EPL 2008/09: Dah score empat pun tak menang lagi

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LIVERPOOL 4-4 ARSENAL

Tuesday 21 April 2009 20:00 ,

Barclays Premier League

REDS TOP AFTER EIGHT-GOAL THRILLER

Liverpool are top of the league after drawing 4-4 with Arsenal in one of the most thrilling games of football ever witnessed at Anfield.

Russian ace Andrey Arshavin scored four goals for the Gunners, who took the lead three times including once in injury-time.

But Yossi Benayoun popped up to level with seconds to spare to put the Reds ahead of Manchester United on goal difference.

It was the Israeli's second of the game, with Fernando Torres also claiming a double in front of a stunned capacity crowd.

The result keeps the title race alive, though everyone on the red half of Merseyside will be praying United drop points at home to Portsmouth in one of two games in hand on Wednesday.

Buoyed by his side's four goals at Stamford Bridge, Rafa Benitez opted for an offensive line-up including four attackers. Little did the Anfield boss know that he was about to witness an even more exciting encounter than that seen at Chelsea a week ago.

Messrs Torres, Benayoun, Riera and Kuyt set about some sizzling play in front of an all-time attacking great, Ray Kennedy, who suffers from Parkinson's disease. Prior to kick-off, both sets of supporters held aloft mosaics showing the 57-year-old's shirt numbers (he wore No.5 at Anfield, No.10 at Highbury) to bring attention to the Ray of Hope fundraising appeal.

There were just three minutes on the clock when Kennedy witnessed a current Kop icon, Torres, doing what he does best. The Spaniard made a mug of Bacary Sagna to go one-on-one with Lukasz Fabianski. Rarely does the 24-year-old spurn such chances but his tame sidefoot was easy for Arsenal's rookie goalkeeper.

Minutes later Fabio Aurelio dinked a cute ball over a static back four to Benayoun, whose stretched effort again fell kindly for Fabianski.

Next, Dirk Kuyt bypassed two Arsenal defenders with a delicate throughball to Benayoun. This time the 'keeper committed early and got there just in time.

Fabianski was maligned in the press following a series of errors which contributed to Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, but the young Pole was single-handedly keeping Liverpool at bay here. Even his defenders looked a little surprised when he got fingertips to a 20-yard snapshot from Torres on 18 minutes.

The Spain international was again denied on 30 minutes after leaving Kolo Toure with his backside on the turf, while Daniel Agger had a header cleared off the line on his 50th league appearance for the Reds.

Six chances, no goals. All of which made what happened on 36 minutes even harder for the Kop to swallow. It was Javier Mascherano who was caught in possession on the edge of his own box, with Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas on hand to capitalise before feeding the onrushing Arshavin, who converted off the bar from close range.

Fabianski again came to Arsenal's rescue with a reflex save as Benayoun weaved his way towards an instant reply. The Israeli was playing like Peter Beardsley, but again missed out on his just rewards after a smart header from an Alvaro Arbeloa cross looped just over.

If the Premier League's top scorers felt hard done by to be behind at the break, they didn't linger on their disappointment. It took Torres just four minutes after the restart to level the scores after an inviting cross from Kuyt.

The No.9 found a yard on the edge of the six-yard box and powered his header beyond the reach of Fabianski to record his 15th goal of the season.

Seven minutes later the game had been turned on its head, and again the goal was the product of a Kuyt cross, this time towards Benayoun at the back post. The Israel captain ignored a high challenge from Sagna to send a diving header through the palms of Fabianski and over the line.

Twenty years after Arsenal clinched the title at Anfield, the Kop sniffed what could have been a decisive victory in this year's race. But the drama was not yet complete.

Liverpool probed for a third but, to the surprise of just about everyone inside Anfield, it was the visitors who struck next through Arshavin. The Russian pounced after Jamie Carragher's header failed to reach Arbeloa before sending a 20-yard curler past the diving Pepe Reina.

Arsenal fans had barely finished celebrating when their January signing completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes after Aurelio failed to clear. The striker fired close to Reina but with enough power to ensure it reached the net.

It was just two minutes before a remarkable game took another twist as Torres prompted another Kop eruption. El Nino collected the ball on the edge of the box, bought a yard from Mikael Silvestre and slotted home via the hand of Fabianski.

Torres was denied a hat-trick of his own with 10 minutes remaining when Kieran Gibbs cleared his glancing header off the line. Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, was almost the unlikely hero with a 20-yard volley with sailed narrowly wide.

But it was Arsenal who struck next in injury-time when a Liverpool corner was cleared to substitute Theo Walcott. With just Xabi Alonso back, the 20-year-old only had to look up to see Arshavin. He did, and the striker kept his cool to beat Reina.

Game over? Not according to Benayoun, who seconds later found himself with the ball at his feet five yards out. The winger made no mistake with his sidefoot into the bottom corner and that, finally, was that on an incredible night in L4.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher (c), Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Benayoun, Torres. Subs - Babel, Cavalieri, Dossena, El Zhar, Leiva, Ngog, Skrtel

Arsenal: Fabianski, Gibbs, Silvestre, Toure, Sagna, Nasri, Fabregas (c), , Song, Arshavin, Bendtner. Subs - Diaby, Eboue, Mannone, Ramsey, Vela, Walcott,

Referee: Howard Webb

Conditions:

Attendance:

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Benayoun

EPL 2008/09: Previu Liverpool lwn Arsenal

Lewat pagi nanti, satu lagi pertembungan besar di antara kelab gergasi Inggeris bakal disajikan. Liverpool pastinya akan cuba sedaya upaya memintas juara liga, Manchester United dengan memenangi perlawanan ini nanti.

Rekod kemenangan liga lima kali berturut-turut dalam liga akan menjadi sandaran The Kops sebagai motivasi bagi memastikan kesinambungan persembahan mantap dan bertenaga. Tambah pula perlawanan ini berlangsung di Stadium Anfield.

Kapten pasukan, Steven Gerrard diharapkan kembali cergas bagi menjana kekuatan bahagian serangan dan tengah pasukan.

Jangkaan: Liverpool 1-0 (Adebayour gol sendiri sebab tak ensem..)

UEFA Champs League: Perjuangan The Reds berkubur

Luluh hati menyaksikan kebangkitan yang hebat tetapi diakhiri dengan kemusnahan akibat kealpaan pertahanan serta penjaga gawang bagi skuad Liverpool.

Walaupun telah mencapai target empat gol di bumi lawan tetapi masih belum cukup kerana memberi peluang lawan bangkit.

Liverpool FC: Amaran Steven Gerard

liverpoolfc.tv

GERRARD: WE FEAR NO-ONE

James Carroll 18 March 2009

Steven Gerrard is relishing Friday's draw for the Champions League quarter-final and insists Liverpool fear none of the teams left in the tournament.

After dumping Real Madrid out of the competition, the Reds will discover their opponents for the last eight when the draw is made in Nyon and Gerrard believes Rafael Benitez's side will be confident of progressing into the semi-finals, regardless of which club they are paired with.

"We're not running scared of anyone," the Anfield skipper told LFC Magazine. "We'll take who we get and believe that we're going to go through.

"If we could hand-pick an opponent then maybe we'd want someone like Villarreal or Porto but at this stage of the competition there are no easy games. It might be a cliché, but it's true.

"Everyone who's got to this stage of the competition has done well. They'll all believe in themselves.

"But we've shown - the players, the manager and the fans - that we're a force to be reckoned with when we pull it all together.

"So we'll sit down on Friday and see who we get and take it from there."

Gerrard scored twice in last week's breathtaking 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid at Anfield and the 28-year-old is at pains to recall a better performance from the Reds since he broke into the first-team.

"I honestly can't remember us playing as well as we did in the first half of the Real Madrid game," he said. "I don't just mean in the Champions League or in Europe - I mean in any competition in all of the time I've been playing for Liverpool.

"I don't think we've controlled a game like that from the very first minute, dictated it and bossed it that way before or for so long.

"Playing like that I don't think there's a team in Europe that could have lived with us."

Liverpool FC: Benitez kekal di Anfield hingga 2014

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EXCLUSIVE: RAFA SIGNS NEW CONTRACT

Paul Rogers 18 March 2009

Rafa Benitez has signed a contract extension with Liverpool FC, keeping him at the club until 2014.

The Liverpool manager has extended his current deal, which took him to the end of next season, by a further four years.

"My heart is with Liverpool Football Club, so I'm delighted to sign this new deal," said Rafa.

"I love the club, the fans and the city and with a club like this and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying. I always made clear I wanted to be here for a long time and when I complete my new contract it will mean I have spent over a decade in Liverpool.

"The club is greatly respected around the world due to its incredible history and tremendous heritage. It is my aim to uphold those values and help create a new chapter in our history.

"Throughout this process, I would like to thank the owners for their hard work in finalising the deal. All of us at the club want the same thing, which is to be successful by winning major trophies."

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The completion of contract talks with Rafa is the third major boost for Liverpool fans in recent days, coming after fabulous wins against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League.

The 4-1 win at Old Trafford saw Rafa achieve 100 league wins in the third fastest period of time for a Liverpool manager, surpassing Bill Shankly.

Liverpool Co-Chairman Tom Hicks said:

"It is wonderful news that Rafa has made a long-term commitment to the football club. Since he became manager in 2004, he has been responsible for the great progress we have made. I know he will continue to build on his achievements as he has a tremendous hunger and desire to bring more success to the club - success our fans and everyone connected with the club deserves."

Co-Chairman George Gillett added:

"With Rafa continuing to manage the team, we can look forward to more great football and success on the pitch. He has special abilities and qualities which are admired here at the club and around the world. Coming after our excellent wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United, this gives us great momentum going into the final stages of the season."

Rafa joined the Reds in 2004 following a successful period in charge of Spanish club Valencia, who he guided to two La Liga titles and a UEFA Cup success.

While he has been at the helm, Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League in Istanbul in 2005, the FA Cup the following year and reached another Champions League final in Athens in 2007.

He has also overseen success in both the UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield.

The club are currently the number one team in Europe according to UEFA's co-efficient ranking system, based on results over the past five years in European competition.

EPL 08/09: Man U sayur kangkung..

Kedai mamak Seksyen 7 menjadi destinasi bagi menyaksikan salah satu perlawanan yang paling dinantikan sepanjang musim ini.

Seawal jam 8 malam, kelihatan ruangan 'parking' kenderaan penuh sesak dengan kereta dan motosikal di kawasan berhampiran seakan-akan ada majlis ceramah umum oleh Pakatan Rakyat di sini.

Seperti biasa, dengan pakaian atau jersi yang dipakai oleh pengunjung jelas memihak kepada pasukan-pasukan tertentu dan yang jelasnya di sini peminat The Red Devils lebih ramai dan kelihatan riak wajah mereka yang cukup yakin bahawa tiga mata bakal dikutip pada malam ini.

Cuma mereka hanya inginkan kepastian bilangan jumlah jaringan yang bakal digegarkan pada jaring lawan.

Namun begitu, apa yang mereka harapkan hanyalah sekadar harapan.

Liverpool bukanlah dikira bernasib baik 'membelasah' kelab gergasi Eropah (Real Madrid) sebelum itu. Tetapi, apa yang berlaku kini adalah rentetan kejituan tahap keyakinan dan kebolehan yang tinggi di kalangan barisan pemain mereka ini.

United jelas sekali longlai sepanjang perlawanan ini, samalah dengan peminatnya di kedai mamak ini...

Hola Torres..

_______________________________

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MANCHESTER UNITED 1 - 4 LIVERPOOL

Saturday 14 March 2009 12:45 ,

Barclays Premier League

REDS THUMP UNITED TO KEEP DREAM ALIVE

Liverpool's title dream is still alive after they came from behind to thump Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.

Fernando Torres cancelled out a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty before Steven Gerrard completed a remarkable turnaround with his own spot-kick just before the break.

A sublime free-kick from Fabio Aurelio following the dismissal of Nemanja Vidic wrapped up the points before a late lob from Andrea Dossena put the gloss on a week that has had many Kopites pinching themselves.

The result leaves Liverpool four points behind United, who have a game in hand, with nine fixtures remaining. It also ensures a first league double over our arch-rivals since 2001-02.

Rafa Benitez will accept the title is still a tall order, but wherever the Premier League trophy ends up, this performance and scoreline will go down as one of the highlights of the Spaniard's reign.

Benitez went searching for his 100th league win as Reds boss without the injured Xabi Alonso.

If Javier Mascherano is Liverpool's engine in midfield, then Alonso is the oil that keeps everything flowing nicely.

Still, his absence gave Lucas a chance to shine on the biggest stage, and the Brazilian will have won over some of his critics with a rudimentary but effective display.

Another blow came during the warm up when right-back Alvaro Arbeloa injured his hamstring, forcing Sami Hyypia to tie his boots at the last minute.

The sides set about a cagey start at a wind-swept Old Trafford. United were first to threaten when Ronaldo cut back to the oncoming Ji-Sung Park. The goal gaped and it took a well-judged deflection from Carragher to clear for a corner.

Similar heroics were required from Vidic after Aurelio sent Gerrard bursting into the United box on 11 minutes.

You could have prepared and swallowed a prawn sandwich in the time it took either side to enthuse their fans again when Torres turned Rio Ferdinand on a sixpence before Vidic saved his partner's blushes.

The game of cat and mouse was finally broken on 23 minutes when Park sprinted into the box and navigated Pepe Reina, who caught a trailing leg and gave referee Alan Wiley no option but to award a spot-kick. Liverpool's Spanish goalkeeper went the right way but Ronaldo's penalty was too precise.

The travelling Kop's deflation lasted just four minutes, however, thanks to a downfield pass from Martin Skrtel which left Torres with just Vidic and van der Sar to beat.

United's Serbian defender lost his footing, leaving El Nino to slot coolly beyond the goalkeeper to claim his 11th goal of the season.

Minutes later Torres nutmegged Vidic in the box as he searched for a second but it was cleared for a corner.

The next goal would be crucial and both sides knew it. United came close through a Ronaldo dead ball which Reina spilled only to recover just before Tevez pounced.

Next, Michael Carrick turned Lucas before firing a fierce effort narrowly over the crossbar.

But it was Liverpool who eventually turned the game on its head when Gerrard burst past Patrice Evra to catch a Torres throughball. The full-back challenged clumsily, prompting Wiley to point to the spot for a second time.

Gerrard once had a penalty saved by van der Sar when the Dutchman wore Fulham colours, but he made no mistake with this one before kissing the television cameras in celebration of his 18th goal of the campaign.

United came out for the second period eager to respond, and almost had a huge slice of luck when a Ronaldo cross swerved onto Reina's post and back into play. Liverpool cleared but it was a warning.

Park was impressing down the right as the hosts responded to chants of 'attack, attack, attack' from their fans, and the former PSV man would have been one-on-one with Reina on 53 minutes but for a smart interception from Aurelio.

Reina had to be alert to palm over after Tevez squeezed a cross-cum-shot past Carragher. Liverpool's custodian fumbled the resulting corner but claimed well at the second attempt under pressure from Tevez.

Wayne Rooney tried to twist and turn his way to an equaliser on 62 minutes only to have his shot deflected wide by Dirk Kuyt.

The pressure continued.

Next, Ronaldo, patrolled well all game by Aurelio, beat his man to find Rooney at the far post.

The Scouser headed back across goal and it took some resilient defending from Skrtel to stop Tevez threatening.

The Argentine should have levelled the game on 72 minutes after chesting down a lofted ball from Ferdinand. Liverpool's defence protested for offside but the flag stayed down. With just Reina to beat, Tevez scuffed his shot and the ball roll harmlessly wide.

Alex Ferguson had seen enough. With 16 minutes remaining, he made a triple substitution, replacing Carrick, Anderson and Park with Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Ryan Giggs.

It was a bold move from the Scot but it soon backfired following the dismissal of Vidic. Wiley had no choice but to show the Serb red after a lovely touch from Kuyt sent Gerrard clean through.

Last man Vidic interjected and United were down to 10 men with 14 minutes left on the clock and no opportunity to make a change.

Any hopes of a comeback were then dashed completely when Aurelio curled the resulting free-kick beyond van der Sar at the Stretford End. Ronaldo would have been proud.

Gerrard could have made it four with the kind of chance he normally buries but it mattered not.

Substitute Andrea Dossena showed the skipper how it was done on 90 minutes, lobbing van der Sar after a Reina punt.

"We want five," sang the cluster of Liverpool fans at the opposite end of the ground. They know the title is still a long shot, but this result keeps United looking over their shoulder. Whatever happens come May, they'll never forget today.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel, Carragher, Riera, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Torres. Subs - Hyypia, Insua, Ngog, Dossena, Cavalieri, El Zhar, Babel

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand (captain), Vidic, O'Shea, Park, Carrick, , Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez. Subs - Giggs, Evans, , Foster, Berbatov, Scholes, Fletcher

Referee: Alan Wiley

Conditions: Windy

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Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Aurelio

UEFA Champs League 08/09: Liverpool mengamuk

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/

LIVERPOOL 4-0 REAL MADRID

Tuesday 10 March 2009 19:45 ,

Champions League Last 16 (Leg 2)

RAMPANT REDS MARCH INTO LAST EIGHT

Liverpool have booked their place in the quarter finals of the Champions League after Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard combined to see off Real Madrid 4-0 in a breathtaking team performance at Anfield.

Torres struck his first Champions League goal of the season from close range on 16 minutes before Gerrard scored from the penalty spot on 28 minutes and finished from 17 yards out just after the restart.

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Andrea Dossena rounded off the win with a well-taken finish with two minutes remaining to make sure the Reds registered an impressive 5-0 aggregate win over one of the European big boys.

Liverpool dominated from start to finish in what will surely go down as a sublime team performance to knock out one of the giants of the European game. Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard and Torres all put in storming performances.

The Reds went in to the match knowing they have gone through to the next round on each of the last 29 ties where they won the away leg first, and they had even more reason to be confident when it was revealed that Fernando Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa were returning to the starting line-up.

Both players picked up minor injuries in the 1-0 Bernabeu victory two weeks ago and were major doubts for this second leg clash. Rafa Benitez reshuffled his pack from last week's 2-0 win over Sunderland to accommodate both players and make up for the suspended Albert Riera and injured Yossi Benayoun.

Javier Mascherano returned to the centre of the park to partner Xabi Alonso, Dirk Kuyt went back to his usual right wing berth and Steven Gerrard took up a position just behind El Nino in attack. Ryan Babel also came into the side on the left side midfield.

Where Liverpool started the game as slight favourites after Benayoun's now-famous first-leg winner in Spain, they more than justified their upper hand with a fantastic first-half display that left los Blancos well and truly on the ropes.

Fernando Torres stormed through the Real defence with 30 seconds gone, but his final touch just got away from him for a Real defender to clear for a corner. Then Babel had a potshot from just outside the area to set up another corner kick.

Although his touch let him down in the previous chance, Torres then produced a sublime turn from a Steven Gerrard pass to put himself clean through on goal two minutes later.

Madrid defender Pepe was left for dead and Torres fired into the narrow angle, only for Iker Casillas to save low to his left. That touch was truly of the highest order, Dennis Bergkamp eat your heart out.

Javier Mascherano hit the bar from the resulting corner and had another shot saved a matter of seconds later.

Then Liverpool got a free-kick in an excellent position on seven minutes. Torres played in Gerrard with his back to goal and the Reds captain was taken down 20 yards out. He shot through the Real wall from the spot kick and almost got past Casillas' blind side. But the Spanish goalkeeper got a hand to it and cleared the danger.

Los blancos looked to stamp their own identity onto the game after that with some neat passing, but the sheer pace at which Liverpool were insisting on playing this second leg match was really throwing Juande Ramos' side. Every time they tried to get into some kind of rhythm, there was a red shirt on hand to disrupt them.

Then the Reds got a well-deserved goal from the lively Torres on 16 minutes. Pepe Reina hit a long ball forward which fell fortuitously for Torres to edge past Cannavoro and to Kuyt. Then the Dutchman played the ball across the six-yard box for Torres to tap home from close range.

And with that Anfield erupted. While the Real players protested for a non-existent infringement, Gerrard, Torres and Kuyt were savouring a crucial goal to bring the aggregate scoreline up to 2-0. El Nino couldn't have picked a better moment to score his first Champions League goal of the season.

Torres came close again five minutes later with a fantastic glancing header, then Gerrard nearly doubled the lead on 23 minutes with a shot on the stretch. Liverpool's number nine turned two Real defenders near the left-hand byline and fired a cross in across the face of goal and Casillas did well to save from Gerrard's shot.

More drama followed on 28 minutes when Liverpool were awarded a penalty on after Gabriel Heinze handballed just inside the right-hand side of the area.

Gerrard made no mistake from the resulting spot kick and fired past Casillas to double Liverpool's lead.

While one should never get carried away at such an early stage, it's fair to say that Liverpool were playing some of their best football of the season in this opening 45 minutes at Anfield. Even the September win over Manchester United was not played at such a high tempo. Real could not cope with it.

The dominance continued, albeit at a slightly lower intensity. Real managed the odd foray forward but Liverpool swept up the danger on each occasion via a couple of impressive Reina saves and some confident Carragher defending.

Reina produced another fine save from a Real counter attack before the referee booked Mascherano for a reason no one in the whole ground could fathom. It didn't help that the fiery Argentine was so aggrieved about the situation that he spent the remaining minutes berating the official.

But that incident notwithstanding, this was nothing short of a 43-minute master class from Liverpool.

It might have had something to do with the raucous Anfield atmosphere, and those who are taken by such things might have put it down to the full moon, but either way Liverpool were playing like a team possessed throughout the first half. Or maybe it had nothing to do with the outside elements, the whole team deserved credit for such an all-encompassing display.

Juande Ramos attempted to stem the flow with the introduction of Marcelo in place of Arjen Robben at the start of the second half. But within 90 seconds of the restart Liverpool had scored a third through a trademark Gerrard finish and had one foot in the quarter finals.

Fabio Aurelio passed up the wing to Ryan Babel, who took one touch past Sergio Ramos in the Real defence to deliver a pinpoint cross to the incoming Gerrard. The Liverpool captain stormed into the area and met the cross with precision to fire into the roof of the net at the Kop end.

Real already had a mountain to climb before the second half kicked off, but that goal left them well and truly out for the count. No amount of sporting clichés could do justice to such this scoreline - 4-0 up on aggregate and in the hunt for more, Liverpool were well and truly dominating one of the great European giants.

Argentine midfielder Gago tried a curling shot from range on 53 minutes, but it went a yard over the bar and out for a Liverpool goal kick. That was Real's first chance of the half.

Liverpool were at it again from the restart and Babel, who was playing with a new-found spring in his step, skipped past Sergio Ramos to deliver another excellent cross into the danger zone. But no one was quick enough into the area and Casillas comfortable collected.

Lucas Leiva was introduced to the action on 60 minutes for Xabi Alonso, who was making his 200th European appearance, and the Brazilian midfielder made sure the Reds kept up the intensity for the remainder of the match.

Wesley Sneijder had an excellent opportunity to reduce the arrears on 68 minutes. Martin Skrtel was lucky not to get booked for a nasty foul on Rafael van der Vaart which led to a free-kick on the edge of the aread. But despite lining up to shoot a precise drive, Sneijder blasted over the bar into the Anfield Road end.

For all their toiling, Real just couldn't get through the Liverpool rearguard. Each time the Reds calmly cleared and regained their dominant edge.

Torres came close to getting another on 82 minutes when he curled a fierce shot towards the far post, then the Kop began singing a new name in the form of Jay Spearing, who had replaced Gerrard with 17 m.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Babel, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (c), Torres. Subs - Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Kelly, Leiva, Ngog, Spearing

Real Madrid: Casillas, Heinze, Cannavaro, , Ramos, Sneijder, Diarra, Gago, Robben, Higuain, (c). Subs - Dudek, Metzelder, Saviola, Torres, van der Vaart, ,

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere

Conditions:

Attendance: Unavailable

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Fernando Torres

UEFA Champs League 08/09: Kemenangan yang tak dijangka

uefa.com

Madrid caught by Benayoun sucker punch

Wednesday 25 February 2009

Liverpool FC hold the whip hand in this tie after Yossi Benayoun secured the Premier League side a famous 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, leaving Real Madrid CF with it all to do if they are to seize a UEFA Champions League quarter-final berth at Anfield on 10 March.

Tense encounter

Benayoun decided a tense first leg with a header after 82 minutes, rising unmarked to direct Fábio Aurélio's free-kick past Iker Casillas. It capped a resilient performance from Rafael Benítez's charges, who began the game a little wastefully but grew in confidence as the clock ran down.

Gerrard absence

Steven Gerrard's absence from the Liverpool starting lineup undoubtedly gave Madrid a pre-match boost. The sizzling atmosphere cannot have hurt either as the men in white made early inroads. An Arjen Robben through ball almost led to an opening goal after five minutes and, although Pepe Reina denied Raúl González, an early pattern had emerged. Madrid were dominating possession and hunting down openings, while the visitors lost the ball too easily and looked increasingly resigned to a night of defending.

Liverpool chances

When a first chance did arise for the Reds, it sprung from a lapse at the back, the Madrid defensive line failing to intercept a long clearance towards Fernando Torres, who strode forward and forced Casillas into a fine reaction save from close range. The Spain goalkeeper was called into action shortly afterwards too, as Benayoun collected another long pass down the right and tried, unsuccessfully, to beat him with a lob.

Efforts

Those counterpunches restored some balance before Madrid had the ball in the net with half an hour gone, only for Gonzalo Higuaín's header to be disallowed for offside. Marcelo and Robben then fired wide, as did Higuaín following a surging run, yet Liverpool's dogged tackling kept them competitive and Reina did the rest, showing good reflexes to deny Robben via Albert Riera's outstretched leg. Closing out the half, Xabi Alonso tested Casillas from within his own half to restate the visitors' attacking threat.

Robben danger

The Liverpool midfielder was less accurate from significantly closer when he tried his luck again after the restart, with Madrid's own No14, the fit-again Guti, now on in place of Marcelo. Robben shifted to the left to accommodate the newcomer, but the winger continued to enjoy a free role and shot wide from the right. Both coaches had predicted a tight affair and they were being proved right, with neither team able to establish genuine supremacy as time ticked down. In terms of individuals, Robben remained the danger man for the hosts and Benayoun made some good runs for Liverpool, with Torres subdued after receiving a knock and eventually replaced by Ryan Babel.

Benayoun goal

The greater urgency unsurprisingly belonged to Madrid, eager to build a first-leg lead, but after yet another Robben effort – the Dutchman unleashing a powerful strike that Reina tipped over – Benayoun had the final, and potentially decisive, word. The entrance of Gerrard at the end merely capped a memorable night for the noisy travelling supporters, although Riera will be suspended for the second leg.

The Reds v Galacticos: A day before the lagendary battle

uefa.com

First knockout round - 25 February 2009 20:45 (CET)

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - Madrid - Spain

Two of European football's most illustrious names will come together for only the second time when Real Madrid CF and Liverpool FC get their first knockout round contest under way at the Santiago Bernabéu.

• Twenty-eight years after Liverpool claimed the European Champion Clubs' Cup at Madrid's expense with a 1-0 final win in Paris, these two clubs with 14 continental crowns between them will meet again in a duel containing multiple subplots.

• The presence of Rafael Benítez in the opposition dugout adds arguably the thickest splash of intrigue given his close association with the Spanish champions, with whom he spent a decade and a half of his sporting life.

• Born in Madrid, Benítez joined the Santiago Bernabéu side as a young hopeful in 1973/74 and spent seven years in the youth and reserve ranks. After injury had ended his playing days, he returned to the club in 1986 to embark on a coaching career in their youth system. He rose the ladder to become coach of Castilla, Madrid's B team, and, in 1993/94, had an eleven-game spell assisting then caretaker boss Vicente Del Bosque with the first team.

• Benítez is not the only man at Anfield with a Madrid connection for defender Álvaro Arbeloa made two Liga appearances for Los Merengues in the 2004/05 campaign, the high point of a three-season spell with the club. A regular for the B team, he moved on to RC Deportivo La Coruña in 2005 in search of first-team football.

• Liverpool's squad features five Spanish players in Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa, Pepe Reina, Albert Riera and Fernando Torres, the erstwhile icon of Madrid's city rivals Club Atlético de Madrid.

• In the white corner, meanwhile, is Juande Ramos, the Madrid coach who took the helm at the Bernabéu in December, six weeks after his 12-month stay in the Premier League had ended with his dismissal by Tottenham Hotspur FC.
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• Madrid's bench will also likely feature Jerzy Dudek, now back-up goalkeeper at the Bernabéu but, in 2005, the hero of Liverpool's penalty shoot-out triumph against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul. Dudek's miraculous extra-time double save from Andriy Shevchenko and decisive penalty stop from the same player earned him a place in Anfield folklore.

• Champions for the fifth time in 2005, Liverpool's recent record in the competition – they are targeting a fourth quarter-final in five years – means they will start as slight favourites against a Madrid side who have not advanced beyond the last 16 since 2004.

• The Merseyside club progressed from the first stage as Group D winners ahead of Atlético having recorded four victories and two draws in their six games. Hosts Madrid finished runners-up in Group H behind Juventus, with four wins and two defeats to their name.

• Madrid's home record against English opposition reads P9 W4 D4 L1. Their only defeat to date came in their most recent UEFA Champions League tie against a Premier League team, when Arsenal FC won 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu in the 2005/06 first knockout round.

• Madrid's defeat by Arsenal left them with a record of five wins and three losses in two-legged ties with English sides.

• Madrid have lost three UEFA finals against opposition from England, notably the European Cup final against Liverpool in Paris on 27 May 1981. Alan Kennedy's solitary 81st-minute strike that evening earned Liverpool manager Bob Paisley the honour of becoming the first and so far only man to have led a team to three European Cups.

• Liverpool's team included their current assistant manager Sammy Lee and the full lineups were:

Liverpool: Ray Clemence, Phil Neal, Alan Hansen, Phil Thompson, Alan Kennedy, Sammy Lee, Terry McDermott, Graeme Souness, Ray Kennedy, Kenny Dalglish (Jimmy Case), David Johnson.

Real Madrid: Agustín Rodríguez, Rafael García Cortés (Francisco Pineda), Andrés Sabido, Antonio García Navajas, José Antonio Camacho, Ángel De Los Santos, Vicente Del Bosque, Uli Stielike, Juanito, Carlos Santillana, Lawrie Cunningham.

• Madrid also lost both the 1971 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final and the 1998 UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea FC.

• Liverpool, by contrast, also triumphed against Spain's Deportivo Alavés in the 2001 UEFA Cup final, winning a remarkable match 5-4 after extra time.

• Liverpool's record in Spain reads P12 W6 D4 L2. Their last victory was a 2-1 success at FC Barcelona on 21 February 2007 and their most recent loss came five games ago, 2-0 at Valencia CF in the 2002/03 first group stage.

• Liverpool also have an excellent record in two-legged ties against Spanish opponents, having won six of their seven previous contests. Their most recent success came in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round in 2006/07, an away goals triumph against Barcelona following a 2-2 aggregate draw.

• Madrid veteran Míchel Salgado featured in the RC Celta de Vigo side that became the first, and so far only, Spanish team to have bettered Liverpool over two legs with a 4-1 aggregate win in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup third round.

• Despite their pedigree against Spanish sides and wealth of European experience, Liverpool had never played a competitive fixture in Madrid prior to their 1-1 draw with Atlético in the group stage in October.

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• Madrid manager Ramos faced Liverpool twice last season during his time in charge of Tottenham. His Spurs side earned a 2-2 draw at Anfield on 7 October 2007, Torres denying him victory with a 90th-minute equaliser. Torres also struck Liverpool's second when Tottenham went down 2-0 in the return fixture in north London on 11 May last year.

• As coach of Sevilla FC, Ramos's record against English clubs in the UEFA competitions was P5 W2 D2 L1. His Sevilla side beat Middlesbrough FC 4-0 in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup final and overcame Tottenham over two legs in the 2006/07 quarter-finals.

• During his time at Valencia between 2001 and 2004, Benítez took his side to the Bernabéu four times. They suffered Liga defeats there in 2001/02 and 2002/03 – losing 1-0 and 4-1 respectively – and went down 3-0 in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals in his final season, although they did also earn a 1-1 league draw there in 2003/04.

• Madrid winger Arjen Robben spent three seasons in the Premier League with Chelsea and finished on the losing side in a trio of semi-finals against Liverpool in that time – the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League, the 2005/06 FA Cup, and the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League, having a penalty saved by Reina in the shoot-out that decided the last of those ties.

• Liverpool striker Torres did not win a single game against Madrid in nine attempts with their city rivals Atlético. His only strike in the fixture came in a 1-1 home draw on 24 February 2007, his final derby for Atlético.

• When Madrid and Liverpool met at the Bernabéu during a four-team friendly tournament on 2 August 2002, the home side won 2-0 through goals from Luís Figo and Javier Portillo. Guti and Salgado featured for Madrid that day and Dudek and Jamie Carragher for Liverpool.

• The second leg will be played at Anfield on 10 March.

©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.

EPL 2008/09: Liverpool kekal di takhta

Penalti yang disudahkan oleh ketua pasukan, Steven Gerrard pada minit ke-75 sudah cukup untuk The Reds mengekalkan kedudukan takhta liga buat masa ini.

Barisan yang diturunkan oleh Benitez tanpa kehadiran bintangnya (Torres) kelihatan begitu menyengat serta memberi ancaman kuat ke atas kubu pihak lawan. Namun keadaan tersebut masih belum cukup untuk membuahkan jaringan sebelum minit ke-75.

Gerrard menyempurnakan sepakan penalti

Peter Crouch merebut bola

Pengurus baru Portsmouth, Tony Adams dan Benitez

_______________________________________

LIVERPOOL 1 - 0 PORTSMOUTH

Wednesday 29 October 2008 20:00

Barclays Premier League

SPOT-ON GERRARD KEEPS LIVERPOOL TOP

Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 17 games after Steven Gerrard's 75th-minute penalty helped overcome Portsmouth 1-0 at Anfield.

The result keeps Rafa Benitez's men three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with 26 points from a possible 30. The Reds dominated the play for much of the match, but failed to put that killer touch on to a series of well-worked moves.

Dirk Kuyt was a threat throughout and Steven Gerrard always looked liable to unlock the Pompey rearguard, and it might have been a much more flattering scoreline had one of their earlier efforts gone in during the first half.

Liverpool's first chance of the match came on ten minutes when Dirk Kuyt hit the post from 15 yards with a curling low effort. The move started with Lucas Leiva finding Jermaine Pennant to lay the ball back to the Dutchman. Kuyt picked his spot and had David James well beaten, but the ball rebounded off the woodwork to safety.

Minutes later it was Lucas Leiva's turn to have a go. The Brazilian rose to head over from another Pennant delivery in a similar position to which he scored against Crewe Alexandra. With numerous corner kicks in the opening minutes, Liverpool looked every inch the top of the table team at the start of this clash.

They continued to probe the Pompey goal but time and time again lacked a ruthless edge in the final third. Gerrard continued to find himself in great positions, and all too often there was no one in the six-yard box to capitalise on the skipper's dangerous balls across the penalty area.

But Liverpool were very much the superior team throughout and, apart from a long-range headed effort from Younes Kaboul in the 24th minute, Portsmouth rarely threatened Liverpool and it was clear that Tony Adams was looking to sneak a point at fortress Anfield in his first match in charge of the south-coast club.

The second half started with much more urgency from the Reds and Rafa Benitez's men went in search of another win with a succession of high-pressure attacks. With the Kop in full voice, it seemed only a matter of time until they sucked the ball into the net like the old days, and the status quo was soon restored when Sami Hyypia - who was an assured presence at the back from start to finish - forced Papa Bouba Diop into handling in the penalty area 15 minutes from time.

Steven Gerrard made no mistake from the resulting penalty kick to ensure Liverpool - the only unbeaten side in the Premier League - stayed at the top of the table.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Babel, Alonso, Leiva, Pennant, Gerrard (captain), Kuyt. Subs - Benayoun, Keane, Dossena, Riera, Cavalieri, Mascherano, Agger

Portsmouth: James, Traore, Distin (captain), Kaboul, Pamarot, Belhadj, Davis, Diop, Diarra, Utaka, Crouch. Subs - Ashdown, Mvuemba, Hughes, , Defoe, Kranjcar, Hreidarsson

Referee: S Tanner

Conditions: Chilly

Attendance: 43,378

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Steven Gerrard

EPL 2008/09: Petanda awal menuju kejuaraan

Xabi Alonso lega mendengar wisel penamat

Ini adalah permulaan yang terbaik bagi The Kops sepanjang 20 tahun dalam perebutan kejuaraan Liga Perdana Inggeris.

Pemain meraikan jaringan Xabi

Rekod 86 perlawanan tanpa kalah selama 4 tahun dan 8 bulan Chelsea di Stamford Bridge berkecai turut memeriahkan lagi suasana kegembiraan penyokong kelab ini.

Benitez dan Scolari mencatur strategi

Biarpun jaringan yang tidak cantik (kira nasib le tu!), tetapi sudah cukup untuk memastikan pencabar utama itu menggigit jari.

Suasana tegang antara Reina dan Terry

Bagiku, dua pemain yang berjaya membawa perlawanan ini berpihak kepada Liverpool iaitu, Albert Riera (menghasilkan pelbagai alternatif dimensi serangan) dan Jimmy Caragher (jeneral bagi jentera pertahanan).

Gerrard membuat hantaran silang

Mascherano dan Deco merebut bola

________________________________

Liverpool.TV

Chelsea..0 Liverpool..1

Sunday 26 October 2008 13:30

Barclays Premier League

Stamford Bridge

ALONSO FIRES REDS CLEAR AT THE TOP

Liverpool have moved three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League after Xabi Alonso's first-half strike gave them a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard's first goal of the season was enough to maintain the Reds' unbeaten start to the season and brings an end to the Blues' proud home run that had stretched to 86 matches undefeated.

It means Liverpool have now notched up a landmark 600th top-flight victory on the road and halts a Chelsea hoodoo that had seen them win only once at the Bridge - in January 2004 - since the inauguration of the Premier League.

Both sides had gone into the match level on points at the summit of English football and with Chelsea protecting their incredible Bridge record, few observers would have been surprised to see them create the first opening of this heavyweight bout on three minutes.

A slip from Alonso allowed Nicolas Anelka to seize possession and race towards the Liverpool goal. The Frenchman jinked past the first defender before seeing the ball break menacingly towards Deco, but just when it seemed the Portuguese playmaker would open the scoring, Jamie Carragher intervened with one of his trademark blocks to deflect the ball to safety.

If the home support thought it was a sign of things to come then they would be very mistaken, and Alonso's next contribution would result in the opening goal of the game on 10 minutes.

A long throw on the right was flicked on by Dirk Kuyt and as Robbie Keane battled for it, the ball fell invitingly to Alonso who did not waste his chance, firing an awkward left-foot shot that deflected past Petr Cech and into the net.

It was a dream start for a Rafa and co and they would go on to boss the remainder of the first-half, restricting Chelsea to wayward shots from distance, whilst carving out one or two good opportunities of their own.

Indeed, it could have got even better for the visitors on 16 minutes when the impressive Albert Riera danced his way beyond the attentions of Jose Bosingwa and fizzed a shot just wide of the near post.

With Steven Gerrard operating just behind lone striker Robbie Keane, the Reds continued to cause problems, and the skipper nearly added to his eclectic mix of great goals with a stunning 25 yarder that Petr Cech somehow managed to touch over the crossbar.

For their part, Chelsea continued to probe for openings but the away side were well worth their interval lead and Deco's 34th minute piledriver was the closest they came to troubling Pepe Reina.

The home side upped their tempo in the second period but it was the away side who continued to enjoy the best attacking moments with Dirk Kuyt firing just wide from 20 yards.

If the Dutchman's strike was close, then Alonso's exquisite free-kick was even closer, with only a lick of paint on the post preventing the midfielder from doubling his tally.

At times Liverpool were playing some breathtaking counter-attacking football and substitute Ryan Babel was only inches away from collecting a pass to send him clear on goal while Javier Mascherano over-hit his cross when he may have been better placed to shoot.

Babel then showed a cameo of what he is all about with a great first touch to turn his man before sending a sizzling effort wide of the left-hand post.

With so many opportunities going begging, there was always the nagging doubt that Luiz Felipe Scolari's men would snatch a draw, but with Jamie Carragher once again immense at the back, the Reds saw it out to secure Rafael Benitez's first victory away to one of the top-flight's so-called big four.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Keane. Subs - Hyypia, Babel, Leiva, Dossena, Cavalieri, Pennant, Benayoun

Chelsea: Cech, Cole, Terry (captain), Carvalho, Bosingwa, Malouda, Lampard, Obi Mikel, , Kalou, Anelka. Subs - Cudicini, Ferreira, Belletti, Di Santo, Sinclair, Ivanovic,

Referee: Howard Webb

Conditions: wet

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Jamie Carragher

UEFA Champs League 08/09: Matchday 3 (22nd October 2008)

uefa.com


GROUP A


Terry header ends Roma resistance
Chelsea FC strengthened their hold on Group A when a header from John Terry 13 minutes from time finally broke the resistance of an AS Roma side who had battled hard and intelligently to keep the Blues at bay.


Bordeaux gain from CFR's slice of misfortune
CFR 1907 Cluj tasted defeat in the UEFA Champions League for the first time after an own goal from their captain Cadú kick-started FC Girondins de Bordeaux's Group A campaign.



GROUP D
Simão the great leveller for Atlético
A late equaliser from Simão denied Liverpool FC a third successive UEFA Champions League victory and earned Club Atlético de Madrid a point which kept the Spanish side joint top of Group D.

Kelayakan Piala Dunia 2010: Torres cedera

FIFA.com

Torres suffers thigh injury

(AFP) Wednesday 15

Fernando Torres is in danger of missing Liverpool's English Premeir League game with Wigan Athletic on Saturday after suffering a thigh injury in Spain's 2-1 qualifying win over Belgium on Wednesday.

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Torres had to be replaced by Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas in the 15th minute in this 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifier.
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Spain team doctor Oscar Celada told Spanish television: "He has intense pain in the back part of the thigh. It is difficult to diagnose now exactly the extent, if it is a question of a strain or a small tear. If it is a strain then he could be out for about a week."

UEFA EURO 2008 champions Spain lead Group 5 but only after David Villa struck in the closing stages.
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Belgium took the lead from Wesley Sonck's seventh minute header, the first goal Spain keeper Iker Casillas has conceded since 14 June 2007.

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Andres Iniesta levelled for Spain in the 36th minute before Villa came up with the winner two minutes from time. Spain top Group 5 with 12 points from Turkey on eight and Belgium one behind in third.

EPL 2008/09: Remarkable comeback at Eastlands

liverpoolfc.tv

KUYT COMPLETES LAST-GASP COMEBACK

MANCHESTER CITY 2-3 LIVERPOOL

Sunday 05 October 2008 15:00 , Barclays Premier League

An injury-time winner from Dirk Kuyt completed a remarkable comeback to give Liverpool a 3-2 victory at Eastlands on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds came from two down at the break thanks largely to a close-range brace from Fernando Torres, the first of which, our 1,000th Premier League goal, was followed by the dismissal of City's Pablo Zabaleta for a two-footed tackle on Xabi Alonso.

With the game heading for a draw, Kuyt popped up to score his first league goal since November and keep Liverpool joint top going into the international break.

The only sour note was a late injury to Martin Skrtel, who was stretchered from the field in agony after falling awkwardly on his knee.

Rafa Benitez gave the home faithful reason to cheer by leaving Robbie Keane on the bench, a player who has scored against City wearing the colours of four different clubs.

Those in sky blue would soon be smiling even more broadly after an opening 45 minutes which brought a 2-0 lead over a side their cash-rich owners soon hope to challenge in the top four. The game got off to a frenetic start, with both sides carving out opportunities to suggest this fixture wouldn't end in a third consecutive bore draw.

From the off, Albert Riera seemed intent on justifying his boast that he'd grown since a loan spell here in 2006. Within two minutes he'd skipped past Zabaleta to deliver a teasing cross which just evaded Kuyt. The trick was repeated just after the quarter-hour mark but this time the Dutch forward blazed over.

At the other end a half volley from Brazilian star Robinho tested Pepe Reina, who got down smartly to maintain his record of never conceding against City.

With attacking talent like Shaun Wright-Phillips, Elano, Jo and, of course, Robinho on show, it was always going to be tough for this stat to remain in tact. And so it proved on 18 minutes when Wright-Phillips robbed Fabio Aurelio before delivering a low cross which ricocheted past the despairing legs of Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa to Stephen Ireland. His fierce finish gave Reina no chance.

Both sides continued to create opportunities but it was City who extended their lead on 42 minutes when Wright-Phillips somehow convinced Phillip Walton he'd been tripped by Riera. The subsequent curler from Garrido prompted an inquest among those in red as to the placing of the wall, but the fact remained it was City who led 2-0 at the break.

Whether or not the debate continued into the dressing room, the Reds came out as a totally different side in the second period.

Seconds after the restart Kuyt was put through by Steven Gerrard only to fall in the box under pressure from Richard Dunne. The appeal was strong but Mr Walton kept his whistle in his pocket.

It's been a week of impressive stats at Liverpool, and two more arrived after Arbeloa's goalmouth cross was tapped in by Torres on 55 minutes. Not only was it the club's 1,000th league goal since the old First Division was abolished in 1992, it also brought the Spaniard level with Patrick Berger as our highest scoring foreigner in the Premier League - both on 28.

The Reds continued to probe, though City worked well on the counter, notably when Wright-Phillips skipped past Aurelio only for Robinho to sky over when it seemed easier to score.

Their cause wasn't helped on 67 minutes when Zabaleta went in studs first on Alonso and received a red card for his trouble. The crowd didn't like it, but replays showed Mr Walton made the right decision.

Mark Hughes responded quickly, sacrificing Jo for Gelson Fernandes, while Benitez introduced Robbie Keane and Andrea Dossena for Javier Mascherano and Aurelio respectively.

Whether it could be described as inspired is open to debate, but Dossena won a corner with his first touch, and the subsequent kick from Gerrard was headed into the net by Torres from close range. Berger's record was gone and the travelling Kop bounced with glee.

They were still doing so on 82 minutes when their hero missed a glorious chance to make it 3-2 after blazing high and wide with an outstretched leg at the far post.

A quite remarkable game - and comeback - looked to have ended on a sour note for Liverpool after Martin Skrtel fell awkwardly during a superb piece of last-gasp defending. The Slovak was carried from the field in obvious pain.

With no substitutions left, the Reds had to see out six minutes of injury time with just 10 men. But they didn't just see it out. Seconds after the game got back underway, the ball was in the City box once more after substitute Yossi Benayoun found that man Torres. El Nino's shot was deflected to Kuyt, who pounced to record his first league goal in almost a year.

Teams

Manchester City: Hart, Garrido, Dunne (c), Richards, Zabaleta, Blumer, Ireland, Kompany, Wright-Phillips, , . Subs - Ben-Haim, Evans, Fernandes, Hamann, Petrov, Schmeichel, Sturridge

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (c), Torres. Subs - Agger, Babel, Benayoun, Cavalieri, Dossena, Keane, Leiva

Referee: Phil Walton

Conditions:

Attendance: Unavailable

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Fernando Torres

Liga Perdana Inggeris 2008/09: Musuh setempat dibenam

Everton..2 Liverpool..0

English Premier League 2008/09 - Match 6

Goodison Park, Liverpool

[Penjaring: Torres (2)]

Torres meraikan gol jaringan pertamanya

Dua jarungan Fernando Torres dalam separuh masa kedua di Goodison Park telah cukup untuk memastikan kemenangan skuad The Reds dalam perlawanan keenam Liga Perdana Inggeris.

Jaringan tersebut merupakan jaringan sulung peribadi Torres untuk Liverpool semasa menentang musuh setempat mereka ini.

Apa yang menarik adalah ketenangan Torres mencari penjuru gol lawan dengan tenang sambil membiarkan Tim Howard terpaku memerhatikan sahaja bola menerjah masuk ke dalam gawangnya.


http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/

EVERTON 0 - 2 LIVERPOOL
Saturday 27 September 2008 12:45 , Barclays Premier League

TORRES BRACE SEALS DERBY TRIUMPH

Fernando Torres fired home an explosive double as Liverpool ran riot in the 208th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

The Spanish hot-shot blew the Toffees away with two goals in four second-half minutes to clinch a 2-0 win for Rafael Benitez's side and ensure the Reds equalled their best start to a Premier League campaign since the 96-97 campaign when they took 14 points from their opening six matches.

It means Liverpool are now in joint-second place in the table following Chelsea's win at Stoke. Prior to kick-off the Reds had failed to score in the first-half of each of their last seven league matches and that stat now stands at eight after the first 45 ended in stalemate.

That's not to say it was not full of incident as both sides fought tooth and nail to make the breakthrough in what proved to be a typically full-blooded encounter.

The home support love nothing more than to see their heroes come out on top against the Reds and there was certainly an increased sense of expectation in the stands as David Moyes' men went in search of their first home win of the campaign.

They could have made the perfect start too, but Tim Cahill somehow contrived to miss his kick from eight yards out after Mikel Arteta's 14th minute corner had evaded everyone at the near post.

The chance came on the back of a good spell of possession for Rafael Benitez's side and they responded to the let off by carving out a good chance of their own, when Fernando Torres' close range shot was brilliantly blocked by Joseph Yobo after great play down the left by Albert Riera.
For all Liverpool's good approach play it was Everton who continued to create the more clear-cut opportunities and the Reds - and Pepe Reina in particular - were left to breath a huge sigh of relief on 28 minutes. The Spanish stopper flapped at a hoisted cross from the right and presented Marouane Fellaini with a great chance to mark his derby debut with a goal.

The Belgian midfielder did everything right, lashing a low drive towards goal, but he was brilliantly denied on the goal-line by Jamie Carragher - only for the defender to see that referee Mike Riley had generously blown for a free-kick to the Reds.

The remainder of the half was a scrappy affair with neither side able to manufacture a serious goalscoring opportunity although Xabi Alonso should have done better with a 25-yard drive that flew harmlessly into the stand.

There was a sense throughout the ground that there was much more to come from the 208th Merseyside derby and it proved to be the case for those in red. As the half wore on it looked more and more likely that Liverpool's purposeful approach play would pay dividends and the Gwladys Street faithful were almost 'treated' to the sight of Steven Gerrard's 100th goal for the club on 52 minutes but the skipper's 25 yarder dragged just wide of Tim Howard's far post.

Ahead of the match Benitez had given derby debuts to Alvaro Arbeloa, Andrea Dossena, Albert Riera and Robbie Keane - and the latter two marked the experience by playing a decisive part in Liverpool's opening goal.

Riera showed great feet to create space down the left and when he sent Keane racing into the area, the Irishman crossed for Torres to expertly volley home his second of the season on 58 minutes.

It had looked like being a frustrating afternoon for El Nino after the Spaniard was booked for dissent five minutes after the restart, but having grabbed his first since the opening day of the season win at Sunderland, he duly set about adding his second.

Once again it was some superb approach play by Keane that saw the forward feed the ball into Dirk Kuyt and although the Dutchman was challenged out of a shot at goal, Torres was on hand to nonchalantly steer an effort into the top corner.

At this point it looked like the latest in a long line of great Liverpool number nine's could possibly go on to emulate the incredible feat of the legendary Ian Rush, who memorably struck four goals in a Goodison derby 25 years ago last November.

He may have had a chance too, but his stunning drive form an acute angle was harshly ruled out on 65 minutes for offside. The hosts were now showing signs of serious frustration and it was no surprise when Cahill saw red for a late challenge on Alonso - game over.

All that was needed now was for El Nino to cap the afternoon with his treble - but it wasn't to be. Not that the travelling Kop were complaining as they happily performed the 'Torres bounce' while the Reds extended their run of Goodison triumphs to seven from their last nine visits.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Riera, Gerrard (captain), Alonso, Kuyt, Torres, Keane. Subs - Hyypia, Aurelio, Babel, Leiva, Cavalieri, Agger, Pennant

Everton: Howard, Lescott, Yobo, Jagielka, Hibbert, Osman (captain), Neville, Fellaini, Arteta, Cahill, . Subs - Vaughan, Valente, Saha, Baines, Rodwell, Nash, Castillo

Referee: Mike Riley

Conditions: Sunny

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Fernando Torres

UEFA Champs League 2008/09: Analisis Perlawanan Pembukaan

Matchday 1 - 16 & 17hb September 2008

AS Roma..1 CFR 1907 Cluj..2

Kejutan terbesar pada hari pertama sudah pasti terarah kepada keupayaan kelab dari Romania, CFR 1907 Cluj yang pertama kali layak ke kejohanan ini, membenam pasukan gergasi Itali iaitu AS Roma di Rome.

Werder Bremen..0 Anorthosis..0

Celtic FC..0 Aalborg..0

Selain CFR, kelab-kelab bukan pilihan seperti Anorthosis dan Aalborg turut mendapat keputusan yang agak baik setelah berjaya mengikat lawan masing-masing.

Juan Culio menghasilkan dua gol buat CFR

FC Steaua Bucuresti..0 Bayern Munich..1

Juventus..1 Zenit St Petersbourgh..0

PSV Eindhoven..0 Athletico Madrid..3

Beberapa pasukan gergasi seperti Bayern Munich, Juventus serta Athletico Madrid yang lama menghilang, telah kembali ke pentas ini dengan permulaan yang baik.

Aguero meraikan gol bersama Luis Garcia

Chelsea..4 Bordeaux..0

Marseille..1 Liverpool..2

Manchester United..0 Vilareal..0

Dynamo Kiev..1 Arsenal..1

Namun begitu, kelab-kelab utama dari Liga Perdana Inggeris masih lagi menjadi pilihan untuk memenangi kejuaraan bagi musim ini. Keputusan yang diperolehi oleh Chelsea dan Liverpool cukup meyakinkan sebaliknya Manchester United dan Arsenal telah diikat oleh lawan masing-masing.

Steven Gerrard meraikan gol kedua