Post by gerrard on Dec 22, 2010 19:36:46 GMT
Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool
Barclays Premier League
26th Dec 2010 * KO 15:00 (rearranged 13 Jan 2011)
Ground: Bloomfield Road
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly, Meireles, Poulsen, Lucas, Jovanovic, Torres, Kuyt. Subs: Gulacsi, Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Wilson, Ngog, Shelvey.
Blackpool: Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Grandin, Adam, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Varney. Subs: Rachubka, Southern, Ormerod, Baptiste, Euell, Sylvestre, Phillips.
Kenny Dalglish's first Barclays Premier League game back at the Liverpool helm ended in defeat as his side went down to a 2-1 reversal at Blackpool on Wednesday night.
Fernando Torres gave the Reds the perfect start, smashing home his seventh of the season from an acute angle inside three minutes.
However, the Seasiders levelled on 12 minutes as Gary Taylor-Fletcher made the most of Raul Meireles's loose pass by dispatching past Pepe Reina.
An unmarked DJ Campbell put the hosts into the lead for the first time on the night, heading into the back of the net unmarked after Liverpool failed to deal with a long ball into the box on 69 minutes.
The wave of euphoria that had swept over Merseyside following the return of Dalglish as manager was still very much in the air - regardless of Sunday's FA Cup exit to Manchester United - as the legendary Scot prepared to take charge of his first league game of Liverpool in 20 years.
His last league game in the Reds hot seat had seen them run out comfortable 3-1 winners over Everton way back in 1991, and Kopites were eager for a similar outcome as they journeyed to Blackpool in search of only their second away victory in the Barclays Premier League this term.
However, no-one was in any doubt about the threat Ian Holloway's effervescent team would pose to their hopes, particularly as the Seasiders clinched a fully-deserved 2-1 victory at Anfield earlier in the campaign and headed into the game level on points with Liverpool.
Nonetheless, Dalglish took the opportunity to spring a surprise or two in his team selection in the absence of the suspended Steven Gerrard.
The boss made three changes from the narrow Old Trafford defeat in total, handing starting berths to Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic, while Glen Johnson returned to the XI following the birth of his baby boy on Tuesday night.
In the build-up to the game, Dalglish had spoken of his determination to help Torres rediscover the scoring touch which had established him as one of the globe's leading marksmen.
But surely not even the King himself could have envisaged having such an impact on El Nino, nor a better start at Bloomfield Road, as the striker blasted the visitors into a third-minute lead.
Martin Kelly surged down the right before feeding the ball to Torres inside the box, who took a touch before ferociously drilling beyond the despairing grasp of Richard Kingson with the angle firmly in favour of the Ghana's World Cup stopper.
Liverpool had certainly made a commanding start to the contest, but Blackpool restored parity on 12 minutes via Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
Raul Meireles's wayward pass in midfield presented the ball to David Vaughan, who instantly switched possession to Taylor-Fletcher.
The Liverpool-born striker enjoyed a touch of fortune as he manoeuvred beyond Daniel Agger, but made no mistake with a stabbed effort past Reina from 10 yards.
Moments later, Campbell headed wide from Charlie Adam's cross with Blackpool's spirits raised by their leveller. The latter then tested Liverpool's goalkeeper from the edge of the box in what was proving to be an open affair.
Taylor-Fletcher had Reina scrambling across his line on the half-hour mark after the No.12 unsuccessfully redirected a poor clearance from the custodian back towards goal.
But as half-time approached, Liverpool gradually began to reassert their grip on the game - though Daniel Agger's tame looping header was the best they could muster on Kingson's goal prior to the break.
There was plenty of food for thought for Dalglish and his backroom team during the interval, particularly as both sides had looked threatening in the final third during the opening 45.
It was Blackpool who fashioned the first real chance of the second half, with Adam's well-struck effort stinging the palms of Reina following good work by Elliot Grandin before the 'keeper turned Vaughan's attempt over the crossbar from close range.
Back came the Reds and after Meireles had released Kuyt into space inside the left-hand channel of the box, Torres slashed a volley over from the Dutchman's deep centre.
Kuyt and Meireles combined to good effect again soon after, with the Portuguese striking off target having navigated a passage into the box.
With Liverpool now back in the ascendancy, Kuyt's 66th minute curler had Kingson sprawling across goal but the Blackpool stopper managed to tip it around the base of the post.
But Blackpool took the lead three minutes later against the run of play.
A ball pumped back into the area from a cleared Seasiders' corner was headed back across goal by Ian Evatt, who out jumped Martin Skrtel to allow Campbell to nod home unattended.
Liverpool appealed for a penalty with just over 10 minutes remaining when Craig Cathcart clearly handled inside the box, only for Torres to be penalised for an alleged push on the Blackpool defender.
Dalglish's charges toiled in search of an equaliser in the final stages, but it proved elusive as the Reds' away day woes continued.
*lfc.tv
Barclays Premier League
26th Dec 2010 * KO 15:00 (rearranged 13 Jan 2011)
Ground: Bloomfield Road
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly, Meireles, Poulsen, Lucas, Jovanovic, Torres, Kuyt. Subs: Gulacsi, Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Wilson, Ngog, Shelvey.
Blackpool: Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Grandin, Adam, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Varney. Subs: Rachubka, Southern, Ormerod, Baptiste, Euell, Sylvestre, Phillips.
Kenny Dalglish's first Barclays Premier League game back at the Liverpool helm ended in defeat as his side went down to a 2-1 reversal at Blackpool on Wednesday night.
Fernando Torres gave the Reds the perfect start, smashing home his seventh of the season from an acute angle inside three minutes.
However, the Seasiders levelled on 12 minutes as Gary Taylor-Fletcher made the most of Raul Meireles's loose pass by dispatching past Pepe Reina.
An unmarked DJ Campbell put the hosts into the lead for the first time on the night, heading into the back of the net unmarked after Liverpool failed to deal with a long ball into the box on 69 minutes.
The wave of euphoria that had swept over Merseyside following the return of Dalglish as manager was still very much in the air - regardless of Sunday's FA Cup exit to Manchester United - as the legendary Scot prepared to take charge of his first league game of Liverpool in 20 years.
His last league game in the Reds hot seat had seen them run out comfortable 3-1 winners over Everton way back in 1991, and Kopites were eager for a similar outcome as they journeyed to Blackpool in search of only their second away victory in the Barclays Premier League this term.
However, no-one was in any doubt about the threat Ian Holloway's effervescent team would pose to their hopes, particularly as the Seasiders clinched a fully-deserved 2-1 victory at Anfield earlier in the campaign and headed into the game level on points with Liverpool.
Nonetheless, Dalglish took the opportunity to spring a surprise or two in his team selection in the absence of the suspended Steven Gerrard.
The boss made three changes from the narrow Old Trafford defeat in total, handing starting berths to Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic, while Glen Johnson returned to the XI following the birth of his baby boy on Tuesday night.
In the build-up to the game, Dalglish had spoken of his determination to help Torres rediscover the scoring touch which had established him as one of the globe's leading marksmen.
But surely not even the King himself could have envisaged having such an impact on El Nino, nor a better start at Bloomfield Road, as the striker blasted the visitors into a third-minute lead.
Martin Kelly surged down the right before feeding the ball to Torres inside the box, who took a touch before ferociously drilling beyond the despairing grasp of Richard Kingson with the angle firmly in favour of the Ghana's World Cup stopper.
Liverpool had certainly made a commanding start to the contest, but Blackpool restored parity on 12 minutes via Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
Raul Meireles's wayward pass in midfield presented the ball to David Vaughan, who instantly switched possession to Taylor-Fletcher.
The Liverpool-born striker enjoyed a touch of fortune as he manoeuvred beyond Daniel Agger, but made no mistake with a stabbed effort past Reina from 10 yards.
Moments later, Campbell headed wide from Charlie Adam's cross with Blackpool's spirits raised by their leveller. The latter then tested Liverpool's goalkeeper from the edge of the box in what was proving to be an open affair.
Taylor-Fletcher had Reina scrambling across his line on the half-hour mark after the No.12 unsuccessfully redirected a poor clearance from the custodian back towards goal.
But as half-time approached, Liverpool gradually began to reassert their grip on the game - though Daniel Agger's tame looping header was the best they could muster on Kingson's goal prior to the break.
There was plenty of food for thought for Dalglish and his backroom team during the interval, particularly as both sides had looked threatening in the final third during the opening 45.
It was Blackpool who fashioned the first real chance of the second half, with Adam's well-struck effort stinging the palms of Reina following good work by Elliot Grandin before the 'keeper turned Vaughan's attempt over the crossbar from close range.
Back came the Reds and after Meireles had released Kuyt into space inside the left-hand channel of the box, Torres slashed a volley over from the Dutchman's deep centre.
Kuyt and Meireles combined to good effect again soon after, with the Portuguese striking off target having navigated a passage into the box.
With Liverpool now back in the ascendancy, Kuyt's 66th minute curler had Kingson sprawling across goal but the Blackpool stopper managed to tip it around the base of the post.
But Blackpool took the lead three minutes later against the run of play.
A ball pumped back into the area from a cleared Seasiders' corner was headed back across goal by Ian Evatt, who out jumped Martin Skrtel to allow Campbell to nod home unattended.
Liverpool appealed for a penalty with just over 10 minutes remaining when Craig Cathcart clearly handled inside the box, only for Torres to be penalised for an alleged push on the Blackpool defender.
Dalglish's charges toiled in search of an equaliser in the final stages, but it proved elusive as the Reds' away day woes continued.
*lfc.tv
