Rafa Benitez wants to see ruthless streak from Liverpool FC

Jan 30 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ has called on his players to rediscover their ruthless streak and kickstart Liverpool’s Premier League campaign – with Javier Mascherano finally poised to complete a permanent transfer to Anfield.

A run of four successive draws has seen Benitez’s side slip out of the Champions League qualification places and down to sixth in the table.

Although on a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions, Liverpool have not won a top-flight fixture since a 2-1 victory at Derby County on Boxing Day.

They squandered a clutch of chances in the goalless draw at Manchester City four days later, and have since surrendered the lead when held at home by both Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa.

And a frustrated Benitez wants his players to start turning their superiority into points, starting at West Ham United this evening.

“Analyse the draws,” said the Liverpool manager. “In every one we had the chances to win. As a manager I cannot be happy with a draw, that is clear, but the team created enough chances to win so I must take confidence from that.

“Draws have cost us six or eight points recently and, with a game in hand, the situation would look much different if we had taken a few more chances.

“We know we need to improve, but I also know we are close. We have drawn too many games and so the confidence has gone down.

“But against Porto, Besiktas and Marseille we showed we can do it and we need to recover again. We need to be more ruthless.”

Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres will all return at Upton Park this evening after being rested from the starting line-up for Saturday’s FA Cup win over Havant &Waterlooville, although Benitez is without injured trio Andriy Voronin, Daniel Agger and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Mascherano will also be absent through a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth domestic booking in the 2-2 draw with Villa last Monday.

But Benitez revealed that the £17million deal to make permanent the Argentine’s 18-month loan deal is “very close”, with Liverpool hopeful the deal could even be completed before tomorrow night’s transfer deadline.

“The deal doesn’t have to be done by Thursday because his loan runs until the end of the season and so it can be done anytime,” said Benitez. “It is the same with Scott Carson at Villa. But it is very close to being done now.

“Rick Parry has spoken with the players’ representa-tives and it is very close. I have spoken with Javier and his agent and so hope-fully we will find the solution soon.

“Mascherano is playing very well for this team and it is not easy to find a player of his quality who is also settled at the club, wants to play for you and shows his passion and his quality in every game.

“People talk about money but it is more important to think about the quality and commitment of the player. Nobody criticises me for signing Fernando Torres, but they do criticise the players I have signed for free. You have to sign the right players and have the balance right.”

The £8.2m transfer of Momo Sissoko to Juventus, which was completed yesterday, has helped release funds to purchase Mascherano before his loan deal expires in June.

And Benitez added: “We are letting Sissoko go because we have enough options in midfield and the money from his transfer can help with Mascherano.

“Mascherano has a very good mentality, he is a very good professional and a nice boy. This kind of player is difficult to find and not only because of how and where he plays, but because of his commitment. I tried to sign him twice for Valencia. Eduardo (Murcia – chief scout) watched him for a long time and so I have known about him for several years now.”