Rafael Benitez remains confident that 4th place and UEFA Champions League football are still within Liverpool's reach after a 3-0 win over Sunderland today. He also hailed Maxi Rodriguez after one of the winger's best performances for Liverpool.
''He is a very good signing for the team'', Benitez said. ''He has game intelligence and can keep the ball. He can play in three different positions and works very hard. He is very positive in his approach. I am really pleased with him and he has been good for the team'' he continued. The performance will be seen as part of an overall good team performance, which hasn't been said very much this season. After Liverpool confirmed the 4-4-2 line up and threatened as early as fourty seconds into the game, one could only feel that they were bound to push on and dominate the game. Thirty five minutes and two goals later the possesion statistics showed Liverpool had 71% of the all to Sunderland's measily (a word that also describes Tony Mowbray's Celtic manager record) 29%. Fernando Torres put Liverpool in the lead, just three minutes into the game, with a wonder goal. The Spaniard cut inside Sunderland's Michael Turner and placed the ball in the top corner of the Sunderland goal. The oppertunity was delivered by Pepe Reina's hoof (similar to the ol 'Jack Charlton hoof' that Irish football fans may remember), but the finish thereafter was exquisite. This was followed by a barage of chances from Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Dan Agger, who seemed to run through Sunderland players willingly as if they were ghosts or worse, West Ham players. Eventually Sunderand fell apart and Glen Johnson's shot deflected off Turner, beating Craig Gordon. Torres then bagged his 2nd and Liverpool's third. As amazing as his 1st goal was, this one as equally as impressive. Torres dinked a beautiful effort past the helpless Craig Gordon, who had about as much of a say on the game as Benjani (yup, he's at Sunderland now and his lack of appearences helps my point further!) after being fed by the ever present Johnson.
Strangely Liverpool's control lasted the entire game. So what was different about Liverpool in this game compared to the rest of the season? Well number 1: Steven Gerrard was put back in the center, which should have been done when Alonso left and Aquilani was unavailable, but it only took Rafa 32 games to realise that(well better that than to take 30 games to realise Mowbray shouldn't be a Celtic manager. And number 2: The shackles and Liverpool played attacking football. Rafa even had the guts to bring on Aquilani, El Zahr and Ngog, who had time to miss a sitter... yay. Three attacking players brought on when the team was already 3-0 up which is completely unlike Benitez. It is doubtful however that he will continue this sysem because when important games arise Rafa is far too cautious. Thats why a £17million attack minded Italian midfielder sits on the bench while a £6million not too sure what-minded Brazilian(yeah strange isn't it) starts most games. This attacking approach appears to benefit a majority of the players, in particular Maxi who gave his finest performance for Liverpool, although it could have been the poor opposition. But frankly he linked up well with the other players and got involved as much as he could. Rafa claimed "Maxi can be a big difference. If you get clever movement from him, it can help us'', and although it sounds sort of gramatically wrong, he is right. Maxi has plenty of experience and seems to fit well into the team. Surely the form players such as Torres and Maxi and this attack minded approach,if it lasts, will drive Liverpool onward, hopefully to fourth.
The form of the other teams have led to some encouragement for Liverpool fans lately. With Villa being destroyed by Chelsea and our rivals Everton helping us out by beating City something may be salvaged! Firmly ahead by 7 points, some would favour Tottenham but they still have to play Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. So th 09/10 season has the potential to be one of the most exciting in the Premier League for many years. The 4th place battle has the potential to be a major success story for one cluband if Liverpool were to achieve this it would be an inspirational end (i know that would follow the pathetic start but at least it wouldn't be a Mowbray season [patetic start and pathetic finish]. And an inspirational end to this blog would suite me better than a melancholic end with flashbacks of where it all went wrong.
Nothing is for sure yet apart from the thrilling run in to the end of the season. So Livrpool have to keep on battling and winning and if things go their way 4th place might just be salvaged. So thanks for reading this week's edition of 'What can be salvaged?'. Next edition will be Thursday for the Benfica game, I'll be back discussing the game,tactics and lack of Riera (have fun in Russia where its about as cold as a witches tit) and maybe make another snide comment about Tony Mowbray's unsuccesful Celtic season. I'm just kidding Tony, I'm sure you'll be successful someday. . .
Yours, Dec (The Mowbray basher)
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