Danny Murphy

Rafa right to protect Torres

Tue Nov 03 02:48PM

A fantastic result at the weekend for Fulham was very much down to the team performance, as opposed to Liverpool playing poorly. In the first half, it was a fairly even game but they didn't create many opportunities against us which gave us confidence going in at the break.

In the second half, we upped our tempo and got after them, causing them problems, and the belief that we could go on and win the game lifted us. When we took the lead, we had the confidence to push on and the dismissals obviously helped our cause to secure the win.

Liverpool still had a team littered with internationals, so we are really proud of our efforts and it definitely was not a case of the underdog winning due to a poor performance from the favourite.

Rafael Benitez knows his players better than we do, and he must have felt it was in Fernando Torres's best interests to come off after an hour. I don't think it is necessarily a case of him prioritising Europe over the Premier League. He comes across as a manager who looks to rotate his squad to keep players at their physical peak.

At 1-1, Benitez must have believed his side had the ability to go on and win the game without Torres. But from a fan's perspective, they will no doubt feel that he should have stayed on the pitch until the game was won, before thinking ahead to the next game.

There is an inevitable reliance from Liverpool on Torres and Steven Gerrard, as there would be in any side with players of that quality.

Yossi Benayoun has the ability to create opportunities for players around him, and he is one of the other players I would consider a genuinely creative influence for Liverpool.

But over the years, Liverpool have released a number of players who are considered genuine match-winners - the likes of Robbie Keane, Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy, who have all gone on to do great things.

It was obviously very disappointing for me not to be involved in playing against my old team and the club I supported growing up. I have torn a muscle behind my knee which will take a little longer to recover from than initially thought.

But I was absolutely delighted with the win which consolidates our position in the middle of the table, and really highlights the progress we are making.

I have been involved in some great results with Fulham recently including a memorable 2-0 win against Manchester United last season and a 0-0 draw against Arsenal in a game full of chances for us to snatch victory.

Results like these really highlight the progress we are making as a club, and we look to take confidence from games like these in our preparation.

Comments1 - 30 of 43
First
Previous
1
2
Next
Last

Ha
From draxanlee on Tue Nov 03 02:59PM
Report abuse
lol nothing like a good unbiased opinion
From bobo.spamble on Tue Nov 03 03:05PM
Report abuse
OK
From micpando1 on Tue Nov 03 03:10PM
Report abuse
But over the years, Liverpool have released a number of players who are considered genuine match-winners - the likes of Robbie Keane, Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy, who have all gone on to do great things
??? care to mentions these acts of greatness!
From andyc147 on Tue Nov 03 03:10PM
Report abuse
What an article, I just love the way you write no bias at all
From tjowwr on Tue Nov 03 03:22PM
Report abuse
Article was average at best, but still miles better than that prat Parker. Unfortunately you make a better journo than you do player these days Danny, and judging by the standard of your writing that does not bode well for your career
From agentblue_99 on Tue Nov 03 03:38PM
Report abuse
#4 - spot on. What on earth have those guys even acheived?? Do they even have a decent trophy between them??
From agentblue_99 on Tue Nov 03 03:39PM
Report abuse
murphy ur such a @#$% player and writer. just give up on life m8
From marshcharlie on Tue Nov 03 03:44PM
Report abuse
"Robbie Keane, Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy, who have all gone on to do great things"
..
Me too Danny, what great things have these achieved??? Answers on a postcard to the Kop L4
..
And as for saying Liverpool didn't play poor, they were as poor as they have ever been and reminded me of a Souness side or a Houllier side after his Heart Problems (when he came back)
From jjakocha2000 on Tue Nov 03 03:48PM
Report abuse
whatever rafa did for the reds.. he's nothing improving..
when they're play to win.. rafa still make a silly mistake..
he's only only proud to beat the 'champ'devils other teams..
he failed to manage better than before n give a reason
bcoz of several injured players..
From the_12thdevils on Tue Nov 03 03:50PM
Report abuse
good article
From getshort125 on Tue Nov 03 03:54PM
Report abuse
If this were a fight, they would surely have stopped it by now. Cram it, Murphy..
From goonerforlyfesmate on Tue Nov 03 03:56PM
Report abuse
raffa wouldnt know a good team unless he read the squad list at old trafford...a lame one trick spanish pony will not save him this time....gerrard for jail...fact!
From stuartxland on Tue Nov 03 04:00PM
Report abuse
is it me or do liverpool take up a lot of space in the articles written Mr Murphy? If he isnt talking himself or fulham up he is more often than not banging on about liverpool.
one of the worst bloggers on yahoo sport, i must keep myself from reading in the future.
From pish21uk on Tue Nov 03 04:14PM
Report abuse
Brill, yet again, undoutably the best writer on the planet(or at least Yahoo!) Why don't you just shut the **** up pish21uk and marshcharlie. If he chooses to write about liverpool, who gives a @#$%?
From jackroomhouse on Tue Nov 03 04:26PM
Report abuse
Nice article Captain. Get better soon. Have to admit, beyond flashes of class, Keane & Crouch haven't gone on to much after leaving Liverpuddle. But Bellamy is always very good when he's healthy. Can't blame Rafa for dumping him when he was an emotional fruitloop either.
From riverside_ac on Tue Nov 03 04:31PM
Report abuse
Parker gets some stick for being bias, but you are on another level Murphy.
Lets face it, the real reason why Fulham won is because you weren't playing. Its become glaringly obvious that you always lay down (and encourage your team mates to) against Liverpool. While you always attempt to upset their main rivals.
Well it seems Liverpools rivals will be for 8th place this year. And as for the champions league, I can understand Benitez throwing everything in that as the only chance you have of qualifying next year is if you win it this year.
From fatspanishwaiter on Tue Nov 03 04:32PM
Report abuse
Danny why don't you just ASK if u wanna be back at with the stupid scousers rather than try (unsuccessfully) hint subtly that u love them...and regret leaving them. We all know (includin u) that liverfools were simply outclassed by ur team
From shaunf721 on Tue Nov 03 04:35PM
Report abuse
Wheres the sexy football ?
From ray0711star on Tue Nov 03 04:37PM
Report abuse
get well soon Danny
From fahadm150 on Tue Nov 03 04:38PM
Report abuse
S hit.
From lawrence43 on Tue Nov 03 04:42PM
Report abuse
if you want to wipe your a** on your rivals google football toilet paper, you can get Celtic, Rangers, Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Sunderland, Newcastle, Birmingham and Villa toilet paper
From footballtoiletpaper on Tue Nov 03 04:51PM
Report abuse
hi guys interesting story, for more stories like this check out my new fan site find us at football-factory,net see you all there lots to see and all the latest news
From so_skeptical on Tue Nov 03 05:22PM
Report abuse
Mr Rafa, Pls Buy Upson! He's our keys to regain our confident! Liverpool still can be the champion! In Rafa we believe!
From saudagarsenja on Tue Nov 03 05:41PM
Report abuse
Groovy article dude.
From nineties_kid on Tue Nov 03 05:44PM
Report abuse
obviously very disappointing for me not to be involved in playing against my old team (so I could have scored a couple of own goals on purpose and kissed the arse of the team I still love and want to talk about every week)
From liamhorne007 on Tue Nov 03 05:47PM
Report abuse
Fulham are in top form, practically owning Roma, drawing with man city and beating liverpool...good stuff...Hodgsons weaving a wand...
From glennvdpas on Tue Nov 03 05:50PM
Report abuse
60 years supporting the Reds.....just get rid of Rafa.
From english2u2 on Tue Nov 03 06:10PM
Report abuse
As a Reds supporter for the last 60 years, I have only this to say.....Get rid of Rafa, he is pulling the club down.
From english2u2 on Tue Nov 03 06:16PM
Report abuse
Y'all got it wrong. Murph would have put in an extra against his old team. He is a Liverpool fan, but it's always sweeter to score against the team that let you go. They cold use a healthy DM. Liverpuddle is on the way down. Fulham's talent is better and is going to stay better, because Stevie G is not getting healthy and Torres is going to get the $hi+ kicked out of him in every game he plays cuz he's the only talent that Rafa's got left. IF he recovers from this 'minor hernia', he's going to still be beaten down every game he plays.
From riverside_ac on Tue Nov 03 06:16PM
Report abuse