Liverpool Comment: Where has this swagger been hiding? On Rafael Benitez's bench
Aquilani and Babel show the Anfield crowd what they've been missing....
15 Mar 2010 22:09:00
By Neil Jones | Liverpool Correspondent
Fluidity? Check. Flair? Check. Three points? Check. Rafael Benitez has not had many perfect evenings this season, but how apt that on a night when Rob Lloyd, the prospective Portsmouth owner, was in the stands it would be Liverpool's secret millionaires who would come out to play.
"Leeds. Portsmouth. Liverpool?" read the cheeky banner in the away end, a reference to the respective traumas suffered by each club, but on this showing the obituaries for the Reds are a tad premature. It will be some time before their demise can be mentioned in the same breath as Pompey's, that's for sure.
Three first-half goals did the damage, and having waited what feels like an eternity for a performance of cohesion and conviction, Benitez will be buoyed at the sight of his attacking players producing displays worthy of their sizeable price-tags. Nadir Belhadj's stoppage-time goal was the only stain on a perfect evening for the Spaniard.
Alberto Aquilani grabbed his first goal for the club, and turned in a dominant, almost regal, performance befitting of his nickname - 'The Prince'. The Italian had managed just seven starts since his £17 million summer switch from Roma, but on his eighth full outing he issued the first repayment on that fee.
His goal - swept left-footed past late stand-in keeper Jamie Ashdown with class - was just reward for his overall display. Alongside the impeccable Javier Mascherano in the heart of midfield, the Italian was in sublime form. One early dart from deep was reminiscent of Steven Gerrard, and ended with a fabulously controlled volley veering just wide of Ashdown's far post.
Liverpool's problems in midfield this season have been plain to see. The fact that Mascherano and Lucas Leiva - with no league goals between them all season - have been the regular pairing has meant the Reds have lacked a threat. Aquilani changed that. His pass for Fernando Torres' second - Liverpool's fourth - was the icing on the cake.
He wasn't alone in excelling. Ryan Babel has found nailing down a starting berth equally difficult, but the Dutchman's recent renaissance continued as he collected his third league goal of the season, and tormented Anfield old-boy Steve Finnan with his pace and positivity. Had Ashdown not somehow tipped his stinging second-half strike onto the crossbar, Babel himself could have exited Anfield with the man of the match award.
And the usual suspects were at the party of course. Torres picked up two goals of typical class, taking his tally for the season to 15, whilst Gerrard was back to something like his rampaging best - though that did include a tangle with Pompey skipper Michael Brown that went unpunished by referee Stuart Attwell but might yet attract the attention of the league's disciplinary committee. Maxi Rodriguez offered a regular and consistent outlet down the right, aided amply by the marauding Glen Johnson. Portsmouth, to put it simply, were swamped.
For Liverpool supporters, it was a welcome sight to see such vigour and thrust. Portsmouth may have been willing victims, allowing the Reds room to strut their stuff, but the Kop has been all-too-familiar with pub football this season, so it was nice for them to get a taste of champagne.
That the win moves them back to within striking distance of fourth-placed Tottenham again is a fact almost lost in the midst of the performance. Anfield was eager to savour the kind of performance they have been deprived of for too much of this season.
And with a trip to Manchester United looming large on the horizon - following a European date with Lille on Thursday - the Reds' return to form could not have come sooner. What price 4-1 at Old Trafford?
http://talkaloadofbull.com/en-gb/news/2865/comment/2010/03/15/1834279/liverpool-comment-where-has-this-swagger-been-hiding-onAnother great peice from Neil Jones. 100% correct
