Source: Telegraph
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists he wants Xabi Alonso to stay at Anfield
Reports have indicated the Spanish giants are as keen as ever to sign the midfielder, but Benitez, speaking after last night's 3-0 pre-season friendly defeat against Espanyol, said: "He is our player and we want him to stay."
Former Chelsea forward Ben Sahar scored twice against a strong Liverpool team, captained by influential midfielder Steven Gerrard.
Benitez brushed off the setback of losing in a match which was set up to officially open Espanyol's new stadium. The Spaniard added: "Nobody likes losing like that, but it's pre-season so it doesn't matter. I'm not worried about it."
Asked if Javier Mascherano, who has been linked with Barcelona, will leave, Benitez said: "No."
Meanwhile, defender Jamie Carragher has said he is pleased to see former team mate Michael Owen back at a top-four club, but hopes his friend finds life at Manchester United tough going.
Carragher predicted United's latest signing could prove a masterstroke for Sir Alex Ferguson, but is crossing his fingers the England striker struggles for goals in the Premier League title race.
"For me, Michael Owen is still a great player and great role model and I have this feeling he'll be good for United." Carragher said. "But he plays for our biggest rivals now so he'll know I won't want him to carry on scoring once the season starts."
"In a way I'm pleased he's got a big move to a big club because he came in for a lot of criticism at Newcastle. Why? What did he do wrong up there?
"He's scored a lot of goals in the first few games for United and I hope he scores a few more pre-season because I want him to do well but as soon as the season starts I hope he has a drought."
Despite his respect for Owen's talents, Carragher believes Liverpool's forward pairing of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard could not be bettered.
"No other team in England has a partnership like Gerrard and Torres. There is no better partnership in the world at the moment.
"It's strange to be talking about Stevie as a striker, but that's what he has become and, for me, in that position behind the main forward there is no one better. When he's playing alongside Torres they have the ability to tear defences wide open in a split second."
