Alonso brings back Molby memories - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 16 Sept 2004
Alonso brings back Molby memories
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post

THE last time Liverpool played host to a proper Champions League game, they
were comprehensively outclassed by what Michael Owen later hailed as the
best display by an away team at Anfield in his time there.

Valencia were handing out the lesson that evening, led by a certain Rafael
Benitez. Much has happened since that eye-opening 90 minutes in November
2002 - not least the Spaniard exchanging dugouts to take over from Gerard
Houllier while Owen himself ventured to pastures new - but the feeling
remains that Liverpool are mere temporary gatecrashers among Europe's
present elite.

Their defeat to Grazer AK under-lined to Benitez the scale of the work he
must undertake if common perception of Liverpool's European credentials is
to be altered in the immediate future.

Such transformation won't happen overnight, and while success in the
Premiership must take precedence over Continental conquests, the challenge
of locking horns with the cream of European football can only help
Benitez's domestic cause.

First up last night were Champions League runners-up Monaco, decimated by
summer departures and seemingly ripe for Liverpool to post an early marker
for Europe to take note.

So it proved. With Houllier watching on, it was inevitable his parting gift
Djibril Cisse would grace the evening with his first Anfield goal. But he
was outshone by Benitez's own multi-million addition to his embryonic squad.

To all but the most learned Liverpool supporters, Xabi Alonso was an
unknown quantity to file along with Benitez's other Spanish acquisitions.
But after first Josemi and on Saturday Luis Garcia had posted their
statement of intent, so it was the composed midfielder's turn to
demonstrate his wares.

They are substantial. Although lacking the explosive pace and tenacious
tackling of midfield partner Steven Gerrard, Alonso more than compensates
with a passing range unseen in these parts since the days of Jan Molby -
one ball in particular last night inside the right-hand channel for Steve
Finnan an apt illustration of his asssets. In fact, with his shock of brown
hair and languid style, Alonso comes across as a (much) slimmer version of
the stocky Dane.

This was in truth the ideal fixture for the Spaniard to begin what will
almost certainly be a long-term partnership with Gerrard, with the new-look
Monaco offering token resistance in the centre of the park.

Possession in Europe is key and with his team-mates gradually taking the
hint last night, Alonso will be an influential cog should Liverpool
progress further in the Champions League.