If things had gone to plan for Benitez, Liverpool would have signed the versatile midfielder from Aston Villa at the end of the 2007-08 season and gone to win a long-awaited Premier League title a year later.That deal fell through, however, and now England international Barry is a key figure at ambitious City, one of several clubs hoping to evict Liverpool from England's top four.
Failing to sign Barry was a huge blow for Benitez, although Liverpool's superb title challenge last season which ended in narrow failure behind Manchester United, disguised the impact.This season, however, five defeats in 12 league games have left Liverpool's title aspirations in ruins and with Xavi Alonso sold in the off season, the Anfield club looks short on the kind of proven midfield quality Barry would offer.
Defeat against City on Saturday would leave Liverpool in grave danger of becoming mid-table also rans.
"The thing about Barry is that he can play in three positions," Benitez said in the Times on Thursday. "To sign Barry would have been a good addition for the team."Everything was perfect. Good player, good mentality and English. The priority was Barry, then (Robbie) Keane.
Keane, who was only signed from Tottenham Hotspur, according to Benitez this week, to link up with Barry lasted just six months at Anfield before returning to north London.While Liverpool have struggled badly this season, Manchester City's impact on the Premier League has not quite been what their billionaire Abu Dhabi owners would have hoped for.
A stoppage time defeat by Manchester United is City's only league loss this season but Mark Hughes' side have drawn their last five matches and for all the millions spent on signing the likes of Barry, Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez, they still look far from the finished article. Barry believes that with no international breaks now until March, City can begin to make their move."I'm looking forward to getting a few months of solid work in with the lads here," Barry told City's website.
"This is a very important period of the season coming up where we need to make things happen."
Defeat for City on Sunday would shift the spotlight away from the under-fire Benitez for a while and turn up the heat on Hughes and Benitez has been confidently predicting all week that the real Liverpool is about to stand up.
"For me it's three points in the next game," Benitez said. "I have confidence that the squad is better than people think, the squad is better than people think."
Both sides have injury problems. Liverpool are expected to be without striker Fernando Torrres for the lunchtime kickoff at Anfield although Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson, who both missed England's weekend friendly against Brazil in Doha, should be fit.
City will be without Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov who is sidelined with a knee injury.
Manchester City midfielder Vincent Kompany has been expelled from Belgium's squad because of poor timekeeping.
The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009 ... ester-city
Manchester City forward Robinho has told his team-mates that he wants to quit the club to join Spanish giants Barcelona. Daily Mirror http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Ro ... 25157.html
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The top 50 teenage sensations in Premier League history, Nos 20-11
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z0XI5zwvWG
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Tottenham and Portsmouth are stepping up their pursuit of Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa.
The Sun
Tottenham could also bid for former Portsmouth and current Al-Arabi striker Lomana LuaLua.
The Sun
Chelsea have been told that Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero will cost them £50m.Daily Mirror
Meanwhile, Napoli insist that Chelsea have not made a bid for £25m-rated midfielder Marek Hamsik. The Sun
Liverpool have swooped to sign 14-year-old forward Dave Moli from Blue Square Premier side Luton. The Sun
Liverpool, Tottenham and Fulham are monitoring Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's situation after the Dutchman said he would consider a Premier League return. Daily Star
Gillingham have told Wolves they will have to pay more than £1.5m to land Canadian striker Simeon Jackson. The Sun
Birmingham are lining up a £1.5m raid on local rivals West Brom for midfielder Graham Dorrans. Daily Mirror
Aston Villa are set to part company with defender Nicky Shorey and midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker in the January transfer window. Daily Star
Preston are lining up a January loan move for Stoke winger Michael Tonge. (The Sun)
Celtic midfielder Simon Ferry is desperate to extend his loan stay at League One side Swindon. (The Sun)
WAG OF THE DAY - Federica Fontana
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... ca-fontana
OTHER BOLLOX
Injured Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been told he will not play football again this year. The Sun
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that he will not quit the club to manage Italy after rumours that current Azzurri boss Marcello Lippi will quit after the World Cup. Daily Mirror
Fulham are set to spend £9m to secure the long-term services of manager Roy Hodgson and defender Brede Hangeland. The Sun
Former Birmingham chief David Sullivan is plotting a takeover of League One Charlton if his bid to buy West Ham fails. Daily Mirror
AND FINALLY
It has emerged that England and Liverpool defender Glen Johnson is the latest Premier League player to be receiving the same horse-placenta treatment in Serbia as Arsenal striker Robin van Persie. The Sun
The coaching skills of former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are to be offered to a Sunday league football side as part of Rio Ferdinand's charity auction. (The Sun)
