 LIVERPOOL fielded one team in the first half – then another in
the second at Wrexham on Saturday.
The one which really matters, however, didn’t even travel to the Racecourse –
and that’s the line-up likely lads such as Besian Idrizaj must force their way into.
The Austrian striker, who ended last season on loan at Luton, did as much as
anybody to make a point to his manager.
The youngster celebrated a 23 minute hat-trick, all from outstanding Jermaine
Pennant crosses.
But while Pennant’s qualities are already obvious to his manager, Idrizaj has
been a slow burner since his move from Linzer ASK two years ago.
“He is a player with great talent,” said Benitez. “But he needs to mature in
some aspects.”
Perhaps he meant the 37th minute moment when Idrizaj should have ended the game as
a contest.
Boosted by the confidence of a quickfire treble, he collected yet another
defence-wrecking pass from Pennant and tried to dribble carefully around exposed
goalkeeper Williams.
His effort was too deliberate, however. He was forced wide and even denied strike
partner Brouwer an opportunity to score in his eagerness to finish the job, before both
were crowded out.
But it would be harsh to highlight that moment, after the solidly built striker had
clinically finished his first three openings of the match.
With Pennant picking up where he left off in Athens, Idrizaj opened the scoring
after only seven minutes.
Pennant cut the ball back from the byline, Brouwer touched the ball into
Idrizaj’s path for his partner to drill a crisp drive into the roof of the net.
With Pennant doing pretty much as he pleased down Liverpool’s right, the Reds
created a clutch of goalscoring openings.
Adam Hammill, a midfielder who enjoyed a successful loan spell at Dunfermline last
season, hooked a Pennant cross over the bar before Finnan’s long ball gave Pennant the
chance to run at the ravaged Wrexham rearguard again.
Pennant clipped in another damaging ball and Idrizaj delivered a deft diving header
to double the Reds’ lead.
Even more heartening, however, was the moment a minute later when Pennant appeared
deep inside his own penalty area to cleverly tidy up a dangerous Wrexham counter.
Pennant’s attacking qualities are obvious to all, his defensive resolve less so.
But on Saturday his attitude was impeccable.
With the game barely a quarter gone Pennant was already celebrating a hat-trick of
assists.
This time a quickly taken free-kick gave him the chance to torment Williams once
more, cross with purpose and Idrizaj planted a firm header into the top corner.
It was a satisfying moment for the youngster in front of Rafa Benitez. |
But he will perhaps
also be aware that Craig Bellamy opened his goalscoring account for the club on the same
stage last season, while Anthony Le Tallec believed he had made Benitez an offer which
couldn’t be ignored with a double in the Reds’ manager’s first match in charge.
He was ignored – spectacularly.
Another buccaneering Pennant run and another excellent cut-back gave Brouwer a
sniff of an opening, before the Dutch youngster was crowded out.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s last appearance at left-back saw him trying to quell the fertile
feet of Lionel Messi. This time he had a little more freedom to venture forward and
clipped a shot against the outside of a post as Liverpool dominated.
At half-time all three senior stars, Pennant, Momo Sissoko and Steve Finnan, were
withdrawn from the fray and Liverpool were predictably less dominant.
But there were still some notable cameos.
Jay Spearing, a midfielder Steve Heighway believed was ready for first team
football last season, backed up his mentor’s view with a tidy and polished performance.
But other displays were more rusty.
Giant Paraguayan centre-back Ronald Huth made namesake Robert look tidy and mobile,
while Danish goalkeeper Martin Hansen appeared on the scene on the hour, and was promptly
responsible for Wrexham gaining a toehold back in the match.
His attempted clearance was drilled straight at a grateful Eifion Williams and he
rolled the ball back into an empty net.
A minute from time Hansen was involved again, but this time the goal owed more to
the quality of Williams’ finish than the goalkeeper’s punch which fell at his feet.
The Wrexham man turned and dispatched a quality volley over the stranded keeper and
into the net.
But Benitez and reserve team coach Gary Ablett will have been satisfied by their
afternoon’s viewing.
A win, no injuries and a hat-trick for a promising striker – the Reds are up and
running.
WREXHAM (1st half): A Williams, Spender, Pejic, S Evans (Hope 30), M Williams, Mark
Jones, Llewellyn, Murtagh, Done, Roberts, Carvill.
LIVERPOOL (1st half): Martin, Finnan, Paletta, Hobbs,
Arbeloa, Pennant, Sissoko, Peltier, Hammill, Brouwer, Idrizaj.
WREXHAM (2nd half): Mike Jones, Valentine, G Evans, Hope, Taylor, Makin, D
Williams, Fleming, E Williams, M Williams, Proctor.
LIVERPOOL (2nd half): Martin (Hansen 59), Darby, Huth,
Roque, Threlfall, El Zhar, Flynn, Spearing, Hamill (Nemeth 59), Idrizaj (Simon 59),
Lindfield.
Referee: Mike Jones.
Attendance: 11,210.
GOALS: Idrizaj (7) 0-1, Idrizaj (19) 0-2, Idrizaj (23) 0-3, E Williams (67) 1-3, E
Williams (89) 2-3.
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