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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% [?]

Torres The Hat Trick Hero, Liverpool Advance

Liverpool advanced into the fourth round of the League Cup last night after a 4-2 win over Reading which saw Fernando Torres bag not one, or two - but three goals for himself. Payback for not starting against Birmingham?

Yossi Benayoun scored a right screamer in the first half, 23 minutes in, dipping past two defenders on the right-edge of the box to rifle the ball beyond the keeper and into the top of the goal. Terrific solo effort by the Israeli international. It didn’t take long for Reading to catch up, Bobby Convey smashing home past Itandje in the Liverpool goal, from equal distance. Here we go again? (says he flashing back to last season).

Torres put Liverpool back in the lead five minutes after the break, matching the Reading defense with strength, edging out in pace to race into the box and fire low into the bottom right corner, great finisher. But, turn the clock on another 15 minutes or so and it’s back level at 2-2, John Halls getting the better opportunity out of a messy situation in the Liverpool box to tap home Reading’s second and tie up the game.

Not to be outdone though, Torres was firing on all cylinders at this point, his second goal lifting the roof of the net while his third showed complete calm and control. Torres raced through a high Reading backline, acres of space to take on the ‘keeper in a one-on-one situation, taking the ball to the ‘keepers left to slot home for his hat trick.

Terrific night for Fernando Torres, hopefully more of the same when we return to Premier League and European action next week. Torres to start against Wigan away this Saturday? Rafa says nobody is guaranteed a start, but after last night’s performance you’d have to wonder. Mind you, given the way Reading were flying in with the tackles, its amazing that both Torres and Crouch walked away without injuries, the striking duo targets last night for a lot of hefty challenges.

Onwards to Wigan.

Popularity: 14% [?]

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% [?]

So, We Beat Aston Villa

We beat Aston Villa on Saturday and we actually won the opening game of the season - thats what you call starting off on the right foot. Sure enough, Steven Gerrard might have left it late to flight in a pure-precision free kick in the top right corner of the net but we came away with the points and that is what counts.

I’ve held off writing some sort of a match report as I a) didn’t see the match and b)haven’t had a chance to sit down and watch the highlights, bar the video posted of Gerrard’s goal (which must be updated, the video was pulled).

Hopefully there’ll be more of the same this coming Wednesday against Toulouse (tomorrow) so we can cement our rightful place in the Champions League proper. Then, its off to Chelsea. Oh bring it on.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Result: West Ham 1 - 2 Liverpool

A 25 yard belter from Dirk Kuyt and a quick second from Peter Crouch, both goals in the early stages of the second half, proved the difference tonight against West Ham as Liverpool won 2-1.

In fairness, Liverpool - and West Ham - were pretty slack in the first half and really should have done better. Whatever Rafa Benitez said to them at the break must have rang home as within 12 second of the restart, Liverpool were 1-0 to the good, Alonso teeing up Dirk Kuyt for an absolute scorcher into the top corner.

Eight minutes later Liverpool were cruising at 2-0 with Peter Crouch popping up to bag his 13th goal of the season - the same number he reached last season and we’ve still got plenty of league football left before May. Kepa Blanco, on loan from Sevilla, rescued a goal for West Ham and set up a slightly nervous final 15 minutes on the field but Liverpool proved strong and held on for the win.

Three points is all that matters in my book tonight and three points is what Liverpool will leave London with. Sets the Merseyside derby up for the weekend, should be an absolute cracker!

Final score from Upton Park, Liverpool 2 - 1 West Ham.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Result: Watford 0 - 3 Liverpool

Three good goals, three away goals and things seem back on track. All in all I think the result was needed, something a bit bigger than 1-0 or 2-1 to get the spirits back on high ground as Liverpool beat Watford 3-0 at Vicarage Road. Surprise surprise, Pepe Reina is back in goal and we don’t concede anything.

The near capacity crowd saw Craig Bellamy strike with a great tap in after 34 minutes before Peter Crouch added two of his own to keep Liverpool in third place, 1 point ahead of Arsenal. Bellamy’s tap in was impressive, Finnan sending in a lovely low cross along the box from the right to meet Bellamy at the back post who turned sharp to fire home from close range.

Bellamy will be disappointed not to have scored a second, Ben Foster unable to get a hold on Bellamy’s 40th minute strike which teed up Peter Crouch to head home before Crouch added his second and Liverpool’s third just minutes into the second half, the lanky forward rattling home from 12 yards - Bellamy again having a hand in the setup of the goal.

The result gives Liverpool a boost ahead of the next league game - Chelsea. Last thing we need is to recover well after the disaster against Arsenal only to fall at the hurdle next weekend and drop valuable points. But thats for another post altogether. For now, I’m just happy to see the side back to winning ways.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Result: Liverpool 3 - 6 Arsenal

I thought losing to Chelsea at Anfield when they scored 4 goals was bad. Getting beaten by Arsenal twice in a week, the second time conceding six goals was just a nightmare. On home soil.

I’m a bit lost as to making a decent match report aside from the actual bewilderment at the game as a whole. Why, when you’re knocked out of the FA Cup (certainly carrying more prestige than the League Cup) would you insist not on improving your team for the next game but effectively reducing the quality of the first team on the night and what may well be your only chance at some glory on the domestic front. Why, would you leave Dudek back in goal - two starts from the Polish keeper and he concedes 9 goals. Why, finally, would you not bloody well stick a leash on Julio Baptista? Bad enough that Rosicky netted twice at the weekend but to let Baptista net 4 times? Give me strength!

I wouldn’t mind only the game actually looked some way decent for the first half hour. Arsenal went a goal up through Jeremie Aliadiere on 26 minutes before Robbie Fowler exacted an equaliser just four minutes later, picking up a nifty cross from Luis Garcia.

The rest is a complete blur.

Sure enough Gerrard scored with a nice volley into the net at the Kop end in the second half, Sami Hyypia headed home with ten minutes remaining but in and around those goals we were slaughtered.

Almost every good chance Arsenal had on goal actually ended up in the back of the net. Liverpool too could have had a fourth with Gerrard hitting the crossbar but this is one of those games that the team will want to put behind them VERY quickly.

Stephen Warnock also picked up a knock in the second half but has been given the all-clear this morning while Luis Garcia and Mark Gonzalez are due for checks today. Gonzalez was taken out in the first half with a shin injury and replaced by Garcia who himself was removed with a knee injury with 20 minutes let to play.

Three big losses to Arsenal so far this season so its Champions League or bust now for Liverpool.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Result: Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton

It finished 3-0 and if the second have is anything to go by then it could have finished a lot worse for Bolton. Chances were plentiful for Liverpool in the second half and they piad off on the hour mark when Peter Crouch produced a carbon copy of his scissors kick finish against Galatasary earlier this year, hammering home for Liverpool’s first goal. Crouch’s goal marks his tenth of the season for Liverpool.

Just two minutes later Steven Gerrard was busy making sure of the win, latching on to a ball from Pennant to rifle home in front of the Kop and seal his first goal of 2007, a nice way to mark picking up his MBE in the New Years Honours List.

Not to be outdone and having had a massive hand in Crouch’s and Gerrard’s goals, Dirk Kuyt popped up to finish a chance of his own with seven minutes remaining in normal time as Liverpool wrapped up a nice and tidy 3-0 victory to leapfrog Bolton into third place.

Scrappy enough as the first half might have been, Liverpool dominated the entire 90 minutes and Bolton rarely ever looked like a threatening side.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Result: Charlton 0 - 3 Liverpool

Liverpool’s great run continued today with a 3-0 win in The Valley against Charlton. I was happy to see Fabio Aurelio making it to the bench but small excitements aside (I’m really hoping that 2007 is a good injury-free year for the chap) it was a great win for the team and a further three points that were really needed.

While the game started out at a fast pace courtesy of a Xabi Alonso penalty in the third minute it took until the last ten minutes of the game for Liverpool to make sure of the points. Liverpool continued to make attempt after attempt on goal but couldn’t find the net in either the first or second half until Craig Bellamy fired home from six yards. A few minutes later it was 3-0, Steven Gerrard curling home to make sure of Liverpool’s only second away win of the league campaign so far.

Crackin’ win for the side and well deserved after dominating Charlton from start to finish. Given that Arsenal couldn’t make it past Portsmouth (they drew 2-2 if you haven’t heard) it gives the club a nice edge going into Tuesday night’s League Cup game. At least I hope it should anyway! Its been six clean sheets, another big victory and hopefully the run continues.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Result: Liverpool 4 - 0 Fulham

Well, I was hoping for more of the same after last season’s fixture (where Liverpool destroyed Fulham 5-1) and the lads surely delivered today against the Cottagers again, running out 4-0 winners. What I didn’t see coming was that all goals were in the second half, with the first half a relatively even contest.

Both keepers were tested in the first half and Liverpool had their chances, including a penalty appeal for handball denied but it was the second half that proved an absolute gem for the Reds.

Ian Pearce had been at the centre of the trouble in the first half and started Fulham’s undoing in the second when he surely must have thought he was the goalkeeper, arms outstretched in the box to deny Dirk Kuyt an attempt on goal. Stevie G missed the penalty, Lastuvka (filling in for Anti Niemi) saving low, but the rebound proved too easy, Gerrard placing the second attempt in the back of the net. That would prove to be the opening of the flood gates.

Unlikeliest of goal suspects, Jamie Carragher found the back of the net for Liverpool’s second and Carra’s first goal in 7 seasons. McBride was caught ball watching at the far post while defending a corner and strayed enough to allow Carragher to slide in at the back post and latch onto Agger’s flick-on header.

Luis Garcia added a third for Liverpool with a high, looping header that sailed over Lastuvka and rattled the underside of the crossbar and dropped into the back of the goal before Mark Gonzalez (came on as a sub) floated in a gorgeous freekick bang on 90 minutes after Robbie Fowler (came on for Garcia in the second half) was taken down outside the area after a mazy run.

4-0 the final score from Anfield, the club with 10 goals in three games in a week, 8 of which were in the league. Nice omen in the run up to Christmas and delighted to see no complacency at all after the victory at Wigan last weekend. Lets keep it up…

Popularity: 6% [?]

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