Benitez fears failureRafael Benitez has warned his Liverpool players that a season which once threatened genuine success will be on the point of unravelling if they do not recover swiftly from their weekend disappointment at Arsenal by beating Fulham tonight (Anfield, 8.0), writes Dominic Fifield.
The European champions were dethroned by Benfica last week and slipped to a sixth English Premiership defeat at Highbury on Sunday.
"We are still enjoying a good season but the difference between success and failure is a thin line and we are now at this point," Benitez said. "We can keep going and finish second or third or we can lose some games and look back and think the season was not as good as we had hoped."
McMahon stays home
Full back Tony McMahon did not travel to Rome with Middlesbrough yesterday for the second leg of their Uefa Cup tie with Roma (Stadio Olimpico, 8.0) after damaging knee ligaments. McMahon, Fabio Rochemback (ankle), Stuart Parnaby (hamstring) and James Morrison (hip) were among the players left behind as the English Premiership side look to push home their 1-0 advantage.
Ferdinand accuses Uefa
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has accused Uefa of not doing enough to combat racism in the European game.
The England international criticised the fines issued after his team-mates suffered racist taunts in a friendly in Spain in November 2004, though both the match and sanctions were a matter for world ruling body Fifa, rather than its European arm.
"For too long now, European football authorities have not taken the problem of racism in the game seriously and refuse to acknowledge how widespread the problem is," Ferdinand said in a statement.
The England defender's comments came as the European Parliament in Strasbourg passed a resolution yesterday which will provide extra sanctions for tackling racist behaviour by giving referees the power to abandon matches.
Clubs or countries whose supporters, players or officials persistently commit racist offences also risk being thrown out of competitions under the plan which will be discussed by Uefa as part of an independent review of the game in the European Union.
UCD to get ball rolling
Last year's beaten finalists UCD will kick off this season's Eircom-sponsored League Cup when they take on Dundalk at Oriel Park on Monday week. Clubs involved in European competition are among the eight receiving a bye in the first round.
LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND (7.45 unless stated): Pool A: Cobh Ramblers v Waterford United (April 4th); Kerry League v Kilkenny City (Mount Hawk Park, April 17th, 7.0); Pool B: Dundalk v UCD (March 27th), Athlone Town v Bohemians (April 4th); Pool C: Finn Harps v Galway United (April 3rd), Longford Town v Mayo League (April 4th); Pool D: Bray Wanderers (April 4th), Dublin City v Kildare County (April 4th).
Shelbourne-Derry off
The Eircom League Premier Division game between Shelbourne and Derry City scheduled for the 31st of this month has been postponed due to Tolka Park being used as a venue for the elite group stage of the Under-17 European Championships.
Ireland face Romania, Israel and Serbia and Montenegro on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday, respectively, of the week in question with the group winners going forward to the tournament finals in Luxembourg in May.
A date for that Shelbourne game has yet to be agreed but the First Division match between Finn Harps and Athlone Town, postponed at the weekend due to poor conditions at Finn Park, has been fixed for Monday, April 17th, at 7.45pm.
In brief . . .
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood insists reports linking the London club to England captain David Beckham are "absolute nonsense". . . Arsenal centre half Sol Campbell played his first game since suffering an ankle problem and starting an extended leave of absence on February 1st in a behind closed doors friendly against Brighton yesterday . . . All Celtic players will wear the number seven on their shorts in this Sunday's Scottish League Cup final against Dunfermline at Hampden Park as a tribute to the late Jimmy Johnstone . . . Polish youth international midfielder Tomasz Cywka (17) will join Wigan this summer . . . New Peru head coach Franco Navarro has urged Newcastle United winger Nolberto Solano to come out of international retirement.
TONGHT FIXTURES (7.45 unless stated): B International: Scotland B v Turkey B (at Caledonian Stadium) (7.30). UEFA Cup Round of 16 Second Leg: Hamburg v Rapid Bucuresti (6.00); Roma v Middlesbrough (8.00); Sevilla v Lille (8.00). International Match: Saudi Arabia v Iraq (at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium) (5.25). English FA Cup Fifth Round Replay: West Ham v Bolton (8.05). English Premiership: Liverpool v Fulham (8.00). English Football League Two: Oxford Utd v Bristol Rovers.
