[lfc-news] Ian Rush column - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 22 Mar 2005
Frustration and not malice spoilt Baros
By Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo

I FELT sorry for Milan Baros on Sunday. There was no argument about his
sending off. It was a bad challenge and he deserved to go.

But the motivation behind it was sheer frustration rather than malice.

Although he's taken a lot of stick, I thought Baros played very well.
The only part of his game which let him down was his finishing.

I can understand how frustrated he must have felt, and while that's no
excuse for his tackle, it explains why he lost his head.

I'm sure he felt he should have settled the game much sooner.

While he was on the pitch, Baros did everything his manager wanted
except the admittedly crucial task of putting the ball in the net.

The missed chances apart, Baros was still one of the reasons Liverpool
dominated the game for so long, so some of the criticism aimed at him is
unfair.

Liverpool's running off the ball was particularly impressive. Both Luis
Garcia and Baros gave Alan Stubbs and David Weir a torrid afternoon.

Going into the game there were certain players you knew would be on top
form, such as Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

But Liverpool won because others also gave their most impressive
performances for the club. Garcia, Mauricio Pellegrino and Antonio Nunez
were excellent.

I know my Evertonian friends looked at those type of players and thought
they might suffer in the heat of the derby. But the reverse was true.
The occasion brought the best out of them.

Now they've set a standard, we all expect to see the same more often.

We're all mystified about why Liverpool are capable of playing to such a
high standard against Everton but failed to have a meaningful shot on
goal against Blackburn.

The only conclusion is the attitude isn't what it should be from one
game to the next.

It's not players don't go out there intending to give their best, it's
simply the big occasion brings the best out.

What separates the top players is the ability to motivate yourself to
maintain top form no matter that the opposition.

Liverpool must replay what happened on Sunday every week then there's no
doubt they'll secure the crucial fourth spot.

Beware of Bolton tie

WITH all the attention on the Merseyside derby, both Liverpool and
Everton must beware the threat of Bolton.

Liverpool's win was as useful to Sam Allardyce as it was to Rafa Benitez.

Everyone was talking before the derby about how much the game meant to
Liverpool, but the visit of Bolton in two weeks is equal in importance.

I hope both players and fans approach the match in exactly the same way.

Anfield was buzzing on Sunday. Everyone knew how important it was to set
the right tone.

There's no point everyone thinking the hard work is now done.

All the three points have done is give Liverpool a great chance when
anything but a win might have made it a hopeless chase.

In many respects, the hardest work is still to come, starting with the
next home game.

Juve draw will be close

IT SEEMS no one gives Liverpool much hope of beating Juventus in the
Champions League quarter-final.

I suspect the tie between my old clubs will be much closer than people
anticipate.

Juventus clearly start as favourites, but my friends in Italy will rate
a result at Anfield as one of the best in their European history. That's
how tough they expect it to be.

We all know how unique it is at Anfield on a European night. The
atmosphere is always fantastic and I'm sure we'll see a top performance
from the Reds.

If they can stay in contention, anything can happen in Turin.

I'll meet many old friends when I go to Turin to watch the game. But I'm
not as convinced as many others that the fixture is as big a formality
as some might believe.

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