[lfc-news] Deportivo report - PA

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PA Sport, 19 Oct 2004
Liverpool 0 Deportivo La Coruna 0

Liverpool's Champions League hopes were suffocated under a blanket of blue
and white shirts as Deportivo ground out the point they came for.

The Spanish side rarely ventured forward, being content to cover, block and
destroy as Liverpool fought for the breakthrough which would have given
them a clear advantage in this group.

But now, with Monaco beating Olympiacos, it is anyone's guess who will
eventually go through to the next stage, with all four clubs having a chance.

In the end Liverpool were punished for not taking some excellent first-half
chances as Deportivo's grip on the game and their point tightened with
every passing moment.

Liverpool made one change from the side which fought back so amazingly to
beat Fulham 4-2 on Saturday, and not surprisingly it was the return to the
starting line-up of Spanish star Xabi Alonso, who masterminded the comeback
as a half-time substitute at Craven Cottage.

The elegant midfielder got a wonderful reception from the Kop and all three
of Liverpool's Spanish imports - Luis Garcia and Josemi the others - were
instantly at the hub of the game.

Alonso, in midfield, was a danger with neat and clever passes while Garcia
was an immediate thorn in Depor's left flank, prompted by full-back Josemi
at every opportunity.

It was pretty clear how much this clash with their countrymen meant to
Liverpool's new boys and Alonso prompted from the off.

Sami Hyypia rose to flick an Alonso free-kick well wide, while Djibril
Cisse was soon to see a similar flicked header from the same source flash
across goal and wide.

Deportivo started quietly, defending deep and pulling Liverpool onto them.
Juan Valeron, surprisingly dropped by Spain last week, found plenty of
space from which to thread passes through to Walter Pandiani and Alberto Luque.

From one, Luque thought he had held off Jamie Carragher but when the throw
did not go his way he hurled the ball away and was booked by Swedish
referee Anders Frisk.

Then a poor header by Josemi gave Deportivo their first chance and they
almost took it after 15 minutes.

Luque's corner curled into the box to be met by Cesar, whose header was
cleared off the line by John Arne Riise.

Liverpool's response was a 20-yard shot from Alonso which went wide, and
then after a fortunate bounce had put Cisse in the clear, a fine saving
tackle from Manuel Pablo stopped the Frenchman 10 yards out. Cisse's
attempt to take one touch too many cost him dearly when he should have shot
instantly from a great position.

Liverpool went close again when Milan Baros found space for an instant low
cross in from the right and Cisse's first-time effort low to Jose Molina's
left was palmed away by the veteran keeper.

Next it was Baros' turn to see a great opportunity disappear. Dietmar
Hamann's through-ball put Baros clear and adjudged onside. He took the ball
round Molina outside the box but as he turned towards goal he was caught by
another outstanding saving tackle, this time from Manuel Pablo.

Liverpool grew in confidence with some decent passing moves, obviously with
Alonso at the centre, and it was the tall Spaniard who created another
chance when his 30-yard strike crashed into Cesar and dropped for Garcia,
who appeared to be offside, just 12 yards out. His attempted clip over
Molina produced a fine tip over from the keeper.

Alonso's quick free-kick then set up Baros, who cut across two defenders to
fire a low drive inches wide from the edge of the box and the Czech's
energy continued to give Deportivo problems, with the Spanish side still
happy to sit deep and wait for Liverpool to make mistakes or just run out
of steam.

But it was Depor who wasted the chance they had been waiting all game for.
Victor's cross from the right dropped invitingly for Valeron, in yards of
space, but the 29 year-old completely missed his connection.

Kewell took over on the left from Riise but Liverpool's efforts were taking
their toll as mistakes increased.

The Australian, though, fired in a cross which reached Cisse and produced a
fine save from Molina when the striker's shot powered in.

Alonso, from his own half, then hit a massive lob that would have
embarrassed Molina had it been on target but as the game wore on to its
inevitable conclusion Liverpool ran out of ideas, even if they never
stopped pushing forward.

Alonso was suffocated by a growing army of midfielders and defenders thrown
on by Javier Irureta as the bookings and free-kicks mounted.

Hamann and substitute Harry Kewell both went close from long-range
free-kicks but the wall of blue and white emerged in the end with what they
came for.

Liverpool: Kirkland, Josemi, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Luis Garcia (Sinama
Pongolle 84), Alonso, Hamann, Riise (Kewell 66), Baros, Cisse (Finnan 76).
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Diao, Biscan, Warnock.
Booked: Hamann, Baros.

D Coruna: Molina, Manuel Pablo, Cesar, Andrade, Capdevila, Victor, Mauro
Silva (Scaloni 58), Duscher, Luque, Valeron (Fran 86), Pandiani (Romero 82).
Subs Not Used: Munua, Tristan, Munitis, Pablo Amo.
Booked: Luque, Andrade, Duscher, Victor.

Att: 40,236
Ref: Anders Frisk (Sweden).

BENITEZ DISAPPOINTED AFTER DRAW

Rafael Benitez insisted Liverpool could still qualify from the Champions
League group stage after a bitterly frustrating night at Anfield.

The Spanish coach watched his fellow countrymen from Deportivo mount a
defiant rearguard action to squeeze the life from Liverpool's constant
attacks in a 0-0 stalemate.

Monaco now top the group with six points with Olympiakos and Liverpool on
four and Deportivo bottom with two.

But with three games to go each all four teams can still qualify.

Liverpool now face two of their last three matches away from home but
Benitez said: "That was the best I have seen Liverpool play this season and
if we maintain that level we can win games at home or away.

"It does not frighten me that we must face two of our last three games away.

"I am not happy with the result but I am happy with the way we played with
effort, commitment and so many chances.

"Depor tried very little to get forward and only had one half chance which
Juan Valeron missed. Although I would have expected him to connect with his
shot, that did worry me.

"But we dominated much of the game. It was only bad luck for the strikers
Milan Baros and Djibril Cisse that stopped us, and the fact that Depor
dropped deeper and deeper as the game went on to frustrate us."

Deportivo coach Javier Irureta said: "It was about a fair result, it was a
good game with both sides vibrant and intense.

"Liverpool had chances in the first half and I felt the turning point was
when Baros was through and Molina made a fine save in the first half.

"I also felt that had Valeron scored with his one second half chance, we
would have gone on to win the game.

"As for our chances of qualifying, we have two home games left and the
group is very tight. Monaco are top but they have played two home games so
far so the situation is a little unbalanced.

"If we now take advantage of our home games and are resolute and firm in
our play, we can sneak into the next stage."


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