More of the same please boys.

12^th September – Liverpool Vs Burnley (Premiership)

A browse of the Liverpool team sheet at 14.55 on Saturday revealed a defensive midfielder was replaced with a more attack minded one. The sun was shining, the opposition were a newly promoted team, and a positive, energetic performance was expected from the home fans at Anfield.

Benitez was confident that someone who didn’t have ‘Gerrard 8’ on his back was capable of flourishing in the free roaming role behind Fernando Torres. The manager’s faith in Yossi Benayoun was repaid with a hat-trick, all the more impressive as the sprightly Israelian’s selection is not a formality.

Despite the 4-0 score line, the Lancastrians were resolute and stern in the opening 20 minutes. As I sweated in dark, cramped, poorly lit Liverpool pub, I began to wonder whether it was to be ‘one of those days’, which thwarted many home Premiership games last season.

But, the first goal came. After being fed by Glen Johnson, who’d received excessive and unjustified criticism over the past fortnight, Benayoun turned the Burnley defence inside out, nut-megging a flummoxed defender, before slotting coolly past Brian Jensen.

Shortly before half-time, an uncharacteristic fumble from Jensen resulted in a simple tap in for Dirk Kuyt, as 3 points looked to be heading to Rafa’s men. As the game entered its final half-hour, Benayoun made victory beyond question. A trademark run from Steven Gerrard, where he marauded into the opposition penalty area, evading challenges, allowed Benayoun to convert a simple tap-in, adding his second and Liverpool’s third.

In the past few weeks, where the undesirable issue of diving has been a hot topic, and it was pleasing to see the Liverpool captain refrain from tumbling in the box. Instead, Gerrard made more of an effort to remain upright and to provide a decisive, mouth-watering assist.

Such honest play was adopted by Gerrard again, upon rounding Jensen he stayed on his feet after making contact with the opposition no.1, and struck a left foot shot against the base of the post. These runs from deeper positions are a rarer commodity of Gerrard’s game in Benitez’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, but such performances display how adaptable the Liverpool captain is, and how important he is to his team.

Shortly after being denied a seemingly legitimate hat-trick goal, Benayoun received the mach ball after some slick touches from his team mates. A move originating from the feet of Albert Riera resulted in Andrea Voronin laying the ball to the slippery Israelian, who duly obliged with a composed finish past the hapless Jensen.

Of course, Benayoun will receive all the plaudits following this victory, and rightly so when you consider how he hasn’t been playing consistently this season, starting only 2 premiership games before today. Credit should also be bestowed on Albert Riera, who, like Benayoun, has spent the start of the season in the L4 wilderness, receiving a cold shoulder from his compatriot, Mr Benitez.

While teacher’s pet Kuyt gets the manager’s affection on the right of midfield, the left midfield berth has Babel, Riera and Benayoun all competing for one sought after position. Hopefully, healthy competition will yield heightened performances from all three as the season unfolds.

Johnson, Torre and Kuyt were all substituted in the second half, all having made significant contributions to their countries triumphs during the international break. Benitez clearly had an eye on Wednesday night, with the visit of Debrecen to Anfield. Let’s hope the 3 points, goals and pleasing performances continue as European football begins again.