Liverpool reap rewards from summer rebuilding
Aug 2 2005
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post
RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Liverpool's positive pre-season is proof they are already reaping the rewards of his summer squad rebuilding.
The European Cup holders continue the defence of their crown this evening when they entertain FBK Kaunas in the second leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie.
Liverpool take a 3-1 lead into the match after a first leg in Lithuania last week that extended their unbeaten pre-Premiership run, following a routine dismissal of Welsh minnows TNS Llansantffraid in the previous round and friendly victories over Wrexham, Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiakos.
And rather than worry about the possible side-effects of such an early start to the competitive campaign, Benitez has chosen to highlight how the increased strength in depth to his playing staff has allowed him to shuffle his pack while avoiding any major setbacks.
"I do not think this pre-season will affect our Premiership campaign," says the Liverpool manager. "It has been a bit different this summer. We know that the official games are more important than the friendlies, so we have had to change the team around.
"But if you have a strong squad you can play all the games with a good team, so I do not think it is a problem for us.
"It is not a problem to me that we are playing all these games so close together. We are doing the right preparation for the Champions League games. We can manage the players more efficiently now because we have a bigger squad.
"Having a better squad than last season means I can rest players like Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. I have more options, all of them at a good level."
Gerrard has been the star performer in the Champions League campaign thus far, scoring six goals in just three games.
And Benitez insists the end of the debate over the midfielder's future has helped him raise his level, saying: "Everyone can see in the European qualification games that Steven is now happy.
"He will play a major role for us, he can score, pbutt and work hard, and he is very important to us now. I am convinced that we are already a better team than last season."
Benitez hopes his squad will be swelled even further before the end of the week, with the deadline to sign players for the final Champions League qualifying round pbutting at midnight on Thursday.
While the manager is chasing a right-sided midfielder, it is enlisting a new centre-back as cover for Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher that is the more pressing concern. Deportivo La Coruna's Jorge Andrade remains the preferred option, with Daniel Alves of Sevilla among the alternatives.
But Benitez concedes the issue of dealing with club, player and his representatives is slowing the process of securing new arrivals.
"We have some names for a centre-back," says the Spaniard. "Maybe sometimes we have a clear idea with the club and the player but then the agent comes in and that makes things difficult.
"We could have an agreement with someone in the next five days or it could be the next 15 days. I don't know. But we are watching some players.
"It will be better to have a centre-back who can play in the Champions League. But if he can only play in the Premier-ship then that is fine. We need someone, though.
"I want to bring someone in before the start of the season if possible but I will not rush into it just because the matches are coming. If we are made to wait, then we will wait.
"Money is not a problem. The problem is trying to find the players who can join us. That is the first thing, identifying the players. Then after that we can talk about money.
"We do not have to sell Milan Baros to sign new players. But it's important that we qualify for the Champions League as we know that it gives us more possibilities."
Peter Crouch is expected to make his Anfield debut this evening following his £7million move from Southampton.
The tall striker impressed during his bow in Kaunas last week where he showed signs of forging a partnership with Djibril Cisse.
And of the French striker, Benitez says: "I am happy with how Djibril has done. He is in the same situation as the other forwards in that he needs to improve in pre-season and he is improving.
"It is a possibility that we could use him on the right wing. I did the same thing with John Carew at Valencia. It means you can play with another striker in the team and he can get into the box more.
"All the forwards have done well at times when they have played in the games so far this pre-season. We have scored goals in all the games." Benitez adds: "After the start of the season we will see how we are doing and whether we can fight for the title.
"We want to fight for the Premiership. We want to go for all of the trophies. We will not say one trophy is more important than the other because we now have a squad that can challenge in all competitions."
Tonight's opponents Kaunas will be under new management after Igoris Pankratjevas took over from the sacked Aleksandr Piskiarov over the weekend.
With a possible Champions League trip to Albania or Bulgaria in store next week, Benitez is expected to rest some of the players who were in action during the first leg.
Milan Baros and Jerzy Dudek won't be considered for selection to ensure they are not cup-tied in European competition ahead of a possible sale. Neil
Mellor and Djimi Traore are both still injured, but Steve Finnan is expected to return after missing the first leg through illness.
Meanwhile, Florent Sinama-Pongolle returned to full training yesterday as he steps up his recovery from the torn left anterior cruciate ligament he sustained in the Carling Cup semi-final at Watford in January.
