Liverpool defence makes compelling case
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
LIVERPOOL, England, Oct 2 (AFP): Liverpool have not found goals as easy to come by this season as might have been expected from a squad boasting a strike quartet collectively valued at more than 60 million pounds.
Rafael Benitez's squad will however go into Wednesday's Champions League clash with crisis- hit Marseille bolstered by the knowledge that their defensive form is currently as good as at any time in the club's illustrious history.
Jose Reina has yet to concede a goal in open play this season and a first Premier League clean sheet at Wigan on Saturday ensured the class of 2007 have equalled a 30-year-old club record for the best defensive start to the season.
Reina's form has been key to that run but the Spanish goalkeeper insists it is the way Liverpool defend through the team that means their former striker Djibril Cisse is likely to find life difficult when he returns to Anfield with his new team-mates.
"We're proud of the record but we all defend together so it's everyone's record," Reina said.
Rafael Benitez's squad will however go into Wednesday's Champions League clash with crisis- hit Marseille bolstered by the knowledge that their defensive form is currently as good as at any time in the club's illustrious history.
Jose Reina has yet to concede a goal in open play this season and a first Premier League clean sheet at Wigan on Saturday ensured the class of 2007 have equalled a 30-year-old club record for the best defensive start to the season.
Reina's form has been key to that run but the Spanish goalkeeper insists it is the way Liverpool defend through the team that means their former striker Djibril Cisse is likely to find life difficult when he returns to Anfield with his new team-mates.
"We're proud of the record but we all defend together so it's everyone's record," Reina said.