Reds debut thrills Zenden

Boudewijn Zenden insists he was more than happy to make his Liverpool debut on the left wing in the Champions League qualifier win over TNS.

When the 28-year-old Dutchman, a free transfer from Middlesbrough, was unveiled last week, much was made of the fact he played the majority of last season in the middle for Boro.

But manager Rafael Benitez handed Zenden his first chance to impress the Anfield crowd wide on the left as a 64th-minute replacement for Stephen Warnock.

And Zenden caught the eye with an industrious and creative display.

The new recruit was also buoyed by the performance of captain Stephen Gerrard, who scored all the goals in the 3-0 win, and the former Barcelona and Chelsea man said: “He is some player.

“We’re all pleased that he’s signed his new deal and he’s a driving force. Three goals, what more can you ask?

“I got 30 minutes and it’s only been a week and a half training and it’s a game we had to win.

“I was just pleased to get the 30 minutes and the reaction of the crowd was fantastic.”

Zenden is adamant that, by juggling his selection, Benitez will guide last season’s winners through the Champions League qualifiers unscathed, even though the Dutchman feels Liverpool’s players are some way short of full fitness.

“We’ve only been training a week and a half and everybody is going to get their minutes to get to their proper fitness,” Zenden added.

“There’s a long way to go. A normal pre-season is about four or five weeks and we’ve only been in a week and a half.

“A lot of the boys are not there yet but it’s an early start for us this year so we have to make sure that we do win our games, even though we know we’re not where we want to be yet.

“We just have to deal with what comes at us. Next week there will be another game and the week after there will be another game and we just take it as it comes.”

He expects the anticipated rotation of the coming weeks to be par for the course this year as the Reds once again chase honours on four fronts.

Zenden feels a squad approach is the only way to go for a club like Liverpool and is confident of his chances of long-term success at Anfield.

He continued: “There will be so many games this year that everybody will definitely get their game.

“Every player wants to play every game but there’s competition and that’s right at a place like Liverpool.

“It’s a long run to win the league but it’s definitely something we’re working for and if it’s not this year then definitely next year.

“But I’m not the type of guy that throws in the towel before he’s even started. You always have to have a certain aim and we’ll see where we finish.”