Articles
LIVERPOOL lost their second consecutive game
LIVERPOOL lost their second consecutive game as a Brian Deane goal gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 victory at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Despite the Reds dominating most of the game, Deane's 48th minute strike was enough to give Bryan Robson's side all three points.
Robbie Fowler missed a great chance in the first half, and was harshly booked for a foul on Paul Ince.
A BRIAN DEANE goal early in the second half gave Liverpool an uphill task against Middlesbrough at the Riverside stadium today.
Deane's 48 minute strike came after Liverpool had dominated the first half and were unlucky enough not to be ahead.
There was no doubt who wanted to be the centre of attention at the Riverside. Paul Ince was facing the Reds for the first time since being sacked as Liverpool skipper and being told he wasn't wanted at the club.
The fact he has since stated publicly that he'd like to punch the Reds manager had also threatened to turn this game into a hostile encounter.
Gerard Houllier made an enforced change to the side as Steve Staunton returned in place of the injured Vladimir Smicer. Staunton's selection ahead of David Thompson was obviously tactical.
Otherwise it was the same line-up as that which lost to Watford although teenager Djimi Traore was a substitute in a Premiership game for the first time.
It was clear as the Reds lined up that they would be playing three at the back with Staunton alongside Carragher and Hyypia while Matteo and Heggem played wing back.
The Reds made a bright start and on just three minutes Heggem forced a mistake from Schwarzer when he blocked his attempted goalkick but fortunately for Boro the ball deflected away from goal.
A minute later, a cross by Camara was headed straight at Schwarzer by Fowler. And then seconds later another mistake in the Boro defence, this time by Vickers, almost allowed Camara to sneak in on goal but the Boro defender recovered just in time to make a clearance. Camara produced a wonderful piece of skill after 10 minutes when he dribbled into the Middlesbrough penalty area and found Fowler's run but the Reds striker was just off target at his attempt to delicately chip the ball over Schwarzer.
Boro's first threat came on 15 minutes when a great run from the back by Festa was only stopped by a fine Jamie Carragher tackle.
But it was Liverpool who looked sharpest in the early stages and Schwarzer again had to be alert on 18 minutes to catch a 25-yard volley by Jamie Redknapp.
There was a blow for Middlesbrough on 19 minutes when Gascoigne had to limp off to be replaced by O'Neill. The Reds continued to shoot at will at the Boro goal and Berger's volley on 21 minutes from distance was also not far over the bar.
In midfield Steven Gerrard was having a particularly good game for the Reds who were playing with a lot more patience and control than they had at Anfield last Saturday. Heggem was also a constant danger on the right hand side.
From the moment this game kicked off it seemed a flash point of some kind was inevitable and the first came after half an hour. Gerrard had launched into a powerful challenge on Stamp which left the Boro man on the ground but the Middlesbrough players reacted angrily with both Ince and Townsend confronting the young Liverpool midfielder.
Gerrard stood his ground and reacted angrily towards Ince before the referee intervened. In the event both Gerrard and Townsend were booked.
Hyypia made a mistake on 38 minutes which nearly allowed Ziege an opportunity but he shot weakly at Westerveld. Camara was also having a good game for Liverpool and he almost sent Matteo clear with a sensational ball three minutes before half time but Stamp managed to intercept just in time.
Apart from the bookings, the passion level had not been as high as many might have predicted and Ince was discovering that if he thought he was going to boss the midfield, young Gerrard had something to say about it. Gerrard was by far the most outstanding player on the park in the first 45 minutes.
Half time: Boro 0, Liverpool 0.
Liverpool began the second half hoping to turn the dominance into goals.
The half was just two minutes old when Schwarzer failed to hold Redknapp's shot and Carragher almost pounced on the rebound before the Boro defence could clear.
But a minute later, with Middlesbrough's first real attack of the afternoon, the Reds found themselves 1-0 down. Ziege started the half in attacking mood and it was he who broke down the right and crossed to DEANE to guide the ball past Westerveld.
The Reds sense of injustice increased a minute later when Fowler was booked when Ince seemed to trip over himself.
The Reds almost equalised after 55 minutes when Camara's run ended in a swerving shot which was just wide from 20 yards.
Boro should have made it 2-0 when Ziege's cross found Ricard totally unmarked six yards but he volleyed over the bar.
On 73 minutes, there could have been goals at either end. First Deane forced a wonderful save from Westerveld and then the Reds went straight to the other end where Camara again hit a fierce drive which Schwarzer did well to hold.
As the Reds looked frantically for an equaliser they left themselves more exposed at the back and Stamp almost scored on 79 minutes but Hyypia made a vital block.
As the minutes ticked away, neither the Liverpool players nor the fans were able to believe that their team had lost after playing so well.
Report by Chris Bascombe
Attendance 34,783.
HOW THEY LINED UP
MIDDLESBROUGH
Schwarzer, Vickers, Festa, Pallister, Gascoigne, Ince, Deane, Stamp, Townsend, Ziege, Ricard, Subs: Mustoe, O'Neill, Maddison, Campbell, Roberts.
LIVERPOOL
Westerveld, Staunton, Fowler, Redknapp, Hyypia, Heggem, Berger, Matteo, Camara, Carragher, Gerrard, Subs: Song, Meijer, Friedel, Thompson, Traore.
REFEREE: Steve Dunn, Bristol.
©Liverpool Daily Post & Echo 1999 | [email protected]
Despite the Reds dominating most of the game, Deane's 48th minute strike was enough to give Bryan Robson's side all three points.
Robbie Fowler missed a great chance in the first half, and was harshly booked for a foul on Paul Ince.
A BRIAN DEANE goal early in the second half gave Liverpool an uphill task against Middlesbrough at the Riverside stadium today.
Deane's 48 minute strike came after Liverpool had dominated the first half and were unlucky enough not to be ahead.
There was no doubt who wanted to be the centre of attention at the Riverside. Paul Ince was facing the Reds for the first time since being sacked as Liverpool skipper and being told he wasn't wanted at the club.
The fact he has since stated publicly that he'd like to punch the Reds manager had also threatened to turn this game into a hostile encounter.
Gerard Houllier made an enforced change to the side as Steve Staunton returned in place of the injured Vladimir Smicer. Staunton's selection ahead of David Thompson was obviously tactical.
Otherwise it was the same line-up as that which lost to Watford although teenager Djimi Traore was a substitute in a Premiership game for the first time.
It was clear as the Reds lined up that they would be playing three at the back with Staunton alongside Carragher and Hyypia while Matteo and Heggem played wing back.
The Reds made a bright start and on just three minutes Heggem forced a mistake from Schwarzer when he blocked his attempted goalkick but fortunately for Boro the ball deflected away from goal.
A minute later, a cross by Camara was headed straight at Schwarzer by Fowler. And then seconds later another mistake in the Boro defence, this time by Vickers, almost allowed Camara to sneak in on goal but the Boro defender recovered just in time to make a clearance. Camara produced a wonderful piece of skill after 10 minutes when he dribbled into the Middlesbrough penalty area and found Fowler's run but the Reds striker was just off target at his attempt to delicately chip the ball over Schwarzer.
Boro's first threat came on 15 minutes when a great run from the back by Festa was only stopped by a fine Jamie Carragher tackle.
But it was Liverpool who looked sharpest in the early stages and Schwarzer again had to be alert on 18 minutes to catch a 25-yard volley by Jamie Redknapp.
There was a blow for Middlesbrough on 19 minutes when Gascoigne had to limp off to be replaced by O'Neill. The Reds continued to shoot at will at the Boro goal and Berger's volley on 21 minutes from distance was also not far over the bar.
In midfield Steven Gerrard was having a particularly good game for the Reds who were playing with a lot more patience and control than they had at Anfield last Saturday. Heggem was also a constant danger on the right hand side.
From the moment this game kicked off it seemed a flash point of some kind was inevitable and the first came after half an hour. Gerrard had launched into a powerful challenge on Stamp which left the Boro man on the ground but the Middlesbrough players reacted angrily with both Ince and Townsend confronting the young Liverpool midfielder.
Gerrard stood his ground and reacted angrily towards Ince before the referee intervened. In the event both Gerrard and Townsend were booked.
Hyypia made a mistake on 38 minutes which nearly allowed Ziege an opportunity but he shot weakly at Westerveld. Camara was also having a good game for Liverpool and he almost sent Matteo clear with a sensational ball three minutes before half time but Stamp managed to intercept just in time.
Apart from the bookings, the passion level had not been as high as many might have predicted and Ince was discovering that if he thought he was going to boss the midfield, young Gerrard had something to say about it. Gerrard was by far the most outstanding player on the park in the first 45 minutes.
Half time: Boro 0, Liverpool 0.
Liverpool began the second half hoping to turn the dominance into goals.
The half was just two minutes old when Schwarzer failed to hold Redknapp's shot and Carragher almost pounced on the rebound before the Boro defence could clear.
But a minute later, with Middlesbrough's first real attack of the afternoon, the Reds found themselves 1-0 down. Ziege started the half in attacking mood and it was he who broke down the right and crossed to DEANE to guide the ball past Westerveld.
The Reds sense of injustice increased a minute later when Fowler was booked when Ince seemed to trip over himself.
The Reds almost equalised after 55 minutes when Camara's run ended in a swerving shot which was just wide from 20 yards.
Boro should have made it 2-0 when Ziege's cross found Ricard totally unmarked six yards but he volleyed over the bar.
On 73 minutes, there could have been goals at either end. First Deane forced a wonderful save from Westerveld and then the Reds went straight to the other end where Camara again hit a fierce drive which Schwarzer did well to hold.
As the Reds looked frantically for an equaliser they left themselves more exposed at the back and Stamp almost scored on 79 minutes but Hyypia made a vital block.
As the minutes ticked away, neither the Liverpool players nor the fans were able to believe that their team had lost after playing so well.
Report by Chris Bascombe
Attendance 34,783.
HOW THEY LINED UP
MIDDLESBROUGH
Schwarzer, Vickers, Festa, Pallister, Gascoigne, Ince, Deane, Stamp, Townsend, Ziege, Ricard, Subs: Mustoe, O'Neill, Maddison, Campbell, Roberts.
LIVERPOOL
Westerveld, Staunton, Fowler, Redknapp, Hyypia, Heggem, Berger, Matteo, Camara, Carragher, Gerrard, Subs: Song, Meijer, Friedel, Thompson, Traore.
REFEREE: Steve Dunn, Bristol.
©Liverpool Daily Post & Echo 1999 | [email protected]
