On the day of a big game the gutter press start to print more **** about us!!!
RAFA BENITEZ will have three millions reasons to cast an envious glance across the ten yards of no-man's land at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
Sitting there will be Luiz Felipe Scolari, a coach with two months of Premier League experience but who earns almost double Rafa's wage.
But the rumblings generated by the Benitez contract situation are not just about a rich man wanting to get richer.
They are threatening the stability of a team that finally looks capable of mounting a serious title challenge.
Sport of the World understands that unless the Spaniard's long-term future is secured soon, Liverpool run the risk of losing up to SIX of their frontline stars - including the irreplaceable Fernando Torres.
An Anfield insider told us: "The manager wants to stay for a long, long time and has made that clear. But there has been no movement on a new contract despite one of the owners saying it was a priority earlier this year.
"That has set the alarm bells ringing with Rafa. At this stage of his career, he wants to plan for the future. There has already been massive interest in him from Spain and Italy.
"But the crucial thing for Liverpool is that around half a dozen players see their future as being tied in with Rafa's. There would be a rebellion if Benitez had to leave."
Leading that rebellion would be fellow Spaniards Torres and Pepe Reina - backed up by Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano, Martin Skrtel and new boy Albert Riera.
With progress in the Champions League relatively smooth and the Premier League top spot beckoning if they can upset Chelsea today, another conflict behind the scenes is the last thing Liverpool need.
But that is what they are heading for.
Benitez insists that his desire for an extended deal is borne out of a need to lay plans that will see the team flourish well into the next decade.
But his freefall down the manager's pay table cannot have escaped his attention.
As Liverpool cement their place amongst the Big Four, Benitez is now treading water in the financial mid-division alongside the likes of David Moyes, Harry Redknapp, Mark Hughes and Roy Keane.
Even Kevin Keegan - before his stomp away from St James Park - was collecting more than the man who has a Champions League success on his considerable CV.
Benitez earns a flat-rate of £3.5million a year. Hardly on the breadline but at least three million below Scolari's annual remuneration.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both boast a seven-figure advantage over their rival while Hughes, Keane and Redknapp are in the same ballpark.
RAFA BENITEZ will have three millions reasons to cast an envious glance across the ten yards of no-man's land at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
Sitting there will be Luiz Felipe Scolari, a coach with two months of Premier League experience but who earns almost double Rafa's wage.
But the rumblings generated by the Benitez contract situation are not just about a rich man wanting to get richer.
They are threatening the stability of a team that finally looks capable of mounting a serious title challenge.
Sport of the World understands that unless the Spaniard's long-term future is secured soon, Liverpool run the risk of losing up to SIX of their frontline stars - including the irreplaceable Fernando Torres.
An Anfield insider told us: "The manager wants to stay for a long, long time and has made that clear. But there has been no movement on a new contract despite one of the owners saying it was a priority earlier this year.
"That has set the alarm bells ringing with Rafa. At this stage of his career, he wants to plan for the future. There has already been massive interest in him from Spain and Italy.
"But the crucial thing for Liverpool is that around half a dozen players see their future as being tied in with Rafa's. There would be a rebellion if Benitez had to leave."
Leading that rebellion would be fellow Spaniards Torres and Pepe Reina - backed up by Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano, Martin Skrtel and new boy Albert Riera.
With progress in the Champions League relatively smooth and the Premier League top spot beckoning if they can upset Chelsea today, another conflict behind the scenes is the last thing Liverpool need.
But that is what they are heading for.
Benitez insists that his desire for an extended deal is borne out of a need to lay plans that will see the team flourish well into the next decade.
But his freefall down the manager's pay table cannot have escaped his attention.
As Liverpool cement their place amongst the Big Four, Benitez is now treading water in the financial mid-division alongside the likes of David Moyes, Harry Redknapp, Mark Hughes and Roy Keane.
Even Kevin Keegan - before his stomp away from St James Park - was collecting more than the man who has a Champions League success on his considerable CV.
Benitez earns a flat-rate of £3.5million a year. Hardly on the breadline but at least three million below Scolari's annual remuneration.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both boast a seven-figure advantage over their rival while Hughes, Keane and Redknapp are in the same ballpark.
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