[lfc-news] Hat-trick hero Baros 'can do even better' - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 15 Nov 2004
Hat-trick hero Baros 'can do even better'
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post Staff

RAFAEL BENITEZ hailed Liverpool's hat-trick hero Milan Baros - but urged
the striker to improve his all-round team contribution.

The Czech forward scored the first treble of his career as he helped the
home side to a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday.

Baros returned from having missed the last two games with a hamstring
strain to take his tally for the season for Liverpool to 10 goals in 18
games with six coming in his last four appearances.

However, manager Benitez has revealed how Baros and his fellow forward
players have been urged to improve their teamwork.

"We have tried to work with Milan in this area, but it is difficult," said
the Spaniard. "We've spoken to him about this. It is like sometimes you
want to change your children, but you cannot do that. You try but it's hard.

"All the players and all the managers need to and can improve and do better
things.

"It might be a little harder to tell Milan about these things now that he
has scored three goals! He's scored a hat-trick, so he is doing well at the
moment.

"All I can do is wait and speak about these things. We have spoken to
Milan, and to Djibril Cisse and to Harry Kewell and Luis Garcia, that is
important for the forwards to play together and play as a team. We are
trying to improve in this area.

"Normally, as a manager you like your team to play to your idea. But you
might have players with different roles, and you have to find the right mix
between your idea and the way the players play. You have to adapt your
ideas to the players you have."

Baros's hat-trick included two penalties which he had earned following
fouls by Palace defenders Mikele Leigertwood and Tony Popovic.

The visitors complained about what they thought was the ease at which Baros
went to ground during the game, but Benitez insisted: "My staff said they
were both penalties and that maybe he should have had another one.

Milan is quick and he runs at defenders and is difficult to mark.

"We talked before the game about who would take the penalties and I joked
with Jamie Carragher about he could take them, but it was decided Milan
would take them. He wanted to take them, and if he has the confidence and
the character then you have to let him take it."

Benitez said that he was considering substituting Baros during the second
half, and that the Liverpool bench were in constant contact with the
striker over his fitness throughout the game.

"The problem for us was to decide how much time he could play during the
game," said the Spaniard. "He had the injury before. He was playing well
and we decided to keep him on the field, and in the end it worked out well."

Benitez continued: "It was a fantastic game for him. Milan was running a
lot and was playing well, and we were always talking on the bench about how
he was feeling. I was glad we kept him on though!"

Benitez also praised the performance of Harry Kewell, who partnered Baros
in attack on Saturday.

"Harry played better today," said the Liverpool manager. "He played between
the lines of mid-field and attack, he played some good passes in and in the
second half he did well on the wing also.

"But it's not just one week, he needs two or three good weeks and I'm sure
he will play better in the future. I've said before that he is a good player."

He continued: "Palace played a good game. They were well organised,
aggressive and good on the counter-attack and had some good ideas.

"In the first half we did well around the box with some good passing
move-ments, but we didn't score enough goals so they thought they were
always in with a chance.

"I said before the game to the players that it would be difficult. We
needed to work hard and we did that. We deserved the win."

Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie admitted Baros had been the difference
between the sides.

"Baros was their most outstanding player and he hurt us," he said.

"I don't want to get embroiled in any debate over whether he goes down too
easily, that is for other people to decide. But it was hard to take - a
bitter pill to swallow.

"They hardly had a shot in the second half and we scored two stand-out
goals and frankly conceded three sloppy ones.

"I would contest the free-kick (won by Baros) that got them the second goal
which saw them reclaim the lead just before the break.

"What is frustrating is the way they did us at the end. My players are
stunned after that but we must take the positives from games like this."


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