[lfc-news] We've yet to see the best of Morientes - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 18 April 2005
We've yet to see the best of Morientes
By David Prentice at Anfield

RAFA BENITEZ fears that Reds fans won't see the best of Fernando
Morientes until next season.

The Spanish striker missed two chances in Saturday's Anfield draw with
Tottenham, extending his barren spell in front of goal to more than two
months.

But the Reds' boss believes his £6.5m signing is suffering from the
months he spent on the sidelines at Real Madrid before he joined Liverpool.

"He needs to score," admitted Benitez. "He played better against
Tottenham, but he needs a goal because the chance at the end he snatched
at a little.

"It's difficult for him. At Real Madrid he did not play for a long time.
We know he is a skilful player and he has good movement and good
heading, but sometimes he needs to be a little quicker.

"I am sure that pre-season will help him. He has had five months without
playing. Maybe now he is in pre-season.

"The first chance, the header, I thought the goalkeeper made a good
save. The last one is difficult because it was at the end of the game.
Maybe if he had controlled and shot it might have been different."

Morientes has now scored just two goals in 12 appearances. After goals
in successive games against Fulham and Charlton in February he has been
hit by injury and ineligibility for the Champions League.

Liverpool's European curse appeared to strike again at Anfield. The Reds
have played 12 Champions League matches this season, and have won only
twice on their return to Premiership action.

Despite an excellent performance for the last hour on Saturday, missed
chances meant that Bolton climbed over Liverpool into fifth place in the
table.

"I was thinking about these things before," conceded Benitez. "It's
fantastic to win Champions League games, but you play more games as a
result. We have two more players back available, but we have more
matches now as well.

"We know it's very difficult to play before and after the Champions
League games at the same level. We tried and I think we have played a
good game in terms of football and physically.

"Some players, like Steve Finnan, Luis Garcia and Carra, have played a
lot of games, but they play with a high tempo and intensity and it is
difficult to find fresh legs to keep the quality high."

Benitez was generally pleased with his side's display.

"We have played a very good game," he added. "In the last 15 minutes of
the second half we have played good football at a high tempo, hit the
post, won a penalty, had plenty of shots with a team which had some
tired players. "We changed the system after half-an-hour because we were
having problems.

"But I don't think it was a mistake to start with that formation because
the idea was right. I was thinking to have three forwards - Nunez,
Morientes and Garcia - all high up the pitch..

"We changed Luis Garcia between the line and Steve Warnock and we
started to control the game, but their first goal was a good goal. The
ball dipped late and it was a very difficult shot to stop.

"Jerzy for me has played a good game. The only problem was we needed to
score. Morientes had two clear chances, Steven Gerrard had a penalty -
and normally Stevie is a guarantee - Steve Finnan and Luis Garcia both
had chances . . ."

Despite the frustration at two dropped points, though, Benitez joined
the Anfield appreciation society for Xabi Alonso.

The Spanish midfielder produced a virtuoso display, just days after his
first appearance for three-and-a-half months.

Despite complaining of tiredness after the match, Benitez believes he
will be fine for Wednesday's trip to Portsmouth.

"I think he can play because he is in very good physical condition," he
explained. "I know him as a professional and as a person and can always
talk very well about him. He works hard and he is always thinking about
being fit."

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