Sunday 13th November 2005
ANFIELD ONLINE LFC NEWS

SPANISH CONTINGENT ON FORM

Liverpool's Spanish stars all got a great boost as they won the first leg of their World Cup qualifier 5-1 against Slovakia in Madrid last night. Luis Garcia grabbed a hat-trick and late substitute Fernando Morientes also scored.

Xabi Alonso also came off the bench to feature and Jose Reina was an unused substitute. The victory puts the Spanish in a great position to qualify for the next world cup.

John Arne Riise however was on the wrong side of a 1-0 result against the Czech Republic in their first leg qualifier. Vlady Smicer was the scorer. They have everything to do in the second leg if John Arne wants to go to the World cup in Germany.

Morientes has also slammed talk linking him to a return to Spain when the transfer window reopens.

He said: I'm delighted to be here and I am not planning to go anywhere."

"My long-term plan is to stay in England another three years.

"That was my intention when I came and I don't tend to quit places without completing the task."

Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard also were involved in England's dramatic 3-2 victory over Argentina in the friendly in Switzerland.

News report from BBC Sport