Liverpool FC - "You'll never walk alone...!!!

[goleador2000]

Sehr interessante Aussagen von Rafa Benitez zum 1. Heimmatch der Saison gegen ManCity, zur Spielweise, seiner Sicht der Dinge und der Zukunft der Reds...

BENITEZ: STILL WORK TO DO

Monday 23 August 2004

Rafael Benitez was delighted by Liverpool's display as they overcame Manchester City 2-1 in the first home game since he took charge, but admitted there is still plenty of work to do.

The Reds had to come from behind to take the points from a game they dominated and the Spaniard conceded afterwards that his players will have to work on making their pressure count.

"It's a very good win at home because the supporters will be happy and I think it was very important for the spirit of the team," said Benitez. "This was an important result for the future of this team and for our confidence.

"I thought the team played well and although we didn't score in the first half, we had a lot of corners and free-kicks and created several chances.

"I said to the players at half-time that we could do it and in the second half we played well and took our opportunities. We showed a lot of character coming from 1-0 down.

"In Cisse, Baros and Gerrard, we have a number of players who can score goals for the team. It's good for us because if we have only one forward scoring all the goals it's not enough to help you through the whole season. With all these threats we caused the opponents more problems.

"The problem with the team sometimes was that we wanted to go forward but Manchester City didn't let us.

"We tried to go forward all the time and in the second half it was definitely necessary. For the future it was important to understand that we have to attack and take these opportunities as a team." Despite the result Citizens manager Kevin Keegan was pleased with his side's display, but was furious about the controversial late dismissal of Richard Dunne.

"I'm not going to comment on the referee's decision to send off Richard Dunne but when he calls his linesman into the tunnel to get police protection, it tells you he was expecting a few queries from players and the manager," said Keegan.

"Our players believe Baros came from an offside position. I didn't see the incident myself because Mr Benitez was stood in front of me all afternoon." He added: "I don't think we deserved to go 1-0 up but we restricted them to nothing and we were lucky when Nicolas Anelka created a goal out of nothing.

"In the second half they had the Kop behind them and that spurred them on and possibly forced us into our own half more often than we would have liked."

bearbeitet 24. August 2004 von goleador2000

[goleador2000]

FC Liverpool zieht mit Mühe in die CL ein...

Es war ein hartes Stück Arbeit und auch eine Portion Glück dabei, aber der FC Liverpool schaffte trotz einer überraschenden Heimniederlage gegen den GAK den so wichtigen Einzug in die Champions League. Das einzig Positive am gestrigen enttäuschenden Abend an der Anfield Road... Gegen eine massiert stehende Abwehr taten sich die Reds bereits in den Vorjahren verdammt schwer und auch der GAK zeigte, daß man im Hinspiel zu Unrecht einen 2-Klassen-Unterschied zwischen beiden Teams sah. Der FC Liverpool konnte sich nur wenige Chancen erspielen, die Grazer hielten bravourös dagegen und kämpften beherzt. Nach einer torlosen 1. Halbzeit gelang dem GAK die Führung, Liverpool agierte ab diesem Zeitpunkt ideenlos und sehr nervös...es stand sehr viel auf dem Spiel, das merkte man jedem Spieler an. Der FC Liverpool wirkte gehemmt und machte unerklärliche Fehler, der GAK wurde immer selbstbewußter, doch ein 2. Tor schafften die Grazer gottlob nicht Es wartet jedenfalls noch sehr viel Arbeit auf Benitez und sein Team...

Champions League - 3. Qualifikationsrunde - Rückspiel:

FC Liverpool - GAK 0:1 (0:0)

FC Liverpool: Dudek - Carragher, Henchoz, Hyppiä, Riise - Kewell (Warnock 58.), Diao, Gerrard, Potter - Cissé (Sinama-Pongolle 75.), Baros (Hamann 90.)

GAK: Schranz - Majstorovic (Dollinger 79.), Tokic, Pogatetz, Standfest - Amerhauser, Aufhauser, Sick, Plassnegger (Muratovic 70.) - Bazina, Kollmann

0:1 Mario Tokic (55.)

Anfield Road - 42950 - SR: Luis Medina Cantalejo(Spanien)

Gesamtscore: FC Liverpool - GAK 2:1

[goleador2000]

RAFA: NEW BOYS WILL HELP SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS

Paul Eaton 26 August 2004

Coach Rafa Benitez mit den beiden Neuzugängen und Hoffnungsträgern aus Spanien: Luis Garcia trägt zukünftig das Reds-Dress mit der Nr. 10 und Xabi Alsonso wird die 14 tragen...

Rafael Benitez has promised Liverpool fans his two new signings will help solve the problems highlighted during Tuesday's shock European defeat at Anfield.

The Reds' boss has admitted Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia were at the top of his wanted list when he arrived at Anfield and, now that he has them both on board, he is confident the level of the team will improve.

"These two players are very important to us," he said. "They were top of my list when I arrived.

"As the game against Grazer showed, we need more things and these players will give us what we want.

"I was not happy with what I saw. It was good we qualified but we did not play well. Our supporters will have seen that and will have doubted the team, they will not be sure about it, but we have signed two very good players in Alonso and Garcia and they will help change the supporters' minds.

"This is the real beginning now. I have always said we needed time and when we arrived here it was a new staff, new players, one week a new one and the next week another new one.

"Then when you want to work with the players you lose 10 to their national teams, and that is going to happen again next week.

"One week you have all the players, the next week hardly any. That has given other teams an advantage over us because we are all learning and all in need of time.

"I am happy with the squad I have. I have said if we find new players, not expensive, perhaps we will be interested. But we do not have a lot of time before the deadline now anyway."

[goleador2000]

Liverpool verliert unglücklich 0:1 bei Bolton

Im Reebok-Stadium setzte es gestern eine unglückliche Niederlage für die Reds. Das Spiel begann gleich mit einem schweren Rückschlag - Sami Hyppiä brach sich bei einem Zweikampf das Nasenbein, wurde verarztet und mußte bereits nach 13 Minuten das Feld für Djimi Traore räumen... Benitez begann mit einem verstärkten 5er-Mittelfeld in dem die beiden spanischen Neuzugänge Xabi Alonso und Luis Garcia, sowie der junge Steve Warnock erstmals von Beginn an spielten - Milan Baros agierte als einzige Spitze und Djibril Cissé nahm überraschend auf der Bank Platz. Liverpool kam wie auch die Wanderers zu 3 guten Chancen, doch die mit 2 Siegen in die Meisterschaft gegangenen Bolton Wanderers, die mit viel Selbstvertrauen agierten, gingen vor der Pause durch Davies in Führung. Benitez reagierte zur Pause und brachte mit Cissé die 2. Spitze, das Spiel wogte hin und her und Liverpool drängte auf ein Unentschieden, hätte dieses auch verdient, doch ein regulärer Treffer von Luis Garcia wurde zu Unrecht aberkannt Schade, aber so ist eben Fußball...Der Coach braucht lt. eigener Aussage jedenfalls noch 1-2 Monate Zeit um ein schlagkräftiges Team zu formen, das seine Ideen umsetzt und den Fußball spielt, mit dem der Spanier im eigenen Land so große Erfolge feierte, das hat dieses Spiel wieder bewiesen...

Premier League - 4. Runde:

Bolton Wanderers - FC Liverpool 1:0 (1:0)

Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen - Gardner, Jaidi, N'Gotty, Hunt - Giannakopoulos (Nolan 75.), Ivan Campo, Speed, Okocha (Hierro 85.) - Davies (Les Ferdinand 72.), Pedersen

FC Liverpool: Dudek - Josemi, Hyppiä (Traore 14.), Carragher, Riise - Warnock (Cissé 45.), Xabi Alonso, Hamann, Gerrard, Luis Garcia - Baros

1:0 Kevin Davies (38.)

Reebok-Stadium - 27.880 - SR: Rennie

[goleador2000]

Mallorca green light for Cortes' Liverpool move

tribalfootball.com - August 31, 2004

Liverpool will welcome new signing David Cortes from Real Mallorca in excellent form.

Yesterday the two clubs were negotiating a £2 million deal for the right-sided midfielder, who was flying to Merseyside only hours after starring for Mallorca in their unfortunate defeat to Real Madrid.

Cortes made many newspapers' team of the week in Spain and he came face-to-face several times with former Liverpool ace Michael Owen on Sunday.

Mallorca president Mateo Alemany met with Cortes' agent, Tente Sanchez, to give his approval for the move to Liverpool to go through.

David Cortés Caballero (25) kann sowohl Rechtsverteidiger spielen als auch im rechten Mittelfeld - ich kenne ihn nicht und laß mich wieder mal positiv überraschen...

bearbeitet 31. August 2004 von goleador2000

[ianrush]

Mallorca green light for Cortes' Liverpool move

tribalfootball.com - August 31, 2004

Liverpool will welcome new signing David Cortes from Real Mallorca in excellent form.

Yesterday the two clubs were negotiating a £2 million deal for the right-sided midfielder, who was flying to Merseyside only hours after starring for Mallorca in their unfortunate defeat to Real Madrid.

Cortes made many newspapers' team of the week in Spain and he came face-to-face several times with former Liverpool ace Michael Owen on Sunday.

Mallorca president Mateo Alemany met with Cortes' agent, Tente Sanchez, to give his approval for the move to Liverpool to go through.

David Cortés Caballero (25) kann sowohl Rechtsverteidiger spielen als auch im rechten Mittelfeld - ich kenne ihn nicht und laß mich wieder mal positiv überraschen...

Hm also ich konnte weder auf liverpoolfc.tv noch bei den übrigen Verdächtigen etwas über diesen Transfer finden .

[goleador2000]

RAFAEL BENITEZ TALKS TO .TV

Paul Eaton 01 September 2004

Rafael Benitez talks to us about the closing of the transfer window, Sunday's game at Bolton, the Cisse and Baros partnership, our start to the season, referees, his new life in Liverpool and much more...

Rafa, with no new signings before the transfer deadline can we assume you're happy with your squad?

Yes, I'm happy. I am also happy that the transfer window has now closed and I have time to work with the team and with the squad of players we have here.

You've had a few days to reflect on the weekend game at Bolton. What went wrong on that day?

A lot of things went wrong for us. We lost Kewell and Pongolle before the game and then Hyypia after a couple of minutes. We had opportunities during the game but we didn't play well. It was a difficult game for us because Bolton were very aggressive. If we'd scored first then we would have had more control of the game but the fact is we lost and we now have to work hard to prepare for the next game.

Some people were surprised you left Djibril Cisse out at Bolton. What was your thinking behind that decision?

I see the players during the week and then decide on the team. In the first half at Bolton we didn't have Cisse but we had three good opportunities to score and in the second half when we had Cisse there weren't as many clear chances. It's more important to get players arriving in the box than it is to have a lot of forwards on the field.

Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia made their debuts at Bolton. Were you happy with their performances?

I think they both played well but I know they can both play better. They know their team-mates now, they are training well with us and I am sure they will do even better for us in the future.

Garcia was unfortunate to have a goal wrongly disallowed at Bolton. What differences have you noticed between officials in England and in Spain?

It's always difficult to talk about referees because over the course of the season you will get good and bad decisions made for and against you. It's the same in Spain and every week the questions are always about the referees. In my opinion it's better not to talk about them at all.

How would you describe your start to the season after three matches?

I saw the team play in pre-season and was very pleased with our performances. In the league so far we haven't had enough victories. I don't want to keep saying this but we need time. I have told the supporters before and I will tell them again that this team will improve and get to a better level but we just need time. That's the only thing I can say.

Is your message to the fans then just to be patient?

I think the fans understand the situation better than me because they have been waiting to win the title for 15 years and they have seen the team playing over recent seasons. They felt that the team needed something different and I can tell you we are changing a lot of things. We need time to get to know each other, to learn about each other and to work together. If people know me then they will know I am always fighting and working because I have confidence in my staff and in my players. We will improve our level, I am sure of that.

What have been the pleasing aspects from the first three games of the season?

As I said, I'm not happy because we need more victories. The good thing is the team could have won the three games. If you come up against a team which is better than yours to play a game which is impossible for you to win then you say 'okay, we weren't good enough'. But this team is strong, sometimes we play well and other times not so well. We are playing with a spirit and that's important because I am sure in the future we will start winning the games we are currently losing or drawing.

And what things have worried you most so far?

I don't think it's good for the players to talk about the future, about trophies and titles. It is more important to talk about the next game and at the moment we have only four players training with us because the rest are away on international duty. We need to have all of our squad together to think only about the next game.

Do you believe that Cisse and Baros can form a partnership to score enough goals for you this season?

They need to learn more about each other, about their styles of play and their movements on the pitch. That needs time as well. If they keep working hard then little by little I am sure we will see the strength of them as a pair.

Finally, how much are you enjoying life in the city away from football?

I spoke to my wife about this this morning and she told me she was very happy. The children will go to school here, we are working on our house and the sun has even come out for a couple of days. I am sure we will be happy here.

I have only had a couple of days to look around the city since I came here. I've been to the cathedral and also been shopping but I haven't had much time to do anything else as I'm always here in Melwood.

www.liverpoolfc.tv

[ianrush]

Bitte Kirkland, werd wieder fit !!!

Nachdem ich mir die letzten Spiele runtergeladen habe und festellen musste, dass ALLE Premier League Gegentore, die wir heuer bekommen haben unter Beteiligung von Dudek gefallen sind (1-1 gegen Tottenham : Schuss aufs kurze Eck - guter Goalie hat den; 0-1 gegen Man City : Dudek lässt den Ball fallen, zwar auch schlechter Rückpass per Kopf von Carra, aber er hatte ihn schon in der Hand und lässt ihn unbedrängt wieder los; 1-0 gegen Bolton : Stanglpass und Dudek segelt wiedermal am Ball vorbei und Bolton braucht den Ball nurmehr ins leere Tor schieben), muss man sich wirklich an den Kopf greifen. Da sitzt bei uns der potentiell beste englische Tormann andauernd mit Verletzungen auf der Tribüne und Dudek scheint wirklich nur unter Druck durch einen 2. Goalie seine Leistungen zu bringen.

Aber leider schafft es Kirkland wahrscheinlich sogar, sich beim Wasserlassen den Fuss zu brechen...

Zurzeit sehe ich in Dudek unsere grösste Schwäche, ohne ihn hätten wir möglicherweise schon 3 Punkte mehr am Konto...

Ansonsten kann man eindeutig sehen, dass die Mannschaft noch weit von ihrem Leistungsmaximum entfernt ist, denn man merkt, besonders noch bei den Spanieren einige Verständnis- und Verständigungsprobleme, da sind die Laufwege noch nicht aufeinander abgestimmt. Natürlich verständlicherweise. Garcia hat mir persönlich besser gefallen als Alonso und hatte auch einige gute Ansetzte, besonders als er 3 Bolton Spieler sprichwörtlich auf einem Bierdeckel ausgespielt hat.

Fazit : Das Potential für grössere Aufgaben ist da, nur muss man dem Team sicher noch Zeit geben um wirklich zu sehen, was wir zu leisten im Stande sind. Ich hoffe Steve gibt uns diese auch...

bearbeitet 1. September 2004 von ianrush

[goleador2000]

KIRKY: I'D PLAY WITHOUT PAY TO STAY FIT

Paul Eaton 08 September 2004

Chris Kirkland, der große Pechvogel im L'Pool-Dress - wann wird er endlich wieder fit und seine wahren Stärken zeigen können ???

Chris Kirkland has revealed the depth of frustration he feels about his ongoing injury problems by insisting he'd play for free if it meant he could stay fit.

The Liverpool goalkeeper is due to return to training this weekend after recovering from a back problem and could be in line for a return to the first team squad for next week's Champions League opener with Monaco.

He insists he's more frustrated than anyone with the way his Liverpool career has developed so far, but he has also become increasingly annoyed by the 'injury prone' jibes which continue to be aimed at him.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv at Melwood, he said: "I know I have had injuries and I know people are frustrated, but I can say that nobody is more frustrated than me.

"All I want to do, in fact all I have ever wanted to do, is to play for Liverpool. I'd even say I'd play for free if it meant I could stay injury free. If someone said to me I would have no injuries if I didn't get paid then I'd take it, without a doubt.

"I've had a bad time with injuries but I think some of the things people have been saying in the press are wrong. The three main injuries I've had have all come as a result of collisions with other players. There's nothing I could have done about those. If I hadn't gone for the ball then supporters would say I was a chicken. I play to win the ball and I don't pull out of challenges.

"People think I'm always having back injuries, but the one I have now is the first I've had for 18 months. I've done a lot of work with the club staff and the medical people to get my back right and that work is paying off. I just think it's wrong when people say I'm injury prone.

"I've had a lot of bad luck. I don't know what I did in a previous life but I must have upset somebody!

"Over the last couple of weeks I've been really down and low, especially after reading a couple of things about me in the papers. But I'm a strong character and I'll bounce back. I'll prove people wrong. And when I do then nobody will be happier about it than me."

Mein Freund Ianrush hat unser derzeit größtes Problem bereits angesprochen - nämlich das Tormannproblem. Jerzy Dudek macht einen Schnitzer nach dem anderen und zeigt unerklärliche Schwächen in der Strafraumbeherrschung. Von einem Teamtorhüter muß man erwarten, daß er auch mal Spiele für seinen Verein gewinnt, das ist bei Dudek zu selten der Fall... Chris Kirkland, die eigentliche Nr. 1 hat Riesenpotential, aber ist ein Dauerpatient auf der Verletztenliste des Clubs ...ich glaube aber seine Zeit beim FC Liverpool kommt noch und er wird sich schon sehr bald mit Paul Robinson um die 1er Position im englischen Teamtor duellieren, also ziehen sie sich warm an, Mr. Dudek, denn ein Mann ist heiß auf das Liverpool-1er-Trikot....

[ianrush]

REDS BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Paul Eaton 11 September 2004

liverpoolfc.tv

Liverpool have got themselves back on the winning track in the Premiership race with a comfortable 3-0 victory over West Brom at Anfield.

After two consecutive single goal defeats to GAK and Bolton the Reds bounced back in style with a performance and a result to put a smile back on the face of manager Rafael Benitez.

Benitez's men were never in danger over the 90 minutes and probably should have won by even more goals. As it was, first half strikes from Steven Gerrard and Steve Finnan and a second half goal from Luis Garcia were more than enough to secure the points.

The opener came after 17 minutes when inspirational captain Steven Gerrard, restored to the centre of midfield for this afternoon's game, drilled home a low shot into the back of the Kop net after good work by the lively Luis Garcia.

Garcia's performance on his Anfield debut delighted the crowd as he linked the play from midfield to attack, creating a series of openings with his sharp passing game.

It came as no surprise when Liverpool doubled their lead three minutes before half time. Having survived a series of near misses inside their own area after Gerrard opened the scoring, with Sami Hyypia and Djibril Cisse both going close, West Brom eventually succumbed to the home side's pressure when Steve Finnan notched his first goal for the club.

Collecting the ball on the right side of the area, Finnan drifted past his marker with a neat piece of skill and finished in fine style with a left footed shot into the same corner of the goal Gerrard had found 25 minutes earlier.

West Brom rallied for a while after the break as they searched for a way back into the game, but the match was over as a contest after an hour when Garcia deservedly got his name onto the scoresheet for thefirst time as a Liverpool player.

Gerrard and Cisse worked Garcia into space down the left and after the Spanish star's first shot was saved by Hoult he was first to react to the rebound to smash the ball home. Game over.

Xabi Alonso then joined the action in place of Steven Gerrard for his first experience of playing at Anfield while Milan Baros came on for Harry Kewell, with Benitez perhaps casting one eye towards Wednesday's Champions League opener with Monaco.

Considering Benitez has been forced to work with just four players since the defeat at Bolton with the majority of his squad away on international duty, this was an impressive return to winning ways for the Reds.

Let's hope for more of the same against Monaco on Wednesday night when our Champions League campaign gets underway.

Liverpool: Dudek, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Finnan, Gerrard, Hamann, Kewell, Garcia, Cisse. Subs: Luzi, Baros, Alonso, Traore, Diao.

West Brom: Hoult, Scimeca, Robinson, Purse, Koumas, Greening, Horsfield, Albrechtsen, Clement, Haas, Kanu. Subs: Kuszczak, Gera, Dobie, Contra, Earnshaw.

Referee: Steve Dunn

Liverpool 3-0 West Brom

bbc.co.uk

Liverpool steadied their early nerves with a comfortable win that left West Brom awaiting their first league win.

Steven Gerrard rounded off a slick move to open the scoring and a cool-headed Steve Finnan effort put Liverpool comfortably ahead at the break.

West Brom became more involved after the break but when Luis Garcia hammered home a third, following up his own blocked shot, the points were safe.

Robert Earnshaw came on for his West Brom debut but made little impact.

West Brom's Martin Albrechtsen had already nearly put through his own net before Gerrard rewarded Liverpool's early pressure with the first goal.

He combined with Garcia and Finnan to charge through on goal and kept his balance to shoot home from close range.

That lead was nearly extended when Neil Clement's attempted clearance was cleared off his own line, and from the resulting corner Sami Hyypia went close with a header.

Clement's off-target header from a Jason Koumas corner was West Brom's first meaningful effort on goal before Garcia wasted a glorious chance to double Liverpool's lead when his free header was way off target.

Finnan claimed his first league goal for Liverpool to make it 2-0 when he trapped Jon Arne Riise's cross-field ball superbly and slotted home from a tight angle.

Clement again went close for Albion in the dying seconds of the half but Djibril Cisse nearly made it 3-0 as Liverpool went in comfortably ahead at the break.

Earnshaw came on just after half time as the visitors began to get more involved in the game, before Garcia wrapped up the points when he followed up his own blocked shot to thump home.

Koumas soon tested Jerzy Dudek with a low long-range effort but with Liverpool showing no likelihood of letting their lead slip, the game was over as a serious contest.

Near the end, substitute Milan Baros had strong penalty appeals waved away when West Brom captain Darren Purse brought him down on the edge of the box.

And keeper Russell Hoult needed to be at his best to block Cisse's late effort as Liverpool eased to victory.

Liverpool: Dudek, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Finnan, Hamann, Gerrard (Alonso 65), Kewell (Baros 68), Cisse, Luis Garcia (Traore 74). Subs Not Used: Diao, Luzi Bernardi.

Goals: Gerrard 16, Finnan 42, Luis Garcia 60.

West Brom: Hoult, Scimeca, Purse, Albrechtsen, Robinson, Haas (Gera 66), Koumas, Clement, Greening, Horsfield (Earnshaw 53), Kanu. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Dobie, Contra.

Att: 42,947.

Ref: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).

Besonders freut mich, dass Spieler, die in der letzten Saison weiter unter ihrem Potential gespielt hatten anscheinend wieder in Form kommen. Das trifft natürlich besonders auf Riise und auf Finnan zu, die beide in letzter Zeit ziemlich gute Leistungen abliefern. Weiter so und es ist alles möglich .

bearbeitet 11. September 2004 von ianrush

[goleador2000]

Besonders freut mich, dass Spieler, die in der letzten Saison weiter unter ihrem Potential gespielt hatten anscheinend wieder in Form kommen. Das trifft natürlich besonders auf Riise und auf Finnan zu, die beide in letzter Zeit ziemlich gute Leistungen abliefern. Weiter so und es ist alles möglich .

Wie ich Dir prophezeit habe ...nicht zuletzt durch die Neuverpflichtungen ist der Konkurrenzkampf viel größer geworden. Jeder kämpft um sein Leiberl und muß bereits im Training Topleistungen abrufen, um überhaupt zu spielen. Besonders erfreulich ist, daß die Abwehr zum 1. Mal in dieser Saison(Vorbereitungsspiele mit eingerechnet) ZU NULL spielte, das läßt für die nächsten schweren Spiele(Monaco, ManU) hoffen Luis Garcia trifft in seinem 2. Spiel zum 2. Mal(gegen Bolton wurde ihm ja ein reguläres Tor aberkannt - Schiri - ich prophezeie schon jetzt der Junge wird ein neuer Anfield Hero Steven Gerrard bewies wieder seine absolute Topform - er wurde zu Recht von den Fans zum "Spieler des Monats August" gewählt , Xabi Alonso wird uns auch noch viel Freude bereiten, davon bin ich überzeugt....wenn Chris Kirkland ins Tor zurückkehrt und die Stürmer ihre Qualitäten ausspielen und in Tore ummünzen, dann sind wir nicht aufzuhalten und werden der erste Verfolger von Arsenal und Chelsea !!! Wir sollten aber am Boden bleiben, denn es war ein Pflichtsieg gegen Aufsteiger West Brom, doch auf das WIE kommt es an...das schönste ist, das Liverpool unter Benitez wieder ATTRAKTIVEN und VARIANTENREICHEN FUSSBALL zeigt, die Ergebnisse kommen von allein !!!

[ianrush]

...das schönste ist, das Liverpool unter Benitez wieder ATTRAKTIVEN und VARIANTENREICHEN FUSSBALL zeigt, die Ergebnisse kommen von allein !!!

Nachdem ich das Spiel gegen WBA endlich gesehen habe, muss ich dir da vollkommen recht geben. Teilweise war da schon Kurzpassspiel vom feinsten zu sehen und immer hatten Gerrard und Garcia ihre Beine im Spiel. Besonders schön war das erste Tor, wobei schon wenige Minuten vorher eine ganz ähnlich Situation vorkam, bei der Steve leider ausrutschte. Garcia merkt man halt an, dass er kein Goalgetter ist, denn er alleine hatte Chancen für 3 Tore. Besonders der Kopfball, den er vollkommen allein am Fünfer stehend weit neben das Tor setze war eigentlich eine 1000 promillige Chance . Natürlich ist ein Sieg gegen WBA nicht wirklich aussagekräftig, aber letzte Saison hatten wir gerade gegen solche Gegner riesige Probleme, da wir kein Spiel gestalten konnten. Scheint heuer besser zu laufen.

Aber er gefällt mir von den Neueinkäufen eindeutig am besten. Josemi ist ein Carra für die Aussenpositionen, also ein grundsolider Verteidiger. Vom 10 Millionen Einkauf Alonso hat man leider noch sehr wenig gesehen, aber man muss ihm sicher noch einige Spiele Zeit geben um sein wahres Potential in der Premier League einschätzen zu können. Cisse und Baros wirken leider noch nicht wie der erhoffte Traumsturm, besonders Baros kann nicht wirklich an seine Form im National Team der Tschechischen Republik anknüfen. Auch von Cisse kann und muss man noch mehr erwarten.

Sehr gespannt bin ich schon aufs morgige Spiel gegen Monaco, das könnte schon ein erster Gradmesser für unser Team sein. Monaco schätze ich eigentlich, trotz namhafter Verpflichtungen, wesentlich schwächer als letztes Jahr ein, da sie heuer sicher nicht den selben Lauf wie letzte Saison haben werden.

Noch wichtiger ist dann aber das Spiel am Montag, mit dem wir mit einem guten Ergebnis, also jedem Sieg mit mehr als 4 Toren Unterschied , schon einen wichtigen Schritt dem, für heuer, erstrebten Status als erster Verfolger der Londoner näher kommen könnten. Vor allem wenn man bedenkt, dass ausser Dudek (hoffe ebenfalls auf Kirkland) und Hyppia alle Spieler noch weit vom 30er entfernt sind und wir hoffentlich in den nächsten Saisonen wirklich um den Titel ein gewichtiges Wort mitreden können. Zwar wurde meine Hoffnungen vor allen nach 2002 schon einige Male scherst enttäuscht, aber ich werde das Hoffen niemals aufgeben und es sieht auch alles ganz gut aus.

Tjo ich hoffe ich muss morgen nicht wieder in tiefe Depressionen verfallen .

[ans]

Noch wichtiger ist dann aber das Spiel am Montag, mit dem wir mit einem guten Ergebnis, also jedem Sieg mit mehr als 4 Toren Unterschied , schon einen wichtigen Schritt dem, für heuer, erstrebten Status als erster Verfolger der Londoner näher kommen könnten.

Vergiss es einfach! Bei uns lichtet sich das Lazarett leicht und Danny Murphy ist Geschichte.

[themanwho]

Schwache Partie heut gegen Monaco, da muss ich keine Angst für Montag haben. Wo habt ihr den Luis Garcia ausgegraben? Bitte bitte der muss spielen

[ianrush]

Schwache Partie heut gegen Monaco, da muss ich keine Angst für Montag haben. Wo habt ihr den Luis Garcia ausgegraben? Bitte bitte der muss spielen

Du scheinst wohl wirklich ein komplett anderes Spiel gesehen zu haben als 99 Prozent der Liverpool schauenden Weltbevölkerung, mag aber auch daran liegen, dass du 8 Spiele nebeneinander gesehen hast und wohl nicht wirklich anschätzem kannst wie es wirklich war...

Im Gegensatz zu Mannschaften aus Manchester hatten wir nämlich ein wenig mehr als 2 Chancen und das schnelle Kurzpassspiel wird auch gegen Manchester für das eine oder andere Tor reichen. Sowas hat man bei denen wohl noch nie gesehen... Es wird dir wohl jeder bestätigen, dass dies keineswegs eine schwache Partie war sondern eigentlich ein Klassespiel...

Zu Luis Garcia : Ein Klassemann fürs Kombinationsspiel, pfeilschnell aber leider vor dem Tor zu überhastet. Aber das wird auch noch werden, hat er doch schon mehr Tore als ein gewisse, ach so geliebter Smith gemacht. Aufjedenfall kristallisiert sich mit Gerrard, Kewell, Alonso, Finnan und mit Garcia als Hängende Spitze ein Mittelfeld heraus, das das beste Englands und auch eines der stärksten Europas werden könnte. Wobei die Betonung noch auf könnte liegt.

Anbei für dich, werter tmNh, 2 Spielberichte zum nachlesen

Baros completes Liverpool ton

Dominic Fifield at Anfield

Thursday September 16, 2004

The Guardian

It is almost two years since Liverpool last played in the Champions League, though any fears that they had fallen behind Europe's elite have been speedily allayed. Monaco, the club who embarrassed Real Madrid and Chelsea en route to last season's final, were dismantled last night and while the scoreline suggests a squeeze, the reality was emphatic.

Djibril Cissé's first-half goal should have been improved upon well before Milan Baros collected Josemi's pass six minutes from time and cut back from the touchline. He waited for Flavio Roma to commit himself and then thumped in a deserved second. This was a fitting way for the home side to celebrate a centenary of fixtures in this competition.

There was a vibrancy to Liverpool here which, after Saturday's waltz past West Bromwich, suggested Rafael Benitez's influence is beginning to be felt. Last season's management team, Gérard Houllier and Phil Thompson, will have noticed that as they watched from the stands, their time taken up with media work these days. The transformation in Steve Finnan and, occasionally, Harry Kewell is remarkable.

The exuberance of Luis Garcia, integral whenever the home side went forward, has also offered creation and menace to a side who stagnated too often last term. The Spaniard spun and skimmed an early shot marginally wide to set an upbeat tone, then latched on to Kewell's back-header and forced Flavio Roma to turn away a low shot. Yet it was in midfield where Liverpool boasted rare authority.

Dietmar Hamann's omission offered Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard their first opportunity as a central pairing. They duly purred, the Spaniard rarely misplacing a pass and the captain as dominant as ever. It was Gerrard's vision and execution which split Monaco's defence in first-half stoppage time, his cross reaching Garcia at the far post only for the header to be stifled behind. Yet, by then, Liverpool led.

What Benitez's side had lacked most during the season's early weeks is a consistent threat from Djibril Cissé, with the Frenchman apparently struggling to settle and live up to a £14m club record transfer fee. Those fears were allayed midway through the first half. Alonso touched a short free-kick to Gerrard who exchanged passes with Garcia then slid Cissé beyond Monaco's dawdling back-line.

The Frenchman tore into open space and ripped his first Anfield goal beyond Roma.

Monaco were floundering, struggling to cope with Gerrard's effervescence and Alonso's class.

This was a virtually unrecognisable side sent from the Principality. Only five of the team who began started the final in Gelsenkirchen, such has been the summer of upheaval endured by Didier Deschamps.

Add to that the suspension to Javier Saviola, loaned from Barcelona in the summer, and his French side's lack of bite was more excusable. Pontus Farnerud bludgeoned one awkward shot over the bar but, for all their neat passing deep inside their own territory, Monaco were anaemic at best and Deschamps needed to direct a second-half revival.

To that end, the coach's introduction of the forward Souleymane Camara for Patrice Evra, a France full-back, at the interval represented a bold move, even if the visitors continued to labour. Josemi was soon over-lapping down the right - the sight of a galloping full-back still has novelty value at Anfield - with Kewell, Alonso and Garcia a blur of quick-fire passes, the Australian volleying Gerrard's corner over the bar.

Kewell was thriving, buzzing on to possession, and he side-footed Cissé through on goal for what should have been a decisive second. The striker composed himself and drilled a low shot, but Roma blocked it. The goalkeeper might have struggled to do likewise when Gerrard found space on the edge of the area, but the midfielder's attempt was hurried, his shot spinning high and wide.

There were vague hints that the profligacy might cost Liverpool. Occasional nervousness crept into their defence on the rare occasions they were tested, confusion reigning too often between Jamie Carragher and Jerzy Dudek. Mohamed Kallon's resultant corner after one such mix-up saw Emmanuel Adebayor head their only attempt on target, though Dudek was alert enough to claim.

Parity would have been scan dalous, with the French threat sporadic at best and Liverpool's overall dominance in the centre rarely undermined.

Garcia should have scored near the end, Roma first suffocating a close-range shot then watching helpless as the Spaniard panicked on the edge of the six-yard box and battered wide. That prompted anxiety; Baros's goal brought relief.

Liverpool 2-0 Monaco

Djibril Cisse

More Champions League photos

Liverpool opened their Champions League campaign with a morale-boosting win.

Rafael Benitez's side went ahead through a clever goal - Steven Gerrard and Luis Garcia combining to set up Djibril Cisse, who rifled a shot home.

Garcia went close twice before the interval, first drawing a reaction save from Flavio Roma and then hitting the woodwork with an angled header.

Substitute Milan Baros made the game safe for Liverpool with a wonderful individualistic goal late on.

Didiers Deschamps' outfit were a pale imitation of the side that reached last year's final.

Ludovic Guily and Jerome Rothen have left for new pastures, while Javier Saviola was banned and Ernesto Chevanton and Shabani Nonda were out injured.

Those absentees led to Monaco adopting a defensive strategy deploying three central defenders - Sebastien Squillaci, Gael Givet and Vassilis Zikos.

And it was a tactic that initially stymied Liverpool as they sought to establish a link to Cisse.

After the interval Deschamps withdrew left-back Patrice Evra and introduced another striker, Souleymane Camara, in a bid to rescue the game.

Liverpool actually looked like a team that could play football for the first time in a long while!

From DT

Have your say on 606

The switch gave Monaco a better balance, although Deschamps' team laboured to create openings.

The best Monaco effort was an Emmanuel Adebayor header, which Dudek saved at the foot of the post.

Early on, Liverpool's best chance was Garcia's ambitious effort - a shot that mirrored an earlier long-range strike for Monaco from Mohamed Kallon and which almost caught out Jerzy Dudek.

Gradually Cisse's runs began to trouble Monaco's defensive triumvirate, while Gerrard and Garcia began to strike up the rapport that had been such a feature of Saturday's win over West Brom.

A one-two between those two Liverpool midfielders created Cisse's goal, an exchange of passes ending with Gerrard slipping the ball to the former Auxerre striker, who crashed his shot past Roma.

Soon afterwards Kewell's deft header released Garcia, whose low shot was superbly blocked by Roma.

In first-half stoppage time Gerrard and Garcia again combined to great effect as the Spaniard angled a header against Roma's right-hand upright.

Just before the hour Kewell managed to set free Cisse once more but Roma did well to stand his ground and then divert the Liverpool striker's shot.

With 10 minutes to go Garcia should have made the game safe for Liverpool but the Spaniard crashed his shot wide with just the Monaco goalkeeper to beat.

It was left to Baros to apply the coup de grace as he single-handedly outfoxed the Monaco defence with a jinking run before slipping the ball past the Roma keeper.

Liverpool: Dudek, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Finnan, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell (Warnock 76), Luis Garcia (Biscan 87), Cisse (Baros 69).

Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Diao, Hamann, Traore.

Booked: Gerrard.

Goals: Cisse 22, Baros 84.

Monaco: Roma, Givet (El Fakiri 80), Squillaci, Rodriguez, Anjreas Zikos, Maicon, Perez (Juan 89), Farnerud, Evra (Camara 45), Kallon, Adebayor.

Subs Not Used: Audard, Modesto, Lacombe, Lescure.

Booked: Anjreas Zikos, Givet.

Att: 33,517.

Ref: Terje Hauge (Norway).

Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway).

bearbeitet 15. September 2004 von ianrush