Liverpool’s Deadly Striking Duo: Keane & Torres to Turn Draws Into Wins: Reds to Contend Title with Manchester United, Chelsea & Arsenal
The 2008/09 Season is literally two weekends away and already excitement is growing up and down the country as the anticipation for another Premier League campaign kicks in. Once again, big money signings have arrived, new managers installed and new teams are about to experience what competing in the best League in the world is all about.
Here’s part two of our preview to what is exciting us in the run up to the 2008/09 campaign:
Liverpool’s Deadly Striking Duo
Rafa Benitez’s men failed to make the expected impact on the title race that many predicted them to last season. However, optimism on Merseyside is growing after the signing of former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane who is expected to form the deadliest partnership in the Premier League with the Spanish sensation Fernando Torres.
Torres has a superb first season in England scoring 24 goals to leave him 7 goals behind top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and level with Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor. However, whilst Manchester United’s Portuguese star scored 4 penalties and the Gunners Togolese striker scoring 3 from the spot, all of Torres’ goals came from open play. Also when you compare the creativity of the likes of United and Arsenal to Liverpool’s, the Spanish striker’s goal haul is even more impressive.
Much of Torres’ service came courtesy of the quality of Steven Gerrard whilst Ronaldo was ably assisted by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and co. The same can be said of Adebayor at the Emirates with Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb, Robin Van Persie etc all providing the creativity that the Togolese man-mountain thrived upon. However, the acquisition of the Irishman Keane should provide Torres with even more ammunition for the upcoming campaign and the former Spurs man should provide plenty of goals himself.
The £19m man scored 15 League goals for Spurs last season as he and Dimitar Berbatov formed one if not the best striking partnerships in the Premier League. The Irishman should take no time at all to fit into the set-up at Anfield as he is a proven, consistent Premier League performer. In his time at White Hart Lane he has scored double figures in the League in each of the past 6 seasons so can only aid Torres up front. Keane is also an extremely intelligent, creative player and has proven himself the perfect foil for numerous strikers in his career including both Teddy Sheringham and Berbatov.
The former Wolves trainee has also proven himself at the highest level of international football with 34 goals in 81 caps for the Republic of Ireland making him his country’s highest ever scorer and now team Captain. His adaptability and eye for a pass will surely improve Torres chances of scoring more goals away from Anfield where he often ploughed a lone furrow last season. The Spaniard scored just 3 Premier League goals away from home last season at Derby, Middlesbrough and Spurs but with Keane playing in the hole the opportunity for quick and incisive counter-attacking has increased dramatically and with it the opportunity for more goals for the long-haired forward.
Overall this added firepower could be the difference between mere Champions League qualification and title success. After all, the Reds lost less games than United last season but managed to draw 13 of their 38 games. If the acquisition of Keane can convert a few of those draws into wins then Liverpool will finish a lot closer than the 11 points that separated them and the champions last season. After all, the Reds dominated a number of games against teams they should of beaten last season but only drew. Dropping points to Wigan, Birmingham, Man City, Blackburn and Middlesbrough hampered Rafa’s ambitions but his new strike duo should limit the possibility of this happening again.
If you combine the deadly finishing of Torres with the intelligent creativity of Keane, Liverpool have a combination to rival any Premier League forward line and may have their best front two since the days of Peter Beardsley and Ian Rush. Premier 10 and Footy 15 players should be aware that this season’s Reds side shouldn’t be the draw specialists they were last season. After all, Rafa’s team will be ‘Keane’ to close the gap at the top!
Read part one: The New Look Attack-Minded Chelsea
Read part three: The Rise and Rise of the Black Cats
Tags: Arsenal, Chelsea, Fernando Torres, Liverpool, Manchester United, Robbie Keane, Tottenham
