Liverpool return to real battle

AS TOM HICKS strode across a sodden Stamford Bridge pitch shortly after Liverpool's Champions League exit on Wednesday he brought the club's uncertain future back into focus with every step. Rafael Benitez had wanted a place in Russia to polish a contrary season. Instead, as the Texan's appearance in the visiting dressingroom signified, he must again bear witness to a revolution.

Precisely where the blood-letting will occur at Anfield this summer is undecided but there is no doubt the Liverpool manager will be at the heart of what unfolds. Ten weeks ago Benitez himself was susceptible with Barnsley victorious in the FA Cup and the Liverpool hierarchy agreed to review the Spaniard's performance at the end of the season. In keeping with Liverpool's rapidly fluctuating campaign the manager improved his end-of-term report three days later, with the scalp of Internazionale in the Champions League, and the shift of power back to Benitez was underway.

Despite the semi-final defeat by Chelsea and claims Dubai International Capital want Jose Mourinho at the helm should they eventually buy control of the club from Hicks and George Gillett, Benitez's future is in his own hands. DIC reinforced that notion this week by stressing it was approached by an agent purporting to represent the former Chelsea manager, not vice versa.

However, Hicks is not under extreme pressure from the banks to sell his 50 per cent stake immediately. The ownership saga could influence the manager's position if only in that it hinders his transfer policy to the extent he feels another season in the shadows of Manchester United and Chelsea is inevitable. He does not hold that view at present.

Until Hicks and Gillett resolve their fundamental differences, and the chief executive, Rick Parry, learns his fate, the most likely cull involving Benitez will be within his dressingroom. The Liverpool manager had intended to tweak his squad this summer. The victory at Fulham and the point at Birmingham last weekend revealed the greater depth of the squad, and yet major work is still required for Benitez to meet the huge expectations upon him.

Benitez revealed he had "more positive talks about the future" with Hicks. Estranged owner Gillett was not at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, ostensibly for health reasons while DIC's representatives also declined to accept invitations to sit in the Chelsea directors' box. The reason the Gillett-DIC camp opted for a back seat this time after attending the first-leg, was, said a source: "So as they wouldn't be a distraction at such an important game."

Gillett is still expected to sell his 50 per cent stake at some stage to the Dubai organisation.

Many of the second-string players who performed at the Emirates, Craven Cottage and St Andrew's before the Champions League fixtures recently may ask to leave this summer. Selling the likes of €83,000-a-week Harry Kewell, Scott Carson, Peter Crouch and, should Gareth Barry arrive from Aston Villa, the bankable Xabi Alonso will enable Benitez to finance a stellar signing or two in the absence of an eye-watering transfer budget.

Liverpool require proven talents on both flanks to take them forward next term, the Daniel Alveses and Mancinis of this world. Almost every Liverpool player who stopped to talk at Stamford Bridge stressed the need for greater depth, with the captain Steven Gerrard admitting: "Hopefully we will go into next season with a stronger squad because that could make a big difference."

Improving a squad facing so many departures, while finding quality to compare with Fernando Torres, Gerrard and Javier Mascherano, intensifies the challenge for Benitez. As Mascherano said yesterday: "Over the last two months we have gone very well in the Premier League and Europe. Now we need to make sure we repeat it from the start of the season . . . We are a good side. For a lot of the other guys, it is their first season in England while for others - like me - it is only their second. Next time, when everyone has that little bit more experience and understanding, we will be a lot better and can definitely challenge for the titles."

That is an all-too familiar, unfulfilled refrain and Benitez, protected by internal politics for the time being, knows it.

Guardian Service