Riera - Benitez never talks to Liverpool Players

[S-RED]

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has offered an additional indication of his happiness at Anfield after heaping praise on manager Rafa Benitez.

The Argentina captain is close to signing a new contract and said on Thursday that he hopes to agree a deal in the 'next few weeks'.

Mascherano was strongly linked with Barcelona last summer, but has told Liverpool that he wants to stay and it would appear that Benitez is a major factor in that decision.

Albert Riera has been highly critical of the Spaniard's managerial style, but Mascherano believes his boss has made him 'a better player and a better person'
"All managers have different ways of working," said the 25-year-old, who was rescued from the fringes of a struggling West Ham squad in January 2007 by Benitez.

"Rafa is totally different from (Argentina coach) Diego Maradona and the other managers I've had.

"For three and a half years I've been working with Rafa and I can now say I'm a better player and a better person from when I arrived here. That's down to Rafa and his staff."

Difficult
After a below-par start to the season when is was suggested Mascherano's head had been turned by the Barcelona speculation, the defensive midfielder has become one of Liverpool's most reliable performers in a difficult campaign.

He believes the team have to win their remaining seven matches, starting with a home game against Sunderland on Sunday, to secure fourth place in the Premier League and the resulting UEFA Champions League football next season.

"I think we will have to win all our games. We have seven finals and we have to win all of them to have hope of finishing fourth," said Mascherano.

"If we can win 21 points, maybe we will be there. If not, it will be very difficult."

Liverpool have won only four times in the Premier League on their travels this season and Mascherano is aware that statistic needs to be addressed.

"I think the problem for us this season has been the away form," he said.

"Obviously we have to keep going in the same way at home, but if we want to have hopes of finishing fourth, we have to improve away."

[Bender]

Albert Riera must prove his desire to move to Russia before Spartak Moscow complete a deal to take him from Liverpool.
Spartak boss Valery Karpin has confirmed that talks to sign Riera on loan are reaching a conclusion, but the club's billionaire owner Leonid Fedun wants to speak to the Spain winger before bankrolling his wages.


'I won't hide that we are in negotiations,' said Fedun, 'but we need to understand what the footballer wants: to do his time here before the World Cup finals, or to really help out.


'If it's the former, then the deal doesn't suit us for that kind of money.'
Liverpool would prefer to sell rather than loan, but a bid has not been forthcoming from other Russian clubs, who have until April 8 before their extended transfer window closes.
A loan move is understood to suit Riera, who has a Russian wife but would prefer to look at what other options might be available in the summer.


Rafa Benitez wants to move out the 27-year-old as quickly as possible following an explosive radio interview in which Riera criticised him manager's communication skills and described Liverpool as a sinking ship.
Karpin is keen to complete the deal, but warned: 'Negotiations on Riera are in the final stages, but it can happen that everything breaks down at the last minute.'


dailymail

[PTP]

well this won't go through then as he blatantly wants out to try and get a world cup place.

[Tee]

Looks like we will miss out on a decent fee and he will miss out on the WC.

[dww]

I suspect he will get the loan. it's not clear whether we would be better of selling him now or in the Summer. A decent run in Russia and/or a few appearances at the World Cup could increase his value in the end.

[Bender]

Albert Riera's proposed switch from Liverpool to Spartak Moscow has stalled after he failed to agree on personal terms.
The 27-year-old Spain international looks likely to gamble on his World Cup place by leaving a decision on his future until the summer rather than move to Russia now - despite the likelihood of not playing for Liverpool again.


.......dailymail

[The Birdman]

Let the greedy ****er rot in the reserves, in fact scrap that don't play him in the reserves. If's he's desperate to leave he'll accept the offer on the table and give himself a chance of going to the WC.
If he turns it down he can't be that bothered about playing full stop which kinda explains a lot of his performances

[Craig_H]

So we'll keep him for half a season, keep paying him and not use him. Brilliant.

[Shaggy]

So we'll keep him for half a season, keep paying him and not use him. Brilliant.

Half a season? Seven games left, **** him.

[Craig_H]

Half a season? Seven games left, **** him.

Fair point, it's not exactly January i spose

[Shaggy]

Fair point, it's not exactly January i spose

Not anymore it's not

[dww]

I think the real shame for us is that a loan and or a good world cup might increase his value for the summer. As it is he probably won't play any more this season and we will be selling someone known to a/ have no future with us and b/ to be less than well motivated.

When does the Russian window shut? Is there a chance this is just a tactic to get us to pay more of his wages?

[Shaggy]

Rafa's pre-match press conference has just been on SSN and he said talks are still ongoing.

[Kenneth]

Not a great sign. If Riera can't agree personal terms, and negotiations with the clubs are ongoing, I can only assume we're looking to pay some/mroe of his wages, or lower the option fee.

[Tee]

Bet he goes for a piss low fee to compensate his wage demands. Or knowing our luck, he will go on loan.