Liverpool saw off a spirited Hull City side to claim a fourth win in 4 matches and keep their winning streak going on thanks to Martin Skrtel's towering header.
Skrtel met Steven Gerrard's corner and forced the ball home at the near post for his first Liverpool goal since arriving at the club in 2008. But it was the Tigers who had the best chances after the opening quarter. Reds keeper Pepe Reina made a superb stop to keep out Jimmy Bullard's curling free-kick and Jozy Altidore missed a glorious close-range header.
Hull will consider themselves very unlucky after a battling display which saw them force Liverpool on to the back foot for much of the second period. But their impressive second-half showing looked unlikely as Jose Mourinho's side took control early on.
After a decent spell of pressure, the visitors took the lead when Skrtel headed home Gerrard's vicious inswinging corner. The Reds center back escaped the attentions of marker Altidore to meet the ball at full tilt at the near post, and power it past Boaz Myhill.
Amazingly, it was the center back's first goal for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield in January 2008 and was no more than the visitors deserved for their early dominance. The lively Dirk Kuyt and excellent Ryan Babel were both enjoying plenty of freedom out wide as the Reds forced five corners in the opening 15 minutes.
Kuyt twice almost got in on goal while a superb last-ditch block tackle by Bernard Mendy denied the Dutch his first goal for the season. And a wonderful one-two between Fabio Aurelio and Gerrard almost saw the former tee up Ryan Babel to slide in a second.
But Hull City, prompted by the impressive if slightly rotund Jimmy Bullard in midfield, started to settle. Craig Fagan's pace was posing plenty of problems and Altidore was a constant menace in the air.
Kilbane blazed over after good work by Bullard and the Englishman almost leveled the scores with a sweet 25-yard free-kick just before the half-hour mark but was denied by a superb Reina save.
Fagan also had a header comfortably saved by the Spaniard and the pair clashed again soon after when Reina reacted furiously after Fagan flicked out a leg and connected with the keeper as he slid in to collect a through-ball.
At the other end, Myhill made a fine save from Gerrard after an intricate passing move and the frenetic pace continued after the break with Hull on top. Carragher made a mess of a clearance but Bullard badly sliced his attempted follow-up.
Reina then palmed Dean Marney's long-range effort away for a corner and from the resulting set-piece Michael Turner outmuscled Skrtel but his header went wide. Ignacio Camacho almost deflected Ian Ashbee's near-post cross past Reina but the home side's best chances fell to Altidore.
Substitute Caleb Folan was allowed time on the left and his flighted cross found the big striker but Altidore wastefully headed the ball straight at Reina from six yards. And in the final five minutes another Folan cross saw Altidore head over while Marney dragged an injury-time effort narrowly wide.
Hull City manager Phil Brown: "I thought it was real top quality performance, the effort and intensity of our play was excellent and we created chances. Against a top quality team we were outstanding. I could not have asked any more from the players. It's not often that you are applauded off after a defeat but the players were very, very good and gave everything."
Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "It was very difficult. They fought for their lives and fought for every ball. They pressed well and played good. The first 30 minutes we played very well and dominated the game and could have scored more. After that it was not so easy and it became a battle but we defended well and we won. They are a good team and will take a lot of points here."
Group Stage - 15 September 2009 20:15 GMT - Stadio Olimpico di Torino - Turin - Italy
Torres hits back for Liverpool
Fernando Torres celebrates his equaliser
Juventus FC and Liverpool FC shared the spoils in Turin after their closely contested Group C opener at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino ended in a 1-1 draw.
It was a tale of the two strikers: Juventus' Brazilian striker Amauri put Juventus ahead eleven minutes into the second half before Fernando Torres levelled matters with an equally slick finish with 14 minutes remaining. There was an enegretic atmosphere in the full stadium in Turin. The home supporters of Juventus did their utmost to rally behind their team.
And it was the hosts who almost went ahead after five minutes when skipper Alessandro Del Piero side-footed over from close range after a great run and cross by Mauro Camoranesi. There was danger at the other when Liverpool won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area but Steven Gerrard's curling effort was tipped away by Gianluigi Buffon. Diego's trickery and athleticism was causing problems for Liverpool and on 14 minutes a neat dribble took him past two defenders on the edge of the area, but his deflected shot fell kindly for Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.
Neither goalkeeper was extended in a tentative opening 45 minutes. The visitors' best chance came just after the half-hour and only a last-ditch tackle by Fabio Cannavaro blocked Alexis Sanchez's goalbound shot as the Juventus back-line were caught napping. The hosts finished the half strongly, however, as Amauri broke clear down the right channel and drew an excellent save from Reina at his near post.
A strong start to the second half from Juventus saw defender Nicola Legrottagile's point-blank header saved by Reina six minutes in, before the hosts broke the deadlock in the 56th minute. A slick passing move involving Felipe Melo and Del Piero sprung the Liverpool offside trap and sent Amauri galloping through on goal. The Bazilian forward neatly rounded Reina before slotting in a right-footed shot. With Juventus on the backfoot, Amauri won two corners in the space on a minute just after the hour mark, before Melo fired a long-range effort just over. Aside from a couple of dangerous crosses, Liverpool struggled to create openings at the other end.
Jose Mourinho sent on Ryan Babel with 20 minutes remaining in an attempt to give his side more attacking impetus and the striker unsettled Juventus with his direct running. But it was a lapse in concentration that cost the hosts dear on 76 minutes. There looked little danger when Kuyt prodded a ball down the left, but Steven Gerrard failed to reach it and the ball fell to Torres, who beat Buffon with a low shot. Kuyt was denied brilliantly by Buffon with four minutes left as Liverpool ended the match strongly.
Juventus have a strong squad this season. Cannavaro, Caceres, Melo and Diego have made what was a good team, a very very good one. So I would say that a 1-1 result in Turin is a great result to come back home with.
Liverpool overcame Wolves' resilience to take the top spot in the Premier League table as leaders Chelsea play at Bolton on Sunday.
Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool ahead slotting home after Fernando Torres' shot was only parried. Steven Gerrard made it 2-0 from a Fabio Aurelio free-kick before Glen Johnson teed up the English midfielder for a third. Ryan Babel and Kuyt hit the woodwork before Kenny Miller bundled home a late reply for Wolves but Fernando Torres' penalty sealed a fine Liverpool victory.
It has been a poor season on the road so far for Wolves but boss Mick McCarthy can at least take encouragement from Miller's strike, even if the striker seemed to know little about it. It was Wolves' fourth goal of the season and their first away from home this season. It was also Miller's first of the season for good measure.
For more positive signs, McCarthy can also point to the way his side adapted well to the treacherous conditions at Anfield and, although they failed to create any clear-cut openings, kept Liverpool quiet early on.
When Liverpool did attack they found the visitors in determined mood. The Wolves' attitude was exemplified by a brilliant Richard Stearman tackle which denied Ryan Babel as he shaped to convert Dirk Kuyt's cross.
But Wolves' lack of a serious attacking threat was always going to limit their hopes of upsetting Jose Mourinho's team. And Liverpool's midfield, which included Alberto Aquilani as a late replacement after Yossi Benayoun was injured in the warm-up, gradually took a grip on the game.
Jose Mourinho's men still had to wait until the 41st minute to take the lead through Kuyt's opportunistic strike but they quickly had the game sewn up. After Babel had hit the post with a cheeky chip, Gerrard added a second goal - firing home at the second attempt when Fabio Aurelio's free-kick was not properly cleared.
Wolves did not give up and Nenand Milijas' shot gave Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina problems before Danny Pugh tried his luck with an acrobatic effort from the resulting corner. Liverpool were still looking dangerous though, and Kuyt hit the post with a volley from Glen Johnson's cross before Gerrard made it 3-0 with a powerful finish.
Miller got on the end of Ronald Zubar's cross to pull a goal back for the Wolves but it was Liverpool who had the last word. Torres, tumbled in the area under challenge from Zubar and got up to convert the spot-kick for his 3rd goal of the season.
Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "It was a big win. Things can happen in these conditions, they didn't suit us. Steven Gerrard is looking in good form this season and that's very good for the team as he is the heart of our team. Steven could have completed his hatrick with the penalty but we also need Fernando to score goals which will raise his confidence and so Steven decided to give it to him."
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: "We did well in the first 25 minutes and kept them quiet. But the disappointing thing was that we gifted Liverpool too many goals. We are not going to win any matches like that. We have to get better but I will take the positives and at least we scored a goal and showed a bit of courage and conviction in the second half."
Fernando Torres struck in extra time to end Stoke's brave challenge and send Liverpool into the last sixteen of the Carling Cup at Britannia Stadium.
Tony Pulis' Premier League side tested Liverpool, with Carl Dickinson twice coming close from long-range. Liverpool improved and came close several times before substitute Torres turned in Steven Gerarrd's corner at the far post after 101 minutes. Martin Skrtel cleared off the line from Dean Whitehead as Stoke pressed. Liverpool survived several uncomfortable moments before reaching the fourth round of this competition.
The visitors made seven changes from the side that won at Anfield against Wolves on Saturday - and it showed in a disjointed first 45 minutes in which Stoke were the better team.
Dickinson was the main danger to Liverpool, blasting just wide from 25 yards, and he was then off target again with another long-range effort. But Stoke suffered a blow after only 19 minutes when former Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao limped off to be replaced by Michael Tonge.
Liverpool's pacy young striker Alexis Sanchez had been kept under control, but he escaped his marker Andy Wilkinson in first-half stoppage time and it needed a swift intervention from Abdoulaye Faye to clear away from Albert Riera.
Jose Mourinho's side turned up the heat after the break, with Dirk Kuyt forcing two fine saves from Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen. Steven Gerrard fired a free-kick narrowly wide and central defender Skrtel, who had an outstanding game, shot just inches wide.
Whitehead then scrambled Alexis Sanchez's header off the line as Stoke came under pressure. But Stoke showed great strength of character and were able to turn up the heat on Liverpool as time ran out.
Liverpool sent on Degen for his first appearance of the season, and he almost made an instant impact but headed just wide from eight yards. Benayoun made his entrance three minutes into extra-time, and he played a key role as Liverpool finally broke the deadlock after 101 minutes.
The Israli won the corner and Steven Gerrard's well taken corner found its way through to Fernando Torres at the far post, and he stretched to turn the ball high past keeper Sorensen.
Stoke were acquitting themselves very well, and Skrtel rescued Liverpool with a goal-line clearance from Whitehead with only eight minutes left. Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri then saved his side in the dying moments with a fine plunging save from Kitson when he looked poised to equalise.
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis: "It was a fantastic performance from start to finish and it's credit to the players. You couldn't tell who had the money and who didn't out there. Jose Mourinho has had to throw his big guns on because I think he thought it was slipping away, and Fernando Torres has popped up and won it for him."
Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "Fernando Torres' got a fantastic knack of being in the right place at the right time. When the ball finds him in those places he's composed enough to find the net and he's very important for us. In the first half we were very disappointed with our performance but we got the result."
Jose Mourinho will face his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as Liverpool are drawn against the Blues in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
Carling Cup holders Manchester United will face Roberto Martinez's Wigan Athletic at the JJB, while Bristol City will entertain Arsene Wenger's young Arsenal side. Last season's losing finalist Tottenham Hotspur face some tough challenge in Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok, as Aston Villa play Everton at the Villa Park.
Fulham will face championship side West Brom Albion at Craven Cottage, while huge spenders Manchester City entertain Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough at Eastlands and Roy Keane's Ipswich will face Phil Brown's Hull City.
The ties will be played in the week commencing 9 November.
____________________________________________________
Fulham v West Brom
Bristol City v Arsenal
Bolton v Tottenham
Wigan v Man Utd
Chelsea v Liverpool
Aston Villa v Everton
Ipswich v Hull
Man City v Middlesbrough
When I first read the line, 'Liverpool were indebted' in your other update, I actually thought it said 'Liverpool were inbred' and started think too right! Then I looked back at it again and saw my mistake
Liverpool brushed aside Burnley at Turf Moor to move six points clear of second place Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.
Skipper Steven Gerrard was in brilliant form, shooting home from a corner before striking a sensational free-kick. Burnley, who have lost their all five league games this season, might have equalised but Pepe Reina denied Steven Fletcher. Reina also denied Steve Caldwell and Chris Eagles while Riera and Gerrard almost extended Liverpool's lead.
It was Liverpool who kicked off early, while second placed Chelsea are to play third placed Manchester United later today at Stamford Bridge. And Jose Mourinho's team took the advantage of going six points clear at the top.
Burnley boss Owen Coyle, without injured on loan defender Russell Anderson, might have been discouraged when he saw the Liverpool team sheet. Mourinho had made five changes to the side that beat Stoke in Carling Cup with Torres, Aquilani, Reina, Carragher, Mascherano all coming back in the starting eleven.
But any hope Burnley had of a positive result dissolved when Gerrard struck after nine minutes. Poor control from Graham Alexander gifted possession to Liverpool and within seconds Fernando Torres appeared to be clean through after controlling a cross from Albert Riera with his chest.
It was a slightly heavy touch from the Spaniard, allowing Steve Caldwell to make a decent covering tackle, but after Burnley failed to clear the subsequent corner Gerrard struck the ball into the floor and up into the opposition goal.
Burnely had set out with five across midfield - and a plan to frustrate their superior opponents, but within 22 minutes that hope lay in tatters. A disappointing evening for Alexander, which ended when he was withdrawn at the break, continued when his foul on Gerrard was punished in brilliant fashion by the England international.
His strike from a central position 20 yards from goal curled at the last moment, leaving Diego Penny helpless. It was Gerrard's 6th Premier League goal of the season - taking him two clear of Andy Johnson at the top of the scoring table.
The match might have been different had Fletcher managed to convert an excellent cross from Tyrone Mears with the score at 1-0 but his cushioned volley was well saved.
Martin Skrtel, Riera and Torres all threatened before the break as Liverpool looked to increase the lead. And Riera came close to a third seconds after the restart, only an excellent low save by Penny stopping his free-kick.
To their credit, Burnley refused to be cowed and enjoyed an excellent period of play. Reina made an excellent save to tip over a long-range strike from Steve Caldwell and the Liverpool keeper followed that with a low dive to thwart Chris Eagles.
Kevin McDonald had the ball in the net from a free-kick but the goal was ruled out as the referee had not blown for him to take it. Liverpool continued to pose a goal threat and Penny did well to prevent Gerrard completing his hat-trick.
Bu the last good chance fell to Burnley's Joeg Gudjonsson with four minutes remaining. The ball dropped invitingly six yards from goal but his contact was poor and Reina saved.
Burnley manager Owen Coyle: "We caused our own downfall in the first half with two set pieces. We were sloppy on the first one and one or two things happened to cause us to lose that goal. Any team in the Premiership when a goal down you have to open up and cause yourself problems. The second goal from Gerrard was a genius and it was a fantastic strike. We have made a poor start to the season and we have lots of things to do know."
Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "I think we played really well, but we relaxed a bit after scoring two early goals which we shouldn't do. Steven Gerrard is in form of his career scoring 6 goals in 6 games this season. He is very important to us and this record shows. The second goal was just a genius freekick and I am very happy we are at the top at this moment."
Liverpool duo Jose Mourinho and Steven Gerrard have scooped the Premier League's Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards for September.
Liverpool manager Mourinho has been named the top flight's best boss in the past month after guiding the Reds to three wins out of three. The Anfield outfit just conceded a single goal in victories against Hull City, Wolves, and Burnley to allow Mourinho to collect his second consecutive and 5th Manager of the Month award.
Meanwhile, Gerrard has impressed as Liverpool continue in their attempts to win their first Premier League crown to lead to the midfielder being named the Player of the Month.
The English midfielder, scored twice against Wolves in the 4-1 win at Anfield. Gerrard then went on to net twice against Burnley in 2-0 win at Turf Moor which send Liverpool three points clear at the top ahead of Chelsea.
The 28-year-old, who previously received the accolade in March 2001, March 2003, December 2004, April 2005 and March 2008 is currently the league's leading goalscorer after firing 6 goals this season.
Group Stage - 01 October 2009 20:15 GMT - Anfield - Liverpool - England
Slick Liverpool win first game
Fernando Torres sealed the game with his strike
Liverpool FC won their first game in the Champions League this season after edging an exhilarating Group C encounter at home to Bayer Leverkusen thanks to goals from Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres.
Having come back from a goal down to earn a draw at Turin against Juventus in their opening fixture, the English side were expecting an easier test at Anfield but it didn't happen that way. Alexis Sanchez, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard worked to great effect but could not find a breakthrough. Instead it was Carragher, a ninth-minute replacement for the injured Daniel Agger, who fired in ten minutes after half-time when Rene Adler could only parry a Aquilani header into his path following a corner. The centre-back did not celebrate for long, however, as he limped off midway through the second period, before Torres made it 2-0.
The only surprise in the end was that there were only two goals. The standard was set after just five minutes when Aquilani rattled the upright, applying a sweet strike to Alexis Sanchez's intelligent pass. It was the first of a breathtaking 22 first-half shots and many of the initial ones came from Liverpool as their attacking trio clicked; second guessing every run and finding one another with unerring accuracy.
Fernando Torres was twice denied by the excellent Adler after being sent clear first by Alexis Sanchez then by Gerrard, yet better was to come for the home fans and the neutrals as midway through the half the three amigos almost fashioned a memorable goal. Gerrard won possession and flicked the ball to Alexis Sanchez who scooped it over a back line and into the path of Fernando Torres. The Spaniard hit it on the volley, but Adler again came to the away team's rescue.
A goal appeared to be only a matter of time – though it could easily have come for the Bundesliga side. On 36 minutes the lively Bernd Schneider advanced down the right and delivered a brilliant deep cross to the head of Patrick Helmes. The German met it with a powerful effort that Pepe Reina tipped on to the bar before clawing away the rebound as Martin Skrtel and Carragher struggled to deal with his presence. It released the shackles and Bayer Leverkusen should have gone in for half-time 1-0 up: Helmes supplied a low cross to Toni Kroos at the far post, yet with the goal at his mercy the midfielder contrived to pop the ball up to Reina.
Kroos held his head in his hands, and how he must have wished he could do the same when Carragher broke the deadlock after the restart. Leverkusen fought back, their hopes raised when Carragher limped off on 66 minutes to be replaced by Fabio Aurelio as Dossena moved into central defence. Three minutes later Torres doubled the advantage, squeezing the ball between Adler and Gonzalo Castro following Alexis Sanchez's selfless cut-back. From then on, it was not a case of whether Liverpool would win but by how many and only a last-gasp clearance from Karim Haggui, which frustrated Torres, kept the scoreline down to two. Leverkusen, who had drew against Fenerbahce FC on Matchday 1, now face a big task to go through.
Chelsea-Liverpool games don't need any kind of hype, but Super Sunday promises to be a great humdinger as Jose Mourinho faces his old club at Stamford Bridge.
Form Guide
We have to admit Chelsea are looking good. A 3-1 opening day victory to Wolves followed by a scrapy 1-0 with to Burnley. Then two 3-1 wins over Sunderland and Birmingham before losing 1-2 to Bolton at the Reebok and then beating the champions Manchester United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. In Europe, Carlo Ancelotti's team hammered Porto and Club Brugge 4-1 and 3-0 respectively.
Liverpool meanwhile have got to a 100% winning start to the season with wins over Man City(2-0), Tottenham(2-0), Everton(2-1), Hull(1-0), Wolves(4-1) and Burnley(2-0) in the Premier League, while in Europe, Liverpool started with a 1-1 draw at Juventus followed by a 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield.
Team News
Jamie Carragher(knee) and Daniel Agger(ankle) are racing to be fit for this clash as they were substituted during the 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Wednesday night. Fabio Aurelio has return to full fitness from his hamstring injury and may start after making a substitute appearance on Wednesday.
For the hosts, Juliano Belletti has been ruled out from the due to a twisted ankle while strong defender Alex is suffering from a pulled hamstring injury and is doubtful for the clash.
Star Man
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is on form scoring 6 goals in 6 Premier League appearances this season. Fernando Torres looks to be getting his form back after scoring 3 goals in last 4 matches in all competitions.
For the host, the midfield duo of Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard look in great form as they have scored a total of 11 goals between the two in all competitions.
Rivals Watch
Manchester United gain the second position as they beat Sunderland 3-0 at the Stadium of Light and Arsenal fail to win against Bolton and drew 1-1 at the Reebok on Saturday.
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