Dalglish believes in Rafa-lution

Kenny Dalglish insists that those who criticised Rafael Benitez’s tactics against Portsmouth are spouting ‘nonsense’.

The Liverpool boss ruffled a few feathers fielding a 5-3-2 formation without regulars such as Xabi Alonso, Dirk Kuyt, Albert Riera and Fernando Torres.
Dalglish believes the formation worked and the win was just about right, even though it took a last-gasp Torres goal to seal the deal.

"To be fair to Rafa Benitez, in the face of yet more ridiculous nonsense, I think the formation he chose to play at Fratton Park was excellent," commented Dalglish to LFC Magazine.

"Everyone looked happy with their role in the team and when that happens you've always got a chance."
"The one thing people seem to be missing with Rafa's selection is the effect it had on Portsmouth," the Kop legend continued.

"I don't know how much work Rafa was able to do with the players with this idea in mind, but by the time the players kicked off on Saturday night they all knew what it was they were supposed to be doing."

"In contrast, Pompey didn't have a clue and were taken off guard. Imagine you were Tony Adams and you saw that team - you've spent all week working on a formation, then you're up against something new and unexpected," Dalglish added. "If we'd taken our chances then Rafa's decision would rightly have been hailed a masterstroke. It took Pompey an hour and a sub before they got into the game."

"The two goals they got were avoidable but there was little the boss could do from the touchline to prevent those."

"The media are hailing it as a lucky result. Even if he'd picked the team they clearly believed to be the best, would we still not have needed a wee bit of luck?"
"Of course we'd still have needed a slice of luck, but would anyone really argue that we didn't deserve to win that game? I don't think so!" exclaimed Dalglish at the end of the interview.