Djibril Cisse came off the subs bench to lead Liverpool to a 3-1 Super Cup win over CSKA Moscow in Monaco on Friday.
The France international, who has been upset by speculation that he might be shipped out of Anfield to make way for the possible return of Real Madrid’s Michael Owen, could not have made a more eloquent or timely argument in favour of keeping him at Merseyside.
CSKA drew first blood when Brazilian Wagner Love ripped open the Red’s defence, slipping the perfect through ball to Daniel Carvalho who fired low underneath Spanish goalkeeper Jose Manuel Reina in the 28th minute.
Then Cisse, who came on in the 79th minute, pulled Liverpool level with eight minutes left to send the tie into extra time.
The striker put Liverpool ahead in the 103rd minute and then set up Garcia’s 109th minute goal with a sublime cross from the left post.
”I’m very happy, there’s been a lot of speculation in the last few weeks,” he said.
”It’s been a little difficult but you have to be strong and resilient.
”My future is with Liverpool, I’m happy there. I want to stay. I don’t know why I should move.”
His manager Rafael Benitez refused point blank to be drawn on the Owen/Cisse issue when pressed by ITV television.
Champions League winners Liverpool were missing their injured captain Steven Gerrard, who had to watch from the stands.
Keeper Jersey Dudek also missed the match through injury.
Liverpool’s weakened side didn’t stop them from making chances, but they failed to convert.
Spanish international Garcia had the best early chance in the 25th minute when the midfielder beat the off side trap with only Russian goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev to beat, he chipped the keeper only to watch his effort bobble past the upright.
Liverpool only really got going when Cisse came on with 11 minutes of normal time remaining and three minutes later he’d grabbed an unorthodox equaliser when a deflected clearence fired against his chest and all he had to do was walk the ball over the line.
Then in the 103rd minute the Reds went in front when Cisse latched onto Dietmar Hamann’s long ball to fire past Akinfeev, and victory was completed when he whipped over a cross for Garcia to head home. – Sapa-AFP