[lfc-news] Rafa: Alonso fitness key to his form - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 18 April 2005
Alonso fitness key to his form - Rafa
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez will send Xabi Alonso out for his third
appearance in seven days tomorrow night - with no worries that the
Spanish midfielder is being asked to do too much too soon.

Alonso has hit the ground running after almost four months on the
sidelines with a broken ankle.

With just 45 minutes of reserve team football behind him, Alonso played
90 minutes

in the caudlron of Turin, managed another 84 minutes against Tottenham
just three days later - and is in line to start again at Portsmouth
tomorrow.

But the player's supreme physical condition means that Benitez has no
fears about his ability to cope with the demands.

"I think Xabi will play because he is in very good physical condition,"
explained the Reds' coach..

"I know the player professionally and I know him as a person and I can
always talk very well about him because he works hard and is always
thinking about his fitness.

"He talks to the physio all the time and is always positive.

"He told me at half-time on Saturday he was a bit tired and I was
thinking about changing it earlier, but he can pass the ball properly
and control the game.

"In the end he played 80 minutes and played a good game.

"For us he is a very important player because he can change the game for
us."

The Reds travel to the South Coast where they have lost their last four
games 1-0, to face another team with a new manager at the helm.

Just 10 days ago Liverpool lost to a Manchester City side inspired by a
new man in the dug-out, Stuart Pearce.

Frenchman Alain Perrin took over at Pompey a fortnight ago and since
then, despite an injury crisis, the relegation threatened club has
beaten Charlton and drawn at Birmingham.

Sami Hyypia, meanwhile, has told Liverpool he wants to extend his six
year stint at Anfield and sign a new contract.

The Finn only has 12 months remaining on his present deal and said: "I
want to stay at Liverpool, there is no doubt about that. We will see
what happens, but I still have one year to go and I want to stay.

"In football, you are on the bench sometimes and then when you play you
have to try and show people what you can do.

"I consider myself a good professional and will do a job when needed."

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