[lfc-news] Ian Rush column - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 19 Oct 2004
Fightback shows strong mentality
By Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo

I COULDN'T believe the statistic about Liverpool's record coming from
behind away from home.

I'm informed it's 13 years since the club was losing at half-time on the
road and still won. It was so long ago, I was still playing for Liverpool.

I can't say I remember too much about the game against Notts County in 1991
when it last happened. But I'd never have guessed it was so long before it
was repeated.

Teams who have a record of winning having conceded the first goal are
usually the ones with the most character.

When I was playing, we seemed to respond even better to going behind. The
fact Liverpool have now won a few games already this season having trailed
has to be seen as a positive sign for the future.

Having lost a goal, you can do one of two things. Either let your head go
down and accept it's not going to be your day or roll-up your sleeves and
fight your way back into it.

From what I saw on Saturday, Liverpool took up the second option.

It's a sign of a good mentality. You need to show how strong you are
mentally, especially away from home when it's always tough.

I heard Chris Coleman's comments about Liverpool scoring lucky goals and I
thought 'so what?'

In the course of a season, goals come in all ways and you take what comes
your way. I'm sure enough deflections will go against Liverpool in future
matches, just as they'll go Fulham's way.

The real issue is did Liverpool deserve to win, and on the balance of play
in the second half they clearly did. Whatever luck they had they earned.

When a game changes so dramatically, you also have to credit the manager
for changing tactics.

Wales fans suffered last week when Poland's manager turned the game against
us with substitutions.

Rafa Benitez repeated the trick at Fulham when he made a number of alterations.

The most obvious was bringing on Xabi Alonso.

But the manager also switched Djibril Cisse to the right flank and in the
short term I think that could be his best position.

I like Cisse when he's facing his marker and running at pace at defenders.
Playing as a target man doesn't really suit him as much, but the way he was
able to run inside or outside his man in the second half caused a lot of
problems for Fulham.

We saw that for the fourth goal when it was Cisse's running on the break
which opened the way for Igor Biscan. That was reminiscent of Arsenal away
from home.

I suspect Benitez will employ a similar tactic in the next few games.
Thierry Henry started on the wing until he became aware of what was needed
to be a striker. Cisse could follow the same route.

Xabi proves he's worthy of selection

IT WAS a surprise to see Xabi Alonso rested for the trip to Fulham, but you
can understand Rafa Benitez wanting to assess everyone in his squad.

He said at the start of the season everyone will get a chance and he's been
true to his word.

But having seen the difference between Liverpool with and without Alonso,
I'd be even more surprised if the manager took the same decision again.

Teams like Arsenal and Chelsea can afford to rotate players because they
have so much strength in depth.

Liverpool don't have that luxury. For the time-being, it's wiser to pick
the best players you've got to get results until you can strengthen with
new signings.

Close battle expected in Euro race

AFTER the first few weeks of the season, I don't think anyone can look
beyond Arsenal for the title.

They're a level ahead of everyone else.

But I wouldn't rule anyone out of the race for a Champions League place.
There isn't a great deal between all the teams, other than Arsenal.

I certainly wouldn't rule out Everton's chances of staying near the top end
of the table for the whole season because, apart from when they go to
Highbury, they've no need to fear any side they play.

From a Liverpool point of view, even in a year of transition the Reds have
got the quality to comfortably finish in the top four.


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