[lfc-news] Carling Cup report - PA

PA Sport, 11 Jan 2005
Liverpool 1 Watford 0

Liverpool gave themselves an edge to take into the second leg of their
Carling Cup semi-final against Watford with a narrow 1-0 win at Anfield.

Only a Steven Gerrard effort separated the two sides and Watford will
fancy their chances of producing an upset themselves in a fortnight.

They have already beaten Southampton and Portsmouth in this competition
so far, and Liverpool must know they face a real examination of their
desire when the two sides meet for a second time.

Watford were by far the better side in the first half, severely
embarrassing their Premiership opponents, and after a spell in the
second period that looked like Liverpool were getting on top, Ray
Lewington's men staged a battling comeback that almost produced an
equaliser.

Benitez was true to his word by fielding a strong side, although he was
without Sami Hyypia with flu which saw Djimi Traore switched to centre back.

But Liverpool had enough quality on show to have produced a better
performance than they did, particularly in a first half of errors when
they were largely outplayed by the Championship outfit.

Watford made just one change from the side that held Fulham in the FA
Cup on Saturday, with Welsh veteran 'keeper Paul Jones replacing fellow
old hand Alec Chamberlain.

A year ago to the day Jones made his Liverpool debut while on loan from
Wolves for the club he supported as a boy. His welcome from the Kop was
warm.

Watford's near-6,000 contingent turned the night into a carnival with
constant noise and hundreds of yellow balloons cascading onto the pitch,
where they were left to swirl around in the gale-force conditions.

And Watford gave no indication of being blown away by their Premiership
hosts with a dogged five-man midfield working to limit space for
Liverpool's more lightweight players like Luis Garcia, Florent
Sinama-Pongolle and Antonio Nunez.

Luis Garcia's 20 yard volley, held comfortably by Jones, was the only
attempt to trouble Watford early on, although Nunez's run and cross
created a first time chance that Sinama-Pongolle volleyed wide on the run.

Watford were quicker to the ball, organised and committed with skipper
Gavin Mahon and midfield colleague Brynjar Gunnarsson bossing the game.

And they created two fine chances in the space of 60 seconds when first
Hameur Bouazza and then Gunnarsson both saw fierce headers go close.
Bouazza then had a shot charged down following a run and cross from Paul
Devlin, who had provided the ammunition for the earlier efforts.

Watford's industry made Liverpool look pedestrian and they were hounded
into far too many mistakes and misplaced passes. Confronted by muscle
and energy, some of Liverpool's players seemed timid and unprepared for
the physical challenge.

The need for pace, penetration and sheer desire must surely have been
drummed into Liverpool at the break and they showed more urgency
instantly in the second period with Gerrard seeing a curling effort just
clear the bar while Sinama-Pongolle, at least, seemed prepared to attack
defenders.

And Sinama-Pongolle and Gerrard helped create Liverpool's first serious
chance with Mellor being played into the box only for Jones to save his
shot well with his legs.

Benitez had clearly seen enough and two minutes later Baros was
introduced with Mellor being hauled off.

And on 56 minutes Liverpool stole into the lead when Baros found space
on the left and crossed the ball which eventually fell to Gerrard. This
time his shot was goal-bound and on target but Neil Cox's headed attempt
to clear the danger only sent the ball high into his own net.

Watford were forced to commit more men forward now and that left gaps
for Baros and Sinama-Pongolle to exploit. But the Hornets had no
intention of caving in and the grafting of Helguson kept them in it.

Baros flashed a shot wide and Gerrard was given space to run at the
defence before unleashing a drive that Jones saved at the second attempt.

But Liverpool's search for the cushion of a second goal was abandoned in
the final minutes as they were forced to defend desperately to stop
Watford drawing level. Cox almost managed it with a long range free-kick
and only a tremendous saving tackle by Traore on Helguson, who had
forced his way clear, kept Liverpool in front.

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Traore, Riise, Nunez, Gerrard,
Hamann (Biscan 71), Luis Garcia, Mellor (Baros 53), Sinama Pongolle
(Warnock 78).
Subs Not Used: Potter, Harrison.
Booked: none
Goals: Gerrard 56.

Watford: Jones, Chambers, Cox, Demerit, Darlington, Devlin, Gunnarsson,
Ardley (Blizzard 81), Mahon, Bouazza, Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Dyer, Webber, Doyley.
Booked: Chambers.

Att: 35,739
Ref: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).

LEWINGTON BUOYED BY ANFIELD SHOW

Watford boss Ray Lewington has promised Liverpool a torrid time in the
second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

The Hornets lost 1-0 in the first leg at Anfield, with Steven Gerrard
netting the only goal of the game in the second half.

Watford were unfortunate not to take at least a share of the spoils back
to Vicarage Road, and Lewington said: "A draw would not have flattered
us, we certainly deserved that.

"We had the better chances in the first half and it was about even in
the second. Now we have an outstanding chance because our place is not
an easy ground for visitors.

"It is not as good a pitch and we will go for them from the start, they
will find it very tough in the second game.

"Before the game we would have been happy to accept a 1-0 defeat, but
after watching that I felt we deserved a draw at least.

"We may not be able to get as big a crowd into Vicarage Road as they had
at Anfield, but our fans can create a very hostile atmosphere. I
certainly believe we still have a great chance of reaching the final."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was just grateful that his side clung onto
their 1-0 lead, given to them by their inspirational skipper.

"We knew it would be difficult," said Benitez. "I have discovered that
you do not win games comfortably in England and we warned the lads about
how good Watford were.

"We did not compete in the first half, but in the second we were better
and there was a spell when we were on top. But near the end they came
back at us and played really well.

"I do not believe there was any complacency about us, it was more that
they played well rather than us playing badly.

"We certainly did not relax and think we could win it easily.

"But we go to the second match with an advantage and we are confident
that we can complete the victory and reach the final."


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