• Home
• News
• Archives
• Subscribe
• Contact

Subscribe

All Smiles As Liverpool Beat Inter

From a disasterous weekend in the FA Cup to a brilliant European night at Anfield, Liverpool have managed to turn things around again and have beaten Inter Milan tonight 2-0.

Funny enough… two of us were chatting in the car earlier about the match tonight, giving the forecast. Pre-game I had figured it would be either all Liverpool or all Inter and I was half tempted to ring the bookie’s to see what odds they were offering on Liverpool to score at least three goals in the game.

They nearly did it too.

2-0 was the score though and 2-0 should be more than enough to keep whining fans happy, even if it was left late to find the two goals.

The first came from Dirk Kuyt, his shot taking a hop, skip and a jump across the box to beat Julio Cesar in the Inter goal, Jermaine Pennant setting up the Dutchman for his second goal in the week. Not bad considering the sizeable gap in the timeline he’d had to his prior goal spell.

Not resting at 1-0, Gerrard managed to squeeze a shot in low to Cesar’s right before the game was up, the low drive beating a string of Inter players from 25 yards out to sneak into the bottom corner. How he saw the opening is beyond me but it got there and sealed what really was Liverpool’s night.

They started well, put the pressure on and were pretty relentless in going forward - Kuyt, Torres, Babel and Crouch all getting involved in the attacking game. Torres had the run of Inter in the first half hour, Marco Materazzi seeing red within 30 minutes for two bookable offences, dragging Torres to the ground with him when he had the chance.

What it means now is that we’re off to the San Siro with two goal advantage, a nice lead to have when you consider a place in the Champions League quarter final is at stake.

For their part, Chelsea could only draw with Olympiakos in Greece while favourites Real Madrid went down 2-1 away to Roma. Hopefully tonight can both raise and sustain morale with ‘Boro on the cards for Saturday.

Last eight? Yes please.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Liverpool Qualify For Knockout Stages

A couple of weeks ago, Liverpool were in a position where they needed to win their remaining three games. One point and two goals in three games left Liverpool bottom of Group A.

Eight goals against Besiktas, four goals against Porto and now four goals against a dreadful Marseille tonight means Liverpool qualify as Group A runners up.

Liverpool were strong, they didn’t show buckets of flair on the pitch, but the challenges were good, the passing was good, and the finishing was there when it needed to be.

Everything started with the first goal, Steven Gerrard converting from the spot inside four minutes. Fernando Torres followed up just under eight minutes later to make it 2-0 and compound the poor start by Marseille.

When it came to half time, Marseille hadn’t tested Reina, hadn’t a shot on target and were sloppy all over the pitch. Samir Nasri’s introduction after a half hour went to waste, Djibril Cisse’s half time introduction didn’t amount to anything concrete but at that stage, the French Ligue 1 side had rolled all the dice and were coming up a dud.

It took three minutes of the second half for Dirk Kuyt to find the net, Harry Kewell picking out the Dutchman loose in the box to fire home Liverpool’s third, before substitute Ryan Babel made it 4-0, getting the better of Faty at the back to round the ‘keeper and finish off with pure ease.

Marseille will head to the UEFA Cup but if they carry on like tonight, they won’t be getting very far. With 64% of the possession and four up front in the second half, they still couldn’t force a save out of Pepe Reina.

Liverpool, on the other hand, advance to the knockout stages and are likely to face top class opposition in the last sixteen with Real Madrid and Barcelona on the cards.

Up next comes Man United, then onto Chelsea, but for tonight we’ve qualified for the next round of the Champions League and that’s what matters.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Live: Two Up At Half Time

All it took was twelve minutes. A Steven Gerrard penalty in the fourth minute and a Fernando Torres gem in the twelfth minute has give Liverpool a 2-0 lead at the break.

In Portugal, Porto are currently leading Besiktas by a single goal which would put Porto top of the group and Liverpool currently in second place.

The opening touch of the game could have been bad news for Gerrard, buckling under a hefty challenge within the opening seconds, but he recovered to cruise all the way to the box and win a penalty. Missing the actual penalty itself, Gerrard had no hesitation in firing away the rebound for the first goal.

When Harry Kewell set Fernando Torres through for the second goal, Marseille were visibly deflated.

They haven’t solidly tested Pepe Reina at this stage of the game, the closest being repeated offside calls. Marseille were forced into a change of tactics a half hour in, trying to inject some pace into the game with Samir Nasri coming off the bench but so far to no avail.

Everything going smoothly at this stage, but still no time for complacency. All things considered, there’s another goal in this for Liverpool if they grab it and it will be all roads leading straight to the last sixteen.

[Pic via Getty Images against Marseille in first leg]

Popularity: 12% [?]

Live: Marseille vs Liverpool

Fernando Torres leads the attack at Marseille with Dirk Kuyt lining up along side him in attack. You can get live updates by clicking here (goal and important points from the game).

The Liverpool team looks as follows: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell, Torres, Kuyt. As mentioned earlier, Momo Sissoko doesn’t get a look in anywhere with the bench looking like this: Itandje, Steve Finnan, Aurelio, Crouch, Babel, Lucas and Jack Hobbs.

Bring it on!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Sissoko Out Of Marseille Fixture

Momo Sissoko is looking for a meeting in January to sort out his Liverpool future. He’s angry because he’s been left out of the Champions League squad to face Marseille tonight, a must-win game for Liverpool. Boo hoo.

Benitez needs to put out his strongest possible side against Marseille, that much is a given. Sissoko, at this point, doesn’t fit into his strongest possible side. Sure enough, it would be a bonus to have a fully fit Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger in the side but injury is keeping them out. In the midfield department, Sissoko continues to slip down the list.

He played in the loss against Reading at the weekend, but this is another ball game altogether. This is the Champions League.

It is funny, the report of him complaining about competition for first team football coming to light. My own Football Manager career with Liverpool (currently in it’s first season), has the same problem - Sissoko complaining about competition for first team football. If you’re so worried - go out and prove yourself. There’s a small difference between thinking you’re good enough to play and having your boss know you’re good enough to play.

Understandably, Sissoko doesn’t want to miss out on a big occasion. His family are in France, it is Liverpool’s biggest game of the season thus far, and there’s an awful lot riding on the game - pride, jobs, money - so who wouldn’t want to be a part of it!

I don’t find it as any surprise he’s been left out. Gerrard is on form, Mascherano is on form, Babel and Benayoun are comfortable playing across the middle of the park, Lucas is starting to step up a gear. If Sissoko was to sit down in January and discuss his future, I don’t think he would be too much of a loss to the Liverpool engine room in midfield.

Popularity: 12% [?]

All Eyes On Marseille

From here on in, all eyes are on Marseilles this Tuesday (tomorrow). Liverpool lost to Reading 3-1, Marseille beat Monaco 2-0 on Saturday so confidences may be mixed. Determination will be most high, however. The pressure is firmly on Liverpool and the Marseille team have been warned already that the Reds will be “far tougher proposition” according to The Times.

It breaks down like this - Liverpool need to win to ensure that they qualify for the knockout stages and avoid heading to the UEFA Cup. Failing a win, Liverpool can still qualify with a draw - only providing Besiktas beat Porto. If Porto beat Besiktas and the game ends in a draw, Marseille go through, likewise should Marseille beat Liverpool then it’s curtains for the Reds.

We’re all expecting Liverpool to go through - two Champions League finals in three years isn’t bad going. Financially, Liverpool need the knockout stages. More prize money, more TV money, all means more transfer money and ultimate expansion and further development of the squad. Sure enough, the UEFA Cup would bring European TV royalties into play, but why settle for second best? The UEFA Cup too would likely mean that we’ll be playing football on a Thursday, thus stretching Liverpool’s weekend games out to Sunday for the most part.

Losing at Marseille early in the campaign was one thing, compounding that with a loss at Besiktas was another thing, but the team have pulled themselves together. Twelve goals in two games is testament to that.

Domestically, Liverpool are pushing for honours, but the defeat at Reading couldn’t have come at a worse time. It is a game that will be erased from memory rather quickly, but a loss is a loss. Marseille are floating in the mid table area in Ligue 1 (13th at present) but are confident that they’ll be able to do the business again, taking too the home advantage.

While the likes of Rangers, Lyon, Real Madrid, Lazio and more still have to qualify, and run the risk of being knocked out at this stage, all eyes will firmly be fixed on the Marseille clash. You’re talking about Liverpool’s recent record in the Champions League, developments in the background at the club, the future of Rafa Benitez at the club, and the impact the game has not only in Europe, but in the league too. We’ve United at the weekend, Chelsea only a few days later in the League Cup.

A loss in Europe leaves us out of one major trophy, losing points to United puts another dent in our league title hopes, while losing to Chelsea would eliminate yet another piece of silverware this season. A win, however, would lift spirits and confidence at Anfield to a new high and add a massive morale boost ahead of two of the toughest domestic fixtures in the season.

We get through Tuesday, things settle down until February and we can concentrate on the league campaign.

For now, it’s all eyes on Marseille.

Popularity: 7% [?]

New Poll: Will Liverpool Qualify From Group A?

We’ve one point out of 9, we’re looking at an uphill battle, so where do you think Liverpool will finish in their Champions League Group A? Miraculous table toppers? Close runners up? Or just no chance of qualifying at all?

Have your say now on the new Liverpool Access poll available via the homepage or here (direct poll link).

Popularity: 27% [?]

Well, That Was Frustrating

One point out of a possible nine leaves Liverpool smack at the bottom of group A. Marseille sit pretty at the top of the group with seven points, thankfully having drawn with Porto last night to make things a little easier on Liverpool. But the fact now stands that we need to win the three remaining games, starting first with Besiktas making a trip to Anfield. If it can’t be done, I don’t see how we’re getting out of the group. Not only that, but the three wins might not be enough to get the job done.

Not for the first time this season Sami Hyypia bagged himself an own goal but Bobo’s goal on the 82nd minute would be enough to seal it for Besiktas, Steven Gerrard’s goal three minutes later becoming nothing more than a consolation for Liverpool, Liverpool once again not making the most of their opportunities.

Chances were along the lines of 11 for Liverpool in the first half, 28 overall, and though Rafa Benitez says this morning that he’s happy with the performance I think everyone would have been a lot happier today if three points - hell even a single point - came out of the away encounter.

Fair enough, the game was going to be tough - hostile territory, injuries, so on and so forth. Still doesn’t permit someone to look for excuses when, at the end of the day, more should have been made of the chances presented during the game.

With Arsenal on fire during the week with a 7-0 win, the signs don’t bode too well heading into the weekend wouldn’t you think?

Popularity: 33% [?]

Not Exactly Dashing In Europe, Are We?

The start to this year’s European campaign has been a bit frustrating, don’t you think? Starting with the draw in Porto and going down to yet another penalty, before losing at home to Marseille during the week.

In fairness, I missed the entire game during the week but we’re still on home soil this coming weekend against a Spurs side that are intent on knocking in goals to save Martin Jol’s neck and I don’t think I’m the only one hoping for a much improved performance compared to the European start.

A single point out of a possible six so far, twelve more up for grabs by the end of November - I reckon we’ll need to take nine out of twelve anyway, wouldn’t you?

Popularity: 27% [?]

Liverpool Draw In A Rough Night On English Teams

It was going to be tough for Liverpool last night, going down to this season’s fourth penalty against the club within 8 minutes against Porto. Going down, yes, but out - never, as Dirk Kuyt rallied to head home just ten minutes later and set up a great battle of a game which would see the clubs taking a share of the spoils.

A slippery pitch made life tricky in the early stages of the game as Porto piled on the pressure, going non-stop for the opening minutes before Pepe Reina was judged to have pulled down Sektioui in the box. Porto’s skipper Lucho Gonzalez had no problem in approaching the spot and converting, kicking straight up the middle and over Pepe Reina. Mistakes were plentiful in the first half but Liverpool turned it around in a flash on 17 minutes, Sami Hyypia directing Steve Finnan’s free kick over to Dirk Kuyt who did the honours and nodded into the Porto goal to draw the sides level.

That would be it for goal action but a battle would ensue on the pitch, both teams gunning for three points. While both sides tried however, most of the action lay in the middle of the park with both teams enjoying their fair share of play.

Liverpool were a changed side in the second half, a bit more “pep in their step” but Jermaine Pennant’s dismissal put the Reds back under pressure, playing with ten men for the last half hour of the game. Pennant had been booked midway through the first half for a challenge on Quaresma before he lost the head altogether, going in on a needless challenge against Fucil when he had no chance of winning the ball. The tackle would have been fine but he left the leg in, cleaned Fucil out of it and left the referee with no option but to issue a second yellow and give Pennant his marching orders.

No late minute winners, no last gasp goals, but the game turned around to provide a decent performance by Liverpool. Overall not good enough on the night, they should never have been in a position to give away a penalty in the opening stages of the game but what can you do - they battled back, Kuyt grabbed a goal, defended well with 10 men and came out unbeaten.

Skip over to Chelsea and they had a rough ride of it too, midway through the first half Rosenborg took the league when a free kick from the left of the area found the foot of Norwegian Miika Koppinen to poke the ball past Petr Cech and shock Chelsea into action. They couldn’t do the deed either though, coming away with a 1-1 draw with Andriy Shevchenko pulling one back for Chelsea in the second half.

Celtic too had a rough night of it, Gordon Strachan’s side going down 2-0 on the night in the Ukraine and in fairness it could have been worse for them. The loss last night makes it 13 away defeats for Celtic in Europe.

Popularity: 38% [?]

Next Page »

Copyright © 2007 - 2008 Football Access Blog Network | RSS