OCTOBER 20
Cisse: This
is a new start for me
By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo
Djibril Cisse believes his triumphant week signals
the turning point of his Liverpool career.
The £14m striker grabbed his second winner in four days
to put the Reds on the brink of qualification from Group
G after their 1-0 over Anderlecht.
And having further eased the pressure on himself and his
team, Cisse is vowing to keep the goals flowing.
"Maybe this week is like a new starting point for me and
my Liverpool career," admitted the striker.
"I feel a lot happier now.
That's normal because you're always happier when you're
playing. I also feel a lot more relaxed about the
situation.
"I know I need to have confidence in myself and I think
I've shown that on the pitch last night. I wouldn't say
I've always felt confident I will score, but when I go
out there that's what I'm thinking about - scoring
goals.
"If I want to play I know I have to perform when I get
the chance, not just by scoring but by making the right
passes too.
"I think if I get a good run in the side, I can score 20
goals for Liverpool this season. We have four strikers,
and we have great players who can make a lot of chances
for us like Stevie, Bolo Zenden, Luis and Riise, so we
can all score. Stevie, Luis and Peter Crouch will all
score a lot this season."
Cisse admits he's still adapting to different tactical
demands of manager Rafa Benitez, but having plundered 12
goals for his club and country this season, he is
entitled to think he's responding.
He said: "I like playing in a system where I'm the lone
striker, but I know I have to learn how to play with a
partner. It's the same in my national team where we play
4-4-2.
"I'm happy with the goal last night but the three points
was most important, to stay in touch with Chelsea.
"We know if we win the next game, there will be less
pressure on us because we'll be in a strong position to
qualify."
Liverpool are now preparing for Saturday's trip to
Fulham, when skipper Steven Gerrard will return to the
squad.
OCTOBER 19
Benitez
happy to have Cisse 'option'
Football 365
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was pleased to see
striker Djibril Cisse get on the scoresheet again in
Wednesday's Champions League win over Anderlecht.
The Frenchman followed up his winner against Blackburn
last weekend with the only goal of a 1-0 success in
Brussels.
The goals have been an emphatic statement from the
£14million man, who recently voiced his displeasure at
his lack of starts for the Reds.
Benitez told Sky Sports: "It is good for me as a manager
to have options now. It is good for him and us."
The European champions have been criticised for their
lack of goals this season but Benitez was pleased with
his side's attacking display.
He added: "We create a lot of chances and when we go
forward we put them under pressure.
"Defensive? When you see how many chances we had? We
scored one goal and created opportunities.
"In the second half they played with more wide players
and made short passes. It was difficult to control.
"We had to regain the ball higher and create more
opportunities.
"They have good players and they played good football.
It is important to win and be strong in defence."
Liverpool could secure their passage to the last 16 by
beating Anderlecht at Anfield in their next if Chelsea
also win away at Real Betis.
Benitez said: "I think we need to win at home in the
next game and see the result in Sevilla, after that to
win against Betis."
Cisse, who has now scored nine goals in all
competitions for Liverpool this season, is pleased to be
back in the side but insisted winning games is more
important than his goal tally.
Cisse told Sky Sports: "I think to win today was really
important to stay in contention with Chelsea.
"I don't think it is finished, we have to win more
games. It is too early to say we have qualified.
"We have got three points. Maybe we should win easier
and score more goals but three points is more important.
"It is good for me to start a bit more and score goals.
It is good for the moment, I feel good but the personal
stuff is not important. It is better to think positively
for the team."
OCTOBER 19
Cisse stunner
wins it for Reds
By Rob Lancaster - Sky Sports
Djibril Cisse proved to be Liverpool's match winner
for the second consecutive game as The Reds secured a
1-0 win at Anderlecht.
 The
Frenchman followed up his goal against Blackburn on
Saturday with a stunning strike in the opening 45
minutes to send the Belgian side stumbling to a record
10th straight defeat in the UEFA Champions League
All the talk before the game had centred on manager Rafa
Benitez's team selection, with the Spaniard surprising
many by picking Cisse as a lone front-man and leaving
Peter
Well done, Djibi (Photo: AP)
Crouch and Fernando Morientes on the bench.
It appeared a somewhat cautious team named on paper, but
it proved to be much more attacking on the pitch as the
reigning champions survived some scary moments at the
back to claim all three points and move a step closer to
reaching the knockout stages.
The game could well have been different had Bart Goor
not fluffed his shot straight at Jose Reina in the
second minute, but Cisse's stunning finish was no more
than Liverpool deserved after they had dominated the
first half.
Luis Garcia, playing a more central role with Mohamed
Sissoko surprisingly pushed out to the right wing, had
already failed to find the target with two great chances
before Liverpool took the lead.
John Arne Riise, who tormented Anderlecht's young right
back Anthony Vanden Borre all night, also went close to
an opening goal as only a fine fingertip save by Silvo
Proto denied the Norwegian a rare goal with his right
foot.
However, the custodian was given no chance from the
resulting corner as Anderlecht fell asleep, allowing
Cisse to smash the ball into the net for Liverpool's
450th goal in European action.
Djimi Traore nearly added a second before the interval
as Anderlecht's inability to mark from set-pieces
continued, the full-back only denied a second-ever goal
for The Reds by Proto's excellent block.
Liverpool were not without the odd nervy moment at the
back, Reina's save from Vanden Borre's toe-poke giving
them an early warning at the start of the second-half.
They also survived a loud appeal for a penalty when
Christian Wilhelmsson's low cross appeared to strike a
diving Jamie Carragher on the arm.
However, it was Liverpool who appeared the more likely
side to get a second goal as Anderlecht's need to push
forward left them exposed at the back.
Cisse should have killed the game off just after the
hour mark but he fluffed his shot wide with his left
foot when bearing down on goal.
Benitez was clearly not impressed by the miss as the
striker soon made way for the fit-again Harry Kewell,
back in action for the first time since starting in the
final of last year's competition.
Sissoko also spurned a great chance to clinch it when
Proto's leg deflected his effort over the bar, but one
goal proved to be enough for Liverpool as they continue
to keep pace with Chelsea at the top of Group G.
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