RAFALUTION

by Richard Jolly
on soccernet.com

It had to be him. Mark Hughes admitted as much. Indeed, since Craig Bellamy swapped Ewood Park for Anfield in the summer, there was a certain inevitability about him scoring against Blackburn. Especially, perverse though it sounds, after a goal drought.

It was 700 minutes, to be precise, since Bellamy's only previous goal in Liverpool colours. Frustration at Anfield was becoming audible with the £6 million striker. Usually an irrepressible irritant, Bellamy had been strangely subdued.

'I thought we'd kept him quiet all afternoon,' admitted Hughes. 'But we switched off at one set play.' It brought an equaliser from a combination of two of Liverpool's most ineffective players, a Fabio Aurelio corner converted from close range by Bellamy.

Hughes added: 'I can't say I'm pleased for him, but he was a big success for us last year and I'm sure he will be a big success here. He's got an exceptional work ethic.'

There were a few among the Liverpool support who were unconvinced. In a disjointed performance, they had much else to complain about.

Mediocre against Macedonia second-rate in Zagreb, Peter Crouch's glorious bicycle kick against Galatasaray is being consigned to ever-deeper recesses of the memory.

Bellamy's goal illustrated his nuisance value, but, nonetheless, it is hard to credit Crouch after he missed his header from the Brazilian's cross. But, with defenders distracted by the jumping giant, an unmarked Bellamy supplied the decisive touch.
And though Xabi Alonso's exceptional passing range was displayed again and, through Jermaine Pennant, John Arne Riise and substitute Luis Garcia, Liverpool posed a threat on the flanks, their susceptibility at the back is the major reason why they trail Manchester United by eight points.

Chief among Rafael Benitez's achievements at Anfield was to construct a defence who ranked among the stingiest in the Premiership. High among the challenges for him is to effect a return to the days where clean sheets were a norm. To do that, it may require a change of personnel.

Given that it was the established back four (of Steve Finnan, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher and Riise) who started the game - though the Norwegian later took Aurelio's position at left midfield - it is the more surprising.

But, confronted with a pair of strikers with the pace and physical power of Benni McCarthy and Shabani Nonda, Hyypia's lack of pace was an impediment. Given Daniel Agger's emergence, the decline of one of Liverpool's finest servants of recent years suggests the Dane will soon replace him.

Meanwhile Riise was both Liverpool's most threatening attacker and, vacating the left back spot, a cause of problems at the back. As a unit, unusually, their indecision was final.

An alternative interpretation is that Jose Reina's nervousness was contagious. High-profile errors against West Ham and Everton have endangered his place; misfortune against Bolton compounded a miserable spell for the Spaniard.

Now he was culpable for Blackburn's goal. David Bentley's cross enticed Reina out and left him in no man's land as Benni McCarthy half-volleyed in at the far post. 'The defenders were in a bad position and it was a great pass,' explained Benitez. 'We need to improve in defence.'

Jerzy Dudek's impending three-match ban, for a reserve-team red card, may earn Reina a reprieve. In fairness to the Spaniard, he also made the match's outstanding save, a late block that deflected Bentley's shot on to the post and deprived Blackburn of a late winner.

Hughes admitted they were happy with a point. Nonetheless, positives abounded for his team.

McCarthy was one of them and, while six goals so far represent an excellent return on Rovers' £2.5 million investment, it was instructive what pleased Hughes most. 'Some of his link-up play was excellent and I was pleased with his work off the ball, he worked really hard for the team.'

The Rovers work ethic, part of the reason Bellamy earned Hughes' praise, is being understood by a South African.

And two Australians. There were few more energetic players than the Antipodean full-backs Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton, excelling after 27-hour journeys back to Britain. Amid the complaints from managers about players being exhausted after international duty, two with a right to rest were indefatigable.

'How they hell they do it, I don't know,' added Hughes. He knows how Bellamy scores goals; on this occasion, he just wished he didn't.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Andre Ooijer - The Dutch defender had a decidedly difficult introduction to English football. Now, with a greater understanding of the Premiership's demands, he excelled alongside Zurab Khizanishvili - another contender for the man of the match award - in the centre of the Blackburn defence. 'All the back four were excellent,' said Hughes, and it was hard to disagree.

LIVERPOOL VERDICT: Momo Sissoko was missing and, though Steven Gerrard was restored to his preferred role in the centre of midfield, Liverpool suffered as a consequence. A winning formula remains elusive and, though he supplied the goal, it is hard to see how Aurelio was preferred to Mark Gonzalez and Luis Garcia on the left flank. If anything, the absent Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger had their claims to a place in Benitez's strongest 11 strengthened.

BLACKBURN VERDICT: Excellent in the first half and resilient in the second, this was a sign that they have put a slow start to the season behind them. Though they remain physical, there was a genuine commitment to wingers - the improving Bentley and Morten Gamst Pedersen - and, in McCarthy, they have signed a goalscorer. A repeat of last season's top-six finish is certainly feasible.


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