Articles
Talk lfc match report
by Anthony Jones for Talklfc
First home game of the season. First opportunity to set the tone for those to come. On opening night, Liverpool fluffed their line but managed to ab lib their way to a result. They say the mark of potential chances is the ability to secure three points when the team plays poorly, time will tell though whether Liverpool also have the ability to play well.
Liverpool made one change to the team that faced Boro with Cisse coming in for Garcia who has started this season even more erratically than he played the last one. The hope was that Benitez would deploy Cisse as a central striker alongside Morientes, but the team again lined up with five across midfield. Benitez clearly favours this formation, though Red fans were not impressed with a team fielding just one striker against newly promoted opposition.
The game actually started in lively fashion as Liverpool could have taken the lead within minutes of the opening whistle. On the back foot, Sunderland conceded a free kick on their left flank midway inside the half. Steven Gerrard curled the ball in towards Morientes but the ball squirmed in between defenders and attackers and with Davis in goal stranded the ball bounced off the base of the post. The rebound flew quickly back into play but was deflected, unintentionally, for a corner. The resulting corner, again played in by Gerrard found Morientes unmarked charging towards goal but his header went just wide of the post.
Sunderland who had been comprehensively beaten in their previous game were keen to show Liverpool no respect. Without ever seriously testing Reina they remained a constant threat on the break. The midfield control that was so apparent against Boro never really materialised in this match despite good performances from Alonso and Sissoko. The next attack however owed nothing to the midfield as a lofted through-ball from Finnan was met by a well timed run from Bolo Zenden who's header from the edge of the box would have beaten Davis had it been on target.
Djibril Cisse did manage to find his away into the box to get on the end of a Zenden cross. The Dutch winger had seen his first effort to deliver the ball into the centre blocked but he hooked the rebound back into the six yard box. Cisse was poised and had a yard on his defender but he was aghast to see his proded shot curl away from goal. Despite creating a few clear cut chances, Liverpool were far from fluent.
Thankfully though, Xabi Alonso was on hand to deliver a moment of brilliance. A free kick was won just outside of the box in a central position. There has been a distinct lack of quality in the free kicks from Liverpool in recent seasons, with the preference for blasting the ball holding clear favour over the more thoughtful approach. Not this time though as Alonso curled the ball towards the keeper's top left corner. In truth, the keeper was slow to get across his line and will be disappointed that a shot that did not quite find the corner was allowed to sneak in. Alonso and Liverpool won't mind though.
A handball claim against Djibril Cisse whilst defending a corner was the closest Liverpool came to panic at the back. However, against better opposition the Liverpool left flank, Hyypia in particular, would have been shown up as he was consistently left looking desperate to catch up with a speedier defender. Benitez's belief that a central defender and right winger are his number one priority will not have changed today.
With the lead, Liverpool never quite looked totally convinced that they wanted to add further goals to it. Whilst Sissoko worked tirelessly in midfield offering admirable support at both ends of the table, there was little drive in the Liverpool game. Alonso once again looked a class act thought failed to take total control of the midfield area.
The second half added to the frustration of the home fans who were hoping for more after the victory in Istanbul. That win in the Champions League final was seen as a massive opportunity to push closer to the leading pack in the title race, but the feeling that an opportunity has been missed is starting to grow. It can quickly be put in it's place but Benitez and his players will need to play better than this. Chances did come, though they represented short bursts of energy rather than a concerted effort. Djibril Cisse played on when Sunderland thought he may have played the ball in to touch as Stubbs was down injured, but his shot was struck over the cross bar after an excellent first touch.
Luis Garcia who was introduced in place of the injured Gerrard danced past two players but then blasted the ball over the cross bar. It was the best bit of play from Garcia who was generally met with groans with every misplaced touch - there is a risk that Garcia might become the scapegoat if Liverpool's performances do not pick up. Djibril Cisse was then denied a goal as the linesman incorrectly flagged when the forward beat the offside to deflect the ball past Davis. Cisse also failed to get proper connection onto a cross from the left, a firmer touch would surely have seen him open his league account this season.
Baros and Riise were both introduced but neither was able to have any great impact. Riise spurned a great opportunity to deliver a ball into the box after a brilliant pass from Sissoko, but instead delayed before shooting and saw his effort blocked.
The real flash point of the second half involved Sunderland's Welsh who was sent off in mystifying fashion. Following a tangle with Garcia the linesman informed the referee that the player had carried out an act worthy of a red card. It was hard to see what exactly the player had done, a slight flick at Garcia was barely worth a lecture never mind a the punishment given. There was a suggestion that the player had verbally abused the linesman, though a red card seems harsh punishment for that.
Liverpool will be relieved that they have picked up three points, especially following an International week, but Benitez will know that the performance is well below what is expected by the fans.
First home game of the season. First opportunity to set the tone for those to come. On opening night, Liverpool fluffed their line but managed to ab lib their way to a result. They say the mark of potential chances is the ability to secure three points when the team plays poorly, time will tell though whether Liverpool also have the ability to play well.
Liverpool made one change to the team that faced Boro with Cisse coming in for Garcia who has started this season even more erratically than he played the last one. The hope was that Benitez would deploy Cisse as a central striker alongside Morientes, but the team again lined up with five across midfield. Benitez clearly favours this formation, though Red fans were not impressed with a team fielding just one striker against newly promoted opposition.
The game actually started in lively fashion as Liverpool could have taken the lead within minutes of the opening whistle. On the back foot, Sunderland conceded a free kick on their left flank midway inside the half. Steven Gerrard curled the ball in towards Morientes but the ball squirmed in between defenders and attackers and with Davis in goal stranded the ball bounced off the base of the post. The rebound flew quickly back into play but was deflected, unintentionally, for a corner. The resulting corner, again played in by Gerrard found Morientes unmarked charging towards goal but his header went just wide of the post.
Sunderland who had been comprehensively beaten in their previous game were keen to show Liverpool no respect. Without ever seriously testing Reina they remained a constant threat on the break. The midfield control that was so apparent against Boro never really materialised in this match despite good performances from Alonso and Sissoko. The next attack however owed nothing to the midfield as a lofted through-ball from Finnan was met by a well timed run from Bolo Zenden who's header from the edge of the box would have beaten Davis had it been on target.
Djibril Cisse did manage to find his away into the box to get on the end of a Zenden cross. The Dutch winger had seen his first effort to deliver the ball into the centre blocked but he hooked the rebound back into the six yard box. Cisse was poised and had a yard on his defender but he was aghast to see his proded shot curl away from goal. Despite creating a few clear cut chances, Liverpool were far from fluent.
Thankfully though, Xabi Alonso was on hand to deliver a moment of brilliance. A free kick was won just outside of the box in a central position. There has been a distinct lack of quality in the free kicks from Liverpool in recent seasons, with the preference for blasting the ball holding clear favour over the more thoughtful approach. Not this time though as Alonso curled the ball towards the keeper's top left corner. In truth, the keeper was slow to get across his line and will be disappointed that a shot that did not quite find the corner was allowed to sneak in. Alonso and Liverpool won't mind though.
A handball claim against Djibril Cisse whilst defending a corner was the closest Liverpool came to panic at the back. However, against better opposition the Liverpool left flank, Hyypia in particular, would have been shown up as he was consistently left looking desperate to catch up with a speedier defender. Benitez's belief that a central defender and right winger are his number one priority will not have changed today.
With the lead, Liverpool never quite looked totally convinced that they wanted to add further goals to it. Whilst Sissoko worked tirelessly in midfield offering admirable support at both ends of the table, there was little drive in the Liverpool game. Alonso once again looked a class act thought failed to take total control of the midfield area.
The second half added to the frustration of the home fans who were hoping for more after the victory in Istanbul. That win in the Champions League final was seen as a massive opportunity to push closer to the leading pack in the title race, but the feeling that an opportunity has been missed is starting to grow. It can quickly be put in it's place but Benitez and his players will need to play better than this. Chances did come, though they represented short bursts of energy rather than a concerted effort. Djibril Cisse played on when Sunderland thought he may have played the ball in to touch as Stubbs was down injured, but his shot was struck over the cross bar after an excellent first touch.
Luis Garcia who was introduced in place of the injured Gerrard danced past two players but then blasted the ball over the cross bar. It was the best bit of play from Garcia who was generally met with groans with every misplaced touch - there is a risk that Garcia might become the scapegoat if Liverpool's performances do not pick up. Djibril Cisse was then denied a goal as the linesman incorrectly flagged when the forward beat the offside to deflect the ball past Davis. Cisse also failed to get proper connection onto a cross from the left, a firmer touch would surely have seen him open his league account this season.
Baros and Riise were both introduced but neither was able to have any great impact. Riise spurned a great opportunity to deliver a ball into the box after a brilliant pass from Sissoko, but instead delayed before shooting and saw his effort blocked.
The real flash point of the second half involved Sunderland's Welsh who was sent off in mystifying fashion. Following a tangle with Garcia the linesman informed the referee that the player had carried out an act worthy of a red card. It was hard to see what exactly the player had done, a slight flick at Garcia was barely worth a lecture never mind a the punishment given. There was a suggestion that the player had verbally abused the linesman, though a red card seems harsh punishment for that.
Liverpool will be relieved that they have picked up three points, especially following an International week, but Benitez will know that the performance is well below what is expected by the fans.
