RAFA: IT'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITYJimmy Rice at Anfield 22 November 2008
Rafa Benitez admitted his side missed a golden opportunity to go clear of Chelsea at the top of the league after a frustrating goalless draw at home to Fulham.The Reds dominated at Anfield but failed to carve out enough clear-cut chances - and those they did went begging. The one consolation was that Chelsea also drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle, meaning Liverpool remain joint top. But Benitez knows it could have been much better.
He said: "It was a bad day. We weren't playing well, we didn't have enough energy and we did not pass well. "But we had three good opportunities even though we played badly.
"We started the second half really well. We had more intensity and more determination. "There is a bit of frustration. We are disappointed because when we got to the dressing room we were told that Chelsea drew and Arsenal lost.
"Clearly it is an opportunity lost - but it's also an opportunity lost for Chelsea." Benitez selected
Lucas Leiva in midfield, while
Xabi Alonso, who played 90 minutes for Spain in midweek, was named on the bench. The boss said: "We tried to use two or three players with fresh legs but you could see three or four players didn't have the energy. Lucas had fresh legs but
Dirk Kuyt and
Albert Riera played 90 minutes in midweek and had to fly around."
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson added: "It's a point against a potential champion of this country so we've got to be happy with our performance.
"They've won almost all of their recent games and we knew they were going to throw the kitchen sink at us. You are never comfortable against Liverpool. "A 0-0 at Liverpool is a very good result. My goalkeeper made two very good saves."
 | LIVERPOOL 0 - 0 FULHAM
Saturday 22 November 2008 15:00 , Barclays Premier League |
REDS FRUSTRATED BY FULHAM |
Liverpool remain level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League despite being held to a goalless draw with Fulham at Anfield.The Reds dominated throughout a lively contest but missed the chance to move clear of Luiz Felipe Scolari's men after failing to find that elusive match winning goal. It was all the more frustrating for Rafa and co after the Londoners drew a blank at home to Newcastle United.
The first chance of what proved to be hugely frustrating match for Liverpool fell to the hosts on four minutes when a magnificent 40 yard ball from Fabio Aurelio found the marauding Alvaro Arbeloa down the right.
The Spaniard showed good awareness to cut the ball back for Dirk Kuyt on the edge of the box but for once the Dutchman couldn't finish and dragged his shot wide of the far post. It set the tone for the rest of the half with the home side wasting a series of good openings while Fulham threatened on the counter attack.
Roy Hodgson's men had not won at Anfield in 27 previous visits prior to kick-off, and although that run has now stretched to 28 matches, they could have given themselves a fighting chance of a shock victory on 20 minutes when they carved Liverpool open.
The Reds failed to clear a right-wing free-kick and after Jimmy Bullard and Clint Dempsey had combined to set up Andy Johnson, the former Everton man fired a gilt-edged opportunity straight at Pepe Reina. It was proving to be an entertaining encounter and although Fulham had their moments, the hosts should have gone in at the interval ahead.
The chance of the half fell to Robbie Keane, who really should have done better after racing on to a flick from Lucas and smashing a shot straight at Mark Schwarzer from just eight yards out.
The returning Fernando Torres - who was making his first league start since the clash at Manchester City on October 5 - then went close with two instinctive efforts before the Cottagers again showed how dangerous they could be on the break when Bullard forced a top drawer save from Reina after Zamora's rampaging run down the right had left the Liverpool defence exposed.
The underlying feeling reverberating around Anfield at the halfway point was one of frustration and the home side set about putting that right with a fast start to the second period. Torres was beginning to have more and more influence on the play and created two good openings in the first five minutes of the half.
First he saw a delightful effort curl just over the top after some good play by Keane, before a brilliant individual run saw him cut in from the left and sting the fingertips of Schwarzer with a sizzling strike. The Reds were turning the screw and the Fulham stopper had to be at his instinctive best again on 70 minutes when he pushed Dirk Kuyt's effort away after a volleyed cross from Albert Riera.
It looked like being one of those days for Rafa and co, and after Lucas and Daniel Agger both went close late on, it would prove to be the case, as Fulham held on to claim a surprise point.
TeamsLiverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher (captain), Agger, Arbeloa, Riera, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Torres, Keane. Subs - Hyypia, El Zhar, Babel, Dossena, Cavalieri, Alonso, Benayoun
Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hughes, Hangeland, Pantsill, Dempsey, Bullard, Murphy (captain), Davies, Johnson, Zamora. Subs - Baird, Zuberbuhler, Gray, Gera, Stoor, Kallio,
Nevland Referee: M Halsey Conditions:
Cold Attendance: Unknown
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Jamie Carragher
Rafa Benitez took 10 minutes out of his pre-Fulham preparations to talk to radio journalists about the game and the week that was.
