Fowler strike offers hope of longer stay

Fowler strike offers hope of longer stay

Apr 3 2006

By Carson Wishart Daily Post Staff

RAFAEL BENITEZ revelled in Robbie Fowler's goal-scoring feats against West Bromwich Albion by suggesting that he could be ready to offer the Kop legend an extended stay at Anfield.

The 30-year-old striker surpbutted Kenny Dalglish's all-time Liverpool goal-scoring record of 172 goals with a sixth-minute strike that set the clbutt of 2006 on their way to a comfortable 2-0 victory to keep up their chase for second place in the Premiership.

French frontman Djibril Cisse added the second to cap an impressive performance on the right side of midfield, where he deputised for suspended skipper Steven Gerrard who was sent off in last week's Merseyside derby.

It now seems that Benitez may be presented with the dilemma of either retaining Fowler or Cisse's services in a summer reshuffle at Anfield.

"I am very happy to see my strikers scoring goals, Robbie and Djibril," Benitez told the Daily Post."Robbie is working very hard and the fact he has pbutted this record is fantastic for him, but also fantastic for me."

He added: "Of course, I would like to see him score more goals in the future. But his future is not a problem. If he scores one or two more goals then that is fine, but the question will be what he can also give to us as a club and the team.

"We do not have to make that decision now and we're not in a hurry to do so because we still have a few weeks left before doing that.

"The most important thing is that he's hungry and I like to have this kind of player around."

After nearly a decade at the club first time around, Fowler returned to Anfield in a shock move from Manchester City three months ago.

After scoring in the 5-1 victory over Fulham last month, Saturday's strike at the Hawthorns was only his second during his second spell with Liverpool while Cisse netted his 15th of the season.

Fowler, who was delighted at surpbutting Kenny Dalglish's record, confirmed: "Nothing has been said or decided yet. I just have to wait for the manager and I'll just try to keep playing my football. Since I've been back I haven't scored as many goals as I would have liked but I've been relatively pleased and happy with the performances. It's not up to me to say who the manager should sign. It's solely his decision."

Fowler has been equally pleased by the goal-scoring exploits of the whole team, who have shrugged off a barren spell with 20 goals in their last five matches - including the 7-0 romp over Birmingham City in the FA Cup.

"We've worked a little harder in training but I also think we were a little unlucky in a few games in front of goal," he said.. "Since that mini-drought things have been good and I just hope we continue from now until the end of the season."

With Liverpool still five points adrift of Manchester United in third spot after playing a game more, Fowler warned: "We've got to worry about ourselves and not think about other teams at the moment."

On Liverpool's fifth consecutive victory over the Baggies, in which time they haven't conceded a goal, Fowler added: "We started the game quick. West Brom were unfortunate at Tottenham so we knew it was going to be a difficult game. The way we started probably surprised them a little but getting that early goal put us in good stead for the rest of the game."

Fowler upset West Brom manager Robson by scoring when it looked as if he had crept into an offside position, but the former England midfielder conceded: "Saying that, it's no excuse for how we played in the first half. We were absolutely hopeless on the ball with our pbutting and there was no conviction in our play whatsoever.

"If you don't have any conviction about you, then you'll get beaten by top teams like Liverpool."

Benitez, meanwhile, praised the contribution of Cisse in a wide right role but admits the Frenchman would be unhappy to switch from an out-and-out striker on a more regular basis.

"It's not a permanent solution playing him at right wing," revealed the Spaniard.

"He likes to play as striker. He's a solution for some games and it depends on the team we're playing, but without Gerrard he was the best option for us to attack."

Former Auxerre frontman Cisse has been linked with a summer move to Tottenham in a swap deal with England striker Jermain Defoe.

But Benitez added: "We have not talked too much about his future because it's all about the games coming up and we have to focus on that. He's a striker and sees himself in that role. But if we need to use him as a winger, with his pace and movement we will do so because today he has shown his value to the team."

With Liverpool still to play Bolton, Blackburn, West Ham, Aston Villa and Portsmouth in the Premiership, Benitez insists that the main thrust of his attentions lies with leapfrogging United into second. The Old Trafford outfit are five points ahead with a game in hand after their 2-1 win at Bolton.

And Benitez said: "If we want to finish second, we have to keep winning every game which will be very difficult but if you continue thinking about finishing second than you may be certain to finish third."

On the latest victory, he added: "I was really happy with the first half and how we controlled the game and the way we were counter attacking. In the second half, we had some chances but we could not find that third goal to kill the game and they kept going and attacking us with the long ball. So you could say that in the first half I was really delighted and then in the second half a little disappointed, but overall we have done a good job on the day."