Liverpool's Premiership credentials were undermined against classy European opponents whose season does not begin for another three weeks. But for the Merseysiders, fantasy football gives way to the real thing next weekend as they welcome Chelsea to Anfield. The watching Claudio Ranieri will not have been too worried about what he saw here. Alarmingly, it was normal service resumed as Emile Heskey, on fire in the close season with six goals, was back to his most profligate. Indeed, never mind the intrigue that surrounds the ability of Chelsea’s assembly of superstars to gel, it was Liverpool who appear still to have most of the questions to answer. It will be something that manager Gerard Houllier must ponder over in the next few days.
Ron Clarke, Sunday Times
Liverpool suffer pain from Spain
Liverpool's pre-season preparations were dealt a blow yesterday when Valencia inflicted a third defeat on them in the past year. The Spanish team beat the Merseysiders home and away in the group stages of last season's Champions' League, and prevailed here despite creating fewer chances than the home side. Of greater concern to the home side's manager, Gerard Houllier, however, will be his numerous problems in central midfield.The German Dietmar Hamann will be out for at least a month, while Steven Gerrard must serve a suspension following his red card at Chelsea on the final day of last season. Salif Diao would be a natural replacement, but the Senegalese is not fully fit and started yesterday's friendly on the bench. Igor Biscan was handed a rare start, and may well retain his place for next weekend's opener against Chelsea, whose manager, Claudio Ranieri, was in the stands to observe his upcoming opponents play his former club.
Dan Murphy, Independent on Sunday