Post by Scousysmurf on Aug 16, 2009 17:27:28 GMT
Goals from Beniot Assou-Ekotto and Sebastian Bassong condemned Liverpool to a disappointing opening day defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
Full-back Assou-Ekotto fired Spurs into the lead just before half-time with a powerful drive into the top corner after the home team had threatened throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Steven Gerrard gave the Reds hope with a 56th minute penalty, but Bassong restored Tottenham's lead with a towering header to inflict defeat on Rafael Benitez's charges in the first game of the new season.
Liverpool were boosted pre-match by the inclusion of Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher in their starting XI after the trio were deemed fit following recent injury concerns.
The Reds' first opening arrived in the fifth minute when Skrtel's long-ball forward almost allowed Ryan Babel a clear run on goal, but Spurs' summer signing Bassong was able to recover and deny the Dutchman a shooting opportunity.
On 15 minutes, centre-back duo Carragher and Skrtel were involved in a heavy but accidental collision as they both went to head a ball into the box clear.
The Anfield vice-captain required stitches to a head wound, while Skrtel received treatment on the side of the pitch before the pair both returned to the field - Carra in a Terry Butcher-esque head bandage.
Aaron Lennon skewed well wide from 12 yards with Tottenham's first chance of note on 21 minutes as the home side began to apply heavy pressure to the Liverpool rearguard.
Gerrard flashed a low shot narrowly wide of Heurelho Gomes' post just shy of the half-hour mark, but Pepe Reina was forced to produce a world-class save shortly after to deny ex-Red Robbie Keane after Luka Modric had picked out the unmarked Irishman in the centre.
The striker seemed destined to score from point blank range, but Liverpool's custodian thwarted his former teammate with a fantastic block.
The Spain international again frustrated the 29-year-old moments later as he clawed away a goalbound effort with his left hand, prior to Jermaine Defoe heading wide.
Keane spurned another good chance three minutes before the break when he blazed high and wide from a central position just inside the area.
However, Spurs finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when full-back Assou-Ekotto arrowed a powerful strike into the top corner of Reina's goal from 20 yards after Tom Huddlestone's initial free-kick had cannoned back off the Liverpool wall.
The visitors emerged with renewed determination after the break and Gerrard was inches away from drawing level with another powerful daisy cutter from distance after good play from Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres, although Reina had to be at full stretch to tip a long-range Wilson Palacios drive over the crossbar in the immediately after.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty on 54 minutes after a trademark surge forward from Johnson. The full-back turned one way then the other before busting into the box. Gomes rushed from his line, but only succeeded in bringing down Anfield's new No.2.
Gerrard stepped up to take the resulting penalty and the skipper made no mistake, clinically dispatching the spot-kick into the back of the net with aplomb.
The Reds' joy was short lived, however, as Bassong rose highest to plant Luka Modric's precise free-kick beyond Reina via his head in the 59th minute after Carragher had fouled Defoe 25 yards from goal.
Liverpool's response saw Gerrard's curling free-kick palmed over the bar by Gomes before the goalkeeper stopped a left-footed strike from the captain.
With just over 15 minutes remaining, young defender Daniel Ayala was introduced to the action for his Reds debut, replacing Skrtel who was still visibly shaken from the first-half collision with Carragher.
The visitors continued to probe and had a strong penalty appeal waved with five minutes remaining as substitute Andriy Voronin was seemingly barged off the ball by Assou-Ekotto when through on goal.
Minutes later, the full-back was at the centre of another spot-kick claim as Torres' centre appeared to be blocked by the hand of the Tottenham defender.
Sammy Lee was sent from the Liverpool bench by referee Phil Dowd as tensions rose and time ebbed away, and the Reds were unable to find an equaliser on what will go down as a day to forget at White Hart Lane.
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Torres.
Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, King, Bassong, Corluka, Modric, Huddlestone, Palacios, Lennon, Defoe, Keane (captain).
***thanks to lfc.tv
A very disappointing opening match of the season
Full-back Assou-Ekotto fired Spurs into the lead just before half-time with a powerful drive into the top corner after the home team had threatened throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Steven Gerrard gave the Reds hope with a 56th minute penalty, but Bassong restored Tottenham's lead with a towering header to inflict defeat on Rafael Benitez's charges in the first game of the new season.
Liverpool were boosted pre-match by the inclusion of Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher in their starting XI after the trio were deemed fit following recent injury concerns.
The Reds' first opening arrived in the fifth minute when Skrtel's long-ball forward almost allowed Ryan Babel a clear run on goal, but Spurs' summer signing Bassong was able to recover and deny the Dutchman a shooting opportunity.
On 15 minutes, centre-back duo Carragher and Skrtel were involved in a heavy but accidental collision as they both went to head a ball into the box clear.
The Anfield vice-captain required stitches to a head wound, while Skrtel received treatment on the side of the pitch before the pair both returned to the field - Carra in a Terry Butcher-esque head bandage.
Aaron Lennon skewed well wide from 12 yards with Tottenham's first chance of note on 21 minutes as the home side began to apply heavy pressure to the Liverpool rearguard.
Gerrard flashed a low shot narrowly wide of Heurelho Gomes' post just shy of the half-hour mark, but Pepe Reina was forced to produce a world-class save shortly after to deny ex-Red Robbie Keane after Luka Modric had picked out the unmarked Irishman in the centre.
The striker seemed destined to score from point blank range, but Liverpool's custodian thwarted his former teammate with a fantastic block.
The Spain international again frustrated the 29-year-old moments later as he clawed away a goalbound effort with his left hand, prior to Jermaine Defoe heading wide.
Keane spurned another good chance three minutes before the break when he blazed high and wide from a central position just inside the area.
However, Spurs finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when full-back Assou-Ekotto arrowed a powerful strike into the top corner of Reina's goal from 20 yards after Tom Huddlestone's initial free-kick had cannoned back off the Liverpool wall.
The visitors emerged with renewed determination after the break and Gerrard was inches away from drawing level with another powerful daisy cutter from distance after good play from Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres, although Reina had to be at full stretch to tip a long-range Wilson Palacios drive over the crossbar in the immediately after.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty on 54 minutes after a trademark surge forward from Johnson. The full-back turned one way then the other before busting into the box. Gomes rushed from his line, but only succeeded in bringing down Anfield's new No.2.
Gerrard stepped up to take the resulting penalty and the skipper made no mistake, clinically dispatching the spot-kick into the back of the net with aplomb.
The Reds' joy was short lived, however, as Bassong rose highest to plant Luka Modric's precise free-kick beyond Reina via his head in the 59th minute after Carragher had fouled Defoe 25 yards from goal.
Liverpool's response saw Gerrard's curling free-kick palmed over the bar by Gomes before the goalkeeper stopped a left-footed strike from the captain.
With just over 15 minutes remaining, young defender Daniel Ayala was introduced to the action for his Reds debut, replacing Skrtel who was still visibly shaken from the first-half collision with Carragher.
The visitors continued to probe and had a strong penalty appeal waved with five minutes remaining as substitute Andriy Voronin was seemingly barged off the ball by Assou-Ekotto when through on goal.
Minutes later, the full-back was at the centre of another spot-kick claim as Torres' centre appeared to be blocked by the hand of the Tottenham defender.
Sammy Lee was sent from the Liverpool bench by referee Phil Dowd as tensions rose and time ebbed away, and the Reds were unable to find an equaliser on what will go down as a day to forget at White Hart Lane.
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Torres.
Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, King, Bassong, Corluka, Modric, Huddlestone, Palacios, Lennon, Defoe, Keane (captain).
***thanks to lfc.tv
A very disappointing opening match of the season
