Media Round-Up: Liverpool 2 - Manchester United 0

What a difference a day makes! Today's round up of media talk is an interesting mixed bag of reviews. Having spent most of the week sharpening the guillotine in preparation of our managers execution, Rafa's critics had their hopes dashed after his team deservedly beat Manchester United. Not surprisingly some journalists appear to think Rafa has somehow done a deal with the devil and his execution has just been postponed, much to their annoyance. One would think that Rafa was responsible for war crimes such was their urgency to depose of the Anfield boss.

The Telegraph

The chances of Rafa Benítez cracking a smile are as likely as Gary Neville being invited to turn on the Christmas lights in Penny Lane or Nemanja Vidic ever finishing one of these games. Impassive throughout, Liverpool’s manager should really have allowed himself a little grin after this richly-deserved, pressure-releasing triumph over Manchester United. He’d earned it.

This was Liverpool’s day from the moment the Kop brilliantly mocked the few beach-balls flying out from the United corner with hundreds of their own, from the moment the hairs on the back of local necks stood up in salute of a powerful rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

For all the talk of Benítez’s bad buys and the manager’s cold character, yesterday showed that with leaders like Carragher around, Liverpool must always be respected.

As he warmed up along the touchline, Neville kept lecturing the linesman in-between goading lippy Liverpool fans. Mike Phelan, Ferguson’s No 2, eventually had to bring the club’s stroppy No 2 back into the dug-out. Neville’s behaviour was disgraceful. No one expected anything else.

United’s keeper had no chance when Liverpool, palpably the better, hungrier side, came calling in the 65th minute. The ball flew from Kuyt to Yossi Benayoun to Torres, who was hurtling down the inside-right channel, pursued by Rio Ferdinand. United’s centre-half could not live with the pace and determination of Torres’s run, nor Van der Sar cope with the speed of the Spaniard’s shot, which arrowed past him into the roof of the net as Kopites raised their own roof.

The Guardian has an: 'Victory over Manchester United gives Rafael Benítez some breathing space', however the actual story doesn't live up to it's exploitational tag line, but does say: "victory over Manchester United rescued the Anfield club's season." Elsewhere the paper says:

United were merely 1-0 down when Sir Alex Ferguson sent on Michael Owen against his former club. With 10 minutes left, the striker was brought down by Carragher. It could have been a straight red card for the centre-back, but the referee, Andre Marriner, settled for a caution, presumably because he had some suspicion that Owen had not been heading straight for the target.

Liverpool can allow themselves a few moments when their minds are occupied by no more than a glow of satisfaction. The side was neither distracted nor apprehensive. That air of purpose could be sensed in the early exchanges when Fábio Aurélio's free-kick demanded an alert response from Edwin van der Sar. It is unarguable that Liverpool should be gauged by their efforts over a period far longer than that of an afternoon, but Benítez should enjoy a respite after getting most calculations correct against United.

The Times

After a week in which his regime has been questioned like never before — although not within the club, where his relationship with the board is infinitely healthier than two years ago — Benítez was entitled to enjoy this.

Ferguson complained afterwards about his team’s lack of penetration. He was brave to do so, since it gave rise to all manner of awkward questions. The dissenting grumbles had been kept to a minimum in the previous 11 matches — ten wins and one draw since that surprise defeat by Burnley in the opening week of the season — but they do not look the same side without Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Independent's review of the match reads more like a character assassination of the manager, with the headline:

'Torres picks the lock for Benitez's latest escape'

English football's great managerial escapologist once again picked the lock on the chains around him with a win that turned Liverpool's rapidly diminishing season upon its head.

Of course, the problems that afflicted Liverpool through the four defeats that preceded this game do not go away with one sweep of Torres' boot. Benitez has still made a lot of bad signings and is still prone to bizarre decisions, but yesterday he re-affirmed to the club's owners and his adoring fans the old Benitez mystique.

The result left Anfield the happiest dysfunctional family you will ever see. The day began with the protest march against owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett before the game; it ended with a directors' box full of middle-aged American blokes in suits exchanging embarrassing high-fives. In the Kop and around the ground, the divisions were put aside to focus on one common enemy.

Ferguson conceded that Liverpool deserved their victory, which was remarkable given that he did not even go that far when Liverpool won 4-1 at Old Trafford last season. Maybe he senses that for all the sound and fury around Liverpool yesterday, they are still a long way from title contenders.

The Mail

Not until the team were on the bus en route to the stadium did Benitez decide to risk Torres for this match, and how relieved he must be that he made that call. No other striker in Liverpool's squad would have scored the 64th-minute goal that ignited this contest.

No other striker would have possessed the speed, strength, composure and skill first to hold off the challenge of Rio Ferdinand and then to unleash the shot that flew beyond the reach of Edwin van der Sar and into the roof of the United net.

It was a wonderful example of why Torres is among the finest forwards in the world, and all the more remarkable for the fact that the Spaniard was not even fit. Not only had he hardly trained but he needed a painkilling injection just to get on the field.

His goal amounted to an adrenaline shot for Liverpool; a goal that revitalised a team who appeared to be on their knees after four straight defeats, and a goal that shifted the focus away from Anfield and back to Old Trafford.

It is no longer the durability of Jamie Carragher that is a concern but that of Ferdinand; no longer how Liverpool will respond to a morale-sapping defeat but how United will.

The Mirror

This was the day the title race was supposed to be reduced to a two-horse race, the day that Liverpool were exposed as feckless challengers whose hopes would be over for another season.

Instead, that ridiculously premature premise was exposed as the nonsense it most patently is, in what will surely be one of the most open, exciting and unpredictable Premier League contests in recent years. Two challengers? There could be six.

Rafael Benitez entered this game under so much pressure that his job was supposed to be on the line. At the end, with deafening adulation washing down the banks of the Anfield terraces, he was praised, not buried, as his side put on the sort of display required to reaffirm their elevated aspirations.

It was Manchester United, not the home team, who left unanswered some serious questions about their form and character, as they buckled under a second-half barrage inspired by rabid support of their side from a wide-eyed Kop.

In essence, this was a defining moment in the season, in the sense that it illustrated nothing can be defined so early. United have now lost twice already before the end of October, as have Chelsea, and both could easily have dropped more points.

There was still time for Vidic to be dismissed for a second - undebatable - yellow, and indeed he could have gone earlier for some unsavoury treatment of Torres, and Mascherano soon followed, again for two rash challenges conjured from the emotion of the occasion.

Benitez’s men added a second deep into a ridiculous five-minute stoppage time, when the tireless Kuyt cleverly held on until Lucas could eventually send sub David Ngog away to convert with no pressure, and from being out of the title race, Liverpool had their redemption and resurrection in one, magnificent moment.

Media Round-Up: West Ham United 2 - Liverpool 3

The Telegraph
"It must make Rafael Benitez shudder to wonder what he would do without Fernando Torres. Liverpool were stumbling towards two more dropped points now before the Spaniard contrived one of his extraordinary sleights of hand, ghosting through West Ham United's defence for a headed winner that his team scarcely merited."

"The consensus building around Liverpool was that they lacked a lethal threat up front, the dreaded 'X-factor'. Torres emphatically gave the lie to that theory here, although Liverpool still betrayed a worrying susceptibility at the back, twice allowing West Ham back into this pulsating game."

"Torres could not resist the acrobatics, going wide with an extravagant volley, but he needed nothing so theatrical to break West Ham down. In a move of great poise and determination the Spaniard broke down the left flank, beffudling James Tomkins and creating space for himself to nudge a crisp shot beyond Green."

"referee Andre Marriner awarded them a fortuitous penalty, deeming that Hines had been shoved to the ground by Carragher. Diamanti duly stepped up to dispatch the kick but, in connecting the ball, tottered, with television replays clearly showing that he had taken too touches."

"Benitez was furious, and his players protested loudly to Marriner that the goal should have been ruled out but the score stood. Such a perceived injustice galvanised Liverpool, who redoubled their attacking energies"

The Guardian
"The captain could smile. Liverpool are level on 12 points with the Manchester clubs, a win behind Chelsea. "It was important to get the three points, and hope the sides above us drop some" he said, before praising Torres who, quaintly, had attracted criticism recently but now has five league goals this campaign in a total of 55 in 91 games for Liverpool."

"He's been playing OK to me," was Gerrard's verdict of the streaked-haired wonder. "He's scoring and was on fire today with the two goals."

"A purring Benítez is a collector's item. But later even he could not resist. "I'm really pleased with him. The main thing for us is if he can keep his mentality," Torres' countryman said, before offering a scary thought. "He is a very good player and hopefully he can get better."

The Times
"Normal delivery has still not resumed at Liverpool. Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are back in their most creative places, the goals and wins have started flowing again, yet there is something fundamentally awry with a Rafa Benitez team that defends like Postman Pat."

"Liverpool were imperious going forward, carving wide holes in a laudably adventurous West Ham and scoring three times. Watching Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel attempting to halt little Zavon Hines and bustling Carlton Cole, however, was not good for the manager’s nerves. Benitez’s team left with three points, but play like this against the elite teams and there will be no Premier League trophy at Anfield this year."

“I’m not worried about the other teams,” said Benitez. “My concern is if we can improve, if we can defend as a team well, if we cannot make mistakes and we can continue scoring goals. When you talk about individual mistakes you know it is easier to find a solution. So Carra knows, Skrtel knows and we know that is just a question to be focused. We can do it, no problem. But if we cannot then I will say to Torres he has to score more goals.”

"The opener was coming. Insua stole possession from Hines and raced down the left wing. The Argentine’s pass fed Torres at the edge of the box, enabling the striker to spin round James Tomkins before elegantly lifting the ball over Green. A goal to steal your breath away."

"West Ham seemed outclassed, all the more so when Matthew Upson and Behrami were both substituted through injury before 30 minutes had passed. Then Carragher gifted West Ham a penalty."

"With a quarter of an hour left, Johnson drove into a box he used to defend. The ball ricocheted back, but only as far as Ryan Babel, who looped his cross to the back post. Torres leaned back and over his marker to twist a header into Green’s bottom corner. Liverpool are back in the top three; even with their stellar striker they’ll go no higher with a defence like this."

The Independent
"Fernando Torres scored the first of the evening and had the last word too with a winning header, his vision clearly unimpaired by the three black eyes he has collected in the last few weeks."

"Liverpool have now scored 16 goals in six League games - five of them from Torres - though what was surprising was the laxity in their defence. Jamie Carragher, who conceded a penalty, and Martin Skrtel looked shaky for such an experienced partnership and offered West Ham some hope until the finish."

"the accident-prone Carragher handed them a goal, shoving Hines as the youngster raced to the byline and conceding a penalty. Diamanti slipped as he took it, Liverpool protesting in vain that he touched the ball twice before it flew past Pepe Reina. "

"But when a first attempt on goal for some time materialised with quarter of an hour left, it brought a goal. Johnson, marauding forward in his favoured fashion, had a shot blocked, the ball running out to the right for Babel to cross and Torres, rising between Faubert and Tomkins, to head in. "He was very cheap," Benitez said of the £22m striker who has scored 55 times in 91 games. At today's prices, who could argue?"

The Mirror
"Liverpool’s lead was restored in the 41st minute when Benayoun’s corner was headed goalwards by Gerrard and although the ball seemed destined for the net, Dirk Kuyt got the final touch from close range."

"Where there is Fernando Torres, there is hope."

"In reality, this was not Torres at his imperious best. He wasn’t even the best player on the pitch – that honour fell to West Ham’s 20year-old livewire Zavon Hines."

"But there is no denying the Spaniard’s goal sense and it was enough to clinch a victory that took Liverpool up to third place in the table."

Media Round-Up: Liverpool 4 - Burnley 0

Liverpool's victory over Burnley has produced mostly positive reviews in the media. I say mostly, but there are still critics churning out the same old criticisms of Benitez and his team, whipping dead horses like his use of zonal marking and debating if the team does posses actual title credentials. Out of the so called 'top four', Liverpool have received the most negative headlines, even after a win. It is interesting to note that Arsenal's defeat at the hands of 'would be' title contenders Manchester City, did not deliver any 'Gunners in crisis' headlines. Liverpool have not been so lucky.

The Telegraph
"Among the 44,000 in Anfield’s rickety stands, Michael Shields yesterday watched Liverpool with an open mind. For 41/2 arduous years, he has been kept away from the team, and the ground, he loves. At 2.55pm, flanked by his family, he took his seat in the directors’ box, after a low-key entrance, a guest of the club and a free man."

"He has missed four years of claim and counter-claim about Rafa Benítez’s management, culminating in a barrage of criticism for the Spaniard’s sale of Xabi Alonso, for his side’s poor start to the season, their continued reliance on zonal marking and their weakness at set pieces."

"Few fans will have attended Anfield yesterday or, indeed, this season, so free of prejudice and agenda as Shields. After witnessing a Liverpool performance of confidence and precision, of power and control which swept Burnley aside with contemptuous ease, which could have led to twice as many goals as the four they managed, he may have left Anfield wondering why all talk of titles is deemed so foolish on Merseyside, why so many fans harbour doubts about the state created by 2005’s 'Rafalution’.

"Shields’s response to his first visit to Anfield since Liverpool won their fifth European Cup, four long years ago, will have been just as awestruck, just as optimistic. In that, too, among his fellow fans he may be alone, for now. If Liverpool can keep this up, though, he will not be for long."

The Guardian
"Gone here were the horrors of Liverpool's last home league match – the 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa – instead, Rafael Benítez's side displayed the relentlessness and deadliness to suggest they can, after all, better last year's second-place finish. Bar a first-minute strike from Martin Paterson that slid just wide of Reina's near post, the men in red were rarely threatened by Burnley."

"Yossi Benayoun was superb throughout this contest, as he has been since the tail end of last season, and played a defining role in releasing Liverpool from their initial sluggishness. His clever running worried Burnley throughout, and it was fitting that the Israeli should score his third hat-trick since arriving on Merseyside from West Ham in July 2007."

The Times
"At kick-off on Saturday afternoon, Liverpool and Burnley lined up as equals according to the Barclays Premier League table. Within a couple of hours, any ideas that such an unlikely equality could last had been ruthlessly dismissed."

"Liverpool scored four times but, such was their dominance as the game wore on, could have underlined their superiority with several more goals."

"it was a string of poor home results against teams from whom they should have taken maximum points that cost them the title last season."

"The penny finally appears to be dropping, though, with Stoke and Burnley on the receiving end of four-goal hidings."

"Then Benayoun provided a wonderfully incisive finishing flourish and what had been a contest increasingly turned into a procession."

The Independent
"Hat-trick one game and the substitutes' bench the next. That is the scenario facing Yossi Benayoun, yet Liverpool's reluctant substitute knows Rafa Benitez well, hence he has already accepted he may be missing when the team launch their Champions League campaign on Wednesday."

"Even if the Israel international feels aggrieved about his lack of starts this season, he certainly was not prepared to air them in public on Saturday. "Everyone wants to play all the time – I don't know anyone who is happy to sit on the bench," Benayoun said after the third hat-trick of his Anfield career. "But at Liverpool that can happen because there are so many good players. You have make sure you take the chance when you are on the pitch."

The Express
"Burnley were swatted aside, though the confidence Liverpool"

"There have been so many tensions simmering below the surface at Anfield in the opening weeks of the campaign that piecing together self-belief is key as Benitez seeks to build momentum before the trip to Chelsea on October 4."

"When Liverpool manager Benitez imparted the well-worn cliche about taking each game as it comes after this win, he was not being evasive, just realistic."

“We have been talking about rebuilding the confidence of the squad,” said Benitez. “Everyone was talking about the challenge of winning the Premier League before the season, but people were expecting us to win the title in September. That is impossible. We have to improve but you can see that we can play well and score goals. That is the way forward for us.”

"Benayoun, who revelled in a role on the right of midfield , has arguably been the club’s most consistent player since the start of 2009 and is beginning to thumb his nose to the notion that he is more effective off the bench than when starting."

"Brazilian midfielder Lucas has adopted that same outlook and the smattering of applause he received when taking a corner in front of The Kop suggests he is on the verge of a breakthrough in his battle to be taken seriously by Liverpool fans."

Media Round-Up: Bolton 2 Liverpool 3

A slew of bad press has been thrown at Liverpool football club and especially its manager Rafael Benitez in the past seven days. Most of the criticism was aimed at the Reds boss who after saying: "clearly the team has to improve and it depends on the experienced players to take more responsibility," found himself reading headlines like: "After criticising Gerrard and Carragher, Rafa Benitez needs to learn what goes on in the dressing room stays in the dressing room." Incredibly some fans appear to have fallen for the media's slight of hand trick, judging by the radio phone in's.

Prior to the Bolton match, more myth making 'Benitez attacks Gerrard' articles were published. The Guardian said: "Steven Gerrard not in good enough form for Liverpool, says Rafael Benítez." The article goes on to say: "Benítez pointed to a lack of collective responsibility among his senior players after the home defeat to Aston Villa on Monday, but today went further, saying that Gerrard was not currently playing at his "best level". This story would normally invoke a certain amount of worry from fans fearing a manager and player had fallen out, until you actually read the quote from Rafa that created the headline. Benitez said:

"We have seen Steven playing really well for a while now," said Benítez. "He is one of our big names, a key player. He will continue to be that. He will know that he has played a couple of games that are not up to his best level. But because he so often plays really well, people maybe can see the difference."

Clearly certain journalists have set themselves an agenda of a Gerrard/ Benitez bust up and we can expect more of these style of headlines to come.

Yesterdays well earned win, following two Bolton goals which went against the direction of play has created a mixed response from some of the press, who were obviously disappointed by the Reds gaining three points.

The Guardian says:
"Steven Gerrard arrives late to rescue Liverpool against ten-man Bolton." The story goes on to proclaim: "Managerial criticism for Steven Gerrard is as rare as sunshine this barbecue summer and, after a week in which Rafael Benítez reminded him of his talismanic responsibilities, it was probably inevitable that the captain should spare Liverpool further blushes with an 83rd-minute winner to settle a match in which battling Bolton led twice."

"Bolton, who had failed to score in their opening two games, deservedly broke their duck and felt they would have had a point, at least, had they not lost Sean Davis after 55 minutes for the second of two yellow cards."

The Telegraph is not as disappointed as the Guardian following the victory.
"After a week of criticism from inside and out over his performances, Steven Gerrard volleyed Liverpool to a victory over Bolton which, for 14 days at least, will kick-start their season."

"After twice falling behind, carelessly, against limited, aggressive and at times overly combative opponents, Gerrard, his every step shadowed by Fabrice Muamba, shed his limpet for the briefest of moments to send a trademark thundering volley beyond the grasp of Jussi Jaaskelainen and the travelling red hordes into raptures."

“He showed again he is a key player for us,” said Benítez. “He can be a leader for the rest of the players with his commitment and his quality. But all the players wanted to improve today, Steven, Fernando Torres and a lot of others. They all had a great determination to win the game.”

The article goes on to say: "Sean Davis, booked in the first half for kicking the ball away, was dismissed 10 minutes after the break for a cynical trip on Lucas as the Brazilian midfielder surged forward."

"The former Portsmouth player did not take Alan Wiley’s decision well, blaming the Liverpool player for demanding a yellow card, but to no avail. His manager, similarly, admitted he had some “sympathy” for what was a justified, if rather silly dismissal."

"Yet again, Liverpool had limited their opposition to barely a sniff of the ball and yet again they had created a number of good, if not glaring, opportunities, all of which fell to Torres."

"The stage was set, and the script, delighting in its lack of originality, was clear. Gerrard had already hit the bar with a fearsome drive from Dirk Kuyt’s knock-down when Torres, less profligate now, showed his own ruthless streak, driving fiercely past Jaaskelainen after a flowing move inspired by his captain. Liverpool swarmed forward, threatening again and again, before Torres headed Johnson’s cross to Gerrard, on the penalty spot. Lights, camera, action!"

The Times says: "Steven Gerrard rescues Liverpool"

The article goes on to say: "NO BARBECUE summer, this, but still the smell of seared flesh at Anfield, some of it prime English beef. Rafa Benitez’s withering reference to Captain Untouchable, Steven Gerrard, that he “played a couple of games that are not up to his best level” after Monday’s home defeat by Aston Villa will have cautioned not just his midfielder but all his players that another deficient performance would not be tolerated."

"Significantly, the final whistle produced no delirium within the visiting contingent. Instead they quietly digested the good fortune that had deserted them on Monday. None more so than Gerrard."

"Gerrard again lacked the assertiveness that brands his performances. That was until Bolton’s reduction to 10 men allowed him freedom to roam."

Gerrard reflected wryly: “I knew Gary Megson would do that. He did it to me last year. He [Muamba] was my shadow for 40-50 minutes. I don’t like to see a man get sent off but fortunately that was in my favour, that gave me more space.”

The story goes on to say: "The contest turned on the Davis sending off nine minutes after the interval. Already cautioned, he caught Lucas’s heels and Alan Wiley had no alternative but to brandish a second yellow. Megson was not a happy man. “They control the ball, slow up and wait for the hit,” was how he viewed the foul. “We’ve got to start doing that. We’re not particularly cute at bending the rules.”

The article adds: "It was an afternoon when the fates smiled on Benitez. For once, he had no gripe with the officials. We have presumably heard the last of that summer whine."

The Independent says: "Gerrard's late winner makes point to Benitez."

"Perhaps Rafael Benitez should be critical of Steven Gerrard more often if his captain responds to such comments like this. With the scores locked 2-2 and Liverpool's title ambitions in danger of collapsing before the transfer window has even shut, Gerrard struck with a trademark finish from 16 yards to earn his side victory against 10-man Bolton."

"Outplayed by Tottenham and outfought against Villa, Liverpool arrived at the Reebok knowing they could be out of title contention with a third defeat in four games."

"Yet despite the scoreline, this was a far from convincing performance by Benitez's men. Only when Sean Davis was sent off for two bookable offences, with Liverpool trailing 2-1 with more than half an hour remaining, did they take a firm grip."

"Three points, a first away win of the season and a match-winning performance by Gerrard. "We can prepare for the next game and be a little bit more relaxed because of the result," the Liverpool manager said. "It was a difficult game and twice we had to come from behind. Today, all the players wanted to impress and do well. They knew we had to improve and do well."

"When Benitez decided to pay £17m to Portsmouth for Johnson, many thought he had overspent on a player who left Chelsea after failing to cement a regular spot. But the England full-back has proved to be one of the few consistent performers for Benitez so far this term and his equaliser, his second goal for the club, was a delight. This time it was the Bolton defence who were guilty of failing to stay awake. After struggling to clear a corner, the ball fell to Johnson who required just a couple of touches before finishing from 20 yards."

The Express says: "Gerrard saves Rafa's blushes as Reds come from behind to beat Bolton"

"The visitors had plenty of possession, but without making many clear-cut chances, Matt Taylor and Cohen working tirelessly in midfield, breaking up Liverpool’s flow."

"the visitors were made to fight desperately hard by a Bolton side who were down to 10 men for much of the second period."

Media Round-Up: Liverpool 4 - Stoke 0

Following Sunday's disappointment's and days of unnecessary scathing attacks from the press on Benitez and his squad, the papers appear mostly positive about last nights demolition of Stoke. Heres the selected highlight's in the 'Media Round-Up':

The Telegraph

"Goals from Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog secured the three points and Liverpool fans left Anfield also warmed by the memory of one of the most magical pieces of technique imaginable."

"When Javier Mascherano lifted the ball forward in the run-up to Kuyt’s 78th-minute goal, Steven Gerrard controlled the ball at speed and turned at the same time. It was like Usain Bolt impersonating Johan Cruyff. After eluding Danny Higginbotham, Gerrard slid the ball across for Kuyt’s goal. Stoke were vanquished, although nothing could silence their fans."

"Torres’s fourth-minute goal was superb, another reminder of his uncanny positioning and nerveless finishing, another moment when his understanding with Gerrard seemed based on telepathy."

"Johnson kept pushing forward, playing almost as a winger, and he was nearly snapped in two by Richard Cresswell as he threatened the Stoke area. Johnson’s endeavour was rewarded just before the break. When Gerrard swerved in another corner, Johnson metamorphosed into Gerd Muller 1970 vintage, catching the follow-up with the neatest of volleys, almost breaking the net such was the ferocity."

"For all the good cheer sweeping through Liverpool, it was impossible to be deaf to the noises off the pitch. If speculation about Benitez’s future was promptly dismissed by the club as “2,000 per cent untrue”, the reality of another Spirit of Shankly -organised fans’ demonstration against the club’s deeply unpopular owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, highlighted enduring problems."

The Guardian
"This was a most complete victory over Tony Pulis's men, whose game plan was unhinged inside five minutes when Torres took Rafael Benítez's advice to stop arguing with opponents and match officials and concentrate on what he does best."

"I didn't push him too hard," said Benítez, keen to impress he has no deep-rooted problem with the striker on whom so much rests. "I just said he has to be focused, concentrated, do his job, score goals and be a threat to defenders."

"The rapport between striker and Steven Gerrard came to the fore instantly and Glen Johnson was outstanding. Two assists and a first goal for Liverpool marked a healthy return from the home league debut of the £17m summer signing from Portsmouth and instantly vindicated Benítez's assertion that, although expensive, the England international can solve the problem of rigid defences at Anfield."

"The supporters turned the first home game of the season into another protest at Tom Hicks and George Gillett, Liverpool's credit-crunched owners. "Gillett and Hicks Out Now," proclaimed a leaflet distributed by the Spirit of Shankly supporters group and held up by thousands during You'll Never Walk Alone. "Give the owners the red card."

"Torres became the third Liverpool player in two games to suffer a head injury in a collision with Shawcross. "We are top of the league for stitches," said Benítez."

"Johnson impressed throughout, forcing a fine save from Thomas Sorensen and intervening expertly on a dangerous Dean Whitehead cross, and had the Kop singing his name long before the end."

The Times

"Rafael Benítez may not be able to count on the kind of owners who will respond favourably to his every whim, but at least his Liverpool team appear to be listening to their manager."

"Then there is Glen Johnson, he of the exorbitant transfer fee and dubious international form. His challenge from Benítez — one that he chose to accept by swapping cash-strapped Fratton Park for cash-stripped Anfield — was to add attacking flair from a deep-lying position, a quality that is sorely needed against stubborn opponents such as Stoke."

"A minute before half-time, Johnson marked his home debut by popping up in Stoke’s six-yard box to score with an acrobatic scissor-kick that doubled Liverpool’s lead. The goal suggests that Benítez has acquired a full back of rare adventure."

"Dirk Kuyt scored the third goal with 12 minutes remaining after a moment of inspiration from Gerrard, who produced a graceful pirouette that was too much for Danny Higginbotham, the defender ending up on the seat of his pants watching Kuyt finish the move."

The Independent

"Johnson's principal rival for the man-of-the-match award was Steven Gerrard, who was behind each of the first three goals. If he had done nothing else, the England midfielder's high-speed "Cruyff turn" in the build-up to Kuyt's goal deserved the thunderous acclaim on his substitution."

"Stoke never looked capable of a first top-flight victory at Anfield. Tony Pulis, their manager, entered the press room saying: "Beaten by a better team. I hold my hands up." Pulis described criticism of Benitez and his players as "crazy", adding: "If they keep everyone fit, they've got the quality to be up there. I'm not saying they'll win it, but they'll be up there with Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal. Gerrard's touch for the third goal was the mark of a world-class player, but there's not just him and Torres. They've got some smashing players."

The Daily Star

"Liverpool had dominated for long spells and they almost scored after just two minutes when Lucas collected a clearance from a Gerrard centre. He lashed in a powerful shot but it was clutched on the line by Sorensen."

"Some of the Liverpool moves were a joy to watch and Stoke had no answer to the speed of them."

"Torres crashed to the floor with blood coming from a cut above his left eye and had to leave the pitch for three minutes for attention.The knock didn’t put him off his balance. Within minutes of returning, he was in the thick of it with a mazy run that produced the corner from which Johnson scored."

Media Round-Up

Well I predicted the word 'Rant' would be used by the press this season to describe Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's unhappiness with an incident and it has only taken the opening weekend for it to be used for the first time this season. The decision by referee Phil Dowd not to award the Reds a penalty for a blatant push on Andriy Voronin in the box and a subsequent hand ball from Assou-Ekotto left assistant Sammy Lee so unhappy that his exchange with fourth official Stuart Attwell ended with referee Dowd sending Lee off. This series of events were of course brought up by the waiting journalist at the post match press conference who were well aware of the new rules imposed by the Premier League, intended to stop managers speaking out against individual officials.

"Asked about Dowd, Benítez remained silent, but took out his glasses and peered from a distance through the lenses, making it abundantly clear that he felt the Staffordshire official needed a visual aid," said the Telegraph. The Liverpool manager added: "We had a meeting the other day, they said we cannot speak about the referees as a person, about the decisions, but everybody could see today the situation."

"I think everyone could see there was a penalty, especially to Voronin," added Benítez. "The third one, you could excuse, you can say that the hand was to the ball or the ball was to the hand. But the other one was so clear that it was unbelievable."

Asked if it was possible to win two penalties away from home, Benítez added: "No, with this referee I knew that this was impossible."

Speaking about 26-year-old forth official, Stuart Attwell and Lee's dismissal, Benítez said: "The fourth official is too young. I don't know how old he is but maybe he needs to calm down a bit."

The article by John Ley ran with the headline: "Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez cannot resist referee rant after defeat to Tottenham"

The Guardian described the incident with Lee as: "The non-award for the Assou-Ekotto handball shout brought the red mist down on Sammy Lee, the Liverpool assistant manager. He directed a volley of abuse at the fourth official Stuart Attwell, who is a relative rookie at the age of 26, and, at one point, Benítez had to step in to separate the pair. Lee could not remain quiet and, after continued protests, he was sent to the stands."

The article by David Hytner also quotes Benitez saying "The fourth official is a young referee and maybe he needs to calm down a bit," but adds:

"He is too young. Sammy will be banned from the touchline but the only thing with Sammy is that he cannot score goals for us. So hopefully Torres will do his job."

The story then says: This was an isolated moment of humour. There was little for Benítez to smile about and, in truth, his moans about the officials not only did him no credit but it obscured the consensus that Liverpool deserved nothing from the game."

The Times says: "Rafael Benítez last night launched a blistering attack on Phil Dowd, accusing the referee of an “unbelievable” decision that the Liverpool manager believed cost his team the chance to equalise in their 2-1 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur."

The story by Tony Barrett also goes on to say: "the Spaniard risked censure by the Football Association by criticising both the fourth official and the match referee."

About the spectacle incident, the story says: When asked for his assessment of Dowd’s performance, Benítez calmly produced a case from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a pair of spectacles without uttering another word."

The article adds further quotes from Benitez, adding: "The fourth official is a young referee and maybe he needs to calm down a little bit. I don’t know why Sammy was sent off. The fourth official was too young. I don’t know how old he is, but I think he is too young.”

The story's headline is: "Rafael Benítez makes a spectacle of himself in referee rant"

Elsewhere in the Times, journalist Matt Hughes describes Benitez's spectacle gag as: "a wonderful piece of comedy." Speaking about the match in this story, Benitez said: “We need to improve passing the ball and keeping the ball in midfield,” Benítez said. “As a team we were not in control of possession in the first half so it was difficult for Gerrard and Torres. Alonso was not here, but we won a lot of games without him last year.”

However the writer says: "Benítez should also look to himself, however, because his desire to inject more urgency into Liverpool’s passing game degenerated into a frenzied mess. The Spaniard may have spent too much time listening to the Beatles during five years on Merseyside, because yesterday’s game plan was very much Helter Skelter."

Further on the story says: "Assou-Ekotto’s collision with Andriy Voronin, a substitute, in the 86th minute appeared innocuous and accidental, while claims that the French full back deliberately handled the ball in injury time seemed little more than desperate."

The story finishes on: "Benítez’s comments stemmed from frustration at his side’s first league defeat of the season coming three months earlier than a similar setback on this ground last year, as well as the growing realisation that after some controversial calls in the transfer market this summer he is a man under pressure. If Liverpool are unable to beat Stoke, who left Anfield with a goalless draw last season, Benítez really could have egg on his face."

The Independent is not so gentle with its assessment of the match and even implies that Benitez's position is already under threat, stating: "Eyes blazing, arms outstretched, Rafael Benitez appealed to the referee for a penalty in the dying moments of the game yesterday with the kind of fervour that put him in contravention of any number of Football Association and Premier League respect campaigns. One game gone and Liverpool are feeling the heat."

Adding further spice to a somewhat dull game, the story by Sam Wallace says: "Fernando Torres kicked out at Tom Huddlestone and Lucas Leiva weighed in with a shove to the Tottenham midfielder's chest. But when the whistle went for full-time the rest of the Premier League's big four had left Liverpool in the blocks."

About Benitez, the story says: "The FA's Respect campaign has already got its work cut out with Benitez." The article however does pause to state: "To his credit, Benitez did not try to pretend that Liverpool deserved to win just three months after they dispatched Spurs 3-1 at Anfield on the last day of the league season." It then says: "It is early days yet for Liverpool but, with the exception of the excellent Glen Johnson at right-back, there was little about them that could be argued was an improvement on last season." It also adds: "It would be inaccurate to put a defeat like this down to the absence of Xabi Alonso alone but his departure has undoubtedly made Liverpool weaker."

Elsewhere the same paper says: "Benitez conceded that his team had started poorly. "I think we didn't play well, especially the first half," he said. "We were much better in the second half, pushing harder, more options in the final third. Clearly we have to improve if we want to win these kind of games." It also says: "As for Benitez's verdict on Dowd, it may take the FA's finest legal minds to bring him to book."

Paul Brown writing for the Star opens his article by saying: "Raging Rafa Benitez claimed Liverpool were robbed by ref Phil Dowd at White Hart Lane." The story simply entitled: "RAFA'S RANT" adds: "Benitez was also furious with 26-year- old fourth official Stuart Attwell after he had Reds No.2 Sammy Lee sent from the bench to the stands in the dying stages for complaining.

Elsewhere in the Star the same writer says: "RAFA BENITEZ was hopping mad as shambolic Liverpool’s title charge started with a whimper yesterday." The story adds: "The Kop boss threw his arms in the air and jumped up and down on the touchline as referee Phil Dowd refused his side a late penalty at White Hart Lane." About the penalty claim the writer says: "Dowd was right not to punish Benoit Assou-Ekotto for a challenge on substitute Andriy Voronin with four minutes left."

The papers columnist Brian Woolnough in his 'Wooly's World' article says: "This wouldn't get Anfield a top 10 spot" and adds: "The pressure is right on Benitez after only one game. He can’t afford any more performances like this". The story also reminds us: "Liverpool are the only one of the Premier League’s big four to lose over this first weekend." Wooly the says: "Benitez used the two penalty appeals to try and convince his club’s fans they were unlucky," then adds: "Liverpool supporters are not fools. They know their side were not unlucky."

So, after one match of the new Premiership season played, it appear Benitez is hopping mad ranting in all directions with the prospect of unemployment knocking on his door before too long. With such exploitation packed stories I wish I'd watched the game through the journalists eyes, never mind Rafa's spectacle waving. The reality was this was indeed a poor performance. The team lacked direction and creativity until Yossi Benayoun was introduced. The Reds can't get much worse then this lack lustre performance, but the fact does remain that despite Spurs deserving the victory, the Reds were denied a blatant penalty when Voronin was bundled over by Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Missed chances and poor refereeing decisions however count for nothing once the final whistle is blown. The season has just begun and the Reds must and will improve.