Next on the chopping block was Torres: “I have told him that he has to stop this [arguing with referees]. He knows he has to improve this aspect of his game. He has to be completely focused on his football…Sometimes it is not easy to deal with everything opponents do, but he knows he must deal with it in a different way.”

Then it was Steven Gerrard’s turn: “At a crucial moment, we gave away a penalty. We made too many mistakes at crucial times. It was a clear penalty. We have to be fair. Gerrard gave away the penalty. There were too many people involved. If you want to analyse the mistakes of each player, you would have to analyse a lot of things in the game. We are talking about some names, but clearly the team has to improve and it depends on the experienced players to take more responsibility”.

Though many can argue over Benitez’s observations: Babel must improve; Torres needs to stop moaning and Gerrard was to blame for the penalty. However, surely the professional and prudent thing to do was to criticise them behind closed doors.

Though this is highly ironic as it was Benitez’s inability to button his own lip during his rant at Alex Ferguson last season that prompted a run of 11 dropped points in seven games that cost Liverpool the title.

The Sun Newspaper also criticised Rafael Benitez as well: “Benitez was responsible for undermining Alonso, the player whose passing ability made Benitez’s 4-2-3-1 formation work and whose positional play released Gerrard to forage up front just behind Torres? Benitez’s public pursuit of Gareth Barry rebounded. Alonso responded with the sort of form that exposed Benitez’s folly in even considering releasing him.”

“But the damage had been done with the player deciding he had no future at Anfield.”

“The result? Liverpool lost Alonso to Real Madrid, were gazumped by Manchester City for Barry – and have no one to fill his boots. Alberto Aquilani, their £20million signing from Roma, is certainly no like-for-like replacement.”

Instead, Benitez is hoping the Italian, an attacking midfield player, will take the goalscoring pressure off Gerrard and Torres.

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Alberto Aquilani, 25-year-old, Italian midfielder is expected to complete a £20million move from Roma to Liverpool shortly. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes Alberto Aquilani will “excite” the club’s supporters.

Alberto Aquilani, who has 11 caps for Italy and was part of the squad who competed at Euro 2008, is to replace Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid for £30m yesterday.

About Alberto Aquilani move Rafael Benitez said, “Roma have allowed us to talk with him(Aquilani), so that’s good and positive. He is a player with the quality we are looking for. He can play a little bit higher than Javier Mascherano maybe between him and Steven Gerrard”.

“He is a good passer, the final ball is good, and he also works. If he can settle down properly in England he can be a very good addition. I think the signing should excite the fans.”

The Roma captain Francesco Totti yesterday said: “Alberto will be missed very much by everyone here.”

A sentiment echoed by the former Liverpool full-back John Arne Rise, who joined the Italian club last summer. He said, “When I first came to Roma, I didn’t know a thing about Aquilani. I knew all about Totti, Daniele De Rossi and Philippe Mexès, of course, but Aquilani was the player who surprised me the most in my first months with what he could do. He’s really good on the ball, with good passing and good movement. He works hard and is a good professional”.

“He likes to have the ball at his feet but not because he likes to dribble, he just wants to keep the team moving. He never stands still, he is always on the run. He certainly runs more than Xabi and is probably more dangerous in terms of getting in the box and trying to score goals. Liverpool will be getting a very good player.”

Dirk Kuyt admits Liverpool will miss Alonso, who has agreed a four-year deal at Real, but insists the team can cope without him. “We will fight on,” said the Dutchman after the Merseyside club’s 2-0 victory over Lyn Oslo yesterday.

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Its been reported that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is eyeing for hiring Spanish striker David Villa as Fernando Torres partner in front.

Rafa Benitez is set to use the money gained from the sale of Xabi Alonso, who is expected to complete his £30million move to Real Madrid in a bid to bring Spain striker David Villa to Anfield. And he aims to pair Villa with Fernando Torres in the double act that has been so deadly for the Euro 2008 champions.

It has been reported that with the loss of Alonso, Benitez would use a 4-4-1-1 formation that would see Steven Gerrard move back into central midfield alongside Javier Mascherano.

26-year-old Velencia’s striker David Villa has already turned down moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer but Rafael Benitez feels Torres can persuade his pal to leave Valencia for Liverpool.

However, Benitez is also is eyeing Roma mdfielder Alberton Aquilani as another possible replacement for the outgoing Alonso who handed in an offical written transfer request to the club on Friday.

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Steven Gerrard kicks footballs at clay pigeons on the Liverpool training ground. Xabi Alonso launches the clays. This isn’t easy and it took a few shots to get, but Gerrard nails it.

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