Liverpool v Man City - Match Report

[gerrard]

Liverpool 2-2 Man City

Barclays Premier League

21st Nov 2009 KO 12:45 Ground: Anfield






Teams:

Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Skrtel, Carragher, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Ngog. Subs - Cavalieri, Aquilani, Riera, Aurelio, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, El Zhar

Manchester City: Given, Bridge, Toure (captain), Lescott, Zabaleta, Ireland, De Jong, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Bellamy, Adebayor. Subs - Taylor, Onuoha, Kompany, Weiss, Johnson, Tevez, Santa Cruz


Man-of-the-Match: Martin Skrtel


REDS EARN POINT IN CITY THRILLER

Four second half goals saw Manchester City hold Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in a pulsating encounter at Anfield.

Martin Skrtel deservedly opened the scoring five minutes into the second period when the commanding centre-back poked an inviting Steven Gerrard centre into the Anfield Road End net to claim his first ever strike for the club.

But Emmanuel Adebayor levelled for the visitors with a glancing header from a corner with just over twenty minutes remaining on the clock.

The two teams then traded goals within the space of a minute as Stephen Ireland tapped City into the lead, but Yossi Benayoun instantly equalised for Liverpool, tucking home from close quarters after good work by David Ngog to secure a point for Rafa Benitez's side.

Liverpool were able to name Gerrard in their starting XI for the first time since mid-October, and the Reds' squad was also bolstered by the presence of Benayoun, Albert Riera, Fabio Aurelio and Nabil El Zhar on the substitutes' bench - but Glen Johnson was absent.

The game got underway with Liverpool determined to put a run of one win in nine matches firmly behind them, whilst also denting City's aspirations of breaking into the top four come May.

With strong wind and rain swirling around inside Anfield, the Reds made a promising opening and Skrtel forced a fine early save from Shay Given with a powerful header from Gerrard's free-kick.

The chance came at a cost to the home side, however, as Daniel Agger was stretchered from the field after a clash of heads with City centre-back Kolo Toure as the pair both attempted to reach the initial ball into the area.

With the defender unable to resume, Sotirios Kyrgiakos was introduced into the action after just eleven minutes, but not before Pepe Reina palmed a Gareth Barry header to safety with the home side down to ten men.

Fresh from helping his country reach the 2010 World Cup finals at the expense of Ukraine in midweek, it was the Greek's first run out at Anfield since his summer switch from AEK Athens.

But injuries have plagued Liverpool's campaign so far, and the problem showed no signs of letting up when Ryan Babel hobbled off on 17 minutes after failing to recover from a strong challenge by Nigel De Jong.

Benayoun was his replacement and with Holland's assistant manager Philip Cocu watching on from the directors' box, it was also something a personal blow for the 22-year-old who had started the game brightly on the left.

As the half-hour mark loomed, Liverpool threatened again as Gerrard smashed a volley narrowly over the crossbar at the second attempt after his initial effort from Kuyt's flick had been blocked by Toure.

Soon after, Kuyt saw a strike of his own deflected for a corner via Wayne Bridge, and from the resulting flag kick, Benayoun diverted the ball harmlessly wide on the stretch.

City had rarely looked like troubling Reina, and the No.25 remained unemployed when Shaun Wright-Phillips skewed wide from the corner from the box.

With Lucas Leiva and Javier Mascherano in control of midfield, the Reds continued to probe, but the City rearguard stood firm, even with six minutes of first half injury time played.

The second period began in similar fashion and Gerrard's drive from Kuyt's cutback was well blocked by Joleon Lescott in the opening exchanges.

But the deadlock was finally broken on 50 minutes as Skrtel got ahead of Adebayor to prod Gerrard's dangerous free-kick from the left beyond Given at close-range with his right boot.

It was the Slovak's first goal for Liverpool in his 65th appearance, and the defender's joy was clear for all to see.

City's response saw a succession of set-pieces pumped into the Reds' box and it was from a corner that they forced their way back into the game on 69 minutes.

Adebayor atoned for his earlier error by meeting Craig Bellamy's inswinger with a glancing header to beat Reina from an unmarked position.

City took the lead seven minutes later when Wright-Phillips spun beyond Kyrgiakos and slid the ball across goal for Ireland to tap home.

Their lead lasted less than a minute as Liverpool responded instantly. Benayoun stole a march on the visitors' defenders to slip Ngog's inviting right wing cross to the back post into an unguarded net.

Both sides pressed in search of a winner, with Lucas coming closest with a stoppage-time header, but neither were able to find the decisive strike and the Reds were forced to settle for a second consecutive 2-2 Anfield draw.

*thanks to lfctv

[gerrard]

..... AND THE BOSS SAYS......







Rafa Benitez backed Liverpool to hold off the threat of Manchester City and establish themselves back in the top four over the coming months after his side salvaged a point in difficult circumstances at Anfield.

Martin Skrtel's first goal in English football gave the Reds a 1-0 lead just after the break but strikes from Stephen Ireland and Emmanuel Adebayor turned the game on its head.

The hosts were right to feel hard done by after replays showed Ireland was offside for his effort but within a minute Yossi Benayoun levelled at the Anfield Road End.

Liverpool were without Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson for the clash and were dealt early blows with injuries to Ryan Babel (twisted ankle) and Daniel Agger (five stitches after a clash of heads with Kolo Toure).

Benitez said:"It was a bad start because we tested some players early this morning and Johnson wasn't confident and couldn't start, so we had to move Carra to the right.

"Then we got everything right and had another problem and another. We had to move some players and we knew some players were not fully fit because they were not training for a long time.

"It was difficult from the beginning but when we scored the goal I thought maybe we could do it but City were dangerous from counter attacks.

"After conceding two goals the team's comeback was fantastic. We showed great character. We scored our goal and could have got two at the end. With all the problems we had we were still pushing.

"You cannot be happy when you draw at home but when you have a gameplan and you lose Johnson in the morning, then Agger, then Babel. We had to manage but the reaction of the players was fantastic.

"With the problems we had today, you cannot ask for more from the players."

Asked what a second consecutive 2-2 at Anfield meant for Liverpool's top four chances, Benitez added: "City have quality but if we can improve and play at our level we'll be in the top four.

"We won six games in a row and I am sure when we have players back we'll start winning games in a row."

Benitez is hopeful of the treatment room clearing ahead of the midweek clash against Debrecen in Hungary.

He said:"We have to see how Babel and Agger progress for the next game on Tuesday but the positives are that Benayoun played, Riera was available on the bench and Fabio Aurelio came on and played - that's very good news.

"Hopefully we'll have Johnson back for Tuesday."

Quizzed on why Benayoun was substituted late in the game after himself coming on for the injured Babel, Benitez said: "Gerrard had some cramps in his calf. It was between Gerrard and Yossi but Gerrard in a big game scores goals and Yossi was a little bit more tired because he was 10 days without training with the team."


*courtesy of lfctv