Rapid Vienna v Liverpool

[red g]

All the great title winning liverpool sides have been ****e preseason. Nothing to worry about

[Vermilion]

Goal would have been nice over the two games, but ultimately in the great title winning scheme of things these early pre-season games mean nothing.

[FatTony]

we had a hit and miss pre season last year, a 1-1 with Krakow followed by scoreless draws against Hertha Berlin and Villareal.

Nothing to worry about

[JohnDoe]

RAFA: MY YOUNG GUNS DID WELL
Jimmy Rice in Vienna 19 July 2009

Rafa Benitez was happy with the performances of his young guns despite losing 1-0 to Rapid Vienna on Wednesday.
The Austrians came out on top thanks to a brilliant curling free-kick from skipper Steffen Hofmann.

Even so, Benitez took plenty of positives from his side's second pre-season friendly - not least the efforts of Spanish starlets Daniel Ayala and Daniel Pacheco.

"I don't like to talk too much about individuals but both players were doing well," said the boss.

"They're both young and when they come with the first team you always want to see something different. I am pleased for them and also with Jay Spearing because he played as a left full-back as we have some problems in this position at this moment."

Benitez added: "The other positives were to play a lot of players we wanted to play - it is all part of our preparations. We needed match fitness and we changed the majority of the players after 45 minutes - that was the idea.

"In terms of what we wanted from the game, only the result was wrong."

One man not involved was Glen Johnson, who was omitted due to a minor injury.

"He has a small problem with his Achilles tendon but it is not serious," said Benitez. "Him not playing was a precaution."

-----

Okay Rafa, but what about Xabi?!

We want to know and we want to know noooooow

[SimonNo7]

This announcer is hilarious... "an historic victory..."

Yeah and did you see the way they celebrated there goal

I take it that's us out of the Europa Cup them, oh well...

...it was a Europa Cup game wasn't it?

Seriously they were miles ahead of us with their pre-season, as they should be bearing in mind their season starts next week I think, but it will have been a good practice match/work-out for our lads especially the young'uns.

[Daffy Duck]

Their season has already started on friday, Rapid vs. Sturm Graz was the only postponed match due to this friendly.

[BigChief]

They were a sterner test for us, but we did look a bit off compared to the last game. There was hardly any movement and no one played off each other. Maybe minds being cast to games in SE Asia - not the safest of places right now.

[Lee]

I'm guessing that Dossena hasn't been involved so far because he's being flogged off?! Or is their another reason?

[Shanks]

Pre-season is all about fitness and not about slating individuals and performance.

[Tee]

Pre-season is all about fitness and not about slating individuals and performance.

Thats why I absolutely hate this saturated pre-season media coverage. Winds me right up because I watch the games and get very frustrated but really I shouldn't.

[Shaggy]

I'm guessing that Dossena hasn't been involved so far because he's being flogged off?! Or is their another reason?

Confed Cup?

[Shanks]

Thats why I absolutely hate this saturated pre-season media coverage. Winds me right up because I watch the games and get very frustrated but really I shouldn't.

As Liverpool fans, we expect to win every game regardless and rightly so.

[DannyMan2006]

Confed Cup?

Correct. Same amount of rest as the Spanish lads.

And LOL at people moaning about our friendly results. Yes it is always better to win than lose, that is obvious. But it makes no odds.

Rafa works the players to the bone before and after games. It's no suprise they look jaded when they play, never mind the fact that they are not match fit. Add in two teams in front of their home crowds who have already played competitive games and you see why we struggle. St. Gallen have already played in the league, whilst Rapid Vienna have already played in the Europa Cup.

It's annoying to watch, but that's the way it goes.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

As long as we don't start the season playing the way we did last time then its all good.. Granted we were winning but we could have easily went out to S.Leige, drew with sunderland and even lost to boro!.. maybe that had something to do with our pre-season? just a thought

[DannyMan2006]

As long as we don't start the season playing the way we did last time then its all good.. Granted we were winning but we could have easily went out to S.Leige, drew with sunderland and even lost to boro!.. maybe that had something to do with our pre-season? just a thought

Personally I doubt it. Especially as in each of those games we improved towards the end of the games, showing we were fitter than the other teams. This was a common trait in the games we played last year.

If anything I think that this shows how good our pre-season training and fitness levels are.