[lfc-news] Raven's earning rave reviews - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 10 Jan 2005
Raven's earning rave reviews
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

FLORENT SINAMA PONGOLLE'S winning penalty was responsible for taking
Liverpool into tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final. But, for many, the
most enduring image of the last round came much sooner.

With the tie poised at 0-0, Tottenham's Jermain Defoe raced beyond
Liverpool's back four and had only Jerzy Dudek to beat.

As the prolific striker was about to pull the trigger, the ball was
nudged away from him with the kind of impeccably timed sliding challenge
Mark Lawrenson would have been proud of.

The fact that Liverpool's David Raven had caught one of the fastest
forwards in the Premiership was impressive enough, but the composure he
showed when he got there suggested the Academy has unearthed another gem.

Raven's performance at White Hart Lane was the most impressive debut by
an Anfield right back since Rob Jones burst onto the scene in the early
1990s.

The teenager has waited patiently for his second game for Liverpool
since then, and was cruelly denied another opportunity at Burnley on
Friday. But the visit of Watford could give Anfield regulars their first
chance to see Raven in action.

"It was a disappointment for all of us the game was called off on
Friday," said the 19-year-old.

"We were already in the dressing room and prepared for the match. Maybe
there are mixed feelings for a lot of us because if we had played and
been tired afterwards, there's a chance we wouldn't be considered for
the Watford game.

"But there's no guarantee we'll be playing just because the Burnley
match was postponed. I'm not sure what the gaffer is going to do on
Tuesday yet.

"He could be thinking the home leg is a good chance for us to secure the
tie and so he may play all the senior players. We have to respect
whatever decision he makes, but obviously we all want to play in such a
big game, especially at Anfield.

"In the back of our minds we are all thinking about the possibility of
going to Cardiff, but we're all realistic about it, too. If we were to
get through to the final, we'll be playing either Chelsea or Manchester
United, and it would be very surprising if the manager didn't use the
first team in that situation.

"We just hope the better we play when we get our chance, the more
opportunities we'll get.

"The manager has shown throughout the season he's prepared to use the
young players. Stephen Warnock and Neil Mellor have shown that."

Benitez faces a choice between romanticism and realism as his side is
one convincing win away from Cardiff.

But even if he does elect to use his big guns, such as Sami Hyypia,
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, there are those who believe Raven
isn't far away from establishing himself as a regular in such company,
anyway.

With Josemi injured and struggling to settle to the demands of English
football, it's taken a rich vein of form from Steve Finnan to keep Raven
on the sidelines.

Raven has represented England since he was 14, captaining his country at
Under-20 level as recently as last November.

A new two-and-a-half year contract was the strong-est indication of all
Benitez sees potential in the Wirral teenager, who admits he was unsure
of his future before the Spanish coach arrived.

"I started my career at Tranmere and was there until I was 14," says
Raven. "But then Liverpool ' s scouts approached me and told me the club
was interested and it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down.

"I've been here for five years now. Most of the time I played
centre-half, but as I've got older I've settled as a right back.

"Hugh McAuley and the manager spoke to me earlier in the season and told
me that's where they see my future.

"Before the gaffer arrived I wasn't sure what was going to happen
because my contract was up at the end of this season, but after a few
weeks he told me he would be keeping me.

"He's been really encouraging, not just to me, but to all the young lads
here.

"I'm not just going to go through the motions while I'm here and settle
for playing in the reserves. I want to force myself into the first team
on a regular basis and, like any player, I've got confidence in my
ability to do that."

Despite being named Liverpool's man of the match in the last round,
Raven modestly described his performance at Spurs as 'steady'.

"To be honest, I didn't think I did anything outstanding," he said. "I
just wanted to go in there and keep it as simple as possible and play my
normal game.

"I like to get tackles in, make sure I don't give the ball away and get
up and down the line as much as possible, and that's what I did on the
night.

"I remember the tackle on Defoe, but when I was making it I didn't
realise it was him. I was just trying to catch a player and I didn't
think I was going to get there.

"Then I heard the big cheer from our fans so I knew I had won the ball."

Thirty minutes later, the youngsters were celebrating in front of those
same fans, with Raven earning more plaudits than any from neutrals who
had never heard of, let alone seen, many of the players selected on the
night.

A chance to repeat the performance beckons tomorrow, although the
19-year-old hopes it's a more fulfilling experience than his last
Anfield outing.

"I've only ever played at Anfield in the FA Youth Cup," he recalled.
"Last time, we lost to Barnsley. Hopefully, it will be different on
Tuesday."


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