Revealed: Liverpool's secret weapon for Bolton clash

Nov 15 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL will hope a little inside knowledge can help them provide the antidote to their Carling Cup blues this afternoon.

Wednesday’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur sparked a significant fallout, with debates querying the strength of depth of Rafael Benitez’s squad along with the merits of his transfer policy and the Academy set-up.

Yet it’s a homegrown talent from yesteryear that could prove beneficial for the Anfield outfit as they aim to keep pace with Chelsea at the top of the table with victory at Bolton Wanderers.

Sammy Lee spent two years as understudy to Sam Allardyce at the Reebok Stadium before stepping into the managerial hotseat in April 2007.

However, six months later the affable Scouser was shown the door by Trotters chairman Phil Gartside after an indifferent start to the campaign.

Lee had been a member of Gerard Houllier’s coaching staff before deciding to leave shortly after the arrival of Benitez in June 2004.

But the 49-year-old was lured back to Anfield this summer as assistant manager, and Benitez has been impressed with his contribution.

“I’m really pleased with what Sammy has done since he returned here,” he says. “He’s done a fantastic job, he has experience.

“He knows the club, the Premier League and the game. It makes a massive difference and it’s very good for us.

“I was asking him on Friday morning if he had any idea or any clue about what to do against Bolton.

“We were talking about technical points.

“Can he be a manager again? If he wants to, he can do it. In the future you never know.

“He has the quality and the capability to be a good manager.

“But I want to be here for a long time, and he can stay with me also if he’s happy.”

Lee spent more than a decade at Anfield during his playing career, and since his return has overseen a number of subtle changes around the club, including the installation of iconic images from the club’s past at the training ground.

“This is a good message for the players – to see the legends when they are at Melwood,” says Benitez. “It can be an inspiration for them.

“Sammy has brought the spirit and mentality of the former players who know everything about the club.

“He has passion and is a very, very positive person. He’s been a very good addition.”

Bolton were something of a bogey club for Benitez during his first few years at Anfield, with the Spaniard taken aback by their agricultural approach to the game, particularly on home turf.

However, Liverpool secured a comprehensive 3-1 win on their last visit to the Reebok in March, and Benitez believes that, under Gary Megson, the Trotters have reined in some of their physical, long-ball sensibilities.

“Clearly they have been very difficult to beat in the last few years,” Benitez said.

“They try to play better football now but it is still tough. We will have to manage in a different way.

“They were really direct and they still are sometimes, but now they can also play it on the floor.

“They’re a different team – maybe nicer to watch.”

Definitely not nice to watch for Benitez was his team’s performance at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, particularly during the last seven minutes of the first half in which the visitors meekly capitulated to concede three goals.

Fingers have been pointed at the youngsters in the team, but Benitez says: “I think the senior players have to assume the responsibility.

“I don’t like to blame the young players when the performance of the team was really bad. As a team we were not good enough.

“We can do better and we have to learn for the future.

“We are really pleased with our position at the top of the table.

“When you analyse the priorities, some senior players couldn’t play because you have to protect them for the next games.

“As a manager you have to look at the big picture.”

Benitez believes Liverpool’s scouting system is finding good enough players at a young age, but is convinced the Academy system as a whole is not benefiting English football.

While Liverpool laboured in midweek, Arsenal’s youngsters were lauded for their Carling Cup dismantling of a near full-strength Wigan Athletic.

However, it’s worth noting that less than half of Arsene Wenger’s starting XI on Tuesday night were genuine Academy graduates, with young first-team regulars such as Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby, Gael Clichy, Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson and Kolo Toure having also been bought into the club for millions of pounds.

The Academy system in England is not producing too many top class players,” says Benitez.

“That’s a fact. In terms of Arsenal they are doing a very good job spending big, big money on young players.

“It’s good if you can spend £5m on Aaron Ramsey or £8m on Walcott.

“Again I will say they are doing a fantastic job but they are spending big money.

“If you compare the teams at the top of the table then we have a very young squad. The first-team senior players are 21, 23, 24, so we have a good squad for the future. We can give the young players more time if necessary.”

Benitez adds: “We have good young players but always you can improve.

“The question is to keep working hard but I am really pleased with the scouting department because we have signed Skrtel, Agger, Mascherano and Torres, all 23 or 24, so we have a lot of good young players.

“But we have to produce other young players.

“It would be good for me if we had five Gerrards and five Carras on the pitch with a good keeper. It would be easier.”

Watch Rafael Benitez’s press conference at www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/videos