Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

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Dalglish slates Rafa's critics

13 Feb 2009 - 12:26:23

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Former Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has slammed the critics who were stunned by Rafa Benitez's selection for last weekend's Premier League game at Portsmouth.

The former Valencia coach was castigated for starting without Xabi Alonso, Dirk Kuyt, Albert Riera and Fernando Torres at Fratton Park, and the criticism was unrelenting even after the Reds had won the match 3-2.

Dalglish has backed Benitez though, telling the LFC Magazine: "To be fair to Rafa, in the face of yet more ridiculous nonsense, I think the formation he chose to play at Fratton Park was excellent.

"Everyone looked happy with their role in the team and when that happens you've always got a chance.

"The one thing people seem to be missing with Rafa's selection is the effect it had on Portsmouth.

"I don't know how much work Rafa was able to do with the players with this idea in mind, but by the time the players kicked off on Saturday night they all knew what it was they were supposed to be doing.

"In contrast, Pompey didn't have a clue and were taken off-guard. Imagine you were Tony Adams and you saw that team. You've spent all week working on a formation and then you're up against something new and unexpected.

"If we'd taken our chances then Rafa's decision would rightly have been hailed a masterstroke. It took Pompey an hour and a sub before they got into the game.

"The two goals they got were avoidable but there was little the boss could do from the touchline to prevent those.

"The media are hailing it as a lucky result. Even if he'd picked the team they clearly believed to be the best, would we still not have needed a wee bit of luck?

"Of course we'd still have needed a slice of luck, but would anyone really argue that we didn't deserve to win that game? I don't think so!"