[lfc-news] Real Betis Away PA Report

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Liverpool produced attacking excellence and then sheer
defensive defiance to claim what could be a priceless
2-1 Champions League victory at Real Betis.

Two goals in the first 14 minutes from Florent
Sinama-Pongolle and Luis Garcia gave the holders a
foothold on the match they should not have conceded.

But after dominating the first period they found
themselves under siege from the Spanish side making
their debut in the competition.

Arzu pulled one back early in the second period and
from then on it was a backs against the wall display
which proved enough to give Liverpool the critical
start they needed as they began the defence of their
title in earnest.

The visitors performed like champions at times with
slick passing and clever attacking movement, while
showing steel in the shape of Mohamed Sissoko.

Manager Rafael Benitez sent out a team full of shocks
for the opening Group G game with Steven Gerrard left
on the bench.

It is understood he was not suffering from an injury,
instead Benitez choosing a team based on his local
knowledge of La Liga's fourth best club.

Crucially in the intense heat, Liverpool started with
several players who knew all about the conditions;
Djimi Traore and Josemi were the full backs, Mohamed
Sissoko - at Valencia last term - took Gerrard's
midfield role and Xabi Alonso returned while French
youngster Florent Sinama-Pongolle played alongside
Peter Crouch up front.

Betis had Sanchez Joaquin recovered from a knee
problem but were without Luis Fernandez with a knee
injury.

The Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera was rocking with
noise but the home fans were stunned within 90 seconds
when Liverpool took the lead.

Carragher's long ball up Crouch and Sinama-Pongolle
sparked instant fear in the Betis defence and
Sinama-Pongolle took the ball out of the air with
excellent skill.

It clipped Crouch inadvertently, and fell for
Sinama-Pongolle to curl a delightful chip over a
stranded Antonio Doblas.

Liverpool struck again on 14 minutes, and Crouch -
being watched by England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson -
played a major part.

He controlled and kept possession on the left, and
searched for a telling target, eventually pushing the
ball cleverly into Bolo Zenden's path.

The Dutchman's instant low cross was met by Luis
Garcia arriving unmarked in the box and he clinically
slipped the ball into the corner of the net past
Doblas' despairing right arm.

Betis were stunned but slowly regained their composure
and Brazilian danger man Ricardo Oliveira gave Sami
Hyypia the slip before surging into into the box to
force an excellent block from Jose Reina.

Reina was Liverpool's saviour again when a corner
dropped into the six yard box and Oliveira stabbed at
it, but the Spanish international fell on the ball
right on the line, and he saved well again when he
blocked an angled drive from Fernando.

Betis took off defender Gutierrez Juanito at the break
and sent on wide man Munoz Xisco in an attempt to
stretch Liverpool's defence.

Carragher was booked for a foul on the nippy Dani, and
Betis' heavy early pressure in the second half
produced a goal on 51 minutes.

Dani's ball evaded Hyypia and Arzu was clean through
the middle of Liverpool's defence to easily beat an
exposed Reina.

Liverpool brought on Djibril Cisse for Crouch, then
John Arne Riise for Zenden before Gerrard took over
from Sinama-Pongolle, but the relentless pressure
continued from the Spanish side.

Reina - who was booked in the final seconds for
kicking the ball away from a corner kick - again came
to Liverpool's rescue when he plucked down a curling
Marcos Assuncao free-kick after a foul by Traore on
the edge of the box.

Line-ups
Reina
Josemi
Carragher
Hyypia
Traore
Garcia
Alonso
Sissoko
Zenden
Crouch
Sinama

Substitutions.
Dani for F Fernando (36)
M Xisco for J Juanito (45)
D Cisse for P Crouch (59)
J Riise for B Zenden (66)
J Capi for G Arzu (72)
S Gerrard for F Sinama-Pongolle (74)

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