ALONSO: NOW THE SHEEP WANT A SCAPEGOAT

SO Xabi Alonso's seemingly inevitable move to Real Madrid creeps ever closer with the news that the player has put in an official transfer request

The development appears to have been leaked by the club as it was reported in the Echo - and Alonso isn't speaking to English journalists right now.

He is speaking to Spanish journos though, and Guillem Balague is reporting on his site that the Alonso camp is denying the transfer request.

So the pantomime continues...

Either way, it's by the by - the situation hasn't changed. Either Real Madrid cough up the asking price, or Xabi will kick off the season in red.

If he does go, it looks like the vultures are already circling, desperate to apportion blame. But why does there need to be a scapegoat?

Benitez and Alonso hate each other. Have done for some time. Their relationship, at best, is a 'working' one.

Both have undoubtedly benefitted from the other though.

Xabi's stock as a footballer has obviously risen thanks to his five years at Anfield, while Benitez, certainly last season, can partly thank Alonso for the purring engine that was Liverpool's central midfield.

The club looks likely to benefit to the tune of £30million while the fans, of course, will never forget his goal in Istanbul.

But for two seasons previous to the last one, let's not forget Alonso wasn't tearing down trees.

And yet some say Benitez is the villain for looking for a replacement to improve the side, courting Gareth Barry and offering Xabi to Juventus.

Others say now that Alonso is out of order, for wanting to return to his homeland - to arguably the biggest club in Spain - and for, if true, putting in a transfer request to make it happen (even though Benitez asked him to).

I'm not happy that he is likely to go, particularly so close to the start of the season but I can understand why he wants to leave and why Rafa wants him to go.

And if it happens, it happens. Life goes on. Liverpool Football Club will still be there.

Yes, Alonso was good last season. Outstanding, in fact. But he is one player - he didn't finish second on his own.

While I agree with many comments I have seen that it is a very difficult task to replace Xabi, I don't believe it's an impossible one.

Because I think the point everyone is missing is that Benitez clearly has a new plan in mind.

Replacing Xabi like-for-like, is difficult. There's no-one that jumps out that is a similar type of player.

But maybe Rafa doesn't want a similar player. The 4-2-3-1 set up has served us well. But last season we lost the league because we drew too many games.

So maybe Rafa has new tactics in mind? Maybe two holding midfielders is a luxury we can't afford anymore - particularly at home.

Rafa certainly seemed to be hinting at a tactical shift earlier this month.

He said: "We want to improve our power in attack, this is our idea.

“There have been games in the past we have played with three centre backs and two offensive full backs, it depends on the game.

“But normally we play with a line of four in defence because this suits the way we play on both occasions.

“We were talking last season about the draws we had at home and when teams play really deep against you you need quality in the full back and central defensive positions.

“When we talk about Daniel Agger scoring goals and using the ball well it is because we know these qualities are necessary if you want to turn the draws into wins.”

So ignoring the rigidity of us definitely playing the same formation and needing 'another Xabi', things don't look so bad.

And much as I liked Alonso, and his wonderful passing, let's not forget the flaws in his game.

He didn't score enough goals. He wasn't great in the tackle.

So while it's unfortunate, it's not the end of the world if he leaves. And as for whose fault it is? Who cares!

FREE MICHAEL SHIELDS

AMIDST the predictable whinging and whining about Steven Gerrard's acquittal, I heard some top quality bullshit spouted about Michael Shields.

That was that Scousers are just fighting for him to be freed because he's from Liverpool - and we don't actually have any reasons to justify that fight.

So ignoring the bigotry, for the record, how about:

* Key to the evidence against him are the statements of Bulgarian witnesses who identified him in a identity parade.

* Many of these witnesses had seen Michael in a police car at the scene after he was taken by police from his hotel room, told to wear a white t-shirt (not his), and was left sat in the car for 30 minutes.

* Several of the witnesses also saw Michael chained to a radiator in a public area of the police station before he had even been charged. He was there for 16 hours.

* Michael's picture appeared in Bulgarian newspapers before the identity parade, which was carried out with no defence lawyer present and with non-suspects who did not resemble Michael in any way.

* Michael's hair was forcibly shaved by police for the court case.

* Michael has taken, and passed, a lie detector test.

* An eye witness to the attack has given a statement to the Bulgarian courts to say it was not Michael who attacked the Bulgarian waiter.

* Eyewitness Mr. A recalls in his sworn statement:"It was only when I saw the photograph of Michael Shields that I realised the police had arrested the wrong man. I was able to see Michael was a big lad and had blond hair. The lad in the white T-shirt who dropped the brick was short and dark."

* The police investigation concluded that Mr. A was "truthful in providing this account" and that he was an honest and independent witness who had befriended the victim, Martin Georgiev, only hours before the attack.

* A hotel porter gave evidence saying that Michael returned to his hotel hours before the attack.

* The former head of Nottinghamshire Police's Serious Crime Squad, Peter Coles, looked at the case and dismissed the evidence against Shields as "not worth the paper it's written on".

* There is no forensic evidence.

* Another man, Graham Sankey, has admitted he attacked the waiter and made a signed confession, which was later withdrawn.

Meanwhile, Michael's family have been subjected to crank calls, threats to kidnap their daughters and their car was petrol bombed.

Still funny? Still think Scousers are fighting for him to be released because we're 'playing the victim?'

Free Michael Shields.

ALONSO: IT'S BIG MONEY OR NO DEAL

PUT UP OR SHUT UP: Liverpool should make Real pay - or tell Xabi to stay

WHY do Liverpool always seem to get shafted when it comes to selling players?

OK, sometimes they are crap - El Hadji Diouf (in £11million, out £3m) and sometimes they haven't worked out - Robbie Keane (in £19m, out £15m), Stan Collymore (in £8.5m, out £7m).

But sometimes it seems to me that clubs see Liverpool as a soft touch.

This worrying trend seems to have gone for a while now and as the games continue over the future of Xabi Alonso it's rearing its ugly head yet again.

Real Madrid want our player of the season on the cheap. Just like when they signed Michael Owen for a paltry £8million - or Steve McManaman on a free.

Well if they can afford £80m for Cristiano Ronaldo and £56m for Kaka, they can afford the asking price of £35m for Alonso.

If they don't pay, make him stay.

Alonso might have told Rafael Benitez that he wants to leave but he is contracted to the club - he's a Liverpool player with three years to run on his deal at Anfield.

And if his "dream club" won't cough up - tough.

Ideally, Rafa should make Alonso stay no matter what - Javier Mascherano, too.

Because I truly believe for the back end of last season we were the best team in the league.

And why jeopardize that when our rivals look weaker than last time out?

Manchester United have lost Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, replacing these undoubted talents with 29-year-old Owen, Wigan winger Antonio Valencia and little-known Frenchman Gabriel Obertan.

And now that Alex Ferguson has said his summer spending is over, even the United fans are worried.

Chelsea have got another new manager, could potentially lose their captain John Terry to the lure of untold wealth in east Manchester, and, like the rest of the Premier League big boys, are struggling to convince Europe's biggest stars to come to these shores.

And Arsenal? And what? A title-challenge looks highly unlikely to emerge from the Emirates - if anything their miserly dealings in the transfer market put them most at risk to losing their top-four status to the emergence of Manchester City.

So what of City? With Tevez on board, and Emmanuel Adebayor, Joleon Lescott and possibly Terry to follow, they will be no mugs.

But while money can buy players, it can't buy a team. And that's what Liverpool had at the end of last season.

Rival fans scoff at players like Dirk Kuyt, Alvaro Arbeloa and Yossi Benayoun.

But that team was sweeping aside opponents with ease in the golden patch of the final three months of the season.

With Mascherano and Alonso still on board - plus the addition of Glen Johnson and possibly others - there's no reason why the Reds can't pick up where they left off.

But without the first-choice midfield pairing? Who knows? Because with any purchase of a new player there comes doubt.

Will he fit into the team? Will he settle in Liverpool? Most importantly - will he be as good?

For some forum writers it's simple. "Sell Xabi, buy David Villa and move Steven Gerrard back into midfield," wrote one today.

Ignoring the fact Villa doesn't seem interested in a move to England, why would you want to break up the Fernando Torres-Gerrard partnership?

That is THE best front pairing in the league - as United and many others have found out.

But for it to thrive, it needs the passing of Alonso (second only to Jan Molby in my book) and for Xabi to pass, he needs the destructive force of Mascherano.

In other words, we had found the perfect balance - through the middle anyway - and if it is broken up it will be our rivals who are celebrating.

Keep it together and while other teams (hopefully) make a slow start, we can get off to a flyer, put down a marker and make other teams do the chasing for once.

The other argument doing the rounds is 'if they don't want to play for us, let them go'.

In an ideal world maybe - but with funds at a premium, and a transfer market more inflated than Stay Puft on helium, replacements look far from obvious.

Hang on to Alonso and Mascherano for a year - sufficient time to find replacements - and with the World Cup to come it's unlikely you will see a dip in form from either man, no matter how unhappy they are.

It's also Rafa's chance to show what he's made of in the transfer market now he has total control of the ins and outs.

Maybe then we can ditch the tag of being a soft touch, and if a player is to leave Anfield it's for the right money - or more.

CHECK OUT THIS LITTLE RIB TICKLER!

JUST when you thought it was safe to open your laptop...

It seemed the most-unlikely-summer-transfer-story award had already been wrapped up by The Express when they printed the back-page gem that Fernando Torres was joining Manchester United.

But now we have it: Franck Ribery is on his way to Anfield.

A glance at the image above will give you a tip (ahem) to the source of this nonsense...bookies, SkyBet, to be precise.

The very same SkyBet that, according to its spokesman, took a big hit on Michael Owen joining Manchester United, with betting on that particular scenario starting out at 20-1.

Far be it from me to cast aspersions on the good ole' honest profession of bookmaking, but perhaps this story could help them win some money back?

I mean, Liverpool fans would of course love to see Ribery sign, particularly after the scar-faced wing man was so publicly courted by United.

And what better icing on the cake than winning a few quid at the same time?

Me, I'll keep my money in my wallet and my shotgun handy.

And when Ribery signs, I'll throw open the front door and shoot some of the flying pigs out of the sky. After all, you can't beat a bacon butty.

Seriously though, any Red must see through this one - particurlarly after a similar furore over betting being supsended on Rafa Benitez getting sacked earlier this year.

And yet there was Rafa giving a press conference yesterday - five months later. And, ironically, he was talking about how the transfer market is "crazy".

Everything about this Ribery link is also crazy.

Bayern Munich say they want £69million for Ribery - money we clearly haven't got.

So either Rafa's given the nod for Xabi Alonso to head for Real Madrid AND for Javier Mascherano to pack his bags for Barcelona - or it's a huge pack of lies.

I know what my money's on.

SCAR TREKKING: But Ribery's destination is still unknown.

MICHAEL'S MANC MOVE DIDN'T GET ME G-OWEN

OWE NO! Owen's sales brochure

SHOCKED or surprised - maybe - but mad, even mortified? Definitely not.

It seemed like all eyes turned to Merseyside when Michael Owen signed for Manchester United.

The Sky cameras pounced on the unsuspecting passer-by at Anfield, internet forums were monitored with a magnifying glass for bile from our end of the M62 and journalists cooled their fingers before furiously typing up pieces about crossing the great divide, breaking unwritten rules and risking the wrath of the Kop faithful.

Meanwhile, very little emotion stirred in yours truly. And why should it?

Yes, Michael Owen played for Liverpool once. Five years ago to be precise. That's gone now - long gone.

And, harsh as it may sound, the 29-year-old now ex-Real Madrid and Newcastle striker looks a spent force.

The searing pace that brought him 150 goals in the red shirt of Liverpool FC left around the same time as England's World Cup hopes in 2006.

Since then, he's never been the same so it's a big gamble for Alex Ferguson.

Owen must have bite marks on his arms from checking he was awake when Fergie rang saying he wanted to sign him.

As far as Owen was concerned the chance of a move to a big club had gone - even a finding a half decent one was in doubt, or else, why produce a 32-page brochure telling clubs how good you are?

Yes, he's got an eye for goal. And chances are, if he gets a game, and stays fit (two very big 'ifs'), he will score goals for Manchester United.

But is he really worth £50,000-a-week plus bonuses? And if it's such a great deal, a coup, a stroke of genius, as we have been led to believe by many 'experts', why did no other top four club - or for that matter any other top team in Europe - come in for Owen?

Man U fans have, of course, put some unbelievable spin on the deal. As a Scouser working in Manchester, I have heard a couple of corkers already - from quoting his chances to goals ratio to the pearl "If he scores one goal, he'll be worth it".

Converting chances isn't the problem – it's getting him on the pitch in the first place. And how about this for a stat: look at his record of goals per start over 13 seasons - the last three are his 13th, 11th and 12th worst.

The other reaction I've encountered is the cocky smile, accompanied by slight swagger, followed by: "What about Owen, eh?"

What about him?

Another overlooked fact is that he would of walked barefoot from Newcastle to come back to Liverpool for a second spell.

His advisers have been trying to hammer out a deal to tempt Rafa Benitez for months - as far back as January.

The "fact" is, Benitez didn't want him. Where would he fit in anyway? He would never have started ahead of Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard.

And as an impact player? Well Fabio Capello is no fool - and if he doesn't fancy him as a super sub why would Benitez? The slo-mo version of Owen seen in a Newcastle shirt is a box finisher at best - and, frankly, that doesn't suit our style these days.

Owen, of course, had his chance to come back to Anfield when he chose Newcastle while marooned at Real Madrid.

Instead of following Benitez's advice and calling Madrid's bluff over the transfer fee, and supposedly worried about his England career, he chose huge wages and four years of humdrum, topped by relegation, at Newcastle.

And let's be honest - even before all that - a big section of Anfield never fully warmed to Owen. Even the fans that did had their loyalty to the player tested when his contract bluffs meant The Reds ended up pocketing a fraction of Owen's true worth when he left for Madrid in 2004 for just £8million.

Loads of goals - yes. Hero? Questionable.

He was never in the same bracket as Robbie Fowler and he was never loved like Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher.

Had it been any of these players strolling down Sir Matt Busby Way talking about signing for United without a "moment's thought", then I could understand the cameras descending on Merseyside and the sly smiles of Stretford-Enders.

As it is, it should be the Kopites who are nursing a grin. Because while Karim Benzema, 21, dots the i's and crosses the t's on his Real Madrid contract, Michael Owen stretches his hamstrings in preparation for a possible front-line partnership with Dimitar Berbatov.

Martin Skrtel must be shaking in his boots...