[lfc-news] Speroni lifts Palace and Reich finishes off Liverpool

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Speroni lifts Palace and Reich finishes off Liverpool

Jon Brodkin at Selhurst Park
Wednesday October 26, 2005
The Guardian

When Rafael Benítez took the unusual step of publicly criticising his
players' attitude on the eve of this match, he must have hoped for a
positive reaction. Instead the Liverpool manager watched a disappointing
season disintegrate further when his team were beaten by Crystal Palace
last night. For all their accomplished displays in Europe, Liverpool
continue to fall horribly short in domestic combat, particularly on their
travels. Their understrength team may have noted that Palace's Julian
Speroni made several good first-half saves but their lack of killer
instinct remains plain and Benítez will be dismayed his team failed to
build on Steven Gerrard's equaliser.

Instead they got steadily worse and an increasingly lively and confident
Palace ultimately deserved a winner that came when the influential Michael
Hughes set up Marco Reich. Liverpool never seriously threatened to force
extra-time. No one should imagine Benítez did not want to win after
reaching last season's final, even if the Carling Cup is his lowest priority.
The frequency with which Liverpool are losing suggests they are going
backwards after unexpectedly lifting the European Cup. A 4-1 home defeat by
Chelsea confirmed how far they trail the country's best and the defeats at
Fulham on Saturday and now here have raised further worrying questions
about their level. Benítez rested several players, notably Jamie Carragher,
Djibril Cissé and José Reina, and had an inexperienced defence and keeper.
But, much as Palace deserve credit, Liverpool's second-half display was
unacceptable and this demonstrated the lack of depth in the Spaniard's
squad after a frustrating summer.

Liverpool had broadly dominated the first half and attacked decently, while
also conceding chances. Speroni, standing in for Gabor Kiraly, denied them
four times, yet the goalkeeper's excellence cannot totally disguise
Benítez's need for a striker who will provide a steady supply of goals.

Fernando Morientes, who showed some nice early touches but faded, failed to
make the most of his opportunities. Peter Crouch, another short of
confidence in front of goal, never looked like scoring and the
disappointing Harry Kewell wasted a couple of volleys. Florent
Sinama-Pongolle, who came on later, was desperate.

As it stands Liverpool are far too reliant on Gerrard for goals and much
more besides. The captain scored on his return from injury and was one of
the few visiting players to catch the eye, even if he was not at his best.

Liverpool will be dismayed that Palace were given such freedom for their
two goals and just as worrying for Benítez was the lack of ideas his
players showed as they tried to find a way back at 2-1. Liverpool's
shortcomings should not detract, though, from Palace's performance. This
was their second straight home win over Liverpool, after beating them last
season in the Premiership, and it will strengthen their belief that they
can make an instant return to the top-flight.

Their midfielders Ben Watson and Tom Soares impressed not just with their
energy but with much of their passing. Hughes set up both Palace goals, the
first for Dougie Freedman, who had moments of quality. Their defence was
breached regularly to begin with but tightened after the interval.

For a 10-minute period of Liverpool pressure in the first half, it seemed
an upset was unlikely. With Gerrard prompting and Morientes linking play
well, only Speroni's reflexes kept the visitors out. He had saved from
Kewell, Morientes and Gerrard before Palace took the lead with a well
created and taken strike.

A Palace goal was not totally unexpected given that Carson had been called
into action twice and created another opening that was denied when the
referee called play back for a free-kick. Freedman fed Hughes and the
Irishman delivered a delightful cross which Freedman sped on to and headed
home unmarked.

Liverpool's response was quick. Gerrard was fortunate when his header,
aimed for Morientes, came back to him off Mark Hudson and he calmly placed
a shot into the corner.

Yet after Morientes had wasted two chances, Liverpool grew weaker and
Palace attacked vigorously. Iain Dowie's team were powerful down the flanks
and, when Liverpool failed to clear a long throw, Hughes clipped the ball
to the far post for Reich to volley in and humiliate the European
champions. That heady night in Istanbul can hardly have felt more distant.
Match Facts
Carling Cup Third Round
Tuesday October 25, 2005
FT Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool
37' Freedman 1-0
40' 1-1 Gerrard
41' Raven
44' Reich
54' Hudson
66' Reich 2-1
Crystal Palace
Julian Speroni, Emmerson Boyce, Fitz Hall, Mark Hudson, Gary Borrowdale,
Michael Hughes, Marco Reich (Sam Togwell), Tom Soares, Ben Watson, Dougie
Freedman (Tommy Black), Clinton Morrison (Wayne Andrews)

Liverpool
Scott Carson, Sami Hyypia, David Raven, Zak Whitbread, Steven Gerrard,
Dietmar Hamann, Harry Kewell (Javier Sanz Luis Garcia), Darren Potter,
Stephen Warnock (Djimi Traore), Peter Crouch, Fernando Morientes (Florent
Sinama Pongolle)

Referee: Dowd, P

Venue: Selhurst Park

Attendance: 19,673

Corners:
Crystal Palace 6
Liverpool 9

Goal Attempts:
Crystal Palace 10
Liverpool 16

On Target:
Crystal Palace 7
Liverpool 7

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