Rafa will know if Steven Gerrard is fit for Liverpool's Champions League battle with Chelsea on Tuesday night at Anfield if the England star looks him in the eye and gives him the nod.

Gerrard, the English heartbeat of the Liverpool team, remains a doubt with a painful neck injury for the first-leg of the "all-English" semi final in which Liverpool attempt to knock out their bitter rivals for a third time in five years.

Labels: champions league, Gerrard, rafa

Rafa is still expected to consider quitting Liverpool at the end of the season in response to the boardroom turmoil that has engulfed the club.

While claims that Benitez threatened to resign on Sunday night in response to the revelation that chief executive Rick Parry was party to the meetings with Jurgen Klinsmann are wide of the mark, sources close to Benitez are understood to have confirmed that he will reassess his position after making another attempt to win the Champions League.

With a whole host of clubs - including Real Madrid - likely to offer him alternative employment, Benitez is in a position of strength and his anger at Sunday's disclosure that Parry met Klinsmann before Christmas has been interpreted as an attempt to ally himself with co-owner Tom Hicks against the chief executive. Yet Anfield sources are adamant that Benitez is genuinely - and understandably - angry that the latest round of behind-the-scenes machinations has overshadowed his team's recent on-field success.

Labels: rafa, rick parry, tom hicks

The past few weeks' developments at Anfield have been surreal. After defeating Arsenal in thrilling fashion in the Champions League quarter-final (Gallas weighs in), Liverpool should be on a high. Rafa has again demonstrated his remarkably successful touch in Europe's top club competition (with some help). Although Chelsea may have something to say about it, the Reds are on course for a third Champions League final in four seasons - and possibly a sixth European crown.

Yet before the euphoria of their achievement on the pitch had even begun to subside, owner Tom Hicks did not so much rain on their parade as precipitate a cloudburst by calling unilaterally for chief executive Rick Parry to resign, criticizing his record on the commercial front, saying he obstructed some big-money signings and now that he was the point man on Klinsmann talks. It seems that the real issue for Dallas millionaire Hicks is the fact that Parry has sided with Gillett in the great boardroom schism. [ article ]

Labels: champions league, George Gillett, ownership, rafa, tom hicks

Rafa admitted his side's 2-0 Champions League win over 10-man Inter Milan was crucial after another turbulent week for him.

He also admitted that he finds it easier to influence European games than he does Premier League matches.

The Spaniard has come under intense pressure this season and none more so than this week following Liverpool's FA Cup exit to Barnsley at the weekend.

And he said: "I think everyone knew we needed this. It was really important for the club and fans that we won.

"I have always had confidence in this team and we will win a lot of games."

Said Carra of Gerrard's contribution during the match: "We would have been delighted at 1-0 but to get the second with a great goal by Stevie was the icing on the cake."

"He's one of the best players in the world and I think he is made for the Champions League, when all the top teams come up against us."

Labels: Carragher, champions league, dirk kuyt, Gerrard, rafa

Rafa claims that the mood in the Liverpool camp is "really good" despite their FA Cup exit to Barnsley.

The Reds now face Serie A champions-elect Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night with reports suggesting that he needs to win in Europe to keep his job.

Labels: champions league, fa cup, rafa