UCL : PSV 0 – 3 Liverpool FC

PSV EINDHOVEN 0 – 3 LIVERPOOL Tuesday 03 April 2007 19:45 , Champions League Quarter Final (1)

REDS CRUISE TO Q-FINAL FIRST LEG SUCCESS Liverpool have one foot in the semi-final of the Champions League following an impressive 3-0 victory against PSV in the Philips Stadium on Tuesday night. Goals from Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch fired the Reds to a comfortable quarter-final first leg success that leaves them odd on favourites to secure their place in the last four. And on what was another memorable night of European football, Gerrard rewrote the history books – his goal taking him beyond legendary Anfield striker Ian Rush as the club’s all-time top marksman in the European Cup. The skipper broke the deadlock in the 27th minute, heading home from a Steve Finnan centre to register his 15th goal in the competition, and from that point the outcome never seemed in doubt. Any faint hope the lacklustre Dutch side may have had of forcing their way back into the game evaporated shortly after the break when Riise increased the lead with a trademark thunderbolt finish from 30-yards out. Crouch then sealed the emphatic win when he towered above the home defence to head Finnan’s cross into the top corner of the net. The only downside to the evening was an Achilles injury sustained by Fabio Aurelio midway through the second half; the Brazilian pulling up when unopposed in the opposition half and stretchered off. But even that couldn’t dampen the mood of the jubilant travelling Liverpudlians who headed for home with their dreams of another European Cup triumph in May firmly intact. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Riise, Agger, Carragher, Finnan, Aurelio, Gerrard MBE (captain), Alonso, Mascherano, Crouch, Bellamy. Subs – Hyypia, Zenden, Gonzalez, Pennant, Arbeloa, Bellamy, Dudek PSV Eindhoven: Gomes, Simons, Vayrynen, Mendez, Kromkamp, Culina, Cocu, Da Costa, Salcido, Farfan, Tardelli. Subs – Addo, Marcellis, Kluivert, Moens, Feher Referee: Bertrand Layec (France) Conditions: Dry and mild Attendance: Unknown Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Javier Mascherano Breakdown 18:05 GMT : Match Starts 18:46 GMT : Match Starts 1 min : PSV kick the game off but Liverpool are on the attack straight away 2 mins : Vayrynen turns and shoots over from just insude the box 6 mins : Carragher puts the ball behind for a throw in as PSV attack 11 mins : Masherano does well to win the ball but PSV pick up a pass and start an attack 15 mins : Riise attempts to hook the ball into the area but the ball is deflected behind for a corner 16 mins : Carragher header well saved by Gomes is the PSV goal 19 mins : A move between Agger, Gerrard abd Kuyt breaks down just over the half-way line 20 mins : Crouch shoots high and wide from outside the box 22 mins : PSV go close to taking the lead but a close range shot is deflected over the bar 27 mins : GOAL! Steven Gerrard MBE: Great header from the captain 33 mins : PSV win a corner after a free-kick floated into the box is put behind by a Liverpool defender 37 mins : REina saves well as PSV mount a rare attack 38 mins : First Booking: Javier Mascherano: Late challenge sees the midfielder enter the book 40 mins : Reds attack breaks down as Alonso and Kuyt attempt to link up together 43 mins : Crouch shoots well wide of goal from distance 19:30 GMT : Half Time Reached 19:46 GMT : Second Half Begins 46 mins : Alonso hits a shot against the ground the bounces over the bar 49 mins : GOAL! John Arne Riise: Great half-volley from outside the box 51 mins : Substitution: Patrick Kluivert for Edison Mendez: 56 mins : Riise almost takes advantage of a misunderstanding inside the PSV area 58 mins : Alonso attempts a chip over the PSV ‘keeper from just over the half-way line but his shot clears the bar 62 mins : GOAL! Peter Crouch: Heads home into the top corner from a Finnan centre 65 mins : Substitution: Boudewijn Zenden for John Arne Riise: 67 mins : Substitution: Csaba Feher for Jan Kromkamp: 69 mins : Salcido shoots well wide after the ball breaks free inside the Liverpool box 71 mins : First Booking: Diego Tardelli: 72 mins : Aurelio goes down clutching his leg despite no challenge. It looks a serious injury 74 mins : Substitution: Mark Gonzalez for Fabio Aurelio: 76 mins : Kuyt wins a free-kick inside the PSV half but Liverpool, can’t make it count 77 mins : Gonzalez shoots wide of goal from distance 82 mins : Gonzalez beats teh offside trap but his cross is deflected behind for a corner 84 mins : Substitution: Jermaine Pennant for Peter Crouch: 86 mins : Gonzalez shoots high over the bar after a great attack is started by Gerrard 20:34 GMT : Match Over Watch PSV 0-3 Liverpool Match Highlight : Here

EPL : Liverpool VS Fulham

Last season the Reds hammered Fulham 5-1 at Anfield when Robbie Fowler scored his first goal since returning to Liverpool.

Watch Video clips : Liverpool VS Fulham
credit by wpeart

Also on the mark that night were Fernando Morientes, Peter Crouch and Stephen Warnock plus an own goal from Michael Brown.

Check Match Live Stream here :

live stream#1 / live stream#2

FOUR-MIDABLE REDS WIN AT WIGAN

Liverpool are celebrating their first away win of the season in the Premiership after goals from Craig Bellamy (2), Dirk Kuyt and an own goal from Lee McCulloch gave them an emphatic 4-0 over Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium.

It’s the Reds’ biggest win of the season so far and one they thoroughly deserved after they put Paul Jewell’s side to the sword with all four goals in the opening 45 minutes. They were boosted by the return of Xabi Alonso and Craig Bellamy for this game and they got off to a great start when Bellamy gave them the lead in the 9th minute. It came when Riise’s long pass glanced off the head of Boyce; and Bellamy won his tussle with Jackson before closing in on Kirkland and finishing superbly from 12 yards. It carried on getting better for the Reds because Bellamy grabbed his second goal of the game and made it 2-0 in the 26th minute. Again Wigan couldn’t deal with the pace of the Welsh striker and again he finished brilliantly when this time Gerrard’s pass had put him one on one with Chris Kirkland. Rafa Benitez has always stressed the importance of scoring the first goal, especially away from home, so he must have been delighted to see his side go on and score the game’s first four goals to lead at 4-0 at half time. They made it 3-0 through Dirk Kuyt in the 40th minute when Bellamy turned provider to cross and give the Dutchman an easy chance at the far post. And it was 4-0 in the 44th minute when Lee McCulloch deflected the ball into his own net from Steven Gerrard’s cross. Liverpool didn’t have it all their own way in the first half though and it had taken two fine saves from Pepe Reina from first Scharner and then Heskey to keep Wigan out when the game was 2-0 and still in the balance. It would have been greedy after such a good first half to expect the goals to continue after the break, but Liverpool continued to control things and they were always a threat. And when Wigan did break through, they found their scoring touch missing when McCulloch, Cotterill and Wright missed easy chances. Steve Finnan almost made it 5-0 in 68th minute when his fierce right foot shot flashed just wide of a post, but the strong following of Reds behind that goal were already more than happy with what they’d seen. The Reds return to the scene of one of their most memorable venues on Tuesday night, Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium, and they’ll be taking with them fond memories of Wigan’s JJB Stadium after this win.

Teams:
Liverpool: Reina, Riise, Hyypia, Agger, Finnan, Garcia, Carragher, Alonso, Gerrard (captain), Bellamy, Kuyt. Subs – Dudek, Pennant, Guthrie, Paletta, Fowler

Wigan Athletic: Kirkland, Baines (captain), Boyce, Jackson, Hall, Skoko, Scharner, Kilbane, McCulloch, Heskey, Camara. Subs – Cotterill, Pollitt, Landzaat, Wright, Johansson

Referee: Mike Riley

Conditions: Cold

Attendance: 22,089

From the official site article

LIVERPOOL VS PORTSMOUTH: THE FINAL WORD

Liverpool earned a Premiership point with a 0-0 draw against Pompey. Here’s the best of the post-match reaction?

The Liverpool Manager In the first half we were controlling everything and had a lot of shots and crosses but in the second half they played deeper and some of our players were a little bit tired.

We know we could have gone third in the table but when you cannot win you must be happy if your team works hard and tries to do the right things.

We tried to do the right things and it was difficult at times because they wasted a lot of time but if the referee doesn’t do anything about it you can’t do anything.

Rafael Benitez The opposition manager We worked so hard and David James really had very little to do, a quiet night. The people in front of him worked hard, the midfield five and Sol didn’t break sweat. We had no option but to contain them.

Harry Redknapp The local newspaper Liverpool supporters went into last night’s match with Portsmouth scratching their heads as to who would partner Steven Gerrard in midfield – but they left Anfield scratching their heads wondering how their team failed to secure victory.

Harry Redknapp’s side were well and truly battered by the hosts but they held out for a precious point on what was a hugely frustrating evening for Rafael Benitez’s charges.

Chris Beesley, Daily Post The broadsheet newspaper Third place beckoned here last night, results elsewhere presenting Rafael Benítez’s side with an opportunity they have hardly merited, yet the chance was passed up.

Portsmouth, resolute and unflappable, perch where their hosts had aspired to be and few could deny them their delight.

Dominic Fifield, The Guardian The Liverpool supporter It was one-way traffic towards the Pompey goal, but we created few clear-cut chances.

Pompey set about mixing the game up, making it difficult and they succeeded.

Although we moved the ball about well, we lacked the cutting edge to break through, extravagant flicks and passes didn’t come off and long balls were pumped to nowhere.

Stevie G tried to inspire the team but can’t do it every single game. JMD, LFC Message boards

From the official site article

Premiership : LIVERPOOL 0 – 0 PORTSMOUTH

Wednesday 29 November 2006 20:00 ,

Barclays Premiership
REDS HELD IN FRUSTRATING STALEMATE
Liverpool have dropped Premiership points at home for only the second time this season after Portsmouth’s rearguard action earned them a point in a goalless draw.
The Reds controlled the game from first minute till last but didn’t take any of the scoring opportunities which came their way as Harry Redknapp’s side joined Blackburn Rovers as the only side to prevent Liverpool winning in front of their fans this season. Pompey rarely threatened as an attacking force but their defence proved too stubborn for the home side to break down during what was ultimately a frustrating night’s work for Rafa Benitez’s side. After the initial exchanges it seemed to be a question of when rather than if Liverpool would take the lead, but as the minutes ticked by there was a sense that it was going to be one of those nights. Jamie Carragher, who won the nod to partner Steven Gerrard in the centre of midfield, went close after just a couple of minutes when his right footed shot flashed wide of David James’ right hand post. Portsmouth’s policy of fielding just one striker and relegating top scorer Kanu to the substitutes’ bench ensured they spent the majority of their time defending and relying on an occasional breakway in a bid to trouble the Reds’ backline. The attacking was all one way, however, with Steven Gerrard firing a free kick inches over and Luis Garcia flashing a header into the side netting. Liverpool picked up the tempo at the beginning of the second half and almost took the lead when Garcia’s shot was blocked after James had palmed away Gerrard’s right wing cross. Robbie Fowler and youngster Nabil El Zhar came off the substitutes’ bench to try and change the outcome of the game but despite Liverpool piling forward in the closing minutes looking for the breakthrough, it never arrived and the Reds are left to rue a missed opportunity to mover closer to the top four in the table.
Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Riise, Hyypia, Agger, Finnan, Garcia, Gerrard (captain), Carragher, Pennant, Crouch, Kuyt. Subs – Dudek, El Zhar, Guthrie, Paletta, Fowler

Portsmouth: James, Mendes, Campbell, Primus, Pamarot, Thompson, Taylor, Hughes, O’Neill, Kranjcar, Mwaruwari. Subs – Ashdown, O’Brien, Fernandes, , Koroman Referee: Alan Wiley Conditions: Cold Attendance: 42,467

From the official site article