Results tagged “Rafa Benitez” from Liverpool FC News, Discussion & Debate | Liverpool Banter

Rafa Benitez was told several weeks ago by the American owners that there was no more money to spend on new players before the transfer window closed on Tuesday. However, I watched the live transfer updates intently as the clock ticked down to the 5 p.m. deadline hoping that it was just a clever ploy to throw other clubs off the scent and that there would indeed be a last minute major signing. Sadly, it was not to be. I really should have known better.

To his credit, Benitez is publicly stating he believes he has the players needed to challenge for the title. But does he really believe this to be true? I doubt it. The current survey on 'Liverpool Banter' asks the question "Is Liverpool's squad strong enough for a title push?" Of the 434 responses, the count at the time of writing, 290 (67%) said "No". When you look at the subs on the bench against Aston Villa for example (Cavalieri, Kelly, Dossena, Ayala, Riera, Voronin & Babel) this concern is totally justified.

There's only one piece of silverware Liverpool fans want to see paraded around Anfield next May and that, as we all know, is the Premiership trophy. Winning the Champions League for a 6th time would be a fantastic acheivment but even that would, in the eyes of most supporters, be deemed a disappointing season, even more so if Man Utd. win the title for a record 19th time. That scenario doesn't bare thinking about.
Not winning the Premiership title will likely mean the end of the road for Rafa as six years of failed Premiership title attempts would raise questions about his ability to translate his obvious talents into bringing home the most coveted prize. I could go on about failed rotation systems, faith in players that just aren't good enough and of course the most likely cause for failure, the two dreadful American owners who have promised so much and have delivered so little.
However, let us hope that this season, even after an uncertain start, brings to an end the 20 year wait and that Rafa shows us all that he has what it takes to win the Premiership title again and again.

Rafa was interviewed today and has said that his players need to show more character so that they can turn around the last few results. Rafa has said that they are all aware that a change in form is needed and have been working extremely hard in training all this week. He also expects Stevie G to back to his best very soon.

When asked about tomorrow's game, Rafa said that it will be a difficult game but as long as they play well in the first few minutes, he believes the team can win

I hope he is right because we certainly need to win the game and begin to the collect the points that are needed to win the premiership. Last season we got 86 points and I believe we can still improve on that.

REDS boss Rafa Benitez reflects on the Champions League group stage draw which will send Liverpool to Italy, France and Hungary and also looks ahead to weekend's Premier League clash at the Reebok Stadium

IN times gone by, the confused bat that dive-bombed those of us in the Upper Tier at White Hart Lane in broad daylight last Sunday would have been taken as a portent that great misfortune was about to befall us.

And so it proved as our worst fears were realised and we carried our abysmal pre-season form into the league season.

Rafa can bleat all he likes about the penalty decisions which didn't go our way, but had we grabbed a point with that performance we'd have sneaked out of the ground as sheepishly as Harry Redknapp had in the same fixture last season.

I SENSE a big two weeks coming up for Liverpool - even at this early stage of the campaign.

Because if Rafael Benitez doesn't manage to add at least one more attacking option to his squad, then I fear they won't be potent enough to launch another tilt at the title.

And that would be a massive missed opportunity when you look at their top four rivals.

DISGRUNTLED Rafael Benitez launched a broadside at referee Phil Dowd for the "unbelievable" penalty decision that helped consign Liverpool to opening-day defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

It seems very clear now that Xabi Alonso wants to leave LFC and go and join the New Galacticos at Real Madrid. Real's representatives keep on talking about this price and that price yet Alonso is still a contracted Liverpool player?

It seems contracts these days are just ways to ensure that the players get the opportunity to renegotiate their wages up another few thousand quid at regular intervals.

In the case of Alonso, with one eye on the currency fluctuations between the Euro and the Pound and the other on UK tax rates, it seems home is where the more lucrative heart is.

LIVERPOOL boss Rafa Benitez admitted today that his £17m capture of Glen Johnson was more than he wanted to spend on a full-back.

But he also revealed that the huge outlay does not signal the end of his summer spending.

With Chelsea also willing to pay Portsmouth's asking price for the England defender, Benitez admitted: "Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more.

This year it was stunning in it's simplicity where last year it simply sapped the soul.

The Gareth Barry transfer saga is well and truly over and he's off to Manchester City.

On the face of it, while there may be some disappointment that the Aston Villa man is not heading to Anfield after all, the fact that this is one of the first transfers to be completed in the close-season should be cause for celebration if only by virtue of the fact we will not have to hear about it every hour of every day of the summer as was the case twelve months ago, a scenario that surely wore down the enthusiasm of even the most ardent summer-transfer-rumour junkie.

WHEN Rafael Benitez spoke in pre-season about Liverpool needing to be "almost perfect" if they were to win the Premier League title, he clearly wasn't overestimating the challenge his side faced.

Radio City News reported last week that Rafa Benitez will have £15-£20M to spend this summer plus whatever he can bring in through sales.

Its not a fortune in terms of the competition we face from Man Utd, Chelsea & Arsenal so if its cloth-cutting time, how are we going to strengthen the squad and also bring in that world class player who will turn draws into extra wins?

RAFA BENITEZ looks ahead to Liverpool's trip to The Hawthorns

REDS boss Rafa Benitez on Liverpool's trip to Upton Park

LIVERPOOL boss Rafa Benitez on Newcastle's trip to Anfield

Alex Ferguson's latest attack on Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez over his supposed demeaning gestures towards Blackburn's Sam Allardyce

KENNY Dalglish is set for a sensational return to Liverpool Football Club.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez wants his legendary predecessor as a key new part of his backroom staff and moves are already afoot to create a position for Dalglish.

Benitez has raised the matter with American club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and would like to tie up a deal at the earliest possible opportunity.

RAFAEL BENITEZ has shrugged off what he believes is a "co-ordinated attack" by Sir Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce after the duo attempted to sully his reputation.

Close friends Ferguson and Allardyce joined forces yesterday in launching a curious broadside at the Liverpool manager over an incident during his team's 4-0 win over the Allardyce's Blackburn Rovers last Saturday.

But the pair were left even more red-faced than usual after it emerged they had completely misunderstood Benitez's actions.

RAFAEL BENITEZ was on the receiving end of an astonishing twin-barrelled attack from Premier League managers yesterday.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson accused the Liverpool manager of "arrogance" and showing "contempt" in his dealings with fellow Premier League bosses.

While Blackburn's Sam Allardyce accused Benitez of being "disrespectful" for what he claims was a "humiliating" gesture.

LIVERPOOL coach Rafa Benitez insists that midfield talisman Steven Gerrard will be fit enough for the title run-in after he missed their amazing 4-4 draw with Chelsea in the Champions League.

Benitez was immensely proud of his players after they almost achieved another sensational European fightback.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, the Reds raced into a two-goal half-time lead through Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso (penalty).