RAFAEL STORIES
Rafael Benítez targets another Liverpool escape in Lyon
• Benítez says Liverpool have right experience to cope• Fernando Torres expected to play through painRafael Benítez leads Liverpool into their crucial Champions League tie with Lyon tonight admitting a victory to ease the pressure and revive qualification hopes would rank among the finest achievements of his Anfield career.Benítez, who will ask Fernando Torres to again play through the pain barrier amid an injury crisis that has cost him seven players, is in familiar backs-to-the-wall territory following a dreadful sequence of six defeats in seven matches. The Anfield club have never lo
Lyon v Liverpool: Rafael Benítez's top five mustwin games since 2004 arrival at Anfield
Needing to define team's season in one game nothing new to Rafael Benítez.
Rafael Benítez pays for being press-ganged into blind alleys | Richard Williams
The Liverpool manager's admission that he considered the views in the media about selecting Fernando Torres reveals a significant weaknessIt was three years ago this very week that Rafael Benítez put an end to one of the most remarkable runs in English football when, on the night of a Champions League tie against Bordeaux, he sent out an unchanged team for the first time in 100 matches. After 99 consecutive games in which he had resolutely rotated his playing personnel, it was tempting to conclude that the decision had been taken not on the usual grounds of form and fitness but simply to avo
Football Weekly podcast: Lyon or bust for Rafael Benítez and Liverpool?
James Richardson is joined by Barry Glendenning, Raphael Honigstein, and Barney Ronay to pour over a blistering weekend of Premier League action.Chelsea powered on and Arsenal humbled Tottenham, but Liverpool were plunged deeper into crisis after losing 3-1 to Fulham. Is Rafa Benítez's job on the line in their Champions League clash with Lyon on Wednesday? Your Football Weekly pod squad is split - and they're also not sure whether or not to back Hull's Phil Brown a million percent. His new chairman doesn't seem overly confident either.Also in the podcast, Sid Lowe kicks off our European r
Fernando Torres at risk to face Lyon as Rafael Benítez's gamble backfires
• Striker's exertions at Fulham put fitness at risk• Injury-ravaged Liverpool facing Champions League exit Rafael Benítez has admitted he had no option but to push Fernando Torres through the pain barrier in the defeat at Fulham and he now acknowledges that the striker is a serious doubt for the vital Champions League match away to Lyon on Wednesday night.Benítez had agonised, as he had done before the Manchester United game the previous weekend, over whether to start with Torres or use him as a second-half substitute against Fulham and he said that injury problems elsewhere in his squa
Rafael Benítez has given up on winning Premier League says Ronnie Whelan
Ronnie Whelan who won six league titles with Liverpool says Rafael Benítez has given up on title.
Rafael Benítez hoping Lyon gamble will save season following Liverpool's defeat to Fulham
A sixth defeat in seven games and most importantly the fifth loss in just 11 Premier League games leaves Liverpool in crisis.
Rafael Benítez is running out of luck at Liverpool
Who would want to replace Rafael Benitez at Liverpool at present?
Henry Winter: Rafael Benítez will blame everyone but himself for Liverpool's plight
Liverpool manager is not prepared to accept that he has direct responsibility for Liverpool's plight.
Liverpool's Rafael Benitez defends Fernando Torres withdrawal against Fulham
Liverpool manager was criticised by fans for replacing Spanish striker against Fulham but says he had to protect his star player.
Rafael Benítez under fire as Liverpool slump again
• Liverpool manager says fans need to be 'realistic' after loss• Benítez to appeal over red cards that left side with nine menRafael Benítez is facing renewed speculation over his future at Liverpool after his nine-man side collapsed to a humiliating sixth defeat in seven games. The 3-1 loss at Fulham, during which defenders Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were both sent off, was their fifth league defeat of the season. However Benítez last night dismissed suggestions that his job is in doubt and pledged to appeal against both red card decisions.Liverpool had dominated a first half
Rafael Benítez slams referee following Liverpool's 31 defeat to Fulham
Manager hit out at referee Lee Mason and refused to write off Liverpool's title chances after 31 loss to Fulham.
Was Liverpool shambles beyond Rafael Benítez's control? | Open Thread
The defeat at Fulham was farcical but, with so many players unavailable, should we lay off their beleaguered manager?Last season the champions were beaten at Fulham while having two men sent off, but that will be of little comfort to Liverpool fans after their shambolic defeat at Craven Cottage today.It was their sixth defeat in seven games, and has placed an incredible importance on their mustn't-lose Champions League match in Lyon on Wednesday. The farcical nature of the match at Fulham will inevitably lead to criticism of Rafael Benítez, but for once they may have been mitigating circumst
Rafael Benitez exclusive: Why Pepe Reina is my Liverpool FC golden boy
RAFA BENITEZ does not hand out plaudits lightly. Always analysing, always searching for improvement, he is, without question, an exceptionally tough taskmaster.
Roberto Martínez denies he attacked Sir Alex Ferguson over Rafael Benítez
• Wigan manager rings round bosses to apologise• League Managers Association offers its full supportRoberto Martínez is being offered the full investigative support of the League Managers Association in a bid to prove he did not make the controversial comments that have forced him to apologise to Sir Alex Ferguson, Steve Bruce, Sam Allardyce and Rafael Benítez.Reports in Spain at the weekend claimed the Wigan manager had accused Ferguson of heading up an anti-Benítez alliance, backed up by chief foot-soldiers including the Blackburn Rovers manager, Allardyce, and Sunderland's Bruce.It
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