Fourth or bust! Rafa fears Champions League exile will spell end of stars

26 March 2010 11:46
Rafa Benitez fears he will lose his best players this summer if Liverpool fail to finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.[LNB]The under pressure Spaniard believes his side's final league place this term will have a significant bearing on his transfer options in the summer but could also see the likes of Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and captain Steven Gerrard up for grabs.[LNB]'Players want to win trophies and want to finish in the top four,' said Benitez.[LNB] Exit fears: Benitez is worried Liverpool could lose their best players this summer[LNB]'This club is a massive club so if we can progress in the Europa League and finish in the top four a lot of [other] players will be thinking whether to come here or stay where they are.'[LNB]Liverpool are sixth in the Barclays Premier League, four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played a match more, having slipped to ten defeats this term.[LNB]But Benitez, who has already agreed a pre-contract deal with Standard Liege forwardMilan Jovanovic, believes the incentive to finish fourth and win the Europa Leagueapplies not only to his players but any prospective new signings.[LNB] May the fourth be with you: Benitez wants to keep hold of Gerrard and Torres but admits Liverpool must finish fourth and qualify for next term's Champions League[LNB]'The players know it is important to perform now for the future and they want to stay here so I think it will be okay.[LNB]'We are now in a situation where we have to move forward and try to bring the best from each player.[LNB]  'It is not easy to stay at a very good level in a season. The main thing is we have some players coming back from injuries and if they are together I'm sure we'll do really well.'[LNB]Liverpool host Sunderland on Sunday and go into a Europa League quarter-final against Benfica next week hoping there is still a chance of winning some silverware.[LNB]  Javier Mascherano jumps to the defence of Liverpool boss Rafa BenitezLiverpool legend calls on Gerrard and Torres to issue quit threat to ownersNgog hails Premier League for turning him into a Liverpool hard manLIVERPOOL FC

Source: Daily_Mail