Post by gerrard on Mar 7, 2012 16:08:01 GMT
Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool
Barclays Premier League
10th Mar 2012
KO 15:00
Ground: Stadium of Light
v 
Liverpool were unable to close the gap on fourth place after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Following a first half of few chances, the Black Cats scored the game's only goal 11 minutes into the second period. Fraizer Campbell's shot from the edge of the area hit the post before striking the woodwork again off the back of Pepe Reina. However, Nicklas Bendtner was on hand to turn the loose ball into the net.
The Reds introduced Steven Gerrard and Andy Carroll into the action as they looked to claim an equaliser, but they couldn't conjure up a route to goal as Sunderland held on for the three points.
Kenny Dalglish made two changes to the team he'd selected against Arsenal last weekend, with Sebastian Coates and Craig Bellamy coming in to replace Jamie Carragher and Stewart Downing.
Meanwhile, Gerrard was named on the bench having returned to training on Thursday.
Though that harsh 2-1 defeat to the Gunners had left Liverpool trailing fourth place by 10 points, the message coming out of Melwood all week long had been clear - no-one within the camp was ready to concede defeat in the race for Champions League football.
After a tentative opening to the contest, it was Sunderland who created the first chance when John O'Shea looped a header over the crossbar from Sebastian Larsson's free-kick with nine minutes gone.
Next, Bendtner prodded straight at Reina from Campbell's header back into the danger zone at a corner but the effort lacked the conviction required to beat the Reds goalkeeper.
The Denmark striker then miscued when well positioned as Sunderland applied the early pressure.
Indeed, it wasn't until the 31st minute the visitors first called Simon Mignolet into action when the Sunderland 'keeper made a routine take from a glancing Dirk Kuyt header.
A second attempt quickly followed, but Charlie Adam blazed high from the edge of the box after Bellamy's attempted cross had been half-cleared into his path.
The Scotland international did force a save out of Mignolet four minutes before the break, with his in-swinging free-kick requiring the Sunderland stopper to turn it over the bar.
From the resulting corner, Kuyt's downward header destined for the bottom corner was hacked away on the line by Phil Bardsley.
Liverpool were beginning to look more dangerous and in first-half stoppage time, a typical jinking run by Luis Suarez into the area resulted in the No.7 having an effort blocked at his feet by Mignolet.
Dalglish would have called for more urgency from his side during the interval, however Martin Skrtel had Liverpool hearts in mouths five minutes into the second period. The Slovakian sliced an attempted clearance from James McClean's cross towards his own goal, but Reina made a comfortable take.
But the ball did find the back of the Reds' net on 56 minutes as the hosts took the lead.
Campbell was allowed to turn and shoot on the edge of the box. His effort struck the post before rebounding back against the woodwork off Reina. With the Liverpool 'keeper grounded, Bendtner reacted quickest to tap home.
The Reds' response saw Gerrard and Carroll enter the action in place of Bellamy and Adam.
The substitutes linked up instantly, with Carroll's knockdown being fired goalwards by Gerrard and requiring Mignolet to get down low to collect.
But there was to be no late drama in the north east as Sunderland held on to claim the win on an afternoon to forget for Liverpool.
*lfc.tv
Barclays Premier League
10th Mar 2012
KO 15:00
Ground: Stadium of Light
v Liverpool were unable to close the gap on fourth place after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Following a first half of few chances, the Black Cats scored the game's only goal 11 minutes into the second period. Fraizer Campbell's shot from the edge of the area hit the post before striking the woodwork again off the back of Pepe Reina. However, Nicklas Bendtner was on hand to turn the loose ball into the net.
The Reds introduced Steven Gerrard and Andy Carroll into the action as they looked to claim an equaliser, but they couldn't conjure up a route to goal as Sunderland held on for the three points.
Kenny Dalglish made two changes to the team he'd selected against Arsenal last weekend, with Sebastian Coates and Craig Bellamy coming in to replace Jamie Carragher and Stewart Downing.
Meanwhile, Gerrard was named on the bench having returned to training on Thursday.
Though that harsh 2-1 defeat to the Gunners had left Liverpool trailing fourth place by 10 points, the message coming out of Melwood all week long had been clear - no-one within the camp was ready to concede defeat in the race for Champions League football.
After a tentative opening to the contest, it was Sunderland who created the first chance when John O'Shea looped a header over the crossbar from Sebastian Larsson's free-kick with nine minutes gone.
Next, Bendtner prodded straight at Reina from Campbell's header back into the danger zone at a corner but the effort lacked the conviction required to beat the Reds goalkeeper.
The Denmark striker then miscued when well positioned as Sunderland applied the early pressure.
Indeed, it wasn't until the 31st minute the visitors first called Simon Mignolet into action when the Sunderland 'keeper made a routine take from a glancing Dirk Kuyt header.
A second attempt quickly followed, but Charlie Adam blazed high from the edge of the box after Bellamy's attempted cross had been half-cleared into his path.
The Scotland international did force a save out of Mignolet four minutes before the break, with his in-swinging free-kick requiring the Sunderland stopper to turn it over the bar.
From the resulting corner, Kuyt's downward header destined for the bottom corner was hacked away on the line by Phil Bardsley.
Liverpool were beginning to look more dangerous and in first-half stoppage time, a typical jinking run by Luis Suarez into the area resulted in the No.7 having an effort blocked at his feet by Mignolet.
Dalglish would have called for more urgency from his side during the interval, however Martin Skrtel had Liverpool hearts in mouths five minutes into the second period. The Slovakian sliced an attempted clearance from James McClean's cross towards his own goal, but Reina made a comfortable take.
But the ball did find the back of the Reds' net on 56 minutes as the hosts took the lead.
Campbell was allowed to turn and shoot on the edge of the box. His effort struck the post before rebounding back against the woodwork off Reina. With the Liverpool 'keeper grounded, Bendtner reacted quickest to tap home.
The Reds' response saw Gerrard and Carroll enter the action in place of Bellamy and Adam.
The substitutes linked up instantly, with Carroll's knockdown being fired goalwards by Gerrard and requiring Mignolet to get down low to collect.
But there was to be no late drama in the north east as Sunderland held on to claim the win on an afternoon to forget for Liverpool.
*lfc.tv
