Hansen for Liverpool[CSKA MoscowVLiverpool](FM 2006)

[RabbleRouser]

20th August 2005 - Premiership



Line-ups



Hansen plays it safe for the first game of the season with 4-4-2 Aurelio, Wilhelmsson, Reina and Bellamy all make their Anfield Debuts. Altintop makes bench. Crouch suspended. Sunderland go for the same tactic as Liverpool. Jon Stead should give Liverpool a few problems.

Match Report

The game started quietly but after 13 minutes Wilhelmsson played in Cisse out wide. His cross went straight along the floor but Craig Bellamy got infront of the defender and forced a fine save from Kelvin Davis but Nosworthy clearence went straight to Riise who hit it on the volley and lobbed the keeper. A spectacular way to open the season! 1-0! After this Liverpool were in complete control Just over 15 minutes later Ciise pounced on the rebound of a Craig Bellamy shot and tapped it in to double the advantage. Liverpool are dominating at half time and see no reason to change things. 5 minutes afrter the restart Liverpool win a corner which is cleared at the near post only as far as Gerrard who strikes it left footed and beats the keeper. But theres a man on the line who keeps it out! Keeper had no chance!. An hour played and theres a double substitution for the Reds, Altintop and Garcia on for Bellamy and Cisse. Altintop almost makes an immediate impact when he rises above his marker to get his head to a Aurelio cross but could only find the woodwork. Late on Sunderland came close but Jon Stead blazed over from outside the box. Easy win for Liverpool.

Highlight of the Match

John Arne Riise Goal - 14 mins


Final Result and Player Ratings

 

[m_vaughan]

Nice looking goal that from Riise. Trademark him really.

And overall an easy win for Liverpool, dominating for most parts. The Spaniard, Xabi Alonso proving why he is one of the best in the world.

 

[Bala]

Was more keen on the derby game really! I knew Black Cats have been promoted only to get relegated. Good win though!!

 

[RabbleRouser]

Match Day 2 - 23rd August

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Line-ups

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Portsmouth go for an adventurous christmas tree formation. Gerrard and Alonso will have a lot to do. Sander Westerveld starts against his old club. Cisse misses the match with a thigh injury, Crouch still suspended, so Halil Altintop makes his first Premiership start.

Match Report

Liverpool get off to a flyer and it takes them just 10 minutes to break the deadlock, John Arne Riise heading home a deep cross from Christian Wilhelmsson. Great start. Portsmouth then lost control and in a 15 minute passage of play Bellamy, Altintop, Alonso and Wilhelmsson all come close to scoring. It took untill the 42nd minute until the next goal came. Stephen Warnock hit a long ball into the path of Altintop who delightfully lobbed it over the advancing Sander Westerveld.. Liverpool go into half time dominating at 2-0. The second half was much the same as the first: Bellamy and Altintop both had shots saved but Gerrard came the closest when his header went into the side netting. Both sides made changes and it was a Liverpool one which scored the final goal, Luis Garcia curling one in from just outside the area wtih around 15 minutes left to play. 3-0, A stroll in the park for Liverpool, Portsmouth only had one noteable shot all match.

Highlight of the Match

Halil Altintop Goal - 42 minutes

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Debut Goal for Altintop
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Final Result and Player Ratings

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[Bala]

What is the problem with Riise? He is scoring in every other match!

Good presentation RR!

 

[RabbleRouser]

What is the problem with Riise? He is scoring in every other match!

I'm surprised too! He's usually one of the people I look to sell, I just hope he can keep it up.

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European Super Cup

Line ups

CSKA Moscow opt for an attacking 3-4-1-2 formation with the hope of scoring some early goals. Carvalho should cause Liverpool some real problems in the hole behind the 2 strikers. Hansen keeps faith with the 4-4-2 formation which has worked well so far. Ciise recovers from injury but can only make the bench, along with Altintop and Wilhelmsson despite playing well in the last match.Gerrard and Alonso start in the middle again.

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First Half Report

Liverpool kick off the Super Cup and have an early opportunity when Luis Garcia whips across the face of goal and finds the head of Crouch but his header flicks the outside of the post and goes out of play. 10 minutes later Aurelio intercepted a long ball which he played down the line to Riise who hit a beautiful long ball through to Craig Bellamy. Cooly and calmly Bellamy slotted it past the Keeper to put Liverpool 1-0 up. This seemed to shock CSKA into action, Vagner Love coming close just minutes laster. On the 15 minute mark a poor clearence from Alonso gifted the ball to Carvalho; he played in Vagner Lover who made it 1-1. After this it all kicked off with challenges flying in left right and centre. Just 2 minutes after the goal Dudu Cearense was adjudged to have handeld the ball and, after an earlier yellow card, was sent off. Moscow players surrouned the referee in protest to the disgust of the Liverpool manager and players. There was no melee but the match was really hotting up. From the 20th to the 40th minute there were 14 fouls and 4 yellow cards. A minute before the break Vagner Love was through on goal but Jamie Carragher brought down the Brazillian forward. He recieved a straight red card as the referee signalled he was the last man. 10 men each now. The freekick was easily claimed by Reina who smashed it up the park and found Craig Bellamy one-on-one on the edge of the box. Berezutskiy flew in and brought him down. Penalty to Liverpool in the last minute of the half! And it's another red card! Moscow down to 9 men! Bellamy took the penaly he won and powered it into the roof of the net. 2-1 Liverpool at half time, and what a half it was! 3 goals, 3 red cards and 17 fouls!

Half time changes

With Carragher off and 3 players on a yellow card Hansen plays it safe and makes a complete overhaul of the formation, going for a 3-4-1-1. Luis Garcia the only player with a yellow card still on for the reds.

Second Half report

The second half started quietly, both sides looking very tentative, not wanting any more red cards. It took 13 minutes of the second half before Luis Garcia latched on to a cross from substitute Warnock and headed it home to make it 3-1, a big relief to the Liverpool faithful. Another quiet period of play followed. Just after the hour mark Aurelio attacked down the left flank and found Dietmar Hamman on the edge of the box who curled home a delightful left-footed shot to make it 4-1. Liverpool have 1 hand on the cup. CSKA decided to play for pride but some outstanding shot stopping from Pepe Reina kept them at bay. In the 90th minute Krasic crossed the ball and found the head of Gusev just 2 yards out but Reina stuck out his hand (a bit like Dudek's stop against Shevchenko in the CL final) to deny the Russians a consolation. And exciting match finished 4-1, Liverpool crowned Super Cup champions for the 3rd time and Alan Hansen wins his first cup as a manager to add to the many he won as a player.

The Turning Point

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Bellamy's penalty before half-time gave Liverpool the lead at a crucial time
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Result & Player ratings

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Jamie Carragher lifts the cup despite his red card earlier.
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Coming up -

The fallout from the win.
Transfer news in the final week before the deadline
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[Bala]

The Carvalho - Love combination has been lethal for CSKA. Its just the calm before storm as these two could explode in Europe. Good demolition job though!

 

[RabbleRouser]

Steven Gerrard Talks to the media after Liverpools Super Cup win
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Reporter: Steven, there were 3 red cards in the first half. Did you think the referee was too hasty in showing these cards and in the process make the game more heated?

SG: The first one, the referee had no option, he was on a yellow and he handballed it, it could only be a second yellow. As for Jaimie's, it was too close to call, Sami was about 4 or 5 yards away from them so it's tough to say he was the last man, though I don't think Love's ameteur dramatics helped things. The last one was definateky a straight red. Craig was through and Berezutskiy definately took him. It was touch-and-go whether it was a penalty or not, it was right on the edge of the box.

Reporter: Did the cards affect how you approached the second half?

SG: Most definately. The first thing the manager said to us was don't go in for any stupid tackles, otherwise we risked losing the match. We had to change our shap but I think the boys did well in adjusting to that.

Reporter: Craig Bellamy scored twice today and is looking very dangerous, what does he bring to your attack?

SG: Pace, aggression and he's a natural goalscorer, everytime he's played, no matter who with, he's linked up well and looked like scoring. Once Robbie is fit again I expect they'll be able to play well together too.

Reporter: Finally Steven, you've been playing football since the 13th of July and if England qualify for the world cup, you might not finish playing until this time next year, do you think you are fit enough to go the distance?

SG: It will be a long season but i'm in the best shape of my life. I'm under no illusion that i'll play every minute of every game of the season so I don't think it should be too different to any other season. We also have an extra 4 week break before the World Cup starts to recover, so i'll think i'll be fine.

In Other News

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Marseille have signed Liverpools central midfielder Momo Sissoko for ?2.7 million after he was deemed 'surplus to requirements' at Anfield.

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Also, Arsenal are reported to be closing in on Fenebache's Turkish forward Sanli Tuncay for a reported ?7 million as Arsene Wenger looks to strenghten his squad to compete with Chelsea.
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