Gerrard keeps on right side of Benitez

Liverpool v Arsenal:Rafael Benitez has told Steven Gerrard that he will return to the right-hand side of midfield at Liverpool, away from his favoured role in the centre, with the manager stressing his duty lies with the team rather than in placating any one player.

Gerrard scored twice for England against Andorra on Wednesday when he was handed a start in the middle and has made no secret of the fact that he feels most comfortable there.

In the wake of that win in Barcelona his former Liverpool team-mate and friend Jamie Redknapp expressed fears that the 26-year-old would eventually become frustrated at Anfield should he be forced to continue on the right.

"We have spoken about the game in midweek and the situation here," said Benitez. "We knew there could be a debate (about his position) again, but he knows my idea and what's best for the team. He accepts it. It's not my problem. My problem is to find the best for my team. If he needs to play on the right side because it's better for my team, he will. He understands.

"To keep the team winning is the most important thing, that's what keeps the players happy. He would prefer to play in the centre, for sure, but he's happy to play somewhere else because he understands his responsibilities. He's a top-class player who can play anywhere and last season, the best of his life, was largely spent on the right and he scored 23 goals. I don't need to respond (to Redknapp). I need to be focused on my team, my player and the balance of my team."

Today's game will be the first attended by George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks since the American businessmen officially bought the Merseyside club, and Benitez is due to meet the new owners at a city centre hotel tomorrow.

"We will talk about the club's future, and I hope they are long and productive talks," he added. "I know the new owners are clever people and will want to hear what I have to say."

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied a charge of improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute.

The charge relates to his media comments about one of the assistant referees in the League Cup final on February 23rd.

Wenger has requested a personal hearing which will be scheduled in due course.

Wenger yesterday maintained his club must be patient and continue to believe in their young team. The London side head to Anfield today facing a second season without a trophy.

For a club of their stature, with a new, 60,000-seater home, Wenger admits "we expected better".

However, given all the success the Frenchman has brought to Highbury over the past decade, he feels everyone must continue to pull in the same direction.

"I have shown a lot of stability and resistance to movement and (loyalty) to the club as well. It works on both sides," he said. "If we had won the Carling Cup this season, it would not have been a great success.

"You want to be as good as possible in every competition and then you judge the global reward by the way you play and compete in the championship.

"I agree that we were not good enough and I have to stand up and take responsibility for that.

"We have a good basis and I feel we have a good chance to compete for the title next year.

"Our record overall is not bad. We have not got a bad defence, and not got a bad attack - but also we were not outstanding anywhere.

"To win the league you need the team to be on top - and that is what we did not have this season." Wenger added: "We expected better. There have been factors, we have had many offensive players out and all our experienced players basically have been out.

"We have beaten the big teams and we have lost against the smaller teams who are not fighting for the championship.

"We are a young team who can beat everybody, but can also lose against everybody. I feel we are at a stage where we need to be strong and give our team support, patience and belief.

"We have fantastic ingredients and we have a strong belief in them. That will decide the future of the club.

"There is a lot waiting to blossom. We are at the stage in the life of the club where we need to give them support and believe in them."

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie "is likely" to miss the rest of the season, according to Wenger.

The Frenchman was hoping the 23-year-old Dutch international, who has not played since breaking a metatarsal towards the end of January, would be fit to return for the final few games of the campaign.

Wenger said yesterday, however: "The end of April now looks optimistic. It is likely he will be out for the season."

Wenger added: "We have spoken to the doctors and they told us the longer you keep this kind of fracture without playing, the less chance you have of a recurrence.

"So, if he can play only one or two games then we will not take a gamble."

Guardian Service