Liverpool bow to Albert Riera's request for a loan deal

• zocoss

  18 Mar 10, 20:39

   

  

  Bad student: Rafa Benitez instructs his players at Mellwood on Wednesday, but Albert Riera seems to have other things on his mind

   

   

   

  ALBERT RIERA last night launched an astonishing attack on Rafa Benitez and branded Liverpool a 'sinking ship.'

  The winger revealed huge rifts in the Reds' dressing room and claimed boss Benitez did not speak to players when there were problems.

  He said: "This year has been difficult and he has not changed at all. When you see the ship is sinking and you don't change... "I've been here for two years and I know how he is as a person. He's never resolved a situation with a player by speaking with him.

  "He thinks he is the boss and turns a deaf ear to everyone else. "The dialogue with the players is practically zero."

  Riera, 27, is fuming with Benitez after starting just once since mid-February and is worried that a lack of games might cost him a World Cup spot with Spain.

  The £8million signing from Espanyol added: "When you stop counting as a player like that, it must be something personal. "It's frustrating because you see you can help and he doesn't let you."

  Liverpool's disastrous season is in danger of taking another turn for the worse if they fail to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Lille in the Europa League tonight.

  With a top-four Premier League spot also in doubt this year, Benitez's future is hanging in the balance.

  Real Madrid are rumoured to be interested in hiring the manager. Yet Riera doubts Benitez could provide the exciting brand of play required at the Bernabeu. 

  Riera said: "At Madrid, they demand that you play beautiful football so I think it's difficult. "We have never played beautiful football. Effective yes, but never have we played a brilliant style of football."

  Speaking to Radio Marca, Riera left open the possibility of quitting Anfield soon to play in Russia. He said: "I'd like to stay here for the rest of my career but we players live to play. 

  "My objective is to go to the World Cup and for that I have to play. "Right now the only market still open is the Russian. I have offers from two teams and, given my situation, that has made me think a lot."

   

   

• Poignant

  18 Mar 10, 20:39

  down with rafael!

• Poignant

  18 Mar 10, 20:42

  actually what he said also true leh

• club18

  19 Mar 10, 04:53

  Riera suspended by Liverpool after Benitez attack

  

   

  Riera has been disciplined by Benitez and told not to return to the Merseysiders' Melwood training ground until Monday, with his future at Anfield cast into serious doubt.

  The midfielder launched a critical broadside at Benitez, claiming he did not speak to him, and told Radio Marca: "The dialogue with the players is practically non-existent. There is a lack of tact.''

  Benitez is believed to be fuming about the timing of the interview, which was broadcast less than 24 hours before the crucial Europa League last-16 second leg at home to Lille, and has taken swift action to discipline the player.

  Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann blasted the Rieira for looking to shift the blame from some mediocre personal performances in the current campaign.

  ''I didn't read too much into the comments because he's a player who has not played too much football over the last six to eight months,'' said Hamann. ''He is clearly frustrated but you have to say since he signed for Liverpool (in the summer of 2008) he has not done enough to really have an opinion on the manager.

  ''If Riera is not in the team it is probably because he is not doing enough in training or in games. The first question you have to ask when you are not playing is have you done enough to be in the team.

  ''It happens too often with players who can't get in the team and the first thing they do is blame the manager. They should look at themselves. I can honestly say I have never had a problem with a manager in 15 years of my career and I would never blame a manager for not playing.''

  Hamann, who has done some part-time coaching for Liverpool's youth teams, admitted Benitez had his own individual style of management but did not have an issue with it during his two seasons under the Spaniard.

  ''Every manager has his different styles and he may not talk, as other managers do, to his players, but at the end of the day I always had a professional relationship with him,'' he added. ''I never really needed much conversation with the manager because his team selection told you everything most weeks.

  ''I think he was always pretty honest in terms of his team selection, he always did what he thought was best for the team.''

• zocoss

  19 Mar 10, 08:30

   

  Albert Riera suspended and fined as Rafa Benitez gets tough over Liverpool outcast's attack
  

   

   

  

  Rift: Riera suspended for describing Liverpool a ''sinking ship" under current boss Rafa Benitez

   

   

   

  Albert Riera has been suspended by Liverpool for his outspoken attack on manager Rafael Benitez's communication skills and the club, which he described as a ''sinking ship''. 

  Rafa Benitez has responded to Albert Riera's outspoken attack on him by suspending the Liverpool winger until Monday.

  In what amounts to a two-game ban for Riera, the £6million signing from Espanyol has been told to stay away from Liverpool's preparations for Thursday's Europa League last 16 return leg against Lille and Sunday's Old Trafford showdown with Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.

  Riera, who will also be fined, has infuriated Benitez with the timing and contents of an interview with a Spanish radio station, in which he claimed he had been ostracised, accused his fellow-Spaniard of lacking communication skills and described Liverpool as 'a sinking ship'.

  Benitez is acutely aware that overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Lille and repeating last season's Old Trafford triumph could be crucial to salvaging some respectability from a desperately disappointing campaign, as well as earning himself some breathing space.

  Liverpool's under-pressure boss does not want any distractions and feels let down by Riera, who will be sold at the first opportunity.

   

  

  Out of favour: Riera has not been a regular for Liverpool this season

   

   

  According to sources in Spain, Benitez rang Riera's agent, with news of the suspension, as soon as he heard of the interview and verified it had taken place.

  Riera was subsequently informed that he would not be allowed back in Liverpool's Melwood training ground until Monday, when he can expect to feel the full force of Benitez's wrath.

  Riera claims he has received two offers from clubs in Russia, the homeland of his wife Yulia Koroleva.

  He could be set for a swift exit as the transfer window in Russia, which was supposed to close last week, has been extended to April 8.

• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  19 Mar 10, 11:57

  
  
  
  Spainish scold spainish

• Poignant

  19 Mar 10, 12:35

  GOALS.

  http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcmqnn_liverpool-v-lille_sport

• Poignant

  19 Mar 10, 12:46

   

• zocoss

  19 Mar 10, 12:59

   

• Rock^Star

  19 Mar 10, 13:09

  but liverpool are a sinking ship. After buying over a hundred players and still inconsistent form despite having some of the world's best players, not sinking ship then what sia.

• youyayu

  20 Mar 10, 17:55

  Originally posted by Rock^Star:

  but liverpool are a sinking ship. After buying over a hundred players and still inconsistent form despite having some of the world's best players, not sinking ship then what sia.

  a plane without wing. and no its not a rocket~

• iceFatboy

  20 Mar 10, 18:03

  wonder what will happen if Torres/Gerrard say this??

• youyayu

  20 Mar 10, 18:13

  Originally posted by iceFatboy:

  wonder what will happen if Torres/Gerrard say this??

  byebye rafa

• CannyOng

  20 Mar 10, 18:45

  Originally posted by iceFatboy:

  wonder what will happen if Torres/Gerrard say this??

  
  LL

   

  But I think Liverpool are back on track. Especially his patient on Aqua man works like charm.  I thought is crazy to let a 17 million pound man left on bench for so long. But looks like is now helping aquilani to get into form.

• reyes

  20 Mar 10, 19:46

  very polite liao reira.

  if i am you, i say liverpool is titanic. sunken ship!!

   

• I LOVE LIVERPOOL SO MUCH

  21 Mar 10, 00:20

  LIVERPOOL SANK LONG LONG AGO LIAO.NO TROPHIES FOR 20 YRS ALREADY

  .AND LIVERPOOL HAS NO SYSTEM

• zocoss

  23 Mar 10, 19:43

  Albert Riera cleared for Spartak Moscow move as CSKA declare themselves out of race for Liverpool outcast
  

  • Benítez's biggest critic on his way by the end of week
  • Spanish winger described Liverpool 'as a sinking ship'

   

   

  Albert Riera was even willing to play in Russia just to get away from Rafa.

   

   

   

  Spartak Moscow remain the favourites to sign Albert Riera after CSKA Moscow insisted they would not make a move for the Liverpool outcast. 

  Rafael Benitez is determined to offload the Spain winger and can take advantage of the Russian transfer window being extended to April 8.

  But CSKA have distanced themselves from reports that they would enter the race.

  'The Army Club are surprised to learn (from media) that they are candidate for the signing of Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Albert Riera,' CSKA said in a statement.

  'We know of similar cases where CSKA is additionally recommended for a football player seeking a new place of work.

  'However, to those who are trying to bring extra interest to the player, we can give advice (it's free!): to specify an interested party, we would say Barcelona or Manchester United. By the way, this will be more interesting to lovers of rumours.'

  Riera is returning to training at Melwood after he was banned from the club on Thursday for describing Liverpool as a ‘sinking ship’ in an interview with a Spanish radio station and claiming that Benitez refused to speak to him.

   

  

  Red rag: Albert Riera

   

  Benitez has responded to the criticism and the winger’s recent bust-up with a reserve-team player by seeking to push through a quick sale.

  The Liverpool boss has been keen to offload Riera for some time and hopes to recoup the £6million he paid Espanyol in the summer of 2008.

  A move to Moscow might also appeal to the unsettled Riera, whose wife Yulia Koroleva is from Russia.

   

   

• Poignant

  23 Mar 10, 21:28

  why e fuck is he here in the first place?

• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  23 Mar 10, 21:44

  wow
  
  
  6M
  
  
  Bye Riera

• zocoss

  23 Mar 10, 23:06

  I guess he got his wish... He had a good first season. Then it all went wrong for this...

  I find him quite good last year... $6m is rather low for a Spanish international... Rafa lost money again.

  Another Spanish player that can't get along with Rafa...  

• As romanista2001

  24 Mar 10, 01:24

  Originally posted by zocoss:

  I guess he got his wish... He had a good first season. Then it all went wrong for this...

  I find him quite good last year... $6m is rather low for a Spanish international... Rafa lost money again.

  Another Spanish player that can't get along with Rafa...  

  when he ever make money ?

  like i've always said ''when Rafa comes calling, you should go running''..................

• zocoss

  25 Mar 10, 09:37

  Liverpool bow to Albert Riera's request as they prepare to let Spain outcast join Spartak Moscow on loan
  

   

  

  On the move: Riera Liverpool’s hopes of recouping £6m for Riera fading fast

   

   

  Liverpool are preparing to let Albert Riera leave on loan to Spartak Moscow after all, as revealed in Sportsmail.

  Liverpool’s hopes of recouping £6m are fading fast. But they are so eager to offload the winger, after his comments on boss Rafa Benitez, that they will allow the loan with Riera, 27, able to seek a club in the summer.

  Talks between the two clubs will continue, but Spartak feel they are in a strong position after Moscow rivals CSKA and Lokomotiv made it clear they would not make a move.

  Riera is anxious to secure a move before the Russian transfer deadline of April 8 because he fears for his place in the Spain national team.

  'Russia seems to me a very interesting option, because, firstly, it is the only prestigious league in which the transfer window is still open, and, second, I expect to earn a place at the World Cup in South Africa if I'm playing there constantly,' said the 27-year-old, whose wife Yulia Koroleva is from Russia.

  'I hope the issue with my transfer will be resolved as early as this week.'

   

   

   

  Divide: Riera and Benitez in training at Mellwood last week

  A loan till the end of June would suit Riera, who could then assess offers in more established European leagues.

  Spartak boss Valery Karpin led the protest when the Russian transfer deadline was put back from March 11, but he could now be the biggest to gain from the last-minute switch.