Group Stage - 3 November 2009 20:15 GMT - Anfield - Liverpool - England
Fenerbahce succumb to Kuyt show
Gerrard celebrates after opening the scoring
Liverpool FC established themselves as favourites to win UEFA Champions League Group C with a 2-0 victory against Fenerbahce SK which was sealed by a five-star performance from Dirk Kuyt.
Dirk Kuyt had a creative hand in the Reds' two first-half goals, scored by Steven Gerrard and Alexis Sanchez, and supplied immense creativity throughout. Only a night to remember from Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel kept the scoreline to a minimum in the encounter.
Jose Mourinho had asked his players to impose themselves with crisp play and, ideally, to score early. The Portuguese wanted Liverpool to prevent the opposition from breaking up their rhythm. His wish was granted when Gerrard struck his 11th goal after only seven minutes.
Kuyt caused the initial danger by wriggling free on the right wing. His cross was met by the diminutive Alexis Sanchez whose header back across goal beat goalkeeper Volkan, rebounded back off the far post, and was touched in by Gerrard as the Englishman slid in with defender Diego Lugano. From that moment Liverpool's play became as incisive and high-tempo as at any time this season, though the visitors refused to wither.
In England, Turkish sides have a reputation for resorting to direct football but Fenerbahce's response to going one down flew in the face of such stereotyping. Alex, Gokhan Gonul and Emre all managed possession of the ball with economy and Fenerbahce weathered the storm. Nonetheless, there were moments of menace. An electrifying and mazy run from Alexis Sanchez was thwarted by Edu Dracena, only for Javier Mascherano to take the loose ball in his stride and shave Fenerbahce's left-hand post with a curling shot.
Fenerbahce's 4-1-4-1 formation, built to withstand attrition but maintain parity, made it difficult to seek the equaliser. Alex increasingly pushed forward to accompany Daniel Guiza up front, yet the next score always seemed likely to come from the irresistible hosts. Kuyt took charge, first drawing a top-class save from Volkan just before the half-hour, then helping his team to double their lead. Half-time loomed when the Dutch jinked from left to right, played a wall-pass with Alexis Sanchez and shot hard at goal. Volkan saved again but the Chilean gobbled up the rebound and made it 2-0.
Liverpool offered no respite in the second half and peppered Volkan's goal. The overlapping Glen Johnson's right-wing cut-back found Alberto Aquilani on the edge of the area yet his strike flew wide. Then the same midfielder threaded a pass through a wall of defenders for Alexis Sanchez to slip the ball between Dracena's feet and shoot against the excellent Volkan's outstretched legs.
Dirk Kuyt's man-of-the-match display would end without the goal it merited, but when he was withdrawn to give 17-year-old Davide Santon more UEFA Champions League experience, it was to a standing ovation. Fenerbahce substitute Colin Kazim Richards registered their only meaningful shot on target just before full time, as Luis Aragones' men departed to warm applause from their fans yet with no points to show for their efforts.
Liverpool summer signing Glen Johnson smash an injury-time winner as Liverpool came from behind to maintain there unbeaten start this season at the Stadium of Light.
Black Cats had taken the lead on 51 minutes when Barry Robson scored from the penalty spot after Mark Wilson had been brought down inside the area. Blackburn equalised on 62 minutes through Jamie Carragher's deflected 18-yard shot off Paulo da Silva. And the visitors secured the three points with Johnson's last-minute strike.
Sunderland lied in the relegation zone prior to the start and will be staying there after the match as they fail to defend their lead. The former Manchester United player Steve Bruce will have plenty of work to do if he is to tighten the joint worst defence in the Premier League and lift the Black Cats out of the bottom three.
Liverpool had goalkeeper Pepe Reina to thank for a string of saves which continually frustrated the home side's best attacking moves. Black Cats made three changes from the last weekend, Bardsley coming in as the right back with Mark Wilson taking Antony Stokes' place in right midfield and Paulo da Silva replacing the injured Anton Ferdinand in center defence.
Liverpool boss Jose Mourinho made just two changes from the side that drew against Arsenal last weekend at Anfield, with Alberto Aquilani and Albert Riera coming in for Javier Mascherano and Alexis Sanchez respectively and it was the visitors who had the first genuine attempt at goal on nine minutes.
Dirk Kuyt cut inside on the edge of the box to leave left-back George McCartney stranded, but, after doing the hard work, the Dutchman's shot sailed harmlessly past Craig Gordon's right-hand post. Black Cats attempted to adopt an expansive passing game to exploit Wilson's pace on the right wing, but were continually closed down in midfield by Liverpool, with Ignacio Camacho proving particularly effective.
The best opportunity of the first half fell to Wilson, who latched on precise defence-splitting pass from Lorik Cana on 19 minutes, but the Scotland international could not slot the ball past the on-rushing Reina. The keeper was once again in the thick of it a minute later, this time palming away Bent's free header for another corner.
Liverpool suffered a blow just before the interval when a hamstring injury ended Camacho's contribution to the game, with Mourinho bringing on Javier Mascherano for the Spain Under-21 international.
With manager Steve Bruce's half-time team talk ringing in their ears, Back Cats took the lead when Wilson shifted a gear to burn past full-back Fabio Aurelio, who brought down the winger inside the box. Referee Andre Marriner immediately pointed to the spot and despite the protestations of the Liverpool players, up stepped Robson to fire past Reina on 52 minutes.
The goal reinforced Black Cats' attacking ambition - intuitive interplay on 58 minutes between Bent and Leadbitter on the edge of the box put through McCartney, who was denied by another excellent stop from Reina.
However, Liverpool's persistence was rewarded two minutes later when center-back Jamie Carragher moved forward and created an extra yard of space on the edge of the box and his shot deflected off Paulo da Silva's toes, enabling the ball to loop agonisingly over the despairing Craig Gordon.
Despite the setback Black Cats continued to push forward and create chances - Reina once again kept the visitors in the game when he tipped over Bent's header on 66 minutes. Bruce continued to push for the winner, replacing Darren Bent with Kenwyne Jones and bringing on Kieron Richardson for Kevin Thomson, but neither man could make the decisive contribution.
But it was Liverpool's new summer signing and right-back Johnson who had the final say - smashing home Fernando Torres's pass from the edge of the box in the last minute of the match.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce: "We're frustrated that we conceded so late in the game, but I am delighted with the response of the players. I thought we took the initiative in the second half but it's not the result we wanted. It's a bad result but I didn't think it was a poor performance. There was confidence about the way we played, we created opportunities to score, which was promising."
Liverpool boss Jose Mourinho: "It was a difficult game the way Sunderland played today. Its a difficult place to come and take three points away and I am very happy we did it. I would have been happy with the draw and then Glen Johnson comes up with a fantastic strike. We needed something out of this game and I'm delighted to get three points as we have some tough games coming up."
Okay I think you took it a bit too seriously with my "players other than Gerrard and Torres should contribute more" comment. I mean, both goals came from defenders. Johnson's strike seems like an absolute cracker though.
This has been a great story so far shantanu_rooney, Keep It Up, Liverpool ahve performed really well under Jose Mourinho and if they continue to get the result against the rest of the teams except the big four then that will be enough to win you the title. But you will need atleast one victory against teh big four in the remaining three matches.
Gerrard and Torres are great in the game also and without them Liverpool can't score and its quite similiar to real life. Anyways will be following this one keep it up
Chelsea handed their former coach Jose Mourinho his first defeat as Liverpool manager and at Stamford Bridge as the Blues progress to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup with a 2-0 win.
Goals from Didier Drogba and John Terry settled what was an entertaining encounter at the Stamford Bridge in front of a 41,716 spectators on a cold Wednesday night.
Dirk Kuyt was steered away from goal by Ricardo Carvalho in the early stages and the resulting corner caused some alarm to Petr Cehc, while the same player later found himself through clear to the right of the area and shot into the side netting.
Frank Lampard was beginning to terrorise though, with the class of Drogba telling and the running of Anelka stretching. Ancelotti remained a calm, yet expressive figure on the touchline and even Ray Wilkins was managing to stay seated.
With 17 minutes gone, the Anelka-Drogba combo delivered again, with the Frenchman applying a helping header to a Cech clearance that enabled Drogba to steal in front of his marker and dink the ball over the advancing Pepe Reina and into the net.
The pressure was cranked up, but it stayed a single goal advantage at the break as Liverpool withstood a mini onslaught. The Reds nearly hit back straight after the interval when a cross from Johnson was attacked with venom at the far post by the head of Steven Gerrard. His bullet header rocked the crossbar but the Reds began to really believe in themselves.
However, it should have been two when a Carvalho interchange with Anelka unlocked a path to goal for Drogba. Again he went for the dink, but this time it bounced just wide. Cech then made a brilliant reaction save to deny Gerrard a leveller when the midfielder connected with a cross from Johnson. It was Cech at his best.
Carvalho made way for Alex ten minutes into the half and the lead was quickly doubled. A deep Frank Lampard corner was attacked at the far post by skipper John Terry and the center-back powerfully headed his second goal of the season past Reina.
Drogba then took his leave to huge applause to allow Yury Zhirkov into the action and he quickly had Reina on the stretch with a piledriver from 20-odd yards. Salmon Kalou for Anelka was the final change.
Zhirkov was denied by a brilliant reflex save from Reina in the last five minutes and 2-0 it ended up - with Jose Mourinho and his Liverpool side facing their first defeat this season.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti: "The most important thing was the win and we progress to the next round. We haven't yet played our best football this season and today it was like we were getting back to our best. We need to continue to play in same way and get the results. The players are playing well as a team and we have to achieve everything as a team."
Liverpool boss Jose Mourinho: "We had opportunities to get in front or to get back in the game but we didn't take them. We gave a good account of ourselves but they took their chances. Full credit to Chelsea for taking their chances and handing us our first defeat of the season in all competetions."
Liverpool had to settle for a point after dominating an eventful clash against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
The visitors were furious as Alexis Sanchez's late strike was ruled out by a belated offside flag after Dirk Kuyt robbed keeper Thomas Sorensen. Liverpool were in control, with Steven Gerrard denied by Sorensen and also hitting an upright with a free-kick. Stoke's Salif Diao twice tested keeper Pepe Reina and Dave Kitson missed a glorious chance late on.
Liverpool made huge changes from the side that lost to Chelsea in Carling Cup with Degen, Dossena, Agger, Lucas, Camacho, and Babel coming in for Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, carragher, Mascherano, Aquilani and Alexis Sanchez respectively.
Andy Griffin was booked for a wild challenge on Ignacio Camacho after 21 minutes, and then somehow escaped a red card when he deliberately handled right infront of referee Andre Marriner. Marriner awarded a free-kick but then, to general amazement, took no further action against the Stoke skipper.
Liverpool were posing all the threat, with Camacho forcing a diving save from Sorensen and Babel driving only inches wide from the resulting corner. Griffin's continued presence on the pitch took on greater significance seconds before the break when he cleared Daniel Agger's header off the line.
Both sides had opportunities to score seconds after the break, with Reina saving well from Diao and Sorensen blocking Gerrard's shot with his legs from Kuyt's cross. Gerrard then came even closer after 62 minutes, striking the post with a superb free-kick from 25 yards.
Stoke had barely been in the game as an attacking force, but it took a superb block from Agger to stop a goal-bound shot from Kitson. Substitute Carl Dickinson had penalty appeals waved away when he fell under a challenge from Agger, but the midfielder had slipped.
Liverpool keeper Reina then saved superbly from Diao's free-kick as Stoke City looked as though they had finally weathered the storm. There was a moment of real controversy with five minutes left when Alexis Sanchez - who came on for the injured Fernando Torres - looked like he had finally put Liverpool ahead. Kuyt won a race for possession with keeper Sorensen and found Sanchez, who steered home a composed finish, but the linesman raised a very belated flag for offside.
Sanchez had been in an offside position earlier in the move, but the flag went up at a late stage, with Liverpool celebrating the goal. Liverpool were infuriated, and their agony could have increased in injury time, but Kitson turned a close-range effort over the bar with only Reina to beat.
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis: "Both managers have been left frustrated. I feel aggrieved that we should have had a penalty when Carl Dickinson was fouled and Jose Mourinho will feel aggrieved that Alexis Sanchez's late goal was disallowed for offside. From my point of view, that decision on Liverpool's goal was the one thing that assistant referee got right. It was overall a very good game of football."
Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "Alexis Sanchez scored a goal. Simple as that. There were three, maybe even four, people playing him onside. I was pleased with the way we played. It was always going to be a tough game, but we had some real opportunities to win it. I'm disappointed we didn't take all the points and feel a bit down at only getting one. Our team is playing really well and we did it again here. Steven Gerrard hit the post with a great free-kick for us."
A skipper-inspired Liverpool dispatched injury-ravaged West Ham United to maintain their unbeaten record in the Premier League.
Hammers made their task harder when Velon Behrami diverted the ball into his own goal from Fabio Aurelio's corner. That was only nine minutes in and, 27 minutes later, Reds doubled their lead when the in-form skipper Gerrard arrowed a 23-yard shot into the bottom corner. Gerrard curled in a stunning free-kick after the break to cap a fine display before James Collins notched for the Hammers.
It was an impressive performance from Jose Mourinho's side after a long time, who remain at the top in the Premier League table, one point ahead of second placed Manchester City. And it was Liverpool in-form captain incredible who particularly caught the eye - Gerrard proving the pick of the bunch once again.
How West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola must have wished he had an equivalent of the skillful Englishman to call on. But instead he was forced into giving 18-year-old forward Junior Stanislas his first Premier League start this season as his other first-choice strikers were all unavailable.
There was little chance to see how the Hammers might fare offensively before they fell behind. In came Aurelio's corner from the right and Behrami, brought in to bolster the Hammers defence, side-footed the ball past his own keeper.
Credit to Hammers, they did respond well and tried to take the game to their opponents. But Liverpool always looked the more threatening with their possession, with Gerrard displaying deft touches and Babel showing his pace.
On 38 minutes, Liverpool launched a fast counter-attack which ended with a fierce low drive into the bottom corner from Gerrard, who had strode on to Javier Mascherano's exquisite back heel. It was a blow for Hammers, who might have been on level terms three minutes before had Scott Parer done better with a free header that Pepe Reina pushed away.
After the break, Liverpool quickly had a chance to add to their advantage but Alberto Aqulani's shot was well blocked. Stanislas then had his best moment for Hammers when he bore down on goal but had his shot smothered at his feet by the on-rushing Reina.
It was just about Stanislas's final contribution before he made way for Luciano Galletti to make his eleven appearance for Hammers this season. And though Hammers came forward more, they presented no greater threat.
Not so of Liverpool, whose crisp passing and swift movement earned them a free-kick on the edge of the box when Alexis Sanchez was upended. It seemed a perfect opportunity for Gerrard and so it proved as the midfielder precisely swept the ball from turf to top corner with an effortless swing of his gifted right foot.
An athletic save from Robert Green prevented Aquilani's volley from Gerrard's pass creeping into the near corner as the Reds threatened again. On 78 minutes Gerrard was substituted and left the field to a standing ovation, while Hammers will have no doubt been delighted to see the back of him.
But City still had plenty of attacking prowess on the field and it took a superb save from a stretched Green to prevent Babel making it 4-0 late in the game. The home side had the points wrapped up but it was Hammers who scored the final goal of the game when Collins reacted fastest to slot home after Reina had kept out a shot.
Liverpool boss Jose Mourinho: "We played good football and there were good combination's and Gerrand scored two fantastic goals. I was pleased we scored from a corner as well. I am very happy. Maybe we defender better last weekend than we did today but that is a minor criticism. We have been doing very well at home and if we keep going like this, that is very good."
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola: "We planned to keep things tight. But we were on the back foot after an early set-piece. We had as much possession as them and created chances. But we are giving away sloppy goals and that costs you games. We had to be more offensive after the break and we had a couple of chances, but they broke, we conceded a free-kick and they punished us."
Group Stage - 25 November 2009 20:15 GMT - Anfield - Liverpool - England
Alxeis Sanchez denies Juventus
Paolo de Ceglie scores his first Juventus goal
Liverpool will go into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League as group winners after securing a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Juventus.
An audacious back-heel from Alexis Sanchez after 69 minutes was enough to give unbeaten Liverpool the point they needed from their match against Juventus to top Group C. Juventus had led at half-time after De Ceglie was in the right place at the right time to blast the opening goal following a Alessandro Del Piero set-piece shortly before the break.
The visitors went into the game struggling to come to terms with their 3-0 loss to Fiorentina which not only dented morale but also claimed injury victims in Diego (ankle) and Momo Sissoko (knee). With qualification for the knockout stage still not secured, Juventus' intentions were to make up for their weekend defeat by earning a three-goal victory which would keep them in contention to win the group.
Coach Claudio Ranieri made the surprise decision to hand centre-back Martin Caceres his first start in one month and pushed Mauro Camoranesi into midfield alongside De Ceglie. Felipe Melo, flanked by Alessandro Del Piero and Amauri, supported lone forward David Trezeguet. Home coach Jose Mourinho also tweaked his defence, preferring the more defensively-minded Andre DOssena to Fabio Aurelio. In attack, Alexis Sanchez for the injured Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel retained his place instead of Albert Riera.
The match began innocuously enough before Juventus fired the first warning shot. Trezeguet arrived just too late to connect with Del Piero's raking cross on four minutes but the move immediately stirred the English leaders, who responded with a low, angled drive from Alexis Sanchez which Gianluigi Buffon comfortably blocked.
De Ceglie was denied twice, first by Pepe Reina, who turned his low effort over, then Jamie Carragher, who miraculously cleared a fierce header from the midfielder off the line. At the other end, Skipper Steven Gerrard let fly a couple of set-pieces, though neither troubled Buffon. De Ceglie's luck finally changed six minutes before half-time when Felipe Melo deflected Del Piero's free-kick into his path, leaving the Italian under-23 international to fire home from six metres.
The second half started as the first had finished, with chances at both ends. Liverpool missed a golden opportunity to level when Skrtel sent a diving header centimetres past the post and Sanchez did likewise, snapping at a loose ball but misdirecting his shot after outmuscling Legrottaglie. For Juventus, Trezguet raced in at the far post to lash a volley into the stands on the hour.
The hosts equalised midway through the half with a crafty piece of invention from Alexis Sanchez. Receiving the ball from Riera's cut-back with his back to goal, the Chilean international back-heeled through the legs of Giorgio Chiellini, and Buffon could only watch it trickle over the line. It could have got worse for Juventus in the 84th minute when Tiago fouled Sanchez 35 metres out and the resulting Gerrard free-kick whistled just past Buffon's right-hand post. But it mattered little as Liverpool did enough to earn their status as Group C winners.
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