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Fowler's flourishes evoke fond memories but Benitez needs to find a successorFrom The Guardian, 26 February 2007The hosts were enjoying their stroll, with this game drifting towards its conclusion, when Robbie Fowler, his mind whirring quicker than his body could react, failed to control a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and watched helplessly as the chance of a hat-trick squirmed away. The lapse prompted a wail of frustration in the stands, but the locals' rasped response was not a condemnation of the forward's miskick. Rather it was a reflection of just how much Fowler is cherished in these parts. Liverpool are preparing for life without God. The second coming has seen Fowler reduced to a bit-part role back in familiar surroundings; the local icon who returned unexpectedly from Manchester City a little over a year ago is dulled by age if still capable of flashes of excellence. The clever pass and bite in the six-yard box remain, with fans and team-mates yearning for reminders of the Toxteth terror of the 1990s. There is reassurance to be had in his reputation. "Robbie showed us again that he is a legend," said Dirk Kuyt. Fowler's year-long contract expires in the summer and, even after occasions such as this, the pragmatist in Rafael Ben?tez is unlikely to be persuaded to offer him an extension. The American takeover on Merseyside will provide the manager with funds to add to his attacking options and there are younger legs to be targeted. Even if the 31-year-old is retained his role would surely be reduced yet further. With that in mind, there is an acceptance that every appearance he conjures these days must be cherished. How an 11th Liverpool hat-trick here would have been celebrated. This was only his third league start of the season, and his first since September 9, but there have been seven goals in all competitions, a tally swollen here by a pair of penalties dispatched with ease midway through the first half, both after fouls on Steven Gerrard. Fowler saw his late chance slip away but, in between, his slick first-time pass to liberate Gerrard to slam in the hosts' fourth had offered a reminder of the phenomenon that was the striker in his pomp. The onus on Benitez's summer transfer policy must be to unearth a natural goalscorer as potent as the veteran. "He's a really good finisher, the best we have," said the manager. "If he's not with us next season we'll need to look for another one like him. But if he can score goals every game like that, we will see. You never know; we have four strikers with different skills and qualities and we can talk about these things later." "It's hard when you're not in the squad all the time and rarely playing, but Robbie's so important for the team even when he's not on the pitch with us," said Kuyt. "He's still got a very cool head and even off the pitch he tries to help the younger people, like me when I first came here."
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