NGOG AND YOSSI SINK SUNDERLAND Liverpool registered a comfortable 2-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Sunderland after David Ngog and Yossi Benayoun struck second-half goals at Anfield. Ngog finished off an excellent attacking move from close range on 51 minutes before Benayoun headed home from a weak Marton Fulop save to secure the win 14 minutes later.
The result means Liverpool are still level on points with Chelsea after Guus Hiddink's side disposed of Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park courtesy of a Didier Drogba goal.
Rafa Benitez demanded an instant improvement from his charges prior to kick-off and made four changes to his starting line-up to the side that went down 2-0 to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
David Ngog made his first home league start and spearheaded the attack alongside Dirk Kuyt, while Javier Mascherano slotted in at right-back in the absence of the injured Alvaro Arbeloa and Emiliano Insua came in for Fabio Aurelio at left-back.
Sunderland proved to be every inch the usual visitors to Anfield and started the match in a 4-5-1 formation with target man Kenwyne Jones taking up a lone striker role. But it was Ricky Sbragia's side who started brighter and had an excellent opportunity to take the lead on three minutes.
Kenwyne Jones found himself a yard ahead of Jamie Carragher and through on Pepe Reina's goal. The towering hit man lined himself up to burst the net, but miscued it and Reina easily saved easily. It was a fantastic chance for the visitor - Liverpool were let off the hook with that one.
The Reds went on the attack after that and had their own chances to go in front. Similar to the opposition's early chance, each Liverpool player who got into a shooting position could not connect cleanly and gave Marton Fulop an easy save to make.
Dirk Kuyt got a cleanly struck low drive in at Fulop on 12 minutes, but other than that there seemed to be a series of mishits and blocks in the opening exchanges. It was all positive stuff however, and probably one of the most open kick-offs to a game we've seen in some time.
A great move between Insua, Ngog, Benayoun and Kuyt almost unlocked the Black Cats defence on 15 minutes. The ball zipped right across the pitch to the man who scored the winner at the Bernabeu last week, Benayoun, who swung in a cross for Kuyt to convert. The Dutchman tried one of his trademark near-post finishes, but Fulop saved well and cleared the danger.
A goalmouth scramble followed five minutes later, but Kuyt was adjudged to have fouled in the area after Albert Riera, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso had snapshots from a powerful Yossi cross.
The 0-0 scoreline after 20 minutes was probably about right - both sides had chances to score, but neither could add the killer touch. Sunderland were proving to be typically resolute, if a little too open, while Liverpool might have been always on the look-out for openings but were also very lucky to be still in with a chance of a clean sheet after that early scare.
More Liverpool probing followed and Riera was next to try his luck on the half-hour mark. The Spanish winger turned a defender and cut in from the left flank to shoot with his right foot. Riera's well-struck shot nearly crept in under the keeper's right-hand side from a deflection, but Fulop managed to get a fingertip to put the ball out for a corner.
Mascherano clipped the bar with a thundering shot after Sunderland cleared from the corner. It seemed that Ricky Sbragia's side were riding by the seats of their trousers - and getting away with it.
By the time the end of the half came it was Liverpool who had enjoyed the best of the chances and could have been in front.
It wasn't so much a case of Rafa's men forcing the issue, but more like Sunderland playing openly in front of the back four and and inviting the Reds to shoot on sight. A rather different first half to what the Anfield faithful have become used to this season, but the 0-0 scoreline at the break was as familiar as the biting wing whirling around the ground.
The Reds attacked from the get go in the second half and forced a corner straight from the restart. Benayoun popped up unmarked from Gerrard's corner and directed a powerful header just wide.
The Israeli utility man got away from Black Cats captain Dean Whitehead two minutes later and almost set Gerrard free down the left; Yossi seemed to be grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck.
With two chances coming in the space of five minutes in the opening exchanges of second half, it seemed that they were edging closer to breaking the deadlock with each foray forward.
But they only needed one more chance to make the extra incentive pay and took the lead through David Ngog on 51 minutes.
Riera took the ball down to the byline on the left and whipped in a lofted ball into the box, which an oncoming Gerrard nodded over for the Frenchmen to finish from close range.
It was a confident finish to round off an excellent move - the Kop was in raptures.
The Reds looked fully composed after that and went in search of securing the victory with a series of positive moves forward.
Insua, Kuyt and Alonso all had efforts at goal, but Sunderland continued to get away with allowing their defence to be pummelled time and time again.
The Black Cats boss Sbragia brought on Istanbul hero Djibril Cisse to partner Jones up front on 62 minutes in an effort to tip the balance in their favour. But with less men clogging up the midfield it seemed that the move only served to invite more pressure.
Within seconds of that substitution Liverpool had doubled their lead through the on-form Benayoun.
Ngog managed to get a high overhead kick across the penalty area after a miskicked Sunderland clearance, then Fulop parried the acrobatic cross-cum shot into the path of Benayoun who made no mistake from a couple of yards out to put the Reds 2-0 up.
It might have been a soft goal to concede from Sunderland's point of view, but Yossi should be commended for taking full advantage of Fulop's weak parry.
The Reds continued to create chances after that and looked to keep possession for the remainder of the match, which they did for the most part.
For all of Sunderland's huffing and puffing, it seemed that the likes of Benayoun, Kuyt, Alonso and Mascherano could ping the ball around until an opening came their way.
Okay, they could have gone for the jugular and attempted to improve goal difference, but after Saturday's defeat to Sunderland this victory will be the perfect tonic for the Reds confidence. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Mascherano, Riera, Gerrard (captain), Alonso, Benayoun, Kuyt, Ngog. Subs - Hyypia, Aurelio, El Zhar, Dossena, Babel, Leiva, Cavalieri
Sunderland: Fulop, McCartney, Ferdinand, Ben-Haim, Collins, Richardson, Whitehead (captain), Leadbitter, Malbranque, Jones, Reid. Subs - Murphy, Cisse, Gordon, Davenport, Bardsley, Edwards, Healy
Referee: M Halsey
Conditions: Fine
Attendance: Unknown
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Yossi Benayoun
Breakdown 20:02 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool kick off attacking the Anfield Road end
3 mins : First chance of the match to the Reds. Ngog plays a neat ball into Yossi but his cut back is hacked away from Kuyt in the six yard box
3 mins : Sunderland instantly respond and Kenwyne Jones misses a glorious chance when he fires straight at Reina after running clear of the LFC defence
8 mins : Yossi and Stevie G both see efforts blocked as the home side look to gain an early advantage
10 mins : A weaving run down the right from Benayoun sees him make progress into the area...But his cross eludes the red shirts in the box
12 mins : Masch - who is filling in at right back - finds Kuyt on the edge of the box. The Dutchman shoots....well saved Marton Fulop
13 mins : Richardson tries his luck from distance but his effort lacks pace and is easy for Reina
14 mins : Ngog fires straight at Fulop...but it doesn't matter, the flag is up anyway
15 mins : Great build up involving Kuyt and Ngog sees the ball fed wide to Yossi. The Israeli crosses low but Fulop is once again there to deny Kuyt a tap-in
16 mins : First Booking: David Ngog:
20 mins : Riera tries an ambitious volley from the left hand side of the area but it is deflected to safety by a Sunderland body
21 mins : The Kop give a warm reception to Djibril Cisse who is warming up as a Sunderland sub
22 mins : A flashy piece of skill by Ngog sets up another LFC attack. It comes to nothing but the Frenchman receives a roar of approval for his efforts
26 mins : Yossi finds space but sees his 25 yarder blocked. A familiar story for LFC so far
27 mins : First corner of the match to the Reds sees Gerrard curve one to the back stick where Kuyt is inches away from connecting
28 mins : Free-kick in a promising position...Gerrard overhits it and a chance to continue the pressure is lost
31 mins : Riera's deflected strike is superbly tipped past the near post by Fulop
32 mins : A ferocious strike from Mascherano skims the top of the bar. The Reds are on top but that breakthrough goal remains elusive
34 mins : A driving run from Gerrard earns another corner...
35 mins : Again the ball bounces around the Black Cats' area but no-one can find the finish. Gerrard ensures the away side survive again with a poor drive that flies way over
37 mins : Corner to Sunderland at the Kop end...
37 mins : And another one as the ball clips Insua and rolls out of play
38 mins : A rare period of Sunderland pressure comes to an end when Jones' heavy touch denies him a shooting opportunity in the Reds' penalty area
39 mins : Liverpool continue to probe for an opening but it's looking like another goalless first 45 at Anfield
41 mins : Score update. Chelsea are goalless at the interval in their match at Portsmouth...
43 mins : Ngog breaks and plays the ball to Masch who sees his low shot crash into the side netting
44 mins : Riera wins a corner with a teasing run and cross. Last chance before the interval...
45 mins : The visitors clear and win a free-kick. There will be one minute of added time
20:48 GMT : Half Time Reached
21:05 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Sunderland kick off the second period attacking the Anfield Road end
47 mins : Let's hope the Kop can inspire a goal for the Reds in the second period. Ngog has earned an early corner...
47 mins : Yossi almost recreates his Madrid magic, but this time his header flies just wide
48 mins : Alonso hits a raking ball towards Ngog who just runs out of pitch - unlucky Reds
51 mins : Carra makes two great challenges within a minute as Sunderland look to pull off a shock
52 mins : GOAL! David Ngog: The Frenchman knocks home Gerrard's header after a good cross from Riera
53 mins : Relief spreads throughout Anfield. Now let's build on it
57 mins : Insua storms into the box from the left but drags his shot just wide of the far post
60 mins : Great chance for Steed Malbranque... he volleys way over Reina's goal. Let off for the Reds
62 mins : Substitution: Djibril Cisse for Grant Leadbitter: One of our Champions League winner returns to Anfield
65 mins : GOAL! Yossi Benayoun: Fulop drops Ngog's volleyed cross straight to Benayoun who makes no mistake from four yards out
69 mins : Chelsea have just taken the lead at Pompey
70 mins : Substitution: Lucas Leiva for David Ngog:
76 mins : Substitution: Daryl Murphy for Kenwyne Jones:
79 mins : Gerrard fires just over as the Reds look for a third. It's looking like richly deserved three points
81 mins : Substitution: Carlos Edwards for Steed Malbranque:
82 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Steven Gerrard:
84 mins : Sub Ryan Babel earns a free-kick on the left, but Kuyt heads the resulting kick straight at Fulop
87 mins : Lucas heads straight at Fulop after Alonso picked him out at the far post
89 mins : Babel goes close with a superb run and shot
90 mins : Substitution: Nabil El Zhar for Yossi Benayoun:
90 mins : First Booking: Dean Whitehead:
90 mins : There will be a minimum of three minutes added time |
And so it proved on eight minutes when a glancing header from Xabi Alonso sent a Gerrard free-kick clattering against the crossbar. Kuyt reacted first with a wicked drive into the bottom corner to take his season's tally to 10.
