IT’S no wonder Dirk Kuyt isn’t making any demands to be restored to his favoured centre-forward role – as he’s become a Liverpool goal hero playing out of position.
The Dutchman proved to be their Champions League saviour once more on Wednesday when his extra-time goal ensured progression to the group stages at the expense of the battling Belgians from Liege.
Kuyt popped up in the penalty area for a classic poacher’s strike – even though he again spent the game playing wide on the right.
And although it might not be his natural position, it hasn’t affected his ability to find the net on the European stage.
He scored eight times in 12 Champions League games last season and his goal against Standard was the fourth consecutive two-legged tie in which he has netted for Liverpool.
For someone who hasn’t hit the target in a Premier League game since last November, the statistics are rather puzzling – but it’s not something Kuyt will waste his time worrying about.
“I was pleased to score again in Europe and I have a good record in the competition. But the fact that we won was the main thing,” he said.
“I’ve played on right for the last 10, 15 games for the team. I try to work really hard, also in defence, and do a lot of important things for the team as well as scoring goals. So I don’t mind playing on the right.
“I will play wherever the boss wants me to play. For me the most important thing is to win some trophies and I think we have a good enough squad to do something this year.”
Since a worryingly below-par performance yielded a goalless draw in the first leg in Liege, Liverpool have won three consecutive games.
But the displays have hardy got much better and Kuyt’s intervention on Wednesday was the fourth goal in three matches Liverpool have scored in the final 10 minutes to snatch those victories.
But far from being disheartened that they have had to do it the hard way, those inside Anfield are putting a more positive spin on things.
The results are gelling together even though the players aren’t, and at the moment that is the most important statistic.
Kuyt explains: “We know we’re not playing really well, but we’re good in defence and we always have the quality and belief that we can score in every game.
“And that’s the important thing. We can play better and things will come right.
“That’s the thing about the team. Speaking for myself, I didn’t give my best performance for Liverpool. But that’s not important.
“What is important is that we won the game and I did everything to make that happen. One chance can change everything and I was really happy to score.
“Sometimes things like this happen in football. I just said before you can’t find any bad sides in Europe and Standard Liege are a very tough side. They were really strong. In the end, we were really happy that it didn’t go to penalties.
“But this is the fun thing about football. We know how good the Champions League can be and we always want to be part of it, fighting until the end.
“The fans were great for us and they helped us keep going right to the end.”
But they were also deeply frustrated and although they were grateful for Kuyt’s late volley, they were also bemoaning the lack of natural width from both sides.
The left is likely to be the first flank where that problem is addressed with the capture of Albert Riera, while time is running out to find an adequate outlet for Kuyt’s side.
But he is not concerned that his manager Rafael Benitez is in the market for someone to challenge for the slot he has unexpectedly made his own since the back end of last season.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen about players coming in,” said Kuyt.
“We’ve got a good squad and every good player is welcome in our team. I want to win things and you can only win things with the best players.”
Before Kuyt struck, there was an inevitability starting to swell around Anfield that penalties could be imminent.
Which might not necessarily have been a problem in terms of Liverpool’s progress given that they have a goalkeeper who has such an impressive shoot-out record since arriving in England.
Pepe Reina’s saves have already got LIverpool to a Champions League final and won them an FA Cup and the importance of his early block from Brazilian full-back Dante in the first leg against Liege was underlined heavily on Wednesday.
But the Spaniard said: “We were a bit tired in extra time and we thought it might go to penalties – but thankfully it didn’t, Dirk scored and we are through.
“They were a good team over both legs. It was really tough. It was not the best game, but we are through. Dirk scored at the end for us, which was great. I don’t know how many goals he has scored now in Europe, but it is his competition.
“We are not playing our best and we need to do better. We are at the early part of the season and in a few months we will be at the top of our fitness. Every team is like this.
“But, yes, it would probably have been a disaster if we had missed out.”
The Dutchman proved to be their Champions League saviour once more on Wednesday when his extra-time goal ensured progression to the group stages at the expense of the battling Belgians from Liege.
Kuyt popped up in the penalty area for a classic poacher’s strike – even though he again spent the game playing wide on the right.
And although it might not be his natural position, it hasn’t affected his ability to find the net on the European stage.
He scored eight times in 12 Champions League games last season and his goal against Standard was the fourth consecutive two-legged tie in which he has netted for Liverpool.
For someone who hasn’t hit the target in a Premier League game since last November, the statistics are rather puzzling – but it’s not something Kuyt will waste his time worrying about.
“I was pleased to score again in Europe and I have a good record in the competition. But the fact that we won was the main thing,” he said.
“I’ve played on right for the last 10, 15 games for the team. I try to work really hard, also in defence, and do a lot of important things for the team as well as scoring goals. So I don’t mind playing on the right.
“I will play wherever the boss wants me to play. For me the most important thing is to win some trophies and I think we have a good enough squad to do something this year.”
Since a worryingly below-par performance yielded a goalless draw in the first leg in Liege, Liverpool have won three consecutive games.
But the displays have hardy got much better and Kuyt’s intervention on Wednesday was the fourth goal in three matches Liverpool have scored in the final 10 minutes to snatch those victories.
But far from being disheartened that they have had to do it the hard way, those inside Anfield are putting a more positive spin on things.
The results are gelling together even though the players aren’t, and at the moment that is the most important statistic.
Kuyt explains: “We know we’re not playing really well, but we’re good in defence and we always have the quality and belief that we can score in every game.
“And that’s the important thing. We can play better and things will come right.
“That’s the thing about the team. Speaking for myself, I didn’t give my best performance for Liverpool. But that’s not important.
“What is important is that we won the game and I did everything to make that happen. One chance can change everything and I was really happy to score.
“Sometimes things like this happen in football. I just said before you can’t find any bad sides in Europe and Standard Liege are a very tough side. They were really strong. In the end, we were really happy that it didn’t go to penalties.
“But this is the fun thing about football. We know how good the Champions League can be and we always want to be part of it, fighting until the end.
“The fans were great for us and they helped us keep going right to the end.”
But they were also deeply frustrated and although they were grateful for Kuyt’s late volley, they were also bemoaning the lack of natural width from both sides.
The left is likely to be the first flank where that problem is addressed with the capture of Albert Riera, while time is running out to find an adequate outlet for Kuyt’s side.
But he is not concerned that his manager Rafael Benitez is in the market for someone to challenge for the slot he has unexpectedly made his own since the back end of last season.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen about players coming in,” said Kuyt.
“We’ve got a good squad and every good player is welcome in our team. I want to win things and you can only win things with the best players.”
Before Kuyt struck, there was an inevitability starting to swell around Anfield that penalties could be imminent.
Which might not necessarily have been a problem in terms of Liverpool’s progress given that they have a goalkeeper who has such an impressive shoot-out record since arriving in England.
Pepe Reina’s saves have already got LIverpool to a Champions League final and won them an FA Cup and the importance of his early block from Brazilian full-back Dante in the first leg against Liege was underlined heavily on Wednesday.
But the Spaniard said: “We were a bit tired in extra time and we thought it might go to penalties – but thankfully it didn’t, Dirk scored and we are through.
“They were a good team over both legs. It was really tough. It was not the best game, but we are through. Dirk scored at the end for us, which was great. I don’t know how many goals he has scored now in Europe, but it is his competition.
“We are not playing our best and we need to do better. We are at the early part of the season and in a few months we will be at the top of our fitness. Every team is like this.
“But, yes, it would probably have been a disaster if we had missed out.”
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