What did you make of Rafael Benitez’s comments in today’s press conference?
It was very entertaining for a start. It was the exact same weekend last year and the exact same fixture, Stoke City away, when Benitez pulled out his little piece of paper and started listing his facts about Sir Alex Ferguson. He’s obviously realised that would be on the minds of the press and he has tried to kill it with a little bit of comedy. It did lighten the mood and with the pressure he is under the ability to show that you can laugh at yourself is a credit to him.
Predictably he wanted to focus on the football rather than discuss events at the club. That wasn’t a surprise was it?
No, there were an awful lot of questions about his future, about the owners, about the comments made by Fernando Torres, but he played a straight bat to all of them. He doesn’t want the team to lose focus before tomorrow’s game, he doesn’t want to make any more headlines for the wrong reasons, he just wants his players to remain focused and he has tried to take the pressure off them.
Will the injuries to Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun make the arrival of any reinforcements this month more likely? Did he discuss that?
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There is nothing concrete at the moment. The injuries to all three were only confirmed yesterday so Benitez will now need to take a look at his strategy and perhaps review his plans for the rest of the transfer window. One plan was that he might have been able to reinvest some or all of the proceeds from the potential sale of Ryan Babel, but that may have to change now.
Having lost three of his key attacking players so quickly he may need to reassess his targets to make sure he has cover. The plan was to keep spending down with money being retained for the summer, a time when the club’s hierarchy believe that better-quality players will become available. But that may change. It is too early to say at this stage.
What do Liverpool need to do to turn this situation around? Will Benitez give the likes of Daniel Pacheco a chance to impress?
Benitez has always been reluctant to blood young players, maybe because it is difficult to do so at a club like Liverpool where expectations and pressure are so high. But the time has come for the likes of Pacheco, David Amoo and Nathan Ecclestone to be given their chance. I don’t think any of them will start at Stoke but I would expect them to be in the squad and their enthusiasm might even lift spirits in the camp.
What kind of side do you expect to see tomorrow given the injury problems?
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It’s a very difficult one to predict. On top of the injuries we know about there are still doubts over Pepe Reina, although a decision will be made tomorrow. I would expect Benitez to field a physically strong side, not too adventurous and see if he can nick it. I wouldn’t expect him to play two up front so it might be Alberto Aquilani playing just off Dirk Kuyt. The match has probably come too soon for Maxi Rodriguez.
Were you surprised by comments from Torres? It seems very unlike him - should Liverpool fans be worried?
No, on the contrary, they should be heartened by the fact that he cares about and understands the problems at Anfield and what needs to happen to solve them. Yes, he has spoken out but he is not issuing ultimatums on his own future. Torres isn’t like most other footballers, for instance, he was recently asked what he would do if Liverpool failed to finish in the top four and he said he would stay and help the club get back into the top four. That sums him up, but the club can’t take that kind of loyalty for granted.