[lfc-news] Stevie G's delight as fifth 'Benitle' enters town - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 14 Jan 2005
Stevie G's delight as fifth 'Benitle' enters town
Exclusive by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

STEVEN GERRARD wasted no time weighing up the pros and cons of Fernando
Morientes earning an instant call-up to face Manchester United tomorrow.

"I would play him. Definitely," said the Liverpool skipper, who admits
he's 'buzzing' at the news Morientes has finally arrived at Anfield.

"I was so worried about something going wrong at the last minute. I
didn't want to answer my phone yesterday morning," confessed Gerrard.

"All I wanted to hear was it was done and dusted."

Like all Liverpool fans, Gerrard hasn't disguised his wish to see more
world-class players don the red shirt.

And Morientes fits the bill perfectly as the sort of purchase he thinks
the club must attract to challenge for top honours.

"It's exactly the kind of signing we need. If you ask any of the fans
about the calibre of player they want us to be bringing to the club, he
would be it," said Gerrard. "I feel the same way.

"You know you're not taking a risk when you bring in a player like that.
I just hope after all the success he's had and trophies he's won he's as
hungry to do the same for us.

"It's good from a symbolic point of view that we've signed someone who's
so renowned as a world class player. These are the kind of signings the
fans want at Liverpool and the players want in the side alongside them."

There's more to Morientes than simply his reputation, of course.

Benitez made a target man a top priority the day he walked into Anfield,
before Michael Owen was sold and Djibril Cisse broke his leg.

Privately, the Liverpool boss has even conceded Emile Heskey may have
been released prematurely. Not because he particularly rated Heskey, but
because he offered something which no other strikers at the club can -
the ability to use his height, strength and power to hold up the ball.

Morientes will provide this as well as goals, and Gerrard believes these
characteristics should add a new dimension to Liverpool's play in the
New Year.

"We've been missing a lot of strikers because of injuries and we've been
short of firepower. He'll give us that.

"Because he plays in a different way to the other forwards, he's going
to give us an option we haven't had this season. I know a lot of people
will be talking about Morientes and Milan Baros as a pair, but I think
he'll give all the strikers a lift. I'm sure you will see all the
strikers benefiting from having him alongside them.

"I've never played against him, but I know enough about his record and
seen him on television to know he's a great player. You can see he's
going to be a handful for any defence he plays against.

"I don't think anyone can question his quality when you look at his
goalscoring record at the highest level, especially in the Champions
League last season."

Benitez will decide after training today if the 'fifth Benitle', as he's
been dubbed in Spain, is ready for the cut and thrust of a clash with
United.

Gerrard thinks players and fans could get a psychological lift from his
presence.

"It's up to the manager whether he plays against or not, but I'm sure if
you asked the fans, they would like to see him in straight away," said
Gerrard..

"If it was up to me I'd like to see him as soon as possible, but the
manager will know if he's ready.

"I'm sure Manchester United won't relish him making a debut against them
because it's the sort of occasion which is made for the top players."

Away from the sub-plot of a Morientes debut, there's the small matter of
Liverpool getting closer to the top three than they've been since August.

The gap between United and Liverpool is currently seven points. A home
win tomorrow would have the Reds breathing down the necks of their most
bitter rivals.

"As far as I'm concerned, Liverpool versus Manchester United is still
the biggest game of the season," insists Gerrard.

"We're the two most successful clubs there's ever been in this country
and when we meet there's a history which isn't there in other fixtures.

"It's the first game we look for and I'm sure the United lads feel the
same way. The city buzzes when this game comes along. "The games between
us have been a bit strange recently. We've had some great results, but
they've beaten us the last two games at Anfield.

"I think they're in a similar position to us in that they know they have
to get it together to challenge the top two.

"We've got to give the same performance as we have against all the top
clubs at Anfield this season. I thought we were excellent at home to
Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea. If we can play the same way, I'm
confident we can get the right result.

"We're going to have to play a lot better than we did against Watford,
that's for sure. As I said after the game the other night, with all due
respect to them, it's a lot easier for all the lads to get up against
United than it is for Watford."


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