DIRK KUYT, LIVERPOOL’S BIG-GAME HERO AND EMBODIMENT OF THE BENITEZ ERA
English fans can be excused for never been quite sure what to expect when a striker swaps the Eredivisie for the Premier League. Will they be the next Robin van Persie or Ruud van Nistelrooy? Or are they being sold false goods? Think Ricky van Wolfswinkel. A star in Holland with Utrecht and then in Portugal with Sporting but the scorer of precisely one goal in England during a full season with Norwich.
Dirk Kuyt had plundered 71 goals in 101 games for Feyenoord before Liverpool pressed ‘buy’ in the summer of 2006. In theory, the Reds were getting a bargain at just £10million. A proven goalscorer and, those who had seen him in action, the very antithesis of a goal hanger. Yes, Kuyt ran around a lot. He worked for the team. He put in a shift. Ironically, that was part of the reason why his career at Liverpool will be remembered as that of honest pro rather than superstar. (more…)
It didn’t take too long for the first goal of the night to arrive as AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori put the ball into his own net to hand the home side the lead as early as in the 9th minute. The Group B match day 1 fixture saw Milan score two goals in just two minutes after equalizing in the 42nd minute and then taking the lead two minutes after, a result that meant that the Italian side would be finishing the first-half with the lead. 