IBRAHIMOVIC COMING TO ANFIELD

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez acknowledges that the Champions League last-16 tie against Inter Milan will be ‘very, very difficult’ but at the same time believes the Italian champions will be 'worried for sure.'

The Anfield club are aiming for a third Champions League final appearance in the space of four years and the Spaniard insists his side will relish taking on a team of the calibre of the reigning Italian champions and current Serie A leaders.

The Reds had overcome European giants Barcelona, who were the reigning champions, last season and Benitez suggested the Merseysiders were prepared to face another major side in the knock-out this time after they could only finish second in their group campaign.

The Spaniard said on the club’s official website: "Everyone was expecting a difficult draw and Inter Milan are top of the table in Italy, so it will be very, very difficult."


He added: "They will be worried for sure. They know we are a good team and I remember talking about Barcelona being a tough draw last year. In two months time you don't know what could happen so we will see if we can go into the match playing a little bit better."

Benitez believes his team can beat anyone in Europe and, given their recent experience in the competition, which saw them come from 3-0 down against Milan in the 2005 final, feels that Inter have reason to be nervous ahead of the two-leg clash. He also analysed the task in front of him as he had faced Roberto Mancini's side when he was in charge at Valencia.

"I know them from playing against them with Valencia. They have good players and experience in Europe so it will be a very, very difficult job, but we were expecting that," he said.

"If you want to progress in the competition you have to beat the top sides and Inter is one of them. Hopefully we will meet another one in the next round."



Inter Milan chief executive Ernesto Paolillo insists his side will make life as difficult as possible for Benitez's team.

"We feel Liverpool are the strongest team, what better team to have as an opponent?" he said.

"I think Liverpool will make it difficult for us and I hope it will be difficult for them as well."

Inter's key players include Hernan Crespo, Luis Figo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Patrick Vieira.

The first leg will take place at Anfield on Tuesday 19 February with the return leg at the San Siro on 11 March.
Draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League made by UEFA at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland :

Celtic (Scotland) v Barcelona (Spain)
Olympique Lyon (France) v Manchester United (England)
Schalke 04 (Germany) v Porto (Portugal)
Liverpool (England) v Inter Milan (Italy)
AS Roma (Italy) v Real Madrid (Spain)
Arsenal (England) v AC Milan (Italy)
Olympiakos Piraeus (Greece) v Chelsea (England)
Fenerbahce (Turkey) v Sevilla (Spain)


Editor's Notes

Yes, current Champions League joint top-scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is finally making his way to Anfield but for the wrong reasons. Along with a star-studded line up of Gunner's former general, Patrick Vieira and once Red's wanted list Luis Figo, Inter Milan are set to sample the hostile European nights at Anfield.

It is believed that Liverpool initially had hoped for a draw against a Spanish club, be it Real Madrid, Barcelona or Sevilla due to Rafa's familiarity with the Spanish players. Unfortunately, they is not a single Spanish player with Inter. On the other hand, Inter's team is littered with Argentinians, seven altogether (the likes of captain Javier Zanetti, Hernan Crespo and Walter Samuel to name but few) and Rafa is well informed on Argentinians. Familiarity breeds confidence, they say. That's where this draw might just sway into Liverpool's favour. Not that they are not any good though but tactically I reckon Rafa would be spot on with his plan.



Liverpool will be hosting the Serie A leaders in the first-leg and it is important that they get into a comfortable lead to take to San Siro. A 2-0 win would not be too much to ask for but a 1-0 could just suffice. Come February there would hopefully be some QUALITY new faces to beef up the squad. Its time to stand up and be counted for.

STADIUM SACRIFICED FOR TRANSFERS

Liverpool's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have scaled down plans for their new stadium to divert money into a transfer kitty for boss Rafa Benitez.



The Mirror are reporting that the American duo decided to reduce the spending on the stadium to provide Benitez with the funds required to secure the services of Javier Mascherano and to also add a new striker and two new wide players.



Chief executive Rick Parry has pledged that Liverpool WILL be active when the transfer window opens next month.

The club's chief executive has quashed speculation that Liverpool boss Benitez would not have any money to spend to new players in January.

Parry said: "We will be active in the transfer market next month, as we always are. There has never been any suggestion of a ban, I don't know where that has come from. Our priority is to do as well as we can on the field, and, as always, we will be active."

He added: "It is nonsense to say that there will be an embargo on transfers for the manager - the owners are committed to supporting him as much as possible.

"The objective on day one in building the new stadium was to generate more cash to fund the team and we must never get away from that objective. We will still produce a stadium for the fans to be proud of, and the owners will be able to support the manager in the way that he wants."

Editor's Notes

Liverpool fans have allegedly taken this news with mixed-reactions. On one hand, they would want Liverpool's new home ground to be the yardstick for future stadiums, a pride of the Reds. But on the other hand, the fans would want to support Rafa over his battle to get some extra funds for new recruitment come the January transfer window.

Its sad that the design of the stadium had to be down-scaled in order to filter out some fundings. But on the contrary, only some of the high-tech state of the art design have been omitted. And apparently the initial plan for a capacity of 70,000 is still in place.

Perhaps its an amicable trade off. With Rafa hopefully getting to strengthen the squad with a new centre half and a winger who can cross. The downside could be that the sensor auto-flush of the stadium's toilets have been now made to manuals.

RAFA PREPARE LOSING JAVIER

Rafa Benitez has kept a close eye on Sulley Muntari, 23, and will move for him in the January transfer window if Javier Mascherano's £17million fee is not sanctioned.

The Liverpool manager remains on frosty terms with co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over the availability of transfer funds and Muntari is seen as a cheaper option to Mascherano.

The Ghana international has played a key role in Pompey's rise up the Premier League table since signing for a club-record £7m from Udinese.

Muntari said: "I want to end up at one of the biggest clubs - that is every player's dream. Of course I will try my best here and help Portsmouth win many things, and maybe qualify for Europe, but eventually I would like to play for a bigger club."

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp would be a reluctant seller but could be tempted by a deal involving cash and Peter Crouch.

Editor's Notes

It would be unimaginable not having Javier Mascherano prowling across the middle of the park. And all that just to save £10m ? Worse still if Masch ended up donning the color of the Devils instead. That would be deem as a "Cardinal Sin".

No doubt Muntari has impressed the press and a lot of pundits, he is a different player to that of Mascherano. Though Muntari has been described to be as good as international teammate Michael Essien by some quarters, Muntari, I feel, is more a box-to-box type of player.

Presently, I reckon that Mascherano is the best midfield destroyer in the EPL if not Europe. He is the tank in Liverpool's engine room and he is the main reason as to why Steven Gerrard is getting back to his best. With Javier around, Gerrard can afford to relinquish a little of his defensive duty giving him more impetus to lead the assault.

Losing Mascherano should not even be discussed. If its transfer embargo directed by the owner, by all means, sell off a few fringe players, like Scott Carson, Momo Sissoko or even the misfiring Dirk Kuyt. Just do whatever is necessary to ensure that the Liverbird remains on Javier's chest come next season.

RAFA EYES ARGENTINIAN YOUNGSTER

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is confident of sealing a deal for Racing Santander defender Ezequiel Marcelo Garay.

The People says Benitez has settled on a fee of £10 million for the Argentine youngster, though whether he will move to Anfield in January will depend on the club's American owners.

However, the aftermath of the three-hour meeting, though amicable, suggested that Benitez is having to come to terms with the news that he will have to sell before he can spend significantly when the transfer window opens in January.

Editor's Notes

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to identify that Liverpool are thin in cover in centre-half. Although Sami Hyypia should be applauded for his good positioning and quick thinking, there would be times when his legs would be unable to carry where his head wants him to go. He is nonetheless still a great player to have but he can no longer cope with ninety-minutes of breakneck speed.

Highly-rated 21-year-old Argentine Ezequiel Garay, has been getting some rave reviews performing admirably for Spanish outfit Racing Santander, earning an international cap along the way. Garay is notable for a good ability to score especially by spot-kicks or freekicks. He has been linked to almost every top European sides notably the Mancs. After seeing his pursue of Nemanja Vidic being scuppered by Alex F, I reckon that Rafa would want to make a sweep right from the offing.

Having said that, Rafa had the believed previously that he had got a top-drawer deal when he signed Gabriel Paletta and we all know what happened next. Personally, I have not seen him in action before but still coughing out £10 million for a youngster could be consider as a risk for the American owners. Perhaps, a defender who has been plying his trade in the EPL would be a better option, someone in the mould of Newcastle's Steven Taylor or Man City's Micah Richards.

About the issue of having to sell-off to buy, I feel that Momo Sissoko is fighting a losing battle over his compatriots, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and wonderboy Lucas Leiva. Liverpool could definitely recoup back the money they spent to get him.
The other could be John Arne Riise, who is fast losing the faith of the manager and fans alike with his lack of contribution.

Aside from signing a centre-half, Rafa's main priority would still be making Mascherano's move a permanent one at £17 million. The American owners would definitely face the wrath of the Kop if they decide to turn on a deaf ear.

BABEL : " I'M NO SUPERSUB "

Ryan Babel does not want to become labelled a new Liverpool supersub.

The young Dutch striker came off the bench to score again in Marseille on Tuesday night, his fifth goal as a substitute in just over a month.

But he is keen not to become typecast as an impact player only capable of influencing matches when defenders are tired.

“When you join a club you have to get used to the way they play and to the manager’s rotation policy. And in the beginning I had to deal with that,” he said.

“But as the season has gone on I have started more, but I am not yet at the best level I can play. I know now which level I am at, but I can get better, definitely.

“But coming off the bench and scoring goals gives me more confidence for when I do start.”

David Fairclough was Liverpool’s original supersub, scoring an incredible 18 times as a substitute during his Anfield career.

But in recent weeks Babel has scored twice against Besiktas, again against Newcastle, in the home match against Bolton and in France on Tuesday – in a total playing time of exactly 90 minutes!

The only time he has started in that spell was against Porto, when he played on the left.

Boss Rafa Benitez is aware of Babel’s rich potential.

“Ryan is a good player. He prefers to play in the middle, but he knows he must play wide on the right or left for the good of the team.”

Babel came on as a central striker in the Stade Velodrome for Fernando Torres, and he is aware the sensational Spaniard offers a huge obstacle to his hopes of holding down a striking role at Anfield.

GER-ROBBED

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has become the sixth player in the past 18 months to be the victim of burglary.

Gerrard’s wife, Alex Curran, was confronted by four burglars at the couple’s mansion last night while Gerrard played in his side’s Champions League match in Marseille.

Curran was shaken but not harmed when the incident occurred at the property in Formby, Merseyside.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said:”We are investigating a confrontational burglary which took place at around 9.30pm last night.

“Four men, wearing dark clothing, hoods and balaclavas, entered the property and stole items of jewelery.

“We cannot confirm the nature of the confrontation.

“The female resident, and another woman who was in the house at the time, were left shaken but uninjured.”

The spokeswoman went on to say that forensic examination of the property was taking place today, and house-to-house inquiries have begun.

Dirk Kuyt was burgled three weeks ago while on international duty, while Jerzy Dudek, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger and Peter Crouch have also been targeted by thieves.

BENITEZ : MIDFIELD MAESTRO WILL STAY

Benitez:”Midfield maestro will stay”

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is confident Javier Mascherano will sign a permanent deal to stay with the club.

The on-loan midfielder has been linked with a £17m move to Manchester City but Benitez is upbeat that the Argentine will remain at Anfield.

“He said to me that he wants to stay here, so I have confidence,” he said.

Liverpool would have to negotiate with Media Sports Investments, the consortium which “owns” Mascherano, to agree a permanent contract.

Benitez’s attempts to buy the player were recently blocked by Liverpool’s American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

But the Liverpool manager remains optimistic of securing a longer-term agreement, beyond the 18-month loan period which expires this summer.

“Clearly, I hope Mascherano stays here,” he said. “I am confident he can be persuaded to stay.

“He is playing well and everyone knows he is a good player and there are not too many world-class holding midfielders around.

“He wants to stay, our supporters like him and we will try to keep him.”

Mascherano and his advisers are believed to want to tie up a deal as quickly as possible.

Liverpool risk the midfielder signing a pre-contract agreement elsewhere if they do not offer him permanent terms by next month.

In October, Mascherano said he hoped he can do enough to turn his loan deal with Liverpool into a permanent move at the end of the season.

“I’d love to stay and I will do everything I can to do so. It depends on what everyone decides at the end of the season,” he said.

“I have just got to make sure everyone is happy with my performances and they want me to stay. I want to be here to play in the new stadium.

“We are already one of the greatest clubs in the world, but with the plans for the future we could become the world’s greatest team.”

Mascherano, rested for last weekend’s 4-0 win over Bolton, is now set to play a key part in a critical week that could define Liverpool’s season.