Benitez's selection poser for Monaco showdown - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 14 Sept 2004
Benitez's selection poser for Monaco showdown
By Paul Walker, Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ is facing a selection poser for Liverpool's Champions League
return of how to get £11million Spanish star Xabi Alonso into the side to
face last season's runners-up Monaco at Anfield this week.

The Liverpool manager (left) fielded a midfield five on Saturday, which
seems to be his favoured tactic, which included outstanding displays from
Luis Garcia and Steven Gerrard.

Dietmar Hamann, Steve Finnan - in an unfamiliar right-sided role - and
Harry Kewell also contributed to the 3-0 success over West Brom. And Alonso
started the game on the bench before replacing goalscorer Garcia with 25
minutes left.

If Benitez plays an extra striker in Milan Baros against the French side,
it reduces his options of fitting the Spaniard into his starting line-up
tomorrow.

The former Valencia chief explained Alonso's omission against West Brom,
having been fielded in a central role in the defeat at Bolton a fortnight
previously.

Benitez said: "I need a balance in midfield. With Gerrard and Hamann we had
control of midfield.

"For this game we did not need three central midfielders, which is why
Alonso started on the bench."

Benitez's selection thoughts have been complicated by the excellent display
of Finnan in a wide right role he occupies for the Republic of Ireland on
occasions.

Finnan scored his first goal for the club and provided solid defensive
support for Josemi down the right flank.

Benitez said: "The team are working like a team.

"In the end if you do that you win more games because you help each other
and if you are a big club with that attitude you win far more.

"I was happy because I could see the attitude of the players and if you
have a good mentality then you win. You then improve the level of
performance and win more.

"The team played more as a team, they were good in possession, fast around
the pitch and it was probably our best because of the three goals and the
overall performance of the team in defence and attack.

"But I still look to see better games."

Benitez admitted before Saturday's game that he would not be afraid to
leave out star names in search of a better team balance.

There were concerns that his tactical plan did not work properly at Bolton,
where both Alonso and Garcia played.

He said: "My idea was to use the best players, but sometimes the best
players do not always make the best team. You need to find a balance, it
depends sometimes on your opponents but you always need to adapt."

That balance was helped by the inclusion of Finnan and with Hamann and
Gerrard playing as a central partnership.

Finnan could well have been sold before the transfer window, but has now
staked his claim for a place in Benitez's thoughts.

The former Fulham player said: "People have different opinions on whether I
should be playing or not.

"I am not worried too much about speculation. There has been a lot of talk
about a number of players leaving, but I am now glad the window is closed
because no-one will leave until January.

"I've never felt worried about it, and I didn't speak to other clubs. But
if Liverpool had agreed to sell me there would be nothing I could do about
it - if you are told to go, you go."