Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Liverpool

Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool moved back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win at Bolton Wanderers.

 

A goal in each half, courtesy of Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard, gave Rafa Benitez's men all three points at the Reebok Stadium.

The Reds went in front after 29 minutes when Kuyt scored with a powerful and superbly directed header from a cross from Fabio Aurelio. The Dutchman had earlier hit the bar.

The Trotters offered little in the first period, but must have felt unfortunate to have had a Gary Cahill header disallowed seconds before the interval after referee Rob Styles blew for a foul on Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina.

The second half brought more Liverpool domination although Ricardo Gardner did miss a great chance to equalise when he slipped at the crucial moment. Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres also squandered good openings with the Spaniard hitting the post.

Gerrard wrapped up the points on 73 minutes with a glancing diving header from a cute cross by substitute Torres.

For an in-depth match report, click here.

Liverpool can add Styles to their substance

Bolton Wanderers 0 Liverpool 2

By Steve Tongue at the Reebok Stadium
Sunday, 16 November 2008

GETTY IMAGES

Steven Gerrard scored a late header from a brilliant Fernando Torres cross to give Liverpool a 2-0 win at Bolton

On
the ground where Rafael Benitez suffered his first defeat and first
culture shock as manager of Liverpool four years ago, his team
yesterday confirmed how much they have grown up since. This time they
weathered the storm that finally blew up on each side of half-time and
should have won by a larger margin while maintaining the pressure on
Chelsea at the head of the table.

Bolton,
strong as ever on set-pieces, nevertheless went away feeling hard done
by after having a goal controversially disallowed from a corner in the
last minute of the first half. Rob Styles' decision that Kevin Nolan
impeded Pepe Reina was understandable, although it was unfortunate in
that he was the referee who gave a shocking penalty against them at Old
Trafford in September.

Benitez claimed: "The six-yard box is
for the keeper. If you have three players in front of him, he cannot go
for the ball. It's obstruction. It's the rules." Fifa guidelines to
referees state: "It is an offence to restrict the movement of the
goalkeeper by unfairly impeding him, for example at the taking of a
corner kick."

Bolton's manager, Gary Megson, who had given much
thought to his planning at set-pieces, predictably disagreed. "There
was nothing wrong with it," he said. "If there's any infringement, it
would be a penalty for a shove on Nolan."

Benitez had not won
here before last season and must have wondered early in the second half
if his players would be punished, like Manchester United at Everton
recently, for not making more of their earlier dominance. Their
profligacy continued to the end, but fortunately Steven Gerrard atoned
for his one bad miss by heading in to double the lead gained by Dirk
Kuyt, who had earlier smacked a shot against the bar.

Fernando
Torres, still not match-fit, came on for the last half hour and set up
Gerrard's goal, though for a while it looked as if Bolton's
RicardoGardner would be the more influential substitute. Brought on for
the second half in place of Fabrice Muamba, who had been man-marking
Gerrard, he offered some attacking threat at last but was another
player guilty of some poor finishing.

With only three points
covering the bottom half of the table at the start of play, Bolton
cannot afford to become too excited about reaching 11th place and will
struggle if their strikers cannot score some goals.

There was
an air of inevitability about the manner in which Liverpool went in
front after dominating the first quarter of the game. Half-chances came
and went, and Kuyt was closest of all in the 22nd minute, hitting a
fierce drive against the bar after a neat one-two with Gerrard. Six
minutes later the visitors built a move of notable patience from the
back, 21 passes flowing between red shirts until Albert Riera's cross
rebounded to Fabio Aurelio for a centre to the far side, where Muamba
allowed Kuyt to head in unopposed.

Had Robbie Keane tapped in
Kuyt's low cross from four yards almost immediately afterwards, instead
of somehow miscuing, Bolton's task would have been immeasurably harder.
Having failed to force Reina into a save, they changed the system to a
straight 4-4-2, committing Johan Elmander further forward, and thought
they had equalised just before the interval.

Inevitably, the
chance followed a set-piece, in this case a corner from the left. Three
Bolton players stood unmarked, crowding Reina, who pushed one of them,
Nolan, out of his way before the kick was swung over and headed in by
Gary Cahill.

To the home crowd's fury, the referee agreed with
Benitez that Nolan had obstructed the goalkeeper. With Gardner winning
free-kicks by running at a defence in which Jamie Carragher was
deputising at right-back, Bolton enjoyed their one good spell over the
next quarter of an hour. Elmander, who has managed only one goal in
eight games since arriving at the Reebok, had a shot from an acute
angle beaten away and Gardner, sent clear by Kevin Davies, slipped
while side-stepping the goalkeeper and skewed his shot wide.

Liverpool
held out, however, and slowly re-established control. Gerrard
unwittingly emulated Keane by jabbing wide from the easiest of
positions after Torres crossed, but when the Spaniard toyed with Andy
O'Brien before setting Gerrard up again, a glancing header settled the
visitors' nerves.

In an eventful last 10 minutes, Jussi
Jaaskelainen saved well from Torres and the excellent Xabi Alonso,
Torres and Lucas Leiva missed badly and at the other end Gardner, clear
again, lobbed over the bar.

Tuesday and Wednesday preview: Arsenal, Liverpool need victories

Arsenal and Liverpool return to Champions League action this week seeking to recover from what could be crushing Premier League losses. Arsenal is desperate for a morale-boosting victory over visiting Fenerbahce after a defeat at lowly Stoke left the Gunners six points off the top of the Premier League and fading from title contention. Liverpool will be especially keen to beat Atletico Madrid after its first loss of the season at Tottenham cost it first place. Both English teams look well placed to rebound, with Arsenal having won 5-2 at Fenerbahce two weeks ago and the Liverpool team that drew 1-1 in Madrid likely to be strengthened by the return from injury of star striker Fernando Torres....

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Makin kukuh

Makin kukuh

GERRARD menanduk masuk gol kedua Liverpool pada aksi menentang Bolton semalam.

---

LIVERPOOL – Liverpool terus mengukuhkan kedudukan dalam carta Liga
Perdana England selepas kemenangan 2-0 ke atas Bolton Wanderers semalam.

Dengan kemenangan itu, Liverpool kini mengumpul 32 mata untuk memimpin kedudukan buat seketika.

Andai rentak cemerlang yang dipamerkan skuad bimbingan Rafael
Benitez itu terus dipertahankan, hajat besar mereka musim ini bakal
menjadi kenyataan.

Semalam, kelebihan beraksi di gelanggang sendiri dipergunakan
sepenuhnya oleh The Reds yang ghairah memburu jaringan sebaik wisel
permulaan dibunyikan.

Ancaman daripada pelbagai sudut dilihat mengundang tekanan kepada Bolton yang turut memiliki cita-cita besar musim ini.

Seperti diduga, Liverpool mudah meloloskan diri untuk gol pembukaan menerusi Dirk Kuyt sebelum berakhir aksi babak pertama.

Ia berpunca daripada hantaran Fabio Aurelio dan Kuyt yang berada pada kedudukan selesa mudah menyempurnakannya.

Selepas itu, asakan Liverpool semakin kencang tetapi peluang yang terhidang dinafikan kekentalan pertahanan lawan.

Begitupun, pada minit ke-73, Steven Gerrard membuktikan bahawa dia
adalah pemain serba boleh apabila menanduk masuk gol kedua Liverpool
menerusi gerakan dengan Fernando Torres.

Liverpool sepatutnya menjaringkan lebih banyak gol menerusi Robbie
Keane, Gerrard dan Torres, namun percubaan mereka tidak menepati
sasaran.

Torres yang diturunkan sebagai pemain gantian pada separuh masa
kedua oleh Benitez kembali memperlihatkan sentuhan berbisanya malah
hampir mencatat nama sebagai penjaring tetapi percubaannya terkena
tiang gol.

“Apa yang lebih penting bagi kami ialah tiga mata. Kami tidak boleh
kehilangan mata jika mahu terus melontarkan tekanan kepada musuh kami.

“Pemain sudah faham apa yang kami mahu dan kesedaran itu telah mendorong mereka untuk terus bekerja keras.

“Kemenangan ini sangat bermakna selepas mengalami kehampaan dalam saingan Piala Liga empat hari lalu,” kata Benitez. – Reuters

Player Ratings: Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 Liverpool

Goal.com analyses the contributions from a breathtaking encounter
at White Hart Lane that had it all. Roman Pavlyuchenko and Fraizer
Campbell netted a brace apiece, while dodgy goalkeeping allowed
Liverpool two goals from corners...

Tottenham Hotspur:

Gomes 3.0 Had
only two things to do and failed to do them. Spurs should have kept a
clean sheet, but the Brazilian showed a distressing lack of ability on
corner kicks. Suffered a bad injury.

Hutton 6.5 Looked to
be a sharper prospect tonight for his side. Outdone for pace on
occasion by Babel but offered width and support going forward, which
was a throwback to his Rangers days.

Bale 6.0 Delivered ball after ball of quality at the business end but did nothing to dispel the accusations of defensive ineptitude.

Dawson 6.5 Captain
for the night and handled the occasion well. Will be disappointed to
have marked Hyypia for the Finn's goal, but was otherwise solid and
dependable.

Corluka 7.0 Showed his versatility and ability by playing strongly at centre-back and scarcely put a foot wrong. An assured customer.

Zokora 7.0 Tremendous
energy levels and provided the 'blocker' for Huddlestone's
'quarter-back.' Shirked a little midway through the second half as
Liverpool temporarily roused themselves.

Huddlestone 8.5 Another
great display from a midfielder sure to be recognised by Fabio Capello
in the near future. A wonderful range of passing and an appetite for a
challenge.

Lennon 7.5 Produced some magnificent crosses and took responsibility well. A new man under Harry Redknapp.

O'Hara 7.5 Gave
the side lovely balance on the wing and showed that he has good ability
in his wand-like left foot. Willing to do the work on both sides of the
halfway line.

Campbell 9.0 Scored two and made one, hit the post and was full of guile, craft and invention.

Pavlyuchenko 8.5 Gave Agger a torrid time and showed a real poacher's instinct on his brace.

Subs:

Cesar 5.0 Had little to do.

Darren Bent 5.0 Only introduced to stretch his legs.

Kevin Prince Boateng 5.5 A nice cameo

Liverpool:

Cavalieri 5.0 Terrible mix-up for the second goal; good shotstopper but not a contender for the number one shirt on this showing.

Degen 5.0 Better
going forward than defending. Questionable decision-making and could
have done with marking a little tighter on the flanks. Key-balls were
delivered from his jurisdiction.

Dossena 3.0 A long way off the standard. Was guilty of terrible errors, poor judgement, bad marking and generally had one to forget.

Agger 5.0 Came
up against two red-hot strikers and scarcely competed. Looked like he
phoned-in this performance in a non-priority competition.

Hyypia 5.5 At
the back for the Pool, the best of a bad bunch. Tried to get close to
his men and pressed well. However, when he left the line, his trio of
colleagues did not cover him sufficiently.

Plessis 6.0 Had
a spell of dominant play in midfield, but Spurs had taken their foot
from the gas at that stage. Still has a long way to go.

Lucas 6.0 Threatened
to hijack the game in the first half with his buzzing style and prompt
passing. Faded as Liverpool conceded and was booked.

El Zhar 6.5 A better second half than first; given a free-role in the second period and made more of an impact through the centre.

Babel 6.0 Beat Hutton once or twice but showed little end product.

Torres 4.5 Given a jog-out but is a long, long way from the player we know. Hardly featured.

Ngog 5.0 Worked hard with scant reward.

Subs:

Xabi Alonso 6.5 Made an impact as his colleagues sought him for every midfield pass.

Emiliano Insua 6.0 Ruffled the occasional feather on the left side.

Stephen Darby 5.0 A low-key debut.

'Spurs Redknapp' benam anak buah Rafa buat kali kedua

SATU lagi pertembungan Piala Liga antara dua kelab
Liga Perdana Inggeris menyaksikan Liverpool yang dikendali jurulatih
dari Sepanyol, Rafael Benitez di aibkan sekali lagi oleh Tottenham
Hotspur 4-2.

Spurs yang diberi nafas baru oleh pengurus barunya,
Harry Redknapp cemerlang menumbangkan salah satu dari pasukan 'big 4'
Inggeris.

Sebelum ini Spurs telah mengalahkan Liverpool 2-1 dalam kejohanan Liga Perdana Barclays.

Benitez tuntut Liverpool padam memori pahit

BENITEZ (kanan) memberi arahan kepada pemain pertahanan Liverpool, Jamie
Carragher pada sesi latihan di Melwood semalam.

---

LONDON - Pengurus Liverpool, Rafael Benitez berharap anak buahnya
dapat melupakan memori pahit ekoran kekalahan 1-2 kepada Tottenham
Hotspur pada aksi Liga Perdana England Sabtu lalu menjelang pertemuan
menentang Atletico Madrid dalam saingan Liga Juara-Juara di Anfield
awal pagi ini.

Skuad kendalian Benitez itu mencatat kekalahan pertama musim ini
selepas penyerang Spurs, Roman Pavlyuchenko meledak gol kemenangan pada
minit-minit akhir perlawanan di White Hart Lane.

Bagaimanapun skuad The Reds berpeluang untuk menebus kekalahan itu apabila dijadualkan berdepan Atletico.

Jika Liverpool melakar satu lagi kemenangan dalam saingan Kumpulan D
awal pagi ini diikuti dengan kekalahan PSV Eindhoven kepada Marseille,
anak buah Benitez akan menamatkan saingan di kedudukan dua teratas,
sekali gus layak ke pusingan kalah mati.

Kemenangan amat penting buat Liverpool kerana Benitez boleh
merehatkan beberapa pemain utamanya dalam dua lagi baki perlawanan
peringkat kumpulan.

Ia juga dianggap dapat memberi kelebihan buat Liverpool dalam memberi tumpuan perebutan gelaran Liga Perdana England musim ini.

"Sudah pasti kami mahu melayakkan diri ke peringkat kalah mati
secepat yang mungkin dan kemenangan esok (hari ini) akan menjamin
tempat kami," kata Benitez.

"Tetapi Atletico adalah sebuah pasukan yang hebat dan apabila
bermain di tempat lawan, mereka selalunya sangat berbahaya terutamanya
apabila melancarkan serangan balas yang pantas.

"Jika kami boleh menang, ia adalah satu keputusan yang penting bagi
kami. Jika kami berjaya memperoleh mata untuk melayakkan diri (ke
pusingan seterusnya), ia tidak akan memberi tekanan yang banyak kepada
kami.

"Tetapi saya yakin Atletico juga memikirkan perkara yang sama
seperti kami, mereka mahu memastikan bahawa mereka juga akan layak
secepat yang mungkin."

Sama seperti Liverpool, Atletico juga akan mengesahkan tempat dalam kelompok 16 pasukan terbaik jika menang di Anfield. - AFP

Tuesday and Wednesday preview: Arsenal, Liverpool need victories

Arsenal and Liverpool return to Champions League action this week
seeking to recover from what could be crushing Premier League losses.

Arsenal is desperate for a morale-boosting victory over visiting
Fenerbahce after a defeat at lowly Stoke left the Gunners six points
off the top of the Premier League and fading from title contention.
Liverpool will be especially keen to beat Atletico Madrid after its
first loss of the season at Tottenham cost it first place.

Both English teams look well placed to rebound, with Arsenal having
won 5-2 at Fenerbahce two weeks ago and the Liverpool team that drew
1-1 in Madrid likely to be strengthened by the return from injury of
star striker Fernando Torres.

"Hopefully he will be ready," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said.
"If he cannot start the game then he will be on the bench if everything
is OK. It's good we have another important game on Tuesday and the
reaction of the players has to be to play well and win the game.

"We just have to keep going and keep playing the same way."

Torres has not played for almost a month because of a hamstring
problem, but Benitez left him out of Saturday's 2-1 loss at Tottenham
to make sure he is fit to face his former club.

Liverpool and Atletico share the lead of Group D and both look
likely to advance to the next round irrespective of the result,
although the loser at Anfield on Tuesday could still be caught by PSV
Eindhoven or Marseille - who meet in the group's other match.

PSV is expected to have a full strength side at Marseille, with
defenders Mike Zonneveld and Jan Kromkamp set to return from injury and
winger Nordin Amrabat hoping to pass a late test on a groin problem.

"In general, Marseille has a lot of quality but if we are
well-organized, we stand a chance to beat them," PSV coach Huub
Stevens said.

Chelsea, England's Premier League leader, is at AS Roma in another
of Tuesday's eight matches. The Blues lead Group A by three points from
unheralded Romanian side CFR Cluj, which hosts Bordeaux.

Roma is in the midst of its worst start to a Serie A season for 35
years after losing four straight games, and could be without captain
Francesco Totti because of a sore knee.

Also Tuesday, Group B leader Inter Milan is at Anorthosis Famagusta
while Panathinaikos travels to Werder Bremen with its morale lifted by
a 2-1 win at Panionios on Saturday. Coach Henk Ten Cate has all his
players at his disposal except for midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz, who
is doubtful because of a leg injury.

Panathinaikos has one point from three games and Tuesday's match is vital if it wants to remain in the race.

"We believe in ourselves," midfielder Giorgos Karagounis said. "We
play with our backs to the wall. We will fight, despite the fact we
know it will be a difficult night against an attacking team."

Inter manager Jose Mourinho has hinted that Brazil striker Adriano
might be dropped as punishment for arriving late to practice, while
defender Cristian Chivu injured his knee in Saturday's 3-2 win over
Reggina and could be out for a month.

Barcelona, the only one of the 32 teams with a perfect record after
three matches, hosts FC Basel in Group C, which also features Shakhtar
Donetsk's trip to Sporting Lisbon.

Arsenal's task against Fenerbahce on Wednesday was probably made
tougher by the injuries it sustained Saturday rather than the
disappointing result. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor and defender Bacary
Sagna limped off the field and winger Theo Walcott was carried off with
a shoulder injury.

"We have very bad injuries to Adebayor and Walcott, and there is Sagna," Wenger said. "One or two have knocks as well."

Dynamo Kiev hosts 2004 champion FC Porto in the other Group G match.

Defending champion Manchester United will expect to maintain its
recent good form when it visits Celtic - with a draw possibly enough to
send the Red Devils through from Group E to the next round - and
Aalborg hosts Villarreal.

The Danish team's chances of the victory it desperately needs to
maintain its interest in this year's tournament look unlikely. It fired
coach Bruce Rioch last month after slipping to third-last in its
domestic standings, without a win since the end of August.

However, it has had two draws since assistant coach Allan Kuhn took
over two weeks ago, including a 1-1 draw with league leader Odense
on Saturday.

Record nine-time European champion Real Madrid has the chance to
avenge a 2-1 loss at Juventus when it hosts the Italian team on
Wednesday, when BATE Borisov hosts Zenit St. Petersburg in the other
Group H match.

Liverpool striker Torres to return against Atletico?

Rafa Benitez is hoping Fernando Torres will be fit to return to the Liverpool team against his former club Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

PaulEllis/GettyImages

Torres has been forced to watch from the stands

Torres
has missed the Reds' last five matches after suffering a hamstring
injury on international duty with Spain last month and failed to
recover in time to take a place on the bench in Saturday's 2-1 defeat
at Tottenham.

Liverpool welcome Atletico to Anfield in the
Champions League and Benitez is keen to have Torres back in his plans
after his attack stuttered in recent games.

"Hopefully he will be
ready," said Benitez on the club's official website. ''If he cannot
start the game then he will be on the bench if everything is okay.

"Clearly when you have a striker with the quality and potential of Torres, and he is available, it's a very good option.

"We
have an important match against Atletico Madrid and having Fernando
starting or on the bench is a good option for us. He really wants to
play as he hasn't played for a while. And he was very frustrated not to
play in the first game against them."

Meanwhile, Atletico coach Javier Aguirre's decision to bring Sergio
Aguero back into his starting line-up on Saturday paid off with
the Argentina forward scoring twice in a 2-0 Primera Liga
victory at home to Real Mallorca.

It was Atletico's first league win in five matches and
followed a battling 4-4 draw at Villarreal the previous weekend
for which Aguero was rested.

"The win against Mallorca was a relief," Aguirre said on
Atletico's website.

"We are out of intensive care but we are still under
observation," he said, adding that Aguero would be in the squad
for the Liverpool tie but still had work to do on his fitness.

"He still needs two weeks of specific work," Aguirre said.
"I'll take him to Liverpool but he'll continue to work
intensively. He's fresher but there is still more to do."

Champions League previews - Liverpool vs A. Madrid

(photo: AP Photo / Antonio Calanni)

Liverpool   Photos   Soccer   Sports   star

photo: AP Photo / Alessandro della Valle

Champions League - European Power Rankings

Eurosport - Liverpool remain top of the European Power Rankings ahead of their trip to Atletico Madrid, while Chelsea are closing in on the leaders. We take into account both domestic and Champions

Liverpool v A Madrid Tomorrow, ITV1, kick-off 7.45pm Fernando Torres hopes to prove his fitness to Rafael BenÍtez at training today and to be allowed to face his former club. The Spain forward has missed Liverpool's past five matches with a hamstring injury, including the 1-1 draw in Madrid a fortnight ago, but he is in the frame to face AtlÉtico at Anfield tomorrow. BenÍtez will consider other changes to his team, having noted...

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Kemenangan istimewa Spurs

PAVLYUCHENKO meledak gol kemenangan Spurs di White Hart Lane kelmarin.

LONDON - Pengurus Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Redknapp mengakui
kejayaan menewaskan Liverpool 2-1 pada aksi Liga Perdana England
kelmarin adalah satu kejayaan yang cukup luar biasa.

"Menewaskan pasukan hebat seperti Liverpool adalah sesuatu yang
sangat istimewa," jelas Redknapp merujuk kepada kemenangan kedua yang
diraih anak buahnya itu.

Pada aksi di Stadium White Hart Lane kelmarin, Liverpool terlebih
dahulu berada di hadapan menerusi jaringan awal Dirk Kuyt pada minit
ketiga.

Begitupun, pertahanan The Reds, Jamie Carragher melakukan
kesilapan dengan menjaringkan gol ke gawang sendiri pada minit ke-69
untuk kedudukan 1-1 sebelum Roman Pavlyuchenko muncul wira tuan rumah
dengan gol kemenangan pada lewat permainan.

"Kami bermula dengan seorang pemain di bahagian serangan, tetapi
gagal menembusi gawang Liverpool," tambah Redknapp yang kini telah
mengutip tujuh mata daripada tiga penampilan awalnya bersama Spurs.

"Jadi, kami menukar strategi dengan menurunkan dua penyerang pada babak kedua. Ia memberi lebih banyak pilihan kepada kami.

"Kami berjaya mencipta banyak peluang dan berjaya memberi tekanan kepada mereka."

Sementara itu, Rafael Benitez enggan menyalahkan anak buahnya di atas kekalahan pertama yang diraih musim ini.

"Kami sebenarnya telah menguasai permainan dan mencipta cukup peluang untuk meraih tiga mata," jelas Benitez.

"Namun, kami tidak boleh melakukan sebarang kesilapan dalam perlawanan seperti ini walaupun banyak peluang telah dicipta.

"Agak sukar untuk mempercayai keputusan ini kerana kami adalah
pasukan yang lebih baik daripada Spurs sepanjang permainan berlangsung."

Dengan kekalahan itu, Liverpool kini jatuh ke tangga kedua liga dan
berkongsi 26 mata bersama Chelsea. Spurs pula yang sebelum ini berada
di tangga tercorot liga melonjak ke tangga ke-18 dengan sembilan mata.
- Agensi

Teraju EPL: 'The Reds' tak nak turun tangga lagi

LIVERPOOL: Rafael Benitez menyaksikan anak buahnya
terkial-kial mengalahkan Portsmouth 1-0 kelmarin tetapi menegaskan
Liverpool mampu kekal di tangga teratas Liga Perdana England.

Jaringan
penalti Steven Gerrard pada minit ke-75 mengekalkan kelebihan tiga mata
pasukannya ke atas Chelsea yang membenam Hull City 3-0.

Benitez membuat empat pertukaran berbanding dengan pasukan yang menewaskan Chelsea 1-0 di Stamford Bridge Ahad lalu.

Pengurus
Liverpool itu berkata: 'Ini merupakan satu peringatan kepada para
pemain dan sesiapa saja bahawa kami boleh membuat pertukaran dan tetap
menang.

'Selepas memenangi perlawanan di Chelsea dan kemenangan malam ini menjadi keutamaan.

'Kami mahu kekal di tangga teratas untuk tempoh yang lama.'

Sejauh
ini, Benitez masih keberatan hendak menurunkan secara bergilir
bintang-bintangnya - dasar yang mengakibatkan beliau menerima kecaman
musim lalu.

Tetapi jurulatih dari
Sepanyol itu akui: 'Dengan satu lagi perlawanan dalam masa tiga hari,
kami perlu menangani skuad dan para pemain dengan lebih berhati-hati.'

Bagi Tony Adams, yang menggantikan Harry Redknapp sebagai pengurus Portsmouth, kekalahan itu sungguh memilukan.

Tetapi
beliau enggan menyalahkan Papa Bouba Diop, yang terpegang bola agak
luar biasa - menumbuk bola menyusuli tendangan sudut Fabio Aurelio yang
hendak ditanduk Samy Hyypia - memberikan Liverpool gol kemenangan
tendangan penalti.

Adams berkata:
'Saya teringat ke sini bersama Arsenal dengan Ray Parlour menghadiahkan
tendangan penalti dalam perlawanan pertamanya.

'Melakukan kesilapan dan kecuaian dalam masa sedetik boleh membawa padah.

'Memanglah sukar untuk berpuas hati apabila anda tewas 0-1 tetapi pada perlawanan pertama memimpin pasukan, ia adalah okey.

'Jika mereka menunjukkan tahap komitmen saya akan berasa gembira.'

Selepas
'berjudi' dengan merehatkan Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano, Albert
Riera dan Robbie Keane, pengurus Liverpool itu tidak menolak perubahan
terpaksa dibuat meskipun beliau menekankan akan memastikan kesebelasan
yang mantap.

'Jika anda bermain dalam Liga Juara-Juara (Eropah) dan pertandingan domestik, anda terpaksa menukar para pemain,' tegas Benitez.

'Jelas sekali ketika menentang Portsmouth dengan adanya dua atau tiga pemain ia boleh menambah kesegaran permainan kami.

'Kami
tahu perlawanan dengan Portsmouth adalah sukar. Jadi, kami menggunakan
pemain yang mempunyai kualiti yang berbeza. Kami perlu menukar pemain
dan kemudian mendapatkan huraiannya.

'Kami meneliti beberapa pilihan dan kami menaruh keyakinan bahawa kami dapat menjaringkan gol.'

Kini,
Benitez menaruh harapan penyerangnya dari Sepanyol, Fernando Torres,
akan pulih dan cergas apabila Liverpool bertandang ke Tottenham Hotspur
Sabtu ini.

Adams membuat keputusan
mengejut dalam perlawanan pertama memimpin Portsmouth dengan
mengetepikan penyerang Jermain Defoe, yang menjaringkan enam gol dalam
sembilan perlawanan Liga Perdana.

Bagaimanapun,
Adams berkata beliau tidak menghadapi masalah dengan penjaring utamanya
itu dan menjelaskan bahawa lima pemain adalah wajar bagi perlawanan ini
dengan terpaksa memilih antara Defoe dengan Peter Crouch.

Adams
menjelaskan: 'Saya membuat keputusan mengenai taktik permainan,
keputusan-keputusan dari segi teknikal, psikologi dan emosi.

'Saya
mahu Jermain menjadi penjaring utama Portsmouth dan akan mendorongnya
menjadi penjaring terbanyak dalam liga dan saya percaya beliau mampu
melakukannnya.

'Kami telah dibelasah dalam perlawanan-perlawanan di padang lawan.

'Kami tewas 0-3 di Braga dan 0-6 di tangan Manchester City.

'Saya bermain 4-5-1 menentang pendahulu liga dan sebab itu Jermain direhatkan. Jermain memberi sokongan penuh kepada saya.

'Jermain
memberikan sokongan 100 peratus kepada saya dan beliau cukup faham.
Minggu hadapan mungkin giliran Crouch pula direhatkan.' / The Sun,
Reuters

Rafael Benitez