SOCCER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Fiorentina v Liverpool:DIRK KUYT was unable to reproduce the Istanbul miracle when he reduced Liverpool's deficit against Milan in the 2007 Champions League final but a remarkable recovery began that night nonetheless. The revival concerned Kuyt himself and has been so extensive that in Florence tonight he could find himself in the exalted company of the finest Liverpool predator of all, Ian Rush.
Kuyt failed to score in 10 Champions League appearances for Rafael Benitez’s side until his 89th-minute header brought hope in Athens two years ago. In 24 Champions League appearances since, he has added a further 11 goals and now stands third on the list of Liverpool goalscorers in their cherished competition.
Steven Gerrard leads that illustrious roll call with 19, and has a staggering 32 in Europe in total, but the sight of Rush in second on 14 offers an incentive that even Kuyt, the consummate team man, finds enticing.
“To have the chance to maybe draw level with someone like Ian Rush is unbelievable,” said the striker yesterday. “He is one of the biggest names in the history of Liverpool and it would give me a great feeling if I could manage to do that.”
Reverting to humble type, he added: “The milestones are nice but, if you don’t have anything to go with them like a trophy, then it is not the same.”
Kuyt’s post-Athens spree is worthy of the prolific reputation he brought with him from Feyenoord in 2006 but which initially diminished as Benitez moulded the Dutchman into the tireless cog on the Liverpool right.
He is at a loss to explain the transformation.
“I’m not sure why it has gone so well for me,” Kuyt said. “I don’t try and do anything different from in the Premier League but I do feel confident going into big Champions League games.”
The Dutchman’s progress up the Liverpool goal chart is timely given the criticism that came his way this weekend from Jermaine Pennant. The winger, now of Real Zaragoza, blamed Benitez’s methodical approach for his own failure at Anfield, adding that the €10.9 million spent on Kuyt ensured he was always guaranteed a first-team place.
“I will not talk too much about what he said,” Benitez responded last night. “Kuyt can do his talking on the pitch. His record is out there. I don’t need to say anything else.”
Liverpool will be without the Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano against the Italians tonight due to a hamstring strain suffered in training on Sunday. His absence may be felt keenly at the Stadio Artemio Franchi or at Stamford Bridge on Sunday should he fail to recover. “Hopefully it will take two or three days,” said Benitez. “He felt his hamstring in shooting practice and the doctor said we had to be careful with him.”
Yossi Benayoun, who suffered a leg injury in the thrashing of Hull City, is set to be fit.
The Fiorentina coach, Cesare Prandelli, made a brief appearance against Liverpool in the ill-fated 1985 European Cup final at Heysel and yesterday heralded Benitez as his “role model” for “the way he organises the team and the dressing-room”. A rather bashful Liverpool manager replied: “Thank you, although it is the kit man who organises the dressing-room, not me.”
Fiorentina collected only two points from a possible nine at home in the group stage last season, although they are unbeaten in three encounters with English opposition on Tuscan soil.
“Prandelli has done a very good job here,” added Benitez. “They know their jobs and they know how to attack and defend.”
The F6 group, meanwhile, have confirmed that their chairman, Prince Faisal, has agreed a partnership deal with George Gillett over two youth academies in Saudi Arabia and two in north Africa.
Prince Faisal’s claims of buying a 50 per cent stake in Liverpool have been denied by Anfield officials, although he will also link up with Gillett over the latter’s aim to expand his Nascar interests into the Middle East.
Prince Faisal confirmed the deals were done following Liverpool’s 6-1 defeat of Hull City at Anfield on Saturday, a game he attended as a guest of the club.
"We have signed several contracts with Liverpool after visiting the club and attending the match with Hull City in the Premier League," he told Al Riyadhdaily newspaper.
GuardianService
GROUP E
DEBRECEN v LYON
Lyon are likely to be missing key players Michel Bastos and Lisandro Lopez against the Hungarian side Debrecen as they recover from injury. They continued their unbeaten Ligue 1 record this season with a 2-1 victory over Toulouse on Saturday.
General manager Claude Puel said: “The squad has a real strength and team spirit. Beating Fiorentina was a great way to start off at home.”
Debrecen, coached by Andras Herczeg, enter the tie on the back of a 4-4 draw away to Kaposvar.
