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Rafa's view of the derby

Benitez

By Benitez
in Liverpool FC

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Benitez

Benitez

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Rafael Benitez declared himself very happy with Liverpool's Merseyside derby victory over Everton but admitted his team can play a lot better.

Benitez said the 3-1 win over Everton was not Liverpool's best performance of the season but added that confidence is high in his team.

 

Benitez said: "I am very happy but at times in the first half Everton caused us problems in the air and we were not winning second balls. We can play a lot better and have played better this season.

 

"The team is playing well and with confidence. We knew before the game it would be physical and we knew what to do. The whole team worked hard, everybody.

 

"We started at a high tempo and we knew they would make some mistakes and we wanted to take advantage of that.

 

"The big difference for us this season is we know how to handle the physical games and we have players like Sissoko, Crouch and Reina who have helped us do that.

 

"Crouch is playing well and scoring goals for us and I'm very happy with him but the most important thing is he continues to play well. Before the game I wanted to use two different kinds of players against Everton and play Cisse with Crouch. Cisse has the pace and can run into wide areas and Crouch is good in the air and can hold the ball up."

 

ere

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Guz

Guz

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Definitley. First half was quite patchy, seemed to completely take the foot off the pedal after we scored but I suppose Everton were so s**** we did all we needed to and responded with a 3rd goal at the best possible time. We did look a bit vulnerable to the long ball tonight but after 2 tough games (Derby and playing vs Shearer & Owen), hopefully a nice easy game against WBA and maybe a rest for Carra or Sami.

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Benitez

Benitez

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One thing that worried me tonight was that we looked a wee bit tired. Not our best performance, consequently, and I think Benitez's starting XI and subs were canny.

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I think he's using the squad really well in this tough run. But a lot of that is the fact that Rafa is getting the starting line ups spot on, and we've made the games comfortable. So we can sub players at the right times. Moro, JAR and Crouchy will be reasonably fresh for the next game. And I wouldn't be that surprised if FloPo gets a start maybe?? The boss is using the squad well.

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Redwire

Redwire

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One thing that worried me tonight was that we looked a wee bit tired. Not our best performance, consequently, and I think Benitez's starting XI and subs were canny.

1129981[/snapback]

 

I thought Hyypia especially looked a bit off the pace right from the start. Maybe the Japan trip and two games in three days are catching up with him a bit.

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Guest roger

Guest roger

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but I suppose Everton were so s****

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I thought they created more chances than alot of recent teams. I thought they would possibly get a second after they got one back. There was certainly potential for that to happen for a short while...

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Ian Garro

Ian Garro

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I thought that was possibly our worst performance since we've been on this little run of ours - just shows you a) how bad Everton are and b) how much we've improved that we could play like that and still win without really getting out of first gear.

 

Last year I thought Rafa ballsed it up completely in this fixture, with the side he picked. This year I thought the side he picked was absolutely spot on.

 

Oh and Cisse: I never thought he had that kind of finish in him !

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Guz

Guz

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I thought they created more chances than alot of recent teams. I thought they would possibly get a second after they got one back. There was certainly potential for that to happen for a short while...

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A lot of huff and puff but in terms of incisive football there was none really. You can see why they struggle for goals so much.

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Guest roger

Guest roger

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A lot of huff and puff but in terms of incisive football there was none really. You can see why they struggle for goals so much.

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Newcastle never got a sniff against us- apart from the cross that Riise cut out. I thought we could easily have leaked goals before the one that went in. But they upped their game for this match and could easily lose the next one...

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Guest Red Mist

Guest Red Mist

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We never even looked bothered after Everton went down to 10 men. The players didn't want to exert themselves considering our upcoming fixtures, it was a stroll once Neville was sent off.

And even before that we were playing well within ourselves whereas Everton played their best football all season, yet it was still all so easy.

No surprise really, the useless sack of blue turds can't be compared to the Kings of the continent.

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CarraLegend

CarraLegend

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It was a weird one last night, wasnt as feisty as usual and we just simply outclassed them in every department when we needed to. We started brightly, Crouch nearly in on goal and Cisse shooting wide and then bang bang 2-0, we just started coasting and got punished, half time. Second half starts and bang 3-1 and even though most of us wouldnt of said it at the time due to nerves it was really game over, they go to ten men and we just coast even more. Wasn't much madness from many players although Neville, Cahill and Arteta were obviously running a competition between them of who could commit the most fouls. We totally coasted the Derby and it was f***ing brilliant.

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Tobes Rafa

Tobes Rafa

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The biggest compliment I can pay the team is that with every passing match we are becoming more and more like the Valancia that played us off the park in pre-season a few years ago. Even last night during not one of our best performances, some of the passing and movement was out of this world. We are very hard to beat but we are also becoming very pleasing on the eye for the neutral fans.

 

Total football is approaching.....

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Figaro

Figaro

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Josemi for Finnan

Traore for Warnock or Hyypia?

Riise for Kewell

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I think Kewell will start - he's getting better and better with each game (am I saying this?) ;) and a run of games like this will do his confidence no end of good

 

I can see Cisse starting too - keep him happy

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