Riera. Again.

[JohnnyH]

And he scored it for us! All of us! He pointed at us! coz he scored it for us!

 

I think I'm going to cheat on Torres with this guy.

[OnizukaEikichi]

good goal today, i was a little worried when I watched him striking the ball with his right foot.

[Brownie]

In the end the goal was great but watching the replay I don't think even Riera himself was expecting that! The way he swung his boot at it just looked so un-natural but fucking hell it was effective!

[philyhamann]

Riera is class. Also a credit to El Zhar.

[Code]

Happy for him to get his first goal for us.

 

He is getting along nicely, what I likes the most is that he keeps the ball in the team.

 

Should have scored with his header though.

[Hazel Motes]

Riera is class. Also a credit to El Zhar.

 

Yes, that was impressing. Excellent little lifted pass, just above the defenders legs. Takes some technique to do that in that high tempo.

[James Dean]

Riera is class. Also a credit to El Zhar.

 

Stevie as well. Great dummy.

[hamstrung]

As well being skillful and intelligent, he has heart. Really impressed me today.

[dennis tooth]

If only Irish Stuart Downing and his fellow Middlesborough dumpling teammates could hear you now. Bunch of turntoasts.

[macca1979]

Don't think anyone can have too many complaints with Riera so far, he's played pretty well in most of the games he's played. If he keeps on getting mintues on the pitch, he'll only improve.

 

A good signing I think.

[Jorge Borge]

I love reading interviews like this:

 

RIERA: TORRES SHOWED ME THE WAY

 

RIERA: TORRES SHOWED ME THE WAY

Jimmy Rice 25 October 2008

 

Albert Riera has revealed how Fernando Torres helped teach him the key to succeeding in English football.

The Spain international feared his Premier League dream was over after an unremarkable loan spell at Man City in 2006.

 

However, Riera admits the example set by El Nino over the last year and a half made him realise how to make it in England.

 

"What I have learned in recent years is that any footballer can succeed in the Premier League if he has talent and he is also prepared to back that up with hard work, effort and discipline," said the 26-year-old.

 

"That is the secret to foreigners succeeding here, and this time I came with no illusions.

 

"When I was younger, I just thought I could walk on to the field and play. You can't. Look at how hard Fernando Torres works at Liverpool. He wouldn't have had to do that in Spain. It's incredible.

 

"I am a more technical player now and also more mature. My pride won't let me fail this time."

 

Riera returned to Spain and Espanyol after leaving City with no expectation of arriving back in England one day.

 

"Nothing is impossible in football but I thought I was suited to football elsewhere," he added. "I found it hard to adapt at City. The training there was the hardest of my life - until I came to Liverpool!

 

"Nobody trains as hard as the English. It takes everything out of you but maybe that is why the levels of success have increased so much.

 

"During my time at City I found a type of football that was utterly professional but you had to have so much energy it was untrue. This time I was ready and so far I am doing much better. I am more suited to it now."

 

--------------------

 

I'm really starting to like this man; "My pride won't let me fail this time." When you hear one of our players speaking passionately, when you can hear the steel in their voice, I proper love it. It makes me feel very proud.

 

Keep on working hard, Riera lad, and we'll go far together.

[Paul]

I'm really starting to like this man; "My pride won't let me fail this time." When you hear one of our players speaking passionately, when you can hear the steel in their voice, I proper love it. It makes me feel very proud.

 

Keep on working hard, Riera lad, and we'll go far together.

 

It is a good line and he's started very well. Long may it continue.

[Section_31]

I'd love to see Riera and Gerrard down the flanks (with Gerrard given license to roam) that'd be the best shape our wide areas have been in for years IMO.

[JoeyKop]

Why resilient Riera loves getting down with the workers at Liverpool | Mail Online

 

very good

[Moe Town]

I really like this guy, great performance today against chelsea.

[RedKnight]

He stayed on for longer today although he was knackered when he did leave. A few more weeks and his fitness should be at peak level.

[mgw100]

I love Riera, I do. I thought today's performance wasn't maybe quite as impressive as I've seen him before. I did lose my sky box for the first 15 mins of the 2nd half though (you can imagine my mood during this).

 

He was pretty good going forward but thought he gave away the ball too much and left some spaces down the flank.

 

He's still a hero though, like the rest of the lads today

[Unrighteous]

Looks like a hellova steal by Rafa, now. He's really added a certain something to our squad.

[philyhamann]

My only concern about him is that he seems to disappear in the second half, quality other than that.

[TommyGun]

He is so important to us in these big clashes. Ok, he lost the ball several times today, but IMO it's because he tried to hold on to the ball while the others just cleared it. He was calm and steady with the ball which gave us some crucial breaks when Chelsea had their run in the first half, and he won some very important free kicks at the end of the game.

Great player, great asset - well done Rafa!

[hamstrung]

Intelligent, skillful footballer. A really pleasant surprise.

[Jarvinja Ilnow]

there was a 60-40 that he went for in the first half; the Chelsea player slid in but he still went 100% to try to get the all and retain possession, eve though it was certain he would come off worse. That's not a typical winger. Good lad.

[James Dean]

He has a habit of just using the shoulder of the defender to kind of slide past him using his upper body strength. A tall and strong winger with skill and intelligence. I think I will change my avatar now...:|

[philyhamann]

He is very strong too, he looked like a fanny at City.

[Torvald Utne]

he was my motm today, always there as an outlet, was able to bring the ball out of defence and won countless freekicks to take the pressure off us and once or twice went past 3 chelsea players in one go when it looked like the best he could hope for was a throw in.