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Liverpool Comment: Lucas Leiva Shows Albert Riera The Path To Redemption With Lille Performance
Brazilian star overcomes criticism to take centre stage...
19-Mar-2010 6:56:29 AM
By Neil Jones at Anfield
Albert Riera did his best to rock it, but the supposedly "sinking ship" that Rafael Benitez has assembled at Liverpool is showing signs of steadying as winter turns to spring.
A two-goal victory over a visibly cowed Lille may not rank amongst the greatest European nights witnessed at Anfield, but its importance cannot be overstated.
Riera's pre-match verbal assault on his manager had prompted questions as to whether Benitez's notoriously cold man-management style was starting to affect his players in a negative manner. The Spaniard's team-mates, meanwhile, provided a defiant riposte, to secure a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.
And if ever the outspoken former Espanyol man needs a blueprint of how to conduct yourself at a big club, he should look no further than Lucas Leiva - a man who has suffered twice as much criticism but showed twice as much heart.
The Brazilian was restored to the starting line-up after Alberto Aquilani - so impressive in Monday night's demolition of Portsmouth - was ruled out with a virus, and played as if his life depended on his performance. The Kop, often sceptical, sang his praises.
It was his driving run in the eigth minute which drew the penalty from which Steven Gerrard levelled the tie, and he stung Mickael Landreau's palms with a fine effort after another burst from midfield soon after. Aquilani's performance earlier in the week seemed to have coaxed the very best from a player often accused of being too cautious in all that he does.
Not tonight, however. Tonight was about smart, sharp passing, maturity in defence and the kind of drive and purpose usually reserved for the more acclaimed performers in Liverpool's midfield.
And for Benitez, it must be refreshing to see that in Pepe Reina and the peerless Fernando Torres, he has at least got two Spanish stars on whom he can rely. Reina's stop from a marauding Eden Hazard just before half-time, with the tie poised at 1-1, was as important as Torres' second brace in four days.
'El Nino' now boasts 17 strikes for the season - incredibly these were his first in Europe all campaign - and the class and style with which he took both suggests that the good times could be about to return for Benitez and Liverpool, with Torres as the spearhead. Whilst Riera spent this week jumping the shark, Torres has spent much of the year stressing his commitment to the cause.
It was around this time last year that Liverpool's season clicked into gear, with heavy victories over Manchester United, Real Madrid and Aston Villa. Seven goals in two games this week suggest that the metaphorical 'shackles' may once again be about to come off.
They may be too far off the pace to run United as close as they did last spring, but with Torres on song, and the likes of Lucas raising their game in the face of adversity, there is reason for guarded optimism around Anfield.
Albert Riera did his best to rock it, but the supposedly "sinking ship" that Rafael Benitez has assembled at Liverpool is showing signs of steadying as winter turns to spring.
A two-goal victory over a visibly cowed Lille may not rank amongst the greatest European nights witnessed at Anfield, but its importance cannot be overstated.
Riera's pre-match verbal assault on his manager had prompted questions as to whether Benitez's notoriously cold man-management style was starting to affect his players in a negative manner. The Spaniard's team-mates, meanwhile, provided a defiant riposte, to secure a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.
And if ever the outspoken former Espanyol man needs a blueprint of how to conduct yourself at a big club, he should look no further than Lucas Leiva - a man who has suffered twice as much criticism but showed twice as much heart.
The Brazilian was restored to the starting line-up after Alberto Aquilani - so impressive in Monday night's demolition of Portsmouth - was ruled out with a virus, and played as if his life depended on his performance. The Kop, often sceptical, sang his praises.
It was his driving run in the eigth minute which drew the penalty from which Steven Gerrard levelled the tie, and he stung Mickael Landreau's palms with a fine effort after another burst from midfield soon after. Aquilani's performance earlier in the week seemed to have coaxed the very best from a player often accused of being too cautious in all that he does.
Two easy | Torres' brace helped Reds on their way
Not tonight, however. Tonight was about smart, sharp passing, maturity in defence and the kind of drive and purpose usually reserved for the more acclaimed performers in Liverpool's midfield.
And for Benitez, it must be refreshing to see that in Pepe Reina and the peerless Fernando Torres, he has at least got two Spanish stars on whom he can rely. Reina's stop from a marauding Eden Hazard just before half-time, with the tie poised at 1-1, was as important as Torres' second brace in four days.
'El Nino' now boasts 17 strikes for the season - incredibly these were his first in Europe all campaign - and the class and style with which he took both suggests that the good times could be about to return for Benitez and Liverpool, with Torres as the spearhead. Whilst Riera spent this week jumping the shark, Torres has spent much of the year stressing his commitment to the cause.
It was around this time last year that Liverpool's season clicked into gear, with heavy victories over Manchester United, Real Madrid and Aston Villa. Seven goals in two games this week suggest that the metaphorical 'shackles' may once again be about to come off.
They may be too far off the pace to run United as close as they did last spring, but with Torres on song, and the likes of Lucas raising their game in the face of adversity, there is reason for guarded optimism around Anfield.
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