Benitez relaxed over Reds future

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says his job is safe despite the Reds battling to stay in the Champions League and a slow start to their domestic season.
Liverpool are bottom of their Champions League group, having picked up just one point in three games, and seventh in the Premier League.
Benitez insisted Liverpool's owners are remaining "very, very positive".
"I felt they are really focused and supporting so I think the future is great," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
If the Reds lose at home to Besiktas on Tuesday, the 2005 European champions will almost certainly be out of the competition.
Defeat would also leave them in danger of missing out on the Uefa Cup spot available to sides who finish third in their Champions League groups.
Despite the cloud hanging over Liverpool's current form, Benitez pointed to the club's European exploits in recent years.
"Tell me how teams can be in two finals in the Champions League in three years?" he said, insisting co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks share his vision for the club's future.
"They must be pleased with the way the team and the club is going because we are changing a lot of things and I think we are progressing."
And Benitez dismissed suggestions that an early exit from the Champions League this year would cost the club between £17m and £20m.
"That is the money only the finalists get and only two clubs can do that," he said.
"The financial implications in losing are not as big as people suggest.
"But we must think about football first and not to be bothered by other things - that will be taken care of later.
"I have talked to the owners, but not about money, just our ideas for the future."
Defender Jamie Carragher has revealed he feels "it is not a disaster" if Liverpool do not reach the next stage of the competition.
"We can't win all the time," he said. "We have a good record in the Champions League and will look to keep that going.
"We do still want to be in the Champions League. But if it doesn't happen we just have to get on with it."

Gerrard Issues War Cry
Faced with the prospect of an early exit from the Champions League as Liverpool take on Besiktas at Anfield tonight, Steven Gerrard has issued a rallying call, urging his teammates to go for the jugular.
Liverpool are four points off second place as they head into tonight's clash, and must win in order to have any realistic hope of progressing to the knock-out stages.
Defeats to Marseille and Besiktas along with a draw against Porto mean that the Reds need a series of magical European nights, and skipper Steven Gerrard has urged his team to go on a rampage.
"We know we need a night like [against] Juventus, like Chelsea and like Olympiakos.
"That was probably the last time we found ourselves in a similar position.
"Our backs were against the wall and unfortunately that’s where we are again — but we know we can do it.
"We have to give the fans something to get excited about and that’s the aim when the referee blows his whistle."
"Tonight is hugely important and we have to make a fast start to rock Besiktas early," he continued. "I said two weeks ago we face three cup finals and I haven’t changed my position.
"I don’t think we have anything to fear from Besiktas. And it would be nice if we could send out a message to the rest of the teams in our group with a really strong result.
"When we get it right there are very few teams, if any, that can live with us and we have to get it right tonight.”
"We’ve left ourselves absolutely no margin for error. We didn't make the most of our chances in Turkey and we won't make the same mistake at Anfield.
"We know one more slip will end our interest in the tournament and so we want to go for the jugular from the first whistle."

Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool

Blackburn and Liverpool shared the points in a tightly-contested match.
Rovers should have been in front by the interval after twice hitting the woodwork through David Bentley's effort and David Dunn's wonderful shot.
The game was more even in the second half, and both Christopher Samba and Dirk Kuyt could have done better for the visitors in promising positions.
Late on Brad Friedel twice saved Steven Gerrard shots, Peter Crouch went close with a header and Kuyt missed badly.

Liverpool deployed Kuyt as a lone striker, though Gerrard tried to get forward in support as often as possible.
But with Ryan Nelsen and Samba getting the better of the Dutchman, who has failed to score a league goal in open play this season, Liverpool struggled once the ball reached the Blackburn area.
Liverpool's wide players, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel, also found the going tough - as did Blackburn's wingers Morten Gamst Pedersen and Bentley.
And with the play congested in midfield, both sides laboured to create scoring opportunities.
Finally after 34 minutes Blackburn did just that - and came desperately close to scoring - as Pedersen and Bentley came infield to link up well.
Bentley collected Pedersen's flicked header and his low shot grazed the foot of Jose Reina's post.
Four minutes later the game was treated to its first meaningful save when Friedel threw himself to his left to push away Babel's powerful shot.
Just before half-time Dunn was desperately unlucky not to score when his superbly executed shot crashed off the bar.
Dunn limped off at the end of first period and although he re-emerged for the second half he was soon to be replaced by Tugay.
The game was more open up after the interval and Samba might have done better when John Arne Riise failed to clear, but the Blackburn defender delayed his shot.
Just past the hour Kuyt failed to pick the right pass with Gerrard in wonderfully promising position.
Gerrard then drew two fine saves from Friedel, while substitute Crouch had a header cleared off the line by Bentley.
In the closing minutes Kuyt missed a glorious chance after good work by Harry Kewell and the Dutchman then went close with an angled shot.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes:"It was a very good game. There were a number of chances for both teams. There were clear cut chances that on another day would have gone in.
"It was an evenly-matched game. But the last ten minutes were difficult for us.
"Liverpool had a number of chances and our keeper Brad Friedel did well for us when we were tired."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez:"I am disappointed. We deserved to win. We created very, very clear chances - and plenty of them.
"When the game became more open we had more control and went forward. We had more offensive players.
"We must think about the positives, we had a lot of possession and a lot of chances. In the second half, their goalkeeper was their best player."
Blackburn: Friedel, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Bentley, Dunn (Kerimoglu 56), Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy (Derbyshire 89).Subs Not Used: Brown, Khizanishvili, Treacy.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Benayoun (Crouch 72), Sissoko, Mascherano, Babel (Kewell 63), Gerrard, Kuyt.Subs Not Used: Martin, Arbeloa, Lucas.
Booked: Carragher.
Att: 30,033
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Liverpool 2-1 Cardiff

Steven Gerrard spoiled former team-mate Robbie Fowler's Anfield homecoming with Liverpool's winner to end Cardiff City's Carling Cup hopes.
Nabil El Zhar gave Liverpool the lead in this fourth-round tie with a long-range thunderbolt on 48 minutes.
Cardiff captain Darren Purse equalised, heading home Paul Parry's free-kick.
But within 46 seconds Liverpool retook the lead as Yossi Benayoun raced clear on the left and laid the ball into Gerrard's path to strike home.
Fowler, still a favourite with the Liverpool fans, returned to Anfield in the blue of Cardiff after leaving for the second time last summer.
The 32-year-old's name echoed around the stadium before the start, and four minutes into the match Fowler had a great chance to score.
Fabio Aurelio tripped the striker just outside the box in front of the Kop and Fowler, with a two pace angled run-up, sent a curling free-kick towards the top corner.
But French goalkeeper Charles Itandje flung himself to his left to claw the ball away to deny Fowler a dream return.
Liverpool responded with a Ryan Babel effort - clipped over the bar as he fell - before a clever, nimble turn from Peter Crouch ended with a low drive which fizzed wide.
Aurelio was next to try his luck with a bending drive that Bluebirds goalkeeper Michael Oakes comfortably turned round a post.
Lucas Leiva and Sebastian Leto also both went close for the home side, while at the other end Itandje turned away a dangerous Parry header, but the match remained goalless at the break.
Three minutes after the restart El Zhar remedied that, with a wonderful 30-yard strike to record his first Liverpool goal.
Gerrard made the early inroads with a typical driving run, before picking out El Zhar in space.
The 21-year-old Moroccan international, bought from St Etienne, came inside onto his right foot and unleashed a pile-driver that fizzed past Oakes and went in off the inside of the post.
Joe Ledley, who had been bright all night, almost pulled Cardiff level but the Wales international saw his goal-bound shot picked off by Itandje.
On 65 minutes Parry then sent across a fine bending free-kick that Cardiff skipper Purse honoured with an equally good header to level the score.
But Liverpool restored their lead within a minute as Gerrard swapped passes with Benayoun before burying the ball in the net from 15 yards.
Crouch nearly gave the Reds the comfort of a cushion but Oakes was again alert to palm the towering striker's header away.
Fowler nearly wrote himself a story-book ending with a vintage turn and snap-shot, only for the ball to ricochet off a Liverpool defender.
Then in the last minute Parry found space for a goal-bound effort, but again desperate defending saw the shot blocked and with it went Cardiff's last chance of forcing extra time.
Liverpool could even have finished with a flourish as Harry Kewell broke away on a swift counter-attack in injury time, only for Benayoun to blaze wide.
· Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:"I would have wanted really to leave Steven out of the match.
"But we have too many injuries and Mohamed Sissoko was sick again, so Steven had to play and in the end he was the one who scored the vital goal.
"Cardiff worked very hard and were always dangerous, but then Steven got through to score a typical goal."
· Cardiff manager Dave Jones:"We've come to Anfield and given them a bit of a fright.
"You're at your most vulnerable when you're in possession and unfortunately we lost the ball on the halfway line.
"But of all the players for the ball to break to, who can do that damage, it had to fall to the player I consider the best in that position - Gerrard."
Liverpool: Itandje, Arbeloa, Hobbs, Carragher, Aurelio, El Zhar (Kewell 71), Lucas (Mascherano 87), Gerrard, Leto (Benayoun 63), Crouch, Babel.Subs Not Used: Martin, Riise.
Booked: Lucas, Babel.
Goals: El Zhar 48, Gerrard 66.
Cardiff: Oakes, McNaughton (Gunter 84), Purse, Johnson, Capaldi, Ledley, Rae, McPhail (Whittingham 89), Parry, Fowler, Hasselbaink (Thompson 75).Subs Not Used: Magennis, Loovens.
Booked: McNaughton.
Goals: Purse 65.
Att: 41,780
Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Gerrard shares the glory with Fabregas

After swapping goals and sharing points, Steven Gerrard and Cesc Fabregas instinctively sought each other out at the end of this compelling encounter. Liverpool's personification of total commitment embraced the embodiment of Arsenal's Total Football. Respect ruled.
Gerrard and Fabregas uttered a few words of praise, and parted, returning to team-mates who were experiencing conflicting emotions. Liverpool had surrendered the lead to Fabregas' late equaliser and lost Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres to injury.
Liverpool's 1,000th league draw saw them slide from fourth to sixth over the weekend, with Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers on the rise, but they will take heart from some stirring performances from Jamie Carragher, Mascherano, Gerrard and Peter Crouch's lively second-half contribution. Equally encouragingly was a timely reminder of Rafa Benitez's ability to set up teams intelligently in shape and mood.
Urgency characterised Liverpool's play, Benitez's men snapping into tackles from the first hint of Howard Webb's whistle. Andrei Voronin nailed Fabregas early on and was booked, rightly so by the excellent Webb.
The message from the men in red was clear. Liverpool were determined to turn their season around, silencing the growing dissent towards Benitez over his controversial rotation policy. Of the 2,243 entrants who hazarded a guess at Benitez's line-up on fantasyrafa.com, the website dedicated to the manager's whims, only three cracked the code.
With Alonso and Mascherano anchoring a 4-2-3-1 formation, Gerrard was given the attacking platform he craved. With Dirk Kuyt and Voronin stretching the midfield and Torres the target man, Gerrard enjoyed space, setting the stage for his sixth-minute strike.
A system beloved by sides in Benitez's native Spain accommodates Liverpool's most talented central midfielders (Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard), so Alonso's cruel re-acquaintance with the nightmare of the metatarsal means Benitez may have to place the strategy on hold (unless he gambles with Momo Sissoko). Alonso injured himself landing awkwardly in pursuing a dropping Gerrard free-kick, again raising questions over the strength of the modern boot to withstand high-speed impact.
If mixed feelings over a good point earned at a cost suffused Gerrard and company, Fabregas' team did not know whether to punch the air in joy or beat the ground in frustration. Delighted by their recovery from Gerrard's stunning opener and the late reward for their fine passing and moving, Arsenal still left Anfield believing they should have scored more.
The ambition in the visitors' ranks was voiced by Fabregas. "We always played good football, but we didn't win," said the Spaniard, whose team head the Premier League table on goals scored. "We are disappointed. I scored but I also hit the post. We could have been two points in front with one less game played than Manchester United."
Sir Alex Ferguson had vacated his seat in the directors' box by the time Fabregas struck, but United's manager will have seen enough to know next Saturday's summit meeting at the Emirates will be typically feisty. Whether it will also be a spectacle of flowing football remains to be seen.
What is guaranteed is that neither Ferguson nor Wenger will compromise.Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez will work their moves around Manuel Almunia's box just as Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky, Alexander Hleb and Gael Clichy will raid into Edwin van der Sar's box.
If Wenger can teach Emmanuel Adebayor how to avoid the offside trap over the next five days, Arsenal will be an even greater threat on Saturday. The bonfire party weekend promises so many fireworks, that anything less than 90 minutes of sparklers in North London will feel like a damp squib.
Unless Rooney lets fly, the match may not see a goal as thunderous as Gerrard's here, the ball touching 70mph as it sped into Almunia's net. Gerrard played the catalyst and the executioner. A thumping challenge on Mathieu Flamini brought the ball into Liverpool's sway. An initial shot caused chaos and, in the ensuing mess, Fabregas tripped Alonso and Gerrard had his set-piece chance from 20 yards.
Arsenal's wall was poor, the human barrier dissolving into a loose confederation of bodies, and Gerrard took full advantage. Running onto John Arne Riise's tapped pass, Gerrard targeted a gap and the ball disappeared past Almunia.
Euphoria and relief swept around Anfield. Yet as the fans celebrated, wiser heads knew Liverpool really needed the insurance of a second. Even a goal down away from home, Arsenal did not panic. They just sought to pass Liverpool to death, producing the type of one-touch movement that must have revived memories on the Kop of past Liverpool sides.
Pepe Reina saved from Adebayor, following a superb pass from Fabregas. Arsenal's pressure was relentless, forcing Gerrard into some magnificent tackles on Hleb and Kolo Toure. Carragher made some vital clearances.

Even though Liverpool had good chances through Gerrard, Crouch and Riise, Arsenal got their deserved equaliser following a wonderful dribble by Hleb. He picked out the run of Fabregas, who calmly placed the ball past Reina. Fabregas and Gerrard both had great chances to settle it, but the honours were rightly shared.

Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas toe-poked a late goal to cancel out Steven Gerrard's first-half free-kick as Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League.
Gerrard struck on seven minutes, while Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina saved from Emmanuel Adebayor and Tomas Rosicky's lob was cleared off the line.
After the break Emmanuel Eboue hit the post and Fabregas fluffed the rebound.
But Fabregas equalised on 80 minutes and later hit the post as both sides remained unbeaten in the league.
The result means Arsenal reclaim top spot in the table from Manchester United, having scored more goals than their rivals, after an absorbing encounter at Anfield.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez opted for a three-pronged attack with Fernando Torres back after a thigh injury and lining up alongside Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin.
But it was soon apparent that Torres was not going to last the game and he quickly became a passenger in an ineffective front line.
Liverpool's saving grace was the driving force of skipper Gerrard and it was his right boot that delivered a crushing blow, when his ferocious free-kick rocketed past Manuel Almunia.
After a perceived dip in form, Gerrard was playing like a man out to prove a point and he had already tested Almunia with a fizzing low drive.
His harrying denied Arsenal's midfield any time on the ball, but gradually Arsenal regained their composure and played their way into the game to dominate territory and possession.
Yet some breathtaking passing movements between the recalled Tomas Rosicky, Alex Hleb and Fabregas, in particular, could not carve out an equaliser.
Adebayor raced through on goal only for keeper Reina to superbly close him down and save with his chest.
And when Reina was beaten by a deft Rosicky lob, Sami Hyypia was on hand to hook the ball off the line.
Liverpool almost punished Arsenal when Gerrard - who else - thundered in a volley that Almunia pushed over the bar.
Inevitably Liverpool replaced the struggling Torres with Peter Crouch at half-time.
And it did not take long for the substitute striker, who scored a hat-trick against Arsenal last year, to make his presence felt as his powerful drive brought a superb flying save out of Almunia.
Arsenal should have equalised when a slick move crafted a chance for Eboue and his shot cannoned back off the post straight to Fabregas, who made a hash of his effort with the goal gaping.
Instead the visitors could have found themselves two goals down. Crouch latched on to a through ball but dragged his low shot across goal.
Then Arsenal had another scare when John Arne Riise's volley from the edge of the box dipped late but found the roof of the net.
Fabregas eventually made up for his earlier miss when he got on the end of a Hleb through ball to nudge the ball beyond Reina and ensure Arsenal have scored in every game this season.
It could have been even better for Fabregas and Arsenal, but the Spaniard saw a late shot come back off the post and Nicklas Bendtner hit his first-time shot over when he had time to take a touch.
· Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez:"It was going well but we had problems with Torres. We wanted to use his pace and he then had the injury, then Xabi Alonso and we had to change.
"We now have a good record away and need to improve at home.
"But a draw at the end, because Arsenal also had chances, was probably not the worst result."
· Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:"It was a big test today but we have shown tremendous quality.
"Overall it was a great football game, a bit of an edgy start and we were a bit nervous and punished quickly.
"But from then on it was all us and it was a question of not conceding a second and coming back. We had enough chances to win the game."
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Mascherano, Alonso (Arbeloa 68), Gerrard, Voronin (Benayoun 65), Kuyt, Torres (Crouch 46).Subs Not Used: Itandje, Babel.
Booked: Voronin, Mascherano, Carragher.
Goals: Gerrard 7.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy (Silva 74), Eboue (Bendtner 74), Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Rosicky (Walcott 66), Adebayor.Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Diarra.
Booked: Rosicky, Toure, Fabregas.
Goals: Fabregas 80.
Att: 44,122
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Liverpool star set for £10 million exit !!!

Aston Villa are interested in making the loan move of keeper Scott Carson permanent according to the News Of The World. The player who is on loan from fellow Premier League side Liverpool has impressed since joining the Midlands club and Martin O'Neill is said to be very keen on signing Carson full time. It is believed that Liverpool will want as much as £10 million for the player and I think that is good value for such a talent.The player who joined Liverpool back in January of 2005 from Leeds United for a fee of £1 million but since then he has struggled to get his place in the Liverpool first team ahead of Jose Pepe Reina and has been forced to go out on loan to get some first team football.The 22 year old has been tipped to break into the England starting eleven after impressing in the opening games of the Premier League season but last week he was sent off against champions Man United.Carson has really impressed during the last two season whilst playing for Villa and last season in a poor Charlton side who went on to be relegated. I'm not too sure Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will be too keen to sell such an emerging keeper because there is no doubt that if he keeps up this kind of form in recent years he will be England's number one.

Besiktas 2-1 Liverpool

Liverpool face an uphill task to qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League after falling to defeat at Besiktas.
The hosts were gifted their first when Sami Hyypia deflected in Serdar Ozkan's strike and they doubled their lead when Bobo slid the ball under Pepe Reina.
Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool hope with a flying header on 85 minutes but it was too late for Rafa Benitez's side.
The Reds are now bottom of Group A with one point from three matches.
Liverpool were put on the backfoot straight away by Besiktas, whose defender Serdar Kurtulus went close with a 25-yard effort that flew just two yards over Reina's bar.
The Reds looked like a team under pressure and it took until the second half for their reorganised midfield to show any sort of cohesiveness.
Their defence also looked nervy with the ball over the top and down the wings, and a mix-up in their own penalty area led to the Besiktas opener.
Bobo was a little terror during the match and his pull-back from the byeline, after chasing a hopeful ball, fell to the feet of Ozkan whose snap-shot from eight yards deflected off Hyypia's leg and past Reina.
In these situations the Reds would look to Gerrard, but the skipper was both looking out-of-sorts and was being well marshalled by a disciplined Besiktas side.
When he was allowed to escape he was a threat and the England international came close to giving them the equaliser, but his poke, following a classy one-two with Dirk Kuyt, brought out a good reaction save from Hakan Arikan.
Kuyt's strike partner Andriy Voronin messed up Liverpool's best chance of the first half when he failed to connect with a ball from three yards out after defender Gokhan Zan's tame clearing header.
The Premier League side pressed after the break but opportunities were few, and when one came their way, it fell to Hyypia who mistimed his volley from 10 yards.
They were made to pay for their lack of spark when the impressive Bobo was sent clear by Uzulmez before composing himself and passing his shot under the body of the on-rushing Reina.
Liverpool unleashed more men forward and finally got some reward when Gerrard chanced his arm - well, his head - and gave his side a lifeline in spectacular style.
The last few moments were desperate for Besiktas and Liverpool but the home side held out.
Besiktas: Arikan, Tandogan, Zan, Toraman, Uzulmez, Kurtulus (Avci 42), Cisse, Tello, Ozcan, Bobo (Diatta 86), Delgado (Higuain 62).Subs Not Used: Ozmen, Yozgatli, Nobre, Ricardinho.
Goals: Hyypia 13 og, Bobo 82.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia (Crouch 83), Riise, Pennant (Benayoun 59), Gerrard, Mascherano (Lucas 76), Babel, Voronin, Kuyt.Subs Not Used: Itandje, Alonso, Sissoko, Hobbs.
Goals: Gerrard 85.
Att: 32,500 Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).