[Liverweb] Charlton Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

Liverpool : Dudek, Finnan, Carragher(C), Hyypia, Traore, Alonso,
Sissoko, Kewell, Cisse, Morientes, Crouch

Subs Used : Fowler for Crouch (60), Riise for Hyypia (69), Kromkamp
for Cisse (77)

Subs Unused : Carson, Hamann

Att : 27,111

Ref : A.Marriner

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The Reds slumped to a second 2-0 defeat in a week at the Valley.
This game was one the Reds really should have won having controlled
the game. Once again though the Reds simply were not clinical in
front of goal and ultimately paid the price. Charlton may have got a
dodgy penalty for their first goal but we should have been leading
the match at the point. We cannot hide behind bad decisions all the
time.

The Reds got the game underway attacking the end with the travelling
Reds in. Now for the next forty minutes the Reds were the dominant
side. They controlled play and Charlton were left looking very
ordinary indeed. The Reds started well and looked to press forward.
Cisse shot across goal on five minutes and a minute later Morientes
volleyed straight at Myhre. This was what we were expecting to see.

Cisse was playing down the right wing and from early on you could
see he had the better of Spector but as usual we didn't capitalise
on this. Crouch headed wide on twelve minutes from a Cisse cross.
Two minutes later and only Crouch will know how he didn't score.
Presented with a great chance he really should have done better but
he wasted too much time bring the ball down. In doing so he lost the
impetus and the chance was cleared.

On fifteen minutes it was heart in mouth time for everyone it seems
bar Dudek. Dudek decided to dribble around Bent and managed to
clear. Five minutes later and there was another chance for the Reds.
This time an Alonso corner was headed wide by Hyypia. It was still
early in the game though and the positive was that we were pushing
forward when we could and in complete control of the game. The stats
must have been about 70% possession through this point.

The goal wasn't forthcoming though and on forty one minutes
everything went pear shaped. Darren Bent raced on to a through ball
and when dancing around Dudek who had raced out he went down. Dudek
clearly had pulled his arms out of the way but the whistle went and
a penalty was given. Dudek was yellow carded before returning to his
line. He tried to do the Dudek again on the line but Darren Bent
sent him the wrong way and Charlton were ahead.

Two added minutes were played in the half and it was during this
time that it got worse for the Reds. Luke Young pounced on a loose
ball in the area and blasted the ball through Dudek and in to the
back of the net. The Reds might have controlled the main part of the
game but Charlton were clinical when their chances had come.
Strangely like the Chelsea game in fact.

The sides came out for the second half but made no changes. Fowler
and Riise had warmed up a lot at half time but were forced to wait
for their introduction. Charlton got the game started again. The
second half was not a great view for the Reds though sadly. The two
goals just knocked them for six really. The second half looked more
likely that Charlton would score again than the Reds.

The worrying thing for the Reds was that they went long ball all too
often. Robbie Fowler came on after an hours play for Peter Crouch.
Crouch walked off the pitch looking a man who knew he'd never score
which is a worry. Just a minute later and Darren Bent got the better
of Hyypia before smacking a shot off the crossbar with Dudek well
beaten. Just three minutes later and it was Marcus Bent's turn to
hit the woodwork. His miss though was very poor as he hit he post
when it was just as easy to score.

At the other end though the Reds simply didn't grab the game by the
scruff of the neck and charge forward. Sissoko blasted a shot well
over the bar with twenty five minutes to go. Morientes probably had
the best chance on seventy three minutes but his shot was well saved
by the keeper. This simply wasn't going to be the Reds' night and a
fair few Reds left early knowing that very fact as well.

As the full time whistle went it was another Reds loss from another
game that they were the better side in for a long time. The
difference once again was clinical finishing when it mattered and it
meant the Reds travelled home with no points yet again. This needs
to change and fast if the Reds are to progress. With Wigan coming up
on Saturday lunch time it's not long to plan the way forward.

MotM : Steve Finnan - continues to play well at right back and tries
extremely hard to support the Reds play going forward too.

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Match Stats
Charlton Liverpool
44% Possession 56%
3 Shots On Target 3
2 Shots Off Target 9
0 Blocked Shots 2
1 Corners 11
13 Fouls 14
4 Offsides 2
2 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0

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