After The Match 

            


Liverpool - Lazio 1-0 (0-0)        8.8.08                   Pre-season
Goals: Voronin (90)
Team: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Agger, Alonso, Plessis, Kuyt, Benayoun, Torres, Keane
Subs: Ngog, Hyypia, Cavalieri, Spearing, El Zhar, Darby, Insua, Pennant, Nemeth, Voronin, Finnan
Not used:
Yellow: None
Red: None
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 43.062
TEAM STATS
Shots on target:
Shots off target:
Blocked shots:
Fouls conceded:
Corners:
Offsides:
Possession:
Yellow:
Red:

 
 
HEADLINES “In Xabi we have a good player in
the team..."
Rafael Benitez

0908: Rafa: Alonso may still leave
0908: Benitez refusing to give up on Barry
0808: Late drama at Anfield


 


AUGUST 9
Rafa: Alonso may still leave

By Chris Burton - Sky Sports

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has refused to rule out the possibility of selling Xabi Alonso.

The Spain international appears to have become the victim of the Reds' continued pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

He has the full support of the Anfield faithful, though, who backed him throughout Friday's friendly against Lazio, while also displaying their opposition towards any move for Barry.

However, Benitez appears to have turned a deaf ear to the views from the terraces, admitting that a suitable offer could yet see him part with a popular member of his squad.

"We knew Alonso was a very good player and as a result he had a good price (on his head). We had offers, but they were not enough so we decided he needed to stay with us," said the Spanish coach.

"It could be that he does stay with us.

"For me it is not a problem if he stays or not. He can stay, we always have felt he is a good player.

"We are only talking about a very, very good price. He is a good player, if he is not going to bring a good price then it is very simple, easy to understand.

"I heard the crowd, obviously. We know now, as we knew before, that he could stay with us."

Benitez needs to sell in order to fund any potential bid for Barry and admits that there are likely to be changes within the Reds camp before the new season gets underway.

"It is not positive that we may not have the players we want here before the Champions League game," he said.

"But the transfer window closes at the end of August, we will try to do our best to bring in the players to improve us by then.

"I try to do the best for my club with the possibilities that you have, I have done this every year since I have been here. And I am trying to do the same for this coming season.

"I do not feel any more pressure, every season is the same. We have a good squad, better than before, but we can improve a little bit more."


AUGUST 9
Benitez refusing
to give up on Barry


By Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post

Rafael Benitez last night refused to concede defeat in his attempts to sign Gareth Barry – despite the deal being thrown into serious doubt.

Liverpool manager outlined his dire need to bolster his left side, even hinting he may have to look elsewhere and at a cheaper option than the Aston Villa captain.

But he also suggested that the Barry chase was not dead, declaring to “try my best to improve the squad” ahead of the new season.

Benitez refused to be drawn on the apparent refusal of owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to back his pursuit of the player but couldn’t hide his frustration at his current midfield shortage – particularly on the left – with the start of the competitive season just four days away. “

We can improve so we will try to improve, maybe with one more player if we can,” Benitez said following last night’s 1-0 win in Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly against Lazio at Anfield.

“We don’t know who but clearly we have problems on the left. We’ve lost Riise and Kewell, Aurelio is injured, Leto has no work permit and Babel is at the Olympics and could come back injured. So we need to improve in this area.

“(Barry) can play in three different positions and that’s a positive thing but I am talking about one player. And I will try to improve the team and the squad if I can.

“I will try to do my best.”

It is now a week since Villa manager Martin O’Neill conceded defeat in his efforts to prevent his captain leaving for Liverpool.

But owners Hicks and Gillett have yet to follow up on the £18million offer they were willing to sanction last week.

That fell through because Villa’s contrived deadline for completing the deal passed after they insisted on receiving the payments in two instalments rather than three and the Americans have been seemingly forced into a rethink.

They have already committed £19million to the signing of Robbie Keane from Spurs but the hesitation over Benitez’s main target of Barry is set to put them on another collision course with their manager.

The saga has been a constant source of frustration for the Spaniard since he identified Barry as his top summer target towards the end of last season.

After his first four bids were rejected he was finally close to completing the move last week but remained confident he could still land the 27-year-old England international.

And after O’Neill was prepared to make his embarrassing climb-down after initially expressing delight Barry was staying, it cleared the way for the Liverpool manager to complete the transfer.

Now, with the opening Premier League game at Sunderland just a week away, the failure to capture Barry leaves Benitez’s hopes of getting off to a strong start jeopardised by a midfield shortage, with Javier Mascherano and Lucas at the Olympics.

Benitez was, however, satisfied with the contribution of Xabi Alonso – whose name was constantly chanted by the Kop throughout the game – and Damien Plessis as his central midfield partnership last night.

He added: “In Xabi we have a good player in the team so that’s positive and I hope we have another good paler coming soon.

“It was also good for the young players like Plessis, Nemeth and Ngog getting good first team experience.”


AUGUST 8
Late drama at Anfield

By Ben Blackmore - Setanta Sports

The Kop came to see their new number seven net his first Liverpool goal on his Anfield debut, but they were left to settle for a 90th-minute winner from Andriy Voronin that flattened Lazio.

Robbie Keane worked tirelessly to impress his new admirers, but clear chances would not fall his way despite a dominant first half showing by The Reds.

As Rafa Benitez rested his top stars during the second half, it appeared Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly would prove a damp squib, but Voronin arrived in the nick of time to smash home a 16-yard volley.

There was still time for Lazio to attempt to spoil the party, heading past Diego Cavalieri in injury time, but the linesman’s flag ensured The Reds went home happy.

Benitez gave a huge indication of the side that would face Standard Liege in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday, picking his strongest available side in front of a capacity Anfield crowd.

Jose Reina started his first pre-season game in goal, behind a defence of Alvaro Arbeloa, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher and the impressive Andrea Dossena.

With Steven Gerrard injured and Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva on Olympic duty, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Plessis anchored the midfield behind Yossi Benayoun, with Fernando Torres, Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt up front.

It was Keane’s home debut in the seven shirt previously worn by Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan, and he had a hand in The Reds’ two best moments of the first half.

First, he produced a sharp spin and pass out to Benayoun out on the left, but the Israeli chose to cut back onto his right when an instant cross would have spelt real danger for a retreating Lazio defence.

Then came an even better ball from Keane, lofted this time out to Benayoun, and when the former West Ham man volleyed across goal only Kuyt will know how he failed to convert from four yards.

Benitez will have been satisfied by the dominance of his side, if not the amount of chances being created, and Torres looked sharper and possibly quicker than he has ever looked.

The Spaniard was rested at the break, David N’Gog the replacement, and with his departure went a significant percentage of Liverpool’s threat.

Agger raised the decibels in The Kop with a 12-yard volley that forced a full stretch save, but it was Reina at the other end who had to make the better stop, tipping over a swerving 20-yard effort that look destined for the back of the net.

Substitute goalkeeper Cavalieri then made an equally impressive stop as Liverpool’s reshuffled defence looked a complete shambles with Benitez making a whole host of changes.

It looked like the scores would remain goalless, but then Voronin reacted to Jay Spearing’s cleverly cushioned pass to slash high past the Lazio keeper.

Eight friendlies, no defeats, a solid – if unspectacular – preparation for a title tilt.


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Thor Zakariassen ©