Liverpool boss Benitez accuses Allardyce of 'losing his mind' over claims

Sep 21 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ has accused Sam Allardyce of losing his mind as well as matches after claiming the Liverpool manager was lucky to still be in his job.

Earlier this week, Allardyce insisted Benitez would have lost his job by now for failing to win Premier League had he not guided reached two Champions League finals.

But Benitez last night swatted aside the comments and suggested Allardyce, whose Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Derby County on Monday, might be better served concentrating on his own team.

“I want to say two things,” said Benitez. “Firstly, I think he should be more worried about his own business because he must have more problems than to waste time talking about other managers.

“Secondly, has he forgotten Liverpool winning the Super Cup, FA Cup and Champions League as well as reaching another Champions League final, a Carling Cup final and twice finishing third in the Premier League?

“Maybe he doesn't have a great memory.”

Meanwhile Daniel Agger’s metatarsal misery has paved the way for Liverpool youngster Jack Hobbs to make his mark at Anfield.

Agger has been ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a stress fracture to the second metatarsal in his right foot.

The Danish international’s absence leaves only Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia as the senior centre-backs available to manager Benitez.

And with Liverpool in the midst of a hectic fixture schedule both home and abroad, 19-year-old Hobbs will almost certainly find himself thrown into the first-team fray over the next two months.

Hobbs is already pencilled in for his debut in the Carling Cup third round tie at Reading next Tuesday.

But now the reserve centre-back could be handed further opportunities as Benitez seeks to preserve the fitness of veteran Hyypia, who is 34 next month.

Hobbs had played just three minutes of professional football when Benitez signed him on his 17th birthday from Lincoln City August 2005.

The Liverpool manager has previously intimated Alvaro Arbeloa can also provide a stop-gap option at the heart of defence.

Both Agger and midfielder Xabi Alonso returned from international duty in midweek with foot injuries and scans on Wednesday night confirmed they have suffered a stress fracture of their metatarsal.

Club spokesman Ian Cotton said: “Neither player will require surgery but we expect them to be out of action for between four and six weeks.

“Xabi Alonso has suffered a stress fracture to the fourth metatarsal in his left foot and Daniel Agger has suffered a stress fracture to the second metatarsal in his right foot.”