Hansen: Them Boys Can Pass

Alan Hansen believes the passing ability of Liverpool's summer signings has been a big factor in the club's impressive start to the campaign.

The legendary Reds captain has enjoyed watching the new recruits in action and thinks each of them has added to the quality in the squad.

Hansen told this week's LFC Magazine: "Against Bolton it was wave after wave of attack and what helps this is the passing ability of all the players. The football was tight and quick and all of the new signings have contributed towards this improvement.

"Charlie Adam is the obvious playmaker in midfield, but all of the other new boys can pass too.

"Stewart Downing has surprised me. I knew he was a good winger but I didn't realize how comfortable he was in possession. He makes the game look easy and that is the mark of a top player. He picks up great positions and retains the ball whether he's defending or attacking. It proves that when you get a player to the club, you never know quite how good someone is.

"Jose Enrique is the same. You'd think he's been playing for Liverpool for years. Then there's Jordan Henderson. It was great for him to get a goal. He rarely gives the ball away but you could tell that the goal gave him a lot of confidence. Again, like the others, he's very calm in the tightest of situations and keeps things ticking over."