Riera predicting goal rush against Crewe
Winger Albert Riera believes Liverpool will find their scoring touch soon as his side prepare for their third round Carling Cup clash against Crewe at Anfield. The Reds have struggled in front of goal in the early part of the season with Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt both finding the net on only one occasion.
Robbie Keane is also without a goal since his £20.3million move from Tottenham but Riera, who joined from Espanyol earlier this month, is confident the floodgates will open in the near future, despite a goalless draw with Premier League newcomers Stoke at the weekend.
"It's only the beginning. It's a long season and we must be patient - I'm sure we will get better but the most important thing is how we finish the season,'' Riera said.
"The thing with Fernando and Robbie is every player has periods when they don't score - but they are fantastic players. The only problem is that the shots aren't going in for them at the moment, but I'm sure they will score a lot of goals.
"Stoke was a very difficult match for the forwards. Sometimes they had a line of nine men defending so it was hard to break through.
"We knew before the match it would be like that so it wasn't a surprise. We tried many times to score but it was one of those typical games where if you don't score quickly it becomes more and difficult because they just get more and more men behind the ball.''
Keane could be given a chance to break his duck against the Coca-Cola League One side but manager Rafael Benitez is set to rest Torres after the striker looked jaded against the Potters.
French teenager David Ngog is likely to partner Keane in attack with Benitez set to give several youngsters a chance to impress.
One player definitely in line to make his Anfield debut is Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri with first choice Jose Reina set to rested.
Reina has played every minute of the Reds' campaign so far and Benitez is keen to give the 25-year-old signed from Palmeiras in the summer a chance to prove himself.
"Normally, Diego will play in the Carling Cup - he is a fantastic professional who is learning all the time about English football,'' Benitez told the club's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.
"It's a different style to what he was used to in Brazil but I think he showed in pre-season that he can do everything well. He's a good goalkeeper and can challenge Pepe Reina.
"It's an important competition for us but it's also one which gives us the chance to use some different players.
"We have to be careful though. We want to win the game and go on to win the tournament so while we can use some of our youngsters, we need to make sure we get the team right for winning.'' |