LIVERPOOLFC NEWS 18 OCT 2007

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BOSS: TORRES IS VERY CLOSE

Rafael Benitez is hopeful Fernando Torres will be able to face Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.  
The Spanish striker has been receiving intensive treatment on his adductor injury this week and is now back in training.
  
"Torres trained well on Wednesday and we will have another session on Thursday and Friday afternoon, then we will make a decision," said Benitez.
  
"We have three players who are very close to returning and we will see how they are before I decide on the team to face Everton.
  
"It is always a risk but I will talk to the doctor and maybe it is not such a big risk here."
  
The Liverpool manager also revealed his team are looking forward to the derby and are eager to get their form back on track in the Premier League.
  
"Winning a game like this can change everything and we are looking forward to the derby," added Benitez.
  
"It's important for us to win this game. Everton are in a good position in the league and have started the season well.
  
"We know it will be a tough and very physical game. We have confidence and the players know how much this match means to our supporters."

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Rafael Benitez believes it's unfair to put Liverpool's indifferent form of late down to individual players.  
The Reds' boss has been alarmed that certain members of his squad - including skipper Steven Gerrard - have come in for criticism from some supporters and today insisted only an improved team effort will see the club return to winning ways.
  
"I am really worried about the team over the past few games, because we are not playing at our level," he explained.
  
"You can talk about Steven Gerrard, because he is the captain, but you can talk about the other players also.
  
"I was disappointed when people were talking about Sissoko and Leto after the Marseille game.
  
"So I say the team is not playing well and you cannot pick out one player. It is the same situation with Steve.
  
"He needs to keep working and you could see the other day during the game that he was working hard.
  
"The team is working hard so we need to improve tactically and we need to improve our confidence."

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Jamie Carragher today insisted the departure of Pako Ayestaran from the Liverpool coaching staff is not the reason for the Reds' recent dip in form.  

The Spaniard's exit from the club was confirmed at the weekend, although he will remain contracted at Anfield until the summer.
  
Ayestaran's departure has coincided with a disappointing series of results for Rafael Benitez's men, but Carragher is adamant the two events are not linked.
  
"Gerard Houllier had the same thing thrown at him when Patrice Bergues left, and in that case I do think that had a big impact," said Carragher.
  
"But the difference now is that Rafa Benitez is a coach, while Gerard Houllier was more of simply a manager and observed coaching rather than actually taking it.
  
"I got on great with Pako, he was superb at his job and he had a great relationship with the manager, but he was the fitness coach.
  
"Rafa is the coach. At the end of the day, we've lost a fitness coach, not a football coach, although it's a fitness coach who was outstanding at his job.
  
"But it's still the manager picking the team. Rafa is the football man and that hasn't changed, and I'm sure the results since Pako has left is just a coincidence.
  
"I can understand why people might look at that. People are always looking for reasons why a team isn't playing so well, but in the training sessions we are still doing the same things.
  
"If people do look at Pako leaving as the reason for our loss in form, I think they are looking for excuses really."

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Steve Finnan scored a stoppage time equaliser for the Republic of Ireland during the Euro 2008 qualifier against Cyprus on Wednesday night.  
The Liverpool right back scored right at the death as Steve Staunton's side drew 1-1 with Cyprus at Croke Park. However, the draw ended Irish hopes of qualification.
  
Meanwhile John Arne Riise played the full 90 minutes for Norway in their 2-0 win in Bosnia. He created the opening goal and then saw his brother Bjorn Helge Riise score their second goal, while former Liverpool defender Frode Kippe was an unused substitute. Norway are currently in second place in Group C.
  
Andriy Voronin played the full 90 minutes but didn't find the net as Ukraine beat Faroe Islands 5-0 in Group B, while Ryan Babel came on as a second half substitute as Holland beat Slovenia 2-0 in Group G.
  
Javier Mascherano played for Argentina in their 2-0 win over Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier.
  
There was disappointment for Reds skipper Steven Gerrard who captained England in their 2-1 defeat in Russia. Peter Crouch made a late appearance as a substitute.
  
Over in Finland, Sami Hyypia played 45 minutes as his countrymen held Spain – with Pepe Reina in goal – to a 0-0 friendly draw.

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Steve McManaman is backing Liverpool to emerge from their recent dip in form with a victory in this weekend's Merseyside derby.  
With the Reds lying six points behind leaders Arsenal at the top of the table, McManaman insists Rafael Benitez's men need to rediscover their early season form sooner rather than later if their title hopes are to remain on course.
  
And, with local rivals Everton providing the opposition this weekend, he sees no better time for his former club to return to winning ways.
  
"I think Liverpool will win," said McManaman. "They have got a decent record at Goodison and if everybody comes home from the international matches fit and well I'd expect Liverpool to go and beat Everton.
  
"They have to get out of this little rut. They are drawing games and not playing well at the moment. They are still well in contention though and ahead of Chelsea in the table. I think Arsenal will come into more difficult times than they've had recently, because they will be playing against better teams than the ones they've played against so far.
  
"Liverpool are going through a bit of a blip right now but are still up there and in with a real chance of challenging. It just depends how quickly they can get their form back and start winning games again.
  
"Of course the next week is going to be vital for them because three huge games lie ahead. The league matches with Everton and Arsenal are massive for obvious reasons but whatever happens I don't think it will define the season. I think they'll win the derby and I also think they have the measure of Arsenal at Anfield so I can't see two defeats there.
  
"The Champions League game in Besiktas though is a different story because that could define their European campaign for the season. Besiktas are the whipping boys of the group at the moment but Istanbul is never an easy place to go and win a game of football. In their last game they had loads of chances against Porto and then lost to a last minute goal.
  
"Those games are ones to look forward to after the derby, though. First and foremost they have to make sure they're ready for Everton because it's going to be a very, very difficult game. But if they play the way they can then I'm sure Liverpool will win."

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Steven Gerrard insists it's 'unthinkable' that England may not qualify for next summer's European Championships.  
Last night's 2-1 defeat in Russia means England's fate is no longer in their own hands and that victory over Croatia in their final match may still not be enough to secure them a place in the finals.
  
Steve McClaren's men looked to be heading towards qualification after Wayne Rooney volleyed them ahead in Moscow, but the home side hit back with two late goals to leave England - and Gerrard - deflated.
  
"We were in control of the game, the game-plan was working perfectly, we've gone 1-0 up and I've had a fantastic chance to make it 2-0 myself.
  
"Then we had a mad five to 10 minutes when the game has changed. The penalty for their first goal looked outside the box and has turned the whole game.
  
"It gave them a lot of confidence, put them on the front foot and they put us under a lot of pressure and managed to get a second.
  
"Even when they got the penalty, we should still have been strong and more together to see the game out.
  
"It is important that we don't give up. We are waiting on other people to do us favours. But as players we've got to stick together, focus and believe to the end.
  
"I can't believe it is out of our hands because we have worked so hard over the last five or six games to put ourselves in the driving seat and make ourselves favourites to go through, especially after going 1-0 up tonight.
  
"You start believing you are nearly there, that you have got one foot there but football is a cruel game and chances and decisions and mistakes turn football matches and that is what has happened tonight.
  
"For England not to make the finals will be unthinkable. But as players and staff we’ve got to take responsibility for that."