[lfc-news] Liverpool v Palace: report - PA

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PA Sport, 13 Nov 2004
Liverpool 3 Crystal Palace 2

Milan Baros won two penalties, bagged a hat-trick and saved Liverpool from
the embarrassment of being held by a defiant but far from classy Crystal
Palace.

The Czech striker, now with 10 goals for the season in 18 matches, is doing
his level best to not only make up for the sale of Michael Owen but also
the season-long loss of Djibril Cisse.

The front man may have his critics for a inability to see colleagues in
better positions, while opponents rage about the speed he hits the deck
under a challenge - not least Palace and their boss Iain Dowie.

But Baros, the leading scorer at Euro 2004, is now showing that level of
form for Liverpool.

He scored early on from the spot, stabbed Liverpool back into the lead on
the stroke of half-time after Joonas Kolkka's equaliser, and then won and
scored another spot-kick in the dying seconds.

That robbed the hard-working, well-organised Palace of a point they thought
they had secured following Michael Hughes' close-range header.

But Liverpool had so much of the ball, so much of the play they deserved
this victory - even if their efforts were being clouded by frustration long
before the end.

Crystal Palace arrived at Anfield without top scorer Andy Johnson, while
Liverpool's top scorer Baros returned from a hamstring injury to make a
telling contribution.

But Palace were certainly not around just to make up the numbers and
although Liverpool started with some neat and clever passing, the south
Londoners set about them with confidence and desire.

Ben Watson and then Kolkka threatened in the opening minutes but Baros
began to unhinge young and inexperienced defenders with pace, movement and
the ability to milk any situation which came his way.

Baros was the victim of three fouls in the opening minutes, two of which
were committed by Aki Riihilahti who should have been booked for one.

However, the treatment Baros got earned Liverpool the breakthrough after 22
minutes when Emmerson Boyce brushed the striker aside.

Referee Phil Dowd pointed instantly to the spot and Baros drilled home the
penalty, although Dowie's complaints from the line about the decision
prompted a swift word from the official before the restart.

Baros continued to cause real problems and some superb control and pace saw
him scamper clear of Palace' defence after 29 minutes only for him to be
sent tumbling in the box by another Boyce challenge.

This time referee Dowd waved play on and then penalised an enraged Baros
for picking the ball up after expecting another penalty.

This appeal was far more convincing than the previous incident but Palace
players were furious with Baros, claiming he dived, and the referee spoke
with the Czech and several defenders to calm the situation.

Dougie Freedman had a thankless task up front for Palace and got nothing
from Dowd when he went down under a challenge from Sami Hyypia.

But the Scot's efforts won a throw near the corner two minutes from
half-time and from the restart Tony Popovic found Kolkka who smashed a
great shot into the far corner form Palace's equaliser.

There was still time for Kolkka to be booked for a foul on Baros, the
Palace man showing his disgust at the decision by throwing himself to the
ground to demonstrate what he thought of Baros' fall.

But Liverpool really punished Palace when Xabi Alonso swung in the
resulting free-kick and Harry Kewell's first-time pass sent the ball across
goal for Baros to scored from two yards.

Palace were quick to attack Liverpool's right flank after the break, where
Josemi was not enjoying a happy afternoon.

They got Kolkka into acres of space behind the Spanish defender only for
the linesman's flag to halt the move but with their next attack Kolkka
created the equaliser after 52 minutes.

The little Finnish star got to the byline and crossed for an unmarked
Hughes to nod home from eight yards.

But despite all the efforts of Alonso with his astute passing, Liverpool
were getting little reward in the box.

That was until the dying seconds when Baros' pace took him past Popovic,
who clearly brought him down.

Referee Dowd spent ages getting Palace players out of the box and ended up
booking Gabor Kiraly for time-wasting, but Baros was nerveless and stepped
up to crack the ball home from the spot for the winner.

Liverpool: Kirkland, Josemi (Mellor 79), Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Luis
Garcia, Alonso, Hamann, Riise (Finnan 62), Kewell, Baros (Sinama Pongolle 90).
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Biscan.
Booked: Baros.
Goals: Baros 23 pen, 45, 90 pen.

Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Leigertwood, Popovic, Boyce, Granville, Routledge
(Lakis 65), Watson, Riihilahti (Soares 76), Hughes, Kolkka, Freedman.
Subs Not Used: Speroni, Hudson, Andrews.
Booked: Kolkka, Hughes, Kiraly.
Goals: Kolkka 44, Hughes 52.

Att: 42,862
Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

BAROS CLINCHER STUNS PALACE
Iain Dowie admitted that Crystal Palace's last-ditch defeat at Liverpool
was "difficult to stomach" after he had seen Milan Baros score a hat-trick
in a 3-2 Anfield triumph that included two penalties won by the Czech striker.

The Palace boss said: "Baros was their most outstanding player and he hurt us.

"I don't want to get embroiled in any debate over whether he goes down too
easily, that is for other people to decide. But it was hard to take - a
bitter pill to swallow.

"They hardly had a shot in the second half and we scored two 'stand out'
goals and frankly conceded three sloppy ones.

"I would contest the free kick (won by Baros) that got them the free kick
which saw them reclaim the lead just before the break, and I would like to
see the penalties on TV.

"What is frustrating is the way they did us at the end. My players are
stunned after that but we must take the positives from games like this.

"Ben Watson and Wayne Routledge were outstanding for us and it is from
games like this that players and teams gain the character, that X-factor,
you need to become top class performers in the Premiership.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was understandably relieved with the result.

He said: "When you play with the right attitude you can always win, even if
it comes right at the end.

"They played very well, they were well organised and they pressed us
throughout the game. But I felt we controlled the game and kept going right
to the end, and that is what got us the victory.

"I was pleased for Milan. He kept going right to the end. But we need all
our strikers now to help. (Florent) Sinama-Pongolle, (Neil) Mellor and
(Harry) Kewell are all needed, not just Baros."


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