Liverpool Season 2008/9

Well it had to happen. A club the size of Pool just couldn't go the season without the odd headline or two.
This story has been doing the rounds lately
Thanks to the Mirror and others
Juventus shortlist Liverpool's Rafa Benitez to be their new manager
Rafa Benitez is on a shortlist of three if Juventus sack under pressure coach Claudio Ranieri.
The Italian boss has been given until Christmas to save his job in Turin. If he fails, then Juve want one of Benitez, Frank Rijkaard or former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni.
And that effectively could leave Liverpool’s American owners with a new year deadline to secure their manager’s long-term future.
The Spanish coach has indicated that he is ready to sign a new contract to ensure he stays at Anfield.
So far, despite stating several times that they want the manager to extend his current deal, owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have failed to make any sort of offer.
But with Ranieri seemingly certain to be sacked within the next few weeks, it adds some urgency to talks, with Benitez’s contract running down.
He has just over 18 months left on his deal and admitted recently that he has not heard a thing from the club about an extension.
He is sure to be a favourite for the Juve job, and reports in Italy this weekend suggested that it is only a matter of time before former Chelsea boss Ranieri is replaced.
Ranieri has endured a difficult start to the campaign and a poll in a prominent Italian newspaper last week revealed that two thirds of the club’s fans want him to go.
Already talk has turned to his successor, with Benitez and Rijkaard the most popular alternatives.
Even former Inter manager Roberto Mancini has been linked with the job, along with Juve legend Alessandro del Piero. But the club’s board have whittled down their potential shortlist to three.
They are prepared to place current assistant coach Ciro Ferrara in temporary charge to ensure they get their man.
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, has insisted that he is happy at the club, despite admitting his affection for Juventus.
The Spaniard almost joined the Italian side in the summer for £16million, but was eventually turned down because it was thought that he was “too slow” to cope with the team’s formation.
Despite that implied criticism, Alonso revealed that he still has an “attraction” for Juventus.
But he added: “You can hardly say that a club like Liverpool is second best. You cannot be disappointed when you play at Anfield.”
This story has been doing the rounds lately
Thanks to the Mirror and others
Juventus shortlist Liverpool's Rafa Benitez to be their new manager
Rafa Benitez is on a shortlist of three if Juventus sack under pressure coach Claudio Ranieri.
The Italian boss has been given until Christmas to save his job in Turin. If he fails, then Juve want one of Benitez, Frank Rijkaard or former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni.
And that effectively could leave Liverpool’s American owners with a new year deadline to secure their manager’s long-term future.
The Spanish coach has indicated that he is ready to sign a new contract to ensure he stays at Anfield.
So far, despite stating several times that they want the manager to extend his current deal, owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have failed to make any sort of offer.
But with Ranieri seemingly certain to be sacked within the next few weeks, it adds some urgency to talks, with Benitez’s contract running down.
He has just over 18 months left on his deal and admitted recently that he has not heard a thing from the club about an extension.
He is sure to be a favourite for the Juve job, and reports in Italy this weekend suggested that it is only a matter of time before former Chelsea boss Ranieri is replaced.
Ranieri has endured a difficult start to the campaign and a poll in a prominent Italian newspaper last week revealed that two thirds of the club’s fans want him to go.
Already talk has turned to his successor, with Benitez and Rijkaard the most popular alternatives.
Even former Inter manager Roberto Mancini has been linked with the job, along with Juve legend Alessandro del Piero. But the club’s board have whittled down their potential shortlist to three.
They are prepared to place current assistant coach Ciro Ferrara in temporary charge to ensure they get their man.
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, has insisted that he is happy at the club, despite admitting his affection for Juventus.
The Spaniard almost joined the Italian side in the summer for £16million, but was eventually turned down because it was thought that he was “too slow” to cope with the team’s formation.
Despite that implied criticism, Alonso revealed that he still has an “attraction” for Juventus.
But he added: “You can hardly say that a club like Liverpool is second best. You cannot be disappointed when you play at Anfield.”