Benitez rues Agger absence

Rafa Benitez believes that Liverpool would have had a much more successful season had they been able to hang on to Daniel Agger for the closing months. Agger was injured, and Liverpool were dumped out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

"I think it cost us early in the season," he told Liverpool's official website. "We conceded goals at the end of games which finished as draws because Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher were playing too many in a row.

"We were using Jack Hobbs in some games and Alvaro Arbeloa as a centre-back; clearly we missed Daniel Agger. He is a centre-back but good on the ball and a threat for the other team too. We missed Agger."