1707: Lucas vows to deliver more goals
1607: Benitez welcomes return of Leto
1607: Voronin impresses as
          Liverpool win in Switzerland 

 

JULY 17
Lucas vows to deliver more goals

By Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo

Lucas Leiva today revealed Rafa Benitez has given him licence to attack and pledged to repay his manager's faith with goals.

The Brazilian midfielder opened the scoring for Liverpool in last night’s 2-1 friendly victory over Lucerne in Switzerland and after the game he admitted he is hoping for a better goals return in the coming season after notching just a single strike in the last campaign.

He said: “It’s always nice to score a goal and it was a good goal and a good win for the team so I’m happy about that.

“We know we have to work hard in pre-season because we have a long season ahead and we are trying to put the things we are doing in training into practice in the matches.

“The manager has given me more freedom to go forward and that suits me because that is my style. I think my form and fitness is improving every day even though it has been tiring because pre-season has been hard.

“I am confident that I can score more goals. Last season I got only one but in Brazil I scored quite a few so I have the belief that I can score more for Liverpool.”

JULY 16
Benitez welcomes return of Leto

By Steve Hunter in Grenchen - LFC Official Website

Rafael Benitez welcomed the return of Sebastian Leto after the Argentine winger enjoyed an impressive run-out during the 2-1 win over FC Lucerne in Grenchen.

The left winger, who was signed by Benitez from Club Atletico Lanus, gave an exciting performance during the 55 minutes that he was on the pitch.

Andriy Voronin scored a brilliant winner for Rafael Benitez's side after Mario Gavranovic had equalised Lucas' opener.

Due to work permit problems Leto last played a competitive match for the reserves against Middlesbrough on December 10, 2007, and the Reds boss is now hoping to have the winger available for selection in his squad this season.

"Leto is a good player and he showed tonight the quality that he has," said Benitez. "He has had some problems with his work permit but hopefully that will be okay because has a lot of quality.

"We are waiting to hear when that permit will come through and we should find that out in the next 10 days.

"I thought there were a lot of positives to take for us from this game. The idea was to continue improving the fitness level of the players. It was a good game with a lot of opportunities and like many times last season I could see another game when their goalkeeper was man of the match.

"The understanding between Daniel Pacheco and Voronin was good and both players did well. The team worked really hard which was good. We kept the ball well and passed the ball well.

"It was also good to give Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt and Javier Mascherano their first games. Kuyt has only just joined us for training and wanted to play tonight."

Steven Gerrard was an unused substitute but Benitez revealed that decision was taken as a precaution because of tiredness, and confirmed his skipper is expected to play against Wisla Krakow on Saturday.

"Steven Gerrard was a little bit tired so we didn't want to take any risks," added the boss. "Jermaine Pennant has a knock so like Gerrard we didn't want to take any risk.

"Steve Finnan has a problem with his thigh and he is back in Liverpool receiving treatment."

The Reds boss also revealed that Andrea Dossena couldn't play because international clearance had not arrived in time for this match. It is hoped he can make his debut against Wisla Krakow in Poland on Saturday.

Benitez also confirmed that Ryan Babel will be allowed to go to the Olympics with the Holland squad.

JULY 16
Voronin impresses as
Liverpool win in Switzerland

Evening Echo

Goals from Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva and Ukraine forward Andriy Voronin saw Liverpool claim a 2-1 win over Swiss Super League outfit FC Lucerne in their second pre-season friendly.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez handed new goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri the gloves for his debut, while fellow newcomer Philipp Degen was also in a first XI which included Spaniard Danny Pacheco but not Steven Gerrard, who was left on the bench.

Pacheco was the architect of the 10th-minute opener, combining well with Brazil midfielder Lucas before the latter slotted home coolly to round off the move.

Benitez’s men were pegged back soon after when Degen failed to win a far-post header, allowing the ball to break to Gavranovic who converted an uncontested header.

Pacheco and Yossi Benayoun both shone in the first half and the visitors soon moved back into the lead through the equally impressive Voronin.

The Ukraine forward took control of the ball 16 yards from goal before producing a sweetly-hit lob to make it 2-1.

Voronin, a constant thorn for the Lucerne defence in the second half, went close to grabbing a second but there were no further goals.

There was, though, one further plus for Benitez who gave Dutch winger Ryan Babel his first 45 minutes since sustaining an ankle injury in his country’s Euro 2008 preparations.

Thor Zakariassen ©