receive a flood of similar requests.
It is a confusing situation. Mascherano's lawyers were always confident the Fifa rule could be challenged, even though the organisation had written to West Ham in December warning them that neither player could be offloaded. Neither was wanted by the new chairman, Eggert Magnusson, who, understandably, thought the deal stank. Just as importantly he also did not want Joorabchian, who was involved in a staggering 19 deals last month, to continue having links with West Ham.
It meant that the Hammers washed their hands of the whole thing. Tevez was playing, so it was harder for him to argue his career was being damaged. Crucially, Mascherano's contract appeared to differ from Tevez's, as did the issue of exactly who owned each player. That is still mired in secrecy, hence the hold-up in Mascherano being allowed to move to Liverpool.
The Premier League are now seeking clarity, are scrutinising all the documentation and have emailed clubs to detail the relevant rule - U18 - which deals with the issue of player ownership. Basically it states that Premiership clubs are prohibited from signing players who are "owned by a third party" who would have the "ability materially to influence its policies or the performance of its teams".
A comment by West Ham's manager, Alan Curbishley, was illuminating. Asked to explain Mascherano's departure, he said: "He hadn't played. Carlos was playing and was more settled, so I think they decided as soon as the window opened that there was a situation that could happen. I decided perhaps we should not stand in his way and to keep it clean we kept out of it."
It is who the "they" are that is the vexed issue, with Joorab-chian, who appears to have a 50 per cent stake; the company he previously worked with, MSI; and various other parties. West Ham held the registrations, with the players signing four-year deals, but there was another strand with owners who had a contractual right with West Ham over who they could be sold to in the future, for how much and when. Exactly who owns the players remains unknown, because the companies are registered in offshore tax havens.
It is a mess that needs clearing up so that it does not happen again. For a start, West Ham did not even appear to know that Mascherano had passed a medical and agreed terms with Liverpool some time ago. Were they aware that Benitez had been to see the player? And, if not, does that constitute "tapping up"? Curbishley has suggested West Ham did know, but added: "When Liverpool lodged their interest as a club we knew it was not all down to us, and we didn't want to stand in his way. That is why it was allowed to happen."
What is perhaps less confusing is why Mascherano, who played every minute of Argen-tina's World Cup campaign, did not succeed at Upton Park. In five months he played just five matches - and lost them all. But West Ham were the wrong team. The high-tempo, energetic style of play did not suit him. A struggling side, a club in turmoil failing to match last season's achievements, was not the right place.
"I arrived there with the hope of playing," he has since said, "so that European people would know me." He has certainly raised his profile. But not for the right reasons. Mascherano will hope Benitez can now alter that.

.

utusanLFC :

As you might notice the date of this article was 4 Feb 2008. How did I missed this article in the 1st place? I must have been on leave (that's when I don't switch on my laptop at all) but it is a revealing that needed to be shared with most of the fans. Masherano is a big player now for LFC. He will help us to win the Champions Cup. Trust me!

Liverpool's anchor savours rare thrill

Argentina's Javier Mascherano reacts after scoring against the US during their World Youth Championship quarterfinal match in Abu Dhabi, 12 Dec 2003. PHOTO: REUTERS

Who celebrate like a crazy man? Go on Mash... Go on CRAZY! Keep on scoring...

Independent.co.uk
By Paul WalkerTuesday, 18 March 2008

Javier Mascherano has warned Liverpool fans not to expect regular goals from him now that he has broken his Liverpool duck.
Liverpool's £18.6m Argentine, reckoned by the club's manager Rafael Benitez to be the best holding midfielder in the world, finally scored his first goal in English football on Saturday as Liverpool beat Reading 2-1 at Anfield. And afterwards Benitez insisted that he wants to see the 23-year-old get into more scoring positions around the edge of the box.
But Mascherano is not renowned for goal-scoring, having hit only one in 111 previous first-team appearances for Corinthians, River Plate, West Ham and now Liverpool. And the midfielder says of Benitez's challenge: "I think the manager was joking. It would be nice to score more goals but I don't think there are many holding midfielders who score lots of goals.
"In this position you have to play deep and try to keep the balance of the team and that is the most important thing. I will try to score more but I know that I have to do my own job first."
But that has not stopped Mascherano cherishing his 20-yard screamer against Reading. He said: "It was an incredible moment. I had not scored a goal since I was at River Plate, so to score one for Liverpool – and in front of the Kop as well – was really special.
"I cannot really describe the feeling but I know I celebrated like I had gone crazy. Some of the lads in the dressing room said I was like [the Milan striker Filippo] Inzaghi in the Champions League final! It just meant so much to me and it was important also for the team because we had just gone a goal behind."

Mascherano's flight to Egypt leaves Benítez fuming

Andy Hunter
Tuesday March 18, 2008
The Guardian

Rafael Benítez has admitted he is astonished at losing Javier Mascherano to an international friendly in Egypt next week and powerless to limit the Argentina midfielder's workload at a critical stage in Liverpool's season.
The Liverpool manager is resigned to a host of international departures after Sunday's league game at Manchester United and accepts that, along with Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and Avram Grant, it is an inevitable problem for leading clubs given the squads they have assembled. Indignation and not resignation, however, has shaped the Spaniard's reaction to Mascherano's employment in Cairo a week tomorrow.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, who will be on international duty for Spain and England respectively that night, have taken the plaudits during Liverpool's impressive run of seven successive victories but Mascherano, outstanding at Internazionale and in the 2-1 win against Reading on Saturday, has been integral to their recovery and the success of Benítez's 4-2-3-1 system.
His departure for what Benítez considers an unnecessary friendly against the African Cup of Nations' champions, four days before the Merseyside derby with Everton and a week ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Arsenal, is therefore a major concern for the Liverpool manager.
"I am really, really happy that Mascherano must go to Egypt to play a friendly," said a sarcastic Benítez, who also loses the midfielder to Argentina's Olympic squad in August as one of their three over-23 players. "Things like that you just cannot understand. There is nothing you can do. The rules are the rules and the players must go."
Argentina's friendly commitments will not create added concern for Ferguson next week as Carlos Tevez has been omitted from Alfio Basile's squad. The United striker was sent off during his country's World Cup qualifying defeat by Colombia in November and misses their next competitive game against Ecuador in June, hence his absence against Egypt. Benítez admitted he would ask Basile to limit Mascherano's playing time in Cairo were it not for the suspicion that such requests are pointless.
"You can't speak to the coach. You can say 'Be careful' but they are thinking about themselves," he insisted. "They need to check the players to see if they can manage with the team, so it will be very difficult. It's the same problem for all the top sides. Normally the best players are in the top sides and they are playing Champions League or playing for the title."
Mascherano and Liverpool's international contingent will play six games in 17 days should they be involved in next week's friendlies, a sequence intensified by the calibre of opposition throughout, and Benítez believes his rotation policy is justified by such demands.
"That for me is the reason that the squad is important, especially at this stage of the season," he said. "You need a good squad to use the players properly - sometimes you can and sometimes you can't. If you lose, everyone is talking about the players who are not playing but you could see against Reading on Saturday that some of the key players were a bit tired."
Mascherano scored his first Liverpool goal in the victory over Steve Coppell's side and has taken some gentle ribbing from his team-mates for the understandable celebrations that followed.
The 23-year-old Argentine revealed: "I have not scored a goal since I was at River Plate, so to score one for Liverpool, and in front of the Kop, was really special. I celebrated like I had gone crazy and some of the lads in the dressing room said I was like [Milan's Pippo] Inzaghi in the Champions League final."
Liverpool's run, coupled with Everton's defeat at struggling Fulham, has strengthened their hold on the fourth Champions League qualifying place. Benítez's team have reduced their gap behind Arsenal from 16 points to eight in five matches. "How near we finish to the top now will be interesting," the manager said. "We have been criticised this season, but let us see where we are in three or four weeks. If we can beat Manchester United we will be closer to the top and that will give us more confidence.
"If we beat Everton after that then we will be closer still. Do we have a point to prove? Maybe, but only if we can keep winning three points."

GOOD PHOTOS : LFC 2 - READING 1

Daniel Agger injury a blow - but we can cope

Mar 15 2008
by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo


RAFA BENITEZ today backed Martin Skrtel to continue filling the void left by Daniel Agger after the Danish defender was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Agger was given the shattering news that he would not play again during this campaign after it was decided that surgery was the only way of solving his long standing metatarsal problem.
Although he recently played two games for Liverpool’s reserve team, the 23-year-old continued to feel pain in his foot and after consulting with three leading specialists he will now have an operation on Monday in a bid to solve the problem once and for all.
That will mean Benitez will have to do without Agger until the start of next season but the Reds boss believes recent signing Skrtel is proving himself a more than able deputy.
He said: “It is really bad for us to lose Daniel because he is a very good player and we are also very disappointed for him.
“He will need an operation because he is feeling pain again so we need to find a solution and on Monday he will go to see the surgeon.
“Daniel is disappointed and we are disappointed because he is a key player for us and we have been without him for almost the whole season.
“But at least now, the problem can be solved and he can start again in the new season and he will have more confidence.
“Also, we have Skrtel who has come in and done a very good job for us.
“We knew we needed a centre back and he gives us the competition for places we needed in this position.
“Losing Daniel is a blow but at least we have another very good centre back who can do well for us.”
Meanwhile, Benitez refused to be drawn into the inevitable hype which followed Liverpool being drawn against Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The way the draw panned out, there is a possibility that Liverpool would have to beat the three teams currently above them in the Premiership if they are to win their sixth European Cup.
But the boss does not want to look too far ahead to potential meetings with Chelsea in the semi-final and Man United in the final, preferring to fall back on the old adage of taking each game as it comes.
He said: “I think we knew it would be a difficult draw because it is the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“Arsenal are a good team but we also have confidence at this point so we will see.
“We will play Arsenal three times in six days now because we also play them in the league in between but it is the same for both teams and we both have the same problem. We cannot look too far ahead though, we have to take one step at a time.