Weakened but still far too strong

Even Rafa Benitez, a manager with caution in his DNA, could take some risks last night, writes Louise Taylor

Striding across Stanley Park and on through the Shankly Gates as last night's kick-off approached, Liverpool fans had one word above all dominating their conversation: "Chelsea".

If the photograph on the first page of the match programme - of the Ataturk Stadium scoreboard after 45 minutes of the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul: 3-0, Maldini 1, Crespo 39, 44 - was intended to serve as a reminder that teams really can conjure improbable wins after being three goals down, few were prepared to take that message too seriously. "Don't forget, it's only half-time," cautioned the programme editor but the instinctive reaction seemed to be: "Yeah, right."

Even Rafael Benitez, a manager with caution in his DNA, regarded the prospect of a sort of reverse repeat of Liverpool's extraordinary Ataturk undoing of a previously cruising Milan as sufficiently remote to field a weakened side. This gave a starting place - increasingly rare these days - to Sami Hyypia and his return seemed to symbolise Liverpool's evolution since they edged past Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final two years ago.

Not that Hyypia looked overly safe in the opening minutes when he misread Phillip Cocu's cross and permitted Jefferson Farfan to steal beyond him and power in a header fisted clear by Jose Reina. Had that gone in so early, Chelsea might even have been deemed a taboo word and a sharp chill would surely have pierced the balmy spring evening, but Liverpool were spared and even the injury-induced loss of Craig Bellamy was positively interpreted as a chance for Robbie Fowler to revel in a likely Anfield European swansong.

If Fowler - who created Peter Crouch's goal - is poised shortly to become one of Liverpool's "yesterday men" the striker he replaced and the centre forward he partnered highlight the potential variation Benitez has gradually added to his side's play over the last season or so.

While Bellamy's pace will always be a potent weapon, Crouch's amalgam of lamp-post height and surprisingly adroit touch will invariably pose defenders peculiar problems. So it proved when Jermaine Pennant slung in a right-wing cross from which Crouch very nearly half-volleyed Liverpool into the lead.

While Daniel Agger's mobile, intelligent centre half play is similarly symptomatic of the successful stylistic changes Benitez has effected in recent months, his managerial Midas touch has arguably deserted him when it comes to signing wingers.

Indeed that incisive Pennant centre may just be one of the last here from an erratic right-sided wide boy - in more ways than one - generally kept out of the first XI by Steven Gerrard and who may soon just find himself surplus to requirements.

Now, with money to spend, the challenge will no longer be to get the very most out of nearly players like Pennant but to identify and attract gems to rival Joe Cole and Arjen Robben.

If how shrewdly the Spaniard copes during a close season in which he is likely to spend even more than Chelsea's manager - whoever he may be - will surely define both his and Liverpool's futures, Benitez's more immediate task is to prove that his present ensemble are already sufficiently altered to finally start really putting the frighteners on Jose Mourinho's men. Considering that Liverpool have lost five of the two sides' last six Premiership meetings - although, tellingly, they won the most recent - it is small wonder their fans feel a redress of the balance is well overdue.

While settling old scores against Mourinho and co on the road to Athens would ensure a potentially glorious finale to a Liverpool season which for long wintry periods stuttered, the more urgent task for some in red last night was to make a case for their involvement in the semi-final.

Guardian Service