triniboi101
09-11-2007, 01:22
Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool must start turning one point into three if they are to realise their dream of winning the Premier League title. The Reds may have put eight past Besiktas in midweek, but have only won one and drawn four of their five league matches at Anfield so far this season.
It is a statistic Benitez is keen to rectify and he readily admits his side must start picking up maximum points in their home matches if they are keep up with Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the table.
"I think the key for us this year is to improve at home because away I think the team has confidence," said Benitez.
"But at home we have had some draws and it is clear we need to start winning."
The Reds boss accepts his team will be expected to beat Fulham after their impressive triumph in the Champions League on Tuesday, but while he is confident they can win, he insists they will have to be wary of Lawrie Sanchez's men on the counter-attack.
"I think in the Premier League you do not see easy games, so it will be a tough one," said Benitez. "Normally it is more physical so we will try to use our quality.
"They are scoring some goals. When you are at the bottom of the table and you are scoring goals, it means you must be conceding goals, but also that you are dangerous in attack. For us especially on the counter attack we need to be aware."
Benitez was delighted with his team's effort against Besiktas but would not be drawn on whether he will keep the same starting line-up against the Cottagers.
"We now have more confidence and the strikers look like different players because they are scoring goals," said Benitez.
"I have my experience and it is better to not say anything until the end. So we need to wait, so maybe I will say yes I want to keep my team and then you have some problems in training sessions so it's better to wait and see what happens for Saturday."
The likes of Peter Crouch (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/crouch/), Yossi Benayoun (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/benayoun/) and Ryan Babel (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/babel/) have all earned praise for their performances against the Turkish outfit but Benitez feels Andriy Voronin (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/voronin/) should also get credit for his display and insists it is the team that deserves the plaudits.
"Peter is very professional and he's a nice boy," said Benitez. "But I was surprised because everyone was asking about Benayoun, Babel and Crouch, but I think one of the best players was Voronin.
"He didn't score but he was amazing in assisting the other players, passing the ball and controlling the movements. So I prefer not to talk about one because we should talk about all of them, because all of them were magnificent."
The Reds boss also revealed that Fernando Torres (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/torres/) is available for selection after he was named as an unused substitute against Besiktas and that Daniel Agger (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/agger/) is still two weeks away from full fitness.
Couldn't agree with him more. We need to get back to our winning ways and I just hope that Besiktas result will be the start of good things. One win and 4 draws at home?? That is not the Anfield we all know.
Hopefully we start with a good result against Fulham on Saturday.
What do you think is the problem right now with us?? I think its just a matter of time until the team gels and Rafa gets his starting 11 God damnit!
It is a statistic Benitez is keen to rectify and he readily admits his side must start picking up maximum points in their home matches if they are keep up with Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the table.
"I think the key for us this year is to improve at home because away I think the team has confidence," said Benitez.
"But at home we have had some draws and it is clear we need to start winning."
The Reds boss accepts his team will be expected to beat Fulham after their impressive triumph in the Champions League on Tuesday, but while he is confident they can win, he insists they will have to be wary of Lawrie Sanchez's men on the counter-attack.
"I think in the Premier League you do not see easy games, so it will be a tough one," said Benitez. "Normally it is more physical so we will try to use our quality.
"They are scoring some goals. When you are at the bottom of the table and you are scoring goals, it means you must be conceding goals, but also that you are dangerous in attack. For us especially on the counter attack we need to be aware."
Benitez was delighted with his team's effort against Besiktas but would not be drawn on whether he will keep the same starting line-up against the Cottagers.
"We now have more confidence and the strikers look like different players because they are scoring goals," said Benitez.
"I have my experience and it is better to not say anything until the end. So we need to wait, so maybe I will say yes I want to keep my team and then you have some problems in training sessions so it's better to wait and see what happens for Saturday."
The likes of Peter Crouch (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/crouch/), Yossi Benayoun (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/benayoun/) and Ryan Babel (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/babel/) have all earned praise for their performances against the Turkish outfit but Benitez feels Andriy Voronin (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/voronin/) should also get credit for his display and insists it is the team that deserves the plaudits.
"Peter is very professional and he's a nice boy," said Benitez. "But I was surprised because everyone was asking about Benayoun, Babel and Crouch, but I think one of the best players was Voronin.
"He didn't score but he was amazing in assisting the other players, passing the ball and controlling the movements. So I prefer not to talk about one because we should talk about all of them, because all of them were magnificent."
The Reds boss also revealed that Fernando Torres (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/torres/) is available for selection after he was named as an unused substitute against Besiktas and that Daniel Agger (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/agger/) is still two weeks away from full fitness.
Couldn't agree with him more. We need to get back to our winning ways and I just hope that Besiktas result will be the start of good things. One win and 4 draws at home?? That is not the Anfield we all know.
Hopefully we start with a good result against Fulham on Saturday.
What do you think is the problem right now with us?? I think its just a matter of time until the team gels and Rafa gets his starting 11 God damnit!