yuriska

I think it is just a marriage of convenience. He's siding with Hicks because he needs to plan for the summer and Hicks is the only one talking about budgets and a future for next season. Gillet wants out, and DIC are still outside and hence can't do anything. To be honest I thin that Rafa would do a deal with anyone if he got his funds and more power negotiating transfers. Rafa is quite ruthless and singleminded - all his focus is on winning.

He met him in November right? Well didn't Hicks fess-up to Rafa in January? He probably told Rafa about both meetings. So that's why now it is a non-issue. Just because we didn't know about it, doesn't mean Rafa didn't..... though that raises the question that how he (Rafa) didn't know about Parry being there......

Aplogies if this has been posted elsewhere, I looked but haven't seen it. Link FRESH doubt has been cast over Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool future after the Spaniard expressed fears his job is being undermined. The Anfield manager has called for urgent talks with the club’s board after further revelations emerged over the weekend concerning chief executive Rick Parry which call into question the relationship between the pair. Privately, the Spaniard is running out of patience with the discord behind the scenes and will consider offers from elsewhere if the struggle for power in the boardroom continues much longer. And Benitez is seemingly ready to side with Tom Hicks in calling for Parry to be dismissed. The latest twist centres on the November meeting of Liverpool co-owners Hicks and George Gillett with Jurgen Klinsmann to discuss a proposal to become the new Anfield manager. Benitez was made aware of the discussions within days, with Hicks publicly admitting in January to the approach while backing the Spaniard. But Hicks has now claimed that chief executive Parry was also among those present at the clandestine summit in California. And that has startled Benitez who, after watching his team earn a 3-1 win against Blackburn Rovers yesterday, has sought clarification about the present situation at Anfield. “It was a surprise to read about some meetings,” said the Spaniard. “I need to talk with the board and clarify the situation. I want to do that as soon as possible. “I want to clarify everything. I was surprised with some meetings with other managers. I was surprised with the people that were in the meeting. “I feel my position is being undermined by it. That is why I want to clarify the situation. “I need to speak to all of the people. They were in a meeting together, so I need to know something more. “I will ask some questions about the meeting (before Christmas).” Benitez’s private criticism of Parry over transfer dealings entered the public domain last week when Hicks leaked a letter demanding the chief executive be sacked. While co-owner Gillett instantly came out in support of Parry and refused to sanction the dismissal, Benitez elected to keep his counsel with Liverpool cancelling their usual pre-match media conference last Friday. But the fact it now appears Parry was also involved in the meeting with Klinsmann has seemingly set Benitez in agreement with Hicks over the chief executive’s future. “It’s not the first time I knew about the meeting, but was the first time I knew about the people that were in the meeting,” said the manager. “I will not talk about any specific owner, I want to talk with everyone, preferably at the same time, to clarify the situation. “It was a meeting with some people I did not know about. I need to resolve questions, and I tell you I want some answers. I am really calm, but I want answers.” Hicks had said yesterday: “When the Klinsmann story broke, I didn't hear Rick Parry or George Gillett say that they were the ones that set up the Klinsmann meeting. “Rick, George and Foster Gillett participated with my son, Tom Jr, and me in the meeting. Rick allowed all of the controversy to build without taking any responsibility.” Representatives of both Hicks and Klinsmann yesterday dismissed another claim that the German was still being consulted over transfers, despite the fact he will take over at Bayern Munich in the summer. Liverpool’s players made light of the maelstrom behind the scenes by strengthening their grip on fourth place and the final Champions League qualification berth. Second-half goals from Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin rendered Roque Santa Cruz’s injury-time volley a mere consolation. Benitez’s side are now five points clear of nearest rivals Everton with four games remaining. And the Anfield manager said: “For me, it’s more important to stop all the talking and concentrate on the games. “We are professionals and we know we need to be focused on the football. We will try to do this. “The situation is not getting to the players, though. They are ready for winning more games, they know we need to finish in the top four and go forward if we can in the Champions League. We must stay focused on the football.”

1. Gerrard 2. Benayoun 3. Leiva

How? He's not even on the bench.....

Yeah but, he's an ENGLISH loser...... that's why.....

WHEN DIC buy us and sack Parry there will be parties.

The last thing we want is for Rafa to get involved. Let him keep his own counsel. If he hasn't said anything, then the relevant people: Parry, Gillett, will know this and ignore any hot air coming from Hicks re:Rafa. I don't want Rafa to get involved in any of this

My Italian is not very good, but it seems we are/were interested in Valon Behrami (Wiki Profile) If anyone can confirm this....Linky Dopo quello della Fiorentina, per Valon Behrami pare essere spuntato, negli ultimi giorni, l'interesse del Liverpool. Per saperne di più, TMW ha contattato l'agente del giocatore Alessandro Beltrami. Signor Beltrami, nei giorni scorsi si è parlato di un interesse del Liverpool per il suo assistito... "Magari, ce lo porterei di corsa!"

Liverpool Chelsea 22/04/08 and 30/04/08 Barca Mancs 23/04/08 and 29/04/08 BBC edit: Boca got it.

Didn't Sevilla get knocked out in the last 16 by Fenerbahce? + Win the UEFA two years running? Remember when we were ranked No 1 for a while based on our UEFA cup success and beating Bayern in the Super Cup.... - of course they are not better 'overall' than Utd but in that period you probably would have fancied Sevilla in a two legged tie to beat most teams (inlcuding Utd). I mean didn't they also spank Arsenal "best team in the world evah" in the Group stages? They lost to Fener probably because they lost their manager. But they shouldn't be underestimated.

1. Kuyt 2. Babel 3. Hyypia

Am i remembering wrongly or did last year we used to practice penalties? I recall something along the lines that the lads always had an end of session tourny to see who could score the most..... I think Robbie used to nearly always win. But this year there all saying that we don't practice at all.....

12th game isn't it?

1. Crouch 2. Plessis 3. Carragher

He returned to Barcelona on Thursday night, and today told the Spanish press of his intentions to be ready should his team advance to a possible tie with the English champions. 'It would be great if I could be in the semi-finals of the Champions League,' he told El Mundo Deportivo. 'If we played Manchester United it would be amazing because we would be playing one of the best teams in the world. But I aim to be back before that.' Barcelona currently hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Schalke, with the second leg at the Nou Camp due to be played on April 9. And Messi declared himself available to finish the job against the Germans. He said: 'If it was up to me I'd play this weekend because I feel fine, and even if was just a few minutes I'd like to play in the second leg against Schalke.' Click me

You might be fright with the Johnson theory. Can't be Ashely Young as he was mentioned in the Podcast, as well as the fact that we have played Villa twice. Our remaining fixtures: Arsenal Blackburn Fulham Birmingham Man City Spurs Obviously though it could be Bent or Micah Richards as well... even Bentley or Lennon - though they are predominantly right sided players, which goes against what Balague has said.

Didn't Rafa spend a year or something in Italy, studying the Italian game after the Extremadura Job and before the Tenerife job? That would explain where he learnt his Italian - and maybe after the Inter game he decided to practice a bit more since it wasn't too good. Just a theory like...

1. Kuyt 2. Gerrard 3. Skrtel

David is David in spanish Diego is James...... It is derived from biblical reference - Jacob/Ya'akov (in Hebrew)

Q: Is it the kind of rivalry you welcome when two teams from the same city are doing well? A: No, I prefer to be top of the table. Class from Rafa Offal

FERNANDO TORRES has shaken off any fears that he could be a doubt for the Merseyside derby by coming through a friendly run-out for Spain. Liverpool’s top scorer was taken off after 49 minutes of the Spanish national team’s 1-0 win over Italy but, despite some rough treatment from Marco Materazzi, he emerged unscathed and was today returning to Merseyside to join up with the Reds squad ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Everton. Torres’ early substitution caused some fears that he might have sustained an injury but the ECHO understands Rafa Benitez had an agreement with Spain boss Luis Aragones that his star striker would be taken off shortly after the start of the second half. Echo

Alvaro Arbeloa made his debut for Spain when he came on as a second half substitute during a 1-0 win over Italy, while Nabil El Zhar scored on his international bow for Morocco. Arbeloa came on as a 73rd minute substitute for Sergio Ramos in a match which also saw Fernando Torres come through 49 minutes unscathed. Xabi Alonso also got a run out when he came on as a 58th minute replacement for Marcos Da Silva. Pepe Reina was an unused sub. El Zhar, meanwhile, played the second half of Morocco's 4-1 win over Belgium in Brussels, scoring in the 85th minute. Offal

Alvaro Arbeloa made his debut for Spain when he came on as a second half substitute during the 1-0 win over Italy and Fernando Torres also enjoyed a 49 minute run-out. The Reds number nine came through the match unscathed before being one of six Spanish players to be substituted in the second half. Linky

I've compiled the list for League only: Reina Itandje - 2001-02 Ligue 1 Runner-Up Arbeloa Aurelio - 2001-02 & 2003-04 La Liga Winner, 1998 & 2000 Sao Paulo State Championship Winner Riise - 1999-2000 French Ligue 1 Winner, 2001-02 Premiership Runner-Up Agger - 2004-05 Danish Superliga Winner Skrtel - 2007 Russian Premier League Winner Hyypia - 2001-02 Premiership Runner-Up Carragher - 2001-02 Premiership Runner-Up Finnan - 2000-01 Old First Div. Winner, 1998-99 Old Second Div Winner, 1997-98 Old Third Div Winner Gerrard - 2001-02 Premiership Runner-Up Alonso - 2002-03 La Liga Runner-Up Lucas - 2005 Brazilian Serie B Winner, 2006 & 2007 Rio Grande do Sul State Championship Winner Mascherano - 2003-04 Argentinian Clausura Winner, 2005 Brazilian Championship Winner Babel - 2004-05 & 2006-07 Eredivisie Runner-Up Benayoun - 2000-01 & 2001-02 Israeli Premier League Winner Kewell Pennant Leto - 2006 Argentinian Clausura Runner-Up Torres - 2001-02 Segunda Liga Winner Crouch - 2003-04 Championship Winner Kuyt Voronin Edit: Pennant played only one game during 2003-04