Football Tigers

But Benitez now sees a growing maturity in Gerrard that will also benefit England and the much-maligned partnership with Frank Lampard.
Liverpool are preparing to face Manchester City at Anfield, intent on protecting their 13-month unbeaten home league record.
Gerrard had his best game of the season in the midweek Champions League defeat of PSV Eindhoven, and saw him net only his second goal of the campaign.
And Benitez is aware Gerrard, now back in his favoured central midfield role, feels he is close to his best.
But not in the eyes of the Spanish boss, who said: "He can score goals, win the ball in the air, be good at set pieces, everything. When he says he is close to his best, maybe he does not know his true potential.
"He is improving a lot, he is maturing and thinking about the game. That will not only help us but also the England team. He will be able to form a better partnership with Frank Lampard because he is becoming more mature and more aware of what he should be doing."
It is this understanding of his midfield role that Benitez sees as the key to Gerrard's long-term development.
Previously Benitez had doubts about the timing of Gerrard's surges from midfield and the dangers they cause to an exposed defence but now believes the 26-year-old is learning.
"I really think Steven is an amazing player, he is always thinking about what he can do, he has such quality that he is a player you cannot stop," Benitez added.
"He is always thinking now about how he can improve the team, he is capable of doing that.
"He can still improve. I say to him he needs to know his team-mates and the players he has in front of him. If we play with two wingers and two strikers, he must concentrate and be careful all the time because when he goes forward into the box, that can leave gaps behind.
"His strength is getting into the box. We saw that many times last season and this week against PSV. He must do this, he is so good at it.
"But he must also think about what he does. He must concentrate and be aware all the time what is going on around him. If we do not have a holding midfield player he knows he cannot run into the box as much as he would like.
"He must be careful. I have told him he must go forward but he must also be aware of what is happening behind his runs.
"He said he was close to his best, but I do not think so. He is much better but his potential is so high he can improve much more."
With Liverpool hit by injuries to Mark Gonzalez, Mohamed Sissoko, Xabi Alonso, Stephen Warnock and Fabio Aurelio, the onus is very much on Gerrard taking on the responsibilities of leadership.
Benitez says: "Steven can score a lot of goals because he has that quality. He now has greater confidence, he can score all sorts of goals.
"It has been difficult for him because he hasn't been scoring and everybody all the time is talking about it. Do not forget we are talking about young men, you try to support them but the player needs to produce his best level on the pitch.
"Maybe he has been worried, but he has trained really hard, worked at the problem and I am really happy for him. Steve knows as captain he must set an example."
Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) has a chance of playing against City, and Benitez believes the top sides should have more time to recover from midweek European games.
He says: "I cannot understand why if you have played on the Wednesday you must then play again on the Saturday, rather than the Sunday which gives you more time to recover from injuries. In Spain this is normal.
"You must protect the top sides who are in Europe, because their success is good for the country. But they should not be penalised by having to play the next Saturday.
"You should be proud of teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and ourselves in the last 16 of the Champions League. It is good for the Premier League and for England.
"Why do we not protect the top sides? It would be better for everybody."

PSV will be looking to bounce back from their Champions League defeat against Liverpool when they entertain Utrecht.
PSV were forced to settle for second place in Group C of Europe's elite competition after slipping to a disappointing 2-0 loss at Anfield in midweek.
"We lost the ball too much and too easy," said PSV coach Ronald Koeman.
"Then it always becomes a difficult match.
"We were too sloppy in our build-up play from the back. We have dangerous players in our attack, but if they don't get the ball in the right way, they will never score a goal."
PSV have won their last seven league matches to storm to the top of the Eredivisie, but that wasn't evident against Liverpool.
"We have to show more patience and control, but we did not give away much," he added.
PSV have a three-point lead at the top of the table and will be confident of securing victory against mid-table FC Utrecht, who have won just once on the road while tasting defeat in their last three away matches.
Second-placed Ajax play at struggling Sparta Rotterdam the following day.
Ajax's title aspirations have suffered in recent weeks after losing to PSV and drawing 1-1 with FC Twente last time out.
And coach Henk ten Cate's side will face another stern test against 16th-placed Sparta, who have won their last two games as they battle for survival.
AZ Alkmaar are five points behind PSV and they travel to seventh-placed Heerenveen on Sunday.
AZ slipped to a 3-2 defeat against Feyenoord last time out, while Heerenveen beat struggling RKC Waalwijk 2-0.
RKC, who have not won for nine games, can move out of the bottom two if they win at fellow strugglers Willem II on Saturday.
RKC are currently in 17th place with eight points, while Willem - who have lost their last two matches - are in 15th position with 10 points.
And in-form Feyenoord will be looking to keep alive their Champions League qualification hopes by beating NEC Nijmegen at De Goffert on Sunday.
Feyenoord have won their last five successive matches to climb up to fourth, while NEC have dropped to 14th after going five games without a win.
On Friday night, FC Twente take on Vitesse Arnhem, Excelsior host Heracles Almelo on Saturday, and on Sunday basement club ADO Den Haag travel to FC Groningen and NAC Breda are away to Roda JC.

Gerard Houllier's champions are 12 points clear of the chasing pack, while Auxerre are languishing in 13th spot.
On Tuesday, Les Gones dropped their first points in the Champions League when they threw away a two-goal lead and were eventually held 2-2 at Real Madrid.
Houllier is experiencing huge problems up front in the build-up to Sunday night's big game, with virtually all of his frontmen nursing injuries.
Earlier this week he spoke of his desire to bring in a new face in attack.
"I do indeed need a new striker. Of course the injured players will return, but there's nothing to say they won't get injured again, like what happened last year with the defenders," Houllier told Le Progres newspaper.
Lille, meanwhile, will go into their game on Saturday against their Monegasque rivals hoping to close the gap on the leaders.
Laurent Banide's team will be no easy pickings, though, as they have lost only once in four outings since he took over.
Elsewhere on Sunday, third-placed Lens face a tough trip Le Mans, while fourth-placed Nancy go to the Stade Nungesser to take on Valenciennes.
Another French giant PSG, who are well below par in 14th, travel to relation-threatened Nantes.
In Troyes on Saturday, Albert Emon's Marseille will have do without the services of France midfielder Franck Ribery, who has a groin injury, when they take on the hosts.
Fresh from their midweek 3-1 Champions League win over Galatasaray, Bordeaux will be hoping for more of the same when take on high-flying St Etienne at the Stade Chaban Delmas.
In other games, Lorient take on form-team Sochaux, who are unbeaten in their last six matches - a run including four wins.
Basement boys Sedan travel to Nice and Toulouse welcome Rennes to the Stadium de Toulouse.

Schalke have managed to maintain their focus and move to the top of the table despite a season full of dramas.
Coach Mirko Slomka has been under pressure from day one while numerous dressing room spats have claimed the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
However, a 4-2 win in Cottbus last time out took the Royal Blues to the summit and into a position they can defend on Friday night before their rivals even take to the field.
Schalke host Bochum in the Revier derby which, given the way the season has gone for both sides so far, will almost certainly provide a surprise or two at the Arena AufSchalke.
The home side can move five points clear of second-placed Werder Bremen with a win before Saturday sees several more intriguing ties at the top and bottom.
Bayern Munich moved up to fourth with their second successive win last weekend, helping Schalke by knocking Stuttgart off top spot with a 2-1 home victory.
When the fixture list was revealed in July, this Saturday would have been circled as a likely top-of-the-table clash as Hamburg entertain Bayern in a north versus south fixture.
However, both Champions League participants find themselves in unexpected territory after 13 rounds of matches.
While Bayern in fourth may not be too far from their ambitions, Hamburg are languishing in 17th place with just one win all season - and that in all competitions.
Thomas Doll's side have become the laughing stock both in Germany and in Europe, where they have lost all five of their Champions League group fixtures.
Werder Bremen have fared significantly better in Europe and a 1-0 win over Chelsea has put them within touching distance of the second round, and sending holders Barcelona out of the competition.
They must replicate that form in the Bundesliga on Saturday as high-flying Arminia Bielefeld travel to the Weser Stadium.
Stuttgart are not in action until Sunday, when they will already know what three points against struggling Borussia Monchengladbach will be worth.
Gladbach could drop into the bottom three this weekend if Bochum and Hamburg can cause upsets.
Mainz, on the other hand, cannot escape the relegation zone, but a win over Hannover would raise confidence levels out of the doldrums.
Elsewhere, Nurnberg aim to build on their first win in 11 games when they travel to Wolfsburg while Alemannia Aachen will be looking to extend Hertha Berlin's inconsistent season and head back in the right direction.
Frankfurt and Dortmund also clash with the points needed to remain on the fringes of the top five.
Finally, on Sunday, Bayer Leverkusen and Energie Cottbus will be involved in a mid-table affair with the home side hoping to avoid tired legs from their UEFA Cup exertions on Thursday.

The top two in Serie A meet on Sunday night with Palermo playing host to Inter Milan, whose city rivals AC take on Messina on Saturday.

AC Milan are suffering and desperate for a change in fortunes. Carlo Ancelotti's men, who are at home to Messina in this weekend's 13th round, are 22 points behind leaders Inter.
Even their Champions League adventure had some of its shine removed this week as the Rossoneri lost 1-0 at Greek underdogs AEK Athens.
Veteran defender Paolo Maldini urged everyone to be calm after Milan's setback to AEK.
"We had even more opportunities than against Anderlecht (on matchday four), with great ball possession and control," he said.
"The problem is the injuries. We had two youth team players on the bench and we were limited.
"I hope someone will be able to return soon because playing every three days with the same men all the time isn't easy."
Among the ailing is defender Dario Simic, who has an intercostal injury.
"The injuries are really strange, especially Dario's," Maldini said.
These are times of change for Milan, with the Serie A giants on the verge of wholesale defensive changes.
The talismanic Maldini, now 38 years old and near the end of his career, is expected to quit playing at the end of the season.
And there are other concerns about the back line as well, with Cafu and Alessandro Costacurta also nearing the end of their careers.
Roma's French defender Philippe Mexes and Palermo's Andrea Barzagli have been mooted as possible signings, but acquiring them will not be easy.
Mexes has finally lived up to the hype which led to his move to the Eternal City from Auxerre a few years ago and has arguably been the best defender in the league with Roma boasting the meanest defence in Italy.
He is under contract in Rome until June 2008, and is thought to have a 10.5million euro buyout clause.
The price tag on Barzagli is far greater. He is valued at 20million euros.
What matters now for Milan, however, are the players currently at the club, because it is they who must figure out a way out of the hole they find themselves in, brought about by an eight-point deduction for match-fixing at the start of the season.
Maximum points are needed when they face 12th-placed Messina at the San Siro on Saturday, and with a long injury list those will not be easy to obtain.
Ancelotti hopes to have Alessandro Nesta, Kaka Kaladze and Massimo Ambrosini fit for selection.
Various injuries have ruled out Gennaro Gattuso, Giuseppe Favalli and Sergio Serginho.
Simic, Cafu and Costacurta are doubtful with muscular problems, while goalkeeper Nelson Dida is carrying a left knee injury.
Nevertheless, Maldini believes Milan's luck has already begun to turn.
Despite their defeat to AEK, Milan still clinched a place in the next phase of the Champions League due to other results.
"I hope that the unfortunate moment is over after going through as group winners," Maldini said.
"With all the negative things, there was also good news. The mindset is not a problem, if we can do it now we can always do it. Everything is about to change."
In Saturday's other game, struggling Chievo are at home to seventh-placed Udinese.
A clash of the titans will take place on Sunday night at the Renzo Barbera stadium, the home of Palermo.
The Rosanero take on leaders Inter looking to rejoin them at the top. They go into the game just three points behind.
In Sunday's other games, Roma visit Sampdoria after whipping Catania 7-0 last weekend, although Luciano Spalletti's men suffered a midweek Champions League defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Siena will host Fiorentina in a Tuscany derby, Lazio play at home against strugglers Ascoli, and Empoli host Cagliari, with both teams in good form.
Fourth-placed Livorno go to Reggio Calabria to visit rock-bottom Reggina, Torino face Atalanta at the Fratelli D'Italia stadium and Parma go to Catania.

Last night, Iker Casillas once again had an incredible performance he should be praised for. He talked to the press after this morning's training session. He talked about the victory over Racing Santander, which he says "redeems us from losing against Celta Vigo at the Bernabéu, gives us a little boost for the matches against Olympique Lyonnais and Valencia, and allows us to keep fighting for the top spot of the League."

Real Madrid's veteran left-back Roberto Carlos has welcomed the recent arrival of fellow Brazilian Marcelo at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos has welcomed the arrival of Marcelo as it will allow him to reduce his workload.
The 33-year-old has been a fixture for the Spanish giants since his arrival from Internazionale in 1996 and has admitted to feeling the strain in recent times.
But the purchase of his long-term replacement from Fluminense will give him the breather he believes he needs every now and again.
"I will finally have a player to play in my place sometimes," he told GloboEsporte.com.
"I've played more than 560 matches for Real Madrid and more than 100 for the national team. It will be very good to have him here (in Madrid).
"It is very difficult to maintain a high level when you play all the matches in a season."
Roberto Carlos is Madrid's longest-serving overseas player and he has revealed that he is close to agreeing to extend his stay to a dozen years.
"Everything is arranged," he said. "I'm very happy to conclude my European career at Real Madrid."
When he finally severs his ties with the nine-time European champions, the former Palmeiras man wants to finish his career back in his homeland.
He added: "I still think of playing in Brazil. I would like Santos to be the team as I'm fan of them, but I still have two more years to decide."
After the World Cup in Germany, in which Brazil were eliminated at the quarter-finals, Roberto Carlos hung up his international boots and the Brazilian Football Confederation is rumoured to be organising a farewell game for him and fellow veteran defender Cafu.
"I haven't thought about that really. If I am invited, I'd accept with pleasure", he said.

Newcastle are facing mounting injury problems ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup meeting with Celta Vigo with Damien Duff facing up to a month out.

Republic of Ireland winger Duff and Australian central defender Craig Moore will both have scans on Tuesday on injuries picked up in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal.
Duff hurt his knee and faces at least a fortnight out of action while Moore is also likely to miss the European night at St James' Park - and leave Newcastle with only three fit defenders for the game.
Celestine Babayaro (groin) and Stephen Carr (toe) are unlikely to have recovered in time.
Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "Duff and Moore will both have scans tomorrow when the swelling goes down on their injuries and if I was to say how long we will be without them I would be only guessing.
"To be honest, while it is a case of wait and see, Craig Moore looks as though he will definitely miss our UEFA Cup tie on Thursday.
"Celestine Babayaro is not under consideration for Celta Vigo or Portsmouth on Sunday, and while Stephen Carr is making good progress from his toe injury it is debatable whether he will be ready for Thursday."

Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Rangers and Celtic will never get the chance to test themselves in the Premiership.

Three years after completing a Champions League double over Rangers, Manchester United boss Ferguson gets the chance to repeat the feat against the other half of Scotland's Old Firm at Celtic Park.
Victory would sweep United into the knockout stage of the competition with a game to spare, although it will be no easy feat against a side who have lost just once - to Barcelona - in 11 previous matches on home soil in the competition.
'Battle of Britain' encounters of this magnitude inevitably see thoughts move to the possibility of Scotland's biggest two clubs testing their abilities down south.
And while Ferguson concedes the pair could succeed, he does not believe they will ever have the opportunity.
"Over the years there has been talk of British leagues," reflected Ferguson.
"If the barometer of how successful Rangers and Celtic would be is the friendly games they play, they would probably do very well.
"But the situation is not as simple as that, and in any case the situation is all hypothetical because I do not think it will ever happen. It is too difficult a move."
With the Premiership's lesser lights unwilling to vote for a proposition which could cost them a place in the league, and the bigger fish anxious not to concede any of their power, the path to England is locked and bolted for the Glasgow giants, meaning European confrontations represent the only true measure of the respective standards.
United will start hefty favourites to gain the victory which would seal qualification and top spot in Group E with a game to spare.
However, Ferguson is wary of the threat Celtic pose, particularly in front of the home side's supporters.
"Celtic Park is without question one of the best atmospheres anyone could experience and their players can be inspired by it," he said.
"If the game is going Celtic's way, you have your work cut out to stem the tide of emotion and enthusiasm that can be generated by that support.
"Celtic's record at home is one of the best in Europe, so we accept we are in for a tough game."
Even though Chelsea visit Old Trafford on Sunday in a top-of-the-Premiership showdown, Ferguson is promising no more than two changes to the side which beat Sheffield United last weekend.
One of them could see captain Gary Neville rested in favour of either John O'Shea or Wes Brown, with the Red Devils boss admitting his long-serving full-back may eventually require an operation to cure a worrying calf problem which has plagued him since returning from the World Cup.
"Gary came through Saturday's game OK and he trained on Monday but obviously, the injury has been a concern," said Ferguson.
"We are holding our breath hoping it doesn't happen again because if it does we will have to take a long-term view and do something about it."

Gael Clichy firmly believes he can be a long-term fixture at left-back for both Arsenal and France.

With Ashley Cole having departed the Gunners for Chelsea, the 22-year-old is hoping for an extended run in the first team after fully recovering from a broken foot, the latest in a long line of injury setbacks.
Clichy has slotted effortlessly into the Arsenal defence, and is set to continue against Hamburg in the Champions League, when the home side will be missing William Gallas.
Already capped at Under-21 level by France, the full-back hopes it will only be a matter of time before he is pressing Lyon's Eric Abidal for a starting place with Les Blues.
"When you play football at a great club like Arsenal, you want to be the best," Clichy declared.
"My first objective is to play my best football I can for the club, and the national team is a bonus. "If I could catch the first French team, that would be amazing for me, but for now it is just Arsenal."
Clichy added: "The Under-21s was a great experience for me, but now I am looking forward and maybe in a few months I will be called up for the first-team, which would make me really happy."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is keen for his players to show a ruthlessness in front of goal against Hamburg, who are bottom of Group G, something which was distinctly missing during Arsenal's last European outing against CSKA Moscow.
It was a similar story in the Premiership on Saturday, when the Gunners had to be content with another 1-1 draw after struggling to break down a resolute Newcastle side.
Clichy believes it is only a matter of time before his team-mates are back to their clinical best in front of goal.
He said: "We have plenty of chances to score goals with the players we have got.
"Of course we cannot hide behind bad luck or say 'it is not our day'.
"Sometimes that is true - but we need to improve, all of us, to work harder to get more chances and to score and put the ball into the net.
"We have got the quality and it is just about confidence."
Victory is crucial if last season's Champions League runners-up are to remain on course for the knockout stages.
They are currently level on points with Porto, who they play away next month, and one behind leaders CSKA.
Midfielders Gilberto and Freddie Ljungberg are available again, along with forward Robin van Persie, who went off on Saturday with an ankle problem.
However, Gallas is set to be out for several weeks after he suffered a thigh injury at the end of yesterday morning's training session.
Switzerland duo Philippe Senderos and Johan Djourou are candidates to fill in at centre-back.
Wenger feels Gallas, 29, is not likely to return in time for the Premiership match against former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on December 10.
"It is a huge blow," Wenger said. "He has brought experience, winning mentality and communication.
"William wants us to win the game against Chelsea and now we will have to win without him."

Barcelona star Leo Messi is set to be out well into the New Year after picking up a foot injury on Sunday against Real Zaragoza.

The Argentinian lasted only 23 minutes of the match before being replaced by Ludovic Giuly, and it has since been confirmed that he has suffered a broken metatarsal and will need to undergo an operation.
"Messi has fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. The treatment will be surgical and the expected loss is around three months," said a medical statement on the Barcelona website.
The injury means Messi will miss the two crucial Champions League matches against Levski Sofia and Werder Bremen, which defending champions Barca both need to win or risk facing an embarrassing early exit out of the tournament.
Barca, who are already missing star striker Samuel Eto'o with a serious knee injury, are also sweating on the fitness of holding midfielder Edmilson, who damaged an ankle in the first half of Sunday's game and is likely to be missing for 10 days.
Despite those two injuries, Barca were still able to beat in-form Zaragoza 3-1 at the Nou Camp to move back to the top of the Primera Liga table.

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry insists he has no regrets about staying with the Gunners, and claims he will end his career at Ashburton Grove.

The Gunners captain ended frenzied speculation about his future by penning a new four-year deal during the summer and has reiterated his desire to spend the rest of his career at the club.
"Do I regret having extended my deal at Arsenal? No, I am keen to stay for my whole life at Arsenal," the 29-year-old France striker said.
"I am fine here, I could never play for any other English side."
Henry, who snubbed a proposed move to European champions Barcelona in order to stay in north London, added: "If an opportunity like Barcelona comes again, with all my respect for such a club, I will refuse.
"It was one of my last decisions of my career.
"I don't feel I have lost anything, I have no regrets."
One of the reasons Henry is believed to have signed his new deal is that he was promised big-name signings would quickly follow.
He insists he does not feel let down by the recent purchases Arsenal have made, saying: "Did I feel betrayed considering the official promises of reinforcements if I stayed?
"No, I just asked myself some questions. The arrivals of Julio Baptista and William Gallas have comforted me."

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has dismissed talk he wants to return to Italy amid suggestions he was desperate to return to AC Milan.

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi claimed over the weekend Shevchenko was keen on a move back to Italy following a telephone call between the pair.
However, the Ukrainian has rejected speculation he is considering a return by insisting he was just being polite in his conversation with Berlusconi.
Shevchenko said: "There's nothing in it.
"The phrase I made that I wanted to return was out of simple courtesy," he told Corriere dello Sera.
AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani also insisted Shevchenko had little hope of returning to the club anyway.
Galliani explained that Shevchenko's return to the San Siro is 'technically impossible' and that Berlusconi was not being realistic.
Shevchenko moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer in a deal worth £30 million but the Ukraine international has struggled to make much of an impact in the Barclays Premiership.
But Galliani said: "It is technically impossible. Shevchenko is a non-European player and his (non-European) spot has been taken by Ricardo Oliveira, full stop.
"The president thinks ahead to the future and speaks about feelings but he doesn't look at the acquisitions. Hence, there's no point in remembering the rest, that 'Sheva' is a Chelsea player, that they paid lots of millions for him and that he made a life choice."
Milan have certainly missed Shevchenko, with Oliveira only scoring once in 10 Serie A appearances.
The Rossoneri virtually waved goodbye to any hopes of clinching the Scudetto when their 2-1 defeat by Roma on Saturday left them 20 points adrift from leaders Internazionale after 11 games.
Chelsea were, not surprisingly, ignoring the latest comments from Berlusconi although insiders did make a point of labelling them 'mischief-making'.
The Blues have no plans to offload Shevchenko, who celebrated the latest family arrival with a goal in their 4-0 demolition of Watford at Stamford Bridge.
The celebration moved Chelsea right-back Geremi to predict that fans will see the best of the striker in the next few weeks.
Geremi said: "He is getting better every week and you could see from our celebration of his goal that we all get on.
"We will see the best of Shevchenko in the coming weeks."
Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o has already claimed Shevchenko had made a mistake moving to England but Geremi claims his fellow Cameroon star is wrong in his assessment.
Geremi said: "I don't think he was right. Sheva is a great player who has come to a great club.
"I think he wanted another challenge and the club wanted to sign him. He wanted to play in the Premiership. He needs time to gel and that's what he's trying to do."

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi has admitted fears he may have finally played his last game of the season due to his long-standing hip injury.

The 25-year-old was pressed into service at the weekend as Glenn Roeder tried to squeeze one more game out of him before he undergoes surgery on his hip-cartilage problem.
Ameobi will be booked in with top US specialist Marc Philippon - the man who saved the career of former Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle - as soon as possible.
The striker said: "It all depends on what the medical team say, but this might be my last game. It is a no-brainer - an operation is inevitable.
"It is a shame, but I know I have been lucky enough to last this long. I just have to look at Kevin Kyle, who was out for two years.
"I have the same problem and I have been fortunate enough to be able to struggle on. I could have been out for as a long as he has."