 THEY may have seen the victory they’d wanted, but frustration was
the overriding emotion for the thousands of Liverpool followers who descended upon the
Hong Kong stadium yesterday.
 A combination of bureaucracy and injury denied
the supporters their chance to witness the likes of newcomers Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel
and Lucas Leiva and skipper Steven Gerrard performing live.
What they got instead was a rare glimpse of Harry Kewell and an unlikely central
midfield pairing of Sami Hyypia and Alvaro Arbeloa as Liverpool secured their passage to
Friday’s final of the Barclays Asia Trophy.
Torres, Babel and Lucas were forced to watch from the sidelines due to a delay in
the granting of the international clearance required to appear in a competition endorsed
by the Premier League.
Talk about embarrassing. The organisers had even presented Torres at Monday’s
introductory press conference, only for Liverpool’s record signing to be left kicking
his heels through no fault of his own. All three are expected to be eligible for the final
later this week against Portsmouth, a date which was confirmed by Liverpool’s fifth
successive pre-season victory.
The stifling heat and humidity of Hong Kong were as much a test as the spirited but
limited South China team, who briefly threatened a surprise when Li Haiqiang pulled a goal
back before the break after both John Arne Riise and Xabi Alonso had netted inside the
first half-hour.
With Gerrard absent with a slight abdominal strain – he too should be available
for Friday, according to Benitez – and Javier Mascherano granted leave following his
Copa America exploits, Alonso and Momo Sissoko were given a chance to shine in central
midfield.
The pair experienced contrasting fortunes. Alonso, a consistent influence
throughout his 77-minute performance, kept Liverpool ticking over in midfield and played a
part in the penalty he then converted.
Sissoko, however, made an impressive start with a number of runs into the area
before his tendency to gift possession to the opposition began to hinder his efforts and a
robust challenge in midfield during the second half ensured huge jeers whenever he
subsequently touched the ball.
That said, it was an early Sissoko burst towards goal that led to Liverpool’s
opener on 10 minutes, the Malian felled 20 yards out before wisely getting out of the way
of Riise’s thunderbolt free-kick that fizzed through the resulting hole in the wall and
the grasp of South China keeper Zhang Chunhui.
That’s two in three friendlies for Riise following his equally barnstorming
effort against Werder Bremen in Switzerland – the same number of goals the Norwegian has
netted in the last two Premier League campaigns.
“John Arne Riise scored another really good goal, and he is very good at
set-pieces,” said Benitez afterwards. “If he can score them like that in the Premier
League, as well as he has done in the warm-ups, it will be perfect.”
Not so perfect was the manner in which Liverpool conceded on 35 minutes, a sleeping
Scott Carson failing to prevent a speculative 40-yard free-kick from South China captain
Li from finding the net.
Given Carson last week vowed to put pressure on Pepe Reina’s first-team place,
the error was particularly bad timing.
“It was strange,” said Benitez. “Carson wasn’t expecting the shot to come
in like that. A keeper is disappointed whenever he concedes a goal but I think he will be
with the type of goal here.
“It’s not a problem for him – it’s just one mistake and it’s not
important at the end.”
More impressive was the performance of Andriy Voronin, who again caught the eye
with his powerful presence and clever movement in and around the box.
Such strength earned Liverpool’s spot-kick on 27 minutes when the Ukrainian
forced his way on to Alonso’s clipped through-ball before being upended by Sidrailson.
Harry Kewell, handed a starting role having linked up with the squad on Sunday
after being eliminated from the Asia Cup with Australia, was similarly sharp in the first
half but tired after the interval. |
China defender underbides Andriy Voronin in penalty
area (Photos: David Rawcliffe @ Propaganda)
“We knew he’d be fitter than the others because he had been training and
playing in competitive matches,” added Benitez.
“The first half was really good but after that there were a few problems and he
was a bit tired, so we decided to change things just in case.”
The raft of second-half substitutions added renewed vigour to Liverpool’s forward
play in conditions so demand-ing players from both sides took a drinks break midway
through the second half.
Dirk Kuyt, lively following his introduction, wasted a decent chance when firing
over Arbeloa’s right-wing ball before turning creator with a cross from the left headed
over by the stretching Voronin.
Victory was assured in the 76th minute when a roaming Daniel Agger started and
finished a move also involving Riise and Kuyt to slam the ball beyond Zhang from 16 yards.
Kuyt, Voronin and Pennant all spurned opportunities late on to ensure a bigger
margin of victory, while youngsters Robbie Threlfall and David Martin were given a run-out
as, with no other midfield options on the bench, Hyypia and Arbeloa slotted in for the
substituted Alonso and Sissoko.
“I thought the first half, with two goals, was okay and everything was
organised,” said Benitez. “Even after we conceded the goal I thought we controlled it
but it was more open than we’d have liked until the third, and it was a bit too close
before that.
“I think we’ll have to improve to beat Portsmouth but we’ve only been here
for three days and that made it difficult.
“After another two or three days I think the team will be a lot better.”
And, the Hong Kong public will hope, include an available Torres and a fit Gerrard.
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Carson (Martin 83); Arbeloa,
Carragher, Agger, Riise; Benayoun (Finnan 66), Alonso (Threlfall 77), Sissoko (Hyypia 73),
Kewell (Pennant 55); Crouch (Kuyt 55), Voronin. Sub: Reina.
SOUTH CHINA (4-1-4-1): Zhang; Lee, Sidrailson, WH Chan, Wong (Deng 78); Fan (Man
81); Junior (Liang 31 (Cheng 87)), Li (Yeung 67), Bai, CH Chan; Junior.
REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg.
ATT: 36,801.
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