Gerrard revelling in return to middle Nov 23 2006
STEVEN GERRARD revealed he is revelling being back in central midfield as Liverpool earned Champions League victory at a price last night.
Rafael Benitez's side secured first place in Group C and seeding for the first knockout stage with a 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
But Liverpool's joy was soured by injuries to Xabi Alonso, Mark Gonzalez and Jermaine Pennant.
Man-of-the-match Gerrard set Liverpool on their way with a well-taken opener in the 65th minute before Peter Crouch sealed the win with a header a minute from time.
And Anfield skipper Gerrard said: "I'm enjoying being back in the middle of the park. It's a position I like to play but it's up to the manager to decide.
"I was a bit disappointed we didn't keep the ball better in the second half but the plus is we are top of the group. Although that doesn't automatically mean we'll get a weaker team. But being at home in the second game is a definite advantage."
Liverpool manager Benitez hailed the performance of Gerrard but lamented the loss of the trio of midfielders.
Gonzalez is the most seriously injured and his torn hamstring will sideline him for at least a fortnight. Alonso suffered a dead leg while Pennant has a hamstring problem, and both are major doubts for Saturday's home Premiership meeting with Manchester City.
"We are really pleased with the victory," said Benitez. "But the price was Xabi Alonso has a dead leg, Mark Gonzalez has torn his hamstring which is more serious and Pennant had spasms in his hamstring.
"Gonzalez will be out for at least two or three weeks. It will depend on how serious it is.
"It's really difficult to manage when you lose two players in the first half. We had to use Luis Garcia and he wasn't 100% fit. I think the players gave a very professional performance."
Of Gerrard's display, Benitez added: "It was important to see Steve scoring another goal, it was good for him and the team. It was good to score the second one and finish the game.
"Steve played well, but he is a very good player and he knows he can play much better. But it is important to see him with confidence and the team is happy seeing him running forward and scoring goals."
It means Liverpool's final group game against Galatasaray at the Ataturk Stadium in a fortnight is a dead rubber, with the Turks already consigned to last place in the group after losing 3-1 at Bordeaux last night. And Benitez admitted: "We wanted to finish top of the group tonight and we can do some other things in the next game. If we'd have had to go to Istanbul to have to win it would have been more difficult."
PSV coach Ronald Koeman admitted his team had no answer to Gerrard's performance.
"We didn't give away many chances and at the time of the first goal I thought we were in control of the game," said Koeman. "But the quality of Gerrard was outstanding tonight, I thought that he was excellent."
Meanwhile, Liverpool are close to sealing a deal worth around £1million for highlyrated Argentinian youngster Emiliano Insua.
The 17-year-old Boca Juniors left-back arrived on Merseyside yesterday and was present at last night's game against PSV.
Insua, who is part of the Argentina under-20 side that will defend their FIFA U-20 World Cup title in Canada next year, is expected to sign on loan until the end of the season before making a permanent move in the summer.
მოვითხოვ, დააბრუნოს რაფამ ჯერარდი ცენტრალურ ნახევარდაცვაში!!!
* * *
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Gerrard's best in central midfield urges Crouch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIVERPOOL, England, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The debate over Steven Gerrard's best position for Liverpool has lasted all season, but as far as his team mate Peter Crouch is concerned, the matter should now be closed.
Crouch, who along with Gerrard, was on target for Liverpool in the 2-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven that secured top spot in Group C for Rafael Benitez's team, believes Gerrard should play in the centre of midfield, and not wide on the right.
Gerrard scored 23 goals from the flank last season, and by this time last year had scored 10 goals from 19 matches.
His opening goal for Liverpool on Wednesday was only his second in 20 matches during this campaign, but he had an excellent match on Wednesday and looks set to continue in the central role because Liverpool are bereft in that position.
With Mohamad Sissoko already out injured, Liverpool picked up three more injuries on Wednesday with Xabi Alnoso receiving a dead leg and Mark Gonzalez and Jermaine Pennant damaging hamstrings.
Crouch believes Gerrard has more influence driving Liverpool onward from a more central role and hopes he continues playing there.
'He is a driving force and when he makes his runs from midfield he's a class act,' Crouch said afterwards.
'When he is in the middle he likes to join in more. When he is out wide he can be isolated a touch, but when he is in the middle he likes to get in amongst it and play balls off me.
'I think he is more comfortable playing in the middle but if he plays out on the right he can still be the best player on the pitch.
'Now with Xabi getting injured and Momo Sissoko being out I'm sure he will get more chances in his favoured role, but wherever the manager wants to play him I'm sure he will do well.'
Gerrard's goal was only his second of the season, having also scored against Girondins Bordeaux in the Champions League on Oct.31. His last domestic goals came in the FA Cup final against West Ham last May.
'He's a top player and it was only a matter of time before be started scoring again' Crouch added.
Liverpool's bid to move up the Premier League table from their current 10th position now depends more on Gerrard dominating midfield than it might have done before.
Alonso and Pennant are both likely to miss the match with Manchester City on Saturday while Gonzalez is out for three weeks with his hamstring tear.
Gerrard, playing in central midfield and scoring regularly again, could make light of those absences. Crouch might like to see him there permanently, but of course, Benitez picks the team and he will have the final say.
· 
LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB, ყველაზე ტიტულოვანი ინგლისური გუნდის ფანკლუბი,VOL.5
