Rabotnicki 0 Liverpool 2:AS AN avid reader of some pretty heavyweight fiction, Roy Hodgson knows opening chapters are extremely important. Just like novelists, managers benefit from good starts and he will be satisfied with last night's assured formal opening to his Liverpool reign.
Two polished finishes – one dinked, one volleyed – from David Ngog on a balmy Balkan evening ensures the first leg of this qualifier was anything but the ordeal Hodgson had privately feared. He asked a young, makeshift side to “swim” and, perhaps to his surprise, they generally did – none better than Ngog and David Amoo, a winger Liverpool fans are unlikely to have heard the last of.
On Tuesday locals here marked the anniversary of the earthquake which flattened large areas of Skopje in 1963, killing 1,066 people. Two days after a series of services of remembrance, residents were ready for diversion and duly received some.
Lucas, Hodgson’s captain for the night, is not every Liverpool fan’s favourite, but the Brazilian was soon cutting an assured figure in the heart of a five-man midfield, winning some key interceptions.
He also took the 17th-minute free-kick which was misread by two Rabotnicki defenders, thereby permitting the unattended Ngog to lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Martin Bogatinov. Goals rarely come softer.
Although Jay Spearing was sometimes too easily dispossessed and novice right-back Martin Kelly found himself turned by Rabotnicki’s Brazilian forward Wandeir, the Macedonians found Martin Skrtel and Sotirios Kyrgiakos an obdurate defensive barrier.
Despite the odd adroit touch from Milan Jovanovic, the Serbia winger newly-signed from Standard Liege, and with Alberto Aquilani along with Amoo’s raw energy down the flanks, it is unlikely Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Fernando Torres will be sweating on their places.
On this evidence there could be some interesting cameos from Amoo this season, though.
Ngog is clearly anxious to please his new manager and Hodgson must have been delighted to see the young French striker arrive in the right place at the right time to claim his second with a volley from Kelly’s splendid cross.
Shortly afterwards the recently installed floodlights dimmed alarmingly. Fortunately for Hodgson’s peace of mind, power was at least partially restored, leaving Liverpool set fair for the return.
Meanwhile, Luke Young’s proposed transfer to Liverpool collapsed yesterday, leaving the full back facing an uncertain future at Aston Villa. Liverpool had agreed a €3 million fee with Villa for the former England international but there were suggestions Young was unable to agree personal terms at Anfield as well as being reluctant to relocate to the north.
RABOTNICKI KOMETAL:Bogatinov, Belica, Sekulovski (Adem 43), Dimovski, Todorovski, Gligorov, Tuneski (Petkovski 77), Fernando Lopes, Ze Carlos (Mojsov 57), Da Silva, Wandeir. Subs Not Used: Kandikijan, Marcio, Roberto Carlos, Sinkovic.
LIVERPOOL:Cavalieri, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Agger (Darby 72), Spearing, Aquilani (Dalla Valle 83), Lucas, Jovanovic, Ngog, Amoo (Eccleston 83). Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Shelvey, Ayala, Ince.
Referee:A Damato (Barletta).
Att:23,000
- GuardianService
