by Effes » Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:40 am
In the Guardian:
Fernando Torres believes the slow start to Robbie Keane's Liverpool career will be forgotten once the Republic of Ireland international gets his first goal for the club. The Spain striker, who scored three goals in his first eight appearances after moving to Merseyside from Atlético Madrid, expects his forward partner to make up for lost time once he has broken his duck.
Keane has not found the net in his first seven league and cup games following a £20.3m move from Tottenham Hotspur, the only blip to an otherwise healthy start to the season for Rafa Benítez's side. Liverpool will replace Chelsea - who play Manchester United tomorrow - at the top of the table for at least 24 hours if they defeat Stoke City at Anfield and mark their best start to a Premier League season after five matches, beating the 12 points they amassed in the 1993-94 campaign.
"I know Robbie is going to be a very important player for us. Maybe he needs to score his first goal, then he'll go on to score a lot more as that's the type of player he is," said Torres. "When you arrive you want to score straight away to relieve the pressure. He is just waiting and wanting to score that first goal and he is a great player to have in the dressing room. I know Robbie from watching him back when I was at Atlético, so if we want to win trophies we will need players like him."
Whereas Keane scored on his debuts for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City and was soon among the goals at Internazionale, Leeds United and Tottenham, he is struggling to get his name on the scoresheet for the club he supported as a boy. Yet the player is not feeling the pressure, according to Benítez. "I was speaking to Robbie the other day and I told him that everything would be fine," said the Liverpool manager. "He said: 'Listen, I think you are more worried than me.'"
Despite his difficulties, Keane will fancy his chances today as Stoke pay their first league visit to Anfield for 23 years. Liverpool stuck eight goals past them the last time the clubs met, in a League Cup tie eight years ago, Robbie Fowler helping himself to a hat-trick.
Steven Gerrard, who is on 99 career goals for Liverpool after scoring twice in midweek against Marseille in the Champions League, will be itching to complete his century ahead of next Saturday's derby against Everton at Goodison Park.
"We are lucky to have the best midfielder in the world," said Benítez. "He doesn't just score goals, he scores fantastic goals. If he scores against Stoke we will be very pleased."
Matt McQueen - Liverpool 1892-1928.
Only professional to - play in goal (41 appearances), Defence, Midfield, Striker,
and later be Director and then to be Manager (winning a Championship) - at one club
Athletico Madrid cant wait now.
but i spoke to my mate today an if all of our lads are goin an i havnt got a ticket from here well theyll sort me one out there. From her next door nieghbour
