|
Benitez eyes Premiership title
08/05/2006 09:33 - (SA)
James Piercy
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes his side can challenge Chelsea for the Premiership title next season after ending this term's campaign with a 3-1 win away to Portsmouth.
Goals from Robbie Fowler, Peter Crouch and Djibril Cisse at Fratton Park saw Liverpool finish on 82 points just nine behind the champions and only one shy of their north-west rivals Manchester United, the runners-up.
After extending their winning run to a club record 11 games, Benitez believes the European Cup holders are equipped to challenge for their first domestic title in what would be 17 years.
"We don't know what will happen in the summer but at this moment we are closer to Chelsea and we will see next year if we can be contenders," said Benitez, whose team play West Ham in Saturday's FA Cup Final.
"I feel we are better at keeping the ball upfront with Crouch and better at winning it in midfield with (Mohamed) Sissoko.
"We know 82 points is a fantastic figure but maybe we need to win more games against the top sides."
Local hero Fowler celebrated his new Liverpool contract by opening the scoring with his fifth goal of the season seven minutes into the second-half, turning in Fernando Morientes's backheel assist.
"If Robbie is fit he can give us give us something extra," Benitez explained. "I feel he is playing with passion and he is not thinking about his contract he is thinking about the supporters and scoring goals.
"He is one player who does not play for money and you do not get many of them in football today."
Substitute Crouch looked to have put the game out of his former club's reach when he tapped in the visitors' second seven minutes from time after Dean Kiely could only palm Djibril Cisse's cross-cum-shot into his path.
Ognjen Koroman's late goal gave the home fans hope with his first goal in English football but Cisse restored the two-goal lead two minutes from time, beating a helpless Kiely with an angled shot from the edge of the six-yard box after being put through up by Crouch.
But a major downside for Liverpool was the sight of Spain international Xabi Alonso being stretchered off after landing awkwardly on his ankle following a challenge by Pompey striker Benjani Mwaruwari.
Alonso faces a scan on Monday to determine the extent of the injury which will also leave Spanish coach Luis Aragones sweating after naming the midfielder in his World Cup squad.
"He thinks that he will be fit but we need to wait. We will do a scan on Monday. At this moment we can talk and talk but we do not know exactly how bad it is," Benitez said.
- SAPA
|
