Liverpool FC Forum

[red37]

Rafa seems a little happier with Bellamy/Pannant these days:


Benitez praises pair's progress

By Phil Jackson -  Created on 22 Dec 2006



Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool's investment in attackers Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Pennant is finally starting to bear fruit at Anfield.

The Reds splashed out £13million on the pair over the summer, but Benitez's side have thus far failed to live up to their pre-season billing.

Five defeats already in the league have seen them fall 13 points behind league leaders and arch rivals Manchester United.

But Bellamy's (pictured) record of three goals in the last four matches has boosted Benitez's festive thinking, and with Pennant looking more penetrative down the right, the Spaniard insists the duo are now starting to settle.

"He is happier now he is scoring goals. The understanding with Kuyt is good," Benitez explained about Bellamy.

"The understanding with Kuyt and [Peter] Crouch before was good and now with Kuyt, Craig is playing really well.

"He is now a threat for the defenders. He is always running behind them with his pace and with his ability always the defenders must be aware of him - but also that means the other players can profit from his movement.

"The understanding between the strikers and the understanding between the midfielders and strikers is good and I'm really pleased now.

"When we signed them [Bellamy and Pennant] we were waiting for something like this; a good winger crossing balls and a good striker running behind defenders and scoring goals and they are now playing well."

Benitez also dismissed suggestions that Pennant's improvement could cause him a selection headache with captain Steven Gerrard once central midfielder Mohamed Sissoko returns to fitness.

"I prefer to have this problem. If we continue winning games, after we have Momo available then okay, I think it is better to have two or three options within each position," added Benitez.

"At this moment I am really pleased with him [Gerrard] playing in the middle and Pennant playing on the right side.

"If Pennant continues playing well it will be very good for me in the future.

"The key is we have three or four players playing at a good level and so the team is playing well."

For now though, The Reds must focus on the visit of Premiership strugglers Watford on Saturday, as they look to close the gap on the top of the table.

[redmikey]

I have got my brother and his 6 year old a ticket to the game and it is his first trip to anfield, so i am hoping for a 4-0 just to spark the fire of passion in him i wish i could get there as well but the bank(wife) said no

i am just thinking back to my first ever game agianst oxford with aldo playing for them and am buzzing for him hope any of you there sing loud and clear to make it great for the first timers

LFC isn't just for xmas it's for life

[RedBlood]

TALKING SH.IT AGAIN BOYS? LOOL

MY LINE UP WOULD BE:

                                            REINA

                      FINNAN     CARRA     AGGER     RIISE

               PENNANT     GERRARD      ALONSO     GONZALEZ

                                     KUYT     BELLAMY
HYYPIA
GARCIA
ANDERSON
FOWLER
CROUCH

[Effes]

TALKING SH.IT AGAIN BOYS? LOOL

MY LINE UP WOULD BE:

                                            REINA

                      FINNAN     CARRA     AGGER     RIISE

               PENNANT     GERRARD      ALONSO     GONZALEZ

                                     KUYT     BELLAMY
HYYPIA
GARCIA
ANDERSON
FOWLER
CROUCH

That's our best line-up at the moment, Agger for Hyypia being arguable.

[scouser 'til I die]

Sky Sports News say were naming an unchanged side from the Charlton match

[mikopool]

Reckon Rafa will feild a weak squad to rest some legs, doesn't bother me though, highly confident of another reds win, c'mon lads!

[ivor_the_injun]

Christ - two weeks ago we had a goal difference of 0. Now it's +11.

And I can't see anything other than another handsome win again today. Watford won't roll over, but we're in form and I can see us putting at least 3 past them. Would like to see Kuyt get a couple, actually.

[Cool Hand Luke]

The Christmas/New Year period is not as hectic as last year thankfully. But do you think Rafa may be tempted to save a couple for a tough away game at Blackburn on Tuesday? I’m guessing he will play this team, saving Agger, Riise, Gonzalez and Kuyt for the Blackburn game.

                        Reina

Finnan     Carragher     Hyypia    Aurelio

Pennant    Gerrard       Alonso    Garcia

               Bellamy       Crouch

[dawson99]

Kuyts gotta start today, perfect team for him to run against. i expect to see a couple of goals

[heimdall]

If any of you lot fancy watching the game there are loads of streams at this place: http://www.streamedsport.com. I'm watching the Fulham match at the moment on

http://www.streamedsport.com/listings/5_stream.php?
stream_id=93

which is the same steam they will be showing the Liverpool match on, get in there early is my advice.

[Lando_Griffin]

We need to err on the side of caution, as we have a habit of getting above ourselves and forgetting that we actually have to score goals to win matches.

Enter the game in the right frame of mind, and we should have an easy win.

Go there expecting an easy rout, and we'll lose.

[dawson99]

Wee in teh entire history of the premiership watford have only won one away game...


...and that was against us!

[Lando_Griffin]

Wee in teh entire history of the premiership watford have only won one away game...


...and that was against us!

Precisely my point - we approached that game far too cocky.

[sam1979]

Well we should win this game easy, the top form side vs the bottum form side. Liverpool have tallyed 14 points from our last 6 games. Watford have just managed 2. We play home, so this is a must win.
I think we can apsolutly hammer them 4 or 5 nil. Crouch should start & Fowler may feature aswell. My Prediction: 5-0 WIN

If you cant watch the clash, there some live streams here

[peterc1992]

team in:

Reina
Finnan
Riise
Carragher
Agger
Gerrard
Alonso
Garcia
Pennant
Bellamy
Kuyt

Subs
Dudek,
Hyypia,
Gonzalez,
Crouch,
Aurelio.