[lfc-news] Sami: We're on our way - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 18 Oct 2004
Sami: We're on our way

SAMI HYYPIA believes banishing one of the most unwanted records in Anfield
history will transform Liverpool's season.

By overturning a 2-0 deficit at Fulham on Saturday, Liverpool ended a
13-year run during which they have failed to win away from home when
trailing at half-time.

The sequence included 84 games in all competitions, 71 defeats and 13
draws, totalling 7,560 minutes.

It was September 7, 1991 when Mark Walters converted an 88th minute penalty
to give Graeme Souness' Liverpool a 2-1 win over Notts County, having been
1-0 down at half-time.

Neither Roy Evans nor Gerard Houllier achieved the feat.

Earlier this season, Rafa Benitez ended a similar record at Anfield.

When Liverpool beat Manchester City in August, it was the first time in
five years they had trailed at Anfield at half-time and still won.

Stand-in skipper Hyypia admits there were strong words in the dressing room
during the break at Craven Cottage.

"Yes, there were some comments made at half-time," revealed Hyypia. "It was
mainly that we had to start showing more pride in the fact we were playing
for Liverpool Football Club.

"In the second half, I think everyone showed that.

"I think this win could be a turning point for us for the rest of the
season. At half-time, we knew it was a bad game for us. We tried to be more
aggressive at the start of the match but it wasn't working and we were very
sloppy on the ball.

"We lost a lot of possession. But at half-time we knew we still had 45
minutes to turn it around and we did it."

Hyypia had no doubt who inspired the comeback.

"When Xabi came on he was amazing for us," said Hyypia. "He's a quality
player who's capable of performances like that. As a team we knew we had to
show far more than we did in the first half and Xabi helped us to do that.

"We were all delighted at the end as you could see on the pitch, but we
still have to be patient. We're learning all the time about what the
manager wants, but it won't happen over-night.

"If we can continue playing as we did in the second half we'll win more
than we lose."

Liverpool are now preparing for tomorrow's visit of Deportivo La Coruna in
the Champions League.

And Hyypia believes the Reds have the perfect Euro spy to give the players
the lowdown on the opposition - the Liverpool boss.

"The manager knows them inside out so he'll be giving us good advice about
how to play against them," he said.

"It's going to be a hard game but in the Champions League home games are
very important so we have to make sure we get the victory."

Meanwhile, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is still expected back in
around four weeks - not sooner as reported over the weekend.

Gerrard remains on schedule to return on the timescale originally diagnosed
- an eight week absence in full - having suffered a broken foot.

* Liverpool still have tickets available for tomorrow's Champions League
clash with Deportivo at Anfield.


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