Reds frustrate Gunners to an injury time draw

Sports - Football - Premier League - Arsenal 1:1 Liverpool

What a turnaround of a turnaround with all the twists and turns happening after the 90 minutes of regular play.

Throughout the regular time of play, Arsenal dominated possession, creating chances with most being wasted but some pulling out great saves and stops by Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher and Marting Skrtel.

Youngster John Flanagan and Lucas Leiva also impressed with their dedication and impact on the team and play, denying and seeing Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Robin van Persie getting more and more frustrated and innocuous.

Injuries didn't help Liverpool, all in the back line, first Fabio Aurelio (replaced by Reds youngest league debutant Jack Robinson) and then the more worrying Carragher who was knocked out cold by his own player Flanagan and had to be replaced by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

Knowing it could not stay goalless from past experience, I was proven right on 97 when Jay Spearing was harshly penalised for seemingly bringing down Fabregas in the box. Van Persie netted the resulting penalty and celebrated three points he looked to have netted for his side.

But that was not all - because of the long delays and hold-up through Carragher's injury, the Arsenal penalty and goal celebrations, the game still had five minutes in it, five minutes for Emmanuel Eboue to foul Lucas in the box and Dirk Kuyt to net the resulting spot kick and grab an equaliser and a point for the Reds (102).

All the drama made up for the relatively even, flat, eventless game, so, I don't know what Arsene Wenger was moaning about! :-P

My thoughts: With everything that happened = injuries, substitutions, penalties, celebrations, hold-ups, etc., 12 minutes added on time was about right + if Arsenal's was a penalty, Liverpool's was double that! I rest my case, the results, stats and facts say it all!

Arsenal: Szczesny; Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Eboue (booked 100); Diaby (Song 81), Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott (Arshavin 72); Wilshere (Bendtner 72), van Persie (booked 98).
Subs not used: Lehamnn, Squillaci, Gibbs, Chamakh.

Liverpool: Reina; Aurelio (Robinson 21), Carragher (Kyrgiakos 62), Skrtel (booked 34), Flanagan (booked 30); Meireles, Lucas (booked 100), Spearing, Suarez; Carroll (Shelvey 70, booked 76), Kuyt.
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Cole, Maxi, Ngog.

BBC Stats:
Arsenal-Liverpool
Attempts: 12-9
On target: 6-5
Corners: 10-3
Free kicks: 13-13
Possession: 57%-43%

Sky Sports stats:
Arsenal-Liverpool
Attempts: 11-9
On target: 5-5
Offsides: 1-2
Corners: 10-3
Free kicks: 12-12
Possession: 62.4%-37.6%
Passing Success: 83.1%-71.8%
Tackles/Success: 15/73.3%-22/45.5%
Territorial Advantage: 58.9%-41.1%

Referee: Andre Marriner
Man of the match: Lucas Leiva

Kuyt hat-trick sinks United at Anfield

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 3-1 Man Utd

Dirk Kuyt's first hat-trick for Liverpool helped his side to a 3-1 win against bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield.

The homes side dominated from kick-off with an outstanding Luis Suarez showing off some brilliant skill and trickery and breaking through the United defence again and again which eventually lead to the breakthrough.

The Uruguayan striker squiggled and smuggled his way through the United box to put the ball across goal from the left and provide Kuyt with an easy tap in.

Five minutes later the Dutchman was able to pounce again, this time Nani headed back the ball to the striker who made no mistake of netting it.

Then, just before half time, all hell broke out: First Nani was fouled by Jamie Carragher and was up to make himself heard to referee Phil Dowd before going to the ground again in dramatic fashion bemoaning injury.

He was taken off eventually for Javier Hernandez to replace him, but not before goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar also saw yellow for running down the pitch making trouble.

Minutes later another fight broke out after Rafael da Silva fouled Lucas Leiva, ending up booked plus Marting Skrtel for all the trouble.

The half time whistle came just in time to calm tempers down and for everyone to get their breaths back.

The second half saw no more bookings or bust-ups but that was no sign of lack of intention or intensity.

Dimitar Berbatov had a couple of shouts and chances - Raul Meireles had to clear his header off the line for the Bulgarian striker to appeal for handball, but it clearly came off the Portuguese midfielder's chest. 

United had a couple more chances but it just didn't seem to be their day, both Berbatov and Ryan Giggs putting chances wide without worrying Pepe Reina any further.

It was United's Dutch keeper who ended up eating sour grapes, spilling the ball out parrying a Suarez free kick for Kuyt to follow up on it and net it thankfully for his first hat-trick for the Reds.

Hernandez headed in a consolation goal off Giggs in injury time, too little too late.

After losing defender Fabio Aurelio early on in the match due to hamstring injury, Liverpool had to change and adjust their back line with Carragher moving to the right, Glen Johnson to the left and Skrtel and sub Sotirios Kyrgiakos in central defense. 

Normally that could have shaken Liverpool up and given United something to pounce on and take advantage of, but not today.

King Kenny's men showed their strength, heat, stamina and stubbornness against a less crispy and more crumbling United side - missing an injured Rio Ferdinand.

This win puts Liverpool up to 6th in the Premier League, on 42 points, 5 behind Spurs and 6 behind Chelsea in 5th and 6th place respectively (two games in hand each as things stood at the end of this game), whilst United stay top but only 3 points separating them from Arsenal (who also have one game in hand on United). It just shows, this season is far from over and King Kenny rules!

Bad losers: Meanwhile, United have imposed a media blackout after the defeat meaning no comments or interviews by Fergie and co.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher (booked 45), Skrtel (booked 46), Aurelio (Kyrgiakos 23); Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt (scored 33:08, 38:31 & 64:14min), Meireles (Carroll 74); Maxi, Suarez (Cole 74).
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Ngog, Spearing, Poulsen.

Man Utd: Van der Sar (booked 46); Rafael Da Silva (booked 49; O'Shea 76), Smalling, Brown, Evra; Nani (Hernandez 47), Carrick, Scholes (booked 83; Fletcher 84), Giggs; Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Obertan, Gibson.

1st half stats
Liverpool-Man Utd
Attempts: 8-4
On target: 4-2
Offsides: 0-2
Corners: 6-1
Free kicks: 7-6
Possession:
47%-53% (after 20 min, Sky Sports)
52%-48% (after 25 min, BBC)

2nd half stats
Liverpool-Man Utd
Attempts: 7-7
On target: 3-3
Offsides: 0-1
Corners: 2-2
Free kicks: 5-6
Possession:
41%-59% (45.-55. min, Sky Sports)
53%-47% (FT, BBC)

Sky Sports Stats
Liverpool-Man Utd
Passing Success: 73.5%-81.6%
Tackles/Success: 24/41.7%-20/75%
Territorial Advantage: 50.6%-49.4%

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Man of the match: Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez

Andy who? Fernan-who? Last month's news!

Sports - Football - Premier League - Commentary

Andy who?

Yes. Andy Gray, you are last month's news! One cannot deny you your distinguished career as football player and commentator. I was always one of your biggest fans with your exemplary sketches and analysis and a perfect combination with facts and stats man Martin Tyler.

But it is a sad shame that in your mind you could not and cannot let go of the years where you were in your prime as a player - and got started as a commentator with your funny pencil sketches and original football art attempts. Not just technology has developed and advanced since! Society and the sport and media with it! Shame you missed it and didn't catch on!

Being in front of the camera, representing Sky, the media, the sport in front of millions of people week in and week out, you should have known better than to shoot your mouth off with primitive prejudices and mindsets - but it was not the first time was it? Just the tip of the iceberg so to speak. And I do not think it will be the last.

You will rant on especially after getting the sack, won't you? In every other job, if you have been warned and get caught out again, you are out! And knowing your general lifestyle, I just think it is a case of life having caught up with you! What goes around comes around - and bites back double bad! Life can only be as nice as you can make it out!

I always get asked questions about my sport knowledge and knowhow too - and I just hit back with more technical questions so people get my drift: Football is one of the easiest sports when it comes to rules and regulations. In comparison to cricket and rugby the general IQ required for football is not exactly Einstein level.

That gets more obvious and shown bare when the athletes and representatives of the sport come out with statements like Mr Gray and his pal Richard Keys!

That brings me back to Martin Tyler. He is the perfect gentlemen and my James Bond candidate of all commentators (although his hair has gone a bit to grey with age and scarce on that note) - smart, polite, patient, observative, lovely voice, knowing when to turn it up a notch...

Has he ever felt or had the need to go off on one like Andy Gray? No, he is a happily married man, father and commentator and has been for 30ish years! A true professional. Oh, what was I blogging on about again, Andy who??? Tyler forever!

(Meanwhile, Andy and Richard have started fresh with their show on talkSPORT... Well... Doesn't seem to be all too fresh when you read the Guardian's review...)

Fernan-who?

Another man who got too much money where his mouth rather than form is: Fernando Torres. After being at everything else but his best over the last season or two and a forgettable World Cup for him as a player, it was a joke when he came out wanting to leave Liverpool for a better team and a team that can win stuff, Chelsea?!

Birmingham have already won more than Chelsea will this season (I bet a fiver on that, not saying that Liverpool will win much more with Europa League being the only competition left we have a shout in)! Yes, players make the team what it is, so, if you're such a great player Fernando, how come we didn't win anything with you in our team?!

And we got £50 million for him! Kaching! I think Liverpool got a brilliant deal for a player past his best, one of Roman Abramovich's panic buys I think. To prove this point, here are the stats of his (nearly) four Premier League seasons with Liverpool:

2007-08: 24 league goals in 33 league appearances
2008-09: 14 in 24
2009-10: 18 in 22
2010-11: 9 in 23

Injuries didn't help his cause, but from his first and best season with 24 goals in 33 games, he's gone nearly ten games and ten goals less the couple of seasons after that and only scored half as many goals in as many games this season.

In my experience, past greats that left on the same note, for "better and bigger" teams, their careers ended up everything else but better or bigger and I believe they would have been better off staying. Ian Rush, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen... I think Torres is heading for the same jinxed run of destiny. So far he hasn't had much to show for his big switch deal anyway...

Great players are made great players by their team. That's why Steven Gerrard has stayed, Ian Rush came back and even Robbie Fowler came back eventually, because they realised that it was Liverpool FC they were great with. Hopefully, Pepe Reina will realise that too and won't do anything stupid (at least he's honest though, see this Guardian interview in case you're wondering what I'm on about).

Those who left all ended up moaning, they wanted to play, feel important again as they did when they first were at LFC. That's why Stevie G. ended up staying, because at Chelsea he would have just fitted and sunk in and under the team, losing his special skipper legend status more than quickly.

I know, we're still a long way away from winning another title - but that will hopefully not come from lack of team spirit, heart or trying!!! Nothing's impossible when you stick with the team and go for it, we've proven that before and will prove it again! YNWA

West Ham off the bottom after hammering Reds

Sports - Football - Premier League - West Ham 3:1 Liverpool

Well, I was a fool thinking this was three points in the bag for Liverpool before the match. It was a sour awakening and dire shakeup-and-wake-up call during and after the match.

The first half showed the trend of the match straight away: Thomas Hitzlsperger making his debut for the Hammers was a pain in the Reds' neck from the start - too fast a furious for the zoned out guests.

The German midfielder made some fine runs and breakthroughs and turned to provider on 22 when playing a neat one-two with Scott Parker, the England midfielder opened the scoring with a fine flick past Pepe Reina, his fifth league goal of the season.

Liverpool's half went from bad to worse when Martin Kelly had to come off injured and only seconds later they fell 2-0 behind after poor marking left Pepe no chance to stop Demba Ba from heading the ball into the top right hand corner off a Gary O'Neil cross.

If that wasn't bad enouhg for the Reds, worse was to come: Raul Meireles had to come off injured too with a hamstring on 49 when West Ham were just getting in the modd to score again - Ba putting a sweet shot just wide and forward Frederic Piquionne missing an open header after a corner confusion.

Man of the match Parker and Piquionne broke forward again on 73, 2 v 2, Reina had to come out to the rescue. Just minutes later, the Spaniard spilled Piquionne's shot but was able to recover, just.

It could have been 3, 4 or 5-0 before Luis Suarez made a superb turn and pass on the edge of the box to get the ball across goal for Glen Johnson to have an easy job of tapping it in after total mayhem broke out in the box and getting the Red fans' hopes up of a comeback.

It didn't last long though, just over five minutes, before super-sub Carlton Cole shrugged off Martin Skrtel on the run through to make it 3-1 and three points for the Hammers, a job well and truely done, finished off and completed, getting them off the bottom of the table.

Liverpool meanwhile will have to get their act together, with United as their next opponents, things will get everything else but easier! If they want to get anywhere near or even just closer to the top four that is...

West Ham: Green, Jacobsen, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge, O'Neil, Parker, Noble, Hitzlsperger, Ba (Cole 88), Piquionne (Spector 82).
Subs not used: Boffin, Reid, Boa Morte, da Costa, Hines.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly (Cole 43), Carragher, Skrtel (booked 7), Wilson, Lucas, Meireles (Ngog 49), Johnson, Gerrard, Kuyt, Suarez.
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Spearing, Poulsen.

1st half stats:
West Ham-Liverpool
Attempts: 5-5
On target: 4-3
Offsides: 0-0
Corners: 2-1
Free kicks: 3-6

2nd half stats:
West Ham-Liverpool
Attempts: 11-6
On target: 3-4
Offsides: 0-0
Corners: 4-5
Free kicks: 4-5
Possession:
60%-40% (59.-69.min)

Sky Sports Stats:
West Ham-Liverpool
Possession: 41.6%-58.4%
Passing Success: 75.1%-78.7%
Tackles/Success: 18/72.2%-21/71.4%
Territorial Advantage: 49.7%-50.3%

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Man of the match: Scott Parker

Reds spoil Fernando's first Blues show

Sports - Football - Premier League - Chelsea 0:1 Liverpool

Fernando Torres' debut for bitter rivals Chelsea proved fruitless as his former side took all three points at Stamford Bridge, continuing the revival under King Kenny and taking the Reds up to sixth for the first time this season after their fourth consecutive win and clean sheet, whilst Chelsea hover in fourth spot, 10 points behind United at the top, whilst Spurs are creeping up on them behind only on goal difference in fifth.

The Spaniard nearly got a dream start when Maxi Rodriguez passed the ball back to his former team mate a couple of minutes into the game, however, he ended up mishitting the ball over the goal creating no worries for Pepe Reina.

The only other chance for £50m-star-striker, the most expensive player in British football, was blocked off by Jamie Carragher later on in the first half, the Liverpool defender putting his body on the line as always, although just making a comeback from a long term injury (shoulder surgery).

After only 66 minutes Fernando's first blue stint ended disappointing for Carlo Ancelotti when he came off for Ivorian forward Salomon Kalou. 

However, things went from bad to worse for the Blues just minutes later when Raul Meireles latched onto Steven Gerrard's cross and put it into the back of the net past Branislav Ivanovic and Petr Cech after the two had clashed and caused confusion not for the first time in the match giving both a game they would like to forget very quickly.

Maxi must have been a very relieved man after he had missed a sitter earlier in the first half, hitting a Gerrard cross against the crossbar, not even six yards outside an open goal.

In the end, Liverpool's organisation, resilience and determination paid off, going without new signing Luis Suarez who stayed unused on the bench, making Chelsea's normally all-too-threatening-and-intimidating-looking front trio of Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Torres look all-too-ordinary, the home side lacking options in width and creativity.

"He Who Betrays Will Walk Alone" said one of the Liverpool fans' banners and it looked pretty much like that for the 66 minutes Torres was on the pitch.

"We have to give Fernando time to adjust to the shape but I think that he will do it quickly," said Ancelotti. "I took him off as, after 66 minutes and a very busy week, it was good for him to come off," he said on the BBC website.

"Fernando has experience, he has confidence and didn't show problems before the game. He was enthusiastic to play, excited, and it didn't show a problem," added the 51-year-old.

Dalglish's take on the Spaniard was to the point, showing he is in the past as the Reds are concerned: "As this football club has always said, the most important people are the people who are at Liverpool Football Club and that is the way it will always be."

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa (David Luiz 73), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel (booked 1, Malouda 72), Lampard; Anelka; Torres (Kalou 66), Drogba.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, McEachran, Sala.

Liverpool: Reina; Carragher, Skrtel, Agger; Kelly, Johnson, Gerrard, Lucas (booked 74), Maxi (Aurelio 75); Meireles (scored 68:26, Poulsen 84), Kuyt.
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Suarez, Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Ngog.

1st half stats:
Chelsea-Liverpool
Attempts: 5-2
On target: 0-1
Offsides: 3-1
Corners: 2-2
Free kicks: 3-3
Possession:
59%-41% (20)
51%-49% (HT)

2nd half stats:
Chelsea-Liverpool
Attempts: 10-2
On target: 1-2
Offsides: 2-0
Corners: 2-0
Free kicks: 3-5
Possession:
49%-51% (80)
52%-48% (FT)

Sky Sports Stats:
Chelsea-Liverpool
Possession: 57.4%-42.6%
Passing Success: 83.7%-78.4%
Tackles/Success: 16/62.5%-21/76.2%
Territorial Advantage: 53.7%-46.3%

Referee: Andre Marriner
Man of the match: Raul Meireles

Liverpool get sweet revenge over Wolves

Sports - Football - Premier League - Wolves 0-3 Liverpool

Raul Meireles' breathtaking strike and Fernando Torres' double earned King Kenny his first win since taking over from Roy Hodgson and returning to his managerial throne at Liverpool as his Reds beat Wolves in an intense encounter at Molineux.

It was sweet revenge over Mick McCarthy's men, after they had beaten a sorry Liverpool side 1-0 at Anfield and ultimately cost Hodgson his job end of December.

Portuguese midfielder Meireles set the tone and mood for the Reds, making run after run, putting Wolves under pressure and turned from provider after 36 minutes with Torres tapping in his pass, to scorer with an impressive stunner, dipping 25-yard volley into the top corner of the net in the 50th minute, leaving Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey help- and hopelessly stranded.

Torres completed the trio of goals and points, smashing the ball into an empty Wolves net after a fine run and cross by Dirk Kuyt.

It was a hard-fought, well-deserved and overdue win for Liverpool which takes them to the top half of the table - at least for the night.

Wolves didn't go down easy. they tried to adopt the same positive anddedicated work and play from their Anfield win, to keep as much of and Liverpool off the ball.

But it didn't work this time round as the Reds seemed to have a different jump or flare about them, hopefully an indication of better mind, form and times ahead!

Wolves: Hennessey; Stearman, Ward, Berra, Zubar; Henry, Hunt (Hammill 72), Jarvis, Milijas; Fletcher, Doyle.
Subs not used: Hahnemann, Craddock, Mouyokolo, Jones, Davis, Vokes.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Agger, Kelly, Skrtel; Meireles (booked 85), Maxi (Aurelio 81), Lucas, Poulsen (booked 4, Shelvey 73); Torres (booked 47), Kuyt.
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Cole, Spearing, Pacheco.

BBC stats:
Wolves-Liverpool
Attempts: 12-15
On target: 5-10
Corners: 5-4
Free kicks: 17-6
Possession: 49%-51%

Sky Sports stats:
Wolves-Liverpool
Attempts: 11-14
On target: 3-9
Offsides: 3-2
Corners: 5-4
Free kicks: 18-6
Possession: 59.2%-40.8%
Passing Success: 70.1%-67.7%
Tackles/Success: 19/63.2%-21/76.2%
Territorial Advantage: 66%-34%

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: Raul Meireles

Merseyside derby ends all evens at Anfield

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 2:2 Everton

Honours ended up all even at Merseyside after Dirk Kuyt's penalty earned King Kenny's men a draw in the derby with Everton, leaving both sides on 26 points, only four points clear of the relegation zone in 13th and 12th place respectively.

Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles took the lead for Liverpool on 29, driving the ball from 18 yards after Kuyt pulled a double save out of Tim Howard.

It was a deserved lead as Liverpool enjoyed most possession and chances, Dalglish coule be a happy man at half time onhis return to Anfield for the 215th Merseyside derby.

All the optimism changed for the Reds with the kick-off of the second half: Within 43 seconds Sylvain Distin headed in Mikel Arteta's corner at the back post, over Martin Skrtel and past Pepe Reina to make it 1-1.

Just over five minutes later, Jermaine Bedford completed the turnaround, smashing in Leon Osman's pass from close range and making Kuyt's and Fernando Torres' earlier close chances, including a crash against the post, count for nothing and seem meeningless as they weree to the scoreboard.

The guests looked well on top after that, Liverpool's play looking less organised and confident, more disrupted, making David Moyes the much happier since half time.

However, there was another twist in the tale: After all his saves, Howard turned from hero to villain when he clipped the legs of Maxi Rodriguez to bring the Argentine down and concede the penalty which Kuyt converted with cool composure to make the last 20-ish minutes the more interesting, tense and gripping.

Both sides pushed on, sharing chances, shouts and pressure, the result reföecting this fair and square.

Liverpool: Reina (booked 53); Kelly, Skrtel, Agger (Kyrgiakos 46), Johnson; Meireles (scored 28:24, Shelvey 81), Spearing, Lucas, Kuyt (booked 89) (scored penalty 67:21); Torres (booked 63), Maxi.
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Aurelio, Cole, Pacheco, Babel.

Everton: Howard; Neville, Heitinga, Distin (scored 45:38), Baines; Coleman, Fellaini, Arteta, Osman (Rodwell 78); Beckford (scored 51:34, Vaughan 74), Anichebe (Bilyaletdinov 82).
Subs not used: Mucha, Hibbert, Gueye, Baxter.

1st half stats:
Liverpool-Everton
Attempts: 10-4
On target: 6-1
Offsides: 1-0
Corners: 6-4
Free kicks: 7-9
Possession:
65%-35% (20-30 min)
53%-47% (HT)

2nd half stats:
Liverpool-Everton
Attempts: 3-2
On target: 2-2
Offsides: 3-0
Corners: 4-2
Free kicks: 9-9
Possession:
51%-49% (FT)

Sky Sports Stats:
Liverpool-Everton
Passing Success: 77.5%-73.4%
Tackles/Success: 20/90%-25/72%
Territorial Advantage: 48%-52%

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Man of the match: Fernando Torres