[Liverweb] Spurs Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

Get this preview and more direct to your inbox by subscribing to Liverweb

liverweb-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Liverpool 1 Spurs 0

Liverpool : Reina, Riise, Carragher, Hyypia, Finnan, Sissoko, Alonso,
Kewell, Gerrard (C), Crouch, Morientes

Subs Used : Cisse for Crouch (65), Warnock for Morientes (82), Kromkamp for
Sissoko (90)

Subs Unused : Carson, Pongolle

Att : 44,983

Ref : Dermot Gallagher

The Reds overcame a really good Spurs side in a tight encounter thanks to
an excellent volleyed goal from Harry Kewell. The goal, from the in-form
midfielder was well deserved but this was also a game played between two
quality passing sides. Spurs deserve much credit for turning up and for me
were one of the best sides to play at Anfield in many a season.

The Reds defended the Kop end in the first half as Spurs got the game
underway. The early play if anything was all Spurs and it was just a case
of pleading that we were allowed to touch the ball. It took the Reds a bit
to get going in the game. Despite this the Reds had the better first half
chances and could have gone in at half time one or two up. That they didn't
owed much to Paul Robinson who was in the same excellent form he has been
in all season.

The Reds created the first major opening on nine minutes and it really
should have been a goal. Gerrard was brought down on the right side by Lee
Young Po. He floated the ball in to the far post where Crouch sneaked in
unmarked but Robinson threw himself in front of the goal bound header and
kept it out.

Michael Dawson, a former Reds target rose well on thirteen minutes to win a
header off a corner but couldn't direct the ball near the goal. Minutes
later and Morientes should have done better with a shot but failed to
connect properly and Robinson saved with ease.

Both sides were looking to get the ball down and play football but with two
quality defences creating clear cut chances were few and far between.
Dawson and King at one end were equally well match by Carra and Sami for
the Reds. Both sides were probing away without getting that final ball
quite right.

Morientes nearly broke the deadlock after half an hour. He rose superbly
well to head a Finnan cross against the bar/post from the edge of the box.
Robinson for once had been beaten but the post hadn't and Crouch made a
hash of the follow up shot.

At times the Reds looked a little off the pace of the game to be fair. As
time ticked on towards half time both sides seemed content to go in all
square. After just one extra minute of time that's what happened as well.
The half time break gave an opportunity to get the Reds just to up that
tempo a little in the second half. Enough that is to create the extra
opening or two which may just win the match.

Paul Robinson took to his Kop goal and in timed honoured tradition was
applauded as he approached. Robinson stopped and applauded the whole Kop
for this. It's nice when you see a keeper realise this tradition and
Robinson went up I reckon even more in people's estimations.

The second half was less than two minutes old when Spurs really should have
taken the lead. Stalteri glided past Riise as if he wasn't there and
squared the ball right across the area. It went past Carra to the back post
where Keane came in but with Reina facing him he somehow skewed the ball
wide of the goal. This was a huge let off for the Reds and a bigger warning
to Riise to get tighter and stronger in the tackle.

On fifty four minutes Robinson was forced in to a full stretch diving save
to prevent Crouch's header getting beyond him. A great save although there
was a man on the line behind him who would have stopped the ball as well I
think.

The Reds finally got the goal they were looking for on fifty eight minutes
though Harry Kewell. Finnan crossed from the right hand side to the back
post. Kewell came in at the back behind Crouch and volleyed a great shot
that even Robinson couldn't keep out. This was much deserved for Kewell for
his form over the past month or so and it got the Reds that al important goal.

Just minutes after the Reds had taken the lead Spurs were nearly back in i.
Mido pushed his way clear in the area. No foul was given and he shot
goalwards but Reina was his equal and forced the ball out for a corner.
This was probably the nearest Spurs came to an actual goal in the end but
they continued to play good football and probe the Reds.

On sixty one minutes Spurs were given a corner which was conceded
unnecessarily by Crouch although every person in he ground bar the ref
thought he had actually ducked out of the way. The corner though presented
no danger to the Reds as it turned out.

The Reds though looked to counter Spurs as soon as they got hold of the
ball. Cisse came on for a jaded looking Crouch on sixty six minutes and a
minute later Defoe came on for Spurs in place of Tainio.

On sixty nine minutes the ref made another corner blunder but this time in
favour of the Reds. Gerrard had swung a corner to the back of the area and
Riise caught the ball superbly well. It was destined for the top corner
before Hyypia got his head in the way. Starting to run away rubbing his
head, Hyypia then turned round as Gallagher gave the corner to the Reds.
Bizarre decision that one!

Aaron Lennon came on for Spurs in the final twelve minutes but by now the
Reds seemed in control of the game and the side more likely to score. Just
one goal in front though is never comfortable and the Reds were being
forced to fight all the way.

Warnock replaced Morientes for the final eight minutes and slotted in at
left back which pushed Riise up into midfield and Kewell up front. With
just a few minutes left the Reds started a great counter attack. Spurs were
up for a corner but in clearing the ball the counter was. Riise had the
ball at his feet and Kewell was ready to run clean through. Riise played a
poor ball to Kewell but he managed to get the ball clear of Stalteri and as
he aimed to race clear went down under the challenge. Dermot Gallagher had
no choice but to send Stalteri off and the game was pretty much over as a
contest now.

The Reds saw out the last few minutes. It was in injury time when Jan
Kromkamp was sent in place of Sissoko but I'm not sure he actually managed
to touch the ball in his minute on the pitch. As the final whistle blew the
Reds had won the three points and because of the United defeat just before
the game they were still third but now just a point behind United in second
and still have two games in hand.

This was a good game to watch as both teams played the game as it should be
played. The one difference between the sides was that the Reds looked far
more likely to score than Spurs in that final third of the pitch. This was
a great battle though and I do enjoy Spurs coming to Anfield usually as you
get a decent game.

MotM : Momo Sissoko - played well in the first half in a central midfield
role and that played really well in the second out wider right.

Match Stats
Liverpool - Spurs
52% Possession 48%
10 Shots On Target
3 Shots Off Target 4
2 Blocked Shots 0
10 Corners 7
9 Fouls 13
3 Offsides 6
0 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 1

Email your comments to andy@liverweb.org.uk

For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
<http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm>http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results
Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
Liverweb is your one stop site for everything LFC
Get News updates on Liverpool and Liverweb by joining it's mailing list
To join send an email to liverweb-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Liverweb - your one stop site for everything LFC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
Liverweb is your one stop site for everything LFC

Get News updates on Liverpool and Liverweb by joining it's mailing list
To join send an email to liverweb-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Liverweb - your one stop site for everything LFC

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/liverweb/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
liverweb-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/