FA BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
SATURDAY 14TH JANUARY, 2006
LIVERPOOL 1 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 (0)
Scorer:-
Kewell, 58
Attendance: - 44,983
Referee: - Dermot Gallagher
Teams:-
Liverpool (4-4-2):- Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise; Gerrard (Capt.), Sissoko (sub Kromkamp, 90), Alonso, Kewell; Morientes (sub Warnock, 83), Crouch (sub Cisse, 65)
Subs not used: - Carson; Sinama-Pongolle
No Bookings
Spurs (4-4-2):- Robinson; Stalteri, Dawson, King (Capt.), Lee; Jenas, Carrick, Davids (sub Lennon, 77), Tainio (sub Defoe, 66); Mido, Keane
Subs not used: - Cerny; Gardner; Brown
Booked: - Tainio
Sent off: - Stalteri (Professional Foul)
Liverpool continued their imperious Premiership form, with their tenth clean sheet in 12 games, and an unstoppable Harry Kewell volley (his first goal of the season) that edged out a Spurs side that impressed independent pundits and fans alike. Martin Jol was able to field a full strength team, and they had a couple of glorious opportunities to score, but for all the plaudits and the close score-line, I have to say that we did well to lose only 1-0.
Rafael Benitez certainly has his team ticking and working as a close-knit team unit in all areas of the park. They challenged strongly for the ball in all areas, and one of their strengths was to challenge their opponents with about 4 or 5 red shirts harrying for the ball in the middle. The Spurs midfield, especially Carrick, was given little luxury time to create intricate play. Paul Robinson was kept busy throughout the game, making at least half a dozen important saves.
There was a special atmosphere around Anfield today, with a stadium packed to the rafters, and the clamour for tickets outside greater than I can recall in recent seasons. This was after all, a battle between two teams genuinely challenging for Champions League places. Liverpool fans were of course crowing over Manchester United’s loss at Eastlands, and at the end of the day, they were breathing down second-placed United’s neck with two games in hand, whilst Spurs are haunted by the massive win at Highbury of the fifth placed home side.
Spurs lined up with Jenas, Carrick, Davids and Tainio occupying the midfield from right to left. Whilst that pattern changed in the second half due to substitutions, Liverpool’s midfield was more flexible throughout the game, with Gerrard starting on the right, but inter-changing with Kewell, on the left. Later in the game Sissoko took on the right side role, and Gerrard played in the middle. I over-heard one Spurs wag on the phone at halt-time claiming that we had seen nothing of Gerrard, but he was behind most of Liverpool’s threats, with his crosses and delivery of dead balls. Lee had felt the pressure as early as the seventh minute, when he subtly brought the Liverpool skipper down. Gerrard’s free kick reached Crouch at the back of the 6 yard box, but his header went straight to Paul Robinson’s arms.
Crouch had the ball in the area three minutes later, but took too long and was dispossessed. The ball ran to Gerrard, who crossed again. The excellent Michael Dawson challenged with Morientes and the ball rolled to Robinson. Spurs were struggling to match the possession and superiority of the home side for much of the first half, and their first meaningful chance came from a corner, taken by Carrick, that ran out to Davids, who tried a shot that curled two yards wide. Michael Dawson had also had a decent effort from another corner that went wide.
Morientes rose to head the ball goal-ward after 29 minutes, and whilst Paul Robinson was on hand, the ball did hit the wood work at the top left corner. Stalteri seemed to have been pushed down by Kewell in a tussle on the wing, but it was Liverpool who got the free kick as Stalteri caught Kewell, as he tried to recover. Gerrard’s free kick went beyond Robinson, and it was that man Dawson who cleared the lines. Tainio got a yellow card just before half-time for what appeared to have been his “first tackle”.
Spurs came out of the blocks after the break with clear intent. They could, and should have scored in the 46th minute, as Jenas gave Riise the slip to take on Carrick’s ball, crossed and Robbie Keane was on the stretch with Reina beaten, but just could not direct his shot on target. Riise was struggling against Jenas now, and soon conceded a free kick. From a corner that followed the free kick, Tainio went close with a rising shot that went above the far corner of the goal in front of the passionate away fans, sniffing glory.
The home side responded to this bit of pressure, and Robinson made a great save, diving to his left to push clear Crouch’s header from Gerrard’s cross. There was time for a bit of Alonso’s skill with a wide pass to Finnan. The ball came back to Gerrard, whose arrowed drive was well held by the Spurs keeper, who had received a warm ovation from the Kop at the start of the second half. Robinson couldn’t stop Kewell’s volley though, as he latched on to Finnan’s cross with a powerful volley that nearly burst the net.
Spurs nearly equalised within a minute of the re-start, as Mido used his strength to win a header, turn and bring a decent save from Reina from his shot. Crouch was replaced by Cisse and Defoe replaced Tainio, as Martin Jol gambled on attack to bring some fruit for his side. Sadly, Defoe hardly got a kick. He did get some stick from some of the Spurs crowd who wanted him to challenge for loose balls, when the Reds were allowed too much time on the ball – a luxury not afforded to the Spurs creators.
Spurs also rely upon the percentages of the long ball, and will struggle to cope with Mido’s forthcoming absence. They would do well to copy Liverpool’s application, as demonstrated by Reina and Cisse, who picked up an accurate throw from the keeper, then won a Liverpool corner from a break-out. Jol brought on Aaron Lennon for the tiring Davids, and whilst Lennon gave Riise something to think about it, he has to take some of the blame which led to Paul Stalteri’s sending off. Spurs had been committed to attack, and were short on numbers at the back. Lennon was in possession about 30 yards from goal, but fumbled and lost control and the ball. Kewell was away into the Spurs half, and was brought down by Stalteri. Dermot Gallagher saw this is a goal-scoring opportunity, but Kewell was 40 yards from goal, and Young-Pyo Lee was goal-side of him, although not in direct line. I think the red card shown to Stalteri was harsh.
In the closing stages, Robinson made another great save – this one from Sissoko’s right foot shot – and in a touch of unreality, Robbie Keane should have grabbed a last-kick equaliser, as he stood in front of Reina, but dollied his shot, literally just before the final whistle. Maybe Keane thought the whistle had already gone, but if he had scored, it would have counted. What a finish that would have been!
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