Liverpool FC Forum

by **kazza** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:29 am

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants to see his side gain a nasty streak.

The Reds struggle to transfer their very good and consistent European form to The Premiership, and Benitez feels his team need to be more aggressive.

"It is more tactical in Europe, and in the Premiership it is far more physical," he said.

"In Europe we are more comfortable because it is not so much of a fight for the ball all the time.

"In the Premiership there are many long balls and then a fight for the second ball on the edge of your box. Whoever gets it controls the game.

"We want to play football in a certain style and we can do that in Europe, but in England it is not always possible.

"We were too nice last season. This season we are getting better.

" We have seen the physical side of the game and we are trying to do something about it."

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There is nothing new here but it was an interesting story as it is something I have been saying for a while as to why players like Garcia do not play as well in the prem matches as they do in Europe.

What is interesting to me is that Raffa is acknowledging the fact. If you think about it, United had (has) Keane, Neville, Ferdinand etc. Arsenal had (has) Viera, Laurent, Cambell etc and although these are good players (well some of them), they were a little dirty sometimes when they need to be and certainly helped their teams win the prem.

Whenever you look at stats after the matches, Liverpool is always out fouled, and although I wish a team which is technical rather than overly physical, I do think we need make our presence felt.

by **66-1112520797** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 2:07 pm

Along with not scoring goals , this adds to the uphill task of beating premiership teams.
The reason we seem to do well in Europe is because we dont necessarilly play in a typically English style. We do play a more continental game , then when we bring that style back to the premiership it seems as though the team cannot get to grips with the hustle and bustle of the domestic league.
But Rafa has brought in Crouch and Sissoko two players that suit the English game alot better. The only problem is when Crouch does play we seem to play more long balls and use him soley as a target man. We tend to forget we still can build the play up from back to front with the ball on the deck, then get to the byline and whip in a few crosses for the big man.
Overall though we have added more physical presence to the squad and this isnt our main problem, but with Rafa dipping into the Spanish market whenever he's looking for a player this wont help the physical presence cause. Just look at Morientes and Garcia .

Going back to the European v English style it would be interesting to see how Juventus or Barcelona faired in the premiership for a season.

by **akumaface** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 2:17 pm

We need people with more fight in them. Players such as Alan Smith, Savage or Davids etc. Otherwise, we wouldn't have any success in the EPL.

by **Houllier=LFC** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 5:05 pm

Savage??!! :angry:

Liverpool FC Forum

Need to get meaner - For prem

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