Charlton 1 Liverpool 2 (Full Time)

Charlton 1 Liverpool 2
From Sporting Life

A second-half fightback saw Liverpool come from behind to beat Charlton 2-1 at The Valley and boost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

The visitors had hit the crossbar through skipper Steven Gerrard, before Shaun Bartlett headed Charlton into the lead after 20 minutes.

Liverpool were back on level terms soon after the restart when Fernando Morientes drove the ball past Dean Kiely from just inside the box and John Arne Riise won it with 11 minutes left.

Luis Garcia up-ended Konchesky on the left touch-line during the opening stages, giving Murphy an early chance to test the Liverpool defence with a free-kick deep into the danger area.

The delivery had just too much pace on, though, and Hermann Hreidarsson was unable to connect at the far post.

Liverpool, though, almost took an early lead in the eighth minute.

The ball broke to Garcia just inside the box. His angled drive brought a fine save from Dean Kiely.

Gerrard was first to the rebound, but scuffed his shot somewhat, the ball cannoning into the ground and up onto the crossbar before being hacked clear.

Baros then drove a low shot just wide from 25 yards after turning sharply to make space for himself in a central position.

Charlton were ahead in the 20th minute when some quick footwork from Murphy on the edge of the box saw him get to the by-line and drive the ball across goal, with Jamie Carragher having to make a timely intervention.

From the resulting corner, taken by the former Liverpool player, Bartlett was given a clear run into the six-yard box, where he powered a header past Jerzy Dudek from point-blank range.

With 25 minutes gone, Kiely took no chances when getting down at his right-hand post to turn Gerrard's low drive from the edge of the box behind for a corner.

Hyypia was on hand to unceremoniously hack away Konchesky's low centre into the six-yard box, as Bryan Hughes closed in on goal.

Liverpool, without a Premiership win since January 3, would have drawn level in the 33rd minute, but for a fine piece of goalkeeping.

Gerrard took the ball into the area and out to the left by-line before pulling it back across the six-yard box. Fernando Morientes had timed his run to perfection, only for Kiely to somehow make a fantastic block at the Spaniard's feet.

It was then Dudek's chance to take the plaudits.

The Pole was at full stretch down to his left to tip Hreidarsson's glanced header away following another deep free-kick delivery from Murphy.

Both sides enjoyed spells of decent possession as the interval approached, but neither could find the decisive pass in the final third.

And when Morientes did pick out Gerrard a couple of yards outside the Charlton area, the England midfielder drove a low effort horribly wide.

HT: Charlton 1 Liverpool 0

Baros raced clear onto a long ball up field, but Kiely was quick off his line to make a brave collection at the Czech striker's feet.

Charlton were patient in their progression during the opening to the second half.

However, Liverpool were quick to mop up any stray passes in the final third, and looked the more dangerous on the counter-attack.

In the 53rd minute, the visitors were denied by the woodwork again.

Baros fed John Arne Riise into the left side of the penalty box. Luke Young resisted the temptation to dive in, only for the Norwegian to drive the ball goalwards.

Kiely did not have much time to react, but got the faintest of touches to deflect the ball up onto the crossbar.

Curbishley had seen enough of his side being over-run, and so brought on Radostin Kishishev for Jerome Thomas as the hour mark approached.

However, the tactical switch could not prevent Liverpool getting a deserved equaliser in the 61st minute.

Hughes was caught in possession by Baros 25 yards out, and the Czech international promptly fed Morientes.

The Spanish striker then neatly side-stepped Jonathan Fortune's challenge on the edge of the box, before drilling a left-footed shot past Kiely.

Charlton came close to regaining the lead when Dudek could only parry Konchesky's angled shot, and Djimi Traore just got to the loose ball ahead of Murphy.

In the 66th minute, Jason Euell replaced Hughes.

Hyypia was fortunate not to get cautioned when he checked Murphy's run on the half-way line as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

Hreidarsson did well to cut out Morientes' cross from the left, but could do little as Liverpool took the lead with 12 minutes left.

Garcia collected the ball around 20 yards out, and carried it on to the edge of the penalty box before slipping a lovely pass inside the full-back for Riise to run on to and drill low past Kiely into the bottom corner.

Even the introduction of former Everton striker Francis Jeffers could not get Charlton back into the game.