Reds show need for Morientes

The 切迫した 逮捕（する） of Fernando Morientes at least put a smile on Rafael Benitez's 直面する after he had 証言，証人／目撃するd a worrying 業績／成果 from his Liverpool 味方する as they managed only a 1-0 first 脚 勝利，勝つ in their Carling Cup 半分-final against 勇敢な Watford.

Boss Benitez could see from this match how much he needs a 質 striker to 上げる his 味方する for the second half of the season, and the £6million arrival of Morientes from Real Madrid could be 権利 on cue.

The 28-year-old Spanish international has agreed a four-year 契約 and if the 形式順守s of the 取引，協定 are 完全にするd in the next 48 hours, Morientes will be able to make his debut on Saturday against Manchester 部隊d and will also be 利用できる for next Tuesday's 配列し直すd FA Cup third 一連の会議、交渉／完成する tie at Burnley.

Suddenly things are looking brighter for Benitez, although he 認める how 堅い the second 脚 of the Carling tie will be at Vicarage Road in a fortnight.

Benitez knew how hard youngster Neil Mellor worked in this match but can also see how hard it is for the home grown striker to reach the levels needed in the Barclays 首相の職.

Florent Sinama-Pongolle was better and when he （機の）カム on in the second half, Milan Baros has all the pace and 技術s needed so 猛烈に up 前線 at Anfield.

But the 質 of Morientes will be a 抱擁する 上げる, as will the strength and 質 of new defender Mauricio Pellegrino, 調印するd on a 解放する／自由な 移転 from Valencia earlier this week and also in line for his debut against Manchester 部隊d.

Benitez has been chasing Morientes for weeks, but said: "I hope we can 完全にする the 取引，協定 in time for him to play on Saturday.

"We are very の近くに, it could be just a 事柄 of hours. I am not sure 正確に／まさに how far the 会談 have gone, but I believe we have an 協定 and I want the 取引，協定 完全にするd as soon possible."

（人命などを）奪う，主張するs that French club Lyon had 試みる／企てるd to ハイジャック（する） the 取引，協定 during the day with a higher 企て，努力，提案 than Liverpool had pu t in have 証明するd unfounded.

Morientes is believed to have told Benitez that if he was not going to be 許すd to fulfil his dream of moving to Anfield, he would prefer to stay at the Bernabeu.

Liverpool 推定する／予想する to 完全にする the final 詳細（に述べる）s of the move today and Benitez 確認するd: "We are ready with the 医療の and I hope the player is here very soon."

News of the 切迫した arrival of Morientes took the gloss off Watford's 優れた 業績／成果, and their boss, Ray Lewington, must have returned south aware that the Spanish international could be 急落（する），激減（する）d into the second 脚 against his Coca-Cola 選手権 味方する.

Lewington said: "A draw would not have flattered us, we certainly deserved that.

"We had the better chances in the first half and it was about even in the second. Now we have an 優れた chance because our place is not an 平易な ground for 訪問者s.

"It is not as good a pitch and we will go for it from the start. They will find it very 堅い in the second game.

"Before the game we would have been happy to 受託する a 1-0 敗北・負かす, but after watching that I felt we deserved a draw at least.

"We may not be able to get as big a （人が）群がる into Vicarage Road as they had at Anfield, but our fans can create a very 敵意を持った atmosphere. I certainly believe we still have a 広大な／多数の／重要な chance of reaching the final."