Anfield's pain game

OVER the weekend Rafa Benitez moved to deny claims in parts of the media that we was about to resign in fury after Liverpool’s owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett pulled the plug on the Gareth Barry transfer bid. Here Liverpool writer Tony Barrett examines the ongoing tensions behind the scenes at Anfield which have surfaced with the Liverpool boss again airing his long-held frustrations at the start of the new season. Barry and Alonso TO put it bluntly, if Rafa Benitez had had his way Gareth Barry would now be a Liverpool player and Xabi Alonso wouldn't. The Reds boss was more than willing to sacrifice Alonso – and belatedly told him so – if it meant Liverpool would then be in a position to sign Barry. But as the Barry deal dragged on without being concluded and Liverpool did not receive the big offers for Alonso which... [read full story]