[lfc-news] Monaco report - PA

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PA Sport, 23 Nov 2004
Monaco 1 Liverpool 0

Liverpool had two players carried off and suffered a cruel defeat in the
Stade Louis II, beaten by a goal scored after what looked a clear handball
by Javier Saviola.

Liverpool lost Spanish imports Luis Garcia and then Josemi - both taken off
on stretchers - as they slumped to a frustrating Champions League Group A
defeat.

The manner of Monaco's winner, Saviola scoring after apparently handling
the ball in the box, left Liverpool furious.

Steven Gerrard returned to Liverpool's starting line-up as boss Rafael
Benitez made sweeping changes to his line-up, leaving out Josemi, Harry
Kewell and Xabi Alonso.

The Spanish coach gave 22-year-old striker Neil Mellor - recently the
subject of an enquiry from Sheffield United - his first ever European match
up front.

Steve Finnan came in at right-back for Josemi, while Igor Biscan started in
midfield alongside England midfielder Gerrard.

Anfield chief Benitez picked a tough-looking side in a bid to achieve the
win which would take Liverpool into the second stage of the tournament -
and assure another £5million in prize money for the Anfield coffers.

For Monaco this was a crucial game in their struggle to turn around a
disappointing season.

They have gone eight league matches without a win and have incurred the
wrath of president Michel Pastor who has twice in recent days arrived at
training to voice his disgust at current form.

None of his words are proving any help to coach Didier Deschamps, but at
least he knows that of their three wins in 12 games, two have been in the
Champions League.

Their priorities are therefore obvious, as are those of Liverpool who dare
not fail to qualify for next season's tournament.

Liverpool lost out financially to the tune of £14million when that happened
two seasons ago, a repeat of which would be hard to stomach at Anfield.

And as if Liverpool did not have enough injury problems, after just two
minutes of this contest Luis Garcia went down clutching the back of his
thigh, an apparent hamstring injury, and he was carried off to be replaced
by Josemi.

The Spaniard slotted in at right-back, Finnan moving forward into Garcia's
role.

It took Liverpool a long time to settle. Their distribution from the back
was poor, while they struggled to contain the pace and movement of Shabani
Nonda and Saviola.

Mellor, fighting a lone battle against four defenders, was getting little
change from the Monaco backline and was warned for one late lunge at
goalkeeper Flavio Roma.

For all his willing effort, Mellor was looking out of his depth.

Always a prolific goalscorer at youth and reserve level, his lack of pace
was nevertheless showing through and France internationals Patrice Evra and
skipper Gael Givet were making life difficult for the youngster.

Liverpool were surviving due to the usual excellence of Jamie Carragher,
with Dietmar Hamann in front of him fighting to plug the gaps.

And it was hardly a surprise after eight weeks out that Gerrard looked
short of his usual strength and power.

Liverpool had barely created a chance, but just after the half-hour mark
there was a glimpse of goal for John Arne Riise who broke into the box
after a pass by Biscan, but Roma was quick to scoop the ball from the
Norwegian's toes.

Liverpool were looking for chances to break with the ball, but they were
under almost constant pressure and losing midfield.

There remained hope, though. Following a Finnan long throw, Riise caused
trouble with his challenge in the penalty area and Biscan saw a 12-yard
shot drift wide of the far post.

Djimi Traore was booked after 40 minutes for a foul on Douglas Maicon, the
young French defender having until that point coped rather well with
Saviola as well as getting forward to support Riise.

There was a real scare after 43 minutes for the visitors when they failed
to deal with a right-wing corner, and the ball broke to Saviola on the left
whose cross-shot went wide of the far post.

Next into the book was Hamann, for another foul on Maicon, and that means
the German misses the next match.

The opening of the second period saw much of the same with Monaco instantly
on the attack.

Saviola found space on the edge of the box before firing a shot wide,
before Chris Kirkland plucked a dangerous Maicon cross off the head of
Saviola in the 52nd minute.

And Benitez's side suffered a cruel blow in the 55th minute when Saviola
scored after clearly handling the ball.

Liverpool failed to clear after Nonda and Saviola had worked the ball into
the box - but when the ball broke from a Traore tackle, Saviola clearly
controlled it with his hand before firing home.

The visitors were furious but their complaints to referee Bo Claus Larsen
fell on deaf ears.

Liverpool replaced Traore with Kewell after an hour, with Riise moving to
left-back.

More torment was to follow for Liverpool when Josemi and Evra clashed heads
in midfield.

Josemi was carried away with blood pouring from a wound, and it took
Liverpool four minutes to get substitute Stephen Warnock into the game.

Gerrard stormed forward in the 62nd minute to test Roma with a low drive,
but Liverpool lacked the strength to mount any sustained attacks.

Monaco took off Ernesto Chevanton after 68 minutes and sent on Diego Perez.

Warnock was now on the left, Kewell patrolling the right, but it was still
Monaco who continued to come forward.

Kirkland saved superbly from Pontus Farnerud before Monaco sent on Emmanuel
Adebayor for Saviola in the 74th minute. Francois Modesto took over from
Evra five minutes later.

Warnock was booked for a fierce challenge on Andreas Zikos on 81 minutes
when it looked like he had clearly got the ball, but the Danish referee had
to calm down angry players from both sides before waving the yellow card.

With five minutes to go, Roma produced a flying save at the foot of a post
to keep out a header from Hyypia, and that was as close as Liverpool came
to a leveller.

Monaco: Roma, Evra, Plasil, Maicon, Zikos, Nonda, Squillaci, Farnerud
(Modesto 79), Givet, Chevanton (Perez 67), Saviola (Adebayor 73).
Subs Not Used: Audard, Kallon, Oshadogan, El Fakiri.
Booked: none.
Goals: Saviola 54.

Liverpool: Kirkland, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore (Kewell 58),
Gerrard, Hamann, Biscan, Riise, Luis Garcia (Josemi 4, Warnock 64), Mellor,
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Alonso, Diao, Sinama Pongolle.
Booked: Traore, Hamann, Warnock.

Att: 15,000
Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).

GERRARD STILL OPTIMISTIC
Steven Gerrard remains optimistic Liverpool can qualify for the second
round of the Champions League despite Tuesday nighht's 1-0 loss to Monaco.

Rafael Benitez's team must beat Olympiakos by two clear goals to make sure
of further progress in this season's competition.

And the England midfielder, who tonight played his first full game since
breaking his foot in a defeat at Manchester United in September, said: "It
will be a big night at Anfield but we had to beat Roma a couple of years
ago and we managed to win it."

Liverpool lost Luis Garcia and Josemi to injury, and with strikers Milan
Baros and Djibril Cisse sidelined by injury, Benitez's squad is being tested.

Gerrard added on ITV2: "We're having bad luck on the injury front but we'll
stick together - and we've got other options.

"It was a difficult match tonight - but I'm gutted by the result.

"I don't think we played good enough to get a result - but it was difficult
to play good football out there."

* In the other Group A game Olympiakos beat Deportivo 1-0. The standings
after five games are: Olympiakos 10 pts, Monaco 9 pts, Liverpool 7pts,
Deportivo 2 pts.


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