Port of Rotterdam Tournament.
Friday, August 3rd 2007.
Liverpool 2 Shanghai Shenhua 0
Liverpool: Martin, Insua, Hyypia (capt), Paletta, Finnan (Arbeloa, 74), Leto, Sissoko (Gerrard, 61), Leiva (Mascherano, 74), Benayoun, Crouch (Babel, 61), Torres (Kuyt, 64).
Unused subs: Riise, Alonso, Reina, Carragher
Goals: Torres 13, Gerrard 64
Bookings: None
Shanghai Shenhua: Zhang, Xiang, Du, Weifeng (capt), Gang, Xiao, Blanco (Ke, 75), Tao Yu (Ricard, 5 (Hui, 75)), Sun, Alonso, Jiang (Chang, 62).
Unused subs: Yao, Zheng, Wang, Martinez, Shengjiong
Bookings: None
Reaction:
Liverpool boss Rafa Benítez: “Getting off the mark will give Torres a lot of confidence heading into the new season. I was very pleased with Fernando, it was very important for him to score his first goal for Liverpool. He has had chances in every game he has played in pre-season, and for him to get this first goal is great for his confidence. I remember when we signed Crouch and everyone was talking about, ‘When will we see the first goal?’Now he will be not under pressure. I think that was very positive for him and – for sure – for the team.”
(On Benayoun playing part of the game as a ‘second striker’): “He’s a player who can play different positions – he was playing as a second striker with Babel on the right side. It’s good we have more options now.”
(On the strength of the opposition): “They are a decent team. They played well – they were organised in defence and they try to play counter attack. It wasn’t easy to score the second goal, in the end it was a fantastic goal from Gerrard. The game was 1-0 and always a little worrying.
“The team was okay and playing against a team who were well organised. In the second half with two or three playing with fresh legs it was different. Also we were winning two nil and that was also a difference.”
“Both goals were really good and I was very pleased with the performance of my players today. I thought Emiliano Insua and Sebastian Leto did very well down the left. They had a very good understanding and gave us great balance. It is good for us to give all of the squad a game. Javier Mascherano played his first game back, which was important. We have got great competition in all places – that’s very good for me as a manager.”
Yossi Benayoun: “I will play wherever the manager tells me to play – I’m just happy to be on the pitch. I will try to do my best and will hopefully get my chances this season and to prove that I deserve to be there. We have a great squad – a bigger squad – this season and a lot of good player. It’s good to have competition; we must work hard and prove ourselves to get the chance to play.”