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Result: Liverpool 1 - 1 Blackburn

Craig Bellamy finally broke his duck in the Premier League but Liverpool couldn’t find the goals to secure the win at Anfield yesterday, the game winding up 1-1 in the end.

Liverpool had the best of the early chances, Crouch coming close on two occasions before Benni McCarthy turned the game in Blackburn’s favour picking up David Bentleys low cross in the box to fire home at the back post with ease. Blackburn also struck twice more past Pepe Reina only for the goals to be ruled offside.

The second half was a different story, Luis Garcia was introduced early on and Liverpool started to find a good bit of energy, building up eventually to Fabio Aurélio’s corner - the Brazilian flighting the ball to the back post for Craig Bellamy to meet and head into the back of the Rovers net on 63 minutes.

Liverpool have got to start striking first, too many games going by now where we find ourselves have to claw our way back into the game rather than taking the bull by the horns. At least there’s another point gone on to the boards and, but for better finishing, it really should have been all three points but we’ll wait and see what happens against United and, first, against Bordeaux.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Result: Bolton 2 - 0 Liverpool

Yet again, we have an away game and fail to find a win. Yet again, we have a game against Bolton where we can’t find a win. Now, we’ve lost three games at what is still the early stage of the season.

Bolton opened the scoring on 29 minutes, Pepe Reina giving up a silly free kick by handling just outside his area, the linesman flagging the offence quite promptly. The resultant free kick proved a shambles defensive-wise for Liverpool, Gary Speed finding no trouble with the wall as the former Everton man blasted past Reina in the Liverpool goal.

Chances fell Liverpool’s way before and after the Bolton goal with Alonso, Bellamy, Gerrard and Kuyt all going close but alas to no avail.

The second half started badly for Liverpool, Ivan Campo rising to meet a Kevin Davis cross and head Bolton further in front only four minutes after the break.

Liverpool, for the most part of the second half just weren’t at the races at all. Though it was nice to see him start again, Pennant was substituted midway through the half with Luis Garcia coming on to take his place, the Spaniard failing to make an impact when it mattered most. Liverpool though, to their credit, controlled the play in both halves but Bolton had plenty in the tank to frustrate Liverpool all the way to the final whistle.

So our winning streak comes to a close, in typical fashion against Bolton who yet again prove to be the thorn in Anfield’s side. Former Reds Nic Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf had decent games for their club and, though they couldn’t find the target themselves, helped Bolton on the day to secure the win against their former employers. Bolton continue to hold a clean sheet record at the Reebok Stadium so far this season.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Result: Liverpool 3 - 2 Galatasaray

Liverpool finally managed to score in a European game, and finally managed a win as well but gave up two goals midway through the second half to making the finish a little nervey. All the same, the club now sit at the top of the group with 4 points from 2 games, albeit for having scored more goals as PSV could only manage the one goal against Bordeux in a dull affair in the group’s other game.

Liverpool couldn’t have asked for a brighter start being two goals up within the opening fifteen minutes of the game, really setting the tone for the evening. Peter Crouch fired the his first and Liverpool’s first of the game past Mondragon in the Galatasaray goal after just nine minutes. Fabio Aurélion made some excellent space down the left flank, crossing from deep with an absolute pin-perfect cross for Crouch to jump and get his foot onto, hammering past Mondragon from close range.

Goal number two game just five minutes later, again supplied through the air, this time for Luis Garcia to grab his first goal of the season with a bullet header with Mondragon taken out of play with some nice football at the near post.

Liverpool were crusing at this stage and continued to test the Turkish defence, with Kuyt, Gerrard and Fabio Aurélio all going close.

The second half continued as brightly as the first, Peter Crouch popping up shortly after the break with a spectacular goal, Finnan crossing in from the right of the box for Crouch to hit a sweet overhead kick past the keeper who could do nothing but stare in amazement as the giant English man hammered the ball past him again.

Cruising at 3-0 wouldn’t last too long however as either side of the hour mark Liverpool conceded to two fine Umit Karan headers, Karan coming off the bench for the second half to aide the Turkish attack and although we had more chances after a few changes the scoreline would remain 3-2.

Fantastic start, bit of a rattle to the cage for the finish but its three points in the bag and two fine goals from Peter Crouch to leave us top of the group.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Result: Liverpool 3 - 0 Tottenham

Ah…. brilliant.

Thats how I’ll open this one up. Brilliant.

Absolutely delighted at the result, figured there would be a goal coming in the second half after the performance we had in the first, but never expected to see three of them - and certainly never expected the screamer from John Arne Riise, Andy Gray struggling for words or adding up the yardage on that one.

Solid performance in the first half with a few chances, and a few hair moments. Everyone on the pitch looked on form, Gonzalez in particular, though he was a little starved in the latter stages of the first half. Thank God he was there in the second half though. Still waiting for that Bellamy goal in the league, which almost came on the 63rd minute only to hit the post from 3 yards out before Gonzalez buried the rebound from a tight angle. Lucky it was scored when it was as only 60 seconds previous we should have been a goal down but for poor finishing.

Once the goal went in though, the team didn’t slow down and went on in search of the second, eventually coming through Dirk Kuty who latched on to Garcia’s threaded pass, gave the ball a deft flick to tee himself up for a rocket through the back of the net. Bad timing on the part of the Spurs defence though and bad awareness from Paul Robinson who was too busy thinking that Kuyt was offside than to protect his goal, allowing the Dutchman to rifle past him with ease.

Then, just as you think its safe to start into a 2-0 match report, up pops John Arne Riise from around 35 yards out, takes the ball on the outside of his left boot and unleashes a screamer past Paul Robinson, low and to the right.

Fantastic stuff by Liverpool, two league wins on the trot and good momentum going into the midweek clash with Galatasaray.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Result: Liverpool 2 - 0 Newcastle

Welcome to Anfield Dirk Kuyt. First league goal for Liverpool tonight for the Dutchman as he helped the side to a 2-0 win over Newcastle. Pity Xabi Alonso had to take the wind out of his sails a little bit, but boy did he do it in style - and nothing says style like a 65 yard strike, high over the falling body of Steve Harper and into the back of the Newcastle net.

Kuyt opened the scoring for Liverpool on the 29th minute, breaking through the defence to fire home comfortably past Steve Harper, showing the type of finishing that Liverpool have been missing in their strike force of late.

Alonso however, went on to steal the show scoring his first goal since January - almost an exact copy of the goal he scored against Luton in the FA Cup, also the last time that he scored.

Peter Crouch and Mark Gonzalez both made late appearances in the game (82,86) but the win was certainly most deserving and thankfully drives the club a little bit further up the table. Roll on Spurs at the weekend.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Result: PSV Eindhoven 0 - 0 Liverpool

Two good things came out of last night’s game that I can think of.

1. Pepe Reina kept a clean sheet, Liverpool’s first in a long time (competitively)
2. Galatasaray and Bordeux played out a useless draw as well

Thats about all the real positives one can take out of last night in a game that I actually thought we had a chance at winning. Sure enough, the team came close and were at least able to find the woodwork in the latter stages of the game - and Steven Gerrard was seriously unlucky with his chance that he clipped the post low, but I expected more on our 2006/07 Champions League debut.

Sami Hyypia got to sit out the game, which was ok. Agger looked well in place of him, partnering the centre with Jamie Carragher. Hyypia, for the most part, had looked sluggish at the weekend, slow to get off the mark, something which couldn’t be afforded last night.

Credit to PSV though, they looked powerful in the first half. Kone looked sharp as did Edison Mendez and Farfan.

Last night’s game was tough on the selection too. Zenden lasted the full 90 minutes, where I would have preferred to see Garcia enter in his place through the later stages of the game. Gerrard started on the bench and when he came on he replaced Bellamy with 20 minutes to play. Bring out Steve Warnock, switch Garcia and Gerrard, and increase the service to the front two. There were signs of it getting there towards the end with both Kuyt and Gerrard going close but they left it too little too late, certainly should have been more of a drive and aggression throughout both halves.

So, we come away with a draw and at least a point, which is still nothing to be sniffed at. No Gerrard, Alonso, Garcia, Hyypia or Crouch in the starting eleven - something which shocked Ronald Koeman after the game.

When I saw their team sheet I was shocked. No Gerrard, no Alonso, no Hyypia, no Crouch. In the end though I was happy with a draw, especially because Liverpool used eight men behind the ball for much of the game.

So now its onwards and upwards, or downwards to London with the visit to Chelsea just a few days away. They’re coming off the back of a nice 2-0 win last night - nothing too convincing against Bremen mind you - but they looked well. Essien’s finish, to some sloppy Bremen defending, was quite good while Ballack nearly bore a hole in the net with his penalty. Everywhere you turn there’s a Chelsea man up front waiting for the ball. But we’re not here to talk about Chelsea! At least not until Sunday anyway.

Final score from Holland last night, PSV Eindhoven 0, Liverpool 0.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Result: Everton 3 - 0 Liverpool

This is not the Champions League.

Istanbul is a thing of the past.

We won’t always come back from a few goals down - despite contrary belief.

The team need to understand this!

Head in my hands at full time after watching Andy Johnson and the Everton boys crush Liverpool 3-0 at Goodison Park, putting a major dent in the start of our season and leaving us with 4 points from a possible 12. The game, which saw the return of Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise to action was nothing short of a disaster for Liverpool who were well and truely beaten all ends up with mistake after mistake, sloppy play and an overall sense of sluggishness around the pitch.

There seemed to be poor communication between Carragher, Hyypia and Fabio Aurelio; Xabi Alonso was too busy wrestling with Tim Cahill; while Peter Crouch and Robbie Fowler never really got a look in. To make matters worse, Riise was taken off almost as soon as he had come on, damaging the ankle he has just been trying to build back up after missing all the action since the first half of the Sheffield United game until now.

I thought all these mistakes were behind us. Where is the defence we saw last season, and more importantly, why does the start of this season resemble last year when we left it too late to actually start winning games and controlling things on the pitch. On paper it looked a good side, physically it looked a good side but today’s game told an entirely different story when matters unfolded on the pitch.

Tim Cahill always looked like scoring. Hell, he’s done so twice against Liverpool in his last two games anyway so why shouldn’t today be any different. Surely with the number of times he was caught offside, someone in the back line could have said “keep an eye on Tim there… just in case” and low and behold, unmarked at the back post and he drives in Everton’s first. Andy Johnson made it 2-0 before the break, beating Reina at the near post when neither Sami Hyypia or Jamie Carragher could do anything to stop Johnson inside the Liverpool box.

Deep into extra time in the second half, Andy Johnson should have been shaking hands with Pepe Reina for the gift of a third goal instead of celebrating, Reina parrying AJ’s shot high, only for the ball to drop behind Pepe and leave Johnson to stick his head on the end of it. Disaster ending really for Liverpool.

Chances didn’t go our way either - Graham Poll ignoring Jo Yobo’s blatant jersey pulling in the first half while dismissing penalty claims on Fowler and Sissoko during the game while also missing a handball from Tony Hibbert.

Dirk Kuyt stepped into the game on 53 minutes with Jermaine Pennant coming on 10 minutes from close but neither could impact the game, the closest to scoring being Steven Gerrard who managed to rattle the woodwork once or twice.

Leaving Goodison Park for the short trip home up the road, each and every person on the Liverpool squad have a lot to think about before heading for PSV and Chelsea, hopefully where we’ll see a turnaround in fortunes.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Result: Liverpool 2 - 1 West Ham

It looked like a disaster start to the game when Bobby Zamora scored a freak goal (with some extra style thrown in) but Liverpool fought hard today to beat West Ham 2-1 at Anfield to secure their first win of the new league campaign and remain unbeaten at Anfield since last October.

Missing Jamie Carragher, John Arne Riise and Momo Sissoko to name but a few was going to make things difficult for Liverpool, something compounded by Bobby Zamora’s strike within the first twelve minutes. Zamora, set free on the right wing made it to the edge of the box, looking up for the cross to Marlon Harewood only to mis-cue his shot and rifle into the back of the net, Pepe Reina parrying the ball to Zamora’s advantage.

The goal was certainly enough to rattle Liverpool’s cage at the early stages of the game and it could have been 2-0 only moments later when Harewood’s shot just nicked past the outside of the post to save Liverpool’s blushes.

Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia worked tirelessly in midfield through the first half, along with Jermaine Pennant but it was Danny Agger who stole the golden moment of the first half, lifting a sublime shot into the top left corner of the goal from all of 30 yards to level the scores 1-1 on 42 minutes. From the moment the ball left his foot, even to see him in that space you could tell something special was about to happen and it certainly did.

Agger’s goal was enough to drive Liverpool towards a second before the break, a goal which they deservedly got through some excellent buildup work by Luis Garcia, skipping his way through the box to lay off a nice reverse pass for Peter Crouch, Crouch taking a deft touch to the right of Roy Carroll and firing low under Anton Ferdinand’s legs and into the back of the net.

The second half saw a much inspired Liverpool with some fierce pace to the opening 15 minutes of the half which also saw the introduction of Kuyt. Only 30 seconds on the pitch and he was already in firing mode, getting his first shot off wide right before coming close with a header across the goal mouth only moments later.

Kuyt too set up Craig Bellamy for a goal only to have the chance ruled offside, something which was quite frequent in the second half as West Ham pushed forward looking for more chances on goal.

West Ham too came close in the final ten minutes with Lee Bowyer missing a golden opportunity to level the scores while Pepe Reina saw much more positive action in the final minutes of the game pulling off some good stops.

Great to see the win and the goals, solid performance by Kuyt for his Premier League debut and I must saw I was quite impressed by Jermaine Pennant and Luis Garcia alike. No big injury worries thank God and a healthy three points in the bag. Roll on the next game.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Result: Maccabi Haifa 1 - 1 Liverpool

To be fair, I expected an awful lot more from Liverpool last night. Sure enought, there’s the Champions League qualification in the bag, a possible £10m in prize money and other revenue but again we’re left counting the cost of the encounter - this time looking at the loss of Momo Sissoko for a few weeks (possibly missing the Everton and Chelsea league games) along with Stephen Warnock.

After last night’s performance I think Liverpool can be highly thankful of Mark Gonzalez’ game winner at Anfield two weeks ago, his goal proving the vital difference after the draw last night. Even in a tense game, and having gone through a similar tense buildup over the past few days I have to admit that I thought Liverpool would have delivered with a bang last night, and they didn’t really do it.

Following a goalless first half, Peter Crouch put the side ahead with some good team work between himself and Jermaine Pennant. Pennant managed to flit past Magralishvili before picking out Crouch with a pinpoint cross on the near post to give Liverpool a 3-1 aggregate lead on 54 minutes, Crouch nearly boring a hole in the net with the header. Great strength in the buildup from Pennant though and nice to see the English connection starting to click.

It took only ten minutes though for Haifa to find an equaliser, Reina unable to hold onto Andersons’s allowed Colautti to tidy the ball into the back of the net. The goal gave Haifa the incentive to pick up their attacking game though neither they or Liverpool could find another goal in the game.

Steven Gerrard made an appearance during the second half, coming on to replace Momo Sissoko who had fallen quite awkwardly and is now looking at a few weeks out with a knee injury. Fabio Aurélio too made an appearance, coming on for the injured Stephen Warnock who is also looking at time out with an ankle injury, joining Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise on the sidelines with the same.

The bonus side of things of course is that we’re in the draw on Thursday morning, we’ll see Dirk Kuyt in the Group Stage and we’ve got a European campaign to start building on.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Result: Sheffield Utd 1 - 1 Liverpool

No live blogging for the second half here on LiverpoolAccess.com but the game has finished 1-1 with Robbie Fowler securing a point for the Reds from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaing. The result leaves Liverpool still failing to win their opening season game under Rafa Benitez and provides a frustrating start to the campaign, the side having been expected to take all three points.

The first half of play was ok from Liverpool, limited in attacking chances though John Arne Riise and Craig Bellamy both went close in the opening half of the game. Riise was removed from play through injury (twisted ankle) as was Jamie Carragher (twisted ankle) both just after the half hour mark with Danny Agger and Mark Gonzalez coming into the fold but neither introduction could spur anything productive as the clock edged towards half time with the scores level at 0-0 on the break.

Rob Hulse broke the deadlock for Sheffield United with under two minutes gone in the second half, Hulse finding himself with a free header in the six yard box to nod home and put The Blades into the lead. The goal pretty much shocked Liverpool into action as the attacking play built up serious momentum, culminating in a penalty on the 70th minute as Steven Gerrard broke free into the box and was clipped by United skipper Chris Morgan. Robbie Fowler stepped up to spot and converted with his left foot, sending Paddy Kenny the wrong way.

The Reds pressed hard for the second goal but could muster the opportunites to finish against a solid Sheffield side. All not lost on the day as a point was secured but from second half action alone it should have easily been all three points for Liverpool, something compounded by the loss of Riise and Jamie Carragher who is likely to miss this week’s Champions League game.

Popularity: 2% [?]

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