Liverpool Boss Benitez: "Torres Has To Improve"

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has told his Reds squad that everyone including Spanish International Fernando Torres will have to compete for a place in the first team at the Merseyside club.

The former Valencia coach has been playing a more settled team of late in the Premier League, with Benitez seeming to have ditched the rotation policy the Spaniard had become renowned for. This reluctance to change a winning side resulted in Benitez only giving EURO 2008 Winner Torres a place on the bench in their 2-0 win in the Premiership against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Although last seasons top-scorer for Liverpool Torres came on as a second half substitute against the Trotters, Benitez insists that the former Atletico Madrid striker has to improve and compete like everyone else for a place in the Anfield side.

“The players have to compete for their positions in the side, be it Torres or anyone else,” Benitez said.

“Torres has to improve, if he does and he is fit then I will decide what to do, although I expect to be criticised.

“I did not have to explain to Fernando why he was not playing, it was very clear. The team had been playing well and he has to compete for his position.

“He played well when he came on, but then other players who come on as substitute also did well, not just him.

“That is the key if you want to have a winning mentality and a winning squad."

Torres, who has just returned from injury for Liverpool has been called up by Spain for their International friendly against Chile on Wednesday, but Benitez had bemoaned the Spanish call-up for Torres, who is lacking match fitness and revealed that he has asked the Spanish coaching staff not to take any chances with his talisman.

“Torres will join up with Spain. I am not happy, but I cannot do anything about it. We are talking to international managers and asking them to protect our players,” he added.

“We have asked that the Spanish set-up does not take any chances, that they protect the player.”

Barca Chief To Sell Xavi Against Guardiola's Wishes To Land Arsenal's Fabregas?

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Barcelona president Joan Laporte is understood to be stepping up his efforts to sign Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, with the Catalan club chief even prepared to sell Spanish International Xavi, despite coach Pep Guardiola insisting last week that Xavi (below) remains at the Nou Camp as long as he remains in charge, according to Spanish radio station Onda.

Recent reports have claimed that EURO 2008 winner Xavi is unhappy at the La Liga side, with talks on a new deal at Barca stalling as he seeks parity with the top earners at the Nou Camp. Which has led to speculation that he could leave Barcelona next summer, with Serie A side Juventus interested in Xavi, who was voted player of the tournament at EURO 2008.

Should Xavi not extend his current contract at Barcelona then Laporte could be forced into selling the Blaugrana midfield general, with the midfielder’s deal running out in 2010 and despite having a buyout clause of £100million, it is understood that the Barcelona vice-captain would be allowed to leave for considerably less.

However, these latest reports that Laporte is willing to lure Fabregas from the Emirates Stadium back to the club he left as a 16-year-old at all costs, including selling Xavi, will anger Guardiola, who sees Xavi as an integral part of the Catalan side. With the former Barca legend declaring last week that Xavi will remain at Barcelona, while he is in charge.

“With me as coach Xavi remains here, that is non-negotiable,” Guardiola said ahead of the La Liga match against Malaga.

21-year-old Fabregas has constantly been linked over the past couple of seasons with Barca’s great rivals Real Madrid, but it is hard to imagine Fabregas ever playing for Los Merengues given his attachment to the Blaugrana, and did reveal recently that “It would be a dream” to return to his boyhood club.

“I would like to try to win more titles here, although next season we'll see,” Fabregas said.

“It would be a dream to return to Barcelona one day.”

With Arsenal struggling in the Premier League and not having won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, Fabregas could decide to return to Barcelona next summer if the Gunners have a fourth season in a row without any silverware, but whether Xavi is sold to accommodate the signing of Fabregas remains to be seen. However Laporte could go over Guardiola’s head, with the Barcelona president seeing the capture of Fabregas as the key to holding on to the presidency after narrowly getting re-elected earlier this year.