The liverpool way - Comment
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by woof woof ! » Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:26 pm
stu_the_red wrote:Sorry boys but i have to reply to this. I'm not goin to insult the lad, just point one or two things out.
Echoes of Steve McMahon ,
Get in there Stu , Enforce that Midfield.
Well played lad !!!
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woof woof ! - Forum Moderator
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by anfieldadorer » Thu Jul 29, 2004 5:50 am
REDS REINVENT THE PASS AND MOVE GROOVE
Mark Platt, in Connecticut 27 July 2004
The Liverpool groove looks to be on the verge of making a long-awaited comeback and we're not talking about that dreadful cup final record of 1996. Rafael Benitez has only been in charge of the Reds for two games but the early signs are that the famous pass and move tactics, upon which an Anfield dynasty was built, are in the process of being reincarnated. Those who witnessed a rampant Liverpool tear Celtic apart with a scintillating performance of free-flowing football could be forgiven for thinking they were watching a different team to that which has wore the red shirt in recent seasons. Fluent passing football, intelligent movement off the ball and a hunger to carry on attacking are such terms have not been associated with the Reds for sometime now but every one was in evidence on a memorable night in Connecticut. The Rentchler Field Stadium had never before staged a soccer match but if they decide to host another, Liverpool have done their prospects of being invited back no harm at all. It's well documented how our version of football struggles to compete for spectators with other US sports and the hope is that the Champions World series will help boost its popularity. More games like this will surely do the trick and for that there is only one team to thank. Celtic may be at a more advanced stage of the pre-season programme than the Reds but you'd never have guessed.
From the first minute Liverpool were in control and once John Arne Riise burst the back of the net as early as the fifth minute there was only ever going to be one winner. What no one expected though was the emphatic manner in which victory was achieved. Riise's thunderbolt has been a long time coming. If you want to know how he scored this goal think of his never-to-be-forgotten piledriver against Fabien Barthez at Anfield in 2001 and you're on the right track. The strike stemmed from a free-kick gained after the impressive Igor Biscan had been brought crashing to the ground as he attempted to waltz straight through the Celtic midfield as if no one was there.
A major strength of the new manager so far seems to be his ability to get the best out of his players and members of the squad who supporters will have previously deemed surplus to requirements suddenly look to have a new lease of life. One such player is the much-maligned Biscan. The Croat was handed a start in the centre of midfield for the second match running and he repaid his boss's faith in him by turning in another outstanding performance that suggests he could have a future at Anfield after all. Calm and composed on the ball, Biscan seems to have been given an injection of confidence. He looks like he's enjoying his football once again, constantly wants the ball and his first thought now when he receives it is always to push forward. It's no coincidence that he is being used in his natural position and that is another trait Benitez seems to favour. In the two games we've seen so far no player has been asked to fulfil an unfamiliar role and dividends of this have been clear to see.
Harry Kewell, for example, has obviously been instructed to stay out wide on the left and not drift from flank to flank. Suddenly he looks the exciting winger we thought we'd purchased from Leeds last summer, hugging the touchline and constantly striving to get to the by-line before delivering his crosses.
Michael Owen also looks revitalised. In what was his first game since Euro 2004 he was surprisingly sharp. When the players were introduced to the crowd before kick-off the loudest roar was predictably reserved for Owen and he didn't disappoint. The goal he scored to make it 2-0 was an exquisitely taken effort. Riise turned provider to play him through and with just the keeper to beat he nonchalantly lobbed David Marshall from the edge of the box. It was a touch of class you'd expect from a player of his standing and together with Milan Baros he proceeded to run the Celts defence ragged during the opening 45 minutes.
Attack is an area that Liverpool look exceptionally well off in. The Celtic fans must have breathed a huge sigh of relief when they discovered Milan and Michael were to be withdrawn at the interval but then they were confronted with another fearsome double act - Cisse and Pongolle. The French pair have struck up an instant friendship off the pitch and they form a lethal looking combination off it. Cisse plays as the main striker with little Flo just behind and they sparked instantly. Within minutes of them coming they combined with good effect and our club record signing unluckily struck the base of the upright.
It was an ominous warning to the opposition and one they didn't heed. Soon afterwards the woodwork couldn't prevent Cisse from opening his goalscoring account in a red shirt. It may only have been a simple close-range tap-in, after an inviting ball across the face of goal by Murphy, but you get the impression it will be the first of many. The £14 million man is already on the way to becoming a big favourite of the fans and if his second goal of the night is anything to go by he has the potential to take the Premiership by storm in the coming campaign.
Again Murphy was the creator, opening up the Celtic defence with a perfectly threaded through ball that Cisse raced onto. There was still a lot to do but the way in which he skilfully sidestepped a defender before coolly sliding the ball under Marshall was a joy to watch. By this stage Liverpool were threatening to run riot. In between Cisse's double strike came a very rare moment as Stephane Henchoz netted his first ever goal for the Reds. It says much about the Reds' new enterprising style of play that the Swiss defender was even up in the box for a corner and he seized the opportunity by converting a half-volley that bounced up off the ground before hitting the net.
Whether we witness more of the same from Stephane in future games remains to be seen but no longer can he be spoken about in the same sentence as Rob Jones.
Craig Beattie's consolation penalty, after Salif Diao had needlessly brought down the youngster in the penalty area, was a just a minor hiccup and it was heartening to see, that even at 5-1 up, Liverpool refused to sit back and take their foot off the pedal. With their new boss urging them on from the touchline the Reds continued to press for more goals and if they had hit double figures Celtic could have had no complaints.
It's easy to get carried away by an emphatic 5-1 victory. And, course, it is only pre-season after all, but this win was not achieved against a bunch of part-time Scandinavian no-hopers. Scottish champions Celtic are no mugs. They were far from at their best here but don't allow that to take away from a superb Liverpool performance. Rafael Benitez said in his pre-match press conference that he wants his team to win every game and he's obviously already instilled this mentality into his players. A typical half-hearted pre-season stroll, this most certainly was not. It was edge of the seat football that Liverpudlians thrive on.
Keep it up and roll on the new season!
Mark Platt, in Connecticut 27 July 2004
The Liverpool groove looks to be on the verge of making a long-awaited comeback and we're not talking about that dreadful cup final record of 1996. Rafael Benitez has only been in charge of the Reds for two games but the early signs are that the famous pass and move tactics, upon which an Anfield dynasty was built, are in the process of being reincarnated. Those who witnessed a rampant Liverpool tear Celtic apart with a scintillating performance of free-flowing football could be forgiven for thinking they were watching a different team to that which has wore the red shirt in recent seasons. Fluent passing football, intelligent movement off the ball and a hunger to carry on attacking are such terms have not been associated with the Reds for sometime now but every one was in evidence on a memorable night in Connecticut. The Rentchler Field Stadium had never before staged a soccer match but if they decide to host another, Liverpool have done their prospects of being invited back no harm at all. It's well documented how our version of football struggles to compete for spectators with other US sports and the hope is that the Champions World series will help boost its popularity. More games like this will surely do the trick and for that there is only one team to thank. Celtic may be at a more advanced stage of the pre-season programme than the Reds but you'd never have guessed.
From the first minute Liverpool were in control and once John Arne Riise burst the back of the net as early as the fifth minute there was only ever going to be one winner. What no one expected though was the emphatic manner in which victory was achieved. Riise's thunderbolt has been a long time coming. If you want to know how he scored this goal think of his never-to-be-forgotten piledriver against Fabien Barthez at Anfield in 2001 and you're on the right track. The strike stemmed from a free-kick gained after the impressive Igor Biscan had been brought crashing to the ground as he attempted to waltz straight through the Celtic midfield as if no one was there.
A major strength of the new manager so far seems to be his ability to get the best out of his players and members of the squad who supporters will have previously deemed surplus to requirements suddenly look to have a new lease of life. One such player is the much-maligned Biscan. The Croat was handed a start in the centre of midfield for the second match running and he repaid his boss's faith in him by turning in another outstanding performance that suggests he could have a future at Anfield after all. Calm and composed on the ball, Biscan seems to have been given an injection of confidence. He looks like he's enjoying his football once again, constantly wants the ball and his first thought now when he receives it is always to push forward. It's no coincidence that he is being used in his natural position and that is another trait Benitez seems to favour. In the two games we've seen so far no player has been asked to fulfil an unfamiliar role and dividends of this have been clear to see.
Harry Kewell, for example, has obviously been instructed to stay out wide on the left and not drift from flank to flank. Suddenly he looks the exciting winger we thought we'd purchased from Leeds last summer, hugging the touchline and constantly striving to get to the by-line before delivering his crosses.
Michael Owen also looks revitalised. In what was his first game since Euro 2004 he was surprisingly sharp. When the players were introduced to the crowd before kick-off the loudest roar was predictably reserved for Owen and he didn't disappoint. The goal he scored to make it 2-0 was an exquisitely taken effort. Riise turned provider to play him through and with just the keeper to beat he nonchalantly lobbed David Marshall from the edge of the box. It was a touch of class you'd expect from a player of his standing and together with Milan Baros he proceeded to run the Celts defence ragged during the opening 45 minutes.
Attack is an area that Liverpool look exceptionally well off in. The Celtic fans must have breathed a huge sigh of relief when they discovered Milan and Michael were to be withdrawn at the interval but then they were confronted with another fearsome double act - Cisse and Pongolle. The French pair have struck up an instant friendship off the pitch and they form a lethal looking combination off it. Cisse plays as the main striker with little Flo just behind and they sparked instantly. Within minutes of them coming they combined with good effect and our club record signing unluckily struck the base of the upright.
It was an ominous warning to the opposition and one they didn't heed. Soon afterwards the woodwork couldn't prevent Cisse from opening his goalscoring account in a red shirt. It may only have been a simple close-range tap-in, after an inviting ball across the face of goal by Murphy, but you get the impression it will be the first of many. The £14 million man is already on the way to becoming a big favourite of the fans and if his second goal of the night is anything to go by he has the potential to take the Premiership by storm in the coming campaign.
Again Murphy was the creator, opening up the Celtic defence with a perfectly threaded through ball that Cisse raced onto. There was still a lot to do but the way in which he skilfully sidestepped a defender before coolly sliding the ball under Marshall was a joy to watch. By this stage Liverpool were threatening to run riot. In between Cisse's double strike came a very rare moment as Stephane Henchoz netted his first ever goal for the Reds. It says much about the Reds' new enterprising style of play that the Swiss defender was even up in the box for a corner and he seized the opportunity by converting a half-volley that bounced up off the ground before hitting the net.
Whether we witness more of the same from Stephane in future games remains to be seen but no longer can he be spoken about in the same sentence as Rob Jones.
Craig Beattie's consolation penalty, after Salif Diao had needlessly brought down the youngster in the penalty area, was a just a minor hiccup and it was heartening to see, that even at 5-1 up, Liverpool refused to sit back and take their foot off the pedal. With their new boss urging them on from the touchline the Reds continued to press for more goals and if they had hit double figures Celtic could have had no complaints.
It's easy to get carried away by an emphatic 5-1 victory. And, course, it is only pre-season after all, but this win was not achieved against a bunch of part-time Scandinavian no-hopers. Scottish champions Celtic are no mugs. They were far from at their best here but don't allow that to take away from a superb Liverpool performance. Rafael Benitez said in his pre-match press conference that he wants his team to win every game and he's obviously already instilled this mentality into his players. A typical half-hearted pre-season stroll, this most certainly was not. It was edge of the seat football that Liverpudlians thrive on.
Keep it up and roll on the new season!
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anfieldadorer - >> LFC Elite Member <<
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65 posts
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