FOR Rafa Benitez, the signal for the start of the new season may not be the referee’s whistle at Villa Park next Saturday.
He’ll know the campaign is truly under way when the first argument is put forward for Steven Gerrard to be established in his favoured role as central midfielder.
In a fiery ‘friendly’ in Rotterdam last night, as in his other summer appearances, the skipper continued to present his own thoroughly persuasive view on the matter.
Always in the thick of the action fighting for his side (in more ways than one, as it turned out), saving his team from defeat, and leaving the field to opposition jeers as the stadium announcer confirmed his man-of-the-match status – Benitez will know if such captain’s performances are replicated throughout the season his side has an added dimension.
Tellingly, Gerrard hasn’t been used once on the flank during the warm-up campaign, and his pairing with Xabi Alonso in the De Kuip Stadium suggested Benitez may be more inclined to indulge his captain’s preferences in the months to come.
He confirmed this when pressed on the matter after the game, but the team selections against Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal will reveal if the tide has truly turned in Gerrard’s favour.
Tiresome though the debate has become, only when Benitez has enough trust in the overall balance of the team to play his best player in his best position against the best teams will Liverpool be serious title contenders.
That’s not exclusively due to Gerrard’s role, but a reflection of the fact that for him to keep away from the flanks, the wide players will have to play to a suitably high standard.
Jermaine Pennant and Harry Kewell have looked capable in these meaningless games, while Ryan Babel showed the first flashes of his rich potential as a late sub.
But it was Gerrard who was orchestrating proceedings from the first whistle until his late substitution in a game where, as Liverpool superiority went unrewarded, familiarity must have started to breed contempt for the Anfield boss.
Gerrard’s equaliser on 72 minutes broke the worrying trend which has penetrated the friendlies from last season, as long periods of Liverpool dominance failed to yield reward.
Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt peppered Sherif Ekramy’s goal in the early stages.
Kuyt was especially unlucky when put through by Andriy Voronin when a thunderous right footer hit the underside of the bar and bounced to safety.
Replays later showed the ball crossed the line, but the moment summed up the Dutchman’s luck during pre-season.
Liverpool’s habit of being punished for loose finishing has shown little sign of disappearing, and Feyenoord duly took their first genuine opportunity on the stroke of half-time.
Andwele Slory was able to race clear down Liverpool’s left, struck the post, and one-time Chelsea target Royston Drenthe was on hand to tap in the rebound.
Liverpool didn’t play so well in the second half, although there was no doubting their character as they got back into the game and played their part in an increasingly hostile encounter.
Much of the trouble appeared to emanate from Drenthe, whose willingness to throw himself into reckless challenges was met with retribution.
Referee Pieter Vink lost control, initially handing out innocuous yellow cards which seemed only to raise temperatures.
Nine players were booked in all, with some timely substitutions ensuring players of both sides aren’t sweating on the official’s report today.
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