Benitez faces left-back dilemma

Rafael Benitez faces a selection dilemma at left-back ahead of Liverpool's Premiership meeting with Burnley. Emiliano Insua has made the position his own in the opening four matches but Fabio Aurelio is pressing for a recall after recovering from injury

The 29-year-old has faced a fitness race this week and Reds boss Rafael Benitez welcomes his return:

"Fabio is a player with quality" said Benitez in the Echo.

"His delivery into the box, especially when we play at home, is excellent. He provides good passes and crosses which is really important.

"He has no match fitness but he is much better and he hasn't been away with his country so he has been training hard. Fabio knows exactly what we expect from him."

"We have really good competition now on the left with Insua, Aurelio and Dossena.

"That means a headache for me but that's good. It’s up to me to pick the right player."

Albert Riera and Ryan Babel are both fighting for the left wing role and both have complained at their lack of first team action. Babel has even declared he wishes a loan move to Ajax in January but Benitez has dismissed talk of the winger leaving Anfield.

"I've already talked with Riera and that's not a problem and I will talk with Ryan and analyse the situation with him," he said.

"What is clear is that if they want to play then they have to compete.

"Ryan has to perform for us. He has to be ready for this game or the next one because we have a lot of games before January.

"I’m not thinking about the possibility of him going out on loan. I’m just thinking about getting the best out of him."

Insua refuses to let speculation distract team as Mascherano waits on Rafa meeting

Emiliano Insua has explained the Liverpool squad can’t allow any off the field speculation regarding transfers of players to stop them concentrating on the task at hand. The Liverpool squad are currently in Switzerland preparing for the new season, but press speculation has surrounded the futures of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano. The Argentinean midfielder who has been linked with Barcelona, joined up with his Liverpool team mates yesterday, however he is yet to meet up with manager Rafael Benitez. Today’s Echo explains:

“Mascherano joined up with the rest of Rafa Benitez’s squad at their Swiss training camp yesterday but is still to meet with the Reds boss who was away on club business in Hungary when the Argentinean arrived.”

Insua, speaking about the speculation, highlighted the players importance to the team:

“Obviously they are two very good and two very important players for us, this is clear to everyone,” said the 20-year-old left back.

“There has been a lot of talk but all we know for sure right now is that Javier has already come back to us and that Xabi is due back with us on Sunday.”

However the young defender refuses to let anything distract his pre season training:

“The only thing we can do as players is concentrate on our own situation and keep working hard to make sure that we are fit and ready for the first game of the season.”

Insua will be a big hit next season says Mascherano

Javier Mascherano believes fellow Argentinean Emiliano Insua will prove to be a big hit at Anfield next season reports the Post.

Insua made 13 appearances last season and Mascherano believes the 20-year-old can establish himself as the first choice left back.

“He’s been doing well. Obviously he is a young player so can still improve and get better. It isn’t easy to be playing for the Liverpool first team at just 20. I’m really happy for him. Emiliano didn’t play first-team football in Argentina, so to come here at such a young age and make the breakthrough is a great achievement,” Mascherano added: “It would have been easier for him had he played first-team football in Argentina. Everything was new to Insua when he came here. But after just two years he is playing really well whenever he gets into the first team.”