Benitez Looks At Positives
Saturday, 12 July 08, 07:36 PM
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez looks focuses on the good things he witnessed during their opening pre-season friendly against neighbours Tranmere Rovers.
Liverpool put in a solid display in their one-nil victory over Tranmere with Rafa Benitez looking at the first-half display of 17-year old Daniel Pacheco, the debuts of new signings Phillip
Degen, and Diego Cavalieri, and Daniel Agger's return from injury.
Speaking of the Danish centre back, Reds boss Benitez told the clubs offical website: "The main thing for us was to see if he could come through a match - he had no problems so he will be a
good plus for the team. This is the type of game you want so you can see if the players are match-fit."
The eye-catching display of youngster Pacheco also impressed Benitez: "He had two or three chances and was a threat in attack. We saw how good he was for the reserves last season and today
everyone could see he has the talent and the quality."
The head coach also offered words of encouragement for new boys Degen and Cavalieri: "Cavalieri did not have too much to do but we know he will be a keeper who will fight for his place along
with Pepe [Reina]. We also saw what Degen can offer on the right hand side. It is a game that we can take positives from and a lot of the lads tried to impress. Degen had four or five good
openings in attack, put some crosses and I think we saw the potential that he has."
Benitez also mentioned that he expects to bolster his squad further before the window closes: "We are working hard trying to bring in good players and I think we can progress over the next
week."
Rafa will now take his squad for a training camp in Switzerland.
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Yossi The Difference As Liverpool Edge Tranmere
Saturday, 12 July 08, 07:20 PM
Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool have opened their pre-season account with a win over Tranmere, dominating proceedings but winning by just a single goal...
The Reds fielded a mostly makeshift eleven as they made the trip to Tranmere, who themselves finished top of League One and will be hoping to make a fist of their upcoming Championship
campaign.
Despite being in front of a home crowd hopeful of witnessing a win over their more illustrious Merseysiders, Tranmere supporters had little to shout about all game as Liverpool, who started
with teenage debutant Daniel Pacheco up front, who joined from Malaga.
Daniel Agger also started, a relief for many Reds fans, with the stopper having spent the majority of last season out with injuries. New recruits Philippe Degen and Diego Cavalieri were on the
substitutes' bench, as was skipper Steven Gerrard, with another new signing in Andrea Dossena left out of the squad.
Liverpool had the better of the early stages in terms of possession, with the Prenton Park crowd content with their team's best efforts to get behind the ball and keep out Rafael Benitez's
side.
Pacheco was the livewire early on, first curling a shot just past the post and then, latching onto a long ball from Daniel Agger, testing Tranmere goalkeeper Danny Coyne.
Jermaine Pennant soon rifled a shot just inches over the bar as Liverpool continued to have all the play, and the Reds got their goal just before the break, with Yossi Benayoun cutting in from
the left hand side onto his favoured right foot, striking a sweet shot past Coyne to give Liverpool the only goal of the game.
At half time, Benitez gave debuts to Cavalieri and Degen, while also making five other substitutions.
Plessis, impressive in midfield, tested Coyne and Agger unleashed a trademark piledriver that went just over the bar as the Reds failed to add a second goal despite having the majority of
possession and chances.
Captain Steven Gerrard was introduced 20 minutes from time to a standing ovation but had little impact on the game. In truth, it was at this point that the Rovers sensed they could yet snatch a
result, with Chris Curran coming close with a header that went just wide of goal.
However, it was not to be their day as Liverpool got off to a fairly promising start to their pre-season.
The Reds head to Switzerland to continie their pre-season programme next week.
LINE-UPS
Liverpool: Martin, Carragher (captain), Hobbs, Agger, Darby, Insua, Plessis, Leiva, Pennant, Benayoun, Pacheco.
Subs - Hyypia, Gerrard, Spearing, Aurelio, Cavalieri, Degen, Kelly, Voronin, Skrtel, Flynn.
Tranmere Rovers: Coyne, Taylor, Kay (captain), Chorley, Curtis, Jennings, Edds, O'Callaghan, Shuker, Moore, Greenacre.
Subs - Achterberg, Goodison, Curran, Holmes, Savage, Waterfall, Creswell, Sonko, Gornell, Henry, Ahmed.
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there's nothing special bout this..i just want to share my greatest soccer moment with any Liverpudian outhere..
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