REDS SLUMP TO RIVERSIDE DEFEAT Goals from Tuncay and Xabi Alonso (OG) confided Liverpool to a 2-0 defeat in Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon. The Reds failed to convert a host of chances against Gareth Southgate's relegation-battlers and remain seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
To make matters worse for Rafa Benitez, the returning Steven Gerrard was withdrawn with 15 minutes remaining after appearing to pick up a knock.
Liverpool may have entered this game on the back of a famous victory in the Bernabeu, but they were without a win at the Riverside since 2002. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, hadn't won a league match in 14. Something had to give.
Gerrard's return from a hamstring tear had been a major plus for Benitez, who made four changes from the side that beat Real Madrid. With Alvaro Arbeloa and Fernando Torres injured, Sami Hyypia and Ryan Babel came in, while Nabil El Zhar was handed a first league start.
The visitors began brightly enough, carving out three excellent chances in the opening quarter of an hour.
The first fell to El Zhar on eight minutes after a neat one-two with Dirk Kuyt. A goal looked certain but the Morocco international blasted too close to Brad Jones from 10 yards. The rebound dropped first to Babel, then Kuyt; both failed to capitalise.
Kuyt was presented with an even better opportunity minutes later when Hyypia spotted Fabio Aurelio's surge down the left. The Brazilian sent in one of his bending crosses, which Kuyt controlled before lashing the ball towards the top corner. Again Jones was smart to it.
Next, Babel found himself on the end of a well-worked move but the angle of his shot meant the goalkeeper was always favourite.
Liverpool were firmly on top but had nothing to show for it. A snapshot from Gerrard hit the side netting, while Alonso tried his luck from 25 yards. Still no breakthrough.
The Riverside DJ played Let Me Entertain You as the sides made their way onto the pitch; not that Southgate's players took the hint. They mustered just a single goalscoring opportunity prior to their breakthrough when Gary O'Neil beat Aurelio to Stuart Downing's cross only to be denied by a reflex save from Pepe Reina.
All the more sickening for a raucous travelling Kop, then, when Alonso deflected a Downing corner in his own net after 31 minutes.
Downing forced another save from Reina from the edge of the box before Rob Styles blew for half-time, but it was Liverpool who showed all the initiative with no reward.
Martin Skrtel, operating in an unfamiliar role on the right of Liverpool's defence, was first to threaten straight after the restart with an ambitious effort which sailed over.
Seconds later, Gerrard burst into the Middlesbrough box before putting a goal on a plate for El Zhar, who dropped his head in disappointment after shooting over from 10 yards.
A short corner between Gerrard and El Zhar which broke down due to an offside summed up what was becoming a very frustrating afternoon for Benitez's men.
Things were about to go from bad to worse on 63 minutes when Ryan Babel conceded possession, allowing Jeremie Aliadiere to ghost behind Liverpool's defence before cutting back to Tuncay, who finished with aplomb.
The Reds almost clawed one back when Gerrard bombed through the home rearguard and crossed to Kuyt, who missed an open goal.
A fantastic save was required from Reina to deny substitute Marlon King on 73 minutes, by which stage it was clear Liverpool's miserable record at the Riverside was going to continue.
Substitute Ngog spurned a free header in injury time, but it would have been academic.
News of Chelsea's victory over Wigan filtered through as referee Styles put an end to a miserable afternoon for Liverpool, who drop to third in the Premier League. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel, Carragher, Babel, Alonso, Mascherano, El Zhar, Gerrard (captain), Kuyt. Subs - Darby, Benayoun, Leiva, Cavalieri, Riera, Dossena, Ngog
Middlesbrough: Jones, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, Hoyte, Downing, Arca (captain), Bates, O'Neil, Aliadiere, Sanli. Subs - Turnbull, Johnson, Emnes, King, Alves, Walker, Taylor
Referee: Rob Styles
Conditions: Chilly
Attendance: 33,724
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Steven Gerrard
Breakdown 15:02 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Rob Styles gets the game underway at the Riverside
1 min : Skrtel is starting at right back. Carragher and Hyypia in the middle
4 mins : We've started brightly and had most of the ball so far
5 mins : Skrtel thinks he's won a corner after a run down the right, but the ref awards a goal kick
8 mins : Almost a dream full debut for El Zhar after a pass from Kuyt, but the youngster's shot is well saved by Jones
9 mins : Aurelio crosses from the left and Kuyt directs a header wide. We've started very brightly
10 mins : First chance for Boro as Downing's cross is volleyed goalwards by O'Neill, forcing Reina into a decent stop
14 mins : More good play from Liverpool as Hyypia frees Aurelio who crosses for Kuyt, with the Dutchman's shot forcing Jones into another save
15 mins : This time it's Babel with a scoring chance, but from a tight angle he can't beat Jones with a low shot
16 mins : We're totally in control at the moment - but can we make the breakthrough?
20 mins : Aliadiere is down needing treatment for an ankle knock
24 mins : Downing has space down the left but his cross is too strong for O'Neill and the home side fail to make the most of a good opportunity
27 mins : Alonso and Gerrard have snap shots in quick succession as we continue to completely boss the match
29 mins : The home side win their first corner of the match
31 mins : Own Goal! Xabi Alonso: Downing's corner strikes Alonso and the ball flies past Reina to give the home side an undeserved lead
34 mins : Another cross from Aurelio is headed away for a corner. How are we behind?
40 mins : Good drive by Downing which is well held by Reina
15:49 GMT : Half Time Reached
16:05 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : We're back underway - no changes at the break
47 mins : Good run by El Zhar and the ball falls nicely for Skrtel who drags his shot high and wide
48 mins : Our best chance so far as Gerrard pulls the ball back for El Zhar who somehow misses the target with his left footed drive
51 mins : Hyypia leaves the field for treatment after a clash of heads
52 mins : Aliadiere capitalises on the space in our defence but fires wastefully over
55 mins : Pogatetz gifts Liverpool the ball but we're quickly caught offside
61 mins : The game has gone scrappy now - we need to pick the pace up and look for a way back into it
63 mins : GOAL! Tuncay Sanli: Boro break down the right and Tuncay converts from close range
67 mins : Kuyt misses a sitter in front of goal from Gerrard's cross
66 mins : Substitution: Marlon King for Jeremie Aliadiere:
66 mins : Substitution: David Ngog for Nabil El Zhar:
71 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for Jamie Carragher:
72 mins : King has a glorious chance to add the third but Reina keeps out his shot
76 mins : Bates clatters into Babel and concedes a free kick
76 mins : Substitution: Lucas Leiva for Steven Gerrard:
77 mins : Skrtel volleys the ball over after Boro half clear a corner. We're running out of time now
78 mins : O'Neill volleys just wide from Downing's deep cross
79 mins : Substitution: Adam Johnson for Tuncay Sanli:
84 mins : Benayoun crosses towards Ngog but Boro clear again
85 mins : Lucas brings a good save out of Jones after finding space in the area
87 mins : Substitution: Josh Walker for Julio Arca:
90 mins : Four extra minutes to be played
90 mins : King has the ball in the net but is flagged offside
16:54 GMT : Match Over 100% Credit and Info by : www.liverpoolfc.net |
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