[lfc-news] Benitez lays down challenge to strikers - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 18 July 2005
Benitez lays down challenge to strikers
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ today laid down the gauntlet to his strikers and demanded a
higher goal ratio in the season ahead.

After watching Djibril Cisse fire a double against Bayer Leverkusen in
Saturday's 3-0 win in Austria, Benitez admitted he was unhappy with the
goalscoring contribution of his forwards last season.

Milan Baros topped the charts with just 13 goals, only nine of which
came in the league.

Cisse, of course, saw his season wrecked with injury. But Benitez, who
hopes the signing of Peter Crouch will help remedy the problem,
anticipates a much higher return this year.

"It's true we are looking for more goals from our strikers," said Benitez.

"Always the strikers need to score more. You want more than 13 goals
from the top scorer. If we have better possession of the ball and we
play better football, we will create more chances."

Cisse did his cause no harm with his two goals in Austria, as Benitez
revealed how training ground strategy was implemented to perfection on
Saturday night.

"We've been working in training on Cisse's movement because he is so
quick," said Benitez..

"The moves were very similar to those which led to the goals. We've
prepared well and it worked in the game.

"I feel as though we are 're-signing' some players like Cisse because
they've been injured for a long time. I hope this season it will be
different. If everyone is fit, it gives us more options.

"We did a good job against Leverkusen. In pre-season it's always harder,
but we controlled the game and I thought we played well.

"I thought Sissoko was a little nervous, but he worked hard and I'm sure
in the future he will play a lot better."

The Liverpool squad returns from Switzerland tonight ahead of tomorrow's
clash with TNS.

A strong team is expected to line-up against the Welsh champions.

"I will see how the players feel before I decide the team. Steve Warnock
would have played against TNS, but now he's injured," said Benitez.

"We will play a strong team. We don't want any surprises and we must
approach the game professionally."

Warnock's injury was not as bad as first feared and he could return to
training next week.

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