TORRES GIVES REDS DRAMATIC OPENING DAY WIN
A dramatic strike from Fernando Torres has given Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Sunderland on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season.
The Spanish striker hit a 25-yard scorcher on 83 minutes following a much-improved second-half performance from Liverpool.
Victory comes as a welcome tonic for Benitez - who today responded to newspaper speculation by talking of his contentment on Merseyside “ following Wednesday's disappointing display in the Champions League qualifier.
The Anfield boss made two changes from Liege, recalling Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia for Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger - the latter pair having to settle for a place on the Premier League's new seven-man bench.
Sunderland, meanwhile, were without injured striker Kenwyn Jones, though Roy Keane was able to call on summer signings Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda and El-Hadji Diouf.
Like his new boss, Diouf is always up for a bit of needle, and a pre-match claim that his former teammates would be scared of his 'magic' surely raised the odd eyebrow in the away dressing room.
His boast might have been dubious, but the visiting backline did indeed look nervous in the opening exchanges, not least when a Hyypia backpass almost gave Diouf a free run on goal. Jamie Carragher had to be at his very best to save the day.
Another scare arrived on 13 minutes and, yes, Diouf was again in the thick of it, this time sending a perfect cross towards Daryl Murphy, who probably won't SkyPlus the season's first Match of the Day following a tame header into the arms of Pepe Reina.
Liverpool had still to threaten by the time Diouf sent a curling effort narrowly over on 26 minutes. In fact, it took more than half an hour for the visitors to record a first shot of the campaign, the recalled Gerrard dragging wide from distance.
The skipper, and therefore Liverpool, began to exert more control on proceedings as the half wore on, while teammate Robbie Keane almost broke the deadlock with a superb turn and shot on 40 minutes.
Not that Benitez would have been appeased as Alan Wiley signalled half-time. The Spaniard introduced Alonso for the second half, a decision which gained universal approval among the travelling fans who sang his name throughout the first.
If Alonso's presence ensured Liverpool's passing improved, it was Gerrard who probed whenever the ball entered Sunderland territory.
The number eight shot wide on 51 minutes after a one-two with Yossi Benayoun - who seconds later tested Craig Gordon from close range.
Whatever Benitez said at half-time, it seemed to be doing to trick, though a let off in the form of a scuffed shot from Diouf showed Sunderland still had life in them yet.
A gilt-edged chance arrived on 72 minutes when a Dirk Kuyt effort was spilled by Gordon, with Keane and Torres getting in one another's way as they pounced on the rebound.
Keane was withdrawn shortly after, with Kuyt moving into a central position and Nabil El Zhar entering the fray on the right.
Liverpool were throwing everything at their hosts “ even a 60-yard effort from Alonso which, with Gordon in limbo, was only just off target.
Never mind, for the breakthrough, late and dramatic, was just minutes away, and the sweet feet of Alonso again played their part with a searching pass to Torres, who turned before beating Gordon with a 25-yard shot.
The travelling Kop bounced and bounced until the final whistle arrived seven minutes later, and for the second successive season their men have kicked off the campaign with a win.
Watch highlights of our opening day win from 12am BST on Sunday.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Gerrard (captain), Plessis, Kuyt, Torres, Keane. Subs - Alonso, Aurelio, El Zhar, Ngog, Cavalieri, Agger, Skrtel
Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Collins, Nosworthy (captain), Chimbonda, Richardson, Tainio, Reid, Malbranque, Murphy, Diouf. Subs - Whitehead, Ward, Leadbitter, Higginbotham, Chopra, Edwards, Stokes
Referee: Alan Wiley
Conditions: Breezy
Attendance: 43,259
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Xabi Alonso
Breakdown
16:32 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : The first game of the season is underway
4 mins : Hyypia's header is weak and Diouf has a chance which he can't make anything of. Bit of a let off though
6 mins : Diouf gets a cross in from the right but it's tame and Reina gathers
9 mins : Gerrard delivers a cross which is well defended and then loses control when he receives possession again
10 mins : Richardson charges through midfield but fails to test Reina with his long range shot
12 mins : First save of the game is made by Reina from Murphy who has space inside the box to direct a header goalwards
17 mins : Gerrard does well to track back and win the ball after Sunderland threaten to hit us on the break
24 mins : Sunderland asking most of the questions at the moment. We've offered little going forward
25 mins : Good corner kick delivery from Gerrard but Chimbonda heads clear
28 mins : Kuyt and Torres link up in the area but the ball rolls out for a goal kick
32 mins : Gerrard fouled on outside of area giving us a free kick in a great position
33 mins : Diouf charges out from the wall to block Gerrard's kick - TV replay show we should have had a penalty in original move for foul on Benayoun
39 mins : Plessis has a knock and could be replaced by Alonso
40 mins : Dossena's deep cross from the left is well defended by Bardsley at the expense of a corner
41 mins : Keane works space cleverly on the edge of the area but drives his low shot wide
45 mins : One extra minute to be played
17:18 GMT : Half Time Reached
17:34 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Substitution: Xabi Alonso for Damien Plessis:
50 mins : Gerrard bombs down the right but the attack comes to an end. Slow start to second half from both sides
53 mins : Gerrard has the ball on the edge of the box and fires a low shot wide of the far post
55 mins : Great chance for Diouf on his left foot but he can't get pace into the shot and it's easy for Reina
56 mins : Benayoun shot is saved and Keane wins a corner with the follow up attempt
56 mins : First Booking: Alvaro Arbeloa:
56 mins : Substitution: Dean Whitehead for Teemo Tainio:
58 mins : Benayoun lays the ball into Gerrard's path and the skipper's shot is blocked as it heads towards goal
66 mins : Liverpool win a corner - can we make it count?
67 mins : Sunderland deal well with Gerrard's delivery and clear their lines comfortably
70 mins : Free kick right on the edge of the box after foul on Benayoun. Great chance to work the goalkeeper
73 mins : Gerrard's free kick goes into the wall
73 mins : Benayoun's shot is saved and Torres' goalbound follow-up hits Keane and the ball rolls wide
74 mins : Substitution: Carlos Edwards for Steed Malbranque:
77 mins : Substitution: Nabil El Zhar for Robbie Keane:
80 mins : Oh so close for Alonso as he goes for goal from his own half and doesn't miss by much
80 mins : Substitution: Fabio Aurelio for Yossi Benayoun:
80 mins : Substitution: Michael Chopra for El-Hadji Diouf:
83 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Great strike from Torres from outside the area into the corner
88 mins : First Booking: Nabil El Zhar:
18:23 GMT : Match Over |
發表於 2008-8-17 02:31 AM
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發表於 2008-8-17 02:52 AM
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