[lfc-news] Sacrificial Dan's untimely closure - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 9 Aug 2004
Sacrificial Dan's untimely closure
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

WITH the kind of cruel timing so common in football, Danny Murphy spoke at
Liverpool's media day last Thursday about his hopes for his Anfield future.

Just 24 hours later, Rafael Benitez told him he didn't have one.

It was a ruthlessly expedient decision, and one which will be seen by the
supporters as a sacrifice.

A player's player - in other words someone prepared to graft as well as
craft - he was more than capable of delighting the fans with matchwinners
at the grounds where Liverpool fans celebrate away-goals most wildly . . .
Goodison Park and Old Trafford.

Strangely, his Anfield career had just seemed to be on an upturn again.

After being left out by Gerard Houllier for long periods of last season, it
seems an appeal by some of his influential team-mates helped restore him to
the starting line-up. Results instantly improved.

This summer he was one of the first names singled out by Rafael Benitez at
the press conference to announce his appointment as manager, then picked
out for praise again in the pre-season friendly at Wrexham.

It seems Benitez's craving for the capture of Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi
Alonso has forced him into a necessary sacrifice.

Murphy was widely regarded as the club's most consistent player during the
2002/03 season - when he scored 12 goals.

Signed by Roy Evans from Crewe Alexandra for £2m in 1997, he was loaned
back to Gresty Road at the end of the 1998/99 campaign.

His response was admirable - and in November 2001 he became an England
international when he figured against Sweden at Old Trafford.

Predictably there are no shortage of suitors for his talents now he is
available.

Jamie Redknapp is trying to convince him to join Spurs, Charlton would like
him to join their upwardly mobile march - while Everton boss David Moyes
would love to take him across Stanley Park, but appears unlikely to be able
to finance the deal.

Ultimately, Murphy's words last Thursday will read like an Anfield epitaph.

"By the time I get to the end of the season I'll probably know whether the
manager fancies me and whether they're going to offer me a new contract or
not," he said.

"You've got to perform to keep your contract going and to stay at
Liverpool, which is definitely where I want to be.

"For me and the rest of the players, you're just working hard to stay here
because you want to be a part of Liverpool Football Club.

"No disrespect to any other clubs, but, if you're going to move, it's going
to be to a lesser club, which means that your chances of winning silverware
diminish.

You fight tooth and nail to stay here."

Sadly for Murphy, the decision has been taken out of his hands.


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