by anfieldadorer » Tue Jan 11, 2005 5:10 am
League Cup: Liverpool boss Benitez issues Morientes warning
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said Monday he was unwilling to let the protracted talks with Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes over a possible transfer to Anfield drag on much longer.
Benitez's patience with Real is wearing thin after the English Premiership reportedly made a bid of £6 million for the forward.
And if a speedy resolution is not forthcoming, Benitez said he would turn his attentions to Manchester City's Nicolas Anelka or Crystal Palace's in-form Andrew Johnson in a bid to boost his forward options during the January transfer window.
Spanish boss Benitez has been frustrated by Real's attempts to create an auction for Morientes while trying to lure Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard away from Anfield as part of any proposed deal.
In the meantime Benitez must make sure his current squad are fully focused on Tuesday's League Cup semi-final first leg tie at home to Championship side Watford.
But reflecting on the Morientes situation he stressed: "We cannot wait forever, we will wait maybe two more days before looking for another player.
"We have been linked with other players but I will only say that Nicolas Anelka and Andy Johnson are both good players.
"But it is difficult. Both players have been scoring goals for their teams and if you ask their managers they may say 'no'. But they are good players.
"But I am sure that we can do the Morientes deal. I have a lot of confidence because he says he either wants to play for Liverpool or to stay at Madrid.
"We do not have anything new on Morientes, other than that we know he wants to come here," the former Valencia manager added.
"We have done the right things but we must wait for Real Madrid to decide. At this moment we are only talking about Morientes with Madrid, not anyone else there.
"And I can only make it clear, we do not want to sell Steven Gerrard."
Monday saw Benitez officially unveil his latest signing, 33-year-old centre back Mauricio Pellegrino from Valencia but he ruled the Argentinian out of the Watford tie.
He is set to field an experienced ream against the Hornets especially as winning the League Cup offers the early season reassurance of a European place next term, something Liverpool could well be in need of if they miss out on one of the four Champions League spots available to the leading Premiership quartet.
Benitez will have Milan Baros back from a hamstring injury and will also field captain Gerrard, who would have been rested on Friday had the FA Cup third round game at Burnley gone ahead instead of being abadoned before kick-off because of a waterlogged pitch.
"Pellegrino could play against Watford, but he has only had one training session so it is better to wait and hopefully use him against Manchester United on Saturday," Benitez said.
"We know we are also in the semi-final of the Carling (League) Cup and it is important to put out a strong side that can win and get us to the final.
"And there is a trophy at stake here, which we want to win.
"We have used the young players and they have done very well, but without playing at Burnley on Friday in the FA Cup we now know we have two games this week and there is time between them for the senior players to recover.
"If we'd played at Burnley perhaps the side against Watford would be different.
"But our players have had the chance to rest so that means we can now use our senior men against Watford."