LIVERPOOL BORING? SEE US START SCORING! Reds boss signs another striker and vows to light up the Premiership
David Maddock 14/07/2007
RAFA BENITEZ believes that he has finally been given a licence to thrill by his new American bosses.
The Liverpool manager yesterday completed the signings of exciting young Dutch striker Ryan Babel and skilful Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun, and revealed that he was ready to go on the attack.
The Spanish coach has signed no fewer than five attacking players this summer to transform the look of an Anfield team that was based on solid defence and industry in the forward positions.
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It showed too, in the goals Liverpool have scored under Benitez. In the three years they have had the Spaniard as coach, they have never managed more than 57 goals in the Premiership, an average of just 55 a season.
When you consider that any team with title pretensions must score more than 70 goals, then Liverpool have been well short, scoring 40-50 goals fewer than their main rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea over that period.
Benitez believes he now has the fire-power to make an all-out assault on the Premiership - and he believes the fans will see a new-look Liverpool this season.
"Now, finally, we can compete in the market for exiting young attacking players, and that is what we have done this summer," said Benitez.
"We feel that attacking wise we have a much stronger squad, and we will be able to score more goals with this group of players. We have been able to go out and find players of quality in those positions, which perhaps in the past we haven't been able to compete for.
"Now, we have players of quality in the key positions, players who can change a game when we need them too, and that will allow us to play more of the style of football we want to at Liverpool."
Under Benitez, Liverpool have matched Chelsea for the title of meanest defence in the Premiership, but when it came to scoring they simply did not have the ammunition to hurt opponents.
But after splashing out almost £50million on the likes of Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Sebastien Leto, Babel and Benayoun and several young attacking players for the reserve team, Benitez now believes he can emulate his success at Valencia.
He twice won the Spanish La Liga with his previous club, and it was based on an attacking policy that often saw him play three men up front, and utilise two skilful, goal-scoring midfielders in wide positions.
Liverpool can expect more of the same, with Babel and Benayoun likely to be utilised as out and out attacking options on either flank. Benitez said: "Last season we had a team that was very good in defence, and one that created more chances than any other going forward, but didn't take those chances. We really want to attack this year, and maybe now we have the quality to convert the chances.
"Maybe we also have signed players who can give the quality of delivery from wide positions that will help our goal-scoring."
Torres will provide the focal point for the attack, but Benitez insists that he wants a broad threat from four or five forward players...just as he had in Spain. "In Valencia we had three, four or even five players who could score 10-15 goals a season, and that is what I want at Liverpool because it gives you more options," he said.
"If you have one player who scores more than 20 goals then that is good. But if he is the only goal-scorer, then that could be a problem because if he is injured you suffer, and he also becomes a target for the opposition.
"They know that if they counter his threat, then they can stop your team. But if you have four or five players who can get into the box and score goals, then you have much more variety, and you are far harder to work out and stop.
"In the past we had to sign players without having any money, but we always wanted to sign players of quality to give us those options, and finally we have had the chance to do that."
Babel is a perfect example. At 20 he has been described as one of the most exciting young players in Holland, and he can play as a striker or wide on either side, scoring goals from all positions.
Babel said: "I know I have come into a side with very many players of real quality that will make the competition very strong, but when I spoke with the manager he said I can play in a lot of attacking positions.
"We had a very good talk and he convinced me Liverpool was the right move for me, even if there is lots of competition. I was very impressed, he was like a very nice uncle. My father was with me and was very impressed.
"I am not afraid of competition because I believe Liverpool will provide lots of attacking opportunities for me."
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Thank g0d, we haven't played attacking football for years, Barca/Arsenal eat your heart out, were gonna rip defences open this season
) in attack, more creative and more experimental, then things in the final third should look a lot better. 
