Benitez blames World Cup for Pool’s poor start to season

Rafael Benitez will demand that his European heroes must not lose the momentum of their blossoming season by slipping up in the Barclays Premiership.

Liverpool switch from virtually securing a place in the Champions League semi-finals to a first-ever Premier League clash at Reading, where third place is still their objective.

And the Reds chief is lucky enough to be able to field a top-notch side at the Madejski stadium, while resting players next Wednesday when PSV Eindhoven arrive at Anfield in the unenviable position of being 3-0 down in their quarter-final second leg.