Gerrard leads by example as Pool make early statement

ON various tour stops during a hectic pre-season schedule, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been at pains to ensure all feet around Anfield remain firmly on terra firma and not become distracted by the hype generated by his flamboyant spending in the transfer market.

It remains to be seen whether that is an obvious and sensible ploy from the Spaniard, who has raided the wallets of the new owners to the tune of over €73m in an attempt to spend his way closer to a Premier League title, or whether it is a cunning ruse to disguise the real title potential lurking on Merseyside this season.

Certainly the addition of ‘El Nino’ Ferando Torres, Ajax’s Ryan Babel, Jossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin, with the possible acquisition of Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United, has raised the bar of expectancy around the red half of Merseyside.

So it is little wonder that Steven Gerrard spent time in the away dressing room at Villa Park addressing his team mates on the importance of making an early statement of intent on the season after his wonderfully guided free-kick, heralded Liverpool’s first opening day victory for five years.

Benitez is not so stupid as to be seduced by his first opening-day success since his arrival from Valencia, but it was the manner in which it was achieved, stubbornly refusing to allow Gareth Barry’s 84th minute penalty for Jamie Carragher’s handball to deprive them the success which appeared to have been gifted to them by Martin Laursen’s comical own goal.

“We showed great character at the end to win and that is important,” said Benitez, who along with his players will certainly head to Toulouse for their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday afternoon in fine spirits, before returning to face Chelsea next weekend.

However the phoney war has already started ahead of the mouthwatering fixture at Anfield with Benitez refusing to accept his transfer activity gives him a divine right to close the 21-point gap that separated them from United and Chelsea last season.

“The favourites are United and Chelsea. We will just try to be closer,” remains his mantra.

“Maybe we will have some chances. I’m not saying we don’t want to win. We know we will be under pressure because we have a better team, but they also have a better team than they had before.

“We would have to do everything almost perfectly and we will try to do that. We will try not to make too many mistakes and see if we are closer. I have confidence we can do it.”

His confidence is understandable given the almost instant understanding forged by Torres and Dirk Kuyt, it was their link-up play that eventually forced Laursen to volley the ball into his own net.

Such impressive depth to his squad is a reliable litmus test of potential.

Certainly Martin O’Neill, the Aston Villa manager, is not going to be hoodwinked by Benitez’s assessment and is convinced that this season could be the one to see the champagne corks popping at Anfield. “They believe this is their year. I am sure of that and why not? At times against us they were terrific.”

Opta Fact: Villa have managed just one win in their last 17 Premier League meetings with Liverpool.

Opta Fact: Gareth Barry scored a joint-league high six penalties last season and started this season with a successful spot-kick.