Monday, October 15, 2007

Sissoko told to battle on

Rafa has revealed he has held talks with midfielder Mohamed Sissoko and urged him to battle for his place in the side.

The Mali international has struggled for form this season and was left out of the Reds' squad for the game with Tottenham after a disappointing display in the Champions League defeat by Marseille.

But Benitez insists he still supports the player, and said: "I see he is giving everything to play well. For our supporters that is the first thing any player must do."

Talking to the club's official website, Benitez added: "Momo was a key player when we won 82 points in the Premier League. Now we need to give him time to allow him to regain his confidence.

"I spoke to him after the Marseille game and said 'keep going'. He knows how I work because I managed him when he was 18 at Valencia, where he won the league and UEFA Cup with me."

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Monday, September 17, 2007

Preparing for Porto v Liverpool

Fabio Aurelio is traveling to Portugal to play for the first time this season having recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered last year.

His return is good news as Mohamed Sissoko and John Arne Riise will miss Tuesday's Champions League match against Porto. Left-back Riise is ruled out of the Group A encounter with a groin injury he picked up on international duty with Norway last week.

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Sunday, August 26, 2007

Sunderland 0-2 Liverpool

Mohamed Sissoko and Andriy Voronin scored their first Premier League goals as Liverpool saw off Sunderland.

Rafael Benitez had railed against what he perceived to be a catalogue of injustices against his side this week but his mood will have lifted after Liverpool's solid display.

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