Benitez buoyant as big guns return

Rafael Benitez prays the cavalry have arrived at just the right time to fire Liverpool back into the Champions League next season without needing to go to the extreme lengths of having to win this term’s tournament.

Of course, the Liverpool chief fancies a trip to final next month – and a victory – but with champions-elect Chelsea and AC Milan likely to be the clubs blocking their path to European glory, he knows something has to change quickly for the Anfield club’s final five games of the Barclays Premiership season.