Football: Litmanen right to move; Fan Scene.

Byline: SAM JOHNSTONE

IT WAS goodbye to Jari Litmanen this week, and his departure to Ajax got me thinking about why he perhaps didn't make it at Anfield.

There's no doubting that he is a skilful, intelligent player, but it just didn't seem to fit in with Gerard's tactical philosophy.

It's a shame as a lot of Reds were keen to really see him at his best in a red shirt, but as time went on, it was becoming obvious that he wasn't going to get the chance to prove himself.

The signing of El Hadji Diouf, and the pre-season emergence of Milan Baros, meant that Jari was going to be even further down the pecking order, and I really don't blame him for looking elsewhere.

That's not to criticise the tactical decisions and team selection, as I'm quite happy with the rotation that's going on at the moment.

It's just that am sorry that Jari is going and I'm sure he is too.

Good luck to him at Ajax. The rotation system is affecting others players too, but in a more positive way.

The performances of at least three players seem to be down to a much more tactical approach to games. Emile Heskey, while playing on the left, has provided quite a few telling crosses and passes from the wing. Similarly, Diuof and Riise's recent form shows that the formation and tactics are working well.

Special praise goes to the ever present midfielders, who have been doing a cracking job in bossing games. Didi Hamann is getter better with each season at Anfield, and if his start to the campaign is anything to go by, he looks like having his best one yet this year.

A solid midfield is crucial to competing successfully for the Championship, and the core of Didi, Stevie Gerrard and Danny Murphy is looking as strong a trio as we have had for years.

Hamann is the guy who passes everything about, Gerrard the player with determination and a great eye for the long ball, and Murphy the attack-minded playmaker. Remind you of anyone?

I think they have a bit to go before they realise the perfection of Souness, Kennedy and McDermott, but I'd stick a few bob on these guys being winners at the end of the season.

With another fairly meaningless international friendly this weekend, there's an unfortunate gap in what has been a series of good-to-excellent performances in the last month.

The Newcastle game had me confused, though. I wasn't quite as distraught with the equaliser for the Geordies as I thought I would be.

We'd played some excellent stuff, and looked good for the victory, but I was very impressed with Newcastle's attitude after the break.

They played well, and maybe just deserved a share of the points.

Level on points with Arsenal and United is okay, and Newcastle will give them a game as good as the one against us. I'm hoping that the Reds' good form over the first few weeks of the season can last past this international break.