[Liverweb] Charlton Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

Liverpool 0 Charlton Athletic 0

Liverpool : Reina, Kromkamp, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Hamann, Gerrard(C),
Kewell, Cisse, Crouch, Fowler

Subs Used : Riise for Hyypia(45), Alonso for Hamann (73), Morientes for
Crouch(81)

Subs Unused : Dudek, Finnan

Att : 43,892

Ref : M.Atkinson

The Reds dropped two points at home to Charlton in this late afternoon kick
off. A no score draw came in a relatively poor game, although the Reds had
plenty of chances to win it. Once again they just lacked that little
something to bag the win. That said Fowler did have a good goal chalked of
for offside in the final minute.

The Reds made some changes to the side and t was obviously with Wednesday
in mind. Traore started at left back to widespread oh go god lets hope they
don't notice he's playing. Djibril Cisse got a rare start down the right
hand side with Fowler and Crouch up front.

The Reds won the toss and defended the Kop end in the first half as
Charlton kicked off. Within minutes of the start the Kop started to sing
the old Gary Mac song. It was a touching moment to remember the midfielder
who lost his wife to cancer late in the week. Gary Mac our thoughts are
with you!

The Reds were out of the traps fast in this one and were unlucky not to be
ahead from an early point of the game. What they did find though was a
keeper in fine form. Thomas Mhyre - in the first half in particular pulled
off some great saves. Kewell went close twice in the first ten minutes and
Cisse also headed wide.

On thirteen minutes it looked like Fowler was about to break his returning
duck when he hit a superb shot, only to see it go just wide. This was a
good start though and had Charlton on the back foot. Their main outlet
seemed to be to get the ball up to either Bent fast and then try and get up
to support them. It never proved to be a big threat but it was always there.

On fifteen minutes came a superb reaction save from Mhyre. A cross came in
and Hreidarsson sliced the ball to the top corner only for the keeper to
claw it away for a corner. There's been a few of those this season that
haven't quite gone our way.

The Reds were looking for anything to get through what was proving to be
two well organised banks of four. The Charlton men worked really hard and
made life as hard as possible. Cisse wasn't getting any joy down the right
as his movement was all too easy for Spector to read. On the other side
Kewell did get the better of his man but the crosses didn't always match
his work getting free.

Steven Gerrard got a couple of decent crosses in from the right. On thirty
four minutes one of his crosses found Kewell but his shot was well saved by
Mhyre. On thirty seven minutes there were big shouts all round for a
penalty as Gerrard headed on in the area and it clearly looked like hand
ball but referee Atkinson blew the appeals away.

The final great chance for the Reds in the half came just before half time
when Cisse headed on goal at the back post but it proved to be just at the
right height for the keeper to save. It was frustrating but the one hope
was that something will give if we keep going at them in the second half.

John Arne Riise came on at the start of the second half and it was Hyypia
who was absent. Word quickly arrived that this was a hamstring injury.
Minds quickly went to Wednesday as well because Traore would have to play
then too with Agger cup tied.

The Reds started the match again and Cisse was soon on the attack but his
cross sailed harmlessly on to the roof of the net. Eight minutes in to the
half and a Reds' corner found Riise and his poor shot was deflected just
wide by Traore.

Just short of the hour mark the Reds had a good opportunity. Kromkamp
pressed down the right and his cross to Kewell was good but the Aussie star
fluffed his shot well wide when he should have done better. Just a minute
later and Cisse put in a great cross but Crouch mad a hash of the header
and put it straight to Mhyre. Crouch just didn't generate any power in the
header.

Cisse was the only Red booked on the day and rightly so. He was caught
offside and the frustrated French man slammed the ball on the ground. The
ref didn't really have much choice but to book him really. Cisse shot wide
from a free kick on seventy one minutes as things started getting
frustrating. This shot was particularly frustrating as the free kick was
direct and then we failed to work the goalie.

Alonso came on for Hamann after 73 minutes in a bid to make the midfield a
bit more forward thinking. With nine minutes to go Morientes came on for
Crouch. Now don't ask why but the crossing improved now. So the player have
eighty odd minutes with a player much taller than most others on the pitch
and we can't cross. He goes off and we throw some great balls in to the box.

Riise blazed a shot well off target with six to go and then Alonso shot
just wide three minutes later. You just couldn't see that goal coming.
There was just three extra minutes added to the clock. Bang on the ninety
minute mark Fowler scored. The Reds played a free kick right across to
Alonso and his shot was sailing well wide. However it went straight to
Fowler who controlled it and shot home. Sadly I was on of the few who
quickly saw the flag up and the goal was chalked off. I've seen it on TV
after the game and I have to say this decision was wrong as Fowler was
definitely onside but that's the way it goes sometimes. We should have been
ahead long before this.

The final whistle went on what was a frustrating afternoon in the end. It
started with a heavy downpour of snow as kick off approached. The ref was
forced to start with the all yellow ball. Then the Reds played well for the
first half and saw their keeper make some great saves. The second half saw
a return to the white ball and the Reds got more and more frustrated. It
definitely case of two points dropped though this and second place isn't
looking on really if we're honest.

MotM : Jan Kromkamp - played well at full back and tried to get in to the
attack when he could. This was certainly his best game for the Reds so far.

Match Stats

Liverpool - Charlton
62% Possession 38%
7 Shots On Target
11 Shots Off Target 2
3 Blocked Shots 1
13 Corners 4
5 Fouls 14
5 Offsides 3
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0

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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.
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