Source: Liverpool_Echo
Rafa Benitez facing defensive crisis - Liverpool FC latest
RAFA BENITEZ is facing a defensive crisis with just a week to go before the Premier League kick-off.[LNB]Jamie Carragher is in a race against time to be fit to play against Tottenham on Sunday after he limped off after just 10 minutes of the 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid.[LNB]He now joins fellow centre-halves Martyn Skrtel and Daniel Agger battling to be ready in time for the start of the new campaign.[LNB]Carragher rolled over on his left ankle during the Reds' final pre-season fixture, when Lucas Leiva scored a late consolation after Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan had given the Spaniards a two-goal half-time lead.[LNB]Both Carragher and Rafa Benitez moved quickly to allay fans fears after the final whistle, stating that the problem was nothing too serious.[LNB]But the player had a scan yesterday and will only realise the full scale of the problem when he returns to the training ground.[LNB]Carragher's fitness fears will now undoubtedly force Benitez's hand as regards to recruiting another centre-half before the week is out.[LNB]On Saturday the Reds boss confessed to having already started talks with Hull regarding the availability of Michael Turner.[LNB]Benitez is believed to have offered £6million for the 25-year-old, but Hull boss Phil Brown is rumoured to be seeking somewhere nearer £12m.[LNB]Sylvain Distin is another player in the frame and the 31-year-old Frenchman has just one year left of his contract at Portsmouth.[LNB]But despite their money troubles Pompey are desperate to hang on to the veteran centre-half and it would take a bid of at least £5m to get them to the table.[LNB]Fernando Torres also reported an ankle problem following Saturday's Atletico clash, but he was fit enough to join up with the Spanish squad ahead of their friendly against Macedonia on Wednesday.[LNB]However, Torres, Pepe Reina, Albert Riera and Argentina international Javier Mascherano all joined the Atletico squad on a flight back to Madrid on Saturday night which got into trouble.[LNB]Landing at Barajas Airport, the flight had to abort its first landing and then on the second run it bounced wildly over the tarmac.
