Liverpool take firm stance on Gerrard

RAFAEL BENITEZ yesterday unveiled €9 million striker Fernando Morientes and insisted that Steven Gerrard had not been used as a bargaining tool to land the Spanish international.

The Liverpool chief will play Morientes today against Manchester United, and he was quick to rubbish reports from Spain claiming Real Madrid had privately secured first option on Gerrard should he ever leave Anfield.

It has been a constant theme of Madrid's demands for weeks but one which Benitez continues to say has not been granted. With Liverpool's arch rivals arriving at Anfield for a crucial game, Benitez once again dismissed the claims: "The arrival of Morientes does not mean the departure of Steven Gerrard."

Benitez will have Gerrard leading from the front against United and intends to use both his new signings Morientes and defender Mauricio Pellegrino in the match.

"They both will be involved. Fernando and myself see the game with Manchester United as the same as Real Madrid against Barcelona," said Benitez.

"Two big cities with important clubs, it is a good comparison. I have a lot of confidence that we can win, but maybe Mr Ferguson will say the same thing. But he is a manager to aspire to. I have watched from Spain and seen how he has been at United for many, years and it is a challenge for me and all managers to be at the same club for so long and to win trophies."

Benitez also insisted that Liverpool are still looking at further additions.

"We are still looking for new players, but not as desperately as we have been in the past few weeks to get Morientes," said Benitez.

"Our priority now is the next game only, after that we will see what the market still holds for us."

He added: "We have signed a very important player for the club, for the team and the supporters. He is crucial to us in terms of the confidence he can bring to the side. We signed Morientes for games like Manchester United, because we know he can handle such big occasions.

"It is a problem that he cannot play in the Champions League. But we knew the situation and we are looking ahead to future seasons when he can play in the top competition."

His role has already been defined, with Benitez hoping the new addition will give Liverpool more of a presence against opposing defences.

"Morientes is a targetman, he is strong and good in the air and he also knows how to play at this level," said the former Valencia boss.

Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson is suggesting Rafael Benitez may have the same millstone hanging around his neck that he himself inherited at Manchester United.

Just as Ferguson was confronted with a championship-less run of 19 years when he moved south to Old Trafford, so Benitez walked into the Liverpool job knowing the Reds had gone 14 years without a league title.

Since Kenny Dalglish guided the Merseysiders to glory in the pre-Premier League days of 1990, Liverpool have remained stuck on a record 18 titles while at the same time Ferguson has steered United to a decade of almost complete dominance.

"When I came to Manchester United we had gone 19 years without winning it, which is a long time," he said.

"That was an albatross for me, as it was for previous managers. Liverpool have had a few managers in the last few years which is unlike them and while I am not close to the situation there, I would imagine it would be a millstone for them as well."

That is not to say Benitez's problems are Ferguson's concern just now.

Having drawn their last Premiership game against Tottenham, the Red Devils find themselves 11 points adrift of Chelsea and knowing a win today is essential to retain any hope of overtaking the Londoners.

Any meeting with Liverpool will always be the highlight of Ferguson's season, though, whatever else is at stake.

"It is a game that raises the hairs on the back of my neck," said the Scot.

"Look at the history of the two clubs. Thirty-three championships between us. They have won the European Cup four times; we have won it twice. They have won the UEFA Cup twice we have won the Cup-Winners' Cup. That is a fantastic record.

"We looked much fresher against Chelsea, and I hope we will be better still tomorrow because it is a massive game for us."

Keane's return is automatic and with Wayne Rooney expected to fill either the right or left-sided midfield role depending on Ryan Giggs's availability and Alan Smith set to edge out Louis Saha for the lone striker's spot, Ferguson's major selection dilemma is who to play in goal.