Post by Dan_YNWA on Oct 26, 2005 5:17:38 GMT
REDS CRASH OUT AT THE PALACE
Liverpool are out of this season's Carling Cup after a second half goal from Marco Reich gave Crystal Palace a 2-1 victory in tonight's 3rd Round clash at Selhurst Park.
The Reds reached the final of this competition last season, but there will be no Cardiff date this time after goals either side of half time gave Palace, relegated from the Premiership last season, a famous win.
And it was a familar story for Rafa's men as, like at Fulham on Saturday, they missed a host of chances that should have seen them safely home.
The only bright spot on a dull night in South London was the return from injury of Steven Gerrard, whose 40th minute goal drew them level after Freedman had given Palace the lead.
Liverpool started this game as if intent on responding to Rafa's calls for more effort and they created a host of excellent chances that suggested they would make easy work of their hosts.
The game had barely got underway when Potter found himself in acres of space only to blaze over and then we were almost celebrating a first Liverpool goal for Peter Crouch before his bullet header was blocked on the line.
The Reds were enjoying a lot of possession and no one more than fit again Captain Steven Gerrard looked like making Palace for allowing them to dominate. It was his clever exchange with Morientes that gave Kewell an excellent chance to test Speroni after 12 minutes.
Kewell was frustrated to see Speroni save his shot and he would go close again later in the half, but the Reds found themselves behind against the run of play when Freedman scored for Palace in the 37th minute.
The home side had already served warning of their aerial threat when Hall and Freedman tested Carson with headers; and when Freedman was given another chance he made no mistake and headed over Carson and into the net.
Liverpool weren't behind for long. I have already eluded to the impact of Gerrard's return and it was he who scored what was a deserved equalizer for the Reds just 3 minutes later when finishing superbly from 18 yards.
The 1-1 half time scoreline perhaps didn't reflect Liverpool's dominance in the first half and we had hardly kicked off again when the Reds created another good chance. This time Morientes was the man who would put his head in his hands as his header dropped the wrong side of the post.
The Spaniard had an even better chance soon after and it looked certain he would score this time when he turned inside the last Palace defender, but he was frustrated again when his shot was blocked.
Liverpool had made a good start to the second half, but they then had to survive a period of Palace pressure that would remind them they wouldn't have things all their own way.
Kewell would again sting Speroni's hands in the 59th minute, but Palace were rewarded for their persistence when Reich restored their advantage with a 65th minute strike.
Like at Fulham on Saturday, Liverpool again paid the price for not clearing the ball and Reich had an easy chance.
Liverpool were almost out of it in the 70th minute when Reich again got free on the right, but this time his time his finishing let him down and we would still have a chance.
Rafa replaced Morientes with the quicker Pongolle as the clock ticked down, but the Reds were unable to rescue themselves as Palace defended like men on a mission.
There is no doubt Liverpool would have loved to win tonight and lift the dark clouds that are gathering over Anfield, but it wasn't to be and they must now look towards West Ham on Saturday to put things right.
When I tell you that the Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni was named Man of the Match you'll guess what they will be lamenting tonight.
from: tv
Liverpool are out of this season's Carling Cup after a second half goal from Marco Reich gave Crystal Palace a 2-1 victory in tonight's 3rd Round clash at Selhurst Park.
The Reds reached the final of this competition last season, but there will be no Cardiff date this time after goals either side of half time gave Palace, relegated from the Premiership last season, a famous win.
And it was a familar story for Rafa's men as, like at Fulham on Saturday, they missed a host of chances that should have seen them safely home.
The only bright spot on a dull night in South London was the return from injury of Steven Gerrard, whose 40th minute goal drew them level after Freedman had given Palace the lead.
Liverpool started this game as if intent on responding to Rafa's calls for more effort and they created a host of excellent chances that suggested they would make easy work of their hosts.
The game had barely got underway when Potter found himself in acres of space only to blaze over and then we were almost celebrating a first Liverpool goal for Peter Crouch before his bullet header was blocked on the line.
The Reds were enjoying a lot of possession and no one more than fit again Captain Steven Gerrard looked like making Palace for allowing them to dominate. It was his clever exchange with Morientes that gave Kewell an excellent chance to test Speroni after 12 minutes.
Kewell was frustrated to see Speroni save his shot and he would go close again later in the half, but the Reds found themselves behind against the run of play when Freedman scored for Palace in the 37th minute.
The home side had already served warning of their aerial threat when Hall and Freedman tested Carson with headers; and when Freedman was given another chance he made no mistake and headed over Carson and into the net.
Liverpool weren't behind for long. I have already eluded to the impact of Gerrard's return and it was he who scored what was a deserved equalizer for the Reds just 3 minutes later when finishing superbly from 18 yards.
The 1-1 half time scoreline perhaps didn't reflect Liverpool's dominance in the first half and we had hardly kicked off again when the Reds created another good chance. This time Morientes was the man who would put his head in his hands as his header dropped the wrong side of the post.
The Spaniard had an even better chance soon after and it looked certain he would score this time when he turned inside the last Palace defender, but he was frustrated again when his shot was blocked.
Liverpool had made a good start to the second half, but they then had to survive a period of Palace pressure that would remind them they wouldn't have things all their own way.
Kewell would again sting Speroni's hands in the 59th minute, but Palace were rewarded for their persistence when Reich restored their advantage with a 65th minute strike.
Like at Fulham on Saturday, Liverpool again paid the price for not clearing the ball and Reich had an easy chance.
Liverpool were almost out of it in the 70th minute when Reich again got free on the right, but this time his time his finishing let him down and we would still have a chance.
Rafa replaced Morientes with the quicker Pongolle as the clock ticked down, but the Reds were unable to rescue themselves as Palace defended like men on a mission.
There is no doubt Liverpool would have loved to win tonight and lift the dark clouds that are gathering over Anfield, but it wasn't to be and they must now look towards West Ham on Saturday to put things right.
When I tell you that the Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni was named Man of the Match you'll guess what they will be lamenting tonight.
from: tv
