Weary TFC braces for British invasion
Liverpool’s star players will sit by FIFA rules
Paul Mariner is not one to pull his punches, case in point his candid discourse regarding Toronto FC’s ill-timed friendly against Liverpool of the English Premier League on Saturday.
“It couldn’t have come at a worse time,” the Reds manager said Wednesday night following his club’s third straight win, a 2-1 decision over the Colorado Rapids. “Because I’ve got some sore young men in there, battlehardened and beaten up a little bit.”
TFC has played 10 matches since June 16 — going 4-2-4 during that stretch — and will face arguably its stiffest test of the season a week Saturday, when the suddenly surging clubs plays at BMO Field against the Houston Dynamo, currently occupying the Eastern Conference’s fifth and final playoff spot. Moreover, Mariner is trying to manage around a spate of injuries, including defenders Adrian Cann and Jeremy Hall, and most recently, a season-ending ACL tear for irreplaceable striker Danny Koevermans.
The “ridiculous run of games” will continue with seven more in August, and Mariner allowed that his club will be bringing in at least one additional body from outside the organization to augment the depleted forward ranks.
And while Mariner is flattered to be part of Liverpool’s first North American off-sea-
It’s just going to be a celebration
of football
son tour since 2004, to play host to the storied franchise with 18 English league championships and assist in polishing its international brand, the bulk of his charges would probably prefer a few days rest.
Liverpool embarks on its three-match sojourn under new manager Brendan Rogers, who was hired in June to replace Kenny Dalglish following a tumultuous eighth-place season, the team’s lowest standing in 18 years. Several star players were ruled out of the game by Liverpool when the club arrived in Toronto late Friday afternoon. England captain Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Pepe Reina, Andy Carroll, the man with the £35-million ($55.4-million) contract, and recently signed Italian striker Fabio Borini are not eligible to play because of FIFA rules concerning mandatory time off in the summer after international duty. All of them, as well as Martin Kelly, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing played at the Euro 2012 tournament that ended on July 1. All will be available to Liverpool beginning Monday.
Whether you believe the exhibition is principally for the fans, or the cash grab, seeing even a depleted Liverpool squad have its way with a patchwork opponent will have to suffice. Toronto will field several members of the TFC Academy senior squad (under-18) during the match, Mariner said, in an effort to give key members of the parent club a much needed respite, including forward Ryan Johnson.
“They key for both squads is that we come out of this game without injuries,” Mariner said at Friday’s news conference. “What Brendan [Rogers] doesn’t want is injuries during the pre-season.”
Unsure of exactly how many minutes his coach will afford him, TFC midfielder Terry Dunfield had been looking forward to the opportunity match up against Liverpool’s stars, especially a luminary such as Gerrard.
“It’s a great opportunity to play against one of the best teams in the world,” said Dunfield, who spent the early portion of his career with Manchester City of the English Premier League. “Of course Steven Gerrard’s name jumps out at you. I’ve watched him since I started playing soccer.”
Dunfield hopes that Toronto’s more inexperienced players are not overly awestruck by Liverpool’s presence, and as a result, they can give a proper account of their abilities.
Liverpool’s tour continues with a match against AS Roma on July 25 at Boston’s Fenway Park as part of the 100-year anniversary celebration of the landmark stadium, and will culminate with a game versus Premier League rival Tottenham in Baltimore on July 28.
Mariner’s approach to the friendly will give his players every opportunity to relish the moment, while maintaining focus on the Major League Soccer season at hand — which will ideally result in TFC’s first playoff appearance in franchise history.
“I’m sure that all the young players and fans will recognize what we’re about, where we are in our season, what to expect and what not to expect,” he said. “It’s just going to be a celebration of football.”