0707: Rafa's challenge to hat-trick hero Bes
0707: Wrexham sunk by Liverpool

JULY 7
Rafa's challenge to hat-trick hero Bes

By Paul Eaton - LFC Official Website

Rafael Benitez has challenged Besian Idrizaj to build on his hat-trick against Wrexham and fight for a place in his first team squad this season.

The Austrian under-21 international was the star of the show at the Racecourse Ground, netting three goals inside the first 26 minutes to set the Reds on their way to a 3-2 victory.

"It was a good work out for the boys and they will feel the benefit of playing 45 minutes of competitive football.

"We wanted to use some of the younger players with some of the senior players and I thought it was a good game for the supporters.

"Of course we are pleased with Besian. We know he is a talent and that he has ability but he needs to mature now as a striker. Can he fight for a first team place this season? It depends on him and how he improves over the year. We have a lot of competition for places in attack but you never know."

Benitez will spend the coming week stepping up pre-season training at Melwood and indicated many of his missing stars at Wrexham will play their first football of the summer on Saturday at Crewe.

"I think most of them will play," he said. "Some of them came back later than the others because of the international games but they're in training now and should be involved at Crewe."

JULY 7
Wrexham sunk by Liverpool

Sporting Life

Liverpool's first friendly of the summer ended in victory after they completed a 3-2 win over Wrexham in their annual meeting.

Austrian teenager Besian Idrizaj scored an impressive 19-minute hat-trick as Rafael Benitez's squad of promising youngsters opened Liverpool's pre-season in some style at Wrexham.

Both sides fielded completely different teams in each half of their friendly at the Racecourse ground, which attracted an 11,000-plus crowd.

The 22 Liverpool players on show comprised of the bulk of their FA Youth Cup-winning sides of the last couple of seasons, plus an array of prospects signed in Benitez's three years at Anfield. The only big names on show for Liverpool were Steve Finnan, Jermaine Pennant, Mohamed Sissoko and Alvaro Arbeloa.