[lfc-news] Mark Lawrenson column - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 18 Jan 2005
Liverpool must strengthen to close gap at top
By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

I KNOW that Rafael Benitez has said it is a fine line between Liverpool
and the top three teams, but I can't agree with him.

Alright so Liverpool beat Arsenal and were unlucky against Chelsea, but
they are still 11 and 21 points behind them respectively.

The defeat against Manchester United emphasised the sizeable gap that
has to be breached. It will not be spanned this season because Benitez's
work has just begun but next year Liverpool will have to be closer, and
that means several quality players coming in.

They just don't have enough of those at the moment. Looking at the team,
Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia have done well, while John Arne Riise
has returned to form. Steven Gerrard is still a class apart, but a fit
Xabi Alonso and Dietmar Hamann are also good enough.

Up front Fernando Morientes will be a good buy and Milan Baros has
started to lead the line. Apart from that, who else is there? OK,
Djibril Cisse may be the answer to every Liverpool fan's prayers, and
Harry Kewell was starting to play well before injury struck. Anyone
else? Didn't think so.

For now it is up to Benitez to make the most of what he has and trying
to get the players on the fringe to make a real difference - people like
Luis Garcia and Antonio Nunez.

To me Garcia is all flicks and tricks, but without any substance.

Nunez is still finding his feet but I just can't see what he has to
offer. Normally you can pick out a player's strong points after a few
games, but I can't see any with him. He is one-paced, can't beat a man
and isn't a particularly good passer.

Another potential troublespot is with the goalkeepers, as seen on Saturday.

Despite having a good view of Wayne Rooney's shot, Jerzy Dudek wasn't
anywhere near it. He seems to have a mental block when it comes to
playing against United which is no good.

Everyone keeps hoping that Chris Kirkland will finally fulfil his
potential, but I haven't seen that yet. He was having a bad season this
time and then he got injured again.

I don't think a keeper is high on Benitez's priorities, but I would be
looking over my shoulder in the summer if I was them, particularly as
Edwin van der Sar is likely to be available at Fulham.




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