Liverpool v Blackburn match thread

[Assassin]

But no preseason, and illness in between then, he can't just throw him back in, especially at a crucial time like this.

I have a feeling he has not recovered 100% from the injury and Rafa picks him for the bench to be part of things and chooses games where he feels Aquilani will not get kicked about

[Mattshark]

I have a feeling he has not recovered 100% from the injury and Rafa picks him for the bench to be part of things and chooses games where he feels Aquilani will not get kicked about

That is what I believe too.

[Shaggy]

So we've now got two ****ing Monday night games on the trot (yet again meaning we play last, which invariably means we'll be under the most pressure) followed by the Mancs away.

[Vermilion]

I have a feeling he has not recovered 100% from the injury and Rafa picks him for the bench to be part of things and chooses games where he feels Aquilani will not get kicked about

That is what I believe too.

I believe also.

[Vermilion]

So we've now got two ****ing Monday night games on the trot (yet again meaning we play last, which invariably means we'll be under the most pressure) followed by the Mancs away.

[Shaggy]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/rafa-on-duo-and-allardyce

Rafa Benitez believes Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard could be the difference between Liverpool and the rest of the top four contenders after the pair fired the Reds to a 2-1 victory over Blackburn.

The skipper opened the scoring with a beautifully worked dink over the keeper on 20 minutes.

Rovers then equalised from the penalty spot before Torres marked his first start in six weeks with a poacher's goal.

The result leaves Liverpool one point behind Man City and Tottenham in the race for fourth.

And Benitez told reporters: "I think it was deserved. We tried to play football even though it was difficult sometimes. We scored two goals and won.

"It wasn't a difficult decision to play Torres. We knew we needed some pace and threat in attack, and David Ngog played 90 minutes on a heavy pitch the other day.

"Torres was okay today. He was really tired at the end but he was trying, especially in the first half. In the second half it was more difficult because he does not have the match fitness levels.

"If Gerrard and Fernando play well they can score goals like today and maybe they can be the difference."

Repeatedly pressed on negative comments by Sam Allardyce before the game, Benitez replied: "We prefer to talk on the pitch.

"We can win on the pitch and enjoy. Some people have to talk before or after the press conference because it's more difficult for them to do a football job.

"I think he's a model for managers all around the world. I am sure his style of football, his behaviour - everything. It's the perfect model for all the kids.

"The style of football - I am sure Barcelona are thinking about copying the style."

Blackburn received five bookings on the day and were lucky not to have Steven Nzonzi dismissed for a shove on Lucas.

Benitez added: "Nzonzi was very, very clear in touching the face of Lucas Leiva. The rules are the rules. Chimbonda from behind on Maxi has to be a yellow card too - that's very clear."

The boss will now assess his players at Melwood tomorrow, including Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger who picked up injuries.

"Aurelio has a strain in his quadriceps," added the boss.

"Pepe Reina had a problem with his shoulder so we waited to make the last substitution just in case. But he's okay - he's fine now. We have four or five players bleeding and Maxi with stud marks."

[Bender]

But no preseason, and illness in between then, he can't just throw him back in, especially at a crucial time like this.

He has already played a few games without pre season .......for £20million he should be able to offer something rather than nothing

[Shaggy]

Aquilani does not deserve to be in the side and shouldn't be afforded sympathy time on the pitch because of his fee.

[wiw]

Rafa's comments are ****ing brilliant

It's us against the world now and Rafa's back on form

[Bender]

Rafa's comments are ****ing brilliant

It's us against the world now and Rafa's back on form

us against the world ..... Rafa back on Form making him sound like krusty the clown

[The Birdman]

Aquilani does not deserve to be in the side and shouldn't be afforded sympathy time on the pitch because of his fee.

Which was £5mill plus add ons, I hate it when our own fans (Bender) quote the £20 mill figure as a stick to beat Rafa, Aquilani or whoever with just to suit their arguement.

Masch/Lucas/Gerrard have all played better than Aquilani so far this season so deserve to be picked ahead of him

[Rich]

Which was £5mill plus add ons, I hate it when our own fans (Bender) quote the £20 mill figure as a stick to beat Rafa, Aquilani or whoever with just to suit their arguement.

Masch/Lucas/Gerrard have all played better than Aquilani so far this season so deserve to be picked ahead of him

Add-ons which we have to pay the majority for

By the summer we'll have forked out about €15m on Aquilani - that isn't peanuts.

[Rich]

The 20 million EURO transfer fee is broken up into the following:

- 4 cash instalments of
- - 5 million EURO upfront
- - 3 million EURO by 4th January 2010
- - 7 million EURO by June 30th 2010
- - 5 million EURO by June 30th 2011.

Further Add ons include:

- 300,000 EURO for every year Liverpool qualify for the Champions League from 2010/11 to 2014/15

- 250,000 EURO everytime the player reaches 35 appearancs, 70 appearances, 105 appeances and then 140 appearances.

- 1 million EURO the first time Liverpool either wins the Premier League or Champions League by 30 June 2014.

- 5% of any future transfer fee will be paid to Roma.

[Paul12]

The 20 million EURO transfer fee is broken up into the following:

- 4 cash instalments of
- - 5 million EURO upfront
- - 3 million EURO by 4th January 2010
- - 7 million EURO by June 30th 2010
- - 5 million EURO by June 30th 2011.

Further Add ons include....

I am curious as to how this works. Is every penny of that payable by us regardless of whether he is still with us on those dates?

[Rich]

I'd imagine so yeah, just because he leaves doesn't mean our agreement with Roma is over...