Benitez prepares to unleash cisse - Cisse to start anderlecht game
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:50 pmBBC Sport:
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to start with striker Djibril Cisse to expose Anderlecht's need for a win in their Champions League Group G game.
Anderlecht face the Reds on Wednesday looking for their first point.
"Anderlecht know they must win to have any chance of qualifying and they realise this could be their last chance," said Benitez.
"If they attack high up the pitch, we will have chances to exploit and maybe Cisse will start."
There has been speculation over Cisse's future at the club with rumours suggesting Benitez was prepared to let him go. The France international responded by netting the winner against Blackburn on Saturday after making a rare start.
But Benitez has told him that he needs to continue to prove he deserves a starting berth with plenty of competition for places in the Reds attack.
"There was a lot of talk about our relationship," said the Spaniard.
"Our relationship is a professional one. We have no problems.
"If he works hard for the team he can play more games, but it depends also on his team mates.
"If Fernando Morientes plays well, or Peter Crouch or Florent Simana Pongelle then it would be more difficult for him, and better for me because competition is always good for the team.
"He's a good professional. He's working and trying to play and I must decide on things.
"When you have a lot of strikers you have to make decisions. It's impossible to say a striker will play all the games."
Benitez is remaining wary, however, as he predicted an exciting match against Anderlecht.
"If you look at the players they have in their team, it's clear that they are not a bad team," he said.
"They have a lot of quality to choose from and they attack with pace.
"They certainly play some nice football but sometimes when they go forward, they leave some space open at the back.
"I've watched their game against Real Betis and they created a couple of clear openings before Betis scored.
"They will want to win and so do we so it could be a very exciting game of football to look forward to."
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I'm game Rafa is starting to see the light. Cisse's potential is undeniable and hopefully starts like these will bring him the confidence and scoring touch both he and Liverpool need
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to start with striker Djibril Cisse to expose Anderlecht's need for a win in their Champions League Group G game.
Anderlecht face the Reds on Wednesday looking for their first point.
"Anderlecht know they must win to have any chance of qualifying and they realise this could be their last chance," said Benitez.
"If they attack high up the pitch, we will have chances to exploit and maybe Cisse will start."
There has been speculation over Cisse's future at the club with rumours suggesting Benitez was prepared to let him go. The France international responded by netting the winner against Blackburn on Saturday after making a rare start.
But Benitez has told him that he needs to continue to prove he deserves a starting berth with plenty of competition for places in the Reds attack.
"There was a lot of talk about our relationship," said the Spaniard.
"Our relationship is a professional one. We have no problems.
"If he works hard for the team he can play more games, but it depends also on his team mates.
"If Fernando Morientes plays well, or Peter Crouch or Florent Simana Pongelle then it would be more difficult for him, and better for me because competition is always good for the team.
"He's a good professional. He's working and trying to play and I must decide on things.
"When you have a lot of strikers you have to make decisions. It's impossible to say a striker will play all the games."
Benitez is remaining wary, however, as he predicted an exciting match against Anderlecht.
"If you look at the players they have in their team, it's clear that they are not a bad team," he said.
"They have a lot of quality to choose from and they attack with pace.
"They certainly play some nice football but sometimes when they go forward, they leave some space open at the back.
"I've watched their game against Real Betis and they created a couple of clear openings before Betis scored.
"They will want to win and so do we so it could be a very exciting game of football to look forward to."
-------------------------------
I'm game Rafa is starting to see the light. Cisse's potential is undeniable and hopefully starts like these will bring him the confidence and scoring touch both he and Liverpool need
