Players Under The Microscope / Dan Fitch / 06 November 2007 /

Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch looks at the disappointment that is Harry Kewell ahead of Liverpool's clash with Besiktas tonight

Liverpool fans have had a lot to take in this week. First they found out that the careless John Arne Riise pays a figure in tax each month that was previously only considered as Kerry Katona's probable bra size (50 G). Then on top of this bombshell came the biggest shock of all. Warming up on the sidelines during the League Cup tie with Cardiff, was a man who makes less appearances at Anfield than Boris Johnson. Was that really Harry Kewell, waiting to come on?

Well, yes it was and what's more he came on again against Blackburn and almost turned the game. Yet the Kop can be forgiven if they don't see Kewell as the long term answer to Liverpool's lack of penetration from the flanks. Almost unbelievably, this is the Australian's fifth season at Anfield. Kewell has made 125 appearances for Liverpool, but at least two of his first four seasons, have been all but a write off. The injuries would probably be forgiven if the details of Kewell's contract were not so well publicised following his transfer from Leeds, with a rumoured £60,000 a week not proving a great investment. If Harry Kewell were a product in Tesco, then he certainly wouldn't be one covered in blue and white stripes.

Kewell's injury problems have clouded a career blessed with promise and it is easy to forget how highly rated he once was. When he left Leeds United to join Liverpool he turned down offers from not just Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United domestically, but also AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Having arrived at Anfield, when coveted by the world's greatest clubs, Kewell scored 11 goals from 49 games in a first season which remains his most productive.

If this was the pinnacle of Kewell's Liverpool career then one of the club's greatest nights, proved to be his nadir. As he limped out of action in the 23rd minute of the 2005 Champions League final, it was accompanied by a chorus of boos from Liverpool fans doubting the legitimacy of the injury. Kewell has gone on to prove that when the big occasion calls, he has an unhappy knack of breaking down. Benitez was again forced to substitute Kewell in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham. Having then gone on to regain his fitness for that summer's World Cup, injury kept him out of the crucial second round tie with Italy and then for most of the following season.

Despite the perpetual absences, it is clear that Benitez rates Kewell. Though he had little football under his belt, Kewell was included in the squad for the 2007 Champions League final and was brought on in the second half, as Liverpool chased the game. It's easy to see why Kewell keeps being given chances. The likes of Pennant, Babel and Benayoun have yet to convince that they can be Liverpool's creative force, whilst the recent switch to a 4-3-3 formation, with two attacking wide players joining the front line, seems tailor-made for Kewell's talents.

He is now likely to be on the bench again, as the Reds take on Besiktas in a game they must win. Liverpool can be backed at (1.27), which is a safe price if Fernando Torres is declared fit. Should the Spaniard not be leading the line, then it may be safer to back Liverpool in play, considering that goals have been hard to come by without him. A price of (2.7) is available for Liverpool to qualify from Group A, which is poor value given that Liverpool must rely on other results going in their favour. Even if Liverpool were to win their last 3 games to finish with 10 points, both Marseille and Porto could still surpass them.

Everyone at Liverpool must pray that Porto don't take 3 points from Marseille tonight and whilst they're at it, they may ask the big man upstairs to keep Harry Kewell fit.

Whilst Liverpool can afford lose their wage slips, they need to hold onto their creativity.

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