Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

Forget the result. This performance was possibly the most encouraging of the season so far. Rafa Benitez said afterwards he felt it was the best Liverpool performance since he arrived, and he won't get any arguments from me.

We were outstanding against Monaco, but even though the goals didn't arrive against Deportivo, I felt the performance was even better than the one which put paid to the French side.

All that was lacking was the finishing, as Liverpool absolutely dominated this game, using the ball wisely and not wasting possession, and closing Deportivo down before they could settle on the ball.

Deportivo's main strength is keeping the ball, yet such was Liverpool's workrate and desire to press the ball, that they could barely get out of their own half.

Benitez made just the one change from the side which started against Fulham, and it was a predictable one, with Alonso replacing the much maligned Salif Diao.

Alonso was instrumental as Liverpool bossed the opening exchanges. Baros was sensational throughout, and the Spanish defenders simply couldn't contain him. In the end they just resorted to foul play, not that referee Anders Frisk had any problem with that.

The prima-donna official, who makes Jeff Winter seem camera shy, turned in a woeful display as time and again he allowed fouls on Baros to go without suitable punishment.

Many fouls weren't given, and when they were, yellow cards were not forthcoming. As a result, the Deportivo defenders realised they could pretty much do what they wanted, and Milan was hacked down at every possible opportunity.

I've read a few match reports in the press this morning, and I must have been at a different game to those reporters, as they were quite criticial of Baros' display. Me? I thought he was mesmerising. The pace, control, directness and unbelievable work ethic were a joy to behold.

All that his performance needed was a goal, and those same reporters who were criticising him this morning would have been extolling his virtues and hailing a wonderful display.

The main gripe they seemed to have was that he showed an unwillingness to pass to Cisse. I couldn't disagree more. For the most part, Cisse just ran into blind alleys where it was impossible to find him. He doesn't make it easy for people to pass to him because he just doesn't take up particularly good positions.

On one occasion, Baros did brilliantly to chase down and then dispossess a defender, and then set off down the right wing towards the Kop. Cisse just ran in a straight line about ten yards in front of him screaming for the ball. Two defenders came over, Milan ran out of space, and then Cisse berated him for not giving him a pass. Baros just looked at him in bewilderment.

I actually thought Cisse was better last night than he has been, and he did some good things in the game. I watched him closely, and his work rate was a lot higher, and I do think maybe the message is getting through that he can't just stroll around and wait for the ball.

He's incredibly frustrating as you can see he does possess certain attributes, but he just isn't really showing them. Benitez has now started shifting him over to the right wing during games to try and get more from him. Multi million pound striker, signed by Houllier, moved out wide coz he couldn't cut the mustard up fromt... Heskey and Diouf anyone? Let's hope not.

He's had limited success out wide, and it's something we may see more of in coming weeks, as Benitez experiments with different ways to try and get him firing. At least out wide when he gets the ball he's facing goal and can try and utilise his pace.

A lot of his goals in France came through running from the right, and Benitez has been watching a lot of videos of Cisse's career at Auxerre to try and work out how to best use him, so maybe this positional switch is the result of Benitez' homework?

Cisse twice went close to scoring in the first half. One was unlucky, the other he should have buried. The one he should have buried came from a great ball by Hamann (I think, I could be wrong though), but Cisse's first touch was slightly heavy which allowed the defender Manuel Pablo to get in a block.

The other effort he had came when Baros got down the right and cut the ball back to him (see, he does pass the ball you know), but his half volley from 18 yards was easily saved by Molina.

Milan himself had one great opportunity when he took the ball around Molina but just when he was adjusting his feet to slot the ball into an empty net, Pablo appeared from nowhere to take it off his toes. He also flashed a shot inches wide from 20 yards after another dazzling run.

The best chance of the half though fell to Garcia, when Alonso's blocked shot fell at his feet 12 yards out with only Molina to beat. It was a sitter really, but Luis hit the ball straight at the keeper who tipped the ball over.

The second half saw Deportivo tighten up considerably, but the reds still dominated. The first period had seen the visitors only muster one attempt at goal, when Liverpool's zonal marking let them down once more, allowing the centre half a free header which Riise cleared off the line.

They posed little threat after the break either, although they did see a bit more of the ball as Liverpool understandably tired slightly and the tempo dropped a bit.

Kewell was introduced for Riise, and got a couple of decent crosses in as well as going within a lick of paint of scoring with a spectacular free kick. He also fought for the ball more than we're used to seeing, and it will be interesting to see how he does next time he starts a a game.

The reds were desperate for a winner, but time was against them. As they pressed forward, there was a danger of being caught on the break, as Depor had a few promising situations which could have been dangerous had they shown a bit more ambition.

Josemi was booked for a rash lunge, and was starting to look a bit vulnerable against their left sided player. So Benitez sent on Finnan to play in front of him. That change came with about 15 minutes to go, and Cisse was the man who made way.

Seeing his number go up though, he decided to walk all the way from his position on the far side of the field to where Finnan was waiting to come on. It took him an age to get off, at a time when the clock was ticking and we desperately needed a goal.

To say I was furious was an understatement. It's not often I lose it at a game, and when I do it's usually with referee's or opposing players. But I lost it big time when I saw this prima donna just strolling off as though we were about three or four up.

I couldn't believe people were clapping him, they should have been screaming at him to fucking get a move on, as it was our time he was wasting as he sulked his way across the field. When Deportivo later made three substitutions to waste a bit of time, their players left the field quicker than Cisse had.

Benitez needs to have a word, as his attitude stinks. I'm fully aware that he needs time to settle, but it's not his performances which are getting to me, it's his attitude.

Throwing tantrums when the ball doesn't arrive at his feet is not going to make him any friends, either in the dressing room or in the stands. Someone needs to tell him that, and quickly, as he's alienating a lot of people.

Luis Garcia was also subbed, but the little man just looked up, saw his number and quickly got himself off the pitch to allow his replacement on. Garcia had a disappointing night himself, but his attitude seems much superior to Cisse at this moment in time.

I expect the 'give him time' brigade will be pissed off at the amount of stick Cisse is getting already, and I completely agree it's too soon to judge whether he is good enough or not. Other players have struggled early on and then come good, and Cisse may well do the same.

But no-one can defend the length of time it took him to leave the field last night. No-one. It was purely self centred. He was sulking at being brought off, and didn't think for one moment that he was wasting precious seconds for his team-mates.

It may be too soon to judge Cisse's performances, but it isn't too soon to pass comment on his attitude.

But back to the positives. The scoreline really doesn't do justice to how well we played. The midfield controlled the game, the defence was solid and in Baros we had the game's liveliest performer.

It says a lot about the performance of Carragher that I gave him the star man ahead of Baros, who I thought was brilliant. But Carragher turned in a performance which was as good as I can remember from him.

He was commanding in the air, won all his tackles on the floor, and showed a composure on the ball which showed he is a man on top of his game right now. There's a maturity in Carra's play these days which makes him our top defender in my opinion.

He also managed to flatten Deportivo's 'hardman' Aldo Duscher with a crunching challenge in front of the Paddock. Benitez will have loved that, as he's been trying to instill more aggression into his team, and is concerned that they don't pick up many yellow cards. He feels they are too nice, and seeing Carra take Duscher out - fairly I might add - will no doubt have brought a smile to Benitez' lips.

Hyypia played well too, as did Traore, who has done well every game he's played this season to be fair to him. It's frustrating that we couldn't get the goal we deserved, and it now means we need to get something away from home either in Monaco or in the return with Depor.

There's no reason why we can't do that though, and even though dropping two points at home puts us under pressure, I still think we have enough to get through the group.

Liverpool: Kirkland, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore; Garcia (Sinama-Pongolle), Hamman, Diao, Riise (Kewell); Cisse (Finnan), Baros:

Agree or disagree? Email me at dave@liverpoolway.co.uk

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