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View from the Kop

Liverpool 2010 v Liverpool 2004: Which is better?

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lawrensonMark Lawrenson’s comments that even if Rafa Benitez’s side finish in fourth position this season, the manager should still leave because the side has gone “backwards” during his reign, got me thinking. According to Lawrenson, if you compare Gerard Houllier’s last side to Benitez’s current team there has clearly been no progression:

“Just compare the Liverpool side that lost to Wigan and now Lille to Gerard Houllier’s team in his final game in charge, a 1-1 draw with Newcastle in May 2004.This was the final line-up: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Heskey, Owen. You cannot tell me that team, that squad of players, would not have beaten the Liverpool team which lost at Wigan. So, in six years in charge, Benitez has gone backwards.”

Lawro criticised Emiliano Insua and Lucas Leiva specifically and although these particular players can be justifiably singled out for criticism, the Wigan match is really an unfair sample to choose to sum up Rafa’s reign. If we look at the starting line up against Portsmouth last night, you get a slightly different picture. For me, the starting eleven against Pompey was as close to the best eleven as the Reds could get. So what if we compare the two sides that played in May 2004 and March 2010?

Pepe Reina v Jerzy Dudek – Out of the two keepers, I think Pepe wins hands down. Although Jerzy was the hero of the Istanbul final making that spectacular save from Shevchenko in extra time, and those penalty saves to win the trophy, Reina’s performances on the whole have been more consistent. His penalty saves in the FA Cup Final against West Ham in 2006 and the Champions League Semi-Final in 2007 demonstrate that he, like Dudek, is up for the big occasion but he is also a commanding presence in the box, who is a great shot stopper and an excellent distributor of the ball out of hand. Rating: Reina 10, Dudek 8.

Glen Johnson v Steve Finnan – A more difficult comparison to assess. Finnan was always a solid defender and he improved over the years he played the position. He also was always very useful going forward but his injury problems always made it difficult for him to establish himself, and it was one of the reasons why Benitez offloaded the player. Johnson may not be as good defensively but his attacking play from full-back is second to none in the Premiership. He gives the side extra width and an added option going forward. Rating: Johnson 8, Finnan 8.

Emiliano Insua v John Arne Riise – Riise has to win this duel. Insua is in his first season in the first team and by all accounts it has been an inconsistent one. He lacks pace to deal with the fastest of wingers and he has been found out on a number of occasions. He may improve with time but compared to Riise he is not currently at the required level. Riise, as well as being solid defensively, had a rocket of a left boot which could threaten the opposition goal. Rating: Riise 8, Insua 6.

Daniel Agger v Sami Hyypia – Big Sami is a legend at Anfield and rightly so. Always commanding at the back with his abilities in the air, he also had excellent anticipation and positioning meaning his lack of pace never caused him problems. Agger is a different style of defender to Hyypia, and although he is good in the air, he his also good on the ball, distributing passes from the back and firing dangerous shots from his hammer of a left foot. Although Agger is not quite as Hyypia’s level quite yet, he is still young and may well be in time. Rating: Hyypia 10, Agger 9.

Maxi Rodriguez v Danny Murphy – A slightly difficult comparison considering Maxi’s limited time in a Liverpool shirt and Murphy not really being a right winger, however, Houllier did consistently play Murphy in that position so I believe a comparison can be made. As out and out wingers, Rodriguez certainly wins as he provides extra width and can deliver good balls with his right foot. He had a good match against Portsmouth last night. Murphy is an excellent footballer and passer of the ball, and he has demonstrated this constantly for Fulham in central midfield over the last couple of seasons, however, at right midfield for Liverpool he used to cut inside and make the play too narrow, one of the major criticisms of Houllier’s team. Rating: Rodriguez 9, Murphy 8.

Javier Mascherano v Didi Hamann – Both Hamann and Mascherano are excellent defensive midfield players. They break up play with consummate ease and set up attacks, tackling and passing short to those more able going forward. Hamann had a starring role in the second half in the famous final in Istanbul, cutting off the supply to Kaka, who was marked out of the game, limiting Milan’s ability to attack, while Mascherano has an all action, fast pace style which has led him to bully teams into submission, most recently this season against Man Utd at Anfield. Mascherano just edges it for me, just on his ability to cover so much ground during a game. Rating Mascherano 10, Hamann 9.

Ryan Babel v Harry Kewell – Harry Kewell was injured so much during his time at the club, it would be very difficult to give him a high rating. Although he was a capable winger with great runs and goals, his injuries meant he had limited success in a Liverpool shirt. Babel may have only just started to show his abilities but his space, direct style and his ability to score spectacular goals, make him a better player in my opinion. Rating: Babel 8, Kewell 7.

Fernando Torres v Michael Owen – As goalscorers, it would be difficult to separate the pair, both are natural finishers who loving putting the ball in the back of the net. However, as an all round player, I think Torres is a better footballer and his ability to terrorise defences greater. I don’t think Michael Owen would be able to frighten Nemanja Vidic as much as Torres does, perhaps in terms of raw pace but not when it came to strength or presence in the air. Torres just shades it for me. Rating: Torres 10, Owen 9.

Overall: 2010 Liverpool 70, 2004 Liverpool 67.

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1 comment

  • ChinaRed says:

    Interesting rating system. According to you, Babel is 25% better than Insua. You give Babel 8 points which, I am guessing, equates to the number of positive contributions he has made on the pitch since his arrival 3 seasons ago?

    Despite your comment otherwise, the Wigan line-up actually is a better yard-stick to use to sum up Rafa’s reign than the Portsmouth line-up. Lucas and Kuyt featured in that match and have been constant fixtures in Rafa’s sides in recent times. Aquilani has not. If you had to give a points rating to Lucas and Kuyt, I suspect the 2004 side would’ve pipped the current side.

    One final point. Individual assessments like this are a little silly as they take no stock of combinations and partnerships. Is there a single Liverpool supporter out there who would not take the Carra/Hyypia combination of 5 years ago over any current central defensive combination we have? Is there anyone who would seriously argue that our back 4 in those days was worse than our back 4 now?

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