Record Breaking Rafa

[Reece]

"The boss will take charge of his 66th European game with Liverpool on Wednesday night - more than any of his predecessors."

[1 True Red]

"The boss will take charge of his 66th European game with Liverpool on Wednesday night - more than any of his predecessors."

Rafa's the man alright

BTW Reggie mate, have you got any stats of previous managers to compare with bud !!

[Reece]

Rafa's the man alright

BTW Reggie mate, have you got any stats of previous managers to compare with bud !!

Afraid not, I just lifted that quote from an interview on the offal.

Try here though http://www.lfchistory.net/

[knockers]

Great achievement given our great history of managers. I think many of our fans don't appreciate how much the club european standing has changed since he took over. From the annual struggle/worry about european qualification to us taking our CL cup runs for granted. Rafa's given us many magical moments and all but the super cup game will have been in the CL too. Obviously the goal posts have moved in regards to european qualification etc but it's a wonderful achievement. Well done Rafa.

[red g]

Great achievement given our great history of managers. I think many of our fans don't appreciate how much the club european standing has changed since he took over. From the annual struggle/worry about european qualification to us taking our CL cup runs for granted. Rafa's given us many magical moments and all but the super cup game will have been in the CL too. Obviously the goal posts have moved in regards to european qualification etc but it's a wonderful achievement. Well done Rafa.

also the fact that we play as many games in the group stages as it used to take to win it in the good old days helps!!

[Ketario]

Rafa's the man alright

BTW Reggie mate, have you got any stats of previous managers to compare with bud !!

Reggie PM'd me to demand that I research and respond as he's too busy shaving his head.

Rafael Benitez is intent on writing his own chapter in Liverpool's history as he eclipses the great Bill Shankly in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Marseille.

Benitez will send a Liverpool side into European combat for the 66th time, one more than Shankly achieved, and is now Liverpool's leading manager - in matches played - in Europe.

And while Benitez admits to being "immensely proud" of his achievement at Anfield, his skipper Steven Gerrard will come surging back into action intent on writing some more history of his own.

Gerrard's recovery from a torn groin muscle has been sufficient to allow him to start the match on Wednesday but he may not be risked for the full 90 minutes.

And Gerrard has admitted that he is still driven by a desire to match the 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul.

He said: "I've got a drive and a hunger to match Istanbul, if not beat it.

"Obviously Istanbul was mine and the club's finest hour for a long time. But I do not just want to milk that final. I think I would have regrets if I did not win anything else."

Benitez feels the same, in the knowledge that a win over Marseille will secure qualification from Group D into the last 16, and if PSV Eindhoven fail to beat Atletico Madrid tomorrow, Liverpool will qualify anyway.

But it is the association with an achievement of the Shankly era that will inspire Benitez now.

The pair are four games ahead of three-time European Cup winner Bob Paisley on 61, with Gerard Houllier fourth on the list with 52.

Benitez has won 38, drawn 14 and lost 13 of his European games since taking charge in July 2004. His win ratio is 58.5% - bettered only by Paisley (63.9%) and Joe Fagan (73.7%).

Benitez said: "I am really proud to be in such a position so hopefully for the next 66 games I will be here as well.

"This amount of European games is a good achievement for anyone, but especially when you are talking about a top side like Liverpool.

"That also means the team is doing well in Europe and that is very positive for the club.

"I am proud, but the game is more important. I do know the history and understand it.

"I can recall when I was at Real Madrid (in the reserves) that Liverpool beat them 1-0 in the European Cup final. My friend was the goalkeeper and there were lot of former club-mates in that side, so from that long ago I have been affected by Liverpool results."

He added: "So now to be here and to enjoy this club and the job I do is wonderful. But I must not let any personal thoughts distract me from this game.

"The Champions League is massive and we must progress. Hopefully we can make sure of our qualification in this match and then be able to concentrate on the Premier League.

"There is always great expectation. In my first year here everyone talked of the need to win something or to do well.

"But after winning the Champions League the expectation became too high. Everyone wanted the Premier League, which was hard after so many years without success in that competition.

"It has taken time to build and we are still trying to do it. Now that expectation has increased, people are now saying we have to win it.

"But the competition is so strong it is a very hard thing to achieve."

Thirteen months ago Marseille won at Anfield and almost wrecked Liverpool's season, and put Benitez's longevity in the job at risk.

But the Spaniard said: "Now we are at the top of the table in a fantastic position in two competitions. And if we can beat Marseille we will qualify with a game to go.

"Things are much better than last season, much better than two or three seasons ago. So we must continue to progress, to continue to work the way we are to get closer to our objectives.

"This is different to last season. After losing to Marseille we had one point from three games and had to win everything else. We had to fight right to the end."

Benitez is unconcerned whether Liverpool finish top of second in the group.

He said: "It is probably better to finish first. But finishing first a couple of years ago we were drawn against Benfica and lost.

"Then when we finished second we won against Juventus and Inter Milan, so you never know how things will go."

[magicalbarnes]

also the fact that we play as many games in the group stages as it used to take to win it in the good old days helps!!

But dont forget Wenger & Fergie had the benefit of 2 group stages per season.

[Ketario]

Great achievement given our great history of managers. I think many of our fans don't appreciate how much the club european standing has changed since he took over. From the annual struggle/worry about european qualification to us taking our CL cup runs for granted. Rafa's given us many magical moments and all but the super cup game will have been in the CL too. Obviously the goal posts have moved in regards to european qualification etc but it's a wonderful achievement. Well done Rafa.

Not to go too off topic, but with all the criticism of Rafa around his selection policy last weekend - the below is a gentle reminder of the stakes, (written before yesterdays matches obviously - football365.com);

The idea that we have a Big Two and a Bigger Two, or however you like to put it, has grown increasingly fashionable (though this column has been making the financial comparisons as far back as my Chelsea critics care to remember). Less frequently discussed is the weight this means the different clubs place on particular competitions.

Paul Little's recent comments about the relative status of the so-called Big Four was spot-on; less clear was whether he was right about what this means in practice. But first, some history.

They seem to have been around forever, but the Big Four as a concept consisting of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United can be no older than five. Roman Abramovich did not buy Chelsea till the summer of 2003 and Newcastle had finished ahead of the Blues and Liverpool that season just finished.

The Toon had even challenged for the title - just five points off the lead at the end of March and angry that a red card for Lauren Robert in February had left them holding on for a draw rather than chasing a win against leaders Arsenal.

Man United's financial power and playing success had earned them 'Big' status, initially all on their own. Arsenal had worked their way there. The other places were up for grabs, until Abramovich bought one. Newcastle blew a great chance by going out on penalties to Partizan Belgrade in the qualifying round in August 2003, then falling just short of fourth the next May.

Liverpool have cemented a place in the Four Biggest not just by qualifying for the group stages, but by winning the thing and with two more good runs since. They do very well indeed financially - much more than the difference between two adjacent places in the Premier League - out of reaching the semis or the final.

Arsenal's position has changed, with the move from Highbury and the rise of Chelsea and Liverpool. As well as the extra millions from UEFA, the Champions League knock-out stages represent more extremely valuable nights when their expensive money-making machine at Ashburton Grove can be cranked up. The competition also represents a massive challenge for Wenger personally: no Frenchman has managed the winners.

Six months after Liverpool's Istanbul moment, despite taking an early lead in Lisbon, a 2-1 defeat for Manchester United against Benfica meant Alex Ferguson's team did not even reach the latter stages of the UEFA Cup. But however red-faced the setback left Sir, United's place in the elite was not threatened. Nor would Chelsea's be by similar failure.

This may be the longest explanation you will read of why Rafa Benitez attempted to rest Xabi Alonso on Saturday and why, until the successive defeats against Aston Villa and Manchester City, Arsene Wenger could rise above the questions rather than get stroppy. Still, the old slogan for UKTV History was 'why we are who we are'; this is 'why we are how we are'.

A year ago, Liverpool suffered a near-catastrophic home defeat to Marseille in the group stages. At the time, with Messrs Hicks and Gillett seemingly on decent terms with each other and their bankers, for the first time it looked as if Liverpool could have ridden out failure. Now, given the Americans' financial problems, after drawing twice with Atletico Madrid and given their strong league position, not losing Wednesday night's game against Marseille and leaving the path clear in Europe is more important than winning last Saturday's match.

Paul argued that Benitez rotates to guarantee a team in the Premier League that will qualify at least fourth. But doesn't he rotate in the autumn in order to aid Champions League progress? In deciding on a line-up to face Fulham, he did not want to risk facing Marseille without either Alonso or Steven Gerrard.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are in one measure becoming the new Spurs. The White Hart Lane club's board have been happy to be financially healthy and not so bothered about mounting challenges. Arsenal now have to work through the years before the Emirates is fully their own, and good Champions League performances matter just as much as qualifying for the group stages. If they can't win the title, then reaching the quarter-finals is more important than finishing second as opposed to third or fourth.

That may change with the new qualification process, but if it is seeded then a fourth-placed Arsenal could well find themselves facing no stiffer task than the equivalent of FC Twente in next season's third qualifying round.

Wenger is not such a pragmatist, but with his team poised for qualification for the last 16, he could at least feel confident that he was delivering in a crucial area for the board and for his personal ambition to win the elite competition.

With the shake-up provided by Manchester City's Dubai millions, all this may change. But Benitez, certainly, knows that the Champions League runs have made his club what they are and Wenger knows that the competition represents elusive sporting immortality for the first French winner, and financial happiness for his club.





Of course, should he rest Alonso and Gerrard today I reserve the right to delete this post....

[Reece]

Reggie PM'd me to demand that I research and respond as he's too busy shaving his head.

I'll have that cup of tea now wench.

[BFG]

Hope there's 66 more.

Rafa.

[Pablo]

I'll have that cup of tea now wench.

Are you really as bald as your avatar on your 360 profile? You look like Jimmy Somerville.

[livvy145]

[Reece]

Are you really as bald as your avatar on your 360 profile? You look like Jimmy Somerville.

No I'm not, but they don't have a sweep-over.

[Ben_Itez]

Not to go too off topic, but with all the criticism of Rafa around his selection policy last weekend - the below is a gentle reminder of the stakes, (written before yesterdays matches obviously - football365.com);

The idea that we have a Big Two and a Bigger Two, or however you like to put it, has grown increasingly fashionable (though this column has been making the financial comparisons as far back as my Chelsea critics care to remember). Less frequently discussed is the weight this means the different clubs place on particular competitions.

Paul Little's recent comments about the relative status of the so-called Big Four was spot-on; less clear was whether he was right about what this means in practice. But first, some history.

They seem to have been around forever, but the Big Four as a concept consisting of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United can be no older than five. Roman Abramovich did not buy Chelsea till the summer of 2003 and Newcastle had finished ahead of the Blues and Liverpool that season just finished.

The Toon had even challenged for the title - just five points off the lead at the end of March and angry that a red card for Lauren Robert in February had left them holding on for a draw rather than chasing a win against leaders Arsenal.

Man United's financial power and playing success had earned them 'Big' status, initially all on their own. Arsenal had worked their way there. The other places were up for grabs, until Abramovich bought one. Newcastle blew a great chance by going out on penalties to Partizan Belgrade in the qualifying round in August 2003, then falling just short of fourth the next May.

Liverpool have cemented a place in the Four Biggest not just by qualifying for the group stages, but by winning the thing and with two more good runs since. They do very well indeed financially - much more than the difference between two adjacent places in the Premier League - out of reaching the semis or the final.

Arsenal's position has changed, with the move from Highbury and the rise of Chelsea and Liverpool. As well as the extra millions from UEFA, the Champions League knock-out stages represent more extremely valuable nights when their expensive money-making machine at Ashburton Grove can be cranked up. The competition also represents a massive challenge for Wenger personally: no Frenchman has managed the winners.

Six months after Liverpool's Istanbul moment, despite taking an early lead in Lisbon, a 2-1 defeat for Manchester United against Benfica meant Alex Ferguson's team did not even reach the latter stages of the UEFA Cup. But however red-faced the setback left Sir, United's place in the elite was not threatened. Nor would Chelsea's be by similar failure.

This may be the longest explanation you will read of why Rafa Benitez attempted to rest Xabi Alonso on Saturday and why, until the successive defeats against Aston Villa and Manchester City, Arsene Wenger could rise above the questions rather than get stroppy. Still, the old slogan for UKTV History was 'why we are who we are'; this is 'why we are how we are'.

A year ago, Liverpool suffered a near-catastrophic home defeat to Marseille in the group stages. At the time, with Messrs Hicks and Gillett seemingly on decent terms with each other and their bankers, for the first time it looked as if Liverpool could have ridden out failure. Now, given the Americans' financial problems, after drawing twice with Atletico Madrid and given their strong league position, not losing Wednesday night's game against Marseille and leaving the path clear in Europe is more important than winning last Saturday's match.

Paul argued that Benitez rotates to guarantee a team in the Premier League that will qualify at least fourth. But doesn't he rotate in the autumn in order to aid Champions League progress? In deciding on a line-up to face Fulham, he did not want to risk facing Marseille without either Alonso or Steven Gerrard.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are in one measure becoming the new Spurs. The White Hart Lane club's board have been happy to be financially healthy and not so bothered about mounting challenges. Arsenal now have to work through the years before the Emirates is fully their own, and good Champions League performances matter just as much as qualifying for the group stages. If they can't win the title, then reaching the quarter-finals is more important than finishing second as opposed to third or fourth.

That may change with the new qualification process, but if it is seeded then a fourth-placed Arsenal could well find themselves facing no stiffer task than the equivalent of FC Twente in next season's third qualifying round.

Wenger is not such a pragmatist, but with his team poised for qualification for the last 16, he could at least feel confident that he was delivering in a crucial area for the board and for his personal ambition to win the elite competition.

With the shake-up provided by Manchester City's Dubai millions, all this may change. But Benitez, certainly, knows that the Champions League runs have made his club what they are and Wenger knows that the competition represents elusive sporting immortality for the first French winner, and financial happiness for his club.





Of course, should he rest Alonso and Gerrard today I reserve the right to delete this post....

Absolutely spot on

Should have had enough to beat Fulham but just a fairly poor day at the office.

[Parm]

Hope there's 66 more.

Rafa.