Benítez defends his records and eyes £4m Skrtel

Andy Hunter
Saturday January 5, 2008
The Guardian



Rafael Benítez placed Liverpool's title credentials into stark perspective yesterday when he conceded the club are still playing catch-up with their main Premier League rivals.

The manager's admission came as the club stepped up interest in the Slovakian central defender Martin Skrtel - 23 and with Zenit St Petersburg - for a fee around £4m and Benítez mounted a firm defence of his reign, dismissing criticism that, after the home draw with Wigan that left his side 12 points adrift of Arsenal, he has not made significant progress in the Premier League in four seasons at the club.