[lfc-news] Charlton report - PA

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PA Sport, 23 Oct 2004
Liverpool 2 Charlton 0

Liverpool maintained their 100 per cent home record in the Barclays
Premiership with a confident victory that moved them up to fifth in the table.

Both goals were long-range efforts from outside the box, with first John
Arne Riise and then Luis Garcia crashing home fine drives that finally
broke the resistence of a defiant Dean Kiely.

Charlton, still with only one away point all season, defended stoutly but
never got close to upsetting a Liverpool side finally beginning to play
with pace and confidence - and still with a game in hand over all the clubs
above them.

And for boss Rafael Benitez, suffering from a heavy cold after his first
taste of a north-west winter rather than the sun of Valencia, at least saw
signs of sustained improvement to warm his heart.

Steve Finnan came into the side at right-back with Josemi suspended, as
Liverpool welcomed back old boy Danny Murphy, now at the heart of a
Charlton side after his surprise summer move from Anfield.

The match also saw referee Andy D'Urso's comeback to the Premiership for
the first time since he failed to send off Barry Ferguson back in August
after showing him the yellow card twice.

And Liverpool were on the front foot from the start, Luis Garcia heading
wide before seeing a left-foot volley tipped around a post by Kiely.

That was the story of much of the first half hour as Liverpool sought to
batter a Charlton defence which had conceded more goals away from home than
any other side in the top flight.

Sami Hyypia had a header cleared off the line by Murphy following a Luis
Garcia corner as Charlton's goal led a charmed life.

Liverpool went even closer when Dietmar Hamann pushed a free-kick to
Djibril Cisse, who struck the foot of a post from 25 yards.

Milan Baros was next to go close, heading wide from six yards.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley had started the game in the directors' box,
but by now he was on touchline with assistant Mervyn Day barking out orders
as Charlton struggled to stem the flow.

But Liverpool were wasteful. Riise scorned two openings, while Baros
arrived unmarked eight yards out to meet a Luis Garcia cross but sent a
header straight at a relieved Kiely.

To their credit, Charlton slowly worked their way into a game they could
have lost in those opening minutes.

Matt Holland and Graham Stuart started to figure in midfield while Hermann
Hreidarsson and Chris Perry came to terms more with the pace and movement
of Baros and Cisse.

But Liverpool still found chances coming and going, Cisse and Baros both
blazing over from eight yards out before Cisse made a fine 50-yard run
before hooking the ball into the box only for Luis Garcia to not quite get
there quickly enough in support.

The second period saw Cisse pushed out wide on the right, from where he
performed much better when the same move was made at Fulham last weekend.

One fine high speed run and cross from Cisse suggested he could be more
productive on the right flank.

One of his runs eventually saw a free-kick won 25 yards out, and Xabi
Alonso saw his curling effort pawed away by Kiely.

Cisse's next run won the corner that eventually saw Liverpool go ahead on
56 minutes.

Xabi Alonso saw his header blocked from Luis Garcia's flag kick and when
the ball came out of the box it was met by Riise who drove the ball past
Kiely's right hand.

Baros and Finnan both went close before Charlton introduced former Everton
striker Francis Jeffers, to predictable abuse from the Kop.

And the striker managed to get himself booked for two offences inside the
first seven minutes of his involvement in the match.

Charlton had still barely managed an effort to bother Chris Kirkland, while
Liverpool pounded away at the other end.

And they finally gave themselves some breathing space with another
spectacular goal from outside the box.

Xabi Alonso fed fellow countryman Luis Garcia, and the little forward
lashed a fine, dipping volley from 25 yards that flashed past Kiely for the
second.

Cisse was by now tormenting anyone in his line of vision as he next skinned
Parry before crossing just too far away from Kewell.

This was a hugely encouraging display by Liverpool after the midweek
frustrations of failing to score against Deportivo La Coruna in the
Champions League.

Last season Charlton won at Anfield for the first time in 50 years but
there was never the chance of them repeating that triumph. in this one.

Teams:
Liverpool: Kirkland, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore (Warnock 86), Luis
Garcia, Alonso, Hamann, Riise (Kewell 64), Baros (Sinama Pongolle 77), Cisse.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Diao.
Goals: Riise 52, Luis Garcia 74.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Perry, Fortune, Hreidarsson, Rommedahl (Jeffers
63), Stuart, Holland, Murphy, Lisbie (Hughes 78), Bartlett (Euell 71).
Subs Not Used: El Karkouri, Andersen.
Booked: Jeffers.

Att: 41,625
Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).

BENITEZ WANTS RUTHLESS STREAK

Liverpool maintained their 100% home record but new boss Rafael Benitez
proved a hard man to please after the convincing 2-0 win over Charlton.

The Spanish coach lamented the string of chances that went begging in the
first half and warned his players that they will find themselves being
punished if they continue to be so wasteful.

Benitez said: "This was very much like our goalless draw with Deportivo in
the week. We had so many opportunities and the players will need to take
far more of them in the future.

"Just as against Deportivo, we played very well for a long period and made
many chances. But if you do not take them and then someone makes a mistake
in the second half, you will pay for it."

But Benitez praised the performance of his two strikers, Milan Baros and
Djibril Cisse, who have been criticised for taking a long time to form an
effective strike partnership.

He said: "They both did very well. Cisse was moved onto the right in the
second half and he had a good game, and Baros looked sharp all game.

"You can see now that they do have the ability to form a partnership, they
both did very well and can only improve as a pair as the season continues."

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley said afterwards: "We had to work so hard to
even get the ball. We could not get going and we gave the ball away as soon
as we had it.

"That was much to do with the way Liverpool played and how the pressured
us. I have lost count of the games where we have conceded goals from
outside the box, and there were two more here.

"Our away form suggests we are going to get beaten every time. Last season
we were very good away from home, but I am becoming worried and we are just
not doing as well away this season.

"Liverpool have played very well, they look formidable at home and a few
sides will struggle at Anfield.

"We have now been beaten at Arsenal and Liverpool in successive away games
and maybe that is not too bad, but we are also losing at places like Bolton
and Manchester City and results like that have to change.

"We cannot hide behind things, this is not good enough.

"We have two home games now, and we have to win them because we are being
put under great pressure by losing away games.

"Liverpool asked us questions and we didn't have enough. That could be the
same for a lot of clubs playing at Anfield this season. But we are just not
giving ourselves a chance with our defence under pressure all the time.

"Our attitude away from home has to change. We need results and quickly. We
have got to alter the way we approach away games because it is totally
different.

"As for Liverpool, they are very good and they will be competing for
everything they are in right to the death this season. This is a very
impressive team now."


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