Benitez quiet on takeover talk

Aquilani to miss Arsenal trip due to injury

Last updated: 9th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Benitez quiet on takeover talk

Benitez: Wants to improve

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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has refused to speculate on potential new investment, but remains keen for an injection of money at Anfield.

Newspaper reports on Tuesday morning suggested that India's wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani, was preparing an offer for a controlling stake in the Reds.

But a spokesperson for the tycoon has dismissed the conjecture and, after masterminding a 10-man win in the Merseyside derby at the weekend, Benitez does not want to speculate over the implications.

However, the Spaniard, who is said to be unsettled by the financial problems of Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, still wants transfer funds and the finances to build a proposed new stadium in Stanley Park.

Benitez told Sky Sports News ahead of Wednesday's crucial trip Arsenal in the Premier League: "We see a lot of rumours in the press, but we have to concentrate on football.

"Everybody knows that we need a new stadium and new investors if we want to go forwards. But at his moment we have to concentrate."

Meanwhile, having also announced on Tuesday that he does not expect Marouane Chamakh to join Liverpool, Benitez has confirmed that summer signing Alberto Aquilani will not feature at Emirates Stadium due to illness.

Opportunity

The Italian, a one-time target of Arsenal, has not exactly shed himself of an injury-prone reputation since his £20million arrival from Roma and he will again be missing for the trip to London.

Benitez said: "We have Aquilani who was ill and vomiting, so he will not be in the squad. He's too weak now.

"It is not too serious. We had problems with (Martin) Skrtel this weekend. He was also vomiting and lost four kilograms."

Asked for an update on the injuries to Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Glen Johnson, Benitez added: "The three of them are doing well. These injuries need time but we're on schedule. It's still two or three weeks at least."

Liverpool have not won at Arsenal in the league since 2000 and Benitez hopes that his side may be able to address that record having built some rare self-assurance in a troubled season after a seven-game unbeaten run that has regained a top-four place

He said: "Always you have an opportunity to improve. Arsenal are a good team but we've had very good games here (in Liverpool). We won 4-1 one time and the 4-4 (at the end of last season) was an amazing game.

"The last game (in December) we lost we were on top of them in the first half. An own goal changed everything and we were in a bad moment with not much confidence. We have more confidence now."

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